bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thoracoscopic Partial Pericardiectomy in 13 Dogs
Authors: Jackson Joshua , Richter Keith P. , Launer Dana P.
Published: March 2010

Thirteen dogs with cardiac tamponade resulting from pericardial effusion were prospectively evaluated to determine feasibility and outcome of thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy. A lateral thoracoscopic approach allowed adequate exposure to remove a 4‐ to 5‐cm‐diameter section of pericardium in all dogs. Complete resolution of cardiac tamponade occurred in all dogs for which there was follow‐up (11 dogs). Ten of 13 dogs (76.9%) had neoplastic pericardial effusion. One of these dogs remains alive at 220 days postoperatively and is asymptomatic. The mean survival of the remaining 9 patents with neoplastic effusion was 128 days (range, 14–544 days; median, 38 days). Three of 13 patients (23.1%) had idiopathic pericardial effusion. Two of these dogs remain alive at 585 and 1,250 days postoperatively. One dog with idiopathic pericardial effusion developed cardiomyopathy and was euthanized 18 days after the procedure. Results indicate that the procedure was technically successful in all dogs. No anesthetic complications occurred. Procedural complications included phrenic nerve transection (1 dog), lung laceration (1 dog), and moderate intraoperative bleeding (1 dog). No adverse clinical manifestations of the complications were apparent. We conclude that thoracoscopic partial pericardiectomy is technically feasible and offers several advantages over conventional open thoracic surgical pericardiectomy.
Acute Insulin Response to Intravenous Arginine in Nonobese Healthy Cats
Authors: Kitamura Toshiko , Yasuda Jun , Hashimoto Akira
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study was to document and characterize insulin response to intravenous administration of arginine, a nonglucose secretagogue, and compare it to insulin response during intravenous glucose tolerance tests (IVGTTs) in clinically healthy nonobese cats. In addition, we examined the influence of plasma glucose level on insulin response to arginine in cats. Five dosages of 10% L‐arginine hydrochloride (0.015, 0.025, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 g/kg of body weight) were administered to 5 cats. All doses of arginine elicited an abrupt insulin response that peaked at 2–4 minutes and returned to basal concentrations within 30 minutes. Mean insulin peak response (IPR) and mean area under the curve of plasma insulin concentration evaluated for the initial 10 minutes after administration (AUC10) increased with each progressive increase in arginine dosage. An asymptotic maximal response estimated by mean insulin AUC10reached plateau at 0.1–0.2 g arginine/kg. Arginine at 0.2 g/kg induced hypersalivation in 2 of 4 cats. No adverse effects were evident at lower doses. Mean insulin AUC10produced by equimolar amount of glucose (0.086 g/kg) was only 42% of that seen in response to 0.1 g arginine/kg, and mean IPR was much lower (18 ± 7 versus 61 ± 17 μU/mL). Mild hyperglycemia (211 ±6 mg/dL) induced by variable infusion rate of glucose resulted in a significant (P < .05) potentiation of insulin response to arginine; mean insulin AUC10increased 287 ± 26 to 551 ± 167 μU/mL/10 minutes. These findings indicate that the arginine challenge is a more meaningful tool than is the IVGTT for evaluating the insulin secretory capacity in cats.
Retrospective Evaluation of Urinary Tract Infection in 42 Dogs with Hyperadrenocorticism or Diabetes Mellitus or Both
Authors: Forrester S. Dru , Troy Gregory C. , Dalton M. Nell , Huffman Jennifer W. , Holtzman Golde
Published: March 2010

A retrospective study was performed to determine the proportion of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism or diabetes mellitus or both that had urinary tract infection (UTI) and to describe clinical and laboratory findings. Dogs with these endocrine disorders were included if results of quantitative urine culture were available and dogs were not receiving antimicrobials. Dogs with positive urine cultures were considered to have UTI and dogs with negative urine cultures were used as controls. Information including history, clinical signs, physical examination findings, and results of laboratory tests and urine culture was extracted from all records. Findings in dogs with UTI were compared with control dogs. There were 101 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism or diabetes mellitus or both that met inclusion criteria; 42 (41.6%) had UTI and 59 (58.4%) did not. UTI was present in 46% of dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, 37% of dogs with diabetes mellitus, and 50% of dogs with both endocrine disorders. There was no association between endocrine group and occurrence of UTI.Escherichia coliwas the most common bacteria isolated, and cultures from 29 dogs (69%) showed growth of this organism. Of dogs with UTI, <5% had stranguria, pollakiuria, or discolored urine, whereas 60% had pyuria and 69% had bacteriuria. We conclude that UTIs are common in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, diabetes mellitus, or both diseases. Clinical signs of UTI, however, are uncommon and results of urinalysis may be normal. Therefore, it is appropriate to recommend urine culture as part of the evaluation of dogs with these endocrine disorders.
Platelet Function in Dogs Treated for Lymphoma and Hemangiosarcoma and Supplemented with Dietaryn‐3 Fatty Acids
Authors: McNiel Elizabeth A. , Ogilvie Gregory K. , Mallinckrodt Craig , Richardson Kristi , Fettman Martin J.
Published: March 2010

A prospective randomized, double‐blind clinical trial was performed to test the hypothesis that dogs with malignancies that are supplemented withn‐3 fatty acids do not have clinical or laboratory evidence of coagulation disorders or altered platelet function when compared with unsupplemented dogs with similar malignancies. Thirteen dogs with hemangiosarcoma and 66 dogs with lymphoma were evaluated. Coagulation status of the dogs with lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma was evaluated with prothombin time, partial thromboplastin time, platelet count, and in vitro platelet aggregometry using the whole‐blood method. These tests were performed at 5 time points: before beginning the diet (week 0), at weeks 3, 15, and 21, and at 1 year or when progressive disease was evident. Alterations in platelet function in dogs receiving a diet supplemented with dietaryn‐3 fatty acids were not identified when compared to dogs fed a control diet. Dietaryn‐3 fatty acid supplementation using this dosage and ratio in dogs with lymphoma or hemangiosarcoma did not induce clinically significant hemorrhage in these animals. Therefore, supplementation withn‐3 fatty acids did not result in clinical or laboratory evidence relating to uncontrolled hemorrhage in these dogs.
Accuracy of a Portable Blood Gas Analyzer Incorporating Optodes for Canine Blood
Authors: Shiroshita Yukihito , Tanaka Ryo , Shibazaki Akira , Yamane Yoshihisa
Published: March 2010

The accuracy of a portable blood gas analyzer (OPTI 1) was evaluated using canine blood and aqueous control solutions. Sixty‐four arterial blood samples were collected from 11 anesthetized dogs and were analyzed for pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Pco2), partial pressure of oxygen (Po2), and bicarbonate concentration ([HCO3‐]) values by the OPTI 1 and a conventional blood gas analyzer (GASTAT 3). The conventional analyzer was considered as a standard against which the OPTI 1 was evaluated. Comparison of OPTI 1 results with those of GASTAT 3 by linear regression analysis revealed a high degree of correlation with the GASTAT 3 (r= .90‐.91). The mean ± SD of the differences between OPTI 1 and GASTAT 3 values was ‐0.008 ± 0.017 for pH, ‐0.88 ± 3.33 mm Hg for Pco2, 3.71 ± 6.98 mm Hg for Po2, and ‐0.34 ± 1.45 mEq/L for [HCO3‐]. No statistically significant difference was found between the OPTI 1 and the GASTAT 3. Agreement between these 2 methods is within clinically acceptable ranges for pH, Pco2, Po2, and [HCO3‐]. The coefficients of variation for measured pH, Pco2, and Po2 values of 3 aqueous control solutions (acidic, normal, and alkalotic) analyzed by the OPTI 1 ranged from 0.047 to 0.072% for pH, 0.78 to 1.81% for Pco2, and 0.73 to 2.77% for Po2. The OPTI 1 is concluded to provide canine blood gas analysis with an accuracy that is comparable with that of conventional benchtop blood gas analyzers.
Treatment of Canine Mast Cell Tumors with CCNU (Lomustine)
Authors: Rassnick Kenneth M. , Moore Antony S. , Williams Laurel E. , London Cheryl A. , Kintzer Peter P. , Engler Stephen J. , Cotter Susan M.
Published: March 2010

The efficacy and toxicity of CCNU (1‐[2‐chloroethyl]3‐cyclohexyl‐l‐nitrosurea) were evaluated in 23 dogs with measurable mast cell tumors (MCT). Twenty‐two dogs had cutaneous MCT and 1 dog had an intranasal MCT Nineteen (83%) dogs had biopsy of their original mass performed and 4 (17%) had aspiration cytology of masses. Of the 19 tumors histologically graded, 1 (5%) neoplasm was classified as grade I, 10 (53%) were grade II, and the remaining 8 (42%) were grade III. Dogs were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 90 mg/m2body surface area every 3 weeks. Response could be evaluated in 19 dogs. Eight of the 19 dogs (42%) had a measurable response to CCNU. One dog had a durable complete response for 440 days. Seven dogs (37%) had a partial response for a median and mean duration of 77 days and 109 days, respectively (range, 21–254 days). Treatment with CCNU resulted in stable disease in 6 dogs (32%) for a median and mean duration of 78 days and 122 days, respectively (range, 42–347 days). The acute dose‐limiting toxicity was neutropenia 7 days after administration of CCNU. The median and mean neutrophil counts 7 days after CCNU were 1,452 cells/|μL and 1,683 cells/μ,L, respectively (n = 17). Other toxicoses were uncommon. CCNU should be considered an active agent in the treatment of MCT in dogs.
Injection Site Eosinophilic Granulomas and Collagenolysis in 3 Horses
Authors: Slovis Nathan M. , Watson Johanna L. , Affolter Verena K. , Stannard Anthony A.
Published: March 2010

Three horses were presented with a history of having developed raised cutaneous nodules, within 24–48 hours, in areas of previous injections using standard silicone‐coated hypodermic needles. Skin biopsies were taken from a selected cutaneous nodule from all horses for histopathologic evaluation. Histologically, the nodules were consistent with a diagnosis of equine eosinophilic granuloma. A hypersensitivity reaction to the silicone, or another component of the coating formulation, was hypothesized to be responsible for these lesions. Two horses were experimentally injected using both coated and noncoated stainless steel hypodermic needles and skin biopsies were obtained 14 days after injection. The sites of the coated needle injections were characterized by severe eosinophilic granulomatous inflammation with and without collagenolysis. The eosinophilic granulomas with and without collagenolysis observed in these horses are proposed to represent a complex immunologic response to the silicone‐based coating of most hypodermic needles.
Metabolic and Hormonal Alterations in Cats with Hepatic Lipidosis
Authors: Brown Bonnie , Mauldin Glenna E. , Armstrong Joel , Moroff Scott D. , Mauldin G. Neal
Published: March 2010

Hepatic lipidosis in cats is a commonly diagnosed hepatobiliary disease of unknown cause. The purpose of this prospective study was to characterize the blood hormone and lipid status of cats with hepatic lipidosis, and to compare this status to that of cats with other types of liver disease and to control cats. Twenty‐three cats with hepatic disease were assigned to 1 of 2 groups on the basis of cytopathologic or histopathologic examination of the liver: group 1, hepatic lipidosis (n = 18); or group 2, cholangiohepati‐tis (n = 5). Ten healthy young adult cats were used as controls. Food was withheld from control animals for 24 hours before blood collection. Concentrations of plasma glucagon and serum insulin, cortisol, thyroxine, triglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipids, and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were determined in all cats, in addition to routine hematologic and serum biochemical testing. Cats with hepatic lipidosis had higher serum NEFA concentrations than cats with cholangiohepatitis or control cats (P< .05). Cats with cholangiohepatitis had higher serum cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations than those of cats with lipidosis or control cats (P< .05); their plasma glucagon concentrations were higher than those of control cats (P< .05), but were not different from those of cats with hepatic lipidosis. Serum insulin concentrations were significantly higher in control cats than in diseased cats (P< .05), but neither serum insulin nor the insulin to glucagon ratio was significantly different among the cats with hepatic disease. The high concentration of NEFAs in cats with hepatic lipidosis suggests that at least 1 factor in the pathogenesis of this syndrome may involve the regulation of hormone‐sensitive lipase.
Food Hypersensitivity Reactions in Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers with Protein‐Losing Enteropathy or Protein‐Losing Nephropathy or Both: Gastroscopic Food Sensitivity Testing, Dietary Provocation, and Fecal Immunoglobulin E
Authors: Vaden Shelly L. , Hammerberg Bruce , Davenport Deborah J. , Orton Susan M. , Trogdon Maureen M. , Melgarejo L. Tonatiuh , VanCamp Steven D. , Williams David A.
Published: March 2010

The purpose of this study was to evaluate Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWTs) affected with protein‐losing enteropathy (PLE) or protein‐losing nephropathy (PLN) or both for allergy to food. We performed gastroscopic food‐sensitivity testing, a provocative dietary trial, and measurement of fecal immunoglobulin E (IgE) in 6 SCWTs affected with PLE or PLN or both. Positive gastroscopic food‐sensitivity test reactions were noted in 5 of 6 dogs. Positive reactions were found to milk in 4 dogs, to lamb in 2 dogs, and to wheat and chicken each in 1 dog. Adverse reactions to food (diarrhea, vomiting, or pruritus) were detected in all 6 dogs during the provocative dietary trial. Adverse reactions were found to corn in 5 dogs, to tofu in 3 dogs, to cottage cheese in 2 dogs, to milk in 2 dogs, to farina cream of wheat in 2 dogs, and to lamb in 2 dogs. Serum albumin concentrations significantly decreased and fecal α1‐protease inhibitor concentration significantly increased 4 days after the provocative trial when compared with baseline values. Antigen‐specific fecal IgE varied throughout the provocative trial, with peak levels following ingestion of test meals. We conclude that food hypersensitivities are present in SCWTs affected with the syndrome of PLE/PLN. Mild inflammatory bowel disease was already established in the 6 SCWTs of this report at the time of study, making it impossible to determine if food allergies were the cause or result of the enteric disease.
Clinical Evaluation of Methoximorpholino‐Doxorubicin (FCE 23762) in Dogs with Spontaneous Malignancies
Authors: Sheafor Sarah E. , Couto C. Guillermo , Ward Heidi , Essinger Christa , Nicol Steven J.
Published: March 2010

We conducted a clinical evaluation of FCE 23762, a methoxymorpholino analog of doxorubicin, in 48 dogs with metastatic, nonresectable, or chemotherapy‐resistant spontaneous malignancies at an initial dosage of 50–60 μg/kg IV every 3 weeks. Clinical evidence of toxicity was minimal; 6 dogs developed grades I, II, and III hematologic toxicities after the 1st treatment, and 1 dog developed grade II gastrointestinal toxicity. One dog became pancytopenic 4 months after discontinuation of FCE 23762. No other adverse effects were noted. Partial or complete remissions were observed in 32% of the dogs. Responses were observed both in previously untreated dogs and in those that had received prior chemotherapy, including doxorubicin. FCE 23762 is a promising new antineoplastic agent that can be used safely in dogs with cancer; doses higher than those used in this study may be used eventually in practice.
Disseminated Hemangiosarcoma in the Horse: 35 Cases
Authors: Southwood Louise L. , II Harold C. Schott , Henry Carolyn J. , Kennedy Frances A. , Hines Melissa T. , Geor Raymond J. , Hassel Diana M.
Published: March 2010

Thirty‐five cases of disseminated hemangiosarcoma (21 clinical cases and 14 previously reported cases) were reviewed to describe the disease in horses. Hemangiosarcoma occurred in mature, particularly middle‐aged horses, with no apparent sex predilection. Thoroughbreds seemed to be overrepresented (13 cases) but a true breed predilection could not be established. The respiratory and musculoskeletal systems were most commonly affected and presenting complaints included dyspnea (26%), subcutaneous or muscular swelling (24%), epistaxis (17%), and lameness (12%). Heart and respiratory rates were usually increased and mucous membrane color was frequently pale or icteric. Capillary refill time and rectal temperature were often normal. Anemia (88%), neutrophilic leukocytosis (62%), and thrombocytopenia (48%) were common. Examination of tissue samples collected by fine‐needle aspirate or biopsy established an antemortem diagnosis in 4 horses. The diagnosis was made during postmortem examination in the remaining 31 horses. The lung and pleura (77%), skeletal muscle (46%), and spleen (43%) were most commonly affected. A primary site of tumor involvement could be identified in 22 horses. Hemangiosarcoma should be included as a differential diagnosis for horses with evidence of hemorrhage into body cavities, skeletal muscle, or subcutaneous locations.
Fat Feeding Increases Equine Heparin‐Released Lipoprotein Lipase Activity
Authors: Geelen Suzanne N.J. , Jansen Walter L. , van Oldruitenborgh‐Oosterbaan Marianne M. Sloet , Breukink Henk J. , Beynen Anton C.
Published: March 2010

The aim of this study was to establish the dose‐response relationship between fat intake and heparin‐released plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in horses. Eight mature trotters were fed 4 rations with different fat levels (3.0, 5.0, 7.7, or 10.8% fat in the dry matter) according to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The experimental rations consisted of hay and different concentrates; the concentrates and hay were given in a 3 :1 ratio on an energy basis. Soybean oil was added to the concentrates at the expense of isoenergetic amounts of glucose. Blood samples were taken at the end of each dietary period, which lasted 3 weeks. Fat feeding was found to increase heparin‐released plasma LPL activity in a dose‐dependent fashion. When the data from this study and previous studies were combined it was calculated that an increase in fat intake by 1 g/kg dry matter is associated with an increase in LPL activity by 0.98 μmol fatty acid released.mL‐1.h‐1. Fat feeding raised the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and phospholipids. Diet did not have a statistically significant effect on plasma triacylglycerol concentrations. The results are discussed in the light of the possible enhancing effect of fat feeding on the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle.
Comparison between Swan conductors and characteristic cycles
Authors: Abe Tomoyuki
Published: March 2010

In this paper, we define Swan conductors for unit-root overconvergent F-isocrystals using the theory of arithmetic 𝒟-modules due to Berthelot. Our Swan conductors are compared with the Swan conductors for ℓ-adic sheaves constructed by Kato and Saito using a geometric method. As an application, we prove the integrality of Swan conductors in the sense of Kato and Saito under the ‘resolution of singularities’ assumption.
On the potential automorphy of certain odd-dimensional Galois representations
Authors: Barnet-Lamb Thomas
Published: March 2010

In a previous paper, the potential automorphy of certain Galois representations to GLn for n even was established, following the work of Harris, Shepherd–Barron and Taylor and using the lifting theorems of Clozel, Harris and Taylor. In this paper, we extend those results to n=3 and n=5, and conditionally to all other odd n. The key additional tools necessary are results which give the automorphy or potential automorphy of symmetric powers of elliptic curves, most notably those of Gelbert, Jacquet, Kim, Shahidi and Harris.
Stochastic Simulations With Graphics Hardware: Characterization of Accuracy and Performance
Authors: Balijepalli Arvind , LeBrun Thomas W. , Gupta Satyandra K.
Published: March 2010

Methods to implement stochastic simulations on the graphics processing unit (GPU) have been developed. These algorithms are used in a simulation of microassembly and nanoassembly with optical tweezers, but are also directly compatible with simulations of a wide variety of assembly techniques using either electrophoretic, magnetic, or other trapping techniques. Significant speedup is possible for stochastic particle simulations when using the GPU, included in most personal computers (PCs), rather than the central processing unit (CPU) that handles most calculations. However, a careful analysis of the accuracy and precision when using the GPU in stochastic simulations is lacking and is addressed here. A stochastic simulation for spherical particles has been developed and mapped onto stages of the GPU hardware that provide the best performance. The results from the CPU and GPU implementation are then compared with each other and with well-established theory. The error in the mean ensemble energy and the diffusion constant is measured for both the CPU and the GPU implementations. The time taken to complete several simulation experiments on each platform has also been measured and the speedup attained by the GPU is then calculated.
Mesh Processing for Computerized Facial Anthropometry
Authors: Deo Dhanannjay , Sen Dibakar
Published: March 2010

Understanding of the shape and size of different features of the human body from scanned data is necessary for automated design and evaluation of product ergonomics. In this paper, a computational framework is presented for automatic detection and recognition of important facial feature regions, from scanned head and shoulder polyhedral models. A noise tolerant methodology is proposed using discrete curvature computations, band-pass filtering, and morphological operations for isolation of the primary feature regions of the face, namely, the eyes, nose, and mouth. Spatial disposition of the critical points of these isolated feature regions is analyzed for the recognition of these critical points as the standard landmarks associated with the primary facial features. A number of clinically identified landmarks lie on the facial midline. An efficient algorithm for detection and processing of the midline, using a point sampling technique, is also presented. The results obtained using data of more than 20 subjects are verified through visualization and physical measurements. A color based and triangle skewness based schemes for isolation of geometrically nonprominent features and ear region are also presented.
Metrics for Degree-of-Openness of Engineering Information
Authors: Kim Injoong , Bajaj Manas , Mocko Greg , Peak Russell S.
Published: March 2010

To evaluate the opportunities and extent to which open standards can be used in or enhanced for product lifecycle management frameworks, we have developed three metrics, namely, compatibility, completeness, and coverage, for assessing the degree-of-openness of engineering information. A simple test case shows that each of the three metrics provides a certain type of assessment of the degree-of-openness.
Nonlinear Crest Height Distribution in Three-Dimensional Ocean Waves
Authors: Arena Felice , Ascanelli Alfredo
Published: March 2010

The interest and studies on nonlinear waves are increased recently for their importance in the interaction with floating and fixed bodies. It is also well-known that nonlinearities influence wave crest and wave trough distributions, both deviating from the Rayleigh law. In this paper, a theoretical crest distribution is obtained, taking into account the extension of Boccotti’s quasideterminism theory (1982, “On Ocean Waves With High Crests,” Meccanica, 17, pp. 16–19), up to the second order for the case of three-dimensional waves in finite water depth. To this purpose, the Fedele and Arena (2005, “Weakly Nonlinear Statistics of High Random Waves,” Phys. Fluids, 17(026601), pp. 1–10) distribution is generalized to three-dimensional waves on an arbitrary water depth. The comparison with Forristall’s second order model (2000, “Wave Crest Distributions: Observations and Second-Order Theory,” J. Phys. Oceanogr., 30(8), pp. 1931–1943) shows the theoretical confirmation of his conclusion: The crest distribution in deep water for long-crested and short-crested waves are very close to each other; in shallow water the crest heights in three-dimensional waves are greater than values given by the long-crested model.
Embedded Suction Anchors for Mooring of a Floating Breakwater
Authors: Kwag D. J. , Cho I. H. , Bang S. , Cho Y.
Published: March 2010

A floating breakwater was built in Southern Korea. Four separate floating breakwater units were moored to ten deeply buried embedded suction anchors. The embedded suction anchor is a type of permanent offshore foundation installed by a suction pile. The cross section of the embedded suction anchor is circular, with its diameter being equal to that of the suction pile that is used to drive it into the seafloor. Vertical flanges are typically added along the circumference to increase its resistance. Determination of the loading capacity and the dimensions of embedded suction anchors are described. Details of the construction and installation of embedded suction anchors, as well as the field proof test results are also discussed. A total of ten steel embedded suction anchors were manufactured and installed successfully. Installation of embedded suction anchors was accomplished with a suction pile attached to its top. Subsequent proof tests validated the design loading capacity of embedded suction anchors. A floating breakwater consisted of four separate units was constructed. Initially, embedded deadweight concrete blocks were considered to moor the floating breakwater units. Later, however, embedded suction anchors replaced the concrete block anchors due to numerous environmental constraints. Each floating unit was anchored with four embedded suction anchors. Field proof tests indicate that the embedded suction anchors can provide necessary resistance against the anticipated wind and wave forces.
Optimization of
Steel Monopod-Offshore-Towers Under Probabilistic
Constraints
Authors: Karadeniz Halil , Togan Vedat , Vrouwenvelder Ton
Published: March 2010

In this work, economical design implementation of a circular steel monopod-offshore-tower, which is subjected to the extreme wave loading, is presented. The mass of the tower is considered as the objective function. The thickness and radius of the cross section of the tower are adopted as design variables of the optimization. Moreover, stress or buckling is specified as probabilistic constraints. The numerical strategy employed for performing the optimization uses the International Mathematics and Statistics Library (IMSL) routine that is based on the sequential quadratic programming. The first-order reliability method (FORM) is used for the reliability calculation from a specified limit state function based on the stress or buckling. A demonstration of an example monopod tower is presented.
β
-Ga
2
O
3
growth by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy
Authors: Tsai Min-Ying , Bierwagen Oliver , White Mark E. , Speck James S.
Published: March 2010

The authors demonstrate the heteroepitaxial and homoepitaxial growth of single crystalline β-Ga2O3 by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. Phase-pure (2¯01) and (100) β-Ga2O3 thin films were grown on c-plane sapphire and (100) β-Ga2O3 substrates, respectively. Based on the homoepitaxial results, detailed information is reported on the dependence between the β-Ga2O3 film quality and various growth parameters. At an optimized growth temperature of 700 °C, a growth relationship between growth rates and increasing gallium fluxes was established at a fixed oxygen pressure. A three-dimensional columnar growth with a relatively high growth rate was measured at a low gallium flux while a terrace surface morphology with a reduced growth rate was observed as the gallium flux increased. The gallium flux played an important role on both surface morphology and growth rate. We associated the decreasing growth rate with increasing gallium flux with the formation of gallium suboxides monitored by quadrupole mass spectrometry. The formation and desorption of volatile gallium suboxides limited the resulting growth rate of β-Ga2O3 growth.
EZ(H2) Does It!
Authors: Alumkal Joshi
Published: March 2010

EZH2 repression of the
DAB2IP
gene that modulates the Ras and NFΚB pathways provides mechanistic insights into metastasis of prostate cancer cells and how this process may be targeted.
Making the Most of Genetic Data from Association Studies
Authors: Carlson Nichole
Published: March 2010

A statistical model for combining data collected under different study designs allows for the detection of new genetic and environmental correlates of disease.
Restoration of Function by Gene Induction
Authors: Bentley-Lewis Rhonda
Published: March 2010

Certain thyroid cancer cells can again take up radioactive iodine after selective gene stimulation.
First Case of Human “
Candidatus
Neoehrlichia mikurensis” Infection in a Febrile Patient with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Welinder-Olsson Christina , Kjellin Eva , Vaht Krista , Jacobsson Stefan , Wennerås Christine
Published: March 2010

An immunocompromised patient presented with febrile episodes, an erysipelas-like rash, and thromboembolic complications. Amplification of 16S rRNA gene sequences from blood and sequence analysis revealed “
Candidatus
Neoehrlichia mikurensis.” We report the first case of human disease caused by “
Ca
. Neoehrlichia mikurensis.”
Effectiveness of once-weekly gym-based exercise programmes for older adults post discharge from day rehabilitation: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Foley A , Hillier S , Barnard R
Published: March 2010

Objective

To determine whether high-intensity, progressive gym-based exercise performed once a week is as effective as twice weekly for maintaining both subjective and objective outcomes in older adults post discharge from a metropolitan day rehabilitation centre (DRC).

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Community-based exercise centre for older adults, located in Metropolitan Adelaide, South Australia.

Participants

21 men and 85 women who completed the DRC programme were assessed and randomly allocated to a study group.

Intervention

The two experimental interventions were gym-based exercise programmes (including resistance, aerobic, flexibility and balance training) varying only in frequency of delivery: either once or twice a week, directly compared with usual care (control).

Main outcome measures

Lower limb strength (one-repetition maximum), balance (Berg Balance Scale), physical function (gait speed, 30-s chair stand test, timed up and go test (primary outcome) and 6-min walk test), self-reported pain (Glasgow Pain Questionnaire), activities of daily living (Barthel Index and Older Americans Resources and Services Multidimensional Functional Assessment Questionnaire), perceived benefits of and barriers to exercise (Exercise Benefits Barriers Scale), quality of life (Assessment of Quality of Life Questionnaire) and exercise frequency preference.

Results

Most of the outcomes (69%, 11/16) were maintained over the intervention period with no significant group effects detected between the two intervention groups or compared to the control group. Physical activity levels recorded in the control group showed a significant proportion of participants were actively exercising once weekly. A per-protocol analysis was undertaken to take this potential contamination effect into account. This showed that the control group participants, who did not exercise, did not maintain outcomes to the extent of the intervention groups, with significant group-by-time effects detected between the two intervention groups and the control group. Most of all participants (66%, 62/94) nominated once a week as their preferred exercise frequency.

Conclusions

The overall finding of no significant differences between the two intervention groups for all outcomes measured gives support to the effectiveness of once-a-week exercise in maintaining outcomes at 3 months post rehabilitation. Further research is warranted given the once-a-week exercise intervention should cost less, had higher compliance and was nominated as the preferred exercise frequency by most of the participants.
The challenge of low physical activity during the school day: at recess, lunch and in physical education
Authors: Nettlefold L , McKay H A , Warburton D E R , McGuire K A , Bredin S S D , Naylor P J
Published: March 2010

Purpose

To describe physical activity (PA) intensity across a school day and assess the percentage of girls and boys achieving recommended guidelines.

Methods

The authors measured PA via accelerometry in 380 children (8–11 years) and examined data representing (1) the whole school day, (2) regular class time, (3) recess, (4) lunch and (5) scheduled physical education (PE). Activity was categorised as sedentary (SED), light physical activity (LPA) or moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) using age-specific thresholds. They examined sex differences across PA intensities during each time period and compliance with recommended guidelines.

Results

Girls accumulated less MVPA and more SED than boys throughout the school day (MVPA −10.6 min; SED +13.9 min) recess (MVPA −1.6 min; SED +1.7 min) and lunch (MVPA −3.1 min; SED +2.9 min). Girls accumulated less MVPA (−6.2 min), less LPA (−2.5 min) and more SED (+9.4 min) than boys during regular class time. Fewer girls than boys achieved PA guidelines during school (90.9% vs 96.2%), recess (15.7% vs 34.1%) and lunch (16.7% vs 37.4%). During PE, only 1.8% of girls and 2.9% of boys achieved the PA guidelines. Girls and boys accumulated similar amounts of MVPA, LPA and SED.

Conclusion

The MVPA deficit in girls was due to their sedentary behaviour as opposed to LPA. Physical activity strategies that target girls are essential to overcome this deficit. Only a very small percentage of children met physical activity guidelines during PE. There is a great need for additional training and emphasis on PA during PE. In addition schools should complement PE with PA models that increase PA opportunities across the school day.
3D MODELING OF FACES FROM NEAR INFRARED IMAGES USING STATISTICAL LEARNING
Authors: ZHENG YING , LI STAN Z. , CHANG JIANGLONG , WANG ZENGFU
Published: March 2010

This paper proposes a statistical learning based method for 3D modeling of faces directly from Near Infrared (NIR) images. We use a specially designed camera system with active NIR illumination to capture the NIR images of faces. The NIR images captured in such a way are invariant to environmental lighting changes. The property provides more reasonable data sources for statistical learning. By using the NIR images and the depth images of some known faces, we can observe a mapping relation between the two image modalities. The mapping relation can then be used to recover depth data of an unknown face from his NIR image. To perform the learning, the images of different modalities taken from different persons are elaborately aligned to make pixel-to-pixel correspondences between images. Based on these aligned images, two face spaces corresponding to NIR and depth face images can be constructed, respectively. We then use a PCA based or kernel based scheme to perform the learning between spaces of large dimensions. Several regression algorithms with linear and nonlinear kernels are employed and evaluated to find the mapping that best describes the relation between the two face spaces. The experimental results show that the method presented in this paper is effective. It can reconstruct 3D face model directly from NIR image of a face with high accuracy and low computational costs.
A LEARNING FRAMEWORK FOR ADAPTIVE FINGERPRINT IDENTIFICATION USING RELEVANCE FEEDBACK
Authors: KWAN PAUL W. , GAO JUNBIN , GUO YI , KAMEYAMA KEISUKE
Published: March 2010

In recent years, law enforcement personnel have greatly been aided by the deployment of Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS). These systems largely operate by matching salient features automatically extracted from fingerprint images for their decision. However, there are two major shortcomings in current systems. First, the result of identification depends primarily on the chosen features and the algorithm that matches them. Second, these systems cannot improve their results by benefiting from interactions with seasoned examiners who often can identify minute differences between fingerprints beyond that is capable of by current systems. In this paper, we propose a system for fingerprint identification that incorporates relevance feedback. We show that a persistent semantic space over the database of fingerprints can be incrementally learned. Here, the learning module makes use of a dimensionality reduction process that returns both a low-dimensional semantic space and an out-of-sample mapping function, achieving a two-fold benefits of data compression and the ability to project novel fingerprints directly onto the semantic space for identification. Experimental results demonstrated the potential of this learning framework for adaptive fingerprint identification.
PRESERVING GLOBAL AND LOCAL FEATURES — A COMBINED APPROACH FOR RECOGNIZING FACE IMAGES
Authors: RUBA SOUNDAR K. , MURUGESAN K.
Published: March 2010

Face recognition technologies can significantly impact authentication, monitoring and image indexing applications. Much research has been done on face recognition using global and local features over the last decade. By using global feature preservation techniques like Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), we can effectively preserve only the Euclidean structure of face space, that are devoid of the lack of local features which may play a major role in some applications. On the other hand, the local feature preservation technique namely Locality Preserving Projections (LPP) preserves local information and obtains a face subspace that best detects the essential face manifold structure; however, it also suffers loss in global features which could be important in some of the applications. In this work, a new combined approach for recognizing faces which preserve both global and local information has been introduced. The proposed technique generates Combined Global and Local Preserving Features (CGLPF) that integrates the advantages of the global feature extraction technique LDA and the local feature extraction technique LPP. He et al. in their work used PCA to extract similarity features from a given set of images in order to reduce the dimensions followed by LPP. But in our method, we use LDA (instead of PCA) to extract discriminating features to reduce the dimension that yields improved facial image recognition results. This has been verified by making a fair comparison of the above two methods by the use of ORL, UMIST and 600 images formed by combining both databases.
CHANGE POINT DETECTION IN TIME SERIES DATA USING SUPPORT VECTORS
Authors: CAMCI FATIH
Published: March 2010

Change Point Detection in time series data is of interest in various research areas including data mining, pattern recognition, statistics, etc. Even though there are several effective methods in the literature for detecting changes in mean, and an increase in variance, there are none for decrease in variance. Effective detection of decreased variance has been reported as future work in earlier papers. In addition, most, if not all, methods require some model like AR to fit into the time series data in order to extract noise information, which is assumed to be independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) and follow standard normal distribution (white noise). Thus, effectiveness of the methods is tied to the fitness degree of the AR model to the time series data. This paper presents a change point detection method based on support vectors that targets changes in mean and variance (including variance decrease) without any assumption of model fitting or data distribution. The data is represented by a hyper-sphere in a higher dimensional space using kernel trick. The change is identified by the change in the radius of the hyper-sphere. A comparison of this method with other methods is presented in the paper.
CaMKII regulates contraction- but not insulin-induced glucose uptake in mouse skeletal muscle
Authors: Witczak Carol A. , Jessen Niels , Warro Daniel M. , Toyoda Taro , Fujii Nobuharu , Anderson Mark E. , Hirshman Michael F. , Goodyear Laurie J.
Published: March 2010

Studies using chemical inhibitors have suggested that the Ca2+-sensitive serine/threonine kinase Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a key regulator of both insulin- and contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. However, due to nonspecificity of these inhibitors, the specific role that CaMKII may play in the regulation of glucose uptake is not known. We sought to determine whether specific inhibition of CaMKII impairs insulin- and/or contraction-induced glucose uptake in mouse skeletal muscle. Expression vectors containing green fluorescent protein conjugated to a CaMKII inhibitory (KKALHRQEAVDCL) or control (KKALHAQERVDCL) peptide were transfected into tibialis anterior muscles by in vivo electroporation. After 1 wk, muscles were assessed for peptide expression, CaMK activity, insulin- and contraction-induced 2-[3H]deoxyglucose uptake, glycogen concentrations, and changes in intracellular signaling proteins. Expression of the CaMKII inhibitory peptide decreased muscle CaMK activity ∼35% compared with control peptide. Insulin-induced glucose uptake was not changed in muscles expressing the inhibitory peptide. In contrast, expression of the inhibitory peptide significantly decreased contraction-induced muscle glucose uptake (∼30%). Contraction-induced decreases in muscle glycogen were not altered by the inhibitory peptide. The CaMKII inhibitory peptide did not alter expression of the glucose transporter GLUT4 and did not impair contraction-induced increases in the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (Thr172) or TBC1D1/TBC1D4 on phospho-Akt substrate sites. These results demonstrate that CaMKII does not regulate insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. However, CaMKII plays a critical role in the regulation of contraction-induced glucose uptake in mouse skeletal muscle.
High-fat diet leads to tissue-specific changes reflecting risk factors for diseases in DBA/2J mice
Authors: Hageman Rachael S. , Wagener Asja , Hantschel Claudia , Svenson Karen L. , Churchill Gary A. , Brockmann Gudrun A.
Published: March 2010

The aim of this study was to characterize the responses of individual tissues to high-fat feeding as a function of mass, fat composition, and transcript abundance. We examined a panel of eight tissues [5 white adipose tissues (WAT), brown adipose tissue (BAT), liver, muscle] obtained from DBA/2J mice on either a standard breeding diet (SBD) or a high-fat diet (HFD). HFD led to weight gain, decreased insulin sensitivity, and tissue-specific responses, including inflammation, in these mice. The dietary fatty acids were partially metabolized and converted in both liver and fat tissues. Saturated fatty acids (SFA) were converted in the liver to monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and oleic acid (C18:1) was the preferred MUFA for storage of excess energy in all tissues of HFD-fed mice. Transcriptional changes largely reflected the tissue-specific fat deposition. SFA were negatively correlated with genes in the collagen family and processes involving the extracellular matrix. We propose a novel role of the tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (Tph2) gene in adipose tissues of diet-induced obesity. Tissue-specific responses to HFD were identified. Liver steatosis was evident in HFD-fed mice. Gonadal, retroperitoneal and subcutaneous adipose tissue and BAT exhibited severe inflammatory and immune responses. Mesenteric adipose tissue was the most metabolically active adipose tissue. Gluteal adipose tissue had the highest mass gain but was sluggish in its metabolism. In HFD conditions, BAT functioned largely like WAT in its role as a depot for excess energy, whereas WAT played a role in thermogenesis.
Advanced Malignant Melanoma: Immunologic and Multimodal Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Halama Niels , Zoernig Inka , Jaeger Dirk
Published: March 2010

Immunologic treatment strategies are established in malignant melanoma treatment, mainly focusing on Interleukin-2 in advanced disease and interferon alpha in the adjuvant situation. In advanced disease, therapies with IL-2, interferon and different chemotherapeutic agents were not associated with better patient survival in the vast majority of patients. Therefore, an overview of novel immunological agents and combined therapeutic approaches is presented in this review, covering allogenic and autologous vaccine strategies, dendritic cell vaccination, strategies for adoptive immunotherapy and T cell receptor gene transfer, treatment with cytokines and monoclonal antibodies against the CTLA-4 antigen. As emerging treatment strategies are based on individual molecular and immunological characterization of individual tumors/patients, tailored targeted drug therapies move into the focus of treatment strategies. Multimodal combination therapies with considerable potential in altering the immune response in malignant melanoma patients are currently emerging. As oncology moves forward into the field of personalized therapies, a careful molecular and immunological characterization of patients is crucial to select patients for individual targeted treatment.
Sleep and Diabetes
Authors: Bopparaju Swetha , Surani Salim
Published: March 2010

Sleep apnea is clinically recognized as a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by recurrent apnea and/or hypopnea. Its prevalence ranges from 4% to 24%. It has been implicated as an independent risk factor for several conditions such as hypertension, stroke, arrhythmia, and myocardial infarction. Recently data has been emerging which suggests an independent association of obstructive sleep apnea with several components of the metabolic syndrome, particularly insulin resistance and abnormalities in lipid metabolism. We hereby review the salient features of the association between sleep and diabetes.