bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Performance Effect of Centralizing a Nation’s Elite Swim Program
Authors: Allen Sian V. , Vandenbogaerde Tom J. , Hopkins Will G.
Published: July 2014

Many national sporting organizations recruit talented athletes to well-resourced centralized training squads to improve their performance.

Purpose:

To develop a method to monitor performance progression of swimming squads and to use this method to assess the progression of New Zealand’s centralized elite swimming squad.

Methods:

Best annual long-course competition times of all New Zealand swimmers with at least 3 y of performances in an event between 2002 and 2013 were downloaded from takeyourmarks.com (~281,000 times from ~8500 swimmers). A mixed linear model accounting for event, age, club, year, and elite-squad membership produced estimates of mean annual performance for 175 swim clubs and mean estimates of the deviation of swimmers’ performances from their individual quadratic trajectories after they joined the elite squad. Effects were evaluated using magnitude-based inferences, with a smallest important improvement in swim time of –0.24%.

Results:

Before 2009, effects of elite-squad membership were mostly unclear and trivial to small in magnitude. Thereafter, both sexes showed clear additional performance enhancements, increasing from large in 2009 (males –1.4% ± 0.8%, females –1.5% ± 0.8%; mean ± 90% confidence limits) to extremely large in 2013 (males –6.8% ± 1.7%, females –9.8% ± 2.9%). Some clubs also showed clear performance trends during the 11-y period.

Conclusions:

Our method of quantifying deviations from individual trends in competition performance with a mixed model showed that Swimming New Zealand’s centralization strategy took several years to produce substantial performance effects. The method may also be useful for evaluating performance-enhancement strategies introduced at national or club level in other sports.
High-Intensity Progressive Resistance Training Increases Strength With No Change in Cardiovascular Function and Autonomic Neural Regulation in Older Adults
Authors: Kanegusuku Hélcio , Queiroz Andréia C.C. , Silva Valdo J.D. , de Mello Marco T. , Ugrinowitsch Carlos , Forjaz Cláudia L.M.
Published: July 2014

The effects of high-intensity progressive resistance training (HIPRT) on cardiovascular function and autonomic neural regulation in older adults are unclear. To investigate this issue, 25 older adults were randomly divided into two groups: control (CON, N = 13, 63 ± 4 years; no training) and HIPRT (N = 12, 64 ± 4 years; 2 sessions/week, 7 exercises, 2−4 sets, 10−4 RM). Before and after four months, maximal strength, quadriceps cross-sectional area (QCSA), clinic and ambulatory blood pressures (BP), systemic hemodynamics, and cardiovascular autonomic modulation were measured. Maximal strength and QCSA increased in the HIPRT group and did not change in the CON group. Clinic and ambulatory BP, cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, stroke volume, heart rate, and cardiac sympathovagal balance did not change in the HIPRT group or the CON group. In conclusion, HIPRT was effective at increasing muscle mass and strength without promoting changes in cardiovascular function or autonomic neural regulation.
Phosphoproteomic analysis identifies proteins involved in transcription-coupled mRNA decay as targets of Snf1 signaling
Authors: Braun Katherine A. , Vaga Stefania , Dombek Kenneth M. , Fang Fang , Palmisano Salvator , Aebersold Ruedi , Young Elton T.
Published: July 2014

The exoribonuclease Xrn1 participates in mRNA homeostasis downstream of the energy and nutrient-sensing kinase Snf1.
Improved Plaque Assay Identifies a Novel Anti-Chlamydia Ceramide Derivative with Altered Intracellular Localization
Authors: Banhart Sebastian , Saied Essa M. , Martini Andrea , Koch Sophia , Aeberhard Lukas , Madela Kazimierz , Arenz Christoph , Heuer Dagmar
Published: July 2014

Chlamydia trachomatis
is a medically important human pathogen causing different diseases, including trachoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness in developing countries, and sexually transmitted infections that can lead to infertility and ectopic pregnancies. There is no vaccine against
C. trachomatis
at present. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are used as standard therapy to treat the infection but have unwanted side effects, such as inducing persistent or recurring infections and affecting the host microbiome, necessitating the development of novel anti-
Chlamydia
therapies. Here, we describe the establishment of a robust, fast, and simple plaque assay using liquid overlay medium (LOM) for the identification of anti-
Chlamydia
compounds. Using the LOM plaque assay, we identified nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD)-labeled 1-
O
-methyl-ceramide-C
16
as a compound that efficiently inhibits
C. trachomatis
replication without affecting the viability of the host cell. Further detailed analyses indicate that 1-
O
-methyl-NBD-ceramide-C
16
acts outside the inclusion. Thereby, 1-
O
-methyl-NBD-ceramide-C
16
represents a lead compound for the development of novel anti-
Chlamydia
drugs and furthermore constitutes an agent to illuminate sphingolipid trafficking pathways in
Chlamydia
infections.
Effects of Season and Host Physiological State on the Diversity, Density, and Activity of the Arctic Ground Squirrel Cecal Microbiota
Authors: Stevenson Timothy J. , Duddleston Khrystyne N. , Buck C. Loren
Published: July 2014

We examined the seasonal changes of the cecal microbiota of captive arctic ground squirrels (
Urocitellus parryii
) by measuring microbial diversity and composition, total bacterial density and viability, and short-chain fatty acid concentrations at four sample periods (summer, torpor, interbout arousal, and posthibernation). Abundance of
Firmicutes
was lower, whereas abundances of
Bacteroidetes
,
Verrucomicrobia
, and
Proteobacteria
were higher during torpor and interbout arousal than in summer. Bacterial densities and percentages of live bacteria were significantly higher in summer than during torpor and interbout arousal. Likewise, total short-chain fatty acid concentrations were significantly greater during summer than during torpor and interbout arousal. Concentrations of individual short-chain fatty acids varied across sample periods, with butyrate concentrations higher and acetate concentrations lower during summer than at all other sample periods. Characteristics of the gut community posthibernation were more similar to those during torpor and interbout arousal than to those during summer. However, higher abundances of the genera
Bacteroides
and
Akkermansia
occurred during posthibernation than during interbout arousal and torpor. Collectively, our results clearly demonstrate that seasonal changes in physiology associated with hibernation and activity affect the gut microbial community in the arctic ground squirrel. Importantly, similarities between the gut microbiota of arctic ground squirrels and thirteen-lined ground squirrels suggest the potential for a core microbiota during hibernation.
A Novel Protein, RafX, Is Important for Common Cell Wall Polysaccharide Biosynthesis in Streptococcus pneumoniae: Implications for Bacterial Virulence
Authors: Wu Kaifeng , Huang Jian , Zhang Yanqing , Xu Wenchun , Xu Hongmei , Wang Libin , Cao Ju , Zhang Xuemei , Yin Yibing
Published: July 2014

Teichoic acid (TA), together with peptidoglycan (PG), represents a highly complex glycopolymer that ensures cell wall integrity and has several crucial physiological activities. Through an insertion-deletion mutation strategy, we show that Δ
rafX
mutants are impaired in cell wall covalently attached TA (WTA)-PG biosynthesis, as evidenced by their abnormal banding patterns and reduced amounts of WTA in comparison with wild-type strains. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed an essential role for external loop 4 and some highly conserved amino acid residues in the function of RafX protein. The
rafX
gene was highly conserved in closely related streptococcal species, suggesting an important physiological function in the lifestyle of streptococci. Moreover, a strain D39 Δ
rafX
mutant was impaired in bacterial growth, autolysis, bacterial division, and morphology. We observed that a strain R6 Δ
rafX
mutant was reduced in adhesion relative to the wild-type R6 strain, which was supported by an inhibition assay and a reduced amount of CbpA protein on the Δ
rafX
mutant bacterial cell surface, as shown by flow cytometric analysis. Finally, Δ
rafX
mutants were significantly attenuated in virulence in a murine sepsis model. Together, these findings suggest that RafX contributes to the biosynthesis of WTA, which is essential for full pneumococcal virulence.
Functional Metabolic Map of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, a Beneficial Human Gut Microbe
Authors: Heinken Almut , Khan M. Tanweer , Paglia Giuseppe , Rodionov Dmitry A. , Harmsen Hermie J. M. , Thiele Ines
Published: July 2014

The human gut microbiota plays a central role in human well-being and disease. In this study, we present an integrated, iterative approach of computational modeling,
in vitro
experiments, metabolomics, and genomic analysis to accelerate the identification of metabolic capabilities for poorly characterized (anaerobic) microorganisms. We demonstrate this approach for the beneficial human gut microbe
Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
strain A2-165. We generated an automated draft reconstruction, which we curated against the limited biochemical data. This reconstruction modeling was used to develop
in silico
and
in vitro
a chemically defined medium (CDM), which was validated experimentally. Subsequent metabolomic analysis of the spent medium for growth on CDM was performed. We refined our metabolic reconstruction according to
in vitro
observed metabolite consumption and secretion and propose improvements to the current genome annotation of
F. prausnitzii
A2-165. We then used the reconstruction to systematically characterize its metabolic properties. Novel carbon source utilization capabilities and inabilities were predicted based on metabolic modeling and validated experimentally. This study resulted in a functional metabolic map of
F. prausnitzii
, which is available for further applications. The presented workflow can be readily extended to other poorly characterized and uncharacterized organisms to yield novel biochemical insights about the target organism.
Localization of Anionic Phospholipids in Escherichia coli Cells
Authors: Oliver Piercen M. , Crooks John A. , Leidl Mathias , Yoon Earl J. , Saghatelian Alan , Weibel Douglas B.
Published: July 2014

Cardiolipin (CL) is an anionic phospholipid with a characteristically large curvature and is of growing interest for two primary reasons: (i) it binds to and regulates many peripheral membrane proteins in bacteria and mitochondria, and (ii) it is distributed asymmetrically in rod-shaped cells and is concentrated at the poles and division septum. Despite the growing number of studies of CL, its function in bacteria remains unknown. 10-
N
-Nonyl acridine orange (NAO) is widely used to image CL in bacteria and mitochondria, as its interaction with CL is reported to produce a characteristic red-shifted fluorescence emission. Using a suite of biophysical techniques, we quantitatively studied the interaction of NAO with anionic phospholipids under physiologically relevant conditions. We found that NAO is promiscuous in its binding and has photophysical properties that are largely insensitive to the structure of diverse anionic phospholipids to which it binds. Being unable to rely solely on NAO to characterize the localization of CL in
Escherichia coli
cells, we instead used quantitative fluorescence microscopy, mass spectrometry, and mutants deficient in specific classes of anionic phospholipids. We found CL and phosphatidylglycerol (PG) concentrated in the polar regions of
E. coli
cell membranes; depletion of CL by genetic approaches increased the concentration of PG at the poles. Previous studies suggested that some CL-binding proteins also have a high affinity for PG and display a pattern of cellular localization that is not influenced by depletion of CL. Framed within the context of these previous experiments, our results suggest that PG may play an essential role in bacterial physiology by maintaining the anionic character of polar membranes.
The effects of designation and volume of neonatal care on mortality and morbidity outcomes of very preterm infants in England: retrospective population-based cohort study
Authors: Watson S I , Arulampalam W , Petrou S , Marlow N , Morgan A S , Draper E S , Santhakumaran S , Modi N ,   On behalf of the Neonatal Data Analysis Unit and the NESCOP Group
Published: July 2014

Objective

To examine the effects of designation and volume of neonatal care at the hospital of birth on mortality and morbidity outcomes in very preterm infants in a managed clinical network setting.

Design

A retrospective, population-based analysis of operational clinical data using adjusted logistic regression and instrumental variables (IV) analyses.

Setting

165 National Health Service neonatal units in England contributing data to the National Neonatal Research Database at the Neonatal Data Analysis Unit and participating in the Neonatal Economic, Staffing and Clinical Outcomes Project.

Participants

20 554 infants born at <33 weeks completed gestation (17 995 born at 27–32 weeks; 2559 born at <27 weeks), admitted to neonatal care and either discharged or died, over the period 1 January 2009–31 December 2011.

Intervention

Tertiary designation or high-volume neonatal care at the hospital of birth.

Outcomes

Neonatal mortality, any in-hospital mortality, surgery for necrotising enterocolitis, surgery for retinopathy of prematurity, bronchopulmonary dysplasia and postmenstrual age at discharge.

Results

Infants born at <33 weeks gestation and admitted to a high-volume neonatal unit at the hospital of birth were at reduced odds of neonatal mortality (IV regression odds ratio (OR) 0.70, 95% CI 0.53 to 0.92) and any in-hospital mortality (IV regression OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.85). The effect of volume on any in-hospital mortality was most acute among infants born at <27 weeks gestation (IV regression OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.79). A negative association between tertiary-level unit designation and mortality was also observed with adjusted logistic regression for infants born at <27 weeks gestation.

Conclusions

High-volume neonatal care provided at the hospital of birth may protect against in-hospital mortality in very preterm infants. Future developments of neonatal services should promote delivery of very preterm infants at hospitals with high-volume neonatal units.
A protocol for a scoping and qualitative study to identify and evaluate indications for damage control surgery and damage control interventions in civilian trauma patients
Authors: Roberts Derek J , Zygun David A , Kirkpatrick Andrew W , Ball Chad G , Faris Peter D , Bobrovitz Niklas , Robertson Helen Lee , Stelfox H Thomas
Published: July 2014

Introduction

Initial abbreviated surgery with planned reoperation (damage control surgery) is frequently used for major trauma patients to rapidly control haemorrhage while limiting surgical stress. Although damage control surgery may decrease mortality risk among the severely injured, it may also be associated with several complications when inappropriately applied. We seek to scope the literature on trauma damage control surgery, identify its proposed indications, map and clarify their definitions, and examine the content and evidence on which they are based. We also seek to generate a comprehensive list of unique indications to inform an appropriateness rating process.

Methods and analysis

We will search 11 electronic bibliographic databases, included article bibliographies and grey literature sources for citations involving civilian trauma patients that proposed one or more indications for damage control surgery or a damage control intervention. Indications will be classified into a predefined conceptual framework and categorised and described using qualitative content analysis. Constant comparative methodology will be used to create, modify and test codes describing principal findings or injuries (eg, bilobar liver injury) and associated decision variables (eg, coagulopathy) that comprise the reported indications. After a unique list of codes have been developed, we will use the organisational system recommended by the RAND/University of California, Los Angeles (RAND-UCLA) Appropriateness Rating Method to group principal findings or injuries into chapters (subdivided by associated decision variables) according to broader clinical findings encountered during surgical practice (eg, major liver injury).

Ethics and dissemination

This study will constitute the first step in a multistep research programme aimed at developing appropriate, evidence-informed indications for damage control in civilian trauma patients. With use of an integrated knowledge translation intervention that includes collaboration with surgical practice leaders, this research may allow for development of indications that are more likely to be relevant to and used by surgeons. Ethics approval is not required for this study.
Spatial semiparametric models improve estimates of species abundance and distribution
Authors: Shelton Andrew Olaf , Thorson James T. , Ward Eric J. , Feist Blake E.
Published: July 2014

Accurate estimates of abundance are imperative for successful conservation and management. Classical, stratified abundance estimators provide unbiased estimates of abundance, but such estimators may be imprecise and impede assessment of population status and trend when the distribution of individuals is highly variable in space. Model-based procedures that account for important environmental covariates can improve overall precision, but frequently there is uncertainty about the contribution of particular environmental variables and a lack of information about variables that are important determinants of abundance. We develop a general semiparametric mixture model that incorporates measured habitat variables and a nonparametric smoothing term to account for unmeasured variables. We contrast this spatial habitat approach with two stratified abundance estimators and compare the three models using an intensively managed marine fish, darkblotched rockfish (Sebastes crameri). We show that the spatial habitat model yields more precise, biologically reasonable, and interpretable estimates of abundance than the classical methods. Our results suggest that while design-based estimators are unbiased, they may exaggerate temporal variability of populations and strongly influence inference about population trend. Furthermore, when such estimates are used in broader meta-analyses, such imprecision may affect the broader biological inference (e.g., the causes and consequences of the variability of populations).
Probing the relationship between quantum entanglement and non-locality for different states
Authors: Ma Wen-Chao , Shi Jia-Dong , Xu Shuai , Song Xue-Ke , Ye Liu
Published: July 2014

The relationship between quantum entanglement and non-locality is studied in a two-qubit system for pure states and Werner states. It is found that Werner states are more entangled than pure states if one compares the negativity for a given degree of non-locality. Furthermore, we also find that the entanglement produces sudden death for pure states but reaches to a fixed value for Werner states if the non-locality is not satisfied.
THE POINT-SET EMBEDDABILITY PROBLEM FOR PLANE GRAPHS
Authors: BIEDL THERESE , VATSHELLE MARTIN
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we study the point-set embeddability problem, i.e., given a planar graph and a set of points, is there a mapping of the vertices to the points such that the resulting straight-line drawing is planar? It was known that this problem is NP-hard if the embedding can be chosen, but becomes polynomial for triangulated graphs of treewidth 3. We show here that in fact it can be answered for all planar graphs with a fixed combinatorial embedding that have constant treewidth and constant face-degree. We prove that as soon as one of the conditions is dropped (i.e., either the treewidth is unbounded or some faces have large degrees), point-set embeddability with a fixed embedding becomes NP-hard. The NP-hardness holds even for a 3-connected planar graph with constant treewidth, triangulated planar graphs, or 2-connected outer-planar graphs. These results also show that the convex point-set embeddability problem (where faces must be convex) is NP-hard, but we prove that it becomes polynomial if the graph has bounded treewidth and bounded maximum degree.
Computer Science Education in French Secondary Schools
Authors: Baron Georges-Louis , Drot-Delange Beatrice , Grandbastien Monique , Tort Françoise
Published: July 2014

Computer science as a school subject in France is characterized by a succession of promising starts that have not yet been transformed into perennial solutions. The main goal of this article is to analyze this complex situation from a historical perspective, and describe the current rebirth of an optional Computer Science course in the last year of secondary education, together with other initiatives that might contribute to introducing Computer Science as a school subject. We also aim at discussing some perspectives for the future to support a better informatics education for all students. The sources we have used are mainly historical and administrative, however we have also drawn on empirical research and surveys conducted since the seventies. This article therefore takes both retrospective and perspective viewpoints.
Fluid Dynamics and Viscosity in Strongly Correlated Fluids
Authors: Schäfer Thomas
Published: July 2014

We review the modern view of fluid dynamics as an effective low-energy, long-wavelength theory of many-body systems at finite temperature. We introduce the concept of a nearly perfect fluid, defined by a ratio η/s of shear viscosity to entropy density of order ℏ/kBor less. Nearly perfect fluids exhibit hydrodynamic behavior at all distances down to the microscopic length scale of the fluid. We summarize arguments that suggest that there is fundamental limit to fluidity, and we review the current experimental situation of measurements of η/s in strongly coupled quantum fluids.
Mesonic Low-Energy Constants
Authors: Bijnens Johan , Ecker Gerhard
Published: July 2014

We review the status of the coupling constants of chiral Lagrangians in the meson sector, the so-called low-energy constants (LECs). We emphasize the chiral SU(2) and SU(3) Lagrangians for the strong interactions of light mesons and discuss the theoretical and experimental input for determining the corresponding LECs. In the two-flavor sector, we review the knowledge of the [Formula: see text] LECs from both continuum fits and lattice QCD analyses. For chiral SU(3), next-to-next-to-leading-order (NNLO) effects play a much greater role. Our main new results are fits of the LECs Li at both next-to-leading order (NLO) and NNLO, making extensive use of the available knowledge of NNLO LECs. We compare our results with available lattice determinations. We then discuss resonance saturation of LECs and the convergence of chiral SU(3) to NNLO. Finally, we review the status of predictions for the LECs of chiral Lagrangians with dynamical photons and leptons.
Superconducting Radio-Frequency Cavities
Authors: Padamsee Hasan S.
Published: July 2014

Superconducting cavities have been operating routinely in a variety of accelerators with a range of demanding applications. With the success of completed projects, niobium cavities have become an enabling technology, offering upgrade paths for existing facilities and pushing frontier accelerators for nuclear physics, high-energy physics, materials science, and the life sciences. With continued progress in basic understanding of radio-frequency superconductivity, the performance of cavities has steadily improved to approach theoretical capabilities.
Mallotus philippinensisMuell. Arg (Euphorbiaceae): Ethnopharmacology and Phytochemistry Review
Authors: Gangwar Mayank , Goel R. K. , Nath Gopal
Published: July 2014

Mallotus philippinensisMuell. Arg (Euphorbiaceae) are widely distributed perennial shrub or small tree in tropical and subtropical region in outer Himalayas regions with an altitude below 1,000 m and are reported to have wide range of pharmacological activities.Mallotus philippinensisspecies are known to contain different natural compounds, mainly phenols, diterpenoids, steroids, flavonoids, cardenolides, triterpenoids, coumarins, isocoumarins, and many more especially phenols; that is, bergenin, mallotophilippinens, rottlerin, and isorottlerin have been isolated, identified, and reported interesting biological activities such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, cytotoxicity, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunoregulatory activity protein inhibition against cancer cell. We have selected all the pharmacological aspects and toxicological and all its biological related studies. The present review reveals thatMallotus philippinensisis a valuable source of medicinally important natural molecules and provides convincing support for its future use in modern medicine. However, the existing knowledge is very limited aboutMallotus philippinensisand its different parts like steam, leaf, and fruit. Further, more detailed safety data pertaining to the acute and subacute toxicity and cardio- and immunotoxicity also needs to be generated for crude extracts or its pure isolated compounds. This review underlines the interest to continue the study of this genus of the Euphorbiaceae.
Integrated Navigation Fusion Strategy of INS/UWB for Indoor Carrier Attitude Angle and Position Synchronous Tracking
Authors: Fan Qigao , Wu Yaheng , Hui Jing , Wu Lei , Yu Zhenzhong , Zhou Lijuan
Published: July 2014

In some GPS failure conditions, positioning for mobile target is difficult. This paper proposed a new method based on INS/UWB for attitude angle and position synchronous tracking of indoor carrier. Firstly, error model of INS/UWB integrated system is built, including error equation of INS and UWB. And combined filtering model of INS/UWB is researched. Simulation results show that the two subsystems are complementary. Secondly, integrated navigation data fusion strategy of INS/UWB based on Kalman filtering theory is proposed. Simulation results show that FAKF method is better than the conventional Kalman filtering. Finally, an indoor experiment platform is established to verify the integrated navigation theory of INS/UWB, which is geared to the needs of coal mine working environment. Static and dynamic positioning results show that the INS/UWB integrated navigation system is stable and real-time, positioning precision meets the requirements of working condition and is better than any independent subsystem.
Multiple Solutions to Elliptic Equations onRNwith Combined Nonlinearities
Authors: Yang Miaomiao , Li Anran
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we are concerned with the multiplicity of nontrivial radial solutions for the following elliptic equations(P)λ:-Δu+Vxu=λQxuq-2u+Qxfu,x∈RN;u(x)→0,asx→+∞, where1<q<2,0<λ∈R,N≥3,V, andQare radial positive functions, which can be vanishing or coercive at infinity, andfis asymptotically linear at infinity.
Displacement-Based Back-Analysis of the Model Parameters of the Nuozhadu High Earth-Rockfill Dam
Authors: Wu Yongkang , Yuan Huina , Zhang Bingyin , Zhang Zongliang , Yu Yuzhen
Published: July 2014

The parameters of the constitutive model, the creep model, and the wetting model of materials of the Nuozhadu high earth-rockfill dam were back-analyzed together based on field monitoring displacement data by employing an intelligent back-analysis method. In this method, an artificial neural network is used as a substitute for time-consuming finite element analysis, and an evolutionary algorithm is applied for both network training and parameter optimization. To avoid simultaneous back-analysis of many parameters, the model parameters of the three main dam materials are decoupled and back-analyzed separately in a particular order. Displacement back-analyses were performed at different stages of the construction period, with and without considering the creep and wetting deformations. Good agreement between the numerical results and the monitoring data was obtained for most observation points, which implies that the back-analysis method and decoupling method are effective for solving complex problems with multiple models and parameters. The comparison of calculation results based on different sets of back-analyzed model parameters indicates the necessity of taking the effects of creep and wetting into consideration in the numerical analyses of high earth-rockfill dams. With the resulting model parameters, the stress and deformation distributions at completion are predicted and analyzed.
An Efficient Biobjective Heuristic for Scheduling Workflows on Heterogeneous DVS-Enabled Processors
Authors: Zhou Pengji , Zheng Wei
Published: July 2014

Energy consumption has recently become a major concern to multiprocessor computing systems, of which the primary performance goal has traditionally been reducing execution time of applications. In the context of scheduling, there have been increasing research interests on algorithms using dynamic voltage scaling (DVS), which allows processors to operate at lower voltage supply levels at the expense of sacrificing processing speed, to acquire a satisfactory trade-off between quality of schedule and energy consumption. The problem considered in this paper is to find a schedule for a workflow, which is normally a precedence constrained application, on a bounded number of heterogeneous DVS-enabled processors, so as to minimize both makespan (overall execution time of the application) and energy consumption. A fast and efficient heuristic is proposed and evaluated using simulation with two real-world applications as well as randomly generated ones.
Identification and Preclinical Pharmacology of theγ-Secretase Modulator BMS-869780
Authors: Toyn Jeremy H. , Thompson Lorin A. , Lentz Kimberley A. , Meredith Jere E. , Burton Catherine R. , Sankaranararyanan Sethu , Guss Valerie , Hall Tracey , Iben Lawrence G. , Krause Carol M. , Krause Rudy , Lin Xu-Alan , Pierdomenico Maria , Polson Craig , Robertson Alan S. , Denton R. Rex , Grace James E. , Morrison John , Raybon Joseph , Zhuo Xiaoliang , Snow Kimberly , Padmanabha Ramesh , Agler Michele , Esposito Kim , Harden David , Prack Margaret , Varma Sam , Wong Victoria , Zhu Yingjie , Zvyaga Tatyana , Gerritz Samuel , Marcin Lawrence R. , Higgins Mendi A. , Shi Jianliang , Wei Cong , Cantone Joseph L. , Drexler Dieter M. , Macor John E. , Olson Richard E. , Ahlijanian Michael K. , Albright Charles F.
Published: July 2014

Alzheimer’s disease is the most prevalent cause of dementia and is associated with accumulation of amyloid-βpeptide (Aβ), particularly the 42-amino acid Aβ1-42, in the brain. Aβ1-42 levels can be decreased byγ-secretase modulators (GSM), which are small molecules that modulateγ-secretase, an enzyme essential for Aβproduction. BMS-869780 is a potent GSM that decreased Aβ1-42 and Aβ1-40 and increased Aβ1-37 and Aβ1-38, without inhibiting overall levels of Aβpeptides or other APP processing intermediates. BMS-869780 also did not inhibit Notch processing byγ-secretase and lowered brain Aβ1-42 without evidence of Notch-related side effects in rats. Human pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were predicted through allometric scaling of PK in rat, dog, and monkey and were combined with the rat pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters to predict the relationship between BMS-869780 dose, exposure and Aβ1-42 levels in human. Off-target and safety margins were then based on comparisons to the predicted exposure required for robust Aβ1-42 lowering. Because of insufficient safety predictions and the relatively high predicted human daily dose of 700 mg, further evaluation of BMS-869780 as a potential clinical candidate was discontinued. Nevertheless, BMS-869780 demonstrates the potential of the GSM approach for robust lowering of brain Aβ1-42 without Notch-related side effects.
Adaptive Fault‐Tolerant Cruise Control for a Class of High‐Speed Trains with Unknown Actuator Failure and Control Input Saturation
Authors: Tao Tao , Xu Hongze
Published: July 2014

This paper investigates the position and velocity tracking control of a class of high‐speed trains (HST) with unknown actuator failures (AF) and control input saturation (CIS). Firstly, a nonlinear dynamic model for HST at normal operating status is built. The structure of traction system in HST is analyzed and the corresponding model for HST with unknown AF is presented as well. The type of AF under consideration is that some of the plant inputs are influenced by hopping function. An adaptive model‐based fault detection and diagnosis (AMFDD) module is proposed based on immersion and invariance (I&I) method to make decisions on whether a fault has occurred. A new framework to design a monotone mapping is proposed in I&I method, that is, P(x)‐monotone. Using on‐line obtained fault information, an adaptive law is designed to update the controller parameters to handle unknown AF and CIS in HST simultaneously when some of plant parameters are unknown. Closed‐loop stability and asymptotic position and velocity tracking are ensured. Numerical simulations of China Railways High‐speed 2 (CRH2) train are provided to verify the effectiveness of the presented scheme.
Cholesterol Oxidase Binds TLR2 and Modulates Functional Responses of Human Macrophages
Authors: Bednarska Katarzyna , Kielbik Michal , Sulowska Zofia , Dziadek Jaroslaw , Klink Magdalena
Published: July 2014

Cholesterol oxidase (ChoD) is considered to be an important virulence factor forMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb), but its influence on macrophage activity is unknown. Here we usedNocardia erythropolisChoD, which is very similar to the Mtb enzyme (70% identity at the amino-acid level), to evaluate the impact of bacterial ChoD on the activity of THP-1-derived macrophages in vitro. We found that ChoD decreased the surface expression of Toll-like receptor type 2 (TLR2) and complement receptor 3 (CR3) on these macrophages. Flow cytometry and confocal microscopy showed that ChoD competed with lipoteichoic acid for ligand binding sites on TLR2 but not on CR3, suggesting that ChoD signaling is mediated via TLR2. Binding of ChoD to the membrane of macrophages had diverse effects on the activity of macrophages, activating p38 mitogen activated kinase and stimulating production of a large amount of interleukin-10. Moreover, ChoD primed macrophages to enhance the production of reactive oxygen species in response to the phorbol myristate acetate, which was reduced by “switching off” TLR-derived signaling through interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases 1 and 4 inhibition. Our study revealed that ChoD interacts directly with macrophages via TLR2 and influences the biological activity of macrophages during the development of the initial response to infection.
Error Estimates for Solutions of the Semilinear Parabolic Equation in Whole Space
Authors: Hu Xiaomei
Published: July 2014

This paper is focused on the error estimates for solutions of the three-dimensional semilinear parabolic equation with initial datau0∈L2(ℝ3). Employing the energy methods and Fourier analysis technique, it is proved that the error between the solution of the semilinear parabolic equation and that of linear heat equation has the behavior asO((1+t)−3/8).
A Lower Bound on the Sinc Function and Its Application
Authors: Hu Yue , Mortici Cristinel
Published: July 2014

A lower bound on the sinc function is given. Application for the sequencebnn=1∞which related to Carleman inequality is given as well.
Applying Dynamic Priority Scheduling Scheme to Static Systems of Pinwheel Task Model in Power-Aware Scheduling
Authors: Seol Ye-In , Kim Young-Kuk
Published: July 2014

Power-aware scheduling reduces CPU energy consumption in hard real-time systems through dynamic voltage scaling (DVS). In this paper, we deal with pinwheel task model which is known as static and predictable task model and could be applied to various embedded or ubiquitous systems. In pinwheel task model, each task’s priority is static and its execution sequence could be predetermined. There have been many static approaches to power-aware scheduling in pinwheel task model. But, in this paper, we will show that the dynamic priority scheduling results in power-aware scheduling could be applied to pinwheel task model. This method is more effective than adopting the previous static priority scheduling methods in saving energy consumption and, for the system being still static, it is more tractable and applicable to small sized embedded or ubiquitous computing. Also, we introduce a novel power-aware scheduling algorithm which exploits all slacks under preemptive earliest-deadline first scheduling which is optimal in uniprocessor system. The dynamic priority method presented in this paper could be applied directly to static systems of pinwheel task model. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm with the algorithmic complexity ofO(n) reduces the energy consumption by 10–80% over the existing algorithms.
Micropropagation of Bioencapsulation and Ultrastructural Features of Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) GrownIn VivoandIn Vitro
Authors: Mohajer Sadegh , Mat Taha Rosna , Mohajer Minoo , Khorasani Esmaeili Arash
Published: July 2014

To explore the potential ofin vitrorapid regeneration, three varieties (Golpaygan-181, Orumieh-1763, and Gorgan-1601) of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifoliaScop. syn.Onobrychis sativaL.) were evaluated. For the first time, an encapsulation protocol was established from somatic embryogenic callus in torpedo and cotyledonary stages to create artificial seeds. Callus derived from different concentrations of Kinetin (0–2.0 mg L−1) and Indole-3-acetic acid (0–2.0 mg L−1) was coated with sodium alginate and subsequently cultured either in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium or in soil substrate. Adventitious shoots from synthetic beads developed into rooting in full and half strength MS medium supplemented with various concentrations of auxin and cytokinin. Prolonged water conservation of black and red soils (1 : 1) had the highest rate of survival plantlets in the acclimatization process. Diverse resistance techniques inOnobrychis viciifoliawere evaluated when the plants were subjected to water deficiency. Higher frequency of epicuticular waxes was observed inin vivoleaves compared toin vitroleaves. Jagged trichomes nonsecreting glands covered by spines were only observed in the lower leaf side. Ultimately, stomata indices were 0.127 (abaxial), 0.188 (adaxial) inin vivoand 0.121 (abaxial), 0.201 (adaxial) inin vitroleaves.
Treatment of Vertigo: A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial Comparing Efficacy and Safety ofGinkgo bilobaExtract EGb 761 and Betahistine
Authors: Sokolova Larysa , Hoerr Robert , Mishchenko Tamara
Published: July 2014

A multicenter clinical trial was performed to compare the efficacy and safety ofGinkgo bilobaextract EGb 761 and betahistine at recommended doses in patients with vertigo. One hundred and sixty patients (mean age 58 years) were randomly assigned to double-blind treatment with EGb 761 (240 mg per day) or betahistine (32 mg per day) for 12 weeks. An 11-point numeric analogue scale, the Vertigo Symptom Scale—short form, the Clinical Global Impression Scales and the Sheehan Disability Scale were used as outcome measures. Both treatment groups were comparable at baseline and improved in all outcome measures during the course of treatment. There was no significant intergroup difference with regard to changes in any outcome measure. Numerically, improvements of patients receiving EGb 761 were slightly more pronounced on all scales. Clinical global impression was rated “very much improved” or “much improved” in 79% of patients treated with EGb 761 and in 70% receiving betahistine. With 27 adverse events in 19 patients, EGb 761 showed better tolerability than betahistine with 39 adverse events in 31 patients. In conclusion, the two drugs were similarly effective in the treatment of vertigo, but EGb 761 was better tolerated. This trial is registered with controlled-trials.comISRCTN02262139.
Damage Assessment of Two-Way Bending RC Slabs Subjected to Blast Loadings
Authors: Jia Haokai , Yu Ling , Wu Guiying
Published: July 2014

Terrorist attacks on vulnerable structures and their individual structural members may cause considerable damage and loss of life. However, the research work on response and damage analysis of single structural components, for example, a slab to blast loadings, is limited in the literature and this is necessary for assessing its vulnerability. This study investigates the blast response and damage assessment of a two-way bending reinforced concrete (RC) slab subjected to blast loadings. Numerical modeling and analysis are carried out using the commercial finite element code LS-DYNA 971. A damage assessment criterion for the two-way bending RC slab is defined based on the original and residual uniformly distributed load-carrying capacity. Parametric studies are carried out to investigate the effects of explosive weight and explosive position on the damage mode of the two-way RC slab. Some design parameters, such as the boundary conditions and the negative reinforcement steel bar length, are also discussed. The illustrated results show that the proposed criterion can apply to all failure modes. The damage assessment results are more accurate than the ones due to the conventional deformation criterion.
Small Signal Model for VSC-HVDC Connected DFIG-Based Offshore Wind Farms
Authors: Liao Kai , He Zheng-you , Sun Bin
Published: July 2014

Large-scale offshore wind farms are integrated with onshore ac grids through the voltage source converter based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) transmission system. The impact on the stability of the ac grids will be significant. The small signal model of a wind farm connected with voltage source converter based dc transmission system is studied in this paper. A suitable model for small signal stability analysis is presented. The control system of wind generator and the HVDC system has also been modeled in this model for small signal stability analysis. The impact of the control parameters on the network stability is investigated.
The Nanomechanical and Tribological Properties of Restorative Dental Composites after Exposure in Different Types of Media
Authors: Fan Hong-Yi , Gan Xue-Qi , Liu Yang , Zhu Zhuo-Li , Yu Hai-Yang
Published: July 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of various acidic solutions on the surface mechanical properties of commercial resin composites with different microstructures (Filtek Z350 XT, TPH3, Durafill, and Superlux). Specimens were immersed in orange juice, cola, and distilled water for 5 days and the nanohardness, elastic modulus, and wear behavior of the samples were determined via the nanoindentation test and a reciprocating nanoscratch test. The nanoscratch morphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the wear depth was recorded by scanning probe microscopy (SPM). The results indicate that the nanofilled resin composites had the greatest hardest and highest elastic modulus, whereas the microfilled composites exhibited the lowest nanohardness and elastic modulus values. SEM observations showed that all resin composites underwent erosion and surface degradation after immersion in acidic solutions. Furthermore, the wear resistance was influenced by the composition of the acidic solution and was correlated with the nanohardness and elastic modulus. The dominant wear mechanism changed from plastic deformation to delamination after immersion in acidic solutions.
Synthesis and Electrochemical Performance of LiMnPO4by Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Fujimoto Daichi , Lei Yu , Huang Zheng-Hong , Kang Feiyu , Kawamura Junichi
Published: July 2014

LiMnPO4with olivinestructure which is the promising candidate for high voltage cathode material was synthesized by hydrothermal method. In order to synthesize high purity and well-defined LiMnPO4, several precursors for Li, Mn, and P sources and hydrothermal reaction parameters including temperature and [H2O]/[Mn] value are optimized. By analyzing the structure, Mn valence, morphology, and chemical ratio via XRD, XPS, Raman, SEM, and ICP LiMnPO4synthesized from manganese acetate tetrahydrate have single phase of LiMnPO4without impurity and showed charge and discharge reaction caused by Mn2+/Mn3+redox. Specific capacity of synthesized LiMnPO4grew up during cycling. Moreover, when hydrothermal temperature was set at 150°C and [H2O]/[Mn] value was set at 15, discharge capacity as high as 70 mAh/g was obtained at1/20  Crate.
Singular LQ Problem for Irregular Singular Systems
Authors: Fang Qingxiang , Zhang Baolin , Feng Jun-e
Published: July 2014

This paper is concerned with the singular LQ problem for irregular singular systems with persistent disturbances. The full information feedback control method is employed to achieve the optimal control. By restricted system equivalence transformation, the system state is decomposed into free state and restricted state and the input is decomposed into free input and forced input. Some sufficient conditions for the unique existence of optimal control-state pair are derived and these conditions are all described unitedly with matrix rank equalities. The optimal control-state pair can be explicitly formulated via solving an algebraic Riccati equation and a Sylvester equation. Moreover, under the optimal control-state pair, the resulting system has no free state.
Drug Retention Rates and Treatment Discontinuation among Anti-TNF-αAgents in Psoriatic Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis in Clinical Practice
Authors: Fabbroni Marta , Cantarini Luca , Caso Francesco , Costa Luisa , Pagano Veronica Anna , Frediani Bruno , Manganelli Stefania , Galeazzi Mauro
Published: July 2014

Objective.The study aim was to determine treatment persistence rates and to identify causes of discontinuation in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients in clinical practice.Methods.Patients treated with adalimumab (ADA), etanercept (ETA), or infliximab (INF) were retrospectively included. Treatment persistence rates were analyzed by means of a stepwise logistic regression. Differences between therapy duration were assessed by means of an analysis of variance model (ANOVA), while a chi-square test was used to evaluate relationships between therapies and causes of treatment discontinuation and the administration of concomitant disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) among therapies and types of disease considering completed courses of therapy versus courses that were discontinued.Results.268 patients received a total of 353 anti-TNF treatment courses (97 ADA, 180 ETA, and 76 INF). Comparison among therapies showed significant difference regarding the treatment persistence rates due to the contrast between ETA and INF (P=0.0062). We observed that 84.7% of patients were still responding after 6 months of follow-up. Comparison among diseases showed that there were significant differences between PsA and AS (P=0.0073) and PsA and PsA with predominant axial involvement (P=0.0467) in terms of duration of the therapy, while there were no significant differences with regard to the persistence rate.Conclusions.In this cohort, anti-TNF-αtherapy was associated with high drug persistence rates. As in rheumatoid arthritis, switching to another anti-TNF-αagent can be an effective option when, during the treatment of AS or PsA, therapy is suspended because of inefficacy or an adverse event. Combination therapy with DMARDs was associated with a better persistence rate.