bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BRIGHT-LIKE SOLITON SOLUTION IN QUASI-ONE-DIMENSIONAL BEC IN THIRD ORDER BY INTERACTION RADIUS
Authors: ANDREEV P. A. , KUZ'MENKOV L. S.
Published: August 2012

Nonlinear Schrödinger equations and corresponding quantum hydrodynamic (QHD) equations are widely used in studying of ultracold boson–fermion mixtures and superconductors. In this article, we show that more exact account of interaction in Bose–Einstein condensate (BEC), in comparison with the Gross–Pitaevskii (GP) approximation, leads to the existence of a new type of solitons. We use a set of QHD equations in the third order by the interaction radius (TOIR), which corresponds to the GP equation in the first order by the interaction radius. We analytically obtain a soliton solution which is an area of increased atom concentration. The conditions for existence of the soliton are studied. It is shown what solution exists if the interaction between the particles is repulsive. Particle concentration has been achieved experimentally for the BEC is of order of 1012–1014 cm-3. In this case the solution exists if the scattering length is of the order of 1 μm, which can be reached using the Feshbach resonance. It is one of the limit case of existence of the solution. The corresponding scattering length decrease with the increasing of concentration of particles. We have shown that account of interaction up to TOIR approximation leads to new effects. The investigation of effects in the TOIR approximation gives a more detail information on interaction potentials between the atoms and can be used for a more detail investigation of the interatomic potential structure.
A FIRST PRINCIPLE ANALYSIS ON THE STRUCTURAL AND PHOTO-INDUCED CHARGE TRANSFER IN RUTHENIUM COMPLEXES OF HEXAAZATRIPHENYLENE
Authors: LIU SHA-SHA , LIU XIAO-XIA , QIU KANG , SONG PENG
Published: August 2012

Three complexes [ Ru ( CN )4( HAT )]2-( HAT = hexaazatriphenylene ;[ Ru 1]2-), [{ Ru ( CN )4}2 (μ2- HAT )]4-([ Ru 2]4-) and [{ Ru ( CN )4}3(μ3- HAT )]6-([ Ru 3]6-) for supramolecular assemblies are investigated by quantum-chemical calculations. Due to symmetry of complexes, the energy level differences are 2.014 eV and 2.019 eV for [ Ru 2]4- and [ Ru 3]6- complex, which are about 0.4 eV larger than that for [ Ru 1]2- complex. The absorption maximum for [ Ru 1]2- complex in water is at 375.8 nm. Coordination of the second and third Ru(II) center to produce [ Ru 2]4- and [ Ru 3]6- result in a red-shift of this strongest absorption to 453.4 nm and 468.1 nm, respectively. Absorption maximum of three complexes belong to MLCT transitions, which are revealed by frontier molecular orbital theory and charge difference density method.
AN EVOLUTIONARY OPTIMIZED FOOTSTEP PLANNER FOR THE NAVIGATION OF HUMANOID ROBOTS
Authors: HONG YOUNG-DAE , KIM JONG-HWAN
Published: August 2012

In this paper, an evolutionary optimized footstep planner for the navigation of humanoid robots is proposed. A footstep planner based on a univector field navigation method is proposed to generate a command state (CS) as an input to a modifiable walking pattern generator (MWPG) at each footstep. The MWPG generates associated trajectories of every leg joint to follow the given CS. In order to satisfy various objectives in the navigation, the univector fields are optimized by evolutionary programming. The three objectives, shortest elapsed time to get to a destination, safety without obstacle collision, and less energy consumption, are considered with mechanical constraints of a real humanoid robot, that is, the maximum step length and allowable yawing range of the feet. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated through both computer simulation and experiment for a small-sized humanoid robot, HanSaRam-IX.
BEYOND KEYNESIANISM: GLOBAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS IN TIMES OF CRISIS
Authors: LIN JUSTIN YIFU , DOEMELAND DOERTE
Published: August 2012

Concerns have been raised that the "new normal" — a period of high unemployment, low returns on investment, high risks, and low growth — may become protracted in advanced economies. The world, therefore, needs a growth-lifting strategy. This strategy could take the form of a global infrastructure investment initiative that goes beyond the borders of advanced countries. Economic returns to infrastructure investments are high in developing countries, which have become important drivers of global growth. At the same time, infrastructure investments require capital goods, most of which are produced in high-income countries. Scaling up infrastructure investment in developing countries could, therefore, help generate a virtuous cycle in support of a global recovery.
CHINA'S SPECIAL ECONOMIC ZONES AND INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS: THE ENGINES FOR GROWTH
Authors: ZENG DOUGLAS ZHIHUA
Published: August 2012

The numerous special economic zones (SEZs) and industrial clusters that emerged after the country's reforms are without doubt two important engines of China's remarkable development. However, after 30 years of development, they also face many significant challenges in moving forward. This paper summarizes the development experiences of China's SEZs and industrial clusters (their formation, success factors, challenges, and possible areas or measures for policy intervention), based on case studies, interviews, field visits, and extensive reviews of the existing literature in an attempt to benefit other developing countries.
Heterogeneous Market Responses and the Listing Effect in M&A
Authors: Ma Qingzhong , Whidbee David A. , Zhang Wei
Published: August 2012

Unlisted acquisitions differ from listed ones in three important aspects: the possibility of forming blockholders, which substitute debt as a monitoring mechanism; the liquidity discount, which mitigates managerial hubris; and the distinct deal process through which two-sided asymmetric information is revealed. Due to these differences, same firm and deal characteristics could induce heterogeneous market responses, depending on the target listing status. We find that such heterogeneous responses exist in usual characteristics such as method of payment, relative size, acquirer size, leverage, and market-to-book ratios. After these heterogeneous responses are incorporated, the puzzling "listing effect" disappears. Our results also indicate that the conventional approach used to investigate pooled samples of listed and unlisted acquisitions is effectively misspecified due to omitted variables.
Pulse transmission techniques for the characterization of serpentinites from Central Greece
Authors: Diamantis K. , Karamousalis Th. , Gartzos E. , Migiros G.
Published: August 2012

Because the preparation of specimens from some smooth rocks such as serpentinites can often be difficult and expensive, the development of some predictive equations for the determination of their dynamic and mechanical properties as well as the degree of serpentinization would be useful. In this study, pulse transmission techniques were applied to estimate the above-mentioned characteristics using an indirect, but easy, fast and economical method. Serpentinite samples, taken from central Greece, were examined and the relationships between ultrasonic wave velocities and determined rock properties were investigated. The equations of the fitted lines and the determination coefficients (
R
2
) were calculated using the method of least-squares regression (simple regression analysis). The 95% confidence intervals are also presented. It is concluded that the degree of serpentinization and the dynamic and mechanical properties of serpentinites can be estimated from compressional- and shear-wave velocities using ultrasonic techniques.
Making sense of Chalk: a total-rock approach to its Engineering Geology
Authors: Mortimore R. N.
Published: August 2012

The building of a new applied geology for the Chalk has been a two-way process between academic research and learning from industry which aspects of the geology are of special importance to construction projects and hydrogeology. The 11th Glossop Lecture explores the development of ideas that have led to the remapping of the English Chalk, recognition of an applied lithostratigraphy and fracture stratigraphy, greater understanding of material behaviour and enhanced conceptual models on which numerical models can be built. Advances in technology, particularly borehole camera logs and geophysical logs, are considered in the context of acquiring more reliable information for the description and classification of chalk. Construction projects used to assess aspects of chalk engineering include assessing rock mass descriptions and classifications for tunnelling on the A26 Cuilfail Tunnel, Lewes, and A27 Southwick Tunnels, Brighton; earthworks in relation to karst features on the A27 Brighton Bypass; risk analysis in relation to tunnel boring machine tunnelling through flints in the Shoreham Harbour Waste Water Tunnel; recognizing the impact of different Chalk formations on tunnels and shafts on the Brighton and Hove Stormwater Tunnel; dealing with unexpected geology on the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel; developing and applying techniques to borehole core-logging on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link, Crossrail and the Thames and Lee tunnels in east London. The feedback from discoveries made during construction to ‘pure’ geology is shown to be crucial to the subject’s development in the UK.
A Sequential Sampling Framework for Spectral k-Means Based on Efficient Bootstrap Accuracy Estimations
Authors: Mavroeidis Dimitrios , Magdalinos Panagis
Published: August 2012

The scalability of learning algorithms has always been a central concern for data mining researchers, and nowadays, with the rapid increase in data storage capacities and availability, its importance has increased. To this end, sampling has been studied by several researchers in an effort to derive sufficiently accurate models using only small data fractions. In this article we focus on spectral
k
-means, that is, the
k
-means approximation as derived by the spectral relaxation, and propose a sequential sampling framework that iteratively enlarges the sample size until the
k
-means results (objective function and cluster structure) become indistinguishable from the asymptotic (infinite-data) output. In the proposed framework we adopt a commonly applied principle in data mining research that considers the use of minimal assumptions concerning the data generating distribution. This restriction imposes several challenges, mainly related to the efficiency of the sequential sampling procedure. These challenges are addressed using elements of matrix perturbation theory and statistics. Moreover, although the main focus is on spectral
k
-means, we also demonstrate that the proposed framework can be generalized to handle spectral clustering.

The proposed sequential sampling framework is consecutively employed for addressing the distributed clustering problem, where the task is to construct a global model for data that resides in distributed network nodes. The main challenge in this context is related to the bandwidth constraints that are commonly imposed, thus requiring that the distributed clustering algorithm consumes a minimal amount of network load. This illustrates the applicability of the proposed approach, as it enables the determination of a minimal sample size that can be used for constructing an accurate clustering model that entails the distributional characteristics of the data. As opposed to the relevant distributed
k
-means approaches, our framework takes into account the fact that the choice of the number of clusters has a crucial effect on the required amount of communication. More precisely, the proposed algorithm is able to derive a statistical estimation of the required relative sizes for all possible values of
k
. This unique feature of our distributed clustering framework enables a network administrator to choose an economic solution that identifies the crude cluster structure of a dataset and not devote excessive network resources for identifying all the “correct” detailed clusters.
Generative Models for Evolutionary Clustering
Authors: Xu Tianbing , Zhang Zhongfei , Yu Philip S. , Long Bo
Published: August 2012

This article studies evolutionary clustering, a recently emerged hot topic with many important applications, noticeably in dynamic social network analysis. In this article, based on the recent literature on nonparametric Bayesian models, we have developed two generative models: DPChain and HDP-HTM. DPChain is derived from the Dirichlet process mixture (DPM) model, with an exponential decaying component along with the time. HDP-HTM combines the hierarchical dirichlet process (HDP) with a hierarchical transition matrix (HTM) based on the proposed Infinite hierarchical Markov state model (iHMS). Both models substantially advance the literature on evolutionary clustering, in the sense that not only do they both perform better than those in the existing literature, but more importantly, they are capable of automatically learning the cluster numbers and explicitly addressing the corresponding issues. Extensive evaluations have demonstrated the effectiveness and the promise of these two solutions compared to the state-of-the-art literature.
The Latent Maximum Entropy Principle
Authors: Wang Shaojun , Schuurmans Dale , Zhao Yunxin
Published: August 2012

We present an extension to Jaynes’ maximum entropy principle that incorporates latent variables. The principle oflatent maximum entropywe propose is different from both Jaynes’ maximum entropy principle and maximum likelihood estimation, but can yield better estimates in the presence of hidden variables and limited training data. We first show that solving for a latent maximum entropy model poses a hard nonlinear constrained optimization problem in general. However, we then show that feasible solutions to this problem can be obtained efficiently for the special case of log-linear models---which forms the basis for an efficient approximation to the latent maximum entropy principle. We derive an algorithm that combines expectation-maximization with iterative scaling to produce feasible log-linear solutions. This algorithm can be interpreted as an alternating minimization algorithm in the information divergence, and reveals an intimate connection between the latent maximum entropy and maximum likelihood principles. To select a final model, we generate a series of feasible candidates, calculate the entropy of each, and choose the model that attains the highest entropy. Our experimental results show that estimation based on the latent maximum entropy principle generally gives better results than maximum likelihood when estimating latent variable models on small observed data samples.
Cross-Guided Clustering
Authors: Bhattacharya Indrajit , Godbole Shantanu , Joshi Sachindra , Verma Ashish
Published: August 2012

Lack of supervision in clustering algorithms often leads to clusters that are not useful or interesting to human reviewers. We investigate if supervision can be automatically transferred for clustering a target task, by providing a relevant supervised partitioning of a dataset from a different source task. The target clustering is made more meaningful for the human user by trading-off intrinsic clustering goodness on the target task for alignment with relevant supervised partitions in the source task, wherever possible. We propose a cross-guided clustering algorithm that builds on traditional k-means by aligning the target clusters with source partitions. The alignment process makes use of a cross-task similarity measure that discovers hidden relationships across tasks. When the source and target tasks correspond to different domains with potentially different vocabularies, we propose a projection approach using pivot vocabularies for the cross-domain similarity measure. Using multiple real-world and synthetic datasets, we show that our approach improves clustering accuracy significantly over traditional k-means and state-of-the-art semi-supervised clustering baselines, over a wide range of data characteristics and parameter settings.
On the Difference Equation xn+1 = xnxn−k/(xn−k+1(a + bxnxn−k))
Authors: Stević Stevo , Diblík Josef , Iričanin Bratislav , Šmarda Zdenĕk
Published: August 2012

We show that the difference equation xn+1 = xnxn−k/xn−k+1(a + bxnxn−k), n ∈ ℕ0, where k ∈ ℕ, the parameters a, b and initial values x−i, are real numbers, can be solved in closed form considerably extending the results in the literature. By using obtained formulae, we investigate asymptotic behavior of well‐defined solutions of the equation.
Performance of Silicon Nanowire Solar Cells with Phosphorus‐Diffused Emitters
Authors: Zeng Lingsheng , Yu Xuegong , Han Yangang , Yang Deren
Published: August 2012

Vertical silicon nanowire (Si NW) arrays on a Si (100) substrate have been prepared by using a low‐cost and facile Ag‐assisted chemical etching technique. The reflectance of Si NW arrays is very low (<1%) in the spectral range from 400 to 1000 nm. By phosphorus diffusion into Si NW arrays to fabricate solar cells, the power conversion efficiency of 8.84% has been achieved. This power conversion efficiency is much higher than that of the planar cell with the similar celling technology. It is found that the efficiency of Si NW solar cells is intimately associated with their excellent antireflection property. The surface recombination of Si NWs is the main obstacle for the improvement of solar cell efficiency. The current results are helpful to the advancement of the application of Si NWs in photovoltaics.
Lessons from Cancer Immunoediting in Cutaneous Melanoma
Authors: Aris Mariana , Barrio María Marcela , Mordoh José
Published: August 2012

We will revisit the dual role of the immune system in controlling and enabling tumor progression, known ascancer immunoediting. We will go through the different phases of this phenomenon, exposing the most relevant evidences obtained from experimental models and human clinical data, with special focus on Cutaneous Melanoma, an immunogenic tumorper excellence. We will describe the different immunotherapeutic strategies employed and consider current models accounting for tumor heterogeneity. And finally, we will propose a rational discussion of the progress made and the future challenges in the therapeutics of Cutaneous Melanoma, taking into consideration that tumor evolution is the resulting from a continuous feedback between tumor cells and their environment, and that different combinatorial therapeutic approaches can be implemented according to the tumor stage.
Interval-Valued Vague Soft Sets and Its Application
Authors: Alhazaymeh Khaleed , Hassan Nasruddin
Published: August 2012

Molodtsov has introduced the concept of soft sets and the application of soft sets in decision making and medical diagnosis problems. The basic properties of vague soft sets are presented. In this paper, we introduce the concept of interval-valued vague soft sets which are an extension of the soft set and its operations such as equality, subset, intersection, union, AND operation, OR operation, complement, and null while further studying some properties. We give examples for these concepts, and we give a number of applications on interval-valued vague soft sets.
A Comparative Study of Human Thermal Face Recognition Based on Haar Wavelet Transform and Local Binary Pattern
Authors: Bhattacharjee Debotosh , Seal Ayan , Ganguly Suranjan , Nasipuri Mita , Basu Dipak Kumar
Published: August 2012

Thermal infrared (IR) images focus on changes of temperature distribution on facial muscles and blood vessels. These temperature changes can be regarded as texture features of images. A comparative study of face two recognition methods working in thermal spectrum is carried out in this paper. In the first approach, the training images and the test images are processed with Haar wavelet transform and the LL band and the average of LH/HL/HH bands subimages are created for each face image. Then a total confidence matrix is formed for each face image by taking a weighted sum of the corresponding pixel values of the LL band and average band. For LBP feature extraction, each of the face images in training and test datasets is divided into 161 numbers of subimages, each of size 8 × 8 pixels. For each such subimages, LBP features are extracted which are concatenated in manner. PCA is performed separately on the individual feature set for dimensionality reduction. Finally, two different classifiers namely multilayer feed forward neural network and minimum distance classifier are used to classify face images. The experiments have been performed on the database created at our own laboratory and Terravic Facial IR Database.
Physical Activity Targeted at Maximal Lipid Oxidation: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Romain A. J. , Carayol M. , Desplan M. , Fedou C. , Ninot G. , Mercier J. , Avignon A. , Brun J. F.
Published: August 2012

Exercise is recognized as a part of the management of obesity and diabetes. Various protocols of exercise are proposed for the management of obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. One of the strategies proposed by several authors is low intensity endurance training targeted at the level of maximal oxidation. Large series using this technique are lacking. Addressing this issue, we performed a meta-analysis of the studies on anthropometric measurements. From a database of 433 articles, 15 were selected, including 279 subjects with 6 different populations. Studies duration ranged from 2 months to 12 months. Concerning weight loss, in the intervention versus control analysis, five studies with 185 participants were included with a significant effect size favors exercise (P=0.02) without significant heterogeneity (I2=0.0%,P=0.83). Further randomized controlled trials for comparing it with other exercise protocols and defining its dose effectiveness on large samples are needed.
Comparative Analysis of SWIRM Domain-Containing Proteins in Plants
Authors: Gao Yan , Yang Songguang , Yuan Lianyu , Cui Yuhai , Wu Keqiang
Published: August 2012

Chromatin-remodeling complexes affect gene expression by using the energy of ATP hydrolysis to locally disrupt or alter the association of histones with DNA. SWIRM (Swi3p, Rsc8p, and Moira) domain is an alpha-helical domain of about 85 residues in chromosomal proteins. SWIRM domain-containing proteins make up large multisubunit complexes by interacting with other chromatin modification factors and may have an important function in plants. However, little is known about SWIRM domain-containing proteins in plants. In this study, 67 SWIRM domain-containing proteins from 6 plant species were identified and analyzed. Plant SWIRM domain proteins can be divided into three distinct types: Swi-type, LSD1-type, and Ada2-type. Generally, the SWIRM domain forms a helix-turn-helix motif commonly found in DNA-binding proteins. The genes encoding SWIRM domain proteins inOryza sativaare widely expressed, especially in pistils. In addition,OsCHB701andOsHDMA701were downregulated by cold stress, whereasOsHDMA701andOsHDMA702were significantly induced by heat stress. These observations indicate that SWIRM domain proteins may play an essential role in plant development and plant responses to environmental stress.
High-Temperature Structural Analysis of a Small-Scale PHE Prototype under the Test Condition of a Small-Scale Gas Loop
Authors: Song Kee-Nam , Hong Sung-Deok , Park Hong-Yoon
Published: August 2012

A process heat exchanger (PHE) is a key component for transferring the high-temperature heat generated from a very high-temperature reactor (VHTR) to a chemical reaction for the massive production of hydrogen. The Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute has designed and assembled a small-scale nitrogen gas loop for a performance test on VHTR components and has manufactured a small-scale PHE prototype made of Hastelloy-X alloy. A performance test on the PHE prototype is underway in the gas loop, where different kinds of pipelines connecting to the PHE prototype are tested for reducing the thermal stress under the expansion of the PHE prototype. In this study, to evaluate the high-temperature structural integrity of the PHE prototype under the test condition of the gas loop, a realistic and effective boundary condition imposing the stiffness of the pipelines connected to the PHE prototype was suggested. An equivalent spring stiffness to reduce the thermal stress under the expansion of the PHE prototype was computed from the bending deformation and expansion of the pipelines connected to the PHE. A structural analysis on the PHE prototype was also carried out by imposing the suggested boundary condition. As a result of the analysis, the structural integrity of the PHE prototype seems to be maintained under the test condition of the gas loop.
Hemisection: A Window of Hope For Freezing Tooth
Authors: Radke Usha , Kubde Rajesh , Paldiwal Aditi
Published: August 2012

Advances in dentistry, as well as the increased desire of patients to maintain their dentition, have led to treatment of teeth that once would have been removed. Mandibular first molars are the most commonly extracted teeth due to dental caries and periodontal disease. These teeth are the major standpoint for occlusion, and also have a wide pericemental area. Hence, any defect in the root either mesial or distal, extraction is the most common treatment planned. Under specific conditions, only the diseased part of the tooth can be extracted after an endodontic treatment. A modified fixed partial denture design is fabricated to splint the remaining portion of the tooth to adjacent teeth. This procedure though daunting can be easily achieved and maintained successfully.
Heart Cells with Regenerative Potential from Pediatric Patients with End Stage Heart Failure: A Translatable Method to Enrich and Propagate
Authors: Steele Ann , Boucek Robert J. , Jacobs Jeffrey Phillip , Steele Peter , Asante-Korang Alfred , Chamizo Wilfredo , Steele Jasmine , Chai Paul J. , Quintessenza James A.
Published: August 2012

Background. Human cardiac-derived progenitor cells (hCPCs) have shown promise in treating heart failure (HF) in adults. The purpose of this study was to describe derivation of hCPCs from pediatric patients with end-stage HF.Methods. At surgery, discarded right atrial tissues (hAA) were obtained from HF patients (n=25; hAA-CHF). Minced tissues were suspended in complete (serum-containing) DMEM. Cells were selected for their tissue migration and expression of stem cell factor receptor (hc-kit). Characterization ofhc-kitpositivecells included immunohistochemical screening with a panel of monoclonal antibodies.Results. Cells, including phase-bright cells identified ashc-kitpositive, spontaneously emigrated from hAA-CHF in suspended explant cultures (SEC) after Day 7. When cocultured with tissue, emigratedhc-kitpositivecells proliferated, first as loosely attached clones and later as multicellular clusters. At Day 21~5% of cells werehc-kitpositive. Between Days 14 and 28hc-kitpositivecells exhibited mesodermal commitment (GATA-4positiveandNKX2.5positive); then after Day 28 cardiac lineages (flk-1positive, smooth muscleactinpositive,troponin-Ipositive, and myosin lightchainpositive).Conclusions.C-kitpositivehCPCs can be derived from atrial tissue of pediatric patients with end-stage HF. SEC is a novel culture method for derivation of migratoryhc-kitpositivecells that favors clinical translation by reducing the need for exogenously added factors to expand hCPCsin vitro.
Pseudo 3D Imaging of Dielectric and Magnetic Anomalies from GPR Data
Authors: Persico Raffaele , Negri Sergio , Soldovieri Francesco , Pettinelli Elena
Published: August 2012

This paper deals with the reconstruction of buried targets exhibiting both dielectric and magnetic characteristics, starting from GPR data collected at the interface air/soil. The problem is tackled under the Born approximation. In particular, two-dimensional migration and linear inversion results will be compared versus experimental data and three-dimensional representations of the reconstructions achieved from both methods will be shown.
Interactome of Radiation-Induced microRNA-Predicted Target Genes
Authors: Lhakhang Tenzin W. , Chaudhry M. Ahmad
Published: August 2012

The microRNAs (miRNAs) function as global negative regulators of gene expression and have been associated with a multitude of biological processes. The dysfunction of the microRNAome has been linked to various diseases including cancer. Our laboratory recently reported modulation in the expression of miRNA in a variety of cell types exposed to ionizing radiation (IR). To further understand miRNA role in IR-induced stress pathways, we catalogued a set of common miRNAs modulated in various irradiated cell lines and generated a list of predicted target genes. Using advanced bioinformatics tools we identified cellular pathways where miRNA predicted target genes function. The miRNA-targeted genes were found to play key roles in previously identified IR stress pathways such as cell cycle, p53 pathway, TGF-beta pathway, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, focal adhesion pathway, MAPK signaling, thyroid cancer pathway, adherens junction, insulin signaling pathway, oocyte meiosis, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and renal cell carcinoma pathway. Interestingly, we were able to identify novel targeted pathways that have not been identified in cellular radiation response, such as aldosterone-regulated sodium reabsorption, long-term potentiation, and neutrotrophin signaling pathways. Our analysis indicates that the miRNA interactome in irradiated cells provides a platform for comprehensive modeling of the cellular stress response to IR exposure.
Kluyveromyces lactis: A Suitable Yeast Model to Study Cellular Defense Mechanisms against Hypoxia-Induced Oxidative Stress
Authors: González Siso M. Isabel , Cerdán M. Esperanza
Published: August 2012

Studies about hypoxia-induced oxidative stress in human health disorders take advantage from the use of unicellular eukaryote models. A widely extended model is the fermentative yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae. In this paper, we describe an overview of the molecular mechanisms induced by a decrease in oxygen availability and their interrelationship with the oxidative stress response in yeast. We focus on the differential characteristics betweenS. cerevisiaeand the respiratory yeastKluyveromyces lactis, a complementary emerging model, in reference to multicellular eukaryotes.
Controlling Chaos in Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor ControlSystem via Fuzzy Guaranteed Cost Controller
Authors: Hou Yi-You
Published: August 2012

This paper investigates the guaranteed cost control of chaos problem in permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) via Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) fuzzy method approach. Based on Lyapunov stability theory and linear matrix inequality (LMI) technique, a state feedback controller is proposed to stabilize the PMSM systems. An illustrative example is provided to verify the validity of the results developed in this paper.
Dental Pain in Children with Intellectual Disabilities: Caregivers’ Perspective
Authors: Alaki Sumer M. , Bakry Niveen S.
Published: August 2012

Purpose. Description of pain is generally difficult in children, and more so in those with intellectual disabilities (ID).Aim. This study is aimed at evaluating dental pain from caregivers’ perspective in children with ID.Methods. The study sampled 86 children (33 with ID, 53 normally developing) ages ranges from birth to 16 years old among those visiting the School of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia. Caregivers were asked about their awareness of dental pain in their wards using the Dental Discomfort Questionnaire (DDQ+). The children were examined for dental caries and periodontal status.Results. The mean DDQ+ in children with ID (4.55±3.46) was not significantly different from that in healthy children (4.19±3.26,P=0.7). Children with ID had more salivation (P=0.01) and were putting their hands inside their mouths more often (P=0.003).Conclusions. Caregivers can recognize dental pain-related behaviors in children with ID such as excessive salivation and putting hands inside the mouth more often.
Systematic Review of Yoga for Pregnant Women: Current Status and Future Directions
Authors: Curtis Kathryn , Weinrib Aliza , Katz Joel
Published: August 2012

Objectives. Yoga is used for a variety of immunological, neuromuscular, psychological, and pain conditions. Recent studies indicate that it may be effective in improving pregnancy, labour, and birth outcomes. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the existing literature on yoga for pregnancy.Methods. Six databases were searched using the terms “yoga AND pregnancy” and “yoga AND [post-natal OR post-partum]”. Trials were considered if they were controlled and evaluated a yoga intervention. All studies were evaluated for methodological quality according to the Jadad scale and the Delphi List.Results. Six trials were identified: three were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and three were controlled trials (CTs). The methodological quality and reporting ranged from 0–5 on the Jadad scale and from 3–6 on the Delphi List. Findings from the RCT studies indicate that yoga may produce improvements in stress levels, quality of life, aspects of interpersonal relating, autonomic nervous system functioning, and labour parameters such as comfort, pain, and duration.Conclusions. The findings suggest that yoga is well indicated for pregnant women and leads to improvements on a variety of pregnancy, labour, and birth outcomes. However, RCTs are needed to provide more information regarding the utility of yoga interventions for pregnancy.
Observer‐Based Stabilization of Stochastic Systems with Limited Communication
Authors: Wu Junli , Karimi Hamid Reza , Shi Peng
Published: August 2012

This paper studies the problem of observer‐based stabilization of stochastic nonlinear systems with limited communication. A communication channel exists between the output of the plant and the input of the dynamic controller, which is considered network‐induced delays, data packet dropouts, and measurement quantization. A new stability criterion is derived for the stochastic nonlinear system by using the Lyapunov functional approach. Based on this, the design procedure of observer‐based controller is presented, which ensures asymptotic stability in the meansquare of the closed‐loop system. Finally, an illustrative example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed design techniques.
CT Metal Artifact Reduction Method Based on Improved Image Segmentation and Sinogram In‐Painting
Authors: Chen Yang , Li Yinsheng , Guo Hong , Hu Yining , Luo Limin , Yin Xindao , Gu Jianping , Toumoulin Christine
Published: August 2012

The streak artifacts caused by metal implants degrade the image quality and limit the applications of CT imaging. The standard method used to reduce these metallic artifacts often consists of interpolating the missing projection data but the result is often a loss of image quality with additional artifacts in the whole image. This paper proposes a new strategy based on a three‐stage process: (1) the application of a large‐scale non local means filter (LS‐NLM) to suppress the noise and enhance the original CT image, (2) the segmentation of metal artifacts and metallic objects using a mutual information maximized segmentation algorithm (MIMS), (3) a modified exemplar‐based in‐painting technique to restore the corrupted projection data in sinogram. The final corrected image is then obtained by merging the segmented metallic object image with the filtered back‐projection (FBP) reconstructed image from the in‐painted sinogram. Quantitative and qualitative experiments have been conducted on both a simulated phantom and clinical CT images and a comparative study has been led with Bal′s algorithm that proposed a similar segmentation‐based method.
A New Efficient and Reliable Dynamically Reconfigurable Network-on-Chip
Authors: Killian Cédric , Tanougast Camel , Monteiro Fabrice , Dandache Abbas
Published: August 2012

We present a new reliable Network-on-Chip (NoC) suitable for Dynamically Reconfigurable Multiprocessors on Chip systems. The proposed NoC is based on routers performing online error detection of routing algorithm and data packet errors. Our work focuses on adaptive routing algorithms which allow to bypass faulty components or processor elements dynamically implemented inside the network. The proposed routing error detection mechanism allows to distinguish routing errors from bypasses of faulty components. The new router architecture is based on additional diagonal state indications and specific logic blocks allowing the reliable operation of the NoC. The main originality in the proposed NoC is that only the permanently faulty parts of the routers are disconnected. Therefore, our approach maintains a high run time throughput in the NoC without data packet loss thanks to a self‐loopback mechanism inside each router.
Contraception for the HIV-Positive Woman: A Review of Interactions between Hormonal Contraception and Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Robinson Jennifer A. , Jamshidi Roxanne , Burke Anne E.
Published: August 2012

Background. Preventing unintended pregnancy in HIV-positive women can significantly reduce maternal-to-child HIV transmission as well as improve the woman’s overall health. Hormonal contraceptives are safe and effective means to avoid unintended pregnancy, but there is concern that coadministration of antiretroviral drugs may alter contraceptive efficacy.Materials and Methods. We performed a literature search of PubMed and Ovid databases of articles published between January 1980 and February 2012 to identify English-language reports of drug-drug interactions between hormonal contraceptives (HCs) and antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). We also reviewed the FDA prescribing information of contraceptive hormone preparations and antiretrovirals for additional data and recommendations.Results. Twenty peer-reviewed publications and 42 pharmaceutical package labels were reviewed. Several studies of combined oral contraceptive pills (COCs) identified decreased serum estrogen and progestin levels when coadministered with certain ARVs. The contraceptive efficacy of injectable depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) and the levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS) were largely unaffected by ARVs, while data on the contraceptive patch, ring, and implant were lacking.Conclusions. HIV-positive women should be offered a full range of hormonal contraceptive options, with conscientious counseling about possible reduced efficacy of COCs and the contraceptive implant when taken with ARVs. DMPA and the LNG-IUS maintain their contraceptive efficacy when taken with ARVs.
Relative-Velocity Distributions for Two Effusive Atomic Beams in Counterpropagating and Crossed-Beam Geometries
Authors: Pedersen Jens Olaf Pepke
Published: August 2012

Formulas are presented for calculating the relative velocity distributions in effusive, orthogonal crossed beams and in effusive, counterpropagating beams experiments, which are two important geometries for the study of collision processes between atoms. In addition formulas for the distributions of collision rates and collision energies are also given.
Fixed Point Results for Almost Generalized Cyclic (ψ, φ)‐Weak Contractive Type Mappings with Applications
Authors: Jleli Mohamed , Karapınar Erdal , Samet Bessem
Published: August 2012

We define a class of almost generalized cyclic (ψ, ϕ)‐weak contractive mappings and discuss the existence and uniqueness of fixed points for such mappings. We present some examples to illustrate our results. Moreover, we state some applications of our main results in nonlinear integral equations.
An Epidemiological Study of Anemia and Renal Dysfunction in Patients Admitted to ICUs across the United States
Authors: Brophy Donald F. , Harpe Spencer E. , Carl Daniel E. , Brophy Gretchen M.
Published: August 2012

The aims of this study were to determine the associations between anemia of critical illness, erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESA), packed red blood cell transfusions and varying degrees of renal dysfunction with mortality, and ICU- and hospital length of stay (LOS). This was a cross-sectional retrospective study of 5,314 ICU patients from USA hospitals. Hospital, patient demographics, and clinical characteristics were collected. Predictors of mortality and hospital and ICU LOS were evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. The mean ICU admission hemoglobin in this study was 9.4 g/dL. The prevalence of ESA use was 13% and was associated with declining renal function; 26% of the ICU patients in this study received transfusion. ESA utilization was associated with 28% longer hospital LOS (P<0.001). ICU LOS was increased by up to 18% in patients with eGFR rates of <30 and 30–59 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (P<0.05) but not in those receiving dialysis. Mortality was significantly associated with renal dysfunction and dialysis with odds ratios of 1.94, 2.66 and 1.40 for the dialysis, and eGFR rates of <30 and 30–59 and mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (P<0.05). These data provide a snapshot of anemia treatment practices and outcomes in USA ICU patients with varying degrees of renal dysfunction.
Frequency of Yoga Practice Predicts Health: Results of a National Survey of Yoga Practitioners
Authors: Ross Alyson , Friedmann Erika , Bevans Margaret , Thomas Sue
Published: August 2012

Background. Yoga shows promise as a therapeutic intervention, but relationships between yoga practice and health are underexplored.Purpose. To examine the relationship between yoga practice and health (subjective well-being, diet, BMI, smoking, alcohol/caffeine consumption, sleep, fatigue, social support, mindfulness, and physical activity).Methods. Cross-sectional, anonymous internet surveys distributed to 4307 randomly selected from 18,160 individuals at 15 US Iyengar yoga studios; 1045 (24.3%) surveys completed.Results. Mean age 51.7(±11.7)years; 84.2% female. Frequency of home practice favorably predicted (P< .001): mindfulness, subjective well-being, BMI, fruit and vegetable consumption, vegetarian status, sleep, and fatigue. Each component of yoga practice (different categories of physical poses, breath work, meditation, philosophy study) predicted at least 1 health outcome (P< .05).Conclusions. Home practice of yoga predicted health better than years of practice or class frequency. Different physical poses and yoga techniques may have unique health benefits.
Synthesis and In Vitro Antioxidant Evaluation of New 1,3,5‐Tri‐{2‐methoxy‐4‐[(4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐on‐4‐yl)‐azomethine]‐phenoxycarbonyl}‐Benzene Derivatives
Authors: Yuksek H. , Akyildirim O. , Kol O. Gursoy
Published: August 2012

Nine new 4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐5‐one derivatives were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses and IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR and UV spectral data. The synthesized compounds were analyzed for their in vitro potential antioxidant activities in three different methods. Those antioxidant activities were compared to standard antioxidants such as BHA, BHT and α‐tocopherol. Compounds 4e, 5a and 5d showed best activity for iron binding. In addition, the compounds 4 were titrated potentiometrically with tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAH) in four non‐aqueous solvents (isopropyl alcohol, tert‐butyl alcohol, acetone and N,N‐dimethyl formamide). Thus, the half‐neutralization potential values and the corresponding pKa values were determined in all cases.
Silica Sulfuric Acid as an Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Solvent‐Free Synthesis of 1‐Substituted 1H‐1,2,3,4‐Tetrazoles
Authors: Habibi Davood , Nabavi Hiva , Nasrollahzadeh Mahmoud
Published: August 2012

Silica sulfuric acid (SSA) was found to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of 1‐substituted 1H‐1,2,3,4‐tetrazoles from the reaction of primary amines with triethyl orthoformate and sodium azide under thermal and solvent‐free conditions.
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Shp2 (Ptpn11) Plays an Important Role in Maintenance of Chromosome Stability
Authors: Liu Xia , Zheng Hong , Qu Cheng-Kui
Published: August 2012

Both activating and inactivating mutations in protein tyrosine phosphatase Ptpn11 (encoding Shp2) are associated with tumorigenesis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show that Shp2 plays an important role in mitosis, dysregulation of which results in chromosome instability and cancer predisposition. Depletion of Shp2 compromised the mitotic checkpoint. Shp2-depleted cells exhibited a delay in mitotic entry and an earlier mitotic exit. Moreover, Shp2 deficiency caused defective kinetochore-microtubule attachment, chromosome misalignment, chromosomal congression defects, lagging chromosomes, and chromosome missegregation. Reintroduction of wild-type Shp2, but not a catalytically deficient mutant, restored the checkpoint function and chromosome alignment at metaphase in Shp2-deficient cells, establishing a requirement for the catalytic activity of Shp2 during mitosis. Further analyses revealed that Shp2 was required for the optimal activation of the mitotic kinases PLK1 and Aurora B and thereby the proper kinetochore localization and phosphorylation of BubR1, a core mitotic checkpoint protein that is also critical for chromosome alignment. Together, our findings show a previously unrecognized role for Shp2 in the maintenance of chromosome stability and suggest a new mechanism by which dysregulation of Shp2 signaling contributes to malignancy development. Cancer Res; 72(20); 5296–306. ©2012 AACR.
Activation of IL-6R/JAK1/STAT3 Signaling Induces De Novo Resistance to Irreversible EGFR Inhibitors in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer with T790M Resistance Mutation
Authors: Kim Sun Mi , Kwon Oh-Joon , Hong Yun Kyoung , Kim Joo Hang , Solca Flavio , Ha Sang-Jun , Soo Ross A. , Christensen James G. , Lee Ji Hyun , Cho Byoung Chul
Published: August 2012

The secondary T790M mutation in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is the major mechanism of acquired resistance to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Although irreversible EGFR TKIs, such as afatinib or dacomitinib, have been introduced to overcome the acquired resistance, they showed a limited efficacy in NSCLC with T790M. Herein, we identified the novel de novo resistance mechanism to irreversible EGFR TKIs in H1975 and PC9-GR cells, which are NSCLC cells with EGFR T790M. Afatinib activated interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R)/JAK1/STAT3 signaling via autocrine IL-6 secretion in both cells. Inhibition of IL-6R/JAK1/STAT3 signaling pathway increased the sensitivity to afatinib. Cancer cells showed stronger STAT3 activation and enhanced resistance to afatinib in the presence of MRC5 lung fibroblasts. Blockade of IL-6R/JAK1 significantly increased the sensitivity to afatinib through inhibition of afatinib-induced STAT3 activation augmented by the interaction with fibroblasts, suggesting a critical role of paracrine IL-6R/JAK1/STAT3 loop between fibroblasts and cancer cells in the development of drug resistance. The enhancement of afatinib sensitivity by inhibition of IL-6R/JAK1/STAT3 signaling was confirmed in in vivo PC9-GR xenograft model. Similar to afatinib, de novo resistance to dacomitinib in H1975 and PC9-GR cells was also mediated by dacomitinib-induced JAK1/STAT3 activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that IL-6R/JAK1/STAT3 signaling can be a potential therapeutic target to enhance the efficacy of irreversible EGFR TKIs in patients with EGFR T790M. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(10); 2254–64. ©2012 AACR.