bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Design and optimization of a magnetic wheel for a grit-blasting robot for use on ship hulls
Authors: Xu Zhengyi , Xie Yu , Zhang Ke , Hu Yongqiang , Zhu Xiaopeng , Shi Hao 
Published: December 2015

SUMMARYThis paper describes an optimized magnetic wheel solution for use in a novel grit-blasting robot intended to be used on the hulls of ships. The grit-blasting robot was designed for conducting surface operations on newly-built ships in dry yards. It can be adapted to curvatures of up to 0.833 m−1; can achieve a total payload of 120 kg and can also be steered. The proposed magnetic wheel solution for robots with such payloads and surface adaptability has not been seen in previous work.As the magnetic force acting on a magnetic wheel is very sensitive to the working conditions, a mathematical model was built to derive the exact force requirements taking into account the mechanical structure of the robot and its disposition on the ship's hull. In this paper, the design of the wheels was optimized based on the model. Wheels were manufactured according to the optimized results and a prototype robot was constructed. The design was then validated using locomotion tests.
Testing the accuracy ratio of the Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (STEM) through Ebola haemorrhagic fever outbreaks
Authors: BALDASSI F. , D'AMICO F. , CARESTIA M. , CENCIARELLI O. , MANCINELLI S. , GILARDI F. , MALIZIA A. , DI GIOVANNI D. , SOAVE P. M. , BELLECCI C. , GAUDIO P. , PALOMBI L. 
Published: December 2015

SUMMARYMathematical modelling is an important tool for understanding the dynamics of the spread of infectious diseases, which could be the result of a natural outbreak or of the intentional release of pathogenic biological agents. Decision makers and policymakers responsible for strategies to contain disease, prevent epidemics and fight possible bioterrorism attacks, need accurate computational tools, based on mathematical modelling, for preventing or even managing these complex situations. In this article, we tested the validity, and demonstrate the reliability, of an open-source software, the Spatio-Temporal Epidemiological Modeler (STEM), designed to help scientists and public health officials to evaluate and create models of emerging infectious diseases, analysing three real cases of Ebola haemorrhagic fever (EHF) outbreaks: Uganda (2000), Gabon (2001) and Guinea (2014). We discuss the cases analysed through the simulation results obtained with STEM in order to demonstrate the capability of this software in helping decision makers plan interventions in case of biological emergencies.
Ocean salinity from satellite-derived temperature in the Antarctic Ocean
Authors: Benallal M.A. , Moussa H. , Touratier F. , Goyet C. , Poisson A. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe aim of the MINERVE project (Mesures à l’INterface Eau-aiR de la Variabilité des Échanges de CO2) is to observe and understand the seasonal and interannual variability of the partial pressure of CO2(pCO2) in surface waters using hydrological and biogeochemical data in the Southern Ocean south of Australia. Logistics routes of the RVAstrolabeprovide access to scarcely studied areas, thus allowing us to understand the different processes acting in this area of the Antarctic Ocean. The surface area covered by these cruises, however, is tiny compared with the total surface area of the Antarctic Ocean. Correlations betweenin situsurface temperature and salinity data were applied to satellite images of sea surface temperature to map ocean surface salinity over a much wider area than under the cruise tracks. Comparisons with salinity data from satellites which provide ~100 km resolution and 0.1 accuracy indicate that we are able to map salinity at 4 km resolution and almost the same accuracy of ± 0.1.
Dosimetric analysis of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy for chest wall irradiation in breast cancer patients
Authors: Kausar Mehlam , Gurjar Om Prakash , Bagdare Priyusha , Gupta Krishna Lal , Bhandari Virendra , Naik Ayush , Nag Pulkit , Kancherla Jeetendra 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBackgroundFor chest wall irradiation in breast cancer patients, three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) have made tremendous changes in treatment delivery.PurposeThe purpose of this study is to compare the dosimetric parameters in IMRT and 3DCRT plans.Materials and methodsIMRT and 3DCRT plans were generated for 25 randomly selected postmastectomy breast cancer patients. The prescribed dose (PD) was 50 Gray (Gy) in 25 fractions (#) at the rate of 2 Gy/# with 5#/week. Dose volume histogram was evaluated for planning target volume (PTV) coverage and dose to organs at risk (OARs). All the dosimetric parameters were compared using unpaired student’s t-test.ResultsPTV coverage was significantly better in IMRT, although the 90% of PTV was well covered by 90% of PD in all plans by both the techniques. Homogeneity index and conformity index were better in IMRT. V5 Gy and Dmean of contralateral lung, contralateral breast and heart (right side chest wall cases) were found to be lesser in 3DCRT compared with that in IMRT. However, there was no significant difference in V20 Gy of ipsilateral lung and V25 Gy of heart (left side chest wall cases) in all the plans by both the techniques.ConclusionAdequate target coverage was achieved by both the techniques, however, dose to OARs were lesser in 3DCRT plans as compared with that in IMRT plans. Thus, it can be concluded that 3DCRT is as efficient as IMRT for the chest wall irradiation.
“I can give you money but there is no use. The best thing I [can] give you is education.” Negotiating Educational Migration and Gender in a Chinese Malaysian family
Authors: Thimm Viola 
Published: December 2015

AbstractOver the past two decades, Singapore has steadily become a popular destination for migrants. While the reasons for migrating to Singapore are many and contextual, labour and education have been the primary driving factors for attracting migrants from around the world to Singapore. Although a popular migrants’ destination, education and migration policies in Singapore are often gendered, and are negotiated along and across other axes of identification and differentiation such as ethnicity and ideas of ‘modernity’. This article analyses gendered educational migration from Malaysia to Singapore focusing particularly on how educational migration leads to female self-transformation. Specifically, I argue that social actors negotiate educational migration within their gendered family constellations. The article first contextualises the empirical material by illustrating socio-historical processes in Singapore and Malaysia. In the next sections, I discuss my ethnographic methods and examine a brief history of the state of research in gender and educational migration. In conclusion, I offer a significant contribution to the growing and important body of scholarship on gender and transnational families by illustrating how gender is negotiated in migration using the case of a single Chinese woman's migration journey to becoming a ‘modern woman’.
Production of butyrate from lysine and the Amadori product fructoselysine by a human gut commensal
Authors: Bui Thi Phuong Nam , Ritari Jarmo , Boeren Sjef , de Waard Pieter , Plugge Caroline M. , de Vos Willem M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractHuman intestinal bacteria produce butyrate, which has signalling properties and can be used as energy source by enterocytes thus influencing colonic health. However, the pathways and the identity of bacteria involved in this process remain unclear. Here we describe the isolation from the human intestine of Intestinimonas strain AF211, a bacterium that can convert lysine stoichiometrically into butyrate and acetate when grown in a synthetic medium. Intestinimonas AF211 also converts the Amadori product fructoselysine, which is abundantly formed in heated foods via the Maillard reaction, into butyrate. The butyrogenic pathway includes a specific CoA transferase that is overproduced during growth on lysine. Bacteria related to Intestinimonas AF211 as well as the genetic coding capacity for fructoselysine conversion are abundantly present in colonic samples from some healthy human subjects. Our results indicate that protein can serve as a source of butyrate in the human colon, and its conversion by Intestinimonas AF211 and related butyrogens may protect the host from the undesired side effects of Amadori reaction products.
High yield and ultrafast sources of electrically triggered entangled-photon pairs based on strain-tunable quantum dots
Authors: Zhang Jiaxiang , Wildmann Johannes S. , Ding Fei , Trotta Rinaldo , Huo Yongheng , Zallo Eugenio , Huber Daniel , Rastelli Armando , Schmidt Oliver G. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractTriggered sources of entangled photon pairs are key components in most quantum communication protocols. For practical quantum applications, electrical triggering would allow the realization of compact and deterministic sources of entangled photons. Entangled-light-emitting-diodes based on semiconductor quantum dots are among the most promising sources that can potentially address this task. However, entangled-light-emitting-diodes are plagued by a source of randomness, which results in a very low probability of finding quantum dots with sufficiently small fine structure splitting for entangled-photon generation (∼10−2). Here we introduce strain-tunable entangled-light-emitting-diodes that exploit piezoelectric-induced strains to tune quantum dots for entangled-photon generation. We demonstrate that up to 30% of the quantum dots in strain-tunable entangled-light-emitting-diodes emit polarization-entangled photons. An entanglement fidelity as high as 0.83 is achieved with fast temporal post selection. Driven at high speed, that is 400 MHz, strain-tunable entangled-light-emitting-diodes emerge as promising devices for high data-rate quantum applications.
High pressure effects revisited for the cuprate superconductor family with highest critical temperature
Authors: Yamamoto Ayako , Takeshita Nao , Terakura Chieko , Tokura Yoshinori 
Published: December 2015

AbstractHow to enhance the superconducting critical temperature (Tc) has been a primary issue since the discovery of superconductivity. The highest Tc reported so far is 166 K in HgBa2Ca2Cu3O8+δ (Hg1223) at high pressure of 23 GPa, as determined with the reduction onset, but not zero, of resistivity. To clarify the possible condition of the real maximum Tc, it is worth revisiting the effects of pressure on Tc in the highest Tc family. Here we report a systematic study of the pressure dependence of Tc in HgBa2CaCu2O6+δ (Hg1212) and Hg1223 with the doping level from underdoped to overdoped. The Tc with zero resistivity is probed with a cubic-anvil-type apparatus that can produce hydrostatic pressures. Variation, not only increase but also decrease, of Tc in Hg1212 and Hg1223 with pressure strongly depends on the initial doping levels. In particular, we confirm a maximum Tc of 153 K at 22 GPa in slightly underdoped Hg1223.
Aerobic exercise and yoga improve neurocognitive function in women with early psychosis
Authors: Lin Jingxia , Chan Sherry KW , Lee Edwin HM , Chang Wing Chung , Tse Michael , Su Wayne Weizhong , Sham Pak , Hui Christy LM , Joe Glen , Chan Cecilia LW , Khong P L , So Kwok Fai , Honer William G , Chen Eric YH 
Published: December 2015

AbstractImpairments of attention and memory are evident in early psychosis, and are associated with functional disability. In a group of stable, medicated women patients, we aimed to determine whether participating in aerobic exercise or yoga improved cognitive impairments and clinical symptoms. A total of 140 female patients were recruited, and 124 received the allocated intervention in a randomized controlled study of 12 weeks of yoga or aerobic exercise compared with a waitlist group. The primary outcomes were cognitive functions including memory and attention. Secondary outcome measures were the severity of psychotic and depressive symptoms, and hippocampal volume. Data from 124 patients were included in the final analysis based on the intention-to-treat principle. Both yoga and aerobic exercise groups demonstrated significant improvements in working memory (P<0.01) with moderate to large effect sizes compared with the waitlist control group. The yoga group showed additional benefits in verbal acquisition (P<0.01) and attention (P=0.01). Both types of exercise improved overall and depressive symptoms (all P⩽0.01) after 12 weeks. Small increases in hippocampal volume were observed in the aerobic exercise group compared with waitlist (P=0.01). Both types of exercise improved working memory in early psychosis patients, with yoga having a larger effect on verbal acquisition and attention than aerobic exercise. The application of yoga and aerobic exercise as adjunctive treatments for early psychosis merits serious consideration. This study was supported by the Small Research Funding of the University of Hong Kong (201007176229), and RGC funding (C00240/762412) by the Authority of Research, Hong Kong.
A global map of hemispheric influenza vaccine recommendations based on local patterns of viral circulation
Authors: Alonso Wladimir J. , Yu Christine , Viboud Cecile , Richard Stephanie A. , Schuck-Paim Cynthia , Simonsen Lone , Mello Wyller A. , Miller Mark A. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBoth the Northern and the Southern Hemisphere annual WHO influenza vaccine recommendations are designed to ensure vaccine delivery before the winter-time peak of viral circulation in each hemisphere. However, influenza seasonal patterns are highly diverse in tropical countries and may be out of phase with the WHO recommendations for their respective hemisphere. We modelled the peak timing of influenza activity for 125 countries using laboratory-based surveillance data from the WHO’s FLUNET database and compared it with the influenza hemispheric recommendations in place. Influenza vaccine recommendations for respectively 25% and 39% of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere countries were out of phase with peak influenza circulation in their corresponding hemisphere (62% and 53%, respectively, when the analysis was limited to the 52 countries in the tropical belt). These results indicate that routine influenza immunization efforts should be closely tailored to local patterns of viral circulation, rather than a country’s hemispheric position.
Selective targeting of nuclear receptor FXR by avermectin analogues with therapeutic effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Jin Lihua , Wang Rui , Zhu Yanlin , Zheng Weili , Han Yaping , Guo Fusheng , Ye Frank Bin , Li Yong 
Published: December 2015

AbstractNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a predictive factor of death from many diseases. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is an ideal target for NAFLD drug development due to its crucial roles in lipid metabolism. The aim of this work is to examine the molecular mechanisms and functional roles of FXR modulation by avermectin analogues in regulating metabolic syndromes like NAFLD. We found that among avermectin analogues studied, the analogues that can bind and activate FXR are effective in regulating metabolic parameters tested, including reducing hepatic lipid accumulation, lowering serum cholesterol and glucose levels and improving insulin sensitivity, in a FXR dependent manner. Mechanistically, the avermectin analogues that interact with FXR exhibited features as partial agonists, with distinctive properties in modulating coregulator recruitment. Structural features critical for avermectin analogues to selectively bind to FXR were also revealed. This study indicated that in addition to antiparasitic activity, avermectin analogues are promising drug candidates to treat metabolism syndrome including NAFLD by directly targeting FXR. Additionally, the structural features that discriminate the selective binding of FXR by avermectin analogues may provide a unique safe approach to design drugs targeting FXR signaling.
RBFOX3/NeuN is Required for Hippocampal Circuit Balance and Function
Authors: Wang Han-Ying , Hsieh Pei-Fen , Huang De-Fong , Chin Pey-Shyuan , Chou Chih-Hsuan , Tung Chun-Che , Chen Shin-Yuan , Lee Li-Jen , Gau Susan Shur-Fen , Huang Hsien-Sung 
Published: December 2015

AbstractRBFOX3 mutations are linked to epilepsy and cognitive impairments, but the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders is poorly understood. Here we report replication of human symptoms in a mouse model with disrupted Rbfox3. Rbfox3 knockout mice displayed increased seizure susceptibility and decreased anxiety-related behaviors. Focusing on hippocampal phenotypes, we found Rbfox3 knockout mice showed increased expression of plasticity genes Egr4 and Arc and the synaptic transmission and plasticity were defective in the mutant perforant pathway. The mutant dentate granules cells exhibited an increased frequency, but normal amplitude, of excitatory synaptic events and this change was associated with an increase in the neurotransmitter release probability and dendritic spine density. Together, our results demonstrate anatomical and functional abnormality in Rbfox3 knockout mice and may provide mechanistic insights for RBFOX3-related human brain disorders.
Discovery and characterization of novel inhibitors of the sodium-coupled citrate transporter (NaCT or SLC13A5)
Authors: Huard Kim , Brown Janice , Jones Jessica C. , Cabral Shawn , Futatsugi Kentaro , Gorgoglione Matthew , Lanba Adhiraj , Vera Nicholas B. , Zhu Yimin , Yan Qingyun , Zhou Yingjiang , Vernochet Cecile , Riccardi Keith , Wolford Angela , Pirman David , Niosi Mark , Aspnes Gary , Herr Michael , Genung Nathan E. , Magee Thomas V. , Uccello Daniel P. , Loria Paula , Di Li , Gosset James R. , Hepworth David , Rolph Timothy , Pfefferkorn Jeffrey A. , Erion Derek M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractCitrate is a key regulatory metabolic intermediate as it facilitates the integration of the glycolysis and lipid synthesis pathways. Inhibition of hepatic extracellular citrate uptake, by blocking the sodium-coupled citrate transporter (NaCT or SLC13A5), has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach to treat metabolic disorders. NaCT transports citrate from the blood into the cell coupled to the transport of sodium ions. The studies herein report the identification and characterization of a novel small dicarboxylate molecule (compound 2) capable of selectively and potently inhibiting citrate transport through NaCT, both in vitro and in vivo. Binding and transport experiments indicate that 2 specifically binds NaCT in a competitive and stereosensitive manner and is recognized as a substrate for transport by NaCT. The favorable pharmacokinetic properties of 2 permitted in vivo experiments to evaluate the effect of inhibiting hepatic citrate uptake on metabolic endpoints.
Cooperative nutrient accumulation sustains growth of mammalian cells
Authors: Son Sungmin , Stevens Mark M. , Chao Hui Xiao , Thoreen Carson , Hosios Aaron M. , Schweitzer Lawrence D. , Weng Yaochung , Wood Kris , Sabatini David , Vander Heiden Matthew G. , Manalis Scott 
Published: December 2015

AbstractThe coordination of metabolic processes to allow increased nutrient uptake and utilization for macromolecular synthesis is central for cell growth. Although studies of bulk cell populations have revealed important metabolic and signaling requirements that impact cell growth on long time scales, whether the same regulation influences short-term cell growth remains an open question. Here we investigate cell growth by monitoring mass accumulation of mammalian cells while rapidly depleting particular nutrients. Within minutes following the depletion of glucose or glutamine, we observe a growth reduction that is larger than the mass accumulation rate of the nutrient. This indicates that if one particular nutrient is depleted, the cell rapidly adjusts the amount that other nutrients are accumulated, which is consistent with cooperative nutrient accumulation. Population measurements of nutrient sensing pathways involving mTOR, AKT, ERK, PKA, MST1, or AMPK, or pro-survival pathways involving autophagy suggest that they do not mediate this growth reduction. Furthermore, the protein synthesis rate does not change proportionally to the mass accumulation rate over these time scales, suggesting that intracellular metabolic pools buffer the growth response. Our findings demonstrate that cell growth can be regulated over much shorter time scales than previously appreciated.
Hydrodynamic Gene Delivery of CC Chemokine Binding Fc Fusion Proteins to Target Acute Vascular Inflammation In Vivo
Authors: McNeill Eileen , Iqbal Asif J. , White Gemma E. , Patel Jyoti , Greaves David R. , Channon Keith M. 
Published: December 2015

AbstractBlockade of CC chemokines is an attractive yet under utilized therapeutic strategy. We report the in vivo pharmacokinetics of a broad-spectrum vaccinia virus CC chemokine binding protein (35 K) fused to human IgG1 Fc. We demonstrate that the in vivo efficacy of the protein can be interrogated using hydrodynamic gene delivery of a standard mammalian expression plasmid. High plasma levels of the 35 K-Fc protein are maintained for at least 14 days post gene transfer, with the protein still detectable at 5 weeks. We confirm that the protein has biological activity in acute inflammation, causing a significant reduction in monocyte recruitment during zymosan induced peritonitis. The ability of 35 K-Fc to block more complex pathologies is demonstrated using aortic digests to assess angiotensin II mediated leukocyte recruitment to the aorta. Angiotensin II causes upregulation of mCCL2 in the aorta causing the accumulation of CCR2+ cells. Peak monocyte recruitment to the aorta occurs within 3 days and this process is CC chemokine dependent, being significantly reduced by hydrodynamic delivery of 35 K-Fc.
Enhanced adaptive focusing through semi-transparent media
Authors: Di Battista Diego , Zacharakis Giannis , Leonetti Marco 
Published: December 2015

AbstractAdaptive optics can focus light through opaque media by compensating the random phase delay acquired while crossing a scattering curtain. The technique is commonly exploited in many fields, including astrophysics, microscopy, biomedicine and biology. A turbid lens has the capability of producing foci with a resolution higher than conventional optics, however it has a fundamental limit: to obtain a sharp focus one has to introduce a strongly scattering medium in the optical path. Indeed a tight focusing needs strong scattering and, as a consequence, high resolution focusing is obtained only for weakly transmitting samples. Here we describe a novel method allowing to obtain highly concentrated optical spots even by introducing a minimum amount of scattering in the beam path with semi-transparent materials. By filtering the pseudo-ballistic components of the transmitted beam we are able to experimentally overcome the limits of the adaptive focus resolution, gathering light on a spot with a diameter which is one third of the original speckle correlation function.