bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Blue light emitting diode exceeding 100% quantum efficiency
Authors: Piprek Joachim 
Published: February 2014

AbstractInGaN/GaN light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) are known to exhibit a strongly non‐uniform vertical carrier distribution within the multi‐quantum well (MQW) active region. We propose to eliminate “dark” quantum wells by insertion of multiple tunnel junctions into the MQW which allow for the repeated use of electrons and holes for photon generation. In good agreement with available measurements, we demonstrate by self‐consistent numerical simulation that such tunnel junction LED design promises quantum efficiencies as high as 250% as well as a strongly enhanced output power at high input power, compared to conventional LED concepts.magnified imageEnergy band diagram and photon emission rate for the proposed LED with four sets of two quantum wells separated by three tunnel junctions.(© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Proposal and practice of software process improvement framework – Toshiba's software process improvement history since 2000
Authors: Ogasawara Hideto , Kusanagi Takumi , Aizawa Minoru 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYFor the effective promotion of software process improvement (SPI) activities in a large organization, it is necessary to establish an organizational structure and a deployment method for promotion and to develop training courses, support tools, and other materials. Even if an organizational promotion system is established, the SPI activities of each development department cannot be promoted effectively without an SPI community. To promote SPI activities throughout Toshiba Group, we organized a Corporate Software Engineering Process Group in April 2000. We also proposed an SPI framework. This framework extracts the features of organizations in which improvement activities were successful in the 1990s and combines them systematically. For over 10 years, we have been constructing Toshiba's SPI framework based on the SPI framework that we proposed and promoting process improvement activities using it. As a result, maturity levels were improved in many development departments, and the applicability of the SPI framework has been confirmed. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Process mining support for Capability Maturity Model Integration‐based software process assessment, in principle and in practice
Authors: Samalikova J. , Kusters R. J. , Trienekens J. J. M. , Weijters A. J. M. M. 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTCurrently used software process improvement methods such as the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI) rely in their process assessments on information, which is gathered during interviews, in oral audit sessions, and from quality manuals and process standard reviews. Although valuable information about software processes can be gained in these assessments, the resulting data quality can be improved upon. This paper investigates the potential of process mining to support current software process assessment and improvement approaches. Based on an analysis of CMMI from a process mining perspective, particular CMMI model components are identified for which it is in principle possible to apply process mining techniques. Subsequently, criteria have been defined to select, with respect to these particular CMMI components, software processes for which process mining has an added value. These criteria have been applied in the selection of a particular ‘minable’ software process, that is, a change control process. Subsequently, the results of a case study from industrial practice, on the process mining of a change control board process, are used to illustrate that process mining can provide CMMI assessors with relevant information. This information reflects the actual or ‘real’ software processes in practice, and as such, it offers an excellent basis to support assessors in understanding the ‘actual’ software processes. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fault masking as a service
Authors: Gülcü Koray , Sözer Hasan , Aktemur Barış , Ercan Ali Özer 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYIn SOA, composite services depend on a set of partner services to perform their tasks. These partner services may become unavailable because of system and/or network faults, leading to an increased error rate for the composite service. In this paper, we propose an approach to prevent the occurrence of errors that result from the unavailability of partner services. We introduce an external Web service, dubbed Fault Avoidance Service (FAS), to which composite services can register at will. After registration, FAS periodically checks the partner links, detects unavailable partner services, and updates the composite service with available alternatives. Thus, in case of a partner service error, the composite service will have been updated before attempting an ill‐destined request. We provide mathematical analysis regarding the error rate and the false positive rate with respect to the monitoring frequency of FAS for two models. We obtained empirical results by conducting several tests on the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud to evaluate our mathematical analyses. We also introduce an industrial case study for improving the quality of a service‐oriented system from the broadcasting and content delivery domain. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analyzing performance traces using temporal formulas
Authors: Ryckbosch Frederick , Diwan Amer 
Published: February 2014

SUMMARYWhile profiling is invaluable for debugging performance problems that affect the common case, it is of little help in tracking performance problems that affect the slowest 1% of the operations (i.e., long‐tail latencies). For Web service providers, these long‐tail latencies affect both the cost of the service and the user experience. Because interactions between operations are often responsible for long‐tail latency, we must analyze fine‐grained traces to investigate their cause.Unfortunately, analyzing traces is difficult because one needs to reason over long chains of events and because this reasoning often requires significant domain knowledge about what the event sequences mean. This paper shows how we can use formulas in linear‐temporal logic to analyze traces. Given these formulas, our system searches through traces to find matches for these formulas and extracts relevant information from the matches. We demonstrate that our system is scalable and enables us to investigate long‐tail performance problems at Google. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CCR7 Guides Migration of Mesenchymal Stem Cell to Secondary Lymphoid Organs: A Novel Approach to Separate GvHD from GvL Effect
Authors: Li Hong , Jiang YanMing , Jiang XiaoXia , Guo XiMin , Ning HongMei , Li YuHang , Liao Li , Yao HuiYu , Wang XiaoYan , Liu YuanLin , Zhang Yi , Chen Hu , Mao Ning 
Published: February 2014

AbstractInefficient homing of systemically infused mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) limits the efficacy of existing MSC-based clinical graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) therapies. Secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) are the major niches for generating immune responses or tolerance. MSCs home to a wide range of organs, but rarely to SLOs after intravenous infusion. Thus, we hypothesized that targeted migration of MSCs into SLOs may significantly improve their immunomodulatory effect. Here, chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7) gene, encoding a receptor that specifically guides migration of immune cells into SLOs, was engineered into a murine MSC line C3H10T1/2 by retrovirus transfection system (MSCs/CCR7). We found that infusion of MSCs/CCR7 potently prolonged the survival of GvHD mouse model. The infused MSCs/CCR7 migrate to SLOs, relocate in proximity with T lymphocytes, therefore, potently inhibited their proliferation, activation, and cytotoxicity. Natural killer (NK) cells contribute to the early control of leukemia relapse. Although MSCs/CCR7 inhibited NK cell activity in vitro coculture, they did not impact on the proportion and cytotoxic capacities of NK cells in the peripheral blood of GvHD mice. In an EL4 leukemia cell loaded GvHD model, MSCs/CCR7 infusion preserved the graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that CCR7 guides migration of MSCs to SLOs and thus highly intensify their in vivo immunomodulatory effect while preserving the GvL activity. This exciting therapeutic strategy may improve the clinical efficacy of MSC based therapy for immune diseases. Stem Cells 2014;32:1890–1903
Low-Dose 6-Bromoindirubin-3′-oxime Induces Partial Dedifferentiation of Endothelial Cells to Promote Increased Neovascularization
Authors: Kohler Erin E. , Baruah Jugajyoti , Urao Norifumi , Ushio-Fukai Masuko , Fukai Tohru , Chatterjee Ishita , Wary Kishore K. 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) dedifferentiation in relation to neovascularization is a poorly understood process. In this report, we addressed the role of Wnt signaling in the mechanisms of neovascularization in adult tissues. Here, we show that a low-dose of 6-bromoindirubin-3′-oxime (BIO), a competitive inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3β, induced the stabilization of β-catenin and its subsequent direct interaction with the transcription factor NANOG in the nucleus of ECs. This event induced loss of VE-cadherin from the adherens junctions, increased EC proliferation accompanied by asymmetric cell division (ACD), and formed cellular aggregates in hanging drop assays indicating the acquisition of a dedifferentiated state. In a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, nuclear NANOG protein bound to the NANOG- and VEGFR2-promoters in ECs, and the addition of BIO activated the NANOG-promoter-luciferase reporter system in a cell-based assay. Consequently, NANOG-knockdown decreased BIO-induced NOTCH-1 expression, thereby decreasing cell proliferation, ACD, and neovascularization. In a Matrigel plug assay, BIO induced increased neovascularization, secondary to the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Moreover, in a mouse model of hind limb ischemia, BIO augmented neovascularization that was coupled with increased expression of NOTCH-1 in ECs and increased smooth muscle α-actin+ cell recruitment around the neovessels. Thus, these results demonstrate the ability of a low-dose of BIO to augment neovascularization secondary to VEGF, a process that was accompanied by a partial dedifferentiation of ECs via β-catenin and the NANOG signaling pathway. Stem Cells 2014;32:1538–1552
Switch from Canonical to Noncanonical Wnt Signaling Mediates High Glucose-Induced Adipogenesis
Authors: Keats Emily C. , Dominguez James M. , Grant Maria B. , Khan Zia A. 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Human bone marrow mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs) are multipotent cells that play an essential role in endogenous repair and the maintenance of the stem cell niche. We have recently shown that high levels of glucose, conditions mimicking diabetes, cause impairment of MPCs, resulting in enhanced adipogenesis and suppression of osteogenesis. This implies that diabetes may lead to reduced endogenous repair mechanisms through altering the differentiation potential of MPCs and, consequently, disrupting the stem cell niche. Phenotypic alterations in the bone marrow of long-term diabetic patients closely resemble this observation. Here, we show that high levels of glucose selectively enhance autogenous Wnt11 expression in MPCs to stimulate adipogenesis through the Wnt/protein kinase C noncanonical pathway. This novel mechanism may account for increased bone marrow adipogenesis, severe bone loss, and reduced vascular stem cells leading to chronic secondary complications of diabetes. Stem Cells 2014;32:1649–1660
Cross‐layer optimized routing in wireless sensor networks with duty cycle and energy harvesting
Authors: Han Guangjie , Dong Yuhui , Guo Hui , Shu Lei , Wu Dapeng 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we propose a cross‐layer optimized geographic node‐disjoint multipath routing algorithm, that is, two‐phase geographic greedy forwarding plus. To optimize the system as a whole, our algorithm is designed on the basis of multiple layers' interactions, taking into account the following. First is the physical layer, where sensor nodes are developed to scavenge the energy from environment, that is, node rechargeable operation (a kind of idle charging process to nodes). Each node can adjust its transmission power depending on its current energy level (the main object for nodes with energy harvesting is to avoid the routing hole when implementing the routing algorithm). Second is the sleep scheduling layer, where an energy‐balanced sleep scheduling scheme, that is, duty cycle (a kind of node sleep schedule that aims at putting the idle listening nodes in the network into sleep state such that the nodes will be awake only when they are needed), and energy‐consumption‐based connected k‐neighborhood is applied to allow sensor nodes to have enough time to recharge energy, which takes nodes' current energy level as the parameter to dynamically schedule nodes to be active or asleep. Third is the routing layer, in which a forwarding node chooses the next‐hop node based on 2‐hop neighbor information rather than 1‐hop. Performance of two‐phase geographic greedy forwarding plus algorithm is evaluated under three different forwarding policies, to meet different application requirements. Our extensive simulations show that by cross‐layer optimization, more shorter paths are found, resulting in shorter average path length, yet without causing much energy consumption. On top of these, a considerable increase of the network sleep rate is achieved. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Avian response to conservation buffers in agricultural landscapes during winter
Authors: Evans Kristine O. , Burger L. Wes , Riffell Samuel K. , Smith Mark D. , Twedt Daniel J. , Wilson R. Randy , Vorisek Shawchyi , Rideout Catherine , Heyden Kate 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTNative herbaceous vegetation cover along row‐crop field edges (i.e., field buffers) increases breeding densities of many bird species. However, the effect of field buffers on bird species during the non‐breeding season is less understood. We compared density, avian richness, and avian conservation value on row‐crop fields containing buffers strategically designed for wildlife versus fields without buffers in 3 southeastern U.S. states during winter 2007 and 2008. Fields with buffers were enrolled in U.S. Department of Agriculture, Conservation Reserve Program practice Habitat Buffers for Upland Birds (CP33), which targets restoration of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and other upland bird species. Overall species richness did not differ on fields with buffers versus fields without buffers in 2007, but was 29% greater on fields with buffers in 2008. Swamp sparrows (Melospiza georgiana), song sparrows (M. melodia), field sparrows (Spizella pusilla), and red‐bellied woodpeckers (Melanerpes carolinus) had greater densities on fields with buffers compared with fields without buffers. Increasing field‐buffer width did not result in greater bird densities. Our results suggest a small change in primary land use (≈7%) produced a disproportionate population response by some grassland‐dependent and woodland bird species during winter. Because field buffers provide a direct source of winter food and cover resources, they may be a pragmatic means to provide critical non‐breeding habitat with little alteration of existing agricultural systems. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Stability and performance guarantees for model predictive control algorithms without terminal constraints
Authors: Pannek J. , Worthmann K. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractA typical bottleneck of model predictive control algorithms is the computational burden in order to compute the receding horizon feedback law which is predominantly determined by the length of the prediction horizon. Based on a relaxed Lyapunov inequality we present techniques which allow us to show stability and suboptimality estimates for a reduced prediction horizon. In particular, the known structural properties of suboptimality estimates based on a controllability condition are used to cut the gap between theoretic stability results and numerical observations.
Cryopreservation in ART and concerns with contamination during cryobanking
Authors: Larman Mark G. , Hashimoto Shu , Morimoto Yoshiharu , Gardner David K. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThe cryopreservation of gametes and embryos is vital to numerous fields of reproductive biology, including assisted human reproduction. With improved culture conditions, there are an increasing number of embryos to cryopreserve for potential use in subsequent cycles. Many of the gametes and embryos in human IVF are cryopreserved in open systems. Because liquid nitrogen is not sterile, concerns have been raised with regard to contamination from the liquid nitrogen and also cross‐contamination between patients’ germplasm. Human gamete and embryo cryopreservation are discussed, with recommendations on how to minimize and eliminate contamination, emphasizing the benefits of closed vitrification devices.
Effects of Three Commonly-Used Diuretics on the Urinary Proteome
Authors: Li Xundou , Zhao Mindi , Li Menglin , Jia Lulu , Gao Youhe 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Biomarker is the measurable change associated with a physiological or pathophysiological process. Unlike blood which has mechanisms to keep the internal environment homeostatic, urine is more likely to reflect changes of the body. As a result, urine is likely to be a better biomarker source than blood. However, since the urinary proteome is affected by many factors, including diuretics, careful evaluation of those effects is necessary if urinary proteomics is used for biomarker discovery. Here, we evaluated the effects of three commonly-used diuretics (furosemide, F; hydrochlorothiazide, H; and spirolactone, S) on the urinary proteome in rats. Urine samples were collected before and after intragastric administration of diuretics at therapeutic doses and the proteomes were analyzed using label-free liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Based on the criteria of P  ⩽ 0.05, a fold change ⩾2, a spectral count ⩾5, and false positive rate (FDR) ⩽1%, 14 proteins (seven for F, five for H, and two for S) were identified by Progenesis LC–MS. The human orthologs of most of these 14 proteins are stable in the healthy human urinary proteome, and ten of them are reported as disease biomarkers. Thus, our results suggest that the effects of diuretics deserve more attention in future urinary protein biomarker studies. Moreover, the distinct effects of diuretics on the urinary proteome may provide clues to the mechanisms of diuretics.
Meta-QC-Chain: Comprehensive and Fast Quality Control Method for Metagenomic Data
Authors: Zhou Qian , Su Xiaoquan , Jing Gongchao , Ning Kang 
Published: February 2014

Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has revolutionized and significantly impacted metagenomic research. However, the NGS data usually contains sequencing artifacts such as low-quality reads and contaminating reads, which will significantly compromise downstream analysis. Many quality control (QC) tools have been proposed, however, few of them have been verified to be suitable or efficient for metagenomic data, which are composed of multiple genomes and are more complex than other kinds of NGS data. Here we present a metagenomic data QC method named Meta-QC-Chain. Meta-QC-Chain combines multiple QC functions: technical tests describe input data status and identify potential errors, quality trimming filters poor sequencing-quality bases and reads, and contamination screening identifies higher eukaryotic species, which are considered as contamination for metagenomic data. Most computing processes are optimized based on parallel programming. Testing on an 8-GB real dataset showed that Meta-QC-Chain trimmed low sequencing-quality reads and contaminating reads, and the whole quality control procedure was completed within 20 min. Therefore, Meta-QC-Chain provides a comprehensive, useful and high-performance QC tool for metagenomic data. Meta-QC-Chain is publicly available for free at: http://computationalbioenergy.org/meta-qc-chain.html.
Long-Term Complications of Rattlesnake Bites: A Telephone Survey From Central California
Authors: Spano Susanne J. , Vohra Rais , Macias Fernando 
Published: February 2014

Objective The purpose of this institutional review board-approved, cross-sectional study was to identify residual symptoms and signs of envenomation reported by snakebite survivors via a telephone survey. Methods Victims of rattlesnake bite who were treated at a single hospital center during a 10-year period were contacted through a telephone survey. Study subjects were included through a diagnosis-based retrospective chart review of snakebite victims, and excluded if they did not receive rattlesnake antivenom. Data collection was done using a standardized form that included sections about residual, recurrent, or new pain, weakness, paresthesias, or other limitations of the bitten limb. Results We identified 46 snakebite cases including 5 of 46 “dry” bites. The remaining cases (41 of 46) all received Crofab. Interviews were completed for 31% of these patients (13 of 41), and the remainder were lost to follow-up. Most bites occurred in men (12 cases, 92% males) and on the arms (9 cases, 69%). Six of the 13 respondents (46%) reported residual symptoms from the bite. Persistent symptoms described included localized pain at the bite site (3 cases), numbness or paresthesias (2 cases), abnormal skin peeling and discoloration at the bite site (2 cases), and persistent weakness of the bitten extremity (1 case). Among patients reporting persistent symptoms, the bite-to-survey interval ranged from 7 months to 12 years, with a median interval of 4 years. Conclusions Our study population demonstrated a notable incidence (43%) of self-reported persistent symptoms related to their rattlesnake bites, although the overall level of disability from these injuries seems low.
Machiavel et la vertu intellectuelle de prudence : étude du chapitre XXV du Prince*
Authors: Duhamel Jérémie 
Published: February 2014

Résumé.L'objectif de cet article est de souligner les limites de l'idée, fort répandue parmi les commentateurs de Machiavel, selon laquelle c'est dans la domination de la « fortuna » que la nature véritable de la « virtù » se révélerait. À partir d'une analyse approfondie du chapitre XXV duPrince, nous nous efforçons de montrer que la « virtù » est indissociable d'un monde que les individus ne peuvent s'empêcher de rendre instable et incertain. Notre hypothèse est que la prudence machiavélienne est caractérisée par une tension irréductible entre l'effort visant à contenir les effets délétères de l'imprévisibilité des « cose del mondo » et la reconnaissance des limites fondamentales des pouvoirs individuels et collectifs sollicités à cette fin.Abstract.This article aims to show the limits of the idea, prevalent among Machiavellian scholars, that “virtù” reveals its true nature in the domination of “fortuna.” Through an in-depth analysis of chapter XXV ofThe Prince, we try to demonstrate that “virtù” is inseparable from a world that individuals render unstable and uncertain in spite of themselves. Our hypothesis is that Machiavellian prudence is characterized by an irreducible tension between the efforts undertaken to constrain the harmful effects of the unpredictable “cose del mondo” and the recognition of the constitutive limits of individual and collective powers employed to this end.