bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High‐precision formation control of nonlinear multi‐agent systems with switching topologies: A learning approach
Authors: Meng Deyuan , Jia Yingmin , Du Junping , Zhang Jun 
Published: May 2014

SummaryArbitrary high precision is considered one of the most desirable control objectives in the relative formation for many networked industrial applications, such as flying spacecrafts and mobile robots. The main purpose of this paper is to present design guidelines of applying the iterative schemes to develop distributed formation algorithms in order to achieve this control objective. If certain conditions are met, then the control input signals can be learned by the developed algorithms to accomplish the desired formations with arbitrary high precision. The systems under consideration are a class of multi‐agent systems under directed networks with switching topologies. The agents have discrete‐time affine nonlinear dynamics, but their state functions do not need to be identical. It is shown that the learning processes resulting from the relative output formation of multi‐agent systems can converge exponentially fast with the increase of the iteration number. In particular, this work induces a distributed algorithm that can simultaneously achieve the desired relative output formation between agents and regulate the movement of multi‐agent formations as desired along the time axis. The illustrative numerical simulations are finally performed to demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of the proposed distributed formation algorithms. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Semi‐global stabilization via linear sampled‐data output feedback for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems
Authors: Zhang Chuanlin , Jia Ruting , Qian Chunjiang , Li Shihua 
Published: May 2014

SummaryThis paper develops a systematic design scheme to construct a linear sampled‐data output feedback controller that semi‐globally asymptotically stabilizes a class of uncertain systems with both higher‐order and linear growth nonlinearities. To deal with the uncertain coefficients in the systems, a robust state feedback stabilizer and a reduced‐order sampled‐data observer, both in the linear form, are constructed and then integrated together. The semi‐global attractivity and local stability are delicately proved by carefully selecting a scaling gain using the output feedback domination approach and a sampling period sufficiently small to restrain the state growth under a zero‐order‐holder input. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Demographic effects of warming, elevated soil nitrogen and thinning on the colonization of a perennial plant
Authors: Gornish Elise Sylvie 
Published: May 2014

AbstractGlobal change is causing significant modifications to native plant communities. These effects can be direct through changes in productivity, or indirect through the spread of invading species. Identifying vital traits important for individual species’ response to environmental variation could be useful for making predictions about how entire communities may respond to global change. I studied the effects of factors associated with global change on the demography of an experimentally introduced species,Pityopsis aspera. In a Florida old‐field, I investigated how warming, increased soil nitrogen and thinning of the extant plant community affected survival, growth and reproduction ofP. asperausing a life table response experiment. The estimated population growth rate (λ) ofP. asperawas reduced by nitrogen addition, as a result of decreased fecundity. However,λincreased in response to the warming treatment, as a result of increased fecundity. In the presence of thinning, both warming and nitrogen served to increaseλas a result of an increase in the growth of young individuals. This experiment illustrates how different vital rates contribute to the population level responses of an experimentally introduced plant to warming, and nitrogen deposition. Results also show how these demographic responses may occur via indirect effects through established species. This work highlights the importance of studying interactions among temperature, soil nitrogen and demography across the entire life cycle in order to capture the complex and, often, non‐additive relationships mediating global change effects.
Measuring Recovery Related Outcomes: A Psychometric Investigation of the Recovery Markers Inventory
Authors: Lusczakoski Kate DeRoche , Olmos-Gallo P. Antonio , McKinney C. J. , Starks Roy , Huff Steve 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
The concept of recovery can be operationalized from either the point of view of the consumer or from the perspective of the provider of services. The Recovery Markers Inventory (RMI) was created to assess recovery-related factors (i.e., actions/events associated with consumer’s recovery) from the provider’s perspective. Evidence, which established the psychometric properties of the RMI, was obtained through the use of: (a) construct validity (i.e., confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch principal components analysis of residuals); (b) concurrent validity (i.e., the calculation of Pearson correlations between the RMI and other recovery-oriented instruments); and (c) reliability (i.e., Rasch Partial Credit models). Evidence presented in this article shows that the RMI scale is unidimensional, has an adequate level of correlation, and acceptable reliability. The current analysis provides evidence to support the RMI as a valid, reliable measure of recovery-related factors, which can complement consumer based instruments in the assessment of changes in recovery.
Age and impacts of the caldera-forming Aniakchak II eruption in western Alaska
Authors: Blackford J.J. , Payne R.J. , Heggen M.P. , de la Riva Caballero A. , van der Plicht J. 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThe mid-Holocene eruption of Aniakchak volcano (Aniakchak II) in southwest Alaska was among the largest eruptions globally in the last 10,000 years (VEI-6). Despite evidence for possible impacts on global climate, the precise age of the eruption is not well-constrained and little is known about regional environmental impacts. A closely spaced sequence of radiocarbon dates at a peatland site over 1000 km from the volcano show that peat accumulation was greatly reduced with a hiatus of approximately 90–120 yr following tephra deposition. During this inferred hiatus no paleoenvironmental data are available but once vegetation returned the flora changed from a Cyperaceae-dominated assemblage to a Poaceae-dominated vegetation cover, suggesting a drier and/or more nutrient-rich ecosystem. Oribatid mites are extremely abundant in the peat at the depth of the ash, and show a longer-term, increasingly wet peat surface across the tephra layer. The radiocarbon sample immediately below the tephra gave a date of 1636–1446 cal yr BC suggesting that the eruption might be younger than previously thought. Our findings suggest that the eruption may have led to a widespread reduction in peatland carbon sequestration and that the impacts on ecosystem functioning were profound and long-lasting.
Non-coding RNA: a new frontier in regulatory biology
Authors: Fu Xiang-Dong 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
A striking finding in the past decade is the production of numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) from mammalian genomes. While it is entirely possible that many of those ncRNAs are transcription noises or by-products of RNA processing, increasing evidence suggests that a large fraction of them are functional and provide various regulatory activities in the cell. Thus, functional genomics and proteomics are incomplete without understanding functional ribonomics. As has been long suggested by the ‘RNA world’ hypothesis, many ncRNAs have the capacity to act like proteins in diverse biochemical processes. The enormous amount of information residing in the primary sequences and secondary structures of ncRNAs makes them particularly suited to function as scaffolds for molecular interactions. In addition, their functions appear to be stringently controlled by default via abundant nucleases when not engaged in specific interactions. This review focuses on the functional properties of regulatory ncRNAs in comparison with proteins and emphasizes both the opportunities and challenges in future ncRNA research.
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Patel Payal K. , Russo Thomas A. , Karchmer Adolf W. 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Hypervirulent strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae are associated with abscess formation, commonly hepatic, and metastatic spread, even in healthy patients. We describe a case of this clinical syndrome, genotypic and phenotypic features of the isolate, and briefly review epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and pathogenesis of this underappreciated syndrome.
Strategic Social Learning and the Population Dynamics of Human Behavior: The Game of Go
Authors: Beheim Bret A. , Thigpen Calvin , McElreath Richard 
Published: May 2014

AbstractHuman culture is widely believed to undergo evolution, via mechanisms rooted in the nature of human cognition. A number of theories predict the kinds of human learning strategies, as well as the population dynamics that result from their action. There is little work, however, that quantitatively examines the evidence for these strategies and resulting cultural evolution within human populations. One of the obstacles is the lack of individual-level data with which to link transmission events to larger cultural dynamics. Here, we address this problem with a rich quantitative database from the East Asian board game known as Go. We draw from a large archive of Go games spanning the last six decades of professional play, and find evidence that the evolutionary dynamics of particular cultural variants are driven by a mix of individual and social learning processes. Particular players vary dramatically in their sensitivity to population knowledge, which also varies by age and nationality. The dynamic patterns of opening Go moves are consistent with an ancient, ongoing arms race within the game itself.
SraTailor: GUI software for visualizing high-throughput sequence read archives
Authors: Oki Shinya , Maehara Kazumitsu , Ohkawa Yasuyuki , Meno Chikara 
Published: May 2014

AbstractRaw high-throughput sequence data are deposited in public databases as SRAs (Sequence Read Archives) and are publically available to every researcher. However, in order to graphically visualize the sequence data of interest, the corresponding SRAs must be downloaded and converted into BigWig format through complicated command-line processing. This task requires users to possess skill with script languages and sequence data processing, a requirement that prevents a wide range of biologists from exploiting SRAs. To address these challenges, we developed SraTailor, a GUI (Graphical User Interface) software package that automatically converts an SRA into a BigWig-formatted file. Simplicity of use is one of the most notable features of SraTailor: entering an accession number of an SRA and clicking the mouse are the only steps required in order to obtain BigWig-formatted files and to graphically visualize the extents of reads at given loci. SraTailor is also able to make peak calls and files of other formats, and the software also accepts various command-line-like options. Therefore, this software makes SRAs fully exploitable by a wide range of biologists. SraTailor is freely available athttp://www.dev.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp/sra_tailor/.
A putative antiviral role of plant cytidine deaminases
Authors: Martín Susana , Cuevas José M. , Grande-Pérez Ana , Elena Santiago F. 
Published: May 2014

SummaryA mechanism of innate antiviral immunity operating against viruses infecting mammalian cells has been described during the last decade. Host cytidine deaminases (e.g., APOBEC3 proteins) edit viral genomes giving raise to hypermutated nonfunctional viruses; consequently, viral fitness is reduced through lethal mutagenesis. By contrast, sub-lethal hypermutagenesis may contribute to virus evolvability by increasing population diversity. To prevent genome editing, some viruses have evolved proteins that mediate APOBEC3 degradation. The model plantArabidopsis thalianaencodes for nine cytidine deaminases (AtCDAs), raising the question of whether deamination is an antiviral mechanism in plants as well. Here we tested the effects of AtCDAs expression on the pararetrovirusCauliflower mosaic virus(CaMV). We show thatA. thaliana AtCDA1gene product exerts a mutagenic activity, which indeed generates a negative correlation between the level ofAtCDA1expression and CaMV accumulation in the plant, suggesting that deamination may also work as an antiviral mechanism in plants.
The Cysteine2/Histidine2-Type Transcription Factor ZINC FINGER OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA6 Modulates Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses by Activating Salicylic Acid-Related Genes and C-REPEAT-BINDING FACTOR Genes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Shi Haitao , Wang Xin , Ye Tiantian , Chen Fangfang , Deng Jiao , Yang Pingfang , Zhang Yansheng , Chan Zhulong 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
The cysteine2/histidine2-type zinc finger proteins are a large family of transcription regulators, and some of them play essential roles in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stress. In this study, we found that expression of C2H2-type ZINC FINGER OF ARABIDOPSIS THALIANA6 (AtZAT6) was transcriptionally induced by salt, dehydration, cold stress treatments, and pathogen infection, and AtZAT6 was predominantly located in the nucleus. AtZAT6-overexpressing plants exhibited improved resistance to pathogen infection, salt, drought, and freezing stresses, while AtZAT6 knockdown plants showed decreased stress resistance. AtZAT6 positively modulates expression levels of stress-related genes by directly binding to the TACAAT motifs in the promoter region of pathogen-related genes (ENHANCED DISEASE SUSCEPTIBILITY1, PHYTOALEXIN DEFICIENT4, PATHOGENESIS-RELATED GENE1 [PR1], PR2, and PR5) and abiotic stress-responsive genes (C-REPEAT-BINDING FACTOR1 [CBF1], CBF2, and CBF3). Moreover, overexpression of AtZAT6 exhibited pleiotrophic phenotypes with curly leaves and small-sized plant at vegetative stage and reduced size of floral organs and siliques at the reproductive stage. Modulation of AtZAT6 also positively regulates the accumulation of salicylic acid and reactive oxygen species (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide radical). Taken together, our findings indicated that AtZAT6 plays important roles in plant development and positively modulates biotic and abiotic stress resistance by activating the expression levels of salicylic acid-related genes and CBF genes.
The RING-Finger E3 Ubiquitin Ligase COP1 SUPPRESSOR1 Negatively Regulates COP1 Abundance in Maintaining COP1 Homeostasis in Dark-Grown Arabidopsis Seedlings
Authors: Xu Dongqing , Lin Fang , Jiang Yan , Huang Xi , Li Jigang , Ling Junjie , Hettiarachchi Chamari , Tellgren-Roth Christian , Holm Magnus , Deng Xing Wang 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC1 (COP1) functions as an E3 ubiquitin ligase in both plants and animals. In dark-grown Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings, COP1 targets photomorphogenesis-promoting factors for degradation to repress photomorphogenesis. Little is known, however, about how COP1 itself is regulated. Here, we identify COP1 SUPPRESSOR1 (CSU1), a RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligase, as a regulator of COP1. Genetic evidence demonstrates that csu1 mutations suppress cop1-6 phenotypes completely in the dark. Furthermore, CSU1 colocalizes with COP1 in nuclear speckles and negatively regulates COP1 protein accumulation in darkness. CSU1 can ubiquitinate COP1 in vitro and is essential for COP1 ubiquitination in vivo. Therefore, we conclude that CSU1 plays a major role in maintaining COP1 homeostasis by targeting COP1 for ubiquitination and degradation in dark-grown seedlings.
Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score predicts 6.6‐year overall mortality of Chinese patients with NAFLD
Authors: Xun Yun‐hao , Guo Jian‐chun , Lou Guo‐qiang , Jiang Yan‐ming , Zhuang Zhen‐jie , Zhu Meng‐fei , Luo Yan , Ma Xiao‐jie , Liu Jing , Bian Dong‐xue , Shi Jun‐ping 
Published: May 2014

SummaryThe non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) fibrosis score (NFS) has emerged as a useful predictor of long‐term outcome in NAFLD patients. We evaluated the predictive performance of the NFS for overall mortality in a Chinese population with NAFLD. All NAFLD patients diagnosed ultrasonographically at Xixi Hospital of Hangzhou between 1996 and 2011 were retrospectively recruited to the study. Outcome was determined by interview and causes of death were confirmed by medical records. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCROC) was used to determine the predictive accuracy of the NFS, BARD (body mass index, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, diabetes) score, FIB‐4 index and the AST/platelet ratio index (APRI) for mortality. Data from a total of 180 eligible patients (median age 39 years; 96 men) were analysed, with 12 deaths over a median follow‐up period of 6.6 years (range 0.5–14.8 years). Using Cox model analysis, the NFS as a continuous variable was identified as the only predictor for all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio 2.743, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.670–4.504). The NFS yielded the highest AUCROC of 0.828 (95% CI 0.728–0.928, P < 0.05), followed by the FIB‐4 index, APRI and BARD score (AUCROC 0.806 (P < 0.05), 0.732 (P < 0.05) and 0.632, respectively). The data indicated that the NFS is a useful predictor of 6.6‐year all‐cause mortality for Chinese patients with NAFLD.
Effects of long‐term application of metoprolol and propranolol in a rat model of smoking
Authors: Zhou Yujiao , Xu Ming , Zhang Yuan , Guo Yang , Zhang Youyi , He Bei 
Published: May 2014

SummaryBeta‐blockers, especially selective β1‐adrenoceptor antagonists, are often used to treat cardiovascular disease, even when complicated by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The association of beta‐blocker selectivity and treatment effects is disputed, and the curative effects and side‐effects of various antagonists may differ. Herein we investigated the effects of 1 months treatment with the selective β1‐adrenoceptor antagonist metoprolol and the non‐selective β‐adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol on pulmonary function and pathology in a 4‐month rat model of passive cigarette smoke exposure and explored potential mechanisms of action. Lung function and general pathological changes were evaluated after 4 months exposure to cigarette smoke, with metoprolol and propranolol treatment (50 and 25 mg/kg per day, respectively; intragastrically) during the last month. Cytokine and mucin levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined by ELISA, whereas β1‐ and β2‐adrenoceptor expression in the lungs was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Chronic treatment with metoprolol and propranolol did not exacerbate peak expiratory flow or intra‐airway pressure in rats exposed to cigarette smoke. Propranolol significantly attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration, cytokine levels (tumour necrosis factor‐α and interleukin‐8) in BALF or mucus secretion, whereas metoprolol reduced only smooth muscle proliferation. Moreover, propranolol treatment was associated (albeit not significantly) with restoring β2‐adrenoceptor expression in airway epithelia. Propranolol had a more beneficial effect on cigarette smoking‐induced lung damage than metoprolol in a smoking rat model that may be associated with restoration of endogenous β2‐adrenoceptor density in the airway epithelial cells.
Emodin enhances cholesterol efflux by activating peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ in oxidized low density lipoprotein‐loaded THP1 macrophages
Authors: Fu Xin , Xu Ai‐guo , Yao Meng‐ying , Guo Li , Zhao Luo‐sha 
Published: May 2014

SummaryPeroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) γ is a nuclear receptor involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism. In the present study, we sought to investigate the effects of emodin, an anthraquinone derivative isolated from the roots of Rheum palmatum, on PPARγ signalling and cholesterol efflux in macrophage foam cells. Oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (oxLDL)‐stimulated THP1 macrophages were incubated with different concentrations of emodin (0–10 μmol/L) for 18 h. Western blot analysis and semiquantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction were used to assess the expression of key genes involved in cholesterol efflux, namely PPARγ, liver X receptor (LXR) α, ATP‐binding cassette transporter (ABC) A1 and ABCG1. In addition, apolipoprotein (apo) A‐I‐mediated cholesterol efflux in emodin‐treated cells was measured. Expresssion of PPARγ mRNA and protein was increased in emodin‐treated cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. Emodin treatment also concentration‐dependently induced LXRα, ABCA1 and ABCG1 expression. Moreover, emodin promoted apoA‐I‐mediated cholesterol efflux from oxLDL‐loaded THP1 macrophages, which was significantly abolished by pretreatment with the PPARγ‐selective antagonist GW9662 or the specific small interfering RNA for PPARγ. Together, the results demonstrate that emodin promotes cholesterol efflux from THP1 macrophages via activation of the PPARγ signalling pathway and may represent a potential anti‐atherosclerotic drug.
CFO's accounting talent, compensation and turnover
Authors: Loyeung Anna , Matolcsy Zoltan 
Published: May 2014

AbstractThis paper builds on and contributes to the literature on Chief Financial Officer's (CFO) compensation and turnover. We contend that the accounting talent of CFOs can be measured by accounting errors that occur when CFOs implement accounting standards. We find (i) a positive association between the CFO's accounting talent and the CFO's compensation ex ante in the transition year; (ii) a positive association between the CFO's accounting talent and the CFO's bonus in the subsequent year (adoption year); and (iii) an inverse association between the CFO's accounting talent and CFO turnover in the subsequent year (adoption year).
Expression of Concern: The labour scale – Assessment of the validity of a novel labour chart: A pilot study
Authors: Shazly Sherif A.M. , Embaby Lamiaa H.O. , Ali Shymaa S. 
Published: May 2014

BackgroundLabour dystocia is the most common indication for caesarean section (CS). This study assessed the validity of the labour scale (WHO partograph modification) as an intrapartum management tool to minimise over‐diagnosis of labour dystocia.Materials and MethodsThe study included 77 women in the early active phase of labour using the scale. This scale covers the same titles as the partograph with the cervico‐graph modified using National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommendations that adjust interference according to clinical circumstances. Labour progress was plotted on the labour scale then on the partograph to compare outcomes. Maternal and fetal outcomes were compared with international and local reports.ResultsOnly 21 (27.3%) women crossed the ‘membrane line’, which promotes amniotomy, and 35 women (45.5%) crossed the ‘augmentation line’ and received oxytocin. Four women were delivered by CS for failure to progress. When the same data were re‐plotted on the partograph, twenty‐eight women were diagnosed with failure to progress. The outcome difference between the ‘labour scale’ and the partograph was significant (P < 0.0001). Maternal and neonatal outcomes were excellent.ConclusionsWe suggest that the ‘labour scale’ is a promising tool for labour management that minimises labour dystocia without additional maternal or fetal risk.