bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tradeoff between energy efficiency and spectral efficiency in a delay constrained wireless system
Authors: Chen Xue , Hu Rose Qingyang , Wu Geng , Li Qian Clara 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACTBecause of the inevitable trend of green networking, energy efficiency (EE) is quickly becoming one of the key performance metrics to evaluate wireless communication systems, together with spectrum efficiency (SE) and quality of service (QoS) that have been traditionally used. This paper studies the fundamental tradeoff between EE and SE in the presence of statistical QoS requirements in wireless transmission systems. Earlier studies have shown that the performance with QoS requirements in the wireless transmission can be measured through effective capacity, which can capture the physical layer fading channel characteristics in the link layer QoS requirements, such as delay and data rate. Under this context, SE is defined as effective capacity per unit frequency bandwidth, and EE is defined as energy consumed per effective capacity bit. Both circuit power and transmission power are considered in the energy model, based on which we derive the quasi‐convex generalized EE formulation. To exploit the tradeoff between EE and SE with QoS considerations, we propose a generic close‐form approximation for EE–SE formulation by employing a curve fitting approach. The impacts of QoS and circuit power consumption on EE–SE tradeoff are respectively analyzed. QoS requirement and circuit power consumption affect the EE–SE tradeoff differently. In the low‐SNR regime, circuit power shows more impact on the EE–SE tradeoff, whereas QoS impacts EE–SE tradeoff more in the high‐SNR regime. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A General Solution Framework for Component-Commonality Problems
Authors: Boysen Nils , Scholl Armin 
Published: March 2014

AbstractComponent commonality — the use of the same version of a component across multiple products — is being increasingly considered as a promising way to offer high external variety while retaining low internal variety in operations. However, increasing commonality has both positive and negative cost effects, so that optimization approaches are required to identify an optimal commonality level. As components influence to a greater or lesser extent nearly every process step along the supply chain, it is not surprising that a multitude of diverging commonality problems is being investigated in literature, each of which are developing a specific algorithm designed for the respective commonality problem being considered. The paper on hand aims at a general framework which is flexible and efficient enough to be applied to a wide range of commonality problems. Such a procedure based on a two-stage graph approach is presented and tested. Finally, flexibility of the procedure is shown by customizing the framework to account for different types of commonality problems.
Cosmetic Result and Overall Satisfaction after Minimally Invasive Video‐assisted Thyroidectomy (MIVAT) versus Robot‐assisted Transaxillary Thyroidectomy (RATT): A Prospective Randomized Study
Authors: Materazzi Gabriele , Fregoli Lorenzo , Manzini Gabriele , Baggiani Angelo , Miccoli Mario , Miccoli Paolo 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackground
No studies have compared robot‐assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy (RATT) and minimally invasive video‐assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) regarding cosmetic outcome and satisfactionMethods
Patients matching the inclusion criteria (benign nodule less than 4 cm and thyroid volume less than 30 mL) were randomly allotted to undergo MIVAT (group A) or RATT (group B). Cosmetic result, overall satisfaction, operative time, and complications were evaluated.ResultsA total of 62 patients underwent hemithyroidectomy (30 in group A and 32 in group B). All patients were women, with the exception of one man in each group. The mean patient age was 36.9 years (group A) and 32.5 years (group B). Total operative time (intubation–extubation) was shorter in group A (71.6 min) than in group B (120.4 min). Complications included one transient laryngeal nerve injury in each group and one subcutaneous hematoma in group B. Postoperative hospital stay was longer in group B (1.85 days) than in group A (1.15 days). On the PASQ questionnaire, “scar appearance” and “satisfaction with appearance” scores were better in group A than in group B. In the Short Form (SF‐36) 36‐Item Health Survey Questionnaire, domains of “social activity” and “general health” were better in group B than in group A, whereas “bodily pain” scored higher in group B than in group A.ConclusionsRATT seems not to supersede MIVAT in terms of satisfaction when comparing two groups of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for benign disease.
Prognostic Factors of Patients with Thymic Carcinoma After Surgery: A Retrospective Analysis of 58 Cases
Authors: Wang Shuai , Wang Zhou , Liu Xiangyan , Wang Dong , Liu Fanying 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackground
Thymic carcinoma is reputed to carry a poor prognosis. Although few scholars have studied the prognosis of thymic carcinoma, the prognostic factors of patients after surgery are not well established. We analyze the prognostic significance of undetermined factors to predict the survival of patients after surgery.MethodsWe reviewed 351 cases of thymic epithelial tumor treated with surgery at a single institution in China from 1992 to 2011. A total of 58 patients were histopathologically reconfirmed as having thymic carcinoma. Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment modalities were reviewed. During the follow‐up, with a median of 65.8 months, survival time was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to identify prognostic factors.ResultsThe overall 3‐, 5‐, and 10‐year survival rate was 69.0, 43.1, and 12.1 %, respectively. The Log‐rank test revealed that Masaoka stage (p = 0.000), histology group (p = 0.000), completeness of the resection (p = 0.000), great vessel invasion (p = 0.000), and presence of symptoms (p = 0.003) were significant prognostic factors in all patients. However, tumor size (p = 0.086), age (p = 0.677), sex (p = 0.706), smoking (p = 0.065), and alcohol (p = 0.875) were not prognostic factors. A Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that Masaoka stage (hazard ratio = 15.640, p = 0.000) and completeness of the resection (hazard ratio = 18.303, p = 0.000) were the only independent prognostic factors.ConclusionsThe Masaoka stage and completeness of the resection were independent prognostic factors that predicted long‐term survival of patients with thymic carcinoma treated with surgery.
Preparation of przewalskinic acid A from salvianolic acid B using a crude enzyme from an Aspergillus oryzae strain
Authors: Liu Chunying , Jin Yinghua , Yu Hongshan , Sun Changkai , Zhou Shuiping , Zhu Yonghong , Xu Longquan , Yu Chong , Jin Fengxie 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Przewalskinic acid A is a rare, water-soluble, and highly biologically active ingredient found, thus far, only in the Salvia przewalskii Maxim herb; however, the content in S. przewalskii herb is very low. In order to obtain useful quantities of przewalskinic acid A, the biotransformatin of salvianolic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza root (danshen in Chinese) into przewalskinic acid A was studied using a crude enzyme produced from Aspergillus oryzae D30s strain. The crude enzyme from the A. oryzae strain hydrolyzed salvianolic acid B into przewalskinic acid A and danshensu. The preparation afforded 31.3 g przewalskinic acid A (91.0 % purity) and 13.1 g danshensu (95 % purity) from 75 g salvianolic acid B. The preparation of przewalskinic acid A was therefore very successful with a yield of over 86 %, but the yield of danshensu was only 33 %. The product przewalskinic acid A was identified using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC–MS) and NMR.
Oxalic acid production by citric acid-producing Aspergillus niger overexpressing the oxaloacetate hydrolase gene oahA
Authors: Kobayashi Keiichi , Hattori Takasumi , Honda Yuki , Kirimura Kohtaro 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger is used worldwide in the industrial production of citric acid. However, under specific cultivation conditions, citric acid-producing strains of A. niger accumulate oxalic acid as a by-product. Oxalic acid is used as a chelator, detergent, or tanning agent. Here, we sought to develop oxalic acid hyperproducers using A. niger as a host. To generate oxalic acid hyperproducers by metabolic engineering, transformants overexpressing the oahA gene, encoding oxaloacetate hydrolase (OAH; EC 3.7.1.1), were constructed in citric acid-producing A. niger WU-2223L as a host. The oxalic acid production capacity of this strain was examined by cultivation of EOAH-1 under conditions appropriate for oxalic acid production with 30 g/l glucose as a carbon source. Under all the cultivation conditions tested, the amount of oxalic acid produced by EOAH-1, a representative oahA-overexpressing transformant, exceeded that produced by A. niger WU-2223L. A. niger WU-2223L and EOAH-1 produced 15.6 and 28.9 g/l oxalic acid, respectively, during the 12-day cultivation period. The yield of oxalic acid for EOAH-1 was 64.2 % of the maximum theoretical yield. Our method for oxalic acid production gave the highest yield of any study reported to date. Therefore, we succeeded in generating oxalic acid hyperproducers by overexpressing a single gene, i.e., oahA, in citric acid-producing A. niger as a host.
1‐Sarcosine–angiotensin II infusion effects on food intake, weight loss, energy expenditure, and skeletal muscle UCP3 gene expression in a rat model
Authors: Cichello S. A. , Weisinger R. S. , Schuijers J. , Jois M. 
Published: March 2014

BackgroundThere are a myriad of proteins responsible for modulation of expenditure of energy. Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a vital component of renin‐angiotensin system that affects blood pressure and also linked to both cachexia and obesity via fat and muscle metabolism. Previous research suggests that the direct action of Ang II is on the brain, via angiotensin II type 1 receptor protein, affecting food intake and energy expenditure. The objective of the study is to investigate the effect of 1‐sarcosine (SAR)‐Ang II infusion on energy expenditure and metabolism in a rat model of congestive heart failure cachexia.MethodsAdult female rats of the Sprague Dawley strain (n = 33) were used (11 pair‐fed control, 12 ad libitum and 10, 1‐sarcosine–angiotensin II‐infused rats). Body weight, faecal excretion, feed intake (in grams), water intake (in milliliters) and urine excreted were recorded daily. The measurements were recorded in three different periods (4 days prior to surgery, “pre‐infusion”; day of surgery and 5 days postsurgery, “infusion period”; days 7 to 14, “recovery” period). Different analytical methods were used to measure energy expenditure per period, uncoupling protein 3 mRNA expression, crude protein and adipose tissue body composition.ResultsDuring the infusion period, the SAR–Ang II group experienced rapid weight loss (p < 0.05) in comparison to the ad libitum and pair‐fed groups. The SAR–Ang II group displayed lower (p < 0.05) body fat content (in percent) than the controls. There was also increased (p < 0.05) uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) mRNA expression in the SAR–Ang II group and pair‐fed group when compared to the controls.ConclusionIn summary, the results suggest that SAR–Ang II infusion impairs appetite and decreases body weight by wasting predominantly adipose tissue, which may be due to elevated energy expenditure via mitochondrial uncoupling (UCP3 protein activity).
Effects of platinum content on tribological properties of platinum/nitrogen doped diamond-like carbon thin films deposited via magnetron sputtering
Authors: Khun Nay Win , Liu Erjia 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Platinum (Pt) and nitrogen (N) were co-incorporated in diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films using a magnetron sputtering system to form PtN-DLC thin films for tribological applications. The Pt content in the PtN-DLC films prepared on Si substrates was controlled by varying RF power applied to a Pt target at a fixed N2 flow rate. The tribological properties of the PtN-DLC films were investigated with respect to the Pt content in the films. The uncoated Si substrate surface tested against a steel ball of 6 mm in diameter had significant abrasive and fatigue wear, while no significant wear was found on the N-DLC coated sample surface, indicating that the N-DLC film effectively prevented its underlying Si substrate from wear. However, the incorporation of Pt in the N-DLC films reduced the wear resistance of the films by degrading sp3-bonded cross-linking structures of the films so that significant wear tracks were found on the surfaces of the PtN-DLC films. Therefore, the increased radio frequency (RF) power applied to the Pt target decreased the wear resistance of the PtN-DLC films as a result of the increased Pt content.
Characterization of microstructure, toughness, and chemical composition of friction-welded joints of UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel
Authors: Ajith Puthuparambil Madhavan , Sathiya Paulraj , Aravindan Sivanandam 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Friction welding is a solid-state joining process which is applied extensively because of its advantages such as low heat input, efficient application, ease in manufacturing, and environmental friendliness. The present study investigates the mechanical and metallurgical properties of UNS S32205 duplex stainless steel friction-welded joints. The process parameters, namely friction pressure, upsetting pressure, and rotational speed are individually varied from low level to high level (within the range of the machine setup) and their effects on the joint properties are analyzed. The partial-deformation zone had higher hardness than the weld and base metal. The toughness of the joints was evaluated at room temperature and at subzero temperature conditions. The impact toughness of the friction-welded joints was found to be superior to fusion-joined duplex stainless steel in room and cryogenic conditions.
The usefulness of nifekalant for activation mapping of premature beat‐triggered atrial fibrillation: Suppression of atrial fibrillation initiation without inhibiting premature beat
Authors: Masuda Masaharu , Okuyama Yuji , Mizuno Hiroya , Minamiguchi Hitoshi , Konishi Shozo , Mishima Tsuyoshi , Ohtani Tomohito , Nanto Shinsuke , Sakata Yasushi 
Published: March 2014

AbstractA 66‐year‐old man underwent a second ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Intravenous isoproterenol administration caused the atrial premature beat (APB), triggering AF. The APB originated in the right atrium and invariably initiated AF. Therefore, contact activation mapping could not be performed without frequent electrocardioversion. To prevent the initiation of AF without inhibiting the APB firing, we administered nifekalant intravenously, which facilitated precise activation mapping and ablation of the AF‐triggering APB. The administration of nifekalant may improve clinical outcomes of catheter ablation for AF triggered by non‐pulmonary vein APB, which invariably initiates AF.
Integrating Education for Sustainability in Preservice Teacher Education: A Case Study From a Regional Australian University
Authors: Mills Reece , Tomas Louisa 
Published: March 2014

AbstractEducation for Sustainability (EfS) has been prioritised in the School of Education at James Cook University (JCU), Townsville, Australia. This article presents a case study that explores the ways in which teacher educators integrate EfS in their teaching in the Bachelor of Education (BEd) (Primary) at JCU, and their perceptions of enablers and constraints. Two key findings arose from the analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with four subject coordinators, and their subject outlines: (1) teacher educators at JCU integrate EfS in different ways through their choice of assessment, content and/or pedagogy; and (2) constraints operating at the school level, namely teacher educators’ perceptions and understanding of EfS, were perceived to be salient challenges to the integration of EfS in the program. Vision, leadership and funding at the university level were also identified as enabling factors that warrant further investigation. Findings contribute to existing literature regarding the integration of EfS in preservice teacher education, and serve to inform practice at JCU and universities more broadly.
Drama and Environment: Joining Forces to Engage Children and Young People in Environmental Education
Authors: Curtis David J. , Howden Mark , Curtis Fran , McColm Ian , Scrine Juliet , Blomfield Thor , Reeve Ian , Ryan Tara 
Published: March 2014

AbstractEngaging and exciting students about the environment remains a challenge in contemporary society, even while objective measures show the rapid state of the world's environment declining. To illuminate the integration of drama and environmental education as a means of engaging students in environmental issues, the work of performance companies Evergreen Theatre, Leapfish and Eaton Gorge Theatre Company, the ecological oratorio Plague and the Moonflower, and a school-based trial of play-building were examined through survey data and participant observations. These case studies employed drama in different ways — theatre-in-education, play-building, and large-scale performance event. The four case studies provide quantitative and qualitative evidence for drama-based activities leading to an improvement in knowledge about the environment and understandings about the consequences of one's actions. In observing and participating in these case studies, we reflect that drama is a means of synthesising and presenting scientific research in ways that are creative and multi-layered, and which excite students, helping maintain their attention and facilitating their engagement.
The Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) predicts care need in older Taiwanese: results of a national cohort study
Authors: Tsai Alan C. , Hsu Wei-Chung , Wang Jiun-Yi 
Published: March 2014

The present study determined the ability of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) to predict care need in older people. We analysed the datasets of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging. The 1999 survey containing the MNA items served as the baseline and the 2003 survey served as the endpoint. Of the 4440 participants, 2890 were aged ≥ 65 years and served as subjects in the present study. After excluding 150 subjects having incomplete data, 2740 were rated for nutritional status with the normalised long-form (LF) and short-form (SF) MNA-Taiwan version 1 (T1) and version 2 (T2) and evaluated with logistic regression analysis for cross-sectional associations of the rated nutritional status with care need, controlled for age, sex, education level, living arrangement and physical activity. Receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for evaluating the ability of the MNA to predict care need. After further excluding 250 subjects who had care need at baseline and seventy-six who were lost to follow-up, 2414 were evaluated for the ability of the MNA to predict subsequent care need with logistic regression analysis. The results demonstrated that all the MNA predicted concurrent and subsequent care need well. The OR for needing subsequent care in the ‘at-risk’ and ‘malnourished’ groups were, respectively, 2·04 and 3·33 for the MNA-T1-LF, 2·10 and 5·35 for the MNA-T2-LF, 1·49 and 2·48 MNA-T1-SF, and 1·80 and 3·44 for the MNA-T2-SF (allP< 0·05), and the respective NagelkerkeR2values were 0·190, 0·191, 0·184 and 0·192. In conclusion, all the four MNA have the ability to predict future care need, including the MNA-T2-SF, which appears to have great potential for practical applicability.
Coated zinc oxide improves intestinal immunity function and regulates microbiota composition in weaned piglets
Authors: Shen Junhua , Chen Yan , Wang Zhisheng , Zhou Anguo , He Miao , Mao Lei , Zou Huawei , Peng Quanhui , Xue Bai , Wang Lizhi , Zhang Xiangfei , Wu Shilin , Lv Yong 
Published: March 2014

The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that low concentrations of coated ZnO, as a substitute for a high concentration of ZnO (2250 mg Zn/kg), could improve intestinal immunity function and regulate microbiota composition, thus alleviating the incidence of diarrhoea in weaned piglets. A total of eighty-four cross-bred piglets, weaned at an age of 28 (sem 1) d, were allocated randomly, on the basis of average initial body weight (7·72 (sem 0·65) kg), to seven treatment groups as follows: a 250 mg Zn (ZnO)/kg group (low Zn; LZ) and a 2250 mg Zn (ZnO)/kg group (high Zn; HZ) that were offered diets containing ZnO at 250 and 2250 mg Zn/kg, respectively; and five experimental groups in which coated ZnO was added at 250, 380, 570, 760 and 1140 mg Zn/kg basal diet, respectively. The trial lasted 2 weeks. The results indicated that, compared with LZ treatment, supplementation with coated ZnO at 380 or 570 mg Zn/kg reduced (P< 0·05) diarrhoea index, increased (P< 0·05) duodenal villus height and the ratio of villus height:crypt depth, up-regulated (P< 0·05) the gene expression of insulin-like growth factor 1, zonula occludens protein-1, occludin, IL-10 and transforming growth factor β1, and elevated (P< 0·05) secretory IgA concentration in the jejunal mucosa. Microbiota richness and the Shannon diversity index were also decreased (P< 0·05). Furthermore, piglets in the group fed coated ZnO at 380 or 570 mg Zn/kg did not differ from those in the HZ-fed group in relation to the aforementioned parameters. Collectively, a low concentration of coated ZnO (380 or 570 mg Zn/kg) can alleviate the incidence of diarrhoea by promoting intestinal development, protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier from damage, stimulating the mucosal immune system and regulating the microbiota composition.
Host–parasite biology in the real world: the field voles of Kielder
Authors: TURNER A. K. , BELDOMENICO P. M. , BOWN K. , BURTHE S. J. , JACKSON J. A. , LAMBIN X. , BEGON M. 
Published: March 2014

SUMMARYResearch on the interactions between the field voles (Microtus agrestis) of Kielder Forest and their natural parasites dates back to the 1930s. These early studies were primarily concerned with understanding how parasites shape the characteristic cyclic population dynamics of their hosts. However, since the early 2000s, research on the Kielder field voles has expanded considerably and the system has now been utilized for the study of host–parasite biology across many levels, including genetics, evolutionary ecology, immunology and epidemiology. The Kielder field voles therefore represent one of the most intensely and broadly studied natural host–parasite systems, bridging theoretical and empirical approaches to better understand the biology of infectious disease in the real world. This article synthesizes the body of work published on this system and summarizes some important insights and general messages provided by the integrated and multidisciplinary study of host–parasite interactions in the natural environment.