bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inverse boundary value problem for the heat equation with
discontinuous coefficients
Authors: Nakamura Gen , Sasayama Satoshi 
Published: February 2013

Abstract.
The inversion (= reconstruction) scheme, called the dynamical probe method,
is applied to active thermography to identify unknown inclusions in an
heat conductor and their physical properties. We assume the physical
properties of the inclusions and heat conductor are isotropic and
homogeneous. The measured data for the active thermography are the so-called Neumann
to Dirichlet map. By defining some indicator function via the measured
data, the identification is done by looking at the behavior of the indicator
function. The underlying analysis is the short time asymptotic of
fundamental solution of the heat equation with discontinuous coefficients.
Frequency Domain Based Approach for Denoising of Underwater Acoustic Signal Using EMD
Authors: Veeraiyan Vijayabaskar , Velayutham Rajendran , Philip Mathews M. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract.Underwater communication is usually affected by ambient noise, which may be
generated by different sources, such as the wind origin sea-surface sources,
ships and under water life. The properties of background noise, which are
non-stationary in nature, depend on location, sea depth, wind speed and
sound propagation conditions in the area. Overall performance of underwater
acoustic instruments can be improved by denoising the underwater signals.
This paper proposes a novel denoising method using empirical mode
decomposition (EMD) technique. Frequency domain based thresholding has been
used to denoise the signal, which involves three steps: (i) EMD is
applied to the noisy signal to decompose the signal into intrinsic mode
functions (IMFs). (ii) Thresholding is applied to each IMF in the frequency
domain to remove the noise. (iii) Thresholded IMFs are added to obtain the
denoised signal. Real-time experiments were performed to validate the proposed
technique on the basis of the records of the ambient noise data recorded at
sea for various wind speed. It was observed that the experimental results
are in good agreement with the proposed algorithm under different wind-noise
levels.
Fine-Scale Heterogeneity in Crossover Rate in thegarnet-scallopedRegion of theDrosophila melanogasterX Chromosome
Authors: Singh Nadia D , Stone Eric A , Aquadro Charles F , Clark Andrew G 
Published: February 2013

AbstractHomologous recombination affects myriad aspects of genome evolution, from standing levels of nucleotide diversity to the efficacy of natural selection. Rates of crossing over show marked variability at all scales surveyed, including species-, population-, and individual-level differences. Even within genomes, crossovers are nonrandomly distributed in a wide diversity of taxa. Although intra- and intergenomic heterogeneities in crossover distribution have been documented in Drosophila, the scale and degree of crossover rate heterogeneity remain unclear. In addition, the genetic features mediating this heterogeneity are unknown. Here we quantify fine-scale heterogeneity in crossover distribution in a 2.1-Mb region of the Drosophila melanogaster X chromosome by localizing crossover breakpoints in 2500 individuals, each containing a single crossover in this specific X chromosome region. We show 90-fold variation in rates of crossing over at a 5-kb scale, place this variation in the context of several aspects of genome evolution, and identify several genetic features associated with crossover rates. Our results shed new light on the scale and magnitude of crossover rate heterogeneity in D. melanogaster and highlight potential features mediating this heterogeneity.
Inferring Admixture Histories of Human Populations Using Linkage Disequilibrium
Authors: Loh Po-Ru , Lipson Mark , Patterson Nick , Moorjani Priya , Pickrell Joseph K , Reich David , Berger Bonnie 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Long-range migrations and the resulting admixtures between populations have been important forces shaping human genetic diversity. Most existing methods for detecting and reconstructing historical admixture events are based on allele frequency divergences or patterns of ancestry segments in chromosomes of admixed individuals. An emerging new approach harnesses the exponential decay of admixture-induced linkage disequilibrium (LD) as a function of genetic distance. Here, we comprehensively develop LD-based inference into a versatile tool for investigating admixture. We present a new weighted LD statistic that can be used to infer mixture proportions as well as dates with fewer constraints on reference populations than previous methods. We define an LD-based three-population test for admixture and identify scenarios in which it can detect admixture events that previous formal tests cannot. We further show that we can uncover phylogenetic relationships among populations by comparing weighted LD curves obtained using a suite of references. Finally, we describe several improvements to the computation and fitting of weighted LD curves that greatly increase the robustness and speed of the calculations. We implement all of these advances in a software package, ALDER, which we validate in simulations and apply to test for admixture among all populations from the Human Genome Diversity Project (HGDP), highlighting insights into the admixture history of Central African Pygmies, Sardinians, and Japanese.
Effect of the Load Resistance in the Linearity and Sensitivity of MIS Position Sensitive Detectors
Authors: Águas H. , Pereira L. , Fortunato L. Raniero E. , Martins R. 
Published: February 2013

AbstractIt is experimentally known that the linearity and sensitivity of the position sensitive detectors (PSD) are dependent on the resistance of the collecting layer and of the load resistance, mainly if the detection is based on the measurement of the photo-lateral voltage. To determine the value of the load resistance to be used in metal - insulator - semiconductor (MIS) PSDs structures that lead to the maximum value of sensitivity and linearity, we propose an electrical model through which it is able to simulate the proper sensor response and how the load resistance influence the results obtained. This model is valid for PSDs where the resistance of the collecting resistive layer is quite low (≤ 500 Ω), leading to a low output impedance. Under these conditions we conclude that the value of the load resistance should be of about 1 kΩ in order to achieve a good compromise between the linearity and the sensitivity of the PSD. This result is in agreement with the set of experiments performed.
Comparison Analysis of Nutritional Scores for Serial Monitoring of Nutritional Status in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Beberashvili Ilia , Azar Ada , Sinuani Inna , Kadoshi Hadas , Shapiro Gregory , Feldman Leonid , Averbukh Zhan , Weissgarten Joshua 
Published: February 2013

Summary

Background and objectives
This study aimed to compare the longitudinal performance of the malnutrition-inflammation score (MIS) and the geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI), two nutritional scores for patients on maintenance hemodialysis.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Nutritional scores, dietary intake, biochemical markers, and body composition analysis were performed at baseline and at 6, 12, and 18 months after enrollment (which took place from January through December 2006) on 75 prevalent hemodialysis patients (43% women, mean age 64.8±11.9 years). The patients underwent simultaneous MIS and GNRI assessments calculated by two independent examiners from baseline. The study period was 46.8±16.4 months.

Results
GNRI had higher interobserver agreement (weighted κ-score 0.98) than MIS (weighted κ-score 0.62). Longitudinally, a 1-unit increase in MIS was associated with a 0.41 kcal/kg per day reduction in daily energy intake (P<0.001) and with a 0.014 g/kg per day reduction in nPNA (P=0.02). GNRI did not correlate with the change over time of dietary intake. Longitudinal changes of both scores were associated with appropriate changes over time in levels of nutritional biomarkers, inflammation (IL-6), and body composition parameters. Both scores expressed significant associations with prospective hospitalization, whereas only MIS was associated with mortality in this cohort. The multivariate Cox proportional hazard ratio was 1.15 for death for each 1-unit increase in the MIS (95% confidence interval, 1.03–1.3; P=0.02).

Conclusions
Both MIS and GNRI are valid tools for longitudinal assessment of hemodialysis patients’ nutritional status. MIS has lower interobserver reproducibility than GNRI; however, MIS is more comprehensive than GNRI.
Laser Microdissection and Proteomic Analysis of Amyloidosis, Cryoglobulinemic GN, Fibrillary GN, and Immunotactoid Glomerulopathy
Authors: Sethi Sanjeev , Theis Jason D. , Vrana Julie A. , Fervenza Fernando C. , Sethi Anjali , Qian Qi , Quint Patrick , Leung Nelson , Dogan Ahmet , Nasr Samih H. 
Published: February 2013

Summary

Background and objectives
Organized deposits are present in amyloidosis, fibrillary GN, and immunotactoid glomerulopathy. However, the constituents of the deposits are not known.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Laser microdissection of glomeruli followed by mass spectrometry was performed to determine the composition of the deposits. The results were compared with cryoglobulinemic GN.

Results
The results are divided into four major groups: amyloidogenic proteins, structural/other proteins, complement proteins, and Igs. With regards to amyloidogenic proteins, large spectra numbers of apolipoprotein E are noted in amyloidosis (41.8±20.9) compared with fibrillary (15.6±12.5) and immunotactoid (12.3±12) glomerulopathy. Apolipoprotein E was absent in cryoglobulinemic GN. Serum amyloid P component is present in large spectra numbers in amyloidosis (14.1±6.7) and small spectra numbers in immunotactoid glomerulopathy, but it is absent in fibrillary and cryoglobulinemic GN. However, large spectra numbers of Ig γ-1 chain C region are present in immunotactoid glomerulopathy (47.3±34.6) compared with fibrillary (16.25±19.7) and cryoglobulinemic (13.3±4.9) GN. All cases of Ig light chain-associated amyloidosis showed spectra for the respective Ig light-chain C region (mean=10±1.7).

Conclusions
Based on the spectra numbers, the study shows that the relative amount of apolipoprotein E to Ig light-chain C region/amyloidogenic proteins or Ig γ-1 chain C region is associated with the organization of the deposits in amyloidosis, fibrillary GN, and immunotactoid glomerulopathy. However, the absence of apolipoprotein E correlates with the lack of fibrillar deposits in cryoglobulinemic GN.
Use of Dried Plasma Spots for the Quantification of Iothalamate in Clinical Studies
Authors: Hagan Andrew S. , Jones David R. , Agarwal Rajiv 
Published: February 2013

Summary

Background and objectives
Although iothalamate clearances have been widely used to measure GFR, the need for transportation of plasma samples under refrigerated conditions obviates its use in resource-poor situations. Spots of blood or plasma dried on filter paper may provide a solution.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements
Using a validated HPLC technique, iothalamate in dried blood spots of different hematocrits was measured. GFR was measured over 5 hours in 10 subjects with CKD using dried plasma spots and standard methods.

Results
Lower hematocrit produced greater area of blood spreading and lowered the recovery of iothalamate from dried blood spots. However, the relationship between iothalamate concentrations in dried plasma spots and plasma showed a regression slope of 0.95 (95% confidence interval=0.92–0.98, P<0.001). Bland–Altman plot of paired sample points (n=116) showed a bias of −4 μg/ml and limits of agreement of −38 to +30 μg/ml. The relationship between GFRs using dried plasma spots and plasma methods also showed an excellent relationship (slope of 0.95, 95% confidence interval=0.82–1.17). Bland–Altman plot of paired GFRs showed a bias of 2 ml/min, with limits of agreement of −6 to +10 ml/min. Precision was generally between 5% and 10%, and accuracy was within 5%.

Conclusions
Although dried blood spots are unsuitable for studies among those patients with very low hematocrit, dried plasma spots correct for this limitation, and this small pilot study shows that it is a reasonably reliable method for quantifying iothalamate and subsequently, determining GFR.
Determinants of Weight Gain in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Trial
Authors: Fonseca Vivian , McDuffie Roberta , Calles Jorge , Cohen Robert M. , Feeney Patricia , Feinglos Mark , Gerstein Hertzel C. , Ismail-Beigi Faramarz , Morgan Timothy M. , Pop-Busui Rodica , Riddle Matthew C. ,   the ACCORD Study Group
Published: February 2013

OBJECTIVE
Identify determinants of weight gain in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) allocated to intensive versus standard glycemic control in the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We studied determinants of weight gain over 2 years in 8,929 participants (4,425 intensive arm and 4,504 standard arm) with T2DM in the ACCORD trial. We used general linear models to examine the association between each baseline characteristic and weight change at the 2-year visit. We fit a linear regression of change in weight and A1C and used general linear models to examine the association between each medication at baseline and weight change at the 2-year visit, stratified by glycemia allocation.

RESULTS
There was significantly more weight gain in the intensive glycemia arm of the trial compared with the standard arm (3.0 ± 7.0 vs. 0.3 ± 6.3 kg). On multivariate analysis, younger age, male sex, Asian race, no smoking history, high A1C, baseline BMI of 25–35, high waist circumference, baseline insulin use, and baseline metformin use were independently associated with weight gain over 2 years. Reduction of A1C from baseline was consistently associated with weight gain only when baseline A1C was elevated. Medication usage accounted for &lt;15% of the variability of weight change, with initiation of thiazolidinedione (TZD) use the most prominent factor. Intensive participants who never took insulin or a TZD had an average weight loss of 2.9 kg during the first 2 years of the trial. In contrast, intensive participants who had never previously used insulin or TZD but began this combination after enrolling in the ACCORD trial had a weight gain of 4.6–5.3 kg at 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS
Weight gain in ACCORD was greater with intensive than with standard treatment and generally associated with reduction of A1C from elevated baseline values. Initiation of TZD and/or insulin therapy was the most important medication-related factor associated with weight gain.
Association Among Depression, Physical Functioning, and Hearing and Vision Impairment in Adults With Diabetes
Authors: Loprinzi Paul D. , Smit Ellen , Pariser Gina 
Published: February 2013

Objective. Individuals with diabetes may be at an increased risk for depression given the potential diabetes-induced link between sensory impairment, physical functioning, and depression. As a result, the purposes of this study were 1) to examine the association between sensory impairment and depression among adults of all ages with diabetes, 2) to examine whether dual sensory impairment and physical functioning are independently associated with depression, and 3) to examine the association between physical functioning and sensory impairment.
Design and Methods. Data from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in the present study and, after exclusions, 567 participants (18–85 years of age) with evidence of diabetes constituted the analytic sample. Sensory impairment (vision and hearing), physical functioning, and depression were reported from questionnaires.
Results. After controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, comorbidity index, smoking, BMI, physical activity, and glycemic control, dual sensory impairment (odds ratio [OR] 7.48, 95% CI 2.09–26.71) and physical dysfunction (unable to perform activities; OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.28–8.08) were associated with increased depression symptoms. After adjustments, participants who were unable to perform activities had a 1.73 (95% CI 0.94–3.19, P = 0.07), 2.78 (0.78–9.87, P = 0.11), and 2.21 (0.50–9.68, P = 0.29) nonsignificant greater odds, respectively, of having hearing, vision, and dual sensory impairment than participants who were able to perform activities.
Conclusion. Adults with diabetes who have dual sensory impairment and physical functioning limitations are more likely to report depression symptoms. This highlights the importance of preventing and improving sensory impairments, physical functioning, and depression among adults with diabetes.
Two-step Bdf Time Discretisation of Nonlinear Evolution Problems Governed by Monotone Operators with Strongly Continuous Perturbations
Authors: Emmrich E. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract The time discretisation of the initial-value problem for a first-order evolution
equation by the two-step backward differentiation formula (BDF) on a uniform
grid is analysed. The evolution equation is governed by a time-dependent monotone
operator that might be perturbed by a time-dependent strongly continuous operator.
Well-posedness of the numerical scheme, a priori estimates, convergence of a piecewise
polynomial prolongation, stability as well as smooth-data error estimates are provided
relying essentially on an algebraic relation that implies the G-stability of the two-step
BDF with constant time steps.
The Perception of English-Accented Polish –A Pilot Study
Authors: Szpyra-Kozłowska Jolanta , Radomski Marek 
Published: February 2013

While the perception of Polish-accented English by native-speakers has been studied extensively (e.g Gonet & Pietroń 2004, Scheuer 2003, Szpyra-Kozłowska 2005, in press), an opposite phenomenon, i.e. the perception of English-accented Polish by Poles has not, to our knowledge, been examined so far despite a growing number of Polish-speaking foreigners, including various celebrities, who appear in the Polish media and whose accents are often commented on and even parodied.
In this paper we offer a report on a pilot study in which 60 Polish teenagers, all secondary school learners (aged 15-16) listened to and assessed several samples of foreign-accented Polish in a series of scalar judgement and open question tasks meant to examine Poles’ attitudes to English accent(s) in their native language.
More specifically, we aimed at finding answers to the following research questions:
• How accurately can Polish listeners identify foreign accents in Polish?
• How is English-accented Polish, when compared to Polish spoken with a Russian, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Chinese accent, evaluated by Polish listeners in terms of the samples’ degree of:
(a) comprehensibility
(b) foreign accentedness
(c) pleasantness?
• What phonetic and phonological features, both segmental and prosodic, are perceived by Polish listeners as characteristic of English-accented Polish?
• Can Polish listeners identify different English accents (American, English English and Scottish) in English-accented Polish?
• Does familiarity with a specific foreign language facilitate the recognition and identification of that accent in foreign-accented Polish?
Mispronounced Lexical Items in Polish English of Advanced Learners
Authors: Szpyra-Kozłowska Jolanta 
Published: February 2013

The paper is a continuation of the author’s earlier studies in which she argues that it is the mispronunciation of whole words due to their incorrect phonological storage in the learners’ phonetic memory that is more detrimental to successful communication via English than an inaccurate production of individual segments and suprasegmentals. Consequently, phonetically difficult words deserve to be thoroughly investigated and pedagogically prioritized.
The present study is a report on an experiment in which 20 English Department students, all advanced learners of English, were recorded having been asked to read a list of diagnostic sentences containing 80 words known to be problematic for Poles in terms of their pronunciation. This has been done in order to isolate and examine the major error types, to establish a hierarchy of difficulty among 8 sources of pronunciation errors, to compare the obtained results with the most common error types made by intermediate learners and to juxtapose the participants’ subjective evaluation of the phonetic difficulty of words with their actual phonetic performance. The final goal is to draw pedagogical implications for the phonetic training of advanced students of English.
Liquid-solid interaction during formation of nanocomposite systems
Authors: Shtablavyi Ihor , Mudry Stepan , Kajak Paweł 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Structural changes in mixtures of liquid Bi with small Cu and Ni particles were studied at temperatures of 615 and 1145K. Microstructures of the composites were observed (SEM) and analyzed after treatment at different temperatures and various durations of stirring. The structure of the mixtures of Bi with Cu(Ni) particles was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction, both in the solid and liquid state.
Fly ash as the component of composites materials
Authors: Prascakova M. , Kusnierova M. , Cablik V. , Jarosiński A. 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
The fly ash from powerplant can be compared, due to its genesis, chemical and mineralogical composition with the natural volcanic glasses and minerals generated in the process of devitrification in situ. Its quality is comparable to non-metallic alumosilicate raw materials that are commercially used in building and ceramic industry. Two possibilities of fly ash utilization as the most bulk waste produced by anthropogenic activity were examined. The way of fly ashes utilization in the modeling of mixtures for the high refractory mullite corundum materials synthesis was examined. In this experiment 95.5% conversion of the input components of fly ash and Al additive in the ratio 1:1 on the mullite and corundum was obtained.
The Principle of Population for the 21st Century: The Never Coming Stationary State
Authors: Machay Martin 
Published: February 2013

Abstract
Forward-thinking is one of the most enchanting areas in economics. While Malthus and Ricardo agreed on the gloomy vision of the future, Mill described the wider stationary state and foresaw it in a more optimistic way. Space sciences and improvements in our technology provided us with the solution decades ago, although economics have not noticed this possible solution of the classical stationary state until now. This article incorporates this knowledge into economics. Calories integrate the supply of means of production and the demand for means of consumption in one market. The stationary state could come only if the demand for means of subsistence grows faster than the supply of means of production. Increasing scarcity of free calories exceeding the minimal required volume of it preventing the malnutrition and death will push the calorie price up while economy will move towards the stationary state. But where to get the land when the very last piece of it - even the deserts - will have been already cultivated? Increasing scarcity of land opens possibility for firms to make profit from producing land. Thus, the classical stationary state is only an illusion.