bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Just-In-Time Compilation of NumPy Vector Operations
Authors: Lund Johannes , Kristensen Mads R. B. , Lund Simon A. F. , Vinter Brian 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we introduce JIT compilation for the high-productivity framework Python/NumPy in order to boost the performance significantly. The JIT compilation of Python/NumPy is completely transparent to the user – the runtime system will automatically JIT compile and execute the NumPy instructions encountered in a Python application. In other words, we introduce a framework that provides the high-productivity from Python while maintaining the high-performance of a low-level, compiled language.We transforms NumPy vector instruction into an Abstract Syntax Tree representation that creates the basis for further optimizations. From the AST we auto-generate C code which we compile into computational kernels and execute. These incorporate temporary array removal and loop-fusion which are main benefactors in the achieved speedups. In order to amortize the overhead of creation, we also implement a cache for the compiled kernels.We evaluate the JIT compilation by executing several scientific computing benchmarks on an AMD. Compared to NumPy, we achieve speedups of a factor 4.72 for a N-Body application and 7.51 for a Jacobi Stencil application executing on a single CPU core.
Unified Modeling Language in History and Social Science Education
Authors: Bergandy Jan 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis paper addresses using Unified Modeling Language (UML), a proven and well supported technology, in teaching problem solving skills to middle and high school age students. UML has been successfully used by software industry as a standardized graphical modeling language in specification and design of software systems. The paper focuses on the phase of our project involving teaching history and social science. It advocates relevance of our approach and illustrates how modeling in UML can be effectively utilized in teaching of these subjects. Paper also addresses aligning of our approach with curriculum standards driving K-12 education.
Conceptualizing Quality in Software Industry
Authors: Khalifa Nermine M , Abd Elghany Mona M 
Published: February 2014

AbstractThis paper investigates the different software quality perceptions from the different stakeholders’ perspectives and presents a critique to previously developed quality models and measurement theory frameworks associated. It emphasizes the rationale beyond the selection of the Goal Question Metric (GQM) as an evaluation method for the development of the software project with the desired quality needs satisfying the software system. Then it ends up with several concluding remarks that pinpoint the main discussion points and offers guidance for further research.
Climate change, water rights, and water supply: The case of irrigated agriculture in Idaho
Authors: Xu Wenchao , Lowe Scott E. , Adams Richard M. 
Published: February 2014

AbstractWe conduct a hedonic analysis to estimate the response of agricultural land use to water supply information under the Prior Appropriation Doctrine by using Idaho as a case study. Our analysis includes long‐term climate (weather) trends and water supply conditions as well as seasonal water supply forecasts. A farm‐level panel data set, which accounts for the priority effects of water rights and controls for diversified crop mixes and rotation practices, is used. Our results indicate that farmers respond to the long‐term surface and ground water conditions as well as to the seasonal water supply variations. Climate change‐induced variations in climate and water supply conditions could lead to substantial damages to irrigated agriculture. We project substantial losses (up to 32%) of the average crop revenue for major agricultural areas under future climate scenarios in Idaho. Finally, farmers demonstrate significantly varied responses given their water rights priorities, which imply that the distributional impact of climate change is sensitive to institutions such as the Prior Appropriation Doctrine.
Near‐ and Far‐Transfer Effects of Working Memory Updating Training in Elderly Adults
Authors: Xin Zhao , Lai Zhou‐Ren , Li Fu. , Maes Joseph H. R. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryAge‐related declines in working memory, especially with regard to updating ability, affect many high‐level aspects of cognition in elderly adults. Recent studies have demonstrated that training might improve working memory. We investigated the effects of 20 days of adaptive training of working memory updating in healthy elderly adults. Comparing the performance on cognitive function tests before and after training in a trained group and a non‐trained group, significant positive training effects were observed in a numerical updating task and a digit‐span test, but not in a non‐verbal reasoning test. The results suggest beneficial effects of working memory updating training to working memory tasks that use different content material and task formats than those used during training. However, confirming the results of previous studies, transfer effects to other higher order cognitive processes seem to be absent in elderly adults. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Lineup Member Similarity Effects on Children's Eyewitness Identification
Authors: Fitzgerald Ryan J. , Whiting Brittany F. , Therrien Natalie M. , Price Heather L. 
Published: February 2014

SummaryTo date, research investigating the similarity among lineup members has focused on adult eyewitnesses. In the present research, children made identifications from lineups containing members of lower or higher similarity to a target person. In Experiment 1, following a live interaction, children's (6–14 years) correct identification rate was reduced in higher‐similarity relative to lower‐similarity lineups. In Experiment 2, children (6–12 years) and adults watched a video containing a target person. Again, higher‐similarity lineup members reduced children's correct identifications; however, similarity had no effect on adults' correct identification rate. Although children benefited from lower‐similarity lineups when the target was present, lower‐similarity lineups generally increased misidentifications of an innocent suspect when the target was absent. Thus, increasing similarity in lineups for children had a cost on target‐present lineups and a benefit on target‐absent lineups. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association of Thigh Muscle Strength With Knee Symptoms and Radiographic Disease Stage of Osteoarthritis: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative
Authors: Ruhdorfer Anja , Wirth Wolfgang , Hitzl Wolfgang , Nevitt Michael , Eckstein Felix ,   for the Osteoarthritis Initiative Investigators
Published: February 2014

ObjectiveTo determine whether thigh muscle strength differs between symptomatic and asymptomatic knees, and/or different radiographic strata of knee osteoarthritis (KOA).MethodsIsometric extensor and flexor strength were analyzed in 3,809 Osteoarthritis Initiative participants (2,201 women and 1,608 men) with central radiographic Kellgren/Lawrence (K/L) grade readings. Isometric strength measurements were stratified by radiographic disease status (K/L grades 0, 1, 2, and 3/4) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain scores. Age‐adjusted, separate‐slopes analysis of covariance models was used to compare strength between “symptomatic” (WOMAC score range 5–20) and “asymptomatic” (WOMAC score = 0) legs within and across K/L grade strata. Exploratory analyses focused on strength normalized to body weight and symptom frequency.ResultsIsometric strength was significantly lower in symptomatic than in asymptomatic legs: −11 to −13% for extensor strength and −7 to −16% for flexor strength (P < 0.0001 for both) in men, and −9 to −17% (P = 0.029) for extensor strength, and −10 to −21% (P = 0.049) for flexor strength in women. Similar observations were made for pain frequency strata. Extensor and flexor strength were not significantly different across K/L grade strata in asymptomatic legs in either sex (P ≥ 0.12). However, strength normalized to body weight was lower at higher K/L grades in both sexes (P ≤ 0.02) because the body mass index was greater in participants with more advanced radiographic disease.ConclusionKnee symptoms (i.e., pain) appear to be the relevant determinant of isometric knee extensor and flexor strength in KOA, whereas no direct association between strength and radiographic severity was observed. These findings suggest that the reduction in thigh muscle strength in KOA is related to pain but not to the structural (radiographic) disease status.
Analysis of 16 STRs of NOS gene regions and around in six sardinian populations (Italy)
Authors: Bachis Valeria , Calò Carla Maria , Vona Giuseppe , Corrias Laura , Carreras‐Torres Robert , Moral Pedro 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTObjectivesThe aims of this work are to provide first data on novel STRs at the NOS gene regions in human populations and to test for possible correlations with mortality rate by malaria in different areas of Sardinia (Italy).MethodsIn the present study, 16 STRs (13 analyzed for the first time in human populations) localized on three genes NOS were typed in 213 healthy individuals, unrelated for at least three generations, from six historical–geographical Sardinian areas. STRs alleles were determined through sequencing. Statistical analyses were performed by Genepop (v.4.0), Arlequin (v.3.5.1.2), R (v.2.15.1), Statistica (v.5.1), and PHASE (v.2.1) software packages.ResultsThe number of alleles found for each locus ranged from 2 to 12 and their distribution is most often unimodal. All populations met Hardy Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni correction, with few exceptions. Analysis of genetic distances did not show strong genetic structuring of the investigated populations. Instead, the population genetic variability shows a positive and highly significant (P‐value < 0.01) correlation between mortality determined by malaria infection and alleles (TGGA)7 of NOS2, (AAAAG)2 and (ATTT)10 of adNOS1, and (AAACA)11 of adNOS3 genes.ConclusionsThe peculiar allele distribution found for several NOS alleles could be due to malaria infection that may have contributed to their frequencies, but we cannot exclude that the peculiar allele distribution of NOS might also be due to genetic drift, emphasized by isolation and founder effect. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 26:401–406, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The effect of morphology on the flame‐retardant behaviors of melamine cyanurate in PA6 composites
Authors: Tang Shuo , Qian Li‐jun , Qiu Yong , Sun Nan 
Published: February 2014

ABSTRACTThree types of melamine cyanurate (MCA) with micrometer‐size sphere‐like, micrometer‐scale rod‐like, and nanometer‐scale flake‐like morphologies were synthesized by changing the chemical circumstances of the reactions. The microcosmic morphologies of MCA were characterized via scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray diffraction. After the MCAs with different morphologies were incorporated into polyamide 6 (PA6), the flame‐retardant properties of the MCA/PA6 composites were investigated using the limited oxygen index (LOI), UL94, and cone calorimeter tests. The MCA/PA6 composites with nanometer‐scale flake‐like MCA obtained an LOI value of 29.5% and a UL94 V‐0 rating, which were higher than those with micrometer‐size sphere‐like and rod‐like MCAs. However, the different morphologies did not affect the heat release rate, total smoke release, average carbon monoxide yield, and average carbon dioxide yield based on the cone calorimeter. The flame‐retardant mechanism of MCAs with different morphologies was investigated via thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and TGA‐Fourier transform infrared spectra. The results show that the different morphologies of MCA resulted in different dispersed evenness of MCA. Further, the nanometer‐scale flake‐like morphology of MCA brought more interactions of hydrogen bond between MCA and PA6, which resulted in the delay of MCA decomposition and the enhancement of MCA flame‐retardant effect. The nanometer‐scale flake‐like MCA had a better performance compared with the other samples because of the delaying and even release of flame‐retardant effect by the decomposition of evenly dispersed MCA. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 40558.
Clinical and Serologic Correlates of Anti‐PM/Scl Antibodies in Systemic Sclerosis: A Multicenter Study of 763 Patients
Authors: D'Aoust Julie , Hudson Marie , Tatibouet Solène , Wick James ,   the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group, Mahler Michael , Baron Murray , Fritzler Marvin J. 
Published: February 2014

ObjectiveAnti‐PM/Scl autoantibodies are found in polymyositis, dermatomyositis, systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic autoimmune disease overlap syndromes. PM‐1α is a major epitope of the PM/Scl complex, and antibodies against PM‐1α can be detected using a validated enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and identify the clinical correlates of anti–PM‐1α antibodies in a large cohort of patients with SSc.MethodsSerum samples were obtained from 763 patients with SSc enrolled in a multicenter Canadian cohort. The sera were analyzed by ELISA for the presence of antibodies against PM‐1α. Associations between the presence of anti–PM‐1α antibodies and demographic, clinical, and other serologic manifestations of SSc were investigated.ResultsAnti–PM‐1α antibodies were present in 55 patients with SSc (7.2%), of whom almost 50% (26 of 55; 3.4% of the overall cohort) had no other SSc‐specific antibodies, namely anticentromere, anti–topoisomerase I, and anti–RNA polymerase III. Features positively associated with the presence of anti–PM‐1α antibodies included younger age at disease onset, skeletal muscle involvement, calcinosis, inflammatory arthritis, and overlap disease. Interstitial lung disease was less frequent and there were fewer gastrointestinal symptoms present in patients with anti–PM‐1α antibodies compared to patients without these antibodies.ConclusionAnti–PM‐1α antibodies are relatively common in SSc and are associated with a distinct clinical phenotype, consistent with that described in association with other anti‐PM/Scl autoantibodies. Although anti–PM‐1α antibodies are not exclusive of other SSc‐specific antibodies, they can be present in the absence thereof. Thus, anti–PM‐1α antibodies may have considerable diagnostic and prognostic relevance in SSc.
Brief Report: A Polymorphism in TLR2 Is Associated With Arterial Thrombosis in a Multiethnic Population of Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Kaiser Rachel , Tang Ling Fung , Taylor Kimberly E. , Sterba Kirsten , Nititham Joanne , Brown Elizabeth E. , Edberg Jeffrey C. , McGwin Gerald , Alarcón Graciela S. , Ramsey‐Goldman Rosalind , Reveille John D. , Vilá Luis M. , Petri Michelle , Rauch Joyce , Miller Emily , Mesznik Kara , Kwok Pui‐Yan , Kimberly Robert P. , Salmon Jane E. , Criswell Lindsey A. 
Published: February 2014

ObjectiveThrombosis is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Studies that have investigated the genetics of thrombosis in SLE are limited. We undertook this study to assess the association of previously implicated candidate genes, particularly Toll‐like receptor (TLR) genes, with pathogenesis of thrombosis.MethodsWe genotyped 3,587 SLE patients from 3 multiethnic populations for 77 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 10 genes, primarily in TLRs 2, 4, 7, and 9, and we also genotyped 64 ancestry‐informative markers (AIMs). We first analyzed association with arterial and venous thrombosis in the combined population via logistic regression, adjusting for top principal components of the AIMs and other covariates. We also subjected an associated SNP, rs893629, to meta‐analysis (after stratification by ethnicity and study population) to confirm the association and to test for study population or ethnicity effects.ResultsIn the combined analysis, the SNP rs893629 in the KIAA0922/TLR2 region was significantly associated with arterial thrombosis (logistic P = 6.4 × 10−5, false discovery rate P = 0.0044). Two additional SNPs in TLR2 were also suggestive: rs1816702 (logistic P = 0.002) and rs4235232 (logistic P = 0.009). In the meta‐analysis by study population, the odds ratio (OR) for arterial thrombosis with rs893629 was 2.44 (95% confidence interval 1.58–3.76), without evidence for heterogeneity (P = 0.78). By ethnicity, the effect was most significant among African Americans (OR 2.42, P = 3.5 × 10−4) and European Americans (OR 3.47, P = 0.024).ConclusionTLR2 gene variation is associated with thrombosis in SLE, particularly among African Americans and European Americans. There was no evidence of association among Hispanics, and results in Asian Americans were limited due to insufficient sample size. These results may help elucidate the pathogenesis of this important clinical manifestation.
Proinflammatory Adaptive Cytokine and Shed Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor Levels Are Elevated Preceding Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Flare
Authors: Munroe Melissa E. , Vista Evan S. , Guthridge Joel M. , Thompson Linda F. , Merrill Joan T. , James Judith A. 
Published: February 2014

ObjectiveSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifaceted disease characterized by immune dysregulation and unpredictable disease activity. This study sought to evaluate the changes in plasma concentrations of soluble mediators that precede clinically defined disease flares.MethodsFifty‐two different soluble mediators, including cytokines, chemokines, and soluble receptors, were examined using validated multiplex bead‐based or enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays in plasma from 28 European American patients with SLE who developed disease flare 6 or 12 weeks after a baseline assessment (preflare), 28 matched SLE patients without impending flare (nonflare), and 28 matched healthy controls. In a subset of 13 SLE patients, mediators within samples obtained preceding disease flare were compared with those within samples from the same individual obtained during a clinically stable period without flare.ResultsCompared to SLE patients with clinically stable disease, SLE patients with impending flare had significant alterations (P ≤ 0.01) in the levels of 27 soluble mediators at baseline; specifically, the levels of proinflammatory mediators, including Th1‐, Th2‐, and Th17‐type cytokines, were significantly higher several weeks before clinical flare. Baseline levels of regulatory cytokines, including interleukin‐10 and transforming growth factor β, were higher in nonflare SLE patients, whereas baseline levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I (TNFRI), TNFRII, Fas, FasL, and CD40L were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.002) in preflare SLE patients. The normalized and weighted combined soluble mediator score was significantly higher (P ≤ 0.0002) in preflare samples from SLE patients compared to samples from the same patients obtained during periods of stable disease.ConclusionThe levels of proinflammatory adaptive cytokines and shed TNF receptors are elevated prior to disease flare, while the levels of regulatory mediators are elevated during periods of stable disease. Alterations in the balance between inflammatory and regulatory mediators may help identify patients at risk of disease flare and help decipher the pathogenic mechanisms of SLE.
Open‐Loop Functional Observer and State Feedback for Linear Systems Using Multirate Output Sampling
Authors: Satyanarayana Neeli , Janardhanan S 
Published: February 2014

AbstractIn this paper, the problem of estimating a linear functional of the state vector is considered in order to implement a feedback control law for discrete‐time linear multivariable systems. The proposed method is based on multirate sampling of the plant output. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of the functional observer, and propose a functional observer with the minimal number of output samples. In this work, the control law is implemented using the output samples, thus this methodology is more practical than state based techniques. A numerical example is considered to illustrate the procedure and highlight the advantages of the proposed method.
Enhanced reproducibility of the human gel‐based tear proteome maps in the presence of di‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) disulfide
Authors: Saraygord‐Afshari Neda , Naderi‐Manesh Hossein , Naderi Mostafa 
Published: February 2014

AbstractPatterns obtained in two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis (2‐DE) in the previously published articles suggest a varying number of proteins. To seek the cause of this variation, we investigated the effect of reduction power on the overall tear proteome maps. To this end, the buffers of two reducing agents, dithiothreitol (DTT) at nine different concentrations and di‐(2‐hydroxyethyl) disulfide (HED), were examined. The assay showed that HED clearly improved 2‐DE resolution, increased the number of detectable protein spots, and offered well‐resolved chain regions in comparison with those treated with DTT. Furthermore, this study introduced increasing the reduction power as a remedy to increase the reproducibility of two‐dimensional human tear proteome maps. In addition, the results of our assessment showed that improved reduction efficiency was accompanied by increased procedure reproducibility from 42% to 89%.
A chimeric protein encompassing hepatitis C virus epitopes is able to elicit both humoral and cell‐mediated immune responses in mice
Authors: Aguilar‐Noriega Daylen , Alvarez‐Lajonchere Liz , Brown Emma , Santana Felix Leonardo , Dubuisson Jean , Wychowski Czeslaw , Guerra Ivis , Martínez‐Donato Gillian , Pérez Angel , Amador‐Cañizares Yalena , Dueñas‐Carrera Santiago 
Published: February 2014

AbstractHepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide health problem. Vaccines against this pathogen are not available and advances in this field are limited because of the high genetic variability of the virus, inaccessibility of animal models, and incomplete definition of immunological correlates of protection. In the present work, a chimeric protein, Eq1, encompassing HCV amino acid regions from structural antigens, was generated. Eq1 was expressed in GC‐366 bacterial cells. After cell disruption, Eq1 was purified from the insoluble fraction by sequential steps of differential solubilization and metal chelating affinity chromatography. Eq1 was specifically recognized by anti‐HCV positive human sera. Moreover, immunization of BALB/c mice with different doses of Eq1 formulated either in Alum or Freund's incomplete adjuvant elicited both humoral‐ and cellular‐specific immune responses. Doses of 20 µg of Eq1 induced the strongest cell‐mediated immune responses and only the formulation of this dose in Alum elicited a neutralizing antibody response against heterologous cell culture HCV. All these data together indicate that Eq1 is immunogenic in mice and might be an interesting component of vaccine candidates against HCV infection.