bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Generating SysML views from an OPM model: Design and evaluation
Authors: Grobshtein Yariv , Dori Dov 
Published: February 2011

AbstractConceptual modeling is key to Model‐Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) approaches. OPM (Object‐Process Methodology) and SysML (OMG Systems Modeling Language) are two state‐of‐the‐art conceptual modeling languages. While both languages aim at the same purpose of providing a means for general‐purpose systems engineering, these languages take different approaches in realizing this goal. As each of the languages has its relative strengths and weaknesses, ways to create synergies between them are considered in this work. We propose combining advantages of each language through automatic generation of several SysML views from an OPM model. To this end, we developed a new algorithm and software application for implementing the OPM‐to‐SysML views generation, and evaluated the results through an experiment conducted for this purpose. The formally constructed experiment described in this paper, which has been designed to test the quality of the auto‐generated diagrams and their impact on system comprehension, indicates that the addition of some auto‐generated SysML views to an OPM system model has increased system comprehension level. Our approach can benefit various stakeholders by promoting better system understanding, standardization, and improved interoperability. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 14:
A new systems engineering approach for a Socio‐Critical System: A case study of claims‐payment failures of Japan's insurance industry
Authors: Yasui Toshiyuki 
Published: February 2011

AbstractSince the 1950s there have been numerous contributions proposing solutions to failures of social systems. However, we have hardly found a holistic and interdisciplinary approach to a failed social system beyond “stove‐piped” academic disciplines. This paper identifies a new holistic and interdisciplinary systems engineering methodology of systems engineering for a social system through a case study of Japan's insurance industry. The new methodology is a “soft” systems‐approach to accommodate goals of stakeholders in a failed social system. First, the three elements of a social system are identified. Second, the multiple viewpoint model transforms these three elements of the human activity view to a new set of elements of the Holon view. Third, a social system of the Holon view is redefined as a Socio‐Critical System (SCS). Finally, the Vee Model is applied for fixing a problem in the SCS. From 2005 to 2008, massive claims‐payment failures cases were found in Japan's private insurance companies. They became big social scandals. The insurance claims‐payment system is a typical SCS. The Financial Services Agency (FSA), Japan's financial services supervision authority, identified, with the “unintended” systems approach, dysfunctions of the insurance claims‐payment system. This FSA action, even though the authority was not aware of the effectiveness of the methodology, proved to be positive in applying the Vee Model for solving failures in those claims‐payment systems. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Lipid‐sensing nuclear receptors in the pathophysiology and treatment of the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Vacca Michele , Degirolamo Chiara , Mariani‐Costantini Renato , Palasciano Giuseppe , Moschetta Antonio 
Published: February 2011

AbstractMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of different diseases, namely central obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, together with a pro‐thrombotic and pro‐inflammatory state. These metabolic abnormalities are often associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer. Dietary and lifestyle modifications are currently believed more effective than pharmacological therapies in the management of MS patients. Nevertheless, the relatively low grade of compliance of patients to these recommendations, as well as the failure of current therapies, highlights the need for the discovery of new pharmacological and nutraceutic approaches. A deeper knowledge of the patho‐physiological events that initiate and support the MS is mandatory. Lipid‐sensing nuclear receptors (NRs) are the master transcriptional regulators of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and inflammatory responses, thus standing as suitable targets. This review focuses on the physiological relevance of the NRs (peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors, liver X receptors, and farnesoid X receptor) in the control of whole‐body homeostasis, with a special emphasis on lipid and glucose metabolism, and on the relationships between metabolic unbalances, systemic inflammation, and the onset of CVD. Future perspectives and possible clinical applications are also presented. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 562–587 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.137This article is categorized under:

Biological Mechanisms > Cell Signaling
The Leverage of Demographic Dynamics on Carbon Dioxide Emissions: Does Age Structure Matter?
Authors: Zagheni Emilio 
Published: February 2011

AbstractThis article provides a methodological contribution to the study of the effect of changes in population age structure on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. First, I propose a generalization of the IPAT equation to a multisector economy with an age-structured population and discuss the insights that can be obtained in the context of stable population theory. Second, I suggest a statistical model of household consumption as a function of household size and age structure to quantitatively evaluate the extent of economies of scale in consumption of energy-intensive goods, and to estimate age-specific profiles of consumption of energy-intensive goods and of CO2 emissions. Third, I offer an illustration of the methodologies using data for the United States. The analysis shows that per-capita CO2 emissions increase with age until the individual is in his or her 60s, and then emissions tend to decrease. Holding everything else constant, the expected change in U.S. population age distribution during the next four decades is likely to have a small, but noticeable, positive impact on CO2 emissions.
Development of repetitive behavior in a mouse model: Roles of indirect and striosomal basal ganglia pathways
Authors: Tanimura Yoko , King Michael A. , Williams Dustin K. , Lewis Mark H. 
Published: February 2011

AbstractRestricted repetitive behaviors (stereotypy, compulsions, rituals) are diagnostic for autism spectrum disorder and common in related neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite their prevalence in clinical populations, underlying mechanisms associated with the development of these behaviors remain poorly understood. We examined the role of the indirect basal ganglia pathway in the development of stereotypy using deer mice. We measured neuronal metabolic activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and other relevant brain regions using cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemistry at three developmental time‐points. Although no differences were observed in STN across development, significant differences were found when mice were grouped by developmental trajectory. At 6 weeks post‐weaning, significantly lower CO activity in STN was found in those trajectory groups that developed high levels of repetitive behavior versus the trajectory group that did not, suggesting the development of stereotypy is associated with decreased indirect basal ganglia pathway activity. In addition, we tested the hypothesis that preferential activation of striatal striosomes relative to surrounding matrix would be associated with the development of stereotypy. No differences in the relative activation of these striatal compartments were observed across development or among trajectory groups. Our results point to dynamic changes in the indirect pathway associated with the development of repetitive behavior and extends our prior work linking reduced indirect pathway activation to stereotypy in adult deer mice.
Detailed analysis of polyad-breaking spectroscopic Hamiltonians for multiple minima with above barrier motion: Isomerization in HO2
Authors: Barnes George L. , Kellman Michael E. 
Published: February 2011

We present a two-dimensional model for isomerization in the hydroperoxyl radical (HO2). We then show that spectroscopic fitting Hamiltonians are capable of reproducing large scale vibrational structure above isomerization barriers. Two resonances, the 2:1 and 3:1, are necessary to describe the pertinent physical features of the system and, hence, a polyad-breaking Hamiltonian is required. We further illustrate, through the use of approximate wave functions, that inclusion of additional coupling terms yields physically unrealistic results despite an improved agreement with the exact energy levels. Instead, the use of a single diagonal term, rather than “extra” couplings, yields good fits with realistic results. Insight into the dynamical nature of isomerization is also gained through classical trajectories. Contrary to physical intuition the bend mode is not the initial “reaction mode,” but rather isomerization requires excitation in both the stretch and bend modes. The dynamics reveals a Farey tree formed between the 2:1 and 3:1 resonances with the prominent 5:2 (2:1 + 3:1) feature effectively dividing the tree into portions. The 3:1 portion is associated with isomerization, while the 2:1 portion leads to “localization” and perhaps dissociation at higher energies than those considered in this work. Simple single resonance models analyzed on polyad phase spheres are able to account in a qualitative way for the spectral, periodic orbit, and wave function patterns that we observe.
Effect of Flour‐Blasting Brown Rice on Reduction of Cooking Time and Resulting Texture
Authors: Guraya Harmeet S. 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTLong‐grain nonparboiled, long‐grain parboiled, and American basmati‐type brown rice were bombarded with parboiled rice flour particles to create microperforations on the water‐resistant outer layer of the kernels. These microperforations in the treated rice significantly increased the rate of hydration. Optimum conditions to produce microperforations without removal of the bran included air pressure maintained at 413 kPa and a parboiled rice flour average particle size of 124 μm. The optimum blasting time was 40–60 sec, depending on the type of rice. The relative hardness of the fully cooked flour‐blasted rice was the same at half the cooking time of the untreated brown rice but % water absorption of the untreated flour‐blasted brown rice was higher because it required longer time to cook. Overall, untreated brown rice was ≈4.7% higher in % water absorption due to longer cooking time in comparison with the treated counterpart. The blasting treatment resulted in shorter cooking time and firmer and less gummy cooked rice as compared to freshly cooked untreated brown rice.
Development of a Benchtop Baking Method for Chemically Leavened Crackers II. Validation of the Method
Authors: Kweon Meera , Slade Louise , Levine Harry 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTA benchtop baking method has been developed to predict the contribution of gluten functionality to overall flour performance for chemically leavened crackers. Using a diagnostic formula and procedure, dough rheology was analyzed to evaluate the extent of gluten development during mixing and machining. The effects of enzymes on cracker‐baking performance were explored to assess the impact of damaged starch and pentosans (arabinoxylans). Validation of the method for predicting gluten functionality and performance was conducted using various flours. Cracker dough rheology, measured in the direction of sheeting, showed a positive correlation with the ratio of cracker height to dough weight, but a negative correlation with the ratio of cracker width to length. Use of α‐amylase and xylanase demonstrated the improving effects of enzymes on cracker‐baking performance of flour resulting from decreased dough crumbliness and increased cracker height. Flour gluten performance ratio of lactic acid solvent retention capacity (LA SRC)/(sodium carbonate [SC] SRC + sucrose [Suc] SRC) (SRC LA/[SC+Suc]) was a better predictor of cracker geometry than was flour gluten functionality value of LA SRC alone. Flours with a gluten performance ratio of <0.52 produced unacceptable, excessive blistering during cracker baking.
Molecular Characterization of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ Associated with Aster Yellows-Diseased Potatoes in China
Authors: Cheng M. , Dong J. , Laski P. J. , Zhang Z. , McBeath J. H. 
Published: February 2011

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) are one of the most important crops in China following rice, wheat, and corn. Aster yellows phytoplasma appeared to be widespread in China; it was found to cause diseases on alfalfa, oranges, peaches, periwinkles, bamboo (1), and cactus (4). However, scant information of this pathogen on potatoes is available except for a few short reports published during the 1950s. During the potato disease surveys conducted from 2005 to 2010 in Yunnan and Inner Mongolia, 10 to 35% of potato plants exhibited symptoms of yellowing or purpling of apical leaves, with the top leaves rolling inward and aerial tubers formation. Total DNA was extracted from midveins of leaves and roots of 125 diseased and asymptomatic plants with a DNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) according to the manufacturer's instructions. A nested PCR was carried out with the first round primer pair P1/P7 followed by the second round primer pair R16F2n/R16R2 (2,3). A PCR product of approximately 1.2 kb was amplified from diseased plants but not from asymptomatic plants. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns were analyzed by digesting a 1.2-kb product using restriction enzymes AluI, BfaI, BstUI, HhaI, HpaI, KpnI, MseI, and RsaI. Comparing the RFLP patterns with previously published phytoplasma strains (2), aster yellows phytoplasma found on potato plants in Yunnan and Inner Mongolia belong to group I, subgroup B (16SrI-B). The PCR product from P1/P7, diluted 1:30, was amplified by using primer pair P1A/P7A (3) and P1A/16S-SR (3). The nested-PCR products from P1A/P7A and P1A/16S-SR were cloned into pCR8/GW/TOPO vector (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) and sequenced by the Core Lab of the University of Alaska–Fairbanks and GENEWIZ (South Plainfield, NJ). The nucleotide sequence (GenBank Accession No. HQ599228) was analyzed by iPhyClassifier software and had 99.53% sequence identity to the reference strain (GenBank Accession No. M30790) for ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’. The RFLP similarity is identical (coefficient 1.00) to the reference pattern of 16Sr group I, subgroup B (GenBank Accession No. NC_005303). To our knowledge, this is the first report revealing the molecular characteristics of a phytoplasma associated with aster yellows-diseased potatoes in China. References: (1) H. Cai et al. Plant Prot. 31:38, 2005. (2) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 48:1153, 1998. (3) I.-M. Lee et al. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 54:337, 2004. (4) W. Wei et al. Plant Dis. 91:461, 2007.
Is Transthoracic Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Replacement Too Time-Consuming for the Busy Cardiac Surgeon?
Authors: Cunningham Mark J. , Berberian Christopher E. , Starnes Vaughn A. 
Published: February 2011

Objective Transthoracic minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (TMI-AVR) is gaining popularity despite criticism that time from incision to the initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass (exposure time, ET), cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPBT), and cross-clamp time (XCT) is excessive. Database analysis was used to characterize these parameters and their associated learning curves. Methods From 2004 to 2008, 101 patients underwent TMI-AVR at a single institution. Of them, 54 were men (53%) and 47 were women (47%). Mean age was 70 years (range, 24–90 years). ET includes 6-cm incision, second intercostals anterior thoracotomy, medial transection of the third rib, opening pericardial sac, retracing pericardium with stay sutures, placing aortic arterial, and right arterial venous bypass cannulae. ET, CPBT, XCT, and operating room times were calculated. Logarithmic trend analysis established associated learning curves. Results ET steadily improved over time. ET decreased from an average of 51 minutes for the first 25 patients to 39 minutes for the most recent 25 patients. When surgeon experience reached 10 procedures, the ET trend line began to decline steadily and plateaued by 55 cases. Cross-clamp (55 ± 21 minutes), cardiopulmonary bypass (77 ± 31 minutes), and operating room times (304 ± 67 minutes) all remained constant. There were no early deaths or conversions to sternotomy. Conclusions ET learning curve for TMI-AVR was reflected after 10 procedures with continued gradual improvement. Reliability of TMI-AVR was observed in the absence of a learning curve for XCT, CPBT, and operating room times. A sternal-sparing transthoracic approach for AVR can be performed safely, with expected operative times equivalent to sternotomy.
The intrinsic interfacial structure of ionic surfactant monolayers at water–oil and water–vapour interfaces
Authors: Martínez Hector , Chacón Enrique , Tarazona Pedro , Bresme Fernando 
Published: February 2011

Using computer simulations, we investigate the interfacial structure of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) monolayers adsorbed at the water surface and water–oil interfaces. Using an algorithm that removes the averaging effect of the capillary waves, we obtain a detailed view of the solvation structure of water around the monolayer. We investigate surface concentrations between 45 and 33 Å
2
per surfactant, which are near experimental conditions corresponding to the critical micellar concentration and the formation of Newton black films. The surfactants induce a layering structure in water, which disappears at approximately 1 nm from the monolayer plane. The water molecules exhibit a preferred orientation with the dipoles pointing towards the monolayer. The orientational order decays slowly, but it does not influence the hydrogen bond structure of water, which is significantly disrupted in the interfacial region only. These structural changes are qualitatively the same in SDS–water and oil–SDS–water interfaces. In the latter case, we find a small degree of penetration of oil in the monolayer (between 0.2 and 0.25 molecules per SDS). This small penetration has a measurable effect on the monolayer, which increases its thickness by approximately 10 per cent. The bending modulus of the SDS monolayers is of the order of the thermal energy,
k
B
T
.
Is contaminated unrecorded alcohol a health problem in the European Union? A review of existing and methodological outline for future studies
Authors: Lachenmeier Dirk W. , Schoeberl Kerstin , Kanteres Fotis , Kuballa Thomas , Sohnius Eva‐Maria , Rehm Jürgen 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTAims  Some European countries with high levels of unrecorded alcohol consumption have anomalously high rates of death attributable to liver cirrhosis. Hepatotoxic compounds in illegally produced spirits may be partly responsible. Based on a review of the evidence on the chemical composition and potential harm from unrecorded alcohol, the Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance (AMPHORA) project's methodology for identifying, analysing and toxicologically evaluating such alcohols is provided.Methods  A computer‐assisted literature review concentrated on unrecorded alcohol. Additionally, we refer to our work in the capacity of governmental alcohol control authority and a number of pilot studies.Results  The risk‐oriented identification of substances resulted in the following compounds probably posing a public health risk in unrecorded alcohol: ethanol, methanol, acetaldehyde, higher alcohols, heavy metals, ethyl carbamate, biologically active flavourings (e.g. coumarin) and diethyl phthalate. Suggestions on a sampling strategy for identifying unrecorded alcohol that may be most prone to contamination include using probable distribution points such as local farmers and flea markets for selling surrogate alcohol (including denatured alcohol) to focusing on lower socio‐economic status or alcohol‐dependent individuals, and selecting home‐produced fruit spirits prone to ethyl carbamate contamination.Conclusions  Standardized guidelines for the chemical and toxicological evaluation of unrecorded alcohol that will be used in a European‐wide sampling and are applicable globally are provided. These toxicological guidelines may also be used by alcohol control laboratories for recorded alcohol products, and form a scientific foundation for establishing legislative limits.
A new AMPHORA: an introduction to the project Alcohol Measures for Public Health Research Alliance
Authors: Gual Antoni , Anderson Peter 
Published: February 2011

ABSTRACTThe AMPHORA Project is a 4 years project funded by the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission which aims to contribute with new evidence on scarcely explored or unexplored areas of alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related harm in Europe. In this introductory article we describe the background of the Project and its main features. The research areas covered by AMPHORA are wide and diverse. Some of the most relevant are: an update on European epidemiological data; the definition of standard common indicators of alcohol consumption and harm; the measurement of the strength of alcohol policies; the study of contextual determinants of alcohol consumption, the analysis of the impact of marketing on youth; the availability of treatments at a European level; and two areas of harm reduction (contamination of illegal or surrogate alcohols and the reduction of harm in drinking venues).
Identification of alternatively activated macrophages in new‐onset paediatric and adult immunoglobulin A nephropathy: potential role in mesangial matrix expansion
Authors: Ikezumi Yohei , Suzuki Toshiaki , Karasawa Tamaki , Hasegawa Hiroya , Yamada Takeshi , Imai Naofumi , Narita Ichiei , Kawachi Hiroshi , Polkinghorne Kevan R , Nikolic‐Paterson David J , Uchiyama Makoto 
Published: February 2011

Ikezumi Y, Suzuki T, Karasawa T, Hasegawa H, Yamada T, Imai N, Narita I, Kawachi H, Polkinghorne K R, Nikolic‐Paterson D J & Uchiyama M (2011) Histopathology 58, 198–210 Identification of alternatively activated macrophages in new‐onset paediatric and adult immunoglobulin A nephropathy: potential role in mesangial matrix expansionAims:  New onset of the clinical symptoms of immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN) manifests with proliferative glomerular lesions in children, whereas adults exhibit mesangial matrix expansion and interstitial fibrosis. Alternatively, activated (M2) macrophages have been implicated in promoting tissue fibrosis in some settings. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether M2 macrophages are present in new‐onset IgAN and if they are related to pathological differences between paediatric and adult disease.Methods and results:  Biopsy specimens from paediatric (<10 years, n = 14; >12 years, n = 15) and adult (n = 27) IgAN showed a significant infiltrate of CD68+ macrophages. M2 macrophages, identified by CD163 or CD204 expression, were detected in glomeruli and the interstitium, being more prominent in adults versus young children. CD163+ and CD204+ macrophages were present in areas of fibrosis containing myofibroblasts, and double staining showed that CD163+ cells produced the profibrotic molecule, connective tissue growth factor. In young children, total CD68+ macrophages, but not M2 macrophages, correlated with glomerular hypercellularity. In contrast, in adults and older children, mesangial matrix expansion correlated with M2 macrophages but not with the total CD68+ macrophage infiltrate.Conclusions:  Alternatively activated M2 macrophages are present in new‐onset paediatric and adult IgAN, and this population may promote the development of fibrotic lesions.