bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preferential binding of SBD from Arabidopsis thaliana SSIII to polysaccharides: Study of amino acid residues involved
Authors: Valdez Hugo A. , Peralta Diego A. , Wayllace Nahuel Z. , Grisolía Mauricio J. , Gomez‐Casati Diego F. , Busi Maria V. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractSS III (SSIII) has been reported to play a regulatory role in the synthesis of transient starch. SSIII from Arabidopsis thaliana contains 1025 amino acid residues and has an N‐terminal transit peptide for chloroplast localization followed by three in tandem starch‐binding domains (SBDs D1, D2, and D3, residues 22‐591). Its C‐terminal catalytic domain (residues 592–1025) is similar to bacterial glycogen synthase. Binding studies to raw starch and its individual components, AM or AP show that the SBD region binds preferentially to AM, and that the D1 domain is mainly responsible for this selective binding. The D2 domain contains two binding sites which include amino acid residues Y394 (binding site 1) and W366 (binding site 2) acting cooperatively with the D1 domain in the binding process while G335 and W340 have a minor role. In addition, mutations in these residues also affect the kinetic parameters for the polysaccharide substrate of SSIII.
Characteristics of raw starch degrading α‐amylase from Bacillus aquimaris MKSC 6.2 associated with soft coral Sinularia sp.
Authors: Puspasari Fernita , Nurachman Zeily , Noer Achmad Saefuddin , Radjasa Ocky Karna , van der Maarel Marc J. E. C. , Natalia Dessy 
Published: March 2011

AbstractPartially purified α‐amylase from Bacillus aquimaris MKSC 6.2, a bacterium isolated from a soft coral Sinularia sp., Merak Kecil Island, West Java, Indonesia, showed an ability to degrade raw corn, rice, sago, cassava, and potato starches with adsorption percentage in the range of 65–93%. Corn has the highest degree of hydrolysis followed by cassaca, sago potato and rice, consecutively. The end products of starch hydrolysis were a mixture of maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, maltopentaose, maltohexaose, and small amount of glucose.
Multiple Gaussian process models for direct time series forecasting
Authors: Hachino Tomohiro , Kadirkamanathan Visakan 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis paper focuses on the problem of time series forecasting using the Gaussian process models. The Gaussian process model is a nonparametric model and the output of the model has Gaussian distribution with mean and variance. The multiple Gaussian process models as every step ahead predictors are used for time series forecasting in accordance with the direct approach. The separable least‐squares approach that combines the genetic algorithm with the linear least‐squares method is applied to train these Gaussian process models. Simulation results are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed direct forecasting method. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A novel PWM technique with switching‐loss reduction for independent drive of two 3‐phase AC motors fed by a five‐leg inverter
Authors: Oka Kazuo , Matsuse Kouki 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis paper presents a novel pulse width modulation (PWM) technique with switching‐loss reduction for a five‐leg inverter (FLI). The PWM technique, in which the available maximum voltage for two motors adds up to DC bus voltage, has been proposed as the strategy for the FLI. Therefore, the DC bus voltage is fully available as the PWM strategy. However, the conventional PWM technique requires the frequency, phase, and amplitude of the phase voltage commands of a motor to produce zero‐sequence voltages (ZSVs). The novel PWM strategy has some efficient features. These features are discussed in this paper. The validity of the novel PWM technique will be shown by experimental results. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Smoke detection using time series property of texture features
Authors: Maruta Hidenori , Kato Yasuharu , Kurokawa Fujio 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWe present a method of smoke detection using image sequences from a single camera on open areas under general environmental conditions. We combine several simple image processing techniques to detect smoke with texture analysis. First, moving objects are detected from gray‐scale image sequences. Then, the texture features are extracted. Finally, we determine the existence of smoke based on the time series property of those texture features. In the experiment, the performance is evaluated using real‐scene data. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Aggregate economic measures of climate change damages: explaining the differences and implications
Authors: Watkiss Paul 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe aggregate economic measures of damage from climate change have been a focus of attention for several decades, but have become the subject of particular interest and debate in recent years. They are usually reported in a number of different ways: as equivalent costs of global or national economic product in a future period or for a future temperature; as a present value where all future costs are discounted back to a point in time; or as the incremental damage that can be attributed to a marginal increase in emissions, known as the social cost of carbon. This article outlines these aggregate economic measures and assesses the key assumptions and inputs in the estimates, and how these influence the aggregated results. Finally, it discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the estimates and their potential role and applicability for policy. WIREs Clim Change 2011 2 356–372 DOI: 10.1002/wcc.111This article is categorized under:

Climate Economics > Aggregation Techniques for Impacts and Mitigation Costs
Predictive coding
Authors: Huang Yanping , Rao Rajesh P. N. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractPredictive coding is a unifying framework for understanding redundancy reduction and efficient coding in the nervous system. By transmitting only the unpredicted portions of an incoming sensory signal, predictive coding allows the nervous system to reduce redundancy and make full use of the limited dynamic range of neurons. Starting with the hypothesis of efficient coding as a design principle in the sensory system, predictive coding provides a functional explanation for a range of neural responses and many aspects of brain organization. The lateral and temporal antagonism in receptive fields in the retina and lateral geniculate nucleus occur naturally as a consequence of predictive coding of natural images. In the higher visual system, predictive coding provides an explanation for oriented receptive fields and contextual effects as well as the hierarchical reciprocally connected organization of the cortex. Predictive coding has also been found to be consistent with a variety of neurophysiological and psychophysical data obtained from different areas of the brain. WIREs Cogni Sci 2011 2 580–593 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.142This article is categorized under:

Computer Science > Neural Networks
Similarity‐based data mining in files of two‐dimensional chemical structures using fingerprint measures of molecular resemblance
Authors: Willett Peter 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThis paper reviews the use of measures of intermolecular similarity for processing databases of chemical structures, which play an important role in the discovery of new drugs by the pharmaceutical industry. The similarity measures considered here are based on the use of a fingerprint representation of molecular structure, where a fingerprint is a vector encoding the presence of fragment substructures in a molecule and where the similarity between pairs of such fingerprints is computed using an association coefficient such as the Tanimoto coefficient. The Similar Property Principle provides the basic rationale for the use of similarity methods in three important chemoinformatics applications—similarity searching, database clustering, and molecular diversity analysis. Similarity searching enables the identification of those molecules in a database that are most similar to a user‐defined, biologically active query molecule, with data fusion providing an effective way of combining the results of multiple similarity searches. Cluster analysis, typically using the Jarvis–Patrick, Ward, or divisive k‐means clustering methods, enables the cost‐effective selection of molecules for biological testing, for property prediction and for investigating database overlap. Molecular diversity analysis, typically using cluster‐based, dissimilarity‐based, or optimization‐based approaches, enables the identification of structurally diverse sets of molecules, so as to ensure that the full chemical space spanned by a database is tested in the search for novel bioactive molecules. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. WIREs Data Mining Knowl Discov 2011 1 241–251 DOI: 10.1002/widm.26This article is categorized under:

Application Areas > Business and Industry
Application Areas > Industry Specific Applications
Collinear unequal crack series in magnetoelectroelastic materials: Anti‐plane case
Authors: Li Y.‐D. , Lee K.Y. , Pan J.‐W. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe purpose of the present work is to study collinear unequal crack series in magnetoelectroelastic materials, which are of more practical significance than the widely studied collinear equal cracks. Fracture analysis is performed by the combined methods of distributed generalized dislocations, Green's function and singular integral equations (SIEs). The theoretical derivation is validated by the degeneration of SIEs in special cases. Parametric studies on the numerical results of mechanical strain energy release rate (MSERR) yield the following conclusions. (a) As two unequal cracks approach each other, interference occurs in crack tip fields, resulting in an obvious increase of MSERR. The ratio between the crack space and the length of the shorter crack is a main factor affecting the interference. (b) Negative or positive electric loading may shield or enhance crack growth, respectively. In the case of positive magnetic permeability, the effect of magnetic loading is analogous to that of electric loading; however, if magnetic permeability is negative, the result is completely opposite. (c) Positive values of magnetic permeability are found to be more reasonable than the negative values.
Laparoscopic Appendectomy: New Concepts
Authors: Moazzez Ashkan , Mason Rodney J. , Katkhouda Namir 
Published: March 2011

AbstractOver the last three decades more surgeons have used laparoscopic appendectomy as their surgical approach of choice in the management of patients with appendicitis. This includes special groups of patients, namely, pediatric, pregnant, and obese patients. Laparoscopy has the benefit of lower morbidity, decreased rate of wound complications, faster recovery, shorter length of hospital stay, and faster return to work over open appendectomy.
Does an Information Leaflet about Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Improve Recollection of Information and Satisfaction of Patients? A Randomized Trial in Patients Scheduled for Digestive Surgery
Authors: Merle Véronique , Marini Hélène , Rongère Julie , Tavolacci Marie‐Pierre , Scotté Michel , Czernichow Pierre 
Published: March 2011

AbstractBackgroundA previous study suggested that most surgical patients do not remember having received information about surgical site infection (SSI). In other fields, written information has been suggested to improve patient satisfaction and recollection of information. Our objective was to assess if providing patients with written information about SSI, in addition to oral information, could influence patient satisfaction, recall of information, and opinion regarding SSI.MethodsA total of 207 patients scheduled for digestive surgery at a university hospital were randomized between usual oral information about SSI, plus an information leaflet about SSI (group O/L), or usual oral information alone (group O). Patients were interviewed 5 weeks after surgery to assess their recall and satisfaction regarding information, opinion regarding SSI, and declared intention of seeking legal action in case of SSI. Surgeons and interviewer were blinded to patients’ group allocation. Recruitment occurred between October 2005 and August 2006.ResultsOf the original 207 patients, 161 patients (O/L = 87, O = 74) underwent operation and were interviewed as scheduled. Satisfaction was higher in group O/L (67% vs. O: 43%; P = 0.003). The recall of having received information (O/L: 39% vs. O: 31%; P = 0.29), was similar between the two groups. Judging SSI as always preventable was more frequent in group O/L (28% vs. O: 9%; P = 0.004) with a trend toward a more frequent intention of seeking legal action (O/L: 10% vs. O: 3%; P = 0.055).ConclusionsThe leaflet did not improve patient recall of information about SSI, but it was associated with an increased level of satisfaction. The association between the leaflet and judging SSI as always preventable was unexpected.
Predicting the wetland distributions under climate warming in the Great Xing'an Mountains, northeastern China
Authors: Liu Hongjuan , Bu Rencang , Liu Jintong , Leng Wenfang , Hu Yuanman , Yang Libing , Liu Huitao 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe wetland ecosystem is particularly vulnerable to hydrological and climate changes. The Great Xing'an Mountain is such a region in China that has a large area of wetlands with rare human disturbance. The predictions of the global circulation model CGCM3 (the third‐generation coupled global climate model from the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis) indicated that the temperature in The Great Xing'an Mountain will rise by 2–4°C over the next 100 years. This paper predicts the potential distributions of wetlands in this area under the current and warming climate conditions. This predication was performed by the Random Forests model, with 18 environmental variables, which will reflect the climate and topography conditions. The model has been proven to have a great prediction ability. The wetland distributions are primarily topography‐driven in the Great Xing'an Mountains. Mean annual temperature, warmness index, and potential evapotranspiration ratio are the most important climatic factors in wetland distributions. The model predictions for three future climate scenarios show that the wetland area tends to decrease, and higher emission will also cause more drastic shrinkage of wetland distributions. About 30% of the wetland area will disappear by 2050. The area will decrease 62.47, 76.90, and 85.83%, respectively, under CGCM3‐B1, CGCM3‐A1B, and CGCM3‐A2 by 2100. As for spatial allocation, wetlands may begin to disappear from the sides to the center and south to north under a warming climate. Under CGCM3‐B1, the loss of wetlands may mainly occur in the south hills with flatter terrain, and some may occur in the north hills and intermontane plains. Under CGCM3‐A1B, severe vanish of wetlands is predicted. Under CGCM3‐A2, only a small area of wetlands may remain in the north of the high mountains.
Myopenia—a new universal term for muscle wasting
Authors: Fearon Kenneth , Evans William J. , Anker Stefan D. 
Published: March 2011

A universal term describing the presence of clinically relevant muscle wasting that warrants medical intervention is required. The term sarcopenia might be used in this context. However, common use now means that sarcopenia is more often regarded as synonymous with age‐associated muscle wasting in the elderly. We suggest the term “myopenia” to indicate the presence of clinically relevant muscle wasting due to any illness and at any age. This term would translate well into any language and is sufficiently specific if appropriately defined. We suggest to define myopenia as a clinically relevant degree of muscle wasting that is associated either with impaired functional capacity and/or with increased risk of morbidity or mortality. The precise cut‐points to define myopenia may be different in various diseases. Myopenia could be diagnosed when a certain degree of muscle wasting over time has occurred (for instance, at least 5% in 6–12 months) or when muscle mass is below a certain threshold level (for instance, the <5th centile of healthy 30‐year‐olds or a fat‐free mass index <16 kg/m2 for men and <15 kg/m2 for women). Future studies need to refine these in a disease‐specific manner and link them to degrees of functional impairment that are clinically relevant and/or to degrees of risk of morbid or fatal events.
Effect oftrans-fat, fructose and monosodium glutamate feeding on feline weight gain, adiposity, insulin sensitivity, adipokine and lipid profile
Authors: Collison Kate S. , Zaidi Marya Z. , Saleh Soad M. , Inglis Angela , Mondreal Rhea , Makhoul Nadine J. , Bakheet Razan , Burrows Joey , Milgram Norton W. , Al-Mohanna Futwan A. 
Published: March 2011

The incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is increasing, and new experimental models are required to investigate the diverse aspects of these polygenic diseases, which are intimately linked in terms of aetiology. Feline T2DM has been shown to closely resemble human T2DM in terms of its clinical, pathological and physiological features. Our aim was to develop a feline model of diet-induced weight gain, adiposity and metabolic deregulation, and to examine correlates of weight and body fat change, insulin homeostasis, lipid profile, adipokines and clinical chemistry, in order to study associations which may shed light on the mechanism of diet-induced metabolic dysregulation. We used a combination of partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening and high-fructose corn syrup to generate a high-fat–high-fructose diet. The effects of this diet were compared with an isoenergetic standard chow, either in the presence or absence of 1·125 % dietary monosodium glutamate (MSG). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry body imaging and a glucose tolerance test were performed. The present results indicate that dietary MSG increased weight gain and adiposity, and reduced insulin sensitivity (P < 0·05), whereas high-fat–high-fructose feeding resulted in elevated cortisol and markers of liver dysfunction (P < 0·01). The combination of all three dietary constituents resulted in lower insulin levels and elevated serum β-hydroxybutyrate and cortisol (P < 0·05). This combination also resulted in a lower first-phase insulin release during glucose tolerance testing (P < 0·001). In conclusion, markers of insulin deregulation and metabolic dysfunction associated with adiposity and T2DM can be induced by dietary factors in a feline model.
Distribution and population size of the Corsican NuthatchSitta whiteheadi
Authors: THIBAULT JEAN-CLAUDE , HACQUEMAND DIDIER , MONEGLIA PASQUALE , PELLEGRINI HERVÉ , PRODON ROGER , RECORBET BERNARD , SEGUIN JEAN-FRANÇOIS , VILLARD PASCAL 
Published: March 2011

SummaryEndemic to the island of Corsica in the western Mediterranean, the Corsican NuthatchSitta whiteheadionly occupies mature stands of Corsican PinePinus nigra lariciowhich cover a very small area. We present estimates of the distribution and population size of the Corsican Nuthatch, based on both field investigation and analysis of vegetation maps for the 103 county and municipality forests identified. Between spring 1997 and summer 2008, 48 forests were systematically investigated to map nuthatch territories, requiring 20 months of fieldwork. In the 55 forests not explored, we estimated the number of territories from analysis of digital maps with a calculated mean density from six spot-mapping censuses previously made in mature forests. The total estimated number was estimated to be 1,557-2,201 territories, distributed across 45 forest fragments (= group of connected stands) totalling 185 km2. At distances varying from 250 m to 16 km from each other, fragments were separated by unfavourable vegetation (shrubs, trees other than pines) or rocky outcrops. The area of these fragments varied from seven to 3,159 ha. Of the 45 fragments, 19 held fewer than 10 nuthatch pairs, 20 had 10–99 territories, and only six had more than 100 territories. We suggest that nuthatch numbers have declined by 10% in the past 10 years because of a reduction in suitable habitat due to fires and logging. The Corsican Nuthatch currently fulfils the criteria established by IUCN to qualify as “Vulnerable”.
Somatic cells derived from haploid larvae are feasible as donors for nuclear transplant in zebrafish. Preliminary results
Authors: Cardona-Costa J. , Pérez-Camps M. , García-Ximénez F. 
Published: March 2011

SummarySomatic cells derived from zebrafish haploid larval (both androgenetic and gynogenetic) cultures were used as donors for nuclear transplant into non-enucleated oocytes. Nuclei were transplanted either before or simultaneously with oocyte activation in the central region and in the incipient animal pole, respectively. Against expected results, 20% of transplanted embryos during oocyte activation using cells of gynogenetic origin reached the 100% epiboly stage, even two survived for up to 5 days, whereas no development was observed when cells from androgenetic origin were used. Results derived from this work open a novel possibility of studying somatic cell reprogramming and imprinting phenomena in zebrafish.
Ovine pedomics: the first study of the ovine foot 16S rRNA-based microbiome
Authors: Calvo-Bado Leo A , Oakley Brian B , Dowd Scot E , Green Laura E , Medley Graham F , Ul-Hassan Atiya , Bateman Vicky , Gaze William , Witcomb Luci , Grogono-Thomas Rose , Kaler Jasmeet , Russell Claire L , Wellington Elizabeth M H 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
We report the first study of the bacterial microbiome of ovine interdigital skin based on 16S rRNA by pyrosequencing and conventional cloning with Sanger-sequencing. Three flocks were selected, one a flock with no signs of footrot or interdigital dermatitis, a second flock with interdigital dermatitis alone and a third flock with both interdigital dermatitis and footrot. The sheep were classified as having either healthy interdigital skin (H) and interdigital dermatitis (ID) or virulent footrot (VFR). The ovine interdigital skin bacterial community varied significantly by flock and clinical condition. The diversity and richness of operational taxonomic units was greater in tissue from sheep with ID than H or VFR-affected sheep. Actinobacteria, Bacteriodetes, Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla comprising 25 genera. Peptostreptococcus, Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus were associated with H, ID and VFR, respectively. Sequences of Dichelobacter nodosus, the causal agent of ovine footrot, were not amplified because of mismatches in the 16S rRNA universal forward primer (27F). A specific real-time PCR assay was used to demonstrate the presence of D. nodosus, which was detected in all samples including the flock with no signs of ID or VFR. Sheep with ID had significantly higher numbers of D. nodosus (104–109 cells per g tissue) than those with H or VFR feet.