bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Error modeling and calibration of exteroceptive sensors for accurate mapping applications
Authors: Underwood James P. , Hill Andrew , Peynot Thierry , Scheding Steven J. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractReliable robotic perception and planning are critical to performing autonomous actions in uncertain, unstructured environments. In field robotic systems, automation is achieved by interpreting exteroceptive sensor information to infer something about the world. This is then mapped to provide a consistent spatial context, so that actions can be planned around the predicted future interaction of the robot and the world. The whole system is as reliable as the weakest link in this chain. In this paper, the term mapping is used broadly to describe the transformation of range‐based exteroceptive sensor data (such as LIDAR or stereo vision) to a fixed navigation frame, so that it can be used to form an internal representation of the environment. The coordinate transformation from the sensor frame to the navigation frame is analyzed to produce a spatial error model that captures the dominant geometric and temporal sources of mapping error. This allows the mapping accuracy to be calculated at run time. A generic extrinsic calibration method for exteroceptive range‐based sensors is then presented to determine the sensor location and orientation. This allows systematic errors in individual sensors to be minimized, and when multiple sensors are used, it minimizes the systematic contradiction between them to enable reliable multisensor data fusion. The mathematical derivations at the core of this model are not particularly novel or complicated, but the rigorous analysis and application to field robotics seems to be largely absent from the literature to date. The techniques in this paper are simple to implement, and they offer a significant improvement to the accuracy, precision, and integrity of mapped information. Consequently, they should be employed whenever maps are formed from range‐based exteroceptive sensor data. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Industry learning environments and the heterogeneity of firm performance
Authors: Balasubramanian Natarajan , Lieberman Marvin B. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThis paper characterizes interindustry heterogeneity in rates of learning‐by‐doing, and examines how industry learning rates are connected with firm performance. Using plant‐level data from the U.S. manufacturing sector, we measure the industry learning rate as the coefficient on cumulative output in a production function. We find that learning rates vary considerably among industries and are higher in industries with greater R&D, advertising, and capital intensity. More importantly, we find that higher rates of learning are associated with wider dispersion of Tobin's q and profitability among firms in the industry. These findings suggest that learning intensity represents an important characteristic of the industry environment that affects the range of firm performance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How do CEO emotions matter? Impact of CEO affective traits on strategic and performance conformity in the spanish banking industry
Authors: Delgado‐García Juan Bautista , De La Fuente‐Sabaté Juan Manuel 
Published: November 2009

AbstractResearch on how managers influence firm outcomes has generated promising explanations of differences in organizational strategies and performance within a given industry, but has largely ignored the role of emotions in shaping managers' strategic choices. This article analyzes the influence of the affective traits of CEOs—their long‐term tendency to experience positive or negative moods or emotions—on strategy and performance conformity in a sample of Spanish banks and savings banks. Our results show that managers' negative affective traits are related to more conformist strategies and more typical performance, whereas positive affective traits seem to promote outcomes that deviate from the central tendencies of the industry. Results also show that strategic conformity mediates the relationship between CEO negative affective traits and typical performance. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of strain hardening of reinforcement on flexural strength and ductility of reinforced concrete columns
Authors: Bai Z. Z. , Au F. T. K. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractIn the evaluation of flexural strength of reinforced concrete (RC) columns, the elastic–perfectly plastic constitutive model is generally used for steel reinforcement, which ignores the strain hardening effect. While some engineers believe that the flexural strength so obtained is on the safe side, others are concerned that underestimation of member strength could lead to inaccurate prediction of overall structural behaviour especially under extreme events. In any case, better understanding of the possible over‐strength and its effects on flexural ductility and failure mechanism is necessary. In this paper, the effects of strain hardening of reinforcement on the flexural strength and ductility of reinforced normal‐ and high‐strength concrete columns are studied based on rigorous full‐range moment–curvature analysis. The study has identified if and how various parameters affect the strain hardening effect, which include axial load ratio, concrete strength, confining stress, reinforcement ratio and the tensile‐strength‐to‐yield‐stress ratio of steel. The effects of strain hardening can be quite significant for RC columns under relatively low axial load and relatively high confining stress. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Breakdown value
Authors: Hubert Mia , Debruyne Michiel 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThe breakdown value is a popular measure of the robustness of an estimator against outlying observations. Roughly speaking, it indicates the smallest fraction of contaminants in a sample that causes the estimator to break down, that is, to take on values that are arbitrarily bad or meaningless. In this paper, we recall the definition of the finite sample as well as the asymptotic breakdown value of an estimator, and we give several examples of well‐known estimators for location, scatter, and regression. We discuss the maximal attainable breakdown values and give an overview of high‐breakdown estimators that attain this maximal bound. Finally, we refer to some issues in more complex models. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.This article is categorized under:

Statistical and Graphical Methods of Data Analysis > Robust Methods
Integer‐valued time series
Authors: Fokianos Konstantinos 
Published: November 2009

AbstractInteger‐valued time series data appear in several diverse applications. However, modeling and inference for these types of dependent data pose several questions and interesting problems. The method of generalized linear models turns out to provide a sound framework for modeling and estimation whereby all computations are carried out by well‐established software. I review this area of research and propose some other models. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.This article is categorized under:

Applications of Computational Statistics > Signal and Image Processing and Coding
Nanogenomics in medicine
Authors: Nicolini Claudio 
Published: November 2009

AbstractThis review presents the status of technological developments of nanogenomics and its applications to medicine. Even if particular emphasis is placed on what has been accomplished in our laboratory in the last few years in the area of genes microarrays, significant reference to the recent activity of numerous other groups can be found in Refs 1,2 WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2010 2 59–76This article is categorized under:

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Oxygen homeostasis
Authors: Semenza Gregg L. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractMetazoan life is dependent upon the utilization of O2 for essential metabolic processes and oxygen homeostasis is an organizing principle for understanding metazoan evolution, ontology, physiology, and pathology. Hypoxia‐inducible factor 1 (HIF‐1) is a transcription factor that is expressed by all metazoan species and functions as a master regulator of oxygen homeostasis. Recent studies have elucidated complex mechanisms by which HIF‐1 activity is regulated and by which HIF‐1 regulates gene expression, with profound consequences for prenatal development, postnatal physiology, and disease pathogenesis. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.This article is categorized under:

Physiology > Organismal Responses to Environment
Whole animal imaging
Authors: Sandhu Gurpreet Singh , Solorio Luis , Broome Ann‐Marie , Salem Nicolas , Kolthammer Jeff , Shah Tejas , Flask Chris , Duerk Jeffrey L. 
Published: November 2009

AbstractTranslational research plays a vital role in understanding the underlying pathophysiology of human diseases, and hence development of new diagnostic and therapeutic options for their management. After creating an animal disease model, pathophysiologic changes and effects of a therapeutic intervention on them are often evaluated on the animals using immunohistologic or imaging techniques. In contrast to the immunohistologic techniques, the imaging techniques are noninvasive and hence can be used to investigate the whole animal, oftentimes in a single exam which provides opportunities to perform longitudinal studies and dynamic imaging of the same subject, and hence minimizes the experimental variability, requirement for the number of animals, and the time to perform a given experiment. Whole animal imaging can be performed by a number of techniques including x‐ray computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound imaging, positron emission tomography, single photon emission computed tomography, fluorescence imaging, and bioluminescence imaging, among others. Individual imaging techniques provide different kinds of information regarding the structure, metabolism, and physiology of the animal. Each technique has its own strengths and weaknesses, and none serves every purpose of image acquisition from all regions of an animal. In this review, a broad overview of basic principles, available contrast mechanisms, applications, challenges, and future prospects of many imaging techniques employed for whole animal imaging is provided. Our main goal is to briefly describe the current state of art to researchers and advanced students with a strong background in the field of animal research. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.This article is categorized under:

Laboratory Methods and Technologies > Imaging
Introduction to the special issue on zoo animal welfare
Authors: Watters Jason V. , Wielebnowski Nadja 
Published: November 2009

AbstractIn May 2008, the Chicago Zoological Society's Center for the Science of Animal Welfare (CSAW) held a two‐day international workshop designed to establish and foster new connections between zoo animal welfare scientists and welfare scientists in other fields, and to take the first step toward the development of a research agenda for zoo animal welfare science. Such a research agenda by its very nature would need to be highly multi‐disciplinary and collaborative. In support of this purpose this article serves as an introduction for a collection of invited papers presented at the workshop. Workshop themes included the investigation of welfare metrics currently used and in development, elucidating gaps and determining needs for zoo welfare research, and gaining a deeper understanding of the value that understanding animals in the wild can bring to zoo animal welfare. Here we discuss some of the most relevant points made at the workshop and describe the seven most salient research needs that were suggested in consensus. Zoo Biol 28:501–506, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Interventional oncology: new options for interstitial treatments and intravascular approaches
Authors: Matsui Osamu , Miyayama Shiro , Sanada Jyun‐ichiro , Kobayashi Satoshi , Khoda Wataru , Minami Tetsuya , Kozaka Kazuto , Gabata Toshifumi 
Published: November 2009

AbstractSuperselective TACE is defined as TACE from the distal portion of the feeding subsegmental hepatic artery to evoke strong ischemic effects on a small area of the liver, thus avoiding damage to liver function. Lipiodol (iodized oil) is semi‐fluid, and it can flow into the surrounding portal venules and hepatic sinusoids through peribiliary plexus (PBP) and the drainage route from the hypervascular HCC. Therefore, the reversed flow from the hepatic sinusoids and portal venules to the peripheral portion of the tumor and daughter nodules can be blocked by Lipiodol injected before a particulate embolus (such as gelatin sponge particles). Common complications of superselective TACE are mild local pain and fever and temporary minimal changes of liver function. Reported CR ratio of definitely hypervascular HCC are around 30–60% by superselective TACE with Lipiodol for hypervascular HCC less than 5 cm. According to a nationwide survey by the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan (LCSGJ), overall 5‐year survival rate was 26% in patients with HCCs not indicated for surgery or RFA (PEI), mainly treated by segmental or subsegmental TACE using Lipiodol. Therefore, this TACE technique should be widely introduced as the first line technique for TACE therapy of HCC.
Prenatal Testing for Down Syndrome: Comparison of Screening Practices in the UK and USA
Authors: Tapon Dagmar 
Published: November 2009

AbstractPrenatal testing for Down Syndrome is a topic covered in every genetic counselor's training as it constitutes the main workload of genetic counselors in prenatal settings. Most Western countries nowadays offer some type of testing for Down Syndrome. However, practices vary according to country with regards to what tests are offered, insurance coverage and the legal situation concerning the option of terminating an affected pregnancy. In view of the growing interest in international genetic counseling issues, this article aims to compare prenatal testing practices in two English‐speaking countries: the United Kingdom and the United States of America. A case will be presented to highlight some of the differences in practice. The topic underlines important implications for genetic counseling practice, such as patients’ understanding of testing practices, risk perception, counseling provision and impact of prenatal testing results.
Breeding bird assemblages in riparian galleries of the Guadiana River basin (Portugal): the effect of spatial structure and habitat variables
Authors: Godinho Carlos , Rabaça João E. , Segurado Pedro 
Published: November 2009

AbstractHabitat structure is a major determinant of bird community composition and a link between riparian vegetation and bird communities in riparian zones, suggesting that changes in bird community composition can be predicted from changes in habitats. Our study aimed to identify the relationships between the structure of breeding bird communities and environmental drivers, using fine‐resolution habitat measurements. We examined two bird assemblages (Passerines, P; and Aquatic/Riparian species, AR) and their spatial structure and relationships to environmental river variables in riparian galleries in southern Portugal. The study was conducted on the ca. 230 km of riparian corridors located in the flooded area of the Alqueva reservoir, before closure of the dam. We used data from 134 10‐min point counts. Using variation partitioning, we determined the independent and joint effects of river edge, river bed, and spatial variables on our selected bird assemblages. The variation in bird assemblages captured was 27.5% for P and 55.3% for AR. The explanatory variables that were highlighted as important predictors for both bird groups were variables that reflected the complexity of the riparian gallery vegetation: rivers with high vegetation cover of riparian species, and riverbeds and riversides dominated by rock and scarce emergent rooted vegetation. Most of the explained variation was related to environmental variables: river‐edge, river‐bed, and their joint effect. Riparian areas can be considered a specific habitat and the variables analyzed are habitat descriptors at a fine scale, so that we believe that the species–environment relationships revealed in this study could be good indicators of the wealth of riparian ecosystems in Mediterranean rivers.
The protective role of amla (Emblica officinalisGaertn.) against fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in a rat model
Authors: Kim Hyun Young , Okubo Tsutomu , Juneja Lekh Raj , Yokozawa Takako 
Published: November 2009

We investigated the effects of amla (Emblica officinalisGaertn.) on fructose-induced metabolic syndrome using a rat model. Male Wistar rats were fed a high-fructose (65 %) diet or standard chow for 1 week, and treated with an ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of amla, a polyphenol-rich fraction, at 10 or 20 mg/kg body weight per d, or vehicle, for 2 weeks. Serum glucose, TAG, total cholesterol and blood pressure levels of the high-fructose diet-fed rats were increased compared with those of the normal rats (P < 0·001). However, the EtOAc extract of amla ameliorated the high fructose-induced metabolic syndrome, including hypertriacylglycerolaemia and hypercholesterolaemia. Also, the elevated levels of hepatic TAG and total cholesterol in rats given the high-fructose diet were significantly reduced by 33·8 and 24·6 %, respectively (P < 0·001), on the administration of the EtOAc extract of amla at the dose of 20 mg/kg with the regulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 expression. The protein levels of PPARα and SREBP-2 were not affected by the feeding of the high-fructose diet or EtOAc extract of amla. In addition, oral administration of the amla extract at the dose of 20 mg/kg significantly inhibited the increased serum and hepatic mitochondrial thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels (21·1 and 43·1 %, respectively;P < 0·001). Furthermore, the amla extract inhibited the increase of cyclo-oxygenase-2 with the regulation of NF-κB and bcl-2 proteins in the liver, while the elevated expression level of bax was significantly decreased by 8·5 and 10·2 % at the doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight per d, respectively. These findings suggest that fructose-induced metabolic syndrome is attenuated by the polyphenol-rich fraction of amla.
Modulation of nucleotide excision repair in human lymphocytes by genetic and dietary factors
Authors: Langie Sabine A. S. , Wilms Lonneke C. , Hämäläinen Satu , Kleinjans Jos C. S. , Godschalk Roger W. L. , van Schooten Frederik J. 
Published: November 2009

Gene–environment interactions determine inter-individual variations in nucleotide excision repair (NER) capacity. Oxidative stress was previously found to inhibit NER, thus supplementation with dietary antioxidants could prevent this inhibition, especially in genetically susceptible subjects. To study the effects of genetic polymorphisms in NER-related genes and dietary intake of antioxidants on an individual's NER capacity, lymphocytes of 168 subjects were isolated before and after a 4-week blueberry and apple juice intervention. Twelve genetic polymorphisms in NER genesXPA,XPC,ERCC1,ERCC2,ERCC5,ERCC6andRAD23Bwere assessed by multiplex PCR with single base extension. Based on specific genotype combinations, a subset of individuals (n36) was selected for phenotypical assessment of NER capacity, which was significantly affected by the total sum of low-activity alleles (P = 0·027). The single polymorphismXPAG23A was the strongest predictor of NER capacity (P = 0·002); carriers of low-activity alleles AA had about three times lower NER capacity thanXPAGG carriers. NER capacity assessed before and after intervention correlated significantly (R20·69;P < 0·001), indicating that inter-individual differences in NER capacity are maintained over 4 weeks. Although the intervention increased plasma trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity from 791 (se6·61) to 805 (se7·90) μm(P = 0·032), on average it did not affect NER capacity. Nonetheless, carriers of twelve or more low-activity alleles seemed to benefit from the intervention (P = 0·013). Among these, carriers of the variant allele forRAD23BAla249Val showed improved NER capacity upon intervention (P = 0·020). In conclusion, improved NER capacity upon dietary intervention was detected in individuals carrying multiple low-activity alleles. TheXPAG23A polymorphism might be a predictor for NER capacity.
A low-protein diet supplemented with ketoacids plays a more protective role against oxidative stress of rat kidney tissue with 5/6 nephrectomy than a low-protein diet alone
Authors: Gao Xiang , Wu Jianxiang , Dong Zheyi , Hua Can , Hu Huimin , Mei Changlin 
Published: November 2009

Dietary protein restriction is one major therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and ketoacids have been evaluated in CKD patients during restricted-protein diets. The objective of the present study was to compare the efficacy of a low-protein diet supplemented with ketoacids (LPD+KA) and a low-protein diet alone (LPD) in halting the development of renal lesions in CKD. 5/6 Nephrectomy Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups, and fed with either 22 % protein (normal-protein diet; NPD), 6 % protein (LPD) or 5 % protein plus 1 % ketoacids (LPD+KA) for 24 weeks. Sham-operated rats were used as controls. Each 5/6 nephrectomy group included fifteen rats and the control group included twelve rats. Proteinuria, decreased renal function, glomerular sclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis were found in the remnant kidneys of the NPD group. Protein restriction ameliorated these changes, and the effect was more obvious in the LPD+KA group after 5/6 nephrectomy. Lower body weight and serum albumin levels were found in the LPD group, indicating protein malnutrition. Lipid and protein oxidative products were significantly increased in the LPD group compared with the LPD+KA group. These findings indicate that a LPD supplemented with ketoacids is more effective than a LPD alone in protecting the function of remnant kidneys from progressive injury, which may be mediated by ketoacids ameliorating protein malnutrition and oxidative stress injury in remnant kidney tissue.
Comparison of body fatness measurements by near-infrared reactance and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in normal-weight and obese black and white women
Authors: Jennings Courtney L. , Micklesfield Lisa K. , Lambert Mike I. , Lambert Estelle V. , Collins Malcolm , Goedecke Julia H. 
Published: November 2009

The aim of the present study was to compare body fat percent (BF %) using single-site near-IR reactance (NIR) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in a cohort of normal-weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) black (n 102) and white (n 71); and obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) black (n 117) and white (n 41) South African women (18–45 years). NIR-derived BF % was significantly correlated with DXA-derived BF % in all groups: normal-weight black (r 0·55, 95 % CI: 0·40, 0·67, P < 0·001) and white (r 0·69, 95 % CI: 0·53, 0·79, P < 0·001) women; obese black (r 0·59, 95 % CI: 0·46, 0·70, P < 0·001) and white (r 0·56, 95 % CI: 0·30, 0·74, P < 0·001) women. NIR under-predicted BF% compared to DXA in black women (normal-weight, − 4·36 (sd 4·13) % and obese, − 3·41 (sd 3·72) %), while smaller mean differences were observed in white women (normal-weight, − 0·29 (sd 4·19) % and obese, − 0·81 (sd 3·09) %), irrespective of normal-weight or obese status (P < 0·001). In obese subjects, NIR-derived BF % did not measure values greater than approximately 45 %, while the maximum DXA-derived measure was 58 %. In conclusion, although there was a significant relationship between NIR- and DXA-derived BF %, NIR under-predicted BF % in normal-weight and obese black South African women compared to DXA, but to a greater extent in subjects with very high levels of adiposity (>45 %). The results of single-site NIR as a measure of BF % should therefore be interpreted with caution, particularly in women of African descent and in those with very high levels of adiposity.