bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stochastic network utility maximisation—a tribute to Kelly's paper published in this journal a decade ago
Authors: Yi Yung , Chiang Mung 
Published: April 2008

AbstractSince the seminal work by Kelly on distributed network resource allocation using the language of network utility maximisation (NUM) a decade ago, there have been extensive research efforts generalising and applying NUM to model, analyse and design various network protocols and architectures. Some of these works combine the distributed optimisation approach with stochastic network models to study NUM under network dynamics occurring at the session, packet and constraint levels. We survey these works by presenting the key questions, results and methodologies in this emerging theory of stochastic network utility maximisation, followed by discussion on related work and future research challenges. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Full‐scale experimental study on crack and fallout of toughened glass with different thicknesses
Authors: Xie Qiyuan , Zhang Heping , Wan Yutian , Zhang Qingwen , Cheng Xudong 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe objective of this work is to analyze the crack and fallout of toughened glass with thicknesses of 6 and 10 mm in enclosure fires. A series of full‐scale experiments are conducted in the ISO 9705 fire test room using pool fires with different pan sizes, which are located at the center of the combustion room. The temperature differences between the exposed regions at the fire side and the shaded regions at the ambient side for typical edge positions are measured and compared. The results of both 6‐ and 10‐mm‐thick toughened glass suggest that the whole piece of toughened glass cracks and falls out completely when any region of the pane breaks. Relatively large window vents may come into being if the toughened glass breaks. The experimental results also preliminarily show that the critical breakage temperature difference for the 6‐mm‐thick toughened glass is about 330–380°C, whereas the corresponding values for 10‐mm‐thick toughened glass are approximately 470–590°C. It is suggested that the critical breakage temperature difference is larger for thicker toughened glass. The experimental phenomena for both 6‐ and 10‐mm‐thick toughened glass indicate that horizontally partitioning windows into several small panes with frames may be helpful and important to prevent the whole large and tall toughened glass from falling out completely in enclosure fires. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fire performance of wood (Pinus radiata) treated with fire retardants and a wood preservative
Authors: Marney D. C. O. , Russell L. J. , Mann R. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn this work, we co‐formulated an oil‐borne copper naphthenate/permethrin wood preservative system with synthetic polymer‐based fire‐retardant additives prior to the impregnation of Pinus radiata sapwood. We evaluated what effect, if any, the preservative had upon the fire performance properties of the fire retardants and whether the fire retardants impacted on the fungicidal and termiticidal efficacy of the preservative. The fire retardants included halogenated and phosphorus‐based systems. A mass loss calorimeter, in conjunction with a thermopile, was used to measure the time to ignition and the peak heat release rate (PHRR) from which the fire performance index (FPI) was determined. The preservative properties were evaluated using termite and soil‐block decay bioassays. In summary, we found that the rate of fire growth was reduced when the fire retardants were used in combination with the wood preservative. We also found that the PHRR was a better determinant of fire performance than the FPI. The performance of the wood preservative was enhanced against fungal decay and termite attack when used in combination with the fire retardants. The fire retardants also demonstrated some wood preservative properties of their own. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Statistical estimation of optimal portfolios for non‐Gaussian dependent returns of assets
Authors: Shiraishi Hiroshi , Taniguchi Masanobu 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThis paper discusses the asymptotic efficiency of estimators for optimal portfolios when returns are vector‐valued non‐Gaussian stationary processes. We give the asymptotic distribution of portfolio estimators ĝ for non‐Gaussian dependent return processes. Next we address the problem of asymptotic efficiency for the class of estimators ĝ. First, it is shown that there are some cases when the asymptotic variance of ĝ under non‐Gaussianity can be smaller than that under Gaussianity. The result shows that non‐Gaussianity of the returns does not always affect the efficiency badly. Second, we give a necessary and sufficient condition for ĝ to be asymptotically efficient when the return process is Gaussian, which shows that ĝ is not asymptotically efficient generally. From this point of view we propose to use maximum likelihood type estimators for g, which are asymptotically efficient. Furthermore, we investigate the problem of predicting the one‐step‐ahead optimal portfolio return by the estimated portfolio based on ĝ and examine the mean squares prediction error. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of the recall period on measuring health utilities for acute events
Authors: Bansback Nick , Sun Huiying , Guh Daphne P. , Li Xin , Nosyk Bohdan , Griffin Susan , Barnett Paul G. , Anis Aslam H. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe impact of healthcare interventions on health utility values is most frequently measured using a preference‐based instrument. Each of the available instruments instructs the respondent to report their health status over different recall periods ranging from the current day to the past month. In an ongoing randomised controlled trial in patients with advanced HIV disease, the impact of using a preference‐based instrument with a 1‐week recall period vs a 1‐day recall period (e.g. today) for capturing recently resolved serious adverse events was measured. The results suggest that the instrument with a 1‐week recall period gave lower utility values for recently resolved events in comparison with the instrument with a 1‐day recall period. A plausible interpretation of these results is that the recall period was adhered to; for example, patients ignored the impact of recently resolved events in their response if the questionnaire asked them only about their health today. While there are limitations to our study, we believe further consideration should be given to the recall period used for preference‐based instruments, and future research should examine other patient groups using a single instrument with multiple recall periods. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Experimental Appraisal Instrument: A brief overview
Authors: Genaidy Ash M. , Shell Richard L. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground Recently, there has been a great influx in experimental research to assess the health effects of nanoparticles/materials/fibers. Currently, there is no structured methodology to assess the methodological quality of the reported studies.Objective This article reports an experimental appraisal instrument with the goal to critically assess experimental studies.Methods A search of electronic databases was conducted to examine prior work on the subject and to extract the components of such an instrument.Results The electronic search revealed no major instrument designed to evaluate experimental strategies on health effects of nanoparticles/materials/fibers. An experimental appraisal instrument was developed and was patterned after the Epidemiological Appraisal Instrument reported by Genaidy and LeMasters (2006).Conclusions The validity and reliability of such an instrument will be reported in future work. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A critical appraisal of epidemiological studies investigating the effects of ultrafine particles on human health
Authors: Maudgalya Tushyati , Genaidy Ash , Weckman Gary , Shell Richard , Karwowski Waldemar , Wallace Scott 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground Though several reviews investigating the health effects of particulate matter on human health exist, none of them focus exclusively on the impact of particulate matter in the ultrafine range.Objective This research consists of a critical appraisal of qualifying studies that investigates the impact of ultrafine particles on cardiopulmonary and circulatory health among humans.Methods The published articles were obtained from a search of electronic databases and bibliographies of identified articles. The critical appraisal was conducted using an Epidemiological Appraisal Instrument.Results Seven articles satisfied the inclusion criteria adopted in this research. The assessed quality of the published studies ranged from marginal to good.Conclusions The appraisal reveals that ultrafine particle exposure has different consequences compared to fine particle exposure. Also, it is likely that ultrafine particles do pose a health risk to human subjects who are already susceptible to cardiopulmonary disease. Further research is needed to extrapolate findings from lab studies and to determine the exact biological mechanism by which ultrafine particle exposure results in cardiopulmonary symptoms.Significance The reported findings indicate the need to investigate standards for ultrafine particle exposure and to list the three major cardiopulmonary symptoms resulting from ultrafine particle exposure. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multinetwork nanobiosensing: Potential approaches in understanding, diagnosing, and tracking discogenic pain
Authors: El‐Hosseiny Amr , Genaidy Ash , Shell Richard , Stambough Jeffery L. , Dimov Mina 
Published: April 2008

AbstractBackground Lower back pain associated with disc degeneration is a common and costly health condition. As a symptom, lower back pain is considered the leading cause of disability. Many studies have indicated that the intervertebral disc and supportive structures are indirectly and directly innervated, which is a factor in acute and chronic lower back pain. Unfortunately, the cellular and neural mechanisms during disc degeneration that lead to discogenic pain are not well understood. The pain caused by intervertebral disc degeneration is coined discogenic pain and is due in part to the lack of accurate diagnostic tests.Objective The long‐term objective of this preliminary study is to develop an accurate diagnostic test of a multinetwork nanobiosensing method for the objective of diagnosing discogenic pain. Within the context of the long‐term research objectives, this pilot study is aimed at providing a basic understanding of the in vivo biomechanics of human intervertebral disc with or without the degeneration process over time.Methods Medline and PubMed databases were searched from 1966 to March 2006. Studies describing the neural and cellular changes during disc degeneration were reviewed and discussed in an effort to provide a basis for understanding mechanisms of disc degeneration; however, they do not measure pain. In addition, the most current studies of diagnostic tests available today for assessing discogenic pain were also reviewed, especially those relative to the clinical association of pain with disc degeneration.Results Despite recent developments in noninvasive imaging technology, the pathophysiology of discogenic pain is poorly understood. Other than discography, there is no imaging technology that relates to this clinical problem. Currently published studies demonstrate inherent inaccuracy in the sensitivity and specificity of testing, especially for discogenic lower back pain.Conclusions There is a need to develop more reliable diagnostic tests for discogenic pain. The available literature shows that the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to discogenic pain is largely nonexistent. The emergence of nanotechnology is opening new horizons for biosensing applications. The proposed diagnostic test should be based on in vivo measurement(s), instead of noninvasive imaging, which would capture the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms at the intervertebral disc level.Significance This project has the potential of adding a new level of understanding with a broad societal impact. From an intellectual merit standpoint, it is expected that there will be a quantum leap in our basic understanding of disc degeneration changes in vivo over time and indirectly the mechanism of discogenic pain. The societal impact standpoint will be severalfold, including the significant reduction of human suffering with increasing human productivity and quality of life. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Hypermethylation of RAS effector related genes and DNA methyltransferase 1 expression in endometrial carcinogenesis
Authors: Liao Xiaoyun , Siu Michelle Kwan‐Yee , Chan Kelvin Yuen‐Kwong , Wong Esther Shuk‐Ying , Ngan Hextan Yuen‐Sheung , Chan Queeny Kwan‐Yi , Li Albert Siu‐Ming , Khoo Ui‐Soon , Cheung Annie Nga‐Yin 
Published: April 2008

AbstractEpigenetic aberration is known to be important in human carcinogenesis. Promoter methylation status of RAS effector related genes, RASSF1A, RASSF2A, hDAB2IP (m2a and m2b regions) and BLU, was evaluated in 76 endometrial carcinomas and their non‐neoplastic endometrial tissue by methylation specific PCR. Hypermethylation of at least one of the 5 genes was detected in 73.7% of carcinomas. There were significant correlations between methylation of hDAB2IP and RASSF1A, RASSF2A (p = 0.042, p = 0.012, respectively). Significantly, more frequent RASSF1A hypermethylation was found in Type I endometrioid carcinomas than Type II carcinomas (p = 0.049). Among endometrioid cancers, significant association between RASSF1A hypermethylation and advanced stage, as well as between methylation of hDAB2IP at m2a region with deep myometrial invasion (p < 0.05) was observed. mRNA expression of RASSF1A, RASSF2A and BLU in endometrial cancer cell lines significantly increased after treatment with the demethylating agent 5‐Aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine supporting the repressive effect of hypermethylation on their transcription. Immunohistochemical study of DNMT1 on eight normal endometrium, 16 hyperplastic endometrium without atypia, 40 atypical complex hyperplasia and 79 endometrial carcinomas showed progressive increase in DNMT1 immunoreactivity from normal endometrium to endometrial hyperplasia and endometrioid carcinomas (p = 0.001). Among carcinomas, distinctly higher DNMT1 expression was observed in Type I endometrioid carcinomas (p < 0.001). DNMT1 immunoreactivity correlated with RASSF1A and RASSF2A methylation (p < 0.05). The data suggested that hypermethylation of RAS related genes, particularly RASSF1A, was involved in endometrial carcinogenesis with possible divergent patterns in different histological types. DNMT1 protein overexpression might contribute to such aberrant DNA hypermethylation of specific tumor suppressor genes in endometrial cancers. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Skin reactions to human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 specific antigens intradermally injected in healthy subjects and patients with cervical neoplasia
Authors: van den Hende Muriel , van Poelgeest Mariëtte I.E. , van der Hulst Jeanette M. , de Jong Joan , Drijfhout Jan W. , Fleuren Gert Jan , Valentijn A. Rob P.M. , Wafelman Amon R. , Slappendel Gijs M. , Melief Cornelis J.M. , Offringa Rienk , van der Burg Sjoerd H. , Kenter Gemma G. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWe have tested the safety and feasibility of a synthetic long peptide‐based HPV16‐specific skin test to detect cellular immune responses to HPV16 E2, E6 and E7 in vivo. Women with cervical neoplasia (n = 11) and healthy individuals (n = 19) were intradermally challenged with 8 different pools of HPV16 E2, E6 and E7 peptides. The skin test was safe as the injections were perceived as mildly painful and no adverse events were observed. The majority of skin reactions appeared significantly earlier in HPV16+ patients (<8 days) than in healthy subjects (8–25 days). The development of late skin reactions in healthy subjects was associated with the appearance of circulating HPV16‐specific T cells and the infiltration of both HPV16‐specific CD4+ Th1/Th2 and CD8+ T cells into the skin. These data show that the intradermal injection of pools of HPV16 synthetic long peptides is safe and results in the migration of HPV16‐specific T cells into the skin as well as in an increase in the number of circulating HPV16‐specific T cells. The use of this test to measure HPV16‐specific immunity is currently tested in a low resource setting for the measurement of spontaneously induced T‐cell responses as well as in our HPV16 vaccination trials for the detection of vaccine‐induced immunity. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
TGF‐β1 and WISP‐1/CCN‐4 can regulate each other's activity to cooperatively control osteoblast function
Authors: Inkson Colette A. , Ono Mitsuaki , Kuznetsov Sergei A. , Fisher Larry W. , Robey Pamela Gehron , Young Marian F. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractWnt‐induced secreted protein‐1 (WISP‐1), like other members of the CCN family, is expressed in skeletal tissues. Its mechanism of action remains unknown. Expression of WISP‐1 was analyzed in human bone marrow stroma cells (hBMSC) by RT‐PCR. We identified two major transcripts corresponding to those of full‐length WISP‐1, and of the splice variant WISP‐1va which lacks a putative BMP/TGF‐β binding site. To investigate the function of WISP‐1 in bone, hBMSC cultures were treated with recombinant human (rh)WISP‐1 and analyzed for proliferation and osteogenic differentiation. WISP‐1 treatment increased both BrdU incorporation and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity. Considering the known functional synergy found between the TGF‐β super‐family and members of the CCN family, we next tested the effect of WISP‐1 on TGF‐β1 activity. We found that rhWISP‐1 could reduce rhTGF‐β1 induced BrdU incorporation. Similarly, rhTGF‐β1 inhibited rhWISP‐1 induction of AP activity. To explore functional differences between the WISP‐1 variants, WISP‐1 or WISP‐1va were transfected into hBMSC. Both variants could strongly induce BrdU incorporation. However, there were no effects of either variant on AP activity without an additional osteogenic stimulus such as TGF‐β1. Taken together our results suggest a functional relationship between WISP‐1 and TGF‐β1. To further define this relationship we analyzed the effect of WISP‐1 on TGF‐β signaling. rhWISP‐1 significantly reduced TGF‐β1 induced phosphorylation of Smad‐2. Our data indicates that full‐length WISP‐1 and its variant WISP‐1va are modulators of proliferation and osteogenic differentiation, and may be novel regulators of TGF‐β1 signaling in osteoblast‐like cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 1865–1878, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epigenetics regulate centromere formation and kinetochore function
Authors: Gieni Randall S. , Chan Gordon K.T. , Hendzel Michael J. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe eukaryote centromere was initially defined cytologically as the primary constriction on vertebrate chromosomes and functionally as a chromosomal feature with a relatively low recombination frequency. Structurally, the centromere is the foundation for sister chromatid cohesion and kinetochore formation. Together these provide the basis for interaction between chromosomes and the mitotic spindle, allowing the efficient segregation of sister chromatids during cell division. Although centromeric (CEN) DNA is highly variable between species, in all cases the functional centromere forms in a chromatin domain defined by the substitution of histone H3 with the centromere specific H3 variant centromere protein A (CENP‐A), also known as CENH3. Kinetochore formation and function are dependent on a variety of regional epigenetic modifications that appear to result in a loop chromatin conformation providing exterior CENH3 domains for kinetochore construction, and interior heterochromatin domains essential for sister chromatid cohesion. In addition pericentric heterochromatin provides a structural element required for spindle assembly checkpoint function. Advances in our understanding of CENH3 biology have resulted in a model where kinetochore location is specified by the epigenetic mark left after dilution of CENH3 to daughter DNA strands during S phase. This results in a self‐renewing and self‐reinforcing epigenetic state favorable to reliably mark centromere location, as well as to provide the optimal chromatin configuration for kinetochore formation and function. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 2027–2039, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Histone deacetylase 5 represses the transcription of cyclin D3
Authors: Roy Sangita , Shor Audrey C. , Bagui Tapan K. , Seto Edward , Pledger W. Jackson 
Published: April 2008

AbstractHistone deacetylases (HDACs) modulate the transcription of a subset of genes by various means. HDAC5 is a class II HDAC whose subcellular location is signal‐dependent. At present, its known gene targets are few in number. Here we identify a new HDAC5 target: the gene encoding the cell cycle‐regulatory protein cyclin D3. When overexpressed in Balb/c‐3T3 cells or mouse embryo fibroblasts, HDAC5 substantially reduced the activity of the cyclin D3 promoter and the abundance of endogenous cyclin D3 protein. Conversely, conditions that blocked HDAC5 function increased cyclin D3 expression: treatment of cells with the class I/II HDAC inhibitor trichostatin A (TSA), depletion of HDAC5 from cells by RNA interference, and cytoplasmic sequestration of HDAC5 by co‐expression of catalytically active calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase. HDAC5 interacted with the cyclin D3 promoter in vivo, and the HDAC5‐responsive element was within 118 base pairs upstream of the transcription start site. Mutation of the Sp1 site and the cyclic AMP response element within this region did not affect the responsiveness of the cyclin D3 promoter to HDAC5 or TSA. J. Cell. Biochem. 104: 2143–2154, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Rhesus glycoprotein and urea transporter genes are expressed in early stages of development of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Hung Carrie C. , Nawata C. Michele , Wood Chris M. , Wright Patricia A. 
Published: April 2008

AbstractThe objective of this study was to determine if the genes for the putative ammonia transporters, Rhesus glycoproteins (Rh) and the facilitated urea transporter (UT) were expressed during early development of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum. We predicted that the Rh isoforms Rhbg, Rhcg1 and Rhcg2 would be expressed shortly after fertilization but UT expression would be delayed based on the ontogenic pattern of nitrogen excretion. Embryos were collected 3, 14 and 21 days postfertilization (dpf), whereas yolk sac larvae were sampled at 31 dpf and juveniles at 60 dpf (complete yolk absorption). mRNA levels were quantified using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and expressed relative to the control gene, elongation factor 1α. All four genes (Rhbg, Rhcg1, Rhcg2, UT) were detected before hatching (25–30 dpf). As predicted, the mRNA levels of the Rh genes, especially Rhcg2, were relatively high early in embryonic development (14 and 21 dpf), but UT mRNA levels remained low until after hatching (31 and 60 dpf). These findings are consistent with the pattern of nitrogen excretion in early stages of trout development. We propose that early expression of Rh genes is critical for the elimination of potentially toxic ammonia from the encapsulated embryo, whereas retention of the comparatively benign urea molecule until after hatch is less problematic for developing tissues and organ systems. J. Exp. Zool. 309A:262–268, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cycles passing through k + 1 vertices in k‐connected graphs
Authors: Fujisawa Jun , Yamashita Tomoki 
Published: April 2008

AbstractIn this article, we prove the following theorem. Let k ≥ 3 be an integer, G be a k‐connected graph with minimum degree d and X be a set of k + 1 vertices on a cycle. Then G has a cycle of length at least min {2d,|V(G)|} passing through X. This result gives the positive answer to the Question posed by Locke [8]. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 58:179–190, 2008