bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Atg8 is Essential for Macropexophagy in Hansenula polymorpha
Authors: Monastyrska Iryna , Van Der Heide Meis , Krikken Arjen M. , Kiel Jan A.K.W. , Van Der Klei Ida J. , Veenhuis Marten
Published: November 2004

We have isolated a peroxisome‐degradation‐deficient (pdd) mutant of the methylotrophic yeast Hansenula polymorpha via gene tagging mutagenesis. Sequencing revealed that the mutant was affected in the HpATG8 gene. HpAtg8 is a protein with high sequence similarity to both Pichia pastoris and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Atg8 and appeared to be essential for selective peroxisome degradation (macropexophagy) and nitrogen‐limitation induced microautophagy. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that a GFP.Atg8 fusion protein was located close to the vacuole. After induction of macropexophagy, the GFP.Atg8 containing spot extended to engulf an individual peroxisome. In cells of a constructed deletion strain, sequestration of individual organelles was never completed; analysis of series of serial sections revealed that invariably a minor diaphragm‐like opening remained. We hypothesize that H. polymorpha Atg8 facilitates sealing of the sequestering membranes during selective peroxisome degradation.
Electromechanical Myocardial Mapping in Patients with Severe Coronary Artery Disease: Feasibility and Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: van der Vleuten P. A. , Jessurun G. A. J. , Tio R. A. , Tan E.‐S. , Zijlstra F.
Published: November 2004

Since the introduction of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the late 1970s the question remains whether myocardial tissue behind an obstruction will benefit from renewed blood supply and if an intervention will contribute to a better myocardial function. Positron emission tomography is recognized to be the golden standard in myocardial viability assessment. Recently the three‐dimensional electromechanical NOGA endocardial mapping system was introduced. The system measures myocardial unipolar voltage and linear local shortening. In theory a matched decrease indicates scar tissue, whereas reduced linear local shortening with normal unipolar voltage indicates tissue hibernation. The main advantage of this system is its ability to assess myocardial viability online, thus allowing the intervention cardiologist to proceed with treatment in the same session. Few studies have been conducted on the diagnostic accuracy of the NOGA system and their results vary. We compared NOGA and PET measurements in patients suffering from severe coronary artery disease. In this patient group we could not reproduce the sensitivity and specificity levels reported in earlier studies. This may in part be explained by the diffuse and extensive nature of coronary artery disease in the study group. However, the advantage of having an online assessment tool remains evident.
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging at 3.0 Tesla
Authors: Gutberlet M. , Freyhardt P. , Spors B. , Schwinge K. , Grothoff M. , Noeske R. , Niendorf T. , Felix R.
Published: November 2004

Cardiovascular MR imaging often requires high temporal and spatial resolution, especially in order to acquire data about cardiac function. Furthermore, the current results at 1.5 T for coronary artery imaging or plaque imaging are still not satisfying even with the use of the latest technology. Therefore, cardiac imaging inherently demands high signal‐to‐noise (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNR) and hence may benefit from higher magnetic field strengths. However, higher magnetic field strengths do not inevitably improve the image quality for all cardiac imaging techniques as compared with their 1.5 T counterparts. At higher magnetic field strengths one has to cope with increased field inhomogeneities, longer T1, shorter T2* relaxation times and radiofrequency power deposition constraints, which require further methodological developments. Initial studies using 3.0 T whole‐body scanners for cardiac imaging revealed that optimized steady‐state free precession or spin‐echo sequences meet the expected SNR increase at 3.0 T but showed different results for CNR. These results are especially encouraging for cardiac tissue characterization at 3 T together with the evolving parallel imaging techniques. This review focuses on the feasibility of cardiac MR imaging at high magnetic field strengths. The pros and cons of cardiac imaging at 3.0 T vs. 1.5 T are examined and technical solutions are discussed.
Expression of SV40 T antigen gene in the oligodendroglia induced primitive neuroectodermal tumor‐like tumors in the mouse brain
Authors: Konishi Shoji , Naora Hiroyuki , Kimura Minoru , Sato Masahiro , Nagasaki Makoto , Yokoyama Minesuke , Otani Hiroki , Moritake Kozo , Katsuki Motoya
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT  Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) are classified as the embryonal tumors developed in the brain, except for the cerebellum. Although many studies have been reported, the origin and pathogenesis of PNET are still unclear. In this study, we observed the development of undifferentiated tumors indistinguishable from PNET in the transgenic mice which expressed simian virus 40 T antigen (SV40‐Tag) selectively in the oligodendroglia under the control of mouse myelin basic protein gene promoter. These PNET‐like tumors reproducibly developed in the brain stem of the founder mice and the transgenic progeny derived from one founder mouse. Oligodendroglia‐specific expression of SV40‐Tag in these transgenic mice was observed by immunohistochemical analysis. Furthermore, expression of the oligodendroglia‐specific marker genes was decreased in the tumors as well as in the transgenic brains. These findings suggested that tumors developed in transgenic mice were indistinguishable from PNET, and one of them showed oligodendroglia‐like characteristics. Consequently, this transgenic line is a useful animal model to study the pathogenesis of undifferentiated tumor.
Large fontanelles are a shared feature of haploinsufficiency of RUNX2 and its co‐activator CBFB
Authors: Goto Tomohide , Aramaki Michihiko , Yoshihashi Hiroshi , Nishimura Gen , Hasegawa Yukihiro , Takahashi Takao , Ishii Takashi , Fukushima Yoshimitsu , Kosaki Kenjiro
Published: November 2004

ABSTRACT CBFB at 16q22 heterodimerizes with either RUNX2 (also known as CBFA1) or RUNX1 (CBFA2) to activate the transcription of downstream molecules. RUNX2 regulates osteoblast differentiation and chondrocyte maturation and its haploinsufficiency leads to cleidocranial dysplasia, characterized large fontanelles, hypoplasia or aplasia of the clavicles, hypoplasia of the distal phalanges, and a wide pubic symphysis. Complete loss of Runx1 or Cbfb in mice is lethal because of the absence of fetal liver hematopoiesis. Fetal rescue in Cbfb–/– mice by providing the Cbfb functions in the hematopoietic progenitors leads to wide fontanelle and delayed chondrocyte maturation, presumably resulting from the incomplete function of the transcriptional pathway mediated by the Cbfb‐Runx2 heterodimer. The present report describes a patient with a small deletion of chromosome 16q22.1 encompassing CBFB. Skeletal abnormalities included a widely open fontanelle, multiple wormian bones along the sagittal suture, hypoplasia of the distal phalanges, and mildly shortened clavicles. G‐banding analysis revealed a shortening of the 16q22.1 band. A fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, using the BAC probe spanning the CBFB locus at 16q22.1, revealed that the CBFB probe hybridized to only one of the two homologous chromosome 16 regions. Array‐comparative genomic hybridization analysis revealed that the deletion spans 1.2 megabases. In reviewing eight previously reported cases of 16q interstitial deletions involving band q22, large cranial sutures were noted in all but one case. Considering the phenotypic similarity of the 16q22 deletion case and Cbfb–/– mice rescued for hematopoiesis and the consistency of the phenotype among 16q22 deletion cases, we suggest that the common phenotypic feature of the 16q22 deletion, large fontanelles, can be attributed to a haploinsufficiency of CBFB.
Is household smoking status associated with expenditure on food at restaurants, alcohol, gambling and insurance? Results from the 1998–99 Household Expenditure Survey, Australia
Authors: Siahpush M , Borland R , Scollo M
Published: November 2004

Aim:To examine how household expenditure on food at restaurants, alcohol, gambling and insurance vary between smoking and non-smoking households.

Design:Cross sectional survey of households from private dwellings, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), using a stratified multistage area sample design.

Setting:Australia, 1998–99.

Participants:Nationally representative sample of households (n  =  6892).

Main outcome measures:Expenditure on meals at restaurants, alcohol, alcoholic beverages at licensed premises, gambling, and insurance.

Results:The odds of reporting expenditure on restaurant food and health insurance were 20% and 40% smaller for smoking than non-smoking households, respectively. The odds of reporting expenditure on alcohol (not including expenditure at licensed premises), drinking at licensed premises, and gambling were 100%, 50%, and 40% greater for smoking than for non-smoking households, respectively.

Conclusions:The study suggests that smokers are more likely to engage in risky behaviour. Implementing smoking bans in licensed premises and gambling venues can provide an opportunity to reduce smoking prevalence. Quitting or cutting down smoking can provide opportunities for expenditure on other products or services, and enhance standards of living.
Achieving the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s potential by investing in national capacity
Authors: Wipfli H , Stillman F , Tamplin S , da Costa e Silva V Luiza , Yach D , Samet J
Published: November 2004

May 2003 marked a critical achievement in efforts to stem the global tobacco epidemic, as the member states of the World Health Organization unanimously endorsed the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). However, the adoption of the FCTC signifies only the end of the beginning of effective global action to control tobacco. Over the next several years the utility of the FCTC process and the treaty itself will be tested as individual countries seek to ratify and implement the treaty’s obligations. Significant barriers to the treaty’s long term success exist in many countries. It is crucial that the international tobacco control community now refocuses its efforts on national capacity building and ensures that individual countries have the knowledge, tools, data, people, and organisations needed to implement the convention and develop sustained tobacco control programmes. This paper provides a model of national tobacco control capacity and offers a prioritised agenda for action.
Which smokers use the smoking cessation Quitline in Hong Kong, and how effective is the Quitline?
Authors: Abdullah A S M , Lam T-H , Chan S S C , Hedley A J
Published: November 2004

Objective:To describe the characteristics of the Chinese subjects who utilised the first telephone smoking cessation service in Hong Kong, and to evaluate its effectiveness.

Methods:The Quitline provided Hong Kong residents with free telephone smoking cessation services which was publicised through a press conference, media reports, pamphlets, and posters at public and private hospitals and clinics. Callers who completed an initial interview from 13 December 2000 to 31 May 2002 were included. Smokers were interviewed using a structured record sheet and provided with stage matched counselling. A follow up interview was carried out after six months. Analysis was conducted by intention-to-treat.

Results:Of the 1120 callers who completed initial assessments, 1047 were current smokers and 872 consented to follow ups. Compared to the general smoking population, the Quitline attracted more of those who were female, younger, single, unemployed, higher educated, smoking more than 20 cigarettes per day, and those with quitting experience. At six months, 12% (95% confidence interval 10% to 15%) of the participants reported that they had not smoked a cigarette for the past seven days. A stepwise logistic regression model showed that the use of nicotine replacement therapy at the present attempt to quit, having made one or more serious attempts to quit in the past, perceiving less difficulties in quitting, and smoking the first cigarette at age 15 years or above were significant predictors of quitting.

Conclusion:This first Quitline in Asia appears to be acceptable to Chinese smokers, with quit rate comparable to those of better funded Quitlines in the West. A low cost Quitline is a promising model for smoking cessation services in the East.
Relation between local restaurant smoking regulations and attitudes towards the prevalence and social acceptability of smoking: a study of youths and adults who eat out predominantly at restaurants in their town
Authors: Albers A B , Siegel M , Cheng D M , Biener L , Rigotti N A
Published: November 2004

Objective:To examine the relation between strength of local restaurant smoking regulations and smoking related social norms among youths and adults.

Design:We used generalised estimating equations logistic regression analysis to examine the relation between regulation strength and youths’ and adults’ perceptions of adult smoking prevalence and the social acceptability of smoking in their town, while controlling for baseline anti-smoking sentiment in the town.

Setting:Each of the 351 Massachusetts towns were classified as having strong (complete smoking ban), medium (restriction of smoking to enclosed, separately ventilated areas), or weak (all others) restaurant smoking regulations.

Subjects:1147 Massachusetts youths ages 12–17 years and 2116 adults who reported that they often or always eat out in their own town, drawn from a random digit dial survey.

Main outcome measures:Perceived adult smoking prevalence and perceived social acceptability of smoking in restaurants, in bars, or in general.

Results:Compared to youths from towns with weak regulations, youths from towns with strong regulations were more likely to perceive lower adult smoking prevalence (odds ratio (OR) 1.71; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02 to 2.84) and social unacceptability of adult smoking (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.08) in their town. Adults from towns with strong regulations were not more likely to perceive lower adult smoking prevalence, but had more than twice the odds of perceiving that smoking was unacceptable in restaurants (OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.58 to 3.02) or bars (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.90 to 3.31).

Conclusions:Strong local restaurant smoking regulations are associated with favourable smoking related social norms among youths and adults.
Adults only: the prevalence of tobacco promotions in bars and clubs in the Boston area
Authors: Biener L , Nyman A L , Kline R L , Albers A B
Published: November 2004

Objective:To document the nature and prevalence of tobacco promotions in bars and clubs in a major US city.

Design:We conducted systematic observations in a representative sample of 38 establishments in the Boston area, half of which had been advertised in a tobacco company ad. We also observed seven events in six additional clubs hosting Camel Casbah promotions. Telephone interviews were later completed with club managers.

Main outcome measure:Use of branded give-away items, distribution of free cigarette samples, managers’ reports of costs and benefits of hosting promotions.

Results:The majority of the 38 clubs were observed to use bar paraphernalia including matchbooks with tobacco brand logos, regardless of their history of appearing in tobacco sponsored ads. Free cigarette samples were not observed at any of the sampled clubs, but were a feature of every Casbah event. Managers of clubs in the advertised group were somewhat more likely to report having hosted promotions, but 44% of managers of non-advertised clubs indicated that tobacco promotions had occurred in their establishments in the past. Approximately one third of club managers viewed public links with a tobacco company as a negative feature of hosting promotions.

Conclusions:Based on managers’ reports, tobacco promotions occurred in more than 50% of the Boston area entertainment venues frequented by young adults. Cigarette companies should be required to inform the attorney general of plans to conduct promotions in adult-only venues to facilitate monitoring of compliance with the Master Settlement Agreement. The negative health and business consequences of hosting promotions should be communicated to bar owners.
“A phony way to show sincerity, as we all well know”: tobacco industry lobbying against tobacco control in Hong Kong: Table 1
Authors: Knight J , Chapman S
Published: November 2004

Objective:To examine the tobacco industry’s efforts to influence public policy and block the legislative process on tobacco control in Hong Kong, 1973 to 1997.

Method:Systematic review of relevant tobacco industry documents made public via the Master Settlement Agreement.

Results:The tobacco industry in Hong Kong has sought to manipulate the policymaking process and delay the introduction of tobacco control legislation in Hong Kong from at least 1973. The industry ensured that each of the government’s initial meagre steps toward tobacco control were delayed and thwarted by drawn out “cooperation” followed by voluntary concessions on issues the industry regarded as minor. By the 1980s the government had became increasingly active in tobacco control and introduced a number of initiatives, resulting in some of the tightest legislative restrictions on smoking in Asia. The tobacco industry was successful in thwarting only one of these initiatives.

Conclusions:Throughout the 1980s and 1990s two factors played a significant role in hindering the tobacco industry from successfully blocking policy initiatives: a growing political imperative, and an active and sophisticated tobacco control movement. Political will to promote public health and a strong tobacco control advocacy presence can enable governments to resist the enormous pressure exerted upon them by multinational tobacco companies.
Merchandising of cigarettes in San Francisco pharmacies: 27 years later
Authors: Eule B , Sullivan M K , Schroeder S A , Hudmon K S
Published: November 2004

Objective:To estimate changes since 1976 in the proportion of San Francisco pharmacies that sell cigarettes and to characterise the advertising of cigarettes and the merchandising of non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products in these retail establishments.

Methods and setting:100 randomly selected San Francisco pharmacies were visited in 2003. Pharmacies were characterised based on the sale of cigarettes, advertising for cigarettes, and the merchandising of non-prescription NRT products.

Results:In 2003, 61% of pharmacies sold cigarettes, a significant decrease compared to 89% of pharmacies selling cigarettes in 1976 (p < 0.001); 84% of pharmacies selling cigarettes also displayed cigarette advertising. Non-prescription NRT products were stocked by 78% of pharmacies, and in 55% of pharmacies selling cigarettes, the NRT products were stocked immediately adjacent to the cigarettes.

Conclusions:Since 1976, there has been a decline in the overall proportion of pharmacies in San Francisco that sell cigarettes yet most pharmacies, particularly traditional chain pharmacies, continue to merchandise the primary known risk factor for death in the USA.
How Philip Morris unlocked the Japanese cigarette market: lessons for global tobacco control
Authors: Lambert A , Sargent J D , Glantz S A , Ling P M
Published: November 2004

Background:The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control includes tobacco advertising restrictions that are strongly opposed by the tobacco industry. Marketing strategies used by transnational tobacco companies to open the Japanese market in the absence of such restrictions are described.

Methods:Analysis of internal company documents.

Findings:Between 1982 and 1987 transnational tobacco companies influenced the Japanese government through the US Trade Representative to open distribution networks and eliminate advertising restrictions. US cigarette exports to Japan increased 10-fold between 1985 and 1996. Television advertising was central to opening the market by projecting a popular image (despite a small actual market share) to attract existing smokers, combined with hero-centred advertisements to attract new smokers. Philip Morris’s campaigns featured Hollywood movie personalities popular with young men, including James Coburn, Pierce Brosnan, Roger Moore, and Charlie Sheen. Event sponsorships allowed television access despite restrictions. When reinstatement of television restrictions was threatened in the late 1980s, Philip Morris more than doubled its television advertising budget and increased sponsorship of televised events. By adopting voluntary advertising standards, transnational companies delayed a television advertising ban for over a decade.

Conclusions:Television image advertising was important to establish a market, and it has been enhanced using Hollywood personalities. Television advertising bans are essential measures to prevent industry penetration of new markets, and are less effective without concurrent limits on sponsorship and promotion. Comprehensive advertising restrictions, as included in the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control, are vital for countries where transnational tobacco companies have yet to penetrate the market.
“Asian yuppies…are always looking for something new and different”: creating a tobacco culture among young Asians
Authors: Knight J , Chapman S
Published: November 2004

Objective:To identify and analyse the themes employed by the Asian based transnational tobacco companies to construct a tobacco culture among Asian young men and women.

Methods:Systematic review of relevant tobacco industry documents made public through the Master Settlement Agreement.

Results:The industry utilised six vehicles and themes to construct a tobacco culture in Asia: music, entertainment (including nightclubs, discos, and movies), adventure, sport (including motorsports, soccer, and tennis), glamour (beauty and fashion), and independence.

Conclusions:The tobacco industry set about constructing a tobacco culture that sought to make smoking desirable, even normal, for young men and women. Understanding the way industry constructed this culture provides insights into ways that culture might now be challenged. Countering the transnational nature of many activities will require coordinated effort at the international, regional, and national levels. Implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) will be a powerful tool in this process. All nations throughout Asia are encouraged to support the FCTC and its broad protocols addressing advertising and sponsorship. Measures are also required to disassociate smoking from progress in sex equality.
ARTIST (Asian regional tobacco industry scientist team): Philip Morris’ attempt to exert a scientific and regulatory agenda on Asia
Authors: Tong E K , Glantz S A
Published: November 2004

Objective:To describe how the transnational tobacco industry has collaborated with local Asian tobacco monopolies and companies to promote a scientific and regulatory agenda.

Methods:Analysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents.

Results:Transnational tobacco companies began aggressively entering the Asia market in the 1980s, and the current tobacco industry in Asia is a mix of transnational and local monopolies or private companies. Tobacco industry documents demonstrate that, in 1996, Philip Morris led an organisation of scientific representatives from different tobacco companies called the Asian Regional Tobacco Industry Science Team (ARTIST), whose membership grew to include monopolies from Korea, China, Thailand, and Taiwan and a company from Indonesia. ARTIST was initially a vehicle for PM’s strategies against anticipated calls for global smoke-free areas from a World Health Organization secondhand smoke study. ARTIST evolved through 2001 into a forum to present scientific and regulatory issues faced primarily by Philip Morris and other transnational tobacco companies. Philip Morris’ goal for the organisation became to reach the external scientific and public health community and regulators in Asia.

Conclusion:The Asian tobacco industry has changed from an environment of invasion by transnational tobacco companies to an environment of participation with Philip Morris’ initiated activities. With this participation, tobacco control efforts in Asia face new challenges as Philip Morris promotes and integrates its scientific and regulatory agenda into the local Asian tobacco industry. As the local Asian tobacco monopolies and companies can have direct links with their governments, future implementation of effective tobacco control may be at odds with national priorities.
“If we can just ‘stall’ new unfriendly legislations, the scoreboard is already in our favour”: transnational tobacco companies and ingredients disclosure in Thailand
Authors: MacKenzie R , Collin J , Sriwongcharoen K , Muggli M E
Published: November 2004

Objectives:To review the strategies employed by overseas cigarette manufacturers operating in Thailand to obstruct the passage and subsequent enforcement of national public health legislation, specifically the ingredients disclosure provision of the 1992 Tobacco Products Control Act.

Methods:Analysis of previously confidential tobacco industry documents relevant to non-compliance with the ingredients disclosure legislation.

Results:Requirement for disclosure of ingredients contained in cigarettes contained in the Tobacco Products Control Act was identified by transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) not only as a significant threat to their operations in Thailand, but as a dangerous global precedent. Industry documents reveal a determined campaign to block, stall, or amend the proposed regulation during the legislative process. Industry representatives petitioned the Ministry of Health to revise the requirement from by brand disclosure to a more palatable by company submission. Strategies were adapted in the wake of the passage of the Act. Most significantly, the industry in concert with embassies in Bangkok threatened the Thai government with appeals to international trade bodies on the grounds of violation of international agreements. Industry documents also reveal that as submission of ingredient lists appeared unavoidable, leading companies operating in Thailand endeavoured to confound the disclosure requirement by disguising ingredients and reformulating brand recipes.

Conclusions:The evidence presented highlights the importance of ingredients regulation and demonstrates how health policy can be transformed during its implementation. A greater understanding of trade agreements emerges as a priority for global tobacco control.
The Philippine tobacco industry: “the strongest tobacco lobby in Asia”
Authors: Alechnowicz K , Chapman S
Published: November 2004

Objective:To highlight revelations from internal tobacco industry documents about the conduct of the industry in the Philippines since the 1960s. Areas explored include political corruption, health, employment of consultants, resisting pack labelling, and marketing and advertising.

Methods:Systematic keyword Minnesota depository website searches of tobacco industry internal documents made available through the Master Settlement Agreement.

Results:The Philippines has long suffered a reputation for political corruption where collusion between state and business was based on the exchange of political donations for favourable economic policies. The tobacco industry was able to limit the effectiveness of proposed anti-tobacco legislation. A prominent scientist publicly repudiated links between active and passive smoking and disease. The placement of health warning labels was negotiated to benefit the industry, and the commercial environment allowed it to capitalise on their marketing freedoms to the fullest potential. Women, children, youth, and the poor have been targeted.

Conclusion:The politically laissez faire Philippines presented tobacco companies with an environment ripe for exploitation. The Philippines has seen some of the world’s most extreme and controversial forms of tobacco promotion flourish. Against international standards of progress, the Philippines is among the world’s slowest nations to take tobacco control seriously.
#P-COMPLETENESS VIA MANY-ONE REDUCTIONS
Authors: ZANKÓ VIKTÓRIA
Published: November 2004

Valiant defined #P-completeness using Turing reductions. We propose a more restrictive definition, a variant of many-one reductions, and prove that the (0, 1)-permanent remains #P-complete under this definition.
ON THE COMPLEXITY OF SOME COLORING GAMES
Authors: BODLAENDER HANS L.
Published: November 2004

In this paper we consider the following game: players must alternately color the lowest numbered uncolored vertex of a given graph G= ({1, 2,…, n}, E) with a color, taken from a given set C, such that two adjacent vertices are never colored with the same color. In one variant, the first player which is unable to move, loses the game. In another variant, player 1 wins the game if and only if the game ends with all vertices colored. We show that for both variants, the problem of determining whether there is a winning strategy for player 1 is PSPACE-complete for any C with |C|≥3, but the problems are solvable in [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] time, respectively, if |C|=2. We also give polynomial time algorithms for the problems with certain restrictions on the graphs and orderings of the vertices. We give some partial results for the versions where no order for coloring the vertices is specified.
SOLUTION OF A NUMBER THEORETIC PROBLEM INVOLVING KNOWLEDGE
Authors: PANTI GIOVANNI
Published: November 2004

The Mr. Sum and Mr. Product puzzle has been frequently used as an example in the analysis of the Logic of Knowledge and Public Communications. In this paper we solve a related number theoretic problem and give an interpretation of our result in terms of common knowledge shared by the players.
FINITE STATE PROCESSES, Z-TEMPORAL LOGIC AND THE MONADIC THEORY OF THE INTEGERS
Authors: SAOUDI A. , MULLER D.E. , SCHUPP P.E.
Published: November 2004

We introduce four classes of Z-regular grammars for generating bi-infinite words (i.e. Z-words) and prove that they generate exactly Z-regular languages. We extend the second order monadic theory of one successor to the set of the integers (i.e. Z) and give some characterizations of this theory in terms of Z-regular grammars and Z-regular languages. We prove that this theory is decidable and equivalent to the weak theory. We also extend the linear temporal logic to Z-temporal logic and then prove that each Z-temporal formula is equivalent to a first order monadic formula. We prove that the correctness problem for finite state processes is decidable.
ON THE COMPLEXITY OF THE MAPPING PROBLEM FOR MASSIVELY PARALLEL ARCHITECTURES
Authors: ANTONELLI SILVANO , PELAGATTI SUSANNA
Published: November 2004

The mapping problem arises when a concurrent program is executed on a parallel architecture. The goal is to devise an allocation of processes onto physical processing nodes which optimizes a global measure of system performance. In this work we analyze the complexity and the approximability of both the mapping problem in its general formulation and some of its subproblems that are interesting for massively parallel systems.

Unfortunately, it turns out that all the problems introduced are NP-Hard. Moreover, they can be solved only with approximate algorithms for which the distance between the exact and the approximate solution is not bounded.
MODELING THE DYNAMICS OF OLFACTORY CORTEX USING SIMPLIFIED NETWORK UNITS AND REALISTIC ARCHITECTURE
Authors: Liljenström Hans
Published: November 2004

This report describes a three-dimensional computer model of the olfactory cortex developed for the study of cortical oscillations and their biological significance. The model was designed with the intention of investigating the relative role of network circuitry and network unit properties, resulting in a model complexity between simple Hopfield nets and detailed realistic simulations. Network connections are essentially the same as in a detailed simulation of the olfactory (piriform) cortex by Wilson and Bower (1989), but the network units are here modeled with continuous output functions and single compartments. It is shown that the present model is capable of reproducing all major results of the more complex model, corresponding to spatiotemporal patterns found in the actual cortex (Freeman 1975). This indicates that action potentials and the geometry of cells are not needed per se for explaining certain cortical activities. In contrast, connections between units, in particular feedforward and feedback inhibitory loops and long-range, excitatory-excitatory connections, are found to be crucial for the dynamical behavior of this system. The model describes intrinsic oscillatory properties of olfactory cortex and reproduces response patterns associated with a continuous random-input signal and with a shock pulse given to the cortex. In the latter case, waves of activity move across the model cortex in a way similar to the detailed simulations by Wilson and Bower, and consistent with corresponding global dynamic behavior of the functioning cortex. For a constant random input, the network is able to oscillate with two separate frequencies simultaneously, purely as a result of its intrinsic network properties. A delicate balance between inhibition and excitation, in terms of connection strength and timing of events, is necessary for coherent frequency and phase of the oscillating neural units. The analytical equations used in this model seem an adequate representation of olfactory cortex for mathematical analysis of its computational function.
NEURAL NETWORK CAPACITY FOR TEMPORAL SEQUENCE STORAGE
Authors: Taylor J.G.
Published: November 2004

Gardner’s analysis of the capacity of a neural net for pattern storage is extended to the case of the storage of temporal sequences (TSS). This is done for leaky integrator neurons of the simplest form, and the dependence of the capacity on basin size determined.
SOME IC IMPLEMENTATIONS OF ARTIFICIAL NEURAL NETWORKS USING SYNCHRONOUS PULSE-DENSITY MODULATION TECHNIQUE
Authors: Tomberg Jouni , Kaski Kimmo
Published: November 2004

Pulse-density modulation technique offers a very effective and robust method to implement artificial neural network structures, because it mimics some biological features of neuron action. In this paper various Integrated Circuit (IC) implementations based on the pulse-density modulation technique are explored. Two different approaches has been used: analog switched-capacitor structures and fully digital structures. These structures can be used in both Hopfield-type networks and more complicated Boltzmann-machine as well as other algorithms.
GENERALIZATION ERROR AND DYNAMICAL EFFECTS IN A TWO-DIMENSIONAL PATCHES DETECTOR
Authors: Kocher I. , Monasson R.
Published: November 2004

We study the supervised learning of a two-dimensional patches detector. We compute the generalization error of the network with the annealed approximation; a first-order phase transition appears at all temperatures on the generalization error curve as a function of the size of the training set.

We show that the system is subject to dynamical effects: the earlier story of presentation of the patterns to the system can be relevant, and a hysteresis appears on the generalization error curve.

We show Monte Carlo simulations which agree with the theoretical predictions.
A FAST PROCEDURE FOR RETRAINING THE MULTILAYER PERCEPTRON
Authors: Bishop Chris
Published: November 2004

In this paper we describe a fast procedure for retraining a feedforward network, previously trained by error backpropagation, following a small change in the training data. This technique would permit fine calibration of individual neural network based control systems in a mass-production environment. We also derive a generalised error backpropagation algorithm which allows an exact evaluation of all of the terms in the Hessian matrix. The fast retraining procedure is illustrated using a simple example.
COMBINING SIMILARITIES AND DISSIMILARITIES IN SUPERVISED LEARNING
Authors: Rodrigues Valter , Skrzypek Josef
Published: November 2004

Categorization, as an active phase of the visual perception, must include a stage where a currently viewed exemplar of an object is compared to the previously acquired category representatives; comparisons between exemplars as opposed to simply examining one exemplar in isolation lead to improved supervised learning. An abstract model of a neuron (SD neuron) is introduced, that can compare inputs by detecting (S)imilarities and (D)issimilarities in sequentially presented stimuli. Using SD neurons in a traditional Back Error Propagation (BP) neural networks improves categorization and learning capability. The nonlinear combination of similar and dissimilar input features captures more extensive information about stimulus. SD networks also display more effective convergence properties than BP networks when tested with XOR problems. Finally, in a comparative study of printed-letter categorization, the SD network model performed better than the traditional BP network.
IMPROVED NEURAL NETWORKS FOR LINEAR AND NONLINEAR PROGRAMMING
Authors: Chen Jiahan , Shanblatt Michael A. , Maa Chia-Yiu
Published: November 2004

A method for improving the performance of artificial neural networks for linear and nonlinear programming is presented. By analyzing the behavior of the conventional penalty function, the reason for the inherent degenerating accuracy is discovered. Based on this, a new combination penalty function is proposed which can ensure that the equilibrium point is acceptably close to the optimal point. A known neural network model has been modified by using the new penalty function and the corresponding circuit scheme is given. Simulation results show that the relative error for linear and nonlinear programming is substantially reduced by the new method.
RECOGNITION OF RULES AND EXCEPTIONS BY NEURAL NETWORKS
Authors: Bahrami Mohammad
Published: November 2004

A new method of training neural networks is suggested enabling them to retain their generalization capability without ignoring the learnt exceptions. Different implementations for this concept are explained. Simulation results indicate that a shorter learning time could also be obtained by using these networks. This concept could be generalized for automatic extraction of rules and exceptions by using neural nets that could be a step forward in the direction of integrating neural nets and knowledge based systems.
SHORT-RANGE TRANSPORT OF AEROSOLS EMITTED BY A POINT SOURCE OF MIXED CHARACTER IN COMPLEX TERRAIN
Authors: AMEMIYA S. , KATOH T. , BORBÉLY-KISS I. , KOLTAY E. , SZABÓ GY. , BISWAS S.K.
Published: November 2004

Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) analysis has been performed to determine the longitudinal distribution of coarse- and fine-fraction as well as total aerosol concentrations at ground level in the neighbourhood of a single emission source situated in a valley in complex terrain. Average environmental impact on the quality of air can be guessed by the comparison of the total .concentration data obtained in two sampling stations with those of a reference background sampling station. Transport properties in the terrain were derived by comparing the measured distributions to the one calculated from a simplified version of the Gaussian plume formula apt for modelling short distance transport over a plane area.
CHARGE DISTRIBUTIONS OF FAST PROJECTILES IN LOW-Z MATERIALS
Authors: MEYERHOF W.E.
Published: November 2004

For an accurate calculation of target x-ray production or of projectile energy loss in low-Z materials, it is necessary to know the projectile charge state at each point in the material. If the projectile is fast enough so that charge transfer can be neglected with respect to electron stripping, it is possible to deduce a simple expression for the charge fractions as a function of the penetration distance into the target. The expression depends essentially only on the stripping cross section per electron of the particular shell being stripped, on the initial number of electrons on the projectile, and on the charge state. A small correction has to be applied for the effect of shells lying inside of the shell being stripped. The expression has been tested with Xe45+ projectiles between 82 and 300 MeV/u and with U83+ projectiles between 105 and 960 MeV/u with targets of Be, C, mylar, and Al. Model calculations are made of the effect of charge distributions on PIXE x-ray production and on projectile energy loss.
L-SUBSHELL IONIZATION OF HEAVY ELEMENTS BY PROTONS AND DEUTERONS
Authors: SEMANIAK J. , BRAZIEWICZ J. , PAJEK M. , CZYŻEWSKI T. , GŁOWACKA L. , JASKÓŁA M. , KOBZEV A.P. , TRAUMANN D.
Published: November 2004

Thin targets of selected heavy elements (72≤Z2≤90) were bombarded by protons and deuterons of energy 0.4–4.0 MeV and 0.3–2.0 MeV, respectively. The Li-subshell ionization cross sections were derived from these measurements and were compared with the ECPSSR and SCA theories by expressing graphically the ratio σexp/σtheory as a function of the corrected reduced velocity parameter.
ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF ANCIENT CHINESE BRONZE ARTIFACTS WITH EXTERNAL-BEAM PIXE
Authors: Lin E.K. , Yu Y.C. , Wang C.W. , Shen C.T. , Huang Y.M. , Wu S.C. , Hsieh C.H.
Published: November 2004

External-beam PIXE has been applied for the determination of the elemental composition of ancient Chinese bronze artifacts. Characteristic x-ray spectra from the samples bombarded with protons of 3 MeV have been measured with a HPGe detector. At each sample three spots were irradiated per run. Results of measurements on three fragments of bronze drinking vessels and helmet of Chinese ancient Chou and Shang dynasties (17th-8th century B.C.) are presented. To check the analytical method, we have also made measurements on the elemental composition of some modern coins. The results are discussed.
METAL ANALYSIS BY PIXE IN THE LIVER TISSUE FROM PATIENTS WITH LIVER DISEASES
Authors: KAKIHARA KOJI , GOHARA SHINJI , NISHIJIMA TATSUSHIGE , MATSUO SHUICHI , ITOH SUSUMU , MAEDA KUNIKO
Published: November 2004

We used the particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry to perform elemental analysis of liver biopsy materials from patients with three different kinds of liver diseases; acute hepatitis, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. We compared the Cu/Fe and Zn/Fe concentration ratios in these different liver diseases. There was no significant difference in the ratios because of the kind of liver disease. However, we found a positive correlation between the Cu/Fe concentration ratio and both serum GOT (glutamate oxalacetic transaminase) and GPT (glutamate pyruvate transaminase) levels in 14 patients with liver diseases.
QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS BY PARTICLE INDUCED X- RAY EMISSION (PIXE) OF TRACE ELEMENTS IN LUNG TISSUE OF IDIOPATHIC INTERSTITIAL PNEUMONIA PATIENT
Authors: OGAWA J. , KUBOTA K. , YAEGASHI J. , MAIYA N. , TAMURA M. , SERA K.
Published: November 2004

It has been previously shown that activated alveolar macrophage in idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP) played an important role in the process of fibrosing, but the initial agent which activates alveolar macrophages has not been proved. The present study was designed to make quantitative analyses of trace elements in the lung tissue speciments of IIP patients and normal controls. Particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) was used. The IIP group consisted of 11 patients and the Control group, which had no apparent history for dust inhalation and lung diseases, consisted of 9 subjects. More silicon and magnesium were found in the IIP group than in the normal controls. These data suggested that inhalation of silicon and magnesium might be one of the etiologic factors of IIP.
CHARACTERISTICS OF AEROSOLS IN BEIJING-TIANJIN AREA OF CHINA BY PIXE AND INAA AND IDENTIFICATION OF THEIR SOURCES BY CEB
Authors: Yin Sha , Pingsheng Liu , Zhaohui Hu , Ming Zhong , Shaojin Yang , Yinan Yang , Qinfang Qian , Bingru Chen
Published: November 2004

Proton Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) techniques were used to measure the contents of 45 elements in 150 air-filter samples collected by cascade impactor with 8 stages at 10 sites in Beijing-Tianjin area of China during the periods of the winter of 1983 and the summer of 1984. It was noticed that the toxic elements such as As, Sb, Se, Pb, Hg, Cu and Ni were mainly enriched in fine particles with diameter less than 2 um. The major seven sources of coal burning, soil dust, oi1 burning, sea-salt aerosol, motor vehicle emission, limestone dust and industrial refuse attributing to the pollution in Tianjin area were identified by Chemical Elements Balance method (CEB). Among them the most important sources were the soil dust and the emission from coal-combustion followed by contributions from limestone and industrial refuse.
DETERMINATION OF ELEMENT CONCENTRATION AND PARTICLE SIZE DISTRIBUTION IN BEIJING URBAN ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL
Authors: ZHU GUANGHUA , WANG XINFU , SHEN XINYIN
Published: November 2004

The atmospheric aerosol samples are collected in Beijing using a ten-stage cascade impactor sampler, and the elemental concentrations are analyzed by the PIXE analytical method. The parameters of particle size distributions are determined by the use of log-normal plots and the least-squares minimization. From these parameters the total amount of deposit in a day at the naso-pharyngeal, tracheo-bronchial and pulmonary are evaluated based on the deposition and retention models.
PLASMA ETCHING PROCESSES FOR GIGAHERTZ SILICON INTEGRATED CIRCUITS (Part 2)
Authors: VOSHCHENKOV A.M.
Published: November 2004

In the preceding paper of this series, “Fundamentals of plasma etching for silicon technology (Part 1)”,1 a historical perspective of the evolution of plasma etching, its relationship to lithography needs, basic characteristics of plasma etching, advantages over wet chemical processing, and a practical viewpoint of the underlying fundamental concepts of plasma physics and chemistry were presented. In this paper, original work in plasma etcher design and a variety of process applications to multigigahertz rate silicon technology as practiced in Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, are described.
RF MAGNETIZATION OF MAGNETOSTATIC FORWARD VOLUME WAVE IN A YIG-GGG LAYERED STRUCTURE WITH APPLICATION TO DESIGN OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE GUIDED-WAVE MAGNETOOPTIC BRAGG CELLS
Authors: PU Y. , TSAI C.S.
Published: November 2004

Explicit expressions for the RF magnetization of magnetostatic forward volume waves (MSFVW) generated by a microstrip line transducer in a Yttrium Iron Garnet-Gadolinium Gallium Garnet (YIG-GGG) layered structure sandwiched between two finite ground planes have been derived for the first time. The behavior of the RF magnetization as a function of various physical and geometrical parameters and its influence on the design of high-performance guided-wave magnetooptic (MO) Bragg Cells are studied in detail. The effects of DC bias magnetic field and geometrical parameters on the RF magnetization and thus the MO Bragg diffraction or mode-conversion efficiency and the bandwidth are presented in plots generated using a computer. A good agreement between computed and experimental results has been obtained.
INVOLUTORY HOPF ALGEBRAS AND 3-MANIFOLD INVARIANTS
Authors: KUPERBERG GREG
Published: November 2004

We establish a 3-manifold invariant for each finite-dimensional, involutory Hopf algebra. If the Hopf algebra is a group algebra G, the invariant counts homomorphisms from the fundamental group of the manifold to G. The invariant can be viewed as a state model on a Heegaard diagram or a triangulation of the manifold. The computation of the invariant involves tensor products and contractions of the structure tensors of the algebra. We show that every formal expression involving these tensors corresponds to a unique 3-manifold modulo a well-understood equivalence. This raises the possibility of an algorithm which can determine whether two given 3-manifolds are homeomorphic.