bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The face and person perception: Insights from social cognition
Authors: Quinn Kimberly A. , Macrae C. Neil
Published: May 2011

Social‐cognitive investigations of face perception have tended to be motivated by different goals than cognitive and neuropsychological studies—namely, to understand the dynamics of social categorization rather than identity recognition—and the result has been a lack of cross‐pollination of insights and ideas between the disciplines. We review the evidence from social cognition, with an eye to discussing how this work aligns with the Bruce and Young (1986) model of face recognition. Acknowledging the invaluable impact the model has exerted on our understanding of face recognition, we suggest that considering the bottom‐up constraints of visual processing and the top‐down influences of semantic knowledge will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of face perception.
Activation of κ opioid receptors increases intrinsic excitability of dentate gyrus granule cells
Authors: McDermott Carmel M. , Schrader Laura A.
Published: May 2011

Non‐technical summary  The hippocampus is an area of the brain that is important for learning and memory and a locus for hyperexcitable activity, such as epilepsy. The dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus controls information flow into the rest of the hippocampus, and thus provides protection from excess activity. Under pathological conditions, such as epilepsy, this protective feature is circumvented and uninhibited activity flows throughout the hippocampus. Activation of kappa (κ) opioid receptors (KORs) prevents both the behavioural and electroencephalographic measures of seizures in several models of epilepsy, and other complex behaviours such as stress‐induced deficits in learning. Understanding the cellular effect of KOR activation is critical to our understanding of DG function. In this study we show that, contrary to our hypothesis, activation of the KORs increases excitability of the DG cells. These results suggest that regulation of activity in the DG by activation of KORs is more complex than previously thought.
Influence of surface topography on in situ reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy plasmon spectra of AlN, GaN, and InN semiconductors
Authors: Strawbridge B. , Cernetic N. , Chapley J. , Singh R. K. , Mahajan S. , Newman N.
Published: May 2011

This study of III-N semiconductor surfaces demonstrates that concurrent application of in situ reflection high energy electron diffraction and glancing-angle reflection electron energy loss spectroscopy (REELS) can be used during reactive molecular beam epitaxy to provide a surface sensitive, real-time determination of the surface texture and film composition. REELS spectra of rough AlN, GaN, and InN surfaces are dominated by bulk plasmons. Nearly atomically smooth topographies are found to shift the energy of the maximum of the plasmon loss peak to lower values, presumably as a result of the additional contributions from the surface plasmons. This shift to lower energies correlates well with the fraction of the topmost surface, which lies within a few degrees from the sample surface plane.
Plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition of SiNx:H and SiO2
Authors: King Sean W.
Published: May 2011

As the nanoelectronics industry looks to transition to both three dimensional transistor and interconnect technologies at the <22 nm node, highly conformal dielectric coatings with precise thickness control are increasingly being demanded. Plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) currently fills this role for most applications requiring low temperature processing but does not always meet step coverage and thickness precision requirements. The authors present results for a hybrid technique, plasma enhanced atomic layer deposition (PEALD), which utilizes typical PECVD process gases and tooling while delivering improved topography coverage and thickness control. Specifically, the authors show that alternating SiH4 gas/N2 plasma exposures applied in an atomic layer deposition sequence can be used to deposit SiNx:H films in a self-limiting fashion with improved conformality and superior performance as a moisture barrier. PEALD of SiO2 using alternating SiH4 and CO2 plasma exposures is further demonstrated.
Surfaces of mixed formulation solder alloys at melting
Authors: Bozack M. J. , Suhling J. C. , Zhang Y. , Cai Z. , Lall P.
Published: May 2011

Mixed formulation solder alloys refer to specific combinations of Sn-37Pb and SAC305 (96.5Sn–3.0Ag–0.5Cu). They present a solution for the interim period before Pb-free electronic assemblies are universally accepted. In this work, the surfaces of mixed formulation solder alloys have been studied by in situ and real-time Auger electron spectroscopy as a function of temperature as the alloys are raised above the melting point. With increasing temperature, there is a growing fraction of low-level, bulk contaminants that segregate to the alloy surfaces. In particular, the amount of surface C is nearly ∼50–60 at. % C at the melting point. The segregating impurities inhibit solderability by providing a blocking layer to reaction between the alloy and substrate. A similar phenomenon has been observed over a wide range of (SAC and non-SAC) alloys synthesized by a variety of techniques. That solder alloy surfaces at melting have a radically different composition from the bulk uncovers a key variable that helps to explain the wide variability in contact angles reported in previous studies of wetting and adhesion.
Unraveling p53 Dynamics
Authors: Adler Elizabeth M.
Published: May 2011

Different DNA-damaging stimuli can lead to different p53 dynamics that can be explained by features of the underlying networks.
Prepatterned Progenitors
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: May 2011

Distinct histone modifications influence the liver-versus-pancreas fate choice of endodermal cells.
Correlation of Daptomycin Resistance in a Clinical
Staphylococcus aureus
Strain with Increased Cell Wall Teichoic Acid Production and
d
-Alanylation
Authors: Bertsche Ute , Weidenmaier Christopher , Kuehner Daniel , Yang Soo-Jin , Baur Stefanie , Wanner Stefanie , Francois Patrice , Schrenzel Jacques , Yeaman Michael R. , Bayer Arnold S.
Published: May 2011

Cell wall thickening is a common feature among daptomycin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
strains. However, the mechanism(s) leading to this phenotype is unknown. We examined a number of cell wall synthesis pathway parameters in an isogenic strain set of
S. aureus
bloodstream isolates obtained from a patient with recalcitrant endocarditis who failed daptomycin therapy, including the initial daptomycin-susceptible parental strain (strain 616) and two daptomycin-resistant strains (strains 701 and 703) isolated during daptomycin therapy. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated significantly thicker cell walls in the daptomycin-resistant strains than in the daptomycin-susceptible strain, a finding which was compatible with significant differences in dry cell weight of strain 616 versus strains 701 to 703 (
P
< 0.05). Results of detailed analysis of cell wall muropeptide composition, the degree of peptide side chain cross-linkage, and the amount of the peptidoglycan precursor, UDP-MurNAc-pentapeptide, were similar in the daptomycin-susceptible and daptomycin-resistant isolates. In contrast, the daptomycin-resistant strains contained less O-acetylated peptidoglycan. Importantly, both daptomycin-resistant strains synthesized significantly more wall teichoic acid (WTA) than the parental strain (
P
< 0.001). Moreover, the proportion of
d
-alanylated WTA species was substantially higher in the daptomycin-resistant strains than in the daptomycin-susceptible parental strain (
P
< 0.05 in comparing strain 616 versus strain 701). The latter phenotypic findings correlated with (i) enhanced
tagA
and
dltA
gene expression, respectively, and (ii) an increase in surface positive charge observed in the daptomycin-resistant versus daptomycin-susceptible isolates. Collectively, these data suggest that increases in WTA synthesis and the degree of its
d
-alanylation may play a major role in the daptomycin-resistant phenotype in some
S. aureus
strains.
A Novel Sensor Kinase Is Required for Bordetella bronchiseptica To Colonize the Lower Respiratory Tract
Authors: Kaut Callan S. , Duncan Mark D. , Kim Ji Yei , Maclaren Joshua J. , Cochran Keith T. , Julio Steven M.
Published: May 2011

Bacterial virulence is influenced by the activity of two-component regulator systems (TCSs), which consist of membrane-bound sensor kinases that allow bacteria to sense the external environment and cytoplasmic, DNA-binding response regulator proteins that control appropriate gene expression. Respiratory pathogens of the
Bordetella
genus require the well-studied TCS BvgAS to control the expression of many genes required for colonization of the mammalian respiratory tract. Here we describe the identification of a novel gene in
Bordetella bronchiseptica
,
plrS
, the product of which shares sequence homology to several NtrY-family sensor kinases and is required for
B. bronchiseptica
to colonize and persist in the lower, but not upper, respiratory tract in rats and mice. The
plrS
gene is located immediately 5′ to and presumably cotranscribed with a gene encoding a putative response regulator, supporting the idea that PlrS and the product of the downstream gene may compose a TCS. Consistent with this hypothesis, the PlrS-dependent colonization phenotype requires a conserved histidine that serves as the site of autophosphorylation in other sensor kinases, and in strains lacking
plrS
, the production and/or cellular localization of several immune-recognized proteins is altered in comparison to that in the wild-type strain. Because
plrS
is required for colonization and persistence only in the lower respiratory tract, a site where innate and adaptive immune mechanisms actively target infectious agents, we hypothesize that its role may be to allow
Bordetella
to resist the host immune response.
Biochemical and Localization Analyses of Putative Type III Secretion Translocator Proteins CopB and CopB2 of Chlamydia trachomatis Reveal Significant Distinctions
Authors: Chellas-Géry B. , Wolf K. , Tisoncik J. , Hackstadt T. , Fields K. A.
Published: May 2011

Chlamydia
spp. are among the many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria that employ a type III secretion system (T3SS) to overcome host defenses and exploit available resources. Significant progress has been made in elucidating contributions of T3S to the pathogenesis of these medically important, obligate intracellular parasites, yet important questions remain. Chief among these is how secreted effector proteins traverse eukaryotic membranes to gain access to the host cytosol. Due to a complex developmental cycle, it is possible that chlamydiae utilize a different complement of proteins to accomplish translocation at different stages of development. We investigated this possibility by extending the characterization of
C. trachomatis
CopB and CopB2. CopB is detected early during infection but is depleted and not detected again until about 20 h postinfection. In contrast, CopB2 was detectible throughout development. CopB is associated with the inclusion membrane. Biochemical and ectopic expression analyses were consistent with peripheral association of CopB2 with inclusion membranes. This interaction correlated with development and required both chlamydial
de novo
protein synthesis and T3SS activity. Collectively, our data indicate that it is unlikely that CopB serves as the sole chlamydial translocation pore and that CopB2 is capable of association with the inclusion membrane.
The Hybrid Histidine Kinase Hk1 Is Part of a Two-Component System That Is Essential for Survival of Borrelia burgdorferi in Feeding Ixodes scapularis Ticks
Authors: Caimano Melissa J. , Kenedy Melisha R. , Kairu Toru , Desrosiers Daniel C. , Harman Michael , Dunham-Ems Star , Akins Darrin R. , Pal Utpal , Radolf Justin D.
Published: May 2011

Two-component systems (TCS) are principal mechanisms by which bacteria adapt to their surroundings.
Borrelia burgdorferi
encodes only two TCS. One is comprised of a histidine kinase, Hk2, and the response regulator Rrp2. While the contribution of Hk2 remains unclear, Rrp2 is part of a regulatory pathway involving the spirochete's alternate sigma factors, RpoN and RpoS. Genes within the Rrp2/RpoN/RpoS regulon function to promote tick transmission and early infection. The other TCS consists of a hybrid histidine kinase, Hk1, and the response regulator Rrp1. Hk1 is composed of two periplasmic sensor domains (D1 and D2), followed by conserved cytoplasmic histidine kinase core, REC, and Hpt domains. In addition to its REC domain, Rrp1 contains a GGDEF motif characteristic of diguanylate cyclases. To investigate the role of Hk1 during the enzootic cycle, we inactivated this gene in two virulent backgrounds. Extensive characterization of the resulting mutants revealed a dramatic phenotype whereby Hk1-deficient spirochetes are virulent in mice and able to migrate out of the bite site during feeding but are killed within the midgut following acquisition. We hypothesize that the phosphorelay between Hk1 and Rrp1 is initiated by the binding of feeding-specific ligand(s) to Hk1 sensor domain D1 and/or D2. Once activated, Rrp1 directs the synthesis of cyclic dimeric GMP (c-di-GMP), which, in turn, modulates the expression and/or activity of gene products required for survival within feeding ticks. In contrast to the Rrp2/RpoN/RpoS pathway, which is active only within feeding nymphs, the Hk1/Rrp1 TCS is essential for survival during both larval and nymphal blood meals.
Gain in Student Understanding of the Role of Random Variation in Evolution Following Teaching Intervention Based on Luria-Delbruck Experiment
Authors: Robson Rachel L. , Burns Susan
Published: May 2011

Undergraduate students in introductory biology classes are typically saddled with pre-existing popular beliefs that impede their ability to learn about biological evolution. One of the most common misconceptions about evolution is that the environment causes advantageous mutations, rather than the correct view that mutations occur randomly and the environment only selects for mutants with advantageous traits. In this study, a significant gain in student understanding of the role of randomness in evolution was observed after students participated in an inquiry-based pedagogical intervention based on the Luria-Delbruck experiment. Questionnaires with isomorphic questions regarding environmental selection among random mutants were administered to study participants (N = 82) in five separate sections of a sophomore-level microbiology class before and after the teaching intervention. Demographic data on each participant was also collected, in a way that preserved anonymity. Repeated measures analysis showed that post-test scores were significantly higher than pre-test scores with regard to the questions about evolution (F(1, 77) = 25.913,
p
< 0.001). Participants’ pre-existing beliefs about evolution had no significant effect on gain in understanding of this concept. This study indicates that conducting and discussing an experiment about phage resistance in
E. coli
may improve student understanding of the role of stochastic events in evolution more broadly, as post-test answers showed that students were able to apply the lesson of the Luria-Delbruck experiment to other organisms subjected to other kinds of selection.
A Review of
Transformations, Approaches to College Science Teaching
Transformations, Approaches to College Science Teaching;	AllenDeborahTannerKimberly D; (	2009).	W. H. Freeman and Company,	San Francisco, CA.	284 pages.
Authors: Franklin Patricia
Published: May 2011

Review of:
Transformations, Approaches to College Science Teaching;
Deborah Allen and Kimberly D. Tanner; (2009). W. H. Freeman and Company, San Francisco, CA. 284 pages.
The development, feasibility and acceptability of a school-based obesity prevention programme: results from three phases of piloting
Authors: Wyatt Katrina M , Lloyd Jennifer J , Creanor Siobhan , Logan Stuart
Published: May 2011

Objectives

To develop a school-based obesity prevention programme and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention and the planned definitive cluster randomised trial.

Design

This was a three stage pilot involving six schools (398 children) in South West England, including an exploratory randomised controlled trial and qualitative interviews and focus groups with teachers, parents and children.

Intervention

The Healthy Lifestyle Programme uses a range of school-based activities including lessons, assemblies, parents' evenings, interactive drama workshops and goal setting to engage schools, children and their families.

Results

Of the 398 eligible children in the three pilot phases, only four opted out and a further three withdrew from the exploratory trial. In the exploratory trial, baseline measurements (anthropometric and behavioural) were obtained for 202/204 eligible children in four schools and both 18- and 24-month outcome measurements for 193/204 and 187/204 participants, respectively. Qualitative data show that delivery of the intervention is feasible within schools and acceptable to teachers, children and families. In the exploratory trial, 18/80 children (24%) in the intervention schools and 31/122 (26%) in the control schools were overweight or obese at baseline, increasing, at 18-month follow-up, to 38/119 (32%) in the control schools compared with 18/74 (24%) in the intervention schools. At 24 months the proportion of overweight and obese children in the control schools remained at 32% (36/114), whereas the proportion in the intervention schools decreased slightly to 22% (16/73).

Conclusion

The Healthy Lifestyle Programme is feasible to deliver and acceptable to schools, children and their families. We recruited, retained and obtained outcome measurements from 92% of eligible children in the exploratory trial, including measurements taken after transition to secondary school, suggesting that a definitive trial is likely to be deliverable.
Bicycle helmet wearing and the risk of head, face, and neck injury: a French case–control study based on a road trauma registry
Authors: Amoros Emmanuelle , Chiron Mireille , Martin Jean-Louis , Thélot Bertrand , Laumon Bernard
Published: May 2011

Background

Previous case–control studies on bicycle helmet efficacy are mostly Anglo-Saxon, and based on data from the early 1990s when hard-shell helmets were common.

Methods

In France, the Rhône county (1.6 million inhabitants) is covered by a road trauma registry that includes emergency department visits, hospital admissions, and fatalities. Over the 1998–2008 period, 13 797 cyclist casualties were identified. The injuries sustained were coded using the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) for injuries to the head (AIS1+ and AIS3+), face (AIS1+), or neck (AIS1+). The study uses a case–control design where the control group includes cyclists injured below the neck—that is, not injured in the region associated with the helmet. We first adjusted for age, gender, and type of crash, as in a previously published Cochrane review. Then we adjusted for injury severity based on non-head, face, or neck injury, and when relevant, for crash location: type of road, urban/rural area.

Results

The fully adjusted ORs of helmeted versus unhelmeted cyclists are: for AIS1+ head injuries, 0.69 (95% CI 0.59 to 0.81); for AIS3+ head injuries sustained in urban areas, 0.34 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.65), those sustained in rural areas, 0.07 (95% CI 0.02 to 0.23); for AIS1+ facial injuries, 0.72 (95% CI 0.62 to 0.83); and for AIS1+ neck injuries, 1.18 (95% CI 0.94 to 1.47).

Conclusion

This study confirms the protective effect for head and facial injuries, even though soft-shell helmets have now become more common. The reduction of risk is greater for serious head injuries. The study is inconclusive about the risk for neck injuries.
Oral glucose tolerance testing outcomes among women at high risk for gestational diabetes mellitus
Authors: Kuti Modupe Akinrele , Abbiyesuku Fayeofori Mpakabaori , Akinlade Kehinde Simeon , Akinosun Olubayo Michael , Adedapo Kayode Solomon , Adeleye Jokotade Oluremilekun , Adesina Olubukola Adeponle
Published: May 2011

Aims

This study aimed to determine the prevalence and relationships with known risk factors of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods

Records of all women referred for oral glucose tolerance testing at the metabolic research unit of the Hospital over a 2 year period were reviewed. Diagnosis of GDM was made in accordance with WHO criteria. GDM diagnosis was classified as early and late based on a gestational age <24 weeks and >24 weeks respectively. Body mass index (BMI) measurements were performed for women who presented in the first trimester. Various statistical tools including student t test and Pearson's coefficient of correlation were used.

Results

A total of 765 records were reviewed. The crude prevalence rate was 13.9%. The prevalence rate among women in the first trimester was highest at 17.4% although most of the diagnoses were made in the third trimester (55.7%). A positive family history and a family history of GDM were associated significantly with a higher fasting and 2 h post-load glucose values, irrespective of current GDM diagnosis. The most consistent associations with a diagnosis of GDM were a positive family history and a history of GDM. Age above 30 years at oral glucose testing also showed significant association. There was no BMI threshold associated with a significant risk of GDM for those women presenting in the first trimester.

Conclusions

GDM is a common metabolic condition in Nigeria. Onset before the 24th week of pregnancy is not uncommon.
PROOF OF SYNCHRONIZED CHAOTIC BEHAVIORS IN COUPLED MAP LATTICES
Authors: LIN WEN-WEI , WANG YI-QIAN
Published: May 2011

In this paper, we consider chaotic synchronization in coupled map lattices (CMLs) with periodic boundary conditions. We give a rigorous proof of the occurrence of synchronization for 1D such CMLs with lattice size n = 5 for suitable parameters in the chaotic regime by Lyapunov method.
BIFURCATION MECHANISMS OF ELECTRICAL BURSTING WITH DIFFERENT-TIME-SCALE SLOW VARIABLES
Authors: YANG ZHUOQIN , LU QISHAO
Published: May 2011

A compositive pancreatic β-cells model is developed by focusing on two important slow negative feedback mechanisms, where three slow processes Css, Cerand a with different time scales can interact to drive fast, medium and slow electrical bursting typically observed in pancreatic β-cells. We found that diverse patterns of electrical bursting with shapes varying from only waves to the coexistence of waves and spikes to only spikes, which are robust to fast, medium and slow oscillation periods. Therefore, dynamic bifurcation mechanisms of these bursting patterns could be surveyed by fast/slow analysis of only fast bursting. Here, the faster slow variable Cssis regarded as a bifurcation parameter and Cerhas no effect on the fast subsystem, while the slower variable a is nearly constant. In the light of all bifurcations associated with bursting, three topological types of bursting are attained, that is, "fold/fold" point–point hysteresis loop bursting, "fold/Hopf" bursting via the "fold/fold" hysteresis loop and "fold/homoclinic" bursting via the "fold/homoclinic" hysteresis loop.
ON THIRD-ORDER NILPOTENT CRITICAL POINTS: INTEGRAL FACTOR METHOD
Authors: LIU YIRONG , LI JIBIN
Published: May 2011

For third-order nilpotent critical points of a planar dynamical system, the problem of characterizing its center and focus is completely solved in this article by using the integral factor method. The associated quasi-Lyapunov constants are defined and their computation method is given. For a class of cubic systems under small perturbations, it is proved that there exist eight small-amplitude limit cycles created from a nilpotent critical point.
CONTROL OF SPIRAL WAVE BREAKUP BY SPATIOTEMPORAL MODULATION
Authors: QIAN YU , MI YUANYUAN , HUANG XIAODONG
Published: May 2011

The control of spiral wave breakup due to Doppler instability has been investigated. It is found that by applying the spatiotemporal modulation method with suitable control parameters, spiral wave breakup can be prevented. Further numerical simulations show that preventing spiral wave breakup is a result of the decrease of meandering motion of the spiral tip.
DYNAMICAL BEHAVIOR OF q-DEFORMED HENON MAP
Authors: PATIDAR VINOD , PUROHIT G. , SUD K. K.
Published: May 2011

A recent proposal of q-deformation scheme for the nonlinear maps has stimulated new directions in the studies of various nonlinear dynamical systems. Such studies are advantageous in the analytical modeling of several nonlinear physical phenomena which cannot be perfectly represented by the standard or canonical models. This paper attempts to numerically analyze the behavior of q-deformed version of Henon map, which is one of the prototypical models exhibiting strange chaotic attractor. We particularly investigate the effect of q-deformation on the various kinds of long-term asymptotic dynamics of the canonical Henon map and also characterize the complete deformation parameter space into different regions corresponding to the periodic and strange chaotic motions. We also identify the route to chaos and new structures in the chaotic strange attractor of q-deformed Henon map.
EXACT HETEROCLINIC CYCLE FAMILY AND QUASI-PERIODIC SOLUTIONS FOR THE THREE-DIMENSIONAL SYSTEMS DETERMINED BY CHAZY CLASS IX
Authors: LI JIBIN , ZHAO XIAOHUA
Published: May 2011

For differential equation in the Chazy class IX, their corresponding three-dimensional system is studied in this paper by using dynamical system methods and Cosgrove's results. In a level set, the exact explicit parametric representations of a heteroclinic cycle family and uncountably infinitely many periodic solutions as well as quasi-periodic solutions, are all obtained.
THE ROLE OF DYNAMIC CAPABILITIES IN DEVELOPING INNOVATION-RELATED CAPABILITIES
Authors: ELLONEN HANNA-KAISA , JANTUNEN ARI , KUIVALAINEN OLLI
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this study is to explore the role dynamic capabilities have in the development of innovation-related operational capabilities. As dynamic capabilities by nature are processes and practices that advocate change, we aim to uncover the actual practices through which change strategies are implemented. Our research includes a single case study from the publishing industry. Building on a data set of interviews and secondary data we track down the development of the capabilities over the time period of five years. The results of the study imply that dynamic capabilities act as a catalyst and spark off the mechanisms of operational capability development. Our study demonstrates how different types of dynamic capabilities (sensing, seizing and reconfiguring) all have an impact of the development of market and technological capabilities.
VIEW AND MANAGEMENT OF INNOVATIVENESS UPON SUCCESSION IN FAMILY-OWNED SMEs
Authors: GRUNDSTRÖM CHRISTINA , ÖBERG CHRISTINA , Rönnbäck Anna Öhrwall
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into how the successors of family-owned manufacturing SMEs view and manage innovativeness. Research into company takeovers mainly focuses on large companies and little is known about innovativeness in research on family-owned businesses, often SMEs. This paper presents findings from ten company successions, five of which describe family successions and five external ones. The paper points to that there is little difference in how various types of successor view and manage innovativeness. A successor is chosen with care and this also influences the view and management of innovativeness; other criteria seem to apply in the succession and radical changes can only be introduced if a number of contextual factors are managed properly. The paper also indicates that while financial constraints may limit innovations, a strong financial situation is not an antecedent for innovativeness.
EXPLORING OPEN SEARCH STRATEGIES AND THEIR PERCEIVED IMPACT ON INNOVATION PERFORMANCE—EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
Authors: HENTTONEN KAISA , RITALA PAAVO , JAUHIAINEN TIINA
Published: May 2011

Given Chesbrough's idea of open innovation, it could be said that external knowledge is an important element in the optimisation of in-house innovation. External knowledge is distributed among various actors and is accessible through many channels. However, we still do not know much about the search strategies that affect innovation performance. Our study therefore explores the relationship between open knowledge search strategies and company-level innovative performance. This study examines the open search strategies of 193 firms on the basis of cross-sectional data from Finnish markets. We identified four specific strategies, namely (1) market-driven, (2) science-driven, (3) intermediary-driven and (4) generic-knowledge-driven. According to the results, all except intermediary-driven strategies positively affect innovation performance.
HOW SENSITIVE ARE US HURRICANE DAMAGES TO CLIMATE? COMMENT ON A PAPER BY W. D. NORDHAUS
Authors: BOUWER LAURENS M. , WOUTER BOTZEN W. J.
Published: May 2011

An article by William D. Nordhaus (2010) in this journal examined the economic impacts by hurricanes in the USA, and the potential impacts of climate change on future hurricane damages. His analyses show that hurricane damages normalized over time for changes in GDP have increased significantly since the year 1900, at a rate of about 3.1% per year. Moreover, the results of Nordhaus show that hurricane damages increase with the ninth power of maximum wind speed, which is considerably higher than findings of other studies. We perform similar statistical analyses with different data series of hurricane damage, which are more accurately corrected for changes in exposure of assets over time. Our results do not indicate an upward trend in hurricane losses since 1900, which is in line with earlier studies, and indicates that climate change has not increased hurricane damage in the past. Moreover, although the relation between damage and maximum wind speed appears to be considerably higher than assumed by other studies, this elasticity is more likely to be the eighth-power of maximum wind speed. This finding is relevant since it implies that future climate change impacts on hurricane damage may be considerably lower than Nordhaus indicates.
THE COPENHAGEN ACCORD/CANCÚN AGREEMENTS EMISSION PLEDGES FOR 2020: EXPLORING ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
Authors: DELLINK ROB , BRINER GREGORY , CLAPP CHRISTA
Published: May 2011

Many countries have pledged targets or actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; these have been listed in the Appendices to the Copenhagen Accord and, at the time of writing, are being transferred to the UNFCCC Cancún Agreements. This analysis examines the costs and effectiveness of these pledges, as well as the potential for fiscal revenue, using a computable general equilibrium model. The results show that while the pledges are an important and welcome start to a global solution, they are not ambitious enough for a pathway to limit average global temperature increase to below 2°C. This paper estimates the costs of action at around 0.3% of GDP for both Annex I and non-Annex I countries and 0.5–0.6% of global real income. Furthermore, the fiscal revenue potential can exceed 1% of GDP for the Annex I countries if market-based instruments are used. Sensitivity analysis shows that allowing more offsets can reduce the costs of actions substantially, as can direct linking of carbon markets across Annex I countries.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND FUTURE LAND USE IN THE UNITED STATES: AN ECONOMIC APPROACH
Authors: HAIM DAVID , ALIG RALPH J. , PLANTINGA ANDREW J. , SOHNGEN BRENT
Published: May 2011

An econometric land-use model is used to project regional and national land-use changes in the United States under two IPCC emissions scenarios. The key driver of land-use change in the model is county-level measures of net returns to five major land uses. The net returns are modified for the IPCC scenarios according to assumed trends in population and income and projections from integrated assessment models of agricultural prices and agricultural and forestry yields. For both scenarios, we project large increases in urban land by the middle of the century, while the largest declines are in cropland area. Significant differences among regions in the projected patterns of land-use change are evident, including an expansion of forests in the Mountain and Plains regions with declines elsewhere. Comparisons to projections with no climate change effects on prices and yields reveal relatively small differences. Thus, our findings suggest that future land-use patterns in the U.S. will be shaped largely by urbanization, with climate change having a relatively small influence.
Decoupled sampling for graphics pipelines
Authors: Ragan-Kelley Jonathan , Lehtinen Jaakko , Chen Jiawen , Doggett Michael , Durand Frédo
Published: May 2011

We propose a generalized approach to decoupling shading from visibility sampling in graphics pipelines, which we call
decoupled sampling
. Decoupled sampling enables stochastic supersampling of motion and defocus blur at reduced shading cost, as well as controllable or adaptive shading rates which trade off shading quality for performance. It can be thought of as a generalization of multisample antialiasing (MSAA) to support complex and dynamic mappings from visibility to shading samples, as introduced by motion and defocus blur and adaptive shading. It works by defining a many-to-one hash from visibility to shading samples, and using a buffer to memoize shading samples and exploit reuse across visibility samples. Decoupled sampling is inspired by the Reyes rendering architecture, but like traditional graphics pipelines, it shades
fragments
rather than micropolygon vertices, decoupling shading from the geometry sampling rate. Also unlike Reyes, decoupled sampling only shades fragments after precise computation of visibility, reducing overshading.

We present extensions of two modern graphics pipelines to support decoupled sampling: a GPU-style sort-last fragment architecture, and a Larrabee-style sort-middle pipeline. We study the architectural implications of decoupled sampling and blur, and derive end-to-end performance estimates on real applications through an instrumented functional simulator. We demonstrate high-quality motion and defocus blur, as well as variable and adaptive shading rates.
Physically valid statistical models for human motion generation
Authors: Wei Xiaolin , Min Jianyuan , Chai Jinxiang
Published: May 2011

This article shows how statistical motion priors can be combined seamlessly with physical constraints for human motion modeling and generation. The key idea of the approach is to learn a nonlinear probabilistic force field function from prerecorded motion data with Gaussian processes and combine it with physical constraints in a probabilistic framework. In addition, we show how to effectively utilize the new model to generate a wide range of natural-looking motions that achieve the goals specified by users. Unlike previous statistical motion models, our model can generate physically realistic animations that react to external forces or changes in physical quantities of human bodies and interaction environments. We have evaluated the performance of our system by comparing against ground-truth motion data and alternative methods.
β-Adrenergic Receptor-Stimulated Cardiac Myocyte Apoptosis: Role of β1 Integrins
Authors: Amin Parthiv , Singh Mahipal , Singh Krishna
Published: May 2011

Increased sympathetic nerve activity to the myocardium is a central feature in patients with heart failure. Accumulation of catecholamines plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart disease. Acting via β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR), catecholamines (norepinephrine and isoproterenol) increase cardiac myocyte apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Specifically, β1-AR and β2-AR coupled to Gαs exert a proapoptotic action, while β2-AR coupled to Gi exerts an antiapoptotic action. β1 integrin signaling protects cardiac myocytes against β-AR-stimulated apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Interaction of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) with β1 integrins interferes with the survival signals initiated by β1 integrins. This paper will discuss background information on β-AR and integrin signaling and summarize the role of β1 integrins in β-AR-stimulated cardiac myocyte apoptosis.
X-Ray Computed Tomography: Semiautomated Volumetric Analysis of Late-Stage Lung Tumors as a Basis for Response Assessments
Authors: Bendtsen C. , Kietzmann M. , Korn R. , Mozley P. D. , Schmidt G. , Binnig G.
Published: May 2011

Background. This study presents a semiautomated approach for volumetric analysis of lung tumors and evaluates the feasibility of using volumes as an alternative to line lengths as a basis for response evaluation criteria in solid tumors (RECIST). The overall goal for the implementation was to accurately, precisely, and efficiently enable the analyses of lesions in the lung under the guidance of an operator.Methods. An anthropomorphic phantom with embedded model masses and 71 time points in 10 clinical cases with advanced lung cancer was analyzed using a semi-automated workflow. The implementation was done using the Cognition Network Technology.Results. Analysis of the phantom showed an average accuracy of 97%. The analyses of the clinical cases showed both intra- and interreader variabilities of approximately 5% on average with an upper 95% confidence interval of 14% and 19%, respectively. Compared to line lengths, the use of volumes clearly shows enhanced sensitivity with respect to determining response to therapy.Conclusions. It is feasible to perform volumetric analysis efficiently with high accuracy and low variability, even in patients with late-stage cancer who have complex lesions.
Theoretical and Experimental Understanding of the Anomalous Odd-to-Even Isotope Ratios of Tin in a 1 + 1 Single-Colour Resonance Ionization Mass Spectrometry: Revisited
Authors: Sankari Manda
Published: May 2011

Differences in the odd to even response for tin isotopes has been observed earlier in resonance ionization experiments, resulting in anomalous odd to even isotope ratios. I have used a theoretical approach known as the spectral simulation approach to understand the cause for such anomaly and the anomaly has also been experimentally verified and found to be in good agreement. The effects of laser parameters such as intensity, accuracy of the excitation laser wavelength and bandwidth on the determination of the tin isotope ratio have been analyzed theoretically and experimentally. The source for such anomalies was found to be the inaccuracy in the excitation laser wavelength. For the 5p2(3P0) 5p 6s () (286.3317 nm) transition, an inaccuracy of the order of in the peak frequency of the excitation laser ( GHz) can cause anomalies as large as 31% (). Use of a very large bandwidth laser (60 GHz) reduces the anomaly to as small as . Alternatively by employing a relatively narrow band laser (1.2 GHz), it has been observed that inaccuracy of the order of 3-4 in the laser peak frequency does not induce anomalies >0.05. The isotope ratio is sensitive to the inaccuracy in the excitation laser wavelength for an intermediate linewidth laser.
Mycobacterium bovisBacille Calmette-Guérin as a Vaccine Vector for Global Infectious Disease Control
Authors: Matsuo Kazuhiro , Yasutomi Yasuhiro
Published: May 2011

Mycobacterium bovisbacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the only available vaccine for tuberculosis (TB). Although this vaccine is effective in controlling infantile TB, BCG-induced protective effects against pulmonary diseases in adults have not been clearly demonstrated. Recombinant BCG (rBCG) technology has been extensively applied to obtain more potent immunogenicity of this vaccine, and several candidate TB vaccines have currently reached human clinical trials. On the other hand, recent progress in the improvement of the BCG vector, such as the codon optimization strategy and combination with viral vector boost, allows us to utilize this bacterium in HIV vaccine development. In this paper, we review recent progress in rBCG-based vaccine studies that may have implications in the development of novel vaccines for controlling global infectious diseases in the near future.
Blood Glucose Prediction Using Artificial Neural Networks Trained with the AIDA Diabetes Simulator: A Proof-of-Concept Pilot Study
Authors: Robertson Gavin , Lehmann Eldon D. , Sandham William , Hamilton David
Published: May 2011

Diabetes mellitus is a major, and increasing, global problem. However, it has been shown that, through good management of blood glucose levels (BGLs), the associated and costly complications can be reduced significantly. In this pilot study, Elman recurrent artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to make BGL predictions based on a history of BGLs, meal intake, and insulin injections. Twenty-eight datasets (from a single case scenario) were compiled from the freeware mathematical diabetes simulator, AIDA. It was found that the most accurate predictions were made during the nocturnal period of the 24 hour daily cycle. The accuracy of the nocturnal predictions was measured as the root mean square error over five test days (RMSE5 day) not used during ANN training. For BGL predictions of up to 1 hour aRMSE5 dayof (±SD)0.15±0.04 mmol/L was observed. For BGL predictions up to 10 hours, aRMSE5  dayof (±SD)0.14±0.16 mmol/L was observed. Future research will investigate a wider range of AIDA case scenarios, real-patient data, and data relating to other factors influencing BGLs. ANN paradigms based on real-time recurrent learning will also be explored to accommodate dynamic physiology in diabetes.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Genetic Polymorphism and Risk of Asbestosis
Authors: Franko Alenka , Dodič-Fikfak Metoda , Arnerić Niko , Dolžan Vita
Published: May 2011

Asbestos, a known occupational pollutant, may upregulate the activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and thus the production of nitric oxide (NO). This study investigated whether iNOS (CCTTT)n polymorphism is associated with an increased asbestosis risk in exposed workers.
The study cohort consisted of 262 cases with asbestosis and 265 controls with no asbestos‐related disease. For each subject the cumulative asbestos exposure data were available. The number of CCTTT repeats was determined following PCR amplification of the iNOS promoter region. Logistic regression was performed to estimate asbestosis risk.
The OR of asbestosis was 1.20 (95%  CI = 0.85–1.69) for the LL genotype compared to the combined SL and SS genotypes and 1.26 (95%   CI = 0.86–1.85) for the LL genotype compared to the SL genotype.
The results of this study are borderline significant and suggest a possible role of iNOS (CCTTT)n polymorphism in the risk of asbestosis; however, further studies are needed.
Cryptococcus neoformansas a Model for Radioimmunotherapy of Infections
Authors: Dadachova Ekaterina , Casadevall Arturo
Published: May 2011

There is an obvious and urgent need for novel approaches to treat infectious diseases. The use of monoclonal antibodies in therapy of infectious diseases is now experiencing renewed interest. During the last 5 years radioimmunotherapy (RIT), a modality previously developed only for cancer treatment, has been successfully adapted for the treatment of experimental fungal, bacterial, and viral infections. As our model organism for studying the efficacy, mechanisms, potential toxicity, and radioresistance to RIT, as well as for comparison of RIT with the existing antimicrobial therapies we have chosen the encapsulated yeastCryptococcus neoformans(CN). The success of RIT approach in laboratory studies provides encouragement for feasibility of therapeutically targeting microbes with labeled antibodies. In addition, the creation of “panantibodies” for RIT which would recognize antigens shared by the whole class of pathogens such as fungi, for example, would facilitate the introduction of RIT into the clinic.
Fundamental Domains of Gamma and Zeta Functions
Authors: Cazacu Cabiria Andreian , Ghisa Dorin
Published: May 2011

Branched covering Riemann surfaces (ℂ, f) are studied, where f is the Euler Gamma function and the Riemann Zeta function. For both of them fundamental domains are found and the group of cover transformations is revealed. In order to find fundamental domains, preimages of the real axis are taken and a thorough study of their geometry is performed. The technique of simultaneous continuation, introduced by the authors in previous papers, is used for this purpose. Color visualization of the conformal mapping of the complex plane by these functions is used for a better understanding of the theory. A version of this paper containing colored images can be found in arXiv at Andrian Cazacu and Ghisa.
PTEN Is a Major Tumor Suppressor in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Regulates an NF-κB–Cytokine Network
Authors: Ying Haoqiang , Elpek Kutlu G. , Vinjamoori Anant , Zimmerman Stephanie M. , Chu Gerald C. , Yan Haiyan , Fletcher-Sananikone Eliot , Zhang Hailei , Liu Yingchun , Wang Wei , Ren Xiaojia , Zheng Hongwu , Kimmelman Alec C. , Paik Ji-hye , Lim Carol , Perry Samuel R. , Jiang Shan , Malinn Brian , Protopopov Alexei , Colla Simona , Xiao Yonghong , Hezel Aram F. , Bardeesy Nabeel , Turley Shannon J. , Wang Y. Alan , Chin Lynda , Thayer Sarah P. , DePinho Ronald A.
Published: May 2011

Initiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is driven by oncogenic KRAS mutation, and disease progression is associated with frequent loss of tumor suppressors. In this study, human PDAC genome analyses revealed frequent deletion of the PTEN gene as well as loss of expression in primary tumor specimens. A potential role for PTEN as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor is further supported by mouse genetic studies. The mouse PDAC driven by oncogenic Kras mutation and Pten deficiency also sustains spontaneous extinction of Ink4a expression and shows prometastatic capacity. Unbiased transcriptomic analyses established that combined oncogenic Kras and Pten loss promotes marked NF-κB activation and its cytokine network, with accompanying robust stromal activation and immune cell infiltration with known tumor-promoting properties. Thus, PTEN/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway alteration is a common event in PDAC development and functions in part to strongly activate the NF-κB network, which may serve to shape the PDAC tumor microenvironment.

Significance: Detailed molecular genetics studies established that PTEN operates as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor to promote metastatic PDAC development. The strong activation of the NF-κB–cytokine program in Pten-deficient tumors provides additional avenues for targeted therapies in tumors with altered PI3K regulation. Cancer Discovery; 1(2); 158–69. ©2011 AACR.

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