bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The REFLECT Statement: Methods and Processes of Creating Reporting Guidelines for Randomized Controlled Trials for Livestock and Food Safety
Authors: O'Connor A.M. , Sargeant J.M. , Gardner I.A. , Dickson J.S. , Torrence M.E. ,   consensus meeting participants: C.E. Dewey, I.R. Dohoo, R.B. Evans, J.T. Gray, M. Greiner, G. Keefe, S.L. Lefebvre, P.S. Morley, A. Ramirez, W. Sischo, D.R. Smith, K. Snedeker, J. Sofos, M.P. Ward, R. Wills
Published: November 2009

The conduct of randomized controlled trials in livestock with production, health, and food‐safety outcomes presents unique challenges that might not be adequately reported in trial reports. The objective of this project was to modify the CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) statement to reflect the unique aspects of reporting these livestock trials. A 2‐day consensus meeting was held on November 18–19, 2008 in Chicago, IL, to achieve the objective. Before the meeting, a Web‐based survey was conducted to identify issues for discussion. The 24 attendees were biostatisticians, epidemiologists, food‐safety researchers, livestock production specialists, journal editors, assistant editors, and associate editors. Before the meeting, the attendees completed a Web‐based survey indicating which CONSORT statement items would need to be modified to address unique issues for livestock trials. The consensus meeting resulted in the production of the REFLECT (Reporting Guidelines for Randomized Control Trials) statement for livestock and food safety and 22‐item checklist. Fourteen items were modified from the CONSORT checklist, and an additional subitem was proposed to address challenge trials. The REFLECT statement proposes new terminology, more consistent with common usage in livestock production, to describe study subjects. Evidence was not always available to support modification to or inclusion of an item. The use of the REFLECT statement, which addresses issues unique to livestock trials, should improve the quality of reporting and design for trials reporting production, health, and food‐safety outcomes.
Improving the Spatial Resolution and Stability by Optimizing Compact Finite Differencing Templates
Authors: Jordan Stephen A.
Published: November 2009

Parameter optimization is an excellent path for easily raising the resolution efficiency of compact finite differencing schemes. Their low-resolution errors are attractive for resolving the fine-scale turbulent physics even in complex flow domains with difficult boundary conditions. Most schemes require optimizing closure stencils at and adjacent to the domain boundaries. But these constituents can potentially degrade the local resolution errors and destabilize the final solution scheme. Current practices optimize and analyze each participating stencil separately, which incorrectly quantifies their local resolution errors. The proposed process optimizes each participant simultaneously. The result is a composite template that owns consistent spatial resolution properties throughout the entire computational domain. Additionally, the optimization technique leads to templates that are numerically stable as understood by an eigenvalue analysis. Finally, the predictive accuracy of the optimized schemes are evaluated using four canonical test problems that involve resolving linear convection, nonlinear Burger wave, turbulence along a flat plate, and circular cylinder wall pressure.
Thermal stability of GeSbTe thin films deposited by layer-by-layer metalorganic chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Ahn Jun-Ku , Park Kyoung-Woo , Seong Nak-Jin , Yoon Soon-Gil
Published: November 2009

The thermal stability of the GeSbTe (GST) films deposited by layer-by-layer metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on the planar TiAlN∕Si and on trenches 120nm in diameter and 500nm deep (with aspect ratio of 4:1) was investigated under various annealing temperatures and durations in a nitrogen ambient atmosphere. The inhomogeneous distribution of the Ge and Sb elements in the as-grown GST layer was improved by a thermal treatment at 500°C for 60min in nitrogen ambient. The GST films annealed above 500°C for 30 and 60min were delaminated from the TiAlN electrode. Samples annealed at 700°C for 1min, above the melting temperature of the GST, show a decreased thickness, indicating that the GST films were thermally unstable. The as-grown films on trenches did not show a complete fill of the structure, whereas the trenches were more fully filled after a thermal treatment at 500°C for 60min.
High density plasma etching of titanium nitride metal gate electrodes for fully depleted silicon-on-insulator subthreshold transistor integration
Authors: Vitale Steven A. , Kedzierski Jakub , Keast Craig L.
Published: November 2009

Etching of TiN metal gate materials as a part of an integrated flow to fabricate fully depleted silicon-on-insulator ultralow-power transistors is reported. TiN etching is characterized as a function of source power, bias power, gas composition, and substrate temperature in a high density inductively coupled plasma reactor. Under the conditions used in this work, the TiN etch rate appears to be ion flux limited and exhibits a low ion enhanced etching activation energy of 0.033eV. Notching of the polysilicon layer above the TiN may occur during the polysilicon overetch step as well as the TiN overetch step. Notching is not significantly affected by charging of the underlying gate dielectric under the conditions used. By optimizing the plasma etch process conditions, TiN:SiO2 selectivity of nearly 1000:1 is achieved, and a two-step TiN main etch and TiN overetch process yields well-defined metal gate structures without severe gate profile artifacts.
Participants’ perceptions of motivation, randomisation and withdrawal in a randomised controlled trial of interventions for prevention of depression
Authors: Grant J Busby , Mackinnon A J , Christensen H , Walker J
Published: November 2009

Aims and background:

Little is known about how participants perceive prevention trials, particularly trials designed to prevent mental illness. This study examined participants’ motives for participating in a trial and their views of randomisation and the ability to withdraw from a randomised controlled trial (RCT) for prevention of depression.

Methods:

Participants were older adults reporting elevated depression symptoms (N = 900) living in urban and regional locations in Australia who had consented to participate in an RCT of interventions to prevent depression. Participants rated their agreement with various statements describing motivations for enrolment in the trial and opinions regarding randomisation and withdrawal.

Results:

The majority of participants expressed a triad of altruistic motivation for participation, relative lack of concern about randomisation and commitment to the trial. Certain subgroups of participants, such as women and those with higher depression scores, reported higher levels of concern about specific issues.

Conclusions:

The findings suggest that participants enrolled in prevention trials for mental illness are likely to hold positive attitudes (eg, high commitment, low expectation of personal gain) towards research trials. The identification of relationships between key person factors and trial-related attitudes enabled profiling of participant groups, which can inform recruitment strategies and interactions of participants and research projects in future prevention trials.
Privacy impact assessment in the design of transnational public health information systems: the BIRO project
Authors: Di Iorio C T , Carinci F , Azzopardi J , Baglioni V , Beck P , Cunningham S , Evripidou A , Leese G , Loevaas K F , Olympios G , Federici M Orsini , Pruna S , Palladino P , Skeie S , Taverner P , Traynor V , Benedetti M Massi
Published: November 2009

Objectives:

To foster the development of a privacy-protective, sustainable cross-border information system in the framework of a European public health project.

Materials and methods:

A targeted privacy impact assessment was implemented to identify the best architecture for a European information system for diabetes directly tapping into clinical registries. Four steps were used to provide input to software designers and developers: a structured literature search, analysis of data flow scenarios or options, creation of an ad hoc questionnaire and conduction of a Delphi procedure.

Results:

The literature search identified a core set of relevant papers on privacy (n = 11). Technicians envisaged three candidate system architectures, with associated data flows, to source an information flow questionnaire that was submitted to the Delphi panel for the selection of the best architecture. A detailed scheme envisaging an “aggregation by group of patients” was finally chosen, based upon the exchange of finely tuned summary tables.

Conclusions:

Public health information systems should be carefully engineered only after a clear strategy for privacy protection has been planned, to avoid breaching current regulations and future concerns and to optimise the development of statistical routines. The BIRO (Best Information Through Regional Outcomes) project delivers a specific method of privacy impact assessment that can be conveniently used in similar situations across Europe.
Medical chaperoning at a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia: survey of physicians
Authors: Al-Gaai E A , Hammami M M
Published: November 2009

Background:

Medical chaperones (MC) are underutilised. The influence of Islamic culture on the use of MC is not known.

Aim:

To examine physicians’ use and perception of MC in Islamic culture.

Setting:

A major tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Methods:

315 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to attendees of grand rounds of 13 departments.

Results:

186 (59%) questionnaires were completed. 64.5% of the respondents were 30–49 years old, 75.8% were men and 31.2% were in training; 79% had a clinic load of under 50 patients per week and 47.8% had postgraduate training (PGT) in an Islamic country. MC were reported to be infrequently (⩽25% of the time) used by 44.1% (69.2% female vs 39% male physicians, p = 0.001; 58.6% in training vs 36.8% attending, p = 0.007; 52.1% PGT in Islamic vs 35.6% in western countries, p = 0.027), offered by 52.7% (78.9% female vs 46.8% male physicians, p<0.001) and requested by 79% of patients. MC were reported to be commonly (>75% of the time) used, offered by physicians and requested by patients by 38.2%, 29% and 7.5% of respondents, respectively. The most frequently cited reasons for not using MC were privacy/confidentiality (36.6%) and understaffing (30.5%). Equal numbers of respondents perceived MC use as a protection for physicians or patients (67.7% and 65.6%, respectively).

Conclusions:

MC are underutilised even in Islamic culture, especially among female physicians. Training in western countries is favourably associated with MC use. Underutilisation appears to be related to privacy/confidentiality, understaffing and failure of patients to request a MC.
Moral pluralism versus the total view: why Singer is wrong about radical life extension
Authors: Blackford R
Published: November 2009

Peter Singer has argued that we should not proceed with a hypothetical life-extension drug, based on a scenario in which developing the drug would fail to achieve the greatest sum of happiness over time. However, this is the wrong test. If we ask, more simply, which policy would be more benevolent, we reach a different conclusion from Singer’s: even given his (admittedly questionable) scenario, development of the drug should go ahead. Singer’s rigorous utilitarian position pushes him in the direction of an implausible “total view” utilitarianism when it encounters the problems presented by certain thought experiments. A more pluralistic account of the nature of morality promises to solve these problems, and in this case it reaches a benevolent recommendation on life-extension technology.
Can the Catholic Church agree to condom use by HIV-discordant couples?
Authors: Bovens L
Published: November 2009

Does the position of the Roman Catholic Church on contraception also imply that the usage of condoms by HIV-discordant couples is illicit? A standard argument is to appeal to the doctrine of double effect to condone such usage, but this meets with the objection that there exists an alternative action that brings about the good effect—namely, abstinence. I argue against this objection, because an HIV-discordant couple does not bring aboutanybad outcome through condom usage—there is no disrespect displayed for the generative function of sex. One might retort that the badness of condom usage consists in thwarting theunitivefunction of sex. I argue that also this objection cannot be upheld. In conclusion, if there are no in-principle objections against condom usage for HIV-discordant couples, then policies that deny access to condoms to such couples are indefensible. HIV-discordant couples have a right to continue consummating their marriage in a manner that is minimally risky and this right cannot be trumped by utilitarian concerns that the distribution of condoms might increase promiscuity and along with it the HIV infection rate.
Best interests, dementia and the Mental Capacity Act (2005)
Authors: Hope T , Slowther A , Eccles J
Published: November 2009

The Mental Capacity Act (2005) is an impressive piece of legislation that deserves serious ethical attention, but much of the commentary on the Act has focussed on its legal and practical implications rather than the underlying ethical concepts. This paper examines the approach that the Act takes to best interests. The Act does not provide an account of the underlying concept of best interests. Instead it lists factors that must be considered in determining best interests, and the Code of Practice to the Act states that this list is incomplete. This paper argues that this general approach is correct, contrary to some accounts of best interests. The checklist includes items that are unhelpful. Furthermore, neither the Act nor its Code of Practice provides sufficient guidance to carers faced with difficult decisions concerning best interests. This paper suggests ways in which the checklist can be developed and discusses cases that could be used in an updated Code of Practice.
The “how” and “whys” of research: life scientists’ views of accountability
Authors: Ladd J M , Lappé M D , McCormick J B , Boyce A M , Cho M K
Published: November 2009

Objectives:

To investigate life scientists’ views of accountability and the ethical and societal implications of research.

Design:

Qualitative focus group and one-on-one interviews.

Participants:

45 Stanford University life scientists, including graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and faculty.

Results:

Two main themes were identified in participants’ discussions of accountability: (1) the “how” of science and (2) the “why” of science. The “how” encompassed the internal conduct of research including attributes such as honesty and independence. The “why,” or the motivation for conducting research, was two-tiered: first was the desire to positively impact the research community and science itself, and second was an interest in positively impacting the external community, broadly referred to as society. Participants noted that these motivations were influenced by the current systems of publications, grants and funding, thereby supporting a complex notion of boundary-setting between science and non-science. In addition, while all participants recognised the “how” of science and the two tiers of “why,” scientists expressed the need to prioritise these domains of accountability. This prioritisation was related to a researcher’s position in the academic career trajectory and to the researcher’s subsequent “perceived proximity” to scientific or societal concerns. Our findings therefore suggest the need for institutional change to inculcate early-stage researchers with a broader awareness of the implications of their research. The peer review processes for funding and publication could be effective avenues for encouraging scientists to broaden their views of accountability to society.
Confessions of the flesh and biopedagogies: discursive constructions of obesity onNip/Tuck
Authors: Rail G , Lafrance M
Published: November 2009

Informed by the work of Michel Foucault, the authors discuss theNip/Tuckepisode entitled “Momma Boone” and how it discursively constructs “obesity”. They show how this popular media text can be understood as a crystallisation of the dominant discourse surrounding fat bodies. In the process, how the episode can be seen as a “biopedagogy” that instructs its viewers in how to think and feel about the fat body is examined. Foucault’s formulation of the confessional is seen to be useful to theorise the ways in which biopedagogy leads subjects to believe and ultimately take part in processes leading to salvation. It is argued that in thisNip/Tuckepisode, biopedagogy functions in and through Momma Boone’s “confessions of the flesh”, that is, confessions aimed at revealing her obese body so that it can be rescued, rehabilitated and saved. Momma Boone’s salvation is shown to require three stages: first, the “confession” of obesity; second, the conversion to the “truth” of the “dominant obesity discourse”; and third, the codification of a “new life” for the obese subject. In the end, it is argued that since it is represented as abject, monstrous and out of control, Momma Boone’s body is made to inspire fear and panic in so far as it provides constructed “evidence” regarding the consequences of the obese subject’s failure to convert to the truth of obesity discourse.
Finding a voice: revisiting the history of therapeutic writing
Authors: Peterkin A D , Prettyman A A
Published: November 2009

We review the history of therapeutic writing, focusing on the role of narrative competence and the use of writing therapy for stress, trauma and coping with chronic illness. After providing a historical overview of the evidence for writing’s positive effects on health and the hypothesised mechanisms underlying this effect, we ask whether narrative competence can explain and improve writing’s benefit. Narrative competence is defined across two dimensions: (1) Emplotment, or the ability to construct and comprehend goal-oriented connections among temporally situated events; and (2) Meaning, or the ability to understand and communicate contextual interpretations of ambiguous story structures. We suggest that the ability to construct well-organised and meaningful narratives is an important skill for successfully coping with life stressors and trauma, enabling individuals to create coherent stories from fractured memories and to facilitate cognitive processing of traumatic events. Given the positive effect of narrative competence on psycho-physical health, there is a need to broaden medical use of narrative competence therapies beyond the current interventions aimed at fostering empathy among healthcare providers, to include therapies for the patients themselves. Toward this end, we briefly explore one clinical model currently offered by Dr Allan Peterkin and colleagues at Mount Sinai Hospital providing group Narrative Competence Psychotherapy (NCP) for individuals living with HIV.
Picasso’s bodies: representations of modern society?
Authors: Borsay A
Published: November 2009

During the course of a long artistic career, the work of Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) passed through a number of stages. This article concentrates on his representation of the human body prior to the First World War. Three paintings are used to illustrate the transition from social realism to the Blue period and Cubism: Science and Charity (1897); Tragedy (1903); and Seated Nude (1909/10). They are interpreted through the lens of Arthur C Danto's concept of the “art world”, which subsequent theorists have elaborated to capture the historical context as well as the aesthetic form and biographical detail that preoccupied traditional critics. Therefore, the analysis not only embraces colour, perspective and significant events in Picasso's life but also early 20th century politics and ideology, science and medicine. In this way, the synergies that exist between cultural artefacts and the body are demonstrated, and the interdisciplinary understanding of health and healthcare that medical humanities promote is endorsed.
What training do artists need to work in healthcare settings?
Authors: Moss H , O’Neill D
Published: November 2009

Given the increased attention paid to the development of arts in healthcare settings, the need for a formalised training framework to enable artists to work comfortably and safely in healthcare settings has become pressing. This paper sets out a review of literature and best practice regarding the training of professional artists wishing to work in healthcare settings. The authors’ research confirms the gap in the arts sector with regard to such training. Very little formal training is currently available internationally for artists wishing to work in healthcare settings outside of the arts therapies professions. There is a need for the health sector to formalise a currently ad hoc approach to employing artists in healthcare settings. There are a number of best-practice models of arts and health practice from which we can learn but relatively scant literature on course development. The arts therapies are relatively expert in the domain of using the arts in healthcare and while there are different aims and intentions to this work, it is important that any establishment of arts and health training recognises the contribution and expertise of arts therapists in the healthcare arena. A culture of mutual learning between the arts therapies and the arts and health specialists is recommended.
Opera and madness: Britten’sPeter Grimes—a case study
Authors: Durà-Vilà G , Bentley D
Published: November 2009

In this paper, Britten’s operaPeter Grimes(1945) is used as an illustrative case study through which to examine the depiction of psychiatric disorders in opera. It is argued thatPeter Grimesis a powerful example of how opera, in the hands of a great composer, can become an invaluable tool for examining subjective human experience. After a brief discussion of opera as a vehicle to express emotions, various operas are drawn upon to provide a historical perspective and to demonstrate the long interconnection existing between opera and madness. An in-depth analysis ofPeter Grimes, its background and central character, is then provided, in order to demonstrate how opera can elicit empathy for individuals affected by mental health problems.
Challenges to UK community pharmacy: a bio-photographic study of workspace in relation to professional pharmacy practice
Authors: Rapport F L , Doel M A , Jerzembek G S
Published: November 2009

This paper presents a novel, qualitative, bio-photographic study with intertextual analysis highlighting the relationship between community pharmacy workspace and practice. Sixteen pharmacists working across pharmacy types such as independent shops, large and small pharmacy chains and multiple pharmacies such as those in supermarkets participated in data capture and feedback consultation. Findings disclosed workspaces unfit for purpose and a workforce ill at ease with their new professional identity, involving increasingly complex tasks in health provision and retail. There was conflict between delegating to others and taking personal responsibility, and there were pressures from a demanding public within the context of a target-driven, litigious society. The study highlights that innovative, mixed methods in this context reveal nuanced, rich data.
THE PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES OF MICROORGANISMS: VI. THE SEPARATION OF PROTEASES FROM MORTIERELLA RENISPORA DIXON-STEWART BY ZONE ELECTROPHORESIS
Authors: Wetter L. R.
Published: November 2009

Moving-boundary electrophoresis indicated that a protease concentrate obtained from the culture medium of Mortierella renispora Dixon-Stewart (PRL 26) was made up of a number of proteins. Filter-paper electrophoresis demonstrated that two of the proteins were capable of hydrolyzing denatured hemoglobin. One active component had a negative mobility, the other a positive mobility in phosphate buffer pH 6.8, ionic strength 0.1. Because of the difference in electrical properties it was possible to separate the two active components by zone electrophoresis. Though yields were low when filter paper was employed, the use of potato starch as the supporting medium resulted in excellent recoveries.
STUDIES ON THE ORAL TOXICITY OFCLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUMTOXIN, TYPE A
Authors: Coleman Ivan W.
Published: November 2009

Three aspects of the reported oral toxicity of Clostridium botulinum toxin, Type A, were investigated. No demonstrable migration of the crystalline toxin from the lumen of the intestine into the blood stream of the dog could be found. Evidence indicating that the crystalline toxin was inactivated by pepsin and chymotrypsin was obtained, but the toxin was found to be resistant to the action of trypsin. Comparison of the oral toxicity and the intraperitoneal toxicity of the crystalline toxin revealed that the product was not orally toxic. A spray-dried crude preparation of the toxin demonstrated a low oral toxicity.
STUDIES ON THE SUBACUTE AND CHRONIC ADMINISTRATION OF STILBESTROL IN THE MALE RAT
Authors: Snair D. W. , Jaffray Sybil E. , Grice H. C. , Pugsley L. I.
Published: November 2009

The temporary effects of the administration of stilbestrol upon body weight, weight of the accessory sex organs, and the reproductive capacity of the male white rat have been studied. A linear relationship was obtained when the logarithm of the dose of stilbestrol administered (0.0125 to 5.0 mgm.) was plotted against the percentage decrease in testes weight. This same relationship was also found when the log of the dose was plotted against the percentage decrease in body weight although this line had a much more gradual slope.When the administration of stilbestrol was discontinued, the seminal vesicles coagulating glands, and ventral prostrates regained their weight by the third to fourth week but the weights of the testes remained below the control values until the sixth to ninth week. In a breeding experiment it was shown that a daily dose of 7.5 μgm. of stilbestrol causes sterility in the male. This does also slightly affected the weight of the accessory sex organs and their cellular structure.
THE PROTEOLYTIC ENZYMES OF MICROORGANISMS: VII. A STUDY OF SOME OF THE PROPERTIES OF TWO PROTEASES ISOLATED FROMMORTIERELLA RENISPORADIXON-STEWART
Authors: Wetter L. R.
Published: November 2009

Two proteases isolated from the culture medium of Mortierella renispora Dixon-Stewart (PRL 26) had different isoelectric points but similar pH optimums. The components were inhibited by equal amounts of ovomucoid. Heat studies showed that the constituent moving towards the cathode (cathodic component) was more stable at 58 °C. than the anodic component. The enzyme located in the cathodic component hydrolzyed chloroacetyl-L-tyrosine. The same fraction also hydrolyzed N-carbobenzoxy-α-L-glutamyl-DL-alanine and to a much lesser extent N-carbobenzoxy-α-L-glutamyl-L-glutamic acid. No enzymatic activity could be detected against glycylglycine, diglycylglycine, glycyl-L-proline, seryl-serine, or α-benzoyl-L-argininamide.
MECHANISM OF CITRIC ACID FORMATION FROM GLUCOSE BYASPERGILLUS NIGER
Authors: Shu Ping , Funk A. , Neish A. C.
Published: November 2009

A medium containing glucose-1-C14as the sole carbon source was fermented by Aspergillus niger under conditions giving a steady rate of oxygen consumption and a good yield of citric acid (63%). The citric acid was isolated and degraded by chemical methods to determine the carbon-14 concentration of the methylene carbons, the tertiary carbon, the tertiary carboxyl carbon, and the primary carboxyl carbons. These were found to contain, respectively, 35.6, 21.2, 7.25, and 5.99% of the C14concentration of carbon-1 of the glucose. A mathematical analysis of these data in the light of current theories on citric acid formation suggested following conclusions: (a) 37–40% of the total citric acid was formed from recycled C4-dicarboxylic acid, (b) 40% of the dicarboxylic acid was formed through C2,C2condensation and 60% through C1,C3condensation, (c) 78% of the glucose was dissimilated through the Embden–Meyerhof scheme, the remainder being dissimilated through a mechanism involving carboxyl labeled pyruvic acid.
CENTROID NEURAL NETWORK WITH WEIGHTED FEATURES
Authors: PARK DONG-CHUL
Published: November 2009

A Centroid Neural Network with Weighted Features (CNN-WF) is proposed and presented in this paper. The proposed CNN-WF is based on a Centroid Neural Network (CNN), an effective clustering tool that has been successfully applied to various problems. In order to evaluate the importance of each feature in a set of data, a feature weighting concept is introduced to the Centroid Neural Network in the proposed algorithm. The weight update equations for CNN-WF are derived by applying the Lagrange multiplier procedure to the objective function constructed for CNN-WF in this paper. The use of weighted features makes it possible to assess the importance of each feature and to reject features that can be considered as noise in data. Experiments on a synthetic data set and a typical image compression problem show that the proposed CNN-WF can assess the importance of each feature and the proposed CNN-WF outperforms conventional algorithms including the Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and CNN in terms of clustering accuracy.
3D HEAD POSE NORMALIZATION WITH FACE GEOMETRY ANALYSIS, GENETIC ALGORITHMS AND PCA
Authors: BEVILACQUA VITOANTONIO , ANDRIANI FRANCESCO , MASTRONARDI GIUSEPPE
Published: November 2009

In this paper, a software toolchain is presented for the fully automatic alignment of a 3D human face model. Beginning from a point cloud of a human head (previously segmented from its background), pose normalization is obtained using an innovative and purely geometrical approach. In order to solve the six degrees of freedom raised by this problem, we first exploit the human face's natural mirror symmetry; secondly, we analyze the frontal profile shape; and finally, we align the model's bounding box according to the position of the tip of the nose. The whole procedure is considered as a two-fold, multivariable optimization problem which is addressed by the use of multi-level, genetic algorithms and a greedy search stage, with the latter being compared against standard PCA. Experiments were conducted utilizing a GavabDB database and took into account proper preprocessing stages for noise filtering and head model reconstruction. Outcome results reveal strong validity in this approach, however, at the price of high computational complexity.
SIMULATED ANNEALING AND OPTIMAL PROTOCOLS
Authors: PENNISI MARZIO , CATANUTO ROBERTO , PAPPALARDO FRANCESCO , MOTTA SANTO , MASTRIANI EMILIO , CINCOTTI ALESSANDRO
Published: November 2009

Many human tumors cannot easily be avoided. In most cases a prophylactic vaccination prevents the tumor growth. In particular the Triplex vaccine prevented mammary carcinoma formation using a Chronic schedule, but it is not known if this schedule is minimal. A computational model named SimTriplex was able to reproduce in silico the in vivo experiments. The combination of SimTriplex and Genetic Algorithms (GA), produced a minimal vaccination schedule capable to guarantee in silico survival. This process required the use of a High Performance Computing (HPC) infrastructure for several days. In this paper we show another optimization procedure based on simulated annealing approach used to get a faster algorithm response.
ENDOSCOPIC IMAGE CUTTING SIMULATION BASED ON MASS-SPRING MODEL AND COMPUTATIONAL GEOMETRY
Authors: YUAN ZHIYONG , FENG SHIKUN , YIN QIAN , WANG XIALI , ZHANG DENGYI , ZHAO JIANHUI , CHEN MIANYUN
Published: November 2009

As minimally invasive surgical techniques become widely known to patients, medical training systems based on virtual simulation are highly desired. These systems help surgeon trainees to acquire, practice and evaluate their surgical skills. A key component in a virtual training system is to simulate the dynamics that occur in surgical procedures. Tissue cutting, as a common phenomenon during surgery, has attracted many research efforts in computer simulation. In this paper, we propose an approach to endoscopic image cutting simulation which is based on both mass-spring model and Computational Geometry. In the cutting simulation model, the springs to be cut off are imagined into line segments. In the calculation of the elastic force on mass points, we have found that whether some adjacent springs of a mass point to be eliminated or not during a cutting is critical. If a spring intersects the cutting plane, we set the elastic force of this spring to zero. We adopted properties of cross product and related algorithms (the rapid exclusion test, the crossover test) in Computational Geometry to determine the springs that are intersected with the cutting plane. And then, we utilized the bilinear interpolation and OpenGL techniques to render the cutting procedure of the soft tissue. The experimental results show that our cutting simulation is effective and practical.
A DESIGN OF APPARENT-AGE ESTIMATION SYSTEM BY THE EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITION
Authors: FUKAI HIRONOBU , TAKIMOTO HIRONORI , MITSUKURA YASUE , TANAKA TOSHIHISA , FUKUMI MINORU
Published: November 2009

Recently, the automation of the age estimation technique is hoped for in various fields. Therefore, we propose an apparent-age estimation system using empirical mode decomposition (EMD). Conventional study reported that the time-frequency features are important for age estimation. However, these cannot necessarily extract the time-frequency feature in detail, because the classical technique that have a relationship of trade-off between the time resolution and the frequency resolution are used. On the other hand, the EMD is the novel time-frequency analysis technique that do not have the relationship of trade-off between the time resolution and the frequency resolution. The EMD gives a time-frequency analysis decomposing a signal into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). The IMF together with their Hilbert transforms are called the Hilbert–Huang spectrum, which leads to instantaneous frequency and amplitude. We use these features effectively for extracting human's age perception. We estimate the age by a neural network that learns pairs of face image and the Hilbert–Huang spectrum. Furthermore, we compress the data for neural network by using the simple principal component analysis (SPCA). In order to show the effectiveness of the proposed method, computer simulations are done by the actual human data.
PRESERVING LOCAL MANIFOLD IN NOISE DATA CLUSTERING
Authors: YIN JIAN , XUE SHAOE , WANG JINA , RAO SHUQIN , YANG WENXIN
Published: November 2009

Adaptive subspace clustering techniques, such as LDA Kmeans (henceforth LDAKM), try to perform clustering on a compact discriminative subspace. However, the subspace extracted by LDAKM may be inferior when encountering noise, so it is with the clustering results. In this paper, we generalize the LDAKM algorithm, and propose the Local Manifold Preserving LDAKM (henceforth LMP–LDAKM) approach, which considers both local manifold structure and discriminative information. A Laplacian similarity matrix is introduced in the subspace extraction subprocess for preserving local manifold information while retaining discrimination of latent clusters, and it is also utilized for the weighted Kmeans clustering subprocess in the subspace to eliminate the influence of distant noise data. Experimental results on both benchmark and artificial datasets indicate the effectiveness and noise-robustness of our method.
APPLICATION OF NOVEL REINFORCEMENT LEARNING AUTOMATA APPROACH IN POWER SYSTEM REGULATION
Authors: KASHKI MOHAMMAD , ABDEL-MAGID YOUSSEF L. , ABIDO MOHAMMAD A.
Published: November 2009

In this paper, a novel efficient optimization method based on reinforcement learning automata (RLA) for optimum parameters setting of conventional proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller for AVR system of power synchronous generator is proposed. The proposed method is Combinatorial Discrete and Continuous Action Reinforcement Learning Automata (CDCARLA) which is able to explore and learn to improve control performance without the knowledge of the analytical system model. This paper demonstrates the full details of the CDCARLA technique and compares its performance with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) as an efficient evolutionary optimization method. The proposed method has been applied to PID controller design. The simulation results show the superior efficiency and robustness of the proposed method.
REVERSIBLE VITERBI ALGORITHM AND ITS CLOSED-SYSTEM Q-DOMAIN CIRCUIT DESIGN AND COMPUTATION
Authors: AL-RABADI ANAS N.
Published: November 2009

Novel convolution-based multiple-stream error-control coding and decoding methods and their corresponding circuits are introduced. The new coding method applies the reversibility property in (1) the convolution-based encoder for multiple-stream error-control encoding and (2) in the new reversible Viterbi decoding algorithm for multiple-stream error-correction decoding. The complete synthesis of quantum circuits for the quantum realization of the new quantum Viterbi cell in the quantum domain (Q-domain) is also introduced, and the associated quantum computing representations and operations are presented. In quantum mechanics, a closed system is an isolated system that cannot exchange energy or matter with its surroundings and does not interact with other quantum systems. Closed quantum systems obey the unitary evolution and thus they are reversible. Reversibility property in error-control coding can be important for the following main reasons: (1) reversibility is a basic requirement for low-power circuit design in future technologies such as in closed-system quantum computing (QC), (2) reversibility leads to super-speedy encoding/decoding operations because of the superposition and entanglement properties that exist in the reversible closed-system quantum computing circuits and systems, and (3) the reversibility relationship between multiple-streams of data can be used for the correction of errors that are usually uncorrectable using the implemented decoding algorithm such as in the case of triple-errors that are uncorrectable using the irreversible Viterbi algorithm.
A CLASS OF INTEGRATED LOGISTICS NETWORK MODEL UNDER RANDOM FUZZY ENVIRONMENT AND ITS APPLICATION TO CHINESE BEER COMPANY
Authors: ZHOU XIAOYANG , XU JIUPING
Published: November 2009

In this paper, we integrated the forward logistics and the reuse reverse logistics to set up a closed-loop integrated logistics system under a random fuzzy environment. A random fuzzy multi-objective programming model was established which can describe the integrated logistics as a cycle of production, distribution, consumption, collection, transportation, recycling, disposal, reuse and redistribution. We then used the expected value operator and the chance-constrained operator to handle the random fuzzy objective functions and the random fuzzy constraints. The solution scheme was pursued by a genetic algorithm based on random fuzzy simulation and compromise approach. And an application to a Chinese beer company was given as an illustration.
ADAPTIVE LIMITED FRACTIONAL GUARD CHANNEL ALGORITHMS: A LEARNING AUTOMATA APPROACH
Authors: BEIGY HAMID , MEYBODI M. R.
Published: November 2009

In this paper, two learning automata based adaptive limited fractional guard channel algorithms for cellular mobile networks are proposed. These algorithms try to minimize the blocking probability of new calls subject to the constraint on the dropping probability of the handoff calls. To evaluate the proposed algorithms, computer simulations are conducted. The simulation results show that the performance of the proposed algorithms are close to the performance of the limited fractional guard channel algorithm for which prior knowledge about traffic parameters are needed. The simulation results also show that the proposed algorithms outperforms the recently introduced dynamic guard channel algorithms.
INTERVAL METHODS IN KNOWLEDGE REPRESENTATION
Authors: Kreinovich Vladik
Published: November 2009

This section is maintained by Vladik Kreinovich. Please send your abstracts (or copies of papers that you want to see reviewed here) to vladik@utep.edu, or by regular mail to: Vladik Kreinovich, Department of Computer Science, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79968, USA.
Quantum Markov Model for Data from Shafir-Tversky Experiments in Cognitive Psychology
Authors: Accardi Luigi , Khrennikov Andrei , Ohya Masanori
Published: November 2009

We analyze, from the point of view of quantum probability, statistical data from two interesting experiments, done by Shafir and Tversky [1, 2] in the domain of cognitive psychology. These are gambling experiments of Prisoner Dilemma type. They have important consequences for economics, especially for the justification of the Savage "Sure Thing Principle" [3] (implying that agents of the market behave rationally). Data from these experiments were astonishing, both from the viewpoint of cognitive psychology and economics and probability theory. Players behaved irrationally. Moreover, all attempts to generate these data by using classical Markov model were unsuccessful. In this note we show (by inventing a simple statistical test — generalized detailed balance condition) that these data are non-Kolmogorovian. We also show that it is neither quantum (i.e., it cannot be described by Dirac-von Neumann model). We proceed towards a quantum Markov model for these data.
Selective Phase Rotation Quantum Gate Entangler
Authors: Heydari Hoshang
Published: November 2009

We construct a quantum gate entangler for multi-qubit states based on a selective phase rotation transform. In particular, we establish a relation between the quantum integral transform and the quantum gate entangler in terms of universal controlled gates for multi-qubit states. Our result gives an effective way of constructing topological and geometrical quantum gate entanglers for multipartite quantum systems, which could also lead to a construction of geometrical quantum algorithms.
Probabilistic Telecloning with Partially Entangled States
Authors: Li De-chao , Shi Zhong-ke
Published: November 2009

We propose a scheme for probabilistic telecloning of unknown d-dimensional quantum state with non-maximally (partially) entanglement via Bell measurement. The scheme requires less entanglement between the two sides, representing a much more efficient use of entanglement than the approach where Alice first clones these states on her particle and then teleports.
Complexity Invariance by Replication in the Quantum Square Well
Authors: López-Ruiz Ricardo , Sañudo Jaime
Published: November 2009

A new kind of invariance by replication of a statistical measure of complexity is considered. We show that the set of energy eigenstates of the quantum infinite square well displays this particular invariance. Then, this system presents a constant complexity for all the energy eigenstates.
IMPLEMENTING BEST PRACTICES TO SUPPORT CREATIVITY IN NPD CROSS-FUNCTIONAL TEAMS
Authors: BUNDUCHI RALUCA
Published: November 2009

The use of cross-functional teams increases creativity in new product development leading to shorter development time and higher product innovativeness. Research in new product development has identified a number of organisational practices associated with supporting organisational creativity in cross-functional teams including frequent and open communication, building organisational slack, attitude to risk and top management commitment. Using a single case study approach, this paper explores the challenges associated with the implementation of such organisational practices in the R&D department of a large telecommunication company. Challenges include sequential involvement of functions in the team, broken communication between different teams, management attitude to resource constraints, and short-term management focus on incremental innovation.
SUSTAINABILITY INNOVATION CUBE — A FRAMEWORK TO EVALUATE SUSTAINABILITY-ORIENTED INNOVATIONS
Authors: HANSEN ERIK G. , GROSSE-DUNKER FRIEDRICH , REICHWALD RALF
Published: November 2009

Corporations increasingly subscribe to the principles of corporate sustainability, which is generally described as the integration of economic, environmental and social dimensions. Concerning innovation management, this emphasises the role of sustainability-oriented innovations (SOI). SOI is considered a tool both to address sustainability issues and to tap into new customer segments and markets. Yet SOI are very risky: both their market success and non-economic sustainability are uncertain. This paper presents a generic model termed the "Sustainability Innovation Cube" (SIC) for structuring innovations' sustainability effects in order to better inform corporate decision-makers about how to minimize the directional risk of SOI. The model includes the three dimensions: target, life cycle and innovation type. A qualitative expert study reveals the opportunities and challenges related to the developed model. Finally, practical implications are derived, limitations are discussed and a brief outlook is given.
Heavy-Particle Radiotherapy: System Design and Application
Authors: Tsujii Hirohiko , Minohara Shinichi , Noda Koji
Published: November 2009

The requirements for an accelerator and a beam-delivery system for medical application are described (pointing out terms of heavy-particle radiotherapy), based on 15 years of experience with carbon-ion radiotherapy at HIMAC. The present heavy-particle radiotherapy and system are reviewed here. With a view to further development of carbon-ion radiotherapy, recent progress in heavy-particle radiotherapy and a new system are also described. Finally, the clinical applications are summarized.
High Frequency Linacs for Hadrontherapy
Authors: Amaldi Ugo , Braccini Saverio , Puggioni Paolo
Published: November 2009

The use of radiofrequency linacs for hadrontherapy was proposed about 20 years ago, but only recently has it been understood that the high repetition rate together with the possibility of very rapid energy variations offers an optimal solution to the present challenge of hadrontherapy: "paint" a moving tumor target in three dimensions with a pencil beam. Moreover, the fact that the energy, and thus the particle range, can be electronically adjusted implies that no absorber-based energy selection system is needed, which, in the case of cyclotron-based centers, is the cause of material activation. On the other side, a linac consumes less power than a synchrotron. The first part of this article describes the main advantages of high frequency linacs in hadrontherapy, the early design studies, and the construction and test of the first high-gradient prototype which accelerated protons. The second part illustrates some technical issues relevant to the design of copper standing wave accelerators, the present developments, and two designs of linac-based proton and carbon ion facilities. Superconductive linacs are not discussed, since nanoampere currents are sufficient for therapy. In the last two sections, a comparison with circular accelerators and an overview of future projects are presented.
FFAGs as Accelerators and Beam Delivery Devices for Ion Cancer Therapy
Authors: Trbojevic Dejan
Published: November 2009

First, a review is given of fixed field alternating gradient (FFAG) accelerators, presenting a bit of their history and basic concepts. Special attention is paid to the concept of scaling (S-FFAG) and nonscaling (NS-FFAG) FFAGs. This notation is used only in the NS-FFAG part of the article. A discussion is then provided on operating FFAGs. A presentation is made of the designs being considered for S-FFAGs. A bit more is said about the concept of the NS-FFAG and a resonance crossing problem resulting from designs of the NS-FFAGs. A beam delivery system (gantry) employing the NS-FFAG concept is presented after that and, finally, future plans and R&D requirements are put forward.