bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Czech standards and specification for earthworks
Authors: Herle Vítězslav
Published: October 2012

General requirements for earthworks in the Czech Republic are given in the national standard
CSN 73 3050
‘
Earthworks
’ which has been in place since 1987. It provides information on excavation including the rather controversial seven excavatability classes, recommendation for slope and shoring of excavation, requirements for fill construction, control of compaction and tolerances of finished surfaces.

CSN 73 6133
‘
Design and execution of earth structures on roads
’ is currently being revised. Beside classical soil and rock fills it gives recommendations for the use of difficult or marginal materials such as uniform (wind drifted) sand, loess, colliery spoil, fly ash, slag.

Control of earthworks is described in
CSN 72 1006
‘
Compaction control of soils and other fills
’ which is valid for both highway and railway infrastructure as well as for buildings, landfills etc.

Apart from national standards, the Ministry of Transport supports publications of technical specifications for design (TP) and construction control (TKP) focused on certain material or technology used in highway and railway infrastructure. TP coversfor example soil improvement, soil reinforcement, use of fly ash, colliery spoil or lightweight fill. TKP givesfor example detailed requirements for the site quality control of earthworks, reinforced fill, soil nailed slopes and gabions.
The work of ISSMGE TC3 (Geotechnics of pavements) and how it links to earthworks
Authors: Correia A. Gomes , Quibel A. , Winter M. G.
Published: October 2012

The main goal of Technical Committee TC3 ‘
Geotechnics of Pavements
’ of the International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (ISSMGE) is to promote co-operation and exchange of information and knowledge about the geotechnical aspects in design, construction, maintenance and monitoring of pavements in transportation infrastructure (roads, railways, airports). Some of these aspects cover: earth structures in pavement and railway construction, compiling and homogenizing earthwork specifications, standardization of the continuous compaction control and promotion of the use of non-traditional by-products and recycled materials. This paper covers these main aspects and highlights the use of non-traditional materials in transportation earthworks.
Returning Control to the Programmer
Authors: Parri Jonathan , Shapiro Daniel , Bolic Miodrag , Groza Voicu
Published: October 2012

Server and workstation hardware architecture is continually improving, yet interpreted languages have failed to keep pace with the proper utilization of modern processors. SIMD (single instruction, multiple data) units are available in nearly every current desktop and server processor and are greatly underutilized, especially with interpreted languages. If multicore processors continue their current growth pattern, interpreted-language performance will begin to fall behind, since current native compilers and languages offer better automated SIMD optimization and direct SIMD mapping support. As each core in commercial x86 multicore processors includes a dedicated SIMD unit, the performance disparity will grow exponentially as long as the available SIMD units remain underutilized in interpreted-language environments.
Empirical software research
Authors: Tichy Walter
Published: October 2012

Punched cards were already obsolete when I began my studies at the Technical University of Munich in 1971. Instead, we had the luxury of an interactive, line-oriented editor for typing our programs. Doug Engelbart had already invented the mouse, but the device was not yet available. With line editors, users had to identify lines by numbers and type in awkward substitution commands just to add missing semicolons. Though cumbersome by today's standards, it was obvious that line-oriented editors were far better than punched cards. Not long after, screen oriented editors such as Vi and Emacs appeared. Again, these editors were obvious improvements and everybody quickly made the switch. No detailed usability studies were needed. "Try it and you'll like it" was enough. (Brian Reid at CMU likened screen editors to handing out free cocaine in the schoolyard.) Switching from Assembler to Fortran, Algol, or Pascal also was a no-brainer. But in the late '70s, the acceptance of new technologies for building software seemed to slow down, even though more people were building software tools. Debates raged over whether Pascal was superior to C, without a clear winner. Object-oriented programming, invented back in the '60s with Simula, took decades to be widely adopted. Functional programming is languishing to this day. The debate about whether agile methods are better than plan-driven methods has not led to a consensus. Literally hundreds of software development technologies and programming languages have been invented, written about, and demoed over the years, only to be forgotten. What went wrong?
Java Security Architecture Revisited
Authors: Gong Li
Published: October 2012

This article looks back at a few of the hardest technical problems from a design and engineering perspective, as well as some tough business challenges for which research scientists are rarely trained. Li Gong offers a retrospective here culled from four previous occasions when he had the opportunity to dig into old notes and refresh his memory.
The Hyperdimensional Tar Pit
Authors: Kamp Poul-Henning
Published: October 2012

When I started in computing more than a quarter of a century ago, a kind elder colleague gave me a rule of thumb for estimating when I would have finished a task properly: make a guess, double the number, and then move to the next larger unit of time. This rule scales tasks in a very interesting way: a one-minute task explodes by a factor of 120 to take two hours. A one-hour job explodes by "only" a factor 48 to take two days, while a one-day job grows by a factor of 14 to take two weeks.
Comparing face recognition algorithms to humans on challenging tasks
Authors: O'Toole Alice J. , An Xaiobo , Dunlop Joseph , Natu Vaidehi , Phillips P. Jonathon
Published: October 2012

We compared face identification by humans and machines using images taken under a variety of uncontrolled illumination conditions in both indoor and outdoor settings. Natural variations in a person's day-to-day appearance (e.g., hair style, facial expression, hats, glasses, etc.) contributed to the difficulty of the task. Both humans and machines matched the identity of people (same or different) in pairs of frontal view face images. The degree of difficulty introduced by photometric and appearance-based variability was estimated using a face recognition algorithm created by fusing three top-performing algorithms from a recent international competition. The algorithm computed similarity scores for a constant set of same-identity and different-identity pairings from multiple images. Image pairs were assigned to
good
,
moderate
, and
poor
accuracy groups by ranking the similarity scores for each identity pairing, and dividing these rankings into three strata. This procedure isolated the role of photometric variables from the effects of the distinctiveness of particular identities. Algorithm performance for these constant identity pairings varied dramatically across the groups. In a series of experiments, humans matched image pairs from the good, moderate, and poor conditions, rating the likelihood that the images were of the same person (1: sure same - 5: sure different). Algorithms were more accurate than humans in the good and moderate conditions, but were comparable to humans in the poor accuracy condition. To date, these are the most variable illumination- and appearance-based recognition conditions on which humans and machines have been compared. The finding that machines were never less accurate than humans on these challenging frontal images suggests that face recognition systems may be ready for applications with comparable difficulty. We speculate that the superiority of algorithms over humans in the less challenging conditions may be due to the algorithms' use of detailed, view-specific identity information. Humans may consider this information less important due to its limited potential for robust generalization in suboptimal viewing conditions.
Curve shape and curvature perception through interactive sonification
Authors: Alonso-Arevalo Miguel A. , Shelley Simon , Hermes Dik , Hollowood Jacqueline , Pettitt Michael , Sharples Sarah , Kohlrausch Armin
Published: October 2012

In this article we present an approach that uses sound to communicate geometrical data related to a virtual object. This has been developed in the framework of a multimodal interface for product design. The interface allows a designer to evaluate the quality of a 3-D shape using touch, vision, and sound. Two important considerations addressed in this article are the nature of the data that is sonified and the haptic interaction between the user and the interface, which in fact triggers the sound and influences its characteristics. Based on these considerations, we present a number of sonification strategies that are designed to map the geometrical data of interest into sound. The fundamental frequency of various sounds was used to convey the curve shape or the curvature to the listeners. Two evaluation experiments are described, one involves partipants with a varied background, the other involved the intended users, i.e. participants with a background in industrial design. The results show that independent of the sonification method used and independent of whether the curve shape or the curvature were sonified, the sonification was quite successful. In the first experiment participants had a success rate of about 80% in a multiple choice task, in the second experiment it took the participants on average less than 20 seconds to find the maximum, minimum or inflection points of the curvature of a test curve.
Perception and replication of planar sonic gestures
Authors: Rocchesso Davide , Delle Monache Stefano
Published: October 2012

As tables, boards, and walls become surfaces where interaction can be supported by auditory displays, it becomes important to know how accurately and effectively a spatial gesture can be rendered by means of an array of loudspeakers embedded in the surface. Two experiments were designed and performed to assess: (i) how sequences of sound pulses are perceived as gestures when the pulses are distributed in space and time along a line; (ii) how the timing of pulses affects the perceived and reproduced continuity of sequences; and (iii) how effectively a second parallel row of speakers can extend sonic gestures to a two-dimensional space. Results show that azimuthal trajectories can be effectively replicated and that switching between discrete and continuous gestures occurs within the range of inter-pulse interval from 75 to 300ms. The vertical component of sonic gestures cannot be reliably replicated.
Audio, visual, and audio-visual egocentric distance perception by moving subjects in virtual environments
Authors: Rébillat Marc , Boutillon Xavier , Corteel Étienne , Katz Brian F. G.
Published: October 2012

We present a study on
audio
,
visual
, and
audio-visual
egocentric distance perception by moving subjects in
virtual
environments. Audio-visual rendering is provided using tracked passive visual stereoscopy and acoustic wave field synthesis (WFS). Distances are estimated using indirect blind-walking (triangulation) under each rendering condition. Experimental results show that distances perceived in the virtual environment are systematically overestimated for rendered distances closer than the position of the audio-visual rendering system and underestimated for farther distances. Interestingly, subjects perceived each virtual object at a modality-independent distance when using the audio modality, the visual modality, or the combination of both. WFS was able to synthesise perceptually meaningful sound fields. Dynamic audio-visual cues were used by subjects when estimating the distances in the virtual world. Moving may have provided subjects with a better visual distance perception of close distances than if they were static. No correlation between the feeling of presence and the visual distance underestimation has been found. To explain the observed perceptual distance compression, it is proposed that, due to conflicting distance cues, the audio-visual rendering system physically
anchors
the virtual world to the real world. Virtual objects are thus attracted by the physical audio-visual rendering system.
On the limits of resolution and visual angle in visualization
Authors: Healey Christopher G. , Sawant Amit P.
Published: October 2012

This article describes a perceptual level-of-detail approach for visualizing data. Properties of a dataset that cannot be resolved in the current display environment need not be shown, for example, when too few pixels are used to render a data element, or when the element's subtended visual angle falls below the acuity limits of our visual system. To identify these situations, we asked: (1) What type of information can a human user perceive in a particular display environment? (2) Can we design visualizations that control what they represent relative to these limits? and (3) Is it possible to dynamically update a visualization as the display environment changes, to continue to effectively utilize our perceptual abilities? To answer these questions, we conducted controlled experiments that identified the pixel resolution and subtended visual angle needed to distinguish different values of luminance, hue, size, and orientation. This information is summarized in a perceptual display hierarchy, a formalization describing how many pixels—
resolution
—and how much physical area on a viewer's retina—
visual angle
—is required for an element's visual properties to be readily seen. We demonstrate our theoretical results by visualizing historical climatology data from the International Panel for Climate Change.
How real is real enough? optimal reality sampling for fast recognition of mobile imagery
Authors: Oulasvirta Antti , Nurminen Antti , Suomalainen Tiia
Published: October 2012

We present the first study to discover optimal reality sampling for mobile imagery. In particular, we identify the minimum information required for fast recognition of images of directly perceivable real-world buildings displayed on a mobile device. Resolution, image size, and JPEG compression of images of façades were manipulated in a same--different recognition task carried out in the field. Best-effort performance is shown to be reachable with significantly lower detail granularity than previously thought. For best user performance, we recommend presenting images as large as possible on the screen and decreasing resolution accordingly.
A Stone Resource Assignment Model under the Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Yao Liming , Xu Jiuping , Guo Feng
Published: October 2012

This paper proposes a bilevel multiobjective optimization model with fuzzy coefficients
to tackle a stone resource assignment problem with the aim of decreasing dust and waste water emissions. On the upper level, the local government wants to assign a reasonable exploitation amount to each stone plant so as to minimize total emissions and maximize employment and economic profit. On the lower level, stone plants must reasonably assign stone resources to produce different stone products under the exploitation constraint. To deal with inherent uncertainties, the object functions and constraints are defuzzified using a possibility measure. A fuzzy simulation‐based improved simulated annealing algorithm (FS‐ISA) is designed to search for the Pareto optimal solutions. Finally, a case study is presented to demonstrate the practicality and efficiency of the model. Results and a comparison analysis are presented to highlight the performance of the optimization method, which proves to be very efficient compared with other algorithms.
An Efficient Family of Root-Finding Methods with Optimal Eighth-Order Convergence
Authors: Sharma Rajni , Sharma Janak Raj
Published: October 2012

We derive a family of eighth-order multipoint methods for the solution of nonlinear equations. In terms of computational cost, the family requires evaluations of only three functions and one first derivative per iteration. This implies that the efficiency index of the present methods is 1.682. Kung and Traub (1974) conjectured that multipoint iteration methods without memory based on n evaluations have optimal order . Thus, the family agrees with Kung-Traub conjecture for the case . Computational results demonstrate that the developed methods are efficient and robust as compared with many well-known methods.
Effectiveness of Partition and Graph Theoretic Clustering Algorithms for Multiple Source Partial Discharge Pattern Classification Using Probabilistic Neural Network and Its Adaptive Version: A Critique Based on Experimental Studies
Authors: Venkatesh S. , Gopal S. , Kannan K.
Published: October 2012

Partial discharge (PD) is a major cause of failure of power apparatus and hence its measurement and analysis have emerged as a vital field in assessing the condition of the insulation system. Several efforts have been undertaken by researchers to classify PD pulses utilizing artificial intelligence techniques. Recently, the focus has shifted to the identification of multiple sources of PD since it is often encountered in real‐time measurements. Studies have indicated that classification of multi‐source PD becomes difficult with the degree of overlap and that several techniques such as mixed Weibull functions, neural networks, and wavelet transformation have been attempted with limited success. Since digital PD acquisition systems record data for a substantial period, the database becomes large, posing considerable difficulties during classification. This research work aims firstly at analyzing aspects concerning classification capability during the discrimination of multisource PD patterns. Secondly, it attempts at extending the previous work of the authors in utilizing the novel approach of probabilistic neural network versions for classifying moderate sets of PD sources to that of large sets. The third focus is on comparing the ability of partition‐based algorithms, namely, the labelled (learning vector quantization) and unlabelled (K‐means) versions, with that of a novel hypergraph‐based clustering method in providing parsimonious sets of centers during classification.
Transcriptional Profile and Structural Conservation of SUMO-Specific Proteases inSchistosoma mansoni
Authors: Pereira Roberta Verciano , Cabral Fernanda Janku , de Souza Gomes Matheus , Jannotti-Passos Liana Konovaloff , Castro-Borges William , Guerra-Sá Renata
Published: October 2012

Small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) is involved in numerous cellular processes including protein localization, transcription, and cell cycle control. SUMOylation is a dynamic process, catalyzed by three SUMO-specific enzymes and reversed by Sentrin/SUMO-specific proteases (SENPs). Here we report the characterization of these proteases inSchistosoma mansoni. Usingin silicoanalysis, we identified two SENPs sequences, orthologs of mammalian SENP1 and SENP7, confirming their identities and conservation through phylogenetic analysis. In addition, the transcript levels ofSmsenp1/7in cercariae, adult worms, andin vitrocultivated schistosomula were measured by qRT-PCR. Our data revealed upregulation of theSmsenp1/7transcripts in cercariae and early schistosomula, followed by a marked differential gene expression in the other analyzed stages. However, no significant difference in expression profile between the paralogs was observed for the analyzed stages. Furthermore, in order to detect deSUMOylating capabilities in crude parasite extracts,SmSENP1 enzymatic activity was evaluated using SUMO-1-AMC substrate. The endopeptidase activity related to SUMO-1 precursor processing did not differ significantly between cercariae and adult worms. Taken together, these results support the developmentally regulated expression of SUMO-specific proteases inS. mansoni.
Schistosoma Tegument Proteins in Vaccine and Diagnosis Development: An Update
Authors: Fonseca Cristina Toscano , Braz Figueiredo Carvalho Gardênia , Carvalho Alves Clarice , de Melo Tatiane Teixeira
Published: October 2012

The development of a vaccine against schistosomiasis and also the availability of a more sensitive diagnosis test are important tools to help chemotherapy in controlling disease transmission. Bioinformatics tools, together with the access to parasite genome, published recently, should help generate new knowledge on parasite biology and search for new vaccines or therapeutic targets and antigens to be used in the disease diagnosis. Parasite surface proteins, especially those expressed in schistosomula tegument, represent interesting targets to be used in vaccine formulations and in the diagnosis of early infections, since the tegument represents the interface between host and parasite and its molecules are responsible for essential functions to parasite survival. In this paper we will present the advances in the development of vaccines and diagnosis tests achieved with the use of the information from schistosome genome focused on parasite tegument as a source for antigens.
Existence, Stationary Distribution, and Extinction of Predator‐Prey System of Prey Dispersal with Stochastic Perturbation
Authors: Zu Li , Jiang Daqing , Jiang Fuquan
Published: October 2012

We consider a predator‐prey model in which the preys disperse among
n patches (n ≥ 2) with stochastic perturbation. We show that there is a unique positive solution
and find out the sufficient conditions for the extinction to the system with any given positive initial
value. In addition, we investigate that there exists a stationary distribution for the system and it has
ergodic property. Finally, we illustrate the dynamic behavior of the system with n = 2 via numerical
simulation.
Preparation and Support of Patients through the Transplant Process: Understanding the Recipients' Perspectives
Authors: Mauthner Oliver , De Luca Enza , Poole Jennifer , Gewarges Mena , Abbey Susan E. , Shildrick Margrit , Ross Heather
Published: October 2012

Preparation for heart transplant commonly includes booklets, instructional videos, personalized teaching sessions, and mentorship. This paper explores heart transplant recipients’ thoughts on their preparation and support through the transplant process. Twenty-five interviews were audio-/videotaped capturing voice and body language and transcribed verbatim. Coding addressed language, bodily gesture, volume, and tone in keeping with our visual methodology. Recipients reported that only someone who had a transplant truly understands the experience. As participants face illness and life-altering experiences, maintaining a positive attitude and hope is essential to coping well. Healthcare professionals provide ongoing care and reassurance about recipients’ medical status. Mentors, family members, and close friends play vital roles in supporting recipients. Participants reported that only heart transplant recipients understood the experience, the hope, and ultimately the suffering associated with living with another persons’ heart. Attention needs to be focused not solely on the use of teaching modalities, but also on the development of innovative support networks. This will promote patient and caregiver engagement in self-management. Enhancing clinicians’ knowledge of the existential aspects of transplantation will provide them with a nuanced understanding of the patients’ experience, which will ultimately enhance their ability to better prepare and support patients and their caregivers.
Development of Renal Failure without Proteinuria in a Patient with Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance: An Unusual Presentation of AL Kappa Amyloidosis
Authors: Sun Yijuan , Sandhu Amarpreet , Gabaldon Darlene , Danaraj Jonathan , Servilla Karen S. , Tzamaloukas Antonios H.
Published: October 2012

AL amyloidosis complicating monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) has usually a predominant glomerular deposition of lambda light chain. Heavy proteinuria is one of its cardinal manifestations. A 78-year-old man with a 9-year history of IgG kappa light-chain-MGUS and normal urine protein excretion developed severe renal failure. Serum levels of kappa light chain and serum IgG had been stable while proteinuria was absent throughout the nine-year period. For the first eight years, he had stable stage III chronic kidney disease attributed to bladder outlet obstruction secondary to prostatic malignancy. In the last year, he developed progressive serum creatinine elevation, without any increase in the serum or urine levels of paraproteins or any sign of malignancy. Renal ultrasound and furosemide renogram showed no evidence of urinary obstruction. Renal biopsy revealed AL amyloidosis, with reactivity exclusive for kappa light chains, affecting predominantly the vessels and the interstitium. Glomerular involvement was minimal. Melphalan and prednisone were initiated. However, renal function continues deteriorating. Deposition of AL kappa amyloidosis developing during the course of MGUS predominantly in the wall of the renal vessels and the renal interstitium, while the involvement of the glomeruli is minimal, leads to progressive renal failure and absence of proteinuria. Renal biopsy is required to detect both the presence and the sites of deposition of renal AL kappa light chain amyloidosis.
An Improved Collocation Meshless Method Based on the Variable Shaped Radial Basis Function for the Solution of the Interior Acoustic Problems
Authors: Wang Shuang , Li Shande , Huang Qibai , Li Kun
Published: October 2012

As an efficient tool, radial basis function (RBF) has been widely used for the multivariate approximation, interpolating continuous, and the solution of the particle differential equations. However, ill‐conditioned interpolation matrix may be encountered when the interpolation points are very dense or irregularly arranged. To avert this problem, RBFs with variable shape parameters are introduced, and several new variation strategies are proposed. Comparison with the RBF with constant shape parameters are made, and the results show that the condition number of the interpolation matrix grows much slower with our strategies. As an application, an improved collocation meshless method is formulated by employing the new RBF. In addition, the Hermite‐type interpolation is implemented to handle the Neumann boundary conditions and an additional sine/cosine basis is introduced for the Helmlholtz equation. Then, two interior acoustic problems are solved with the presented method; the results demonstrate the robustness and effectiveness of the method.
Ileal Inflammation May Trigger the Development of GP2-Specific Pancreatic Autoantibodies in Patients with Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Pavlidis Polychronis , Romanidou Ourania , Roggenbuck Dirk , Mytilinaiou Maria G. , Al-Sulttan Faris , Liaskos Christos , Smyk Daniel S. , Koutsoumpas Andreas L. , Rigopoulou Eirini I. , Conrad Karsten , Forbes Alastair , Bogdanos Dimitrios P.
Published: October 2012

Why zymogen glycoprotein 2 (GP2), the Crohn’s disease (CD)-specific pancreatic autoantigen, is the major target of humoral autoimmunity in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is uknown. Recent evidence demonstrates that GP2 is also present on the apical surface of microfold (M) intestinal cells. As the colon lacks GP2-rich M cells, we assumed that patients with colonic CD are seronegative for anti-GP2. Anti-GP2 antibodies were tested in 225 CDs, including 45 patients with colonic location (L2), 45 with terminal ileum (L1) and 135 with ileocolonic involvement; 225 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) were also tested. Anti-GP2 reactivity was detected in 59 (26.2%) CDs and 15 (6.7%) UCs(P<0.001). Only 5 CDs with L2 had anti-GP2 antibodies, compared to 54/180 (30.0%,P=0.0128) of the CDs with L1 and L3. Anti-GP2 antibody positive CD patients had higher ASCA titres compared to seronegative cases. Amongst the 128 CD patients with previous surgical intervention, 45 (35.0%) were anti-GP2 antibody positive compared to 14/97 (14.0%) without surgical(P<0.001). Our data support the assumption that ileal inflammation is required for the development of anti-GP2 antibodies in CD, and suggest that the intestine rather than the pancreatic juice is the antigenic source required for the initiation of anti-GP2 antibodies.
A Novel Sensitivity Analysis Method in Structural Performance of Hydraulic Press
Authors: Zhu Peihao , Zhang Lianhong , Zhou Rui , Chen Lihai , Yu Bing , Xie Qizhi
Published: October 2012

Sensitivity analysis plays a key role in structural optimization, but traditional methods of sensitivity analysis in strength and stiffness are time consuming and of high cost. In order to effectively carry out structural optimization of hydraulic press, this paper presents a novel sensitivity analysis method in structural performance of hydraulic press, which saves a great deal of time and design costs. The key dimension parameters of the optimization of design variables, which remarkably impact on the structural performance of hydraulic press, are efficiently selected. The impact order of various sensitivity parameters in strength and stiffness of machine tools is consistent with the sensitivity ranking of regression analysis. The research results provide the basis for the hydraulic machine design and references in research of machine tools and equipment.
Continuous Operation of a Bragg Diffraction Type Electrooptic Frequency Shifter at 16 GHz with 65% Efficiency
Authors: Hisatake Shintaro , Hattori Kenji , Nagatsuma Tadao
Published: October 2012

We demonstrate for the first time the continuous operation of a Bragg diffraction type electrooptic (EO) frequency shifter using a 16 GHz modulation signal. Because
frequency shifting is based on the Bragg diffraction from an EO traveling phase grating (ETPG), this device can operate even in the millimeter-wave (>30 GHz) range or higher frequency range. The ETPG is generated based on the interaction between a modulation microwave guided by a microstrip line and a copropagating lightwave guided by a planner waveguide in a domain-engineered LiTaO3 EO crystal. In this work, the modulation power efficiency was improved by a factor of 11 compared with that of bulk devices by thinning the substrate so that the modulation electric field in the optical waveguide was enhanced. A shifting efficiency of 65% was achieved at the modulation power of 3 W.
Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease: A Risk Factor for the Global Epidemic
Authors: Chiha Maguy , Njeim Mario , Chedrawy Edgar G.
Published: October 2012

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death in the United States and the world. In this we will paper focus on type 2 diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for coronary heart disease, review the mechanisms of atherogenesis in diabetics, the impact of hypertension and the treatment goals in diabetics, the guidelines for screening, and review the epidemiologic consequences of diabetes and heart disease on a global scale. The underlying premise to consider diabetes a cardiovascular disease equivalent will be explored as well as the recommendations for screening and cardiac testing for asymptomatic diabetic patients.
In Silico Biology of H1N1: Molecular Modelling of Novel Receptors and Docking Studies of Inhibitors to Reveal New Insight in Flu Treatment
Authors: Behera Deepak Kumar , Behera Pabitra Mohan , Acharya Laxmikanta , Dixit Anshuman , Padhi Payodhar
Published: October 2012

Influenza is an infectious disease caused by RNA viruses of the family Orthomyxoviridae. The new influenza H1N1 viral stain has emerged by the genetic combination of genes from human, pig, and bird’s H1N1 virus. The influenza virus is roughly spherical and is enveloped by a lipid membrane. There are two glycoproteins in this lipid membrane; namely, hemagglutinin (HA) which helps in attachment of the viral strain on the host cell surface and neuraminidase (NA) that is responsible for initiation of viral infection. We have developed homology models of both Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase receptors from H1N1 strains in eastern India. The docking studies of B-Sialic acid and O-Sialic acid in the optimized and energy-minimized homology models show important H-bonding interactions with ALA142, ASP230, GLN231, GLU232, and THR141. This information can be used for structure-based and pharmacophore-based new drug design. We have also calculated ADME properties (Human Oral Absorption (HOA) and % HOA) for Oseltamivir which have been subject of debate for long.
Invariant NKT Cells as Novel Targets for Immunotherapy in Solid Tumors
Authors: Pilones Karsten A. , Aryankalayil Joseph , Demaria Sandra
Published: October 2012

Natural killer T (NKT) cells are a small population of lymphocytes that possess characteristics of both innate and adaptive immune cells. They are uniquely poised to respond rapidly to infection and inflammation and produce cytokines that critically shape the ensuing adaptive cellular response. Therefore, they represent promising therapeutic targets. In cancer, NKT cells are attributed a role in immunosurveillance. NKT cells also act as potent activators of antitumor immunity when stimulated with a synthetic agonist in experimental models. However, in some settings, NKT cells seem to act as suppressors and regulators of antitumor immunity. Here we briefly review current data supporting these paradoxical roles of NKT cells and their regulation. Increased understanding of the signals that determine the function of NKT cells in cancer will be essential to improve current strategies for NKT-cell-based immunotherapeutic approaches.
A Case of Male Goltz Syndrome
Authors: Ghoshal Bhaswati , Lahiri Subhrajit , Nandi Debabrata
Published: October 2012

We present the case of a boy with a clinical diagnosis of Goltz syndrome (focal dermal hypoplasia), a rare genodermatosis characterized by widespread dysplasia of mesodermal and ectodermal tissues. A 9-year-old male patient with Goltz syndrome presented with typical skin lesions along with progressive dimness of vision and mental retardation since birth. It is inherited in an X-linked dominant fashion and is normally lethal in male patients, and so very few male patients, like the index case, have been reported.
Embedded Controlled Isolated Bidirectional Full-Bridge DC-DC Converter with Flyback Snubber
Authors: Kirubakaran D. , Sathi Rama Reddy
Published: October 2012

An isolated bidirectional full-bridge DC-DC converter with flyback snubber for supplying a resistive load is simulated and experimentally verified. The DC-DC converter for high conversion ratio, high output power, and soft start-up capability is presented in this paper. The circuit consists of a capacitor, a diode, and a flyback converter. These components help to clamp the voltage spikes caused by the current difference between the current fed inductor and leakage inductance of the isolation transformer. The switches are operated by soft-switching technology. The suppression of inrush current which is usually found in the boost mode start-up transition is presented here. The simulated and experimental results for output voltage, output current, and power for both buck and boost modes are presented.
Tumor-Induced CD8+ T-Cell Dysfunction in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Prado-Garcia Heriberto , Romero-Garcia Susana , Aguilar-Cazares Dolores , Meneses-Flores Manuel , Lopez-Gonzalez Jose Sullivan
Published: October 2012

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and one of the most common types of cancers. The limited success of chemotherapy and radiotherapy regimes have highlighted the need to develop new therapies like antitumor immunotherapy. CD8+ T-cells represent a major arm of the cell-mediated anti-tumor response and a promising target for developing T-cell-based immunotherapies against lung cancer. Lung tumors, however, have been considered to possess poor immunogenicity; even so, lung tumor-specific CD8+ T-cell clones can be established that possess cytotoxicity against autologous tumor cells. This paper will focus on the alterations induced in CD8+ T-cells by lung cancer. Although memory CD8+ T-cells infiltrate lung tumors, in both tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and malignant pleural effusions, these cells are dysfunctional and the effector subset is reduced. We propose that chronic presence of lung tumors induces dysfunctions in CD8+ T-cells and sensitizes them to activation-induced cell death, which may be associated with the poor clinical responses observed in immunotherapeutic trials. Getting a deeper knowledge of the evasion mechanisms lung cancer induce in CD8+ T-cells should lead to further understanding of lung cancer biology, overcome tumor evasion mechanisms, and design improved immunotherapeutic treatments for lung cancer.
Circuit Implementation of Coronary Artery Chaos Phenomenon and Optimal PID Synchronization Controller Design
Authors: Yeh Cheng-Yu , Shiu Jen , Yau Her-Terng
Published: October 2012

This study aimed at the implementation and synchronization control of cardiac circuit. First, the MATLAB‐Simulink was used to simulate the dynamic behavior of cardiac chaotic circuit, and simple electronic modules were used to implement the cardiac system. Then the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) was used to seek for the proportional, integral, and derivative gains of optimal PID controller, and the PID controller which could synchronize the slave cardiac circuit and the master cardiac circuit was obtained, in order to synchronize the master/slave chaotic cardiac circuits. This method can be provided for cardiac doctors to diagnose and medicate cardiac abnormality.
A Brief History of Airway Smooth Muscle’s Role in Airway Hyperresponsiveness
Authors: Pascoe C. D. , Wang L. , Syyong H. T. , Paré P. D.
Published: October 2012

A link between airway smooth muscle (ASM) and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in asthma was first postulated in the midnineteenth century, and the suspected link has garnered ever increasing interest over the years. AHR is characterized by excessive narrowing of airways in response to nonspecific stimuli, and it is the ASM that drives this narrowing. The stimuli that can be used to demonstrate AHR vary widely, as do the potential mechanisms by which phenotypic changes in ASM or nonmuscle factors can contribute to AHR. In this paper, we review the history of research on airway smooth muscle’s role in airway hyperresponsiveness. This research has ranged from analyzing the quantity of ASM in the airways to testing for alterations in the plastic behavior of smooth muscle, which distinguishes it from skeletal and cardiac muscles. This long history of research and the continued interest in this topic mean that the precise role of ASM in airway responsiveness remains elusive, which makes it a pertinent topic for this collection of articles.
Robust Stabilization for Continuous Takagi‐Sugeno Fuzzy System Based on Observer Design
Authors: Manai Yassine , Benrejeb Mohamed
Published: October 2012

This paper investigates the influence of a new parallel distributed controller (PDC) on the stabilization region of continuous Takagi‐Sugeno (T‐S) fuzzy models. Using a nonquadratic Lyapunov function, a new sufficient stabilization criterion is established in terms of linear matrix inequality. The criterion examines the derivative membership function; an approach to determine state variables is given based on observer design. In addition, a stabilization condition for uncertain system is given. Finally, numeric simulation is given to validate the developed approach.
Magnetic Resonance Angiography Using Fresh Blood Imaging in Oral and Maxillofacial Regions
Authors: Oda Masafumi , Tanaka Tatsurou , Kito Shinji , Habu Manabu , Kodama Masaaki , Kokuryo Shinya , Miyamoto Ikuya , Yoshiga Daigo , Yamauchi Kensuke , Nogami Shinnosuke , Wakasugi-Sato Nao , Matsumoto-Takeda Shinobu , Ishikawa Ayataka , Nishida Ikuko , Saeki Katsura , Morikawa Kazumasa , Matsuo Kou , Seta Yuji , Yamashita Yoshihiro , Maki Kenshi , Tominaga Kazuhiro , Morimoto Yasuhiro
Published: October 2012

The present paper provides general dentists with an introduction to the clinical applications and significance of magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in the oral and maxillofacial regions. Specifically, the method and characteristics of MRA are first explained using the relevant MR sequences. Next, clinical applications to the oral and maxillofacial regions, such as identification of hemangiomas and surrounding vessels by MRA, are discussed. Moreover, the clinical significance of MRA for other regions is presented to elucidate future clinical applications of MRA in the oral and maxillofacial regions.
Endoscopic Extracapsular Removal of Pituitary Adenoma: The Importance of Pretreatment of an Adjacent Unruptured Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysm
Authors: Yamada So , Yamada Shoko M. , Hirohata Toshio , Ishii Yudo , Hoya Katsumi , Murakami Mineko , Matsuno Akira
Published: October 2012

The presence of an intracranial aneurysm together with a pituitary adenoma presents tremendous risk of subarachnoid hemorrhage, during transsphenoidal surgery, particularly when the aneurysm lies near the operative field. A left supraclinoid internal carotid artery aneurysm and a clinically nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma coexisted in a 57-year-old woman. Initially, the aneurysm was treated by endovascular coil placement, and then the patient underwent pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection of the pituitary tumor via a transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic approach. Pseudocapsule-based extracapsular total resection was safely performed, because of the extirpated risk of rupture of the coil-treated aneurysm. Recently, transsphenoidal pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection approach for pituitary adenomas provides a more effective and safe alternative compared to the traditional intracapsular one because of its higher tumor removal and remission rates and lower recurrence rate. Compared with conventional subcapsular removal, pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection has more risks of aneurysmal rupture that is located adjacent to pituitary adenoma. Thus, in a patient having a cerebral aneurysm with the proximity to the operative field, the cerebral aneurysm should be first treated with endovascular coil placement or direct surgical procedure; subsequently, pseudocapsule-based extracapsular resection of the pituitary tumor via a transnasal transsphenoidal endoscopic approach should be performed.
Convergence of an Eighth-Order Compact Difference Scheme for the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation
Authors: Wang Tingchun
Published: October 2012

A new compact difference scheme is proposed for solving the nonlinear Schrödinger equation. The scheme is proved to conserve the total mass and the total energy and the optimal convergent rate, without any restriction on the grid ratio, at the order of O(h8+τ2) in the discrete L∞-norm with time step τ and mesh size h. In numerical analysis, beside the standard techniques of the energy method, a new technique named “regression of compactness” and some lemmas are proposed to prove the high-order convergence. For computing the nonlinear algebraical systems generated by the nonlinear compact scheme, an efficient iterative algorithm is constructed. Numerical examples are given to support the theoretical analysis.
Parallel‐Distributed Model Deformation in the Fingertips for Stable Grasping and Object Manipulation
Authors: García-Rodríguez R. , Díaz-Rodríguez G.
Published: October 2012

The study on the human grip has inspired to the robotics over the past decades, which has resulted in performance improvements of robotic hands. However, current robotic hands do not have the enough dexterity to execute complex tasks. Recognizing this fact, the soft fingertips with hemispherical shape and deformation models have renewed attention of roboticists. A high‐friction contact to prevent slipping and the rolling contribution between the object and fingers are some characteristics of the soft fingertips which are useful to improve the grasping stability. In this paper, the parallel distributed deformation model is used to present the dynamical model of the soft tip fingers with n‐degrees of freedom. Based on the joint angular positions of the fingers, a control scheme that fuses a stable grasping and the object manipulation into a unique control signal is proposed. The force‐closure conditions are defined to guarantee a stable grasping and the boundedness of the closed‐loop signals is proved. Furthermore, the convergence of the contact force to its desired value is guaranteed, without any information about the radius of the fingertip. Simulation results are provided to visualize the stable grasping and the object manipulation, avoiding the gravity effect.
Synthesis and Electrical and Gas Sensing Properties of Some 5‐(Quinolinylmethylene)‐2‐thioxodihydropyrimidine‐4,6(1H,5H)‐dione and 5‐(Quinolinylmethylene)pyrimidine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)‐trione Derivatives
Authors: Beker H. Kerim , Canlica Mevlude , Akinci Alper , Altindal Ahmet , Kaban Seniz
Published: October 2012

Eight new 5‐(quinolinylmethylene)barbituric acid derivatives were synthesized by the reaction of 1,3‐dimethylbarbituric acid and 1,3‐diethyl‐2‐thiobarbituric acid with quinoline‐4‐carboxaldehydes and several quinoline‐2‐carboxaldehydes via Knoevenagel condensation. The novel compounds were characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, mass, IR, and UV‐visible spectral data and elemental analyses. d.c. and a.c. conduction properties of the compounds were investigated in the frequency range of 40–105 Hz and temperature range 295–440 K. The d.c. results showed an activated conductivity dependence on temperature for all films. Obtained data reveal that a.c. conductivity obeys the relation σac(ω) = Aωs and exponent s is found to decrease by increasing temperature. The analysis of the a.c. conduction data showed that the CBH model is the dominant conduction mechanism for the electron transport in the films. Gas sensing properties of the films for the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were also investigated in the same temperature range. Maximum sensitivity to VOCs was observed at around 360 K for compound 6.
Cultural Change, Human Activity, and Cognitive Development
Authors: Gauvain Mary , Munroe Robert L.
Published: October 2012

Differential cognitive performance across cultural contexts has been a standard result in comparative research. Here we discuss how societal changes occurring when a small-scale traditional community incorporates elements from industrialized society may contribute to cognitive development, and we illustrate this with an analysis of the cognitive performances and everyday activities of children from four communities representing a range of such incorporations. We discuss this research in relation to ontogenesis and sociogenesis and propose several processes or mechanisms that may account for cultural and cognitive change in the context of societal absorption of elements common in industrialized settings. Our perspective centers on the claim that changes in cultural features are inextricably linked to changes in human activity and cognition. We also suggest that changes that align small-scale traditional societies in this way provide certain cognitive advantages for individuals raised in, and continuing to live in, traditional societies, and such advantages show up in many cognitive measures. We also use this information in discussing explanations for the Flynn effect. We conclude with consideration of some implications of the perspective we offer.