bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corneal biomechanical properties in normal‐tension glaucoma
Authors: Morita Tetsuya , Shoji Nobuyuki , Kamiya Kazutaka , Fujimura Fusako , Shimizu Kimiya
Published: September 2011

Purpose:  To investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal biomechanical properties of normal and normal‐tension glaucoma (NTG) eyes.

Methods:  This study included 83 normal and 83 NTG eyes. We measured corneal‐compensated IOP (IOPcc), Goldmann‐correlated IOP (IOPg), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal hysteresis (CH) and central corneal thickness (CCT) three times each for normal and NTG eyes using an Ocular Response Analyzer (ORA).

Results:  No significant difference in CCT was seen between normal eyes (541.4 ± 26.8 μm) and NTG eyes (535.4 ± 24.9 μm; p = 0.16). IOPcc was significantly higher in NTG eyes (16.1 ± 2.6 mmHg) than in normal eyes (15.1 ± 2.9 mmHg; p = 0.01), while IOPg was significantly lower in NTG eyes (14.1 ± 2.7 mmHg) than in normal eyes (15.1 ± 3.0 mmHg; p = 0.04). CRF and CH were significantly lower in NTG eyes (CRF, 8.9 ± 1.5 mmHg; CH, 9.2 ± 1.3 mmHg) than in normal eyes (CRF, 10.6 ± 1.4 mmHg; CH, 10.8 ± 1.3 mmHg; p < 0.0001 each).

Conclusion:  IOPcc was significantly higher in NTG eyes than in normal eyes. The ORA may be useful for distinguishing between the IOPcc of NTG eyes with normal IOP and that of normal eyes. In addition, the ORA enables CRF and CH to be measured in vivo, and weakness of the lamina cribrosa may be clinically inferred from the fact that CRF and CH were reduced in NTG eyes in our study. Low CRF and CH may be clues to the pathology of NTG.
Visual loss after use of intraocular silicone oil associated with thinning of inner retinal layers
Authors: Christensen Ulrik C. , la Cour Morten
Published: September 2011

Purpose:  To investigate the incidence and cause of severe visual loss following use and removal of intraocular silicone oil (SiO) after uncomplicated vitrectomy and SiO injection for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

Methods:   Consecutive case series of 216 patients operated with vitrectomy for primary RRD in 2004–2005. In 162 eyes, SiO (5500 centiStoke) had been used as intravitreal tamponade and in 54 eyes gas (perflouropropane, C3F8) had been used. Following chart review, we identified 16 eyes in 16 patients (nine SiO eyes, seven gas eyes) with macula‐on and documented visual acuity ≥6/12 before surgery, where SiO had been removed, cataract surgery performed and no re‐detachment had occurred. Examinations included best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and high‐definition optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the macular area.

Results:  Preoperative characteristics were identical between SiO and gas eyes. Postoperative BCVA was significantly worse in SiO eyes (>6/24) compared to gas eyes (>6/7.5), p = 0.005. Three of 9 (33%) SiO eyes had final BCVA ≤6/60 and 67% had final BCVA ≤6/12. No gas eyes had final BCVA <6/9. Macular OCT revealed thinning of inner retinal layers in SiO‐operated eyes (5148 pixels) compared to gas‐operated eyes (6897 pixels), p < 0.002. No other visually significant structural differences were found.

Conclusion:  Severe visual loss after SiO use was observed in 1/3 of patients with otherwise good visual potential. The visual loss was associated with a significant reduction in inner retinal thickness indicating neuronal cell loss in the macular area as a possible explanation.
GABAergic signalling in a neurogenic niche of the turtle spinal cord
Authors: Reali Cecilia , Fernández Anabel , Radmilovich Milka , Trujillo‐Cenóz Omar , Russo Raúl E.
Published: September 2011

Non‐technical summary  Neurogenesis is tightly regulated by epigenetic factors that assure the correct assembly of neural circuits. Neurotransmitters play a fundamental role in this type of control. We show that GABA signals on progenitors and immature neurones within a neurogenic niche around the central canal (CC) of the turtle spinal cord. GABA depolarized progenitors whereas the effect on immature neurones varied from excitation to inhibition. In both cell types GABAA receptor activation induced an increase in intracellular calcium. Our findings imply that GABAergic signalling around the CC shares fundamental properties with those in the embryo and adult neurogenic niches in the brain, suggesting that GABA is part of the mechanisms regulating the production and integration of neurones to already operational spinal circuits. Understanding the GABAergic modulation of progenitors and neuroblasts may provide useful clues about key mechanisms needed for functional neurogenesis in the spinal cord.
Muscular effects of orexin A on the mouse duodenum: mechanical and electrophysiological studies
Authors: Squecco Roberta , Garella Rachele , Luciani Giorgia , Francini Fabio , Baccari Maria Caterina
Published: September 2011

Non‐Technical Summary  Nerve‐mediated influences on gastrointestinal motility in response to orexin A, either centrally injected or applied to isolated gut preparations, have been reported. However, the presence of orexin receptors at the gastrointestinal smooth muscle level has been found. On these grounds, in the present study we evaluated whether orexin A also exerts direct muscular effects in the duodenal smooth muscle of the mouse in an attempt to explain the possible mechanism of action involved. The experimental results from mechanical and electrophysiological studies indicate that orexin A causes direct contractile responses in the isolated preparations and evokes changes in the ionic currents of the smooth muscle cells. Thus, orexin A, in addition to its neutrally mediated influences on gastrointestinal motility, exerts direct muscular effects on the mouse duodenum. This latter mechanism, from a physiological point of view, may act in a synergic manner to reinforce the neuronal signals.
A general framework and review of scatter correction methods in cone beam CT. Part 2: Scatter estimation approaches
Authors: Rührnschopf and Ernst‐Peter , Klingenbeck Klaus
Published: August 2011

The main components of scatter correction procedures are scatter estimation and a scatter compensation algorithm. This paper completes a previous paper where a general framework for scatter compensation was presented under the prerequisite that a scatter estimation method is already available. In the current paper, the authors give a systematic review of the variety of scatter estimation approaches. Scatter estimation methods are based on measurements, mathematical–physical models, or combinations of both. For completeness they present an overview of measurement‐based methods, but the main topic is the theoretically more demanding models, as analytical, Monte‐Carlo, and hybrid models. Further classifications are 3D image‐based and 2D projection‐based approaches. The authors present a system‐theoretic framework, which allows to proceed top–down from a general 3D formulation, by successive approximations, to efficient 2D approaches. A widely useful method is the beam‐scatter‐kernel superposition approach. Together with the review of standard methods, the authors discuss their limitations and how to take into account the issues of object dependency, spatial variance, deformation of scatter kernels, external and internal absorbers. Open questions for further investigations are indicated. Finally, the authors refer on some special issues and applications, such as bow‐tie filter, offset detector, truncated data, and dual‐source CT.
Preliminary investigations for the option to use fast uniform scanning with compensators on a gantry designed for IMPT
Authors: Zenklusen Silvan M. , Pedroni Eros , Meer David , Bula Christian , Safai Sairos
Published: August 2011

Purpose:

In this experimental study, the authors explored the possibility to deliver the dose for proton therapy with fast uniform scanning on a gantry primarily designed for the delivery of conformal beam scanning and IMPT. The uniform scanning submode has been realized without equipment modifications by using the same small pencil beam used for conformal scanning, resulting in reduced realization costs. Uniform scanning has recently been adopted in a few proton therapy centers, as a basic beam delivery solution, and as an alternative to the use of scattering foils. The option to use such a mode to mimic scattering on a full‐fledged scanning gantry could be of interest for treating some specific indications and as a possible solution for treating moving targets.

Methods:

Uniform iso‐energy dose layers were painted by fast magnetic scanning alternated with fast energy changes with the gantry beam line. The layers were stacked and repainted appropriately to produce homogeneous three‐dimensional dose distributions. A collimator/compensator was used to adjust the dose to coincide laterally/distally with the target volume. In addition, they applied volumetric repainting, since they are confident that this will further mitigate the effects of organ motion as compared with the presently used clinical scanning solutions. With the approach presented in this paper, they can profit from the higher flexibility of the scanning system to obtain additional advantages. For instance the shape of the energy layers can be adjusted to the projected target shape in order to reduce treatment time and neutrons produced in the collimator. The shape of the proximal layers can be shrunk, according to the cross section of the target at the corresponding range. This provides variable range modulation (proximal conformity) while standard scattering only provides fixed range modulation with unnecessary 100% dose proximal to the target. The field‐specific hardware for a spherical target volume was mounted on the Gantry 2 nozzle. One field with proximal field size shrinking and one without, each of 1 Gy, were delivered. The dose distributions at different depths were recorded as CCD images of a scintillating screen.

Results:

The time to scan the volume once was about 4 s and the total delivery time was approximately 30 s. For the field with proximal conformity, dose sparing of up to 25% was measured in the region proximal to the target. A repainting capability of 48 times was achieved on the most distal layer. The proximal layers were repainted more due to the contribution of the plateau dose from the deeper layers.

Conclusions:

The flexibility of a fast scanning gantry with very fast energy changes can easily provide beam delivery by uniform layer stacking with a significant degree of volumetric repainting and with the benefit of a dose reduction proximal to the target volume.
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Single and Multiple Doses of ACHN-490 Injection Administered Intravenously in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Cass Robert T. , Brooks Carter D. , Havrilla Nancy A. , Tack Kenneth J. , Borin Marie T. , Young Don , Bruss Jon B.
Published: September 2011

ACHN-490 is an aminoglycoside with activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens, including those resistant to currently used aminoglycosides. Two randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies investigated the pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and tolerability of ACHN-490 injection in healthy subjects. Study 1 used a parallel-group design with escalating single (SD) and multiple doses (MD). Study 2 explored a longer duration of the highest dose tolerated in the first study. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive either ACHN-490 injection or a placebo administered by a 10-min intravenous infusion. Study 1 enrolled 39 subjects (30 active and 9 placebo) and consisted of a single dose of 1 mg/kg body weight followed by ascending SD and MD cohorts of 4, 7, 11, and 15 mg/kg for 10, 10, 5, and 3 days, respectively. Study 2 enrolled 8 subjects (6 active and 2 placebo) who received 15 mg/kg for 5 days. Safety was assessed from adverse event (AE) reporting, standard clinical laboratory procedures, and testing for renal, cochlear, and vestibular function. ACHN-490 exhibited linear and dose-proportional PK, with agreement between the studies for PK parameters assessed. The 15-mg/kg dose did not accumulate with repeated dosing over 5 days. Mean steady-state (±standard deviation) area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC
0-24
), maximum concentration of drug in serum (
C
max
), half-life (
t
1/2
), clearance, and volume of distribution at steady state (
V
ss
) for the 15-mg/kg, day 5 dose were 239 ± 45 h·mg/liter, 113 ± 17 mg/liter, 3 ± 0.3 h, 1.1 ± 0.1 ml/min/kg, and 0.24 ± 0.04 liters/kg, respectively. AEs were mild to moderate and rapidly resolved. No evidence of nephrotoxicity or ototoxicity was observed.
Wild-Type MIC Distributions and Epidemiological Cutoff Values for Amphotericin B and Aspergillus spp. for the CLSI Broth Microdilution Method (M38-A2 Document)
Authors: Espinel-Ingroff A. , Cuenca-Estrella M. , Fothergill A. , Fuller J. , Ghannoum M. , Johnson E. , Pelaez T. , Pfaller M. A. , Turnidge J.
Published: August 2011

Although clinical breakpoints have not been established for mold testing, epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) are available for
Aspergillus
spp. versus the triazoles and caspofungin. Wild-type (WT) MIC distributions (organisms in a species-drug combination with no acquired resistance mechanisms) were defined in order to establish ECVs for six
Aspergillus
spp. and amphotericin B. Two sets (CLSI/EUCAST broth microdilution) of available MICs were evaluated: those for
A. fumigatus
(3,988/833),
A. flavus
(793/194),
A. nidulans
(184/69),
A. niger
(673/140),
A. terreus
(545/266), and
A. versicolor
(135/22). Three sets of data were analyzed: (i) CLSI data gathered in eight independent laboratories in Canada, Europe, and the United States; (ii) EUCAST data from a single laboratory; and (iii) the combined CLSI and EUCAST data. ECVs, expressed in μg/ml, that captured 95%, 97.5%, and 99% of the modeled wild-type population (CLSI and combined data) were as follows: for
A. fumigatus
, 2, 2, and 4; for
A. flavus
, 2, 4, and 4; for
A. nidulans
, 4, 4, and 4; for
A. niger
, 2, 2, and 2; for
A. terreus
, 4, 4, and 8; and for
A. versicolor
, 2, 2, and 2. Similar to the case for the triazoles and caspofungin, amphotericin B ECVs may aid in the detection of strains with acquired mechanisms of resistance to this agent.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Marine Sediment-Derived Actinomycete Streptomyces xinghaiensis NRRL B24674T
Authors: Zhao Xinqing , Yang Tianhong
Published: September 2011

Actinobacteria are a rich source of novel natural products. We recently characterizedStreptomyces xinghaiensisNRRL B24674Tas a novel species of marine origin. Here we report the draft genome sequence of this species. This is the first validly published marine streptomycete for which a genome sequence has been presented.
Complete Genome Sequence of “Candidatus Tremblaya princeps” Strain PCVAL, an Intriguing Translational Machine below the Living-Cell Status
Authors: López-Madrigal Sergio , Latorre Amparo , Porcar Manuel , Moya Andrés , Gil Rosario
Published: September 2011

The sequence of the genome of “
Candidatus
Tremblaya princeps” strain PCVAL, the primary endosymbiont of the citrus mealybug
Planococcus citri
, has been determined. “
Ca
. Tremblaya princeps” presents an unusual nested endosymbiosis and harbors a gammaproteobacterial symbiont within its cytoplasm in all analyzed mealybugs. The genome sequence reveals that “
Ca
. Tremblaya princeps” cannot be considered an independent organism but that the consortium with its gammaproteobacterial symbiotic associate represents a new composite living being.
Draft Genome Sequence of Nesterenkonia sp. Strain F, Isolated From Aran-Bidgol Salt Lake in Iran
Authors: Sarikhan Sajjad , Azarbaijani Reza , Yeganeh Laleh Parsa , Fazeli Abolhassan Shahzadeh , Amoozegar Mohammad Ali , Salekdeh Ghasem Hosseini
Published: September 2011

The draft genome of the aerobic, Gram-positive, halophilic chemoorganotroph
Nesterenkonia
sp. strain F consists of a 2,812,133-bp chromosome. This study is the first to report the shotgun-sequenced draft genome of a member of the genus
Nesterenkonia
.
Genome Sequence of the Ruminal Bacterium Megasphaera elsdenii
Authors: Marx Hans , Graf Alexandra Bettina , Tatto Nadine Elpida , Thallinger Gerhard Günther , Mattanovich Diethard , Sauer Michael
Published: September 2011

Megasphaera elsdenii
is a Gram-negative ruminal bacterium. It is being investigated as a probiotic supplement for ruminants as it may provide benefits for energy balance and animal productivity. Furthermore, it is of biotechnological interest due to its capability of producing various volatile fatty acids. Here we report the complete genome sequence of
M. elsdenii
DSM 20460, the type strain for the species.
A botulinum toxin A treatment algorithm for de novo management of torticollis and laterocollis
Authors: Hefter Harald , Kupsch Andreas , Müngersdorf Martina , Paus Sebastian , Stenner Andrea , Jost Wolfgang
Published: September 2011

Objectives

Few studies have investigated the injection patterns for botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of heterogeneous forms of cervical dystonia (CD). This large, prospective, open-label, multicentre study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of 500 U botulinum toxin A for the initial treatment according to a standardised algorithm of the two most frequent forms of CD, predominantly torticollis and laterocollis.

Design

Patients (aged ≥18 years) with CD not previously treated with botulinum neurotoxin therapy were given one treatment with 500 U Dysport, according to a defined intramuscular injection algorithm based on clinical assessment of direction of head deviation, occurrence of shoulder elevation, occurrence of tremor (all evaluated using the Tsui rating scale) and hypertrophy of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Results

In this study, 516 patients were enrolled, the majority of whom (95.0%) completed treatment. Most patients had torticollis (78.1%). At week 4, mean Tsui scores had significantly decreased by −4.01, −3.76 and −4.09 points in the total, torticollis and laterocollis populations, respectively. Symptom improvement was equally effective between groups. Tsui scores remained significantly below baseline at week 12 in both groups. Treatment was well tolerated; the most frequent adverse events were muscular weakness (13.8%), dysphagia (9.9%) and neck pain (6.6%).

Conclusions

Dysport 500 U is effective and well tolerated for the de novo management of a range of heterogeneous forms of CD, when using a standardised regimen that allows tailored dosing based on individual symptom assessment.

Clinical trials information

(NCT00447772;clinicaltrials.gov)
High prevalence of macrolide resistantTreponema pallidumstrains in a London centre: Table 1
Authors: Tipple Craig , McClure Myra O , Taylor Graham P
Published: September 2011

Objectives

Macrolide resistantTreponema pallidumstrains, caused by mutations in the 23S ribosomal RNA (23S rRNA) gene, are widespread and increasingly prevalent. The authors aimed to establish the strain types ofT pallidumisolated from patients in a London sexual health centre and to determine the frequency of macrolide resistance.

Methods

T pallidumDNA from blood and ulcer samples were subjected to strain typing and mutation analysis using previously described methods.

Results

18 samples were tested and a 23S rRNA point mutation conferring macrolide resistance was found in 66.6%. All resistant strains were collected from men who have sex with men and both the A2058G and the A2059G mutations were found. Two strain types were identified (14d/g and 14d/f); the predominant strain type was 14d/g and an association was noted betweentp0548type g and macrolide resistance.

Conclusions

High levels ofT pallidummacrolide resistance are present in London, UK, and this has clear implications for national treatment guidelines.
TAPERED FEW-MODE FIBERS: MODE EVOLUTION DURING FABRICATION AND ADIABATICITY
Authors: PETCU-COLAN ALEX , FRAWLEY MARY , CHORMAIC SILE NIC
Published: September 2011

In this paper, the evolution of the LP11 mode during the fabrication of tapered optical fibers is examined. General trends in the modal coupling are inferred from probe beam transmission plots. Alternative tapered fiber shapes are proposed for the creation of an efficient few-mode fiber for different wavelengths, and core and cladding radii.
THE KARDAR–PARISI–ZHANG EQUATION AND UNIVERSALITY CLASS
Authors: CORWIN IVAN
Published: September 2011

Brownian motion is a continuum scaling limit for a wide class of random processes, and there has been great success in developing a theory for its properties (such as distribution functions or regularity) and expanding the breadth of its universality class. Over the past 25 years a new universality class has emerged to describe a host of important physical and probabilistic models (including one-dimensional interface growth processes, interacting particle systems and polymers in random environments) which display characteristic, though unusual, scalings and new statistics. This class is called the Kardar–Parisi–Zhang (KPZ) universality class and underlying it is, again, a continuum object — a non-linear stochastic partial differential equation — known as the KPZ equation.

The purpose of this survey is to explain the context for, as well as the content of a number of mathematical breakthroughs which have culminated in the derivation of the exact formula for the distribution function of the KPZ equation started with narrow wedge initial data. In particular we emphasize three topics: (1) The approximation of the KPZ equation through the weakly asymmetric simple exclusion process; (2) The derivation of the exact one-point distribution of the solution to the KPZ equation with narrow wedge initial data; (3) Connections with directed polymers in random media.

As the purpose of this article is to survey and review, we make precise statements but provide only heuristic arguments with indications of the technical complexities necessary to make such arguments mathematically rigorous.
In the Virtual Extension
Authors: CACM Staff
Published: August 2011

To ensure the timely publication of articles,
Communications
created the Virtual Extension (VE) to expand the page limitations of the print edition by bringing readers the same high-quality articles in an online-only format. VE articles undergo the same rigorous review process as those in the print edition and are accepted for publication on merit. The following synopses are from articles now available in their entirety to ACM members via the Digital Library.
The most expensive one-byte mistake
Authors: Kamp Poul-Henning
Published: August 2011

Did Ken, Dennis, and Brian choose wrong with NUL-terminated text strings?
Puzzled: Solutions and sources
Authors: Winkler Peter
Published: August 2011

Last month (Aug. 2011, p. 120) we posted a trio of brainteasers, including one as yet unsolved, concerning divisibility of numbers. Here, we offer solutions to two of them and a remark about the third. How did you do?
Temporal dependency-based checkpoint selection for dynamic verification of temporal constraints in scientific workflow systems
Authors: Chen Jinjun , Yang Yun
Published: August 2011

In a scientific workflow system, a checkpoint selection strategy is used to select checkpoints along scientific workflow execution for verifying temporal constraints so that we can identify any temporal violations and handle them in time in order to ensure overall temporal correctness of the execution that is often essential for the usefulness of execution results. The problem of existing representative strategies is that they do not differentiate temporal constraints as, once a checkpoint is selected, they verify all temporal constraints. However, such a checkpoint does not need to be taken for those constraints whose consistency can be deduced from others. The corresponding verification of such constraints is consequently unnecessary and can severely impact overall temporal verification efficiency while the efficiency determines whether temporal violations can be identified quickly for handling in time. To address the problem, in this article, we develop a new temporal-dependency based checkpoint selection strategy which can select checkpoints in accordance with different temporal constraints. With our strategy, the corresponding unnecessary verification can be avoided. The comparison and experimental simulation further demonstrate that our new strategy can improve the efficiency of overall temporal verification significantly over the existing representative strategies.
Efficient similarity joins for near-duplicate detection
Authors: Xiao Chuan , Wang Wei , Lin Xuemin , Yu Jeffrey Xu , Wang Guoren
Published: August 2011

With the increasing amount of data and the need to integrate data from multiple data sources, one of the challenging issues is to identify
near-duplicate
records efficiently. In this article, we focus on efficient algorithms to find a pair of records such that their similarities are no less than a given threshold. Several existing algorithms rely on the
prefix filtering
principle to avoid computing similarity values for all possible pairs of records. We propose new filtering techniques by exploiting the token ordering information; they are integrated into the existing methods and drastically reduce the candidate sizes and hence improve the efficiency. We have also studied the implementation of our proposed algorithm in stand-alone and RDBMS-based settings. Experimental results show our proposed algorithms can outperform previous algorithms on several real datasets.
Applying dynamic reconfiguration in the mobile robotics domain
Authors: Nava Federico , Sciuto Donatella , Santambrogio Marco Domenico , Herbrechtsmeier Stefan , Porrmann Mario , Witkowski Ulf , Rueckert Ulrich
Published: August 2011

Mobile robots are widely used in industrial environments and are expected to be widely available in human environments in the near future, for example, in the area of care and service robots. This article proposes an implementation for a highly customizable color recognition module based on Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) hardware to accomplish tasks like real-time frame processing for image streams. In comparison to a pure software solution on a CPU, an attached FPGA-based hardware accelerator enables real-time image processing and significantly reduces the required computing power of the CPU. Instead, the CPU can be used for tasks that cannot be efficiently implemented on FPGAs, for example, because of a large control overhead. We concentrate on a multirobot scenario where a group of robots follows a human team member by keeping a specific formation in order to support the human in exploration and object detection. Additionally, the robots provide a communication infrastructure to maintain a stable multihop communication network between the human and a base station recording all actions and evaluating the captured images and transmitted data. Depending on the current operating conditions, the robot system has to be able to execute a wide variety of different tasks. Since only a small number of tasks have to be executed concurrently, dynamic reconfiguration of the FPGA can be used to avoid the parallel implementation of all tasks on the FPGA. Within this context, this article discusses application fields where dynamic reconfiguration of FPGA-based coprocessors significantly reduces the CPU load and presents examples of how dynamic reconfiguration can be used in exploration.
Approximate Query Complexity
Authors: Smyth Clifford
Published: August 2011

Let
f
: {0, 1}
n
→ {0, 1}. Let
μ
be a product probability measure on {0, 1}
n
. For
ϵ
≥ 0, we define
Dϵ
(
f
), the
ϵ-approximate
decision tree complexity of
f
, to be the minimum depth of a decision tree
T
with
μ
(
T
(
x
) ≠
f
(
x
)) ≤
ϵ
. For
j
= 0 or 1 and for
δ
≥ 0, we define
Cj,δ
(
f
), the
δ-approximate
j
-certificate complexity of
f
, to be the minimum certificate complexity of a set
A
⊆
Ω
with
μ
(
AΔf
−1
(
j
)) ≤
ϵ
. Note that if
μ
(
x
) > 0 for all
x
then
D
0
(
f
) =
D
(
f
) and
Cj
,0
(
f
) =
Cj
(
f
) are the ordinary decision tree and
j
-certificate complexities of
f
, respectively. We extend the well-known result,
D
(
f
) ≤
C
1
(
f
)
C
0
(
f
) [Blum and Impagliazzo 1987; Hartmanis and Hemachandra 1991; Tardos 1989], proving that for all
ϵ
> 0 there exists a
δ
> 0 and a constant
K
=
K
(
ϵ
,
δ
) > 0 such that for all
n
,
μ
,
f
,
Dϵ
(
f
) ≤
K C
1,
δ
(
f
)
C
0,
δ
(
f
). We also give a partial answer to a related question on query complexity raised by Tardos [1989]. We prove generalizations of these results to general product probability spaces.
Scheduling real-time garbage collection on uniprocessors
Authors: Kalibera Tomas , Pizlo Filip , Hosking Antony L. , Vitek Jan
Published: August 2011

Managed languages such as Java and C# are increasingly being considered for hard real-time applications because of their productivity and software engineering advantages. Automatic memory management, or garbage collection, is a key enabler for robust, reusable libraries, yet remains a challenge for analysis and implementation of real-time execution environments. This article comprehensively compares leading approaches to hard real-time garbage collection. There are many design decisions involved in selecting a real-time garbage collection algorithm. For time-based garbage collectors on uniprocessors one must choose whether to use
periodic
,
slack-based
or
hybrid
scheduling. A significant impediment to valid experimental comparison of such choices is that commercial implementations use completely different proprietary infrastructures. We present Minuteman, a framework for experimenting with real-time collection algorithms in the context of a high-performance execution environment for real-time Java. We provide the first comparison of the approaches, both experimentally using realistic workloads, and analytically in terms of schedulability.
Modeling and animating eye blinks
Authors: Trutoiu Laura C. , Carter Elizabeth J. , Matthews Iain , Hodgins Jessica K.
Published: August 2011

Facial animation often falls short in conveying the nuances present in the facial dynamics of humans. In this article, we investigate the subtleties of the spatial and temporal aspects of eye blinks. Conventional methods for eye blink animation generally employ temporally and spatially symmetric sequences; however, naturally occurring blinks in humans show a pronounced asymmetry on both dimensions. We present an analysis of naturally occurring blinks that was performed by tracking data from high-speed video using active appearance models. Based on this analysis, we generate a set of key-frame parameters that closely match naturally occurring blinks. We compare the perceived naturalness of blinks that are animated based on real data to those created using textbook animation curves. The eye blinks are animated on two characters, a photorealistic model and a cartoon model, to determine the influence of character style. We find that the animated blinks generated from the human data model with fully closing eyelids are consistently perceived as more natural than those created using the various types of blink dynamics proposed in animation textbooks.
Near-field distance perception in real and virtual environments using both verbal and action responses
Authors: Napieralski Phillip E. , Altenhoff Bliss M. , Bertrand Jeffrey W. , Long Lindsay O. , Babu Sabarish V. , Pagano Christopher C. , Kern Justin , Davis Timothy A.
Published: August 2011

Few experiments have been performed to investigate near-field egocentric distance estimation in an Immersive Virtual Environment (IVE) as compared to the Real World (RW). This article investigates near-field distance estimation in IVEs and RW conditions using physical reach and verbal report measures, by using an apparatus similar to that used by Bingham and Pagano [1998]. Analysis of our experiment shows distance compression in both the IVE and RW conditions in participants' perceptual judgments to targets. This is consistent with previous research in both action space in an IVE and reach space with Augmented Reality (AR). Analysis of verbal responses from participants revealed that participants underestimated significantly less in the virtual world as compared to the RW. We also found that verbal reports and reaches provided different results in both IVEs and RW environments.
Evaluation of walking in place on a Wii balance board to explore a virtual environment
Authors: Williams Betsy , Bailey Stephen , Narasimham Gayathri , Li Muqun , Bodenheimer Bobby
Published: August 2011

In this work, we present a method of “Walking In Place” (WIP) on the Nintendo Wii Fit Balance Board to explore a virtual environment. We directly compare our method to joystick locomotion and normal walking. The joystick proves inferior to physically walking and to WIP on the Wii Balance Board (WIP--Wii). Interestingly, we find that physically exploring an environment on foot is equivalent in terms of spatial orientation to exploring an environment using our WIP--Wii method. This implies that the WIP--Wii is a good inexpensive alternative to exploring a virtual environment and it may be well--suited for exploring large virtual environments.
Anonymity and evolutionary art
Authors: Boden Margaret
Published: August 2011

Human artists typically have a personal signature, by which their individual authorship can be recognized. Modernist artists tried to avoid such idiosyncracies, focussing on abstract structure instead-and welcomed computers, accordingly. But even those computer artists who have deliberately tried to lose their signature have not managed to do so. Perhaps evolutionary methods might help? Reasons are discussed both for believing and for doubting that evolutionary art could be wholly free from personal signatures.
Verticillin A Overcomes Apoptosis Resistance in Human Colon Carcinoma through DNA Methylation-Dependent Upregulation of BNIP3
Authors: Liu Feiyan , Liu Qianqian , Yang Dafeng , Bollag Wendy B. , Robertson Keith , Wu Ping , Liu Kebin
Published: September 2011

Drug resistance is a major cause of failure in cancer chemotherapy. Therefore, identification and combined use of adjuvant compounds that can overcome drug resistance may improve the efficacy of cancer therapy. We screened extracts of Verticillium species-infected mushrooms for antitumor compounds and identified the compound Verticillin A as an inducer of hepatoma cell apoptosis in vitro and an inhibitor of tumor xenograft growth in vivo. Verticillin A exhibited a potent apoptosis-sensitizing activity in human colon carcinoma cells exposed to TRAIL or Fas in vitro. Furthermore, Verticillin A effectively sensitized metastatic human colon carcinoma xenograft to TRAIL-mediated growth inhibition in vivo. At the molecular level, we observed that Verticillin A induces cell-cycle arrest in the G2 phase of the cell cycle in human colon carcinoma cells, markedly upregulating BNIP3 in both hepatoma and colon carcinoma cells. Notably, silencing BNIP3 decreased the sensitivity of tumor cells to Verticillin A–induced apoptosis in the absence or presence of TRAIL. We found that the BNIP3 promoter is methylated in both human hepatoma and colon carcinoma cells and tumor specimens. Verticillin A upregulated the expression of a panel of genes known to be regulated at the level of DNA methylation, in support of the concept that Verticillin A may act by demethylating the BNIP3 promoter to upregulate BNIP3 expression. Taken together, our findings identify Verticillin A as a potent apoptosis sensitizer with great promise for further development as an adjuvant agent to overcome drug resistance in human cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 71(21); 6807–16. ©2011 AACR.
Mortality and Neurologic Injury After Surgical Repair With Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest in Acute and Chronic Proximal Thoracic Aortic Pathology
Authors: Czerny Martin , Krähenbühl Eva , Reineke David , Sodeck Gottfried , Englberger Lars , Weber Alberto , Schmidli Jürg , Kadner Alexander , Erdoes Gabor , Schoenhoff Florian , Jenni Hansjörg , Stalder Mario , Carrel Thierry
Published: August 2011

Background—

The goal of this study was to determine whether advanced age affects mortality and incidence of neurological injury in patients undergoing surgical repair with hypothermic circulatory arrest in acute and chronic thoracic aortic pathology.

Methods and Results—

A university center audit was done of 523 consecutive patients (median age, 64 years; interquartile range, 56–71 years) between 2005 and 2010. Mortality in acute type A aortic dissection (207 patients) was 9.7%, and in chronic ascending aortic aneurysms (316 patients) was 2.2% (
P
<0.001). Neurological injury was observed in 16.9% of patients with acute type A aortic dissection (chronic ascending aortic aneurysms, 7.9%;
P
=0.002). Multivariable regression analysis revealed hypothermic circulatory arrest >40 minutes (odds ratio [OR], 4.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60–11.06;
P
=0.004) and redo surgery (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.11–10.64;
P
=0.03) but not age (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 0.73–5.38;
P
=0.18) as independent predictor of mortality. Emergency surgery (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 1.31–8.15;
P
=0.01) and extracardiac arteriopathy (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.26–4.50;
P
=0.008) but not age (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 0.93–3.48;
P
=0.08) were independent predictors of neurological injury.

Conclusions—

Age is not associated with increased risk for mortality and neurological injury in patients undergoing surgical repair for acute and chronic thoracic aortic pathology with hypothermic circulatory arrest. Extended hypothermic circulatory arrest times, reflecting the extent of disease, and redo surgery predict mortality, whereas emergency surgery and extracardiac arteriopathy predict neurological injury.
The Diastolic J Curve
Authors: Kaplan Norman M.
Published: September 2011

The occurrence of additional cardiovascular events when the diastolic blood pressure is lowered below a critical level is referred to as “the diastolic J curve.” Although the critical level of diastolic blood pressure where the J curve begins is not certain, increasingly strong evidence from prospective, controlled studies has confirmed the existence of such a J curve. With the likely addition of more patients who will be treated more vigorously, in particular, elderly subjects with isolated systolic hypertension, the potential for an increase in the number of adverse cardiovascular events must be considered and caution used to avoid too low a diastolic blood pressure.
The “Year” of Tropical Convection (May 2008–April 2010): Climate Variability and Weather Highlights
Authors: Waliser Duane E. , Moncrieff Mitchell W. , Burridge David , Fink Andreas H. , Gochis Dave , Goswami B. N. , Guan Bin , Harr Patrick , Heming Julian , Hsu Huang-Hsuing , Jakob Christian , Janiga Matt , Johnson Richard , Jones Sarah , Knippertz Peter , Marengo Jose , Nguyen Hanh , Pope Mick , Serra Yolande , Thorncroft Chris , Wheeler Matthew , Wood Robert , Yuter Sandra
Published: September 2011

The representation of tropical convection remains a serious challenge to the skillfulness of our weather and climate prediction systems. To address this challenge, the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) and The Observing System Research and Predictability Experiment (THORPEX) of the World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) are conducting a joint research activity consisting of a focus period approach along with an integrated research framework tailored to exploit the vast amounts of existing observations, expanding computational resources, and the development of new, high-resolution modeling frameworks. The objective of the Year of Tropical Convection (YOTC) is to use these constructs to advance the characterization, modeling, parameterization, and prediction of multiscale tropical convection, including relevant two-way interactions between tropical and extratropical systems. This article highlights the diverse array of scientifically interesting and socially important weather and climate events associated with the WCRP–WWRP/THORPEX YOTC period of interest: May 2008–April 2010. Notable during this 2-yr period was the change from cool to warm El Niño– Southern Oscillation (ENSO) states and the associated modulation of a wide range of smaller time- and space-scale tropical convection features. This period included a near-record-setting wet North American monsoon in 2008 and a very severe monsoon drought in India in 2009. There was also a plethora of tropical wave activity, including easterly waves, the Madden–Julian oscillation, and convectively coupled equatorial wave interactions. Numerous cases of high-impact rainfall events occurred along with notable features in the tropical cyclone record. The intent of this article is to highlight these features and phenomena, and in turn promote their interrogation via theory, observations, and models in concert with the YOTC program so that improved understanding and pre- dictions of tropical convection can be afforded.
Thermodynamic Scaling of the Hydrological Cycle of the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Boos William R.
Published: September 2011

In climate models subject to greenhouse gas–induced warming, vertically integrated water vapor increases at nearly the same rate as its saturation value. Previous studies showed that this increase dominates circulation changes in climate models, so that precipitation minus evaporation (P − E) decreases in the subtropics and increases in the tropics and high latitudes at a rate consistent with a Clausius–Clapeyron scaling. This study examines whether the same thermodynamic scaling describes differences in the hydrological cycle between modern times and the last glacial maximum (LGM), as simulated by a suite of coupled ocean–atmosphere models. In these models, changes in water vapor between modern and LGM climates do scale with temperature according to Clausius–Clapeyron, but this thermodynamic scaling provides a poorer description of the changes in P − E. While the scaling is qualitatively consistent with simulations in the zonal mean, predicting higher P − E in the subtropics and lower P − E in the tropics and high latitudes, it fails to account for high-amplitude zonal asymmetries. Large horizontal gradients of temperature change, which are often neglected when applying the scaling to next-century warming, are shown to be important in large parts of the extratropics. However, even with this correction the thermodynamic scaling provides a poor quantitative fit to the simulations. This suggests that circulation changes play a dominant role in regional hydrological change between modern and LGM climates. Changes in transient eddy moisture transports are shown to be particularly important, even in the deep tropics. Implications for the selection and interpretation of climate proxies are discussed.
Sensitivity of Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation Variability to Parameterized Nordic Sea Overflows in CCSM4
Authors: Yeager Stephen , Danabasoglu Gokhan
Published: September 2011

The inclusion of parameterized Nordic Sea overflows in the ocean component of the Community Climate System Model version 4 (CCSM4) results in a much improved representation of the North Atlantic tracer and velocity distributions compared to a control CCSM4 simulation without this parameterization. As a consequence, the variability of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) on decadal and longer time scales is generally lower, but the reduction is not uniform in latitude, depth, or frequency–space. While there is dramatically less variance in the overall AMOC maximum (at about 35°N), the reduction in AMOC variance at higher latitudes is more modest. Also, it is somewhat enhanced in the deep ocean and at low latitudes (south of about 30°N). The complexity of overturning response to overflows is related to the fact that, in both simulations, the AMOC spectrum varies substantially with latitude and depth, reflecting a variety of driving mechanisms that are impacted in different ways by the overflows. The usefulness of reducing AMOC to a single index is thus called into question. This study identifies two main improvements in the ocean mean state associated with the overflow parameterization that tend to damp AMOC variability: enhanced stratification in the Labrador Sea due to the injection of dense overflow waters and a deepening of the deep western boundary current. Direct driving of deep AMOC variance by overflow transport variations is found to be a second-order effect.
Envisioning Land Seizure
Authors: Wetzel Christopher
Published: September 2011

Although land seizure is designed to be an evocative and provocative tactic for social movement organizations, how are groups’ members, goals, and claims portrayed in subsequent media coverage? Focusing on the Indians of All Tribes’ occupation of Alcatraz Island, this article qualitatively analyzes photographic representations of protest in three national newspapers. Images published during the occupation (1969 to 1971) represent Indian activists as lazing or inactive, politically ineffectual, and invisible. When foregrounding contention, photographs showed negatively affected non-Natives or Indians being arrested. By contrast, images published after the occupation (1972 to 2000) generally concentrate on the physical space of the island as a tourist destination rather than a site of conflict. Social scientists should critically assess the media’s role in shaping collective perceptions about social movements through visual images, particularly when tactics are designed to garner media attention.
A Japanese form of social anxiety (taijin kyofusho): Frequency and correlates in two generations of the same family
Authors: Essau Cecilia A. , Sasagawa Satoko , Ishikawa Shin-ichi , Okajima Isa , O’Callaghan Jean , Bray Diane
Published: September 2011

Background:

One specific type of social anxiety, occurring primarily in Japanese culture, is called taijin kyofusho. Taijin kyofusho is characterized by an intense fear that one’s body parts or functions displease, embarrass or are offensive to others.

Aim:

The main aim of the present study was to compare the frequency and correlates of taijin kyofusho symptoms (TKS) in Japanese adolescents and their parents.

Method:

The sample included 351 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years, and one of their parents/guardians. These adolescents were recruited from secondary schools in Miyazaki, Japan. All participants completed a set of questionnaires that were used to measure TKS, DSM-IV anxiety disorder symptoms, general difficulties and positive attributes, self-construals and social support.

Results:

Adolescents reported significantly more TKS than their parent/guardians. In each generational sample high TKS was significantly associated with high levels of anxiety symptoms, the strongest correlation being with social phobia. The pattern of the relationship between self-construal and TKS differed across the two generations. Among adolescents, independent self-construal was associated with lower TKS, whereas among parents, interdependent self-construal was associated with lower evaluative concerns from others.

Conclusion:

The present study illustrates the importance of the diverse roles that self-construals play in TKS across different generations of the same family constellation in contemporary Japanese culture.