bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nuclear domain 10-associated proteins recognize and segregate intranuclear DNA/protein complexes to negate gene expression
Authors: Rivera-Molina Yisel A , Rojas Bruno R , Tang Qiyi
Published: September 2012

Background

DNA viruses, such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Simian virus 40 (SV40), and Cytomegaloviruses (CMV), start their replicative processes and transcription at specific nuclear domains known as ND10 (nuclear domain 10, also called PML bodies). It has been previously determined that for HSV-1 and SV40, a short DNA sequence and its binding protein are required and sufficient for cell localization of viral DNA replication and gene transcription.

Results

Our recent observations provide evidence that a foreign (not endogenous) DNA/protein complex in the nucleus recruits ND10 proteins. First, the complexes formed from the bacterial lac operator DNA and its binding protein (lac repressor), or from HPV11 (human papillomavirus 11) origin DNA and its binding protein (E2), co-localized with different ND10 proteins. Second, the HSV-1 amplicon without inserted lac operator DNA repeats distributed in the nucleus randomly, whereas the amplicon with lac operator DNA repeats associated with ND10, suggesting that DNA-binding proteins are required to localize at ND10. The cellular intrinsic DNA/protein complex (as detected for U2 DNA) showed no association with ND10. Furthermore, our examination of PML−/−, Daxx−/−, and Sp100-negative cells led to our discovering that DNA/protein complexes recruit ND10 protein independently. Using the GFP-LacI/Operator system, we were able to direct the transfected DNA to ND10 and found that gene expression was significantly repressed when the transfected DNA was directed to ND10.

Conclusion

Taken together, the results suggest that cells recognize DNA/protein complexes through a mechanism that involves interaction with the ND10-associated proteins.
Biotransformation of oral contraceptive ethynodiol diacetate with microbial and plant cell cultures
Authors: Zafar Salman , Yousuf Sammer , Kayani Hammad A , Saifullah Saifullah , Khan Saifullah , Al-Majid Abdullah M , Choudhary M Iqbal
Published: September 2012

Background

Biotransformation by using microbial and plant cell cultures has been applied effectively for the production of fine chemicals on large scale. Inspired by the wealth of literature available on the biotransformation of steroids, we decided to investigate the biotransformation of ethynodiol diacetate (1) by using plant and microbial cultures.

Results

The biotransformation of ethynodiol diacetate (1) withCunninghamella elegansand plant cell suspension cultures ofOcimum basilicumandAzadirachta indicais being reported here for the first time. Biotransformation of1withCunninghamella elegansyielded three new hydroxylated compounds, characterized as 17α-ethynylestr-4-en-3β,17β-diacetoxy-6α-ol (2), 17α-ethynylestr-4-en-3β,17β-diacetoxy-6β-ol (3), and 17α-ethynylestr-4-en-3β,17β-diacetoxy-10β-ol (4) and a known metabolite, 17α-ethynyl-17β-acetoxyestr-4-en-3-one (5). The biotransformation of1withOcimum basilicumincluded hydrolysis of the ester group, oxidation of alcohol into ketone, and rearrangement of the hydroxyl group. Thus four major known metabolites were characterized as 17α-ethynyl-17β-acetoxyestr-4-en-3-one (5), 17α-ethynyl-17β-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one (6), 17α-ethynyl-3 β-hydroxy-17β-acetoxyestr-4-ene (7) and 17α-ethynyl-5α,17β-dihydroxyestr-3-ene (8). Biotransformation of1withAzadirachta indicaculture yielded compounds5and6. Spectroscopic data of compound8is being reported for the first time. Structure of compound6was unambiguously deduced through single-crystal x-ray diffraction studies.

Conclusion

Biotransformation of an oral contraceptive, ethynodiol diacetate (1), by using microbial and plant cell cultures provides an efficient route to the synthesis of a library of new steroids with potential contraceptive properties. These methods can be employed in the production of such compounds with high stereoselectivity.
Personalized approach of medication by indirect anticoagulants tailored to the patient—Russian context: what are the prospects?
Authors: Belozerceva Liliya Alexandrovna , Voronina Elena Nikolaevna , Kokh Natalia Viktorovna , Tsvetovskay Galina Alexandrovna , Momot Andrei Pavlovich , Lifshits Galina Israilevna , Filipenko Maxim Leonidovich , Shevela Andrei Ivanovich , Vlasov Valentin Viktorovich
Published: September 2012

Indirect anticoagulants such as warfarin are the ‘gold standard’ for prevention and treatment of thromboembolic complications in patients at risk (in atrial fibrillation of valvular and nonvalvular etiology, the presence of artificial heart valves, orthopedic and trauma interventions, and other pathological conditions). A wide range of doses required to achieve a therapeutic effect indicates the need for a personalized approach to the appointment of warfarin. In addition to the dependence on the patient's clinical characteristics (sex, age, smoking status, diagnosis), there is a clear association between the warfarin dose and the carriage of certain allelic variants of key genes that makes it possible to apply molecular genetic testing for individual dose adjustment. This provides a more rapid target anticoagulant effect and also reduces the risk of bleeding associated with a possible overdose of warfarin. Implementation of this approach will allow more wide and safe application of indirect anticoagulants in Russia for needy patients.
Targeting Androgen Receptor to Suppress Macrophage-induced EMT and Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) Development
Authors: Lu Tianjing , Lin Wen-Jye , Izumi Kouji , Wang Xiaohai , Xu Defeng , Fang Lei-Ya , Li Lei , Jiang Qi , Jin Jie , Chang Chawnshang
Published: September 2012

Early studies suggested macrophages might play roles in inflammation-associated benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) development, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we first showed that CD68+ macrophages were identified in both epithelium and the stromal area of human BPH tissues. We then established an in vitro co-culture model with prostate epithelial and macrophage cell lines to study the potential impacts of infiltrating macrophages in the BPH development and found that co-culturing prostate epithelial cells with macrophages promoted migration of macrophages. In a three-dimensional culture system, the sphere diameter of BPH-1 prostate cells was significantly increased during coculture with THP-1 macrophage cells. Mechanism dissection suggested that expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, such as N-cadherin, Snail, and TGF-β2, were increased, and administration of anti-TGF-β2 neutralizing antibody during co-culture suppressed the EMT and THP-1-mediated growth of BPH-1 cells, suggesting THP-1 might go through EMT to influence the BPH development and progression. Importantly, we found that modulation of androgen receptor (AR) in BPH-1 and mPrE cells significantly increased THP-1 and RAW264.7 cell migration, respectively, and enhanced expression levels of EMT markers, suggesting that AR in prostate epithelial cells might play a role in promoting macrophage-mediated EMT in prostate epithelial cells. Silencing AR function via an AR degradation enhancer, ASC-J9, decreased the macrophage migration to BPH-1 cells and suppressed EMT marker expression. Together, these results provide the first evidence to demonstrate that prostate epithelial AR function is important for macrophage-mediated EMT and proliferation of prostate epithelial cells, which represents a previously unrecognized role of AR in the cross-talk between macrophages and prostate epithelial cells. These results may provide new insights for a new therapeutic approach to battle BPH via targeting AR and AR-mediated inflammatory signaling pathways.
Dopamine-Mediated Autocrine Inhibitory Circuit Regulating Human Insulin Secretion in Vitro
Authors: Simpson Norman , Maffei Antonella , Freeby Matthew , Burroughs Steven , Freyberg Zachary , Javitch Jonathan , Leibel Rudolph L. , Harris Paul E.
Published: September 2012

We describe a negative feedback autocrine regulatory circuit for glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in purified human islets in vitro. Using chronoamperometry and in vitro glucose-stimulated insulin secretion measurements, evidence is provided that dopamine (DA), which is loaded into insulin-containing secretory granules by vesicular monoamine transporter type 2 in human β-cells, is released in response to glucose stimulation. DA then acts as a negative regulator of insulin secretion via its action on D2R, which are also expressed on β-cells. We found that antagonism of receptors participating in islet DA signaling generally drive increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. These in vitro observations may represent correlates of the in vivo metabolic changes associated with the use of atypical antipsychotics, such as increased adiposity.
Rosie the Riveter's Job Market: Advertising for Women Workers in World War II Los Angeles
Authors: Alves Andre J. , Roberts Evan
Published: September 2012

In this article, the authors examine classified advertising for employment in Los Angeles during World War II. There is no prior research on the role of classified advertising in wartime labor markets, despite the importance of World War II to narratives of change in women's work in the United States. In contrast to the iconic Rosie the Riveter advertisements, which promoted change in women's occupations, classified advertisements show important continuities with pre- and postwar labor markets. The majority of advertisements for women workers were for domestic service or clerical work, not defense production. Classified advertisements continued to be functional, emphasizing wages and working conditions, and made little explicit reference to the patriotic importance of the war.
Benthamite Reflections on Codification of the General Principles of Criminal Liability: Towards the Panopticon
Authors: Leader-Elliott Ian
Published: September 2012

Chapter 2 of the Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code codifies the general principles of criminal liability. All federal criminal offenses, whether or not they appear in the substantive chapters of the Code, are subject to its provisions. Chapter 2 is based on article 2 of the American Model Penal Code and the equivalent general part of the UK Draft Criminal Code. It is, however, a more completely articulated statement of the elements of liability than either of its predecessors. This paper examines the relationship between physical and fault elements in chapter 2. It takes a Benthamite view of its provisions. Though chapter 2 was conceived as a legislative restatement of common law principles of criminal justice it can be expected to play a more significant role as a manual of instructions for the expression of legislative intentions. Chapter 2 enables the legislature to reclaim from courts the authority to define the grounds of criminal liability. There remain, however, areas of uncertainty resulting from the mismatch between the articulate clarity of most chapter 2 provisions and others that envisage the exercise of unstructured judicial discretion. Two issues in particular are discussed: liability for ulterior intentions and the effect of error or ignorance of law on criminal responsibility. The paper proposes enactment of a defense of reasonable mistake of law as a supplement to chapter 2. It concludes with an expression of hope that Australian criminal law theory might be based on a more unified consideration of legisprudence and common law.
Assistência à pessoa com hipertensão arterial na ótica do profissional de saúde
Authors: Waidman Maria Angélica Pagliarini , Radovanovic Cremilde Aparecida Trindade , Estevam Michelle Caroline , Marcon Sonia Silva
Published: September 2012

Objetivou-se conhecer a assistência prestada às pessoas com hipertensão arterial na Atenção Básica sob a ótica dos trabalhadores da saúde. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de grupos focais, em cinco municípios do Noroeste do estado do Paraná. Observou-se que, apesar de o estudo ter sido realizado com equipes de diferentes municípios, os significados e percepções relativos ao atendimento prestado e às dificuldades experenciadas são semelhantes em muitos aspectos. De modo geral, as Unidades Básicas de Saúde atendem às necessidades mais urgentes dos usuários, apesar de a adoção de estratégias para adesão ao tratamento, por vários motivos, não conseguirem atingir toda a população, o que prejudica a qualidade da assistência, mesmo havendo empenho da equipe.
Qualificação de agentes comunitários de saúde: instrumento de inclusão social
Authors: Melo Marilene Barros de , Brant Luiz Carlos , Oliveira Lucas Azevedo de , Santos Alessandra Patrícia de Souza
Published: September 2012

A prática do agente comunitário de saúde (ACS) se estabelece como profissão na esfera do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) em 2002. Suas atividades contribuem para o diagnóstico demográfico de comunidades; promoção de ações educativas; participação da população nas políticas públicas e visitas domiciliares. A formação é de responsabilidade das escolas técnicas e centros formadores de recursos humanos do SUS. Essa investigação busca identificar, analisar e compreender as transformações operadas na vida dos ACS a partir de sua inserção no Programa de Qualificação e Desenvolvimento Profissional e do seu exercício profissional. Metodologicamente, constitui-se como estudo qualitativo, utilizando grupo focal. Para análise dos dados, empregou-se a técnica de Análise de Conteúdo. Constatou-se que o programa favorece a consolidação de políticas de atenção à saúde e contribui para a construção coletiva do conhecimento. O Ministério da Saúde, ao profissionalizar as ações do ACS, legitima um saber favorecedor de sua inserção nos serviços de saúde e aumenta a governabilidade local. Para os ACS, a formação propicia a superação de limites impostos pelas práticas tradicionais e demarca a produção do saber. O ACS se reconhece como um sujeito de ação, e a formação constitui meio de acesso à profissionalização e de mobilidade social.
Quantitative analysis of conodont tooth wear and damage as a test of ecological and functional hypotheses
Authors: Purnell Mark A. , Jones David
Published: September 2012

Analysis of dental wear and damage is becoming an increasingly important tool in unraveling the trophic ecology of a wide range of vertebrates, and when applied to fossils it can provide evidence of both diet and feeding kinematics that is independent of morphological analysis. Conodonts have the best fossil record among vertebrates and their skeletal elements are known to exhibit surface wear and damage generated in vivo as a consequence of their function as teeth. We report the results of the first systematic survey and analysis of the frequency and extent of this wear and damage in conodonts (based on P1elements from a range of Carboniferous genera). This has revealed that wear and damage are remarkably common, present in all conodont elements sampled. Multivariate analysis reveals that patterns of wear and damage differ significantly among different conodont taxa, and exploratory ANOVA and linear discriminant analyses show that wear and damage differ according to the position of taxa in an onshore-offshore gradient, and whether they are likely to have had a benthic or pelagic mode of life. The incidence of denticle tip spalling in particular is higher in more-offshore environments and in taxa likely to have had a pelagic mode of life. Aspects of the data also reflect the occlusal kinematics of the elements, providing a means of testing hypotheses of element function. Our results have wide-ranging implications for unlocking the fossil record of conodonts, by, for example, furnishing direct evidence of the diet-mediated processes that may have driven observed patterns of evolutionary change, and reducing the confounding effects of depth segregation when using conodonts in isotope-based paleotemperature studies.
Changes in bivalve functional and assemblage ecology in response to environmental change in the Caribbean Neogene
Authors: Leonard-Pingel Jill S. , Jackson Jeremy B. C. , O'Dea Aaron
Published: September 2012

We documented changes in the relative abundance of bivalve genera and functional groups in the southwest Caribbean over the past 11 Myr to determine their response to oceanographic changes associated with the closure of the Central American Seaway ca. 3.5 Ma. Quantitative bulk samples from 29 localities yielded 106,000 specimens in 145 genera. All genera were assigned to functional groups based on diet, relationship to the substrate, and mobility. Ordinations of assemblages based on quantitative data for functional groups demonstrated strong shifts in community structure, with a stark contrast between assemblages older than 5 Ma and those younger than 3.5 Ma. These changes are primarily due to an increase in the abundance of attached epifaunal bivalves (e.g.,Chama,Arcopsis, andBarbatia) and a decrease in infaunal bivalves (e.g.,VaricorbulaandCaryocorbula). Taxa associated with seagrasses, including deposit-feeding and chemosymbiotic bivalves (e.g.,Lucina), also increased in relative abundance compared to suspension feeders. The composition of bivalve assemblages is correlated with the carbonate content of sediments and the percentage of skeletal biomass that is coral. Our results strongly support the hypothesis that increases in the extent of coral reefs andThalassiacommunities were important drivers of biologic turnover in Neogene Caribbean benthic communities.
Estimating soilpCO2using paleosol carbonates: implications for the relationship between primary productivity and faunal richness in ancient terrestrial ecosystems
Authors: Myers Timothy S. , Tabor Neil J. , Jacobs Louis L. , Mateus Octávio
Published: September 2012

In this paper we present a method for estimating soilpCO2in ancient environments using the measured carbon-isotope values of pedogenic carbonates and plant-derived organic matter. The validity of soilpCO2estimates proves to be highly dependent on the organic δ13C values used in the calculations. Organic matter should be sourced from the same paleosol profiles as sampled carbonates to yield the most reliable estimates of soilpCO2. In order to demonstrate the potential use of soilpCO2estimates in paleoecological and paleoenvironmental studies, we compare samples from three Upper Jurassic localities. SoilpCO2estimates, interpreted as a qualitative indicator of primary paleoproductivity, are used to rank the Late Jurassic terrestrial environments represented by the Morrison Formation in western North America, the informally named Lourinhã formation in Western Europe, and the Stanleyville Group in Central Africa. Because modern terrestrial environments show a positive correlation between primary productivity and faunal richness, a similar relationship is expected in ancient ecosystems. When the relative paleoproductivity levels inferred for each study area are compared with estimates of dinosaur generic richness, a positive correlation emerges. Both the Morrison and Lourinhã formations have high inferred productivity levels and high estimated faunal richness. In contrast, the Stanleyville Group appears to have had low primary productivity and low faunal richness. Paleoclimatic data available for each study area indicate that both productivity and faunal richness are positively linked to water availability, as observed in modern terrestrial ecosystems.
Body size, longevity, and growth rate in Lake Pannon melanopsid gastropods and their predecessors
Authors: Geary Dana H. , Hoffmann Erik , Magyar Imre , Freiheit James , Padilla Dianna
Published: September 2012

We investigate potential microevolutionary mechanisms of phenotypic change in a lineage of brackish-water gastropods from Lake Pannon. The lineage exhibits a threefold increase in body size and a pronounced increase in shell shouldering over a roughly 2.5-Myr interval. We use the stable oxygen isotope profiles of 13 shells to address the question of whether large size is due to more rapid growth or to greater longevity.

Results indicate that larger individuals have significantly greater longevity. Growth rates in large snails are comparable to those of their smaller-bodied ancestors.

Potentially relevant selective advantages of large size include escape from predators, avoidance of resource competition, and increased fecundity. We argue that the first two advantages may have accrued to larger individuals but are not likely to have driven the trend because selection for them would favor more rapid growth rates. Fecundity selection, on the other hand, is readily envisioned in a stable, predictable environment in which the need for early reproduction is relaxed. The evolution of large body size in Lake Pannon molluscs may be comparable to evolution on many islands, where reduced pressure from competition and predation lead to characteristic changes in body size.
Comparison of oxygen consumption byTerebratalia transversa(Brachiopoda) and two species of pteriomorph bivalve molluscs: implications for surviving mass extinctions
Authors: Ballanti Loren A. , Tullis Alexa , Ward Peter D.
Published: September 2012

The Permian/Triassic mass extinction marks a permanent phylogenetic shift in the composition of the sessile benthos, from one largely dominated by articulate brachiopods to one dominated by mollusks. Widespread evidence of oceanic hypoxia and anoxia at this time provides a possible selective kill mechanism that could help explain the large taxonomic losses in brachiopods compared to the morphologically and ecologically similar bivalve molluscs. Our study compared the oxygen consumption of an articulate brachiopod,Terebratalia transversa, with that of two pteriomorph bivalves,Glycymeris septentrionalisandMytilus trossulus, under normoxia and hypoxia, as well as their tolerance to anoxia, to gain insight into the relative metabolic characteristics of each group. We found no significant difference in the oxygen consumption of the three species when normalized to the same dry-tissue mass. However, when calculated for animals of the same external linear dimensions, bivalve oxygen consumption was two to three times greater than that of brachiopods. Our results also showed no significant decrease in the oxygen consumption of the three species until measured at a partial pressure of oxygen ∼10% of normoxic values. Finally,T. transversaandM. trossulusshowed no significant difference in their tolerance to complete anoxia, but both showed a much lower tolerance than another bivalve,Acila castrensis. Findings from this study suggest that oxygen limitation is unlikely to account for the observed selective extinction of brachiopods during the Permian/Triassic mass extinction. Results may provide valuable information for assessing hypotheses put forth to explain why articulate brachiopods continue to remain a relatively minor group in marine environments.
Within- and among-genus components of size evolution during mass extinction, recovery, and background intervals: a case study of Late Permian through Late Triassic foraminifera
Authors: Rego Brianna L. , Wang Steve C. , Altiner Demir , Payne Jonathan L.
Published: September 2012

One of the best-recognized patterns in the evolution of organismal size is the tendency for mean and maximum size within a clade to decrease following a major extinction event and to increase during the subsequent recovery interval. Because larger organisms are typically thought to be at higher extinction risk than their smaller relatives, it has commonly been assumed that size reduction mostly reflects the selective extinction of larger species. However, to our knowledge the relative importance of within- and among-lineage processes in driving overall trends in body size has never been compared quantitatively. In this study, we use a global, specimen-level database of foraminifera to study size evolution from the Late Permian through Late Triassic. We explicitly decompose size evolution into within- and among-genus components. We find that size reduction following the end-Permian mass extinction was driven more by size reduction within surviving species and genera than by the selective extinction of larger taxa. Similarly, we find that increase in mean size across taxa during Early Triassic biotic recovery was a product primarily of size increase within survivors and the extinction of unusually small taxa, rather than the origination of new, larger taxa. During background intervals we find no strong or consistent tendency for extinction, origination, or within-lineage change to move the overall size distribution toward larger or smaller sizes. Thus, size stasis during background intervals appears to result from small and inconsistent effects of within- and among-lineage processes rather than from large but offsetting effects of within- and among-taxon components. These observations are compatible with existing data for other taxa and extinction events, implying that mass extinctions do not influence size evolution by simply selecting against larger organisms. Instead, they appear to create conditions favorable to smaller organisms.
Sampling bias and the fossil record of planktonic foraminifera on land and in the deep sea
Authors: Lloyd Graeme T. , Pearson Paul N. , Young Jeremy R. , Smith Andrew B.
Published: September 2012

Large-scale trends in planktonic foraminiferal diversity have so far been based on utilization of synoptic biostratigraphic range charts. Although this approach ensures the taxonomic consistency and quality of the data being used, it takes no formal account of any sampling biases that might exist in the fossil record. We demonstrate that the occurrence data of planktonic foraminifera, as recorded in the primary literature, are strongly biased by sampling. We do this by demonstrating that raw diversity curves derived from the land-based and deep-sea records are strikingly different, but that they each correlate with the intensity of sampling in their respective environments, and thus are ultimately controlled by the structure of the geological record in each setting. Because sampling of the Mesozoic record is best in our land record whereas sampling of the Cenozoic is best in our deep-sea record, we combine the two to generate the best-supported estimates of species and genus diversity over time from these data. We correct for sampling bias using shareholder quorum subsampling and a modeling approach. The data are then transformed to generate a range-through plot of species richness that is compared with two earlier estimates of the diversity history where comparable species-in-bin data can be recovered. No robust statistical correlation is found among the three estimates. Although differences in amplitude are to be expected, differences in the actual shape of the curve are surprising. We conclude that these differences stem from the nature of the data themselves, namely the taxonomic scheme adopted and the taxonomic coverage used.
Post–Permo-Triassic terrestrial vertebrate recovery: southwestern United States
Authors: Tarailo David A. , Fastovsky David E.
Published: September 2012

Recovery of marine biodiversity following the Permo-Triassic extinction is thought to have been delayed relative to other mass extinctions. Terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity is said to have taken as much as 15 Myr longer to recover than the marine. The present study tests, at the scale of an individual fossil community, whether a disparity in biodiversity existed in the American Southwest, between the Moenkopi Formation, containing an early Middle Triassic (Anisian) terrestrial tetrapod fauna, and the Chinle Formation, containing a successor Late Triassic (Norian) tetrapod fauna. Taking Chinle faunal biodiversity to represent full biotic recovery, comparison of taxonomic and guild diversity of faunas from similar depositional and taphonomic environments in these two formations allowed us to assess the possibility of incipient terrestrial recovery of biodiversity in the Anisian.

Comparisons were made between the Holbrook Member fauna of the Moenkopi, a unit best characterized as a low-sinuosity medium- to coarse-grained fluvial deposit, and each of four Chinle stratigraphic units, representing fluvial settings from sandy low-sinuosity to muddy high-sinuosity. Three metrics were applied: generic and familial taxonomic diversity and guild diversity; these were compared by rarefaction. Simpson and Shannon diversity metrics augmented the analysis. Units of extraordinary preservation in the Chinle—the so-called blue layers—were removed from the analysis. In all tests the biodiversity of the Holbrook Member fauna is within the variation seen in Chinle faunas.

If the results of our study represent global conditions, they suggest that by at least early Anisian time (∼6 Myr after the P/T extinction) biodiversity had reached levels comparable to those seen in the Late Triassic. This potentially brings the terrestrial vertebrate recovery in line with the 4–8 Myr it took for recovery in the marine realm.
New perspectives on transitions between ecological-evolutionary subunits in the “type interval” for coordinated stasis
Authors: Zambito James J. , Brett Carlton E. , Baird Gordon C. , Kolbe Sarah E. , Miller Arnold I.
Published: September 2012

Northern Appalachian Basin deposits and associated fossils have served as exemplars for ecological-evolutionary investigations, and as the reference interval for the concept of coordinated stasis. Here, we examine faunal and environmental changes within the uppermost Hamilton and lowermost Genesee Groups of the late Middle Devonian succession of New York State. Dramatic diversity loss, faunal migrations, and ecological restructuring recognized in these strata have been used previously to define the end of the Hamilton ecological-evolutionary subunit, and, furthermore, these strata and corresponding faunal changes represent the type region for the global Taghanic Biocrisis. We present and analyze a new, high-resolution data set of post-Taghanic Genesee fossil assemblages, in which we recognize 11 biofacies corresponding to an onshore-offshore (depth) gradient. The Genesee Fauna shows an unexpectedly high taxonomic similarity to nearshore biofacies of the pre-Taghanic Hamilton Fauna, related to the persistence of siliciclastic-dominated nearshore settings through the Taghanic Biocrisis, whereas the onset of anoxic/dysoxic conditions typified offshore portions of the environmental gradient. The “Nearshore Refugium Model” of Erwin offers a possible explanation for the persistence of taxa through the biocrisis in nearshore settings. This constriction was followed by subsequent expansion of these residual taxa to offshore environments in relatively similar associations, as increased Acadian orogenic activity and resultant delta progradation increased habitable space offshore by decreasing the extent of deeper-water, oxygen-poor settings. Although taxonomic similarity was high between the Hamilton and Genesee Faunas, biofacies structure differed primarily because of tectonically driven physical transformations to the basin and associated biotic turnover. Nevertheless, the combination of high taxonomic persistence of Hamilton nearshore taxa and the introduction of relatively few new taxa in the Genesee Fauna resulted in a taxonomic holdover that was much higher than observed in the original formulation of coordinated stasis.
Comparing taxonomic and geographic scales in the morphologic disparity of Ordovician through Early Silurian Laurentian crinoids
Authors: Deline Bradley , Ausich William I. , Brett Carlton E.
Published: September 2012

Interpretations of morphologic radiations and macroevolutionary patterns are dependent on a priori choices of taxonomic and geographic scales of study. The results of disparity analysis at varying taxonomic (species and genus) and geographic (regional, biofacies, and community) scales are examined in a study of Ordovician though Early Silurian crinoids. Using discrete morphologic characters, we examined the disparity of 421 crinoids from 65 Laurentian biofacies. Crinoid disparity differs when analyzed at the regional and biofacies levels. Regardless of fluctuations in regional crinoid disparity, average within-biofacies disparity was static throughout the Ordovician, deviating only during the Silurian because of the proliferation of the morphologically aberrant myelodactylid crinoids. The choice of taxonomic level does not have an effect at the biofacies level. However, at the regional level, the two taxonomic scales (genus and species) can produce different results because of variation in the number of species per genus through time and the amount of morphologic variation within individual genera. Weighting disparity by abundance provides a metric combining morphology and community structure. Average weighted disparity at the community level showed patterns similar to that of the biofacies-level disparity curve, but this metric has a greater degree of variation between biofacies. Biofacies with a low ratio of weighted to unweighted disparity display the distinctive community structure (based on aerosol filtration theory) that is often reported in crinoid assemblages.
“There is nothing to fear:” Pitfalls in the analysis of the risk of extremism in relation to socially excluded areas
Authors: Šotola Jaroslav
Published: September 2012

The goal of this paper is to present action research on the collapsed relations between the Roma minority and the majority population in a single location. The topic of this research emerged as the result of a request from organizations operating in socially deprived areas where the inhabitants anticipated that they might become the target of retaliatory attacks by extremists. Local organizations, along with the police and other institutions, were unable to prevent the resulting spread of panic; the goal of the qualitative research was, therefore, to uncover the mechanism through which panic emerges and spreads, and offer suggestions on how to prevent similar events in the future. The paper presents a reflexive methodology and the initial convictions of the researcher.
APPLYING METAHEURISTIC STRATEGIES IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS MANAGEMENT
Authors: Boejko Wojciech , Hejducki Zdzisław , Wodecki Mieczysław
Published: September 2012

This work deals with the application of artificial intelligence instruments in a building schedule. In this article there was presented an original optimization scatter search algorithm taking into consideration both technological and organizational restrictions. This algorithm was applied to the real analysis of the industrial building project realization.
IMPACT OF INTEGRATING DISASTER RISK REDUCTION PHILOSOPHIES INTO INFRASTRUCTURE RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN SRI LANKA
Authors: Palliyaguru Roshani , Amaratunga Dilanthi , Haigh Richard
Published: September 2012

Major impacts on infrastructures due to natural and man-made hazards could result in secondary and additional impacts, compounding the problem for those communities already affected by the hazard. Integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) philosophies into infrastructure projects has been an important solution to mitigate and prevent such disaster risks, as well as for a speedy recovery after disasters. “Vulnerability reduction” is defined by the research community as an enabler which facilitates the process of DRR. However, there is a research need to identify the most beneficial DRR strategies that would result in vulnerability reduction in an effective way. As part of this main aim, this paper seeks to explore the nature of various vulnerabilities within infrastructure reconstruction projects and their respective communities and to evaluate the DRR practises within these projects. Finally the paper attempts to map the effects of integration of DRR into infrastructure reconstruction on vulnerability reduction of infrastructure reconstruction projects and the communities which benefited from such projects. This study adopts the case study approach and the paper is entirely based on data collated from semi-structured interviews and a questionnaire survey conducted within one case study (a water supply and sanitation reconstruction project) in Sri Lanka and expert interviews conducted in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. Results reveal that emergency preparedness strategies are the most important group of DRR strategies, while physical/technical strategies are also very important. However, none of the emergency preparedness strategies are satisfactorily implemented, while most of the physical/technical strategies are adequately implemented.
THE ANALYSIS OF BOT STRATEGIES BASED ON GAME THEORY – CASE STUDY ON TAIWAN'S HIGH SPEED RAILWAY PROJECT
Authors: Chen Tien-Chien , Lin Yu-Cheng , Wang Lung-Chuang
Published: September 2012

Uncertainty in a contract for some BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) projects may allow an opportunistic developer to take advantage of information asymmetrical factors, long-term external changes, and agency dilemma to request renegotiation and to alter the contact after it has been awarded. Such requests often entrap the government in hold-up problems and result in improper payments to the developers and may even create general public dissatisfaction with a project. In this paper, the Game Theory model is used to analyze the Taiwan High Speed Railroad project to examine how developers implement different strategies at the various stages of a project to alter the contract's conditions in order to continually creating competitive advantage after they have been awarded the contract. This project developer is now facing serious financial difficulties. In this study, the financial information on the Taiwan High Speed Railroad operations was used as the foundation for conducting a simulation to calculate the project's value after this project began operation. The results will serve as reference to the best decision-making strategy for renegotiating costs in competition and cooperation so that a developer can select the optimum project offering the maximum reward. Also, the result will be offered to industries involved in market competition or act as an approach to establish future BOT policies on renegotiation.
Art et activisme dans le quartier parisien de Belleville
Authors: Gravereau Sophie
Published: September 2012

Résumé Une enquête de terrain réalisée dans le quartier de Belleville à Paris a révélé l’émergence d’un militantisme local porté par des artistes résidant dans des lieux mis en danger par un projet de requalification et de rénovation urbaine. Cette relation au territoire confère à l’artiste une identité collective, bien plus construite par l’implication locale et urbaine des associations qu’à travers leur singularité artistique. L’intérêt est ici d’aborder les relations entre les artistes et leurs lieux et territoires d’élection, à la fois de façon très localisée, à l’échelle des ateliers, des quartiers et de leurs pratiques, et en même temps dans une perspective beaucoup plus vaste et transversale, reliant la question de l’activisme urbain des créateurs à la construction des identités artistiques et urbaines contemporaines.
« Le juridique, c'est le moyen ; le politique, c'est la fin » : les avocats communistes français dans la « lutte contre la répression » de guerre froide
Authors: Codaccioni Vanessa
Published: September 2012

Résumé Cet article s’attache à saisir, à travers le cas des avocats du PCF de la guerre froide, les modalités d’entrée dans le cause lawyering communiste et l’apprentissage, théorique et militant, que sa mise en œuvre nécessite. Il vise aussi à restituer, à partir des cas de sabotage, l’affrontement politico-légal entre les membres de l’organisation partisane et les agents de l’État, en particulier au sein du prétoire où les avocats du Parti mettent en œuvre de multiples stratégies de politisation des procès, du droit et de la répression.
Le procès des Huit de Chicago (1969-1970) : déconstruire l'image des ennemis publics
Authors: Debouzy Marianne
Published: September 2012

Résumé Le procès des « Huit de Chicago » (septembre 1969-février 1970) concerne huit personnes inculpées de « complot » ( conspiracy ), à la suite des émeutes qui ont éclaté à Chicago à l’été 1969 à l’occasion de la Convention démocrate, dans le contexte d’une contestation de plus en plus forte de la guerre menée par les États-Unis au Vietnam. Au cours de ce procès, les avocats William Kunstler et Leonard Weinglass durent mener de front plusieurs batailles. Tout en assumant leur rôle d’experts en droit, attentifs au respect des procédures régulières malgré les abus de pouvoir du juge, ils soulignèrent, avec leurs clients, le caractère politique du procès comme des actions qui avaient justifié les inculpations. Il leur fallait déconstruire l’image de criminels, celle d’ennemis publics, créée et propagée par l’accusation et les medias et du même coup requalifier le procès criminel en procès politique. Ils ancrèrent notamment l’action des accusés dans une tradition de révolte remontant à la fondation des États-Unis. La conception qu’avait W. Kunstler de son rôle en tant qu’ « avocat du mouvement de contestation », sa mise en cause du système judiciaire, étaient loin de faire l’unanimité au sein de la profession. Les avocats menèrent aussi une lutte incessante contre les pratiques douteuses de l’accusation qui allaient à l’encontre des règles les plus fondamentales de l’institution judiciaire (manipulation du jury par exemple). De plusieurs manières, le procès fit évoluer en cours de route la pratique professionnelle des avocats, qui ne furent pas épargnés par les sanctions du juge.
Bezier Surfaces and Texture Mapping Using Java 3D
Authors: Gao Xin Rui
Published: September 2012

By using Bezier surface matrix formula and the algorithms of texture mapping, the texture mapping onto Bezier surface and its control points net were tested. The texture mapping for Bezier surface model that is composed of six Bezier surfaces was tested too. From the testing examples, it is concluded that these texture mapping algorithms are reliable. All algorithms were implemented by Java and Java 3D.
The 3D Computer Game Design Using Java 3D
Authors: Gao Xin Rui , Zhao De Qing , Yao Ping Ping
Published: September 2012

In this thesis, the two 3D computer games were designed by Java 3D. In the first game, by using 3DMax, one aircraft carrier, one helicopter, submarines, warships, and destroyer escorts etc were designed. By using Loader3DS of MicrocrowLoader in Loader3DS1_2.jar or ModelLoader of Java 3D, these 3D models are loaded into the Java 3D. The second 3D game displays the 3D fighting and collision of tanks. This function is very important for the 3D game design. By using textures, the different appearances of 3D models were designed. By using Java 3D classes such as Alpha and PositionPathInterpolator and Sounds etc, the motions of 3D models and interactions and the sounds were defined.
Study on the Problems and Countermeasures of Information Security
Authors: Rao Cong Jun , Zhang Qing , Gan Jian Ping
Published: September 2012

Information has become a significant resource of strategy. The selection, the handling and the ability to keep safety of the information constitute an important section of a country’s comprehensive national power. The information security counters about the stability of society, even the state security. Thus, it’s time to take measures to guarantee our nation’s information security. Recent years, the area of information security has acquired more new science results, which develops fast. Through discussing about Internet security, the major aspect of information safety, this dissertation points out the defections in our national security, and then presents some countermeasures to solve the problems.
A New Digital Video Watermarking Algorithm
Authors: Ren Xiang Jun , Wei Zhi Qiang , Liang Zuo Juan , Zhang Wei Jie , Dong Yun Gang
Published: September 2012

A new digital video watermarking algorithm for TV Program stream was proposed. Through technologies of thinning image and skeleton scaling, the size of embedded data is reduced. The compressed watermark signal is embedded into the unchanged area of I frame. The experimental results demonstrate that this method can not only ensure the desirable invisibility, but also avoid the computing cost of decoding.
Towards Understanding the Social Characteristic of YouKu: Measurement and Analysis
Authors: Li Yong Jun , You Chun , Bao Xu Dong
Published: September 2012

Online Social networking services are among the most popular sites and become the fast-growing business in the Internet. In-depth understanding the social characteristic of these networks can serve to optimize current systems, to design future social network based systems, and to eventually exploit the user base for commercial purposes. In this paper, we present a large-scale measurement study and analysis on the social structure of YouKu. Our results validate the power-law, small-world and clustering coefficient properties, present the correlation and difference among four centrality properties. Finally we discuss the utilization of these structural properties for the commercial purposes.
Simulation of a Broadcasting Method Based on Busy Tone
Authors: Cao Wen Jing , Han Qing Tian , Xu Sheng Hong
Published: September 2012

When the receiving nodes are uncertain or the topology of the ad hoc network is high dynamic, broadcasting is an effective data dissemination method. In this research, a broadcasting method based on busy tone is modeled and implemented with the network simulation platform OPNET, and the performance of the broadcasting method is analyzed based on experimental results. Experimental results show that, in the network with various load, performance of the broadcasting method based on busy tone is good.
An Energy-Balanced Routing Algorithm for ZigBee Audio Guide System in Ad Hoc Social Network
Authors: Zou Jian , Li De Min , Zhang Min
Published: September 2012

In order to avoid the network partitioning and nodes died too early in ZigBee audio guide system, we designed an energy-balanced routing algorithm in this paper, which can manage the rest energy of all network nodes effectively. The simulation results indicate that this algorithm can balance the entire network energy, extend the survival time of the whole network and increase the stability of the system relative to the original routing protocol.
Statistical Sensitivity Analysis for Training Feedforword Neural Networks by B-Splines Weight Functions
Authors: Zhang Dai Yuan
Published: September 2012

Based on the new architecture and algorithm of training neural networks by B-splines weight functions, the statistical sensitivity analysis for neural networks using B-splines weight functions is discussed in this paper. The sensitivity formula of B-splines weight function neural networks is derived. Finally, the correctness of theoretical sensitivity formula is verified by simulation.
An Improved Edge Structure Weighted Hausdorff Distance for Template Matching
Authors: Wang Guo Gang , Shi Hong Yan , Yuan De Cheng
Published: September 2012

Template matching based on a Hausdorff distance (HD) approach become popular for object recognition. In this paper, we present a newly improved edge structure weighted HD (ESW-HD) algorithm for object recognition. We use edge points as the feature of the model, and construct the structure tensor by edge intensity and edge gradient. Then, the HD is weighted by the structure tensors. This work illustrates the ESW-HD algorithm by template edge matching which uses edge points and its edge adjacent structure information to perform the image matching. The experimental results show that the improved HD matching method can achieve a good performance level in terms of matching accuracy, even in a noisy environment when compared with the conventional approaches for object recognition.