bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vegetation patterns and environmental gradients in coastal meadows on the Yukon–Kuskokwim delta, Alaska
Authors: Kincheloe Karen L. , Stehn Robert A.
Published: June 2010

Tundra vegetation and environmental variables were sampled on the Yukon–Kuskokwim delta in western Alaska. On transects extending from intertidal mudflat to upland tundra, we estimated cover by vascular plant species, soil moisture, salinity, relative elevation, depth to permafrost, and distance upriver from the coast. Two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) classified 21 communities. Ordination by detrended correspondence analysis (DECORANA) revealed a gradient correlated with the combination of elevation, permafrost depth, and salinity along the first axis for both upriver and downriver transects. Key words: Alaska, ordination, plant communities, salt marsh, tundra, Yukon–Kuskokwim delta.
The extent of old-growth Thuja occidentalis on cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment
Authors: Larson D. W. , Kelly P. E.
Published: June 2010

Extensive random sampling of populations of Thuja occidentalis growing on vertical cliffs of the Niagara Escarpment in southern Ontario, Canada, was conducted to determine the extent of an old-growth forest that had recently been described. Nine sites distributed along the length of the escarpment were intensively sampled and from these, 1254 increment cores or cross sections were obtained from 872 trees in all age categories. The results show that all cliffs support a broadly similar old-growth forest of stunted trees, but that statistically significant differences were found in the numbers of trees among sites. No large differences among sites were found in heights or diameters of trees. Maximum ages of 532 (sampled) and 814 years (estimated) were found in the random census, although in subsequent selective sampling, intact stems up to 1032 years were found. The incidence of fire and cutting by humans was also measured, but little evidence of such disturbances was found. It is concluded that exposed cliff faces of the Niagara Escarpment support one of the oldest, most extensive, and most intact old-growth forest ecosystems yet described for eastern North America. The opportunities for the study of basic forest ecology and especially for dendrochronology are considerable. Key words: Thuja occidentalis, old growth, Niagara Escarpment, cliff, age structures.
Genetic plasticity and its consequences: perspectives on gene organization and expression in plant mitochondria
Authors: Bonen Linda , Brown Gregory G.
Published: June 2010

Flowering plants have complex mitochondrial genomes that exhibit remarkable plasticity in size and structure. Their recombinogenic nature contributes to a mosaic of DNA sequences, both endogenous and exogenous in origin. This review focuses on the effects that DNA rearrangements have on the organization, structure, and expression of mitochondrial genes in both normal and mutant plants. The association of mitochondrial DNA recombinational events with the phenomenon of cytoplasmic male sterility is highlighted. Key words: chimeric genes, cytoplasmic male sterility, DNA rearrangements, gene expression, genome evolution, mitochondrial genes, nuclear restorer genes.
Growth responses of six bryophyte species to different light intensities
Authors: Rincón Emmanuel
Published: June 2010

The growth responses of Brachythecium rutabulum, Eurhynchium praelongum, Lophocolea bidentata, Plagiomnium undulatum, Pseudoscleropodium purum, and Thuidiurn tamariscinum, growing under seven different light conditions, were determined in a 36-day laboratory experiment. Biomass production, relative growth rate, chlorophyll content, and morphological plastic responses (bending of the shoots) were determined following initial and final harvests. All species achieved greater biomass as irradiance increased. This trend was also observed in the relative growth rates, which were higher as irradiance increased, for all the bryophytes investigated. All species except L. bidentata showed an increased elevation of the shoot as irradiance decreased. Total chlorophyll was higher in all species at the lowest irradiance level, but no clear differences were observed in the ratios of chlorophyll a to b for all the species. Key words: grassland bryophytes, light intensity, growth analysis, plasticity.
Decay and nitrogen dynamics of litter from disjunct, congeneric tree species in old-growth stands in northeastern China and Wisconsin
Authors: Geng Xiaoyuan , Pastor John , Dewey Bradley
Published: June 2010

Decay and nitrogen dynamics of leaf litter from four tree species in an old-growth forest in northeastern China was measured in a litter-bag experiment and compared with decomposition of congeneric species in a Wisconsin old-growth forest with similar climatic regimes and soil. Leaf litter decay in both China and Wisconsin decreased in the order Acer > Populus > Quercus > Pinus and was negatively correlated with initial lignin content (r = 0.961, P < 0.001). Decay was also correlated with other chemical properties depending on locale. In contrast with decay rates, N-immobilization kinetics were not correlated with litter chemistry or comparable between congeners. Principal component analysis showed that almost half the total variation in litter decay is explained by grouping congeneric species according to litter quality. In northern mixed hardwood–conifer forests, generic similarity implies functional similarity in decomposition and nutrient cycling. Key words: decomposition, China, litter, nitrogen, Wisconsin.
Effects of drought and subsequent rehydration on the structure, vitality, and permeability of Allium cepa adventitious roots
Authors: Stasovski Elida , Peterson Carol A.
Published: June 2010

Drought stress was induced in onion (Allium cepa L.) plants that had been sprouted from bulbs initially planted in moist vermiculite. The medium received no further water, and its free water content fell from 50 to 0% over a period of 35 d. The water stress thus imposed killed the root apices and accelerated the death of the epidermis. However, other regions, including the short cells of the dimorphic exodermis, the remainder of the cortex, and the stele (except for the mature vessels), remained alive for periods of prolonged drought (up to 200 d after cessation of watering). During this time, symplasmic continuity from the exodermis to the vascular tissues of the stele was maintained through the living cells as judged by the transport of fluorescein from an ambient solution into the stele. After the death of the epidermis, the presence of Casparian bands in all cells of the exodermis and suberin lamellae in its long cells presumably reduced the flow of water from the root to the dry external medium. A dieback pattern in which the cortex is retained would place an increased respiratory demand on the plant compared with dieback to the endodermis. However, this may be offset by positive functions such as preserving a site for future food storage and (or) providing a hospitable environment for mycorrhizae when conditions outside the root are hostile. Loss of a viable apex under conditions of drought induced the development of many lateral root primordia that did not emerge but remained dormant within the root cortex. When water was added to the growth medium, these grew out quickly and along with the new adventitious roots that sprouted from the bulbs, rejuvenated the root system. Stress periods longer than 200 d resulted in death of the majority of the roots, and the plants did not recover after watering. Key words: drought, roots, Allium cepa L., exodermis, hypodermis, dormant lateral root primordia.
Cytopathology and ultrastructure of mild and severe strains of maize chlorotic dwarf virus in maize and johnsongrass
Authors: Ammar E. D. , Gingery R. E. , Nault L. R.
Published: June 2010

In maize leaves experimentally infected with various isolates or strains of maize chlorotic dwarf virus, including a newly characterized strain (M1), and in naturally infected johnsongrass, only two types of cytoplasmic inclusions were consistently observed: (i) quasi-spherical electron-dense granular inclusions, and (ii) curved or straight bundles of fibrous inclusions. Both types were detected by light and (or) electron microscopy in vascular parenchyma and phloem cells, and less frequently in bundle-sheath and adjacent mesophyll cells. The dense granular inclusions usually contained numerous isometric virus-like particles, some of which may have been released into the surrounding cytoplasm. However, a high proportion of these inclusions in cells infected with the mild type strain and a type-like isolate (M8) were either devoid of or contained very few viruslike particles. In maize leaves infected with the white stripe (WS) isolate, the chloroplasts were markedly deformed; in leaves of stunted plants doubly infected with M8 and the serologically distinct M1 strain, some phloem cells appeared degenerated. Electron microscopy of preparations of purified M1 stained with uranyl acetate revealed both stain-impenetrable full particles and stain-penetrable empty or partially empty particles. Both full and apparently empty particles were also found in cells of maize leaves infected with M1, whereas with other strains and isolates, mainly full particles were found both in situ and in vitro. Key words: maize chlorotic dwarf virus, cytopathology, ultrastructure, maize, johnsongrass.
Basket-shaped structures formed by F-actin in the nuclei of elongating cells of Nicotiana tabacum
Authors: Kengen Harry M. P. , Amstel Ton van , Knuiman Bart
Published: June 2010

Phalloidin labelled with trimethyl rhodamine isothiocyanate in extraction buffer was used to stain actin in suspension cells of tobacco. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy indicated the presence of filamentous actin containing structures in interphase nuclei of elongating cells of Nicotiana tabacum ‘Bright Yellow 2 Go’. The results were not affected by the omission of DMSO from the extraction medium. These structures, called actin baskets, were present in about 20% of the cells after induced elongation and varied in size, shape, and number per nucleus. The cytoplasmic actin array remained intact. It is proposed that the baskets have a transient character and are related to differentiation. Key words: confocal laser scanning microscopy, elongation, F-actin, nucleus, protoplasts, TRITC–phalloidin.
Dynamics of three snow mold pathogens Pythium paddicum, Pythium iwayamai, and Typhula incarnata in barley plant tissues
Authors: Takenaka Shigehito , Arai Michiyoshi
Published: June 2010

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to clarify the dynamics of three snow mold pathogens, Pythium paddicum, Pythium iwayamai, and Typhula incarnata, in barley plant tissues. Each fungal biomass was determined in single and mixed infections, using the improved ELISA with antiribosome serums for fungal quantitative detection in plant tissues. As infection progressed, the biomass of Pythium spp. increased, particularly in leaves and pseudostems, whereas that of T. incarnata increased exclusively in roots and leaves but not in pseudostems. These findings were confirmed by light and scanning electron microscopic observations. Biomass of Pythium spp., especially P. paddicum, drastically decreased in the presence of T. incarnata, whereas T. incarnata biomass was seldom affected by the presence of Pythium spp. Moreover, when T. incarnata coexisted with P. iwayamai, its population in leaves increased remarkably. These findings indicate that T. incarnata is more competitive than Pythium spp. and suggest the exploitation of Pythium spp., especially P. iwayamai, by T. incarnata. The results obtained from studies of the interactions are discussed in relation to the fungal succession observed under field conditions. Key words: snow mold, ELISA, barley, dynamics.
Low-temperature thermochronology in the Peruvian Central Andes: implications for long-term continental denudation, timing of plateau uplift, canyon incision and lithosphere dynamics
Authors: Gunnell Yanni , Thouret Jean-Claude , Brichau Stéphanie , Carter Andy , Gallagher Kerry
Published: June 2010

In Peru, the western edge of the 4.5 km high Western Cordillera is cut by a >3 km deep canyon. To understand incision by the Cotahuasi–Ocoña River and the regional uplift history of this orogenic plateau capped by volcanic rocks, 26 crystalline rock samples were collected for low-temperature thermochronology from vertical profiles parallel and perpendicular to the canyon. Rock cooling histories confirm that most plateau denudation had occurred prior to 24 Ma but plateau incision peaked after
c
. 14–9 Ma in response to rapid surface uplift. The abrupt occurrence of a rock heating event is also detected during middle Miocene time. This was either a response to the emplacement of low-conductivity, regionally extensive ignimbritic caprock or a response to crustal-scale fluid circulation caused by wet melting of the overriding plate when magmatism resumed
c
. 24 Ma. The potential for thermochronology to provide information on past geothermal gradients is discussed, showing how it can be used as a proxy for understanding change in subducting slab dynamics, with oscillations in subduction angle having perhaps been the main on–off switch for magmatism in this Cordilleran setting.

Supplementary material:

Fission-track and apatite (U–Th)/He results and apatite chemistry indicators are available at
http://www/geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18405
.
Exceptionally preserved ostracodes from a Middle Miocene palaeolake, California, USA
Authors: Wilkinson I.P. , Wilby P.R. , Williams M. , Siveter D.J. , Page A.A. , Leggitt L. , Riley D.A.
Published: June 2010

Exceptionally well-preserved specimens of a new cypridid ostracode (Crustacea),
Raepula ira
sp. nov., are described from palaeolake sediments of the Middle Miocene Barstow Formation of the Mud Hills, southern California. This is only the second occurrence of exceptionally preserved ostracodes from the Miocene. Based on ages obtained from associated volcanic tuffs the palaeolake sediments were deposited between 16.3 and 15.8 Ma. The ostracodes form one element of a diverse lake community dominated by fairy shrimps, copepods, diatoms, larvae of diving beetles, flies and mosquitoes, and body fossils and ephippia of branchiopods and anomopods. The ostracodes are preserved three dimensionally with their soft anatomy replicated in microcrystalline silica. Submicron-scale details such as sensory setae are preserved, surpassing the resolution of most other ostracode-bearing lagerstätten and allowing their biology to be compared with extant taxa.

Supplementary material:

Red–blue anaglyphs of the exceptionally preserved ostracodes are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18407
.
On boundary recognition without location information in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Saukh Olga , Sauter Robert , Gauger Matthias , Marrón Pedro José
Published: June 2010

Boundary recognition is an important and challenging issue in wireless sensor networks when no coordinates or distances are available. The distinction between inner and boundary nodes of the network can provide valuable knowledge to a broad spectrum of algorithms. This article tackles the challenge of providing a scalable and range-free solution for boundary recognition that does not require a high node density. We explain the challenges of accurately defining the boundary of a wireless sensor network with and without node positions and provide a new definition of network boundary in the discrete domain. Our solution for boundary recognition approximates the boundary of the sensor network by determining the majority of inner nodes using geometric constructions, which guarantee that for a given
d
, a node lies inside of the construction for a
d
-quasi unit disk graph model of the wireless sensor network. Moreover, such geometric constructions make it possible to compute a guaranteed distance from a node to the boundary. We present a fully distributed algorithm for boundary recognition based on these concepts and perform a detailed complexity analysis. We provide a thorough evaluation of our approach and show that it is applicable to dense as well as sparse deployments.
Energy-efficient data gathering in wireless sensor networks with asynchronous sampling
Authors: Wang Jing , Liu Yonghe , Das Sajal K.
Published: June 2010

A low sampling rate leads to reduced congestion and hence energy consumption in the resource-constrained wireless sensor networks. In this article, we propose asynchronous sampling that shifts the sampling time instances of sensor nodes from each other. For lossy data gathering scenarios, the proposed approach provides more information about the physical phenomena in terms of increased entropy at a low sampling rate. For lossless data gathering scenarios, on the other hand, the sampling rate is lowered without sacrificing critical knowledge required for signal reconstruction. As lower sampling rates lead to smaller energy consumption for processing and transmitting the collected sensory data, the proposed asynchronous sampling strategies are capable of achieving a better trade-off between the lifetime of the network and the quality of collected information. In addition to mathematical analysis, simulation results based on real data also verify the benefits of our asynchronous sampling.
A utility-based adaptive sensing and multihop communication protocol for wireless sensor networks
Authors: Padhy Paritosh , Dash Rajdeep K. , Martinez Kirk , Jennings Nicholas R.
Published: June 2010

This article reports on the development of a utility-based mechanism for managing sensing and communication in cooperative multisensor networks. The specific application on which we illustrate our mechanism is that of GlacsWeb. This is a deployed system that uses battery-powered sensors to collect environmental data related to glaciers which it transmits back to a base station so that it can be made available world-wide to researchers. In this context, we first develop a sensing protocol in which each sensor locally adjusts its sensing rate based on the value of the data it believes it will observe. The sensors employ a Bayesian linear model to decide their sampling rate and exploit the properties of the Kullback-Leibler divergence to place an appropriate value on the data. Then, we detail a communication protocol that finds optimal routes for relaying this data back to the base station based on the cost of communicating it (derived from the opportunity cost of using the battery power for relaying data). Finally, we empirically evaluate our protocol by examining the impact on efficiency of a static network topology, a dynamic network topology, the size of the network, the degree of dynamism of the environment, and the mobility of the nodes. In so doing, we demonstrate that the efficiency gains of our new protocol, over the currently implemented method over a 6 month period, are 78%, 133%, 100%, and 93%, respectively. Furthermore, we show that our system performs at 65%, 70%, 63%, and 70% of the theoretical optimal, respectively, despite being a distributed protocol that operates with incomplete knowledge of the environment.
Evaluating 2D and 3D visualizations of spatiotemporal information
Authors: Kjellin Andreas , Pettersson Lars Winkler , Seipel Stefan , Lind Mats
Published: June 2010

Time-varying geospatial data presents some specific challenges for visualization. Here, we report the results of three experiments aiming at evaluating the relative efficiency of three existing visualization techniques for a class of such data. The class chosen was that of object movement, especially the movements of vehicles in a fictitious landscape. Two different tasks were also chosen. One was to predict where three vehicles will meet in the future given a visualization of their past movement history. The second task was to estimate the order in which four vehicles arrived at a specific place. Our results reveal that previous findings had generalized human perception in these situations and that large differences in user efficiency exist for a given task between different types of visualizations depicting the same data. Furthermore, our results are in line with earlier general findings on the nature of human perception of both object shape and scene changes. Finally, the need for new taxonomies of data and tasks based on results from perception research is discussed.
ITHACA
Authors: Pino Alexandros , Kouroupetroglou Georgios
Published: June 2010

As an answer to the disabled community’s odyssey to gain access to adaptable, modular, multilingual, cheap and sustainable Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) products, we propose the use of the ITHACA framework. It is a software environment for building component-based AAC applications, grounded on the Design for All principles and a hybrid---
community
and
commercial
---Open Source development model. ITHACA addresses the developers, the vendors, as well as the people who use AAC. We introduce a new viewpoint on the AAC product design-develop-distribute lifecycle, and a novel way to search-select-modify-maintain the AAC aid. ITHACA provides programmers with a set of tools and reusable Open Source code for building AAC software components. It also facilitates AAC product vendors to put together sophisticated applications using the available on the Web, independently premanufactured, free or commercial software parts. Furthermore, it provides people who use AAC with a variety of compatible AAC software products which incorporate multimodal, user-tailored interfaces that can fulfill their changing needs. The ITHACA architecture and the proposed fusion of past and current approaches, trends and technologies are explained. ITHACA has been successfully applied by implementing a family of AAC products, based on interchangeable components. Several ready to use ITHACA-based components, including on-screen keyboards, Text-to-Speech, symbol selection sets, e-chatting, emailing, and scanning-based input, as well as four complete communication aids addressing different user cases have been developed. This demonstration showed good acceptance of the ITHACA applications and substantial improvement of the end users’ communication skills. Developers’ experience on working in ITHACA’s Open Source projects was also positively evaluated. More importantly, the potential contribution of the component-based framework and Open Source development model combination to the AAC community emerged.
A hybrid model driven development framework for the multidimensional modeling of data warehouses!
Authors: Mazón Jose-Norberto , Trujillo Juan
Published: June 2010

Developing a multidimensional (MD) model of a data warehouse (DW) is a highly complex, prone to fail, and time consuming task, due to the fact that (i) the information needs of decision makers and the available operational data sources that will populate the DW must both be considered in a conceptual MD model, and (ii) complex mappings must be performed to obtain an implementation of this conceptual MD model. However, no significant effort has been made to take these issues into account in a systematic, well structured and comprehensive development process. To overcome the lack of such a process, a framework based on the Model Driven Architecture (MDA) is proposed for the development of a hybrid MD model at the conceptual level and for the automatic derivation of its logical representation. Also, a running example is shown throughout this paper.
XML
Authors: Moro Mirella M. , Braganholo Vanessa , Dorneles Carina F. , Duarte Denio , Galante Renata , Mello Ronaldo S.
Published: June 2010

XML has been explored by both research and industry communities. More than 5500 papers were published on different aspects of XML. With so many publications, it is hard for someone to decide where to start. Hence, this paper presents some of the research topics on XML, namely: XML on relational databases, query processing, views, data matching, and schema evolution. It then summarizes some (some!) of the most relevant or traditional papers on those subjects.
Sense the physical, walkthrough the virtual, manage the co (existing) spaces
Authors: Ooi Beng Chin , Tan Kian Lee , Tung Anthony
Published: June 2010

In a co-space environment, the physical space and the virtual space co-exist, and interact simultaneously. While the physical space is virtually enhanced with information, the virtual space is continuously refreshed with real-time, real-world information. To allow users to process and manipulate information seamlessly between the real and digital spaces, novel technologies must be developed. These include smart interfaces, new augmented realities, efficient storage and data management and dissemination techniques. In this paper, we first discuss some promising co-space applications. These applications offer experiences and opportunities that neither of the spaces can realize on its own. We then argue that the database community has much to offer to this field. Finally, we present several challenges that we, as a community, can contribute towards managing the co-space.
Database encryption
Authors: Shmueli Erez , Vaisenberg Ronen , Elovici Yuval , Glezer Chanan
Published: June 2010

This article describes the major challenges and design considerations pertaining to database encryption. The article first presents an attack model and the main relevant challenges of data security, encryption overhead, key management, and integration footprint. Next, the article reviews related academic work on alternative encryption configurations pertaining to encryption locus; indexing encrypted data; and key management. Finally, the article concludes with a benchmark using the following design criteria: encryption configuration, encryption granularity and keys storage.
Spatio-temporal database research at the University of Melbourne
Authors: Tanin Egemen , Zhang Rui , Kulik Lars
Published: June 2010

The spatio-temporal database research group at the University of Melbourne focuses on introducing new techniques for distributed systems such as mobile and ubiquitous systems as well as P2P networks. Our approach is to exploit the spatial and temporal nature of data and queries such as motion characteristics. In this article, we discuss four major themes and projects of the group: (i) nearest neighbor queries, (ii) temporal data processing and continuous queries, (iii) P2P spatial data management, and (iv) location privacy. The group is supported by funding from the Australian Research Council and the National ICT Australia Victoria Research Laboratory.
Repeatability & workability evaluation of SIGMOD 2009
Authors: Manegold S. , Manolescu I. , Afanasiev L. , Feng J. , Gou G. , Hadjieleftheriou M. , Harizopoulos S. , Kalnis P. , Karanasos K. , Laurent D. , Lupu M. , Onose N. , Ré C. , Sans V. , Senellart P. , Wu T. , Shasha D.
Published: June 2010

SIGMOD 2008 was the first database conference that offered to test submitters' programs against their data to verify the repeatability of the experiments published [1]. Given the positive feedback concerning the SIGMOD 2008 repeatability initiative, SIGMOD 2009 modified and expanded the initiative with a workability assessment.
XQJ
Authors: Van Cappellen Marc , Liu Zhen Hua , Melton Jim , Orgiyan Maxim
Published: June 2010

Just as SQL is a declarative language for querying relational data, XQuery is a declarative language for querying XML. JDBC provides a standard Java API to interact with a variety of SQL engines to declaratively access and manipulate data stored in relational data sources. Similarly, XQJ provides a standard Java API to interact with a variety of XQuery engines to declaratively access and manipulate XML data in variety of XML data sources. XQJ, also known as JSR 225, is designed through the Java Community Process (JCP) [20]. The XQJ specification defines a set of Java interfaces and classes that enable a Java program to submit XQuery expressions to an XQuery engine operating on XML data sources and to consume XQuery results. In this article, we discuss the XQJ APl's technical details with its similarities; and differences from JDBC, the design philosophies and goals for XQJ, the implementations strategies of XQJ in variety of XQuery engines and their operating environments, and the possible future of XQJ.
The ubiquitous DBMS
Authors: Whang Kyu-Young , Song Il-Yeol , Kim Taek-Yoon , Lee Ki-Hoon
Published: June 2010

Advancement in mobile computing technologies has prompted strong needs for database systems that can be used in small devices such as sensors, cellular phones, PDAs, car navigators, and Ultra Mobile PCs (UMPCs). We term the database systems that are customizable for small computing devices as Ubiquitous Database Management Systems (UDBMSs). In this paper, we first review the requirements of the UDBMS. The requirements identified include lightweight DBMSs, selective convergence, flash-optimized storage systems, data synchronization, support of unstructured/semistructured data, complex database operations, selfmanagement, and security. Next, we review existing systems and research prototypes. We review the functionality of UDBMSs including the footprint size, support of standard SQL, transaction management, concurrency control, recovery, indexing, and access control. We then review the supportability of the requirements by those UDBMSs surveyed. We finally present research issues related to the UDBMS.
Relational processing of RDF queries
Authors: Sakr Sherif , Al-Naymat Ghazi
Published: June 2010

The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is a flexible model for representing information about resources in the web. With the increasing amount of RDF data which is becoming available, efficient and scalable management of RDF data has become a fundamental challenge to achieve the SemanticWeb vision. The RDF model has attracted the attention of the database community and many researchers have proposed different solutions to store and query RDF data efficiently. This survey focuses on using relational query processors to store and query RDF data. We provide an overview of the different approaches and classify them according to their storage and query evaluation strategies.
On energy management, load balancing and replication
Authors: Lang Willis , Patel Jignesh M. , Naughton Jeffrey F.
Published: June 2010

In this paper we investigate some opportunities and challenges that arise in energy-aware computing in a cluster of servers running data-intensive workloads. We leverage the insight that servers in a cluster are often underutilized, which makes it attractive to consider powering down some servers and redistributing their load to others. Of course, powering down servers naively will render data stored only on powered down servers inaccessible. While data replication can be exploited to power down servers without losing access to data, unfortunately, care must be taken in the design of the replication and server power down schemes to avoid creating load imbalances on the remaining "live" servers. Accordingly, in this paper we study the interaction between energy management, load balancing, and replication strategies for data-intensive cluster computing. In particular, we show that Chained Declustering -- a replication strategy proposed more than 20 years ago -- can support very flexible energy management schemes.
An overview of the Oregon programming languages summer school
Authors: Allen Jim , Ariola Zena , Curien Pierre-Louis , Fluet Matthew , Foster Jeff , Grossman Dan , Harper Robert , Herbelin Hugo , Smaragdakis Yannis , Walker David , Zdancewic Steve
Published: June 2010

The Oregon Programming Languages Summer School (OPLSS) has been held at the University of Oregon each summer since 2002. We believe it has been an unqualified success in providing students and instructors a unique opportunity to study relevant background and cutting-edge results in the field of programming languages research. As the current steering committee and organizers for OPLSS, we appreciate the opportunity to provide an overview of the summer school. This short article describes the format, history, goals, and support for the OPLSS.
Singleton types here, singleton types there, singleton types everywhere
Authors: Monnier Stefan , Haguenauer David
Published: June 2010

Singleton types are often considered a poor man's substitute for dependent types. But their generalization in the form of GADTs has found quite a following. The main advantage of singleton types and GADTs is to preserve the so-called phase distinction, which seems to be so important to make use of the usual compilation techniques. Of course, they considerably restrict the programmers, which often leads them to duplicate code at both the term and type levels, so as to reflect at the type level what happens at the term level, in order to be able to reason about it.

In this article, we show how to automate such a duplication while eliminating the problematic dependencies. More specifically, we show how to compile the Calculus of Constructions into ?H, a non-dependently-typed language, while still preserving all the typing information. Since ?H has been shown to be amenable to type preserving CPS and closure conversion, it shows a way to preserve types when doing code extraction and more generally when using all the common compiler techniques.
Using Virtual Role-Play to Solve Training Problems
Authors: Simmons Tonya Goth
Published: June 2010

How do you train customer service reps or other employees to think on their feet, to provide satisfactoryor even exemplary service to potentially irate customers? And better yet, how do you know they are applying the training correctly?
Online Learning 101: Part II
Authors: Landay Susan
Published: June 2010

In Part II of this three-part series, Susan Landay explores the range of games and "interactivities" that can easily be created and posted for online learning reinforcement; selection criteria for the various offerings; plus some features and benefits of a few reputable, cost effective solutions. Part III looks at tools for web conferencing, as well as learning-management systems
Confocal Raman Microscopy of Optical-Trapped Particles in Liquids
Authors: Cherney Daniel P. , Harris Joel M.
Published: June 2010

The in situ analysis of small, dispersed particles in liquids is a challenging problem, the successful solution to which influences diverse applications of colloidal particles in materials science, synthetic chemistry, and molecular biology. Optical trapping of small particles with a tightly focused laser beam can be combined with confocal Raman microscopy to provide molecular structure information about individual, femtogram-sized particles in liquid samples. In this review, we consider the basic principles of combining optical trapping and confocal Raman spectroscopy, then survey the applications that have been developed through the combination of these techniques and their use in the analysis of particles dispersed in liquids.
An Editor's View of Analytical Chemistry (the Discipline)
Authors: Murray Royce W.
Published: June 2010

The author recounts progress observed in analytical chemistry (the discipline) from the vantage point of a 20-year editor of Analytical Chemistry (the journal). The recounting draws liberally from the journal's monthly editorials. A complete listing of the editorials can be found in Supplemental Material .
Advances in Mass Spectrometry for Lipidomics
Authors: Blanksby Stephen J. , Mitchell Todd W.
Published: June 2010

Recent expansion in research in the field of lipidomics has been driven by the development of new mass spectrometric tools and protocols for the identification and quantification of molecular lipids in complex matrices. Although there are similarities between the field of lipidomics and the allied field of mass spectrometry (e.g., proteomics), lipids present some unique advantages and challenges for mass spectrometric analysis. The application of electrospray ionization to crude lipid extracts without prior fractionation—the so-called shotgun approach—is one such example, as it has perhaps been more successfully applied in lipidomics than in any other discipline. Conversely, the diverse molecular structure of lipids means that collision-induced dissociation alone may be limited in providing unique descriptions of complex lipid structures, and the development of additional, complementary tools for ion activation and analysis is required to overcome these challenges. In this article, we discuss the state of the art in lipid mass spectrometry and highlight several areas in which current approaches are deficient and further innovation is required.
Recent Development of the Synthesis and Engineering Applications of One‐Dimensional Boron Nitride Nanomaterials
Authors: Sun Changhui , Yu Hongxiao , Xu Liqiang , Ma Qiang , Qian Yitai
Published: June 2010

One‐dimensional (1D) nanomaterials with novel photoelectric, magnetic, mechanical, and electronic transport properties have long been the research focus throughout the world. Herein, the recent achievements in preparation of 1D boron nitride nanomaterials, including nanotubes, nanowires, nanoribbons, nanorods, and nanofibres are reviewed. As the most intriguing and researched polymorph, boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are introduced thoroughly involving their functionalization and doping. The electronics and engineering applications of 1D boron nitride nanomaterials are illustrated in nanoscale devices, hydrogen storage, polymer composites, and newly developed biomedical fields in detail.
Sustained Self-Regulation of Energy Intake: Initial Hunger Improves Insulin Sensitivity
Authors: Ciampolini Mario , Lovell-Smith David , Bianchi Riccardo , de Pont Boudewijn , Sifone Massimiliano , van Weeren Martine , de Hahn Willem , Borselli Lorenzo , Pietrobelli Angelo
Published: June 2010

Background. Excessive energy intake has been implicated in diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and obesity. Dietary restraint has been unsuccessful as a method for the self-regulation of eating. Recognition of initial hunger (IH) is easily learned, can be validated by associated blood glucose (BG) concentration, and may improve insulin sensitivity.Objective. To investigate whether the initial hunger meal pattern (IHMP) is associated with improved insulin sensitivity over a 5-month period.Methods. Subjects were trained to recognize and validate sensations of IH, then adjust food intake so that initial hunger was present pre-meal at each meal time (IHMP). The purpose was to provide meal-by-meal subjective feedback for self-regulation of food intake. In a randomised trial, we measured blood glucose and calculated insulin sensitivity in 89 trained adults and 31 not-trained controls, before training in the IHMP and 5 months after training.Results. In trained subjects, significant decreases were found in insulin sensitivity index, insulin and BG peaks, glycated haemoglobin, mean pre-meal BG, standard deviation of diary BG (BG as recorded by subjects' 7-day diary), energy intake, BMI, and body weight when compared to control subjects.Conclusion. The IHMP improved insulin sensitivity and other cardiovascular risk factors over a 5-month period.
Strong Convergence Theorems by Hybrid Methods for Strict Pseudocontractions and Equilibrium Problems
Authors: Duan Peichao , Zhao Jing
Published: June 2010

Let "Equation missing" be N strict pseudocontractions defined on a closed convex subset "Equation missing" of a real Hilbert space "Equation missing". Consider the problem of finding a common element of the set of fixed point of these mappings and the set of solutions of an equilibrium problem with the parallel and cyclic algorithms. In this paper, we propose new iterative schemes for solving this problem and prove these schemes converge strongly by hybrid methods.
Optical Properties and Immunoassay Applications of Noble Metal Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhu Shaoli , Zhou Wei
Published: June 2010

Noble metal, especially gold (Au) and silver (Ag) nanoparticles exhibit unique and tunable optical properties on account of their surface plasmon resonance (SPR). In this paper, we mainly discussed the theory background of the enhanced optical properties of noble metal nanoparticles. Mie theory, transfer matrix method, discrete dipole approximation (DDA) method, and finite‐difference time domain (FDTD) method applied brute‐force computational methods for different nanoparticles optical properties. Some important nanostructure fabrication technologies such as nanosphere lithography (NSL) and focused ion beam (FIB) are also introduced in this paper. Moreover, these fabricated nanostructures are used in the plasmonic sensing fields. The binding signal between the antibody and antigen, amyloid‐derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs)‐potential Alzheimer′s disease (AD) biomarkers, and staphylococcal enterotixn B (SEB) in nano‐Moore per liter (nM) concentration level are detected by our designed nanobiosensor. They have many potential applications in the biosensor, environment protection, food security, and medicine safety for health, and so forth, fields.
What Do Changes in Brain Perfusion Induced by Etomidate Suggest about Epilepsy in Human Patients?
Authors: Herrera-Peco Ivan , Wix Ramos Rybel , Domínguez-Gadea Luis , Meilán María Luisa , Martínez-Chacón José Luis , de Dios Eva , Sola Rafael G. , Pastor Jesús
Published: June 2010

Epilepsy is one of the major neurological disorders, affecting roughly 1-2% of the world's population, of which approximately 20–25% of patients are drug resistant. A variety of drugs have been used to activate and identify the epileptic area in patients during presurgical evaluation. We studied the cerebral blood flow (CBF) by single photon-emission computed tomography (SPECT) and bioelectrical brain activity responses to etomidate in
11 patients. Etomidate (0.1 mg/kg) was administered while patients were monitored by video-electroencephalography with foramen ovale electrodes (FOEs). After etomidate administration, a brief period of high-frequency activity was observed, followed by a generalized, high-voltage delta pattern. Increased regional CBF was observed bilaterally in thalamus, putamen, and posterior hippocampus. Besides, the only interhemispheric difference was observed in the posterior hippocampus, where CBF decreased in the epileptic temporal lobe. Activation by etomidate induces a specific and repetitive response in the bioelectrical activity. In addition, CBF changes induced by etomidate may serve as a diagnostic tool in the near future.
Nitrogen and Phosphorous Removal in Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants in China: A Review
Authors: Qiu Yong , Shi Han-chang , He Miao
Published: June 2010

Surface water environment in China was degraded rapidly in the last two decades, resulting in increasingly tighten criteria issued for municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). This paper reviewed the recent advances of process design and operational optimization for nutrients removal. Three major processes, as anaerobic-anoxic-oxic (AAO) process, oxidation ditch (OD), and sequencing batch reactor (SBR) occupied 65% of WWTPs amounts and 54% of treatment volumes of China in 2006. However conservative process designs and operational faults often impaired the process performances and energy efficiency. Therefore, typical processes were modified, combined, and innovated to meet the requirements of the diverse influent characteristics and lower energy consumptions. Furthermore, operational optimization techniques by modeling, simulation, and real-time control were also developed and applied in China to improve the process operation. Although great efforts had been contributed to improve the WWTPs performances in China, attentions should be continuously paid to the introduction, instruction, and implementation of advanced techniques. At last, the technical demands and appropriated techniques of WWTPs in China were briefly discussed.
Development of a Pain Management Protocol for a Paediatric Ward in the Gambia, West Africa
Authors: Puchalski Ritchie Lisa M. , Howie Stephen R. C. , Njai Pamela Collier
Published: June 2010

Despite recent advances in our understanding of paediatric pain and its management, pain continues to be undertreated globally, particularly in children and in low income countries. This article describes the development of a paediatric analgesia and sedation protocol, tailored to the specific setting of the Medical Research Council (MRC) paediatric ward in the Gambia, West Africa. An iterative process was used throughout development, with inputs from the medical literature, local providers, and pain experts, incorporated to ensure a safe, effective, and locally appropriate protocol. We demonstrate that evidence-based published guidelines, can and should be adapted to allow for optimal pain management given the resources and capabilities of specific health care settings. It is hoped that the process and protocol described here, will not only help to improve care on the MRC ward, but serve as an example to others working toward improving pain management in similar health care settings.
Postoperative Bowel Function and Nutritional Status following Distal Pancreatectomy with En-Bloc Celiac Axis Resection
Authors: Hirano Satoshi , Kondo Satoshi , Tanaka Eiichi , Shichinohe Toshiaki , Tsuchikawa Takahiro , Kato Kentaro , Matsumoto Joe
Published: June 2010

Background/Aims: Distal pancreatectomy with en-bloc celiac axis resection (DP-CAR) is routinely accompanied by complete resection of the bilateral celiac ganglions and the circumferential plexus of the superior mesenteric artery. The postoperative condition including bowel movement, nutritional status, and tolerance to adjuvant chemotherapy has never been studied. Methods: 40 patients who underwent DP-CAR were enrolled in this study. Postoperative bowel function was estimated by the requirement of anti-diarrheal agents. Changes of nutritional parameters including body weight and laboratory data for 1 year after surgery were evaluated. Results: 15 (38%) patients needed no anti-diarrheal agent after a median follow-up period of 39 months. The other patients were well controlled for their bowel movement with anti-diarrheal drugs. 13 patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy tolerated it well despite hematologic toxicity in 7 patients who received gemcitabine. Postoperative body weight was significantly decreased and reached a plateau value at postoperative month 3. The values of laboratory data indicating nutritional status were significantly lower at 1 month after surgery and recovered between 3 and 12 months. Conclusion: The patients who underwent DP-CAR scarcely suffered from intractable diarrhea and could achieve a feasible nutritional status after surgery to be able to receive adjuvant chemotherapy.
Distal Margins in Radical Resections for Rectal Cancer after Chemoradiation Therapy: How Short Is Long Enough?
Authors: Pricolo Victor E. , Abodeely Adam , Resnick Murray
Published: June 2010

Background: The purpose of our study was to assess the impact of distal margin length on outcome in patients with rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) followed by radical resection. Methods: Fifty-three consecutive patients were evaluated. The selection criteria included: adenocarcinoma of the mid- or distal rectum, locally advanced stage, absence of distant metastases, and preoperative CRT followed by proctectomy with total mesorectal excision. The operations included low anterior resection in 33 patients (62%) and abdominoperineal resection in 20 (38%). The outcome measures were: tumor regression, complete pathologic response, length of distal resection margins, status of radial margins and recurrence rate. Results: Forty-eight patients (91%) had tumor regression, and 11 (21%) had a complete pathologic response. Distal resection margins were tumor-free in all patients, ranging in length from 0.1 to 7.4 cm (mean = 2.2). Follow-up (mean = 48.8 months) was current in 50 of 53 patients (94%). There was no locoregional recurrence. Conclusions: Distal resection margins shorter than 1–2 cm appear to be equivalent to longer margins in patients who undergo CRT followed by proctectomy with total mesorectal excision. These findings may lead to greater utilization of sphincter-saving procedures in rectal cancer.