bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Expression and Function of Transforming Growth Factor β in Melioidosis
Authors: Weehuizen Tassili A. F. , Wieland Catharina W. , van der Windt Gerritje J. W. , Duitman Jan-Willem , Boon Louis , Day Nicholas P. J. , Peacock Sharon J. , van der Poll Tom , Wiersinga W. Joost
Published: February 2012

Melioidosis, caused by the Gram-negative bacterium
Burkholderia pseudomallei
, is an important cause of community-acquired sepsis in Southeast Asia and northern Australia. An important controller of the immune system is the pleiotropic cytokine transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), of which Smad2 and Smad3 are the major signal transducers. In this study, we aimed to characterize TGF-β expression and function in experimental melioidosis. TGF-β expression was determined in 33 patients with culture-proven infection with
B. pseudomallei
and 30 healthy controls. We found that plasma TGF-β concentrations were strongly elevated during melioidosis. In line with this finding, TGF-β expression in C57BL/6 mice intranasally inoculated with
B. pseudomallei
was enhanced as well. To assess the role of TGF-β, we inhibited TGF-β using a selective murine TGF-β antibody. Treatment of mice with anti-TGF-β antibody resulted in decreased lung Smad2 phosphorylation. TGF-β blockade appeared to be protective: mice treated with anti-TGF-β antibody and subsequently infected with
B. pseudomallei
showed diminished bacterial loads. Moreover, less distant organ injury was observed in anti-TGF-β treated mice as shown by reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and aspartate transaminase (AST) values. However, anti-TGF-β treatment did not have an effect on survival. In conclusion, TGF-β is upregulated during
B. pseudomallei
infection and plays a limited but proinflammatory role during experimental melioidosis.
Difference in Fine Specificity to Polysaccharides of Candida albicans Mannoprotein between Mouse SIGNR1 and Human DC-SIGN
Authors: Takahara Kazuhiko , Arita Takuya , Tokieda Sumika , Shibata Nobuyuki , Okawa Yoshio , Tateno Hiroaki , Hirabayashi Jun , Inaba Kayo
Published: February 2012

C-type lectin SIGNR1 directly recognizes
Candida albicans
and zymosan and has been considered to share properties of polysaccharide recognition with human DC-SIGN (hDC-SIGN). However, the precise specificity of SIGNR1 and the difference from that of hDC-SIGN remain to be elucidated. We prepared soluble forms of SIGNR1 and hDC-SIGN and conducted experiments to examine their respective specificities. Soluble SIGNR1 (sSIGNR1) bound several types of live
C. albicans
clinical isolate strains in an EDTA-sensitive manner. Inhibition analyses of sSIGNR1 binding by glycans from various yeast strains demonstrated that SIGNR1 preferentially recognizes N-glycan α-mannose side chains in
Candida
mannoproteins, as reported in hDC-SIGN. Unlike shDC-SIGN, however, sSIGNR1 recognized not only
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, but also
C. albicans
J-1012 glycan, even after α-mannosidase treatment that leaves only β1,2-mannose-capped α-mannose side chains. In addition, glycomicroarray analyses showed that sSIGNR1 binds mannans from
C. albicans
and
S. cerevisiae
but does not recognize Lewis
a/b/x/y
antigen polysaccharides as in shDC-SIGN. Consistent with these results, RAW264.7 cells expressing hDC-SIGN in which the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) was replaced with that of SIGNR1 (RAW-chimera) produced comparable amounts of interleukin 10 (IL-10) in response to glycans from
C. albicans
and
S. cerevisiae
, but those expressing hDC-SIGN produced less IL-10 in response to
S. cerevisiae
than
C. albicans
. Furthermore, RAW–hDC-SIGN cells remarkably reduced IL-10 production after α-mannosidase treatment compared with RAW-chimera cells. These results indicate that SIGNR1 recognizes
C. albicans
/yeast through a specificity partly distinct from that of its homologue hDC-SIGN.
Occupational and leisure time physical activity: risk of all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction in the Copenhagen City Heart Study. A prospective cohort study
Authors: Holtermann Andreas , Marott Jacob Louis , Gyntelberg Finn , Søgaard Karen , Suadicani Poul , Mortensen Ole S , Prescott Eva , Schnohr Peter
Published: February 2012

Objectives

Men with low physical fitness and high occupational physical activity are recently shown to have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. The association between occupational physical activity with cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality may also depend on leisure time physical activity.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

The Copenhagen City Heart Study.

Participants

7819 men and women aged 25–66 years without a history of cardiovascular disease who attended an initial examination in the Copenhagen City Heart Study in 1976–1978.

Outcome measures

Myocardial infarction and all-cause mortality. Occupational physical activity was defined by combining information from baseline (1976–1978) with reassessment in 1981–1983. Conventional risk factors were controlled for in Cox analyses.

Results

During the follow-up from 1976 to 1978 until 2010, 2888 subjects died of all-cause mortality and 787 had a first event of myocardial infarction. Overall, occupational physical activity predicted all-cause mortality and myocardial infarction in men but not in women (test for interaction p=0.02). High occupational physical activity was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality among men with low (HR 1.56; 95% CI 1.11 to 2.18) and moderate (HR 1.31; 95% CI 1.05 to 1.63) leisure time physical activity but not among men with high leisure time physical activity (HR 1.00; 95% CI 0.78 to 1.26) (test for interaction p=0.04). Similar but weaker tendencies were found for myocardial infarction. Among women, occupational physical activity was not associated with subsequent all-cause mortality or myocardial infarction.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that high occupational physical activity imposes harmful effects particularly among men with low levels of leisure time physical activity.
HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) in a South Asian population - contextual application of the 2007 criteria
Authors: Chan Lai Gwen , Kandiah Nagaendran , Chua Arlene
Published: February 2012

Objectives

To estimate the prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) among HIV patients in a multiethnic South Asian population, describe the pattern of neurocognitive impairment in HAND and the factors associated with HAND.

Design

A cross-sectional survey of HIV-positive outpatients and inpatients.

Setting

The sole referral centre for HIV/AIDS treatment in Singapore.

Participants

Inclusion criteria were HIV positive, age between 21 and 80 years old and at least 3 years of education. Exclusion criteria included concomitant delirium, serious systemic disease or major psychiatric illness. 265 patients did not meet criteria or declined to participate. The final sample size was 132.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was cognitive impairment based on performance on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, International HIV Dementia Scale and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living. The secondary outcome measure was the classification of impairment based on the 2007 updated research nosology for HAND.

Results

The prevalence of HAND was 22.7% of which 70% (15.9% of total) were asymptomatic neurocognitive impairment, 23.3% (5.3% of total) were mild neurocognitive disorder and 6.7% (1.5% of total) were HIV-associated dementia. Increasing age (OR 1.104, 95% CI 1.054 to 1.155, p<0.001), less education (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.89, p<0.001) and low baseline CD4 count (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.74, p=0.019) were associated with HAND. Delayed recall, language and abstract thinking were the domains most commonly affected, but impairment in visuospatial ability (RC 3.013, 95% CI 1.954 to 4.073, p<0.001) and attention (RC 2.205, 95% CI 1.043 to 3.367, p<0.001) were most strongly associated with HAND.

Conclusion

HAND is common among HIV patients in a South Asian sample, most of whom are asymptomatic. Older patients with less education and severe illness at diagnosis are at highest risk of HAND. Delayed recall is most commonly affected, but visuospatial dysfunction is most strongly associated with prevalent HAND.
Risk of tuberculosis among people with diabetes mellitus: an Australian nationwide cohort study
Authors: Dobler Claudia Caroline , Flack Jeffrey Ronald , Marks Guy Barrington
Published: February 2012

Objective

Previous studies that have found an increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) in people with diabetes mellitus (DM) have been conducted in segments of the population and have not adjusted for important potential confounders. We sought to determine the RR for TB in the presence of DM in a national population with data on confounding factors in order to inform the decision-making process about latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) screening in people with diabetes.

Design

Whole population historical cohort study.

Setting

All Australian States and Territories with a mean TB incidence of 5.8/100 000.

Participants

Cases of TB in people with DM were identified by record linkage using the National Diabetes Services Scheme Database and TB notification databases for the years 2001–2006.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Primary outcome was notified cases of TB. Secondary outcome was notified cases of culture-confirmed TB. RR of TB was estimated with adjustment for age, sex, TB incidence in country of birth and indigenous status.

Results

There were 6276 cases of active TB among 19 855 283 people living in Australia between 2001 and 2006. There were 271 (188 culture positive) cases of TB among 802 087 members of the DM cohort and 130 cases of TB among 273 023 people using insulin. The crude RR of TB was 1.78 (95% CI 1.17 to 2.73) in all people with DM and 2.16 (95% CI 1.19 to 3.93) in people with DM using insulin. The adjusted RRs were 1.48 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.10) and 2.27 (95% CI 1.41 to 3.66), respectively.

Conclusions

The presence of DM alone does not justify screening for LTBI. However, when combined with other risk factors for TB, the presence of DM may be sufficient to justify screening and treatment for LTBI.
Has there been any progress in improving the quality of hospitalised death? Replication of a US chart audit study
Authors: Parikh Purak , Brokaw Frances C , Saggar Shagun , Graves Luann , Balan Stefan , Li Zhongze , Tosteson Tor D , Bakitas Marie
Published: February 2012

Objective

To describe the experience of dying in a US tertiary academic medical centre and to compare this experience with a historical decedent sample.

Design

A retrospective, observational, chart audit study of adults (N=159) who died in hospital.

Setting

Component hospitals of the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital (MHMH), Lebanon, New Hampshire, and the affiliated Veteran's Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), White River Junction, Vermont.

Participants

159 hospitalised adult decedents comprising a random sample of 100 MHMH decedents and a total sample of 59 VAMC decedents.

Methods

The authors compared end-of-life (EOL) care in decedents who had a palliative care consultation (PCC) with those who did not. An exploratory analysis compared the EOL care between the 2008 decedent sample and an historical decedent sample (N=104).

Results

63 of 159 inpatients received a PCC. Decedents receiving a PCC were less likely to die in an intensive care unit, had fewer invasive interventions (eg, intubation, assisted ventilation, dialysis, chemotherapy) and were more likely to have advance directives, do-not-resuscitate orders and comfort measures orders than those who did not receive a PCC. Higher rates of emotional and pastoral care were also noted. Compared with the historical sample, 2008 decedents had a higher rate of invasive interventions, but fewer invasive interventions were noted in the 2008 PCC subsample.

Conclusions

Less invasive EOL care was observed in decedents who received a PCC. Ongoing monitoring of EOL care is critically important for hospital quality improvement programmes.
An analysis of the performance of UK medical graduates in the MRCOG Part 1 and Part 2 written examinations
Authors: Rushd S , Landau A B , Khan J A , Allgar V , Lindow S W
Published: February 2012

Background

There is a lack of evidence on whether graduates from different medical schools perform differently in postgraduate examinations.

Objective

To evaluate the variations in performance of UK medical graduates in Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (MRCOG) examination.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of performance of 1335 doctors graduating in UK medical schools who entered the Part 1 MRCOG and 822 doctors taking the Part 2 MRCOG written examination for the first time between 1998 and 2008. The main outcome measures were to evaluate medical school effects, gender effects and academic performance effect.

Results

Graduates of UK medical schools performed differently in the Part 1 and Part 2 written MRCOG examination. The graduates of Oxford (pass rate 82.6%), Cambridge (75%), Bristol (59.3%) and Edinburgh (57.5%) performed significantly better and the graduates of Liverpool (26.8%), Southampton (21.8%) and Wales (18.2%) performed significantly worse than the remaining cohort in the Part 1 examination. The candidates of Newcastle (88.9%), Oxford (82.4%), Cambridge (81%) and Edinburgh (78.2%) performed significantly better and the graduates of Glasgow (49.2%) and Leicester (36.2%) have significantly underperformed compared with the remaining cohort in Part 2 written examination. There was no difference in the success rates of male (47.5%) and female (42.0%) candidates in the Part 1; however, female candidates had a significantly better success rate in the Part 2 written examination than male candidates (65.6% vs 52.9%).

Conclusion

These results show that there is variation in performance among the graduates from different medical schools in the Part 1 and Part 2 MRCOG written examination.
The impact of peer outreach on HIV knowledge and prevention behaviours of male sex workers in Mombasa, Kenya
Authors: Geibel Scott , King'ola Nzioki , Temmerman Marleen , Luchters Stanley
Published: February 2012

Introduction

Targeting most at-risk populations is an essential component of HIV prevention strategies. Peer education programmes have been found to increase HIV knowledge, condom use and safer sex behaviours among female sex workers in Africa and men who have sex with men elsewhere. The authors aimed to evaluate the impact of a peer-driven intervention on male sex workers who sell sex to men in Mombasa, Kenya.

Methods

Using time-venue sampling, a baseline survey of 425 male sex workers was conducted in late 2006, after which, 40 peer educators were trained in HIV prevention, basic counselling skills and distribution of condoms and lubricants. A follow-up time-venue survey of 442 male sex workers was conducted in early 2008, and pre- and post-intervention changes were examined. The impact of peer educator exposure on HIV knowledge and condom use was analysed.

Results

Positive changes in HIV prevention behaviours were observed, including increases in consistent use of condoms with both male clients (35.9%–50.2%, p<0.001) and non-paying male partners (27.4%–39.5%, p=0.008). Exposure to peer educators (AOR=1.97, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.02) and ever having been counselled or tested for HIV (AOR=1.71, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.66) were associated with consistent condom use in multivariate analysis. Peer educator contact was also associated with improved HIV knowledge and use of water-based lubricants.

Conclusions

Peer outreach programming reached highly stigmatised male sex workers in Mombasa, resulting in significant, but limited, improvements in HIV knowledge and prevention behaviours. Improved peer coverage and additional prevention initiatives are needed to sufficiently mitigate HIV transmission.
Features that contribute to the usefulness of low‐fidelity models for surgical skills training
Authors: Langebæk R. , Berendt M. , Pedersen L. T. , Jensen A. L. , Eika B.
Published: February 2012

For practical, ethical and economic reasons, veterinary surgical education is becoming increasingly dependent on models for training. The limited availability and high cost of commercially produced surgical models has increased the need for useful, low‐cost alternatives. For this reason, a number of models were developed to be used in a basic surgical skills course for veterinary students. The models were low fidelity, having limited resemblance to real animals. The aim of the present study was to describe the students' learning experience with the models and to report their perception of the usefulness of the models in applying the trained skills to live animal surgery. One hundred and forty‐six veterinary fourth‐year students evaluated the models on a four‐point Likert scale. Of these, 26 additionally participated in individual semistructured interviews. The survey results showed that 75 per cent of the students rated the models ‘useful’/'very useful'. Interviews revealed that tactile, dimensional, visual, situational and emotional features are important to students' perception of a successful translation of skills from models to live animal. In conclusion, low‐fidelity models are useful educational tools in preparation for live animal surgery. However, there are specific features to take into account when developing models in order for students to perceive them as useful.
Huehuecanauhtlus tiquichensis, a new hadrosauroid dinosaur (Ornithischia: Ornithopoda) from the Santonian (Late Cretaceous) of Michoacán, Mexico
Authors: Ramírez-Velasco Angel Alejandro , Benammi Mouloud , Prieto-Márquez Albert , Ortega Jesús Alvarado , Hernández-Rivera René
Published: February 2012

Huehuecanauhtlus tiquichensis gen. et sp. nov. is the southernmost diagnostic basal hadrosauroid in the Americas. The holotype and referred material of this taxon came from Santonian strata in the Michoacán State, southwestern Mexico. Huehuecanauhtlus tiquichensis is diagnosed on the basis of a combination of dental, axial, and appendicular characters, including the following: at least two teeth exposed on the occlusal plane of the dentary and maxilla; seven sacral vertebrae; tall neural spines of caudal vertebrae; supraacetabular process long; and short and trapezoidal (in lateral view) postacetabular process. It differs from other hadrosauroids in having an ilium with extreme ventral deflection of the preacetabular process. Maximum parsimony cladistic analysis placed H. tiquichensis as a closely related outgroup to Hadrosauridae. The occurrence of H. tiquichensis in the Santonian of North America may be explained as a dispersal event from Asia to North America that occurred no later than the Albian or, alternatively, as a vicariant event of a most recent common ancestor widespread in both landmasses.
A new depositional model for glaciogenic Neoproterozoic iron formation: insights from the chemostratigraphy and basin configuration of the Rapitan iron formation1Northwest Territories Geoscience Office Contribution 0052.
Authors: Baldwin Geoffrey J. , Turner Elizabeth C. , Kamber Balz S.
Published: February 2012

Neoproterozoic iron formations record an unusual and apparently final recurrence of this sediment type after a hiatus of more than one billion years. Despite the unusual environmental conditions that led to their formation, specifically their association with glaciogenic deposits, Neoproterozoic iron formations have strongly influenced models for the Precambrian Earth’s surficial evolution and iron formation in general. A suite of high-quality trace element data for 42 samples from the Rapitan iron formation in northwestern Canada were used to reconstruct the configuration and redox evolution of the Rapitan Basin. Complete rare-earth element and yttrium (REE+Y) patterns demonstrate that the Rapitan Basin was hydrologically connected to the open ocean, but that local catchments of an evolved, possibly granitic composition supplied dissolved REE+Y, suggesting partial basin restriction. Molybdenum and U systematics are consistent and indicate a partly restricted, or “silled” basin. In contrast to modern analogues for such basins, such as the Cariaco Basin, the stratigraphic association with glaciogenic clastic rocks requires ice cover to be considered in basin reconstruction. Accordingly, the Rapitan iron formation was deposited through a complex interplay of processes: during intervals of ice cover, glacially sourced iron oxyhydroxides were bacterially reduced to dissolved ferrous iron, which was subsequently oxidized to ferric iron following ice withdrawal. During this time, extreme primary productivity in the shallow water column drove eutrophication at middle water depths and the production of a three-tiered stratified water column with ferruginous deep water, a thin euxinic wedge at middle depths, and oxic surface water. Regardless of the basinal redox conditions and depositional constraints, the absence of a positive Eu anomaly in the Rapitan iron formation suggests that the global ocean was fully oxygenated by the Neoproterozoic.
Effects of imidazolines on neurogenic contraction in isolated urinary bladder detrusor strips from rabbit
Authors: He Hong-Mei , Ren Lei-Ming , Tian He-Lin , Lu Hai-Gang , Zhao Ding
Published: February 2012

Moxonidine and clonidine, which are imidazoline compounds, are sympathetic modulators used as centrally acting antihypertensive drugs. Moxonidine, clonidine, and agmatine produce extensive effects in mammalian tissues via imidazoline recognition sites (or receptors) or α2-adrenoceptors. To investigate the effects of imidazolines on the function of the urinary bladder, we tested the effects of moxonidine, clonidine, and agmatine on the neurogenic contraction induced by electric field stimulation, and on the post-synaptic receptors in isolated urinary bladder detrusor strips from rabbit. Both moxonidine at 1.0–10.0 µmol/L and clonidine at 0.1–10.0 µmol/L inhibited electric-field-stimulation-induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner, but not agmatine (10.0–1000.0 µmol/L). Both moxonidine and clonidine failed to affect carbachol or adenosine-triphosphate-induced contractions; however, 1000.0 µmol/L agmatine significantly increased these contractions. Our study indicates that (i) moxonidine and clonidine produce a concentration-dependent inhibition of the neurogenic contractile responses to electric field stimulation in isolated detrusor strips from male New Zealand rabbits; (ii) post-synaptic muscarinic receptor and purinergic receptor stimulation are not involved in the responses of moxinidine and clonidine in this study; (iii) the inhibitory effects of these agents are probably not mediated by presynaptic imidazoline receptors.
Inhibitory effect of ginsenoside-Rd on carrageenan-induced inflammation in rats
Authors: Wang Li , Zhang Yunxin , Wang Zhiping , Li Sijia , Min Guangning , Wang Lihua , Chen Jiajia , Cheng Junjun , Wu Yongjie
Published: February 2012

A previous study reported that ginsenoside-Rd reduced the production of tumor necrosis factor-α by inhibiting nuclear factor-κB in lipopolysaccharide-activated N9 microglia in vitro. The aim of the present study was to confirm the anti-inflammatory effects and mechanisms of ginsenoside-Rd in animal experiments involving acute inflammation. The results indicated that ginsenoside-Rd at doses ranging from 12.5 to 50 mg/kg i.m. significantly inhibited the swelling of hind paws in rats for 1–6 h after the carrageenan injection. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines and proinflammatory mediators were markedly reduced by ginsenoside-Rd. Ginsenoside-Rd, when administered intramuscularly at 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg doses, showed signicant inhibition of carrageenan-induced production of interleukin-1β (6.91%, 45.75%, and 55.18%, respectively), tumor necrosis factor-α (37.99%, 56.39%, and 47.38%, respectively), prostaglandin E2 (22.92%, 30.12%, and 36.36%, respectively), and nitric oxide (28.27%, 44.53%, and 53.42%, respectively). In addition, ginsenoside-Rd (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg i.m.) effectively decreased the levels of nuclear factor-κB (6.77%, 20.28%, and 41.03%, respectively) and phosphorylation of IκBα (13.23%, 26.92%, and 41.80%, respectively) in the carrageenan-inflamed paw tissues. These results suggest that ginsenoside-Rd has significant anti-inflammatory effects in vivo, which might be due to its blocking of the nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. Thus, it may be possible to develop ginsenoside-Rd as a useful agent for inflammatory diseases.
Restructuring outer neritic foraminiferal assemblages in the aftermath of the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum
Authors: Stassen Peter , Thomas Ellen , Speijer Robert P.
Published: February 2012

Abstract. Deep-sea benthic foraminiferal faunas underwent severe extinction during the Paleocene–Eocene thermal maximum (PETM), but less is known about neritic environments. Through taxonomical analysis we document for the first time that recovery of neritic benthic assemblages after the PETM followed a similar pattern in shelf regions in New Jersey (USA) and Egypt.
Report from the 2nd international workshop on replication in empirical software engineering research (RESER 2011)
Authors: Krein Jonathan L. , Knutson Charles D. , Prechelt Lutz , Juristo Natalia
Published: February 2012

The RESER workshop provides a venue in which empirical software engineering researchers can discuss the theoretical foundations and methods of replication, as well as present the results of specific replicated studies. In 2011, the workshop co-located with the International Symposium on Empirical Software Engineering and Measurement (ESEM) in Banff, Alberta, Canada. In addition to several outstanding paper sessions, highlights of the 2011 workshop included a keynote address by Dr. Victor R. Basili, in which he addressed the question, "What's so hard about replication of software engineering experiments?" The workshop also featured a joint replication panel session discussing the first cooperative joint replication ever conducted in empirical software engineering research and a planning session for next year's joint replication project addressing Conway's Law.
A dynamic assertion-based verification platform for validation of UML designs
Authors: Banerjee A. , Ray S. , Dasgupta P. , Chakrabarti P. P. , Ramesh S. , Vignesh P. , Ganesan V.
Published: February 2012

Capacity limitations continue to impede widespread adoption of formal property verification in the design validation ow of software and hardware systems. The more popular choice (at least in the hardware domain) has been dynamic property verification (DPV), which is a semi-formal approach where the formal properties are checked over simulation runs. DPV is highly scalable and can support a rich specification language. The main contribution of this paper is to build an integrated DPV platform for validation of UML-based designs. Specifically, we present (a) a language, named Action-LTL (a simple extension of Linear Temporal Logic) for writing assertions over data attributes and events of UML models, and (b) an integrated dynamic assertion-verification platform for verification of UML designs. In view of the capacity limitations of existing formal property verification tools, we believe that the methods presented in this paper are of immediate practical value to the UML design community.
Assessment of software testing time using soft computing techniques
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Singh Yogesh
Published: February 2012

Application of a soft computing approach in place of traditional statistical techniques has shown a remarkable improvement in reliability prediction. This paper examines and compares Linear Regression (LR) and five machine learning methods: (Artificial Neural Network, Support Vector Machine, Decision Tree, Fuzzy Inference System and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System). These methods are explored empirically to find the effect of severity of errors for the assessment of software testing time. We use two publicly available failure datasets to analyse and compare the regression and machine learning methods for assessing the software testing time. The performance of the proposed model is compared by computing mean absolute error (MAE) and root mean square error (RMSE). Based on the results from rigours experiments, it is observed that model accuracy using FIS and ANFIS method is better and outperformed the model predicted using linear regression and other machine learning methods. Finally, we conclude that Adaptive Neuro-fuzzy Inference System is useful in constructing software quality models having better capability of generalization and less dependent on sample size.
Improving CUDA™ C/C++ encoding readability to foster parallel application development
Authors: Santos Bruno F.L. , Macedo Hendrik T.
Published: February 2012

Graphical Processing Units (GPUs) have recently been used to enable parallel application development. The most prominent initiative has been provided by NVIDIA™ with the so-called CUDA™ architecture, designed to GeForce™ graphic cards. However, even with CUDA C-like programming language, parallel codification remains somewhat awkward if compared to sequential codification. The programmer still has to deal with low-level hardware details such as generation and synchronization of threads and GPU tracks and sectors. In this paper, we propose a programmer-friendly interface for CUDA-C programming, in such a way that most hardware details are hidden from the programmer. We show how code readability is improved without undermining parallel execution performance.
Predictions For 2003
Authors: Neal Lisa
Published: February 2012

How will eLearning change this year? eLearn contacted practitioners in the field for their thoughts on what 2003 may bring.
FIVE QUESTIONS...For Fabrizio Cardinali
Authors: Neal Gualtieri Lisa
Published: February 2012

Fabrizio Cardinali is founder and CEO of Italy's Giunti Labs and chair of the European Learning Industry Group, also serving on the board of directors for IMS Global Learning Consortium and as global advisor to the Open Knowledge Initiative at MIT.
Up the Down Escalator: A Case Study for an Online Course
Authors: Neal Gualtieri Lisa
Published: February 2012

An online course should be more than just an article. In fact, adding a few learning objectives, a sidebar or two, and a test to the Wikipedia entry can provide a richer course experience. The greater detail and the references and links would surely incite further guided learning.
The co-evolution of communities of practice and knowledge management in organizations
Authors: Ramchand Anand , Pan Shan Ling
Published: February 2012

The objective of this study is to provide a deeper understanding into the innovative approaches used in organizations to bridge the extensive gap between the general prescriptions of KM literature with actual initiatives formed in practice, revealing that what literature currently prescribes does not necessarily provide the organization with easier KM implementation. In particular, the notion of communities of practice (COPs) has received much popularity in literature, but little empirical evidence exists to demonstrate its actual application as a constitutive element of organizational KM agendas. A case study at National Computer Systems Pte Ltd (NCS) unearths the challenges in structuring, facilitating and assimilating both existing and new COPs into organizational KM agendas. Several important findings emerge from this study, including: (1) the co-evolution of COPs with the implementation of organizational KM initiatives, (2) the development of a COP's structure, (3) the engagement of participants in COP activities, and (4) the role of top management in facilitating COPs. These findings have practical implications on the sustainability of such KM initiatives.
Understanding the incentives of older adults' participation on social networking sites
Authors: Norval Chris
Published: February 2012

Social Networking Sites (SNSs) have seen rapid growth in popularity over the last few years, but despite this, adults over 65 years of age still make up a relatively small percentage of users on many of these sites. Previous research has suggested that a perceived lack of purpose is one of the key issues, however with social media constantly being highlighted in the news during natural disasters and crises, more in-depth research is proposed. This research aims to discover if it is possible to design a SNS to be inclusive for older adults by avoiding some of the common issues and negative perceptions of such sites. With suggested psychological benefits, especially during a life transition such as retirement, SNSs may be a powerful technology for ageing adults. Further investigation is required, however, to gain a deeper understanding of reasons for low participation, and how SNSs can be brought more in-line with older adults' perception of communication.
The Exponential Dichotomy under Discretization on General Approximation Scheme
Authors: Pastor Javier , Piskarev Sergey
Published: February 2012

This paper is devoted to the numerical analysis of abstract parabolic problem ;
, with hyperbolic generator . We are developing a general approach to establish
a discrete dichotomy in a very general setting in case of discrete approximation in space and
time. It is a well-known fact that the phase space in the neighborhood of the
hyperbolic equilibrium can be split in a such way that the original initial value problem is reduced
to initial value problems with exponential decaying solutions in opposite time direction. We use
the theory of compact approximation principle and collectively condensing approximation to
show that such a decomposition of the flow persists under rather general approximation schemes.
The main assumption of our results is naturally satisfied, in particular, for operators with
compact resolvents and condensing semigroups and can be verified for finite element as well as
finite difference methods.
The Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Autoimmune-Mediated Beta-Cell Destruction in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Zhong Jixin , Rao Xiaoquan , Xu Jun-Fa , Yang Ping , Wang Cong-Yi
Published: February 2012

Unlike type 2 diabetes which is caused by the loss of insulin sensitivity, type 1 diabetes (T1D) is manifested by the absolute deficiency of insulin secretion due to the loss ofβmass by autoimmune response againstβ-cell self-antigens. Although significant advancement has been made in understanding the pathoetiology for type 1 diabetes, the exact mechanisms underlying autoimmune-mediatedβ-cell destruction, however, are yet to be fully addressed. Accumulated evidence demonstrates that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays an essential role in autoimmune-mediatedβ-cell destruction. There is also evidence supporting that ER stress regulates the functionality of immune cells relevant to autoimmune progression during T1D development. In this paper, we intend to address the role of ER stress in autoimmune-mediatedβ-cell destruction during the course of type 1 diabetes. The potential implication of ER stress in modulating autoimmune response will be also discussed. We will further dissect the possible pathways implicated in the induction of ER stress and summarize the potential mechanisms underlying ER stress for mediation ofβ-cell destruction. A better understanding of the role for ER stress in T1D pathoetiology would have great potential aimed at developing effective therapeutic approaches for the prevention/intervention of this devastating disorder.
An Intelligent Dynamic MRI System for Automatic Nasal Tumor Detection
Authors: Huang Wen-Chen , Liu Chun-Liang
Published: February 2012

Dynamic magnetic resonance images (DMRIs) are one of the major tools for diagnosing nasal tumors in recent years. The purpose of this research is to propose a new method to be able to automatically detect tumor region and compare three classifiers' tumor detection performance for DMRI. These three classifiers are AdaBoost, SVM, and Bayes-Gaussian classifier. Three measurable metrics, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy values, match percent, and correspondence ratio, are used for evaluation of each specific classifiers. The experimental results show that SVM has the best sensitivity value, and Bayesian classifier has the best specificity and accuracy values. Moreover, the detected tumor regions that are marked with red color are shown by using each of these three classifiers.
Small Bowel Imaging in Managing Crohn’s Disease Patients
Authors: Albert Jörg G.
Published: February 2012

The small bowel is essential to sustain alimentation and small bowel Crohn's disease (CD) may severely limit its function. Small bowel imaging is a crucial element in diagnosing small bowel CD, and treatment control with imaging is increasingly used to optimize the patients outcome. Thereby, capsule endoscopy, Balloon-assisted enteroscopy, and Magnetic resonance imaging have become key players to manage CD patients. In this review, role of small bowel imaging is detailed discussed for use in diagnosing and managing Crohn's disease patients.
Periodontal Status in Smokers and Nonsmokers: A Clinical, Microbiological, and Histopathological Study
Authors: Sreedevi Maddipati , Ramesh Alampalli , Dwarakanath Chini
Published: February 2012

A case-control study was done to assess the influence of smoking on clinical, microbiological, and histopathological parameters.Methods.Two hundred dentate male patients (100 smokers and 100 nonsmokers) ranging between 25 and 50 years were enrolled in the study. Periodontal parameters were recorded. Plaque samples were collected for microbial analysis for BANA test. Gingival biopsies were obtained from selected site for assessing histopathological changes.Results.Both groups showed almost similar plaque levels (P=0.258), but smokers had reduced gingival (0.62 ± 0.31) and bleeding indices (28.53 ± 17.52) and an increased calculus index (1.62 ± 0.36). Smokers had an increased probing depth of 4–7 mm (P=0.009) and overall increased CAL. No difference in microbiota was found between the two groups. Histopathologically smokers showed a decreased blood vessel density (8.84 ± 0.96) and inflammatory cells (52.00 ± 9.79).Conclusions.It is quite possible that many of the pathogenic mechanisms involved in tissue degradation in periodontitis in smokers could be quite different from those in nonsmokers.
Clinical Applications of Remote Ischemic Preconditioning
Authors: Veighey Kristin , MacAllister Raymond J.
Published: February 2012

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is a composite of damage accumulated during reduced perfusion of an organ or tissue and the additional insult sustained during reperfusion. Such injury occurs in a wide variety of clinically important syndromes, such as ischemic heart disease and stroke, which are responsible for a high degree of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Basic research has identified a number of interventions that stimulate innate resistance of tissues to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Here, we summarise the experimental and clinical trial data underpinning one of these “conditioning” strategies, the phenomenon of remote ischemic preconditioning.
Changes in the Seminiferous Epithelium of the Testes during Postnatal Development in Assam Goat
Authors: Sarma Kamal , Devi J.
Published: February 2012

The present work is conducted to elucidate the postnatal development of the seminiferous epithelium of the testes of the Assam goats from 0 day to 10 months of age. A total of eighteen Assam goats divided into six age groups, namely, group-I (0-day), group-II (2 months), group-III (4 months), group-IV (6 months), group-V (8 months), and group-VI (10 months), consisting of 3 animals in each group were used in this study. The seminiferous tubules did not have lumina up to the age of 2 months, hence called the sex cords, and these contained centrally placed gonocytes and peripherally located sustentacular cells. Initiation of spermatogenesis started in 4-month old kids. Luminization process was completed by 6 months of age with all the seminiferous tubuyes having well-developed lumina at this age. These seminiferous tubules contained all the spermatogenic cells of the adult testis. Onset of puberty was observed to be established at 6 months of age in the Assam goats as evidenced by presence of spermatozoa adhering to the adluminal border of the Sertoli cells as well as in the tubular lumen. The histomorphology of various cells of the seminiferous epithelium has been described.
Micromechanical Thermal Assays of Ca2+-Regulated Thin-Filament Function and Modulation by Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Mutants of Human Cardiac Troponin
Authors: Brunet Nicolas M. , Mihajlović Goran , Aledealat Khaled , Wang Fang , Xiong Peng , von Molnár Stephan , Chase P. Bryant
Published: February 2012

Microfabricated thermoelectric controllers can be employed to investigate mechanisms underlying myosin-driven sliding of Ca2+-regulated actin and disease-associated mutations in myofilament proteins. Specifically, we examined actin filament sliding—with or without human cardiac troponin (Tn) and α-tropomyosin (Tm)—propelled by rabbit skeletal heavy meromyosin, when temperature was varied continuously over a wide range (∼20–63C°). At the upper end of this temperature range, reversible dysregulation of thin filaments occurred at pCa 9 and 5; actomyosin function was unaffected. Tn-Tm enhanced sliding speed at pCa 5 and increased a transition temperature (Tt) between a high activation energy (Ea) but low temperature regime and a lowEabut high temperature regime. This was modulated by factors that alter cross-bridge number and kinetics. Three familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC) mutations, cTnI R145G, cTnI K206Q, and cTnT R278C, cause dysregulation at temperatures ∼5–8C°lower; the latter two increased speed at pCa 5 at all temperatures.
Focusing Bessel Beams by a Lens with Strong Spherical Aberrations
Authors: Belyi Vladimir N. , Kramoreva Larisa I. , Al-Muhanna Muhanna K. , Khilo Nikolai A.
Published: February 2012

We have carried out the calculation and experimental measurement of the field formed by optical schemes composed of an axicon and lens with strong spherical aberrations. The calculation is performed by the methods of geometrical optics and diffraction integral. A mechanism is revealed, which is responsible for increasing the intensity in the near-axial focus of the doublet. It is shown that the formed bottle beam has a small length and the field at the periphery is of two types: oscillating and smooth ones. The changeover of the field from the bottle beam to az-dependent Bessel beam is traced. The last beam is characterized, in particular, by the Bessel-type structure of its Fourier spectrum.
Termiticidal Activity ofParkia biglobosa(Jacq) Benth Seed Extracts on the TermiteCoptotermes intermediusSilvestri (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Authors: Olugbemi Bolarinwa
Published: February 2012

The chemical and mineral composition of raw and boiled seeds of the African locust bean,Parkia biglobosa(Jacq) Benth, was determined while the termiticidal action of the aqueous, alcoholic, and acetone extracts of the bean seeds were investigated. Variations in the proximate and mineral composition of the raw and boiled seeds were obtained while heavy minerals such as cadmium, cobalt, lead, nickel, and copper had been leached out of the seed during the process of boiling. Extracts from the raw seeds exhibited varying degree of termiticidal activity, while extracts from the boiled seed had no effect on the workers ofCoptotermes intermediusSilvestri. Alcoholic extracts were more active than the aqueous and acetone extracts. Termites die within 30 min, 40 min, and 110 min when exposed to concentration of 4 g mL−1treatments of alcoholic, aqueous, and acetone extracts, respectively.
Compressive Optic Neuropathy Caused by Orbital Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Authors: Ziaei Mohammed M. , Ziaei Hadi
Published: February 2012

Purpose. To present a unique case of Non-Hodgkin’s-Lymphoma- (NHL) associated compressive optic neuropathy.Method. An 89-year-old male presenting with acute unilateral visual loss and headache.Results. Patient was initially diagnosed with occult giant cell arteritis; however after visual acuity deteriorated despite normal inflammatory markers, an urgent MRI scan revealed an extensive paranasal sinus mass compressing the optic nerve.Conclusion. Paranasal sinus malignancies occasionally present to the ophthalmologist with signs of optic nerve compression and must be included in the differential diagnosis of acute visual loss.
Clinical Trials of Adult T-Cell Leukaemia/Lymphoma Treatment
Authors: Marçais Ambroise , Suarez Felipe , Sibon David , Bazarbachi Ali , Hermine Olivier
Published: February 2012

Adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is an aggressive malignancy of mature activated T cells caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-1). Prognosis is severe because of intrinsic chemoresistance and severe immuosuppression. Four different subtypes are described with different outcomes, and treatment strategies vary according to the different clinical courses. Japanese trials show that combinations of chemotherapy can increase the response rates especially in the lymphoma subtype. However, patients have a high rate of relapse and the outcome remains extremely poor. Recently, a worldwide meta-analysis demonstrated that the combination of Zidovudine and Interferon-alpha (IFN) is effective in the leukemic subtypes (smoldering, chronic, and acute) and influences favorably the course of the disease. In order to prevent relapse, clinical trials testing new drugs such as monoclonal antibodies or combinations such as arsenic/IFN are needed. Finally, allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a feasible option but bears a very high rate of complications.
Cyanamide Potentiates the Ethanol-Induced Impairment of Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis in a Recombinant Hepatic Cell Line Expressing Alcohol Dehydrogenase Activity
Authors: Clemens Dahn L. , Tuma Dean J. , Casey Carol A.
Published: February 2012

Ethanol administration has been shown to alter receptor-mediated endocytosis in the liver. We have developed a recombinant hepatic cell line stably transfected with murine alcohol dehydrogenase cDNA to serve as anin vitromodel to investigate these ethanol-induced impairments. In the present study, transfected cells were maintained in the absence or presence of 25 mM ethanol for 7 days, and alterations in endocytosis by the asialoglycoprotein receptor were determined. The role of acetaldehyde in this dysfunction was also examined by inclusion of the aldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitor, cyanamide. Our results showed that ethanol metabolism impaired internalization of asialoorosomucoid, a ligand for the asialoglycoprotein receptor. The addition of cyanamide potentiated the ethanol-induced defect in internalization and also impaired degradation of the ligand in the presence of ethanol. These results indicate that the ethanol-induced impairment in endocytosis is exacerbated by the inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase, suggesting the involvement of acetaldehyde in this dysfunction.