bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correctness and Cognitivism. Remarks on Robert Alexy's Argument from the Claim to Correctness*
Authors: PAVLAKOS GEORGE
Published: February 2012

The argument from the claim to correctness has been put forward by Robert Alexy to defend the view that normative utterances admit of objective answers. My purpose in this paper is to preserve this initial aspiration even at the cost of diverting from some of the original ideas in support of the argument. I begin by spelling out a full‐blooded version of normative cognitivism, against which I propose to reconstruct the argument from the claim to correctness. I argue that the context of uttering normative propositions points to the possibility of normative cognition, but does not constitute it. What constitutes the possibility of cognition is, as of necessity, the propositional structure of norms. I conclude that the argument from the claim to correctness ought to safeguard a distinction between the context of uttering a normative sentence and the proposition that individuates the content of the utterance.
Ways of Solving Conflicts of Constitutional Rights: Proportionalism and Specificationism*
Authors: MORESO JOSÉ JUAN
Published: February 2012

This paper deals with the question of the conflict of constitutional rights with regard to basic rights. Two extreme accounts are outlined: the subsumptive approach and the particularistic approach, that embody two main conceptions of practical rationality. Between the two approaches there is room for a range of options, two of which are examined: the proportionalist approach, which conserves the scope of rights restricting their stringency, and the specificationist approach, which preserves the stringency of rights restricting their scope. I will present arguments in defence of the latter.
Disciplinarity and the study of world Englishes
Authors: SEARGEANT PHILIP
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the ways in which world Englishes studies are developing into a distinct academic discipline, and discusses the consequences of this regimentation of knowledge for teaching and research. By first outlining the various ways in which bodies of knowledge are organized into discrete disciplines, and then surveying the history and current status of world Englishes studies according to these classificatory processes, the paper presents a metadisciplinary inquiry into prevailing approaches to the study of English in the world today. It is hoped that reflexive investigation of this type can contribute to research and education in this area by making explicit the organizational framework – in terms both of the politics and epistemology – which structures present‐day investigations into the worldwide use of the English language.
World Englishes and linguistic landscapes
Authors: BOLTON KINGSLEY
Published: February 2012

ABSTRACT:  The growing intrusion and use of English in the public spaces of the world's cities alongside national languages and local languages has received increasing attention over the last fifteen years or so. The study of English and other languages in urban public signage has drawn the attention of anthropologists, cultural theorists, and various scholars in sociolinguistics, many of whom have contributed to a body of research on the topic of ‘linguistic landscapes’. Such work is of direct relevance to world Englishes, as the scope of WE is obviously not simply related to the analysis of particular ‘varieties of English’, but much more besides. Today, the linguistic worlds of young people in particular are becoming increasingly diverse, and the linguistic landscapes of individuals are not simply defined through physical space, but also through electronic space, global travel, media awareness and usage, popular culture, as well as the virtual space of the Internet.
ON THE GAME‐THEORETIC FOUNDATIONS OF COMPETITIVE SEARCH EQUILIBRIUM*
Authors: Galenianos Manolis , Kircher Philipp
Published: February 2012

We provide a unified directed search framework with general production and matching specifications that encompass most of the existing literature. We prove the existence of subgame perfect Nash equilibria in pure firm strategies in a finite version of the model. We use this result to derive a more complete characterization of the equilibrium set for the finite economy and to extend convergence results as the economy becomes large to general production and matching specifications. The latter extends the microfoundations for the standard market utility assumption used in competitive search models with a continuum of agents to new environments.
AN EMPIRICAL STATIONARY EQUILIBRIUM SEARCH MODEL OF THE HOUSING MARKET*
Authors: Carrillo Paul E.
Published: February 2012

This article specifies and estimates a computationally tractable stationary equilibrium model of the housing market. The model is rich and incorporates many of its unique features: buyers’ and sellers’ simultaneous search behavior, heterogeneity in their motivation to trade, transaction costs, a trading mechanism with posting prices and bargaining, and the availability of an exogenous advertising technology that induces endogenous matching. Estimation uses Maximum Likelihood methods and Multiple Listing Services data. The estimated model is used to simulate housing market outcomes when (a) the amount of information displayed on housing listings increases and (b) real estate agent’s commission rates change.
The expression of podoplanin and classic cadherins in the mouse brain
Authors: Kaji Chiaki , Tomooka Miwa , Kato Yukinari , Kojima Hiroshi , Sawa Yoshihiko
Published: February 2012

Podoplanin is a transmembrane glycoprotein indirectly linked to classic cadherins through ezrin‐actin networks. Recently, the overexpression of podoplanin in high‐grade malignancy brain tumors has been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of podoplanin and classic cadherins in the mouse brain. Immunohistochemistry showed that podoplanin was expressed on ependymal cells and choroid plexus epithelial cells at the ventricle side of the cell surface and at the cell–cell junctions, and on retinal pigment epithelial cells and in the pia mater; P‐cadherin between choroid plexus epithelial cells and endothelial cells at the basement membrane side of cell surface, and between retinal pigment epithelial cells; VE‐cadherin on the PECAM‐1 positive‐choroid plexus endothelial cells of the fibrovascular core; and N‐cadherin on the cell surface and at the cell–cell junctions of ependymal cells, and in the pia mater. The regions expressing podoplanin, P‐cadherin, and VE‐cadherin did not coincide. In real‐time PCR analysis, the amounts of podoplanin and P‐ and N‐cadherin mRNA were larger in the ventricular wall with choroid plexus than in the abdominal aorta and cerebrum. In the RT‐PCR analysis, the intensities of amplicon for VE‐cadherin mRNA were the same for the abdominal aorta, cerebrum, and ventricular wall with the choroid plexus, suggesting that mouse ependymal cells, choroid plexus epithelial cells, and glial cells under the pia mater have the ability to express podoplanin and P‐ and N‐cadherins. Glial cells and retinal pigment epithelial cells may create barriers by podoplanin and classic cadherins as a rate‐determining step for transmission of blood components.
Cascading biodiversity and functional consequences of a global change–induced biome switch
Authors: Parr Catherine L. , Gray Emma F. , Bond William J.
Published: February 2012

Aim  At a regional scale, across southern Africa, woody thickening of savannas is becoming increasingly widespread. Using coupled vegetation and faunal responses (ants), we explore whether major changes in woody cover in savannas represent an increase in the density of savanna trees (C4 grass layer remains intact) or a ‘regime shift’ in system state from savanna to thicket (=dry forest) where broad‐leaved, forest‐associated trees shade out C4 grasses.

Location  Hluhluwe Game Reserve, South Africa.

Methods  We sampled paired open (low woody cover) and closed (high cover that have undergone an increase in tree density) sites. Vegetation was sampled using belt transects, and a combination of pitfall trapping and Winkler sampling was used for ants.

Results  Closed habitats did not simply contain a higher density of woody savanna species, but differed significantly in structure, functional composition (high prevalence of broad‐leaved trees, discontinuous C4 grasses) and system properties (e.g. low flammability). Ant assemblage composition reflected this difference in habitat. The trophic structure of ant assemblages in the two habitats revealed a functional shift with much higher abundances of predatory species in the closed habitat.

Main conclusions  The predominance of species with forest‐associated traits and concomitant reduction of C4 grasses in closed sites indicate that vegetation has undergone a shift in fundamental system state (to thicket), rather than simply savanna thickening. This biome shift has cascading functional consequences and implications for biodiversity conservation. The potential loss of many specialist savanna plant species is especially concerning, given the spatial extent and speed of this vegetation switch. Although it is not clear how easily the habitat switch can be reversed and how stable the thicket habitats are, it is likely in the not‐too‐distant future that conservation managers will be forced to make decisions on whether to actively maintain savannas.
Smoking Cessation and Body Weight: Evidence from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey
Authors: Kasteridis Panagiotis , Yen Steven T.
Published: February 2012

Objective

To investigate the role of smoking cessation in body weight.

Data Sources

2004–2005 and 2009–2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys (BRFSS) (N = 349,000), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Tax Burden on Tobacco (Orzechowski and Walker 2010).

Study Design

The Gaussian treatment effect model is estimated for three age categories by gender. Treatment effects of quitting smoking on body mass index (BMI) by quit length are calculated.

Principal Findings

Quitting is found to be endogenous. Differentiated effects of quitting smoking on BMI are found among quitters by gender, between age groups, and by length of time since quitting smoking, and positive association between smoking cessation and body weight confirmed. Declining smoking rates have only a modest effect in the overweight population. The effects of quitting on BMI are considerably lower among younger men and women.

Conclusion

The price that must be paid, in terms of weight gain, to enjoy the health benefits of smoking cessation is trivial even for the obese population.
A novel fluorescent histamine H1 receptor antagonist demonstrates the advantage of using fluorescence correlation spectroscopy to study the binding of lipophilic ligands
Authors: Rose Rachel H , Briddon Stephen J , Hill Stephen J
Published: February 2012

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Fluorescent ligands facilitate the study of ligand–receptor interactions at the level of single cells and individual receptors. Here, we describe a novel fluorescent histamine H1 receptor antagonist (mepyramine‐BODIPY630‐650) and use it to monitor the membrane diffusion of the histamine H1 receptor.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH The human histamine H1 receptor fused to yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) was transiently expressed in CHO‐K1 cells. The time course of binding of mepyramine‐BODIPY630‐650 to the H1 receptor was determined by confocal microscopy. Additionally, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) was used to characterize the diffusion coefficient of the H1 receptor in cell membranes both directly (YFP fluorescence) and in its antagonist‐bound state (with mepyramine‐BODIPY630‐650).

KEY RESULTS Mepyramine‐BODIPY630‐650 was a high‐affinity antagonist at the histamine H1 receptor. Specific membrane binding, in addition to significant intracellular uptake of the fluorescent ligand, was detected by confocal microscopy. However, FCS was able to quantify the receptor‐specific binding in the membrane, as well as the diffusion coefficient of the antagonist–H1 receptor–YFP complexes, which was significantly slower than when determined directly using YFP. FCS also detected specific binding of mepyramine‐BODIPY630‐650 to the endogenous H1 receptor in HeLa cells.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Mepyramine‐BODIPY630‐650 is a useful tool for localizing the H1 receptor using confocal microscopy. However, its use in conjunction with FCS allows quantification of ligand binding at the membrane, as well as determining receptor diffusion in the absence of significant bleaching effects. Finally, these methods can be successfully extended to endogenously expressed untagged receptors in HeLa cells.
Transvenous Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices and Hemodialysis Catheters: Recommendations to Curtail a Potentially Lethal Combination
Authors: Asif Arif , Salman Loay , Lopera Gustavo , Haqqie Syed S. , Carrillo Roger
Published: February 2012

Abnormal renal function is an independent risk factor for cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection. The risk of CIED infection increases as the degree of renal dysfunction worsens with the highest risk observed in patients with stage V chronic kidney disease. A significant portion of these patients use a tunneled hemodialysis catheter (TDC) for dialysis therapy. These devices are associated with very high rates of catheter‐related bacteremia (1.6–5.5 episodes of bacteremia per 1000 catheter days), and have been known to cause infection of CIED indwelling in the bloodstream. In this context, the cardiac device is exposed to the risk of infection due to the presence of renal failure and episodes of bacteremia related to TDCs. Both increase the risk of CIED infection. Once infected, a cardiac rhythm device carries a marked increase in morbidity and mortality. In this context, the combination of a TDC and a CIED indwelling in the bloodstream becomes a potentially deadly combination. Recent data have emphasized that epicardial CIED implantation reduces cardiac device infection in TDC patients. This report highlights the risk of CIED infection in renal patients, presents TDC’s contribution to the cardiac device infection, and suggests recommendations to minimize the risk of CIED infection in chronic hemodialysis patients dialyzing with a TDC.
Complete Mucostatic Impression: A New Attempt
Authors: Bindhoo Y. A. , Thirumurthy V. R. , Kurien Anjana
Published: February 2012

Hypermobile ridges or flabby edentulous ridges are a common occurrence in edentulous patients. The literature reveals that the mucostatic impression technique is one of the treatment options in this scenario. Conventional mucostatic methods like employing a window tray technique, multiple relief holes, or double spacers can be employed when the flabby tissue is localized. But in cases of generalized flabbiness of the residual ridge, even the manual placement and manipulation of a custom tray may distort the tissues, violating the principle of mucostatics. This presentation is a clinical report of a patient with a generalized flabby maxillary edentulous ridge opposing a partially edentulous mandibular arch. A split two‐part special tray using the principle of magnetic attraction for self retention was fabricated. This self retention ruled out finger pressure during impression making, helping to achieve mucostatics.
Use of a Stud Attachment to Retain a Silicone Orbital Prosthesis: A Clinical Report
Authors: Guttal Satyabodh S. , Alva Babashankar , Nadiger Ramesh K.
Published: February 2012

Orbital defects with total loss of eyelids and eyeball cannot be satisfactorily repaired by reconstructive surgery. Prosthetic replacement is the treatment of choice owing to its acceptable lifelike appearance. The use of semiprecision attachments in maxillofacial prostheses is limited to osseointegrated prostheses. Therefore, this article describes a conventional glasses frame technique, to retain the silicone orbital prosthesis using a Dalla Bona stud attachment.
Effects of body size and sociality on the anti‐predator behaviour of foraging bees
Authors: Rodríguez‐Gironés Miguel A. , Bosch Jordi
Published: February 2012

Pollinators, like most other animals, often face a tradeoff between increasing food uptake and minimising predation. An earlier model suggests that social bees should be more likely than solitary bees to adopt riskier foraging strategies in order to increase food uptake. In this paper, we extend this model by studying the effect of body size, in addition to sociality, on the predation–intake rate tradeoff. When, following standard practice, we express the foraging strategies in terms of mortality probability and net food uptake, we find that body size should have no effect on the foraging strategies of solitary bees. Social bees, on the other hand, should change their foraging preferences according to their size. Small social bees should tend to maximise food uptake, and large social bees to minimise mortality rate. Mortality, however, is the product of two terms: the probability of suffering an attack and the probability of succumbing to it. Noting that larger bees are less susceptible to succumb to a predation attempt than smaller bees, model predictions change when foraging strategies are expressed in terms of exposure to predators. Following this second approach, exposure to predators should increase monotonically with body size in solitary bees. In social bees it should reach a minimum for medium‐sized bees. We conclude that both bee body size and sociality should be considered when studying the effect of predators on resource use.
Molecular profiling of oral microbiota in jawbone samples of bisphosphonate‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw
Authors: Wei X , Pushalkar S , Estilo C , Wong C , Farooki A , Fornier M , Bohle G , Huryn J , Li Y , Doty S , Saxena D
Published: February 2012

Oral Diseases (2012) 18, 602–612

Objective:  Infection has been hypothesized as a contributing factor to bisphosphonate (BP)‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (BRONJ). The objective of this study was to determine the bacterial colonization of jawbone and identify the bacterial phylotypes associated with BRONJ.

Materials and methods:  Culture‐independent 16S rRNA gene‐based molecular techniques were used to determine and compare the total bacterial diversity in bone samples collected from 12 patients with cancer (six, BRONJ with history of BP; six, controls without BRONJ, no history of BP but have infection).

Results:  Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profile and Dice coefficient displayed a statistically significant clustering of profiles, indicating different bacterial population in BRONJ subjects and control. The top three genera ranked among the BRONJ group were Streptococcus (29%), Eubacterium (9%), and Pseudoramibacter (8%), while in the control group were Parvimonas (17%), Streptococcus (15%), and Fusobacterium (15%). H&E sections of BRONJ bone revealed layers of bacteria along the surfaces and often are packed into the scalloped edges of the bone.

Conclusion:  This study using limited sample size indicated that the jawbone associated with BRONJ was heavily colonized by specific oral bacteria and there were apparent differences between the microbiota of BRONJ and controls.
Characterization of Cupriavidus metallidurans CYP116B1 – A thiocarbamate herbicide oxygenating P450–phthalate dioxygenase reductase fusion protein
Authors: Warman Ashley J. , Robinson Jacob W. , Luciakova Dominika , Lawrence Andrew D. , Marshall Ker R. , Warren Martin J. , Cheesman Myles R. , Rigby Stephen E. J. , Munro Andrew W. , McLean Kirsty J.
Published: February 2012

The novel cytochrome P450/redox partner fusion enzyme CYP116B1 from Cupriavidus metallidurans was expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli. Isolated CYP116B1 exhibited a characteristic Fe(II)CO complex with Soret maximum at 449 nm. EPR and resonance Raman analyses indicated low‐spin, cysteinate‐coordinated ferric haem iron at both 10 K and ambient temperature, respectively, for oxidized CYP116B1. The EPR of reduced CYP116B1 demonstrated stoichiometric binding of a 2Fe‐2S cluster in the reductase domain. FMN binding in the reductase domain was confirmed by flavin fluorescence studies. Steady‐state reduction of cytochrome c and ferricyanide were supported by both NADPH/NADH, with NADPH used more efficiently (Km[NADPH] = 0.9 ± 0.5 μm and Km[NADH] = 399.1 ± 52.1 μm). Stopped‐flow studies of NAD(P)H‐dependent electron transfer to the reductase confirmed the preference for NADPH. The reduction potential of the P450 haem iron was ‐301 ± 7 mV, with retention of haem thiolate ligation in the ferrous enzyme. Redox potentials for the 2Fe‐2S and FMN cofactors were more positive than that of the haem iron. Multi‐angle laser light scattering demonstrated CYP116B1 to be monomeric. Type I (substrate‐like) binding of selected unsaturated fatty acids (myristoleic, palmitoleic and arachidonic acids) was shown, but these substrates were not oxidized by CYP116B1. However, CYP116B1 catalysed hydroxylation (on propyl chains) of the herbicides S‐ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC) and S‐propyl dipropylthiocarbamate (vernolate), and the subsequent N‐dealkylation of vernolate. CYP116B1 thus has similar thiocarbamate‐oxidizing catalytic properties to Rhodoccocus erythropolis CYP116A1, a P450 involved in the oxidative degradation of EPTC.
A Comprehensive Approach to Benefit–Risk Assessment in Drug Development
Authors: Sarac Sinan B. , Rasmussen Christian H. , Rasmussen Morten A. , Hallgreen Christine E. , Søeborg Tue , Colding‐Jørgensen Morten , Christensen Per K. , Thirstrup Steffen , Mosekilde Erik
Published: February 2012

Major regulatory agencies, for example, FDA and EMA, have started to request comprehensive benefit–risk analyses of pharmaceutical products prior to approval or labelling expansion. The purpose of this study is to develop a generally applicable and reliable data‐driven benefit–risk assessment method, where two or more drugs/doses can be compared. Our aim is to formulate an approach that is simple to apply, allows direct comparison of different types of risks and benefits, and is tailored for application in different disease areas both during clinical development and in the marketing approval phase. The proposed benefit–risk assessment method involves eight successive steps: (1) establishment of the decision context, (2) identification of benefit and risk criteria, (3) weighting, (4) scoring, (5) evaluation of uncertainty, (6) calculation of weighted scores, (7) visualization, and (8) discussion and formulation of an overall conclusion. To reduce the impact of subjective judgements, scores are assigned to each criterion on the basis of objective information (data) wherever possible. The proposed benefit–risk evaluation approach offers comprehensive, data‐driven assessments that can facilitate decision processes. It employs descriptive statistical methods to highlight the clinically significant differences between drugs in clinical trials. The approach can be used in single as well as in multiple trials and provides clear diagrams as the basis for presentation and discussion of the results.
Experimental Infection of Horses with Bartonella henselae and Bartonella bovis
Authors: Palmero J. , Pusterla N. , Cherry N.A. , Kasten R.W. , Mapes S. , Boulouis H.J. , Breitschwerdt E.B. , Chomel B.B.
Published: February 2012

Background

Experimental infection of horses with Bartonella species is not documented.

Objectives

Determine clinical signs, hematologic changes, duration of bacteremia, and pattern of seroconversion in Bartonella henselae or Bartonella bovis‐inoculated horses.

Animals

Twelve (2 groups of 6) randomly selected healthy adult horses seronegative and culture negative for Bartonella spp.

Methods

Experimental/observational study: Group I: B. henselae or saline control was inoculated intradermally into 4 naïve and 2 sentinel horses, respectively. Group II: same design was followed by means of B. bovis. Daily physical examinations, once weekly CBC, immunofluorescent antibody assay serology, real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and twice weekly blood cultures were performed for 6 weeks and at postinoculation day 80 and 139. Bartonella alpha‐Proteobacteria growth medium (BAPGM) enrichment blood culture was performed for horses that seroconverted to B. henselae antigens.

Results

Transient clinical signs consistent with bartonellosis occurred in some Bartonella‐inoculated horses, but hematological alterations did not occur. Three B. henselae‐inoculated horses seroconverted, whereas 1 B. bovis‐inoculated horse was weakly seropositive. In Group I, B. henselae was amplified and sequenced from BAPGM blood culture as well as a subculture isolate from 1 horse, blood from a 2nd horse, and BAPGM blood culture from a 3rd horse although a subculture isolate was not obtained. All sentinels remained PCR, culture, and serology negative.

Conclusions

Detection of Bartonella sp. in blood after experimental inoculation supports bacteremia and seroconversion. Culture with BAPGM may be required to detect Bartonella sp. Although mild clinical signs followed acute infection, no long‐term effects were noted for 2 years postinoculation.
Core Design Study of Small-Sized High Temperature Reactor for Electricity Generation
Authors: Goto Minoru , Shimakawa Satoshi , Terada Atsuhiko , Shibata Taiju , Tachibana Yukio , Kunitomi Kazuhiko
Published: February 2012

A High Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) has several features different from conventional light water reactors such as inherent safety characteristics, high thermal efficiency and high economy. On the other hand, one of disadvantages of the HTGR with a prismatic core is to require rather long-term and expensive refueling, resulting in relatively long maintenance period and high cost. To solve the disadvantage, the present study challenges the core design of a small-sized reactor for long refueling interval by increasing core size, fuel loading and fuel burn up compared with the High Temperature engineering Test Reactor (HTTR). The preliminary burn-up calculation suggested that approximately 6 years of long refueling interval was found to be reasonably achieved. A refueling interval longer than 6 years may be possible by decreasing further power density, subsequently larger core size with operational reactor power of 120MWt, but this idea was not taken by the requirement of the reactor that the core size shall be accommodated reasonably in the core with double size of the HTTR at maximum.
TRACE Code Analyses for the IAEA ICSP on “Integral PWR Design Natural Circulation Flow Stability and Thermo-Hydraulic Coupling of Containment and Primary System During Accidents”
Authors: Mascari Fulvio , Vella Giuseppe , Woods Brian G.
Published: February 2012

Considering the world energy demand increase in order to fulfill an environmental and economic sustainability, the energy policy of each country has to diversify the sources of energy and use stable, safe energy production option able of producing electricity in a clean way contributing in cutting the CO2 emission. In the framework of the sustainable development, today the use of advanced nuclear power plant, have an important role in the environmental and economic sustainability of country energy strategy. In the last 20 years, in fact, the international community, taking into account the operational experience of the nuclear reactors, starts the development of new advanced reactor designs considering also the use of natural circulation for the cooling of the core in normal and transient conditions. In this framework, Oregon State University (OSU) has constructed, under a U.S. Department of Energy grant, a system level test facility to examine natural circulation phenomena characterizing the Multi-Application Small Light Water Reactor (MASLWR) design, a small modular integral pressurized light water reactor relying on natural circulation during both steady state and transient operation. It includes an integrated helical coil steam generator as well. Starting from an experimental campaign in support of the MASLWR concept design verification, the planned work, will be not only to specifically investigate the concept design further but also advance the broad understanding of integral natural circulation reactor plants and accompanying passive safety features as well. An IAEA International Collaborative Standard Problem (ICSP) on “Integral PWR Design Natural Circulation Flow Stability and Thermo-hydraulic Coupling of Containment and Primary System During Accidents” is hosting at OSU and the experimental data will be developed at the OSU-MASLWR facility. The purpose of this IAEA ICSP is to provide experimental data on single/two-phase flow instability phenomena under natural circulation conditions and coupled containment/reactor vessel behavior in integral-type light water reactors. These data can be used to assess thermal hydraulic codes for reactor system design and analysis as well. The first planned test investigates a stepwise reduction in the primary mass inventory of the facility while operating at reduced power (decay power). The second planned test, investigates a loss of feed water transient with subsequent primary blowdown due to automatic depressurization system actuation and long term cooling phase. The target of this paper is to contribute to the thermal hydraulic analysis of the expected phenomena of these transients on the basis of the TRACE V5 Patch 01 calculated data developed during the double-blind phase of the ICSP.
“Red Rover, Red Rover, Send Insulin Right Over!”
Authors: Rytting Erik
Published: February 2012

Nanoparticles containing a metal ion chelator increase the absorption of orally delivered insulin into the bloodstream.
Differential
In Vivo
Activities of Anidulafungin, Caspofungin, and Micafungin against Candida glabrata Isolates with and without
FKS
Resistance Mutations
Authors: Arendrup Maiken Cavling , Perlin David S. , Jensen Rasmus Hare , Howard Susan Julie , Goodwin Joanne , Hope William
Published: February 2012

We recently observed that the micafungin MICs for some
Candida glabrata fks
hot spot mutant isolates are less elevated than those for the other echinocandins, suggesting that the efficacy of micafungin may be differentially dependent on such mutations. Three clinical
C. glabrata
isolates with or without (S3)
fks
hot spot mutations R83 (Fks2p-S663F) and RR24 (Fks1p-S629P) and low, medium, and high echinocandin MICs, respectively, were evaluated to assess the
in vivo
efficacy in an immunocompetent mouse model using three doses of each echinocandin. Drug concentrations were determined in plasma and kidneys by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic mathematical model was used to define the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) that produced half- and near-maximal activity. Micafungin was equally efficacious against the S3 and R83 isolates. The estimates for the AUCs of each echinocandin that induced half-maximal effect (E
50
s) were 194.2 and 53.99 mg · h/liter, respectively. In contrast, the maximum effect (
E
max
) for caspofungin was higher against S3 than R83, but the estimates for E
50
were similar (187.1 and 203.5 mg · h/liter, respectively). Anidulafungin failed to induce a ≥1-log reduction for any of the isolates (AUC range, 139 to 557 mg · h/liter). None of the echinocandins were efficacious in mice challenged with the RR24 isolate despite lower virulence (reduced maximal growth, prolonged lag phase, and lower kidney burden). The AUC associated with half-maximal effect was higher than the average human exposure for all drug-dose-bug combinations except micafungin and the R83 isolate. In conclusion, differences in micafungin MICs are associated with differential antifungal activities in the animal model. This study may have implications for clinical practice and echinocandin breakpoint determination, and further studies are warranted.
Microbiological Analysis of a Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blind Trial Comparing Moxifloxacin and Clindamycin in the Treatment of Odontogenic Infiltrates and Abscesses
Authors: Sobottka Ingo , Wegscheider Karl , Balzer Ludwig , Böger Rainer H. , Hallier Olaf , Giersdorf Ina , Streichert Thomas , Haddad Munif , Platzer Ursula , Cachovan Georg
Published: February 2012

The objective of this study was to identify the oral pathogens found in odontogenic infections, to determine their susceptibilities to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (AMC), clindamycin (CLI), doxycycline (DOX), levofloxacin (LVX), moxifloxacin (MXF), and penicillin (PEN), and to search for associations between specific pathogens and types of infection. Swabs from patients enrolled in a randomized, double-blind phase II trial comparing MXF with CLI for the treatment of odontogenic abscesses or inflammatory infiltrates were cultured on media for aerobes and anaerobes. All bacterial isolates were identified at the species level. Overall, 205 isolates were cultured from 71 patients: 77 viridans group streptococci, 56
Prevotella
spp., 19
Neisseria
spp., 17
Streptococcus anginosus
group isolates and hemolytic streptococci, 15 other anaerobes, and 21 other bacteria. Ninety-eight percent of pathogens were susceptible to MXF, 96% to AMC, 85% to LVX, 67% to PEN, 60% to CLI, and 50% to DOX.
S. anginosus
group and hemolytic streptococci were found significantly more frequently (
P
= 0.04) in patients with abscesses (12/95) than in patients with infiltrates (5/110). In four patients with infiltrates who failed to respond to CLI therapy, three isolates of the
Streptococcus mitis
group and four
Neisseria
spp. resistant to CLI were found. In this study,
S. anginosus
group and hemolytic streptococci were clearly associated with odontogenic abscesses. Our analysis suggests that viridans group streptococci and
Neisseria
spp. play a decisive role in the etiology of odontogenic infiltrates. The high
in vitro
activity of MXF against odontogenic bacteria corresponds well to its clinical results in the treatment of odontogenic abscesses and infiltrates.
Ceramide and Toll-Like Receptor 4 Are Mobilized into Membrane Rafts in Response to Helicobacter pylori Infection in Gastric Epithelial Cells
Authors: Lu Dah-Yuu , Chen Hui-Chen , Yang Mei-Shiang , Hsu Yuan-Man , Lin Hwai-Jeng , Tang Chih-Hsin , Lee Che-Hsin , Lai Cheng-Kuo , Lin Chun-Jung , Shyu Woei-Cherng , Lin Fong-Yan , Lai Chih-Ho
Published: February 2012

Helicobacter pylori
infection is thought to be involved in the development of several gastric diseases. Two
H. pylori
virulence factors (vacuolating cytotoxin A and cytotoxin-associated gene A) reportedly interact with lipid rafts in gastric epithelial cells. The role of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated signaling in response to
H. pylori
infection has been investigated extensively in host cells. However, the receptor molecules in lipid rafts that are involved in
H. pylori
-induced innate sensing have not been well characterized. This study investigated whether lipid rafts play a role in
H. pylori
-induced ceramide secretion and TLR4 expression and thereby contribute to inflammation in gastric epithelial cells. We observed that both TLR4 and MD-2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly higher in
H. pylori
-infected AGS cells than in mock-infected cells. Moreover, significantly more TLR4 protein was detected in detergent-resistant membranes extracted from
H. pylori
-infected AGS cells than in those extracted from mock-infected cells. However, this effect was attenuated by the treatment of cells with cholesterol-usurping agents, suggesting that
H. pylori
-induced TLR4 signaling is dependent on cholesterol-rich microdomains. Similarly, the level of cellular ceramide was elevated and ceramide was translocated into lipid rafts after
H. pylori
infection, leading to interleukin-8 (IL-8) production. Using the sphingomyelinase inhibitor imipramine, we observed that
H. pylori
-induced TLR4 expression was ceramide dependent. These results indicate the mobilization of ceramide and TLR4 into lipid rafts by
H. pylori
infection in response to inflammation in gastric epithelial cells.
The Vibrio cholerae Pst2 Phosphate Transport System Is Upregulated in Biofilms and Contributes to Biofilm-Induced Hyperinfectivity
Authors: Mudrak Benjamin , Tamayo Rita
Published: February 2012

Vibrio cholerae
is the causative agent of the deadly diarrheal disease cholera. As part of its life cycle,
V. cholerae
persists in marine environments, where it forms surface-attached communities commonly described as biofilms. Evidence indicates that these biofilms constitute the infectious form of the pathogen during outbreaks. Previous work has shown that biofilm-derived
V. cholerae
cells, even when fully dispersed from the biofilm matrix, are vastly more infectious than planktonic (free-living) cells. Here, we sought to identify factors that contribute to biofilm-induced hyperinfectivity in
V. cholerae
, and we present evidence for one aspect of the molecular basis of this phenotype. We identified proteins upregulated during growth in biofilms and determined their contributions to the hyperinfectivity phenotype. We found that PstS2, the periplasmic component of the Pst2 phosphate uptake system, was enriched in biofilms. Another gene in the
pst2
locus was transcriptionally upregulated in biofilms. Using the infant mouse model, we found that mutation of two
pst2
components resulted in impaired colonization. Importantly, deletion of the Pst2 inner membrane complex caused a greater colonization defect after growth in a biofilm compared to shaking culture. Based on these data, we propose that
V. cholerae
cells in biofilms upregulate the Pst2 system and therefore gain an advantage upon entry into the host. Further characterization of factors contributing to biofilm-induced hyperinfectivity in
V. cholerae
will improve our understanding of the transmission of the bacteria from natural aquatic habitats to the human host.
Generic quality of life predicts all-cause mortality in the short term: evidence from British Household Panel Survey
Authors: Netuveli Gopalakrishnan , Pikhart Hynek , Bobak Martin , Blane David
Published: February 2012

Background

Whether the quality of life (QOL) impacts longevity is an interesting research question that has been investigated only in the context of disease and health-related QOL. This paper aims to examine prospectively whether Control, Autonomy, Self-realisation, and Pleasure (CASP) scores, a measure of generic QOL, can predict mortality in the British Household Panel Survey sample during 2001–2006.

Methods

The authors used data from the British Household Panel Survey wave 11 (2001–2002) when CASP was first presented to the participants in the survey. The authors selected all those who were interviewed directly and face to face and who were 40 years or older (N=10 291). The authors followed them for the next five waves (waves 12–16) and in this study primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Other covariates used were age, sex, socioeconomic position, household income, self-rated health, limiting long-standing illness and medical conditions.

Results

Compared with a mortality of 12/1000 person-years in those having average QOL (CASP score 29.4–45.8), those with below-average QOL had more than twice (27/1000 person-years) and those above average had a third less (8/1000 person-years) mortality. This gradient was retained for the most part when age and sex strata were examined separately. Regression models adjusted for covariates confirmed the protective effect of QOL on mortality. Domain-specific analysis showed that only control and self-realisation had this effect.

Conclusion

CASP predicted 5-year all-cause mortality significantly. Improvement in the QOL reduced the probability of death.
DYNAMICS OF STATES IN THE NONLINEAR INTERACTION REGIME BETWEEN A THREE-LEVEL ATOM AND GENERALIZED COHERENT STATES AND THEIR NON-CLASSICAL FEATURES
Authors: TAVASSOLY M. K. , YADOLLAHI F.
Published: February 2012

The present study investigates the interaction of an equidistant three-level atom and a single-mode cavity field that has been initially prepared in a generalized coherent state. The atom–field interaction is considered to be, in general, intensity-dependent. We suppose that the nonlinearity of the initial generalized coherent state of the field and the intensity-dependent coupling between atom and field are distinctly chosen. Interestingly, an exact analytical solution for the time evolution of the state of atom–field system can be found in this general regime in terms of the nonlinearity functions. Finally, the presented formalism has been applied to a few known physical systems such as Gilmore–Perelomov and Barut–Girardello coherent states of SU(1,1) group, as well as a few special cases of interest. Mean photon number and atomic population inversion will be calculated, in addition to investigating particular non-classicality features such as revivals, sub-Poissonian statistics and quadratures squeezing of the obtained states of the entire system. Also, our results will be compared with some of the earlier works in this particular subject.
CLASSICAL ZARISKI PAIRS
Authors: AKYOL AYŞEGÜL
Published: February 2012

We enumerate and classify up to equisingular deformation all irreducible plane sextics constituting the so called classical Zariski pairs. In most cases we obtain two deformation families, called abundant and non-abundant. Four sets of singularities are realized by abundant sextics only, and one exceptional set of singularities is realized by three families, one abundant and two complex conjugate non-abundant. This exceptional set of singularities has submaximal total Milnor number 18.
Feature-adaptive GPU rendering of Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces
Authors: Nießner Matthias , Loop Charles , Meyer Mark , Derose Tony
Published: February 2012

We present a novel method for high-performance GPU-based rendering of Catmull-Clark subdivision surfaces. Unlike previous methods, our algorithm computes the true limit surface up to machine precision, and is capable of rendering surfaces that conform to the full RenderMan specification for Catmull-Clark surfaces. Specifically, our algorithm can accommodate base meshes consisting of arbitrary valence vertices and faces, and the surface can contain any number and arrangement of semisharp creases and hierarchically defined detail. We also present a variant of the algorithm which guarantees watertight positions and normals, meaning that even displaced surfaces can be rendered in a crack-free manner. Finally, we describe a view-dependent level-of-detail scheme which adapts to both the depth of subdivision and the patch tessellation density. Though considerably more general, the performance of our algorithm is comparable to the best approximating method, and is considerably faster than Stam's exact method.
Efficient software implementations of large finite fields
GF
(2

n

) for secure storage applications
Authors: Luo Jianqiang , Bowers Kevin D. , Oprea Alina , Xu Lihao
Published: February 2012

Finite fields are widely used in constructing error-correcting codes and cryptographic algorithms. In practice, error-correcting codes use small finite fields to achieve high-throughput encoding and decoding. Conversely, cryptographic systems employ considerably larger finite fields to achieve high levels of security. We focus on developing efficient software implementations of arithmetic operations in reasonably large finite fields as needed by secure storage applications.

In this article, we study several arithmetic operation implementations for finite fields ranging from
GF
(2
32
) to
GF
(2
128
). We implement multiplication and division in these finite fields by making use of precomputed tables in smaller fields, and several techniques of extending smaller field arithmetic into larger field operations. We show that by exploiting known techniques, as well as new optimizations, we are able to efficiently support operations over finite fields of interest. We perform a detailed evaluation of several techniques, and show that we achieve very practical performance for both multiplication and division.

Finally, we show how these techniques find applications in the implementation of HAIL, a highly available distributed cloud storage layer. Using the newly implemented arithmetic operations in
GF
(2
64
), HAIL improves its performance by a factor of two, while simultaneously providing a higher level of security.
Computer science awards
Authors: Rosenberger Jack
Published: February 2012

Scientists worldwide are honored for their contributions to design, computing, science, and technology.
Training users vs. training soldiers
Authors: Kostakos Vassilis
Published: February 2012

How military training methods can be applied to more effectively teach computer users.
The hyperdimensional tar pit
Authors: Kamp Poul-Henning
Published: February 2012

Make a guess, double the number, and then move to the next larger unit of time.
Data base administration in accounting information systems
Authors: Rushinek Avi , Rushinek Sara F.
Published: February 2012

This research will explain the innovations in gathering and communicating data, outside the traditional role of the accounting function, which are required to adequately fulfill the information needs of all levels of management. Data Base Management Systems (DBMS) and their respective administration offer a good basis for collecting and utilizing available data, to aid the decision-making process at all levels of management.

At the functional level, managers are concerned with the use of historic data. Using a DBMS, these managers will be able to obtain specific, updated summary information from the database as needed.

Data Base Management, as part of an overall management information system, offers vast opportunities for more effective decision-making, installing the system that's best for your type of information, means whether or not you'll he getting appropriate data.
18th edition of Computer-Oriented Bibliography lists 303 new books
Authors: Couger J. Daniel
Published: February 2012

Although barely out pubescence, the Al/Expert Systems field begat some excellent books in 1984. Yet this category accounts for only five of the more than 300 new books in the 18th edition of the
Annual Bibliography of Computer-Oriented Books
, released this month by the University of Colorado.
Mild mitochondrial uncoupling does not affect mitochondrial biogenesis but downregulates pyruvate carboxylase in adipocytes: role for triglyceride content reduction
Authors: De Pauw Aurélia , Demine Stéphane , Tejerina Silvia , Dieu Marc , Delaive Edouard , Kel Alexander , Renard Patricia , Raes Martine , Arnould Thierry
Published: February 2012

In adipocytes, mitochondrial uncoupling is known to trigger a triglyceride loss comparable with the one induced by TNFα, a proinflammatory cytokine. However, the impact of a mitochondrial uncoupling on the abundance/composition of mitochondria and its connection with triglyceride content in adipocytes is largely unknown. In this work, the effects of a mild mitochondrial uncoupling triggered by FCCP were investigated on the mitochondrial population of 3T3-L1 adipocytes by both quantitative and qualitative approaches. We found that mild mitochondrial uncoupling does not stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis in adipocytes but induces an adaptive cell response characterized by quantitative modifications of mitochondrial protein content. Superoxide anion radical level was increased in mitochondria of both TNFα- and FCCP-treated adipocytes, whereas mitochondrial DNA copy number was significantly higher only in TNFα-treated cells. Subproteomic analysis revealed that the abundance of pyruvate carboxylase was reduced significantly in mitochondria of TNFα- and FCCP-treated adipocytes. Functional study showed that overexpression of this major enzyme of lipid metabolism is able to prevent the triglyceride content reduction in adipocytes exposed to mitochondrial uncoupling or TNFα. These results suggest a new mechanism by which the effects of mitochondrial uncoupling might limit triglyceride accumulation in adipocytes.