bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lymphatic Involvement in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Authors: Glasgow Connie G. , Taveira‐DaSilva Angelo M. , Darling Thomas N. , Moss Joel
Published: June 2008

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, multisystem disease affecting primarily premenopausal women. The disease is characterized by cystic lung disease, at times leading to respiratory compromise, abdominal tumors (in particular, renal angiomyolipomas), and involvement of the axial lymphatics (e.g., adenopathy, lymphangioleiomyomas). Disease results from the proliferation of neoplastic cells (LAM cells), which, in many cases, have a smooth muscle cell phenotype, express melanoma antigens, and have mutations in one of the tuberous sclerosis complex genes (TSC1 or TSC2). In the lung, LAM cells found in the vicinity of cysts are, at times, localized in nodules and may be responsible for cyst formation through the production of proteases. Lymphatic channels, expressing characteristic lymphatic endothelial cell markers, are found within the LAM lung nodules. LAM cells may also be localized within the walls of the axial lymphatics, and, in some cases, penetrate the wall and proliferate in the surrounding adipose tissue. Consistent with extensive lymphatic involvement in LAM, the serum concentration of VEGF‐D, a lymphangiogenic factor, is higher in LAM patients than in healthy volunteers.
Endobronchial Ultrasound With Transbronchial Needle Aspiration for Restaging the Mediastinum in Lung Cancer
Authors: Herth Felix J.F. , Annema Jouke T. , Eberhardt Ralf , Yasufuku Kazuhiro , Ernst Armin , Krasnik Mark , Rintoul Robert C.
Published: June 2008

Purpose

To investigate the sensitivity and accuracy of endobronchial ultrasound–guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for restaging the mediastinum after induction chemotherapy in patients with non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients and Methods

One hundred twenty-four consecutive patients with tissue-proven stage IIIA-N2 disease who were treated with induction chemotherapy and who had undergone mediastinal restaging by EBUS-TBNA were reviewed. On the basis of computed tomography, 58 patients were classified as having stable disease and 66 were judged to have had a partial response. All patients subsequently underwent thoracotomy with attempted curative resection and a lymph node dissection regardless of EBUS-TBNA findings.

Results

Persistent nodal metastases were detected by using EBUS-TBNA in 89 patients (72%). Of the 35 patients in whom no metastases were assessed by EBUS-TBNA, 28 were found to have residual stage IIIA-N2 disease at thoracotomy. The majority (91%) of these false negative results were due to nodal sampling error rather than detection error. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy of EBUS-TBNA for mediastinal restaging after induction chemotherapy were 76%, 100%, 100%, 20%, and 77%, respectively.

Conclusion

EBUS-TBNA is a sensitive, specific, accurate, and minimally invasive test for mediastinal restaging of patients with NSCLC. However, because of the low negative predictive value, tumor-negative findings should be confirmed by surgical staging before thoracotomy.
An experimental evaluation of induction bending as a method for producing pipe bends with radii ≥2.5D
Authors: Collie G J , Black I
Published: June 2008

This paper briefly describes induction bending and highlights some of the challenges associated with this technique in the production of tight bends in thick-walled pipe. The authors then go on to describe how data obtained from production runs and specifically commissioned trial bends were used to examine the factors believed to influence the generation of adverse geometry during bending, and to determine the relative importance of each factor.

The paper concludes by examining previously published empirically derived charts and by comparing the results of the trials. The authors conclude from this that the existing charts are deficient when considering extrados wall thinning, i.e. the charts cannot be reliably extrapolated to cover bends which are beyond their scope and, while addressing the issue of wall thinning at the extrados, they ignore all the other types of deformation.
A piezoelectric force sensor for mill-scale chip refiners
Authors: Olender D , Wild P , Byrnes P
Published: June 2008

Refiners are used in the pulp and paper industry to separate wood chips into individual fibres and to develop the morphology of fibres to be suitable for the type and grade of paper to be produced. Within a refiner are discs, at least one of which rotates at high speed and all of which are lined with radial patterns of bars on their opposed surfaces. A mixture of chips and water is accelerated radially through the space between the discs. Compressive and shear forces are applied to chips and fibres as the bars on the opposed discs cross each other. Experiments have shown that certain process variables can greatly affect the forces applied to chips or fibres when bars cross. These findings suggest that the contact mechanics of bar-crossings are a significant factor in the development of fibre properties. To investigate these contact mechanics in operating refiners, a piezoelectric-based sensor has been developed to measure the forces applied to the chips and fibres by the bars. The sensor replaces a small section of a refiner bar and is sensitive to both axial and tangential forces. The current paper describes the evolution of the design of this sensor from a proof-of-concept prototype for a laboratory-scale refiner to the latest generation sensor for a mill-scale refiner. Performance during the most recent mill trials is presented.
Characterization of state variables in post-stall dynamics of high-performance aircraft
Authors: Abdulwahab E N , Hongquan C
Published: June 2008

The behaviour of the state variables in post stall flight region of high-performance aircraft is presented in this paper. To demonstrate the state variables of aircraft in post-stall dynamics, the non-linear state equations of aircraft are solved. The numerical investigation has shown that a sufficiently negative lift slope can lead to limit cycle oscillation motion. The behaviour of limit cycle is demonstrated with the action attributed to relay action caused by decrement of lift coefficient jump at stall. The time-history of state variables and the effects of decrement of lift coefficient on limit-cycle amplitudes are achieved. A numerical model constructed for a high-performance aircraft F-18 is solved to illustrate the results. The effects of significant factors such as mass, thrust on limit cycle behaviour in post stall region are considered in this analysis. The couple of effects including the mass and velocity on limit-cycle amplitude of attack angle and pitch angle are obtained in this region. The results indicate that chaos behaviour of attack angle exists in the case of a 20 per cent decrease in mass and a 5—10 per cent increase in velocity. Multi-point attractor is predicted with the change in the values of attack angle. A good agreement between the numerical results and the published work is obtained for limit cycle oscillation existence at different values of lift coefficient decrement.
Attitude manoeuvring and vibration reducing control of flexible spacecraft using smart materials
Authors: Jiang Y , Hu Q , Ma G
Published: June 2008

The question of robust attitude control and vibration reduction of flexible spacecraft during manoeuvre is considered. The design approach presented here treats the problem of spacecraft attitude control separately from the elastic vibration suppression, by designing a dynamic controller, using attitude measures alone for desired attitude rotation and smart materials for active vibration suppression. The proposed attitude controller does not need the knowledge of modal variables and spacecraft angular velocity, which is compensated by appropriate dynamics of the controller. For actively suppressing the vibrations introduced to the flexible appendages, embedded piezoelectric ceramic patches are used as both sensors and actuators, to detect and counter-react the induced vibration during and after the manoeuvre. Here, a modified positive position feedback (PPF) control strategy, targeting at the first three flexible modes of the flexible spacecraft is taken into account. The performances of this approach are assessed in terms of the level of vibration reduction at resonance modes and the speed of response. For comparison, the proportional plus derivative control strategy is adopted and compared with proposed control approach. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the controller design strategy for attitude control and the modified PPF compensators for active vibration suppression.
Hot-wire anemometry of transitional boundary layers exposed to different freestream turbulence intensities
Authors: Taghavi-Zenouz R , Salari M , Tabar M M , Omidi E
Published: June 2008

Transitional boundary layer flows on a flat plate, subjected to different freestream turbulence intensities, have been investigated experimentally in details. The inlet freestream turbulence levels were varied from 1.5 to 4.4 per cent using different circular bar grids of various sizes installed upstream in a proper distance from the plate leading edge. A single hot-wire probe was used for the measurements of instantaneous flow velocities within the boundary layer. Longitudinal and vertical movements of the hot-wire probe were performed by a two-component traversing device, which was itself controlled by a computerized system. Experiments were conducted in an open circuit wind tunnel of suction type. For each level of freestream turbulence, boundary-layer surveys of the mean longitudinal velocity and root mean square of the velocity fluctuations were obtained at several streamwise locations. Experimental results were used to determine the variations of streamwise skin-friction coefficient and the boundary-layer shape factor versus the local Reynolds number. Evaluation of the final results showed that increasing the freestream turbulence intensity causes the transitional region to shrink and to shift up-stream. Current experimental results together with reliable data presented by other researchers led to propose a new correlation capable of predicting the onset of transition for a wide range of freestream turbulence intensities.
Flowfield simulation and aerodynamic performance analysis of complex iced aerofoils with hybrid multi-block grid
Authors: Cao Yihua , Chen Ke , Sheridan J
Published: June 2008

Flowfield simulation and aerodynamic performance analysis of complex iced aerofoil are conducted with hybrid multi-block grid technique. To overcome the difficulty of generating structure grid on complex geometry, a point-to-point hybrid grid generation method is developed in this paper. An unstructured grid is imposed in the zone near the iced aerofoil to handle the complicated iced geometry. A structure grid is imposed in the zone wrapping the unstructured grid to save the storage and computational time. The implementation of point-to-point hybrid grid simplifies the flux construction at the interface between two types of grid. The Reynolds-averaged Navier—Stokes equations are solved with implementation of the shear-stress transport two-equation turbulence model in both types of grid. As a comparison, the numerical simulation results with Spalart—Allmaras turbulence model are also presented. The results of numerical simulation on iced aerofoil validate the method developed in this paper and show that ice accretion has serious effect on aerodynamic performance of aerofoil.
Simulation study on a friction compensation method for the inertial platform based on the disturbance observer
Authors: Yu S , Zhao Y-Z
Published: June 2008

Friction is one of the key disturbances in an inertial platform, which can degrade itsperformance heavily. Compensation of friction disturbance should be considered while designing a controller for the inertial platform. In this article, the disturbance observer (DOB) is introduced to compensate for the friction disturbance for inertial platform. The problem of parameter optimization, which is the main issue in the DOB design, is also solved according to the performance index called integrals of square error. A non-linear friction model including static, Coulomb, and viscous frictions as well as Stribeck effect is built and considered as the friction disturbance of the inertial platform in this simulation study. The simulation results show that the friction disturbance can be suppressed effectively by the DOB method.
Fault detection and isolation in aircraft gas turbine engines. Part 2: Validation on a simulation test bed
Authors: Sarkar S , Yasar M , Gupta S , Ray A , Mukherjee K
Published: June 2008

The first part of this two-part paper, which is a companion paper, has developed a novel concept of fault detection and isolation (FDI) in aircraft gas turbine engines. The FDI algorithms are built upon the statistical pattern recognition method of symbolic dynamic filtering (SDF) that is especially suited for real-time detection and isolation of slowly evolving anomalies in engine components, in addition to abrupt faults. The FDI methodology is based on the analysis of time series data of available sensors and/or analytically derived variables in the gas path dynamics. The current paper, which is the second of two parts, validates the algorithms of FDI, formulated in the first part, on a simulation test bed. The test bed is built upon an integrated model of a generic two-spool turbofan aircraft gas turbine engine including the engine control system.
Calculation of the viscous-interaction effects in the Euler/boundary-layer methods
Authors: Parhizkar H , Karimian S M H
Published: June 2008

A simple approach is proposed to incorporate the effect of viscous interaction in the calculation of aerodynamic heating of three-dimensional geometries by Euler/boundary-layer methods. In the present study, aerodynamic heating is calculated from the solution of a set of approximate convective-heating equations along the streamlines. These heating equations are derived using axisymmetric analogue. To determine streamline paths and flow properties along them, Euler equations are solved around the three-dimensional body. The effect of viscous interaction on the aerodynamic heating can be significant, especially if the Reynolds number is low. To incorporate this effect, the whole process should be repeated having considered the boundary-layer thickness all around the body. However, this approach causes different difficulties, and is not cost efficient as well. In the present work, the effect of boundary-layer thickness on the aerodynamic heating is incorporated through the correction of pressure distribution on the surface of the body. This approach of correcting pressure distribution is applied to spherical and elliptical blunted cones in laminar hypersonic flows. It is shown that the heating rates are improved in low Reynolds numbers, where viscous-interaction effect is significant. The present approach can result in a reduction of computational cost, when viscous interaction is significant in calculation of aerodynamic heating.
Attentional processes in young children with congenital visual impairment
Authors: Tadić Valerie , Pring Linda , Dale Naomi
Published: June 2008

The study investigated attentional processes of 32 preschool children with congenital visual impairment (VI). Children with profound visual impairment (PVI) and severe visual impairment (SVI) were compared to a group of typically developing sighted children in their ability to respond to adult directed attention in terms of establishing, maintaining, and shifting attention on toys.

The measures of children's sensory‐motor understanding (SMU) and language ability were obtained using the Reynell‐Zinkin scales of mental development. The video‐recordings of these play‐based assessments were coded for three categories of behavioural responses (Establish, Maintain, and Shift). The three groups were matched on verbal comprehension (VC), but differed significantly in their SMU and their chronological age. The groups of children with PVI and SVI were found to be comparable in their ability to establish and maintain attention on objects. Despite a relatively good performance overall both groups scored significantly lower on those skills than children who were sighted. However, with regards to attention shifting, children with PVI showed significantly lower performance than both the children with SVI and the sighted children who were similar on this component. Ability to maintain and shift attention was significantly related to the cognitive ability of children with PVI; however the poorer attentional responses were not confined only to the children with low IQ. The results are discussed in relation to the role of vision, cognitive ability and executive function in attentional processes in children with congenital VI.
Early tracking of informant accuracy and inaccuracy
Authors: Corriveau Kathleen H. , Meints Kerstin , Harris Paul L.
Published: June 2008

Three‐ and four‐year‐old children (N=131) were tested for their sensitivity to the accuracy and inaccuracy of informants. Children were presented with one of three conditions. In the Accurate‐Inaccurate condition, one informant named objects accurately whereas the other named them inaccurately. In the Accurate‐Neutral condition, one informant named objects accurately whereas the other merely drew attention to them. Finally in the Inaccurate‐Neutral condition, one informant named objects inaccurately whereas the other merely drew attention to them. In subsequent test trials, 4‐year‐olds preferred to seek and accept information in a selective fashion across all three conditions, suggesting that they monitor informants for both accuracy and inaccuracy. By contrast, 3‐year‐olds were selective in the Accurate‐Inaccurate and Inaccurate‐Neutral conditions but not in the Accurate‐Neutral condition, suggesting that they monitor informants only for inaccuracy and take accuracy for granted.
Staying vigorous until work is over: The role of trait vigour, day‐specific work experiences and recovery
Authors: Sonnentag Sabine , Niessen Cornelia
Published: June 2008

Staying vigorous throughout the day is important for work‐related behaviour, subjective well‐being, and for effective functioning in the family domain. This study examined trait vigour (i.e. a person's general level of vigour), day‐specific workload (time pressure, work hours), and recovery resulting from unwinding during leisure time as predictors of day‐specific vigour as experienced at the end of the working day. Seventy‐five individuals from service and public administration organizations completed one general survey and daily surveys two times per day for five working days. Trait vigour, demographic variables and control variables (e.g. job control, home workload) were assessed in the general survey. Day‐specific level of vigour, day‐specific workload, and day‐specific recovery were measured in the daily survey. Analyses following a hierarchical linear modelling approach showed that trait vigour, day‐specific workload and recovery accumulated during the preceding evenings predicted an individual's level of vigour at the end of the working day, after controlling for a range of other variables (gender, age, job control, and home workload). Trait vigour and accumulated recovery experiences interacted significantly to predict vigour at the end of the working day, indicating that individuals high on trait vigour benefit most from recovery experienced over the course of several days.
Met expectations: The effects of expected and delivered inducements on employee satisfaction
Authors: Irving P. Gregory , Montes Samantha D.
Published: June 2008

Interpretation of existing theory and research on met expectations is problematic due to ambiguous conceptualization of the met expectations hypothesis and limitations imposed by the measurement strategies typically employed in this domain (i.e. difference scores and direct retrospective measures). In this longitudinal study, we sought to overcome these problems by using an alternative methodology to conduct a more comprehensive test of the met expectations hypothesis based on Warr's (1987) Vitamin Model and on research in related fields (e.g. person–environment fit). Polynomial regression and response surface analyses were used to examine how employee satisfaction is related to unmet, met, and exceeded expectations concerning two distinct types of inducements analogous to vitamins A (skill development opportunities) and E (support, compensation). Respondents included 342 limited term employees. Consistent with previous research, our results indicated that unmet expectations of any sort were associated with decreased satisfaction. However, contrary to common interpretations of the extant literature, our results also indicated that met expectations were not always associated with high levels of satisfaction and that exceeded expectations were, in the case of skill development, negatively associated with satisfaction. These findings suggest a need to broaden existing met expectations theory and to refine common organizational practices.
„die Sache ist…“: eine Projektor-Konstruktion im gesprochenen Deutsch
Authors: Günthner Susanne
Published: June 2008

This paper, focusing on die Sache ist-constructions in spoken German, is intended as a contribution to an interactional perspective on grammatical issues: It aims at connecting concepts of Construction Grammar with aspects of analyzing language use in its communicative praxis.

Based on an empirical analysis of conversational German, this article shows that the standard view of die Sache ist-constructions as [matrix clause + subordinated complement clause] cannot be supported by actual data from spoken interactions. Instead of a subordinated complement clause following the matrix clause, speakers reanalyse die Sache ist (“segment A”) as a projector phrase, anticipating the upcoming core message (“segment B”). Segment B (“the complement clause”) overwhelmingly occurs with no complementizer dass ‘that’. Instead it can take various forms in spoken interactions: it can be realized as a subordinate clause, a main clause, a complex clause and even as a larger discourse segment. In all these cases, it is no longer a conceptual element of segment A's proposition.

Thus, a usage based approach of die Sache ist-constructions suggests that speakers use it as a projector-construction (Hopper) anticipating an upcoming utterance.
Genuswechsel in Kopulasätzen und die Bedeutung indefiniter Nominalphrasen
Authors: Mueller-Reichau Olav
Published: June 2008

The paper calls attention to the neglected fact that German personal pronouns can agree in gender with the postcopular indefinite nominal of a preceding copular sentence, whilst not agreeing with the subject nominal. A typical example is Dieser Baum ist eine Ulme. Er/Sie ist sehr hoch. The possibility of sie (relating in gender to Ulme) is not predicted by theories that treat postcopular indefinites as predicates. It is shown that this kind of “gender change” is possible in all those cases where the taxonomic shift from the precopular nominal category to the postcopular category either does not involve the abstraction of semantic features (the shift from ‘tree’ to ‘elmtree’, for instance, represents a pure specification), or involves an abstraction that can be motivated pragmatically. The latter possibility is illustrated by examples such as Die Prinzessin ist ein Frosch. Sie/Er ist grün, where the abstraction away from “princess-features” is motivated by the metamorphosis in the fairy tale context. If, however, the shift from the precopular nominal category to the postcopular category involves an abstraction of features that cannot be motivated pragmatically, gender change is rejected. Here, the presumably most important examples suggest the stripping off of sex features, as in: Diese Frau ist ein Star. Sie/Er muss dauernd Interviews geben. Accounting for the fact that it is taxonomic relations among the nominal categories that constrain the possible gender of the pronoun, the paper analyzes the respective postcopular indefinite as denoting a kind. When the described conditions are met, this kind can replace the kind under which the subject individual was originally referred to.
Coherence in affix order
Authors: Trommer Jochen
Published: June 2008

In this article, I propose a new family of constraints on affix order, called “Coherence”, which require that index changes in morphological words are minimized. Coherence constraints complement the optimality-theoretic account of affix order for subject agreement affixes in Trommer (2003c) which relies crucially on alignment constraints, but cannot capture all attested ordering patterns. Coherence constraints have the effect that different affixes expressing features of the same syntactic head appear as close to each other as possible, but also allows to derive the restriction of verb agreement to one argument in many languages with rich inflection, in a line with Grimshaw (2001a, 2001b) and Woolford (2003) who also argue that constraints on morpheme order have crucial effects on the co-occurrence of morphemes. Finally, I show that Coherence-based analyses of the discussed data are superior to approaches in terms of Generalized Alignment (McCarthy & Prince 1993).
Acute toxicity estimation by calculation—Tubifexassay and quantitative structure-activity relationships
Authors: Tichý Miloň , Rucki Marián , Hanzlíková Iveta , Roth Zdeněk
Published: June 2008

A quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) model dependent on log P(n — octanol/water), or log POW, was developed with acute toxicity index EC50, the median effective concentration measured as inhibition of movement of the oligochaeta Tubifex tubifex with 3 min exposure, EC50(Tt) (mol/L): log EC50(Tt) = −0.809 (±0.035) log POW — 0.495 (±0.060), n = 82, r = 0.931, r2 = 0.867, residual standard deviation of the estimate = 0.315. A learning series for the QSAR model with the oligochaete contained alkanols, alkenols, and alkynols; saturated and unsaturated aldehydes; aniline and chlorinated anilines; phenol and chlorinated phenols; and esters. Three cross-validation procedures proved the robustness and stability of QSAR models with respect to the chemical structure of compounds tested within a series of compounds used in the learning series. Predictive ability was described by q2 = 0.801 (cross-validated r2; predicted variation estimated with cross-validation) in LSO (leave-a structurally series-out) cross-validation.
Expressiveness of Metric modalities for continuous time
Authors: Hirshfeld Yoram , Rabinovich Alexander
Published: June 2008

We prove a conjecture by A. Pnueli and strengthen it showing a sequence of
"counting modalities" none of which is expressible in the temporal logic
generated by the previous modalities, over the real line, or over the positive
reals. Moreover, there is no finite temporal logic that can express all of them
over the real line, so that no finite metric temporal logic is expressively
complete.
Structure and Problem Hardness: Goal Asymmetry and DPLL Proofs in SAT-Based Planning
Authors: Hoffmann Joerg , Gomes Carla , Selman Bart
Published: June 2008

In Verification and in (optimal) AI Planning, a successful method is to
formulate the application as boolean satisfiability (SAT), and solve it with
state-of-the-art DPLL-based procedures. There is a lack of understanding of why
this works so well. Focussing on the Planning context, we identify a form of
problem structure concerned with the symmetrical or asymmetrical nature of the
cost of achieving the individual planning goals. We quantify this sort of
structure with a simple numeric parameter called AsymRatio, ranging between 0
and 1. We run experiments in 10 benchmark domains from the International
Planning Competitions since 2000; we show that AsymRatio is a good indicator of
SAT solver performance in 8 of these domains. We then examine carefully crafted
synthetic planning domains that allow control of the amount of structure, and
that are clean enough for a rigorous analysis of the combinatorial search
space. The domains are parameterized by size, and by the amount of structure.
The CNFs we examine are unsatisfiable, encoding one planning step less than the
length of the optimal plan. We prove upper and lower bounds on the size of the
best possible DPLL refutations, under different settings of the amount of
structure, as a function of size. We also identify the best possible sets of
branching variables (backdoors). With minimum AsymRatio, we prove exponential
lower bounds, and identify minimal backdoors of size linear in the number of
variables. With maximum AsymRatio, we identify logarithmic DPLL refutations
(and backdoors), showing a doubly exponential gap between the two structural
extreme cases. The reasons for this behavior -- the proof arguments --
illuminate the prototypical patterns of structure causing the empirical
behavior observed in the competition benchmarks.
Real-Time Model-Checking: Parameters everywhere
Authors: Bruyere Veronique , Raskin Jean-Francois
Published: June 2008

In this paper, we study the model-checking and parameter synthesis problems
of the logic TCTL over discrete-timed automata where parameters are allowed
both in the model (timed automaton) and in the property (temporal formula). Our
results are as follows. On the negative side, we show that the model-checking
problem of TCTL extended with parameters is undecidable over discrete-timed
automata with only one parametric clock. The undecidability result needs
equality in the logic. On the positive side, we show that the model-checking
and the parameter synthesis problems become decidable for a fragment of the
logic where equality is not allowed. Our method is based on automata theoretic
principles and an extension of our method to express durations of runs in timed
automata using Presburger arithmetic.
On the decidability and complexity of Metric Temporal Logic over finite words
Authors: Ouaknine Joel , Worrell James
Published: June 2008

Metric Temporal Logic (MTL) is a prominent specification formalism for
real-time systems. In this paper, we show that the satisfiability problem for
MTL over finite timed words is decidable, with non-primitive recursive
complexity. We also consider the model-checking problem for MTL: whether all
words accepted by a given Alur-Dill timed automaton satisfy a given MTL
formula. We show that this problem is decidable over finite words. Over
infinite words, we show that model checking the safety fragment of MTL--which
includes invariance and time-bounded response properties--is also decidable.
These results are quite surprising in that they contradict various claims to
the contrary that have appeared in the literature.
On tractability and congruence distributivity
Authors: Kiss Emil , Valeriote Matthew
Published: June 2008

Constraint languages that arise from finite algebras have recently been the
object of study, especially in connection with the Dichotomy Conjecture of
Feder and Vardi. An important class of algebras are those that generate
congruence distributive varieties and included among this class are lattices,
and more generally, those algebras that have near-unanimity term operations. An
algebra will generate a congruence distributive variety if and only if it has a
sequence of ternary term operations, called Jonsson terms, that satisfy certain
equations.
We prove that constraint languages consisting of relations that are invariant
under a short sequence of Jonsson terms are tractable by showing that such
languages have bounded relational width.
A Normalizing Intuitionistic Set Theory with Inaccessible Sets
Authors: Moczydlowski Wojciech
Published: June 2008

We propose a set theory strong enough to interpret powerful type theories
underlying proof assistants such as LEGO and also possibly Coq, which at the
same time enables program extraction from its constructive proofs. For this
purpose, we axiomatize an impredicative constructive version of
Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory IZF with Replacement and $\omega$-many
inaccessibles, which we call \izfio. Our axiomatization utilizes set terms, an
inductive definition of inaccessible sets and the mutually recursive nature of
equality and membership relations. It allows us to define a weakly-normalizing
typed lambda calculus corresponding to proofs in \izfio according to the
Curry-Howard isomorphism principle. We use realizability to prove the
normalization theorem, which provides a basis for program extraction
capability.
Generic Trace Semantics via Coinduction
Authors: Hasuo Ichiro , Jacobs Bart , Sokolova Ana
Published: June 2008

Trace semantics has been defined for various kinds of state-based systems,
notably with different forms of branching such as non-determinism vs.
probability. In this paper we claim to identify one underlying mathematical
structure behind these "trace semantics," namely coinduction in a Kleisli
category. This claim is based on our technical result that, under a suitably
order-enriched setting, a final coalgebra in a Kleisli category is given by an
initial algebra in the category Sets. Formerly the theory of coalgebras has
been employed mostly in Sets where coinduction yields a finer process semantics
of bisimilarity. Therefore this paper extends the application field of
coalgebras, providing a new instance of the principle "process semantics via
coinduction."
A Note on Shortest Developments
Authors: Sørensen Morten Heine
Published: June 2008

De Vrijer has presented a proof of the finite developments theorem which, in
addition to showing that all developments are finite, gives an effective
reduction strategy computing longest developments as well as a simple formula
computing their length.
We show that by applying a rather simple and intuitive principle of duality
to de Vrijer's approach one arrives at a proof that some developments are
finite which in addition yields an effective reduction strategy computing
shortest developments as well as a simple formula computing their length. The
duality fails for general beta-reduction.
Our results simplify previous work by Khasidashvili.
Interactive Small-Step Algorithms I: Axiomatization
Authors: Blass Andreas , Gurevich Yuri , Rosenzweig Dean , Rossman Benjamin
Published: June 2008

In earlier work, the Abstract State Machine Thesis -- that arbitrary
algorithms are behaviorally equivalent to abstract state machines -- was
established for several classes of algorithms, including ordinary, interactive,
small-step algorithms. This was accomplished on the basis of axiomatizations of
these classes of algorithms. Here we extend the axiomatization and, in a
companion paper, the proof, to cover interactive small-step algorithms that are
not necessarily ordinary. This means that the algorithms (1) can complete a
step without necessarily waiting for replies to all queries from that step and
(2) can use not only the environment's replies but also the order in which the
replies were received.
Interactive Small-Step Algorithms II: Abstract State Machines and the Characterization Theorem
Authors: Blass Andreas , Gurevich Yuri , Rosenzweig Dean , Rossman Benjamin
Published: June 2008

In earlier work, the Abstract State Machine Thesis -- that arbitrary
algorithms are behaviorally equivalent to abstract state machines -- was
established for several classes of algorithms, including ordinary, interactive,
small-step algorithms. This was accomplished on the basis of axiomatizations of
these classes of algorithms. In Part I (Interactive Small-Step Algorithms I:
Axiomatization), the axiomatization was extended to cover interactive
small-step algorithms that are not necessarily ordinary. This means that the
algorithms (1) can complete a step without necessarily waiting for replies to
all queries from that step and (2) can use not only the environment's replies
but also the order in which the replies were received. In order to prove the
thesis for algorithms of this generality, we extend here the definition of
abstract state machines to incorporate explicit attention to the relative
timing of replies and to the possible absence of replies. We prove the
characterization theorem for extended abstract state machines with respect to
general algorithms as axiomatized in Part I.
Are there Hilbert-style Pure Type Systems?
Authors: Bunder M. W. , Dekkers W. M. J.
Published: June 2008

For many a natural deduction style logic there is a Hilbert-style logic that
is equivalent to it in that it has the same theorems (i.e. valid judgements
with empty contexts). For intuitionistic logic, the axioms of the equivalent
Hilbert-style logic can be propositions which are also known as the types of
the combinators I, K and S. Hilbert-style versions of illative combinatory
logic have formulations with axioms that are actual type statements for I, K
and S. As pure type systems (PTSs)are, in a sense, equivalent to systems of
illative combinatory logic, it might be thought that Hilbert-style PTSs (HPTSs)
could be based in a similar way. This paper shows that some PTSs have very
trivial equivalent HPTSs, with only the axioms as theorems and that for many
PTSs no equivalent HPTS can exist. Most commonly used PTSs belong to these two
classes. For some PTSs however, including lambda* and the PTS at the basis of
the proof assistant Coq, there is a nontrivial equivalent HPTS, with axioms
that are type statements for I, K and S.
An Application of the Feferman-Vaught Theorem to Automata and Logics for Words over an Infinite Alphabet
Authors: Bès Alexis
Published: June 2008

We show that a special case of the Feferman-Vaught composition theorem gives
rise to a natural notion of automata for finite words over an infinite
alphabet, with good closure and decidability properties, as well as several
logical characterizations. We also consider a slight extension of the
Feferman-Vaught formalism which allows to express more relations between
component values (such as equality), and prove related decidability results.
From this result we get new classes of decidable logics for words over an
infinite alphabet.
Normalization of IZF with Replacement
Authors: Moczydlowski Wojciech
Published: June 2008

ZF is a well investigated impredicative constructive version of
Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory. Using set terms, we axiomatize IZF with
Replacement, which we call \izfr, along with its intensional counterpart
\iizfr. We define a typed lambda calculus $\li$ corresponding to proofs in
\iizfr according to the Curry-Howard isomorphism principle. Using realizability
for \iizfr, we show weak normalization of $\li$. We use normalization to prove
the disjunction, numerical existence and term existence properties. An inner
extensional model is used to show these properties, along with the set
existence property, for full, extensional \izfr.
Approximating a Behavioural Pseudometric without Discount for Probabilistic Systems
Authors: van Breugel Franck , Sharma Babita , Worrell James
Published: June 2008

Desharnais, Gupta, Jagadeesan and Panangaden introduced a family of
behavioural pseudometrics for probabilistic transition systems. These
pseudometrics are a quantitative analogue of probabilistic bisimilarity.
Distance zero captures probabilistic bisimilarity. Each pseudometric has a
discount factor, a real number in the interval (0, 1]. The smaller the discount
factor, the more the future is discounted. If the discount factor is one, then
the future is not discounted at all. Desharnais et al. showed that the
behavioural distances can be calculated up to any desired degree of accuracy if
the discount factor is smaller than one. In this paper, we show that the
distances can also be approximated if the future is not discounted. A key
ingredient of our algorithm is Tarski's decision procedure for the first order
theory over real closed fields. By exploiting the Kantorovich-Rubinstein
duality theorem we can restrict to the existential fragment for which more
efficient decision procedures exist.
Solids Residence Time Distribution in a Three-Phase Bubble Column Reactor: An Artificial Neural Network Analysis
Authors: Pareek V.K. , Sharma R. , Cooper C.G. , Adesina A.A.
Published: June 2008

Residence time distribution (RTD) study of solids in a three-phase pilot-scale bubble column photoreactor has
been carried out in order to provide data for the development of an artificial neural network model usable for process optimisation.
The experimental data indicated that the RTD of solids was a complex nonlinear function of gas and liquid velocities
as well as the contacting pattern (co-current and countercurrent flow of gas and liquid). In this study, the solid particle
RTD data were modeled using feed forward artificial neural networks (ANN). The networks were trained with 250-
sets of input-output patterns using back-propagation algorithm. The trained networks were tested using 50-sets of RTD
data previously unknown to the networks. Out of several configurations, a 3-layered network with 6-neurons in its hidden
layer yielded optimal results with respect to the validation data. The optimal model and empirical data exhibited good
agreement with a correlation coefficient of 0.995.
Expression of Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperones in Cardiac Development
Authors: Papp Sylvia , Zhang Xiaochu , Szabo Eva , Michalak Marek , Opas Michal
Published: June 2008

To determine if cardiogenesis causes endoplasmic reticulum stress, we examined chaperone expression. Many cardiac pathologies cause activation of the fetal gene program, and we asked the reverse: could activation of the fetal gene program during development induce endoplasmic reticulum stress/chaperones?

We found stress related chaperones were more abundant in embryonic compared to adult hearts, indicating endoplasmic reticulum stress during normal cardiac development. To determine the degree of stress, we investigated endoplasmic reticulum stress pathways during cardiogenesis. We detected higher levels of ATF6α, caspase 7 and 12 in adult hearts. Thus, during embryonic development, there is large protein synthetic load but there is no endoplasmic reticulum stress. In adult hearts, chaperones are less abundant but there are increased levels of ATF6α and ER stress-activated caspases. Thus, protein synthesis during embryonic development does not seem to be as intense a stress as is required for apoptosis that is found during postnatal remodelling.
Gene Expression Profile of THP-1 Cells Infected by R. prowazekii Suggests Host Response Signature Genes
Authors: Ge Hong , Zhao Shuping , Lü Xing , Chuang Eric Yao-Yu , Ching Wei-Mei
Published: June 2008

Rickettsia prowazekii, a selective agent of category B, is the causative microorganism of epidemic typhus. The
genome-wide profile of host response to R. prowazekii infection was studied in THP-1 cells by a human cDNA microarray.
Approximately 131 (1.71%) and 11 (0.14%) genes out of 7,680 genes assessed were up-regulated or down-regulated
upon infection with virulent R. prowazekii strain Breinl. These genes induced by R. prowazekii were diverse in function.
Six genes [ENG (endoglin or CD105, cell surface glycoprotein), GADD45A, TNFAIP3, IGFBP3, POU3F4 (transcription),
ELK3] were identified as commonly induced genes as their over expressions were observed throughout the entire
time course studied. There were twenty-two genes [such as GADD45A, POU3F4, ENG, PPP1R14B (an enzyme), ELK3,
CXCL1, IL1B, NFKB1A, etc.] that exhibited the high level of induction at more than one time point. Collectively, these
discoveries may provide novel insights into mechanisms of rickettsial pathogenesis and might reveal potential therapeutic
targets against rickettsial infection.
Enhancing Pre-Service Teachers' Awareness to Pupils' Test-Anxiety With 3D Immersive Simulation
Authors: Passig David , Moshe Ronit
Published: June 2008

This study investigated whether participating in a 3D immersive virtual reality world simulating the experience of test-anxiety would affect pre-service teachers' awareness to the phenomenon. Ninety subjects participated in this study, and were divided into three groups. The experimental group experienced a 3D immersive simulation which made tangible the cognitive aspect of anxiety. One control group watched a TV film on the subject of test-anxiety, while the second control group read statements by pupils who suffer from that syndrome. The level of awareness was tested four times: two weeks before the 3D experience, one week before it, immediately after the experience, and two weeks thereafter. At each stage, the subjects filled out an Awareness of Test Anxiety Questionnaire (ATAQ), which was composed expressly for this study. The research results demonstrate that virtual reality technology is effective in raising the level of awareness of test-anxiety. Even though it is difficult to express abstract ideas in concrete terms, it appears that this technology was more successful in making clear, understandable, and tangible the cognitive aspect of test-anxiety than were the methods tested in the two control groups.
Personal Intelligence
Authors: Mayer John D.
Published: June 2008

A model of personal intelligence is developed. Personal intelligence is defined as the capacity to reason about personality and to use personality and personal information to enhance one's thoughts, plans, and life experience. Approaches to related concepts such as intrapersonal intelligence and psychological-mindedness are reviewed. Next, a model of personal intelligence is proposed that emphasizes the capacity to: a) recognize personally-relevant information; b) form accurate models of personality; c) guide one's choices by using personality information; and d) systematize one's goals, plans, and life stories. A discussion examines the possible contributions and limitations of the personal intelligence concept.
The Potential Impact of Psychotherapy on Emotional Intelligence Scores: Mood Disorders
Authors: Guastello Stephen J. , Guastello Denise D. , Hanson Casey A.
Published: June 2008

The construct of emotional intelligence (EI) appears to have properties of both an ability and a personality characteristic. A variety of psychotherapies include a modicum of emotional learning as part of their programs. The present study investigated the possible impact of therapies on EI with a sample of 412 undergraduates, 17.5% of whom were either in therapy or completed therapy for mood disorders. ANOVA showed that people who completed therapy for mood disorders or who did not consider therapy scored significantly higher on Schutte et al.'s measure of EI than people who had not completed therapy or who considered therapy but had not started it (η2 = .05). It appears that therapy has the potential to restore EI to levels comparable to those of the non-clinical participants.
Making Sense of Loss: A Content Analysis of End-of-Life Practitioners' Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Currier Joseph M. , Holland Jason M. , Neimeyer Robert A.
Published: June 2008

Clinical professionals working in end-of-life (EOL) contexts are frequently relied upon to address questions of meaning with dying and bereaved persons. Similar to the gulf between researchers and practitioners besetting the larger healthcare community, the voices of EOL practitioners are often underrepresented in the empirical literature. This study aimed to further the dialogue in the field of thanatology by surveying and describing the therapeutic approaches that EOL practitioners most commonly report using to facilitate meaning-making. A total of 119 practitioners from a range of EOL disciplines were surveyed to write about their intervention strategies for helping clients/patients make sense of loss. Overall, participants discussed using 23 different therapeutic approaches that comprised three overarching categories: 1) presence of the helping professional; 2) elements of the process; and 3) therapeutic procedures. Importantly, the results also indicated that practitioners from the different EOL occupations are converging on many of the same strategies for promoting meaning-making. Implications for future research on evaluating the effectiveness of meaning-making interventions are also discussed.