bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decommissioning and Waste Treatment Hazard Evaluation and Modeling
Authors: Plys Martin G. , Epstein Michael
Published: December 2010

Hazards encountered during decommissioning and waste treatment involve different issues, emphasis, and scenarios than encountered during normal facility operations. This paper provides examples from experience in analysis and modeling of diverse facilities, framed in terms of custom phenomena models and their incorporation into integral facility analysis modeling. Models for entrainment of contamination and aerosol behavior are described and applied. The FATE™ (Facility Flow, Aerosol, Thermal, and Explosion) computer program is described, and example calculations are given for contamination release due to a dust explosion in order to demonstrate the sensitivity to boundary conditions and the use of engineered safeguards.
Safety Assessment of Geological Disposal of High-Level Radioactive Waste in Boom Clay: Relation With the Radionuclide Inventory
Authors: Van Iseghem Pierre , Marivoet Jan
Published: December 2010

This paper discusses the impact of the parameter values used for the transport of radionuclides from high-level radioactive waste to the far-field on the long-term safety of a proposed geological disposal in the Boom Clay formation in Belgium. The methodology of the Safety Assessment is explained, and the results of the Safety Assessment for vitrified high-level waste and spent fuel are presented. The radionuclides having the strongest impact on the dose-to-man for both HLW glass and spent fuel are 79Se, 129I, 126Sn, 36Cl, and 99Tc. Some of them are volatile during the vitrification process, other radionuclides are activation products, and for many of them there is no accurate information on their inventory in the waste form. The hypotheses in the selection of the main parameter values are further discussed, together with the status of the R&D on one of the main dose contributing radionuclides (79Se).
Cyclic GMP and Protein Kinase G Control a Src-Containing Mechanosome in Osteoblasts
Authors: Rangaswami Hema , Schwappacher Raphaela , Marathe Nisha , Zhuang Shunhui , Casteel Darren E. , Haas Bodo , Chen Yong , Pfeifer Alexander , Kato Hisashi , Shattil Sanford , Boss Gerry R. , Pilz Renate B.
Published: December 2010

Drugs that activate protein kinase G could mimic the bone-building effects of mechanical stimulation.
Aiding the Invaders?
Authors: Adler Elizabeth M.
Published: December 2010

Mesenchymal stem cells

contribute to the ability of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
to establish a persistent infection.
Metabolism Without Modification
Authors: Kiberstis Paula A.
Published: December 2010

A drug inhibiting the activation of ghrelin, a peptide that promotes weight gain, has beneficial metabolic effects in mice.
Inhibitory Effects of 1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-Galloyl-β-d-Glucopyranose on Biofilm Formation byStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Lin Mei-Hui , Chang Fang-Rong , Hua Mu-Yi , Wu Yang-Chang , Liu Shih-Tung
Published: December 2010

1,2,3,4,6-Penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranose (PGG) is an active ingredient in plants that are commonly used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammation. We demonstrate here that PGG, at 6.25 μM, does not inhibit the growth ofStaphylococcus aureus, and yet it prevents biofilm formation on polystyrene and polycarbonate surfaces. At the same concentration, PGG is not toxic to human epithelial and fibroblast cells. PGG has an IB50value, i.e., the PGG concentration that inhibits 50% biofilm formation, of 3.6 μM. The value is substantially lower than that ofN-acetylcysteine, iodoacetamide, andN-phenyl maleimide, which are known to inhibit biofilm formation byS. aureus. Biochemical and scanning electron microscopy results also reveal that PGG inhibits initial attachment of the bacteria to solid surface and the synthesis of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin, explaining how PGG inhibits biofilm formation. The results of this study demonstrate that coating PGG on polystyrene and silicon rubber surfaces with polyaniline prevents biofilm formation, indicating that PGG is highly promising for clinical use in preventing biofilm formation byS. aureus.
Darunavir, Ritonavir, and Etravirine Pharmacokinetics in the Cervicovaginal Fluid and Blood Plasma of HIV-Infected Women
Authors: Patterson Kristine , Jennings Steven , Falcon Ron , Mrus Joseph , Kashuba Angela
Published: December 2010

We report darunavir, ritonavir, and etravirine pharmacokinetics in cervicovaginal fluid and blood plasma for women from the
G
ender,
R
ace
a
nd
C
linical
E
xperience (GRACE) study. Eight women received darunavir-ritonavir (600/100 mg) twice daily (b.i.d.); two also received etravirine (200 mg) b.i.d. Week 4 paired blood plasma and cervicovaginal fluid samples were collected over 12 h. Darunavir and etravirine cervicovaginal fluid exposures were higher than blood plasma exposures; ritonavir cervicovaginal fluid exposure was lower than blood plasma exposure. The high exposures of darunavir and etravirine in cervicovaginal fluid warrant further evaluation of these drugs for use in HIV-1 prevention.
Efflux-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance in
Acinetobacter
spp
Authors: Coyne Sébastien , Courvalin Patrice , Périchon Bruno
Published: December 2010

Among
Acinetobacter
spp.,
A. baumannii
is the most frequently implicated in nosocomial infections, in particular in intensive care units. It was initially thought that multidrug resistance (MDR) in this species was due mainly to horizontal acquisition of resistance genes. However, it has recently become obvious that increased expression of chromosomal genes for efflux systems plays a major role in MDR. Among the five superfamilies of pumps, resistance-nodulation-division (RND) systems are the most prevalent in multiply resistant
A. baumannii
. RND pumps typically exhibit a wide substrate range that can include antibiotics, dyes, biocides, detergents, and antiseptics. Overexpression of AdeABC, secondary to mutations in the
adeRS
genes encoding a two-component regulatory system, constitutes a major mechanism of multiresistance in
A. baumannii
. AdeIJK, intrinsic to this species, is responsible for natural resistance, but since overexpression above a certain threshold is toxic for the host, its contribution to acquired resistance is minimal. The recently described AdeFGH, probably regulated by a LysR-type transcriptional regulator, also confers multidrug resistance when overexpressed. Non-RND efflux systems, such as CraA, AmvA, AbeM, and AbeS, have also been characterized for
A. baumannii
, as have AdeXYZ and AdeDE for other
Acinetobacter
spp. Finally, acquired narrow-spectrum efflux pumps, such as the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) members TetA, TetB, CmlA, and FloR and the small multidrug resistance (SMR) member QacE in
Acinetobacter
spp., have been detected and are mainly encoded by mobile genetic elements.
Development of a DNA Bar-coding Project as a Biology Laboratory Module
Authors: Dunbar David , Nielsen Caroline
Published: December 2010

This article is intended for faculty who are looking for new techniques for teaching a genetics or molecular ecology lab. We have used the bar-coding protocol for both a non-majors watershed ecology lab and a majors-specific genetics lab with equal success. The exercise involves extracting mitochondrial DNA from animal tissue, amplifying a portion of the mitochondrial DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and sequencing the amplified DNA to determine the animal to the species level. Logistically, time spent on the DNA bar-coding procedure could be as short as 2–3 weeks or last an entire semester, depending on course outcomes and time availability.
Learning can be all Fun and Games: Constructing and Utilizing a Biology Taboo Wiktionary to Enhance Student Learning in an Introductory Biology Course
Authors: Olimpo Jeffrey T. , Davis Shannon , Lagman Sarah , Parekh Raj , Shields Patricia
Published: December 2010

Most introductory courses in the biological sciences are inherently content-dense and rich with jargon—jargon that is often confusing and nonsensical to novice students. These characteristics present an additional paradox to instructors, who strive to achieve a balance between simply promoting passive, rote memorization of facts and engaging students in developing true, concrete understanding of the terminology. To address these concerns, we developed and implemented a Biology Taboo Wiktionary that provided students with an interactive opportunity to review and describe concepts they had encountered during their first semester of introductory biology. However, much like the traditional Taboo game, the rules were such that students could not use obvious terms to detail the main term. It was our belief that if the student could synthesize a thoughtful, scientific explanation of the term under these conditions, he or she demonstrated a true understanding of the conceptual context and meaning of the term.
Learning Outcomes with Linked Assessments – an Essential Part of our Regular Teaching Practice
Authors: Smith Ann C. , Marbach-Ad Gili
Published: December 2010

Setting up learning outcomes with linked assessments is a best practice in science education. In biology teaching, faculty are beginning to establish learning outcomes and assessments in the style of concept inventories. At a recent meeting of biology faculty who have designed concept inventories, the characteristics and uses of concept inventories were defined. Concept inventories used as pre- and post-measures of student learning provide a window into students’ understanding of key concepts of a discipline and serve as a tool to motivate faculty toward evidence-based teaching habits. A movement for the development of a microbiology concept inventory is suggested.
Research, Collaboration, and Open Science Using Web 2.0
Authors: Shee Kevin , Strong Michael , Guido Nicholas J. , Lue Robert A. , Church George M. , Viel Alain
Published: December 2010

There is little doubt that the Internet has transformed the world in which we live. Information that was once archived in bricks and mortar libraries is now only a click away, and people across the globe have become connected in a manner inconceivable only 20 years ago. Although many scientists and educators have embraced the Internet as an invaluable tool for research, education and data sharing, some have been somewhat slower to take full advantage of emerging Web 2.0 technologies. Here we discuss the benefits and challenges of integrating Web 2.0 applications into undergraduate research and education programs, based on our experience utilizing these technologies in a summer undergraduate research program in synthetic biology at Harvard University. We discuss the use of applications including wiki-based documentation, digital brainstorming, and open data sharing via the Web, to facilitate the educational aspects and collaborative progress of undergraduate research projects. We hope to inspire others to integrate these technologies into their own coursework or research projects.
A Review of
The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS
The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AIDS;	PisaniElizabeth; (	2008).	W. W. Norton & Co.,	New York.	372 pages.
Authors: Wessner David R.
Published: December 2010

Review of:
The Wisdom of Whores: Bureaucrats, Brothels and the Business of AID S;
Elizabeth Pisani; (2008) . W. W. Norton & Co., New York. 372 pages.
A Review of
Germs Make Me Sick
Germs Make Me Sick;	BergerMelvin; (	1995). Illustrated by	HafnerMarylin.	Harper Collins,	New York, NY.	32 pages.
Authors: Emmert Elizabeth A. B.
Published: December 2010

Review of:
Germs Make Me Sick;
Melvin Berger; (1995). Illustrated by Marylin Hafner. Harper Collins, New York, NY. 32 pages.
Nuclear DNA content in Sinningia (Gesneriaceae); intraspecific genome size variation and genome characterization in S. speciosa
Authors: Zaitlin David , Pierce Andrew J.
Published: December 2010

The Gesneriaceae (Lamiales) is a family of flowering plants comprising >3000 species of mainly tropical origin, the most familiar of which is the cultivated African violet ( Saintpaulia spp.). Species of Gesneriaceae are poorly represented in the lists of taxa sampled for genome size estimation; measurements are available for three species of Ramonda and one each of Haberlea , Saintpaulia, and Streptocarpus , all species of Old World origin. We report here nuclear genome size estimates for 10 species of Sinningia , a neotropical genus largely restricted to Brazil. Flow cytometry of leaf cell nuclei showed that holoploid genome size in Sinningia is very small (approximately two times the size of the Arabidopsis genome), and is small compared to the other six species of Gesneriaceae with genome size estimates. We also documented intraspecific genome size variation of 21%–26% within a group of wild Sinningia speciosa (Lodd.) Hiern collections. In addition, we analyzed 1210 genome survey sequences from S. speciosa to characterize basic features of the nuclear genome such as guanine–cytosine content, types of repetitive elements, numbers of protein-coding sequences, and sequences unique to S. speciosa. We included several other angiosperm species as genome size standards, one of which was the snapdragon ( Antirrhinum majus L.; Veronicaceae, Lamiales). Multiple measurements on three accessions indicated that the genome size of A. majus is ∼633 × 106 base pairs, which is approximately 40% of the previously published estimate.
NUTRIOSE dietary fiber supplementation improves insulin resistance and determinants of metabolic syndrome in overweight men: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study
Authors: Li Shuguang , Guerin-Deremaux Laetitia , Pochat Marine , Wils Daniel , Reifer Cheryl , Miller Larry E.
Published: December 2010

The influence of dietary fiber on determinants of metabolic syndrome is controversial. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of NUTRIOSE supplementation on insulin resistance and the determinants of metabolic syndrome in overweight men. In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we supplemented the diets of overweight Chinese men with 250 mL of fruit juice that contained NUTRIOSE (Test group: n = 60, age = 30.4 ± 4.3 years, body mass index (BMI) = 24.5 ± 0.2 kg·m–2) or a maltodextrin placebo (Control group: n = 60, age = 31.6 ± 4.1 years, BMI = 24.5 ± 0.3 kg·m–2) at a dosage of 17 g twice daily for 12 weeks. Daily caloric intake, body composition, blood chemistry, and blood pressure were evaluated every 4 weeks during the trial. Test subjects consumed fewer calories per day and had greater reductions in body weight, BMI, body fat percentage, and waist circumference than Control subjects. All markers of glucose metabolism improved in the Test group, with increases in adiponectin and reductions in glucose, insulin, homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance, glycosylated hemoglobin, and glycated albumin (all p < 0.01). Similarly, all lipid measures improved with increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides (all p < 0.01). No changes were observed in systolic blood pressure between groups. Most components of glucose metabolism and the lipid profile were significantly better in the Test than in the Control subjects. No adverse events or gastrointestinal complaints were reported in either group. Supplementation with NUTRIOSE for 12 weeks is well tolerated, lowers insulin resistance, and improves determinants of metabolic syndrome in overweight men.
Treatment with marine collagen peptides modulates glucose and lipid metabolism in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhu Cui-Feng , Li Guan-Zhi , Peng Hong-Bin , Zhang Fan , Chen Yun , Li Yong
Published: December 2010

This study was aimed at examining the therapeutic effects of marine collagen peptides (MCPs) from fish hydrolysate in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A total of 100 diabetic patients and 50 healthy controls were recruited. Diabetic patients were randomized into treatment and control groups. The patients in the treatment group received an additional 13 g of MCPs daily for 3 months. Their blood samples were collected before, and 1.5 and 3 months after, treatment to evaluate glucose and lipid metabolism. The levels of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), nitric oxide (NO), bradykinin, prostacyclin (PGI2), and adipokines were determined. Significantly reduced levels of fasting blood glucose, human glycated hemoglobin A1c (GHbA1c), fasting blood insulin, total triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and free-fatty acids, but increased levels of insulin sensitivity index and HDL were observed in T2DM patients following treatment with MCPs for 1.5 and 3 months. The values of these measures were significantly lower or higher than those of patient controls (p < 0.01), respectively. Interestingly, significantly decreased levels of hs-CRP and NO, but increased levels of bradykinin, PGI2, and adiponectin were detected in MCP-treated T2DM patients (p < 0.01), as compared with their basal values or the levels in patient controls. MCP treatment improved glucose and lipid metabolism in diabetic patients.
Effects of interactive video game cycling on overweight and obese adolescent health
Authors: Adamo Kristi B. , Rutherford Jane A. , Goldfield Gary S.
Published: December 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of interactive video game stationary cycling (GameBike) in comparison with stationary cycling to music on adherence, energy expenditure measures, submaximal aerobic fitness, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight and obese adolescents, using a randomized controlled trial design. Thirty overweight (with at least 1 metabolic complication) or obese adolescents aged 12–17 years were stratified by gender and randomized to video game or music condition, with 4 participants (2 per group) failing to complete the twice weekly 60 min sessions of the 10-week trial. The music group had a higher rate of attendance compared with the video game group (92% vs. 86%, p < 0.05). Time spent in minutes per session at vigorous intensity (80%–100% of predicted peak heart rate) (24.9 ± 20 min vs. 13.7 ± 12.8 min, p < 0.05) and average distance (km) pedaled per session (12.5 ± 2.8 km vs. 10.2 ± 2.2 km, p < 0.05) also favoured the music group. However, both interventions produced significant improvements in submaximal indicators of aerobic fitness as measured by a graded cycle ergometer protocol. Also, when collapsed, the exercise modalities reduced body fat percentage and total cholesterol. The present study indicates that cycling to music was just as effective as stationary cycling while playing video games at improving fitness, body composition, and cholesterol profiles in overweight and obese teens, and resulted in increased attendance, vigorous intensity of physical activity, and distance pedaled. Therefore, our data support the superiority of cycling to music and indicate investing in the more expensive GameBike may not be worth the cost.
Artificial neural network based modeling of the coupled effect of sulphate and temperature on the strength of cemented paste backfill
Authors: Orejarena Libardo , Fall Mamadou
Published: December 2010

Among the different options for mine waste management, cemented paste backfills (CPB) have become important in mining operations around the world due to their environmental and economic benefits. The key design parameter of a CPB structure is its mechanical stability, which is commonly evaluated by the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the CPB material. Experimental studies have shown that the sulphate present within the CPB and the curing temperatures can significantly affect the strength of CPBs. The increasing use of CPBs in underground mine operations as well as the subjection of CPBs to a large variability of thermal (curing temperature) and chemical (sulphate content) loads, make it necessary to model and quantify the coupled effect of sulphate and curing temperature on the strength (key design parameter) of CPBs. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to develop a methodological approach and a mathematical model based on an artificial neural network (ANN) to analyze and predict the effect of different amounts of sulphate on the strength of mature CPBs cured at various temperatures. Based on the experimental results of UCS tests from previous studies on various CPBs, the authors have developed an ANN model by using an ANN methodology implemented through MATLAB™. The developed model is validated with experimental data that is not used for the model development. The validation shows good agreement between the predicted and experimental data. The results from the ANN model of this study show that the coupled effect of curing temperature and sulphate significantly affects the strength of CPBs. This effect can be positive (strength increase) or negative (strength decrease) depending on the initial amount of sulphate content, the curing temperature, and type of binder. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that ANN can be used as a valuable tool to evaluate the coupled influence of sulphate and temperature on the strength of CPBs, i.e., it is a suitable tool for the optimization of a CPB mixture.
Evidence that the exoH gene of Sinorhizobium meliloti does not appear to influence symbiotic effectiveness with Medicago truncatula ‘Jemalong A17’
Authors: Zribi Kais , Mhadhbi Haythem , Badri Yazid , Aouani Mohamed Elarbi , van Berkum Peter
Published: December 2010

The purpose of this study was to identify strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti that formed either an effective or completely ineffective symbiosis with Medicago truncatula L. ‘Jemalong A17’ and, subsequently, to determine whether differences existed between their exoH genes. Sinorhizobium meliloti TII7 and A5 formed an effective and ineffective symbiosis with M. truncatula ‘Jemalong A17’, respectively. Using a multilocus sequence typing method, both strains were shown to have chromosomes identical with S. meliloti Rm1021 and RCR2011. The 2260-bp segments of DNA stretching from the 3′ end of exoI through open reading frames of hypothetical proteins SM_b20952 and SM_b20953 through exoH into the 5′ end of exoK in strains TII7 and Rm1021 differed by a single nucleotide at base 127 of the hypothetical protein SM_b20953. However, the derived amino acid sequences of the exoH genes of effective TII7, ineffective A5, and strain Rm1021 were shown to be identical with each other. Therefore, it would seem unlikely that the gene product of exoH is directly involved with the low efficiency of a symbiosis of strain Rm1021 with M. truncatula ‘Jemalong A17’. Complementation or complete genome sequence analyses involving strains TII7 and A5 might be useful approaches to investigate the molecular bases for the differential symbiotic response with M. truncatula ‘Jemalong A17’.
Differentiation of Staphylococcus spp. by high-resolution melting analysis
Authors: Slany Michal , Vanerkova Martina , Nemcova Eva , Zaloudikova Barbora , Ruzicka Filip , Freiberger Tomas
Published: December 2010

High-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) is a fast (post-PCR) high-throughput method to scan for sequence variations in a target gene. The aim of this study was to test the potential of HRMA to distinguish particular bacterial species of the Staphylococcus genus even when using a broad-range PCR within the 16S rRNA gene where sequence differences are minimal. Genomic DNA samples isolated from 12 reference staphylococcal strains ( Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus capitis , Staphylococcus caprae , Staphylococcus epidermidis , Staphylococcus haemolyticus , Staphylococcus hominis , Staphylococcus intermedius , Staphylococcus saprophyticus , Staphylococcus sciuri , Staphylococcus simulans , Staphylococcus warneri , and Staphylococcus xylosus ) were subjected to a real-time PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene in the presence of fluorescent dye EvaGreen™, followed by HRMA. Melting profiles were used as molecular fingerprints for bacterial species differentiation. HRMA of S. saprophyticus and S. xylosus resulted in undistinguishable profiles because of their identical sequences in the analyzed 16S rRNA region. The remaining reference strains were fully differentiated either directly or via high-resolution plots obtained by heteroduplex formation between coamplified PCR products of the tested staphylococcal strain and phylogenetically unrelated strain.
Denning-area fidelity and mitochondrial DNA diversity of female polar bears (Ursus maritimus) in the Barents Sea
Authors: Zeyl E. , Ehrich D. , Aars J. , Bachmann L. , Wiig Ø.
Published: December 2010

Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) show fidelity to general denning areas in subsequent reproductive events. Studying the level and spatio-temporal scale of denning-area fidelity is critical to determine the adaptability of polar bears to climate change. We used mark–recapture data in conjunction with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) data to investigate the level of fidelity of polar bears from the Barents Sea population to five maternal denning areas. There was no differentiation in mtDNA haplotype frequencies between denning areas. The fidelity of females to denning areas is at a local geographic scale and small groups of neighboring females (3–13) shared similar haplotypes with higher probability than expected by chance. The transmission of denning-area fidelity is supported by the short distances (≤60.0 km) observed between capture locations of six (out of eight) denning mother–daughter pairs. Moreover, our results suggested that some females (3 out of 13) used different denning areas in subsequent denning events. This behavioral plasticity implies that females are likely to be able to change denning locations if unsuitable ice conditions prevent them from reaching their preferred denning areas. We consider this plasticity an important attribute of polar bears when facing climate change.
Functional morphology as a barrier to the evolution of grasp-ejection in hosts of the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Authors: Rasmussen J. L. , Underwood T. J. , Sealy S. G.
Published: December 2010

Acceptance of eggs of the Brown-headed Cowbird ( Molothrus ater (Boddaert, 1783)) by hosts is enigmatic because hosts usually raise fewer of their own young when parasitized. Ejection may not be adaptive for small hosts because they cannot eject cowbird eggs efficiently. Grasp-ejection apparently has a negligible cost but requires a bill of a minimum length that is not known. In this study, we examined the limits of grasp-ejection of the American Robin ( Turdus migratorius L., 1766) and the Gray Catbird ( Dumetella carolinensis (L., 1766)). We determined the largest object width that each species is capable of grasping (limit width) by observing individuals grasping models larger than cowbird eggs in 104 video-recorded ejections and one direct observation. We standardized the limit width to the tomial length of each species (limit ratio) and extrapolated to the width of a cowbird egg to predict the minimum tomial length required for grasp-ejection. Our results suggest that the minimum tomial length required to grasp-eject a cowbird egg is 15.9–16.1 mm and the probability of host-egg damage during grasp-ejection does not increase as the limit ratio increases. Bill length may prevent the evolution of grasp-ejection in cowbird hosts with bills shorter than 16 mm.
THE ALLOCATION OF CUSTOMERS IN A DISCRETE-TIME MULTI-SERVER QUEUEING SYSTEM
Authors: SUN WEI , TIAN NAISHUO , LI SHIYONG
Published: December 2010

This paper, analyzes the allocation problem of customers in a discrete-time multi-server queueing system and considers two criteria for routing customers' selections: equilibrium and social optimization. As far as we know, there is no literature concerning the discrete-time multi-server models on the subject of equilibrium behaviors of customers and servers. Comparing the results of customers' distribution at the servers under the two criteria, we show that the servers used in equilibrium are no more than those used in the socially optimal outcome, that is, the individual's decision deviates from the socially preferred one. Furthermore, we also clearly show the mutative trend of several important performance measures for various values of arrival rate numerically to verify the theoretical results.
OPTIMAL SELECTION OF PROGRAM SUPPLIERS FOR TV COMPANIES USING AN ANALYTIC NETWORK PROCESS (ANP) APPROACH
Authors: LIAO SEN-KUEI , CHANG KUEI-LUN , TSENG TZENG-WEI
Published: December 2010

In today's increasingly competitive business world, selecting and evaluating the suppliers is one of the most important activities of a company. In the Taiwanese TV industry, selecting optimal suppliers of programs is also vital. But few attempts have so far been made to address this specific point. After reviewing the literature, we collect criteria for the selection of a program supplier. Considering the interdependence among the selection criteria, the analytic network process (ANP) is applied to help Taiwanese TV companies to effectively select optimal program suppliers. To avoid the complicated computing process from additional pairwise comparisons of the ANP, we retain the 12 critical criteria according to the opinions of the 44 senior executives about the importance of criteria: Quality, On-time, Marketability, Reputation, Rating, Finance, Relationship, Attitude, Communication, Creativity, Price and Time. Subsequently, we discuss with senior executives to group these criteria into 4 perspectives to structure the hierarchy for the selection of program suppliers. According to the hierarchy based on 4 perspectives and 12 vital criteria, Taiwanese TV companies could select optimal program suppliers more effectively. Moreover, the practical application of the ANP presented in Section 4 is generic and also suitable to be exploited for Taiwanese TV companies.
A FAST DIGITAL CHAOTIC GENERATOR FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION
Authors: CHEN SHIH-LIANG , HWANG TINGTING , CHANG SHU-MING , LIN WEN-WEI
Published: December 2010

In this paper, we propose a digitalized chaotic map, Variational Logistic Map (VLM), modified from classical logistic map to be used in secure communication. Compared with classical logistic map, VLM has large parameter space without windows and can be implemented at low hardware cost. Referring to statistical testing suites SP800-22 and TestU01, VLM with the proposed scrambling method can significantly improve the output complexity as compared with other logistic-map based generators and piecewise linear chaotic map. Experiments show that the throughput of a 32-bit VLM is up to 3200 Mbps in 0.18 μm process. Furthermore, a chaotic crypto scheme, Multi-VLM (MVLM), constructed by four 32-bit VLMs can generate an output sequence with a minimal length equal to 2128-1 by a 128-bit external key.
MARKETS AS A COUNTERPARTY: AN INTRODUCTION TO CONIC FINANCE
Authors: MADAN DILIP B. , CHERNY ALEXANDER
Published: December 2010

Markets are modeled as a counterparty accepting at zero cost a set of cash flows that are closed under addition, scaling and contain the nonnegative cash flows. Formulas are then provided for bid and ask prices in terms of this marketed cone. Additionally closed forms are obtained when parametric concave distortions introduced in Cherny and Madan (2009) define the marketed claims. Finally explicit expressions price call and put options at bid and ask. Three applications illustrate. The first estimates the movement of the cone through the financial crisis using data on bid and ask prices for S&P 500 index options. It is observed that the cone contracted significantly in 2008 and slowly opened up thereafter. The second application documents the improvements possible in terms of reduced ask prices by hedging at a flat Black-Scholes volatility even when the underlying assumptions for replication are violated. The third application considers a number of structured products written on daily returns to an underlying asset price and illustrates the use of our closed form expressions for the ask price as an objective function in designing hedges.
UNIT GROUPS OF CENTRAL SIMPLE ALGEBRAS AND THEIR FRATTINI SUBGROUPS
Authors: FALLAH-MOGHADDAM R. , MAHDAVI-HEZAVEHI M.
Published: December 2010

Given a finite dimensional F-central simple algebra A = Mn(D), the connection between the Frattini subgroup Φ(A*) and Φ(F*) via Z(A'), the center of the derived group of A*, is investigated. Setting G = F* ∩ Φ(A*), it is shown that [Formula: see text] where the intersection is taken over primes p not dividing the degree of A. Furthermore, when F is a local or global field, the group G is completely determined. Using the above connection, Φ(A*) is also calculated for some particular division rings D.
India's elephantine effort
Authors: Krakovsky Marina
Published: December 2010

An ambitious biometric ID project in the world's second most populous nation aims to relieve poverty, but faces many hurdles.
Google AdWords and European trademark law
Authors: Bechtold Stefan
Published: December 2010

Is Google violating trademark law by operating its AdWords system?
Cloud computing privacy concerns on our doorstep
Authors: Ryan Mark D.
Published: December 2010

Privacy and confidentiality issues in cloud-based conference management systems reflect more universal themes.
Virtualization
Authors: Kotsovinos Evangelos
Published: December 2010

Managing virtualization at a large scale is fraught with hidden challenges.
Q&A: A journey of discovery
Authors: McCafferty Dennis
Published: December 2010

Ed Lazowska discusses his heady undergraduate days at Brown University, teaching, eScience, and being chair of the Computing Community Consortium.
EMET prize and other awards
Authors: Rosenberger Jack
Published: December 2010

Edward Felten, David Harel, Sarit Kraus and others are honored for their contributions to computer science, technology, and electronic freedom and innovation.
Approximation algorithms for restless bandit problems
Authors: Guha Sudipto , Munagala Kamesh , Shi Peng
Published: December 2010

The
restless bandit
problem is one of the most well-studied generalizations of the celebrated stochastic multi-armed bandit (MAB) problem in decision theory. In its ultimate generality, the restless bandit problem is known to be PSPACE-Hard to approximate to any nontrivial factor, and little progress has been made on this problem despite its significance in modeling activity allocation under uncertainty.

In this article, we consider the Feedback MAB problem, where the reward obtained by playing each of
n
independent arms varies according to an underlying on/off Markov process whose exact state is only revealed when the arm is played. The goal is to design a policy for playing the arms in order to maximize the infinite horizon time average expected reward. This problem is also an instance of a Partially Observable Markov Decision Process (POMDP), and is widely studied in wireless scheduling and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) routing. Unlike the stochastic MAB problem, the Feedback MAB problem does not admit to greedy index-based optimal policies.

We develop a novel duality-based algorithmic technique that yields a surprisingly simple and intuitive (2+ϵ)-approximate greedy policy to this problem. We show that both in terms of approximation factor and computational efficiency, our policy is closely related to the
Whittle index
, which is widely used for its simplicity and efficiency of computation. Subsequently we define a multi-state generalization, that we term Monotone bandits, which remains subclass of the restless bandit problem. We show that our policy remains a 2-approximation in this setting, and further, our technique is robust enough to incorporate various side-constraints such as blocking plays, switching costs, and even models where determining the state of an arm is a separate operation from playing it.

Our technique is also of independent interest for other restless bandit problems, and we provide an example in nonpreemptive machine replenishment. Interestingly, in this case, our policy provides a constant factor guarantee, whereas the Whittle index is provably polynomially worse.

By presenting the first O(1) approximations for nontrivial instances of restless bandits as well as of POMDPs, our work initiates the study of approximation algorithms in both these contexts.
XML with incomplete information
Authors: Barceló Pablo , Libkin Leonid , Poggi Antonella , Sirangelo Cristina
Published: December 2010

We study models of incomplete information for XML, their computational properties, and query answering. While our approach is motivated by the study of relational incompleteness, incomplete information in XML documents may appear not only as null values but also as missing structural information. Our goal is to provide a classification of incomplete descriptions of XML documents, and separate features—or groups of features—that lead to hard computational problems from those that admit efficient algorithms. Our classification of incomplete information is based on the combination of null values with partial structural descriptions of documents. The key computational problems we consider are consistency of partial descriptions, representability of complete documents by incomplete ones, and query answering. We show how factors such as schema information, the presence of node ids, and missing structural information affect the complexity of these main computational problems, and find robust classes of incomplete XML descriptions that permit tractable query evaluation.
Design of reversible sequential circuits optimizing quantum cost, delay, and garbage outputs
Authors: Thapliyal Himanshu , Ranganathan Nagarajan
Published: December 2010

Reversible logic has shown potential to have extensive applications in emerging technologies such as quantum computing, optical computing, quantum dot cellular automata as well as ultra low power VLSI circuits. Recently, several researchers have focused their efforts on the design and synthesis of efficient reversible logic circuits. In these works, the primary design focus has been on optimizing the number of reversible gates and the garbage outputs. The number of reversible gates is not a good metric of optimization as each reversible gate is of different type and computational complexity, and thus will have a different quantum cost and delay. The computational complexity of a reversible gate can be represented by its quantum cost. Further, delay constitutes an important metric, which has not been addressed in prior works on reversible sequential circuits as a design metric to be optimized. In this work, we present novel designs of reversible sequential circuits that are optimized in terms of quantum cost, delay and the garbage outputs. The optimized designs of several reversible sequential circuits are presented including the D Latch, the JK latch, the T latch and the SR latch, and their corresponding reversible master-slave flip-flop designs. The proposed master-slave flip-flop designs have the special property that they don't require the inversion of the clock for use in the slave latch. Further, we introduce a novel strategy of cascading a Fredkin gate at the outputs of a reversible latch to realize the designs of the Fredkin gate based asynchronous set/reset D latch and the master-slave D flip-flop. Finally, as an example of complex reversible sequential circuits, the reversible logic design of the universal shift register is introduced. The proposed reversible sequential designs were verified through simulations using Verilog HDL and simulation results are presented.
Dependable filtering
Authors: Dell'Amico Matteo , Capra Licia
Published: December 2010

Digital content production and distribution has radically changed our business models. An unprecedented volume of supply is now on offer, whetted by the demand of millions of users from all over the world. Since users cannot be expected to browse through millions of different items to find what they might like, filtering has become a popular technique to connect supply and demand:
trusted
users are first identified, and their opinions are then used to create recommendations. In this domain, users' trustworthiness has been measured according to one of the following two criteria:
taste similarity
(i.e., “I trust those who agree with me”), or
social ties
(i.e., “I trust my friends, and the people that my friends trust”). The former criterion aims at identifying
concordant
users, but is subject to abuse by malicious behaviors. The latter aims at detecting
well-intentioned
users, but fails to capture the natural subjectivity of tastes. In this article, we propose a new definition of
trusted recommenders
, addressing those users that are
both
well-intentioned and concordant. Based on this characterisation, we propose a novel approach to information filtering that we call
dependable filtering
. We describe alternative algorithms realizing this approach, and demonstrate, by means of extensive performance evaluation on a variety of real large-scale datasets, the high degree of both accuracy and robustness they entail.
Report: Geographic Distribution of eLearn Readers
Authors: Little Bob , Duffy Jill
Published: December 2010

Over the past two years, eLearn Magazine (a publication of the ACM) has grown at a good clip. As we prepare to roll into 2011, we wanted to reflect on these changes and let our readers and future authors know a little more about who makes up the eLearn Magazine community. The biggest segment of the eLearn Magazine community (just less than half), are readers in the U.S. (45%). And while the raw number of American-based visitors to the site has increased between 2009 and 2010, the percentage of U.S. visitors overall actually declined slightly from 48.6 percent, indicating that more and more eLearn readers are coming from outside the States.
Game-Based Learning for Health in Denmark
Authors: Gejel Jan
Published: December 2010

The BODYexplorer project is an in-development video game for educational purposes that helps teach disadvantaged citizens about lifestyle diseases, such as obesity, and how to cure and treat them.
Loss of intestinal GATA4 prevents diet-induced obesity and promotes insulin sensitivity in mice
Authors: Patankar Jay V. , Chandak Prakash G. , Obrowsky Sascha , Pfeifer Thomas , Diwoky Clemens , Uellen Andreas , Sattler Wolfgang , Stollberger Rudolf , Hoefler Gerald , Heinemann Akos , Battle Michele , Duncan Stephen , Kratky Dagmar , Levak-Frank Sanja
Published: December 2010

Transcriptional regulation of small intestinal gene expression controls plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, which are major determinants of metabolic diseases. GATA4, a zinc finger domain transcription factor, is critical for jejunal identity, and intestinal GATA4 deficiency leads to a jejunoileal transition. Although intestinal GATA4 ablation is known to misregulate jejunal gene expression, its pathophysiological impact on various components of metabolic syndrome remains unknown. Here, we used intestine-specific GATA4 knockout (GATA4iKO) mice to dissect the contribution of GATA4 on obesity development. We challenged adult GATA4iKO mice and control littermates with a Western-type diet (WTD) for 20 wk. Our findings show that WTD-fed GATA4iKO mice are resistant to diet-induced obesity. Accordingly, plasma TG and TC levels are markedly decreased. Intestinal lipid absorption in GATA4iKO mice was strongly reduced, whereas luminal lipolysis was unaffected. GATA4iKO mice displayed a greater glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release on normal chow and even after long-term challenge with WTD remained glucose sensitive. In summary, our findings show that the absence of intestinal GATA4 has a beneficial effect on decreasing intestinal lipid absorption causing resistance to hyperlipidemia and obesity. In addition, we show that increased GLP-1 release in GATA4iKO mice decreases the risk for development of insulin resistance.
Mitochondrial and plasma membrane lactate transporter and lactate dehydrogenase isoform expression in breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Hussien Rajaa , Brooks George A.
Published: December 2010

We hypothesized that dysregulation of lactate/pyruvate (monocarboxylate) transporters (MCT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) isoforms contribute to the Warburg effect in cancer. Therefore, we assayed for the expression levels and the localizations of MCT ( 1 , 2 , and 4 ), and LDH (A and B) isoforms in breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and compared results with those from a control, untransformed primary breast cell line, HMEC 184. Remarkably, MCT1 is not expressed in MDA-MB-231, but MCT1 is expressed in MCF-7 cells, where its abundance is less than in control HMEC 184 cells. When present in HMEC 184 and MCF-7 cells, MCT1 is localized to the plasma membrane. MCT2 and MCT4 were expressed in all the cell lines studied. MCT4 expression was higher in MDA-MB-231 compared with MCF-7 and HMEC 184 cells, whereas MCT2 abundance was higher in MCF-7 compared with MDA-MB-231 and HMEC 184 cells. Unlike MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4 were localized in mitochondria in addition to the plasma membrane. LDHA and LDHB were expressed in all the cell-lines, but abundances were higher in the two cancer cell lines than in the control cells. MCF-7 cells expressed mainly LDHB, while MDA-MB-231 and control cells expressed mainly LDHA. LDH isoforms were localized in mitochondria in addition to the cytosol. These localization patterns were the same in cancerous and control cell lines. In conclusion, MCT and LDH isoforms have distinct expression patterns in two breast cancer cell lines. These differences may contribute to divergent lactate dynamics and oxidative capacities in these cells, and offer possibilities for targeting cancer cells.
Fixed Point Theorems for ws-Compact Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Agarwal RaviP , O'Regan Donal , Taoudi Mohamed-Aziz
Published: December 2010

We present new fixed point theorems for ws-compact operators. Our fixed point results are obtained under Sadovskii, Leray-Schauder, Rothe, Altman, Petryshyn, and Furi-Pera type conditions. An example is given to show the usefulness and the applicability of our results.
On the Nonlinear Theory of Micromorphic Thermoelastic Solids
Authors: Galeş C.
Published: December 2010

This work aims to study some dynamical problems in the framework of nonlinear
theory of micromorphic thermoelastic solids. First, the continuous dependence of smooth admissible thermodynamic processes upon initial state and supply terms is investigated in the region of state space where the internal energy is a convex function and the elastic material behaves as a definite conductor of heat. Then, a uniqueness result is demonstrated.
A Four‐Type Decision‐Variable MINLP Model for a Supply Chain Network Design
Authors: Monteiro M. M. , Leal J. E. , Raupp F. M. P.
Published: December 2010

We propose a mixed integer nonlinear programming model for the design of a one‐period planning horizon supply chain with integrated and flexible decisions on location of plants and of warehouses, on levels of production and of inventory, and on transportation models, considering stochastic demand and the ABC classification for finished goods, which is an NP‐hard industrial engineering optimization problem. Furthermore, computational implementation of the proposed model is presented through the direct application of the outer approximation algorithm on some randomly generated supply chain data.