bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innate Immune Responses to Systemic Acinetobacter baumannii Infection in Mice: Neutrophils, but Not Interleukin-17, Mediate Host Resistance
Authors: Breslow Jessica M. , Meissler Joseph J. , Hartzell Rebecca R. , Spence Phillip B. , Truant Allan , Gaughan John , Eisenstein Toby K.
Published: May 2011

Acinetobacter baumannii
is a nosocomial pathogen with a high prevalence of multiple-drug-resistant strains, causing pneumonia and sepsis. The current studies further develop a systemic mouse model of this infection and characterize selected innate immune responses to the organism. Five clinical isolates, with various degrees of antibiotic resistance, were assessed for virulence in two mouse strains, and between male and female mice, using intraperitoneal infection. A nearly 1,000-fold difference in virulence was found between bacterial strains, but no significant differences between sexes or mouse strains were observed. It was found that microbes disseminated rapidly from the peritoneal cavity to the lung and spleen, where they replicated. A persistent septic state was observed. The infection progressed rapidly, with mortality between 36 and 48 h. Depletion of neutrophils with antibody to Ly-6G decreased mean time to death and increased mortality. Interleukin-17 (IL-17) promotes the response of neutrophils by inducing production of the chemokine keratinocyte-derived chemoattractant (KC/CXCL1), the mouse homolog of human IL-8.
Acinetobacter
infection resulted in biphasic increases in both IL-17 and KC/CXCL1. Depletion of neither IL-17 nor KC/CXCL1, using specific antibodies, resulted in a difference in bacterial burdens in organs of infected mice at 10 h postinfection. Comparison of bacterial burdens between IL-17
a
−/−
and wild-type mice confirmed that the absence of this cytokine did not sensitize mice to
Acinetobacter
infection. These studies definitely demonstrate the importance of neutrophils in resistance to systemic
Acinetobacter
infection. However, neither IL-17 nor KC/CXCL1 alone is required for effective host defense to systemic infection with this organism.
Rapid Immune Responses to a Botulinum Neurotoxin Hc Subunit Vaccine through
In Vivo
Targeting to Antigen-Presenting Cells
Authors: White David M. , Pellett Sabine , Jensen Mark A. , Tepp William H. , Johnson Eric A. , Arnason Barry G. W.
Published: May 2011

The clostridial botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most potent protein toxins known. The carboxyl-terminal fragment of the toxin heavy chain (Hc) has been intensively investigated as a BoNT vaccine immunogen. We sought to determine whether targeting Hc to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) could accelerate the immune responses to vaccination with BoNT serotype A (BoNT/A) Hc. To test this hypothesis, we targeted Hc to the Fc receptors for IgG (FcγRs) expressed by dendritic cells (DCs) and other APCs. Hc was expressed as a fusion protein with a recombinant ligand for human FcγRs (R4) to produce HcR4 or a similar ligand for murine FcγRs to produce HcmR4. HcR4, HcmR4, and Hc were produced as secreted proteins using baculovirus-mediated expression in SF9 insect cells.
In vitro
receptor binding assays showed that HcR4 effectively targets Hc to all classes of FcγRs. APCs loaded with HcR4 or HcmR4 are substantially more effective at stimulating Hc-reactive T cells than APCs loaded with nontargeted Hc. Mice immunized with a single dose of HcmR4 or HcR4 had earlier and markedly higher Hc-reactive antibody titers than mice immunized with nontargeted Hc. These results extend to BoNT neutralizing antibody titers, which are substantially higher in mice immunized with HcmR4 than in mice immunized with Hc. Our results demonstrate that targeting Hc to FcγRs augments the pace and magnitude of immune responses to Hc.
Functional Characterization of the Type III Secretion Substrate Specificity Switch Protein HpaC from Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria
Authors: Schulz Steve , Büttner Daniela
Published: May 2011

Pathogenicity of
Xanthomonas campestris
pv.
vesicatoria
depends on a type III secretion (T3S) system which translocates effector proteins into eukaryotic cells and is associated with an extracellular pilus and a translocon in the host plasma membrane. T3S substrate specificity is controlled by the cytoplasmic switch protein HpaC, which interacts with the C-terminal domain of the inner membrane protein HrcU (HrcU
C
). HpaC promotes the secretion of translocon and effector proteins but prevents the efficient secretion of the early T3S substrate HrpB2, which is required for pilus assembly. In this study, complementation assays with serial 10-amino-acid HpaC deletion derivatives revealed that the T3S substrate specificity switch depends on N- and C-terminal regions of HpaC, whereas amino acids 42 to 101 appear to be dispensable for the contribution of HpaC to the secretion of late substrates. However, deletions in the central region of HpaC affect the secretion of HrpB2, suggesting that the mechanisms underlying HpaC-dependent control of early and late substrates can be uncoupled. The results of interaction and expression studies with HpaC deletion derivatives showed that amino acids 112 to 212 of HpaC provide the binding site for HrcU
C
and severely reduce T3S when expressed ectopically in the wild-type strain. We identified a conserved phenylalanine residue at position 175 of HpaC that is required for both protein function and the binding of HpaC to HrcU
C
. Taking these findings together, we concluded that the interaction between HpaC and HrcU
C
is essential but not sufficient for T3S substrate specificity switching.
In VivoUltrastructural Analysis of the Intimate Relationship between Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes and the Chlamydial Developmental Cycle
Authors: Rank Roger G. , Whittimore Judy , Bowlin Anne K. , Wyrick Priscilla B.
Published: May 2011

We utilized a recently developed model of intracervical infection withChlamydia muridarumin the mouse to elicit a relatively synchronous infection during the initial developmental cycle in order to examine at the ultrastructural level the development of both the chlamydial inclusion and the onset of the inflammatory response. At 18 h after infection, only a few elementary bodies attached to cells were visible, as were an occasional intracellular intermediate body and reticulate body. By 24 h, inclusions had 2 to 5 reticulate bodies and were beginning to fuse. A few polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were already present in the epithelium in the vicinity of and directly adjacent to infected cells. By 30 h, the inclusions were larger and consisted solely of reticulate bodies, but by 36 to 42 h, they contained intermediate bodies and elementary bodies as well. Many PMNs were adjacent to or actually inside infected cells. Chlamydiae appeared to exit the cell either (i) through disintegration of the inclusion membrane and rupture of the cell, (ii) by dislodgement of the cell from the epithelium by PMNs, or (iii) by direct invasion of the infected cell by the PMNs. When PMNs were depleted, the number of released elementary bodies was significantly greater as determined both visually and by culture. Interestingly, depletion of PMNs revealed the presence of inclusions containing aberrant reticulate bodies, reminiscent of effects seenin vitrowhen chlamydiae are incubated with gamma interferon.In vivoevidence for the contact-dependent development hypothesis, a potential mechanism for triggering the conversion of reticulate bodies to elementary bodies, and for translocation of lipid droplets into the inclusion is also presented.
Mouse Relapse Model of Clostridium difficile Infection
Authors: Sun Xingmin , Wang Haiying , Zhang Yongrong , Chen Kevin , Davis Barbara , Feng Hanping
Published: May 2011

Clostridium difficile
is the causative agent of primary and recurrent antibiotic-associated diarrhea and colitis in hospitalized patients. The disease is caused mainly by two exotoxins, TcdA and TcdB, produced by the bacteria. Recurrent
C. difficile
infection (CDI) constitutes one of the most significant clinical issues of this disease, occurs in more than 20% of patients after the first episode, and may be increasing in frequency. However, there is no well-established animal model of CDI relapse currently available for studying disease pathogenesis, prevention, and therapy. Here we report the establishment of a conventional mouse model of recurrence/relapse CDI. We found that the primary episode of CDI induced little or no protective antibody response against
C. difficile
toxins and mice continued shedding
C. difficile
spores. Antibiotic treatment of surviving mice induced a second episode of diarrhea, while a simultaneous reexposure of animals to
C. difficile
bacteria or spores elicited a full spectrum of CDI similar to that of the primary infection. Moreover, mice treated with immunosuppressive agents were prone to more severe and fulminant recurrent disease. Finally, utilizing this model, we demonstrated that vancomycin only delayed disease recurrence, whereas neutralizing polysera against both TcdA and TcdB completely protected mice against CDI relapse. In conclusion, we have established a mouse relapse CDI model that allows for future investigations of the role of the host immune response in the disease's pathogenesis and permits critical testing of new therapeutics targeting recurrent disease.
Haemophilus ducreyi Lipooligosaccharides Induce Expression of the Immunosuppressive Enzyme Indoleamine 2,3-Dioxygenase via Type I Interferons and Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha in Human Dendritic Cells
Authors: Li Wei , Katz Barry P. , Spinola Stanley M.
Published: May 2011

Haemophilus ducreyicauses chancroid, a genital ulcer disease. In human inoculation experiments, most volunteers fail to clear the bacteria despite the infiltration of innate and adaptive immune cells to the infected sites. The immunosuppressive protein indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a rate-limiting enzyme in thel-tryptophan-kynurenine metabolic pathway. Tryptophan depletion and tryptophan metabolites contribute to pathogen persistence by inhibiting T cell proliferation, inducing T cell apoptosis, and promoting the expansion of FOXP3+regulatory T (Treg) cells. We previously found that FOXP3+Treg cells are enriched in experimental lesions and thatH. ducreyiinduced IDO transcription in dendritic cells (DC) derived from blood of infected volunteers who developed pustules. Here, we showed that enzymatically active IDO was induced in DC byH. ducreyi. Neutralizing antibodies against interferon alpha/beta receptor 2 chain (IFNAR2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) inhibited IDO induction. Inhibitors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) also inhibited IDO expression. Neither bacterial contact with nor uptake by DC was required for IDO activation.H. ducreyiculture supernatant andH. ducreyilipooligosaccharides (LOS) induced IDO expression, which required type I interferons, TNF-α, and the three MAPK (p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and extracellular signal regulated kinase) and NF-κB pathways. In addition, LOS-induced IFN-β activated the JAK-STAT pathway. Blocking the LOS/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway greatly reducedH. ducreyi-induced IDO production. These findings indicate thatH. ducreyi-induced IDO expression in DC is largely mediated by LOS via type I interferon- and TNF-α-dependent mechanisms and the MAPK, NF-κB, and JAK-STAT pathways.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Marine Fish Pathogen Vibrio anguillarum Harboring the pJM1 Virulence Plasmid and Genomic Comparison with Other Virulent Strains of V. anguillarum and V. ordalii
Authors: Naka Hiroaki , Dias Graciela M. , Thompson Cristiane C. , Dubay Christopher , Thompson Fabiano L. , Crosa Jorge H.
Published: May 2011

We dissected the complete genome sequence of the O1 serotype strainVibrio anguillarum775(pJM1) and determined the draft genomic sequences of plasmidless strains of serotype O1 (strain 96F) and O2β (strain RV22) andV. ordalii. All strains harbor two chromosomes, but 775 also harbors the virulence plasmid pJM1, which carries the anguibactin-producing and cognate transport genes, one of the main virulence factors ofV. anguillarum. Genomic analysis identified eight genomic islands in chromosome 1 ofV. anguillarum775(pJM1) and two in chromosome 2. Some of them carried potential virulence genes for the biosynthesis of O antigens, hemolysins, and exonucleases as well as others for sugar transport and metabolism. The majority of genes for essential cell functions and pathogenicity are located on chromosome 1. In contrast, chromosome 2 contains a larger fraction (59%) of hypothetical genes than does chromosome 1 (42%). Chromosome 2 also harbors a superintegron, as well as host “addiction” genes that are typically found on plasmids. Unique distinctive properties include homologues of type III secretion system genes in 96F, homologues ofV. choleraezotandacetoxin genes in RV22, and the biofilm formationsypgenes inV. ordalii.Mobile genetic elements, some of them possibly originated in the pJM1 plasmid, were very abundant in 775, resulting in the silencing of specific genes, with only few insertions in the 96F and RV22 chromosomes.
Genetic map of triticale compiling DArT, SSR, and AFLP markers
Authors: Tyrka M. , Bednarek P.T. , Kilian A. , Wędzony M. , Hura T. , Bauer E.
Published: May 2011

A set of 90 doubled haploid (DH) lines derived from F1plants that originated from a cross between × Triticosecale Wittm. ‘Saka3006’ and ×Triticosecale Wittm. ‘Modus’, via wide crossing with maize, were used to create a genetic linkage map of triticale. The map has 21 linkage groups assigned to the A, B, and R genomes including 155 simple sequence repeat (SSR), 1385 diversity array technology (DArT), and 28 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers covering 2397 cM with a mean distance between two markers of 4.1 cM. Comparative analysis with wheat consensus maps revealed that triticale chromosomes of the A and B genomes were represented by 15 chromosomes, including combinations of 2AS.2AL#, 2AL#2BL, 6AS.6AL#, and 2BS.6AL# instead of 2A, 2B, and 6A. In respect to published maps of rye, substantial rearrangements were found also for chromosomes 1R, 2R, and 3R of the rye genome. Chromosomes 1R and 2R were truncated and the latter was linked with 3R. A nonhomogeneous distribution of markers across the triticale genome was observed with evident bias (48%) towards the rye genome. This genetic map may serve as a reference linkage map of triticale for efficient studies of structural rearrangements, gene mapping, and marker-assisted selection.
Chemical bond and hardness of M-,W-type hexagonal barium ferrites
Authors: Li Zhiping , Gao Faming
Published: May 2011

Using the chemical bond theory of dielectric description, the chemical bond parameters of the M-, W-type hexagonal barium ferrites were calculated. The hardness of BaFe12O19 and BaFe18O27 were calculated. The calculated hardness of BaFe12O19 is 5.9 GPa, which is in agreement with the experimental values. The calculated hardness of planes parallel to the c axis of BaFe18O27 is 5.5 GPa, which is smaller than that of BaFe12O19..
Dauben–Michno oxidative transposition of allylic cyanohydrins — Enantiomeric switch of (–)-carvone to (+)-carvone*Based on the 2010 Bader Award Lecture.
Authors: Hudlicky Jason R. , Werner Lukas , Semak Vladislav , Simionescu Razvan , Hudlicky Tomas
Published: May 2011

Allylic cyanohydrins were subjected to Dauben–Michno oxidation at low temperatures to provide β-cyanoenones in good to excellent yields. The potential of this oxidative transposition as a means of an enantiomeric switch of enones containing a latent plane of symmetry was tested by conversion of (–)-carvone to its enantiomer.
SCHEMATIC HARDER–NARASIMHAN STRATIFICATION
Authors: NITSURE NITIN
Published: May 2011

For any flat family of pure-dimensional coherent sheaves on a family of projective schemes, the Harder–Narasimhan type (in the sense of Gieseker semistability) of its restriction to each fiber is known to vary semicontinuously on the parameter scheme of the family. This defines a stratification of the parameter scheme by locally closed subsets, known as the Harder–Narasimhan stratification. In this paper, we show how to endow each Harder–Narasimhan stratum with the structure of a locally closed subscheme of the parameter scheme, which enjoys the universal property that under any base change the pullback family admits a relative Harder–Narasimhan filtration with a given Harder–Narasimhan type if and only if the base change factors through the schematic stratum corresponding to that Harder–Narasimhan type. The above schematic stratification induces a stacky stratification on the algebraic stack of pure-dimensional coherent sheaves. We deduce that coherent sheaves of a fixed Harder–Narasimhan type form an algebraic stack in the sense of Artin.
ON NORMALIZATIONS OF A REGULAR ISOTOPY INVARIANT FOR SPATIAL GRAPHS
Authors: ISHII ATSUSHI
Published: May 2011

We give a framework to normalize a regular isotopy invariant of a spatial graph, and introduce many normalizations satisfying the same relation under a local move. We normalize the Yamada polynomial for spatial embeddings of almost all trivalent graphs without a bridge, and see the benefit to utilize our normalizations from the viewpoint of skein relations, the finite type invariants, and evaluations of the Yamada polynomial. We show that the collection of the differences between two of our normalizations is a complete spatial-graph-homology invariant.
PARABOLIC k-AMPLE BUNDLES
Authors: BISWAS INDRANIL , LAYTIMI FATIMA
Published: May 2011

We construct projectivization of a parabolic vector bundle and a tautological line bundle over it. It is shown that a parabolic vector bundle is ample if and only if the tautological line bundle is ample. This allows us to generalize the notion of a k-ample bundle, introduced by Sommese, to the context of parabolic bundles. A parabolic vector bundle E* is defined to be k-ample if the tautological line bundle [Formula: see text] is k-ample. We establish some properties of parabolic k-ample bundles.
FERMAT HYPERSURFACES AND SUBCANONICAL CURVES
Authors: DE POI PIETRO , ZUCCONI FRANCESCO
Published: May 2011

We extend the classical Enriques–Petri theorem to s-subcanonical projectively normal curves, proving that such a curve is (s + 2)-gonal if and only if it is contained in a surface of minimal degree. We also show that any Fermat hypersurface of degree s + 2 is apolar to a s-subcanonical (s + 2)-gonal projectively normal curve, and vice versa.
A NOVEL METRIC BASED ON MCA FOR IMAGE QUALITY
Authors: HE LIHUO , LU WEN , GAO XINBO , TAO DACHENG , LI XUELONG
Published: May 2011

Considering that the Human Visual System (HVS) has different perceptual characteristics for different morphological components, a novel image quality metric is proposed by incorporating Morphological Component Analysis (MCA) and HVS, which is capable of assessing the image with different kinds of distortion. Firstly, reference and distorted images are decomposed into linearly combined texture and cartoon components by MCA respectively. Then these components are turned into perceptual features by Just Noticeable Difference (JND) which integrates masking features, luminance adaptation and Contrast Sensitive Function (CSF). Finally, the discrimination between reference and distorted images perceptual features is quantified using a pooling strategy before the final image quality is obtained. Experimental results demonstrate that the performance of the proposed prevails over some existing methods on LIVE database II.
Modal abstractions of concurrent behavior
Authors: Nielson Flemming , Nanz Sebastian , Nielson Hanne Riis
Published: May 2011

We present an effective algorithm for the automatic construction of finite modal transition systems as abstractions of potentially infinite concurrent processes. Modal transition systems are recognized as valuable abstractions for model checking because they allow for the validation as well as refutation of safety and liveness properties. However, the algorithmic construction of finite abstractions from potentially infinite concurrent processes is a missing link that prevents their more widespread usage for model checking of concurrent systems. Our algorithm is a worklist algorithm using concepts from abstract interpretation and operating upon mappings from sets to intervals in order to express simultaneous over- and underapproximations of the multisets of process actions available in a particular state. We obtain a finite abstraction that is 3-valued in both states and transitions and that supports the definition of a 3-valued modal logic for validating as well as refuting properties of systems. The construction is illustrated on a few examples, including the Ingemarsson-Tang-Wong key agreement protocol.
A calculus of multiary sequent terms
Authors: Santo José Espírito , Pinto Luís
Published: May 2011

Multiary sequent terms were originally introduced as a tool for proving termination of permutative conversions in cut-free sequent calculus. This work develops the language of multiary sequent terms into a term calculus for the computational (Curry-Howard) interpretation of a fragment of sequent calculus with cuts and cut-elimination rules. The system, called
generalized multiary λ-calculus
, is a rich extension of the λ-calculus where the computational content of the sequent calculus format is explained through an enlarged form of the application constructor. Such constructor exhibits the features of multiarity (the ability to form lists of arguments) and generality (the ability to prescribe a kind of continuation). The system integrates in a modular way the multiary λ-calculus and an isomorphic copy of the λ-calculus with generalized application, Λ
J
(in particular, natural deduction is captured internally up to isomorphism). In addition, the system: (i) comes with permutative conversion rules, whose role is to eliminate the new features of application; (ii) is equipped with reduction rules — either the μ-rule, typical of the multiary setting, or rules for cut-elimination, which enlarge the ordinary β-rule. This article establishes the metatheory of the system, with emphasis on the role of the μ-rule, and including a study of the interaction of reduction and permutative conversions.
1st international requirements engineering efficiency workshop
Authors: Fricker Samuel , Seyff Norbert
Published: May 2011

Requirements engineering research has for a long time focused on specification quality, leading to recommendations of how to engineer "perfect" requirements specifications. Practitioners, however, do not have the time, resources, and interests for overdoing requirements engineering. Rather, many situations call for shortcuts that allow investing effort in those concerns that are critical for success, while reducing effort in other areas where risk is comparably smaller. The social context, smart collaboration processes, and novel ways of looking at the interface between stakeholders and the supplier can be a basis to increase the yield of requirements engineering, while reducing required effort.

The International Requirements Engineering Efficiency Workshop (REEW 2011) aimed at initiating, facilitating, and nurturing the discussion on efficient approaches to engineer just goodenough requirements. Requirements engineering was seen as a means that can be simplified, automated, or combined with other practices to achieve successful systems in an economically efficient manner. REEW 2011 provided a platform for the community of practitioners and research experts that are interested in productivity-enhancing approaches to requirements engineering. This report describes the workshop results including tactics, practice, and trade-offs for achieving requirements engineering efficiency.
The price of anarchy in cooperative network creation games
Authors: Demaine Erik D. , Hajiaghayi Mohammadtaghi , Mahini Hamid , Zadimoghaddam Morteza
Published: May 2011

A fundamental family of problems at the intersection between computer science and operations research is
network design
. This area of research has become increasingly important given the continued growth of computer networks such as the Internet. Traditionally, we want to find a minimum-cost (sub)network that satisfies some specified property such as
k
-connectivity or connectivity on terminals (as in the classic Steiner tree problem). This goal captures the (possibly incremental) creation cost of the network, but does not incorporate the cost of actually using the network. In contrast,
network routing
has the goal of optimizing the usage cost of the network, but assumes that the network has already been created.
Mechanism design for dynamic settings
Authors: Cavallo Ruggiero
Published: May 2011

We provide a brief summary of dynamic mechanism design: what it is, what purpose it serves, and some of the main results to date. We then describe work that applies the theory to an auction setting with deliberative agents and, briefly, work that extends the theory to settings where the population of agents changes over time. We conclude with a discussion of directions for future research.
Impression-plus-click auctions
Authors: Goel Sharad , Lahaie Sébastien , Vassilvitskii Sergei
Published: May 2011

Internet search companies generate the majority of their multibillion dollar revenue from selling ad placement, often in the form of short, textual ads that appear next to web search results. Such sponsored search ads are typically sold via pay-per-click auctions in which advertisers bid for placement, but pay publishers (i.e., search companies) only when users click on their ads. As payments are made only when ads are clicked, publishers consider both the advertiser's click bid and also the ad's quality (i.e., the probability of it being clicked) when deciding which ads to display [Edelman et al. 2007].
AdX
Authors: Muthukrishnan S.
Published: May 2011

Increasingly, display advertisements (ads) on the Internet are sold via marketplaces that bring publishers and advertisers together in real time when an opportunity arises to present an ad to a viewer. In this note, we present the
AdX Model
for such marketplaces.
The pathologies of online display advertising marketplaces
Authors: Edelman Benjamin
Published: May 2011

Display advertising marketplaces place "banner" ads on all manner of popular sites. While these services are widely used, they suffer significant challenges, including weak user response and low accountability for both advertisers and web site publishers. I survey a few major challenges, flagging possible areas for future research.
Connections between markets and learning
Authors: Chen Yiling , Vaughan Jennifer Wortman
Published: May 2011

We provide an overview of recent research exploring the striking mathematical connections that exist between market maker mechanisms for prediction markets and no-regret learning. We describe how these connections can be used in the design of efficient prediction markets over combinatorial outcome spaces.
Solution to Exchanges 7.1 puzzle
Authors: He Johanna Y.
Published: May 2011

This is a solution to the editor's puzzle from Issue 7.1 of SIGecom Exchanges. The puzzle is about solving an instance of the winner determination problem and providing a proof of optimality. The full puzzle [Conitzer] can be found online at http://www.sigecom.org/exchanges/volume 7/1/puzzle.pdf.
ANIMIAMI Animation Festival and Conference
Authors: Ferrazza Mauricio
Published: May 2011

In its inaugural year, ANIMIAMI Animation Festival and Conference brought together 13 of the top animation experts who have worked on major motion pictures, video game animation and non-theatrical, commercial animation.
The troubled path of accessibility engineering
Authors: Brajnik Giorgio
Published: May 2011

Web accessibility entails far more than just paying attention to a handful of HTML tags and attributes: it deals with human behavior. As consequence we have a number of pitfalls that hamper accessibility evaluation of web pages. In this paper I review some of the research my coauthors and I did in the last four years that provides some experimental evidence. In fact, the three fundamental processes of (1) selecting the pages to be investigated, (2) finding their problems, and (3) measuring the corresponding accessibility levels are ridden with potential traps which affect reliability and even validity of evaluations. Knowing which traps are there and figuring out how to overcome them should rank high in the priority list of researchers and practitioners in accessibility. This is what is needed in order to move towards an engineering of accessibility.
Planning an accessible conference
Authors: Trewin Shari
Published: May 2011

This document contains information for organizers of academic conferences who wish to make their events as accessible as possible, so that people with disabilities can participate fully. It is not intended as an accessibility checklist or requirements document, but offers general ideas and information that conference planners may wish to consider.

These ideas are based on experiences in running the ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS). ASSETS is a conference of around 130 people, consisting of technical paper presentations, posters and demonstrations. The conference proceedings are published in the ACM digital library. Most attendees are non-local, and stay in the conference hotel. ASSETS is often attended by people with disabilities. In a typical year, there might be attendees who are blind, have low vision, are deaf or hard of hearing, use a power wheelchair or an electric scooter, have limited dexterity, and limited mobility. ASSETS strives to create an environment in which all attendees can participate and socialize together.
Basally activated nonselective cation currents regulate the resting membrane potential in human and monkey colonic smooth muscle
Authors: Dwyer Laura , Rhee Poong-Lyul , Lowe Vanessa , Zheng Haifeng , Peri Lauren , Ro Seungil , Sanders Kenton M. , Koh Sang Don
Published: May 2011

Resting membrane potential (RMP) plays an important role in determining the basal excitability of gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The RMP in colonic muscles is significantly less negative than the equilibrium potential of K+, suggesting that it is regulated not only by K+ conductances but by inward conductances such as Na+ and/or Ca2+. We investigated the contribution of nonselective cation channels (NSCC) to the RMP in human and monkey colonic smooth muscle cells (SMC) using voltage- and current-clamp techniques. Qualitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to examine potential molecular candidates for these channels among the transient receptor potential (TRP) channel superfamily. Spontaneous transient inward currents and holding currents were recorded in human and monkey SMC. Replacement of extracellular Na+ with equimolar tetraethylammonium or Ca2+ with Mn2+ inhibited basally activated nonselective cation currents. Trivalent cations inhibited these channels. Under current clamp, replacement of extracellular Na+ with N-methyl-d-glucamine or addition of trivalent cations caused hyperpolarization. Three unitary conductances of NSCC were observed in human and monkey colonic SMC. Molecular candidates for basally active NSCC were TRPC1, C3, C4, C7, M2, M4, M6, M7, V1, and V2 in human and monkey SMC. Comparison of the biophysical properties of these TRP channels with basally active NSCC (b I NSCC) suggests that TRPM4 and specific TRPC heteromultimer combinations may underlie the three single-channel conductances of b I NSCC. In conclusion, these findings suggest that basally activated NSCC contribute to the RMP in human and monkey colonic SMC and therefore may play an important role in determining basal excitability of colonic smooth muscle.
Selective Oxidation Using Flame Aerosol Synthesized Iron and Vanadium-Doped Nano-TiO2
Authors: Wang Zhong-Min , Sahle-Demessie Endalkachew , Aly Hassan Ashraf
Published: May 2011

Selective photocatalytic oxidation of 1-phenyl ethanol to acetophenone using titanium dioxide (TiO2) raw and doped with Fe or V, prepared by flame aerosol deposition method, was investigated. The effects of metal doping on crystal phase and morphology of the synthesized nanostructured TiO2were analyzed using XRD, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, and BET nitrogen adsorbed surface area measurement. The increase in the concentration of V and Fe reduced the crystalline structure and the anatase-to-rutile ratios of the synthesized TiO2. Synthesized TiO2became fine amorphous powder as the Fe and V concentrations were increased to 3 and 5%, respectively. Doping V and Fe to TiO2synthesized by the flame aerosol increased photocatalytic activity by 6 folds and 2.5 folds, respectively, compared to that of pure TiO2. It was found that an optimal doping concentration for Fe and V were 0.5% and 3%, respectively. The type and concentration of the metal dopants and the method used to add the dopant to the TiO2are critical parameters for enhancing the activity of the resulting photocatalyst. The effects of solvents on the photocatalytic reaction were also investigated by using both water and acetonitrile as the reaction medium.
Epidemiology of Cigarette and Smokeless Tobacco Use among South Asian Immigrants in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Delnevo Cristine D. , Steinberg Michael B. , Hudson Shawna V. , Ulpe Rajiv , DiPaola Robert S.
Published: May 2011

As the most preventable cause of death in the world today, understanding tobacco use among one of the fastest growing ethnic/racial groups is warranted. We explore cigarette and smokeless tobacco (SLT) use among South Asians in NJ and the Northeast using the Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey. Overall, tobacco use rates among South Asians were similar or lower than the population. However, in NJ, South Asian males had the highest SLT rate (2.7%) and in the Northeast, White (AOR = 5.8, 95%  CI = 3.7–9.4) and South Asian males (AOR = 4.0, 95%  CI = 1.5–10.6) had significantly higher odds of current SLT use relative to non-White males. Tobacco use among South Asians was not homogeneous; Pakistanis are overrepresented among cigarette smokers while Indians are overrepresented among SLT users. Given the differential tobacco use among and within South Asian, disaggregating data to understand tobacco use behaviors is necessary to develop effective interventions for tobacco cessation.
Associations ofFTOandMC4RVariants with Obesity Traits in Indians and the Role of Rural/Urban Environment as a Possible Effect Modifier
Authors: Taylor A. E. , Sandeep M. N. , Janipalli C. S. , Giambartolomei C. , Evans D. M. , Kranthi Kumar M. V. , Vinay D. G. , Smitha P. , Gupta V. , Aruna M. , Kinra S. , Sullivan R. M. , Bowen L. , Timpson N. J. , Davey Smith G. , Dudbridge F. , Prabhakaran D. , Ben-Shlomo Y. , Reddy K. S. , Ebrahim S. , Chandak G. R.
Published: May 2011

Few studies have investigated the association between genetic variation and obesity traits in Indian populations or the role of environmental factors as modifiers of these relationships. In the context of rapid urbanisation, resulting in significant lifestyle changes, understanding the aetiology of obesity is important. We investigated associations ofFTOandMC4Rvariants with obesity traits in 3390 sibling pairs from four Indian cities, most of whom were discordant for current dwelling (rural or urban). TheFTOvariant rs9939609 predicted increased weight (0.09 Z-scores, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.15) and BMI (0.08 Z-scores, 95% CI: 0.02, 0.14). TheMC4Rvariant rs17782313 was weakly associated with weight and hip circumference (P<.05). There was some indication that the association betweenFTOand weight was stronger in urban than that in rural dwellers (Pfor interaction = .03), but no evidence for effect modification by diet or physical activity. Further studies are needed to investigate ways in which urban environment may modify genetic risk of obesity.
Fast Retrieval Algorithm for Earth Mover's Distance Using EMD Lower Bounds and a Skipping Algorithm
Authors: Shishibori Masami , Koizumi Daichi , Kita Kenji
Published: May 2011

The earth mover's distance (EMD) is a measure of the distance between two distributions, and it has been widely used in multimedia information retrieval systems, in particular, in content-based image retrieval systems. When the EMD is applied to image problems based on color or texture, the EMD reflects the human perceptual similarities. However, its computations are too expensive to use in large-scale databases. In order to achieve efficient computation of the EMD during query processing, we have developed “fastEMD,” a library for high-speed feature-based similarity retrievals in large databases. This paper introduces techniques that are used in the implementation of the fastEMD and performs extensive experiments to demonstrate its efficiency.
GPS and Stereovision-Based Visual Odometry: Application to Urban Scene Mapping and Intelligent
Vehicle Localization
Authors: Wei Lijun , Cappelle Cindy , Ruichek Yassine , Zann Frédérick
Published: May 2011

We propose an approach for vehicle localization in dense urban
environments using a stereoscopic system and a GPS sensor.
Stereoscopic system is used to capture the stereo video flow, to
recover the environments, and to estimate the vehicle motion based
on feature detection, matching, and triangulation from every image
pair. A relative depth constraint is applied to eliminate the
tracking couples which are inconsistent with the vehicle
ego-motion. Then the optimal rotation and translation between the
current and the reference frames are computed using an RANSAC
based minimization method. Meanwhile, GPS positions are obtained
by an on-board GPS receiver and periodically used to adjust the
vehicle orientations and positions estimated by stereovision. The
proposed method is tested with two real sequences obtained by a
GEM vehicle equipped with a stereoscopic system and a RTK-GPS
receiver. The results show that the vision/GPS integrated
trajectory can fit the ground truth better than the vision-only
method, especially for the vehicle orientation. And vice-versa,
the stereovision-based motion estimation method can correct the
GPS signal failures (e.g., GPS jumps) due to multipath problem or
other noises.
Use of Imaging Spectroscopy for Mapping and Quantifying the Weathering Degree of Tropical Soils in Central Brazil
Authors: Baptista Gustavo M. M. , Corrêa Rodrigo S. , dos Santos Perseu F. , Madeira Netto José S. , Meneses Paulo R.
Published: May 2011

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility of applying AVIRIS sensor (Airborne Visible/InfraRed Imaging Spectrometer) for mapping and quantifying mineralogical components of three Brazilian soils, a reddish Oxisol in São João D'Aliança area (SJA) and a dark reddish brown Oxisol and Ultisol in Niquelândia (NIQ) counties, Goiás State. The study applied the spectral index RCGb [kaolinite/(kaolinite + gibbsite) ratio] and was based on spectral absorption features of these two minerals.The RCGb index was developed for the evaluation of weathering degrees of various Brazilian soils and was validated by the analysis of soil samples spectra imaged by AVIRIS and checked against laboratory mineralogical quantification (TGA:Thermal Gravimetric Analysis). Results showed to be possible mapping and quantifying the weathering degree of the studied soils and that the two selected areas presented different weathering degrees of their soils even for a same soil type.
The CYTO-PV: A Large-Scale Trial Testing the Intensity of CYTOreductive Therapy to Prevent Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Polycythemia Vera
Authors: Marchioli Roberto , Finazzi Guido , Specchia Giorgina , Masciulli Arianna , Mennitto Maria Rosaria , Barbui Tiziano
Published: May 2011

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder whose major morbidity and mortality are thrombohaemorragic events. Current guidelines advise maintaining hematocrit (HCT) level below 45% in males and 42% in females. Such targets lean on pathophysiological reasoning, while evidence from ECLAP and PVSG-01, the two largest prospective studies in this disease, suggests no difference in the rate of thrombosis in patients maintained at different HCT values below 50%–52%. Cytoreductive therapy in PV (CYTO-PV) is a multicenter, randomized, and controlled trial assess the benefit/risk profile of cytoreductive therapy with phlebotomy or HU aimed at maintaining HCT < 45% versus maintaining HCT in the range 45%–50%. CYTO-PV is being conducted in the framework of the Gruppo Italiano Malattie Ematologiche nell'Adulto (GIMEMA) and is funded by the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA). It is an independent trial with broad recruitment criteria to mimic clinical practice. We describe here the study and its advancement status. Conclusions. Clinical research in rare disease can be carried out with limited funds, provided a research hypothesis is felt as clinically relevant by a scientific community willing to share knowledge on the outcome of clinical practice, thus producing scientific results useful to improve treatment and prognosis of patients.
Randomized Clinical Trial of the Effectiveness of a Home-Based Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse Intervention: Outcomes for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness and HIV
Authors: Hanrahan Nancy P. , Wu Evan , Kelly Deena , Aiken Linda H. , Blank Michael B.
Published: May 2011

Individuals with serious mental illness have greater risk for contracting HIV, multiple morbidities, and die 25 years younger than the general population. This high need and high cost subgroup face unique barriers to accessing required health care in the current health care system. The effectiveness of an advanced practice nurse model of care management was assessed in a four-year random controlled trial. Results are reported in this paper. In a four-year random controlled trial, a total of 238 community-dwelling individuals with HIV and serious mental illness (SMI) were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n=128) or to a control group (n=110). Over 12 months, the intervention group received care management from advanced practice psychiatric nurse, and the control group received usual care. The intervention group showed significant improvement in depression (P=.012) and the physical component of health-related quality of life (P=.03) from baseline to 12 months. The advanced practice psychiatric nurse intervention is a model of care that holds promise for a higher quality of care and outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Status and Causes of Soil Salinization of Irrigated Agricultural Lands in Southern Baja California, Mexico
Authors: Endo Tsuneyoshi , Yamamoto Sadahiro , Larrinaga Juan A. , Fujiyama Hideyasu , Honna Toshimasa
Published: May 2011

Selected farmlands in southern Baja California, Mexico, were surveyed to determine the levels and the causes of salinization/sodication in irrigated agricultural soil. The salt dynamics observed in profiles differed from farm to farm. Low EC and high pH levels were observed in the profiles of sandy fields, because the salt composition of these soils can easily change when salts are leached by irrigation water that contains carbonates of sodium. On the other hand, high levels of salinity and sodicity were observed in the soils of clayey fields. Soil salinization/sodication is complexly interrelated with soil characteristics, the amount and composition of salts in the soil, the quantity and quality of irrigation water applied, and the irrigation methods used. Our findings indicate that irrigation water in Baja California should be supplied at a rate that is sufficient to meet crop requirements without exacerbating salt accumulation.
Immune Recruitment and Therapeutic Synergy: Keys to Optimizing Oncolytic Viral Therapy?
Authors: Naik Jay D. , Twelves Christopher J. , Selby Peter J. , Vile Richard G. , Chester John D.
Published: May 2011

Oncolytic viruses consist of a diverse range of DNA and RNA viruses traditionally thought to mediate their effects by exploiting aberrations in tumor pathways, allowing preferential viral replication in, and killing of, tumor cells. Clinical development has progressed to late-phase trials, potentially heralding their introduction into clinical practice. However, despite this promise, the activity of oncolytic viruses has yet to achieve the potential suggested in preclinical models. To address this disparity, we need to recognize the complex interaction among oncolytic viruses, tumor, chemotherapy, and host immune system, and appreciate that direct oncolysis may not be the only factor to play an important role in oncolytic virus-mediated antitumor efficacy. Although key in inactivating viruses, the host immune system can also act as an ally against tumors, interacting with oncolytic viruses under the right conditions to generate useful and long-lasting antitumor immunity. Preclinical data also suggest that oncolytic viruses show synergy with standard therapies, which may offer improved clinical response rates. Here, we explore clinical and preclinical data on clinically relevant oncolytic viruses, highlighting areas of progress, uncertainty, and translational opportunity, with respect to immune recruitment and therapeutic synergy. Clin Cancer Res; 17(13); 4214–24. ©2011 AACR.
Selective PGE2 Suppression Inhibits Colon Carcinogenesis and Modifies Local Mucosal Immunity
Authors: Nakanishi Masako , Menoret Antoine , Tanaka Takuji , Miyamoto Shingo , Montrose David C. , Vella Anthony T. , Rosenberg Daniel W.
Published: May 2011

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is a bioactive lipid that mediates a wide range of physiologic effects and plays a central role in inflammation and cancer. PGE2 is generated from arachidonic acid by the sequential actions of the COX and terminal synthases (PGES). Increased levels of COX-2, with a concomitant elevation of PGE2, are often found in colorectal cancers (CRC), providing the rationale for the use of COX-2 inhibitors for chemoprevention. Despite their proven efficacy in cancer prevention, however, COX-2 inhibitors exhibit dose-dependent toxicities that are mediated in part by their nonspecific reduction of essential prostanoids, thus limiting their chemopreventive benefit. To achieve enhanced specificity, recent efforts have been directed toward targeting the inducible terminal synthase in the production of PGE2, microsomal PGES (mPGES-1). In the present study, we show that genetic deletion of mPGES-1 affords significant protection against carcinogen-induced colon cancer. mPGES-1 gene deletion results in an about 80% decrease in tumor multiplicity and up to a 90% reduction in tumor load in the distal colon of azoxymethane (AOM)-treated mice. Associated with the striking cancer suppression, we have identified a critical role for PGE2 in the control of immunoregulatory cell expansion (FoxP3-positive regulatory T cells) within the colon-draining mesenteric lymph nodes, providing a potential mechanism by which suppression of PGE2 may protect against CRC. These results provide new insights into how PGE2 controls antitumor immunity. Cancer Prev Res; 4(8); 1198–208. ©2011 AACR.