bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in water microbial quality during bank filtration of lake water
Authors: Miettinen Ilkka T. , Vartiainen Terttu , Martikainen Pertti J.
Published: February 2010

We studied, during a 2-year period, how the microbial stability of water changed when humus-rich lake water was filtered through the ground at a bank filtration water plant. The changes in microbial quality were followed as microbial numbers and growth activity. The filtration decreased microbial counts and growth ([3H]thymidine technique) in water up to 90%. The reduction in bacterial counts and growth depended on the filtration distance. The reduction was greatest between the lake and the first sampling point. Microbial numbers and growth declined steadily after infiltration with increased filtration distance. Viable counts of heterotrophic bacteria decreased faster than total bacterial counts along filtration. The microbial numbers and bacterial production in water followed seasonal changes in water temperature. Simultaneously with the microbial numbers, the concentrations of total organic carbon and assimilable organic carbon decreased during bank filtration. These results showed that microbial stability of humus-rich water was increased by filtration to a level generally found in natural groundwaters.Key words: bacteria, bank filtration, biological stability, drinking water, groundwater.
Croissance et activité cellulaire du Brevibacterium casei NCDO 2049 dans du perméat de lactosérum
Authors: Oulé K. M. , Turcotte G. , Beaulieu Y.
Published: February 2010

Growth and cellular activity of Brevibacterium casei NCDO 2049 were studied in a whey permeate as basic culture medium. The possible inhibitory effect of the carbone substrate (undiluted or diluted permeate) on growth was investigated as well as the influence of pH of the media (controlled or not) and of the addition of nitrogen sources (organic or inorganic) or growth factors such as yeast extract or vitamin B12. Growth in undiluted permeate produced a maximal biomass (6.5 × 109 cfu/mL) that was nearly twice as much as that in diluted permeate (3.8 × 109 cfu/mL). The carbone substrate (lactose) had no inhibitory effect on growth. In undiluted permeate and an uncontrolled pH, maximal biomass was reached after 36 h of incubation, while in a pH controlled medium, twice as much time was required to obtain an equivalent biomass. In undiluted permeate and an uncontrolled pH, growth in the presence of peptone reached 22.6 × 109 cfu/mL and, in the presence of (NH4)2SO4, 12.4 × 109 cfu/mL. Adding growth factors to media with peptone resulted in the reduction of 90% of initial lactose in the presence of yeast extract and of 75% in the presence of B12 vitamin. This study indicates the possibility of reducing lactose in whey permeate when cultivating strains of the genus Brevibacterium used as maturing bacteria for certain cheese types.Key words: whey permeate, Brevibacterium casei, lactose.[Journal translation]
A simple method for the eradication ofLegionella pneumophilafrom potable water systems
Authors: Moreno Carmen , Blas Isabel de , Miralles Francisca , Apraiz David , Catalan Vicente
Published: February 2010

In this paper we describe a simple method, noncorrosive to pipes, for the eradication of Legionella pneumophila from potable water systems. This method is based on the systematic purging of the pipe networks with cold water containing 1 – 1.5 mg residual chlorine/L. In the hot water system, a new pipe bypassing the water heater was installed, whereas in the air conditioning system, the circuit is purged with water from the tap water system. The feasibility of this method was studied in two hotels in which the presence of Legionella was detected despite treatment of the water by the hyperchlorination method. The evolution of the presence of Legionella was studied by culture and polymerase chain reaction. Eighty samples from hotel A and sixty-seven samples from hotel B were analyzed during the time that the eradication method was applied. Our results showed that this method permitted the effective elimination of L. pneumophila after 5 months in hotel A and 7 months in hotel B.Key words: Legionella pneumophila, eradication.
The active constituent in yeast extract for fruit body formation of Lentinula edodes
Authors: Shin Gab-Gyun , Meguro Sadatoshi , Kawachi Shinsaku
Published: February 2010

This investigation attempted to identify the active constituent in yeast extract for fruit body formation of Lentinula edodes. Yeast extract was applied to a Sephadex G-25 column and was divided into five fractions, I to V, on the basis of the peaks of UV absorption. Of the five fractions, fraction II was the most effective for fruit body formation. Fraction II was still effective for fruit body formation at a dilution of 10−2, but its activity was drastically lowered by autoclaving under alkaline conditions. Thiamin, which is well known to exist in yeast extract and to be sensitive to alkaline hydrolysis, was contained in fraction II in a free form at about 85% of the total content. When most of the thiamin was eliminated by passing it through a permtid column or heating it under alkaline conditions, the fruiting activity of fraction II disappeared. The addition of thiamin, instead of fraction II, also caused fruit body formation in the basal peptone–glucose liquid media. Thus, it was concluded that thiamin must be the active substance in fraction II of the yeast extract for fruit body formation of L. edodes.Key words: Lentinula edodes, fruit body formation, yeast extract, thiamin.
Extracellular cellulase production by tropical isolates of Aureobasidium pullulans
Authors: Kudanga T , Mwenje E
Published: February 2010

Cellulase production by Aureobasidium pullulans from the temperate regions has remained speculative, with most studies reporting no activity at all. In the current study, tropical isolates from diverse sources were screened for cellulase production. Isolates were grown on a synthetic medium containing cell walls of Msasa tree (Brachystegia sp.) as the sole carbon source, and their cellulolytic activities were measured using carboxymethyl cellulose and α-cellulose as substrates. All isolates studied produced carboxymethyl cellulase (endoglucanase) and alpha-cellulase (exoglucanase) activity. Endoglucanase-specific activities of ten selected isolates ranged from 2.375 to 12.884 µmol glucose·(mg protein)–1·h–1, while activities on α-cellulose (exoglucanase activity) ranged from 0.293 to 22.442 µmol glucose·(mg protein)–1·day–1. Carboxymethyl cellulose induced the highest cellulase activity in the selected isolates, while the isolates showed variable responses to nitrogen sources. The current study indicates that some isolates of A. pullulans of tropical origin produce significant extracellular cellulolytic activity and that crude cell walls may be good inducers of cellulolytic activity in A. pullulans.Key words: Aureobasidium pullulans, plant cell wall, cellulases, endoglucanase, exoglucanase.
Listeria monocytogeneslisteriolysin O and phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C affect adherence to epithelial cells
Authors: Krawczyk-Balska Agata , Bielecki Jacek
Published: February 2010

Listeria monocytogenes, a foodborn intracellular animal and human pathogen, produces several exotoxins contributing to virulence. Among these are listeriolysin O (LLO), a pore-forming cholesterol-dependent hemolysin, and a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). LLO is known to play an important role in the escape of bacteria from the primary phagocytic vacuole of macrophages, and PI-PLC supports this process. Evidence is accumulating that LLO and PI-PLC are multifunctional virulence factors with many important roles in the host-parasite interaction other than phagosomal membrane disruption. LLO and PI-PLC may induce a number of host cell responses by modulating signal transduction of infected cells via intracellular Ca2+levels and the metabolism of phospholipids. This would result in the activation of host phospholipase C and protein kinase C. In the present study, using Bacillus sub tilis strains expressing LLO, PI-PLC, and simultaneously LLO and PI-PLC, we show that LLO and PI-PLC enhance bacterial binding to epithelial cells Int407, with LLO being necessary and PI-PLC playing an accessory role. The results of this work suggest that these two listerial proteins act on epithelial cells prior to internalization.Key words: Listeria monocytogenes, listeriolysin O, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, Bacillus subtilis, adherence.
Identification of a carboxylesterase-producingRhodococcussoil isolate
Authors: Falcocchio Serena , Ruiz Cristian , Pastor F I. Javier , Saso Luciano , Diaz Pilar
Published: February 2010

Subtropical soil microbial isolates were screened for carbohydrate, tributyrin, or olive oil hydrolysis using agar plates supplemented with the corresponding substrates. A heterotrophic, aerobic, Gram-positive strain displaying activity on tributyrin was selected and further characterized. Analysis of the morphological and physiological traits of the strain placed it as a member of the genus Rhodococcus. Further 16S rDNA sequencing revealed a 99% identity to Rhodococcus erythropolis. The strain displayed lipolytic activity on fatty-acid-derivative substrates of short chain length, with cell extract fractions having highest activity, as confirmed by the presence, after zymogram analysis, of a ca. 60-kDa intracellular protein band with activity on 4-methylumbelliferone–butyrate substrate. The presence of such a lipolytic enzyme, similar to those found in other Gram-positive bacteria, indicates that the strain could be of interest for certain biotechnological applications, like the synthesis of pharmaceuticals or biocide detoxification.Key words: Rhodococcus, lipase, esterase, soil, actinomycete.
Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation disinfection of Stachybotrys chartarum
Authors: Green Christopher F , Davidson Craig S , Scarpino Pasquale V , Gibbs Shawn G
Published: February 2010

The ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI) dose necessary to inactivate fungal spores on an agar surface and the efficacy of UVGI were determined for cultures of Stachybotrys chartarum (ATCC 208877). This study employed a UVGI testing unit consisting of four chambers with a 9-W, Phillips, low pressure, mercury UVGI lamp in each chamber. The testing unit's apertures were adjusted to provide 50, 100, 150, and 200 µW/cm2 of uniform flux to the Petri dish surfaces, resulting in a total UVGI surface dose ranging from 12 to 144 mJ/cm2. The UVGI dose necessary to inactivate 90% of the S. chartarum was greater than the maximum dose of 144 mJ/cm2 evaluated in this study. While UVGI has been used to inactivate several strains of culturable fungal spores, S. chartarum was not susceptible to an appropriate dose of UVGI. The results of this study may not correlate directly to the effect of UVGI on airborne fungal spores. However, they indicate that current technology may not be efficacious as a supplement to ventilation unless it can provide higher doses of UVGI to kill spores, such as S. chartarum, traveling through the irradiated zone.Key words: Stachybotrys chartarum (synonyms S. atra, S. alternana), ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, fungi.
Comparative adherence to human A549 cells, plant fibronectin-like protein, and polystyrene surfaces of fourPseudomonas fluorescensstrains from different ecological origin
Authors: Cossard Elisabeth , Gallet Olivier , Martino Patrick Di
Published: February 2010

The main objective of this study was to compare the adherence properties of four Pseudomonas fluorescens isolates from different ecological niches (human tissue, rhizosphere, drinking water, and cow milk). The substrates used to test P. fluorescens adherence were as follows: cultured human respiratory epithelial cells A549, immobilized plant fibronectin-like protein, and polystyrene. For all the experiments, bacteria were grown at 27 °C. The adherence assay to human cells was performed at 37 °C, whereas adherence to fibronectin and polystyrene was done at 27 °C. The four strains tested adhered to A549 cells but showed different adherence patterns. At 3 h, the milk isolate showed an aggregative adherence phenotype, whereas the three other isolates showed a diffuse adherence pattern. With a longer incubation time of 24 h, the aggregative pattern of the milk isolate disappeared, the adherence of the clinical strain increased, the adherence of the water isolate decreased, and morphological changes in A549 cells were observed with the clinical, water, and soil isolates. The four strains tested formed biofilms on polystyrene dishes. The clinical and milk isolates were the more efficient colonizers of polystyrene surfaces and also the more adherent to immobilized plant fibronectin-like protein. There was no relation between bacterial surface hydrophobicity and P. fluorescens adherence to the substrates tested. The main conclusions of these results are that P. fluorescens is an adherent bacterium, that no clear correlation exists between adherence and ecological habitat, and that P. fluorescens can adhere well to substrates not present in its natural environment.Key words: Pseudomonas fluorescens, adherence, biofilm, ecological niche, plant fibronectin-like protein, A549, polystyrene.
Vaginal microbial diversity among postmenopausal women with and without hormone replacement therapy
Authors: Heinemann Christine , Reid Gregor
Published: February 2010

Urogenital infections in postmenopausal women remain problematic. The use of estrogen replacement therapy has been shown to lower these infection rates, corresponding to increasing colonization by Lactobacillus species. Despite the gut's 500 microbial species and the proximity of the anus to the vagina, only a relatively few microbial strains appear to be able to colonize the urogenital area. In the present study, the sparsity of microbes in the vagina was confirmed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of swabs taken at time zero and monthly for 3 months from 40 postmenopausal subjects receiving Premarin (conjugated equine estrogen in combination with progesterone) hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and 20 who were not on HRT. Lactobacilli were recovered from the vagina of 95% or more women in both groups, but in the HRT group, Lactobacillus were more often the dominant and only colonizers and significantly fewer bacteria with pathogenic potential were found. The incidence of bacterial vaginosis was significantly lower in the HRT group than in the non-HRT-treated women (5.6% versus 31%). The use of HRTs has recently come under criticism. The ability of drugs such as Premarin to help recover the lactobacilli vaginal microbiota appears to be at least one benefit of HRT use. In women not using HRTs, use of probiotics may be the only way to restore a nonpathogen-dominated flora.Key words: vagina, microbiota, premarin, bacteria.
Molecular organization of selected prokaryotic S-layer proteins
Authors: Claus Harald , Akça Erol , Debaerdemaeker Tony , Evrard Christine , Declercq Jean-Paul , Harris J Robin , Schlott Bernhard , König Helmut
Published: February 2010

Regular crystalline surface layers (S-layers) are widespread among prokaryotes and probably represent the earliest cell wall structures. S-layer genes have been found in approximately 400 different species of the prokaryotic domains bacteria and archaea. S-layers usually consist of a single (glyco-)protein species with molecular masses ranging from about 40 to 200 kDa that form lattices of oblique, tetragonal, or hexagonal architecture. The primary sequen ces of hyperthermophilic archaeal species exhibit some characteristic signatures. Further adaptations to their specific environments occur by various post-translational modifications, such as linkage of glycans, lipids, phosphate, and sulfate groups to the protein or by proteolytic processing. Specific domains direct the anchoring of the S-layer to the underlying cell wall components and transport across the cytoplasma membrane. In addition to their presumptive original role as protective coats in archaea and bacteria, they have adapted new functions, e.g., as molecular sieves, attachment sites for extracellular enzymes, and virulence factors.Key words: prokaryotes, cell walls, S-layer (glyco-) proteins, protein stabilization.
Synthesizing hierarchical state machines from expressive scenario descriptions
Authors: Whittle Jon , Jayaraman Praveen K.
Published: February 2010

There are many examples in the literature of algorithms for synthesizing state machines from scenario-based models. The motivation for these is to automate the transition from scenario-based requirements to early behavioral design models. To date, however, these synthesis algorithms have tended to generate flat state machines which can be difficult to understand or adapt for practical systems. One of the reasons for this is that relationships between scenarios are often not taken into account during synthesis—either because the relationships are not explicitly defined or because the synthesis algorithms are not sophisticated enough to cope with them. If relationships are not considered, it is impossible for a synthesis algorithm to know, for example, where one scenario stops and another continues. Furthermore, the lack of relationships makes it difficult to introduce structure into the generated state machines. With the introduction of interaction overview diagrams (IODs) in UML2.0, relationships such as continuation and concurrency can now be specified between scenarios in a way that conforms to the UML standard. But synthesis algorithms do not currently exist that take into account all of these relationships. This article presents a novel synthesis algorithm for an extended version of interaction overview diagram. This algorithm takes into account not only continuation and concurrency, but also preemption, suspension and the notion of a negative scenario. Furthermore, the synthesis algorithm generates well-structured state machines. These state machines are executable and can therefore be used to validate the scenarios. The hierarchy generated aids readability and so the state machines are more amenable to subsequent design steps. Our IOD extensions have a formal semantics and are supported by a synthesis and execution tool, UCSIM, which is currently provided as a plug-in to IBM Rational Software Modeler.
sgen1
Authors: Spence Ivor
Published: February 2010

The satisfiability problem is known to be NP-Complete; therefore, there should be relatively small problem instances that take a very long time to solve. However, most of the smaller benchmarks that were once thought challenging, especially the satisfiable ones, can be processed quickly by modern SAT-solvers. We describe and make available a generator that produces both unsatisfiable and, more significantly, satisfiable formulae that take longer to solve than any others known. At the two most recent international SAT Competitions, the smallest unsolved benchmarks were created by this generator. We analyze the results of all solvers in the most recent competition when applied to these benchmarks and also present our own more focused experiments.
A Debordian analysis of Facebook
Authors: Marturano Antonio , Bellucci Sergio
Published: February 2010

Facebook, the second largest social network on the Web with around 60 million members, is one of the fastest-growing and best-known sites on the Internet today. With the U.S. now accounting for only about a third of all Facebook users, we are starting to see a gradual shift away from its original demographic of college-age users. Very surprisingly, indeed, in the past months Facebook has been literally invaded by Italians, Which is the reason for this huge success of Facebook? One of the reasons is that clearly young Italians' discontent (as it is young people who mainly inhabit Facebook) and frustration with the current political situation and with their political representatives is finding in the Web a channel to let youth voice be heard. Facebook is also a media for channelling Italians' emotions, self representation, and symbolic environment at the same speed of their telefonino (mobile phone): indeed Facebook not only provides multimedia content and a high interactive environment, but it also provides personalised features. In other words, it is my personal content which is available on the web and it make me feel as if I was in the centre of a virtually worldly networked stage. We will argue Facebook is realizing what Guy Debord calls "the invasive forces of the 'spectacle' - "a social relation between people that is mediated by images": Facebook is seen as an alternative tool able to amplify an individual's alienation and narcissism, which, are a consequence of the mercantile form of social organization which has reached its climax in capitalism. Under Marxist theory, Facebook does not appear what Jaron Lanier claims to be collaborative communities. We finally argue that Facebook is not (as Tapscott and Williams claim) a promising example of a new shift from capitalism to a new form of economy based on openness, peering, sharing and global action -- which they called Wikinomics; but rather new disguised forms of advanced capitalism aimed at eroding space to more challenging modes of Internet collectivism.
Filet-o-fish
Authors: Dagand Pierre-Evariste , Baumann Andrew , Roscoe Timothy
Published: February 2010

We address a persistent problem with using domain-specific languages to write operating systems: the effort of implementing, checking, and debugging the DSL usually outweighs any of its benefits. Because these DSLs generate C by templated string concatenation, they are tedious to write, fragile, and incompatible with automated verification tools.

We present Filet-o-Fish (FoF), a semantic language to ease DSL construction. Building a DSL using FoF consists of safely composing semantically-rich building blocks. This has several advantages: input files for the DSL are formal specifications of the system's functionality, automated testing of the DSL is possible via existing tools, and we can prove that the C code generated by a given DSL respects the semantics expected by the developer. Early experience has been good: FoF is in daily use as part of the tool chain of the Barrelfish multicore OS, which makes extensive use of domain-specific languages to generate low-level OS code. We have found that the ability to rapidly generate DSLs we can rely on has changed how we have designed the OS.
Code-partitioning gossip
Authors: Princehouse Lonnie , Birman Ken
Published: February 2010

Code-Partitioning Gossip (CPG) is a novel technique to facilitate implementation and analysis of gossip protocols. A gossip exchange is a pair-wise transaction between two nodes; a gossip system executes an endless sequence of exchanges between nodes chosen by a randomized procedure. Using CPG, the effects of a gossip exchange are succinctly defined by a single function that atomically updates a pair of node states based on their previous values. This function is automatically partitioned via program slicing into executable code for the roles of gossip-initiator and gossip-recipient, and networking code is added automatically. CPG may have concrete benefits for protocol analysis and authoring composite gossip protocols.
The case for RAMClouds
Authors: Ousterhout John , Agrawal Parag , Erickson David , Kozyrakis Christos , Leverich Jacob , Mazières David , Mitra Subhasish , Narayanan Aravind , Parulkar Guru , Rosenblum Mendel , Rumble Stephen M. , Stratmann Eric , Stutsman Ryan
Published: February 2010

Disk-oriented approaches to online storage are becoming increasingly problematic: they do not scale gracefully to meet the needs of large-scale Web applications, and improvements in disk capacity have far outstripped improvements in access latency and bandwidth. This paper argues for a new approach to datacenter storage called RAMCloud, where information is kept entirely in DRAM and large-scale systems are created by aggregating the main memories of thousands of commodity servers. We believe that RAMClouds can provide durable and available storage with 100-1000x the throughput of disk-based systems and 100-1000x lower access latency. The combination of low latency and large scale will enable a new breed of dataintensive applications.
Long-Term Outcomes Following Hepatic Resection and Radiofrequency Ablation of Colorectal Liver Metastases
Authors: McKay Andrew , Fradette Katherine , Lipschitz Jeremy
Published: February 2010

Recently some have called for randomized controlled trials comparing RFA to hepatic resection, particularly for patients with only a few small metastases. The objectives were to compare local recurrence and survival following RFA and hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases. This was a retrospective review of open RFA and hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases between January 1998 and May 2007. All patients who had RFA were considered to have unresectable disease. 58 patients had hepatic resection and 43 had RFA. A 5-year survival after resection was 43% compared to 23% after RFA. For patients with solitary lesions, a 5-year survival was 48% after resection and 15% after RFA. Sixty percent of patients suffered local recurrences after RFA compared to 7% after hepatic resection. RFA is inferior to resection. The results observed in this study support the consensus that RFA cannot be considered an equivalent procedure to hepatic resection.
High Pressure Falling Sinker Liquid Viscosity Determination without Supplementary Density Data: A New Approach
Authors: Zeng Minyu , Schaschke Carl
Published: February 2010

Accurate measurement and determination of liquid viscosity data under high pressure conditions requires knowledge of liquid density data. In this study, a high pressure falling sinker-type viscometer was used to determine the viscosity of n-dodecane at elevated pressures up to 132 MPa without supplementary knowledge of liquid density. The viscometer, which involves the downward movement of a cylindrical sinker under the influence of gravity through the liquid contained within a closed tube, avoided the need for density data by repeating the sinker-timing experiments with two geometrically similar but different-sized sinkers thereby allowing the liquid density in the associated formulae to be eliminated. Furthermore, it was possible to subsequently derive liquid density. Both viscosity and density data were compared to published data for which good correlation was found for viscosity. To minimize errors, it is suggested that the two sinkers for such an approach should be of sufficiently differing densities.
Algorithmic Assessment of Vaccine-Induced Selective Pressure and Its Implications on Future Vaccine Candidates
Authors: Abu-Asab Mones S. , Laassri Majid , Amri Hakima
Published: February 2010

Posttrial assessment of a vaccine's selective pressure on infecting strains may be realized through a bioinformatic tool such as parsimony phylogenetic analysis. Following a failed gonococcal pilus vaccine trial of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis of pilin DNA and predicted peptide sequences from clinical isolates to assess the extent of the vaccine's effect on the type of field strains that the volunteers contracted. Amplified pilin DNA sequences from infected vaccinees, placebo recipients, and vaccine specimens were phylogenetically analyzed. Cladograms show that the vaccine peptides have diverged substantially from their paternal isolate by clustering distantly from each other. Pilin genes of the field clinical isolates were heterogeneous, and their peptides produced clades comprised of vaccinated and placebo recipients' strains indicating that the pilus vaccine did not exert any significant selective pressure on gonorrhea field strains. Furthermore, sequences of the semivariable and hypervariable regions pointed out heterotachous rates of mutation and substitution.
High-Speed FPGA 10's Complement Adders-Subtractors
Authors: Bioul G. , Vazquez M. , Deschamps J. P. , Sutter G.
Published: February 2010

This paper first presents a study on the classical BCD adders from which a carry-chain type adder is redesigned to fit within the Xilinx FPGA's platforms. Some new concepts are presented to compute thePandGfunctions for carry-chain optimization purposes. Several alternative designs are presented. Then, attention is given to FPGA implementations of add/subtract algorithms for 10's complement BCD numbers. Carry-chain type circuits have been designed on 4-input LUTs (Virtex-4, Spartan-3) and 6-input LUTs (Virtex-5) Xilinx FPGA platforms. All designs are presented with the corresponding time performance and area consumption figures. Results have been compared to straight implementations of a decimal ripple-carry adder and an FPGA 2's complement binary adder-subtractor using the dedicated carry logic, both carried out on the same platform. Better time delays have been registered for decimal numbers within the same range of operands.
A Strategy for Automatic Quality Signing and Verification Processes for Hardware and Software Testing
Authors: Younis Mohammed I. , Zamli Kamal Z.
Published: February 2010

We propose a novel strategy to optimize the test suite required for testing both hardware and software in a production line. Here, the strategy is based on two processes: Quality Signing Process and Quality Verification Process, respectively. Unlike earlier work, the proposed strategy is based on integration of black box and white box techniques in order to derive an optimum test suite during the Quality Signing Process. In this case, the generated optimal test suite significantly improves the Quality Verification Process. Considering both processes, the novelty of the proposed strategy is the fact that the optimization and reduction of test suite is performed by selecting only mutant killing test cases from cumulating t-way test cases. As such, the proposed strategy can potentially enhance the quality of product with minimal cost in terms of overall resource usage and time execution. As a case study, this paper describes the step-by-step application of the strategy for testing a 4-bit Magnitude Comparator Integrated
Circuits in a production line. Comparatively, our result demonstrates that the proposed strategy outperforms the traditional block partitioning strategy with the mutant score of 100% to 90%, respectively, with the same number of test cases.
From Random Telegraph to Gaussian Stochastic Noises: Decoherence and Spectral Diffusion in a Semiconductor Quantum Dot
Authors: Berthelot A. , Voisin C. , Delalande C. , Roussignol Ph. , Ferreira R. , Cassabois G.
Published: February 2010

We present a general theoretical description of the extrinsic dephasing mechanism of spectral diffusion that dominates the decoherence dynamics in semiconductor quantum dots at low temperature. We discuss the limits of random
telegraph and Gaussian stochastic noises and show that the combination of both approaches in the framework of the pre‐Gaussian noise theory allows a quantitative interpretation of high‐resolution experiments in single semiconductor quantum dots.
We emphasize the generality and the versatility of our model where the inclusion of asymmetric jump processes appears as an essential extension for the understanding of semiconductor quantum dot physics.
Improvement of EEG Signal Acquisition: An Electrical Aspect for State of the Art of Front End
Authors: Usakli Ali Bulent
Published: February 2010

The aim of this study is to present some practical state-of-the-art considerations in acquiring satisfactory signals for electroencephalographic signal acquisition. These considerations are important for users and system designers. Especially choosing correct electrode and design strategy of the initial electronic circuitry front end plays an important role in improving the system's measurement performance. Considering the pitfalls in the design of biopotential measurement system and recording session conditions creates better accuracy. In electroencephalogram (EEG) recording electrodes, system electronics including filtering, amplifying, signal conversion, data storing, and environmental conditions affect the recording performance. In this paper, EEG electrode principles and main points of electronic noise reduction methods in EEG signal acquisition front end are discussed, and some suggestions for improving signal acquisition are presented.
The Effect of Ingested Macronutrients on Postprandial Ghrelin Response: A Critical Review of Existing Literature Data
Authors: Koliaki Chrysi , Kokkinos Alexander , Tentolouris Nicholas , Katsilambros Nicholas
Published: February 2010

Ghrelin is a powerful orexigenic gut hormone with growth hormone releasing activity. It plays a pivotal role for long-term energy balance and short-term food intake. It is also recognized as a potent signal for meal initiation. Ghrelin levels rise sharply before feeding onset, and are strongly suppressed by food ingestion. Postprandial ghrelin response is totally macronutrient specific in normal weight subjects, but is rather independent of macronutrient composition in obese. In rodents and lean individuals, isoenergetic meals of different macronutrient content suppress ghrelin to a variable extent. Carbohydrate appears to be the most effective macronutrient for ghrelin suppression, because of its rapid absorption and insulin-secreting effect. Protein induces prolonged ghrelin suppression and is considered to be the most satiating macronutrient. Fat, on the other hand, exhibits rather weak and insufficient ghrelin-suppressing capacity. The principal mediators involved in meal-induced ghrelin regulation are glucose, insulin, gastrointestinal hormones released in the postabsorptive phase, vagal activity, gastric emptying rate, and postprandial alterations in intestinal osmolarity.
Robustness of Mann Type Algorithm with Perturbed Mapping for Nonexpansive Mappings in Banach Spaces
Authors: Ceng LC , Liou YC , Yao JC
Published: February 2010

The purpose of this paper is to study the robustness of Mann type algorithm in the sense that approximately perturbed mapping does not alter the convergence of Mann type algorithm. It is proven that Mann type algorithm with perturbed mapping "Equation missing" remains convergent in a Banach space setting where "Equation missing", "Equation missing" a nonexpansive mapping, "Equation missing", "Equation missing", errors and "Equation missing" a strongly accretive and strictly pseudocontractive mapping.
Prognostic Applications of Gene Expression Signatures in Breast Cancer
Authors: Normanno Nicola , De Luca Antonella , Carotenuto Pietro , Lamura Luana , Oliva Ilaria , D’Alessio Amelia
Published: February 2010

Analysis by DNA microarrays has led to the identification of molecular subtypes of breast carcinomas that show a distinct expression profile. Several studies have demonstrated that this ‘intrinsic subtype’ classification has a strong prognostic value. In addition, gene expression profiling techniques have been used to identify gene signatures that could be associated with the outcome of breast cancer patients. Several different genomic tests have been shown to better define the prognosis of early-stage breast cancer patients as compared with conventional clinical and pathological characteristics of the tumors, and some assays are already commercially available. However, it must be emphasized that the prognostic power of these genetic classifiers has not been confirmed yet in prospective trials. Genetic signatures that might predict the activity of specific chemotherapy agents have also been developed by using gene expression profiling techniques. The same approach has been used to identify gene signatures associated with the activation of oncogenic pathways that might represent targets for molecular therapy of breast cancer. By using these approaches, gene expression techniques might significantly improve our ability to predict the risk of recurrence and to tailor the treatment for each individual breast cancer patient.
Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Giuliani F. , Colucci G.
Published: February 2010

As a result of progresses in surveillance programs and improvements in diagnosis, an increased number of hepatocellular carcinomas are diagnosed in early stage, when effective treatment options are available. Surgical resection, liver transplantation and radiofrequency ablation are considered potentially curative treatments and may be successfully applied when the disease is limited. In intermediate and advanced stages only palliative therapies can be employed and chemoembolization and the oral dual inhibitor sorafenib are considered the treatments of choice. Future directions will explore the role of sorafenib in the adjuvant setting, the addition of sorafenib to chemoembolization procedures and the combination of sorafenib with chemotherapeutic agents or other biological drugs in advanced stages of disease.
Adjuvant Therapy in Colon Cancer
Authors: Lombardi Lucia , Gebbia Vittorio , Silvestris Nicola , Testa Antonio , Colucci Giuseppe , Maiello Evaristo
Published: February 2010

Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Approximately three quarters of patients are diagnosed with disease limited to the bowel wall or surrounding lymph nodes. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in the treatment of localized colon cancer. The use of adjuvant chemotherapy has improved prognosis in stage III disease, but much work remains to be done in optimizing adjuvant treatment. The FOLFOX4 regimen is now considered standard treatment for stage III disease. Combinations of irinotecan and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) have not proven to be more effective than 5-FU/folinic acid. In stage II, the value of post-operative treatment remains controversial, but the identification of histopathological and molecular prognostic factors would allow selection of patients who can benefit from adjuvanttreatment. The inclusion of molecular targeted agents in combination regimens with cytotoxins, which have already proven effective in advanced disease, is the main field of development in the most recent protocols of adjuvant therapy.
MicroRNAs as a New Potential Therapeutic Opportunity in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Authors: Boni V. , Bandres E. , Zarate R. , Colucci G. , Maiello E. , Garcia-Foncillas J.
Published: February 2010

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) comprise an abundant class of small non-coding RNAs that act as important post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression. Accumulating evidence shows that aberrantly expressed miRNAs play important roles in human cancers and underscores them as potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Basic research has provided strong evidence about the role of miRNA as oncogenes and as tumor suppressor genes in cancer. In accord with this finding, miRNA-based cancer therapy is a very interesting field of investigation that offers the appeal of targeting multiple gene networks controlled by a single, aberrantly expressed miRNA. A new door in cancer research is opening and it may lead to the modulation of miRNAs.
Biological Prognostic and Predictive Factors in Lung Cancer
Authors: Rossi Antonio , Galetta Domenico , Gridelli Cesare
Published: February 2010

The inclusion of new drugs in clinical research and practice has allowed improvements in several outcomes of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Among these drugs, very interesting results have been obtained from pemetrexed and new targeted agents, including the inhibitors of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) such as gefitinib, erlotinib and cetuximab. Unfortunately, these new drugs when investigated for the treatment of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) reported negative results. The results of these investigations seem to be related to specific factors that could indicate which patients could benefit from each specific therapy. Therefore, several clinical and biological factors might find use as prognostic or predictive markers. A prognostic factor provides information on outcome, independent of the therapy that is used. In contrast, a predictive factor provides information on outcome with regard to a specific therapy. Some factors, such as EGFR mutations, are both prognostic and predictive. In the present paper, we review data related to thymidylate synthase, EGFR and K-ras mutations, the most important biologic prognostic and/or predictive factors related to pemetrexed, gefitinib, erlotinib and cetuximab therapy in the treatment of advanced NSCLC and in SCLC patients.
Evolution of Therapy Decision-Making Process for Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Gebbia Vittorio , Mancuso Gianfranco , Lombardi Lucia , Maiello Evaristo
Published: February 2010

Advanced non-small cell lung cancer remains a lethal disease with poor prognosis. In the last decades results of systemic chemotherapy have reached a disappointing plateau without significant differences between the most widely employed third-generation regimens. Recent scientific evidence has shed new light on the management of advanced non-small cell lung cancer, especially for the important role of histological definition in therapy-planning process. The results of new biologic agents are also reported as are the promising data on pharmacogenomic-guided treatment.
Diabetes Is Associated with Increased Rate of Cognitive Decline in Questionably Demented Elderly
Authors: Ravona-Springer Ramit , Luo Xiaodong , Schmeidler James , Wysocki Michael , Lesser Gerson , Rapp Michael , Dahlman Karen , Grossman Hillel , Haroutunian Vahram , Schnaider Beeri Michal
Published: February 2010

Background: This study examines whether the association of diabetes with the rate of cognitive decline varies according to dementia severity. Methods: Longitudinal study on subjects residing in nursing homes and assisted living (n = 342). The Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to measure the rate of cognitive decline in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects who were nondemented (Clinical Dementia Rating, CDR = 0; n = 125), questionably demented (CDR = 0.5; n = 58) or frankly demented (CDR ≧1; n = 89) at baseline. Diagnosis of diabetes was ascertained by review of medical records and history. Results: Diabetes was associated with an increased rate of decline in the MMSE score of questionably demented subjects (p < 0.0001). In frankly demented subjects, diabetes tended to be associated with less cognitive decline (p = 0.04). Diabetes was not associated with the rate of MMSE decline in nondemented subjects (p = 0.89). Conclusion: In individuals with questionable dementia (CDR = 0.5), diabetes is associated with a faster rate of cognitive decline as measured by the MMSE, but not in nondemented (CDR = 0) or frankly demented (CDR ≧1) individuals.
Differential Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Stroke Evolution between New Lesions and Lesion Growth: Perfusion-Weighted Imaging Study
Authors: Bang Oh Young , Kim Gyeong Moon , Chung Chin Sang , Kim Suk Jae , Kim Keon Ha , Jeon Pyoung , Saver Jeffrey L. , Liebeskind David S. , Lee Kwang Ho
Published: February 2010

Background: Stroke evolution frequently occurs during the first week after stroke. However, the association between the type of stroke evolution and baseline perfusion severity has not been investigated. Methods: We analyzed clinical and serial MRI data on patients with acute middle cerebral artery infarcts. Multimodal MRIs were acquired before treatment and on day 7. Time to peak (Tmax) perfusion lesion maps were then generated, and changes in the day 7 diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) were classified; new lesions were defined as new DWI lesions not contiguous with initial abnormalities, and infarct growth as enlargement of DWI lesions. Results: Among 74 patients (mean age 64.2 years), 51 received recanalization therapy. The day 7 DWI revealed the presence of new lesions in 39 cases (52.7%) and infarct growth (mean ± SD 20.0 ± 4.3 ml) in 52. No correlation was observed between new lesion and infarct growth (r = 0.029, p = 0.805). Most new lesions were multiple and small, located in cortical/superficial areas and within the mild perfusion delay (2 ≤ Tmax < 4 s) regions, whereas infarct growth generally occurred within the severer perfusion delay regions. Multiple regression analysis revealed that large mild perfusion delay was independently associated with new lesions, whereas large initial DWI lesions and a severer perfusion delay (4 ≤ Tmax < 8 s) were associated with infarct growth. In terms of treatment, endovascular therapy was associated with new lesions, whereas the degree of angiographic recanalization was inversely associated with infarct growth. Conclusions: The types of stroke evolution differed depending on the baseline hypoperfusion severity, and the mode and effect of recanalization therapy. A poor correlation was observed between new lesions and infarct growth.
Postcarotid Endarterectomy Improvement in Cognition Is Associated with Resolution of Crossed Cerebellar Hypoperfusion and Increase in 123I-Iomazenil Uptake in the Cerebral Cortex: A SPECT Study
Authors: Chida Kohei , Ogasawara Kuniaki , Aso Kenta , Suga Yasunori , Kobayashi Masakazu , Yoshida Kenji , Terasaki Kazunori , Tsushina Eiki , Ogawa Akira
Published: February 2010

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether resolution of crossed cerebellar hypoperfusion (CCH) and increase in 123I-iomazenil (IMZ) uptake in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) are associated with postoperative improvement of cognitive function. Methods: Neuropsychological testing was performed preoperatively and after 1 postoperative month in 79 patients undergoing CEA for ipsilateral internal carotid artery stenosis (≧70%). Brain perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) using N-isopropyl-p-123I-iodoamphetamine and 123I-IMZ SPECT were also performed before and after surgery. Data were analyzed using a three-dimensional stereotaxic region of interest template. Results: Seven patients (9%) showed improvement in postoperative cognitive function. All the 7 patients exhibited both postoperative increase in blood flow in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex and resolution of CCH. Five patients (6%) had a postoperative hemispheric increase in 123I-IMZ uptake, and cognitive function improved in all of these 5 patients. Analysis by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to estimate the ability to discriminate between patients with and without postoperative cognitive improvement. The area under the ROC curve was significantly greater when analyzing the magnitude of postoperative resolution of CCH (0.991; 95% CI 0.984–1.001) or postoperative hemispheric increase in 123I-IMZ uptake (0.981; 95% CI 0.972–0.999) when compared with the magnitude of postoperative increase in cerebral blood flow (0.929; 95% CI 0.886–0.971) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Resolution of CCH and increase in 123I-IMZ uptake in the ipsilateral cerebral cortex after CEA is associated with postoperative improvement in cognitive function. These results may indicate that cognitive impairment is related to a state of potentially reversible central benzodiazepine receptor downregulation in the cortex in response to transient ischemic attack or minor stroke.