bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recursion principles for syntax with bindings and substitution
Authors: Popescu Andrei , Gunter Elsa L.
Published: September 2011

We characterize the data type of terms with bindings, freshness and substitution, as an initial model in a suitable Horn theory. This characterization yields a convenient recursive definition principle, which we have formalized in Isabelle/HOL and employed in a series of case studies taken from the λ-calculus literature.
Proving the unique fixed-point principle correct
Authors: Hinze Ralf , James Daniel W.H.
Published: September 2011

Say you want to prove something about an infinite data-structure, such as a stream or an infinite tree, but you would rather not subject yourself to coinduction. The unique fixed-point principle is an easy-to-use, calculational alternative. The proof technique rests on the fact that certain recursion equations have unique solutions; if two elements of a coinductive type satisfy the same equation of this kind, then they are equal. In this paper we precisely characterize the conditions that guarantee a unique solution. Significantly, we do so not with a syntactic criterion, but with a semantic one that stems from the categorical notion of naturality. Our development is based on distributive laws and bialgebras, and draws heavily on Turi and Plotkin's pioneering work on mathematical operational semantics. Along the way, we break down the design space in two dimensions, leading to a total of nine points. Each gives rise to varying degrees of expressiveness, and we will discuss three in depth. Furthermore, our development is generic in the syntax of equations and in the behaviour they encode - we are not caged in the world of streams.
An equivalence-preserving CPS translation via multi-language semantics
Authors: Ahmed Amal , Blume Matthias
Published: September 2011

Language-based security relies on the assumption that all potential attacks follow the rules of the language in question. When programs are compiled into a different language, this is true only if the translation process preserves observational equivalence.

To prove that a translation preserves equivalence, one must show that if two program fragments cannot be distinguished by any source context, then their translations cannot be distinguished by any target context. Informally, target contexts must be no more powerful than source contexts, i.e., for every target context there exists a source context that "behaves the same." This seems to amount to being able to "back-translate" arbitrary target terms. However, that is simply not viable for practical compilers where the target language is lower-level and, thus, contains expressions that have no source equivalent.

In this paper, we give a CPS translation from a less expressive source language (STLC) to a more expressive target language (System F) and prove that the translation preserves observational equivalence. The key to our equivalence-preserving compilation is the choice of the right type translation: a source type σ mandates a set of behaviors and we must ensure that its translation σ
+
mandates semantically equivalent behaviors at the target level. Based on this type translation, we demonstrate how to prove that for every target term of type σ
+
, there exists an equivalent source term of type σ- even when sub-terms of the target term are not necessarily "back-translatable" themselves. A key novelty of our proof, resulting in a pleasant proof structure, is that it leverages a multi-language semantics where source and target terms may interoperate.
Guest column
Authors: Williams Ryan
Published: September 2011

I will discuss the recent proof that the complexity class NEXP (nondeterministic exponential time) lacks nonuniform ACC circuits of polynomial size. The proof will be described from the perspective of someone trying to discover it.
Robust watermarking in iris recognition
Authors: Hämmerle-Uhl Jutta , Raab Karl , Uhl Andreas
Published: September 2011

Watermarking has been suggested as a means to improve security of biometric systems. We discuss application scenarios for resolving various security issues in this context. As embedding watermarks changes biometric data, degraded recognition performance using such data may be expected. We experimentally investigate the impact of applying a set of blind robust watermarking schemes on the recognition performance of two iris recognition algorithms. We find that different watermarking schemes result in a very different amount of impact rendering the choice of a particular watermarking scheme an important issue to be considered in the investigated context.
CloudBridge
Authors: Sen Aritra , Garg Ankit , Verma Akshat , Nayak Tapan
Published: September 2011

Data center consolidation has emerged as an important tool to improve the hardware utilization of data centers and reduce delivery costs. Consolidation has traditionally used virtualization to consolidate multiple workloads as different virtual machines running on a shared physical server. Consolidation leads to reduction in the hardware and the facilities cost (e.g., space and energy) but does not reduce software maintenance cost, which is often proportional to the number of instances of the software. The ever-increasing proportion of software cost (labour and license) in data center operations make software consolidation an important tool in data centers.

In this work, we investigate the problem of data center consolidation with the goal of minimizing the total costs in running a data center. We build on existing work on virtualization-driven hardware consolidation and software consolidation to design CloudBridge that reduces total data center cost. CloudBridge uses an algorithm for finding the optimal software consolidation level for workloads consolidated on a physical server. Further, it intelligently optimizes the tradeoff between hardware and software consolidation to identify suitable workloads that should be co-located on a shared physical server. We present both theoretical and experimental evidence that establishes the effectiveness of CloudBridge.
A survey on energy-efficient data management
Authors: Wang Jun , Feng Ling , Xue Wenwei , Song Zhanjiang
Published: September 2011

Energy management has now become a critical and urgent issue in green computing. A lot of efforts have been made on energy-efficiency computing at various levels from individual hardware components, system software, to applications. In this paper, we describe the energyefficiency computing problem, as well as possible strategies to tackle the problem. We survey some recently developed energy-saving data management techniques. Benchmarks and power models are described in the end for the evaluation of energy-efficiency solutions.
Posterior Urethral Valves: Renal Failure and Prenatal Treatment
Authors: Casella Daniel P. , Tomaszewski Jeffrey J. , Ost Michael C.
Published: September 2011

Posterior urethral valves occur in 1 : 5000 live births. Despite the high prevalence, the few children that survive do poorly, with over 50% progressing to ESRD in 10 years. The gold standard for post-natal diagnosis is voiding cystourethrography, while pre-natal diagnosis is dependent on routine screening ultrasonography. Despite the ability to identify features of bladder outlet obstruction early in fetal development, there is no consensus on how to incorporate early detection into current screening protocols. There has yet to be a marker that allows prediction of obstruction in the absence of or prior to radiographic evidence of obstruction. With our current screening strategy, the majority of interventions are performed well after irreversible damage has occurred. Improved mortality and long term morbidity from posterior urethral valves and congenital bladder outlet obstruction will likely remain unchanged until it is possible to intervene prior to the onset of irreversible renal damage. New biologic markers and improved instrumentation will allow for more effective diagnosis and intervention at earlier stages of fetal development.
Upregulation of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Contributes to Attenuated Cutaneous Vasodilation in Essential Hypertensive Humans
Authors: Smith Caroline J. , Santhanam Lakshmi , Bruning Rebecca S. , Stanhewicz Anna , Berkowitz Dan E. , Holowatz Lacy A.
Published: September 2011

Essential hypertension is a proinflammatory, proconstrictor disease coinciding with endothelial dysfunction and inward vessel remodeling. Using the skin circulation, our aim was to determine whether inducible NO synthase (iNOS) upregulation attenuates NO-dependent cutaneous vasodilation in hypertensive humans. We hypothesized that, with hypertension, localized iNOS inhibition would restore vasodilation in response to NO-dependent stimuli, and iNOS expression would be increased and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein would be decreased. For, in vivo protocols, 4 intradermal microdialysis fibers were placed in 9 hypertensive and 10 normotensive men and women (systolic blood pressure: 146±4 versus 113±2 mm Hg;
P
<0.001). Microdialysis fibers served as control, iNOS inhibited (1400 W), neuronal NO synthase inhibited (

N
ω
-

propyl

-
l

-arginine), and nonselective NOS inhibited (
N
G
-nitro-
l
-arginine methyl ester). Cutaneous vascular conductance was calculated (percentage of sodium nitroprusside) during standardized local heating (42°C) and acetylcholine dose-response protocols (0.01, 0.10, 1.00, 5.00, 10.00, 50.00, 100.00 mmol/L). The NO-dependent local heating response was attenuated at control (95±2% versus 76±2% cutaneous vascular conductance;
P
<0.05) and neuronal NO synthase–inhibited sites (94±4% versus 77±3% cutaneous vascular conductance;
P
<0.01) in hypertensives. iNOS inhibition augmented the NO-dependent local heating response (93±2% versus 89±10% cutaneous vascular conductance). Acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was attenuated in control sites at doses ≥0.1 mmol/L of acetylcholine in hypertensives and was restored with iNOS inhibition (0.1 mmol/L,
P
<0.05; 1, 5, and 10 mmol/L,
P
<0.001; 50 and 100 mmol/L,
P
<0.01). In vitro iNOS expression was increased (
P
=0.006) and phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein was decreased in skin from hypertensive humans (
P
=0.04). These data suggest that iNOS is upregulated in essential hypertensive humans and contributes to reduced NO-dependent cutaneous vasodilation.
Addressing the Urban Housing Problem: Does Subsidizing Homeownership Best Meet the Housing Needs of Urban Squatter Households?
Authors: Monsod Toby C.
Published: September 2011

Urban housing programs in the Philippines have narrowly focused on maximizing the output of new houses and sites for sale at below market prices, an approach that presumes that subsidizing homeownership is the best way to meet the housing needs of urban squatter households. By estimating housing choice in an urban setting and measuring the responses of squatter households to changes in housing costs and different housing policies, this paper demonstrates otherwise.
Longitudinal variability of time-location/activity patterns of population at different ages: a longitudinal study in California
Authors: Wu Xiangmei , Bennett Deborah H , Lee Kiyoung , Cassady Diana L , Ritz Beate , Hertz-Picciotto Irva
Published: September 2011

Background

Longitudinal time-activity data are important for exposure modeling, since the extent to which short-term time-activity data represent long-term activity patterns is not well understood. This study was designed to evaluate longitudinal variations in human time-activity patterns.

Method

We report on 24-hour recall diaries and questionnaires collected via the internet from 151 parents of young children (mostly under age 55), and from 55 older adults of ages 55 and older, for both a weekday and a weekend day every three months over an 18-month period. Parents also provided data for their children. The self-administrated diary and questionnaire distinguished ~30 frequently visited microenvironments and ~20 activities which we selected to represent opportunities for exposure to toxic environmental compounds. Due to the non-normal distribution of time-location/activity data, we employed generalized linear mixed-distribution mixed-effect models to examine intra- and inter-individual variations. Here we describe variation in the likelihood of and time spent engaging in an activity or being in a microenvironment by age group, day-type (weekday/weekend), season (warm/cool), sex, employment status, and over the follow-up period.

Results

As expected, day-type and season influence time spent in many location and activity categories. Longitudinal changes were also observed, e.g., young children slept less with increasing follow-up, transit time increased, and time spent on working and shopping decreased during the study, possibly related to human physiological changes with age and changes in macro-economic factors such as gas prices and the economic recession.

Conclusions

This study provides valuable new information about time-activity assessed longitudinally in three major age groups and greatly expands our knowledge about intra- and inter-individual variations in time-location/activity patterns. Longitudinal variations beyond weekly and seasonal patterns should be taken into account in simulating long-term time-activity patterns in exposure modeling.
“Japayuki,” or, Spectacles for the Transnational Middle Class
Authors: Suzuki Nobue
Published: September 2011

Although “vaginal commodities”—feminized and sexualized bodies in the economic system—are found everywhere on the globe today, this article focuses on the ways in which such sexualized images of the Filipino “Japayuki” entertainers working in Japan have been produced and consumed. Suzuki will trace the history of this fantasy production back to the 1970s when the Japanese first began to construct the workers in a particular way. Subsequently, these images became widely circulated among the transnational public in which most eager consumers of these representations are the transnational middle class such as advocates, academics, lawmakers, and the media people, including the Philippine elite. Recently, such overt sexualization of the workers has also subjected Filipino male workers in the night businesses. Whatever workers' sex and sexual orientation, they are seen not as humans but as objects of sex. They are feminized by the hands of the indifferent narrators of the images, and the workers' entirety as humans is reduced to those who are only good at making a living in bed. To analyze, Suzuki takes “Philippine cinema,” the theme of this journal, to mean a site that both veils and invokes global audiences' particular visual fantasies about laboring Filipina/o entertainers. The data used here are queer and drawn not only from filmic but also from printed and audio materials. The time period covered is from the 1970s to March 2005, when the Japanese government suddenly tightened the issuance of the entertainer visas.
In the Womb of the Global Economy: Anak and the Construction of Transnational Imaginaries
Authors: Raymundo Sarah
Published: September 2011

This article intervenes into the connections between Philippine cinema's construction of transnational imaginaries and the post-Marcos era when neoliberal policies such as the export of feminized labor to developed countries by so-called “third world” countries like the Philippines have produced not only cultural values that are attuned to the culture of diasporic labor but also economic value in the form of spectatorship constantly mined by capital for its continued stability. To illustrate these connections, this study focuses on the discourses of narrative imperialism, national fantasy, and infantilized citizenship as ideological tropes that resolve the film's representation of prescribed feminine virtue, anxiety, melancholy, and maternal sacrifice. These discourses are constitutive of an invaginated visual economy that derives its conditions of possibility from the feminization of migrant labor in global capitalism. The invaginated visual economy inserts itself in the womb of the global economy through the production of transnational imaginaries, which in turn contradict not only the actual experience of warm-body export but also the worldwide solidarity movement among overseas Filipino workers who, beyond cinematic mediation, are beginning to fight back.
Can Government Purchases Stimulate the Economy?
Authors: Ramey Valerie A
Published: September 2011

This essay briefly reviews the state of knowledge about the government spending multiplier. Drawing on theoretical work, aggregate empirical estimates from the United States, as well as cross-locality estimates, I assess the likely range of multiplier values for the experiment most relevant to the stimulus package debate: a temporary, deficit-financed increase in government purchases. I conclude that the multiplier for this type of spending is probably between 0.8 and 1.5. (JEL E23, E62, H50)
An Empirical Analysis of the Revival of Fiscal Activism in the 2000s
Authors: Taylor John B
Published: September 2011

An empirical review of the three fiscal stimulus packages of the 2000s shows that they had little if any direct impact on consumption or government purchases. Households largely saved the transfers and tax rebates. The federal government only increased purchases by a small amount. State and local governments saved their stimulus grants and shifted spending away from purchases to transfers. Counterfactual simulations show that the stimulus-induced decrease in state and local government purchases was larger than the increase in federal purchases. Simulations also show that a larger stimulus package with the same design as the 2009 stimulus would not have increased government purchases or consumption by a larger amount. These results raise doubts about the efficacy of such packages adding weight to similar assessments reached more than thirty years ago. (JEL E21, E23, E32, E62, H50)
High-frequency oscillatory ventilation attenuates oxidative lung injury in a rabbit model of acute lung injury
Authors: Ronchi Carlos Fernando , dos Anjos Ferreira Ana Lucia , Campos Fabio Joly , Kurokawa Cilmery Suemi , Carpi Mario Ferreira , de Moraes Marcos Aurelio , Bonatto Rossano Cesar , Defaveri Julio , Yeum Kyung-Jin , Fioretto Jose Roberto
Published: September 2011

Mechanical ventilation (MV) can induce lung oxidative stress, which plays an important role in pulmonary injury. This study compared protective conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) and high-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) for oxygenation, oxidative stress, inflammatory and histopathological lung injury in a rabbit model of acute lung injury (ALI). Rabbits ( n = 30) were ventilated at FiO2 1.0. Lung injury was induced by tracheal saline infusion (30 mL/kg, 38°C). Animals were randomly assigned to: (a) sham control (CG: tidal volume [ VT] 6 mL/kg, positive end expiratory pressure [PEEP] 5 cmH2O, respiratory rate [RR] 40 ipm); (b) ALI + CMV (CMVG: VT 6 mL/kg, PEEP 10 cmH2O, RR 40 ipm); or (c) ALI + HFOV (HFG: mean airway pressure [Paw] 14 cmH2O, RR 10 Hz) groups. Lung oxidative stress was assessed by total antioxidant performance assay, inflammatory response by the number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes/bronchoalveolar lavage fluid/lung and pulmonary histological damage was quantified by a score. Ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters were recorded every 30 min. Both ALI groups showed worse oxygenation after lung injury induction. After four hours of ventilation, HFG showed better oxygenation (partial pressure of oxygen [PaO2] – CG: 465.9 ± 30.5 = HFG: 399.1 ± 98.2 > CMVG: 232.7 ± 104 mmHg, P < 0.05) and inflammatory responses (CMVG: 4.27 ± 1.50 > HFG: 0.33 ± 0.20 = CG: 0.16 ± 0.15; polymorphonuclear cells/bronchoalveolar lavage fluid/lung, P < 0.05), less histopathological injury score (CMVG: 5 [1–16] > HFG: 1 [0–5] > CG: 0 [0–3]; P < 0.05), and lower lung oxidative stress than CMVG (CG: 59.4 ± 4.52 = HFG: 69.0 ± 4.99 > CMVG: 47.6 ± 2.58% protection/g protein, P < 0.05). This study showed that HFOV had an important protective role in ALI. It improved oxygenation, reduced inflammatory process and histopathological damage, and attenuated oxidative lung injury compared with protective CMV under these experimental conditions considering the study limitations.
Efficient Nested Simulation for Estimating the Variance of a Conditional Expectation
Authors: Sun Yunpeng , Apley Daniel W. , Staum Jeremy
Published: September 2011

In a two-level nested simulation, an outer level of simulation samples scenarios, while the inner level uses simulation to estimate a conditional expectation given the scenario. Applications include financial risk management, assessing the effects of simulation input uncertainty, and computing the expected value of gathering more information in decision theory. We show that an ANOVA-like estimator of the variance of the conditional expectation is unbiased under mild conditions, and we discuss the optimal number of inner-level samples to minimize this estimator's variance given a fixed computational budget. We show that as the computational budget increases, the optimal number of inner-level samples remains bounded. This finding contrasts with previous work on two-level simulation problems in which the inner- and outer-level sample sizes must both grow without bound for the estimation error to approach zero. The finding implies that the variance of a conditional expectation can be estimated to arbitrarily high precision by a simulation experiment with a fixed inner-level computational effort per scenario, which we call a one-and-a-half-level simulation. Because the optimal number of inner-level samples is often quite small, a one-and-a-half-level simulation can avoid the heavy computational burden typically associated with two-level simulation.
Revisiting the conjugation classes of Eastern Highlands Otomi
Authors: Palancar Enrique L.
Published: September 2011

Eastern Highlands is an Otomi language (Oto-Pamean, Oto-Manguean) spoken in the municipality of Huehuetla in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico. Voigtlander & Echegoyen (1979, 2007) propose that this Otomi language has up to seven conjugation classes. In this paper, I propose an alternative analysis of such conjugations by studying a sample of 2,000 verbs. I claim that one nasal marker involved in the paradigms of two of the alleged classes has a derivational function rather than being inflectional. The proposal reduces the complexities of the inflectional system of Eastern Highlands Otomi setting the number of conjugation classes to only five of them.
Structural Studies of Hydrogen Storage Alloys using X-ray/Neutron Diffraction and Total Scattering
Authors: Nakamura Yumiko , Kim Hyunjeong , Yamazaki Saishun , Sakaki Kouji , Proffen Thomas , Akiba Etsuo
Published: September 2011

Crystal and local structures and hydrogen occupation of Mg containing materials, (Mg,Ca)Nix (x = 2, 3) intermetallic compounds and a MgCo metastable alloy, have been investigated using in-situ and ex-situ X-ray/neutron diffraction and total scattering.

A C15 Laves phase (Mg0.67Ca0.33)Ni2 showed isotropic lattice expansion upon hydrogenation. Mg and Ca occupied the same site randomly. It has two hydrogen sites, Mg(Ca)2Ni2 site and M(Ca)Ni3 site.

Mg2CaNi9, MgCa2Ni9, and CaNi3 compounds consisted of MgZn2-type (Mg,Ca)2Ni4 cell and CaCu5-type CaNi5 cell stacking along the c-axis. The MgZn2-type cell was occupied by only Mg in Mg2CaNi9, and randomly occupied by both Mg and Ca in MgCa2Ni9. Expansion of this cell strongly depended on the composition: larger expansion was observed in a Ca-rich composition.

Local structure of a Mg-Co alloy synthesized by mechanical alloying has been studied using the PDF (Pair Distribution Function) method. The analysis suggested that material contained two 1-2 nm domains with different compositions and local structures, i.e. Mg-rich and Co-rich domains, and hydrogen was located only in the Mg-rich domain.
Micro-Structuring of Metal Films by Localized Single-Pulse Laser Irradiation
Authors: Gaddam Chandra Prakash R. , Moening Joseph P. , Jiang Nanke , Georgiev Daniel G.
Published: September 2011

We present data on micrometer-scale localized single-pulse laser irradiation of Au, Cu, Al, or Ti films on borosilicate glass substrates. These metals represent a range of thermal properties, chemical reactivity levels, and relevance to specific applications. A mask projection technique employing a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, emitting at its fourth harmonic of 266nm, was used to produce the irradiation spots in this work. The metal films, deposited by RF-sputtering, had thicknesses of several hundred nanometers. Sample irradiation was performed in either vacuum or ambient air, and the resulting microstructures were examined by electron microscopy. The results indicate that irradiation of Cu films can lead to the formation of bumps, sharp cones or protrusions. However, the controllability of these structures on Cu films is limited, compared to those formed on Au or Si. The results, upon irradiation of Ti films, are limited to melting and surface roughening or ablation openings, regardless of the conditions of irradiation, film thickness, substrate or ambient gas. The modifications that occur within Al films are reproducible, but limited in shape and size.
Channel Strain Characterization in Semiconductor Device by Techniques Based on Transmission Electron Microscope
Authors: Li Jinghong , Johnson Jeff , Chidambarrao Dureseti , Wang Yunyu , Domenicucci Anthony G.
Published: September 2011

Three techniques based on transmission electron microscope (TEM) have been successfully applied to measure strain/stress in the channel area of PMOS semiconductor devices with embedded SiGe in the source/drain areas: convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED), nano beam diffraction (NBD) and dark-filed holography (DFH). Consistent channel strain measurements from the three techniques on the same TEM sample (eSiGe PMOS with 17%Ge) were obtained. Reliable strain/stress measurement results in the channel area have been achieved with very good agreement with computer-aided design (TCAD) calculations.
Assembly of carbon nanotube devices by tip-induced optical trapping
Authors: Xiong W. , Zhou Y.S. , Mitchell M. , Park J.B. , Samani M. M. , Gao Y. , Lu Y.F.
Published: September 2011

Fabrication of nanoscale devices by assembling individual carbon nanotubes (CNTs) remains challenging despite enormous effort made in this field. Fulfilling the promise of CNTs requires more efficient assembly techniques. In this study, we have developed an in-situ assembly method for precise and cost-effective integration of CNTs using a laser-assisted chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) process. Results show that CNTs can be trapped between sharp tip-shaped electrodes due to the optical gradient forces around the tip apexes generated by a CO2 laser irradiation. This method enables the precise assembly of CNT-based field-effect transistors (FETs) and paves the way for the successful implementation of the CNT-based nanoelectronics.
Nutritional reserves of Vochysiaceae seeds: chemical diversity and potential economic uses
Authors: Mayworm Marco A. S , Buckeridge Marcos S , Marquez Ursula M. L , Salatino Antonio
Published: September 2011

Contents of proteins, carbohydrates and oil of seeds of 57 individuals of Vochysiaceae, involving one species of Callisthene, six of Qualea, one of Salvertia and eight of Vochysia were determined. The main nutritional reserves of Vochysiaceae seeds are proteins (20% in average) and oils (21. 6%). Mean of carbohydrate contents was 5. 8%. Callisthene showed the lowest protein content (16. 9%), while Q. cordata was the species with the highest content (30% in average). The contents of ethanol soluble carbohydrates were much higher than those of water soluble carbohydrates. Oil contents lay above 20% for most species (30. 4% in V. pygmaea and V. pyramidalis seeds). The predominant fatty acids are lauric (Q. grandiflora), oleic (Qualea and Salvertia) or acids with longer carbon chains (Salvertia and a group of Vochysia species). The distribution of Vochysiaceae fatty acids suggests for seeds of some species an exploitation as food sources (predominance of oleic acid), for other species an alternative to cocoa butter (high contents or predominance of stearic acid) or the production of lubricants, surfactants, detergents, cosmetics and plastic (predominance of acids with C20 or C22 chains) or biodiesel (predominance of monounsaturated acids). The possibility of exploitation of Vochysiaceae products in a cultivation regimen and in extractive reserves is discussed.
Intellectual property rights related to the genetically modified glyphosate tolerant soybeans in Brazil
Authors: Rodrigues Roberta L , Lage Celso L. S , Vasconcellos Alexandre G
Published: September 2011

The present work analyzes the different modalities of protection of the intellectual creations in the biotechnology agricultural field. Regarding the Brazilian legislations related to the theme (the Industrial Property Law - no. 9. 279/96 and the Plant Variety Protection Law - no. 9. 456/97), and based in the international treaties signed by Brazil, the present work points to the inclusions of each of them, as well as to their interfaces using as reference the case study of glyphosate tolerant genetically modified soybean. For this case study, Monsanto's pipelines patents were searched and used to analyze the limits of patent protection in respect to others related to the Intellectual Property (IP) laws. Thus, it was possible to elucidate the complex scenario of the Intellectual Property of the glyphosate tolerant soybeans, since for the farmer it is hard to correlate the royalties payment with the IP enterprise's rights
Two New Triterpenoids from Lysimachia heterogenea Klatt and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxicity
Authors: Huang Xin-An , Shen Xiao-Ling , Hu Ying-Jie , Liu Ya-Ming , Liu Kang-Lun , Zhang Feng-Xue , Zhou Xin-Xin
Published: September 2011

Two new 13,28-epoxy oleanane-type triterpenoids, namely heterogenoside E and F, were isolated from Lysimachia heterogenea Klatt, together with the eight known compounds: palmitic acid, β-stigmasterol, kaempferol, quercetin, hyperin, isorhamnetin, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactopyranoside and anagallisin C. Heterogenoside F possesses acetoxyl groups at the unusual C-21 and C-22 positions of its oleanane skeleton. The cytotoxic activities of anagallisin C, heterogenoside E and F were weak.
LIMITED DEFORMABILITY DESIGN OF HIGH-STRENGTH CONCRETE BEAMS IN LOW TO MODERATE SEISMICITY REGIONS / STIPRIOJO BETONO SIJŲ RIBINIO DEFORMATYVUMO SKAIČIAVIMAS ŽEMO IR VIDUTINIO SEISMINGUMO REGIONUOSE
Authors: Ho Johnny Ching-Ming , Zhou Kevin Jian-Hui
Published: September 2011

In the design of reinforced concrete (RC) beams located in low-moderate seismicity regions, adequate flexural deformability apart from flexural strength to cater for the imposed seismic demand should be designed. As per the existing RC design codes, this is achieved by restricting the maximum neutral axis depth or tension steel ratio, or limiting the minimum confining steel. However, these deemed-to-satisfy rules were derived many years ago based on normal-strength concrete and steel, which would impair the deformability when applied directly to RC beams made of high-strength materials. To resolve the problem, a new design method based on a prescribed deformability is advocated. In this study, the authors proposed that instead of complying with the deemed-to-satisfy rules, a consistent deformability derived based on the design requirements of Eurocode 2 should be provided to all RC beams located in low-moderate seismicity regions. Using the theoretical formulas developed previously by the authors, two different sets of design values expressed in terms of maximum tension steel ratio and neutral axis to beam effective depths for different concrete and steel yield strengths are evaluated. Finally, simplified guidelines for designing RC beams satisfying the proposed deformability requirement are developed for practical design application. Santrauka Mažo ir vidutinio seismingumo regionuose projektuojant seisminių apkrovų veikiamas gelžbetonines sijas turi būti užtikrinta ne tik jų laikomoji galia, bet ir tinkamas deformatyvumas. Pagal šiuo metu galiojančias gelžbetoninių konstrukcijų projektavimo normas tai pasiekiama ribojant didžiausiąjį skerspjūvio aukštį, tempiamosios zonos armavimo procentą arba ribojant mažiausią armatūros kiekį. Tačiau šios konstravimo taisyklės buvo sukurtos prieš daugelį metų ir skirtos elementams iš normalaus stiprio betono ir armatūros. Jas tiesiogiai taikant gelžbetoninėms sijoms, pagamintoms iš stipriųjų medžiagų, gaunamas sumažintos deformacijos. Šiais problemai spręsti siūlomas naujas projektavimo metodas, paremtas nustatytu deformatyvumu. Autoriai siūlo mažo ir vidutinio seismingumo regionuose visas gelžbetonines sijas projektuoti pasirenkant deformacijas pagal ”Eurokode 2“ pateiktus deformatyvumo reikalavimus. Pagal anksčiau autorių gautas teorines formules skirtingiems betono ir plieno stipriams pateiktos dvi atskiros skaičiuojamųjų rodiklių grupės išreikštos maksimaliu tempiamosios zonos armavimo koeficientu ir efektyviuoju sijos skerspjūvio aukščiu. Praktiniam taikymui sukurtos supaprastintos gelžbetoninių sijų projektavimo rekomendacijos, atitinkančios deformatyvumo reikalavimus.
EFFECT OF X-BRACING CONFIGURATION ON EARTHQUAKE DAMAGE COST OF STEEL BUILDING / KRYŽMINIŲ RYŠIŲ PAVIDALO POVEIKIS PLIENINIŲ KONSTRUKCIJŲ PASTATO APGADINIMO KAINAI DĖL ŽEMĖS DREBĖJIMO
Authors: Seçer Mutlu , Bozdag Özgür
Published: September 2011

Seismic structural design of X-braced steel buildings using life cycle cost analysis aims to reveal the most appropriate structural solution for both satisfying economic aspects and earthquake resistant design code requirements among a number of variant solutions accounting architectural concerns. In this study, five storey X-braced steel building with three different X-bracing configurations is designed using various base shear values and the total cost of each design of three configurations is calculated for different earthquake intensities. Initial costs and the cost of the expected damages caused by future earthquakes are determined for each X-bracing configuration. The maximum interstorey drift ratio is selected as seismic performance parameter for satisfying earthquake code demands and evaluated through nonlinear static analysis. The optimum X-bracing configuration is determined by using the balance between the initial cost and the life-time earthquake damage cost. Santrauka Pasitelkus gyvavimo ciklo kainos analizę, plieninių konstrukcijų pastatų su kryžminiais ryšiais seisminio konstrukcijų projektavimo tikslas – rasti tinkamiausią konstrukcinį sprendimą, kuris atitiktų ekonominę pusę, ir žemės drebėjimui atspariųstatinių projektavimo kodekso reikalavimus, kai, atsižvelgiant įarchitektūrines sąsajas, yra daugybė sprendimų variantų . Šiame tyrime, naudojant įvairias pagrindų šlyties jėgų reikšmes, projektuojamas penkiaaukštis plieninių konstrukcijų pastatas su trimis skirtingais kryžminių ryšių pavidalais ir kiekvienam atvejui iš trijų pavidalų apskaičiuojama bendroji kaina, esant skirtingo stiprumo žemės drebėjimui. Pradinė kaina ir numatomos bū simų žemės drebėjimų padaryto apgadinimo kaina nustatoma kiekvienam kryžminių ryšių pavidalui. Siekiant laikytis žemės drebėjimų kodekso reikalavimų, kaip seisminių charakteristikų rodiklis pasirenkamas didžiausias tarpaukštinės slinkties santykis, kuris įvertinamas naudojant netiesinę statinę analizę. Optimalus kryžminių ryšių pavidalas nustatomas subalansuojant pradinę kainą ir per visą gyva-vimo trukmę žemės drebėjimų padarytos žalos kainą.
Surgical Brain Metastases: Management and Outcome Related to Prognostic Indexes: A Critical Review of a Ten-Year Series
Authors: Caroli Manuela , Di Cristofori Andrea , Lucarella Francesca , Raneri Fabio Angelo , Portaluri Francesco , Gaini Sergio Maria
Published: September 2011

Brain metastasis are the most common neoplastic lesions of the nervous system. Many cancer patients are diagnosed on the basis of a first clinical presentation of cancer on the basis of a single or multiple brain lesions. Brain metastases are manifestations of primary disease progression and often determine a poor prognosis. Not all patients with a brain metastases undergo surgery: many are submitted to alternative or palliative treatments. Management of patients with brain metastases is still controversial, and many studies have been developed to determine which is the best therapy. Furthermore, management of patients operated for a brain metastasis is often difficult. Chemotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, panencephalic radiation therapy, and surgery, in combination or alone, are the means most commonly used. We report our experience in the management of a ten-year series of surgical brain metastasis and discuss our results in the preoperative and postoperative management of this complex condition.
Patient Acceptance, Ease of Use, and Preference for Norditropin NordiFlex with NordiFlex PenMate: Results from an Open-Label, User Survey of Everyday Use
Authors: Hokken-Koelega Anita , Keller Alexandra , Rakov Viatcheslav , Kipper Stefan , Dahlgren Jovanna
Published: September 2011

In this 12-week open-label, uncontrolled study, patients (n=85; mean [SD] age 11.2 [3.95] years) were trained to use an injection device with an automatic needle insertion accessory (NordiFlex/NordiFlex PenMate: Novo Nordisk A/S, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) for growth hormone (GH) injection. The opinions of patients and the physicians/nurses who trained patients on device were recorded by questionnaire. Most (88.4%) patients reported that the device was “very easy/easy" to use. The majority (82.4%) of patients were “very satisfied/satisfied" with the device and 64% wished to continue its use. Device training instructions were reported as “very easy/easy" by 96.1% of physicians/nurses, and 65.8% of participants could use the device after ≤10-minute training. In this study, NordiFlex PenMate was well accepted by patients and medical staff. Patients had a high opinion of the device and over half wished to continue its use. High patient acceptance may facilitate treatment adherence optimizing treatment outcomes.
Time‐variant linear optimal finite impulse response estimator for discrete state‐space models
Authors: Shmaliy Yuriy S. , Ibarra‐Manzano Oscar
Published: September 2011

A general p‐shift linear optimal finite impulse response (FIR) estimator is proposed for filtering (p  =  0), p‐lag smoothing (p  <  0), and p‐step prediction (p  >  0) of discrete time‐varying state‐space models. An optimal solution is found in the batch form with the mean square initial state function self‐determined by solving the discrete algebraic Riccati equation. An unbiased batch solution is shown to be independent on noise and initial conditions. The mean square errors in both the optimal and unbiased estimates have been determined along with the noise power gain and estimate error bound. The following important inferences have been made on the basis of numerical simulation. Unlike the time‐invariant Kalman filter, the relevant optimal FIR one is very less sensitive to noise, especially when N  ≫ 1. Both time varying, the optimal FIR and Kalman estimates trace along almost the same trajectories with similar errors and sensitivities to noise. Overall, the optimal FIR estimator demonstrates better robustness than the Kalman one against faults in the noise description. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How useful is BMI in predicting adiposity indicators in a sample of Maya children and women with high levels of stunting?
Authors: Wilson Hannah J. , Dickinson Federico , Griffiths Paula L. , Azcorra Hugo , Bogin Barry , InÊS Varela‐Silva Maria
Published: September 2011

Objectives:

Body mass index (BMI) is used frequently to estimate adiposity levels in children and adults. However, the applicability of BMI to populations with high levels of stunting has been questioned. Stunted people can have disproportionately short legs, which may increase BMI without increasing body fat because of the relatively larger trunk compared with the legs.

Methods:

A sample of 57 urban Maya schoolchildren, aged 7–9 years (31 boys), and 53 adult women underwent anthropometric assessments and bioelectrical impedance analysis. Multiple linear regression was performed to determine whether the ability of BMI to predict adiposity indicators is altered by stunting and sitting height ratio (SHR). The adiposity indicators were waist circumference, sum of skinfolds, upper arm muscle area, upper arm fat area, and arm fat index.

Results:

BMI was the strongest predictor of all adiposity indicators and in most cases, explained more of the variance in adiposity of Maya children than Maya women. Abdominal adiposity was better predicted by BMI than peripheral adiposity in Maya women and Maya children. Stunting was significant in predicting adiposity in some models but never substantially changed the variance explained. SHR was never a significant predictor.

Conclusions:

The relationship between BMI and adiposity indicators is not changed by stunting status or body proportions in this short population of urban Maya children and women. BMI can be used as an indicator of adiposity for these children but not the women. It is recommended that BMI is used in conjunction with other estimates of body composition. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2011. © 2011Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Alignment of carbon nanotubes in polyimide under electric and magnetic fields
Authors: Romyen Natthakarn , Thongyai Supakanok , Praserthdam Piyasan
Published: September 2011

Usually alignment of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in polymer composites can be induced by a single electrical or magnetic field. Here we report a comparison between the results of simultaneous application of both fields to the polyimide composite and a single field. Alignment of CNT in polyimide was performed under a 2 Tesla magnetic field and various electric fields (150, 300, 450, and 600 V/cm). Polarized Raman spectroscopy was used for assessing the degree of alignment of the nanotubes in the composites and many details of the alignment were examined. The results indicated that at the same electric field strength, incorporation of a magnetic field in a given direction will enhance the level of alignment as compared with only using an electric or magnetic field alone. The best alignment condition was for the CNT samples under parallel magnetic and electric fields. Optical microscopy observations also indicated that nanotube alignment appeared at the highest field strength and decreased when the field strength decreased. A possible mechanism for field alignment is presented. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Copper–amine complexes as new catalysts for rigid polyurethane foam preparations
Authors: Pengjam Wittaya , Saengfak Bhattarin , Ekgasit Sanong , Chantarasiri Nuanphun
Published: September 2011

A new class of catalyst for the preparation of rigid polyurethane (RPUR) foams was developed. Metal(II)–amine complexes [M(en)2 and M(trien), where M = Cu or Ni, en = ethylenediamine, and trien = triethylenetetramine] were synthesized and used as catalysts in the preparation of RPUR foams. The catalytic activity of the metal(II)–amine complexes and properties of the RPUR foams were investigated and compared to those prepared by N,N‐dimethylcyclohexylamine (DMCHA), which is a common commercial tertiary amine catalyst used in the preparation of RPUR foams. The use of M(en)2 and M(trien) can improve the working environment in RPUR foam processing because DMCHA and other commercial tertiary amine catalysts have a strong odor, whereas M(en)2 and M(trien) do not have any odor. The reaction times in RPUR foam preparation, namely, cream time, gel time, tack‐free time, and rise time, were investigated. These data indicated that the copper–ethylenediamine complex [Cu(en)2] and copper–triethylenetetramine complex [Cu(trien)] had comparable catalytic activity to DMCHA, whereas the catalytic activity of the nickel complexes was not good. Attenuated total reflection–IR spectroscopy of the RPUR foams prepared with Cu(en)2 and Cu(trien) showed quantitative isocyanate (NCO) conversion. The density and compressive strength of the RPUR foams prepared from Cu(en)2 and Cu(trien) were comparable to those prepared from DMCHA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Applicability of hemicyanine phenyltrialkylborate salts as free‐radical photoinitiators in the visible‐light polymerization of acrylate
Authors: Jędrzejewska Beata , Pietrzak Marek
Published: September 2011

The photoinitiation ability of photoredox pairs composed of a hemicyanine dye cation and different borate anions for the radical polymerization of 2‐ethyl‐2‐(hydroxymethyl)‐1,3‐propanediol triacrylate was investigated. In such a system, the excited dye chromophore is reduced by different tetraorganylborate anions. Upon irradiation at 488 nm, reductive carbon–boron bond cleavage occurs, producing reactive radicals, which start the chain reaction. The efficiency of bond‐breaking processes was found to be dependent on the nature of both the acceptors and the donors. The experimental results show that the photoinitiating ability of the tested photoredox pairs were controlled by both the driving force of the electron‐transfer process between the electron donor and the electron acceptor and the reactivity of the free radical that resulted from the secondary reactions occurring after the photoinduced electron‐transfer process. Using the nanosecond flash photolysis method, we studied the spectral and kinetic characteristics of the triplet state of cyanine dye and determined the rate constants of the triplet quenching by phenyltrialkylborate salts. The results obtained show that the tetramethylammonium phenyl‐tri‐n‐butylborate (TB7) has a faster electron‐transfer rate than the tetramethylammonium n‐butyltriphenylborate (TB2) salt, which bore only one butyl group attached to the boron. The relative initiator efficiency of the triphenylbutylborate salts, as compared to the corresponding phenyltrialkylborate salts with a common chromophore, was determined. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Effect of m‐nitroaniline doping on the optical humidity‐sensing characteristics of cobalt/poly(vinyl alcohol) nanocomposites
Authors: Adhyapak Parag , Mahapure Poonam , Aiyer Rohini , Gosavi Suresh , Mulik Uttamrao , Amalnerkar Dinesh
Published: September 2011

Cobalt (Co) nanoparticles (with different loadings, 1 and 2 wt %, of Co) were synthesized in situ in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix with and without meta‐nitroaniline (m‐NA) as a dopant (2.5 wt %). The obtained nanocomposite films were characterized with various physicochemical techniques, including ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, X‐ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared analysis. To study the effect of the humidity, the nanocomposite solutions were coated on planar glass substrates. The beam of an He–Ne laser was incident normal to the film surface and was subjected to variable relative humidities (RHs; 4–93%); the transmitted intensity was measured on a photovoltaic diode. Variations in the intensity of light caused by the changes in RH within the range 3–93% were recorded. We optimized the response by varying the film thickness by coating the solution layer by layer. We generated the RH (4–100%) by passing wet water vapors. The neat PVA film of similar thickness gave humidity sensing in the range 78–93% RH. The sensors with m‐NA‐doped Co/PVA gave better sensitivity (6.4 mV/% RH) than the undoped samples (1.78–2.45 mV/% RH), exhibiting a fast response of 3 s (2–93% RH) and a recovery of 10 s (93 to 2% RH). These samples also showed reversible behavior and long‐term stability (for nearly a year) with a good sensitivity and a large dynamic range (2–95% RH). An attempt was made to explain the results on the basis of a bulk mechanism. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012