bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Etch stop in via-hole etching on aluminum interconnection using inductively coupled C2F6 plasma with O2 additive gas
Authors: Imai Shin-ichi , Jiwari Nobuhiro
Published: September 2009

This article describes an etch stop in via-hole etching on an aluminum interconnection line using inductively coupled C2F6 plasma with O2 additive gas under the following conditions: 2700 W source power, 5 mTorr operational pressure, and a total gas flow of 43 SCCM (SCCM denotes cubic centimeter per minute at STP). Via-hole etching is performed with a change in the aspect ratio (AR) under identical etching conditions. Etch-stop behavior in a manufacturing process is investigated as a function of a cumulative etch time. To estimate the etch-stop degree, the etch depth was measured using different structure in a wafer (etch-stop test wafer) from that in a production wafer and by using the test etching conditions. Those conditions are different from the production etching conditions to enhance the detection sensitivity for the etch stop as follows: 2100 W source power, 5 mTorr operational pressure, and 1 SCCM O2 flow rate reduction. As a result, no etch stop in a via-hole fixed at 2.8 AR was seen up to 76.6 h of cumulative etch time. But etch stops occurred in via holes of 0.01 and 1.31 ARs at 0.28 and 1.65 h, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements clarified that aluminum from a via hole at 0.01 AR is emitted and adheres to the chamber components of an upper electrode and a quartz wall. Since the etch stop depends on the via-hole AR, the amount of aluminum emitted from the via hole affects the etch stop. Moreover, after etch stops occur in via holes at 0.01 and 1.31 ARs, the authors confirmed that dummy etching using a bare Si wafer could eliminate the etch-stop state and was an effective method to avoid etch stops. In conclusion, etch stop was induced by aluminum emitted from wafers. The aluminum adheres to the chamber components and functions as a fluorine scavenger. Since the carbon-to-fluorine ratio is increased by aluminum, etch stop occurs in via-hole etching using fluorocarbon plasma.
Phenylbutyrate Induces Antimicrobial Peptide Expression
Authors: Steinmann Jonas , Halldórsson Skarphéđinn , Agerberth Birgitta , Gudmundsson Gudmundur H.
Published: September 2009

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of our first line of defense. Induction of AMPs such as LL-37 of the cathelicidin family might provide a novel approach in treating bacterial infections. In this study we identified 4-phenylbutyrate (PBA) as a novel inducer of AMP expression and investigated affected regulatory pathways. We treated various cell lines with PBA and assessed mRNA expression by real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Cathelicidin AMP (CAMP) gene expression was found to be upregulated in all four cell lines tested. Additionally, we found that the beta-defensin 1 gene was upregulated in the lung epithelial cell line VA10 while being downregulated in the monocytic cell line U937. Further we found that PBA induced CAMP gene expression synergistically with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D
3
at both protein and mRNA levels. The general mechanism of induction of CAMP gene expression by PBA was found to be dependent on protein synthesis. Results from quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments challenge the common view that histone deacetylase inhibitors directly increase CAMP gene expression. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinases MEK1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase attenuate PBA-induced CAMP gene expression. Similarly, α-methylhydrocinnamate (ST7), an analogue of PBA, increases CAMP gene expression. Our findings contribute to understanding of the regulation of AMP expression and suggest that PBA and/or ST7 is a promising drug candidate for treatment of microbial infections by strengthening the epithelial antimicrobial barriers.
Characterization of aCampylobacter jejuniVirK Protein Homolog as a Novel Virulence Determinant
Authors: Novik Veronica , Hofreuter Dirk , Galán Jorge E.
Published: September 2009

Campylobacter jejuniis a leading cause of food-borne illness in the United States. Despite significant recent advances, its mechanisms of pathogenesis are poorly understood. A unique feature of this pathogen is that, with some exceptions, it lacks homologs of known virulence factors from other pathogens. Through a genetic screen, we have identified aC. jejunihomolog of the VirK family of virulence factors, which is essential for antimicrobial peptide resistance and mouse virulence.
Long-Term Immunity to Lethal Acute or Chronic Type IIToxoplasma gondiiInfection Is Effectively Induced in Genetically Susceptible C57BL/6 Mice by Immunization with an Attenuated Type I Vaccine Strain
Authors: Gigley Jason P. , Fox Barbara A. , Bzik David J.
Published: September 2009

C57BL/6 (B6) mice are genetically highly susceptible to chronic type IIToxoplasma gondiiinfections that invariably cause lethal toxoplasmic encephalitis. We examined the ability of an attenuated type I vaccine strain to elicit long-term immunity to lethal acute or chronic type II infections in susceptible B6 mice. Mice immunized with the type Icps1-1vaccine strain were not susceptible to a lethal (100-cyst) challenge with the type II strain ME49. Immunized mice challenged with 10 ME49 cysts exhibited significant reductions in brain cyst and parasite burdens compared to naive mice, regardless of the route of challenge infection. Remarkably,cps1-1strain-immunized B6 mice chronically infected with ME49 survived for at least 12 months without succumbing to the chronic infection. Potent immunity to type II challenge infections persisted for at least 10 months after vaccination. While thecps1-1strain-elicited immunity did not prevent the establishment of a chronic infection or clear established brain cysts,cps1-1strain-elicited CD8+immune T cells significantly inhibited recrudescence of brain cysts during chronic ME49 infection. In addition, we show that uracil starvation of thecps1-1strain induces early markers of bradyzoite differentiation. Collectively, these results suggest that more effective immune control of chronic type II infection in the genetically susceptible B6 background is established by vaccination with the nonreplicating type I uracil auxotrophcps1-1strain.
Chemical Fractionation and Bioavailability of Cobalt-60 to Benthic Deposit-Feeders
Authors: Evans R. Douglas , Andrews Daniel , Cornell R. Jack
Published: September 2009

Concentrations of radiocobalt (60Co) and stable Co were measured in a series of sequential chemical extractions of freshwater sediment cores and in benthic deposit-feeding organisms. In all sediment samples, a large fraction of the stable Co was measured in the strong-acid (residual) extract. Co concentrations in the exchangeable and carbonate-bound fractions decreased with depth in the core, while Co concentrations in the oxide- and organic-bound or sulfide-bound fractions increased. We hypothesize that the changes in Co partitioning result from the decrease in Eh with depth as FeCO3 dissolves and FeS2 forms. 60Co added to sediments was incorporated quickly by the exchangeable, carbonate-bound, and oxide-bound fractions. Very little 60Co was measured in the organic and residual fractions although these fractions contained more than 50% of the total stable Co. The specific activity of 60Co in organisms (Becquerels 60Co per microgram total Co) that were incubated in sediments spiked with radiocobalt was similar to the specific activity of the exchangeable, carbonate, and oxide fractions. The large percentage of Co in the organic and residual fractions was not accumulated by the benthic deposit-feeders. The concentration factor (ratio of organism concentration to sediment concentration) for radioactive Co was the same as that of stable Co from the first three fractions only, which suggests that there may be a relationship between concentration factors and the bioavailable fraction of a contaminant. Specific activity may provide a simple measure of the bioavailable fraction of substances.
Effects of Cadmium, Copper, and Low pH on Ion Fluxes in the Rainbow Trout,Salmo gairdneri
Authors: Reid S. D. , McDonald D. G.
Published: September 2009

Adult and juvenile rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, acclimated to high and low water Ca levels were statically exposed to equimolor concentrations (~ 6.5 μmolùL−1) of Cd or Cu at circumneutral pH or pH 4.8 either alone or in metal/H+combinations for 24 h. Unidirectional fluxes of Ca2+and Na+were measured by means of radiotracers and terminal blood samples were drawn for analysis of Ca2+and Na+. Plasma Ca2+was found not to be a reliable indicator of disturbances in branchial Ca2+fluxes. Cadmium specifically inhibited Ca2+influx, while having no effect on Ca2+efflux and only minor effects on Na+fluxes. The inhibition of Ca2+influx by Cd was modulated by water Ca2+content. Copper altered net Na+flux and plasma Na+in trout, while having only a transient effect on Ca2+homeostasis, the effects of Cu on the net Na+fluxes of trout were not modulated by either water Ca2+or pH. Hydrogen ion perturbed Ca2+dynamics predominantly by stimulating Ca2+efflux, while reducing influx only slightly. Exposure to elevated H+(pH 4.8) had no significant effect on net Na+balance over the 24-h period. These data indicate significant differences in the toxic mechanisms of three metals with similar ligand binding chemistry.
Measures of Optimal Thermal Habitat and Their Relationship to Yields for Four Commercial Fish Species
Authors: Christie Gavin C. , Regier Henry A.
Published: September 2009

Measures of thermal habitat space were developed by integrating, over time during the summer period, the amount of lake bottom area and pelagic volume with water temperatures within species' optimal thermal niches. These species' specific measures, thermal habitat area, THA (hectares per 10 d), and thermal habitat volume, THV (cubic hectometres per 10 d), were used as predictor variables in regression equations estimating the total sustained yield, SY (kilograms per year), of each of four commercially important species: lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush; lake whitefish, Coregonus Clupeaformis; walleye, Stizostedion vitreum vitreum; and northern pike, Esox lucius. One or both of THA and THV were strongly correlated with SY for each of the four species for a set of 21 large north-temperate lakes. Several other habitat variables were assessed with respect to species' SY: total lake area and volume, mean depth, total dissolved solids, and the ratio of the latter two as R. A. Ryder's morphoedaphic index. The various statistical results are interpreted with respect to the ecology of the four species.
Spawning Time and Egg Stage Duration in Northwest Atlantic Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Stocks with Emphasis on Georges and Browns Bank
Authors: Page Fred. H. , Frank Kenneth T.
Published: September 2009

Literature data was used to examine the hypothesis that variation in the spawning time, defined as the peak in egg abundance, of Northwest Atlantic haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) stocks is explained by water temperature and to derive calibration curves relating incubation temperature to haddock egg stage duration. Spawning times occurred, on average, in March on Georges Bank, late April/early May on Browns Bank, and in June/July on the Grand Banks. Temperatures at peak spawning overlapped considerably but differed in terms of phase in the annual temperature cycle. Inter-annual variation in spawning time of Georges Bank haddock varied by 3 mo and was significantly correlated with water temperature. Browns Bank haddock spawning varied by only 1 mo and was not correlated with water temperature. Egg stage duration varied with incubation temperature. A power curve best described the relationship and was used to estimate the historical, annual variation in haddock egg stage duration which ranged from 10 to 20 d (mean = 16 d) on Georges Bank and from 10 to 30 d (mean = 18 d) on Browns Bank during 1946–80. Collectively, our analysis calls into question the generality of the assumption of constant spawning times for marine fish species and provides essential information for field measurement of haddock egg production rates, mortality, advection, and dispersal.
Nutritional Status of Field-Collected Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Larvae from Southwestern Nova Scotia: An Assessment based on Morphometric and Vertical Distribution Data
Authors: Frank Kenneth T. , McRuer Jeff K.
Published: September 2009

The nutritional status of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) larvae was evaluated during May 1986 over a grid of stations exhibiting variable hydrographic conditions in southwestern Nova Scotia. Over the shallow, wellmixed regions of both the nearshore and western cap of Browns Bank, post-yolk sac haddock larvae exhibited below-average values of Fulton's K ((W/SL3) × 100, W = weight; SL = standard length) with a correspondingly high proportion of larvae in poor condition (> 70%). Conversely, larvae in good condition predominated in the deeper, stratified waters on the eastern cap of the Bank and at off-bank stations to the north along the 100-m isobath. These results agree with published field studies that used either histological or biochemical criteria to evaluate larval condition. Larvae in poor condition also exhibited surface-skewed and frequently bimodal depth profiles in contrast with the unimodal profiles centred at middepth of larvae in good condition, a result consistent with the hypothesis that buoyancy increases in starving larvae. The typically low correlation between larval abundance and recruitment may arise from use of abundance data uncorrected for the proportion of larvae in poor condition. Prorating larval survey data by using proxy variables such as stratification intensity may ultimately increase their predictive utility.
Reproductive Biology of Southwest Scotian Shelf Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus)
Authors: Waiwood K. G. , Buzeta M.-I.
Published: September 2009

Information on the reproductive biology of Southwest Scotian Shelf haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) (NAFO Division 4X) is presented including geographic distribution by maturation stage, timing of maturation, seasonal changes in gonad weight, spawning distribution in relation to environmental factors, and fecundity at length, weight, and age. Haddock were found to spawn on Browns, Baccaro, LaHave, and Roseway Banks over sand/gravel substrates. Spawning fish were found in a narrower and colder temperature range than were fish of other maturity stages. Spawning fish were found from April to August with peak activity occurring from April to June. Testes peaked in weight in February and March when they accounted for 1–2.2% of body weight while ovaries reached their maximum size (3.1–12.5% of body weight) from late March to mid-May. The length at 50% maturity varied over the period 1970–85 and these changes were correlated with changes in population biomass. There were no significant differences in fecundity/length relationships with area or year (1983–86) but fecundity for a given size decreased over the spawning season.
Microhabitat Partitioning among Stream-Dwelling juvenile Coho Salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, and Dolly Varden, Salvelinus malma
Authors: Dolloff C. Andrew , Reeves Cordon H.
Published: September 2009

Microhabitat use and partitioning among age 0+ and 1+ coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, and age 0+, 1+ and 2+ Dolly Varden, Salvelinus malma, was studied in small (<2 m wide), natural streams on Prince of Wales Island, Alaska, and in laboratory stream channels. Coho salmon occupied midwater positions that they defended from other fish. Dolly Varden were more closely associated with the stream bottom and were seldom territorial. For each species, the depth of water, depth of focal point, and distance to nearest fish increased with fish size, whereas the distance to nearest cover decreased as fish size increased. Most fish selected focal point velocities between 0.0–9.0 cm∙s−1.Woody debris was the most frequently used cover type and most fish occurred over gravel substrates ranging from 2–100 mm particle diameter. Habitat use by each species in the laboratory was similar to the pattern observed in the field. Each species occupied similar habitats both when alone and when the other species was present. Although habitat use by juveniles of coho salmon and Dolly Varden overlapped among several key parameters, each species primarily exploited resources not readily available to or selected by the other in the natural streams we studied.
Physiological Responses of Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides, Exposed to Salinity
Authors: Meador M. R. , Kelso W. E.
Published: September 2009

Plasma osmotic and electrolyte concentrations as well as branchial Na+/K+ and Mg++ ATPase activities were determined in the field for largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, from a brackish marsh and freshwater lake in southcentral Louisiana. Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate plasma chemistry and gill ATPase activities of largemouth bass from both locations exposed to 0, 4, 8, and 12‰ salinity. No significant differences in physiological responses were detected between marsh and freshwater largemouth bass exposed to 0, 4, or 12‰. Exposure to 12‰ salinity resulted in osmotic stress in largemouth bass from both locations. At 8‰, marsh largemouth bass had significantly higher plasma solutes and lower gill ATPase activities than freshwater fish. Different physiological responses by marsh and freshwater largemouth bass during exposure to 8‰ salinity indicated that marsh largemouth bass have adapted to environments of variable salinity by reducing active ion transport and tolerating elevated plasma son levels.
Approaches to Age-Structured Separable Sequential Population Analysis
Authors: Kimura Daniel K.
Published: September 2009

Modern statistical methods are being used more often to perform age-structured separable sequential population analysis (SSPA). This paper describes how some of these methods can be easily understood from a unified point of view. The approach is to begin with the now standard separable age-structured model, and modify some of the basic assumptions. The resulting models are examined using Monte Carlo simulation, with the mean square error of modeled biomass estimates used as the evaluation criterion. Simulation results indicate that nonlinear least squares and multinomial maximum likelihood are both capable of fitting lognormally and multinomially distributed catch-at-age data. It also appears that errors in modeling results introduced by ageing error may be minor, provided ageing error is of modest magnitude and is normally distributed. However, use of a somewhat incorrect functional form for the selectivities can cause greatly increased error in the modeling results, indicating that caution should be exercised when modeling selectivities. Results indicate that length-based SSPA is feasible. And finally, the models are used to provide insight into the old question of "how many fish should be aged?"
Responses of Kidney, Liver, Muscle, and Bone in Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) to Diet and Liming in Acidic Nova Scotia Rivers
Authors: Majewski H. S. , Brown S. B. , Evans R. E. , Freeman H. C. , Klaverkamp J. F.
Published: September 2009

Two-year old sexually maturing Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) were held in the Medway (pH range 5.2–5.6) and WestfieSd (pH range 4.7–5.2) rivers of Nova Scotia for 149 and 126 d respectively, in successive years (1985 and 1986). Exposure to Westfield river water resulted in a depletion of renal and hepatic acid-soluble thiol (AST) and of renal ascorbic acid (AsA) reserves in both years. Liming, or the feeding of a high-salt (3.0% NaCl) diet, failed to maintain completely these reserves at levels found in Medway river salmon. In 1986 declines in bone (Ca and P) and muscle (Na and K) electrolytes were coincidental to elevations in liver glycogen, suggesting that gluconeogenesis was an adaptive mechanism in response to the ionoregulatory effects associated with acidic and low ambient calcium conditions. The addition of lime to Westfield river water restored muscle electrolyte levels, but had no effect on depleted bone Ca and P levels.
Growth Comparison between Juvenile Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) from the Two Spawning Groups of the Northwest Atlantic
Authors: Simard Patrick , Castonguay Martin , D'Amours Denis , Magnan Pierre
Published: September 2009

We compared daily growth patterns of otoliths of juvenile Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) younger than 91 d between the two spawning groups that occur in the Northwest Atlantic using a Gompertz model to determine whether it is possible to differentiate these groups on the basis of otolith microstructure in a mixed fishery. The growth curve parameters for the northern and southern groups, respectively, were 36.2 versus 39.7 d for the inflection point (t0), 0.047 versus 0.040 for the instantaneous growth rate (k) when t = t0, and 169.1 versus 192.5 mm for the asymptotic length at the end of the first summer of growth (L∞). These growth curves do not significantly differ (likelihood ratio test, P > 0.5). It therefore appears that the otolith microstructure corresponding to the first summer would not allow identification of the group of origin.
Planning Models for Individual Transferable Quota Programs
Authors: Lanfersieck John , Squires Dale
Published: September 2009

This paper develops an approach to simulating markets for individual transferable quotas prior to their actual implementation. This approach is based on linear programming models for individual vessels that allow estimation of market derived demand for quota to simulate the expected equilibrium market price for quota and maximum quasi-rents for alternative quota allocations. The simulated price is an annual lease or rental price. The approach, applied to a sample of longline vessels targeting sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) in the Columbia INPFC area of the United States, indicates substantial potential gain in quasi-rent and economic efficiency from quota trade. The simulated quota exchange also indicates potential for concentration of quota. The quota market risks becoming thin, noisy, and hampered by noncompetitive forces, potentially requiring limits to quota transfer and concentration.
Predicting End-of-Summer Oxygen Profiles in Stratified Lakes
Authors: Molot L. A. , Dillon P. J. , Clark B. J. , Neary B. P.
Published: September 2009

Mean end-of-summer dissolved oxygen profiles in the hypolimnion of oligotrophic and oligomesotrophic thermally stratified lakes were accurately predicted with a multivariate regression model. The model integrates the effects of lake morphometry, total phosphorus concentration (TP), and initial O2 concentrations at spring turnover to predict mean end-of-summer O2 concentration within individual hypolimnetic strata. Lake morphometry exerts a large influence on O2 profiles and this influence is particularly evident in shallow (< 20 m maximum depth) oligotrophic lakes. Predictions of O2 profiles are sensitive to changes in TP concentrations, with all study lakes predicted to have severely O2-depleted hypolimnions by the end of summer at an epilimnetic TP of only 15 μg∙L−1.
POISSON PROCESSES FOR SUBSYSTEMS OF FINITE TYPE IN SYMBOLIC DYNAMICS
Authors: CHAZOTTES JEAN-RENÉ , COELHO ZAQUEU , COLLET PIERRE
Published: September 2009

Let Δ ⊊ V be a proper subset of the vertices V of the defining graph of an irreducible and aperiodic shift of finite type [Formula: see text]. Let ΣΔbe the subshift of allowable paths in the graph of [Formula: see text] which only passes through the vertices of Δ. For a random point x chosen with respect to an equilibrium state μ of a Hölder potential φ on [Formula: see text], let τnbe the point process defined as the sum of Dirac point masses at the times k > 0, suitably rescaled, for which the first n-symbols of Tkx belong to Δ. We prove that this point process converges in law to a marked Poisson point process of constant parameter measure. The scale is related to the pressure of the restriction of φ to ΣΔand the parameters of the limit law are explicitly computed.
WIRELESS ACCELEROMETER ASSESSMENT OF GAIT FOR QUANTIFIED DISPARITY OF HEMIPARETIC LOCOMOTION
Authors: LEMOYNE ROBERT , COROIAN CRISTIAN , MASTROIANNI TIMOTHY , GRUNDFEST WARREN
Published: September 2009

Assessment of locomotion quality subsequent to neurological trauma, such as stroke or traumatic brain injury is imperative for the correct allocation of therapy dosage and strategy. In light of the limited amount of medical professionals in contrast with the rising number of people with neurological disorders; a new paradigm for addressing therapeutic strategies for neurological trauma is advocated. An important aspect for therapy of neuro-motor disorders is the characterization of gait. There are devices presently used for evaluating gait, such as EMG, optical sensors, electrogoniometers, metabolic energy expenditure devices, foot stride analyzers, and ground reaction force sensors. These devices have inherent issues, such as spatial constraints, line of sight requirements, and specialization requirements. A solution for improved autonomy of gait assessment is demonstrated by the use of fully wireless 3D MEMS accelerometers, which are light weight and minimally intrusive. To minimize specialization issues, the accelerometers may be positioned at a standard anatomical anchor. The role of traumatic brain injury with respect to gait dysfunction is addressed. Enclosed is the initial test and evaluation of a wireless 3D MEMS accelerometer for gait analysis. The gait analysis is conducted in outdoor conditions, while walking on a sidewalk.
FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF A NANO-SCRATCH TEST OF BONE
Authors: PARUCHURU SATYA PRASAD , WANG XIAODU
Published: September 2009

Quality of bone tissue deteriorates with age and disease. Mechanical techniques that evaluate properties of cadaver bone help in understanding mechanisms behind aging and disease and by extension in the quality assurance of engineered bone tissue. Use of inverse engineering methods help in interpreting bone properties from experimental data. Correlation of these properties to noninvasive or minimally invasive measurements aids in assessment of the quality and fracture risk of live bone tissue.

A pilot study on different age groups has shown that the removal energy dissipated per volume during the scratch may be a representative of the toughness of bone. A 3D finite element model was proposed to perform numerical simulation of bone scratch tests in order to aid in formulation of a quantitative scratch approach and assessment of in-situ properties by inverse engineering methods. Finite element modeling procedures for simulation of bone scratch test were developed. Simulation of scratch test was carried out using contact analysis. The results of finite element simulation were compared with experimental data. The simulation gave a preliminary understanding of deformation produced in the bone scratch test.
REAL BANACH ALGEBRAS AND SPECTRAL INEQUALITY
Authors: Apazoglou Maria
Published: September 2009

We examine Ptak's inequality in a real Banach *-algebra which is hermitian and skew hermitian, and give conditions for a real Banach *-algebra to be isomorphic to a C* algebra.
INVOLUTIVE GRADINGS AND KERNELS IN JBW*-TRIPLES
Authors: Lubbe Andreas A.
Published: September 2009

Involutive automorphism, or bijective triple homorphisms of order two, on a JBW *-triple are in a one-to-one correspondence with involutive gradings and bicontractive projections. Such mappings are always isometric and weak*-continuous. This paper analyses the algebraic kernels of the 1-eigenspace B+ and -1-eigenspace B- of involutive automorphisms. It is shown that B+ and B- give rise to several decompositions of A and, remarkably, Ker (B+) and Ker (B-) are Peirce inner ideals.
HOMOTOPES OF JB*-TRIPLES AND A RUSSO—DYE THEOREM
Authors: Mackey Michael
Published: September 2009

In this note, we look at homotopes of Jordan triple structures and show that, following a renorming, an isotope of a JB *-triple is also a JB *-triple. We also provide a proof of the Russo—Dye theorem for JBW *-triples.
RIEMANN DOMAINS OVER BANACH-GRASSMANN MANIFOLDS
Authors: Nishihara Masaru
Published: September 2009

Let E be a complex Banach space with a Schauder basis and let G(E; r) be the Grassmann manifold of all r-dimensional complex linear subspaces in E. Let (ω, φ) be a Riemann domain over G(E; r) with ω ≠ G(E; r). Then we show that ω is a domain of existence if and only if ω is pseudoconvex.
Search-as-a-service
Authors: Singh Aameek , Srivatsa Mudhakar , Liu Ling
Published: September 2009

With fast-paced growth of digital data and exploding storage management costs, enterprises are looking for new ways to effectively manage their data. One such cost-effective paradigm is the cloud storage model also referred to as Storage-as-a-Service, in which enterprises
outsource
their storage to a storage service provider (SSP) by storing data (usually encrypted) at a remote SSP-managed site and accessing it over a high speed network. Along with storage capacity used, the SSP often charges clients on the amount of data that is accessed from the SSP site. Thus, it is in the interest of the client enterprise to download only
relevant
content. This makes search over outsourced storage an important capability. Searching over encrypted outsourced storage, however, is a complex challenge. Each enterprise has different access privileges for different users and this access control needs to be preserved during search (for example, ensuring that a user cannot search through data that is inaccessible from the filesystem due to its permissions). Secondly, the search mechanism has to preserve confidentiality from the SSP and indices can not be stored in plain text.

In this article, we present a new filesystem search technique that integrates access control and indexing/search mechanisms into a unified framework to support access control aware search. Our approach performs indexing within the trusted enterprise domain and uses a novel access control barrel (ACB) primitive to encapsulate access control within these indices. The indices are then systematically encrypted and shipped to the SSP for hosting. Unlike existing enterprise search techniques, our approach is resilient to various common attacks that leak private information. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, our approach is a first such technique that allows search indices to be hosted at the SSP site, thus effectively providing
search-as-a-service
. This does not require the client enterprise to fully trust the SSP for data confidentiality. We describe the architecture and implementation of our approach and a detailed experimental analysis comparing with other approaches.
Consistent Recovery of Sensory Stimuli Encoded with MIMO Neural Circuits
Authors: Lazar Aurel A. , Pnevmatikakis Eftychios A.
Published: September 2009

We consider the problem of reconstructing finite energy stimuli encoded with a population of spiking leaky integrate-and-fire neurons. The reconstructed signal satisfies a consistency condition: when passed through the same neuron, it triggers the same spike train as the original stimulus. The recovered stimulus has to also minimize a quadratic smoothness optimality criterion. We formulate the reconstruction as a spline interpolation problem for scalar as well as vector valued stimuli and show that the recovery has a unique solution. We provide explicit reconstruction algorithms for stimuli encoded with single as well as a population of integrate-and-fire neurons. We demonstrate how our reconstruction algorithms can be applied to stimuli encoded with ON-OFF neural circuits with feedback. Finally, we extend the formalism to multi-input multi-output neural circuits and demonstrate that vector-valued finite energy signals can be efficiently encoded by a neural population provided that its size is beyond a threshold value. Examples are given that demonstrate the potential applications of our methodology to systems neuroscience and neuromorphic engineering.
China: Public Health Genomics
Authors: Zheng S. , Song M. , Wu L. , Yang S. , Shen J. , Lu X. , Du J. , Wang W.
Published: September 2009

China is a multicultural country that has arisen from its 56 ethnicities, with a diverse population of over 1.3 billion people and an imbalanced economic development. The health care system in China is tending to be overall funded through urban and rural health insurance plans. Although China has invested in the basic research of genome science, public health genomics-related programs and services in China started late. Prenatal screening is offered as part of routine clinical prenatal services and is free of charge in some economically advanced cities. Newborn screening programs are mandated throughout the country but vary between provinces and territories in terms of organization and diseases screened for; most screening tests are paid by out-of-pocket expenses. Genetic tests are encouraged while there are only one accredited state laboratory and few territorial laboratories in China. Further national genomics policies are needed in China in a range of genetic issues and infrastructure of public health genomics. Careful measurement is essential to understanding the nature and scale of the task ahead.
Automated Segmentation of Routine Clinical Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Assessment of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction
Authors: Kawaji Keigo , Codella Noel C.F. , Prince Martin R. , Chu Christopher W. , Shakoor Aqsa , LaBounty Troy M. , Min James K. , Swaminathan Rajesh V. , Devereux Richard B. , Wang Yi , Weinsaft Jonathan W.
Published: September 2009

Background—

Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is established for assessment of left ventricular (LV) systolic function but has not been widely used to assess diastolic function. This study tested performance of a novel CMR segmentation algorithm (LV-METRIC) for automated assessment of diastolic function.

Methods and Results—

A total of 101 patients with normal LV systolic function underwent CMR and echocardiography (echo) within 7 days. LV-METRIC generated LV filling profiles via automated segmentation of contiguous short-axis images (204�39 images, 2:04�0:53 minutes). Diastolic function by CMR was assessed via early:atrial filling ratios, peak diastolic filling rate, time to peak filling rate, and a novel index—diastolic volume recovery (DVR), calculated as percent diastole required for recovery of 80% stroke volume. Using an echo standard, patients with versus without diastolic dysfunction had lower early:atrial filling ratios, longer time to peak filling rate, lower stroke volume–adjusted peak diastolic filling rate, and greater DVR (all
P
<0.05). Prevalence of abnormal CMR filling indices increased in relation to clinical symptoms classified by New York Heart Association functional class (
P
=0.04) or dyspnea (
P
=0.006). Among all parameters tested, DVR yielded optimal performance versus echo (area under the curve: 0.87�0.04,
P
<0.001). Using a 90% specificity cutoff, DVR yielded 74% sensitivity for diastolic dysfunction. In multivariate analysis, DVR (odds ratio, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.57;
P
=0.02) was independently associated with echo-evidenced diastolic dysfunction after controlling for age, hypertension, and LV mass (χ
2
=73.4,
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Automated CMR segmentation can provide LV filling profiles that may offer insight into diastolic dysfunction. Patients with diastolic dysfunction have prolonged diastolic filling intervals, which are associated with echo-evidenced diastolic dysfunction independent of clinical and imaging variables.
Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase Protects Against Myocardial Infarction-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmia and Mortality in Mice
Authors: Burger Dylan E. , Lu Xiangru , Lei Ming , Xiang Fu-Li , Hammoud Lamis , Jiang Mao , Wang Hao , Jones Douglas L. , Sims Stephen M. , Feng Qingping
Published: September 2009

Background—

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is expressed in cardiomyocytes and plays a role in regulating cardiac function and Ca
2+
homeostasis. However, the role of nNOS in cardiac electrophysiology after myocardial infarction (MI) is unclear. We hypothesized that nNOS deficiency increases ventricular arrhythmia and mortality after MI.

Methods and Results—

MI was induced in wild-type (WT) or nNOS
−/−
mice by ligation of the left coronary artery. Thirty-day mortality was significantly higher in nNOS
−/−
compared with WT mice. Additionally, nNOS
−/−
mice had impaired cardiac function 2 days after MI. Telemetric ECG monitoring showed that compared with WT, nNOS
−/−
mice had significantly more ventricular arrhythmias and were more likely to develop ventricular fibrillation after MI. Treatment with the L-type Ca
2+
channel blocker verapamil reduced the incidence of arrhythmia and ventricular fibrillation in nNOS
−/−
mice after MI. To assess the role of nNOS in Ca
2+
handling, patch-clamp and Ca
2+
fluorescence techniques were used. Ca
2+
transients and L-type Ca
2+
currents were higher in nNOS
−/−
compared with WT cardiomyocytes. Additionally, nNOS
−/−
cardiomyocytes exhibited significantly higher systolic and diastolic Ca
2+
over a range of pacing frequencies. Treatment with the NO donor
S
-nitroso
N
-acetyl-penicillamine decreased Ca
2+
transients and L-type Ca
2+
current in both nNOS
−/−
and WT cardiomyocytes. Furthermore,
S
-nitrosylation of Ca
2+
handling proteins was significantly decreased in nNOS
−/−
myocardium after MI.

Conclusions—

Deficiency in nNOS increases ventricular arrhythmia and mortality after MI in mice. The antiarrhythmic effect of nNOS involves inhibition of L-type Ca
2+
channel activity and regulation of Ca
2+
handling proteins via
S
-nitrosylation.
Survival and Cardiac Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction Are Critically Dependent on the Host Innate Immune Interleukin-1 Receptor-Associated Kinase-4 Signaling
Authors: Maekawa Yuichiro , Mizue Nobuo , Chan Annie , Shi Yu , Liu Youan , Dawood Steven , Chen Manyin , Dawood Fayez , de Couto Geoffrey , Li Guo Hua , Suzuki Nobutaka , Yeh Wen-Chen , Gramolini Anthony , Medin Jeffrey A. , Liu Peter P.
Published: September 2009

Background—

The innate immune system greatly contributes to the inflammatory process after myocardial infarction (MI). Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4 (IRAK-4), downstream of Toll/interleukin-1 receptor signaling, has an essential role in regulating the innate immune response. The present study was designed to determine the mechanism by which IRAK-4 is responsible for the cardiac inflammatory process, which consequently affects left ventricular remodeling after MI.

Methods and Results—

Experimental MI was created in IRAK-4
−/−
and wild-type mice by left coronary ligation. Mice with a targeted deletion of IRAK-4 had an improved survival rate at 4 weeks after MI. IRAK-4
−/−
mice also demonstrated attenuated cardiac dilation and decreased inflammation in the infarcted myocardium, which was associated with less proinflammatory and Th1 cytokine expression mediated by suppression of nuclear factor-κB and c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation. IRAK-4
−/−
mice had fewer infiltrations of CD45
+
leukocytes and CD11c
+
dendritic cells, inhibition of apoptosis, and reduced fibrosis and nitric oxide production. Cardiac dendritic cells in IRAK-4
−/−
mice were relatively immature or functionally naïve after MI in that they demonstrated less cytokine and costimulatory molecule gene expression. Furthermore, IRAK-4
−/−
dendritic cells have less mobilization capacity. Transfer of wild type-derived bone marrow dendritic cells into IRAK-4
−/−
mice for functional dendritic cell reconstitution negated the survival advantage and reduced the cardiac dilation observed with IRAK-4
−/−
mice at 28 days after MI.

Conclusions—

Deletion of IRAK-4 has favorable effects on survival and left ventricular remodeling after MI through modification of the host inflammatory process by blunting the detrimental bone marrow dendritic cells mobilization after myocardial ischemia.
Declines in Acute Myocardial Infarction After Smoke-Free Laws and Individual Risk Attributable to Secondhand Smoke
Authors: Lightwood James M. , Glantz Stanton A.
Published: September 2009

Background—

The estimated effects of recent pubic and workplace smoking restriction laws suggest that they produce significant declines in community rates of heart attack. The consistency of these declines with existing estimates of the relative risk of heart attack in individuals attributable to passive smoking exposure is poorly understood. The objective is to determine the consistency of estimates of reductions in community rates of heart attacks resulting from smoking restriction laws with estimates of the relative risk of heart disease in individuals exposed to passive smoking.

Methods and Results—

Meta-analyses of existing estimates of declines in community rates were compared with a mathematical model of the relationship between individual risk and community rates. The outcome measure is the ratio of community rates of acute myocardial infarction (after divided by before implementation of a smoking restriction law). There is a significant drop in the rate of acute myocardial infarction hospital admissions associated with the implementation of strong smoke-free legislation. The primary reason for heterogeneity in results of different studies is the duration of follow-up after adoption of the law. The pooled random-effects estimate of the rate of acute myocardial infarction hospitalization 12 months after implementation of the law is 0.83 (95% confidence interval, 0.80 to 0.87), and this benefit grows with time. This drop in admissions is consistent with a range of plausible individual risk and exposure scenarios.

Conclusion—

Passage of strong smoke-free legislation produces rapid and substantial benefits in terms of reduced acute myocardial infarctions, and these benefits grow with time.
Regression of Left Ventricular Mass by Antihypertensive Treatment
Authors: Fagard Robert H. , Celis Hilde , Thijs Lutgarde , Wouters Stijn
Published: September 2009

Blood pressure–lowering therapy reduces left ventricular mass, but the question of whether differences exist among drug classes has not been fully resolved. Our aim was to compare the effects of diuretics, β-blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers on left ventricular mass regression in patients with hypertension on the basis of prospective, randomized comparative studies. We performed meta-analyses, involving pooled pairwise comparisons of the drug classes and of each class versus other classes statistically combined, and meta-regression analyses to identify the determinants of the regression. The 75 relevant publications involved 84 pairwise comparisons and 6001 patients. Regression of left ventricular mass was significantly less (
P
=0.01) with β-blockers (9.8%) than with angiotensin receptor blockers (12.5%), but none of the other analyzable pairwise comparisons between drug classes revealed significant differences (
P
>0.10). In addition, β-blockers showed less regression than the other 4 classes statistically combined (
P
<0.01), and regression was more pronounced with angiotensin receptor blockers versus the others (
P
<0.01). In multivariable meta-regression analysis on all of the treatment arms, β-blocker treatment was a significant and negative predictor of the regression (−3.6%;
P
<0.01), but this was not the case for the other drug classes, including angiotensin receptor blockers. In conclusion, β-blockers show less regression of left ventricular mass, whereas angiotensin receptor blockers may induce larger regression. The inferiority of β-blockers appears to be more convincing than the superiority of angiotensin receptor blockers.
On a Simple Empirical Parameterization of Topography-Catalyzed Diapycnal Mixing in the Abyssal Ocean
Authors: Decloedt Thomas , Luther Douglas S.
Published: September 2009

The global spatial distribution of the turbulent diapycnal diffusivity in the abyssal ocean is reexamined in light of the growing body of microstructure data revealing bottom-intensified turbulent mixing in regions of rough topography. A direct and nontrivial implication of the observed intensification is that the diapycnal diffusivity Kρ, is depth dependent and patchily distributed horizontally across the world’s oceans. Theoretical and observational studies show that bottom-intensified mixing is dependent upon a variety of energy sources and processes whose contributions to mixing are sufficiently complex that their physical parameterization is premature; only rudimentary parameterizations of tidally induced mixing have been attempted, although the tides likely provide no more than half of the mechanical energy available for diapycnal mixing in the abyssal ocean. Here, an empirical (and still rudimentary) parameterization of the spatially variable mean diffusivity Kρ based on a large collection of microstructure data from several oceanic regions, is provided. The parameterization, called the roughness diffusivity model (RDM), depends only on seafloor roughness and height above bottom and has the advantage of tacitly including a broad range of mixing processes catalyzed by the roughness or acuteness of the bottom topography. The study focuses in particular on the vertical structure of Kρ and shows that exponential decay, prominent in current diapycnal mixing parameterizations, does not provide an adequate representation of the mean vertical profile. Instead, an inverse square law decay with a scale height and maximum near-boundary value depending on topographic roughness is shown to provide a more realistic vertical structure. Resulting basin-averaged diffusivities based on the RDM, which increase from ∼3 × 10−5 m2 s−1 at 1-km depth to ∼1.5 × 10−4 m2 s−1 at 4 km, are roughly consistent with spatial averages derived from hydrographic data inversions, supporting the contention that strong, localized mixing plays a major role in maintaining the observed abyssal stratification. The power required to sustain the stratification in the abyssal ocean (defined as 40°S–48°N, 1–4-km depth) is shown to be sensitive to the spatial distribution of the mixing. The power consumption in this domain, given the parameterized bottom-intensified and horizontally heterogeneous diffusivity structure in the RDM, is estimated as approximately 0.37 TW (TW = 1012 W), considerably less than the canonical value of ∼2 TW estimated under the assumption of a uniform diffusivity of ∼10−4 m2 s−1 in the abyssal ocean.