bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scale effect on rice pollen‐mediated gene flow: implications in assessing transgene flow from genetically engineered plants
Authors: Rong Jun , Wang Feng , Song Zhiping , Su Jun , Chen Rui , Lu Bao‐Rong
Published: April 2012

Transgene flow from genetically engineered (GE) crops to non‐GE varieties and wild relatives via pollen‐mediated gene flow (PMGF) may create food and environmental biosafety concerns. Assessing the level of PMGF from GE crops is required before commercialization. Whether the level of PMGF estimated at relatively small scales can sufficiently represent the actual scenario at large production scales remains unresolved. Here, we estimated average PMGF frequencies from three insect‐resistant GE rice lines to their non‐GE counterparts at four scales ranging from 9 to 576 m2, having the number of GE to non‐GE plants constantly at the ratio of 8:1. Based on nearly 1.3 million examined seedlings from non‐GE rice plots, very low frequencies (<0.1%) of transgene flow were detected. The highest frequencies were found in plots at the smallest scales. Scale had a significantly negative effect on the frequency of PMGF in rice, with decreased gene flow at increased scale. An extended PMGF model could well represent the experimental data. Field experiments at relatively small scales combined with mathematical modelling could provide useful prediction on the level of rice transgene flow at large production scales. This is probably applicable for other crop species with wind‐ and self‐pollination.
In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Rare Earth Oxide Nanoparticles for Imaging Applications
Authors: Petrochenko Peter E. , Zhang Qin , Wang Haorong , Sun Ted , Wildt Bridget , Betz Martha W. , Goering Peter L. , Narayan Roger J.
Published: April 2012

The in vitro cytotoxicity and cellular uptake of commercially available doped YVO4 were evaluated in RAW 264.7 macrophages using the MTT assay. The results indicated that 20–50 nm diameter samarium‐doped YVO4 showed significant toxicity at concentrations of 25 μg/mL and higher; samples of the same material functionalized with COOH showed less cytotoxicity. At concentrations of 25–100 μg/mL, 20–50 nm erbium‐doped YVO4 showed less toxicity compared with 20–50 nm samarium‐doped YVO4. Ten nanometer samples showed no toxicity at concentrations of 100–600 μg/mL. The cytotoxicity of rare earth nanoparticles in macrophages is dependent, at least in part, on size and surface functionalization.
Nutritional and Morphological Traits of Invasive and Exotic Fleshy‐fruits in South Africa
Authors: Jordaan Lorinda A. , Downs Colleen T.
Published: April 2012

While fleshy‐fruited invasive alien plants are recognized as some of the worst invaders on a global scale, until recently, little consideration has been given to the frugivores that feed on these fruits and, more specifically, the fruit traits, which may influence this. We investigated a series of morphological and nutritive fruit traits for ca 30 species of fleshy‐fruited invasive alien and exotic species in South Africa. Invasive alien fruit traits were compared with comparable traits of a similar sample size of indigenous fleshy fruits, which occur in the same area. Finally, the similarity of traits for the same invasive alien species was compared with those fruits in Australia. Invasive alien fleshy fruits were similar in morphology, but greater in some nutritive aspects when compared with indigenous fruits. Furthermore, they were very similar in all aspects to their counterparts in Australia. Most seeds of invasive fleshy fruits were small and light, which may explain some of their invasive success, as benefits associated with small seededness may promote invasive potential. Nutritionally, most invasive alien fleshy‐fruits were hexose‐dominant, containing low lipid and nitrogen content. While frugivore preference trends remain to be formally investigated, this study provides insights into fruit traits, which may tentatively outline why invasive fruits are universally fed on and thus successfully spread.
Pefabloc – A sulfonyl fluoride serine protease inhibitor blocks induction of Diptericin in Drosophila l(2)mbn cells
Authors: Johansson Karin C. , Söderhäll Kenneth , Lind Maria I.
Published: April 2012

Abstract  Insects protect themselves against microbial infection by an efficient innate immune system that is activated by recognition of invariant microbial surface molecules. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster the presence of bacteria is associated with expression of antimicrobial peptides in host immune‐competent tissues. Host receptors detect infection and relay the signal to mount the appropriate immune response. In Drosophila hemocyte‐like l(2)mbn cells pre‐infection treatment with Pefabloc, a commonly used serine protease inhibitor, induced two major effects: it blocked expression of the antibacterial peptide Diptericin in response to live Gram‐negative bacteria and bacterial surface molecules (crude lipopolysaccharide contaminated by peptidoglycans) and it induced morphological changes.
Live attenuated H5N1 vaccine with H9N2 internal genes protects chickens from infections by both Highly Pathogenic H5N1 and H9N2 Influenza Viruses
Authors: Nang Nguyen Tai , Song Byung Min , Kang Young Myong , Kim Heui Man , Kim Hyun Soo , Seo Sang Heui
Published: April 2012

Please cite this paper as: Nang et al. (2013) Live attenuated H5N1 vaccine with H9N2 internal genes protects chickens from infections by both Highly Pathogenic H5N1 and H9N2 Influenza Viruses. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses 7(2) 120–131.

Background  The highly pathogenic H5N1 and H9N2 influenza viruses are endemic in many countries around the world and have caused considerable economic loss to the poultry industry.

Objectives  We aimed to study whether a live attenuated H5N1 vaccine comprising internal genes from a cold‐adapted H9N2 influenza virus could protect chickens from infection by both H5N1 and H9N2 viruses.

Methods  We developed a cold‐adapted H9N2 vaccine virus expressing hemagglutinin and neuraminidase derived from the highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus using reverse genetics.

Results and Conclusions  Chickens immunized with the vaccine were protected from lethal infections with homologous and heterologous H5N1 or H9N2 influenza viruses. Specific antibody against H5N1 virus was detected up to 11 weeks after vaccination (the endpoint of this study). In vaccinated chickens, IgA and IgG antibody subtypes were induced in lung and intestinal tissue, and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes expressing interferon‐gamma were induced in the splenocytes. These data suggest that a live attenuated H5N1 vaccine with cold‐adapted H9N2 internal genes can protect chickens from infection with H5N1 and H9N2 influenza viruses by eliciting humoral and cellular immunity.
Utility of the DNA barcoding gene fragment for parasitic wasp phylogeny (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonoidea): data release and new measure of taxonomic congruence
Authors: QUICKE DONALD L. J. , ALEX SMITH M. , JANZEN DANIEL H. , HALLWACHS WINNIE , FERNANDEZ‐TRIANA JOSE , LAURENNE NINA M. , ZALDÍVAR‐RIVERÓN ALEJANDRO , SHAW MARK R. , BROAD GAVIN R. , KLOPFSTEIN SERAINA , SHAW SCOTT R. , HRCEK JAN , HEBERT PAUL D. N. , MILLER SCOTT E. , RODRIGUEZ JOSEPHINE J. , WHITFIELD JAMES B. , SHARKEY MICHAEL J. , SHARANOWSKI BARBARA J. , JUSSILA REIJO , GAULD[DECEASED] IAN D. , CHESTERS DOUGLAS , VOGLER ALFRIED P.
Published: April 2012

The enormous cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) sequence database being assembled from the various DNA barcoding projects as well as from independent phylogenetic studies constitutes an almost unprecedented amount of data for molecular systematics, in addition to its role in species identification and discovery. As part of a study of the potential of this gene fragment to improve the accuracy of phylogenetic reconstructions, and in particular, exploring the effects of dense taxon sampling, we have assembled a data set for the hyperdiverse, cosmopolitan parasitic wasp superfamily Ichneumonoidea, including the release of 1793 unpublished sequences. Of approximately 84 currently recognized Ichneumonoidea subfamilies, 2500 genera and 41 000 described species, barcoding 5′‐COI data were assembled for 4168 putative species‐level terminals (many undescribed), representing 671 genera and all but ten of the currently recognized subfamilies. After the removal of identical and near‐identical sequences, the 4174 initial sequences were reduced to 3278. We show that when subjected to phylogenetic analysis using both maximum likelihood and parsimony, there is a broad correlation between taxonomic congruence and number of included sequences. We additionally present a new measure of taxonomic congruence based upon the Simpson diversity index, the Simpson dominance index, which gives greater weight to morphologically recognized taxonomic groups (subfamilies) recovered with most representatives in one or a few contiguous groups or subclusters.
Social support and clinical depression in China
Authors: Zuo Sai , Mellor David , McCabe Marita , Xu Yifeng
Published: April 2012

Introduction

It has been recognised for many years that in Western contexts social support is associated with depression. However, relatively few studies have investigated this association in non‐Western countries, and few, if any, in a clinical population. The present study aimed to establish how the perceived quality of social support provided by their spouse, their family and their friends to people in China who have a clinical diagnosis of depression is associated with aspects of their illness.

Methods

The sample comprised 50 males and 50 females ranging in age from 19 to 62 years. All participants had a clinical diagnosis of depression. They completed the Beck Depression Inventory and a scale assessing perceived social support.

Results

Contrary to predictions and previous research findings, no significant association was found between perceived quality of social support and level of depression, length of depression, and number of episodes of depression.

Discussion

A variety of cultural factors may be associated with the quality of social support provided to patients with depression. Further research is required to investigate if these findings generalise across other non‐Western populations, and also, to explore other factors that may influence the onset and continuation of depression among people in China.
Useful Ethnographies
Authors: deRoche Constance
Published: April 2012

Books reviewed in this issue.

Someplace Like American: Tales From the New Great Depression, Dale Haharidge, photographsy by Michael S. Williamson, with a foreward by Bruce Springsteen.
Party Size and Constituency Representation: Evidence from the 19th‐Century U.S. House of Representatives
Authors: MEINKE SCOTT R.
Published: April 2012

Research on congressional parties assumes, but has not directly shown, that party size affects individual members' calculations. Drawing on a key case from the nineteenth‐century House—the secession‐driven Republican hegemony of 1861—this article explores the hypothesis that party voting not only declines but also becomes more strongly linked to constituency factors as relative party size increases. The analysis reveals that the jump in party size coincides with (1) a decrease in party voting among individual continuing members, (2) a strengthening association between some constituency factors and party voting, and (3) patterns of decline in individual party voting that are explained in part by constituency measures.
Legislative Behavior in Romania: The Effect of the 2008 Romanian Electoral Reform
Authors: COMAN EMANUEL EMIL
Published: April 2012

This article analyzes the impact of electoral rules on legislators’ rate of vote defection from their party position in legislatures while accounting for how party‐leadership strength mediates this impact. To this end it looks at the effect of the 2008 Romanian electoral reform. The reform shifted the electoral system from a closed‐list proportional representation to one in which all candidates run in single‐member districts. The analysis finds that because party leaders have maintained their leverage intact, the impact of the reform was minimal, with legislators being more likely to defect in less important votes only, in which party leaders allow defection. Also, after the reform legislators are more likely to use other means to impress their voters, such as legislative initiation and cabinet questioning. These forms of behavior are more accepted by party leaders.
Representatives' Attitudes Toward Citizen Protests in Sweden: The Impact of Ideology, Parliamentary Position, and Experiences
Authors: GILLJAM MIKAEL , PERSSON MIKAEL , KARLSSON DAVID
Published: April 2012

What affects political representatives' attitudes toward citizen protests? We test the impact of political representatives' left‐right ideology, parliamentary position, and earlier experience of citizen protests. Using data from a pioneering survey covering all local political representatives in Sweden (n = 9,101, response rate 70%), we examine attitudes toward controversial noninstitutionalized forms of citizen protests. The results show that representatives to the right show considerably lower protest acceptance than those to the left. Representatives in office show significantly lower levels of acceptance than those of the opposition. Finally, the results show that representatives with more protest experience show higher protest acceptance.
Salivary proteins promote proteolytic activity in Streptococcus mitis biovar 2 and Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Kindblom C. , Davies J.R. , Herzberg M.C. , Svensäter G. , Wickström C.
Published: April 2012

A major function of the salivary pellicle on oral surfaces is to promote colonization of the commensal microbiota by providing binding sites for adherence. Streptococcus mitis is an early colonizer of the oral cavity whereas Streptococcus mutans represents a later colonizer. To survive and grow, oral bacteria produce enzymes, proteases and glycosidases, which allow them to exploit salivary proteins as a nutrient source. In this study, adherence and proteolytic activity of S. mitis biovar 2 and S. mutans were investigated in a flow‐cell model in the presence of different populations of surface‐associated salivary proteins. Streptococcus mitis biovar 2 adhered well to surfaces coated with both a MUC5B‐enriched fraction and a pool of low‐density proteins containing MUC7, amylase, cystatin, gp340, immunoglobulin A, lactoferrin, lysozyme and statherin, whereas adherence of S. mutans to these proteins was poor. In environments of MUC5B or the low‐density proteins, both S. mitis biovar 2 and S. mutans showed high levels of proteolytic activity. For S. mitis in the MUC5B environment, most of this activity may be attributable to contact with the molecules in the fluid phase although activity was also enhanced by adherence to surface‐associated MUC5B. These data suggest that although they differ in their capacity to adhere to surface‐associated salivary proteins, in the natural environment exploitation of saliva as a nutrient source can contribute to survival and colonization of the oral cavity by both S. mitis biovar 2 and S. mutans.
Dissolution testing of orally disintegrating tablets
Authors: Kraemer Johannes , Gajendran Jayachandar , Guillot Alexis , Schichtel Julian , Tuereli Akif
Published: April 2012

For industrially manufactured pharmaceutical dosage forms, product quality tests and performance tests are required to ascertain the quality of the final product. Current compendial requirements specify a disintegration and/or a dissolution test to check the quality of oral solid dosage forms. These requirements led to a number of compendial monographs for individual products and, at times, the results obtained may not be reflective of the dosage form performance. Although a general product performance test is desirable for orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs), the complexity of the release controlling mechanisms and short time-frame of release make such tests difficult to establish. For conventional oral solid dosage forms (COSDFs), disintegration is often considered to be the prerequisite for subsequent dissolution. Hence, disintegration testing is usually insufficient to judge product performance of COSDFs. Given the very fast disintegration of ODTs, the relationship between disintegration and dissolution is worthy of closer scrutiny. This article reviews the current status of dissolution testing of ODTs to establish the product quality standards. Based on experimental results, it appears that it may be feasible to rely on the dissolution test without a need for disintegration studies for selected ODTs on the market.
Epigenetics of psychoactive drugs
Authors: Boyadjieva Nadka , Varadinova Miroslava
Published: April 2012

Objectives

Epigenetics refers to the heritable, but reversible regulation of various biological functions. Changes in DNA methylation and chromatin structure derived from histone modifications are involved in the brain development, pathogenesis and pharmacotherapy of brain disorders.

Key findings

Evidence suggests that epigenetic modulations play key roles in psychiatric diseases such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The analysis of epigenetic aberrations in the mechanisms of psychoactive drugs helps to determine dysfunctional genes and pathways in the brain, to predict side effects of drugs on human genome and identify new pharmaceutical targets for treatment of psychiatric diseases.

Although numerous studies have concentrated on epigenetics of psychosis, the epigenetic studies of antipsychotics are limited. Here we present epigenetic mechanisms of various psychoactive drugs and review the current literature on psychiatric epigenomics. Furthermore, we discuss various epigenetic modulations in the pharmacology and toxicology of typical and atypical antipsychotics, methionine, lithium and valproic acid.
Biomechanical modeling of English /r/ variants
Authors: Stavness Ian , Gick Bryan , Derrick Donald , Fels Sidney
Published: April 2012

This study reports an investigation of the well-known context-dependent variation in English /r/ using a biomechanical tongue-jaw-hyoid model. The simulation results show that preferred /r/ variants require less volume displacement, relative strain, and relative muscle stress than variants that are not preferred. This study also uncovers a previously unknown mechanism in tongue biomechanics for /r/ production: Torque in the sagittal plane about the mental spine. This torque enables raising of the tongue anterior for retroflexed [ɻ] by activation of hyoglossus and relaxation of anterior genioglossus. The results provide a deeper understanding of the articulatory factors that govern contextual phonetic variation.
A frequency bin-wise nonlinear masking algorithm in convolutive mixtures for speech segregation
Authors: Chi Tai-Shih , Huang Ching-Wen , Chou Wen-Sheng
Published: April 2012

A frequency bin-wise nonlinear masking algorithm is proposed in the spectrogram domain for speech segregation in convolutive mixtures. The contributive weight from each speech source to a time-frequency unit of the mixture spectrogram is estimated by a nonlinear function based on location cues. For each sound source, a non-binary mask is formed from the estimated weights and is multiplied to the mixture spectrogram to extract the sound. Head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) are used to simulate convolutive sound mixtures perceived by listeners. Simulation results show our proposed method outperforms convolutive independent component analysis and degenerate unmixing and estimation technique methods in almost all test conditions.
Cochlear implant patients’ localization using interaural level differences exceeds that of untrained normal hearing listeners
Authors: Aronoff Justin M. , Freed Daniel J. , Fisher Laurel M. , Pal Ivan , Soli Sigfrid D.
Published: April 2012

Bilateral cochlear implant patients are unable to localize as well as normal hearing listeners. Although poor sensitivity to interaural time differences clearly contributes to this deficit, it is unclear whether deficits in terms of interaural level differences are also a contributing factor. In this study, localization was tested while manipulating interaural time and level cues using head-related transfer functions. The results indicate that bilateral cochlear implant users’ ability to localize based on interaural level differences is actually greater than that of untrained normal hearing listeners.
Two Years after Pandemic Influenza A/2009/H1N1: What Have We Learned?
Authors: Cheng Vincent C. C. , To Kelvin K. W. , Tse Herman , Hung Ivan F. N. , Yuen Kwok-Yung
Published: April 2012

The world had been anticipating another influenza pandemic since the last one in 1968. The pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 virus (A/2009/H1N1) finally arrived, causing the first pandemic influenza of the new millennium, which has affected over 214 countries and caused over 18,449 deaths. Because of the persistent threat from the A/H5N1 virus since 1997 and the outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus in 2003, medical and scientific communities have been more prepared in mindset and infrastructure. This preparedness has allowed for rapid and effective research on the epidemiological, clinical, pathological, immunological, virological, and other basic scientific aspects of the disease, with impacts on its control. A PubMed search using the keywords “pandemic influenza virus H1N1 2009” yielded over 2,500 publications, which markedly exceeded the number published on previous pandemics. Only representative works with relevance to clinical microbiology and infectious diseases are reviewed in this article. A significant increase in the understanding of this virus and the disease within such a short amount of time has allowed for the timely development of diagnostic tests, treatments, and preventive measures. These findings could prove useful for future randomized controlled clinical trials and the epidemiological control of future pandemics.
Update on Influenza Diagnostics: Lessons from the Novel H1N1 Influenza A Pandemic
Authors: Kumar Swati , Henrickson Kelly J.
Published: April 2012

The menu of diagnostic tools that can be utilized to establish a diagnosis of influenza is extensive and includes classic virology techniques as well as new and emerging methods. This review of how the various existing diagnostic methods have been utilized, first in the context of a rapidly evolving outbreak of novel influenza virus and then during the different subsequent phases and waves of the pandemic, demonstrates the unique roles, advantages, and limitations of each of these methods. Rapid antigen tests were used extensively throughout the pandemic. Recognition of the low negative predictive values of these tests is important. Private laboratories with preexisting expertise, infrastructure, and resources for rapid development, validation, and implementation of laboratory-developed assays played an unprecedented role in helping to meet the diagnostic demands during the pandemic. FDA-cleared assays remain an important element of the diagnostic armamentarium during a pandemic, and a process must be developed with the FDA to allow manufacturers to modify these assays for detection of novel strains in a timely fashion. The need and role for subtyping of influenza viruses and antiviral susceptibility testing will likely depend on qualitative (circulating subtypes and their resistance patterns) and quantitative (relative prevalence) characterization of influenza viruses circulating during future epidemics and pandemics.
Predictors of Mortality in Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Authors: van Hal Sebastian J. , Jensen Slade O. , Vaska Vikram L. , Espedido Björn A. , Paterson David L. , Gosbell Iain B.
Published: April 2012

Staphylococcus aureusbacteremia (SAB) is an important infection with an incidence rate ranging from 20 to 50 cases/100,000 population per year. Between 10% and 30% of these patients will die from SAB. Comparatively, this accounts for a greater number of deaths than for AIDS, tuberculosis, and viral hepatitis combined. Multiple factors influence outcomes for SAB patients. The most consistent predictor of mortality is age, with older patients being twice as likely to die. Except for the presence of comorbidities, the impacts of other host factors, including gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and immune status, are unclear. Pathogen-host interactions, especially the presence of shock and the source of SAB, are strong predictors of outcomes. Although antibiotic resistance may be associated with increased mortality, questions remain as to whether this reflects pathogen-specific factors or poorer responses to antibiotic therapy, namely, vancomycin. Optimal management relies on starting appropriate antibiotics in a timely fashion, resulting in improved outcomes for certain patient subgroups. The roles of surgery and infectious disease consultations require further study. Although the rate of mortality from SAB is declining, it remains high. Future international collaborative studies are required to tease out the relative contributions of various factors to mortality, which would enable the optimization of SAB management and patient outcomes.
Complete Genome Sequence of Klebsiella oxytoca KCTC 1686, Used in Production of 2,3-Butanediol
Authors: Shin Sang Heum , Kim Sewhan , Kim Jae Young , Lee Soojin , Um Youngsoon , Oh Min-Kyu , Kim Young-Rok , Lee Jinwon , Yang Kap-Seok
Published: April 2012

Here we report the full genome sequence of
Klebsiella oxytoca
KCTC 1686, which is used in production of 2,3-butanediol. The KCTC 1686 strain contains 5,974,109 bp with G+C content of 56.05 mol% and contains 5,488 protein-coding genes and 110 structural RNAs.
Complete Genome Sequence of Enterobacter aerogenes KCTC 2190
Authors: Shin Sang Heum , Kim Sewhan , Kim Jae Young , Lee Soojin , Um Youngsoon , Oh Min-Kyu , Kim Young-Rok , Lee Jinwon , Yang Kap-Seok
Published: April 2012

This is the first complete genome sequence of the
Enterobacter aerogenes
species. Here we present the genome sequence of
E. aerogenes
KCTC 2190, which contains 5,280,350 bp with a G + C content of 54.8 mol%, 4,912 protein-coding genes, and 109 structural RNAs.
Genome Sequence of the Naturally Plasmid-Free Lactobacillus plantarum Strain NC8 (CCUG 61730)
Authors: Axelsson Lars , Rud Ida , Naterstad Kristine , Blom Hans , Renckens Bernadet , Boekhorst Jos , Kleerebezem Michiel , van Hijum Sacha , Siezen Roland J.
Published: April 2012

Lactobacillus plantarum
is a highly versatile lactic acid bacterium found in various ecological niches, such as fermented vegetable, meat, and dairy products and the gastrointestinal tract. We sequenced the genome of
L. plantarum
NC8, a naturally plasmid-free strain, which has been used as a model strain in many laboratories worldwide.
Genome Sequence of Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae Strain LMG 859
Authors: Sharma Vikas , Midha Samriti , Ranjan Manish , Pinnaka Anil Kumar , Patil Prabhu B.
Published: April 2012

We report the 4.94-Mb genome sequence of
Xanthomonas axonopodis
pv. punicae strain LMG 859, the causal agent of bacterial leaf blight disease in pomegranate. The draft genome will aid in comparative genomics, epidemiological studies, and quarantine of this devastating phytopathogen.
Genome Sequence of Peptoniphilus rhinitidis 1-13
T
, an Anaerobic Coccus Strain Isolated from Clinical Specimens
Authors: Kim Dae-Soo , Jung Min Young , Kang Aram , Cho Jaehoon , Sin Yeseul , Paek Jayoung , Kim Dong-Wook , Kim Ryong Nam , Nam Seong-Hyeuk , Kim Aeri , Park Hong-Seog , Choi Sang-Haeng , Chang Young-Hyo
Published: April 2012

A new
Peptoniphilus
species has been isolated from samples from a patient who was scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. The isolate,
Peptoniphilus rhinitidis
1-13
T
(KCTC 5985
T
), can use peptone as a sole carbon source and produce butyrate as a metabolic end product. This is the first report of the draft genome sequence of a novel species in the genus
Peptoniphilus
within the group of Gram-positive anaerobic cocci.
Genome Sequence of a Novel Member of the Genus Psychrobacter Isolated from Antarctic Soil
Authors: Kim Su Jin , Shin Seung Chul , Hong Soon Gyu , Lee Yung Mi , Choi In-Geol , Park Hyun
Published: April 2012

Psychrobacter
spp. have shown characteristics indicating remarkable capabilities at subzero temperatures that identify them as potential model organisms for the study of low-temperature adaptations. Here we present the draft genome sequence of
Psychrobacter
sp. PAMC 21119, which was isolated from permafrost soil of Antarctica; this information could provide insight into adaptation and evolution strategies under extreme environmental conditions.
Genome Sequence of “Rickettsia sibirica subsp. mongolitimonae”
Authors: Sentausa Erwin , El Karkouri Khalid , Robert Catherine , Raoult Didier , Fournier Pierre-Edouard
Published: April 2012

“
Rickettsia sibirica
subsp.
mongolitimonae
” is the agent of lymphangitis-associated rickettsiosis, an emerging human disease that has been diagnosed in Europe and Africa. The present study reports the draft genome of
Rickettsia sibirica
subsp.
mongolitimonae
strain HA-91.
Genome Sequence of the Persistent Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serotype Senftenberg Strain SS209
Authors: Grépinet Olivier , Boumart Zineb , Virlogeux-Payant Isabelle , Loux Valentin , Chiapello Hélène , Gendrault Annie , Gibrat Jean-François , Chemaly Marianne , Velge Philippe
Published: April 2012

Salmonella enterica
subsp.
enterica
serotype Senftenberg is an emerging serotype in poultry production which has been found to persist in animals and the farm environment. We report the genome sequence and annotation of the SS209 strain of
S
. Senftenberg, isolated from a hatchery, which was identified as persistent in broiler chickens.
ON A CLASS OF PROJECTIVELY FLAT FINSLER METRICS OF NEGATIVE CONSTANT FLAG CURVATURE
Authors: MO XIAOHUAN , ZHU HONGMEI
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we prove a structure theorem for projectively flat Finsler metrics of negative constant flag curvature. We show that for such a Finsler metric if the orthogonal group acts as isometries, then the Finsler metric is a slight generalization of Chern–Shen's construction Riemann–Finsler geometry, Nankai Tracts in Mathematics, Vol. 6 (World Scientific Publishing, Hackensack, NJ, 2005), x+192 pp.
GLOBAL EXISTENCE AND ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR OF SOLUTIONS TO CAHN–HILLIARD EQUATION WITH INERTIAL TERM
Authors: WANG YIN-XIA , WEI ZHIQIANG
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we investigate the Cauchy problem for Cahn–Hilliard equation with inertial term in n-dimensional space. Based on the decay estimate of solutions to the corresponding linear equation, we define a solution space. Under small condition on the initial value, we prove the global existence and asymptotic behavior of the solution in the corresponding Sobolev spaces by the contraction mapping principle.
STABILITY AND HERMITIAN–EINSTEIN METRICS FOR VECTOR BUNDLES ON FRAMED MANIFOLDS
Authors: STEMMLER MATTHIAS
Published: April 2012

We adapt the notions of stability of holomorphic vector bundles in the sense of Mumford–Takemoto and Hermitian–Einstein metrics in holomorphic vector bundles for canonically polarized framed manifolds, i.e. compact complex manifolds X together with a smooth divisor D such that KX⊗ [D] is ample. It turns out that the degree of a torsion-free coherent sheaf on X with respect to the polarization KX⊗ [D] coincides with the degree with respect to the complete Kähler–Einstein metric gX\Don X\D. For stable holomorphic vector bundles, we prove the existence of a Hermitian–Einstein metric with respect to gX\Dand also the uniqueness in an adapted sense.
DEFORMATION OF F-TILINGSVERSUSDEFORMATION OF ISOMETRIC FOLDINGS
Authors: AVELINO CATARINA P. , SANTOS ALTINO F.
Published: April 2012

We present some relations between deformation of spherical isometric foldings and deformation of spherical f-tilings. The natural way to deform f-tilings is based on the Hausdorff metric on compact sets. It is conjectured that any f-tiling is (continuously) deformable in the standard f-tiling τs= {(x, y, z) ∈ S2: z = 0} and it is shown that the deformation of f-tilings does not induce a continuous deformation on its associated isometric foldings.
ON PROJECTIVE EQUIVALENCE AND POINTWISE PROJECTIVE RELATION OF RANDERS METRICS
Authors: MATVEEV VLADIMIR S.
Published: April 2012

We prove that projective equivalence of two Randers Finsler metrics [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] such that at least one of the one-forms ω and [Formula: see text] is not closed implies that for a certain constant C > 0 we have [Formula: see text] and the form [Formula: see text] is closed. As an application we prove the natural generalization of the projective Lichnerowicz–Obata conjecture for Randers metrics.
A RUNGE–KUTTA–FEHLBERG CODE FOR THE COMPLEX PLANE: COMPARING WITH SIMILAR CODES BY APPLYING TO POLYTROPIC MODELS
Authors: GEROYANNIS V. S. , VALVI F. N.
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we modify the Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg code of fourth and fifth order with the purpose of solving initial value problems established on ordinary differential equations involving complex-valued functions of one complex variable, which are allowed to have high complexity in their definition, when integration along prescribed complex paths is required. Such initial value problems arise in certain astrophysical issues, like the polytropic models, applied to polytropic stars, and the general-relativistic polytropic models, applied to neutron stars. Comparison with similar codes is made by applying to these models.
STATEFINDER DIAGNOSTIC FOR DARK ENERGY MODELS IN BIANCHI I UNIVERSE
Authors: SHARIF M. , SALEEM RABIA
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we investigate the statefinder, the deceleration and equation of state parameters when universe is composed of generalized holographic dark energy or generalized Ricci dark energy for Bianchi I universe model. These parameters are found for both interacting as well as noninteracting scenarios of generalized holographic or generalized Ricci dark energy with dark matter and generalized Chaplygin gas. We explore these parameters graphically for different situations. It is concluded that these models represent accelerated expansion of the universe.
A MODULAR SYNTHETIC DEVICE TO CALIBRATE PROMOTERS
Authors: GAMERMANN D. , MONTAGUD A. , APARICIO P. , NAVARRO E. , TRIANA J. , VILLATORO F. R. , URCHUEGUÍA J. F. , DE CÓRDOBA P. FERNÁNDEZ
Published: April 2012

In this contribution, a design of a synthetic calibration genetic circuit to characterize the relative strength of different sensing promoters is proposed and its specifications and performance are analyzed via an effective mathematical model. Our calibrator device possesses certain novel and useful features like modularity (and thus the possibility of being used in many different biological contexts), simplicity, being based on a single cell, high sensitivity and fast response. To uncover the critical model parameters and the corresponding parameter domain at which the calibrator performance will be optimal, a sensitivity analysis of the model parameters was carried out over a given range of sensing protein concentrations (acting as input). Our analysis suggests that the half saturation constants for repression, sensing and difference in binding cooperativity (Hill coefficients) for repression are the key to the performance of the proposed device. They furthermore are determinant for the sensing speed of the device, showing that it is possible to produce detectable differences in the repression protein concentrations and in turn in the corresponding fluorescence in less than two hours. This analysis paves the way for the design, experimental construction and validation of a new family of functional genetic circuits for the purpose of calibrating promoters.
PROSTITUTION AND DRUG (ALCOHOL) MISUSE: THE MENACING COMBINATION
Authors: BHUNU C. P. , MUSHAYABASA S.
Published: April 2012

Prostitution has been linked with drug/alcohol misuse for ages. A mathematical model to explore the relationship between prostitution and drug/alcohol misuse is proposed and analyzed. The epidemic thresholds known as the reproduction numbers and equilibria for the model are determined and stabilities analyzed. Analysis of the reproduction numbers suggest that prostitution enhances drug/alcohol misuse and vice-versa. Numerical simulations further show high levels of prostitution (drug/alcohol misuse) control in the absence of drug/alcohol misuse (prostitution). Results from this study suggests to effectively control prostitution (drug/alcohol misuse) require strategies that address both prostitution and drug/alcohol misuse. Addressing only one social issue like prostitution through poverty eradication may not be enough to stem prostitution as some would be turning to prostitution to support drug/alcohol addiction. The same scenario happens to drug/alcohol misuse.
NUMERICAL AND ULTRASONIC EXPERIMENTAL SIMULATIONS OF ELASTIC WAVE PROPAGATION AROUND HOLLOW CYLINDER
Authors: PERTON M. , SÁNCHEZ-SESMA F. J. , SPURLIN J. H. , FLORES E. , NAVARRETE M. , GÓMEZ R. , MARENGO-MOGOLLÓN H.
Published: April 2012

A laser-ultrasonic experimental setup was used to study, at a reduced scale, the wave propagation inside and around fluid-filled wells. Simulations tools were also developed and calibrated from comparisons with experimental signals. These tools serve as a connection to realistic scale. A semi-analytical approach, the discrete wave number method was first used to compute signals in a simplified geometrical configuration. This method is fast enough to be used in the identification of the main parameters that describe at best the experimental signals. Then a finite difference scheme was implemented in order to describe accurately the actual well. The two methods describe the attenuation mechanisms by using the Kelvin–Voigt model for the solid and the Maxwell model for the fluid. Comparisons between numerical and experimental waveforms, obtained in the two fundamental elastic configurations: the fast and the slow formations, show very good agreement in arrival times, waveforms and relative amplitudes. This satisfactory result provides insights useful for the recognition and interpretation of wave propagation in complex media. Such is the case of modern sonic-logging technology.
INDISTINGUISHABILITY OPERATORS WITH RESPECT TO DIFFERENT t-NORMS
Authors: BOIXADER D. , RECASENS J.
Published: April 2012

An isomorphism f between two continuous Archimedean t-norms T and T′ transforms a T-indistinguishability operator E into a T′-indistinguishability operator f ∘ E and many interesting properties of E are transfered to f ∘ E by f. This paper generalizes this result in order to relate indistinguishability operators with respect to two non isomorphic continuous Archimedean t-norms. This will allow us to transfer definitions and properties from strict to non-strict Archimedean t-norms and vice versa.
FUZZY FREE PATH DETECTION BASED ON DENSE DISPARITY MAPS OBTAINED FROM STEREO CAMERAS
Authors: ORTIGOSA NURIA , MORILLAS SAMUEL , PERIS-FAJARNÉS GUILLERMO , DUNAI LARISA
Published: April 2012

In this paper we propose a fuzzy method to detect free paths in real-time using digital stereo images. It is based on looking for linear variations of depth in disparity maps, which are obtained by processing a pair of rectified images from two stereo cameras. By applying least-squares fitting over groups of disparity maps columns to a linear model, free paths are detected by giving a certainty using a fuzzy rule. Experimental results on real outdoor images are also presented.
MENISCAL ABNORMALITIES: DISCOID MENISCUS
Authors: Pandey Vivek , van Laarhoven Simon Nurettin , Acharya Kiran K. V. , Rao Sharath K. , Rao Sripathi
Published: April 2012

The discoid meniscus is the most common meniscal variant. The likely etiology being congenital, the condition usually affects the lateral meniscus. Poorly vascularized, thicker and unstable, the discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) is more prone to tears due to abnormal shearing forces. Watanabe et al. (1979) classified the discoid lateral meniscus into three types: Complete, incomplete and Wrisberg type; Monllau et al. (1998) added the ring type as the fourth variant. Pain and clicks/thud are the most common presentations. Plain radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging are helpful in confirming the diagnosis. Asymptomatic DLM is best left alone. For symptomatic complete and incomplete types, partial arthroscopic saucerization is the treatment of choice leaving behind a stable rim. The Wrisberg type needs peripheral stabilization with resection of excess rim, if any. Total meniscectomy should be avoided unless inevitable. Short term results after partial meniscectomy are good.
RISK FACTORS FOR BACK, NECK AND SHOULDER MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES AND CLAIMS IN AMBULANCE OFFICERS
Authors: Broniecki Monica , Esterman Adrian , Grantham Hugh
Published: April 2012

Relatively little has been published on the range of risk factors contributing to musculoskeletal injuries in ambulance officers. This study aims to identify perceived risk factors for back, neck and shoulder musculoskeletal injuries and claims in relation to working conditions, and the physical and psychological demands of the job. This was a cross-sectional study using an internet-based survey in an Australian ambulance service. The survey included demographic questions and questions on psychosocial factors related to the job and the way in which work is organized, musculoskeletal injuries sustained and claims submitted in the previous 12 months; and two open ended questions on perceived risk factors for injury and injury risk mitigation strategies. Ambulance officers who felt they were able to take sufficient breaks were less likely to sustain a back, neck or shoulder musculoskeletal injury, and those who perceived their work required high levels of physical effort were more likely to submit a claim for these injuries. Two important perceived causal factors contributing to musculoskeletal injuries were the uncontrolled environment and non-adherence to manual handling techniques. However, suggested risk mitigation strategies of improving fitness and manual handling training, were not supported by the quantitative analysis.
AN ANT-BASED ALGORITHM WITH LOCAL OPTIMIZATION FOR COMMUNITY DETECTION IN LARGE-SCALE NETWORKS
Authors: HE DONGXIAO , LIU JIE , YANG BO , HUANG YUXIAO , LIU DAYOU , JIN DI
Published: April 2012

In this paper, we propose a multi-layer ant-based algorithm (MABA), which detects communities from networks by means of locally optimizing modularity using individual ants. The basic version of MABA, namely SABA, combines a self-avoiding label propagation technique with a simulated annealing strategy for ant diffusion in networks. Once the communities are found by SABA, this method can be reapplied to a higher level network where each obtained community is regarded as a new vertex. The aforementioned process is repeated iteratively, and this corresponds to MABA. Thanks to the intrinsic multi-level nature of our algorithm, it possesses the potential ability to unfold multi-scale hierarchical structures. Furthermore, MABA has the ability that mitigates the resolution limit of modularity. The proposed MABA has been evaluated on both computer-generated benchmarks and widely used real-world networks, and has been compared with a set of competitive algorithms. Experimental results demonstrate that MABA is both effective and efficient (in near linear time with respect to the size of network) for discovering communities.
COOPERATION ON SOCIAL NETWORKS AND ITS ROBUSTNESS
Authors: ANTONIONI ALBERTO , TOMASSINI MARCO
Published: April 2012

In this work we have used computer models of social-like networks to show by extensive numerical simulations that cooperation in evolutionary games can emerge and be stable on this class of networks. The amounts of cooperation reached are at least as much as in scale-free networks but here the population model is more realistic. Cooperation is robust with respect to different strategy update rules, population dynamics, and payoff computation. Only when straight average payoff is used or there is high strategy or network noise does cooperation decrease in all games and disappear in the Prisoner's Dilemma.
FAMILY FINGERPRINTS: A GLOBAL APPROACH TO STRUCTURAL CLASSIFICATION
Authors: CASAGRANDE ALBERTO , FABRIS FRANCESCO
Published: April 2012

Protein domain classification is a useful tool to deduce functional properties of proteins. Many software to classify domains according to available databases have been proposed so far. This paper introduces the notion of "fingerprint" as an easy and readable digest of the similarities between a protein fragment and an entire set of sequences. This concept offers us a rationale for building an automatic SCOP classifier which assigns a query sequence to the most likely family. Fingerprint-based analysis has been implemented in a software tool and we report some experimental validations for it.
TOWARD AN ADAPTIVE SEMANTIC SEARCH MECHANISM FOR THE 'WEB OF THINGS'
Authors: CHRISTOPHE BENOIT , VERDOT VINCENT , TOUBIANA VINCENT
Published: April 2012

With the proliferation of connected devices and the widespread adoption of the Web, ubiquitous computing success has recently been brought into the fashion of an emergent paradigm called the 'Web of Things', where Web-enabled objects are offered through interconnected smart spaces. While some predict a near future with billions of Web-enabled objects, the success of this vision now depends on the creation of efficient processes and the availability of tools enabling users or applications to find connected objects matching a set of requirements (and expectations). We present an on-going work that aims to develop a search process dedicated to the 'Web of Things' and that relies on three contributions. Firstly, the creation and use of semantic profiles for connected objects. Secondly, the establishment of similarities between semantic profiles of different connected objects to gather them into clusters. Thirdly, the computation of a score associating a 'context of search' to an incoming request and enabling the selection of the most appropriate search algorithms, involving either probabilistic or precise reasoning.
WEIGHTED SLIDING EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITION
Authors: FALTERMEIER R. , ZEILER A. , TOMÉ A. M. , BRAWANSKI A. , LANG E. W.
Published: April 2012

The analysis of nonlinear and nonstationary time series is still a challenge, as most classical time series analysis techniques are restricted to data that is, at least, stationary. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD) in combination with a Hilbert spectral transform, together called Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT), alleviates this problem in a purely data-driven manner. EMD adaptively and locally decomposes such time series into a sum of oscillatory modes, called Intrinsic mode functions (IMF) and a nonstationary component called residuum. In this contribution, we propose an EMD-based method, called Sliding empirical mode decomposition (SEMD), which, with a reasonable computational effort, extends the application area of EMD to a true on-line analysis of time series comprising a huge amount of data if recorded with a high sampling rate. Using nonlinear and nonstationary toy data, we demonstrate the good performance of the proposed algorithm. We also show that the new method extracts component signals that fulfill all criteria of an IMF very well and that it exhibits excellent reconstruction quality. The method itself will be refined further by a weighted version, called weighted sliding empirical mode decomposition (wSEMD), which reduces the computational effort even more while preserving the reconstruction quality.