bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human-scale haptic interaction with a reactive virtual human in a real-time physics simulator
Authors: Hasegawa Shoichi , Toshiaki Ishikawa , Hashimoto Naoki , Salvati Marc , Mitake Hironori , Koike Yasuharu , Sato Makoto
Published: October 2006

In this article we propose a framework for haptic interaction with a reactive virtual human in a physically simulated virtual world. The user controls an avatar in the virtual world via human-scale haptic interface and interacts with the virtual human through the avatar. The virtual human recognizes the user's motion and reacts to it. We create a virtual boxing system as an application of the proposed framework. We performed an experiment to evaluate the validity of the reaction of the virtual human. We got confirmation that the proposed framework creates realistic reactions and that users can easily estimate the input motions of the avatar.
Consistent query answering in databases
Authors: Bertossi Leopoldo
Published: October 2006

For several reasons databases may become inconsistent with respect to a given set of integrity constraints (ICs): (a) The DBMS have no mechanism to maintain certain classes of ICs. (b) New constraints are imposed on preexisting, legacy data. (c) The ICs are soft, user, or informational constraints that are considered at query time, but without being necessarily enforced. (d) Data from different and autonomous sources are being integrated, in particular in mediator-based approaches.
Review of Review of “Pro .NET 1.1 Remoting, Reflection, and Threading by David Curran, Fabio Ferracchiati, Syed Gilani, Mike Gillespie, Sandra Gopikrishna, James Hart, Benny Mathew, Andy Olsen, Jon Pinnock, Tobin Titus, and Srinivasa Sivakumar” Apress, 2005, $59.99, ISBN: 1590594525
Authors: Stange Melissa C.
Published: October 2006

Review of Review of “Pro .NET 1.1 Remoting, Reflection, and Threading by David Curran, Fabio Ferracchiati, Syed Gilani, Mike Gillespie, Sandra Gopikrishna, James Hart, Benny Mathew, Andy Olsen, Jon Pinnock, Tobin Titus, and Srinivasa Sivakumar” Apress, 2005, $59.99, ISBN: 1590594525
Mobile data service fuels the desire for uniqueness
Authors: Hong Se-Joon , Tam Kar Yan , Kim Jinwoo
Published: October 2006

Mobile content creators and service providers can leverage users' desire to be unique to expand revenue.
A retargetable framework for instruction-set architecture simulation
Authors: Reshadi Mehrdad , Dutt Nikil , Mishra Prabhat
Published: October 2006

Instruction-set architecture (ISA) simulators are an integral part of today's processor and software design process. While increasing complexity of the architectures demands high-performance simulation, the increasing variety of available architectures makes retargetability a critical feature of an instruction-set simulator. Retargetability requires generic models while high-performance demands target specific customizations. To address these contradictory requirements, we have developed a generic instruction model and a generic decode algorithm that facilitates easy and efficient retargetability of the ISA-simulator for a wide range of processor architectures, such as RISC, CISC, VLIW, and variable length instruction-set processors. The instruction model is used to generate compact and easy to debug instruction descriptions that are very similar to that of architecture manual. These descriptions are used to generate high-performance simulators. Our retargetable framework combines the flexibility of interpretive simulation with the speed of compiled simulation. The generation of the simulator is completely separate from the simulation engine. Hence, we can incorporate any fast simulation technique in our retargetable framework without introducing any performance penalty. To demonstrate this, we have incorporated fast IS-CS simulation engine in our retargetable framework which has generated 70% performance improvement over the best known simulators in this category. We illustrate the retargetability of our approach using two popular, yet different, realistic architectures: the SPARC and the ARM.
Measurement-based models of delivery and interference in static wireless networks
Authors: Reis Charles , Mahajan Ratul , Rodrig Maya , Wetherall David , Zahorjan John
Published: October 2006

We present practical models for the physical layer behaviors of packet reception and carrier sense with interference in static wireless networks. These models use measurements of a real network rather than abstract RF propagation models as the basis for accuracy in complex environments. Seeding our models requires N trials in an N node network, in which each sender transmits in turn and receivers measure RSSI values and packet counts, both of which are easily obtainable. The models then predict packet delivery and throughput in the same network for different sets of transmitters with the same node placements. We evaluate our models for the base case of two senders that broadcast packets simultaneously. We find that they are effective at predicting when there will be significant interference effects. Across many predictions, we obtain an RMS error for 802.11a and 802.11b of a half and a third, respectively, of a measurement-based model that ignores interference.
DDoS defense by offense
Authors: Walfish Michael , Vutukuru Mythili , Balakrishnan Hari , Karger David , Shenker Scott
Published: October 2006

This paper presents the design, implementation, analysis, and experimental evaluation of
speak-up
, a defense against
application-level
distributed denial-of-service (DDoS), in which attackers cripple a server by sending legitimate-looking requests that consume computational resources (
e.g
., CPU cycles, disk). With speak-up, a victimized server encourages all clients, resources permitting,
to automatically send higher volumes of traffic
. We suppose that attackers are already using most of their upload bandwidth so cannot react to the encouragement. Good clients, however, have spare upload bandwidth and will react to the encouragement with drastically higher volumes of traffic. The intended outcome of this traffic inflation is that the good clients crowd out the bad ones, thereby capturing a much larger fraction of the server's resources than before. We experiment under various conditions and find that speak-up causes the server to spend resources on a group of clients in rough proportion to their aggregate upload bandwidth. This result makes the defense viable and effective for a class of real attacks.
Manual labor
Authors: Greiner Lynn
Published: October 2006

There's nothing like a new toy to make a techie happy, and the giant box that showed up in my office a few weeks ago was chock-full of wonderfulness. It held the long-awaited new LTO-3 tape changer for the server at my site.
Boxy types
Authors: Vytiniotis Dimitrios , Weirich Stephanie , Peyton Jones Simon
Published: October 2006

Languages with rich type systems are beginning to employ a blend of type
inference
and type
checking
, so that the type inference engine is guided by programmer-supplied type annotations. In this paper we show, for the first time, how to combine the virtues of two well-established ideas: unification-based inference, and bidi-rectional propagation of type annotations. The result is a type system that conservatively extends Hindley-Milner, and yet supports both higher-rank types and impredicativity.
Testing an extended model of IT acceptance in the Chinese cultural context
Authors: Mao En , Palvia Prashant
Published: October 2006

Research on technology acceptance and diffusion is critical, providing insights into how organizations can manage the adoption and use of information technology. With globalization, it is important to understand IT adoption in other cultures. The primary purpose of this study is to enrich the understanding of IT acceptance by extending a U.S.-based research model to a different culture, namely China. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of e-mail users in 30 Chinese organizations. Structural equation modeling was used to validate the model and test the hypotheses. We draw comparisons between our findings and existing studies, and discuss theoretical and practical implications.
Using attitude and social influence to develop an extended trust model for information systems
Authors: Li Xin , Hess Traci J. , Valacich Joseph S.
Published: October 2006

This research extends an initial trust model proposed and empirically tested by McKnight, Choudhury, and Kacmar (2002) in an e-commerce context. This trust model is extended by the addition of two key constructs: trusting attitude and subjective norm. These added constructs improve the theoretical foundation of this model by more closely aligning it with the theory of reasoned action. The extended trust model is applied to the context of information systems, specifically a national identity system. Survey data collected in an experimental setting were used to test and compare the extended trust model against the initial trust model. Empirical results indicate that the additional constructs of trusting attitude and subjective norm explain significantly more variance in initial trusting intentions.
Surfing the net for software engineering notes
Authors: Doernhoefer Mark
Published: October 2006

I mention many different free open source software (FOSS) products in this column in conjunction with the topics I select each month. This month, instead of focusing on a single topic, I thought I'd present a collection of some of the most popular free and open source software products currently in production in order to give you an impression on the size and scope of FOSS packages available.
Book review: Designing Embedded Hardware
Authors: Frenger Paul
Published: October 2006

My last column finished up a two-part retrospective to recap the first ten years of
ACM Sigplan Notices Forth Report
. If you have access to back issues of
Sigplan
or
ACM Portal
, you must have enjoyed the review that much more. I hope so.
Ada Issue 00357: support for deadlines and earliest deadline first scheduling
Authors: Srivastava Alok
Published: October 2006

Direct support for deadlines is defined and a new dispatching policy for Earliest Deadline First (EDF) Scheduling is supported.
EnviroSuite
Authors: Luo Liqian , Abdelzaher Tarek F. , He Tian , Stankovic John A.
Published: October 2006

Sensor networks open a new frontier for embedded-distributed computing. Paradigms for sensor network programming-in-the-large have been identified as a significant challenge toward developing large-scale applications. Classical programming languages are too low-level. This paper presents the design, implementation, and evaluation of
EnviroSuite
, a programming framework that introduces a new paradigm, called
environmentally immersive programming
, to abstract distributed interactions with the environment. Environmentally immersive programming refers to an object-based programming model in which individual objects represent physical elements in the external environment. It allows the programmer to think directly in terms of environmental abstractions. EnviroSuite provides language primitives for environmentally immersive programming that map transparently into a support library of distributed algorithms for tracking and environmental monitoring. We show how nesC code of realistic applications is significantly simplified using EnviroSuite and demonstrate the resulting system performance on Mica2 and XSM platforms.
Improving instruction cache performance in OLTP
Authors: Harizopoulos Stavros , Ailamaki Anastassia
Published: October 2006

Instruction-cache misses account for up to 40% of execution time in online transaction processing (OLTP) database workloads. In contrast to data cache misses, instruction misses cannot be overlapped with out-of-order execution. Chip design limitations do not allow increases in the size or associativity of instruction caches that would help reduce misses. On the contrary, the effective instruction cache size is expected to further decrease with the adoption of multicore and multithreading chip designs (multiple on-chip processor cores and multiple simultaneous threads per core). Different concurrent database threads, however, execute similar instruction sequences over their lifetime, too long to be captured and exploited in hardware. The challenge, from a software designer's point of view, is to identify and exploit common code paths across threads executing arbitrary operations, thereby eliminating extraneous instruction misses.In this article, we describe
Synchronized Threads through Explicit Processor Scheduling
(STEPS), a methodology and tool to increase instruction locality in database servers executing transaction processing workloads. STEPS works at two levels to increase reusability of instructions brought in the cache. At a higher level, synchronization barriers form
teams
of threads that execute the same system component. Within a team, STEPS schedules special fast context-switches at very fine granularity to reuse sets of instructions across team members. To find points in the code where context-switches should occur, we develop
autoSTEPS
, a code profiling tool that runs directly on the DBMS binary. STEPS can minimize both capacity and conflict instruction cache misses for arbitrarily long code paths.We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach on
Shore
, a research prototype database system shown to be governed by similar bottlenecks as commercial systems. Using microbenchmarks on real and simulated processors, we observe that STEPS eliminates up to 96% of instruction-cache misses for each additional team thread and at the same time eliminates up to 64% of mispredicted branches by providing a repetitive execution pattern to the processor. When performing a full-system evaluation on real hardware using TPC-C, the industry-standard transactional benchmark, STEPS eliminates two-thirds of instruction-cache misses and provides up to 1.4 overall speedup.
Estrogen-induced upregulation of AR expression and enhancement of AR nuclear translocation in mouse fallopian tubes in vivo
Authors: Shao Ruijin , Ljungström Karin , Weijdegård Birgitta , Egecioglu Emil , Fernandez-Rodriguez Julia , Zhang Fu-Ping , Thurin-Kjellberg Ann , Bergh Christina , Billig Håkan
Published: October 2006

Female mice lacking AR display alterations in ovarian and uterine function. However, the biology of AR in the fallopian tube is not fully understood. To gain an insight into potential roles of AR in this tissue, we demonstrated that eCG treatment increased AR expression in a time-dependent manner and subsequent treatment with hCG decreased AR expression in mouse fallopian tubes. This expression pattern was positively associated with 17β-estradiol and testosterone levels in vivo. Immunohistochemical analysis of fallopian tube epithelial cells revealed that nuclear localization of AR increased in parallel with decreased AR in the cytoplasm following eCG treatment. Moreover, we found that treatment with flutamide upregulated AR expression in immature mice in association with a decrease in serum testosterone levels, whereas the same treatment resulted in downregulation of AR expression in gonadotropin-stimulated mice with concomitant decreases in serum 17β-estradiol concentrations, suggesting that androgen differs from estrogen in the regulation of AR expression. Furthermore, we demonstrated that DES increased both AR protein expression and nuclear location over a 48-h time course. DHT had rapid effects, with induction of AR expression and translocation at 6 h after injection, but unlike DES it had prolonged efficacy. In addition, we provided direct in vivo evidence that nuclear protein interaction between AR and p21Cip1, a previously reported AR-regulated gene, was enhanced by gonadotropin stimulation. To our knowledge, this study provides the first demonstration to illustrate that estrogen as a principal regulator may contribute to regulate and activate AR in the fallopian tubes in vivo.
Distal Colorectal Cancers with Microsatellite Instability (MSI) Display Distinct Gene Expression Profiles that Are Different from Proximal MSI Cancers
Authors: Watanabe Toshiaki , Kobunai Takashi , Toda Etsuko , Yamamoto Yoko , Kanazawa Takamitsu , Kazama Yoshihiro , Tanaka Junichiro , Tanaka Toshiaki , Konishi Tsuyosi , Okayama Yoshihiro , Sugimoto Yoshikazu , Oka Toshinori , Sasaki Shin , Muto Tetsuichiro , Nagawa Hirokazu
Published: October 2006

Promoter methylation of the mismatch repair gene plays a key role in sporadic microsatellite instability (MSI) colorectal cancers. However, promoter methylation often occurs in proximal colon cancers, and molecular phenotypes underlying MSI cancers in distal colon have not been fully clarified. Our goal was to clarify the difference between MSI and microsatellite stability (MSS) cancers and, furthermore, to determine distinct characteristics of proximal and distal MSI cancers. By DNA microarray analysis of 84 cancers (33 MSI and 51 MSS), we identified discriminating genes (177 probe sets), which predicted MSI status with a high accuracy rate (97.6%). These genes were related to phenotypic characteristics of MSI cancers. Next, we identified 24 probe sets that were differentially expressed in proximal and distal MSI cancers. These genes included promoter methylation-mediated genes, whose expression was significantly down-regulated in proximal MSI cancers. Among discriminating genes between MSI and MSS, nine methylation-mediated genes showed down-regulation in MSI cancers. Of these, 7 (77.8%) showed down-regulation in proximal MSI cancers. Furthermore, methylation-specific PCR confirmed that frequency of hMLH1 promoter methylation was significantly higher in proximal MSI cancers (P = 0.0317). These results suggested that there is a difference between proximal and distal MSI cancers in methylation-mediated influence on gene silencing. In conclusion, using DNA microarray, we could distinguish MSI and MSS cancers. We also showed distinct characteristics of proximal and distal MSI cancers. The inactivation form of hMLH, per se, differed between proximal and distal MSI cancers. These results suggested that distal MSI cancers constitute a distinct subgroup of sporadic MSI cancers. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(20): 9804-8)
Modulators and Inhibitors of γ- and β-Secretases
Authors: Schmidt Boris , Baumann Stefanie , Narlawar Rajeshwar , Braun Hannes A. , Larbig Gregor
Published: October 2006

Most gene mutations associated with Alzheimer’s disease point to the metabolism of amyloid precursor protein as a potential cause. The β- and γ-secretases are two executioners of amyloid precursor protein processing resulting in amyloid-β. Significant progress has been made in the selective inhibition of both proteases, regardless of structural information for γ-secretase. Several peptidic and nonpeptidic leads were identified for both targets.
Pathology of Acromegaly
Authors: Horvath Eva , Kovacs Kalman
Published: October 2006

This review summarizes current knowledge on pituitary changes in patients with acromegaly. The histologic, immunohistochemical and electron microscopic study provided conclusive evidence that a marked diversity exists between the tumors which secrete growth hormone (GH) in excess, such as densely and sparsely granulated GH cell adenoma, the mixed GH prolactin cell adenoma and the mammosomatotrope adenoma. The latter two tumors produce GH and prolactin simultaneously. Densely granulated GH cell tumors may produce thyrotropin and α subunit as well. Somatotrope carcinomas are extremely rare. GH cell hyperplasia can also be associated with acromegaly in patients with extrapituitary GH-releasing hormone secreting tumors. The medical therapy of acromegaly is reviewed briefly, including long-acting somatostatin analogs and pegvisomant, a GH receptor blocker.
Predictive Markers of Pituitary Adenoma Behavior
Authors: Kontogeorgos George
Published: October 2006

The optimal goal for pathologists is to provide important information to clinicians in order to predict tumor biology. Specific morphologic features may serve as predictive markers of tumor behavior. Macroscopic invasion of the perisellar tissues, defined as radiographic or gross operative finding, is considered a more consistent prognostic indicator. Regarding morphology, cytologic atypia is not a reliable feature. In contrast, the number of mitoses is very important for prognosis. Given that only scarce mitoses can be identified in some aggressive cases, Ki-67 represents an alternative key feature to assess tumor proliferation. In the recent World Health Organization classification, the Ki-67 labeling index (LI) represents a major prognostic indicator for pituitary adenomas. Expression of the p53 gene product is very important for tumor biology. Adenomas with more than 3% Ki-67 LI and extensive p53 immunoreactivity are classified as ‘atypical adenomas’. Apoptosis and mitoses represent two adverse and asynchronous events, maintaining the optimal cell numbers. Using DNA labeling techniques, we can identify apoptotic cells. A higher apoptotic LI was found in functioning compared with nonfunctioning adenomas, in microadenomas, particularly in corticotrope adenomas, and in untreated adenomas, particularly prolactinomas. Cytogenetic analysis of chromosomes may provide important information regarding tumor development and progression. Increased chromosome 11 copies are more frequent in functioning, aneuploid pituitary adenomas. Monosomy or partial loss of chromosome 11 in adenomas with a normal or increased DNA LI indicates complex genomic abnormalities of chromosomes, other than chromosome 11. Immunohistochemical detection of somatostatin receptors is important, as their density in the cytoplasmic membrane is directly related to the effectiveness of somatostatin analogues. Therefore, morphologic assessment of the somatostatin receptor profile can predict the responsiveness and validate the effectiveness of treatment with somatostatin analogues. We can conclude that among the currently available predictive factors, tumor invasiveness is important, whereas the presence of mitoses, the Ki-67 LI, p53 expression and apoptosis are very important; DNA ploidy and fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis, although important, are difficult to apply. Finally, in the near future, immunohistochemistry for somatostatin receptors will be a very important application.
Conjunctival Changes Induced by LASIK Suction Ring in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Shin Sun Young , Lee Yoon Jung
Published: October 2006

Purpose: To study histopathological changes in rabbit conjunctiva after suction ring application. Methods: A suction ring was applied to adult albino rabbit eyes (n = 30) with a vacuum pressure of 508 mm Hg for 40 s. Three rabbits were sacrificed at 3 h (3-hour group), 6 h (6-hour group), 1 day (1-day group), 3 days (3-day group), and 7 days (7-day group) after the suction ring application. Histopathological examinations included hematoxylin and eosin, Alcian blue pH 2.5-periodic acid-Schiff (AB2.5-PAS), and Alcian blue pH 1.0-periodic acid-Schiff (AB1.0-PAS) staining. TdT-dUTP-terminal nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay and immunohistochemical staining for p65 were also performed. Results: The site of suction ring application and adjacent areas did not show transient inflammation. AB2.5-PAS staining revealed that the percentage of neutral mucin was significantly different between 54.5 ± 1.6% in the control group and 22.3 ± 1.3% in the 7-day group (p = 0.04). Apoptosis occurred not only at the site of suction ring application, but also in adjacent regions. At all time points, conjunctival epithelium showed no positive staining for p65. Conclusion: The transient elevation of pressure induced by a suction ring is sufficient to cause conjunctival damage. These histological results support the finding that conjunctival damage caused by suction ring application is one of many etiologies of dry eye syndrome following laser in situ keratomileusis.
Exaggerated Cardiovascular Stress Responses and Impaired β-Adrenergic–Mediated Pressor Recovery in Obese Zucker Rats
Authors: D’Angelo Gerard , Mintz James D. , Tidwell John E. , Schreihofer Ann M. , Pollock David M. , Stepp David W.
Published: October 2006

Clinical studies have demonstrated that the pressor response to acute stress is larger in obese versus lean individuals. We therefore tested the hypotheses that the pressor response to behavioral stress is greater in obese (OZRs) versus lean Zucker rats (LZRs) and that reduced β-adrenergic–mediated vasodilation contributes to the enhanced pressor response. Animals were restrained and subjected to acute pulsatile air jet stress (3 minutes), followed by a poststress period of 20 minutes; β-adrenergic blockade was achieved with propranolol (5 mg/kg, IV) given 15 minutes before the start of air jet stress. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was continuously monitored by telemetry. Untreated OZRs responded with a greater integrated pressor response (area under the curve [AUC]) to acute stress (41.2±6.1 versus 21.2±3.3 mm Hg×3 minutes, OZR versus LZR;
P
<0.05) and significantly reduced poststress recovery of MAP. β-Adrenergic blockade had no effect on stress AUC in either LZRs or OZRs but significantly attenuated the poststress recovery of MAP in LZRs only (poststress AUC: −100.1±48.1 versus 49.0±13.5 mm Hg×20 minutes, untreated versus propranolol;
P
<0.05). In anesthetized animals, significantly smaller increases in mesenteric vascular conductance contributed to blunted depressor responses to isoproterenol in OZRs versus LZRs, suggesting that β-adrenergic stimulation causes a greater reduction in total peripheral resistance in lean versus obese animals. We conclude that β-adrenergic–mediated vasodilation facilitates blood pressure recovery after stress and that this pathway is compromised in an animal model of morbid obesity, resulting in the impaired ability to regulate blood pressure during stress.
Individualization in Europe and America: Connecting Religious and Moral Values
Authors: Cochrane Christopher , Nevitte Neil
Published: October 2006

After reviewing the major variations in how individualization is interpreted and explained, this article turns to the World Values Survey (WVS) data to empirically investigate one central aspect of individualization, namely, the connection between religiosity and moral values. That analysis demonstrates, first, that rates of decline in levels of religiosity in most advanced industrial states have been quite modest. The rate of change in moral outlooks, by contrast, has been much more striking. Those two core findings, we argue, draw attention to the question of what explains these cross-national and cross-time variations. The remainder of the article empirically explores a variety of plausible explanations. The results of that analysis reveal not only significant variations between European and North American publics, but also that associational behavior plays a significant role in gearing the dynamics of individualization.
Restricting Discretion: Judicial Review of Diplomatic Protection
Authors: Vermeer-Künzli Annemarieke
Published: October 2006

In the last 30 years, individuals have increasingly filed complaints against their national governments for failure to exercise diplomatic protection on their behalf, in particular in cases of serious violations of international human rights law. Despite the fact that diplomatic protection has traditionally been regarded as a discretionary right of states, the national courts have invariably decided to enter into the merits of the case and to review the exercise of diplomatic protection by the executive. Initially, a draft article on this subject was not accepted by the International Law Commission in the Draft Articles on first reading, but an encouraging provision was included in the Draft Articles adopted on second reading. The development discussed in this article shows support for an obligation to exercise diplomatic protection in case of serious violations of human rights law.
Numerical Simulation of Dust Lifting within Dust Devils—Simulation of an Intense Vortex
Authors: Gu Zhaolin , Zhao Yongzhi , Li Yun , Yu Yongzhang , Feng Xiao
Published: October 2006

Based on an advanced dust devil–scale large-eddy simulation (LES) model, the atmosphere flow of a modeled dust devil in a quasi–steady state was first simulated to illustrate the characteristics of the gas phase field in the mature stage, including the prediction of the lower pressure and higher temperature in the vortex core. The dust-lifting physics is examined in two aspects. Through the experimental data analysis, it is verified again that the horizontal swirling wind can only make solid particles saltate along the ground surface. Based on a Lagrangian reference frame, the tracks of dust grains with different density (material) and diameter are calculated to show the effect of dust particles entrained by the vertical swirling wind field. The movement of solid particles depends on the interactions between the aloft dust particles and the airflow field of dust devils, in which the drag and the centrifugal force component on the horizontal plane are the key force components. There is the trend of the fine dust grains rising along the inner helical tracks while the large dust grains are lifting along the outer helical tracks and then descending beyond the corner region, resulting in the impact between different-sized dust grains in the swirling atmospheric flow. This trend will make the dust stratification, developing a top small-sized grain domain and a bottom large-sized grain domain in dust devils.
A Gray-Radiation Aquaplanet Moist GCM. Part I: Static Stability and Eddy Scale
Authors: Frierson Dargan M. W. , Held Isaac M. , Zurita-Gotor Pablo
Published: October 2006

In this paper, a simplified moist general circulation model is developed and used to study changes in the atmospheric general circulation as the water vapor content of the atmosphere is altered. The key elements of the model physics are gray radiative transfer, in which water vapor and other constituents have no effect on radiative fluxes, a simple diffusive boundary layer with prognostic depth, and a mixed layer aquaplanet surface boundary condition. This GCM can be integrated stably without a convection parameterization, with large-scale condensation only, and this study focuses on this simplest version of the model. These simplifications provide a useful framework in which to focus on the interplay between latent heat release and large-scale dynamics. In this paper, the authors study the role of moisture in determining the tropospheric static stability and midlatitude eddy scale. In a companion paper, the effects of moisture on energy transports by baroclinic eddies are discussed.

The authors vary a parameter in the Clausius–Clapeyron relation to control the amount of water in the atmosphere, and consider circulations ranging from the dry limit to 10 times a control value. The typical length scale of midlatitude eddies is found to be remarkably insensitive to the amount of moisture in the atmosphere in this model. The Rhines scale evaluated at the latitude of the maximum eddy kinetic energy fits the model results for the eddy scale well. Moist convection is important in determining the extratropical lapse rate, and the dry stability is significantly increased with increased moisture content.
Nonlocal Treatment of the Buoyancy-Shear-Driven Boundary Layer
Authors: Ferrero E. , Colonna N.
Published: October 2006

A successful description of a convective boundary layer requires that the model employed takes into account the nonlocal nature of turbulent convection. In this paper new third-order moments (TOMs) are presented and tested. Numerical solutions are obtained using mean flow components and second-order moments as input. The problem of the turbulent damping of the TOMs is considered. The terms in the dynamic equations responsible for the unphysical growth of the TOMs are parameterized, taking into account their dependence on the integral length scale vertical profile. The calculated profiles are presented and tested against large-eddy simulation data and aircraft measurements. In both cases the results compare favorably.
Feasibility study of a passive aeration reactor equipped with vertical pipes for compost stabilization of cow manure
Authors: Sylla Youssouf Boundou , Kuroda Masao , Yamada Masayuki , Matsumoto Naoko
Published: October 2006

Pilot-scale composting was carried out with cow manure to evaluate the performances of two passive aeration systems: a conventional passive aeration system equipped with horizontal pipes and an unusual passive aeration method based on air delivery by means of vertical pipes. The effects of both types of passive aeration apparatus were investigated in order to determine the degree of composting rate by continuously monitoring temperature, moisture content, organic matter, electrical conductivity, pH and C/N ratio in the piles. Temperatures in the range of thermophily (55-65°C) were reached in all runs within 1-2 days then lasting for about 1 week, a span long enough for pathogen abatement. Results suggest that passive aeration carried out by vertical pipes is more effective for air delivery into compost piles than conventional passive aeration of air adduction with horizontal pipes. The variation in the number of vertical pipes was revealed to be an important parameter for the control of composting rate and temperature. Composting rates estimated from the heat balance equation were substantially in agreement with those computed through the conversion ratio of total organic matter decrement. The conversion ratios and composting rates obtained in this study using passive aeration with vertical pipes were well aligned with those found using forced air delivery systems.
Pediatrician Characteristics Associated With Child Abuse Identification and Reporting: Results From a National Survey of Pediatricians
Authors: Flaherty Emalee G. , Sege Robert , Price Lori Lyn , Christoffel Katherine Kaufer , Norton David P. , O’Connor Karen G.
Published: October 2006

Pediatrician experience with child protective services (CPS) and factors associated with identifying and reporting suspected child physical abuse were examined by a survey of members of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Respondents provided information about their demographics and experience, attitudes and practices with child abuse. They indicated their diagnosis and management of a child in a purposely ambiguous clinical vignette. Pediatricians who had received recent child abuse education were more confident in their ability to identify and manage child abuse. High confidence in ability to manage child abuse and positive attitude about domestic violence screening and value of anticipatory guidance predicted that pediatricians would have high suspicion that the child in the vignette was abused and that they would report the child to CPS. Future efforts to improve medical intervention in child abuse should focus on physician attitudes and experience, as well as cognitive factors.
Beyond Frequency and Severity
Authors: Cook Sarah L. , Goodman Lisa A.
Published: October 2006

Responding to calls for improved measurement in the field of domestic violence, this paper reports the development and initial validation of the Brief Coercion and Conflict Scales in a sample of incarcerated women. Confirmatory factor analyses tested the scales hypothesized structure and supported coercion and conflict as moderately and positively related but distinct constructs. Although women reported experiencing both conflict and coercion in their most recent relationship before incarceration, they reported that their experiences were more often marked by interpersonal conflict than by coercion. Further, the coercion and conflict scales differentially predicted women's behavioral and psychological responses to abuse. Only coercion consistently predicted strategic responses and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Overall, findings support the instrument as a viable option, but further psychometric evaluation of internal and external validity with additional samples is warranted.
Leon Petrażycki's Socio-legal Ideas and their Contemporary Continuation
Authors: Kojder Andrzej
Published: October 2006

This article outlines the main socio-legal ideas formulated by Leon Petrażycki at the beginning of the 20th century, and their historical reception up to the present. Although Petrażycki's ‘sociological manuscripts’ did not survive World War II, his major works on law and morality do contain many sociological leitmotifs. The latter are drawn out and presented, and include his proposals relating to methodology and the proper formation of sociological theories and propositions, along with his reflections, for example, on the psycho-social nature of law, the social functions of law, progress, property, and the social infection of emotions. The reception of Petryżycki's ideas in Western social science is seen to be still incomplete owing to the language barrier. In drawing out the difference between the Western and Polish reception contexts, a distinction is uncovered between a ‘formal’ and ‘living classic’.
A Reinvestigation of the Relationship Between Big-Time Basketball Success and Average SAT Scores
Authors: Tucker Irvin B. , Amato L. Ted
Published: October 2006

The advertising effect argues that a high-quality athletic team creates a positive spillover beneficial to the academic mission. This article reexamines the proposition that a university having a successful basketball program improves the quality of incoming freshmen measured by their average SAT scores. If true, large expenditures of universities on big-time basketball and negative publicity from scandals might be justified. Previous literature provides contradictory evidence that is based on only 2 academic years. This article revisits the issue using data for academic years 1993-2002 and concludes there is no consistent evidence a highly successful basketball team has a favorable advertising effect on average SAT scores. Conference fixed effects reveal positive impacts from being in a major conference, a result that supports previous findings regarding the importance of being affiliated with a Bowl Championship Series (BCS) football conference.
Transport of the essential nutrient isoleucine in human erythrocytes infected with the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Martin Rowena E. , Kirk Kiaran
Published: October 2006

The intraerythrocytic malaria parasite derives much of its requirement for amino acids from the digestion of the hemoglobin of its host cell. However, one amino acid, isoleucine, is absent from adult human hemoglobin and must therefore be obtained from the extracellular medium. In this study we have characterized the mechanisms involved in the uptake of isoleucine by the intraerythrocytic parasite. Under physiologic conditions the rate of transport of isoleucine into human erythrocytes infected with mature trophozoite-stage Plasmodium falciparum parasites is increased to approximately 5-fold that in uninfected cells, with the increased flux being via the new permeability pathways (NPPs) induced by the parasite in the host cell membrane. Transport via the NPPs ensures that protein synthesis is not rate limited by the flux of isoleucine across the erythrocyte membrane. On entering the infected erythrocyte, isoleucine is taken up into the parasite via a saturable, ATP-, Na+-, and H+-independent system which has the capacity to mediate the influx of isoleucine in exchange for leucine (liberated from hemoglobin). The accumulation of radiolabeled isoleucine within the parasite is mediated by a second (high-affinity, ATP-dependent) mechanism, perhaps involving metabolism and/or the concentration of isoleucine within an intracellular organelle.
Pivotal Advance: α-Galactosylceramide induces protection against lipopolysaccharide-induced shock
Authors: Sireci Guido , La Manna Marco P , Di Sano Caterina , Di Liberto Diana , Porcelli Steven A , Kronenberg Mitch , Dieli Francesco , Salerno Alfredo
Published: October 2006

α−galactosylceramide, a natural killer T cell ligand, and its synthetic homolog, KRN7000, consistently influence IFN-γ and TNF-α release, both mediators of LPS-induced shock. To modify the course of endotoxin shock, we injected KRN7000 at different time points of experimental systemic Shwartzman reaction. Mice treated with KRN7000 survived when it was injected within 2 h before and after LPS challenge. Mice survival was associated with low levels of T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines, such as IFN-γ and TNF-α. By contrast, protection from endotoxin shock was associated with an increase of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, like IL-4 and IL-10. A role of Th2 cytokines in counteracting LPS-induced shock was supported by experiments in which the protection against Shwartzman reaction by KRN7000 was abrogated by in vivo coadministration of anti-Th2 cytokines antibodies. In addition, cytofluorimetric analysis showed that surviving animals have higher percentages of NKT-IL-10-positive cells and lower percentages of NKT-IFN-γ and macrophages/TNF-α-stained cells than nonprotected mice. Taken together, our data demonstrate that KRN7000 treatment given at times near LPS challenge is protective for endotoxin shock inhibiting IFN-γ and TNF-α release. Moreover, KRN7000-mediated protection occurs through an increased production of IL-4 and IL-10, which are mainly secreted by NKT cells. Since IFN-γ release by NKT requires a longer TCR stimulation than that required for Th2 cytokines production, we demonstrate that timing of KRN7000 in vivo exposure affect the pattern of cytokines expression protecting animals by endotoxin shock.
Orthogonal Interlocking Tandem Clipping Technique for the Reconstruction of Complex Middle Cerebral Artery Aneurysms
Authors: Clatterbuck Richard E. , Galler Robert M. , Tamargo Rafael J. , Chalif David J.
Published: October 2006

OBJECTIVE:

Complex aneurysms arising at the middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation frequently present a microsurgical challenge to effectively obliterate while maintaining patency of the distal MCA branches. These aneurysms are often multilobed, with their long axis aligned with the long axis of the M1 trunk, placing the dome of the aneurysm in the surgeons' line of sight, preventing an unobstructed view of the entire bifurcation and proximal M1 segment. MCA aneurysms often have a broad neck, splaying the bifurcation. An orthogonal interlocking tandem clipping technique, maximizing the use of fenestrated aneurysm clips, is presented as a means to completely obliterate the aneurysm and simultaneously “reconstruct” the MCA bifurcation. CLINICAL PRESENTATIONS AND INTERVENTION: Fifteen complex MCA aneurysms were treated using an interlocking tandem clipping technique. In its simplest application, the blades of the initial aneurysm clip are incorporated into the fenestration of the second clip. Obliteration of the residual aneurysm is achieved with the blades of the second, fenestrated clip.

RESULTS:

Satisfactory aneurysm obliteration and reconstruction of the MCA bifurcation was achieved in all cases using this technique, with excellent neurological outcomes.

CONCLUSION:

Morphologically complex multilobed MCA aneurysms can be effectively clipped with “reconstruction” of the normal vascular anatomy using a tandem interlocking clipping technique. A fenestrated clip is used to incorporate the blades of the initial clip, while obliterating the remainder of the aneurysm.
Endoscope-Assisted Microvascular Decompression for Trigeminal Neuralgia:Technical Case Report
Authors: Teo Charles , Nakaji Peter , Mobbs Ralph J.
Published: October 2006

OBJECTIVE:

Microvascular decompression may fail to relieve trigeminal neuralgia because a compressing vessel at the root entry zone may be overlooked during surgery. Alternatively, effective decompression may not always be achieved with the visualization provided by the microscope alone. We theorized that the addition of an endoscope would improve the efficacy of microvascular decompression.

METHODS:

We retrospectively reviewed microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve in 114 patients. Before closure, the endoscope was used to inspect the root entry zone. When visualization with the microscope was poor, the endoscope was used to identify an aberrant vessel and to perform or improve the subsequent decompression.

RESULTS:

Of 114 patients who underwent microvascular decompression, 113 successfully underwent endoscopy. In 38 patients (33%), endoscopy revealed arteries that were poorly seen (25%) or not seen at all (8%) with the microscope. At a mean follow-up period of 29 months, the pain was completely relieved in 112 patients (99.1%), all of whom were off medication. Complications included trigeminal dyses-thesias in nine patients and a wound infection, partial hearing loss, and complete hearing loss in one patient each. The overall complication rate was 9%.

CONCLUSION:

Endoscopy is a simple and safe adjunct to microscopic exploration of the trigeminal nerve. The markedly improved visualization increases the likelihood of identifying the offending vessel and consequently of achieving satisfactory decompression of the nerve. Thus far, the success rate has been high, and the complication profile is comparable to that of other large series.
Endoscopic Fenestration of A Symptomatic Cavum Septum Pellucidum:Technical Case Report
Authors: Weyerbrock Astrid , Mainprize Todd , Rutka James T.
Published: October 2006

OBJECTIVE:

Cysts of the septum pellucidum (CSPs) may become symptomatic because of obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid flow, resulting in increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus requiring surgical intervention. Endoscopic fenestration may be the most effective and least invasive technique to treat this pathological condition. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: An 11-year-old boy sought treatment for frequent episodes of severe headache. On examination, he had papilledema. There was evidence on magnetic resonance imaging scans of a space-occupying CSP with obstructive hydrocephalus.

INTERVENTION:

The endoscopic technique of fenestration of both lateral walls of an enlarged CSP via a left frontal approach under ultrasound guidance using a rigid endoscope was successful. After surgery, the patient became asymptomatic, his papilledema resolved, and magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated collapse of the walls of the CSP toward the midline.

CONCLUSION:

Neuroendoscopic fenestration should be strongly considered as the treatment of choice for symptomatic CSPs. This procedure alone can lead to complete resolution of clinical symptoms and hydrocephalus, can reduce the size of the CSP, and can obviate the need for an implantable cerebrospinal fluid shunt.