bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thoughtful Drawings: A Computational Model of the Cognitive Nature of Children's Drawing
Authors: Burton Ed
Published: September 2009

An interpretation of children's drawing is presented that is based on active perception of the world and the construction of an equivalent self contained two‐dimensional world. This model is implemented in a computer program called Rose (Representation Of Spatial Experience). Inspired by the drawings of young children, Rose simulates the perception of the general form and structure of three‐dimensional computer models and constructs equivalent childlike two‐dimensional representations from them. Rose serves to illustrate the plausibility of the constructive process as a model for real children's drawing and in addition serves as an alternative approach to traditional computer graphic rendering.
Visibility and Dead‐Zones in Digital Terrain Maps
Authors: Or Daniel Cohen , Shaked Amit
Published: September 2009

The problem of detecting the visible and hidden areas of a topographic surface from a given viewpoint is well known, and has applications in GIS and other fields. The computational geometry literature is rich with solutions based on a polygonal representation of the surface. This work confronts the problem by working directly on the Digital Elevation Map which represents the terrain surface. We present an algorithm that processes discrete lines of sight from the viewpoint to the surface perimeter, and tests the unit‐sized terrain elements along the discrete cross‐sections defined by these lines. The algorithm is very efficient, performing O(n) testing operations, consisting of a few additions and no more than one multiplication each, where n is the number of the terrain elements in the map.
Morphological Operations for Color‐Coded Images
Authors: Busch Christoph , Eberle Michael
Published: September 2009

The subject of this paper is the semantically based postprocessing of color–coded images such as classification results. We outline why the classical definition of mathematical morphology suffers if it is used for processing of coded image data. Therefore we provide an extension for morphological operations such as dilation, erosion, opening, and closing. With a new understanding of morphology we introduce bridging and tunneling as further combinations of dilation and erosion. The extensions are applied to medical image data, where the semantic rules stem from basic anatomical knowledge.
Fast Shadowing Algorithm for Linear Light Sources
Authors: Tanaka Toshimitsu , Takahashi Tokiichiro
Published: September 2009

This paper presents a fast shadowing algorithm for linear light sources that uses a ray‐oriented buffer. Space segmentation by the buffer guarantees that if a point is included in a subspace, all light rays toward the point are also contained in the subspace. Each cell of the buffer stores a list of objects that lie within or intersect the subspace allocated to the cell. Therefore, candidate objects, those that may cast shadows onto a point, are determined by referring to the cell where the point is mapped. In addition, whether each candidate object actually casts shadows or not is tested with the bounding‐volume of the shadow space to reduce the number of objects subjected to expensive light clipping. The bounding‐volumes are also stored in the buffer. For efficiently generating the ray‐oriented buffer, we present the cylindrical scan‐conversion algorithm. The algorithm preconverts objects' surfaces to trapezia to decrease the light clipping cost, then connects the trapezia to the buffer cells.

Due to the above improvements, our algorithm achieves over 10 times faster shadow generation compared to the conventional methods. Experimental results confirm that our method can generate realistic images with soft shadows in a few minutes.
A Quick Rendering Method Using Basis Functions for Interactive Lighting Design
Authors: Dobashi Yoshinori , Kaneda Kazufumi , Nakatani Hideki , Yamashita Hideo , Nishita Tomoyuki
Published: September 2009

When designing interior lighting effects, it is desirable to compare a variety of lighting designs involving different lighting devices and directions of light. It is, however, time‐consuming to generate images with many different lighting parameters, taking interreflection into account, because all luminances must be calculated and recalculated. This makes it difficult to design lighting effects interactively. To address this problem, this paper proposes a method of quickly generating images of a given scene illustrating an interreflective environment illuminated by sources with arbitrary luminous intensity distributions. In the proposed method, the luminous intensity ditribution is expressed with basis functions. The proposed method uses a series of spherical harmonic functions as basis functions, and calculates in advance each intensity on surfaces lit by the light sources whose luminous intensity distribution are the same as the spherical harmonic functions. The proposed method makes it possible to generate images so quickly that we can change the luminous intensity distribution interactively. Combining the proposed method with an interactive walk‐through that employs intensity mapping, an interactive system for lighting design is implemented. The usefulness of the proposed method is demonstrated by its application to interactive lighting design, where many images are generated by altering lighting devices and/or direction of light.
Sketching 3D Animations
Authors: Balaguer Jean‐Francis , Gobbetti Enrico
Published: September 2009

We are interested in providing animators with a general‐purpose tool allowing them to create animations using straight‐ahead actions as well as pose‐to‐pose techniques. Our approach seeks to bring the expressiveness of real‐time motion capture systems into a general‐purpose multi‐track system running on a graphics workstation. We emphasize the use of high‐bandwidth interaction with 3D objects together with specific data reduction techniques for the automatic construction of editable representations of interactively sketched continuous parameter evolution. In this paper, we concentrate on providing a solution to the problem of applying data reduction techniques in an animation context. The requirements that must be fulfilled by the data reduction algorithm are analyzed. From the Lyche and Mørken knot removal strategy, we derive an incremental algorithm that computes a B‐spline approximation to the original curve by considering only a small piece of the total curve at any time. This algorithm allows the processing of the user's captured motion in parallel with its specification, and guarantees constant latency time and memory needs for input motions composed of any number of samples. After showing the results obtained by applying our incremental algorithm to 3D animation paths, we describe an integrated environment to visually construct 3D animations, where all interaction is done directly in three dimensions. By recording the effects of user's manipulations and taking into account the temporal aspect of the interaction, straight‐ahead animations can be defined. Our algorithm is automatically applied to continuous parameter evolution in order to obtain editable representations. The paper concludes with a presentation offuture work.
An Adaptive Spatial Subdivision of the Object Space for Fast Collision Detection of Animated Rigid Bodies
Authors: Bandi Srikanth , Thalmann Daniel
Published: September 2009

Collision detection tests between objects dominate run time simulation of rigid body animation. Traditionally, hierarchical bounding box tests are used to minimize collision detection time. But the bounding boxes do not take shapes of the objects into account which results in a large number of collision detection tests. We propose an adaptive spatial subdivision of the object space based on octree structure to rectify this problem. We also present a technique for efficiently updating this structure periodically during the simulation.
Multiresolution B‐spline Radiosity
Authors: Yu Yizhou , Peng Qunsheng
Published: September 2009

This paper introduces a kind of new wavelet radiosity method called multiresolution B‐spline radiosity, which uses B‐splines of different scales to represent radiosity distribution functions. A set of techniques and algorithms, such as function extrapolation, adaptive quadrature, scale adjustment and octree, are proposed to implement it. This method sets up hierarchical structures on surfaces, keeps radiosity distribution continuous at element boundaries, does not need postprocessing, and does not prevent the use of any surface whose parameter domain is rectilinear.
VR‐VIBE: A Virtual Environment for Co‐operative Information Retrieval
Authors: Benford Steve , Snowdon Dave , Greenhalgh Chris , Ingram Rob , Knox Ian , Brown Chris
Published: September 2009

We present a virtual reality application called VR‐VIBE which is intended to support the co‐operative browsing and filtering of large document stores. VR‐VIBE extends a visualisation approach proposed in a previous two dimensional system called VIBE into three dimensions, allowing more information to be visualised at one time and supporting more powerful styles of interaction, The essence of VR‐VIBE is that multiple users can explore the results of applying several simultaneous queries to a corpus of documents. By arranging the queries into a spatial framework, the system shows the relative attraction of each document to each query by its spatial position and also shows the absolute relevance of each document to all of the queries. Users may then navigate the space, select individual documents, control the display according to a dynamic relevance threshold and dynamically drag the queries to new positions to see the effect on the document space. Co‐operative browsing is supported by directly embodying users and providing them with the ability to interact over live audio connections and to attach brief textual annotations to individual documents. Finally, we conclude with some initial observations gleaned from our experience of constructing VR‐VIBE and using it in the laboratory setting.
Realizing 3D Visual Programming Environments within a Virtual Environment
Authors: Van Reeth F. , Coninx K. , De Backer S. , Flerackers E.
Published: September 2009

In the visual programming community, many interesting graphical metaphors have been reported upon for representing computer programs graphically. Most of them have a 2D or 2.5D appearance on the screen in order to reflect the inherent multi‐dimensionality of the programming constructs being represented. By going into a three‐dimensional representation, this reflection can go a stepfurther. With ever increasing3D graphics rendering capabilities on todays computers, it moreover becomes feasible to extend the dimensionality of the program (and data structure) depiction. We follow this approach by realizing 3D graphical programming techniques within CAEL, our interactive Computer Animation Environment Language. The paper elucidates how several concepts, traditionally found within the Virtual Environments area, can be utilized in the realization of three‐dimensional Programming Environments.
Filtering, Clustering and Hierarchy Construction: a New Solution for Ray‐Tracing Complex Scenes
Authors: Cazals Frédéric , Drettakis George , Puech Claude
Published: September 2009

Data structures that handle very complex scenes (hundreds of thousands of objects) have in the past either been laboriously built by hand, or have required the determination of unintuitive parameter values by the user. It is often the case that an incorrect choice of these parameters can result in greedy memory requirements or severely degraded performance. As a remedy to this problem we propose a new data structure which is fully automatic since it does not require the user to determine any input parameters. The structure is built by first filtering the input objects by size, subsequently applying a clustering step to objects of the same size and finally building a hierarchy of uniform grids . We then show that this data structure can be efficiently constructed. The implementation of the

shows that the new structure is stable since it's memory requirements grow linearly with the size of the scene, and that it presents a satisfactory compromise between memory usage and computational efficiency. A detailed comparison with previous data structures is also presented in the results.
Generating a Texture Map from Object‐Surface Texture Data
Authors: Maruya Makoto
Published: September 2009

A number of 3D digitizing methods, including stereopsis, are capable of measuring not only an object's shape but also its surface texture. Measured shape data can be expressed as a polyhedron whose faces are triangular, and object‐surface texture data can be represented in the form of color data for each of the vertices of the various triangles. The ability to apply object‐surface texture data directly to the creation of computer graphics images has been severely limited by the extreme difficulty of expressing such texture data in the image from which conventional texture mapping proceeds (commonly referred to as a texture map). Proposed here is a method that generates a texture map from object‐surface texture data. First, the method reduces the number of triangles in the polyhedron while preserving essentially all the color data that it originally contained. Next, it arranges the triangles in the simplified triangle mesh onto a plane, and generates a texture map from this arrangement. This method preserves the full texture of an object, no matter how complex its shape, an advantage over the conventional cylindrical texture representation approach. Furthermore, since essentially all color data has been retained, the reduction in the number of triangles does not produce any significant reduction in the texture‐realism of the object image produced.
Rendering of Surface and Volume Details in Volume Data*
Authors: CAI Wenli , CHEN Tianzhou , SHI Jiaoying
Published: September 2009

Aiming at the detail rendering in volume data, a new volume illumination model, called Composed Scattering Model (CSM), is presented. In order to enhance different details in volume data, scattering intensity is decomposed into volume scattering intensity and surface scattering intensity with different weight functions. According to the Gauss probability distribution of gray and gradient of data, we propose an accurate method to detect the materials in a voxel, called composed segmentation. In addition, we discuss the principle of constructing these weight functions based on the operators defined in composed segmentation. CSM can generate images containing more details than most popular volume rendering models. This model has been applied to the direct volume rendering of 3D data sets obtained by CT and MRI. The resultant images show not only rich details but also clear boundary surfaces. CSM is demonstrated as an accurate volume rendering model suited for detail enhancement in volume data sets.
Fast Wavelet Based Volume Rendering by Accumulation of Transparent Texture Maps
Authors: Lippert L. , Gross M. H.
Published: September 2009

In the following paper, a new method for fast and accurate volume intensity and color integration is elaborated, which employs wavelet decompositions and texture mapping. At this point, it comprises and unifies the advantages of recently introduced Fourier domain volume rendering techniques and wavelet based volume rendering. Specifically, the method computes analytic solutions of the ray intensity integral through a single wavelet by slicing its Fourier transform and by backprojecting it into the spatial domain. The resulting slices can be considered as RGB textures where R, G and B account for the decomposed volume color function. Due to the similarity of the basis functions, the computation of the texture map has to be figured out only once for each 3D mother wavelet. Hence, the final volume rendering procedure turns out to be a superposition of self–similar, transparent and colored textures, which is supported by modern hardware accumulation buffers. Linear shading and attenuation can be introduced by modifications of the wavelet's Fourier transform.

The main advantages of this method are the provision of accurate solutions and quantification of error bounds, the absence of any expensive prefiltering and the independence of the computational costs from the image resolution. Furthermore, any required discretization, such as the resolution of the basis textures is defined within the computational framework of the wavelet transform. The method is not restricted to a specific type of wavelet unless is provides an analytic Fourier description, such as any B–spline wavelets do.
Optimal Investment Decisions for Two Positioned Firms Competing in a Duopoly Market with Hidden Competitors
Authors: Armada Manuel Rocha , Kryzanowski Lawrence , Pereira Paulo Jorge
Published: September 2009

This paper extends the literature dealing with the option to invest in a duopoly market for a leader‐follower setting. A restrictive assumption embodied in the models in the current literature is that investment opportunities are semi‐proprietary in that the two identified or positioned firms are guaranteed to hold at least the follower's position. More competition is realistically captured in our model by introducing the concept of hidden rivals so that the places in the market can be taken not only by positioned firm but also by these hidden competitors. The value functions and the optimal triggers for the positioned firms differ materially in settings with(out) the presence of hidden rivals. Unlike existing models, our model allows for (a)symmetric market shares and investment costs for the leader and the follower. Cooperative entrance by the two positioned firms is also modelled.
The evolving management of the third stage of labour
Authors: Gülmezoglu AM , Souza JP
Published: September 2009

The immediate postpartum period is a risky period because life‐threatening events can occur unexpectedly, and lead to death if they are not managed promptly. Appropriate management of the third stage of labour can reduce severe postpartum haemorrhage and death. This commentary summarizes how various management techniques of third stage of labour evolved to date and the evidence base for current international recommendations.
The use of misoprostol in obstetrics and gynaecology
Authors: Elati A , Weeks AD
Published: September 2009

Misoprostol, although originally introduced as a therapy for gastric ulcers, is now widely used in reproductive health. For some indications it is now the optimal choice, whilst for others it provides an important alternative, especially in low‐resource settings. The optimal dose varies widely from 20 to 600 mcg depending on the indication and gestation. Use of the correct dose is important, too low a dose will be ineffective and overdosage can be dangerous for mother and baby. Evidence‐based information about the safest regimens for multiple pregnancy indications are therefore provided in this review.
MDG 5: how close are we to success?
Authors: Islam M , Yoshida S
Published: September 2009

Only 6 years are left until 2015, the target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), yet improving maternal health (MDG 5) continues to lag behind. At the global level, maternal mortality still remains high in sub‐Saharan Africa and Southeast Asian countries. Most deaths are preventable and occur due to unavailability of and/or poor quality of service.

Skilled care at facilities ensures safety, cleanliness, the availability of supplies and equipment, and it makes management and supervision easier. With the mixture of professionals in a facility, life‐saving emergency care can be provided quickly. Wherever childbirth takes place, it is essential that the person who helps has the core competencies for safe delivery, has the necessary equipment and supplies, and has the option to refer to a functioning facility offering emergency obstetric and newborn care.

The continuing high incidence of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity is unacceptable precisely because it is solvable. We know how to make pregnancy and childbirth safe. The task is enormous but not insurmountable. Our efforts of investment need to be equal to the tasks and must be intensified if maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality is to be reduced.
Joining the dots: a plea for precise estimates of the maternal mortality ratio in sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Munjanja SP
Published: September 2009

Monitoring of maternal mortality levels in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) to assess the achievements of safe motherhood programmes and for MDG‐5 has been made difficult because of the lack of precise estimates of the maternal mortality ratio (MMR). Projections based on the slow rate of decline of the MMR indicate that MDG‐5 may not be reached before the end of this century in this region. Measurements done using demographical and health surveys, statistical modelling and censuses are imprecise and do not allow trends in individual countries to be established. SSA countries should be encouraged to measure mortality levels from their own resources, using methods that produce precise estimates such as population‐based surveys. Establishment of the trends will lead to country‐specific program targets. The less frequent but more precise measurements can be afforded by SSA countries, as a case study from Zimbabwe shows.
Evaluation of various gentamicin dosage regimens in geriatric patients: a simulation study
Authors: Bourguignon Laurent , Goutelle Sylvain , De Saint‐Martin Julie Burdin , Maire Pascal , Ducher Michel
Published: September 2009

The aim of this simulation study was to evaluate the ability of three regimens proposed in official French recommendations for gentamicin to hit defined pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic targets in a population of elderly patients. The first drug regimen tested consisted of a loading dose of 1 mg/kg and a maintenance dose weighted by creatininemia, every 8 h. The second regimen consisted of a fixed dose of 1 mg/kg at various intervals of time, calculated from creatinine clearance. The last regimen was a fixed dose of 3 mg/kg once a day. All regimens were for 5 days. We used a bicompartmental PK model and implemented a Monte Carlo simulation to generate a large sample of geriatric subjects. The analysis examined three ranges of creatinine clearance. Simulations showed that for the two regimens using multiple doses per day, neither was able to reach an efficacy level without significant toxicity after 5 days of treatment, regardless of the level of renal function. The use of creatininemia or creatinine clearance to adjust the drug dose did not alter these findings. The once‐a‐day dosing regimen gave better results both in efficacy and toxicity, except for patients with creatinine clearance lower than 60 mL/min, where the incidence of potential toxicity was above 25%. These results strongly suggest that official French recommendations about aminoglycoside dosage regimens in elderly patients with renal impairment should be updated, and that the frequent need for therapeutic drug monitoring and dosage individualization should be clearly stated.
Opening up the secret city of Stepnogorsk: biological weapons in the Former Soviet Union
Authors: McLeish Caitríona
Published: September 2009

For almost 30 years, the Soviet government hid a large part of its biological weapons programme behind the façade of a network of civilian bio‐technology facilities, called the All‐Union Production Association Biopreparat, which were established to overcome deficiencies in molecular biology and genetics research. This paper, which is developed from a presentation given during an ESRC‐sponsored seminar series, ‘Locating Technoscience: The Geographies of Science, Technology and Politics’, details the secret geography of one of those Biopreparat facilities located in Stepnogorsk, Kazakhstan. In doing this the paper illustrates how secret geographies can operate simultaneously, and at multiple scales. In the case of the Soviet bio‐weapons programme, enacting secrecy at these multiple scales was made possible by the purposeful exploitation of ‘dual use’ technologies. By recounting a trip made to the Kazak facility, and using personal communications with UK and US experts involved with uncovering the Soviet bio‐warfare programme, the author addresses some of the methodological challenges involved with researching secret geographies. This case study therefore looks in several directions – to work on the geographies of scale, research on the geographies of knowledge and work on secrecy in science and technology studies.
Using Engel Curves to Estimate the Bias in the Australian CPI*
Authors: BARRETT GARRY F. , BRZOZOWSKI MATTHEW
Published: September 2009

The Australian consumer price index (CPI) is a Laspeyres price index which is subject to a number of well‐known biases. In this article we evaluate the performance of the Australian CPI as a true cost of living index by comparing CPI‐deflated food Engel curves estimated with the Australian Bureau of Statistics Household Expenditure Surveys. Our findings indicate that the Australian CPI overstated the change in the general cost of living between 1975/1976 and 2003/2004 by 34 per cent. The CPI was especially inaccurate for single adults and lone mother families. In contrast, the CPI was relatively accurate in measuring the change in the cost of living for two‐adult and working families.
Thermocalc and experimental modelling of melting of pelite, Morton Pass, Wyoming
Authors: GRANT J. A.
Published: September 2009

Calculated results using thermocalc for melting of pelitic compositions are compared with the results of experimental melting of pelite from Morton Pass, Wyoming, USA. The experiments were carried out at 1, 2 and 3.5 kbar, dominantly at 2 kbar. For experimental charges with (‘wet’) and without (‘dry’) added H2O, the agreement is good. This is true for the compositions without added H2O, in which liquid first appears with the production of orthopyroxene at ∼800 °C, and for the runs with added H2O, in which melting begins at ∼700 °C, and continues, with the appearance of orthopyroxene between 780 and 800 °C at 2 kbar. The compositions of melts are also compared: the comparison is generally good, except in the modelling of wet runs below ∼780 °C, where the calculated values for FeO and MgO are about one‐tenth of the already low analytical values, and in somewhat low calculated values of Al2O3 compared to the analytical data. A quantitative model to illustrate melting of pelite at Morton Pass is calculated, giving T–X(H2O) conditions for the observed sets of natural assemblages, along with the reactions at and near the beginning of melting.
Is Chronic Pain Associated With Somatization/Hypochondriasis? An Evidence‐Based Structured Review
Authors: Fishbain David A. , Lewis John E. , Gao Jinrun , Cole Brandly , Steele Rosomoff R.
Published: September 2009

Study Design:  This is an evidence‐based structured review.

Objectives:  The objectives of this review were to answer the following questions: (1) Are somatization/hypochondriasis associated with chronic pain? (2) Is the degree of somatization/hypochondriasis related to pain levels? (3) Does pain treatment improve somatization/hypochondriasis? (4) Are some pain diagnoses differentially associated with somatization/hypochondriasis?

Methods:  Fifty‐seven studies which fulfilled inclusion criteria and had high quality scores were sorted by the above‐mentioned objectives. Agency for health care policy and research guidelines were utilized to type and characterize the strength/consistency of the study evidence within each objective.

Results:  Somatization and hypochondriasis were both consistently associated with chronic pain (consistency ratings B and A, respectively). Study evidence indicated a correlation between pain intensity and presence of somatization and hypochondriasis (consistency rating A and B, respectively). Pain treatment improved somatization and hypochondriasis (consistency rating B and A, respectively). Some chronic pain diagnostic groups somatized more (consistency rating B).

Conclusions:  Somatization is commonly associated with chronic pain and may relate to pain levels.
Global Anthropological Scholarship: Reading Other People's Anthropologies
Authors: Rothstein Fran
Published: September 2009

Fran Rothstein is contributing editor of the Commission on World Anthropologies column in Anthropology News.
Ethics Training at Texas A&M: Classroom Discussions on the Proposed AAA Ethics Code Revision
Authors: Werner Cynthia Ann
Published: September 2009

Liam Frink is contributing editor of “Ethical Currents,” the AAA Committee on Ethics column in Anthropology News.
The Lady and the “Wretched American”: Burma's Trial of Aung San Suu Kyi
Authors: Skidmore Monique
Published: September 2009

Shannon Speed is contributing editor of “Human Rights Forum,” the AAA Committee for Human Rights column in Anthropology News.
Formalizing Ethics Training in Anthropology: An Extension of Methods Education
Authors: Trotter Robert T
Published: September 2009

Shirley Fiske and Niel Tashima are contributing editors of “Anthropology Works,” the AAA Committee on Practicing, Applied and Public Interest Anthropology column in Anthropology News.
Field Notes … What Will Happen to Yours?
Authors: Winslow Deborah
Published: September 2009

Deborah Winslow is contributing editor of “Gateway to NSF,” the National Science Foundation column in Anthropology News.
Reversal of Ketamine/Xylazine combination anesthesia by Atipamezole in olive baboons (Papio anubis)
Authors: Langoi D.L. , Mwethera P.G. , Abelson K.S.P. , Farah I.O. , Carlsson H.E.
Published: September 2009

Background The potential of Atipamezole (ATI) to reverse Ketamine/Xylazine (KET/XYL) anesthesia in the Olive baboon (Papio anubis) was studied.

Methods Anesthesia was induced with 10 mg/kg KET and 0.5 mg/kg XYL intramuscularly. Mean arousal time (MAT), heart rate (HR), systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP), rectal temperature, respiratory rate (RR), and hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO2) were monitored. Baboons were treated with: KET/XYL only, KET/XYL followed by 100 μg/kg ATI or by 200 μg/kg ATI administered 25 minutes after KET/XYL.

Results Atipamezole rapidly reversed depressed HR and SAP (10 ± 5.2 minutes), RR (5 ± 2 minutes) and SpO2(3 ± 6 minutes) and significantly decreased MAT (13 ± 2.2 minutes) vs. KET/XYL alone (35 ± 5 minutes). Emesis was absent and salivation was observed after administration of 200 μg/kg ATI only.

Conclusions Atipamezole at 100 μg/kg is sufficient for rapid and smooth reversal of KET/XYL anesthesia in the Olive baboon with minimal side effects.
Variations of skin biophysical properties after recreational swimming
Authors: Gardinier Sophie , Guéhenneux Sabine , Latreille Julie , Guinot Christiane , Tschachler Erwin
Published: September 2009

Background/purpose: Sensations of itching and skin tightness are frequently reported after recreational swimming in pool water. Our objective was to measure the potential changes occurring at the skin surface under such conditions.

Methods: Nine women participated in this study, which consisted of two periods. During a 4‐day control period, basal biophysical skin parameters were assessed every morning. On the first day, measurements were also performed in the afternoon. The second study period followed the same study design as for the control period, except that, on the first day, women swam for 1 h in a public pool, between the measurements performed in the morning and the afternoon. Skin capacitance, transepidermal water loss, skin temperature, skin pH and sebum casual level (SCL) were measured on facial and body sites.

Results: During the control period, biophysical skin parameters did not show significant variations. By contrast,  h after swimming, biophysical values showed significant changes for all test sites: skin pH increased, whereas skin capacitance and SCL decreased. Biophysical parameters returned to baseline values the day after swimming.

Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that recreational swimming leads to significant transient changes in skin surface properties of women with healthy skin.
Is Entrepreneur–Politician Alliance Sustainable During Transition? The Case of Management Buyouts in China
Authors: Sun Pei , Wright Mike , Mellahi Kamel
Published: September 2009

This article explores the dynamic interactions between entrepreneurs and politicians in transitional China through the lens of management buyouts. Specifically, we identify two contrasting outcomes of entrepreneur–politician alliances: privatization buyouts by entrepreneurs implying sustainable original alliances and failed management buyouts implying the collapse of the original alliances. Drawing on the rent appropriation literature, we treat Chinese management buyouts as bargaining, clarification, and redistribution of organizational rent between entrepreneurs and the government agencies represented by local politicians. We further develop a model of entrepreneur–politician bargaining that identifies the determinants of varying rent bargaining and management buyout outcomes.
“GET OVER IT”: PERSPECTIVES ON DIVORCE FROM YOUNG CHILDREN*
Authors: Ebling Rachel , Pruett Kyle D. , Pruett Marsha Kline
Published: September 2009

Young children's perspectives on divorce were examined using a multimethod assessment. Forty‐one children ages 3.5 to 7.5 were recruited from a preventive intervention program for divorcing parents. Most children gave simple but accurate descriptions of divorce processes. Play themes centered on wishes for parental reunion, concerns for security, and complexities of having two homes. Despite the prevalence of fantasy reunion play, most children drew parents as apart in the family drawing, suggesting realistic shifts in family schemas. Intervention group children exhibited clearer, more balanced views of their fathers and displayed more coherent and less affectively disrupted play sequences.
Susceptibility of mice to invasive aspergillosis correlates with delayed cell influx into the lungs
Authors: Svirshchevskaya E. V. , Shevchenko M. A. , Huet D. , Femenia F. , Latgé J.‐P. , Boireau P. , Berkova N. P.
Published: September 2009

Ubiquitous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is involved in invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), a frequent infection in immunocompromized patients. Genetic differences are likely to play a role predisposing to IPA. This study was aimed to compare six genetically different mouse strains in their susceptibility to IPA and to determine possible mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of this infection. Immunosuppressed BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice infected with A. fumigatus conidia were more resistant to IPA than DBA/1, DBA/2, CBA, and A/Sn strains. Phagocytosis of A. fumigatus conidia by blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) or bone marrow derived dendritic cells showed no difference between strains. All IPA susceptible strains demonstrated decreased PMN influx into the lungs during infection compared with resistant strains. Flow cytometry analysis of the composition of lung infiltrating cells showed that IPA susceptible mice had a decreased number of phagocytes before the infection. After infection the numbers of Gr‐1+CD11b+ PMN cells in the lungs of immunosuppressed mice increased from 10–20% to 50–60% while the percentage of CD11+F4/80+ resident macrophages was unchanged. Among susceptible strains DBA/2 and A/Sn have a defect in C5 component of complement. Injection of normal serum into complement deficient but not into complement sufficient CBA or DBA/1 mice significantly improved their survival. We showed that complement replacement significantly increased PMN homing to the lungs of complement deficient mice. Thus, defect in complement system can predispose to IPA. Our results demonstrated that early influx of PMN into the lungs of mice is important for the resistance to IPA.
Frequency of the CCR5‐Δ32 polymorphism in the Maltese population at birth
Authors: Vidal C. , Xuereb‐Anastasi A.
Published: September 2009

In this study, the frequency of the CCR5‐Δ32 polymorphism was estimated in the human population of Malta. The frequency of the CCR5‐Δ32 allele was found to be 1.1% which was similar to that of other island populations, and agree with the north to south gradient observed across Europe.
Discovery of the orbital period in the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J17544–2619
Authors: Clark D. J. , Hill A. B. , Bird A. J. , McBride V. A. , Scaringi S. , Dean A. J.
Published: September 2009

The supergiant fast X-ray transient (SFXT) system IGR J17544−2619 has displayed many large outbursts in the past and is considered an archetypal example of SFXTs. A search of the INTEGRAL/ISGRI data archive from MJD 52698−54354 has revealed 11 outbursts and timing analysis of the light curve identifies a period of 4.926 ± 0.001d which we interpret as the orbital period of the system. We find that large outbursts occasionally occur outside of periastron and place an upper limit for the radius of the supergiant of <23R⊙.
EGFRvIII‐Targeted Vaccination Therapy of Malignant Glioma
Authors: Choi Bryan D. , Archer Gary E. , Mitchell Duane A. , Heimberger Amy B. , McLendon Roger E. , Bigner Darell D. , Sampson John H.
Published: September 2009

Given the highly infiltrative growth pattern of malignant glioma and the lack of specificity associated with currently available treatment regimens, alternative strategies designed to eradicate cancer cells while limiting collateral toxicity in normal tissues remain a high priority. To this end, the development of specific immunotherapies against targeted neoplastic cells represents a promising approach.

The epidermal growth factor receptor class III variant (EGFRvIII), a constitutively activated mutant of the wild‐type tyrosine kinase, is present in a substantial proportion of malignant gliomas and other human cancers, yet completely absent from normal tissues. This receptor variant consists of an in‐frame deletion, the translation of which produces an extracellular junction with a novel glycine residue, flanked by amino acid sequences that are not typically adjacent in the normal protein.

In this review, both preclinical and early clinical development of a peptide vaccine directed against this portion of the EGFRvIII antigenic domain are recapitulated. Following vaccination, our group has demonstrated potent, redirected cellular and humoral immunity against cancer cells expressing the mutant receptor without significant toxicity. Additionally, the corresponding therapeutic outcomes observed in these studies lend credence to the potential role of peptide‐based vaccination strategies among emerging antitumor immunotherapies in patients with malignant glioma.
Updraft Gasification of Salmon Processing Waste
Authors: Rowland Sarah , Bower Cynthia K. , Patil Krushna N. , DeWitt Christina A. Mireles
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT:  The purpose of this study was to judge the feasibility of gasification for the disposal of waste streams generated through salmon harvesting. Gasification is the process of converting carbonaceous materials into combustible “syngas” in a high temperature (above 700 °C), oxygen deficient environment. Syngas can be combusted to generate power, which recycles energy from waste products. At 66% to 79% moisture, raw salmon waste streams are too wet to undergo pyrolysis and combustion. Ground raw or de‐oiled salmon whole fish, heads, viscera, or frames were therefore “dried” by mixing with wood pellets to a final moisture content of 20%. Ground whole salmon with moisture reduced to 12% moisture was gasified without a drying agent. Gasification tests were performed in a small‐scale, fixed‐bed, updraft gasifer. After an initial start‐up period, the gasifier was loaded with 1.5 kg of biomass. Temperature was recorded at 6 points in the gasifier. Syngas was collected during the short steady‐state period during each gasifier run and analyzed. Percentages of each type of gas in the syngas were used to calculate syngas heating value. High heating value (HHV) ranged from 1.45 to 1.98 MJ/kg. Bomb calorimetry determined maximum heating value for the salmon by‐products. Comparing heating values shows the efficiency of gasification. Cold gas efficiencies of 13.6% to 26% were obtained from the various samples gasified. Though research of gasification as a means of salmon waste disposal and energy production is ongoing, it can be concluded that pre‐dried salmon or relatively low moisture content mixtures of waste with wood are gasifiable.
The little bacteria that can – diversity, genomics and ecophysiology of ‘Dehalococcoides’ spp. in contaminated environments
Authors: Taş Neslihan , Van Eekert Miriam H. A. , De Vos Willem M. , Smidt Hauke
Published: September 2009

The fate and persistence of chlorinated organics in the environment have been a concern for the past 50 years. Industrialization and extensive agricultural activities have led to the accumulation of these pollutants in the environment, while their adverse impact on various ecosystems and human health also became evident. This review provides an update on the current knowledge of specialized anaerobic bacteria, namely ‘Dehalococcoides’ spp., which are dedicated to the transformation of various chlorinated organic compounds via reductive dechlorination. Advances in microbiology and molecular techniques shed light into the diversity and functioning of Dehalococcoides spp. in several different locations. Recent genome sequencing projects revealed a large number of genes that are potentially involved in reductive dechlorination. Molecular approaches towards analysis of diversity and expression especially of reductive dehalogenase‐encoding genes are providing a growing body of knowledge on biodegradative pathways active in defined pure and mixed cultures as well as directly in the environment. Moreover, several successful field cases of bioremediation strengthen the notion of dedicated degraders such as Dehalococcoides spp. as key players in the restoration of contaminated environments.
Revolutionizing membrane protein overexpression in bacteria
Authors: Schlegel Susan , Klepsch Mirjam , Gialama Dimitra , Wickström David , Slotboom Dirk Jan , De Gier Jan‐Willem
Published: September 2009

The bacterium Escherichia coli is the most widely used expression host for overexpression trials of membrane proteins. Usually, different strains, culture conditions and expression regimes are screened for to identify the optimal overexpression strategy. However, yields are often not satisfactory, especially for eukaryotic membrane proteins. This has initiated a revolution of membrane protein overexpression in bacteria. Recent studies have shown that it is feasible to (i) engineer or select for E. coli strains with strongly improved membrane protein overexpression characteristics, (ii) use bacteria other than E. coli for the expression of membrane proteins, (iii) engineer or select for membrane protein variants that retain functionality but express better than the wild‐type protein, and (iv) express membrane proteins using E. coli‐based cell‐free systems.
Detection of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 in freshwater lakes of the former Soviet Republic of Georgia
Authors: Grim Christopher J. , Jaiani Ekaterina , Whitehouse Chris A. , Janelidze Nino , Kokashvili Tamuna , Tediashvili Marina , Colwell Rita R. , Huq Anwar
Published: September 2009

Three freshwater lakes, Lisi Lake, Kumisi Lake and Tbilisi Sea, near Tbilisi, Georgia, were studied from January 2006 to December 2007 to determine the presence of Vibrio cholerae employing both bacteriological culture method and direct detection methods, namely PCR and direct fluorescent antibody (DFA). For PCR, DNA extracted from water samples was tested for presence of V. cholerae and genes coding for selected virulence factors. Vibrio cholerae non‐O1/non‐O139 was routinely isolated by culture from all three lakes; whereas V. cholerae O1 and O139 were not. Water samples collected during the summer months from Lisi Lake and Kumisi Lake were positive for both V. cholerae and V. cholerae ctxA, tcpA, zot, ompU and toxR by PCR. Water samples collected during the same period from both Lisi and Kumisi Lake were also positive for V. cholerae serogroup O1 by DFA. All of the samples were negative for V. cholerae serotype O139. The results of this study provide evidence for an environmental presence of toxigenic V. cholerae O1, which may represent a potential source of illness as these lakes serve as recreational water in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Alveolar bone and the bisphosphonates
Authors: Cheng A , Daly CG , Logan RM , Stein B , Goss AN
Published: September 2009

Bisphosphonate associated osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) usually commences at the alveolus. Comparison is made between the structure and function of long bones and alveolar bone and the differing susceptibilities of the bisphosphonates at these different sites are explored. Current concepts of the causation of ONJ are discussed. The clinical implications of these findings to dentists managing periodontal conditions are presented.
Non‐surgical management of periodontal disease
Authors: Darby I
Published: September 2009

Non‐surgical removal of plaque and calculus has been part of the initial phase of the management of patients with gingivitis and periodontitis for decades. It consists of patient motivation and oral hygiene instruction as well as mechanical removal of supra and subgingival plaque deposits. The purpose of this review was to assess recent changes. The article reports on changes in our understanding of plaque as a biofilm, developments in patient plaque control, chemical plaque control and scaling instruments. It also comments on full‐mouth disinfection, the use of lasers and host modulation. Modern technology has made removal of microbial deposits by the patient and dental professionals more efficient. However, other advancements need to be used in conjunction with mechanical debridement at this time.
Photodynamic therapy: a targeted therapy in periodontics
Authors: Raghavendra M , Koregol A , Bhola S
Published: September 2009

The oral cavity is colonized by a large number and highly diversified communities of micro‐organisms. Bacterial biofilm present on tooth or root surface is a major cause of gingivitis and periodontitis. Chemical antimicrobial agents are widely used in prophylactic and therapeutic regimens for dental plaque related diseases, which are among the most common human infections. As these agents are difficult to maintain at therapeutic concentrations in the oral cavity and can be rendered ineffective by resistance development in target organisms, there is a need for an alternative antimicrobial approach. A novel approach, photodynamic therapy (PDT), could be a solution to these problems. Lethal photosensitization of many bacteria, both Gram positive and Gram negative was found in many studies. The advantage of this new approach includes rapid bacterial elimination, minimal chance of resistance development and safety of adjacent host tissue and normal microflora. Thus, the available knowledge of photodynamic therapy should encourage a more clinically oriented application of this technique.