bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alternative Perspectives on the Sustainability of Alaska's Commercial Fisheries
Authors: LORING PHILIP A.
Published: September 2012

Many believe commercial fisheries in Alaska (U.S.A.) are sustainability success stories, but ongoing socioeconomic problems across the state raise questions about how this sustainability is being defined and evaluated. Problems such as food insecurity and the disenfranchisement of Alaska Natives from fishing rights are well documented, yet these concerns are obscured by marketing campaigns that convey images of flourishing fishing communities and initiatives to certify Alaska's fisheries as responsibly managed. Fisheries management mandates and approaches built on such metrics and technologies as maximum sustainable yield and systems of tradable quotas actually serve to constrain, circumscribe, and marginalize some Alaskans’ opportunities for effecting change in how the benefits of these fisheries are allocated. Beneath the narrative of sustainability, these management technologies perpetuate a cognitive ecological model of sustainability that is oriented to single‐species outcomes, that casts people as parasites, and thus assumes the necessity of trade‐offs between biological and social goals. Alternative cognitive models are available that draw metaphors from different ecological concepts such as keystone species and mutualisms. Such models, when used to inform management approaches, may improve societal outcomes in Alaska and elsewhere by promoting food security and sustainability through diversified natural resource harvest strategies that are more flexible and responsive to environmental variability and change.

Perspectivas Alternativas sobre la Sustentabilidad de las Pesquerías Comerciales en Alaska
Altered theta coupling between medial entorhinal cortex and dentate gyrus in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Froriep Ulrich P. , Kumar Arvind , Cosandier‐Rimélé Delphine , Häussler Ute , Kilias Antje , Haas Carola A. , Egert Ulrich
Published: September 2012

Purpose:  Temporal lobe epilepsy is often accompanied by neuron loss and rewiring in the hippocampus. We hypothesized that the interaction of subnetworks of the entorhinal–hippocampal loop between epileptic events should show significant signatures of these pathologic changes.

Methods:  We combined simultaneous recording of local field potentials in entorhinal cortex (EC) and dentate gyrus (DG) in freely behaving kainate‐injected mice with histologic analyses and computational modeling.

Key Findings:  In healthy mice, theta band activity was synchronized between EC and DG. In contrast, in epileptic mice, theta activity in the EC was delayed with respect to the DG. A computational neural mass model suggests that hippocampal cell loss imbalances the coupling of subnetworks, introducing the shift.

Significance:  We show that pathologic dynamics in epilepsy encompass ongoing activity in the entorhinal‐hippocampal loop beyond acute epileptiform activity. This predominantly affects theta band activity, which links this shift in entorhinal‐hippocampal interaction to behavioral aspects in epilepsy.
Early Improvement of the Regional and Global Ventricle Function Estimated by Two‐Dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography after Percutaneous Aortic Valve Implantation Speckle Tracking after CoreValve Implantation
Authors: Delgado Mónica , Ruiz Martín , Mesa Dolores , de Lezo Cruz Conde José Suárez , Pan Manuel , López José , Villanueva Elena , Cejudo Laura
Published: September 2012

Background: To assess changes in myocardial deformation and ejection fraction (EF) by two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2DSTE) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Methods: A total of 24 patients (50% males, age 78 ± 4 years) were selected for TAVI because of severe aortic stenosis. A comprehensive echocardiographic study was performed before TAVI, at discharge, and after 1‐month follow‐up. EF was assessed by 2D conventional echocardiography with Simpson method and by 2DSTE. Radial and circumferential strains were evaluated in six segments in the short‐axis view at the level of the papillary muscles, and longitudinal strain in six segments in the four‐chamber apical view, by means of 2DSTE. All studies were performed with an iE‐33 echocardiography device (Philips). Results: At discharge, the mean EF estimated by 2DSTE improved significantly when compared with the basal one (56 ± 7% vs. 51 ± 8%, P < 0.01), while EF by Simpson method did not change (67 ± 9% vs. 64 ± 16%, P = 0.2). At that time, global radial (21.4 ± 9% vs. 11.5 ± 7.6%, P = 0.000), circumferential (−20.7 ± 8% vs. −15.2 ± 7%, P = 0.02), and longitudinal strains (−14.8 ± 6.2% vs. −12 ± 6%, P = 0.02) improved significantly when compared with the basal one. At 1‐month follow‐up, global radial (20.1 ± 5.6% vs. 21.4 ± 9%, P = 0.88) and circumferential (−20 ± 8% vs. −20.7 ± 8%, P = 0.35) strains did not vary and a new significant improvement was observed in longitudinal global strain (−19.2 ± 6.5% vs. −14.8 ± 6.2%, P = 0.002). Conclusions: A new echocardiographic technique, such as 2DSTE, shows a significant early improvement in global and segmental left ventricular systolic function after TAVI, which could not be detected by conventional methods.
On Exhibiting Transnational Mobilities: Museum Display Decisions in “Gold Cloths of Sumatra”
Authors: Rodgers Susan
Published: September 2012

Scholarship on the new “mobilities” paradigm from sociology and cultural geography has much to offer anthropologist curators and other museum professionals seeking to conceptualize and design exhibitions on ritual objects that are “on the move”—that is, ceremonial things such as Sumatran textiles (the focus here) that have long histories of crossing ethnic group, social class, and national borders. These ritual goods are often crucial sites for constructing both “indigeneity” and national identities through aesthetic references to imagined pasts. These ceremonial goods also carry symbolic weight as collectible art within widely internationalized circuits of exchange among major collectors and museums. These objects' travels through these realms of value and renown make them eminently open to mobilities research approaches—and to exhibition designs shaped by that literature. This essay offers a case study of a college gallery exhibition on gold thread songket textiles whose display design was inspired by mobilities research. [mobilities paradigm, exhibition design, textiles, Southeast Asia]
Numerical Simulation of the Fast Firing of Alumina in a Box Furnace
Authors: Possamai Talita S. , Oba Renato , Nicolau Vicente P. , Hotza Dachamir , García Daniel E.
Published: September 2012

Fast firing has been used to produce relatively dense ceramics in periods of time shorter than 5 min. High heat inputs during fast firing originates changes in the internal structure of the ceramic compact. The amount of energy available for sintering increases by the formation of a dense outer layer which controls the heat flux to the interior of the compact. In this paper, a numerical model based on the method of finite volumes was developed to simulate the fast firing process in an alumina compact. The heat transfer inside the ceramic sample was modeled through the whole process in order to predict the density changes induced by the fast furnace's heat transfer and compared to conventional sintering.
Transparent and High Refractive Index La2O3–WO3 Glass Prepared Using Containerless Processing
Authors: Yoshimoto Kohei , Masuno Atsunobu , Inoue Hiroyuki , Watanabe Yasuhiro
Published: September 2012

Transparent and high refractive index 0.2La2O3·0.8WO3 glass was prepared in bulk form using containerless processing. The glass transition temperature, crystallization onset temperature, and melting temperature were 553°C, 594°C, and 1043°C, respectively. The glass was colorless and widely transparent, in the visible to infrared region, indicating that the valence state of the W ion was 6. The refractive index was 2 in the visible range, and the Abbe number estimated from the Drude–Voigt relationship was 24. These results indicate that the La2O3–WO3 glass would be useful for optical applications in the visible to infrared region.
Application of Latent Trait Models to Identifying Substantively Interesting Raters
Authors: Wolfe Edward W. , McVay Aaron
Published: September 2012

Historically, research focusing on rater characteristics and rating contexts that enable the assignment of accurate ratings and research focusing on statistical indicators of accurate ratings has been conducted by separate communities of researchers. This study demonstrates how existing latent trait modeling procedures can identify groups of raters who may be of substantive interest to those studying the experiential, cognitive, and contextual aspects of ratings. We employ two data sources in our demonstration—simulated data and data from a large‐scale state‐wide writing assessment. We apply latent trait models to these data to identify examples of rater leniency, centrality, inaccuracy, and differential dimensionality; and we investigate the association between rater training procedures and the manifestation of rater effects in the real data.
Non‐Observational Knowledge of Action
Authors: Schwenkler John
Published: September 2012

Intuitively, the knowledge of one’s own intentional actions is different from the knowledge of actions of other sorts, including those of other people and unintentional actions of one’s own. But how are we to understand this phenomenon? Does it pertain to all actions, under every description under which they are known? If so, then how is this possible? If not, then how should we think about cases that are exceptions to this principle? This paper is a critical survey of recent attempts to answer these questions. I consider views under three headings: “special source” views, which hold that the knowledge of one’s intentional actions has a non‐perceptual source; “special domain” views, which hold that some but not all aspects of one’s intentional actions are known in this way; and “special character” views, which hold that the knowledge of intentional actions is special not because of where it comes from, but because of some other respect in which it is different in kind from the knowledge of other things.
“Religion and Nonviolence in American History”
Authors: Kosek Joseph Kip
Published: September 2012

Nonviolence has long been an important aspect of American religion. Understanding the tradition of religious nonviolence helps illuminate such subjects as the growth and limits of state power, the character of political dissent, and the significance of race in the nation’s history. In the colonial period, Quakers tried to square the nonviolent ideal with the vagaries of pluralism and cultural conflict. Nineteenth‐century nonresistants led by William Lloyd Garrison tied the problem of violence to the injustice of slavery. The connections between peace and justice were revitalized in the decades after the First World War, when Mohandas Gandhi’s efforts in India suggested the viability of nonviolent direct action as a practical strategy for social change. That modern form of nonviolence achieved great success in the civil rights movement, as Martin Luther King, Jr. and other African American innovators used it to defeat white supremacy. Religious nonviolence was also at the center of antinuclear protests and the campaign to end the Vietnam War. More recently, nonviolence has appeared in the prolife movement and the opposition to United States military action in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Paganism
Authors: Kraemer Christine Hoff
Published: September 2012

Declaring that all acts of love and pleasure are the rituals of the Goddess, contemporary Pagans widely affirm the sacredness of the body and of sexuality. Much of this belief stems from the erotic theology that entered Paganism through British Wicca, in which celebrants use symbolic or literal sexual ritual to participate in the ongoing creation of the universe. Pagans tend to be relatively accepting of same‐sex relationships, BDSM, polyamory, transgender, and other expressions of gender and sexuality that are marginalized by mainstream society. Accordingly, sexual minorities have flocked to the movement and have begun to articulate a distinctively queer Pagan spirituality. Pagans continue to struggle with essentialist notions of gender, however, which has caused conflicts around how and whether to include transgender individuals in single‐gender groups. Additionally, in some more politically conservative Pagan traditions, gender transgression continues to draw homophobic harassment. Although sexuality and gender are central theological concerns for many Pagans, more scholarship that moves beyond descriptive approaches is needed, as are more scholarly treatments of the alternative sexualities that garner so much attention in Pagan circles. Christian and Jewish feminist theologians have already found Paganism to be a valuable dialogue partner; as queer theologies increasingly challenge mainstream religions’ notions of gender and sexuality, Paganism has much to add to the discussion.
Efficacy of third‐generation chemotherapeutic agents combined with cisplatin or carboplatin in 3100 Chinese patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer
Authors: Li Bing , Ren Shengxiang , Wang Yongsheng , Zhou Caicun , Schmid‐Bindert Gerald
Published: September 2012

Background

Recently, differences in tumor biology have been observed between Asian and Caucasian lung cancer patients, resulting in different sensitivities to targeted therapy. To date, all registered third‐generation chemotherapeutic agents have been investigated mainly in Caucasians, but little is known whether this data can be transferred to an Asian population. The aim of this study was to provide evidence about the efficacy of chemotherapy in a Chinese population.

Methods

Three thousand one hundred patients with advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer NSCLC, treated between 2002 and 2009 with a platinum‐based doublet first‐line chemotherapy, including vinorelbine, gemcitabine, docetaxel or paclitaxel, were included for retrospective survival analysis.

Results

Overall survival (OS) was 12.1 months and progression free survival (PFS) was four months for all patients. No advantage in OS was seen for any of the four compounds. Gemcitabine was associated with a better PFS compared to the other three (P < 0.001). Docetaxel led to higher response rates, but this finding didn't reach statistical significance (P = 0,054). Chinese patients appear to have longer survival times compared to historical data in Caucasians.

Conclusion

Our retrospective analysis suggests, that there is no difference in efficacy of third‐generation chemotherapy between Asians and Caucasians.
Predicting having condoms available among adolescents: The role of personal norm and enjoyment
Authors: Jellema Ilke J. , Abraham Charles , Schaalma Herman P. , Gebhardt Winifred A. , van Empelen Pepijn
Published: September 2012

Objectives

Having condoms available has been shown to be an important predictor of condom use. We examined whether or not personal norm and goal enjoyment contribute to predicting having condoms available in the context of cognition specified by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).

Design

Prospective survey study, with a baseline and follow‐up measurement (at 3 months).

Methods

Data were gathered using an online survey. In total 282 adolescents (mean age = 15.6, 74% female adolescents) completed both questionnaires. At baseline, demographics, sexual experience, condom use, TPB variables, descriptive norm, personal norm, and enjoyment towards having condoms available were measured. At T2 (3 months later) having condoms available was measured. Direct and moderating effects of personal norm and goal enjoyment were examined by means of hierarchical linear regression analyses.

Results

Regression analyses yielded a direct effect of self‐efficacy and personal norm on condom availability. In addition, moderation of the intention‐behaviour relation by goal enjoyment added to the variance explained. The final model explained approximately 35% of the variance in condom availability.

Conclusions

Personal norm and goal enjoyment add to the predictive utility of a TPB model of having condoms available and may be useful intervention targets.

Statement of contribution

What is already known about this subject?

Having condoms available is an important prerequisite for actual condom use.

The theory of planned behaviour has successfully been applied to explain condom availability behaviour.

The theory of planned behaviour has been criticized for not adequately taking into account affective motivation.

What does this study add?

Personal norm and goal enjoyment add to the predictive utility of the model.

Personal norm explains condom availability directly, enjoyment increases intention enactment.

Personal norm and goal enjoyment therefore are useful intervention targets.
Constructing multiplicative measures of beliefs in the theory of planned behaviour
Authors: Hardeman Wendy , Prevost Andrew Toby , Parker Richard A. , Sutton Stephen
Published: September 2012

Objective

Commonly used theories in health psychology involve multiplicative composites of measures, which have been used as predictors, mediators, and outcomes. The chosen scaling system can affect correlations with other variables. This study evaluated how best to construct composites in the context of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), using hierarchical linear regression, a priori defined scaling systems, and optimal scaling.

Design

Longitudinal.

Methods

At baseline, 6 and 12 months, 365 trial participants (ProActive) completed questionnaires assessing salient beliefs, which were used to construct composites (indirect measures), and direct measures of instrumental and affective attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioural control towards becoming more physically active over the next 12 months.

Results

Linear regression supported a multiplicative model for indirect instrumental attitude and perceived control. Except for perceived control, associations between composites and direct measures were unaffected by different a priori scaling systems. Optimal scaling produced widely differing composites over time for subjective norm and affective attitude and a negative association between composite and direct measure for subjective norm.

Conclusions

We recommend that researchers who use multiplicative composites first establish clear support for a multiplicative model, before they examine a range of meaningful scaling systems on theoretical and empirical grounds. Caution is needed when using optimal scaling without checking that a multiplicative model is supported and the resulting scaling system meaningful.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject? Multiplicative composites are included in commonly used theories in health psychology (e.g., theory of planned behaviour). Valid measures are needed as the choice of scaling system (e.g., unipolar or bipolar) can affect estimates of associations between composites and other variables. Ajzen has advocated the use of optimal scaling.

What does this study add? The study shows that optimal scaling can result in meaningless measures. We recommend that health psychologists use optimal scaling with great caution and we provide alternative recommendations for constructing composites.
Ecological and evolutionary genomics of marine photosynthetic organisms
Authors: Coelho Susana M. , Simon Nathalie , Ahmed Sophia , Cock J. Mark , Partensky Frédéric
Published: September 2012

Environmental (ecological) genomics aims to understand the genetic basis of relationships between organisms and their abiotic and biotic environments. It is a rapidly progressing field of research largely due to recent advances in the speed and volume of genomic data being produced by next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Building on information generated byNGS‐based approaches, functional genomic methodologies are being applied to identify and characterize genes and gene systems of both environmental and evolutionary relevance. Marine photosynthetic organisms (MPOs) were poorly represented amongst the early genomic models, but this situation is changing rapidly. Here we provide an overview of the recent advances in the application of ecological genomic approaches to both prokaryotic and eukaryoticMPOs. We describe how these approaches are being used to explore the biology and ecology of marine cyanobacteria and algae, particularly with regard to their functions in a broad range of marine ecosystems. Specifically, we review the ecological and evolutionary insights gained from whole genome and transcriptome sequencing projects applied toMPOs and illustrate how their genomes are yielding information on the specific features of these organisms.
Divergence of the systemic immune response following oral infection with distinct strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Marchesan J.T. , Morelli T. , Lundy S.K. , Jiao Y. , Lim S. , Inohara N. , Nunez G. , Fox D.A. , Giannobile W.V.
Published: September 2012

Periodontitis is a polymicrobial oral infection characterized by the destruction of tooth‐supporting structures that can be linked to systemic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis. Porphyromonas gingivalis, a bacterium implicated in the etiology of periodontitis, has shown variation in inducing T‐cell responses among different strains. Therefore, in this study we investigated the strain‐specific immune response using a murine experimental model of periodontitis. Periodontitis was induced by P. gingivalis strains A7A1‐28, W83 and W50, and later confirmed by the presence of P. gingivalis in the oral microflora and by alveolar bone resorption. Splenocytes were evaluated for gene expression, cellular proteins and cytokine expression. Dendritic cells were stimulated in vitro for T helper cell–cytokine profiling. Results showed that P. gingivalis had the ability to alter the systemic immune response after bacterial exposure. Strains W50 and W83 were shown to induce alveolar bone loss, whereas the A7A1‐28 strain did not significantly promote bone resorption in mice. Splenocytes derived from mice infected with strains W50 and W83 induced expression of high levels of interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) but A7A1‐28 stimulated increased IL‐10. Stimulation of dendritic cells in vitro showed a similar pattern of cytokine expression of IL‐12p40, IL‐6 and transforming growth factor‐β among strains. A distinct systemic response in vivo was observed among different strains of P. gingivalis, with IL‐10 associated with the least amount of alveolar bone loss. Evaluation of pathogen‐driven systemic immune responses associated with periodontal disease pathogenesis may assist in defining how periodontitis may impact other diseases.
Cuff filling volumes for pediatric classic laryngeal mask airways: comparison of clinical end points versus adjusted cuff pressure
Authors: Ghai Babita , Sethi Sameer , Ram Jagat , Wig Jyotsna
Published: September 2012

Background

Clinical end points are often used to guide inflation and adequacy of cuff seal after laryngeal mask airway placement. However, clinical end points for cuff inflation have been shown to have significantly higher intracuff pressure. The adjusted cuff pressure between 55 and 60 cm H2O causes significantly better seal of laryngeal mask airway. We prospectively assessed the cuff pressures generated by cuff inflation guided by clinical end points, and the actual volume of air required to achieve cuff pressures between 55 and 60 cm H2O for sizes 1–2.5 reusable classic laryngeal mask airway.

Methods

Two hundred and three ASA I and II children undergoing elective cataract surgery requiring general anesthesia receiving laryngeal mask airway sizes 1–2.5 were recruited to this study. The laryngeal mask airway was placed using standard technique. After insertion of laryngeal mask airway, the cuff was slowly inflated until a slight outward shift of device was noted. Cuff pressures were measured using calibrated hand held Portex Cuff Inflator Pressure Gauge (Portex Limited, Hythe, Kent, UK). If the cuff pressure was >60 cm H2O, the cuff was deflated to achieve a cuff pressure of 55–60 cm H2O. The volume of air required to achieve this pressure was recorded.

Results

The volume of air required to achieve the pressure between 55 and 60 cm H2O in laryngeal mask airway size 1, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 were 2.750 ± 0.2565, 4.951 ± 0.5378, 6.927 ± 0.6328, and 10.208 ± 1.4535 ml, respectively. The difference between the initial and the final cuff volumes and pressures in all laryngeal mask airway sizes were statistically significant(P = 0.000).

Conclusion

Lower cuff volumes are required to achieve a pressure of 60 cm H2O than those required if clinical end points are used as a sole guide for determining cuff inflation for patients receiving pediatric laryngeal mask airways.
A neurosteroid potentiation site can be moved among GABAA receptor subunits
Authors: Bracamontes John R. , Li Ping , Akk Gustav , Steinbach Joe Henry
Published: September 2012

Key points

Neuroactive steroids are endogenous compounds that are potent and efficacious potentiators of GABAA receptors.

Neuroactive steroids have been shown to act after interacting with amino acids in the first transmembrane‐spanning region (TM1 region) of the α subunit.

We show that the TM1 region can be moved from the α1 subunit to other subunits of the GABAA receptor (the β2 or γ2 subunits) and confer potentiation.

Our data show that neurosteroid potentiation does not require that the steroid interacts with a particular subunit of the GABAA receptor, nor that it interacts with a subunit that also binds GABA.

Our data also indicate that a steroid binding site is located in the TM1 region.

Abstract  Endogenous neurosteroids are among the most potent and efficacious potentiators of activation of GABAA receptors. It has been proposed that a conserved glutamine residue in the first membrane‐spanning region (TM1 region) of the α subunits is required for binding of potentiating neurosteroids. Mutations of this residue can reduce or remove the ability of steroids to potentiate function. However, it is not known whether potentiation requires that a steroid interact with the α subunit, or not. To examine this question we mutated the homologous residue in the β2 and γ2L subunits to glutamine, and found that these mutations could not confer potentiation by allopregnanolone (3α5αP) when expressed in receptors containing ineffective α1 subunits. However, potentiation is restored when the entire TM1 region from the α1 subunit is transferred to the β2 or γ2L subunit. Mutations in the TM1 region that affect potentiation when made in the α1 subunit have similar effects when made in transferred TM1 region. Further, the effects of 3α5αP on single‐channel kinetics are similar for wild‐type receptors and receptors with moved TM1 regions. These results support the idea that steroids bind in the transmembrane regions of the receptor. The observations are consistent with previous work indicating that neurosteroid potentiation is mediated by an action that affects the receptor as a whole, rather than an individual subunit or pair of subunits, and in addition demonstrate that the mechanism is independent of the nature of the subunit that interacts with steroid.
Association of TMEM16A chloride channel overexpression with airway goblet cell metaplasia
Authors: Scudieri Paolo , Caci Emanuela , Bruno Silvia , Ferrera Loretta , Schiavon Marco , Sondo Elvira , Tomati Valeria , Gianotti Ambra , Zegarra‐Moran Olga , Pedemonte Nicoletta , Rea Federico , Ravazzolo Roberto , Galietta Luis J. V.
Published: September 2012

Key Points

Chloride channels are important for proper hydration of the airway surface.

TMEM16A protein is an important component of calcium‐activated chloride channels.

Interleukin‐4, a cytokine that induces mucous cell metaplasia, also upregulates calcium‐dependent chloride secretion in human bronchial epithelial cells.

In bronchial epithelial cells treated with interleukin‐4, we found that TMEM16A protein becomes highly expressed in goblet but not in ciliated cells.

Upregulation of TMEM16A by interleukin‐4 may be important for secretion and proper expansion of mucins.

Abstract  The TMEM16A protein has a potential role as a Ca2+‐activated Cl− channel (CaCC) in airway epithelia where it may be important in the homeostasis of the airway surface fluid. We investigated the function and expression of TMEM16A in primary human bronchial epithelial cells and in a bronchial cell line (CFBE41o–). Under resting conditions, TMEM16A protein expression was relatively low. However, TMEM16A silencing with short‐interfering RNAs caused a marked inhibition of CaCC activity, thus demonstrating that a low TMEM16A expression is sufficient to support Ca2+‐dependent Cl− transport. Following treatment for 24–72 h with interleukin‐4 (IL‐4), a cytokine that induces mucous cell metaplasia, TMEM16A protein expression was strongly increased in approximately 50% of primary bronchial epithelial cells, with a specific localization in the apical membrane. IL‐4 treatment also increased the percentage of cells expressing MUC5AC, a marker of goblet cells. Interestingly, MUC5AC was detected specifically in cells expressing TMEM16A. In particular, MUC5AC was found in 15 and 60% of TMEM16A‐positive cells when epithelia were treated with IL‐4 for 24 or 72 h, respectively. In contrast, ciliated cells showed expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl− channel but not of TMEM16A. Our results indicate that TMEM16A protein is responsible for CaCC activity in airway epithelial cells, particularly in cells treated with IL‐4, and that TMEM16A upregulation by IL‐4 appears as an early event of goblet cell differentiation. These findings suggest that TMEM16A expression is particularly required under conditions of mucus hypersecretion to ensure adequate secretion of electrolytes and water.
Geometric Constraint Solving With Solution Selectors
Authors: Bettig Bernhard , Kale Vaibhav
Published: September 2012

Current parametric CAD systems are based on solving equality types of constraints between geometric objects and parameters. This includes algebraic equations constraining the values of variables, and geometric constraints constraining the positions of geometric objects. However, to truly represent design intent, next-generation CAD systems must also allow users to input other types of constraints such as inequality constraints. Inequality constraints are expressed as inequality expressions on variables, or as geometric constraints that force geometric objects to be on specific sides or have specific orientations with respect to other objects. The research presented here investigates whether the frontier algorithm can be extended to solve geometry positioning problems involving systems of equality- and inequality-based declarations in which the inequality-based declarations are used as solution selectors to choose from multiple solutions inherently arising when solving these systems. It is found that these systems can be decomposed by the frontier algorithm in a manner similar to purely equality-based constraint systems, however they require tracking and iterating through multiple solutions and in many cases may require backtracking through the solution sequence. The computational complexity of the new algorithm is found to be the same as the frontier algorithm in the planning phase and linear in the execution phase with respect to the size of the problem but exponential with respect to the distance of solution selection steps from the satisfaction steps they control.
Implementation of dual‐energy technique for virtual monochromatic and linearly mixed CBCTs
Authors: Li Hao , Giles William , Ren Lei , Bowsher James , Yin Fang‐Fang
Published: September 2012

Purpose:

To implement dual‐energy imaging technique for virtual monochromatic (VM) and linearly mixed (LM) cone beam CTs (CBCTs) and to demonstrate their potential applications in metal artifact reduction and contrast enhancement in image‐guided radiation therapy (IGRT).

Methods:

A bench‐top CBCT system was used to acquire 80 kVp and 150 kVp projections, with an additional 0.8 mm tin filtration. To implement the VM technique, these projections were first decomposed into acrylic and aluminum basis material projections to synthesize VM projections, which were then used to reconstruct VM CBCTs. The effect of VM CBCT on the metal artifact reduction was evaluated with an in‐house titanium‐BB phantom. The optimal VM energy to maximize contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) for iodine contrast and minimize beam hardening in VM CBCT was determined using a water phantom containing two iodine concentrations. The LM technique was implemented by linearly combining the low‐energy (80 kVp) and high‐energy (150 kVp) CBCTs. The dose partitioning between low‐energy and high‐energy CBCTs was varied (20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% for low‐energy) while keeping total dose approximately equal to single‐energy CBCTs, measured using an ion chamber. Noise levels and CNRs for four tissue types were investigated for dual‐energy LM CBCTs in comparison with single‐energy CBCTs at 80, 100, 125, and 150 kVp.

Results:

The VM technique showed substantial reduction of metal artifacts at 100 keV with a 40% reduction in the background standard deviation compared to a 125 kVp single‐energy scan of equal dose. The VM energy to maximize CNR for both iodine concentrations and minimize beam hardening in the metal‐free object was 50 keV and 60 keV, respectively. The difference of average noise levels measured in the phantom background was 1.2% between dual‐energy LM CBCTs and equivalent‐dose single‐energy CBCTs. CNR values in the LM CBCTs of any dose partitioning are better than those of 150 kVp single‐energy CBCTs. The average CNR for four tissue types with 80% dose fraction at low‐energy showed 9.0% and 4.1% improvement relative to 100 kVp and 125 kVp single‐energy CBCTs, respectively. CNRs for low‐contrast objects improved as dose partitioning was more heavily weighted toward low‐energy (80 kVp) for LM CBCTs.

Conclusions:

Dual‐energy CBCT imaging techniques were implemented to synthesize VM CBCT and LM CBCTs. VM CBCT was effective at achieving metal artifact reduction. Depending on the dose‐partitioning scheme, LM CBCT demonstrated the potential to improve CNR for low contrast objects compared to single‐energy CBCT acquired with equivalent dose.
Spontaneous symmetry breakdown in non-relativistic quantum mechanics
Authors: Muñoz-Vega R. , García-Quiroz A. , López-Chávez Ernesto , Salinas-Hernández Encarnación
Published: September 2012

The advantages and disadvantages of some pedagogical non-relativistic quantum-mechanical models, used to illustrate spontaneous symmetry breakdown, are discussed. A spinor on the line subject to a magnetostatic interaction is presented as a toy model of the spontaneous breakdown of an internal symmetry.
Reversible Inhibition of Chlamydia trachomatis Infection in Epithelial Cells Due to Stimulation of P2X
4
Receptors
Authors: Pettengill Matthew A. , Marques-da-Silva Camila , Avila Maria Luisa , d'Arc dos Santos Oliveira Suellen , Lam Verissa W. , Ollawa Ikechukwu , Abdul Sater Ali A. , Coutinho-Silva Robson , Häcker Georg , Ojcius David M.
Published: September 2012

Bacterial infections of the mucosal epithelium are a major cause of human disease. The prolonged presence of microbial pathogens stimulates inflammation of the local tissues, which leads to changes in the molecular composition of the extracellular milieu. A well-characterized molecule that is released to the extracellular milieu by stressed or infected cells is extracellular ATP and its ecto-enzymatic degradation products, which function as signaling molecules through ligation of purinergic receptors. There has been little information, however, on the effects of the extracellular metabolites on bacterial growth in inflamed tissues. Millimolar concentrations of ATP have been previously shown to inhibit irreversibly bacterial infection through ligation of P2X
7
receptors. We show here that the proinflammatory mediator, ATP, is released from
Chlamydia trachomatis
-infected epithelial cells. Moreover, further stimulation of the infected cells with micromolar extracellular ADP or ATP significantly impairs the growth of the bacteria, with a profile characteristic of the involvement of P2X
4
receptors. A specific role for P2X
4
was confirmed using cells overexpressing P2X
4
. The chlamydiae remain viable and return to normal growth kinetics after removal of the extracellular stimulus, similar to responses previously described for persistence of chlamydial infection.
Dectin-1 Is Not Required for Controlling Candida albicans Colonization of the Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Vautier Simon , Drummond Rebecca A. , Redelinghuys Pierre , Murray Graeme I. , MacCallum Donna M. , Brown Gordon D.
Published: September 2012

Candida albicans
is normally found as a commensal microbe, commonly colonizing the gastrointestinal tract in humans. However, this fungus can also cause mucosal and systemic infections once immune function is compromised. Dectin-1 is an innate pattern recognition receptor essential for the control of fungal infections in both mice and humans; however, its role in the control of
C. albicans
colonization of the gastrointestinal tract has not been defined. Here, we demonstrate that in mice dectin-1 is essential for the control of gastrointestinal invasion during systemic infection, with dectin-1 deficiency associating with impaired fungal clearance and dysregulated cytokine production. Surprisingly, however, following oral infection, dectin-1 was not required for the control of mucosal colonization of the gastrointestinal tract, in terms of either fungal burdens or cytokine response. Thus, in mice, dectin-1 is essential for controlling systemic infection with
C. albicans
but appears to be redundant for the control of gastrointestinal colonization.
HIGHEST WEIGHT REPRESENTATIONS AND KAC DETERMINANTS FOR A CLASS OF CONFORMAL GALILEI ALGEBRAS WITH CENTRAL EXTENSION
Authors: AIZAWA NARUHIKO , ISAAC PHILLIP S. , KIMURA YUTA
Published: September 2012

We investigate the representations of a class of conformal Galilei algebras in one spatial dimension with central extension. This is done by explicitly constructing all singular vectors within the Verma modules, proving their completeness and then deducing irreducibility of the associated highest weight quotient modules. A resulting classification of infinite dimensional irreducible modules is presented. It is also shown that a formula for the Kac determinant is deduced from our construction of singular vectors. Thus we prove a conjecture of Dobrev, Doebner and Mrugalla for the case of the Schrödinger algebra.
QUANTUM DISCORD IN A SPIN SYSTEM WITH SYMMETRY BREAKING
Authors: TOMASELLO BRUNO , ROSSINI DAVIDE , HAMMA ALIOSCIA , AMICO LUIGI
Published: September 2012

We analyze the quantum discordQ throughout the low temperature phase diagram of the quantum XY model in transverse field. We first focus on the T = 0 order–disorder quantum phase transition QPT both in the symmetric ground state and in the symmetry broken one. Beside it, we highlight how Q displays clear anomalies also at a noncritical value of the control parameter inside the ordered phase, where the ground state is completely factorized. We evidence how the phenomenon is in fact of collective nature and displays universal features. We also study Q at finite temperature. We show that, close to the QPT, Q exhibits quantum-classical crossover of the system with universal scaling behavior. We evidence a nontrivial pattern of thermal correlations resulting from the factorization phenomenon.
EXPLICIT FORMULA OF THE SEPARABILITY CRITERION FOR CONTINUOUS VARIABLES SYSTEMS
Authors: FUJIKAWA KAZUO
Published: September 2012

A very explicit analytic formula of the separability criterion of two-party Gaussian systems is given. This formula is compared to the past formulation of the separability criterion of continuous variables two-party Gaussian systems.
MONOGAMY OF ENTANGLEMENT, N-REPRESENTABILITY PROBLEMS AND GROUND STATES
Authors: WEI TZU-CHIEH
Published: September 2012

Monogamy of entanglement is a quantum mechanical property that limits quantum correlations shared among many parties. In an example strongly interacting spin system we examine approaches for approximating the ground state energy both from above and below by mean-field and N-representability methods, respectively. Due to strong competition among the terms in the Hamiltonian, the resulting ground-state wavefunction, although is entangled, does not possess entanglement that is proportional to the system size, thus obeying the monogamy of entanglement.
NOTES ON STABILITY OF GORENSTEIN CATEGORIES
Authors: XU AIMIN
Published: September 2012

Let [Formula: see text] be a class of left R-modules that contains all projective left R-modules. We study a kind of stability of [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein projective modules and settle in affirmative the following question: given an exact sequence of [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein projective left R-modules G = ⋯ → G1 → G0 → G0 → G1 → ⋯ such that the complex Hom R(G, F) is exact for each left R-module [Formula: see text], is the module [Formula: see text]-Gorenstein projective? Some applications are also given.
Construction of Two-Axis Acceleration Sensor Using a Cross-Coupled Vibrator
Authors: Terada Jiro , Uetsuji Yasutomo , Sugawara Sumio
Published: September 2012

We describe an acceleration sensor composed of four vibration bars, with a detection mechanism in which the resonant frequencies of the four bars are brought close together. The bars are connected mechanically at the center, and a cross-shaped layout is used such that for any load direction, the sizes of the loads on the vibration bars mutually oppose each other. Using this structure, acceleration can be easily calculated by differential detection of the oscillation amplitude signals of each of the four vibration bars. The body of the sensor is made of stainless steel (SUS304). The volume of the experimental sample is about 76 ×76 ×8 mm3, and the resonance frequency and quality factor are about 1041 Hz and 87, respectively. The sensor characteristics are measured using the gravitational field, and the acceleration is changed by rotating the sensor around the axis along the length of the vibrator.
Resist Properties Required for 6.67 nm Extreme Ultraviolet Lithography
Authors: Kozawa Takahiro , Erdmann Andreas
Published: September 2012

The reduction of wavelength is a trend in the development of lithography used for high-volume production of semiconductor devices. The lithography using 13.5 nm extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation has been intensively developed and is approaching realization. After the use of 13.5 nm EUV, the wavelength is expected to be reduced to 6.67 nm. In this study, we theoretically examined the resist properties required for 6.67 nm EUV lithography. Using an exposure tool with the numerical aperture of 0.5, the fabrication of 11 nm line-and-space patterns with 0.9 nm line width roughness (LWR) with 10 mJ cm-2 sensitivity requires >30× enhancement of the absorption coefficient, >30 wt % acid generators, and >5× enhancement of the effective reaction radius for deprotection from the current resists in order to simultaneously meet the requirements for resolution, LWR, and sensitivity.
Efficient cooperative backup with decentralized trust management
Authors: Tran Nguyen , Chiang Frank , Li Jinyang
Published: September 2012

Existing backup systems are unsatisfactory: commercial backup services are reliable but expensive while peer-to-peer systems are cheap but offer limited assurance of data reliability. This article introduces Friendstore, a system that provides inexpensive and reliable backup by giving users the choice to store backup data only on nodes they trust (typically those owned by friends and colleagues). Because it is built on trusted nodes, Friendstore is not burdened by the complexity required to cope with potentially malicious participants. Friendstore only needs to detect and repair accidental data loss and to ensure balanced storage exchange. The disadvantage of using only trusted nodes is that Friendstore cannot achieve perfect storage utilization.

Friendstore is designed for a heterogeneous environment where nodes have very different access link speeds and available disk spaces. To ensure long-term data reliability, a node with limited upload bandwidth refrains from storing more data than its calculated maintainable capacity. A high bandwidth node might be limited by its available disk space. We introduce a simple coding scheme, called XOR(1,2), which doubles a node's ability to store backup information in the same amount of disk space at the cost of doubling the amount of data transferred during restore. Analysis and simulations using long-term node activity traces show that a node can reliably back up tens of gigabytes of data even with low upload bandwidth.
File system virtual appliances
Authors: Abd-El-Malek Michael , Wachs Matthew , Cipar James , Sanghi Karan , Ganger Gregory R. , Gibson Garth A. , Reiter Michael K.
Published: September 2012

File system virtual appliances (FSVAs) address the portability headaches that plague file system (FS) developers. By packaging their FS implementation in a virtual machine (VM), separate from the VM that runs user applications, they can avoid the need to port the file system to each operating system (OS) and OS version. A small FS-agnostic proxy, maintained by the core OS developers, connects the FSVA to whatever OS the user chooses. This article describes an FSVA design that maintains FS semantics for unmodified FS implementations and provides desired OS and virtualization features, such as a unified buffer cache and VM migration. Evaluation of prototype FSVA implementations in Linux and NetBSD, using Xen as the virtual machine manager (VMM), demonstrates that the FSVA architecture is efficient, FS-agnostic, and able to insulate file system implementations from OS differences that would otherwise require explicit porting.
A collusion attack optimization strategy for digital fingerprinting
Authors: Feng Hui , Ling Hefei , Zou Fuhao , Yan Weiqi , Lu Zhengding
Published: September 2012

Collusion attack is a cost-efficient attack for digital fingerprinting. In this article, we propose a novel collusion attack strategy,
Iterative Optimization Collusion Attack (IOCA)
, which is based upon the gradient attack and the principle of informed watermark embedding. We evaluate the performance of the proposed collusion attack strategy in defeating four typical fingerprinting schemes under a well-constructed evaluation framework. The simulation results show that the proposed strategy performs more effectively than the gradient attack, and adopting no more than three fingerprinted copies can sufficiently collapse examined fingerprinting schemes. Meanwhile, the content resulted from the proposed attack still preserves high perceptual quality.