bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Species‐habitat associations change in a subtropical forest of China
Authors: Lai Jiangshan , Mi Xiangcheng , Ren Haibao , Ma Keping
Published: May 2009

Question: Do tree and shrub species in an evergreen broadleaf forest show similar habitat associations across different life stages?

Location: A 24‐ha evergreen broadleaf forest plot in a heterogeneous landscape in Gutianshan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang Province, Eastern China.

Methods: Species having positive associations with four habitat types (low valley, low ridge, upper valley, and upper ridge) at three life stages (sapling, juvenile, and mature stages) were compared for 60 tree and shrub species using torus‐translation tests.

Results: A total of 117 significant positive associations with the four habitats were observed at the three life stages (43, 41, and 33 at the sapling, juvenile, and mature stages, respectively). For the 52 species significantly associated with habitats, only 16 were associated with the same habitat across all three stages. The majority of associated species at the juvenile stage (34 out of 40) were associated with the same habitat at their sapling stage, whereas half of species at the mature stage had consistent associations with the same habitat at their sapling stage. More species were associated with the upper ridge at the sapling and juvenile stages compared to the mature stage. Conversely, more species were associated with the low valley at the mature stage compared to the sapling and juvenile stages.

Conclusions: Our results indicate that species ecological habitat associations can differ between developmental stages beyond 1 cm DBH, as most species habitat preferences were consistent from the sapling stage to the juvenile stage but changed at the mature stage.
Cell surface hydrophobicity of Candida albicans isolated from elder patients undergoing denture‐related candidosis
Authors: De Souza Roberta Diavana , Mores Alinne Ulbrich , Cavalca Laura , Rosa Rosimeire Takaki , Samaranayake Lakshman Perera , Rosa Edvaldo Antonio Ribeiro
Published: May 2009

Background:  The virulence potential of Candida albicans strains enrolled in denture‐related candidosis still remains uncertain. Candida albicans cells with higher cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) rates, so‐called hydrophobic, present higher adhesion success in different host tissues than cells with lower rates, or even hydrophilic.

Objective:  The proposition of this study was to evaluate the differences in the CSH of strains isolated from denture users with and without denture‐related candidosis.

Material and methods:  The strains were obtained from two paired groups of patients living a same retirement house. Fungal cells were submitted to CSH evaluation by the hydrocarbon partition test using xylene.

Results:  The measures revealed that the yeasts from patients with candidosis had CSH values ranging from 4.52% to 12.24%, with an average of 8.22 ± 2.92%. In the countergroup, the CSH ranged from 3.86% to 14.36%, with an average of 8.38 ± 3.76%. The difference between the groups were considered not relevant (p = 0.997).

Conclusion:  The results let to the inference that natural populations of C. albicans from patients with and without clinical manifestation denture‐related candidosis do not differ one from the other regarding to CSH.
Oral health care issues in aged care facilities in Western Australia: resident and family caregiver views
Authors: Paley Glenys Anna , Slack‐Smith Linda , O’Grady Martin
Published: May 2009

Objective:  To investigate resident and family perceptions and attitudes towards oral health care and access to dental services for aged care facility residents.

Method:  Focus groups and individual interviews with residents and family caregivers were conducted at aged care facilities in the Perth Metropolitan Area, Western Australia.

Results:  There were 30 participants from twelve aged care facilities (21 residents and nine family caregivers). Five focus groups comprising both residents and family caregivers were conducted in addition to three face‐to‐face interviews with residents. Both groups considered oral health very important to overall health and quality of life. Family caregivers noted a lack of dental check‐ups and specialised professional oral care, particularly in high‐care facilities. Low care residents were more likely to have regular dental check‐ups or dental treatment and off‐site dental visits were straightforward due to their mobility and family member assistance. Family caregivers noted time limitations and lack of expertise in oral health care amongst staff in high‐care facilities, and the challenges of maintaining oral care for residents with poor mobility or cognitive impairment. It was considered important that staff and management liaise with family caregivers and family members in provision of oral care.

Conclusion:  Regular oral care, assessment and treatment were considered limited, particularly for residents in high care. There is a need for comprehensive, ongoing oral health programmes involving appropriately trained and empathetic dental health professionals and staff to improve oral health care in Perth’s aged care facilities.
Association of tenascin‐W expression with mineralization in mouse calvarial development
Authors: Mikura Ayako , Okuhara Shigeru , Saito Masahiro , Ota Masato , Ueda Koichi , Iseki Sachiko
Published: May 2009

Tenascin‐W is a tenascin family member that forms part of a complex extracellular matrix, and previous studies have suggested its association with osteogenesis. In the present study we investigated the roles of tenascin‐W in osteogenesis. We found that tenascin‐W is expressed in osteoblasts at the edge of the developing bone domain prior to mineralization in mouse fetuses. Expression of tenascin‐W was induced during the course of mineralization of the Kusa‐A1 osteoblast cell line. In the interfrontal suture of postnatal mice, the anterior portion remains patent and the posterior portion closes by 4 weeks of age. Tenascin‐W expression was downregulated at 1 week of age in the posterior frontal suture, whereas in the anterior suture, expression was maintained until the mice reached 4 weeks of age. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2)‐bead application to the mouse fetal skull by ex‐utero surgery accelerated osteoblast differentiation, but inhibited mineralization with a downregulation of tenascin‐W expression. These results suggest that tenascin‐W is involved in osteoblast maturation (i.e. mineralization).
MHC class 2 deficiency and X‐linked agammaglobulinaemia in a consanguineous extended family
Authors: Broides A. , Shubinsky G. , Parvari R. , Grimbacher B. , Somech R. , Garty B. Z. , Levy J.
Published: May 2009

Manifestations of immunodeficiency within the same family are presumed to be the same disease. We report a consanguineous extended family where four patients have immunodeficiency, three have X‐linked agammaglobulinaemia and one has major histocompatibility complex class 2 deficiency. Within one family, two rare genetic diseases with similar clinical manifestations can occur.
New Hope and Help for Forgotten Youth
Authors: Gill Rita , Raphel Sally
Published: May 2009

TOPIC:  Juvenile sex offender treatment programs have been at the forefront of discussion among some policy‐makers and certainly those who provide treatment for these youth. While the research in this area supports the use of community‐based treatment strategies, clinicians with strong training background are rare.

PURPOSE:  There is a need for a certificate training program to develop clinicians who are specifically trained to treat juvenile sex offenders. Through a unique academic/community initiative providing a multimodal approach to treatment, a collaborative 2‐day national conference related to treatment of juvenile sex offenders was established. The program core was a 9‐month clinical treatment certificate training program. This article describes the community program, and outlines in detail its purpose, goals, trainee requirements, conceptual areas for competency development, and the content areas.

CONCLUSIONS:   The Mental Health Policy Institute for Leadership and Training of Baltimore and the School of Nursing of the University Maryland jointly recognized a need to address the quality and efficacy of community‐based treatment and expand the number of trained clinicians to work with sex offending youth. As a result of positive program evaluations, this community program will be provided annually.
A Comparison of Two Types of Social Support for Mothers of Mentally Ill Children
Authors: Scharer Kathleen , Colon Eileen , Moneyham Linda , Hussey Jim , Tavakoli Abbas , Shugart Margaret
Published: May 2009

PROBLEM:  The purpose of this analysis was to compare social support offered by two telehealth nursing interventions for mothers of children with serious mental illnesses.

METHODS:  A randomized, controlled, quantitative investigation is underway to test two support interventions, using the telephone (TSS) or Internet (WEB). Qualitative description was used to analyze data generated during telehealth interventions.

FINDINGS:  The behaviors and attitudes of children were challenging for the mothers to manage. Mothers’ emotional reactions included fear, frustration, concern, and guilt. They sought to be advocates for their children. The nurses provided emotional, informational, and appraisal support. TSS mothers were passive recipients, while WEB mothers had to choose to participate.

CONCLUSIONS:  Mothers in both interventions shared similar concerns and sought support related to their child's problems.
REGULATION OF APOLIPOPROTEIN A‐1 AND APOLIPOPROTEIN B100 GENES BY THYMOQUINONE RICH FRACTION AND THYMOQUINONE IN HEPG2 CELLS
Authors: AL‐NAQEEB GHANYA , ISMAIL MAZNAH
Published: May 2009

Thymoquinone (TQ) rich fraction (TQRF) extracted from Nigella sativa seeds using a supercritical fluid extraction technique was prepared. The regulatory effects of TQRF at 80 µg/mL and commercial TQ at 2 µg/mL on apolipoprotein B100 (Apo B100) and apolipoprotein A‐1 (Apo A‐1) genes in the presence or absence of 25‐hydroxycholesterol (25OH), were investigated in human HepG2 cell line using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Incubating HepG2 cells in 10% human lipoprotein deficient serum (HLPDS) for 24 h in the presence of 2 µg/mL 25OH showed a significant increase in Apo B100 mRNA expression level by twofold compared to the control cells; on the other hand, no significant change in Apo A‐1 mRNA level was observed. When cells were incubated with HLPDS in the absence of 25OH and treated with TQRF and TQ, the mRNA level of Apo B100 was down‐regulated by 70 and 49%, respectively, in TQRF and TQ treated cells compared to untreated cells. Apo A‐1 gene was up‐regulated by four‐ and twofold in TQRF and TQ treated cells, respectively, compared to that observed in untreated cells. The present study clearly shows that TQRF and TQ are effective in regulating Apo A‐1 and Apo B100 genes that influence cholesterol metabolism in HepG2 cells.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including coronary heart disease, are considered as frequent cause of most deaths in the world. Hypercholesterolemia is the major risk of CVD. The plasma levels of Apo B100 and Apo A‐1 have been reported to be a risk of developing CVD. Natural products that are able to up‐regulate Apo A‐1 and down‐regulate Apo B100 genes are candidates for preventing and treating hypercholesterolemia. The regulatory effect of thymoquinone rich fraction extracted from Nigella sativa seeds using supercritical fluid extraction on Apo A‐1 and Apo B100 genes may play an important role in controlling the plasma cholesterol level, and thus, may reduce the risk of CVD.
THE ROLE OF BLACK TEA FEED CONDITIONS UPON ULTRAFILTRATION PERFORMANCE DURING MEMBRANE FOULING AND CLEANING
Authors: EVANS PHILIP J. , BIRD MICHAEL R.
Published: May 2009

This article demonstrates the importance of feed condition upon filtration performance as a result of variations in fouling mechanism and cleaning efficiency during the clarification of black tea liquor by ultrafiltration. The filters studied were (1) FP and (2) RC ultrafiltration membranes.

Specific fouling resistances, apparent membrane rejections and cleaning efficiencies were analyzed for variations in feed concentration, TMP, temperature, ionic strength and calcium content.

Concentration polarization contributed predominantly to the increased total fouling resistance of both membranes as feed concentration was increased, although there was no extra effect upon deposit formation on the RC membrane, whereas rinsable fouling deposit did increase on the FP membrane because of slightly stronger interaction of the foulant with the membrane surface.

Increasing the ionic strength increased the total fouling resistance, thus reducing performance while decreasing the severity of deposition fouling as a result of increased concentration polarization. Addition of calcium to the feed stream caused a significant increase in irreversible fouling deposition because of polar group–calcium complexation (bridging). This deposition could not be adequately removed by using standard sodium hydroxide cleaning protocols, or by the addition of surfactants and chelating agents.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The nature of complex feeds and membrane filtration usually results in a progressive flux decline that has a marked effect upon the process economics and viability. The effect of black tea feed condition upon ultrafiltration as a clarification method is reported in this article. Membrane–foulant interactions and overall performance are discussed and are relevant to the optimization and clarification of black tea and other protein/polyphenol containing beverages during industrial processing in factory operation. Although cleaning of membranes is inevitably required during filtration of such a complex feed, an understanding of fouling can help reduce the frequency and environmental impact of cleaning in industrial practice.
OPTIMIZATION OF PROTEIN CONCENTRATE PREPARATION FROM BAMBARA BEAN USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY
Authors: MUNE MARTIN ALAIN MUNE , MBOME ISRAËL LAPE , MINKA SAMUEL RENE
Published: May 2009

Response surface methodology was used to optimize the preparation of protein concentrate from Bambara bean flour. A central composite rotatable design of experiments was used to investigate the effects of the two statistically significant factors, namely pH and NaCl concentration on four responses: yield (%), protein content (%), reactive lysine (g/16 g N) and iron content (mg/100 g). A second‐order polynomial model was used for predicting the responses. Regression analysis indicated that more than 81.7% of the variation was explained by the fitted models. The results showed that under optimum conditions (pH and NaCl concentration of 8.99 and 0.17 M, respectively) the yield was ≥28%, protein content ≥71.25%, reactive lysine ≥1.77 g/16 g N and iron content ≥18 mg/100 g. The suitability of the model employed was confirmed by the agreement between the experimental and predicted values for yield, protein content and reactive lysine.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This study was undertaken to find out the optimum input conditions (pH and NaCl concentration) at which protein concentrate yield, protein content, reactive lysine and iron content from Bambara bean had the optimal productivity. The results obtained will permit the development of an appropriate process for protein extraction from this under‐utilized grain legume. It would then be possible to efficiently predict the conditions of pH and NaCl concentration, which permit the obtaining of protein extracts with desired nutritional quality for use as a food ingredient. Furthermore, the protein extracts could turn out to have some functional properties required in food product development.
PALM OIL SHORTENING EFFECTS ON BAKING PERFORMANCE OF WHITE BREAD
Authors: CHIN NYUK LING , RAHMAN RUSSLY ABDUL , HASHIM DZULKIFLY MAT , KOWNG SHIN YUEH
Published: May 2009

The effect of the addition of palm oil shortening up to 10% on baking performance of white breads in terms of volume, oven spring, weight, density, color, crumb texture and shelf life using strong and weak flour was investigated. Shortening improved the volume and oven spring of bread at an optimum level of 4% for both strong and weak flour. The strong flour illustrated the effects of shortening more significantly than the weak flour as it produced loaves with higher volumes, oven spring and weight. Bread density decreased to its lowest at 4% of shortening before increasing but porosity decreased linearly with shortening level. These findings suggest that shortening has the optimum capability of reducing bread density at 4% and further addition resulted in dense and coarse bread. Addition of shortening also gave signs of whiter breads and mold reduction effect, although there is no particular trend with its usage levels.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This research presents the improvement in baking characteristics of white bread with addition of palm oil shortening at an optimum level of 4% for all three types of shortening with melting points ranging from 36–52C. The baking characteristics such as volume, oven spring, weight, density, color, crumb texture and shelf life were evaluated using newly developed research methods and also by adopting industrial practices. It was observed that addition of shortening gave signs of whiter breads and mold reduction effect.
Geography of Stock Markets
Authors: Wójcik Dariusz
Published: May 2009

Geography matters for stock markets. Stock market actors and institutions do not just have to be somewhere, but where they are in relation to other actors and institutions has an effect on their behaviour and performance. Hence, the geography of stock markets is crucial to the spatial distribution of financial services and centres. On another level, the evolution and structure of stock markets involves a complex interplay of politics, technology, economy and culture, and can never be explained with economic models alone. Finally, stock markets do not just reflect economy and society, they influence how economy and society work. The current financial crisis only underscores the value of geography as a lens through which to view stock markets, and the significance of the latter in the world economy.
Mitotic Epitopes are Incorporated into Age‐dependent Neurofibrillary Tangles in Niemann–Pick Disease Type C
Authors: Zhang Min , Wang Xuezhen , Jiang Feng , Wang Wei , Vincent Inez , Bu Bitao
Published: May 2009

The mechanism underlying neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders remains elusive. Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC) is a kind of genetic neurovisceral disorder in which the intracellular sequestration of cholesterol and other lipids in neurons, NFT formation and neuronal degeneration in brain are the neuropathology hallmarks. The age of onset and progression of the disease vary dramatically. We have analyzed the hippocampus from 17 NPC cases, aged from 7 months to 55 years, to depict the temporal characteristics of NFT formation. Unexpectedly, classic NFT was observed in about 4‐year‐old NPC brain, suggesting that NFT is not aging dependent, and that juvenile brain neurons satisfy the requirements for NFT formation. NFT in the hippocampus of NPC was significantly increased in number with the advance of age. More importantly, multiple mitotic phase markers, which are not usually found in normal mature neurons, were abundant in the affected neurons and incorporated into NFT. The unusual activation of cdc2/cyclin B kinase and downstream mitotic indices are closely associated with the age‐dependent NFT formation, signifying the contribution of abortive cell cycle to neurodegeneration. The cdc2 inhibitors may be therapeutically used for early intervention of neurodegeneration and NFT formation in NPC.
Fetal Hydrocephalus Caused by Cryptic Intraventricular Hemorrhage
Authors: Lategan Belinda , Chodirker Bernard N. , Del Bigio Marc R.
Published: May 2009

Cryptic intracerebral hemorrhage as an etiological factor in fetal hydrocephalus has been postulated but not described at autopsy. Four fetuses with overt hydrocephalus diagnosed by in utero ultrasound examination were examined at autopsy at 19–22 weeks gestation. Although a hemorrhagic etiology was not evident on ultrasound, hemosiderin‐containing macrophages and associated reactive changes were found to obstruct the otherwise well‐formed cerebral aqueduct in all four. Coagulopathy due to thrombocytopenia was implicated in one case. Anomalies involving other parts of the body were identified in two cases, although a direct link to the hydrocephalus was not obvious. The abnormality was isolated in one case. In three cases, possible sites of hemorrhage in the ventricles were identified. This abnormality represents a significant proportion of the fetuses examined for hydrocephalus in our referral center. We discuss the importance of careful autopsy examination in the diagnosis of cryptic intracerebral hemorrhage and the implications for counseling.
Photodamage Generates 7‐keto‐ and 7‐hydroxycholesterol in the Rat Retina via a Free Radical‐mediated Mechanism
Authors: Rodriguez Ignacio R. , Fliesler Steven J.
Published: May 2009

Albino Sprague–Dawley rats are known to undergo photoreceptor degeneration after exposure to constant light, but the molecular mechanism(s) by which the photoreceptors degenerate is not fully understood. We hypothesized that cytotoxic oxysterols are generated in situ in the retina under such conditions and may be involved in the degenerative mechanism. Thus, photodamaged and control rat retinas were analyzed for oxysterols by liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy. Elevated levels of two known cytotoxic oxysterols, 7‐ketocholesterol (7KCh) and 7αβ‐hydroxycholesterol (7HCh), were found in the photodamaged retinas, at levels six‐fold and 50‐fold greater, respectively, than those found in non photodamaged controls. Notably, two key intermediates, 5,6α,β‐epoxycholesterol (5,6‐epoxyCh) and 7αβ‐hydroperoxy‐cholesterol, were also identified, indicating that the formation of 7KCh and 7HCh is mediated by a free radical mechanism. By immunohistochemistry, 7KCh was localized to the ganglion cell layer, photoreceptor inner segments and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), which coincides with the localization of ferritin in the retina. Exposure of a mixture of ferritin and low‐density lipoprotein to intense white light in vitro produced similar oxysterol species as seen in vivo. We propose that the increased levels of 7KCh and 7HCh, especially in photoreceptor inner segments and RPE, may arise due to ferritin‐catalyzed reactions and may be important contributors to the photoreceptor degeneration observed in photodamaged rats.
Dosimetric dependence of the dimensional characteristics on a lead shield in electron radiotherapy: a Monte Carlo study
Authors: Chow James C L , Grigorov Grigor N
Published: May 2009

This study investigates the dosimetric dependence of the dimension of a lead (Pb) layer for shielding using clinical electron beams with different energies. Monte Carlo simulations were used to generate phase space files for the 4, 9 and 16 MeV electron beams produced by a Varian 21 EX linear accelerator using the EGSnrc‐based BEAMnrc code, and validated by measurements using films. Pb layers with different thicknesses (2, 4, 6 and 8 mm) and diameters (2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 cm) were placed at the center of an electron field on a solid water phantom. Beam profiles were determined at the depth of maximum doseusing Monte Carlo simulations. The dose profiles under the Pb layer at, including the penumbra at the edge of the layer and relative dose at the central beam axis (CAX), were studied with varying thicknesses and diameters of Pb. It is found that 2 mm of Pb is adequate to provide 5 half value layer (HVL) attenuation for the 4 MeV electron beams, and the beam profiles atare dependent on the diameter but not the thickness of the Pb. However, for the 9 and 16 MeV electron beams, the relative dose at the CAX anddepends on both the thickness and diameter of the Pb layer. For 8 mm thickness of Pb, 4 and 5 HVL attenuation of electron beams with energies of 9 and 16 MeV can be achieved at, respectively. Moreover, the beam profile under the Pb layer atdepends on: (1) the penumbra region at the edge of the Pb layer; (2) the beam attenuation varying with the thickness of the Pb layer; (3) the electron side scatter contributing to the CAX under the Pb layer; and (4) the photon contamination produced by the Pb layer. A parameter called “shielding area factor” (defined as the ratio of the length between two points of 50% relative doses in the beam profile atto the diameter of the Pb layer) is suggested to predict the required size and thickness of Pb for shielding a target with known dimension at. The dosimetric data calculated by Monte Carlo simulations in this study are useful to select the suitable thickness and size of Pb for the protection of critical tissue in electron radiotherapy.

PACS number: 87.53.Bn; 87.55.kh and 87.55.km.
Compliance of Bhabhatron‐II telecobalt unit with IEC standard ‐ radiation safety
Authors: Sahani G , Kumar Munish , Sharma PK Dash , Sharma DN , Chhokra Kanta , Mishra Bibekananda , Agarwal SP , Kher RK
Published: May 2009

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, India designed and developed a telecobalt unit, Bhabhatron‐II. In this paper, the results pertaining to radiation safety of the indigenously developed Bhabhatron‐II telecobalt unit are reported. The various tests were carried out as per requirements of International Electrotechnical Commission standards and acceptance criteria. Various devices such as : Dy‐based thermoluminescent dosimeters, Farmer‐type ionization chamber, water phantom, and radiographic films were used. All the parameters pertaining to radiation leakage/transmission were within the tolerance limits, as per the IEC standard 60601–2–11, except the collimator transmission through X collimators (upper jaw), which marginally exceeds the tolerance limit.

PACS number: 87.52Tr, 87.56By, 87.56.FC
UNIVERSAL ALGEBRA OF SECTORS
Authors: KAWAMURA KATSUNORI
Published: May 2009

We show that a nontrivial example of universal algebra appears in quantum field theory. For a unital C *-algebra [Formula: see text], a sector is a unitary equivalence class of unital *-endomorphisms of [Formula: see text]. We show that the set [Formula: see text] of all sectors of [Formula: see text] is a universal algebra with an N-ary sum which is not reduced to any binary sum when [Formula: see text] includes the Cuntz algebra [Formula: see text] as a C *-subalgebra with common unit for N ≥ 3. Next we explain that the set [Formula: see text] of all unitary equivalence classes of unital *-representations of [Formula: see text] is a right module of [Formula: see text]. An essential algebraic formulation of branching laws of representations is given by using submodules of [Formula: see text]. As an application, we show that the action of [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text] distinguishes elements of [Formula: see text].
LARGE-SCALE MASS TABLE CALCULATIONS
Authors: STOITSOV M. , NAZAREWICZ W. , SCHUNCK N.
Published: May 2009

Systematic self-consistent nuclear mass calculations, based on the nuclear density functional theory, represent a rich scientific agenda that is closely aligned with the main research directions in modern nuclear structure and astrophysics, especially in the context of the radioactive nuclear beam physics. The status of large-scale mass calculations carried out under the UNEDF project and the development of the mass-table visualization software are briefly discussed.
CALCULATIONS OF THE FORMATION CROSS SECTIONS FOR SYNTHESIS OF Z = 114–118 NUCLEI IN 48Ca INDUCED REACTIONS
Authors: SIWEK-WILCZYŃSKA K. , BOROWIEC A. , WILCZYŃSKI J.
Published: May 2009

Calculations of the evaporation-residue cross sections for production of super-heavy elements of Z = 114–118 in hot fusion (3n and 4n) reactions induced by 48 Ca projectiles on Pu , Am , Cm and Cf targets are presented. Results of calculations are compared with the cross sections measured by Oganessian et al. in the experiments in which the Z = 114–118 elements had been discovered. Calculations were done for the ground-state masses and fission saddle-point energies of Myers and Swiatecki and Sobiczewski et al. Considerable differences in the theoretical masses result in large differences (of several orders of magnitude) in the predicted cross sections. The ground-state masses and fission barriers of Sobiczewski et al. seem to well reproduce the experimental cross sections.
PRIORITIZING KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Authors: ROSYIDI CUCUK NUR , IRIANTO DRADJAD , TOHA ISA SETIASYAH
Published: May 2009

Key characteristics (KCs) priority has to be determined by manufacturing company to help them in determine which KC has the most influence to the manufacturing cost and quality loss. This paper proposes a simple method to prioritize key characteristics using pareto diagram based on the result of an optimization model. The model is developed to find optimal tolerance and process characteristics of KCs. The objective function of the optimization model is to minimize the manufacturing cost and quality loss. Vice jaw is used as an example to illustrate the implementation of the model.
AN OVERVIEW ON FIVE APPROACHES FOR TRANSLATING CAD DATA INTO MANUFACTURING INFORMATION
Authors: ASIABANPOUR BAHRAM , MOKHTAR ALIREZA , HAYASI MOHAMMAD , KAMRANI ALI , NASR EMAD ABOUEL
Published: May 2009

All Rapid Prototyping and CNC material removal processes use information which is extracted from a CAD system. There are several ways to convert CAD data into usable manufacturing information. In this paper, five methods of translating CAD data into a usable manufacturing format are explained. These five methods are data translation from CAD files in STL, DXF, STEP-NC, and IGES formats as well as a platform-dependent area method of manufacturing information in a desirable format. For each method, algorithms and details about the CAD data translation into usable manufacturing and prototyping processes formats are presented. Finally, applications of each approach and its pros and cons are summarized in a table.
Content control
Authors: Hoffmann Leah
Published: May 2009

Entertainment businesses say digital rights management prevents the theft of their products, but access control technologies have been a uniform failure when it comes to preventing piracy. Fortunately, change is on the way.
Privacy and securityAnswering the wrong questions is no answer
Authors: Spafford Eugene H.
Published: May 2009

Asking the wrong questions when building and deploying systems results in systems that cannot be sufficiently protected against the threats they face.
Speech-activated user interfaces and climbing Mt. Exascale
Authors: Lau Tessa , Reed Daniel
Published: May 2009

The
Communications
Web site, cacm.acm.org, features 13 bloggers in the BLOG@CACM community. In each issue of
Communications
, we'll publish excerpts from selected posts, plus readers' comments. Tessa Lau discusses why she doesn't use the touch screen on her in-car GPS unit anymore and Daniel Reed considers the future of exascale computing.
Lower bounds for processing data with few random accesses to external memory
Authors: Grohe Martin , Hernich André , Schweikardt Nicole
Published: May 2009

We consider a scenario where we want to query a large dataset that is stored in external memory and does not fit into main memory. The most constrained resources in such a situation are the size of the main memory and the number of random accesses to external memory. We note that sequentially streaming data from external memory through main memory is much less prohibitive.

We propose an abstract model of this scenario in which we restrict the size of the main memory and the number of random accesses to external memory, but admit arbitrary sequential access. A distinguishing feature of our model is that it allows the usage of unlimited external memory for storing intermediate results, such as several hard disks that can be accessed in parallel.

In this model, we prove lower bounds for the problem of sorting a sequence of strings (or numbers), the problem of deciding whether two given sets of strings are equal, and two closely related decision problems. Intuitively, our results say that there is no algorithm for the problems that uses internal memory space bounded by
N
1−ε
and at most
o
(log
N
) random accesses to external memory, but unlimited “streaming access”, both for writing to and reading from external memory. (Here,
N
denotes the size of the input and ε is an arbitrary constant greater than 0.) We even permit randomized algorithms with one-sided bounded error. We also consider the problem of evaluating database queries and prove similar lower bounds for evaluating relational algebra queries against relational databases and XQuery and XPath queries against XML-databases.
Two-variable logic on data trees and XML reasoning
Authors: Bojańczyk Mikoaj , Muscholl Anca , Schwentick Thomas , Segoufin Luc
Published: May 2009

Motivated by reasoning tasks for XML languages, the satisfiability problem of logics on
data trees
is investigated. The nodes of a data tree have a
label
from a finite set and a
data value
from a possibly infinite set. It is shown that satisfiability for two-variable first-order logic is decidable if the tree structure can be accessed only through the
child
and the
next sibling
predicates and the access to data values is restricted to equality tests. From this main result, decidability of satisfiability and containment for a data-aware fragment of XPath and of the implication problem for unary key and inclusion constraints is concluded.
Settling the complexity of computing two-player Nash equilibria
Authors: Chen Xi , Deng Xiaotie , Teng Shang-Hua
Published: May 2009

We prove that Bimatrix, the problem of finding a Nash equilibrium in a two-player game, is complete for the complexity class
PPAD
(Polynomial Parity Argument, Directed version) introduced by Papadimitriou in 1991.

Our result, building upon the work of Daskalakis et al. [2006a] on the complexity of four-player Nash equilibria, settles a long standing open problem in algorithmic game theory. It also serves as a starting point for a series of results concerning the complexity of two-player Nash equilibria. In particular, we prove the following theorems:

—Bimatrix does not have a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme unless every problem in
PPAD
is solvable in polynomial time.

—The smoothed complexity of the classic Lemke-Howson algorithm and, in fact, of any algorithm for Bimatrix is not polynomial unless every problem in
PPAD
is solvable in randomized polynomial time.

Our results also have a complexity implication in mathematical economics:

—Arrow-Debreu market equilibria are
PPAD
-hard to compute.
Lie group integrators for animation and control of vehicles
Authors: Kobilarov Marin , Crane Keenan , Desbrun Mathieu
Published: May 2009

This article is concerned with the animation and control of vehicles with complex dynamics such as helicopters, boats, and cars. Motivated by recent developments in discrete geometric mechanics, we develop a general framework for integrating the dynamics of holonomic and nonholonomic vehicles by preserving their state-space geometry and motion invariants. We demonstrate that the resulting integration schemes are superior to standard methods in numerical robustness and efficiency, and can be applied to many types of vehicles. In addition, we show how to use this framework in an optimal control setting to automatically compute accurate and realistic motions for arbitrary user-specified constraints.
Alteration in plasma testosterone levels in male mice lacking soluble epoxide hydrolase
Authors: Luria Ayala , Morisseau Christophe , Tsai Hsing-Ju , Yang Jun , Inceoglu Bora , De Taeye Bart , Watkins Steven M. , Wiest Michelle M. , German J. Bruce , Hammock Bruce D.
Published: May 2009

Soluble epoxide hydrolase ( Ephx2, sEH) is a bifunctional enzyme with COOH-terminal hydrolase and NH2-terminal phosphatase activities. sEH converts epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs), and the phosphatase activity is suggested to be involved in cholesterol metabolism. EETs participate in a wide range of biological functions, including regulation of vascular tone, renal tubular transport, cardiac contractility, and inflammation. Inhibition of sEH is a potential approach for enhancing the biological activity of EETs. Therefore, disruption of sEH activity is becoming an attractive therapeutic target for both cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. To define the physiological role of sEH, we characterized a knockout mouse colony lacking expression of the Ephx2 gene. Lack of sEH enzyme is characterized by elevation of EET to DHET ratios in both the linoleate and arachidonate series in plasma and tissues of both female and male mice. In male mice, this lack of expression was also associated with decreased plasma testosterone levels, sperm count, and testicular size. However, this genotype was still able to sire litters. Plasma cholesterol levels also declined in this genotype. Behavior tests such as anxiety-like behavior and hedonic response were also examined in Ephx2-null and WT mice, as all can be related to hormonal changes. Null mice showed a level of anxiety with a decreased hedonic response. In conclusion, this study provides a broad biochemical, physiological, and behavioral characterization of the Ephx2-null mouse colony and suggests a mechanism by which sEH and its substrates may regulate circulating levels of testosterone through cholesterol biosynthesis and metabolism.
Regulation of net hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis by epinephrine in humans
Authors: Dufour Sylvie , Lebon Vincent , Shulman Gerald I. , Petersen Kitt Falk
Published: May 2009

The relative contributions of net hepatic glycogenolysis (NHG) and gluconeogenesis to rates of glucose production during a physiological increment in plasma epinephrine concentrations, independent of changes in plasma insulin concentrations, were determined in seven fasting, healthy young subjects. Plasma insulin concentrations were kept constant by infusing somatostatin (0.1 μg·kg−1·min−1) and replacing basal insulin (24 pmol·m−2·min−1). Epinephrine (1.2 μg·m−2·min−1) was infused for 90 min while NHG was assessed directly by13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The rate of glucose production was assessed using [6,6-2H2]glucose, and gluconeogenesis was calculated as the difference between the rate of glucose production and NHG. Plasma epinephrine concentrations increased rapidly from ∼100 to ∼2,000 pmol/l ( P < 0.00001) accompanied by an increase in plasma glucose concentrations from 4.3 ± 0.2 to 13.3 ± 0.3 mmol/l at 90 min ( P = 0.00001). This increase in plasma epinephrine concentration resulted in a 2.5-fold increase in glucose production (from 14.4 ± 1.0 μmol·kg−1·min−1to 35.7 ± 2.0 μmol·kg−1·min−1, P < 0.0001), which lasted for ∼60 min ( phase 1), after which glucose production decreased to 31.2 ± 1.9 μmol·kg−1·min−1( P < 0.0001 vs. basal) during the last 30 min of the epinephrine infusion ( phase 2). Hepatic glycogen concentrations decreased almost linearly during phase 1, and rates of NHG were 19.9 ± 3.0 μmol·kg−1·min−1( P = 0.005 vs. basal), which could account for ∼60% of glucose production. During phase 2, NHG decreased to 7.3 ± 2.8 μmol·kg−1·min−1( P = 0.02 vs. peak), accounting for only ∼20% of glucose production. In conclusion, in the presence of basal plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations, a physiological increase in plasma epinephrine concentrations stimulates glucose production with an initial, 60-min transient phase caused by stimulation of NHG and a second phase that can mostly be attributed to a twofold increase in rates of gluconeogenesis.
Knockout of the predominant conventional PKC isoform, PKCα, in mouse skeletal muscle does not affect contraction-stimulated glucose uptake
Authors: Jensen Thomas E. , Maarbjerg Stine J. , Rose Adam J. , Leitges Michael , Richter Erik A.
Published: May 2009

Conventional (c) protein kinase C (PKC) activity has been shown to increase with skeletal muscle contraction, and numerous studies using primarily pharmacological inhibitors have implicated cPKCs in contraction-stimulated glucose uptake. Here, to confirm that cPKC activity is required for contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in mouse muscles, contraction-stimulated glucose uptake ex vivo was first evaluated in the presence of three commonly used cPKC inhibitors (calphostin C, Gö-6976, and Gö-6983) in incubated mouse soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. All potently inhibited contraction-stimulated glucose uptake by 50–100%, whereas both Gö compounds, but not calphostin C, inhibited insulin-stimulated glucose uptake modestly. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and eukaryotic elongation factor 2 phosphorylation was unaffected by the blockers. PKCα was estimated to account for ∼97% of total cPKC protein expression in skeletal muscle. However, in muscles from PKCα knockout (KO) mice, neither contraction- nor phorbol ester-stimulated glucose uptake ex vivo differed compared with the wild type. Furthermore, the effects of calphostin C and Gö-6983 on contraction-induced glucose uptake were similar in muscles lacking PKCα and in the wild type. It can be concluded that PKCα, representing ∼97% of cPKC in skeletal muscle, is not required for contraction-stimulated glucose uptake. Thus the effect of the PKC blockers on glucose uptake is either nonspecific working on other parts of contraction-induced signaling or the remaining cPKC isoforms are sufficient for stimulating glucose uptake during contractions.
The posterior vermis of the cerebellum selectively inhibits 10-Hz sympathetic nerve discharge in anesthetized cats
Authors: Barman Susan M. , Gebber Gerard L.
Published: May 2009

We studied the changes in inferior cardiac sympathetic nerve discharge (SND) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) produced by aspiration or chemical inactivation (muscimol microinjection) of lobule IX (uvula) of the posterior vermis of the cerebellum in baroreceptor-denervated and baroreceptor-innervated cats anesthetized with urethane. Autospectral analysis was used to decompose SND into its frequency components. Special attention was paid to the question of whether the experimental procedures affected the rhythmic (10-Hz and cardiac-related) components of SND. Aspiration or chemical inactivation of lobule IX produced an approximately three-fold increase in the 10-Hz rhythmic component of SND ( P ≤ 0.05) in baroreceptor-denervated cats. Total power (0- to 20-Hz band) was unchanged. Despite the absence of a change in total power in SND, there was a statistically significant increase in MAP. In baroreceptor-innervated cats, neither aspiration nor chemical inactivation of the uvula caused a significant change in cardiac-related or total power in SND or MAP. These results are the first to demonstrate a role of cerebellar cortical neurons of the posterior vermis in regulating the frequency composition of naturally occurring SND. Specifically, these neurons selectively inhibit the 10-Hz rhythm-generating network in baroreceptor-denervated, urethane-anesthetized cats. The functional implications of these findings are discussed.
A Motor Cortical Contribution to the Anticipatory Postural Adjustments That Precede Reaching in the Cat
Authors: Yakovenko Sergiy , Drew Trevor
Published: May 2009

We tested the hypothesis that pyramidal tract neurons (PTNs) in the motor cortex contribute to the anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) that precede the onset of a reach in the standing cat. We recorded the discharge activity of 151 PTNs in area 4 of the pericruciate cortex during reaches of both the contralateral and the ipsilateral limbs in an instructed delay task. A total of 70/151 PTNs were identified as showing an initial short-latency period of discharge following the Go signal. Linear regression analysis showed that in many of these PTNs the short-latency discharge was time-locked to the Go signal and temporally dissociated from the subsequent voluntary movement of the limb. The onset of the change in activity of most of those Go-related neurons that we could test (62/70) was temporally related to the onset of the change in the center of vertical pressure. In 33/70 PTNs, Go-related activity was observed only during contralateral reach, in 13/70 only during ipsilateral reach, and in 24/70 during movements of each limb; most of these latter cells (20/24) showed nonreciprocal changes in activity. Although 35/151 (23%) cells showed significant changes during the instructed delay period for reaches made with at least one of the limbs, only one neuron showed a significant reciprocal change during reaches with either limb. We suggest that the discharge characteristics of these PTNs are compatible with our hypothesis that the motor cortex contributes to the production of the APAs preceding movement.
Dim-Light Sensitivity of Cells in the Awake Cat's Lateral Geniculate and Medial Interlaminar Nuclei: A Correlation With Behavior
Authors: Kang Incheol , Malpeli Joseph G.
Published: May 2009

Contrast thresholds of cells in the dorsal lateral geniculate (LGNd) and medial interlaminar (MIN) nuclei of awake cats were measured for scotopic and mesopic vision with drifting sine gratings (1/8, 2, and 4 cycles/deg [cpd]; 4-Hz temporal frequency). Thresholds for mean firing rate (F0) and temporally modulated responses (F1) were derived with receiver-operating-characteristic analyses and compared with behavioral measures recently reported by Kang and colleagues. Behavioral sensitivity was predicted by the neural responses of the most sensitive combinations of cell class and response mode: Y-cell F1 responses for 1/8 cpd, X-cell F1 responses for 2 cpd, and Y-cell F0 responses for 4 cpd. All previous estimates of neural scotopic increment thresholds in animal models fell between Weber's law (proportional to retinal illuminance) and the deVries–Rose law (proportional to the square root of illuminance). However, psychophysical experiments suggest that under appropriate conditions human scotopic vision follows the deVries–Rose law. If behavioral sensitivity is assumed to be determined by the most sensitive class of cells, this discrepancy is resolved. Under scotopic conditions, off-center Y cells were the most sensitive and these followed the deVries–Rose law fairly closely. MIN Y cells were, on average, 0.25 log units more sensitive than LGNd Y cells under scotopic conditions, supporting a previous proposal that the MIN is a specialization of the carnivore for dim-light vision. We conclude that both physiologically and behaviorally, cat and human scotopic vision are fundamentally similar, including adherence to the deVries–Rose law for detection of Gabor functions.