bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Equine Antimicrobial Peptide eCATH1 Is Effective against the Facultative Intracellular Pathogen Rhodococcus equi in Mice
Authors: Schlusselhuber Margot , Torelli Riccardo , Martini Cecilia , Leippe Matthias , Cattoir Vincent , Leclercq Roland , Laugier Claire , Grötzinger Joachim , Sanguinetti Maurizio , Cauchard Julien
Published: July 2013

Rhodococcus equi, the causal agent of rhodococcosis, is a major pathogen of foals and is also responsible for severe infections in immunocompromised humans. Of great concern, strains resistant to currently used antibiotics have emerged. As the number of drugs that are efficientin vivois limited because of the intracellular localization of the bacterium inside macrophages, new active but cell-permeant drugs will be needed in the near future. In the present study, we evaluated, byin vitroandex vivoexperiments, the ability of the alpha-helical equine antimicrobial peptide eCATH1 to kill intracellular bacterial cells. Moreover, the therapeutic potential of the peptide was assessed in experimental rhodococcosis induced in mice, while thein vivotoxicity was evaluated by behavioral and histopathological analysis. The study revealed that eCATH1 significantly reduced the number of bacteria inside macrophages. Furthermore, the bactericidal potential of the peptide was maintainedin vivoat doses that appeared to have no visible deleterious effects for the mice even after 7 days of treatment. Indeed, daily subcutaneous injections of 1 mg/kg body weight of eCATH1 led to a significant reduction of the bacterial load in organs comparable to that obtained after treatment with 10 mg/kg body weight of rifampin. Interestingly, the combination of the peptide with rifampin showed a synergistic interaction in bothex vivoandin vivoexperiments. These results emphasize the therapeutic potential that eCATH1 represents in the treatment of rhodococcosis.
Functional Features of TonB Energy Transduction Systems of Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Zimbler Daniel L. , Arivett Brock A. , Beckett Amber C. , Menke Sharon M. , Actis Luis A.
Published: July 2013

Acinetobacter baumannii
is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe nosocomial infections. Strain ATCC 19606
T
utilizes the siderophore acinetobactin to acquire iron under iron-limiting conditions encountered in the host. Accordingly, the genome of this strain has three
tonB
genes encoding proteins for energy transduction functions needed for the active transport of nutrients, including iron, through the outer membrane. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that these
tonB
genes, which are present in the genomes of all sequenced
A. baumannii
strains, were acquired from different sources. Two of these genes occur as components of
tonB-exbB-exbD
operons and one as a monocistronic copy; all are actively transcribed in ATCC 19606
T
. The abilities of components of these TonB systems to complement the growth defect of
Escherichia coli
W3110 mutants KP1344 (
tonB
) and RA1051 (
exbBD
) under iron-chelated conditions further support the roles of these TonB systems in iron acquisition. Mutagenesis analysis of ATCC 19606
T
tonB
1
(subscripted numbers represent different copies of genes or proteins) and
tonB
2
supports this hypothesis: their inactivation results in growth defects in iron-chelated media, without affecting acinetobactin biosynthesis or the production of the acinetobactin outer membrane receptor protein BauA.
In vivo
assays using
Galleria mellonella
show that each TonB protein is involved in, but not essential for, bacterial virulence in this infection model. Furthermore, we observed that TonB
2
plays a role in the ability of bacteria to bind to fibronectin and to adhere to A549 cells by uncharacterized mechanisms. Taken together, these results indicate that
A. baumannii
ATCC 19606
T
produces three independent TonB proteins, which appear to provide the energy-transducing functions needed for iron acquisition and cellular processes that play a role in the virulence of this pathogen.
Immunosuppressive Property within the Streptococcus pneumoniae Cell Wall That Inhibits Generation of T Follicular Helper, Germinal Center, and Plasma Cell Response to a Coimmunized Heterologous Protein
Authors: Saumyaa  , Arjunaraja Swadhinya , Pujanauski Lindsey , Colino Jesus , Torres Raul M. , Snapper Clifford M.
Published: July 2013

We previously demonstrated that intact, inactivatedStreptococcus pneumoniae(unencapsulated strain R36A) inhibits IgG responses to a number of coimmunized soluble antigens (Ags). In this study, we investigated the mechanism of this inhibition and whether other extracellular bacteria exhibited similar effects. No inhibition was observed if R36A was given 24 h before or after immunization with soluble chicken ovalbumin (cOVA), indicating that R36A acts transiently during the initiation of the immune response. Using transgenic cOVA-specific CD4+T cells, we observed that R36A had no significant effect on T-cell activation (24 h) or generation of regulatory T cells (day 7) and only a modest effect on T-cell proliferation (48 to 96 h) in response to cOVA. However, R36A mediated a significant reduction in the formation of Ag-specific splenic germinal center T follicular helper (GC Tfh) and GC B cells and antibody-secreting cells in the spleen and bone marrow in response to cOVA or cOVA conjugated to 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl hapten (NP-cOVA). Of note, the inhibitory effect of intact R36A on the IgG anti-cOVA response could be reproduced using R36A-derived cell walls. In contrast to R36A, neither inactivated, unencapsulated, intactNeisseria meningitidisnorStreptococcus agalactiaeinhibited the OVA-specific IgG response. These results suggest a novel immunosuppressive property within the cell wall ofStreptococcus pneumoniae.
Entrapment of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf
Authors: Khalil Nofal M , Nicotra Alessia , Kaplan Charles , O'Neill Kevin S
Published: July 2013

Isolated lesion of lateral cutaneous nerve of the calf (LCNC), particularly due to entrapment, is rarely reported in the literature. Patients usually present with sensory symptoms in the lateral aspect of the calf. Treatment is usually by local applications or local steroid/anaesthetic injection. We report the first case of LCNC entrapment in a 35-year-old man which is documented by nerve conduction studies. The patient had a temporary improvement following a local anaesthetic/steroid injection. Owing to the recurrence of symptoms, the patient opted for surgery. About 1 year after surgery, the symptoms disappeared completely.
An innovative technique to restore velopharyngeal incompetency for a patient with cleft lip and palate
Authors: Ahmad Manawar , Dhanasekar B , Aparna I N , Naim Hina
Published: July 2013

Treatment of cleft lip and palate patients often demand well-coordinated work of medical and dental specialists. In spite of surgical and orthodontic therapy, prosthetic rehabilitation is always necessary because of partial anadontia, maxillary hypoplasia and velopharyngeal dysfuction. The aim of the prosthetic treatment is to improve aesthetics, function and speech of the patients; however, factors like underdeveloped and collapsed maxillary arch, retrognathic maxilla and reduced alveolar ridge height make the treatment challenging. This clinical report describes an interdisciplinary approach for the management of cleft lip and palate patient associated with mutilated dentition. The prosthetic phase began along with orthodontic treatment to achieve sufficient space distribution, which was restored with fixed dental prosthesis to stabilise the achieved status of occlusion. Palatal lift prosthesis was fabricated to restore the velopharyngeal incompetency with an innovative technique using ‘standard orthodontic expansion screw’ to eliminate hypernasality, decrease intelligibility of speech and to aid in deglutition.
Great longevity of speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), a deep-water grouper, with novel use of postbomb radiocarbon dating in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Andrews Allen H. , Barnett Beverly K. , Allman Robert J. , Moyer Ryan P. , Trowbridge Hannah D.
Published: July 2013

Growth characteristics are poorly understood for speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), a tropical deep-water grouper of economic importance that is considered overfished. Age has been validated for early growth, but the validity of adult age estimates is unknown. A few studies of growth zones in otoliths have revealed maximum age estimates of 15–35 years, which have been uncritically assumed as longevity. To answer questions about adult age, bomb radiocarbon dating was used to provide validated age estimates. A novel aspect of this study was use of the postbomb radiocarbon decline period (ca. 1980–2004) to age younger fish, an approach that was validated with known-age otoliths. Bomb radiocarbon dating provided valid length-at-age estimates ranging from ∼5 years to more than 45 years. Age was unexpectedly greater than previous estimates for more than half the fish used in this study, and longevity may approach 60–80 years. This study extends the utility of bomb radiocarbon dating by more than 20 years and adds to the growing perspective that deep-water tropical fishes can be long-lived.
A FIVE-DIMENSIONAL MODEL WITH A FIFTH DIMENSION AS FUNDAMENTAL AS TIME IN TERMS OF A COSMOLOGICAL APPROACH
Authors: ŞENGÖR GIZEM , ARIK METIN
Published: July 2013

In five-dimensional cosmological models, the convention is to include the fifth dimension in a way similar to the other space dimensions. In this paper, we attempt to introduce the fifth dimension in a way that a time dimension would be introduced. With such an internal space, we are able to obtain accelerated expansion without introducing dark energy. We obtain a five-dimensional flat, meaning both Ricci flat and conformally flat, spacetime into which all relevant four-dimensional cosmologies can be locally embedded. We also argue on the choice of the cosmological frame. The choice that is simplest and most convenient in terms of dimensional analysis, amounts to a linearly expanding universe.
BLACKWELL OPTIMALITY IN STOCHASTIC GAMES
Authors: SINGH VIKAS VIKRAM , HEMACHANDRA N. , MALLIKARJUNA RAO K. S.
Published: July 2013

Blackwell optimality in a finite state-action discounted Markov decision process (MDP) gives an optimal strategy which is optimal for every discount factor close enough to one. In this article we explore this property, which we call as Blackwell–Nash equilibrium, in two player finite state-action discounted stochastic games. A strategy pair is said to be a Blackwell–Nash equilibrium if it is a Nash equilibrium for every discount factor close enough to one. A stationary Blackwell–Nash equilibrium in a stochastic game may not always exist as can be seen from "Big Match" example where a stationary Nash equilibrium does not exist in undiscounted case. For a Single Controller Additive Reward (SC-AR) stochastic game, we show that there exists a stationary deterministic Blackwell–Nash equilibrium which is also a Nash equilibrium for undiscounted case. For general stochastic games, we give some conditions which together are sufficient for any stationary Nash equilibrium of a discounted stochastic game to be a Blackwell–Nash equilibrium and it is also a Nash equilibrium of an undiscounted stochastic game. We illustrate our results on general stochastic games through a variant of the pollution tax model.
DYNAMICS OF CHOICE RESTRICTION IN LARGE GAMES
Authors: PAUL SOUMYA , RAMANUJAM R.
Published: July 2013

We study games in which the number of players are large, and hence outcomes are independent of the identities of the players. Game models typically study how choices made by individual rational players determine game outcomes. We extend this model to include an implicit player — the society, who makes actions available to players and incurs certain costs in doing so. In the course of play, an option a may be chosen only by a small number of players and hence may become too expensive to maintain, so the society may remove it from the set of available actions. This results in a change in the game and the players strategize afresh taking this change into account. We highlight the mutual recursiveness of individual rationality and societal rationality in this context. Specifically, we study two questions: When players play according to given strategy specifications, which actions of players should the society restrict and when, so that the social cost is minimized eventually? Conversely, assuming a set of rules by which society restricts choices, can players strategize in such a way as to ensure certain outcomes? We discuss solutions in finite memory strategies.
A REPRESENTATION THEOREM FOR LYAPUNOV-LIKE TRANSFORMATIONS ON EUCLIDEAN JORDAN ALGEBRAS
Authors: TAO JIYUAN , GOWDA M. SEETHARAMA
Published: July 2013

A Lyapunov-like (linear) transformation L on a Euclidean Jordan algebra V is defined by the condition [Formula: see text]where K is the symmetric cone of V. In this paper, we give an elementary proof (avoiding Lie algebraic ideas and results) of the fact that Lyapunov-like transformations on V are of the form La+ D, where a ∈ V, D is a derivation, and La(x) = a ◦ x for all x ∈ V.
VISION-BASED HUMANOID NAVIGATION USING SELF-SUPERVISED OBSTACLE DETECTION
Authors: MAIER DANIEL , STACHNISS CYRILL , BENNEWITZ MAREN
Published: July 2013

In this paper, we present an efficient approach to obstacle detection for humanoid robots based on monocular images and sparse laser data. We particularly consider collision-free navigation with the Nao humanoid, which is the most popular small-size robot nowadays. Our approach first analyzes the scene around the robot by acquiring data from a laser range finder installed in the head. Then, it uses the knowledge about obstacles identified in the laser data to train visual classifiers based on color and texture information in a self-supervised way. While the robot is walking, it applies the learned classifiers to the camera images to decide which areas are traversable. As we show in the experiments, our technique allows for safe and efficient humanoid navigation in real-world environments, even in the case of robots equipped with low-end hardware such as the Nao, which has not been achieved before. Furthermore, we illustrate that our system is generally applicable and can also support the traversability estimation using other combinations of camera and depth data, e.g. from a Kinect-like sensor.
EXCESS PORE WATER PRESSURE ACCUMULATION AND RECOMPRESSION OF SATURATED SOFT CLAY SUBJECTED TO UNI-DIRECTIONAL AND MULTI-DIRECTIONAL CYCLIC SIMPLE SHEARS
Authors: MATSUDA HIROSHI , NHAN TRAN THANH , ISHIKURA RYOHEI
Published: July 2013

This paper is to investigate the effect of cyclic shear direction (or phase difference) on the accumulation of excess pore water pressure during cyclic shear and on the recompression after cyclic shear. Several series of uni-directional and multi-directional cyclic simple shear tests under undrained condition were carried out for normally consolidated Kaolin. From the test results it is shown that the accumulation of pore water pressure and the post-cyclic settlement increase with the shear strain amplitude and the phase difference. The values of the shear strain amplitude at which the effect of cyclic shear direction is most significant, decrease with the increase of the number of cycles. The change of the void ratio in the recompression stage increases approximately in proportion to the logarithm of the stress reduction ratio and is not affected by the shear strain amplitude. For multi-directional cyclic shear, this change of the void ratio depends on the phase difference and the number of cycles. The cyclic recompression indices in the recompression stage were obtained for uni-directional and multi-directional cyclic shears. The cyclic shear induced settlement can be calculated by using these indices.
SHAKING TABLE TESTS ON A COMPLEX HIGH-RISE STRUCTURE WITH TWO TOWERS AND LAPPING TRANSFER COLUMNS
Authors: LU XILIN , WANG BIN , JIANG HUANJUN , LI JIANBAO , LU WENSHENG
Published: July 2013

In recent decades, structural engineering tends to progress toward more novel high-rise structures under the requirement of realistic functions and architectural aesthetics. The complex high-rise building structure in this study has two towers with lapping transfer columns. The lapping transfer columns, considering aesthetic requirement in elevation, lead to a complex system of vertical force transfer. The large irregularity in elevation, according to Chinese code, needs a detailed study. A 1/15-scaled model of the structure was tested on the shaking table to evaluate its seismic performance. During the tests, the model was subjected to earthquake inputs representing frequent, basic, rare, and extremely rare earthquakes. The results of shaking table test in terms of the global and local responses as well as the dynamic properties are presented. The tests demonstrate that the designed structural system satisfies the pre-defined performance objectives and the lapping transfer columns are capable of coordinating the bi-level stories to resist lateral forces even under extremely strong earthquakes. To better control seismic damages of the building, some suggestions for improving the design of this structure are also put forward at last.
DANGEROUS ZONE FORMATION BEHIND FINITE-LENGTH COASTAL FOREST FOR TSUNAMI MITIGATION
Authors: IIMURA KOSUKE , TANAKA NORIO
Published: July 2013

After the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004, several studies quantitatively investigated the effects of coastal vegetation on tsunami mitigation, but the effects of a limited forest with a small aspect ratio on tsunami mitigation were not yet elucidated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate numerically the effect of the width-length ratio (aspect ratio) of a coastal forest on tsunami mitigation. Numerical simulations were performed using two-dimensional nonlinear long-wave equations that included bed resistance, drag, and turbulence-induced shear forces due to interaction with the forest. When a limited dense forest exists, the tsunami at the edge of the forest diffracts and collides behind the forest, and the fluid force becomes larger than the case without a forest. In particular, when the aspect ratio is from 1 to 4, the effect of a collision behind the forest becomes very great. However, if the aspect ratio is 4 or larger, the effect of a collision becomes smaller.
A THRESHOLD MODEL APPROACH TO ESTIMATING THE ABNORMAL STOCK RETURNS
Authors: CHONG TERENCE TAI-LEUNG , MAK WING HEI , YAN ISABEL KIT-MING
Published: July 2013

The classical capital asset pricing model postulates a linear relationship between stock returns and stock risks. However, a number of subsequent empirical studies have revealed some anomalies in this relationship, especially for firms with small size and high book-to-market values. A possible explanation for the anomalies is the existence of threshold effects in the proxies of stock risks. However, conventional threshold models only allow for one threshold variable, which limits their applicability in this context. In this paper, we address this issue by applying the econometric technique developed by Bai et al. (2012). We estimate the joint threshold effects of firm size and book-to-market equity ratio on the stock returns using a sample of 5,271 US firms. The test results yield clear evidence for the existence of threshold effects in both firm features. We find that abnormal returns exist when the firm size falls below 52.04 million USD and the book-to-market ratio exceeds 0.4085.
MARKET EFFICIENCY IN G-20 COUNTRIES: THE PARADOX OF FINANCIAL CRISIS
Authors: VIEITO JOÃO PAULO , BHANU MURTHY K. V. , TRIPATHI VANITA
Published: July 2013

This paper is amongst the first to investigate weak-form efficiency of the most developed (G-20) countries in the world. It also measures the impact of the 2007 financial crisis on the stock markets of these countries, in terms of their efficiency. Serial correlation test, ADF unit root test, Lo and MacKinlay (1988) variance ratio test, Chow and Denning (1993) RWH test and Wrights' 2000 ranks and signs based multiple variance ratio test were utilized to carry out this analysis. The entire study period was divided into a pre-crisis period (January 1, 2005 – August 8, 2007) and a during crisis period (August 9, 2007 – Deccember 31, 2011). Strong contemporaneous effects emerged across all international markets (except Saudi Arabia) as a consequence of the 2007 crisis. This may be due to increased international intra-day activity across the world markets. It was concluded that the "Samuelson dictum," which states that "while individual stocks are efficient, the market index is inefficient," seems to hold good on a global level by analogy. This is evident on the premise that, on the whole the 2007 crisis reduced return and increased volatility, even though individual markets became more efficient. The most robust result from the analysis is that most of the individual markets are weak-form efficient. Following the crisis of 2007, the methodology used indicates that on the whole, the market efficiency of individual stock markets improved.

Hence, during the pre-crisis, volatility was low but heteroskedastic. However, during the period of the crisis, volatility was high but homoscedastic. The heightened volatility and low return that are a consequence of the crisis coupled with improved market efficiency, due to market vigil and control, ensure that abnormal returns and persistent arbitrage possibilities are wiped out. This appears to be a paradox of a crisis.
3D+2DTV
Authors: Scher Steven , Liu Jing , Vaish Rajan , Gunawardane Prabath , Davis James
Published: July 2013

3D displays are increasingly popular in consumer and commercial applications. Many such displays show 3D images to viewers wearing special glasses, while showing an incomprehensible double image to viewers without glasses. We demonstrate a simple method that provides those with glasses a 3D experience, while viewers without glasses see a 2D image without artifacts.

In addition to separate left and right images in each frame, we add a third image, invisible to those with glasses. In the combined view seen by those without glasses, this cancels the right image, leaving only the left.

If the left and right images are of equal brightness, this approach results in low contrast for viewers without glasses. Allowing differential brightness between the left and right images improves 2D contrast. We observe experimentally that: (1) viewers without glasses prefer our 3D+2DTV to a standard 3DTV, (2) viewers with glasses maintain a strong 3D percept, even when one eye is significantly darker than the other, and (3) sequential-stereo display viewers with glasses experience a depth illusion caused by the Pulfrich effect, but it is small and innocuous.

Our technique is applicable to displays using either active shutter glasses or passive glasses. Our prototype uses active shutter glasses and a polarizer.
Eulerian-on-lagrangian simulation
Authors: Fan Ye , Litven Joshua , Levin David I. W. , Pai Dinesh K.
Published: July 2013

We describe an Eulerian-on-Lagrangian solid simulator that reduces or eliminates many of the problems experienced by fully Eulerian methods but retains their advantages. Our method does not require the construction of an explicit object discretization and the fixed nature of the simulation mesh avoids tangling during large deformations. By introducing Lagrangian modes to the simulation we enable unbounded simulation domains and reduce the time-step restrictions which can plague Eulerian simulations. Our method features a new solver that can resolve contact between multiple objects while simultaneously distributing motion between the Lagrangian and Eulerian modes in a least-squares fashion. Our method successfully bridges the gap between Lagrangian and Eulerian simulation methodologies without having to abandon either one.
A unified interpolatory subdivision scheme for quadrilateral meshes
Authors: Deng Chongyang , Ma Weiyin
Published: July 2013

For approximating subdivision schemes, there are several unified frameworks for effectively constructing subdivision surfaces generalizing splines of an arbitrary degree. In this article, we present a similar unified framework for interpolatory subdivision schemes. We first decompose the 2
n
-point interpolatory curve subdivision scheme into repeated local operations. By extending the repeated local operations to quadrilateral meshes, an efficient algorithm can be further derived for interpolatory surface subdivision. Depending on the number
n
of repeated local operations, the continuity of the limit curve or surface can be of an arbitrary order C
L
, except in the surface case at a limited number of extraordinary vertices where C
1
continuity with bounded curvature is obtained. Boundary rules built upon repeated local operations are also presented.
Blue noise sampling with controlled aliasing
Authors: Heck Daniel , Schlömer Thomas , Deussen Oliver
Published: July 2013

In this article we revisit the problem of blue noise sampling with a strong focus on the spectral properties of the sampling patterns. Starting from the observation that oscillations in the power spectrum of a sampling pattern can cause aliasing artifacts in the resulting images, we synthesize two new types of blue noise patterns:
step blue noise
with a power spectrum in the form of a step function and
single-peak blue noise
with a wide zero-region and no oscillations except for a single peak. We study the mathematical relationship of the radial power spectrum to a spatial statistic known as the radial distribution function to determine which power spectra can actually be realized and to construct the corresponding point sets. Finally, we show that both proposed sampling patterns effectively prevent structured aliasing at low sampling rates and perform well at high sampling rates.
Exposing photo manipulation with inconsistent shadows
Authors: Kee Eric , O'Brien James F. , Farid Hany
Published: July 2013

We describe a geometric technique to detect physically inconsistent arrangements of shadows in an image. This technique combines multiple constraints from cast and attached shadows to constrain the projected location of a point light source. The consistency of the shadows is posed as a linear programming problem. A feasible solution indicates that the collection of shadows is physically plausible, while a failure to find a solution provides evidence of photo tampering.
Screened poisson surface reconstruction
Authors: Kazhdan Michael , Hoppe Hugues
Published: July 2013

Poisson surface reconstruction creates watertight surfaces from oriented point sets. In this work we extend the technique to explicitly incorporate the points as interpolation constraints. The extension can be interpreted as a generalization of the underlying mathematical framework to a screened Poisson equation. In contrast to other image and geometry processing techniques, the screening term is defined over a sparse set of points rather than over the full domain. We show that these sparse constraints can nonetheless be integrated efficiently. Because the modified linear system retains the same finite-element discretization, the sparsity structure is unchanged, and the system can still be solved using a multigrid approach. Moreover we present several algorithmic improvements that together reduce the time complexity of the solver to linear in the number of points, thereby enabling faster, higher-quality surface reconstructions.
5D Covariance tracing for efficient defocus and motion blur
Authors: Belcour Laurent , Soler Cyril , Subr Kartic , Holzschuch Nicolas , Durand Fredo
Published: July 2013

The rendering of effects such as motion blur and depth-of-field requires costly 5D integrals. We accelerate their computation through adaptive sampling and reconstruction based on the prediction of the anisotropy and bandwidth of the integrand. For this, we develop a new frequency analysis of the 5D temporal light-field, and show that first-order motion can be handled through simple changes of coordinates in 5D. We further introduce a compact representation of the spectrum using the covariance matrix and Gaussian approximations. We derive update equations for the 5 × 5 covariance matrices for each atomic light transport event, such as transport, occlusion, BRDF, texture, lens, and motion. The focus on atomic operations makes our work general, and removes the need for special-case formulas. We present a new rendering algorithm that computes 5D covariance matrices on the image plane by tracing paths through the scene, focusing on the single-bounce case. This allows us to reduce sampling rates when appropriate and perform reconstruction of images with complex depth-of-field and motion blur effects.
The VPN Conjecture Is True
Authors: Goyal Navin , Olver Neil , Shepherd F. Bruce
Published: July 2013

We consider the following network design problem. We are given an undirected graph
G
= (
V
,
E
) with edge costs
c
(
e
) and a set of terminal nodes
W
⊆
V
. A
hose
demand matrix is any symmetric matrix
D
, indexed by the terminals, such that for each
i
∈
W
, ∑
j≠i
D
ij
≤ 1. We must compute the minimum-cost edge capacities that are able to support the oblivious routing of every hose matrix in the network. An
oblivious routing
template, in this context, is a simple path
P
ij
for each pair
i,j
∈
W
. Given such a template, if we are to route a demand matrix
D
, then for each
i,j
, we send
D
ij
units of flow along each
P
ij
. Fingerhut et al. [1997] and Gupta et al. [2001] obtained a 2-approximation for this problem, using a solution template in the form of a tree. It has been widely asked and subsequently conjectured [Italiano et al. 2006] that this solution actually results in the optimal capacity for the single-path VPN design problem; this has become known as the
VPN Conjecture
. The conjecture has previously been proven for some restricted classes of graphs [Fingerhut et al. 1997; Fiorini et al. 2007; Grandoni et al. 2008; Hurkens et al. 2007]. Our main theorem establishes that this conjecture is true in general graphs. This also has the implication that the single-path VPN problem is solvable in polynomial time.

A natural fractional version of the conjecture had also been proposed [Hurkens et al. 2007]. In this version, the routing may split flow between many paths, in specified proportions. We demonstrate that this multipath version of the conjecture is in fact false. The multipath and single path versions of the VPN problem are essentially direct analogues of the randomized and nonrandomized versions of oblivious routing schemes for minimizing congestion for permutation routing [Borodin and Hopcroft 1982; Valiant 1982].
Model Checking Higher-Order Programs
Authors: Kobayashi Naoki
Published: July 2013

We propose a novel verification method for higher-order functional programs based on higher-order model checking, or more precisely, model checking of higher-order recursion schemes (recursion schemes, for short). The most distinguishing feature of our verification method for higher-order programs is that it is sound, complete, and automatic for the simply typed λ-calculus with recursion and finite base types, and for various program verification problems such as reachability, flow analysis, and resource usage verification. We first show that a variety of program verification problems can be reduced to model checking problems for recursion schemes, by transforming a program into a recursion scheme that generates a tree representing all the interesting possible event sequences of the program. We then develop a new type-based model-checking algorithm for recursion schemes and implement a prototype recursion scheme model checker. To our knowledge, this is the first implementation of a recursion scheme model checker. Experiments show that our model checker is reasonably fast, despite the worst-case time complexity of recursion scheme model checking being hyperexponential in general. Altogether, the results provide a new, promising approach to verification of higher-order functional programs.
Generalizing database forensics
Authors: Pavlou Kyriacos E. , Snodgrass Richard T.
Published: July 2013

In this article we present refinements on previously proposed approaches to forensic analysis of database tampering. We significantly generalize the basic structure of these algorithms to admit new characterizations of the “where” axis of the corruption diagram. Specifically, we introduce
page-based partitioning
as well as
attribute-based partitioning
along with their associated corruption diagrams. We compare the structure of all the forensic analysis algorithms and discuss the various design choices available with respect to forensic analysis. We characterize the forensic cost of the newly introduced algorithms, compare their forensic cost, and give our recommendations.

We then introduce a comprehensive
taxonomy
of the types of possible corruption events, along with an associated
forensic analysis protocol
that consolidates all extant forensic algorithms and the corresponding type(s) of corruption events they detect. The result is a generalization of these algorithms and an overarching characterization of the process of database forensic analysis, thus providing a context within the overall operation of a DBMS for all existing forensic analysis algorithms.
On modern DNS behavior and properties
Authors: Callahan Thomas , Allman Mark , Rabinovich Michael
Published: July 2013

The Internet crucially depends on the Domain Name System (DNS) to both allow users to interact with the system in human-friendly terms and also increasingly as a way to direct traffic to the best content replicas at the instant the content is requested. This paper is an initial study into the behavior and properties of the modern DNS system. We passively monitor DNS and related traffic within a residential network in an effort to understand server behavior--as viewed through DNS responses?and client behavior--as viewed through both DNS requests and traffic that follows DNS responses. We present an initial set of wide ranging findings.
Privacy in content-oriented networking
Authors: Chaabane Abdelberi , De Cristofaro Emiliano , Kaafar Mohamed Ali , Uzun Ersin
Published: July 2013

As the Internet struggles to cope with scalability, mobility, and security issues, new network architectures are being proposed to better accommodate the needs of modern systems and applications. In particular, Content-Oriented Networking (CON) has emerged as a promising next-generation Internet architecture: it sets to decouple content from hosts, at the network layer, by naming data rather than hosts. CON comes with a potential for a wide range of benefits, including reduced congestion and improved delivery speed by means of content caching, simpler configuration of network devices, and security at the data level. However, it remains an interesting open question whether or not, and to what extent, this emerging networking paradigm bears new privacy challenges. In this paper, we provide a systematic privacy analysis of CON and the common building blocks among its various architectural instances in order to highlight emerging privacy threats, and analyze a few potential countermeasures. Finally, we present a comparison between CON and today's Internet in the context of a few privacy concepts, such as, anonymity, censoring, traceability, and confidentiality.
A case for research with and on community networks
Authors: Braem Bart , Blondia Chris , Barz Christoph , Rogge Henning , Freitag Felix , Navarro Leandro , Bonicioli Joseph , Papathanasiou Stavros , Escrich Pau , Baig Viñas Roger , Kaplan Aaron L. , Neumann Axel , Vilata i Balaguer Ivan , Tatum Blaine , Matson Malcolm
Published: July 2013

Community Networks are large scale, self-organized and decentralized networks, built and operated by citizens for citizens. In this paper, we make a case for research on and with community networks, while explaining the relation to Community-Lab. The latter is an open, distributed infrastructure for researchers to experiment with community networks. The goal of Community-Lab is to advance research and empower society by understanding and removing obstacles for these networks and services.
Towards more constructive reviewing of SIGCOMM papers
Authors: Mogul Jeffrey C.
Published: July 2013

Many people in CS in general, and SIGCOMM in particular, have expressed concerns about an increasingly "hypercritical" approach to reviewing, which can block or discourage the publication of innovative research. The SIGCOMM Technical Steering Committee (TSC) has been addressing this issue, with the goal of encouraging cultural change without undermining the integrity of peer review. Based on my experience as an author, PC member, TSC member, and occasional PC chair, I examine possible causes for hypercritical reviewing, and offer some advice for PC chairs, reviewers, and authors. My focus is on improving existing publication cultures and peer review processes, rather than on proposing radical changes.
A Data Transmission Scheme Based on Time-Evolving Meeting Probability for Opportunistic Social Network
Authors: Xiao Fu , Sun Guoxia , Xu Jia , Jiang Lingyun , Wang Ruchuan
Published: July 2013

With its widespread application prospects, opportunistic social network attracts more and more attention. Efficient data transmission strategy is one of the most important issues to ensure its applications. As is well known, most of nodes in opportunistic social network are human-carried devices, so encounters between nodes are predictable when considering the law of human activities. To the best of our knowledge, existing data transmission solutions are less accurate in the prediction of node encounters due to their lack of consideration of the dynamism of users' behavior. To address this problem, a novel data transmission solution, based on time-evolving meeting probability for opportunistic social network, called TEMP is introduced, and corresponding copy management strategy is given to reduce the message redundancy. Simulation results based on real human traces show that TEMP achieves a good compromise in terms of delivery probability and overhead ratio.
Rhizobium pongamiaesp. nov. from Root Nodules ofPongamia pinnata
Authors: Kesari Vigya , Ramesh Aadi Moolam , Rangan Latha
Published: July 2013

Pongamia pinnatahas an added advantage of N2-fixing ability and tolerance to stress conditions as compared with other biodiesel crops. It harbours “rhizobia” as an endophytic bacterial community on its root nodules. A gram-negative, nonmotile, fast-growing, rod-shaped, bacterial strain VKLR-01Twas isolated from root nodules ofPongamiathat grew optimal at 28°C, pH 7.0 in presence of 2% NaCl. Isolate VKLR-01 exhibits higher tolerance to the prevailing adverse conditions, for example, salt stress, elevated temperatures and alkalinity. Strain VKLR-01Thas the major cellular fatty acid as C18:1  ω7c (65.92%). Strain VKLR-01Twas found to be a nitrogen fixer using the acetylene reduction assay and PCR detection of anifH gene. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic distinctiveness and molecular data (16S rRNA,recA, andatpD gene sequences, G + C content, DNA-DNA hybridization etc.), strain VKLR-01T= (MTCC 10513T= MSCL 1015T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genusRhizobiumfor which the nameRhizobium pongamiaesp. nov. is proposed.Rhizobium pongamiaemay possess specific traits that can be transferred to other rhizobia through biotechnological tools and can be directly used as inoculants for reclamation of wasteland; hence, they are very important from both economic and environmental prospects.
The Use of the Direct Optimized Probabilistic Calculation Method in Design of Bolt Reinforcement for Underground and Mining Workings
Authors: Krejsa Martin , Janas Petr , Yilmaz Işık , Marschalko Marian , Bouchal Tomas
Published: July 2013

The load‐carrying system of each construction should fulfill several conditions which represent reliable criteria in the assessment procedure. It is the theory of structural reliability which determines probability of keeping required properties of constructions. Using this theory, it is possible to apply probabilistic computations based on the probability theory and mathematic statistics. Development of those methods has become more and more popular; it is used, in particular, in designs of load‐carrying structures with the required level or reliability when at least some input variables in the design are random. The objective of this paper is to indicate the current scope which might be covered by the new method—Direct Optimized Probabilistic Calculation (DOProC) in assessments of reliability of load‐carrying structures. DOProC uses a purely numerical approach without any simulation techniques. This provides more accurate solutions to probabilistic tasks, and, in some cases, such approach results in considerably faster completion of computations. DOProC can be used to solve efficiently a number of probabilistic computations. A very good sphere of application for DOProC is the assessment of the bolt reinforcement in the underground and mining workings. For the purposes above, a special software application—“Anchor”—has been developed.
Development of a Technology for Treating Wastewater Contaminated with Nitric Acid
Authors: Hidalgo Liz Mabel Ríos , Peralta-Suárez Luis M. , Busto Yera Yailen
Published: July 2013

The production process of nitroaromatic hazardous compounds, with the generation of acidic wastewater, represents a significant danger for the health and safety of the workers and the environment. The present study is focused on the development of an efficient installation to treat acidic wastewater resulting from the synthesis process of nitroaromatic compound, considering workers safety and environmental criteria. In this research, a detailed study of the different alternatives that can be used for effective and safe treatment of acidic wastewater was performed. The analysis of several technological schemes for the acidic wastewaters neutralization and the selection of the most feasible alternative from a technical-economic point of view were carried out. The simulation and mathematical modeling developed in this research represent a significant advance in the knowledge of this process for working in a much more secure form. The technological scheme of the process was defined, and the design of the main and auxiliary equipment as well as the piping system was carried out using different computational programs. Finally, this paper proposes a technological design for the treatment of acidic wastewater generated by the production process of nitroaromatic compound, which represents the basic criteria for the further design, construction, and equipment installation of the plant.
Second-Order Geometric Sliding Mode Attitude Observer with Application to Quadrotor on a Test Bench
Authors: An Honglei , Li Jie , Wang Jian , Wang Jianwen , Ma Hongxu
Published: July 2013

A sliding mode observer design framework is proposed based on the Lie group method of numerical integration on manifolds, and a Second-Order Geometric Sliding Mode Attitude Observer (SOGSMAO) is designed for angular velocity estimation of quadrotor attitude. The algorithm constructs feedback in the angular velocity space and the space of equivalent Lie algebra of unit quaternion space, respectively. It avoids not only the complexity of constructing feedback in unit quaternion space but also the process of mandatory rescaling which is seen to deteriorate the accuracy of the angular velocity estimates during sliding. The performance of SOGSMAO is compared with traditional quaternion based sliding mode observer in which multiplicative quaternion correction is used and the results show that SOGSMAO gains better tracking performance. Then SOGSMAO is realized on a test bed and the effectiveness of the observer algorithm is verified by experimental studies.
Electrochemical Oxidation of Ethinylestradiol on a Commercial Ti/Ru0.3 Ti0.7O2 DSA Electrode
Authors: Vieira Karla M. , Nascentes Clésia C. , Motheo Artur J. , Augusti Rodinei
Published: July 2013

The electrochemical oxidation of the hormone ethinylestradiol in an aqueous-methanolic medium by the application of a constant current of 40 mA cm−2 in a flow cell with a commercial Ti/Ru0.3 Ti0.7O2 electrode was evaluated. The effect caused by the use of NaCl as a support electrolyte was also investigated. Hence, HPLC-UV analyses revealed that ethinylestradiol was almost totally consumed after a 60 min reaction time in the presence of NaCl. Conversely, much lower degradation rates were obtained when NaCl was not employed. Moreover, direct infusion ESI-MS and GC-MS analysis revealed that apparently no degradation products had been formed under these conditions. Hence, this study clearly demonstrated that such electrochemical treatment can be efficiently used to promote the complete degradation (and probably mineralization) of the hormone ethinylestradiol.
Quantitative PCR as an Alternative in the Diagnosis of Long-QT Syndrome
Authors: Moric-Janiszewska Ewa , Węglarz Ludmiła , Szczurko Magdalena
Published: July 2013

Congenital long-QT syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with abnormalities in the function and/or structure of cardiac ion channels. Up to the present, 13 types of the disease have been described (LQTS1-13) which result from the fact that 13 genes of which mutations can have an influence on the occurrence of the disease have been identified. Characteristic symptoms of the disease include the changes in the ECG (QT interval prolonged above 450 ms), “torsade de pointes,” fainting, and even sudden cardiac death. The present study has been focused on two types of the disease, namely, LQTS1 and LQTS2. The examination of two appropriate genes expression (KCNQ1; KCNH2) at the transcription level by QRT-PCR in a group of LQTS patients and a healthy control group showed different transcriptional activities ofKCNH2gene in LQTS2 patients compared to the control individuals.KCNQ1gene expression study did not reveal such differences between both groups. The results indicate that QRT-PCR may serve as a complimentary method to the identification of molecular alterations in genetic determinants of LQTS2 only, but it cannot be used as a sole diagnostic criterion.
Application of a Low-Level Laser Therapy and the Purified Protein from Natural Latex (Hevea brasiliensis) in the Controlled Crush Injury of the Sciatic Nerve of Rats: A Morphological, Quantitative, and Ultrastructural Study
Authors: Dias Fernando José , Issa João Paulo Mardegan , Iyomasa Mamie Mizusaki , Coutinho-Netto Joaquim , Calzzani Ricardo Alexandre Junqueria , Iyomasa Daniela Mizusaki , Sousa Luiz Gustavo , de Almeida Sonia Regina Yokomizo , Cury Diego Pulzatto , Watanabe Ii-sei
Published: July 2013

This study analyzed the effects of a low-level laser therapy (LLLT, 15 J/cm2, 780 nm wavelength) and the natural latex protein (P1, 0.1%) in sciatic nerve after crush injury (15 Kgf, axonotmesis) in rats. Sixty rats (male, 250 g) were allocated into the 6 groups (n=10): CG—control group; EG—nerve exposed; IG—injured nerve without treatment; LG—crushed nerve treated with LLLT; PG—injured nerve treated with P1; and LPG—injured nerve treated with LLLT and P1. After 4 or 8 weeks, the nerve samples were processed for morphological, histological quantification and ultrastructural analysis. After 4 weeks, the myelin density and morphological characteristics improved in groups LG, PG, and LPG compared to IG. After 8 weeks, PG, and LPG were similar to CG and the capillary density was higher in the LG, PG, and LPG. In the ultrastructural analysis the PG and LPG had characteristics that were similar to the CG. The application of LLLT and/or P1 improved the recovery from the nerve crush injury, and in the long term, the P1 protein was the better treatment used, since only the application of LLLT has not reached the same results, and these treatments applied together did not potentiate the recovery.