bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An effective preprocessing method for subspace face recognition using genetic‐based clustering in ideal and noisy conditions
Authors: Zhang Deng , Mabu Shingo , Wen Feng , Hirasawa Kotaro 
Published: September 2012

AbstractFace recognition using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) suffer from the loss of accuracy when the number of classes becomes large. This paper presents an effective genetic‐based clustering algorithm (GCA) to preprocess a facial database into a two‐layer database. Then, face recognition is done to minimize the similarity criterion in a specific cluster as in the traditional PCA‐ and LDA‐based face recognition algorithms. Different from K‐means clustering, the proposed GCA introduces a novel distance and a balance factor. The distance is defined to measure the similarity effectively between a class and the centroid of each cluster, and the balance factor is designed to achieve balanced clustering results. Experimental results on the Yale‐B database in ideal and noisy conditions indicate that the proposed preprocessing method improves the recognition accuracy of the subspace recognition algorithms compared with K‐means clustering. The proposed preprocessing method is also applicable to other recognition algorithms. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Fast multidimensional directed information analysis
Authors: Sakata Osamu , Ohki Makoto , Saito Yoichi 
Published: September 2012

AbstractMultidimensional directed information (MDI) analysis is a signal processing method to quantify and visualize the causality of multichannel time series in the form of information flow. MDI analysis is defined as conditional mutual information and needs large calculations. Although MDI is used for electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis, large computation time is a problem. MDI can be calculated without direct probability calculations, assuming that the multichannel time series has Gaussian profiles. However, the amount of calculation increases exponentially with increase in the number of channels. Such large calculations have prevented practical use of MDI analysis in medical fields such as clinical EEG analysis in which many multidimensional time series need to be processed. In this paper, we propose a new calculation approach to drastically decrease the calculation time of MDI analysis. The proposed method makes it possible to decrease the calculation time exponentially for multichannel time series that can be approximated with multidimensional autoregressive models. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Global experience with energy efficiency and the role of the private sector
Authors: Kumar Saurabh 
Published: September 2012

Energy efficiency has the potential of enhancing energy security of countries in addition to delivering significant mitigation actions. However, markets for energy efficiency require explicit government interventions in forms of robust regulatory and policy framework, measures to reduce risks and overcome barriers, and reduced transaction costs, to name a few. Energy efficiency is usually an interdisciplinary subject and therefore requires the right packaging with due alignment of incentives of each stakeholder to attract private investments. The package must include a robust legal framework, policy and regulatory certainty, strong institutional structure, identification of sector‐specific barriers and implementation of measures to overcome them, consultations with key stakeholders, enhanced awareness and information dissemination, and proactive approach to risk mitigation and reduced transaction costs. The implementation of the household efficient lighting program in India by leveraging Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) revenues is a successful example of attractively packaging the business model that ringfences risks and aligns the incentives of all stakeholders. Effective use Programme of Activities (PoA), an instrument of CDM, has stimulated private sector investment. PoA enabled bundling of projects and thereby reducing transaction costs. As of now about 25 million CFLs have been installed and an investment worth $60 million has been made during the last one year. The well‐defined medium‐term action plan announced by Bureau of Energy Efficiency in the backdrop of the robust legal, regulatory, and institutional structure has helped enhance investors comfort and thereby investment flows.This article is categorized under:

Energy Efficiency > Systems and Infrastructure
Use of Amylase and Alanine Transaminase to Predict Acute Gallstone Pancreatitis in a Population with High HIV Prevalence
Authors: Moolla Zaheer , Anderson Frank , Thomson Sandie R. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe etiology of acute pancreatitis can be difficult to determine early in the course of the disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between biochemical parameters and the cause of acute pancreatitis.MethodsA prospectively collected database of patients admitted with acute pancreatitis between 2001 and 2008 was analyzed. The relationships between etiology and age, sex, admission serum amylase level, and admission alanine transaminase (ALT) level were evaluated.ResultsAcute pancreatitis was diagnosed in 464 patients. The disease was related to alcohol in 275 cases, gallstones in 81 cases, HIV in 49 cases, dyslipidemia in 42 cases, and it was idiopathic in 17 cases. Alcoholic pancreatitis was more common in men, whereas the other identifiable causes were more common in women (P < 0.001). Mean age at presentation was 39 years with no difference in age in relation to etiology (P = 0.057). When compared to patients with non‐biliary causes of pancreatitis, patients with gallstone pancreatitis had greater median (range) serum amylase activity [1,423 U/l (153–7,500 U/l) versus 589 U/l (58–11,144 U/l); P < 0.001] and ALT activity [153 U/l (8–13,233 U/l) versus 31 U/l (6–421 U/l); P < 0.001]. No significant differences in amylase or ALT activity were found between non‐biliary etiologies (P > 0.05). Alanine transaminase was the only factor independent of sex to predict gallstone etiology, with activity >150 U/l having a specificity of 97 %.ConclusionsIn patients with acute gallstone pancreatitis, the serum amylase and ALT activities were more than double those of other etiologies. An ALT level of >150 U/l was highly predictive of gallstone etiology independent of gender. Neither amylase nor ALT could differentiate non‐biliary etiologies. The combination of amylase and ALT offered no improvement in predicting etiology over each alone.
Preoperative Assessment of Tumor Location and Station‐Specific Lymph Node Status in Patients with Adenocarcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction
Authors: Grotenhuis Brechtje A. , Wijnhoven Bas P. L. , Poley Jan Werner , Hermans John J. , Biermann Katharina , Spaander Manon C. W. , Bruno Marco J. , Tilanus Hugo W. , van Lanschot J. Jan B. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractBackgroundIn esophageal cancer patients preoperative staging will determine the type of surgical procedure and use of neoadjuvant therapy. Tumor location and lymph node status play a pivotal role in this tailored strategy. The aim of the present study was to prospectively evaluate the accuracy of preoperative assessment of tumor location according to the Siewert classification and lymph node status per station with endoscopy/endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and computed tomography (CT).MethodsIn 50 esophagectomy patients with adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), tumor location according to Siewert and N‐stage per nodal station as determined preoperatively by endoscopy/EUS and CT were compared with the histopathologic findings in the resection specimen.ResultsOverall accuracy in predicting tumor location according to the Siewert classification was 70 % for endoscopy/EUS and 72 % for CT. Preoperative data could not be compared with the pathologic assessment in 11 patients (22 %), as large tumors obscured the landmark of the gastric folds. The overall accuracy for predicting the N‐stage in 250 lymph node stations was 66 % for EUS and 68 % for CT. The accuracy was good for those stations located high in the thorax, but poor for celiac trunk nodes.ConclusionsGiven the frequent discrepancy between the endoscopic and pathologic location of the GEJ and the common problem of advanced tumors obscuring the landmarks used in the assessment of the Siewert classification, its usefulness is limited. The overall accuracy for EUS and CT in predicting the N‐stage per station was moderate.
Free Lipase‐Catalyzed Esterification of Oleic Acid for Fatty Acid Ethyl Ester Preparation with Response Surface Optimization
Authors: Ren Hongjie , Li Yang , Du Wei , Liu Dehua 
Published: September 2012

AbstractFree lipase‐mediated alcoholysis for biodiesel production has drawn increasing attention in recent years due to its advantages of lower cost and faster reaction rate compared to immobilized lipase. Ethanol, derived from renewable biomass, has a great potential for biodiesel production. A previous study showed that free lipase NS81006 could effectively catalyze the ethanolysis of triglycerides for biodiesel preparation. Since most crude plant oils always contain an amount of free fatty acids, oleic acid was used as the model substrate for this study on lipase‐mediated esterification for biodiesel production. The central composite design of the response surface methodology was adopted for process optimization. A biodiesel yield of over 90 % was achieved under optimal reaction conditions and the repeated use of the free lipase was easily realized through phase separation either by natural gravity force or centrifugation.
GLOBAL SOLUTIONS OF THE EQUATION OF THE KIRCHHOFF ELASTIC ROD IN SPACE FORMS
Authors: KAWAKUBO SATOSHI 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThe Kirchhoff elastic rod is one of the mathematical models of equilibrium configurations of thin elastic rods, and is defined to be a solution of the Euler–Lagrange equations associated to the energy with the effect of bending and twisting. In this paper, we consider Kirchhoff elastic rods in a space form. In particular, we give the existence and uniqueness of global solutions of the initial-value problem for the Euler–Lagrange equations. This implies that an arbitrary Kirchhoff elastic rod of finite length extends to that of infinite length.
Integrity and Impartial Morality
Authors: Scherkoske Greg 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT: Among recent criticisms of impartial moral theories, especially in consequentialist and deontological forms, Bernard Williams’ integrity objection is perhaps the most tantalizing. This objection is a complaint—at once both general and deep—that impartial moral theories are systematically incapable of finding room for integrity in human life and character. Kantians have made forceful responses to this integrity objection and have moved on. Consequentialists have found the objection more trying. I offer reasons to think that consequentialists too can safely move on. These reasons suggest the relationship between integrity and impartiality is less antagonistic than often supposed.RÉSUMÉ : Parmi les récentes critiques des théories morales impartiales, notamment les critiques conséquentialiste et déontologique, l’objection d’intégrité de Bernard Williams est possiblement la plus attrayante. Cette objection—à la fois générale et profonde—reproche aux théories morales impartiales d’être incapables de retrouver l’intégrité dans la vie et le caractère humains. Les kantiens ont répondu vigoureusement à cette objection, puis sont passés à autre chose. Les conséquentialistes ont trouvé l’objection plus éprouvante. Je soutiens que les conséquentialistes peuvent, eux aussi, passer à autre chose, en suggérant que le rapport entre l’intégrité et l’impartialité est moins antagonique que supposé.
Between learning and playing? Exploring learners’ perceptions of corrective feedback in an immersive game for English pragmatics
Authors: Cornillie Frederik , Clarebout Geraldine , Desmet Piet 
Published: September 2012

AbstractThis paper aims to provide a rationale for the utility of corrective feedback (CF) in digital games designed for language learning, with specific reference to learners’ perceptions. Explicit and elaborate CF has the potential to increase learners’ understanding of language, but might not be found useful in a game-based learning environment where the primary focus for the learner is on meaningful interaction and experiential learning. Also, as CF can be perceived as a measure of performance, it could harm learners’ perception of competence. Eighty-three learners of English as a foreign language participated in a mixed-method experimental study that aimed to first explore the perceived usefulness of, and preferences for, explicit and implicit CF in an immersive educational game, and to secondly chart the relation between learners’ perceptions of CF as they pertain to three individual difference factors related to learners’ self-perception, namely intrinsic goal orientation, perceived competence and game experience. Survey and interview data showed that CF was found to be generally useful. A regression model indicated that the three measures of self-perception affected learners’ perceptions of explicit CF positively, and that there was no impact on perceptions of implicit CF. Further, learners reported having enjoyed the implicit CF, although they did not find it particularly useful for learning. These findings indicate that the type of CF should be considered in the design of effective and enjoyable educational games.
Multimodal analysis of language learning in World of Warcraft play: Languaging as Values-realizing
Authors: Zheng Dongping , Newgarden Kristi , Young Michael F. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractApplying Communicative Project theory (Linell, 2009), we identify and distinguish between the different coordination and language activities that emerged during an episode ofWorld of Warcraft(WoW) gameplay involving English Language learners (ELLs). We further investigate ELLs’ coordinations between killing and caring, self and others, in which language and action arise. Using multimodal analysis, we found: 1) a diverse tapestry of communicative activities unlikely to match what would be found in a classroom environment; 2) that the values realizing involved in killing (a typical action inWoW) demonstrates a strong covariate tie with caring; and 3) that players’ values realizing is multi-layered, heterarchical and dynamic at a given time and space of situated interaction. We conclude by making suggestions for 1) the design of learning environments based on affordances for coaction and rich communicative activities and 2) the reconceiving of language learning as skilled linguistic action (Cowley, in press) grounded in situated learning and participation in intercultural, technology-mediated L2 networks.
Pex5p stabilizes Pex14p: a study using a newly isolated pex5 CHO cell mutant, ZPEG101
Authors: Natsuyama Ryuichi , Okumoto Kanji , Fujiki Yukio 
Published: September 2012

Pex5p [PTS (peroxisome-targeting signal) type 1 receptor] plays an essential role in peroxisomal matrix protein import. In the present study, we isolated a novel PEX5-deficient CHO (Chinese-hamster ovary) cell mutant, termed ZPEG101, showing typical peroxisomal import defects of both PTS1 and PTS2 proteins. ZPEG101 is distinct from other known pex5 CHO mutants in its Pex5p expression. An undetectable level of Pex5p in ZPEG101 results in unstable Pex14p, which is due to inefficient translocation to the peroxisomal membrane. All of the mutant phenotypes of ZPEG101 are restored by expression of wild-type Pex5pL, a longer form of Pex5p, suggesting a role for Pex5p in sustaining the levels of Pex14p in addition to peroxisomal matrix protein import. Complementation analysis using various Pex5p mutants revealed that in the seven pentapeptide WXXXF/Y motifs in Pex5pL, known as the multiple binding sites for Pex14p, the fifth motif is an auxiliary binding site for Pex14p and is required for Pex14p stability. Furthermore, we found that Pex5p–Pex13p interaction is essential for the import of PTS1 proteins as well as catalase, but not for that of PTS2 proteins. Therefore ZPEG101 with no Pex5p would be a useful tool for investigating Pex5p function and delineating the mechanisms underlying peroxisomal matrix protein import.
SpolPred: rapid and accurate prediction of Mycobacterium tuberculosis spoligotypes from short genomic sequences
Authors: Coll Francesc , Mallard Kim , Preston Mark D. , Bentley Stephen , Parkhill Julian , McNerney Ruth , Martin Nigel , Clark Taane G. 
Published: September 2012

Abstract
Summary: Spoligotyping is a well-established genotyping technique based on the presence of unique DNA sequences in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the causal agent of tuberculosis disease (TB). Although advances in sequencing technologies are leading to whole-genome bacterial characterization, tens of thousands of isolates have been spoligotyped, giving a global view of Mtb strain diversity. To bridge the gap, we have developed SpolPred, a software to predict the spoligotype from raw sequence reads. Our approach is compared with experimentally and de novo assembly determined strain types in a set of 44 Mtb isolates. In silico and experimental results are identical for almost all isolates (39/44). However, SpolPred detected five experimentally false spoligotypes and was more accurate and faster than the assembling strategy. Application of SpolPred to an additional seven isolates with no laboratory data led to types that clustered with identical experimental types in a phylogenetic analysis using single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Our results demonstrate the usefulness of the tool and its role in revealing experimental limitations.
Availability and implementation: SpolPred is written in C and is available from www.pathogenseq.org/spolpred.
Contact: francesc.coll@lshtm.ac.uk
Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Online.
First Report of Erwinia amylovora on Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) and Mountainash (Sorbus sp.) in Turkey
Authors: Bastas K. K. 
Published: September 2012

Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a serious disease of apples (Malus spp.) and pears (Pyrus spp.) but can also infect many ornamental species in the Rosaceae family. In the summers of 2009 and 2010, leaf and shoot blight and reddish colored cankers were observed on firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) and brown discolored leaves and necrotic stem lesions on mountain ash (Sorbus sp.) both from the landscape areas of Konya province. Investigation of these symptoms showed that in an 85-ha area, disease incidence was estimated at 1.5% and 1% on firethorn and mountain ash, respectively. Bacteria were consistently isolated from both leaf and lesions onto nutrient sucrose agar medium. Nine representative bacterial colonies from firethorn isolations and six from mountain ash isolations purified and characterized as gram-negative, rod-shaped, mucoid, fermentative, yellow-orange on Miller & Scroth medium, positive for levan formation and acetoin production, no growth at 36°C, positive for gelatin and esculin hydrolysis, and negative for indole, urease, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, and acid production from lactose and inositol (2). Two reference strains of E. amylovora (EaP28 and NCPPB 2791) obtained from culture collection at Selcuk University, Department of Plant Protection, Konya, Turkey, were used as positive controls. All strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum cv. White Burley) and produced ooze when stab inoculated on immature pear fruits. In addition, all strains and the references were identified as E. amylovora on the basis of a 1-kb DNA fragment amplification with a species-specific primer set, A/B (1) in PCR. Pathogenicity tests were performed by injecting a bacterial suspension (108 CFU ml–1) into the shoot tips of 3-year-old firethorn and mountain ash seedlings, resulting in leaf and shoot blight symptoms observed 10 to 15 days after inoculation. No symptoms were observed on control plants treated with sterile water. E. amylovora was positively reisolated from leaf and shoot lesions from the inoculated seedlings and identified as described above. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. amylovora on P. coccinea and Sorbus sp. in Turkey. References: (1) S. Bereswill et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3522, 1992 (2) A. L. Jones and K. Geider. Page 40 in: Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria, 2001.
First Report of Fire Blight Disease on Blackberry in Turkey
Authors: Bastas K. K. , Sahin F. 
Published: September 2012

During 2008 and 2009, a new disease on blackberry (Rubus fruticosus cv. Chester) causing leaf and shoot blight and cankers with brown discoloration of necrotic tissues on mature branches was observed in Isparta and Konya provinces of Turkey. Disease incidence was estimated to be 4% for the two years. Isolations were made from lesions on leaves and shoots on nutrient sucrose agar (NSA) medium. Bacteria consistently isolated from the diseased tissues were identified on the basis of biochemical, physiological (2), and molecular tests (1). Eleven representative bacterial strains were gram-negative, rod-shaped, mucoid, fermentative, yellow-orange on Miller and Scroth (MS) medium, positive for levan formation and acetoin production, no growth at 36°C, positive for gelatin hydrolysis, and negative for esculin hydrolysis, indole, urease, catalase, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, acid production from lactose, and inositol. Two reference strains of Erwinia amylovora (EaP28 and NCPPB 2791) obtained from the culture collection unit of Selcuk University were used as positive controls. All strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum cv White Burley) 24 h after inoculation with a 108 CFU/ml bacterial suspension in water. All strains were identified as E. amylovora using the species-specific primers set A/B (1), which amplified a 1-kb DNA fragment in PCR, and fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) profiles determined by Sherlock Microbial Identification System software (TSBA 6 v. 6.00; Microbial ID, Newark, DE) with similarity indices ranging from of 79 to 99%. Pathogenicity was confirmed by injecting bacterial suspensions (108 CFU/ml–1) in sterile distilled water into the shoot tips of 2-year-old R. fruticosus cv. Chester and the first blighting symptoms were observed on leaves within 3 days and also 10 days later after inoculation on shoots. Sterile distilled water was used as a negative control. No symptoms were observed on control plants. All tests were repeated three times. The bacterium was reisolated from inoculated plants and identified as. E. amylovora. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. amylovora on blackberry in Turkey. Phytosanitary measures are needed to prevent any further spread of the bacterium to new blackberry areas. References: (1) S. Bereswill et al. App. Environ. Microbiol. 58:3522, 1992. (2) A. L. Jones and K. Geider. Lab. Guide for Identification of Plant Pathological Bacteria, 40, 2001.