bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Systems of exchange values as tools for multi-agent organizations
Authors: Dimuro Gracaliz P. , Costa A. C. Rocha , Palazzo Luiz A. M. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis paper introduces systems of exchange values as tools for the organization of multi-agent systems. Systems of exchange values are defined on the basis of the theory of social exchanges, developed by Piaget and Homans. A model of social organization is proposed, where social relations are construed as social exchanges and exchange values are put into use in the support of the continuity of the performance of social exchanges. The dynamics of social organizations is formulated in terms of the regulation of exchanges of values, so that social equilibrium is connected to the continuity of the interactions. The concept of supervisor of social equilibrium is introduced as a centralized mechanism for solving the problem of the equilibrium of the organization The equilibrium supervisor solves such problem making use of a qualitative Markov Decision Process that uses numerical intervals for the representation of exchange values.
The use of an enterprise ontology to support knowledge management in software development environments
Authors: Villela Karina , Santos Gleison , Schnaider Lílian , Rocha Ana Regina , Travassos Guilherme Horta 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Software engineering is knowledge-intensive activity and knowledge is thought to be the most important asset in an organization. Therefore this paper presents an approach to support Knowledge Management in Software Development Environments that is strongly based on ontologies: Enterprise Oriented Software Development Environments. After describing the components of such environments, this paper focuses on the Enterprise Ontology and on three tools developed based on this ontology: a ‘yellow pages’ tool which shows the distribution of competencies in the organization, a tool to support the allocation of people to software projects and a graphic tool for representing and visualizing organizational processes.
A fast and accurate approach for computing the dimensions of boxes from single perspective images
Authors: Fernandes Leandro A. F. , Oliveira Manuel M. , da Silva Roberto , Crespo Gustavo J. 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
This paper describes an accurate method for computing the dimensions of boxes directly from perspective projection images acquired by conventional cameras. The approach is based on projective geometry and computes the box dimensions using data extracted from the box silhouette and from the projection of two parallel laser beams on one of the imaged faces of the box. In order to identify the box silhouette, we have developed a statistical model for homogeneous-background-color removal that works with a moving camera, and an efficient voting scheme for the Hough transform that allows the identification of almost collinear groups of pixels. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach by automatically computing the dimensions of real boxes using a scanner prototype that implements the algorithms and methods describe din the paper. We also present a discussion of the performed measurements, and an error propagation analysis that allows the method to estimate, from each single video frame, the uncertainty associated to all measurements made over thatframe, in real-time.
Muta-Pro: Towards the definition of a mutation testing process
Authors: Vincenzi A. M. R. , Simão A. S. , Delamaro M. E. , Maldonado J. C. 
Published: November 2010

AbstractMutation Testing originated from a classical method for digital circuit testing and today is used at program and specification levels. It can be used either to generate or to assess the quality of test sets. In spite of being very effective in detecting faults, Mutation Testing is usually considered a high cost criterion due to: i) the large number of generated mutants; ii) the time-consuming activity of determining equivalent mutants; and iii) the mutant execution time. Many initiatives aiming at reducing the Mutation Testing application cost have been conducted, most of them addressing one of the drawbacks mentioned above.In this paper, we identify and summarize some of the most relevant researches and results related to Mutation Testing cost reduction, e.g., Constrained-Mutation, Constraint-Based Testing and Bayesian Learning. Moreover, we propose a Mutation Testing process, namedMuta-Pro, that synergetically integrates the related approaches and mechanisms. This process is intended to be incremental and tailorable to a specific application domain such as C programs or finite state machine models. The main ideas in this paper are illustrated using a UNIX utility program.This process is being integrated in a Mutation Testing environment, based on the authors’ previous experience on implementing theProteum Familytools, aiming at promoting the technology transfer to industry and providing the basis for improving theMuta-Proprocess itself.
Plant effects on soil N mineralization are mediated by the composition of multiple soil organic fractions
Authors: Fornara Dario A. , Bardgett Richard , Steinbeiss Sibylle , Zak Donald R. , Gleixner Gerd , Tilman David 
Published: November 2010

AbstractDespite the topic of soil nitrogen (N) mineralization being well‐studied, very few studies have addressed the relative contribution of different plant and soil variables in influencing soil N mineralization rates, and thus the supply of inorganic N to plants. Here, we used data from a well‐studied N‐limited grassland to address the relative effects of six plant and soil variables on net and on gross rates of soil N mineralization. We also addressed whether plant effects on soil N mineralization were mediated by changes in C and N concentrations of multiple soil organic matter (SOM) fractions. Regression analyses show that key plant traits (i.e., plant C:N ratios and total root mass) were more important than total C and N concentrations of bulk soil in influencing N mineralization. This was mainly because plant traits influenced the C and N concentration (and C:N ratios) of different SOM fractions, which in turn were significantly associated with changes in net and gross N mineralization. In particular, C:N ratios of a labile soil fraction were negatively related to net soil N mineralization rates, whereas total soil C and N concentrations of more recalcitrant fractions were positively related to gross N mineralization. Our study suggests that changes in belowground N‐cycling can be better predicted by simultaneously addressing how plant C:N ratios and root mass affect the composition and distribution of different SOM pools in N‐limited grassland systems.
Effect of Grape Seed Extracts on the Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Corn Chips during Storage
Authors: Rababah Taha M. , Yücel Sevil , Ereifej Khalil I. , Alhamad Mohammad N. , Al‐Mahasneh Majdi A. , Yang Wade , Muhammad Al–u'datt H. , Ismaeal Khalid 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThis study evaluated the effectiveness of grape seed extracts (GSE) on lipid oxidation of corn chips stored for 90 days in comparison to tert‐butylhydroxytoluene (BHT). Proximate chemical analysis results showed that corn chips contained low moisture contents (less than 2%) and also that no significant differences were found in the dry matter values in ash, fat, protein, and fiber. Antioxidant activity of the GSE measured by an oxidative stability instrument ranged from 1.6 to 9.3 h of induction time, while BHT prevented oxidation by 18.8 h. GSE (800 ppm) increased the redness and decreased the brightness and yellowness of the corn chip samples, whereas no significant differences were observed for other concentrations of the GSE compared to the control. The peroxide values (PV) for the control and the lower concentration (200 ppm) of GSE increased from 4.5 to 32.7 mequiv/kg, and from 4.4 to18.7 mequiv/kg, respectively, while no increase in PV was found for the higher level (400 and 800 ppm) of GSE or BHT. These changes were observed after 90 days of storage. Descriptive and consumer results showed that the control and the low concentration of GSE were associated with an increase in rancidity and the appearance of off‐flavor, while no noticeable increase in either rancidity or off‐flavor was observed when using a higher concentration of GSE or BHT. GSE has great potential for use as a natural antioxidant to preserve the extruded corn chips.
Is Routine Histology Necessary in Circumcision?
Authors: McSorley A. , Nigam A.K. 
Published: November 2010

Objective: A retrospective audit of all patients circumcised during a calendar year (01/01/2008–31/12/2008) to determine whether routine specimen histology in circumcision is necessary. Patients and methods: The records of 114 patients (51 adult, 63 paediatric) circumcised in a year were retrospectively reviewed. Indications for circumcision were phimosis, recurrent balanoposthitis and suspected squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Data were collected on the following areas: patient age, indication, pre-operative and histological diagnosis. Pre-operative diagnosis was compared with histological diagnosis to determine whether histology differed from the clinical impression. Results: A total of 31 patients had histologically confirmed lichen sclerosus (22 adult, 9 paediatric). Of these patients, 26 (84%) were predicted pre-operatively. There were three adult patients diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and all of these cases were predicted pre-operatively. There were no cases of SCC or lichen sclerosus diagnosed in patients clinically thought to have normal foreskin. Conclusions: The data indicate that routine histology is not necessary in adult and paediatric circumcision and should be reserved for patients with suspected lichen sclerosus or carcinoma.
Adapting natural resource management to climate change on the Olympic Peninsula
Authors: Halofsky Jessica , Peterson David 
Published: November 2010

AbstractClimate change presents a major challenge to natural resource managers both because of the magnitude of potential effects of climate change on ecosystem structure, process, and function, and because of the uncertainty associated with those potential ecological effects. Concrete ways to adapt to climate change are needed to help natural resource managers take the first steps to incorporate climate change into management and take advantage of opportunities to balance the negative effects of climate change. We initiated a climate change adaptation case study at Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park to determine how to adapt management of federal lands on the Olympic Peninsula to climate change. As a part of the case study process, we conducted a vulnerability assessment that involved a review of available climate model projections to determine likely levels of exposure to climate change on the Olympic Peninsula, and a review of relevant literature and available effects model projections to identify likely climate change sensitivities in each of four focus areas on the Olympic Peninsula, including hydrology and roads, fish, vegetation, and wildlife. We also identified management constraints at the forest and park to evaluate some aspects of institutional capacity to implement adaptive actions. The vulnerability assessment process set the stage for development of adaptation options through scientist-manager workshops.The case study process produced concrete adaptation options for Olympic National Forest and Park and illustrated the utility of place-based vulnerability assessments and scientist-manager workshops in adapting to climate change. A key finding of the assessment was that the current general management at the forest and park, with restoration as a primary goal, is consistent with managing for resilience to prepare ecosystems for a changing climate. However, the effort highlighted some potential issues related to climate change that challenge current precepts and management guidelines, and helped to identify new potential actions, and actions that could be increased and re-prioritized. For example, the case study process identified numerous ways to maintain ecosystem function and biodiversity, and increase resilience to climate change. However, the looming questions of when to consider assisted migration or when and how to redefine exotic species remain for discussion. Although questions remain, the case study process was an essential first step for Olympic National Forest and Olympic National Park in preparing for climate change. The process used and ideas produced can be used to help other natural resource managers in adapting to climate change.
Variable consumer responses to invasion by Microstegium vimineum: The role of indirect effects
Authors: DeVore Jayna , Maerz John 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Background/Question/Methods
As both basal resources and autogenic ecosystem engineers, plants play an important role in structuring consumer communities. Plant invasion can alter important ecosystem properties such as habitat complexity, nutrient availability, and abiotic properties, and the hyper-productive, high-nutrient nature of many invaders may make the influence of these plants especially pronounced. While direct influences of these processes on competitors and predators may be relatively foreseeable, the consequences of indirect effects on consumers living within these invaded habitats are more difficult to predict. In order to determine the response of various forest floor consumers to invasion by the exotic grass _Microstegium vimineum_ we stocked large enclosures spanning eight independent invasion fronts with metamorphic individuals of three amphibian species; Anaxyrus [Bufo] americanus (American toads), Lithobates [Rana] sphenocephalus (southern leopard frogs), and Notophthalmus viridescens (eastern newts). Using robust capture periods we tracked the survival and growth of these individuals. We also investigated the mechanisms behind these responses by tracking invertebrate abundance and abiotic factors on either side of each of these invasion fronts and performing additional manipulations, such as predator manipulations and analyses of foraging success, designed to investigate the effects of both bottom-up and top-down influences on these consumers.

Results/Conclusions
We found that invasion by M. vimineum could have significant effects on consumer performance (for example, the survival of metamorphic A. americanus was significantly lower in invaded areas) but that the nature and strength of these influences varied between species as well as ontogenetically, as L. sphenocephalus was not similarly affected and the influences on A. americanus dissipated over time. It appears that the negative influences of invasion on metamorphic toad survival were largely driven by top-down processes associated with the accumulation of invertebrate predators in invaded areas, while abiotic and bottom-up influences were more important factors for individuals large or fast enough to escape capture by invertebrate predators. We conclude that the influences of plant invasion on consumer communities can be varied, complicated, and far-reaching.
Plant species diversity and genetic diversity interactively influence community properties and ecosystem processes
Authors: Crawford Kerri , Rudgers Jennifer 
Published: November 2010

Abstract
Background/Questions/Methods:
Biodiversity is a critical element of community properties and ecosystem processes. Both plant species richness and genetic diversity positively affect processes ranging from primary production, ecosystem stability, and the maintenance of diversity. In nature, it is likely that species diversity and genetic diversity interactively affect how communities are structured and ecosystems function. However, the relative contribution of species diversity and genetic diversity to ecological processes has been rarely documented, and potential interactions between the two levels of diversity have not been investigated. Here, I report results from a common garden experiment conducted in a coastal freshwater dune habitat at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Empire, MI. I manipulated plant species diversity (0, 1, 3, or 6 species) and genetic diversity (0, 1, 3, or 6 populations) within a dominant, dune-building species (Ammophila breviligulata) to address how both levels of diversity simultaneously influence ecological properties and processes.

Results/Conclusions:
In 2008, plant diversity influenced a wide range of ecological responses. Plant species diversity and genetic diversity within the dominant species synergistically increased above-ground biomass production, with biomass increasing the most with genetic diversity when there were 6 plant species present. A similar pattern was found for arthropod morphospecies richness and abundance. Separately, neither species diversity nor genetic diversity affected either biomass production or the arthropod community. Plant diversity also influenced below-ground properties and processes. For example, nematode abundance doubled with both increasing species diversity and genetic diversity, but there was no interaction between the two levels of diversity. These results suggest that interactions between levels of diversity are an important, but often overlooked, aspect of how diversity structures communities and mediates ecosystem processes and suggests that increasing awareness of these interactions may inform conservation and restoration strategies.
UniRule - Automatic Annotation In UniProtKB
Authors: Bridge Alan , Poggioli Diego , O'Donovan Claire 
Published: November 2010

AbstractThe UniProt KnowledgeBase (UniProtKB) provides a stable, comprehensive, freely accessible, centralized resource on protein sequences and functional annotation. UniProtKB consists of two sections: UniProtKB/SwissProt, a section containing records that are manually annotated with information extracted from the literature and curator-evaluated computational analysis, and UniProtKB/TrEMBL, a section containing computationally analysed records enriched with automatic annotation and classification.Automatic annotation is an essential complement to manual annotation, which cannot keep pace with either current or projected rates of growth of UniProtKB. To this end UniProt is developing an integrated annotation system termed UniRule, which is based on both manually curated and automatically generated annotation rules and signatures. UniRule provides a variety of annotation types including protein names, general functional annotation in the form of free text and controlled vocabularies, sequence annotation including domains and residues of functional importance, and inferred family relationships.At the time of writing (UniProtKB release 2010_08), UniRule provides annotations for around 30% of more than 11 million UniProtKB/TrEMBL entries. The UniRule system and plans for its future development will be presented.
X-ray absorption measurements on nanoparticle systems: self-assembled arrays and dispersions
Authors: Antoniak C , Warland A , Darbandi M , Spasova M , Trunova A , Fauth K , Aziz E F , Farle M , Wende H 
Published: November 2010

X-ray absorption spectroscopy methods are presented as a useful tool to determine local structure, composition and magnetic moments as well as to estimate the effective anisotropy of substrate supported self-assembled arrays of wet-chemically synthesized FePt nanoparticles. A compositional inhomogeneity within the nanoparticles yields reduced magnetic moments with respect to the corresponding bulk material and may also hinder the formation of the chemically ordered L10 phase in FePt nanoparticles. The latter is indicated by a reduced effective anisotropy, which is one order of magnitude smaller than expected from the known value of the corresponding bulk material.
As a new approach, measurements of the x-ray absorption near-edge structure of Fe-oxide nanoparticles in dispersion are presented and ageing effects are discussed on the basis of multiplet calculations.
A pilot genetic study reveals the absence of spatial genetic structure in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) on fishing grounds in Icelandic waters
Authors: Pampoulie Christophe , Skirnisdottir Sigurlaug , Hauksdottir Sigurbjorg , Olafsson Kristinn , Eiríksson Hrafnkell , Chosson Valérie , Hreggvidsson Gudmundur O. , Gunnarsson Gudmundur H. , Hjorleifsdottir Sigridur 
Published: November 2010

AbstractPampoulie, C., Skirnisdottir, S., Hauksdottir, S., Olafsson, K., Eiríksson, H., Chosson, V., Hreggvidsson, G. O., Gunnarsson, G. H., and Hjorleifsdottir, S. 2011. A pilot genetic study reveals the absence of spatial genetic structure in Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) on fishing grounds in Icelandic waters. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 20–25. Stock structure of Norway lobster off southern Iceland was investigated using 12 microsatellite loci. No genetic method detected significant genetic differentiation among the locations sampled, even among Icelandic samples and an out-group from Scotland. Testing the power of resolution of microsatellite loci, the loci and sample sizes used were sufficient to detect significant genetic differentiation with confidence. The lack of genetic structure is discussed in terms of the level of gene flow, recent isolation of populations, and the statistical power of the experimental design.
Guidance for Clinical Trials for Children and Adolescents With Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Wirth Stefan , Kelly Deirdre , Sokal Etienne , Socha Piotr , Mieli‐Vergani Giorgina , Dhawan Anil , Lacaille Florence , Raymond Agnès Saint , Olivier Sophie , Taminiau Jan 
Published: November 2010

ABSTRACTMost children with chronic hepatitis C are infected vertically, have a low natural seroconversion rate, and carry a lifetime risk of cirrhosis and cancer. Affected children are usually asymptomatic, and histological findings are mild with a low risk of progression, although 5% develop significant liver disease in childhood.The use of combination treatment with pegylated interferon‐α and ribavirin has changed the outcome and prognosis for this disease, with approximately 60% of children achieving sustained viral clearance. Combination therapy is not ideal for children because pegylated interferon is administered subcutaneously, impairs growth velocity, and both interferon and ribavirin have significant adverse effects that affect compliance. In addition, approximately 50% of children infected with genotype 1 do not respond to therapy. Thus, additional treatment options are required including improvement in dosing, reduction in the length of treatment, and evaluation of new drugs, such as protease inhibitors, which could be more effective for patients infected with genotype 1.The primary goal of treatment is to eradicate the infection. The future clinical trial design should ensure that any new drugs demonstrate noninferiority to the present standard regimen in both children and adults. The measure for documenting substantial improvement above present therapy should be increased viral clearance rate or the same clearance rate, with a shorter duration of treatment and/or fewer adverse effects. We do not believe there is any need for a placebo arm because approved therapy is available and new treatments can be compared with present therapy.Safety measures should include the standard recommended laboratory investigations, growth parameters, quality‐of‐life or psychological measures, and a requirement for long‐term follow‐up for up to 5 years.