bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Court decisions on music plagiarism and the predictive value of similarity algorithms
Authors: Müllensiefen Daniel , Pendzich Marc 
Published: March 2011

Tune plagiarism in pop music is a common and often feverishly debated phenomenon which surely has to do with the vast amounts of money that individual melodies are able to generate in today's pop music business. The similarity between melodies is assumed to be a very important factor in a court's decision about whether a new tune is an illegitimate version of a pre-existing melody. Despite the wide-spread belief that there is a fixed and simple limit to the number of corresponding notes between two melodies, actual court decisions are based on far more complex considerations regarding the musical material. This paper first sketches the legal framework and principal features of the legal processing of cases of alleged melodic plagiarism with a focus on US copyright law and discusses selected cases to highlight the corresponding legal practices. In the empirical part of this paper, we model court decisions for cases of alleged melodic plagiarism employing a number of similarity algorithms. As a ground truth dataset we use a collection of 20 publicly available cases from the last 30 years of US jurisdiction. We compare the performance of standard similarity algorithms (edit distance and n-gram similarity measures) to several new similarity algorithms that make use of statistical information about the prevalence of chains of pitch intervals in a large pop music database. Results indicate that these statistically informed algorithms generally outperform the comparison algorithms. In particular, algorithms based on Tversky's (1977) concept of similarity show a high performance of up to 90% of court decisions correctly predicted. We discuss the performance and structure of the algorithms in relation to a few interesting example cases and give an outlook on the potential and intricacies of our approach.
Olfactory threshold is impaired in early, active multiple sclerosis
Authors: Lutterotti A , Vedovello M , Reindl M , Ehling R , DiPauli F , Kuenz B , Gneiss C , Deisenhammer F , Berger T 
Published: March 2011

Background: Olfactory dysfunction has been reported in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, to date no data are available on different qualities of olfactory function, namely odour identification, odour discrimination and odour perception threshold. Objective: To assess different qualities of olfactory function in patients with MS and correlate these with demographic data, clinical data, depression, quality of life and cognitive functions. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 50 patients with MS or clinically isolated syndrome and 30 healthy controls were included. Olfactory function was measured using the Sniffin’ Sticks test. Results: The scores for odour identification ( p = 0.001), odour perception threshold ( p = 0.037) and the combined score of odour identification, discrimination and perception threshold (TDI, p = 0.002) were significantly lower in MS. Hyposmia for identification ( p = 0.0017), threshold ( p = 0.017) and TDI score ( p = 0.0014) was more frequent in MS. Olfactory threshold was impaired in patients who were clinically active in the previous year ( p = 0.026) and in patients with a disease duration less than 2 years ( p = 0.0093). Identification score was negatively correlated with disease duration ( p = 0.0017). Olfactory function was not associated with disability, depression or quality of life. Conclusions: We report evidence for qualitatively distinct hyposmia in MS, with increased smell threshold in the early inflammatory phases of the disease and impaired identification with a more widespread chronic disease.
The Peroxisomal Targeting Signal 1 in sterol carrier protein 2 is autonomous and essential for receptor recognition
Authors: Williams Chris P , Schueller Nicole , Thompson Colin A , van den Berg Marlene , Van Haren Simon D , Erdmann Ralf , Bond Charles S , Distel Ben , Schliebs Wolfgang , Wilmanns Matthias , Stanley Will A 
Published: March 2011

Abstract

Background
The majority of peroxisomal matrix proteins destined for translocation into the peroxisomal lumen are recognised via a C-terminal Peroxisomal Target Signal type 1 by the cycling receptor Pex5p. The only structure to date of Pex5p in complex with a cargo protein is that of the C-terminal cargo-binding domain of the receptor with sterol carrier protein 2, a small, model peroxisomal protein. In this study, we have tested the contribution of a second, ancillary receptor-cargo binding site, which was found in addition to the characterised Peroxisomal Target Signal type 1.

Results
To investigate the function of this secondary interface we have mutated two key residues from the ancillary binding site and analyzed the level of binding first by a yeast-two-hybrid assay, followed by quantitative measurement of the binding affinity and kinetics of purified protein components and finally, by in vivo measurements, to determine translocation capability. While a moderate but significant reduction of the interaction was found in binding assays, we were not able to measure any significant defects in vivo.

Conclusions
Our data therefore suggest that at least in the case of sterol carrier protein 2 the contribution of the second binding site is not essential for peroxisomal import. At this stage, however, we cannot rule out that other cargo proteins may require this ancillary binding site.
MIR@NT@N: a framework integrating transcription factors, microRNAs and their targets to identify sub-network motifs in a meta-regulation network model
Authors: Le Béchec Antony , Portales-Casamar Elodie , Vetter Guillaume , Moes Michèle , Zindy Pierre-Joachim , Saumet Anne , Arenillas David , Theillet Charles , Wasserman Wyeth W , Lecellier Charles-Henri , Friederich Evelyne 
Published: March 2011

Abstract

Background
To understand biological processes and diseases, it is crucial to unravel the concerted interplay of transcription factors (TFs), microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets within regulatory networks and fundamental sub-networks. An integrative computational resource generating a comprehensive view of these regulatory molecular interactions at a genome-wide scale would be of great interest to biologists, but is not available to date.

Results
To identify and analyze molecular interaction networks, we developed MIR@NT@N, an integrative approach based on a meta-regulation network model and a large-scale database. MIR@NT@N uses a graph-based approach to predict novel molecular actors across multiple regulatory processes (i.e. TFs acting on protein-coding or miRNA genes, or miRNAs acting on messenger RNAs). Exploiting these predictions, the user can generate networks and further analyze them to identify sub-networks, including motifs such as feedback and feedforward loops (FBL and FFL). In addition, networks can be built from lists of molecular actors with an a priori role in a given biological process to predict novel and unanticipated interactions. Analyses can be contextualized and filtered by integrating additional information such as microarray expression data. All results, including generated graphs, can be visualized, saved and exported into various formats. MIR@NT@N performances have been evaluated using published data and then applied to the regulatory program underlying epithelium to mesenchyme transition (EMT), an evolutionary-conserved process which is implicated in embryonic development and disease.

Conclusions
MIR@NT@N is an effective computational approach to identify novel molecular regulations and to predict gene regulatory networks and sub-networks including conserved motifs within a given biological context. Taking advantage of the M@IA environment, MIR@NT@N is a user-friendly web resource freely available at http://mironton.uni.lu which will be updated on a regular basis.
Intravenous ascorbic acid to prevent and treat cancer-associated sepsis?
Authors: Ichim Thomas E , Minev Boris , Braciak Todd , Luna Brandon , Hunninghake Ron , Mikirova Nina A , Jackson James A , Gonzalez Michael J , Miranda-Massari Jorge R , Alexandrescu Doru T , Dasanu Constantin A , Bogin Vladimir , Ancans Janis , Stevens R Brian , Markosian Boris , Koropatnick James , Chen Chien-Shing , Riordan Neil H 
Published: March 2011

AbstractThe history of ascorbic acid (AA) and cancer has been marked with controversy. Clinical studies evaluating AA in cancer outcome continue to the present day. However, the wealth of data suggesting that AA may be highly beneficial in addressing cancer-associated inflammation, particularly progression to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and multi organ failure (MOF), has been largely overlooked. Patients with advanced cancer are generally deficient in AA. Once these patients develop septic symptoms, a further decrease in ascorbic acid levels occurs. Given the known role of ascorbate in: a) maintaining endothelial and suppression of inflammatory markers; b) protection from sepsis in animal models; and c) direct antineoplastic effects, we propose the use of ascorbate as an adjuvant to existing modalities in the treatment and prevention of cancer-associated sepsis.
Hf-based high-k materials for Si nanocrystal floating gate memories
Authors: Khomenkova Larysa , Sahu Bhabani S , Slaoui Abdelilah , Gourbilleau Fabrice 
Published: March 2011

AbstractPure and Si-rich HfO2 layers fabricated by radio frequency sputtering were utilized as alternative tunnel oxide layers for high-k/Si-nanocrystals-SiO2/SiO2 memory structures. The effect of Si incorporation on the properties of Hf-based tunnel layer was investigated. The Si-rich SiO2 active layers were used as charge storage layers, and their properties were studied versus deposition conditions and annealing treatment. The capacitance-voltage measurements were performed to study the charge trapping characteristics of these structures. It was shown that with specific deposition conditions and annealing treatment, a large memory window of about 6.8 V is achievable at a sweeping voltage of ± 6 V, indicating the utility of these stack structures for low-operating-voltage nonvolatile memory devices.
Promotion of allergic immune responses by intranasally-administrated nanosilica particles in mice
Authors: Yoshida Tokuyuki , Yoshioka Yasuo , Fujimura Maho , Yamashita Kohei , Higashisaka Kazuma , Morishita Yuki , Kayamuro Hiroyuki , Nabeshi Hiromi , Nagano Kazuya , Abe Yasuhiro , Kamada Haruhiko , Tsunoda Shin-ichi , Itoh Norio , Yoshikawa Tomoaki , Tsutsumi Yasuo 
Published: March 2011

AbstractWith the increase in use of nanomaterials, there is growing concern regarding their potential health risks. However, few studies have assessed the role of the different physical characteristics of nanomaterials in allergic responses. Here, we examined whether intranasally administered silica particles of various sizes have the capacity to promote allergic immune responses in mice. We used nanosilica particles with diameters of 30 or 70 nm (nSP30 or nSP70, respectively), and conventional micro-sized silica particles with diameters of 300 or 1000 nm (nSP300 or mSP1000, respectively). Mice were intranasally exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) plus each silica particle, and the levels of OVA-specific antibodies (Abs) in the plasma were determined. Intranasal exposure to OVA plus smaller nanosilica particles tended to induce a higher level of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG and IgG1 Abs than did exposure to OVA plus larger silica particles. Splenocytes from mice exposed to OVA plus nSP30 secreted higher levels of Th2-type cytokines than mice exposed to OVA alone. Taken together, these results indicate that nanosilica particles can induce allergen-specific Th2-type allergic immune responses in vivo. This study provides the foundations for the establishment of safe and effective forms of nanosilica particles.
Micro-spectroscopy on silicon wafers and solar cells
Authors: Gundel Paul , Schubert Martin C , Heinz Friedemann D , Woehl Robert , Benick Jan , Giesecke Johannes A , Suwito Dominik , Warta Wilhelm 
Published: March 2011

AbstractMicro-Raman (μRS) and micro-photoluminescence spectroscopy (μPLS) are demonstrated as valuable characterization techniques for fundamental research on silicon as well as for technological issues in the photovoltaic production. We measure the quantitative carrier recombination lifetime and the doping density with submicron resolution by μPLS and μRS. μPLS utilizes the carrier diffusion from a point excitation source and μRS the hole density-dependent Fano resonances of the first order Raman peak. This is demonstrated on micro defects in multicrystalline silicon. In comparison with the stress measurement by μRS, these measurements reveal the influence of stress on the recombination activity of metal precipitates. This can be attributed to the strong stress dependence of the carrier mobility (piezoresistance) of silicon. With the aim of evaluating technological process steps, Fano resonances in μRS measurements are analyzed for the determination of the doping density and the carrier lifetime in selective emitters, laser fired doping structures, and back surface fields, while μPLS can show the micron-sized damage induced by the respective processes.
Isolation and characterization of two new hepatitis E virus genotype 1 strains from two mini-outbreaks in Lahore, Pakistan
Authors: Iqbal Tahir , Idrees Muhammad , Ali Liaqat , Hussain Abrar , Ali Muhammad , Butt Sadia , Yousaf Muhammad Zubair , Sabar Muhammad Farooq 
Published: March 2011

Abstract

Background
Pakistan is a highly endemic area for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. The aim of the current study was to isolate and characterize strains of HEV in two mini outbreaks.

Results
RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed to cDNA. Nested PCR was done for the detection of HEV RNA. The positive bands were eluted, cloned in TA vector and sequenced in both directions using genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystem Inc, USA). Phylogenetic analysis was done using MEGA4 software. We isolated two new HEV genotype-1 strains from Lahore, Pakistan, based on cloning and sequencing of ORF2 region.

Conclusions
Our study suggest that both the human HEV strains were closely related to the Sar-55 but different from the Abb-2B and 87-Pakistan-B HEV isolates sharing 88-91% sequence identity to Pakistani isolate Sar-55. These results indicated that Sar-55 is the main endemic HEV strain in various areas of the country.
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Induces miR-132 and miR-212 to Regulate Cellular Morphology and Migration in Immortalized LβT2 Pituitary Gonadotrope Cells
Authors: Godoy Joseph , Nishimura Marin , Webster Nicholas J. G. 
Published: March 2011

AbstractGnRH is central to the regulation of reproductive function. It acts on pituitary gonadotropes to stimulate LH and FSH synthesis and secretion. We had previously presented evidence for translational control of LHβ synthesis; therefore we investigated whether micro-RNAs might play a role in GnRH regulation in LβT2 cells. We show here that GnRH strongly induces the AK006051 gene transcript that encodes two micro-RNAs, miR-132 and miR-212, within the first intron. We show furthermore that the AK006051 promoter region is highly GnRH responsive. We verify that the p250Rho GTPase activating protein (GAP) is a target of miR-132/212 and show that GnRH treatment leads to a decrease in mRNA and protein expression. This reduction is blocked by an anti-miR to miR-132/212 and mimicked by a pre-miR-132. GnRH inhibits p250RhoGAP expression through a miR-132/212 response element within the 3′-untranslated region. The loss of p250RhoGAP expression leads to activation of Rac and marked increases in both the number and length of neurite-like processes extending from the cell. Knockdown of p250RhoGAP by small interfering RNA induces the same morphological changes observed with GnRH treatment. In addition, loss of p250RhoGAP causes an increase in cellular motility. Our findings suggest a novel pathway regulating long-term changes in cellular motility and process formation via the GnRH induction of miR-132/212 with the subsequent down-regulation of p250RhoGAP.
Zebrafish embryo screen for mycobacterial genes involved in the initiation of granuloma formation reveals a newly identified ESX-1 component
Authors: Stoop Esther J. M. , Schipper Tim , Rosendahl Huber Sietske K. , Nezhinsky Alexander E. , Verbeek Fons J. , Gurcha Sudagar S. , Besra Gurdyal S. , Vandenbroucke-Grauls Christina M. J. E. , Bitter Wilbert , van der Sar Astrid M. 
Published: March 2011

SUMMARY
The hallmark of tuberculosis (TB) is the formation of granulomas, which are clusters of infected macrophages surrounded by additional macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes. Although it has long been thought that granulomas are beneficial for the host, there is evidence that mycobacteria also promote the formation of these structures. In this study, we aimed to identify new mycobacterial factors involved in the initial stages of granuloma formation. We exploited the zebrafish embryo Mycobacterium marinum infection model to study initiation of granuloma formation and developed an in vivo screen to select for random M. marinum mutants that were unable to induce granuloma formation efficiently. Upon screening 200 mutants, three mutants repeatedly initiated reduced granuloma formation. One of the mutants was found to be defective in the espL gene, which is located in the ESX-1 cluster. The ESX-1 cluster is disrupted in the Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccine strain and encodes a specialized secretion system known to be important for granuloma formation and virulence. Although espL has not been implicated in protein secretion before, we observed a strong effect on the secretion of the ESX-1 substrates ESAT-6 and EspE. We conclude that our zebrafish embryo M. marinum screen is a useful tool to identify mycobacterial genes involved in the initial stages of granuloma formation and that we have identified a new component of the ESX-1 secretion system. We are confident that our approach will contribute to the knowledge of mycobacterial virulence and could be helpful for the development of new TB vaccines.
In Situ Scanning Electron Microscope Observation and Finite Element Method Analysis of Delayed Hydride Cracking Propagation in Zircaloy-2 Fuel Cladding Tubes
Authors: Kubo Toshio , Muta Hiroaki , Yamanaka Shinsuke , Uno Masayoshi , Ogata Keizo 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
The objective of the present research is to build a modeling method for delayed hydride cracking (DHC) of zirconium alloys. DHC tests were carried out on Zircaloy-2 cladding tubes in the chamber of a scanning electron microscope to directly observe the crack propagation and measure the crack velocity in the radial direction. These in situ observations showed that a sharply tipped crack propagated at a relatively high rate, while the velocity decreased when the crack tip was blunted, supporting the occurrence of intermittent crack propagation that could be expected from the DHC mechanism. V-KI curves or diagrams of crack velocity, V, versus stress intensity factor at a crack tip, KI, were obtained as a function of 0.2 % offset yield stress, hydride orientation, and pre-crack depth. The steady state crack velocity and the threshold stress intensity factor for the onset of the crack propagation tended to increase or decrease, respectively, with an increase in the 0.2 % offset yield stress. Analyses of stress distribution and hydrogen diffusion around a crack tip were made using a finite element computer code. The analyses showed that a strong hydrostatic pressure field was generated concentrically around the crack tip and hydrogen diffused towards the crack tip according to the hydrostatic pressure gradient. The crack velocity was estimated from the calculated hydrogen flux rate assuming the critical hydrogen quantity for the crack propagation. There was good agreement between the experiments and the calculations regarding the crack velocity and its dependency on KI. Calculations showed that the increase in the 0.2 % offset yield stress would accelerate the crack propagation by increasing the hydrostatic pressure at the crack tip.
Wear Advantage of a Rotating Bearing Knee–An In Vitro Study
Authors: Angibaud Laurent D. , Burstein Albert , Balcom William B. , Miller Gary J. 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Mobile-bearing knees such as rotating platform knee (RPK) prosthetic implant systems were developed to improve knee kinematics, reduce torque transmitted to the implant-bone interface, allow implant self-alignment, and reduce wear. This study evaluated the wear performance of a RPK implant [the Optetrak® (RBKTM)] characterized by a wave-shaped distal bearing intended to reduce the risk of central tibial insert peg wear by shielding it from loading. This system was compared to its clinically proven fixed-bearing knee counterpart (the FBK) (1) as well as other historical RPKs (2). Wear tests were conducted by an independent laboratory using a procedure following ISO 14243-1 with the exception of the fluid test medium. The laboratory disclosed individual wear rates for historical RPK systems (n=9). After correcting for fluid test medium absorption, the net wear rate averaged 2.11±0.47 and 3.00±0.47  mg/Mc for the RBK and the FBK, respectively (P&gt;0.05), while the mean wear rate reported for the historical RPK systems was 6.65 mg/Mc. Visual analysis after testing showed all evaluated RBK inserts exhibited identical contact patterns. Microscopic visual examination revealed minimal central peg and tibial tray bore wear. Based on this study, wear performance was similar for both the RBK and FBK systems. Compared to historical RPKs, the RBK was associated with a lower wear rate, demonstrating that the wave-shaped bearing reduces wear caused by contact between the central peg and tibial tray bore (when tested on a knee simulator).
ZIRLO® Irradiation Creep Stress Dependence in Compression and Tension
Authors: Foster John Paul , Baranwal Rita 
Published: March 2011

Abstract
Fuel operating margins in recent years have decreased due to increases in fuel duty. In response, Westinghouse has developed an improved version of Standard ZIRLO®, denoted as Optimized ZIRLO™. This paper is a continuation of a previous paper reported by Foster et al. in 2009, which presented methods used to develop Optimized ZIRLO from Standard ZIRLO. The previous paper only outlined the experimental methods used to determine irradiation creep. This paper presents the detailed methods used to determine in-reactor creep and growth. In addition, in-reactor creep stress dependence in tension and compression will be evaluated. The results show that the: (1) In-reactor creep compliance is the same in tension and compression and (2) if total in-reactor strain is split into irradiation growth and creep components: (a) Deviatoric hoop stress component and/or the stress difference of hoop minis radial is the driving force for irradiation creep and (b) irradiation creep in tension is the same as compression. These are the first experimental results that explicitly demonstrate the relationship between irradiation creep (or alternately plastic deformation under a neutron flux) with the deviatoric hoop stress component and/or the stress difference of hoop minis radial.