bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying Dicymbe corymbosa Monodominant Forests in Guyana Using Satellite Imagery
Authors: Degagne Rebecca S. , Henkel Terry W. , Steinberg Steven J. , Fox III Lawrence
Published: August 2008

The ectomycorrhizal (EM) canopy tree Dicymbe corymbosa (Fabaceae subfam. Caesalpinioideae) forms monodominant forests in the Pakaraima Mountains of western Guyana. Like other tropical monodominants, D. corymbosa has several life‐history traits that promote conspecific clumping, in contrast to density‐dependent recruitment limitations characterizing most tropical trees. Dicymbe corymbosa forests, occurring in Guyana as patches within a largely non‐EM mixed‐species forest matrix, are important habitats for a diverse assemblage of EM fungi. Ground‐based studies have not adequately determined the regional extent of D. corymbosa forests, nor are they practical due to the rugged, remote nature of the Pakaraima Mountains. We assessed the suitability of Landsat satellite imagery for mapping regional distribution of D. corymbosa forests in Guyana's Upper Potaro River Basin. Supervised image classification was performed on images from August 1989 (Landsat‐5 TM) and October 1999 (Landsat‐7 ETM+). In situ forest reference data were used to quantitatively assess accuracy of output classification maps. Classification performed well in distinguishing monodominant from mixed‐species forests. For both images, D. corymbosa forest class accuracy was good (1989 user's accuracy = 89.8%, Khat= 0.74; 1999 user's accuracy = 80.7%, Khat= 0.59). The resulting output classification maps will be useful for planning fungal surveys and ecological studies in forests of the Pakaraima region. Classification of Landsat images may be effective for identifying monodominant forests in other remote regions of the tropics.
Legitimacy, Social Identity, and the Mobilization of Law: The Effects of Assembly Bill 540 on Undocumented Students in California
Authors: Abrego Leisy
Published: August 2008

This article examines the instrumental and constitutive effects of California Assembly Bill 540. The law grants undocumented immigrant students an exemption from out-of-state tuition, thereby making some forms of higher education more accessible. Despite the narrow actionable aspects of the law, it unintentionally legitimizes this disenfranchised group. This longitudinal study of undocumented immigrant youth consists of in-depth interviews before, shortly after, and four years after the passage of the law. The findings demonstrate that AB 540 immediately relieved stigma and later provided a socially acceptable identity that, within a legal consciousness informed by meritocracy, empowered these students to mobilize the law in a number of unforeseen ways. The case strongly suggests that it is possible for unintended constitutive functions to have more transformative effects on the daily lives of targeted beneficiaries than the intended instrumental objectives of law.
The Process Is the Punishment: Thirty Years Later
Authors: Earl Jennifer
Published: August 2008

This essay reviews the arguments and impacts of the classic work,The Process Is the Punishmentby Malcolm Feeley, originally published in 1979 and republished with a new foreword and preface in 1992. This essay examines how the book has been used in sociolegal research since 1979 by empirically tracing its citation in published work. I also examine missed opportunities whereThe Process Is the Punishmentcould still expand its impact in the literature, as well as reviewing the major arguments and criticisms of the book.
Law and American Political Development
Authors: Frymer Paul
Published: August 2008

This essay reviews the recent volume edited by Ronald Kahn and Ken I. Kersch, The Supreme Court and American Political Development(2006), as well as the broader literature by law scholars interested in American Political Development (APD). The Law and APD literature has advanced our knowledge about courts by placing attention on the importance of executive and legislative actors, and by providing political context to our understanding of judicial decision making. But this knowledge would be more powerful if it would embrace the broader APD field's orientation toward the importance of state and institutional autonomy for understanding politics and political change. Law and APD scholars could go further in examining the ways in which courts and judges act institutionally, and how the legal branch as an institution impacts American politics and state-building. In doing so, Law and APD scholars would contribute not only to our understanding of judicial decision making but also to our understanding of the place and importance of courts in American politics.
Effect of fetal anaemia on myocardial ischaemia–reperfusion injury and coronary vasoreactivity in adult sheep
Authors: Yang Q. , Hohimer A. R. , Giraud G. D. , Van Winkle D. M. , Underwood M. J. , He G.‐W. , Davis L. E.
Published: August 2008

Aims:  We investigated whether chronic fetal anaemia affects myocardial infarct in adulthood and elicits functional modifications in adult coronary vasoreactivity.

Methods:  Seven‐month‐old sheep that were made anaemic in utero and transfused to normal haematocrit before birth were studied. Infarct size was determined by tetrazolium after 1‐h ischaemia (occlusion of the mid of left anterior descending artery) and 2‐h reperfusion. The dose–response to vasoconstrictors and vasodilators was assessed in small resistance coronary arteries.

Results:  There were no significant differences between the animals previously subjected to in utero anaemia and the control animals regarding the percentage infarct size and the area‐at‐risk to the left ventricle. The ventricular function (dP/dt) was preserved. The percentage infarct size of the area‐at‐risk (70.7 ± 3.5%) was larger than that in the controls (49.8 ± 4.5%) (P = 0.006). The vascular responses were not altered. Endothelium‐dependent relaxation to bradykinin (96.0 ± 2.6% vs. 98.8 ± 1.0%) was not affected by PGI2 inhibitor (94.6 ± 2.6% vs. 98.5 ± 1.0%) but significantly reduced by the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) in both anaemic (P < 0.05) and control (P < 0.001) groups with a significant right shift of EC50 (P < 0.01). The non‐NO–non‐PGI2‐mediated relaxation was slightly potentiated in anaemic animals.

Conclusions:  Exposing fetal sheep to in utero anaemia in late gestation for 3 weeks may increase the susceptibility of adult hearts to ischaemia–reperfusion injury without major alterations in coronary vasomotor responsiveness. The impact of in utero anaemia at earlier period of pregnancy and on the earlier or later life of the adult is yet to be further investigated.
Training Individuals in Public Health Law
Authors: Smith Jason A.
Published: August 2008

This report provides an overview of training individuals in public health law. This report is designed to broadly outline the issues in order to facilitate discussion at the November 2007 PHLA meeting in Washington, D.C. I found that attorneys and public health practitioners have different approaches to training and practice. Materials and programs that seek to train individuals must be designed to fit within the professional culture of the targeted group. The differences between the two professional cultures can be a barrier to training if not acknowledged in the design of training programs and materials.

In a selected overview of materials and programs available, I found that there is an unmet need for responsive materials and programs. I also found that networking and conference opportunities can play an important role in training that should be explored. I also discuss joint degree programs. The report concludes with a series of future recommendations to facilitate discussion.
Flaws in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Rationale for Supporting the Development and Approval of BiDil as a Treatment for Heart Failure Only in Black Patients
Authors: Ellison George T. H. , Kaufman Jay S. , Head Rosemary F. , Martin Paul A. , Kahn Jonathan D.
Published: August 2008

There is likely to be widespread agreement with much of the FDA’s rationale for approving BiDil (a combination of hydralazine hydrochloride and isosorbide dinitrate; H-I) as a treatment for heart failure. In particular, most would agree that the evidence of effectiveness provided by the African American Heart Failure Trial (A-HeFT) is compelling. Likewise, few health scientists would believe that it is either necessary or responsible to withhold therapies such as BiDil from those who might benefit until there is a full understanding of how they work. And although there is substantial concern that biomedical differences between racial groups are routinely misinterpreted as evidence of innate genetic differences (hence Jonathan Kahn’s call for all such claims to be supported by genetic evidence), most would concede that using race as a “descriptive” variable can help identify differences in health and access/response to treatment that might warrant further investigation or intervention.
Popular Representations of Race: The News Coverage of BiDil
Authors: Caulfield Timothy , Harry Simrat
Published: August 2008

The popular press plays an important role in science communication, both reflecting and shaping public attitudes about particular issues and technologies. It is a key source of health information and can help to frame public debates about science and health care controversies. Given this powerful role, there has long been a concern that media representations of genetics are overly simplistic and inappropriately deterministic in tone. If true, media representations may hurt collective deliberations about science issues and misinform the public regarding the relevance of genetics in a variety of contexts — including the relevance of genetics and biology to the existing social categories of “race.”
Beyond Best Practices: Strict Scrutiny as a Regulatory Model for Race-Specific Medicines
Authors: Obasogie Osagie K.
Published: August 2008

Race is becoming an increasingly common lens through which biomedical researchers are studying the relevance of genes to group predispositions that may affect disease susceptibility and drug response. These investigations contravene decades of research in the natural and social sciences demonstrating that social categories of race have little genetic significance. Nevertheless, a resounding debate has ensued over the utility of race in biomedical research — particularly as new drugs claiming to serve particular racial populations enter the marketplace. Now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BiDil as the first race-specific treatment despite conflicting evidence and unsettled debates, is there a way for federal regulators to promote research that may address minority health concerns without giving undue credence to the dangerous idea that social understandings of race are genetically relevant? It may be useful for the FDA to turn to an area with experience negotiating such dilemmas — constitutional law — and its approach — strict scrutiny — to help guide when and under which circumstances government should give effect to racial categories in biomedicine.
Public Health, Racial Tensions, and Body Politic: Mass Ringworm Irradiation in Israel, 1949–1960
Authors: Davidovitch Nadav , Margalit Avital
Published: August 2008

The BiDil affair brought once again to the fore questions of race and medicine. As discussed in other essays in this collection, the emergence of BiDil as the first medication approved and marketed for treating specific racial groups raises important questions for medicine and society: How are race and ethnicity framing our understanding of health and illness? Should treatment decisions be based on the race and ethnicity of patients? Should we encourage the development of race-specific medical treatments in order to reduce health disparities? Or is this approach dangerous, and can it lead to unwanted consequences including racial stigmatization? These questions are not new, and since the introduction of race as a scientific construct in the late-19th century, race has played an important part in the history of medicine, most notoriously during World War II and the Holocaust. Yet the identification of race medicine with Nazi science tends to obscure the vast use of race as a medical construct by a wide range of medical scientists and practitioners across the political spectrum. In many instances, racial minorities were preoccupied with race medicine in order to promote the health of their own communities. One such group was that of Jewish physicians.
Is Race-Based Medicine Good for Us?: African American Approaches to Race, Biomedicine, and Equality
Authors: Roberts Dorothy E.
Published: August 2008

Public discourse on race-specific medicine typically erects a wall between the scientific use of race as a biological category and the ideological battle over race as a social identity. Scientists often address the potential for these therapeutics to reinforce a damaging understanding of “race” with precautions for using them rather than questioning their very development. For example, Esteban Gonzalez Burchard, an associate professor of medicine and biopharmaceutical sciences at the University of California, San Francisco, states, “We do see racial differences between populations and shouldn’t just close our eyes. Unfortunately, race is a politically charged topic, and there will be evildoers. But the fear should not outweigh the benefit of looking.” Although it is recognized that ideology influences thesocialmeaning of race, it is usually assumed that there is a separate, prior scientific understanding of race that is not contaminated by politics.
Research on Medical Records without Informed Consent
Authors: Miller Franklin G.
Published: August 2008

Research drawn from data contained in medical records is a common and immensely important means of scientific investigation in epidemiology and health services research. It provides valuable knowledge regarding risk factors for disease, the safety of pharmaceuticals and medical procedures, and the quality of medical care. Electronic information technology has greatly enhanced the capability of conducting research using medical records, but it has also generated increasing concern about invasions of privacy. Both practical and scientific considerations militate against soliciting consent for population-based observational research. Retrospective review of existing medical records, especially with large samples, poses insuperable barriers to locating human subjects in order to obtain their informed consent. When efforts are made to obtain informed consent for prospective research drawn from disease and treatment registries, mounting evidence has accumulated that substantial selection biases are introduced into the data, as those who consent are not necessarily representative of the population of relevant patients.
Preventing HIV Transmission via HIV Exposure Laws: Applying Logic and Mathematical Modeling to Compare Statutory Approaches to Penalizing Undisclosed Exposure to HIV
Authors: Galletly Carol L. , Pinkerton Steven D.
Published: August 2008

Twenty-four U.S. states have enacted HIV exposure laws that prohibit HIV-positive persons from engaging in sexual activities with partners to whom they have not disclosed their HIV-status. From a public health perspective, HIV serostatus exposure laws can be viewed as structural interventions that seek to limit the spread of HIV by acting at the policy level. A central premise of these laws is that informed partners are more likely to protect themselves by declining sex, by substituting less risky activities for higher-risk ones, or by using condoms, than are uninformed partners. However, the effectiveness of these laws at preventing HIV transmission is not known.

There is little standardization among existing HIV exposure laws, which vary substantially with respect to the sexual activities that are prohibited without prior serostatus disclosure. Among the strictest laws are those in Arkansas, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio which mandate disclosure prior to almost any type of sexual contact.
Physicochemical Properties, and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Effects of Garlic and Onion Powder in Fresh Pork Belly and Loin during Refrigerated Storage
Authors: Park S.Y. , Yoo S.S. , Shim J.H. , Chin K.B.
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT:  Pork loin and belly cuts were pumped to 110% of their original weight with solutions containing 5% of various ingredients (sodium ascorbate, garlic, and onion powder), and evaluated the physicochemical properties, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities during refrigerated storage at 8 °C. The addition of garlic and onion powder tended to increase redness (a) and yellowness (b) in both the belly lean and loin with the exception of a few cases. Free fatty acid values in both pork belly and loin cuts were reduced with the addition of these ingredients, as compared to the control. Significant differences in peroxide values were observed in sodium ascorbate and garlic‐injected belly, and in sodium ascorbate and onion‐injected loin, as compared to the control. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values in the pork belly with garlic or onion powder were significantly lower than in the belly without these ingredients or with sodium ascorbate (P < 0.05). Total plate counts were lower in both the belly and loin containing garlic and onion powder, as compared to the control. In both the belly and loin cuts, the content of oxidative products (volatile compounds) was reduced with the addition of garlic and onion powder, particularly the aldehydes (hexanal). Overall, garlic and onion in enhanced meats showed an antioxidant activity as effective as that of sodium ascorbate and also an antimicrobial effect to inhibit the growth of total bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae.
Negative Roles of Salt in Gelation Properties of Fish Protein Isolate
Authors: Kim Y.S. , Park J.W.
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT:  Salt effect on gelling properties of fish protein isolate (FPI) prepared by acid‐ and alkali‐aided extraction was investigated. Acid‐ or alkali‐extracted FPI formed significantly better gel texture with 0% NaCl than with 3% NaCl. Texture properties of acid‐ or alkali‐extracted FPI decreased as NaCl content increased, especially at 2% to 3% salt. Contrarily, salt significantly promoted texture qualities of conventional surimi gels. The effect was highlighted when they were subjected to low temperature setting. The myofibrillar proteins in FPI were not solubilized when NaCl was added, perhaps due to protein aggregation caused by acid or alkali extraction. FPI solubility, however, was not closely related to their texture properties. Cold setting did not promote texture properties of FPI gels as much as conventional surimi gels. Acid‐extracted gels gave the best color properties.
Detection of Melamine in Gluten, Chicken Feed, and Processed Foods Using Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy and HPLC
Authors: Lin M. , He L. , Awika J. , Yang L. , Ledoux D.R. , Li H. , Mustapha A.
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT:  Melamine, a nitrogen‐rich chemical, was implicated in pet and human food recalls in 2007, which caused enormous economic losses to the food industry. In this study, melamine concentration in wheat gluten, chicken feed, and processed foods (that is, cake and noodle) was measured by surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) in combination with SERS‐active substrates. SERS was able to rapidly detect 0.1% melamine in wheat gluten, 0.05% in chicken feed, 0.05% in cakes, and 0.07% in noodle, respectively. A partial least squares (PLS) model was established for the quantification of melamine in foods by SERS: R= 0.90, RMSEP = 0.33. In addition, SERS results were verified by HPLC analysis based on a simplified FDA method. Compared with HPLC, the SERS method is much faster and simpler, requires minimum sample preparation, but still yields satisfactory qualitative and quantitative results. These results demonstrate that it is an applicable approach to use SERS to screen foods, eliminate presumptive negative samples of melamine contamination from the sample population, and then verify presumptive positive samples using HPLC protocols. Combining these 2 methods could provide a more rapid and cost‐effective way for monitoring melamine contamination in increasingly large numbers of imported foods and feed products.
Reduction of Oil Absorption in Deep‐Fried, Battered, and Breaded Chicken Patties Using Whey Protein Isolate as a Postbreading Dip: Effect on Lipid and Moisture Content
Authors: Mah E. , Price J. , Brannan R.G.
Published: August 2008

ABSTRACT:  The effectiveness of whey protein isolate (WPI) solution as a postbreading dip to reduce oil absorption in deep‐fried, battered, and breaded chicken patties was investigated. Chicken patties were battered, breaded with either crackermeal or Japanese breadcrumbs, and dipped in WPI solutions prepared at 4 different protein concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%, w/w WPI) that were adjusted to pHs 2, 3, and 8 before being deep fried. Undipped chicken patties served as the control. Overall, the most effective treatment was observed for WPI solutions made at high concentrations (5% and 10% WPI) at low pH levels (pHs 2 and 3). The highest lipid reduction observed for crackermeal patties (CMP) was 31.2% for patties treated with 5% protein solutions at pH 2 while the highest lipid reduction for Japanese breadcrumb patties (JBP) was 37.5% for patties treated with 10% protein solutions at pH 2. Oil degradation and batter, breading, and whey pickup did not significantly affect final lipid and moisture content. Moisture content was generally lower in patties treated at low pH levels (pHs 2 and 3). The results indicate that the usage of WPI as a postbreading dip is a promising alternative in reducing fat content in fried foods since it could simultaneously fulfill the steady demand for fried foods and contribute to the growing effort of Americans to consume less fat.
Action Spectrum for the Suppression of Arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferase Activity in the Two‐spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae
Authors: Suzuki Takeshi , Izawa Norimitsu , Takashima Takuya , Watanabe Masakatsu , Takeda Makio
Published: August 2008

An action spectrum was obtained for the suppression of arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferase (NAT) activity in the two‐spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae by irradiating the mite with monochromatic lights of various wavelengths using the Okazaki Large Spectrograph at the National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan. Fluence–response curves were obtained for wavelengths between 300 and 650 nm by irradiating the mite for 4 h day−1. The samples were frozen after the third exposure. A negative correlation between the logarithmic fluence rate and NAT activity was detected in the range of 0.01–1 μmol m−2 s−1 for wavelengths between 300 and 500 nm and in the range of 0.1–10 μmol m−2 s−1 for wavelengths between 550 and 650 nm. The constructed action spectrum indicated that the photoreceptors mediating the circadian and/or photoperiodic systems might be UV‐A‐ and blue‐type photoreceptors with absorption peaks at 350 and 450 nm.
Factors Controlling the Mobility of Photosynthetic Proteins†
Authors: Mullineaux Conrad W.
Published: August 2008

Protein diffusion in and around the photosynthetic membrane must play a crucial role in photosynthetic functions including electron transport, regulation of light‐harvesting, and biogenesis, turnover and repair of membrane components. Protein mobility is controlled by a complex web of specific interactions, plus the viscosity of the environment and the extent of macromolecular crowding. I discuss the techniques that can be used to measure protein mobility in photosynthetic membranes. I then summarize what we know about the constraints on protein mobility imposed by macromolecular aggregation and crowding in and around the thylakoid membranes of green plants and cyanobacteria, with particular reference to the fluidity of the thylakoid membrane and the aqueous phases on either side of the membrane (the stroma/cytoplasm and the thylakoid lumen). Current indications are that the stroma/cytoplasm is a relatively fluid environment, whereas protein mobility in the lumen may be extremely restricted. The thylakoid membrane itself has an intermediate fluidity: some protein complexes are virtually immobile, probably due to their incorporation into large, stable macromolecular aggregates. However, there is sufficient free space to allow the long‐range diffusion of some complexes. Finally, I discuss some future directions for research in this area.
Regression Revisited
Authors: Gilchrist Warren
Published: August 2008

Sir Francis Galton introduced median regression and the use of the quantile function to describe distributions. Very early on the tradition moved to mean regression and the universal use of the Normal distribution, either as the natural ‘error’ distribution or as one forced by transformation. Though the introduction of ‘quantile regression’ refocused attention on the shape of the variability about the line, it uses nonparametric approaches and so ignores the actual distribution of the ‘error’ term. This paper seeks to show how Galton's approach enables the complete regression model, deterministic and stochastic elements, to be modelled, fitted and investigated. The emphasis is on the range of models that can be used for the stochastic element. It is noted that as the deterministic terms can be built up from components, so to, using quantile functions, can the stochastic element. The model may thus be treated in both modelling and fitting as a unity. Some evidence is presented to justify the use of a much wider range of distributional models than is usually considered and to emphasize their flexibility in extending regression models.
Renovascular Hypertension: An Update
Authors: Elliott William J.
Published: August 2008

Renovascular hypertension, the most common remediable cause of elevated blood pressure, is a controversial topic, but most authorities agree on several principles. The absolute risk of renovascular hypertension for a specific patient can be estimated using only clinical information, thereby sparing many patients further expensive and potentially dangerous evaluations. Patients with a high absolute risk of renovascular hypertension should have angiography only if they are willing to undergo revascularization if warranted. A screening test (captopril renography, Doppler ultrasonography, magnetic resonance angiography, or computed tomography) is recommended for those with an intermediate absolute risk. Angioplasty should be offered to patients with fibromuscular dysplasia. Whether intensive medical therapy (including an angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker) for atherosclerotic renovascular hypertension is improved by angioplasty plus stent placement may be answered by ongoing studies, the largest of which may be the National Institutes of Health‐funded Cardiovascular Outcomes in Renal Atherosclerotic Lesions (CORAL) trial.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Hypertension
Authors: Okcay Aynur , Somers Virend K. , Caples Sean M.
Published: August 2008

There has long been a recognized link between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and the cardiovascular system, no aspect of which has been more studied than blood pressure. Research in OSA has not only demonstrated dysregulation of homeostatic cardiovascular mechanisms but also has furthered our understanding of blood pressure regulatory control. Acute nocturnal blood pressure elevations associated with disordered breathing events have been reproduced from a number of observational studies, the accrual of which has also made an increasing argument for the importance of OSA in the pathogenesis of diurnal hypertension, as suggested by the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7), which implicated OSA as a secondary cause of hypertension. Accumulating data from randomized controlled treatment trials in OSA, particularly with continuous positive airway pressure, though sometimes inconsistent, suggest a potential role in blood pressure reduction. Further research is needed to better clarify indications for OSA treatment as well as its role as an adjunct to other antihypertensive treatments.
Endocrine Causes of Secondary Hypertension
Authors: Sica Domenic A.
Published: August 2008

Secondary hypertension is common in clinical practice if a broad definition is applied. Various patterns of hypertension exist in the patient with an endocrine source of their disease, including new‐onset hypertension in a previously normotensive individual, a loss of blood pressure control in a patient with previously well‐controlled blood pressure, and/or labile blood pressure in the setting of either of these 2 patterns. A thorough history and physical exam, which can rule out concomitant medications, alcohol intake, and over‐the‐counter medication use, is an important prerequisite to the workup for endocrine causes of hypertension. Endocrine forms of secondary hypertension, such as pheochromocytoma and Cushing's disease, are extremely uncommon. Conversely, primary aldosteronism now occurs with sufficient frequency so as to be considered “top of the list” for secondary endocrine causes in otherwise difficult‐to‐treat or resistant hypertension. Primary aldosteronism can be insidious in its presentation since a supposed hallmark finding, hypokalemia, may be variable in its presentation. It is important to identify secondary causes of hypertension that are endocrine in nature because surgical intervention may result in correction or substantial improvement of the hypertension.
Potassium, Magnesium, and Calcium: Their Role in Both the Cause and Treatment of Hypertension
Authors: Houston Mark C. , Harper Karen J.
Published: August 2008

Despite advances in the prevention and treatment of hypertension over the past decade, hypertension remains an important public health challenge. Recent efforts to reduce the prevalence of hypertension have focused on nonpharmacologic means, specifically diet. An increased intake of minerals such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium by dietary means has been shown in some but not all studies to reduce blood pressure in patients with hypertension. This review will discuss the roles of potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the prevention and treatment of essential hypertension with specific emphasis on clinical trial evidence, mechanism of action, and recommendations for dietary intake of these minerals. A high intake of these minerals through increased consumption of fruits and vegetables may improve blood pressure levels and reduce coronary heart disease and stroke.

J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2008;10(7 suppl 2):2–11.
A method for quantifying biodiversity loss and its application to a 50‐year record of deforestation across Madagascar
Authors: Allnutt Thomas F. , Ferrier Simon , Manion Glenn , Powell George V. N. , Ricketts Taylor H. , Fisher Brian L. , Harper Grady J. , Irwin Michael E. , Kremen Claire , Labat Jean‐Noël , Lees David C. , Pearce Timothy A. , Rakotondrainibe France
Published: August 2008

Madagascar is a top global conservation priority for high rates of deforestation and endemism. Deforestation has been extensive, but impacts of forest loss on biodiversity have not been well quantified, especially for nonvertebrates. We use generalized dissimilarity modeling (GDM) as a basis for estimating forest biodiversity remaining at different points in time. We predict that 9.1% of species in Madagascar have been committed to extinction from deforestation between 1950 and 2000. This quantity is higher than losses expected from random deforestation of the same total area, indicating that deforestation has been biased towards environmentally and biologically distinct areas. In contrast to traditional area‐based methods, these techniques allow one to estimate biodiversity loss based on the location of deforestation and thus can inform land‐use policies that aim to minimize biodiversity impacts of deforestation or development.
Pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety profiles of preserved and preservative‐free tafluprost in healthy volunteers
Authors: Uusitalo Hannu , Kaarniranta Kai , Ropo Auli
Published: August 2008

Purpose:  Prostanoid F2α (PF2α) analogues are commonly used as first‐line treatment of glaucoma. Tafluprost is a newly synthesized PF2α derivative and represents the first PF2α analogue with a fully preservative‐free formulation.

Methods:  A randomized, investigator‐masked, single‐centre, crossover phase I study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, efficacy and safety profiles of preserved and preservative‐free tafluprost 0.0015% eyedrops in healthy volunteers. Both formulations were administered once/day for 8 days each. Plasma concentrations and, consequently, area under the curve (AUC0–last), maximum concentration (Cmax) and time to maximum concentration (tmax) were determined for tafluprost acid, the biologically active metabolite. Intraocular pressure, adverse events, and ocular and systemic safety parameters were analysed.

Results:  There were no statistically significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters between preserved and preservative‐free formulations after either single (day 1) or repeated (day 8) dosing. The mean (± standard deviation) results for preserved and preservative‐free formulations on day 8 were, respectively: AUC0–last 581.1 ± 529.9 pg/min/ml versus 431.9 ± 457.8 pg/min/ml (p = 0.462); Cmax 31.4 ± 19.5 pg/ml versus 26.6 ± 18.0 pg/ml (p = 0.294), and median (range) tmax 10 (5–15) for both. Generally, plasma concentrations of tafluprost acid were low at all time‐points and were cleared rapidly from the circulatory system. There were no unexpected safety findings. The incidence of ocular hyperaemia was similar in both formulations and was of predominantly moderate severity with preserved tafluprost and mild severity with preservative‐free tafluprost.

Conclusions:  Preservative‐free tafluprost appeared to have similar pharmacokinetic properties to the preserved formulation and was generally well tolerated.
Influence of Road Camber on Motorcycle Stability
Authors: Evangelou Simos , Limebeer David J. N. , Tomas Rodriguez Maria
Published: August 2008

This paper studies the influence of road camber on the stability of single-track road vehicles. Road camber changes the magnitude and direction of the tire force and moment vectors relative to the wheels, as well as the combined-force limit one might obtain from the road tires. Camber-induced changes in the tire force and moment systems have knock-on consequences for the vehicle’s stability. The study makes use of computer simulations that exploit a high-fidelity motorcycle model whose parameter set is based on a Suzuki GSX-R1000 sports machine. In order to study camber-induced stability trends for a range of machine speeds and roll angles, we study the machine dynamics as the vehicle travels over the surface of a right circular cone. Conical road surfaces allow the machine to operate at a constant steady-state speed, a constant roll angle, and a constant road camber angle. The local road-tire contact behavior is analyzed by approximating the cone surface by moving tangent planes located under the road wheels. There is novelty in the way in which adaptive controllers are used to center the vehicle’s trajectory on a cone, which has its apex at the origin of the inertial reference frame. The results show that at low speed both the weave- and wobble-mode stabilities are at a maximum when the machine is perpendicular to the road surface. This trend is reversed at high speed, since the weave- and wobble-mode dampings are minimized by running conditions in which the wheels are orthogonal to the road. As a result, positive camber, which is often introduced by road builders to aid drainage and enhance the friction limit of four-wheeled vehicle tires, might be detrimental to the stability of two-wheeled machines.
Singularities Interacting With a Coated Circular Inhomogeneity Revisited
Authors: Choi Seung Tae
Published: August 2008

Singularities interacting with a coated circular inhomogeneity are analyzed with the method of analytic continuation and the Schwarz–Neumann’s alternating technique. It is shown that the solution for singularities in a homogeneous medium can be used as a building block of the solution for the same singularities interacting with a coated circular inclusion. The obtained solutions have series forms independent of any specific information about singularities, and thus they can be interpreted as general solutions for a variety of singularities.
A Theoretical Study on Decentralized Space Heating System
Authors: Song Zhi-Ping
Published: August 2008

Global climate change mitigation requires the fossil fuel consumption substantially reduced. Space heating is an energy-consuming sector. Despite the fact that the thermal efficiency of current space heating systems has achieved a value higher than 85%, corresponding to lower than 40kg c.e./GJ, there is still a big potential for energy conservation. In order to realize the full potential, investigations of heating systems should appeal to reversibility/exergy analysis made on total energy concept basis. This paper starts with an introduction of the concept “reversible mode of heating,” leading the readers think of space heating in terms of reversibility. Right after, a systematic reversibility analysis on a “mine to home” basis is conducted to reveal the impact of any irreversibility of all subsystems or devices involved in the total energy system of heating on the fuel/monetary specific consumption of unit end-use heat. The paper points out that although combined heat and power (CHP) and electrically driven heat pump are both of “reversible mode,” the former is far more favorable in terms of energy conservation. The recently ascent decentralized energy system provides the best circumstances for CHP implementation. The demand-side improvement is a topic of most importance but frequently neglected. This study reveals that, if properly engineered, this improvement together with adopting a direct type of heat grid might lower the fuel specific consumption of end-use heat of CHP to a level as low as 13–9kg c.e./GJ.
An Innovative Ultradeepwater Subsea Blowout Preventer Control System Using Shape-Memory Alloy Actuators
Authors: Song Gangbing , Hu Ziping , Sun Kai , Ma Ning , Economides Michael J. , Robello Samuel G. , Ehlig-Economides Christine
Published: August 2008

This paper presents an innovative undersea blowout preventer (BOP) using shape-memory alloy (SMA). The new device using SMA actuators could easily be implemented into existing conventional subsea control system so that they can work solely or as a backup of other methods. Most important, the innovative all-electric BOP will provide much faster response than its hydraulic counterpart and will improve safety for subsea drilling. To demonstrate the feasibility of such a device, a proof-of-concept prototype of a pipe RAM type BOP with SMA actuation has been designed, fabricated, and tested at the University of Houston. The BOP actuator uses strands of SMA wires to achieve large force and large displacement in a remarkably small space. Experimental results demonstrate that the BOP can be activated and fully closed in less than 10s. The concept of this innovative device is illustrated, and detailed comparisons of the response time for hydraulic and nitinol SMA actuation mechanisms are included. This preliminary research reveals the potential of smart material technology in subsea drilling systems.
New-Type Energy-Recovering Hydraulic Workover Rig and the Simulation for Lifting the Tubing String
Authors: Lujun Zhang , Hengshu Xie
Published: August 2008

A new-type energy-recovering hydraulic workover rig is researched. The basic structure and working theory of this rig are introduced. This rig decreases its equipped power remarkably compared with the conventional rig, and can recover the potential energy released by the tubing string when lowered. With infinite force-grade number, this rig can obtain the maximum lifting efficiency and energy-recovering rate. The dynamics model of lifting the tubing string is deduced and a simulation analysis is conducted. Through simulation some conclusions are obtained: (1) the greater the throttle valve path area the higher the tubing string lifting velocity, (2) the lighter the tubing string the higher the tubing string lifting velocity, and (3) the greater the displacement of the variable pump motor the higher the tubing string lifting velocity. The actual measurement results prove that the dynamics model and simulation results are basically right.
Capacity Mapping for Optimum Utilization of Pulverizers for Coal Fired Boilers
Authors: Bhattacharya Chittatosh
Published: August 2008

Pulverizers play a pivotal role in coal-based thermal power generation. Improper coal fineness or drying reflects a qualitywise deterioration. This results in flame instability, unburnt combustible loss, and a propensity to slagging or clinker formation. Simultaneously, an improper air-coal ratio may result in either coal pipe choking or flame impingement, an unbalanced heat release, an excessive furnace exit gas temperature, overheating of the tube metal, etc., resulting in reduced output and excessive mill rejects. In general, the base capacity of a pulverizer is a function of coal and air quality, conditions of grinding elements, classifier, and other internals. Capacity mapping is a process of comparison of standard inputs with actual fired inputs to assess the available standard output capacity of a pulverizer. In fact, this will provide a standard guideline over the operational adjustment and maintenance requirement of the pulverizer. The base capacity is a function of grindability; fineness requirement may vary depending on the volatile matter (VM) content of the coal and the input coal size. The quantity and the inlet temperature of primary air (PA) limit the drying capacity. The base airflow requirement will change depending on the quality of raw coal and output requirement. It should be sufficient to dry pulverized coal (PC). Drying capacity is also limited by utmost PA fan power to supply air. The PA temperature is limited by air preheater (APH) inlet flue gas temperature; an increase in this will result in efficiency loss of the boiler. Besides, the higher PA inlet temperature can be attained through the economizer gas bypass, the steam coiled APH, and the partial flue gas recirculation. The PA/coal ratio, a variable quantity within the mill operating range, increases with a decrease in grindability or pulverizer output and decreases with a decrease in VM. Again, the flammability of mixture has to be monitored on explosion limit. Through calibration, the PA flow and efficiency of conveyance can be verified. The velocities of coal/air mixture to prevent fallout or to avoid erosion in the coal carrier pipe are dependent on the PC particle size distribution. Metal loss of grinding elements inversely depends on the YGP index of coal. Besides that, variations of dynamic loading and wearing of grinding elements affect the available milling capacity and percentage rejects. Therefore, capacity mapping is necessary to ensure the available pulverizer capacity to avoid overcapacity or undercapacity running of the pulverizing system, optimizing auxiliary power consumption. This will provide a guideline on the distribution of raw coal feeding in different pulverizers of a boiler to maximize system efficiency and control, resulting in a more cost effective heat rate.
Surface Effect and Size Dependence on the Energy Release Due to a Nanosized Hole Expansion in Plane Elastic Materials
Authors: Li Q. , Chen Y. H.
Published: August 2008

This paper deals with the surface effect and size dependence on the M-integral representing the energy release due to a nanodefect expansion in plane elasticity. Due to the high surface-to-volume ratio for reinforcing particles in the nanometer scale, the surface effect along the nanosized hole may be induced from the residual surface stress and the surface Lamé constants. The invariant integrals such as the Jk-integral vector and the M-integral customarily used in macrofracture mechanics are extended to treat plane elastic materials containing a nanosized hole. It is concluded that both components of the Jk-integral vanish when the contour selected to calculate the integral encloses the whole nanosized hole. This leads to the independence of the M-integral from the global coordinate shift. It is concluded that the surface effect and the size dependence on the energy release due to the nanohole expansion are significant especially when the hole size is less than 40 nm. This present study reveals that the discrepancies of the M-integral value with the surface effect from the referenced value M0 without the surface effect are mainly induced from the residual surface stress τ0 rather than from the surface Lamé constants μs and λs.
Structure Design of a Piezoelectric Composite Disk for Control of Thermal Stress
Authors: Ashida Fumihiro , Sakata Sei-ichiro , Matsumoto Kouhei
Published: August 2008

In order to realize a plan for a hypersonic aircraft, development of a smart heat-resisting plate possible to control a thermal stress has been required because the safety of structural members must be secured even if they are exposed to a severe thermal loading beyond an estimated load. In view of such a background, this paper deals with a control problem of a thermal stress in a multilayer composite circular disk consisting of a structural layer and piezoceramic layers with concentrically arranged electrodes. When a heating temperature distribution acts on the structural layer surface, the maximum thermal stress in the structural layer can be suppressed by applying appropriate voltages to the electrodes. This thermo-elastic problem has been theoretically analyzed by employing the potential function techniques. Utilizing the analytical results, the nonlinear optimization problem for determining the applied voltages is transformed into a linear programming problem and then the optimum solution is successfully obtained. Based on the obtained solutions, the structure of a composite disk has been designed in order to demonstrate the function of stress control to the fullest extent possible. Finally, numerical results for the stresses before and after applying the determined voltages as well as for the structure design of the composite disk and the suppression ratio of the maximum thermal stress are shown in graphical and tabular forms. It is seen from the numerical results that the maximum thermal stress can be reduced by about 34% when the structure of the composite disk is designed optimally.
Wall Thickness and Radial Breathing Modes of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Batra R. C. , Gupta S. S.
Published: August 2008

We postulate that an equivalent continuum structure (ECS) of a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) is a hollow cylinder with mean radius and length equal to that of the SWCNT, and find the thickness of the ECS so that its mechanical response in free vibrations is the same as that of the SWCNT. That is, for mechanical deformations, the ECS is energetically equivalent to the SWCNT. We use MM3 potential to study axial, torsional, radial breathing and bending vibrations of several traction free–traction free SWCNTs of different helicities and diameters and compare them with the corresponding vibrational modes and frequencies of traction free–traction free ECSs obtained by using the three-dimensional linear elasticity theory and the finite element analysis (3D-FEA). The consideration of free ends eliminates the effects of boundary conditions and avoids resolving equivalence between boundary conditions in the analyses of SWCNTs and their ECSs. It is found that the wall thickness of the ECS (and hence of a SWCNT) is ∼1 Å and Young’s modulus of the material of the ECS (and hence of the SWCNT) is ∼3.3 TPa. Both quantities are independent of the helicity and the diameter of the SWCNT. We also study radial breathing mode (RBM) vibrations with the molecular dynamics and the 3D-FEA simulations, and compare them with experimental findings. Accuracy in the assignment of spectral lines for RBMs in the Raman spectroscopy is discussed.