bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family Structure Differences in Family Functioning
Authors: Freistadt Joshua , Strohschein Lisa
Published: June 2012

This study investigated family structure differences in family functioning, evaluated whether extra-familial social capital accounted for any observed differences, and tested whether the influence of extra-familial social capital on family functioning varied by family structure. Using the first wave of the Canadian National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth ( n = 6,223), analysis revealed significantly lower family functioning levels within stable cohabiting two-biological-parent households and stable single-biological-mother households relative to stable married two-biological-parent households, even after sociodemographic controls. Higher levels of social involvement and neighborhoodcohesion were associated with increased family functioning, but did not mediate family structure differences in family functioning. The effect of neighborhood cohesion on family functioning depended on family type such that the benefits of neighborhood cohesion for family functioning were magnified at high levels of neighborhood cohesion for both married and cohabiting households but had much less influence on family functioning within single-mother households.
All‐Cause Mortality and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity Revisited
Authors: Rich Jeremy , Raviv Ayelette , Raviv Nataly , Brietzke Scott E.
Published: June 2012

Objective

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a pervasive problem that affects millions worldwide. It is strongly linked to hypertension, coronary artery disease, and stroke. However, its association with mortality is not clearly quantified. A large database of patients who underwent sleep testing was explored for associations with all‐cause mortality.

Study Design

Database study.

Setting

Community‐based use of a portable sleep study device.

Subjects and Methods

More than 77,000 patients who underwent a validated, portable sleep study were matched to the Social Security Death File to establish mortality. Measures of OSAS severity and other confounding factors were correlated to all‐cause mortality using survival analysis with multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

As expected, increasing age (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.080; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.074‐1.086; P <. 0001), body mass index (HR, 1.042; 95% CI, 1.033‐1.051; P <. 0001), and male sex (HR, 1.378; 95% CI, 1.190‐1.595; P <. 001) were associated with increased all‐cause mortality. Epworth sleepiness score was also associated with mortality (HR, 1.015; 95% CI, 1.005‐1.025; P =. 002). Apnea‐hypopnea index (AHI) was not associated with mortality after adjustment for age (HR, 1.001; 95% CI, 0.998‐1.004; P =. 416). However, within 10‐year age subgroups, desaturation index (ages 41‐50 years; adjusted HR, 1.217; 95% CI, 1.014‐1.461; P =. 035), apnea index (ages 21‐30 years; HR, 1.632; 95% CI, 1.053‐2.532; P =. 028), and AHI (ages 31‐40 years; HR, 1.222; 95% CI, 1.010‐1.478; P =. 039) were significantly associated with all‐cause mortality in younger patients. In patients older than 50 years, age, sex, and body mass index were dominantly associated with mortality.

Conclusion

Increasing OSAS severity, measured by a validated home sleep test and quantified by AHI, the apnea index, and the desaturation index, is independently associated with modestly increased all‐cause mortality in patients younger than 50 years after adjustment for major confounding factors.
Green Algal Peritonitis in 2 Cows
Authors: Hafner S. , Brown C. C. , Zhang J.
Published: June 2012

Peritonitis due to infections with green algae was diagnosed at slaughter (in Texas and South Dakota) in 2 cows. One cow also had a generalized lymphadenitis. The intralesional green algae were histologically similar to those previously associated with bovine lymphadenitis. Amplified and sequenced algal ITS2 genes had higher homology with the genus Scenedesmus than with Chlorella.
The independent effects of environmental, social and governance initiatives on the performance of UK firms
Authors: Humphrey Jacquelyn E , Lee Darren D , Shen Yaokan
Published: June 2012

We investigate the effect of environmental, social and governance factors on the financial performance of UK firms. We examine the three factors separately to disentangle the relation of each with performance. We find no difference in the performance of firms with high or low environmental, social or governance rankings. The firms also do not differ in their systematic risks, book-to-market ratios or momentum exposures. However, high-rated firms are consistently larger. Our findings demonstrate that UK investors can incorporate environmental, social or governance criteria into their investment strategies without incurring any significant cost (or benefit) in terms of risk or return.
The market acceptance of corporate social responsibility: a comparison across six countries/regions
Authors: Bird Ron , Momenté Francesco , Reggiani Francesco
Published: June 2012

Information on the link between market performance and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities provides an indication of the extent of acceptance by investors of these types of activities. The nature of this relationship is of critical importance for management trying to reconcile the demands of the company’s shareholders with those of a much wider group of stakeholders and for investors pursuing a socially responsible investing strategy. Using an international database we investigate the extent to which expenditures on CSR activities are valued across market in six countries/regions. We find that CSR activities are highly valued by the investors in the European markets, where our findings clearly indicate that such activities lead to higher market valuations. In the US, Japan and Australia expenditures on CSR activities have a neutral impact on company valuation, which is still a good outcome for management who wish to incorporate into their decision process the objectives of a wide spectrum of stakeholders and for investors wishing to tilt their investments towards the more socially responsible companies.
Domestic Violence in Paris, 1775
Authors: Merrick Jeffrey
Published: June 2012

In 1775, 135 wives and 35 husbands filed complaints against their spouses with the Parisian commissioners of police. Most of the wives charged their husbands with verbal and physical violence, and a few of them initiated lawsuits for separation of property and/or persons. In those cases, the depositions of witnesses document conventional expectations about gendered roles in the household as well as the dynamics of communication, representation, and justification in the neighborhood. Against the background of debates about the use and abuse of royal authority in the decades preceding the Revolution, the complaints and lawsuits show that the traditional family/state model not only downplayed accountability in principle but also sanctioned accountability in practice.
PVA-based hybrid composites with luminescent properties for drug delivery
Authors: Simionescu Bogdan C. , Olaru Mihaela , Bordianu Irina , Ursu Cristian , Cotofana Corneliu
Published: June 2012

The aim of this study was to synthesize and characterize new poly(vinyl alcohol)s (PVAs) hybrid composites with or without a basic drug content, e.g., 2-[4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propanoic acid (ibuprofen), obtained at different pH values. Through sol-gel approach of chloropropyltriethoxysilane with a PVA precursor containing a fluorescent dye (lissamine rhodamine-B sulfonyl chloride), new hybrid materials with porous structures were obtained. Due to encapsulation in a porous network, the influence of rhodamine H-dimers on fluorescence quenching was negligible and the presence of free dye was exploited as a mechanism for anchoring the ibuprofen molecules through hydrogen bonding onto pore surfaces.
The performance of cyclones in producer gas cleaning: experimental and modeling studies
Authors: Parihar Amit Kumar Singh , Joshi Chandrashekhar , Sridhar G
Published: June 2012

This article discusses the cyclone performance using dust-laden combustible gas generated by the process of gasification. Unlike a conventional gas separation application, the input gas stream to the cyclone is hot and contains particulate matter in a wide range of sizes. In this study, two cyclone designs and their performances using theoretical and computational fluid dynamic models, supported by experimental work, have been discussed. The challenges faced with respect to measurement of particle size distribution and the particle shape have been identified and their effects on the cyclone performance analyzed.
Limit cycle walker push recovery based on a receding horizon control scheme
Authors: Fard Behnam Miripour , Bagheri Ahmad , Nariman-Zadeh Nader
Published: June 2012

The capability of limit cycle walking in external disturbance rejection is still a relatively unexplored field of study in comparison with zero moment point based walking, whereas the motions achievable by limit cycle walkers are highly efficient and natural looking. In this paper, a balance recovery controller is implemented for a limit cycle walker subjected to an impulsive push based on a receding horizon control scheme. The biped robot model is considered as an under-actuated hybrid planar system with five degrees of freedom having two actuators, which experiences an impulsive push event on its torso. The main idea of push recovery consists in the choice of particular trajectories for the directly controlled degrees of freedom, for which the dynamics of the indirectly controlled degrees of freedom (un-actuated coordinates) of the system tracks a desired trajectory. Particular trajectories are chosen based on a low dimensional online constrained optimization. A discrete-time feedback controller is implemented to track the obtained trajectory and control the whole system to sustain its stable cyclic walking after push. Several simulations have been done considering disturbances exerted during the walking. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the scheme in recovery of small and large pushes occurring in single and double support phases of walking.
The Use of Safety Plans With Children and Adolescents Living in Violent Families
Authors: Kress Victoria E. , Adamson Nicole A. , Paylo Matthew J. , DeMarco Carrie , Bradley Nicole
Published: June 2012

Counselors are regularly confronted with children and adolescents who reside in violent or potentially violent living environments. In this article, safety plans are presented as a tool that counselors can use to promote the safety of children living in unsafe family situations. Ethics-related counseling issues that should be considered when counseling children living in violent living homes are also discussed. A case example is provided to illuminate the presented concepts.
Measuring organizational learning from errors: Development and validation of an integrated model and questionnaire
Authors: Putz Daniel , Schilling Jan , Kluge Annette , Stangenberg Constanze
Published: June 2012

Errors are an inevitable by-product of human labour. Therefore, organizational learning from errors should be regarded as a strategic goal of HR development. Despite a large number of studies on organizational learning from errors, a thorough understanding of error-related learning processes at work is still missing. In the present article, we present the results of a literature review that was used to derive an integrated model of organizational learning processes in the consequence of errors and to develop the questionnaire to assess the error-related learning climate in organizations. The questionnaire was evaluated on a sample of 383 employees of two companies. Confirmatory factor analyses support the suggested structure of error-related learning climate. Further analyses stress the relevance of constructive error handling in organizations by revealing substantial links between error-related learning climate and the effectiveness of error learning, self-perceptions and error-related behaviours of team members, as well as group cohesion and certain aspects of team performance.
Stability of a single-layer graphene sheet with various edge conditions: a non-local plate model including interatomic potentials
Authors: Ansari Raza , Shahabodini Abolfazl , Alipour Atefeh , Rouhi Hessam
Published: June 2012

In this article, the biaxial buckling of a single layer graphene sheet is investigated. The model is established through the incorporation of an interatomic potential into non-local elastic plate theory to take into account the size effects and to circumvent the use of the Young’s modulus of a single layer graphene sheet since there is no accurate value of this property available in the literature. The model links the strain energy density induced in the continuum to Eringen’s non-local constitutive relations. By using the Galerkin method, explicit formulas for the critical buckling stresses of a single layer graphene sheet with arbitrary edge supports are derived from its static deflection due to a uniformly distributed load. The influences of the small size of the system and boundary conditions on the critical buckling load of the single layer graphene sheet are studied. It is found that the critical buckling load at large side lengths is almost independent of the type of boundary condition and compressive loading and is nearly immune to size effects. The analytical expressions provide a simple and quick way to evaluate accurate values of the critical buckling load. Indeed, the lack of complexity in the formulas allows a simple prediction of the value of the scale parameter that closely matches the one obtained using the complex molecular dynamics simulation technique.
Comparative proteome analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae: A global overview of in vivo targets of the yeast activator protein 1
Authors: Jun He , Kieselbach Thomas , Jönsson Leif J
Published: June 2012

Background

The activity of the yeast activator protein 1 (Yap1p) increases under stress conditions, which leads to enhanced transcription of a number of genes encoding protective enzymes or other proteins. To obtain a global overview of changes in expression of Yap1p-targeted proteins, we compared a Yap1p-overexpressing transformant with a control transformant by triplicate analysis of the proteome using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE). Proteins of interest were identified using MALDI-MS or LC-MS/MS.

Results

The relative quantities of 55 proteins were elevated significantly upon overexpression of Yap1p, and most of these proteins were found to have a Yap1p-binding site upstream of their coding sequences. Interestingly, the main metabolic enzymes in the glycolysis and pyruvate-ethanol pathways showed a significant increase in the Yap1p-overexpressing transformant. Moreover, a comparison of our proteome data with transcriptome data from the literature suggested which proteins were regulated at the level of the proteome, and which proteins were regulated at the level of the transcriptome. Eight proteins involved in stress response, including seven heat-shock and chaperone proteins, were significantly more abundant in the Yap1p-overexpressing transformant.

Conclusions

We have investigated the general protein composition in Yap1p-overexpressing S. cerevisiae using proteomic techniques, and quantified the changes in the expression of the potential Yap1p-targeted proteins. Identification of the potential Yap1p targets and analysis of their role in cellular processes not only give a global overview of the ubiquitous cellular changes elicited by Yap1p, but also provide the framework for understanding the mechanisms behind Yap1p-regulated stress response in yeast.
mGluR1,5 activation improves network asynchrony and GABAergic synapse attenuation in the amygdala: implication for anxiety-like behavior in DBA/2 mice
Authors: Zhang Fengyu , Liu Bei , Lei Zhuofan , Wang Jin-Hui
Published: June 2012

Anxiety is a prevalent psychological disorder, in which the atypical expression of certain genes and the abnormality of amygdala are involved. Intermediate processes between genetic defects and anxiety, pathophysiological characteristics of neural network, remain unclear. Using behavioral task, two-photon cellular imaging and electrophysiology, we studied the characteristics of neural networks in basolateral amygdala and the influences of metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) on their dynamics in DBA/2 mice showing anxiety-related genetic defects. Amygdala neurons in DBA/2 high anxiety mice express asynchronous activity and diverse excitability, and their GABAergic synapses demonstrate weak transmission, compared to those in low anxiety FVB/N mice. mGluR1,5 activation improves the anxiety-like behaviors of DBA/2 mice, synchronizes the activity of amygdala neurons and strengthens the transmission of GABAergic synapses. The activity asynchrony of amygdala neurons and the weakness of GABA synaptic transmission are associated with anxiety-like behavior.
Immune function genes CD99L2, JARID2 and TPO show association with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Ramos Paula S , Sajuthi Satria , Langefeld Carl D , Walker Stephen J
Published: June 2012

Background

A growing number of clinical and basic research studies have implicated immunological abnormalities as being associated with and potentially responsible for the cognitive and behavioral deficits seen in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) children. Here we test the hypothesis that immune-related gene loci are associated with ASD.

Findings

We identified 2,012 genes of known immune-function via Ingenuity Pathway Analysis. Family-based tests of association were computed on the 22,904 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the 2,012 immune-related genes on 1,510 trios available at the Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) repository. Several SNPs in immune-related genes remained statistically significantly associated with ASD after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Specifically, we observed significant associations in the CD99 molecule-like 2 region (CD99L2, rs11796490,P = 4.01 × 10-06, OR = 0.68 (0.58-0.80)), in the jumonji AT rich interactive domain 2 (JARID2) gene (rs13193457,P = 2.71 × 10-06, OR = 0.61 (0.49-0.75)), and in the thyroid peroxidase gene (TPO) (rs1514687,P = 5.72 × 10-06, OR = 1.46 (1.24-1.72)).

Conclusions

This study suggests that despite the lack of a general enrichment of SNPs in immune function genes in ASD children, several novel genes with known immune functions are associated with ASD.
Does spatial auto-correlation call for a revision of latest heavy metal and nitrogen deposition maps?
Authors: Schröder Winfried , Pesch Roland , Harmens Harry , Fagerli Hilde , Ilyin Ilia
Published: June 2012

Background

Within the framework of the Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution atmospheric depositions of heavy metals and nitrogen as well as critical loads/levels exceedances are mapped yearly with a spatial resolution of 50 km by 50 km. The maps rely on emission data and are calculated by use of atmospheric modelling techniques. For validation, EMEP monitoring data collected at up to 70 sites across Europe are used. This spatially sparse coverage gave reason to test if the chemical and physical relations between atmospheric depositions and their accumulation in mosses collected at up to 7000 sites throughout Europe can be quantified in terms of statistical correlations which, if proven, could be used to calculate deposition maps with a higher spatial resolution. Indeed, combining EMEP maps on atmospheric depositions of cadmium, lead and nitrogen and the related maps of their concentrations in mosses by use of a Regression Kriging approach yielded deposition maps with a spatial resolution of 5 km by 5 km. Since spatial auto-correlation can make testing of statistical inference too liberal, the investigation at hand was to validate the 5 km by 5 km deposition maps by analysing if spatial auto-correlation of both EMEP deposition data and moss data impacted on the significance of their statistical correlation and, thus, the validity of the deposition maps. To this end, two hypotheses were tested: 1. The data on deposition and concentrations in mosses of heavy metals and nitrogen are not spatially auto-correlated significantly. 2. The correlations between the deposition and moss data lack statistical significance due to spatial autocorrelation.

Results

As already published, the regression models corroborated significant correlations between the concentrations of heavy metals and nitrogen in atmospheric depositions on the one hand and respective concentrations in mosses on the other hand. This investigation proved that atmospheric deposition and bioaccumulation data are spatially auto-correlated significantly in terms of Moran’s I values and, thus, hypothesis 1 could be rejected. Accordingly, the degrees of freedom were reduced. Nevertheless, the results of the calculations regarding the reduced degrees of freedom indicate that the statistical relations between atmospheric depositions and bioaccumulations remained statistically significant so that hypothesis 2 could be rejected, too.

Conclusions

The positive auto-correlation in data on atmospheric deposition and bioaccumulation does not call for a revision of the 5 km by 5 km deposition maps published in recent papers. Therefore we can conclude that the European moss monitoring yields data that support the validation of modelling and mapping of atmospheric depositions of heavy metals and nitrogen at a high spatial resolution compared to the 50 km x 50 km EMEP maps.
Diabetes, Metformin, and Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Chlebowski Rowan T. , McTiernan Anne , Wactawski-Wende Jean , Manson JoAnn E. , Aragaki Aaron K. , Rohan Thomas , Ipp Eli , Kaklamani Virginia G. , Vitolins Mara , Wallace Robert , Gunter Marc , Phillips Lawrence S. , Strickler Howard , Margolis Karen , Euhus David M.
Published: June 2012

Purpose

Emerging evidence suggests that metformin may reduce breast cancer incidence, but reports are mixed and few provide information on tumor characteristics. Therefore, we assessed associations among diabetes, metformin use, and breast cancer in postmenopausal women participating in Women's Health Initiative clinical trials.

Patients and Methods

In all, 68,019 postmenopausal women, including 3,401 with diabetes at study entry, were observed over a mean of 11.8 years with 3,273 invasive breast cancers diagnosed. Diabetes incidence status was collected throughout follow-up, with medication information collected at baseline and years 1, 3, 6, and 9. Breast cancers were confirmed by review of central medical records and pathology reports. Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for breast cancer risk factors, compared breast cancer incidence in women with diabetes who were metformin users or nonusers with breast cancer incidence in women without diabetes.

Results

Compared with that in women without diabetes, breast cancer incidence in women with diabetes differed by diabetes medication type (P = .04). Women with diabetes receiving medications other than metformin had a slightly higher incidence of breast cancer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.16; 95% CI, 0.93 to 1.45), and women with diabetes who were given metformin had lower breast cancer incidence (HR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.57 to 0.99). The association was observed for cancers positive for both estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor and those that were negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2.

Conclusion

Metformin use in postmenopausal women with diabetes was associated with lower incidence of invasive breast cancer. These results can inform future studies evaluating metformin use in breast cancer management and prevention.
REVIEWS
Authors: Paffenroth Kim , Humphries Reynold
Published: June 2012

THE PHILOSOPHY OF HORROR, THOMAS FAHY (ED.) (2010) Lexington: The University Press of Kentucky, 272 pp., ISBN-10: 0813125731, ISBN-13: 978-0813125732 (hbk), £32.95

GEORGE A. ROMERO: INTERVIEWS, TONY WILLIAMS (ED.) (2011) Jackson, Mississippi: University Press of Mississippi,
187 pp., ISBN: 978-1-61703-029-1 (pbk), $25
‘Doggy’s Got Teeth … Lots of Teeth’: Representations of children and the canine in horror film and fiction
Authors: Steel Jayne
Published: June 2012

This article examines the various ways in which representations of children and their relationships with the canine (the dog or the wolf) are portrayed in contemporary horror film and fiction. The discussion suggests how these contemporary representations are influenced by former narratives
located in myth and fairy tale. Important issues concerning gender are debated, with the first part of the article interrogating representations of female children and the second part of the article interrogating representations of male children. The discussion includes close readings of several
key texts, including Little Red Riding Hood, The Lost Boys, The Omen and Cujo. These readings suggest how such narratives are often symptomatic of deep-seated, and often gendered, cultural anxieties that manifest clear moral warnings. Alternatively, representations of children and the canine
can be more ambiguous. While some representations seem to translate into a liberal humanist hope, or desire for, the existence of an altruistic or divine entity, a goodness that is inherent to the taming of an aberrant supernatural force, other representations might be symptomatic of the horror
that is threatened by the potential unleashing of an untamable human or inhuman, natural or supernatural, madness or disease that is endemic to modern culture and society.
Remake as erasure in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
Authors: Slade Andrew
Published: June 2012

Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) was remade as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) by Marcus Nispel. The remake erases the progressive critique of gender and family life in the United States that Hooper’s film screened and replaces that critique with a reactionary
vision of sex, gender and family in the United States of the early twenty-first century.
Podcasting in Spain: A new business model or a reflection of traditional radio?
Authors: Pérez J. Ignacio Gallego
Published: June 2012

In recent years, the launch of new diffusion technologies has changed the transmission and reception paradigm of traditional media. The podcast has arisen as a new way of distributing on-demand radio material and other related audible content on the Internet. This article discusses
the technology, consumption, copyright and new business models in relation to podcasting as a radio enterprise. The text specifically analyses Spanish public and private radio companies, in order to draw a picture of the relationship between podcasting and radio.
Concurrent Validity of Ages and Stages Questionnaires in Preterm Infants
Authors: Simard Marie-Noëlle , Luu Thuy Mai , Gosselin Julie
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND:

Although preterm infants born at 29 to 36 gestational weeks (GW) are at risk for developmental delay, they do not always benefit from systematic follow-up. Primary care physicians are then responsible for their developmental surveillance and need effective screening tests. This study aimed to determine whether the Ages and Stages Questionnaires (ASQ) at 12 and 24 months’ corrected age (CA) identify developmental delay in preterm infants.

METHODS:

With a cross-sectional design involving 2 observations at 12 and 24 months’ CA, 124 and 112 preterm infants were assessed. Infants were born between May 2004 and April 2006 at 29 to 36 GW. The ASQ and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development were used. Concurrent validity was calculated by using κ coefficient, sensitivity, and specificity.

RESULTS:

At 12 months’ CA, the ASQ did not perform well in identifying infants with mental delay (κ = 0.08–0.19; sensitivity = 0.20–0.60; specificity = 0.68–0.88). Agreement (κ = 0.28–0.44) and specificity (0.90–0.97) were better for the psychomotor scale, but the sensitivity remained insufficient (0.25–0.52). At 24 months, the ASQ had good sensitivity (0.75–0.92) and specificity (0.55–0.78) for detecting mental delays (κ = 0.45). Results remained unsatisfactory for detecting motor delays (sensitivity = 0.31–0.50; specificity = 0.73–0.92).

CONCLUSIONS:

Preterm infants with developmental delays at 12 months’ CA are not adequately identified with the ASQ. At 24 months’ CA, the ASQ identifies mental delays but not psychomotor delays. Additional measures should be used to increase yield of detecting at-risk preterm infants.
Global renewable energy trends and Hungary
Authors: Talamon A.
Published: June 2012

Policy support for renewable energy has increased considerably over the past decade. Two drivers underpin this trend: first, the effort to constrain growth in greenhouse-gas emissions and secondly, the concerns to diversify the supply mix (promoted particularly by high oil prices, especially in 2005–2008). To address these concerns, more and more governments are adopting targets and taking measures to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix. Worldwide, traditional and modern renewables together supplied 27% of total demand for heat, or 1059 Mtoe, in 2008. This increases to nearly 1400 Mtoe (1 Mtoe = 42 PJ) in 2035 in the New Policies Scenario, meeting 29% of total demand for heat. The share of modern renewables in total renewables for heat grows from 29% to 48%. This paper is a comparison analysis of the global and the Hungarian renewable energy trends.
Doc, I Don't Want Your Poison
Authors: Giorgi Francesca , Bascioni Romeo
Published: June 2012

This article discusses the importance of maintaining a trusting relationship with patients, even when they do not agree with the oncologist's proposed treatment regimen.
Failure envelope of artificially cemented sand
Authors: CONSOLI N.C. , CRUZ R.CABERLON , CONSOLI B.S. , MAGHOUS S.
Published: June 2012

The present research aims to quantify the influence of the amount of cement, the porosity and the porosity/cement ratio in the assessment of tensile strength and triaxial strength of an artificially cemented sand, as well as in the development of a failure criterion to represent the non-linear failure envelopes of the studied sand–cement mixtures.
Stability of oxide and sulfide phosphor thin films as the emitting layer of TFEL devices
Authors: Minami Tadatsugu , Kuroi Yoshihiro , Takata Shinzo
Published: June 2012

Abstract— EL characteristics of single‐insulating‐layer type TFEL devices with a Zn2SiO4: Mn or ZnGa2O4: Mn phosphor thin‐film emitting layer have been described in comparison with those of a ZnS:Mn TFEL device. Unsealed, these devices were life‐tested under room‐temperature operation in the atmosphere. Differences in the degradation mechanism and EL characteristics between the Mn‐activated sulfide and oxide phosphor emitting layers were observed. The oxide phosphor emitting layers were stable in comparison with the ZnS:Mn thin‐film emitting layer, for use in the atmosphere. It can be concluded that green‐emitting ZnGa2O4: Mn oxide phosphor is very stable for use as the emitting layer of TFEL devices.
The study of crystallinity of ZnS:TbOF thin films and green thin‐film electroluminescent devices with different stacked insulating layers
Authors: Su S. H. , Chen S. X. , Yokoyama M. , Su Y. K.
Published: June 2012

Abstract— In order to improve the characteristics of thin‐film electroluminescent (TFEL) devices, the dependence of crystallinity on deposition conditions of ZnS:TbOF thin films deposited by rf‐magnetron sputtering have been studied. The optimal deposition conditions obtained are: rf power density, 1.54 W/cm2; substrate temperature, 175°C; pressure, 5 mTorr; and sputtering gas, pure Ar. Several types of ZnS:TbOF green ACTFEL devices with different stacked insulating‐layer structures were prepared and compared. The ACTFEL device obtained with the superior structure is ITO/SiO2/Ta2O5/ZnS:TbOF/SiO2/Ta2O5/Al. This result suggests that a high‐resistivity dielectric can be used as the second insulating layer adjacent to the phosphor layer and can improve the luminous characteristics of ACTFEL devices in this study.
Thin conductive gallium‐doped zinc oxide grown by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Hirata G. A. , McKittrick J. , Lopez O. A. , Avalos‐Borja M.
Published: June 2012

Abstract— A new process to prepare ZnO:Ga thin conductive oxide (TCO) films with excellent optical and electrical properties is described in this work. The Ga‐doped ZnO targets used for thin‐film deposition were prepared from powder materials obtained with a novel ceramic processing technique (combustion synthesis). The deposition of the ZnO:Ga thin films was performed on glass at different substrate temperatures (150–300°C) in an ultra‐high‐vacuum laser ablation system. High transmittance (>85%) of light in the visible range and sheet resistance values as low as 18 Ω/□. were measured on films with thicknesses of 200 nm deposited on glass at 300°C. From optoelectronic measurements we observed a good gallium‐doping efficiency and a widening of the bandgap when varying the substrate temperature from 150 to 300°C, in good agreement with other work. X‐ray diffraction and high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy measurements revealed that the films grow preferentially oriented in the (002) crystallographic direction of the ZnO grains.
Luminescent oxide thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition
Authors: Hirata G. A. , McKittrick J. , Shea L. E. , Lopez O. A. , Avalos‐Borja M.
Published: June 2012

Abstract— Transparent photoluminescent ZnGa2O4 and Tb‐doped Y3Al5O12 (YAG:Tb) thin films were deposited on sapphire substrates at 300°C by laser ablation. The targets were made from ZnGa2O4 and YAG:Tb powders prepared with a novel ceramic processing technique (combustion synthesis). The deposition of the films was performed in ultrahigh vacuum with a KrF excimer laser (wavelength = 248 nm) with a fluence of 3.6 J/cm2 and a repetition rate of 30 Hz. X‐ray diffraction and Auger measurements taken on as‐deposited films indicated that the films were amorphous and showed a reduction in oxygen when compared to the bulk targets, and were not photoluminescent. Post‐annealing treatments in air for at least 1 hour in the range 800–1200°C induced crystallinity and recovered blue photoluminescence on ZnGa2O4 and green photoluminescence on YAG:Tb thin films, respectively.
The Challenge of Attribution: Responsibility for Population Health in the Context of Accountable Care
Authors: Gourevitch Marc N. , Cannell Thomas , Boufford Jo Ivey , Summers Cynthia
Published: June 2012

One of the 3 goals for accountable care organizations is to improve population health. This will require that accountable care organizations bridge the schism between clinical care and public health. But do health care delivery organizations and public health agencies share a concept of “population”? We think not: whereas delivery systems define populations in terms of persons receiving care, public health agencies typically measure health on the basis of geography. This creates an attribution problem, particularly in large urban centers, where multiple health care providers often serve any given neighborhood. We suggest potential innovations that could allow urban accountable care organizations to accept accountability, and rewards, for measurably improving population health.
2009 Pandemic Influenza A Vaccination of Pregnant Women—King County, Washington State, 2009–2010
Authors: Kay Meagan K. , Koelemay Kathryn G. , Kwan-Gett Tao Sheng , Cadwell Betsy L. , Duchin Jeffrey S.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. Our objectives were to estimate 2009 pandemic influenza A (pH1N1) vaccination coverage among pregnant women and identify associated factors.

Methods. We distributed a multimodal survey to 5341 women who gave birth between November 1, 2009, and January 31, 2010, identified by hospitals in King County, Washington State, with maternity services (n = 11).

Results. Of 4205 respondents, 3233 (76.9%) reported that they had received pH1N1 vaccine during pregnancy or within 2 weeks after delivery. Women whose prenatal care provider recommended vaccine had a higher vaccination prevalence than women whose provider did not (81.5% vs 29.6%; adjusted prevalence ratio = 2.1; 95% confidence interval = 1.72, 2.58). Vaccination prevalence was lower among women who had received prenatal care from a midwife only compared with women who had received care from other providers (62.9% vs 78.8%; adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.89; 95% confidence interval = 0.83, 0.96).

Conclusions. Among pregnant women in King County, pH1N1 vaccination coverage was high. To improve coverage during nonpandemic seasons, influenza vaccine should be recommended routinely by prenatal care providers and vaccination provided where prenatal care is received. Barriers to midwives providing vaccination recommendations to patients should be explored.
Assessing Integration of Clinical and Public Health Skills in Preventive Medicine Residencies: Using Competency Mapping
Authors: Wells Eden V. , Sarigiannis Amy N. , Boulton Matthew L.
Published: June 2012

Objectives. We evaluated the utility of a competency mapping process for assessing the integration of clinical and public health skills in a newly developed Community Health Center (CHC) rotation at the University of Michigan School of Public Health Preventive Medicine residency.

Methods. Learning objectives for the CHC rotation were derived from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core clinical preventive medicine competencies. CHC learning objectives were mapped to clinical preventive medicine competencies specific to the specialty of public health and general preventive medicine. Objectives were also mapped to The Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice’s tier 2 Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals.

Results. CHC learning objectives mapped to all 4 (100%) of the public health and general preventive medicine clinical preventive medicine competencies. CHC population-level learning objectives mapped to 32 (94%) of 34 competencies for public health professionals.

Conclusions. Utilizing competency mapping to assess clinical–public health integration in a new CHC rotation proved to be feasible and useful. Clinical preventive medicine learning objectives for a CHC rotation can also address public health competencies.
Integrating Clinical Practice and Public Health Surveillance Using Electronic Medical Record Systems
Authors: Klompas Michael , McVetta Jason , Lazarus Ross , Eggleston Emma , Haney Gillian , Kruskal Benjamin A. , Yih W. Katherine , Daly Patricia , Oppedisano Paul , Beagan Brianne , Lee Michael , Kirby Chaim , Heisey-Grove Dawn , DeMaria Alfred , Platt Richard
Published: June 2012

Electronic medical record (EMR) systems have rich potential to improve integration between primary care and the public health system at the point of care. EMRs make it possible for clinicians to contribute timely, clinically detailed surveillance data to public health practitioners without changing their existing workflows or incurring extra work. New surveillance systems can extract raw data from providers’ EMRs, analyze them for conditions of public health interest, and automatically communicate results to health departments. We describe a model EMR-based public health surveillance platform called Electronic Medical Record Support for Public Health (ESP). The ESP platform provides live, automated surveillance for notifiable diseases, influenza-like illness, and diabetes prevalence, care, and complications. Results are automatically transmitted to state health departments.
Influence of Lateral Variation of Permeability on Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage
Authors: Fattahi A. , Akhondzadeh H. , Zare A. R. , Derahman M. N. , Yunan M. H.
Published: June 2012

Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage (SAGD) is the dominant oil recovery method to extract heavy oil and bitumen in sandstone and tarsand in Canada. There are plenty of publications studying SAGD mechanism and the effects of some reservoir and operating parameters on this process. These factors mainly include steam injection rate and pressure, well placement, vertical and horizontal permeability, barriers, conductive fracture, porosity and pay zone thickness. According to authors literature review, there is not any published study to investigate the effect of lateral variation of vertical permeability on SAGD mechanism and performance. This paper is a numerical effort to study influence of lateral variation of vertical permeability on SAGD mechanism and performance. In this paper some types of lateral variation of vertical permeability are considered to examine their influence on the process.

Compared to uniform permeability case, the case with lower vertical permeability in parts far from the wells shows no change in oil recovery pattern. The case with lower vertical permeability near the wellbore region and the same vertical permeability in parts far from wells results in lower oil recovery till late time of process. Declined permeability to the given extent in middle region with the length of 30 m is the critical length longer which does not have any impact on the oil recovery. While the vertical permeability has considerable effects on oil recovery, associated horizontal permeability also has remarkable impact if happened in near wellbore region. Based on the results, it is concluded that in early time of the process that steam chamber propagates upward, convention has a very important role in heat transfer to reservoir, however, in late time that steam chamber moves sideways, conduction has also an important role in reservoir heating. This work has some evidences revealing the role of convention and conduction in reservoir heating in various steps of SAGD process.
Research on Improving Thermal Efficiency of SAGD Process
Authors: Gao Yongrong , Wang Hongyuan , Shen Dehuang , Guo Erpeng , Li Xiaoling , Zhou Jiuning
Published: June 2012

Through the use of high temperature and high pressure two-dimension physical simulation and numerical simulation technology, researches were carried out on the production mechanism of Gas-SAGD (Adding N2 in the process of SAGD-Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage) process, mainly including forming thermal insulating layer, reducing the heat loss in the overlying rocks, and improving thermal efficiency; effectively slowing down steam overlap velocity, and expanding the horizontal steam swept volume; reducing steam injection volume to improve economic benefits. It optimizes the nitrogen injection pattern, nitrogen steam ratio and effective nitrogen injection volume. Research results show that nitrogen assisted SAGD exploration technology has the feasibility to be used in Guantao oil reservoir of Du 84 block; it can promote steam chamber in sideways to increase available reserves and can extend SAGD production time and increase oil steam ratio and reservoir recovery factor.
Laboratory and Simulation Study of Optimized Water Additives for Improved Heavy Oil Recovery
Authors: Wang X. , Luo P. , Zhang Y. , Charkovskyy V. , Huang S.
Published: June 2012

This paper discusses a laboratory evaluation of the feasibility of different chemical flooding strategies and a simulation study to optimize the feasible strategies for a west-central Saskatchewan heavy oil reservoir. The integrated experimental approach was composed of oil/brine interfacial tension (IFT) measurements, polymer viscosity measurements, wetting tendency measurements, and sandpack coreflood tests. The experimental results showed that the equilibrium interfacial tension between reservoir oil and formation brine could be lowered to an ultralow level (0.05 mN/m) by adding a certain concentration of alkali and surfactant into the brine. The addition of alkali and surfactant caused the wettability characteristics in all tested systems to become oil-wet. All of the polymer solutions exhibited pseudo-plastic behaviour, i.e., the apparent viscosity decreased with increasing shear rate. A series of sandpack coreflood tests were carried out to investigate the recovery performance of alkali + surfactant, polymer, and alkali + surfactant + polymer (ASP) floods. Enhanced oil recoveries (from the chemical flood and extended waterflood) varied significantly from 0.71 to 14.65% OOIP. The coreflood results suggest that in enhanced waterflooding for recovering viscous heavy oil, mobility control by polymer is more important than IFT reduction by alkaline/surfactant. In the simulation study, the relative permeability curves were obtained through history matching. Then, as the sensitive operating parameters, the ASP slugs and polymer concentrations were tuned to show their effects on enhanced heavy oil recovery (EHOR). In summary, ASP flooding provides synergistic effects that can maximize the recovery performance.
Optimum Development Scenario of Heavy Oil Sandstone Reservoir with Gas Cap
Authors: Makkar Christine F. , Makkar Mariam F. , Makkar Nancy F.
Published: June 2012

There are several kinds of unconventional oil production and one of them is heavy oil production from sand reservoirs with initially gas cap. A gas cap near the top of a heavy oil formation is a rare occurrence; however, high gas saturation or desaturated ("air") zones may form as a result of natural depletion.

Heavy oil is increasingly being produced by steam injection, cyclic or continuous, and to a smaller extent, by in situ combustion. A gas cap would increase the tendency of the override of the injected steam or air, resulting in poor vertical sweep. These simplified pictures are complicated by the flow of heat from the gas zones, into the oil zone.

In reservoirs with initially gas cap, it is necessary to inject in the wells that produce excessive gas in order to conserve gas, maintains reservoir pressure, decrease the oil viscosity and thereby increase ultimate oil recovery. This method depends on steam flooding injection in the crest of reservoir and this will heat the reservoir through steam injection and thus decrease the oil viscosity and increase the gas cap size due to thermal vaporization of oil and increase the gravity drainage as well.

Using steam introduces more heat into the reservoir as it flows in the gas cap and helps in distributing the heat.

The field forecast does not examined cold production as there is an initially gas cap and any production without injection in this type of reservoir will consume the pressure support.

A numerical simulation study has been undertaken to explore the optimum method to develop heavy oil sandstone reservoir of 12.8 API with initially gas cap by using steam injection stimulation either by steam flooding and/or steam cycles. This is applied on a sector model of 1200 × 1200 m from the full field model (Fig. 1) utilize compositional, and thermal options. Different sensitivities have been examined such as well spacing, number of injectors and producers, various injection strategies, injection parameters, the duration of steam cyclic stimulation, and well type whether vertical or horizontal.
Integrated Production Chemistry Management Of The Schoonebeek Heavy Oil Redevelopment in the Netherlands: From Project to Start-Up and Steady State Production
Authors: Shepherd Andrew G. , Mcgregor Stuart , Trompert Ruud , Ubbels Sen , van de Gender Bob , van Ommen Theo , van der Knoop Sjoerd
Published: June 2012

This paper describes the production chemistry management process undertaken during the design, commissioning and start-up phases of the Schoonebeek redevelopment. Challenging separation issues, saline water, together with a multitude of other process conditions, resulted in complex, but robust application portfolio. This was established during the design stages of the project. Early involvement of the production chemistry discipline aided this process. Chemical selection was conducted in adherence to HSSE directives and focusing on unique produced fluid properties. Since start-up, the success of chemical performance has been due to the availability of chemical treatment programs and surveillance/sampling plans. No contingency chemicals have so far been needed at the facilities since start-up. Export oil and water key performance indicators have been for the majority of the time met. Further optimization of chemical applications is an ongoing process which will follow the life of the field.