bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct carbohydrate and lipid-based molecular patterns within lipopolysaccharides from Burkholderia cepacia contribute to defense-associated differential gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Madala Ntakadzeni E , Molinaro Antonio , Dubery Ian A
Published: July 2011

Lipopolysaccharides are structural components within the cell walls of Gram-negative bacteria. The LPSs as microbe-associated molecular pattern (MAMP) molecules can trigger defense-related responses involved in MAMP-triggered immunity and basal resistance in plants, presumably from an initial perception event. LPS from Burkholderia cepacia as well as two fragments, the glycolipid, lipid A and the polysaccharide (OPS-core) chain, were used to treat Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings to evaluate the eliciting activities of the individual LPS sub-domains by means of Annealing Control Primer-based Differential Display transcript profiling. Genes found to be up-regulated encode for proteins involved in signal perception and transduction, transcriptional regulation and defense – and stress responses. Furthermore, genes encoding proteins involved in chaperoning, secretion, protein–protein interactions and protein degradation were differentially expressed. It is concluded that intact LPS, as well as the two sub-components, induced the expression of a broad range of genes associated with perception and defense as well as metabolic reprogramming of cellular activities in support of immunity and basal resistance. Whilst the lipid A and OPS moieties were able to up-regulate sub-sets of defense-associated genes over the same spectrum of categories as intact LPS, the up-regulation observed with intact LPS was the more comprehensive, suggesting that the lipid A and glycan molecular patterns of the molecule act as partial agonists, but that the intact LPS structure is required for full agonist activity.
Impact of trandolapril therapy and its combination with a calcium channel blocker on plasma adiponectin levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension
Authors: Rubio-Guerra Alberto F. , Vargas-Robles Hilda , Vargas-Ayala German , Rodríguez-Lopez Leticia , Castro-Serna David , Escalante-Acosta Bruno A.
Published: July 2011

Introduction: Adiponectin is secreted from adipose tissue and exhibits a protective effect against cardiovascular disease; plasma adiponectin concentrations are decreased in type 2 diabetic and in hypertensive patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effect of trandolapril (T) and its fixed-dose combination with verapamil (FDTV) on adiponectin levels in hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: A total of 40 type 2 diabetic patients with never-treated hypertension were randomly assigned to two groups. One group received FDTV 180 mg + T 2 mg, once a day; the other group received T 2 mg once a day, administered for 3 months in both groups. Adiponectin was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) at the beginning and end of the study. Patients were evaluated monthly for blood pressure, fasting serum glucose and adverse events. Statistical analysis was performed with analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results: All patients experienced a significant reduction of blood pressure. Both therapeutics regimens increased the levels of adiponectin, However, FDTV produces a higher increase in the levels of the hormone (8.15 ± 4.6 to 10.96 ± 5.6 µg/ml) when compared with the T treatment (7.64 ± 3.8 to 8.92 ± 4.4 µg/ml), p < 0.05. None of the patients suffered adverse events.

Conclusion: Our results show that the addition of FDTV to T produced a greater increase on adiponectin levels than trandolapril alone.
A database system for decision support in low-volume electronics assembly
Authors: Segura Velandia D M , West A A , Conway P P
Published: July 2011

The development of accurate database systems is fundamental for the support of any software, especially in knowledge- and data-driven applications. The paper presents a database system developed to support an integrated modelling framework definition for printed circuit board (PCB) assembly that can provide decision support to business processes throughout the product and process life cycle. Specifically, by adopting an integrated modelling framework within the PCB assembly manufacturing, complete and realistic data information models were obtained and organized using a relational database management system implemented in Structured Query Language. This database system in turn supports a set of software applications implemented as part of a decision support framework, in this case known as CLOVES (Complex Low Volume Electronics Simulation). The underlying database is open, extensible, and has the ability to be configurable by original equipment manufacturers and contract electronics manufacturers to update their materials, processes, and rules. Integration to a company's enterprise resource planning system and its deployment in quality, simulation, and failure analyses call for the improvement of electronics manufacturing industry data-exchange practices.
Material removal process optimization for milling of flexible workpiece considering machining stability
Authors: Luo M , Zhang D H , Wu B H , Zhou X
Published: July 2011

The material removal process of a flexible workpiece has a great effect on the stability limits and chatter-free machining time, as the sequence of material removal can be altered to obtain a better workpiece dynamic behaviour. Therefore, the uncut material can be better designed to get chatter-free machining conditions and a shorter machining time. With this as the objective, a material removal process optimization method is presented to design the uncut material distribution. Different from existing methods, the presented approach begins from the last machining step, the maximum stable cutting depth is calculated, and the removed material is virtually added to the design model. Therefore, beginning from the design part, the material is virtually added to the part and the stock model of the part is finally obtained. Based on this approach, the optimized uncut material can provide support for the part in the semi-finish or finish machining processes, and the machining process is stable. Optimization results show that while machining plate-like structures, step removal methods can be used and the arc or triangle shape machining allowance can be used to get better machining results. Cutting experiments were carried out to show the effectiveness of the presented approaches.
Activity Limitations and Healthcare Access as Correlates of Frequent Mental Distress in Adults 65 Years and Older
Authors: Segev Zuzana , Arif Ahmed A. , Rohrer James E.
Published: July 2011

Objectives: Poor mental health is a major source of distress, disability, and social burden in older adults. The objective of this study was to determine if activity limitation and healthcare access are associated with frequent mental distress (FMD) in adults 65 years and older. Methods: Of the 123 427 study participants aged 65 years or older, 120 445 participants responded to the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey question on number of mentally unhealthy days. Participants who reported having 14 or more mentally unhealthy days during the past 30 days were considered as having FMD. Activity limitation, avoidance of medical care due to cost, and availability of personal doctor were examined for their association with FMD in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Age, sex, race/ethnicity, marital and employment status, emotional support, and life satisfaction were included as potential confounders. Results: The prevalence of FMD in this study population was 6.5% (95% CI = 6.3-6.8) with estimates significantly greater among women (7.2%, 95% CI = 6.9-7.6) as compared to men (5.5%, 95% CI = 5.1-6.0). The odds of FMD were more than 2-fold elevated for those who reported activity limitations due to physical, mental, or emotional problems (adjusted OR = 2.59, 95% CI = 2.33-2.87), and among those who reported health care cost as a barrier to see a doctor (adjusted OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.75-2.61). There was no significant relationship between availability of personal doctor and FMD observed in the study. Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that activity limitation and cost of medical care are associated with FMD in the US elderly population.
Improved treatment response to dornase alfa in cystic fibrosis patients using controlled inhalation
Authors: Bakker E.M. , Volpi S. , Salonini E. , van der Wiel-Kooij E.C. , Sintnicolaas C.J.J.C.M. , Hop W.C.J. , Assael B.M. , Merkus P.J.F.M. , Tiddens H.A.W.M.
Published: July 2011

Better treatment of obstructed small airways is needed in cystic fibrosis. This study investigated whether efficient deposition of dornase alfa in the small airways improves small airway obstruction.

In a multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled clinical trial, cystic fibrosis patients on maintenance treatment with 2.5 mL dornase alfa once daily were switched to a smart nebuliser and randomised to small airway deposition (n=24) or large airway deposition (n=25) for 4 weeks. The primary outcome parameter was forced expiratory flow at 75% of forced vital capacity (FEF75%).

FEF75%increased significantly by 0.7sd(5.2% predicted) in the large airways group and 1.2sd(8.8% pred) in the small airways group. Intention-to-treat analysis did not show a significant difference in treatment effect between groups. Per-protocol analysis, excluding patients not completing the trial or with adherence <70%, showed a trend (p=0.06) in FEF75%Z-score and a significant difference (p=0.04) between groups in absolute FEF75%(L·s−1) favouring small airway deposition.

Improved delivery of dornase alfa using a smart nebuliser that aids patients in correct inhalation technique resulted in significant improvement of FEF75%in children with stable cystic fibrosis. Adherent children showed a larger treatment response for small airway deposition.
The association between resting and mild-to-moderate exercise pulmonary artery pressure
Authors: Whyte K. , Hoette S. , Herve P. , Montani D. , Jaïs X. , Parent F. , Savale L. , Natali D. , O'Callaghan D.S. , Garcia G. , Sitbon O. , Simonneau G. , Humbert M. , Chemla D.
Published: July 2011

The mean pulmonary artery pressure (P̄pa) achieved on mild-to-moderate exercise is age related and its haemodynamic correlates remain to be documented in patients free of pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Our retrospective study involved patients free of PH investigated in our centre for possible pulmonary vascular disease between January 1, 2007 and October 31, 2009 who underwent right heart catheterisation at rest and during supine exercise up to 60 W. The 38 out of 99 patients aged <50 yrs were included and aP̄paof 30 mmHg was considered the upper limit of normal on exercise.

The 24 subjects who developedP̄pa>30 mmHg on exercise had higher restingP̄pa(19±3versus15±4 mmHg) and indexed pulmonary vascular resistance (PVRi; 3.4±1.5versus2.2±1.1 WU·m2; p<0.05) than the remaining 14 subjects. RestingP̄pa>15 mmHg predicted exerciseP̄pa>30 mmHg with 88% sensitivity and 57% specificity. The eight patients with restingP̄pa22–24 mmHg all had exerciseP̄pa>30 mmHg.

In subjects aged <50 yrs investigated for possible pulmonary vascular disease and free of PH, patients with mild-to-moderate exerciseP̄pa>30 mmHg had higher resting PVRi and higher restingP̄pa, although there was no restingP̄pathreshold value that could predict normal response on mild-to-moderate exercise. The clinical relevance of such findings deserves further long-term follow-up studies.
Pulmonary fibrosis is associated with an elevated risk of thromboembolic disease
Authors: Sprunger D.B. , Olson A.L. , Huie T.J. , Fernandez-Perez E.R. , Fischer A. , Solomon J.J. , Brown K.K. , Swigris J.J.
Published: July 2011

Recent epidemiological studies have suggested an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in lung fibrosis. Large-scale epidemiological data regarding the risk of VTE in pulmonary fibrosis-associated mortality have not been published.

Using data from the National Center for Health Statistics from 1988–2007, we determined the risk of VTE in decedents with pulmonary fibrosis in the USA.

We analysed 46,450,489 records, of which 218,991 met our criteria for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Among these, 3,815 (1.74%) records also contained a diagnostic code for VTE. The risk of VTE in pulmonary fibrosis decedents was 34% higher than in the background population, and 44% and 54% greater than among decedents with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer, respectively. Those with VTE and pulmonary fibrosis died at a younger age than those with pulmonary fibrosis alone (females: 74.3versus77.4 yrs (p<0.0001); males: 72.0versus74.4 yrs (p<0.0001)).

Decedents with pulmonary fibrosis had a significantly greater risk of VTE. Those with VTE and pulmonary fibrosis died at a younger age than those with pulmonary fibrosis alone. These data suggest a link between a pro-fibrotic and a pro-coagulant state.
Strategies of muscle training in very severe COPD patients: Figure 1–
Authors: Vogiatzis I.
Published: July 2011

There is strong evidence that exercise training, constituting the cornerstone of pulmonary rehabilitation, improves exercise tolerance, dyspnoea sensations, functional capacity and quality of life in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, intolerable sensations of breathlessness and/or peripheral muscle discomfort may prevent such patients from tolerating high-intensity exercise levels for sufficiently long periods of time to obtain true physiological training effects.

Accordingly, the major issue that arises is the selection of the appropriate training strategy, which is tailored to the cardiovascular, pulmonary and peripheral muscle limitations of the individual patient and is aimed at maximising the effect of exercise conditioning.

Within this context, the present article explores the application of strategies that optimise exercise tolerance by reducing dyspnoea sensations, namely noninvasive mechanical ventilation, oxygen and/or heliox supplementation. Administration of heliox or oxygen during exercise also increases peripheral muscle oxygen delivery, thereby delaying the onset of peripheral muscle fatigue. Particular emphasis is also given to interval exercise and resistance-muscle training as both modalities allow the application of intense loads on peripheral muscles with tolerable levels of dyspnoea sensations.

In patients with profound muscle weakness and intense breathlessness upon physical exertion, execution of short bouts of interval or local muscle strength conditioning, along with oxygen breathing, may constitute a feasible and effective approach to pulmonary rehabilitation.
Diagnosis of CTEPHversusIPAH using capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients
Authors: Scheidl S.J. , Englisch C. , Kovacs G. , Reichenberger F. , Schulz R. , Breithecker A. , Ghofrani H-A. , Seeger W. , Olschewski H.
Published: July 2011

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) represents an important differential diagnosis to idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We hypothesised that the capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradient at rest and during exercise might help differentiate CTEPH from IPAH.

Patients who presented with unequivocal IPAH or CTEPH according to ventilation/perfusion scanning, pulmonary angiography, computed tomography and right heart catheterisation were included in this retrospective study and compared with healthy controls.

21 IPAH patients and 16 CTEPH patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Haemodynamics and peak oxygen uptake were comparable, but respiratory rates at rest and during exercise were significantly higher in CTEPH than in IPAH. End-tidal carbon dioxide was significantly lower in CTEPHversusIPAH at rest and during exercise, while capillary carbon dioxide values were similar. Correspondingly, capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients were significantly increased in CTEPHversusIPAH at rest and during exercise (median (range) 8.6 (3.0–13.7)versus4.4 (0.9–9.0) (p<0.001) and 9.3 (3.3–13.1)versus4.1 (0.0–8.8) mmHg (p<0.001), respectively). Although these values were closer to normal in IPAH they were still significantly elevated compared with healthy controls (2.3 (-4.8–8.1) and -1.9 (-5.7–6.2) mmHg, respectively).

Capillary to end-tidal carbon dioxide gradients may help to distinguish CTEPH from IPAH based on resting and exercise values.
Parenchymal trafficking of pleural mesothelial cells in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Mubarak K.K. , Montes-Worboys A. , Regev D. , Nasreen N. , Mohammed K.A. , Faruqi I. , Hensel E. , Baz M.A. , Akindipe O.A. , Fernandez-Bussy S. , Nathan S.D. , Antony V.B.
Published: July 2011

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterised by myofibroblast proliferation leading to architectural destruction. Neither the origin nor the continued proliferation of myofibroblasts is well understood.

Explanted human IPF lungs were stained by immunohistochemistry for calretinin, a marker of pleural mesothelial cells (PMCs). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis (CF) lungs acted as controls. The number of PMCs per 100 nucleated cells and per photomicrograph was estimated along with the Ashcroft score of fibrosis. Mouse PMCs expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) or labelled with nanoparticles were injected into the pleural space of mice given intranasal transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. Mouse lungs were lavaged and examined for the presence of GFP, smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA) and calretinin.

Calretinin-positive PMCs were found throughout IPF lungs, but not in COPD or CF lungs. The number of PMCs correlated with the Ashcroft score. In mice, nanoparticle-laden PMCs were recoverable by bronchoalveolar lavage, depending on the TGF-β1 dose. Fluorescent staining showed α-SMA expression in GFP-expressing PMCs, with co-localisation of GFP and α-SMA.

PMCs can traffic through the lung and show myofibroblast phenotypic markers. PMCs are present in IPF lungs, and their number correlates with IPF severity. Since IPF presumably begins subpleurally, PMCs could play a pathogenetic roleviamesothelial–mesenchymal transition.
A comprehensive characterization of the caspase gene family in insects from the order Lepidoptera
Authors: Courtiade Juliette , Pauchet Yannick , Vogel Heiko , Heckel David G
Published: July 2011

Background

The cell suicide pathway of apoptosis is a necessary event in the life of multicellular organisms. It is involved in many biological processes ranging from development to the immune response. Evolutionarily conserved proteases, called caspases, play a central role in regulating apoptosis. Reception of death stimuli triggers the activation of initiator caspases, which in turn activate the effector caspases. In Lepidoptera, apoptosis is crucial in processes such as metamorphosis or defending against baculovirus infection. The discovery of p35, a baculovirus protein inhibiting caspase activity, has led to the characterization of the first lepidopteran caspase, Sf-Caspase-1. Studies on Sf-Caspase-1 mode of activation suggested that apoptosis in Lepidoptera requires a cascade of caspase activation, as demonstrated in many other species.

Results

In order to get insights into this gene family in Lepidoptera, we performed an extensive survey of lepidopteran-derived EST datasets. We identified 66 sequences distributed among 27 species encoding putative caspases. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Lepidoptera possess at least 5 caspases, for which we propose a unified nomenclature. According to homology to theirDrosophilacounterparts and their primary structure, we determined that Lep-Caspase-1, -2 and -3 are putative effector caspases, whereas Lep-Caspase-5 and -6 are putative initiators. The likely function of Lep-Caspase-4 remains unclear. Lep-Caspase-2 is absent from the silkworm genome and appears to be noctuid-specific, and to have arisen from a tandem duplication of the Caspase-1 gene. In the tobacco hawkmoth, 3 distinct transcripts encoding putative Caspase-4 were identified, suggesting at least 2 duplication events in this species.

Conclusions

The basic repertoire of five major types of caspases shared among Lepidoptera seems to be smaller than for most other groups studied to date, but gene duplication still plays a role in lineage-specific increases in diversity, just as in Diptera and mammals.
Phylogenetic analysis consistent with a clinical history of sexual transmission of HIV-1 from a single donor reveals transmission of highly distinct variants
Authors: English Suzanne , Katzourakis Aris , Bonsall David , Flanagan Peter , Duda Anna , Fidler Sarah , Weber Jonathan , McClure Myra ,   SPARTAC Trial Investigators, Phillips Rodney , Frater John
Published: July 2011

Background

To combat the pandemic of human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1), a successful vaccine will need to cope with the variability of transmissible viruses. Human hosts infected with HIV-1 potentially harbour many viral variants but very little is known about viruses that are likely to be transmitted, or even if there are viral characteristics that predict enhanced transmissionin vivo. We show for the first time that genetic divergence consistent with a single transmission eventin vivocan represent several years of pre-transmission evolution.

Results

We describe a highly unusual case consistent with a single donor transmitting highly related but distinct HIV-1 variants to two individuals on the same evening. We confirm that the clustering of viral genetic sequences, present within each recipient, is consistent with the history of a single donor across the viralenv, gagandpolgenes by maximum likelihood and Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo based phylogenetic analyses. Based on an uncorrelated, lognormal relaxed clock ofenvgene evolution calibrated with other datasets, the time since the most recent common ancestor is estimated as 2.86 years prior to transmission (95% confidence interval 1.28 to 4.54 years).

Conclusion

Our results show that an effective design for a preventative vaccine will need to anticipate extensive HIV-1 diversity within an individual donor as well as diversity at the population level.
Recombinant immunotoxin anti-c-Met/PE38KDEL inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of gastric cancer cells
Authors: Wei Xu , Juan Zhu Xiao , Min Feng Xiao , Nan Cai , Hua Zhang Xiu , Qing Feng Zheng , Zheng Liu
Published: July 2011

Background

Our study aims to evaluate the anti-growth effects of recombinant immunotoxin (IT) anti-c-Met/PE38KDEL on gastric cancer cells, and its mechnisms.

Methods

Gastric cancer cells were treated with increasing doses of IT and c-Met protein was quantified by Western blotting. Cell proliferation was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay (CCK). [3H]-leucine incorporation assay was used to evaluate IT inhibition of protein synthesis. Cell apoptosis was quantified by flow cytometry. Caspase activities were measured using colorimetric protease assays.

Results

Cell growth and protein synthesis of the gastric cancer cell lines were suppressed by IT in a dose- and time-dependent manner. IT also induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptosis rates of gastric cancer cell lines MKN-45 and SGC7901 were 19.19% and 27.37%, respectively when treated with 50 ng/ml of IT. There were significant increase ofcaspase-3 activity at 24 hr of IT treatment (100 ng/ml) (P < 0.01) in these gastric cancer cell lines.

Conclusions

IT anti-c-Met/PE38KDEL has anti-growth effects on the gastric cancer cell lines in vitro, and it provides an experimental basis for c-Met-targeted therapy towards in vivo testing.
Metagenomic analysis of bacterial infections by means of high-throughput DNA sequencing
Authors: Nakamura Shota , Nakaya Takaaki , Iida Tetsuya
Published: July 2011

DNA sequencing technology has undergone a remarkable and continuous improvement in recent years. The so-called ‘high-throughput DNA sequencers’ can determine hundreds of megabases of DNA sequences per run. We have been applying these new sequencers to the analysis of infectious diseases, especially bacterial infections. We review the efficacy of these sequencers, mainly based on our own experiences. The approach described here can be viewed as a metagenomic analysis of infectious diseases. The approach is in principle a method that does not depend on the type of target pathogens, so that it is possible to analyze various microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites, with a single common protocol. Applying this novel approach to cases in which infectious diseases are suspected because of environmental evidence, but the causative agent has not been indentified, may lead to the discovery of unknown, novel pathogens. Also, the approach enables us to conduct an unbiased analysis of dynamics of the pathogen and associated microbiota in human specimens during the course of infectious diseases.
The role of climate variability and change in the transmission dynamics and geographic distribution of dengue
Authors: Thai Khoa T D , Anders Katherine L
Published: July 2011

The mounting evidence for anthropogenic changes in global climate raises many pressing questions about the potential effects on biological systems, and in particular the transmission of infectious diseases. Vector-borne diseases, such as dengue, may be particularly sensitive to both periodic fluctuations and sustained changes in global and local climates, because vector biology and viral replication are temperature- and moisture-dependent. This paper reviews the current state of knowledge on the associations between climate variability, climate change and dengue transmission, and the tools being used to quantify these associations. The underlying causes of dengue's recent global expansion are multifactorial and poorly understood, but climatic factors should be considered within the context of the sociodemographic, economic and immunological determinants that have contributed to dengue's spread. These factors may mediate the direct effects of climate on dengue and many may operate at a very local level. Translating theoretical models of dengue transmission based on historical data into predictive models that can inform public health interventions is a critical next step and efforts should be focused on developing and refining models at smaller spatial scales to characterize the relationships between both climatic and non-climatic factors and dengue risk.
Emerging and neglected tropical diseases: translational application of proteomics
Authors: Denman Britta , Goodman Steven R
Published: July 2011

The challenges of identifying and controlling emerging diseases impact individual health, as well as political, social and economic situations. In this review we discuss the role of proteomics for investigation of pathogen discovery, outbreak investigation, bio-defense, disease control, host–pathogen dynamics and vaccine development of emerging and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). In the future the discipline of proteomics may help define multiple aspects of emerging and NTDs with respect to personalized medicine and public health.
Diagenetic Factors Controlling Reservoir Quality in the Faraghan Formation (Lower Permian), Darang Field, Southern Iran
Authors: Zamanzadeh Seyed Mohammad , Mirzaei Saeid , Abadi Mehrdad Sardar , Poosti Mohammad
Published: July 2011

The role of diagenesis in affecting (reduction or enhancement) reservoir quality in the Faraghan Formation in Darang #1 well was investigated. The Faraghan Formation is mainly composed of sandstone facies along with minor mudstone and siltstone and grades upward into mixed carbonate –siliciclastic facies and then to Dalan Formation carbonates. Depositional environment of this formation comprises various sub-environments of a delta setting in the lower part of the formation which grades upward into a shallow marine clastic environment in the upper part. The processes enhancing reservoir quality include dissolution of carbonate grains and cements and alteration of feldspar grains. Burial history diagram shows that after deposition during Lower Permain, the formation underwent a rapid burial up to 1000 meters below sea level in Upper Permian. Then a slight uplift (about 100 meters) and gradual burial followed up to Mid-Jurassic. Afterwards the formation experienced a series of rapid and moderate uplift from Mid-Jurassic to Tertiary when the formation uplifted to around 2500 meters above sea level. The suitable conditions resulting in dissolution took place in shallow buried sandstones. These conditions occurred two times during burial history: at the early stages of eodiagenesis and during telodiagenesis. The major processes deteriorating reservoir quality include compaction and cementation. Major cement types include carbonate cements (dolomite, siderite), clay cements (kaolinite, sericite, chlorite), silica cement and pyrite cement. The most abundant cement is the carbonate cement especially dolomite. The dolomite cement occurs as intergranular and poikilotopic forms. The most frequent clay cement is sericite which dominates in sitstones and lithicarenites. Silica cement, where present, fills all the pore spaces. The least frequent cement type is pyrite which is found in two forms of poikilotopic and framboidal. Where it is found in the form of poikilotopic cement, it massively fills the pore spaces and deteriorates the porosity and permeability of the sandstones.
Characteristics of Triassic Marine Source Rocks and Prediction of Favorable Source Kitchens in Qiangtang Basin, Tibet
Authors: Ding Wenlong , Wan Huan , Su Aiguo , He Zhonghua
Published: July 2011

Qiangtang Basin is an important exploration target in Tibetan area that was conducted little exploration and research before this study. Xiaochaka Formation is major source rocks in Upper Triassic, Mesozoic in the basin. According to the evaluation standard of source rocks established specially in this basin, the occurrence features of this formation in different structural units was analyzed comprehensively and then the favorable source kitchens were predicted on the aspects of its sedimentary environment, thickness and organic geochemical characteristics. The work was conducted on the samples from many geological profiles in field survey routes and the analytical data on organic carbon, maceral, rock pyrolysis, vitrinite and bitumen reflectance, and carbon isotopes, etc. The conclusions are as follows: firstly, the organic matter abundance of limestone and mudstone in Xiaochaka Formation is high so that they belong to medium-good source rocks; however, the actual areal division of their distribution shows by the fact that the values are variable in different areas; this formation mainly distributes in the middle part of Southern Qiangtang Basin with mainly IIB organic matter type and high maturity; limestone is slightly better than mudstone in organic matter type, but smaller in the favorable source kitchens. All the above-mentioned research has an important reference meaning for the further determination of major source rocks, resource evaluation and exploration prospect on oil and gas.
Fully Mechanized Coal Mining Technology for Thin Coal Seam under Complicated Geological Conditions
Authors: Wang Guimei , Jiao Shanlin , Cheng Guangxing
Published: July 2011

In view of the present situations and existing problems of thin coal seam mining under complex geological conditions, low-profile mining equipment for fully mechanized coal mining was developed. This paper presents the study on the development of the equipment. The low-profile mining machinery includes the shearer, the scraper conveyer, the hydraulic powered supports and others. A highly efficient cutting system with a high-power mechanical drive was utilized to improve the rock breaking capacity. The ultrahigh-temperature laser cladding technology was applied in the cutting equipment for wear-resisting sparkless coal and rocks excavating, suitable for highly gassy mines. The lead-angle friction theory and the side-pushing principle of angled panel forward movement were applied in the development of the moldboard coal-loading equipment. This development successfully achieved a coal-loading rate of over 98% and ensured smooth movement of the scrapper. Automation was implemented with electro-hydraulic technology and shearer remote control technology in main coal mining operations such as the movement of hydraulic support and conveyor. The automation enabled fast mining operations following the rapid movement of the cutting machinery. Furthermore, advanced computer simulations and optimizations were conducted to achieve optimal structural designs of the hydraulic powered supports. With the above development of low-profile mining equipment, fully mechanized mining of thin coal seams under the complex geological conditions was achieved. The development equipment has great potential to be widely applied in coal mines with similar conditions.
Petrographic Characteristics and Depositional Environment of the No. 9 Coal (Pennsylvanian) from the Anjialing Mine, Ningwu Coalfield, China
Authors: Lin Mingyue , Tian Lei
Published: July 2011

18 coal samples of Coal Seam 9 were taken from the Anjialing Coal Mine, Ningwu Coalfield, Shanxi Province, and were analysed by microscopic method. The results indicate that the macerals are dominated by vitrinite in Seam 9. Six maceral indicies were selected as indicators of peat-forming environments. One diagram is drawn based on the indicators in order to explicate the peat-forming environments of Carboniferous Seam 9. The results indicate that the peat of Carboniferous Seam 9 formed dominantly in the wet swamps and open moors.
Gray Correlation Degree Analysis of Controlling Factors on Coal Deformation
Authors: Wang Qingwei , Liu Gaofeng , Wang Xiaobo
Published: July 2011

Research on control factors of coal deformation has great significance in guiding coal resource assessment and coal mining exploitation, prediction of coal gas outburst, evaluation on coalbed methane producibility. The deformation of coal and coal measure is controlled by the rock mass structures. This paper try to probes into the mechanism of coal deformation by theories and methods of rock mechanics and other new subjects, meanwhile, the effect degree of controlling factors on coal deformation are quantized. The conclusions have been verified by comparing the calculation results in several mining districts with different types. The results show that the factors which effect the coal deformation are the thickness of coal seam, the thickness of brittle and ductility rock stratum at a certain layer of coal seam roof and floor and the lithology of roof and floor of coal bed.
Single Cavity Trapped Vortex Combustor Dynamics – Part-1: Experiments
Authors: Singhal Atul , Ravikrishna R. V.
Published: July 2011

In the present work, a water-cooled, modular, atmospheric pressure Trapped Vortex Combustor (TVC) test rig is designed and fabricated for reacting and non-reacting flow experiments. The unique features of this rig consist of a continuously variable length-to-depth ratio (L/D) of the cavity and optical access through quartz plates provided on three sides for visualization. Flame stabilization in the single cavity TVC was successfully achieved with methane as fuel and the range of flow conditions for stable operation were identified. From these, a few cases were selected for detailed experimentation. Reacting flow experiments for the selected cases indicated that reducing L/D ratio and increasing cavity-air velocity favour stable combustion. The pressure drop across the single cavity TVC is observed to be lower as compared to conventional combustors. Temperatures are measured at the exit using thermocouples and corrected for radiative losses. Species concentrations are measured at the exit using an exhaust gas analyzer. The combustion efficiency is observed to be around 97-99 % and the pattern factor is observed to be in the range of 0.08 to 0.13. High-speed imaging made possible by the optical access indicates that the overall combustion is fairly steady, and there is no vortex shedding downstream.
Definition of the hydrogen bond (IUPAC Recommendations 2011)
Authors: Arunan Elangannan , Desiraju Gautam R. , Klein Roger A. , Sadlej Joanna , Scheiner Steve , Alkorta Ibon , Clary David C. , Crabtree Robert H. , Dannenberg Joseph J. , Hobza Pavel , Kjaergaard Henrik G. , Legon Anthony C. , Mennucci Benedetta , Nesbitt David J.
Published: July 2011

A novel definition for the hydrogen bond is recommended here. It takes into account the theoretical and experimental knowledge acquired over the past century. This definition insists on some evidence. Six criteria are listed that could be used as evidence for the presence of a hydrogen bond.
X-ray scattering and microtomography study on the structural changes of never-dried silver birch, European aspen and hybrid aspen during drying
Authors: Leppänen Kirsi , Bjurhager Ingela , Peura Marko , Kallonen Aki , Suuronen Jussi-Petteri , Penttilä Paavo , Love Jonathan , Fagerstedt Kurt , Serimaa Ritva
Published: July 2011

The impact of drying on the structure of the never-dried hardwood cell wall was studied at nanometer level by means of wide- and small-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS, SAXS), and at micrometer level by X-ray microtomography (μCT). Never-dried silver birch, European aspen and hybrid aspen samples were measured by WAXSin situduring drying in air. The samples included juvenile and mature wood, as well as normal and tension wood to allow comparison of the effects of different matrix compositions and microfibril angles. The deformations of cellulose crystallites and amorphous components of the cell wall were detected as changes in the cellulose reflections200and004and amorphous halo in the WAXS patterns. Especially, the width of the reflection004,corresponding to the cellulose chain direction, increased due to drying in all the samples, indicating an increase of strain and disorder of the chains. Also, the cellulose unit cell shrank 0.2–0.3% during drying in this direction in all the samples except in hybrid aspen tension wood. According to the SAXS results of silver birch, the distance between micro-fibrils decreased during drying. It was detected by μCT that the mean cross-sectional maximum width of the parenchymatous rays decreased from that of never-dried to air-dried birch by roughly 16%.
Study of stilbene and resin acid content of Scots pine heartwood by electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS)
Authors: Tomppo Laura , Tiitta Markku , Laakso Tapio , Harju Anni , Venäläinen Martti , Lappalainen Reijo
Published: July 2011

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) heartwood samples were measured with electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) at frequency range 1 Hz–10 MHz in green and relative humidity (RH) 65% conditioned moisture content (MC) after oven-drying. Complex impedance parameters were studied in relation to the density, moisture, resin acid and stilbene contents. The measurements were conducted in tangential (T) and longitudinal (L) directions with 36 samples in each analysis. For green MC, there were significant correlations between impedance phase angle and contents of stilbenes and resin acids at frequencies below 400 Hz. For the resin acid content, the strongest correlation with phase-angleT was -0.45 (P<0.01) at 100 Hz. Impedance magnitude correlated significantly with MC throughout the frequency range, e.g., at 10 kHz, r was -0.71 (P<0.001) for L-direction. In moisture conditioned state, the correlation between stilbenes and T-measured phase angle was strongest at 250 Hz, (r=-0.56, P<0.001). Equivalent circuit model of two ZARC-Cole elements in series was fitted for the measurements in green MC. Several model parameters correlated with MC (e.g., R1, L r=-0.64, P<0.001), but only one parameter correlated weakly with stilbene content (R2, T r=0.35, P<0.05). The study shows that EIS has a potential for independent determination of resin acid or stilbene contents and MC for green pine heartwood.
Ordnen, gestalten, bewahren. Radikales Ordnungsdenken von deutschen Rechtsintellektuellen der Rechtswissenschaft 1920 bis 1960
Authors: Günther Frieder
Published: July 2011

Vorspann

Carl Schmitt, einer der Kronjuristen des Dritten Reiches, war nach 1945 öffentlich verfemt, im Stillen aber fast omnipräsent. Vor allem galt das für die Rechtswissenschaft, wo herausragende Gelehrte wie Ernst Forsthoff und Ernst Rudolf Huber sein Erbe verwalteten. Selbst nicht ganz unbelastet, bezogen sie sich namentlich auf Schmitts konkretes Ordnungs- und Gestaltungsdenken, das in seiner wuchtigen Unbestimmtheit Raum für vieles ließ und so auch manchen anderen Rechtsintellektuellen den Übergang von der Diktatur zur Demokratie erleichterte, ohne dass diese ihr Weltbild ändern mussten, wie Frieder Günther eindrucksvoll zeigen kann.
“Die Straße ist deutsch.” Der sowjetische Partisanenkrieg und seine militärische Effizienz
Authors: Stopper Sebastian
Published: July 2011

Vorspann

Partisanen sind ein Mythos, die sowjetischen erst recht. Ihr Widerstand gegen die unbarmherzigen deutschen Okkupanten scheint eine solche Deutung nahezulegen. Doch führten sie im Rücken der deutschen Front nicht nur einen „Volkskrieg“ gegen die Besatzer, sondern immer auch einen Bürgerkrieg, an dem sich viel mehr Gruppen beteiligten, als es die sowjetische und nun teilweise auch die russische Historiographie suggeriert. Auch sonst scheinen Korrekturen angebracht an der Geschichte des sowjetischen Partisanenkriegs; das betrifft seinen Charakter, seine Gegner, seine Opfer und nicht zuletzt seine militärische Bedeutung. Dass diese weit übertrieben wurde, wird schon lange vermutet. Mit Hilfe eines systematischen Vergleichs deutscher und sowjetischer Quellen kann Sebastian Stopper dies erstmals exakt mit Zahlen belegen.
Keine neutralen Vermittler. Die Gruppe der neutralen und nicht-paktgebundenen Staaten und das Belgrader KSZE-Folgetreffen 1977/78
Authors: Gilde Benjamin
Published: July 2011

Vorspann

Als Hauptakteure des Kalten Krieges gelten sie nicht, die neutralen und bündnisfreien Staaten. Ihre militärischen, ökonomischen und demografischen Ressourcen waren begrenzt, und ihre Außenpolitik schien sich zu großen Teilen darin zu erschöpfen, ihren neutralen Status zu sichern. Doch verschaffte die besondere Situation dieser verhältnismäßig kleinen Staatengruppe mitunter auch Vorteile, etwa bei der Konferenz über Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa. Während der langwierigen und zähen Verhandlungen entwickelten sie teilweise einen Einfluss auf die große Politik, wie man ihn zunächst kaum erwarten würde.
Identification of functional CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein and Ets protein binding sites in the human chorionic somatomammotropin enhancer sequences
Authors: Lytras Aristides , Detillieux Karen , Cattini Peter A
Published: July 2011

The human chorionic somatomammotropin (CS) A and B genes (listed asCSH1andCSH2in the HUGO database) are highly expressed in placenta. A 241 bp potent enhancer, nucleotides (nts) 1–241, located at the 3′ end of theCS-Bgene (CS-Benh) stimulates promoter activity specifically in placental trophoblast cellsin vitro. Strong activity is exerted by a 23 bp element within the CS-Benh (nts 117–139), shown to interact with transcription enhancer factor (TEF) members of the transcription enhancer activator (TEA) DNA-binding domain-containing family. An identical TEF element is present in the homologous (97.5%) CS-Aenh; however, a few nucleotide differences suppress its activity. Previously, we identified regulatory sequences distinct from the TEF element within an 80 bp modulatory domain (nts 1–80) in the CS-Benh. Using structural and functional assays we now show that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) binding sites exist in the 80 bp modulatory domains of both enhancers, and an Elk-1 binding site exists in the modulatory domain of the CS-Aenh. C/EBPα or C/EBPβ strongly repressedCSp.CATactivity but stimulatedCSp.CAT.CS-Benhactivity. In contrast, the equivalentCS-Aenhancer sequences were unable to relieve promoter repression. Elk-1 overexpression also resulted in differential effects on the CS-Aenh versus CS-Benh. Finally, we provide evidence for the association of C/EBPβ with theCS-AandCS-Bgenes in human placental chromatin, including differential involvement of C/EBPβ with the CS-Aenh versus the CS-Benh, and therefore consistent with the notion that these are regions of regulatory significancein vivo. We conclude that members of the C/EBP and Ets families can differentially modulate CS-Benh and CS-Aenh activity.
Transition from Metallic to Semiconducting Behavior in Oxygen Plasma-treated Single-layer Graphene
Authors: Nourbakhsh Amirhasan , Cantoro Mirco , Vosch Tom , Pourtois Geoffrey , Hofkens Johan , Heyns Marc M. , Sels Bert F. , De Gendt Stefan
Published: July 2011

We investigate the structural, optical and electrical properties of single-layer graphene exposed to oxygen plasma treatment. We find that the pristine semimetallic behavior of graphene disappears upon plasma treatment, in favour of the opening of a bandgap and the featuring of semiconducting properties. The metal-to-semiconductor transition observed appears to be dependent on the plasma treatment time. The semiconducting behavior is also confirmed by photoluminescence measurements. The opening of a bandgap in graphene is explained in terms of graphene surface functionalization with oxygen atoms, bonded as epoxy groups. Ab initio calculations of the density of states show more details about the oxygen–graphene interaction and its effects on the graphene optoelectronic properties, predicting no states near the Fermi level at increasing epoxy group density. The structural changes are also monitored by Raman spectroscopy, showing the progressive evolution of the sp2 character of pristine graphene to sp3, due to the lattice decoration with out-of-plane epoxy groups.
The search for high cycle life, high capacity, self healing negative electrodes for lithium ion batteries and a potential solution based on lithiated gallium
Authors: Verbrugge Mark W. , Deshpande Rutooj D. , Li Juchuan , Cheng Yang-Tse
Published: July 2011

Automotive components, for the most part, are designed to last for the life of the vehicle. This is especially true for more expensive subsystems. As we move towards electrified vehicles with large traction batteries, it becomes increasingly important to (a) reduce the cost of the batteries and (b) improve battery life. This life challenge for the traction battery is quite different from that of most consumer electronics applications, which often require no more than a few years of life and a few hundred cycles of full charge and discharge. In this paper, we provide context for the automotive battery landscape and subsequently introduce a potential solution pathway to the cycle life problem associated with high capacity negative electrodes for lithium ion batteries. The approach is based on a solid (in the substantially lithiated state) to liquid (in the absence of significant lithium) transition for the gallium electrode. Because of gallium’s low melting point (29°C), heating the cell to just above ambient temperature transforms the electrode to a semi-liquid state, cracks vanish, to a large extent, and the electrode heals.
Reviews: Roveda, V. and Yem, S. Buddhist Painting in Cambodia. River Books, 2009. ISBN-13: 9789749863527. Skilling, P. (ed.) Past Lives of the Buddha Wat Si Chum: Art, Architecture and Inscriptions. River Books, 2008. ISBN-13: 9789749863459
Authors: Shaw Sarah
Published: July 2011

Buddhist Painting in Cambodia by Vittorio Roveda and Sothon Yem. Bangkok: River Books, 2009. 328pp., 630 colour illustrations. Hb. £38.00/US$80.00, ISBN-13: 9789749863527.

Past Lives of the Buddha Wat Si Chum: Art, Architecture and Inscriptions. Edited by Peter Skilling, with contributions from Pattaratorn Chirapravati, Pierre Pichard, Propad Assavavvirulhakarn, Santi Pakdeekham, Peter Skilling. Bangkok: River Books, 2008. 296pp., 390 colour images and 30 plans and maps. Hb. £29.75/US$75.00, ISBN-13: 9789749863459.