bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APicrorhiza kurroaDerivative, Picroliv, Attenuates the Development of Dextran-Sulfate-Sodium-Induced Colitis in Mice
Authors: Zhang De-Kui , Yu Jian-Jie , Li Yu-Min , Wei Li-Na , Yu Yi , Feng Yan-Hu , Wang Xiang
Published: October 2012

Background. Free radicals and proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). Picroliv, aPicrorhiza kurroaderivative, has been demonstrated to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of picroliv on experimental model of UC in mice.Materials and Methods. Picroliv was administrated orally by gavage to mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and histology score were observed. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and SOD, MDA concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) while the expression of cytokine mRNAs was studied by real-time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and also ELISA. The expression of NF-κB p65 was observed by immunohistochemistry staining and western blotting.Results. A significant improvement was observed in DAI and histological score in mice treated with picroliv, and incerased MPO activity, MDA concentrations, and the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB p65 in mice with DSS-induced colitis were significantly reduced while decreased SOD level increased following administration of picroliv.Conclusion. The administration of picroliv leads to an amelioration of DSS-induced colitis, suggesting administration of picroliv may provide a therapeutic approach for UC.
Hemiballismus, Hyperphagia, and Behavioral Changes following Subthalamic Infarct
Authors: Etemadifar Masoud , Abtahi Seyed-Hossein , Abtahi Seyed-Mojtaba , Mirdamadi Motahreh , Sajjadi Sepideh , Golabbakhsh Aryan , Savoj Mohammad-Reza , Fereidan-Esfahani Mahboobeh , Nasr Zahra , Tabrizi Nasim
Published: October 2012

The function of subthalamic nucleus (STN) which is a part of the basal ganglia system is not clear, but it is hypothesized that this component might be involved in action selection. Unilateral damage to STN, which can commonly occur due to the small vessel stroke mainly, causes hemiballismus and sometimes hemichorea-hemiballismus. This paper deals with a 60-year-old patient with sudden onset of abnormal movements in his right limbs. He had increased appetite and hyperphagia and also developed mood and behavioral changes (aggressiveness, irritability, anxiety, and sometimes obscene speech). The magnetic resonance imaging revealed infarct area in left subthalamus. In our case, hemiballismus is caused by infarction in left subthalamic area. Occurrence of irritability, anxiety, and some behavioral changes such as aggressiveness and obscene speech can be explained by impairment of STN role in nonmotor behavior and cognitive function as a result of infarct.
Fixed Point Theorems via Auxiliary Functions
Authors: Karapınar Erdal , Salimi Peyman
Published: October 2012

We prove new fixed point theorems in the
framework of partially ordered metric spaces. The main result is an extension
and a generalization of many existing results in the literature. An example is
also considered to illustrate the main result.
Prenatal Diagnosis of 17p13.1p13.3 Duplication
Authors: Kiiski Kirsi , Roovere Tiiu , Zordania Riina , von Koskull Harriet , Horelli-Kuitunen Nina
Published: October 2012

We present here the first prenatal diagnosis of 17p13.1p13.3 duplication. 17p13.3 duplication has recently been defined as a new distinctive syndrome with several diagnosed patients. In the current case prenatal chromosome analysis (G-banding) performed on cultured amniocytes revealed additional material in chromosome 19p. This was further defined as a chromosome 17p13.1p13.3 duplication by FISH and genomic microarray analysis (GMA). In addition Prenatal BACs-on-Beads (PN_BoBs) assay was performed, which detected the duplication clearly. This enables rapid prenatal diagnosis of the duplication for this family in the future.
Extragastrointestinal Stromal Tumor during Pregnacy
Authors: Gözükara Ilay , Dilek T. U. Kutlu , Durukan Hüseyin , Düsmez Apa Duygu , Kabil Kucur Suna , Dilek Saffet
Published: October 2012

Extragastrointestinal stromal tumors (EGISTs) are mesenchymal neoplasms without connection to the gastrointestinal tract. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and EGIST are similar according to their clinicopathologic and histomorphologic features. Both of them most often express immunoreactivity for CD-117, a c-kit proto-oncogene protein. The coexistence of GIST and pregnancy is very rare, with only two cases reported in the literature. In this paper, we presented the first EGIST case during pregnancy in the literature.
Use of Self-Organizing Map to Analyze Images of Fungi Colonies Grown fromTriticum aestivumSeeds Disinfected by Ozone Treatment
Authors: Marique Thierry , Allard Olivier , Spanoghe Martin
Published: October 2012

We submitted to ozone treatmentTriticum aestivum(common wheat) seeds severely contaminated by fungi. Fungi colonies developed when seeds were placed over malt agar medium in Petri dishes;Fusarium sp. andAlternaria sp. were identified. However, conventional colonies counting did not allow a clear assessment of the effect of ozone disinfection. We thus used self-organizing maps (SOMs) to perform an image analysis of colonies surface area that clearly showed a significant disinfection effect onFusarium sp.
Origin of the Giant Negative Thermal Expansion inMn3(Cu0.5Ge0.5)N
Authors: Qu B. Y. , He H. Y. , Pan B. C.
Published: October 2012

The giant negative thermal expansion in the Ge-doped antiperovskite Mn3CuN compound is theoretically studied by using the first principles calculations. We propose that such a negative thermal expansion property is essentially attributed to the magnetic phase transition, rather than to the lattice vibration of the Ge-doped compound. Furthermore, we found that the doped Ge atoms in the compound significantly enhance the antiferromagnetic couplings between the nearest neighboring Mn ions, which effectively stabilizes the magnetic ground states. In addition, the nature of the temperature-dependent changes in the volume of the Ge-doped compound was revealed.
λ-Statistical Convergence of Sequences of Functions in Intuitionistic Fuzzy Normed Spaces
Authors: Karakaya Vatan , Şimşek Necip , Ertürk Müzeyyen , Gürsoy Faik
Published: October 2012

We studyλ-statistically convergent sequences of functions in intuitionistic fuzzy normed spaces. We define concept ofλ-statistical pointwise convergence andλ-statistical uniform convergence in intuitionistic fuzzy normed spaces and we give some basic properties of these concepts.
Adaptive Forming of the Beam Pattern of Microstrip Antenna with the Use of an Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Dudczyk Janusz , Kawalec Adam
Published: October 2012

Microstrip antenna has been recently one of the most innovative fields of antenna techniques. The main advantage of such an antenna is the simplicity of its production, little weight, a narrow profile, and easiness of integration of the radiating elements with the net of generators power systems. As a result of using arrays consisting of microstrip antennas; it is possible to decrease the size and weight and also to reduce the costs of components production as well as whole application systems. This paper presents possibilities of using artificial neural networks (ANNs) in the process of forming a beam from radiating complex microstrip antenna. Algorithms which base on artificial neural networks use high parallelism of actions which results in considerable acceleration of the process of forming the antenna pattern. The appropriate selection of learning constants makes it possible to get theoretically a solution which will be close to the real time. This paper presents the training neural network algorithm with the selection of optimal network structure. The analysis above was made in case of following the emission source, setting to zero the pattern of direction of expecting interference, and following emission source compared with two constant interferences. Computer simulation was made in MATLAB environment on the basis of Flex Tool, a programme which creates artificial neural networks.
Mucus Distribution Model in a Lung with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Zarei Sara , Mirtar Ali , Rohwer Forest , Conrad Douglas J. , Theilmann Rebecca J. , Salamon Peter
Published: October 2012

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common autosomal recessive disease in Caucasians with a reported incidence of 1 in every 3200 live births. Most strikingly, CF is associated with early mortality. Host in flammatory responses result in airway mucus plugging, airway wall edema, and eventual destruction of airway wall support structure. Despite aggressive treatment, the median age of survival is approximately 38 years. This work is the first attempt to parameterize the distributions of mucus in a CF lung as a function of time. By default, the model makes arbitrary choices at each stage of the construction process, whereby the simplest choice is made. The model is sophisticated enough to fit the average CF patients' spirometric data over time and to identify several interesting parameters: probability of colonization, mucus volume growth rate, and scarring rate. Extensions of the model appropriate for describing the dynamics of single patient MRI data are also discussed.
Effect of Oxygen Partial Pressure on the Electrical and Optical Properties of DC Magnetron Sputtered AmorphousTiO2Films
Authors: Chandra Sekhar M. , Kondaiah P. , Radha Krishna B. , Uthanna S.
Published: October 2012

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were deposited on p-Si (100) and Corning glass substrates held at room temperature by DC magnetron sputtering at different oxygen partial pressures in the range9×10−3–9×10−2 Pa. The influence of oxygen partial pressure on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of the deposited films was systematically studied. XPS studies confirmed that the film formed at an oxygen partial pressure of6×10−2 Pa was nearly stoichiometric. TiO2films formed at all oxygen partial pressures were X-ray amorphous. The optical transmittance gradually increased and the absorption edge shifted towards shorter wavelengths with the increase of oxygen partial pressure. Thin film capacitors with configuration of Al/TiO2/p-Si have been fabricated. The results showed that the leakage current density of films formed decreased with the increase of oxygen partial pressure to6×10−2Pa owing to the decrease in the oxygen defects in the films thereafter it was increased. The current transport mechanism in the TiO2thin films is shown to be Schottky effect and Fowler-Nordheim tunnelling currents.
Sonication Enhanced Removal of Nickel and Cobalt Ions from Polluted Water Using an Iron Based Sorbent
Authors: Hooshyar Zari , Rezanejade Bardajee Ghasem , Ghayeb Yousef
Published: October 2012

The effect of sonication time on removal efficiency of Ni2+ and Co2+ from wastewater in the presence of zero valence iron (ZVI) nanoparticles is described. The results showed that the presence of cobalt ions in the solution enhances the removal efficiency of nickel by ZVI nanoparticles to about 64% which is one of the advantages of this protocol.
High Density Lipoprotein Biogenesis, Cholesterol Efflux, and Immune Cell Function
Authors: Sorci-Thomas Mary G. , Thomas Michael J.
Published: October 2012

This review provides a summary of recent research on the role of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)/apolipoprotein A-I cholesterol efflux and immune cell function. Plasma concentrations of HDL have been known to inversely correlate with risk for coronary vascular disease. Bulk transport of HDL cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver is a major pathway, termed reverse cholesterol transport, responsible for maintaining whole body cholesterol homeostasis. In addition to participating in this pathway, HDL and apolipoprotein A-I exert anti-inflammatory effects through different pathways. One pathway that seems to be important in atherosclerosis and autoimmunity is its role in modulation of T cell activation. HDL/apolipoprotein A-I helps regulate cell signaling by accepting membrane cholesterol from ATP binding cassette transporter A1 on immune cells and, thereby, fine tuning the amount of cholesterol present in plasma membrane lipid rafts.
Survival After Alcohol Septal Ablation for Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Sorajja Paul , Ommen Steve R. , Holmes David R. , Dearani Joseph A. , Rihal Charanjit S. , Gersh Bernard J. , Lennon Ryan J. , Nishimura Rick A.
Published: October 2012

Background—

The clinical efficacy of alcohol septal ablation for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has been demonstrated, but the long-term effects of the procedure remain uncertain. This study examined the survival of patients after septal ablation performed in a tertiary HCM referral center.

Methods and Results—

We examined 177 patients (mean age, 64 years; 68% women) who underwent septal ablation at our institution. Over a follow-up of 5.7 years, survival free of all mortality was no different than the expected survival for a comparable general population, and similar to that of age- and sex-matched patients who underwent isolated surgical myectomy (8-year survival estimate, 79% versus 79%;
P
=0.64). For the end point of documented sudden cardiac death or unknown cause of death, the incidence per 100 person-year follow-up was 1.31 (95% confidence interval, 0.60–2.38). Residual left ventricular outflow tract gradient after ablation was an independent predictor of long-term survival free of any death.

Conclusions—

In this nonrandomized study of carefully selected patients undergoing septal ablation by experienced operators in a tertiary referral HCM center, long-term survival was favorable and similar to that of an age- and sex-matched general population, and to patients undergoing surgical myectomy, as well, without an increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
Is a Transition to Semipermanent Drought Conditions Imminent in the U.S. Great Plains?
Authors: Hoerling Martin P. , Eischeid Jon K. , Quan Xiao-Wei , Diaz Henry F. , Webb Robert S. , Dole Randall M. , Easterling David R.
Published: October 2012

How Great Plains climate will respond under global warming continues to be a key unresolved question. There has been, for instance, considerable speculation that the Great Plains is embarking upon a period of increasing drought frequency and intensity that will lead to a semipermanent Dust Bowl in the coming decades. This view draws on a single line of inference of how climate change may affect surface water balance based on sensitivity of the Palmer drought severity index (PDSI). A different view foresees a more modest climate change impact on Great Plains surface moisture balances. This draws on direct lines of analysis using land surface models to predict runoff and soil moisture, the results of which do not reveal an ominous fate for the Great Plains. The authors’ study presents a parallel diagnosis of projected changes in drought as inferred from PDSI and soil moisture indicators in order to understand causes for such a disparity and to shed light on the uncertainties. PDSI is shown to be an excellent proxy indicator for Great Plains soil moisture in the twentieth century; however, its suitability breaks down in the twenty-first century, with the PDSI severely overstating surface water imbalances and implied agricultural stresses. Several lines of evidence and physical considerations indicate that simplifying assumptions regarding temperature effects on water balances, especially concerning evapotranspiration in Palmer’s formulation, compromise its suitability as drought indicator in a warming climate. The authors conclude that projections of acute and chronic PDSI decline in the twenty-first century are likely an exaggerated indicator for future Great Plains drought severity.
The Landfall and Inland Penetration of a Flood-Producing Atmospheric River in Arizona. Part I: Observed Synoptic-Scale, Orographic, and Hydrometeorological Characteristics
Authors: Neiman Paul J. , Ralph F. Martin , Moore Benjamin J. , Abel Mimi R. , Mahoney Kelly M. , Cordeira Jason M. , Dettinger Michael D.
Published: October 2012

Atmospheric rivers (ARs) are a dominant mechanism for generating intense wintertime precipitation along the U.S. West Coast. While studies over the past 10 years have explored the impact of ARs in, and west of, California’s Sierra Nevada and the Pacific Northwest’s Cascade Mountains, their influence on the weather across the intermountain west remains an open question. This study utilizes gridded atmospheric datasets, satellite imagery, rawinsonde soundings, a 449-MHz wind profiler and global positioning system (GPS) receiver, and operational hydrometeorological observing networks to explore the dynamics and inland impacts of a landfalling, flood-producing AR across Arizona in January 2010. Plan-view, cross-section, and back-trajectory analyses quantify the synoptic and mesoscale forcing that led to widespread precipitation across the state. The analyses show that a strong AR formed in the lower midlatitudes over the northeastern Pacific Ocean via frontogenetic processes and sea surface latent-heat fluxes but without tapping into the adjacent tropical water vapor reservoir to the south. The wind profiler, GPS, and rawinsonde observations document strong orographic forcing in a moist neutral environment within the AR that led to extreme, orographically enhanced precipitation. The AR was oriented nearly orthogonal to the Mogollon Rim, a major escarpment crossing much of central Arizona, and was positioned between the high mountain ranges of northern Mexico. High melting levels during the heaviest precipitation contributed to region-wide flooding, while the high-altitude snowpack increased substantially. The characteristics of the AR that impacted Arizona in January 2010, and the resulting heavy orographic precipitation, are comparable to those of landfalling ARs and their impacts along the west coasts of midlatitude continents.
Quantifying the Nonconservative Production of Conservative Temperature, Potential Temperature, and Entropy
Authors: Graham Felicity S. , McDougall Trevor J.
Published: October 2012

The evolution equation of potential temperature has to date been treated as an approximation to the oceanic version of the first law of thermodynamics. That is, oceanographers have regarded the advection and diffusion of potential temperature as the advection and diffusion of “heat.” However, the nonconservative source terms that arise in the evolution equation for potential temperature are estimated to be two orders of magnitude larger than the corresponding source terms for Conservative Temperature. In this paper the nonconservative source terms of potential temperature, Conservative Temperature, and entropy are derived for a stratified turbulent fluid, then quantified using the output of a coarse-resolution ocean model and compared to the rate of dissipation of mechanical energy, epsilon. It is shown that the error incurred in ocean models by assuming that Conservative Temperature is 100% conservative is approximately 120 times smaller than the corresponding error for potential temperature and at least 1200 times smaller than the corresponding error for entropy. Furthermore, the error in assuming that Conservative Temperature is 100% conservative is approximately 6 times smaller than the error in ignoring epsilon. Hence Conservative Temperature can be quite accurately regarded as a conservative variable and can be treated as being proportional to the “heat content” per unit mass of seawater, and therefore it should now be used in place of potential temperature in physical oceanography, including as the prognostic temperature variable in ocean models.
What is needed to deliver collaborative care to address comorbidity more effectively for adults with a severe mental illness?
Authors: Lee Stuart J , Crowther Elizabeth , Keating Charlotte , Kulkarni Jayashri
Published: October 2012

Objective:

Innovative models of care for people with a severe mental illness have been developed across Australia to more effectively address comorbidity and disability by enhancing the collaboration between clinical and non-clinical services. In particular, this review paper focuses on collaboration that has occurred to address comorbidities affecting the following domains: homelessness; substance addiction; physical ill-health; unemployment; and forensic issues.

Method:

The identification of relevant collaborative care models was facilitated by carrying out a review of the published peer-reviewed literature and policy or other published reports available on the Internet. Contact was also made with representatives of the mental health branches of each Australian state and territory health department to assist in identifying examples of innovative collaborative care models established within their jurisdiction.

Results:

A number of nationally implemented and local examples of collaborative care models were identified that have successfully delivered enhanced integration of care between clinical and non-clinical services. Several key principles for effective collaboration were also identified. Governmental and organisational promotion of and incentives for cross-sector collaboration is needed along with education for staff about comorbidity and the capacity of cross-sector agencies to work in collaboration to support shared clients. Enhanced communication has been achieved through mechanisms such as the co-location of staff from different agencies to enhance sharing of expertise and interagency continuity of care, shared treatment plans and client records, and shared case review meetings. Promoting a ‘housing first approach’ with cross-sector services collaborating to stabilise housing as the basis for sustained clinical engagement has also been successful.

Conclusions:

Cross-sector collaboration is achievable and can result in significant benefits for mental health consumers and staff of collaborating services. Expanding the availability of collaborative care across Australia is therefore a priority for achieving a more holistic, socially inclusive, and effective mental health care system.
Climato-Economic Imprints on Chinese Collectivism
Authors: Van de Vliert Evert , Yang Huadong , Wang Yongli , Ren Xiao-peng
Published: October 2012

A still unsolved question is why humans create collectivism. A new theory proposes that poorer populations coping with more demanding winters or summers become more collectivist. Preliminary support comes from a province-level analysis of survey data from 1,662 native residents of 15 Chinese provinces. Collectivism is weakest in provinces with temperate climates irrespective of income (e.g., Guangdong), negligibly stronger in higher income provinces with demanding climates (e.g., Hunan), and strongest in lower income provinces with demanding climates (e.g., Heilongjiang). Multilevel analysis consolidates the results by demonstrating that collectivism at the provincial level fully mediates the interactive impact of climato-economic hardships on collectivist orientations at the individual level, suggesting that culture building is a collective top-down rather than bottom-up process.
Effect of Intensive Instruction on Elementary Students’ Memory for Culturally Unfamiliar Music
Authors: Morrison Steven J. , Demorest Steven M. , Campbell Patricia Shehan , Bartolome Sarah J. , Roberts J. Christopher
Published: October 2012

Previous researchers have found that both adults and children demonstrate better memory for novel music from their own music culture than from an unfamiliar music culture. It was the purpose of this study to determine whether this “enculturation effect” could be mediated through an extended intensive instructional unit in another culture’s music. Fifth-grade students in four intact general music classrooms (two each at two elementary schools in a large U.S. city) took part in an 8-week curriculum exclusively concentrated on Turkish music. Two additional fifth-grade classes at the same schools served as controls and did not receive the Turkish curriculum. Prior to and following the 8-week unit, all classes completed a music memory test that included Western and Turkish music examples. Comparison of pretest and posttest scores revealed that all participants ( N = 110) were significantly more successful overall on the second test administration. Consistent with previous findings, participants were significantly less successful remembering items from the unfamiliar music culture, a result that was consistent across test administrations and between instruction and control groups. It appears that the effect of enculturation on music memory is well established early in life and resistant to modification even through extended instructional approaches.
Improving Teaching and Teachers
Authors: Lampert Magdalene
Published: October 2012

Working on teaching as a collective practice—understanding it, specifying it, and improving it—is crucially important and too often ignored. But setting up a choice between improving teaching and improving teachers is problematic for several reasons. To begin with, it seems that the very methods Hiebert and Morris outline for improving teaching necessarily imply the simultaneous improvement of teachers. Improvement as they describe it suggests a “generative dance” between the organizational knowledge embedded in artifacts and the individuals who learn how to use and continuously improve those artifacts. Looking at teaching through the lens of practice theory has two important consequences: it challenges the dichotomy between individual and collective learning, and it focuses attention on the systematization of resources in the organizational setting as an important component of competence building.
Dealing with Diversity: Middle-class Family Households and the Issue of ‘Black’ and ‘White’ Schools in Amsterdam
Authors: Boterman Willem R.
Published: October 2012

The urban middle classes often celebrate the diversity of their neighbourhood. As soon as they have children, however, the desire to display symbolic capital may conflict with the need to reproduce cultural capital through the educational system. In the ethnically diverse Amsterdam schooling context, in which parents have free school choice and school access is not determined by fees, the socio-spatial strategies of school choice could be expected to differ from particularly the UK context. Based on in-depth interviews conducted with white middle-class parents in Amsterdam, this study argues that ethnic diversity is a major concern when they are seeing primary schools for their children, but that middle-class fractions have different socio-spatial strategies for managing it. It is argued that, despite differences in terms of housing market and school policies, the strategies of the Amsterdam middle classes are very similar to other contexts, suggesting homologies of class between national contexts.
Effectiveness of an intensive green roof in a sub-tropical region
Authors: Darkwa J , Kokogiannakis G , Suba G
Published: October 2012

The overall assessment of an intensive green roof located in a sub-tropical region has been undertaken. The results showed a fairly good agreement between the published and measured solar radiation data and also confirmed July and January as the hottest and coldest periods, respectively, for the region. The soil was established as a silt type with good planting medium properties for green roofs. The overall thermal performance showed that the green roof provided an average temperature reduction of 3.3℃ (i.e. 50% temperature reduction) through the roof in July. Equally, its performance was remarkable during the coldest period of January. A maximum differential temperature of 15.5℃ was achieved with the soil contributing to 24% of the temperature difference through the roof. Further studies are, however, needed to cover a wider area of influence such as effects of different types of construction materials, plants, locations and soil. In view of the limitation of the theoretical model, it would also be useful to consider some of the factors which were either neglected or assumed to be constant in any future comparative studies.
A field study of a wastewater source heat pump for domestic hot water heating
Authors: Chao Shen , Yiqiang Jiang , Yang Yao , Shiming Deng , Xinlei Wang
Published: October 2012

An experimental heat pump utilizing wastewater discharged from the common bathroom in a SPA center as a heat source was built. In this article, the field measured operating performance of the wastewater source heat pump is reported. An analysis based on the collected field data under various operating conditions is included. It was shown that the temperature of wastewater greatly affected the evaporating temperature and the coefficient of performance of the wastewater source heat pump. Circulating wastewater from the bottom to the top of the wastewater storage tank could weaken even out the vertical wastewater temperature distribution inside the wastewater storage tank and improve the coefficient of performance and compressor suction pressure of the wastewater source heat pump accordingly. The daily averaged coefficient of performance of the wastewater source heat pump was monitored for over an entire month. It was shown that the measured coefficient of performance gradually reduced, suggesting the need for regular cleaning of the heat exchangers used in a wastewater source heat pump system. In addition, the recorded maximum transporting capacity of the wastewater pipe reduced by 16.9% over the 1 month operation and by 20.1% after ∼5 months due to the bio-fouling build-up. Finally, an analysis comparing the economics of operating a wastewater source heat pump system with that of operating conventional water heating systems is presented.

Practical application: The use of heat pump to recover heat from wastewater is significant to energy conservation and environmental protection. A number of researches and projects on wastewater source heat pumps using urban sewage or treated sewage as a heat source have been carried out. However, field measured results on a heat pump, which recovered heat from waste bath water, was not previously reported. As the quality of waste bath water was different from that of sewage in terms of temperature, amount, and the degree of cleanliness, the experiences on designing and operating urban sewage source heat pumps previously obtained could not be used as a full reference for designing a waste bath water source heat pump. In this article, field experiment work of designing and operating a heat pump which used waste bath water as a heat source for hot water heating is presented, and the results can be used as a key reference for designing and operating waste bath water source heat pump systems in the future.
Bayesian Probability and Statistics in Management Research
Authors: Zyphur Michael J. , Oswald Frederick L.
Published: October 2012

Special Issue Purpose

This special issue is focused on how a Bayesian approach to estimation, inference, and reasoning in organizational research might supplement—and in some cases supplant—traditional frequentist approaches. Bayesian methods are well suited to address the increasingly complex phenomena and problems faced by 21st-century researchers and organizations, where very complex data abound and the validity of knowledge and methods are often seen as contextually driven and constructed. Traditional modeling techniques and a frequentist view of probability and method are challenged by this new reality.
Equal before the Law
Authors: M’charek Amade , Hagendijk Rob , Vries Wiebe de
Published: October 2012

The social and legal implications of forensic DNA are paramount. For this reason, forensic DNA enjoys ample attention from legal, bioethics, and science and technology studies scholars. This article contributes to the scholarship by focusing on the neglected issue of sameness. We investigate a forensic courtroom case which started in the early ’90s and focus on three modes of making similarities: (1) creating equality before the law, (2) making identity, and (3) establishing standards. We argue that equality before the law is not merely a principle but a practice. In the context of DNA research, equality refers to using standardized technology and procedures to identify the criminal suspect. Our case shows the work at stake in introducing a new technology into the courtroom and serves as a lens, magnifying how contingencies and uncertainties are managed and ordered in everyday court practices to arrive at an equal treatment of the suspect.
GFAP-Positive Neoplastic Astrocytes in Spontaneous Oligodendrogliomas and Mixed Gliomas of Rats
Authors: Nagatani Mariko , Yamakawa Seiki , Saito Tsubasa , Ando Ryo , Hoshiya Toru , Tamura Kazutoshi , Uchida Kazuyuki
Published: October 2012

It is generally said that neoplastic cells are immunohistochemically negative for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in rat spontaneous astrocytomas, and there are no reports describing the existence of GFAP-positive neoplastic astrocytes in rat spontaneous oligodendrogliomas and mixed gliomas which contain neoplastic astrocytes. In the present study, to clarify whether GFAP-positive neoplastic astrocytes exist in rat spontaneous oligodendrogliomas and mixed gliomas or not, immunohistochemical examination was performed on spontaneous oligodendrogliomas (26 cases) and mixed gliomas (5 cases) collected from the carcinogenicity studies and short-term toxicity studies. The neoplastic cells that constitute oligodendrogliomas and mixed gliomas were morphologically classified into five types: round A, round B, round C, spindle, and bizarre. The cells of round A, B, and C types were thought to be neoplastic oligodendrocytes because of their positive immunostainability for Olig2.  The origin of bizarre cells was obscure because they were negative for Olig2, GFAP, and nestin. The spindle cells were considered to be neoplastic astrocytes, because some of them were positive for GFAP or nestin, and GFAP-positive spindle cells could be morphologically distinguished from reactive astrocytes.  In conclusion, the present study clarified for the first time that GFAP-positive neoplastic astrocytes exist in rat spontaneous gliomas.
Differential Morphological Effects in Rat Corpora Lutea among Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether, Atrazine, and Bromocriptine
Authors: Taketa Yoshikazu , Inoue Kaoru , Takahashi Miwa , Yamate Jyoji , Yoshida Midori
Published: October 2012

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) or atrazine induces luteal cell hypertrophy in rats. Our previous study suggested that EGME stimulates both new and old corpora lutea (CL), while atrazine stimulates new CL. Bromocriptine (BRC) is known to suppress the luteolysis in rats. This study investigated the light- and electron-microscopic luteal changes induced by EGME, atrazine, or BRC. Female rats were treated with EGME (300 mg/kg/day), BRC (2 mg/kg/day), EGME and BRC (EGME + BRC), or atrazine (300 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Luteal cell hypertrophy induced by EGME, EGME + BRC, and atrazine was subclassified into the following two types: CL hypertrophy, vacuolated type (CL-V) characterized by intracytoplasmic fine vacuoles, and CL hypertrophy, eosinophilic type (CL-E) characterized by eosinophilic and abundant cytoplasm. The proportions of CL-V and CL-E were different among the treatments. BRC-treated old CL showed lower proportion of endothelial cells and fibroblasts than normal old CL. Ultrastructural observation revealed that the luteal cells of CL-V contained abundant lipid droplets, whereas those of CL-E in EGME and EGME + BRC groups showed uniformly well-developed smooth endoplasmic reticulum. No clear ultrastructural difference was observed between the control CL and atrazine-treated CL-E. These results indicate that EGME, atrazine, and BRC have differential luteal morphological effects.
Improving Carcinogenicity Assessment
Authors: Morton Daniel , Bourcier Todd , Alden Carl L.
Published: October 2012

The ICH initiated talks in June 2012 to revise regulatory guidance for carcinogenicity assessment of pharmaceutical products, stimulated in part by a proposal called Negative for Endocrine, Genotoxicity, and Chronic Study Associated Histopathologic Risk Factors for Carcinogenicity in the Rat (NEGCARC) from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturing Association (PhRMA). The 2012 STP Town Hall Meeting focused on the need for change in carcinogenicity assessment strategies for pharmaceuticals. Dr. Todd Bourcier from the Division of Endocrine and Metabolic Products, U.S. FDA and a member of the FDA’s Alternative Carcinogenicity Assessment Committee, was the guest speaker and a panelist. Dr. Bourcier is also one of FDA’s representatives to the ICH S1 Expert Working Group that is discussing changes to regulatory guidelines for carcinogenicity assessment. Drs. Carl Alden and Dan Morton also participated in the panel discussion.
A Failure of Convivencia
Authors: McKnight John Carter
Published: October 2012

Early utopian notions of Internet-based community as enabling transcendence of earthly governments and cultural divides manifested in the massively multiplayer online nongame platform, Second Life. However, while platform users nearly unanimously chose governance regimes based on professional management rather than democratic self-governance, one of the few democratic experiments experienced deep conflict over precisely the utopian notions it held in common. This article examines a failed merger between two experimental democratic communities in the virtual world of Second Life as an example of the general failure of internet utopianism and a specific failure to transcend distinctions in cultures of origin (the “failure of convivencia,” of the title, a term reflecting a historical model chosen by one of the communities) in a common online space. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, this article will analyze a distinction between radically different, and ultimately incommensurable, discourses around governance in the merged community amid the failure of participatory, democratic models of online governance.
EcPV2 DNA in Equine Papillomas and In Situ and Invasive Squamous Cell Carcinomas Supports Papillomavirus Etiology
Authors: Lange C. E. , Tobler K. , Lehner A. , Grest P. , Welle M. M. , Schwarzwald C. C. , Favrot C.
Published: October 2012

Equine penile papillomas, in situ carcinomas, and invasive carcinomas are hypothesized to belong to a continuum of papillomavirus-induced diseases. The former ones clinically present as small grey papules, while the latter 2 lesions are more hyperplasic or alternatively ulcerated. To test the hypothesis that these lesions are papillomavirus-induced, samples of 24 horses with characteristic clinical and histologic findings of penile papillomas or in situ or invasive squamous cell carcinomas were collected. As controls, 11 horses with various lesions—namely, Balanoposthitis (6 cases), melanoma (3 cases), follicular cyst (1 case), and amyloidosis (1 case)—were included. DNA was extracted and polymerase chain reaction applied to amplify papillomavirus DNA. The respective primers were designed to amplify DNA of the recently discovered equine papillomavirus EcPV2. All tested papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma samples were found to contain DNA of either of 2 previously published EcPV2 variants. Among the other samples 6 of 11 were found to contain EcPV2 DNA. To further support the findings and to determine where the papillomavirus DNA was located within the lesions, an in situ hybridization for the detection of EcPV2 DNA was established. The samples tested by this technique were found to clearly contain papillomavirus nucleic acid concentrated in the nucleus of the koilocytes. The findings of this study support previous data and the hypothesis that papillomaviruses induce the described penile lesions in horses.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Treatment of Delayed Tendon-Bone Insertion Healing in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Chow Dick Ho Kiu , Suen Pui Kit , Fu Lai Hong , Cheung Wing Hoi , Leung Kwok Sui , Wong Margaret Wan Nar , Qin Ling
Published: October 2012

Background:

Tendon–bone insertion (TBI) consists of both hard and soft tissues. TBI injury with delayed repair is not uncommon. High-dose extracorporeal shockwave (ESW) is effective for treating nonunion fracture, whereas low-dose ESW is used for tendinopathy therapy. The dosing effect of ESW on delayed TBI healing is lacking.

Hypothesis:

Low-dose ESW might have a healing enhancement effect comparable to that of high-dose ESW in treating delayed TBI healing.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Partial patellectomy was adopted to create a delayed TBI healing model by shielding the healing interface between tendon and bone. Ninety-six female New Zealand White rabbits with unilateral delayed TBI healing at the knee joint were divided into 3 groups: controls, low-dose ESW (LD-ESW; 0.06 mJ/mm2, 4 Hz, 1500 impulses), and high-dose ESW (HD-ESW; 0.43 mJ/mm2, 4 Hz, 1500 impulses). The TBI shielding was removed at week 4 after partial patellectomy, followed by treatment with control or ESW at week 6. The rabbits were euthanized at week 8 and week 12 for radiological, microarchitectural, histological, and mechanical assessments of healing tissues.

Results:

Radiologically, both the LD-ESW group and the HD-ESW group showed larger new bone area than the controls at week 8 and week 12. Microarchitectural measurements showed that the LD-ESW and HD-ESW groups had larger new bone volume than the controls at week 12. Histological assessments confirmed osteogenesis enhancement. Both the LD-ESW and HD-ESW groups showed significantly higher failure load at the TBI healing complex than the control group at week 12. No significant difference was detected between the 2 ESW treatment groups at week 8 or week 12.

Conclusion:

Extracorporeal shockwave, a unique noninvasive physical modality, had similar effects between the low and high dose for treating delayed TBI healing.

Clinical Relevance:

Low-dose ESW for TBI delayed healing might be more desirable and have better compliance in clinical applications.
Evaluation of Different Methods for Measuring Lateral Tibial Slope Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Lipps David B. , Wilson Annie M. , Ashton-Miller James A. , Wojtys Edward M.
Published: October 2012

Background:

Since lateral tibial slope (LTS) affects the amount of anterior tibial translation and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) strain during a dynamic maneuver, accurate measurements of LTS may be beneficial in screening people at a higher risk for ACL injury. Methods for measuring LTS on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the proximal tibia include the midpoint and circle methods. No current studies have validated different LTS measurement methods using a proximal tibia MRI scan.

Hypothesis:

We tested the null hypotheses that (1) LTS measurements were independent of the length of tibia imaged using the midpoint method, and (2) LTS measurements calculated from different methods (midpoint, circle, and full tibia) would not differ significantly.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

Blinded observers measured LTS from 3-tesla, 3-dimensional MRIs from 40 size-matched donors according to 1 circle method and 3 midpoint methods. Outcomes were then compared with the full-tibial anatomic axis (line connecting the center of 2 circles fit within the proximal and distal tibia) in 11 donors. Bonferroni-corrected paired t tests (significance, P < .005) were used to compare the 5 methods.

Results:

The circle and full-tibia methods had the lowest interobserver and intraobserver variability, whereas the midpoint method with 10-cm tibia was the most variable. The midpoint method with 10-cm and 15-cm proximal tibia closely resembled LTS measurements with the full-tibial anatomic axis. The circle method, although repeatable, provided smaller numerical LTS measurements than the full-tibia and midpoint methods.

Conclusion:

Although LTS measurements using the midpoint method can resemble measurements made using the full tibia, the reliability of the midpoint method depends on the length of proximal tibia used. The circle method may be the preferred method for future studies since it was the most repeatable method and is independent of proximal tibial length.

Clinical Relevance:

LTS measurements vary depending on the method used.
The effect of aeration position on the spatial distribution and reduction of pollutants in the landfill stabilization process – a pilot scale study
Authors: Chai Xiaoli , Hao Yongxia , Shimaoka Takayuki , Nakayama Hirofumi , Komiya Teppei , Zhao Youcai
Published: October 2012

Three pilot-scale simulators with different aeration systems were constructed to explore the effects of aeration position on the reduction of pollutants. The simulator with a bottom aeration system successfully distributed oxygen and efficiently inhibited methane production. A close relationship was found between the oxygen distribution and the removal of pollutants, especially that of nitrogen. The transition between nitrification and denitrification in the longitude direction of the simulator with a bottom aeration system contributed to nitrogen removal in aerobic conditions. This process can be defined as a new path for nitrogen removal in addition to simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The concentration of [Formula: see text]-N, total nitrogen and total organic carbon dropped to 3, 78 and 204 mg L−1, respectively, after 312 days of bottom aeration and to 514, 659 and 828 mg L−1, respectively, after 312 days of top aeration. These results indicate that the bottom aeration system was more efficient for reducing pollutants than the top aeration system.
Ulinastatin reduces pathogenesis of phosgene-induced acute lung injury in rats
Authors: Shen Jie , Gan Zhengyi , Zhao Jie , Zhang Liming , Xu Guoxiong
Published: October 2012

Phosgene (CG) is an industrial chemical used to make plastics, rubbers, dyestuff, and pesticides. Although the inhalation of CG is relatively uncommon, its accidental exposure can lead to acute lung injury (ALI). Ulinastatin, a urinary trypsin inhibitor, has been emerged to use for the treatment of acute inflammatory state of a number of organs including the lung. In this study, we examined the pathogenic changes in the lungs after the inhalation of CG gas and also examined the effect of ulinastatin treatment in reversing these changes in rats. We found that the rats exposed to CG gas at a dose of 5.0 g/m3 for 5 min led to ALI after 6 h. The signs of lung injury include pulmonary edema, hemorrhage, and cellular infiltration in pulmonary alveoli. In addition, interleukin-15 (IL-15) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) were significantly increased in CG-inhaled animals. Ulinastatin administration at 1 h postexposure significantly reduced the intensity of all the pathological changes in the lungs of these CG-exposed animals. Ulinastatin at a dose of 400 U/g was shown to decrease the total number of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and the levels of IL-15 and ICAM-1 in the serum. We also found that the structure of the lung was protected by ulinastatin treatment. Thus, our data suggest that ulinastatin can be used as an effective drug for the treatment of CG-induced ALI. The serum levels of IL-15 and ICAM-1 can be used as the markers of lung injury after exposure to CG and may also serve as useful therapeutic targets at an early stage. The effects of long-term treatment of ulinastatin and the mechanisms by which ulinastatin decreases the infiltration of blood cells and reduces cytokines need further investigation.