bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acetyl‐CoA Carboxylase Herbicide Tolerance in Bermudagrass
Authors: Grimshaw Austin L. , Schwartz Brian M. , Grey Timothy L. , McCullough Patrick E. , Raymer Paul L. , Webster Theodore M. , Kowalewski A.R. , Tate Trent M. , Parrott Wayne A.
Published: April 2014

Contamination of newly planted bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) varieties by undesirable off‐type bermudagrass genotypes is an ever increasing concern for turf managers because selective control options are limited. In 2009, a sethoxydim {2‐[1‐(ethoxyimino)butyl]‐5‐[2‐(ethylthio)propyl]‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one} tolerant bermudagrass genotype (93‐175) was identified during herbicide screening at the University of Georgia in Tifton. The objective of this research was to assess the tolerance of 93‐175 to three Acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACCase) herbicides in comparison to the susceptible genotypes Tifway and common bermudagrass. Greenhouse and field trials were performed between August 2011 and April 2013. Factors in the field experiment included ACCase herbicides, application rates, bermudagrass genotypes, and locations. Turfgrass injury ratings taken 42 days after treatment (DAT) and during greenup the following spring supported initial preliminary findings. At the 1x rate of sethoxydim (280 g a.i. ha−1), 93‐175 displayed 50 to 87% less injury in comparison to the susceptible genotypes. In the spring of 2013, 93‐175 plots treated with a 1x rate of sethoxydim reached 100% recovery during the same time period as non‐treated controls, while common and Tifway had only recovered to 48 and 60%, respectively. The tolerance mechanism of 93‐175 to sethoxydim did not confer an appreciable reduction of clethodim {(E,E)‐(6)‐2‐[1‐[[(3‐chloro‐2‐propenyl)oxy]imino]propyl]‐5‐[2‐(ethylthio)propyl]‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one} or fluazifop {(6)‐2‐[4‐[[5‐(trifluoromethyl)‐2‐pyridinyl]oxy]phenoxy]propanoic acid} herbicide treatment effects. 93‐175 will continue to be studied to determine transferability of herbicide tolerance to progeny and the mechanism of the observed tolerance.
Agronomic Comparison of Anhydrous Ammonia Applied with a High Speed‐Low Draft Opener and Conventional Knife Injection in Corn
Authors: Woli Krishna P. , Fernández Fabián G. , Sawyer John E. , Stamper Joshua D. , Mengel David B. , Barker Daniel W. , Hanna Mark H.
Published: April 2014

Anhydrous ammonia (AA) is an important N fertilizer in the United States, and with large farming operations rapid application is needed. This study evaluated the impact of AA application timing and N rates when applied with a high speed low draft (HSLD) or aconventional till knife injection (CTKI) on corn (Zea mays L.) production in no‐tillage fields. The study was conducted at sites located in Illinois, Iowa, and Kansas from 2007 to 2009. The experimental design was a split‐plot factorial arrangement of application method, timing (fall; spring pre‐plant, SP; and sidedress, SD), and five N rates. Fall AA application was least efficient (mean 55 kg N ha−1 higher optimum N and 2% lower grain yield, GY), with SP and SD equivalent. The HSLD was comparable to the CTKI with most applications, except when high N rates (180 and 225 kg N ha−1) were applied SP. For these treatments AA injury reduced plant population (PP), early season growth, canopy normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI), and GY. Seedling injury did not occur with any N rate or timing with the CTKI. Shallow AA placement at high speed with the HSLD can provide a viable alternative to traditional deeper knife injection when conditions are suitable for AA application and positioning avoids corn seedling injury. Anhydrous ammonia application with the HSLD, however, should be avoided where high SP AA rates may be placed directly under future corn rows.
Carbon Dioxide Control in an Open System that Measures Canopy Gas Exchanges
Authors: Baker Jeffrey T. , Gitz Dennis C. , Payton Paxton , Broughton Katrina J. , Bange Michael P. , Lascano Robert J.
Published: April 2014

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration ([CO2]) affects both C3 carbon net assimilation (A) as well as crop water use. Methods for measuring whole canopy gas exchange responses under [CO2] enrichment are needed for breeding programs aiming to develop crop cultivars resistant to stresses like drought in a future higher CO2 world. Previously we developed and tested a portable, open transparent chamber system for measuring canopy gas exchanges. Here we describe further development of this system by adding the capability of controlling [CO2]. Pure CO2 injection into the system was accomplished with a data logger operated mass flow controller attached to a high pressure CO2 gas cylinder. Across the full range of chamber air flow rates, [CO2] enrichment controls were within ± 12 µmol mol−1 of the desired set point. Following an abrupt user‐selected change in chamber air flow rate, [CO2] enrichment controls were re‐established within 3 to 5 min.
Soil Nitrogen and Forage Yields of Corn Grown with Clover or Grass Companion Crops and Manure
Authors: Grabber John H. , Jokela William E. , Lauer Joseph G.
Published: April 2014

Few studies have compared the agronomic performance of cover crop and living mulch systems for no‐till silage corn (Zea mays L.). In a 4‐yr Wisconsin study, we evaluated soil N levels and forage yields from manured rotations of corn grown with kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) living mulch or interseeded red clover (T. pratense L.) followed by a year of clover production and from manured continuous corn grown with interseeded Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), fall‐seeded winter rye (Secale cereale L.), or no companion. Companion crops influenced spring and fall nitrate concentrations near the soil surface but had little effect on total residual fall nitrate to a 1.2‐m depth. Residual nitrate was not related to N balance (inputs minus outputs), but excessive N inputs into corn–clover systems accumulated as organic soil N. Averaged across both phases of the rotation, corn–clover systems provided 0 to 23% less dry matter yield, but 26 to 60% more crude protein yield than continuous corn systems, with corn–red clover often producing the highest silage corn and clover yields. Kura clover provided superior ground cover and nitrate uptake, but it often excessively competed with corn and had low forage yields. Applying fall manure to ryegrass and spring manure to rye maximized silage yields of continuous corn, but manure application time had no other effect on forage yields or on soil N. Overall, no system excelled in all characteristics, thus selection of companion crop and manure management systems for silage corn will depend on feed production and environmental goals.
Reproductive and Fiber Quality Responses of Upland Cotton to Moisture Deficiency
Authors: Lokhande Suresh , Reddy K. Raja
Published: April 2014

Quantitative information between water deficit and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) reproductive potential and fiber quality is needed to improve cotton model predictability. An experiment was conducted by seeding Upland cotton cultivar, Texas Marker (TM)‐1, in sunlit growth chambers. Four water stress treatments, 100, 80, 60, and 40% of daily evapotranspiration of the control, were imposed during flowering for plants grown at optimum temperature and nutrient supply. Soil moisture content and midday leaf water potential (LWP) were measured twice weekly during treatment period. Photosynthetic measurements taken during the stress treatments were correlated with midday LWP. New flowers and bolls were tagged daily to estimate boll maturation period (BMP). Plant‐ and boll‐component dry weights were recorded at end of the experiment. Lint sample collected, grouped based on average LWP during BMP, were analyzed for fiber quality parameters. Declining photosynthetic rates as plants experience water deficits were mostly to stomatal limitation, but non‐stomatal factors played a role as stress progressed. Seedcotton and seed weight, boll numbers, and total biomass declined significantly at severe water deficit treatments reflecting declining trends of photosynthesis. Fiber length, strength, and uniformity declined linearly with decrease in LWP, whereas fiber micronaire increased with decrease in LWP. Fiber strength was most responsive to changes in LWP followed by micronaire, length, and uniformity. Immature fiber content increased and fiber maturity ratio declined with diminishing LWP. The functional relationships between LWP and fiber properties will be useful to develop fiber sub‐models under optimal temperature and nutrient, but varying moisture conditions.
Optimal Irrigation for Onion and Celery Production and Spinach Seed Germination in Histosols
Authors: Rekika Djamila , Caron Jean , Rancourt Guillaume Théroux , Lafond Jonathan A. , Gumiere Silvio J. , Jenni Sylvie , Gosselin André
Published: April 2014

Increasing water scarcity in humid regions requires that food production increase its water use efficiency. Because the hydraulic characteristics of Histosols are different from those of mineral soils, water management for vegetable production must be adapted accordingly. The objective of this research was to determine the optimal soil water potential for irrigating onion (Allium cepa L.), celery (Apium graveolens L.), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) crops in muck soils. Onion and celery were subjected to three irrigation treatments scheduled when tensiometer readings reached –10 or –20 kPa for onion and –30 or –50 kPa (2008) and –15 or –30 kPa (2009) for celery compared with drier control treatments for both crops. For spinach, two irrigation treatments (–10 and –20 kPa) and a control (drier) were tested. Optimal onion marketable yields and jumbo size were obtained from irrigation at potentials above –20 kPa at the bulbing stage. Celery had the best yields with the treatments of 2009 relative to the drier control. The highest spinach germination rate and yield were obtained at –10 kPa. Reliable estimates of the optimal thresholds were consistent with calculations performed using a simple analytical solution to Richards’ equation and soil characteristics. Irrigation thresholds for matric potential in a muck soil were shown to be crop specific and could be derived from a model and basic soil hydraulic characteristics.
Estimation of Additive and Nonadditive Genetic Components of Sugarcane Families Using Multitrait Analysis
Authors: Pisaroglo de Carvalho Melissa , Gezan Salvador A. , Peternelli Luiz Alexandre , Pereira Barbosa Marcio Henrique
Published: April 2014

Sugarcane (Saccharum spp. interspecific hybrids) cultivars are a polyploidy and heterozygous complex of genotypes with a large amount of genotypic variability. This study evaluated several commercial traits from a series of trials to provide a better understanding of the genetic structure of this population with the aim of identifying future breeding strategies. Data were analyzed using univariate and bivariate methods on single‐ and multiple‐site linear mixed models. In addition, the top‐yielding families using the best linear unbiased prediction were selected and further studied by performing a principal component analysis to facilitate understanding of their morphological characteristics. The traits evaluated were: stalk number, stalk weight, stalk diameter and height, juice percentage of soluble solids (Brix), cane yield, and sugar yield. The results of the single‐site analyses showed that stalk height, stalk diameter, and Brix were the most important variables because of the higher potential gains in yield based on their heritability values. In the multiple‐site analyses, relevant nonadditive effects (i.e., dominance) were detected for the variables cane yield, sugar yield, stalk weight, stalk diameter, and stalk height. The selection of the top‐yielding families by principal component analysis produced two groups of diverging morphological characteristics or ideotypes. Finally, bivariate analyses showed, among others, a high additive genetic correlation between stalk number and stalk weight.
Cellulase Accelerates Short‐Term Decay of Thatch‐Mat
Authors: Berndt William L. , Gaussoin Roch E. , Vargas Joseph M.
Published: April 2014

Thatch‐mat (TM) is comprised of various cell wall polymers, including cellulose. As cellulase (CEL) hydrolyses cellulose it may accelerate TM decay. Research sought to determine if CEL fromTrichoderma reeseiaccelerates decay of TM from hybrid bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon(L.) Pers. var.dactylon×C.transvaalensisBurtt‐Davy]. Release of CO2–C from TM in response to two levels of applied CEL and a control was measured daily over 15 d, plotting percent TM‐C remaining vs. time. Fitting a double exponential model of the formy=a0e−bx+c0e−dxto resulting curves yielded rate constants for fast‐pool C and slow‐pool C. After 3 d, total CO2–C released from untreated TM was 2.95 g kg−1, leaving 96.8% C remaining. Treating with 10 and 20 g CEL kg−1TM increased CO2–C release to 4.30 and 5.84 g kg−1, leaving 95.6 and 93.6% C remaining. Differences in percent C remaining at 15 d were insignificant, averaging 92%. It appeared untreated TM had lost as much C as treated. Treating with 10 g CEL kg−1decreased turnover time of fast‐pool from 3.2 to 1.3 d, and slow‐pool from 451 to 309 d. Increasing the rate to 20 g CEL kg−1did not further reduce turnover time of fast‐pool, but increased slow‐pool turnover time to 1466 d. Results suggested constituents subject to CEL hydrolysis, which ≈7%, mineralized faster with CEL treatment, but were quickly exhausted slowing subsequent decay. Cellulase accelerated short‐term decay, but did not increase total TM mineralized over 15 d.
Rye–Vetch Mixture Proportion Tradeoffs: Cover Crop Productivity, Nitrogen Accumulation, and Weed Suppression
Authors: Hayden Zachary D. , Ngouajio Mathieu , Brainard Daniel C.
Published: April 2014

Cereal–legume cover crop mixtures have the potential to combine the unique strengths of the component species while taking advantage of interspecific synergies. However, the relative proportion of each species in the mixture is likely to influence species interactions and entail important tradeoffs in cover crop performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate how the relative proportions of cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) sown in mixtures influenced cover crop biomass production, winter annual weed suppression, vetch winter survival, and vetch N2 fixation as measured by the 15N natural abundance method. Following a replacement series design, treatments consisted of a gradient of seven rye–vetch mixture proportions ranging from 100% vetch to 100% rye. Density and biomass composition in the mixtures were highly correlated with rye and vetch seeding rates, with little evidence of substantial interspecific interference. Total shoot biomass in all mixtures was equal to or greater than that of either monoculture, but no differences were detected in vetch winter survival or the efficiency of N2 fixation. Changing the proportions of rye and vetch in the mixtures resulted in tradeoffs related to N and weed management goals. Increasing vetch in mixtures led to greater fixed N accumulation but also increased seed costs and reduced winter annual weed suppression. A greater understanding of how rye–vetch mixture proportions influence cover crop performance can support more‐informed decision‐making regarding cover crop selection and mixture seeding rates.
The Influence of TRP53 in the Dose Response of Radiation-Induced Apoptosis, DNA Repair and Genomic Stability in Murine Haematopoietic Cells
Authors: Lemon Jennifer A. , Taylor Kristina , Verdecchia Kyle , Phan Nghi , Boreham Douglas R.
Published: April 2014

Apoptotic and DNA damage endpoints are frequently used as surrogate markers of cancer risk, and have been well-studied in the Trp53+/− mouse model. We report the effect of differing Trp53 gene status on the dose response of ionizing radiation exposures (0.01–2 Gy), with the unique perspective of determining if effects of gene status remain at extended time points. Here we report no difference in the dose response for radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks in bone marrow and genomic instability (MN-RET levels) in peripheral blood, between wild-type (Trp53+/+) and heterozygous (Trp53+/−) mice. The dose response for Trp53+/+ mice showed higher initial levels of radiation-induced lymphocyte apoptosis relative to Trp53+/− between 0 and 1 Gy. Although this trend was observed up to 12 hours post-irradiation, both genotypes ultimately reached the same level of apoptosis at 14 hours, suggesting the importance of late-onset p53-independent apoptotic responses in this mouse model. Expected radiation-induced G1 cell cycle delay was observed in Trp53+/+ but not Trp53+/−. Although p53 has an important role in cancer risk, we have shown its influence on radiation dose response can be temporally variable. This research highlights the importance of caution when using haematopoietic endpoints as surrogates to extrapolate radiation-induced cancer risk estimation.
A ‘Moot’ for Educational Research in Europe?
Authors: Hoveid Marit Honerod , Keiner Edwin , Seddon Terri
Published: April 2014

For many years the EERJ Roundtable has been a standing event within the European Conference on Educational Research (ECER). In a discursive style it addresses issues related to contemporary relationships between educational research and educational policy in Europe. The changing educational landscape, together with shifting practices and discourses of educational research, prompted researchers to discuss the need for increased self-governance. It was taken up as the topic for the 2013 EERJ Roundtable and couched as a question: What is the possibility of a ‘moot’ for educational research in Europe? This article reports on the 2013 Roundtable. Its three short presentations and subsequent audience discussion have been summarised and reflected upon to make a case for a moot: a self-governing space for educational research. It reveals ECER, and particularly the EERJ Roundtable, as a scholarly and a political arena where the interplay between research, policy and larger patterns of social change can be reviewed, interrogated and appropriated critically into the disciplinary logics of educational research.
Innovative Learning Environments: About Traditional and New Patterns of Learning
Authors: Schrittesser Ilse , Gerhartz-Reiter Sabine , Paseka Angelika
Published: April 2014

How can the conception of formal learning environments like schools foster individual learning and the acquisition of the competences necessary for a rewarding participation in the knowledge societies of the twenty-first century? Just how important learning has become as an issue for society is demonstrated by the interest shown in the subject by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). A project launched by its Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) in a number of countries (including several European countries, among them Austria) focuses on how ‘innovative learning environments' (ILE) can contribute to offering meaningful and sustainable learning experiences for learners in the twenty-first century. This article presents the main findings of the Austrian part of the project and discusses whether and how the development of ILE is possible against the background of school routines and a school system that –despite a number of reform projects — seems to be successfully resistant to change. The article focuses on the question of whether and how learning is made meaningful for the pupils and whether and how those learning environments identified as innovative really do support fruitful and meaningful processes of learning.
Entrepreneurship Projects and Pupils' Academic Performance: A Study of Norwegian Secondary Schools
Authors: Johansen Vegard , Schanke Tuva
Published: April 2014

Many European countries have launched policy strategies for entrepreneurship education in the past decade. The result is a significant increase of entrepreneurship education in schools and higher education institutions in Europe. Entrepreneurship education is supposed to promote entrepreneurial abilities and improve academic performance. This article evaluates whether entrepreneurship projects in secondary school improves academic performance. The indicator used for academic performance is the Grade Point Average. The indicator used for entrepreneurship education is the Company Programme, a programme taught in 37 European countries. The data derive from surveys conducted in Norwegian schools in 2012. A total of 1880 pupils participated in a survey in lower secondary schools, and 1160 pupils participated in a survey in upper secondary schools. The results from econometric analyses show a higher Grade Point Average among participants in the Company Programme compared to non-participants in lower secondary schools, but no difference between the two groups in upper secondary schools. The divergent results are probably a reflection of the various ways the Company Programme is taught at different education levels. It indicates that, with less focus on the enterprise part, entrepreneurship projects can be a good teaching method for improvement of academic performance.
Searching for Significance in Unstructured Data: Text Mining with Leximancer
Authors: Thomas David A.
Published: April 2014

Scholars in many knowledge domains rely on sophisticated information technologies to search for and retrieve records and publications pertinent to their research interests. But what is a scholar to do when a search identifies hundreds of documents, any of which might be vital or irrelevant to his or her work? The problem is further complicated by the unstructured nature of most documents which, unlike databases, are difficult to search systematically. More and more, scholars are turning to content analysis technologies to achieve what they do not have time to do themselves — characterize the global features of a large corpus of work and identify relationships between particular concepts, themes, and methodologies. This article begins with a brief discussion of content analysis as a research methodology. The utility of this methodology is then illustrated using Leximancer, an automated content analysis and concept mapping technology. Against this conceptual and technical background, the value of content analysis is discussed in a variety of academic contexts, including individual and collaborative scholarship and academic advising.
The influence of heterocyclic compound-PAMAM dendrimer complexes on evoked electrical responses in slices of hypoxic brain tissue
Authors: Potkin Vladimir , Shcharbin Dzmitry , Denisov Andrey , Paschkevich Svetlana , Bryszewska Maria , Petkevich Sergey , Kletskov Alexey , Lapotko Dmitri , Kazbanov Vladimir , Gurinovich Tatiana , Kulchitsky Vladimir
Published: April 2014

We used complexes between a fourth generation polyamidoamine (PAMAM) dendrimer and one of two heterocyclic compounds — 1-(6-hydroxyhexyl)-3-(5-phenyl-isoxazole-3-yl)-urea or 5-phenyl-isoxazole-3-carboxylic acid — to reduce oxygen consumption in transverse slices of the hippocampus taken from 4-week old male rats. In vitro electrophysiological experiments revealed that the inhibitory effect of the hypoxic state on the evoked responses was enhanced in the presence of the complexes. The data were analyzed in terms of the potential antitumor effects of these complexes.
The Chronotopic Dynamics of Ibsen’sPillars of Society: The Triumph of Industrialism, or How Drama Becomes History
Authors: Özdemir Erinç
Published: April 2014

ABSTRACT:

This essay aims to bring a socio-historical perspective to the current critical assessment of Ibsen’s Pillars of Society, which has been largely confined to the ethical and the cultural. Combining a Bakhtinian, chronotopic analysis with a Bakhtinian / New Historicist understanding of literary texts as inevitably or deliberately informed by historical processes, the essay argues that the socio-economic/socio-historical plot in the play is the larger, as well as more determining, dramatic component and force. It posits that industrial capitalism and technological modernization are the intertwined dynamics that propel the drama from beginning to end, forming its central axis of plot in the shape of the railroad enterprise.
A model of crystal-size evolution in polar ice masses
Authors: NG Felix , Jacka T.H.
Published: April 2014

In the deep ice cores drilled at the GRIP, NGRIP and GISP2 sites in Greenland and at Byrd Station and the summit of Law Dome in Antarctica, the mean crystal size increases with depth in the shallow subsurface and reaches steady values at intermediate depth. This behaviour has been attributed to the competition between grain-boundary migration driven crystal growth and crystal polygonization, but the effects of changing crystal dislocation density and non-equiaxed crystal shape in this competition are uncertain. We study these effects with a simple model. It describes how the mean height and width of crystals evolve as they flatten under vertical compression, and as crystal growth and polygonization compete. The polygonization rate is assumed to be proportional to the mean dislocation density across crystals. Migration recrystallization, which can affect crystal growth via strain-induced grain boundary migration but whose impact on the mean crystal size is difficult to quantify for ice at present, is not accounted for. When applied to the five ice-core sites, the model simulates the observed crystal-size profiles well down to the bottom of their steady regions, although the match for Law Dome is less satisfactory. Polygonization rate factors retrieved for the sites range from 10–5to 10–2a–1. We conclude that since crystal size and dislocation density evolve in a strongly coupled manner, consistent modelling requires multiple differential equations to track both of these variables. Future ice-core analysis should also determine crystal size in all three principal directions.
Palliative Care and Care for the Aged:An Achievable Reality in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmad Nezamuddin
Published: April 2014

No abstract available.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18650 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):12-13
Successful Pregnancy Outcome Within Short Period of Remission From Choriocarcinoma Treated with Single Agent Chemotherapy - A Case Report
Authors: Habib Asma , Hossain Md. Mofazzel , Jahan Fauzia
Published: April 2014

Gestational trophoblastic tumour/disease (GTT/GTD) is unique it cancer biology in that they result from aberrations of either a normal or an abnormal pregnancy. The most common antecedent pregnancy event to GTT is a complete or partial hydatidiform mole (HM). However, persistent trophoblastic disease or choriocarcinoma can follow a complete hydatidiform mole with an incident of approximately 8%, and after a partial hydatidiform mole with an incidence of approximately 0.5%. The exact proportion of cases of hydatidiform mole transforming to choriocarcinoma cannot be clearly estimated, approximately 3% to 5% of cases of complete hydatidiform mole. 1-3 Therefore,  all patients with GTT need to be monitored so that the small proportion of persistent mole or choriocarcinoma can receive prompt treatment and elimination of their' disease. The recommendation stands as strict avoidance of pregnancy for at least one year after treatment of molar pregnancy or low risk non-metastatic gestational trophoblastic tumour. Pregnancy during this period of surveillance interferes with the sequential monitoring of abnormal trophoblastic activity by serum beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin levels and relapses become difficult to detect. The effect of single agent or combination chemotherapy on the totipotent oocytes usually wavers away during the recommended period of contraception. But in cases of pregnancy during the period of surveillance certain factors have been found to be associated with increased risk of relapse and teratogenic effects of the offspring. High risk/score (according to the FIGO scoring system ) and advanced stage Gestational trophoblastic tumour (GTT), short interval between pregnancy and remission from combination chemotherapy, poor compliance during the antenatal follow-up are linked with detrimental maternal and foetal outcome. Here we report a case of successful pregnancy outcome in a patient who conceived within 3 months of remission from choriocarcinoma treated by methotrexate as evidenced by 2 consecutive negative ?-human chorionic gonadotropin (?-hCG) values. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18671 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):29-32
Comparative Study of Urinary Albumin Excretion in Pre-Eclamptic Women in Different Duration
Authors: Yousuf Nusrat Ara , Hussain M Anwar , Begum Khadija
Published: April 2014

Pre-eclampsia is one of the important causes of maternal death in developing countries like Bangladesh. The analysis of 24 hour urine for protein excretion remains the best method of monitoring proteinuria in pregnancy. 24 hour urine collection is notoriously difficult to obtain when repeated analysis is needed in pre-eclamptic women .With this back ground, this study was carried out in BSMMU and DMCH from November 2004 to January 2005 to determine whether 12 hours urine collection for measuring albumin excretion in pre-eclamptic women can be a substitute for 24 hour collection. This study was performed on 40 women with pre-eclampsia who were admitted to the hospital. In each patient urinary albumin concentrations in two 12 hours samples (12 hour day and 12 hours night samples) were measured against the standard 24-hour albumin excretion. It was found that albumin concentrations in the 12-hour day and 12-hours night collections were close to the concentrations of the 24-hour collection. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18672 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):33-36
Sero-prevalence of Transfusion Transmissible Infections Markers Among Blood Donors Attending the Blood Transfusion Department Of A Teaching Hospital in Chittagong
Authors: Aziz Rehana , Hyder Shameem , Deb Ajoy , Haque Mahmudul , Islam AQM Serajul
Published: April 2014

As per Safe Blood Transfusion Law 2002 of Bangladesh and worldwide strategy of screening of Transfusion Transmissible Infections (TTIs) markers in blood donors of various categories is a must for the prevention of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Syphilis and Malaria with a aim to decrease morbidity and mortality of the patients receiving blood and blood components. A total of 33,553 blood donors attending the Blood Transfusion Department of Chittagong Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to December 2009 amongst which replacement or relative donors were 30868 (92%), voluntary donors 2685 (8%) and male donors 27722 (82.62%), female donors 5831 (17.38%). Among the donors 15133 (45.10%), were of age group between 18-25 years, 17809 (53.08%) were of age group between 26-45 years, and 611 (1.82%) were of age group between 46-60 years. The purpose of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV, Syphilis and Malaria in blood donors in a Teaching Hospital at Chittagong, Bangladesh. Blood samples from selected donors were tested for HIV, HBV HCV and Malaria by Immunochromatographic (ICT) rapid test device, Syphilis by rapid plasma reagin (RPR) test device method. Screening procedures were in accordance with the manufacturers instruction in terms of adding serum, adding buffer and time duration of reading results. Screening result after compilation shows HIV was reactive in 7 (0.02%) donors all of which were male. HBV was reactive in 285 (0.849%) donors, out of which 272 (95.43%) were male and 13 (4.57%) were female. HCV was reactive in 23 (0.068%) donors, out of which 18 (78.24%) was male and 5 (21.76%) were female. Syphilis was reactive in 32 (0.095%) donors, out of which 29 (90.62%) was male and 3 (9.38%) were female. Malaria was reactive in 31(0.09%) donors all of which were male. By studing this prevalence, attention will be drawn towards severity of the situation so that effective measure can be taken to prevent further transmission of TTIs by blood transfusion. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18673 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):37-39
Hematological and Biochemical Parameter Changes Related to Methotrexate Therapy
Authors: Hazra Samaresh Chandra , Choudhury Agha Masood , Khondker Lubana , Khan Md Shirajul Islam , Ahmed Nafiza
Published: April 2014

A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the hematological and biochemical changes related to methotrexate in the treatment of lichen planus. A total of forty four patients with lichen planus, attendign at the department of Dermatology and Venereology, Bangabandhu Seikha Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh durign the period of january 2009 to December 2010 were enrolled in this study purposively. Of them, 23 patients in group-A (case group) and 21 patients in group-B (control group) were selected randomly. The case group was treated with oral methotrexate and the control group was trated with betamethasone oral mini- pulse therapy. A decreasing trend of hemoglobin level and platet count was observed between two groups. An increasing trend of SGPT was observed among the case adn control up to 6th week of observation and then it decreased. This study also revealed abnormlity in platelet count and liver function test in both the groups. But the overall effects were less in cases than control. So it cand be concluded from this study that methtrexate can be used as an alternative saf drug therapy for the treatmetn of lichen planus. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18674 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):40-43
Efficacy of Oral Mini Pulse Betamethasone in the Treatment of Vitiligo
Authors: Khondker Lubna , Khan Md Shirajul Islam , Hazra Samaresh Chandra , Ahmed Nafiza
Published: April 2014

Vitiligo is a multifactorial polygenic disorder with a complex pathogenesis, characterized by depigmented macules in skin. A clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of oral mini pluse betamethasone in the treatment of vitiligo patients. The study was done in the department of Dermatology and Venerology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujjb Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh for duration of July 2009 to June 2010. Among thirty patients of vitiligo, most of the male patients (60%) and most of the femal patients (73%) were between 20 to 25 years. Majority of patients (70%) had been suffering from vitiligo for less than 3 years and 53% patients had family history. Twenty one (70%) patients had acro-facial type vitiligo and 23(76.7%) cases were progressive in nature. In this study, response was slight in 33.33%, moderate in 26.67% marked in 33.33% and excellent in 6.67% of cases after 12 weeks. Twenty percent (20%) of total patients were seen to be with clinical side effect. Among the side effects, weight gain 2(6.67%), and acene 2(2.67%) was most prevalent, others include general weakness 1(3.33%) and mild headache 1(3.33%). In conclusion, oral mini pulse betamethasone seems to be an effective treatment modality to arrest the progression of vitiligo and induction of repigmentation. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18675 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):44-47
Hepatoprotective Effect of Nigella Sativa Linn (Kalajira) On Paracetamol-induced Liver Damage
Authors: Pal Dipali Rani , Nahar Shamusn , Roy Kanta , Talukder Shah Alam , Hossain Md. Motahar , Paul Paritosh Chandra , Eva Eliza Omar
Published: April 2014

Paracetamol is the widely used non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of mild to moderate pain. It causes hepatotoxicity in therapeutic dose for prolonged time. It can induce centrilobular hepatic necrosis in large over doses. Nigella sativa (kalajira) is a medicinal plant has a protective role against hepatotoxicity. Therefore, the present study was designed to observe the protective role of Nigella sativa on paracetamol induced liver damage biochemically in Long Evans rats. The experiment was carried out in the Department of Anatomy, Dhaka Medical college, in the period of July 2003 to June 2004. Sixty matured Long Evans rats of either sex, age of 10-12 weeks and weighing between 150-200 gm were used in this study. They were divided into four equal groups. Group A was vehicle (distilled water) control group, Group B was Nigella oil treated group, Group C was paracetamol treated group and Group D was Paracetamol & Nigella sativa oil treated group. Paracetamol in a single dose of 3gm/kg body weight orally causes hepatotoxicity which was assessed bio-chemically. Nigella sativa oil at a dose of 800mg/kg body weight was administered orally for 4 weeks. It was found that significant elevation of serum alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin level in paracetamol treated group. It was observed that 4 weeks oral treatment of Nigella sativa oil in Group D, decrease the level of serum alanine aminotransferase, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alkaline phosphatase and serum bilirubin. The result revealed that Nigella sativa oil able to give protection against paracetamol induced liver damage. However, more sophisticated biochemical studies like glutathione content and malondialdehyde level should be studied further. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v40i3.18677 Bangladesh Medical Journal 2011 Vol.40(3):52-54
‘An American has been turned’: Thinking Autoimmunity through Homeland
Authors: Farred Grant
Published: April 2014

This essay uses Derrida's concept of autoimmunity to critique Homeland, a television show that deals with an American prisoner of war who has been ‘turned’ into an operative for an al Queda-like movement. Autoimmunity is critical to thinking the ways in which the existence of a turned POW within the state, who belongs visibly to the state, presents a particularly heteronomic challenge to how the distinction between Self and Other operates. This Self who has taken up the cause of the Other presents, this essay argues, an infinitely greater threat to the state precisely because it cannot be identified as Other, precisely because bears no ostensible traces of the Other.
Provocations and Improvisations Concerning Reality: The Encounters of Jacques Derrida and Jean Luc-Nancy
Authors: Hodge Joanna
Published: April 2014

This essay responds to the Nancean account of presentation, evoked in the opening citation, in order to trace out in Nancy's enquiries a disruption of Husserlian presentation, and a re-thinking of materiality on the edge of classical phenomenology. It stages a non-encounter between the writings of Jean-Luc Nancy and of Jacques Derrida in relation to a third term, the Lacanian conception of the ‘real’. Thereby it can be shown how these writings touch on each other, in response to phenomenology and to psychoanalytical theory, but do not engage. All the same, the claim to be made is that the writings of Nancy and Derrida converge in forming a third option, alongside the secularised phenomenologies of Sartre and Merleau-Ponty and the Christian phenomenologies of Jean-Luc Marion and Michel Henry, by marking up the event of Lacan's reformulation of Freud's psychoanalytical theorising.
Liberating Methodologies and Nakba Studies: Palestinian History and Memory from below as Sites of Lifelong Learning
Authors: Masalha Nur
Published: April 2014

Historians too often construct frameworks and methodologies which obfuscate social, economic and political oppression. This article explores new historical methodologies that can represent oppressed and marginalised groups in Palestine. In particular the article focuses on the role of indigenous history and memory in critical learning and shaping individual and collective identity in Palestine. It further argues that Palestinian memories ‘from below’ since the Nakba have played a major positive role in the recovery from the traumatic catastrophe and the reconstruction of Palestinian identity. The article critiques the manipulation of collective memory by social, political and economic elites and top-down nationalist approaches. It argues that reconfigured popular memories can be liberating and empowering for embattled Palestinians. The article also calls for the establishment of an interdisciplinary subfield of Nakba Studies that would bring together historians, social memory and cultural theorists, postcolonial scholars and scholars of trauma studies with the aim of documenting and studying the embattled social memory of Palestine as a site of lifelong learning and empowerment.
Pedagogy under Siege in Palestine: Insights from Paulo Freire
Authors: Silwadi Najwa , Mayo Peter
Published: April 2014

This paper analyses the relevance of Paulo Freire's pedagogical and philosophical ideas within the context of occupied Palestine. It specifically focuses on the work in continuing community action and education carried out by a particular centre established at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem, and at the heart of the ‘old city’, for this purpose. The major focus here is on community theatre foregrounding issues related to women in Palestinian society. Major themes broached include the politics of education, social mobilisation, women and the Intifada, the collective dimensions of knowledge, learning and praxis, purging oneself of the ‘oppressor within’ to break the cycle of violence, education for liberation.
Resisting Colonialism through Nature: An Ecopostcolonial Reading of Mahmoud Darwish's Selected Poems
Authors: Ahmed Hamoud Yahya , Hashim Ruzy Suliza
Published: April 2014

Resisting colonialism remains the main theme of the poetry of the Arab Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish. This paper explores how Darwish employs nature as a new way for resisting the occupation of his homeland. His poems, throughout his writing life that spans fifty years, can be used to demonstrate how an ecopostcolonial perspective might contribute to an understanding of the poet's resistance through nature to the colonisers in his homeland. The theoretical framework used in this study is derived from both the ecocritical and postcolonial theories of reading literature. It is termed as ecoresistance as a new perspective of analysing resistance in the Arab literary studies, a non-western viewpoint and an original analytical lens for reading Darwish's work. The analysis reveals that Darwish uses the various forms of nature that range from the forms of the pure nature to the forms that have been cultivated. Through the ecopostcolonial perspective of the study, the employment of nature for resistance and the indication of Darwish as an ecopostcolonial poet of the Arab world are played out. The paper further proposes new insights into man's connection to land and is a step towards opening up the field of ecocriticism as a way of reading Arab poetry of resistance.
Completely Analytical Tools for the Next Generation of Surface and Coating Optimization
Authors: Schwarzer Norbert
Published: April 2014

Usually, some severe efforts are required to obtain tribological parameters like Archard’s wear depth parameter kd. Complex tribological experiments have to be performed and analyzed. The paper features an approach where such parameters are extracted from effective interaction potentials in combination with more physical-oriented measurements, such as Nanoindentation and physical scratch. Thereby, the effective potentials are built up and fed from such tests. By using effective material potentials one can derive critical loading situations leading to failure (decomposition strength) for any contact situation. A subsequent connection of these decomposition or failure states with the corresponding stress or strain distributions allows the development of rather comprehensive tribological parameter models, applicable in wear and fatigue simulations, as demonstrated in this work. From this, a new relatively general wear model has been developed on the basis of the effective indenter concept by using the extended Hertzian approach for a great variety of loading situations. The models do not only allow to analyze certain tribological experiments, such as the well known pin-on disk test or the more recently developed nano-fretting test, but also to forward simulate such tests and even give hints for structured optimization or result in better component life-time prediction. The work will show how the procedure has to be applied in general and a small selection of practical examples will be presented.
A Wide-Area Measurement Systems-Based Adaptive Strategy for Controlled Islanding in Bulk Power Systems
Authors: Song Honglei , Wu Junyong , Wu Kui
Published: April 2014

Controlled islanding is the last countermeasure for a bulk power system when it suffers from severe cascading contingencies. The objective of controlled islanding is to maintain the stability of each island and to keep the total loss of loads of the whole system to a minimum. This paper presents a novel integrated wide-area measurement systems (WAMS)-based adaptive controlled islanding strategy, which depends on the dynamic post-fault trajectories under different failure modes. We first utilize an improved Laplacian eigenmap algorithm (ILEA) to identify the coherent generators and use the slow coherency grouping algorithm to guarantee coherent stability within an island. Using the identification result, we then define the minimum coherent generator virtual nodes to reduce the searching space in a graph and utilize the k-way partitioning (KWP) algorithm to obtain a preliminary partition of the simplified graph. Based on the preliminary partition, we consider the direction of power flow and propose a variable neighborhood heuristic searching algorithm to search the optimal separation surfaces so that the net imbalanced power of islands is minimized. Finally, the bidirectional power flow tracing algorithm and PQ decomposition power flow analysis are utilized to determine the corrective controls within each island. The test results with the New England 39-bus system and the IEEE 118-bus system show that the proposed integrated controlled islanding strategy can automatically adapt to different fault modes through generator coherency identification and effectively group the different coherent generators into different islands.
Fault Detection and Location by Static Switches in Microgrids Using Wavelet Transform and Adaptive Network-Based Fuzzy Inference System
Authors: Hong Ying-Yi , Wei Yan-Hung , Chang Yung-Ruei , Lee Yih-Der , Liu Pang-Wei
Published: April 2014

Microgrids are a highly efficient means of embedding distributed generation sources in a power system. However, if a fault occurs inside or outside the microgrid, the microgrid should be immediately disconnected from the main grid using a static switch installed at the secondary side of the main transformer near the point of common coupling (PCC). The static switch should have a reliable module implemented in a chip to detect/locate the fault and activate the breaker to open the circuit immediately. This paper proposes a novel approach to design this module in a static switch using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The wavelet coefficient of the fault voltage and the inference results of ANFIS with the wavelet energy of the fault current at the secondary side of the main transformer determine the control action (open or close) of a static switch. The ANFIS identifies the faulty zones inside or outside the microgrid. The proposed method is applied to the first outdoor microgrid test bed in Taiwan, with a generation capacity of 360.5 kW. This microgrid test bed is studied using the real-time simulator eMegaSim developed by Opal-RT Technology Inc. (Montreal, QC, Canada). The proposed method based on DWT and ANFIS is implemented in a field programmable gate array (FPGA) by using the Xilinx System Generator. Simulation results reveal that the proposed method is efficient and applicable in the real-time control environment of a power system.