bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tribology–Structure Relationships in Silicon Oxycarbide Thin Films
Authors: Ryan Joseph V. , Colombo Paolo , Howell Jane A. , Pantano Carlo G.
Published: April 2009

Silicon oxycarbide is a versatile material system that is attractive for many applications because of its ability to tune properties such as chemical compatibility, refractive index, electrical conductivity, and optical band gap through changes in composition. One particularly intriguing application lies in the production of biocompatible coatings with good mechanical properties. In this paper, we report on the wide range of mechanical and tribological property values exhibited by silicon oxycarbide thin films deposited by reactive radio frequency magnetron sputtering. Through a change in oxygen partial pressure in the sputtering plasma, the composition of the films was controlled to produce relatively pure SiO2, carbon‐doped SiC, and compositions between these limits. Hardness values were 8–20 GPa over this range and the elastic modulus was measured to be between 60 and 220 GPa. We call attention to the fit of the mechanical data to a simple additive bond‐mixture model for property prediction. Tribological parameters were measured using a ball‐on‐disk apparatus and the samples exhibited the same general trends for friction coefficient and wear rate. One film is shown to produce variable low friction behavior and low wear rate, which suggests a solid‐state self‐lubrication process because of heterogeneity on the nanometer scale.
Zinc Deficiency Anemia and Effects of Zinc Therapy in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Fukushima Tatsuo , Horike Hideyuki , Fujiki Shigeatsu , Kitada Shingo , Sasaki Tamaki , Kashihara Naoki
Published: April 2009

Quantitative adjuvant zinc therapy using polaprezinc was performed to examine the correlation between zinc concentration and anemia in maintenance hemodialysis patients to propose appropriate treatment. Anemia and serum zinc concentration were measured in 117 patients with chronic renal failure receiving outpatient maintenance hemodialysis at Tsuyama Chuo Kinen Hospital. Two bags of polaprezinc (containing zinc 34 mg/day) were administered to 58 patients with lower than normal zinc levels (Zn < 80 mg/dl) as adjuvant zinc therapy to assess anemia improvement. Zinc concentration and all anemia parameters showed significant positive correlation, indicating that anemia improves in patients with high serum zinc levels. Regarding the effects of adjuvant zinc therapy for improving anemia, hemoglobin levels were found to increase significantly to the highest value at 3 weeks. During treatment, the dosage of erythropoietin was reduced significantly from baseline at all assessment points. No zinc poisoning from therapy was seen, but two patients had diarrhea (1.9%). Zinc‐treated patients required iron therapy due to the development of iron deficiency. Most maintenance hemodialysis patients suffer from zinc deficiency anemia, and zinc‐based polaprezinc has been confirmed to be an effective and safe adjuvant zinc treatment. Most patients diagnosed as refractory anemia with no response to erythropoietin also suffer from zinc deficiency anemia, many of whom are expected to benefit from zinc therapy to improve their anemia. Possible zinc deficiency anemia should be considered in the treatment of refractory anemia with no response to erythropoietin.
Efficacy of High‐Throughput Leukocytapheresis for Rheumatoid Arthritis With a Reduced Response to Infliximab
Authors: Sakai Yukinao , Sakai Saori , Otsuka Tomoyuki , Ohno Dai , Murasawa Tsuneo , Munakata Kazuo , Mizuno Kyoichi
Published: April 2009

Infliximab (INF), a tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) inhibitor, is an effective drug for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, some patients receive no clinical benefit, or the agents gradually lose their effect. Five sessions of high‐throughput leukocytapheresis (LCAP) were given at a frequency of once a week using a Cellsorba CS‐180S to four patients with a reduced response to INF. The clinical response to LCAP was evaluated using the 28‐joint disease activity score with C‐reactive protein (DAS28‐CRP) and with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28‐ESR). DAS28‐CRP decreased significantly from 5.8 ± 0.6 before LCAP to 3.9 ± 0.7 (P = 0.0182) at 1–2 weeks after completion of five sessions of LCAP, and DAS28‐ESR decreased significantly from 6.4 ± 0.6 to 4.6 ± 0.5 (P = 0.0267). Moreover, all patients had a moderate response according to the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) response criteria. The effect of LCAP continued for at least 6 months after its completion in all patients, with no changes in any of their concomitant drugs, and the effect was maintained for at least 1 year in three of the four patients. These results indicate that LCAP is a useful treatment for RA patients with a reduced response to INF.
Ionized Alkaline Water: New Strategy for Management of Metabolic Acidosis in Experimental Animals
Authors: Abol‐Enein Hassan , Gheith Osama A , Barakat Nashwa , Nour Eman , Sharaf Abd‐Elhameed
Published: April 2009

Metabolic acidosis can occur as a result of either the accumulation of endogenous acids or loss of bicarbonate from the gastrointestinal tract or the kidney, which represent common causes of metabolic acidosis. The appropriate treatment of acute metabolic acidosis has been very controversial. Ionized alkaline water was not evaluated in such groups of patients in spite of its safety and reported benefits. So, we aimed to assess its efficacy in the management of metabolic acidosis in animal models. Two models of metabolic acidosis were created in dogs and rats. The first model of renal failure was induced by ligation of both ureters; and the second model was induced by urinary diversion to gut (gastrointestinal bicarbonate loss model). Both models were subjected to ionized alkaline water (orally and by hemodialysis). Dogs with renal failure were assigned to two groups according to the type of dialysate utilized during hemodialysis sessions, the first was utilizing alkaline water and the second was utilizing conventional water. Another two groups of animals with urinary diversion were arranged to receive oral alkaline water and tap water. In renal failure animal models, acid‐base parameters improved significantly after hemodialysis with ionized alkaline water compared with the conventional water treated with reverse osmosis (RO). Similar results were observed in urinary diversion models as there was significant improvement of both the partial pressure of carbon dioxide and serum bicarbonate (P = 0.007 and 0.001 respectively) after utilizing alkaline water orally. Alkaline ionized water can be considered as a major safe strategy in the management of metabolic acidosis secondary to renal failure or dialysis or urinary diversion. Human studies are indicated in the near future to confirm this issue in humans.
Coalescence of Drops with Tangentially Mobile Interfaces: Effects of Ambient Flow
Authors: Santoro Piero , Loewenberg Michael
Published: April 2009

According to the classical theory of film drainage for drops with tangentially immobile interfaces, the ambient flow field has no influence on film drainage aside from the hydrodynamic pushing force that it provides. The current theories of drop coalescence assume that this feature applies also to drops with tangentially mobile interfaces. This assumption is incorrect, except at short times. At long times, ambient flow conditions qualitatively affect film drainage, even under small‐deformation conditions. The ambient flow can arrest film drainage, preventing coalescence, or exponentially enhance film drainage. Here, a new axisymmetric thin‐film formulation is presented that correctly accounts for the influence of the ambient flow field. The formulation correctly recovers theoretical predictions for the stationary film thickness at long times. An analysis of the long‐time behavior under accelerated drainage conditions explains why film thinning occurs exponentially. The numerical predictions of the new thin‐film formulation are compared to whole‐drop boundary integral simulations and are found to be in good agreement under small‐deformation conditions. Thin‐film simulations are used to describe offset collisions of drops, under the simplifying assumption that film drainage is unaffected by the tangential relative motion of the drops.
Polymer Translocation through a Nanopore: A Showcase of Anomalous Diffusion
Authors: Milchev A. , Dubbeldam Johan L. A. , Rostiashvili Vakhtang G. , Vilgis Thomas A.
Published: April 2009

We investigate the translocation dynamics of a polymer chain threaded through a membrane nanopore by a chemical potential gradient that acts on the chain segments inside the pore. By means of diverse methods (scaling theory, fractional calculus, and Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations), we demonstrate that the relevant dynamic variable, the transported number of polymer segments, s(t), displays an anomalous diffusive behavior, both with and without an external driving force being present. We show that in the absence of drag force the time τ, needed for a macromolecule of length N to thread from the cis into the trans side of a cell membrane, scales as τN2/α with the chain length. The anomalous dynamics of the translocation process is governed by a universal exponent α= 2/(2ν+ 2 −γ1), which contains the basic universal exponents of polymer physics, ν (the Flory exponent) and γ1 (the surface entropic exponent). A closed analytic expression for the probability to find s translocated segments at time t in terms of chain length N and applied drag force f is derived from the fractional Fokker–Planck equation, and shown to provide analytic results for the time variation of the statistical moments 〈s(t)〉 and 〈s2 (t)〉. It turns out that the average translocation time scales as τ∝f−1N2/α−1. These results are tested and found to be in perfect agreement with extensive Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics computer simulations.
Instability of Protein Drops via Applied Electric Field: Mathematical and Experimental Aspects
Authors: Penkova Anita , Mladenov Ivaïlo M.
Published: April 2009

Drops (5–15 μL) consisting of a protein solution readily crystallize and could provide an opportunity for a simultaneous examination of their thermodynamic and kinetic properties at various sizes. These drops experienced different pressures and therefore different surface tensions. Starting from the expression for the interface traction between protein fluid and silicon medium (with different dielectric constants), we have derived an equation accounting the influence of the electric field strength on the geometry of a protein drop. If the field strength increases, the lysozyme drop between two electrodes elongates and some crystals nucleate on the cathode side. In this situation numerous factors besides the intensity of the electric field—such as the solution composition, the charge and size of the protein molecule, the purity of the protein substance, and the consistency of bubbles of water—can have a significant effect on the crystallization rate and location.
Modeling of Mass Transfer Limitation in Biomolecular Assays
Authors: Nadim Ali
Published: April 2009

Many biomolecular assays involve the capture of an analyte by ligands that are attached or immobilized upon a solid surface. Often the binding kinetics of the ligand and analyte are fast enough that the capture step is limited by diffusion or mass transfer of the analyte from the bulk fluid phase onto the surface. In this contribution, after a brief survey of various mathematical models for mass transfer–limited analyte capture, we analyze one model problem. The model involves the capture of analytes by suspended solid spherical beads on whose surface many ligands are attached. The rate of association of the ligand and analyte molecules is taken to be high enough that the overall rate of the capture process is limited by diffusion. Two distinct limits are examined analytically. In early times, when the analytes near a bead are being captured and the depletion layers in the neighborhood of the individual beads are nonoverlapping, the problem is modeled as a diffusion/surface reaction problem about a single bead, and analytical results are obtained that describe the amount of analyte captured as a function of time. At later times, when the depletion layers from neighboring beads begin to overlap, the problem is modeled by means of generalized Taylor dispersion or macrotransport theory. In each case, scaling laws are derived that characterize the capture efficiency as a function of number density, volume fraction, and radius of beads.
Adiabatic Heating and Convection in a Porous Medium Filled with a Near‐Critical Fluid
Authors: Soboleva E. B.
Published: April 2009

Dynamics and heat transfer in a porous medium filled with a fluid phase at parameters near the gas–liquid critical point are studied. A two‐dimensional numerical solver based on the hydrodynamic model for a porous medium with a high compressible fluid phase including the van der Waals equation of state is used. In weightlessness, adiabatic heating of fluid phase under the step‐temperature heat supply is investigated analytically and numerically. In terrestrial conditions, gravity‐driven convection in vertical rectangular cells generated by lateral heating in unsteady and steady‐state regimes is simulated. The effects of high compressibility of near‐critical fluid phase on convection are studied. Convective motions and heat transfer in horizontal rectangular cells consisting of two porous layers at different porosity and permeability heated from below are simulated as well. Adiabatic heating subjected to hydrostatic compressibility effects, the onset and development of convection, and convective structures in a steady‐state regime are analyzed.
Solute Transport in Intervertebral Disc
Authors: Das D. B. , Welling A. , Urban J. P. G. , Boubriak O. A.
Published: April 2009

Loss of nutrient supply to the human intervertebral disc (IVD) cells is thought to be a major cause of disc degeneration in humans. To address this issue, transport of molecules of different size have been analyzed by a combination of experimental and modeling studies. Solute transport has been compared for steady‐state and transient diffusion of several different solutes with molecular masses in the range 3–70 kDa, injected into parts of the disc where degeneration is thought most likely to occur first and into the blood supply to the disc. Diffusion coefficients of fluorescently tagged dextran molecules of different molecular weights have been measured in vitro using the concentration gradient technique in thin specimens of disc outer annulus and nucleus pulposus. Diffusion coefficients were found to decrease with molecular weight following a nonlinear relationship. Diffusion coefficients changed more rapidly for solutes with molecular masses less than 10 kDa. Although unrealistic or painful, solutes injected directly into the disc achieve the largest disc coverage with concentrations that would be high enough to be of practical use. Although more practical, solutes injected into the blood supply do not penetrate to the central regions of the disc and their concentrations dissipate more rapidly. Injection into the disc would be the best method to get drugs or growth factors to regions of degeneration in IVDs quickly; else concentrations of solute must be kept at a high value for several hours in the blood supply to the discs.
Low‐Gravity Experiments of Lightweight Flexible Heat Pipe Panels with Self‐Rewetting Fluids
Authors: Tanaka Kotaro , Abe Yoshiyuki , Nakagawa Masayuki , Piccolo Chiara , Savino Raffaele
Published: April 2009

Fluids with a unique surface tension behavior, the so‐called “self‐rewetting fluids,” are considered to be promising working fluids not only in reduced‐gravity environments but also in terrestrial applications. Ultralightweight polyimide‐based wickless heat pipe panels with flexible, inflatable, and deployable functions were fabricated using self‐rewetting fluids. Fundamental operation tests of these panels were conducted under conditions of reduced gravity during parabolic flight. We obtained promising experimental results on the thermal performance of the panels in reduced gravity, although the experimental conditions were not entirely satisfactory.
Capillary Rise in Nanotubes Coated with Polymer Brushes
Authors: Dimitrov D. I. , Milchev A. , Binder K.
Published: April 2009

The spontaneous rise of a fluid in a brush‐coated nanocapillary is studied by molecular dynamics simulation of a coarse‐grained model. The cases of changing wettability of both the capillary walls and the brush were examined. We also investigated the impact of polymer chain length on the transport of fluid along the nanotube. We found that capillary filling takes place in both lyophilic and lyophobic tubes, provided that the polymer brush coating is wetted by the fluid. In all the cases studied, capillary rise proceeds by a time‐square law, but the mechanisms behind them (Lucas–Washburn or diffusive propagation) differ, depending on the chain length N. For a wettable wall, the speed of fluid imbibition decreases steadily with growing N, whereas the meniscus speed goes through a minimum at intermediate chain lengths. The polymer brush coating reorganizes into “channels” parallel to the tube axis and forms a dense plug of monomers in the vicinity of the meniscus, which moves with the meniscus along the nanotube. For lyophobic capillary walls (covered with a wettable polymer brush), depending on the chain length N, one finds three regimes: (1) short chains—one observes no meniscus motion, but an influx of fluid through the wet brush; (2) intermediate chain lengths—the fluid creates “fluid walls” inside the brush by diffusive spreading, whereby a meniscus is formed and moves up within the fluid walls; and (3) long chains—a “negative curvature” meniscus rises up the capillary by means of diffusive propagation.
Synthesis of High‐performance Magnetostrictive Tb0.3Dy0.7Fe2 by Unidirectional Solidification in Microgravity
Authors: Okutani Takeshi , Nagai Hideaki , Mamiya Mikito
Published: April 2009

Giant magnetostrictive materials, Tb0.297Dy0.679Fe2, were synthesized by unidirectional solidification of a mixture of Tb0.99Fe2 and Dy0.97Fe2 alloys in microgravity with magnetic field of 0–0.12 T. Tb0.297Dy0.679Fe2 is a mixed crystal of TbFe2 and DyFe2. Tb0.297Dy0.679Fe2 synthesized in microgravity with no magnetic field had sheet dendrites structure with 300 (cooling direction) × 200 × 30 μm (thickness) and Fe‐rich layer between the sheet dendrites, and they exhibited a tendency for crystalline orientation of <110> and <111> with the cooling direction. The magnetostriction with the cooling direction was 9000 ppm at an external magnetic field of 120 mT. In contrast, Tb0.297Dy0.679Fe2 synthesized by unidirectional solidification in normal gravity with no magnetic field had a dendrite structure with a 30‐μm diameter × 250‐μm length growing in the cooling direction and no preferred orientation. The magnetostriction along the cooling direction was 2000 ppm at an external magnetic field of 120 mT. Analysis of the solidification in microgravity with magnetic field revealed that the dendrites oriented along the cooling direction and that the tendency for crystalline orientation of <110> and <111> with the cooling direction increased with magnetic field. Examination of the solidification in normal gravity with magnetic field indicated that Tb0.297Dy0.679Fe2 consisted of sheet dendrites without orientation and revealed no preferred orientation. The magnetostriction along the cooling direction increased with increases in the magnetic field. The effects of microgravity and magnetic field on the structure and crystalline orientation were considered.
Cellular and Genetic Adaptation in Low‐gravity Environments
Authors: Sundaresan Alamelu , Pellis Neal R.
Published: April 2009

Genetic response suites in human lymphocytes in response to microgravity are important to identify and study further to augment physiological adaptation to new milieus. Human peripheral blood from normal donors was used to isolate peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Blood traverses through most organs and hence is a suitable overall physiological predictor. The cells were cultured in 1g (T flask) and modeled microgravity for 24 and 72 h. Cell samples were collected and subjected to gene array analysis. Data were collected and subjected to a two‐way analysis of variance. Different groups of genes related to the immune response, cardiovascular system, and stress response were then analyzed. These three groups focused on human adaptation to new environments. Many molecules related to T cell activation and second messengers, located both in the cell membrane and cytoplasm, were significantly altered (positive or negative regulation) in modeled microgravity. Cardiovascular biomarker expression and stress response gene expression also presented an aberrant response in analog microgravity. Previous findings in our laboratory showed lymphocyte activation and locomotion to be significantly suppressed in microgravity. Further analysis at the protein levels of genes involved in these responses could lead to development of prophylactic and countermeasure steps to augment human physiology for long‐term space travel. Detailed results from the genetic analyses are presented in this study, including differential responses in stress response genes, cardiovascular and atherogenic genes, and T cell activation genes.
Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Avedisian C. Thomas , Cavicchi Richard E. , McEuen Paul L. , Zhou Xinjian
Published: April 2009

An overview is presented of an approach for treating cancer that uses nanoparticles to deliver heat to diseased areas after absorbing energy from a laser of the appropriate wavelength. The implications are discussed of the relationship of parameters necessary to raise the temperature to therapeutically beneficial levels. Tight focusing is required for a continuous‐wave laser to sufficiently heat individual nanoparticles because of heat loss to the surrounding fluid during the period of exposure. The natural thermal confinement of pulse lasers minimizes this effect because of the finite thermal diffusion time, which restricts the absorbed energy to a region around the particle, that offers the potential for achieving high temperatures that can promote phase change on the surface of a nanoparticle or even melting of the particle. A discussion of a way to potentially measure temperature on the scale of an individual nanoparticle is included based on using a single‐walled nanotube (SWNT) of carbon as a thermistor. The challenges of this undertaking are that SWNTs do not always follow Ohm's law, they may exhibit metallic or semiconductor behavior with an often unpredictable result in manufacturing, and no two SWNTs behave identically, which necessitates calibration for each SWNT. Some results are presented that show the electrical characteristics of SWNTs and their potential for exploitation in this application.
Development and Use of a Sedimentation Risk Index for Unpaved Road‐Stream Crossings in the Choctawhatchee Watershed1
Authors: Witmer Patrick L. , Stewart Paul M. , Metcalf Christopher K.
Published: April 2009

Abstract:  Unpaved road‐stream crossings increase sediment yields in streams and alter channel morphology and stability. Before restoration and sedimentation reduction strategies can be implemented, a priority listing of unpaved road‐stream crossings must be created. The objectives of this study were to develop a sedimentation risk index (SRI) for unpaved road‐stream crossings and to prioritize 125 sites in the Choctawhatchee watershed (southeastern Alabama) using this model. Field surveys involved qualitative and quantitative observations of 73 metrics related to waterway conditions, crossing structures, road approaches, and roadside soil erosion. The road‐stream crossing risk analyses involved elimination of candidate metrics based on redundancy, skewness, lack of data, professional judgment, lack of nonzero values, unbalanced box plots, and limited ranges of values. A final selection of 12 metrics formed the SRI and weighed factors involving soil erodibility, road sedimentation abatement features, and stream morphology alteration. The SRI was organized into narrative categories (excellent, good, fair, poor, and very poor) based on the distribution of scores. No excellent sites (scores ≥55) were found in this study, 17 (20.7%) were good (low sedimentation risk), 37 (45.1%) were fair (moderate sedimentation risk), 26 (31.7%) were poor (high sedimentation risk), and two (2.5%) were very poor (high sedimentation risk). There was no significant difference in SRI scores among crossing structure type (round culverts, box culverts, and bridges) (H = 4.31, df = 2, p = 0.058). A future study of the Choctawhatchee watershed involving the same study sites could assess the success of restoration plans and activities based on site score improvement or decline.
Field Evaluation of DRAINMOD 5.1 Under a Cold Climate: Simulation of Daily Midspan Water Table Depths and Drain Outflows1
Authors: Dayyani Shadi , Madramootoo Chandra A. , Enright Peter , Simard Guillaume , Gullamudi Apurva , Prasher Shiv O. , Madani Ali
Published: April 2009

Abstract:  The hydrologic performance of DRAINMOD 5.1 was assessed for the southern Quebec region considering freezing/thawing conditions. A tile drained agricultural field in the Pike River watershed was instrumented to measure tile drainage volumes. The model was calibrated using water table depth and subsurface flow data over a two‐year period, while another two‐year dataset served to validate the model. DRAINMOD 5.1 accurately simulated the timing and magnitude of subsurface drainage events. The model also simulated the pattern of water table fluctuations with a good degree of accuracy. The R2 between the observed and simulated daily WTD for calibration was >0.78, and that for validation was 0.93. The corresponding coefficients of efficiency (E) were >0.74 and 0.31. The R2 and E values for calibration/validation of subsurface flow were 0.73/0.48 and 0.72/0.40, respectively. DRAINMOD simulated monthly subsurface flow quite accurately (E > 0.82 and R2 > 0.84). The model precisely simulated daily/monthly drain flow over the entire year, including the winter months. Thus DRAINMOD 5.1 performed well in simulating the hydrology of a cold region.
Hormonal control of diabetes type 2 after surgery: Clinical and experimental evaluation
Authors: Frezza EE
Published: April 2009

Diabetes mellitus (DM) type 2 now afflicts over 170 million people worldwide, a number expected to surpass 220 million by 2010. DM and its associated complications is a significant burden to public health care funding.

In 2007, $US174 billion was spent in the United States, according to the American Diabetic Society. The morbidly obese have high serum leptin and insulin levels and low ghrelin levels, which have been associated with altered satiety. Exercise, medical therapy and dieting usually do not result in long‐term weight loss or euglycemia. Bariatric surgery yields euglycemia for many patients, but its mechanism has yet to be fully elucidated. Our preliminary studies showed resolution of DM after both gastric bypass (GBP) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG), more so than after gastric banding. GBP significantly reduces ghrelin levels in the morbidly obese, perhaps as a result of exhausting ghrelin production in the stomach. A reduction in serum ghrelin levels would be expected after SG, which extirpates the ghrelin‐producing cells by removing the fundus. This question has not, to our knowledge, been fully explored with regard to the relationship between ghrelin and other hormones.
Current trends of laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer in Japan
Authors: Etoh T , Shiraishi N , Kitano S
Published: April 2009

Laparoscopic gastrectomy with lymph node dissection, such as laparoscopy‐assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG), is widely accepted for the treatment of early gastric cancer with a risk of lymph node metastasis. In Japan, a nationwide survey conducted by the Japan Society of Endoscopic Surgery has shown that the number of laparoscopic gastrectomies is gradually increasing. So far, the following advantages of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of gastric cancer have been well documented: favorable clinical course after operation, pulmonary function and immune response. A retrospective multicenter study in Japan has shown that the short‐term outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy are beneficial and that the long‐term outcomes are the same as those for open surgery. Recently, the Gastric Cancer Surgical Study Group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group conducted a multi‐institutional, phase II trial (JCOG0703) to evaluate the safety of LADG for clinical stage I gastric cancer. In the future, laparoscopic surgeons will need to design and implement education and training systems for standard laparoscopic procedures, evaluate clinical outcomes through multicenter randomized controlled trials and clarify the oncological aspects of laparoscopic surgery in basic studies.
Capillary electrophoresis for the detection of bilirubin in rat serum
Authors: Crivellente Federica , Bocchini Nicola , Vandin Luca , Cristofori Patrizia
Published: April 2009

Background: The rat is used often to assess the toxicity of new chemical entities in preclinical drug development. Bilirubin concentration in rat serum is routinely determined by colorimetric methods, but false positive results due to hemolyzed serum or direct interferences by test compounds may occur. Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an automated method that requires small sample volume and facilitates the direct detection of bilirubin.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate a CE method for detecting bilirubin and albumin‐bound bilirubin in rat serum and to measure potential interference by hemolysis and specific test compounds.

Methods: Serum samples from male Sprague Dawley rats (n=20) were used in the study. Results obtained on a Beckman P/ACE MDQ CE instrument equipped with a UV‐detector were compared with those obtained using a colorimetric method on a Hitachi 912 analyzer. Bilirubin standards were used to evaluate the detection and stability of bilirubin in rat serum, and vials with ultrafiltration membranes were used to separate albumin‐bound bilirubin. Intraday and interday coefficients of variation (CV), linearity, and the effects of added hemoglobin and a test compound on CE results were determined.

Results: The CE method was capable of detecting bilirubin and albumin‐bound bilirubin in rat serum samples with reproducible results and good accuracy. CVs were <3% and linearity of the CE assay was high (R2=0.9951). Abnormally high bilirubin peaks due to the presence of hemoglobin or the test compound were easily distinguished by means of CE.

Conclusion: CE is a good alternative to the colorimetric methods currently used for the determination of bilirubin in rat serum.
Evaluation of serum haptoglobin and C‐reactive protein in dogs with mammary tumors
Authors: Planellas Marta , Bassols Anna , Siracusa Carlo , Saco Yolanda , Giménez Mercè , Pato Raquel , Pastor Josep
Published: April 2009

Background:In veterinary medicine, there is increasing interest in measuring acute phase proteins as a tool in the diagnosis and monitoring of neoplastic diseases. Although mammary neoplasms are the most common type of cancer in dogs, acute phase proteins have not been extensively evaluated in dogs with mammary tumors.

Objectives:The aim of this study was to evaluate serum haptoglobin (Hp) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in the dogs with mammary tumors and assess their potential association with malignancy.

Methods:A retrospective study of dogs with mammary tumors was performed. Serum concentrations of CRP and Hp were determined in healthy control dogs (n=20) and dogs with mammary tumors before surgery (n=41). Mammary tumors were grouped as carcinomas (n=24), fibrosarcoma (n=1), malignant mixed tumors (n=7), benign mixed tumors (n=6), and adenomas (n=3). CRP and Hp concentrations were compared in dogs with different tumor types and were also compared based on tumor size, lymph node infiltration, skin ulceration, fixation to underlying tissue, and time between tumor identification and removal.

Results:Hp concentration was significantly (P<.043) higher in dogs with mammary tumors (median 2.03 g/L, range 0.09–2.94 g/L) compared with controls (1.38 g/L, range 0.08–3.00 g/L), but the range of values overlapped considerably. CRP concentration was higher in dogs with carcinomas (4.70 mg/L, range 0.63–128.96 mg/L) vs controls (2.11 mg/L, range 0.25–6.57 mg/L) (P=.0008) and in dogs with ulcerated skin (14.8 mg/L, range 5.7–128.9 mg/L,n=3) compared with those without ulceration (2.4 mg/L, range 0.11–30.3 mg/L,n=38) (P=.048).

Conclusions:Serum Hp and CRP do not appear to have value in diagnosing or predicting malignancy of mammary tumors in dogs. Higher CRP concentrations in dogs with mammary carcinoma suggest a role for inflammation in this tumor type.
Analysis and cytologic characterization of hemocytes from freshwater mussels (Quadrula sp.)
Authors: Burkhard Mary Jo , Leavell Sarah , Weiss Rachael B. , Kuehnl Kody , Valentine Hope , Thomas Watters G. , Wolfe Barbara A.
Published: April 2009

Background: Freshwater mussels are among the most endangered taxa in North America and minimally invasive techniques to evaluate their health are needed.

Objective: The objective of this study was to develop a standardized approach for identifying and enumerating the cellular components of freshwater mussel hemolymph.

Methods: Hemocyte clumping, total hemocyte count, and hemocyte morphology were compared in untreated hemolymph or hemolymph treated with formalin, sodium citrate, sodium heparin, EDTA, water, or l‐cysteine. Morphology was then used to categorize hemocytes and perform a 100‐cell differential.

Results: Treatment with formalin or >25 mg/mL l‐cysteine reduced hemocyte clumping, although only formalin significantly increased the total hemocyte count. However, formalin also induced crenation that impaired hemocyte identification. Both EDTA and sodium citrate‐induced hemocyte degranulation while sodium citrate and >40 mg/mL l‐cysteine‐induced cell lysis. Hemocytes could be categorized into 2 groups of granulocytes (eosinophilic or basophilic) and 2 groups of agranulocytes (large or small) for performing a cytologic differential. The differential was not significantly altered by anticoagulant treatments providing cell morphology was adequate for obtaining a differential. Eosinophilic granulocytes predominated (59%) with fewer large agranulocytes (27%) and basophilic granulocytes (13%). Small agranulocytes comprised 2% of the total population.

Conclusions: No single treatment provided an optimal method to evaluate freshwater mussel hemolymph. Maximal hemocyte counts were obtained following formalin treatment. l‐cysteine reduced clumping and maintained hemocyte morphology for performing a cytologic differential. These techniques provide a standardized approach for the hematologic evaluation of freshwater mussels.
What is your diagnosis? Ascites fluid from an 11‐year‐old dog with epigastric bulging
Authors: Han Jae‐Ik , Jang Hye‐Jin , Chang Dong‐Woo , Kim Gon‐Hyung , Ahn Byeongwoo , Na Ki‐Jeong
Published: April 2009

Abstract: An 11‐year‐old, intact female, Yorkshire Terrier dog was presented with epigastric bulging. Results of a CBC included mild neutrophilia and thrombocytopenia. Radiographic examination and abdominal ultrasonography revealed abundant ascites and a well‐circumscribed mass in the caudal region of the spleen. Abdominocentesis revealed bloody fluid. Cytologic analysis of the fluid revealed numerous clustered and individual large cells with moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. The spleen was surgically resected. An imprint smear of a white nodular tumor on the caudal pole of the spleen contained a bimorphic population of small and large lymphocytes. The cytologic diagnosis was lymphoma. Histologically, large lymphocytes with distinct borders and single nucleoli formed multiple neoplastic follicles. The final diagnosis was primary splenic lymphoma. Immunocytochemical staining results on buffy coat smears prepared from the ascites fluid showed the lymphocytes were negative for CD3 and positive for CD79a, indicating B‐cell origin. Further investigation of the cell clusters using semiquantitative reverse transcriptase‐PCR showed that ICAM‐1, a cell–cell adhesion molecule, was overexpressed in the tumor cells, likely contributing to the clustering of neoplastic lymphocytes in the ascites fluid. Usually, round cells are not adherent; however, spontaneously detached round cells may form clusters, as in this case, and must be differentiated from epithelial tumors.
An Unholy Pilgrimage? Yasukuni and the Construction of Japan's Asia Imaginary
Authors: Tamaki Taku
Published: April 2009

Why are Japanese policymakers intent on visiting Yasukuni Shrine, and why do they continue to hold China and South Korea solely responsible for the “politics of memory” in diplomatic relations? It is easy—and perhaps misleading—to suggest that Japan does not care about China or South Korea, and also to argue that Japan's memory of World War II is one of “glory” rather than “aggression.” Instead, I posit the idea that Japan's memory of the war is, indeed, traumatic, and that the postwar legacy of a “democratic and peaceful” nation makes it difficult for the policymakers to countenance Chinese/South Korean criticisms.
2008 Malaysian Election: The End of Malaysia's Ethnic Nationalism?
Authors: Arakaki Robert K.
Published: April 2009

The article proposes that there are three basic paradigms of nationalism: secular nationalism, ethnic nationalism, and theocratic nationalism. These paradigms form an integral part of the postcolonial state‐building project. The article discusses how Malaysia selected the ethnic nationalism paradigm and how this directed the country's political development and the way it addressed the challenge of ethnic pluralism. It argues that ethnic nationalism best accounts for Malaysia's inability to achieve full democracy. The March 2008 election and the possibility of the collapse of ethnic nationalism and the transition to a more open democracy are explored.
The Durability of Managed Rivalry: Iran's Relations with Russia and the Saudi Dimension
Authors: Zweiri Mahjoob , Wootton Matthew
Published: April 2009

Russia's Middle East policy faces a dilemma. On the one hand, Moscow maintains close, although frequently terse, ties with Iran, playing an important role in Iran's nuclear program and even using its position in the United Nations to shield Iran from harsh sanctions. In return, Moscow profits from the sales of arms and nuclear expertise, participates in Iran's energy sector, and may establish valuable cooperation on gas exports, both being obvious suppliers to the lucrative Western European market. On the other hand, Russia is also seeking to strengthen ties with Iran's neighbors, such as Saudi Arabia and Israel, many of whom see Tehran as the major threat to any nonproliferation regime in the region and recognize that Russian cooperation has increased the likelihood that Iran will acquire nuclear weapons. The impact on Russia's relationship with Saudi Arabia may be especially important to planners in Moscow. Saudi Arabia appears to be an increasingly willing client for Russian arms (and possibly also nuclear expertise), and Russia may value close relations with the next biggest oil exporter in the world. In the present study, we examine Russia's recent relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia and assess Russia's strategic position regarding the two countries. At the current time, Russia, as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and the primary source of technical cooperation with Tehran on the nuclear issue, is at the center of developments in the Middle East. How Moscow assesses its position in the Middle East, and whether it ultimately wishes to prioritize Riyadh or Tehran, could be central to the future stability of the region.
Working Under Monarchy: Political Leadership and Democracy in Nepal
Authors: Acharya Ina
Published: April 2009

The purpose of this study was to discover the prospects and challenges of democracy in Nepal. Mired with corruption and escalating conflict, Nepal is in its 16th year of democratic transition, with little hope for a fully functional, consolidated, liberal democracy. In trying to study the causes, the author hypothesizes that political leaders have made decisions that have had an adverse effect on democracy in Nepal. Empirical research has been conducted on landmark decisions made by political leaders to test the hypothesis. The author concludes that charismatic leaders, depending on their vision, statesmanship, and liberalism, choose to decide differently, and these decisions determine their mode of governance and its impact on democracy.
A Systematic Comparison and Multi-Objective Optimization of Humid Power Cycles—Part I: Thermodynamics
Authors: Kavanagh R. M. , Parks G. T.
Published: April 2009

The steam injected gas turbine (STIG), humid air turbine (HAT), and TOP Humid Air Turbine (TOPHAT) cycles lie at the center of the debate on which humid power cycle will deliver optimal performance when applied to an aeroderivative gas turbine and, indeed, when such cycles will be implemented. Of these humid cycles, it has been claimed that the TOPHAT cycle has the highest efficiency and specific work, followed closely by the HAT, and then the STIG cycle. In this study, the systems have been simulated using consistent thermodynamic and economic models for the components and working fluid properties, allowing a consistent and nonbiased appraisal of these systems. Part I of these two papers focuses purely on the thermodynamic performance and the impact of the system parameters on the performance; Part II will study the economic performance. The three humid power systems and up to ten system parameters are optimized using a multi-objective Tabu Search algorithm, developed in the Cambridge Engineering Design Centre.
Accounting for Inclusions and Voids Allows the Prediction of Tensile Fatigue Life of Bone Cement
Authors: Coultrup Oliver J. , Browne Martin , Hunt Christopher , Taylor Mark
Published: April 2009

Previous attempts by researchers to predict the fatigue behavior of bone cement have been capable of predicting the location of final failure in complex geometries but incapable of predicting cement fatigue life to the right order of magnitude of loading cycles. This has been attributed to a failure to model the internal defects present in bone cement and their associated stress singularities. In this study, dog-bone-shaped specimens of bone cement were micro-computed-tomography (μCT) scanned to generate computational finite element (FE) models before uniaxial tensile fatigue testing. Acoustic emission (AE) monitoring was used to locate damage events in real time during tensile fatigue tests and to facilitate a comparison with the damage predicted in FE simulations of the same tests. By tracking both acoustic emissions and predicted damage back to μCT scans, barium sulfate (BaSO4) agglomerates were found not to be significant in determining fatigue life (p=0.0604) of specimens. Both the experimental and numerical studies showed that diffuse damage occurred throughout the gauge length. A good linear correlation (R2=0.70, p=0.0252) was found between the experimental and the predicted tensile fatigue life. Although the FE models were not always able to predict the correct failure location, damage was predicted in simulations at areas identified as experiencing damage using AE monitoring.
Design Optimization of a Total Hip Prosthesis for Wear Reduction
Authors: Matsoukas George , Kim Il Yong
Published: April 2009

Aseptic loosening from polyethylene debris is the leading cause of failure for metal-on-polyethylene hip implants. The accumulation of wear debris can lead to osteolysis, the degradation of bone surrounding the implant components. In the present study, a parametric three-dimensional finite element model of an uncemented total hip replacement prosthesis was constructed and implanted into a femur model constructed from computed tomography (CT) scan data. Design optimization was performed considering volumetric wear as an objective function using a computational model validated in a previous study through in vitro wear assessment. Constraints were used to maintain the physiological range of motion of wear-optimum designs. Loading conditions for both walking and stair climbing were considered in the analysis. In addition, modification of the acetabular liner surface nodes was performed in discrete intervals to reflect the actual wear and creep damage occurring on the liner surface. Stair climbing was found to produce 49% higher volumetric wear than walking. Using a sensitivity analysis, it was found that the objective function sensitivity to the chosen design variables was identical for both walking and stair climbing. The greatest reduction in volumetric wear achieved while maintaining a physiological range of motion was 16%. It was found that including nodal modification in the sensitivity analysis produced little or no difference in the sensitivity analysis results due to the linear nature of volumetric wear progression. Thus, nodal modification was not used in optimization. An increase in the maximum contact pressure was observed for all wear-optimized designs, and an increase in head-liner penetration was found to be related to a reduction in volumetric wear.
Design and Manufacturing of Mesoscale Tilting Pad Gas Bearings for 100–200 W Class PowerMEMS Applications
Authors: Kim Daejong , Rimpel Aaron M. , Chang Suk Sang , Kim Jong Hyun
Published: April 2009

This paper introduces a design and manufacturing of mesoscale flexure pivot tilting pad gas bearing with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 1–2.5 mm for PowerMEMS (micro electromechanical systems for power generation) applications with power ranges of 100–200 W. Potential applications include power source for unmanned air vehicles, small robots, microgas turbines to be harnessed by very small solid oxide fuel cells, microblowers/compressors for microfuel cells, etc. The design studies involve scaling analysis, time-domain orbit simulations for stability analyses, and frequency-domain modal analyses for prediction of rotor-bearing natural frequencies. Scaling analysis indicates that direct miniaturization of macroscale tilting pad gas bearing can result in a large bearing number, which may render the rotor-bearing system unstable. However, the scaling analysis provides the baseline design from which the final design can be derived considering manufacturing issue. The generalized modal analysis using impedance contours predict damped natural frequencies close to those from orbit simulations, providing high fidelity to the developed numerical methods. It was predicted that the designed mesoscale tilting pad gas bearings would show very stable operation up to a maximum simulated speed of 1,000,000 rpm. The designed mesoscale tilting pad gas bearings were manufactured using X-ray lithography and electroplating.