bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum Urate Is Not Associated with Coronary Artery Calcification: The NHLBI Family Heart Study
Authors: NEOGI TUHINA , TERKELTAUB ROBERT , ELLISON R. CURTIS , HUNT STEVEN , ZHANG YUQING
Published: October 2010

Objective.

Urate may have effects on vascular remodeling and atherosclerosis. We had shown an association between serum uric acid (SUA) and carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Inflammation and vascular remodeling in atherosclerosis promote coronary artery calcification (CAC), a preclinical marker for atherosclerosis. Here, we examined whether SUA is associated with CAC, using the same study sample and methods as for our previous carotid atherosclerosis study.

Methods.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Family Heart Study is a multicenter study designed to assess risk factors for heart disease. Participants were recruited from population-based cohorts in the US states of Massachusetts, North Carolina, Minnesota, Utah, and Alabama. CAC was assessed with helical computed tomography (CT). We conducted sex-specific and family-cluster analyses, as well as additional analyses among persons without risk factors related to both cardiovascular disease and hyperuricemia, adjusting for potential confounders as we had in the previous study of carotid atherosclerosis.

Results.

For the CAC study, 2412 subjects had both SUA and helical CT results available (55% women, age 58 ± 13 yrs, body mass index 27.6 ± 5.3). We found no association of SUA with CAC in men or women [OR in men: 1.0, 1.11, 0.86, 0.90; women: 1.0, 0.83, 1.00, 0.87 for increasing categories of SUA: < 5 (referent group), 5 to < 6, 6 to < 6.8, ≥ 6.8 mg/dl, respectively], nor in subgroup analyses.

Conclusion.

Replicating the methods used to demonstrate an association of SUA with carotid atherosclerosis did not reveal any association between SUA and CAC, suggesting that SUA likely does not contribute to atherosclerosis through effects on arterial calcification. The possibility that urate has divergent pathophysiologic effects on atherosclerosis and artery calcification merits further study.
The Role of Self-Similarity for Computer Aided Detection Based on Mammogram Analysis
Authors: Soares Filipe , Freire Mário M. , Pereira Manuela , Janela Filipe , Seabra João
Published: October 2010

The improvement on Computer Aided Detection (CAD) systems has reached the point where it is offered extremely valuable information to the clinician, for the detection and classification of abnormalities at the earliest possible stage. This chapter covers the rapidly growing development of self-similarity models that can be applied to problems of fundamental significance, like the Breast Cancer detection through Digital Mammography. The main premise of this work was related to the fact that human tissue is characterized by a high degree of self-similarity, and that property has been found in medical images of breasts, through a qualitative appreciation of the existing self-similarity nature, by analyzing their fluctuations at different resolutions. There is no need to image pattern comparison in order to recognize the presence of cancer features. One just has to compare the self-similarity factor of the detected features that can be a new attribute for classification. In this chapter, the mostly used methods for self-similarity analysis and image segmentation are presented and explained. The self-similarity measure can be an excellent aid to evaluate cancer features, giving an indication to the radiologist diagnosis.
Volumetric Texture Analysis in Biomedical Imaging
Authors: Reyes-Aldasoro Constantino Carlos , Bhalerao Abhir
Published: October 2010

In recent years, the development of new and powerful image acquisition techniques has lead to a shift from purely qualitative observation of biomedical images towards more a quantitative examination of the data, which linked with statistical analysis and mathematical modeling has provided more interesting and solid results than the purely visual monitoring of an experiment. The resolution of the imaging equipment has increased considerably and the data provided in many cases is not just a simple image, but a three-dimensional volume. Texture provides interesting information that can characterize anatomical regions or cell populations whose intensities may not be different enough to discriminate between them. This chapter presents a tutorial on volumetric texture analysis. The chapter begins with different definitions of texture together with a literature review focused on the medical and biological applications of texture. A review of texture extraction techniques follows, with a special emphasis on the analysis of volumetric data and examples to visualize the techniques. By the end of the chapter, a review of advantages and disadvantages of all techniques is presented together with some important considerations regarding the classification of the measurement space.
Mass and Heat Transfer Modeling
Authors: Breault Ronald W.
Published: October 2010

Mass and heat transfer are important to reactor modeling using CFD. Reactants (mass) move within the flow structure in order to react with other species and thereby form the products, both desirable and undesirable. This movement in mass occurs either by diffusion or by turbulent dispersion. In a similar fashion, heat is transferred from one point in the flow structure to another point by convective transfer between the phases and with the translational effect that occurs with the turbulent dispersion of the mass. In addition, heat can be transferred across the system boundary. In all these cases, fundamental mechanistic models are put forward that can be incorporated in the CFD code to calculate these transfer properties based upon the local hydrodynamic conditions. The chapter is organized such that dense phase systems are covered first and then dilute phase systems. Within each of these areas mass transfer is covered first and followed by heat transfer. The topics are covered in the following order: Diffusional mass transfer, Turbulent dispersion, Convective heat transfer between phases and Convective heat transfer at the system boundary.
The Concept of Interoperability for AAL Systems
Authors: Kolovou Lamprini T. , Lymberopoulos Dimitrios K.
Published: October 2010

e-Health considers the healthcare environment as an electronic workspace where different Medical Information Systems (MIS) supports the automation of information processing, the exchange of medical and administrative data and the automation of medical workflow. AAL systems are MISs of special purposes that use wireless technology to provide healthcare to citizens. By their nature AAL systems are totally distributed, they include various medical and other users’ devices and the mobility of people increases their complexity and creates advanced requirements for the communication of data. Effectiveness and functionality of AAL premise interoperability at all levels of communication. In this chapter the definitions of interoperability are examined and how these are specialized for the healthcare area as well. In addition, the applied technologies and some significant issues that regard interoperability are analyzed.
Organizational Antecedents of Intellectual Capital
Authors: Chua Alton Y.K.
Published: October 2010

The objective of this chapter is to develop a framework that depicts the antecedents of intellectual capital in an organization. In gist, the framework specifies three dimensions of intellectual capital, namely, human capital, structural capital and customer capital. Organizational conditions such as opportunities, values, motivation and capability influence human capital; Organizational conditions such as the infrastructure, existing knowledge and the knowledge sharing process influence structural capital; Organizational conditions such as products and services, relationships and brand value influence customer capital; and organizational conditions such as culture and leadership influence all three dimensions of intellectual capital. In addition, individual dimension of intellectual capital mutually influences each other, and in sum, leads to positive organizational outcomes such as branding, reputation, competitiveness and sustainability.
Stronger Voices?
Authors: Buré Claire
Published: October 2010

This case study focuses on a civil society organization called Radio Viva in Asunción, Paraguay. It was found that the interactive use of ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ technologies in locally innovative ways was able to meet community needs through the creation of two local products. Specifically, when radio and telephony were integrated with telecentre services (including internet access), new physical and virtual communication spaces were opened up for civic participation. Second, ICT interactivity was found to lead to the creation of locally relevant content production, helping Paraguayan communities to gain access to useful and contextualized information while also turning local ‘information recipients’ into ‘knowledge users’.
Donor Project funded ICT Initiatives in the Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) Sector of Asian Developing Countries
Authors: Gunawardena Channa Wimal , Brown David H.
Published: October 2010

This chapter is set against a background of national ICT initiatives implemented in the Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) sectors of developing Asian countries through donor agency funded projects. This research is based on a ten year research study of ICT initiatives implemented in nine VTE sector donor funded projects covering Laos, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The empirical data was gathered through contextual observations, action research and a review of project documentation. The ICT initiatives studied focussed on MIS (management information systems) aiding strategy formulation and management in the VTE sector and computer based training (CBT). The research reveals that the projects studied were designed by host governments and donor agencies in response to perceived problems in the VTE sector. The research also reveals that process of managing donor projects, which is largely based on hard approaches, is problematic. Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) is based on a learning and enquiring cycle. The research uses SSM to learn about the nature and scope of the selected donor projects in VTE, which can be conceptualised as Project Intervention Processes (PIPs).
Student-Authored Textbooks
Authors: O’Shea Patrick M. , Kidd Jennifer K. , Baker Peter B. , Kaufman Jamie A. , Allen Dwight W.
Published: October 2010

This chapter describes a unique educational initiative requiring students to write their own, shared textbook using wiki technologies. This chapter attempts to address the strengths and weaknesses of this type of educational program. In addition, it explores the philosophical underpinnings of such a process, the implications of this process for educational systems in general, and several methods for incorporating this type of project into every level of education. Special emphasis is placed on exploring how student-authoring addresses skills including information literacy skills, that are underserved in more traditional educational settings.
Design and Development of Personalized Learning Environments
Authors: Hussain Raja Maznah Raja
Published: October 2010

This chapter describes a pedagogical approach to engage students in online learning environments, using XNAMEX Becta’s model for personalized learning and student engagement (PLEaSE). PLEaSE maximizes learning out comes by supporting students at times and in places that are appropriate to their needs and in ways that suit their personal dispositions In this study, students are encouraged to explore, develop, reflect and construct their own knowledge and create their own learning content, while the instructor plays the role of coach and facilitator. This study is part of an ongoing action research project on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) in Higher Education, whose purpose is to design and develop the Pedagogy of Engagement Integrating Technology (PoEIT) model. PoEIT engages learners in the use of online tools such as forums and blogs while developing their soft skills using Moodle platform. This study shows that with the right integration of pedagogy and technology students can be transformed to become independent learners.
Teaching in the Future
Authors: Stein David S. , Wanstreet Constance E.
Published: October 2010

Based on an intellectual exercise that guided projections of the classroom environment in 2020 and beyond, this chapter envisions a future where fewer faculty are affiliated with only one institution and more are independent scholars. Faculty will serve as knowledge-brokers, and learners will assemble their own cohort of scholars and other learners around similar inquiry projects. Tools to facilitate learning will include personal learning environments and computer-based instructional agents. Social practices will include learning content in the context of doing the work and jointly coming to agreement about what constitutes mastery of the subject matter. Faculty development must attend to the interactions among tools, participants, social practices, learning in community, and the learning outcome.
Continual Process Improvement Based on ITIL and Process Mining
Authors: Gerke Kerstin , Petruch Konstantin , Tamm Gerrit
Published: October 2010

The inherent quality of business processes and their support through information technology (IT) increasingly plays a significant role in the economic success of an organization. More and more business processes are supported through IT services. In order to provide IT services with the required quality and at minimum costs, the importance of effective and efficient IT service management (ITSM) processes is crucial. In this contribution, the authors present a new approach, which allows the continual process improvement by the interconnection of the ITIL reference model, the 7-step improvement process, and process mining. On the basis of the reference model, to-be processes are set and key indicators are determined. As-is processes and their key indicators derived by process mining are subsequently compared to the to-be processes. This new approach enables the design, control, and improvement of ITIL based customer support processes, which will be trialed in practice.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of the Neurotransmitter Agonist Honokiol in a Mouse Model of Allergic Asthma
Authors: Munroe Melissa E. , Businga Thomas R. , Kline Joel N. , Bishop Gail A.
Published: October 2010

Chronic airway inflammation is a hallmark of asthma, an immune-based disease with great societal impact. Honokiol (HNK), a phenolic neurotransmitter receptor (γ-aminobutyric acid type A) agonist purified from magnolia, has anti-inflammatory properties, including stabilization of inflammation in experimentally induced arthritis. The present study tested the prediction that HNK could inhibit the chronic inflammatory component of allergic asthma. C57BL/6 mice sensitized to and challenged with OVA had increased airway hyperresponsiveness to methacholine challenge and eosinophilia compared with naive controls. HNK-treated mice showed a reduction in airway hyperresponsiveness as well as a significant decrease in lung eosinophilia. Histopathology studies revealed a marked drop in lung inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and collagen deposition with HNK treatment. Ag recall responses from HNK-treated mice showed decreased proinflammatory cytokines in response to OVA, including TNF-α–, IL-6–, Th1-, and Th17-type cytokines, despite an increase in Th2-type cytokines. Regulatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β were also increased. Assessment of lung homogenates revealed a similar pattern of cytokines, with a noted increase in the number of FoxP3+ cells in the lung. HNK was able to alter B and T lymphocyte cytokine secretion in a γ-aminobutyric acid type A-dependent manner. These results indicate that symptoms and pathology of asthma can be alleviated even in the presence of increased Th2 cytokines and that neurotransmitter agonists such as HNK have promise as a novel class of anti-inflammatory agents in the treatment of chronic asthma.
Apoptotic Cells Activate NKT Cells through T Cell Ig-Like Mucin-Like–1 Resulting in Airway Hyperreactivity
Authors: Lee Hyun-Hee , Meyer Everett H. , Goya Sho , Pichavant Muriel , Kim Hye Young , Bu Xia , Umetsu Sarah E. , Jones Jennifer C. , Savage Paul B. , Iwakura Yoichiro , Casasnovas Jose M. , Kaplan Gerardo , Freeman Gordon J. , DeKruyff Rosemarie H. , Umetsu Dale T.
Published: October 2010

T cell Ig-like mucin-like–1 (TIM-1) is an important asthma susceptibility gene, but the immunological mechanisms by which TIM-1 functions remain uncertain. TIM-1 is also a receptor for phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), an important marker of cells undergoing programmed cell death, or apoptosis. We now demonstrate that NKT cells constitutively express TIM-1 and become activated by apoptotic cells expressing PtdSer. TIM-1 recognition of PtdSer induced NKT cell activation, proliferation, and cytokine production. Moreover, the induction of apoptosis in airway epithelial cells activated pulmonary NKT cells and unexpectedly resulted in airway hyperreactivity, a cardinal feature of asthma, in an NKT cell-dependent and TIM-1–dependent fashion. These results suggest that TIM-1 serves as a pattern recognition receptor on NKT cells that senses PtdSer on apoptotic cells as a damage-associated molecular pattern. Furthermore, these results provide evidence for a novel innate pathway that results in airway hyperreactivity and may help to explain how TIM-1 and NKT cells regulate asthma.
l-Arginine Deprivation Regulates Cyclin D3 mRNA Stability in Human T Cells by Controlling HuR Expression
Authors: Rodriguez Paulo C. , Hernandez Claudia P. , Morrow Kevin , Sierra Rosa , Zabaleta Jovanny , Wyczechowska Dorota D. , Ochoa Augusto C.
Published: October 2010

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are a major mechanism of tumor-induced immune suppression in cancer. Arginase I-producing myeloid-derived suppressor cells deplete l-arginine (L-Arg) from the microenvironment, which arrests T cells in the G0–G1 phase of the cell cycle. This cell cycle arrest correlated with an inability to increase cyclin D3 expression resulting from a decreased mRNA stability and an impaired translation. We sought to determine the mechanisms leading to a decreased cyclin D3 mRNA stability in activated T cells cultured in medium deprived of L-Arg. Results show that cyclin D3 mRNA instability induced by L-Arg deprivation is dependent on response elements found in its 3′-untranslated region (UTR). RNA-binding protein HuR was found to be increased in T cells cultured in medium with L-Arg and bound to the 3′-untranslated region of cyclin D3 mRNA in vitro and endogenously in activated T cells. Silencing of HuR expression significantly impaired cyclin D3 mRNA stability. L-Arg deprivation inhibited the expression of HuR through a global arrest in de novo protein synthesis, but it did not affect its mRNA expression. This alteration is dependent on the expression of the amino acid starvation sensor general control nonderepressible 2 kinase. These data contribute to an understanding of a central mechanism by which diseases characterized by increased arginase I production may cause T cell dysfunction.
Repression of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ by Mucosal Ribotoxic Insult-Activated CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein Homologous Protein
Authors: Park Seong-Hwan , Choi Hye Jin , Yang Hyun , Do Kee Hun , Kim Juil , Moon Yuseok
Published: October 2010

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) is a crucial stress-responsive factor in various mucosal injuries, including cellular translational stress conditions. In this study, chemical ribosome-inactivating stresses were assessed for their effects on stress-inducible CHOP expression and its association with epithelial inflammatory cytokine production. Several representative ribotoxic agents (deoxynivalenol, anisomycin, and 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol) enhanced CHOP expression and its nuclear translocation in human intestinal epithelial cells. Moreover, CHOP was a strong positive regulator of IL-8 production, but CHOP-mediated IL-8 production was inversely associated with expression of the mucosal regulatory factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Based on our recent report that PPARγ is a negative regulator of mRNA stability of IL-8, PPARγ was linked to a notable mRNA stabilizing protein, HuR, since ribotoxin-induced IL-8 mRNA is stabilized by HuR protein. Expression of exogenous PPARγ suppressed ribotoxin-triggered cytoplasmic translocation of HuR. In contrast, PPARγ-regulating CHOP was a positive modulator of HuR protein export from nuclei. Taken together, the results indicate that ribotoxin-induced CHOP protein is positively associated with production of proinflammatory cytokine IL-8, but it downregulates PPARγ action, subsequently allowing the cytosolic translocation of HuR protein and stabilization of IL-8 mRNA in gut epithelial cells. CHOP and PPARγ may represent critical mechanistic links between ribotoxic stress and proinflammatory cytokine production, and they may have a broader functional significance with regard to gastrointestinal stresses by toxic mucosal insults.
Inhibition of Immune Synapse by Altered Dendritic Cell Actin Distribution: A New Pathway of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Immune Regulation
Authors: Aldinucci Alessandra , Rizzetto Lisa , Pieri Laura , Nosi Daniele , Romagnoli Paolo , Biagioli Tiziana , Mazzanti Benedetta , Saccardi Riccardo , Beltrame Luca , Massacesi Luca , Cavalieri Duccio , Ballerini Clara
Published: October 2010

Immune synapse formation between dendritic cells (DCs) and T cells is one of the key events in immune reaction. In immunogenic synapses, the presence of fully mature DCs is mandatory; consequently, the modulation of DC maturation may promote tolerance and represents a valuable therapeutic approach in autoimmune diseases. In the field of cell therapy, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied for their immunoregulatory properties, such as inhibiting DC immunogenicity during in vitro differentiation and ameliorating in vivo models of autoimmune diseases (e.g., experimental allergic encephalomyelitis). MSCs seem to play different roles with regard to DCs, depending on cell concentration, mechanism of stimulation, and accompanying immune cells. The aim of this work was to elucidate the immunogenic effects of MSC/DC interactions during DC activation (LPS stimulation or Ag loading). Human monocyte-derived DCs, bone marrow-derived MSCs, and circulating lymphocytes obtained from healthy donors, as well as the laboratory-generated influenza virus hemagglutinin-derived peptide, aa 306–318 peptide-specific T cell line were used for this study. We demonstrate that MSCs mediate inhibition of DC function only upon cell–cell contact. Despite no modification observed in cell phenotype or cytokine production, MSC-treated DCs were unable to form active immune synapses; they retained endocytic activity and podosome-like structures, typical of immature DCs. The transcriptional program induced by MSC–DC direct interaction supports at the molecular pathway level the phenotypical features observed, indicating the genes involved into contact-induced rearrangement of DC cytoskeleton.
Hydrogel-Delivered GM-CSF Overcomes Nonresponsiveness to Hepatitis B Vaccine through the Recruitment and Activation of Dendritic Cells
Authors: Chou Ho-Yuan , Lin Xi-Zhang , Pan Wen-Yu , Wu Ping-Yi , Chang Chia-Ming , Lin Tsai-Yu , Shen Hsin-Hsin , Tao Mi-Hua
Published: October 2010

The standard hepatitis B surface Ag (HBsAg) vaccine fails to induce anti-hepatitis B surface Abs in 5–10% of healthy subjects, a phenomenon known as HBsAg nonresponsiveness, which is closely related to HLA class II alleles and impaired Th cell responses to HBsAg in these subjects. We hypothesized that GM-CSF, a potent adjuvant in enhancing the Ag-presentation activity of APCs, might help to generate Th cell responses in nonresponders, subsequently providing help for B cells to produce anti-hepatitis B surface Abs. We used a thermosensitive biodegradable copolymer (hydrogel) system to codeliver HBsAg and GM-CSF to achieve maximal local cytokine activity at the injection site. In responder mouse strains, hydrogel-formulated HBsAg plus GM-CSF (Gel/HBs+GM) vaccine elicited much greater anti-hepatitis B surface Ab titers and Th cell proliferative responses than a commercial aluminum-formulated HBsAg vaccine or free HBsAg. The adjuvant effect of the Gel/HBs+GM vaccine was dependent upon the local release of GM-CSF. More importantly, the Gel/HBs+GM vaccine elicited high HBsAg-specific Ab titers and Th cell responses in B10.M mice, a mouse strain that does not respond to the current HBsAg vaccine because of its H-2 haplotype. Analysis of the draining lymph nodes of Gel/HBs+GM vaccine-treated mice revealed an elevated number of CD11c+ dendritic cells showing enhanced expression of MHC class II and a variety of costimulatory molecules. These results demonstrate that hydrogel-formulated GM-CSF might represent a simple and effective method to generate next-generation hepatitis B virus vaccines for inducing anti-hepatitis B surface Abs in nonresponders.
Gene-Environment Interaction Research and Transgenic Mouse Models of Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Chouliaras L. , Sierksma A. S. R. , Kenis G. , Prickaerts J. , Lemmens M. A. M. , Brasnjevic I. , van Donkelaar E. L. , Martinez-Martinez P. , Losen M. , De Baets M. H. , Kholod N. , van Leeuwen F. , Hof P. R. , van Os J. , Steinbusch H. W. M. , van den Hove D. L. A. , Rutten B. P. F.
Published: October 2010

The etiology of the sporadic form of Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains largely unknown. Recent evidence has suggested that gene-environment interactions (GxE) may play a crucial role in its development and progression. Whereas various susceptibility loci have been identified, like the apolipoprotein E4 allele, these cannot fully explain the increasing prevalence of AD observed with aging. In addition to such genetic risk factors, various environmental factors have been proposed to alter the risk of developing AD as well as to affect the rate of cognitive decline in AD patients. Nevertheless, aside from the independent effects of genetic and environmental risk factors, their synergistic participation in increasing the risk of developing AD has been sparsely investigated, even though evidence points towards such a direction. Advances in the genetic manipulation of mice, modeling various aspects of the AD pathology, have provided an excellent tool to dissect the effects of genes, environment, and their interactions. In this paper we present several environmental factors implicated in the etiology of AD that have been tested in transgenic animal models of the disease. The focus lies on the concept of GxE and its importance in a multifactorial disease like AD. Additionally, possible mediating mechanisms and future challenges are discussed.
Immunophenotypical Switch versus Tumor Heterogeneity in a Patient with HIV-Associated Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Castillo Jorge J. , Rizack Tina , Treaba Diana
Published: October 2010

Patients with HIV/AIDS have a higher risk of developing aggressive B-cell lymphomas, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Lymphomas are rather heterogeneous in nature and in a few cases can switch their genetic or immunohistochemical phenotype, transform into other lymphomas or carry more than one malignant clone. In this report, we present the case of a 47-year-old man with HIV infection who was diagnosed with an apparent low-risk, early-stage DLBCL, but became refractory to therapy while undergoing treatment with rituximab-containing chemotherapy. We postulate that the development of his refractory disease occurred in the context of an immunohistochemical switch or the surge of a clone refractory to therapy. This phenomenon was not associated with a superinfection with EBV or HHV-8.
A Characterization of Some Weighted Norm Inequalities for Maximal Operators
Authors: Kopaliani Tengiz
Published: October 2010

It is found class of pairs of exponents

(p(\cdot), q(\cdot))

such that for pairs of Banach function spaces

(L^{p(\cdot)}(ℝ^n), L^{q(\cdot)}(ℝ^n))

weak Minkowski’s inequality holds. Also some conditions which ensure the boundednness of maximal operator

M_φ:L^{p(\cdot)}(ℝ^n) → L^{q(\cdot)}_w(ℝ^n)

are found, when for the pair of Banach function spaces

(L^{p(\cdot)}(ℝ^n), L^{q(\cdot)}(ℝ^n))

holds weak Minkowski’s inequality.
Existence of Three Nontrivial Smooth Solutions for Nonlinear Resonant Neumann Problems Driven by the $p$-Laplacian
Authors: Gasiński Leszek , Papageorgiou Nikolaos S.
Published: October 2010

We consider a nonlinear Neumann elliptic problem driven by the

p

-Laplacian and with a reaction term which asymptotically at

\pm\infty

exhibits resonance with respect to the principal eigenvalue

\lambda_0 = 0

. Using variational methods combined with tools from Morse theory, we show that the resonant problem has at least three nontrivial smooth solutions, two of which have constant sign (one positive, the other negative).
On the Aronszajn Property for an Implicit Differential Equation of Fractional Order
Authors: Dutkiewicz Aldona , Szufla Stanislaw
Published: October 2010

In this paper we investigate some topological properties of solution sets of an implicit differential equation of fractional order in Banach spaces.
Layer Profiles of Solutions to Elliptic Problems under Parameter-Dependent Boundary Conditions
Authors: García-Melián Jorge , Rossi Julio D. , Sabina de Lis José C.
Published: October 2010

We consider the unique positive solution to the equation

Δu = u^r

in

Ω

, where

r > 1

and

Ω

is a smooth bounded domain of

ℝ^N

, under one of the boundary conditions

u_= λ

,

\frac {∂u}{∂ν} = λ

,

\frac{∂u}{∂ν} = λu

or

\frac{∂u}{∂ν} = λu – uq

on

∂Ω

,

q > 1

. The main interest is determining the exact layer behavior of this solution near

∂Ω

in terms of the parameter

λ

as

λ → ∞

. Our analysis is completed with the study of the same type of problems involving the

p

-Laplacian operator.
Imaging for Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Gupta Santosh
Published: October 2010

There are several causes of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), in some of which imaging plays an important role for diagnosis and further management. We present an elaborate imaging based pictorial depiction of the various findings in these cases mainly based on CT and MRI imaging.
The Vibrant Soundbridge
Authors: Pusalkar Ashutosh G
Published: October 2010

Till about 15 years ago, the only choice of hearing improvement for moderate sensorineural hearing loss with severe speech discrimination defect was a hearing aid. It was only after Mr. Geoff Ball, an electronic engineer who was suffering from a similar defect, started thinking of an alternative to the conventional hearing aid that the Vibrant Soundbridge came into existence, and with the passage of time the indications for the use of the same have increased.
Mesoscale convective systems observed during AMMA and their impact on the NOx and O3 budget over West Africa
Authors: Huntrieser H. , Schlager H. , Lichtenstern M. , Stock P. , Hamburger T. , Höller H. , Schmidt K. , Betz H.-D. , Ulanovsky A. , Ravegnani F.
Published: October 2010

Abstract. During the "African Monsoon Multidisciplinary Analysis" (AMMA) field phase in August 2006, a variety of measurements focusing on deep convection were performed over West Africa. The German research aircraft Falcon based in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) investigated the chemical composition in the outflow of large mesoscale convective systems (MCS). Here we analyse two different types of MCS originating north and south of the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ, ~10° N), respectively. In addition to the airborne trace gas measurements, stroke measurements from the Lightning Location Network (LINET), set up in Northern Benin, are analysed. The main focus of the present study is 1) to analyse the trace gas composition (CO, O3, NO, NOx, NOy, and HCHO) in the convective outflow as a function of distance from the convective core, 2) to investigate how different trace gas compositions in the boundary layer (BL) and ambient air may influence the O3 concentration in the convective outflow, and 3) to estimate the rate of lightning-produced nitrogen oxides per flash in selected thunderstorms and compare it to our previous results for the tropics. The MCS outflow was probed at different altitudes (~10–12 km) and distances from the convective core (<500 km). Trace gas signatures similar to the conditions in the MCS inflow region were observed in the outflow close to the convective core, due to efficient vertical transport. In the fresh MCS outflow, low O3 mixing ratios in the range of 35–40 nmol mol−1 were observed. Further downwind, O3 mixing ratios in the outflow rapidly increased with distance, due to mixing with the ambient O3-rich air. After 2–3 h, O3 mixing ratios in the range of ~65 nmol mol−1 were observed in the aged outflow. Within the fresh MCS outflow, mean NOx (=NO+NO2) mixing ratios were in the range of ~0.3–0.4 nmol mol−1 (peaks ~1 nmol mol−1) and only slightly enhanced compared to the background. Both lightning-produced NOx (LNOx) and NOx transported upward from the BL contributed about equally to this enhancement. On the basis of Falcon measurements, the mass flux of LNOx in the investigated MCS was estimated to be ~100 g(N) s−1. The average stroke rate of the probed thunderstorms was 0.04–0.07 strokes s−1 (here only strokes with peak currents ≥10 kA contributing to LNOx were considered). The LNOx mass flux and the stroke rate were combined to estimate the LNOx production rate. For a better comparison with other published results, LNOx estimates per LINET stroke were scaled to Lightning Imaging Sensor (LIS) flashes. The LNOx production rate per LIS flash was estimated to 1.0 and 2.5 kg(N) for the MCS located south and north of the ITCZ, respectively. If we assume, that these different types of MCS are typical thunderstorms occurring globally (LIS flash rate ~44 s−1), the annual global LNOx production rate was estimated to be ~1.4 and 3.5 Tg(N) a−1.
Men's memory for women's sexual‐interest and rejection cues
Authors: Treat Teresa A. , Viken Richard J. , Kruschke John K. , McFall Richard M.
Published: October 2010

The current work characterizes young men's memory for young women's heterosocially relevant affective cues (e.g. sexual interest and rejection) and examines characteristics of both the woman being perceived and the male perceiver as predictors of memory. Undergraduate men (n = 232) completed similarity‐ratings and recognition‐memory tasks with photos of undergraduate women who varied in attractiveness, provocativeness of clothing and expression of sexual interest. Participants also completed a control memory task and a measure relevant to the risk of exhibiting sexually aggressive behaviour, as well as indicating how many serious relationships they had experienced. Multilevel regression techniques revealed that (a) men's memory for women's sexual interest improved when women were sexually interested at encoding, attractive and dressed provocatively; (b) men who reported more frequent serious relationships showed better memory for women's sexual interest and (c) men at risk of exhibiting sexually aggressive behaviour showed worse memory for women's sexual interest. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
High Degree of Optical Tunability of Self‐Assembled Photonic‐Plasmonic Crystals by Filling Fraction Modification
Authors: López‐García Martín , Galisteo‐López Juan F. , Blanco Álvaro , López Cefe , García‐Martín Antonio
Published: October 2010

The optical properties of two‐dimensional hybrid photonic‐plasmonic crystals are fine‐tuned by modifying the dielectric component of the system. The filling fraction of the dielectric component in monolayers of spheres deposited on gold substrates is controlled by means of oxygen‐plasma etching. Doing so enables spectral tuning of the optical modes of the system. Experiments are performed on both optically passive and active samples showing the possibility for strong modification of the emission properties of samples containing emitters distributed within the spheres. The change in sphere diameter needed to substantially modify the sample's optical response points to a potential use of these samples as sensors or tunable emitting devices if appropriate polymeric components are employed.
Brief Communication: Shape analysis of the MT 1 proximal articular surface in fossil hominins and shod and unshod Homo
Authors: Proctor Daniel J.
Published: October 2010

As a follow‐up study to Proctor et al. (Am J Phys Anthropol 135 (2008) 216–224), this study quantifies the first metatarsal proximal articular surface using three‐dimensional morphometrics to test for differences in articular surface shape between habitually shod and habitually unshod humans. In addition, differences in shape between Homo, Pan, Gorilla, and Hylobates are compared to the fossil hominin specimens A. L. 333‐54, Stw 562, Stw 573 (“Little Foot”), OH 8, SKX 5017, and SK 1813. No difference in surface shape was found between habitually shod and habitually unshod humans. There is a clear quantitative division in articular surface shape between humans and apes that is more pronounced than a previous study by Proctor et al. (Am J Phys Anthropol 135 (2008) 216–224), due to additional landmarks present in this study. The specimen OH 8 is indistinguishable from modern Homo. The fossils A. L. 333‐54, Stw 562, and Stw 573 are intermediate in shape between humans and apes. The specimens SKX 5017 and SK 1813 have a more apelike articular surface. When combined with other characteristics, this trait suggests that Paranthropus used a degree of abduction during locomotion that was much less than that in extant apes, but greater than that in Australopithecus, allowing for some small degree of grasping ability. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bayesian predictive travel time methodology for advanced traveller information system
Authors: Khan Ata M.
Published: October 2010

Travellers can benefit from the availability of point‐to‐point driving time estimates on a real time basis for making travel decisions such as route choice at strategic locations (e.g. junctions of major routes). This paper reports a predictive travel time methodology that features a Bayesian approach to fusing and updating information for use in advanced traveller information system. The methodology addresses the issue that data captured in real time on travel conditions becomes obsolete and has archival value only unless it is used as an input to a predictive travel time method for updating the information. The need for fusing real time data with other factors that influence travel time is defined and the concept of predictive travel time is discussed. The methodological framework and its components are advanced and an example application is provided for illustrating the fusion of data captured by infrastructure‐based and mobile technology with model‐based predictions in order to produce expected travel times. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Probabilistische Bemessung von geklebten Anschlüssen im Holzbau
Authors: Tannert Thomas , Hehl Simon , Vallée Till
Published: October 2010

Kleben von tragenden Bauteilen ist im Holzbau auf wenige Anwendungsgebiete beschränkt. Es wird hauptsächlich zur Herstellung von Brettschichtholz oder zur Ertüchtigung bestehender Strukturen eingesetzt. Um Kleben als Alternative zu stiftförmigen mechanischen Verbindungsmitteln einzusetzen, muss die Bemessung geklebter Anschlüsse ermöglicht werden. Holzspezifische Faktoren wie Anisotropie, Streuung der mechanischen Eigenschaften und sprödes Versagen erschweren eine genaue Vorhersage. Aufgrund der auftretenden Spannungsspitzen ist ein deterministischer Spannungsnachweis nicht geeignet. Eine Alternative zur Bestimmung der Tragfähigkeit geklebter Anschlüsse bietet die in diesem Beitrag vorgestellte probabilis tische Methode, die es erlaubt, die Spannungsverteilungen in geklebten Verbindungen mit ihren Spannungsspitzen und die Streuungen der Festigkeitswerte des Werkstoffes zu erfassen. Im Rahmen der vorgestellten Arbeit wurden geklebte Doppel‐Laschenanschlüsse sowohl experimentell als auch numerisch betrachtet, wobei der Einfluss der überlappungslänge, der Klebschichtdicke und des Klebstoff‐E‐Moduls betrachtet wurde. Im Anschluss wurde ein probabilistisches Bemessungsverfahren angewendet und eine gute übereinstimmung zwischen experimentellen und theoretischen Traglasten erreicht. Das Verfahren kann unmittelbar für die Bemessung geklebter Anschlüsse angewandt werden.

Probabilistic design of adhesively bonded timber joints. The use of adhesive bonding in structural timber engineering is limited to the production of laminated wood and the toughening of existing structures. To use adhesives as an alternative to mechanical fasteners, an accurate and reliable design method has to be developed. Characteristic material properties of wood such as anisotropy, large scattering of mechanical values and brittle failure complicate the capacity prediction of bonded joints. A deterministic approach is not able to deal with the stress peaks inside the joints. With the probabilistic concept, an alter native solution is presented, which allows for a strength prediction under consideration of the complex stress distributions and the stress peaks in the joint, as well as the scatterings of the mechanical properties of the material. Adhesively bonded double lap joints were investigated both experimentally and numerically under consideration of various parameters such as overlap length, adhesive layer thickness and type of adhesive. The probabilistic design method was applied and good agreement between experimental and theoretical failure loads was obtained. The proposed method has immediate actionable application for the dimensioning of adhesively bonded timber joints.
Orientation of paramecium swimming in a static magnetic field: Dependence on membrane lipid fluidity
Authors: Nakaoka Yasuo , Itoh Junya , Shimizu Kikuo
Published: October 2010

We studied the swimming orientation of the ciliated protozoan Paramecium aurelia in a static magnetic field (0.78 T). P. aurelia is a complex of species termed syngens, whose cell morphology appears similar on microscopic examination. In the magnetic field, the cells of some syngens gradually changed their swimming orientation so that they were swimming perpendicular or parallel to the magnetic field, although such sensitivity to magnetic fields differs between syngens. When the temperature of the cell suspension was raised, the magnetic sensitivity of the cells was decreased. On the other hand, when the cells were cultured beforehand at a high temperature, their magnetic sensitivity was increased. These results raise the possibility that membrane lipid fluidity, which is inversely proportional to the membrane lipid order, contributes to the magnetic orientation of syngens. In this study, measurements of membrane lipid fluidity obtained using fluorescence image analysis with the lipophilic dye, laurdan (6‐lauroyl‐2‐dimethylaminonaphtalene), showed that the degree of membrane lipid fluidity was correlated with the differences in magnetic orientation between syngens. That is, the syngens with decreased membrane fluidity showed an increased degree of magnetic orientation. Therefore, the membrane lipid order is a key factor in the magnetic orientation of Paramecium swimming. Bioelectromagnetics 32:66–72, 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Bifurcated aortic endograft limb occlusion managed with a novel method of isolated pharmacomechanical thrombectomy
Authors: Pappy Reji , Hanna Elias B. , Hennebry Thomas A.
Published: October 2010

Limb occlusion of an aortic endograft is uncommon, however, it can result in permanent sequelae if management is delayed. We report the first case utilizing the Trellis device to achieve localized and prompt isolated pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (PMT) for the treatment of acute limb thrombosis of a bifurcated aortic endograft. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Computational Investigation on the Flow of Non‐Newtonian Polymers in Safety Valves
Authors: Moncalvo D. , Friedel L. , Jörgensen B.
Published: October 2010

At the moment, very little knowledge is available about the flow of shear‐thinning media in safety valves. In this paper, the flow of aqueous solutions of polyvinylpyrrolidone with a zero‐shear viscosity between 0.3 and 3 Pa s in a LESER Type 441 DN 25/40 safety valve with a lift of 2.2 mm for relieving pressures up to 6.5 bar is computed using ANSYS FLUENT 12. According to these calculations, the lowest values of the dynamic viscosity are reached in the slit between the seat and the disk due to the large local velocity gradients. A more moderate increment in the fluidity of the solutions is observed also in the recirculation zone outside the disk when the stream from the rear of the valve meets the one from the front. A preliminary study suggests that the experimental flows may be turbulent in the slit and then evolve into a laminar profile in the discharge pipe. For this reason, the calculations are carried out assuming laminar, turbulent and transitional flows. The predicted mass flow rates are close to each other and to the measured values, except at relieving pressures close to ambient. The major cause of deviation seems to be the entrainment of air microbubbles, whose elongation may be responsible for additional shearing in the solutions with large polymer weight.
Development and Monitoring of a Continuous Polyurethane Pilot Reactor
Authors: Nadjiadjim G. , Sheibat‐Othman N. , Févotte G. , Dupuy J.
Published: October 2010

The transition from batch to continuous polyurethane (PU) process is considered for process intensification. An integrated methodological and technological study is proposed. The development of the new process is based on modeling and product characteristics. In order to do so, the kinetics of the polyaddition of polycaprolactone diol (polyol) and 4,4'‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate were studied and identified by using offline measurement of the diisocyanate concentration. Some characteristics of the final polymer were also investigated, such as the heat capacity and viscosity that affect the behavior of the continuous process. These results were used to design a tubular reactor for continuous production of PU. Since online monitoring of intensified processes is primordial, in situ near‐infrared spectroscopy was used to predict the concentration of free diisocyanate in real time.
Recovery of Valuable Metals from Battery Scrap
Authors: Vest M. , Georgi‐Maschler T. , Friedrich B. , Weyhe R.
Published: October 2010

Es wurden Recyclingkonzepte für Nickel‐Cadmium‐Batterien, Nickel‐Metallhydrid‐Batterien, Primär‐Gerätebatterien und Li‐Ionen‐Gerätebatterien entwickelt. Einige dieser Verfahren sind bereits industriell umgesetzt und als Best Available Technology (BAT) bewertet worden. In diesem Beitrag werden zunächst die entwickelten Verfahren und ihre Möglichkeiten zum Erreichen einer optimalen Recyclingeffizienz entsprechend der aktuellen nationalen und europäischen Gesetzgebung vorgestellt. Anschließend werden die Potenziale des aktuellen Forschungsprojektes zum Recycling von Li‐Ionen‐Batterien aus dem Fahrzeugsektor erörtert.