bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spherical Brake with MR Fluid as Multi Degree of Freedom Actuator for Haptics
Authors: Senkal Doruk , Gurocak Hakan
Published: October 2009

This research explored design of a magnetorheological (MR) spherical brake as a multi-DOF actuator. To the best of our knowledge, our design is the first ever multi-DOF spherical brake using MR fluid. The primary goal was to design a compact but powerful brake using the serpentine flux path approach. An optical position measurement system was also designed to eliminate the gimbal mechanisms that are typically used in spherical joints for position measurement. It was found that the braking torque scales up proportionally to the cube of the brake radius. This enables making much more powerful brakes without increasing the overall size significantly. A prototype spherical brake was built with 76.2 mm diameter and 3.7 Nm braking torque. Experiments were conducted to identify the characteristics of the prototype brake and to test it in virtual wall collision, damping and Coulomb friction simulations for haptics. A joystick was built as a haptic device using the MR spherical brake. Virtual wall collision experiments showed crisp reaction force at initial contact and very high rigidity during the contact.
Being There for Another With a Serious Mental Illness
Authors: Champlin Barbara E.
Published: October 2009

In this article I describe the unique caring and caretaking relationship between a mentally ill person and the nonprofessional caretaker in his or her life. Stressing the perspective of the caretaker, I call this relationship “being there” for the mentally ill person. I collected the data through in-depth interviews and used a descriptive phenomenological approach to unveil the general structure of the experience. Eight constituents emerged as central to the general structure of this experience: (a) accepting the changed other and grieving the loss of who the other once was; (b) taking action in challenging circumstances; (c) recognizing the ongoing, never-ending, and sometimes unpredictable nature of the experience; (d) feeling isolated; (e) having ambiguity of the heart; (f) experiencing the tension of waiting; (g) knowing the other well; and (h) caring for the other. Knowledge gained from the study findings will help health care professionals understand and support people who are in this experience from a more caring paradigm.
Practicing the Awareness of Embodiment in Qualitative Health Research: Methodological Reflections
Authors: Sharma Sonya , Reimer-Kirkham Sheryl , Cochrane Marie
Published: October 2009

Although the importance of the researcher’s embodiment has been noted in health and social sciences research, in many instances, more attention has been paid to the embodiment of the researched. Thus, more in-depth analysis of the embodied researcher can illuminate qualitative inquiry. The influence of the embodied researcher became visible in a recent critical ethnographic study examining the negotiation of religious, spiritual, and cultural plurality in health care. In this article, we do not present research findings per se, but rather methodological reflections. As researchers, we highlight emotional and bodily ways of knowing and experiences of difference such as culture, race, and religion as embodied and a part of researcher—participant encounters. We aim to elucidate the awareness of being embodied researchers, and with this elucidation, we consider implications for knowledge generation for health and social sciences.
Positions in Doctors’ Questions During Psychiatric Interviews
Authors: Ziółkowska Justyna
Published: October 2009

In this article I apply the concept of positioning to the analysis of 15 initial psychiatric interviews. I argue that through their questions the psychiatrists-in-training impose positions requiring the patients to gaze at themselves and their actual problems from particular perspectives. I point to three such positions: (a) the position of the observing assessor, from which it is expected that the patients will make a detached assessment of themselves or their problems, (b) the position of the informing witness, which requires the patients only to verify the information about themselves, and (c) the marginal one, the position of the experiencing narrator, from which talk about experiences and problems is expected. I explore the roots and consequences of the positions, with particular attention toward objectivization of the patients’ experiences in the dominant witness and assessor positions. I conclude with a discussion about the medical model in psychiatry.
African American Women’s Beliefs, Coping Behaviors, and Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Services
Authors: Ward Earlise C. , Clark Le Ondra , Heidrich Susan
Published: October 2009

Little is known about African American women’s beliefs about mental illness. In this qualitative study we employed the Common Sense Model (CSM) to examine African American women’s beliefs about mental illness, coping behaviors, barriers to treatment seeking, and variations in beliefs, coping, and barriers associated with aging. Fifteen community-dwelling African American women participated in individual interviews. Dimensional analysis, guided by the CSM, showed that participants believed general, culturally specific, and age-related factors can cause mental illness. They believed mental illness is chronic, with negative health outcomes. Participants endorsed the use of prayer and counseling as coping strategies, but were ambivalent about the use of medications. Treatment-seeking barriers included poor access to care, stigma, and lack of awareness of mental illness. Few age differences were found in beliefs, coping behaviors, and barriers. Practice and research implications are discussed.
Ethical Dilemmas: The Experiences of Israeli Nurses
Authors: Shapira-Lishchinsky Orly
Published: October 2009

In this study I explored ethical dilemmas in nursing to gain a better understanding of nurses’ work and their professional status. Qualitative data on ethical dilemmas were collected by interviewing 52 nurses in 18 hospitals and health maintenance organizations. The transcribed interviews were analyzed using a stepwise method. Results indicate a large number of dilemmas that can be divided into five main categories: caring vs. following formal codes; fair process vs. fair outcome; organizational standards vs. family agenda; autonomy vs. deference to higher authority, and guarding secrecy vs. duty to report. The study findings might enhance nurses’ ability to cope with ethical dilemmas and bring about change in their professional status. In addition, the results might guide nurses and their supervisors toward developing practitioner programs for nurses that deal with ethical aspects. All these might reduce the expected shortage of nurses and improve the ability of the system to provide quality health care.
Fuzzy-tuned PID Anti-swing Control of Automatic Gantry Crane
Authors: Solihin Mahmud Iwan , Wahyudi  , Legowo Ari
Published: October 2009

Anti-swing control is a well-known term in gantry crane control. It is designed to move the payload of gantry crane as fast as possible while the payload swing angle should be kept as small as possible at the final position. A number of studies have proposed anti-swing control using the well-known proportional, integral, derivative (PID) control method. However, PID controllers cannot always effectively control systems with changing parameters. Some studies have also proposed intelligent-based control including fuzzy control. However, the designers often have to face the problem of tuning many parameters during the design to obtain optimum performance. Thus, a lot of effort has to be taken in the design stage. In this paper Fuzzy-tuned PID controller design for anti-swing gantry crane control is presented. The objective is to design a practical anti-swing control which is simple in the design and also robust. The proposed Fuzzy-tuned PID utilizes fuzzy system as PID gain tuners to achieve robust performance to parameters’ variations in the gantry crane. A complex dynamic analysis of the system is not needed. PID controller is firstly optimized in MATLAB using a rough model dynamic of the system which is identified by conducting a simple open-loop experiment. Then, the PID gains are used to guide the range of the fuzzy outputs of the Fuzzy-tuned PID controllers. The experimental results show that the proposed anti-swing controller has satisfactory performance. In addition, the proposed method is straightforward in the design.
Bouncing of a Vehicle on an Irregularity: A Mathematical Model
Authors: Michaltsos G.T.
Published: October 2009

This paper leads with the phenomenon of the bouncing of a vehicle due to an irregularity being on a road or on a bridge deck. Attention is focused on the determination of the critical velocity for which the vehicle loses touch with the road’s or the bridge-deck’s surface following a missile’s orbit and then striking the road or the bridge during landing. If the vehicle moves with a velocity greater than the critical one, we determine the corresponding time (and thus the point of the bridge) at which touch is lost. Afterwards, we determine also the landing point of the vehicle. Solving firstly the above problem for a vehicle moving on a road, it is easy next to proceed to the solution of the same problem for a vehicle moving on a bridge. The theoretical formulation is based on a continuous approach in addition to the use of a two degrees of freedom model associated with the mass of the moving load.
Investment Under Tax Policy Uncertainty: A Neoclassical Approach
Authors: El-Shazly Alaa
Published: October 2009

This article studies the impact of investment irreversibility, delivery lags, and adjustment costs on the firm’s optimal investment policy in a world of uncertainty. The source of uncertainty is a future change in the corporate profits tax where both the timing of this event and the size of associated adjustment in the tax benefit of investing are random. Such a tax uncertainty is particularly evident in reform economies whose authorities consider significant reductions in the corporate tax rate to stimulate business life. It is shown that greater transparency on tax policy promotes the firm’s expected net worth and the capital accumulation process.
Musical ‘Contact Zones’ in Gurinder Chadha’s Cinema
Authors: Guarracino Serena
Published: October 2009

This article explores strategies of cultural representation in the production of Gurinder Chadha, a British director of Sikh origin. Chadha’s work is located in what Marie Louise Pratt defines as ‘contact zones’, negotiating between US, European and Indian audiences. The result is a directing style that puts together ‘East’ and ‘West’, Bollywood and Hollywood, in an in-between space that has been radically reconfigured through hybridization. This happens in particular through her use of music and soundtrack, from the documentary I’m British but ... (1990), up to the recent Bend It Like Beckham (2002) and Bride and Prejudice (2004). Here, many and diverse musical languages are put together through the representational strategies of parody and kitsch, deconstructing the idea of cultural identity in the very gesture that creates it.
Migrants’ Art and Writings
Authors: Setti Nadia
Published: October 2009

Time, precarious lives and memories and multiple narrations related to crossing borders constitute the key meanings of a series of contemporary pieces of works produced by migrant artists and writers (Tarek Al-Ghoussein, Marwan Rechmaoui, Jumana Emil Abboud and Hoda Barakat). Through an analysis of some of their works, this article focuses on some spatio-temporal images, actions and metaphors related to movement (crossing, walking through, passing borders). Then it questions the exploration of narratives in visual arts, especially the relationship between imaginary fiction and reality stories. Theatre may become the very place where contemporary tales of migrant people are translated, (re)told, performed. The very meaningful notion of hospitality becomes a theatrical practice in one of the most relevant spectacles of the Théâtre du Soleil, Le Dernier Caravansérail (Odyssées) (2003). Another aspect of this creative hospitality — Leïla Sebbar’s Mes Algéries en France — concerns the interweaving of memories belonging to opposite sides of divided countries, after the colonial wars. This work of collection, transcription, translation from one to another gives an example of writing (as fiction and narrative) as a repairing work but also of revelation of unknown connections.
Priming Effects of Violence on Infrahumanization
Authors: Delgado Naira , Rodríguez-Pérez Armando , Vaes Jeroen , Leyens Jacques-Philippe , Betancor Verónica
Published: October 2009

Two experiments examine whether exposure to generic violence can display infrahumanization towards out-groups. In Study 1, participants had to solve a lexical decision task after viewing animal or human violent scenes. In Study 2, participants were exposed to either human violent or human suffering pictures before doing a lexical decision task. In both studies, the infrahumanization bias appeared after viewing the human violent pictures but not in the other experimental conditions. These two experiments support the idea of contextual dependency of infrahumanization, and suggest that violence can prime an infrahuman perception of the out-group. Theoretical implications for infrahumanization and potential underlying mechanisms are discussed.
Retrospective and Prospective Thoughts About Infrahumanization
Authors: Leyens Jacques-Philippe
Published: October 2009

The birth of infrahumanization is linked to essentialism. Ingroups were said to be the only ones with a full human essence. It was meant that ingroups were paragons of humanity. Almost like the Holy Spirit, essence has different definitions and can only be approached indirectly. The present paper insists on the fundamental (essential) differences between groups. It is proposed that if differences change, the groups (their essences) are seen as transformed. The second part of the paper looks for what makes differences crucial or essential. Variables are examined or proposed in terms of sufficiency and necessity. ‘Which outgroups are infrahumanized’ will remain an unsolved problem until sufficient and necessary conditions are discovered.
What do I Care? Perceived Ingroup Responsibility and Dehumanization as Predictors of Empathy Felt for the Victim Group
Authors: Čehajić Sabina , Brown Rupert , González Roberto
Published: October 2009

This research examined the effects of reminders of ingroup responsibility for past wrongdoings on perception of ingroup responsibility and victim dehumanization as predictors of empathy. Two experiments set in different intergroup contexts found that reminders of ingroup responsibility generated empathy through perception of ingroup responsibility and deflected empathy through subtle victim dehumanization. In Experiment 1, set in the context of indigenous—non-indigenous relations in Chile ( N = 124), it was found that reminders of ingroup (vs. individual) responsibility generated empathy by increasing a perception of ingroup responsibility and deflected it through decreased attribution of secondary emotions to the victim group. Experiment 2 replicated the effects in a different context, the recent 1992—1995 war in Bosnia ( N = 158). Reminders of ingroup responsibility (vs. no reminders) generated empathy by increasing a perception of ingroup responsibility and deflected it through decreased attribution of secondary emotions to the victim group. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Dehumanization: Humanity and its Denial
Authors: Castano Emanuele , Kofta Miroslaw
Published: October 2009

In this paper, which is the introduction to the special issue ‘Dehumanization: Humanity and its Denial,’ we present a brief overview of social psychological research on the concept of dehumanization and infrahumanization. Focusing on the findings and theorizing of the special issue articles we discuss the relation between these two concepts, their determinants and consequences, particularly in the context of intergroup relations, but also with regard to the distal motives that may prompt individuals to equate humanity to the groups to which they belong.
The distribution of ‘‘sense of coherence’’ among Swedish adults: A quantitative cross-sectional population study
Authors: Lindmark Ulrika , Stenström Ulf , Gerdin Elisabeth Wärnberg , Hugoson Anders
Published: October 2009

Background: Antonovsky’s concept of ‘‘sense of coherence’’ (SOC) has been shown to be related to health. The aim of this study was to describe the distribution of SOC scores and their components in an adult Swedish population aged 20—80 years. Methods: A random sample of 910 individuals from Jönköping, Sweden, aged 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years, of which 589 agreed to participate in an oral health examination. The participants answered Antonovsky’s 13-item version of ‘‘the life orientation questionnaire scale’’. The response to the items and the distribution of the three components of comprehensibility, manageability and meaningfulness were analyzed for different age groups and genders using mean values and standard deviations, Student’s t-test and ANOVA. Results: A total of 526 individuals, 263 men and 263 women, answered all 13 questions and constituted the final material for the study (response rate 89%). The individual SOC score increased with age. The 20 year olds had a statistically significantly lower SOC score compared with the other age groups and 55% of them had a low SOC (≤66 points) compared with 17% of the 80 year olds. Men in the 60 and 70 year age groups had a statistically significantly higher SOC score compared with women of the same age. Conclusions: The individual distribution of SOC varied with age and gender. Twenty year olds had a significantly lower SOC score compared with elderly age groups. Elderly men had a statistically significantly higher SOC score compared with women of the same age.
Latent trajectory modelling of multivariate binary data
Authors: Beath Ken J , Heller Gillian Z
Published: October 2009

Latent trajectory analysis is a form of latent class analysis, where the manifest variables are longitudinal measurements of a single outcome. The latent classes may correspond to either constant increasing or decreasing levels of the outcome over time and describe different severity or course of a disease. Extension to multiple outcomes at each time point allows more accurate determination of classes, with classes based on combination of the outcomes, however requiring models which account for both correlation between outcomes and periods. Three models are described for multiple binary outcomes, observed at each time point: a latent class model where all outcomes are considered independent at all time points, a model incorporating random effects for subject only and one incorporating random effects for subject and period. The methods are applied to data on asthma and allergy symptoms in infants, with symptoms recorded at four time points, and it is shown that the incorporation of subject and period heterogeneity results in lower estimates of the number of latent classes.
Review: Diabetes in pregnancy: insulin resistance, obesity and placental dysfunction
Authors: Doshani Anjum , Konje Justin C
Published: October 2009

Obesity in pregnancy is linked to increased morbidity and mortality for mother and baby. The incidence of gestational diabetes is increased approximately two to six-fold in women who are overweight-obese and the presence of diabetes is a further metabolic challenge which is associated with adverse outcomes. Herein the role of obesity is discussed in the generation of insulin resistance and inflammation and its contribution to placental dysfunction.
Understanding the Decision-Making Process for Health Promotion Programming at Small to Midsized Businesses
Authors: Hughes M. Courtney , Patrick Donald L. , Hannon Peggy A. , Harris Jeffrey R. , Ghosh Donetta L.
Published: October 2009

This study explores the decision-making process for implementing and continuing health promotion programs at small to midsized businesses to inform health promotion practitioners and researchers as they market their services to these businesses. Qualitative interviews are conducted with 24 employers located in the Pacific Northwest ranging in size from 75 to 800 employees, with the majority having between 100 and 200 employees. Small to midsized employers depend most on company success-related factors rather than on humanitarian motives when deciding whether to adopt workplace health promotion programs. They rely heavily on health insurers for health promotion and desire more information about the actual costs and cost-benefits of programs. To increase health promotion adoption at small to midsized businesses, health promotion practitioners should appeal to overall company success-related factors, use the insurance channel, and target their information to both human resource personnel and senior management.
Building Action Research Teams
Authors: Du Fengning
Published: October 2009

Teaching teams can hold the promise of being an ideal vehicle in which collaborative action research is conducted. This case documents the mixed results of a team leader’s efforts to improve teaching and introduce inquiry-based professional development through action research in a community college. This case paints a realistic and multidimensional picture of the often frustration-fraught process of leading teacher collaboration. Touching on the issues of action research, team building, and team leadership, this case could be used in various levels of leadership and organizational development courses, particularly those aimed at training teacher leaders.
Turning Around Maple Shade Middle School
Authors: Salmonowicz Michael J. , Levy Melissa K.
Published: October 2009

This case was written for use in courses dealing with school administration, specifically those related to organizational change, school improvement/turnaround, and the principalship. It explores a veteran principal’s first year as a “turnaround specialist” in a low-performing middle school, where she works with a sense of urgency to achieve an increase in student achievement. Students reading the case should assume the role of the principal as they analyze and reflect on changes made during year one and determine a course of action for year two.
Recommendations for safety planning, data collection, evaluation and reporting during drug, biologic and vaccine development: a report of the safety planning, evaluation, and reporting team
Authors: Crowe Brenda J , Xia H. Amy , Berlin Jesse A , Watson Douglas J , Shi Hongliang , Lin Stephen L , Kuebler Juergen , Schriver Robert C , Santanello Nancy C , Rochester George , Porter Jane B , Oster Manfred , Mehrotra Devan V , Li Zhengqing , King Eileen C , Harpur Ernest S , Hall David B
Published: October 2009

Background The Safety Planning, Evaluation and Reporting Team (SPERT) was formed in 2006 by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America.

Purpose SPERT’s goal was to propose a pharmaceutical industry standard for safety planning, data collection, evaluation, and reporting, beginning with planning first-in-human studies and continuing through the planning of the post-product-approval period.

Methods SPERT’s recommendations are based on our review of relevant literature and on consensus reached in our discussions.

Results An important recommendation is that sponsors create a Program Safety Analysis Plan early in development. We also give recommendations for the planning of repeated, cumulative meta-analyses of the safety data obtained from the studies conducted within the development program. These include clear definitions of adverse events of special interest and standardization of many aspects of data collection and study design. We describe a 3-tier system for signal detection and analysis of adverse events and highlight proposals for reducing "false positive" safety findings. We recommend that sponsors review the aggregated safety data on a regular and ongoing basis throughout the development program, rather than waiting until the time of submission.

Limitations We recognize that there may be other valid approaches.

Conclusions The proactive approach we advocate has the potential to benefit patients and health care providers by providing more comprehensive safety information at the time of new product marketing and beyond. Clinical Trials 2009; 6: 430—440. http://ctj.sagepub.com
Computer tomography aided 3D analysis of the distal dorsal radius surface and the effects on volar plate osteosynthesis
Authors: PICHLER W. , WINDISCH G. , SCHAFFLER G. , RIENMÜLLER R. , GRECHENIG W.
Published: October 2009

The aims of this study were to measure the size of Lister’s Tubercle, the extent of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) groove and the dihedral angle of the distal dorsal radius. Computer tomography scans of 30 forearms were performed by using a 64-slice Siemens SOMATOM Sensation® CT system (Resolution 0.6 mm). DICOM raw data were calculated to 3D by MIMICS® software (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium). The size of Lister’s Tubercle varied from 1.4 to 6.6 mm (average 3.3 mm) in height radial to the tubercle, and from 5.6 to 18.6 mm (average 13.2 mm) in length. The depth of the EPL groove varied from 0.6 to 3.2 mm (average 1.6 mm). The height on the ulnar side, between the depth of the groove and the tip of the tubercle, varied from 2.2 to 5.8 mm (average 3.4 mm). The dihedral angle of the distal dorsal radius varied from 110° to 135° (average 123°). The variations in height of Lister’s Tubercle and in depth of the EPL groove are considerable. This needs to be taken into account when performing volar plating of distal radius fractures otherwise screws may inadvertently penetrate the dorsal cortex of the radius potentially leading to EPL rupture.
Undisplaced scaphoid waist fractures: is 4 weeks’ immobilisation in a below-elbow cast sufficient if a week 4 CT scan suggests fracture union?
Authors: GEOGHEGAN J. M. , WOODRUFF M. J. , BHATIA R. , DAWSON J. S. , KERSLAKE R. W. , DOWNING N. D. , ONI J. A. , DAVIS T. R. C.
Published: October 2009

This prospective study investigated a cohort of 59 scaphoid waist fractures which were treated nonoperatively in a below-elbow plaster cast for 4 weeks and then underwent a Week 4 CT scan to assess displacement and progress to union. Forty-three were classed as undisplaced and 37 of these 43 were also classed as ‘united’. All the 37 undisplaced and ‘united’ fractures united with up to 8 weeks’ cast immobilisation, including 26 which were taken out of plaster at 4 weeks and mobilised. We conclude that scaphoid waist fractures which appear to be undisplaced and united on a week 4 CT scan will unite, and may not need to be immobilised in a plaster cast for more than 4 weeks. Such a treatment policy may reduce the period of disability and time off work associated with nonoperative treatment.
Upper limb functional restoration in old and complete brachial plexus paralysis
Authors: Gousheh J. , Arasteh E.
Published: October 2009

Nineteen patients with longstanding and permanent brachial plexus injuries underwent a three-staged surgical reconstruction. First, a sural nerve was grafted from the contralateral intact medial pectoral nerve to the paralyzed arm. One year later, a free gracilis muscle was transferred and neurotized by the grafted sural nerve. This procedure results in reanimation of elbow flexion. Finally, the biceps tendon was transferred to the finger flexors using a fascia bundle of tensor fascia lata muscle. Two of the gracilis muscle free transfers failed. In the remaining 17 patients, the overall result was evaluated as satisfactory in 11 patients and good in 6.
Welding behaviour, microstructure and mechanical properties of dissimilar resistance spot welds between galvannealed HSLA350 and DP600 steels
Authors: Khan M. S. , Bhole S. D. , Chen D. L. , Biro E. , Boudreau G. , van Deventer J.
Published: October 2009

Resistance spot welding experiments were conducted on dissimilar material combination of HSLA350/DP600 steels. The welds were characterised using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The fusion zone of the dissimilar material spot weld was predominantly martensitic with some bainite. Mechanical properties were also determined by tensile shear, cross tension and fatigue tests. The performance of dissimilar material spot weld was different from that of the similar ones in each of the HSLA350 and DP600 steels and exhibited different heat affected zone hardness. The DP600 weld properties played a dominating role in the microstructure and tensile properties of the dissimilar material spot welds. However, the fatigue performance of the dissimilar welds was similar to that of the HSLA350 welds. Fatigue tests on the dissimilar material spot welds showed that the 5·5 mm diameter nugget exhibited higher fatigue strength than the 7·5 mm diameter nugget.
Error analysis of forward and reverse heat conduction and convection calculations considering uncertainties in welding
Authors: Bag S. , De A.
Published: October 2009

Numerical models of fusion welding traditionally compute temperature field for a given set of welding conditions in a forward manner. The reliability of computed temperature profile depends on the accuracy of a number of model input parameters, values of which are uncertain in nature. Here, the authors show that a genetic algorithm (GA) assisted integrated numerical model, following either convection or conduction based calculations, can identify the suitable values of the uncertain model input parameters and in turn provide reliable computed results. Powered with GA, the integrated model is used further in a reverse manner to predict multiple sets of welding conditions for a target weld geometry. The convection based calculations have been able to provide more reliable multiple welding variables in reverse calculations.
Joining phenomena and joint strength of friction welded joint between aluminium–magnesium alloy (AA5052) and low carbon steel
Authors: Kimura M. , Ishii H. , Kusaka M. , Kaizu K. , Fuji A.
Published: October 2009

The joining phenomena and the joint strength of an Al–Mg alloy (AA5052) and low carbon steel (LCS) friction welded joints were investigated. The weld interface of the LCS side at a friction time of 1·2 s had a slightly transferred AA5052, and then the entire weld interface had it at a friction time of 3·0 s or longer. The joint efficiency increased with increasing friction time, but it decreased at a friction time of 12·0 s or longer. The joint at a friction time of 3·0 s with forge pressure of 190 MPa had 100% joint efficiency and the AA5052 base metal fracture with no crack at the weld interface. The weld interface of these joints also had no intermetallic compound. On the other hand, the joint at a friction time of 8·0 s, which had ∼97% joint efficiency, fractured between the AA5052 side and the weld interface because it had the intermetallic compound at the weld interface.
Elasto-visco-plastic analysis of welding residual stress
Authors: Qin X. L. , Michaleris P.
Published: October 2009

In the past three decades, extensive research has focussed on the application of numerical methods for the computation of residual stress. Most commonly, the simulations involved performing weakly coupled thermal mechanical finite element analyses in Lagrangian reference frames assuming rate independent elasto-plastic material response. Nearly all approaches assumed rate independent elasto-plastic material response, which is most appropriate at low to moderately elevated temperatures. At, the high temperatures near the fusion zone, the material response becomes rate dependent and an elasto-visco-plastic model would be more suitable. In 1989, Brown et al. ( Int. J. Plast., 1989, 5, 95–130) proposed a rate dependent constitutive equation (commonly known as Anand's model) to describe the plastic evolution of metals at high temperatures. The objective of this work is twofold: evaluate the suitability of Anand's elasto-visco-plastic model in computing welding residual stress and investigate the feasibility of an Eulerian implementation of Anand's model in modelling welding residual stress. Such an implementation has the potential to reduce computational cost in modelling welding processes, since it is a steady state analysis as compared to the common time incremental Lagrangian analyses. An Eulerian reference frame is also more advantageous in modelling processes with large deformation such as friction stir welding, rolling and extrusion since excessive mesh distortion and re-meshing are no issues as the case of Lagrangian models ( Int. J. Mater. Form., 2008, 1, 1287–1290).
Aspergillus fumigatus inhibits angiogenesis through the production of gliotoxin and other secondary metabolites
Authors: Ben-Ami Ronen , Lewis Russell E. , Leventakos Konstantinos , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P.
Published: October 2009

In susceptible hosts, angioinvasion by Aspergillus fumigatus triggers thrombosis, hypoxia, and proinflammatory cytokine release, all of which are stimuli for angiogenesis. We sought to determine whether A fumigatus directly modulates angiogenesis. A fumigatus culture filtrates profoundly inhibited the differentiation, migration, and capillary tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro. To measure angiogenesis at the site of infection, we devised an in vivo Matrigel assay in cyclophosphamide-treated BALB/c mice with cutaneous invasive aspergillosis. Angiogenesis was significantly suppressed in Matrigel plugs implanted in A fumigatus–infected mice compared with plugs from uninfected control mice. The antiangiogenic effect of A fumigatus was completely abolished by deletion of the global regulator of secondary metabolism, laeA, and to a lesser extent by deletion of gliP, which controls gliotoxin production. Moreover, pure gliotoxin potently inhibited angiogenesis in vitro in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, overexpression of multiple angiogenesis mediator–encoding genes was observed in the lungs of cortisone-treated mice during early invasive aspergillosis, whereas gene expression returned rapidly to baseline levels in cyclophosphamide/cortisone-treated mice. Taken together, these results indicate that suppression of angiogenesis by A fumigatus both in vitro and in a neutropenic mouse model is mediated through secondary metabolite production.
Microsatellite markers of water buffalo, Bubalus bubalis - development, characterisation and linkage disequilibrium studies
Authors: Nagarajan Muniyandi , Kumar Niraj , Nishanth Gopala , Haribaskar Ramachandran , Paranthaman Karthikeyani , Gupta Jalaj , Mishra Manish , Vaidhegi R , Kumar Shantanu , Ranjan Amresh K , Kumar Satish
Published: October 2009

Background

Microsatellite markers are highly polymorphic and widely used in genome mapping and population genetic studies in livestock species. River buffalo, Bubalus bubalis is an economically important livestock species, though only a limited number of microsatellite markers have been reported thus far in this species.

Results

In the present study, using two different approaches 571 microsatellite markers have been characterized for water buffalo. Of the 571 microsatellite markers, 498 were polymorphic with average heterozygosity of 0.51 on a panel of 24 unrelated buffalo. Fisher exact test was used to detect LD between the marker pairs. Among the 137550 pairs of marker combination, 14.58% pairs showed significant LD (P < 0.05). Further to check the suitability of these microsatellite markers to map these on a radiation hybrid map of buffalo genome, the markers were tested on Chinese hamster genomic DNA for amplification. Only seven of these markers showed amplification in Chinese hamster, and thus 564, of these can be added to the radiation hybrid map of this species.

Conclusion

The high conservation of cattle microsatellite loci in water buffalo promises the usefulness of the cattle microsatellites markers on buffalo. The polymorphic markers characterised in this study will contribute to genetic linkage and radiation hybrid mapping of water buffalo and population genetic studies.
Dual effect of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the first intron of the porcine Secreted phosphoprotein 1 gene: allele-specific binding of C/EBP beta and activation of aberrant splicing
Authors: Muráni Eduard , Ponsuksili Siriluck , Seyfert Hans-Martin , Shi Xuanming , Wimmers Klaus
Published: October 2009

Background

Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1 or Osteopontin, OPN) is a multifunctional matricellular glycoprotein involved in development and regeneration of skeletal muscle. Previously, we have demonstrated that porcine SPP1 shows breed-related differential mRNA expression during myogenesis. With the aim to identify putative contributing cis-regulatory DNA variation we resequenced the 5' upstream region of the gene in the respective breeds Pietrain and Duroc. We found two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP; [GenBank:M84121]: g.1804C>T and g.3836A>G). We focused our investigation on the SNP g.3836A>G, because in silico analysis and knowledge about the regulation of SPP1 suggested an effect of this SNP on a CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ) responsive transcriptional enhancer.

Results

Using electrophoretic mobility shift assay we demonstrated that, similar to human SPP1, the 3' terminal end of the first intron of porcine SPP1 harbors a C/EBPβ binding site and showed that this binding site is negatively affected by the mutant G allele. Genotyping of 48 fetuses per breed revealed that the G allele segregated exclusively in Duroc fetuses with a frequency of 57 percent. Using real-time quantitative PCR we showed that, consistent with its negative effect on a transcriptional enhancer element, the G allele tends to decrease mRNA abundance of SPP1 in the fetal musculus longissimus dorsi (~1.3 fold; P ≥ 0.1).

Moreover, we showed that the SNP g.3836A>G leads to ubiquitous aberrant splicing of the first intron by generating a de novo and activating a cryptic splice acceptor site. Aberrantly spliced transcripts comprise about half of the SPP1 messages expressed by the G allele. Both aberrant splice variants differ from the native transcript by insertions in the leader sequences which do not change the reading frame of SPP1.

Conclusion

At the 3' terminal end of the first intron of the porcine SPP1 we identified a unique, dually functional SNP g.3836A>G. This SNP affects the function of the SPP1 gene at the DNA level by affecting a C/EBPβ binding site and at the RNA level by activating aberrant splicing of the first intron, and thus represents an interesting DNA-marker to study phenotypic effects of SPP1 DNA-variation.
Impact of 4.0% chlorhexidine cleansing of the umbilical cord on mortality and omphalitis among newborns of Sylhet, Bangladesh: design of a community-based cluster randomized trial
Authors: Mullany Luke C , El Arifeen Shams , Winch Peter J , Shah Rasheduzzaman , Mannan Ishtiaq , Rahman Syed M , Rahman Mohammad R , Darmstadt Gary L , Ahmed Saifuddin , Santosham Mathuram , Black Robert E , Baqui Abdullah H
Published: October 2009

Background

The World Health Organization recommends dry cord care for newborns but this recommendation may not be optimal in low resource settings where most births take place in an unclean environment and infections account for up to half of neonatal deaths. A previous trial in Nepal indicated that umbilical cord cleansing with 4.0% chlorhexidine could substantially reduce mortality and omphalitis risk, but policy changes await additional community-based data.

Methods

The Projahnmo Chlorhexidine study was a three-year, cluster-randomized, community-based trial to assess the impact of three cord care regimens on neonatal mortality and omphalitis. Women were recruited mid-pregnancy, received a basic package of maternal and neonatal health promotion messages, and were followed to pregnancy outcome. Newborns were visited at home by local village-based workers whose areas were randomized to either 1) single- or 2) 7-day cord cleansing with 4.0% chlorhexidine, or 3) promotion of dry cord care as recommended by WHO. All mothers received basic messages regarding hand-washing, clean cord cutting, and avoidance of harmful home-base applications to the cord. Death within 28 days and omphalitis were the primary outcomes; these were monitored directly through home visits by community health workers on days 1, 3, 6, 9, 15, and 28 after birth.

Discussion

Due to report in early 2010, the Projahnmo Chlorhexidine Study examines the impact of multiple or single chlorhexidine cleansing of the cord on neonatal mortality and omphalitis among newborns of rural Sylhet District, Bangladesh. The results of this trial will be interpreted in conjunction with a similarly designed trial previously conducted in Nepal, and will have implications for policy guidelines for optimal cord care of newborns in low resource settings in Asia.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00434408)
Novel immortalized human fetal liver cell line, cBAL111, has the potential to differentiate into functional hepatocytes
Authors: Deurholt Tanja , van Til Niek P , Chhatta Aniska A , ten Bloemendaal Lysbeth , Schwartlander Ruth , Payne Catherine , Plevris John N , Sauer Igor M , Chamuleau Robert AFM , Elferink Ronald PJ Oude , Seppen Jurgen , Hoekstra Ruurdtje
Published: October 2009

Background

A clonal cell line that combines both stable hepatic function and proliferation capacity is desirable for in vitro applications that depend on hepatic function, such as pharmacological or toxicological assays and bioartificial liver systems. Here we describe the generation and characterization of a clonal human cell line for in vitro hepatocyte applications.

Results

Cell clones derived from human fetal liver cells were immortalized by over-expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase. The resulting cell line, cBAL111, displayed hepatic functionality similar to the parental cells prior to immortalization, and did not grow in soft agar. Cell line cBAL111 expressed markers of immature hepatocytes, like glutathione S transferase and cytokeratin 19, as well as progenitor cell marker CD146 and was negative for lidocaine elimination. On the other hand, the cBAL111 cells produced urea, albumin and cytokeratin 18 and eliminated galactose. In contrast to hepatic cell lines NKNT-3 and HepG2, all hepatic functions were expressed in cBAL111, although there was considerable variation in their levels compared with primary mature hepatocytes. When transplanted in the spleen of immunodeficient mice, cBAL111 engrafted into the liver and partly differentiated into hepatocytes showing expression of human albumin and carbamoylphosphate synthetase without signs of cell fusion.

Conclusion

This novel liver cell line has the potential to differentiate into mature hepatocytes to be used for in vitro hepatocyte applications.
Human APOBEC1 cytidine deaminase edits HBV DNA
Authors: Gonzalez Minerva Cervantes , Suspène Rodolphe , Henry Michel , Guétard Denise , Wain-Hobson Simon , Vartanian Jean-Pierre
Published: October 2009

Retroviruses, hepadnaviruses, and some other retroelements are vulnerable to editing by single stranded DNA cytidine deaminases. Of the eleven human genes encoding such enzymes, eight have demonstrable enzymatic activity. Six of seven human APOBEC3 are able to hyperedit HBV DNA, frequently on both strands. Although human APOBEC1 (hA1) is not generally expressed in normal liver, hA1 can edit single stranded DNA in a variety of experimental assays. The possibility of ectopic expression of hA1 in vivo cannot be ruled out and interestingly, transgenic mice with A1 expressed under a liver specific promoter develop hepatocellular carcinoma. The impact of hA1 on HBV in tissue culture is varied with reports noting either reduced DNA synthesis or not, with cytidine deamination taking a low profile. We sought to examine the hA1 editing activity on replicating HBV. Using highly sensitive 3DPCR it was possible to show that hA1 edits the HBV minus DNA strand as efficiently as hA3G, considered the reference deaminase for HIV and HBV. The dinucleotide specificity of editing was unique among human cytidine deaminases providing a hallmark of use in a posteriori analyses of in vivo edited genomes. Analysis of sequences derived from the serum of two chronic carriers, indicated that hA1 explained only a small fraction of edited HBV genomes. By contrast, several human APOBEC3 deaminases were active including hA3G.
Aberrant STYK1 expression in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines
Authors: Jackson Kesmic A , Oprea Gabriela , Handy Jeffrey , Kimbro K Sean
Published: October 2009

Background

Overexpression ofSTYK1, a putative serine/threonine and tyrosine receptor protein kinase has been shown to confer tumorigenicity and metastatic potential to normal cells injected into nude mice. Mutation of a tyrosine residue in the catalytic STYK1 domain attenuates the tumorigenic potential of tumor cellsin vivo, collectively, suggesting an oncogenic role for STYK1.

Methods

To investigate the role of STYK1 expression in ovarian cancer, a panel of normal, benign, and ovarian cancer tissues was evaluated for STYK1 immunoreactivity using STYK1 antibodies. In addition, mRNA levels were measured by reverse transcription PCR and real-time PCR of estrogen receptors, GPR30 and STYK1 following treatment of ovarian cell lines with estrogen or G1, a GPR30 agonist, as well as western analysis.

Results

Our data showed higher expression of STYK1 in cancer tissues versus normal or benign. Only normal or benign, and one cancer tissue were STYK1-negative. Moreover, benign and ovarian cancer cell lines expressedSTYK1as determined by RT-PCR. Estradiol treatment of these cells resulted in up- and down-regulation ofSTYK1despite estrogen receptor status; whereas G-1, a GPR30-specific agonist, increased STYK1 mRNA levels higher than that of estradiol.

Conclusion

We conclude thatSTYK1is expressed in ovarian cancer and is regulated by estrogen through a GPR30 hormone-signaling pathway, to the exclusion of estrogen receptor-alpha.