bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cooperative interaction of CTGF and TGF-β in animal models of fibrotic disease
Authors: Wang Qingjian , Usinger William , Nichols Blake , Gray Julia , Xu Leon , Seeley Todd W , Brenner Mitch , Guo Guangjie , Zhang Weihua , Oliver Noelynn , Lin Al , Yeowell David
Published: February 2011

Background

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is widely thought to promote the development of fibrosis in collaboration with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β; however, most of the evidence for its involvement comes from correlative and culture-based studies. In this study, the importance of CTGF in tissue fibrosis was directly examined in three murine models of fibrotic disease: a novel model of multiorgan fibrosis induced by repeated intraperitoneal injections of CTGF and TGF-β2; the unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) renal fibrosis model; and an intratracheal bleomycin instillation model of pulmonary fibrosis.

Results

Intraperitoneal coadministration of CTGF and TGF-β2 elicited a profound fibrotic response that was inhibited by the human anti-CTGF antibody FG-3019, as indicated by the ability of FG-3019 to ameliorate the histologic signs of fibrosis and reduce the otherwise increased hydroxyproline:proline (Hyp:Pro) ratios by 25% in kidney (P < 0.05), 30% in liver (P < 0.01) and 63% in lung (P < 0.05). Moreover, administration of either cytokine alone failed to elicit a fibrotic response, thus demonstrating that CTGF is both necessary and sufficient to initiate fibrosis in the presence of TGF-β and vice versa. In keeping with this requirement for CTGF function in fibrosis, FG-3019 also reduced the renal Hyp:Pro response up to 20% after UUO (P < 0.05). In bleomycin-injured animals, a similar trend towards a FG-3019 treatment effect was observed (38% reduction in total lung Hyp, P = 0.056). Thus, FG-3019 antibody treatment consistently reduced excessive collagen deposition and the pathologic severity of fibrosis in all models.

Conclusion

Cooperative interactions between CTGF and TGF-β signaling are required to elicit overt tissue fibrosis. This interdependence and the observed anti-fibrotic effects of FG-3019 indicate that anti-CTGF therapy may provide therapeutic benefit in different forms of fibroproliferative disease.
The use of ultra-dense array CGH analysis for the discovery of micro-copy number alterations and gene fusions in the cancer genome
Authors: Przybytkowski Ewa , Ferrario Cristiano , Basik Mark
Published: February 2011

Background

Molecular alterations critical to development of cancer include mutations, copy number alterations (amplifications and deletions) as well as genomic rearrangements resulting in gene fusions. Massively parallel next generation sequencing, which enables the discovery of such changes, uses considerable quantities of genomic DNA (> 5 ug), a serious limitation in ever smaller clinical samples. However, a commonly available microarray platforms such as array comparative genomic hybridization (array CGH) allows the characterization of gene copy number at a single gene resolution using much smaller amounts of genomic DNA. In this study we evaluate the sensitivity of ultra-dense array CGH platforms developed by Agilent, especially that of the 1 million probe array (1 M array), and their application when whole genome amplification is required because of limited sample quantities.

Methods

We performed array CGH on whole genome amplified and not amplified genomic DNA from MCF-7 breast cancer cells, using 244 K and 1 M Agilent arrays. The ADM-2 algorithm was used to identify micro-copy number alterations that measured less than 1 Mb in genomic length.

Results

DNA from MCF-7 breast cancer cells was analyzed for micro-copy number alterations, defined as measuring less than 1 Mb in genomic length. The 4-fold extra resolution of the 1 M array platform relative to the less dense 244 K array platform, led to the improved detection of copy number variations (CNVs) and micro-CNAs. The identification of intra-genic breakpoints in areas of DNA copy number gain signaled the possible presence of gene fusion events. However, the ultra-dense platforms, especially the densest 1 M array, detect artifacts inherent to whole genome amplification and should be used only with non-amplified DNA samples.

Conclusions

This is a first report using 1 M array CGH for the discovery of cancer genes and biomarkers. We show the remarkable capacity of this technology to discover CNVs, micro-copy number alterations and even gene fusions. However, these platforms require excellent genomic DNA quality and do not tolerate relatively small imperfections related to the whole genome amplification.
Structures and Conformational Analysis of 1,8-Bis(9-triptycylethynyl)anthracene and Its Derivatives as Prototypes of Molecular Spur Gears
Authors: Toyota Shinji , Shimizu Takamasa , Iwanaga Tetsuo , Wakamatsu Kan
Published: February 2011

The title compounds having two 9-triptycyl rotors, two acetylene shafts, and an acene base were synthesized by coupling reactions as molecular spur gears. Their molecular structures were compared to evaluate the meshing of rotor moieties and the orientation of the two gear shafts. The mechanism of rotation of three-toothed rotors was explored by NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations in terms of gear rotation and slippage.
Structural integrity of α-helix H12 in translation initiation factor eIF5B is critical for 80S complex stability
Authors: Shin Byung-Sik , Acker Michael G. , Kim Joo-Ran , Maher Kathryn N. , Arefin Shamsul M. , Lorsch Jon R. , Dever Thomas E.
Published: February 2011

Translation initiation factor eIF5B promotes GTP-dependent ribosomal subunit joining in the final step of the translation initiation pathway. The protein resembles a chalice with the α-helix H12 forming the stem connecting the GTP-binding domain cup to the domain IV base. Helix H12 has been proposed to function as a rigid lever arm governing domain IV movements in response to nucleotide binding and as a molecular ruler fixing the distance between domain IV and the G domain of the factor. To investigate its function, helix H12 was lengthened or shortened by one or two turns. In addition, six consecutive residues in the helix were substituted by Gly to alter the helical rigidity. Whereas the mutations had minimal impacts on the factor's binding to the ribosome and its GTP binding and hydrolysis activities, shortening the helix by six residues impaired the rate of subunit joining in vitro and both this mutation and the Gly substitution mutation lowered the yield of Met-tRNAiMet bound to 80S complexes formed in the presence of nonhydrolyzable GTP. Thus, these two mutations, which impair yeast cell growth and enhance ribosome leaky scanning in vivo, impair the rate of formation and stability of the 80S product of subunit joining. These data support the notion that helix H12 functions as a ruler connecting the GTPase center of the ribosome to the P site where Met-tRNAiMet is bound and that helix H12 rigidity is required to stabilize Met-tRNAiMet binding.
Introduction: 2010 Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Authors: Bollapragada Srinivas , Sodhi ManMohan S.
Published: February 2011

This special issue of Interfaces is devoted to the finalists of the 39th annual competition for the Franz Edelman Award for Achievement in Operations Research and the Management Sciences, the profession's prestigious award for the practice of operations research. The six finalists this year cover a wide range of industries, functions, and countries around the globe. The winning entry demonstrates the use of operations research (OR) by INDEVAL, Mexico's central financial securities depository, to decrease daily liquidity requirements by $130 billion. One finalist entry describes the OR analyses and the politics that led to the implementation of optimization-based water-release policies by the Delaware River Basin Commission. Another entry shows how OR models were used to increase the brand value of Deutsche Post DHL in Germany by over $1 billion in five years. A fourth reflects the development and deployment of OR-based tools at New Brunswick Department of Transportation to save over $70 million per year in maintaining 18,000 kilometers of roads. Yet another entry discusses the use of single-stage and multiechelon inventory optimization techniques to reduce Procter & Gamble's investment in inventory by $1.5 billion. A sixth entry describes the use of simulation models to save approximately $230 million over a 10-year period at the Sasol Synfuels coal-to-liquids conversion facility in South Africa.
A Freight Service Design Problem for a Railway Corridor
Authors: Caprara Alberto , Malaguti Enrico , Toth Paolo
Published: February 2011

We study the problem of designing a set of highly profitable freight routes in a railway corridor, taking into account the level of service requested by different goods; in particular, the profit achieved by transporting a good is a nonlinear function of the associated travel time. We propose an ILP model that is solved heuristically by column generation and fixing techniques. Computational results on a real corridor crossing 11 European countries are reported, showing that we can find solutions that are provably close to optimal. Given the large size of our instances, a key issue of our approach is to avoid finding an optimal solution of the continuous relaxation of our model, stopping as soon as near-optimal primal and dual solutions are available.
A Branch-and-Cut Algorithm Using a Strong Formulation and an A Priori Tour-Based Heuristic for an Inventory-Routing Problem
Authors: Solyalı Oğuz , Süral Haldun
Published: February 2011

We address a vendor-managed inventory-routing problem where a supplier (vendor) receives a given amount of a single product each period and distributes it to multiple retailers over a finite time horizon using a capacitated vehicle. Each retailer faces external dynamic demand and is controlled by a deterministic order-up-to level policy requiring that the supplier raise the retailer's inventory level to a predetermined maximum in each replenishment. The problem is deciding on when and in what sequence to visit the retailers such that systemwide inventory holding and routing costs are minimized. We propose a branch-and-cut algorithm and a heuristic based on an a priori tour using a strong formulation. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to consider a strong formulation for the inventory replenishment part of inventory-routing problems. Computational results reveal that the new branch-and-cut algorithm and heuristic perform better than those noted in the literature.
Partnership in knowledge creation: lessons learned from a researcher–policy actor partnership to co-produce a rapid appraisal case study of South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative
Authors: Newman Lareen , Biedrzycki Kate , Patterson Jan , Baum Fran
Published: February 2011

This paper describes a partnership between researchers and policy actors that was developed within a short timeframe to produce a rapid appraisal case study of a government policy initiative – South Australia’s Social Inclusion Initiative – for the Social Exclusion Knowledge Network of the international Commission on Social Determinants of Health. The paper does not focus on the case study findings or content, but rather on the researcher–policy actor partnership that developed in the process of producing the case study and its report. The paper is set against the broader literature on researcher–policy collaboration and is written to share lessons that may help others quickly establish or improve researcher–policy partnerships. It sets out six key elements for success in a framework for partnership that can meet policy rather than academic timeframes and which can effectively co-produce knowledge that meets both research and policy objectives.
Predicting rainfall-induced landslide potential along a mountain road in Taiwan
Authors: CHING J. , LIAO H.-J. , LEE J.-Y.
Published: February 2011

This paper gives a brief introduction on the background and current status of rainfall-induced landslides along a mountain road (Route T-18) in Taiwan and presents a detailed analysis based on the Gaussian process model for predicting locations and occurrence times of future landslides using post Chi-Chi earthquake historical data. Based on inherent and man-made features of failed and not-failed slopes, locations of possible future landslides owing to rainfall along Route T-18 are predicted. Together with historical rainfall data, a rainfall fragility graph is established. The analysis results show that the Gaussian process model is effective in predicting landslide potentials and probabilities. Comparisons of the Gaussian process analysis and the discriminant function analysis are made, which show that the former outperforms the latter in many respects. The results are valuable for predicting where and when landslides would occur along Route T-18 in future heavy rainfalls.
Hemoglobin A1c as a Diagnostic Tool for Diabetes Screening and New-Onset Diabetes Prediction
Authors: Choi Sung Hee , Kim Tae Hyuk , Lim Soo , Park Kyong Soo , Jang Hak C. , Cho Nam H.
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE

Various cutoff levels of hemoglobin A1c (A1C) have been suggested to screen for diabetes, although more consensus about the best level, especially for different ethnicities, is required. We evaluated the usefulness of A1C levels when screening for undiagnosed diabetes and as a predictor of 6-year incident diabetes in a prospective, population-based cohort study.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A total 10,038 participants were recruited from the Ansung-Ansan cohort study. All subjects underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test at baseline and at each biennial follow-up. Excluding subjects with a previous history of diabetes (n = 572), the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the A1C cutoff. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to predict diabetes at 6 years.

RESULTS

At baseline, 635 participants (6.8%) had previously undiagnosed diabetes. An A1C cutoff of 5.9% produced the highest sum of sensitivity (68%) and specificity (91%). At 6 years, 895 (10.2%) subjects had developed incident diabetes. An A1C cutoff of 5.6% had the highest sum of sensitivity (59%) and specificity (77%) for the identification of subsequent 6-year incident diabetes. After multivariate adjustment, men with baseline A1C ≥5.6% had a 2.4-fold increased risk and women had a 3.1-fold increased risk of new-onset diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

A1C is an effective and convenient method for diabetes screening. An A1C cutoff of 5.9% may identify subjects with undiagnosed diabetes. Individuals with A1C ≥5.6% have an increased risk for future diabetes.
Association Between Insulin Resistance and Development of Microalbuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Hsu Chih-Cheng , Chang Hsing-Yi , Huang Meng-Chuan , Hwang Shang-Jyh , Yang Yi-Ching , Tai Tong-Yuan , Yang Hung-Jen , Chang Chwen-Tzuei , Chang Chih-Jen , Li Yu-Sheng , Shin Shyi-Jang , Kuo Ken N.
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE

An association between insulin resistance and microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetes has often been found in cross-sectional studies. We aimed to reassess this relationship in a prospective Taiwanese cohort of type 2 diabetic subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We enrolled 738 normoalbuminuric type 2 diabetic subjects, aged 56.6 ± 9.0 years, between 2003 and 2005 and followed them through the end of 2009. Average follow-up time was 5.2 ± 0.8 years. We used urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio to define microalbuminuria and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) to assess insulin resistance. The incidence rate ratio and Cox proportional hazards model were used to evaluate the association between HOMA-IR and development of microalbuminuria.

RESULTS

We found incidences of microalbuminuria of 64.8, 83.5, 93.3, and 99.0 per 1,000 person-years for the lowest to highest quartiles of HOMA-IR. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of HOMA-IR, the incidence rate ratios for those in the 2nd, 3rd, and highest quartiles were 1.28 (95% CI 0.88–1.87), 1.44 (0.99–2.08), and 1.52 (1.06–2.20), respectively (trend test: P < 0.001). By comparison with those in the lowest quartile, the adjusted hazard ratios were 1.37 (0.93–2.02), 1.66 (1.12–2.47), and 1.76 (1.20–2.59) for those in the 2nd, 3rd, and highest HOMA-IR quartiles, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

According to the dose-response effects of HOMA-IR shown in this prospective study, we conclude that insulin resistance could significantly predict development of microalbuminuria in type 2 diabetic patients.
A1C Variability as an Independent Risk Factor for Microalbuminuria in Young People With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Marcovecchio M. Loredana , Dalton R. Neil , Chiarelli Francesco , Dunger David B.
Published: February 2011

OBJECTIVE

To assess the potential association between A1C variability (A1C-SD) and microalbuminuria in young people with type 1 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Serially collected samples for A1C measurement were available for 1,232 subjects with childhood-onset type 1 diabetes recruited to the Oxford Regional Prospective Study and the Nephropathy Family Study.

RESULTS

The median (range) number of A1C assessments was 4 (2–16). Mean intrapersonal A1C was 9.5% and A1C-SD was 0.91. Mean A1C and A1C-SD values were higher in subjects with microalbuminuria (n = 227) than in those with normoalbuminuria (10.3 vs. 9.4%; 1.12 vs. 0.86, P < 0.001). In a Cox regression model, A1C-SD was independently associated with microalbuminuria (hazard ratio 1.31 [95% CI 1.01–1.35]).

CONCLUSIONS

In the current study, A1C variability was an independent variable that added to the effect of A1C on the risk for microalbuminuria in youth with type 1 diabetes, a population highly vulnerable to vascular complications.
Multiple Bonded Restorations in a Patient with Severe Mental Disability: A Case Report
Authors: Chang J. , Seo K-S.
Published: February 2011

Clinical Relevance

Dental treatment for patients with special needs may be restricted due to the patient's lack of understanding and/or inability to cooperate, as well as other circumstances. Bonded restorations may be especially appropriate in dental restorations of patients with severe mental impairment.
Gray Value Differences to Dentin of Root Posts Radiographed with Digital Intraoral Systems and Conventional X-ray Films
Authors: Wicht S. , Pfeiffer P. , Rother U. , Nergiz I. , Schmage P.
Published: February 2011

Clinical Relevance

Digital radiographs often provide significantly higher gray value differences between root posts and root dentin than conventional x-ray films.
Fluoride Release From a New Glass-ionomer Cement
Authors: Neelakantan P. , John S. , Anand S. , Sureshbabu N. , Subbarao C.
Published: February 2011

Clinical Relevance

The antibacterial and cariostatic properties of glass-ionomer cements are associated with the amount of fluoride released. Therefore, fluoride release from a restorative material for extended periods of time is considered favorable.
Magnetic and electric properties of (Fe, Co)/(Si, Ge) multilayers
Authors: Lucinski Tadeusz , Chomiuk Piotr
Published: February 2011

We review selected results concerning the interlayer exchange coupling in Fe/SixFe1−x
, Fe/Ge and Co/Si layered structures. Among the ferromagnet/semiconductor systems, Fe/Si structures are the most popular owing to their strong antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling. We show that such interaction depends not only on semiconducting sublayer thickness, but also on deposition techniques and on the chemical composition of the sublayer as well. In similar heterostructures e.g. Fe/Ge, antiferromagnetic coupling was observed only in ion-beam deposited trilayers at low temperatures. In contrast, in Fe/Ge multilayers deposited by sputtering, no such coupling was found. However, when the Ge is partially substituted by Si, antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling appears. For Co/Si multilayers, we observed a very weak exchange coupling and its oscillatory behavior. The growth of Co on Si occurs in an island growth mode. The evolution of magnetic loop shapes can be successfully explained by the interplay between interlayer coupling and anisotropy terms.
Magnetostructural transformations in Ni51Mn36Sn13 Heusler alloy thin films
Authors: Załęski Karol , Dubowik Janusz , Gościańska Iwona , Andrzejewski Bartłomiej , Toliński Tomasz
Published: February 2011

In this paper we report structural, magnetic and transport properties of strongly textured Ni51Mn36Sn13 thin films. The off-stoichiometric Heusler alloy films with 200 nm thickness were sputter-deposited on a MgO(100) substrate at 500 K and after annealed at 1000 K in UHV conditions. The textured growth was confirmed by x-ray diffraction in Bragg-Brentano geometry. The temperature dependence of the magnetic properties was measured by VSM and FMR methods. The electron transport measurements were carried out in function of temperature in 0 Oe and 50 kOe fields. All measurements corroborate the existence of the martensitic transformation in the film. Furthermore, transport measurements reveal an influence of the magnetic field on the transition temperature.
Chronic food restriction up-regulates 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase
Authors: Sledzinski Tomasz , Turyn Jacek , Stelmanska Ewa , Presler Malgorzata , Klimek Jerzy , Swierczynski Julian
Published: February 2011

Corticosterone — product of 11-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type I (11βHSD1) stimulates adipocytes differentiation and activates lipogenic enzymes gene expression in white adipose tissue (WAT) of rats. The aim of the study was to examine the effect of chronic food restriction, often practised by obese individuals trying to lose body mass, on: a) 11βHSD1 gene expression, b) expression of genes associated with adipocyte differentiation (PPARg, SREBP-1, adiponectin), and c) expression of genes associated with lipogenesis in WAT of rats. Two-month old rats were divided into a control and a food restricted group obtaining 50% of food consumed by controls for 30 days. mRNA levels of studied genes in perirenal WAT were analysed by real-time PCR. 11βHSD1 and lipogenic enzymes activities were measured by radiometric conversion assay and by spectrophotometric assay respectively. Food restriction caused significant increase of 11βHSD1, PPARg, SREBP1, adiponectin and lipogenic enzymes mRNA levels in perirenal WAT. 11βHSD1 and some lipogenic enzymes activities were also increased by food restriction. The coordinated up-regulation of 11βHSD1, and genes associated with adipocyte differentiation and lipogenesis by food restriction suggests that such nutritional condition shifts WAT metabolism, that would permit this tissue to synthesize and accumulate triacylglycerols immediately after refeeding.
Predatory bug Picromerus bidens communicates at different frequency levels
Authors: Čokl Andrej , Žunič Alenka , Virant-Doberlet Meta
Published: February 2011

The Asopinae (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) are a subfamily of stinkbugs with predaceous feeding habits and poorly understood communication systems. In this study we recorded vibratory signals emitted by Picromerus bidens L. on a non-resonant substrate and investigated their frequency characteristics. Males and females produced signals by vibration of the abdomen and tremulation. The female and male songs produced by abdominal vibrations showed gender-specific time structure. There were no differences in the temporal patterns of male or female tremulatory signals. The signals produced by abdominal vibrations were emitted below 600 Hz whereas tremulatory signals had frequency ranges extending up to 4 kHz. Spectra of male vibratory signals produced by abdominal vibrations contained different peaks, each of which may be dominant within the same song sequence. Males alternated with each other during production of rivalry signals, using different dominant frequency levels. We show that the vibratory song repertoire of P. bidens is broader than those of other predatory stinkbugs that have been investigated. The emission of vibrational signals with different dominant frequencies but the same production mechanism has not yet been described in heteropteran insects, and may facilitate location of individual sources of vibration within a group.
Kessler Psychological Distress Scale: Normative Data from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing
Authors: Slade Tim , Grove Rachel , Burgess Philip
Published: February 2011

Objective: To present Australian normative data on the ten-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10).

Method: Analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, a nationally representative household survey of 8841 adults. Mean K10 scores and K10 scores at selected percentiles of the K10 score distribution are presented by sex, age, the presence of mental disorders and the presence of physical conditions. Stratum-specific likelihood ratios were computed to help clinicians and researchers calculate predicted probabilities of mental disorder given scores on the K10.

Results: Scores on the K10 were generally higher in women compared to men, in people with a mental disorder compared to without a mental disorder and in people with affective disorders compared to people with substance use disorders. The SSLRs were informative in ruling in a diagnosis of mental disorder, particularly at the high or very high end of the psychological distress spectrum.

Conclusions: These data may be helpful for clinicians and researchers alike in understanding the likelihood of mental disorder in a given individual or sample.
An electro-physiological device to assess status of vitreous transparency
Authors: Gupta Meenakshi , Gupta Y , Singh PN
Published: February 2011

Introduction: Evaluation of optical media is important in ophthalmic practice. Objective: to design and tryout an electro-physiological device in order to assess the transparency of the vitreous. Materials and methods: A media-meter was designed where a light sensitive sensor was placed on the cornea and adjoining sclera during the process of trans-illumination. The trans-corneal (TC) and trans-scleral (TS) light transmittance were recorded objectively. By standardizing these readings on normal eyes, it was possible to suspect any cause of vitreous turbidity in eyes where the transmittance of light was observed to be less than the normal readings. Statistics: Media-meter values were compared using Student’s unpaired t- test for comparison between both the groups. Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated for pooled media-meter values obtained from patients with endophthalmitis. Results: The readings were obtained by TC and TS media-metry with white light in 20 eyes that served to standardize the device. The mean values for the intensity recorded on the media-meter were 206 to 74 Lux and after log-values conversion were 2.14 (range 2.36 to 1.87) and 45 to 31 Lux and after log conversion 1.60 (range 1.66 to 1.49) for TC and TS media-meter respectively. There was a highly significant difference between normal eye readings and the corresponding values obtained for TC and TS media-meter values in eyes with endophthalmitis. Conclusion: The media-meter can be used to evaluate vitreous transparency. Key words: trans-illumination; media-meter; endophthalmitis; vitreous transparency DOI: 10.3126/nepjoph.v3i1.4278Nepal J Ophthalmol 2011;3(5):45-48
Anatomical and functional outcomes of surgery of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors: Thakur SKD
Published: February 2011

DOI: 10.3126/nepjoph.v3i1.4295Nepal J Ophthalmol 2011;3(5):93
A Bronze Age Burial Mound at Holland, St Ola, Orkney
Authors: Neil Nigel R J
Published: February 2011

Summary

Excavation of one of a group of Bronze Age barrows revealed two burials. A primary cremation had been partially cut away by a later inhumation that was dated by C-14 to 1100–1300 BC. A discussion of the significance of these sites within Orkney concludes that the site is similar to that identified at Quoyscottie and that the burials were contemporary with the cooking sites associated with the burnt mounds.
Excavation at Bothwell Castle, Lanarkshire, 1981
Authors: Lewis J H
Published: February 2011

Summary

Outside the castle's N curtain wall were the foundations of a rectangular stone-walled structure measuring 10.35 m by 5. 70 m. Stone-robbing and other destructive forces had caused considerable damage and few stratigraphic contexts remained. However, this building seems to have incorporated the castle's entrance and was, perhaps, contemporary with the N curtain wall built by the Black Douglas family in the late 14th or early 15th century.
Skaill, Sandwick, Orkney: Preliminary Investigations of a Mound-site near Skara Brae
Authors: Morris (ed) Christopher D , Emery Norman , Owen Olwyn A , Rains Michael J , Watt Harvey M
Published: February 2011

Summary

A large mound-site near Skara Brae has been subject to severe erosion. Surveys of the site have been undertaken and major structural elements recognised. It is a ‘settlement mound’ as recently recognised elsewhere in Orkney, but in addition probably had a Viking grave placed in it. Earlier structural elements are undated and may be early prehistoric. The site is considered against the context of the archaeology of the Bay of Skaill.
Excavation at Montfode Mount Motte, Ayrshire
Authors: James Heather F
Published: February 2011

Summary

A two week excavation in two areas around the Scheduled Monument known as Montfode Mount confirmed the existence of the arcs of two outer concentric ditches noted on aerial photographs and an inner ditch at the base of the motte. There was no stratigraphical relationship between the outer ditches and the motte, and the excavation did not provide dating evidence for any of these features. While allowing for the fact that the outer ditches may be Medieval in date the excavator suggests that the ditches formed part of the defenses of a promontory fort of prehistoric date. In the light of recent work the interpretation of the mound as a motte is also discussed.
A cist at Abercairny, Perthshire
Authors: Rideout J S , Comrie J , Barlow A , Halpin E , Stevenson S , Gibson A
Published: February 2011

Summary

A cist was discovered in December 1983 at Abercairny, Perthshire. It contained the remains of an inhumation, a flint knife and part of a spacer-plate jet necklace.
The Rosette in British and Irish Rock Art
Authors: van Hoek M. A. M.
Published: February 2011

Summary

Discussed here is the occurrence on British prehistoric rock art sites of the ‘rosette’ – a circle of cup-marks round a central cup. The motif is rare although occurring over a wide area in Britain; the main zones of concentration are Co. Louth in Ireland, Northumberland, Galloway in Soulh-West Scotland and in Mid-Argyll, and similar motifs are found in Galicia. In contrast to the standardised and ubiquitous cup-and-ring motifs and rarer designs such as spirals, rosettes seem to have specifically local concentrations, as if they were symbols of social identification.
Presenting the Self: Record Linkage and Referring to Ordinary Historical Persons
Authors: Morton Graeme
Published: February 2011

The correspondence between a nominal entry and an historical person remains a central problematic in the practice of nominal record linkage. Failed linkage is generally assumed to be due to source defects either in the construction or the reproduction of the nominal list. The purpose of this paper is explain that variations in nominal data for ordinary persons are not necessarily a function of error, but rather a reflection of conscious decisions by individuals to filter their own data in ways which suit their own concerns.

Drawing on the ideas of Erving Goffman, an attempted explanation is made as to how and why individuals present their self in different ways in different circumstances, so creating uncertainty in the linkage process.
Multiple-source Record Linkage in a Rural Industrial Community, 1680–1820
Authors: King Steve
Published: February 2011

Re-creating the social, economic and demographic life-cycles of ordinary people is one way in which historians might engage with the complex continuities and changes which underlay the development of early modern communities. Little, however, has been written on the ways in which historians might deploy computers, rather than card indexes, to the task of identifying such life cycles from the jumble of the sources generated by local and national administration. This article suggests that multiple-source linkage is central to historical and demographic analysis, and reviews, in broad outline, some of the procedures adopted in a study which aims at large scale life cycle reconstruction.
Letter-cluster Sampling and Nominal Record Linkage
Authors: Richardson Sarah
Published: February 2011

Letter-cluster samplinghas been promoted as a reliable method of sampling large populations whilst retaining the possibility of linking them together using nominal information. This article argues that letter-cluster sampling is neither a statistically valid nor a practical technique when applied to poll books. These sources have a high correlation between the cluster-selection parameter and the parameter to be evaluated — i.e. surname and vote.
Multi-Source Family Reconstruction
Authors: Bloothooft Gerrit
Published: February 2011

A system for automatic family reconstruction from data from various historical sources is described. A normalized person-oriented data model andnormalized data serve as a basis for linkage, while iterative improvement of the linkage structure is made on the basis of constructed reports on individuals.
Diagnostischer Referenzwert
Authors: Stemberger A. , Leitha T. , Staudenherz A.
Published: February 2011

The aim of this study was to collect administered activities of important nuclear medicine diagnostic examinations and to identify frequencies as well as age distributions in the light of hybrid devices in Austria. Based on the survey data a re-evaluation of dose reference levels for nuclear medicine has been published in June 2010 in the novella of the Austrian Medical Radiation Protection Regulation (MedStrSchV) (8), also an estimate of the average individual doses of the total population. Accurate data on nuclear medicine studies of 34% of all Austrian nuclear medicine units could be collected. Results: Extrapolated there are about 150 000 nuclear medicine examinations per year performed in Austria. The median age of patients is thereby 62 years. The results of this study resulted in 65% of the dose reference values to change, whereas 48% had to be revised downwards and 17% upwards. Additionally, 5 new reference values were included in the list; three more were taken out, however. The estimation of the individual effective patient dose for each offered examination was on average 4.7 mSv. An extrapolation based on the total exposure of the population with regard to uninvolved persons and children led to 0.07 mSv per year by nuclear medicine examinations. Conclusion: The published diagnostic reference values correspond to the normal investigative practice in Austria and are compliant with most international recommendations. The term „optimal value“ has been removed from the text of the law, because such wording would be misleading.
Synthesis and self-assembly of 1-deoxyglucose derivatives as low molecular weight organogelators
Authors: Wang Guijun , Yang Hao , Cheuk Sherwin , Coleman Sherman
Published: February 2011

Low molecular weight gelators are an important class of molecules. The supramolecular gels formed by carbohydrate derived low molecular weight gelators are interesting soft materials that show great potential for many applications. Previously, we have synthesized a series of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside derivatives and found that several of them are good gelators for water, aqueous mixtures of DMSO, or aqueous mixtures of ethanol. The gelation efficiency of these glycolipid derivatives is dependent upon the structures of their acyl chains. In order to understand the influence of the anomeric position of the sugar headgroup towards self-assembly, we synthesized a series of 1-deoxyglucose analogs, and examined their gelation properties in several solvents. Several long chain esters, including diacetylene containing esters, and aryl esters exhibited gelation in ethanol, aqueous ethanol, or aqueous DMSO. The synthesis and characterization of these novel analogs are reported.
Survey on After-Class Sports of Students with Physical Disabilities in Special Schools of Hebei Province
Authors: Liang Zhan Suo , Feng Xiu Hua
Published: February 2011

We arranged a survey on the after-class sports of students with physical disabilities in special schools of Hebei province through literatures, interviews and questionnaires. Result shows that subjects have incomplete, one-sided and narrow understanding about the scientific meaning of health and don’t have profound understanding about the goal, meaning and value of sports; subjects hold active and positive attitudes toward sports, but their behaviors are lagged behind. Low frequency of ding sports, lack of physical exercise, indifference of leaders, weak teacher foundation and inadequate supply of sport facilities are the main restrictions of physical exercise. The paper analyzed the reasons and proposed suggestions.
Research on Professional Development of PE Teachers from the View of Modern Educational Technology
Authors: Liu Chuan Jin
Published: February 2011

With the development of educational information, education capability has become an important tool to measure teachers’ professional level. Nowadays, modern educational technology can not only provide modern means for PE teaching but also accelerate the process of PE teacher’s professionalization. This paper starts from the relation between content of PE teacher’s professionalization and modern educational technology, explores the requirements of modern educational technology for PE teacher’s professionalization and analyzes new features of its development under the environment of modern educational technology.
The Comparative Study on Characteristics of Antagonistic Event-Group Athletes’ Competitive Ability
Authors: Hu Yi Hai , Gao Ping , Lu Lin
Published: February 2011

This paper is based on the athlete’s competitive ability theory model, chosing seven antagonistic events to study. By mathematical dealing with every event’s competitive ability factors and comparing the weight number of each factor within and between sub event-groups to get the different or same characteristics in these events. The result is that the weight numbers in different events are different, which reflects the imbalance development of competitive ability. Specials’ competitive ability characteristics focus on the consistent weight numbers of condition ability, sport tactics and sport intellect and the difference of weight numbers of body shape, body function and sport technique.
Influence of Aerobic Exercise on the Body Esteem of College Students with Abnormal BMI
Authors: Ma Ying Li , Yin Rui Xin , Li Yang
Published: February 2011

Author of the paper studied the influence of aerobic exercise on the body esteem of college students with abnormal BMI by questionnaire and experimental research. Results indicate that aerobic exercise can significantly improve the body esteem of overweight and fat college students, but the influence on low-weight students is not obvious; 15 weeks’ aerobic exercise doesn’t have significant improvement to the “body attraction” dimensionality of fat students.
Distributed Estimation in Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Li Fang Zhen , Zhang Xue Fen
Published: February 2011

We consider the problem of distributed estimation of a deterministic vector parameters using in clustered wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The paper using the method of multipliers in conjunction with a block coordinate descent approach, we demonstrate how the resultant algorithm can be decomposed into a set of simpler tasks suitable for distributed implementation based on maximum likelihood estimators (MLE) in nonlinear and non-Gaussian data models. the iterative algorithms based on the communication between nodes and the head node that generate a local estimation, and the head nodes can be seen as the neighbor node of all the other nodes in the cluster, it can broadcast its estimation in the cluster, and the local iterates converge to the global MLE, We prove that these algorithms have guaranteed convergence to the desired estimator when the sensor links are assumed ideal. Furthermore, corroborating simulations demonstrate the merits of the novel distributed estimation algorithms.
Functional Study of Fluxgate Sensors with Amorphous Wires Cores
Authors: Dong Chang Chun , Chen Wei Ping , Liu Xiao Wei , Zhou Zhi Ping
Published: February 2011

The amorphous material Co-based wires as the sensing element in Vacquier type sensor was studied. The magnetic material used in these sensors is CoFeSiB wires produced at the harbin Institute of Technical Physics and prepared by melt extraction. The sensor's functional parameters were measured. The sensor sensitivity is 3.1mV/μT. The measurements demonstrate the usability of the sensor in a magnetometer for both continuous and alternating magnetic field measurements.
Available Bandwidth Measurement Method of High-Speed Network Based on Link Idle Probability
Authors: Dong Jian Gang
Published: February 2011

Available bandwidth measurement of network is an important step in network traffic design and assignment as well as network planning. The previous packet pair and packet train technologies based on network bottleneck segment principle can not be used for available bandwidth measurement of high-speed network. Based on analysis of shortcomings of bandwidth measurement method accordance with network bottleneck segment, the paper presented a kind of high-speed network available bandwidth measurement method based on link idle probability and gave specific steps. The method took router as main body and do not need to consider complicated interference of data flow in the network. Simulation test based on OPNET indicates the feasibility of this method.
Circuit Optimization Design Using Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Yan Xue Song , Wu Qing Hua , Hu Cheng Yu , Liang Qing Zhong
Published: February 2011

During the space electronic system in carries out the exploratory mission in the deep space, it maybe faced with kinds of violent natural environment, to electric circuit's performance, the volume, the weight and the stability proposed a higher request, the traditional circuit design method already more and more with difficulty satisfied this kind of request. The traditional circuit design method already more and more with difficulty satisfied this kind of request. But unifies the programmable component and the evolutionary algorithms hardware may the dynamic change hardware's structure adapt the adverse circumstance, resume the damage of the function, the adaptation for the duty change. After the optimization, obtains the circuit structure will often stem from our anticipation, this will be the altitude which the experience and the skillful institute hope to attain with difficulty. In view of the Xilinx Company's FPGA unique feature, proposed one kind of evolutionary algorithms which uses in the space electronic system circuit optimization design and through the experiment proved, the algorithm obtains the circuit structure to surpass the tradition circuit design method. This work investigates the application of genetic algorithms in the field of circuit optimization. For the case studies, this means has proved to be efficient and the experiment results show that the new means have got the better results.
Design and Implement of the Out-of-Position Alarm System Based on CC2430
Authors: Wu Si Long , Xu Xiao Na , Cheng En
Published: February 2011

The paper put forward a detail design of the out-of-position alarm system based on ZigBee technology and communication chip CC2430 to protect valuables from leaving safe position. It introduced the hardware and software design of the system, implemented short-range wireless communication, established the functional relationship between received signal strength indication (RSSI) and wireless communication distance, solved the problem of multipath fading by software method. Then it presented a series of experiments to prove the system can steadily communicate information to meet security requirement.
Simulation of Conflicts Resolution in Virtual Teams
Authors: Li Jing , Zhou Yue Jin
Published: February 2011

The purpose of the paper is to study the conflict resolution in virtual teams. Multi-agent technology is used to simulate the virtual team. In the team, agents adapt the Q-learning algorithm to adjust their behaviors. Through the interaction of virtual members, part of conflicts can be resolved by team members. The experiments are manipulated to study the process of the interaction in the team. The results of experiments show a new rule for conflict resolution emerged from the dynamic interactions of agents. The conclusions show significance on the management of team in real world.
Application of Near Infrared Spectroscopy in Wood Water Content Prediction
Authors: Zhang Hui Juan , Li Yao Xiang , Zhang Hong Fu , Zhang Ya Zhao , Li Pai
Published: February 2011

Water content of Korean pine samples was studied using near infrared spectrascopy (NIR) combinded with parial least squares regression (PLS) analysis. Seven typical wave lengths were selceted to characterize the wood water content of Korean pine. Prediction models of wood water content were developed based on the original NIR spectra at seven varied wave lengths. The best model was showed between wavelengths from 1000 to 2100 nm with correlation coefficient (R) of 0.9871, standard error of calibration (SEC) and root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) of 0.0337 and 0.0334, respectively. The correlation coefficient（R） for model validation was 0.9817 with standard error of prediction (SEP) and root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.0470 and 0.0465, respectively. This study indicated that NIR is a useful tool for fast prediction of wood water content of Korean pine. The modeling proficiency could be improved significantly for some certain wave length. It could be a research focus for future related studies.
Survey and Analysis of Teacher-Resources of Normal Physical Department Equipped in Colleges in Tianjin
Authors: Xu Hong Xing , Wang Jian , Xu Fu Zhen , Zhang Xiu Jun
Published: February 2011

The commitment of teachers of Physical Education Department in colleges are conducting PE course, training sports team, organizing sports science research, social sports service of the whole school etc. Methods are adopted, such as documentary, questionnaire investigation, and mathematical statistics etc., to have the gender, age, record of formal schooling status and in-service training status of PE faculty of colleges in Tianjin surveyed. According to the investigation, we can draw the conclusion that improving gender structure, cultivating scientific research team should be paid close attention to improve the teaching level when teachers are introduced in Tianjin universities. PE of colleges is not only considered to be an important component of higher education, whose quality is measured by Morality, intelligence and physique, but also an aspect which can not be ignored. The faculty of the department of Physical Education in colleges is liable for a series of important works such as Physical education curriculum teaching, sports training and sports research, students' extracurricular physical exercising guidance and services such as social sports. Many factors, such as high quality and structure of faculty resources and cultivating younger teachers, are playing an important influence on the future quality of education. In order to provide certain theoretical basis and theoretical support for the teaching management of public PE department of colleges in Tianjin, available suggestions to optimize the existing personnel structure and echelon construction could be contributed through the investigation.