bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Behavioral and neurophysiological responses of an insect to changing ratios of constituents in host plant-derived volatile mixtures
Authors: Najar-Rodriguez A. J. , Galizia C. G. , Stierle J. , Dorn S.
Published: September 2010

Ratios of compounds in host plant odors fluctuate with the phenological stage of the plant. In the present study, we investigated the effect of changing ratios of host plant volatile constituents on herbivore insect attraction and olfactory information processing. We tested a synthetic mixture of bioactive peach shoot volatiles with different concentrations of one of the mixture constituents, benzonitrile, on oriental fruit moth Cydia (=Grapholita) molesta females. Y-tube olfactometer bioassays showed that female attraction to the mixture was maintained while increasing the benzonitrile level up to 100 times. Further increases led to behaviorally ineffective mixtures. Then, we recorded odor-evoked neural activity patterns in the antennal lobes, the main olfactory center of the brain, using calcium imaging. Benzonitrile-containing mixtures elicited strong activation in two glomeruli, which were found to process mixture-related information in specific ways. Activation in one glomerulus directly paralleled behavioral effects of the different ratios tested whereas a deviating pattern was noted in the other glomerulus. Our results indicate that the ratio of constituents in a volatile mixture can be varied to a certain degree without reducing female attraction. Thus, volatile blends in nature might vary quantitatively within a certain range without affecting odor-guided host location. Neurophysiological results showed that the processing of mixture-related information inside the antennal lobes is not uniform across glomeruli. Thus, final processing of this information probably takes place in higher-order brain centers.
Control of tumbling during the locust jump
Authors: Cofer David , Cymbalyuk Gennady , Heitler William J. , Edwards Donald H.
Published: September 2010

Locust can jump precisely to a target, yet they can also tumble during the trajectory. We propose two mechanisms that would allow the locust to control tumbling during the jump. The first is that prior to the jump, locusts adjust the pitch of their body to move the center of mass closer to the intended thrust vector. The second is that contraction of the dorsolongitudinal muscles during the jump will produce torques that counter the torque produced by thrust. We found that locusts increased their take-off angle as the initial body pitch increased, and that little tumbling occurred for jumps that observed this relationship. Simulations of locust jumping demonstrated that a pitch versus take-off angle relationship that minimized tumbling in simulated jumps was similar to the relationship observed in live locusts. Locusts were strongly biased to pitch head-upward, and performed dorsiflexions far more often than ventral flexions. The direction and magnitude of tumbling could be controlled in simulations by adjusting the tension in the dorsolongitudinal muscles. These mechanisms allowed the simulations to match the data from the live animals. Control of tumbling was also found to influence the control of jump elevation. The bias to pitch head-upwards may have an evolutionary advantage when evading a predator and so make control of tumbling important for the locust.
Angiogenesis of the uterus and chorioallantois in the eastern water skinkEulamprus quoyii
Authors: Murphy Bridget F. , Parker Scott L. , Murphy Christopher R. , Thompson Michael B.
Published: September 2010

We have discovered a modification of the uterus that appears to facilitate maternal-fetal communication during pregnancy in the scincid lizard Eulamprus quoyii. A vessel-dense elliptical area (VDE) on the mesometrial side of the uterus expands as the embryo grows, providing a large vascular area for physiological exchange between mother and embryo. The VDE is already developed in females with newly ovulated eggs, and is situated directly adjacent to the chorioallantois of the embryo when it develops. It is likely that signals from the early developing embryo determine the position of the VDE, as the VDE is off-centre in cases where the embryo sits obliquely in the uterus. The VDE is not a modification of the uterus over the entire chorioallantoic placenta, as the VDE is smaller than the chorioallantois after embryonic stage 33, but expansion of the VDE and growth of the chorioallantois during pregnancy are strongly correlated. The expansion of the VDE is also strongly correlated with embryonic growth and increasing embryonic oxygen demand (). We propose that angiogenic stimuli are exchanged between the VDE and the chorioallantois in E. quoyii, allowing the simultaneous growth of both tissues.
Quantity of Immobilized Acid Phosphatase and Reaction Rate across Enzyme Membranes
Authors: Takeda Hideo , Tanaka Hiroki , Nomura Kazuo
Published: September 2010

Acid phosphatase from sweet potato was immobilized on the external-solution side surface of a perfluorocarboxylate ion-exchange membrane. Two membranes of different enzyme amounts were prepared without any crosslinking reagents. The effect of the immobilized-enzyme amount on the enzymatic reaction rate across the membrane was investigated for the hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate. The flux of the reaction product, 4-nitrophenol, was found to obey a Michaelis–Menten equation. As the amount of the immobilized enzyme increased, the Michaelis constant decreased whereas the maximum flux did not increase.
Open Platform Strategies and Innovation: Granting Access vs. Devolving Control
Authors: Boudreau Kevin
Published: September 2010

This paper studies two fundamentally distinct approaches to opening a technology platform and their different impacts on innovation. One approach is to grant access to a platform and thereby open up markets for complementary components around the platform. Another approach is to give up control over the platform itself. Using data on 21 handheld computing systems (1990–2004), I find that granting greater levels of access to independent hardware developer firms produces up to a fivefold acceleration in the rate of new handheld device development, depending on the precise degree of access and how this policy was implemented. Where operating system platform owners went further to give up control (beyond just granting access to their platforms) the incremental effect on new device development was still positive but an order of magnitude smaller. The evidence from the industry and theoretical arguments both suggest that distinct economic mechanisms were set in motion by these two approaches to opening.
Determination of biological variation of α-fetoprotein and choriogonadotropin (β chain) in disease-free patients with testicular cancer
Authors: Trapé Jaume , Franquesa Josefina , Sala Maria , Domenech Montserrat , Montesinos Jesus , Catot Sílvia , Buxó Josep , Casado Esther , Fígols Cristina , Harillo Sílvia , Galobart Judit , Bella Meritxell
Published: September 2010

Background: Knowledge of biological variation (BV) is important for determining analytical goals and for establishing the magnitude of change between two consecutive measurements which indicate change in a patients' health status. The aim of this work is to determine the BV for total choriogonadotropin (β chain) (β-hCG) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) in patients diagnosed with testicular cancer but with no evidence of recurrence of disease.

Methods: We estimated BV from a mean of five consecutive measurements in 28 patients diagnosed with testicular cancer, 3 months after tumor resection or 4 months after complete treatment with chemotherapy. The mean sampling interval was 3 months.

Results: The mean concentrations of α-fetoprotein and choriogonadotropin (β chain) were 3.9 μg/L and 0.79 IU/L, respectively. Between-run analytical variation was 7.1% at 4.1 μg/L for α-fetoprotein, and 19% at 0.65 IU/L for choriogonadotropin (β chain). BV obtained for α-fetoprotein and choriogonadotropin (β chain) was 12.4% and 16.7%, respectively, and the reference change value (RCV) for one-tail showed 38.2% and 60.7% for α-fetoprotein and choriogonadotropin (β chain), respectively.

Conclusions: The estimation of BV allows us to calculate analytical goals and RCVs, necessary tools for the correct interpretation of serial measurements in the follow-up of patients.

Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:1799–801.
Returning Individual Research Results: Development of a Cancer Genetics Education and Risk Communication Protocol
Authors: Roberts J. Scott , Shalowitz David I. , Christensen Kurt D. , Everett Jessica N. , Kim Scott Y. H. , Raskin Leon , Gruber Stephen B.
Published: September 2010

The obligations of researchers to disclose clinically and/or personally significant individual research results are highly debated, but few empirical studies have addressed this topic. We describe the development of a protocol for returning research results to participants at one site of a multicenter study of the genetic epidemiology of melanoma. Protocol development involved numerous challenges: (1) deciding whether genotype results merited disclosure; (2) achieving an appropriate format for communicating results; (3) developing education materials; (4) deciding whether to retest samples for additional laboratory validation; (5) identifying and notifying selected participants; and (6) assessing the impact of disclosure. Our experience suggests potential obstacles depending on researcher resources and the design of the parent study, but offers a process by which researchers can responsibly return individual study results and evaluate the impact of disclosure.
Researcher Perspectives on Disclosure of Incidental Findings in Genetic Research
Authors: Meacham Meredith C. , Starks Helene , Burke Wylie , Edwards Kelly
Published: September 2010

Genetic research can produce information that is beyond the aims of the research study yet may be of clinical or personal interest to study participants. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 44 researchers who were asked to describe how they would respond to a hypothetical vignette regarding the disclosure of findings with unanticipated clinical significance to research study participants. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using content and thematic analyses. Researchers' decision-making processes about whether to disclose incidental findings were governed by potentially conflicting duties in three primary domains: Information quality, adherence to rules, and participant welfare. There are several actions researchers can take to prepare for incidental findings, including: Adding specific language in informed consent documents to state clearly how investigators will handle disclosure; exploring how prepared participants might be during the consent process to make decisions about how they would like to be approached in the event of incidental findings; developing procedures for appropriately communicating individual results and providing follow-up support based on participant preferences; and, in genetic research, having an awareness of the range of traits expressed by the genes under study.
Floral biology of cacauhy (Theobroma speciosum - Malvaceae)
Authors: Souza Márcio Silva de , Venturieri Giorgini Augusto
Published: September 2010

In the present work, cacauhy's (Theobroma speciosum) floral biology was studied. Flower buds split their sepals at 14h reaching its maximum at 22h, but all flowers were fully opened at 6:00 h of the following morning. Stigmatic branches showed exudates, reaching maximum between 6:00 h and 10:00 h at the same day. Ligules and petal hoods were the floral parts with highest intensity of odour. Flowers were receptive along all the morning and noon of the anthesis day. Approximately 65% of the flowers were naturally pollinated, but only 0.85% of them set a fruit. Abscission occurred on its higher frequency at 6:00 h of the second day after anthesis. Controlled pollinations showed that cacauhy was self-incompatible species.
Locally Delivered Doxycycline as an Adjunct to Mechanical Debridement at Retreatment of Periodontal Pockets: Outcome at Furcation Sites
Authors: Tomasi Cristiano , Wennström Jan L.
Published: September 2010

Background: The goal was to evaluate the clinical outcome of non‐surgical retreatment at molar furcation sites by ultrasonic debridement with or without adjunctive application of locally delivered doxycycline, and to explore factors affecting the healing results.

Methods: This study involves 32 patients with chronic periodontitis, who received initial pocket/root debridement by ultrasonic instrumentation, followed by random assignment to retreatment of remaining pathologic sites at 3 months by ultrasonic instrumentation with or without adjunctive local application of an 8.8% doxycycline gel. Clinical examinations of plaque, probing depth (PD), relative attachment level, furcation involvement, and bleeding after furcation probing were performed initially, before retreatment at 3 months (baseline), and 3 and 9 months after retreatment. The primary efficacy variable was reduction in the degree of furcation involvement. A multilevel logistic model was used to evaluate the impact of patient and tooth site related factors on the main outcome variable.

Results: The retreatment including locally delivered doxycycline resulted in closure of 50% of degree I furcation sites, compared to 29% for sites treated with mechanical debridement only (P >0.05). Of the degree II furcation sites, 17% in the test and 11% in the control group were reduced in depth (P >0.05). The logistic multilevel model with “furcation improvement” as the dichotomous outcome variable revealed that local application of doxycycline had no statistically significant effect. The odds ratio for “furcation improvement” was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 0.99) for 1‐mm increase of initial vertical PD, 0.36 (95% CI, 0.17 to 0.80) for initial furcation involvement degree II compared to degree I, and 0.24 (95% CI, 0.08 to 0.72) for smokers compared to non‐smokers.

Conclusion: Improvement in molar furcation involvement after non‐surgical periodontal therapy was not enhanced by adjunctive locally applied doxycycline and negatively affected by increased vertical PD and tobacco smoking.
Managing Abandonment, Decommissioning, Remediation and Restoration throughout the E&P Lifecycle
Authors: Hoffmann Rob , Strong Jim
Published: September 2010

If retirement activities are deferred too late in the life of an exploration and production (E&P) asset, the number of retirement activities (i.e. well abandonment, facility decommissioning, site remediation, land restoration) could potentially exceed the funds, resources and time available. Large inventories of inactive assets (e.g. idle wells and facilities) carried long-term further compound the potential budgetary, resource, and schedule shortfall at end-of-life.

A set of operating practices has been developed to systematically manage asset retirement throughout an E&P asset's lifecycle, enabling completion of retirement activities at a rational pace in alignment with the business unit's cash flow profile, resource availability, and lifespan. These practices guide inventorying, prioritizing and managing abandonment-decommissioning candidates (e.g. wells, pipelines, and facilities designated for retirement or inactive long-term), remediation candidates (sites with potentially impacted environmental media; inactive pits) and restoration candidates (borrow pits or disturbed land designated for restoration or inactive long-term) as an integral component of the asset's business plan. Technical guidelines for suspension, abandonment, decommissioning, site assessment, remediation and restoration complement the operating practices by driving task execution to world-class technical standards.

Use of the operating practices described in this paper will position E&P business units to manage asset retirement progressively and perform the activities to world-class technical standards.
A Hierarchical Streamline-Assisted History Matching Approach with Global and Local Parameter Updates
Authors: Yin Jichao , Park Hanyoung , Datta-Gupta Akhil , King Michael J. , Choudhary Manoj K.
Published: September 2010

The effective strategies for traditional manual history matching commonly follow a structured approach with a sequence of adjustments from global to regional parameters followed by local changes in model properties, associated with matching for pressure (reservoir energy), flood front progression, and individual well performance. In contrast, many of the automatic history matching methods utilize parameter sensitivities or gradients to directly update the fine-scale reservoir properties, potentially combining elements at all of these scales. In this paper we present a hierarchical streamline-assisted history matching approach that emulates the traditional structured procedures. First, a probabilistic approach is used to understand the uncertainty in the large-scale static and dynamic parameters, and to calibrate these global parameters. In this global calibration, the intent is to develop multiple models that all sensibly match the field performance. This global calibration is followed by a streamline sensitivity-based deterministic model calibration for local permeability changes in which each of the distinct models created in the global match are history matched in additional detail.

In the probabilistic global calibration, design of experiments and response surface methodologies with evolutionary algorithms are used to calibrate the global parameters. Typical parameters are regional pore volume multipliers, regional vertical and areal transmissibility multipliers, fault transmissibilities and aquifer strength. Key global parameters are first identified via a sensitivity analysis and an initial ensemble of models that span these parameters is created. The cases studied in this sensitivity analysis are used to construct a proxy model using experimental design and response surface analysis. An improved genetic algorithm with heat-bath sampling is used to generate an updated ensemble of models conditioned to static MDT pressures and total liquid rates at the wells, corresponding to a traditional pressure history match. Next, each ensemble member is updated using water-cut, GOR and flowing BHP via sensitivity-based local permeability calibration. We utilize streamline-derived analytic sensitivities to determine the spatial distribution and magnitude of these local changes.

The proposed approach was tested by a 3D synthetic case and a field application. Our hierarchical approach appears to be stable in the sense that the local changes for permeability (inner loop) do not invalidate the pressure history match (outer loop). This is not entirely unexpected since the local permeability changes are regularized by a ‘norm’ constraint that minimizes deviations from the globally updated model. None the less, this is a very useful property in that it allows us to powerfully combine history matching procedures on global and local scales.
Health Aspects of Work in Extreme Climates within the E&P Industry: the Heat
Authors: Dahl-Hansen Erik , Barbey Alex , Arnulf Laurent , Covil Mike , de Jong Geert , Dugelay Francois , Jones Stephen , Jorgensen Knut , Keech Jim , Rodier Jaques , Ross Jonathon
Published: September 2010

The OGP Health Subcommittee has issued guidelines, which target both line management and the company health professionals, to reduce health risk while working in the heat.

Work in dry or moist heat poses a number of hazards

Health related problems due to the heat might appear at various temperatures. Although this document is intended primarily for desert and jungle regions, it is not limited only to these conditions.

Different aspects of preventing heat-related health problems are presented.

The brain cannot survive when its temperature exceeds 44-45°C (113 °F). When the blood's temperature rises above 37°C (98.6°F), special centres in the brain initiate the body's heat control mechanisms

Lack of water replacement, or dehydration, is the major factor in most heat disorders.

Drink regularly even if not thirsty. The routine use of salt tablets is not recommended.

The document gives general and specific advice on how to improve employee awareness through education and training. Recommendations for managing and reducing heat exposure on the work site and how to optimise the medical organisations are given.

Health problems due to extreme heat and humidity are defined and described in some detail. The heat may exacerbate psychological conditions. Conditions that are more thoroughly described are: transient heat fatigue, heat syncope, hyperthermia, heat cramp, heat exhaustion, hyperpyrexia or heat stroke, dehydration, muscle related problems and skin related problems.
Driving: A Systematic Approach and Culture Change Yield Improving Results
Authors: McKay Norrie , Corrigan Mark , Turner Lee
Published: September 2010

The highest single risk to human life in the oil and gas industry is driving. Industry statistics show that 40% of all recorded fatalities involve driving, by far the biggest killer. There is conclusive evidence that there are many more fatal driving accidents that go unrecorded because of the industry practice of "ring-fencing," which includes not counting fatalities that occur during commuting to and from work.

A major oilfield services company, with approximately 40,000 employees, has historically had significant programs addressing driving issues. In a comparison of published data, the company found its personnel had a driving performance markedly better than that in other industries and the public as a whole. By its own measures, the company still suffers, however, from an unacceptable number of "occupational" automotive accidents, and an even more significant number of "nonoccupational" auto accidents.

In early 1998, a new approach was introduced based on two key principles:

– evolving to a 24 hours/day, 7 days/week safe driving culture, independent of whether or not the driving is work related – a systematic approach rather than individual programs.

The paper shows how an eight-element management system model has been applied to managing driving risks and gives practical details of the initiatives undertaken in each element. It concludes by describing how this management system approach affects the company, including the evolution to a 24-hour safety culture, and the progress to date in reducing the number of automotive accidents.
Meeting the Challenge of Potential Deepwater Spills: Cooperative Research Effort Between Industry and Government
Authors: Lane J. S. , LaBelle R. P.
Published: September 2010

As offshore oil and natural gas activity moves into deeper water, both industry and regulatory agencies face an increasing challenge to protect the ocean environment from potential oil spills. Due to the high pressure and cold water temperatures found in deepwater, it is harder to predict where, when, or even if potential spills from well blowouts and pipeline will surface at the site of a spill. The physical and chemical forms of oil that may reach the surface from deep water can also be uncertain. This uncertainty has implications for contingency planning, spill trajectory modeling and cleanup options.

Several oil companies and the MMS recognized these concerns related to deepwater development and formed a partnership to cooperatively fund research that addresses them. Since 1998, with the formation of the Deep Spills Task Force, this group has accomplished the following: Funded two related research projects to develop a numerical model and conduct laboratory experiments that will help forecast blowout plume dynamics and oil and natural gas transport from deep water.Involved industry organizations, such as the Offshore Operator's Committee and Deepstar, in workshops to discuss the research aspects of these deepwater development issues.Proposed the formation of a Joint Industry Project, known as "Deep Spill" to calibrate the deepwater blowout model and obtain "real world" information about potential deepwater spills. "Deep Spill" proposes to conduct an experimental release of oil and natural gas off the coast of Norway in June 2000.

The paper discusses the formation of this industry and regulatory agency partnership and the mutual benefits obtained. The paper also provides an overview of the results from the blowout model project and related laboratory experiments, as well as any progress to date on "Deep Spill."
Petroleum Engineering Education: The Road Ahead - A Summary of Major Actions at CPEE 2000
Authors: Lee W. John , Kazemi H. , Blasingame Thomas A. , Allman Rex , Bassiouni Zaki , Bowman Charles H. , Eustes Alfred W. , Green Don W. , Heinze Lloyd R. , Horne Roland N. , Judah Janeen , Miller Mark A. , Numbere Daopu T. , Prado Mauricio G. , Tiedemann Herb
Published: September 2010

The Fifth SPE Colloquium on Petroleum Engineering Education (CPEE), held 23–28 July 2000, focused on partnership among industry, education, and government. Attendees determined how each partner can develop the people and technology that the industry will need in the 21st century.

Significantly, the group suggested ways of enhancing interaction between universities and industry by encouraging greater cooperation in identifying and funding research projects that will benefit both. Proposed collaborative efforts among universities, possibly working with government laboratories, could meet some of the growing need as research programs move away from industry settings.

Universities requested assistance from industry in identifying competencies that will serve students leaving academic programs. Included in the continuous feedback industry could provide the schools might be identification of needs for continuing education or distance degree programs, including coursework that would better prepare geoscientists to work in the petroleum industry. In addition, industry could provide data sets from real fields for students to use in capstone design courses. Educators agreed to seek a means for systematic sharing of those data.
Repetitive Stress Injury Prevention - Improving Local Capacity to Mitigate Impacts
Authors: Abifarin O.
Published: September 2010

All over the world, e-Business is increasing the use of computer workstations especially in remote oil & gas exploration and production locations where it represents the easiest means of communication with the rest of a larger business function. Chevron Nigeria limited, in this industry, has seen significant increase in computer workstation use from a few workstations in the early 1980s to well over 1000 workstations in the 2000s. This additional growth has resulted in people using significantly longer hours of the normal workday at workstations. In a working culture that predominantly sees workplace injuries as events having immediate impact and clearly visible consequence on the victim, such as falls, lacerations etc repetitive stress injuries (RSI) associated with workstation use departs from this definition. The effects of RSI take a longer period to manifest in the employee, and other none-work related activities are often contributing factors to the injury. The challenge exists for the operator in acceptance by all of RSI as a workplace injury with dilapidating effects on the employee, in the diagnosis and treatment of the RSI, and the proactive management of all factors that can contribute to development of RSI.
Nutrient Runoff to Watershed from Land Application Area of Animal Waste
Authors: Oa Seong-Wook , Lee Yunhee
Published: September 2010

In many cases, compost and liquid fertilizer produced from animal waste were dumped to a farming site without considering the surrounding water environment including groundwater. Also, groundwater contamination by nitrate exceeded water quality criteria (10 mg NO3−-N/L) occur at animal farming site in Korea. The primary purpose of this study is to achieve the level of the nutrients (e.g., nitrogen and phosphorus) required to grow the planned crop by balancing the nutrients and to minimize of the nutrients movement to the ground and surface water. To get an optimized application loading of the animal waste, we surveyed the unit concentration of the animal waste resources produced from several pig and cattle farms, and compared the runoff nutrient concentrations from the each area applied with composted animal resources and liquid pig farm fertilizers. An artificial rainfall test and a controlled nutrient application test were also conducted in the field tests. A set of our field test with the liquid fertilizer presented that 79% of the input nitrogen was emitted to the ground water and only 1.5 % of that by surface runoff.
Membrane Fouling Control in MBR Process Using Ozone
Authors: Lee Byoungho , Kim Youngseok , Jung Hyungmok , Cho Hongje , Cho Jaeseok
Published: September 2010

Membrane technology begins to be widely employed in wastewater treatments with several advantages, such as compact system, and excellent treatability of water quality parameters. However, there are still drawbacks in membrane technology, such as high construction cost, high operating cost, and frequent backwash by membrane fouling.

In order to reduce membrane fouling, ozone was applied in MBR (Membrane Bioreactor) system using synthetic wastewater. 0.7mg/l of ozone concentration at which microbial activity and effluent flux was highest was chosen for an optimum dose. It was found that ozone application reduced membrane fouling remarkably. A backwash period was about 2 weeks before ozone application, while it was extended to about 7 months after ozone was applied in MBR process. Not only backwash period was extended for a long period of time, but also removal rates of water quality parameters were enhanced by ozone application in wastewater treatment. Even though ozone was applied for more than 7months, there was no sign of membrane damage.

It was revealed that appropriate ozone application may prevent membrane fouling from microbial activity, so that buildup of head loss may be suppressed, and backwash period may also be extended for a long period of time.
Fermented Rice Noodle Wastewater Treatment and Ethanol Production Potential Using Entrapped Yeast Cells
Authors: Siripattanakul S. , Ratanapongleka K. , Sangthean P. , Yoottachana K. , Pimwongnok K.
Published: September 2010

Fermented rice noodle is a major source of food industry generating highly complex organic content (starch) wastewater. This study investigated the treatment of fermented rice noodle wastewater using calcium alginate entrapped yeast cells compared to the free cells. The treatment includes a two-step process: acid hydrolysis for breaking down starch to glucose and fermentation for degrading glucose to ethanol. Yeast culture, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, was used in this study. The experiment was conducted to examine optimum acid concentration and cell entrapment condition for fermentation. Sulfuric acid concentrations ranged from 0.25 to 1.00% by volume were tested while the cells entrapped in calcium alginate at cell-to-matrix (alginate) ratios (by volume) of 1:5, 1:10, and 1:20 were varied. The result showed that the optimum acid concentration of 1.00% provided 5-time higher glucose concentration compared to that in raw wastewater. After the batch fermentation, the entrapped cells reduced total chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 33-46% and glucose concentration by 88-90% while the free cells cannot obviously remove COD and reduced glucose concentration by 62%. The entrapped cells at the cell-to-matrix ratio of 1:5 achieved the best glucose biotransformation performance. The treatment reaction followed second-order kinetics. The entrapped and free cell systems gave the treatments with kinetic constants of 0.007 to 0.010 and 0.001 L/mg/hr, respectively. The entrapped and free yeast cell system potentially produced ethanol of 643 to 801 mg/L.
A Short-Term, Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of D.A.R.E.'s Revised Elementary School Curriculum
Authors: Vincus Amy A. , Ringwalt Chris , Harris Melissa S. , Shamblen Stephen R.
Published: September 2010

We present the short-term results of a quasi-experimental evaluation of the revised D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) curriculum. Study outcomes examined were D.A.R.E.'s effects on three substances, namely students' lifetime and 30-day use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana, as well as their school attendance and academic performance. The study comprised students in 17 urban schools, each of which served as its own control; 5th graders in the 2006–2007 school year constituted the comparison group ( n = 1490), and those enrolled as 5th graders in the 2007–2008 school year constituted the intervention group ( n = 1450). We found no intervention effect on students' substance use for any of the substance use outcomes assessed. We did find that students were more likely to attend school on days they received D.A.R.E. lessons and that students in the intervention group were more likely to have been suspended. Study findings provide little support for the implementation and dissemination of the revised D.A.R.E. curriculum.
Household Demand for Broadband Internet in 2010
Authors: Rosston Gregory L. , Savage Scott J , Waldman Donald M
Published: September 2010

This paper uses data from a nationwide survey administered during late 2009 and early 2010 to estimate a random utility model of household preferences for broadband Internet service. Reliability and speed are important service characteristics: the representative household is willing to pay $20 per month for more reliable service; $45 for an improvement in speed from slow to fast; and $48 for an improvement in speed from slow to very fast. A representative household would be willing to pay $79 per month for a fast, reliable Internet service. Internet valuations increase with experience, and there has been an estimated two- to three-fold increase in consumer surplus per household between 2003 and 2010. If experience causes increased valuation, targeted programs that educate households about the benefits from broadband, expose households to the broadband experience and/or directly support the initial take-up of broadband have potential to increase overall penetration in the United States.
When Small Firms Fight Back Against Large Firms in R&D Activities
Authors: Matsumura Toshihiro , Matsushima Noriaki
Published: September 2010

This paper investigates an asymmetric duopoly model with R&D competition and product positioning. We find that an inefficient (small) firm may engage in R&D more intensively than an efficient (large) firm in spite of economies of scale in R&D activities. Contrary to the findings of previous studies, competition is more likely to have a positive effect on the investments of the small firm than on those of the large firm. We also find that improving the efficiency of the inefficient firm can reduce both social and consumer surplus.
Comparison of Cystatin C and Creatinine-based Glomerular Filtration Rate Formulas with 51Cr-EDTA Clearance in Patients with Cirrhosis
Authors: Xirouchakis Elias , Marelli Laura , Cholongitas Evangelos , Manousou Pinelopi , Calvaruso Vincenza , Pleguezuelo Maria , Guerrini Gian Piero , Maimone Sergio , Kerry Andrew , Hajjawi Mark , Nair Devaki , Thomas Michael , Patch David , Burroughs Andrew Kenneth
Published: September 2010

Background and objectives

Renal function is an important predictor of survival in cirrhosis and liver transplantation. GFR estimates using serum cystatin C (CysC) are proposed as better predictors of renal function than ones on the basis of serum creatinine (Cr). Our aims were: (1) evaluate correlations between serum CysC and different methods of creatinine measurements; (2) compare CysC and Cr GFR formulas with 51Cr-EDTA; and (3) evaluate liver-related parameters potentially influencing GFR.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

254 blood samples in 65 patients with cirrhosis correlating CysC with four Cr methods were used; another 74 patients comparing 51Cr-EDTA GFR to Modification of Diet in Renal Disease and Larsson and Hoek formulas for CysC were also included. Agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman plots and concordance correlation coefficients. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used for GFR predictors.

Results

Serum CysC correlated modestly with O'Leary modified Jaffe, compensated kinetic Jaffe, enzymatic creatinine, and standard kinetic Jaffe 0.72/0.71/0.72/0.72 (all P < 0.001). Bland-Altman agreement with 51Cr-EDTA GFR was poor; the best agreement was Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (concordance 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.71); the worst agreement was the Hoek formula (concordance 0.46; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.61). A new GFR formula including the Child-Pugh score improved the accuracy of Cr GFR formulas compared with 51Cr-EDTA GFR.

Conclusions

Estimated GFR in cirrhosis is not better with CysC formulas compared with creatinine ones: specific formulas may be necessary.
Prognostic Value of Aortic Stiffness and Calcification for Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Dialysis Patients
Authors: Verbeke Francis , Van Biesen Wim , Honkanen Eero , Wikström Björn , Jensen Per Bruno , Krzesinski Jean-Marie , Rasmussen Merete , Vanholder Raymond , Rensma Pieter L.
Published: September 2010

Background and objectives

Radiographic calcification and arterial stiffness each individually are predictive of outcome in dialysis patients. However, it is unknown whether combined assessment of these intermediate endpoints also provides additional predictive value.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Scoring of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) using plain lateral abdominal x-ray and measurement of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) were performed in a cohort of 1084 prevalent dialysis patients recruited from 47 European dialysis centers.

Results

During a follow-up of 2 years, 234 deaths and 91 nonfatal cardiovascular (CV) events occurred. Compared with the lowest tertile of AAC, the risk of an event was increased by a factor 3.7 in patients with a score of 5 to 15 (middle tertile), and by a factor 8.6 in patients with scores of 16 to 24. Additionally, each 1-m/s increase in PWV was associated with a 15% higher risk. At higher AAC (scores ≥5), the effect of PWV was attenuated because of a negative PWV × AAC interaction (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.895 and 0.865 for middle and upper AAC tertiles). After accounting for age, diabetes, and serum albumin, AAC and PWV remained independent predictors of outcome.

Conclusions

AAC and central arterial stiffness are independent predictors of mortality and nonfatal CV events in dialysis patients. The risk associated with an increased PWV is less pronounced at higher levels of calcification. Assessment of AAC and PWV is feasible in a clinical setting and both may be used for an accurate CV risk estimation in this heterogeneous population.
Should Investors Follow the Prophets or the Bears? Evidence on the Use of Public Information by Analysts and Short Sellers
Authors: Drake Michael S. , Rees Lynn , Swanson Edward P.
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT: We investigate whether short sellers and analysts differ in their use of information that is predictive of future returns. We find that short interest is significantly associated in the expected direction with all 11 variables examined. In contrast, analysts tend to positively recommend stocks with high growth, high accruals, and low book-to-market ratios, despite these variables having a negative association with future returns. We then investigate the profitability of using short interest in trading. We find abnormal returns (1.11 percent per month) from a zero-investment strategy that (1) shorts firms with highly favorable analyst recommendations (buy signal) but high short interest (sell signal), and (2) buys firms with highly unfavorable analyst recommendations (sell signal) but low short interest (buy signal). Short interest, therefore, appears to capture predictive information that can be used by investors in trading against analysts’ recommendations to increase returns.
Can Big 4 versus Non-Big 4 Differences in Audit-Quality Proxies Be Attributed to Client Characteristics?
Authors: Lawrence Alastair , Minutti-Meza Miguel , Zhang Ping
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT: This study examines whether differences in proxies for audit quality between Big 4 and non-Big 4 audit firms could be a reflection of their respective clients’ characteristics. In our analyses, we use three audit-quality proxies—discretionary accruals, the ex ante cost-of-equity capital, and analyst forecast accuracy—and employ propensity-score and attribute-based matching models in attempt to control for differences in client characteristics between the two auditor groups while estimating the audit-quality effects. Using these matching models, we find that the effects of Big 4 auditors are insignificantly different from those of non-Big 4 auditors with respect to the three audit-quality proxies. Our results suggest that differences in these proxies between Big 4 and non-Big 4 auditors largely reflect client characteristics and, more specifically, client size. We caution the reader that this study has not resolved the question, although we hope that it encourages other researchers to explore alternative methodologies that separate client characteristics from audit-quality effects.
Percent Accruals
Authors: Hafzalla Nader , Lundholm Russell , Matthew Van Winkle E.
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT: We document how the effectiveness of an accruals-based trading strategy changes with the benchmark used to identify an extreme accrual. We measure “percent accruals” as accruals scaled by earnings, rather than total assets, and show that this seemingly small change produces a radically different sort of the data. We find that a trading strategy based on percent accruals yields significantly larger annual hedge returns than the traditional accruals measure, and does so mostly by improving the long position in low-accrual stocks. The hedge returns are also significant in all but the lowest quintile of arbitrage risk. We show that percent accruals more effectively select firms where the difference between sophisticated and nai¨ve forecasts are the most extreme. As such, our results are consistent with the earnings fixation hypothesis and are inconsistent with some alternative explanations for the accrual anomaly.
The Causes and Consequences of Internal Control Problems in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Petrovits Christine , Shakespeare Catherine , Shih Aimee
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT: This study examines the causes and consequences of internal control deficiencies in the nonprofit sector using a sample of 27,495 public charities from 1999 to 2007. We first document that the likelihood of reporting an internal control problem increases for nonprofit organizations that are in poor financial health, growing, more complex, and/or smaller. We then present evidence that the disclosure of weak internal controls over financial reporting is negatively associated with subsequent donor support received after controlling for the current level of donor support and other factors influencing donations. We likewise report a negative association between internal control problems and subsequent government grants. Our results suggest that donors and government agencies, important sources of capital for nonprofit organizations, react either directly or indirectly to internal control information.
Disaggregating Management Forecasts to Reduce Investors’ Susceptibility to Earnings Fixation
Authors: Elliott W. Brooke , Hobson Jessen L. , Jackson Kevin E.
Published: September 2010

ABSTRACT: This study examines disaggregated management forecasts as a mechanism to reduce investors’ fixation on announced earnings. Our experimental results suggest that investors’ earnings fixation is reduced when they initially observe a disaggregated management forecast (earnings and its components) versus when they observe an aggregated forecast (earnings only). We also provide theory-consistent evidence that this reduction in earnings fixation is associated with investors interpreting the summary net income figure as one of several similarly important evaluation inputs rather than a substantially more important input (relative to its components). Finally, we provide evidence that suggests our results are not bounded by the level of emphasis on net income in the subsequent earnings announcement, and not fully explained by three plausible alternative explanations. Our study extends the voluntary disclosure literature by providing evidence that the form of management disclosures can influence investors’ interpretation of subsequently announced information, and contributes to practice by providing a potential alternative to stopping earnings guidance.
Temporal lobe epilepsy surgery failures: predictors of seizure recurrence, yield of reevaluation, and outcome following reoperation
Authors: Jehi Lara E. , Silveira Diosely C. , Bingaman William , Najm Imad
Published: September 2010

Object

The authors provide a systematic analysis of electroclinical characteristics in patients with persistent seizures following temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) surgery and identify ideal candidates for reoperation.

Methods

The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of 68 adult patients (mean follow-up 8.7 years) who underwent a video electroencephalography evaluation and high-resolution imaging after failed TLE surgery performed between 1990 and 2004 at The Cleveland Clinic. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of the yield of a repeat evaluation, location of the recurrence focus, and outcome following reoperation.

Results

Although a focus of recurrence was identified in 44 patients, only 15 underwent reoperation, and only 6 of these became seizure free. Localized foci of recurrence were successfully identified in patients with early (within 1 postoperative year) and frequent (≥ 4 per month) recurrent seizures (yield of 100% if both conditions were fulfilled). Predictors of contiguity of the focus of recurrence to the initial surgical bed were variable depending on the type of the initial surgery: patients with baseline contralateral temporal spiking were 6 times (OR 6.34, p < 0.05) more likely to experience seizure recurrence from the contralateral temporal lobe after a “standard” temporal lobectomy, while the need to use subdural electrodes and the timing of recurrence were more significant following limited temporal resections. The focus of recurrence was distant to the original surgical bed when subdural electrodes were used prior to first surgery (OR 28.0, p = 0.01) or when seizures recurred early (within < 6 postoperative months; OR 12.5, p = 0.04). With reoperation, only patients with mesial and basal extension of the temporal resections became seizure free. Interestingly, seizure freedom was achieved with medical therapy alone in 42% of patients with a nonidentifiable recurrence focus as opposed to 4% of those with an unoperated identifiable focus.

Conclusions

The timing and frequency of recurrent seizures following unsuccessful TLE surgery provide useful guidelines for the yield of a surgical reevaluation, and potentially for the mechanisms of surgical failure.