bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Granite in Kansas Wells
Authors: Wright Park
Published: January 2015

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 57, 1917, pages 906–913.

The fact that granite has been encountered by the drill by those in search of oil and gas in Kansas is becoming more and more a matter of interest, not only to the oil producer but to everyone directly and in- directly connected with the oil business. It is, therefore, time that some- one should offer an explanation for its presence and form a definite opinion, based on all the data available, in regard to the effect it will have on the future prospects of the area affected as probable oil, and gas-producing territory. At present there seems to be no consensus of opinion. To the writer's knowledge, only one attempt has been made to explain; by Erasmus Haworth, State Geologist of Kansas, in a paper entitled Bulletin Number Two on Crystalline Rocks in Kansas.

The purpose of the present paper is to offer a theory for the presence of the granite, and to draw conclusions which will aid in determining the prospective oil and gas value of the area in question.

In taking up this question it will be well to consider first the tests in which granite has been reported, with a general history of each. The accompanying map (Fig. 1) shows the location of all wells described.

The first well in which granite was reported was that drilled just south of Zeandale in section 27, township 10 south, range 9 east, by a local company which had taken up a block of leases in that vicinity. At a depth of 958 ft.(291.99 m.) granite was encountered. Drilling was continued to a depth of 1093 ft. (333 m.) in the same formation, at which depth the hole was abandoned. Another well was started 1 mile east of the first well and the same rock was found at a depth of 945 ft.(288 m.). Drilling was continued to a depth of 1200 ft. (365.76 m.) with the bit in the same formation. Samples of the drill cuttings have been examined and they are undoubtedly crushed granite.

The next well in which granite was found was that drilled by DeLaat and Shepard, independent wildcat operators, in section 34, township 19 south, range 7 east, near the town of Elmdale. Granite was struck at 1707 ft. (520 m.) and the hole was abandoned in the same formation at 2525 ft. (769 m.).

T.P. 057–45
The Estimation of Petroleum Reserves
Authors: Pack Robert W.
Published: January 2015

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 57, 1917, pages 968–983.

Introduction

Sooner or later in the development of any natural resource it becomes highly desirable to know the quantity of this resource in the country as a whole, as well as of the part that is being developed, for the general course and conduct of the development work must be governed, to some extent, by the total supply available. An accurate estimate of the quantity of any natural resource is difficult to make; yet if one is diligent enough one can obtain a pretty accurate idea of the quantity of marketable timber, the acreage of tillable land, or the horsepower that may be developed from the streams, for these are things that may be measured. But any attempt to estimate the quantity of some mineral in the ground appears to enter the realm of imagination and it seems that the estimate can be nothing more than a blind guess. It may appear to be especially futile to attempt to determine the quantity of oil and gas that is available in the ground, for these minerals are so vagrant that even if the quantity now available should be known quite exactly, the quantity that will eventually be obtained may be much less, for certain losses in the extraction of both oil and gas are unavoidable, and just what these losses will be cannot be predicted.

Though necessarily inaccurate, estimates of such mineral reserves are, however, of distinct value, for they summarize the existing knowledge of the deposits of the mineral and thus enable those who are interested in some industry that depends in one way or another on this mineral to formulate a rational commercial policy.

Some time ago, when the price of gasoline suddenly rose in a rather spectacular manner, the writer was one of the U. S. Geological Survey geologists called upon to help to estimate the quantity of oil that could be obtained in the United States, for the fear had become widespread that perhaps the rate of increase in the price of gasoline was a measure of the rate of depletion of the supply of petroleum.

T.P. 057–47
Relation of Sulphur to Variation in the Gravity of California Petroleum
Authors: Rogers G. Sherburne
Published: January 2015

Published in Petroleum Transactions, AIME, Volume 57, 1917, pages 989–1009.

Introduction

One of the features of oil-field work that puzzles operator, chemist, and geologist alike, is variation in the gravity of the petroleum produced on neighboring leases or even from adjoining wells. Few fields in the United States yield oil that is of uniform gravity throughout; in some fields the different grades are produced from different sands, in a few from different formations, and in many from different areas in the same sand.

In a few cases, perhaps, a common assumption that the heavier oil is derived from the lighter through the escape of the more volatile constituents is valid, but many cases can not be explained in this way. Although in the California fields the specific gravity of the oil generally decreases with depth, there are numerous exceptions to this rule; and, as in many other regions the light oil is found nearest the surface, it is evident that evaporation underground is generally an unimportant factor.

It is generally recognized that the great differences between petroleum from widely separated fields are due largely to differences in age and degree of metamorphism and to variation in the composition of the original organic matter; but in the writer's opinion some of these broader differences, as well as most of the minor variations in the character of the oil from any one field, are due to the local action of natural reagents such as sulphur or oxygen. This is particularly likely to be true if the oil has migrated from one formation to another, as in the California fields; and in some arcas it appears that variation in sulphur content may even afford a rough index of the extent or distance of the migration. It is the purpose of this paper to call attention to the chemical action of sulphur and oxygen on petroleum, to show that the gravity of the oil from any one field is intimately related to its sulphur content, and to discuss the possibility that oil in its migration will encounter and take up sulphur or oxygen.

Petroleum chemists have been occupied so largely in working out the complex constitution of petroleum and the processes of refining it, that we know little of the effect on petroleum of any of the substances with which it comes in contact underground. The study of petroleum from the geochemical standpoint has received slight attention except from a few chemists, and it is therefore impossible to trace in detail the natural changes that oil may undergo. Clifford Richardson however, pointed out many years ago the influence of sulphur in hardening asphalt.

T.P. 057–48
Roller Straightening Process and FEM Simulation for Stainless Steel Clad
Plate
Authors: He-Rong Jin , Ya-Li Yi , Xue-Yan Han , Yan Liang
Published: January 2015

Based on elasto-plastic deformation straightening theory and by adopting 11 rolls straightening plates , the
isothermal residual curvature straightening process was proposed for stainless steel clad plate. The mathematical model of
straightening was established to realize plate shape finishing and stress reforming. By using finite element analysis
software, establishing straightening process and determining intermesh, the effects of intermesh on shape and residual
stress were analyzed. The results indicate that the straightening process met the finishing plainness of stainless steel clad
plate after rolling. Longitudinal residual stress of the clad plate was evenly distributed across width. The cladding plate
and steel substrate were observed to be symmetrical and the ascent of stress near the edge was greater. Longitudinal
residual stress across length was distributed with the wave of pull-press-pull and the cladding plate and base plate were
observed to be symmetrical. The above researches are based on the previous theory of the application of stainless steel
clad plate straightening technology.
Maintenance of Buildings Using BIM Methodology
Authors: Sampaio A.Z. , Simões Diogo
Published: January 2015

Building maintenance is the responsibility of its owner which must use, whenever appropriate, a technician to perform the inspection. A good maintenance depends on the analysis of the anomalies detected during the inspection of the site. Building Information Models (BIM) have revealed themselves as a good tool when it comes to supporting maintenance actions, due to their ability to store enough information in one digital model. The aim of the proposed work was to implement the benefits provided by BIM on a software tool used as support to maintenance of buildings. During an inspection activity for maintenance purposes, the implemented application, containing a rigorous database, allows the user to identify each anomaly present in building components, directly onto the BIM model, automatically associating them with probable causes, repair methods and a photograph of the anomaly uploaded at the site. Therefore, gains in productivity and a decrease in the error probability can be achieved. The inspection data is stored in the BIM model, making it suitable for consultation when planning maintenance. Additionally, it was case study the interoperability between BIM modeling and visualizing software, regarding the preservation of information, especially in the standard format Industry Foundation Classes (IFC). This work contributed to demonstrate, not only that there are still problems concerning the interoperability between BIM software, but also the advantages of employing BIM for building maintenance purposes.
Growing Up Without a Father and a Pursuit for the Right Surname
Authors: Nduna Mzikazi
Published: January 2015

Young people who grew up without their biological fathers may or may not use their surnames. This paper
contributes to an understanding of young people’s views of the relevance of a biological paternal surname. We conducted
gender-matched in-depth interviews with 73 volunteers aged 14-39 in two South African provinces and transcribed and
translated audio-recorded home language interviews into English. The findings indicate that the pursuit for using a
biological father’s surname was motivated by seeking ancestral protection, seeking one’s father so that he could play an
overseeing role in rituals, and citizenship rights; some participants believed that the use of a biological father’s surname
was essential for registration for an identity document, passport, marriage and death certificate. However, there was no
agreement in the data about the importance and usefulness of using a biological father’s surname. In conclusion, the
article maintains that the father’s surname is important for some children who grew up without their fathers.
Young Women’s Experiences Following Discovering a Biological Father in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa
Authors: Nathane-Taulela Motlalepule , Nduna Mzikazi
Published: January 2015

In South Africa, it has been established that a high number and growing proportion of children are growing up
without fathers in their lives. Research suggests that some children who grow up without their biological fathers seek to
know them during adolescence. Some discover them whilst others never do. This paper aimed to investigate experiences
of young women who discover their fathers during adolescence.

We undertook a qualitative study in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa to understand experiences of children who
grow up with absent fathers. We conducted face-to-face, gender-matched interviews with young women aged 15 to 26.
Five case studies are presented here. We used Topical structural analysis to examine the narratives.

Findings reveal that mother or someone else from the maternal family was instrumental in the disclosure of the father’s
identity. Four topics that cover the resultant experiences in relation to the father were; a weak or no relationship formed, a
positive relationship was formed, the child was disinterested or the mother barred regular visits to the father.

This study concludes that the maternal family context, reasons for father absence, how the disclosure happened influence
experiences that follow discovering one’s father. Forming a positive relationship with the father depended on the child
and father’s common interest.
BOOK REVIEW: La Grange, Zelda “Good Morning Mr Mandela” South Africa: Penguin Books, 2014, pp. v-367
Authors: Mthombeni A.J.
Published: January 2015

Full Text Available.
Predicting Neutropenia Risk in Breast Cancer Patients from Pre-
Chemotherapy Characteristics
Authors: Lawal Sodiq , J. Korenberg Michael , Pittman Natalia , Mates Mihaela
Published: January 2015

A previous study (Pittman, Hopman, Mates) of breast cancer patients undergoing curative chemotherapy (CT)
found that the third most common reason for emergency department (ER) visits and hospital admission (HA) was febrile
neutropenia. Factors associated with ER visits and HA included (1) stage of the cancer, (2) size of tumor, (3) adjuvant
versus neo-adjuvant CT (“adjuvance”), and (4) number of CT cycles. We hypothesized that a statistically-significant predictor
of neutropenia could be built based on some of these factors, so that risk of neutropenia predicted for a patient feeling
unwell during CT could be used in weighing need to visit the ER. The number of CT cycles was not used as a factor
so that the predictor could calculate the neutropenia risk for a patient before the first CT cycle. Different models were
built corresponding to different pre-chemotherapy factors or combinations of factors. The single factor yielding the best
classification accuracy was tumor size (Mathews’ correlation coefficient φ = +0.18, Fisher’s exact two-tailed probability P
< 0.0374). The odds ratio of developing febrile neutropenia for the predicted high-risk group compared to the predicted
low-risk group was 5.1875. Combining tumor size with adjuvance yielded a slightly more accurate predictor (Mathews’
correlation coefficient φ = +0.19, Fisher’s exact two-tailed probability P < 0.0331, odds ratio = 5.5093). Based on the observed
odds ratios, we conclude that a simple predictor of neutropenia may have value in deciding whether to recommend
an ER visit. The predictor is sufficiently fast that it can run conveniently as an Applet on a mobile computing device.
The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology is Applicable to Frozen Section Diagnosis in Children
Authors: Arnold Michael A. , Nicol Kathleen K.
Published: January 2015

The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) offers standardized and widely understood diagnostic categories for reporting thyroid cytology diagnoses. We compared the utility of TBSRTC categories in pediatric cytology diagnoses and pediatric intraoperative frozen section diagnoses. We examined the experience of our primary and referral care center over a 20-year period. This included 182 thyroidectomy patients who underwent 64 preoperative fine-needle aspirations and 91 intraoperative frozen section evaluations, including 38 patients evaluated sequentially by each method. All diagnoses were retrospectively reclassified into TBSRTC categories and correlated with the final thyroidectomy diagnoses. For each sampling method, malignant final diagnoses were observed at similar frequencies to rates predicted by TBSRTC. Malignant final diagnoses following fine-needle aspiration or frozen section diagnoses in TBSRTC categories other than malignant or suspicious for malignancy most often resulted from difficulty in detecting papillary carcinoma, including difficulty detecting the nuclear characteristics of papillary carcinoma in frozen sections. The limitations of needle biopsy and frozen section evaluations differ, yet serial utilization of these procedures was rarely informative. Based on the experience of our institution, classification of cytology and frozen section diagnosis by TBSRTC predicts a risk of malignancy similar to the guidance offered by TBSRTC. We recommend including a TBSRTC category when reporting either thyroid cytology or frozen section diagnoses in children.
Placental Mesenchymal Dysplasia without Fetal Development in a Twin Gestation: A Case Report and Review of the Spectrum of Androgenetic Biparental Mosaicism
Authors: Linn Rebecca L. , Minturn Lucy , Yee Lynn M. , Maniar Kruti , Zhang Yanming , Fritsch Michael K. , Kashireddy Papreddy , Kapur Raj , Ernst Linda M.
Published: January 2015

We report a dichorionic twin gestation with diffuse placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) and androgenetic biparental mosaicism (ABM) involving one twin's placenta with complete absence of fetal development for that twin. To our knowledge, this is the 1st reported case of PMD without fetal development. We discuss the gross, histologic, and genetic hallmarks of PMD and the spectrum of variability depending on degree and distribution of ABM.
Age and Thermal Stability of Particulate Organic Matter Fractions Indicate the Presence of Black Carbon in Soil
Authors: Leifeld Jens , Heiling Maria , Hajdas Irka
Published: January 2015

Black carbon (BC) from incomplete combustion of organic materials is abundant in many soils. Its age is often higher than that of thermally unaltered soil organic carbon (SOC) owing to the presence of BC from fossil sources or to a high recalcitrance against microbial decomposition compared to that of plant residues. For a meaningful application of radiocarbon as an indicator for soil carbon age and turnover, the relative contribution of BC needs to be quantified, but BC is difficult to separate physically from soil. However, BC is thermally more stable than SOC, and hence thermal stability may provide a quantitative BC indicator. Here, we analyzed 30 light particulate organic carbon (POC) soil fractions for their thermal stability and for their 14C signature. POC is particularly sensitive to “contamination” with BC, because it is obtained by combined size and density fractionation. A steady-state “bomb” 14C model was used to derive mean POC ages. Soils from four sample sets, each consisting of six to eight individual POC samples and representing different field sites and POC types, were analyzed. Samples from one of the sets were virtually BC free, and their mean POC ages ranged from 60 to 100 yr. The 14C signature of samples from the other three sets indicated the presence of very old carbon, with mean POC ages of several hundred and up to 3500 yr. Two indicators for thermal stability—(1) the amount of heat released at temperatures >450°C and (2) the amount of heat released at 500°C (the latter representing the peak temperature of heat released from charcoal isolated from soil)—correlated both significantly and nonlinearly with POC age, indicating that samples with high BC content were older than those with low BC content. It can be concluded that at an individual site with increasing abundance of BC, both the age and the thermal stability of POC increase. However, thermal stability proved to be a reliable predictor for BC in only one sample set, whereas thermal signals of the other two BC-containing sample sets were not significantly different from those of BC-free samples. Thermal stability thus gives no unequivocal indication for the presence of BC in POC across different sites.
Being a former Second World War partisan:
Reported speech and the expression of local
identity
Authors: Guerini Federica
Published: January 2015

This paper presents a qualitative analysis of narrative sequences extracted from a sample of semistructured
interviews to a group of former Second World War partisans living in the Camonica valley (in the province
of Brescia), for a total of roughly 15 hours of recordings. The analysis combines the interpretative frameworks of
conversation analysis and interactional sociolinguistics with the study of reported speech and of the strategies
of voice representation in dialogic and narrative texts. Special attention is devoted to the use of code-switching
as a ‘contextualisation cue’ (Gumperz 1982) in order to mark portions of reported speech and set them off from
the surrounding talk or from the main flow of a narrative episode, even in the absence of explicit recourse to
verba dicendi or other quotation devices. Our findings show that code-switching may serve as a quotative marker,
whereby speakers index the beginning of the reported utterances and shape the characters alternating in a dialogic
sequence by drawing on the various linguistic resources at their disposal.
Influence of fabrication parameters on the nanostructure of Si-NWs under HF/Fe(NO3)3 etching system
Authors: Xiao Yongyin , Chen Xiuhua , Ma Wenhui , Li Shaoyuan , Li Yuping , He Jiali , Zhang Hui , Li Jiao
Published: January 2015

Large-area and oriented silicon nanowire arrays have been successfully fabricated through a two-step metal-assisted chemical etching process at room temperature. The effects of key fabrication parameters (AgNO3 concentration, Fe(NO3)3 concentration, and etching time) on the silicon nanowire nanostructure were carefully investigated. The Raman spectra of silicon nanowires prepared under different etching times have been recorded and analyzed. The porosity and length of the nanowire increases with the increase in AgNO3 concentration from 0.002 mol L−1 to 0.1 mol L−1, which indicates that the re-dissolved Ag+ ions would work as the main oxidative species and catalyze the vertical and lateral etching of nanowires, leading to silicon nanowire growth and porous structure formation.
Fabrication and microstructure of nano-SiC/Ni composite coatings on diamond surface via electro-co-deposition
Authors: Li Zhengxin , Xiao Changjiang
Published: January 2015

Nano-SiC/Ni composite coatings on diamond surface were fabricated using an electro-co-deposition method. SiC nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm were suspended in the plating solution and co-deposited together with Ni on diamond surface. The weight ratio (wt.%) of nano-SiC/Ni composite coating to the diamond was controlled by varying deposition time. The microstructure, composition and compression strength of an as-deposited single diamond particle was investigated. The results reveal that nano-SiC/Ni composite coating possesses a smoother, finer and denser microstructure as compared to a pure Ni coating. Moreover, the compression strength of an as-deposited single diamond particle gradually enhances with increasing nano-SiC/Ni wt.%.
Birth desires and intentions of women diagnosed with a meningioma
Authors: Owens Michelle A. , Craig Benjamin M. , Egan Kathleen M. , Reed Damon R.
Published: January 2015

OBJECT

To the authors' knowledge, no previous study has examined the impact of meningioma diagnosis on women's birth desires and intentions. In an exploratory study, the authors surveyed women affected by meningioma to determine their attitudes toward childbearing and the influences, including physician recommendations, on this major life decision and compared their responses to those of women in the general population.

METHODS

Meningioma survivors from the Meningioma Mommas online support group participated in an online survey that included questions on their birth desires and intentions, whether the risk of disease recurrence influenced their reproductive decisions, and risks communicated to them by their physicians. Using chi-square and rank-sum tests, the authors compared the survey participants' responses with those of the general population as assessed by the 2006–2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Logistic regression was used to adjust for differences in age, race, ethnicity, education, parity, pregnancy status, and infertility status in these populations.

RESULTS

Respondents with meningioma were more likely than those in the general population to report wanting a baby (70% vs 54%, respectively), intending to have a baby (27% vs 12%, respectively), and being very sure about this intention (10% vs 2%, respectively). More than half (32 of 61) of the women of childbearing age reported being advised by a physician about potential risk factors for recurrence of the meningioma, and pregnancy was the most commonly cited risk factor (26 of 61). The most common factor influencing birth desires and intentions was risk of the meningioma returning and requiring more treatment, which was reported by nearly two-thirds of the women in their childbearing years.

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of the meningioma survivors of childbearing age who completed the survey reported a desire for children, although concern about the risk of meningioma recurrence was an important factor for these women when making reproductive decisions. Physicians are in a position to educate their patients on potential risk factors for recurrence and to provide contact information for services such as counseling and family planning.
Community Perspectives on the On-Farm Diversity of Six Major Cereals and Climate Change in Bhutan
Authors: Katwal Tirtha , Dorji Singay , Dorji Rinchen , Tshering Lhab , Ghimiray Mahesh , Chhetri Ganesh , Dorji Tashi , Tamang Asta
Published: January 2015

Subsistence Bhutanese farmers spread across different agro-ecological zones maintain large species and varietal diversity of different crops in their farm. However, no studies have been undertaken yet to assess why farmers conserve and maintain large agro-biodiversity, the extent of agro-ecological richness, species richness, estimated loss of traditional varieties and threats to the loss of on-farm agro-biodiversity. Information on the number of varieties cultivated by the farmers for six important staple crops were collected from nine districts and twenty sub-districts spread across six different agro-ecological zones of the country to understand farmers reasons for maintaining on-farm crop diversity, estimate agro-ecological richness, species richness and the overall loss of traditional varieties, to know the famers’ level of awareness on climate change and the different threats to crop diversity. The results from this study indicated that an overwhelming 93% of the respondents manage and use agro-biodiversity for household food security and livelihood. The average agro-ecological richness ranged from 1.17 to 2.26 while the average species richness ranged from 0.50 to 2.66. The average agro-ecological richness indicates a large agro-ecological heterogeneity in terms of the different species of staple crops cultivated. The average species richness on the other hand shows that agro-ecological heterogeneity determines the type and extent of the cultivation of the six different staple cereals under consideration. The overall loss of traditional varieties in a time period of 20 years stands at 28.57%. On climate change, 94% of the farmers recognize that local climate is changing while 86% responded that they are aware of the potential impacts of climate change on their livelihoods. Climate change and associated factors was considered the most imminent threat to the management and loss of on-farm agro-biodiversity. The results from this study indicate that on-farm agro-biodiversity conservation, development and utilization programs have to be more specific to the different agro-ecological zones considering the agro-ecological heterogeneity. Attention has to be given to individual crops that have low average species richness and high percentage of loss of traditional varieties. The impact of climate change could offset the traditional seed system which primarily supports the persistence of on-farm agro-biodiversity in several ways.
Comparison of NZ’s Energy Efficiency Regulation and Verification Assumptions to Real Building Loads and Operation
Authors: Cory Shaan , Donn Michael , Pollard Andrew
Published: January 2015

The New Zealand building design industry assumes various building model inputs for the consumption of energy through lighting and appliances. It also makes assumptions regarding when these energy consumers are considered to be “turned on”. This paper aims to better inform industry energy modellers about the real load and operation of real commercial buildings in New Zealand when compared to New Zealand Standard energy efficiency requirements and assumptions. The paper presents a set of New Zealand relevant commercial building operation information. Typical operation information is provided for three commercial building types: (1) Office; (2) Retail; and (3) Mixed/Other. The information provides low, typical, and high installed building load and operation pattern scenarios for the three building types. The typical data presented in this paper is significantly different to the load requirement and operation modelling assumptions presented in the New Zealand Building code. The results established in this paper are informed by data gathered in the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) Building Energy End-Use Study (BEES). The purpose of BEES is to increase knowledge on energy use patterns for the entire New Zealand building stock. The intention of this paper is to disseminate the established knowledge that will eventually update the assumptions used in New Zealand commercial energy models.
Comparison of the Hospital Arrival Time and Differences in Pain Quality between Diabetic and Non-Diabetic STEMI Patients
Authors: Gradišer Marina , Dilber Dario , Cmrečnjak Jasna , Ostrički Branko , Bilić-Ćurčić Ines
Published: January 2015

The aim of our study was to determine whether diabetic ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients arrive in the emergency room (ER) later than non-diabetics, compare the differences in pain quality and quantity between those groups, and measure differences in the outcome after an index hospitalization. A total of 266 patients with first presentation of STEMI were included in our study during a period of two years, 62 with diabetes and 204 without diabetes type 2. Pain intensity and quality at admission were measured using a McGill short form questionnaire. Diabetic patients did not arrive significantly later than non-diabetic (χ2; p = 0.105). Most diabetic patients described their pain as “slight” or “none” (χ2; p < 0.01), while most non-diabetic patients graded their pain as “moderate” or “severe” (χ2; p < 0.01). The quality of pain tended to be more distinct in non-diabetic patients, while diabetic patients reported mainly shortness of breath (χ2; p < 0.01). Diabetic patients were more likely to suffer a multi-vessel disease (χ2; p < 0.01), especially in the late arrival group. Therefore, cautious evaluation of diabetic patients and adequate education of target population could improve overall survival while well-organized care like a primary PCI Network program could significantly reduce CV mortality.
Exposure to the Riot Control Agent CS and Potential Health Effects: A Systematic Review of the Evidence
Authors: Dimitroglou Yiannis , Rachiotis George , Hadjichristodoulou Christos
Published: January 2015

o-Chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) is one of the most extensively used riot control agents. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review of the potential health effects related to CS exposure. We searched for papers in English between 1991 and 2014. Thirty five (35) studies (25 case reports, seven descriptive studies and three analytical studies) were included in the review. In the twenty five case reports/series 90 cases of exposure to CS and their clinical effects are presented. Their mean age was 25.7 years and 62.0% were males. In addition, 61% of the cases described dermal, 40% respiratory, 57% ocular clinical effects. Life threatening situations as well as long-term health effects were found and were related with exposure to confined/enclosed space. Descriptive and analytical studies have shown attack rates ranging from 12% to 40%. Subjects who were sprayed by the police more often needed special treatment and reported adverse health effects. Apart from transient clinical effects, CS could have lasting and serious effects on human health. Better surveillance of the subjects exposed to CS and completion of cohort studies among exposed populations will illuminate the spectrum of the health effects of exposure to CS.
Correlation between Family Environment and Suicidal Ideation in University Students in China
Authors: Zhai Hui , Bai Bing , Chen Lu , Han Dong , Wang Lin , Qiao Zhengxue , Qiu Xiaohui , Yang Xiuxian , Yang Yanjie
Published: January 2015

Background: This study investigated the association between suicidal ideation and family environment. The sample included 5183 Chinese university students. A number of studies on suicidal ideation have focused on individuals rather than families. This paper reviews the general principles of suicidal ideation and the consequences resulting from the family environment. Methods: This study used six different colleges as the dataset, which included 2645 males and 2538 females. Students were questioned with respect to social demographics and suicidal ideation factors. The data were analyzed with factor and logistic analyses to determine the association between suicidal ideation and poor family environment. Results: The prevalence of suicidal ideation was 9.2% (476/5183). Most participants with suicidal ideation had significant similarities: they had poor family structures and relationships, their parents had unstable work, and their parents used improper parenting styles. Female students were more likely to have suicidal thoughts than male students. Conclusions: This study shows that suicidal ideation is a public health issue among Chinese university students and demonstrates the importance of considering the family environment when examining university students’ suicidal ideation. Understanding family-related suicidal ideation risk factors can help to predict and prevent suicides among university students.
A Spatial, Social and Environmental Study of Tuberculosis in China Using Statistical and GIS Technology
Authors: Sun Wenyi , Gong Jianhua , Zhou Jieping , Zhao Yanlin , Tan Junxiang , Ibrahim Abdoul , Zhou Yang
Published: January 2015

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in China, and its incidence shows certain regional disparities. Systematic investigations of the social and environmental factors influencing TB are necessary for the prevention and control of the disease. Data on cases were obtained from the Chinese Center for Disease and Prevention. Social and environmental variables were tabulated to investigate the latent factor structure of the data using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Partial least square path modeling (PLS-PM) was used to analyze the complex causal relationship and hysteresis effects between the factors and TB prevalence. A geographically weighted regression (GWR) model was used to explore the local association between factors and TB prevalence. EFA and PLS-PM indicated significant associations between TB prevalence and its latent factors. Altitude, longitude, climate, and education burden played an important role; primary industry employment, population density, air quality, and economic level had hysteresis with different lag time; health service and unemployment played a limited role but had limited hysteresis. Additionally, the GWR model showed that each latent factor had different effects on TB prevalence in different areas. It is necessary to formulate regional measures and strategies for TB control and prevention in China according to the local regional effects of specific factors.
Determinants of Exposure to Fragranced Product Chemical Mixtures in a Sample of Twins
Authors: Gribble Matthew , Bandeen-Roche Karen , Fox Mary
Published: January 2015

Fragranced product chemical mixtures may be relevant for environmental health, but little is known about exposure. We analyzed results from an olfactory challenge with the synthetic musk fragrance 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethyl-cyclopento-γ-2-benzopyran (HHCB), and a questionnaire about attitudes toward chemical safety and use of fragranced products, in a sample of 140 white and 17 black twin pairs attending a festival in Ohio. Data for each product were analyzed using robust ordered logistic regressions with random intercepts for “twin pair” and “sharing address with twin”, and fixed effects for sex, age, education, and “ever being bothered by fragrances”. Due to the small number of black participants, models were restricted to white participants except when examining racial differences. Overall patterns of association were summarized across product-types through random-effects meta-analysis. Principal components analysis was used to summarize clustering of product use. The dominant axis of variability in fragranced product use was “more vs. less”, followed by a distinction between household cleaning products and personal care products. Overall, males used fragranced products less frequently than females (adjusted proportionate odds ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval 0.33, 0.93). This disparity was driven by personal care products (0.42, 95% CI: 0.19, 0.96), rather than household cleaning products (0.79, 95% CI: 0.49, 1.25) and was particularly evident for body lotion (0.12, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.27). Overall usage differed by age (0.64, 95% CI: 0.43, 0.95) but only hand soap and shampoo products differed significantly. “Ever being bothered by fragrance” had no overall association (0.92, 95% CI: 0.65, 1.30) but was associated with laundry detergent use (0.46, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.93). Similarly, black vs. white differences on average were not significant (1.34, 95% CI: 0.55, 3.28) but there were apparent differences in use of shampoo (0.01, 95% CI: 0.00, 0.69), body lotion (4.67, 95% CI: 1.18, 18.47), and perfume (6.22, 95% CI:1.08, 35.89). There was no overall association with thinking about product risks (0.90, 95% CI: 0.79, 1.02), nor with inability to smell HHCB (0.84, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.12). Exposure to fragranced products may differ demographically. The relevance for health disparities should be studied.
Recent Insights into the Control of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Genome Stability, Loss, and Degradation
Authors: Fisher Chris
Published: January 2015

Most human papillomavirus (HPV) antiviral strategies have focused upon inhibiting viral DNA replication, but it is increasingly apparent that viral DNA levels can be chemically controlled by approaches that promote its instability. HPVs and other DNA viruses have a tenuous relationship with their hosts. They must replicate and hide from the DNA damage response (DDR) and innate immune systems, which serve to protect cells from foreign or "non-self" DNA, and yet they draft these same systems to support their life cycles. DNA binding antiviral agents promoting massive viral DNA instability and elimination are reviewed. Mechanistic studies of these agents have identified genetic antiviral enhancers and repressors, antiviral sensitizers, and host cell elements that protect and stabilize HPV genomes. Viral DNA degradation appears to be an important means of controlling HPV DNA levels in some cases, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. These findings may prove useful not only for understanding viral DNA persistence but also in devising future antiviral strategies.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel 6-Hydroxy-benzo[d][1,3]oxathiol-2-one Schiff Bases as Potential Anticancer Agents
Authors: Chazin Eliza , Sanches Paola , Lindgren Eric , Vellasco Júnior Walcimar , Pinto Laine , Burbano Rommel , Yoneda Julliane , Leal Kátia , Gomes Claudia , Wardell James , Wardell Solange , Montenegro Raquel , Vasconcelos Thatyana
Published: January 2015

With the aim of discovering new anticancer agents, we have designed and synthesized novel 6-hydroxy-benzo[d][1,3]oxathiol-2-one Schiff bases. The synthesis started with the selective nitration at 5-position of 6-hydroxybenzo[d][1,3]oxathiol-2-one (1) leading to the nitro derivative 2. The nitro group of 2 was reduced to give the amino intermediate 3. Schiff bases 4a–r were obtained from coupling reactions between 3 and various benzaldehydes and heteroaromatic aldehydes. All the new compounds were fully identified and characterized by NMR (1H and 13C) and specifically for 4q by X-ray crystallography. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated against cancer cell lines (ACP-03, SKMEL-19 and HCT-116) by using MTT assay. Schiff bases 4b and 4o exhibited promising cytotoxicity against ACP-03 and SKMEL-19, respectively, with IC50 values lower than 5 μM. This class of compounds can be considered as a good starting point for the development of new lead molecules in the fight against cancer.
Evaluation of the Radiolabeled Boronic Acid-Based FAP Inhibitor MIP-1232 for Atherosclerotic Plaque Imaging
Authors: Meletta Romana , Müller Herde Adrienne , Chiotellis Aristeidis , Isa Malsor , Rancic Zoran , Borel Nicole , Ametamey Simon , Krämer Stefanie , Schibli Roger
Published: January 2015

Research towards the non-invasive imaging of atherosclerotic plaques is of high clinical priority as early recognition of vulnerable plaques may reduce the incidence of cardiovascular events. The fibroblast activation protein alpha (FAP) was recently proposed as inflammation-induced protease involved in the process of plaque vulnerability. In this study, FAP mRNA and protein levels were investigated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively, in human endarterectomized carotid plaques. A published boronic-acid based FAP inhibitor, MIP-1232, was synthetized and radiolabeled with iodine-125. The potential of this radiotracer to image plaques was evaluated by in vitro autoradiography with human carotid plaques. Specificity was assessed with a xenograft with high and one with low FAP level, grown in mice. Target expression analyses revealed a moderately higher protein level in atherosclerotic plaques than normal arteries correlating with plaque vulnerability. No difference in expression was determined on mRNA level. The radiotracer was successfully produced and accumulated strongly in the FAP-positive SK-Mel-187 melanoma xenograft in vitro while accumulation was negligible in an NCI-H69 xenograft with low FAP levels. Binding of the tracer to endarterectomized tissue was similar in plaques and normal arteries, hampering its use for atherosclerosis imaging.
Use of Sub-Aperture Decomposition for Supervised PolSAR Classification in Urban Area
Authors: Deng Lei , Yan Ya-nan , Sun Chen
Published: January 2015

A novel approach is proposed for classifying the polarimetric SAR (PolSAR) data by integrating polarimetric decomposition, sub-aperture decomposition and decision tree algorithm. It is composed of three key steps: sub-aperture decomposition, feature extraction and combination, and decision tree classification. Feature extraction and combination is the main contribution to the innovation of the proposed method. Firstly, the full-resolution PolSAR image and its two sub-aperture images are decomposed to obtain the scattering entropy, average scattering angle and anisotropy, respectively. Then, the difference information between the two sub-aperture images are extracted, and combined with the target decomposition features from full-resolution images to form the classification feature set. Finally, C5.0 decision tree algorithm is used to classify the PolSAR image. A comparison between the proposed method and commonly-used Wishart supervised classification was made to verify the improvement of the proposed method on the classification. The overall accuracy using the proposed method was 88.39%, much higher than that using the Wishart supervised classification, which exhibited an overall accuracy of 69.82%. The Kappa Coefficient was 0.83, whereas that using the Wishart supervised classification was 0.56. The results indicate that the proposed method performed better than Wishart supervised classification for landscape classification in urban area using PolSAR data. Further investigation was carried out on the contribution of difference information to PolSAR classification. It was found that the sub-aperture decomposition improved the classification accuracy of forest, buildings and grassland effectively in high-density urban area. Compared with support vector machine (SVM) and QUEST classifier, C5.0 decision tree classifier performs more efficient in time consumption, feature selection and construction of decision rule.
Monitoring Lipase/Esterase Activity by Stopped Flow in a Sequential Injection Analysis System Using p-Nitrophenyl Butyrate
Authors: Pliego Jorge , Mateos Juan , Rodriguez Jorge , Valero Francisco , Baeza Mireia , Femat Ricardo , Camacho Rosa , Sandoval Georgina , Herrera-López Enrique
Published: January 2015

Lipases and esterases are biocatalysts used at the laboratory and industrial level. To obtain the maximum yield in a bioprocess, it is important to measure key variables, such as enzymatic activity. The conventional method for monitoring hydrolytic activity is to take out a sample from the bioreactor to be analyzed off-line at the laboratory. The disadvantage of this approach is the long time required to recover the information from the process, hindering the possibility to develop control systems. New strategies to monitor lipase/esterase activity are necessary. In this context and in the first approach, we proposed a lab-made sequential injection analysis system to analyze off-line samples from shake flasks. Lipase/esterase activity was determined using p-nitrophenyl butyrate as the substrate. The sequential injection analysis allowed us to measure the hydrolytic activity from a sample without dilution in a linear range from 0.05–1.60 U/mL, with the capability to reach sample dilutions up to 1000 times, a sampling frequency of five samples/h, with a kinetic reaction of 5 min and a relative standard deviation of 8.75%. The results are promising to monitor lipase/esterase activity in real time, in which optimization and control strategies can be designed.
Food Waste Auditing at Three Florida Schools
Authors: Wilkie Ann , Graunke Ryan , Cornejo Camilo
Published: January 2015

School cafeterias are a significant source of food waste and represent an ideal opportunity for diverting food waste from landfills. In this study, cafeteria waste audits were conducted at three Florida schools. Food waste comprised the largest fraction of school cafeteria waste streams, ranging from 47% to 58%, followed by milk, paper products (tissue, milk cartons, pasteboard, paper plates, and cardboard), and plastics (plastic wrap, packaging, and utensils). Metal and glass comprised the smallest fraction of the waste stream. Average total waste generation ranged from 50.5 to 137.6 g·student−1·day−1. The mean generation rates for food waste ranged from 24.7 to 64.9 g·student−1·day−1. The overall average for cafeteria waste generation among all three schools was 102.3 g·student−1·day−1, with food waste alone contributing 52.2 g·student−1·day−1. There are two primary approaches to diverting school food waste from landfills: reduction and recycling. Food waste can be reduced through educating students and staff in order to change behaviors that cause food waste. Food waste can be collected and recycled through composting or anaerobic digestion in order to generate beneficial end products, including soil amendments and bioenergy. Over 75% of the cafeteria waste measured in this study could be recycled in this manner.