bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Discovery of 3H‐Imidazo[4,5‐b]pyridines as Potent c‐Met Kinase Inhibitors: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation
Authors: Chen Danqi , Wang Ying , Ma Yuchi , Xiong Bing , Ai Jing , Chen Yi , Geng Meiyu , Shen Jingkang
Published: May 2012

To identify novel c‐Met inhibitors, sequences and crystal structures of the human kinome were analyzed to find interesting hinge binders that have been underexplored within the tyrosine kinase subfamily. Through this study, the imidazolopyridine ring was selected as a novel c‐Met hinge‐binding inhibitor scaffold. A series of derivatives was prepared, and the structure–activity relationships were studied. Among these, one compound in particular showed excellent activities in enzymatic and cellular assays, good in vitro metabolic stability, and favorable pharmacokinetic parameters. When administered orally, the compound inhibited tumor growth in an NIH‐3T3/TPR‐Met xenograft model and did not show adverse effects on body weight. The present work not only conceptually demonstrates a new route for designing novel kinase inhibitors by using known structural information of ligand–hinge interactions but also provides a series of imidazolopyridine derivatives as potent c‐Met inhibitors.
The Prospect of FKBP51 as a Drug Target
Authors: Schmidt Mathias V. , Paez‐Pereda Marcelo , Holsboer Florian , Hausch Felix
Published: May 2012

The FK506 binding protein 51 (FKBP51) is best known as an Hsp90‐associated co‐chaperone that regulates the responsiveness of steroid hormone receptors. In human genetic association studies, FKBP51 has repeatedly been associated with emotion processing and numerous stress‐related affective disorders. It has also been implicated in contributing to the glucocorticoid hyposensitivity observed in New World primates. More recently, several research groups have consistently shown a protective effect of FKBP51 knockout or knockdown on stress endocrinology and stress‐coping behavior in animal models of depression and anxiety. The principal druggability of FKBP51 is exemplified by the prototypic FKBP ligands FK506 and rapamycin. Moreover, FKBP51 is highly suited for X‐ray co‐crystallography, which should facilitate the rational drug design of improved FKBP51 ligands. In summary, FKBP51 has emerged as a promising new drug target for stress‐related disorders that should be amenable to drug discovery.
Linking Bacterial Metabolism to Graphite Cathodes: Electrochemical Insights into the H2‐Producing Capability of Desulfovibrio sp.
Authors: Aulenta Federico , Catapano Laura , Snip Laura , Villano Marianna , Majone Mauro
Published: May 2012

Microbial biocathodes allow converting and storing electricity produced from renewable sources in chemical fuels (e.g., H2) and are, therefore, attracting considerable attention as alternative catalysts to more expensive and less available noble metals (notably Pt). Microbial biocathodes for H2 production rely on the ability of hydrogenase‐possessing microorganisms to catalyze proton reduction, with a solid electrode serving as direct electron donor. This study provides new chemical and electrochemical data on the bioelectrocatalytic activity of Desulfovibrio species. A combination of chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, and impedance spectroscopy tests were used to assess the performance of the H2‐producing microbial biocathode and to shed light on the involved electron transfer mechanisms. Cells attached onto a graphite electrode were found to catalyze H2 production for cathode potentials more reducing than −900 mV vs. standard hydrogen electrode. The highest obtained H2 production was 8 mmol L−1 per day, with a Coulombic efficiency close to 100 %. The electrochemical performance of the biocathode changed over time probably due to the occurrence of enzyme activation processes induced by extended electrode polarization. Remarkably, H2 (at least up to 20 % v/v) was not found to significantly inhibit its own production.
Assessing lithologic discontinuities and parent material uniformity within the Texas sandy mantle and implications for archaeological burial and preservation potential in upland settings
Authors: Ahr Steven W. , Nordt Lee C. , Driese Steven G.
Published: May 2012

Alfisols within the Texas Gulf Coast Plain commonly exhibit textural contrasts between sandy, artifact-bearing A–E horizons (i.e., sandy mantle), and artifact-sterile clay-rich Bt (argillic) horizons. This has invoked debate about parent material uniformity and pedogenic versus geomorphic sandy mantle origins, which has implications for the scientific value of buried archaeological sites. To improve our understanding of archaeological burial in upland settings, we evaluated parent material uniformity within five pedons to distinguish pedogenically derived textural changes from geomorphologically created lithologic discontinuities. Depth trends in clay-free particle size classes and stable/immobile Ti and Zr constituents failed to reveal lithologic discontinuities between the sandy mantle and Bt horizons, and the observed textural differences are interpreted to have resulted from pedogenic processes. This interpretation is supported by clay skins, fine clay increases in Bt horizons, and micromorphological observations. Consequently, artifacts buried in upland summits have likely moved down the soil profile due to biomantle processes. Deep sandy mantle sites, non-parallel contacts between the sandy mantle and Bt horizons, and paleogullies incised into Eocene bedrock are better explained by colluvial/soil creep processes adjacent to summits, where archaeological materials may exhibit preservation potential. No single explanation can account for sandy mantle origins, and we advocate a case-by-case approach.
Who makes prescribing decisions in hospital inpatients? An observational study
Authors: Ross Sarah , Hamilton Laura , Ryan Cristin , Bond Christine
Published: May 2012

Purpose of the study

Errors involving drug prescriptions are a key target for patient safety initiatives. Recent studies have focused on error rates across different grades of doctors in order to target interventions. However, many prescriptions are not instigated by the doctor who writes them. It is important to clarify how often this occurs in order to interpret these studies and create interventions. This study aimed to provisionally quantify and describe prescriptions where the identity of the decision maker and prescription writer differed.

Design of the study

Observational data was collected in six wards, 2 weeks per ward, at a single large UK teaching hospital over a 12-week period from January to April 2011.

Results

In 112/183 (61%) cases where a new medicine was prescribed, the decision maker was not the prescription writer.

Conclusions

Decision making and the writing of prescriptions are generally not undertaken by the same doctor. Moreover, communication about prescriptions is poor. Further research in a larger sample of hospitals is required to confirm generalisability of the results, and to inform educational interventions to reduce error rates.
ENTROPY-BASED CLUSTER VALIDATION AND ESTIMATION OF THE NUMBER OF CLUSTERS IN GENE EXPRESSION DATA
Authors: NOVOSELOVA NATALIA , TOM IGOR
Published: May 2012

Many external and internal validity measures have been proposed in order to estimate the number of clusters in gene expression data but as a rule they do not consider the analysis of the stability of the groupings produced by a clustering algorithm. Based on the approach assessing the predictive power or stability of a partitioning, we propose the new measure of cluster validation and the selection procedure to determine the suitable number of clusters. The validity measure is based on the estimation of the "clearness" of the consensus matrix, which is the result of a resampling clustering scheme or consensus clustering. According to the proposed selection procedure the stable clustering result is determined with the reference to the validity measure for the null hypothesis encoding for the absence of clusters. The final number of clusters is selected by analyzing the distance between the validity plots for initial and permutated data sets. We applied the selection procedure to estimate the clustering results on several datasets. As a result the proposed procedure produced an accurate and robust estimate of the number of clusters, which are in agreement with the biological knowledge and gold standards of cluster quality.
Can Radiators Be Really Isotropic?
Authors: Matzner H. , Levine E.
Published: May 2012

In search for isotropic radiators with reasonable quality Factor (Q), bandwidth, and efficiency, one looks for practical radiators with a typical resonant length of . We present here a Green's function analysis in Fourier of a microstrip element and a far-field integral method in configuration (real) space of single and dual U-shaped elements. Both solutions analytically prove that the power radiation patterns are isotropic in nature (while the thickness and the width tend to zero), although the polarizations are not symmetrical in all cuts. It is also shown that the power isotropic U-shaped radiator, for which the surface current density is infinite, can be replaced by another finite-size radiator, having finite-surface current density, such that its far-field is exactly the same as the far-field of the U-shaped isotropic radiator.
Stability Analysis and Robust H∞ Control of Switched Stochastic Systems with Time‐Varying Delay
Authors: Xiang Zhengrong , Chen Guoxin
Published: May 2012

The problems of mean‐square exponential stability and robust H∞ control of switched stochastic systems with time‐varying delay are investigated in this paper. Based on the average dwell time method and Gronwall‐Bellman inequality, a new mean‐square exponential stability criterion of such system is derived in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Then, H∞ performance is studied and robust H∞ controller is designed. Finally, a numerical example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Schisandrin B as a Hormetic Agent for Preventing Age-Related Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Lam Philip Y. , Ko Kam Ming
Published: May 2012

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, with the latter preceding the appearance of clinical symptoms. The energy failure resulting from mitochondrial dysfunction further impedes brain function, which demands large amounts of energy. Schisandrin B (Sch B), an active ingredient isolated from Fructus Schisandrae, has been shown to afford generalized tissue protection against oxidative damage in various organs, including the brain, of experimental animals. Recent experimental findings have further demonstrated that Sch B can protect neuronal cells against oxidative challenge, presumably by functioning as a hormetic agent to sustain cellular redox homeostasis and mitoenergetic capacity in neuronal cells. The combined actions of Sch B offer a promising prospect for preventing or possibly delaying the onset of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as enhancing brain health.
Drug Release Kinetics from Polymer Matrix through Fractal Approximation of Motion
Authors: Băcăiţă S. , Urîtu C. , Popa M. , Uliniuc A. , Peptu C. , Agop M.
Published: May 2012

The present paper analyzes the process of drug release from polymer matrix. This process has been considered as fractal polymer process. Since complexity of physical processes is replaced by fractality, the paper studies the process through fractal approach. In drug dynamics, fractal “diffusion” equation can be obtained through fractal approximation of motion. All experimental release curves have been best demonstrated by Weibull relation (which was, in its turn, also demonstrated). Weibull parameters are related to the fractal dimension of drug release kinetics from a polymer matrix. Such a dimension can characterize and measure the complexity of the system. In the above-mentioned context, some experimental results of our researchers are presented and analyzed by comparing them with Peppas relation, a basic law in the description of drug release kinetics. Consequently, experimental data for Weibull relation are better correlated with certain resulting factors. At the same time, some conclusions regarding the phenomena involved in the process are considered as being based on the approach.
Experimental Characterisation of the Interfacial Structure during Counter-Current Flow Limitation in a Model of the Hot Leg of a PWR
Authors: Vallée Christophe , Nariai Toshifumi , Futatsugi Takashi , Tomiyama Akio , Lucas Dirk , Murase Michio
Published: May 2012

In order to investigate the two-phase flow behaviour during counter-current flow limitation in the hot leg of a pressurised water reactor, dedicated experiments were performed in a scaled down model ofKobe University. The experiments were performed with air and water at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. At high flow rates, CCFL occurs and the discharge of water to the reactor pressure vessel simulator is limited by the formation of slugs carrying liquid back to the steam generator. The structure of the interface was observed from the side of the channel test section using a high-speed video camera. An algorithm was developed to recognise the stratified interface in the camera frames after background subtraction. This method allows extracting the water level at any position in the image as well as performing further statistical treatments. The evolution of the interfacial structure along the horizontal part of the hot leg is shown by the visualisation of the probability distribution of the water level and analysed in function of the liquid and gas flow rates. The data achieved are useful for the analysis of the flow conditions as well as for the validation of modelling approaches like computational fluid dynamics.
Biosorption Potential ofTrichoderma gamsiiBiomass for Removal of Cr(VI) from Electroplating Industrial Effluent
Authors: Kavita B. , Keharia Haresh
Published: May 2012

The potential use of acid-treated biomass ofTrichoderma gamsiito remove hexavalent chromium ions from electroplating industrial effluent was evaluated. Electroplating industrial effluent contaminated with 5000 mg/L of Cr(VI) ions, collected from industrial estate of Gujarat, India, was mixed with acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiiat biomass dose of 10 mg/mL. Effect of contact time and initial Cr(VI) ions was studied. The biosorption of Cr(VI) ions attained equilibrium at time interval of 240 minutes with maximum removal of 87% at preadjusted initial Cr(VI) concentration of 100 mg/L. The biosorption of Cr(VI) ions by biomass ofT. gamsiiincreased as the initial Cr(VI) ion concentration of the effluent was adjusted in increasing range of 100–500 mg/L. At 500 mg/L, initial Cr(VI) concentration, acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiishowed maximum biosorption capacity of 44.8 mg/g biomass from electroplating effluent. The Cr(VI) biosorption data were analysed using adsorption isotherms, that is, Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm. The correlation regression coefficients (R2) and isotherm constant values show that the biosorption process follows Freundlich isotherm (R2>0.9,n>1, andKf=8.3). The kinetic study shows that biosorption of Cr(VI) ions by acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiifollows pseudo-second-order rate of reaction at increasing concentration of Cr(VI). In conclusion, acid-treated biomass ofT. gamsiican be used as biosorbent for Cr(VI) ions removal from Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater generated by industries.
An Interactive Procedure to Solve Multi‐Objective Decision‐Making Problem: An Improvment to STEM Method
Authors: Roostaee R. , Izadikhah M. , Hosseinzadeh Lotfi F.
Published: May 2012

Decisions in the real‐world contexts are often made in the presence of multiple, conflicting, and incommensurate criteria. Multiobjective programming methods such as multiple objective linear programming (MOLP) are techniques used to solve such multiple‐criteria decision‐making (MCDM) problems. One of the first interactive procedures to solve MOLP is STEM method. In this paper we try to improve STEM method in a way that we search a point in reduced feasible region whose criterion vector is closest to positive ideal criterion vector and furthest to negative ideal criterion vector. Therefore the presented method tries to increase the rate of satisfactoriness of the obtained solution. Finally, a numerical example for illustration of the new method is given to clarify the main results developed in this paper.
Corticostriatal Plastic Changes in Experimental L-DOPA-Induced Dyskinesia
Authors: Ghiglieri Veronica , Bagetta Vincenza , Pendolino Valentina , Picconi Barbara , Calabresi Paolo
Published: May 2012

In Parkinson’s disease (PD), alteration of dopamine- (DA-) dependent striatal functions and pulsatile stimulation of DA receptors caused by the discontinuous administration of levodopa (L-DOPA) lead to a complex cascade of events affecting the postsynaptic striatal neurons that might account for the appearance of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID). Experimental models of LID have been widely used and extensively characterized in rodents and electrophysiological studies provided remarkable insights into the inner mechanisms underlying L-DOPA-induced corticostriatal plastic changes. Here we provide an overview of recent findings that represent a further step into the comprehension of mechanisms underlying maladaptive changes of basal ganglia functions in response to L-DOPA and associated to development of LID.
The Emerging Role of Proteolysis in Mitochondrial Quality Control and the Etiology of Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Shanbhag Riya , Shi Guang , Rujiviphat Jarungjit , McQuibban G. Angus
Published: May 2012

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that are important for many diverse cellular processes, such as energy metabolism, calcium buffering, and apoptosis. Mitochondrial biology and dysfunction have recently been linked to different types of cancers and neurodegenerative diseases, most notably Parkinson’s disease. Thus, a better understanding of the quality control systems that maintain a healthy mitochondrial network can facilitate the development of effective treatments for these diseases. In this perspective, we will discuss recent advances on two mitochondrial quality control pathways: the UPS and mitophagy, highlight how new players may be contributing to regulate these pathways. We believe the proteases involved will be key and novel regulators of mitochondrial quality control, and this knowledge will provide insights into future studies aimed to combat neurodegenerative diseases.
Alimentary Canal of the Adult Blow Fly,Chrysomya megacephala(F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae)—Part I: Ultrastructure of Salivary Glands
Authors: Boonsriwong Worachote , Sukontason Kabkaew L. , Chaiwong Tarinee , Chaisri Urai , Vogtsberger Roy C. , Sukontason Kom
Published: May 2012

The salivary gland ultrastructure of the adult male blow fly,Chrysomya megacephala(F.) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), was investigated at the ultrastructural level using light microscopy (LM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The salivary glands are paired structures composed of a single median deferent duct bifurcated into two long, narrow efferent ducts connected to the coiled tubular glands. The SEM image of the gland surface revealed that the basal lamina is relatively smooth in general, but the whole surface appeared as a trace of rough swollen insertion by intense tracheal ramification. Ultrastructurally, the salivary gland is enclosed within the basal lamina, and interdigitation cytoplasmic extensions were apparent between the adjacent gland cells. The basement membrane appeared infoldings that is similar to the complex of the labyrinth channel. The cytoplasm characteristic of the gland revealed high activity, based on the abundance of noticeable secretory granules, either singly or in an aggregated reservoir. In addition, mitochondria were found to intersperse among rich parallel of arrays rough endoplasmic reticulum. Thick cuticle, which was well-delineated and electron dense, apically lined the gland compartments, with discontinuity of the double-layer cuticle revealing a trace of secretion discharged into the lumen. Gross anatomy of the adult salivary gland was markedly different from that of the third instar of the same species, and structural dissimilarity is discussed briefly.
New Partition Theoretic Interpretations of Rogers-Ramanujan Identities
Authors: Agarwal A. K. , Goyal M.
Published: May 2012

The generating function for a restricted partition function is derived. This in conjunction with two identities of Rogers provides new partition theoretic interpretations of Rogers-Ramanujan identities.
Modified Lagrangian Methods for Separable Optimization Problems
Authors: Hamdi Abdelouahed , Mukheimer Aiman A.
Published: May 2012

We propose a convergence analysis of a new decomposition method to solve structured optimization problems. The proposed scheme is based on a class of modified Lagrangians combined with the allocation of resources decomposition algorithm. Under mild assumptions, we show that the method generates convergent primal‐dual sequences.
Numerical Simulation of Unsteady Compressible Flow in Convergent Channel: Pressure Spectral Analysis
Authors: Pořízková Petra , Kozel Karel , Horáček Jaromír
Published: May 2012

This study deals with the numerical solution of a 2D unsteady flow of a compressible viscous fluid in a channel for low inlet airflow velocity. The unsteadiness of the flow is caused by a prescribed periodic motion of a part of the channel wall with large amplitudes, nearly closing the channel during oscillations. The flow is described by the system of Navier‐Stokes equations for laminar flows. The numerical solution is implemented using the finite volume method (FVM) and the predictor‐corrector Mac‐Cormack scheme with Jameson artificial viscosity using a grid of quadrilateral cells. Due to the motion of the grid, the basic system of conservation laws is considered in the arbitrary Lagrangian‐Eulerian (ALE) form. The numerical results of unsteady flows in the channel are presented for inlet Mach number M∞ = 0.012, Reynolds number Re∞ = 4481, and the wall motion frequency 100 Hz.
Preoperative FDG-PET/CT Is an Important Tool in the Management of Patients with Thick (T4) Melanoma
Authors: Arrangoiz Rodrigo , Papavasiliou Pavlos , Stransky Carrie A. , Yu Jian Q. , Tianyu Li , Sigurdson Elin R. , Berger Adam C. , Farma Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2012

The yield of preoperative PET/CT (PET/CT) for regional and distant metastases for thin/intermediate thickness melanoma is low. Objective of this study is to determine if PET/CT performed for T4 melanomas helps guide management and alter treatment plans.Methods.Retrospective cohort of 216 patients with T4 melanomas treated at two tertiary institutions. Fifty-six patients met our inclusion criteria (T4 lesion, PET/CT and no clinical evidence of metastatic disease).Results.Fifty-six patients (M: 32, F: 24) with median tumor thickness of 6 mm were identified. PET/CT recognized twelve with regional and four patients with metastatic disease. Melanoma-related treatment plan was altered in 11% of the cases based on PET/CT findings. PET/CT was negative 60% of the time, in 35% of the cases; it identified incidental findings that required further evaluation.Conclusion.Patients with T4 lesions, PET/CT changed the treatment plan 18% of the time. Regional findings changed the surgical treatment plan in 11% and the adjuvant plan in 7% of our cases due to the finding of metastatic disease. Additionally 20 patients had incidental findings that required further workup. In this subset of patients, we feel there is a benefit to PET/CT, and further studies should be performed to validate our findings.
Radiotherapy after Conservative Surgery in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ of the Breast: A Review
Authors: Amichetti Maurizio , Vidali Cristiana
Published: May 2012

Several large prospective and retrospective studies have demonstrated excellent long-term outcomes after breast conservative treatment with radiation in invasive breast cancer. Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy (RT) is an accepted management strategy for patients with DCIS. Adding radiation treatment after conservative surgery enables to reduce, without any significant risks, the rate of local recurrence (LR) by approximately 50% in retrospective and randomized clinical trials. As about 50% of LRs are invasive and have a negative psychological impact, minimizing recurrence is important. Local and local-regional recurrences after initial breast conservation treatment with radiation can be salvaged with high rates of survival and freedom from distant metastases.
Synaptic Functions of Invertebrate Varicosities: What Molecular Mechanisms Lie Beneath
Authors: Giachello Carlo Natale Giuseppe , Montarolo Pier Giorgio , Ghirardi Mirella
Published: May 2012

In mammalian brain, the cellular and molecular events occurring in both synapse formation and plasticity are difficult to study due to the large number of factors involved in these processes and because the contribution of each component is not well defined. Invertebrates, such asDrosophila, Aplysia, Helix, Lymnaea,andHelisoma, have proven to be useful models for studying synaptic assembly and elementary forms of learning. Simple nervous system, cellular accessibility, and genetic simplicity are some examples of the invertebrate advantages that allowed to improve our knowledge about evolutionary neuronal conserved mechanisms. In this paper, we present an overview of progresses that elucidates cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying synaptogenesis and synapse plasticity in invertebrate varicosities and their validation in vertebrates. In particular, the role of invertebrate synapsin in the formation of presynaptic terminals and the cell-to-cell interactions that induce specific structural and functional changes in their respective targets will be analyzed.
Nanotechnology‐Based Therapies for Skin Wound Regeneration
Authors: Tocco Ilaria , Zavan Barbara , Bassetto Franco , Vindigni Vincenzo
Published: May 2012

The cutting‐edge combination of nanotechnology with medicine offers the unprecedented opportunity to create materials and devices at a nanoscale level, holding the potential to revolutionize currently available macroscale therapeutics. Nanotechnology already provides a plethora of advantages to medical care, and the success of nanoparticulate systems suggests that a progressive increase in the exploration of their potential will take place in the near future. An overview on the current applications of nanotechnology to wound healing and wound care is presented.
Antileukemic Potential ofMomordica charantiaSeed Extracts on Human Myeloid Leukemic HL60 Cells
Authors: Soundararajan Ramani , Prabha Punit , Rai Umesh , Dixit Aparna
Published: May 2012

Momordica charantia(bitter gourd) has been used in the traditional system of medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Anticancer activity ofM. charantiaextracts has been demonstrated by numerousin vitroandin vivostudies. In the present study, we investigated the differentiation inducing potential of fractionatedM. charantiaseed extracts in human myeloid HL60 cells. We found that the HL60 cells treated with the fractionated seed extracts differentiated into granulocytic lineage as characterized by NBT staining, CD11b expression, and specific esterase activity. The differentiation inducing principle was found to be heat-stable, and organic in nature. The differentiation was accompanied by a downregulation ofc-myctranscript, indicating the involvement ofc-mycpathway, at least in part, in differentiation. Taken together these results indicate that fractionated extracts ofM. charantiaseeds possess differentiation inducing activity and therefore can be evaluated for their potential use in differentiation therapy for leukemia in combination with other inducers of differentiation.
Reduction of Uncertainties for Damage Identification of Bridge Based on Fuzzy Nearness and Modal Data
Authors: Liu Hanbing , Jiao Yubo , Cheng Yongchun , Gong Yafeng
Published: May 2012

To avoid the false results of deterministic identification methods induced by uncertainties, a fuzzy nearness‐based method is proposed for the damage identification of bridge. An improved index based on ratios of modal shape components is used as identification measurements. The knowledge base for damage identification is established through corresponding relationship between fuzzified measurements and damage severities. The damage condition of test samples can be assessed based on approaching principle through fuzzy nearness with rules in knowledge base. A numerical analysis on a multigirder bridge considering uncertainty is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results indicate that the fuzzy nearness‐based method can achieve an accurate identification with success rate up to 93.75%. Antinoise analysis and the ability for dealing with incomplete information reveal its robustness.
Viscosity Approximation Method for System of Variational Inclusions Problems and Fixed‐Point Problems of a Countable Family of Nonexpansive Mappings
Authors: Jaiboon Chaichana , Kumam Poom
Published: May 2012

We propose new iterative schemes for finding the common element of the set of common fixed points of countable family of nonexpansive mappings, the set of solutions of the variational inequality problem for relaxed cocoercive and Lipschitz continuous, the set of solutions of system of variational inclusions problem, and the set of solutions of equilibrium problems in a real Hilbert space by using the viscosity approximation method. We prove strong
convergence theorem under some parameters. The results in this paper unify and generalize some well‐known results in the literature.
Modelling Considerations in the Simulation of Hydrogen Dispersion within Tunnel Structures
Authors: Ismail Idris , Tsukikawa Hisayoshi , Kanayama Hiroshi
Published: May 2012

The flow of leaked hydrogen gas in tunnel structures is simulated through a free, open source computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code for incompressible thermal convection flow. A one‐fifth scale experimental model of a real tunnel is the target model to be simulated. To achieve this, studies on the effects of different boundary conditions, in particular, the wind speed, are carried out on smaller tunnel structures with the same hydrogen inlet boundary conditions. The results suggest a threshold/limiting value of air speed through tunnel. The target model computed with the most suitable boundary conditions shows some agreement with the experimental ones. A method to compute the buoyancy factor used in the code is also presented.
Numerical Simulation of Size Effects on Countercurrent Flow Limitation in PWR Hot Leg Models
Authors: Kinoshita I. , Murase M. , Tomiyama A.
Published: May 2012

We have previously done numerical simulations using the two-fluid model implemented in the CFD software FLUENT6.3.26 to investigate effects of shape of a flow channel and its size on CCFL (countercurrent flow limitation) characteristics in PWR hot leg models. We confirmed that CCFL characteristics in the hot leg could be well correlated with the Wallis parameters in the diameter range of0.05 m≤D≤0.75 m. In the present study, we did numerical simulations using the two-fluid model for the air-water tests withD=0.0254 m to determine why CCFL characteristics forD=0.0254 m were severer compared with those in the range,0.05 m≤D≤0.75 m. The predicted CCFL characteristics agreed with the data forD=0.0254 m and indicated that the CCFL difference betweenD=0.0254 m and0.05 mm≤D≤0.75 mm was caused by the size effect and not by other factors.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Multiphase Flow in Structured Packings
Authors: Shojaee Saeed , Hosseini Seyyed Hossein , Razavi Behzad Saeedi
Published: May 2012

A volume of fluid multiphase flow model was used to investigate the effective area and the created liquid film in the structured packings. The computational results revealed that the gas and liquid flow rates play significant roles in the effective interfacial area of the packing. In particular, the effective area increases as the flow rates of both phases increase. Numerical results were compared with the Brunazzi and SRP models, and a good agreement between them was found. Attention was given to the process of liquid film formation in both two‐dimensional (2D) and three‐dimensional (3D) models. The current study revealed that computational fluid dynamics (CFD) can be used as an effective tool to provide information on the details of gas and liquid flows in complex packing geometries.
An ACOA-AFSA Fusion Routing Algorithm for Underwater Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Wu Huafeng , Chen Xinqiang , Shi Chaojian , Xiao Yingjie , Xu Ming
Published: May 2012

Due to intrinsic properties of aqueous environments, routing protocols for underwater wireless sensor network (UWSN) have to cope with many challenges such as long propagation delay, bad robustness, and high energy consumption. Basic ant colony optimization algorithm (ACOA) is an intelligent heuristic algorithm which has good robustness, distributed computing and combines with other algorithms easily. But its disadvantage is that it may converge at local solution, not global solution. Artificial fish swarm algorithm (AFSA) is one kind of intelligent algorithm that can converge at global solution set quickly but has lower precision in finding global solution. Therefore we can make use of AFSA and ACOA based on idea of complementary advantages. So ACOA-AFSA fusion routing algorithm is proposed which possesses advantages of AFSA and ACOA. As fusion algorithm has aforementioned virtues, it can reduce existing routing protocols' transmission delay, energy consumption and improve routing protocols' robustness theoretically. Finally we verify the feasibility and effectiveness of fusion algorithm through a series of simulations.
Toxicological Effects of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles: A Review of In Vivo Studies
Authors: Iavicoli Ivo , Leso Veruscka , Bergamaschi Antonio
Published: May 2012

The essence of nanotechnology is the production of nanoparticles (NPs) with unique physicochemical properties allowing worldwide application in new structures, materials, and devices. The consequently increasing human exposure to NPs has raised concerns regarding their health and safety profiles. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) has been reported to induce adverse pulmonary responses in exposed animals. However, the potential more dangerous biological activities of TiO2 NPs compared to their fine‐sized counterparts are not fully understood. Therefore, this work is aimed to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the toxic effects induced by TiO2 NPs in in vivo experiments. It is intended to deeply understand the toxicological behaviour of TiO2 NPs and to predict potential human health effects. Moreover, it may be an instrument to extrapolate relevant data for human risk evaluation and management and to identify those critical aspects that deserve great attention in future population and epidemiologic research.
Application of Multistage Homotopy Perturbation Method to the Chaotic Genesio System
Authors: Chowdhury M. S. H. , Hashim I. , Momani S. , Rahman M. M.
Published: May 2012

Finding accurate solution of chaotic system by using efficient existing numerical methods is very hard for its complex dynamical behaviors. In this paper, the multistage homotopy‐perturbation method (MHPM) is applied to the Chaotic Genesio system. The MHPM is a simple reliable modification based on an adaptation of the standard
homotopy‐perturbation method (HPM). The HPM is treated as an algorithm in a sequence of intervals for finding accurate approximate solutions to the Chaotic Genesio system. Numerical comparisons between the MHPM and the classical fourth‐order Runge‐Kutta (RK4) solutions are made. The results reveal that the new technique is a promising tool for the nonlinear chaotic systems of ordinary differential equations.
Speaking and Organizing across Difference: The Multiracial, Grassroots Mobilization of Child Care Workers
Authors: Tuominen Mary C.
Published: May 2012

The article explores the effectiveness and challenges of multiracial, grassroots coalitions as tools for mobilizing child care workers—in particular when a predominantly white organization of child care center teachers seeks to work in coalition with family child care providers in communities of color. Using participatory action research, child care activists identified common employment concerns among workers, recruited members, and identified indigenous leaders. From this base, community members successfully organized a grassroots, multiracial organization committed to increasing the wages and benefits of family child care providers. While forming the organization proved initially successful, facilitating ongoing leadership development and activism among members proved more difficult. These challenges emerged as white participants sought to support the autonomy and leadership of women of color, but were unable to overtly address race and status differences.
The Darkening of the Mirror: Cavafy's Variations on The Picture of Dorian Gray
Authors: Boyiopoulos Kostas
Published: May 2012

Although parallels between Oscar Wilde and C. P. Cavafy have been drawn, the influence of Wilde on Cavafy remains underexplored. The Picture of Dorian Gray offers an iconography that would have suited Cavafy's mind-set given his existential-aesthetic anxieties regarding art and the beauty of youth. As a reader of Wilde's novel, Cavafy modulates his poetic strategies on the Dorian Gray myth in a number of poems featuring young men through, and along with, proxies of likeness. Cavafy's anxiety about aging and vain self-image serve as clues when investigating how the Dorian Gray myth informs the poet's texts. His lyrics are memory capsules of beauty whose temporal decay is similar to photographic (over)development, in the manner of Dorian's portrait. Cavafy explores variations of Wilde's triangulation of the self in the artist, the model, and the artwork, often affected by decay. He amalgamates the desire for homoerotic consummation with narcissistic mirroring. In their attempt to halt aging, his speakers narcissistically assume the form of the youthful males with whom they are infatuated.
Three Greek Women: The Insignificance of an Appliance
Authors: O'Rourke Diane
Published: May 2012

Between the 1980s and the twenty-first century, a distinct shift occurred in the social identities of older Greek women. They had been expected, after completing a parent's significant duty of arranging marriages for their children, to take on the categorical identity of "older woman" and relinquish the distinct personal identities they had established as heads of their own households. In Lehonia, satisfying the ideal of giving each bride control of her own house often forced women to give up domestic spaces that were the practical basis and symbolic representation of both intimate and public identities. Here I use the stories of three women who wanted to buy my refrigerator to demonstrate the agency of these women in using domestic space to reassert individual, independent, idiosyncratic identities and to illustrate part of a process which culminated in more independent lives and greater acceptance of distinct personal identities for older women.
Arabic and Cushitic Toponymy: One Coast with Two Maps
Authors: Morin Didier
Published: May 2012

A “linear” reading of the African Red Sea coast leads to describing a succession of shores only interrupted by mangroves or reefs. A more comprehensive analysis taking into account geography, local history, and sociology differentiates the shores from the coastal plain beyond, the land-marks from the sea-marks. What is seen from the sea as bare land behind an arid coast the pastoralists consider seasonal grazing land. The place-names express this difference with more seamarks than permanent wells, and more attention paid to food resource for the cattle than to anchoring. The two lists do not coincide even if they coexist.
Pregnancy as a Harm?
Authors: Kraft Rory E.
Published: May 2012

Michigan's Appellate Court ruled in 2004 that a pregnancy that resulted from a rape should be considered a bodily injury for sentencing purposes. Interestingly, all three possible outcomes of a pregnancy—abortion, miscarriage, or childbirth—are considered to bring with them significant and substantial physical, psychological, and emotional changes. While the immediate impact of the ruling in People v. Cathey affected only the guilty individual, there are larger implications for this ruling beyond just sentencing guidelines. The ruling can be considered a step forward in prosecuting rapists, but possibly at the expense of reimagining the female body. This article considers the Cathey ruling itself, the potential benefits and consequences of this understanding on feminist discourse, and, crucially, the impact of this decision on abortion discussions. The central question that emerges is, can we both consider pregnancy a harm and believe that this harm is not always wrong-making?
Homage to Henry Beecher (1904-1976)
Authors: Miller Franklin G.
Published: May 2012

The writings of Henry Beecher (1904-1976) have had an enormous influence on thinking and practice with respect to the ethics of medicine and clinical research. This essay examines the seminal contributions of Beecher as illustrated by four landmark articles concerning the ethics of clinical research, the placebo effect and placebo-controlled trials, the evaluation of invasive procedures, and "brain death" and vital organ transplantation. To appreciate Beecher's legacy, it is salutary to explicate the significance of his enduring contributions and to critically evaluate their limitations.
High Lactose Tolerance in North Europeans: A Result of Migration, Not In Situ Milk Consumption
Authors: Vuorisalo Timo , Arjamaa Olli , Vasemägi Anti , Taavitsainen Jussi-Pekka , Tourunen Auli , Saloniemi Irma
Published: May 2012

The main carbohydrate in milk is lactose, which must be hydrolyzed to glucose and galactose before the sugars can be digested. While 65% or more of the total human population are lactose intolerant, in some human populations lactase activity commonly persists into adulthood. Lactose tolerance is exceptionally widespread in Northern European countries such as Sweden and Finland, with tolerance levels of 74% and 82%, respectively. Theoretically, this may result either from a strong local selection pressure for lactose tolerance, or from immigration of lactose tolerant people to Northern Europe. We provide several lines of archaeological and historical evidence suggesting that the high lactose tolerance in North Europeans cannot be explained by selection from in situ milk consumption. First, fresh cow milk has not belonged to the traditional diet of Swedes or Finns until recent times. Second, not enough milk has been available for adult consumption. Cattle herding has been neither widespread nor productive enough in Northern Europe to have provided constant access to fresh milk. We suggest that the high prevalence of lactose tolerance in Finland in particular may be explained by immigration of people representing so-called Corded Ware Culture, an early culture representing agricultural development in Europe.
Earl Sutherland (1915-1975) and the Discovery of Cyclic AMP
Authors: Blumenthal Stanley A.
Published: May 2012

In 1945, Earl Sutherland (1915-1975) and associates began studies of the mechanism of hormone-induced glycogen breakdown in the liver. In 1956, their efforts culminated in the identification of cyclic AMP, an ancient molecule generated in many cell types in response to hormonal and other extracellular signals. Cyclic AMP, the original "second messenger," transmits such signals through pathways that regulate a diversity of cellular functions and capabilities: metabolic processes such as lipolysis and glycogenolysis; hormone secretion; the permeability of ion channels; gene expression; cell proliferation and survival. Indeed, it can be argued that the discovery of cyclic AMP initiated the study of intracellular signaling pathways, a major focus of contemporary biomedical inquiry. This review presents relevant details of Sutherland's career; summarizes key contributions of his mentors, Carl and Gerti Cori, to the knowledge of glycogen metabolism (contributions that were the foundation for his own research); describes the experiments that led to his identification, isolation, and characterization of cyclic AMP; assesses the significance of his work; and considers some aspects of the impact of cyclic nucleotide research on clinical medicine.
Clinical Expertise and the Limits of Explicit Knowledge
Authors: Luchins Daniel
Published: May 2012

This article questions the view that medical decision-making can be reduced to a series of explicit rules, adherence to which will necessarily improve outcomes. Instead, it attempts to rehabilitate the concepts of clinical expertise and clinical experience, arguing that medicine, like other areas of expertise, depends on forms of implicit knowledge that can only be acquired through years of experience. Recent research on "fast and frugal" heuristics in medical decision-making suggest that statistical techniques are not necessarily superior to clinician judgment. Since clinical decisions are made on individual patients within the constraint of limited information, they must rest on clinical expertise and not clinical rules.
Foucault’s Notion of Power and Current Psychiatric Practice
Authors: Iliopoulos John
Published: May 2012

Abstract:
Underlying Foucault’s accounts of asylums, hospitals, prisons, and schools was a continuing concern with power and knowledge. In the field of mental health, his preoccupation with power relations and the construction of narratives of exclusion and repression in the History of Madness have led many scholars to consider Foucault an anti-psychiatrist (Freeman 1967; Laing 1967; Leach 1967; Shorter 1997, 274). They question the book’s historical data, which prioritize power relations and political analysis over the actual experience of doctors and patients, undermining its scientific worth. Even thinkers sympathetic to Foucault’s ideas argue that, despite the cultural discontinuities that he sought to foreground in his historical analysis, he nevertheless offered a continuous narrative of confinement and exclusion as a result of the oppressive powers of reason (Dreyfus and Rabinow 1983, 4). But for Foucault, power is not unilateral, dominant, and oppressive, but distributional. Power is not a substance or a property one can claim to possess. It is not a political structure, a government or a dominant social class. Power is mobile, unstable, and reversible and is not blind but is determined by an internal logic. There is a form of rationality behind the exercise of power, and when that form of rationality is undermined, power loses its foundations. This can be observed in current forms of psychiatric practice, where psychiatric power is in fact being undermined while apparently being ever more closely inscribed in social practices.
The Virtuous Patient: Psychotherapy and the Cultivation of Character
Authors: Waring Duff R.
Published: May 2012

Abstract:
The standard approach to ethics in psychotherapy is to focus on the therapist. Although normative “boundary” ethics revolves around what the therapist ought, or ought not, to do, virtue ethics can revolve around the kind of person the therapist ought to be. One can thus apply virtue ethical theory to clinical practice and argue for therapist virtues that are relevant to meeting professional standards and to working effectively through the problems that arise in psychotherapy. Considerably less attention has been paid to how virtue ethics relates to the patient. The ethics of psychotherapy can also revolve around the sort of person the patient should be. I argue that there are (a) nascent virtues which the patient can bring to psychotherapy that, when cultivated with the therapist, can facilitate a beneficial outcome and (b) virtues that can be seen as psychotherapeutic goals toward which the patient ought to strive.