bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of static seeding methods on the distribution of fibroblasts within human acellular dermis
Authors: Vitacolonna Mario , Belharazem Djeda , Hohenberger Peter , Roessner Eric D
Published: June 2013

Introduction

When developing tissue engineered solutions for existing clinical problems, cell seeding strategies should be optimized for desired cell distribution within matrices. The purpose of this investigation was to compare the effects of different static cell seeding methods and subsequent static cell culture for up to 12 days with regard to seeding efficiency and resulting cellular distribution in acellular dermis.

Materials and methods

The seeding methods tested were surface seeding of both unmodified and mechanically incised dermis, syringe injection of cell suspension, application of low-pressure and use of an ultrasonic bath to remove trapped air. The effect of “platelet derived growth factor” (PDGF) on surface seeding and low pressure seeding was also investigated. Scaffolds were incubated for up to 12 days and were histologically examined at days 0, 4, 8 and 12 for cell distribution and infiltration depth. The metabolic activity of the cells was quantified with the MTT assay at the same time points.

Results

The 50 ml syringe degassing procedure produced the best results in terms of seeding efficiency, cell distribution, penetration depth and metabolic activity within the measured time frame. The injection and ultrasonic bath methods produced the lowest seeding efficiency. The incision method and the 20 ml syringe degassing procedure produced results that were not significantly different to those obtained with a standard static seeding method.

Conclusion

We postulate that air in the pores of the human acellular dermis (hAD) hinders cell seeding and subsequent infiltration. We achieved the highest seeding efficiency, homogeneity, infiltration depth and cell growth within the 12 day static culturing period by degassing the dermis using low- pressure created by a 50 ml syringe. We conclude that this method to eliminate trapped air provides the most effective method to seed cells and to allow cell proliferation in a natural scaffold.
Targeting cancer cell-specific RNA interference by siRNA delivery using a complex carrier of affibody-displaying bio-nanocapsules and liposomes
Authors: Nishimura Yuya , Mieda Hiroaki , Ishii Jun , Ogino Chiaki , Fujiwara Toshinobu , Kondo Akihiko
Published: June 2013

Background

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) has attracted attention in the field of nucleic acid medicine as a RNA interference (RNAi) application that leads to gene silencing due to specific messenger RNA (mRNA) destruction. However, since siRNA is unstable in blood and unable to cross the cell membrane, encapsulation of siRNA into a carrier is required.

Results

In this study, we used a carrier that combined ZHER2-displaying bio-nanocapsule (derived from hepatitis B virus surface antigen) and liposomes in a complex in order to investigate the feasibility of effective and target-cell-specific RNAi applications. As a result, by observing RNAi only in HER2-expressing breast cancer cells, using our proposed methodology, we successfully demonstrated target-cell-specific delivery and effective function expression of siRNA.

Conclusions

These findings show that, in the field of nucleic acid medicine, ZHER2-BNC/LP can be a useful carrier for siRNA delivery, and could also become a useful tool for gene silencing and to accomplish protein knock-down.
Facilitating the creation of IoT applications through conditional observations in CoAP
Authors: Teklemariam Girum Ketema , Hoebeke Jeroen , Moerman Ingrid , Demeester Piet
Published: June 2013

With the advent of IPv6, the world is getting ready to incorporate smart objects to the current Internet to realize the idea of Internet of Things. The biggest challenge faced is the resource constraint of the smart objects to directly utilize the existing standard protocols and applications. A number of initiatives are currently witnessed to resolve this situation. One of such initiatives is the introduction of Constrained Application Protocol. This protocol is developed to fit in the resource-constrained smart object with the ability to easily translate to the prominent representational state transfer implementation, hypertext transfer protocol (and vice versa). The protocol has several optional extensions, one of them being, resource observation. With resource observation, a client may ask a server to be notified every state change of the resource. However, in many applications, all state changes are not significant enough for the clients. Therefore, the client will have to decide whether to use a value sent by a server or not. This results in wastage of the already constrained resources (bandwidth, processing power,…). In this paper, we introduced an alternative to the normal resource observation function, named Conditional Observation, where clients tell the servers the criteria for notification. We evaluated the power consumption and number of packets transmitted between clients and servers by using different network sizes and number of servers. In all cases, we found out that the existing observe option results in excessive number of packets (most of them unimportant for the client) and higher power consumption. We also made an extensive theoretical evaluation of the two approaches which give consistent result with the results we got from experimentation.
Accuracy of the Masimo Pronto-7® system in patients with left ventricular assist device
Authors: Bruells Christian S , Menon Ares K , Rossaint Rolf , Goetzenich Andreas , Czaplik Michael , Zoremba Norbert , Autschbach Rüdiger , Schaelte Gereon
Published: June 2013

Background

The Masimo Pronto-7® calculates hemoglobin (Hb) values using the pulsoximetry technique and a variety of mathematical algorithms analyzing the pulse waveform. Although this system has demonstrated a high level of accuracy in average patients, the performance might be altered in special patient populations. Regarding patients with left ventricular cardiac failure, a rotary blood pump generates a constant, continuous, non-pulsatile flow to improve effective cardiac output. Due to this alteration in both, blood flow and arterial blood pressure we hypothesized a reduced accuracy of the Masimo Pronto-7® to detect Hb in patients with left ventricular cardiac failure. To test our hypothesis, we evaluated the Pronto-7®SpHb system in outpatients after continuous-flow-left ventricular assist device (cf-LVAD) implantation (HeartMate II, Thoratec).

Methods

21 cf-LVAD outpatients from the Clinic for Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery were investigated during routine follow up examinations. After venous blood samples were drawn, the Pronto-7® sensor was attached to one randomly selected finger of one hand. The collected SpHb data were compared with Hb values measured by our central laboratory. The difference between the methods was determined using Bland – Altman analysis. The study was registered in the DRKS (DRKS00004415).

Results

In all cf-LVAD patients evaluated, the Pronto-7® successfully detected SpHb values. Using Bland – Altman analysis, a bias of 0.14 g/dl (95% upper and lower limits of agreement ± 2.76 g/dl) was calculated.

Conclusion

The Pronto-7® overestimated the actual Hb value in cf-LVAD outpatients with the HeartMate II. Due to this, we conclude that the system is suitable for screening in routine examinations and further analysis can be performed if needed. However, its use as an emergency tool is questionable because of the increased inaccuracy when Hb values are critically low.
Contamination of livestock due to the operation of a small waste incinerator: a case incident in Skutulsfjörður, Iceland, in 2010
Authors: Halldorsson Thorhallur I , Auðunsson Guðjón Atli , Guicharnaud Rannveig , Dýrmundsson Ólafur R , Hansson Sigurður Örn , Hreinsson Kjartan
Published: June 2013

Background

In 2010 contamination by dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs was detected in milk and meat in the valley Engidalur situated at the bottom of a fjord (Skutulsfjörður) in North West Iceland. The valley is narrow and surrounded by high mountains resulting in prevailing calm weather. The contamination was traced to a small municipal waste incinerator operating in the valley. Annual agricultural production in Engidalur was modest (≈6 tons of meat and 45 tons of milk). The Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority conducted a series of measurements examining the contamination and the results are reported in this paper.

Results

Earlier inspection of the waste incinerator had shown dioxin levels in fly ash of 2.1 ng I-TEQ/m3, which exceeded the EU maximum limit of 0.1 ng I-TEQ/m3. Late in 2010 routine inspection found 4.0 pg WHO-TEQ/g for PCDD/Fs and 7.4 pg total WHO-TEQ/g fat in one milk sample from a farm in Engidalur; levels exceeding the EU maximum limits of 3.0 and 6.0 pg WHO-TEQ/fat for dairy fat, respectively. These results were confirmed in an additional milk sample. Elevated levels exceeding the maximum limits were also observed in one out of two beef samples collected from the farm (4.7 pg WHO-TEQ/g for dioxins and 12.3 pg total WHO-TEQ/g fat). Elevated levels in lamb and ewe meat were also observed but concentration varied greatly, reflecting different migration routes of animals during summer grazing and different sources of hay used during winter. A composite sample of hay from Engidalur had levels of PCDD/Fs of 0.85 pg WHO-TEQ/g and 1.36 pg total WHO-TEQ/g; levels that were marginally, but not significantly, above the EU maximum limit of 0.75 pg WHO-TEQ/g and 1.25 pg WHO-TEQ/g, respectively.

Conclusions

Operation of a small municipal waste incinerator, not fulfilling modern standards, may lead to elevated levels of dioxins in local livestock.
Computational gene network analysis reveals TNF-induced angiogenesis
Authors: Ogami Kentaro , Yamaguchi Rui , Imoto Seiya , Tamada Yoshinori , Araki Hiromitsu , Print Cristin , Miyano Satoru
Published: June 2013

Background

TNF (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α) induces HUVEC (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells) to proliferate and form new blood vessels. This TNF-induced angiogenesis plays a key role in cancer and rheumatic disease. However, the molecular system that underlies TNF-induced angiogenesis is largely unknown.

Methods

We analyzed the gene expression changes stimulated by TNF in HUVEC over a time course using microarrays to reveal the molecular system underlying TNF-induced angiogenesis. Traditional k-means clustering analysis was performed to identify informative temporal gene expression patterns buried in the time course data. Functional enrichment analysis using DAVID was then performed for each cluster. The genes that belonged to informative clusters were then used as the input for gene network analysis using a Bayesian network and nonparametric regression method. Based on this TNF-induced gene network, we searched for sub-networks related to angiogenesis by integrating existing biological knowledge.

Results

k-means clustering of the TNF stimulated time course microarray gene expression data, followed by functional enrichment analysis identified three biologically informative clusters related to apoptosis, cellular proliferation and angiogenesis. These three clusters included 648 genes in total, which were used to estimate dynamic Bayesian networks. Based on the estimated TNF-induced gene networks, we hypothesized that a sub-network including IL6 and IL8 inhibits apoptosis and promotes TNF-induced angiogenesis. More particularly, IL6 promotes TNF-induced angiogenesis by inducing NF-κB and IL8, which are strong cell growth factors.

Conclusions

Computational gene network analysis revealed a novel molecular system that may play an important role in the TNF-induced angiogenesis seen in cancer and rheumatic disease. This analysis suggests that Bayesian network analysis linked to functional annotation may be a powerful tool to provide insight into disease.
Using potential master regulator sites and paralogous expansion to construct tissue-specific transcriptional networks
Authors: Haubrock Martin , Li Jie , Wingender Edgar
Published: June 2013

Background

Transcriptional networks of higher eukaryotes are difficult to obtain. Available experimental data from conventional approaches are sporadic, while those generated with modern high-throughput technologies are biased. Computational predictions are generally perceived as being flooded with high rates of false positives. New concepts about the structure of regulatory regions and the function of master regulator sites may provide a way out of this dilemma.

Methods

We combined promoter scanning with positional weight matrices with a 4-genome conservativity analysis to predict high-affinity, highly conserved transcription factor (TF) binding sites and to infer TF-target gene relations. They were expanded to paralogous TFs and filtered for tissue-specific expression patterns to obtain a reference transcriptional network (RTN) as well as tissue-specific transcriptional networks (TTNs).

Results

When validated with experimental data sets, the predictions done showed the expected trends of true positive and true negative predictions, resulting in satisfying sensitivity and specificity characteristics. This also proved that confining the network reconstruction to the 1% top-ranking TF-target predictions gives rise to networks with expected degree distributions. Their expansion to paralogous TFs enriches them by tissue-specific regulators, providing a reasonable basis to reconstruct tissue-specific transcriptional networks.

Conclusions

The concept of master regulator or seed sites provides a reasonable starting point to select predicted TF-target relations, which, together with a paralogous expansion, allow for reconstruction of tissue-specific transcriptional networks.
Gene, pathway and network frameworks to identify epistatic interactions of single nucleotide polymorphisms derived from GWAS data
Authors: Liu Yu , Maxwell Sean , Feng Tao , Zhu Xiaofeng , Elston Robert C , Koyutürk Mehmet , Chance Mark R
Published: June 2013

Background

Interactions among genomic loci (also known as epistasis) have been suggested as one of the potential sources of missing heritability in single locus analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The computational burden of searching for interactions is compounded by the extremely low threshold for identifying significant p-values due to multiple hypothesis testing corrections. Utilizing prior biological knowledge to restrict the set of candidate SNP pairs to be tested can alleviate this problem, but systematic studies that investigate the relative merits of integrating different biological frameworks and GWAS data have not been conducted.

Results

We developed four biologically based frameworks to identify pairwise interactions among candidate SNP pairs as follows: (1) for each human protein-coding gene, a set of SNPs associated with that gene was constructed providing a gene-based interaction model, (2) for each known biological pathway, a set of SNPs associated with the genes in the pathway was constructed providing a pathway-based interaction model, (3) a set of SNPs associated with genes in a disease-related subnetwork provides a network-based interaction model, and (4) a framework is based on the function of SNPs. The last approach uses expression SNPs (eSNPs or eQTLs), which are SNPs or loci that have defined effects on the abundance of transcripts of other genes. We constructed pairs of eSNPs and SNPs located in the target genes whose expression is regulated by eSNPs. For all four frameworks the SNP sets were exhaustively tested for pairwise interactions within the sets using a traditional logistic regression model after excluding genes that were previously identified to associate with the trait. Using previously published GWAS data for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the biologically based pair-wise interaction modeling, we identify twelve genes not seen in the previous single locus analysis.

Conclusion

We present four approaches to detect interactions associated with complex diseases. The results show our approaches outperform the traditional single locus approaches in detecting genes that previously did not reach significance; the results also provide novel drug targets and biomarkers relevant to the underlying mechanisms of disease.
High serum HTATIP2/TIP30 level in serous ovarian cancer as prognostic or diagnostic marker
Authors: Kumtepe Yakup , Halici Zekai , Sengul Ozlem , Kunak Celalettin Semih , Bayir Yasin , Kilic Nergiz , Cadirci Elif , Pulur Alparslan , Bayraktutan Zafer
Published: June 2013

Background

Human HIV-1 TAT interactive protein 2 (HTATIP2/TIP30) is an evolutionarily conserved gene that is expressed ubiquitously in human tissues and some tumor tissues. This protein has been found to be associated with some gynecological cancers; as such, this study aimed to investigate blood HTATIP2/TIP30 levels in patients with ovarian cancer.

Methods

Twenty-three women with ovarian cancer and 18 patients with various non-cancerous gynecological complaints (for example, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, fibroids, and urinary incontinence) were included in the study. The pathological diagnosis of ovarian cancer was adenocarcinoma. HTATIP2/TIP30 concentration in the patients’ blood samples was determined using ELISA kits.

Results

The HTATIP2/TIP30 level was significantly higher in the cancer group than in the control group (1.84 ± 0.82 versus 0.57 ± 0.13 ng/ml, mean ± SD).

Conclusions

We demonstrated the potential role of HTATIP2/TIP30 in ovarian cancer for the first time, thereby enlightening future studies targeting HTATIP2/TIP30 in ovarian cancer treatment, diagnosis, and prevention.
Efficient direct ethanol production from cellulose by cellulase- and cellodextrin transporter-co-expressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Yamada Ryosuke , Nakatani Yuki , Ogino Chiaki , Kondo Akihiko
Published: June 2013

Efficient degradation of cellulosic biomass requires the synergistic action of the cellulolytic enzymes endoglucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and β-glucosidase. Although there are many reports describing consolidation of hydrolysis and fermentation steps using recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae that express cellulolytic enzymes, the efficiency of cellulose degradation has not been sufficiently improved. Although the yeast S. cerevisiae cannot take up cellooligosaccharide, some fungi can take up and assimilate cellooligosaccharide through a cellodextrin transporter. In this study, a S. cerevisiae strain co-expressing genes for several cell surface display cellulases and the cellodextrin transporter was constructed for the purpose of improving the efficiency of direct ethanol fermentation from phosphoric acid swollen cellulose (PASC). The cellulase/cellodextrin transporter-coexpressing strain produced 1.7-fold more ethanol (4.3 g/L) from PASC during a 72-h fermentation than did a strain expressing cellulase only (2.5 g/L). Direct ethanol production from PASC by the recombinant S. cerevisiae strain was improved by co-expression of cellulase display and cellodextrin transporter genes. These results suggest that cellulase- and cellodextrin transporter-co-expressing S. cerevisiae could be a promising technology for efficient direct ethanol production from cellulose.
High serum sCD163/sTWEAK ratio is associated with lower risk of digital ulcers but more severe skin disease in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Kowal-Bielecka Otylia , Bielecki Marek , Guiducci Serena , Trzcinska-Butkiewicz Beata , Michalska-Jakubus Małgorzata , Matucci-Cerinic Marco , Brzosko Marek , Krasowska Dorota , Chyczewski Lech , Kowal Krzysztof
Published: June 2013

Introduction

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation, vascular injury and excessive fibrosis. CD163 is a scavenger receptor which affects inflammatory response and may contribute to connective tissue remodelling. It has recently been demonstrated that CD163 can bind and neutralize the TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a multifunctional cytokine which regulates inflammation, angiogenesis and tissue remodelling. We aimed to investigate the relationships between serum levels of soluble CD163 (sCD163) and soluble TWEAK (sTWEAK) in relation to disease manifestations in SSc patients.

Methods

This study included 89 patients with SSc who had not received immunosuppressive drugs or steroids for at least 6 months and 48 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC) from four European centres. Serum concentrations of sTWEAK and sCD163 were measured using commercially available ELISA kits.

Results

The mean serum concentrations of sTWEAK were comparable between SSc patients (mean +/- SD: 270 +/- 171 pg/mL) and HC (294 +/- 147pg/mL, P >0.05). Concentration of sCD163 and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio were significantly greater in SSc patients (984 +/- 420 ng/mL and 4837 +/- 3103, respectively) as compared to HC (823 +/- 331 ng/mL and 3115 +/- 1346 respectively, P <0.05 for both). High sCD163 levels and a high sCD163/sTWEAK ratio (defined as > mean +2SD of HC) were both associated with a lower risk of digital ulcers in SSc patients (OR, 95%CI: 0.09; 0.01, 0.71, and 0.17; 0.06, 0.51, respectively). Accordingly, patients without digital ulcers had a significantly higher sCD163 concentration and sCD163/sTWEAK ratio as compared to SSc patients with digital ulcers (P <0.01 for both) and HC (P <0.05 for both). A high sCD163/sTWEAK ratio, but not high sCD163 levels, was associated with greater skin involvement.

Conclusions

The results of our study indicate that CD163-TWEAK interactions might play a role in the pathogenesis of SSc and that CD163 may protect against the development of digital ulcers in SSc. Further studies are required to reveal whether targeting of the CD163-TWEAK pathway might be a potential strategy for treating vascular disease and/or skin fibrosis in SSc.
Doyle–Kirmse Reaction Using Triazoles Leading to One-pot Multifunctionalization of Terminal Alkynes
Authors: Miura Tomoya , Tanaka Takamasa , Yada Akira , Murakami Masahiro
Published: June 2013

1-Sulfonyl-1,2,3-triazoles undergo a Doyle–Kirmse reaction upon treatment with allylic sulfides in the presence of a rhodium(II) catalyst to afford α-allyl-α-sulfanylimines. Terminal alkynes are regioselectively multifunctionalized by the introduction of C–N, C–S, and C–C bonds through a one-pot sequence consisting of a [3 + 2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction with azide and subsequent Doyle–Kirmse reaction.
The globalisation of love? Examining narratives of intimacy and marriage among middle-class Gujarati Indians in the UK and India
Authors: Twamley Katherine
Published: June 2013

Recent research suggests that global ideologies of love are shaping marriage practices the world over. In this article I compare the narratives of young (20- to 30-year-old), middle-class Gujarati Indians in the United Kingdom (UK) and India, to examine how these ideals are lived out in two very different contexts. In India, heterosexual monogamous marriage arranged with parental consent emerged as the only legitimate modern form of intimate relations due to a complex conjunction of romantic ideologies and ‘traditional’ familial marriage preferences. In the UK, participants distanced themselves from any sense of ‘arrangement’ in their relationships, which seemed to call into question for them the veracity of their love. The social context of the UK both supports and facilitates self-selected ‘love marriage’ among young people, while the converse is true in India. Global ideologies of romantic love are pervasive, but they are interpreted by individuals within local understandings of appropriate marriage and relationships.
Restrictions on natural parent contact with infants during care proceedings where forced adoption may be the outcome: some cautions about recent research and developing practice
Authors: Dale Peter
Published: June 2013

Child protection practice and law in the United Kingdom (UK) and North America is almost unique in the world with regard to the ability of courts to override the objections of natural parents to the adoption of their children. This controversial legal outcome is known as forced adoption. There is strong pressure from government in the UK for more children to be removed from the care of their parents and to be quickly placed with adoptive parents. This article presents a critical review of specific research that is relied on to justify drastic limitation on contact between natural parents and separated infants during the care proceedings process. It is argued that such restrictions are not neutral, and instead act to promote a fait accompli of forced adoption.
The Geosynthetic Concrete Composite Mat (GCCM)
Authors: Paulson John , Kohlman Randolph
Published: June 2013

This paper introduces a new multicomponent geocomposite, the geosynthetic concrete composite mat (GCCM). Unlike traditional geosynthetic clay layer (GCL) materials that possess a bentonite clay layer as the interlayer, this GCCM has a formulated dry concrete mix impregnated in a three-dimensional geotextile fiber matrix, which hardens upon hydration to a concrete shell. This “dual distinction” multicomponent material is unique. This paper also provides a summary of some of the basic properties of the uncured material (before hydration), followed by an introduction to some important characteristics of the cured material. Mechanical properties are presented for both uncured and cured phases to illustrate the property transformation from the uncured to the cured state and demonstrate the contribution of both the fibrous geotextile phase and the cured concrete phase to the product properties. ASTM Committee D35 GCL test methods were applied as appropriate for this GCCM material, followed by concrete testing of the cured material. Finally, because a number of the applications for this material involve durable protection of soil from erosion under high-flow regimes, hydraulic property test results and some endurance test results are presented. The hydraulic results are from a channel testing arrangement subjecting the installed and cured material to high-velocity water flow.
Metal oxides as functional semiconductors. An inkjet approach
Authors: Vilà Anna , Gomez Alberto , Portilla Luis , Cirici Marti , Morante Juan Ramon
Published: June 2013

Inkjet printing provides an interesting technology for electronic devices, as it is a versatile minimum-waste cost-effective technique for direct writing on almost every surface without need of masks or sacrificial layers. Among the fields in which it has been tested, transparent and flexible electronics offer a variety of applications ranging from large-area roll-toroll (such as OLEDs for lighting or solar cells) to small low-consumption biocompatible devices such as biosensors.

This work aims to present some advances in the field of semiconductors synthesized by sol-gel and patterned by inkjet printing. Chemical routes are used to obtain suitable inks, based on salts of Ga, In, Zn, Cu and Sn and solvents as methoxyethanol. Inkjet printing provides thin layers 20-300nm thick, with morphology strongly depending on the materials. Different thermal treatments are tested, and some chemical and optical characterization of the obtained layers allows optimizing the technology for each material.

The effectiveness of the inks and the technique is demonstrated by the electronic behavior of thin-film transistors fabricated by the proposed technology. The different devices are compared, suggesting the properties of the different materials analyzed, as a step ahead in the development of a complete logic for such promising applications of the flexible electronics.
Regeneration of Ammonia-Borane Complex for Hydrogen Storage
Authors: Mohajeri Nahid , T-Raissi Ali
Published: June 2013

At the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), a research program is underway for developing a high-density hydrogen storage system based on amine-borane (AB) complexes. Due to their high hydrogen capacity, these hydrides have been employed, in the past, as disposable hydrogen sources for fuel cell applications. However, to meet the requirements for hydrogen storage onboard vehicles, it is essential that cost effective and energy efficient methods for the regeneration (i.e. hydrogenation) of the spent (dehydrogenated) AB complexes can be found that utilize only hydrogen and/or electricity (i.e. the only plausible hydrogen economy energy carriers).

We are studying two ammoniaborane (NH3BH3)-based systems with high hydrogen storage capacity. The first system employs a borazine-cyclotriborazane cycle. Borazine is a product of NH3BH3 thermolysis. Cyclotriborazane is the inorganic analog of cyclohexane. The second system employs polymeric AB complexes such as poly-(aminoborane) and polyborazylene. Poly-(aminoborane), an inorganic analog of polyethylene, is also a product of amoniaborane thermolysis whilepolyborazylene is the product of borazine thermolysis.

For the two systems above, we are developing regeneration (i.e. reduction of borazine, poly-(aminoborane) and polyborazylene) schemes based on: 1) catalytic hydrogenation and 2) indirect (multi-step) synthesis techniques.
Meta‐analysis: A need for well‐defined usage in ecology and conservation biology
Authors: Vetter Daniela , Rücker Gerta , Storch Ilse
Published: June 2013

Meta‐analysis is a powerful research summarization technique. In the medical field, for example, meta‐analysis is an indispensable tool as part of systematic reviews for healthcare decision making. The advantages of meta‐analysis have also been recognized in the fields of ecology and conservation biology with the method becoming increasingly popular since the 1990s. “Meta‐analysis”, however, is not well‐defined in these fields, but is regularly confused with other summary analysis techniques, such as multiple regression methods, vote‐counting or other quantitative analyses. We argue that this vague and inconsistent utilization of the term is problematic, because a meta‐analysis typically provides scientifically rigorous results. We therefore advocate a consistent and well‐defined usage of the term in our disciplines, based on the standardized definition applied in the medical sciences. We searched the Web of Knowledge for meta‐analyses in the subject area “biodiversity conservation” and evaluated the usage of the term “meta‐analysis”. Based on meta‐analysis literature from the medical sciences, we determined steps that in our opinion are mandatory when performing meta‐analysis and rated articles according to these steps. In the first round of rating, we assessed the usage of four “technical” steps that are normally applied in meta‐analytical software. In the second round, we only evaluated the highly rated articles from the first round. We considered three steps regarding more qualitative aspects of interpretation and results presentation. Of the 133 evaluated articles in the first round, only 45% fulfilled all technical requirements for a meta‐analysis, while 25% did not fulfill any of the requisite steps. In the second round, only one article of 83 fulfilled all requisite steps, while 22% did not fulfill any requirement. Our findings highlight the ambiguous and vague usage of the term “meta‐analysis” in ecology and conservation biology and underline the importance of a consistent and clear definition. We conclude with recommendations on how the term should be applied in the future.
Maternal Health and Care in India: Why a Major Public Health Strategy Is Essential
Authors: Beckingham Andy
Published: June 2013

India has large inequalities in maternal health and high maternal mortality and morbidity rates. A social model of maternal health was used as a framework for a broad review of online published literature to appraise the approaches used by India to address these issues and to examine the potential for reducing the country’s maternal health inequalities.

The review found the following:

• An apparent lack of coordinated economic, social, and health strategy and policies focused on improving maternal health

• No acknowledgment in national health policy of the limitations of the medical model of maternal health and little apparent mention of the social model

• No evident national frameworks for quality assurance in maternity care

• Lack of recognition of the importance of woman-centered care

• No evident comprehensive maternal health needs assessment to underpin coordinated multisector working

• An apparent lack of reliable national data collection for setting inequality targets and monitoring progress

• No apparent performance-focused management system for improving maternity care nationally.

Although India has made large increases in maternal health care provision over recent decades, a pragmatic review of government policies, the reports of international agencies, and the findings of published research studies indicate that major barriers exist to reducing maternal health inequalities and to achieving good quality care for disadvantaged women. The main barrier appears to be the widespread use at all levels, including government, of the medical model of maternal health, which focuses mostly on obstetric interventions and fails to address the wider economic and social determinants of maternal health or to use a woman-centered approach to maternity care.

We recommend that Indian governments adopt instead a “social model” approach to maternal health improvement and urgently employ a public health strategy led by a national multisector task force to reduce inequalities in maternal health.
Complication After Cryosurgery Treatment for Gingival Melanin Pigmentation: A Case Report
Authors: Özcan Mustafa , İşler Sıla Cagrı , Bozkaya Suleyman , Özcan Gönen
Published: June 2013

Introduction: Gingival melanin pigmentation (GMP) is considered a physiologic or racial situation. Complaints of “black gums” are common, and demands for depigmentation are usually made for esthetic reasons. In this case report, a cryosurgical depigmentation procedure is described and the effectiveness and complications of cryosurgery are examined.

Case Presentation: A 40‐year‐old, systemically healthy female presented with esthetic problems associated with GMP. Cryosurgery was performed from the midline by cross‐segments from canine to canine for the treatment of maxillary and mandibular gingival tissues. One month after the cryosurgery procedure, a bone sequestrum became apparent between the mandibular right central incisor and canine, and it was removed from the area. A 2‐mm gingival recession was observed 1 month after the surgery to remove the sequestrum.

Conclusions: Methods such as cryosurgery seem to be effective in the treatment of GMP. Various complications can be observed in the application of cryosurgical procedures, such as infection, hemorrhage, recession, and pain. Anatomic structures of the pigmented sites, the width of the gingiva, the length of the keratinized gingiva, the dose, and application distance of cryosurgenic gas must be carefully considered.
Equilibrium-oriented housing supply: A case study of Chengdu City, China
Authors: He Ge
Published: June 2013

There is a growing concern regarding housing supply management because of
soaring housing prices consequent to recent market failure in China. This
study is aimed at presenting an equilibrium-oriented housing supply
management model that integrates housing supply and demand with time lag and
reasonable vacancy area. For validity test of the model, Chengdu City was
selected as a sample. The study establishes the feasibility of this model by
demonstrating that optimized housing supply can narrow the gap between
housing supply and demand. The implication of this finding is that planning
of housing supply is an important management tool and that in applying this
tool, local government should intervene in housing market to ensure
scientific consideration of city's development position, economic growth and
housing demand.
Polymorphic Varieties of CaCO3 as a Product of Cement Grout Carbonization
Authors: Uliasz-Bocheńczyk Alicja , Gawlicki Marek , Mokrzycki Eugeniusz , Pyzalski Michał
Published: June 2013

Streszczenie

Zaczyny cementowe stosowane w technologiach wiertniczych wykorzystywanych w geologicznym składowa­niu CO2 będą ulegać intensywnej karbonatyzacji. Ditlenek węgla powodujący korozję węglanową lub kwasowo- -węglanową zaczynu cementowego reaguje przede wszystkim z portlandytem Ca(OH)2, stanowiącym obok uwodnionych krzemianów wapnia C-S-H główny produkt reakcji z wodą podstawowych składników cementu, alitu i belitu. Węglan wapnia powstający w wyniku reakcji CO2 z Ca(OH)2 może występować we wszystkich trzech odmianach polimorficznych CaCO3, jako kalcyt, aragonit i vateryt. Potwierdziły to badania próbek pobranych z otworów wykonanych w celu intensyfikacji wydobycia ropy naftowej przy użyciu CO2 (Carem i in. 2006, 2007; Scherer, Huet 2009). Prawdopodobnie jako pierwszy powstaje vateryt, który następnie przechodzi w kalcyt. Aragonit pojawia się zazwyczaj jako faza przejściowa (Kurdowski 2010). W artykule przedstawiono wyniki badań składów fazowych zaczynów cementowych, które mogą być użyte w pracach wiertniczych wyko­nywanych w celu geologicznego składowania CO2. W zaczynach stwierdzono równoczesne występowanie obok siebie różnych odmian polimorficznych węglanu wapnia. Zaczyny pozostające w kontakcie z solanką i ditlenkiem węgla wykazywały oprócz kalcytu, aragonitu i vaterytu, również obecność faz będących produktami korozji chlorkowej zaczynu cementowego.
Methodological Elements of Applying Two- and Multi-Dimensional Distributions of Grained Materials Properties to Coal Beneficiation
Authors: Niedoba Tomasz
Published: June 2013

Streszczenie

Procesy wzbogacania są głównym elementem składowym całości procesu przeróbczego surowców mine­ralnych. Efektywność procesu i potencjalną wzbogacalność surowca określa się za pomocą krzywych wzboga- calności. Istnieje wiele rodzajów krzywych wzbogacalności, spośród których jedną z najczęściej stosowanych jest krzywa Henry’ego. W pracy przedstawiono metody jej aproksymacji.

Artykuł został podzielony na dwie części. W części pierwszej przedstawiono aproksymację krzywej wzboga­calności Henry’ego X = X(y) dla węgla typu 31 (wykorzystano dane z jednej z kopalń Górnośląskiego Okręgu Przemysłowego) za pomocą dwóch metod. Pierwszy sposób polegał na wyznaczeniu zależności funkcyjnej pomiędzy zawartością popiołu a gęstością X = X0(p) oraz między wychodem i gęstością y = F(p). Następnie poprzez określenie funkcji odwrotnej p = F 1(y) i złożenie z pierwszą funkcją uzyskano szukaną zależność dla X(y). Druga metoda polegała na aproksymacji funkcji y = O(X) za pomocą połączenia (sklejenia) dwóch funkcji logistycznych (punkt sklejenia wyznaczono metodą krigingu zwyczajnego). Następnie poprzez funkcję odwrotną otrzymano szukaną funkcję dla X(y). Dokładność przybliżenia określono poprzez porównanie zawartości popiołu w poszcze­gólnych frakcjach oraz w całym materiale.

W części drugiej pracy zaproponowano sposoby określenia powierzchni X = X(d,p) za pomocą regresji pierwszego rodzaju z zastosowaniem dwu- i trójwymiarowych rozkładów Morgensterna oraz regresji drugiego rodzaju z zastosowaniem znanych rozkładów dwuwymiarowych lub przy pomocy metod dwuwymiarowej apro­ksymacji jądrowej, będącej jedną z coraz częściej stosowanych w praktyce nieparametrycznych metod sta­tystycznych. Podano również wzory na średnią zawartość popiołu w całym badanym materiale.
The perspective and prognostic areas of zinc and lead ores in the Upper Silesia Zn-Pb Ore District
Authors: Mikulski Stanisław Z. , Strzelska-Smakowska Bożena , Retman Wojciech
Published: June 2013

Streszczenie

Największego przyrostu zasobów rud cynku i ołowiu w Polsce możemy spodziewać się w obszarze śląsko- -krakowskim, gdzie w utworach węglanowych, głównie triasu środkowego oraz dewonu, występuje mineralizacja siarczkowa Zn-Pb typu Mississippi Valley Type. W regionie olkuskim szacunkowe zasoby prognostyczne wy­noszą około 50 mln t rud Zn-Pb, a w regionie zawierciańskim około 15 milionów t rud Zn-Pb. W sumie zasoby prognostyczne siarczkowych rud Zn-Pb stanowią obecnie 76-84,3% zasobów bilansowych rud Zn-Pb w udoku­mentowanych złożach. Zasoby rud siarczkowych Zn-Pb zostały zweryfikowane według kryteriów bilansowości z 2007 r. i oszacowane metodą autokorelacji wokół otworów z mineralizacją bilansową. W strefach wystąpień udokumentowanych złóż można liczyć na znaczny przyrost zasobów rud, ponieważ dotychczasowe rozpoznanie niejednokrotnie było oparte na zbyt rzadkiej siatce wierceń. Celowe jest przeprowadzenie szczegółowych prac geofizycznych (np. metodą IP). W przypadku pozytywnych wyników należałoby dokonać rozpoznania płytkimi wierceniami.

Zasoby tlenowych rud Zn (galmanów) wynoszą w złożach około 51,19 mln t, a w zwałach kopalnianych około 9,64 mln 11 są o około 30% mniejsze od zasobów udokumentowanych rud siarczkowych w tym regionie. Galmany występujące na obszarze śląsko-krakowskim z powodu niskiej jakości, zaostrzenia przepisów środowiskowych oraz konfliktowej lokalizacji w odniesieniu do gospodarki przestrzennej nie są obecnie przedmiotem eksploatacji. Zasoby rud galmanowych wymagają weryfikacji zgodnie z nowymi kryteriami bilansowości.
Making the New by Rebuilding the Old
Authors: Fenske Michaela
Published: June 2013

Werben is a small town in eastern Germany, situated at the periphery both geographically and in terms of current economic and social dynamics. Since 2004, the inhabitants of Werben restore their cultural heritage in order to re-enact a new Biedermeier Werben so as to create new jobs in the tourist industry. Twice a year, re-enactors invite tourists and locals to engage in time travel to the period at the beginning of the nineteenth century. This article discusses the ways in which the people of Werben use history to revitalise their town. History becomes a space which allows individual and collaborative experiences; it is used as cultural resource. Meanwhile, history is interpreted in a peculiar manner, holding different functions and values for different people. In its staging of Biedermeier, Werben develops into a laboratory in which various elementary needs and problems of postmodern society are discussed.
Deliberation on GMOs: A Study of How a Citizens’ Jury Affects the Citizens’ Attitudes
Authors: Aasen Marianne , Vatn Arild
Published: June 2013

Deliberative processes provide an important alternative input to environmental politics as they may, in contrast to often used market simulations, provide an arena for 1) discussion of lay participants’ values, 2) articulating arguments grounded in other values than consequentialistic, and 3) capturing weakly comparable values. A case study of a Citizens’ Jury (CJ) on genetically modified plants was used to investigate how the framing of the process affected the attitude formation among the citizens. The formal set up of this specific CJ made value discussions less relevant. While it opened for value plurality, it failed to facilitate the articulation of weakly comparable values.
Deep Ecology, Hybrid Geographies, and Environmental Management's Relational Premise
Authors: Booth Kate I.
Published: June 2013

The premise of environmental management pivots on managing the people-environment relationship. Yet this field remains dominated by the idea of managing the environment not the relationship, and as such continues to enact dualistic and reductionist traditions. Deep ecology's relational ontology offers a means of moving beneath and beyond such traditions. Specifically, the theory of internal relations as manifest within Arne Naess's gestalt ontology – if developed with regard to relational work emerging within cultural geography – is an aspect of deep ecology that has relevance and implications for environmental management's theory and practice. Such a stance provides qualified support for Warwick Fox's identification of the significance of Self-realisation within deep ecological philosophy, and counters attempts by some deep ecology proponents to write Fox and his work out of the history and future prospects of deep ecology.
Iron Artefacts from the DGB-1 Site, Northern Cameroon: Conservation, Metallurgical Analysis and Ethnoarchaeological Analogies
Authors: MacEachern Scott , Scott David A. , Carlson Molly O'Guinness , Djoussou Jean-Marie Datouang
Published: June 2013

In 2008, a number of iron artefacts were recovered from an interior courtyard on the DGB-1 site during fieldwork in 2008. DGB-1 is a large multi-function site located in the northeastern Mandara Mountains of Cameroon, and dating to the mid-second millennium AD. The iron artefacts recovered included a cache of spear/arrow points found buried under a living floor, as well as a local hoe and a chain and a ‘barrette’ probably not of local provenance. This discovery has a number of points of interest: (1) ethnoarchaeological reenactments of iron smelts in the 1980s in the same region provide a rare opportunity for comparison of iron-working techniques over about five centuries in sub-Saharan Africa; (2) the variability in different forms of iron (including eutectoid steel) used in these artefacts; and (3) the welding of different forms of iron to produce composite artefacts.
Comparative analysis for the detection of tuberculosis by conventional and flurosence microscopy
Authors: Ahmed Ohiuddin , Ahmed Zakaria
Published: June 2013

Total of 300 TB patients sample were collected from NIDCH (Indoor and Outdoor)  for six months period where three different specimens (sputum, pus, BAL) were collected among different age group (male and female). In sputum sample, percentage of identified samples in Auramine-O stain  was 41% whereas in Z-N stain 32%;  in pus sample, Auramine stain is 22% and Z-N stain 15%; In BAL sample,  Auramine stain is 12% and Z-N stain is 10%. Therefore, out of 300 samples, 25% of positive samples were identified by Auramine-O staining whereas 19% of positive samples were identified by Z-N stain. In all the cases Auramine-O is found better for identification of TB than Z-N.  In sputum, male positive 10%, female positive 3.66%; in pus sample, male positive 5% and female positive 2.33%; in BAL sample, male positive 3% and female positive 1%. Age group of 26 to 45 years were found high rate of TB in male patients.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 03 July 13 Page 315-319 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v12i3.11104
Clinicopathological analysis of ovarian tumors in perimenopausal women: A study in a rural teaching hospital of eastern India
Authors: Phukan Jyoti Prakash , Sinha Anuradha , Sardar Rakhi , Guha Paulami
Published: June 2013

Introduction: Ovarian tumors are important in perimenopausal women as they are more likely to be malignant. Aim: The aim was to study the various histological pattern of ovarian tumors and their clinical presentation in perimenopausal age group. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out in the departments of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and Pathology in a teaching hospital for two years from June 2007 to May 2009. All patients presented with ovarian tumors of perimenopausal age group (40-50 years) were included. Detailed clinical information, radiological findings and histopathological reports were recorded. Results: A total 52 ovarian tumors were included in this study. Most common histological types were surface epithelial tumors (92.3%), out of which 54.2% were benign, 41.7% were malignant and 4.2% were borderline. Serous cystadenoma was the most common benign tumor and serous cystadenocarcinoma was the commonest malignant tumor. Abdominal discomfort was the commonest presenting symptom both in benign and malignant tumors (85.7% and 45.4% respectively). Most of the malignant tumors were presented in stage III (50%), followed by stage II (27.3%). Conclusion: In this study, we found a relatively higher proportion of ovarian malignancies. So, any ovarian tumor in perimenopausal age group is more likely to be malignant and that require a thorough evaluation and management. Further research should be advocated in this field. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol. 12 No. 03 July 13 Page 263-268 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v12i3.12232