bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid Identification of International Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Clones by Multiple-Locus Variable Number of Tandem Repeats Analysis and Investigation of Their Susceptibility to Lytic Bacteriophages
Authors: Larché Jérôme , Pouillot Flavie , Essoh Christiane , Libisch Balázs , Straut Monica , Lee Je Chul , Soler Charles , Lamarca Richard , Gleize Elodie , Gabard Jérôme , Vergnaud Gilles , Pourcel Christine
Published: September 2012

The objective of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of multidrug-resistant (MDR)
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strains isolated over a period of 12 months in two French hospitals and to test their susceptibility to bacteriophages. A total of 47 MDR isolates recovered from hospitalized patients were genotyped using multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis. The genotypes were distributed into five clones (including 19, 5, 5, 3, and 3 isolates, respectively) and 12 singletons. Comparison to 77 MDR strains from three other countries, and MLST analysis of selected isolates showed the predominance of international MDR clones. The larger clone, CC235, contained 59 isolates displaying different antibiotic resistance mechanisms, including the presence of the GES1, VIM-2, VIM-4, and IMP-1 β-lactamases. Three newly isolated
P. aeruginosa
bacteriophages were found to lyse 42 of the 44 analyzed strains, distributed into the different clonal complexes. This pilot study suggests that systematic genotyping of
P. aeruginosa
MDR strains could improve our epidemiological understanding of transmission at both the local (hospital) and the national level and that phage therapy could be an alternative or a complementary treatment to antibiotics for treating MDR-infected patients.
β-Lactams Increase the Antibacterial Activity of Daptomycin against Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains and Prevent Selection of Daptomycin-Resistant Derivatives
Authors: Mehta Shrenik , Singh Christopher , Plata Konrad B. , Chanda Palas K. , Paul Arundhati , Riosa Sarah , Rosato Roberto R. , Rosato Adriana E.
Published: September 2012

Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) has emerged to be one of the most important pathogens both in health care and in community-onset infections. Daptomycin (DAP) is a cyclic anionic lipopeptide recommended for treatment of skin infections, bacteremia, and right-sided endocarditis caused by MRSA. Resistance to DAP (DAP
r
) has been reported in MRSA and is mostly accompanied by a parallel decrease in oxacillin resistance, a process known as the “seesaw effect.” Our study provides evidence that the seesaw effect applies to other β-lactams and carbapenems of clinical use, including nafcillin (NAF), cefotaxime (CTX), amoxicillin-clavulanic (AMC), and imipenem (IMP), in heterogeneous DAP
r
MRSA strains but not in MRSA strains expressing homogeneous β-lactam resistance. The antibacterial efficacy of DAP in combination with β-lactams was evaluated in isogenic DAP-susceptible (DAP
s
)/Dap
r
MRSA strains originally obtained from patients that failed DAP monotherapy. Both
in vitro
(MIC, synergy-kill curve) and
in vivo
(wax worm model) approaches were used. In these models, DAP and a β-lactam proved to be highly synergistic against both heterogeneous and homogeneous clinical DAP
r
MRSA strains. Mechanistically, β-lactams induced a reduction in the cell net positive surface charge, reverting the increased repulsion provoked by DAP alone, an effect that may favor the binding of DAP to the cell surface. The ease of
in vitro
mutant selection was observed when DAP
s
MRSA strains were exposed to DAP. Importantly, the combination of DAP and a β-lactam prevented the selection of DAP
r
variants. In summary, our data show that the DAP–β-lactam combination may significantly enhance both the
in vitro
and
in vivo
efficacy of anti-MRSA therapeutic options against DAP
r
MRSA infections and represent an option in preventing DAP
r
selection in persistent or refractory MRSA infections.
Williams-Campbell syndrome presenting in an adult
Authors: Jones Quentin Christopher , Wathen Christopher G
Published: September 2012

A 59-year-old man presented with a 4-year history of productive cough, shortness of breath and wheeze. He had been treated for asthma and given several courses of antibiotics which improved his symptoms. Medical history was unremarkable. There was no history respiratory disease in childhood although he was prone to chest infections in adult life. A high-resolution chest CT showed marked proximal cystic bronchiectasis associated with collapse of distal bronchi on expiration. A diagnosis of cystic bronchiectasis due to undiagnosed adult Williams-Campbell syndrome was made on the basis of these characteristic radiological features and the exclusion of other possible causes.
Tribochemistry of Ionic Liquid Lubricant on Magnetic Media
Authors: Kondo Hirofumi
Published: September 2012

The newly synthesized perfluoropolyether (PFPE) ionic liquid whose terminal group is an ammonium salt with a carboxylic acid has better frictional properties when compared to the conventional PFPEs. Stick-slip motion was not observed even for the smooth surface for the modified PFPE tape. The friction is almost independent of the PFPE structure, but depends on the amine structures. The ammonium salt being tightly anchored to the rubbing surface covers uniformly, which leads to better lubricity. The higher dispersive interaction of the hydrophobic group of the amine is endowed with a compensating friction reduction. Steric hindrance of the hydrophilic group causes a high friction. Based on these findings, a saturated long chain ammonium salt is the best selection. Moreover, the modified PFPEs are dissolved in alcohol and hexane, which makes practical use convenient without any environmental problems. These ionic lubricants invented around 1987 have been used for magnetic tapes for about a quarter century because of their good lubricity and are reviewed in this paper.
Stemness of B-cell Progenitors in Multiple Myeloma Bone Marrow
Authors: Boucher Kelly , Parquet Nancy , Widen Raymond , Shain Kenneth , Baz Rachid , Alsina Melissa , Koomen John , Anasetti Claudio , Dalton William , Perez Lia E.
Published: September 2012

Purpose: In myeloma, B cells and plasma cells show a clonal relationship. Clonotypic B cells may represent a tumor-initiating compartment or cancer stem cell responsible for minimal residual disease in myeloma.

Experimental Design: We report a study of 58 patients with myeloma at time of diagnosis or relapse. B cells in bone marrow were evaluated by multicolor flow cytometry and sorting. Clonality was determined by light chain and/or immunoglobulin chain gene rearrangement PCR. We also determined aldehyde dehydrogenase activity and colony formation growth. Drug sensitivity was tested with conventional and novel agents.

Results: Marrow CD19+ cells express a light chain identical to plasma cells and are therefore termed light chain restricted (LCR). The LCR B-cell mass is small in both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients (≤1%). Few marrow LCR B cells (∼10%) are CD19+/CD34+, with the rest being more differentiated CD19+/CD34− B cells. Marrow LCR CD19+ B cells exhibit enhanced aldehyde dehydrogenase activity versus healthy controls. Both CD19+/CD34+ and CD19+/CD34− cells showed colony formation activity, with colony growth efficiency optimized when stroma-conditioned medium was used. B-cell progenitors showed resistance to melphalan, lenalidomide, and bortezomib. Panobinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, induced apoptosis of LCR B cells and CD138+ cells. LCR B cells are CD117, survivin, and Notch positive.

Conclusions: We propose that antigen-independent B-cell differentiation stages are involved in disease origination and progression in myeloma. Furthermore, investigations of myeloma putative stem cell progenitors may lead to novel treatments to eradicate the potential reservoir of minimal residual disease. Clin Cancer Res; 18(22); 6155–68. ©2012 AACR.
Quantitative Model of the Relationship Between Dipeptidyl Peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) Inhibition and Response: Meta‐Analysis of Alogliptin, Saxagliptin, Sitagliptin, and Vildagliptin Efficacy Results
Authors: Gibbs John P. , Fredrickson Jill , Barbee Todd , Correa Itzela , Smith Brian , Lin Shao‐Lee , Gibbs Megan A.
Published: September 2012

Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibition is a well‐characterized treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The objective of this model‐based meta‐analysis was to describe the time course of HbA1c response after dosing with alogliptin (ALOG), saxagliptin (SAXA), sitagliptin (SITA), or vildagliptin (VILD). Publicly available data involving late‐stage or marketed DPP‐4 inhibitors were leveraged for the analysis. Nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling was performed to describe the relationship between DPP‐4 inhibition and mean response over time. Plots of the relationship between metrics of DPP‐4 inhibition (ie, weighted average inhibition [WAI], time above 80% inhibition, and trough inhibition) and response after 12 weeks of daily dosing were evaluated. The WAI was most closely related to outcome, although other metrics performed well. A model was constructed that included fixed effects for placebo and drug and random effects for intertrial variability and residual error. The relationship between WAI and outcome was nonlinear, with an increasing response up to 98% WAI. Response to DPP‐4 inhibitors could be described with a single drug effect. The WAI appears to be a useful index of DPP‐4 inhibition related to HbA1c. Biomarker to response relationships informed by model‐based meta‐analysis can be leveraged to support study designs including optimization of dose, duration of therapy, and patient population.
Hybrid radar emitter recognition based on rough k-means classifier and SVM
Authors: Wu Zhilu , Yang Zhutian , Sun Hongjian , Yin Zhendong , Nallanathan Arumugam
Published: September 2012

Due to the increasing complexity of electromagnetic signals, there exists a significant challenge for recognizing radar emitter signals. In this article, a hybrid recognition approach is presented that classifies radar emitter signals by exploiting the different separability of samples. The proposed approach comprises two steps, i.e., the primary signal recognition and the advanced signal recognition. In the former step, the rough k-means classifier is proposed to cluster the samples of radar emitter signals by using the rough set theory. In the latter step, the samples within the rough boundary are used to train the support vector machine (SVM). Then SVM is used to recognize the samples in the uncertain area; therefore, the classification accuracy is improved. Simulation results show that, for recognizing radar emitter signals, the proposed hybrid recognition approach is more accurate, and has a lower time complexity than the traditional approaches.
Low-level laser therapy regulates microglial function through Src-mediated signaling pathways: implications for neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Song Sheng , Zhou Feifan , Chen Wei R
Published: September 2012

Background

Activated microglial cells are an important pathological component in brains of patients with neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of He-Ne (632.8 nm, 64.6 mW/cm2) low-level laser therapy (LLLT), a non-damaging physical therapy, on activated microglia, and the subsequent signaling events of LLLT-induced neuroprotective effects and phagocytic responses.

Methods

To model microglial activation, we treated the microglial BV2 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). For the LLLT-induced neuroprotective study, neuronal cells with activated microglial cells in a Transwell™ cell-culture system were used. For the phagocytosis study, fluorescence-labeled microspheres were added into the treated microglial cells to confirm the role of LLLT.

Results

Our results showed that LLLT (20 J/cm2) could attenuate toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated proinflammatory responses in microglia, characterized by down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokine expression and nitric oxide (NO) production. LLLT-triggered TLR signaling inhibition was achieved by activating tyrosine kinases Src and Syk, which led to MyD88 tyrosine phosphorylation, thus impairing MyD88-dependent proinflammatory signaling cascade. In addition, we found that Src activation could enhance Rac1 activity and F-actin accumulation that typify microglial phagocytic activity. We also found that Src/PI3K/Akt inhibitors prevented LLLT-stimulated Akt (Ser473 and Thr308) phosphorylation and blocked Rac1 activity and actin-based microglial phagocytosis, indicating the activation of Src/PI3K/Akt/Rac1 signaling pathway.

Conclusions

The present study underlines the importance of Src in suppressing inflammation and enhancing microglial phagocytic function in activated microglia during LLLT stimulation. We have identified a new and important neuroprotective signaling pathway that consists of regulation of microglial phagocytosis and inflammation under LLLT treatment. Our research may provide a feasible therapeutic approach to control the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
A simple approach to the two-dimensional guillotine cutting stock problem
Authors: Aryanezhad Mir-Bahador , Fakhim Hashemi Nima , Makui Ahmad , Javanshir Hasan
Published: September 2012

Cutting stock problems are within knapsack optimization problems and are considered as a non-deterministic polynomial-time (NP)-hard problem. In this paper, two-dimensional cutting stock problems were presented in which items and stocks were rectangular and cuttings were guillotine. First, a new, practical, rapid, and heuristic method was proposed for such problems. Then, the software implementation and architecture specifications were explained in order to solve guillotine cutting stock problems. This software was implemented by C++ language in a way that, while running the program, the operation report of all the functions was recorded and, at the end, the user had access to all the information related to cutting which included order, dimension and number of cutting pieces, dimension and number of waste pieces, and waste percentage. Finally, the proposed method was evaluated using examples and methods available in the literature. The results showed that the calculation speed of the proposed method was better than that of the other methods and, in some cases, it was much faster. Moreover, it was observed that increasing the size of problems did not cause a considerable increase in calculation time.

In another section of the paper, the matter of selecting the appropriate size of sheets was investigated; this subject has been less considered by far. In the solved example, it was observed that incorrect selection from among the available options increased the amount of waste by more than four times. Therefore, it can be concluded that correct selection of stocks for a set of received orders plays a significant role in reducing waste.
Innovative Learning/Learning Innovation: Using Action Learning Projects to Develop Students' Industry Mindset
Authors: Brazee Christy , Lopp Denver
Published: September 2012

Traditional approaches to teaching in higher education typically fail to prepare students with many of the skills they need to become the knowledge workers employers expect them to be as graduates. Furthermore, successful students expect that the strategies they cultivated during their academic career will transfer to their professional career, only to be disappointed and frustrated when the traditional modes of student learning fail to bring them comparable levels of success. It is the position of this article that those teaching in higher education have an obligation to assist students in developing their knowledge, skills, and abilities, while also cultivating appropriate mindsets that will allow them to discover new approaches to enduring organizational challenges and develop novel solutions to tomorrow's problems. Action learning projects, where students work collaboratively to address a client's real-world organizational challenge through their concurrent learning and application of course content, offer one strategy particularly well suited to help educators fulfill this educational goal. After a brief history of action learning, the six elements of the Marquardt Model are discussed, in terms of both their critical features and the ways in which they support learning innovation. The next section describes the use of action learning cycles as the process by which students engage in the project and develop learning strategies accomplish the client's goal. The final section of the paper describes common constraints that students and instructors engaged in action learning projects encounter.
Shop for quality or quantity? Volumes and costs in clinical laboratories
Authors: Barletta Giovanni , Zaninotto Martina , Faggian Diego , Plebani Mario
Published: September 2012

Background: The increasing need to reduce the costs of providing diagnostic laboratory services has prompted initiatives based on the centralization and consolidation of laboratory facilities. However, the majority of papers and experiences reported in literature focus on “cost per test” thus overlooking the real value of a laboratory service, which requires more complex economic evaluations, such as cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and cost-utility analysis. It is important to perform cost analysis, which is no mean feat, by taking into consideration all variables affecting the final and true cost per test.

Methods: The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the costs of delivering laboratory services in 20 Italian clinical laboratories using a widely accepted methodology, the so-called “activity-based costing analysis”.

Results: The finding of a trend towards a decrease in total costs – due to an increase in test volumes – attained statistical significance only for quantities of up to about 1,100,00 tests per year. For 1,800,00 tests and more, the cost per test appeared to range from 1.5 to 2.0 € irrespective of the different volumes. Regarding the relationship between volumes and number of staff, there is an evident linear relationship between the number of senior staff and volumes, whereas this trend is not observed in the case of medical technologists, the degree and type of automation strongly affecting this variable.

Conclusions: The findings made in the present study confirm that the relationship between volumes and costs is not linear; since it is complex, numerous variables should be taken into account.
Favorable Outcome in a Newborn With Molybdenum Cofactor Type A Deficiency Treated With cPMP
Authors: Hitzert Marrit M. , Bos Arend F. , Bergman Klasien A. , Veldman Alex , Schwarz Guenter , Santamaria-Araujo José Angel , Heiner-Fokkema Rebecca , Sival Deborah A. , Lunsing Roelineke J. , Arjune Sita , Kosterink Jos G.W. , van Spronsen Francjan J.
Published: September 2012

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (MoCD) is a lethal autosomal recessive inborn error of metabolism with devastating neurologic manifestations. Currently, experimental treatment with cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP) is available for patients with MoCD type A caused by a mutation in the MOCS-1 gene. Here we report the first case of an infant, prenatally diagnosed with MoCD type A, whom we started on treatment with cPMP 4 hours after birth. The most reliable method to evaluate neurologic functioning in early infancy is to assess the quality of general movements (GMs) and fidgety movements (FMs). After a brief period of seizures and cramped-synchronized GMs on the first day, our patient showed no further clinical signs of neurologic deterioration. Her quality of GMs was normal by the end of the first week. Rapid improvement of GM quality together with normal FMs at 3 months is highly predictive of normal neurologic outcome. We demonstrated that a daily cPMP dose of even 80 μg/kg in the first 12 days reduced the effects of neurodegenerative damage even when seizures and cramped-synchronized GMs were already present. We strongly recommend starting cPMP treatment as soon as possible after birth in infants diagnosed with MoCD type A.
Small mammal community maintains stability through compensatory dynamics after restoration of a ponderosa pine forest
Authors: Kalies Elizabeth L. , Covington W. Wallace
Published: September 2012

Ecosystem stability has been of increasing interest in the past several decades as it helps predict the consequences of anthropogenic disturbances on ecosystems. Species may exhibit stability through compensation, with greatly fluctuating populations year to year but a consistent density response over time. Stability is increased when species with similar functional roles compensate for one another by responding differently to environmental change. In restoration projects, the objective is to restore stability by altering ecosystem composition, structure, and function to resemble natural (“reference”) conditions. We assessed the success of ecological restoration treatments by examining the structural and functional responses of the small mammal community before and after treatment, and compared to reference conditions. We used Royle density models to examine the responses of eight species of small mammals to restoration (thinning) treatments in ponderosa pine forests to determine if the community maintained total density, biomass, and function (represented by ectomycorrhizal fungi dispersion) after disturbance. Community composition differed in each of 6 years following treatment, but total density and biomass remained constant, suggesting the community is a stable prey base for predators. In addition, golden‐mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) and gray‐collared chipmunks (Tamias cinereicollis) appeared to play a similar role in dispersing ectomycorrhizal fungi across different forest structures. Both total species density and biomass were greater after thinning than in unthinned stands, and were similar to reference stands. These results suggest that although species composition changes from year to year after disturbance, restoration treatments can maintain ecosystem stability in terms of small mammal community‐level properties.
Victimization and PTSD in A Rural Kenyan Youth Sample
Authors: Karsberg Sidsel H , Elklit Ask
Published: September 2012

Within the last ten years, there has been a growing number of epidemiological studies, examining the effect of trauma exposure in children and adolescents. Although studies concerning Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have been conducted in a wide array of different cultural contexts [1], the knowledge on traumatization and development of PTSD is still limited [2]. Most studies conducted are clinical studies, which deal with subjects that have already been traumatized or affected by specific single events such as war [3], natural disasters [1], serious accidents [4] or physical/sexual abuse [5-7]. Though research indicates that adolescents are very vulnerable to the exposure of Potentially Traumatic Events (PTEs) [8], studies targeting non-clinical youth populations and the impact of their life experiences are very few. With the increasing ethnic diversity of populations worldwide, it is of particular interest to compare the prevalence of exposure and PTSD in children and adolescents of different ethnic backgrounds. When designing preventive interventions and treatment programs for youth suffering from PTSD it is crucial to understand the complex interaction of variables behind the disorder. Differences in prevalence of exposure, PTSD and demographic variables between ethnicities may reveal some important clues to the etiology of the disease.

The present study replicated six previous non-clinical studies which were designed to provide epidemiological information about exposure to PTEs, and the prevalence of PTSD among adolescents (see Table 1). The six studies were conducted in different countries and were very similar in their research methods and samples. The studies have been conducted in four European countries: Denmark [9], Iceland, [10], Lithuania [11], and the Faroe Islands [2], as well as in two Asian countries: Israel [12], and India [13] of which the four first samples were nationally representative.
Use of and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Large U.S. Sample of HIV-infected Adults in Care, 2007-2008
Authors: Beer Linda , Heffelfinger James , Frazier Emma , Mattson Christine , Roter Brad , Barash Elizabeth , Buskin Susan , Rime Todd , Valverde Eduardo
Published: September 2012

Background:

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the cornerstone of HIV clinical care and is increasingly recognized as a key component of HIV prevention. However, the benefits of ART can be realized only if HIV-infected persons maintain high levels of adherence.

Methods:

We present interview data (collected from June 2007 through September 2008) from a national HIV surveillance system in the United States—the Medical Monitoring Project (MMP)—to describe persons taking ART. We used multivariate logistic regression to assess behavioral, sociodemographic, and medication regimen factors associated with three measures that capture different dimensions of nonadherence to ART: dose, schedule, and instruction.

Results:

The use of ART among HIV-infected adults in care was high (85%), but adherence to ART was suboptimal and varied across the three measures of nonadherence. Of MMP participants currently taking ART, the following reported nonadherence during the past 48 hours: 13% to dose, 27% to schedule, and 30% to instruction. The determinants of the three measures also varied, although younger age and binge drinking were associated with all aspects of nonadherence.

Conclusion:

Our results support the measurement of multiple dimensions of medication-taking behavior in order to avoid overestimating adherence to ART.
Critical success factors for offshoring of enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations
Authors: Chauhan Rajneesh , Dwivedi Rajeev , Sherry Arun
Published: September 2012

Critical success factors for offshoring of enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations

Background: In recent years, offshoring enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementation has been an emerging trend in the field of offshoring information technology (IT). However, both ERP implementations and IT offshoring are fraught with risks, and when both ERP implementation and IT offshoring happen together, the risks become even more pronounced. Therefore, it is important to understand and identify the issues of ERP implementation in an offshoring situation. Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to highlight the key factors that enable successful offshoring ERP implementation from the client and the vendor perspective. Methods/Approach: The paper uses literature as a basis for identifying a critical success factor, data collected through semi-structured interviews with ERP managers at various levels of the subject organizations, and eventually their analysis. Results: The findings of the paper reveal that various factors are critical while implementing offshoring ERP. They include: offshoring partnership, project management, project team composition, people issues, communications and compliance of the onsite team composition. It is also noticed that ten factors are grouped into three categories: the client side, the vendor side, and both. Conclusions: Organizations are currently undertaking or considering the offshoring ERP implementation particularly from India. This paper will enable them to understand the possible challenges and areas of offshoring the ERP implementation program. The value and originality of the paper comes from the fact that up to now, ERP implementation in offshoring has not been comprehensively explored. This research provides a complete understanding of the critical success factors from the client, the vendor or both the client and the vendor perspective. It also enables researchers to analyse ili rethink ili review offshoring in different service areas.
Performance analysis of the partial use of a local optimization operator on the genetic algorithm for the Travelling Salesman Problem
Authors: Djordjevic Milan , Grgurovič Marko , Brodnik Andrej
Published: September 2012

Performance analysis of the partial use of a local optimization operator on the genetic algorithm for the Travelling Salesman Problem

Background: The Travelling Salesman Problem is an NP-hard problem in combinatorial optimization with a number of practical implications. There are many heuristic algorithms and exact methods for solving the problem. Objectives: In this paper we study the influence of hybridization of a genetic algorithm with a local optimizer on solving instances of the Travelling Salesman Problem. Methods/Approach: Our algorithm uses hybridization that occurs at various percentages of generations of a genetic algorithm. Moreover, we have also studied at which generations to apply the hybridization and hence applied it at random generations, at the initial generations, and at the last ones. Results: We tested our algorithm on instances with sizes ranging from 76 to 439 cities. On the one hand, the less frequent application of hybridization decreased the average running time of the algorithm from 14.62 sec to 2.78 sec at 100% and 10% hybridization respectively, while on the other hand, the quality of the solution on average deteriorated only from 0.21% till 1.40% worse than the optimal solution. Conclusions: In the paper we have shown that even a small hybridization substantially improves the quality of the result. Moreover, the hybridization in fact does not deteriorate the running time too much. Finally, our experiments show that the best results are obtained when hybridization occurs in the last generations of the genetic algorithm.
Implementing the Serial Number Tracking model in telecommunications: a case study of Croatia
Authors: Polovina Neven
Published: September 2012

Implementing the Serial Number Tracking model in telecommunications: a case study of Croatia

Background: The case study describes the implementation of the SNT (Serial Number Tracking) model in an integrated information system, as a means of business support in a Croatian mobile telecommunications company. Objectives: The goal was to show how to make the best practice of the SNT implementation in the telecommunication industry, with referencing to problems which have arisen during the implementation. Methods/Approach: the case study approach was used based on the documentation about the SNT model and the business intelligence system in the Croatian mobile telecommunications company. Results: Economic aspects of the effectiveness of the SNT model are described and confirmed based on actual tangible and predominantly on intangible benefits. Conclusions: Advantages of the SNT model are multiple: operating costs for storage and transit of goods were reduced, accuracy of deliveries and physical inventory was improved; a new source of information for the business intelligence system was obtained; operating processes in the distribution of goods were advanced; transit insurance costs decreased and there were fewer cases of fraudulent behaviour.
Energy Efficiency in the Brazilian Pulp and Paper Industry
Authors: Fracaro Guilherme , Vakkilainen Esa , Hamaguchi Marcelo , Melegari de Souza Samuel Nelson
Published: September 2012

Industrial energy efficiency has received increasing attention in many countries because of its importance in the pursuit of energy supply security, increased economic competitiveness and in the mitigation of greenhouse gases emissions. This paper aimed to evaluate the energy consumption development of the Brazilian pulp and paper industry through an energy decomposition analysis and an energy efficiency index approach over a 30 years period. An international comparison with other important paper-producing countries (i.e., Canada, United States of America, Finland and Sweden) was carried out. It was concluded that despite a significant increase in the energy efficiency levels, responsible for 5.6 PJ savings in electricity consumption and for 38.6 PJ savings in fuels consumption between 1979 and 2009, a saving potential of 7.8 PJ and 146.2 PJ related to the annual consumption of electricity and fuels, respectively, could be identified in the Brazilian pulp and paper industry. Among the countries evolved in the international comparison, both the Swedish and Finnish industries were the most efficient, followed by the Brazilian, American and Canadian, the latter being the only one where there was a reduction in the energy efficiency levels from 1979 to 2009.
A One ppm NDIR Methane Gas Sensor with Single Frequency Filter Denoising Algorithm
Authors: Zhu Zipeng , Xu Yuhui , Jiang Binqing
Published: September 2012

A non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) methane gas sensor prototype has achieved a minimum detection limit of 1 parts per million by volume (ppm). The central idea of the design of the sensor is to decrease the detection limit by increasing the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of the system. In order to decrease the noise level, a single frequency filter algorithm based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) is adopted for signal processing. Through simulation and experiment, it is found that the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the filter narrows with the extension of sampling period and the increase of lamp modulation frequency, and at some optimum sampling period and modulation frequency, the filtered signal maintains a noise to signal ratio of below 1/10,000. The sensor prototype provides the key techniques for a hand-held methane detector that has a low cost and a high resolution. Such a detector may facilitate the detection of leakage of city natural gas pipelines buried underground, the monitoring of landfill gas, the monitoring of air quality and so on.
Rock magnetic properties, magnetic susceptibility, and organic geochemistry comparison in core LZ1029-7 Lake El'gygytgyn, Far Eastern Russia
Authors: Murdock K. J. , Wilkie K. M. , Brown L. L.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. Susceptibility measurements performed on initial short (3–16 m) cores taken from Lake El'gygytgyn exhibited a large range in values. This observation led to the suggestion of widespread magnetite dissolution within the sediments due to anoxic conditions within the lake. Rock magnetic properties and their comparison with magnetic susceptibility, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), and bulk δ13Corg proxies in core LZ1029-7 provide an insight into the character of the magnetic minerals present within the lake and can further the understanding of processes that may be present in the newer long core sediments Susceptibility measurements (χ) of discrete samples corroborate the two order of magnitude difference seen in previous continuous susceptibility measurements (κ), correlating high values with interglacial periods and low values with glacial intervals. Hysteresis parameters defined the majority of the magnetic material to be magnetite of PSD size. TOC values increase while δ13Corg values decrease in one section of LZ1029-7, which is defined as the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), and help confine the age of the core to approximately 62 kyr. Increases in TOC during the most recent glacial interval suggest increased preservation of organic carbon during these times High TOC and low magnetic susceptibility during the LGM support the theory of perennial ice cover during glacial periods, which would lead to lake stratification and therefore anoxic bottom water conditions. Low temperature magnetic measurements also confirmed the presence of magnetite, but also indicated titanomagnetite, siderite and/or rhodochrosite, and vivianite were present. The latter three minerals are found only in anoxic environments, and further support the notion of magnetite dissolution.
Grounding line transient response in marine ice sheet models
Authors: Drouet A. S. , Docquier D. , Durand G. , Hindmarsh R. , Pattyn F. , Gagliardini O. , Zwinger T.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. Marine ice sheet stability is mostly controlled by the dynamics of the grounding line, i.e., the junction between the grounded ice sheet and the floating ice shelf. Grounding line migration has been investigated in the framework of MISMIP (Marine Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project), which mainly aimed at investigating steady state solutions. Here we focus on transient behaviour, executing short-term simulations (200 yr) of a steady ice sheet perturbed by the release of the buttressing restraint exerted by the ice shelf on the grounded ice upstream. The transient grounding line behaviour of four different flowline ice sheet models has been compared. The models differ in the physics implemented (full-Stokes and Shallow Shelf Approximation), the numerical approach, as well as the grounding line treatment. Their overall response to the loss of buttressing is found to be consistent in terms of grounding line position, rate of surface elevation change and surface velocity. However, large discrepancies (>100%) are observed in terms of ice sheet contribution to sea level. Despite the recent important improvements of marine ice sheet models in their ability to compute steady-state configurations, our results question models' capacity to compute reliable sea-level rise projections.
Ice-shelf buttressing and the stability of marine ice sheets
Authors: Gudmundsson G. H.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. Ice-shelf buttressing and the stability of marine-type ice sheets is investigated numerically. Buttressing effects are analysed for a situation where a stable grounding line is located on a bed sloping upwards in the direction of flow. Such grounding-line positions are known to be unconditionally unstable in the absence of transverse flow variations. It is shown that ice-shelf buttressing effects are responsible for restoring stability. Ice flux at the grounding line is, in general, not a monotonically increasing function of ice thickness. This, at first sight possibly somewhat counterintuitive result, is found to be fully consistent with recent theoretical work.
Civic engagement in the United States: Roots and branches
Authors: Imel Susan
Published: September 2012

The adult education and civic education movements are not synonymous, but the two were intertwined during the early years of adult education's formation as a field in the United States.
Civic engagement and environmental literacy
Authors: Hill Robert J.
Published: September 2012

This chapter examines the connection between civic engagement and environmental literacy, positioning activism as central to their intersection.
Viability Study of the Use of Cast Iron Open Cell Foam as Microbial Fuel Cell Electrodes
Authors: Mapelli Carlo , Mapelli Valeria , Olsson Lisbeth , Mombelli Davide , Gruttadauria Andrea , Barella Silvia
Published: September 2012

Nowadays, the development of new green technologies has been promoted worldwide both by public and private institutions. In this context the research on microbial fuel cells (MFC) represents a promising alternative to carbon based energy sources. Unfortunately, this technology has been always affected by too low current density output for allowing an intensive application in the industrial and civil field. The study deals with this limitation and focuses on the implementation of metallic sponges, specifically cast iron based, as electrodes, aiming at increasing the exposed surface and thus the current density at the MFC anode. Cast iron was selected because of its low toxicity for the microorganisms, however its high melting point carries several problems for the manufacture process. Parallel to this, the realization of electrodes using foamed metals implies further issues related to the generation of correct pore size distribution and adequate bacterial activity. For instance, the metal foams are expected to be open‐cell type, so that there can be an efficient mass transport also to the inner regions of the electrode. In order to control these parameters the metal sponges are produced by infiltration of cast iron on ceramic beds. Combining previous data with the measurements of power generation efficiency the authors conclude the study attempting to design MFCs with metal foamed electrodes.
Pressure drop and flow pattern of slush nitrogen in a horizontal pipe
Authors: Jiang Yuye , Zhang Peng
Published: September 2012

Slush nitrogen is a mixture of solid nitrogen particles and liquid nitrogen, and its flow characteristics in a horizontal pipe are investigated experimentally and theoretically in this study. Pressure drop of slush nitrogen is higher than that of subcooled liquid nitrogen due to the viscous and the mechanical frictions, and the dependence of pressure drop on the mean velocity varies under different flow conditions. The solid volume fraction distributions and the velocity throughout the pipe cross‐section of slush nitrogen flow are investigated with the Eulerian–Eulerian multiphase approach incorporated with the kinetic theory of granular flow. The flow patterns of slush nitrogen are determined as the pseudo‐homogeneous flow, the heterogeneous flow and the bedload flow from the experimental and numerical results. The relationship between the friction factor and the Reynolds number for slush nitrogen with various solid volume fractions is obtained by using the slush Reynolds number. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1762–1773, 2013
Opposing phenotypes in mice with Smith–Magenis deletion and Potocki–Lupski duplication syndromes suggest gene dosage effects on fluid consumption behavior
Authors: Heck Detlef H. , Gu Wenli , Cao Ying , Qi Shuhua , Lacaria Melanie , Lupski James R.
Published: September 2012

A quantitative long‐term fluid consumption and fluid‐licking assay was performed in two mouse models with either an ∼2 Mb genomic deletion, Df(11)17, or the reciprocal duplication copy number variation (CNV), Dp(11)17, analogous to the human genomic rearrangements causing either Smith–Magenis syndrome [SMS; OMIM #182290] or Potocki–Lupski syndrome [PTLS; OMIM #610883], respectively. Both mouse strains display distinct quantitative alterations in fluid consumption compared to their wild‐type littermates; several of these changes are diametrically opposing between the two chromosome engineered mouse models. Mice with duplication versus deletion showed longer versus shorter intervals between visits to the waterspout, generated more versus less licks per visit and had higher versus lower variability in the number of licks per lick‐burst as compared to their respective wild‐type littermates. These findings suggest that copy number variation can affect long‐term fluid consumption behavior in mice. Other behavioral differences were unique for either the duplication or deletion mutants; the deletion CNV resulted in increased variability of the licking rhythm, and the duplication CNV resulted in a significant slowing of the licking rhythm. Our findings document a readily quantitated complex behavioral response that can be directly and reciprocally influenced by a gene dosage effect. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A new report of Cornelia de Lange syndrome associated with split hand and feet
Authors: Barboni Chiara , Cereda Anna , Mariani Milena , Gervasini Cristina , Ajmone Paola , Biondi Andrea , Selicorni Angelo
Published: September 2012

We report on a boy with clinical and molecular diagnosis of Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS). Besides the CdLS typical features, he shows split hand and split feet. To the best of our knowledge, only one other patient with similar finding has been reported in CdLS patients. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High biomass yield energy sorghum: developing a genetic model for C4 grass bioenergy crops
Authors: Olson Sara N. , Ritter Kimberley , Rooney William , Kemanian Armen , McCarl Bruce A. , Zhang Yuquan , Hall Susan , Packer Dan , Mullet John
Published: September 2012

A first‐generation energy sorghum hybrid with enhanced photoperiod sensitivity and long growth duration accumulated more than twice as much biomass as grain sorghum. The energy sorghum produced more leaves (~45 vs 17–20), longer stems (~4 vs 1.5 meters) and had a higher stem‐to‐leaf biomass ratio than grain sorghum. At the end of the season, energy sorghum stems represented 83% of the plant's shoot biomass. The greater biomass accumulation was due to longer growth duration, a higher leaf area index, greater radiation interception, and higher radiation use efficiency. When grown under dryland or limited irrigation conditions, the rate of biomass accumulation by the energy sorghum hybrid was reduced in mid‐season. This decrease was most apparent in August due to summer water deficit; however plants recovered when rain occurred in September. Crop growth modeling and biomass accumulation rates measured under optimal field conditions show that energy sorghum, like other C4 energy grasses, has excellent biomass yield potential. The greenhouse gas offset values of energy sorghum hybrids, grown in large and small field plots, and under fully irrigated and dryland conditions, ranged from 63–78% for cellulosic ethanol production and 88–95% for power generation. This study shows that drought‐tolerant, annual energy sorghum hybrids have the genetic yield potential to contribute significantly to bioenergy production. Sorghum is a genetically tractable, diverse species with a good genomics platform, making energy sorghum a promising genetic model for the design of C4 grass energy crops. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd