bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Production and Utilization of Natural Gas Resources in Nigeria- A Review
Authors: Akpan S. E.
Published: December 2009

Natural gas is associated gas produced from underground accumulations and consists largely of methane (CH4) and other light hydrocarbons. It has been used commercially as a fuel for centuries in America and China. According to USEIA, improved technology such as horizontal drilling allows economic production of resources in deep water and unconventional resources. Horizontal drilling is found to be the fast method used to produce natural gas from geologic formations. Due to the variety of natural gas constituents, it finds wide application either as an energy source or as feedstock to the chemical and petrochemical industries. Literature shows that vast amount of these gas are being used by few of our chemical industries. The only way-out for harnessing the nation's natural gas is to encourage the establishment of gas-based petrochemical complexes that can consume large volume needed to eliminate gas flaring. Nigeria can make steady foreign exchange earnings on the long term by properly harnessing their natural gas through establishing a gas based petrochemical industries.
Microbiological effectiveness of locally produced ceramic filters for drinking water treatment in Cambodia
Authors: Brown Joe , Sobsey Mark D.
Published: December 2009

Low-cost options for the treatment of drinking water at the household level are being explored by the Cambodian government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working in Cambodia, where many lack access to improved drinking water sources and diarrhoeal diseases are the most prevalent cause of death in children under 5 years of age. The ceramic water purifier (CWP), a locally produced, low-cost ceramic filter, is now being implemented by several NGOs, and an estimated 100,000 + households in the country now use them for drinking water treatment. Two candidate filters were tested for the reduction of bacterial and viral surrogates for waterborne pathogens using representative Cambodian drinking water sources (rainwater and surface water) spiked with Escherichia coli and bacteriophage MS2. Results indicate that filters were capable of reducing key microbes in the laboratory with mean reductions of E. coli of approximately 99% and mean reduction of bacteriophages of 90–99% over >600 litres throughput. Increased effectiveness was not observed in filters with an AgNO3 amendment. At under US$10 per filter, locally produced ceramic filters may be a promising option for drinking water treatment and safe storage at the household level.
Free-living amoebae, Legionella and Mycobacterium in tap water supplied by a municipal drinking water utility in the USA
Authors: Marciano-Cabral Francine , Jamerson Melissa , Kaneshiro Edna S.
Published: December 2009

Legionella and Mycobacterium can proliferate within free-living amoebae (FLA) where they are protected from disinfectants at concentrations that can kill bacteria but not protozoa. Despite effective treatment of drinking water, microbes can enter water utility distribution systems (DS) and hence the plumbing within building premises. Additionally, biofilm formation may account for the persistence of microbes in the DS. In the present study a domestic water tap in north-central United States (USA) was sampled in March and September 2007 and analysed for FLA, Legionella and Mycobacterium. Identification of organisms was determined by growth on specific culture media, light and electron microscopy, and amplification of DNA probes specific for each organism. In both the spring and fall samples, amoebae, Legionella and Mycobacterium were detected. However, Acanthamoeba was prominent in the spring sample whereas Vahlkampfia and Naegleria were the amoebae detected in the autumn. Bacterial proliferation in laboratory cultures was noticeably enhanced in the presence of amoebae and biofilms rapidly formed in mixed amoebae and bacteria cultures. It is hypothesized that temperature affected the dynamics of FLA species population structure within the DS and that pathogenic bacteria that proliferate within FLA, which are themselves opportunistic pathogens, pose dual public health risks.
Photocatalytic inactivation of Cryptosporidium parvum on nanostructured titanium dioxide films
Authors: Sunnotel O. , Verdoold R. , Dunlop P. S. M. , Snelling W. J. , Lowery C. J. , Dooley J. S. G. , Moore J. E. , Byrne J. A.
Published: December 2009

Control of waterborne gastrointestinal parasites represents a major concern to water industries worldwide. In developed countries, pathogens in drinking water supplies are normally removed by sand filtration followed by chemical disinfection. Cryptosporidium spp. are generally resistant to common disinfection techniques and alternative control strategies are being sought. In the current study, the photocatalytic inactivation of C. parvum oocysts was shown to occur in buffer solution (78.4% after 180 min) and surface water (73.7% after 180 min). Viability was assessed by dye exclusion, excystation, direct examination of oocysts and a novel gene expression assay based on lactate dehydrogenase 1 (LDH1) expression levels. Collectively, this confirmed the inactivation of oocysts and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed cleavage at the suture line of oocyst cell walls, revealing large numbers of empty (ghost) cells after exposure to photocatalytic treatment.
Empirical models of bio-sand filter to calculate the design parameters
Authors: Fulazzaky Mohamad Ali , Sunar Norshuhaila Mohamed , Abd Latiff Ab Aziz , Mohd Kassim Amir Hashim
Published: December 2009

The performance of bio-sand filters (BSF) should be monitored periodically to ensure the quality of water produced for the safety of consumers. An engineering design of BSF is proposed to achieve the desired efficacy of the treatment system. Accurate designs to achieve bio-sand filtration are not available in detail for most BSFs since present physical models were not originally able to calculate design's parameters. This paper develops the mathematical models to calculate the depth of sand filter and water velocity in operating the proposed BSF especially to remove organic and suspended matter simultaneously. Parameters in the equations are all physically meaningful, experimental data validation shows the equations remained accurate. The baseline design's parameters are analyzed to contribute to bio-sand filtration process technology. The filtration rates and depths of sand filter proposed in designing of the BSF system are justified.
Effects of bromide on UV/chlorine advanced oxidation process
Authors: Zhao Q. , Shang C. , Zhang X.
Published: December 2009

High quantum yield (1.4 mol Es−1) of hydroxyl radicals (∙OH) from photolysis of chlorine under typical disinfection conditions indicates the potential of UV/chlorine coexposure in serving as both disinfection and advanced oxidation processes (AOP). In this study, photolysis of chlorine and bromine was explored in buffer and simulated natural water solutions under low-pressure UV (LPUV) and medium-pressure UV (MPUV) lamps. At pH 6.5 and 8.5, the quantum yields of bromine photolysis were 3.8 and 0.6 for MPUV, and 4.4 and 0.8 for LPUV, respectively. At pH 6.5, the photolysis of bromine was faster than that of chlorine under either MPUV or LPUV source, while at a higher pH of 8.5, the contrary was found. For all conditions tested, the presence of bromide did not significantly change the observed photolysis rate of total free halogen during the UV/chlorine process in the presence or absence of natural organic matter. Upon UV irradiation, chlorine always produces higher ∙OH concentration than bromine does. The presence of bromide results in considerable decrease of ∙OH concentration at pH 6.5, compared to that obtained from the UV/chlorine process in the absence of bromide.
Taking it to the Grave: Gender, Cultural Capital, and Ethnicity in Turkish Death Announcements
Authors: Ergin Murat
Published: December 2009

Popularly considered a great equalizer, death and the rituals around it nevertheless accentuate social distinctions. The present study focuses on a sample ( N = 2554) of death announcements in a major Turkish daily newspaper ( Hürriyet) from 1970 to 2006. Out of the liminal position of Turkish death announcements between obituaries and death notices emerges a large decentralized collection of private decisions responding to death, reflecting attitudes toward gender, ethnic/religious minority status and cultural capital, and echoing the aggregate efforts of privileged groups to maintain a particular self-image. Class closures lead to openings for traditionally under-represented minorities, such as Jewish Turkish citizens and citizens of Greek or Armenian origin. Results reveal that signs of status and power in announcements are largely monopolized by men of Turkish-Muslim origins. Although the changes in the genre-characteristics of death announcements are slow, they correspond to major turning points in Turkish social history.
The Worth of Citizenship in an Unequal World
Authors: Shachar Ayelet
Published: December 2009

In today’s world, one’s place of birth and one’s parentage are — by law — relevant to, and often conclusive of, one’s access to membership in a particular political community. Birthright citizenship largely shapes the allocation of membership entitlement itself (the "gate-keeping" or demos-demarcation function of citizenship). But no less significantly, it also distributes opportunity unequally (the "wealthpreserving" function of citizenship). This makes citizenship a matter of inherited entitlement. In a world in which membership in different political communities translates into very different starting points in life, upholding this legal connection between birth, political membership, and life opportunities raises important questions of distributive justice. These questions are particularly pressing given that the vast majority of the world’s population — 97 out of every 100 people — acquire political membership via circumstances beyond their control, that is, according to where and to whom they were born. While we find vibrant debates in the literature about the legitimacy of citizenship’s demos-demarcation function, the perpetuation of unequal starting points through intergenerational transmission of membership has largely escaped scrutiny. It is this omission that this Article aims to address.
Marin Drzic i 'Il progetto drammaturgico' Alesandra Pikolominija
Authors: Bojovic Zlata
Published: December 2009

(italijanski) Il Teatro a Sienanel Cinquecento era molto importante per Le opere drammatiche di Marino Darsa. (M. Darsa era a Siena 1539-1544) Darsa scriveva le commedie 'erudite' sotto l'influsso dell' Teatro dell' Accademia degli Intronati, specialmente sotto l'influsso di Alessandro Piccolomini. Marino Darsa conosceva sue commedie L'Amor costante(1536) e L'Alessandro (1544), anche i trattati poetici. Il progetto drammaturgico di A. Piccolomini viene schematicamente descrito da Piccolomini alla dedica ad A. Coco e stampata all'edizione del trattato astronomico La sfera del mondo. Marino Darsa prendeva: 'la nuova moda gia introdotta dal cardinal di Bibiena e dall'Ariosto di scriverla/la commedia/ in prosa' principio della verisimiglianza, diverse sorti di persone e la vita commune de l'uomo, l' uso di lingue e di abiti stranieri nella commedia, il principio piccolominiano di universale etc. .
Comedy writer Antun Ferdinand Putica and his comedy 'Pir od djece'
Authors: Djordjevic Bojan
Published: December 2009

Although, not ranked among the best writers of Dubrovnik's traditional literature, Antun Ferdinand Putica remains never the less in the history of this literature for its comedies: 4 are brought to our knowledge and 2 of them are preserved up to date. Up till now, more famous comedy Ciarlatano in moto is also published, but the subject in this study is the other up till now not published comedy Pir od djece (Children's wedding), created at the end of 18th century, most presumably in 1796.
Uspomene na Spaniju u prozi Jelene Dimitrijevic 'Sedam mora i tri okeana - putem oko sveta'
Authors: Filipek Małgorzata
Published: December 2009

(poljski) W ksi??ce o podr??y na Bliski Wsch?d pt. Siedem m?rz i trzy oceany. Podr?? dooko?a ?wiata Jelena Dimitrijevic (1862-1945), kt?ra w swojej tw?rczo?c daje wyraz zainteresowaniom innymi krajami i kulturami, ??czy fascynacj? przesz?o?ci? ze wzbogaconym o feministyczne w?tki zainteresowaniem problemami wsp??czesnego ?wiata. Odwo?ania do wcze?niejszego pobytu w Hiszpanii, Kt?re stale towarzysz? pisarce w trakcie wyprawy na Bliski Wsch?d, dowodz?, ?e podr?? na P??wysep Iberyjski musia?a wywrzec na niej niezapomniane wra?enie. Wspomnienia z Hiszpanii, odwo?ania do hiszpa?skiej historii, zabytk?w i wsp??czesno?ci tworz? interesuj?cy obraz kraju, w kt?rym, podobnie jak w ojczy?nie pisarki, spotka?y si? dwie wielkie cywilizacje - Wschodu i Zachodu.
Macva fortress, Macva territory
Authors: Cirkovic Sima
Published: December 2009

Nowadays is Macva region of the Republic Serbia between the rivers Drina and Sava. Its name is derived from the Hungarian fortress Macho recorded in the 13th century. Originally it was more extended toward south and east, it inherited the province of Sirmium from the Byzantine period. Under the rule of the Hungarian kings Macva was conferred to the closest relatives of the ruler. Since the end of the 13th century the region was disputed between Hungarian and Serbian kings. The fortress was situated on the southern bank of the river Sava, but its exact location remains unknown.
Trapez’ premudrosti arhiepiskopa Danilo II
Authors: Bojovic Dragisa
Published: December 2009

(rus) Otnosenie arhiepiskopa Danilo II k teorii i teologii tvorcestva privlekalo vnimanie istorikov iskusstva i literaturovedov. Odnako neobhodimo osvetit' nekotorye nedostatocno izucennye aspekty dannogo otnosenija. Prezde vsego eto kasaetsja konkretizacii soderzanija 'trapezy iz literaturnyh jastv' Danilo II, kotoroj on posvjatil osoboe vnimanie kak v literature, tak i vo freskovoj zivopisi. Tvorceskaja poetika Danilo II rassmatrivaetsja i v kontekste tvorceskogo portreta, narisovannogo ego talantlivym Ucenikom. Pri analize togo, kak u Danilo II opisana duhovnaja trapeza, my osobenno stremilis' vyjavit' v ego proizvedenii te mesta, kotorye mogut byt' ekvivalentny simvolam, soderzascimsja v izobrazenii 'Trapezy Premudrosti' v Gracanice, vozniksem, po vsej verojatnosti, pri vlijanii arhiepiskopa. Vo vseh etih mestah govoritsja o proishozdenii i smysle tvorcestva, i oni mogut byt' ob''edineny v tri osnovnye gruppy motivov: pitanie iz istocnika duhovnoj blagodati, nadelenie blagodat'ju jazyka i ust, a takze sladost' bozestvennyh slov.
Les relations entre la France et Raguse à dix-huitième siècle: Avant la revolution
Authors: Djordjevic Bojan
Published: December 2009

(francuski) Les relations entre la France et Raguse duraient, sans cessation, plus de trois si?cle. Ces relations ?taient politiques, mercantileset culturelles. Raguse supportait la plus forte influence, litt?raire surtout, a dix-huiti?me si?cle. Les savants consid?rables de Raguse, comme Rudjer Boskovic et Anselmo Banduri (Bandurovic), habitaient en France, et a Raguse p?n?trait la litt?rature fran?aise, sp?cialement les com?dies de Moliere.
Serbian name Uros of Dalmatic origin
Authors: Veljkovic Zarko
Published: December 2009

In this article, under challenge is the etymology of the Serbian name Uros from nonoun ourx and, by refuting false etyma, the new etymology is given from hypocoristic Uro of Dalmatic origin. Morphemic tree of the name is interpreted and shown in onomastics and toponymy, as well as the name alone appearing through time in area of a national type, so as reception of the name in other languages. Mediaeval titular usage of the name is scrutinized as well as it's connotations, coming into appellative for reason of 'rusty hairs' of Rascian great zupan Uros (I) most probably, so as it's subsequent development in ornithonym, further appellatives and phytonym. Under deliberation is the question of 'rusty hairs' in members of Serbian ruling dynasties.
Note inedite di Stojan Novakovic sulla Serbia, la sua storia e i suoi rapporti con il resto d'Europa
Authors: Aloe Stefano
Published: December 2009

(ruski) Nastojascaja stat'ja imeet svoej cel'ju publikovanie i analiz neizdannyh ran'se istoriceskih zametok Stojana Novakovica ob istorii i geopoliticeskih uzlah Serbii v balkanskom kontekste konca XIX v. Zametki serbskogo istorika i politiceskogo dejatelja sluzili materialom dlja knigi o Serbii, izdannoj ital'janskim ucenym A. De Gubernatisom, odnim iz 'pra-slavistov' zapadnoj Evropy. Koncepcii Novakovica i De Gubernatisa byli v osnovnom ocen' blizki: stremlenie k sozdaniju konfederacii balkanskih nacional'nyh gosudarstv, v kotoroj Serbii vydelilas' by bol'saja koordinacionnaja, no ne gegemonnaja rol'.
Jistetika literatury Dzordza Andzelica
Authors: Tartalja Ivo
Published: December 2009

Tri glavnyh sinteticeskih truda Dzordza Andzelica - Teorija literatury Istorija jugoslavskoj literatury i Estetika, - opublikovannye vsego za neskol'ko let (s 1932 do 1938), svidetel'stvujut kak o neobycajno intensivnoj rabote avtora, tak i o namerenii soversenno ponovomu osmyslit' starye voprosy literaturnoj estetiki. Buduci v svoe vremja ucenikom Bogdana Popovica Dz. Andzelic opiraetsja prezde vsego na razmyslenija ob iskusstve A. Bergsona i Z. Frejda, a potom i na polozenija estetiki B. Krococe. Pri etom emu udaetsja ostat'sja kriticnym po otnoseniju k daleko ne edinodusnym kumiram, i, izbezav krajajnostej, pridti k razumnym resenijam. Istorija jugoslavavskoj literatury stanovitsja dlja nego vozmoznost'ju odnovremenno i primenit', i proverit' svoi teoreticeskie vozzrenija. Izlozenija otdel'nyh esteticeskih sistem i poetik v ego Istorii demonstrirujut b?l'suju gibkost' i konkretnost' v podhode k obscim principam, kotorye teoretik literatury temperamentno predstavljaet.
IDENTIFICATION OF MATERIAL PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS
Authors: Ragauskas Paulius , Belevičius Rimantas
Published: December 2009

Present paper describes the facilities of composite material properties identification technique using specimen vibration tests, genetic algorithms, finite elements analysis and specimen shape optimization. In identification process the elastic constants in a numerical model is updated so that the output from the numerical code fits the results from vibration testing. Main problem analysed in this paper is that Poisson's ratio is the worst determined elastic characteristic due to its low influence on specimen eigenfrequencies. It is shown that it is possible to increase its influence by choosing specific test specimen characteristics (side aspect ratio, orthotropy angle, etc.) via optimization routine. In this paper are presented test results of some experiments wherein glass‐epoxy and carbon‐epoxy material properties were identified.

Santrauka

Straipsnyje aprašomas kompozitiniu medžiagu tamprumo charakteristiku identifikavimo metodas naudojant bandiniu vibracinius bandymus, genetinius algoritmus, baigtiniu elementu metoda ir bandiniu formos optimizavima. Identifikavimo metu tamprumo charakteristikos skaitmeniniame modelyje yra atnaujinamos tol, kol skaitinio eksperimento rezultatai nustatytu tikslumu sutampa su vibracinio bandymo rezultatais. Šio straipsnio pagrindinis uždavinys yra padidinti Puasono koeficiento identifikavimo tiksluma, kadangi šis, palyginti su kitu tamprumo charakteristiku identifikavimo tikslumais, yra menkas del ypač mažos koeficiento itakos bandinio tikriniams dažniams. Darbe parodyta, kad imanoma padidinti Puasono koeficiento itaka optimizavimo procedūromis, pasirenkant konkrečias bandinio savybes (kraštiniu proporcijas, ortotropijos kampa ir t.t.). Pateikiami keleto stiklo ir anglies pluoštais armuotu kompozitiniu medžiagu tamprumo charakteristiku identifikavimo rezultatai.
Postoperative Astigmatism and Axis Stability After Implantation of the STAAR Toric Implantable Collamer Lens
Authors: Park Sung Chul , Kwun Young Kyo , Chung Eui-Sang , Ahn Kyeon , Chung Tae-Young
Published: December 2009

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and rotational and footplate stability of the STAAR Toric Implantable Collamer Lens (TICL; STAAR Surgical Co) for correction of myopic astigmatism.

Methods:

In this prospective, consecutive, interventional case series, a TICL was implanted uneventfully in 30 consecutive eyes of 20 patients with myopia and astigmatism. The uncorrected visual acuity, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, refraction, and astigmatism were measured preoperatively and at last follow-up. To evaluate postoperative axis deviation from the intended axis and footplate displacement, a digital anterior segment photograph was taken after full mydriasis and ultrasound biomicroscopy for the four footplates of the TICL in each eye at last follow-up. Possible risk factors for TICL rotation were analyzed through correlation analysis.

Results:

After mean follow-up of 7.6 months, the mean refractive astigmatism decreased from 2.43±1.24 diopters (D) preoperatively to 0.73±0.47 D postoperatively, and the mean difference between intended and achieved TICL axes was 4.03±3.39°. The absolute value of TICL rotation had significant correlation with the spherical power of the TICL (
P
=.037). The footplates of all TICLs were in situ in the ciliary sulcus except for one case in which one of the four footplates was located below the ciliary sulcus.

Conclusions:

Implantation of the STAAR TICL appears to be an effective and safe method for correction of myopic astigmatism. No clinically significant rotation or footplate displacement of the TICLs was detected postoperatively during mean follow-up of 7.6 months. [
J Refract Surg.
2009;25:403–409.]
Improvement of Functional Visual Acuity After Cataract Surgery in Patients With Good Pre- and Postoperative Spectacle-corrected Visual Acuity
Authors: Yamaguchi Takefumi , Negishi Kazuno , Dogru Murat , Saiki Megumi , Tsubota Kazuo
Published: December 2009

Purpose:

To report the changes in functional visual acuity in cataract surgery patients with good pre- and postoperative visual acuity.

Methods:

Functional visual acuity was evaluated in 13 eyes of 10 patients before and 1 month after phacoemulsification with implantation of acrylic intraocular lenses. Pre- and postoperative best spectacle-corrected visual acuities (BSCVA) were better than 20/25 in all patients. Low contrast visual acuity and Schirmer tests were also performed before and after surgery.

Results:

Mean pre- and postoperative logMAR BSCVA were −0.02±0.06 and −0.05±0.04, respectively (
P
>.05). Mean preoperative logMAR functional visual acuity improved from 0.29±0.17 to 0.092±0.13 postoperatively (
P
<.05). The visual maintenance ratio in functional visual acuity and low contrast visual acuity also improved significantly after cataract surgery (
P
<.05).

Conclusions:

Measurement of functional visual acuity seems to be useful in the evaluation of timing of surgery, visual quality, and changes in kinetic vision after phacoemulsification surgery. [
J Refract Surg
. 2009;25:410–415.]
Laserinterferometric Measurements of Accommodative Changes in the Position of an Optic-shift Intraocular Lens
Authors: Uthoff Detlef , Holland Detlef , Hepper Daniel , Gulati Amit , Koch Lioba , Haigis Wolfgang
Published: December 2009

Purpose:

To measure optically and pharmacologically induced movement of an optic-shift intraocular lens (HumanOptics 1CU).

Methods:

The change in position as well as the accommodative effect of the 1CU was determined using an anterior chamber laser interferometer (Zeiss ACMaster) in 15 eyes of 9 patients. Accommodation was induced by optical stimulus and pharmacologically by pilocarpine 2%.

Results:

The mean forward movement due to optical-induced accommodation stimulation was 5±14 µm (range: −10 to +40 µm). Pharmacological stimulation with 2% pilocarpine caused mean anterior movements of 93±162 µm (range: −321 to +402 µm).

Conclusions:

A maximum accommodative effect of 0.50 diopters was measured with this method. This relatively small accommodative effect of the 1CU is in agreement with other studies. Pharmacologically induced optic shift differs significantly from optically induced shift and allows no conclusion on a clinically expected accommodative effect. [
J Refract Surg
. 2009;25:416–420.]
Epithelial Thickness Profile Changes Induced by Myopic LASIK as Measured by Artemis Very High-frequency Digital Ultrasound
Authors: Reinstein Dan Z. , Srivannaboon Sabong , Gobbe Marine , Archer Timothy J. , Silverman Ronald H. , Sutton Hugo , Coleman D. Jackson
Published: December 2009

Purpose:

To characterize changes in the corneal epithelial thickness profile induced by myopic LASIK.

Methods:

This was a prospective study of 37 eyes of 19 myopic LASIK patients. Eyes were divided into three groups according to sphere in the maximum myopic meridian: low (−1.00 to −4.00 diopters [D]), moderate (−4.25 to −6.00 D), and high myopia (−6.25 to −13.50 D). The epithelial thickness profile was measured by prototype Artemis very high-frequency (VHF) digital ultrasound scanner (ArcScan Inc) across the central 10-mm corneal diameter preoperatively and between 3 and 6 months postoperatively. The epithelial thickness profile was determined by averaging the epithelial thickness within annular bands centered on the corneal vertex. The change in epithelial thickness profile was calculated as the difference between the preoperative and postoperative epithelial thickness profiles.

Results:

The corneal epithelium thickened after myopic LASIK across the central 6 mm with maximum thickening centrally and progressively less thickening centrifugally in low myopia, and a more homogenous thickening in moderate and high myopia within the 5-mm diameter. The mean epithelial thickening at the corneal vertex was 7.41±1.09 µm, 9.29±1.22 µm, and 12.33±1.05 µm for low, moderate, and high myopia, respectively. The rate of epithelial thickening at the corneal vertex per diopter of myopia treated decreased with increasing myopia.

Conclusions:

Although the magnitude of epithelial thickening increased with increasing ablation depth, in accordance with Barraquer's Law of Thicknesses, the myopic refractive shift due to epithelial thickness profile changes was paradoxically more significant in low myopia than in high myopia. [
J Refract Surg
. 2009;25:444–450.]
Presenilin/γ-Secretase Cleaves CD46 in Response to Neisseria Infection
Authors: Weyand Nathan J. , Calton Christine M. , Higashi Dustin L. , Kanack Kristen J. , So Magdalene
Published: December 2009

CD46 is a type I transmembrane protein with complement and T cell regulatory functions in human cells. CD46 has signaling and receptor properties in immune and nonimmune cells, many of which are dependent on the expression of cytoplasmic tail (cyt) isoforms cyt1 or cyt2. Little is known about how cyt1 and cyt2 mediate cellular responses. We show that CD46-cyt1 and CD46-cyt2 are substrates for presenilin/γ-secretase (PS/γS), an endogenous protease complex that regulates many important signaling proteins through proteolytic processing. PS/γS processing of CD46 releases immunoprecipitable cyt1 and cyt2 tail peptides into the cell, is blocked by chemical inhibitors, and is prevented in dominant negative presenilin mutant cell lines. Two human pathogens, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis, stimulate PS/γS processing of CD46-cyt1 and CD46-cyt2. This stimulation requires type IV pili and PilT, the type IV pilus retraction motor, implying that mechanotransduction plays a role in this event. We present a model for PS/γS processing of CD46 that provides a mechanism by which signals are transduced via the cyt1 and cyt2 tails to regulate CD46-dependent cellular responses. Our findings have broad implications for understanding the full range of CD46 functions in infection and noninfection situations.
Fos Proteins Suppress Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis through Inhibition of NF-κB
Authors: Takada Yasunari , Ray Neelanjan , Ikeda Eiji , Kawaguchi Tomohiro , Kuwahara Masayoshi , Wagner Erwin F. , Matsuo Koichi
Published: December 2009

The Fos family proteins, c-Fos and Fra-1, are components of the dimeric transcription factor AP-1, which is typically composed of Fos and Jun family proteins. We have previously shown that mice lacking c-Fos (Fos−/− mice) respond more strongly to LPS injection than do wild-type (wt) controls. We then examined the sensitivity of Fos−/− mice to acute inflammatory stress in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis model. We found that Fos−/− mice exhibited more severe weight loss, bleeding, diarrhea, and colon shortening than did wt mice, in association with higher TNF-α production and NF-κB activity in colon segments of DSS-treated Fos−/− mice. Furthermore, NF-κB inhibition suppressed severe DSS-induced colitis in Fos−/− mice. In contrast, Fra-1 transgenic (Tg) mice responded poorly to LPS injection, and Fra-1–overexpressing macrophages and fibroblasts showed reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines, NO, and NF-κB activity. Remarkably, in the DSS-induced colitis model, Fra-1 Tg mice showed less severe clinical scores of colitis than did wt mice. Consistently, proinflammatory cytokine production and NF-κB activity in colon segments of DSS-treated Fra-1 Tg mice were lower than in wt controls. These findings reveal that the absence of c-Fos and overexpression of Fra-1 respectively enhance and suppress the activation of NF-κB in DSS-induced inflammatory stress. In this paper, we propose that AP-1 transcription factors containing c-Fos or Fra-1 are negative regulators of NF-κB–mediated stress responses.
Church History and Church Polity in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria
Authors: Duncan Graham A. , Van der Merwe Johan , Van Wyk Barry
Published: December 2009

Theology has been an integral part of the University of Pretoria since its inception and Church History has been taught since the establishment of the Faculty of Theology in 1917. At that time, the Presbyterian Church of South Africa and the Nederduitsch Hervormde Kerk van Afrika (NHK) were partners. The Presbyterian link with the Faculty ceased in 1933. From 1938 the Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerk (NGK) joined the NHK and this remained the situation until 2002 when the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa re-established its links with the Faculty. At the present time, the Department of Church History and Church Polity is staffed by representatives of all three partner churches.
The role of the Institute for Missiological and Ecumenical Research in the past and present
Authors: Van Niekerk Attie
Published: December 2009

IMER, the Institute for Missiological and Ecumenical Research, was initiated in 1979, when the 20th century missionary movement in the Dutch Reformed Church had already started to unravel. IMER�s history gives us insight into these events. IMER has focused on the missionary calling of the church and on guiding the church in its broad responsibility to Southern African society. IMER conducted a comprehensive study on the unfinished task in the eighties, from which a variety of other projects followed. The understanding of the task of mission has gradually broadened to include the church�s responsibility to the whole of life, with faith in Christ at the centre. However, as funding for the missionary movement diminished and the university had to cut down on expenses, funding for IMER dried up. IMER is now in the same position as mission itself, and even many congregations: it has to be innovative and find new structures and new sources of funding to respond to the challenges of a new century.�
Old Testament Studies: The story of a department
Authors: Le Roux Jurie
Published: December 2009

The Department of Old Testament at the Faculty of Theology, University of Pretoria, has been in existence since 1938 and this article is an attempt to highlight some aspects of its history. The article consists of two main sections. The first discusses the place of the Department in the world, in Africa and at the University. It is stated that the Department always moved with the times and re-invented itself in new contexts. It found a stronghold in the university context, addressed the problems of our times intellectually and consistently maintained international contacts. In the second section, the members of the Department are discussed individually. It will become clear that there is a strange mixture of synchrony and diachrony, of reading the text in its final form and of taking the historical context and growth seriously. Both approaches exist alongside each other and complement each other. It is concluded that the Department�s future lies in its scholarly past � in the intellectual traditions in which it is embedded, and in its ability to adapt to new contexts without losing its total devotion to critical scholarship, the students and the church.Like human beings, a university department can also have a biography. It has a life entrenched in real experiences and is subjected to the same socio-political realities as people. This article briefly tells the life story of one such department, that of the Department of Old Testament at the University of Pretoria. It describes the Department�s academic endeavours, and of the scholars who devoted their lives to the pursuit of Old Testament scholarship and the teaching of theological students from their first year to doctorate level. Over the years the Department had to adjust and re-adjust, but in the end it survived all kinds of pressures and established its place both here and abroad. One of the reasons for its endurance and survival has been the commitment of the members of the Department to cutting-edge research, sound scholarship and excellent teaching. This story is told here by focusing on the physical contexts in which the Department had to exist, and then on the scholars who made things happen.
EEG Recording in Rodents, with a Focus on Epilepsy
Authors: Martín del Campo C. , Velázquez José L. Pérez , Freire Miguel A. Cortez
Published: December 2009

This unit describes the materials, methods, and analytical techniques available for the study of electrical activity of neural tissue in rodents in both homeostatic and disease states, with emphasis on epileptogenesis. A table containing a list of suppliers of relevant materials and equipment is also provided. Curr. Protoc. Neurosci. 49:6.24.1‐6.24.24. © 2009 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Epilepsy
Authors: Spitz Mark C , Dudek F Edward
Published: December 2009

Epilepsy is a chronic neurologic disorder characterized by recent epileptic seizures. It occurs in 0.7% of the population. There are many underlying causes. These include essentially anything that can injure the cerebral cortex and include head trauma, tumors, stroke and infection. However, the most common cause is crytogenic (meaning unknown). Medications are the mainstay of treatment. Surgical treatments are also done. These include ablative procedures, implanted devices and split brain procedures (Dudek's part not included).
DNA
Double‐strand Breaks and Their Consequences in Bacteria
Authors: Kobayashi Ichizo , Handa Naofumi
Published: December 2009

Deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) double‐strand breaks, which are caused by many factors such as chemical treatments, radiations and, often, biological factors, are lethal events in organisms carrying DNA as their genome include bacteria. There are various mechanisms that work, sometimes in collaboration or competition with each other, in the processing of these breaks. These include exonucleolytic degradation, end joining and recombination repair. These may bring about death, restoration or recombinational/mutational changes in the genome. Intragenomic collaboration and conflict between various pathways can be a force in their genome evolution. Recent analyses suggest that DNA double‐strand breaks switch on the programme of cell death in bacteria. DNA double‐strand breakage and its consequences in bacteria may provide a good model system to analyse the dynamic relationship between life, death and evolution. Understanding these processes in bacteria is important in medicine, environmental studies and industrial application.

Key concepts:

DNA double‐strand breakage and its consequences in bacteria may provide a model system to analyse the relationship between life, death and evolution.

DNA double‐strand breakage may switch on programmes of cell death in bacteria.
Neonatal Immunity
Authors: Tregoning John S
Published: December 2009

Both our innate and adaptive immune responses are reduced in function at birth. This leads to an increased risk of infection coinciding with a period of maximum exposure to new pathogens, caused by the move from the sterile environment of the womb to the infectious environment of the world. However, not every new antigen seen is dangerous to the newborn and a balance is required to ensure an appropriate immune response and avoid inflammatory responses to benign antigens. To supplement the period of immune immaturity, the mother transfers passive protection, principally antibody, to the child. Vaccines can be used in early life, but the reduced function of the neonatal immune response reduces the efficacy of vaccines which are otherwise effective in adults, necessitating research on infant‐specific formulations.

Key Concepts:

The neonate immune system is reduced in capacity and can be described as hyporesponsive.

The immune system develops in a programmed series of cell maturation events.

Moving from the controlled, sterile environment of the womb to the outside world has a critical impact on the newborn's immune system.

Reduced pattern recognition by neonatal antigen‐presenting cells leads to the observed hyporesponsive phenotype.

The mother provides some immune protection to the child, especially via antibodies in breast milk.
Cell Membrane Features
Authors: Yeagle Philip L
Published: December 2009

The membranes of living cells support much of the functionality of biology. From the subcellular level of organelles to the supercellular level of cell–cell interactions, membranes provide the structures necessary for biological function and organization. Many of those structural and functional features are common among membranes in bacteria, eukaryotic cells and viruses. The lipid bilayer provides the fundamental architecture and some of the properties common to all biological membranes. Membrane proteins confer a myriad of specific functions expressed by cell membranes. Plasma membranes determine the boundary of the cell and many of the interactions of the cell with its environment. Intracellular membranes compartmentalize cells into different functional units with differing internal compositions. The composition of the compartments is maintained by essential transport functions in concert with permeability control. Signal transduction is supported by membranes. Membrane fusion provides a mechanism for intracellular vesicular transport and enveloped virus entry into cells.

Key concepts:

The hydrophobic effect, which governs the behaviour of hydrocarbons in water, controls the structures formed by membrane lipids and membrane proteins.

Many properties of membranes are conferred by fundamental properties of lipid bilayers that form the basic structure for all biological membranes.

Transmembrane proteins have different organizations of amino acids in their primary sequence such that linear sequences of amino acids are available to transit the lipid bilayer.

Integral membrane proteins have a portion of their mass buried in the lipid bilayer.

Peripheral membrane proteins are much like soluble proteins in structure, but are bound to membranes.

Much cellular function is conferred by cell membranes, including compartmentalization, transport, enzyme activity, intracellular trafficking, enveloped viral entry, signal transduction, endocytosis, phagocytosis, action potentials and RNA processing, to name a few.

Specialized cell membranes have specialized functions for cells.
Phospholipases: Degradation of Phospholipids in Membranes and Emulsions
Authors: Fisher Aron B , Jain Mehendra
Published: December 2009

Phospholipases
are enzymes that degrade phospholipids through hydrolytic cleavage of carboxy‐ and phospho‐diester bonds. The enzymes are classified as

phospholipases A
1

, A
2
, C or D depending on the site of hydrolysis at the sn‐1 or sn‐2 acyl ester bond, at the glycerol phosphate bond or at the glycerol phosphate‐base phosphodiester bond, respectively.

Phospholipases A
2

are secreted as components of snake and insect venoms, mammalian digestive juices and inflammatory exudates. Intracellular
phospholipases
participate in a broad spectrum of important physiological functions and pathophysiological processes through modification of phospholipids and generation of products that are potent regulators and messengers. These enzymes have evolved to hydrolyse phospholipids at an organized lipid–aqueous interface. Secreted

phospholipase A
2

can serve as a prototype for interfacial catalysis.

Key Concepts:

Phospholipases are hydrolytic enzymes that cleave at one of the four potential cleavage sites leading to the classification as phospholipase A
1
, A
2
, C or D.

These enzymes function at the interface with organized membranes and serve as models for interfacial catalysis.

Hydrolytic products of catalysis depending on the specific enzyme and substrate include free fatty acids, lysosphospholipids, diacylglycerol, phosphatidic acid and phosphorylated or free base (e.g. choline, ethanolamine, serine and inositol).

Secreted phospholipase A
2
is an important component of snake and insect venoms, mammalian digestive fluids and inflammatory exudates where it leads to degradation of membranes and emulsified lipids.

Intracellular phospholipases have important roles in intracellular signalling through the generation of precursors of signalling molecules such as arachidonic acid, lysosphospholipids and inositol phosphates.

Intracellular phospholipase A
2
activity generates the lysophospholipid substrate that is necessary for remodelling of cellular phospholipids by the deacylation–reacylation pathway.

Phospholipase activity inhibitors include specific agents that act directly on the enzyme and also agents that nonspecifically act by changing the organization of the interface or interfere with interfacial binding of the protein.
Pseudoautosomal Inheritance
Authors: Ellison Jay W
Published: December 2009

Traits encoded by genes on the X‐ and Y‐chromosomes are generally inherited in a specific manner, referred to as sex‐linked. Females receive alleles from their parent's X‐chromosomes, whereas males receive X‐encoded genes from their mother and Y‐encoded genes from their father. However, a small subset of genes on the X‐ and Y‐chromosomes exhibit a pattern of inheritance that is not sex‐linked. That is, genes on the Y‐chromosome are sometimes passed to daughters, and genes on the X‐chromosome are sometimes passed from fathers to their sons. This is possible because the X‐ and Y‐chromosomes share regions of sequence identity, and these regions undergo recombination during male meiosis. Therefore sequences can be transferred from the X to the Y, and vice versa. The resulting transmission pattern resembles that which is seen for sequences on autosomes, and is referred to as pseudoautosomal inheritance.

Key concepts:

The X‐ and Y‐chromosomes contain regions of sequence identity at the ends of their respective short and long arms.

Recombination takes place in male meiosis between the X and Y within these regions of DNA sequence identity.

Traditional patterns of sex‐linked inheritance are sometimes not observed for alleles in these regions of X–Y sequence identity.

The pattern of inheritance observed for alleles in the X–Y identical regions is referred to as pseudoautosomal inheritance, because it resembles the pattern seen for alleles located on autosomes. The areas of sequence identity on the X and Y are thus referred to as the pseudoautosomal regions.

The likelihood of observing pseudoautosomal inheritance for a given allele depends on its location within the pseudoautosomal region: the more distal a locus is, the more likely it will demonstrate pseudoautosomal inheritance.
Crystallization of Protein–
DNA
Complexes
Authors: Pakotiprapha Danaya , Jeruzalmi David
Published: December 2009

Determination of atomic resolution structures of protein–
deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) complexes using X‐ray crystallography requires preparation of high‐quality crystalline specimens. The preparation of such samples remains an empirical endeavour, more art than science. Nonetheless, decades of experience have yielded a large body of practical strategies and techniques towards this end. Such efforts with protein–DNA complexes enjoy special advantages, but also involve control of a larger set of variables. High purity, chemical and conformational, preparations of both macromolecules are important. Crystallogenesis of protein–DNA complexes is favoured by careful choice of the sequence and the terminal bases and/or base pairs of the DNA target. Modern crystallization screens, which encapsulate the accumulated wisdom of prior investigations, serve as an excellent starting point for experimentation.

Key Concepts

An atomic level analysis of a macromolecule by X‐ray crystallography requires preparation of high‐quality crystals of the entity of interest.

Preparation of crystalline specimens requires highly concentrated solutions of the molecules of interest. Success is favoured when high chemical and conformational purity has been achieved.

Extensive experience in preparation of protein crystals can be applied to growth of protein–DNA crystals. Additionally, the length, composition and identity of the termini of the DNA molecule play significant roles in crystallization.

Initial crystallization trials are set up using a concentrated stock of protein–DNA complex of interest with pre‐made formulations that sparsely sample crystallization space. Precipitation and crystal formation under these conditions are used to direct efforts for further crystallization experiments. The experiments are repeated until crystals suitable for X‐ray diffraction are obtained.
History of Ornithology
Authors: Birkhead T R , Charmantier I
Published: December 2009

Before the seventeenth century, interest in birds centred largely on folklore and their symbolic significance. Ray and Willughby's encyclopaedia, theOrnithology of Francis Willughby(1676 and 1678) marked a turning point in the study of birds by rejecting folklore and focussing especially on biology. Following Ray'sWisdom of God(1691), which addressed ultimate causes, the study of birds developed along two separate strands: (i) systematics, nomenclature and faunistics (inspired byOrnithology) and (ii) natural history (inspired byWisdom). The first of these endeavours dominated ornithology for the next 250 years, and were the main focus of the ornithological Unions founded in the 1800s. The two strands were reunited in the 1920s (central Europe) and 1940s (the UK and the USA). After World War II not only the expansion of higher education resulted in a huge increase in both the number of professional ornithologists, but also our knowledge of avian natural history and evolution.

Key concepts

The study of birds began with Aristotle, but stagnated between the first centuryadand the Renaissance.

Ornithology became scientific with the abandonment of emblematics in the 1670s.

John Ray initiated two strands of ornithology: systematics and natural history (field ornithology) in the late 1600s.

Systematic ornithology focussed on the naming and classification of birds, and later, their geographical distribution.

The natural history of birds (field ornithology) focussed on behaviour, ecology and ultimate causes.

Ornithological encyclopedias were a product of the Renaissance.

After the Renaissance ornithology became increasingly specialized.

Charles Darwin's concepts of natural and sexual selection in the mid‐late 1800s were important in encouraging scientific interest in birds.

The two strands of ornithology, systematics and natural history, were re‐united in the 1920s (Germany) and 1940s (the UK and the USA).

The modernization of ornithology during the twentieth century occurred largely as a result of the conceptual unification of evolutionary thinking in the 1940s and the focus on individual selection in the 1970s.