bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of defect configuration on the clinical outcome following surgical regenerative therapy of peri‐implantitis
Authors: Schwarz Frank , Sahm Narja , Schwarz Katrin , Becker Jürgen
Published: March 2010

Schwarz F, Sahm N, Schwarz K, Becker J. Impact of defect configuration on the clinical outcome following surgical regenerative therapy of peri‐implantitis. J Clin Periodontol 2010; 37: 449–455. doi: 10.1111/j.1600‐051X.2010.01540.x.

Objectives: The present study aimed at investigating the impact of defect configuration on the clinical outcome of surgical regenerative therapy of peri‐implantitis lesions using a natural bone mineral in combination with a collagen membrane (NBM+CM).

Materials and Methods: Twenty‐seven patients (n=27 defects) exhibited three different types of peri‐implantitis lesions including either Class Ib (buccal dehiscence+semicircumferential), Class Ic (buccal dehiscence+circumferential), or Class Ie (circumferential) intra‐bony defects (n=9 defects per group). All defects were treated with access flap surgery and the application of NBM+CM.

Results: At 6 and 12 months, Class Ie defects tended to reveal higher changes in the mean probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) values when compared with Class Ib and Class Ic groups. However, significant differences were only observed at 6 months (PD: 2.9 ± 0.3 versus 1.4 ± 0.5 versus 1.3 ± 0.7 mm; CAL: 2.5 ± 0.5 versus 0.9 ± 0.8 versus 0.9 ± 0.7 mm). Site‐level analysis has pointed to lowest PD and CAL changes at the midbuccal aspect of Class Ib and Class Ic groups.

Conclusion: Defect configuration may have an impact on the clinical outcome following surgical regenerative therapy of peri‐implantitis lesions. While Class Ie defects seem to be promising in conjunction with NBM+CM, Class Ib and Class Ic may be considered as unfavourable.
Millennium development goals and oral health in cities in southern Brazil
Authors: Bueno Roberto Eduardo , Moysés Samuel Jorge , Moysés Simone Tetu
Published: March 2010

Bueno RE, Moysés SJ, Moysés ST. Millennium development goals and oral health in cities in southern Brazil. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2010; 38: 197–205. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S

Abstract –  Objectives:  To investigate social determinants of oral health, analysing the occurrence of associations between millennium development goals (MDG) indicators and oral health (OH) indicators.

Methods:  An ecological study was performed in two distinct phases. In Phase 1, MDG indicators and related covariates were obtained from the demographic census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the Ministry of Health database and the 2000 Human Development Atlas, making up the whole set of independent variables. Principal component analysis was carried out for the independent variables showing the correlations among the variables comprising the main components, and generating a synthetic index allowing the performance of the cities to be known with regard to the MDG (MDG index). In Phase 2, the DMFT index (mean number of decay, missing or filled permanent teeth) and the CF index (prevalence of caries‐free individuals), in 12 years old were obtained from the epidemiological survey undertaken in 2002–2003, in 49 cities in southern Brazil, and were analysed in relation to the MDG index using Spearman’s correlation.

Results:  A statistically significant correlation was found for the DMFT and CF indices, respectively, with: the MDG index (R2 = 0.49 and 0.48; P = 0.00); the socioeconomic status of the population (R2 = 0.12 and 0.12; P = 0.02); the socioenvironmental characteristics (R2 = 0.41 and 0.46; P = 0.00).

Conclusions:  The MDG synthetic index of the cities analysed and the respective components relating to their socioeconomic and socioenvironmental status demonstrated a positive correlation with OH indicators. As such, intersectoral public policies based on population strategies that act on social determinants of general and oral health need to be integrated so as to impact on the MDG and OH outcomes.
Functional skin adaptation in infancy – almost complete but not fully competent
Authors: Fluhr Joachim W. , Darlenski Razvigor , Taieb Alain , Hachem Jean‐Pierre , Baudouin Caroline , Msika Philippe , De Belilovsky Clarence , Berardesca Enzo
Published: March 2010

Please cite this paper as: Functional skin adaptation in infancy – almost complete but not fully competent. Experimental Dermatology 2010; 19: 483–492.

Abstract:  Early postnatal life is a period of active functional reorganization and cutaneous physiological adaptation to the extrauterine environment. Skin as the outermost organ of mammalians is endowed of multiple functions such as protection, secretion, absorption and thermoregulation. Birth stimulates the epidermal barrier maturation and the skin surface acidification especially in premature infants. In full‐term infants the developed stratum corneum accomplishes competent barrier function, in contrast to prematures. Complete barrier maturation in preterm infants is fulfilled by 2–4 weeks of the postnatal life. However, in preterms with 23–25 weeks gestational age this process takes longer. Versatile regulatory mechanisms, namely skin surface acidity, calcium ion gradient and nuclear hormone receptors/ligands are interrelated in the complex postnatal newborn adaptation. The skin of newborns is adjusting quickly to the challenging environmental conditions of the postpartum. However, certain functions, for example, microcirculation, continue to develop even beyond the neonatal period, that is, up to the age of 14–17 weeks. Different environmental factors (for instance, dry and cold climate, diapers and cosmetic care procedures) influence the postnatal development of skin functional parameters such as stratum corneum hydration and the permeability barrier especially in premature infants. The aim of this article is to summarize the current knowledge on skin physiology in newborn and infants with a practical approach and to discuss the possible clinical consequences. This review offers the readership a critical and practical overview of skin physiology in newborns and infants. It emphasizes possible new research fields in neonatal and infantile skin physiology.
Knowledge Codification, Exploitation, and Innovation: The Moderating Influence of Organizational Controls in Chinese Firms
Authors: Li Yuan , Lee Soo-Hoon , Li Xiyao , Liu Yi
Published: March 2010

This study examines how firms use organizational controls in the knowledge exploitation process to enhance endogenous innovation. Some past studies have shown that controls restrict the flexibility needed in innovation, whereas others have shown that controls enhanced innovation by directing the efforts of research and development professionals. Thus, we extend the theoretical development of organizational control theory to examine how different types of organizational controls (clan, behaviour, and output controls) play different roles at different points in the innovation process. First, we propose that codifying knowledge enhances its level of exploitation, with clan control serving as a moderator. Next, we propose that knowledge exploitation enhances endogenous innovation with behaviour and output controls serving as moderators. Our results from a sample of 607 Chinese manufacturing firms show that clan control moderated the knowledge codification–exploitation relationship positively. Behaviour control moderated the knowledge exploitation–innovation relationship positively, but output control had an inverse U-shaped moderating influence in this relationship. The results indicate that examining different types of organizational controls at different points in the knowledge management process provides a more comprehensive understanding for the role of controls in innovation.
Posttraumatic Symptoms, Marital Intimacy, Dyadic Adjustment, and Sexual Satisfaction among Ex-Prisoners of War
Authors: Zerach Gadi , Anat Ben-David , Solomon Zahava , Heruti Rafi
Published: March 2010

Introduction

The aversive impact of combat and combat-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on marital intimacy and sexual satisfaction has been examined in several studies. Nevertheless, the toll of war captivity on marital intimacy in relation to dyadic adjustment and sexual satisfaction remains unknown. In particular, the mediating role of marital intimacy in the relationship between PTSD symptoms and dyadic adjustment and between PTSD symptoms and sexual satisfaction has not yet been systematically explored thus far.

Aims

This study aimed to examine the interrelationships of PTSD symptoms, dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction, and marital intimacy among ex-prisoners of war (ex-POWs).

Methods

A sample of Israeli veterans ex-POWs (ex-POWs: N=105) from the 1973 Yom Kippur War and a matched comparison group of veterans who participated in the same war but were not held captive (control: N=94) were compared in the study variables.

Main Outcome Measures

The PTSD inventory, dyadic adjustment scale, index of sexual satisfaction, and capacity for intimacy questionnaire.

Results

Findings revealed that ex-POWs reported higher levels of PTSD symptoms and lower levels of dyadic adjustment and sexual satisfaction than comparable controls. There were also differences between the groups in the pattern of relations between PTSD symptoms, dyadic adjustment, sexual satisfaction, and marital intimacy. Finally, for ex-POWs, marital intimacy partially mediated the relationships between PTSD symptoms and dyadic adjustment and sexual satisfaction outcome measures.

Conclusions

PTSD symptoms are implicated in marital problems of ex-POWs. A significant relationship was found between the traumatized ex-POW’s capacity for intimacy and both their sexual satisfaction and dyadic adjustment.
Lifetime Sexual Behavior of Psychiatric Inpatients
Authors: Gonzalez-Torres Miguel Angel , Salazar Miguel Angel , Inchausti Lucía , Ibañez Berta , Pastor Javier , Gonzalez Gixane , Carvajal María Josefa , Fernandez-Rivas Aranzazu , Madrazo Aranzazu , Ruiz Eduardo , Basterreche Edurne
Published: March 2010

Introduction

Sexual life of psychiatric patients, including risk behaviors related to sexually transmitted diseases, remains a poorly studied area, especially in those with severe mental illnesses.

Aims

To assess some aspects of lifetime sexual behavior of psychiatric inpatients.

Methods

Patients consecutively admitted to a psychiatric unit in a general hospital were interviewed about partner-related lifetime sexual behavior.

Main Outcome Measures

A semi-structured interview developed by the authors was used to collect information concerning their general sexual experience throughout life, homosexual and heterosexual relations, and relations with partners who were intravenous drug users (IVDU), HIV carriers or suffering from AIDS, and with sex workers. In each of these areas, time elapsed since last sexual contact; number of partners in previous year, frequency of these relations and condom use were investigated.

Results

Five hundred forty-six patients (306 men and 240 women) were assessed, and 87.7% of them reported sexual relations at some point during their life. Of these, 90% reported heterosexual and 10% homosexual or bisexual sexual contacts. Further, 11.06% had had at least one partner who was an IVDU; 8.1% an HIV-positive partner, and 32.4% (50% of the men) had paid for sex. Overall 49.79% of the total sample reported never using condoms in their sexual relations, with similar percentages for those with HIV-positive (46%) and IVDU (47%) partners. Of those who paid for sex, 29% never used condoms.

Conclusions

Psychiatric patients admitted to a general hospital psychiatric unit have sexual experience close to the general population, with a higher percentage of homosexual contacts and lower rates of condom use, even in higher risk situations, such as men having sex with men, and partners who are HIV-positive or IVDUs. This information obliges clinicians to systematically explore the sexual behavior of psychiatric patients, evaluate risk behaviors, and adopt measures to promote safe sex practices in this population.
Dynamic Ring‐on‐Ring Equibiaxial Flexural Strength of Borosilicate Glass
Authors: Nie Xu , Chen Weinong W. , Templeton Douglas W.
Published: March 2010

A novel dynamic ring‐on‐ring equibiaxial flexural testing technique with single pulse loading capability is established on a modified Kolsky bar. This technique is then utilized to investigate the loading‐rate and surface‐condition effects on the flexural strength of a borosilicate glass. Quasi‐static and dynamic experiments are performed at loading rates ranging from 5 × 10−1 to 5 × 106 MPa/s. It is found that the flexural strength of the borosilicate glass strongly depends on the applied loading rates. HF acid corrosion on the surface promotes the flexural strength to above 1.3 GPa. Fractographic analysis shows that surface modification has changed the type of flaws that govern the flexural strength of glass samples.
Post Milk Quota Experiences in Switzerland  Expériences post‐contingent laitier en Suisse  Nach der Milchquote: Erfahrungen aus der Schweiz
Authors: Mann Stefan , Gairing Miriam
Published: March 2010

summary

Post Milk Quota Experiences in Switzerland

Switzerland can be considered a test bed for the EU’s withdrawal from the milk quota scheme. The Swiss government enacted an exit phase between 2006 and 2009 in which Producer Organisations and Producer Milk‐processing Organisations were able to apply for additional production licences. As a consequence, produced output rose and prices fell, particularly in 2008/2009. Since 2009, every milk producer needs to have a contract with a milk buyer. In many cases, the buyer still distinguishes between milk within the former quota boundaries and surplus milk, paying two different prices. Around 50 per cent of milk buyers interviewed in a survey state that their contracts do not determine a fixed price, while the remainder schedule slots with fixed prices of three to twelve months. Most milk buyers manage to maintain a high level of stability in terms of their suppliers: they are neither withdrawing lightly from their existing contracts nor trying to attract large numbers of new suppliers at low prices. The widespread distinction between prices and the commitment of buyers to their former suppliers under the quota regime reveals that the protagonists in the milk market are continuing to think in terms of quotas.
Influence of Environmental Factors on Biotic Responses to Nutrient Enrichment in Agricultural Streams1
Authors: Maret Terry R. , Konrad Christopher P. , Tranmer Andrew W.
Published: March 2010

Maret, Terry R., Christopher P. Konrad, and Andrew W. Tranmer, 2010. Influence of Environmental Factors on Biotic Responses to Nutrient Enrichment in Agricultural Streams. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):498‐513. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2010.00430.x

Abstract:  The influence of environmental factors on biotic responses to nutrients was examined in three diverse agricultural regions of the United States. Seventy wadeable sites were selected along an agricultural land use gradient while minimizing natural variation within each region. Nutrients, habitat, algae, macroinvertebrates, and macrophyte cover were sampled during a single summer low‐flow period in 2006 or 2007. Continuous stream stage and water temperature were collected at each site for 30 days prior to sampling. Wide ranges of concentrations were found for total nitrogen (TN) (0.07‐9.61 mg/l) and total phosphorus (TP) (<0.004‐0.361 mg/l), but biotic responses including periphytic and sestonic chlorophyll a (RCHL and SCHL, respectively), and percent of stream bed with aquatic macrophyte (AQM) growth were not strongly related to concentrations of TN or TP. Pearson’s coefficient of determination (R2) for nutrients and biotic measures across all sites ranged from 0.08 to 0.32 and generally were not higher within each region. The biotic measures (RCHL, SCHL, and AQM) were combined in an index to evaluate eutrophic status across sites that could have different biotic responses to nutrient enrichment. Stepwise multiple regression identified TN, percent canopy, median riffle depth, and daily percent change in stage as significant factors for the eutrophic index (R2 = 0.50, p < 0.001). A TN threshold of 0.48 mg/l was identified where eutrophic index scores became less responsive to increasing TN concentrations, for all sites. Multiple plant growth indicators should be used when evaluating eutrophication, especially when streams contain an abundance of macrophytes.
Hydrologic and Morphologic Variability of Streams With Different Cranberry Agriculture Histories, Southern New Jersey, United States1
Authors: Procopio Nicholas A.
Published: March 2010

Procopio, Nicholas A., 2010. Hydrologic and Morphologic Variability of Streams With Different Cranberry Agriculture Histories, Southern New Jersey, United States. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):527‐540. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2010.00432.x

Abstract:  The creation of reservoirs and the modification of stream channels are common practices used to facilitate the efficient production of cranberries. The potential impacts to hydrologic and geomorphic aspects of streamflow and channel structure have not been adequately assessed. In this study, the streamflow regime of 12 streams and the channel morphologies of 11 streams were compared for study sites in the Pinelands region of New Jersey with upstream active‐cranberry bogs, upstream abandoned‐cranberry bogs, and basins with no apparent agricultural history. Flow regime metrics included measures of low‐flow, median‐flow, and bankfull discharge, two measures of streamflow variability (spread and a modified Richards‐Baker Flashiness index), and the frequency of overbank flooding. Stream‐channel morphology metrics included average bank slope, average bankfull width, average bankfull depth, average bankfull width‐to‐depth ratio, and average bankfull area. No significant differences between stream types were apparent for any of the metrics. Basin‐area normalized streamflow values of all 12 study sites were highly correlated to each other. Significant relationships existed between some of the flow‐regime and channel‐morphology metrics. Due to the lack of significant differences between stream types, it appears that neither historic nor current cranberry agricultural practices considerably influence flow regimes or the channel morphology of streams in the New Jersey Pinelands.
A Framework for Analyzing Longitudinal and Temporal Variation in River Flow and Developing Flow‐Ecology Relationships1
Authors: Larned Scott T. , Arscott David B. , Schmidt Jochen , Diettrich Jan C.
Published: March 2010

Larned, Scott T., David B. Arscott, Jochen Schmidt, and Jan C. Diettrich, 2010. A Framework for Analyzing Longitudinal and Temporal Variation in River Flow and Developing Flow‐Ecology Relationships. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(3):541‐553. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2010.00433.x

Abstract:  We propose a framework for analyzing longitudinal flow variation and exploring its ecological consequences in four steps: (1) generating longitudinally continuous flow estimates; (2) computing indices that describe site‐specific and longitudinal flow variation, including intermittence; (3) quantifying and visualizing longitudinal dynamics; (4) developing quantitative relationships between hydrological indices and ecological variables (flow‐ecology relationships). We give examples of each step, using data from a New Zealand river and an empirical longitudinal flow model, ELFMOD. ELFMOD uses spot‐gauging data and flow or proxy variable time series to estimate flow magnitude and state (flowing or dry) at user‐defined intervals along river sections. Analyses of flow‐ecology relationships for the New Zealand river indicated that fish and benthic and hyporheic invertebrate communities responded strongly to variation in mean annual flow permanence, flow duration, dry duration, drying frequency, inter‐flood duration, and distances to flowing reaches. To put longitudinal flow variation into a broader context and guide future research, we propose a conceptual model that combines elements of two contrasting perspectives: rivers as longitudinal continua, and rivers as patch mosaics. In this conceptual model, hydrologically complex rivers are composed of linear sequences of nested hydrological gradients, which are bordered by hydrogeomorphic discontinuities, and which collectively generate hydrological dynamics at river‐section scales.
Metabolomics: the chemistry between ecology and genetics
Authors: MACEL MIRKA , Van DAM NICOLE M. , KEURENTJES JOOST J. B.
Published: March 2010

Metabolomics is a fast developing field of comprehensive untargeted chemical analyses. It has many applications and can in principle be used on any organism without prior knowledge of the metabolome or genome. The amount of functional information that is acquired with metabolomics largely depends on whether a metabolome database has been developed for the focal species. Metabolomics is a level downstream from transcriptomics and proteomics and has been widely advertised as a functional genomics and systems biology tool. Indeed, it has been successfully applied to link phenotypes to genotypes in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. Metabolomics is also increasingly being used in ecology (ecological metabolomics) and environmental sciences (environmental metabolomics). In ecology, the technique has led to novel insights into the mechanisms of plant resistance to herbivores. Some of the most commonly used analytical metabolomic platforms are briefly discussed in this review, as well as their limitations. We will mainly focus on the application of metabolomics in plant ecology and genetics.
Temporal and differential regulation of expression of the eukaryotic‐like ankyrin effectors of Legionella pneumophila
Authors: Al‐Khodor Souhaila , Al‐Quadan Tasneem , Abu Kwaik Yousef
Published: March 2010

Upon transition from the exponential (E) to the post‐exponential phase (PE) of growth, Legionella pneumophila undergoes a phenotypic modulation from a replicative to a highly infectious form. This transition requires a delicate regulatory cascade that is triggered to induce expression of various virulence‐related genes. We have recently characterized eleven L. pneumophila eukaryotic‐like ankyrin effectors (Ank) shared between the four sequenced genomes of L. pneumophila. The AnkB effector recruits polyubiquitinated proteins to the Legionella‐containing vacuole (LCV). It is not known whether expression of the ank genes is regulated by various regulators triggered at the PE phase and whether this regulation is essential for function. Here we show that temporal and differential regulation of the ank genes is mediated by RelA, the enhancer protein LetE, and the two component systems LetA/S and PmrA/B. Consistent with the expression of ankB at the PE phase, we show that bacteria grown to the PE but not the E phase recruit polyubiquitinated proteins to the LCV within Acanthamoeba in an AnkB‐dependant mechanism. We conclude that the genes encoding the eukaryotic‐like Ank effectors of L. pneumophila are temporally and spatially regulated at the PE phase.
Interaction Between the Acoustic Pressure Fluctuations and the Unsteady Flow Field Through Circular Holes
Authors: Rupp Jochen , Carrotte Jon , Spencer Adrian
Published: March 2010

Gas turbine combustion systems are prone to thermo-acoustic instabilities, and this is particularly the case for new low emission lean burn type systems. The presence of such instabilities is basically a function of the unsteady heat release within the system (i.e., both magnitude and phase) and the amount of damping. This paper is concerned with this latter process and the potential damping provided by perforated liners and other circular apertures found within gas turbine combustion systems. In particular, the paper outlines experimental measurements that characterize the flow field within the near field region of circular apertures when being subjected to incident acoustic pressure fluctuations. In this way the fundamental process by which acoustic energy is converted into kinetic energy of the velocity field can be investigated. Experimental results are presented for a single orifice located in an isothermal duct at ambient test conditions. Attached to the duct are two loudspeakers that provide pressure fluctuations incident onto the orifice. Unsteady pressure measurements enable the acoustic power absorbed by the orifice to be determined. This was undertaken for a range of excitation amplitudes and mean flows through the orifice. In this way regimes where both linear and nonlinear absorption occur along with the transition between these regimes can be investigated. The key to designing efficient passive dampers is to understand the interaction between the unsteady velocity field, generated at the orifice and the acoustic pressure fluctuations. Hence experimental techniques are also presented that enable such detailed measurements of the flow field to be made using particle image velocimetry. These measurements were obtained for conditions at which linear and nonlinear absorption was observed. Furthermore, proper orthogonal decomposition was used as a novel analysis technique for investigating the unsteady coherent structures responsible for the absorption of energy from the acoustic field.
The Thermal Impact of Using Syngas as Fuel in the Regenerator of Regenerative Gas Turbine Engine
Authors: Oliveira Luciana M. , Nascimento Marco A. R. , Menon Genésio J.
Published: March 2010

Environment and energy are driven forces of human survival and development. Nowadays the use of primary energy comprises mostly mineral fuels, which have limited reserves and whose utilization may cause serious environmental impacts. Attention has been paid to discover clean and renewable resources such as syngas, which is an important renewable source of energy and is environment friendly. The use of syngas from biomass gasification process as fuel in regenerative gas turbine causes an increase in turbine exhaust mass flow and a change in the gas composition due to a low heat value. As a result, the regenerator changes its size, thermal characteristics, weight, and cost compared with the use of natural gas as fuel. The aim of this work is to assess the thermal performance, the size, and the cost of the recuperator of a 600 kW regenerative gas turbine engine when designed for syngas and natural gas. Two different types of surfaces, cross-corrugated and undulated-corrugated, are used for analysis. The results are shown, comparing heat-transfer coefficient, effectiveness, pressure loss, size, and cost for syngas and natural gas.
Impact of Swirl Fluctuations on the Flame Response of a Perfectly Premixed Swirl Burner
Authors: Komarek Thomas , Polifke Wolfgang
Published: March 2010

Combustion instabilities represent a long known problem in combustion technology. The complex interactions between acoustics and turbulent swirling flames are not fully understood yet, making it very difficult to reliably predict the stability of new combustion systems. For example, the effects of fluctuations of swirl number on the heat release of the flame have to be investigated in more detail. In this paper a perfectly premixed swirl stabilized burner with variable axial position of the swirl generator is investigated. In experiments, the position of the swirl generator has a strong impact on the dynamic flame response, although it does not influence the time-averaged distribution of the heat release significantly. This phenomenon is further investigated using computational fluid dynamics combined with system identification. The generation of fluctuations of swirl number, their propagation to the flame, and their effect on the dynamic flame response are examined. A simple model based on convective time lags is developed, showing good agreement with experiments.
Spreadsheet Calculations for Jets in Crossflow From Single and Opposed Rows With Alternating Hole Sizes
Authors: Holdeman J. D. , Clisset J. R. , Moder J. P.
Published: March 2010

The primary purpose of this study was to show the expected results for cases of single and opposed rows of jets from alternating large and small round holes. Previous publications demonstrated that the NASA empirical model gave results that were an excellent representation of mean experimental scalar results and that the model could confidently be used to investigate configurations for which results have not been published in the open literature. Calculations for cases of opposed rows of jets that would overpenetrate slightly in an inline configuration showed that better mixing was attained when one row was shifted to make a staggered configuration so that a small hole was opposite from a larger one. However, the result was no better than for an optimum inline configuration with all the holes of the same size. Staggering the rows does not make much difference in an optimum inline configuration. For all cases investigated, the dimensionless variance of the mixture fraction decreased significantly with increasing downstream distance, but, at a given downstream location, the variation between cases was small.
Improved Three-Dimensional Crowning Profiles for Dovetail Attachments
Authors: Beisheim J. R. , Sinclair G. B.
Published: March 2010

Dovetail attachments in gas turbines are subject to fatigue failures. These fatigue failures occur as a result of large fluctuations in hoop stresses near the edges of contact in attachments. The high hoop stresses available for fluctuating are, in turn, the result of high contact stress peaks near the edges of contact. One means of alleviating these stresses is via crowning. Such crowned configurations are inherently three-dimensional and consequently present some challenges to obtaining convergent contact stresses with finite elements. Such challenges are met in the work of Beisheim and Sinclair (2008, “Three-Dimensional Finite Element Analysis of Dovetail Attachments With and Without Crowning,” ASME J. Turbomach., 130, pp. 021012-1–021021-8), and crowning is shown to reduce contact stresses by about 40%. The crowning profile used in that paper is the natural Hertzian profile of a segment of an ellipsoid. This note investigates an alternative profile with a view to increasing the area of contact, and thereby further reducing contact stresses. Converged contact stresses are obtained for both profiles, and demonstrate that the alternative profile can indeed reduce contact stresses by an additional 10%.
Assessment of Compressors in Gas Storage Applications
Authors: Kurz Rainer , Brun Klaus
Published: March 2010

An analytical model is generated that allows the evaluation of the compression system. It is also used to derive general rules for optimizing a system. Several strategies for the compression system (single compressors, multiple compressors with a single driver in series and parallel configuration, and multiple compressors with individual drivers) are evaluated based on the said model.
Three-Stream Flamelet Model for Industrial Applications
Authors: Riechelmann Dirk , Uchida Masahiro
Published: March 2010

Efficient turbulent combustion models are typically designed for the numerical simulation of two-stream problems, namely, the combustion of fuel in air. There are applications, however, where large amounts of a diluent such as water steam or recirculated exhaust gas is supplied to the combustor independent of fuel and air supplies. In such cases, classical approaches become quite time-consuming. In the present paper, a new three-stream flamelet model is presented, which is essentially an extension of the two-stream flamelet model for diffusion flames. Key points of the approach are the introduction of a second mixture fraction variable and the efficient establishment of the flamelet library. After presentation of the theory, the applicability of the new model is demonstrated by comparison with experimental results for the lift-off height of jet diffusion flames.
ZnO nanocrystals on SiO2/Si surfaces thermally cleaned in ultrahigh vacuum and characterized using spectroscopic photoemission and low energy electron microscopy
Authors: Ericsson Leif K. E. , Magnusson Kjell O. , Zakharov Alexei A.
Published: March 2010

Thermal cleaning in ultrahigh vacuum of ZnO nanocrystals distributed on SiO2/Si surfaces has been studied using spectroscopic photoemission and low energy electron microscopy (SPELEEM). This study thus concern weakly bound ZnO nanocrystals covering only 5%–10% of the substrate. Chemical properties, crystallinity, and distribution of nanocrystals are used to correlate images acquired with the different techniques showing excellent correspondence. The nanocrystals are shown to be clean enough after thermal cleaning at 650 °C to be imaged by LEEM and x-ray PEEM as well as chemically analyzed by site selective x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (μ-XPS). μ-XPS shows a sharp Zn 3d peak and resolve differences in O 1s states in oxides. The strong LEEM reflections together with the obtained chemical information indicates that the ZnO nanocrystals were thermally cleaned, but do not indicate any decomposition of the nanocrystals. μ-XPS was also used to determine the thickness of SiO2 on Si. This article is the first to our knowledge where the versatile technique SPELEEM has been used to characterize ZnO nanocrystals.
Leak rate of water into vacuum through microtubes
Authors: Sharipov Felix , Graur Irina , Day Christian
Published: March 2010

A numerical model of water leak into vacuum through microcracks and crevices is proposed. A crevice is modeled by a long tube with a radius size of the order of 1 μm. It is assumed that the water is in its liquid phase in the inlet, while it is in its gaseous phase in the outlet. In such a situation, the evaporation of water happens inside the tube when the water pressure reaches the pressure of saturated vapor. The molecular mean free path of vapor varies in a wide range along the tube so that the flow changes from the hydrodynamic to the free-molecular regime. Under such conditions, the water leak is calculated by combining the methods of rarefied gas dynamics and continuum mechanics. The leak rate is calculated for some values of the tube radius and several temperature gradients. The pressure distribution along the tube is also reported.
Differential Redox Regulation of ORAI Ion Channels: A Mechanism to Tune Cellular Calcium Signaling
Authors: Bogeski Ivan , Kummerow Carsten , Al-Ansary Dalia , Schwarz Eva C. , Koehler Richard , Kozai Daisuke , Takahashi Nobuaki , Peinelt Christine , Griesemer Desiree , Bozem Monika , Mori Yasuo , Hoth Markus , Niemeyer Barbara A.
Published: March 2010

Redox sensitivity of T cells decreases through ORAI Ca
2+
channel subunit switching during T cell differentiation.
One Egg at a Time
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: March 2010

Silencing of transposable elements by ARGONAUTE 9 is necessary to specify a single female gamete in
Arabidopsis
.
Emergence of Ciprofloxacin-Nonsusceptible
Streptococcus pyogenes
Isolates from Healthy Children and Pediatric Patients in Portugal
Authors: Pires Renato , Ardanuy Carmen , Rolo Dora , Morais Ana , Brito-Avô António , Gonçalo-Marques José , Liñares Josefina , Santos-Sanches Ilda
Published: March 2010

We describe 66 ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible
Streptococcus pyogenes
isolates recovered from colonized and infected children. The ParC S79A substitution was frequent and associated with the
emm
6/sequence type 382 (
emm
6/ST382) lineage. The ParC D83G substitution was detected in two isolates (
emm
5/ST99 and
emm
28/ST52 lineages). One isolate (
emm
89/ST101) had no quinolone resistance-determining region codon substitutions or other resistance mechanisms. Five of 66 isolates were levofloxacin resistant. Although fluoroquinolones are not used in children, they may be putative disseminators of fluoroquinolone-nonsusceptible strains in the community.
Madurella mycetomatis
Is Not Susceptible to the Echinocandin Class of Antifungal Agents
Authors: van de Sande Wendy W. J. , Fahal Ahmed H. , Bakker-Woudenberg Irma A. J. M. , van Belkum Alex
Published: March 2010

Eumycetoma caused by
Madurella mycetomatis
is treated surgically and with high doses of ketoconazole. Therapeutic responses are poor, and recurrent infections are common. In search of therapeutic alternatives in the treatment of mycetoma, we determined the
in vitro
susceptibilities of
M. mycetomatis
isolates against caspofungin, anidulafungin, and micafungin. As a comparator fungus,
Aspergillus fumigatus
was used. Minimal effective concentrations (MECs) and MICs were assessed and compared to those of ketoconazole.
M. mycetomatis
isolates were not susceptible to the echinocandins.
Activity of Drug Combinations against Dormant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Filippini Perla , Iona Elisabetta , Piccaro Giovanni , Peyron Pascale , Neyrolles Olivier , Fattorini Lanfranco
Published: March 2010

Aerobic (5-day-old cultures) and nonreplicating (dormant)
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(5-, 12-, and 19-day-old cultures) bacteria were treated with rifampin (R), moxifloxacin (MX), metronidazole (MZ), amikacin (AK), or capreomycin (CP) for 7, 14, and 21 days. R-MX-MZ-AK and R-MX-MZ-CP killed both aerobic and dormant bacilli in 21 days, as shown by lack of regrowth in solid and liquid media. R-MX-MZ-AK and R-MX-MZ-CP also caused a strong decrease of nonreplicating bacilli in 7 days in a cell-based dormancy model.
Gamma Interferon Produced by Antigen-Specific CD4+T Cells Regulates the Mucosal Immune Responses toCitrobacter rodentiumInfection
Authors: Shiomi Hideyuki , Masuda Atsuhiro , Nishiumi Shin , Nishida Masayuki , Takagawa Tetsuya , Shiomi Yuuki , Kutsumi Hiromu , Blumberg Richard S. , Azuma Takeshi , Yoshida Masaru
Published: March 2010

Citrobacter rodentium, a murine model pathogen for enteropathogenicEscherichia coli, colonizes the surface of intestinal epithelial cells and causes mucosal inflammation. This bacterium is an ideal model for investigating pathogen-host immune interactions in the gut. It is well known that gene transcripts for Th1 cytokines are highly induced in colonic tissue from mice infected withC. rodentium. However, it remains to be seen whether the Th1 or Th2 cytokines produced by antigen-specific CD4+T cells provide effective regulation of the host immune defense againstC. rodentiuminfection. To investigate the antigen-specific immune responses,C. rodentiumexpressing ovalbumin (OVA-C. rodentium), a model antigen, was generated and used to define antigen-specific responses under gamma interferon (IFN-γ)-deficient or interleukin-4 (IL-4)-deficient conditionsin vivo. The activation of antigen-specific CD4+T cells and macrophage phagocytosis were evaluated in the presence of IFN-γ or IL-4in vitro. IFN-γ-deficient mice exhibited a loss of body weight and a higher bacterial concentration in feces during OVA-C. rodentiuminfection than C57BL/6 (wild type) or IL-4-deficient mice. This occurred through the decreased efficiency of macrophage phagocytosis and the activation of antigen-specific CD4+T cells. Furthermore, a deficiency in antigen-specific CD4+T-cell-expressed IFN-γ led to a higher susceptibility to mucosal and gut-derived systemic OVA-C. rodentiuminfection. These results show that the IFN-γ produced by antigen-specific CD4+T cells plays an important role in the defense againstC. rodentium.
Molecular Epidemiology of
Mycobacterium leprae
as Determined by Structure-Neighbor Clustering
Authors: Hall Barry G. , Salipante Stephen J.
Published: March 2010

It has proven challenging to investigate the molecular epidemiology of
Mycobacterium leprae
, the causative agent of leprosy, due to difficulties with culturing of the organism and a lack of genetic heterogeneity between strains. Recently, a cost-effective panel of variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) markers has been developed. Use of this panel allows some of those limitations to be overcome and has allowed the genotyping of 475
M. leprae
strains from six different countries. In the present report, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the relationships among the strains in order to investigate the patterns of transmission and migration of
M. leprae
. We find phylogenetic analysis to be inadequate and have developed an alternative method, structure-neighbor clustering, which assigns isolates with the most similar genotypes to the same groups and, subsequently, subgroups, without inferring how the strains descended from a common ancestor. We validate the approach by using simulated data and detecting expected epidemiological relationships from experimental data. Our results suggest that most
M. leprae
strains from a given country cluster together and that the occasional isolates assigned to different clusters are a consequence of migration. We found three genetically distinguishable populations among isolates from the Philippines, as well as evidence for the significant influx of strains to that nation from India. We also report that reference strain TN originated from the Philippines and not from India, as was previously believed. Lastly, analysis of isolates from the same families and villages suggests that most community infections originate from a common source or person-to-person transmission but that infection from independent sources does occur with measurable frequency.
Characterization of Three
Staphylococcus aureus
Isolates from a 17-Year-Old Female Who Died of Tampon-Related Toxic Shock Syndrome
Authors: Tang Yi-Wei , Himmelfarb Eric , Wills Marcia , Stratton Charles W.
Published: March 2010

We report the identification and characterization of three
Staphylococcus aureus
isolates recovered from throat and vaginal cultures, as well as from an axillary abscess, of a 17-year-old female who died of tampon-related toxic shock syndrome. The three
S. aureus
isolates were unrelated as determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The vaginal isolate was
mecA
, Panton-Valentine leukocidin, and staphylococcal enterotoxin B and C negative, toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 positive, and staphylococcal cassette chromosome
mec
element (SCC
mec
) untypeable, which was consistent with the clinical and autopsy findings that death was due to tampon-related toxic shock syndrome.
Development of a DNA Microarray for Detection and Serotyping of Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
Authors: Wang Quan , Wang Suriguga , Beutin Lothar , Cao Boyang , Feng Lu , Wang Lei
Published: March 2010

Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC) is a common pathogen worldwide causing infectious diarrhea, especially traveler's diarrhea. Traditional physiological assays, immunoassays, and PCR-based methods for the detection of ETEC target the heat-labile enterotoxin and/or the heat-stable enterotoxin. Separate serotyping methods using antisera are required to determine the ETEC serogroup. In this study, we developed a DNA microarray that can simultaneously detect enterotoxin genes and the 19 most common O serogroup genes in ETEC strains. The specificity and reproducibility of this approach were verified by hybridization to 223 strains: 50 target reference or clinical strains and 173 other strains, including those belonging to other
E. coli
O serogroups and closely related species. The sensitivity of detection was determined to be 50 ng of genomic DNA or 10
8
CFU per ml of organisms in pure culture. The random PCR strategy used in this study with minimal bias provides an effective alternative to multiplex PCR for the detection of pathogens using DNA microarrays. The assay holds promise for applications in the clinical diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance of pathogenic microorganisms.
Development and Evaluation of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assay for Rapid and Inexpensive Detection of Cytomegalovirus DNA in Vitreous Specimens from Suspected Cases of Viral Retinitis
Authors: Reddy Ashok Kumar , Balne Praveen Kumar , Reddy Rajeev Kumar , Mathai Annie , Kaur Inderjeet
Published: March 2010

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the rapid detection of cytomegalovirus (CMV) was developed and evaluated. The LAMP assay specifically amplified only CMV DNA, and no cross-reactivity with the DNA of herpes simplex virus type 1, varicella-zoster virus, adenovirus,
Aspergillus flavus
, or
Staphylococcus aureus
was observed. The sequences of the LAMP assay-positive CMV products were perfectly (100%) matched with the CMV sequence deposited in the GenBank database. The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was found to be 10 copies/μl of CMV DNA. Vitreous samples from 40 patients with suspected retinitis were subjected to LAMP and real-time PCR for the detection of CMV. Of 40 patients with suspected viral retinitis, 10 tested positive for CMV by the real-time PCR and LAMP assays. A 100% concordance was observed between the results of the two methods. The LAMP assay is a rapid, highly specific, and sensitive method for the diagnosis of retinitis caused by CMV.
Is There Any Difference in Human Pupillary Reaction When Different Acupuncture Points Are Stimulated?
Authors: Mori Hidetoshi , Tanaka Tim Hideaki , Kuge Hiroshi , Taniwaki Eiichi , Sasaki Ken , Yamashita Kazuhiko , Nakajo Hiroshi , Kikuchi Yuya
Published: March 2010

Objectives

To determine if there is any difference in pupillary response among different acupuncture stimulation sites.

Methods

The subjects were 14 healthy males who had no known eye diseases or abnormality in their pupils. They received five different interventions: no acupuncture stimulation (hereinafter ‘no-stimulation’) and acupuncture stimulation at four sites (TE5, ST7, CV12 and ST36). The Latin square design was used to allocate stimulation order. For all acupuncture stimulation interventions, a disposable acupuncture needle was inserted superficially at the acupuncture point. Gentle repetitive tapping stimulation was applied manually during the subject's exhalation phase of respiration, for 90 s. The pupil diameter was continuously measured for 2 min before stimulation, during stimulation and for 2 min after stimulation. Statistical analysis was conducted on serial changes in pupil diameter during acupuncture stimulation on each respective site and during non-stimulation session by analysis of variance and Fisher (least significant difference) multiple comparison, with linear analysis using a mixed model.

Results

Pupil diameter reduction occurred at 30 s after stimulation on ST7 (p=0.008) and 60 s after stimulation (p=0.014) compared with pre-stimulation. The decrease of pupillary diameter occurred 60 s after stimulation on TE5 (p=0.028) compared with pre-stimulation. On ST36, CV12 and during the non-stimulation intervention, no significant change in the pupil diameter was observed.

Conclusions

Pupillary reaction varies depending on the different stimulation sites.
The Mae on Project: Using Acupuncture for Symptom Relief and Improved Quality of Life for People Living with Hiv and Aids in Rural Thailand
Authors: Louie Laura , Pathanapornpandh Nopporn , Pultajuk Unchalee , Kaplan Robert , Hodgson Ian , Maund Lawrence , Greenlee Heather
Published: March 2010

Acupuncture in combination with antiretroviral therapies is a potentially useful treatment for HIV-related symptom relief in resource-poor settings. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long history of being used to enhance immune function. In the setting of HIV, Chinese traditional medicine allows for symptom treatment without adding extra medications to a complex drug regime. This paper provides details of a project at Mae On Hospital in rural northern Thailand where allopathic/conventional treatments are used in tandem with acupuncture. A preliminary evaluation of the project suggests that an integrated approach to symptom relief is viewed positively by respondents receiving acupuncture, though further studies are required to confirm the association between acupuncture and symptom relief. The project also demonstrates the feasibility of developing a cost-effective acupuncture programme using local healthcare staff.