bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Looking for the Good Fight: William T. Vollmann's An Afghanistan Picture Show
Authors: Hardesty Michele L.
Published: June 2009

William T. Vollmann is one of the most ambitious U.S novelists and essayists of the past twenty-five years. At his most admirable, Vollmann is a writer who crosses boundaries of nation, class, culture, and doctrine to understand and represent those on the other side, while acknowledging how those same boundaries protect his own privileges. Yet Vollmann's work is often troubling. Both his investment in the exotic and his tendency to generalize contradict his desire to empathetically represent “others,” and they are linked to another troubling aspect of Vollmann's work, which is the focus of this essay: how the way he represents himself—his border-crossing, empathetic narrative persona—is invested in the symbol and myth of American character, and especially the American character abroad. I argue that Vollmann both critiques and reinvents this archetypal character in a book based on a trip he made to Afghanistan and Pakistan when he was twenty-two years old: An Afghanistan Picture Show: Or, How I Saved the World. I suggest that Vollmann's narrative persona, which he develops in Picture Show, is a reflexive representation of the American abroad as a well-intentioned failure, a character that resonates with the contemporary imagination of U.S. foreign relations.
Another Avatar of the Circle: Philip Rieff's Counter-Enlightenment
Authors: O'Hara Daniel T.
Published: June 2009

The essay examines two interrelated questions with respect to the work and career of Philip Rieff: (1) why does the career have the anomalous shape that it does, and (2) does this situation have anything to do with the claim throughout Rieff's work, but especially in his last work, that the sacred in human society always entails interdicts, that is, imperative sacrifices of satisfactions in the name of what somehow counts more for the society?
Numerical simulations of interactions between a flame bubble with an incident shock wave and its focusing wave
Authors: Dong G , Fan B , Gui M , Li B
Published: June 2009

The numerical investigations of interactions between a flame bubble with an incident shock wave (IW) and its focusing wave (FW) in a reactive CH4—O2—N2 mixture are presented. The time-dependent, two-dimensional axisymmetric, reactive Navier—Stokes equations, with detailed chemical mechanisms, are employed to simulate the multiple shock—flame interactions process. The effects of the IW Mach number and chemical reactivity of mixture on flame structure and evolution are examined. The results of simulations show that the initial flame bubble can interact with IW, bow wave (BW), reflected BW, and FW in sequence. For the weak IW case, the repeated shock—flame interactions produce multiple Richtmyer—Meshkov (RM) instabilities that lead to the convolved flame with vortex structures, and the chemical heat release does not play a major role. While for the strong IW case, the multiple RM instabilities lead to the highly distorted flame with the complex vortices structures of large magnitude. With the lower reactive mixture, the instability process is the major mechanism for shock—flame interaction, while the chemistry only plays a minor role. However, with the higher reactive mixture, the distorted flame expands rapidly and finally forms the large-scale combustion through the interaction with FW. Both instability and chemical heat release play the important mechanisms in this case. The combustion acceleration in the highly reactive mixture can produce the stronger overpressure and the higher propagation speed of complex FW because of the chemi-acoustic interaction effect.
Direct Synthesis of Amino-substituted Aromatic Phosphonates via Palladium-catalyzed Coupling of Aromatic Mono- and Dibromides with Diethyl Phosphite
Authors: Bessmertnykh Alla , Douaihy Christiane Morkos , Guilard Roger
Published: June 2009

An efficient Pd-catalyzed carbon–phosphorus bond-forming route is described for the direct synthesis of diethyl arylphosphonates bearing amino and alkylamino groups on the aromatic ring.
Regulation of Interparticle Interaction of Metallic Nanoparticles Dispersible in Water: Dispersion, Controlled Assembly, and Formation of Particle Crystals
Authors: Kimura Keisaku
Published: June 2009

Regulation of the lyophilicity and lyophobicity of a particle is very important for controlling interparticle interactions in solution. Through these interactions, we can precisely tune the formation of regular nanoparticle arrays and superlattices to create new materials. We demonstrate methods of controlling interparticle interactions that are effective for the formation of high-quality nanoparticle crystals. Unexpected electronic properties in high-quality superlattices were observed.
Chiral Ferromagnetic Chain of Copper(II)–Gadolinium(III) Complex
Authors: Hamamatsu Takefumi , Matsumoto Naohide , Re Nazzareno , Mrozinski Jerzy
Published: June 2009

A chiral one-dimensional copper(II)–gadolinium(III) complex [CuIILdpen(1S2S)GdIII(thd)2]n (H3Ldpen(1S2S) = (1S,2S)-1,2-diphenyl-1-(2-hydroxybenzamido)-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)ethane, Hthd = 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione) was synthesized, where CuII and GdIII ions are alternately arrayed to form a ferromagnetic chain.
Electrochemical Atrazine Detection Using Au(111) Electrode Modified with Self-assembled Monolayer of Mercaptoquinone
Authors: Umezawa Noriko , Tsurunari Moe , Kondo Toshihiro
Published: June 2009

Self-assembled monolayers (SAM) of mercaptohydroquinone (MHQ) were constructed on a Au(111) surface. Redox charge due to hydroquinone/benzoquinone reaction of the MHQ SAM modified Au(111) electrodes was dependent on the concentration of atrazine contained in an electrolyte solution, indicating that the MHQ SAM modified Au(111) electrode functioned as an atrazine sensor.
Synthesis of Snowball Flower-like Ni Nanoparticles by Negatively Charged Micelles
Authors: Mandal Madhuri , Mandal Kalyan
Published: June 2009

Snowball-like nanoflowers of Ni have been synthesized directed by negatively-charged micelles. Positively-charged or neutral micelles can not evolve such structure. Initially, negatively-charged micelles incorporate the positively-charged Ni-ion onto its head group by electrostatic attraction and again further attraction of surfactant on the Ni+2 form a layer by layer structure and in a repetitive fashion the surfactant and positively-charged Ni salts form flower-like structure. By the reduction of Ni salts the Ni nanoflowers are formed. The sizes of nanoflowers are ca. 30 nm. The particles are superparamagnetic.
Luminescence and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Studies of the Excited States of a UV Absorber, 2-Methylphenyl 2-Naphthoate
Authors: Kikuchi Azusa , Yagi Mikio
Published: June 2009

Fluorescence, phosphorescence, and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra have been observed for the excited states of a new UV absorber, 2-methylphenyl 2-naphthoate (2-MPN), in ethanol at 77 K. The observed phosphorescence spectrum, phosphorescence lifetime, and zero-field splitting parameters of the lowest excited triplet (T1) state of 2-MPN revealed that the T1 state of 2-MPN can be regarded as a locally excited triplet state within naphthalene.
Titanium Carbide–Carbon Composite Nanofibers Prepared by Electrospinning Polyacrylonitrile
Authors: Zhu Pinwen , Hong Youliang , Liu Bingbing , Zou Guangtian
Published: June 2009

Titanium carbide (TiC)–carbon composite nanofibers with average diameter 90 nm have been successfully produced by electrospinning the precursors, titanium isopropoxide (Ti(Oi-Pr)4) in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) solution, and then pyrolysis of the resulting nanofibers. TiC formed by the reaction of Ti precursors with carbon during carbonizing and distributed homogeneously in the produced composite nanofibers may be useful to enhance the mechanical properties expand applicability.
Silver-catalyzed Preparation of Oxazolidinones from Carbon Dioxide and Propargylic Amines
Authors: Yoshida Shunsuke , Fukui Kosuke , Kikuchi Satoshi , Yamada Tohru
Published: June 2009

The silver-catalyzed carbon dioxide incorporation reaction into various propargylic amines proceeded under mild reaction conditions to obtain the corresponding oxazolidinone derivatives in high to excellent yields. The geometry of the C–C double bond in product was confirmed to be the Z isomer by X-ray analysis.
Serum 99th centile values for two heart-type fatty acid binding protein assays
Authors: Bathia D P , Carless D R , Viswanathan K , Hall A S , Barth J H
Published: June 2009

Background

We have previously demonstrated that heart-type fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) is an independent prognostic marker for survival after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aimed to define the 99th centile values for H-FABP as determined with two different assays, and to study the relationship with age, gender and renal function.

Methods

H-FABP was measured on redundant routine outpatient samples using the MARKIT-M (Dainippon) and the Evidence Investigator (Randox) assays.

Results

Two hundred and forty-two subjects with Siemens Ultra-TnI value <0.045 μg/L (99th centile) were studied. In all, 174 subjects had estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) >60 mL/min. The 99th centile values for subjects with eGFR >60 mL/min for the Evidence Investigator H-FABP were 5.3 and 5.8 μg/L and for the MARKIT-M H-FABP were 8.3 and 9.1 μg/L in female and male subjects, respectively. There is an increase in H-FABP with age in subjects with normal renal function for both assays. Gender comparison showed no significant difference for either assay. Comparison of samples showed that subjects with eGFR <60 mL/min showed a median increase of 0.71 μg/L with Evidence Investigator assay and 1.09 μg/L with MARKIT-M assay compared with subjects with eGFR >60 mL/min. Calibration differences were confirmed by cross measurement of calibrators and recombinant H-FABP.

Conclusions

We have defined the 99th centile values for H-FABP in a population of primary and secondary care outpatients that can be used to risk stratify patients with ACS. We have confirmed that H-FABP increases with renal dysfunction and age, but have not confirmed the gender difference previously reported.
Invitation Management Initiative to Improve Uptake of Breast Cancer Screening in an Urban Uk Primary Care Trust
Authors: Kearins Olive , Walton Jackie , O'sullivan Emma , Lawrence Gill
Published: June 2009

Objectives

In an attempt to improve breast cancer screening uptake and coverage, persistent non-offenders in the Heart of Birmingham Teaching Primary Care Trust were included in an invitation management initiative.

Methods

Persistent non-attenders were identified in routine screening lists. Phone contact was attempted or a home visit was made. If the case was not resolved, a second appointment was made and further phone calls and home visits were attempted.

Results

Of 548 persistent non-attenders identified, 228 (42%) declined screening, 171 (31%) attended, 72 (13%) had moved away or died, 11 (2%) were recently screened or under care for other conditions. Sixty-six cases (12%) remained unresolved. Fourteen women opted to be permanently withdrawn from the National Health Service Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP). Twenty-four women had a negative experience of breast cancer screening (defaulted, recalled for assessment, recalled for technical reasons). No malignancies were found. A total of 1375 phone calls and 230 home visits were attempted. Uptake would have been 62.2% if none of the persistent non-attenders included in the initiative had attended for screening. With the initiative, uptake of breast cancer screening was increased to 65.3%.

Conclusions

Phone calls and home visits resulted in only a moderate increase in breast cancer screening uptake. The initiative encouraged nervous attenders who were reassured about the screening process. However, more women declined screening than were screened and the initiative made it easier for women to request to be permanently withdrawn from the NHSBSP.
Stage Shift in Psa-detected Prostate Cancers – Effect Modification by Gleason Score
Authors: Pashayan Nora , Pharoah Paul , Neal David E , Hamdy Freddie , Donovan Jenny , Martin Richard M , Greenberg David , Duffy Stephen W
Published: June 2009

Objective

This paper aims to investigate whether the stage shift (where more cancers are detected at an earlier stage) in prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-detected cancers differs by Gleason score.

Methods

Between 2002 and 2005, 1514 men aged 50–69 years were identified with prostate cancer following community-based PSA testing as part of the ProtecT study. In the same period, 2021 men aged 50–69 years with clinically diagnosed prostate cancer were registered at a population-based cancer registry in the East of England. Using logistic regression analysis and controlling for age, the odds ratio (OR) for advanced stage (TNM stage T3 and above) prostate cancer among the PSA-detected group was compared with the clinically diagnosed tumours. The evidence that stage shift differs by Gleason score was assessed using the likelihood ratio test for interaction.

Results

Advanced stage disease among the PSA-detected cancers was less common than among the clinically detected cancers (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.39–0.56). PSA-detected tumours had a substantial shift to earlier-stage disease where the Gleason score was <7 (OR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.36–0.77, P < 0.001) but showed no such shift where the Gleason score was 7 or more (OR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.66–1.07, P = 0.1). There was evidence of interaction between detection mode and Gleason score ( P = 0.03).

Conclusion

The observed stage shift could be partially explained by length bias or overdiagnosis. These findings may have implications on understanding pathways of prostate cancer progression and on identifying potential targets for screening, pending further investigation of complexities of associations between PSA testing, Gleason score, and stage.
An Approximate Dynamic Programming Approach to Network Revenue Management with Customer Choice
Authors: Zhang Dan , Adelman Daniel
Published: June 2009

We consider a network revenue management problem where customers choose among open fare products according to some prespecified choice model. Starting with a Markov decision process (MDP) formulation, we approximate the value function with an affine function of the state vector. We show that the resulting problem provides a tighter bound for the MDP value than the choice-based linear program. We develop a column generation algorithm to solve the problem for a multinomial logit choice model with disjoint consideration sets (MNLD). We also derive a bound as a by-product of a decomposition heuristic. Our numerical study shows the policies from our solution approach can significantly outperform heuristics from the choice-based linear program.
Fast Approaches to Improve the Robustness of a Railway Timetable
Authors: Fischetti Matteo , Salvagnin Domenico , Zanette Arrigo
Published: June 2009

The train timetabling problem (TTP) consists of finding a train schedule on a railway network that satisfies some operational constraints and maximizes some profit function that accounts for the efficiency of the infrastructure usage. In practical cases, however, the maximization of the objective function is not enough, and one calls for a robust solution that is capable of absorbing, as much as possible, delays/disturbances on the network. In this paper we propose and computationally analyze four different methods to improve the robustness of a given TTP solution for the aperiodic (noncyclic) case. The approaches combine linear programming (LP) and ad hoc stochastic programming/robust optimization techniques. We computationally compare the effectiveness and practical applicability of the four techniques under investigation on real-world test cases from the Italian railway company Trenitalia. The outcome is that two of the proposed techniques are very fast and provide robust solutions of comparable quality with respect to the standard (but very time consuming) stochastic programming approach.
Tabu Search and Benders Decomposition Approaches for a Capacitated Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network Design Problem
Authors: Easwaran Gopalakrishnan , Üster Halit
Published: June 2009

We consider a network design problem in a multiproduct closed-loop supply chain setting consisting of remanufacturing facilities and finite-capacity manufacturing, distribution, and collection facilities that serve a set of retailers. We first present a mixed-integer linear program to determine the optimal locations of the collection centers and remanufacturing facilities along with the integrated forward and reverse flows such that the total cost of facility location, processing, and transportation associated with forward and reverse flows in the network is minimized. Second, we devise two tabu search heuristics—sequential and random neighborhood search procedures—in which we effectively combine search functions using move and exchange neighborhoods to improve efficiency in exploring the solution space. We also suggest a transshipment heuristic to quickly, but effectively, estimate the objective function value (goodness) of a feasible solution in the course of a tabu search. Third, we present a Benders decomposition solution approach that incorporates the tabu search heuristics as well as Benders cuts that are strengthened to facilitate faster convergence and improved computational efficiency, especially for large-scale instances. While the solutions using tabu search heuristics make the applicability of the Benders decomposition approach possible via providing initial upper bounds and facilitating the generation of good initial Benders cuts, the lower bounds obtained by the Benders approach computationally verify the high quality of the tabu search heuristic solutions. We present computational results illustrating the efficient performance of the solution algorithms in terms of both solution quality and time, especially for larger size problems.
Dynamic Airline Scheduling
Authors: Jiang Hai , Barnhart Cynthia
Published: June 2009

Demand stochasticity is a major challenge for the airlines in their quest to produce profit maximizing schedules. Even with an optimized schedule, many flights on departure have empty seats while others suffer a lack of seats to accommodate passengers who desire to travel. We approach this challenge, recognizing that demand forecast quality for a particular departure date improves as it approaches, by developing a dynamic scheduling approach that reoptimizes elements of the flight schedule during the passenger booking process. The goal is to match capacity to demand given the many operational constraints that restrict possible assignments. We leverage flight retiming as a new dynamic scheduling mechanism and develop a reoptimization model that integrates both flight retiming and refleeting. Our reoptimization approach, redesigning the flight schedule at regular intervals, uses information from both revealed booking data and improved forecasts available at later reoptimizations. We conduct experiments using data from a major U.S. airline and demonstrate that significant potential profitability improvements are achieved.
Femoral lengthening with the Intramedullary Skeletal Kinetic Distractor
Authors: Simpson A. H. W. R. , Shalaby H. , Keenan G.
Published: June 2009

Femoral lengthening using the Intramedullary Skeletal Kinetic Distractor is a new technique. However, with intramedullary distraction the surgeon has less control over the lengthening process. Therefore, 33 femora lengthened with this device were assessed to evaluate the effect of operative variables under the surgeon’s control on the course of lengthening. The desired lengthening was achieved in 32 of 33 limbs. Problems encountered included difficulty in achieving length in eight femora (24%) and uncontrolled lengthening in seven (21%). Uncontrolled lengthening was more likely if the osteotomy was placed with less than 80 mm of the thick portion of the nail in the distal fragment (p = 0.052), and a failure to lengthen was more likely if there was over 125 mm in the distal fragment (p = 0.008). The latter problem was reduced with over-reaming by 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Previous intramedullary nailing also predisposed to uncontrolled lengthening (p = 0.042), and these patients required less reaming.

Using the Intramedullary Skeletal Kinetic Distractor, good outcomes were obtained; problems were minimised by optimising the position of the osteotomy and the amount of over-reaming performed.
Comparison of polyethylene wear in anatomical and reversed shoulder prostheses
Authors: Terrier A. , Merlini F. , Pioletti D. P. , Farron A.
Published: June 2009

Wear of polyethylene is associated with aseptic loosening of orthopaedic implants and has been observed in hip and knee prostheses and anatomical implants for the shoulder. The reversed shoulder prostheses have not been assessed as yet. We investigated the volumetric polyethylene wear of the reversed and anatomical Aequalis shoulder prostheses using a mathematical musculoskeletal model. Movement and joint stability were achieved by EMG-controlled activation of the muscles. A non-constant wear factor was considered. Simulated activities of daily living were estimated from in vivo recorded data.

After one year of use, the volumetric wear was 8.4 mm3 for the anatomical prosthesis, but 44.6 mm3 for the reversed version. For the anatomical prosthesis the predictions for contact pressure and wear were consistent with biomechanical and clinical data. The abrasive wear of the polyethylene in reversed prostheses should not be underestimated, and further analysis, both experimental and clinical, is required.
Bracing in external rotation for traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder
Authors: Finestone A. , Milgrom C. , Radeva-Petrova D. R. , Rath E. , Barchilon V. , Beyth S. , Jaber S. , Safran O.
Published: June 2009

We undertook a prospective study in 51 male patients aged between 17 and 27 years to ascertain whether immobilisation after primary traumatic anterior dislocation of the shoulder in external rotation was more effective than immobilisation in internal rotation in preventing recurrent dislocation in a physically active population.

Of the 51 patients, 24 were randomised to be treated by a traditional brace in internal rotation and 27 were immobilised in external rotation of 15° to 20°. After immobilisation, the patients undertook a standard regime of physiotherapy and were then assessed clinically for evidence of instability. When reviewed at a mean of 33.4 months (24 to 48) ten from the external rotation group (37%) and ten from the internal rotation group (41.7%) had sustained a futher dislocation. There was no statistically significant difference (p = 0.74) between the groups.

Our findings show that external rotation bracing may not be as effective as previously reported in preventing recurrent anterior dislocation of the shoulder.
Cadaver bone-tendon graft for xanthomatosis of the tendo Achillis
Authors: Scagnelli R. , Bianco G. , Imarisio D.
Published: June 2009

We describe a 63-year-old man who had xanthomatosis of the right tendo Achillis. He had undergone excision of the left tendo Achillis 17 years earlier without reconstruction for the same condition. The neurological history and examination were normal. Blood investigations showed hypercholestrolaemia, for which he was being treated with statins.

He was referred with pain in the right tendo Achillis and problems with footwear.

He was treated by excision of the right tendo Achillis, the xanthomatous nodules and the involved skin, followed by reconstruction with a cadaver bone-tendon graft. At follow-up eight months postoperatively, the scar had healed well. He walked without pain and could wear any type of shoe. Plain radiographs showed that the bone graft had healed. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot score was 95/100. The patient’s subjective evaluation of the result was very good.
Recurrent club-foot deformity following previous soft-tissue release
Authors: Mehrafshan M. , Rampal V. , Seringe R. , Wicart P.
Published: June 2009

The results of further soft-tissue release of 79 feet in 60 children with recurrent idiopathic congenital talipes equinovarus were evaluated. The mean age of the children at the time of re-operation was 5.8 years (15 months to 14.5 years). Soft-tissue release was performed in all 79 feet and combined with distal calcaneal excision in 52 feet. The mean follow-up was 12 years (4 to 32). At the latest follow-up the result was excellent or good in 61 feet (77%) according to the Ghanem and Seringe scoring system. The results was considered as fair in 14 feet (18%), all of whom had functional problems and eight had anatomical abnormalities. Four feet (5%) were graded as poor on both functional and anatomical grounds.

The results were independent of the age at which revision was undertaken.
Mitigating surgical risk in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty for fractures of the proximal femur
Authors: Timperley A. J. , Whitehouse S. L.
Published: June 2009

Recently the National Patient Safety Agency in the United Kingdom published a report entitled “Mitigating surgical risk in patients undergoing hip arthroplasty for fractures of the proximal femur”. A total of 26 deaths had been reported to them when cement was used at hemiarthroplasty between October 2003 and October 2008. This paper considers the evidence for using cement fixation of a hemiarthroplasty in the treatment of hip fractures.
Functional Impairments and Caregiver Depressive Symptoms in the Context of Brain Tumour and Other Cancers: A Mediating Effect of Strain
Authors: Ownsworth Tamara , Henderson Laura , Chambers Suzanne , Shum David
Published: June 2009

This study aimed to examine the associations among functional impairments, strain and depressive symptoms for caregivers of individuals with brain tumour and other cancers. Sixty-three caregivers (71% female) of individuals with brain tumour (n = 27) and other cancers (n = 36) were recruited from community services. Participants rated their level of depressive symptoms and strain and the functional impairments of the individual with cancer. Overall, approximately 25% of the total caregiver sample was in the clinical range for depressive symptoms. For caregivers of individuals with brain tumour, strain was significantly related to depressive symptoms (r = .57) and the individual's functional impairments (r = –.58); however, level of depressive symptoms was not significantly related to functional impairments (p > .05). For caregivers of individuals with other cancer, level of depressive symptoms was significantly correlated with strain (r = .50) and their relatives' degree of cognitive, interpersonal and emotional difficulties (r = –.36–.46), but not with activities of daily living (p > .05). In a multivariate analysis involving all the caregivers, strain predicted depressive symptoms (R2 = .32, p < .001) after controlling for gender and cancer type. In addition, strain was found to significantly mediate the effects of the interpersonal and emotional difficulties of individuals with cancer on caregiver depressive symptoms. Overall, these findings highlight the need to develop and evaluate strategies for alleviating the role strain associated with supporting individuals with cancer.
Does Apolipoprotein E Play a Role in Outcome After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury?
Authors: Hodgkinson Adeline , Gillett Lauren , Simpson Grahame K.
Published: June 2009

There is mixed evidence linking adverse outcomes after traumatic brain injury to the presence of the ε4 allele of the apolipoprotein gene (APOE). Further, there has been limited investigation of the role of APOE in populations who have sustained severe brain injuries. In this study, 100 individuals aged 16 to 65 years with a severe to extremely severe traumatic brain injury were recruited prospectively from an inpatient rehabilitation unit. APOE genotypes were determined, and demographic and clinical data were collected by blind assessors at 6 months postinjury. Sixty-nine participants who were divided into an acute (less than 12 months postinjury) and chronic (greater than 12 months) groups also completed neuropsychological assessments testing various domains of memory, attention and problem-solving at follow-up. No significant differences in injury severity, cognitive or functional outcome were found between individuals with the ε4 allele and those without at either time postinjury. This finding is consistent with other recent data that has questioned the role of APOE status as a factor in recovery from TBI.
Hypoxic Brain Injury Following Heroin Overdose
Authors: O'Brien Patricia , Todd Jenny
Published: June 2009

Hypoxic brain injury is an under-recognised consequence of heroin overdose. This article documents the disability experienced by 10 people with hypoxic brain injuries following heroin overdose who presented in the 2-year period July 1997 to June 1999 at the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, a brain injury rehabilitation facility in Melbourne, Australia. Medical histories of these clients were reviewed and follow-up interviews were conducted between 2 and 4 years postinjury. Measures included the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and the Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ). The results showed that there were significant and enduring consequences for most of the 10 participants. At follow-up two participants had died from subsequent overdose, three required support to live in the community and one lived in an aged care facility. Only one participant was able to return to work. Cognitive problems were present in most of the group and problem solving and social interaction difficulties were the most commonly recorded problems. Three cases are described in detail to highlight some of the significant issues identified in this sample. Implications for the rehabilitation of people with brain injury following heroin overdose are discussed.
Training Communication Partners of People With Traumatic Brain Injury: Reporting the Protocol for a Clinical Trial
Authors: Togher Leanne , McDonald Skye , Tate Robyn , Power Emma , Rietdijk Rachel
Published: June 2009

This article reports on the design of a three-arm, nonrandomised controlled trial of interventions targeting social communication skills following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in adult participants. People with severe TBI were allocated to one of the three groups: the TBI group, where only the person with TBI was trained, the JOINT group where both the everyday communication partner (ECP) and the person with TBI were trained together, and a delayed treatment control condition. The trial is comparing whether including everyday communication partners in the training process provide additional benefit when compared to training the person with TBI alone; and additionally, whether training the person with TBI alone is more effective than no training. A range of primary and secondary outcome measures will be used to evaluate outcomes. Publishing the protocol prior to the results of the trial being available has several important benefits (Godlee, 2001). The original hypotheses and intentions of the research are made explicit to ensure that the process of conducting this clinical trial is transparent to readers, and so that comments may be made before results are finalised. It provides the opportunity to outline a detailed description of this intervention and methodology, or to acknowledge changes to methodology, which may assist with eventual clinical application of the intervention. This article also informs the research community of the work that is underway to promote opportunities for collaboration and reduce unnecessary duplication of research. The protocol for this trial has previously been registered on Current Controlled Trials (http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN57815281).
Religion, music and the site of ritual: Baptismal rites and the Irish citizenship referendum
Authors: Phelan Helen
Published: June 2009

While ritual practice is not exclusive to religion, religious systems have always relied on rituals to act as their expressive voice. Ritual, by its very nature, is a performed event. Through music, movement, poetry, silence, art and proclaimed word, religions embody and express the beliefs, tensions and aspirations of the communities who perform them. Drawing on the works of Wilfred Cantwell Smith, Paul Tillich, John Caputo and Talal Asad, this paper probes understandings of religion, which push beyond fundamentalist and denominational definitions, to propose a view of religion as embodied not-knowing, rather than conceptual certainty. It is from this perspective that we can revisit the potential of ritual practice specifically musical practice as a space of community creation, challenge and reconciliation. This proposal is grounded with reference to my own experience of working with asylum seekers in a number of churches in Limerick city, with particular reference to the role of music in the rite of baptism for children, seen against the backdrop of the Irish citizenship referendum of 2004.
Identity, roles and practice in ritual music
Authors: Hirabayashi Eri
Published: June 2009

This paper explores the role of music in creating and negotiating identity through community, within the context of an annual Shinto shrine ritual calledmiko mai shinji. It is based on three years of fieldwork with a ritual community in theuarea ofItakoCity inIbarakiPrefecture, located in eastern Japan. Within this ritual tradition, the creation of music does not solely depend on the musicians, but on the entire community. The action by which music is transmitted and produced, and the community's participation in this process yields not only music itself, but also a shared space wherein the community's identity is created. In other words, by sharing negotiated knowledge and experience through musical activity, a community creates its group identity or a sense of belonging among the community members. This negotiated knowledge or experience is accumulated through action or practice including learning and playing music, exchange and discussion, and ritual performance. In this article, I illustrate how one community creates its identity by continuing its ritual tradition of music and dance; thus, this dynamic action serves as an important driving force of the ritual each year that it is performed.
Community; authenticity; growth: The role of musical participation in the Iona Community's island centres
Authors: Bentley Jane
Published: June 2009

This report offers a descriptive account of a setting where group music-making is an integral part of the fabric of daily community life, and where the entire community becomes involved in musical interactions. It is a religious community with an explicit orientation towards hospitality and welcome; the renewal of worship, and peace and justice in the world: as such, music is used to reflect and sustain these concerns. A musical hospitality is thus offered, which necessitates an appropriate pedagogy in order to include those who have little previous experience of music making. In addition, the function and content of the music are critical in manifesting the philosophy of the community, leading to its generation and use of new songs, wee songs, and world church songs which supplement more traditional forms of church music, and help to both challenge, and nurture the life of the gathered congregation.
Lenyalo la Badimo (The Wedding of Ancestors): Music in familial and community healing rituals
Authors: Masoga Mogomme
Published: June 2009

This short report is based on an actual ritual event that took place in a village 60 kilometers outside Pretoria, South Africa. The description of the event explores ways in which music plays a central role in healing rituals within familial and communal groups.
Singing community/remembering in common: Sufi liturgy and North African identity in southern France
Authors: Kapchan Deborah
Published: June 2009

In Morocco, the forms of Islam practiced are very influenced by Sufism, and there are many paths ortariqat, including thetariqa butshishiyya, a Sufi path in the Qadiri lineage whose living leader is Shaykh Hamza in northeastern Morocco (http://www.tariqa.org/). In the last decade, branches of this school of Sufism have grown up in France, England, Spain and the United States, and the texts of the prayers, songs and poems have been transliterated for those not literate in Arabic. This study focuses on one group of female Sufi practitioners in the south of France, and the role of sung liturgy and sonic performance in creating a sense of religious and cultural community for North African Muslims who reside in a country where the ideology of secularism is as sacred as religion.
Geometrical structure and construction of latin trades
Authors: Drápal Aleš
Published: June 2009

Latin trades can be interpreted geometrically as oriented surfaces. Those of genus zero are called spherical. The paper contains a construction that shows how all latin trades can be obtained from the spherical ones by a cut-and-paste method that raises the genus
Petersen plane arrangements and a surface with multiple 7-secants
Authors: Abo Hirotachi , Kley Holger P. , Peterson Chris
Published: June 2009

We study configurations of 2-planes in that are combinatorially described by the Petersen graph. We discuss conditions for configurations to be locally Cohen–Macaulay and describe the Hilbert scheme of such arrangements. An analysis of the homogeneous ideals of these configurations leads, via linkage, to a class of smooth, general type surfaces in . We compute their numerical invariants and show that they have the unusual property that they admit (multiple) 7-secants. Finally, we demonstrate that the construction applied to Petersen arrangements with additional symmetry leads to surfaces with exceptional automorphism groups.
Orientation of the wood polymers in the cell wall of spruce wood fibres
Authors: Stevanic Jasna S. , Salmén Lennart
Published: June 2009

The mechanical and physical properties of wood fibres depend to a large extent on the orientation of the polymers, mainly the cellulose microfibrils, within the supramolecular structure of the cell wall. Under moist conditions, the arrangement within the polymer matrix may play a dominant role for mechanical properties in general and, especially, in the transverse direction. In this context, it is of special interest to determine the orientation of glucomannan and xylan, being the essential components of softwood hemicelluloses, and of lignin in wood fibres. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy was used to examine the orientation of the main wood polymers in transversal and longitudinal direction of spruce fibres. We investigated fibres made from a thermomechanical pulp, in which the outer fibre wall layers were removed by mechanical action, and chemically delignified fibres. The polarised FTIR measurements indicated that glucomannan and xylan appear to have a parallel orientation with regard to the orientation of cellulose and, in all probability, an almost parallel orientation with regard to the fibre axis. Lignin was found to be less oriented in the fibre wall, although its arrangement is not fully isotropic. In the longitudinal direction of the fibres, there were no significant changes in the molecular orientation of the studied polymers.
Extractives in bark of different conifer species growing in Pakistan
Authors: Willför Stefan , Ali Mumtaz , Karonen Maarit , Reunanen Markku , Arfan Mohammad , Harlamow Reija
Published: June 2009

The amount and composition of lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives, including proanthocyanidins, has been analysed as a first screening in the bark of six Pakistani coniferous tree species, namelyPinus wallichiana,Pinus roxburghii,Pinus gerardiana,Abies pindrow,Taxus fuanaandCedrus deodara. The predominant lipophilic extractives were common fatty and resin acids, fatty alcohols and sterols. In all bark samples, short-chain fatty acids were more abundant than long-chain fatty acids. Generally, the amount of free fatty acids was also larger than the amount of triglycerides. Oleic acid was the most common fatty acid, except inC. deodara, where lignoceric acid dominated. The largest amounts of fatty acids and fatty alcohols were found inP. wallichianaandP. gerardiana.P. gerardianacontained an exceptionally large amount of resin acids, approximately 3% of the bark weight, compared to the other species. The amount of free sterols was approximately at the same level or larger than the amount of steryl esters in most samples. In addition to proanthocyanidins, different known lignans, stilbenes, ferulates and flavonoids were generally predominant amongst the hydrophilic extractives. Resveratrol glycoside was abundant inP. wallichiana, whileC. deodaraandP. gerardianacontained large amounts of lignans and lignan derivatives. All bark extracts contained large amounts of proanthocyanidin-related catechin and its derivatives. Furthermore,C. deodaraandP. roxburghiicontained quite large amounts of taxifolin. In particular,P. wallichianaandA. pindroware potential rich sources of proanthocyanidins, representing approximately 16% and 5% of the bark weight, respectively.
TEMPO-mediated oxidation of softwood thermomechanical pulp
Authors: Okita Yusuke , Saito Tsuguyuki , Isogai Akira
Published: June 2009

A softwood thermomechanical pulp (TMP) was suspended in water and oxidized with sodium hypochlorite and catalytic amounts of sodium bromide and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO) at pH 10. When the NaClO addition levels were 20–26 mmol g-1of the TMP, the yields of water-insoluble TEMPO-oxidized TMPs fractions were approximately 40%. Sugar composition and other analyses revealed that most of the lignin and hemicellulose components in the TMP were removed as water-soluble fractions by the oxidation. Thus, almost pure TEMPO-oxidized celluloses can also be prepared from TMP, although the addition levels of NaClO are much higher than for the TEMPO-mediated oxidation of pure celluloses. The water-soluble fractions were analyzed by NMR, showing that polyuronic acids formed from glucomannan and cellulose by oxidation were the main compounds. The water-insoluble fractions of TEMPO-oxidized TMPs prepared with NaClO of 20–26 mmol g-1had carboxylate contents of approximately 1.2 mmol g-1, and had the same cellulose I allomorph and the same crystal widths as in the original TMP. Transparent and highly viscous gels were obtained by disintegration of these TEMPO-oxidized TMPs in water, and the gels consisted of individual nanofibers 4–6 nm in width. Thus, TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers can also be prepared from TMP.
Non-destructive determination and quantification of diffusion processes in wood by means of neutron imaging
Authors: Mannes David , Sonderegger Walter , Hering Stefan , Lehmann Eberhard , Niemz Peter
Published: June 2009

Diffusion processes in samples of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) were determined and quantified by means of neutron imaging (NI). The experiments were carried out at the neutron imaging facility NEUTRA at the Paul Scherrer Institute in Villigen (Switzerland) using a thermal neutron spectrum. NI is a non-destructive and non-invasive testing method with a very high sensitivity for hydrogen and thus water. Within the scope of this study, diffusion processes in the longitudinal direction were ascertained for solid wood samples exposed to a differentiating climate (dry side/wet side). With NI it was possible to determine the local distribution and consequently the total amount of water absorbed by the samples. The calculated values scarcely differ from those ascertained by weighing (≤3%). The method yields profiles of the water content over the whole sample, thus allowing the local and temporal resolution of diffusion processes within the sample in the main transport direction (longitudinal). On the basis of these profiles, it was possible to calculate the diffusion coefficients along the fibre direction according to Fick's second law.
Characterizing hydro-thermal compression behavior of aspen wood strands
Authors: Zhou Cheng , Smith Gregory D. , Dai Chunping
Published: June 2009

Wood-based composites, such as oriented strand board, are typically manufactured by consolidating mats of resinated wood elements under heat and pressure. During this process, the temperature and moisture content distributions within the mat greatly affect the properties of end products. To improve the fundamental understanding of mat consolidation during hot-pressing, a model is established to investigate the transverse compression behavior of aspen wood strands for a variety of combinations of temperatures (20–200°C) and moisture contents (0–15%). A regression approach is used to obtain the modulus-temperature-moisture relationship. In addition, elevated temperatures and moistures are found to influence the strain function of wood strands, which was previously assumed to be independent of these factors.
Effect of Autoclave Curing on the Compressive Strength and Elastic Modulus of Lightweight Aggregate Concrete
Authors: Wang Her-Yung , Shie Jing-Jie
Published: June 2009

In this study, three types of concrete specimens of different proportions were prepared and mixed at water-to-binder ratios (w/b) of 0.28, 0.32, and 0.40. The specimens were normal-weight concrete (NWC), lightweight sand concrete (LWSC), and lightweight aggregate concrete (LWAC). The specimens then underwent standard curing and autoclaving for 3, 7, 28, and 56 days. Comparisons were made among the specimens in terms of compressive strength and elastic modulus. Experimental results show that after standard curing, the compressive strength of NWC, LWSC, and LWAC at w/b=0.28 were 62.7 MPa (100 %), 54.7 MPa (87 %), and 39.4 MPa (63 %), respectively, indicating that greater particle density aggregates led to better compressive strength. After 56 days of autoclaving, NWC showed the highest compressive strength, followed by LWSC and LWAC. The compressive strength and elastic modulus at Day 28 and Day 56 of autoclaving were close to those at Day 91 and Day 120 of standard curing, respectively; this trend was observed in both NWC and LWSC. The moduli of elasticity for NWC, LWSC, and LWAC at different curing ages were 20.35–33.20, 17.98–24.02, and 10.58–12.95 GPa, respectively, which decreased with increasing lightweight aggregate content in the concrete.
Effect of Oxygen Concentration on Autogenous Ignition Temperature and Pneumatic Impact Ignitability of Nonmetallic Materials
Authors: Smith Sarah
Published: June 2009

Extensive test data exist on the ignitability of nonmetallic materials in pure oxygen, but these characteristics are not as well understood for lesser oxygen concentrations. In this study, autogenous ignition temperature testing and pneumatic impact testing were used to better understand the effects of oxygen concentration on ignition of nonmetallic materials. Tests were performed using oxygen concentrations of 21, 34, 45, and 100 %. The following materials were tested: PTFE Teflon®, Buna-N, Silicone, Zytel® 42, Viton® A, and Vespel® SP-21.
Optimal Control and Design of Bipedal Robots with ComplianceOptimale Steuerung und Auslegung zweibeiniger Laufroboter mit elastischen Gelenken
Authors: Mombaur Katja , Scheint Michael , Sobotka Marion
Published: June 2009

The purpose of this paper is to present an interesting area of appplication for modern optimal control techniques in robotics. Optimal control can significantly improve the control of bipedal walking motions, in particular by an optimal exploitation and an appropriate tuning of compliance. Two optimization methods for gait generation and three bipedal robot models are used to highlight three aspects: optimally tuned elastic elements significantly reduce energy consumption for locomotion, produce natural-looking gaits, and enhance the open-loop stability of the gait. It is concluded that optimization of compliance in legged robots is a promising approach towards dynamic, energy-efficient locomotion.