bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CO2 Storage: Managing the Risk Associated With Well Leakage Over Long Time Scales
Authors: Le Guen Y. , Le Gouevec J. , Chammas R. , Gerard B. , Poupard O. , Van Der Beken A. , Jammes L.
Published: November 2009

One of the major challenges associated with the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) is the performance of the confining system over long time scales. In particular, the occurrence of CO2 leakage through existing wells could not only defeat the purpose of storage, but also badly affect human health or the environment. Cement degradation and casing corrosion in injection, production, or abandoned wells can create preferential channels over time, allowing the migration of CO2 from the reservoir to shallower formations (e.g. aquifers), and/or to the surface.

In this paper, a risk-based approach is proposed for well-integrity and confinement-performance management. The approach, based on Performance and Risk Management methodology (P&R™), serves as a decision-support tool. The major steps in this methodology are identifying the system and sources of degradation through characterization and system analysis; quantifying their criticality through modeling, in terms of probability and severity; and establishing a risk-mitigation plan. This methodology is based on experience in material aging and risk assessment of complex systems, such as nuclear structures where probabilistic simulations are performed. It accounts for all stakes involved in well-integrity management and enables the full integration of uncertainties as part of risk estimation.

The methodology presented here greatly improves common approaches based on "features, events, and processes" because it quantifies risk levels. It provides useful and reliable tools to support decisions for well-integrity-management strategies or emergency plans. To that purpose, mitigation actions such as characterization/inspection, remediation (workover), design improvement, or monitoring are valued on the basis of a cost/benefit ratio. Moreover, updating the risk assessment with incoming data allows for an evolving vision of risk levels to optimize interventions over time.

This approach has been applied successfully, leading to recommendations for safer and more-efficient design, maintenance, and monitoring strategies.
The Ensemble Kalman Filter in Reservoir Engineering--a Review
Authors: Aanonsen Sigurd I. , Nævdal Geir , Oliver Dean S. , Reynolds Albert C. , Vallès Brice
Published: November 2009

Introduction and Background

There has been great progress in data assimilation within atmospheric and oceanographic sciences during the last couple of decades. In data assimilation, one aims at merging the information from observations into a numerical model, typically of a geophysical system. A typical example where data assimilation is needed is in weather forecasting. Here, the atmospheric models must take into account the most recent observations of variables such as temperature and atmospheric pressure for better forecasting of the weather in the next time period. A major challenge for these models is that they contain very large numbers of variables.

The progress in data assimilation is because of both increased computational power and the introduction of techniques that are capable of handling large amounts of data and more severe nonlinearities. The aim of this paper is to focus on one of these techniques, the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF). The EnKF has been introduced to petroleum science recently (Lorentzen et al. 2001a) and, in particular, has attracted attention as a promising method for solving the history matching problem. The literature available on the EnKF is now rather overwhelming. We hope that this review will help researchers (and students) working on adapting the EnKF to petroleum applications to find valuable references and ideas, although the number of papers discussing the EnKF is too large to give a complete review. For practitioners, we have cited critical EnKF papers from weather and oceanography. We have also tried to review most of the papers dealing with the EnKF and updating of reservoir models available to the authors by the beginning of 2008.

The EnKF is based on the simpler Kalman filter (Kalman 1960). We will start by introducing the Kalman filter. The Kalman filter is an efficient recursive filter that estimates the state of a linear dynamical system from a series of noisy measurements. The Kalman filter is based on a model equation, where the current state of the system is associated with an uncertainty (expressed by a covariance matrix) and an observation equation that relates a linear combination of the states to measurements. The measurements are also associated with uncertainty. The model equations are used to compute a forward step (Eqs. 1 and 2) where the state variables are computed forward in time with the current estimate of the state as initial condition. The observation equations are used in the analysis step (Eqs. 3 through 5) where the estimated value of the state and its uncertainty are corrected to take into account the most recent measurements See, e.g., Cohn (1997), Maybeck (1979), or Stengel (1994) for an introduction to the Kalman filter.
Activity-Based Management in a Medical Practice: A Case Study Emphasizing the AICPA's Core Competencies
Authors: Kaciuba Gail , Siegel Gary H.
Published: November 2009

ABSTRACT: Activity-based management uses information from an activity-based costing (ABC) system for both recurring and nonrecurring management decisions. In this case study, an ABC system that assigned only indirect costs to the final cost objects has already been created and students must expand this ABC system to include the assignment of direct costs to the cost objects, and then compare these total unit costs to the revenue collected for each cost object. Students then analyze this cost and revenue information to give advice to management about case mix, capacity constraints, and mergers.

In the health care industry, most medical practices have little control over customer demand for services or the amount that a practice will be reimbursed for its services. Students are asked to comment on the ethical and social implications of this fact, in the context of the results of their profitability analyses for a particular thoracic surgery practice. This case assists students in the development of a large number of competencies found in the AICPA Core Competency Framework.
Exploring the Researcher‐Participant Relationship in a Multiethnic, Multicultural and Multilingual Context Through Reflexivity
Authors: Renganathan Sumathi
Published: November 2009

In this paper I explore the notion of reflexivity in two main domains. In the first, I explore my struggles as a trained objective, positivist researcher trying to embrace and appreciate subjective qualitative research practices. In the second section, I explore the dynamic relationship between myself, the researcher and my participants, focusing on issues related to ethnicity and power. Generally, research that explores ethnicity and power relationships commonly depicts the researcher as the privileged self compared with the participants as the marginalised other. However, in this paper I illustrate how this relationship in a multiethnic, multicultural and multilingual research context is much more complex and multifaceted than usually acknowledged. Moreover, this was further complicated by the researcher’s own experience in relation to the issue under investigation, which was different from that of the participants.
Variability and Interrelationship among Yield and Yield Contributing Characters in Onion (Allium cepa L.)
Authors: Hossain MS , Khalekuzzaman M , Rashid MH , Rahman MS
Published: November 2009

A study was conducted using seven varieties of onion (Allium cepa L.) and observations were recorded on yield and yield components in order to obtain informations on genetic variability and character association of onion. Higher genotypic coefficients of variations were recorded in number of seeds per scape (NSPS), final plant height (FPH), final scape height , fresh weight of bulb and bulb length. These characters also exhibited high heritability along with high genetic advance as percentage of mean. Phenotypic correlation coefficients showed that bulb length, bulb diameter and scape diameter were positively and significantly correlated with fresh weight of bulb. The number of seeds per scape, final scape height, final plant height and number of pseudostem branches at maximum flowering stage were also positively and significantly correlated with seed yield per scape. Key words: Genetic variations, correlation, yield components, onion.   DOI:10.3329/jbs.v16i0.3746 J. bio-sci. 16: 85-88, 2008
Conciliatory Views of Disagreement and Higher-Order Evidence
Authors: Matheson Jonathan
Published: November 2009

Conciliatory views of disagreement maintain that discovering a particular type of disagreement requires that one make doxastic conciliation. In this paper I give a more formal characterization of such a view. After explaining and motivating this view as the correct view regarding the epistemic significance of disagreement, I proceed to defend it from several objections concerning higher-order evidence (evidence about the character of one's evidence) made by Thomas Kelly (2005).
Rational Disagreement after Full Disclosure
Authors: Bergmann Michael
Published: November 2009

The question I consider is this:

The Question: Can two people–who are, and realize they are, intellectually virtuous to about the same degree–both be rational in continuing knowingly to disagree after full disclosure (by each to the other of all the relevant evidence they can think of) while at the same time thinking that the other may well be rational too?

I distinguish two kinds of rationality–internal and external–and argue in section 1 that, whichever kind we have in mind, the answer to The Question is ‘yes’ (though that positive answer is less wholehearted in the case of external rationality). Then, in section 2, I briefly make some more general remarks about when discovering a disagreement provides a defeater and when it doesn't. In the final section, I consider an important objection to the answer given in section 1 to The Question.
The Rhythm of Laughter: Derrida's Contribution to a Syntactic Model of Interpretation
Authors: Ponzio Julia
Published: November 2009

The focus of this paper is Derrida's idea of rhythm. I will analyse how the idea of rhythm can work in a contemporary semiotic, and in particular in a semiotic of interpretation, in order to eliminate the confusion between interpretation and semantics and to constitute a syntactic model of interpretation. In ‘The Double Session’ Derrida uses the Greek word rytmos in order to indicate the ‘law of spacing’. Rytmos is a form that is always about to change or to break up, because it is not a definitive form. It is a not-proper form. But when I say here that a rhythmic relation is a not-proper form, the word ‘proper’ is intended in the sense of Heidegger's Eigentlichkeit. In this sense a not-proper relation is a relation which is not grounded on a justification. What I'm trying to demonstrate in this essay is that the rhythmic relation discovers another sense of the word ‘proper’, another meaning, which is far from Heidegger's Eigentlichkeit. In this sense, it is possible to say that the problem of a rhythmic relation is the problem of a relation between ‘two’ that is not justified by the third element which makes it proper or eigentlich.
Public Health and Nursing: A Natural Partnership
Authors: Savage Christine , Kub Joan
Published: November 2009

The health of individuals occurs within the context of their environment and the other individuals they interact with in the communities they live in, work in and visit. Promoting the health of the public requires multiple strategies aimed at improving the environment, the health knowledge of groups and individuals, maintaining adequate food and water, and reducing the spread of disease. Many disciplines are needed to meet these goals, but the largest segment of the professional health work force required to meet these needs is nursing. Historically, nursing leaders in public health such as Florence Nightingale and Lillian Wald made significant inroads related to serious health issues because they were nurses. Today across the globe, nurses provide the key components of public health interventions including well baby care, health education, screening and immunization clinics, disaster management and emergency preparedness. With the growing nursing shortage in acute care settings, the brain drain of nurses from certain areas of the world, the shrinking public dollars for preventive health care, the nursing workforce needed to continue to provide these essential health care services is threatened. It is essential to put the spot light on nursing’s role in public health with the hopes of attracting more public funds and more nurses to provide these essential services.
Malignancy Is Associated with Dermatomyositis But Not Polymyositis in Northern New England, USA
Authors: ANTIOCHOS BRENDAN B. , BROWN LIN A. , LI ZHONGZE , TOSTESON TOR D. , WORTMANN ROBERT L. , RIGBY WILLIAM F.C.
Published: November 2009

Objective.

To retrospectively evaluate the association of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) and malignancy in patients seen at 1 academic center over a 23-year period.

Methods.

Patients were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD-9) codes and diagnoses, then confirmed by chart review. Population cancer statistics obtained from the US Centers for Disease Control for Vermont and New Hampshire were used for comparison.

Results.

Chart review confirmed IIM in 198 of 483 patients initially identified by ICD-9 codes. Within 5 years of diagnosis with IIM, malignancy developed in 32 patients (16.2%), 24 of whom (75%) had dermatomyositis (DM). Malignancy and DM developed within 1 year in 75%. The cancer risk associated with DM was much greater than the risk associated with other IIM. The most frequent tumor types were breast, lung, pancreas, and colon. DM patients with cancer were more frequently male and ≥ 45 years of age than those without cancer. There were no cases of interstitial lung disease among patients with cancer and any form of IIM. The incidence of cancer was increased in patients with DM compared to age- and sex-matched population controls, both over a 5-year interval surrounding the diagnosis of DM and over the lifetime interval following diagnosis.

Conclusion.

The risk of cancer in IIM is concentrated among patients with DM. The association between DM and cancer was enhanced by its temporal relationship (< 1 year) in 87.5% of these cases. Patients with malignancy-associated DM were more frequently male and over age 45 and less likely to have interstitial lung disease.
Evaluation of Railway Vehicle Car Body Fatigue Life and Durability using a Multi-disciplinary Analysis Method
Authors: Miao Bingrong , Zhang Weihua , Zhang Jihui , Jin Dingchang
Published: November 2009

In this paper, a multi-disciplinary analysis method is proposed for evaluating the fatigue life and durability of railway vehicle car body structure under random dynamic loads. The proposed analysis involves the following steps: (1) Multibody dynamics Simulation (MBS) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA), which derives the load time histories for durability analysis, are performed to model the full vehicle complex system and simulate the rigid or flexible dynamic properties of the car body. (2) Car body durability analysis is involving a definition of the useful life and damage distribution of car body structure, including the stress or strain rainflow cycle counting, damage prediction, and remaining life estimation. (3) Multi-Disciplinary Optimization (MDO) method, an iterative procedure incorporated with several kinds of analysis results, is performed in a batch manner using some standard softwares, such as SIMPACK, ANSYS, FE-FATIGUE and modeFRONTIER. The methodology is also illustrated for handling conflicting problems of railway car body design for lightweight and fatigue requirements. Finally, the proposed methodology and its detailed steps are discussed using a locomotive car body structure. A comparison of analysis results with experimental test results and the necessary car body structure fatigue design considering full vehicle dynamic property are also detailed.
New hominid fossils from Woranso‐Mille (Central Afar, Ethiopia) and taxonomy of early Australopithecus
Authors: Haile‐Selassie Yohannes , Saylor Beverly Z. , Deino Alan , Alene Mulugeta , Latimer Bruce M.
Published: November 2009

The phylogenetic relationship between Australopithecus anamensis and Australopithecus afarensis has been hypothesized as ancestor‐descendant. However, the weakest part of this hypothesis has been the absence of fossil samples between 3.6 and 3.9 million years ago. Here we describe new fossil specimens from the Woranso‐Mille site in Ethiopia that are directly relevant to this issue. They derive from sediments chronometrically dated to 3.57–3.8 million years ago. The new fossil specimens are largely isolated teeth, partial mandibles, and maxillae, and some postcranial fragments. However, they shed some light on the relationships between Au. anamensis and Au. afarensis. The dental morphology shows closer affinity with Au. anamensis from Allia Bay/Kanapoi (Kenya) and Asa Issie (Ethiopia) than with Au. afarensis from Hadar (Ethiopia). However, they are intermediate in dental and mandibular morphology between Au. anamensis and the older Au. afarensis material from Laetoli. The new fossils lend strong support to the hypothesized ancestor‐descendant relationship between these two early Australopithecus species. The Woranso‐Mille hominids cannot be unequivocally assigned to either taxon due to their dental morphological intermediacy. This could be an indication that the Kanapoi, Allia Bay, and Asa Issie Au. anamensis is the primitive form of Au. afarensis at Hadar with the Laetoli and Woranso‐Mille populations sampling a mosaic of morphological features from both ends. It is particularly difficult to draw a line between Au. anamensis and Au. afarensis in light of the new discoveries from Woranso‐Mille. The morphology provides no evidence that Au. afarensis and Au. anamensis represent distinct taxa. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Paleogenetical study of pre‐Columbian samples from Pampa Grande (Salta, Argentina)
Authors: Carnese Fransisco R. , Mendisco Fanny , Keyser Christine , Dejean Cristina B. , Dugoujon Jean‐Michel , Bravi Claudio M. , Ludes Bertrand , Crubézy Eric
Published: November 2009

Ancient DNA recovered from 21 individuals excavated from burial sites in the Pampa Grande (PG) region (Salta province) of North‐Western Argentina (NWA) was analyzed using various genetic markers (mitochondrial DNA, autosomal STRs, and Y chromosomal STRs). The results were compared to ancient and modern DNA from various populations in the Andean and North Argentinean regions, with the aim of establishing their relationships with PG. The mitochondrial haplogroup frequencies described (11% A, 47% B, and 42% D) presented values comparable to those found for the ancient Andean populations from Peru and San Pedro de Atacama. On the other hand, mitochondrial and Y chromosomal haplotypes were specific to PG, as they did not match any other of the South American populations studied. The described genetic diversity indicates homogeneity in the genetic structure of the ancient Andean populations, which was probably facilitated by the intense exchange network in the Andean zone, in particular among Tiwanaku, San Pedro de Atacama, and NWA. The discovery of haplotypes unique to PG could be due to a loss of genetic diversity caused by recent events affecting the autochthonous populations (establishment of the Inca Empire in the region, colonization by the Europeans). Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Introgressive hybridization in southern African baboons shapes patterns of mtDNA variation
Authors: Keller C. , Roos C. , Groeneveld L.F. , Fischer J. , Zinner D.
Published: November 2009

Species, as main evolutionary units have long been considered to be morphological entities with limited hybridization potential. The occurrence of taxa which maintain morphological distinctness despite extensive hybridization is an interesting phenomenon. To understand the evolution of these taxa, descriptions of contemporary morphological and genetic variation are essential, also to reconstruct sound phylogenies. Baboons, with their wide geographic range, variant morphotypes, and extensive hybridization offer an intriguing model for those studies. We focus on the complex situation in southern Africa that, in contrast to east Africa, has been neglected in terms of baboon hybridization history. We aim to clarify the distribution and identify possible overlapping zones between different, previously described mitochondrial (mt) DNA clades of baboons that do not match with the ranges of traditionally recognized species. On the basis of the widespread sampling and mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing, we constructed a phylogenetic tree that separates representatives of the two southern African baboon species, yellow and chacma baboons, into six clades: southern, northern and eastern chacmas, Kinda baboons and southern and Luangwa yellow baboons. The ranges of the chacma clades come into close contact or overlap in two regions in the Republic of South Africa and Namibia. Our phylogenetic reconstruction reveals mitochondrial paraphyly for chacma and yellow baboons, which is probably caused by introgressive hybridization and subsequent nuclear swamping, whereby males of the chacma morphotype population from the south invaded the yellow morphotype population in the north bringing their morphotype into a population that maintained its yellow baboon mtDNA. Am J Phys Anthropol 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Incorporating higher moments into value‐at‐risk forecasting
Authors: Polanski Arnold , Stoja Evarist
Published: November 2009

Value‐at‐risk (VaR) forecasting generally relies on a parametric density function of portfolio returns that ignores higher moments or assumes them constant. In this paper, we propose a simple approach to forecasting of a portfolio VaR. We employ the Gram‐Charlier expansion (GCE) augmenting the standard normal distribution with the first four moments, which are allowed to vary over time. In an extensive empirical study, we compare the GCE approach to other models of VaR forecasting and conclude that it provides accurate and robust estimates of the realized VaR. In spite of its simplicity, on our dataset GCE outperforms other estimates that are generated by both constant and time‐varying higher‐moments models. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Citation analysis and impact factor trends in the Ergonomics Journal List, 1975–2007
Authors: Smith Derek R.
Published: November 2009

The current study sought to investigate and analyze citation‐based trends in the field of human factors and ergonomics over a relatively long period of time. Journals were selected from the Ergonomics Journal List (EJL), originally formulated by Dul and Karwowski in 2004. Data were extracted from the Thomson Reuters Journal Citation Reports via a custom order in 2008. Various bibliometric indicators were examined and analyzed, including total citation counts, cited half‐lives, immediacy indices, and journal impact factors. Overall, the results suggest that, although citation counts have increased in recent years, trends were less clear regarding cited half‐lives and immediacy indices. Impact factors rose over time, however, with individual journals increasing their scores between 200% and 613%, with an overall increase of 416% for the EJL between 1975 and 2007. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Model for a solid‐liquid airlift two‐phase partitioning bioscrubber for the treatment of BTEX
Authors: Littlejohns Jennifer V. , McAuley Kim B. , Daugulis Andrew J.
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: Airlift solid–liquid two‐phase partitioning bioreactors (SL‐TPPBs) have been shown to be effective for the treatment of gas streams containing benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and o‐xylene (BTEX). The airlift SL‐TPPB is a low‐energy system that utilizes a sequestering phase of solid silicone rubber beads (10%v/v) that will uptake and release large amounts of BTEX in order to maintain equilibrium conditions within the system. This increases mass transfer from the gas phase during dynamic loading periods and improves degradation performance. This study discusses the development and analysis of a steady‐state, tanks‐in‐series mathematical model, arising from mass balances on BTEX and oxygen in the gas, aqueous and polymer phases to predict the performance of the airlift SL‐TPPB over various gas flow rates and BTEX loadings.

RESULTS: An estimability analysis on model parameters determined that the parameters to which model output is most sensitive are those that affect biological activity, which were targeted for estimation. The developed tanks‐in‐series model was able to predict the removal of BTEX components and dissolved oxygen concentrations over various inlet loadings (20, 60 and 100 mg L−1 h−1) and gas flow rates (2,3 and 4 L min−1) that resulted in a range of system performance from effective BTEX treatment to oxygen limiting conditions.

CONCLUSIONS: The model developed, with estimated parameters, provides a valuable tool to determine operating conditions that will result in favourable performance of the airlift SL‐TPPB. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
The possible role of quinate in the mode of action of glyphosate and acetolactate synthase inhibitors
Authors: Orcaray Luis , Igal María , Marino Daniel , Zabalza Ana , Royuela Mercedes
Published: November 2009

BACKGROUND: The herbicide glyphosate inhibits the biosynthesis of aromatic amino acids by blocking the shikimate pathway. Imazethapyr and chlorsulfuron are two herbicides that act by inhibiting branched‐chain amino acid biosynthesis. These herbicides stimulate secondary metabolism derived from the aromatic amino acids. The aim of this study was to test if they cause any cross‐effect in the amino acid content and if they have similar effects on the shikimate pathway.

RESULTS: The herbicides inhibiting two different amino acid biosynthesis pathways showed a common pattern in general content of free amino acids. There was a general increase in total free amino acid content, with a transient decrease in the proportion of amino acids whose pathways were specifically inhibited. Afterwards, an increase in these inhibited amino acids was detected; this was probably related to proteolysis. All herbicides caused quinate accumulation. Exogenous application of quinate arrested growth, decreased net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance and was ultimately lethal, similarly to glyphosate and imazethapyr.

CONCLUSIONS: Quinate accumulation was a common effect of the two different classes of herbicide. Moreover, exogenous quinate application had phytotoxic effects, showing that this plant metabolite can trigger the toxic effects of the herbicides. This ability to mimic the herbicide effects suggests a possible link between the mode of action of these herbicides and the potential role of quinate as a natural herbicide. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry
Determination of absolute photoionization cross‐sections of aromatics and aromatic derivatives
Authors: Zhou Zhongyue , Xie Mingfeng , Wang Zhandong , Qi Fei
Published: November 2009

The absolute photoionization cross‐sections of aromatics and aromatic derivatives including toluene, ethylbenzene, n‐propylbenzene, o‐xylene, m‐xylene, p‐xylene, 1,3,5‐trimethylbenzene, styrene, phenylacetylene, indene, indane, 1‐methylnaphthalene, benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde were measured at the photon energy range from ionization thresholds to 11.7 eV. The experiments were performed by tunable synchrotron vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization mass spectrometry. Benzene was chosen as a calibration standard, since its photoionization cross‐section is well known. Binary liquid mixtures of the investigated molecules and benzene were used in the measurements. Photo‐induced fragments from the molecules were also observed, and their photoionization cross‐sections are also presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Musculoskeletal Complications of Hemophilia
Authors: Rodriguez-Merchan E. Carlos
Published: November 2009

The most important clinical strategy for management of patients with hemophilia is the avoidance of recurrent hemarthroses by means of continuous, intravenous hematological prophylaxis. When only intravenous on-demand hematological treatment is available, frequent evaluations are necessary for the early diagnosis and treatment of episodes of intra-articular bleeding. The natural history of the disease in patients with poorly controlled intra-articular bleeding is the development of chronic synovitis and, later, multi-articular hemophilic arthropathy. Once arthropathy develops, the functional prognosis is poor. Treatment of these patients should be conducted through a comprehensive program by a multidisciplinary hemophilia unit. Although continuous prophylaxis can avoid the development of the orthopedic complications of hemophilia still seen in the twenty-first century, such a goal has not, so far, been achieved even in developed countries. Therefore, many different surgical procedures such as arthrocentesis, radiosynoviorthesis (radiosynovectomy) (yttrium-90, rhenium-186), tendon lengthenings, alignment osteotomies, joint arthroplasties, removal of pseudotumours, and fixation of fractures are still frequently needed in the care of these patients.
The story of Slovakia's integration into Europe
Authors: Čarnogurský Ján
Published: November 2009

The peaceful separation of Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the fall of Communism is an example of the uncontroversial political recognition of the cultural and historical differences in the old federation. The author describes Slovakia's path to democracy and freedom as deeply entrenched in the Catholic Church and the people's will to fight for religious freedom and human rights during the regime. Finally, the separate accession of Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the European Union symbolises a full recognition of their democratic path and the achievement of Slovakia's dream of ‘Coming back to Europe’.
Iridium Oxide Nanomonitors for Real-Time Health Monitoring Systems
Authors: Venkatraman Vinu L. , Zhang Fengyan , Evans David , Ulrich Bruce , Prasad Shalini
Published: November 2009

An innovative lab-on-a-chip device based on iridium oxide (IrOx) nanowires was designed, fabricated, and developed for real-time “point-of-care” diagnostics. The turnaround time in detection and the need for expensive equipment for analysis have considverably limited rapid and “point-of-care” diagnosis. This research demonstrates the potential of IrOx nanowires toward early disease diagnosis by detecting proteins that are disease markers. The device designed is based on electrical detection of protein biomarkers wherein a single capture immunoassay is built onto a vertically aligned IrOx nanowire platform. Detection of two inflammatory proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) (Calbiochem, La Jolla, CA), that are biomarkers of cardiovascular diseases is demonstrated individually and concurrently. The performance metrics of the device in response to the two biomarkers in pure form and in serum samples were evaluated and compared with standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The methodology that has been adopted is based on measuring real-time impedance changes because of the protein binding event through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and calibrating its change in magnitude with concentration of proteins. We have demonstrated limit of detection up to 500 pg/mL for protein MPO and I ng/mL for CRP with cross-reactivity of less than 8% of selective binding of these two inflammatory biomarkers.
Analysis of Retina and Erythrocyte Glycerophospholipid Alterations in a Rat Model of Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Lydic Todd A. , Renis Rebecca , Busik Julia V. , Reid Gavin E.
Published: November 2009

An automated tandem mass spectrometry—based analysis using precursor ion and neutral loss scans in a triple quadrupole (QqQ) mass spectrometer has been used to identify and quantify changes in the abundances of glycerophospholipids extracted from retina and erythrocytes in a rat streptozotocin model of type I diabetes, 6 and 36 weeks after the induction of diabetes, compared with age-matched nondiabetic controls. The utility of an “internal standard” method compared with an “internal standard free” method for quantification of differences in the abundances of specific lipid ions was evaluated in both retina and erythrocyte lipid extracts. In retina, equivalent results were obtained by using the internal standard and internal standard free methods for quantification. In erythrocytes, the two methods of analysis yielded significantly different results, suggesting that factors intrinsic to particular sample types may influence the outcome of label-free lipidome quantification approaches.

Overall increases (∼25–35%) in the abundances of major retina glycerophospholipid classes were demonstrated in rats at 6 weeks of diabetes, relative to control animals. However, at 36 weeks of diabetes, subsequent overall decreases in retina glycerophosphatidylcholine (GPCho) and glycerophosphatidylethanolamine (GPEtn) abundances of 16% and 33%, respectively, were observed. Additionally, retina and erythrocyte GPCho lipids at both 6 and 36 weeks of diabetes exhibited increased incorporation of linoleic acid(18:2n6) and a decrease in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA(22:6n3)) content. Finally, an approximately fivefold increase in the abundances of specific glycated GPEtn (Amadori-GPEtn) lipids were observed in the retina of 36-week diabetic rats, with a corresponding 1.6-fold increase of Amadori-GPEtn lipids in diabetic erythrocytes.
Pathway Reporter Assays Reveal Small Molecule Mechanisms of Action
Authors: King Frederick J. , Selinger Douglas W. , Mapa Felipa A. , Janes Jeff , Wu Hua , Smith Timothy R. , Wang Qing-Yin , Niyomrattanakitand Pornwaratt , Sipes Daniel G. , Brinker Achim , Porter Jeffrey A. , Myer Vic E.
Published: November 2009

Cell-based, phenotypic screening of small molecules often identifies compounds with provocative biological properties. However, determining the cellular target(s) and/or mechanism of action (MoA) of lead compounds remains an extremely challenging and time-consuming exercise. To provide insights into a compound's cellular action and greatly reduce the time required for MoA determination, we have developed a screening platform consisting of an extensive series of reporter gene assays (RGAs). A collection of > 11,000 compounds of known MoA (e.g., World Drug Index entries) were screened against the entire panel. The output provided evidence that an RGA signature could be ascribed to numerous, biologically diverse MoAs. The reference database generated suggested novel biological activity for particular compounds. For example, the profiling data led to the prediction that the cellular target of the natural product terprenin was dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH), which was confirmed experimentally. The screening methodology developed for this endeavor renders it amenable to the future examination of compounds with unknown MoA, in an automated, inexpensive, and time-efficient manner.
Strong non-Boussinesq effects near the onset of convection in a fluid near its critical point
Authors: AHLERS GUENTER , DRESSEL BERND , OH JAECHUL , PESCH WERNER
Published: November 2009

Measurements of fluctuations and convection patterns in horizontal layers of fluid heated from below and near the onset of Rayleigh–Bénard convection (RBC) are reported under conditions where the fluid properties vary strongly over the temperature range ΔT = Tb − Tt (Tb and Tt are the temperatures at the bottom and top of the sample, respectively). To facilitate a comparison with the data, the theory of Busse (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 30, 1967, p. 625) of these so called non-Oberbeck–Boussinesq (NOB) effects, which applies to the case of relatively weak (and linear) temperature dependences, was extended to arbitrary variations with temperature. It is conceptually useful to divide the variations with temperature of the fluid properties into two disjunct parts. One part is chosen so that it preserves the reflection symmetry of the system about the horizontal midplane, while the remainder breaks that symmetry. The latter, exclusively considered by Busse, leads (in contrast to the formation of the typical convection rolls in RBC) to hexagons immediately above the transition to convection at the critical temperature difference ΔTc. The symmetric part, on the other hand, does not prevent the bifurcation to rolls, but may become very important for the determination of ΔTc. In the experiment the fluid was sulfur hexafluoride at temperatures above but close to the gas–liquid critical point, where all fluid properties vary strongly with temperature. All measurements were done along isobars by varying ΔT. Patterns were observed above onset (ΔT ≳ ΔTc), while for the conduction state at ΔT < ΔTc there were only fluctuations induced by Brownian motion. When the mean temperature Tm = (Tb + Tt)/2 was such that the density ρ at Tm was equal to the critical density ρ*, the mirror symmetry about the horizontal midplane of the sample was essentially preserved. In that case, as expected, we found a direct transition to rolls and the critical temperature difference ΔTc was considerably shifted compared to the critical value ΔTc,OB in the absence of NOB effects. When, on the other hand, Tm was not located on the critical isochore, the NOB effects broke the reflection symmetry and led to a hysteretic transition from fluctuations to hexagonal patterns. In this latter case the hexagonal pattern, the observed hysteresis at onset and the transition from hexagons to rolls at larger ΔT were consistent with the ‘classical’ predictions by Busse.
Roles, perceptions and control of infant feeding among low-income fathers
Authors: Anderson Kirsten E , Nicklas Jennifer C , Spence Marsha , Kavanagh Katherine
Published: November 2009

Objective

Introduction of solid foods before the recommended age of 4–6 months is a common practice in the USA, and appears to be especially prevalent among infants who are enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Currently, little is known about how fathers influence early infant feeding decisions, outside the decision to breast- or formula-feed. The purpose of the current study was to explore how fathers perceive the role they play in feeding and caring for their infants.

Design

Participants were twenty-one male caregivers, who were fathers or partners of the mothers of WIC income-eligible infants residing in two rural East Tennessee counties. In-depth, audio-taped telephone interviews were completed. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed according to standard grounded theory procedures to identify emergent concepts. These concepts were explored and linked together to become themes.

Results

Three themes emerged: (i) fathers’ roles; (ii) fathers’ perceptions; and (iii) control. Concepts within the theme of fathers’ roles included physical and emotional support for both mother and infant, validation of maternal decisions, and financial support. In the present study, fathers’ perceptions were primarily shaped by their own experiences, advice from those with experience, and information sought by the fathers. The theme of control appears to be the linkage between the fathers’ attempts to modify infant behaviour and infants’ response.

Conclusions

A final conceptual model was created to explain the interrelated nature of the themes and may be helpful to those who work with fathers and/or families of new infants.
Direct measurement of spatial modes of a microcantilever from thermal noise
Authors: Paolino Pierdomenico , Tiribilli Bruno , Bellon Ludovic
Published: November 2009

Measurements of the deflection induced by thermal noise have been performed on a rectangular atomic force microscope cantilever in air. The detection method, based on polarization interferometry, can achieve a resolution of 10−14 m/Hz in the frequency range 1–800 kHz. The focused beam from the interferometer probes the cantilever at different positions along its length, and the spatial modes’ shapes are determined up to the fourth resonance, without external excitation. Results are in good agreement with theoretically expected behavior. From this analysis accurate determination of the elastic constant of the cantilever is also achieved.
The thermodynamic and ground state properties of the TIP4P water octamer
Authors: Asare E. , Musah A-R. , Curotto E. , Freeman David L. , Doll J. D.
Published: November 2009

Several stochastic simulations of the TIP4P [W. L. Jorgensen, J. Chandrasekhar, J. D. Madura, R. W. Impey, and M. L. Klein, J. Chem. Phys. 79, 926 (1983)] water octamer are performed. Use is made of the stereographic projection path integral and the Green’s function stereographic projection diffusion Monte Carlo techniques, recently developed in one of our groups. The importance sampling for the diffusion Monte Carlo algorithm is obtained by optimizing a simple wave function using variational Monte Carlo enhanced with parallel tempering to overcome quasiergodicity problems. The quantum heat capacity of the TIP4P octamer contains a pronounced melting peak at 160 K, about 50 K lower than the classical melting peak. The zero point energy of the TIP4P water octamer is 0.0348±0.0002 hartree. By characterizing several large samples of configurations visited by both guided and unguided diffusion walks, we determine that both the TIP4P and the SPC [H. J. C. Berendsen, J. P. Postma, W. F. von Gunsteren, and J. Hermans, (Intermolecular Forces, Reidel, 1981). p. 331] octamer have a ground state wave functions predominantly contained within the D2d basin of attraction. This result contrasts with the structure of the global minimum for the TIP4P potential, which is an S4 cube. Comparisons of the thermodynamic and ground-state properties are made with the SPC octamer as well.
Strong ferromagnetic Josephson devices with optimized magnetism
Authors: Robinson J. W. A. , Barber Z. H. , Blamire M. G.
Published: November 2009

We show that by interfacing Co with Rh in Nb-based superconductor-ferromagnetic-superconductor (SFS) Josephson devices, the bulk magnetization of the Co barrier is completely preserved, thus eliminating the issue of a magnetic dead layer present in other SFS devices. Electrical measurements demonstrate high transparency for Cooper pairs at the Rh/Co interface which results in large critical currents in the π state which are comparable to those of Nb/Co/Nb devices [J. W. A. Robinson et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 177003 (2006)].
Silver half-shell arrays with controlled plasmonic response for fluorescence enhancement optimization
Authors: Farcău Cosmin , Aştilean Simion
Published: November 2009

Regular arrays of interconnected silver half-shells (HSs) deposited on self-organized polystyrene microspheres are proposed as plasmonic substrates for metal-enhanced fluorescence. An emission enhancement of 28 times was demonstrated for Rose Bengal fluorophore placed at about 1 nm above HSs. The enhancement correlates with the spectral overlap between the fluorophore emission and the plasmonic resonance of the HSs, indicating a surface plasmon-coupled emission mechanism for the amplification. As the overlap can be easily tuned by controlling the diameter of underlying microspheres, such plasmonic structures could be relevant for building fluorescence-based sensing devices with optimized efficiency for any given fluorophore.
Estimation of molar absorptivities and pigment sizes for eumelanin and pheomelanin using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Piletic Ivan R. , Matthews Thomas E. , Warren Warren S.
Published: November 2009

Fundamental optical and structural properties of melanins are not well understood due to their poor solubility characteristics and the chemical disorder present during biomolecular synthesis. We apply nonlinear transient absorption spectroscopy to quantify molar absorptivities for eumelanin and pheomelanin and thereby get an estimate for their average pigment sizes. We determine that pheomelanin exhibits a larger molar absorptivity at near IR wavelengths (750nm), which may be extended to shorter wavelengths. Using the molar absorptivities, we estimate that melanin pigments contain ∼46 and 28 monomer units for eumelanin and pheomelanin, respectively. This is considerably larger than the oligomeric species that have been recently proposed to account for the absorption spectrum of eumelanin and illustrates that larger pigments comprise a significant fraction of the pigment distribution.
Breeding, genetics and models.
Authors: Dixon G. R.
Published: November 2009

This chapter focuses on various aspects of Brassica breeding and genetics research. Information is given on genomic characters and taxonomy; floral biology as related to controlled pollination; micropropagation; genomics and mapping; callus culture, fusion and transformation of brassicas. Some procedures used for brassica breeding are described and the use of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model to elucidate genetic and molecular functions in brassicas is discussed.
Developmental physiology.
Authors: Dixon G. R.
Published: November 2009

This chapter focuses on the developmental physiology of brassica crops, with emphasis on Brussels sprout, cauliflower, calabrese (green broccoli), cabbage and Chinese cabbage. It describes the various crop growth phases of brassicas as affected by different factors such as climate, plant nutrient status and genotype.
Crop agronomy.
Authors: Dixon G. R.
Published: November 2009

Brassicas are the predominant group of field vegetables worldwide harvested for immediate fresh consumption or with the minimum postharvest preparation. This chapter discusses the responses of brassica crops to soil nutrient status as well as to various agronomic practices, including fertilizer application, manipulation of drilling or planting dates and crop geometry, and irrigation.
Postharvest quality and value.
Authors: Dixon G. R.
Published: November 2009

This chapter describes the various postharvest quality parameters (colour and gloss, viscosity, size and shape, defects, texture, and flavour) as well as the health and welfare benefits of vegetable brassicas. It discusses the changes in this postharvest qualities in relation to conditions during cultivation, harvesting, storage and transport. Different physiological disorders of brassicas are described, and the interaction of brassica genotype, pathogen and quality is discussed.
Introduction: the tomato crop and industry.
Authors: Costa J. M. , Heuvelink E.
Published: November 2009

This chapter briefly covers the classification and taxonomy of the tomato, genetic variation within the Lycopersicon genus, and the origin, history and uses of the tomato. The general characteristics of fresh and processed tomatoes are mentioned and the types available (classic round; cherry and cocktail; plum and baby plum; beefsteak; and vine or truss) are briefly described. A worldwide overview of today's tomato industry is presented, followed by short descriptions of tomato production in different countries grouped under the following geographical regions: Europe and Turkey (Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal, Netherlands and Belgium, France, Germany and the UK, and Turkey), South Asia (China, India, Japan and South Korea), North America (USA and Canada), Central and South America (Chile and Mexico, and Brazil), Oceania (Australia and New Zealand) and Africa and the Middle East. Finally, future perspectives for the tomato industry are considered.