bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Interaction in Patients’ Hospital Choice: Evidence from Italy
Authors: Moscone F. , Tosetti E. , Vittadini G.
Published: October 2011

We study the influence of social interaction on patients’ choice of hospital and its relationship with the quality that is delivered by hospitals, using Italian data. We explore the effect on individual choices of a set of variables such as travel distance and individual- and hospital-specific characteristics, as well as a variable capturing the effect of the neighbourhood. The richness of our data allows us to disentangle the influence of sharing information (the network) on patients’ choices of hospital from contextual effects. Our empirical investigation suggests that past experience in the utilization of health services by the network plays a significant role in explaining current patients’ choices of hospital. Other relevant factors that influence patients’ decisions of being admitted in a particular hospital are prior use of health services in that hospital, patient-to-hospital distance and supply factors such as the number of beds and number of doctors. We then investigate the relationship between a set of health outcome indicators and the sensitivity of patients’ choices to the network, to test whether sharing information increases the likelihood of selecting a high quality hospital. Our results suggest that social interaction does not have an influence on health outcomes, and in some cases it may even mislead patients, who end up in low quality institutions. One explanation for this result is the absence of a source of information on the quality of hospitals that is accessible to all individuals, such as guidelines or star ratings, which may exacerbate the influence of information that is gathered locally on choices of hospital and may result in a lower degree of competition between hospitals and lower quality.
MARGINS AND MONSTERS: HOW SOME MICRO CASES LEAD TO MACRO CLAIMS1
Authors: CHIN CHUANFEI
Published: October 2011

How do micro cases lead us to surprising macro claims? Historians often say that the micro level casts light on the macro level. This metaphor of “casting light” suggests that the micro does not illuminate the macro straightforwardly; such light needs to be interpreted. In this essay, I propose and clarify six interpretive norms to guide micro‐to‐macro inferences.

I focus on marginal groups and monsters. These are popular cases in social and cultural histories, and yet seem to be unpromising candidates for generalization. Marginal groups are dismissed by the majority as inferior or ill‐fitting; their lives seem intelligible but negligible. Monsters, on the other hand, are somehow incomprehensible to society and treated as such. First, I show that, by looking at how a society identifies a marginal group and interacts with it, we can draw surprising inferences about that society's self‐image and situation. By making sense of a monster's life, we can draw inferences about its society's mentality and intelligibility. These will contest our conception of a macro claim. Second, I identify four risks in making such inferences — and clarify how norms of coherence, challenge, restraint, connection, provocation, and contextualization can manage those risks.

My strategy is to analyze two case studies, by Richard Cobb, about a band of violent bandits and a semi‐literate provincial terrorist in revolutionary France. Published in 1972, these studies show Cobb to be an inventive and idiosyncratic historian, who created new angles for studying the micro level and complicated them with his autobiography. They illustrate how a historian's autobiographical, literary, and historiographical interests can mix into a risky, and often rewarding, style.
UNCERTAINTY AND THE HISTORY OF IDEAS
Authors: BLAU ADRIAN
Published: October 2011

Intellectual historians often make empirical claims, but can never know for certain if these claims are right. Uncertainty is thus inevitable for intellectual historians. But accepting uncertainty is not enough: we should also act on it, by trying to reduce and report it. We can reduce uncertainty by amassing valid data from different sources to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of competing explanations, rather than trying to “prove” an empirical claim by looking for evidence that fits it. Then we should report our degree of certainty in our claims. When we answer empirical questions in intellectual history, we are not telling our readers what happened: we are telling them how strong we think our evidence is—a crucial shift of emphasis. For intellectual historians, then, uncertainty is subjective, as discussed by Keynes and Collingwood; the paper thus explores three differences between subjective and objective uncertainty. Having outlined the theoretical basis of uncertainty, the paper then offers examples from actual research: Noel Malcolm's work shows how to reduce and report uncertainty about composition, and David Wootton's work shows how to reduce and report uncertainty about beliefs.
Employer attitudes towards social insurance compliance in Shanghai, China
Authors: Nyland Chris , Thomson S. Bruce , Zhu Cherrie J.
Published: October 2011

Managing employer social insurance compliance is a particularly difficult governance challenge in emerging economies that have weak regulatory regimes. Utilizing qualitative evidence from eight case studies conducted in Shanghai, the People's Republic of China, this article details how employers respond to attempts by the State to manage social insurance behaviour. Five concerns arose from employers' perceptions and responses to the established policies and regulatory structures: construction of an effective policy, level playing field, cost control, firm reputation, and recruitment and retention. Further, the findings indicate that there are three enterprise features that could affect compliance behaviour: risk factors, skill composition of the workforce, and form of ownership. It was anticipated that firm size may affect compliance behaviour, but no clear pattern emerged.
Degradation of azo dye by the fluidised‐bed Fenton process
Authors: Pukdee‐Asa Massakul , Su Chia‐Chi , Ratanatamskul Chavalit , Lu Ming‐Chun
Published: October 2011

A fluidised‐bed Fenton process was utilised for the homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton degradation of three azo dyes: CI Reactive Black 5, CI Reactive Orange 16 and CI Reactive Blue 2. The effects of the concentration of Fe2+ and hydrogen peroxide on the decolorisation and degradation of the azo dyes were examined. More than 96% of colour removal of the azo dyes was achieved using the fluidised‐bed Fenton process. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of the three azo dyes followed pseudo‐second‐order kinetics at various Fe2+ and hydrogen peroxide concentrations. COD removal of the three azo dyes increased with increasing Fe2+ concentration and was more than 85%. In addition, the COD removal efficiency of the three types of azo dyes first increased and then decreased as the hydrogen peroxide concentration increased. Presumably, the scavenging effect of hydrogen peroxide on hydroxyl radicals occurs at high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The most efficient COD removal was found at 160–220 mg/l hydrogen peroxide. More than 80% of the COD was eliminated at pH 3 in 20 mg/l Fe2+ and 160 mg/l hydrogen peroxide for CI Reactive Black 5, 25 mg/l Fe2+ and 160 mg/l hydrogen peroxide for CI Reactive Orange 16 and 20 mg/l Fe2+ and 160 mg/l hydrogen peroxide for CI Reactive Blue 2.
Absolute sea levels and isostatic changes of the eastern North Sea to central Baltic region during the last 900 years
Authors: Hansen Jens Morten , Aagaard Troels , Binderup Merete
Published: October 2011

Most studies of late Holocene sea‐level changes generally assume stable tectonic conditions. However, unrecognized neotectonic ‘noise’, even the small rates of passive continental margins, can severely distort sea‐level reconstructions of the late Holocene. The detailed sea‐level curve proposed here is reconstructed by identification of an area (Læsø archipelago in the Kattegat Sea) where small neotectonic level changes and other kinds of ‘background noise’ can be precisely quantified by advanced LiDAR techniques. We show that the absolute (‘eustatic’) sea level of Kattegat has risen by 110±14 cm since AD 1300 and that the Little Ice Age lowstand occurred between 1250 and 1750. Thereafter, four oscillations with a cyclicity of ∼70 years peaked around 1790, 1860, 1920–1950 (double peak), and at the present. We discuss the global implications of the curve, for example that the acceleration in the present sea‐level rise may be part of this 70‐year cyclicity, and that the non‐anthropogenic sea‐level rise between 1700 and 1790 seems faster than the present and projected sea‐level rise for the 21st century. Moreover, the conspicuous sea‐level fall at the beginning of the Little Ice Age confirms that ice‐cap growth can be faster than ice‐cap melting. By comparison with 29 long‐term tide gauge measurements of the region we show that the isostatic implications of the sea‐level curve are in nearly perfect agreement with Peltier's global isostatic VM2 model (applied by IPCC and PSMSL) and yield a 3–4 times smaller spread of isostatic rates. Owing to this higher precision it is possible to produce a reliable isostatic map of SW Scandinavia, Denmark, N Germany and NW Poland. This new map identifies an isostatic jump by ∼0.6 mm a−1 at the Ringkøbing‐Fyn Basement High, separating the isostatic pattern of the North German Basin from the isostatic pattern of the Danish Basin and the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Uncertain Sightings and the Extinction of the Ivory‐Billed Woodpecker
Authors: SOLOW ANDREW , SMITH WOOLLCOTT , BURGMAN MARK , ROUT TRACY , WINTLE BRENDAN , ROBERTS DAVID
Published: October 2011

Abstract:  The extinction of a species can be inferred from a record of its sightings. Existing methods for doing so assume that all sightings in the record are valid. Often, however, there are sightings of uncertain validity. To date, uncertain sightings have been treated in an ad hoc way, either excluding them from the record or including them as if they were certain. We developed a Bayesian method that formally accounts for such uncertain sightings. The method assumes that valid and invalid sightings follow independent Poisson processes and use noninformative prior distributions for the rate of valid sightings and for a measure of the quality of uncertain sightings. We applied the method to a recently published record of sightings of the Ivory‐billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis). This record covers the period 1897–2010 and contains 39 sightings classified as certain and 29 classified as uncertain. The Bayes factor in favor of extinction was 4.03, which constitutes substantial support for extinction. The posterior distribution of the time of extinction has 3 main modes in 1944, 1952, and 1988. The method can be applied to sighting records of other purportedly extinct species.
Computational modeling of epilepsy
Authors: Case Marianne , Soltesz Ivan
Published: October 2011

With the rapid rise in our knowledge about the structural and functional properties of neuronal microcircuits and the exponentially increasing power of computers, it has become possible to closely integrate experimental findings with large‐scale, anatomically and biophysically realistic computational simulations of control and epileptic neuronal networks with unprecedented precision and predictive power. In this paper, we discuss the biological basis of model development, and outline specific applications, including exciting new computational and experimental results concerning the roles of aberrant hyperconnected hub‐like neurons in seizures.
Classification of EEG patterns in patients with impaired consciousness
Authors: Hirsch Lawrence J.
Published: October 2011

There is significant variability and controversy regarding the interpretation, nomenclature, and clinical implications of many EEG patterns seen in encephalopathic patients. The American Clinical Neurophysiology Society has attempted to create well‐defined, objective rules for naming these patterns in order to allow scientific investigation into their significance. After many revisions, clarifications in definitions, and Web‐based training modules, interrater reliability has improved. A perfect system for describing complex wave forms with words will never be perfect; scalp EEG itself has substantial limitations, as intracranial recordings in neurocritical care patients have shown. The latest version of the nomenclature is available at http://www.acns.org.
Cellular mechanisms underlying EEG waveforms during coma
Authors: Amzica Florin , Kroeger Daniel
Published: October 2011

This paper describes the various electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns expressed by the comatose brain, starting with the sleep‐like oscillations associated with light coma. Deeper coma generally displays a burst‐suppression pattern characterized by alternating episodes of isoelectric (flat) EEG and bursting slow waves. The latter are the result of cortical hyperexcitability, as demonstrated by intracellular recordings in anesthetized animals. Further deepening of the coma yields to continuous isoelectric EEG and eventually results in a newly discovered type of spiky waves that have been termed ν‐complexes. They originate in the hippocampus as a result of intrinsically generated oscillations (ripples) in the delta range.
Canine status epilepticus: A translational platform for human therapeutic trials
Authors: Leppik Ilo E. , Patterson Edward N. , Coles Lisa D. , Craft Elise M. , Cloyd James C.
Published: October 2011

Current treatment of human status epilepticus (SE) relies on drugs developed for chronic treatment of epilepsy. Many potent compounds have been discovered in animal models of SE. But they may never be useful for chronic treatment of epilepsy and thus not available for human use. Naturally occurring canine SE may become a translational platform for evaluating these compounds for eventual use in human trials. A pilot study of levetiracetam in canine SE demonstrated a 56% response rate compared to 10% for placebo. Based on these results we have obtained an NIH R‐21 to further evaluate canine SE as a translational platform for developing new approaches for treating human SE.
The effect of abutment dis/reconnections on peri‐implant bone resorption: A radiologic study of platform‐switched and non‐platform‐switched implants placed in animals
Authors: Rodríguez Xavier , Vela Xavier , Méndez Víctor , Segalà Maribel , Calvo‐Guirado Jose L. , Tarnow Dennis P.
Published: October 2011

Objectives:

The purpose of this animal study was to radiologically measure the influence of abutment disconnection on bone resorption and to compare this influence on platform‐switched vs. non‐platform‐switched implants.

Methods:

The study design included extraction of all mandibular premolars in five canines . After 2 months, six implants were placed in each dog. Four of them were platform‐switched (PS) implants and two were non‐platform‐switched (NPS) implants. Some or all of the abutments connected to the implants were disconnected at pre‐ordained post‐surgical intervals. Radiographs were taken at the time of implant placement and at every handling. The values for mesial (horizontal and vertical) and distal (horizontal and vertical) bone resorption were taken and compared for each implant at every abutment dis/reconnection.

Results:

The average vertical bone resorption around NPS implants after four dis/reconnections was 1.09 mm (SD 0.25 mm), and the average horizontal bone resorption was 0.98 mm (SD 0.27 mm). The average vertical bone resorption around PS implants after four dis/reconnections was 0.24 mm, (SD 0.08 mm) and the average horizontal bone resorption was 0.24 mm (SD 0.13 mm). The difference of the average horizontal and vertical bone resorption around NPS (site D) and PS (site A) implants was statically significant (P < 0.05). The average mesial and distal bone resorption values around PS (site A) implant adjacent to a tooth were compared, and statically significant differences were found (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Implants with a PS design show less peri‐implant bone resorption during the healing process and as their abutments are disconnected, than do comparably dis/reconnected NPS implants. The location of the PS implant next to a tooth may decrease radiographically visible peri‐implant bone resorption significantly.
Gene networks and haloperidol‐induced catalepsy
Authors: Iancu O. D. , Darakjian P. , Malmanger B. , Walter N. A. R. , McWeeney S. , Hitzemann R.
Published: October 2011

The current study examined the changes in striatal gene network structure induced by short‐term selective breeding from a heterogeneous stock for haloperidol response. Brain (striatum) gene expression data were obtained using the Illumina WG 8.2 array, and the datasets from responding and non‐responding selected lines were independently interrogated using a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). We detected several gene modules (groups of coexpressed genes) in each dataset; the membership of the modules was found to be largely concordant, and a consensus network was constructed. Further validation of the network topology showed that using approximately 35 samples is sufficient to reliably infer the transcriptome network. An in‐depth analysis showed significant changes in network structure and gene connectivity associated with the selected lines; these changes were validated using a bootstrapping procedure. The most dramatic changes were associated with a gene module richly annotated with neurobehavioral traits. The changes in network connectivity were concentrated in the links between this module and the rest of the network, in addition to changes within the module; this observation is consistent with recent results in protein and metabolic networks. These results suggest that a network‐based strategy will help identify the genetic factors associated with haloperidol response.
What Does Premature Ejaculation Mean to the Man, the Woman, and the Couple?
Authors: Graziottin Alessandra , Althof Stanley
Published: October 2011

Introduction

The relational impact of male and female sexual dysfunction, and specifically premature ejaculation (PE), is an important consideration. Published findings are consistent in identifying the negative psychosocial impact of PE on the man. However, the effect of PE on the female partner, especially in relation to her sexual functioning, has been less well studied.

Aim

Provide an overview of the impact of PE on the man, the woman, and the couple.

Methods

Review of relevant literature.

Results

Female partners of men with PE report significantly greater sexual problems, with reduced satisfaction, increased distress and interpersonal difficulty, and more orgasmic problems than partners of non-PE men. Both men with PE and their partners feel control over ejaculation is the central issue in PE. For both, the lack of control leads to dissatisfaction, a feeling that something is missing from the relationship, and an impaired sense of intimacy. If left untreated, the situation can lead to increased irritability, interpersonal difficulties, and deepening of an emotional divide.

Conclusions

When treating a man with PE, the partner's participation should be encouraged to enable the physician to fully understand the extent of the problem, and consider other relevant factors, from her perspective. Identifying the best approach for the couple requires consultation with each person individually and together. In clinical practice, treatments for PE are likely to include a combination of pharmacological, psychological, sexological, and/or behavioral approaches for both the man and his partner. It is important that physicians regard PE as the couple's problem and endeavor to include the partner in its management where possible.
THE EFFECT OF pH ON THE EFFICIENCY OF VINIFICATION BY‐PRODUCT EXTRACTS TO INHIBIT LIPID PEROXIDATION IN A LECITHIN LIPOSOME MODEL MATRIX
Authors: KARVELA EVANGELIA , MAKRIS DIMITRIS P. , KALOGEROPOULOS NICK , KARATHANOS VAIOS T.
Published: October 2011

A series of extracts from vinification by‐products, generated under specified, optimal conditions, were tested for their efficiency to inhibit lipid peroxidation in lecithin liposomes at various pH values. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring the kinetics of CDV onset, which over a period of 6 days was found to obey zero‐order kinetics. As positive control samples the synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene and the natural quercetin were also considered. The results obtained showed that the most distinct inhibition as compared with control sample (no antioxidant added) was found upon addition of grape stem extract from the variety Vitis vinifera var. Moschofilero at pH 8, with the kinetics constant (k) being 6.6 × 10−2 CDV/d. By contrast, seed extract from the same variety at pH 2 was prominently prooxidant, with k = 50.7 × 10−2 CDV/d. Extracts from both stems and seeds exhibited large variations as a function of pH, with stem extracts being in general more efficient than seed extracts, but no consistent trend in response to pH was observed. This outcome clearly pointed to efficiency dependence upon both the composition of the extracts and pH.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Because the use of antioxidants in food industry is indispensable, the study of the efficiency of certain widely used plant extracts possessing antioxidant properties becomes imminent. This is because the deployment of natural antioxidants in food matrices has often been accompanied by major discrepancies concerning their efficiency to shield against rancidity. Thus, revealing details on the antioxidant behavior of natural extracts with regard to significant food characteristics, such as pH, is of undisputed importance in utilizing these extracts in a technologically rational way. The results from this study showed that extracts from vinification by‐products, and presumably other extracts from various plant sources, might have variable behavior with regard to inhibiting and/or promoting lipid peroxidation. As this might depend on the pH of the matrix used or other intrinsic factors, the antioxidant potency of a particular extract can be reliably assessed only by case experimentation.
HEAT SHOCK REDUCES BOTH CHILLING INJURY AND THE OVERPRODUCTION OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES IN YELLOW PITAYA (HYLOCEREUS MEGALANTHUS) FRUITS
Authors: NARVÁEZ‐CUENCA CARLOS‐EDUARDO , ESPINAL‐RUIZ MAURICIO , RESTREPO‐SÁNCHEZ LUZ‐PATRICIA
Published: October 2011

Yellow pitaya fruits were heat‐shocked (25C/24 h), stored at 2C for 14 days and then held for 13 days at 18C. Chilling injury (CI), respiration rate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anion radical (O2•‐) and lipid peroxidation product (LPP) levels were measured. Pitting and browning were detected in the control fruit when moving from 2 to 18C. Minor CI symptoms were found in the treated fruit. There was a rapid increase in the levels of H2O2, O2•‐ and LPP in the control fruits when moved to 18C. At the end of the storage, the levels of these compounds were 4.5‐, 4.9‐ and 6.2‐fold higher, respectively, in the control than in the treated fruit. The results suggest that the reactive oxygen species levels in the heat‐shocked fruit were adequate for normal ripening, while the levels in the control group were excessively high, inducing CI symptoms.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Refrigeration is a technique that can be used to extend shelf life of yellow pitaya fruit. Nevertheless, these fruits are susceptible to chilling injury. This research was developed to study the effect of heat shock treatment on the preservation of whole yellow pitaya fruit during refrigeration. Preheating fruit at 25C for 24 h before storage at 2C for 14 days prevented chilling injury during shelf life at 18C. Thus, the combination of heat shock and refrigeration delays the senescence of yellow pitaya fruit and therefore improves its shelf life. Furthermore, this treatment could be useful during quarantine treatments of fruit fly‐infested fruit.
Programs for Calibration‐Based Monte Carlo Simulation of Recharge Areas
Authors: Starn J. Jeffrey , Bagtzoglou Amvrossios C.
Published: October 2011

One use of groundwater flow models is to simulate contributing recharge areas to wells or springs. Particle tracking can be used to simulate these recharge areas, but in many cases the modeler is not sure how accurate these recharge areas are because parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and recharge have errors associated with them. The scripts described in this article (GEN_LHS and MCDRIVER_LHS) use the Python scripting language to run a Monte Carlo simulation with Latin hypercube sampling where model parameters such as hydraulic conductivity and recharge are randomly varied for a large number of model simulations, and the probability of a particle being in the contributing area of a well is calculated based on the results of multiple simulations. Monte Carlo simulation provides one useful measure of the variability in modeled particles. The Monte Carlo method described here is unique in that it uses parameter sets derived from the optimal parameters, their standard deviations, and their correlation matrix, all of which are calculated during nonlinear regression model calibration. In addition, this method uses a set of acceptance criteria to eliminate unrealistic parameter sets.
Comparison of Photosynthetic Components of Wheat Genotypes Under Rain‐fed and Irrigated Conditions
Authors: Khamssi Nahid Niari , Najaphy Abdollah
Published: October 2011

The major environmental factor limiting the range of adaptation for wheat is drought. Fourteen wheat genotypes (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown under two environments (irrigated and rain fed) to determine physiological and photosynthetic responses to drought. Combined analysis of variance of the data showed that the environment was a significant source of variation for leaf chlorophyll content (LCC), stomatal conductance (gs) and grain yield (GY). Wheat genotypes differed significantly for LCC, gs and GY. All the measured traits under water‐stress conditions except maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) were lower than those under nonstress conditions. Mean GY in rain‐fed conditions was 11.26% lower than that in irrigated conditions. The genotypes number 13 (Marvdasht) and 8 (M‐81‐13) exhibited the highest GY per unit area in both irrigation and rain‐fed conditions. It was concluded that the higher LCC and gs under drought‐stress conditions could possibly be the proper criteria for screening the drought‐tolerant wheat genotypes under field conditions.
Effects of sample size, number of markers, and allelic richness on the detection of spatial genetic pattern
Authors: LANDGUTH ERIN L. , FEDY BRADLEY C. , OYLER‐McCANCE SARA J. , GAREY ANDREW L. , EMEL SARAH L. , MUMMA MATTHEW , WAGNER HELENE H. , FORTIN MARIE‐JOSÉE , CUSHMAN SAMUEL A.
Published: October 2011

The influence of study design on the ability to detect the effects of landscape pattern on gene flow is one of the most pressing methodological gaps in landscape genetic research. To investigate the effect of study design on landscape genetics inference, we used a spatially‐explicit, individual‐based program to simulate gene flow in a spatially continuous population inhabiting a landscape with gradual spatial changes in resistance to movement. We simulated a wide range of combinations of number of loci, number of alleles per locus and number of individuals sampled from the population. We assessed how these three aspects of study design influenced the statistical power to successfully identify the generating process among competing hypotheses of isolation‐by‐distance, isolation‐by‐barrier, and isolation‐by‐landscape resistance using a causal modelling approach with partial Mantel tests. We modelled the statistical power to identify the generating process as a response surface for equilibrium and non‐equilibrium conditions after introduction of isolation‐by‐landscape resistance. All three variables (loci, alleles and sampled individuals) affect the power of causal modelling, but to different degrees. Stronger partial Mantel r correlations between landscape distances and genetic distances were found when more loci were used and when loci were more variable, which makes comparisons of effect size between studies difficult. Number of individuals did not affect the accuracy through mean equilibrium partial Mantel r, but larger samples decreased the uncertainty (increasing the precision) of equilibrium partial Mantel r estimates. We conclude that amplifying more (and more variable) loci is likely to increase the power of landscape genetic inferences more than increasing number of individuals.
Leaf shape variation and differentiation in three sympatric white oak species revealed by elliptic Fourier analysis
Authors: Viscosi Vincenzo , Fortini Paola
Published: October 2011

In this paper, elliptical Fourier descriptors (EFDs) were used to study leaf shape variability as a “size‐free” attribute of three sympatric and inter‐fertile white oak species (Quercus frainetto, Q. petraea and Q. pubescens) sampled in a forest located in central Italy. Symmetric and asymmetric leaf components were analysed by multi‐variate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and canonical variate analysis (CVA), separately, with the result that significant differences between the species were explained by symmetric leaf shape traits, whereas asymmetric components did not distinguish between the oak species. Correlation analyses found that the relationships between geographical location, environmental factors and leaf shape were not significant for the three pure species, while a significant correlation was found for the unclassified trees (putative hybrids), suggesting that leaf shape traits, analysed as a symmetric characteristic and without size effects, are indicative of specific genotypes and can be used to describe and explore morphological patterns, which are themselves indicative of hybridization and introgression in white oak species. Elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA) appears to be particularly useful for analysing leaf shape variability and discrimination in the subgenus Quercus, providing an important tool for visualizing the shape attributes that characterize this species complex and playing a notable role in the identification and systematics of this plant subgenus.
Correlation between different genotypes of human cytomegalovirus and Epstein‐Barr virus and peri‐implant tissue status
Authors: Jankovic S , Aleksic Z , Dimitrijevic B , Lekovic V , Milinkovic I , Kenney B
Published: October 2011

Background:  The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of different genotypes of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) in peri‐implantitis and mucositis sites, and to evaluate the correlation between herpesvirus presence and clinical parameters.

Methods:  A total of 80 dental implants (mean time of loading, 4.16 ± 1.8 years) were evaluated during the course of the study (30 peri‐implantitis, 25 mucositis and 25 healthy peri‐implant sites). The following clinical parameters were assessed: visible plaque index, bleeding on probing, suppuration and probing depth. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to identify the presence of different HCMV and EBV genotypes in peri‐implant tissue plaque samples.

Results:  HCMV‐2 was detected in 53.3% and EBV‐1 in 46.6% of the 30 peri‐implantitis sites evaluated. By contrast, HCMV‐2 was not detected in healthy periodontal sites and EBV‐1 was detected in one healthy site. A statistically significant correlation was found between the presence of HCMV‐2 and EBV‐1 genotypes and clinical parameters of peri‐implantitis.

Conclusions:  The results from the present study confirmed the high prevalence of HCMV‐2 and EBV‐1 in the peri‐implant tissue plaque of peri‐implantitis sites and suggests a possible active pathogenic role of the viruses in peri‐implantitis.
Assessing biodiversity in forests using very high‐resolution images and unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Getzin Stephan , Wiegand Kerstin , Schöning Ingo
Published: October 2011

1. Structural diversity and niche differences within habitats are important for stabilizing species coexistence. However, land‐use change leading to environmental homogenization is a major cause for the dramatic decline of biodiversity under global change. The difficulty in assessing large‐scale biodiversity losses urgently requires new technological advances to evaluate land‐use impact on diversity timely and efficiently across space.

2. While cost‐effective aerial images have been suggested for potential biodiversity assessments in forests, correlation of canopy object variables such as gaps with plant or animal diversity has so far not been demonstrated using these images.

3. Here, we show that aerial images of canopy gaps can be used to assess floristic biodiversity of the forest understorey. This approach is made possible because we employed cutting‐edge unmanned aerial vehicles and very high‐resolution images (7 cm pixel−1) of the canopy properties. We demonstrate that detailed, spatially implicit information on gap shape metrics is sufficient to reveal strong dependency between disturbance patterns and plant diversity (R2 up to 0·74). This is feasible because opposing disturbance patterns such as aggregated and dispersed tree retention directly correspond to different functional and dispersal traits of species and ultimately to different species diversities.

4. Our findings can be used as a coarse‐filter approach to conservation in forests wherever light strongly limits regeneration and biodiversity.
‘Chipping in’: Clinical psychologists’ descriptions of their use of formulation in multidisciplinary team working
Authors: Christofides Stella , Johnstone Lucy , Musa Meyrem
Published: October 2011

Objectives. To investigate clinical psychologists’ accounts of their use of psychological case formulation in multidisciplinary teamwork.

Design. A qualitative study using inductive thematic analysis.

Methods. Ten clinical psychologists working in community and inpatient adult mental health services who identified themselves as using formulation in their multidisciplinary team work participated in semi‐structured interviews.

Results. Psychological hypotheses were described as shared mostly through informal means such as chipping in ideas during a team discussion rather than through explicit means such as staff training or case presentations that usually only took place once participants had spent time developing their role within the team. Service context and staff's prior experience were also factors in how explicitly formulation was discussed. Participants reported that they believed that this way of working, although often not formally recognized, was valuable and improved the quality of clinical services provided.

Conclusions. More investigation into this under‐researched but important area of clinical practice is needed, in order to share ideas and support good practice.
Models of Solvent Penetration in Glassy Polymers With an Emphasis on Case II Diffusion. A Comparative Review
Authors: Bargmann S. , McBride A. T. , Steinmann P.
Published: October 2011

The objective of this review is to provide an overview and a classification of the key literature on models of non-Fickian case II type diffusion. Several extensive review articles concerning non-Fickian diffusion exist in the literature; our objective is not to reproduce these worthy contributions. Rather, we focus on a limited number of, seemingly disparate, notable models and attempt to unify them using the language of thermodynamics and continuum mechanics. This attempted unification of selected models arising from various modeling communities serves to elucidate the key strengths and potential weaknesses of the models.
Thermal Characteristics in a Curved Rectangular Channel With Variable Cross-Sectional Area
Authors: Bhunia Avijit , Chen C. L.
Published: October 2011

Heat transfer due to steady, laminar air flow through a curved rectangular channel with a variable cross-sectional (c/s) area is investigated computationally. Such a flow passage is formed between two fin walls of a curved fin heat sink with a 90 deg bend, used in avionics cooling. Simulations are carried out for two different configurations: (a) a variable c/s area curved channel with inlet and outlet sections (entry and exit lengths) that are straight and constant c/s area—termed as the long channel and (b) a variable c/s area curved channel with no entry and exit lengths—termed as the short channel. Multiple secondary flow patterns develop in the curved section of the channel, which in conjunction with the bulk axial flow, lead to the formation of multiple vortices and separation bubbles. The complex 3-D flow structures, as well as the variable c/s area of the curved channel (diverging–converging) significantly alter the heat transfer characteristics, compared to the straight fin heat sink. Secondary flow strengthens with increasing axial (bulk) flow velocity, or Dean number in dimensionless form. This in turn improves heat transfer from all walls, particularly, the outer curvature (concave) wall and the heat sink base. At the highest Dean number condition, the local heat transfer coefficient at certain locations of the outer curvature wall is augmented by as much as 3.5 times, compared to the straight fin walls. The overall channel average heat transfer coefficient is improved by about 40% for the long channels, and about 10% for the short ones. However, the heat transfer enhancement is associated with a penalty of higher pressure drop, compared to the straight channels. To quantify the effectiveness of thermal performance enhancement a system Figure of Merit (FOM) is defined. A greater than unity FOM value is observed for all curved channel geometries and flow rate conditions. This indicates that heat transfer enhancement in the variable c/s area curved channel outweighs the penalty of additional pressure drop, compared to a straight channel of similar length.
The Use of a High Temperature Wind Tunnel for MT-SOFC Testing—Part II: Use of Computational Fluid Dynamics Software in Order to Study Previous Measurements
Authors: Lawlor V. , Hochenauer C. , Griesser S. , Zauner G. , Buchinger G. , Meissner D. , Olabi A. G. , Klein K. , Kuehn S. , Cordiner S. , Mariani A.
Published: October 2011

Micro-tubular solid oxide fuel cells (MT-SOFCs) are a much smaller version of larger tubular SOFCs. They are operational within seconds and allow a higher power density per volume than the larger version. Hence they are a potential technology for automotive, auxiliary and small scale power supply devices. In this study a commercially available computational fluid dynamic (CFD) software program was used to predict a MT-SOFCs performance when located inside a high temperature wind tunnel experimental apparatus. In Part I, experimentally measured temperature profiles were recorded via thermo-graphic analyses and I/V curves. These measurements were used in this study to establish the predictability and validity of the CFD code and furthermore understand the MT-SOFC attributes measured in Part I. A maximum 4% I/V curve deviation and 6 K temperature deviation between the experimentally measured and model predicted results was observed. Thus, the model predicted the MT-SOFCs performance in the experimental environment very accurately. A very critical observation was the current density and temperature profile across the MT-SOFC that was strongly dependent on the distance from the hydrogen/fuel inlet. Not only was the model validated but also a grid and quantitative solution analysis is explicitly shown and discussed. This resulted in the optimum grid density and the indication that a normally undesirable high grid aspect ratio is acceptable for similar MT-SOFC modeling. These initial simulations and grid/solution analysis are the prerequisite before performing a further study including multiple MT-SOFCs within a stack using different fuels is also envisaged.
Modeling and Analysis of Supercritical Startup of a Cryogenic Loop Heat Pipe
Authors: Bai Lizhan , Lin Guiping , Peterson G. P. , Wen Dongsheng
Published: October 2011

Supercritical startup of cryogenic loop heat pipes (CLHPs) has been investigated both analytically and experimentally. Mathematical model of the supercritical startup has been established using the nodal network method, and parametric study is conducted where the effects of working fluid charged pressure, parasitic heat load from the ambient, etc., on the supercritical startup characteristics are incorporated and evaluated. The result improves understanding of the effects of these parameters on supercritical startup and identification of those conditions under which supercritical startup can and will occur. In addition, the modeling effort has led to an enhanced understanding of supercritical startup performance.
Modeling Productivity Index for Long Horizontal Well
Authors: Adesina Fadairo A. S. , Churchill Ako , Olugbenga Falode
Published: October 2011

Horizontal wells have become a popular alternative for the development of hydrocarbon fields around the world because of their high flow efficiency caused by a larger contact area made with the reservoir. Most of the analytical work done in the past on horizontal productivity either assumed that the well is infinitely conductive or the flow is uniform along the entire well length. The infinite conductive assumption is good only when the pressure drop in the wellbore is very small compared to the drawdown in the reservoir otherwise the pressure drop in the wellbore should be taken into account. In this paper, an improved predictive model that takes into account the effect of all possible wellbore pressure losses on productivity index of long horizontal well was developed. Results show that the discrepancies in the predictions of the previous models and experimental results were not only due to effect of friction pressure losses as opined by Cho and Shah but may also be due to all prominent pressure losses such as kinetic change and fluid accumulation experienced by the flowing fluid in a conduit. The effect is most pronounced at the early production time where initial transience at the onset of flow is experienced.
Ag/CeO2 Nanocomposites Obtained by Deposition-Precipitation, Studied by XPS
Authors: Natile Marta Maria , Galenda Alessandro , Glisenti Antonella
Published: October 2011

Ag/CeO2 nanocomposite powders were prepared by a deposition-precipitation procedure. The supporting nanosized ceria was obtained by precipitation at 273 K (in presence of H2O2). The samples are characterized by a nominal (i.e. calculated from the weighted amount of precursors) Ag/Ce wt. ratio of 2% (Accession #1148) and 7% (Accession #1149). The surface properties and the influence of the Ag/Ce atomic ratio are investigated by means of XPS (using a standard Al Kα source). Besides the wide scan spectra, detailed spectra for the Ce 3d, Ce 4d, Ag 3d and O 1s regions and related data are presented and discussed. XPS analysis reveals the presence of small amounts of silver oxides (AgO is observed in the sample with lower Ag/Ce wt. ratio while Ag2O seems to be prevalent in the sample richer in Ag). In both the samples, the surface Ag/Ce atomic ratio obtained from XPS data is rather similar to the nominal one.
Localization and source level estimates of black drum (Pogonias cromis) calls
Authors: Locascio James V. , Mann David A.
Published: October 2011

A four hydrophone linear array was used to localize calling black drum and estimate source levels and signal propagation. A total of 1025 source level estimates averaged 165 dBRMS relative (re:) 1 μPa (standard deviation (SD) = 1.0). The authors suggest that the diverticulated morphology of the black drum swimbladder increase the bladder’s surface area, thus contributing to sound amplitude. Call energy was greatest in the fundamental frequency (94 Hz) followed by the second (188 Hz) and third harmonics (282 Hz). A square root model best described propagation of the entire call, and separately the fundamental frequency and second harmonic. A logarithmic model best described propagation of the third harmonic which was the only component to satisfy the cut-off frequency equation. Peak auditory sensitivity was 300 Hz at a 94 dB re: 1 μPa threshold based on auditory evoked potential measurements of a single black drum. Based on mean RMS source level, signal propagation, background levels, and hearing sensitivity, the communication range of black drum was estimated at 33–108 m and was limited by background levels not auditory sensitivity. This estimate assumed the source and receiver were at approximately 0.5 m above the bottom. Consecutive calls of an individual fish localized over 59 min demonstrated a mean calling period of 3.6 s (SD = 0.48), mean swimming speed of 0.5 body lengths/s, and a total distance swam of 1035 m.
The dynamic range of useful temporal fine structure cues for speech in the presence of a competing talker
Authors: Stone Michael A. , Moore Brian C. J. , Füllgrabe Christian
Published: October 2011

Within an auditory channel, the speech waveform contains both temporal envelope (EO) and temporal fine structure (TFS) information. Vocoder processing extracts a modified version of the temporal envelope (E′) within each channel and uses it to modulate a channel carrier. The resulting signal, E′Carr, has reduced information content compared to the original “EO + TFS” signal. The dynamic range over which listeners make additional use of EO + TFS over E′Carr cues was investigated in a competing-speech task. The target-and-background mixture was processed using a 30-channel vocoder. In each channel, EO + TFS replaced E′Carr at either the peaks or the valleys of the signal. The replacement decision was based on comparing the short-term channel level to a parametrically varied “switching threshold,” expressed relative to the long-term channel level. Intelligibility was measured as a function of switching threshold, carrier type, target-to-background ratio, and replacement method. Scores showed a dependence on all four parameters. Derived intensity-importance functions (IIFs) showed that EO + TFS information from 8–13 dB below to 10 dB above the channel long-term level was important. When EO + TFS information was added at the peaks, IIFs peaked around −2 dB, but when EO + TFS information was added at the valleys, the peaks lay around +1 dB.
Cavitation clouds created by shock scattering from bubbles during histotripsy
Authors: Maxwell Adam D. , Wang Tzu-Yin , Cain Charles A. , Fowlkes J. Brian , Sapozhnikov Oleg A. , Bailey Michael R. , Xu Zhen
Published: October 2011

Histotripsy is a therapy that focuses short-duration, high-amplitude pulses of ultrasound to incite a localized cavitation cloud that mechanically breaks down tissue. To investigate the mechanism of cloud formation, high-speed photography was used to observe clouds generated during single histotripsy pulses. Pulses of 5−20 cycles duration were applied to a transparent tissue phantom by a 1-MHz spherically focused transducer. Clouds initiated from single cavitation bubbles that formed during the initial cycles of the pulse, and grew along the acoustic axis opposite the propagation direction. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that clouds form as a result of large negative pressure generated by the backscattering of shockwaves from a single bubble. The positive-pressure phase of the wave inverts upon scattering and superimposes on the incident negative-pressure phase to create this negative pressure and cavitation. The process repeats with each cycle of the incident wave, and the bubble cloud elongates toward the transducer. Finite-amplitude propagation distorts the incident wave such that the peak-positive pressure is much greater than the peak-negative pressure, which exaggerates the effect. The hypothesis was tested with two modified incident waves that maintained negative pressure but reduced the positive pressure amplitude. These waves suppressed cloud formation which supported the hypothesis.