bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Theoretical study on a 0.6 THz third harmonic gyrotron
Authors: Yuan Xuesong , Lan Ying , Ma Chunyan , Han Yu , Yan Yang
Published: October 2011

A theoretical study on a 0.6 THz third harmonic TE37 mode gyrotron oscillator is reported in this paper in order to develop a compact, reliable, and high power terahertz radiation source. An output power of 4 kW can be generated in the TE37 mode (0.6 THz) at a resonant magnetic field of 7.86 T by the gyrotron oscillator operating at 55 kV/2 A with an electron beam radius of 0.32 mm. A magnetron injection gun (MIG) with high compression ratio has been designed. The simulation results of MIG show that the velocity ratio α is 1.37, and the perpendicular velocity spread and parallel velocity spread are 6.1% and 8.9%, respectively.
Confined shocks inside isolated liquid volumes: A new path of erosion?
Authors: Obreschkow D. , Dorsaz N. , Kobel P. , de Bosset A. , Tinguely M. , Field J. , Farhat M.
Published: October 2011

The unique confinement of shock waves inside isolated liquid volumes amplifies the density of shock–liquid interactions. We investigate this universal principle through an interdisciplinary study of shock-induced cavitation inside liquid volumes, isolated in 2 and 3 dimensions. By combining high-speed visualizations of ideal water drops realized in microgravity with smoothed particle simulations, we evidence strong shock-induced cavitation at the focus of the confined shocks. We extend this analysis to ground-observations of jets and drops using an analytic model and argue that cavitation caused by trapped shocks offers a distinct mechanism of erosion in high-speed impacts (>rsim100ms-1).
Plasma dynamics in microsecond megaampere plasma opening switches
Authors: Loginov S. V.
Published: October 2011

The paper considers the transport of a magnetic field in highly ionized plasma of microsecond megaampere plasma opening switches. Self-similar solutions for plasma aggregation by a linearly increasing magnetic field are derived. For these solutions, the magnetic field energy in the current channel is much lower than the energy of the accelerated plasma flow. The effect of Joule heating of the plasma becomes profound only with a uniform current density. It is shown that the evolution of the magnetic field in the accelerated flow is reduced to diffusion with an effective electrical conductivity proportional to the harmonic average of the Spitzer conductivity and conductivity dependent on the magnetic field in the current channel. Thus, during about the first 100 ns of the current pulse the conductivity of the current channel increases due to the plasma heating and, as the plasma is accelerated, its conductivity decreases.
Using diffusive gradients in thin films to probe the kinetics of metal interaction with algal exudates
Authors: Levy Jacqueline , Zhang Hao , Davison William , Groben Rene
Published: October 2011

Environmental context
Interaction of metals with dissolved organic matter is one of the key processes defining metal bioavailability in water. The technique of diffusive gradients in thin films was used to investigate the kinetics of the interaction between metals and dissolved organic matter released by algae. For most metals the rate at which they were released from the organic matter was fast, but release of iron was kinetically limited.
AbstractThe interaction of metals with organic matter is one of the key processes determining metal speciation and bioavailability in water. Fulvic acid tends to dominate dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in freshwaters, but organic carbon produced in situ, e.g. exudates released by algae and bacteria, is also significant. The technique of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) was used to investigate the lability of metal–exudate complexes using a kinetic signature approach. Exudates were harvested from three cultured freshwater alga (Chlorella vulgaris, Cryptomonas pyrenoidifera, Anabaena flos-aquae) and the filtered media supplemented with trace metals. DGT-labile metal concentrations and kinetic signatures were determined (24-h deployment). The relationship between Fe and DOC was a defining feature of the kinetic signatures. Iron was the most kinetically limited metal followed by Al and Cu, whereas Co, Ni and Pb were effectively completely labile. Exudates from Chlorella vulgaris produced the most DOC and the most marked kinetic limitation.
Synchronicity and the limits of re-enchantment
Authors: Main Roderick
Published: October 2011

Since C.G. Jung's (1875–1961) death fifty years ago the majority of work on synchronicity has concentrated, like Jung's, either on the connections of the concept to science, religion, and the relationship between science and religion, or, more fully than Jung's, on the clinical implications of the concept. However, Jung also hinted at important social and cultural implications of synchronicity that so far have been little explored. The present paper looks at synchronicity in relation to disenchantment – a theme that connects to both science-religion debates and sociological and cultural debates. Using as a reference point Charles Taylor's characterisation inA secular age(2007) of the transformations that led from the enchanted, pre-modern world to the disenchanted, modern world, the paper considers the extent to which Jung's concept of synchronicity contributes to a re-enchantment of the world. It concludes that the re-enchantment is substantial but avowedly partial, for Jung was attempting not, impossibly, to return to pre-modernity but rather to transform modernity by retrieving important aspects of the pre-modern.
First Report of a 16SrIV-D Phytoplasma Associated with Texas Phoenix Palm Decline on Pigmy Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii) in Florida
Authors: Jeyaprakash A. , Sutton B. D. , Halbert S. E. , Schubert T. S.
Published: October 2011

The pigmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien) is used as an ornamental in Florida and is popular and lucrative within the nursery trade. Severe decline of several pigmy date palms was observed at a residence in Hillsborough County, FL. Several other palm species, including P. canariensis (Canary Island date palm), P. sylvestris (wild date palm), P. dactylifera (date palm), Syagrus romanzoffiana (queen palm), and Sabal palmetto (cabbage palm), in Florida are known to be affected by Texas Phoenix palm decline (TPPD), a disease associated with a phytoplasma subgroup strain 16SrIV-D (2,3). Moreover, the location of the affected pigmy date palms was in the proximity of many other diseased cabbage palms that were identified in previous surveys and subsequently rogued. Genomic DNA was extracted from 100 mg of ground-up palm trunk tissues containing phloem cells with a DNeasy Plant Mini kit column (QIAGEN Inc., Valencia, CA) from four specimens. A high-fidelity PCR (Hf-PCR) procedure was used in preference to standard PCR because it was 10,000 to 100,000 times more sensitive (1,4). The Hf-PCR (50 μl) utilized two DNA polymerases; Taq (five units) and ACCUZYME (one unit), 350 μM dNTP, a buffer (50 mM Tris pH 9.2, 16 mM ammonium sulfate, and 1.75 mM magnesium chloride), a higher concentration of primers (200 pM) (2,3), and palm DNA templates (>10 ng) or no DNA negative control. Hf-PCR was performed using three linked profiles: (i) 94°C (2 min) (1 cycle); (ii) 94°C (10 s), 50°C (30 s) for P1m/P7 or 57°C for LY16Sf/LY16Sr and 68°C (2 min) (10 cycles); and (iii) 94°C (10 s), 50°C (30 s) for P1m/P7 or 57°C for LY16Sf/LY16Sr and 68°C (2 min plus 20 s added for every consecutive cycle) (20 cycles) (1). The genomic DNA extracted from P. roebelenii specimens was used as template for amplification by Hf-PCR. Expected 1.8- and 1.4-kb DNA bands for each primer combination were readily amplified. The Hf-PCR products were sequenced (GenBank Accession No. JF791816) and a BLAST search revealed a 100% similarity with a phytoplasma subgroup strain 16SrIV-D (EF042899 and AF434989), which is known to cause severe palm decline (TPPD) in other hosts (2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of TPPD from P. roebelenii, and therefore, expands the host range of this pathogen. In areas where TPPD is present, the landscape industry may need to identify alternative nonhost palm species or resistant varieties for disease management.

References: (1) W. M. Barnes. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:2216, 1994. (2) N. A. Harrison et al. Plant Dis. 86:676, 2002. (3) N. A. Harrison et al. Ann. Appl. Biol. 153:85, 2008. (4) A. Jeyaprakash and M. A. Hoy. Insect Mol. Biol. 9:393, 2000.
Sequence Analysis of 16S rRNA and secA Genes Confirms the Association of 16SrI‐B Subgroup Phytoplasma with Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Stunting Disease in India
Authors: Mehdi Azadvar , Baranwal Virendra Kumar , Kochu Babu Madhavan , Praveena Deepthi
Published: October 2011

During January 2010, severe stunting symptoms were observed in clonally propagated oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India. Leaf samples of symptomatic oil palms were collected, and the presence of phytoplasma was confirmed by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using universal phytoplasma‐specific primer pairs P1/P7 followed by R16F2n/R16R2 for amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and semi‐nested PCR using universal phytoplasma‐specific primer pairs SecAfor1/SecArev3 followed by SecAfor2/SecArev3 for amplification of a part of the secA gene. Sequencing and BLAST analysis of the ∼1.25 kb and ∼480 bp of 16S rDNA and secA gene fragments indicated that the phytoplasma associated with oil palm stunting (OPS) disease was identical to 16SrI aster yellows group phytoplasma. Further characterization of the phytoplasma by in silico restriction enzyme digestion of 16S rDNA and virtual gel plotting of sequenced 16S rDNA of ∼1.25 kb using iPhyClassifier online tool indicated that OPS phytoplasma is a member of 16SrI‐B subgroup and is a ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’‐related strain. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA and secA of OPS phytoplasma also grouped it with 16SrI‐B. This is the first report of association of phytoplasma of the 16SrI‐B subgroup phytoplasma with oil palm in the world.
Reverse line blot hybridisation screening of Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium species in patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Lu Q. , van den Ende A. H. G. Gerrits , de Hoog G. S. , Li R. , Accoceberry I. , Durand‐Joly I. , Bouchara J.‐P. , Hernandez F. , Delhaes L.
Published: October 2011

The PCR‐RLB (reverse line blot hybridisation) was applied as a molecular technique for the detection of members of Pseudallescheria and Scedosporium from sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Fifty‐nine sputum samples were collected from 52 CF patients, which were analysed by culture and PCR‐RLB. Conventional and semi‐selective culture yielded five positive samples, but the PCR‐RLB hybridisation assay permitted the detection of members of Pseudallescheria/Scedosporium in 32 out of 52 patients (61.5%). In total, PCR‐RLB yielded 47 positives. Pseudallescheria apiosperma was detected in 20 samples, while Pseudallescheria boydii and Pseudallescheria aurantiacum were detected in 17 and eight samples, respectively. Six samples gave a positive reaction with two distinct species‐specific probes and one sample with three probes. In conclusion, the PCR‐RLB assay described in this study allows the detection of Scedosporium spp. in CF sputum samples and the identification of Pseudallescheria apiosperma, P. boydii, S. aurantiacum, Scedosporium prolificans and Pseudallescheria minutispora.
Medium spiny neurons of the neostriatal matrix exhibit specific, stereotyped changes in dendritic arborization during a critical developmental period in mice
Authors: Lee Hyunchul , Sawatari Atomu
Published: October 2011

In mice, the matrix compartment of the striatum (caudate/putamen) undergoes major developmental changes during the second postnatal week, including the establishment of corticostriatal and nigrostriatal afferents, the maturation of parvalbumin‐positive interneurons and the appearance of perineuronal nets. It is not known if any of these events influence the dendritic structure of medium spiny neurons, the principal output cells of the striatum. To determine whether any measurable changes in the dendrites of matrix medium spiny neurons occur during this important developmental period, we labeled individual cells at different time points flanking the second postnatal week. These cells exhibit distinct dendritic morphologies from the earliest postnatal time points examined. Furthermore, our data show that the dendritic arbors of these neurons change in length, branch points, diameter and tortuosity, regardless of morphological type. The increase in dendritic length is accompanied by a decrease in the number of branch points that occur in different, but consistent, parts of the dendritic arbor. All of these changes are most pronounced during the second postnatal week, coinciding with a number of developmental events considered important for consolidating circuitry within the striatal matrix. Our results further support the critical importance of this early postnatal period in striatal development.
The early development of pediatric intensive care
Authors: Brown T.C.K.
Published: October 2011

The polio epidemic in Copenhagen in 1952 was a significant stimulus to the development of Intensive Care. Eighty‐five percent of the patients with respiratory involvement died despite the use of Cuirass negative pressure ventilators. After some controversy Ibsen, an anesthetist, was consulted. He found that many patients were dying with CO2 retention. He advocated tracheostomy, suction, and ventilation. Owing to the lack of positive pressure ventilators, this was undertaken by students who contributed 167 000 h of hand ventilation. The mortality decreased to 25%. Anesthetists, having special experience with ventilation, became the leaders in the field as Intensive Care developed.
Tariff Liberalisation and the Growth of World Trade: A Comparative Historical Analysis of the Multilateral Trading System
Authors: Nenci Silvia
Published: October 2011

The aims of this study are to assess the relationship between tariff barriers and world trade growth from a comparative and historical perspective, and to derive some useful indications for evaluating the effectiveness of the current multilateral trading system for promoting world trade. The novelty of this work is the complex reconstruction of a historical tariffs and trade series for the period 1870–2000, for 23 countries; this constitutes a good proxy for world trade (accounting for over 60 per cent) in this period. The effect of tariff liberalisation on trade growth is analysed empirically using panel data and time series. The results, while confirming the existence of a world level long‐term relationship between tariff reductions and trade growth, demonstrate how this substantial and significant relationship pre‐World War II gradually diminished in importance and significance after 1950. This result does not conflict with the key role of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade/World Trade Organization system in trade liberalisation; however, it underlines the importance of a formalised multilateral trading system, not so much for tariff liberalisation, but for building a virtuous process of international coordination of trade policies and ensuring fuller participation in world trade.
Learning a Tonal Language by Attending to the Tone: An In Vivo Experiment
Authors: Liu Ying , Wang Min , Perfetti Charles A. , Brubaker Brian , Wu Sumei , MacWhinney Brian
Published: October 2011

Learning the Chinese tone system is a major challenge to students of Chinese as a second or foreign language. Part of the problem is that the spoken Chinese syllable presents a complex perceptual input that overlaps tone with segments. This complexity can be addressed through directing attention to the critical features of a component (tone in this case) within a complex perceptual input stimulus. We tested hypotheses based on this feature‐focusing assumption in an in vivo classroom setting. First‐year students in a Chinese language program at a U.S. university were trained to identify the tones of 228 syllables learned across eight lessons in the first semester. Three learning conditions were designed to support tone learning by presenting (a) visual pitch contours that depict the acoustic shape of the tones, together with pinyin spelling of the spoken syllables (Contour + Pinyin condition); (b) numbers that represent the tones in traditional computer interface, together with pinyin spelling of the spoken syllables (Number + Pinyin condition); and (c) visual pitch contours without pinyin spelling (Contour Only condition). Analyses of student activity logs (learning curves) and pretests and posttests showed significant effects of learning condition. The results suggested that the Contour + Pinyin condition had more error reduction in tone recognition over the activity log than the Contour Only condition and greater improvement from the pretest to posttest than the Number + Pinyin condition. These findings point at the value of separate support for the two major components (tone and segments) of a tonal language.
GLOBALISATION AND WAGE DIFFERENTIALS: A SPATIAL ANALYSIS*
Authors: FINGLETON BERNARD , BADDELEY MICHELLE CATHERINE
Published: October 2011

Fujita, Krugman and Venables (FKV) develop a model in which international wage differentials encourage industrial mobility. We argue that globalization has another important dimension. Shocks may originate in a single country but, with modern transportation and telecommunications media, shocks spread quickly and with multiple shocks complex spillovers will be generated. We assess these forces in an analysis of international wage convergence, identifying a non‐linear relationship and showing that not all countries converge. Given that the FKV model omits many of the causes of non‐convergence, our evidence further demonstrates that the FKV model could usefully be extended.
ZERO NOMINAL INTEREST RATES, UNEMPLOYMENT, EXCESS RESERVES AND DEFLATION IN A LIQUIDITY TRAP
Authors: Murota Ryu‐ichiro , Ono Yoshiyasu
Published: October 2011

We present a dynamic monetary model that consistently explains various phenomena such as unemployment, deflation, zero nominal interest rates and excess reserves held by commercial banks. These phenomena were observed during the Great Depression in the USA, the recent long‐run stagnation in Japan and the recent depression triggered by the subprime loan problem in the USA. We show that an excessive liquidity preference leads to a liquidity trap and thereby generates the phenomena.
‘The Root Is Maya, the Practice Is Pluralist’: Xel‐jú and Indigenous Political Mobilisation in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Authors: RASCH ELISABET DUEHOLM
Published: October 2011

Since the 1990s Latin America has witnessed the emergence of ethnic, often social movement‐based, political parties. Within this context Rigoberto Quemé Chay became the first indigenous mayor of Quetzaltenango, the second‐largest city of Guatemala, a place that until then had been marked by indigenous political exclusion and racism. This article seeks to explain why Quemé was victorious in 1995 and also why he subsequently lost the election in 2004 through an analysis of the ideational struggle within the (indigenous) political organisation, Xel‐jú, which backed Quemé's candidacy twice. I use the movements of ‘departure’, ‘manoeuvre’ and ‘arrival’ in the process of the constitution of hegemonic visions of power to analyse Xel‐jú's rise to political power.
New approaches for determining a common set of weights for a voting system
Authors: Foroughi Ali Asghar , Aouni Belaïd
Published: October 2011

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is one of the methods that have been proposed to determine the weights in a ranked voting system. DEA solves one model corresponding to each candidate and evaluates candidates with their own weights. However, sometimes solving only one model, and evaluating the candidates based on a common set of weights, is preferred. In this paper, some drawbacks of existing models are explained and new approaches for determining a common set of weights are proposed. Numerical examples are utilized to illustrate the content of the paper.
Let's talk about us: Attachment, relationship‐focused disclosure, and relationship quality
Authors: TAN ROSABEL , OVERALL NICKOLA C. , TAYLOR JASMINE K.
Published: October 2011

This research tested whether attachment avoidance and anxiety were associated with couples' (N = 59) disclosure during recorded discussions of recent events. The links between attachment and disclosure with relationship quality across 1 year were also assessed. Attachment was not associated with amount or intimacy of disclosure, but greater attachment anxiety was associated with more relationship‐focused disclosure, whereas attachment avoidance was associated with less relationship‐focused disclosure. Relationship‐focused disclosure was also positively associated with relationship quality across time, whereas attachment avoidance predicted lower relationship quality. These findings indicate that spontaneous relationship‐focused disclosure during routine conversations helps maintain relationships, but because people high in avoidance are less focused on sustaining closeness, their relationships tend to deteriorate over time.
Guild structure of ambrosia beetles attacking a deciduous oak treeQuercus serratain relation to wood oldness and seasonality in three locations in the Central Japan
Authors: SANGUANSUB Sunisa , GOTO Hideaki , KAMATA Naoto
Published: October 2011

In order to determine factors influencing ambrosia beetle guilds onQuercus serrata, we investigated ambrosia beetles guilds by usingQ. serratabait logs in three locations in the Central Japan. Timing of cutting trees and timing of exposure were artificially controlled. Influences of location, timing of cutting, timing of exposure and wood oldness on species richness, abundances and guild structure were analyzed. Species richness and abundance peaked on bolts prepared in April–May, on bolts exposed in July, and on 2–3‐month‐old bolts. Eliminating greatest influences of location on abundance, results of hierarchical partitioning showed that timing of cutting trees had a strong influence on both species richness and abundance. LOC‐A (Aichi), in which Japanese oak wilt disease incidence occurred, showed the greatest species richness and the smallest value of Pielou's evenness. Abundance of the most major species was more than twice that of the second major species, which was a likely cause of the smallest evenness in LOC‐A. Trees killed by the Japanese oak wilt disease may have increased the abundance of the major species. On the contrary, in LOC‐C (Chichibu), alpha and beta diversity both given by Shannon index and Pielou's evenness were greatest among the three locations although species richness was smallest. High similarity between guilds in LOC‐A and LOC‐B (Chiba) was probably caused by similarity in vegetation. The location had the greatest effect on determining guild structure. Effect of timing of exposure was greater than timing of cutting. The effect of wood oldness was negligible. A hierarchical structure among the three factors was a likely cause of their relative importance determining guild structure.
An Automated Procedure Logging System Improves Resident Documentation Compliance
Authors: Seufert Thomas S. , Mitchell Patricia M. , Wilcox Allison R. , Rubin‐Smith Julia E. , White Laura F. , McCabe Kerry K. , Schneider Jeffrey I.
Published: October 2011

Academic Emergency Medicine 2011; 18:S54–S58 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of an automated procedure logging (APL) system on the number of procedures logged by emergency medicine (EM) residents. Secondary objectives were to assess the APL’s effect on completeness and accuracy of procedure logging and to measure resident compliance with the system.

Methods:  This was a before‐and‐after study conducted at a university‐affiliated, urban medical center, with an annual emergency department census of >130,000. The EM residency is a 4‐year, Residency Review Committee (RRC)‐accredited program with 12 residents per year. We developed software to electronically search and abstract resident procedures documented in the electronic medical record (EMR) and automatically export them into a Web‐based residency management system. We compared the mean daily number of procedures logged for two 6‐month periods: October 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010 (pre‐APL), and October 1, 2010, to March 31, 2011 (post‐APL), using a two‐sample t‐test. We also generated a random sample of 231 logged procedures from both the pre‐ and post‐APL time periods to assess for completeness and accuracy of data transfer. Completeness and accuracy in the pre‐ and post‐APL periods were compared using Fisher’s exact test. Aggregate resident compliance with the system was also measured.

Results:  The mean daily number of procedures logged increased by 168% (10.0 vs. 26.8, mean difference = 16.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 15.4 to 18.2, p < 0.001) after the implementation of APL. Procedures logged with the APL system were more complete (76% vs. 100%, p < 0.001) and more accurate (87% vs. 99%, p < 0.001). Most residents (42/48, 88%) used APL to log at least 90% of procedures. Only 4% of procedures eligible for automation were logged manually in the post‐APL period.

Conclusions:  There was a significant increase in the daily mean number of procedures logged after the implementation of APL. Recorded data were more complete and more accurate during this time frame. This innovative system improved resident logging of required procedures and helped our assessment of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Patient Care and Practice‐Based Learning Competencies for individual residents.
Diversity in Emergency Medicine Education: Expanding the Horizon
Authors: Bowman Steven H. , Moreno‐Walton Lisa , Ezenkwele Ugo A. , Heron Sheryl L.
Published: October 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:S104–S109 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

An emergency medicine (EM)‐based curriculum on diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency can also serve as a mechanism to introduce topics on health care disparities. Although the objectives of such curricula and the potential benefits to EM trainees are apparent, there are relatively few resources available for EM program directors to use to develop these specialized curricula. The object of this article is to 1) broadly discuss the current state of curricula of diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency in EM training programs; 2) identify tools and disseminate strategies to embed issues of disparities in health care in the creation of the curriculum; and 3) provide resources for program directors to develop their own curricula. A group of EM program directors with an interest in cultural competency distributed a preworkshop survey through the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors (CORD) e‐mail list to EM program directors to assess the current state of diversity and cultural competency training in EM programs. Approximately 50 members attended a workshop during the 2011 CORD Academic Assembly as part of the Best Practices track, where the results of the survey were disseminated and discussed. In addition to the objectives listed above, the presenters reviewed the literature regarding the rationale for a cultural competency curriculum and its relationship to addressing health care disparities, the relationship to unconscious physician bias, and the Tool for Assessing Cultural Competence Training (TACCT) model for curriculum development.
A comparison between laser‐doppler imaging and colorimetry in the assessment of scarring: “a pilot study”
Authors: Peeters Wouter , Anthonissen Mieke , Deliaert An , Van der Hulst Rene , Van den Kerckhove Eric
Published: October 2011

Background:

This cross‐sectional pilot‐study investigated the reproducibility of the LDI (Moor‐LDI‐B2; Moor Instruments) and the chromameter (Minolta chromameter CR‐300) when used in scar assessment.

Methods:

Twenty‐seven scars in 14 subjects were included between January and June 2003. One observer performed two times both measurements with 10 min apart. The intra‐observer agreement is quantified by means of the intra‐class correlations (ICC) and the standard errors of measurement (SEM) for both the LDI and the chromameter.

Results:

Ignoring one outlier, the ICC of the LDI = 0.856 and the SEM = 34.56. The chromameter shows a better reproducibility with an ICC of 0.93 and a SEM of 0.79.

Conclusion:

This pilot‐study with a limited number of measurements shows a moderate reproducibility of the LDI compared to the chromameter measurements, in the assessment of respectively flux and redness in scars.
Shifting Gas Artefact Sign: Early sonographic detection of pneumoperitoneum
Authors: Gee Paul
Published: October 2011

This case report describes the use of ultrasound to diagnose pneumoperitoneum in an unstable patient with abdominal pain. Gas in peritoneum produces a specific sonographic appearance. The use of dynamic manoeuvres improves confidence in the ultrasound diagnosis of free gas. The Shifting Gas Artefact Sign is explained. The literature on sonographic detection of pneumoperitoneum is reviewed. The detection of pneumoperitoneum is a significant finding in non‐traumatic abdominal pain and also in blunt abdominal trauma. In both settings more research is required to validate the utility of the test in the acute setting.
Northeast Asian Environmentalism: Policies as a Function of ENGOs
Authors: Shapiro Matthew A. , Gottschall Keenan
Published: October 2011

This article presents a comprehensive, unprecedented analysis of environmental nongovernmental organization (ENGO)‐related impacts in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and China. We analyze the effects of ENGOs on four types of environmental policies, using data from government agencies, environmental organization networks, and public policies/legislation. The results from this quantitative approach show that for Korea and China only, policies are strongly predicted by ENGO creation. Further, ENGOs can undermine their own agenda if they do not sufficiently balance the interests of the public and the government.
Solar Thermal Driven Cooling System for a Data Center in Albuquerque New Mexico
Authors: Fumo N. , Bortone V. , Zambrano J. C.
Published: October 2011

Data centers are facilities that primarily contain electronic equipment used for data processing, data storage, and communications networking. Regardless of their use and configuration, most data centers are more energy intensive than other buildings. The continuous operation of information technology equipment and power delivery systems generates a significant amount of heat that must be removed from the data center for the electronic equipment to operate properly. Since data centers spend up to half their energy on cooling, cooling systems becomes a key factor for energy consumption reduction strategies and alternatives in the data centers. This paper presents a theoretical analysis of an absorption chiller driven by solar thermal energy as cooling plant alternative for data centers. Source primary energy consumption is used to compare the performance of different solar cooling plants with a standard cooling plant. The solar cooling plants correspond to different combinations of solar collector arrays and thermal storage tank, with a boiler as source of energy to ensure continuous operation of the absorption chiller. The standard cooling plant uses an electric chiller. Results suggest that the solar cooling plant with flat-plate solar collectors is a better option over the solar cooling plant with evacuated-tube solar collectors. However, although solar cooling plants can decrease the primary energy consumption when compared with the standard cooling plant, the net present value of the cost to install and operate the solar cooling plants are higher than the one for the standard cooling plant.
Effects of Ultrasound and Strain Rate on Tensile Mechanical Behavior of Thermoplastic Poly Urethane Thin Films
Authors: Balakrishnan Anandh , Saha Mrinal C.
Published: October 2011

Thermoplastic poly urethane (TPU) is a diblock copolymer which naturally phase segregates into thermodynamically incompatible hard (H) and soft (S) segments. The size of the segments and their spatial distribution can significantly affect the microstructure and mechanical properties of the material. In this paper, we investigated the effect of duration of exposure to ultrasound on the solution prior to film formation on the final film properties. The response variable for the study was primarily mechanical properties of the TPU thin films fabricated via a solution route utilizing tetra hydro furan as a solvent. The times of sonication were varied between 30 min and 90 min, while all films were fabricated at average thickness of 20 ± 5 μm. The mechanical tests have been conducted at two different displacement rates of 5 and 10 mm/min. Our results indicated that (relative to untreated TPU) ultrasound tends not to deteriorate the fracture strength, strain and yet improve the fracture toughness. We attribute these results to subtle events at the H and S segment/domain levels. To further understand these microstructural variations, we conducted differential scanning calorimetry scan tests between 25 °C and 200 °C at 5 °C/min on untested and tested TPU samples of all types. This data showed a delicate sonication time dependent trend and has been interpreted in conjunction with our mechanical test data. Transition temperatures, enthalpies, and specific heat capacities have been computed for these cases.
Effect of Distribution Media Length and Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes on the Formation of Voids in VARTM Composites
Authors: Aktas Levent , Bauman Duane P. , Bowen Scott T. , Saha Mrinal C. , Altan M. Cengiz
Published: October 2011

The first part of this paper characterizes the effect of tooling and process parameters such as the length of distribution media used in vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) of composite laminates. To achieve this goal, a number of 6-ply, woven carbon fiber/epoxy laminates are fabricated by using various lengths of distribution media. The spatial variations of mechanical properties of these laminates are characterized using a three-point bending fixture. It is shown that for relatively thinner laminates, extending the distribution media degrades the flexural properties by as much as 14%, possibly due to air pockets entrapped during through-the-thickness impregnation of the fibrous fabric. In the second part, a minimum distribution media length is used to investigate the mechanical property and microstructure changes due to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) dispersed in the composite laminates. In addition, effects of different nanotube functionalization and morphology are characterized via scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy. To achieve adequate nanotube dispersion in the epoxy resin, both tip sonication and mechanical mixing have been used. The effect of sonication time on the dispersion of nanotubes is reported by monitoring the temporal changes in the nanotube cluster size. Even at volume fractions less than 1%, almost 10% improvements in flexural properties is observed. Extensive void formations are reported for laminates containing MWNTs, possibly preventing greater improvements in mechanical properties.
An Analytical Model for the Effective Dielectric Constant of a 0-3-0 Composite
Authors: Banerjee S. , Cook-Chennault K. A.
Published: October 2011

An analytical expression for prediction of the effective dielectric constant of a three phase 0-3-0 ferroelectric composite is presented. The analytical results are verified with the experimental results from Nan et al. (2002, “Three-Phase Magnetoelectric Composite of Piezoelectric Ceramics, Rare-Earth Iron Alloys, and Polymer,” Appl. Phys. Lett., 81(20), p. 3831). The analytical model is extended to include the shape of a third phase inclusion to examine the influence of the shape (of the inclusion) on the effective dielectric constant of the composite. The dielectric constant increases as much as seven times when the aspect ratio of the conducting inclusion particle is increased from 1 (sphere) to 10 (spheroid). A comparison of the analytical predictions with the experimental values, which indicate that the increase in aspect ratio of the inclusions has a significant effect on the overall dielectric constant of the composite.
A1 Financial and time costs of R&D governance and regulation in England and Wales: evidence from the SAFER 2 trial
Authors: Hutchings H , Lloyd G , Snooks H , Russell I
Published: October 2011

In response to a recent review targeted at reducing bureaucracy in medical research related to R&D governance and regulation, we collated our experiences from a multi centre trial in prehospital emergency care underway in England and Wales. We present recommendations about how to improve the system to avoid delays and spiralling costs. The SAFER 2 trial is an National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment-funded cluster randomised controlled trial evaluating clinical and cost effectiveness of protocols for paramedics to refer older people for whom a 999 call has been made for a reported fall to community based care. We have encountered various issues relating to R&D processes, including: unclear guidelines about how R&D permissions work both within and across UK countries; inconsistencies in processes between sites; complex processes at global and local level; differing interpretations of the Attributing Revenue Costs of non-commercial research in the NHS (ARCO); multiple routes for reclaiming costs incurred by NHS Trusts through participating in research; difficulty of completing R&D permissions processes while uncertainty exists around the financial consequences of participation; and uncertainties related to ethical practice in research in emergency care. As a direct consequence of these issues we have encountered significant delays resulting in an application for an extension to the HTA for £420 000. We make a number of practical recommendations based on these experiences that could improve the R&D process. First, that the Department of Health (DoH) allocates sole responsibility for awarding research costs, excess treatment costs & service support costs to NIHR, thus removing at a stroke scope for interminable boundary disputes. Second, that the DoH issues more comprehensive standard operating procedures for Research Ethics Committees (REC), Comprehensive Local Research Networks and Trust R&D Departments, thus minimising inconsistent decision-making and duplication. Thirdly, that the National Research Ethics Service issues clear guidance to RECs on acceptable procedures for consenting in difficult circumstances, including emergency care and about when “opting out” is permissible.
A11 Achy Breaky Makey Wakey Heart?
Authors: Woollard M , McWhinnie B , Poposki J , Rawlins L , Munro G , O'Meara P
Published: October 2011

Background

Music has been recommended as an aid to improving chest compression quality, but research indicates the popular European tune “Nellie the Elephant” reduces the proportion of lay-persons compressing at the correct depth.

Objectives

Compared to no music (NM), does listening to “Achy Breaky Heart” (ABH) or “Disco Science” (DS) increase the proportion of CPR-trained health professionals delivering compressions at the 100 bpm recommended rate and 4–5 cm depth?

Methods

Randomised cross-over trial recruiting at the 2009 ACAP conference.

Findings

Of 74 participants 50% were male; median age was 37; 61% were paramedics, 20% students, and 19% other health professionals. 54% had taken CPR training within 1 year. Mode and IQR for compression rate were NM 105 (99–116);ABH120 (107–120);DS104 (103–107). Differences between-interventions were significant for NM vsABHandDSvsABH(p<0.001) but not NM vsDS(p=0.478). Compression rates of 95-105 were achieved with NM,ABH, andDSfor 26/74 (35%), 8/74 (11%) and 34/74 (46%) of participants respectively. Differences were significant for NM vsABH(p=0.0005) andDSvsABH(p<0.0001) but not NM vsDS(p=0.256). RR for a compression rate of 95-105 forABHvs NM=0.31, forDSvs NM=1.31 (not significant) and forDSvsABH=4.25. The number needed toharmwas 5 for listening toABHvs NM and 3 forABHvsDS. A high proportion of compressions were too deep (NM 86%;ABH79%;DS77%, differences not significant).

Conclusions

Listening toDisco Sciencewhile performing CPR did not increase the proportion of prehospital professionals delivering compressions correctly. Perhaps unsurprisingly, listening toAchy Breaky Hearthad a negative effect. Disconcertingly, regardless of the nature or absence of musical accompaniment, the majority of participants did not compress at the recommended rate or depth.
A16 Broken in the hills
Authors: Howes M , Davies G , Dykes L
Published: October 2011

Severely injured casualties from remote/inaccessible locations—for example, mountainous regions—pose a dilemma when planning trauma services. Such casualties are often multiply-injured, evacuated by helicopter and potentially ideal candidates for direct transfer to regional trauma centres. However, the most time-critical mountain casualties die at scene before help arrives. Our rural DGH is situated 100 miles from tertiary services. We do not currently have access to a one-stop regional trauma centre for adult patients.

Aim

To determine how many severely injured mountain casualties handled at our department required input from tertiary services, and with what urgency.

Method

Casualties who sustained major trauma (ISS>15) between 1 January 2004 and 30 September 2009 were identified from the Mountain Medicine Database (all casualties brought to our ED following contact with Mountain Rescue or RAF Search and Rescue). Patient notes were scrutinised for details of injuries and consultations with tertiary centres.

Results

26 major trauma casualties arrived at the ED (all by RAF helicopter). In addition, 31 were pronounced dead at scene.

10/26 (38%) required referral—not necessarily transfer—to tertiary specialities, mostly neurosurgery (8/26, 31%)

The three most seriously brain-injured casualties had delays of 115, 70, and 45 min in obtaining neurosurgical management decisions.

Only one patient required urgent transfer to tertiary care (neurosurgery—extradural haemorrhage)

Discussion/Conclusion

Urgent transfer to tertiary specialities is rarely required in severely injured mountain casualties from Snowdonia: bypassing our DGH directly to a regional trauma centre is not required. Furthermore, it would be logistically difficult. In summer, with endurance typically 1 h 45 min, the RAF helicopter would likely need to re-fuel before continuing to NW England after picking up a casualty. This audit, although limited in number, supports the concept of a regional trauma system with pre-defined protocols and pathways for patient care. We also require a more timely service from neurosurgical colleagues.
Effectiveness of breeding guidelines for reducing the prevalence of syringomyelia
Authors: Knowler S. P. , McFadyen A. K. , Rusbridge C.
Published: October 2011

Several toy breed dogs are predisposed to syringomyelia (SM), a spinal cord disorder, characterised by fluid‐filled cavitation. SM is a complex trait with a moderately high heritability. Selective breeding against SM is confounded by its complex inheritance, its late onset nature and high prevalence in some breeds. This study investigated the early outcome of existing SM breeding guidelines. Six hundred and forty‐three dogs, 550 Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) and 93 Griffon Bruxellois (GB), were identified as having either one (454 dogs) or both parents (189 dogs) with MRI‐determined SM status. Offspring without SM were more common when the parents were both clear of SM (SM‐free; CKCS 70 per cent, GB 73 per cent). Conversely, offspring with SM were more likely when both parents had SM (SM‐affected; CKCS 92 per cent, GB 100 per cent). A mating of one SM‐free parent with an SM‐affected parent was risky for SM affectedness with 77 per cent of CKCS and 46 per cent of GB offspring being SM‐affected. It is recommended that all breeding dogs from breeds susceptible to SM be MRI screened; that the SM status at five years old is established; and all results submitted to a central database that can be used by dog breeders to better enable mate selection based on estimated breeding values.
Failure of physiological metrics to predict dominance in juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.): habitat effects on the allometry of growth in dominance hierarchies1Order of authors represents their contribution to the manuscript.
Authors: Van Leeuwen Travis E. , Rosenfeld Jordan S. , Richards Jeffrey G.
Published: October 2011

Territoriality is one of the best examples of interference competition and generally results in larger, dominant individuals gaining preferential access to food. However, the expectation of higher growth of dominant individuals among juvenile salmonids has received only mixed support. We used outdoor semi-natural stream channels stocked with varying sizes of young of the year juvenile salmonids under high and low food rations (i) to examine the mechanisms underlying variation in the benefits of dominance and (ii) to demonstrate that inconsistencies in the apparent benefits of dominance are a logical outcome of the allometry of growth and differential energy intake among fish of different size in a dominance hierarchy. Growth of dominants exceeded that of subordinates when food was abundant, but subordinates grew faster than dominants in low food treatments and when dominant fish increased in size and approached the capacity of their habitat. In general, size disparity within a dominance hierarchy may promote higher growth of subdominants because of the lower energetic requirements of smaller individuals, and the allometry of fish growth, relative to habitat capacity, can reverse the expected growth and condition of dominant and subordinate fish.
Reproducibility of velocity-dependent power: before and after lengthening contractions
Authors: Power Geoffrey A. , Dalton Brian H. , Rice Charles L. , Vandervoort Anthony A.
Published: October 2011

The determination of power using isokinetic testing has been shown to be highly reliable. However, isotonic and isokinetic testing involve specific mechanical constraints that likely necessitate different neuromuscular strategies. Therefore, the purpose here was to establish test–retest intrarater reliability (separated by 7 days) of loaded maximal shortening velocity and velocity-dependent power of the ankle dorsiflexors using the isotonic mode of the Biodex dynamometer (i) at baseline and (ii) throughout recovery following 150 high-intensity lengthening contractions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC)2,1 with 95% CIs were used to determine relative reliability, whereas absolute reliability included typical error (TEM) and typical error expressed as a coefficient of variation (TEMCV). Twenty-four young men and women volunteered for the study. Maximal shortening velocity and power were determined with a fixed resistance set at 20% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction across 2 testing sessions separated by 7 days. ICCs were 0.93 and 0.98 for maximal shortening velocity and peak power, respectively. Following the lengthening contractions, ICCs indicated high reliability for maximal shortening velocity and peak power, 0.86 and 0.94, respectively, suggesting that a similar amount of fatigue was incurred on both days. Measures of absolute reliability for maximal shortening velocity and peak power also yielded high reliability. The isotonic mode is highly reliable when testing velocity-dependent power of the ankle dorsiflexors at baseline and following fatiguing lengthening contractions. The high reliability of this measure is encouraging and suggests that the isotonic mode can be used in various settings to track group changes before and after training and following fatigue and lengthening contractions.