bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low Curing Temperature Silver Tracks from Soluble Inks
Authors: Xu Bojun , Stringer Jonathan , Wallwork Andrew , Derby Brian
Published: November 2009

Silver neodecanoate is sensitive to both ultra violet light (UV) and heat, and is a good inkjet printing precursor when dissolved in xylene. We have studied the electrical properties of inkjet printed silver samples, derived from silver neodecanoate ink, and investigated the influence of UV treatment before thermal curing the silver samples. In addition we have studied the influence of thermal pre-treatment on the printed samples. Thermally cured printed tracks and pads show minimum resistivity of approximately 3 x bulk silver. Their microstructure shows that the silver salt has converted to an interconnected network of silver nanoparticles after curing. The resistance of the printed tracks are shown to relate to the connectivity of the resulting sintered nanoparticle network as measured by the ratio of the sintered neck diameter to the original particle diameter.
Fonoaudiologia e saúde do trabalhador: vigilância é informação para a ação!
Authors: Santana Maria da Conceição Carneiro Pessoa de , Brandão Kristhine Keila Calheiros Paiva , Goulart Bárbara Niegia Garcia de , Chiari Brasília Maria
Published: November 2009

TEMA: Fonoaudiologia e Saúde do Trabalhador. OBJETIVO: apresentar uma revisão de conceitos, concepções e histórico ligados à Vigilância em Saúde do Trabalhador em seu sentido amplo, abrangendo as vigilâncias epidemiológica, ambiental e sanitária, referindo a importância da utilização de tais aspectos na prática da Fonoaudiologia. CONCLUSÃO: considerando-se que a Vigilância em Saúde do Trabalhador pauta-se nos princípios do Sistema Único de Saúde, é necessário que o fonoaudiólogo incorpore as estruturas de vigilâncias à sua prática, identificando e modificando os riscos provenientes das atividades ocupacionais. Assim, a vigilância tem que ter caráter antecipatório, possibilitando o fornecimento de informações importantes para o planejamento de ações, garantindo a qualidade da assistência à saúde da população de trabalhadores.
Enhancing technology development through integrated environmental analysis: Toward sustainable nonlethal military systems
Authors: Saulters Oral S. , Erickson Larry E. , Leven Blase A. , Pickrel John A. , Green Ryan M. , Jamka Leslie , Prill Amanda
Published: November 2009

New technologies are not only critical in supporting traditional industrial and military success but also play a pivotal role in advancing sustainability and sustainable development. With the current global economic challenges, resulting in tighter budgets and increased uncertainty, synergistic paradigms and tools that streamline the design and dissemination of key technologies are more important than ever. Accordingly, a proactive and holistic approach can facilitate efficient research, design, testing, evaluation, and fielding for novel and off-the-shelf products, thereby assisting developers, end users, and other diverse stakeholders in better understanding tradeoffs in the defense industry and beyond. By prioritizing mechanisms such as strategic life-cycle environmental assessments (LCEA); programmatic environment, safety, and occupational health evaluations (PESHE); health hazard assessments (HHA); and other innovative platforms and studies early within systems engineering, various nonlethal military technologies have been successfully developed and deployed. These efforts provide a framework for addressing complex environment, safety, and occupational health risks that affect personnel, infrastructure, property, socioeconomic, and natural/cultural resources. Moreover, integrated, comprehensive, multidisciplinary, and iterative analyses involving flexible groups of specialists/subject matter experts can be applied at various spatiotemporal scales in support of collaborations. This paper highlights the Urban Operations Laboratory process utilized for inclusive and transformative environmental analysis, which can translate into advantages and progress toward sustainable systems. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:281–286. © 2009 SETAC
Targeting the environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals: Facts and fantasies
Authors: Tarazona Jose V , Escher Beate I , Giltrow Emma , Sumpter John , Knacker Thomas
Published: November 2009

In contrast to industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals and pesticides are designed to show specific pharmacological actions or biocidal activities. Despite this difference, the same principles for environmental risk assessment, e.g., risk characterization by comparing compartment-specific exposure and effect, are applied to both nonspecifically and specifically acting substances. In addition, many pharmaceuticals are relatively hydrophilic, polar, or charged compounds. However, standardized guidelines for generating fate and effects data have been developed predominantly for neutral substances. For these reasons, the risk characterization of biologically active pharmaceuticals might contain a considerable degree of uncertainty. In this paper, we propose a conceptual approach for a targeted environmental risk assessment to reduce the uncertainties of risk characterization for pharmaceuticals by using the information provided in the nonenvironmental part of the regulatory dossier. Three steps have been defined for this purpose: 1) The first is collation of specific information contained in regulatory dossiers for pharmaceuticals, e.g., data produced to understand the interaction of the active substance with biological structures, 2) Based on this information, conclusions might be drawn with regard to environmental compartments likely to be exposed and organisms likely to be affected, and 3) Selection can be made of single-species or multispecies tests to generate additional information for the ecotoxicological risk characterization of pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, some thoughts will be presented on the integration of targeted testing strategies into conceptual regulatory guidance. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2010;6:603–613. © 2009 SETAC
A comparative study of chromium(VI) removal using sawdust and eucalyptus bark
Authors: Sharma Abhinav , Tulsyan Aditya , Motamarri Srinivas
Published: November 2009

A comparative study on low cost biological adsorbents such as eucalyptus bark and sawdust has analyzed them for their effectiveness in the removal of hexavalent chromium. Batch experiments were carried out on synthetic solutions mimicking bore water collected from an industrial area contaminated with tannery effluent. The analysis on hexavalent chromium removal was carried out by varying experimental parameters such as pH, dosage and contact time. The study reveals that sawdust works best at pH 3 while eucalyptus shows better results at pH 2. Moreover, the optimum dosages determined for the absorbents were in compliance with the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The study highlights the benefits of eucalyptus bark in purification of Cr(VI) contaminated water supply.
Effect of chloramine residual on iron release in drinking water distribution systems
Authors: Wang Y. , Zhang X. J. , Niu Z. B. , Chen C. , Lu P. P. , Tang F.
Published: November 2009

Iron release from scale brought about serious problems such as noticeable increases in turbidity and colour of the water in distribution system and taps. Field study and bench scale experiment on iron release from corrosion scale were carried out. In old cast iron pipe, higher iron release occurred with lower chlorine residual concentration, while lower iron release occurred with higher chlorine residual concentration. The reason lay in the structure of scale and the electro-chemical reactions occurring on the scale and in the bulk. The passivated-out-layer of scale was formed by ferric oxide. It could be broken down by reductive reaction in an atmosphere of low chlorine residual concentration. In contrast, the situation was quite different with new cast iron pipe, the age of which was only half a year. Iron release was considered as the product of the iron matrix and chlorine since the passivated-out-layer of scale had not formed yet. This iron release was consistent with chlorine residual concentration. It is suggested that maintaining a high chlorine residual concentration in a drinking water distribution system is beneficial to controlling both microorganism' regrowth and iron release.
Coagulation pre-treatment to reduce membrane fouling in the microfiltration process of Nakdong River water
Authors: Chu Xuan-Quang , Kim Jongwon , Park Kyhyuk , Choi Sungyong , Kim Hyung-Soo
Published: November 2009

The effects of coagulation pre-treatment on microfiltration process were investigated with the Nakdong River source water. In this study, the potential membrane-fouling materials presented in the raw water were mainly attributed to particulate matters and UV254-absorbing materials. Coagulation pre-treatment mitigated the effects of these components on membrane fouling because it induced a change in the characteristics of the cake layer and a decrease in the content of UV254-absorbing materials. Even though the coagulated suspensions were not removed before MF membrane filtration, their impact on resistance to filtration was insignificant when compared with that caused by the suspensions without pre-coagulation. However, insufficient dosages of coagulant or the improper controls of coagulation pH might cause severe membrane fouling in the treatment of low turbidity water (i.e. turbidity below 10 NTU). It appeared that a selection of coagulant dosage that focused on the reduction of specific cake resistance was possibly the best way to achieve the optimal condition in this study. Also, the coagulation pre-treatment process at pH values between 5.3 and 6.8 was found to be most effective in providing the lowest specific cake resistance as well as residual UV254 absorbance.
Potable water production by membrane processes: membrane characterization using a series of bacterial strains
Authors: Lebleu N. , Roques C. , Aimar P. , Causserand C.
Published: November 2009

The aim of this study was to develop a method for characterizing membranes (ultrafiltration and microfiltration) used in drinking water production. The method accounts for the specific behaviour of microorganisms during filtration, namely their deformation under mechanical stress. The leaks of microorganisms are linked to the presence of a small number of defects or abnormally large pores in the membrane structure. Assuming that the defects are cylindrical capillaries, the range of pore diameters concerned by the method lies between 0.05 and 1.2 μm.
Evaluation of control strategies for disinfection byproducts for small water supplies using ozone as an alternative disinfection process
Authors: Echigo S. , Zhang X. R. , Lei H. , Smith M. E. , Minear R. A.
Published: November 2009

Batch ozonation experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of various operating options (i.e. additions of acid, ethanol, ammonium ion, and hydrogen peroxide) on the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in six different source waters. Formation of bromate, total organic bromines, total aldehydes (the sum of 13 aldehydes) was evaluated, assuming they represent three different types of DBPs during ozonation (i.e. inorganic bromine DBPs, organobromine DBPs, and non-brominated organic DBPs, respectively). Among the tested options, acid addition was found to be the best one to control all the three types of DBPs simultaneously on an ozone exposure basis.
Characterization of NOM in a drinking water treatment process train with no disinfectant residual
Authors: Baghoth S. A. , Dignum M. , Grefte A. , Kroesbergen J. , Amy G. L.
Published: November 2009

For drinking water treatment plants that do not use disinfectant residual in the distribution system, it is important to limit availability of easily biodegradable natural organic matter (NOM) fractions which could enhance bacterial regrowth in the distribution system. This can be achieved by optimising the removal of those fractions of interest during treatment; however, this requires a better understanding of the physical and chemical properties of these NOM components. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (EEM) and liquid chromatography with online organic carbon detection (LC-OCD) were used to characterize NOM in water samples from one of the two water treatment plants serving Amsterdam, The Netherlands. No disinfectant residual is applied in the distribution system. Fluorescence EEM and LC-OCD were used to track NOM fractions. Whereas fluorescence EEM shows the reduction of humic-like as well as protein-like fluorescence signatures, LC-OCD was able to quantify the changes in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations of five NOM fractions: humic substances, building blocks (hydrolysates of humics), biopolymers, low molecular weight acids and neutrals.
A hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration (HIX-NF) process for energy efficient desalination of brackish/seawater
Authors: Sarkar S. , SenGupta A. K.
Published: November 2009

This study reports a new hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration (HIX-NF) process for desalination of sea and brackish water that can attain significant energy economy over the conventional membrane-based pressure driven processes. In this hybrid process, an ion exchange step converts monovalent chloride ions of saline water to divalent sulfate ions and the resulting solution, having a reduced osmotic pressure than the feed, is desalinated using a nanofiltration (NF) membrane. The sulfate rich reject stream from the NF process is used to regenerate the anion exchanger. Results validate that NF membranes can desalinate sodium sulfate solution at a much lower transmembrane pressure compared to RO membranes as well as yield a higher permeate flux. The sulfate-chloride selectivity of the anion exchangers plays important role in sustainability of the process. Laboratory studies have revealed that a single type of anion exchanger cannot sustain the process for saline water with different salt concentrations. However, anion exchangers with different sizes of amine functional groups (e.g. quaternary-, tertiary-, secondary- and primary amine) hold the promise that the process can be tailored to achieve sustainability. Laboratory studies have validated the basic premise of the hybrid process including greater than two times less energy requirement than RO process for the same feed water and same permeate recovery condition.
Why a Marketplace Must Not Discriminate
Authors: Langhammer Rolf J.
Published: November 2009

This paper discusses the pros and cons of a Transatlantic Free Trade Area (TAFTA) in comparison with an informal trade-facilitating marketplace between Europe and the US. It finds considerably more cons, especially since TAFTA would be expected to produce larger, more detrimental discriminatory effects on dynamic non-member economies, mainly in Asia but also in food-exporting regions as well. Efficiency-enhancing effects are argued to be achievable under a marketplace concept which does not separate insiders from outsiders. It is also shown that in foreign direct investment (FDI) and FDI-related service trade, TAFTA seems redundant as in recent years bilateral capital and trade flows have proven to be buoyant without preferential treatment.
The Truth about Redistribution: Republicans Receive, Democrats Disburse
Authors: Richardson Gary
Published: November 2009

Gary Richardson argues that although Republicans campaign against redistribution, they govern by redistributing money from Democratic states to Republican states.
Obama's Gamble: Doubling Down on a Flawed Insurance Model
Authors: Cogan John , Kessler Daniel , Hubbard R. Glenn
Published: November 2009

Will the health care plans lead to higher taxes, deficits, and health care costs without health gains? Glenn Hubbard of Columbia and John Cogan and Daniel Kessler of Stanford think so.
Theatre of the Mind: A Project to Animate the Language of Thought and Communication
Authors: Wheeler Eric S.
Published: November 2009

Human language is a rich and complex part of human behaviour that can be studied in many ways. The author and his colleagues are developing an application that accepts simple texts as input and presents an animated display of characters acting out the text. It mimics the human visualization of texts, the so-called Theatre of the Mind. In so doing, they need an integrated theory of language; they can test such a theory for consistency and completeness because it is implemented in computable form. In practice, they may have the basis for a useful tool for developing literacy or second-language teaching. By entering expressions, learners can see what the expressions mean and so learn, in a constructive dialogue, some of the language-specific features that they need to master.
Glocalization, Representation and Literacy Education
Authors: Lotherington Heather
Published: November 2009

This article uses a comic program to graphically summarize a collaborative action research project that brings together York University researchers and elementary school teachers at Joyce Public School in northwest Toronto to experimentally develop multiliteracies pedagogies in a context of emergent literacy education. The project, which has been continuously developing since 2003, searches for ways of socializing both children and teachers into new literacies in the primary and junior grades from a grassroots perspective that operates within the constraints of the modern political machinery that organizes formal education. The teacher-researchers who work in this community of practice carve out preferred trajectories for new literacies action research through narrative projects, focusing on perspectives such as playing with the myriad junctures between and across alphabetic page and iconic screen; creating dynamic textual representations; including community languages towards globally focused linguistic learning; and creating multiple representations of a narrative thread across language, genre, and culture. We work collaboratively to bridge theory and practice using a blended model that includes regular face-to-face workshops. Now an online workspace, and in its seventh year of consecutive funding, the project is moving into ludic approaches to multimodal literacy education through gaming.
Educational Perspectives on Digital Communications Technologies
Authors: Brett Clare
Published: November 2009

This article examines key issues in how new technologies are impacting upon how we teach, learn and collaborate, and uses an educational research project called GRAIL (Graduate Researcher's Academic Identity Online) under development to illustrate some fundamental issues in adopting new technologies. A significant challenge to the effective use of new technologies in education is the evolution of social practices around those technologies and the discrepancies between broader social uses of new technologies and how those same technologies can be used in educational contexts. The article describes challenges to design along the dimensions of public/private and individual/collaborative and uses data from a series of project research studies to illustrate the nature of these challenges and possible solutions. The taking up of new technologies in new ways requires the evolution of social practices of use – these practices simultaneously reflect and change our culture, and the evolution of such processes takes time.
A parallel three-dimensional scour model to predict flow and scour below a submarine pipeline
Authors: Alam Muhammad , Cheng Liang
Published: November 2009

A three-dimensional Lattice Boltzmann flow and scour model is developed to simulate time-dependent scour below a submarine pipeline. The proposed model presented in this paper is able to predict streamwise and spanwise propagations of scour with respect to lattice unit of time. It is evident from this study that the existence of a spiral vortex in the proximity of the span shoulder is quite noteworthy. It is revealed that the critical regime of the 2-D scour process is found to be up to one pipe diameter away in both directions from the middle of the unsupported length of pipelines. The equilibrium maximum scour depth and the shape of streamwise equilibrium scour hole compare well with the available experimental data. The speed of propagation of scour along the pipeline length maintains an almost constant rate, which is consistent with the experimental observations found in literature. In addition, it is seen that the scour slope at the shoulder region remains fairly constant throughout the whole scour process.
Health behavior inequalities among Lithuanian, Polish and Russian school-aged children in Lithuania
Authors: Šumskas Linas , Lenčiauskienė Ilona , Zaborskis Apolinaras
Published: November 2009

The aim of this study was to compare and get a deeper insight into issues of the health and health behavior inequalities among Lithuanian, Polish and Russian school-aged children in national and international contexts. Investigations were carried out in the framework of Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) study — a WHO collaborative cross-national survey. Five thousand seven hundred and seventy six randomly selected students aged 11, 13, and 15 years of age answered questionnaires in the classroom in 108 schools located in different regions in Lithuania in March–April of 2006. Questions on perceived health and health related behaviors were addressed to the respondent (response rate was 95 %). 5632 questionnaires were selected for further analysis by the international data center in Bergen. SPSS version 11.5 and multilevel analysis program MLwiN 2.0 was applied for statistical analysis of data. Relatively minor inequalities in health and health behavior were established when comparing different health and health behavior indicators in Lithuanian, Polish and Russian school-aged children in Lithuania. These disparities are lower in comparison with differences, which were established among respondents of HBSC international studies. Odds ratios to have negative self-rated health evaluation were higher in girls of Russian (OR-1.71, p<0.05) and Polish (OR-1.62, p<0.05) nationality. Therefore, Russian and Polish students were tending to have higher odds ratios for perception of happiness (p<0.05). Respondents of Russian nationality have expressed less somatic and psychological complaints. Polish boys (OR=1.38, p<0.05) were tending for higher prevalence of headache, but have expressed fewer complaints for depression (OR=0.65, p<0.05), anxiety (OR=0.71, p<0.05). Chances to be involved in risk taking behaviors (alcohol consumption, smoking, drug use) were lower among Polish and Russian respondents. In schools with Lithuanian language based-schoold, health and health behavior indicators were more negative in Polish and Russian respondents in comparisons with their Lithuanian peers However, Lithuanian students, who were enrolled in Russian and Polish schools, tending to have better perceived health evaluation and better health behavior in comparison with their peers of Polish and Russian nationality. Analysis shows, that Polish and Russian students are integrated well into Lithuanian society and being a member of the minority class is not related to poor health or negative lifestyle. Therefore, with few exceptions universal health promotion programs should be provided to school-aged children of all ethnicities and cultural backgrounds.
A proposal of reference values for relative uncertainty increase in spectrophotometric analysis of pharmaceutical formulations
Authors: Skibiński Robert , Komsta Łukasz , Grech-Baran Marta , Gumieniczek Anna
Published: November 2009

The LBOZ criterion is an interesting approach for quantifying selectivity during spectrophotometric analysis by measuring the relative uncertainty increase caused by spectral overlapping. Unfortunately, no reference values for pharmaceuticals analysis in the UV region exist. The current paper presents an estimation of the LBOZ distribution as a random variable for binary and ternary drug mixtures. The estimation was done on a representative group of 170 diverse drug-like compounds. Results of the estimation were fitted to the beta and the Johnson distributions. The obtained parameters can be used to examine the “significance” of the spectral overlap by finding the p-value, interpreted as a chance to obtain higher uncertainty increase among the drugs.
Effective Reading Programs for the Elementary Grades: A Best-Evidence Synthesis
Authors: Slavin Robert E. , Lake Cynthia , Chambers Bette , Cheung Alan , Davis Susan
Published: November 2009

This article systematically reviews research on the achievement outcomes of four types of approaches to improving the reading success of children in the elementary grades: reading curricula, instructional technology, instructional process programs, and combinations of curricula and instructional process. Study inclusion criteria included use of randomized or matched control groups, a study duration of at least 12 weeks, valid achievement measures independent of the experimental treatments, and a final assessment at the end of Grade 1 or later. A total of 63 beginning reading (starting in Grades K or 1) and 79 upper elementary (Grades 2 through 5) reading studies met these criteria. The review concludes that instructional process programs designed to change daily teaching practices have substantially greater research support than programs that focus on curriculum or technology alone.
Predicting Segment-Intersection Crashes with Land Development Data
Authors: Bindra Sumit , Ivan John N. , Jonsson Thomas
Published: November 2009

Experience with crash prediction modeling has confirmed the importance of traffic volume, not only as exposure but also as a predictive variable. For intersection-related collisions, for example, angle collisions or any collisions involving turning vehicles, traffic volumes on both intersecting roads are necessary for sufficient prediction of crash count. These collisions occur not only at intersections but any place where vehicles turn on or off the roadway, such as driveways. Intersecting traffic volumes at such locations are either not available or labor intensive to acquire. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of geographic information system (GIS) land use inventories to supplement observed traffic volumes as exposure measures for estimating models for predicting segment-intersection crashes, defined as collisions occurring on road segments involving one or more turning or crossing vehicles. Model results for rural two-lane and urban two- and four-lane undivided roads indicate that the number of trips generated and the extent of surrounding land development itself act as excellent predictors for segment-intersection crashes and in fact work better than models using the number of access points. The reason is that those variables better describe the intensity of the traffic accessing the major artery. This is a valuable finding, since access points along a road segment cannot be counted automatically, but many jurisdictions have GIS land use inventories available for all sorts of planning purposes. Such a development will permit better accounting of exposure to segment-intersection crashes in crash prediction modeling.
How to Incorporate Accident Severity and Vehicle Occupancy into the Hot Spot Identification Process?
Authors: Miranda-Moreno Luis F. , Fu Liping , Ukkusuri Satish , Lord Dominique
Published: November 2009

This paper introduces a Bayesian accident risk analysis framework that integrates accident frequency and its expected consequences into the hot spot identification process. The Bayesian framework allows the introduction of uncertainty not only in the accident frequency and severity model parameters but also in key variables such as vehicle occupancy levels and severity weighting factors. For modeling and estimating the severity levels of each individual involved in an accident, a Bayesian multinomial model is proposed. For modeling accident frequency, hierarchical Poisson models are used. How the framework can be implemented to compute alternative relative and absolute measures of total risk for hot spot identification is described. To illustrate the proposed approach, a group of highway–railway crossings from Canada is used as an application environment.
Identifying Secondary Crashes and Their Contributing Factors
Authors: Zhan Chengjun , Gan Albert , Hadi Mohammed
Published: November 2009

Secondary crashes are generally understood as crashes that occur as a result of primary incidents. Research is needed to determine the nature and cause of these crashes. However, to date, this research has been limited for two reasons. First, there is no uniform definition of secondary crashes. Second, the usually poor quality of incident data and the unavailability of related traffic data make any analysis of secondary crashes difficult. This paper describes a study that uses a comprehensive incident database from District 4 of the Florida Department of Transportation to identify freeway secondary crashes and their contributing factors. A method based on a cumulative arrival and departure traffic delay model was developed to estimate the maximum queue length and the associated queue recovery time for incidents with lane blockages. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were applied to understand the factors contributing to secondary crashes. The logistic regression analysis indicates that the following four factors have significant effects on the likelihood of secondary crashes: primary incident type, primary incident lane-blockage duration, time of day, and whether the incident occurred on northbound I-95.
Driver Injury Severity Resulting from Single-Vehicle Crashes along Horizontal Curves on Rural Two-Lane Highways
Authors: Schneider William H. , Savolainen Peter T. , Zimmerman Karl
Published: November 2009

Horizontal curves have been identified as a target area for improving safety on rural two-lane highways in Texas. This study involved the development of multinomial logit models to assess driver injury severity resulting from single-vehicle crashes on such roads. Likelihood ratio tests warranted the development of separate injury severity models for curves of small, medium, and large radius. Various driver, vehicle, roadway, and environmental characteristics were found to affect injury severity among the 10,029 crashes analyzed. Run-off-the-road crashes, particularly those resulting in collisions with roadside objects, were found to increase injury severity significantly. Females were more likely to sustain injury and older drivers to be critically injured, particularly on curves of smaller radius. Various driver actions and behaviors were also significant determinants of injury severity. Unbelted drivers were up to 10 times more likely to suffer fatal injuries, and drivers who were uninsured, fatigued, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol were more likely to be seriously injured. Several of these behavioral factors were more pronounced on sharper curves.
Analysis of Transit Safety at Signalized Intersections in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Authors: Shahla Farhad , Shalaby Amer S. , Persaud Bhagwant N. , Hadayeghi Alireza
Published: November 2009

The objective of the research presented here was to capture the relationship between public transit service configurations and the overall safety performance of signalized intersections in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Negative binomial regression models were developed for this purpose for three sets of dependent variables: transit-involved collisions at signalized intersections with both regular traffic and transit service operations; total collisions at the same signalized intersections; and total collisions at all signalized intersections, including those without transit service. The models showed that annual average daily traffic, public transit and pedestrian traffic volumes, turn movement treatments, and transit features (such as public transit stop location, mode technology, and availability of transit signal priority technology) all have significant associations with public transit–related collisions at signalized intersections. Intersections with public transit service also tend to experience more collisions than otherwise similar intersections. The research helps to address intersection safety from two perspectives: ( a) it enables public transit providers to consider safety implications in the service planning process, and ( b) it enables transportation departments to assess signalized intersection safety for various configurations of surface transit services by taking into consideration their interaction with the general traffic stream.
Attracting Internal Medicine Trainees to Rheumatology: Where and When Programs Should Focus Efforts
Authors: KATZ STEVEN J. , YACYSHYN ELAINE A.
Published: November 2009

Objective.

To determine where and when efforts should be focused to increase recruitment of rheumatology trainees from internal medicine (IM) programs.

Methods.

(1) We calculated the percentage of trainees at each of the 13 English-speaking Canadian IM-accredited programs who entered a rheumatology training program in Canada from 2005 to 2007. We then correlated this with the opportunity they would have had to do a rheumatology rotation in each of their 3 postgraduate years of IM training. (2) We calculated the overall percentage of residents who remained at the same training institution after their IM program, 2005–2007, comparing this to 4 similar-size subspecialty training programs.

Results.

Among IM trainees, 3.5% began rheumatology training in Canada. There was a positive relationship at the postgraduate year 1 (PGY1) level between more rheumatology opportunities and chance of entering rheumatology (r2 = 0.35, p < 0.05), but not at the PGY2 or PGY3 level. Among rheumatology trainees, 78% remained at the training institution where they completed IM training, more than the 70% of gastroenterology trainees, 68% of nephrology trainees, 67% of endocrinology trainees, and 76% of infectious diseases trainees.

Conclusion.

The opportunity for a rheumatology rotation in the first year of IM training increases the likelihood the trainee may choose rheumatology as a career. Further, most rheumatology trainees continue at the same institution as their IM training, more than other subspecialties. This information may assist recruitment efforts to increase numbers of rheumatology trainees and the overall rheumatology workforce. These data warrant reevaluation of IM programs of study in order to influence trainee career choices and plan better for future workforce requirements in all IM fields.
Mercaptopyruvate Inhibits Tissue-Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase and Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystal Dissolution
Authors: KANNAMPUZHA JOVIL V.A. , TUPY JINDRA H. , PRITZKER KENNETH P.H.
Published: November 2009

Objective.

The enzymatic activities of tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) including capacity to inhibit calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal dissolution are known to be inhibited by endogenous amino acids, notably cysteine. As cysteine is recognized as a strong TNAP inhibitor, we investigated whether cysteine-related metabolites such as mercaptopyruvate (MPA) could show similar enzyme inhibition effects and, if so, whether these effects might be synergistic with cysteine at approximate physiologic concentrations of the amino acids.

Methods.

We studied the inhibitory effects of MPA as well as MPA and cysteine combined in equimolar concentrations on TNAP’s phosphatase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, and CPPD crystal dissolution activities. Kinetic parameters Vmax, KM, concentration for 50% inhibition (I50), inhibitor constant (KI), and specific activities calculated from initial velocity, Eadie-Hofstee, Simple, Dixon, and secondary plots were used to assess enzyme inhibition.

Results.

MPA significantly inhibited TNAP’s phosphatase and pyrophosphatase activities at 10× and 100× physiological concentrations. In the presence of calcium [Ca2+] and [Mg2+] = 1 mM, MPA inhibited uncompetitively TNAP’s phosphatase activity and inhibited noncompetitively its pyrophosphatase activity. CPPD crystal dissolution activity was also inhibited. Cysteine and MPA together in equimolar concentrations inhibited TNAP enzyme activities and CPPD crystal dissolution much more effectively than MPA or cysteine alone, reducing CPPD dissolution to 38% of controls at approximate physiologic inhibitor concentrations.

Conclusion.

Endogenous amino acids like cysteine and its derivative MPA have the capacity to inhibit TNAP activities at physiologic concentrations. Downregulation of their inhibiting concentration in the cartilage interstitial fluid environment may provide a therapeutic avenue to controlled dissolution of CPPD crystal deposition in tissues.
Cigarette Smoking and Cutaneous Damage in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Table 1.
Authors: TURCHIN IRINA , BERNATSKY SASHA , CLARKE ANN E. , ST-PIERRE YVAN , PINEAU CHRISTIAN A.
Published: November 2009

Objective.

To evaluate the association between cigarette smoking and cutaneous damage in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods.

Our study was performed in SLE clinic registry cohort patients, all of whom fulfilled revised American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE; patients are followed prospectively with annual assessments that include collection of demographic variables, smoking history, disease activity (SLE Disease Activity Index version 2000, SLEDAI-2K), medications, and damage scores (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/ACR Damage Index). Cumulative cutaneous damage scores were used for the primary analyses. Logistic and logit regression models were performed to examine potential associations between current smoking and cutaneous damage, controlling for age, sex, race, lupus disease duration, antimalarial or immunosuppressant use, and anti-DNA and anti-SSA antibody status.

Results.

Of our sample (N = 276), 92% were women and 73.7% were Caucasian; the mean age was 45.1 years, mean disease duration 13.5 years, and 17.5% were current smokers. In the regression analyses, current cigarette smoking was associated with total cutaneous damage (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.10, 6.81) and with scarring (OR 4.70, 95 CI 1.04, 21.2). In additional analyses, current smoking was also associated with active lupus rash (OR 6.18, 95% CI 1.63, 23.3).

Conclusions.

Current cigarette smoking may be associated with cutaneous damage and active lupus rash in SLE, suggesting another reason to emphasize smoking cessation in patients with SLE.
Portuguese Universities Sharing Remote Laboratories
Authors: Restivo Maria Teresa , Da Silva Manuel Gameiro
Published: November 2009

This paper describes a pedagogical assignment based on a cooperative work involving teachers/students from two Portuguese universities. As it happens one is the oldest in the country â?? University of Coimbra (UC) - and the other the largest - University of Porto (UP), about 120 km apart.

The authors, believing in the relevance of Information and Communication Technologies (ITs) in teaching/learning methodologies and in cooperative teaching methods worked together to plan this pedagogical experience and to run it in a one semester course.

Students from UC have been introduced to the remote lab at UP and got the first contact with the remote experiments using easily available sound and image resources based on Skype and an IP camera for better image quality. This first contact has been conducted by the first author at UP with support of the second author at UC.

The work will describe briefly the remote experiments used, their inclusion in the course at UC, the associated assessment criteria and, finally, student comments.
Creating Engaging Online Courses
Authors: Zvacek Susan
Published: November 2009

The importance of engagement for learning, specifically related to online coursework, is discussed in this paper. The cognitive basis for engagement and instructional strategies for integrating it into coursework are described, as well as the challenges that instructors face in creating robust learning environments. The roles of teacher and learner must also evolve to accommodate these new models, with increased student responsibility and accountability. Finally, practical examples are given to demonstrate strategies for enhanced engagement in online coursework.
Mixed Reality Systems
Authors: Müller Dieter
Published: November 2009

Currently one of the most challenging aspects of human computer interaction design is the integration of physical and digital worlds in a single environment. This fusion involves the development of "Mixed Reality Systems
Guest Editorial
Authors: Restivo Maria Teresa
Published: November 2009

IRF'09
Cancer and Oncology
Authors: Vickery R.C.
Published: October 2009

General Background

Contemporary Cancer Therapy

Common Sites of Cancer

Heavy Ions for Cancer Irradiation
Electrical Power Quality
Authors: Douglas Jim
Published: October 2009

Problems

Solutions
Laser In‐Situ Keratomileusis (
LASIK
)
Authors:   Vision Rx, Inc.
Published: October 2009

Surgical Procedure
Green Nonsulfur Bacteria
Authors: Overmann Jörg
Published: October 2009

Formerly known only as a group of gliding filamentous bacteria capable of anoxygenic photosynthesis, the green nonsulfur bacteria (phylum Chloroflexi) now are also known to comprise numerous chemotrophic bacteria of diverse ecophysiology and phylogeny. The most conspicuous representatives are the green‐ or orange‐coloured thermophilic bacteria which form dense microbial mats in hot springs. They are typical photoorganoheterotrophs and well adapted to their changing environment by their gliding motility, tactic responses and versatile physiology. Culture‐independent studies have revealed a plethora of novel, unknown 16S ribosomal
ribonucleic acid
(rRNA) gene sequence types, indicating that the diversity of these bacteria in the natural environment is only marginally understood. Nonphotosynthetic members of the Chloroflexi occur in freshwater, soil and decaying organic matter, as well as methanogenic granular sludge and other wastewater treatment systems where they seem to aid in granule formation and participate in carbohydrate turnover.
Molecular Evolution: Introduction
Authors: Penny David
Published: October 2009

Molecular evolution studies the mechanisms leading to present day deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein sequences – it is a unifying force in biology.
Multigene Families: Evolution
Authors: Walsh J Bruce , Stephan Wolfgang
Published: October 2009

Groups of genes showing similarity with each other are referred to as a gene family, arising from wholesale or partial gene duplication. The clustering of functionally related members of a gene family reflects their common ancestry and subsequent duplication and divergence. It has been speculated that gene duplication is essential for the creation of major evolutionary novelty. Genome projects will help in understanding the importance of gene duplications underlying macroevolutionary events.
Chlorarachniophytes
Authors: Ota Shuhei , Ishida Ken‐ichiro
Published: October 2009

Chlorarachniophytes are marine unicellular algae that live widely in the coastal and oceanic waters of temperate to tropical zone. They possess green plastids (chloroplasts) that have originated from a green algal endosymbiont via a secondary endosymbiosis. The plastid is accompanied by a reduced nucleus of the endosymbiont, called a nucleomorph, which still contains a highly reduced and compacted eukaryotic genome.
Discrete Analysis (Matrix Models)
Authors: Fox Gordon A
Published: October 2009

Increasingly applied in conservation and invasion biology, as well as human demography, matrix models are used to estimate rates of population growth and identify demographic rates that strongly affect population growth.
Sociobiology: A Philosophical Analysis
Authors: Ruse Michael
Published: October 2009

Sociobiology is the study of animal behaviour from an evolutionary perspective. It played a major role in Darwin's
Origin of Species
, but then lay undeveloped until the 1960s. It proved very controversial, especially when applied to humankind, with social scientists and left‐wing biologists arguing that it was racist, sexist, unfalsifiable and untrue. Some of these criticisms were well taken but in recent years sociobiology, including the human application, is much more solid and defensible.
John Innes Centre
Authors: Marie Jenny
Published: October 2009

The John Innes Centre is a leading European centre for research into plant and microbial science. It is named after the philanthropist, John Innes. The Centre was formed by the merger of three institutions, the John Innes Institute, the Plant Breeding Institute and the Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory.
Skinner, Burrhus Frederic
Authors: Power Helen J
Published: October 2009

Skinner, Burrhus Frederic (1904–1990), an American behaviourist psychologist, whose invention of the operant conditioning chamber or ‘Skinner box’ stimulated the laboratory investigation of behaviour, especially conditioning with positive reinforcement. He sought to apply his methods to human behaviour modification and it became a significant tool in clinical and educational psychology.
Evolutionary History of the Human Genome
Authors: Bernardi Giorgio
Published: October 2009

The compositional evolution of the vertebrate genome, from fishes to humans, is of very general interest because of its bearing on the role of natural selection in the evolutionary process.
Paralogous Genes and Chromosomal Regions
Authors: Lundin Lars‐Gustav , Larhammar Dan , Hallböök Finn
Published: October 2009

Paralogous genes exist within the genome of a particular species and have a common ancestry as a result of gene duplications. These can take place by a variety of mechanisms and may involve individual genes, chromosome regions, chromosomes or even entire genomes (tetraploidization). Gene duplications have facilitated evolution of more complex organisms.
Human Genome Diversity Studies: Impact on Indigenous Communities
Authors: Marks Jonathan
Published: October 2009

The study of genetic variation in the human species cannot be undertaken outside the cultural, political and historical context within which scientific research has been traditionally conducted on indigenous peoples. Consideration of their rights rendered the Human Genome Diversity Project intractable in the 1990s, and most issues remain unresolved.
Human Genome Diversity Project (
HGDP
)
Authors: Foster Morris W
Published: October 2009

The Human Genome Diversity Project was proposed as a public project to collect and analyze DNA samples from diverse human populations. While never realized as an actual DNA collection, the investigation of human genetic variation largely has been taken over by more biomedically oriented initiatives.
Insurance and Human Genetics: Insurance Market Perspective
Authors: Hoy Michael
Published: October 2009

An assessment of the impacts of using genetic information about individuals in life, health and disability insurance markets.
Sequence Similarity
Authors: Heringa Jaap
Published: October 2009

Sequence similarity is a measure of an empirical relationship between sequences. A common objective of sequence similarity calculations is establishing the likelihood for sequence homology: the chance that sequences have evolved from a common ancestor. A similarity score is therefore aimed to approximate the evolutionary distance between a pair of nucleotide or protein sequences. Many implementations for measuring sequence similarity exist, where a general aim is to infer structural or functional characteristics of an unannotated molecular sequence.
AncientDNA: Recovery and Analysis
Authors: Hummel Susanne
Published: October 2009

Ancientdeoxyribonucleic acid(DNA) can be recovered from any preserved organic remains of both dead and living organisms and is characterized by degradation down to a few hundred base pairs. The analysis requires especially adapted parameters for DNA extraction, PCR (polymerase chain reaction)‐based amplification and specific strategies for data validation.