bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green and Everybody's Doing It
Authors: De George Richard T.
Published: April 2012

The claim that “everybody's doing it’ is not usually taken as a moral justification for an act that is otherwise immoral. Children frequently use this argument on their parents, without success. Business people sometimes try this argument, for instance, in claiming that since everyone else in a given country pays bribes, they are allowed to do so also. Abraham knew better than to use that argument on the Lord. He pleaded that Sodom and Gomorrah be spared if ten just men could be found there; not that anyone was just for doing what all the rest were doing.
Courage and Thoughtful Scholarship = Indigenous Archaeology Partnerships
Authors: Croes Dale R.
Published: April 2012

Robert McGhee's recent lead-in American Antiquity article entitled Aboriginalism and Problems of Indigenous archaeology seems to emphasize the pitfalls that can occur in “indigenous archaeology.” Though the effort is never easy, I would emphasize an approach based on a 50/50 partnership between the archaeological scientist and the native people whose past we are attempting to study through our field and research techniques. In northwestern North America, we have found this approach important in sharing ownership of the scientist/tribal effort, and, equally important, in adding highly significant (scientifically) cultural knowledge of Tribal members through their ongoing cultural transmission—a concept basic to our explanation in the field of archaeology and anthropology. Our work with ancient basketry and other wood and fiber artifacts from waterlogged Northwest Coast sites demonstrates millennia of cultural continuity, often including regionally distinctive, highly guarded cultural styles or techniques that tribal members continue to use. A 50/50 partnership means, and allows, joint ownership that can only expand the scientific description and the cultural explanation through an Indigenous archaeology approach.
Shell Mounds in the Southeast: Middens, Monuments, Temple Mounds, Rings, or Works?
Authors: Marquardt William H.
Published: April 2012

Focusing on the southeastern United States, I provide some alternative perspectives on shell mounds previously interpreted as architectural features, temple mounds, and feasting sites. The same pattern of deposition often inferred to indicate mound construction—darker-colored, highly organic strata alternating with lighter-colored, shell-rich strata—can be accounted for by domestic midden accumulation and disposal of refuse away from living areas. Observed abundances of particular shell species can result from local or regional ecological conditions. Site complexes interpreted as architectural may have evolved largely in response to short-term climate changes. Shell rings on the Georgia and South Carolina coasts probably functioned to conserve and store unconfined water. To understand ancient shell mounds, we need a sediment-oriented approach to the study of mound deposits and more attention to the environmental contexts in which shell mounds accumulated.
Eastern North American Population at ca. A.D. 1500
Authors: Milner George R. , Chaplin George
Published: April 2012

Archaeologically documented population aggregates are used to estimate the population of eastern North America around A.D. 1500 and by extension the entire continent north of heavily populated Mesoamerica. Occupied areas plotted from archaeological and historical information were increased by buffer areas with widths determined by average nearest neighbor distances. Population sizes assigned to these areas were based on three compilations of historic sources, each handled in various ways. Local densities were calculated and then used to interpolate density surfaces for a ca. 3.1 million km2 area. The surfaces were further modified by assessments of data quality and overall occupation intensity to provide upper and lower bounds for each estimate. The procedure, designed to produce a range that was overly wide, resulted in an eastern population between .5 and 2.6 million and a continental total, north of Mesoamerica, of 1.2 to 6.1 million. These figures fall in the lower third of current authoritative estimates for the continent as a whole, which range from 2.4 to 18 million.
The Construction, Use, and Abandonment of Angel Site Mound A Tracing the History of a Middle Mississippian Town Through Its Earthworks
Authors: Monaghan G. William , Peebles Christopher S.
Published: April 2012

Mound A is the largest platform mound at the Angel site (12VG1), a Middle Mississippian town along the Ohio River in southwestern Indiana, and consists of an upper and lower platform joined by an offset conical peak. Solid-earth cores, geophysical data, and 14C ages indicate that mound construction began at 900 B.P. by stacking 10–15 cm-thick turf blocks two meters high at the junction of the upper-lower platform and that by 890 B.P. the upper platform was built to nearly its full 8m height. The dates from Mound A are among the earliest recorded from the site, which implies that earthwork construction coincided with the initial occupation of the site and was among the first construction tasks undertaken. Cultural features associated with a structure partly buried under the conical offset on the upper platform of Mound A yielded 14C ages of 750–520 B.P., which show that the upper platform surface was probably used throughout occupation. As also occurred on Mound F (the only other platform mound investigated at the site), the Mound A structure was destroyed and covered with a fresh layer of fill just before site abandonment. This final filling episode to cap the mounds may have been part of a "ceremonial closing" of the site. The youngest dates from the structures buried on Mounds A and F, as well as others across the site, suggest that the Angel site was essentially abandoned by 500 B.P., which also corresponds with the abandonment of Mississippian sites throughout the region.
Obsidian in Southern Ecuador: The Carboncillo Source
Authors: Ogburn Dennis E.
Published: April 2012

The Carboncillo area in the southern highlands of Ecuador is identified as the only confirmed source of archaeological obsidian located in the country outside of the northern highlands and is the first identified in the large gap between the known Ecuadorian and Peruvian sources. With the identification of this source, it can no longer be assumed that all obsidian found in Ecuador came from sources in the northern highlands. Thus the Carboncillo source has significant implications for interpreting patterns of long-distance exchange in the Andes, especially in southern Ecuador and the far north of Peru. A geochemical analysis of the Carboncillo material shows that it can be easily distinguished from the obsidian from other Ecuadorian sources. A provenance study of archaeological obsidian samples from the southern highlands of Ecuador using x-ray fluorescence demonstrates that the Carboncillo obsidian was used at the Preceramic site of Chobshi Cave and at a number of late prehispanic sites in the Saraguro region. The results indicate a high level of sociopolitical and economic isolation in late prehistory, most likely tied to a preoccupation with warfare between neighboring groups, and provide additional evidence that the economic organization of the southern highlands differed markedly from that of the north during this time.
Las Vizcachas Pampeanas (Lagostomus Maximus, Rodentia) en la Subsistencia Indigena del Holoceno Tardio de Las Sierras de Tandilia Oriental (Argentina)
Authors: Quintana Carlos A. , Mazzanti Diana L.
Published: April 2012

Se describen las evidencias de procesamiento carnicero halladas en los esqueletos del roedor Lagostomus maximus (vizcacha pampeana) provenientes de sitios arqueológicos del Holoceno Tardío Final (1000 a 600 a.P.) de las sierras de Tandilia Oriental (provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina). La diversidad ósea registrada, la cantidad de ejemplares, las huellas de corte, las de raspado y las fracturas intencionales indican que las vizcachas fueron ingresadas enteras a los sitios y que se les aplicaron procesos de desollado, desarticulación, descarne y fracturas. La comparación con la explotación de la vizcacha durante milenios anteriores en las mismas sierras muestra que sólo hacia el Holoceno Tardío Final esta especie adquirió mayor importancia numérica y le fueron aplicados procesos carniceros más elaborados. Este fenómeno está vinculado al desarrollo de una subsistencia de intensificación y diversificación en la cual la caza menor fue preponderante en Tandilia.
A Brief Report of Surveillance of Traumatic Experiences and Exposures After the Earthquake-Tsunami in American Samoa, 2009
Authors: King Michael E. , Schreiber Merritt D. , Formanski Stephen E. , Fleming Sinclair , Bayleyegn Tesfaye M. , Lemusu Siitia S.
Published: April 2012

Context

Rapid mental health surveillance during the acute phase of a disaster response can inform the allocation of limited clinical resources and provide essential household-level risk estimates for recovery planning.

Objective

To describe the use of the PsySTART Rapid Mental Health Triage and Incident Management System for individual-level clinical triage and traumatic exposure assessment in the aftermath of a large-scale disaster.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional, comparative review of mental health triage data collected with the PsySTART system from survivors of the September 2009 earthquake-tsunami in American Samoa. Data were obtained from two sources—secondary triage of patients and a standardized community assessment survey—and analyzed descriptively. The main outcome measures were survivor-reported traumatic experiences and exposures—called triage factors—associated with risk for developing severe distress and new mental health disorders following disasters.

Results

The most common triage factors reported by survivors referred for mental health services were “felt extreme panic/fear” (93%) and “felt direct threat to life” (93%). The most common factor reported by persons in tsunami-affected communities was “felt extreme panic or fear” (75%). Proportions of severe triage factors reported by persons living in the community were consistently lower than those reported by patients referred for mental health services.

Conclusions

The combination of evidence-based mental health triage and community assessment gave hospital-based providers, local public health officials, and federal response teams a strategy to match limited clinical resources with survivors at greatest risk. Also, it produced a common operating picture of acute and chronic mental health needs among disaster systems of care operating in American Samoa.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2013;7:327-331)
The Local Lymph Node Assay (LLNA)
Authors: Rovida Costanza , Ryan Cindy , Cinelli Serena , Basketter David , Dearman Rebecca , Kimber Ian
Published: April 2012

The murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) is a widely accepted method for assessing the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. Compared with other in vivo methods in guinea pig, the LLNA offers important advantages with respect to animal welfare, including a requirement for reduced animal numbers as well as reduced pain and trauma. In addition to hazard identification, the LLNA is used for determining the relative skin sensitizing potency of contact allergens as a pivotal contribution to the risk assessment process. The LLNA is the only in vivo method that has been subjected to a formal validation process. The original LLNA protocol is based on measurement of the proliferative activity of draining lymph node cells (LNC), as determined by incorporation of radiolabeled thymidine. Several variants to the original LLNA have been developed to eliminate the use of radioactive materials. One such alternative is considered here: the LLNA:BrdU‐ELISA method, which uses 5‐bromo‐2‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) in place of radiolabeled thymidine to measure LNC proliferation in draining nodes. Curr. Protoc. Toxicol. 51:20.7.1‐20.7.14. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Role of exercise for knee pain: What do older adults in the community think?
Authors: Holden Melanie A. , Nicholls Elaine E. , Young Julie , Hay Elaine M. , Foster Nadine E.
Published: April 2012

Objective

Older adults with knee pain report low levels of exercise and physical activity. One explanation for this might be that they believe exercise is unhelpful or even harmful for knee pain. We therefore explored the attitudes and beliefs of older adults in the community about the role of exercise for knee pain using mixed methods.

Methods

A survey was mailed to 2,234 older adults registered with 1 general practice within the UK. The survey included 23 attitude statements derived from published exercise recommendations. Semistructured interviews were completed in a purposeful sample of questionnaire responders (n = 22) and were recorded and analyzed thematically.

Results

The questionnaire response rate was 59% (n = 1,276), and 611 respondents reported knee pain in the past 12 months. There was considerable uncertainty about the benefits of exercise; <50% largely or totally agreed on any attitude statement relating to the benefit of exercise for knee pain. The interviews revealed that attitudes and beliefs about exercise for knee pain are linked to the individuals' perceptions about their knee problems, and that many different barriers and facilitators to exercise and physical activity exist. These barriers and facilitators could be grouped as those relating to the person, the knee problem itself, and social or environmental factors. Barriers and facilitators varied between different individuals and over time.

Conclusion

The overall uncertainty within the community about the role of exercise for knee pain highlights the challenges faced by those living with knee pain in completing physical activity, and for health care professionals prescribing exercise for this patient group.
Association of arterial events with the coexistence of metabolic syndrome and primary antiphospholipid syndrome
Authors: Rodrigues Carlos Ewerton Maia , Bonfá Eloisa , Caleiro Maria Teresa Correia , Vendramini Margarete B. , Bueno Cleonice , Lopes Jaqueline B. , de Carvalho Jozélio Freire
Published: April 2012

Objective

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is highly prevalent in rheumatic diseases and is recognized as a new independent cardiovascular risk factor. This study was undertaken to determine the clinical significance of MetS in patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS).

Methods

Seventy‐one primary APS patients and 73 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls were included. Serum samples were tested for lipid profile, Lp(a), glucose, insulin, thyroid‐stimulating hormone, free T4, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C‐reactive protein level, and uric acid. MetS was defined by the International Diabetes Federation criteria, and insulin resistance was established using the homeostasis model assessment index.

Results

The prevalence of MetS was 33.8%, and further comparison between primary APS patients with and without MetS revealed that the former had a higher frequency of arterial events (79.2% versus 42.6%; P = 0.003), angina (29.2% versus 2.1%; P = 0.002), and positive lupus anticoagulant antibody (95.8% versus 76.6%; P = 0.049). In addition, primary APS patients with MetS, as expected, had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. On multivariate analysis, only MetS was independently associated with arterial events in primary APS.

Conclusion

Coexistence of primary APS and MetS seems to identify a subgroup of patients with higher risk of arterial events, suggesting that MetS may aggravate existing endothelial abnormalities of primary APS.
Umbilical cord blood levels of maternal antibodies reactive with p200 and full‐length Ro 52 in the assessment of risk for cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus
Authors: Reed Joanne H. , Clancy Robert M. , Lee Kristen H. , Saxena Amit , Izmirly Peter M. , Buyon Jill P.
Published: April 2012

Objective

Maternal anti‐Ro autoantibodies are associated with cardiac manifestations of neonatal lupus (cardiac NL), yet only 2% of women with this reactivity have an affected child. Identification of a more specific marker would channel intense monitoring to fetuses at greater risk. This study aimed to determine whether autoantibodies against Ro 52 amino acids 200–239 (p200) confer added risk over autoantibodies to full‐length Ro 52, Ro 60, or La.

Methods

Anti‐Ro–exposed pregnancies resulting in cardiac NL or no cardiac manifestations were identified from the Research Registry for Neonatal Lupus and the PR Interval and Dexamethasone Evaluation study. Umbilical cord (n = 123) and maternal (n = 115) samples were evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The frequencies of p200, Ro 52, Ro 60, and La autoantibodies were not significantly different between affected and unaffected children. However, neonatal anti–Ro 52 and Ro 60 titers were highest in cardiac NL and their unaffected siblings compared to unaffected neonates without a cardiac NL sibling. Although both maternal anti–Ro 52 and p200 autoantibodies were less than 50% specific for cardiac NL, anti‐p200 was the least likely of the Ro autoantibodies to be false‐positive in mothers who have never had an affected child. Titers of anti–Ro 52 and p200 did not differ during a cardiac NL or unaffected pregnancy from the same mother.

Conclusion

Maternal reactivity to p200 does not confer an added risk to fetal conduction defects over full‐length Ro 52 or Ro 60 autoantibodies. Mothers who may never be at risk for having an affected child have lower anti–Ro 60 titers and may require less stringent echocardiographic monitoring compared to women with high‐titer autoantibodies.
Clinimetric properties of observer‐assessed impairment tests used to evaluate hip and groin impairments: A systematic review
Authors: Dobson Fiona , Choi Yik Ming , Hall Michelle , Hinman Rana S.
Published: April 2012

Objective

To recommend the most suitable observer‐assessed impairment tests in people with hip and/or groin pathologies by conducting a systematic review of the clinimetric properties of these tests.

Methods

Electronic searches were performed in the Cochrane, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, SPORTDiscus, and PsycINFO databases up to August 2011. Two reviewers independently rated the measurement properties of clinical tests of impairments, defined by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health as problems in body structure or body function, using the Consensus‐Based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments (COSMIN). “Best evidence synthesis” was made using COSMIN outcomes and the quality of findings was assessed using a purpose criteria system.

Results

Fifteen of 2,588 publications were eligible for inclusion. Impairments evaluated were range of motion (ROM; 9 studies), muscle strength (6 studies), tenderness (3 studies), leg length discrepancy (2 studies), balance (2 studies), and muscle length (2 studies) in people with hip osteoarthritis (OA), hip fractures, and mixed hip/groin pathologies. Measurement properties evaluated included reliability, measurement error, construct validity, and criterion validity. Responsiveness and interpretability were not assessed. Intrarater reliability of ROM tests (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] 0.82–0.97) and strength tests (ICC 0.84–0.98) for hip OA and of strength tests (ICC 0.66–0.86) and balance tests (ICC 0.73–0.94) for hip fractures was demonstrated.

Conclusion

This systematic review highlighted a paucity of literature evaluating the clinimetric properties of impairment tests for people with hip and/or groin pathology. A large number of inconclusive findings were found and as such, many clinical impairment tests should be used with caution in people with hip and/or groin pathologies until further clinimetric evidence becomes available.
Risk of malignancy in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis not treated with biologic agents
Authors: Nordstrom Beth L. , Mines Daniel , Gu Yun , Mercaldi Catherine , Aquino Peter , Harrison Melanie J.
Published: April 2012

Objective

To estimate the relative risk of incident cancer diagnosis among patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) compared to patients without JIA.

Methods

A cohort of biologics‐naive patients diagnosed with JIA between 1998 and 2007 and a matched cohort of comparators without JIA were assembled from the PharMetrics Patient‐Centric Database. The primary outcome was any incident malignancy, excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer and carcinoma in situ. Claims profiles of patients with any cancer‐related diagnosis codes were reviewed to determine outcomes. Incidence rates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of cancer were calculated and compared between cohorts using Cox proportional hazards regression. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for each cohort compared to the general population were calculated using reference rates from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End‐Results (SEER) program.

Results

The JIA and non‐JIA cohorts included 3,605 and 37,689 patients, respectively, with a mean age of 11 years. The incidence rates of cancer were 67.0 (95% CI 1.3–132.5) cases/100,000 person‐years (PY) for JIA and 23.2 (95% CI 12.2–34.2) cases/100,000 PY for non‐JIA. The risk of cancer associated with biologics‐naive JIA was elevated (hazard ratio 2.8, 95% CI 0.9–8.3). The JIA cohort had a significantly elevated SIR of 4.0 (95% CI 2.6–6.0); the non‐JIA cohort SIR was not significantly above SEER rates (SIR 1.4, 95% CI 0.6–2.6).

Conclusion

We found a nearly 3‐fold increased risk of cancer in biologics‐naive JIA patients, which approached significance despite the small number of outcomes. This finding suggests an elevated underlying risk of cancer in this disease population.
Surface Modification of Ti6Al4V Open Porous Structures Produced by Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Pyka Grzegorz , Burakowski Andrzej , Kerckhofs Greet , Moesen Maarten , Van Bael Simon , Schrooten Jan , Wevers Martine
Published: April 2012

Additive manufacturing techniques can be used to produce micro‐porous structures with global morphological properties that are highly controlled through robust computer design. Despite these advantages, most of these techniques still hold several functional constraints, resulting from present technical device limits and consequently the inability to control surface morphology at a microscale level. In this study, a novel protocol for surface modification of 3D titanium alloy‐based open porous structures is developed, which applies a combination of chemical etching (CHE) and electrochemical polishing (ECP) using HF‐based solutions. This protocol achieves significant and controllable roughness reduction of additive manufactured 3D Ti6Al4V open porous structures. Chemical etching mainly removes the attached powder grains, while ECP further decreases the roughness. In this way the heterogeneity of the strut surface roughness throughout the full 3D structure is effectively removed.
Co3O4 Nanoparticles as Robust Water Oxidation Catalysts Towards Remarkably Enhanced Photostability of a Ta3N5 Photoanode
Authors: Liao Maijia , Feng Jianyong , Luo Wenjun , Wang Zhiqiang , Zhang Jiyuan , Li Zhaosheng , Yu Tao , Zou Zhigang
Published: April 2012

Despite the fact that Ta3N5 absorbs a major fraction of the visible spectrum, the rapid decrease of photocurrent encountered in water photoelectrolysis over time remains a serious hurdle for the practical application of Ta3N5 photoelectrodes. Here, by employing a Co3O4 nanoparticle water oxidation catalyst (WOC) as well as an alkaline electrolyte, the photostability of Ta3N5 electrode is significantly improved. Co3O4/Ta3N5 photoanode exhibits the best durability against photocorrosion to date, when compared with Co(OH)x/Ta3N5 and IrO2/Ta3N5 photoanodes. Specifically, about 75% of the initial stable photocurrent remains after 2 h irradiation at 1.2 V vs. RHE (reversible hydrogen electrode). Meanwhile, a photocurrent density of 3.1 mA cm−2 has been achieved on Co3O4/Ta3N5 photoanode at 1.2 V vs. RHE with backside illumination under 1 sun AM 1.5 G simulated sunlight. The reason for the relatively high stability is discussed on the basis of electron microscopic observations and photoelectrochemical measurements, and the surface nitrogen content is monitored by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopic analysis.
Photoconductivity of C60as an Origin of Bias‐Dependent Photocurrent in Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Jeong Won‐Ik , Lee Yang Eun , Shim Hyun‐Sub , Kim Tae‐Min , Kim Sei‐Yong , Kim Jang‐Joo
Published: April 2012

The bulk‐ionized photoconductivity of C60is reported as an origin of the bias‐dependent linear change of the photocurrent in copper phthalocyanine (CuPc)/C60planar heterojunction solar cells, based on the observation of the variation of the bias‐dependent photocurrent on excitation wavelengths and the thickness‐dependent photocurrent of the C60layer. A theoretical model, which is a combination of the Braun‐Onsager model for the dissociation of excitons at the donor/acceptor interface and the Onsager model for the bulk ionization of excitons in the C60layer, describes the bias‐dependent photocurrent in the devices very well. The bulk‐ionized photoconductivity of C60must generally contribute to the photocurrent in organic photovoltaics, since fullerene and fullerene derivatives are widely used in these devices.
Post Porosity Plasma Protection: Scaling of Efficiency with Porosity
Authors: Frot Theo , Volksen Willi , Purushothaman Sampath , Bruce Robert L. , Magbitang Teddie , Miller Dolores C. , Deline Vaughn R. , Dubois Geraud
Published: April 2012

Increasing the porosity of oxycarbosilane dielectrics is a key approach to lower the interconnect signal delay and thus enable manufacturing of lower power consumption and higher performance microprocessors. However, this path leads to excessive dielectric process damage as the industry adapts procedures developed for dense and microporous insulators to mesoporous materials. Currently ultralow dielectric constant (k) materials cannot be integrated at the most aggressive pitch. Here, it is reported that the post porosity plasma protection enables the mitigation of process damage across a wide range of porosity regimes. The exponential increase in plasma damage with porosity when going from microporous k = 2.4 to mesoporous k = 1.8 is shown. Using the same range of materials, the strategy allows a reduction in process damage to a constant minimal level on both blanket wafers and patterned structures. The results demonstrate how the strategy can enable the extendibility of current materials and processes to future technology nodes.
Thermoacoustic Emission from Carbon Nanotubes Imaged by Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Passeri Daniele , Sassi Ugo , Bettucci Andrea , Tamburri Emanuela , Toschi Francesco , Orlanducci Silvia , Terranova Maria Letizia , Rossi Marco
Published: April 2012

The thermoacoustic effect of isolated single‐wall carbon nanotubes aligned between electrodes is experimentally observed for the first time by imaging the emitted acoustic wave using an atomic force microscopy‐based technique specifically developed for the task. The capability of such a technique for single‐point thermoacoustic measurements is first verified on carbon nanotubes layers with two electrodes for injecting alternate electric current. The technique is then demonstrated to allow the acquisition, simultaneously with the topography, of images reflecting the pressure of the acoustic wave at fixed distance from the sample. Such a capability is used to collect images reflecting the amplitude of acoustic waves generated by isolated nanotubes and nanotube bundles by the thermoacoustic effect.
Carbon Nanofibers Prepared via Electrospinning
Authors: Inagaki Michio , Yang Ying , Kang Feiyu
Published: April 2012

Carbon nanofibers prepared via electrospinning and following carbonization are summarized by focusing on the structure and properties in relation to their applications, after a brief review of electrospinning of some polymers. Carbon precursors, pore structure control, improvement in electrical conductivity,and metal loading into carbon nanofibers via electrospinning are discussed from the viewpoint of structure and texture control of carbon.
Does celiac disease occur in Afro‐derived Brazilian populations?
Authors: Almeida Rodrigo C. , Gandolfi Lenora , De Nazaré Klautau‐Guimarães Maria , Ferrari Íris , Sousa Sandra M.B. , Abe‐Sandes Kiyoko , Barbosa Ana A.L. , Simões Aguinaldo L. , Pratesi Riccardo , Oliveira Silviene F.
Published: April 2012

Background:

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs in genetically susceptible individuals in whom the ingestion of dietary gluten induces intestinal mucosa inflammation. Previous studies suggest that celiac disease may either be very rare or underdiagnosed in African and/or African‐derived population.

Aim:

Determine the prevalence of celiac disease in Sub‐Saharan African‐derived Brazilian communities using serological screening.

Subjects and methods:

Inhabitants from 10 African‐derived communities from Northeastern of Brazil were screened for celiac disease. All sera were tested for endomysial class IgA antibody using indirect immunofluorescence.

Results:

No positive test for IgA‐endomysial was observed in the 860 individuals tested.

Conclusion:

Our data suggests a low prevalence of celiac disease in African‐derived Brazilian populations. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Energetics of thermoregulation by an industrious endotherm
Authors: Meehan Timothy D.
Published: April 2012

Objectives:

Thermoregulation by modern industrial humans is unique among endothermic animals, in that it is largely accomplished by controlling the temperature of our external environment. The objective of this study was to view the relationship between thermoregulatory energy use and environmental temperature in modern humans from the perspective of comparative physiology.

Methods:

Monthly residential energy use estimates from the US Energy Information Administration were divided by the annual number of American households from the US Census Bureau, giving average monthly energy consumption per American household for the years 2006 through 2010. Monthly energy consumption was then plotted against average monthly temperature across the United States from the National Climatic Data Center.

Results:

The resulting graph bore a striking resemblance to a classic Scholander‐Irving curve, exhibiting clear upper (22°C) and lower (15°C) critical temperatures, and an increase in energy use as temperatures extend above (90 W °C−1 increase) or below (244 W °C−1 decrease) those critical temperatures. Allometric equations from comparative physiology indicate that the energetic costs of our current thermoregulatory habits are ∼30 to 50 times those predicted for an endotherm of our size.

Conclusions:

Modern humans have redefined what it means to be a homeothermic endotherm, using large quantities of extrametabolic energy to regulate the temperature of our surroundings. Despite this sophistication, the signal of our individual physiology is readily discernible in national data on energy consumption. Am. J. Hum. Biol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Renal Evaluation of Aotus azarai infulatus by Ultrasonography and Serum Chemistry Profile
Authors: LINS FERNANDA LUIZA de MIRANDA LINS e , MONTEIRO FREDERICO OZANAN BARROS , TAKESHITA RAFAELA SAYURI CICALISE , da SILVA GILMARA ABREU , FATURI CRISTIAN , PALHA MARIA das DORES CORREIA , MONTEIRO MARIA VIVINA BARROS , COUTINHO LEANDRO NASSAR , KUGELMEIER TATIANA , de CASTRO PAULO HENRIQUE GOMES
Published: April 2012

This study aimed to characterize anatomical and biochemical properties of owl monkey kidneys in order to provide normal reference values. Sixty‐nine Aotus azarai infulatus (45 males and 24 females) were divided into four different age groups (AG1: 3 months–1 year; AG2: 2–3 years; AG3: 4–6 years; and AG4: over 7 years old). The monkeys were evaluated with a serum chemistry profile, focusing on serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and with ultrasound. Mean body mass differed among the age groups. This significance was attributed to AG1 body mass being significantly lower than in AG2 and that in both AG2 and AG3 being significantly lower than in the two older age groups (AG3 and AG4). SCr and BUNconcentrations differed significantly between the sexes and SCr level correlated positively with age. In contrast, renal measurements did not differ between males and females. Left and right renal volumes did not differ significantly within age groups, or among AG2, AG3, and AG4. Renal volumes in AG1, however, while not differing from those in AG2, did differ significantly from those in AG3 and AG4. In conclusion, this study provides ultrasonographic reference values for the morphology the kidneys in A. a. infulatus. Evidence is also provided that SCr and BUNlevels in owl monkeys are influenced by the sex and age of the individual, factors that should be considered when interpreting test results. Am. J. Primatol. 74:482‐490, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dielectric properties of high coercivity barium ferrite–natural rubber composites
Authors: Makled Mamoud H.
Published: April 2012

The effect of frequency, temperature, and BaFe12O19 (BF) content on the dielectric constant
$ \acute\varepsilon $, dielectric loss ε″, and tan δ were studied for barium ferrite—natural rubber composites (RFC). The dielectric constant for barium ferrite was related to the preparation method, meanwhile the dielectric constant of natural rubber (NR) is relatively large compared to the theoretical value. The results showed that
$ \acute\varepsilon $, ε″, and tan δ for RFC decrease as the frequency increases, however, at higher frequencies, the effect significantly weakens. At low ferrite loading, the dielectric properties are strongly influenced by BF content. Strong correlation between magnetic initial permeability and dielectric constant for hard magnetic material polymer composites was also observed. Increasing the content of barium ferrite in NR matrix enhances both ε″ and tan δ. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Comparative study of the rheological behavior of multiwalled carbon nanotubes and nanofiber composites prepared by the dilution of a masterbatch of polypropylene
Authors: Boronat T. , Garcia‐Sanoguera D. , Pascual J. , Peris F. , Sanchez‐Nacher L.
Published: April 2012

In this investigation, the characteristics and the rheological properties of two different nanocomposite systems were investigated. These systems consisted of a dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and carbon nanofibers (CNFs) in a polypropylene (PP) matrix. The mixing process was carried out by melt compounding with a twin‐screw corotating extruder with different reinforcement amounts (0.2–20 wt %) from concentrated masterbatches (20 wt %) of PP/CNT and PP/CNF. The results show a remarkable increase in the viscosity for both blends as the reinforcement amount was increased. It was important to evaluate the rheological behavior to understand the effect of the nanocarbon particles on the internal structures and their processing properties of the obtained composites. CNFs were a more viable reinforcement from a processability point of view because the obtained viscosities of the PP/CNF blends were more manageable. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Preparation of a bagasse‐based anion exchange fiber for sugar decolorization
Authors: Liu Xilian , Lin Rijia , Chen Shuixia , Ma Nianfang , Huang Yunan
Published: April 2012

Sugar bagasse was converted into an anion‐exchanger through grafting acrylamide using (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2/H2O2 as initiator in an aqueous system, followed by reacting with ethylenediamine and hydrochloric acid. The effects of the grafting conditions such as monomer concentration, temperature, reaction time on the degree of grafting were investigated. The ion exchange capacity of the sugar bagasse base anion‐exchange fiber (SB‐IEF) was up to 3.70 mmol/g. Application of the SB‐IEF in sugar decolorization was evaluated. Compared with commercial strong basic anion exchange resin (AIER) and strong basic anion exchange fiber (AIEF), SB‐IEF showed the highest static decolorization capacity for sugar colorants (decolorization degree 71.40%), followed by AIEF (decolorization degree 68.74%) and AIER (decolorization degree 31.40%) at the same operating conditions. The dynamic decolorization results indicated that SB‐IEF showed larger processing volume than AIER and AIEF. SB‐IEF with higher grafting degree would have a higher decolorization degree. When 200 mL 2% brown granulated sugar solution was treated with 1 g SB‐IEF (grafting degree 82%), 80% decolorization degree could be achieved. The research results may provide a recyclable route for the comprehensive utilization of by‐products of sucrose industry. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Development of a new synthetic method based on in situ strategies for polyethylene/clay composites
Authors: Carrero Alicia , van Grieken Rafael , Suarez Inmaculada , Paredes Beatriz
Published: April 2012

Methods to make polymer composites comprise melt and solution blending, but in the particular case of polyolefins they are not appropriate due to the weak interfacial adhesion. In the present work, in situ blended (ISB) together with in situ polymerization (ISP) processes have been employed and compared using MAO/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 as catalytic system and sepiolite clay as additive in ethylene polymerization. A new method as a combination of the previous ones (ISB + ISP) has been developed and applied to the synthesis of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE). When ISB + ISP method is employed high catalytic activities are observed and this combination allows to increase the storage modulus at 25°C up to 26% with 2.8 wt % of clay in LLDPE when silica is employed as catalyst carrier; in that way, copolymer particles with good morphology with higher storage modulus are obtained, useful properties for their use in specific applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
The effect of crosslinking on the adsorption behavior of copper (II) onto poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone)
Authors: Zalloum Hiba M. , El‐Eswed Bassam , Zalloum Ruba M. , Mubarak Mohammad S.
Published: April 2012

The adsorption behavior of Cu(II) ions onto poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone), polymer I, and onto poly(2‐hydroxy‐4‐acryloyloxybenzophenone) crosslinked with different amounts of divinylbenzene (DVB), polymers II, III, and IV, in aqueous solutions was investigated using batch adsorption experiments as a function of contact time, pH, and temperature. The amount of metal ion uptake of the polymers was determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) and the highest uptake was achieved at pH 7.0 and by using perchlorate as an ionic strength adjuster for polymers I, II, III, and IV. Results revealed that the adsorption capacity (qe and Qm) of Cu(II) ions decreases with increasing crosslinking due to the decrease of chelation sites. In addition, the rate of adsorption (k2) of Cu(II) ions decreases with the increase of crosslinking because it becomes more difficult for Cu(II) ions to diffuse into the chelation sites. The isothermal behavior and the kinetics of adsorption of Cu(II) ions on these polymers with respect to the initial mass of the polymer and temperature were also investigated. The experimental data of the adsorption process was found to correlate well with the Langmuir isotherm model. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012
Alternative thoughts on uncitedness
Authors: Burrell Quentin L.
Published: April 2012

In a recent article, L. Egghe, R. Guns, and R. Rousseau () noted that in a study of some eminent scientists, many of them had a fair proportion of papers which were uncited and found this to be surprising. Here, we use the stochastic publication/citation model of Q.L. Burrell () to show that the result might in fact be expected. This brief communication is in the spirit of Q.L. Burrell (, ), showing that results that might at first sight seem to be surprising can in fact often be explainable in a stochastic framework.
Spectroscopic evidence of charge exchange X‐ray emission from galaxies
Authors: Wang Q.D. , Liu J.
Published: April 2012

What are the origins of the soft X‐ray line emission from non‐AGN galaxies? XMM‐Newton RGS spectra of nearby non‐AGN galaxies (including starforming ones: M82, NGC 253, M51, M83, M61, NGC 4631, M94, NGC 2903, and the Antennae galaxies, as well as the inner bulge of M31) have been analyzed. In particular, the Kα triplet of O VII shows that the resonance line is typically weaker than the forbidden and/or inter‐combination lines. This suggests that a substantial fraction of the emission may not arise directly from optically thin thermal plasma, as commonly assumed, and may instead originate at its interface with neutral gas via charge exchange. This latter origin naturally explains the observed spatial correlation of the emission with various tracers of cool gas in some of the galaxies. However, alternative scenarios, such as the resonance scattering by the plasma and the relic photo‐ionization by AGNs in the recent past, cannot be ruled out, at least in some cases, and are being examined. Such X‐ray spectroscopic studies are important to the understanding of the relationship of the emission to various high‐energy feedback processes in galaxies (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Cometary charge exchange diagnostics in UV and X‐ray
Authors: Bodewits D. , Christian D.J. , Carter J.A. , Dennerl K. , Ewing I. , Hoekstra R. , Lepri S.T. , Lisse C.M. , Wolk S.J.
Published: April 2012

Since the initial discovery of cometary charge exchange emission, more than 20 comets have been observed with a variety of X‐ray and UV observatories. This observational sample offers a broad variety of comets, solar wind environments and observational conditions. It clearly demonstrates that solar wind charge exchange emission provides a wealth of diagnostics, which are visible as spatial, temporal, and spectral emission features. We review the possibilities and limitations of each of those in this contribution (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Charge transfer processes from low to intermediate energies
Authors: Bacchus‐Montabonel M.C.
Published: April 2012

The theoretical treatment of charge transfer processes is developed using ab‐initio molecular calculations. Semi‐classical and quantal dynamical approaches are presented for the determination of cross sections and rate constants which are important data for space chemistry models. Accurate cross section values may be determined, taking account of rotational couplings with regard to the collision energy. Such theoretical approaches provide besides an insight into the mechanism of these processes with consideration of anisotropic and vibrational effects for collisions with diatomic molecular targets (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Suzaku observations of charge exchange emission from solar system objects
Authors: Ezoe Y. , Fujimoto R. , Yamasaki N.Y. , Mitsuda K. , Ohashi T. , Ishikawa K. , Oishi S. , Miyoshi Y. , Terada N. , Futaana Y. , Porter F.S. , Brown G.V.
Published: April 2012

Recent results of charge exchange emission from solar system objects observed with the Japanese Suzaku satellite are reviewed. Suzaku is of great importance to investigate diffuse X‐ray emission like the charge exchange from planetary exospheres and comets. The Suzaku studies of Earth's exosphere, Martian exosphere, Jupiter's aurorae, and comets are overviewed (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Update on modeling and data analysis of heliospheric solar wind charge exchange X‐ray emission
Authors: Koutroumpa D.
Published: April 2012

About 15 years ago, charge exchange (CX) X‐ray emission was discovered in comet observations, and was identified as the radiative decay of excited states of highly‐charge solar wind ions populated in collisions with neutral cometary material. This non‐thermal X‐ray emission mechanism is now generally acknowledged in planetary environments (e.g. Mars, Earth), as well as interstellar atoms sweeping through the heliosphere. In this paper I present the most recent improvements made in simulations of the heliospheric CX X‐ray emission. The model results are compared to X‐ray data from Suzaku, XMM‐Newton and Chandra spanning over a 10‐year period, and some conclusions are drawn on the heliospheric contribution to the diffuse soft X‐ray background. The solar system CX X‐ray sources can serve as prototypes in terms of modeling and diagnostics to more distant astrophysical objects where CX emission signatures are being discovered (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
On the soft X‐ray emission of M82
Authors: Liu J. , Wang Q.D. , Mao S.
Published: April 2012

We present a spatial analysis of the soft X‐ray and Hα emissions from the outflow of the starburst galaxy M82. We find that the two emissions are tightly correlated on various scales. The O VII triplet of M82, as resolved by X‐ray grating observations of XMM‐Newton, is dominated by the forbidden line, inconsistent with the thermal prediction. The O VII triplet also shows some spatial variations. We discuss three possible explanations for the observed O VII triplet, including the charge exchange at interfaces between the hot outflow and neutral cool gas, a collisional non‐equilibrium‐ionization recombining plasma, and resonance scattering (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Ion‐ion charge exchange and X‐rays from the winds of hot stars
Authors: Pollock A.M.T.
Published: April 2012

Charge exchange occurs between charged ions with enough energy to overcome Coulomb repulsion, a condition satisfied for collisions at velocities like those of the winds driven from hot stars by radiation pressure. X‐ray line ratios in some hot stars are inconsistent with those expected from thermal plasmas excited by electron impact. Ion‐ion interactions including charge exchange might be responsible instead if high‐velocity collisions between ions are enabled by the presence of a magnetic field in the wind, suggesting a possible alternative mechanism to the widely accepted instability‐driven shock model. The nature of a plasma in charge‐exchange equilibrium is yet to be determined (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Charge‐exchange emission in the starburst galaxies M82 and NGC3256
Authors: Ranalli P.
Published: April 2012

Charge‐exchange (CE) emission produces features which are detectable with the current X‐ray instrumentation in the brightest near galaxies. We describe these aspects in the observed X‐ray spectra of the star forming galaxies M82 and NGC 3256, from the Suzaku and XMM‐Newton telescopes. Emission from both ions (O, C) and neutrals (Mg, Si) is recognised. We also describe how microcalorimeter instrumentation on future missions will improve CE observations (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Charge transfer X‐rays in solar and stellar flares
Authors: Raymond J.C.
Published: April 2012

Most of the energy in a solar flare, and presumably a stellar flare as well, takes the form of a power law of energetic particles. The energetic electrons produce a bremsstrahlung continuum, while the most energetic nuclei produce gamma‐rays. Nuclei around 1 MeV/AMU can produce X‐rays during and after charge transfer with neutrals. This paper predicts the fluxes for some prominent X‐ray lines and compares them to existing spectra (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)