bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison between Nickel‐Sulfur Fire Assay Te Co‐precipitation and Isotope Dilution with High‐Pressure Asher Acid Digestion for the Determination of Platinum‐Group Elements, Rhenium and Gold
Authors: Savard Dany , Barnes Sarah‐Jane , Meisel Thomas
Published: November 2010

The accurate determination of platinum‐group elements (PGE), rhenium and gold is important in both fundamental research and ore deposit studies. Questions have been raised by some authors as to whether the nickel‐sulfur fire assay technique (NiS‐FA) efficiently collects all the PGE. On the other hand, most isotope dilution (ID) techniques can only treat small test portion masses (2 g was used for high‐pressure asher digestion; HPA) and this makes them more vulnerable to nugget effects. We determined PGE concentrations in ten reference materials with the aim of comparing the performance characteristics of the two methods. Both methods determine Ru, Pd, Os, Ir and Pt and we found that there were no significant systematic differences in the recovery. The advantages of NiS‐FA were that: (a) it is capable of determining Rh and Au; (b) the relatively large test portion mass (15 g) reduces the nugget effect and (c) it is faster and less expensive than HPA‐ID. The advantages of HPA‐ID were that: (a) it determined Re and (b) it had low level blanks, lower detection limits and hence better precision in low‐level homogeneous samples. Each technique had advantages and limitations; they should be considered as complementary rather than competing techniques.
Conjuntos de datos sobre pensiones y salud: la reunión y el intercambio de datos para la formulación de políticas
Authors: Lee Jinkook
Published: November 2010

Cada vez más países formulan nuevas políticas de pensión y de atención médica, o reforman las existentes, en respuesta al envejecimiento de la población y para mejorar el bienestar de sus ciudadanos. La aplicación de políticas diferentes por los distintos países ha dado lugar a varios experimentos naturales, los cuales brindan oportunidades poco comunes de estudiar los efectos que tienen diversas políticas en la salud y la jubilación, el comportamiento de la persona y la familia, y el bienestar. Para aprovechar esas oportunidades, es preciso armonizar las actividades de reunión de datos. Un número cada vez mayor de países han convenido en proporcionar datos armonizados con el Estudio sobre salud y jubilación (Health and Retirement Study, HRS) de los Estados Unidos. En el presente artículo se analizan esos conjuntos de datos, en particular sus principales parámetros relativos a la situación en términos de jubilación y salud, la estructuración de la investigación, las muestras y las tasas de respuesta. También se examinan las oportunidades que ofrecen para la realización de estudios internacionales y sus consecuencias para la evaluación y formulación de políticas.
Status and development prospects for indigenous freshwater finfish and crayfish farming in Greece
Authors: Perdikaris Costas , Gouva Evangelia , Paschos Ioannis
Published: November 2010

The Hellenic freshwater aquaculture sector has been dominated by the alien rainbow trout since the early 1950s. This species actually represented 96.5% of the total inland production in 2007. Other groups of species accounted for minor production volumes and, apart from common carp, most of them are also of alien origin. Therefore, an absence of production diversification, the presence of alien species, which in some cases have seriously impacted aquatic biodiversity, and emerging consumer sensitivity towards environmentally friendly practises require thorough re‐assessment of native species with promising aquaculture potential. This trend is particularly evident in Eastern Europe and Asia, where native species (particularly cyprinids) outcompete alien species. The current review aims to outline past and present farming efforts on native fish and crayfish species in Greece, which collectively belong to six families, and to discuss future development prospects.
Two Kinds of Causal Explanation
Authors: BOTTERILL GEORGE
Published: November 2010

To give a causal explanation is to give information about causal history. But a vast amount of causal history lies behind anything that happens, far too much to be included in any intelligible explanation. This is the Problem of Limitation for explanatory information. To cope with this problem, explanations must select for what is relevant to and adequate for answering particular inquiries. In the present paper this idea is used in order to distinguish two kinds of causal explanation, on the grounds of systematic differences in their conditions of relevance and adequacy. It is further argued that these two forms of causal explanation are interdependent and their interaction provides an instrument through which causal knowledge is acquired and enhanced. What we understand causation in the world to be is neither unconditioned regularity, nor counterfactual dependence, but the sum of correct answers to explanatory inquiries of these two interdependent kinds.
Discrimination in Terms of Moral Exclusion
Authors: HORTA OSCAR
Published: November 2010

This article tries to define what discrimination is and to understand in particular detail its most important instances: those in which the satisfaction of interests is at stake. These cases of discrimination will be characterized in terms of deprivations of benefits. In order to describe and classify them we need to consider three different factors: the benefits of which discriminatees are deprived, the criteria according to which such benefits are denied or granted, and the justification that such deprivation of benefits may have (or lack). This definition intends to present discrimination as a concept that may be useful not only to examine certain social phenomena, but also, more widely, to ethical theory in general.
William Heytesbury and the Conditions for Knowledge
Authors: MARTENS DAVID B.
Published: November 2010

Ivan Boh affirms and Robert Pasnau denies that William Heytesbury holds merely true belief to be sufficient for knowledge in the broad sense. I argue that Boh is correct and Pasnau is mistaken, and that there is a long‐running orthodox medieval tradition agreeing with Heytesbury about the conditions for knowledge. I offer a hypothesis about the origins, continuance and demise of that medieval tradition, and some remarks about the tradition's significance.
Neurocardiology: Therapeutic Implications for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Goldstein David S.
Published: November 2010

The term “neurocardiology” refers to physiologic and pathophysiological interplays of the nervous and cardiovascular systems. This selective review provides an update about cardiovascular therapeutic implications of neurocardiology, with emphasis on disorders involving primary or secondary abnormalities of catecholamine systems. Concepts of scientific integrative medicine help understand these disorders. Scientific integrative medicine is not a treatment method or discipline but a way of thinking that applies systems concepts to acute and chronic disorders of regulation. Some of these concepts include stability by negative feedback regulation, multiple effectors, effector sharing, instability by positive feedback loops, allostasis, and allostatic load. Scientific integrative medicine builds on systems biology but is also distinct in several ways. A large variety of drugs and non‐drug treatments are now available or under study for neurocardiologic disorders in which catecholamine systems are hyperfunctional or hypofunctional. The future of therapeutics in neurocardiology is not so much in new curative drugs as in applying scientific integrative medical ideas that take into account concurrent chronic degenerative disorders and interactions of multiple drug and non‐drug treatments with each other and with those disorders.
A molecular and isotopic study of the macromolecular organic matter of the ungrouped C2 WIS 91600 and its relationship to Tagish Lake and PCA 91008
Authors: YABUTA Hikaru , ALEXANDER Conel M. O’D. , FOGEL Marilyn L. , KILCOYNE A. L. David , CODY George D.
Published: November 2010

Abstract– Insight into the chemical history of an ungrouped type 2 carbonaceous chondrite meteorite, Wisconsin Range (WIS) 91600, is gained through molecular analyses of insoluble organic matter (IOM) using solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X‐ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy (XANES), and pyrolysis‐gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (pyr‐GC/MS), and our previous bulk elemental and isotopic data. The IOM from WIS 91600 exhibits similarities in its abundance and bulk δ15N value with IOM from another ungrouped carbonaceous chondrite Tagish Lake, while it exhibits H/C, δ13C, and δD values that are more similar to IOM from the heated CM, Pecora Escarpment (PCA) 91008. The 13C NMR spectra of IOM of WIS 91600 and Tagish Lake are similar, except for a greater abundance of CHxO species in the latter and sharper carbonyl absorption in the former. Unusual cross‐polarization (CP) dynamics is observed for WIS 91600 that indicate the presence of two physically distinct organic domains, in which the degrees of aromatic condensation are distinctly different. The presence of two different organic domains in WIS 91600 is consistent with its brecciated nature. The formation of more condensed aromatics is the likely result of short duration thermal excursions during impacts. The fact that both WIS 91600 and PCA 91008 were subjected to short duration heating that is distinct from the thermal history of type 3 chondrites is confirmed by Carbon‐XANES. Finally, after being briefly heated (400 °C for 10 s), the pyrolysis behavior of Tagish Lake IOM is similar to that of WIS 91600 and PCA 91008. We conclude that WIS 91600 experienced very moderate, short duration heating at low temperatures (<500 °C) after an episode of aqueous alteration under conditions that were similar to those experienced by Tagish Lake.
Effect of Investor Sentiment on Market Response to Stock Split Announcement*
Authors: Kim Keunsoo , Byun Jinho
Published: November 2010

This paper creates monthly investor sentiment indices for Korea and provides evidence that these indices have the power to predict the subsequent 6‐month buy‐and‐hold returns. In addition, the paper shows that investor sentiment positively affects market response to stock split announcements by using stock splits on the Korea Exchange from 1999 to 2006. First, market response to a stock split announcement is positively related to investor sentiment. Second, market response is more pronounced in high sentiment periods, particularly for small, young, highly volatile, and low profit‐stocks, the valuations of which are highly subjective and difficult to arbitrage. Third, the initial effects of size, age, volatility, and profitability in times of high investor sentiment tend to be reversed over 12‐month post‐split performance. These empirical results imply that the market tends to overreact to stock split announcements for small, young, highly volatile, and low‐profit firms in a high sentiment period but thereafter correct the overvaluation of those firms during the 12‐month post‐split performance. As such, the paper shows how investor sentiment affects the valuation of stocks at a corporate event level.
Heat and Mass Transfer for Ice Particle Ingestion Inside Aero-Engine
Authors: Lou Decang , Hammond David W.
Published: November 2010

Ice crystal icing has been found to be the prime culprit for aero-engine internal icing. Internal icing and the following ice shedding may cause the engine power loss, flame-out, and even damage to the compressor components. In this paper, the ice particle ingestion process and the interaction between the particles and components are discussed. Heat and mass transfer models are built for two ideal conditions. Results from a case study reveal that the melting rate for the ice particle covering with water film is much higher than that for bare particles. Those ice particles with a size beyond a critical diameter cannot be melted completely before entering into the combustor. The study can provide further consideration of the mechanism of engine “flame-out” and component impact damage.
Measurement of Average Contact Angles of Gas Diffusion Layers Using a Novel Fluorescence Microscopy Method
Authors: Friess B. R. , Hoorfar M.
Published: November 2010

One of the major problems of current proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is water management. The gas diffusion layer (GDL) of the fuel cell plays an important role in water management since humidification and water removal are both achieved through the GDL. Various numerical models were developed to illustrate the multiphase flow and transport in the fuel cell. The accuracy of these models depends on the accurate measurement of the GDL properties such as wettability, surface energy, and porosity. Most of the studies conducted for measuring the wettability of the GDL are based on the external contact angle measurements. However, the external contact angle does not describe adequately the capillary forces acting on the water inside the GDL pores. In a recent study, the capillary penetration technique has been used to measure indirectly the wettability of the GDL based on the experimental height increase due to penetration of the liquid into the porous sample. In essence, the height penetration technique was used along with the general Washburn equation to determine the surface properties of GDLs [Friess and Hoorfar, 2010, “Measurement of Internal Wettability of Gas Diffusion Porous Media of PEM Fuel Cells,” J. Power Sources, 195, pp. 4736–4742]. The shortcoming of this method is that it is only effective for thin GDL samples with low poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) loading since the digital images acquired to find the height of penetration has a limited contrast between the penetrated and unpenetrated areas. Since fuel cells need to use different combinations of PTFE loading and thickness depending on the desired use of the cell, it is important to find a way to measure the contact angle of the GDLs with different PTFE loadings and thicknesses. This paper presents a novel fluorescence microscopy method that drastically improves the contrast in the images and allows for the accurate measurement of the height of penetration of the test liquid at each time step. This penetrated height values are then used along with an optimization method (which finds the best fit between the general Washburn equation and the experimental data) to calculate the contact angle of the test liquid on the GDL sample.
Finite-Time Stabilization of Stochastic Systems With Partially Known Transition Probabilities
Authors: Luan Xiao-li , Liu Fei , Shi Peng
Published: November 2010

In this paper, the problem of finite-time stabilization for a class of uncertain Markov jump systems with partially known transition probabilities is investigated. The main aim of this paper is to derive the finite-time stabilization criteria for the underlying systems when the transition probabilities are partially known and to design a state feedback stabilizing controller such that the trajectories of the system stay within a given bound in a fixed time interval. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the desired controller are established with the linear matrix inequalities framework. A numerical example is used to illustrate the effectiveness of the developed theoretic results.
Contrapropagating Ultrasonic Flowmeter Using Clad Buffer Rods for High Temperature Measurements
Authors: França D. R. , Jen C.-K. , Ono Y.
Published: November 2010

This work proposes clad buffer rods driven by shear transducers as the main building block of contrapropagating ultrasonic flowmeters for high temperature application. It is demonstrated that the superior signal-to-noise ratio exhibited by clad buffer rods (compared with the reported nonclad counterparts) improves precision in transit time measurements, leading to more accurate flow speed determination. In addition, it is shown that clad buffer rods generate specific ultrasonic signals for temperature calibration of flowmeters, allowing temperature variation while still measuring accurately the flow speed. On the basis of these experimental results, a contrapropagating ultrasonic flowmeter was designed and installed in a heater machine for flow speed measurements of hot oil at temperatures near 130°C. For a temperature variation of 3°C, the difference between upstream and downstream ultrasonic transit times, which is proportional to the flow speed at a given temperature, was measured within 1 ns accuracy.
Large area three-dimensional photonic crystals with embedded waveguides
Authors: Raub Alex K. , Brueck S. R. J.
Published: November 2010

Three-dimensional photonic crystals are attractive for very compact waveguide devices. A novel interferometric lithography technique for fabricating three-dimensional photonic crystals is presented, which allows for independent dimensional control of each axis of the crystal. Previous interferometric approaches using 3, 4, 5, or more beams have inherent constraints between the lattice constants and the exposure wavelength. With this new technique, it is possible to control each individual crystal lattice constant largely independent of the exposure wavelength, vastly increasing the available parameter space. Both mathematical models and experimentally realized three-dimensional photonic crystals, over 2 cm2 in size and up to 12 μm, are presented. Photonic crystals with integrated waveguides are of particular significance. A new approach to fabricating waveguides embedded in a three-dimensional photonic crystal is also presented. This approach uses multiple-exposure wavelengths, with one longer wavelength propagating throughout the photoresist for the photonic crystal fabrication and another shorter highly absorptive wavelength for the waveguide fabrication. This new approach to waveguide fabrication leads itself to scalable manufacturing using standard semiconductor lithography equipment.
Argon ion multibeam nanopatterning of Ni–Cu inserts for injection molding
Authors: Koeck Anton , Bruck Roman , Wellenzohn Markus , Hainberger Rainer , Platzgummer Elmar , Loeschner Hans , Joechl Peter , Eder-Kapl Stefan , Ebm Christoph , Czepl Peter , Kaiblinger Kurt , Pipelka Friedrich , Letzkus Florian , Irmscher Mathias , Heitkamp Bernd
Published: November 2010

The authors have successfully employed the charged particle nanopatterning (CHARPAN) technology for nanostructuring of a metal mold insert for a conventional injection molding machine. High-precision diamond-milled Ni–Cu mold inserts have been nanopatterned with 10 keV argon ion multibeam milling with feature sizes as small as 50 nm. A variety of structures such as circles, hexagons, and lines in different dimensions, with positive and negative shapes, have been fabricated in the metal mold. These structures have been successfully replicated in polymethylpentene samples by injection molding. To the authors’ best knowledge, the CHARPAN technology is one of the very few technologies that allow for resistless nanostructuring a field size of 25×25 μm2 into a metal mold in a single shot. This is of high importance for the practical injection molding fabrication of nanostructured polymer devices such as optical biosensors.
Fabricating millimeter to nanometer sized cavities concurrently for nanofluidic devices
Authors: Devlin Nicole R. , Brown Devin K.
Published: November 2010

In this study, nanofluidic devices were fabricated using Unity® 4671E, a decomposable, negative tone resist. Cavities as large as 2.5 mm and channels as small as 30 nm were fabricated with the same process. Water was successfully flowed through the devices and the flow was characterized for a 500 nm channel.
Structural Basis of Biological N
2
O Generation by Bacterial Nitric Oxide Reductase
Authors: Hino Tomoya , Matsumoto Yushi , Nagano Shingo , Sugimoto Hiroshi , Fukumori Yoshihiro , Murata Takeshi , Iwata So , Shiro Yoshitsugu
Published: November 2010

Dissecting Nitric Oxide Reductase

Bacterial breakdown of nitrogen compounds in soil and the oceans provides the largest emission source of the greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N
2
O). A key enzyme in this process is nitric oxide reductase (NOR), which catalyzes the reduction of nitric oxide (NO) to N
2
O.

Hino
et al.

(p.
1666
, published online 25 November; see the Perspective by

Moënne-Loccoz and Fee

) now describe the crystal structure of NOR from
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Consistent with their evolutionary relatedness, the transmembrane region topology and arrangement of metal centers in NOR are similar to those in cytochrome oxidases, key enzymes in aerobic respiration.
Oxygen Doping Modifies Near-Infrared Band Gaps in Fluorescent Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Ghosh Saunab , Bachilo Sergei M. , Simonette Rebecca A. , Beckingham Kathleen M. , Weisman R. Bruce
Published: November 2010

Better Imaging When Separated

A fluorescent probe works better if its absorption and emission wavelengths are well separated; otherwise, the probe tends to reabsorb its own emission.

Ghosh
et al.

(p.
1656
, published online 25 November) found that oxygen doping of semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) improved the characteristics of these materials as imaging probes in the near-infrared. Exposure of SWCNTs to ozone and then to visible light caused the emission wavelength to be 10 to 15% longer than the absorption wavelength. They imaged these probes and untreated SWCNTs in cultured human cells and found an ∼20-fold improvement in contrast.
The Cellular and Physiological Mechanism of Wing-Body Scaling in
Manduca sexta
Authors: Nijhout H. Frederik , Grunert Laura W.
Published: November 2010

Size Matters

Animals regulate their growth so that all organs are mutually proportional, even when growth occurs at different times. However, the mechanism by which this occurs is unknown.
Nijhout and Grunert
(p.
1693
, published online 25 November) performed an analysis of relative wing growth in the tobacco hornworm,
Manduca
. Animals that were small owing to starvation had smaller wings, due to their slower growth rate, and they also stopped growing earlier than large, well-fed larvae. The insect hormone ecdysone was implicated in the process that governs this scaling relationship between adult wings and body size.
Siah Regulation of Pard3A Controls Neuronal Cell Adhesion During Germinal Zone Exit
Authors: Famulski Jakub K. , Trivedi Niraj , Howell Danielle , Yang Yuan , Tong Yiai , Gilbertson Richard , Solecki David J.
Published: November 2010

Exiting the Birthplace

In the developing mammalian brain, new neurons are not always born where they are needed. In order for immature neurons of the mouse cerebellum to leave their birthplace in the germinal zone and find their functional niche in the brain, the neurons need to migrate.

Famulski
et al.

(p.
1834
, published online 25 November; see the Perspective by

Métin and Luccardini

) now show that ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation regulates development of specific cell adhesions that the neurons need in order to exit their birthplace en route to their final functional location.
Implementing clinical ethics in German hospitals: content, didactics and evaluation of a nationwide postgraduate training programme
Authors: Dörries Andrea , Simon Alfred , Neitzke Gerald , Vollmann Jochen
Published: November 2010

The Hannover qualifying programme ‘ethics consultation in hospitals’, conducted by a four-institution cooperation partnership, is an interdisciplinary, scientifically based programme for healthcare professionals interested in ethics consultation services and is widely acknowledged by hospital managements and healthcare professionals. It is unique concerning its content, scope and teaching format. With its basic and advanced modules it has provided training and education for 367 healthcare professionals with 570 participations since 2003 (until February 2010). One characteristic feature is its attractiveness for health professionals from different backgrounds. Internationally, the Hannover programme is one of the few schedules with both academics and non-academics as target groups and a high participation rate of physicians. The concept of the Hannover programme is in great demand, and its schedule is continuously optimised through evaluation. The goals of enabling healthcare professionals from different professional backgrounds to define and reflect ethical problems, to facilitate and support the process of decision-making and to work out structures for their own institutions seem to have been achieved. However, in order to obtain effective and sustainable results, participation in the programme should be supplemented regularly by in-house training sessions or individual expert consultations. Future challenges include new thematic courses and providing a network for former participants, especially when they come from non-academic hospitals. The network is a reasonable platform to discuss participants' experiences, successes and pitfalls. A further task will be research on how the programme's concept can support the sustainability of ethics structures in the various institutions.
Theoretical resources for a globalised bioethics: Table 1
Authors: Verkerk Marian A , Lindemann Hilde
Published: November 2010

In an age of global capitalism, pandemics, far-flung biobanks, multinational drug trials and telemedicine it is impossible for bioethicists to ignore the global dimensions of their field. However, if they are to do good work on the issues that globalisation requires of them, they need theoretical resources that are up to the task. This paper identifies four distinct understandings of ‘globalised’ in the bioethics literature: (1) a focus on global issues; (2) an attempt to develop a universal ethical theory that can transcend cultural differences; (3) an awareness of how bioethics itself has expanded, with new centres and journals emerging in nearly every corner of the globe; (4) a concern to avoid cultural imperialism in encounters with other societies. Each of these approaches to globalisation has some merit, as will be shown. The difficulty with them is that the standard theoretical tools on which they rely are not designed for cross-cultural ethical reflection. As a result, they leave important considerations hidden. A set of theoretical resources is proposed to deal with the moral puzzles of globalisation. Abandoning idealised moral theory, a normative framework is developed that is sensitive enough to account for differences without losing the broader context in which ethical issues arise. An empirically nourished, self-reflexive, socially inquisitive, politically critical and inclusive ethics allows bioethicists the flexibility they need to pick up on the morally relevant particulars of this situation here without losing sight of the broader cultural contexts in which it all takes place.
HIV/AIDS and circumcision: lost in translation
Authors: Fox Marie , Thomson Michael
Published: November 2010

In April 2009 a Cochrane review was published assessing the effectiveness of male circumcision in preventing acquisition of HIV. It concluded that there was strong evidence that male circumcision, performed in a medical setting, reduces the acquisition of HIV by men engaging in heterosexual sex. Yet, importantly, the review noted that further research was required to assess the feasibility, desirability and cost-effectiveness of implementation within local contexts. This paper endorses the need for such research and suggests that, in its absence, it is premature to promote circumcision as a reliable strategy for combating HIV. Since articles in leading medical journals as well as the popular press continue to do so, scientific researchers should think carefully about how their conclusions may be translated both to policy makers and to a more general audience. The importance of addressing ethico-legal concerns that such trials may raise is highlighted. The understandable haste to find a solution to the HIV pandemic means that the promise offered by preliminary and specific research studies may be overstated. This may mean that ethical concerns are marginalised. Such haste may also obscure the need to be attentive to local cultural sensitivities, which vary from one African region to another, in formulating policy concerning circumcision.
Job choice and the influence of prior asthma and hay fever
Authors: Butland Barbara K , Ghosh Rebecca , Strachan David P , Cullinan Paul , Jarvis Deborah
Published: November 2010

Objectives

To investigate whether prior symptoms of allergic disease influence first job undertaken on leaving school.

Methods

The study included 5020 members of the 1958 British birth cohort who provided a job history (including start dates) at age 33 and for whom information on allergic disease in childhood and adolescence was reported by parents at ages 7, 11 and 16. Occupational group (high risk, low risk, reference) was based on first job and its probable asthma risk.

Results

With occupational group defined using only job title, the RR of taking a high risk over a reference level job was an estimated 30% (RR ratio (RRR) 0.70; 95% CI 0.56 to 0.88) lower among those with than without prior reported symptoms of hay fever/allergic rhinitis but an estimated 60% (RRR 1.60; 1.17 to 2.19) higher among those with symptoms of asthma/wheezy bronchitis in adolescence compared to those with no history of asthma/wheezy bronchitis. With occupational group defined using an asthma specific job exposure matrix, a similar association was observed for prior hay fever/allergic rhinitis (RRR 0.77; 0.62 to 0.96) but not for asthma/wheezy bronchitis (RRR 1.18; 0.85 to 1.64). There was no evidence of an association between prior eczema and occupational group of first job.

Conclusion

Whether our findings indicate avoidance or residual confounding, it would be prudent for future studies of occupation and the incidence or recurrence of asthma in adult life to adjust for any previous history of hay fever/allergic rhinitis.
Children's loss of autonomy over smoking: the global youth tobacco survey
Authors: Soteriades Elpidoforos S , Spanoudis George , Talias Michael A , Warren Charles W , DiFranza Joseph R
Published: November 2010

Background

Empirical data suggest that children with infrequent tobacco use have difficulty quitting smoking.

Methods

Data were obtained from the nationally representative Global Youth Tobacco Survey of middle-school students in Cyprus and Greece. Regression analyses examined associations between smoking frequency (smoking days per month or cigarettes smoked per day) and loss of autonomy (difficulty refraining from smoking).

Results

The prevalence of lost autonomy was 40% among subjects who smoked 1 or 2 days/month and 41% among subjects who averaged less than one cigarette/day and increased in a dose-response pattern. Regression models derived from the Cyprus data were replicated by the Greek data.

Conclusions

Two national surveys confirm previous reports of difficulty with smoking cessation with infrequent smoking. Since loss of autonomy is universally recognised as a core feature of addiction, our data indicate that young adolescents experience symptoms of nicotine addiction with infrequent tobacco use.
Global surveillance of oral tobacco products: total nicotine, unionised nicotine and tobacco-specificN-nitrosamines
Authors: Stanfill Stephen B , Connolly Gregory N , Zhang Liqin , Jia Lily T , Henningfield Jack E , Richter Patricia , Lawler Tameka S , Ayo-Yusuf Olalekan A , Ashley David L , Watson Clifford H
Published: November 2010

Objective

Oral tobacco products contain nicotine and carcinogenic tobacco-specificN-nitrosamines (TSNAs) that can be absorbed through the oral mucosa. The aim of this study was to determine typical pH ranges and concentrations of total nicotine, unionised nicotine (the most readily absorbed form) and five TSNAs in selected oral tobacco products distributed globally.

Methods

A total of 53 oral tobacco products from 5 World Health Organisation (WHO) regions were analysed for total nicotine and TSNAs, including 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), using gas chromatography or liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection. Unionised nicotine concentrations were calculated using product pH and total nicotine concentrations. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to help categorise or characterise some products.

Results

Total nicotine content varied from 0.16 to 34.1 mg/g product, whereas, the calculated unionised nicotine ranged from 0.05 to 31.0 mg/g product; a 620-fold range of variation. Products ranged from pH 5.2 to 10.1, which translates to 0.2% to 99.1% of nicotine being in the unionised form. Some products have very high pH and correspondingly high unionised nicotine (eg, gul powder, chimó, toombak) and/or high TSNA (eg, toombak, zarda, khaini) concentrations. The concentrations of TSNAs spanned five orders of magnitude with concentrations of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) ranging from 4.5 to 516 000 ng/g product.

Conclusions

These data have important implications for risk assessment because they show that very different exposure risks may be posed through the use of these chemically diverse oral tobacco products. Because of the wide chemical variation, oral tobacco products should not be categorised together when considering the public health implications of their use.
Medical management of Trichophyton dermatophytosis using a novel treatment regimen in L'Hoest's monkeys (Cercopithecus lhoesti)
Authors: Keeble E. J. , Neuber A. , Hume L. , Goodman G.
Published: November 2010

An outbreak of Trichophyton dermatophytosis was diagnosed in a group of four L'Hoest's monkeys (Cercopithecus lhoesti) housed in the primate section at a zoological collection. The affected animals presented with areas of non‐pruritic alopecia, scaling and crusting. The diagnosis was based on culture and direct microscopy of hair plucks. Treatment was commenced with oral terbinafine at a dose of 8.25 mg/kg bodyweight, topical enilconazole washes and disinfectant fogging of the enclosure. Control measures were designed to limit the spread of infection and reduce the zoonotic risk. Treatment was successful, with no further clinical cases being diagnosed and with resolution of the clinical signs after four weeks and mycological cure after eight weeks.
Three-dimensional stability charts for slopes based on limit analysis methods
Authors: Li A. J. , Merifield R. S. , Lyamin A. V.
Published: November 2010

This paper uses finite element upper and lower bound limit analysis to produce chart solutions for three-dimensional (3D) natural slopes for both short- and long-term stability. The presented chart solutions are convenient tools that can be used for preliminary design purposes. The rigorous limit analysis results in this paper were found to bracket the true factor of safety within ±10% or better, which can be used as a benchmark for the solutions from other methods. The depth of the slip surfaces is observed to be generally shallow for most analyzed cases, particularly for the long-term slope stability problem. In addition, it was found that using a two-dimensional (2D) analysis may lead to significant differences in estimating safety factors, which can differ by 2%–60% depending on the slope geometry and soil properties. Therefore, great care and judgement are required when applying 2D analyses to 3D slope problems.
AN FPGA HARDWARE/SOFTWARE CO-DESIGN TOWARDS EVOLVABLE SPIKING NEURAL NETWORKS FOR ROBOTICS APPLICATION
Authors: JOHNSTON S. P. , PRASAD G. , MAGUIRE L. , MCGINNITY T. M.
Published: November 2010

This paper presents an approach that permits the effective hardware realization of a novel Evolvable Spiking Neural Network (ESNN) paradigm on Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). The ESNN possesses a hybrid learning algorithm that consists of a Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP) mechanism fused with a Genetic Algorithm (GA). The design and implementation direction utilizes the latest advancements in FPGA technology to provide a partitioned hardware/software co-design solution. The approach achieves the maximum FPGA flexibility obtainable for the ESNN paradigm. The algorithm was applied as an embedded intelligent system robotic controller to solve an autonomous navigation and obstacle avoidance problem.
AN STDP TRAINING ALGORITHM FOR A SPIKING NEURAL NETWORK WITH DYNAMIC THRESHOLD NEURONS
Authors: STRAIN T. J. , McDAID L. J. , McGINNITY T. M. , MAGUIRE L. P. , SAYERS H. M.
Published: November 2010

This paper proposes a supervised training algorithm for Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs) which modifies the Spike Timing Dependent Plasticity (STDP)learning rule to support both local and network level training with multiple synaptic connections and axonal delays. The training algorithm applies the rule to two and three layer SNNs, and is benchmarked using the Iris and Wisconsin Breast Cancer (WBC) data sets. The effectiveness of hidden layer dynamic threshold neurons is also investigated and results are presented.
ANALYSIS AND AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION OF SLEEP STAGES USING HIGHER ORDER SPECTRA
Authors: ACHARYA U. RAJENDRA , CHUA ERIC CHERN-PIN , CHUA KUANG CHUA , MIN LIM CHOO , TAMURA TOSHIYO
Published: November 2010

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are widely used to study the activity of the brain, such as to determine sleep stages. These EEG signals are nonlinear and non-stationary in nature. It is difficult to perform sleep staging by visual interpretation and linear techniques. Thus, we use a nonlinear technique, higher order spectra (HOS), to extract hidden information in the sleep EEG signal. In this study, unique bispectrum and bicoherence plots for various sleep stages were proposed. These can be used as visual aid for various diagnostics application. A number of HOS based features were extracted from these plots during the various sleep stages (Wakefulness, Rapid Eye Movement (REM), Stage 1-4 Non-REM) and they were found to be statistically significant with p-value lower than 0.001 using ANOVA test. These features were fed to a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) classifier for automatic identification. Our results indicate that the proposed system is able to identify sleep stages with an accuracy of 88.7%.
FRACTAL APPROACH TO UNDERSTAND PFO AND DCS IN SPORT DIVERS
Authors: JAYALALITHA G. , UTHAYAKUMAR R.
Published: November 2010

The prevalence of Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO) is an increasing risk factor for paradoxical cerebral embolism. Decompression Sickness (DCS) results from gas coming out of solution in the bodily fluids and tissues when a diver ascends too quickly. This occurs because decreasing pressure lowers the solubility of gas in liquid. Also, the expansion of gas in the lungs may lead to alveolar rupture which may, in turn, result in Arterial Gas Embolism (AGE). The amount of nitrogen that diffuses into the bodily tissues during a dive depends on the depth of the dive and the duration of exposure. PFO acquires significance in various congenital heart diseases leading to right to left shunt and thus to paradoxical embolism. The presence of asymptomatic brain lesion like "spots" has been investigated in a randomized population of diving individuals. The partial pressure of the gas can be calculated by Henry's Law and the pressure of the blood stream can be calculated by Poiseuille's Law. The statistical comparison of the fractal dimension was obtained by means of Box Counting Method with slope analysis. We observe that PFO plays a significant role in the occurrence of unexplained cerebral DCS and white spots in the brain.
PREDICTION OF MAXIMUM PORE SIZE OF POROUS MEDIA BASED ON FRACTAL GEOMETRY
Authors: CAI JIANCHAO , YU BOMING
Published: November 2010

The macroscopic transport properties of porous media have received steadily attention in science and engineering areas in the past decades. It has been shown that the maximum pore size in a porous medium plays the crucial role in determination of transport properties such as flow resistance, permeability, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity, etc. In this study, two models for predicting the maximum pore size in porous media based on fractal geometry are presented. The present analytical expressions may be used to calculate the maximum pore size from porosity and permeability data, as well as from liquid properties, structure parameters of media and imbibition coefficient data, respectively. Predicted maximum pore sizes by the proposed models show good agreement with the available experimental results.
BRIBE AND PUNISHMENT: EFFECTS OF SIGNALING, GOSSIPING, AND BRIBERY IN PUBLIC GOODS GAMES
Authors: BAZZAN A. L. C. , DAHMEN SÍLVIO R.
Published: November 2010

In public goods games, individuals contribute to create a benefit for a group. However this attracts free-riders, who enjoy the benefits without necessarily contributing. Nonetheless, in real-life scenarios cooperation does not collapse. Several explanations have been proposed in order to explain this phenomenon, such as punishment and signaling. In the present work, we investigate the effects of new elements associated with punishment upon signaling such as gossiping and bribery. Agents may denounce free-riders (who on their turn get punished) or may be bribed to remain silent and even spread rumors of false good behavior. Having a model with richer social mechanisms enable us to test how cooperation develops in situations in which players have social attachments. Our results show that when punishment and bribery are present, the levels of contribution are kept at a relatively higher value compared to the situation when no punishment is exercised. As to what regards gossiping, if the number of free-riders is high, finding mechanisms to prevent gossiping could be an important step in order to increase the contribution. If the ratio between free-riders and other agents is about one, then gossiping does affect contribution in a positive way.
ONE-TO-MANY NODE MATCHING BETWEEN COMPLEX NETWORKS
Authors: DU FANG , XUAN QI , WU TIE-JUN
Published: November 2010

Revealing the corresponding identities of the same individual in different systems is a common task in various areas, e.g., criminals inter-network tracking, homologous proteins revealing, ancient words translating, and so on. With the reason that, recently, more and more complex systems are described by networks, this task can also be accomplished by solving a node matching problem among these networks. Revealing one-to-one matching between networks is for sure the best if we can, however, when the target networks are highly symmetric, or an individual has different identities (corresponds to several nodes) in the same network, the exact one-to-one node matching algorithms always lose their effects to obtain acceptable results. In such situations, one-to-many (or many-to-many) node matching algorithms may be more useful. In this paper, we propose two one-to-many node matching algorithms based on local mapping and ensembling, respectively. Although such algorithms may not tell us the exact correspondence of the identities in different systems, they can indeed help us to narrow down the inter-network searching range, and thus are of significance in practical applications. These results have been verified by the matching experiments on pairwise artificial networks and real-world networks.
THE EVOLUTION OF RULES IN SHEDDING-TYPE OF CARD GAMES
Authors: JANSSEN MARCO A.
Published: November 2010

Shedding-type of card games are used as a fruit fly to study the evolution of institutional arrangements. Eleven types of rules are identified which leads to a spectrum of 2048 possible shedding games. Each game can be evaluated by the length and difficulty of the game and as such a fitness landscape of possible shedding games can be constructed. Building on cultural group selection simulations are performed with 100 groups which start with randomly throwing cards and evolving to games similar to UNO. Finally, experiments have been performed where characteristics of agents co-evolve with the rules of the game.
EIGENVECTOR LOCALIZATION AS A TOOL TO STUDY SMALL COMMUNITIES IN ONLINE SOCIAL NETWORKS
Authors: SLANINA FRANTIŠEK , KONOPÁSEK ZDENĚK
Published: November 2010

We present and discuss a mathematical procedure for identification of small "communities" or segments within large bipartite networks. The procedure is based on spectral analysis of the matrix encoding network structure. The principal tool here is localization of eigenvectors of the matrix, by means of which the relevant network segments become visible. We exemplified our approach by analyzing the data related to product reviewing on Amazon.com. We found several segments, a kind of hybrid communities of densely interlinked reviewers and products, which we were able to meaningfully interpret in terms of the type and thematic categorization of reviewed items. The method provides a complementary approach to other ways of community detection, typically aiming at identification of large network modules.
THE RAMIFICATION GROUPS AND DIFFERENT OF A COMPOSITUM OF ARTIN–SCHREIER EXTENSIONS
Authors: WU QINGQUAN , SCHEIDLER RENATE
Published: November 2010

Let K be a function field over a perfect constant field of positive characteristic p, and L the compositum of n (degree p) Artin–Schreier extensions of K. Then much of the behavior of the degree pnextension L/K is determined by the behavior of the degree p intermediate extensions M/K. For example, we prove that a place of K totally ramifies/is inert/splits completely in L if and only if it totally ramifies/is inert/splits completely in every M. Examples are provided to show that all possible decompositions are in fact possible; in particular, a place can be inert in a non-cyclic Galois function field extension, which is impossible in the case of a number field. Moreover, we give an explicit closed form description of all the different exponents in L/K in terms of those in all the M/K. Results of a similar nature are given for the genus, the regulator, the ideal class number and the divisor class number. In addition, for the case n = 2, we provide an explicit description of the ramification group filtration of L/K.
ON CURIOUS GENERATING FUNCTIONS FOR VALUES OF L-FUNCTIONS
Authors: PATKOWSKI ALEXANDER E.
Published: November 2010

We prove some curious identities for generating functions for values of L-functions. It is shown how to obtain generating functions for values of L-functions using a slightly different approach, resulting in some new q-series identities.
CONSTRUCTION OF SELF-DUAL INTEGRAL NORMAL BASES IN ABELIAN EXTENSIONS OF FINITE AND LOCAL FIELDS
Authors: PICKETT ERIK JARL
Published: November 2010

Let F/E be a finite Galois extension of fields with abelian Galois group Γ. A self-dual normal basis for F/E is a normal basis with the additional property that Tr F/E(g(x), h(x)) = δg, h for g, h ∈ Γ. Bayer-Fluckiger and Lenstra have shown that when char (E) ≠ 2, then F admits a self-dual normal basis if and only if [F : E] is odd. If F/E is an extension of finite fields and char (E) = 2, then F admits a self-dual normal basis if and only if the exponent of Γ is not divisible by 4. In this paper, we construct self-dual normal basis generators for finite extensions of finite fields whenever they exist.

Now let K be a finite extension of ℚp, let L/K be a finite abelian Galois extension of odd degree and let [Formula: see text] be the valuation ring of L. We define AL/K to be the unique fractional [Formula: see text]-ideal with square equal to the inverse different of L/K. It is known that a self-dual integral normal basis exists for AL/K if and only if L/K is weakly ramified. Assuming p ≠ 2, we construct such bases whenever they exist.
RAMANUJAN CONGRUENCES FOR SIEGEL MODULAR FORMS
Authors: DEWAR MICHAEL , RICHTER OLAV K.
Published: November 2010

We determine conditions for the existence and non-existence of Ramanujan-type congruences for Jacobi forms. We extend these results to Siegel modular forms of degree 2 and as an application, we establish Ramanujan-type congruences for explicit examples of Siegel modular forms.