bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Future Role of the Corporate Planner
Authors: Summer Charles E.
Published: September 2012

Breakthroughs in technology and the open overpowering complexity of the corporate structure have spawned a new, versatile breed of managers. Known as planners, their business is change and their eyes must always be focussed on the big picture. Here is a profile of the job and the men who must be part seers, part detective-cost accountants, part sociologists to fill it.
Stock Dividends are Lemons, Net Melons
Authors: Sosnick Stephen H.
Published: September 2012

While stock dividends sound glamorous and warm the hearts of uninformed investors, the truth is that they are a wasteful method of reducing surplus, beneficial, perhaps, to marketwise insiders, but costly to stockholders and the firm that declares them. This article analyzes the cost of the average melon.
Experiences with a Complex Management Game
Authors: Dill W. R. , Hoffman William , Leavitt H. J. , O'Mara Thomas
Published: September 2012

Games designed for teaching can also be used as diagnostic devices to spot weaknesses in the organization chart and as potent research tools into the dynamics of group behavior.
Problems of Economic Growth and Automation
Authors: Gomberg William
Published: September 2012

Call it displacement, technological unemployment, or what you will, automation is downgrading skilled labor, including white-collar workers and technicians, this labor expert observes, and points out that capital is also being constricted. He does not think the “whirling dervish of compulsive consumption” and its handmaiden synthetic obsolescence are stable props for an economy just emerging from a recession; suggests tax reform and an overhaul of classic economic concepts of wages and profits instead.
Labor Relations in France
Authors: Meyers Frederic
Published: September 2012

Never underrate the power of French unions. Don't be fooled by their apparently scant formal membership, tenuous financing, and violent ideological disagreements, this article based on recent firsthand observations advises. The truth is that unions in France represent and have the support of a large segment of the working force for, under French law, certain key union contracts set industry-wide labor standards to which all employers must adhere.
Businessmen's Concepts of “Injury to Competition”
Authors: Brooks Robert C.
Published: September 2012

Injury to a competitor is not always the equivalent of injury to competition. Awareness of this, and the ability to distinguish one from the other, can forestall much useless litigation. Here is a set of basic questions designed to serve as a yardstick to help the business community identify and measure true injury to competition.
Service Center Data Processing for the Business Community
Authors: Fischbach Joseph W.
Published: September 2012

EDP, born of military necessity, is now controlling inventories, making marketing decisions, performing Operations Research, keeping books for banks, and making up countless payrolls not only for large firms who have their own computers, but, in some communities on a contract basis for small business too.
Making Long-Range Company Planning: Pay off
Authors: Steiner George A.
Published: September 2012

Here are five steps which will help make your firm's long-range plans pay off. They are described by a writer with practical experience in the field who takes the mystery and statistical double talk out of the subject and presents LRP as the useful, moneysaving tool for business decision making that it is.
Models of Multiple Branch Organization
Authors: Balderston F. E.
Published: September 2012

To what extent can a parent firm with many branches standardize the activities of its satellites and enforce such uniformity without causing undue strain on the organizational structure? This mathematical study, based on a linear model of the multiple branch organization constructed within a framework of activity analysis, outlines the parameters and postulates three hypotheses in regard to the behavior tendencies of such multibranch organizations.
The Mythology of Corporations
Authors: Votaw Dow
Published: September 2012

The corporation today does not live up to the mythical personality and attributes with which it has been endowed by jurisprudence and business folklore. It is in fact a completely different sort of animal, and lip service to such specious mythology does it and free enterprise a disservice by obscuring true facts and throwing the real issues off focus, this writer declares.
The Swap as a Hedge in Foreign Exchange
Authors: McMillan Claude
Published: September 2012

The ups and downs of foreign exchange are one of the risks which American firms must accept if they manufacture or sell products abroad, but there are prudent ways to minimize it. One device which has proved effective as a hedge against losses, is the currency swap. Here is how it works in Brazil where private U. S. firms, using a combination spot and futures agreement, swap dollars for cruzeiros with the Bank of Brazil, and, a year later, swap the cruzeiros back for dollars at a guaranteed rate.
Opportunity Recognition and Breakthrough Innovation in Large Established Firms
Authors: O'Connor Gina Colarelli , Rice Mark P.
Published: September 2012

“Every day, I try to go out and grab lightning.”

—Terry Fadem, Director, New Business Development, DuPont Corporation
Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products Regulates Adipocyte Hypertrophy and Insulin Sensitivity in Mice
Authors: Monden Masayo , Koyama Hidenori , Otsuka Yoshiko , Morioka Tomoaki , Mori Katsuhito , Shoji Takuhito , Mima Yohei , Motoyama Koka , Fukumoto Shinya , Shioi Atsushi , Emoto Masanori , Yamamoto Yasuhiko , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Nishizawa Yoshiki , Kurajoh Masafumi , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Inaba Masaaki
Published: September 2012

Receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) has been shown to be involved in adiposity as well as atherosclerosis even in nondiabetic conditions. In this study, we examined mechanisms underlying how RAGE regulates adiposity and insulin sensitivity. RAGE overexpression in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using adenoviral gene transfer accelerated adipocyte hypertrophy, whereas inhibitions of RAGE by small interfering RNA significantly decrease adipocyte hypertrophy. Furthermore, double knockdown of high mobility group box-1 and S100b, both of which are RAGE ligands endogenously expressed in 3T3-L1 cells, also canceled RAGE-medicated adipocyte hypertrophy, implicating a fundamental role of ligands–RAGE ligation. Adipocyte hypertrophy induced by RAGE overexpression is associated with suppression of glucose transporter type 4 and adiponectin mRNA expression, attenuated insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and insulin-stimulated signaling. Toll-like receptor (Tlr)2 mRNA, but not Tlr4 mRNA, is rapidly upregulated by RAGE overexpression, and inhibition of Tlr2 almost completely abrogates RAGE-mediated adipocyte hypertrophy. Finally, RAGE−/− mice exhibited significantly less body weight, epididymal fat weight, epididymal adipocyte size, higher serum adiponectin levels, and higher insulin sensitivity than wild-type mice. RAGE deficiency is associated with early suppression of Tlr2 mRNA expression in adipose tissues. Thus, RAGE appears to be involved in mouse adipocyte hypertrophy and insulin sensitivity, whereas Tlr2 regulation may partly play a role.
Neuropeptide Y1 Receptor in Immune Cells Regulates Inflammation and Insulin Resistance Associated With Diet-Induced Obesity
Authors: Macia Laurence , Yulyaningsih Ernie , Pangon Laurent , Nguyen Amy D. , Lin Shu , Shi Yan C. , Zhang Lei , Bijker Martijn , Grey Shane , Mackay Fabienne , Herzog Herbert , Sainsbury Amanda
Published: September 2012

Recruitment of activated immune cells into white adipose tissue (WAT) is linked to the development of insulin resistance and obesity, but the mechanism behind this is unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Y1 receptor signaling in immune cells controls inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity. Selective deletion of Y1 receptors in the hematopoietic compartment of mice leads to insulin resistance and inflammation in WAT under high fat–fed conditions. This is accompanied by decreased mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory marker adiponectin in WAT and an increase of the proinflammatory monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1). In vitro, activated Y1-deficient intraperitoneal macrophages display an increased inflammatory response, with exacerbated secretion of MCP-1 and tumor necrosis factor, whereas addition of neuropeptide Y to wild-type macrophages attenuates the release of these cytokines, this effect being blocked by Y1 but not Y2 receptor antagonism. Importantly, treatment of adipocytes with the supernatant of activated Y1-deficient macrophages causes insulin resistance, as demonstrated by decreased insulin-induced phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and Akt as well as decreased expression of insulin receptor substrate 1. Thus, Y1 signaling in hematopoietic-derived cells such as macrophages is critical for the control of inflammation and insulin resistance in obesity.
Minimally invasive treatment of idiopathic chylothorax in dogs by thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation and subphrenic pericardiectomy: 6 cases (2007–2010)
Authors: Mayhew Philipp D. , Culp William T. N. , Mayhew Kelli N. , Morgan Oliver D. E.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To describe a technique and evaluate the outcome of thoracoscopic thoracic duct ligation (TDL) and subphrenic pericardiectomy (SPP) for treatment of idiopathic chylothorax (IC) in dogs.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—6 client-owned dogs.

Procedures—Medical records of dogs with a diagnosis of IC that were subsequently treated by thoracoscopic TDL and SPP and that had not undergone previous surgical treatment were reviewed. Thoracoscopic TDL was performed via a 3-portal technique with the patient in lateral recumbency. Subphrenic pericardiectomy was subsequently performed via a 3-portal technique with the patient in dorsal recumbency. If visualization during SPP was suboptimal, 1-lung ventilation was used to ensure that pericardial resection was close to the phrenic nerves bilaterally but without risk of iatrogenic nerve injury.

Results—All TDL and SPP procedures were completed successfully in a median surgical time of 177 minutes (range, 135 to 210 minutes). All 6 dogs showed resolution of clinical signs of chylothorax with no recurrence during a median follow-up period of 39 months (range, 19 to 60 months). Final postoperative thoracic radiographic evaluation was performed at a median of 14.5 months (range, 7 to 25 months). Complete resolution of pleural effusion occurred in all but 1 dog. In 1 dog, a small volume of pleural effusion was persistent at a 7-month postoperative radiographic follow-up but was not associated with clinical signs and did not require thoracocentesis at any time during the dog's 25-month follow-up period.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—From this limited series of patients, results suggested that a minimally invasive TDL-SPP combined surgical technique for management of IC in dogs may be associated with a similarly successful outcome as has been reported for open surgical TDL-SPP.
Effect of the size of evacuated blood collection tubes on total carbon dioxide concentration in equine plasma
Authors: Tinkler Stacy H. , Couëtil Laurent L. , Kennedy Sarah A. , Constable Peter D.
Published: September 2012

Objective—To determine whether plasma total CO2 concentrations would vary with the size of the evacuated tube used to collect blood samples.

Design—Randomized crossover study.

Animals—Convenience sample of 20 healthy adult horses.

Procedures—Jugular venous blood was collected from horses in random order into 8 types of evacuated tubes: 2-mL glass, 2- or 3-mL plastic or plastic plasma separator, 4- or 6-mL plastic, and 10-mL glass or plastic. Total CO2 concentrations in plasma were measured with a biochemistry analyzer. Data were analyzed via repeated-measures ANOVA and multivariate regression.

Results—The air volume-to-blood volume ratio was significantly higher and consequently, plasma total CO2 concentration was significantly lower when blood was collected into 2-mL glass tubes and 2- or 3-mL plastic tubes than when the other 5 types of evacuated tubes were used. Concentrations in the other tube types were statistically equivalent. A linear relationship was detected between total CO2 concentration and air volume–to–blood volume ratio.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Blood samples should be collected into evacuated tubes with a small air volume–to–blood volume ratio whenever an accurate estimate of plasma total CO2 concentration is required.
Inhibition of the receptor-mediated virion attachment to a lipid membrane
Authors: Zhdanov Vladimir
Published: September 2012

The forefront of the anti-viral defence is sometimes aimed at virion attachment to a host membrane. This step or, more specifically, virion contacts with cellular membrane receptors (or, e.g., glycolipids) can be inhibited by antibodies (or specially chosen or designed compounds) via their association with virions. In this case, the full-scale attachment of virions to a host membrane occurs via a subtle interplay of the formation and rupture of multiple virion-inhibitor and virion-receptor bonds. We present a kinetic model describing this interplay and illustrating general trends in the process under consideration.
Collective flow and correlation with higher harmonic event planes
Authors: Esumi ShinIchi
Published: September 2012

Azimuthal event anisotropy and particle correlation have been used to analyze the collectivity of the system created in the high-energy heavy-ion collisions in order to study the properties of Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP). Higher harmonic event anisotropy is recently recognized to carry the information of initial participant geometrical fluctuation because of the finite number of participating nucleons in heavy-ion collisions. The system response after the collective expansion can be observed as higher harmonic event anisotropy, the n-th harmonic order dependence can be used to further constrain the hydro-dynamical properties of the system. The multi-particle azimuthal correlation with respect to the higher harmonic event plane can be used as a tool to understand the origin of the higher harmonic event anisotropy and its relation to the medium response from the jet-quenching as soft-hard interplay. Recent results on the higher harmonic event anisotropy measurements and an attempt of two-particle correlation analysis with respect to the higher harmonic event planes are discussed.
Combustion-derived CdO nanopowder as a heterogeneous basic catalyst for efficient synthesis of sulfonamides from aromatic amines using p-toluenesulfonyl chloride
Authors: Anandakumar Belladamadu , Madhusudana Reddy Muthukur , Thipperudraiah Kumarappa , Pasha Mohamed , Chandrappa Gujjarahalli
Published: September 2012

A simple and rapid synthesis of CdO nanopowder via the solution combustion route employing l-(+)-tartaric acid as a fuel is reported for the first time. The catalyst was characterized by PXRD, SEM, TEM, BET surface area measurement, basic site measurement from back titration and FTIR. Combustion derived CdO nanopowder acts as a catalyst in the sulfonylation of amines with p-toluenesulfonyl chloride to obtain sulfonamides in excellent yield (85–95 %) and high purity under mild reaction conditions. CdO nanopowder has been found to be an efficient catalyst requiring a shorter reaction time (10–30 min) to obtain sulfonamide when compared with the commercial CdO powder requiring 2 h under similar conditions. The catalyst can be recovered and reused four times without any significant loss of catalytic activity. Potential role of CdO nanopowder in the synthesis of sulfonamides and its mechanism is proposed.
Locally adaptive bilateral clustering for universal image denoising
Authors: Toh K. , Mat Isa N.
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a novel and efficient locally adaptive denoising method based on clustering of pixels into regions of similar geometric and radiometric structures. Clustering is performed by adaptively segmenting pixels in the local kernel based on their augmented variational series. Then, noise pixels are restored by selectively considering the radiometric and spatial properties of every pixel in the formed clusters. The proposed method is exceedingly robust in conveying reliable local structural information even in the presence of noise. As a result, the proposed method substantially outperforms other state-of-the-art methods in terms of image restoration and computational cost. We support our claims with ample simulated and real data experiments. The relatively fast runtime from extensive simulations also suggests that the proposed method is suitable for a variety of image-based products — either embedded in image capturing devices or applied as image enhancement software.
Defects in HgCdTe grown by molecular beam epitaxy on GaAs substrates
Authors: Izhnin I. , Izhnin A. , Savytskyy H. , Fitsych O. , Mikhailov N. , Varavin V. , Dvoretsky S. , Sidorov Yu. , Mynbaev K.
Published: September 2012

The Hall effect and photoluminescence measurements combined with annealing and/or ion milling were used to study the electrical and optical properties of HgCdTe films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy on GaAs substrates with ZnTe and CdTe buffer layers. Unintentional donor doping, likely from the substrate, which resulted in residual donor concentration of the order of 1015 cm−3, was observed in the films. Also, acceptor states, possibly related to structural defects, were observed.
Experimental analysis and simulation of effective factors on explosive forming of spherical vessel using prefabricated four cones vessel structures
Authors: Mehrasa Hossein , Liaghat Gholamhossein , Javabvar Dariush
Published: September 2012

Construction of spherical vessel in various dimensions is known as one of the frequent problems for construction and production engineers, since conventional methods of shell construction require mold and press which leads to higher costs of production. Therefore, current work has tried to investigate a new method based on explosive forming without using molds. In this technique, final shape of the shell can be achieved by explosion inside a prefabricated structure called four cones. This structure is produced from combination and welding of four truncated cones two of which are paired in each side. Initial shape of the tank is then used to transform this structure into a more complete sphere using explosives at its center. This paper aims to study the amount of explosives needed for this process in terms of vessel’s diameter and thickness. In this regard, simulation was run by LS-DYNA software and the resultant outputs were evaluated with those of experimental tests. The results shows that the required charge of forming varies exponentially with thickness.
Commuter Rail
Authors: Nelson David O. , Martinez Eloy , Bonina Stephen
Published: September 2012

Federal regulators and passenger railways are both concerned about passengers with mobility impairments that limit their ability to use stairways. Federal policy and railway practice strongly encourage development of services that allow for level boarding and alighting from commuter rail trains. In addition to benefiting individuals who have trouble using stairs, level boarding can lead to significant improvements in service delivery for the rest of the public by reducing unproductive station dwell times, improving safety, and creating opportunities to improve crew efficiency. One obstacle to level boarding has been concerns presented by the freight railroads that operate over (and often own) trackage shared with the commuter trains. The freight operators wish to maintain a full horizontal clearance envelope allowing unrestricted operations. These concerns often limit the close door–platform interface necessary for level boarding. This paper summarizes current Federal Transit Administration policy on level boarding, discusses the benefits of level boarding, reviews the tension between freight clearance concerns and level boarding, and reviews the state of the practice in serving passengers with mobility impairments. On the basis of an industry review, it highlights three innovations that have been implemented or considered to expand the scope of level boarding among North American commuter railroads. Finally, it provides recommendations for further research.
Dependence of the water retention curve of snow on snow characteristics
Authors: Yamaguchi Satoru , Watanabe Kunio , Katsushima Takafumi , Sato Atsushi , Kumakura Toshiro
Published: September 2012

The water retention curve (WRC), which shows the relationship between the volumetric liquid water content, θv, and suction, h, is a fundamental part of the characterization of hydraulic properties. Therefore, the formulation of the WRC as a function of snow characteristics is essential for establishing a model of water movement through the snow cover. In this study, we measured the WRC of several snow samples, which had different characteristics (grain size, bulk dry density and grain type), using a gravity drainage column experiment and then analysed these data using the Van Genuchten soil physics model (VG model). The shape of the WRC depended strongly on both the sample grain size, d, and bulk dry density, ρ. Therefore, we introduced the parameter ρ/d to model the WRC of snow. The relationships between the parameters α and n of the VG model and ρ/d change with grain type. For melt forms, α, which is related to the inverse value of the air-entry suction, increases quickly as ρ/d decreases, whereas n, which is related to the gradient of θv vs h, increases with ρ/d. Conversely, neither of these parameters of the VG model for rounded grains showed obvious dependence on ρ/d. These results suggest that water movement through snow cover can be modelled using grain size, bulk dry density and grain type based on the soil physics model.
Refinement of MPS method for practical application to snow avalanches
Authors: Saito Yoshihiko , Kato Hirotaka , Otsuki Masaya , Kimura Ichiro , Shimizu Yasuyuki , Isenko Evgeny
Published: September 2012

This paper considers the possible commercial viability of applying the moving particle semi-implicit (MPS) method to avalanches. The MPS method is a powerful tool for reproducing the flow phenomenon with large-scale surface deformation. In order to apply this method to snow avalanches, we modified the original model to introduce constitutive equations of Bingham fluid, dilatant fluid and the erosion–deposition process. The modified model was applied to some cases and evaluated through comparison with experimental results and observed data.
Modelling Nitrogen Losses from Sheep Grazing Systems with Different Spatial Distributions of Excreta
Authors: Bell Matthew J. , Cullen Brendan R. , Johnson Ian R. , Eckard Richard J.
Published: September 2012

The aim of this study was to assess the effect that the randomised versus even distribution of excreta (dung and urine) may have on modelling nitrogen (N) losses by leaching, volatilisation and denitrification from a grazing system. A range of stock densities (from 200 to 2000 sheep/ha, equivalent to an annual stocking rate of 3 to 33 dry sheep equivalent (DSE)/ha respectively) were simulated to represent an increasing application of N excreta to a grazed 1 hectare area either distributed randomly or uniformly. This study found that the proportion of annual N inputs lost by denitrification were significantly lower and leaching N losses were higher at high stocking densities compared to if excreta was distributed uniformly. The results of this study indicate that N losses from a sheep grazing system could be adequately modelled assuming uniform distribution of excreta at stocking densities up to 1200 sheep/ha (equivalent to an annual stocking rate of 20 DSE/ha). But at higher stock densities, when N loads are high, the spatial distribution of excreta is important and models need to explicitly deal with the distribution of dung and urine N returns.
Genotyping-by-Sequencing in Plants
Authors: Deschamps Stéphane , Llaca Victor , May Gregory D.
Published: September 2012

The advent of next-generation DNA sequencing (NGS) technologies has led to the development of rapid genome-wide Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) detection applications in various plant species. Recent improvements in sequencing throughput combined with an overall decrease in costs per gigabase of sequence is allowing NGS to be applied to not only the evaluation of small subsets of parental inbred lines, but also the mapping and characterization of traits of interest in much larger populations. Such an approach, where sequences are used simultaneously to detect and score SNPs, therefore bypassing the entire marker assay development stage, is known as genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). This review will summarize the current state of GBS in plants and the promises it holds as a genome-wide genotyping application.
Bioinformatics Analysis of the FREM1 Gene—Evolutionary Development of the IL-1R1 Co-Receptor, TILRR
Authors: Hudson Richard C. , Gray Caroline , Kiss-Toth Endre , Chico Timothy J. A. , Qwarnstrom Eva E.
Published: September 2012

The TLRs and IL-1 receptors have evolved to coordinate the innate immune response following pathogen invasion. Receptors and signalling intermediates of these systems are generally characterised by a high level of evolutionary conservation. The recently described IL-1R1 co-receptor TILRR is a transcriptional variant of the FREM1 gene. Here we investigate whether innate co-receptor differences between teleosts and mammals extend to the expression of the TILRR isoform of FREM1. Bioinformatic and phylogenetic approaches were used to analyse the genome sequences of FREM1 from eukaryotic organisms including 37 tetrapods and five teleost fish. The TILRR consensus peptide sequence was present in the FREM1 gene of the tetrapods, but not in fish orthologs of FREM1, and neither FREM1 nor TILRR were present in invertebrates. The TILRR gene appears to have arisen via incorporation of adjacent non-coding DNA with a contiguous exonic sequence after the teleost divergence. Comparing co-receptors in other systems, points to their origin during the same stages of evolution. Our results show that modern teleost fish do not possess the IL-1RI co-receptor TILRR, but that this is maintained in tetrapods as early as amphibians. Further, they are consistent with data showing that co-receptors are recent additions to these regulatory systems and suggest this may underlie differences in innate immune responses between mammals and fish.
Prediction of Unmet Primary Care Needs for the Medically Vulnerable Post-Disaster: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis of Health System Responses
Authors: Runkle Jennifer D. , Zhang Hongmei , Karmaus Wilfried , Martin Amy B. , Svendsen Erik R.
Published: September 2012

Disasters serve as shocks and precipitate unanticipated disturbances to the health care system. Public health surveillance is generally focused on monitoring latent health and environmental exposure effects, rather than health system performance in response to these local shocks. The following intervention study sought to determine the long-term effects of the 2005 chlorine spill in Graniteville, South Carolina on primary care access for vulnerable populations. We used an interrupted time-series approach to model monthly visits for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions, an indicator of unmet primary care need, to quantify the impact of the disaster on unmet primary care need in Medicaid beneficiaries. The results showed Medicaid beneficiaries in the directly impacted service area experienced improved access to primary care in the 24 months post-disaster. We provide evidence that a health system serving the medically underserved can prove resilient and display improved adaptive capacity under adverse circumstances (i.e., technological disasters) to ensure access to primary care for vulnerable sub-groups. The results suggests a new application for ambulatory care sensitive conditions as a population-based metric to advance anecdotal evidence of secondary surge and evaluate pre- and post-health system surge capacity following a disaster.
Four Novel Cellulose Synthase (CESA) Genes from Birch (Betula platyphylla Suk.) Involved in Primary and Secondary Cell Wall Biosynthesis
Authors: Liu Xuemei , Wang Qiuyu , Chen Pengfei , Song Funan , Guan Minxiao , Jin Lihua , Wang Yucheng , Yang Chuanping
Published: September 2012

Cellulose synthase (CESA), which is an essential catalyst for the generation of plant cell wall biomass, is mainly encoded by the CesA gene family that contains ten or more members. In this study; four full-length cDNAs encoding CESA were isolated from Betula platyphylla Suk., which is an important timber species, using RT-PCR combined with the RACE method and were named as BplCesA3, −4, −7 and −8. These deduced CESAs contained the same typical domains and regions as their Arabidopsis homologs. The cDNA lengths differed among these four genes, as did the locations of the various protein domains inferred from the deduced amino acid sequences, which shared amino acid sequence identities ranging from only 63.8% to 70.5%. Real-time RT-PCR showed that all four BplCesAs were expressed at different levels in diverse tissues. Results indicated that BplCESA8 might be involved in secondary cell wall biosynthesis and floral development. BplCESA3 appeared in a unique expression pattern and was possibly involved in primary cell wall biosynthesis and seed development; it might also be related to the homogalacturonan synthesis. BplCESA7 and BplCESA4 may be related to the formation of a cellulose synthase complex and participate mainly in secondary cell wall biosynthesis. The extremely low expression abundance of the four BplCESAs in mature pollen suggested very little involvement of them in mature pollen formation in Betula. The distinct expression pattern of the four BplCesAs suggested they might participate in developments of various tissues and that they are possibly controlled by distinct mechanisms in Betula.
The Effect of Postoperative Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment on Intra-Abdominal Adhesions in Rats
Authors: Chen Ming-Jenn , Chen Tzu-Yu , Cheng Ya-Min , Hsu Yi-Chiang
Published: September 2012

Abdominal adhesions, whether caused by peritoneal trauma, radiation, infection, or a congenital condition, are associated with a wide range of complications. These complications include chronic abdominal or pelvic pain, infertility, and adhesive small bowel obstruction. Such adhesions render re-operation difficult, with attendant risks of inadvertent enterostomy and increased operation time. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in the prevention of abdominal adhesions in an experimental animal study. A laparotomy was performed on Wistar rats to induce the formation of adhesions on the cecum and the intra-abdominal area (1 ´ 2 cm). A superficial layer of the underlying muscle from the right abdominal wall was also shaved and prepared for aseptic surgery. The rats were divided into four groups according to the duration of HBO therapy; five additional groups were designated according to the conditions of HBO therapy. When the rats were evaluated according to adhesion area and grade, a statistically significant difference was observed between the control and HBO treatment groups (p < 0.005). Results from this study suggest that HBO treatment could reduce adhesion formation; and further suggest that HBO therapy may have therapeutic potential in the treatment of postoperative peritoneal adhesion.
Biocatalytic Synthesis of Poly(δ-Valerolactone) Using a Thermophilic Esterase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus as Catalyst
Authors: Cao Hong , Han Haobo , Li Guangquan , Yang Jiebing , Zhang Lingfei , Yang Yan , Fang Xuedong , Li Quanshun
Published: September 2012

The ring-opening polymerization of δ-valerolactone catalyzed by a thermophilic esterase from the archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus was successfully conducted in organic solvents. The effects of enzyme concentration, temperature, reaction time and reaction medium on monomer conversion and product molecular weight were systematically evaluated. Through the optimization of reaction conditions, poly(δ-valerolactone) was produced in 97% monomer conversion, with a number-average molecular weight of 2225 g/mol, in toluene at 70 °C for 72 h. This paper has produced a new biocatalyst for the synthesis of poly(δ-valerolactone), and also deeper insight has been gained into the mechanism of thermophilic esterase-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization.
Visible Light-Induced Degradation of Methylene Blue in the Presence of Photocatalytic ZnS and CdS Nanoparticles
Authors: Soltani Nayereh , Saion Elias , Hussein Mohd Zobir , Erfani Maryam , Abedini Alam , Bahmanrokh Ghazaleh , Navasery Manizheh , Vaziri Parisa
Published: September 2012

ZnS and CdS nanoparticles were prepared by a simple microwave irradiation method under mild conditions. The obtained nanoparticles were characterized by XRD, TEM and EDX. The results indicated that high purity of nanosized ZnS and CdS was successfully obtained with cubic and hexagonal crystalline structures, respectively. The band gap energies of ZnS and CdS nanoparticles were estimated using UV-visible absorption spectra to be about 4.22 and 2.64 eV, respectively. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue was carried out using physical mixtures of ZnS and CdS nanoparticles under a 500-W halogen lamp of visible light irradiation. The residual concentration of methylene blue solution was monitored using UV-visible absorption spectrometry. From the study of the variation in composition of ZnS:CdS, a composition of 1:4 (by weight) was found to be very efficient for degradation of methylene blue. In this case the degradation efficiency of the photocatalyst nanoparticles after 6 h irradiation time was about 73% with a reaction rate of 3.61 × 10−3 min−1. Higher degradation efficiency and reaction rate were achieved by increasing the amount of photocatalyst and initial pH of the solution.
Development of 22 Polymorphic Microsatellite Loci for the Critically Endangered Morato’s Digger Toad, Proceratophrys moratoi
Authors: Arruda Maurício Papa , Costa William Pinheiro , Silva Carla Cristina , Pimentel Shirlei Maria Recco
Published: September 2012

The Morato’s digger toad (Proceratophrys moratoi) inhabits Brazilian moist savannas and is critically endangered due to its very limited geographic distribution, reduced number of isolated populations, and evidence of population decline and local extinctions. With the objective of providing tools for the genetic study of the species, 22 polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and screened using DNA extracted from samples of oral mucosa cells obtained from 113 individuals representing five remnant P. moratoi populations in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. These markers presented 2–18 alleles per locus, polymorphism information content (PIC) of 0.02–0.87, observed heterozygosity of 0.02–0.96 and expected heterozygosity of 0.02–0.87. Three of the loci deviated significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium in one of the populations, possibly due to the presence of null alleles. Significant linkage disequilibrium was also detected between three pairs of loci. The molecular markers developed in this study were able to discriminate each of the individuals sampled (identity analysis). This means that they will be extremely useful for future genetic studies applied to the conservation of P. moratoi, providing a baseline for estimating the levels of genetic diversity, pedigrees, inbreeding, and population structure, which will be essential for the development of effective genetic management programs.
Structural Analysis of a Heteropolysaccharide from Saccharina japonica by Electrospray Mass Spectrometry in Tandem with Collision-Induced Dissociation Tandem Mass Spectrometry (ESI-CID-MS/MS)
Authors: Jin Weihua , Wang Jing , Ren Sumei , Song Ni , Zhang Quanbin
Published: September 2012

A fucoidan extracted from Saccharina japonica was fractionated by anion exchange chromatography. The most complex fraction F0.5 was degraded by dilute sulphuric acid and then separated by use of an activated carbon column. Fraction Y1 was fractionated by anion exchange and gel filtration chromatography while Fraction Y2 was fractionated by gel filtration chromatography. The fractions were determined by ESI-MS and analyzed by ESI-CID-MS/MS. It was concluded that F0.5 had a backbone of alternating 4-linked GlcA and 2-linked Man with the first Man residue from the nonreducing end accidentally sulfated at C6. In addition, F0.5 had a 3-linked glucuronan, in accordance with a previous report by NMR. Some other structural characteristics included GlcA 1→3 Man 1→4 GlcA, Man 1→3 GlcA 1→4 GlcA, Fuc 1→4 GlcA and Fuc 1→3 Fuc. Finally, it was shown that fucose was sulfated at C2 or C4 while galactose was sulfated at C2, C4 or C6.
Weinreb Amidation as the Cornerstone of an Improved Synthetic Route to A-Ring-Modified Derivatives of Luotonin A
Authors: Haider Norbert , Nuß Simon
Published: September 2012

Weinreb amidation of ethyl 4-oxo-3,4-dihydroquinazoline-2-carboxylate with aromatic amines provides a significantly improved route to anilide-type key intermediates for the synthesis of the anticancer alkaloid, luotonin A, and new A-ring-modified derivatives thereof. This method has advantages concerning overall yield, brevity, and versatility with regard to the aromatic amine component, even if the latter has less favourable nucleophilicity, solubility and/or stability properties. This is demonstrated by the concise synthesis of a small library of luotonin A analogues, including a novel thiophene isostere of the alkaloid.
3D Face Modeling Using the Multi-Deformable Method
Authors: Hwang Jinkyu , Yu Sunjin , Kim Joongrock , Lee Sangyoun
Published: September 2012

In this paper, we focus on the problem of the accuracy performance of 3D face modeling techniques using corresponding features in multiple views, which is quite sensitive to feature extraction errors. To solve the problem, we adopt a statistical model-based 3D face modeling approach in a mirror system consisting of two mirrors and a camera. The overall procedure of our 3D facial modeling method has two primary steps: 3D facial shape estimation using a multiple 3D face deformable model and texture mapping using seamless cloning that is a type of gradient-domain blending. To evaluate our method’s performance, we generate 3D faces of 30 individuals and then carry out two tests: accuracy test and robustness test. Our method shows not only highly accurate 3D face shape results when compared with the ground truth, but also robustness to feature extraction errors. Moreover, 3D face rendering results intuitively show that our method is more robust to feature extraction errors than other 3D face modeling methods. An additional contribution of our method is that a wide range of face textures can be acquired by the mirror system. By using this texture map, we generate realistic 3D face for individuals at the end of the paper.
The Use of Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors in Biomechanics and Rehabilitation Applications: The State-of-the-Art and Ongoing Research Topics
Authors: Al-Fakih Ebrahim , Abu Osman Noor Azuan , Mahamd Adikan Faisal Rafiq
Published: September 2012

In recent years, fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) are becoming increasingly attractive for sensing applications in biomechanics and rehabilitation engineering due to their advantageous properties like small size, light weight, biocompatibility, chemical inertness, multiplexing capability and immunity to electromagnetic interference (EMI). They also offer a high-performance alternative to conventional technologies, either for measuring a variety of physical parameters or for performing high-sensitivity biochemical analysis. FBG-based sensors demonstrated their feasibility for specific sensing applications in aeronautic, automotive, civil engineering structure monitoring and undersea oil exploration; however, their use in the field of biomechanics and rehabilitation applications is very recent and its practicality for full-scale implementation has not yet been fully established. They could be used for detecting strain in bones, pressure mapping in orthopaedic joints, stresses in intervertebral discs, chest wall deformation, pressure distribution in Human Machine Interfaces (HMIs), forces induced by tendons and ligaments, angles between body segments during gait, and many others in dental biomechanics. This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of all the possible applications of FBG sensing technology in biomechanics and rehabilitation and the status of ongoing researches up-to-date all over the world, demonstrating the FBG advances over other existing technologies.
High Content Image Based Analysis Identifies Cell Cycle Inhibitors as Regulators of Ebola Virus Infection
Authors: Kota Krishna P. , Benko Jacqueline G. , Mudhasani Rajini , Retterer Cary , Tran Julie P. , Bavari Sina , Panchal Rekha G.
Published: September 2012

Viruses modulate a number of host biological responses including the cell cycle to favor their replication. In this study, we developed a high-content imaging (HCI) assay to measure DNA content and identify different phases of the cell cycle. We then investigated the potential effects of cell cycle arrest on Ebola virus (EBOV) infection. Cells arrested in G1 phase by serum starvation or G1/S phase using aphidicolin or G2/M phase using nocodazole showed much reduced EBOV infection compared to the untreated control. Release of cells from serum starvation or aphidicolin block resulted in a time-dependent increase in the percentage of EBOV infected cells. The effect of EBOV infection on cell cycle progression was found to be cell-type dependent. Infection of asynchronous MCF-10A cells with EBOV resulted in a reduced number of cells in G2/M phase with concomitant increase of cells in G1 phase. However, these effects were not observed in HeLa or A549 cells. Together, our studies suggest that EBOV requires actively proliferating cells for efficient replication. Furthermore, multiplexing of HCI based assays to detect viral infection, cell cycle status and other phenotypic changes in a single cell population will provide useful information during screening campaigns using siRNA and small molecule therapeutics.
Real Time Monitoring Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Takada Yasuaki , Hashimoto Yuichiro , Nagano Hisashi , Sugiyama Masuyuki , Yamada Masuyoshi , Sakairi Minoru
Published: September 2012

Monitoring or detection of illicit chemicals has become one of the most important issues worldwide due to the spreading global use of explosives and illicit drugs. To improve security, the authors have started developing a real time monitoring technology based on mass spectrometry. In this technology, a sample gas is directly introduced into an ion source without any pre-treatments of the sample gas, and ions produced by the ion source are analyzed by a mass spectrometer. Various organic compounds can be detected by analyzing the mass number of the observed ions. The real time monitoring technology has been applied to monitor environmental pollutants such as Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and to detect explosives, chemical warfare agents, and illicit drugs. High-throughput detection of an improvised explosive has also been successfully demonstrated by the real time monitoring technology.
Methods and Graphical Tools for Exploratory Data Analysis of Artificial Olfaction Experiments
Authors: Falasconi Matteo , Pardo Matteo , Sberveglieri Giorgio
Published: September 2012

Visualization and initial examination of the Electronic Nose data is one of the most important parts of the data analysis cycle. This aspect of data investigation should ideally be performed iteratively together with data collection in order to optimize experimental protocols and final results. Once exploration has been completed, a complete supervised data analysis on a full dataset can be run, leading to prediction and thereby to e-nose performance evaluation. Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA) comprises three tasks: checking the quality of the data, calculating summary statistics, and producing plots of the data to get a feel of their structure. Graphical visualization of data allows checking for instrumental malfunctioning, discovering human errors, removing outliers, understanding the influence of experimental parameters, verifying the ability of the machine in discriminating the examined samples, and eventually formulating new hypotheses. A number of different techniques have been developed for data visualization, including multivariate statistical analysis, non-linear mapping, and clustering techniques. This chapter will present an overview of methods, tools, and software for EDA of artificial olfaction experiments. These will cover visualization and data mining tools for both raw and preprocessed data, such as: histograms, scatter plots, feature and box plots, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Cluster Analysis (CA), and Cluster Validity (CV). Some case studies that demonstrate the application of the methods to specific chemical sensing problems will be illustrated.
A Supply Chain Tracking Model Using Auto-ID Observations
Authors: Kelepouris Thomas , McFarlane Duncan , Giannikas Vaggelis
Published: September 2012

Order location information is undoubtedly one of the most critical pieces of supply chain information. Yet supply chain visibility generally remains a challenge as observations of order progress are often irregular and collected manually. The emergence of Automated Identification (Auto-ID) technologies like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is improving the effectiveness of supply chain tracking systems. The authors propose a model that describes how Auto-ID observations across a supply chain and historical observation data can be combined to produce an ongoing order location estimation over time. The model is based on probabilistic reasoning principles and the resulting location estimation can be used to support operational decisions as well as to assess the quality and value of tracking information. The authors provide explicit instructions as to how to use the proposed model and using an illustrative example, they demonstrate how the model can produce ongoing location estimates based on RFID read events.
The Interport
Authors: Thore Sten , Iannone Fedele
Published: September 2012

In a container transportation and logistics network, an interport is a common user facility located in the hinterland of one or several seaports where services are available to carriers and shippers such as transshipping, customs clearance and inspection, temporary storage, tagging, and sorting. Interports pose opportunities and challenges for operators involved in freight transport and trade. Mathematically, the authors identify the “interport model” as an extension of the conventional transshipment problem in a hub-and-spokes configuration with the interport treated as a novel kind of hub. The model highlights the advantages that shippers may enjoy in routing their containers from the seaports to their final hinterland destinations via one or several interports. They also discuss an empirical application portraying the intermodal transportation network in the Campania region, Italy. The major seaports of the region are Naples and Salerno; the recently constructed terminal, warehousing and processing facilities at Nola and Marcianise are recognized as interports. A linear programming model minimizes the sum of all container-related logistic costs throughout the entire network, including customs inspection, handling, and storage costs. The solution demonstrates the critical role of adequate customs facilities at the interports, and adequate railway connections between the seaports and the interports.