bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dubai Metro: building the world's longest driverless metro
Authors: Botelle Matthew , McSheffrey Patrick , Zouzoulas Petros , Burchell Anthony
Published: July 2012

The 23 km Green line of the Dubai Metro opened in September 2011, exactly 2 years after the 52 km Red line, making it the world's longest driverless metro. In a city dominated by the car but projecting heavy population growth, the metro has been designed to provide unparalleled levels of customer comfort and finishing, together with the frequency, punctuality and coverage to meet the emirate's future strategic needs and ambitions. This paper provides an overview of the £4·8 billion project, with particular emphasis on the heavy civil engineering solutions delivered within a highly stylised and exacting architectural context, from an outline plan in 2002 to a fully operational reality in 2011.
Research finds that kitchen and garden waste could be ideal for making Suds
Authors: Charlesworth Susanne
Published: July 2012

New research has shown that large volumes of garden and kitchen waste collected from homes could be beneficially re-used in sustainable drainage systems rather than sent to landfill. Sue Charlesworth of Coventry University reports.
The role of the civil engineer in society: engineering ethics and major projects
Authors: Ashley Richard
Published: July 2012

Many civil engineers deliver large, single-outcome infrastructure schemes without ever questioning their overall impact on and wider value to society. Richard Ashley of Sheffield University says this is both unethical and unsustainable – and calls on ICE to make some fundamental changes.
Polycentric governance: water management in South Africa
Authors: Muller Mike
Published: July 2012

Water resource management is poorly understood and defined since the characteristics of water resources and their use are locally specific and differ widely from place to place. Beyond that, water as a renewable natural resource does not fall into conventional analytical paradigms. It is an input to many economic activities but also an integral part of the natural environment with important social and cultural dimensions. It has proven difficult to provide an analytical definition of the resource, for legal and management purposes. Recent economic literature, notably the writings of Professor Elinor Ostrom, offer a helpful framework. Her suggestion that water resources should be seen as a ‘common-pool resource’, best managed under ‘common-property regimes’ in ‘polycentric governance systems’ is helpful, if apparently abstract. The reform of South African water law and management arrangements since 1994 illustrates many of the underlying issues and provides a practical example of Ostrom’s approach. The challenges of implementation highlight the importance of understanding the analytical concepts in their full context as failure to do so can undermine their usefulness and effectiveness as practical management tools. South Africa’s implementation experience reinforces Ostrom’s warnings against seeking single optimal solutions for the complex challenge of water resource management.
Integrating human rights into water governance
Authors: Grimes Hilary J.
Published: July 2012

Frequent talk of a ‘water crisis’ has prompted the water resources sector to move its focus away from improving the physical infrastructure in developing countries and towards the strengthening of water governance, in the belief that the ‘crisis’ is one of governance rather than simply the physical scarcity of water. Although this is still the case with regard to domestic water supply, water scarcity is now also a matter of concern in many developing countries in terms of food production. This paper argues that many water governance reforms have focused on the process of governance itself, without adequate definition of the end goal of the reforms or the responsibilities that governments have towards their people when facing water scarcity. The paper discusses how human rights concepts can be used to define clear end goals for water governance reforms and presents a framework using positive aspects from both water governance and human rights. After discussing the application of the framework to a case study, the paper concludes that such a framework can assist governments in planning, implementing and monitoring the measures necessary to address the critical issues that affect their communities’ access to water for essential uses.
A model to manage the water industry supply chain effectively
Authors: MacKenzie Neil , Tuckwood Barry
Published: July 2012

The water industry is capital intensive and dependent on complex supply networks in the delivery of service characteristics, making procurement a critical activity. This paper rejects ‘the lowest bid’ form of procurement of the past and advocates the total cost and strategic relationship management procurement of the future. The authors develop arguments for more effective procurement leading to real cost reduction and service enhancement on a sustainable basis. This requires a range of strategic activities from the approach to the acquisition of major capital goods and associated services through to the management of relationships with contractors, suppliers and supply chains. The paper considers the differing procurement practices in Europe, Australia and the USA, and how, in comparison, equivalent practices result in higher costs in the UK than elsewhere. From this they propose a model for best practice procurement in the utilities industries and a step-by-step set of actions for improving performance. The proposed model begins with a strategic appraisal of procurement activity across an organisation focusing on overall objectives and desired outcomes leading to an effective operating model including the end-to-end management of the supply chain and the policy, resources and enabling technology required for successful delivery.
‘New Water Architecture’: an integrated water management model
Authors: Norton Michael , Lane Alexander
Published: July 2012

An integrated framework for the management of water in England and Wales is proposed that optimises the organisation of service infrastructure, customers and stakeholders to derive optimal social, economic and environmental health. ‘New Water Architecture’ recognises the intrinsic links between water stakeholders, and between water and other essential resources, particularly food, energy and biodiversity. A systems-based approach strengthens integration of physical infrastructure, controlling institutions, and the overarching society consensus. Consideration is also given to future pressures with resilience to climate change strengthened by initiatives that slow water passage across the landscape. Implementation of the framework requires coordinated water policy across traditionally discrete resource sectors. This need is investigated alongside specific initiatives related to system management, abstraction licensing and pricing. Capital investment should be targeted towards ‘low-regret’ infrastructure argued to be high flow storage, aquifer storage and recovery, sustainable drainage systems and water transfers. These examples deliver multiple benefits and can be further optimised if existing networks, particularly inland waterways, are revitalised to enable regional integration of water sources.
Nitrogen deposition and lake nitrogen concentrations: a regional analysis of terrestrial controls and aquatic linkages
Authors: Canham Charles D. , Pace Michael L. , Weathers Kathleen C. , McNeil Edward W. , Bedford Barbara L. , Murphy Lora , Quinn Scott
Published: July 2012

Loading of nutrients from terrestrial ecosystems strongly influences the productivity and biogeochemistry of aquatic ecosystems. Human activities can supplement and even dominate nutrient loading to many lakes, particularly in agricultural and urbanized settings. For lakes in more remote regions such as the Adirondack Mountains of New York, N deposition represents the primary potential anthropogenic nutrient source. We combined a spatial model of N deposition with data on lake‐N concentrations and spatial data on watershed configuration to identify the sources of watershed N loading for over 250 lakes in the Adirondacks. The analysis indicates that while wetlands are stronger sources of N loading per unit area than forests in the absence of inorganic N deposition, wetlands retain essentially all N deposition, while forests retained ∼87% of N deposition. Since forests cover close to 90% of the watersheds, upland forests are, on average, the single largest source of N loading to Adirondack lakes. Direct deposition of N to the lake surface accounted for as large a fraction of loading as that from wetlands in the watersheds. We found no evidence that presence of wetlands along flowpaths to lakes reduced loading from upland forests. Moreover, there was no evidence that net loading to lakes declined with increasing distance of a source area to the lake. Lake N‐concentrations thus primarily reflect N‐loading from forests in concert with loss rates determined by water residence time and within‐lake processes.
Making Friends at Antenatal Classes: A Qualitative Exploration of Friendship Across the Transition to Motherhood
Authors: Nolan Mary L. , Mason Victoria , Snow Sarah , Messenger Wendy , Catling Jonathon , Upton Penney
Published: July 2012

This study explored how friendships made at antenatal classes preserve new mothers’ well-being, postnatally. Eight women from the United Kingdom who had attended antenatal classes in the third trimester were interviewed following the birth of their first baby. Transcripts were analyzed using a constant comparative method. Findings suggest that friendships made at antenatal classes are not only unique but also support women’s mental health and enhance self-efficacy because the women give and gain reassurance that their babies are developing normally. Such friendships may reduce demands on overstretched social and health-care services. Childbirth educators, midwives, and nurses can be encouraged to capitalize on the opportunity provided by antenatal classes to facilitate the formation of friendships that can help mothers to find “a new equilibrium.”
Blood Glucose Evaluation in the Dental Office
Authors: Mealey Brian L.
Published: July 2012

Focused Clinical Question: What role does the dental office play in evaluating blood glucose?

Summary: Diabetes and prediabetes are highly prevalent conditions. Although a diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes can only be done with laboratory glucose testing, the use of in‐office glucose testing may be beneficial. Such testing has been recommended as a means of screening patients for undiagnosed diabetes and for evaluating perioperative glucose levels to minimize risk for medical emergencies during dental treatment. This article reviews the issues that dentists should consider in deciding whether to do glucose testing in the dental office. It focuses on the factors that determine glucose dynamics in people with and without diabetes, provides information to enable interpretation of glucose readings, and offers guidelines for action after glucose testing. This article also discusses regulatory issues related to in‐office glucose testing, a discussion commonly absent from articles on this topic.

Conclusions: Evaluation of blood glucose in the dental office may be appropriate for assessing perioperative glucose levels to decrease the risk of adverse hypoglycemic events and potentially for screening patients considered to be at risk for diabetes or prediabetes. Clinicians who choose to perform such in‐office testing must be able to correctly interpret the results, know what steps must be taken based on the findings of the test, and understand the governing regulatory guidelines.
Results of in vitro fertilization cycles at the Clinic for gynecology and obstetrics, Clinical center of Nis
Authors: Mitic Dejan , Kopitovic Vesna , Popovic Jasmina , Milatovic Stevan , Basic Marin , Milojevic Mirjana
Published: July 2012

Introduction. Infertility affects 15-17% of reproductive age couples in our
country. In vitro fertilization brought revolution in treatment of this
problem, bringing hope to many couples around the world for more than 3
decades. The aim of this paper was to present results and experiences of
implementation of this method of treatment at the Clinic of Gynecology and
Obstetrics in Nis. Material and Methods. The study included the first 402
women who had undergone in vitro fertilization program at the Clinical Center
of Nis. The data were statistically analyzed by basic descriptive methods.
The main outcome measures were demographic features, cause of infertility,
duration of stimulation, average gonadothropine consumption, number of
oocytes per aspiration and embryos transferred, mode of conception as well as
clinical pregnancy and aspiration rate. Results. The two main factors were
the male infertility and tubal factor inferitily, being 51.61% and 48.39%,
respectively. The classical method of in vitro fertilization constituted
72.40% of all cycles, while intra cytoplasmic sperm injection method was used
in 27.60% of all cycles. The average number of embryos transferred was 2.75.
The cycle cancellation rate was 15.05%. The clinical pregnancy rate per
embryo transfer was 35.44%; while the live birth rate per embryo transfer was
26.53%. Discussion and Conclusion. Our success rates are comparable with
those in other European countries, where for in vitro fertilization the
clinical pregnancy rates per aspiration and per transfer were 29.0 and 32.4%,
respectively in the observed period. For intra cytoplasmic sperm injection,
the corresponding rates were 29.9 and 33.0%. The main difference from the
European average was the average number of transferred embryos and lower
percentage rate of intra cytoplasmic sperm injection as a method of
conception.
Polyostotic Paget’s disease of bone: Diagnostic dilemma in detection of bone metastases from prostate cancer
Authors: Ilincic Branislava , Crnobrnja Veljko , Mijovic Romana , Zeravica Radmila , Jakovljevic Ana , Kadic Vuk
Published: July 2012

Introduction. Paget?s disease of bone (osteitis deformans) is a rare
metabolic disorder of bone remodeling with complex etiology. In the most
cases, it is detected by coincidence, during nuclear medicine and
radiological diagnostic procedures. Herein we report a case of advanced
prostate cancer coexisting with asymptomatic Paget?s disease. Case report. We
present a 69-year-old patient, with biochemical recurrence two years after
radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer and period of stable
remission. During the evaluation of metastatic spread of prostate cancer, the
bone scintigraphy with technetium diphosphonate showed diffuse areas of
increased radiotracer uptake in the left leg long bones and focal changes in
the axial part of the skeleton. Scintigraphic findings led to a differential
diagnostic dilemma regarding etiology of bone changes, so it was supplemented
by standard radiologic methods and laboratory evaluation of bone metabolism
parameters. The existence of asymptomatic polyostotic Paget?s disease and
metastatic bone changes was found at the same time. Conclusion. Metastatic
bone lesions, in this case from prostate cancer, and asymptomatic Paget?s
disease may closely resemble each other. They both need careful evaluation in
order to determine the proper stages of malignant disease and selection of
appropriate therapies for patients.
Massive hemorrhage of upper gastrointestinal tract caused by gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach: Case report
Authors: Lalovic Nenad , Dukic-Vladicic Nikolina , Maric Radmil , Cuk Mirjana , Simatovic Milan , Jokanovic Dragana
Published: July 2012

Introduction. Acute bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal system is a
medical emergency which is followed by high mortality rate, ranging from 6 to
15% in spite of modern diagnostic methods and treatment. Bleeding from the
upper gastrointestinal system may be caused by gastrointestinal stromal
tumors of the stomach, which are mainly characterized by occult bleeding,
while profuse bleeding rarely occurs accompanied by hemorrhagic shock.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumors of stomach are the most common mesenchimal
tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Case Report. In our study we showed a
60-year-old female patient with profuse bleeding from the stomach and the
clinical picture of severe hemorrhagic shock, caused by gastrointestinal
stromal tumor. An ovoid junction, raised towards the lumen, covered with
ulcerated mucosa in several places and followed by massive arterial bleeding
was found intraoperatively, after the performed gastrotomy. Histopathological
examination with immunohistochemical analysis confirmed that this was a
gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach. Discussion. Acute bleeding
from the digestive system is a sudden and serious condition of the body.
Urgent esophagogastroduodenoscopy is a sensitive and specific diagnostic and
therapeutic method of choice. Massive bleeding from the upper
gastrointestinal tract is very rarely caused by gastrointestinal stromal
tumors, whose clinical picture is very heterogeneous and depends on tumor
size and location. Abundant bleeding from the tumor is an indication for
urgent surgical intervention. Conclusion. According to the literature massive
hemorrhage of the upper digestive system can rarely be caused by
gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach. It is shown that abundant
hemorrhage of the upper digestive tract can be caused with gastric
gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Surgical resection is the main form of
treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors of the digestive system and
bleeding from these tumors caused by failure of endoscopic hemostasis.
A Comparison of Dexmedetomidine Sedation With and Without Midazolam for Dental Implant Surgery
Authors: Wakita Ryo , Kohase Hikaru , Fukayama Haruhisa
Published: July 2012

Dexmedetomidine (DEX) has a minimal respiratory depressive effect, which is beneficial for dentistry; however, it has the disadvantage of permitting an intraoperative arousal response such that the patient appears to be suddenly no longer sedated, and it has a variable amnestic effect. Since midazolam (MDZ) in an appropriate dose has a profound amnesic effect, we investigated whether additional MDZ compensates for the disadvantage of DEX and enables a better quality of sedation. Forty-three subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups. In group 1, MDZ (0.02 mg/kg) was administered intravenously, followed by a dose of 0.01 mg/kg every 45 minutes. After the first dose of MDZ, preloading with DEX (2 µg/kg/h for 10 minutes) was started and maintained with a dosage of 0.5 µg/kg/h. In group 2, MDZ was infused in the same manner as in group 1, followed by preloading with DEX (1 µg/kg/h for 10 minutes) and maintenance (0.3 µg/kg/h). In group 3, MDZ was infused 0.03 mg/kg, and a dose of 0.01 mg/kg was given every 30 minutes; DEX was administered at the same as in group 2. In group 4, DEX was infused using the same method as in group 1 without MDZ. The sedation levels, amnesia, and patient satisfaction were also investigated. Group 2 had a lower sedation level and a poor evaluation during the first half of the operation. Group 4 did not exhibit an amnesic effect at the beginning of the operation. An evaluation of the degree of patient satisfaction did not reveal any differences among the groups. Optimal sedation was achieved through the combined use of MDZ (0.02 mg/kg with the addition of 0.01 mg/kg every 45 minutes) and DEX (2 µg/kg/h for 10 minutes followed by 0.5 µg/kg/h).
Anesthetic Considerations for Masticatory Muscle Tendon-Aponeurosis Hyperplasia: A Report of 24 Cases
Authors: Yamamoto Ikumi , Inoue Satoki , Kawaguchi Masahiko , Kawakami Tetsuji , Kirita Tadaaki , Furuya Hitoshi
Published: July 2012

Masticatory muscle tendon-aponeurosis hyperplasia (MMTAH) is a new disease entity characterized by limited mouth opening due to contracture of the masticatory muscles, resulting from hyperplasia of tendons and aponeuroses. In this case series, we report what methods of airway establishment were conclusively chosen after rapid induction of anesthesia. We had 24 consecutive patients with MMTAH who underwent surgical release of its contracture under general anesthesia. Rapid induction of anesthesia with propofol and rocuronium was chosen for all the cases. In 7 cases, intubation using the Macintosh laryngoscopy was attempted; however, 2 of those cases failed to be intubated on the first attempt. Finally, intubation using the McCoy laryngoscopy or fiber-optic intubation was alternatively used in these 2 cases. In 7 cases, the Trachlight was used. In the remaining 10 cases, fiber-optic intubation was used. Limited mouth opening in patients with MMTAH did not improve with muscular relaxation. “Square mandible” has been reported to be one of the clinical features in this disease; however, half of these 24 patients lacked this characteristic, which might affect a definitive diagnosis of this disease for anesthesiologists. An airway problem in patients with MMTAH should not be underestimated, which means that other intubation methods rather than direct laryngoscopy had better be considered.
Smooth metric measure spaces, quasi-Einstein metrics, and tractors
Authors: Case Jeffrey
Published: July 2012

We introduce the tractor formalism from conformal geometry to the study of smooth metric measure spaces. In particular, this gives rise to a correspondence between quasi-Einstein metrics and parallel sections of certain tractor bundles. We use this formulation to give a sharp upper bound on the dimension of the vector space of quasi-Einstein metrics, providing a different perspective on some recent results of He, Petersen and Wylie.
Subtleties concerning conformal tractor bundles
Authors: Graham C. , Willse Travis
Published: July 2012

The realization of tractor bundles as associated bundles in conformal geometry is studied. It is shown that different natural choices of principal bundle with normal Cartan connection corresponding to a given conformal manifold can give rise to topologically distinct associated tractor bundles for the same inducing representation. Consequences for homogeneous models and conformal holonomy are described. A careful presentation is made of background material concerning standard tractor bundles and equivalence between parabolic geometries and underlying structures.
Classifying bases for 6D F-theory models
Authors: Morrison David , Taylor Washington
Published: July 2012

We classify six-dimensional F-theory compactifications in terms of simple features of the divisor structure of the base surface of the elliptic fibration. This structure controls the minimal spectrum of the theory. We determine all irreducible configurations of divisors (“clusters”) that are required to carry nonabelian gauge group factors based on the intersections of the divisors with one another and with the canonical class of the base. All 6D F-theory models are built from combinations of these irreducible configurations. Physically, this geometric structure characterizes the gauge algebra and matter that can remain in a 6D theory after maximal Higgsing. These results suggest that all 6D supergravity theories realized in F-theory have a maximally Higgsed phase in which the gauge algebra is built out of summands of the types su(3), so(8), f4, e6, e8, e8, (g2 ⊕ su(2)); and su(2) ⊕ so(7) ⊕ su(2), with minimal matter content charged only under the last three types of summands, corresponding to the non-Higgsable cluster types identified through F-theory geometry. Although we have identified all such geometric clusters, we have not proven that there cannot be an obstruction to Higgsing to the minimal gauge and matter configuration for any possible F-theory model. We also identify bounds on the number of tensor fields allowed in a theory with any fixed gauge algebra; we use this to bound the size of the gauge group (or algebra) in a simple class of F-theory bases.
An elderly patient of formalin poisoning presenting with hematemesis
Authors: Shrestha Umid Kumar , Sapkota Subash , Thapa Prakash
Published: July 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jaim.v1i2.6527 Journal of Advances in Internal Medicine 2012;01(02):64
Burman, Burmanisation and Betrayal
Authors: Mang Pum Za
Published: July 2012

The root cause of the decades-old political crisis in Burma has been neither the issue of political prisoners nor the political confrontation between the opposition group (NLD) and the brutal military junta (SPDC) but Burmanisation policy, apparently suggesting that successive Burman leaders continue to deny equal rights to all citizens and greater autonomy to ethnic groups who make up 40 per cent of the entire population of the country. In order to restore permanent peace, political stability and economic prosperity in Burma, the Burman-dominated regime must thus give rights of equality to all citizens, greater autonomy to ethnic groups and religious freedom to all religious groups. It is certain that as long as the ethnic groups are denied religious freedom, ethnic equality, greater autonomy, innate rights, a federal system and self-determination, there will be no peace, stability or prosperity in the country.
Development of 20 Microsatellite Markers for Solenocera crassicornis and Their Cross-Species Application in Solenocera melantho
Authors: Liu Shufang , Liu Hongbo , Lin Lin , Yuan Yanjiao , Dai Fangqun , Zhuang Zhimeng
Published: July 2012

Twenty microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized for Solenocera crassicornis from a (GT)13-enriched genomic library. Their polymorphisms were investigated using 44 wild individuals from the South Yellow Sea. Our investigation revealed that all the markers were polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus varied from 6 to 19 with an average of 12.35. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.400 to 0.977 and from 0.609 to 0.940, with averages of 0.788 and 0.859, respectively. Four loci significantly deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium after Bonferroni’s correction. Cross-species amplification was also conducted in Solenocera melantho collected from the East China Sea. The result showed that 14 loci could be amplified from Solenocera melantho DNAs. These polymorphic markers would be useful for assessment of genetic variation and population structure of S. crassicornis and S. melantho.
Self-Assembly of Bi2Te3-Nanoplate/Graphene-Nanosheet Hybrid by One-Pot Route and Its Improved Li-Storage Properties
Authors: Tu Fangfang , Xie Jian , Cao Gaoshao , Zhao Xinbing
Published: July 2012

A sandwich structured Bi2Te3-nanoplates/graphene-nanosheet (Bi2Te3/G) hybrid has been synthesized by a facile in situ solvothermal route and has been investigated as a potential anode material for Li-ion batteries. Bi2Te3 grows during the solvothermal process with the simultaneous reduction of graphite oxide into graphene. The in situ formation process of the hybrid has been investigated by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectra. The Li-storage mechanism and performance of Bi2Te3/G and bare Bi2Te3 have been studied by galvanostatic cycling and cyclic voltammetry. The Bi2Te3/G sandwich exhibits an obviously improved cycling stability compared to bare Bi2Te3. The enhancement in electrochemical performance can be attributed to the combined conducting, confining and dispersing effects of graphene for Bi2Te3 nanoplates and to the self-assembled sandwich structure.
Synthesis, Characterization, Antibacterial and Antifungal Evaluation of Novel Monosaccharide Esters
Authors: Shen Yi , Sun Yufeng , Sang Zhipei , Sun Chengjun , Dai Ya , Deng Yong
Published: July 2012

A novel series of 3-(2-furyl)acrylate monosaccharide esters Ia–f and menthyloxycarbonyl monosaccharide esters IIa–f were designed and synthesized. The chemical structures of the target compounds were confirmed by IR, 1H- and 13C-NMR and ESI-MS, and the target compounds were investigated for their in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities. The antibacterial screening results showed that the 3-(2-furyl)acrylate monosaccharide ester derivatives Ia–f were either inactive or only weakly active against the three Gram-positive bacterial strains tested, whereas the menthyloxycarbonyl monosaccharide ester derivatives IIa–f exhibited higher levels of activity, with compound IIe being especially potent. The results of the antifungal screening revealed that compounds Ib, Ie, IIb and IIc displayed potent in vitro activities, whereas If and IIf showed promising activities against all of the microorganisms tested, with If exhibiting levels of activity deserving of further investigation.
Buddleja officinalis Maximowicz Extract Inhibits Lipid Accumulation on Adipocyte Differentiation in 3T3-L1 Cells and High-Fat Mice
Authors: Roh Changhyun , Park Min-Kyoung , Shin Hee-June , Jung Uhee , Kim Jin-Kyu
Published: July 2012

Obesity is a global health problem. It is also known to be a risk factor for the development of metabolic disorders, type 2 diabetes, systemic hypertension, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis. In this study, we elucidated that Buddleja officinalis Maximowicz extract significantly inhibited lipid accumulation during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation. Furthermore, Buddleja officinalis Maximowicz extract reduced the body weight gain induced through feeding a high-fat diet to C57BL/6 mice. The treatment of Buddleja officinalis Maximowicz extract significantly reduced the adipose tissue weight to 2.7/100 g of body weight in high-fat mice. When their adipose tissue morphology was investigated for histochemical staining, the distribution of cell size in the high-fat diet groups was hypertrophied compared with those from Buddleja officinalis Maximowicz extract-treated mice. In addition, in Buddleja officinalis Maximowicz extract-treated mice, a significant reduction of serum triglyceride and T-cholesterol was observed at to 21% and 17%, respectively. The discovery of bioactive compounds from diet or dietary supplementation is one of possible ways to control obesity and to prevent or reduce the risks of various obesity-related diseases. These results support that Buddleja officinalis Maximowicz extract is expected to create the therapeutic interest with respect to the treatment of obesity.
Application of MODIS Imagery for Intra-Annual Water Clarity Assessment of Minnesota Lakes
Authors: Knight Joseph F. , Voth Margaret L.
Published: July 2012

Monitoring of water clarity trends is necessary for water resource managers. Remote sensing based methods are well suited for monitoring clarity in water bodies such as the inland lakes in Minnesota, United States. This study evaluated the potential of using imagery from NASA’s MODIS sensor to study intra-annual variations in lake clarity. MODIS reflectance images from six dates throughout the 2006 growing season were used with field collected Secchi disk transparency data to estimate water clarity in large lakes throughout Minnesota. The results of this research indicate the following: water clarity estimates derived from MODIS imagery are largely similar to those derived from lower temporal resolution sensors such as Landsat, robust water clarity estimates can be derived using MODIS for many dates throughout a growing season (R2 values between 0.32 and 0.71), and the relatively low spatial resolution of MODIS restricts its applicability to a subset of the largest inland lakes (>160 ha, or 400 acres). This study suggests that water clarity maps developed with MODIS imagery and bathymetry data may be useful tools for resource managers concerned with intra- and inter-annual variations in large inland lakes.
User Localization During Human-Robot Interaction
Authors: Alonso-Martín F. , Gorostiza Javi F. , Malfaz María , Salichs Miguel A.
Published: July 2012

This paper presents a user localization system based on the fusion of visual information and sound source localization, implemented on a social robot called Maggie. One of the main requisites to obtain a natural interaction between human-human and human-robot is an adequate spatial situation between the interlocutors, that is, to be orientated and situated at the right distance during the conversation in order to have a satisfactory communicative process. Our social robot uses a complete multimodal dialog system which manages the user-robot interaction during the communicative process. One of its main components is the presented user localization system. To determine the most suitable allocation of the robot in relation to the user, a proxemic study of the human-robot interaction is required, which is described in this paper. The study has been made with two groups of users: children, aged between 8 and 17, and adults. Finally, at the end of the paper, experimental results with the proposed multimodal dialog system are presented.
Left ventricle hydatid cyst mimicking acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Onturk Tekbas Ebru , Tekbas Guven , Ariturk Atilgan Zuhal , Islamoglu Yahya , Cil Habib , Yazici Mehmet
Published: July 2012

Cardiac echinococcosis rarely mimics acute coronary syndrome. The diagnosis of cardiac hydatid cyst might be difficult on account of varying clinical presentations and nonspesific symptoms. A 75-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with typical chest pain. The patient had no history of previous cardiac symptoms or any illness leading to heart disease. Her ECG revealed ischemic changes. However, her coronary angiography revealed noncritical plaques in the left anterior descending artery. The diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis was identified using echocardiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. The patient was referred to cardiac surgery for resection of the cyst; however, she refused surgery. Albendezol 800 mg/day was prescribed.
Clinical profile of dengue infection at a teaching hospital in North India
Authors: Karoli Ritu , Fatima Jalees , Siddiqi Zeba , Kazmi Khursheed I , Sultania Amit R
Published: July 2012

Introduction: Dengue viral infections are among the most important mosquito-borne diseases of the Indian subcontinent and have become a major global public health concern. Spread of disease has led to increased recognition of atypical manifestations apart from the classical clinical features of dengue infection. Methodology: A cross-sectional study of admitted patients suspected to have dengue infection was conducted during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons in the year 2010. Patients who had serological confirmation of dengue infection were classified according to World Health Organization definitions of dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever. Clinical and biochemical parameters were compared between the two groups. Results: Out of 356 patients with suspected dengue fever enrolled in the study, 138 (39%) had serologically confirmed dengue infection. Eighty (58%) patients were males and 58 (42%) were females. Ninety-six (70%) patients had classical dengue fever while 42 (30%) had dengue hemorrhagic fever. The most common symptoms were headache (105, 76%), abdominal pain (87, 63%), vomiting (80, 58%), rash (36, 26%), and cutaneous hypersensitivity (22, 16%). Hemorrhagic manifestations were present in 55 (40%) patients. Atypical manifestations were recorded. Notably, 14% of patients had neurological involvement and 4% had acute hepatic failure. Overall mortality was 6% and all fatal cases were due to multi-organ failure. Conclusion: Dengue infection poses a huge burden to the health-care system; its spectrum ranges from mild self-limiting illness to severe fatal disease. It can have varied and multi-systemic manifestations which can go unrecognized. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for atypical manifestations.
Northward movement of East Central South African genotype of Chikungunya virus causing an epidemic between 2006-2010 in India
Authors: Singh Priyanka , Mittal Veena , Rizvi Moshahid A , Bhattacharya Dipesh , Chhabra Mala , Rawat Devendra S , Ichhpujani Rattan L , Chauhan Lakhvir S , Rai Arvind
Published: July 2012

Introduction: Re-emergence of chikungunya virus in South India after a gap of 32 years in 2006 affected over a million people in the Indian subcontinent. We kept a close vigil over the emerging trend of this virus between 2006-2010 with a view to establish the identity of the circulating genotype(s) and to determine the route of virus transmission in different parts of India. Methodology: Nucleotide sequencing of the E1 gene region from 36 strains of chikungunya virus from three states in northern India was performed for this present study. Forty-four previously reported E1 sequences, retrieved from the global genome data base were used for making a phylogenetic tree. Results: BLAST search revealed 99% homology of the northern Indian strains of the 2006-2010 outbreak with the Reunion Island isolates of 2006. Northern Indian strains of this study clustered with the East Central South African (ECSA) genotype. Conclusions: Findings indicate that the currently circulating strain of chikungunya virus in northern India had its origin from the 2006 epidemic strain of South India that moved toward northern India via the western central India between 2006-2010 in a phased manner with dominance of the ECSA genotype and not the Asian genotype.
The Bone Marrow Functions as the Central Site of Proliferation for Long-Lived NK Cells
Authors: van Helden Mary J. G. , de Graaf Natascha , Boog Claire J. P. , Topham David J. , Zaiss Dietmar M. W. , Sijts Alice J. A. M.
Published: July 2012

NK cells play an important role in the early defense against invading pathogens. Although it is well established that infection leads to a substantial, local increase in NK cell numbers, little is known about the mechanisms that trigger their proliferation and migration. In this study, we investigated the dynamics of NK cell responses after intranasal respiratory virus infection. We show that NK cell numbers increased in the airways after influenza virus infection but find no evidence of proliferation either at the site of infection or in the draining lymph nodes. Instead, we find that the bone marrow (BM) is the primary site of proliferation of both immature and mature NK cells during infection. Using an adoptive transfer model, we demonstrate that peripheral, long-lived and phenotypically mature NK cells migrate back to the BM and proliferate there, both homeostatically and in response to infection. Thus, the BM is not only a site of NK cell development but also an important site for proliferation of long-lived mature NK cells.
CD8+CD45RA+CCR7+FOXP3+ T Cells with Immunosuppressive Properties: A Novel Subset of Inducible Human Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Suzuki Masakatsu , Jagger Ann L. , Konya Christine , Shimojima Yasuhiro , Pryshchep Sergey , Goronzy Jörg J. , Weyand Cornelia M.
Published: July 2012

CD8 T cells stimulated with a suboptimal dose of anti-CD3 Abs (100 pg/ml) in the presence of IL-15 retain a naive phenotype with expression of CD45RA, CD28, CD27, and CCR7 but acquire new functions and differentiate into immunosuppressive T cells. CD8+CCR7+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) express FOXP3 and prevent CD4 T cells from responding to TCR stimulation and entering the cell cycle. Naive CD4 T cells are more susceptible to inhibition than memory cells. The suppressive activity of CD8+CCR7+ Tregs is not mediated by IL-10, TGF-β, CTLA-4, CCL4, or adenosine and relies on interference with very early steps of the TCR signaling cascade. Specifically, CD8+CCR7+ Tregs prevent TCR-induced phosphorylation of ZAP70 and dampen the rise of intracellular calcium in CD4 T cells. The inducibility of CD8+CCR7+ Tregs is correlated with the age of the individual with PBLs of donors older than 60 y yielding low numbers of FOXP3low CD8 Tregs. Loss of CD8+CCR7+ Tregs in the elderly host may be of relevance in the aging immune system as immunosenescence is associated with a state of chronic smoldering inflammation.
Cytokine Secretion by CD4+ T Cells at the Immunological Synapse Requires Cdc42-Dependent Local Actin Remodeling but Not Microtubule Organizing Center Polarity
Authors: Chemin Karine , Bohineust Armelle , Dogniaux Stéphanie , Tourret Marie , Guégan Sarah , Miro Francesc , Hivroz Claire
Published: July 2012

Cytokine secretion by T lymphocytes plays a central role in mounting adaptive immune responses. However, little is known about how newly synthesized cytokines, once produced, are routed within T cells and about the mechanisms involved in regulating their secretions. In this study, we investigated the role of cytoskeleton remodeling at the immunological synapse (IS) in cytokine secretion. We show that a key regulator of cytoskeleton remodeling, the Rho GTPase Cdc42, controls IFN-γ secretion by primary human CD4+ T lymphocytes. Surprisingly, microtubule organizing center polarity at the IS, which does not depend on Cdc42, is not required for cytokine secretion by T lymphocytes, whereas microtubule polymerization is required. In contrast, actin remodeling at the IS, which depends on Cdc42, controls the formation of the polymerized actin ring at the IS, the dynamic concentration of IFN-γ–containing vesicles inside this ring, and the secretion of these vesicles. These results reveal a previously unidentified role of Cdc42-dependent actin remodeling in cytokine exocytosis at the IS.
Acquisition of MHC:Peptide Complexes by Dendritic Cells Contributes to the Generation of Antiviral CD8+ T Cell Immunity In Vivo
Authors: Smyth Lesley A. , Hervouet Catherine , Hayday Thomas , Becker Pablo D. , Ellis Richard , Lechler Robert I. , Lombardi Giovanna , Klavinskis Linda S.
Published: July 2012

There is an increasing body of evidence suggesting that the transfer of preformed MHC class I:peptide complexes between a virus-infected cell and an uninfected APC, termed cross-dressing, represents an important mechanism of Ag presentation to CD8+ T cells in host defense. However, although it has been shown that memory CD8+ T cells can be activated by uninfected dendritic cells (DCs) cross-dressed by Ag from virus-infected parenchymal cells, it is unknown whether conditions exist during virus infection in which naive CD8+ T cells are primed and differentiate to cytolytic effectors through cross-dressing, and indeed which DC subset would be responsible. In this study, we determine whether the transfer of MHC class I:peptide complexes between infected and uninfected murine DC plays a role in CD8+ T cell priming to viral Ags in vivo. We show that MHC class I:peptide complexes from peptide-pulsed or virus-infected DCs are indeed acquired by splenic CD8α− DCs in vivo. Furthermore, the acquired MHC class I:peptide complexes are functional in that they induced Ag-specific CD8+ T cell effectors with cytolytic function. As CD8α− DCs are poor cross-presenters, this may represent the main mechanism by which CD8α− DCs present exogenously encountered Ag to CD8+ T cells. The sharing of Ag as preformed MHC class I:peptide complexes between infected and uninfected DCs without the restraints of Ag processing may have evolved to accurately amplify the response and also engage multiple DC subsets critical in the generation of strong antiviral immunity.
Negative Impact of IFN-γ on Early Host Immune Responses to Retroviral Infection
Authors: Duley Amanda K. , Ploquin Mickaël J.-Y. , Eksmond Urszula , Ammann Christoph G. , Messer Ronald J. , Myers Lara , Hasenkrug Kim J. , Kassiotis George
Published: July 2012

The immune system is tasked with defending against a myriad of microbial infections, and its response to a given infectious microbe may be strongly influenced by coinfection with another microbe. It was shown that infection of mice with lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) impairs early adaptive immune responses to Friend virus (FV) coinfection. To investigate the mechanism of this impairment, we examined LDV-induced innate immune responses and found LDV-specific induction of IFN-α and IFN-γ. LDV-induced IFN-α had little effect on FV infection or immune responses, but unexpectedly, LDV-induced IFN-γ production dampened Th1 adaptive immune responses and enhanced FV infection. Two distinct effects were identified. First, LDV-induced IFN-γ signaling indirectly modulated FV-specific CD8+ T cell responses. Second, intrinsic IFN-γ signaling in B cells promoted polyclonal B cell activation and enhanced early FV infection, despite promotion of germinal center formation and neutralizing Ab production. Results from this model reveal that IFN-γ production can have detrimental effects on early adaptive immune responses and virus control.
Divide and be different: Priestly identity in the Persian period
Authors: Meyer Esias E.
Published: July 2012

The article focused on the Hebrew root לדב [divide] [bdl] in Priestly and post-Priestly material of the Pentateuch. In Genesis 1 God is the subject of the verb and often enough in the Holiness Code, but in many instances in Leviticus (e.g. 10:10 and 11:47) it is expected of priests to perform the same act. It was argued that in this regard priests were to imitate God. The article further argued that these texts helped us to describe Jewish identity in the Persian period as an identity of non-conformity, and they also helped us to describe the priests’ own understanding of their role in maintaining this identity.
Using communities of practice towards the next level of knowledge-management maturity
Authors: Chetty Lameshnee , Mearns Martie
Published: July 2012

Background: Effective communities of practice undoubtedly impact organisations’ knowledge management and contribute towards building a learning-organisation culture. Communities of practice represent an environment conducive to learning and for exchanging ideas, and they are a formal learning forum. However, the level of organisational learning to which communities of practice contribute is difficult to measure.Objectives: The research was conducted to analyse the impact of communities of practice on building a learning organisation. The organisational system, culture and people offer the key towards leveraging knowledge as a strategic resource in a learning organisation. The awareness of the organisation concerning knowledge management was measured on a replicated knowledge management maturity model.Method: The organisational knowledge base was analysed prior to the implementation of the communities of practice and was compared to the situation three years later. The research was based on experiential learning cycles that consisted of five consequential but perpetual stages,namely reflect, plan, act, observe and reflect again.Results: The results indicated that communities of practice were instrumental in leveraging the organisation to the next level in the knowledge-management maturity model. A collaboration framework was developed for each business unit to work towards a common goal by harnessing the knowledge that was shared.Conclusion: Although a positive impact by communities of practice is visible, an instrument for the measurement of intellectual capital is necessary. It is recommended that the monetary value of knowledge as an asset is determined so that the value of the potential intellectual capital can be measured.