bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SIMULATION-BASED PREDICTING THE POSITION OF ROAD TANK EXPLOSIONS. PART II: A CASE STUDY
Authors: Vaidogas Egidijus Rytas , Linkutė Lina , Stulgys Dainius
Published: June 2012

A case study describing a simulation-based prediction of geometric characteristics of a road tank accident is presented. The case study evaluates the performance of the accident prediction model proposed in the first part of this study (Vaidogas et al. 2012). The prediction of accident characteristics is decomposed into three tasks: (i) prediction of the longitudinal rest position of the tank vehicle within the road segment under analysis; (ii) prediction of the transverse rest position with respect to road centreline; and (iii) prediction of the departure angle of the tank. These tasks are performed by applying stochastic (Monte Carlo) simulation. The results of the prediction are simulated samples of the geometric accident characteristics. These samples are considered to be input information for the assessment of risk posed by a potential explosion of tank vehicle vessel. In this case study, the potential targets of the explosion are three reservoirs built in the roadside territory. The case study presents and discusses in detail probabilistic models used for the simulation. It is stated that a considerable part of these models are chosen subjectively due to scarcity of circumstantial data on road tank accidents. The predictive Bayesian approach to risk assessment is used as a methodological basis of the simulation. Results of the simulation are intended to be utilised for increasing the safety of transportation of hazardous materials by road tanks.
DEFINING LOS CRITERIA OF URBAN STREETS USING GPS DATA: K-MEANS AND K-MEDOID CLUSTERING IN INDIAN CONTEXT
Authors: Bhuyan Prasanta Kumar , Rao Kurra Venkata Krishna
Published: June 2012

The objective of this study is to classify urban streets into a number of classes and to define the speed ranges of levels of service (LOS) categories in Indian context. In this purpose, average travel speed on street segments is used as the measure of effectiveness, which has been obtained from second-wise speed data collected using Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. Midsized vehicle (car) was used to collect travel speed data on five urban road corridors comprising of 100 street segments in the city of Mumbai and two major road corridors of Kolkata city in India. Both k-means and k-medoid clustering methods and several cluster validation measures have been employed in the classification of urban streets and LOS categories. It is found that k-medoid clustering is more suitable in Indian context and speed ranges of level of service categories are significantly different from that values mentioned in HCM 2000.
Why Does the Czech Republic Need a Defence Industrial Base Strategy?
Authors: Kolin Vilem
Published: June 2012

Without a national strategy for the defence industrial base, and its operationalization in specific policies, which would be pursued in an active, systematic and long-term manner, the Czech Republic will soon have no defence industry and be completely dependent on the import of defence equipment from abroad with a fatal impact on its defence, internal security, and its obligations to allies and partners in NATO and the EU. The article describes the benefits of defence industrial base, identifies trends in its development in the Western Europe and stipulates principles and recommendations, upon which a national strategy for the defence industrial base of the Czech Republic might be established.
Sur l'industrialisation contemporaine de l'hédonisme
Authors: Michaud Yves
Published: June 2012

Résumé L’article donne tout d’abord quelques pistes historiques sur la notion de plaisir, depuis l’hédonisme antique jusqu’à nos jours. Ce n’est qu’au dix-neuvième siècle que les progrès de la médecine rendent possible de nouvelles attitudes vis-à-vis de l’hédonisme : une éthique du bonheur commandé et contrôlé, qui se prolonge et surtout peut être recherché et produit à volonté ou presque. Aujourd’hui, l’évolution s’est poursuivie, s’est accélérée, et les moyens du plaisir se sont perfectionnés. Ce qui donne à l’hédonisme encore de nouveaux visages : l’expérience sensorielle et corporelle, la détente et le relâchement, et le bien-être.
L'industrialisation de l'hédonisme. Nouveaux cultes du corps : de la production de soi à la perfectibilité addictive
Authors: Queval Isabelle
Published: June 2012

Résumé Le XXI e  siècle confirme une révolution : depuis quelques décennies, la perfectibilité du corps se concrétise par la mise en œuvre de moyens médicaux et techniques sans précédent. Ce n’est pas simplement l’espérance de vie qui s’est accrue dans les pays industrialisés, c’est aussi la capacité à vivre durablement dans un corps moins souffrant. Se forme la volonté, ou le fantasme, d’une production du corps. Médicalisation de la naissance, prévention de l’hygiène publique, pharmacologie, cosmétologie, chirurgie, culte de l’« entretien de soi » croisent des attentes collectives et individuelles, jusqu’aux frontières de l’irrationnel ou de l’eugénisme –  obtenir un corps ou un enfant « parfait » –, de l’addiction – à l’effort physique, à la chirurgie esthétique, aux substances dopantes – et jusqu’aux questionnements éthiques portant sur le contrôle. Le corps est donc l’objet d’une instrumentalisation ambivalente. Certes, il est un « corps pour jouir », la beauté, la jeunesse, la santé elle-même sont les gages d’un nouveau narcissisme et d’une intégration sociale supposée. Mais le « désir de bien faire » anime aussi cette dynamique, quand le médecin devient le nouveau moraliste, celui qui dit la vie bonne, quand la vacuité des idéaux pour le citoyen des sociétés démocratiques avancées laisse place à une rationalité instrumentale qui peut devenir destructive, privilégiant les moyens sur la fin. Ainsi, la perfectibilité devient-elle une obsession, une addiction qui se mêle à d’autres. Ainsi, le plaisir recherché dépend-il de temporalités croisées, celle de l’immédiateté et celle d’une projection incessamment travaillée vers le futur.
Les addictions, la science et les approches de sens
Authors: Valleur Marc
Published: June 2012

Résumé Autour des questions d’addiction se cristallisent des difficultés épistémologiques considérables – notamment en ce qui concerne le statut des addictions sans drogue. L’opposition du « bio » et du « psycho », des sciences de la vie aux sciences humaines et sociales, est omniprésente dans ce champ, de façon peut-être plus visible que dans celui de la psychiatrie, qui est traversé de ces divisions depuis sa naissance. L’appel fréquent à des approches intégrées, bio-psycho-sociales, comme l’adhésion générale à un refus du dualisme cartésien du corps et de l’âme, ne doit pas faire sous-estimer les difficultés de l’entreprise : il ne s’agit pas seulement de décider si les addictions sont ou non de « vraies » maladies, attestées en tant que telles par la mise en évidence d’un « facteur X » biologique. À l’incertitude du statut de l’objet addiction s’ajoute en effet le choix du regard, de l’abord de cet objet : les approches scientifiques et les approches « de sens », toutes légitimes, ne sont pas « commensurables », les critères des unes ne pouvant ni valider ni invalider les autres. « Bricolant » des modèles improbables mêlant les deux mondes, le clinicien se trouve, de fait, dans une situation de dualisme méthodologique – et non ontologique – qu’il vaut mieux assumer qu’ignorer.
Addiction, pharmakon et néoténie
Authors: Levivier Marc
Published: June 2012

Résumé Deux œuvres philosophiques complémentaires, portent l’une sur la dépendance originelle de l’homme, la néoténie, et l’autre sur les objets techniques y suppléant. Il est proposé de les traiter comme deux abords distincts et complémentaires des rapports entre l’homme et le pharmakon, esquissant ainsi des éléments d’une philosophie de l’addiction.
Modernité vaporeuse et imagination détruisante
Authors: Kim Hong Jung
Published: June 2012

Résumé Cet article a pour but d’analyser le régime scopique fondé sur l’imagination détruisante, dont les deux manifestations intéressantes se trouvent dans la représentation des nuages chez Baudelaire et chez les impressionnistes. Par le concept de régime scopique, j’entends la manière dont l’œil de l’artiste « artialise » le monde en paysage. Les deux pôles principaux constituant le régime scopique sont l’œil et le paysage qui se mettent en relation réciproque (artialisation et subjectivation). Le travail s’articule en deux temps. J’analyse, dans un premier temps, l’invention du paysage vaporeux dont la figure centrale est le nuage chez Baudelaire et chez les impressionnistes. Ensuite, j’examine l’invention de l’œil réveillé correspondant à l’imagination détruisante qui à l’opposé de l’ Einbildungskraft kantienne exerce son pouvoir négatif de destruction.
Internet et la mort symbolique
Authors: Xu Yi Bing
Published: June 2012

Résumé L’objectif de cet article réside dans la découverte de la « vérité » d’Internet. À partir de son observation pratique en tant qu’ingénieur en télécommunications et de sa réflexion philosophique sur Internet, l’auteur étudie ce médium d’un point de vue sociologique. Par là, Internet n’est plus « neutre », il possède une certaine représentation de la mort – l’auteur dit que c’est une mort symbolique. Après avoir analysé la mort, l’auteur croit que toutes les « réalités » sur la mort sont symboliques. La question se pose : comment faire face à cette mort symbolique d’Internet ? L’auteur propose, comme le dit J. Baudrillard, de « prendre la mort contre la mort ».
Asymptomatic T-Cell Large Granular Lymphocyte Leukemia with an Unusual Immunophenotype
Authors: Petsa Panagiota K. , Karamoutsios Achilleas , Dova Lefkothea , Benetatos Leonidas , Petsiou Asimina , Kolaitis Nikolaos , Georgopoulos Antonis , Vartholomatos Georgios
Published: June 2012

T-cell large granular lymphocyte (T-LGL) leukemia represents a clonal proliferation of cytotoxic T-cells which etiology has not been entirely elucidated. However, CD4+, CD4–,CD8–, CD4+, CD8+ cases have been described. The disease is usually characterized by cytopenias and a modest lymphocytosis. The majority of patients with T-LGL leukemia remains asymptomatic for a long period and will require treatment later during the course of their disease. Hereby we describe a case of T-LGL leukemia diagnosed by flow cytometry, which presented indolent course and required no treatment so far.
Genotype-Phenotype Correlation of β-Thalassemia Spectrum of Mutations in an Indian Population
Authors: Sahu Praveen Kishore , Pati Sudhanshu Shekhar , Mishra Saroj Kanti
Published: June 2012

Coexistence of thalassemia, hemoglobinopathies and malaria has interested geneticists over many decades. The present study represents such a population from the eastern Indian state of Orissa. Children and their siblings (n = 38) were genotyped for β-thalassemia mutations and genotype-phenotype correlation was determined. The major genotype was IVS 1.5 mutation: 26% homozygous (n = 10) and 37% (n = 14) double heterozygous with other mutations or hemoglobinopathies. Sickle hemoglobin was the major associated hemoglobinopathy (n = 12, 32%). Other mutations found were Cd 8/9, HbE and Cd 41/42. The study population did not contain any IVS 1.1 mutations which is the second major Indo-Asian genotype. Genotype-phenotype correlation revealed that genotypes of IVS 1.5, Cd 8/9 Cd 41/42 alone or in association, exhibit severe, moderate and mild severity of thalassemia, respectively. Identification of the mutation at an early age as a part of new born screening and early intervention may help reduce the thalassemia-related morbidity.
Regulator Indecomposable Cycles on a Product of Elliptic Curves
Authors: Türkmen İnan Utku
Published: June 2012

We provide a novel proof of the existence of regulator indecomposables in the cycle group CH2(X,1), where X is a sufficiently general product of two elliptic curves. In particular, the nature of our proof provides an illustration of Beilinson rigidity.
On the Average Number of Square-Free Values of Polynomials
Authors: Shparlinski Igor E.
Published: June 2012

We obtain an asymptotic formula for the number of square-free integers in N consecutive values of polynomials on average over integral polynomials of degree at most k and of height at most H, where H ≥ Nk-1+ε for some fixed ε > 0. Individual results of this kind for polynomials of degree k > 3, due to A. Granville (1998), are only known under the ABC-conjecture.
Work-Life Factors and Cardiovascular Disease in Paediatric Occupational Therapists
Authors: Poulsen Anne , Khan Asad , Meredith Pamela , Henderson Julie , Castrisos Veronica
Published: June 2012

Introduction:

With cardiovascular disease (CVD) increasing for female workers, there is a need to understand the factors associated with CVD in members of the occupational therapy, predominantly female, profession. The association between burnout and physical health effects, such as CVD, has not been investigated in paediatric occupational therapists.

Method:

Associations between CVD and demographic and work-life factors were investigated in a nationwide postal survey of 486 paediatric occupational therapists.

Results:

The prevalence of CVD in the study population was 11.02%. Private practitioners, older therapists and those with additional self-reported health problems from respiratory disease had increased odds of reporting CVD. In contrast, lower odds of CVD were found for therapists with access to social support, a secure attachment style and income satisfaction.

Conclusion:

Understanding demographic, personal and work-related variables associated with CVD in paediatric occupational therapists provides valuable information about members of the profession. The identification of potentially modifiable work-life factors that are inversely associated with CVD, such as social support and having a secure attachment style, suggests further avenues for research and intervention. Ongoing vigilance, and education directed towards self-care as well as client care, is required to ensure optimal health for colleagues.
Occupational Therapy: A Potentially Valuable Intervention for People with Primary Sjögren's Syndrome
Authors: Hackett Katie , Newton Julia , Ng Wan-Fai
Published: June 2012

Primary Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterised by dry eyes and mouth. Chronic fatigue is one of the most prevalent and debilitating symptoms and people are more likely to have reduced functioning and wellbeing. Occupational therapy is not routinely offered to people with this condition. In this opinion piece, the literature on the difficulties in occupational performance that people with this condition may experience is reviewed, using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure as a framework to explore how self-care, productivity and leisure may be affected. The potential role of occupational therapy as an intervention is then discussed.
Exploring the Validity of the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform System of Task Analysis: Cognitive Strategy Use in Adults with Brain Injury
Authors: Nott Melissa T , Chapparo Christine
Published: June 2012

Introduction:

Ecologically valid assessment linking cognitive strategies to observed functional performance has been strongly advocated. This study examines the construct validity of one such assessment: the Perceive, Recall, Plan and Perform (PRPP) System of Task Analysis for the evaluation of adults with brain injury.

Method:

Eighteen occupational therapists observed videoed patient performance (n = 16) of personal and instrumental activities of daily living, then used the PRPP System of Task Analysis to identify task performance errors and to attribute these errors to underlying cognitive strategy deficits. Multifaceted Rasch analysis was used to generate a hierarchy of test items and to propose a linear continuum, along which the difficulty of test items, raters, patients and tasks could be measured simultaneously. The generated hierarchy was examined for congruency with theories of information processing and neurorehabilitation.

Results:

Test items, raters, patients and tasks demonstrated ‘fit’ with the Rasch model. Construct validity was well supported by strong parallels between the Rasch-generated hierarchy of PRPP items and conceptual models of information processing and occupational performance.

Conclusion:

The PRPP System of Task Analysis is a valid measure of cognitive strategy use during the occupational performance of adults with brain injury, demonstrating high levels of fit with Rasch modelling for test items, raters and patients.
Occupational Therapy for Caregivers of People with Dementia: A Review of the United Kingdom Literature
Authors: Hall Laura , Skelton Dawn A
Published: June 2012

Introduction:

Caring for a family member with dementia is associated with a wide range of challenges. The national strategy for caregivers highlights the growing need for health professionals to provide support to caregivers of people with dementia. This review aimed to identify the evidence and current role of occupational therapists in supporting caregivers of people with dementia in the community.

Method:

All relevant research databases were systematically searched to identify relevant United Kingdom articles. The inclusion criteria included: dated 1999–2010, English language, community based and considered impact of intervention on carer.

Findings:

Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. The identified interventions were delivered by a range of different professionals with a variety of outcome measures. Overall, the methodological quality of the included studies was poor, with only a small number providing evidence of improvement in outcomes as a result of interventions, such as reminiscence and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Conclusion:

A requirement for more robust research into the impact of interventions on caregivers of people with dementia was identified. There is a dearth of research into the current role of occupational therapists working with these caregivers and a lack of research to support the expansion of this role.
Pressupostos, intenções e práticas de um curso a distância: as contribuições das percepções dos alunos para a avaliação do modelo
Authors: Nevado Rosane Aragón de , Menezes Crediné Silva de
Published: June 2012

A transição entre modelos pedagógicos, pelo qual passa hoje a Educação a Distância, encontra obstáculos nas dificuldades para a diferenciação das condições fundamentais à mudança. Buscando contribuir para essa discussão, apresentamos um modelo interacionista de formação de professores a distância e realizamos uma avaliação preliminar dos impactos da sua aplicação em um curso de graduação em Pedagogia, em que as estudantes são professoras da rede pública de ensino. Analisamos a percepção das professoras-alunas com respeito às mudanças em suas vidas (nos âmbitos pessoal, profissional e como estudante) e também com respeito às características do curso que se mostraram facilitadoras do processo de aprendizagem. Observamos correlações importantes entre os elementos centrais do modelo adotado, os impactos do curso e as características facilitadoras percebidas pelas professoras-alunas.
Therapeutic Potentials of Silver Nanoparticle Complex of α-Lipoic Acid
Authors: Ramachandran Lakshmy , Nair Cherupally Krishnan Krishnan
Published: June 2012

Silver (SN) nanoparticles were re-dispersed in aqueous solution of Pluronic F127 and complexed with the antioxidant, alpha- Lipoic acid (LA). The nanoparticle - LA complex (SN-LA) was characterized using SEM. SN-LA exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activity in vitro and anti- inflammatory activity against acute and chronic paw models of edema in mice. SN-LA protected mice from whole body gamma radiation induced body weight losses and mortality revealing its radioprotecting capacity. Meanwhile, SN-LA administration to tumour-bearing mice prior to whole body gamma radiation exposure, aided in better tumour growth delay. The results suggest the feasibility in using SN-LA as a therapeutic adjuvant during cancer radiotherapy.
Electrical Properties of Electrodeposited ZnCuTe Ternary Nanowires Embedded in Polycarbonate Membrane
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Vohra Anil , Chakarvarti S. K.
Published: June 2012

The electrical properties of electrodeposited zinc-copper-telluride (ZnCuTe) nanowires embedded in polycarbonate track-etch membrane (Whatman) having pore-diameters of 200, 100 and 50nm have been studied and reported in this paper. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed the formation of the nanowires of uniform diameter equal to the diameter of the templates used. I-V measurements at room temperature (303K) reveal that the nanowires of diameter 200, 100 and 50nm have linear and ohmic characteristics. Higher electron transport was observed in larger diameter nanowires compared to smaller ones which may be attributing to size effect. The temperature-dependent electrical transport measurements over a temperature range 308–423K reveal that the temperature dependence of electrical conductivity increases with increasing temperature and decreases as the nanowires size decreases. The study reveals that ZnCuTe nanowires have negative temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR).
The SAFETY Act: A Powerful Benefit for the Water Sector
Authors: Spence Shannon , Ali Akmal , Taylor Vance
Published: June 2012

If an organization is exposed daily to catastrophic liability by virtue of the type of work it does, why would it not take every reasonable step possible to protect itself from the legal fallout of a terrorist attack? This is the exact question that drinking water and wastewater utility owners and operators across the United States need to be asking themselves. AWWA became the first organization to receive SAFETY Act (Support Anti‐terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002) protections from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for water utility‐related security standards.
Should We Rehabilitate Our Tank or Build a New One?
Authors: Henderson Erika
Published: June 2012

There are several things to consider when rehabbing an existing water tank. One of the first questions to answer is whether tank rehabilitation is less expensive than building a new tank. A thorough inspection can help answer this question. Additional capacity and a lack of funds also play a role in the decision.
Factors affecting faecal glucocorticoid levels in domestic cats(Felis catus): a pilot study with single and large multi-cat households
Authors: Ramos D , Arena MN , Reche-Junior A , Daniel AGT , Albino MVC , Vasconcellos AS , Viau P , Oliveira CA
Published: June 2012

Domestic cats(Felis catus)are widely believed to be highly sensitive to the effects of social stress, especially when living in high density populations. Cats are capable of adapting to living in a group, but this will often require opportunities for escaping and hiding. In this pilot study, adrenocortical activity, as a valuable physiological indicator of arousal underpinning potential emotional stress, was evaluated through the measurement of mean faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (mGCM) in fourteen singly and sixteen group-housed cats. Living conditions and ratings of the owners’ quality of life (evaluated from self-reported questionnaires) were used as factors associated with faecal glucocorticoid levels of the cats. A direct association between the scores of owners’socialdimension of quality of life and the cats’ mGCM was found for single cats only, with higher owner social scores associated with higher cat mGCM. No significant differences in mGCM were found between singly versus group-living cats. This suggests that the under-explored factor of owner lifestyle could play an important role in domestic cats’ day-to-day levels of arousal, especially when kept as single pets.
Personal Derived Health Information: A Foundation to Preparing the United States for Disasters and Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Irmiter Cheryl , Subbarao Italo , Shah Jessica Nitin , Sokol Patricia , James James J.
Published: June 2012

Background: In the days following a disaster/public health emergency, there is great effort to ensure that everyone receives appropriate care and lives are saved. However, evacuees following a disaster/public health emergency often lack access to personal health information that is vital to receive or maintain quality care. Delayed treatment and interruptions of medication regimens often contribute to excess morbidity and mortality following a disaster/public health emergency. This study sought to define a set of minimum health information elements that can be maintained in a personal health record (PHR) and given to first responders/receivers within the first 96 hours of a disaster/public health response to improve clinical health outcomes.

Methods: A mixed methods approach of qualitative and quantitative data gathering and analyses was completed. Expert panel members (n = 116) and existing health information elements were sampled for this study; 55% (n = 64) of expert panel members had clinical credentials and determined the health information. From an initial set of six sources, a step-wise process using a Likert scale survey and thematic data analyses, including interrater reliability and validity checks, produced a set of minimum health information elements.

Results: The results identified 30 essential elements from 676 existing health information elements, a reduction of approximately 95%. The elements were grouped into seven domains: identification, emergency contact, health care contact, health profile –past medical history, medication, major allergies/diet restrictions, and family information.

Conclusions: Leading experts in clinical disaster preparedness identified a set of minimum health information elements that first responders/receivers must have to ensure appropriate and timely care. If this set of elements is used as the fundamental information for a PHR, and automatically updated and validated during clinical encounters and medication changes, it is conceivable that following large-scale disasters clinical outcomes may be improved and more lives may be saved.

(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2012;6:303-310)
An Improved Synthesis of BrettPhos‐ and RockPhos‐Type Biarylphosphine Ligands
Authors: Hoshiya Naoyuki , Buchwald Stephen L.
Published: June 2012

Improved processes for the preparation of biphenyl‐based phosphine ligands t‐BuBrettPhos, RockPhos, and BrettPhos are presented. The new methods, featuring the use of Grignard reagents and catalytic amounts of copper, are superior to the previous methods, which require the use of tert‐butyllithium and stoichiometric amounts of copper. Specifically, the use of less dangerous reagents provides a safer process, while the use of catalytic amounts of copper allows for the isolation of pure products in high yield. These improvements are particularly significant for the large‐scale preparation of these ligands.
Measurement and analysis of flow of concentrated fiber suspensions through a 2‐D sudden expansion using UVP
Authors: Claesson Julia , Rasmuson Anders , Wiklund Johan , Wikström Tomas
Published: June 2012

The ultrasound velocity profiling technique (UVP) was used to study flow structures after a two‐dimensional (2‐D) 1:11 sudden expansion of pulp fiber suspensions at varied average velocities (1–2.2 m/s) and concentrations (1.8 and 2.8 wt %). One advantage of studying jet geometry is the potential to investigate the main flow structures away from walls. Measurements done at the same percent of the total jet length, at constant concentration, show that an increase in flow rate gave a faster decrease in centerline velocity and a quicker increase in jet width. Increasing the concentration, at the same jet length, the centerline velocity was more stable and the width of the mixing layer increased more rapidly. Comparisons with CFD simulations in the laminar regime, using the Bingham plastic model, show that the main flow structures were captured if the yield stress used in the simulations is approximately 20% of the measured using a rheometer. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1012–1021, 2013
Comparisons between inverted body mass index and body mass index as proxies for body fatness and risk factors for metabolic risk and cardiorespiratory fitness in portuguese adolescents
Authors: Duncan Michael J. , Mota Jorge , Vale Susana , Santos Maria Paula , Ribeiro Jose Carlos
Published: June 2012

Objectives:

To compare inverted body mass index (iBMI, cm2/kg) and body mass index (BMI, kg/m2) as predictors of body fatness, metabolic risk, and cardiovascular fitness in adolescents.

Methods:

A cross‐sectional school‐based study was conducted on 445 Portuguese adolescents (252 girls and 193 boys) aged 10–17 years. Height and body mass were assessed to determine iBMI and BMI, percent body fatness was determined from skinfold measures (tricep, subscapular) using the Slaughter et al. (1988: Hum Biol 60: 709–723) regression equation and cadiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was assessed using the 20‐m shuttle run test. Capillary blood sampling was used to determine: Total cholesterol, triglycerides, high, and low density lipoprotein. These were combined with measures of systolic blood pressure and waist circumference as z‐scores. Metabolic risk (MRS) was constructed by summing the z‐scores.

Results:

iBMI and BMI were both significantly related to percent body fatness, CRF and MRS (all P = 0.005 or better). BMI was not normally distributed (P = 0.0001), whereas iBMI was (P > 0.05). Regression analysis identified that iBMI and BMI, both alongside for age, were significant predictors of percent body fatness, CRF and MRS (all P = 0.005 or better). Compared with BMI, iBMI was a similar predictor of CRF, MRS and body fatness.

Conclusions:

iBMI offers a biologically sound alternative to BMI to assess the effect of weight status on MRS and CRF in adolescents and allows appropriate use of parametrical statistical techniques without changing the conclusions drawn from such data. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Acro‐cardio‐facial syndrome: A microdeletion syndrome?
Authors: Toschi Benedetta , Valetto Angelo , Bertini Veronica , Congregati Caterina , Cantinotti Massimiliano , Assanta Nadia , Simi Paolo
Published: June 2012

Acro‐cardio‐facial syndrome (ACFS) is an infrequently reported, variable condition characterized by split‐hand and split‐foot malformation and congenital heart defect (CHD), along with cleft lip and palate, genital anomalies, unusual face and intellectual disability. An autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance has been suggested because of affected sibs born to unaffected parents and parental consanguinity; the cause is unknown. We describe a newborn with the clinical manifestations of ACFS in whom a deletion of the region 6q21‐q22.3 was detected by array CGH. We compare the clinical features of the present patient with earlier reported patients with similar 6q deletions and patients diagnosed with ACFS. The similarities between these patient groups suggest that ACFS may be a microdeletion syndrome caused by loss of the 6q21‐22.3 region. The recurrence in families may be explained by prenatal germline mosaicism. Alternatively, ACFS may be a genetically heterogeneous disorder which can also be caused by biallelic mutations of an autosomal recessive gene. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mixed metal MgO–ZrO2 nanoparticle‐catalyzed O‐tert‐Boc protection of alcohols and phenols under solvent‐free conditions
Authors: Gawande Manoj B. , Shelke Sharad N. , Branco Paula S. , Rathi Anuj , Pandey Rajesh K.
Published: June 2012

An environmentally benign method for O‐tert‐Boc protection of alcohols and phenols catalyzed by MgO–ZrO2 nanoparticles under solvent‐free conditions is described. A variety of phenols, alcohols (aliphatic and aromatic) were converted to corresponding O‐tert‐Boc products in good to excellent yield (50–95%). The present protocol is expedient, simple, and efficient under solvent‐free conditions. The MgO–ZrO2 Nps are easily prepared from inexpensive precursors, and are reusable, recyclable and chemoselective. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Environmentally responsive amphiphilic cationic block copolymers synthesized by 2,2,6,6‐Tetramethylpiperidinyloxy mediated living free‐radical polymerization
Authors: Cheng Kuo‐Chung , Lin Chen‐How , Hsu Yuan‐Hung , Chuang Tsu‐Hwang , Guo Wenjeng , Chiu Wen‐Yen
Published: June 2012

Polychloromethylstyrene (PCMS)‐block‐polystyrene (PS) copolymers were prepared by controlled free‐radical polymerization in the presence of 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidinooxy and 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator. The PCMS‐b‐PS copolymers had narrow molecular weight distributions, and the block lengths were controlled by the reaction time and the molar ratios of chloromethylstyrene/AIBN and styrene/PCMS macroinitiator. The block copolymers were further quaternized with triethylamine. The amphiphilic cationic block copolymers formed colloidal particles; the effects of the pH value, salt concentration, and solvent polarity on the particle size were investigated with a dynamic light scattering analyzer. The average colloid size increased with increasing pH value and salt concentration. This implied that the colloid formed a protonated hydrophilic shell and hydrophobic styrene core in water. Furthermore, with the addition of tetrahydrofuran to the aqueous solution, the styrene segments in the core could be inverted to the outside of the colloid. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Indentation size effect of multiple orders of magnitude in polydimethylsiloxane
Authors: Wrucke Andrew J. , Han Chung‐Souk , Majumdar Partha
Published: June 2012

Indentation tests at indentation depths from 200 nm up to 100 μm were performed on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The universal hardnesses in the elastomer were determined by microindentation and nanoindentation systems with Berkovich indenter tips and exhibited enormous increases of several orders of magnitude with decreasing indentation depth. Frank elasticity type molecular interactions were suggested as a rationale for the observed indentation size effect, which could have been related to material models with rotational gradients. A corresponding hardness model yielded good agreement with the experimental data. Other explanations for the indentation size effects in polymers in the literature are discussed in view of these experimentally determined and astonishing hardness increases in PDMS. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Preparation and microstructural analysis of poly(ethylene oxide) comb‐type grafted poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) hydrogels crosslinked by poly(ϵ‐caprolactone)
Authors: Miao Lei , Lu Mangeng , Yang Chaolong , Zhang Yunfei , Shen Tengfei , Ma Jianying
Published: June 2012

Poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAAm)‐graft‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hydrogels crosslinked by poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) diacrylate were prepared, and their microstructures were investigated. The swelling/deswelling kinetics and compression strength were measured. The relationship between the structure and properties of hydrogel are discussed. It was found that the PEO comb‐type grafted structure reduced the thermosensitivity and increased the compression strength. The addition of poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) (PCL) accelerated the deswelling rate of the hydrogels. Meanwhile, the entanglement of PCL chains restrained the further swelling of the network of gels. The PCL crosslinking agent and PEO comb‐type grafted structure made the behavior of the hydrogels deviate from the rubber elasticity equations. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
Effect of boron nitride as a nucleating agent on the crystallization of bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Puente Jorge Arturo Soto , Esposito Antonella , Chivrac Frédéric , Dargent Eric
Published: June 2012

Different concentrations of boron nitride (BN) (0.2–0.8 wt %) are added to poly (3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) as a nucleating agent. Polarized Optical Microscopy (POM) coupled to Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) allow to monitor the isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization of neat and nucleated PHBs. It is found that the addition of BN to PHB modifies the mechanisms of crystallization without changing the crystallinity degree. DSC can replace POM whenever POM does not allow to estimate the spherulites growth rate. The Hoffman‐Lauritzen theory is used to explain the role of BN. The nucleating agent allows polymer crystallization at lower supercooling degrees. The regime II of crystallization is observed for nucleated PHBs. A modification of the coupling effect between the amorphous and the crystalline phases is evidenced. It is shown that a concentration of 0.2 wt % BN is sufficient to decrease the glass transition temperature and modify the crystallization mechanisms of PHB. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013
The limited role of interferon‐γ in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis cannot be explained by cellular hyporesponsiveness
Authors: Sikora Keith A. , Fall Ndate , Thornton Sherry , Grom Alexei A.
Published: June 2012

Objective

Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is an autoinflammatory syndrome in which the myelomonocytic lineage appears to play a pivotal role. Inflammatory macrophages are driven by interferon‐γ (IFNγ), but studies have failed to demonstrate an IFN‐ induced gene signature in active systemic JIA. This study sought to characterize the status of an IFN‐induced signature within affected tissue and to gauge the integrity of IFN signaling pathways within peripheral monocytes from patients with systemic JIA.

Methods

Synovial tissue from 12 patients with active systemic JIA and 9 with active extended oligoarticular JIA was assessed by real‐time polymerase chain reaction to quantify IFN‐induced chemokine gene expression. Peripheral monocytes from 3 patients with inactive systemic JIA receiving anti–interleukin‐1β (anti–IL‐1β) therapy, 5 patients with active systemic JIA, and 8 healthy controls were incubated with or without IFNγ to gauge changes in gene expression and to measure phosphorylated STAT‐1 (pSTAT‐1) levels.

Results

IFN‐induced chemokine gene expression in synovium was constrained in active systemic JIA compared to the known IFN‐mediated extended oligoarticular subtype. In unstimulated peripheral monocytes, IFN‐induced gene expression was similar between the groups, except that lower levels of STAT1, MIG, and PIAS were observed in patients with active disease, while higher levels of PIAS1 were observed in patients with inactive disease. Basal pSTAT‐1 levels in monocytes tended to be higher in systemic JIA patients compared to healthy controls, with the highest levels seen in those with inactive disease. Upon stimulation of monocytes, the fold increase in gene expression was roughly equal between groups, except for a greater increase in STAT1 in patients with inactive systemic JIA compared to controls, and a greater increase in IRF1 in those with active compared to inactive disease. Upon stimulation, the fold increase in pSTAT‐1 was highest in monocytes from patients with inactive systemic JIA.

Conclusion

Monocytes in patients with active systemic JIA retain the ability to respond to IFNγ, suggesting that the lack of an IFN‐induced gene signature in patients with active disease reflects a limited in vivo exposure to IFNγ. In patients with inactive systemic JIA who received treatment with anti–IL‐1β, hyperresponsiveness to IFNγ was observed.
Role of plasma kallikrein–kinin system activation in synovial recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells in experimental arthritis
Authors: Dai Jihong , Agelan Alexis , Yang Aizhen , Zuluaga Viviana , Sexton Daniel , Colman Robert W. , Wu Yi
Published: June 2012

Objective

To examine whether activation of the plasma kallikrein–kinin system (KKS) mediates synovial recruitment of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in arthritis.

Methods

EPCs were isolated from Lewis rat bone marrow, and expression of progenitor cell–lineage markers and functional properties were characterized. EPCs were injected intravenously into Lewis rats with arthritis, and their recruitment and formation of de novo blood vessels in inflamed synovium were evaluated. The role of plasma KKS was examined using a plasma kallikrein inhibitor (EPI‐KAL2) and an antikallikrein antibody (13G11). A transendothelial migration assay was used to determine the role of bradykinin and its receptor in EPC mobilization.

Results

EPCs from Lewis rats exhibited a strong capacity to form tubes and vacuoles and expressed increased levels of bradykinin type 2 receptor (B2R) and progenitor cell markers CD34 and Sca‐1. In Lewis rats with arthritis, EPCs were recruited into inflamed synovium at the acute phase of disease and formed de novo blood vessels. Inhibition of plasma kallikrein by EPI‐KAL2 and 13G11 significantly suppressed synovial recruitment of EPCs and hyperproliferation of synovial cells. Bradykinin stimulated transendothelial migration of EPCs in a concentration‐dependent manner. This was mediated by B2R, as demonstrated by the finding that knockdown of B2R with silencing RNA completely blocked bradykinin‐stimulated transendothelial migration. Moreover, bradykinin selectively up‐regulated expression of the homing receptor CXCR4 in EPCs.

Conclusion

These observations demonstrate a novel role of plasma KKS activation in the synovial recruitment of EPCs in arthritis, acting via kallikrein activation and B2R‐dependent mechanisms. B2R might be involved in the mobilization of EPCs via up‐regulation of CXCR4.
Exacting predictions by cybernetic model confirmed experimentally: Steady state multiplicity in the chemostat
Authors: Kim Jin Il , Song Hyun‐Seob , Sunkara Sunil R. , Lali Arvind , Ramkrishna Doraiswami
Published: June 2012

We demonstrate strong experimental support for the cybernetic model based on maximizing carbon uptake rate in describing the microorganism's regulatory behavior by verifying exacting predictions of steady state multiplicity in a chemostat. Experiments with a feed mixture of glucose and pyruvate show multiple steady state behavior as predicted by the cybernetic model. When multiplicity occurs at a dilution (growth) rate, it results in hysteretic behavior following switches in dilution rate from above and below. This phenomenon is caused by transient paths leading to different steady states through dynamic maximization of the carbon uptake rate. Thus steady state multiplicity is a manifestation of the nonlinearity arising from cybernetic mechanisms rather than of the nonlinear kinetics. The predicted metabolic multiplicity would extend to intracellular states such as enzyme levels and fluxes to be verified in future experiments. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
A robust methodology for kinetic model parameter estimation for biocatalytic reactions
Authors: Al‐Haque Naweed , Santacoloma Paloma A. , Neto Watson , Tufvesson Pär , Gani Rafiqul , Woodley John M.
Published: June 2012

Effective estimation of parameters in biocatalytic reaction kinetic expressions are very important when building process models to enable evaluation of process technology options and alternative biocatalysts. The kinetic models used to describe enzyme‐catalyzed reactions generally include several parameters, which are strongly correlated with each other. State‐of‐the‐art methodologies such as nonlinear regression (using progress curves) or graphical analysis (using initial rate data, for example, the Lineweaver‐Burke plot, Hanes plot or Dixon plot) often incorporate errors in the estimates and rarely lead to globally optimized parameter values. In this article, a robust methodology to estimate parameters for biocatalytic reaction kinetic expressions is proposed. The methodology determines the parameters in a systematic manner by exploiting the best features of several of the current approaches. The parameter estimation problem is decomposed into five hierarchical steps, where the solution of each of the steps becomes the input for the subsequent step to achieve the final model with the corresponding regressed parameters. The model is further used for validating its performance and determining the correlation of the parameters. The final model with the fitted parameters is able to describe both initial rate and dynamic experiments. Application of the methodology is illustrated with a case study using the ω‐transaminase catalyzed synthesis of 1‐phenylethylamine from acetophenone and 2‐propylamine. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
High Temperature Technology
Authors: Seifert Helmut
Published: June 2012

Die Hochtemperaturtechnik stellt sich als Querschnittsthema zwischen verschiedenen Fachgebieten dar. Dies spiegelt sich auch in den zahlreichen unterschiedlichen Industrien und Branchen, in denen Verfahren der Hochtemperaturtechnik eingesetzt werden. Bei der Strukturierung der Hochtemperaturtechnik wird ausgehend von den Hochtemperaturgrundprozessen der Energie‐ und Stoffumwandlung, wie z. B. Pyrolyse, Vergasung und Verbrennung, die Vielfalt möglicher Verfahrenskombinationen mit entsprechender apparativer Ausgestaltung an einigen Beispielen aufgezeigt. Schließlich werden die Aufgaben der seit über 60 Jahren als Fachausschuss existierenden ProcessNet‐Fachgruppe Hochtemperaturtechnik erläutert, durch die der verstärkte Einsatz innovativer, nachhaltiger Hochtemperaturverfahren in der industriellen Anwendung intensiviert werden soll. Zukünftige Themen wie die durch die Energiewende der Bundesregierung ausgelöste verstärkte nichtnukleare Stromerzeugung oder die nachhaltige Nutzung und das Recycling verknappender Rohstoffe spielen hierbei eine besondere Rolle.
Biowaste Treatment – Recycling Potential for Humus Reproduction
Authors: Soyez Konrad , Reinhold Jürgen
Published: June 2012

Der überwiegende Teil der jährlich 9 Mio. t biogenen Abfalls im Siedlungsabfall gelangt in die Verwertung, davon etwa 85 % in die aerobe Behandlung durch Kompostierung, der Rest in die Vergärung. Bei der Vergärung resultiert Energie aus Biogas und ein Gärrest mit kompostähnlichen Eigenschaften. Kompost ist ein hochwertiger organischer Dünger, der andere Wirtschaftsdünger ersetzen kann. Die Hauptbedeutung von Kompost und Gärresten liegt in der Bereitstellung von organischem Kohlenstoff für die Humusreproduktion zur Erhaltung der Bodenfruchtbarkeit. Der Humusvorrat im Boden ist der standort‐ und nutzungstypische und nur in engen Grenzen zu beeinflussen. Wesentlich ist, Zu‐ und Abfuhr zu bilanzieren, z. B. mithilfe der VDLUFA‐Humusbilanzierungsmethode. Über einen Humus‐Energie‐Index kann ermittelt werden, welcher organische Reststoff sich bevorzugt für die Humus‐Reproduktion eignet und welche Mengen als erneuerbare Energie bereitgestellt werden können, ohne dass die Bodenfruchtbarkeit leidet.