bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting an Invasive Shrub in Deciduous Forest Understories Using Remote Sensing
Authors: Wilfong Bryan N. , Gorchov David L. , Henry Mary C.
Published: September 2009

Remote sensing has been used to directly detect and map invasive plants, but has not been used for forest understory invaders because they are obscured by a canopy. However, if the invasive species has a leaf phenology distinct from native forest species, then temporal opportunities exist to detect the invasive. Amur honeysuckle, an Asian shrub that invades North American forests, expands leaves earlier and retains leaves later than native woody species. This research project explored whether Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM+ imagery could predict Amur honeysuckle cover in woodlots across Darke and Preble Counties in southwestern Ohio and Wayne County in adjacent eastern Indiana. The predictive abilities of six spectral vegetation indices and six reflectance bands were evaluated to determine the best predictor or predictors of Amur honeysuckle cover. The use of image differencing in which a January 2001 image was subtracted from a November 2005 image provided better prediction of Amur honeysuckle cover than the use of the single November 2005 image. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was the best-performing predictor variable, compared to other spectral indices, with a quadratic function providing a better fit (R2 = 0.75) than a linear function (R2 = 0.65). This predictive model was verified with 15 other woodlots (R2 = 0.77). With refinement, this approach could map current and past understory invasion by Amur honeysuckle.
Bispyribac-sodium Metabolism in Annual Bluegrass, Creeping Bentgrass, and Perennial Ryegrass
Authors: McCullough Patrick E. , Hart Stephen E. , Gianfagna Thomas J. , Chaves Fabio C.
Published: September 2009

Bispyribac-sodium selectively controls annual bluegrass in creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass, which might be attributed to differential metabolism among species. To test this hypothesis, we investigated metabolism of14C-bispyribac-sodium in annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and perennial ryegrass. Creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass metabolized approximately 50% of the14C-bispyribac-sodium after 1 d, while annual bluegrass metabolized less than 20%. Parent herbicide recovered 7 d after treatment in annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and perennial ryegrass was 73, 32, and 39% of total radioactivity per species, respectively. Polar metabolites recovered after 7 d in annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and perennial ryegrass were 24, 59, and 55% of total radioactivity per species, respectively. Half-life of14C-bispyribac-sodium in annual bluegrass, creeping bentgrass, and perennial ryegrass was estimated at greater than 7 d, 1 d, and 2 d, respectively. Results support the hypothesis that differential tolerances of these grasses are attributed to herbicide metabolism.
Effects of Initial Seed-Bank Density on Weed Seedling Emergence during the Transition to an Organic Feed-Grain Crop Rotation
Authors: Smith Richard G. , Jabbour Randa , Hulting Andrew G. , Barbercheck Mary E. , Mortensen David A.
Published: September 2009

The transition period to certified organic production can present a significant weed management challenge for growers. Organic certification requires that prohibited fertilizers and pesticides must not have been used for 36 mo before harvest of the first organic crop. Understanding how organic management practices and initial weed seed-bank densities affect weed population dynamics during the transition period may improve weed management efficacy and adoption of organic practices. We examined how tillage systems (full or reduced) and cover crop species planted during the first transition year (rye or a mixture of timothy and red clover) affect the seedling densities of three common annual weed species, common lambsquarters, velvetleaf, and foxtail spp., during the 3-yr transition period. Weed seeds were applied in a one-time pulse at the beginning of the study at three densities, low, medium, and high (60, 460, and 2,100 seeds m−2, respectively), and cumulative seedling densities of each species were assessed annually. Treatment factors had variable and species-specific effects on weed seedling densities. In general, the full-tillage system, with an initial cover crop of timothy and red clover, resulted in the lowest density of weed seedlings following seed-bank augmentation. There was little consistent association between the initial densities of applied weed seeds in the weed seed bank at the start of the transition and weed seedling densities at the end of the transition period. This suggests that when multiple crop and weed cultural management practices are employed during the organic transition period, initial failures in weed management may not necessarily lead to persistent and intractable annual weed species management problems following organic certification.
Measuring progress toward global marine conservation targets
Authors: Wabnitz Colette CC , Andréfouët Serge , Muller-Karger Frank E
Published: September 2009

Marine species and their habitats are facing widespread overexploitation and degradation, respectively. In response to urgent calls for their protection, the international community agreed to establish representative networks of marine protected areas by 2012 that would conserve and protect 10–30% of specific habitats. To achieve these goals will require reliable estimates of the total area occupied by each habitat. We evaluated this assumption for coral reefs by generating estimates of coral reef area from high‐spatial‐resolution, remotely sensed imagery (30‐m resolution Landsat data), and comparing these with existing published data (usually >1‐km resolution). Discrepancies between previous estimates and our values ranged from +1316% to −64%. This uncertainty is incompatible with realistic achievement of the 10–30% conservation targets. We conclude that currently available estimates of the global extent of most coastal marine habitats are based on data that are too poorly resolved to be useful in evaluating progress toward the 2012 targets. Most countries will therefore be unable to demonstrate that they have fulfilled their commitments to marine biodiversity conservation. We urge that accurate inventories be conducted, in a cost‐effective fashion, through analyses of available high‐spatial‐resolution satellite imagery.
Effects of ozone in treating drinking water by DAF system
Authors: Lee Byoung-Ho , Song Won-Chul , Ha Jong-Gyu , Yang Hyeon-Ju , Kim Young-Suk
Published: September 2009

The Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) process is very effective in removing low density floc particles for drinking water treatment. It is especially well known in removing turbidity and algae by flotation process. The micro-bubbles in the DAF process pick up small flocs, thereby turbidity materials and floated algae are removed efficiently. When air is substituted by ozone in the DAF process, the removal rates of water quality parameters are highly enhanced including turbidity and algae. The turbidity removal rate is enhanced by 1.1% while the removal rate of THMFP is increased by 11.7%. Other parameters such as TOC, and microbial agents are also removed greatly by using ozone instead of air in DAF system.
Production of assimilable organic carbon (AOC) from bacteria and picophytoplankton by chlorination
Authors: Okuda Tetsuji , Uehara Yuki , Tsai Tsung-Yueh , Nakai Satoshi , Akiba Michihiro , Nishijima Wataru , Okada Mitsumasa
Published: September 2009

Bacteria and picophytoplankton can be decomposed by chlorine in disinfection process of drinking water treatment, and organic matters released from them would contribute to assimilable organic carbon (AOC). Therefore, the specific AOC formation potential of each picoplankton, i.e. bacteria and picophytoplankton, in the chlorination were evaluated and compared in this research. The nutrient state of bacteria affects onto its specific AOC formation potential. The specific AOC formation potential of bacteria starved, which expected to be similar state to natural bacteria in a reservoir, was 0.8 × 10−13 g/cell. It was half of that of bacteria in the logarithmic growth phase. The difference of specific AOC formation potential of bacteria between in the logarithmic growth phase and in the starving condition would be caused by the amount of cellular organic carbons. The specific AOC formation potential of picophytoplankton was 6.4 × 10−13 g/cell, and 8 times higher than that of bacteria starved. The AOC formed by chlorination of picoplankton should be considered for AOC control in summer season when both bacteria and picophytoplankton multiply.
Removal of bisphenols by slow sand filtration
Authors: Katayama-Hirayama K. , Arai S. , Kobayashi T. , Matsuda H. , Luo Z. , Tachibana M. , Kaneko H. , Akitsu T. , Hirayama K.
Published: September 2009

A compensating effect in the reduction of bisphenols (BPs) has been shown using biodegradation in slow sand filtration and advanced photocatalysis. We tried to remove 8 kinds of BP by slow sand filtration. Removal rates of BPA, BPB, BPE, BPF, BPS, thiobisphenol (TBP), and dihydroxybenzophenone (DHB) indicated a high removal rate up to more than 90% at an initial concentration of 100 μg/L, whereas the removal rate of BPP was only 30%. We also examined removal of BPs by Pt-loaded porous photocatalyst under visible light irradiation. Removal rates of BPA, BPB, BPE, BPF, BPP, and TBP showed high removal rates up to more than 90% at an initial concentration of 10 mg/L. Removal of BPS and DHB was relatively low at 20% and 30%, respectively. Removal of BPP was low in slow sand filtration, but Pt-loaded photocatalyst removed BPP effectively. Removal of BPS was low with Pt-loaded photocatalyst, but slow sand filtration removed BPS effectively. The combination of a slow sand filter and Pt-loaded photocatalyst may be helpful to degrade BPs. The magnitude of decomposition of BPs by photocatalytic reaction may be related to electrophilic frontier density. But the degradability of BPs in slow sand filtration is not the same as that in photocatalytic reaction with Pt-loaded titanium dioxide. The biodegradability of BPs by slow sand filtration cannot be explained by molecular orbital calculation.
Characterization and identification of a plastic-like off-odor in mineral water
Authors: Strube A. , Buettner A. , Groetzinger Carola
Published: September 2009

A specific mineral water off-odor, the so-called “sunlight” flavor produced after UV light exposure, was characterized by sensory analysis in different mineral water samples and ranked according to overall odor intensity. The odorants were isolated by means of solvent extraction and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) techniques, respectively. Analyses were performed with two-dimensional (2D) high resolution gas chromatographic (HRGC) separation and parallel mass spectrometric (MS) and olfactometric (O) detection. Additionally, analyses of off-odor-free samples exposed to natural sunlight or to “artificial” UV radiation (replicating natural sunlight) were analyzed to assess off-odor compound formation. 14 common characteristic odorants in commercial off-odor and irradiated samples were identified. These were predominantly saturated and mono or di-unsaturated carbonyl compounds, with several substances exhibiting the characteristic fatty and plastic-like odor impressions. Eight of the compounds identified were detected for the first time as off-odor “sunlight” flavor contributors to mineral water and had amongst the highest flavor dilution (FD) factors in the extracted samples.
New desalinated drinking water regulations are met by an innovative post-treatment process for improved public health
Authors: Penn R. , Birnhack L. , Adin A. , Lahav O.
Published: September 2009

The recent supply of large volumes of seawater desalinated water in Israel prompted both the development of new water quality standards and the development of a novel post treatment process, designed to comply with the new standards at a cost effective price. The new process is designed to supply water with alkalinity, Ca2 +  and calcium carbonate precipitation potential values as required in the new criteria, along with the addition of a threshold Mg2 +  concentration recently recommended by the WHO. The current paper describes the process in general, and focuses in particular on attaining these criteria while maintaining a low total hardness concentration (120 mg/L as CaCO3). The process is based on dissolving calcite using H2SO4 and replacing the excess calcium ions generated in this process by Mg2 +  ions (using a specific cation exchange resin—Amberlite) and by Na+ (using a second cation exchange resin—chabazite, from the zeolite group). Once exhausted the resins are re-loaded with Mg2 +  and Na+ by the brine generated in the RO process, thus no unwanted brines are generated. A case study is presented for which operational costs were approximated at 0.034 $US/m3 product water.
Prediction of multi-components (chlorine, biomass and substrate concentrations) in water distribution systems using artificial neural network (ANN) models
Authors: D'Souza Celia D. , Mohan Kumar M. S.
Published: September 2009

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) models are used to predict residual chlorine, substrate and biomass concentrations in a Water Distribution System (WDS). ANN models with different architectures are developed: a one output ANN model (predicting chlorine, substrate and biomass individually), a two output ANN model (predicting chlorine + substrate, chlorine + biomass or substrate + biomass) and a three output ANN model (chlorine + substrate + biomass). This study is carried out for the Bangalore City and North Marin WDSs. Data for these WDSs is obtained from the multi-component reaction transport model. The models are compared using the correlation coefficient (R) and the Mean Absolute Error (MAE). The models developed are able to predict, reasonably well, the temporal variations in the chlorine, substrate and biomass concentrations. Error analysis is carried out to determine the robustness of the models.
Visibly Tree Automata with Memory and Constraints
Authors: Comon-Lundh Hubert , Jacquemard Florent , Perrin Nicolas
Published: September 2009

Tree automata with one memory have been introduced in 2001. They generalize
both pushdown (word) automata and the tree automata with constraints of
equality between brothers of Bogaert and Tison. Though it has a decidable
emptiness problem, the main weakness of this model is its lack of good closure
properties.
We propose a generalization of the visibly pushdown automata of Alur and
Madhusudan to a family of tree recognizers which carry along their (bottom-up)
computation an auxiliary unbounded memory with a tree structure (instead of a
symbol stack). In other words, these recognizers, called Visibly Tree Automata
with Memory (VTAM) define a subclass of tree automata with one memory enjoying
Boolean closure properties. We show in particular that they can be determinized
and the problems like emptiness, membership, inclusion and universality are
decidable for VTAM. Moreover, we propose several extensions of VTAM whose
transitions may be constrained by different kinds of tests between memories and
also constraints a la Bogaert and Tison comparing brother subtrees in the tree
in input. We show that some of these classes of constrained VTAM keep the good
closure and decidability properties, and we demonstrate their expressiveness
with relevant examples of tree languages.
Beyond Language Equivalence on Visibly Pushdown Automata
Authors: Srba Jiří
Published: September 2009

We study (bi)simulation-like preorder/equivalence checking on the class of
visibly pushdown automata and its natural subclasses visibly BPA (Basic Process
Algebra) and visibly one-counter automata. We describe generic methods for
proving complexity upper and lower bounds for a number of studied preorders and
equivalences like simulation, completed simulation, ready simulation, 2-nested
simulation preorders/equivalences and bisimulation equivalence. Our main
results are that all the mentioned equivalences and preorders are
EXPTIME-complete on visibly pushdown automata, PSPACE-complete on visibly
one-counter automata and P-complete on visibly BPA. Our PSPACE lower bound for
visibly one-counter automata improves also the previously known DP-hardness
results for ordinary one-counter automata and one-counter nets. Finally, we
study regularity checking problems for visibly pushdown automata and show that
they can be decided in polynomial time.
The Complexity of Datalog on Linear Orders
Authors: Grohe Martin , Schwandtner Goetz
Published: September 2009

We study the program complexity of datalog on both finite and infinite linear
orders. Our main result states that on all linear orders with at least two
elements, the nonemptiness problem for datalog is EXPTIME-complete. While
containment of the nonemptiness problem in EXPTIME is known for finite linear
orders and actually for arbitrary finite structures, it is not obvious for
infinite linear orders. It sharply contrasts the situation on other infinite
structures; for example, the datalog nonemptiness problem on an infinite
successor structure is undecidable. We extend our upper bound results to
infinite linear orders with constants.
As an application, we show that the datalog nonemptiness problem on Allen's
interval algebra is EXPTIME-complete.
A Faithful Semantics for Generalised Symbolic Trajectory Evaluation
Authors: Claessen Koen , Roorda Jan-Willem
Published: September 2009

Generalised Symbolic Trajectory Evaluation (GSTE) is a high-capacity formal verification technique for hardware. GSTE uses abstraction, meaning that details of the circuit behaviour are removed from the circuit model. A semantics for GSTE can be used to predict and understand why certain circuit properties can or cannot be proven by GSTE. Several semantics have been described for GSTE. These semantics, however, are not faithful to the proving power of GSTE-algorithms, that is, the GSTE-algorithms are incomplete with respect to the semantics. The abstraction used in GSTE makes it hard to understand why a specific property can, or cannot, be proven by GSTE. The semantics mentioned above cannot help the user in doing so. The contribution of this paper is a faithful semantics for GSTE. That is, we give a simple formal theory that deems a property to be true if-and-only-if the property can be proven by a GSTE-model checker. We prove that the GSTE algorithm is sound and complete with respect to this semantics.
Formalising the pi-calculus using nominal logic
Authors: Bengtson Jesper , Parrow Joachim
Published: September 2009

We formalise the pi-calculus using the nominal datatype package, based on ideas from the nominal logic by Pitts et al., and demonstrate an implementation in Isabelle/HOL. The purpose is to derive powerful induction rules for the semantics in order to conduct machine checkable proofs, closely following the intuitive arguments found in manual proofs. In this way we have covered many of the standard theorems of bisimulation equivalence and congruence, both late and early, and both strong and weak in a uniform manner. We thus provide one of the most extensive formalisations of a process calculus ever done inside a theorem prover. A significant gain in our formulation is that agents are identified up to alpha-equivalence, thereby greatly reducing the arguments about bound names. This is a normal strategy for manual proofs about the pi-calculus, but that kind of hand waving has previously been difficult to incorporate smoothly in an interactive theorem prover. We show how the nominal logic formalism and its support in Isabelle accomplishes this and thus significantly reduces the tedium of conducting completely formal proofs. This improves on previous work using weak higher order abstract syntax since we do not need extra assumptions to filter out exotic terms and can keep all arguments within a familiar first-order logic.
A Generic Framework for Reasoning about Dynamic Networks of Infinite-State Processes
Authors: Bouajjani Ahmed , Dragoi Cezara , Enea Constantin , Jurski Yan , Sighireanu Mihaela
Published: September 2009

We propose a framework for reasoning about unbounded dynamic networks of infinite-state processes. We propose Constrained Petri Nets (CPN) as generic models for these networks. They can be seen as Petri nets where tokens (representing occurrences of processes) are colored by values over some potentially infinite data domain such as integers, reals, etc. Furthermore, we define a logic, called CML (colored markings logic), for the description of CPN configurations. CML is a first-order logic over tokens allowing to reason about their locations and their colors. Both CPNs and CML are parametrized by a color logic allowing to express constraints on the colors (data) associated with tokens. We investigate the decidability of the satisfiability problem of CML and its applications in the verification of CPNs. We identify a fragment of CML for which the satisfiability problem is decidable (whenever it is the case for the underlying color logic), and which is closed under the computations of post and pre images for CPNs. These results can be used for several kinds of analysis such as invariance checking, pre-post condition reasoning, and bounded reachability analysis.
Footprints in Local Reasoning
Authors: Raza Mohammad , Gardner Philippa
Published: September 2009

Local reasoning about programs exploits the natural local behaviour common in programs by focussing on the footprint - that part of the resource accessed by the program. We address the problem of formally characterising and analysing the footprint notion for abstract local functions introduced by Calcagno, O Hearn and Yang. With our definition, we prove that the footprints are the only essential elements required for a complete specification of a local function. We formalise the notion of small specifications in local reasoning and show that for well-founded resource models, a smallest specification always exists that only includes the footprints, and also present results for the non-well-founded case. Finally, we use this theory of footprints to investigate the conditions under which the footprints correspond to the smallest safe states. We present a new model of RAM in which, unlike the standard model, the footprints of every program correspond to the smallest safe states, and we also identify a general condition on the primitive commands of a programming language which guarantees this property for arbitrary models.
The Omega Rule is $\mathbf{\Pi_{1}^{1}}$-Complete in the $\lambda\beta$-Calculus
Authors: Intrigila Benedetto , Statman Richard
Published: September 2009

In a functional calculus, the so called \Omega-rule states that if two terms P and Q applied to any closed term N return the same value (i.e. PN = QN), then they are equal (i.e. P = Q holds). As it is well known, in the \lambda\beta-calculus the \Omega-rule does not hold, even when the \eta-rule (weak extensionality) is added to the calculus. A long-standing problem of H. Barendregt (1975) concerns the determination of the logical power of the \Omega-rule when added to the \lambda\beta-calculus. In this paper we solve the problem, by showing that the resulting theory is \Pi\_{1}^{1}-complete.
Ranking Functions for Size-Change Termination II
Authors: Ben-Amram Amir M. , Lee Chin Soon
Published: September 2009

Size-Change Termination is an increasingly-popular technique for verifying program termination. These termination proofs are deduced from an abstract representation of the program in the form of "size-change graphs". We present algorithms that, for certain classes of size-change graphs, deduce a global ranking function: an expression that ranks program states, and decreases on every transition. A ranking function serves as a witness for a termination proof, and is therefore interesting for program certification. The particular form of the ranking expressions that represent SCT termination proofs sheds light on the scope of the proof method. The complexity of the expressions is also interesting, both practicaly and theoretically. While deducing ranking functions from size-change graphs has already been shown possible, the constructions in this paper are simpler and more transparent than previously known. They improve the upper bound on the size of the ranking expression from triply exponential down to singly exponential (for certain classes of instances). We claim that this result is, in some sense, optimal. To this end, we introduce a framework for lower bounds on the complexity of ranking expressions and prove exponential lower bounds.
Relational Parametricity for Computational Effects
Authors: Møgelberg Rasmus Ejlers , Simpson Alex
Published: September 2009

According to Strachey, a polymorphic program is parametric if it applies a uniform algorithm independently of the type instantiations at which it is applied. The notion of relational parametricity, introduced by Reynolds, is one possible mathematical formulation of this idea. Relational parametricity provides a powerful tool for establishing data abstraction properties, proving equivalences of datatypes, and establishing equalities of programs. Such properties have been well studied in a pure functional setting. Many programs, however, exhibit computational effects, and are not accounted for by the standard theory of relational parametricity. In this paper, we develop a foundational framework for extending the notion of relational parametricity to programming languages with effects.
Adolescents' Mental Health in Abha City, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Mahfouz Ahmed A. , Al-Gelban Khalid S. , Al Amri Hasan , Khan Mohamed Y. , Abdelmoneim Ismail , Daffalla Asim A. , Shaban Hosny , Mohammed Amany A.
Published: September 2009

Using stratified random sampling technique, 1552 adolescent school age boys and girls in Abha city, southwestern Saudi Arabia, were screened for mental health using Arabic validated version of SCL-90-R. The overall prevalence of mental disorders amounted to 15.5%. The most frequent mental symptoms were phobic anxiety (17.3%), interpersonal sensitivity (14.7%), and obsessive compulsive (14.5%). In logistic regression analysis, some socio-demographic conditions (father education, mother working status, ranking among brothers and sisters, and type of school) were significantly affecting mental health. General practitioners and other primary care workers need to be educated to better engage young people, to recognize mental disorders, and to deliver simple treatments, including supportive counseling, and cognitive behavior therapy. There is a need for a national program in the country to integrate youth mental-health interventions with all existing youth programs, including those in health and education.
Religious Involvement and Cigarette Smoking among Iranian University Students
Authors: Nakhaee Nouzar , Divsalar Kouros , Jadidi Nadjme
Published: September 2009

Objectives:

To find out the prevalence of cigarette smoking in a group of Iranian Muslim students and also to find out if there is a relationship between religious practices and cigarette smoking.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional study, 950 university students in Kerman, Iran were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire consisting of questions on demographic data, cigarette smoking, and religious practices. It was explained that the study was anonymous and voluntary, and confidentiality was assured.

Results:

All 833 subjects who participated in the study were Muslims, 54.1% of whom were female and 89.3% were single. Approximately 40% of male students and 5.8% of the female ones were smokers. Based on bivariate analysis, some differences were noted in the prevalence of smoking according to gender, marital status, income, average university scores, close friend's smoking, parental smoking, reading the Quran, saying prayers, mosque attendance, and fasting. Using multivariate analysis, male gender, higher income, lower average exam scores, and close friend's smoking being associated with the likelihood to smoke cigarettes. The odds ratio for cigarette smoking in the upper tertile compared with those in the lower tertile of religious activity was 0.53 (CI 95% 0.33–0.84).

Conclusion:

Religious activities may have a protective role against cigarette smoking among Muslim college students in the country.
The Role of Cognitive Impairment and Caregiver Support in Diabetes Management of Older Outpatients
Authors: Feil Denise G. , Pearman Ann , Victor Tara , Harwood Dylan , Weinreb Jane , Kahle Kristin , Unützer Jürgen
Published: September 2009

Objectives:

To examine the role of cognitive impairment and caregiver support in diabetes care adherence and glycemic control.

Methods:

Fifty-one veteran male outpatients (27 with caregivers) aged 60 years and older with type 2 diabetes were evaluated for cognitive impairment with the Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument. Patients or caregivers completed diabetes self-care and depression scales. Medical morbidity information and HbA1c plasma levels at baseline and 1 year later were obtained from electronic medical records.

Results:

Greater cognitive impairment ( F = 5.1, p < .05), and presence of a caregiver ( F = 5.3, p < .05), were independently associated with worse diabetes care adherence (adjusting for age, education, medical comorbidity, and depression). In addition, Mean HbA1c levels were worse in the cognitively impaired group with caregivers relative to the three other groups ( F = 4.10, p < .05, η2 =.09). One year later, mean HbA1c levels rose from 7.7 to 8.2% in the cognitively impaired group with caregivers.

Conclusion:

Cognitive impairment is associated with worse diabetes care management. Surprisingly, the presence of a caregiver is not protective. Further research is necessary to examine the healthcare needs of cognitively impaired, diabetic patients and their caregivers.
Catalyst Support and Pretreatment Effects on Carbon Nanotubes Synthesis by Chemical Vapor Deposition of Methane on Iron over SiO2, Al2O3 or MgO
Authors: Esmaieli M. , Khodadadi A. , Mortazavi Y.
Published: September 2009

In this study we report the effects of support and pretreatment conditions on growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by chemical vapor deposition of methane on iron catalyst supported on MgO, silica or alumina. The iron was impregnated onto the supports, and then the samples were dried, calcined at 550°C and pretreated in either helium or hydrogen up to 1000°C before exposure to methane as a carbon source for CNTs growth. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) of the fresh catalysts and the ones pre-treated in He and in H2 shows various interactions of the iron with supports at pretreatment conditions. The CNTs are characterized by SEM, Raman, FTIR, and TEM. The IG/ID of Raman spectroscopy are 6.2, 3.8 and 0.7 for the CNTs grown on the MgO, alumina, and silica-supported iron catalysts pretreated in helium, respectively. When the Fe/MgO catalyst is pretreated in hydrogen the IG/ID ratio dramatically reduces to 0.8. A less significant effect of pretreating of the catalysts in hydrogen is observed for silica- and alumina-supported catalysts. RBM peaks of Raman spectra along with TEM results indicate the formation of bundles of 0.8-1.2 nm single-wall as well as multiwall carbon nanotubes on the Fe/MgO catalyst pre-treated in He.
Are Metabolically Normal but Obese Individuals at Lower Risk for All-Cause Mortality?
Authors: Kuk Jennifer L. , Ardern Chris I.
Published: September 2009

OBJECTIVE

The clinical relevance of the metabolically normal but obese phenotype for mortality risk is unclear. This study examines the risk for all-cause mortality in metabolically normal and abnormal obese (MNOB and MAOB, respectively) individuals.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The sample included 6,011 men and women from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) with public-access mortality data linkage (follow-up = 8.7 ± 0.2 years; 292 deaths). Metabolically abnormal was defined as insulin resistance (IR) or two or more metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) criteria (excluding waist).

RESULTS

A total of 30% of obese subjects had IR, and 38.4% had two or more MetSyn factors, whereas only 6.0% (or 1.6% of the whole population) were free from both IR and all MetSyn factors. By MetSyn factors or IR alone, MNOB subjects (hazard ratio [HR]MetSyn 2.80 [1.18–6.65]; HRIR 2.58 [1.00–6.65]) and MAOB subjects (HRMetSyn 2.74 [1.46–5.15]; HRIR 3.09 [1.55–6.15]) had similar elevations in mortality risk compared with metabolically normal, normal weight subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Although a rare phenotype, obesity, even in the absence of overt metabolic aberrations, is associated with increased all-cause mortality risk.
β-Cell–Mediated Signaling Predominates Over Direct α-Cell Signaling in the Regulation of Glucagon Secretion in Humans
Authors: Cooperberg Benjamin A. , Cryer Philip E.
Published: September 2009

OBJECTIVE

Given evidence of both indirect and direct signaling, we tested the hypothesis that increased β-cell–mediated signaling of α-cells negates direct α-cell signaling in the regulation of glucagon secretion in humans.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We measured plasma glucagon concentrations before and after ingestion of a formula mixed meal and, on a separate occasion, ingestion of the sulfonylurea glimepiride in 24 basal insulin-infused, demonstrably β-cell–deficient patients with type 1 diabetes and 20 nondiabetic, demonstrably β-cell–sufficient individuals; the latter were infused with glucose to prevent hypoglycemia after glimepiride.

RESULTS

After the mixed meal, plasma glucagon concentrations increased from 22 ± 1 pmol/l (78 ± 4 pg/ml) to 30 ± 2 pmol/l (103 ± 7 pg/ml) in the patients with type 1 diabetes but were unchanged from 27 ± 1 pmol/l (93 ± 3 pg/ml) to 26 ± 1 pmol/l (89 ± 3 pg/ml) in the nondiabetic individuals (P < 0.0001). After glimepiride, plasma glucagon concentrations increased from 24 ± 1 pmol/l (83 ± 4 pg/ml) to 26 ± 1 pmol/l (91 ± 4 pg/ml) in the patients with type 1 diabetes and decreased from 28 ± 1 pmol/l (97 ± 5 pg/ml) to 24 ± 1 pmol/l (82 ± 4 pg/ml) in the nondiabetic individuals (P < 0.0001). Thus, in the presence of both β-cell and α-cell secretory stimuli (increased amino acid and glucose levels, a sulfonylurea) glucagon secretion was prevented when β-cell secretion was sufficient but not when β-cell secretion was deficient.

CONCLUSIONS

These data indicate that, among the array of signals, indirect reciprocal β-cell–mediated signaling predominates over direct α-cell signaling in the regulation of glucagon secretion in humans.
Intracranial angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma presenting as recurrent multifocal intraparenchymal hemorrhage
Authors: Ochalski Pawel G. , Edinger James T. , Horowitz Michael B. , Stetler William R. , Murdoch Geoffrey H. , Kassam Amin B. , Engh Johnathan A.
Published: September 2009

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare soft-tissue neoplasm that most commonly appears in the limbs, typically affecting children and young adults. The tumor has a propensity for local recurrence and recurrent hemorrhage but rarely for remote metastasis. To date, only 2 reports have documented an intracranial occurrence of the tumor (1 of which was believed to be metastatic disease). This is the second report of primary intracranial AFH. Additionally, hemorrhage from an intracranial AFH lesion has yet to be reported, and little is known about the radiographic characteristics and biological behavior of these lesions. In this report, the authors describe the case of a patient with recurrent hemorrhage due to primary multifocal intracranial AFH. Initially misdiagnosed as a cavernous malformation and then an unusual meningioma, the tumor was finally correctly identified when there was a large enough intact resection specimen to reveal the characteristic histological pattern. The diagnosis was confirmed using immunohistochemical and molecular studies.
In situ treatment of an infected intrathecal baclofen pump implant with gentamicin-impregnated collagen fleece
Authors: Peerdeman Saskia M. , de Groot Vincent , Feller Ricardo E.
Published: September 2009

Intrathecal delivery of baclofen using a subcutaneous pump is an effective long-term treatment for spasticity. Infections of the pocket, however, are often hard to eliminate with intravenous antibiotics. If a 2-stage procedure involving removal of the pump and baclofen withdrawal will create serious problems for the patient, infections can be treated with repetitive local application of gentamicin-impregnated collagen fleece.
Aquaporin-1–mediated cerebral edema following traumatic brain injury: effects of acidosis and corticosteroid administration
Authors: Tran Nam D. , Kim Stefan , Vincent Heather K. , Rodriguez Anthony , Hinton David R. , Bullock M. Ross , Young Harold F.
Published: September 2009

Object

Dysregulation of water homeostasis induces cerebral edema. Edema is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Aquaporin-1 (AQP-1), a water channel found in the brain, can function as a transporter for CO2 across the cellular membrane. Additionally, AQP-1's promoter contains a glucocorticoid response element. Thus, AQP-1 may be involved with edema-related brain injury and might be modulated by external conditions such as the pH and the presence of steroids. In this study, the authors investigated the hypotheses that: 1) AQP-1 participates in brain water homeostasis following TBI; 2) secondary injury (for example, acidosis) alters the expression of AQP-1 and exacerbates cerebral edema; and 3) corticosteroids augment brain AQP-1 expression and differentially affect cerebral edema under nonacidotic and acidotic conditions.

Methods

Anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to moderate to severe TBI (2.5–3.5 atm) or surgery without injury, and they were randomized to receive a 3-mg/kg bolus of intravenous dexamethasone within 10 minutes after injury or surgery, a 3-mg/kg bolus of dexamethasone followed by 1-mg/kg maintenance doses every 8 hours for 24 hours, or saline boluses at similar time intervals. A second group of animals was subjected to respiratory acidosis with target arterial blood pH 6.8–7.2 for 1 hour following the surgery or injury. To evaluate selective blockage of AQP-1, some animals received a single intraperitoneal dose of HgCl2 (0.3–30.0 mmol/L) within 30 minutes of injury or surgery. At 4 or 24 hours postinjury, animals were killed and their brains were harvested for mRNA, protein, or water content analyses.

Results

The authors demonstrated elevated cerebral edema levels at 4 and 24 hours following TBI. Dexamethasone administration within 1 hour of TBI attenuated the cerebral edema under nonacidotic conditions but worsened it under acidotic conditions. Selective blockage of AQP-1 channels with HgCl2 attenuated the edematous effects of corticosteroids and acidosis. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated a paucity of AQP-1 in the cerebral cortices of the uninjured animals. In contrast, AQP-1 mRNA and protein levels were higher in the cerebral cortices of animals that sustained a TBI.

Conclusions

These findings implicate an important, modifiable role for AQP-1 in water homeostasis within the CNS following TBI.
Long-term control of petroclival meningiomas through radiosurgery
Authors: Flannery Thomas J. , Kano Hideyuki , Lunsford L. Dade , Sirin Sait , Tormenti Matthew , Niranjan Ajay , Flickinger John C. , Kondziolka Douglas
Published: September 2009

Object

Because of their critical location adjacent to brain, cranial nerve, and vascular structures, petroclival meningiomas remain a clinical challenge. The authors evaluated outcomes in 168 patients with petroclival meningiomas who underwent Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) during a 21-year interval.

Methods

Gamma Knife surgery was used as either primary or adjuvant treatment of 168 petroclival meningiomas involving the region between the petrous apex and the upper two-thirds of the clivus. The most common presenting symptoms were trigeminal nerve dysfunction, balance problems, diplopia, and hearing loss. The median tumor volume was 6.1 cm3 (range 0.3–32.5 cm3), and the median radiation dose to the tumor margin was 13 Gy (range 9–18 Gy).

Results

During a median follow-up of 72 months, neurological status improved in 44 patients (26%), remained stable in 98 (58%), and worsened in 26 (15%). Tumor volume decreased in 78 patients (46%), remained stable in 74 (44%), and increased in 16 (10%), all of whom were subjected to additional management strategies. Overall 5- and 10-year progression-free survival rates were 91 and 86%, respectively. Patients followed up for at least 10 years (31 patients) had tumor and symptom control rates of 97 and 94%, respectively. Eight patients had repeat radiosurgery, 4 underwent delayed resection, and 4 had fractionated radiation therapy. Cerebrospinal fluid diversion was performed in 7 patients (4%). Significant risk factors for tumor progression were a tumor volume ≥ 8 cm3 (p = 0.001) and male sex (p = 0.02).

Conclusions

In this 21-year experience, GKS for petroclival meningiomas obviated initial or further resection in 98% of patients and was associated with a low risk of adverse radiation effects. The authors believe that radiosurgery should be considered as an initial option for patients with smaller-volume, symptomatic petroclival meningiomas.
Life Years at Risk: A Population Health Measure from a Prevention Perspective
Authors: Zhao Yuejen , Malyon Rosalyn
Published: September 2009

This paper aims to present life years at risk (LYAR), a new measure of population health needs for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention, which classifies health outcomes by care type and distinguishes between positive and negative outcomes. It is determined by the probability of ill-health event, population size and life years lost, based on expected incidence, prevalence and mortality. The LYAR consists of two components: the observed LYAR, available using disability adjusted life years, and the avoided LYAR. Three examples are given to illustrate the calculation and application of the measure. The advantages, disadvantages and policy implications are also discussed.
Molecular Toxicology of Substances Released from Resin–Based Dental Restorative Materials
Authors: Bakopoulou Athina , Papadopoulos Triantafillos , Garefis Pavlos
Published: September 2009

Resin-based dental restorative materials are extensively used today in dentistry. However, significant concerns still remain regarding their biocompatibility. For this reason, significant scientific effort has been focused on the determination of the molecular toxicology of substances released by these biomaterials, using several tools for risk assessment, including exposure assessment, hazard identification and dose-response analysis. These studies have shown that substances released by these materials can cause significant cytotoxic and genotoxic effects, leading to irreversible disturbance of basic cellular functions. The aim of this article is to review current knowledge related to dental composites’ molecular toxicology and to give implications for possible improvements concerning their biocompatibility.
Microbial Growth and Quorum Sensing Antagonist Activities of Herbal Plants Extracts
Authors: Al-Hussaini Reema , Mahasneh Adel  M.
Published: September 2009

Antimicrobial and antiquorum sensing (AQS) activities of fourteen ethanolic extracts of different parts of eight plants were screened against four Gram-positive, five Gram-negative bacteria and four fungi. Depending on the plant part extract used and the test microorganism, variable activities were recorded at 3 mg per disc. Among the Grampositive bacteria tested, for example, activities of Laurus nobilis bark extract ranged between a 9.5 mm inhibition zone against Bacillus subtilis up to a 25 mm one against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus and Aspergillus fumigatus were the most susceptible among bacteria and fungi tested towards other plant parts. Of interest is the tangible antifungal activity of a Tecoma capensis flower extract, which is reported for the first time. However, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC's) for both bacteria and fungi were relatively high (0.5-3.0 mg). As for antiquorum sensing activity against Chromobacterium violaceum, superior activity (>17 mm QS inhibition) was associated with Sonchus oleraceus and Laurus nobilis extracts and weak to good activity (8-17 mm) was recorded for other plants. In conclusion, results indicate the potential of these plant extracts in treating microbial infections through cell growth inhibition or quorum sensing antagonism, which is reported for the first time, thus validating their medicinal use.
Examining Spatiotemporal Urbanization Patterns in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: Remote Sensing and Spatial Metrics Approaches
Authors: Thapa Rajesh Bahadur , Murayama Yuji
Published: September 2009

This paper examines the spatiotemporal pattern of urbanization in Kathmandu Valley using remote sensing and spatial metrics techniques. The study is based on 33-years of time series data compiled from satellite images. Along with new developments within the city fringes and rural villages in the valley, shifts in the natural environment and newly developed socioeconomic strains between residents are emerging. A highly dynamic spatial pattern of urbanization is observed in the valley. Urban built-up areas had a slow trend of growth in the 1960s and 1970s but have grown rapidly since the 1980s. The urbanization process has developed fragmented and heterogeneous land use combinations in the valley. However, the refill type of development process in the city core and immediate fringe areas has shown a decreasing trend in the neighborhood distances between land use patches, and an increasing trend towards physical connectedness, which indicates a higher probability of homogenous landscape development in the upcoming decades.
Application of Close Range Photogrammetry to Deck Measurement in Recreational Ships
Authors: Ordóñez Celestino , Riveiro Belén , Arias Pedro , Armesto Julia
Published: September 2009

In this article, we present results that demonstrate the utility of close range photogrammetry in the measurement of decks in recreational craft as an alternate measurement system to the one based on direct acquisition of coordinates. The areas of deck covered with teakwood for aesthetic or security reasons were measured. Both methods were compared in terms of precision of measurements, time consumption, equipment cost, and ease of manipulation and equipment transportation. Based on the results, we conclude that photogrammetry has advantages in almost every aspect with respect to the direct method. Consequently, photogrammetry is suggested as a suitable method for coordinate measurement of decks in recreational ships. However, in some special circumstances, where ships have wide corridors with few obstacles the direct method can be more appropriate than the photogrammetric method.
On-Line Metrology with Conoscopic Holography: Beyond Triangulation
Authors: Álvarez Ignacio , Enguita Jose  M. , Frade María , Marina Jorge , Ojea Guillermo
Published: September 2009

On-line non-contact surface inspection with high precision is still an open problem. Laser triangulation techniques are the most common solution for this kind of systems, but there exist fundamental limitations to their applicability when high precisions, long standoffs or large apertures are needed, and when there are difficult operating conditions. Other methods are, in general, not applicable in hostile environments or inadequate for on-line measurement. In this paper we review the latest research in Conoscopic Holography, an interferometric technique that has been applied successfully in this kind of applications, ranging from submicrometric roughness measurements, to long standoff sensors for surface defect detection in steel at high temperatures.