bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Design of Instrumented Double-Wall Model Piles Used to Investigate Plugging of Open-Ended Pipe Piles
Authors: Iskander Magued
Published: January 2011

Plugging of open-ended pipe piles during installation and loading is an important phenomenon with substantial effects on pile capacity. This paper offers a number of comments related to the design of instrumented double-wall pipe piles that are becoming increasingly popular in research. A double-wall pile consists of two concentric thin-wall cylinders that are rigidly fixed at the top and are free to strain independently of one another elsewhere, with the pile shoe attached to one of the cylinders. Instrumentation that permits defining the state of the stress around the pile is installed between the two cylinders. Pile geometry, location of pile shoe, protection of sensors, radial stress measurements, and pore water pressure measurements are discussed. Measurements indicate that when a pile plugs, load is transferred by arching to the inner pile surface within the first two pile diameters. The data also indicates that a surge in pore water pressure occurs with each hammer blow, which results in a reduction of effective stress and subsequent pile setup.
The Single Z-Plasty for Cleft Palate Repair: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Tan Wei-Qiang , Xu Jing-Hong , Yao Jian-Min
Published: January 2011

Objective

To introduce a surgical technique for the repair of cleft palate with the single and full-thickness Z-plasty method.

Patients and Methods

The procedure was performed from 1999 to 2006 in 34 patients with cleft palate with a median age of 6.0 years (range, 2.0 to 21 years). In these patients, in order to push the soft palate back farther, a single and full-thickness Z-plasty, designed on the soft palate across the defect, was applied to the von Langenbeck procedure. The full thickness of the soft palate was incised after the hard palate was closed by suturing the two mucoperiosteal flaps, and two Z-plasty flaps were formed. The two flaps were then transposed and closed by interrupted suturing of three layers of the palate in proper order, from nasal mucosa, levator muscle to oral mucosa. The patients were followed for 6 months to 3 years, velopharyngeal closure was examined by nasopharyngeal fiberscope and/or x-ray radiography, and a clinical speech evaluation was performed.

Results

In all patients, no problem of flap viability was encountered and all healed well. The postoperative results were satisfactory without any complications such as dehiscence, perforation, or palatal fistula. The clinical speech evaluation was satisfactory, and the effects of the operation were stable.

Conclusions

The technique presented has been effective, having the advantages of palatal closure without tension and with sufficient lengthening of the soft palate.
The uptake of persistent organic pollutants by plants
Authors: Kacálková Lada , Tlustoš Pavel
Published: January 2011

In a field experiment, the transfer of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from contaminated soil to maize (Zea mays L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), poplar (Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii) and willow (Salix × smithiana) and the distribution of PCB congeners in maize and sunflower was investigated. The former waste incinerator in Hradec Králové (Czech Republic) was chosen for the experiment. Results of plot screening showed heterogenous contamination by PCBs and PAHs. PCB soil contamination was evidently caused by Delor 106 or Aroclor 1260 stocking and PAH contamination by chemicals containing fluoranthene, benzo/b/fluoranthene, phenanthrene and pyrene. Tested plants were planted on a contaminated field site, in soil contaminated with 1530 µg/kg of total PCBs and 0.138 and 3.42 mg/kg of total PAHs. The results show that maize and sunflower roots accumulated the most PCBs from soil. These plants accumulated hexa- and heptachlorobiphenyl congeners more than tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorobiphenyl congeners. Total concentrations of PAHs in tested plants ranged from 0.096 to 1.34 mg/kg. The highest phenanthrene concentration was found in aboveground biomass of sunflower and the highest concentration of pyrene, in maize roots.
The effect of cyanobacterial blooms in the Siemianówka Dam Reservoir on the phytoplankton structure in the Narew River
Authors: Grabowska Magdalena , Mazur-Marzec Hanna
Published: January 2011

The effect of cyanobacterial blooms on the phytoplankton structure in the lowland Narew River (north-eastern Poland) was examined. The studies were carried out at stations situated at different distances from the eutrophic Siemianówka Dam Reservoir. In 2008, the investigated lowland reservoir and the outflowing river were characterized by the dominance of toxic cyanobacteria (from July to October). At a station situated 130 km below the dam, species composition in the river was very similar to that in the shallow reservoir. Planktothrix agardhii was the main and permanent dominant, both in limnoplankton and potamoplankton. The current study indicates that the eutrophic Siemianówka Dam Reservoir is the main and rich source of phytoplankton for the outflowing Narew River. Cyanobacteria were dominant in the river phytoplankton at all sampling stations, but their share in phytoplankton biomass gradually decreased with the distance from the dam. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of microcystins (MCs) in water samples collected from June to October. The toxins, mainly demethylated MC analogues, were detected at a long distance down the river, even 100 km from the dam. Maximum concentration of MCs (14.3 μg l−1) was measured on 13 October, 9.1 km below the dam.
Autochthonic and allochthonic plant detritus as zoobenthos habitat in anthropogenic woodland ponds
Authors: Spyra Aneta
Published: January 2011

Regardless of origin, all water bodies situated inside forests form a unique habitat for many freshwater animals due to the allochthonous detritus covering the bottom, composed mostly of leaves from waterside trees. For many years these woodland ponds have been considered to be advantageous to regional biodiversity. Investigations were carried out in eight anthropogenic woodland ponds, formed as a consequence of coal mining activities, situated in forest complexes in Upper Silesia (Southern Poland), to evaluate the impact of allochthonic and autochthonic plant detritus on the formation of zoobenthic communities, together with insolation intensity. In sites covered by a layer of allochthonic plant matter, zoobenthos were more abundant compared to places covered by autochthonic detritus. The density of zoobenthos in sun-exposed sites was two to three times greater than in shaded sites.
Identification of water quality and benthos characteristics in Daya Bay, China, from 2001 to 2004
Authors: Wang You-Shao , Sun Cui-Ci , Lou Zhi-Ping , Wang Haili , Mitchell B. , Wu Mei-Lin , Sun Zong-Xun
Published: January 2011

Physicochemical and benthos data were collected from 12 marine monitoring stations in Daya Bay, during 2001-2004. 12 stations in Daya Bay could be grouped into three clusters: cluster I consisted of stations in the southern part of Daya Bay (stations S1, S2 and S6); cluster II consisted of stations in the cage culture areas (stations S3, S4, S5 and S8); cluster III consisted of stations in the southwest, the middle and the northeast of the Bay (stations S7, S9, S10, S11 and S12). Calculation with bivariate correlations between benthos and major physicochemical factors showed that the density of benthos in all stations correlated positively with temperature, DO, pH, NH4-N, SiO3-Si, SiO3-Si /PO4-P and chlorophyll a and was negatively correlated with salinity, Secchi, COD, NO3-N, NO2-N, TIN, PO4-P, TIN/PO4-P and BOD5. Factor analysis showed that there were high positive loading salinity, Secchi and NH4-N of three clusters. Results revealed that temperature, DO, pH, SiO3-Si and SiO3-Si/PO4-P and chlorophyll a could also play an important role in determining the biomass of benthos in Daya Bay, especially near the Nuclear Power Plants, in the southern part and in the cage culture areas.
Hepato-protective Potential of Hull Fraction from Indian Flaxseed Cultivar
Authors: Rajesha J , Rao A Ranga , Kumar M Karuna , Ravishankar GA
Published: January 2011

Objective: Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) isolated from hull fraction of Indian flaxseed cultivar was studied for its hepatoprotective potential by measuring the level of hepatic enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase and superoxide desmutase (SOD) upon feeding to albino rats. Material & Methods: The animals were grouped into five groups (n=5): The first group served as normal and received normal diet without treatment of toxin and hull fraction of flaxseed. The second group was named the control and received a regular commercial diet. The third, fourth and fifth groups were fed with normal diet and supplemented with hull fraction of flaxseed (150 and 250 μg/kg) and standard SDG (150 μg/kg), that was mixed with olive oil for 14 days. Results: Pretreatment of rats with 150 μg/kg b.w hull fraction of flaxseed followed by CCl4 treatment caused restoration of catalase, SOD and peroxidase by 37.70%, 108.22% and 23.89% respectively as compared to control. The group treated with 250 μg/kg b.w hull fraction of flaxseed showed the restoration of 67.30%, 152.82% and 39.88% of catalase, SOD and peroxidase, respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, SDG fed in the form of flaxseed hull is responsible for its hepatoprotective properties. Further, it can be used as a potential source of nutraceutical agent and studies are required in this field to examine its use in large scale for food and feed industries.Keywords: Flaxseed; hull fraction; SDG; antioxidant enzymesDOI: 10.3126/ajms.v1i2.2938Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 1 (2010) 20-25
Hematologic Toxicity of Antiretroviral Drug, Zidolam (zidovudine and lamivudine) in Adult Wistar Rats
Authors: Osonuga OA , Osonuga OI , Osonuga AA , Osonuga A
Published: January 2011

Objective: Zidolam is an highly active antiretroviral combination therapy (HAART) for the treatment of HIV infection. Efforts in this study intend to buttress evidence of hemato-toxicity associated with administration of HAARTs by using Zidolam. Material & Methods: 30 albino rats with body weight (bwt) of 150 - 230 gm were used for the 2-phase study. Solution of the drug in sterile water was administered via oral cannula to the 2 groups of 10 rats (5 males and 5 females) each at daily dose of 1.29mg/100gm bwt respectively for 21 days during phase I. Phase II was a recovery study involving 10 rats (5 males and 5 females) exposed to dose regimen as in phase I, and sacrificed after 21-days withdrawal of treatment. The control group of 10 animals (5 males and 5 females) was given sterile water ad-libitum. Blood samples were collected by cardio-puncture from the rats for hematology at the end of each phase. Results: Zidolam caused significant reduction (P< 0.05) in the hematological parameters of the animals. Discontinuation of the drug use caused gradual restoration of the parameters in the recovery group. Conclusion: The results suggested that Zidolam could induce anemia and leucopenia in the treated animals. This supports the reason it is used with caution in anemic and leucopenic patients with HIV infection and perhaps reason for pre-hematological screening before treatment with zidolam. Key Words: Zidolam; hematology; wistar rats; Highly active antiretroviral combination therapy (HAART)DOI: 10.3126/ajms.v1i2.3352Asian Journal of Medical Sciences 1 (2010) 41-44
Cabinets of Curiosities and the Organization of Knowledge
Authors: Zytaruk Maria
Published: January 2011

This article reviews some of the recent literature on early modern cabinets of curiosities and other repositories of knowledge. The ‘material turn’ taken by the history of science in the last two decades has produced claims for the primacy of objects and collectors in narratives about early modern natural inquiry. As these studies shed important light on the contents and shape of early collections, we must also consider how the model of the museum, in the hands of such figures as Cassiano dal Pozzo and John Evelyn, was adapted to new visual and literary purposes in the seventeenth century. If cabinets were implicated in new taxonomic projects to order the natural world, they also acted as preserves of older, more imaginative readings of nature. The encyclopedia of gardening that Evelyn assembled, the ‘Elysium Britannicum,’ permits us to trace how the cabinet model functioned as a strategy for dealing with the proliferation of information, objects, and books in the period.
‘Sacred Bonds of Amity’: Dryden and Male Friendship
Authors: Caldwell Tanya
Published: January 2011

Male friendship, as a motif, pervades John Dryden's works. Through it he confronts problems of stability and continuity that he would ameliorate by means of his poetic powers and the revered institutions behind them. The sexual element of the relationships, which critics invariably treat anachronistically, is crucial to the succour Dryden finds in them. It derives from the traditions he evokes – real or imagined – of male aristocratic bonds (in which the poet has a share) that he revivified in order to negotiate contemporary politics and curtail the disintegration, as he perceived it, of the monarchy. The problem for Dryden and his contemporaries lay in manipulating existing paradigms in the face of Charles II's profligacy and its attendant chaos, the increase in popular power in the Restoration, and the Glorious Revolution. For Dryden, who closely associated poetic and monarchic continuity, the bonds he presented and the institution they perpetuated offered a fortifying power in the face of assaults upon sacrosanct traditions.
Trachoma: Blinding Tropical Disease in the South East Asia Region with Research Priority
Authors: Amin Mohammad Robed , Basher Ariful , Hawlader Anisur Rahaman , Faiz MA
Published: January 2011

DOI: 10.3329/jom.v12i1.6338J Medicine 2011; 12 : 50-54
Biochemical Status and Cytopathological Profile of Patients Presenting with Multinodular Goiter
Authors: Rahman Mufti Munsurar
Published: January 2011

Background: Objective of the study was to evaluate the biochemical status and cytopathological profile in multinodular goiter. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with multinodular goiter were selected consecutively. Multinodularity was confirmed by ultrasonography and scintiscan of the thyroid gland. Hormonal assays of serum T3, T4 and TSH was done for biochemical status evaluation. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) was done to evaluate the cytopathological profile of the MNG patients. Results: The patients had a female preponderance with a male to ratio of 5.25:1. Biochemical status evaluation revealed that sixty percent presented with euthyroid features followed by those of hyperthyroidism (16%). The distribution of hypothyroid, subclinical hypo- and hyper- thyroid patients were equal (8% each). Among the clinical and subclinical hyperthyroids there was Jod Basedow. The cytological profile of multinodular goiter showed that two were malignant (found by open biopsy after surgery) and four had suspicious cytology. Conclusion: Though relatively benign, risk of malignancy in multinodular goiter should not be undermined and FNAC should be included in the initial diagnostic procedures during work up of a multinodular goiter. Keyword: Multinodular goiter; Hyperthyroidism; Hypothyroidism; Malignancy; FNAC; Scintigram DOI: 10.3329/jom.v12i1.6928J Medicine 2011; 12 : 26-29
Regeneration and Transformation via Agrobacterium tumefaciens of Echinacea purpurea L.
Authors: Hanafy Moemen , Aly Usama I. , Matter Mohamed A.
Published: January 2011

Leaf explants of Echinacea purpurea L. taken from aseptically germinated seedlings were inoculated with A. tumefaciens strains EHA105, carrying a binary vector conferring herbicide resistant bar gene and fungal resistant chitinase gene. Glufosinate ammonium-resistant shoots were regenerated on a medium containing BAP and NAA at a concentration of 4.88 and 0.053 µM, respectively. A subsequent transfer of shoots to medium containing BAP was necessary for stem elongation and leaf development. Transgenic Echinacea plants carrying bar and chitinase genes were selected for their resistance to glufosinate ammonium herbicide. Molecular analysis using PCR confirmed the integration of the transgenes into plant genome. This is the first report on genetic transformation of Echinacea plant using bar gene as a selectable marker. Key words: Echinacea purpurea; Regeneration; A. tumefaciens; Transformation D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v20i2.6888 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 20(2): 101-111, 2010 (December)
In vitro Plant Regeneration from Shoot tip Explants of Exacum travancoricum Beedi
Authors: Janarthanam B. , Sumathi E. Sumathi
Published: January 2011

Shoot tip explants of Exacum travancoricum, an endangered herb mainly known for ornamental purpose grown on MS with 4.44 μM BAP and 1.34 μM NAA showed better growth response and produced 29.3 ± 0.3 shoots per explant with an average length of 4.6 ± 0.1 cm after 35 days. Roots were induced after transfer to half strength of MS supplemented with 2.46 μM IBA produced 4.8 ± 0.62 roots with an average height of 3.6 ± 0.10 cm after 30 days. The rooted plantlets were transferred for hardening, 80 per cent of plantlets survived and resumed growth in the mixture of soil, vermiculite and farm yard manure (1 : 1 : 1). Key words: Exacum travancoricum; Shoot tip; Plant regeneration D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v20i2.6889 Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 20(2): 113-118, 2010 (December)
In vitro Mass Propagation from Shoot Tip Explants of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. An Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory Medicinal Plant
Authors: Maharajan M. , Ahmed Abdul Bakrudeen Ali , Taha Rosna Mat , Jawahar S. , Paul R. Ravi , Jayaseelan M.
Published: January 2011

Plantlets were regenerated from the shoot tip explants of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less. in MS supplimented with BA and Kn. Maximum number of shoots in BA (13.32 mg/l) and roots in IBA (7.38 mg/l) developed. The rooted plantlets were successfully established in the field.   Key words: Vernonia cinerea, Mass propagation, Shoot tip explants, Antioxidant, Medicinal plant   D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v20i2.6892   Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 20(2): 127-131, 2010 (December)
Effects of the Growth Retardant Triadimefon on the Ex vitro Establishment of Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) cv. Vinks Glory
Authors: Sheena A. , Sheela V.L.
Published: January 2011

Triadimefon, a triazole compound increased survival per cent of micropropagated Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus L.) plantlets. Applica-tion of triadimefon  caused a retarding effect on height of the  plant (14.86 cm)  compared to the untreated plants one month after planting to ex vitro conditions. Triazole application increased root number of the plants. Plants treated with triazole showed delayed leaf production interval of 10.45 and 14.48 days for first and second leaves,  respectively. Triazole treated plants exhibited a lower stomatal conductance which indicated the reduced water loss from the leaves. Leaf area index was high for untreated plants(1.08) compared to treated plants.   Key words: Gladiolus, Triazole, Micropropagation,Triadimefon,    Acclimatization   D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v20i2.6896   Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 20(2): 171-178, 2010 (December)
Micropropagation of Bacopa monnieri using Cyanobacterial Liquid Medium
Authors: Banerjee Meenakshi , Modi Priyanka
Published: January 2011

Hot extract of Aulosira fertilissima (cyanobacterium) added in different proportions to MS as a liquid culture media for the in vitro propagation of Bacopa monnieri (L.) Pennell. Maximum numbers of shoots were induced from axillary node in MS media (40 ml) + Aulosira extract (60 ml) and maximum shoot multiplication was observed when Kn (1.0 mg/l) was added in the shoot initiation media (mentioned above). Surprisingly rooting was also found to be best in the same combination of MS + cyanobacterial extract that was used for initiation and multiplication of shoots. On an average within a period of three subcultures (2 - 3 months) the nodal explants generated 400 shoots.  Rooted plantlets were successfully transferred to the field, after acclimation in the net house.   Key words: Baccopa monnieri, Cyanobacterial extract, Regeneration, Acclimation   D.O.I. 10.3329/ptcb.v20i2.6917   Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 20(2): 225-231, 2010 (December)
Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein (PTHrP): A Key Regulator of Life/Death Decisions by Tumor Cells with Potential Clinical Applications
Authors: Luparello Claudio
Published: January 2011

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP), classically regarded as the mediator of the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy syndrome, is a polyhormone that undergoes proteolytic processing into smaller bioactive forms. These bioactive forms comprise an N-terminal- as well as midregion- and C-terminal peptides, which have been shown to regulate various biological events, such as survival, proliferation and differentiation, in diverse cell model systems, both normal and pathological. A number of experimental data have demonstrated that PTHrP is also able to modulate tumor-relevant phenotypic expressions, thereby playing a role in early and advanced tumorigenesis, and in the response to treatment. In particular, interest has mainly been focused on the effects of PTHrP on cell proliferation/apoptosis, migration and invasion, which are the main roles involved in cancer development in vivo. The objective of this review is to discuss collectively the literature data on the molecular and biochemical basis of the mechanisms underlying the different, and sometimes opposite, effects exerted by PTHrP on various neoplastic cytotypes, with some final comments on both present and potential utilization of PTHrP as a target for anti-cancer therapy.
Tumor Acidity as Evolutionary Spite
Authors: Alfarouk Khalid O. , Muddathir Abdel Khalig , Shayoub Mohammed E. A.
Published: January 2011

Most cancer cells shift their metabolic pathway from a metabolism reflecting the Pasteur-effect into one reflecting the Warburg-effect. This shift creates an acidic microenvironment around the tumor and becomes the driving force for a positive carcinogenesis feedback loop. As a consequence of tumor acidity, the tumor microenvironment encourages a selection of certain cell phenotypes that are able to survive in this caustic environment to the detriment of other cell types. This selection can be described by a process which can be modeled upon spite: the tumor cells reduce their own fitness by making an acidic environment, but this reduces the fitness of their competitors to an even greater extent. Moreover, the environment is an important dimension that further drives this spite process. Thus, diminishing the selective environment most probably interferes with the spite process. Such interference has been recently utilized in cancer treatment.
Trends and Possible Future Developments in Global Forest-Product Markets—Implications for the Swedish Forest Sector
Authors: Jonsson Ragnar
Published: January 2011

This paper analyzes trends and possible future developments in global wood-product markets and discusses implications for the Swedish forest sector. Four possible futures, or scenarios, are considered, based on qualitative scenario analysis. The scenarios are distinguished principally by divergent futures with respect to two highly influential factors driving change in global wood-product markets, whose future development is unpredictable. These so-called critical uncertainties were found to be degrees to which: (i) current patterns of globalization will continue, or be replaced by regionalism, and (ii) concern about the environment, particularly climate change, related policy initiatives and customer preferences, will materialize. The overall future of the Swedish solid wood-product industry looks bright, irrespective of which of the four possible futures occurs, provided it accommodates the expected growth in demand for factory-made, energy-efficient construction components. The prospects for the pulp and paper industry in Sweden appear more ambiguous. Globalization is increasingly shifting production and consumption to the Southern hemisphere, adversely affecting employment and forest owners in Sweden. Further, technical progress in information and communication technology (ICT) is expected to lead to drastic reductions in demand for newsprint and printing paper. Chemical pulp producers may profit from a growing bio-energy industry, since they could manufacture new, high-value products in integrated bio-refineries. Mechanical pulp producers cannot do this, however, and might suffer from higher prices for raw materials and electricity.
Information as a Manifestation of Development
Authors: Coffman James A.
Published: January 2011

Information manifests a reduction in uncertainty or indeterminacy. As such it can emerge in two ways: by measurement, which involves the intentional choices of an observer; or more generally, by development, which involves systemically mutual (‘self-organizing’) processes that break symmetry. The developmental emergence of information is most obvious in ontogeny, but pertains as well to the evolution of ecosystems and abiotic dissipative structures. In this review, a seminal, well-characterized ontogenetic paradigm—the sea urchin embryo—is used to show how cybernetic causality engenders the developmental emergence of biological information at multiple hierarchical levels of organization. The relevance of information theory to developmental genomics is also discussed.
Relationships of Helicoverpa armigera, Ostrinia nubilalis and Fusarium verticillioides on MON 810 Maize
Authors: Darvas Béla , Bánáti Hajnalka , Takács Eszter , Lauber Éva , Szécsi Árpád , Székács András
Published: January 2011

MON 810 maize was developed against Ostrinia nubilalis and is suggested to indirectly decrease Fusarium spp. infestation in maize ears. To evaluate this effect, co-occurrence of insect and fungal pests on MON 810 maize was studied. During 2009, exceptionally high maize ear infestation occurred in Julianna-major (Hungary). From investigation of some thousands of maize ears, the majority of the larval damage originated from Helicoverpa armigera larvae, while O. nubilalis larvae contributed significant damage only at a single plot. Fusarium verticillioides infection appeared only in a small portion (~20–30%) of the insect damaged cobs. H. armigera and O. nubilalis larvae feeding on F. verticillioides mycelia can distribute its conidia with their fecal pellets. MON 810 maize showed 100% efficacy against O. nubilalis in the stem, but lower efficacy against O. nubilalis and H. armigera in maize ears. The ~Cry1Ab toxin content of maize silk, the entry site of H. armigera, was lower than that in the leaves/stem/husk leaves of MON 810. Fusarium-infected MON 810 cobs are rarely found and only after larval damage by O. nubilalis. H. armigera larvae could not tolerate well F. verticillioides infected food and attempted to move out from the infected cobs. For further feeding they re-entered the maize ears through the 8–12 husk leaves, but in the case of the MON 810 variety, they usually could not reach the kernels. Apical damage on cobs resulted in only a minor (about one-tenth of the cob) decrease in yield.
Characteristics of Filter Cake Exfoliation in Upward Ultrafiltration of Nanoparticle Suspensions
Authors: Mukai Yasuhito , Nishio Aya
Published: January 2011

Downward and upward ultrafiltration (UF) was performed using the suspensions of nanosized colloidal silica with different particle diameters and their filtration rates were compared. In downward UF, the filtration rate decreases as the particle diameter decreases because the specific filtration resistance of the filter cake becomes significantly higher. In contrast, the filtration rate in upward UF increases with the decrease in the particle diameter because the filter cake consisting of small particles is exfoliated much more easily under the influence of gravity than that of large ones. In order to evaluate the characteristics of the filter cake exfoliation, the steady filtration rate in the upward mode was measured. The steady filtration rate has a tendency to decrease with particle concentration as well as mean particle diameter. Therefore, when the small particles are added into a given concentration of large particle suspension, the mean particle diameter decreases and the total particle concentration increases due to the dosage of small particles. This results in a maximum of the steady filtration rate at a certain dosage of small particles. Moreover, an estimation equation was proposed for predicting the steady filtration rate in upward UF of colloidal silica suspensions with various mean particle diameters and total particle concentrations.
Respiratory Monitoring by Porphyrin Modified Quartz Crystal Microbalance Sensors
Authors: Selyanchyn Roman , Korposh Serhiy , Wakamatsu Shunichi , Lee Seung-Woo
Published: January 2011

A respiratory monitoring system based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor with a functional film was designed and investigated. Porphyrins 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)-21H,23H-porphine (TSPP) and 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(4-sulfophenyl)-21H, 23H-porphine manganese (III) chloride (MnTSPP) used as sensitive elements were assembled with a poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium chloride) (PDDA). Films were deposited on the QCM resonators using layer-by-layer method in order to develop the sensor. The developed system, in which the sensor response reflects lung movements, was able to track human respiration providing respiratory rate (RR) and respiratory pattern (RP). The sensor system was tested on healthy volunteers to compare RPs and calculate RRs. The operation principle of the proposed system is based on the fast adsorption/desorption behavior of water originated from human breath into the sensor films deposited on the QCM electrode.
Intelligent Sensing in Dynamic Environments Using Markov Decision Process
Authors: Nanayakkara Thrishantha , Halgamuge Malka N. , Sridhar Prasanna , Madni Asad M.
Published: January 2011

In a network of low-powered wireless sensors, it is essential to capture as many environmental events as possible while still preserving the battery life of the sensor node. This paper focuses on a real-time learning algorithm to extend the lifetime of a sensor node to sense and transmit environmental events. A common method that is generally adopted in ad-hoc sensor networks is to periodically put the sensor nodes to sleep. The purpose of the learning algorithm is to couple the sensor’s sleeping behavior to the natural statistics of the environment hence that it can be in optimal harmony with changes in the environment, the sensors can sleep when steady environment and stay awake when turbulent environment. This paper presents theoretical and experimental validation of a reward based learning algorithm that can be implemented on an embedded sensor. The key contribution of the proposed approach is the design and implementation of a reward function that satisfies a trade-off between the above two mutually contradicting objectives, and a linear critic function to approximate the discounted sum of future rewards in order to perform policy learning.
Cadenze narrative e interpretazione critica nell'opera storica di Michele Attaliate
Authors: Cresci Lia Raffaella
Published: January 2011

BEB 49 1991 France p. 197-218

Lia Raffaella Cresci, Cadenze narrative e interpretazione critica nell'opera slorica dt Michèle Attaliate. — L'analisi dell'impostazione compositiva e dei moduli narrativi su cui è strutturata l'ultima sezione délia storia di Michèle Attaliate consente di rilevare un uso enfatico della synkrisis, espediente tipico dell'encomio, per porre in rilievo, attraverso un serrato confronto, condotto a più livelli semantici, la differenza tra la rivolta di Niceforo Botaniate e quella di Niceforo Briennio.
À propos de la nouvelle édition des actes du sixième concile œcuménique (Constantinople III)
Authors: Failler Albert
Published: January 2011

REB 52 1994 France p. 273-286

A. Failler, A propos de la nouvelle édition des actes du sixième concile œcuménique (Constantinople III). — L'article contient un certain nombre de remarques critiques sur la nouvelle édition des actes de Constantinople III, et plus spécialement sur le second volume de l'édition (Concilium Universale Constantinopolitanum Tertium. Conci- lii Actiones XII-XVIII, Epistulae, Indices edidit R. Riedinger, Berolini 1992) : les unes portent sur quelques défauts intrinsèques de l'édition elle-même du texte grec ; les autres mettent en cause certaines corrections imposées au texte grec sur la foi de la traduction latine, sous prétexte que celle-ci serait, sur le plan de la tradition manuscrite, le miroir fidèle du texte grec originel.
Experimental floral and inflorescence trait manipulations affect pollinator preference and function in a hummingbird‐pollinated plant
Authors: Dudash Michele R. , Hassler Cynthia , Stevens Peter M. , Fenster Charles B.
Published: January 2011

•Premise of the study: Controversy is ongoing regarding the importance of pollinator‐mediated selection as a source of observed patterns of floral diversity. Although increasing evidence exists of pollinator‐mediated selection acting on female reproductive success, there is still limited understanding of pollinator‐mediated selection on floral traits via male reproductive success. Here we quantify potential selection by the ruby‐throated hummingbird,Archilochus colubris, on four floral traits of hermaphroditicSileneexerted through male floral function.

•Methods: In single trait manipulative experiments we quantified hummingbird visitation preference and/or fluorescent dye (a pollen analog) donation as a function of number of flowers displayed (inflorescence size), height of the floral display (inflorescence height), floral color, and corolla tube length.

•Key results: Hummingbirds preferred to visit larger floral displays and floral displays at greater height, likely representing a general pollinator preference for larger, more visible signals and/or greater rewards. In addition, hummingbirds preferred to visit red flowers, and male function was greater in flowers manipulated to have longer corolla tubes.

•Conclusions: Selection pressures exerted by hummingbirds onS. virginicafloral and inflorescence design through male reproductive success are consistent with the contemporary expression of floral traits ofS. virginicarelative to relatedSilenespecies with different pollinators, and they are consistent with the hummingbird syndrome of traits expressed byS. virginica.
Application of phage typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to analyse Salmonella enterica isolates from a suspected outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Akinyemi Kabiru Olusegun , Philipp Werner , Beyer Wolfgang , Böhm Reinhard
Published: January 2011

Introduction: Inadequate potable water supply and poor sanitation predispose to food- and water-borne diseases associated with Salmonella enterica serovars in developing countries. In this study the possible source of an unprecedented upsurge of Salmonella-associated community gastroenteritis was traced using both phage-typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Methodology: Nineteen Salmonella Typhimurium (three sporadic isolates included) and 13 Salmonella Enteritidis isolates from clinical, animal, and environmental samples were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, phage-typing, and PFGE analysis using standard procedures. Results: Eleven (68.8%) of the 16 outbreak-related multidrug resistant S. Typhimurium belonged to DT 71 phage type with cluster PFGE type X3, representing the most prevalent strain identified among human, animal, and environmental isolates. The remaining five (31.2%) outbreak-related strains  reacted but did not conform with clear phage types (RDNC) with cluster PFGE types X1 and X2 (96.8% similarity). Sporadic strains were untypable and belonged to X4 PFGE type. However, the evaluated S. Enteritidis strains that were multidrug resistant without a definite phage type belonged to PFGE cluster type X1e and were identified among the water and human strains. None of the Typhimurium and Enteritdis isolates was resistant to the fluoroquinolone antibiotics that were evaluated. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the epidemiological usefulness of PFGE typing in the detection of emerging strains of multipledrug resistant Salmonella, particularly S. Typhimurium DT71, that pose serious health implications in our environment. The study provides epidemiological links between environmental reservoirs and human infection in this community.
Listeria monocytogenes brain abscess in a patient with multiple myeloma
Authors: Al-Khatti Adil A , Al-Tawfiq Jaffar A
Published: January 2011

Listeria monocytogenes is an uncommon cause of illness in the general population. Meningoencephalitis is the most common central nervous system (CNS) manifestation of listeriosis. However, brain abscess represents 1-10% of all CNS listeriosis. To our knowledge, L. monocytogenes brain abscess in multiple myeloma patients has not been previously reported. Thus we report a 58-year-old male patient with multiple myeloma who developed a brain abscess due to L. monocytogenes. Due to a history of penicillin allergy, he was treated with intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamoxazole (TMP-SMX) for a total of 12 weeks, and gentamicin for the first two weeks, followed by oral therapy of TMP-SMX for a total of nine months. He is alive six and a half years after the diagnosis of myeloma with occasional brief seizures despite being on two anticonvulsants.
Prensas para la elaboración de aceite en el establecimiento rural ibérico de Saus (Gerona). Notas sobre la explotación del campo en el territorio de Emporion
Authors: Casas Genover Josep
Published: January 2011

Las campañas de excavación llevadas a cabo durante 2007 y 2008 en el yacimiento ibérico de Saus, constituido por 38 silos, han permitido documentar la existencia de una explotación agrícola activa desde finales del siglo VI hasta inicios del siglo IV a.C., que compaginó el cultivo de cereal con la elaboración de aceite durante su última etapa de ocupación o, como mínimo, desde la segunda mitad avanzada del siglo V a.C., según se desprende a partir del hallazgo de cuatro bases de prensa en los niveles de amortización de diversos silos.
Arucci/Turobriga y las promociones julio-claudias en la Baeturia Celtica. A propósito de una nueva aportación epigráfica
Authors: Campos Carrasco Juan Manuel , Bermejo Meléndez Javier
Published: January 2011

En el yacimiento de la ciudad hispanorromana ubicada junto al solar de la antigua ermita de San Mamés (Aroche, Huelva), se halló durante una de las últimas campañas de excavación un fragmento de epígrafe cuyo estudio, y restitución, ha llevado a plantear una nueva perspectiva para el proceso de promoción de las ciudades en esta zona de la Baeturia Celtica. Este estudio ha llevado a plantear la posibilidad de una identificación con la Arucci-Turobriga de las fuentes plinianas para este yacimiento, produciéndose su monumentalización en época Julio-Claudia.
Les Horologia romana en Hispanie, mobilier, histoire et realités archéologiques
Authors: Bonnin Jerome
Published: January 2011

El estudio de los Horologia romana en Hispania no ha sido hecho hasta ahora. Este es el propósito del presente artículo que constituye al mismo tiempo una síntesis de los conocimientos existentes sobre este aspecto de la civilización romana en Hispania y un catálogo y estudio de toda la evidencia arqueológica, iconográfica y epigráfica. Los restos arqueológicos, en ocasiones poco estudiados por los descubridores, revelan un claro predominio de objetos descubiertos en ámbitos privados y una producción local en muchos casos. No obstante, la existencia de relojes en centros públicos está atestiguada no sólo por la epigrafía, bien conocida, sino también por los descubrimientos arqueológicos. Finalmente, el artículo brinda la oportunidad de redescubrir el llamado reloj de Yecla, de una iconografía totalmente inusual, prácticamente olvidado por los investigadores, pero que todavía hoy está sometido a discusión.
Las representaciones estatuarias y los retratos de Trajano en Hispania: una revisión
Authors: Ojeda David
Published: January 2011

A día de hoy, los diferentes estudios realizados sobre las esculturas romanas procedentes de Hispania han identificado unas diez representaciones del emperador Trajano. Los avances desarrollados por los estudios arqueológicos parecen recomendar su revisión, con el fin de corroborar sus identificaciones, y la inclusión de nuevas esculturas a este lote. Objetivo del presente trabajo es proponer una lista actualizada de las representaciones estatuarias del Optimus Princeps halladas en Hispania.
Análisis de la deformabilidad del acero inoxidable AISI 304 DDQ en condiciones multiaxiales de embutición. Evaluación de la influencia de la acritud inicial
Authors: Coello J. , Miguel V. , Calatayud A. , Martínez A. , Ferrer C.
Published: January 2011

La embutibilidad de un material se establece en función de indicadores normalizados, como son los índices de anisotropía y de acritud, que suelen determinarse en condiciones diferentes a las de conformado. Por otro lado, también es muy frecuente determinar la embutibilidad de los materiales mediante ensayos simulativos, que no separan las diferentes variables que actúan en el proceso como, por ejemplo, la dirección de laminación. En el presente trabajo se utiliza un ensayo con matriz en forma de cuña para determinar el coeficiente de endurecimiento y de anisotropía en función de la dirección de laminación para diferentes deformaciones en condiciones similares a las de tracción-compresión biaxial existentes en la zona del ala de un proceso de embutición profunda. El material estudiado es acero inoxidable AISI 304 con calidad de embutición. También se establece la influencia existente para estados de acritud inicial diferentes, laminación y tracción biaxial. Los resultados obtenidos permiten establecer la validez del ensayo realizado desde el punto de vista de la deformación que impone al material. También, se demuestra el efecto predominante de la acritud inicial del material frente al provocado en condiciones multiaxiales de embutición y se establece la variación del coeficiente de anisotropía del material con la deformación de embutición para la dirección coincidente con la de laminación del material.
Adaptive and Evolutionary Systems
Authors: Perrey Randall , Lycett Mark
Published: January 2011

This chapter examines the issues surrounding the development of adaptive evolutionary systems by evaluating the characteristics of contemporary development paradigms. It categorises these characteristics as advantages or limitations with respect to the purpose of servicing adaptive evolutionary systems’ requirements. The chapter considers the evolution of development paradigms and concludes that a key limitation in each case has been the preoccupation with addressing the shortcomings of the previous paradigm’s implementation. The maturity of the paradigm is seen as a significant element in determining what the current research issues for that paradigm will be and this observation is used to recommend the line of development that should be taken to avoid recurrent pitfalls. The issues extracted are structured into a framework for the evaluation of any given approach with respect to its suitability for the development of adaptive evolutionary systems. Recommendations are given for future work including recommendations outside the accepted sphere of information systems research.
Ateleological Developments of "Design-Decisions-Independent" Information Systems
Authors: Stamoulis Dimitrios , Theotokis Dimitrios , Martakos Drakoulis , Gyftodimos Georgios
Published: January 2011

This chapter introduces ateleology as a new paradigm for developing information systems (IS). It argues that the user should be able to modify the information systems’ behaviour at run-time, unlike contemporary IS. Such information systems, called tailorable, are able to evolve together with their context to adapt to the constantly changing requirements of their users. Ateleology provides a sound theoretical basis for explaining tailorable IS (TIS) development. Using an innovative software architecture made up of dynamic object-oriented software components, it is shown how an IS can be design-decisions-independent and, thus, tailorable, by empowering the user to control the system’s behaviour at run-time. By abolishing design decisions that unnecessarily and irreversibly restrict the IS’s behaviour and by deferring them at run-time, TIS is the first and only breed of IS that evolve and adapt to their context, to achieve constant systems development.
The Logic of Deferring the Design Process
Authors: Patel Nandish V.
Published: January 2011

The aim of this chapter is to formulate theoretical foundations for deferring the IS design process to inform adaptable usage of deferred systems. A research agenda for Deferred System’s Design is set and a new system component, the System-System Environment Interface, is defined as the public interface through which a deferred system can maintain close coupling with the system environment. A Problem-solving and planning technique is suggested, the Deferred-Specified IT/IS Matrix, to aid software developers to position a proposed system development in the system environment. A systems analysis technique is suggested to identify deferment points in a given system design. The chapter identifies seven properties of deferred systems that software developers can use to inform adaptable system designs.
Creating Adaptive Web Sites Using Personalisation Techniques
Authors: Vassiliou Charalampos , Stamoulis Dimitrios , Spiliotopoulos Aanastasios , Martakos Drakoulis
Published: January 2011

This chapter introduces a comprehensive review in personalization techniques and presents key features of personalized e-services. A framework is also introduced for integrating different personalization techniques into a single unified approach along the various segments of the customer decision process and it argues over the enhancement of the traditional personalization chain with an evaluation phase from which the results can provide feedback into the personalization techniques. Finally, based on the underlined approaches and assumptions, an extended personalization architecture is proposed including the evaluation layer. The vision of the authors is to embed a learning capability (through a fuzzy logic system, a neural network etc.) into the personalization techniques so that they avoid making the same unsuccessful suggestions in terms of links and features not being valued by the user. By achieving this goal, personalization-enabled web sites will behave as adaptive and evolutionary information systems.
The Evaluation of Adaptive Systems
Authors: Masthoff Judith
Published: January 2011

This chapter discusses the evaluation of adaptive systems, as it is important to investigate the effectiveness of adaptation and how it may be optimised. It argues that evaluation is often neglected because of difficulties in attributing cause, defining effectiveness, obtaining significant results and getting resources. Using example evaluations of an interactive instruction system, it shows how these issues can be tackled by separating concerns, using learning curves, splitting subjects into groups, and using experts and models instead of subjects. The author hopes that these methods will be more widely adopted for evaluating adaptive systems (not just adaptive instruction systems), producing more insight in experimental data and its causes, delivering more significant results, and making evaluations less costly.