bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seventy-Five Years of U.S. Hotel Revenues, Expenses, and Profits
Authors: Woodworth R. Mark , Mandelbaum Robert
Published: December 2009

The U.S. lodging industry has endured numerous-cycles over the past seventy-five years, beginning with the depths of depression in the 1930s. The industry saw a recovery in demand in the 1940s, particularly after the war years, but rising revenues were offset by postwar inflation. The 1950s saw a boom for the industry in terms of the number of rooms, especially those resulting from the construction of the interstate highway system. Chains began their substantial growth in the 1960s, which was another decade of relative prosperity and expansion for the lodging industry. With fuel shortages and inflation, the 1970s represented a time of rising costs and an effort to keep pace with rates. This culminated in the prosperous 1980s, but that decade was capped by a real estate bust. In the 1990s, the industry again prospered, in part because investors were initially reluctant to add to the supply. The first decade of the twenty-first century has essentially been a lost decade, in which the industry first experienced a steep drop in demand, followed by considerable growth, and then a stunning economic collapse.
Review of the US Preventive Services Task Force’s Statement on Screening for Breast Cancer
Authors: Evans Kevin D.
Published: December 2009

An evidence-based review was made of the systematic review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine regarding the guidelines for screening asymptomatic women for breast cancer in the United States. The US Preventive Services Task Force’s publication does not provide enough detail in the methodology to support a rigorous systematic review as outlined by both the PRISMA statement and the AMSTAR measurement tools. Several points within the task force’s statement are questioned because of the lack of research that was needed to draw these conclusions. An addendum is requested to better determine the methods used to conduct the systematic review as well as renewed research using digital mammography and/or a multimodality approach to screening women for breast cancer.
KLF2-induced actin shear fibers control both alignment to flow and JNK signaling in vascular endothelium
Authors: Boon Reinier A. , Leyen Thomas A. , Fontijn Ruud D. , Fledderus Joost O. , Baggen Josefien M. C. , Volger Oscar L. , van Nieuw Amerongen Geerten P. , Horrevoets Anton J. G.
Published: December 2009

The shear stress–induced transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) confers antiinflammatory properties to endothelial cells through the inhibition of activator protein 1, presumably by interfering with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. To gain insight into the regulation of these cascades by KLF2, we used antibody arrays in combination with time-course mRNA microarray analysis. No gross changes in MAPKs were detected; rather, phosphorylation of actin cytoskeleton-associated proteins, including focal adhesion kinase, was markedly repressed by KLF2. Furthermore, we demonstrate that KLF2-mediated inhibition of Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and its downstream targets ATF2/c-Jun is dependent on the cytoskeleton. Specifically, KLF2 directs the formation of typical short basal actin filaments, termed shear fibers by us, which are distinct from thrombin- or tumor necrosis factor-α–induced stress fibers. KLF2 is shown to be essential for shear stress–induced cell alignment, concomitant shear fiber assembly, and inhibition of JNK signaling. These findings link the specific effects of shear-induced KLF2 on endothelial morphology to the suppression of JNK MAPK signaling in vascular homeostasis via novel actin shear fibers.
An autoantibody epitope comprising residues R660, Y661, and Y665 in the ADAMTS13 spacer domain identifies a binding site for the A2 domain of VWF
Authors: Pos Wouter , Crawley James T. B. , Fijnheer Rob , Voorberg Jan , Lane David A. , Luken Brenda M.
Published: December 2009

In the majority of patients with acquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), antibodies are directed toward the spacer domain of ADAMTS13. We have previously shown that region Y658-Y665 is involved. We now show that replacement of R660, Y661, or Y665 with alanine in ADAMTS13 reduced/abolished the binding of 2 previously isolated human monoclonal antibodies and polyclonal antibodies derived from plasma of 6 patients with acquired TTP. We investigated whether these residues also influenced cleavage of short von Willebrand factor (VWF) fragment substrate VWF115. An ADAMTS13 variant (R660A/Y661A/Y665A, ADAMTS13-RYY) showed a 12-fold reduced catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) arising from greatly reduced (> 25-fold) binding, demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance. The influence of these residue changes on full-length VWF was determined with denaturing and flow assays. ADAMTS13-RYY had reduced activity in both, with proteolysis of VWF unaffected by autoantibody. Binding of ADAMTS13-RYY mutant to VWF was, however, similar to normal. Our results demonstrate that residues within Y658-Y665 of the ADAMTS13 spacer domain that are targeted by autoantibodies in TTP directly interact with a complementary exosite (E1660-R1668) within the VWF A2 domain. Residues R660, Y661, and Y665 are critical for proteolysis of short VWF substrates, but wider domain interactions also make important contributions to cleavage of full-length VWF.
Molecular remission is an independent predictor of clinical outcome in patients with mantle cell lymphoma after combined immunochemotherapy: a European MCL intergroup study
Authors: Pott Christiane , Hoster Eva , Delfau-Larue Marie-Helene , Beldjord Kheira , Böttcher Sebastian , Asnafi Vahid , Plonquet Anne , Siebert Reiner , Callet-Bauchu Evelyne , Andersen Niels , van Dongen Jacques J. M. , Klapper Wolfram , Berger Françoise , Ribrag Vincent , van Hoof Achiel L. , Trneny Marek , Walewski Jan , Dreger Peter , Unterhalt Michael , Hiddemann Wolfgang , Kneba Michael , Kluin-Nelemans Hanneke C. , Hermine Olivier , Macintyre Elizabeth , Dreyling Martin
Published: December 2009

The prognostic impact of minimal residual disease (MRD) was analyzed in 259 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) treated within 2 randomized trials of the European MCL Network (MCL Younger and MCL Elderly trial). After rituximab-based induction treatment, 106 of 190 evaluable patients (56%) achieved a molecular remission (MR) based on blood and/or bone marrow (BM) analysis. MR resulted in a significantly improved response duration (RD; 87% vs 61% patients in remission at 2 years, P = .004) and emerged to be an independent prognostic factor for RD (hazard ratio = 0.4, 95% confidence interval, 0.1-0.9, P = .028). MR was highly predictive for prolonged RD independent of clinical response (complete response [CR], complete response unconfirmed [CRu], partial response [PR]; RD at 2 years: 94% in BM MRD-negative CR/CRu and 100% in BM MRD-negative PR, compared with 71% in BM MRD-positive CR/CRu and 51% in BM MRD-positive PR, P = .002). Sustained MR during the postinduction period was predictive for outcome in MCL Younger after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT; RD at 2 years 100% vs 65%, P = .001) and during maintenance in MCL Elderly (RD at 2 years: 76% vs 36%, P = .015). ASCT increased the proportion of patients in MR from 55% before high-dose therapy to 72% thereafter. Sequential MRD monitoring is a powerful predictor for treatment outcome in MCL. These trials are registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00209222 and #NCT00209209.
Slug deficiency enhances self-renewal of hematopoietic stem cells during hematopoietic regeneration
Authors: Sun Yan , Shao Lijian , Bai Hao , Wang Zack Z. , Wu Wen-Shu
Published: December 2009

Both extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms tightly govern hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) decisions of self-renewal and differentiation. However, transcription factors that can selectively regulate HSC self-renewal division after stress remain to be identified. Slug is an evolutionarily conserved zinc-finger transcription factor that is highly expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells and is critical for the radioprotection of these key cells. We studied the effect of Slug in the regulation of HSCs in Slug-deficient mice under normal and stress conditions using serial functional assays. Here, we show that Slug deficiency does not disturb hematopoiesis or alter HSC homeostasis and differentiation in bone marrow but increases the numbers of primitive hematopoietic cells in the extramedullary spleen site. Deletion of Slug enhances HSC repopulating potential but not its homing and differentiation ability. Furthermore, Slug deficiency increases HSC proliferation and repopulating potential in vivo after myelosuppression and accelerates HSC expansion during in vitro culture. Therefore, we propose that Slug is essential for controlling the transition of HSCs from relative quiescence under steady-state condition to rapid proliferation under stress conditions. Our data suggest that inhibition of Slug in HSCs may present a novel strategy for accelerating hematopoietic recovery, thus providing therapeutic benefits for patients after clinical myelosuppressive treatment.
Gene expression profiling–based dissection of MLL translocated and MLL germline acute lymphoblastic leukemia in infants
Authors: Stam Ronald W. , Schneider Pauline , Hagelstein Jill A. P. , van der Linden Marieke H. , Stumpel Dominique J. P. M. , de Menezes Renee X. , de Lorenzo Paola , Valsecchi Maria G. , Pieters Rob
Published: December 2009

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in infants (< 1 year) is characterized by a poor prognosis and a high incidence of MLL translocations. Several studies demonstrated the unique gene expression profile associated with MLL-rearranged ALL, but generally small cohorts were analyzed as uniform patient groups regardless of the type of MLL translocation, whereas the analysis of translocation-negative infant ALL remained unacknowledged. Here we generated and analyzed primary infant ALL expression profiles (n = 73) typified by translocations t(4;11), t(11;19), and t(9;11), or the absence of MLL translocations. Our data show that MLL germline infant ALL specifies a gene expression pattern that is different from both MLL-rearranged infant ALL and pediatric precursor B-ALL. Moreover, we demonstrate that, apart from a fundamental signature shared by all MLL-rearranged infant ALL samples, each type of MLL translocation is associated with a translocation-specific gene expression signature. Finally, we show the existence of 2 distinct subgroups among t(4;11)–positive infant ALL cases characterized by the absence or presence of HOXA expression, and that patients lacking HOXA expression are at extreme high risk of disease relapse. These gene expression profiles should provide important novel insights in the complex biology of MLL-rearranged infant ALL and boost our progress in finding novel therapeutic solutions.
The Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (MIPI) is superior to the International Prognostic Index (IPI) in predicting survival following intensive first-line immunochemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT)
Authors: Geisler Christian H. , Kolstad Arne , Laurell Anna , Räty Riikka , Jerkeman Mats , Eriksson Mikael , Nordström Marie , Kimby Eva , Boesen Anne Marie , Nilsson-Ehle Herman , Kuittinen Outi , Lauritzsen Grete F. , Ralfkiær Elisabeth , Ehinger Mats , Sundström Christer , Delabie Jan , Karjalainen-Lindsberg Marja-Liisa , Brown Peter , Elonen Erkki ,   for the Nordic Lymphoma Group
Published: December 2009

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has a heterogeneous clinical course. The recently proposed Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (MIPI) predicted the survival of MCL better than the International Prognostic Index in MCL patients treated with conventional chemotherapy, but its validity in MCL treated with more intensive immunochemotherapy has been questioned. Applied here to 158 patients of the Nordic MCL2 trial of first-line intensive immunochemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, the MIPI and the simplified MIPI (s-MIPI) predicted survival significantly better (P < .001) than the International Prognostic Index (P > .004). Both the MIPI and the s-MIPI mainly identified 2 risk groups, low and intermediate versus high risk, with the more easily applied s-MIPI being just as powerful as the MIPI. The MIPIB (biological), incorporating Ki-67 expression, identified almost half of the patients as high risk. We suggest that also a simplified MIPIB is feasible. This trial was registered at www.isrctn.org as #ISRCTN 87866680.
Overview on practices in thalassemia intermedia management aiming for lowering complication rates across a region of endemicity: the OPTIMAL CARE study
Authors: Taher Ali T. , Musallam Khaled M. , Karimi Mehran , El-Beshlawy Amal , Belhoul Khawla , Daar Shahina , Saned Mohamed-SalahEldin , El-Chafic Abdul-Hamid , Fasulo Maria R. , Cappellini Maria D.
Published: December 2009

Despite recent advances in understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms behind the thalassemia intermedia (TI) phenotype, data on the effects of treatment are deficient. To provide such data, we evaluated 584 TI patients for the associations between patient and disease characteristics, treatment received, and the rate of complications. The most common disease-related complications were osteoporosis, extramedullary hematopoeisis (EMH), hypogonadism, and cholelithiasis, followed by thrombosis, pulmonary hypertension (PHT), abnormal liver function, and leg ulcers. Hypothyroidism, heart failure, and diabetes mellitus were less frequently observed. On multivariate analysis, older age and splenectomy were independently associated with an increased risk of most disease-related complications. Transfusion therapy was protective for thrombosis, EMH, PHT, heart failure, cholelithiasis, and leg ulcers. However, transfusion therapy was associated with an increased risk of endocrinopathy. Iron chelation therapy was in turn protective for endocrinopathy and PHT. Hydroxyurea treatment was associated with an increased risk of hypogonadism yet was protective for EMH, PHT, leg ulcers, hypothyroidism, and osteoporosis. Attention should be paid to the impact of age on complications in TI, and the beneficial role of splenectomy deserves revisiting. This study provides evidence that calls for prospective evaluation of the roles of transfusion, iron chelation, and hydroxyurea therapy in TI patients.
Large-scale identification of odorant-binding proteins and chemosensory proteins from expressed sequence tags in insects
Authors: Xu Ya-Long , He Peng , Zhang Lan , Fang Shao-Qing , Dong Shuang-Lin , Zhang Yong-Jun , Li Fei
Published: December 2009

Background

Insect odorant binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) play an important role in chemical communication of insects. Gene discovery of these proteins is a time-consuming task. In recent years, expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of many insect species have accumulated, thus providing a useful resource for gene discovery.

Results

We have developed a computational pipeline to identify OBP and CSP genes from insect ESTs. In total, 752,841 insect ESTs were examined from 54 species covering eight Orders of Insecta. From these ESTs, 142 OBPs and 177 CSPs were identified, of which 117 OBPs and 129 CSPs are new. The complete open reading frames (ORFs) of 88 OBPs and 123 CSPs were obtained by electronic elongation. We randomly chose 26 OBPs from eight species of insects, and 21 CSPs from four species for RT-PCR validation. Twenty two OBPs and 16 CSPs were confirmed by RT-PCR, proving the efficiency and reliability of the algorithm. Together with all family members obtained from the NCBI (OBPs) or the UniProtKB (CSPs), 850 OBPs and 237 CSPs were analyzed for their structural characteristics and evolutionary relationship.

Conclusions

A large number of new OBPs and CSPs were found, providing the basis for deeper understanding of these proteins. In addition, the conserved motif and evolutionary analysis provide some new insights into the evolution of insect OBPs and CSPs. Motif pattern fine-tune the functions of OBPs and CSPs, leading to the minor difference in binding sex pheromone or plant volatiles in different insect Orders.
Chemokine CCL2 and its receptor CCR2 are increased in the hippocampus following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus
Authors: Foresti Maira L , Arisi Gabriel M , Katki Khurshed , Montañez Andres , Sanchez Russell M , Shapiro Lee A
Published: December 2009

Background

Neuroinflammation occurs after seizures and is implicated in epileptogenesis. CCR2 is a chemokine receptor for CCL2 and their interaction mediates monocyte infiltration in the neuroinflammatory cascade triggered in different brain pathologies. In this work CCR2 and CCL2 expression were examined following status epilepticus (SE) induced by pilocarpine injection.

Methods

SE was induced by pilocarpine injection. Control rats were injected with saline instead of pilocarpine. Five days after SE, CCR2 staining in neurons and glial cells was examined using imunohistochemical analyses. The number of CCR2 positive cells was determined using stereology probes in the hippocampus. CCL2 expression in the hippocampus was examined by molecular assay.

Results

Increased CCR2 was observed in the hippocampus after SE. Seizures also resulted in alterations to the cell types expressing CCR2. Increased numbers of neurons that expressed CCR2 was observed following SE. Microglial cells were more closely apposed to the CCR2-labeled cells in SE rats. In addition, rats that experienced SE exhibited CCR2-labeling in populations of hypertrophied astrocytes, especially in CA1 and dentate gyrus. These CCR2+ astroctytes were not observed in control rats. Examination of CCL2 expression showed that it was elevated in the hippocampus following SE.

Conclusion

The data show that CCR2 and CCL2 are up-regulated in the hippocampus after pilocarpine-induced SE. Seizures also result in changes to CCR2 receptor expression in neurons and astrocytes. These changes might be involved in detrimental neuroplasticity and neuroinflammatory changes that occur following seizures.
Flux Design: In silico design of cell factories based on correlation of pathway fluxes to desired properties
Authors: Melzer Guido , Esfandabadi Manely Eslahpazir , Franco-Lara Ezequiel , Wittmann Christoph
Published: December 2009

Background

The identification of genetic target genes is a key step for rational engineering of production strains towards bio-based chemicals, fuels or therapeutics. This is often a difficult task, because superior production performance typically requires a combination of multiple targets, whereby the complex metabolic networks complicate straightforward identification. Recent attempts towards target prediction mainly focus on the prediction of gene deletion targets and therefore can cover only a part of genetic modifications proven valuable in metabolic engineering. Efficient in silico methods for simultaneous genome-scale identification of targets to be amplified or deleted are still lacking.

Results

Here we propose the identification of targets via flux correlation to a chosen objective flux as approach towards improved biotechnological production strains with optimally designed fluxes. The approach, we name Flux Design, computes elementary modes and, by search through the modes, identifies targets to be amplified (positive correlation) or down-regulated (negative correlation). Supported by statistical evaluation, a target potential is attributed to the identified reactions in a quantitative manner. Based on systems-wide models of the industrial microorganisms Corynebacterium glutamicum and Aspergillus niger, up to more than 20,000 modes were obtained for each case, differing strongly in production performance and intracellular fluxes. For lysine production in C. glutamicum the identified targets nicely matched with reported successful metabolic engineering strategies. In addition, simulations revealed insights, e.g. into the flexibility of energy metabolism. For enzyme production in A.niger flux correlation analysis suggested a number of targets, including non-obvious ones. Hereby, the relevance of most targets depended on the metabolic state of the cell and also on the carbon source.

Conclusions

Objective flux correlation analysis provided a detailed insight into the metabolic networks of industrially relevant prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. It was shown that capacity, pathway usage, and relevant genetic targets for optimal production partly depend on the network structure and the metabolic state of the cell which should be considered in future metabolic engineering strategies. The presented strategy can be generally used to identify priority sorted amplification and deletion targets for metabolic engineering purposes under various conditions and thus displays a useful strategy to be incorporated into efficient strain and bioprocess optimization.
Inverse Opal Titania on Optical Fiber for the Photoreduction of CO2 to CH3OH
Authors: Ren Maoming , Valsaraj Kalliat
Published: December 2009

Copper supported on inverse opal titania generated in-situ by sol-gel technology on optical fibers is effective in improving the photon utilization rate in a photocatalytic reactor. Inverse opal titania allows the slow-down of photons and improves the quantum efficiency for the photoreduction of gaseous CO2 to CH3OH in the presence of water vapor and UV light. Methanol production rates (0.0364 ±0.0014 µ mol.g-cat-1.h-1) were comparable to those of a conventional fiber optic reactor using Cu supported on unstructured titania, but required much lower light intensities. The production rate was independent of the feed rate indicating that the reaction is not mass-transfer controlled. The production rate increased with UV radiation intensity as I0.74 in contrast to I0.20 for unstructured titania. The inverse opal titania was predominantly anatase (101 crystalline phase), had a stop band gap of 307-397 nm and therefore capable of trapping UV light in the opal. Copper supported on inverse opal titania showed features similar to those of pure titania and Copper was present mostly as Cu0. XPS data showed that Cu was mostly dispersed on the surface.
Quantum cascade laser: Applications in chemical detection and environmental monitoring
Authors: Radovanovic Jelena , Milanovic Vitomir
Published: December 2009

In this paper we consider the structural parameter optimization of the active region of a GaAs-based quantum cascade laser in order to maximize the optical gain of the laser at the characteristic wavelengths, which are best suited for detection of pollutant gasses, such as SO2, HNO3, CH4, and NH3, in the ambient air by means of direct absorption. The procedure relies on applying elaborate tools for global optimization, such as the genetic algorithm. One of the important goals is to extend the applicability of a single active region design to the detection of several compounds absorbing at close wave-lengths, and this is achieved by introducing a strong external magnetic field perpendicularly to the epitaxial layers. The field causes two-dimensional continuous energy subbands to split into the series of discrete Landau levels. Since the arrangement of Landau levels depends strongly on the magnitude of the magnetic field, this enables one to control the population inversion in the active region, and hence the optical gain. Furthermore, strong effects of band non-parabolicity result in subtle changes of the lasing wavelength at magnetic fields which maximize the gain, thus providing a path for fine-tuning of the output radiation properties and changing the target compound for detection. The numerical results are presented for quantum cascade laser structures designed to emit at specified wavelengths in the mid-infrared part of the spectrum.
Level studies of 73As via 73Ge(p, nγ)73As reaction and density of discrete levels in 73As
Authors: Behkami Aziz , Razavi Rohallah , Kakavand Tayeb
Published: December 2009

The excited states of 73As have been investigated via the 73Ge(p, n?)73As reaction with the proton beam energies from 2.5-4.3 MeV. The parameters of the nuclear level density formula have been determined from the extensive and complete level scheme for 73As. The Bethe formula for the back-shifted Fermi gas model and the constant temperature model are compared with the experimental level densities.
A comparison of retrospective radon gas measurement techniques carried out in the Serbian spa of Niska Banja
Authors: Zunic Zora , Kelleher Kevin , Celikovic Igor , Ujic Predrag , Paridaens Johan , Mclaughlin James , Cuknic Olivera , Milic Gordana , NikoliC Jugoslav , Simovic Rodoljub
Published: December 2009

Indoor radon retrospective concentrations were obtained and compared using two radon measurement methods. Both methods rely on the measurement of the long-lived radon progeny 210Pb, collected either on the surfaces (surface trap technique), most frequently glass, or in a volume trap, usually sponge from furniture (volume trap technique). These techniques have been used to retrospectively estimate radon gas concentrations that have existed in dwellings in the past. The work presented here compares the results provided by the surface trap technique devised at the University College of Dublin, Ireland, and the volume trap technique devised at the Scientific Research Center, Mol, Belgium. The field campaign was carried out by the research team of the ECE Laboratory of the Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences at the spa of Niska Banja, identified as a region of Serbia with a high indoor radon and ground water radium and radon content.
Active biomonitoring of air radioactivity in urban areas
Authors: Popovic Dragana , Todorovic Dragana , Ajtic Jelena , Nikolic Jelena
Published: December 2009

To assess the validity of the moss bag monitoring technique in the radioactivity control of ground level urban air, a study on radionuclide contents in moss was performed in the city of Belgrade, Serbia. From May 2006 to May 2007, moss (Sphagnum girgensohni, Dubna, Russia) was exposed to the aero pollution in a location in the central area of the city. The activity of 40K, 210Pb, and 137Cs was measured on an HPGe detector (Canberra, relative efficiency 23%) by standard gamma spectrometry. The activities 245 ? 25 Bq/kg for 40K, 315 ? 34 Bq/kg for 210Pb, and 28 ? 4 Bq/kg for 137Cs are in the range of values reported for the region; the differences are due to the moss species, local climate and measuring technique. Taking into consideration the time of the exposure and appropriate calibration procedure, moss bag biomonitoring could be used as a complementary method for determination of radionuclides in urban air.
Climatic variations of beryllium-7 activity in the atmosphere of Peshawar basin, Pakistan, during 2001-2006
Authors: Khan Khalid , Jabbar Abdul , Akhter Perveen
Published: December 2009

In the present study, the climatic variations of 7Be in the Peshawar basin (longitude 71?15' and 72?45' E and latitude 33?45' and 34?30' N) of Pakistan was observed during the period of 2001-2006. Under the domain of environmental surveillance programme, air particulate samples were collected from Peshawar basin on fiberglass filters and analyzed for gamma emitting radionuclides using the gamma spectrometry system. The results of the last six years (2001-2006) range between 3.6 to 5 mBq/m3, while the composite average concentration of this radionuclide for the whole period is 4.5 mBq/m3. The measured values were significantly lower than the world average value of 12.5 mBq/m3. The climatic variations in the concentrations of 7Be were also checked by classifying the whole year into four seasons (winter, spring, summer, and fall) and a positive correlation between 7Be activity and change in temperature was obtained.
Detection efficiencies of 226Ra and 232Th in different modes of counting of the PRIPYAT-2M spectrometer
Authors: Antovic Nevenka , Svrkota Nikola
Published: December 2009

Detection efficiencies of 226Ra and 232Th decay products, as well as corresponding minimum detectable activities in different modes of counting of the PRIPYAT-2M spectrometer (integral, when all pulses - coincident and non-coincident, are counted; non-coincident, when only non-coincident pulses are counted; coincident, when coincident pulses of multiplicity from 2 to 6 are counted), in energy ranges of 200 keV to 2000 keV and 300 keV to 3000 keV are presented here. It has been shown that the mode of double coincidences is the optimum one for measuring radium and thorium activity. In this mode of counting, the sensitivity of the spectrometer is the highest.
Improving the uniformity of the gamma production rate distribution with depth in a large biological sample for an IVNAA facility
Authors: Hakimabad Miri , Motavalli Rafat
Published: December 2009

The design studies related to a prompt ?-rays in vivo neutron activation analysis facility are described. The designs were based on two neutron sources: 252Cf and 241Am-Be, four collimator materials: polyethylene, 5% boric-acid doped polyethylene, graphite, and the heavy water, two collimator shapes: pyramidal and rectangular, and two configurations: unilateral and bilateral. The aim of this work was improving the uniformity of the gamma production rate distribution with depth in a large biological sample. For the sample, a water phantom measuring 32cm x 16cm x 100cm was simulated. The simulations were performed by MCNPX 2.4.0 Monte Carlo code. This study recommends the prompt ?-rays IVNAA facility in the bilateral configuration with graphite as a collimator material and 241Am-Be as neutron source.
Reliability of semiconductor and gas-filled diodes for over-voltage protection exposed to ionizing radiation
Authors: Stankovic Koviljka , Vujisic Milos , Dolicanin Edin
Published: December 2009

The wide-spread use of semiconductor and gas-filled diodes for non-linear over-voltage protection results in a variety of possible working conditions. It is therefore essential to have a thorough insight into their reliability in exploitation environments which imply exposure to ionizing radiation. The aim of this paper is to investigate the influence of irradiation on over-voltage diode characteristics by exposing the diodes to californium-252 combined neutron/gamma radiation field. The irradiation of semiconductor over-voltage diodes causes severe degradation of their protection characteristics. On the other hand, gas-filled over-voltage diodes exhibit a temporal improvement of performance. The results are presented with the accompanying theoretical interpretations of the observed changes in over-voltage diode behaviour, based on the interaction of radiation with materials constituting the diodes.
Radiation protection tasks on the Kiev research reactor WWR-M
Authors: Lobach Yuri , Shevel Valery
Published: December 2009

Both the description of and the operational experience with the radiation protection system at the research reactor WWR-M are presented. The list of the factors regarding the radiation hazards during the reactor routine operation is given and the main activities on the radiation safety provision are established. The statistical information for the staff exposure, the radioactive aerosol releases and the external radiation monitoring is shown. The preliminary considerations on the system upgrading for the decommissioning are presented.
Wipe testing of sealed radiation sources using a radiation protection assistant robot
Authors: Zeb Jahan , Rashid Farooq , Iqbal Naeem , Ahmad Nasir
Published: December 2009

Sealed radiation sources are commonly used in different research institutes, industries, and hospitals. The sources of various strengths are manufactured in different sizes and shapes. It is a regulatory requirement that these sources must be monitored frequently for their integrity and to avoid any radiological contamination hazard. Mainly, a wipe test is recommended for the contamination detection due to the leakage of sealed radiation sources. A radiation protection assistant robot has been fabricated to execute different tasks in a hazardous radiation environment. In this study, the robot was used to conduct the wipe test of five sealed radiation sources. The sealed radiation sources were tested safely and securely without giving any radiation dose to the radiation worker. The radiation doses received by the robot gripper and waist during the wipe test were 3.4 Gy and 208.9 mGy, respectively.
A Pedagogical Evaluation of Intra-Sentential Code-Switching Patterns in L2 Classroom Talk
Authors: Majer Jan
Published: December 2009

The paper is concerned with teachers’ and students’ alternation between L1 and L2 within the same utterance, i.e. uses of intra-sentential code-switching which in classroom discourse tends to be less accepted by modern language pedagogy than its inter-sentential counterpart. The rationale for the study is the universal nature of the phenomenon known to occur in the first place in interactions among natural bilinguals and multilinguals. The data analysis sections of the article review eight different patterns which are evaluated pedagogically. It transpires that the category most likely to arouse methodological controversy is code-mixing.
The Effect of Text Authenticity on the Performance of Iranian EFL Students in a C-Test
Authors: Cheng Karen Kow Yip , BiglarBaygi Amir , Solaymani Mesod
Published: December 2009

As part of growing efforts to understand factors affecting c-test this study aims to investigate the effect of text authenticity on the performance of Iranian EFL students in a C-Test. The C-Test is an integrative testing instrument that measures overall language competence, very much like the cloze test. In this study the rule of two has been applied: “the second half of every second word has been deleted, beginning with the second word of the second sentence; the first and last sentences are left intact” (Katona and Dornyei 1993: 35). The research involves 60 college students in their third year, majoring in English Literature at Ershad-Damavand College. This group were randomly selected applying multi-stage sampling. Since the present study intended to investigate the role of two different formats, i.e. authentic and inauthentic texts (text translated from Persian into English), two different tailored C-Tests were made to measure and compare the performances of the participants. Two C-Tests, one with Authentic Text and the other, with Inauthentic Text were administered to this homogenized group comprising 30 subjects. The findings of this study suggest that authenticity has an effect on the performance of learners in c-tests and we should control this variable while devising a c-test.
Musical Intelligence and Foreign Language Learning
Authors: Zybert Jerzy , Stępień Sabina
Published: December 2009

The article discusses the potential advantage that musically gifted FL learners have in developing the speaking skill, especially in acquiring some prosodic features. Empirical findings are provided to support the assumption.
Sociolinguistic Conditioning of Phonetic Category Realisation in Non-Native Speech
Authors: Waniek-Klimczak Ewa
Published: December 2009

The realisation of phonetic categories reflects a complex relationship between individual phonetic parameters and both linguistic and extra-linguistic conditioning of language usage. The present paper investigates the effect of selected socio-linguistic variables, such as the age, the amount of language use and cultural/social distance in English used by Polish immigrants to the U.S. Individual parameters used in the realisation of the category ‘voice’ have been found to vary in their sensitivity to extra-linguistic factors: while the production of target-like values of all parameters is related to the age, it is the closure duration that is most stable in the correspondence to the age and level of language proficiency. The VOT and vowel duration, on the other hand, prove to be more sensitive to the amount of language use and attitudinal factors.
Easily-accessible digital palaeontological databases-a new perspective for the storage of palaeontological information
Authors: Wolniewicz Paweł
Published: December 2009

Easily-accessible digital palaeontological databases-a new perspective for the storage of palaeontological information

Techniques that allow to render diverse types of palaeontological data as publicly available internet resources are described. In order to develop an easily accessible digital palaeontological database, three steps should be followed: (1) digitization of the studied specimens, (2) acquisition of morphometric data, and (3) contribution of the data to open and searchable geoinformatic (palaeontological) databases. Digital data should be submitted to internet databases that allow a user to fetch various types of information from dispersed sources (semantic web services).
Global maps of the step-wise topography corrected and crustal components stripped geoids using the CRUST 2.0 model
Authors: Tenzer Robert ,   Hamayun, Vajda Peter
Published: December 2009

Global maps of the step-wise topography corrected and crustal components stripped geoids using the CRUST 2.0 model

We compile global maps of the step-wise topography corrected and crustal components stripped geoids based on the geopotential model EGM'08 complete to spherical harmonic degree 180 and the CRUST 2.0 global crustal model. The spectral resolution complete to degree 180 is used to compute the primary indirect bathymetric stripping and topographic effects on the geoid, while degree 90 for the primary indirect ice stripping effect. The primary indirect stripping effects of the soft and hard sediments, and the upper, middle and lower consolidated crust components are forward modeled in spatial form using the 2 × 2 arc-deg discrete data of the CRUST 2.0 model. The ocean, ice, sediment and consolidated crust density contrasts are defined relative to the adopted reference crustal density of 2670 kg/m3. Finally we compute and apply the primary indirect stripping effect of the density contrast (relative to the mantle) of the reference crust. The constant value of -520 kg/m3is adopted for this density contrast relative to the mantle. All data are evaluated on a 1 × 1 arc-deg geographical grid. The complete crust-stripped geoidal undulations, globally having a range of approximately 1.5 km, contain the gravitational signal coming from the global mantle lithosphere (upper mantle) morphology and density composition, and from the sub-lithospheric density heterogeneities. Large errors in the complete crust-stripped geoid are expected due to uncertainties of the CRUST 2.0 model, i.e., due to deviations of the CRUST 2.0 model density from the real earth's crustal density and due to the Moho-boundary uncertainties.
Homogenization of long-term GPS monitoring series at permanent stations in Central Europe and Balkan Peninsula
Authors: Hefty Ján , Igondová Miroslava , Droščák Branislav
Published: December 2009

Homogenization of long-term GPS monitoring series at permanent stations in Central Europe and Balkan Peninsula

The network of 54 permanent GPS stations situated in Central Europe, Alpine-Adriatic region and Balkan Peninsula is analyzed by unified processing strategy, using homogeneous models for reduction of physical effects, and is uniformly referred to as the International Terrestrial Reference Frame - ITRF2005. The resulting time series of observed site coordinates and site troposphere parameters from interval 1999.5 to 2008.5 are inspected for their continuity, homogeneity, long-term drift, and seasonal variations.
A global correlation of the step-wise consolidated crust-stripped gravity field quantities with the topography, bathymetry, and the CRUST 2.0 Moho boundary
Authors: Tenzer Robert ,   Hamayun, Vajda Peter
Published: December 2009

A global correlation of the step-wise consolidated crust-stripped gravity field quantities with the topography, bathymetry, and the CRUST 2.0 Moho boundary

We investigate globally the correlation of the step-wise consolidated cruststripped gravity field quantities with the topography, bathymetry, and the Moho boundary. Global correlations are quantified in terms of Pearson's correlation coefficient. The elevation and bathymetry data from the ETOPO5 are used to estimate the correlation of the gravity field quantities with the topography and bathymetry. The 2×2 arc-deg discrete data of the Moho depth from the global crustal model CRUST 2.0 are used to estimate the correlation of the gravity field quantities with the Moho boundary. The results reveal that the topographically corrected gravity field quantities have the highest absolute correlation with the topography. The negative correlation of the topographically corrected gravity disturbances with the topography over the continents reaches -0.97. The ocean, ice and sediment density contrasts stripped and topographically corrected gravity field quantities have the highest correlation with the bathymetry (ocean bottom relief). The correlation of the ocean, ice and sediment density contrasts stripped and topographically corrected gravity disturbances over the oceans reaches 0.93. The consolidated crust-stripped gravity field quantities have the highest absolute correlation with the Moho boundary. In particular, the global correlation of the consolidated crust-stripped gravity disturbances with the Moho boundary is found to be -0.92. Among all the investigated gravity field quantities, the consolidated crust-stripped gravity disturbances are thus the best suited for a refinement of the Moho density interface by means of the gravimetric modeling or inversion.
Global atmospheric effects on the gravity field quantities
Authors: Tenzer Robert , Vajda Peter ,   Hamayun
Published: December 2009

Global atmospheric effects on the gravity field quantities

We compile the global maps of atmospheric effects on the gravity field quantities using the spherical harmonic representation of the gravitational field. A simple atmospheric density distribution is assumed within a lower atmosphere (< 6 km). Disregarding temporal and lateral atmospheric density variations, the radial atmospheric density model is defined as a function of the nominal atmospheric density at the sea level and the height. For elevations above 6 km, the atmospheric density distribution from the United States Standard Atmosphere 1976 is adopted. The 5 × 5 arc-min global elevation data from the ETOPO5 are used to generate the global elevation model coefficients. These coefficients (which represent the geometry of the lower bound of atmospheric masses) are utilized to compute the atmospheric effects with a spectral resolution complete to degree and order 180. The atmospheric effects on gravity disturbances, gravity anomalies and geoid undulations are evaluated globally on a 1 × 1 arc-deg grid.
Is Low Hemoglobin Level a Risk Factor for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections?
Authors: Malla Tejesh , Pathak Om K , Malla Kalpana K
Published: December 2009

Objective: This prospective study was conducted to evaluate whether a low hemoglobin level, was a risk factor for Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infections (ALRTI) in children.   Methods: 150 Children of all age groups who came to the outpatient department and those admitted for ALRTI were included in the study. Age and sex-matched 140 children, not having any respiratory illness, were taken as control. The study period was from March 2006 - March 2007. Detailed clinical and laboratory evaluation of the enlisted patients was done. All were subjected to detail investigations.   Results: Radiological evidence of pneumonia was present in 70 (50 %) children.Hyperinflated lungs were seen in 40 (29%) and was normal in 30 (21.4%) cases. Blood culture was positive in 14 (10%) children of study group and none among control group. Klebsiella was the commonest organism isolated 6 (4.2%) in blood culture positive cases. The mean Hemoglobin (Hb) level of study group was 9.88 gm% and it was 12 gm% in control group.96 (68.6%) of study group and 30 (21.42%) of control group had anemia. Of the anemic children, 79 (82.3%) in study group had iron deficiency, and 17 (17.7%) had normocytic normochromic anemia. These values were 18 (33.3%) and 36 (66.6%) respectively for control group. Low hemoglobin level was a risk factor (p<0.001) ALRTI.   Conclusion: Anemic children were 3.2 times more susceptible to ALRTI compared to the control group and and iron deficiency anemia was predominating. Supplemental iron therapy may reduce the incidence of ALRTI. Prevention of anemia, due to whatever etiology is also essential. Key words: ALRTI, anemia, hemoglobin. DOI: 10.3126/jnps.v30i1.2453 Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society Vol.30(1) 2010 1-7
Knowledge about Condoms among Adolescents in Kathmandu Valley
Authors: Jha Sagar Mani , Chaurasia Ramesh , Jha Beena
Published: December 2009

Introduction: The issues of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) remain the leading cause of ill health among adolescents worldwide and are of growing concern in Nepal. The correct knowledge of condoms is integral part of SRH. The present study was carried out to assess and compare the knowledge about condoms among adolescents in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. Aim: To study, assess and compare the knowledge about condoms among adolescents in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey. The sample was derived through cluster sampling of the secondary schools in the Kathmandu valley. Schools were selected randomly and two hundred and fifty adolescents were taken from each government and non-government high schools. Result: Altogether 500 adolescents were recruited for this study. A total of 298 (53.0%) participants said that condoms reduced pleasure. Most women don't like to use condoms was agreed by 291 (55.6%) people and it was statistically significant (p value < 0.05) when compared between males and females. Using condoms with new partner is a good idea was agreed upon by 448 (81.0%) participants. Women should ask their partners to use condoms was answered by 480 (88.1%) and discussing condom use with prospective partner is easy was agreed by 417(79.0%) and both the issues were also statistically significant (p value < 0.05). Conclusion: It was found that the knowledge about condoms was not adequate and the knowledge among male participants was in general better than females. Key words: Adolescents, Condom, Sexual and reproductive Health DOI: 10.3126/jnps.v30i1.2455 Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society Vol.30(1) 2010 18-22
Infection of Cyclospora cayetanensis in Diarrhoeal Children of Nepal
Authors: Sherchan Jatan B , Sherpa Kunjang , Tandukar Sarmilla , Cross John H , Gajadhar Alvin , Sherchand Jeevan B
Published: December 2009

Introduction: Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian parasite that causes recurrent gastroenteritis among children living under poor sanitary condition and adults from industrialized countries who lived or traveled in endemic developing countries. Methods: A total of 1842 stool specimens from gastroenteritis patients were examined between March 2006 to February 2007 and collected various types of faecal specimens from human, animals and samples of water and green leafy vegetables. Results: Of 1842 stool specimens collected from different areas of Nepal, 146 (7.9 %) were found to be positive for Cyclospora cayetanensis. with the majority were from children 2-9 years of age. The highest rate of infections was found in the month of June; (31.6%). Cyclospora cayetanensis were found to be contaminated in green vegetables including leaves of basil, mint leaves, water sources and feces of domestic animals and these findings were presented in the paper. Conclusion: Cyclospora-like oocysts were detected in vegetables leaves, feces of domestic animals and water sources. The results suggest that water, vegetables and domestic animals are possible sources of infection in Nepal. The study also obtained more information on Cyclospora cayetanensis a coccidian parasite that infect humans especially children and causes prolonged diarrhea and life threatening infestation. Key words: Cyclospora cayetanensis, source, Nepal DOI: 10.3126/jnps.v30i1.2456 Journal of Nepal Paediatric Society Vol.30(1) 2010 23-30