bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation of a Biometric System Based on Acoustic Images
Authors: Izquierdo-Fuente Alberto , Del Val Lara , Jiménez María I. , Villacorta Juan J.
Published: October 2011

An acoustic electronic scanning array for acquiring images from a person using a biometric application is developed. Based on pulse-echo techniques, multifrequency acoustic images are obtained for a set of positions of a person (front, front with arms outstretched, back and side). Two Uniform Linear Arrays (ULA) with 15 l/2-equispaced sensors have been employed, using different spatial apertures in order to reduce sidelobe levels. Working frequencies have been designed on the basis of the main lobe width, the grating lobe levels and the frequency responses of people and sensors. For a case-study with 10 people, the acoustic profiles, formed by all images acquired, are evaluated and compared in a mean square error sense. Finally, system performance, using False Match Rate (FMR)/False Non-Match Rate (FNMR) parameters and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve, is evaluated. On the basis of the obtained results, this system could be used for biometric applications.
A Label-Free Electrochemical Immunosensor for Carbofuran Detection Based on a Sol-Gel Entrapped Antibody
Authors: Sun Xia , Du Shuyuan , Wang Xiangyou , Zhao Wenping , Li Qingqing
Published: October 2011

In this study, an anti-carbofuran monoclonal antibody (Ab) was immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) using silica sol-gel (SiSG) technology. Thus, a sensitive, label-free electrochemical immunosensor for the direct determination of carbofuran was developed. The electrochemical performance of immunoreaction of antigen with the anti-carbofuran monoclonal antibody was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), in which phosphate buffer solution containing [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− was used as the base solution for test. Because the complex formed by the immunoreaction hindered the diffusion of [Fe(CN)6]3−/4− on the electrode surface, the redox peak current of the immunosensor in the CV obviously decreased with the increase of the carbofuran concentration. The pH of working solution, the concentration of Ab and the incubation time of carbofuran were studied to ensure the sensitivity and conductivity of the immunosensor. Under the optimal conditions, the linear range of the proposed immunosensor for the determination of carbofuran was from 1 ng/mL to 100 μg/mL and from 50 μg/mL to 200 μg/mL with a detection limit of 0.33 ng/mL (S/N = 3). The proposed immunosensor exhibited good high sensitivity and stability, and it was thus suitable for trace detection of carbofuran pesticide residues.
Inhibition of Geranylgeranyl Transferase-I Decreases Cell Viability of HTLV-1-Transformed Cells
Authors: Edwards Dustin C. , McKinnon Katherine M. , Fenizia Claudio , Jung Kyung-Jin , Brady John N. , Pise-Masison Cynthia A.
Published: October 2011

Human T-cell leukemia virus type-1 (HTLV-1) is the etiological agent of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), an aggressive and highly chemoresistant malignancy. Rho family GTPases regulate multiple signaling pathways in tumorigenesis: cytoskeletal organization, transcription, cell cycle progression, and cell proliferation. Geranylgeranylation of Rho family GTPases is essential for cell membrane localization and activation of these proteins. It is currently unknown whether HTLV-1-transformed cells are preferentially sensitive to geranylgeranylation inhibitors, such as GGTI-298. In this report, we demonstrate that GGTI-298 decreased cell viability and induced G2/M phase accumulation of HTLV-1-transformed cells, independent of p53 reactivation. HTLV-1-LTR transcriptional activity was inhibited and Tax protein levels decreased following treatment with GGTI-298. Furthermore, GGTI-298 decreased activation of NF-κB, a downstream target of Rho family GTPases. These studies suggest that protein geranylgeranylation contributes to dysregulation of cell survival pathways in HTLV-1-transformed cells.
Amines as key building blocks in Pd-assisted multicomponent processes
Authors: Bouyssi Didier , Monteiro Nuno , Balme Geneviève
Published: October 2011

In the last few years, palladium-mediated three-component synthesis has emerged as an important synthetic methodology to gain access to nitrogen-containing structures. The latest developments in this area are discussed in this review.
Normative Data for the Subjective Visual Vertical Test during Centrifugation
Authors: Akin Faith W. , Murnane Owen D. , Pearson Amber , Byrd Stephanie , Kelly J. Kip
Published: October 2011

Background:The otoliths act as gravito-inertial force sensors and contribute to the perception of spatial orientation. The perception of gravitational vertical can be assessed by asking a subject to adjust a light bar to the vertical. Prior to clinical use of the SVV (subjective
visual vertical) test, normative data and test-retest reliability must be established.Purpose:To obtain normative data and d etermine the test-retest reliability for the SVV test performed in static and dynamic test conditions.Research Design:A descriptive design was used to
obtain normative data.Study Sample:Twenty-four young adults with no history of neurological disease, middle-ear pathology, open or closed head injury, cervical injury, or audiovestibular disorder participated in the study.Data Collection and Analysis:The SVV angle was measured
in the static position and in three dynamic conditions: (1) on-axis clockwise (CW) rotation, (2) off-axis CW rotation of right ear, and (3) off-axis CW rotation of left ear.Results:In young healthy individuals, the SVV was <2° for static and on-axis rotation, and shifted up to
11° during unilateral centrifugation. Test-retest reliability of the SVV was good for all test conditions.Conclusions:The normative data obtained in this study may be useful in identifying patients with chronic utricular dysfunction. We recommend the use of difference angles (on-axis
SVV ‐ off-axis SVV) to remove baseline bias and decrease the variability of the SVV angles for the off-axis conditions.
Effects of Stimulus and Recording Parameters on the Air Conduction Ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potential
Authors: Murnane Owen D. , Akin Faith W. , Kelly J. Kip , Byrd Stephanie
Published: October 2011

Background:Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) have been recorded from the sternocleidomastoid muscle (cervical VEMP or cVEMP) and more recently from the eye muscles (ocular VEMP or oVEMP) in response to air conduction and bone conduction stimuli. Both cVEMPs and oVEMPs
are mediated by the otoliths and thereby provide diagnostic information that is complementary to videonystagmography and rotational chair tests. In contrast to the air conduction cVEMP, which originates from the saccule/inferior vestibular nerve, recent evidence suggests the possibility that
the air conduction oVEMP may be mediated by the utricle/superior vestibular nerve. The oVEMP, therefore, may provide complementary diagnostic information relative to the cVEMP. There are relatively few studies, however, that have quantified the effects of stimulus and recording parameters
on the air conduction oVEMP, and there is a paucity of normative data.Purpose:To evaluate the effects of several stimulus and recording parameters on the air conduction oVEMP and to establish normative data for clinical use.Research Design:A prospective repeated measures design
was utilized.Study Sample:Forty-seven young adults with no history of neurologic disease, hearing loss, middle ear pathology, open or closed head injury, cervical injury, or audiovestibular disorder participated in the study.Data Collection and Analysis:The effects of stimulus
frequency, stimulus level, gaze elevation, and recording electrode location on the amplitude and latency of the oVEMP for monaural air conduction stimuli were assessed using repeated measures analyses of variance in an initial group of 17 participants. The optimal stimulus and recording parameters
obtained in the initial group were used subsequently to obtain oVEMPs from 30 additional participants.Results:The effects of stimulus frequency, stimulus level, gaze elevation, and electrode location on the response prevalence, amplitude, and latency of the oVEMP for monaural air conduction
stimuli were significant. The maximum N1-P1 amplitude and response prevalence were obtained for contralateral oVEMPs using a 500 Hz tone burst presented at 125 dB peak SPL during upward gaze at an elevation of 30°.Conclusions:The optimal stimulus and recording parameters
quantified in this study were used to establish normative data that may be useful for the clinical application of the air conduction oVEMP.
Leukocoria and Vitreous Hemorrhage as the Initial Manifestation of Sickle Retinopathy in a 3-Year, 6-Month-Old Child With Sickle Trait (AS)
Authors: Barry Gerard P. , Shields Carol L. , Binenbaum Gil
Published: October 2011

The authors present the youngest reported child with proliferative sickle retinopathy. A 3-year, 6-month-old boy presented with leukocoria in the left eye, left esotropia, and dense free-floating white vitreous cells obscuring the fundus, suspicious for endophytic retinoblastoma. Ultrasonography depicted dense debris in the vitreous with no distinct calcific echo or retinal mass. Transcorneal, transzonular fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the vitreous confirmed the presence of dehemoglobinized vitreous red blood cells without tumor. The opposite eye showed peripheral retinal pigment epithelial proliferation and fibrosis with angiographic peripheral ischemia. Hemoglobin electrophoresis disclosed sickle trait (AS). The findings were classified as proliferative sickle cell retinopathy with vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye and non-proliferative sickle cell retinopathy in the right eye. Leukocoria generally raises warnings for retinoblastoma, but can also reflect chronic vitreous hemorrhage.
Corneal Abrasions Associated With Crawford Mono-Canalicular Tubes
Authors: Eustis H. Sprague , Rowland Anne P.
Published: October 2011

Corneal abrasions are a known complication of lacrimal intubation. The authors describe two consecutive patients in which this occurred using the JEDMED (St. Louis, MO) mono-canalicular tube, and propose a mechanism, based on the flange design, as an explanation.
Comparison of Optical Aberrations and Contrast Sensitivity Between Aspheric and Spherical Intraocular Lenses
Authors: Morales Eduardo L. , Rocha Karolinne M. , Chalita Maria Regina , Nosé Walton , Avila Marcos P.
Published: October 2011

PURPOSE:

To compare visual acuity, aberrometry, and contrast sensitivity in patients who had a spherical intraocular lens (IOL) (SoFlex SE, Bausch & Lomb) implanted in one eye and an aspheric IOL (SofPort AO, Bausch & Lomb) implanted in the fellow eye during uncomplicated cataract surgery.

METHODS:

A prospective, multicenter, double-blind study was performed. Forty patients (80 eyes) underwent bilateral phacoemulsification with implantation of a spherical IOL in one eye and an aspheric IOL in the fellow eye. Postoperatively, visual acuity, aberrometry, and contrast sensitivity tests were performed. Statistical analyses were performed using Student
t
and Wilcoxon tests, and mixed effects were used for each contrast condition situation.

RESULTS:

Thirty-nine patients (30 women, 9 men; 78 eyes) with a mean age of 69.3±6.17 years (range: 51 to 82 years) completed the study. No statistical differences were found regarding visual acuity among eyes. Lower levels of higher order aberrations were achieved in the aspheric group. No statistical difference between groups under photopic conditions was noted. In low spatial frequencies, better performance was observed with the aspheric IOL under mesopic conditions. In high spatial frequencies, the spherical IOL produced better quality of vision. Comparing mesopic conditions with glare, visual performance was statistically better using the aspheric IOL.

CONCLUSIONS:

Cataract surgery results cannot be measured by means of visual acuity alone. Quality of vision must be considered, and implantation of IOLs with low levels of spherical aberrations and better contrast sensitivity are preferred. In this study, the aspheric IOL demonstrated better visual function, especially at night, when compared with spherical IOLs.
Analysis of Microkeratome Thin Flap Architecture Using Fourier-domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Rocha Karolinne Maia , Randleman J. Bradley , Stulting R. Doyle
Published: October 2011

PURPOSE:

To assess the corneal architecture and reproducibility of LASIK flap thickness created by the Amadeus II mechanical microkeratome (Ziemer Ophthalmic Systems AG) using Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT; Optovue Inc).

METHODS:

Anterior segment Fourier-domain OCT was used to analyze the morphology of 58 LASIK flaps from 30 patients created with the Amadeus II microkeratome 140-μm head and ML7090CLB blades (Med-Logics Inc) at 2 weeks postoperatively. Flap thickness was assessed at 10 points across the central 6 mm of the cornea (horizontal and vertical meridians). Postoperative central corneal flap thickness measured by Fourier-domain OCT was compared with intraoperative ultrasound pachymetry measurements.

RESULTS:

No significant difference was noted between central flap thickness measured by intraoperative pachymetry (107.2±14 μm) and postoperative OCT (111.7±11 μm;
P
=.07, correlation coefficient=0.86). Fourier-domain OCT measurements demonstrated functionally planar flap architecture (standard deviation [SD] of thickness across the flap=4.9 μm, SD range across the flap=2 to 9 μm) for the microkeratome flaps.

CONCLUSIONS:

The Amadeus II microkeratome with Med-Logics blades created thin, reproducible, functionally planar flaps as measured by Fourier-domain OCT. Central flap thickness measured by intraoperative ultrasound pachymetry was equivalent to that measured 2 weeks postoperatively by OCT.
Internal Aberrations and Optical Quality After Femtosecond Laser Anterior Capsulotomy in Cataract Surgery
Authors: Miháltz Kata , Knorz Michael C. , Alió Jorge L. , Takács Ágnes I. , Kránitz Kinga , Kovács Illés , Nagy Zoltán Z.
Published: October 2011

PURPOSE:

To compare ocular and internal aberrations after femtosecond laser anterior capsulotomy and continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis in cataract surgery.

METHODS:

In this prospective study, anterior capsulotomy was performed during cataract surgery with an intraocular femtosecond (FS) laser (Alcon LenSx Inc) in 48 eyes. As a control group, continuous curvilinear capsulorrhexis (CCC) was performed in 51 eyes. Wavefront aberrometry, corneal topography, and objective visual quality were measured using the OPD-Scan (NIDEK Co Ltd). Vertical and horizontal tilt, coma, and visual quality metrics were evaluated separately to determine whether the source of aberrations was ocular or internal. Main outcome measures included postoperative residual refraction, uncorrected and corrected visual acuities, ocular and internal aberrations, Strehl ratio, and modulation transfer function (MTF).

RESULTS:

No statistically significant differences were noted between the FS and CCC groups, respectively, in postoperative sphere (−0.60±1.50 vs −0.50±1.40 diopters [D]), postoperative cylinder (1.30±1.01 vs 1.10±1.10 D), uncorrected distance visual acuity (0.86±0.15 vs 0.88±0.08), or corrected distance visual acuity (0.97±0.08 vs 0.97±0.06). The FS group had significantly lower values of intraocular vertical tilt (−0.05±0.36 vs 0.27±0.57) and coma (−0.003±0.11 vs 0.1±0.15), and significantly higher Strehl ratios (0.02±0.02 vs 0.01±0.01) and MTF values at all measured cycles per degree, compared to the CCC group.

CONCLUSIONS:

Capsulotomy performed with an intraocular FS laser induced significantly less internal aberrations measured by the NIDEK OPD-Scan aberrometer compared to eyes that underwent CCC, which may result in better optical quality after the procedure.
Visual Outcomes After Epi-LASIK and PRK for Low and Moderate Myopia
Authors: Sia Rose K. , Coe Charles D. , Edwards Jayson D. , Ryan Denise S. , Bower Kraig S.
Published: October 2011

PURPOSE:

To evaluate visual outcomes following epi-LASIK compared to photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

METHODS:

Of a total 294 patients aged ≥21 years, 145 (290 eyes) underwent epi-LASIK and 149 (298 eyes) underwent PRK for low to moderate myopia or myopic astigmatism. Epi-LASIK was performed with the Amadeus II epikeratome (Abbott Medical Optics) and PRK with the Amoils rotary epithelial brush (Innovative Excimer Solutions). All ablations were performed using the same excimer laser system. Outcome measures included intraoperative complications, corneal reepithelialization, postoperative pain, uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), manifest refraction spherical equivalent (MRSE), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), corneal haze, and quality of vision.

RESULTS:

Mean preoperative MRSE was −2.97±1.19 diopters (D) for epi-LASIK versus −2.95±1.06 D for PRK. Complete reepithelialization was achieved by postoperative day 4 in 46.9% of epi-LASIK eyes versus 92.4% of PRK eyes, with superior UDVA at postoperative day 1 in the PRK group (
P
=.002). Using Fisher exact test, a significantly higher percentage of epi-LASIK eyes compared to PRK eyes achieved 20/15 or better at 1 month (25.8% vs 17.8%,
P
=.031), 3 months (62.3% vs 49.3%,
P
=.004), 6 months (77.1% vs 57.9%,
P
<.001), and 12 months (75.9% vs 61.9%,
P
=.002). A change in MRSE >0.50 D occurred in 8.4% of epi-LASIK eyes within the 3- and 12-month interval versus 17.7% of PRK eyes (
P
=.04). No differences were noted between the two procedures in CDVA or clinically significant haze.

CONCLUSIONS:

Epi-LASIK showed superior refractive efficacy and stability but required more time for wound healing, resulting in inferior early visual outcomes and a tendency to overcorrect higher refractive errors compared to PRK. Both treatments were safe and comparable in terms of pain and haze formation.
Severe Intraocular Pressure Fluctuation After Intravitreal Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Injection
Authors: Martel Joseph N. , Han Ying , Lin Shan C.
Published: October 2011

A 65-year-old man with unilateral exudative age-related macular degeneration presented initially with hypotony and a shallow choroidal detachment 5 days after an intravitreal ranibizumab injection. This was followed by an acute increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) to 60 mm Hg despite open angles, no evidence of intraocular inflammation, and no corticosteroid use. Ultrasound biomicroscopy showed a focal atrophic area in the ciliary body from the 7- to 9-o’clock positions, corresponding to the site of intravitreal injection. The IOP elevation was successfully treated with aqueous suppressants and resolved spontaneously after 48 hours. This report describes a patient with a rare case of labile IOP secondary to angle changes following ranibizumab injection. Injury to angle structures following intravitreal ranibizumab injection is a rare but potentially severe complication. Ultrasound biomicroscopy may be helpful in elucidating angle changes in the setting of labile IOP following intravitreal ranibizumab injection.
How to Improve the Accessibility and Reduce the Total Cost of Ownership with Ecolig Protocol and Android in Mobile Learning
Authors: Ismail Samira Muhammad , De Oliveira Miguel Paulo Victor , Barreto Gilmar
Published: October 2011

A new electronic learning device generation can be created from a new paradigm in human sense and efferent resources. The brain computer interfaces (BCI) with ECOLIG protocol can be used to get the advantages from â??Near To Eye
The Effectiveness of Mobile Learning in the Form of Performance Support System in Higher Education
Authors: Mileva Nevena
Published: October 2011

Students in engineering education need high-quality educational materials, and what is the most important, continually up-to-dated courses. The students need a possibility to self-assess their skills and knowledge as the learning steps for improvement - the courses, will provide them knowledge on the newest achievements in the field of engineering. The complexity of the knowledge and skills, necessary to perform successfully the tasks, determines the learnersâ?? needs of â??practical learning
Mobile Tourist Guide â?? An Intelligent Wireless System to Improve Tourism, using Semantic Web
Authors: El-Sofany Hosam , Abou El-Seoud Samir
Published: October 2011

With the recent advances in Internet and mobile technologies, there are increasing demands for electronic access to tourist information systems for service coordination and process integration. Mobile computing and mobile devices are used to implement various tourist services (e.g. electronic tourist guides, digital interactive maps, and tourist e-commerce transactions). However, due to disparate tourist information and service resources such as airlines, hotels, tour operators, it is still difficult for tourists to use them effectively during their trips or even in the planning stage. Neither can current tourist portals assist tourists proactively. To overcome this problem, we propose the analysis, design, and implementation of the â??Mobile tourist guide" system, that access through wireless devices and use Semantic Web technologies for effective organization of information resources and service processes. The proposed system provides the users with various services such as: 1) displaying the shortest path between the sources and destinations the visitors specify, 2) displaying general information of shops, newest events of the plaza and shops, 3) provides service of hotel, restaurant and cinema-ticket reservations, 4) provides user-friendly administration service. The Admin can manage the position, blocking path details, general information of hotel, restaurant, shops and plaza, and reservation details via web browser without changing the framework of the system. The system prototype has been developed on the top of Java 2 Micro Edition which offers an ideal platform for the development of full-fledged, interactive and portable applications tailored for resource constrained mobile devices. The paper presents our development experiences and highlights its main advantages and limitations in relation to the implementation of such kind of applications.
Learner Open Modeling in Adaptive Mobile Learning System for Supporting Student to Learn English
Authors: Nguyen Viet Anh , Pham Van Cong
Published: October 2011

This paper represents a personalized context-aware mobile learning architecture for supporting student to learn English as foreign language in order to prepare for TOEFL test. We consider how to apply open learner modeling techniques to adapt contents for different learners based on context, which includes location, amount of time to learn, the manner as well as learner's knowledge in learning progress. Through negotiation with system, the editable learner model will be updated to support adaptive engine to select adaptive contents meeting learner's demands. Empirical testing results for students who used application prototype indicate that interaction user modeling is helpful in supporting learner to learn adaptive materials.
Electrochemical Oxidation of an Immunosuppressant, Mycophenolate Mofetil, and Its Assay in Pharmaceutical Formulations
Authors: Prashanth S. N. , Ramesh K. C. , Seetharamappa J.
Published: October 2011

Electrochemical oxidation of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) has been studied at a glassy carbon electrode in aqueous solution over a wide pH range. MMF was oxidized on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by an irreversible process that was controlled mainly by diffusion. The irreversibility of the electrode process was verified by different criteria. A probable mechanism for electrochemical oxidation of MMF was proposed. Differential-pulse voltammogram of the drug showed two oxidation peaks at 0.631 V and at 0.921 V (verses SCE) in phosphate buffer of pH 6.0. This process could be used to determine MMF in the concentration range of5.0×10−7to7.5×10−4 M with a limit of detection of1.48×10−7 M. The method was successfully applied for the analysis of MMF in pure and dosage forms and in biological fluids.
Cardioembolic but Not Other Stroke Subtypes Predict Mortality Independent of Stroke Severity at Presentation
Authors: Stead Latha Ganti , Gilmore Rachel M. , Bellolio M. Fernanda , Jain Anunaya , Rabinstein Alejandro A. , Decker Wyatt W. , Agarwal Dipti , Brown Robert D.
Published: October 2011

Introduction. Etiology of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is known to significantly influence management, prognosis, and risk of recurrence.Objective. To determine if ischemic stroke subtype based on TOAST criteria influences mortality.Methods. We conducted an observational study of a consecutive cohort of patients presenting with AIS to a single tertiary academic center.Results. The study population consisted of 500 patients who resided in the local county or the surrounding nine-county area. No patients were lost to followup. Two hundred and sixty one (52.2%) were male, and the mean age at presentation was 73.7 years (standard deviation, SD = 14.3). Subtypes were as follows: large artery atherosclerosis 97 (19.4%), cardioembolic 144 (28.8%), small vessel disease 75 (15%), other causes 19 (3.8%), and unknown 165 (33%). One hundred and sixty patients died: 69 within the first 30 days, 27 within 31–90 days, 29 within 91–365 days, and 35 after 1 year. Low 90-, 180-, and 360-day survival was seen in cardioembolic strokes (67.1%, 65.5%, and 58.2%, resp.), followed for cryptogenic strokes (78.0%, 75.3%, and 71.1%). Interestingly, when looking into the cryptogenic category, those with insufficient information to assign a stroke subtype had the lowest survival estimate (57.7% at 90 days, 56.1% at 180 days, and 51.2% at 1 year).Conclusion. Cardioembolic ischemic stroke subtype determined by TOAST criteria predicts long-term mortality, even after adjusting for age and stroke severity.
Label-Free Biosensors for Cell Biology
Authors: Fang Ye
Published: October 2011

Label-free biosensors for studying cell biology have finally come of age. Recent developments have advanced the biosensors from low throughput and high maintenance research tools to high throughput and low maintenance screening platforms. In parallel, the biosensors have evolved from an analytical tool solely for molecular interaction analysis to powerful platforms for studying cell biology at the whole cell level. This paper presents historical development, detection principles, and applications in cell biology of label-free biosensors. Future perspectives are also discussed.
Production of Proteolytic Enzymes by a Keratin-Degrading Aspergillus niger
Authors: Lopes Fernanda Cortez , Silva Lucas André Dedavid e , Tichota Deise Michele , Daroit Daniel Joner , Velho Renata Voltolini , Pereira Jamile Queiroz , Corrêa Ana Paula Folmer , Brandelli Adriano
Published: October 2011

A fungal isolate with capability to grow in keratinous substrate as only source of carbon and nitrogen was identified as Aspergillus niger using the sequencing of the ITS region of the rDNA. This strain produced a slightly acid keratinase and an acid protease during cultivation in feather meal. The peak of keratinolytic activity occurred in 48 h and the maximum proteolytic activity in 96 h. These enzymes were partly characterized as serine protease and aspartic protease, respectively. The effects of feather meal concentration and initial pH on enzyme production were evaluated using a central composite design combined with response surface methodology. The optimal conditions were determined as pH 5.0 for protease and 7.8 for keratinase and 20 g/L of feather meal, showing that both models were predictive. Production of keratinases by A. niger is a less-exploited field that might represent a novel and promising biotechnological application for this microorganism.
Deep Brain Stimulation of Caudal Zona Incerta and Subthalamic Nucleus in Patients with Parkinson's Disease: Effects on Diadochokinetic Rate
Authors: Karlsson Fredrik , Unger Elin , Wahlgren Sofia , Blomstedt Patric , Linder Jan , Nordh Erik , Zafar Hamayun , van Doorn Jan
Published: October 2011

The hypokinetic dysarthria observed in Parkinson's disease (PD) affects the range, speed, and accuracy of articulatory gestures in patients, reducing the perceived quality of speech acoustic output in continuous speech. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN-DBS) and of the caudal zona incerta (cZi-DBS) are current surgical treatment options for PD. This study aimed at investigating the outcome of STN-DBS (7 patients) and cZi-DBS (7 patients) in two articulatory diadochokinesis tasks (AMR and SMR) using measurements of articulation rate and quality of the plosive consonants (using the percent measurable VOT metric). The results indicate that patients receiving STN-DBS increased in articulation rate in the Stim-ON condition in the AMR task only, with no effect on production quality. Patients receiving cZi-DBS decreased in articulation rate in the Stim-ON condition and further showed a reduction in production quality. The data therefore suggest that cZi-DBS is more detrimental for extended articulatory movements than STN-DBS.
tRNA Modification and Genetic Code Variations in Animal Mitochondria
Authors: Watanabe Kimitsuna , Yokobori Shin-ichi
Published: October 2011

In animal mitochondria, six codons have been known as nonuniversal genetic codes, which vary in the course of animal evolution. They are UGA (termination codon in the universal genetic code changes to Trp codon in all animal mitochondria), AUA (Ile to Met in most metazoan mitochondria), AAA (Lys to Asn in echinoderm and some platyhelminth mitochondria), AGA/AGG (Arg to Ser in most invertebrate, Arg to Gly in tunicate, and Arg to termination in vertebrate mitochondria), and UAA (termination to Tyr in a planaria and a nematode mitochondria, but conclusive evidence is lacking in this case). We have elucidated that the anticodons of tRNAs deciphering these nonuniversal codons ( for UGA, for AUA, for AAA, and and for AGA/AGG) are all modified; has 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluridine or 5-taurinomethyluridine, has 5-formylcytidine or 5-taurinomethyluridine, has 7-methylguanosine and has 5-taurinomethyluridine in their anticodon wobble position, and has pseudouridine in the anticodon second position. This review aims to clarify the structural relationship between these nonuniversal codons and the corresponding tRNA anticodons including modified nucleosides and to speculate on the possible mechanisms for explaining the evolutional changes of these nonuniversal codons in the course of animal evolution.
Don’t become a burden and don’t complain: a case study of older persons suffering from incurable cancer and living alone in rural areas
Authors: Wiik Guri Bitnes , Devik Siri , Hellzen Ove
Published: October 2011

The majority of older people wish to continue to live at home for as long as possible. As a consequence, the healthcare system, including cancer care, is located in urban areas and people living in rural areas must commute to gain access to the services offered. The aim of this study was to investigate how older people, who live on their own, experience living with incurable cancer and commuting for palliative care in rural Norway. A case study was designed and informants were recruited not because they were typical but because they were deemed to have the potential to contribute to knowledge about the phenomenon of being an older person who has been diagnosed with incurable cancer and lives alone in a rural area. Three major categories were identified: “Hovering between hope and fear, Stressful commuting to palliative care, and Being exhausted. The findings indicated that older people who have been stricken with incurable cancer and who live alone in rural areas have to walk the palliative path alone. A common feature of all the informants is that they do not speak out and they do not complain. Even though the trend in healthcare is towards centralized treatment, shorter and more effective stays in hospital, and policlinic (policlinic services are a place where healthcare services can be accessed without the need for an overnight stay in hospital, usually such clinics are located close to a hospital) treatment and care, not all older persons manage to take care of themselves. The findings suggest that nurses should pay more attention to these patients’ needs for care at different levels of the healthcare service.
Respecting a Korean health custom in a western society
Authors: Cooper Robin L.
Published: October 2011

It is a challenge to accept oddities to one’s own training and customs when in community clinics but as nurses we are trained to assess the value and impact of cultural differences in care by patients and their families. If no harm or mental discomfort will result from a séance or an ointment of religious significance applied to the forehead we go about our business and welcome patients to do as they see fit, according to their own culture and belief system. But how about if someone is applying a traditional cultural healing originating from your own culture to your own child which results in breaking the skin and results in bleeding?
Development of the Learner Self-Directedness in the Workplace Scale
Authors: De Bruin Karina , De Bruin Gideon P.
Published: October 2011

Orientation: This study reports on the development of an instrument that one can use to measure learner self-directedness in work environments.Research purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to measure learner selfdirectedness in the workplace.Motivation for the study: Learner self-directedness appears to be an essential characteristic to keep up with the demands of the world of work. There is no brief instrument currently available to measure learner self-directedness in the workplace.Research design, approach and method: The researchers fitted the responses of 519 participantsto 22 items to the Rasch rating scale model.Main findings: The researchers retained 13 of the original 22 items. The hierarchy of item locations supported the construct validity of the scale. Hierarchical factor analysis showed the presence of one higher-order factor and three residual first-order factors. The higher-order factor accounted for almost five times as much of the common variance as did the strongest residual first-order factor. The Rasch analysis and the factor analysis suggested that the 13-item Learner Self-Directedness in the Workplace Scale (LSWS) measures a single one-dimensional construct (α = 0.93).Practical/managerial implications: The instrument can help employers to understand and support employees’ self-directed learning efforts.Contribution/value-add: This research resulted in a brief instrument to measure learner selfdirectedness in the workplace. This instrument is unique in the South African context.
Exemestane in the Adjuvant Treatment of Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Kittaneh Muaiad , Glück Stefan
Published: October 2011

Exemestane is an irreversible inhibitor of the aromatase enzyme, which is a key component in the production of estrogen. The majority of breast cancers are sensitive to the proliferative effects of estrogen. Exemestane is approved for the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with breast cancer after 2 to 3 years of tamoxifen therapy, based on a 32% improvement in disease-free survival compared with 5 years of tamoxifen alone ( P < 0.001). Exemestane has also shown clinical benefits as an upfront therapy. The safety profile of exemestane shares some side effects with tamoxifen (hot flashes and arthralgia), but is not associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer or thromboembolic events. This review will discuss in detail the efficacy and safety of exemestane in early breast cancer.
Profiles and Majority Voting-Based Ensemble Method for Protein Secondary Structure Prediction
Authors: Bouziane Hafida , Messabih Belhadri , Chouarfia Abdallah
Published: October 2011

Machine learning techniques have been widely applied to solve the problem of predicting protein secondary structure from the amino acid sequence. They have gained substantial success in this research area. Many methods have been used including k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NNs), Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) and Support Vector Machines (SVMs), which have attracted attention recently. Today, the main goal remains to improve the prediction quality of the secondary structure elements. The prediction accuracy has been continuously improved over the years, especially by using hybrid or ensemble methods and incorporating evolutionary information in the form of profiles extracted from alignments of multiple homologous sequences. In this paper, we investigate how best to combine k-NNs, ANNs and Multi-class SVMs (M-SVMs) to improve secondary structure prediction of globular proteins. An ensemble method which combines the outputs of two feed-forward ANNs, k-NN and three M-SVM classifiers has been applied. Ensemble members are combined using two variants of majority voting rule. An heuristic based filter has also been applied to refine the prediction. To investigate how much improvement the general ensemble method can give rather than the individual classifiers that make up the ensemble, we have experimented with the proposed system on the two widely used benchmark datasets RS 126 and CB513 using cross-validation tests by including PSI-BLAST position-specific scoring matrix (PSSM) profiles as inputs. The experimental results reveal that the proposed system yields significant performance gains when compared with the best individual classifier.
Numerical approximations of the Mumford–Shah functional for unit vector fields
Authors: Haehnle Jonas
Published: October 2011

Two numerical approximation schemes for minimising the Mumford–Shah functional for unit vector fields are proposed, analysed, and compared. The first uses a projection strategy, the second a penalisation strategy to enforce the sphere constraint. Both schemes are then applied to the segmentation of colour images using the Chromaticity and Brightness colour model.
A phase-field approximation of the Willmore flow with volume constraint
Authors: Colli Pierluigi , Laurençot Philippe
Published: October 2011

The well-posedness of a phase-field approximation to the Willmore flow with volume constraint is established. The existence proof relies on the underlying gradient flow structure of the problem: the time discrete approximation is solved by a variational minimization principle.
On support of solutions to singular nonlinear parabolic equations in bounded domains
Authors: Punzo Fabio
Published: October 2011

We investigate support properties of nonnegative solutions to nonlinear parabolic equations with variable density in bounded domains. The density can diverge or vanish near the boundary. Assuming that the initial datum has support not intersecting the boundary, we provide simple conditions, in dependence on the behaviour of the density, guaranteeing that the support of every nonnegative solution intersects the boundary at some positive time, or, in the case of convex domains, that it remains away from it for any positive time. These results extend to the case of bounded domains those given in [KK] for the Cauchy problem.
There Was Another Man . . . and a Woman: La Nouvelle Grammaire de L’Amazighe from the Institut Royal de la Culture Amazighe
Authors: Thomson Madia
Published: October 2011

Berbers have long fascinated Europeans and others who heard about them. Ancient Greeks, including Herodotus and Strabo, mention them in their writings as the French would later in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when they occupied the region known as the Maghreb. With occupation came the desire to know more about the culture and land of those whom they occupied. This article presents La nouvelle grammaire de l’amazighe, the collaborative effort of Fatima Boukhris, Abdallah Boumalk, El Houssaiin El Moujahid, and Hamid Souifi . Using the Moroccan Berber dialects as its source, La nouvelle grammaire is an important new addition to a long history of Berber language studies in Morocco.
An African Scholar in the Netherlands East Indies: al- Shaykh Ahmad Surkitti (1876–1943) and His Life, Thoughts, and Reforms
Authors: Abushouk Ahmed Ibrahim
Published: October 2011

Shaykh Ahmad Muhammad al-Surkitti (1876–1943) was an important figure in the Islamic reform movement in early twentieth-century Indonesia. He was born in the Sudan in 1876, studied in Mecca and Madina for fourteen years (1897–1911), and established his career as a school teacher and a celebrated reformist leader in Indonesia (1911–1943). The purpose of this article is to examine the early life and career of al-Surkitti in the Sudan and Saudi Arabia, and assess critically his contribution to the islah and tajdid movements in the Malay-Indonesian world. His intellectual and religio-political discord and conflict with the Alawi traditionalists will be investigated in the context of Hahdarmi identity and discourse between “orthodox Islam” propagated by Surkitti and his followers and “popular Islam” that gave the Alawi sayyids special recognition in their home society in Hadramaut and diaspora in Indonesia.
The Salafi Praxis of Constructing Religious Identity in Africa: A Comparative Perspective of the Growth of the Movements in Accra and Cape Town
Authors: Dumbe Yunus
Published: October 2011

This paper examines Salafism as a public discourse and the conditions pertaining to the success of the movement in both Cape Town and Accra. Though the Salafis in both countries emerged from different historical and political circumstances, their successes were determined by the novelty people associated with their discourse and other incentives they provided. The study shows disparities in the growth of Salafism in both countries, partly a result of the nature of rapport existing among the various Sufi groups and the extent to which their religious values conform to the Shari’a. The Salafi success in Accra was due to the fact that the debates generated by the tarbiya ideas popularized by Ibrahim Nyass in Ghana created fragmentations within the Tijaniyya and to the fact that ideas stimulated by the leading Tijaniyya have the potential to pull away Muslims from Shari’a values.
Watershed discretization based on multiple factors and its application in the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Xu Y. , Fu B. , He C. , Gao G.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. The spatial discretization of watersheds is an indispensable procedure for representing landscape variations in eco-hydrological research, representing the contrast between reality and data-supported models. When discretizing a watershed, it is important to construct a scheme of a moderate number of discretized factors while adequately considering the actual eco-hydrological processes, especially in regions with unique eco-hydrological features and intense human activities. Because of their special lithological and pedologic characteristics and widespread man-made vegetation, discretization of watersheds in the Loess Plateau in Northern China is a challenge. In order to simulate the rainfall-runoff process, a watershed in the Loess Plateau, referred as Ansai, was spatially discretized into new units called land type units. These land type units were delineated under a scheme of factors including land use, vegetation condition, soil type and slope. Instead of using units delineated by overlaying land use and soil maps, the land type units were used in the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). Curve numbers were assigned and adjusted to simulate runoff, using the US Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) curve number method. The results of the runoff simulation better matched actual observations. Compared to the results that used the original units, the coefficient of determination (R2) and the Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (ENS) for monthly flow simulation increased from 0.710–0.721 and 0.581–0.656 to 0.726–0.731 and 0.692–0.703, respectively. This method of delineating into land type units is an easy operation and suitable approach for eco-hydrological studies in the Chinese Loess Plateau and other similar regions. It can be further applied in soil erosion simulation and the eco-hydrological assessment of re-vegetation.
A nested-grid Boussinesq-type approach to modelling dispersive propagation and runup of landslide-generated tsunamis
Authors: Zhou H. , Moore C. W. , Wei Y. , Titov V. V.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. A tsunami generated by large-volume landslide can propagate across the ocean and flood communities around the basin. The evolution of landslide-generated tsunamis is affected by the effects of frequency dispersion and involves processes of different temporal and spacial scales. In this paper, we develop a numerical approach employing the weakly nonlinear and fully nonlinear Boussinesq-type theories and nested computational grids. The propagation in a large domain is simulated with the weakly nonlinear model in a geographical reference frame. The nearshore wave evolution and runup are computed with the fully nonlinear model. Nested grids are employed to zoom simulations from larger to smaller domains at successively increasing resolutions. The models and the nesting scheme are validated for theoretical analysis, laboratory experiments and a historical tsunami event. By applying this approach, we also investigate the potential tsunami impact on the US east coast due to the possible landslide on La Palma Island. The scenario employed in this study represents an event of extremely low probability.
Ionospheric anomaly due to seismic activities-III: correlation between night time VLF amplitude fluctuations and effective magnitudes of earthquakes in Indian sub-continent
Authors: Ray S. , Chakrabarti S. K. , Mondal S. K. , Sasmal S.
Published: October 2011

Abstract. We present the results of an analysis of year-long (2007) monitoring of night time data of the VLF signal amplitude from the Indian Navy station VTX at 18.2 kHz, received by the Indian Centre for Space Physics, Kolkata. We analyzed this data to find out the correlation, if any, between night time amplitude fluctuation and seismic events. We found, analyzing individual cases (with magnitudes >5) as well as statistical analysis (of all the events with effective magnitudes greater than 3.5), that night time fluctuation of the signal amplitude has the highest probability to be beyond the 2σ level about three days prior to seismic events. Thus, the night time fluctuation could be considered as a precursor to enhanced seismic activities.
Developing Country Experience with Bt Cotton: Institutional Constraints in the Diffusion of Transgenic Crops
Authors: Tripp Robert
Published: October 2011

Results from a recent study that examined the performance of transgenic, insect-resistant cotton in four countries (China, India, Colombia and South Africa) are used to examine the adequacy of the institutions required to support the development and delivery of transgenic crops for resource-poor farmers. These institutions include the formal seed sector, the basic regulations that support it, conventional agricultural research and the provision of information to farmers. The paper argues that inadequacies in these institutions in many developing countries represent significant barriers to the hopes for a rapid uptake of transgenic crops.