bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An enigmatic blastozoan echinoderm fauna from central kentucky
Authors: Sumrall Colin D. , Brett Carlton E. , Dexter Troy A. , Bartholomew Alexander
Published: August 2009

A series of small road cuts of lower Boyle Formation (Middle Devonian: Givetian) near Waco, Kentucky, has produced numerous specimens of three blastozoan clades, including both “anachronistic” diploporan and rhombiferan “cystoids” and relatively advanced Granatocrinid blastoids. This unusual assemblage occurs within a basal grainstone unit of the Boyle Limestone, apparently recording a local shoal deposit. Diploporans, the most abundant articulated echinoderms, are represented by a new protocrinitid species, Tristomiocystis globosus n. gen. and sp. Glyptocystitoid rhombiferans are represented by isolated thecal plates assignable to Callocystitidae. Three species of blastoids, all previously undescribed, include numerous thecae of the schizoblastid Hydroblastus hendyi n. gen. and sp., the rare nucleocrinid Nucleocrinus bosei n. sp., and an enigmatic troosticrinid radial. The blastoid Nucleocrinus is typical for the age; however, the callocystitid, schizoblastid, and protocrinitid are not. Hydroblastus is the oldest known schizoblastid. Middle and Upper Devonian callocystitids have been previously reported only from Iowa and Michigan USA with unpublished reports from Missouri USA and the Northwest Territories, Canada. This occurrence is thus the first report of a Middle Devonian rhombiferan from the Appalachian foreland basin. Tristomiocystis is the first known protocrinitid in North America and the only protocrinitid younger than Late Ordovician. This occurrence thus represents a range extension of nearly 50 million years for protocrinids. This extraordinary sample of echinoderms in a Middle Devonian limestone from a well-studied area of North America highlights the incompleteness of the known fossil record, at least in fragile organisms such as echinoderms.
Generic concepts in the Platycrinitidae Austin and Austin, 1842 (class Crinoidea)
Authors: Ausich William I. , Kammer Thomas W.
Published: August 2009

Platycrinitesis traditionally one of the more recognizable crinoids, a camerate crinoid with very few if any fixed brachials or interradials and a helically twisted column. Accordingly, many taxa have been assigned to this genus. With a better understanding of the Platycrinitidae, these characters actually unite the family Platycrinitidae rather than the genus. Further, use of different genus-diagnostic characters in Western Europe versus North America has resulted in a confused systematics for this important late Paleozoic family. Here, we objectively define genera within the Platycrinitidae and assign all species to either newly defined or newly named genera. A phylogenetic hypothesis, incorporating both parsimony-based character analysis and stratigraphic ranges, of the genera within the Platycrinitidae is presented.

With consideration of the type species,Platycrinites laevisMiller, 1821,Platycrinitessensu stricto is distinguished fromPlatycrinitessensu lato, which is used for species that cannot be assigned with confidence to any objectively defined genus. New genera areArtaocrinusn. gen.,Collicrinusn. gen.,Elegantocrinusn. gen., andLaticrinusn. gen.; andExsulacrinusBowsher and Strimple, 1986 is designated a junior synonym ofPlatycrinitess.s.Collicrinus shumardin. gen. and sp.,Laticrinus owenin. gen. and sp., andLaticrinus wachsmuthin. gen. and sp. are described; andPlatycrinites formosus approximatus(Miller and Gurley, 1896a) is designated a junior synonym ofPlatycrinites formosus(Miller and Gurley, 1895a), which is reassigned here toCollicrinusn. gen.Platycrinitess.s. now includes 14 species and species-level taxa, and 76 species are assigned toPlatycrinitess.l. Ten species are designated nomina dubia, as are taxa based solely on columnals or pluricolumnals. Two species are designated nomina nuda, and two are transferred to genera outside of the Platycrinitidae. In addition, twenty-seven species and four open-nomenclature taxa are each reassigned to a different genus.
Taxonomic affinities and paleogeography of Stromatomorpha californica Smith, a distinctive Upper Triassic reef-adapted demosponge
Authors: Senowbari-Daryan B. , Stanley G. D.
Published: August 2009

Stromatomorpha californica Smith is a massive, calcified, tropical to subtropical organism of the Late Triassic that produced small biostromes and contributed in building some reefs. It comes from the displaced terranes of Cordilleran North America (Eastern Klamath terrane, Alexander terrane, and Wrangellia). This shallow-water organism formed small laminar masses and sometimes patch reefs. It was first referred to the order Spongiomorphidae but was considered to be a coral. Other affinities that have been proposed include hydrozoan, stomatoporoid, sclerosponge, and chambered sponge. Part of the problem was diagenesis that resulted in dissolution of the siliceous spicules and/or replaced them with calcite. Well-preserved dendroclone spicules found during study of newly discovered specimens necessitate an assignment of Stromatomorpha californica to the demosponge order Orchocladina Rauff. Restudy of examples from the Northern Calcareous Alps extends the distribution of this species to the Tethys, where it was an important secondary framework builder in Upper Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian) reef complexes. Revisions of Stromatomorpha californica produce much wider pantropical distribution, mirroring paleogeographic patterns revealed for other tropical Triassic taxa. Review of Liassic material from the Jurassic of Morocco, previously assigned to Stromatomorpha californica Smith var. columnaris Le Maitre, cannot be sustained. Species previously included in Stromatomorpha are: S. stylifera Frech (type species, Rhaetian), S. actinostromoides Boiko (Norian), S. californica Smith (Norian), S. concescui Balters (Ladinian-Carnian), S. pamirica Boiko (Norian), S. rhaetica Kühn (Rhaetian), S. stromatoporoides Frech, and S. tenuiramosa Boiko (Norian). Stromatomorpha rhaetica Kühn described from the Rhaetian of Vorarlberg, Austria shows no major difference from S. californica. An example described as S. oncescui Balters from the Ladinian-Carnian of the Rarau Mountains, Romania, is very similar to S. californica in exhibiting similar spicule types. However, because of the greater distance between individual pillars, horizontal layers, and the older age, S. oncescui is retained as a separate species. The net-like and regular skeleton of Spongiomorpha sanpozanensis Yabe and Sugiyama, from the Upper Triassic of Sambosan (Tosa, Japan), suggests a closer alliance with Stromatomorpha, and this taxon possibly could be the same as S. californica.
End-Permian mass extinction of foraminifers in the Nanpanjiang basin, South China
Authors: Song Haijun , Tong Jinnan , Chen Z. Q. , Yang Hao , Wang Yongbiao
Published: August 2009

Newly obtained foraminifer faunas from the Permian-Triassic (P-Tr) transition at the Dajiang and Bianyang sections in the Nanpanjiang Basin, South China, comprise 61 species in 40 genera. They belong to thePalaeofusulina sinensisZone, the youngest Permian foraminifer zone in South China. Quantitative analysis reveals that the last occurrences of more than a half of species (28/54) fall into a 60-cm-interval at the uppermost Changhsingian skeletal packstone unit and thus calibrate the end-Permian extinction to the skeletal packstonecalcimicrobial framestone boundary. About 93% (54/58) of species of the latest Permian assemblage became extinct in the P-Tr crisis. Four major foraminiferal groups, the Miliolida, Fusulinida, Lagenida, and Textulariina, have extinction rates up to 100%, 96%, 92%, and 50%, respectively, and thus experienced selective extinctions. BothHemigordius longusand ?Globivalvulina bulloidestemporarily survived the end-Permian extinction event and extended into the earliest Triassic but became extinct soon after. The post-extinction foraminifer assemblage is characterized by the presence of both disaster taxa and Lazarus taxa. Foraminifer distribution near the P-Tr boundary also reveals that the irregular contact surface at the uppermost Permian may be created by a massive submarine dissolution event, which may be coeval with the end-Permian mass extinction. A new species,Rectostipulina hexamerata,is described here.
The Cretaceous and Paleocene pleurotomariid (Gastropoda: Vetigastropoda) fauna of Seymour Island, Antarctica
Authors: Harasewych M. G. , Oleinik Anton , Zinsmeister William
Published: August 2009

Leptomaria antipodensis and Leptomaria hickmanae are described from the Upper Cretaceous [Maastrichtian] Lopez de Bertodano Formation, Seymour Island, and represent the first Mesozoic records of the family Pleurotomariidae from Antarctica. Leptomaria stillwelli, L. seymourensis, Conotomaria sobralensis and C. bayeri, from the Paleocene [Danian], Sobral Formation, Seymour Island, are described as new. Leptomaria larseniana (Wilckens, 1911) new combination, also from the Sobral Formation, is redescribed based on better-preserved material. The limited diversity of the pleurotomariid fauna of Seymour Island is more similar to that of the Late Cretaceous faunas of Australia and New Zealand in terms of the number of genera and species, than to the older, more diverse faunas of South America, southern India, or northwestern Madagascar, supporting the status of the Weddelian Province as a distinct biogeographic unit. The increase in the species richness of this fauna during the Danian may be due to the final fragmentation of Gondwana during this period.
Bryozoan fauna from the Koněprusy Limestone (Pragian, Lower Devonian) of Zlatý Kůň near Koněprusy (Czech Republic)
Authors: Ernst Andrej , May Andreas
Published: August 2009

This paper presents an overview of the bryozoan fauna from the upper Koněprusy Limestone (kindlei Conodont Zone, middle Pragian, Lower Devonian) exposed in two quarries at Zlatý Kuň near Koněprusy in Central Bohemia, and discusses its paleoecology and paleobiogeography. The studied fauna is dominated by encrusting fistuliporine and trepostome bryozoans (eight species), accompanied mainly by reticulate fenestrates (four species), branching ramose trepostomes and cryptostomes (three species), and one massive trepostome species. The richest bryozoan association comes from reef core/margin facies (13 species), followed by crinoid-bryozoan facies of the ramp (eight species). The reef-terrace facies and the crinoid-bryozoan-algal facies contain three and two species respectively. Seven species are described taxonomically, three fistuliporines and four trepostomes. The following taxa are new: Koneprusiella armata n. gen. n. sp., Fistulipora rarivesiculata n. sp., Fistulipora hladili n. sp. and Leptotrypa varia n. sp. Paleobiogeographic patterns of the bryozoan fauna from the Koněprusy Limestone are similar to those of stromatoporoids, comprising widely distributed genera but mainly endemic species. This supports a relative geographic isolation of the Koněprusy reef. The bryozoan fauna from the Koněprusy Limestone shows paleogeographic affinities with that from the Lower Devonian (Pragian) of Morocco and the Middle Devonian of Michigan (USA).
A LABORATORY MODEL FOR STUDYING RESPONSE‐CLASS HIERARCHIES
Authors: Shabani Daniel B. , Carr James E. , Petursdottir Anna Ingeborg
Published: September 2009

If the members of a functional response class occur in a predictable order, a response‐class hierarchy is said to exist. Although this topic has received some attention in the applied literature, it remains relatively understudied. The purpose of the current investigation was to develop an analogue model of a response‐class hierarchy. Children with and without developmental disabilities were first taught three responses in an attempt to develop a functional response class ordered along the dimension of response effort (Experiment 1). Following response‐class development, an extinction analysis was used to determine whether the responses were hierarchically related (Experiment 2). Results of Experiment 1 indicated that a functional response class was developed, and that there was a relation between response rate and effort for the established response class. Results of Experiment 2 indicated that a response‐class hierarchy existed within the previously developed response classes for 3 of 4 participants.
Anti‐Tumor Necrosis Factor‐Alpha Therapy and Periodontal Parameters in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Mayer Yaniv , Balbir‐Gurman Alexandra , Machtei Eli E.
Published: September 2009

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) therapy on the clinical and immunologic parameters of the periodontium.

Methods: Ten patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who routinely received infusions of infliximab, 200 mg (RA+), 10 patients with RA without anti‐TNF‐α therapy (RA−), and 10 healthy controls (C) were included. Clinical parameters, including the plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), clinical attachment loss (AL), and bleeding on probing (BOP), were assessed, and total gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) TNF‐α level was determined using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Analysis of variance with Scheffe modification and the Pearson correlation test were used for statistical analysis.

Results: The ages of the patients ranged from 22 to 76 years (mean, 50.73 ± 9.1 years). The mean PI was similar among the groups. However, mean inflammatory parameters in the three groups varied significantly; GI was greater in the RA− group compared to RA+ and C groups (P = 0.0042). The RA+ group exhibited less BOP than RA− and C groups (21.1% ± 3.0%, 45.9% ± 6.2%, and 39.1% ± 7.2%, respectively; P = 0.0146). The mean PD in the RA+ group was shallower than in RA− and C groups (3.22 ± 0.13 mm, 3.85 ± 0.22 mm, and 3.77 ± 0.20 mm, respectively; P = 0.055). Clinical AL in the RA+ group was lower than in RA− and C groups (3.68 ± 0.11 mm, 4.52 ± 0.26 mm, and 4.35 ± 0.24 mm, respectively; P = 0.0273). TNF‐α levels in the GCF of the RA+ group were the lowest compared to RA− and C groups (0.663, 1.23, and 0.949 ng/site, respectively; P = 0.0401). A significant positive correlation was found between TNF‐α levels in the GCF and clinical AL (r = 0.448; P = 0.0283).

Conclusions: Patients with RA receiving anti‐TNF‐α medication had lower periodontal indices and GCF TNF‐α levels. Thus, suppression of proinflammatory cytokines might prove beneficial in suppressing periodontal diseases.
One‐Stage Full‐Mouth Versus Partial‐Mouth Scaling and Root Planing During the Effective Half‐Life of Systemically Administered Azithromycin
Authors: Yashima Akihiro , Gomi Kazuhiro , Maeda Nobuko , Arai Takashi
Published: September 2009

Background: One‐stage full‐mouth scaling and root planing (FM‐SRP) in combination with systemically administered azithromycin was shown to be clinically and bacteriologically effective in the treatment of chronic periodontitis. However, FM‐SRP requires 2 hours for completion. Azithromycin has a long half‐life. Therefore, if SRP of the full mouth is performed within 7 days while an effective concentration of azithromycin remains in the gingiva, the effects may be the same as FM‐SRP. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and bacteriologic effects of FM‐SRP and partial‐mouth scaling and root planing (PM‐SRP) in patients with chronic periodontitis, which was performed in three sessions within 7 days, during the effective half‐life of systemically administrated azithromycin.

Methods: Thirty adult subjects with chronic periodontitis were randomly divided into three groups (FM‐SRP, PM‐SRP, and control). A clinical examination was conducted to record the probing depth, clinical attachment level gain, bleeding on probing, gingival index, and volume of gingival crevicular fluid; bacterial samples were obtained before treatment and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months thereafter. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed using the polymerase chain reaction‐Invader method.

Results: All clinical parameters showed better improvement in FM‐SRP and PM‐SRP groups compared to the control group, with no significant differences between the two test groups. Periodontal bacteria were well controlled in the two test groups, but they tended to increase gradually 3 months after treatment in the control group.

Conclusion: PM‐ and FM‐SRP demonstrated comparable clinical and bacteriologic results.
Evaluation of Factors Contributing to Surface Stability of Sand‐Based Turf
Authors: Li Deying , Minner David D. , Christians Nick E.
Published: September 2009

The stability of sand‐based athletic fields is critical to maximizing playability and safety. The objective of this study was to assess the contributions of sand and plant factors to the surface stability of sports fields. In September 2000, Hallet mason sand (subround), Hallet concrete sand (subround, wide size range), Sidley Pro/Angle sand (angular), Bunker White sand (round), and a mixture of 85% Hallet mason sand + 15% soil (v/v) were filled into pre‐excavated field plots. The plots were compacted using a plate compactor and consolidated naturally. Half of each plot was planted with washed sod and half seeded, both with ‘Unique’ Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Angular sand in the root zones provided 10 to 47% higher cone penetration resistance than Hallet mason sand during the turf establishment. The cone resistances of Sidley Pro/Angle sand in established turf were 873.3 kPa for seeded and 976.8 kPa for sodded. Peak deceleration was positively correlated with organic matter content in the thatch/mat layer and soil moisture content. Traction could be used as a complement to the cone penetration method because both root biomass and organic matter content in the mat layer were positively correlated to the shear strength (R2 = 0.55–0.72). The higher stability due to angular sand was still evident 4 yr after turfgrass establishment. Subround sand with particle‐size distribution within the specified ranges of USGA specification should be avoided for construction or topdressing. Hallet concrete sand, with a high coefficient of uniformity, did not result in higher surface stability.
Broadcasting In Wireless Ad hoc And Sensor Networks
Authors: Khabbazian Majid
Published: August 2009

Broadcasting is the operation of disseminating a message originated by a source node to all reachable nodes in the
network. This is a primary operation in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks and has many applications including route
discovery in on-demand routing protocols. Broadcasting can be simply done through flooding, in which each node
transmits/forwards the message to all its neighbors upon receiving it for the first time. However, it was shown that flooding
can cause a large number of redundant transmissions particularly in networks with high average number of neighbors per
node. Ideally, we would like to minimize the total number of transmissions. Unfortunately, this was proven to be NP-hard.
Therefore, the aim of efficient broadcast algorithms is to reduce the total number of (redundant) transmissions as much as
possible. In this chapter, we explain some of the existing classifications of broadcast algorithms and briefly describe their
potentials and limitations in reducing the number of redundant transmissions.
Energy Efficient Routing
Authors: Minet P.
Published: August 2009

In wireless ad hoc and sensor networks, some nodes are battery operated. They have a limited
amount of energy that can be difficult, expensive or even impossible to renew like in forest fire detection,
nuclear plant monitoring or explorations in hostile environments. The challenge for these networks consists
in maximizing network lifetime by means of energy efficient techniques. In this chapter, we first introduce
basic concepts with regard to energy efficiency and present the four classes of energy efficient techniques:
energy efficient routing, node activity scheduling, optimizing the transferred information and adapting
transmission power to the topology. We then focus more particularly on energy efficient routing and
classify existing protocols according different criteria: data centric, hierarchical, geographical, energy
criteria used for route selection, multipath routing and support of sleeping nodes. We present EOLSR, the
energy efficient extension of the OLSR routing protocol supporting different types of networks like IEEE
802.11 and IEEE 802.15.4. We compare its performance with multipath routing. Node energy consumption
can be considerably reduced by scheduling node activity. We will briefly present SERENA that increases
not only the network lifetime but also the amount of user data delivered. Hence, SERENA contributes to a
more efficient use of energy and can be used with any routing protocol. To design a network protocol, two
approaches have been traditionally used: a generic one that can lead to poor performance for some
applications and the opposite one, specifically designed for a given application (e.g. data gathering). An inbetween
approach taking into account application specificities and environmental constraints by means of
cross layering provides a very promising trade-off leading to improved performance and reactivity. We
show how EOLSR benefits from cross layering with (1) the MAC layer by a better reactivity to topology
changes and (2) the application layer by a reduced overhead. This induces an increased network lifetime
Theory and Practice of Geographic Routing
Authors: Ruhrup Stefan
Published: August 2009

Geographic routing algorithms use position information for making packet forwarding decisions.
Unlike topological routing algorithms, they do not need to exchange and maintain routing information
and work nearly stateless. This makes geographic routing attractive for wireless ad hoc
and sensor networks. Most geographic routing algorithms use a greedy strategy that tries to approach
the destination in each step, e.g. by selecting the neighbor closest to the destination as a
next hop. However, greedy forwarding fails in local minimum situations, i.e. when reaching a
node that is closer to the destination than all its neighbors. A widely adopted approach to recover
from such situations is planar graph routing, which guides the packet around the local minimum
and guarantees delivery, required that a planar subgraph of the network graph can be constructed.
A combination of greedy forwarding with a recovery mechanism is still the state-of-the-art in geographic
routing, and many algorithms have been developed that follow this scheme. This chapter
gives an overview of the fundamentals of geographic routing as well as theoretical results and new
developments towards practical applicability.
Data Gathering and Data Aggregation in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Cheng Hongju , Chen Guolong , Guo Wenzhong
Published: August 2009

The wireless sensor network is emerging as a new hotspot by exploiting the cooperation of
hundreds to thousands of cheap nodes. Data gathering and data aggregation are key issues in the network.
This article has taken a deep view into the current solutions for the data gathering and data aggregation.
First, it has introduced the basic concepts, i.e., the data gathering system, data structure, data aggregation
function and routing protocols. Secondly, it has explored the current data gathering protocols, and
accordingly introduced three important tree-based / flat routing protocols, namely, SPIN, Directed
Diffusion and ELECTION-based protocol, one cluster-based hierarchical protocol named as LEACH, as
well as one location-based protocol named GAF. Finally, it has concerned with the real-time requirement
in the applications, and introduced a novel solution by converting the real-time requirement into two
constraints: node degree bounded and tree height bounded, and provided solutions for it.
Bundled-Conductors vs. Single Conductor per Phase
Authors: Memari A.R.
Published: August 2009

A comparative illustration between a flat configuration of 230 KV single
conductor per phase and a bundled-conductor has been established. The obtained results
which, are tabulated show that the mitigated magnetic fields remain unchanged for both
the configurations.
Mitigating Loop at Ground Level
Authors: Memari A.R.
Published: August 2009

In order to demonstrate the feasibility of the developed approach, a case
when the mitigating loop is placed at the ground level is thoroughly studied. A flat
configuration of 230 KV transmission line has been used and effect of mitigation at
seven different locations within the right-of-way has been scrutinized and the related
figures and Tables are illustrated. The loop voltage, which is the result of induced
fluxes, is determined. Implementation of the previously derived equation results in
achieving the value of the mitigating loop impedance. The correlation between the three
types of magnetic fields has also been investigated. Finally, a comparative method when
the auxiliary mitigating loop is installed above, below and at the ground level is also
established and the result is shown in a Table
Influence of Jet Velocity on Jet Breakup in Immiscible Liquid-Liquid Systems
Authors: Phan Chi M , Evans Geoffrey M
Published: August 2009

The breakup of a laminar liquid jet is the underling phenomena used to generate emulsions in micro-scale devices. Jet breakup is induced by the most unstable disturbance growing on the jet surface, and linear instability analysis can be utilized to predict the resultant droplet size. Previously, instability analysis has been applied to stationary jets at intermediate Re only. This study investigates the influence of the jet velocity on the jet breakup at low Re number. The breakups of moving liquid jets were monitored using a high speed camera. The jet diameter, jet breakup length and resultant droplet sizes were strongly influenced by jet velocity. In addition to a simplified solution, a linear analysis for a moving jet was developed to determine the resultant droplet size. It was found that the full analysis is required to correctly predict the droplet size at low Re number.
A Theoretical Investigation into Phase Change Clothing Benefits for Firefighters under Extreme Conditions
Authors: Mercer Geoffry N. , Sidhu Harvinder S
Published: August 2009

We investigate the thermal performance of protective clothing that has an embedded phase change layer. Heat absorption due to phase change within the material is used to limit the thermal penetration of heat into the material and hence to the firefighter. The distribution of temperature within the fabric and skin during the exposure to an extreme firefighting situation is determined. To determine the protective nature of the clothing, we also include a model of the skin as three layers with differing thermal properties namely the epidermis, dermis and the subcutaneous layer. In our model, we have also incorporated the air gap between the garment and the body. The mathematical model is used to predict the duration of fire exposure during which the garment is able to protect the firefighter from getting first and second degree burns.
Advanced Modelling for Investigating the Effects of Reactor Operation on Controlled Living Emulsion Polymerization
Authors: Gomes Vincent G , Altarawneh Ibrahem S , Srour Mourtada H
Published: August 2009

Accurate control of product properties through the manipulation of transfer agents can be of great benefit to industry in producing targeted polymeric materials. In this work we developed experimental protocols and mathematical models for understanding and characterising semi-batch emulsion polymerization in the presence of a xanthate-based transfer agent. Zero-one kinetics was employed with population balance equations to predict monomer conversion, molecular weight (MWD) and particle size (PSD) distributions in the presence of xanthate-based reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) agents. The effects of the transfer agent (AR), surfactant, initiator (KPS) and temperature were investigated. Monomer feed rate was found to strongly affect conversion, MWD and PSD. The polymerization rate (Rp), number average molecular weight (Mn) and particle size () decreased with increasing AR. Rp increased with increase in SDS and KPS; while with increase in temperature, Mn decreased, Rp increased and increased. With semi-batch mode, Mn and increased with monomer flow rate.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of New Vacuum Degassing Process
Authors: Mondal Manas Kumar , Gupta Govind Sharan , Kitamura Shin-ya , Maruoka Nobuhiro
Published: August 2009

Recently, the demand of the steel having superior chemical and physical properties has increased for which the content of carbon must be in ultra low range. There are many processes which can produce low carbon steel such as tank degasser and RH (Rheinstahl-Heraeus) processes. It has been claimed that using a new process, called REDA (Revolutionary Degassing Activator), one can achieve the carbon content below 10ppm in less time. REDA process, in terms of installment cost, is in between the tank degasser and RH processes. As such, REDA process has not been studied thoroughly. Fluid flow phenomena affect the decarburization rate the most besides the chemical reaction rate. Therefore, momentum balance equations along with k-? turbulent model have been solved for gas and liquid phases in two-dimension (2D) for REDA process. The fluid flow phenomena have been studied in details for this process by varying gas flow rate, depth of immersed snorkel in the steel, diameter of the snorkel and change in vacuum pressure. It is found that the design of the snorkel affects the melt circulation of the bath significantly.
Don't Get Skewed Over by Journal Rankings
Authors: Wall Howard J
Published: August 2009

Nearly all journal rankings in economics use some weighted average of citations to calculate a journal's impact. These rankings are often used, formally or informally, to help assess the publication success of individual economists or institutions. Although ranking methods and opinions are legion, scant attention has been paid to the usefulness of any ranking as representative of the many articles published in a journal. First, because the distributions of citations across articles within a journal are seriously skewed, and the skewness differs across journals, the appropriate measure of central tendency is the median rather than the mean. Second, large shares of articles in the highest-ranked journals are cited less frequently than typical articles in much-lower-ranked journals.
Sensation seeking and customer perceptions of thematic entertainment: Evidence from theme motels in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Lan-Yun , Liu Weining
Published: September 2009

This case study of theme motels in Taiwan involved examining sensation-seeking tendencies and themed-entertainment preferences in potential theme motel customers. Using sensation seeking as a market segmentation variable, cluster analysis was performed to identify different customer
groups. The proposed hypotheses were then tested by ANOVA and Scheffe tests. Analytical results indicated that the target customers of such motels are characterized by "boredom susceptibility" while potential customers could be those who are characterized by "thrill and adventure seeking".
Appropriate strategies for analyzing customer perceptions of themed entertainment are proposed for use by motel management to retain existing customers and attract potential new ones.
The effects of structural consistency on attitude-intention and attitude-behavior relationships
Authors: Zhou Jie , Wang Erping , Dovidio John , Yu Guangtao
Published: September 2009

The effects of structural consistency including affective-cognitive consistency (ACC) and attitude based on attitude-intention consistency (AIC) and attitude-behavior consistency (ABC) were explored. Results revealed the effect of ACC on attitude-intention consistency and the interaction
of ACC and attitude based on attitude-behavior consistency. Specifically, an attitude with high ACC led to stronger intention. Regarding the attitude-behavior relation, cognitive-focus attitude with high ACC was a more reliable predictor of behavior, whereas affective-focus attitude predicted
behavior equally in high and low ACC conditions.
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Agonists Protect Pancreatic β-Cells From Lipotoxic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Through Upregulation of BiP and JunB
Authors: Cunha Daniel A. , Ladrière Laurence , Ortis Fernanda , Igoillo-Esteve Mariana , Gurzov Esteban N. , Lupi Roberto , Marchetti Piero , Eizirik Décio L. , Cnop Miriam
Published: September 2009

OBJECTIVE

Chronic exposure of pancreatic β-cells to saturated free fatty acids (FFAs) causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis and may contribute to β-cell loss in type 2 diabetes. Here, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms involved in the protection of β-cells from lipotoxic ER stress by glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 agonists utilized in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

INS-1E or fluorescence-activated cell sorter–purified primary rat β-cells were exposed to oleate or palmitate with or without the GLP-1 agonist exendin-4 or forskolin. Cyclopiazonic acid was used as a synthetic ER stressor, while the activating transcription factor 4–C/EBP homologous protein branch was selectively activated with salubrinal. The ER stress signaling pathways modulated by GLP-1 agonists were studied by real-time PCR and Western blot. Knockdown by RNA interference was used to identify mediators of the antiapoptotic GLP-1 effects in the ER stress response and downstream mitochondrial cell death mechanisms.

RESULTS

Exendin-4 and forskolin protected β-cells against FFAs via the induction of the ER chaperone BiP and the antiapoptotic protein JunB that mediate β-cell survival under lipotoxic conditions. On the other hand, exendin-4 and forskolin protected against synthetic ER stressors by inactivating caspase 12 and upregulating Bcl-2 and X-chromosome–linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein that inhibit mitochondrial apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These observations suggest that GLP-1 agonists increase in a context-dependent way the β-cell defense mechanisms against different pathways involved in ER stress–induced apoptosis. The identification of the pathways modulated by GLP-1 agonists allows for targeted approaches to alleviate β-cell ER stress in diabetes.
Influence of Pattern Void on Hydroplaning and Related Target Conflicts
Authors: Wies B. , Roeger B. , Mundl R.
Published: September 2009

Performance prediction of hydroplaning via coupling of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and FE modeling has delivered a detailed insight into the local mechanisms and root causes of hydroplaning but is still very time consuming and extensive.

The goal of the present work is the development of simple rules of thumb and easy to understand models to give the tire designer a quick approach to optimize the hydroplaning performance of his design concepts including the target conflicting trade-offs.

Based on the DOE study covering basic winter and summer tread patterns and tread compounds taking into account interactions, total void, longitudinal, and lateral void distributions have been varied. Experimental designs have been tested concerning longitudinal hydroplaning behavior on front and rear driven cars and lateral hydroplaning. Most important target conflicting performance criteria such as wet and dry braking, noise, rolling resistance, winter traction, and force and moment characteristics among others have been tested additionally.

The existing models using hydrodynamic pressure influences have been reviewed and extended. A simple to use development tool has been programed to quantify pattern design to get a quick prediction of tire performance changes (“Void Slider”).
Efficacy of a combination viral vaccine for protection of cattle against experimental infection with field isolates of bovine herpesvirus-1
Authors: Ellis John A. , Gow Sheryl P. , Goji Noriko , Jones Clinton , Workman Aspen , Henderson Gail , Rhodes Carrie , Alaniz Glenn , Meinert Todd R. , Tucker Cassius M.
Published: September 2009

Objective—To determine whether a combination viral vaccine containing a modified-live bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) would protect calves from infection with virulent field strains of BHV-1 for weeks or months after vaccination.

Design—Randomized controlled trial, performed in 2 replicates.

Animals—63 weaned 4- to 6-month-old crossbred beef calves seronegative for antibody against BHV-1.

Procedures—Calves were randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatment groups. Control calves (n = 10/replicate) received a combination modified-live mixed viral vaccine without BHV-1, and treatment calves (20 and 23/replicate) received a combination modified-live mixed viral vaccine containing BHV-1. Each group was challenged via aerosol with 1 of 2 field strains of BHV-1, 30 days after vaccination in replicate 1 and 97 days after vaccination in replicate 2. After challenge, calves were commingled in 1 drylot pen. Clinical signs, immune responses, and nasal shedding of virus were monitored for 10 days after challenge, after which the calves were euthanatized and tracheal lesions were assessed.

Results—Vaccination stimulated production of BHV-1–specific IgG antibody that cross-neutralized several field and laboratory strains of BHV-1. Challenge with both field strains of BHV-1 resulted in moderate to severe respiratory tract disease in control calves. Treatment calves had significantly fewer signs of clinical disease, shed less BHV-1, had less or no weight loss after challenge, and had fewer tracheal lesions than control calves for at least 97 days after vaccination.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Administration of the combination modified-live BHV-1 vaccine yielded significant disease-sparing effects in calves experimentally infected with virulent field strains of BHV-1.
Refractive index tip sensor based on Fabry-Pérot cavities formed by a suspended core fibre
Authors: Frazão O. , Baptista J. M. , Santos J. L. , Kobelke J. , Schuster K.
Published: September 2009

A Fabry-Perot refractometer based on the suspended core fibre is presented. The Fabry-Perot cavities are formed by a section of suspended core fibre between conventional single-mode fibres. This miniature refractive tip sensor is demonstrated for the measurement of the refractive index change by measuring the fringe visibility and through the analysis of the fast Fourier transform. The two methods are compared. The temperature dependence was also characterized.
Effectiveness of Essential Health Care Services Delivery in Nepal
Authors: Devkota B
Published: August 2009

Background: Ensuring delivery of quality health services in a sustainable and equitable manner is a challenge in Nepal. A host of factors may have impeded the access, quality and utilization of the health services particularly by the marginalized and disadvantaged sections of the population. Review essential health care services (EHCS) provided by the public health facilities, level of progress, effectiveness, sustainability, equity and efficiency, quality of care and inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged populations in health care servicesMethods: A total of 40 VDCs from 10 districts representing five regions and three eco-zones were covered. Altogether 800 mothers with under two year children, 40 health service providers, 145 key informants and 40 exit clients were interviewed. Forty focused group discussions were also conducted. From each district, health records of one hospital, PHCC, HP, SHP and Ayurvedic health facility each were collected.Results: More than two-third (68.2%) of the mothers received antenatal checks, highest in hills (85%) followed by terai (64.5%) and mountain districts (52.8%).Tetanus vaccine coverage (80.7%) seems higher compared to Nepal Demographic Health Survey 2001 (45%). FP use rate in mountain, hill and terai are 57.6%, 54.1% and 49.7%, higher than in DoHS 2003/2004 statistics, which were 26.8%, 36.4% and 45.3% respectively. Nine out of ten patients visiting the health facilities were outpatients. The coverage of DPT 3, Polio 3, BCG and measles are 92.8%, 93.4%, 95.2% and 90.7% respectively. From the service utilization perspective, disparities in terms of gender, ecological regions, season of the year and health facility were revealed.Conclusion: Health sector services are yet to be made responsive to the ecological and district specific health problems, and be made more inclusive linking with doable safety nets.  Key words: Essential health care services; Effectiveness; Sustainability; Equity and efficiency; Quality of care and inclusion  doi: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i2.2188Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6 No. 2 Issue 13 Oct 2008 Page: 74-83
Impact of Educational Intervention on Knowledge Regarding HIV/AIDS among Adults
Authors: Sharma Muna
Published: August 2009

Background: HIV/AIDS is the genuine public health problem; in which prevention is the mainstay of the response where adult can play principle role in the society. The study aimed at finding out the effectiveness of the education intervention in improving knowledge among adults regarding the HIV/AIDS.Methods: A pre- experimental semi structured interview was conducted to measure research variables among a group of 67 adults, who were the members of Local Community Organizations (LCOs) of Bagashori VDC of Bhaktapur in pre- test and post test. The obtained data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: The findings revealed that after intervention respondents had significantly higher (p= 0.001) mean knowledge about HIV/AIDS.Conclusion: The test confirmed that the education program on HIV/AIDS was able to considerably improve people's knowledge about HIV/AIDS. Key words: Adults; Educational intervention; Knowledge; HIV/AIDSdoi: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i2.2213Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, Vol. 6, No. 2, 2008, October. Page: 102-106
Socio-Demographic Profile of HIV Patients at Seti Zonal Hospital
Authors: Paudel Bidhan Nidhi , Sharma S , Singh G. B. , Dhungana G. B. , Paudel P.
Published: August 2009

Background: To tackle with powerful strategies aimed at controlling AIDS epidemic, the virus is finding its new way for devastating human lives through bridge population. At present, migrant laborers are the major carriers of HIV from high risk population to the low risk population. The objective is to study the socio-demographic status of HIV patient visiting Seti Zonal Hospital, Dhangadi.Methods: A descriptive study was carried out from December 2006 to May 2008 in 1099 HIV patients visiting HIV clinic, Seti Zonal Hospital, Dhangadi After taking informed consents, information regarding age, sex, educational status and socio economic status ware recorded in standard register. All the information were entered in to SPSS 11.5 system and analyzed to obtain socio-demographic profiles of the patients.Results: Among 1099 Patients, 54.2% were females. Majority patients were in the age group 31-45 years (54.1%). As high as 86.07% of the patients were from Far Western Region and 14.2% were from Mid Western Region. Regarding occupation, almost 50% of the HIV patients were housewives (42.1%of whom were window) followed by migrant laborers (38.8). As high as 77.0% of the patients were found to be illiterate.Conclusion: It can be concluded that low socio-economic status along with high migration rate of the Far Western Region was found to be the major predisposing factor for increasing vulnerability to HIV infection.  Key words: Dhangadhi;  HIV/AIDS;  Housewives;  Migrants;  Socio-economic status.doi: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i2.2215Journal of Nepal Health Research Council Vol. 6, No. 2, 2008 Page: 107-110
Integration of Knowledge and Practice of Nurses’ Primary Health Care Roles in Hospital
Authors: Tamang (Thanju) Shakuntala
Published: August 2009

Background: PHC concept was incorporated in nursing curricula (1987) to equip nurses with necessary knowledge and skills to perform their PHC roles. The aim was to investigate the integration of knowledge and practice of nurses' PHC roles as perceived by the nurse and patient and the relationship with its influencing variables.Methods: A descriptive study involved nurses and patients from government and non-government hospitals using a structured questionnaire. Nonparametric statistics, known for their appropriateness for small samples, were used to examine the research questions.Results: Integration of knowledge and practice of nurses' PHC role was positively reflected in hospitals even though most roles practices were in moderate extent and the significant difference in nurses' role practices were experienced by the patients (P <0.001). The nurses' PHC role practice was influenced by supervision (P <0.001) of work and role of motivator, but were not influenced by other variables.Conclusion: Based on the study findings, an increased in knowledge resulted in an increased in PHC role practice. Therefore, good nursing education program is very important for the nurses to practice PHC roles efficiently and effectively in hospital. There is need for nurses to understand and deliver nursing care congruent with patient's perception of quality nursing care. With the regular and facilitative supervision, the nurses will have guidance encouragement, and resources to perform well.  Key words: PHC; Clinician; Developmental; Facilitative; Supportive.  doi: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i2.2216Journal of  Nepal  Health  Research Council  Vol. 6, No. 2, 2008, October  Page: 111-116
Medicial Abortion
Authors: Editor The
Published: August 2009

doi: 10.3126/jnhrc.v6i2.2220JNHRC Vol. 6 No. 2 Issue 13 Oct 2008
Pattern of psychiatric morbidity among the patients admitted in a private psychiatric clinic
Authors: Fahmida A , Wahab MA , Rahman MM
Published: September 2009

Background: Mental health problem is a major public health issue in the world across the developed and developing countries. However, data in most of the developing countries including Bangladesh are scarce. In Bangladesh, socio-political situation is insecure and unstable with poverty and vulnerable to natural disaster which causes psychiatric morbidity. The pattern of psychiatric morbidity in private clinic is quite different from that in government hospital. Objective: This study was aimed to assess the diagnostic pattern of psychiatric morbidity among the admitted patients in a private psychiatric clinic. Methodology: The study was carried out in a 20 bedded private psychiatric clinic in the heart of Dhaka city. All the information including longitudinal histories of patients was recorded in files and the diagnosis was confirmed by psychiatrist. Admission and discharge notes were recorded in register. Socio-demographic parameters and family history of mental illness were collected from the record file of individual patient. Results: Among 304 patients 184 (60.53%) were males and 120 (36.47%) were females. More than 50% of patients were in the age group of 18 to 37 years. Most common psychiatric disorders were schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders (39.4%), mood disorder (18.75%), borderline personality disorder (3.6%), conduct disorder (2.3), somatoform disorder (1.6%), anxiety disorder (0.7%), organic psychiatric disorder (2%), impulse control disorder (1.3%) and adjustment disorder (0.7%). Conclusion: Major forms of psychiatric disorders are common both in urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. Keywords: Psychiatric morbidity doi: 10.3329/bjms.v8i1.3186 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.8 No. 1-2; 2009 23-28
Fine needle aspiration cytology of lymph node in leprosy
Authors: Ahamad M. Shahab Uddin , Ahmed A.S.M. Mostaque , Rahman A.J.E. Nahar
Published: August 2009

Keywords: Cytology; Fine needle aspiration; Leprosy; Lymph nodeOnline: 26 August 2009DOI: 10.3329/bmrcb.v35i2.2215Bangladesh Med Res Counc Bull 2009; 35: 69-70