bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Search engines and their search strategies: the effective use by Indian academics
Authors: Sampath Kumar B.T. , Kumar G.T.
Published: September 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of various search engines and meta search engines by Indian academics for retrieving information on the web. It also aims to know whether the academics use search strategy of various search engines for retrieval of information or not, and how the Indian academics learn the various search strategies for using search engines.

Design/methodology/approach

– The data collection instruments used for this study were a questionnaire and follow-up interviews with students and faculty members. The questionnaire consisted of various questions which were designed to elicit the use of search engines, search strategies and method of leaning the search strategies of search engines. A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 300 duly filled copies were returned, constituting a 66.66 percent response rate. The data thus collected were analysed with the help of the SPSS (version 19.0) statistical package to present the findings in percentage and test the formulated hypothesis.

Findings

– The findings of the survey show that the majority of the respondents most frequently used Google (91.93 percent) and Yahoo (43.85 percent) while Dogpile and Ixquick (35.78 percent each) were less frequently used by the respondents. 65.26 percent of respondents used the search strategy for retrieving information. The study also shows that there is a significant relationship between the respondent's profession and use of search engines (p=0.018) as well use search strategies of search engines (p=0.028). Method of learning the search strategies of search engines is also associated with the respondent's profession (p=0.008).

Originality/value

– The results of this study have clear implications for information literacy instruction in the context of search engines. The study recommends that there is a need to conduct intensive training for students and faculty members in order for them to acquire the essential search strategies for effective information retrieval. The findings of the study will be helpful to concerned authorities to enhance the effective and efficient use of search engines by the respondents.
Comparison of the Thermal Performance of Damaged and Intact Shock Absorber
Authors: Bang Kyoung-sik , Lee Ju-chan , Seo Chung-seok , Seo Ki-seog
Published: September 2013

Regulatory requirements for a Type B package are specified in the Korea MEST Act 2009-37, IAEA Safety Standard Series No. TS-R-1, and US 10 CFR Part 71. These regulatory guidelines require that a Type B package for transporting radioactive materials should be able to withstand a test sequence consisting of a 9 m drop onto an unyielding surface, a 1 m drop onto a puncture bar, and a period of 30 min under a thermal condition of 800 °C. To evaluate the thermal shielding effect of a shock absorber, a thermal test was performed using a half scale model with shock absorber, which was damaged by both a 9 m drop test and a 1 m puncture test. For the purpose of comparison, the thermal test was also carried out using a half scale model with intact shock absorber. The maximum temperature of the seal in the upper part was measured at 273 °C, which is higher than the manufacturer's recommended maximum temperature in the thermal test using damaged shock absorber. This is because the shock absorber, which was broken in the drop test, was almost burned. However, the maximum temperature of the seal in the upper part was measured at 249 °C, which is lower than the manufacturer's recommended maximum temperature in the thermal test using intact shock absorber. Therefore, to maintain the containment boundary of the hot-cell cask, it is important that the manufacturing of the shock absorber prevent failure of shock absorber housing.
Carbon Nanotubes Used for Renewable Energy Applications and Environmental Protection/Remediation: A Review
Authors: Wong Kaufui V. , Bachelier Benoit
Published: September 2013

Carbon nanotubes are surprisingly ubiquitous in their use for renewable energy applications as well as for environmental protection and remediation. Hence, this is the motivation for the current review, to investigate into their usefulness. The characteristic properties of these nanotubes are a result of their large surface areas, and their unique mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties, and in no small part, due to its relatively easy manufacturability. Research has been done using carbon nanotubes for hydrogen storage, although it does not seem logical that carbon nanotubes would be very useful for this purpose. Carbon nanotubes used for solar collectors are used mainly for their improved thermal and electrical conductivities. Organic solar cells do not have a long life since they deteriorate in the sun. Research into long-lasting, yet inexpensive organic solar cells is an active area, and should continue to be so for some time. Carbon nanotubes are activated by certain chemicals. They may be used to react with solids, liquids, and gases. Hence, they are employed for waste water treatment, liquid, and gaseous cleanup. They may be used to remove metals as well as life pathogens. As the number of new pollutants and pathogens entering the environment multiply, research should continue to study the use of carbon nanotubes with regards prevention and remediation.
Micro Gas-Turbine Design for Small-Scale Hybrid Solar Power Plants
Authors: Aichmayer Lukas , Spelling James , Laumert Björn , Fransson Torsten
Published: September 2013

Hybrid solar micro gas-turbines are a promising technology for supplying controllable low-carbon electricity in off-grid regions. A thermoeconomic model of three different hybrid micro gas-turbine power plant layouts has been developed, allowing their environmental and economic performance to be analyzed. In terms of receiver design, it was shown that the pressure drop is a key criterion. However, for recuperated layouts, the combined pressure drop of the recuperator and receiver is more important. In terms of both electricity costs and carbon emissions, the internally-fired recuperated micro gas-turbine was shown to be the most promising solution of the three configurations evaluated. Compared to competing diesel generators, the electricity costs from hybrid solar units are between 10% and 43% lower, while specific CO2 emissions are reduced by 20–35%.
Analytical Prediction of the Critical Depth of Cut and Worst Spindle Speeds for Chatter in End Milling
Authors: Zheng C. M. , Junz Wang J.-J. , Sung C. F.
Published: September 2013

The frequency response function (FRF) method has been well used to determine the worst spindle speeds and their critical limiting chip width for turning operation by finding the maximum negative real part of the FRF. In this study, a modified FRF concept is adapted for a 2 DOF milling system of planar isotropic dynamics to determine the worst spindle speeds and the critical limiting axial depth of cut in explicit, analytic formulas. Analogous to the formulation of worst spindle speeds, similar expression for the best spindle speeds is also obtained. The modified FRF is obtained by multiplying the original FRF of the structure with a complex scaling factor, corresponding to a scaling and a rotation of its original Nyquist plot. The scaling factor is determined analytically from the system characteristic equation with the radial cutting constant and radial immersion angle as the major system parameters. Through the presented method, it is also shown that the worst spindle speeds for a milling operation can be found without the prior knowledge of modal dynamics and stability lobe diagram. The proposed analytical expressions are confirmed by the existing stability models and experimentally verified.
A New Model for the Prediction of Roll Deformation in a 20-High Sendzimir Mill
Authors: Cho J. H. , Hwang S. M.
Published: September 2013

A sound model for the prediction of the deformed roll profile during flat rolling is vital for the precision control of the strip profile and strip shape. However, preliminary investigations reveal that the applicability of existing models may be limited due to their inherent predictions errors. In this paper, a new model is proposed which is capable of precisely predicting the deformed roll profile in a multihigh mill. The model, which is developed on the basis of the predictions from finite element simulation, is applied to the analysis of roll deformation in a 20-high Sendzimir mill under some special conditions, such as rigid outer rolls and no roll shifting, etc. The prediction accuracy of the new model is demonstrated through comparison with the predictions from the finite element simulation.
A TERA Based Comparison of Heavy Duty Engines and Their Artificial Design Variants for Liquified Natural Gas Service
Authors: Maccapani Matteo , Khan Raja S. R. , Burgmann Paul J. , Lorenzo Giuseppina Di , Ogaji Stephen O. T. , Pilidis Pericles , Bennett Ian
Published: September 2013

The liquefaction of natural gas is an energy intensive process and accounts for a considerable portion of the costs in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain. Within this, the selection of the driver for running the gas compressor is one of the most important decisions and indeed the plant may well be designed around the driver, so one can appreciate the importance of driver selection. This paper forms part of a series of papers focusing on the research collaboration between Shell Global Solutions and Cranfield University, looking at the equipment selection of gas turbines in LNG service. The paper is a broad summary of the LNG Technoeconomic and Environmental Risk Analysis (TERA) tool created for equipment selection and looks at all the important factors affecting selection, including thermodynamic performance simulation of the gas turbines, lifing of hot gas path components, risk analysis, emissions, maintenance scheduling, and economic aspects. Moreover, the paper looks at comparisons between heavy duty industrial frame engines and two artificial design variants representing potential engine uprates. The focus is to provide a quantitative and multidisciplinary approach to equipment selection. The paper is not aimed to produce absolute accurate results (e.g., in terms of engine life prediction or emissions), but useful and realistic trends for the comparison of different driver solutions. The process technology is simulated based on the Shell DMR technology and single isolated trains are simulated with two engines in each train. The final analysis is normalized per tonne of LNG produced to better compare the technologies.
Stiction-free fabrication of lithographic nanostructures on resist-supported nanomechanical resonators
Authors: Diao Zhu , Losby Joseph E. , Burgess Jacob A. J. , Sauer Vincent T. K. , Hiebert Wayne K. , Freeman Mark R.
Published: September 2013

The authors report a highly flexible process for nanostructure lithography to incorporate specific functions in micro- and nanomechanical devices. The unique step involves electron beam patterning on top of released, resist-supported, surface micromachined structures, hence avoiding hydrofluoric acid etching of sensitive materials during the device release. The authors demonstrate the process by creating large arrays of nanomechanical torque magnetometers on silicon-on-insulator substrates. The fabricated devices show a thermomechanical noise-limited magnetic moment sensitivity in the range of 5 × 106 μB at room temperature and can be utilized to study both magnetostatics and dynamics in nanomagnets across a wide temperature range. The fabrication process can be generalized for the deposition and patterning of a wide range of materials on micro-/nanomechanical resonators.
Seabed characteristics from ambient noise at three shallow water sites in Northern Indian Ocean
Authors: Sanjana M. C. , Latha G. , Mahanty M. M.
Published: September 2013

Ambient noise measurements at three sites along the Indian continental shelf, with different water column and seabed, are analyzed to derive vertical directionality and further estimation of seabed characteristics. Directionality pattern is interpreted using features in the sound speed profiles, in terms of noise notch, surface duct, surface bottom reflections, direct arrivals, and high bottom loss arrivals. Reflection loss estimated from the field directionality is seen to be the same for a particular site and gives an estimate of the sea bottom. Seabed characteristics such as critical angle and reflection coefficient from field directionality correlate well with theoretical estimation using ground truths.
Comment on “Invasive Harlequin Ladybird Carries Biological Weapons Against Native Competitors”
Authors: de Jong Peter W. , van Lenteren Joop C. , Raak-van den Berg C. Lidwien
Published: September 2013

We comment on the implications that Vilcinskas
et al
. (Reports, 17 May 2013, p. 862) attach to the finding that the exotic, invasive ladybird
Harmonia axyridis
carries microsporidia to which this species is insensitive but that is lethal to species that are native to the invaded areas. The authors suggest that these microsporidia might serve as “biological weapons” against the native competitors, but we cast doubt on the importance of this suggestion in the field.
Pasteur Approach to a Malaria Vaccine May Take the Lead
Authors: Good Michael F.
Published: September 2013

A rationalized and reinvented approach to vaccinating against malaria shows impressive results.

[Also see Research Article by

Seder
et al.

]
Man in the Middle
Authors: Morell Virginia
Published: September 2013

Scrutinized by opposing sides—wolf-watchers and wolf-hunters—Yellowstone National Park wolf expert Douglas Smith tries to stick with science.
Concentrating on Kindness
Authors: Kupferschmidt Kai
Published: September 2013

Tania Singer helped found the field of social neuroscience. Now she wants to apply what has been learned—by training the world to be more compassionate through meditation.
Interlaboratory Optimization and Evaluation of a Serological Assay for Diagnosis of Human Baylisascariasis
Authors: Rascoe Lisa N. , Santamaria Cynthia , Handali Sukwan , Dangoudoubiyam Sriveny , Kazacos Kevin R. , Wilkins Patricia P. , Ndao Momar
Published: September 2013

A Western blot assay using a recombinant protein, recombinantBaylisascaris procyonisRAG1 protein (rBpRAG1), was developed for the diagnosis of human baylisascariasis concurrently by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, and the National Reference Centre for Parasitology (NRCP) in Montreal, Canada. Assay performance was assessed by testing 275 specimens at the CDC and 405 specimens at the NRCP. Twenty specimens from 16 cases of baylisascariasis were evaluated. Eighteen were positive, with the assay correctly identifying 14 of 16 patients. The rBpRAG1 Western blot assay showed no cross-reactivity withToxocara-positive serum and had an overall sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 98%.
Structure-Function Studies of the Neisseria gonorrhoeae Major Outer Membrane Porin
Authors: Chen Adrienne , Seifert H. Steven
Published: September 2013

The major outer membrane porin (PorB) expressed by
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
plays multiple roles during infection, in addition to its function as an outer membrane pore. We have generated a panel of mutants of
N. gonorrhoeae
strain FA1090 expressing a variety of mutant
porB
genes that all function as porins. We identified multiple regions of porin that are involved in its binding to the complement regulatory factors C4b-binding protein and factor H and confirmed that the ability to bind at least one factor is required for FA1090 to survive the bactericidal effects of human serum. We tested the ability of these mutants to inhibit both apoptosis and the oxidative burst in polymorphonuclear leukocytes but were unable to identify the porin domains required for either function. This study has identified nonessential porin domains and some potentially essential portions of the protein and has further expanded our understanding of the contribution of the porin domains required for complement regulation.
Trimeric Autotransporter DsrA Is a Major Mediator of Fibrinogen Binding in Haemophilus ducreyi
Authors: Fusco William G. , Elkins Christopher , Leduc Isabelle
Published: September 2013

Haemophilus ducreyi
is the etiologic agent of the sexually transmitted genital ulcer disease chancroid. In both natural and experimental chancroid,
H. ducreyi
colocalizes with fibrin at the base of the ulcer. Fibrin is obtained by cleavage of the serum glycoprotein fibrinogen (Fg) by thrombin to initiate formation of the blood clot. Fg binding proteins are critical virulence factors in medically important Gram-positive bacteria.
H. ducreyi
has previously been shown to bind Fg in an agglutination assay, and the
H. ducreyi
Fg binding protein FgbA was identified in ligand blotting with denatured proteins. To better characterize the interaction of
H. ducreyi
with Fg, we examined Fg binding to intact, viable
H. ducreyi
bacteria and identified a novel Fg binding protein.
H. ducreyi
bound unlabeled Fg in a dose-dependent manner, as measured by two different methods. In ligand blotting with total denatured cellular proteins, digoxigenin (DIG)-Fg bound only two
H. ducreyi
proteins, the trimeric autotransporter DsrA and the lectin DltA; however, only the isogenic
dsrA
mutant had significantly less cell-associated Fg than parental strains in Fg binding assays with intact bacteria. Furthermore, expression of DsrA, but not DltA or an empty vector, rendered the non-Fg-binding
H. influenzae
strain Rd capable of binding Fg. A 13-amino-acid sequence in the C-terminal section of the passenger domain of DsrA appears to be involved in Fg binding by
H. ducreyi
. Taken together, these data suggest that the trimeric autotransporter DsrA is a major determinant of Fg binding at the surface of
H. ducreyi
.
Factors Influencing Acquisition of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Organisms in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Ramsay Kay A. , Butler Claire A. , Paynter Stuart , Ware Robert S. , Kidd Timothy J. , Wainwright Claire E. , Bell Scott C.
Published: September 2013

Burkholderia cepacia
complex organisms are important transmissible pathogens found in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In recent years, the rates of cross-infection of epidemic strains have declined due to effective infection control efforts. However, cases of sporadic
B. cepacia
complex infection continue to occur in some centers. The acquisition pathways and clinical outcomes of sporadic
B. cepacia
complex infection are unclear. We sought to determine the patient clinical characteristics, outcomes, incidence, and genotypic relatedness for all cases of
B. cepacia
complex infection at two CF centers. We also sought to study the external conditions that influence the acquisition of infection. From 2001 to 2011, 67 individual organisms were cultured from the respiratory samples of 64 patients. Sixty-five percent of the patients were adults, in whom chronic infections were more common (68%) (
P
= 0.006). The incidence of
B. cepacia
complex infection increased by a mean of 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3 to 23%) per year. The rates of transplantation and death were similar in the incident cases who developed chronic infection compared to those in patients with chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
infection. Multilocus sequence typing revealed 50 individual strains from 65 isolates. Overall, 85% of the patients were infected with unique strains, suggesting sporadic acquisition of infection. The yearly incidence of nonepidemic
B. cepacia
complex infection was positively correlated with the amount of rainfall in the two sites examined: subtropical Brisbane (
r
= 0.65,
P
= 0.031) and tropical Townsville (
r
= 0.82,
P
= 0.002). This study demonstrates that despite strict cohort segregation, new cases of unrelated
B. cepacia
complex infection continue to occur. These data also support an environmental origin of infection and suggest that climate conditions may be associated with the acquisition of
B. cepacia
complex infections.
Highly Divergent Type 2 and 3 Vaccine-Derived Polioviruses Isolated from Sewage in Tallinn, Estonia
Authors: Al-Hello Haider , Jorba Jaume , Blomqvist Soile , Raud Riina , Kew Olen , Roivainen Merja
Published: September 2013

Highly divergent vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPVs) have been isolated from sewage in Tallinn, Estonia, since 2002. Sequence analysis of VDPVs of serotypes 2 and 3 showed that they shared common noncapsid region recombination sites, indicating origination from a single trivalent oral polio vaccine dose, estimated to have been given between 1986 and 1998. The sewage isolates closely resemble VDPVs chronically excreted by persons with common variable immunodeficiency, but no chronic excretors have yet been identified in Estonia.
A Simplified Positive-Sense-RNA Virus Construction Approach That Enhances Analysis Throughput
Authors: Siridechadilok Bunpote , Gomutsukhavadee Methee , Sawaengpol Thunyarat , Sangiambut Sutha , Puttikhunt Chunya , Chin-inmanu Kwanrutai , Suriyaphol Prapat , Malasit Prida , Screaton Gavin , Mongkolsapaya Juthathip
Published: September 2013

Here we present an approach that advances the throughput of a genetic analysis of a positive-sense RNA virus by simplifying virus construction. It enabled comprehensive dissection of a complex, multigene phenotype through rapid derivation of a large number of chimeric viruses and construction of a mutant library directly from a virus pool. The versatility of the approach described here expands the applicability of diverse genetic approaches to study these viruses.
Assessing efficient patient care: should length of stay be calculated independently of local admission rates?
Authors: Shahnaz A , Parker R A , Wills S , Ross Russell R I
Published: September 2013

Objective

To compare the length of hospitalisation for infants with bronchiolitis across the Eastern region and to assess the impact of the varying admission rates in each hospital.

Design

Data collection through the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) using the ICD clinical coding for bronchiolitis across all hospitals in east of England for three winter seasons (October to March for the years 2009/10, 2010/11 and 2011/12).

Main outcome measure

Length of hospital stay, corrected to adjust for local population.

Results

Seventeen hospitals across the east of England were included in this study. Overall admission rate (as a percentage of the population) for the region was 3.3% and consistent with national data, but rates within individual hospitals varied between 1.5% and 5.7% over the 3-year period. Bed days per 1000 population (‘standardised bed days’) per year varied almost fourfold, from 34.5 to 122.3 in different hospitals. Corrected length of stay showed high discordance when compared to average length of stay.

Conclusions

The average length of stay is substantially affected by admission rates, with hospitals who admit a greater proportion of infants appearing to have a shorter uncorrected length of stay. We propose that a single corrected measure for length of stay should be used when assessing the efficiency of care because it is unaffected by variations in local admission rates and is adjusted for local population size.
Stump appendicitis: a relatively under-reported reality
Authors: Hashmi Khawar Sibtain , Wibberley Helen , Ahmed Imad , Soares Luis
Published: September 2013

Stump appendicitis (SA) is a rare and under-reported complication of open as well as laparoscopic appendicectomy. Diagnosis of SA is often delayed and requires a high index of suspicion in those presenting with signs and symptoms of appendicitis and a history of appendicectomy.We presented a case of SA in a 20-year-old man with a history of open appendicectomy. He was managed conservatively using intravenous antibiotics. The risk of SA is influenced by surgical technique; however, it is unclear whether the incidence is higher with laparoscopic or open procedures. There is little evidence guiding the management of SA with the majority of reported cases treated operatively. This diagnosis should be suspected on the basis of history and examination and CT scanning is a useful tool in most adult cases aiding diagnosis. Management may be guided by the progression of the patient's symptoms either towards operative intervention or a conservative approach.
Lethal liquorice lollies (liquorice abuse causing pseudohyperaldosteronism)
Authors: Flores Robles B J , Hurtarte Sandoval A R , Penate Dardon J D , Alonso Blas C
Published: September 2013

A 47-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department with a history of asthenia, periorbital and lower limbs oedema, associated with hypokalaemia and increased blood pressure levels. Metabolic and renal causes were initially investigated as thyroid disease, Cushing syndrome and tubulopathies were excluded during the first week of admission. However, further questioning of the patient, revealed that she had been consuming several sachets of raw liquorice lollies (ignored amount) obtained from a herbalist a month ago. Based on the history and clinical findings, liquorice poisoning was highly suspected; an apparent mineralocorticoid excess secondary to ingestion of liquorice. Afterwards, levels of aldosterone and plasma renin activity were measured and found low 3 weeks later; therefore, our clinical suspicion was established. During the patient's stay at the hospital, liquorice was stopped and potassium supplements were started. Subsequently, a week after, the patient fully recovered without any significant sequelae.
A NOTE ON QUANTIZATION IN THE PRESENCE OF GRAVITATIONAL SHOCK WAVES
Authors: DISCONZI MARCELO M.
Published: September 2013

We study the quantization of a free scalar field when the background metric satisfies Einstein's equations and develops gravitational shock waves.
AC CONDUCTIVITY AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF PULSED LASER DEPOSITED CdS THIN FILMS
Authors: KHUSAYFAN N. M.
Published: September 2013

Cadmium Sulphide (CdS) thin films with different thicknesses were prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique using Nd:YAG laser with wavelength 1064 nm. AC electrical conductivity was studied in the frequency range 100–1000 KHz as a function of temperature. AC conductivity increased with increasing the frequency. The values of the activation energy of the AC conduction were calculated for CdS thin films of different thicknesses at various frequencies. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss were investigated as a function of temperature at different frequencies.
Recovery domains
Authors: Lenharth Andrew , Adve Vikram S. , King Samuel T.
Published: September 2013

We describe a strategy for enabling existing commodity operating systems to recover from unexpected run-time errors in nearly any part of the kernel, including core kernel components. Our approach is dynamic and request-oriented; it isolates the effects of a fault to the requests that caused the fault rather than to static kernel components. This approach is based on a notion of "recovery domains," an organizing principle to enable rollback of state affected by a request in a multithreaded system with minimal impact on other requests or threads. We have applied this approach on v2.4.22 and v2.6.27 of the Linux kernel and it required 132 lines of changed or new code: the other changes are all performed by a simple instrumentation pass of a compiler. Our experiments show that the approach is able to recover from otherwise fatal faults with minimal collateral impact during a recovery event.
RapidMRC
Authors: Tam David K. , Azimi Reza , Soares Livio B. , Stumm Michael
Published: September 2013

Miss rate curves (MRCs) are useful in a number of contexts. In our research, online L2 cache MRCs enable us to dynamically identify optimal cache sizes when cache-partitioning a shared-cache multicore processor. Obtaining L2 MRCs has generally been assumed to be expensive when done in software and consequently, their usage for online optimizations has been limited. To address these problems and opportunities, we have developed a low-overhead software technique to obtain L2 MRCs online on current processors, exploiting features available in their performance monitoring units so that no changes to the application source code or binaries are required. Our technique, called RapidMRC, requires a single probing period of roughly 221 million processor cycles (147 ms), and subsequently 124 million cycles (83 ms) to process the data. We demonstrate its accuracy by comparing the obtained MRCs to the actual L2 MRCs of 30 applications taken from SPECcpu2006, SPECcpu2000, and SPECjbb2000. We show that RapidMRC can be applied to sizing cache partitions, helping to achieve performance improvements of up to 27%.
A1 adenosine receptor negatively modulates coronary reactive hyperemia via counteracting A2A-mediated H2O2 production and KATP opening in isolated mouse hearts
Authors: Zhou Xueping , Teng Bunyen , Tilley Stephen , Mustafa S. Jamal
Published: September 2013

We previously demonstrated that A2A, but not A2B, adenosine receptors (ARs) mediate coronary reactive hyperemia (RH), possibly by producing H2O2 and, subsequently, opening ATP-dependent K+ (KATP) channels in coronary smooth muscle cells. In this study, A1 AR knockout (KO), A3 AR KO, and A1 and A3 AR double-KO (A1/A3 DKO) mice were used to investigate the roles and mechanisms of A1 and A3 ARs in modulation of coronary RH. Coronary flow of isolated hearts was measured using the Langendorff system. A1 KO and A1/A3 DKO, but not A3 KO, mice showed a higher flow debt repayment [∼30% more than wild-type (WT) mice, P < 0.05] following a 15-s occlusion. SCH-58261 (a selective A2A AR antagonist, 1 μM) eliminated the augmented RH, suggesting the involvement of enhanced A2A AR-mediated signaling in A1 KO mice. In isolated coronary arteries, immunohistochemistry showed an upregulation of A2A AR (1.6 ± 0.2 times that of WT mice, P < 0.05) and a higher magnitude of adenosine-induced H2O2 production in A1 KO mice (1.8 ± 0.3 times that of WT mice, P < 0.05), which was blocked by SCH-58261. Catalase (2,500 U/ml) and glibenclamide (a KATP channel blocker, 5 μM), but not NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, also abolished the enhanced RH in A1 KO mice. Our data suggest that A1, but not A3, AR counteracts the A2A AR-mediated CF increase and that deletion of A1 AR results in upregulation of A2A AR and/or removal of the negative modulatory effect of A1 AR, thus leading to an enhanced A2A AR-mediated H2O2 production, KATP channel opening, and coronary vasodilation during RH. This is the first report implying that A1 AR has a role in coronary RH.
Percutaneous Embolization of Congenital Portosystemic Venous Fistula in an Infant with Down Syndrome
Authors: Tanya Chun Pattaraporn , Chun Terrence , Files Matthew , Vo Nghia , McAdams Ryan M.
Published: September 2013

Congenital intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts are rare vascular malformations often associated with severe complications. We describe a term male infant with Down syndrome with high output heart failure secondary to a congenital arterial to portal venous fistula that was diagnosed by Doppler ultrasound. Percutaneous embolizations of the left hepatic vein, portal vein, and communicating fistulas were performed without complications, resulting in clinical improvement. A subsequent hepatic ultrasound demonstrated resolution of the pathologic fistulous communication and shunting effects.
Influence Mechanism of Grouting on Mechanical Characteristics of Rock Mass
Authors: Jixun Zhang , Jiaqing Shu , Xuhua Ren , Hongyun Ren
Published: September 2013

Grouting technology has been widely used in all fields of geotechnical and civil engineering. Prospective engineering objectives including reinforcement of rock mass and groundwater leakage treatment can be achieved by grouting which will change the mechanical parameters of rock mass such as strength, elastic modulus, and coefficient of permeability. In this paper, rock mass is assumed as a composite material consisting of rock particles and random microcracks initially. Since part or all of the cracks will be filled with cement slurry after grouting, rock mass consists of rock particles, grout condensate, and some or no random microcracks after grouting. The damage constitutional law of the mesoscopic element is established based on the theory of mesoscopic damage mechanics. With the heterogeneity of the components of rock mass considered, the variation of mechanical characteristics of rock mass is studied before and after grouting. And the influence mechanism of grouting on rock mass is investigated at mesoscale level.
Solution of Boundary Layer Problems with Heat Transfer by Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method
Authors: Ullah H. , Islam S. , Idrees M. , Arif M.
Published: September 2013

Application of Optimal Homotopy Asymptotic Method (OHAM), a new analytic approximate technique for treatment of Falkner-Skan equations with heat transfer, has been applied in this work. To see the efficiency of the method, we consider Falkner-Skan equations with heat transfer. It provides us with a convenient way to control the convergence of approximate solutions when it is compared with other methods of solution found in the literature as finite difference (N. S. Asaithambi, 1997) and shooting method (Cebeci and Keller, 1971). The obtained solutions show that OHAM is effective, simpler, easier, and explicit.
Biological Aspects of Emerging Benzothiazoles: A Short Review
Authors: Ali Ruhi , Siddiqui Nadeem
Published: September 2013

In recent years heterocyclic compounds analogues and derivatives have attracted wide attention due to their useful biological and pharmacological properties. Benzothiazole is among the usually occurring heterocyclic nuclei in many marine as well as natural plant products. Benzothiazole is a privileged bicyclic ring system with multiple applications. It is known to exhibit a wide range of biological properties including anticancer, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic, anticonvulsant, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral, antitubercular activities. A large number of therapeutic agents are synthesized with the help of benzothiazole nucleus. During recent years there have been some interesting developments in the biological activities of benzothiazole derivatives. These compounds have special significance in the field of medicinal chemistry due to their remarkable pharmacological potentialities. This review is mainly an attempt to present the research work reported in the recent scientific literature on different biological activities of benzothiazole compounds.
Boundedness ofp-Adic Hardy Operators and Their Commutators onp-Adic Central Morrey and BMO Spaces
Authors: Wu Qing Yan , Mi Ling , Fu Zun Wei
Published: September 2013

We obtain the sharp bounds ofp-adic Hardy operators onp-adic central Morrey spaces andp-adicλ-central BMO spaces, respectively. We also establish theλ-central BMO estimates for commutators ofp-adic Hardy operators onp-adic central Morrey spaces.
A New Spectral Local Linearization Method for Nonlinear Boundary Layer Flow Problems
Authors: Motsa S. S.
Published: September 2013

We propose a simple and efficient method for solving highly nonlinear systems of boundary layer flow problems with exponentially decaying profiles. The algorithm of the proposed method is based on an innovative idea of linearizing and decoupling the governing systems of equations and reducing them into a sequence of subsystems of differential equations which are solved using spectral collocation methods. The applicability of the proposed method, hereinafter referred to as the spectral local linearization method (SLLM), is tested on some well-known boundary layer flow equations. The numerical results presented in this investigation indicate that the proposed method, despite being easy to develop and numerically implement, is very robust in that it converges rapidly to yield accurate results and is more efficient in solving very large systems of nonlinear boundary value problems of the similarity variable boundary layer type. The accuracy and numerical stability of the SLLM can further be improved by using successive overrelaxation techniques.
Augmentative Asenapine in a Recurrent Manic Catatonic Patient with Partial Response to Clozapine
Authors: Buoli Massimiliano , Dobrea Cristina , Caldiroli Alice , Cremaschi Laura , Altamura A. Carlo
Published: September 2013

Catatonia is a severe but treatable neuropsychiatric syndrome known since the middle of the nineteenth century. It has been considered for a long time as a subtype of schizophrenia, even though this association occurs only in 10% of cases. In contrast, it is frequently observed in bipolar patients. First-line treatment consists of benzodiazepines, while in case of resistance electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and clozapine have shown positive results. In addition, recent studies reported the efficacy of some atypical antipsychotics. The present case shows the clinical response to augmentative asenapine in a catatonic manic patient with a partial response to clozapine.
Congenital Giant Hydroureteric Cistern in a Duplex System of an Infant
Authors: Awolaran O. T. , Abdur-Rahman L. O. , Bamigbola K. T. , Adesiyun O. M. , Nasir A. A.
Published: September 2013

Duplex collecting system is a congenital genitourinary anomaly commonly found incidentally. Our experience with a duplex system associated with giant hydroureter presenting as mobile abdominal swelling that was noticed from birth, constipation, and failure to thrive is described. Ultrasound and IVU did not assist in making the diagnosis, while a barium enema suggested a colonic duplication. Congenital giant hydroureter should be considered as a differential diagnosis in infants with cystic abdominal swelling. A preserved renal moiety attributed to a dilated ureteric cistern was a unique theory in this case.
A Case of a Metanephric Adenoma of the Kidney Surgically Treated with Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy
Authors: Patel Raunak D. , Frederick Luke , Kohler Tobias , Schwartz Bradley
Published: September 2013

Metanephric adenomas are a rare neoplasm of the kidney with less than 200 cases reported. We report a case of a metanephric adenoma incidentally found on imaging in a 52-year-old Hispanic female and treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. A brief review of the literature is also included.
Removal of Pb(II) Ions in Fixed‐Bed Column from Electroplating Wastewater of Bursa, an Industrial City in Turkey
Authors: Kara Ali , Üstün Gökhan Ekrem , Akal Solmaz Seval Kutlu , Demirbel Emel
Published: September 2013

Removal of Pb(II) ions from electroplating wastewater of Bursa, an industrial city in Turkey, was investigated in fixed‐bed column. The experiments were conducted to study the effect of important design parameters such as column bed height and flow rate. The breakthrough profiles were obtained in these studies. At a bed height of 14 cm and flow rate of 6 mL/min, the metal‐uptake capacity of poly(ethylene glycol dimethacrylate‐1‐vinylimidazole) [poly(EGDMA‐VIM)] beads for Pb(II) ions was found to be 90 mg/g. Bed Depth Service Time (BDST) model was used to analyse the experimental data and evaluate the performance of adsorption column. For various flow rates, adsorption capacity per unit bed volume (N0) and adsorption rate constant (ka) are in the range of 2370–3560 mg/mL and 0.0225–0.0616 L/mg h, respectively. The saturated column was easily regenerated by 0.1 M HNO3 and the poly(EGDMA‐VIM) beads in fixed‐bed column could be reused for Pb(II) ions removal.
Ureteric Injury due to the Use of LigaSure
Authors: Tahir Muazzam , Gilkison William
Published: September 2013

Background. LigaSure is a bipolar clamping device used in open and laparoscopic surgeries for producing haemostasis in vascular pedicles up to 7 mm in diameter (“Covidien LigaSure technology: consistent, reliable, trusted vessel sealing,” 2012). The use of LigaSure has made securing haemostasis and tissue dissection relatively easy especially in laparoscopic surgery; however, if not used with care it can cause damage to the surrounding structures through lateral spread of energy.Case Report. This case report discusses the induction of a thermal ureteral injury associated with the use of LigaSure. An 80-year-old gentleman was operated for bowel cancer. LigaSure was used for securing haemostasis and tissue dissection. Postoperatively, he was found to have damage to the right ureter secondary to lateral spread of energy from the jaws of LigaSure with high abdominal drain output.Conclusion. Judicious and careful use of electrosurgical devices should be done to prevent inadvertent damage to the surrounding structures. Early recognition and involvement of a urologist can prevent long-term complications.
A Transcriptional and Metabolic Signature of Primary Aneuploidy Is Present in Chromosomally Unstable Cancer Cells and Informs Clinical Prognosis
Authors: Sheltzer Jason M.
Published: September 2013

Aneuploidy is invariably associated with poor proliferation of primary cells, but the specific contributions of abnormal karyotypes to cancer, a disease characterized by aneuploidy and dysregulated proliferation, remain unclear. In this study, I demonstrate that the transcriptional alterations caused by aneuploidy in primary cells are also present in chromosomally unstable cancer cell lines, but the same alterations are not common to all aneuploid cancers. Chromosomally unstable cancer lines and aneuploid primary cells also share an increase in glycolytic and TCA cycle flux. The biological response to aneuploidy is associated with cellular stress and slow proliferation, and a 70-gene signature derived from primary aneuploid cells was defined as a strong predictor of increased survival in several cancers. Inversely, a transcriptional signature derived from clonal aneuploidy in tumors correlated with high mitotic activity and poor prognosis. Together, these findings suggested that there are two types of aneuploidy in cancer: one is clonal aneuploidy, which is selected during tumor evolution and associated with robust growth, and the other is subclonal aneuploidy caused by chromosomal instability (CIN). Subclonal aneuploidy more closely resembles the stressed state of primary aneuploid cells, yet CIN is not benign; a subset of genes upregulated in high-CIN cancers predict aggressive disease in human patients in a proliferation-independent manner. Cancer Res; 73(21); 6401–12. ©2013 AACR.
Isolation of a Novel Thioflavin S–Derived Compound That Inhibits BAG-1–Mediated Protein Interactions and Targets BRAF Inhibitor–Resistant Cell Lines
Authors: Enthammer Marion , Papadakis Emmanouil S. , Salomé Gachet Maria , Deutsch Martin , Schwaiger Stefan , Koziel Katarzyna , Ashraf Muhammad Imtiaz , Khalid Sana , Wolber Gerhard , Packham Graham , Cutress Ramsey I. , Stuppner Hermann , Troppmair Jakob
Published: September 2013

Protein–protein interactions mediated through the C-terminal Bcl-2–associated athanogene (BAG) domain of BAG-1 are critical for cell survival and proliferation. Thioflavin S (NSC71948)—a mixture of compounds resulting from the methylation and sulfonation of primulin base—has been shown to dose-dependently inhibit the interaction between BAG-1 and Hsc70 in vitro. In human breast cancer cell lines, with high BAG-1 expression levels, Thioflavin S reduces the binding of BAG-1 to Hsc70, Hsp70, or CRAF and decreases proliferation and viability. Here, we report the development of a protocol for the purification and isolation of biologically active constituents of Thioflavin S and the characterization of the novel compound Thio-2. Thio-2 blocked the growth of several transformed cell lines, but had much weaker effects on untransformed cells. Thio-2 also inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cell lines that had become resistant to treatment with PLX4032, an inhibitor of mutant BRAF. In transformed cells, Thio-2 interfered with intracellular signaling at the level of RAF, but had no effect on the activation of AKT. Thio-2 decreased binding of BAG-1 to Hsc70 and to a lesser extent BRAF in vitro and in vivo, suggesting a possible mechanism of action. Given that tumors frequently develop resistance to kinase inhibitors during treatment, Thio-2 and related compounds may offer promising alternative strategies to currently available therapies. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(11); 2400–14. ©2013 AACR.
Calorie Restriction Attenuates Cardiac Remodeling and Diastolic Dysfunction in a Rat Model of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Takatsu Miwa , Nakashima Chieko , Takahashi Keiji , Murase Tamayo , Hattori Takuya , Ito Hiromi , Murohara Toyoaki , Nagata Kohzo
Published: September 2013

Calorie restriction (CR) can modulate the features of obesity-related metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. We have recently characterized DahlS.Z-
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(DS/obese) rats, derived from a cross between Dahl salt-sensitive and Zucker rats, as a new animal model of metabolic syndrome. DS/obese rats develop hypertension and manifest left ventricular remodeling and diastolic dysfunction, as well as increased cardiac oxidative stress and inflammation. We have now investigated the effects of CR on cardiac pathophysiology in DS/obese rats. DS/obese rats were fed either normal laboratory chow ad libitum or a calorie-restricted diet (65% of the average food intake for ad libitum) from 9 to 13 weeks. Age-matched homozygous lean (DahlS.Z-
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or DS/lean) littermates served as controls. CR reduced body weight in both DS/obese and DS/lean rats, as well as attenuated the development of hypertension in DS/obese rats without affecting blood pressure in DS/lean rats. CR also reduced body fat content, ameliorated left ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction, and attenuated cardiac oxidative stress and inflammation in DS/obese rats. In addition, it increased serum adiponectin concentration, as well as downregulated the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin II type 1A receptor genes in the heart of DS/obese rats. Our results thus show that CR attenuated obesity and hypertension, as well as left ventricular remodeling and diastolic dysfunction in DS/obese rats, with these latter effects being associated with reduced cardiac oxidative stress and inflammation.
Framing “The Climate Issue”: Patterns of Participation and Prognostic Frames among Climate Summit Protesters
Authors: Wahlström Mattias , Wennerhag Magnus , Rootes Christopher
Published: September 2013

Did the protests surrounding recent climate summits mark the emergence of a climate justice movement? We analyze responses to surveys of three large demonstrations in Copenhagen, Brussels, and London, organized in connection with the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference (COP-15) to determine who demonstrated, and how and why the collective action frames employed by demonstrators varied. The demonstrations were products of the mobilization of broad coalitions of groups, and we find significant variation in demonstrators' prognostic framings—the ways in which they formulated solutions to climate problems. Most notably, there was a tension between system-critical framings and those oriented around individual action. A large proportion of demonstrators expressed affinity with the global justice movement (GJM), but we find little evidence of an emerging “climate justice” frame among rank-and-file protesters. Individual variations in framing reflect differences between the mobilization contexts of the three demonstrations, the perspectives and values of individual participants, and the extent of their identification with the GJM.
“Me, This Wretched Sinner”: A Coptic Fragment from the Vision of Theophilus Concerning the Flight of the Holy Family to Egypt
Authors: Suciu Alin
Published: September 2013

Abstract

The Vision of Theophilus is one of the important apocryphal narratives concerning the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt. Although the text is known to survive in Arabic, Ethiopic and Syriac, a lost Coptic original has long been accepted by scholars. The present paper introduces a hitherto unidentified fragment from the Coptic version of this text. The fragment came from the White Monastery in Upper Egypt and it is currently kept in the National Library in Paris. The fragment is edited in this article together with its Arabic and Ethiopic parallels.