bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANNEALING TREATMENT OF ZnO THIN FILMS DEPOSITED BY SOL–GEL METHOD
Authors: SALEEM M. , FANG L. , HUANG Q. L. , LI D. C. , WU F. , RUAN H. B. , KONG C. Y.
Published: September 2012

Highly transparent ZnO thin films were deposited on glass substrates by using a simple and inexpensive multi-step sol–gel spin coating process. This research investigated the effects of annealing temperature in the range from 350–600°C on the microstructure, surface morphology and optical properties of thin films by using XRD, SEM and transmittance spectra. The XRD results showed that the c-axis orientation of ZnO thin films was improved with the increase of annealing temperature. The grain size increases from 16.6–19.7 nm with the increase in temperature. The transmittance spectra indicated that the transmittance and direct optical band gap Eg of the films showed a decreased trend with annealing temperature. It is found that the tensile stress exist in the films, which decreases with the increase in annealing temperature up to 500°C, on further increasing the annealing temperature up to 600°C, the stress in the film changes from tensile to compressive nature.
DYNAMIC SOIL-PILE-RAFT INTERACTION IN NORMALLY CONSOLIDATED SOFT CLAY DURING EARTHQUAKES
Authors: KANG MA , BANERJEE SUBHADEEP , LEE FOOK-HOU , XIE HE PING
Published: September 2012

This paper examines the seismic response of clay pile-raft system with flexible and stiff piles using centrifuge and numerical studies. Centrifuge studies showed that interaction between pile-raft and clay will cause a significant softening in the clay adjacent to the pile-raft which produced a lengthening of resonance period in near-field soil compared to the far-field soil. The difference of response among the raft and the soil at both near- and far-field indicates that ground motion at both near- and far-field cannot be representative of raft motion. There is also significant difference between flexible and stiff pile response. It has been shown in a previous study that, for stiff pile, the soft clay acts as an inertial loading medium rather than a supporting medium. For this reasons, the bending moment diagram extends deep into the soft soil stratum. However, for flexible pile, the supporting effect of the surrounding clay is much more significant than in stiff pile. As a result, the bending moment envelope for flexible pile under earthquake shaking is very similar to the head-loaded test results, with an active length of pile below which no significant bending moment occurs.
Bench to Bedside of Neural Stem Cell in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Ugoya Solomon O. , Tu Jian
Published: September 2012

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of major disability and death worldwide. Neural stem cells (NSCs) have recently been shown to contribute to the cellular remodelling that occurs following TBI and attention has been drawn to the area of neural stem cell as possible therapy for TBI. The NSCs may play an important role in the treatment of TBI by replacing the damaged cells and eventual remyelination. This paper summarized a critical assessment of recent data and developed a view comprising of six points to possible quality translation of NSCs in TBI.
Digital Architectures for UWB Beamforming Using 2D IIR Spatio-Temporal Frequency-Planar Filters
Authors: Kondapalli Soumya , Madanayake Arjuna , Bruton Len
Published: September 2012

A design method and an FPGA-based prototype implementation of massively parallel systolic-array VLSI architectures for 2nd-order and 3rd-order frequency-planar beam plane-wave filters are proposed. Frequency-planar beamforming enables highly-directional UWB RF beams at low computational complexity compared to digital phased-array feed techniques. The array factors of the proposed realizations are simulated and both high-directional selectivity and UWB performance are demonstrated. The proposed architectures operate using 2's complement finite precision digital arithmetic. The real-time throughput is maximized using look-ahead optimization applied locally to each processor in the proposed massively-parallel realization of the filter. From sensitivity theory, it is shown that 15 and 19-bit precision for filter coefficients results in better than 3% error for 2nd- and 3rd-order beam filters. Folding together with Ktimes multiplexing is applied to the proposed beam architectures such that throughput can be traded forK-fold lower complexity for realizing the 2-D fan filter banks. Prototype FPGA circuit implementations of these filters are proposed using a Virtex 6 xc6vsx475t-2ff1759 device. The FPGA-prototyped architectures are evaluated using area (A), critical path delay (T), and metricsATandAT2. TheL2error energy is used as a metric for evaluating fixed-point noise levels and the accuracy of the finite precision digital arithmetic circuits.
Spontaneous Rupture of Splenic Artery Aneurysm during the First Trimester of Pregnancy: Report of an Extremely Rare Case and Review of the Literature
Authors: Pavlis Theodoros , Seretis Charalampos , Gourgiotis Stavros , Aravosita Paraskevi , Mystakelli Christina , Aloizos Stavros
Published: September 2012

Splenic artery aneurysm (SAA) occurs predominantly in women and the majority of them are asymptomatic until rupture. In cases of spontaneous rupture of an SAA, maternal and fetal mortality rates remain extremely high. Furthermore, the spontaneous ruptures of SAAs predominantly appear during the third trimester of pregnancy. We present the third known case of spontaneous SAA rupture during the first trimester of pregnancy, which manifested as sudden hypovolemic collapse and was successfully confronted with combined aggressive resuscitation and emergency surgical operation.
Evaluation of Adrenal Reserve in Children with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Prednisone or Dexamethasone
Authors: Kuperman Hilton , Odone Filho Vicente , Cristofani Lilian Maria , Assis de Almeida Maria Tereza , Setian Nuvarte , Damiani Durval
Published: September 2012

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare adrenal gland reserve in acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) patients 8 weeks after treatment with either prednisone (PRED) or dexamethasone (DEX) during the induction phase of therapy. Methods: A double-blind comparative study of patients treated with PRED and DEX was performed. Sixteen patients received PRED (40 mg/m2/day) and 13 patients received DEX (6 mg/m2/day), both for 28 days. A low-dose adrenocorticotropic hormone test (1.0 µg/m2, IV) was performed before and weekly for 8 weeks after abrupt cessation of glucocorticoid therapy. Sixteen children without ALL were used as controls to determine the cutoff peak cortisol level (14.2 µg/dl). Results: Both groups (PRED and DEX) displayed similar mean peak cortisol levels before treatment and during the 8 weeks of evaluation (p = 0.652). No relationship was observed between the incidence of infection/stress and peak cortisol level within each group, nor was there a difference in the frequency of infection/stress between groups (p = 0.359). Although the patients presented variations in peak cortisol during the study period, no signs or symptoms of adrenal insufficiency were observed. Conclusion: Patients who received PRED or DEX for 4 weeks showed similar adrenal reserves and infection rates for 8 weeks after abruptly stopping glucocorticoid therapy, suggesting that DEX, which is a better antileukemic drug than PRED, has similar adrenal suppression and recovery rates.
The Neuroecology of Cartilaginous Fishes: Sensory Strategies for Survival
Authors: Collin Shaun P.
Published: September 2012

As apex predators, chondrichthyans, or cartilaginous fishes, hold an important position within a range of aquatic ecosystems and influence the balance between species’ abundance and biodiversity. Having been in existence for over 400 million years and representing the earliest stages of the evolution of jawed vertebrates, this group also covers a diverse range of eco-morphotypes, occupying both marine and freshwater habitats. The class Chondrichthyes is divided into two subclasses: the Elasmobranchii (sharks, skates, and rays) and the Holocephali (elephant sharks and chimaeras). However, many of their life history traits, such as low fecundity, the production of small numbers of highly precocious young, slow growth rates, and late maturity, make them highly susceptible to human exploitation. To mitigate the negative effects of human impacts, it is important that we understand the sensory strategies that elasmobranchs use for navigating within their environment, forming reproductive aggregations, feeding, and even communicating. One approach to investigate the sensory bases of their behavior is to examine the peripheral sense organs mediating vision, olfaction, gustation, lateral line, electroreception, and audition in a large range of species in order to identify specific adaptations, the range of sensitivity thresholds, and the compromise between sensory spatial resolution and sensitivity. In addition, we can quantitatively assess the convergence of sensory input to the central nervous system and the relative importance of different sensory modalities. Using a comparative approach and often a combination of anatomical, electrophysiological, and molecular techniques, significant variation has been identified in the spatial and chromatic sampling of the photoreceptors in the eye, the surface area and the number of olfactory lamellae within the nasal cavity, the level of gustatory sampling within the oral cavity, the type and innervation of neuromasts of the lateral line system, the distribution of electroreceptive pores over the head, and the morphology of the inner ear. These results are presented in the context of predictions of sensory capabilities for species living in a range of ecological niches, what further research is needed, and how this sensory input may be a predictor of behavior.
The Renin-Angiotensin System in the Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Goossens Gijs H.
Published: September 2012

Increased activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been related to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Most randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that RAS blockade reduces the incidence of type 2 diabetes, which has been explained by improved insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity. In this review, an overview of the mechanisms that may underlie the association between the RAS and type 2 diabetes will be provided, with focus on skeletal muscle and adipose tissue function. This will include discussion of several human studies performed in our laboratory to investigate the metabolic and hemodynamic effects of the RAS, combining in vivo measurements of whole-body and tissue metabolism with molecular and immunohistochemical approaches. Available data suggest that the detrimental effects of the RAS on insulin secretion are mediated by a reduction in pancreatic blood flow and induction of islet fibrosis, oxidative stress as well as inflammation, whereas both impaired skeletal muscle function and adipose tissue dysfunction may underlie RAS-induced insulin resistance. Thus, although future studies in humans are warranted, current evidence supports that targeting the RAS in intervention studies may improve metabolic and cardiovascular function in conditions of insulin resistance like obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Prediction of Graupel Density in a Bulk Microphysics Scheme
Authors: Milbrandt Jason A. , Morrison Hugh
Published: September 2012

A method to predict the bulk density of graupel ρg has been added to the two-moment Milbrandt–Yau bulk microphysics scheme. The simulation of graupel using the modified scheme is illustrated through idealized simulations of a mesoscale convective system using a 2D kinematic model with a prescribed flow field and different peak updraft speeds. To examine the relative impact of the various approaches to represent rimed ice, simulations were run for various graupel-only and graupel-plus-hail configurations.

Because of the direct feedback of ρg to terminal fall speeds, the modified scheme produces a much different spatial distribution of graupel, with more mass concentrated in the convective region resulting in changes to the surface precipitation at all locations. With a strong updraft, the model can now produce solid precipitation at the surface in the convective region without a separate hail category. It is shown that a single rimed-ice category is capable of representing a realistically wide range of graupel characteristics in various atmospheric conditions without the need for a priori parameter settings.

Sensitivity tests were conducted to examine various aspects of the scheme that affect the simulated ρg. Specific parameterizations pertaining to other hydrometeor categories now have a direct impact on the simulation of graupel, including the assumed aerosol distribution for droplet nucleation, which affects the drop sizes of both cloud and rain, and the mass–size relation for snow, which affects its density and hence the embryo density of graupel converted from snow due to riming.
The effects of various mounting systems of near magnification on reading performance and preference in school-age students with low vision
Authors: Lusk Kelly E
Published: September 2012

This single-subject study explored the effects of different mounting systems of prescribed near magnification (handheld, stand-mounted, spectacle-mounted, and electronic) on reading performance and preference in students with low vision. Participants included five students ranging from 3rd to 11th grade, and with various etiologies. Reading performance and preference varied widely with each mounting system, with no clear patterns across students. The differences in mounting systems did appear to be a determining factor in the reading performance and preference among students and should be taken into account when selecting and prescribing devices for students.
Greek foreign policy towards the Armenian Question: a historical survey
Authors: Hassiotis I. K.
Published: September 2012

To Richard Clogg, a small token of auld acquaintance

The historical factors that have influenced the course of Greek–Armenian political relations from the mid-nineteenth century up to the dissolution of the Soviet Union (and the subsequent official recognition by Greece of the independent Republic of Armenia in 1991) are explored. In addition, those factors that have caused – and may well cause again, at least in the foreseeable future – the Greek and Armenian positions either to converge or to diverge are identified.
Friction during precision forging of high temperature aerospace materials
Authors: Brooks J W
Published: September 2012

A programme of experimental work has been carried out to determine the viscosity and friction performance for a range of borosilicate based glass forging lubricants for conditions relevant to the closed die forging operations used in the manufacture of aerospace parts in titanium and nickel alloys. A simple experimental method for the measurement of glass viscosities has been described and the measured viscosities and the friction coefficients have been used to provide an interpretation of the behaviour observed. Isothermal friction tests in the temperature range from 800 to 1100°C were carried out to determine the basic performance of the glass followed by tests representative of forging operations with the workpiece at 925°C and the dies between 300 and 600°C. It has been found that both boundary layer and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes occur for the temperatures and strain rates encountered during the forging of aerospace materials coated with glass lubricants.
Nanoindentation and nanoscratch of hybrid metallic–organic framework material
Authors: Pugno N. M. , Calabri L.
Published: September 2012

In the present paper, the nanoindentation theory proposed in Ref. 1 is extended to nanoscratching, considering different sizes and shapes of a nanosized indenter/scratcher penetrating into a plastic material. The finding can explain the observed scaling of the mean pressure or specific energy for scratching; such a quantity is seen as ‘lateral hardness’, allowing one to unify nanoindentation and nanoscratching as different aspects of the same nanotribology. The scratching resistance and hardness are then discussed as a function of the penetration velocity. Finally, new experiments of nanoindentation, using an atomic force microscope coupled technique for indentation and imaging, of a complex and anisotropic metallic–organic framework pulverised material are reported and discussed, quantifying the role of the nanohardness, Young's modulus, pile-up and nanoscratching resistance.
Scale effects in convoluted thermal/spatial statistics of plasticity initiation in small stressed volumes during nanoindentation
Authors: Li T. L. , Bei H. , Morris J. R. , George E. P. , Gao Y. F.
Published: September 2012

The elastic–plastic transition of crystals at small length scales can be quantitatively evaluated by sudden discontinuities (pop-ins) on nanoindentation load–displacement curves. For defect free crystals under nanocontacts, pop-in stress fluctuations result purely from the thermally activated process of homogeneous dislocation nucleation, while at intermediate contact sizes, fluctuations can arise from the spatial statistics of pre-existing defects. Here, we find that the convolution of the above thermal and spatial effects exhibits a distinct dependence on the stressed volume size, dislocation density and geometric factors that describe crystallography and slip anisotropy. These essential features are captured in a unified model that includes both homogeneous dislocation nucleation and heterogeneous activation of pre-existing dislocations. Our theoretical predictions compare remarkably well with experimental findings. In particular, the model describes the observed strong and complex dependence of pop-in probability on indentation direction in NiAl. Implications for other small scale mechanical tests such as micropillar compression are discussed.
Gaps in the prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus between recommendations and routine practices in a highly endemic region: a provincial population-based study in China
Authors: Hu Yali , Zhang Shu , Luo Chao , Liu Qilan , Zhou Yi-Hua
Published: September 2012

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in China; perinatal transmission is the main source of chronic HBV infection. Simultaneous administration of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) and hepatitis B vaccine is highly effective to prevent perinatal transmission of HBV; however, the effectiveness also depends on full adherence to the recommended protocols in daily practice. In the present investigation, we aimed to identify gaps in immunoprophylaxis of perinatal transmission of HBV between recommendations and routine practices in Jiangsu Province, China.

Methods

Totally 626 children from 6 cities and 8 rural areas across Jiangsu Province, China, born from February 2003 to December 2004, were enrolled; 298 were born to mothers with positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and 328 were born to HBsAg-negative mothers. Immunoprophylactic measures against hepatitis B were retrospectively reviewed for about half of the children by checking medical records or vaccination cards and the vaccine status was validated for most of children.

Results

Of 298 children born to HBV carrier mothers, 11 (3.7%) were HBsAg positive, while none of 328 children born to non-carrier mothers was HBsAg positive (P < 0.01). The rates of anti-HBs ≥ 10 mIU/ml in children of carrier and non-carrier mothers were 69.5% and 69.2% respectively (P = 0.95). The hepatitis B vaccine coverage in two groups was 100% and 99.4% respectively (P = 0.50), but 15.1% of HBV-exposed infants did not receive the timely birth dose. Prenatal HBsAg screening was performed only in 156 (52.3%) of the carrier mothers. Consequently, only 112 (37.6%) of HBV-exposed infants received HBIG after birth. Furthermore, of the 11 HBV-infected children, only one received both HBIG and hepatitis B vaccine timely, seven missed HBIG, two received delayed vaccination, and one missed HBIG and received delayed vaccination.

Conclusions

There are substantial gaps in the prevention of perinatal HBV infection between the recommendations and routine practices in China, which highlights the importance of full adherence to the recommendations to eliminate perinatal HBV infection in the endemic regions.
Association of pre-transplant statin use with delayed graft function in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Reiling Janske , Johnson David W , Kruger Peter S , Pillans Peter , Wall Daryl R
Published: September 2012

Background

Administration of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins), prior to ischemia or prior to reperfusion has been shown to decrease ischemia-reperfusion renal injury in animal studies. It is unknown whether this protective effect is applicable to renal transplantation in humans. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between prior statin use in renal transplant recipients and the subsequent risk of delayed graft function.

Methods

All patients who underwent deceased or living donor renal transplantation at the Princess Alexandra Hospital between 1 July 2008 and 1 August 2010 were included in this retrospective, observational cohort study. Graft function was classified as immediate graft function (IGF), dialysis-requiring (D-DGF) and non-dialysis-requiring (ND-DGF) delayed graft function. The independent predictors of graft function were evaluated by multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for donor characteristics, recipient characteristics, HLA mismatch and ischaemic times.

Results

Overall, of the 266 renal transplant recipients, 21% exhibited D-DGF, 39% had ND-DGF and 40% had IGF. Statin use prior to renal transplantation was not significantly associated with the risk of D-DGF (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.05, 95% CI 0.96 – 1.15, P = 0.28). This finding was not altered when D-DGF and ND-DGF were pooled together (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.89-1.06, p = 0.56).

Conclusions

The present study did not show a significant, independent association between prior statin use in kidney transplant recipients and the occurrence of delayed graft function.
Efficacy of applying self-assessment of larviciding operation, Chabahar, Iran
Authors: Ranjbar Mansour , Gorgij Khodadad , Mohammadi Mahdi , Haghdoost Ali Akbar , Ansari-Moghaddam Alireza , Nikpour Fatemeh , Salehi Masoud , Sakeni Mohammad , Hasanzahi Abdolghafar , Olanratmanee Phanthip , Kittayapong Pattamaporn
Published: September 2012

Background

Appropriate supervision, along with availability of an effective system for monitoring and evaluation, is a crucial requirement to guarantee sufficient coverage and quality of malaria vector control procedures. This study evaluated the efficacy of self-assessment practice as a possible innovative method towards achieving high coverage and excellent quality of larviciding operation in Iran.

Methods

The research was conducted on the randomly selected rural health centre of Kanmbel Soliman with 10 staff and 30 villages, in three main steps: (i) assessment of effectiveness of larviciding operations in the study areas before intervention through external assessment by a research team; (ii) self-assessment of larviciding operations (intervention) by staff every quarter for three rounds; and, (iii) determining the effectiveness of applying self-assessment of larviciding operations in the study areas. Two toolkits were used for self-assessment and external evaluation. The impact of self-assessment of larviciding operations was measured by two indicators: percentage of missed breeding habitats and cleaned breeding habitats among randomly selected breeding sites. Moreover, the correlation coefficients were measured between self-assessment measures and scores from external evaluation. The correlation coefficient and Mann Whitney test were used to analyse data.

Results

Following the utilization of self-assessment, the percentage of missed breeding habitats decreased significantly from 14.23% to 1.91% (P <0.001). Additionally, the percentage of cleaned breeding habitats among randomly selected breeding sites increased from 66.89% to 95.28% (P <0.001). The external evaluation also showed significant effects of self-assessment in performance of vector control; the maximum effect of intervention were seen in an action plan for monitoring and evaluation of larviciding operations at field level, geographical reconnaissance for the registration of breeding habitats and worker skills related to larviciding.

Before intervention, the results of self-assessment practice were compatible with external evaluation in 76.3% of 139 reviewed reports of self-assessment. After intervention, the findings of self-assessment and external evaluation were similar in the vast majority of reviewed reports (95%).

Conclusion

The self-assessment tool seems to be valid and reliable in improving effectiveness of larviciding operations. Furthermore, the result of self-assessment is more compatible with external evaluation results if it would be applied frequently. Therefore, it can be used as an alternative assessment technique in the evaluation of larviciding operations in addition to traditional assessment methods.
Multiple linear epitopes (B-cell, CTL and Th) of JEV expressed in recombinant MVA as multiple epitope vaccine induces a protective immune response
Authors: Wang Fengjuan , Feng Xiuli , Zheng Qisheng , Hou Hongyan , Cao Ruibing , Zhou Bin , Liu Qingtao , Liu Xiaodong , Pang Ran , Zhao Jin , Deng Wenlei , Chen Puyan
Published: September 2012

Epitope-based vaccination might play an important role in the protective immunity against Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the immune characteristics of recombinant MVA carrying multi-epitope gene of JEV (rMVA-mep). The synthetic gene containing critical epitopes (B-cell, CTL and Th) of JEV was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector pGEM-K1L, and the rMVA-mep was prepared. BALB/c mice were immunized with different dosages of purified rMVA-mep and the immune responses were determined in the form of protective response against JEV, antibodies titers (IgG1 and IgG2a), spleen cell lymphocyte proliferation, and the levels of interferon-γ and interleukin-4 cytokines. The results showed that live rMVA-mep elicited strongly immune responses in dose-dependent manner, and the highest level of immune responses was observed from the groups immunized with 107TCID50rMVA-mep among the experimental three concentrations. There were almost no difference of cytokines and neutralizing antibody titers among 107TCID50rMVA-mep, recombinant ED3 and inactivated JEV vaccine. It was noteworthy that rMVA-mep vaccination potentiates the Th1 and Th2-type immune responses in dose-dependent manner, and was sufficient to protect the mice survival against lethal JEV challenge. These findings demonstrated that rMVA-mep can produce adequate humoral and cellular immune responses, and protection in mice, which suggested that rMVA-mep might be an attractive candidate vaccine for preventing JEV infection.
Enteroviruses isolated from herpangina and hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Korean children
Authors: Park KwiSung , Lee BaeckHee , Baek KyoungAh , Cheon DooSung , Yeo SangGu , Park JoonSoo , Soh JaeWan , Cheon HaeKyung , Yoon KyungAh , Choi YoungJin
Published: September 2012

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) and herpangina are commonly prevalent illness in young children. They are similarly characterized by lesions on the skin and oral mucosa. Both diseases are associated with various enterovirus serotypes. In this study, enteroviruses from patients with these diseases in Korea in 2009 were isolated and analyzed. Demographic data for patients with HFMD and herpangina were compared and all enterovirus isolates were amplified in the VP1 region by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Among the enterovirus isolates, prevalent agents were coxsackievirus A16 in HFMD and coxsackievirus A5 in herpangina. More prevalent months for HFMD were June (69.2%) and May (11.5%), and June (40.0%) and July (24.0%) for herpangina. Age prevalence of HFMD patients with enterovirus infection was 1 year (23.1%), 4 years (19.2%), and over 5 years (19.2%). However, the dominant age group of herpangina patients with enterovirus infection was 1 year (48.0%) followed by 2 years (28.0%). Comparison of pairwise VP1 nucleotide sequence alignment of all isolates within the same serotypes revealed high intra-type variation of CVA2 isolates (84.6–99.3% nucleotide identity). HFMD and herpangina showed differences in demographic data and serotypes of isolated enteroviruses, but there was no notable difference in amino acid sequences by clinical syndromes in multiple comparison of the partial VP1 gene sequence.
Characterization of a contaminated wellfield using 3D electrical resistivity tomography implemented with geostatistical, discontinuous boundary, and known conductivity constraints
Authors: Johnson Timothy C. , Versteeg Roelof J. , Rockhold Mark , Slater Lee D. , Ntarlagiannis Dimitrios , Greenwood William J. , Zachara John
Published: September 2012

Continuing advancements in subsurface electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) are increasing its capabilities for understanding shallow subsurface properties and processes. The inability of ERT imaging data to resolve unique subsurface structures and the corresponding need to include constraining information remains one of the greatest limitations, yet provides one of the greatest opportunities for further advancing the utility of the method. We propose a new method of incorporating constraining information into an ERT imaging algorithm in the form of discontinuous boundaries, known values, and spatial covariance information. We demonstrated the approach by imaging a uranium-contaminated wellfield at the Hanford Site in southeastern Washington State, USA. We incorporate into the algorithm known boundary information and spatial covariance structures derived from the highly resolved near-borehole regions of a regularized ERT inversion. The resulting inversion provides a solution which fits the ERT data (given the estimated noise level), honors the spatial covariance structure throughout the model, and is consistent with known bulk-conductivity discontinuities. The results are validated with core-scale measurements, indicating a significant improvement in accuracy over the standard regularized inversion and revealing important subsurface structure known to influence flow and transport at the site.
Power of an Effective Clinical Conversation: Improving Accrual Onto Clinical Trials
Authors: Parreco Linda K. , DeJoice Rhonda W. , Massett Holly A. , Padberg Rose Mary , Thakkar Sona S.
Published: September 2012

Effective clinical conversations create the opportunity for patients to understand their options and to gain a better foundation for informed decision making about clinical trials.
Development and Implementation of a Computerized System for Collection, Processing, and Administration of Cellular Therapy Products
Authors: Gatzos Laura C. , Barbetti Susan , Bas-Davis Suzanne , Mailman Albert , Brzezinski Philip , Ruseau Paul , Barr Vermilya Holly , Schott Darlys , Marston Edna , Sturtevant Olive J. , Ritz Jerome , Shulman Lawrence N.
Published: September 2012

The biotherapy suite of applications has addressed patient safety concerns, streamlined the ordering of cellular therapy products, and reduced opportunities for error and delay in product administration.
Organizational Designs for Achieving High Treatment Trial Enrollment: A Fuzzy-Set Analysis of the Community Clinical Oncology Program
Authors: Weiner Bryan J. , Jacobs Sara R. , Minasian Lori M. , Good Marjorie J.
Published: September 2012

Two combinations were consistently associated with high levels of patient enrollment: having many open treatment trials and many new patients with cancer, and having many open treatment trials and many affiliated hospitals or practices.
Oncology Practice Trends From the National Practice Benchmark
Authors: Barr Thomas R. , Towle Elaine L.
Published: September 2012

The authors revise last year's predictions and project for the next 3 years, outlining a conceptual framework for contemplating the data based on an ecological model of the oncology delivery system.
Gerard Debreu‘s Secrecy: His Life in Order and Silence
Authors: Düppe Till
Published: September 2012

During research seminars, it hardly ever happened that Gerard Debreu posed a question—and if he did, not without already knowing the answer. While some admired him for the tranquility of his austere rigor, others wondered how little he had to say in economics. To whatever effect, Debreu himself was committed to mathematics since he could earn recognition without exposing himself as a person. This essay presents his life and career in light of this personal need for protection by mathematical purity. My account profited from Debreu‘s personal papers as well as the memories of former colleagues, friends, and family who communicated more freely about Debreu than he himself ever could.
Credit Where Credit Is Due: Henry Thornton and the Evolution of the Theory of Fiduciary Money
Authors: Skaggs Neil T.
Published: September 2012

Perceptive thinkers have been writing intelligently about money for at least five centuries. However, nearly all of the early thinkers developed theories designed to explain the behavior of full-bodied metallic money or the opposite extreme, fiat money issued by governments. However, late in the eighteenth century Great Britain gave rise to a fiduciary monetary system in which the assets regularly used to make commercial payments were debt instruments issued not only by the Bank of England but also by a myriad of country banks. Furthermore, a variety of privately issued commercial paper was regularly used to make commercial payments. While thinkers of the stature of David Hume and Adam Smith utilized the quantity theory of money or the real bills doctrine to explain the monetary system, Henry Thornton broke new ground by developing a theory that recognized the essential truth that most of the “monies” used in England (and Scotland) were merely promises to pay.
Reengineering of subtilisin Carlsberg for oxidative resistance
Authors: Vojcic Ljubica , Despotovic Dragana , Maurer Karl-Heinz , Zacharias Martin , Bocola Marco , Martinez Ronny , Schwaneberg Ulrich
Published: September 2012

Mild bleaching conditions by in situ production of hydrogen peroxide or peroxycarboxylic acid is attractive for pulp, textile, and cosmetics industries. The enzymatic generation of chemical oxidants is often limited by enzyme stability. The subtilisin Carlsberg variant T58A/L216W/M221 is a promiscuous protease that was improved in producing peroxycarboxylic acids. In the current article, we identified two amino acid positions (Trp216 and Met221) that are important for the oxidative resistance of subtilisin Carlsberg T58A/L216W/M221. Site-saturation mutagenesis at positions Trp216 and Met221, which are located close to the active site, resulted in variants M4 (T58/W216M/M221) and M6 (T58A/W216L/M221C). Variants M4 (T58/W216M/M221) and M6 (T58A/W216L/M221C) have a 2.6-fold (M4) and 1.5-fold (M6) increased oxidative resistance and 1.4-fold increased k
cat values for peroxycarboxylic acid formation, compared with wild-type subtilisin Carlsberg.
Gingipain aminopeptidase activities in Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Veillard Florian , Potempa Barbara , Poreba Marcin , Drag Marcin , Potempa Jan
Published: September 2012

Bestatin, a specific inhibitor of metalloaminopeptidases, inhibits the growth of Porphyromonas gingivalis. To identify its target enzyme, a library of fluorescent substrates was used but no metalloaminopeptidase activity was found. The aminopeptidase activity of P. gingivalis was bestatin-insensitive and directed exclusively toward N-terminal arginine and lysine substrates. Class-specific inhibitors and gingipain-null mutants showed that gingipains were the only enzymes responsible for this activity. The kinetic constants obtained for Rgps were comparable to those of human aminopeptidases but Kgp aminopeptidase activity was weaker. This finding reveals a new role for gingipains as aminopeptidases in the degradation of proteins and peptides in P. gingivalis.
The sensor kinase DcuS of Escherichia coli: two stimulus input sites and a merged signal pathway in the DctA/DcuS sensor unit
Authors: Witan Julian , Monzel Christian , Scheu Patrick D. , Unden Gottfried
Published: September 2012

The membrane-integral sensor kinase DcuS of Escherichia coli consists of a periplasmically located sensory PASP domain, transmembrane helices TM1 and TM2, a cytoplasmic PASC domain and the kinase domain. Stimulus (C4-dicarboxylate) binding at PASP is required to stimulate phosphorylation of the kinase domain, resulting in phosphoryl transfer to the response regulator DcuR. PASC functions as a signaling device or a relay in signal transfer from TM2 to the kinase. Phosphorylated DcuR induces the expression of the target genes. Sensing by DcuS requires the presence of the C4-dicarboxylate transporter DctA during aerobic growth. DctA forms a sensor unit with DcuS, and a short C-terminal sequence of DctA forming the putative helix 8b is required for interaction with DcuS. Helix 8b contains a LDXXXLXXXL motif that is essential for function and interaction. DcuS requires the PASC domain for signal perception from DctA. Thus, DcuS and DctA form a DctA/DcuS sensory unit, and DcuS perceives stimuli from two different sites (PASP and DctA). The signal transfer pathways are supposed to merge at PASC. The fumarate/succinate antiporter DcuB takes over the role as a co-sensor of DcuS under anaerobic growth conditions.
Toward Greater Understanding of Practical
Theology
Authors: Miller-McLemore Bonnie J.
Published: September 2012

In diesem Beitrag antwortet Bonnie Miller-McLemore noch
einmal auf die Antworten der unterschiedlichen Autorinnen und Autoren auf
ihren Vortrag des IAPT-Kongresses in Amsterdam und setzt sich dazu differenziert
und pointiert in Beziehung zu den unterschiedlichen Positionen.
Enumeration of the Degree Sequences of Line-Hamiltonian Multigraphs
Authors: Fu Shishuo , Sellers James A.
Published: September 2012

Recently, Gu, Lai and Liang proved necessary and sufficient conditions for a given sequence of positive integers

where
A finitely presented subgroup of the automorphism group of a right-angled Artin group
Authors: Toinet Emmanuel
Published: September 2012

Let
Estudo comparativo preliminar entre os alongamentos proprioceptivo e estático passivo em pacientes com seqüelas de hanseníase
Authors: Diaz Augusto Floricel , Moro Fabio Luiz , Binotto Jussara Machado , Fréz Andersom Ricardo
Published: September 2012

A proposta deste estudo foi comparar a aplicação de alongamento estático passivo e alongamento proprioceptivo no tratamento de seqüelas de hanseníase. Doze pacientes com essas seqüelas participaram da pesquisa, separados aleatoriamente em dois grupos: o grupo FNP, tratado com facilitação neuromuscular proprioceptiva, e o grupo AEP, com alongamento estático passivo. Ambos realizaram dez sessões de alongamentos, sendo submetidos à avaliação inicial e final nas quais foram aplicados o questionário SF-36, mensuradas a amplitude de movimento (ADM) do punho e tornozelo, testados os reflexos e a sensibilidade. No grupo FNP foi observada melhora na ADM do tornozelo e em três domínios do SF-36; no grupo AEP, em cinco domínios do SF-36. Quando comparados os grupos, o FNP obteve melhora significativa na extensão do punho, dorsiflexão e plantiflexão em relação ao AEP. A facilitação neuromuscular proprioceptiva parece ser um método mais eficaz para ganhar alongamento muscular e ADM de tornozelo e punho em pacientes com seqüelas de hanseníase. Não foi observada relação entre acréscimo na ADM e melhora na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde nos pacientes dos dois grupos.
High‐Iron Biosolids Compost–Induced Changes in Lead and Arsenic Speciation and Bioaccessibility in Co‐contaminated Soils
Authors: Brown Sally L. , Clausen Ingrid , Chappell Mark A. , Scheckel Kirk G. , Newville Matthew , Hettiarachchi Ganga M.
Published: September 2012

The safety of urban farming has been questioned due to the potential for contamination in urban soils. A laboratory incubation, a field trial, and a second laboratory incubation were conducted to test the ability of high‐Fe biosolids–based composts to reduce the bioaccessibility of soil Pb and As in situ. Lead and As bioaccessibility were evaluated using an in vitro assay. Changes in Pb, As, and Fe speciation were determined on select samples after the second laboratory incubation using μ–X‐ray fluorescence mapping followed by μ–X‐ray absorption near‐edge structure (XANES). A compost with Fe added to wastewater treatment residuals (Fe WTR compost) added to soils at 100 g kg−1 decreased Pb bioaccessibility in both laboratory incubations. Mixed results were observed for As. Composts tested in the field trial (Fe added as Fe powder or FeCl2) did not reduce bioaccessible Pb, and limited reductions were observed in bioaccessible As. These composts had no effect on Pb bioaccessibility during the second laboratory incubation. Bulk XANES showed association of Pb with sulfates and carbonates in the control soil. μ‐XANES for three points in the Fe WTR amended soil showed Pb present as Fe‐sorbed Pb (88 and 100% of two points) and pyromorphite (12 and 53% of two points). Bulk XANES of the Fe WTR compost showed 97% of total Fe present as Fe3+. The results of this study indicate that addition of high‐Fe biosolids compost is an effective means to reduce Pb accessibility only for certain types of Fe‐rich materials.
Data Related Uncertainty in Near‐Surface Vulnerability Assessments for Agrochemicals in the San Joaquin Valley
Authors: Loague Keith , Blanke James S. , Mills Melissa B. , Diaz‐Diaz Ricardo , Corwin Dennis L.
Published: September 2012

Precious groundwater resources across the United States have been contaminated due to decades‐long nonpoint‐source applications of agricultural chemicals. Assessing the impact of past, ongoing, and future chemical applications for large‐scale agriculture operations is timely for designing best‐management practices to prevent subsurface pollution. Presented here are the results from a series of regional‐scale vulnerability assessments for the San Joaquin Valley (SJV). Two relatively simple indices, the retardation and attenuation factors, are used to estimate near‐surface vulnerabilities based on the chemical properties of 32 pesticides and the variability of both soil characteristics and recharge rates across the SJV. The uncertainties inherit to these assessments, derived from the uncertainties within the chemical and soil data bases, are estimated using first‐order analyses. The results are used to screen and rank the chemicals based on mobility and leaching potential, without and with consideration of data‐related uncertainties. Chemicals of historic high visibility in the SJV (e.g., atrazine, DBCP [dibromochloropropane], ethylene dibromide, and simazine) are ranked in the top half of those considered. Vulnerability maps generated for atrazine and DBCP, featured for their legacy status in the study area, clearly illustrate variations within and across the assessments. For example, the leaching potential is greater for DBCP than for atrazine, the leaching potential for DBCP is greater for the spatially variable recharge values than for the average recharge rate, and the leaching potentials for both DBCP and atrazine are greater for the annual recharge estimates than for the monthly recharge estimates. The data‐related uncertainties identified in this study can be significant, targeting opportunities for improving future vulnerability assessments.
Long‐Term Sorption and Sequestration Dynamics of the Antibiotic Sulfadiazine: A Batch Study
Authors: Sittig Stephan , Kasteel Roy , Groeneweg Joost , Vereecken Harry
Published: September 2012

Understanding the long‐term sequestration of veterinary antibiotics into soil fractions with different bioavailability is important in terms of assessing their eco‐toxicological impact. We performed 60‐d batch sorption experiments with radiolabeled sulfadiazine (SDZ) using samples from two agricultural soils. Sequential extraction with CaCl2/MeOH (easily accessible fraction), microwave (residual fraction, RES), and combustion (nonextractable residues, NER) was used to quantify the sequestration dynamics of the 14C‐derived SDZ‐equivalent concentration. Multiple harsh extractions allowed us to mathematically extrapolate to the amount of SDZ equivalents that can be potentially extracted, resulting in halving the NER fraction after 60 d. A modified two‐stage model with irreversible sorption combined with global parameter optimization was able to display the sequestration dynamics. We demonstrated this with sterilized samples in which no transformation of the parent compound was observed. This also showed that transformation was primarily biologically driven. These modeling results verified the procedure, which was then applied to nontreated samples from both soils to estimate effective parameter values for SDZ‐derived equivalents. Observed initial sorption, to which up to 20% of the kinetic sorption sites attributed, was included in the model. Both the RES and NER fractions reached a sorption plateau, with NER occupying about 30% of the kinetic fraction (RES+NER) for all soils. The sorption and sequestration of SDZ were soil‐specific and dominated by kinetics. Sequestration in the RES fraction was much slower (characteristic time: 60 d) than the redistribution in the NER fraction (characteristic time: <6 d). The work presented here contributes to the prediction of the dynamics of (bio‐)availability.
Reactive Transport Modeling of Natural Carbon Sequestration in Ultramafic Mine Tailings
Authors: Bea S.A. , Wilson S.A. , Mayer K.U. , Dipple G.M. , Power I.M. , Gamazo P.
Published: September 2012

Atmospheric CO2 is naturally sequestered in ultramafic mine tailings as a result of the weathering of serpentine minerals [Mg3Si2O5(OH)4] and brucite [Mg(OH)2], and subsequent mineralization of CO2 in hydrated magnesium carbonate minerals, such as hydromagnesite [Mg5(CO3)4(OH)2·4H2O]. Understanding the CO2 trapping mechanisms is key to evaluating the capacity of such tailings for carbon sequestration. Natural CO2 sequestration in subaerially exposed ultramafic tailings at a mine site near Mount Keith, Australia is assessed with a process‐based reactive transport model. The model formulation includes unsaturated flow, equations accounting for energy balance and vapor diffusion, fully coupled with solute transport, gas diffusion, and geochemical reactions. Atmospheric boundary conditions accounting for the effect of climate variations are also included. Kinetic dissolution of serpentine, dissolution‐precipitation of brucite and primary carbonates—calcite (CaCO3), dolomite [MgCa(CO3)2], magnesite (MgCO3), as well as the formation of hydromagnesite, halite (NaCl), gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O), blödite [Na2Mg(SO4)2·4H2O], and epsomite [MgSO4·7H2O]—are considered. Simulation results are consistent with field observations and mineralogical data from tailings that weathered for 10 yr. Precipitation of hydromagnesite is both predicted and observed, and is mainly controlled by the dissolution of serpentine (the source of Mg) and equilibrium with CO2 ingressing from the atmosphere. The predicted rate for CO2 entrapment in these tailings ranges between 0.6 and 1 kg m−2 yr−1. However, modeling results suggest that this rate is sensitive to CO2 ingress through the mineral waste and may be enhanced by several mechanisms, including atmospheric pumping.