bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selecting statistical models to study the relationship between soybean yield and soil physical properties
Authors: Oliveira Marcio Paulo de , Tavares Maria Hermínia Ferreira , Uribe-Opazo Miguel Angel , Timm Luis Carlos
Published: July 2011

Statistical models allow the representation of data sets and the estimation and/or prediction of the behavior of a given variable through its interaction with the other variables involved in a phenomenon. Among other different statistical models, are the autoregressive state-space models (ARSS) and the linear regression models (LR), which allow the quantification of the relationships among soil-plant-atmosphere system variables. To compare the quality of the ARSS and LR models for the modeling of the relationships between soybean yield and soil physical properties, Akaike's Information Criterion, which provides a coefficient for the selection of the best model, was used in this study. The data sets were sampled in a Rhodic Acrudox soil, along a spatial transect with 84 points spaced 3 m apart. At each sampling point, soybean samples were collected for yield quantification. At the same site, soil penetration resistance was also measured and soil samples were collected to measure soil bulk density in the 0-0.10 m and 0.10-0.20 m layers. Results showed autocorrelation and a cross correlation structure of soybean yield and soil penetration resistance data. Soil bulk density data, however, were only autocorrelated in the 0-0.10 m layer and not cross correlated with soybean yield. The results showed the higher efficiency of the autoregressive space-state models in relation to the equivalent simple and multiple linear regression models using Akaike's Information Criterion. The resulting values were comparatively lower than the values obtained by the regression models, for all combinations of explanatory variables.
The public value of vacant urban land
Authors: Kamvasinou K.
Published: July 2011

In contemporary cities there is a range of spaces leftover from development, undeveloped or spaces abandoned post-development, derelict. These lie dormant between other functional spaces of the city, voids in-between the built urban environment that surrounds them. Often these are also temporary spaces: in-between what was there before and what will soon come. This temporary character may, however, be seen as permanent, for instance in the eyes of a generation of children growing up playing in leftover spaces over the period of a decade. This paper will investigate whether there is value in such spaces for everyday life and public space in the city. It will examine and determine their function in terms of three factors: ecological value, social value and open space value. It will highlight implications for planning policy, as well as funding, ownership and management issues.
The Bonifacio formation (Miocene of Corsica): transition from a wave- to tide-dominated coastal system in mixed carbonate-siliciclastic setting
Authors: André Jean-Pierre , Barthet Yves , Ferrandini Michelle , Ferrandini Jean , Reynaud Jean-Yves , Tessier Bernadette
Published: July 2011

The wide outcrops along the cliffs of Bonifacio at the southern tip of Corsica expose two stratigraphic series of shallow marine deposits, the reefal Cala di Labra Formation (Upper Burdigalian), and the Bonifacio Formation (Lower Langhian at the youngest). Both series are transgressive on the faulted Hercynian basement. The Bonifacio Formation is divided into two members, the Pertusato Member at the base, and the Bonifacio Member at the top.

The Pertusato Member, with an average thickness of about thirty meters, is composed mainly of siliciclastic marine deposits, and is weakly fossiliferous. The Pertusato deposits exhibit locally hummocky cross stratification at their distal lower part, and are commonly associated with synsedimentary deformations and water escape structures. In their upper part, and laterally, the coarse-grained Pertusato Member deposits are organized into a prograding coastal prism which bear structures of a barrier beach jagged by some local erosional discontinuities. The whole siliciclastic sequence of the Pertusato Member is wave and storm controlled. Due to the absence of precise biostratigraphic markers, the age of the Pertusato Member is not well constrained. However, it exhibits a thin silty clay layer, that suggests a possible link with the volcanic events recognized on the southwest corsican margin [Rossi et al., 1998], which delivered an absolute age of 16.1 ± 0.4 Ma (Burdigalian-Langhian boundary).

The Bonifacio Member (Lower Langhian) is composed of a succession of sandstones and calcarenites over 50 m in thickness, organized into aggrading strata of large 2D and 3D dunes, with several bioturbated levels. The series is interpreted as an offshore tidal system, deposited in a slightly deeper environment (from 25 to 40 m water depth) than the Pertusato Member. The transition from a wave-dominated to a tide-dominated setting might occur as the response of the connection between the basin of Bonifacio and the recently formed Tyrrhenian Sea. The carbonate content of the sediments steadily increases to up to 80% towards the top of the series. At the same time, the skeletal grain associations increase from a Bryomol facies to Rhodalgal, interpreted as the result of an increase in water temperature in favour of carbonate factory.

The transition from wave to tidal control in such a system illustrates the extreme sensitivity of morphologically complex coastal basins to hydrodynamic forcing caused by a transgression.
Evolution and palaeoecology of early turtles: a review based on recent discoveries in the Middle Jurassic
Authors: Anquetin Jérémy
Published: July 2011

In recent years, no less than five new species of early turtles have been described worldwide. Among them are three new turtles from Middle Jurassic deposits that partially fill a previous temporal and morphological gap in our knowledge of the early evolution of these shelled amniotes: Heckerochelys romani, Condorchelys antiqua and Eileanchelys waldmani. For the first time, the phylogenetic position of these three new species is tested in the context of the two presently competing cladistic models of turtle evolution. The addition of these taxa to each matrix does not favour or alter any of the two opposed hypotheses. However, it is demonstrated here that, by documenting yet unknown stages in the evolution of several morphological structures, these three species give stronger support to the model of an extended phylogenetic stem for turtles. These new lines of evidence include the structure of the vomer, the position of the aditus canalis stapedio-temporalis and of the posterior opening of the canalis cavernosus, and the morphology of the processus interfenestralis of the opisthotic.

Recent discoveries also reinvigorate the debate about the palaeoecology of early turtles. Whereas simple morphological characters (e.g., shell fontanelle, ligamentous bridge, flattened carapace) can be misleading, forelimb proportions and shell bone histology have led to the conclusion that most stem turtles (i.e., Proganochelys quenstedti, Palaeochersis talampayensis, Proterochersis robusta, Kayentachelys aprix and meiolaniids) were terrestrial forms. At least two out of the five recently described early turtles have been convincingly interpreted as having aquatic habits: Odontochelys semitestacea and Eileanchelys waldmani. More investigation is needed, but this will undoubtedly trigger further debate on the primitive ecology of turtles and on the origin of aquatic habits in testudines (i.e., the crown-group), respectively.
Application of immobilized peroxidase for the removal of p-bromophenol from polluted water in batch and continuous processes
Authors: Ashraf Humaira , Husain Qayyum
Published: July 2011

Concanavalin A layered calcium alginate-cellulose beads adsorbed and cross-linked peroxidase of Momordica charantia was employed for the treatment of p-bromophenol polluted water. Immobilized peroxidase showed remarkably higher storage stability and retained about 78% phenolic compound removal efficiency over a period of one-month's storage at 4 °C. After a fourth repeated use immobilized enzyme retained nearly 50% p-bromophenol removal efficiency. p-Bromophenol removal by immobilized enzyme was ∼84% in the presence of 0.1 mM HgCl2. A significantly higher concentration of p-bromophenol was removed by immobilized enzyme in the presence of water-miscible organic solvents as compared to free enzyme. In stirred batch processes nearly 91%, 94% and 83% of p-bromophenol was removed in 3 h at 30, 40 and 50 °C, respectively. Immobilized enzyme present in two different reactors and operated at flow rates of 10 and 20 ml h−1 retained 75 and 65% p-bromophenol removal efficiency even after one month of their continuous operation. Absorption spectra for treated and untreated p-bromophenol exhibited a marked difference in absorbance at various wavelengths. Hence, it is concluded that reactors filled with immobilized enzymes can successfully be operated for the treatment of huge volumes of effluent containing various types of aromatic pollutants.
Decoloration of methylene blue simulated wastewater using a UV-H2O2 combined system
Authors: Jian-xiao L. V. , Ying Cui , Guo-hong Xie , Ling-yun Zhou , Su-fen Wang
Published: July 2011

Methylene blue simulated wastewater was treated with a UV-H2O2 combined system. Influences of factors such as reaction time, initial pH value and H2O2 dosage were investigated, and the reaction kinetics of the process was explored. Results showed that the degradation of methylene blue happened only in the presence of both conditions: UV irradiation and H2O2 addition. Initial pH and H2O2 dosage had a remarkable influence on the degradation efficiency. Through several groups of univariate experiments, the optimum pH and H2O2 dosage of the photolysis process were found to be 4–5 and 0.165 mL 30% H2O2 per milligram of methylene blue, respectively. The photolysis process was relatively fast at the initial stage and, 20 min later, it was approximately in accordance with the first-order kinetic equation.
Decolorization of industrial azo dye in an anoxic reactor by PUF immobilized Pseudomonas oleovorans
Authors: Silveira E. , Marques P. P. , Macedo A. C. , Mazzola P. G. , Porto A. L. F. , Tambourgi E. B.
Published: July 2011

This work reported the full degradation of an azo dye in a synthetic effluent by Pseudomonas oleovorans immobilized in polyurethane foam (PUF). For each fed-batch experiment, a screw-top vessel containing 160 mL of nutrient broth was inoculated with 0.16 g L−1 of fresh culture, incubated at 32 °C and supplemented with 50 mg L−1 of dye every 24 hours. Afterwards, the P. oleovorans were immobilized in PUF and inoculated in an anoxic reactor. The results showed that at fed-batch conditions, P. oleovorans was capable of removing 50 mg of dye in 192 hours. However, when the decolorization was performed in an anoxic reactor, it was capable of fully degrading 25 mg of dye in only 24 hours.
Numerical and Experimental Study on Temperature Crossover in Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers
Authors: Jiang Fuhua , Deng Xianhe
Published: July 2011

Experimental and numerical studies were conducted to investigate the heat transfer characteristics of five shell and tube heat exchangers (STHXs) with ratio of the length to width (L/W) at the range of 1.85 to 9.23. Temperature crossover in counter flow STHXs is meaningful in food processing industry. The relationship between temperature crossover and L/W is proposed for the first time. Both the experimental and numerical results show that temperature crossover can be achieved in STHXs with L/W?4.62 and cant be achieved any more in STHXs with L/W?3.08. The results also indicate that heat transfer performance decreases with L/W decreasing. The inherent reason of this phenomenon is analyzed by computational fluid dynamics method.
Heat transfer effects in a Couette flow through a composite channel partly filled by a porous medium with a transverse sinusoidal injection velocity and heat source
Authors: Chauhan Singh , Kumar Vikas
Published: July 2011

This study theoretically analyzes the heat transfer effects in a three
dimensional Couette flow through a composite parallel porous plate channel
partly filled by a porous medium. The flow is three dimensional in the
channel because of the application of a transverse sinusoidal injection
velocity of a particular form at the lower stationary plate. The governing
equations are solved using a perturbation series expansion method. The
effects of various flow parameters such as, Prandtl number (Pr),
suction/injection parameter (?), permeability of the porous medium (K), heat
source parameter (S), and viscosity ratio parameter (?1), are investigated on
temperature distribution in the composite channel and rate of heat transfer
at the upper moving plate and at the fluid-porous medium interface, and
discussed graphically.
Convection heat and mass transfer in a hydromagnetic Carreau fluid past a vertical porous plate in presence of thermal radiation and thermal diffusion
Authors: Olajuwon Ishola
Published: July 2011

The paper presents the numerical investigation of the convection heat and
mass transfer in a hydromagnetic Carreau fluid past a vertical porous plate
in presence of thermal radiation and thermal diffusion. The non-linear
partial differential equations governing the flow are transformed into
ordinary differential equations using the usual similarity method and the
resulting similarity equations are solved numerically using Runge-Kutta
shooting method. The results are presented as velocity, temperature and
concentration profiles for different values of parameters entering into the
problem. The effects of suction, magnetic field, thermal radiation and
thermal diffusion on the skin friction, rate of heat transfer and mass
transfer are presented numerically in tabular form.
Comparison and assessment of electricity generation capacity for different types of PV solar plants of 1MW in Soko banja, Serbia
Authors: Pavlovic Tomislav , Milosavljevic Dragana , Radivojevic Aleksandar , Pavlovic Mila
Published: July 2011

This paper gives the results of the electricity generated by the fixed,
one-axis and dual-axis tracking PV solar plant of 1 MW with flat PV panels
made of monocrystalline silicon which is to be built in the area of Soko
banja (spa in Serbia). Further on follows a description of the functioning of
the fixed and one-axis and dual-axis tracking PV solar plant. For the
calculation of the electricity generated by these plants PVGIS program from
the Internet was used. Calculations have shown that fixed PV solar plant
power of 1 MW, solar modules of monocrystalline silicon yield 1130000 kWh
power output, one-axis tracking PV solar plant yields 1420000 kWh, and
dual-axis tracking PV solar plant yields 1450000 kWh of electricity.
Electricity generated by the fixed PV solar plant could satisfy 86% of the
annual needs for the electricity of the ?Zdravljak? hotel and the special
?Novi stacionar? hospital in Soko banja.
Evaluation of primary epidermal lamellar density in the forefeet of near-term fetal Australian feral and domesticated horses
Authors: Hampson Brian A. , Studies M Animal , de Laat Melody A. , Mills Paul C. , Pollitt Christopher C.
Published: July 2011

Objective—To investigate the density of the primary epidermal lamellae (PEL) around the solar circumference of the forefeet of near-term fetal feral and nonferal (ie, domesticated) horses.

Sample—Left forefeet from near-term Australian feral (n = 14) and domesticated (4) horse fetuses.

Procedures—Near-term feral horse fetuses were obtained from culled mares within 10 minutes of death; fetuses that had died in utero 2 weeks prior to anticipated birth date and were delivered from live Thoroughbred mares were also obtained. Following disarticulation at the carpus, the left forefoot of each fetus was frozen during dissection and data collection. In a standard section of each hoof, the stratum internum PEL density was calculated at the midline center (12 o'clock) and the medial and lateral break-over points (11 and 1 o'clock), toe quarters (10 and 2 o'clock), and quarters (4 and 6 o'clock). Values for matching lateral and medial zones were averaged and expressed as 1 density. Density differences at the 4 locations between the feral and domesticated horse feet were assessed by use of imaging software analysis.

Results—In fetal domesticated horse feet, PEL density did not differ among the 4 locations. In fetal feral horse feet, PEL density differed significantly among locations, with a pattern of gradual reduction from the dorsal to the palmar aspect of the foot. The PEL density distribution differed significantly between fetal domesticated and feral horse feet.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that PEL density distribution differs between fetal feral and domesticated horse feet, suggestive of an adaptation of feral horses to environment challenges.
Chondrogenic effects of exogenous retinoic acid or a retinoic acid receptor antagonist (LE135) on equine chondrocytes and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in monolayer culture
Authors: Henderson Sally E. , Santangelo Kelly S. , Bertone Alicia L.
Published: July 2011

Objective—To determine effects of various concentrations of retinoic acid (RA) or a synthetic RA receptor antagonist (LE135) on equine chondrocytes or bone marrow—derived equine mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSCs) in monolayer cultures.

Sample—Articular cartilage and BMDMSCs from 5 clinically normal horses.

Procedures—Monolayers of chondrocytes cultured in standard media and of BMDMSCs cultured in chondrogenic media were treated with RA at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, or 10μM or LE135 at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, or 10μM on day 0. On days 7 and 14, samples were analyzed for DNA concentration, chondrocyte morphology or features consistent with chondrogenesis (ie, chondral morphology [scored from 0 to 4]), and gene expression of collagen type Ia (CI), collagen type II (CII), and aggrecan.

Results—Chondrocytes treated with RA had more mature chondral morphology (range of median scores, 3.0 to 4.0) than did untreated controls (range of median scores, 0.5 to 0.5). Chondrocytes treated with LE135 did not sustain chondrocyte morphology. All BMDMSCs had evidence of chondral morphology or high CII:CI ratio. Retinoic acid (1 or 10μM) or LE135 (10μM) treatment decreased DNA content of BMDMSC cultures. At 0.1 and 1μM concentrations, LE135 weakly but significantly increased chondral morphology scores, compared with untreated controls, but lack of aggrecan expression and lack of increased CII:CI ratio, compared with that of controls, did not affect chondrogenesis.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—RA promoted maturation and hypertrophy in chondrocytes but not BMDMSCs in monolayer cultures. Deficiency or blockade of RA may prevent hypertrophy and maturation of differentiated chondrocytes.
Reliability of macroscopic grading of intervertebral disk degeneration in dogs by use of the Thompson system and comparison with low-field magnetic resonance imaging findings
Authors: Bergknut Niklas , Grinwis Guy , Pickee Emile , Auriemma Edoardo , Lagerstedt Anne-Sofie , Hagman Ragnvi , Hazewinkel Herman A. W. , Meij Björn P.
Published: July 2011

Objective—To evaluate the reliability of the Thompson system for use in grading the gross pathological changes of intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration in dogs and to investigate the agreement between gross pathological findings and low-field (0.2-T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings.

Sample—Vertebral columns from cadavers of 19 dogs of various ages, breeds, and origins.

Procedures—182 intervertebral segments were collected from 19 canine cadavers. Sagittal T2-weighted MRI of the T11 through S1 portion of the vertebral column was performed within 24 hours after the dogs were euthanized. The vertebral columns were subsequently divided in the midsagittal plane, and high-resolution photographs were obtained of each intervertebral segment (end plate—disk—end plate). The MRI images and photographs were graded separately in a blinded manner by 4 observers who used both Pfirrmann and Thompson grading criteria.

Results—The interobserver agreement for Thompson scores ranged from 0.76 to 0.88, and the intraobserver agreement ranged from 0.88 to 0.94 (Cohen weighted κ analysis). Agreement between scores for the Pfirrmann and Thompson grading criteria was κ = 0.70.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Grading of IVD degeneration in dogs by use of the Thompson system resulted in high interobserver and intraobserver agreement, and scores for the Thompson system had substantial agreement with low-field MRI findings graded by use of the Pfirrmann system. This suggested that low-field MRI can be used to diagnose IVD degeneration in dogs.
Effects of body position, imaging plane, and observer on computed tomographic measurements of the lumbosacral intervertebral foraminal area in dogs
Authors: Higgins Brent M. , Cripps Peter J. , Baker Martin , Moore Lee , Penrose Fay E. , McConnell James F.
Published: July 2011

Objective—To evaluate effects of imaging plane, flexion and extension, patient weight, and observer on computed tomographic (CT) image measurements of the area of the lumbosacral (L7-S1) intervertebral foramen (LSIF) in dogs.

Sample—12 dog cadavers (2 were excluded because of foraminal stenosis).

Procedures—In each cadaver, sagittal, sagittal oblique, transverse oblique, and double oblique CT images were obtained at 3 zones (entrance, middle, and exit zones) of the region of the lateral lumbar spinal canal that comprises the LSIF while the lumbosacral junction (LSJ) was positioned in flexion or extension. Barium-impregnated polymethylmethacrylate was used to fill the intervertebral foramina to aid boundary detection. Measurements of interest were obtained.

Results—Among the dog cadavers, there was large variability in LSIF cross-sectional areas (range, 0.12 to 0.44 cm2; SD, 0.1 cm2) and in foraminal angles required to obtain a double oblique plane in LSJ extension (SD, 8° to 9°). For LSIF area measurements in standard sagittal CT images, interobserver variability was 23% to 44% and intraobserver variability was 4% to 5%. Sagittal oblique images obtained during LSJ extension yielded smaller mean LSIF areas (0.30 cm2), compared with findings in sagittal images (0.37 to 0.52 cm2). The exit and middle zone areas were smaller than the entrance zone area in sagittal images obtained during LSJ extension.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Repeated measurements of the LSIF area in images obtained during LSJ extension may be unreliable as a result of interobserver variability and the effects of dog positioning and CT slice orientation.
Characterization of the responses of equine digital veins and arteries to calcitonin gene-related peptide
Authors: Katz Lisa M. , Marr Celia M. , Elliott Jonathan
Published: July 2011

Objective—To compare responses of equine digital arteries (EDAs) and veins (EDVs) to human-acalcitonin gene-related peptide (hαCGRP), evaluate effect of the endothelium, and characterize receptors and sources of endogenous CGRP.

Sample—Palmar digital vessels (5 to 9/experiment) from healthy adult horses killed at an abattoir.

Procedures—Vessel rings were mounted under tension in organ baths containing Krebs-Henseleit solution at 30°C, with relaxation responses examined in vessels preconstricted with a thromboxane-mimetic (3 × 10−8M). Responses of endothelium-intact (+e) and -denuded (−e) EDAs and EDVs to hαCGRP C10−10 to 3 × 10−7M) were compared. Following incubation with an hαCGRP receptor antagonist (hαCGRP8–37; 1μM), responses of EDA(−e) and EDV(−e) to hαCGRP (10−7M) were obtained. Responses of endothelium-intact and -denuded arteries and veins to hαCGRP (3 × 10−7M) or capsaicin (10−5M) were evaluated as well as responses of endothelium-intact and -denuded EDA and EDV to hαCGRP (10−10 to 10−6M) after incubation with endothelin-1 (ET-1; 10−12M).

Results—hαCGRP resulted in nonendothelium, concentration-dependent relaxation in EDAs and EDVs, with greater responses in EDAs. Treatment with hαCGRP8–37 had minimal effect on responses to hαCGRP in either vessel type. Capsaicin induced relaxation in both vessel types. There were no differences between responses to hαCGRP for vessels pretreated with ET-1 or vehicle.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Both hαCGRP and capsaicin induced digital vasodilation unaffected by a functional endothelium. This suggested that endogenous CGRP likely emanates from sensory-motor nerves and may contribute to digital vasodilation.
Long-term outcome of dogs treated surgically for idiopathic chylothorax: 11 cases (1995–2009)
Authors: da Silva Carlos Adrega , Monnet Eric
Published: July 2011

Objective—To determine long-term outcome of dogs treated surgically for idiopathic chylothorax.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—11 client-owned dogs with idiopathic chylothorax that underwent surgery between November 1995 and April 2009 and had been followed up for at least 4 months after surgery.

Procedures—Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, history, physical examination findings, results of clinicopathologic testing, radiographic findings, surgical procedures, postoperative complications, outcome, and cause of death.

Results—A median sternotomy was performed in 10 dogs, and a right intercostal thoracotomy (fifth and ninth intercostal spaces) was performed in 1. Thoracic duct ligation and subtotal pericardectomy were performed in all dogs. Thoracic omentalization was performed in 8 dogs at the time of surgery, passive pleuroperitoneal shunting was performed in 2 dogs, and pleurodesis was performed in 1 dog. Lung lobectomy was performed because of lung consolidation in 2 dogs and lung lobe torsion in another 2 dogs at the time of the initial surgery. Median disease-free interval did not differ significantly between dogs that did and did not undergo lung lobectomy. Postoperative complications occurred in 5 dogs. Median follow-up time was 46 months. Eight of 11 dogs were free from clinical signs 5 years after surgery. Two of the 3 dogs that did not undergo thoracic omentalization had a recurrence of clinical signs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that the prognosis for dogs surgically treated for idiopathic chylothorax was fair and that lung lobectomy was not a negative prognostic indicator.
Effect of the use of carprofen in dogs undergoing intense rehabilitation after lateral fabellar suture stabilization
Authors: Gordon-Evans Wanda J. , Dunning Diane , Johnson Ann L. , Knap Kim E.
Published: July 2011

Objective—To determine whether carprofen, a commercially available NSAID, would decrease perceived exertion and signs of pain in dogs and therefore increase muscle mass and hind limb function without decreasing range of motion after lateral fabellar suture stabilization.

Design—Randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trial.

Animals—35 dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture and lateral fabellar suture stabilization followed by rehabilitation.

Procedures—All dogs underwent surgical stabilization of cranial cruciate ligament rupture by placement of a lateral fabellar suture. Dogs received carprofen (2.2 mg/kg [1 mg/lb], PO, q 12 h) for the first 7 days after surgery and underwent concentrated rehabilitation exercises during weeks 3, 5, and 7 after surgery. Eighteen dogs also received carprofen (2.2 mg/kg, PO, q 12 h) during the weeks of concentrated rehabilitation. Outcomes were measured by a single investigator, who was blinded to group assignments, using pressure platform gait analysis, goniometry, thigh circumference, and mean workout speed at a consistent level of exertion.

Results—There were no differences between the 2 groups in ground reaction forces, thigh circumference, or exertion (mean workout speed) over time or at any individual time point. However, both groups improved significantly over time for all outcome measures.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Providing carprofen to dogs during concentrated rehabilitation after lateral fabellar suture stabilization did not improve hind limb function, range of motion, or thigh circumference, nor did it decrease perceived exertion, compared with control dogs. Carprofen was not a compulsory component of a physical therapy regimen after lateral fabellar suture stabilization.
Recurrent meningitis associated with frontal sinus tuber encephalocele in a patient with tuberous sclerosis
Authors: Elbabaa Samer K. , Riggs Angela D. , Saad Ali G.
Published: July 2011

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic neurocutaneous disorder that commonly affects the CNS. The most commonly associated brain tumors include cortical tubers, subependymal nodules, and subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs). The authors report an unusual case of recurrent meningitis due to a tuber-containing encephalocele via the posterior wall of the frontal sinus.

An 11-year-old girl presented with a history of TSC and previous SEGA resection via interhemispheric approach. She presented twice within 4 months with classic bacterial meningitis. Cerebrospinal fluid cultures revealed Streptococcus pneumoniae. Computed tomography and MR imaging of the brain showed a right frontal sinus encephalocele via a posterior frontal sinus wall defect. Both episodes of meningitis were treated successfully with standard regimens of intravenous antibiotics. The neurosurgical service was consulted to discuss surgical options.

Via a bicoronal incision, a right basal frontal craniotomy was performed. A large frontal encephalocele was encountered in the frontal sinus. The encephalocele was herniating through a bony defect of the posterior sinus wall. The encephalocele was ligated and resected followed by removing frontal sinus mucosa and complete cranialization of frontal sinus. Repair of the sinus floor was conducted with fat and pericranial grafts followed by CSF diversion via lumbar drain. Histopathology of the resected encephalocele showed a TSC tuber covered with respiratory (frontal sinus) mucosa. Tuber cells were diffusely positive for GFAP. The patient underwent follow-up for 2 years without evidence of recurrent meningitis or CSF rhinorrhea.

This report demonstrates that frontal tubers of TSC can protrude into the frontal sinus as acquired encephaloceles and present with recurrent meningitis. To the authors' knowledge, recurrent meningitis is not known to coincide with TSC. Careful clinical and radiographic follow-up for frontal tubers in patients with TSC is recommended.
Craniofacial approaches to large juvenile angiofibromas
Authors: Kalani M. Yashar S. , Kalani Maziyar A. , Kalb Samuel , Albuquerque Felipe C. , McDougall Cameron G. , Nakaji Peter , Spetzler Robert F. , Porter Randall W. , Feiz-Erfan Iman
Published: July 2011

Object

Craniofacial approaches provide excellent exposure to lesions in the anterior and middle cranial fossae. The authors review their experience with craniofacial approaches for resection of large juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas.

Methods

Between 1992 and 2009, 22 patients (all male, mean age 15 years, range 9–27 years) underwent 30 procedures. These cases were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Gross-total resection of 17 (77%) of the 22 lesions was achieved. The average duration of hospitalization was 8.2 days (range 3–20 days). The rate of recurrence and/or progression was 4 (18%) of 22, with recurrences occurring a mean of 21 months after the first resection. All patients underwent preoperative embolization. Nine patients (41%) developed complications, the most common of which was CSF leakage (23%). The average follow-up was 27.7 months (range 2–144 months). The surgery-related mortality rate was 0%. Based on their mean preoperative (90) and postoperative (90) Karnofsky Performance Scale scores, 100% of patients improved or remained the same.

Conclusions

The authors' experience shows that craniofacial approaches provide an excellent avenue for the resection of large juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas, with acceptable rates of morbidity and no deaths.
Benefit of ventriculoperitoneal cerebrospinal fluid shunting and intrathecal chemotherapy in neoplastic meningitis: a retrospective, case-controlled study
Authors: Lin Ning , Dunn Ian F. , Glantz Michael , Allison Dana L. , Jensen Randy , Johnson Mark D. , Friedlander Robert M. , Kesari Santosh
Published: July 2011

Object

Neoplastic meningitis (NM) is a debilitating and increasingly frequent neurological complication of cancer characterized by infiltration of tumor cells into the leptomeninges and the subarachnoid space. Although NM is rarely curable, combined intrathecal chemotherapy and focal radiation can improve disease-related symptoms and survival. Hydrocephalus occurs in a significant proportion of patients, is associated with poor prognosis and reduced quality of life, and usually precludes the use of intrathecal therapy.

Methods

Since January of 2005, the authors have used a combined treatment approach for patients with both NM and hydrocephalus that employs a subcutaneously placed reservoir connected in series to an on/off valve and a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for both diversion of CSF and injection of intrathecal chemotherapy. They conducted a retrospective, case-controlled study from 2 independent institutions to review their experience.

Results

Twenty-four patients with NM and hydrocephalus underwent placement of a CSF reservoir-on/off valve-ventriculoperitoneal shunt (RO-VPS) construct. There was no perioperative mortality, and there were only 2 minor complications. One shunt failure and no shunt-associated infections were observed over a median of 28 weeks of follow-up. Symptomatic improvement and improved performance status were seen in 20 patients (83.3%) and were sustained over 6 months. Eighteen patients received intraventricular chemotherapy without unexpected toxicity, and cytological responses were found in 11 patients (61.1%). Median progression-free and overall survival was 14 and 31 weeks, respectively. Compared with a contemporaneous comparison group of 24 demographically matched patients with NM who underwent CSF reservoir placement only, those who received RO-VPS constructs (p = 0.02) and had primary diagnosis of breast cancer (p = 0.04) had significant advantage in overall survival.

Conclusions

A combined RO-VPS system is safe and practical to install, results in symptomatic improvement in most patients, and allows uncomplicated and effective administration of intrathecal chemotherapy in patients with NM. Cerebrospinal fluid diversion surgery should be considered in NM patients in conjunction with intrathecal and systemic treatments.
Neurosurgery and shaving: what's the evidence?
Authors: Broekman Marike L. D. , van Beijnum Janneke , Peul Wilco C. , Regli Luca
Published: July 2011

Many neurosurgeons remove their patients' hair before surgery. They claim that this practice reduces the chance of postoperative surgical site infections, and facilitates planning, attachment of the drapes, and closure. However, most patients dread this procedure. The authors performed the first systematic review on shaving before neurosurgical procedures to investigate whether this commonly performed procedure is based on evidence. They systematically reviewed the literature on wound infections following different shaving strategies. Data on the type of surgery, surgeryrelated infections, preoperative shaving policy, decontamination protocols, and perioperative antibiotics protocols were collected. The search detected 165 articles, of which 21 studies—involving 11,071 patients—were suitable for inclusion. Two of these studies were randomized controlled trials. The authors reviewed 13 studies that reported on the role of preoperative hair removal in craniotomies, 14 on implantation surgery, 5 on bur hole procedures, and 3 on spine surgery. Nine studies described shaving policies in pediatric patients. None of these papers provided evidence that preoperative shaving decreases the occurrence of postoperative wound infections. The authors conclude that there is no evidence to support the routine performance of preoperative hair removal in neurosurgery. Therefore, properly designed studies are needed to provide evidence for preoperative shaving recommendations.
Transient bilateral brainstem dysfunction caused by topical administration of papaverine
Authors: Moran Colleen M. , Mahla Michael E. , Reichwage Brett , Lewis Stephen , Peters Keith , Seubert Christoph N.
Published: July 2011

Papaverine has been associated with transient cranial nerve dysfunction after topical application during craniotomy. The authors report similar dysfunction after the use of papaverine affected brainstem structures. Two patients undergoing craniotomy for clipping of an aneurysm experienced bilateral depression of cortical somatosensory evoked potentials to both median and tibial nerve stimulation after administration of papaverine. Arterial blood gas analysis, hemodynamic parameters, and anesthetic levels remained constant throughout these somatosensory evoked potential changes. In addition, intraoperative angiography and immediate postoperative CT imaging showed intact blood flow with complete exclusion of the aneurysm. Both patients recovered within 1–2 hours and had normal neurological examination findings after extubation. Topical papaverine use may be associated with direct effects on brainstem structures. The transient nature of those changes suggests that aggressive intervention may not be needed. Maneuvers to limit the spread of papaverine to basal cisterns should be considered.
La péréquation intercommunale au secours des forêts | The equalisation scheme between communes helps the forests
Authors: Métraux Jean-François
Published: July 2011

As a reaction to the reduction in financial aid from the Confederation, the canton of Vaud has organised a scheme whereby forestry costs are equalised between the communes. It is a system of redistribution, which makes it possible to assist the communes with poorer financial resources, often situated in rural or mountainous areas. It is based on the communal tax rate, a value fixed by tax revenue and population. It is a very simple administrative tool, which has the advantage of making payments in function of the tax revenue and the results of the forestry accounts, whilst encouraging forest owners to improve their forest management. The system has been in place since 2006 and has proved its worth. It reinforces solidarity between the communes and helps to compensate unpaid services. In 2009, it concerned 44% of the communes having forest land, and it made up a total of 27% of public aid to forest management.
Aménagement du territoire basé sur le risque dans le canton de Vaud: quelques réflexions | Risk-based land-use planning in the canton of Vaud: a few considerations
Authors: Morattel Diane
Published: July 2011

In land-use planning, taking natural hazards into account cannot be based uniquely on the degree of danger, as shown on natural hazards maps. The level of risk brought in by the different types of human activity in the areas exposed to these hazards must also be taken into consideration. The communes in canton Vaud will soon have completed the realisation of all gravitational natural hazards maps according to catchment area. Consequently, a cantonal and intercommunal strategy for integral risk management must be put in place. The implementation of this strategy requires some prerequisites such as: legislation based on risks, a definition of protection objectives, the organisation of a decision-making process involving all parties concerned, and which will make possible a comprehensive evaluation of land-use related interests. These reflections should result in a change of attitude when faced with the risks linked to natural hazards, and hence land-use adapted to these risks respecting the principles of precaution, equity and proportionality.
A Rapid Method for Optimizing Running Temperature of Electrophoresis through Repetitive On-Chip CE Operations
Authors: Kaneda Shohei , Ono Koichi , Fukuba Tatsuhiro , Nojima Takahiko , Yamamoto Takatoki , Fujii Teruo
Published: July 2011

In this paper, a rapid and simple method to determine the optimal temperature conditions for denaturant electrophoresis using a temperature-controlled on-chip capillary electrophoresis (CE) device is presented. Since on-chip CE operations including sample loading, injection and separation are carried out just by switching the electric field, we can repeat consecutive run-to-run CE operations on a single on-chip CE device by programming the voltage sequences. By utilizing the high-speed separation and the repeatability of the on-chip CE, a series of electrophoretic operations with different running temperatures can be implemented. Using separations of reaction products of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) with a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) oligomer, the effectiveness of the presented method to determine the optimal temperature conditions required to discriminate a single-base substitution (SBS) between two different ssDNAs is demonstrated. It is shown that a single run for one temperature condition can be executed within 4 min, and the optimal temperature to discriminate the SBS could be successfully found using the present method.
Popularity of Different Lampyrid Species in Japanese Culture as Measured by Google Search Volume
Authors: Takada Kenta
Published: July 2011

I investigated the popularity of different lampyrid species (34 species) in Japanese culture as part of a study on cultural entomology. Popularity was assessed by the Google search volume for Japanese lampyrid species names in katakana and hiragana scripts, using the Keyword Tool of Google AdWords. The search volume of lampyrid species as “Genji-botaru” (Luciola cruciata Motschulsky), “Heike-botaru” (Luciola lateralis Motschulsky) and “Hime-botaru” (Hotaria parvula Kiesenwetter), in either or both katakana and hiragana syllabic scripts, was enormously high relative to other lampyrid species, indicating the biased attention of Japanese to these lampyrid species. In addition, search volumes for familial or common lampyrid name (“Hotaru”) was assessed and compared with that of 34 lampyrid species. This analyzing result showed that: (1) the search volumes for katakana and hiragana were 37.7 and 773.1 times higher for “Hotaru” than “Genji-botaru”, respectively; and (2) the search volume for all lampyrid species was clearly higher in katakana than hiragana, whereas the search volumes for “Hotaru” were clearly higher in hiragana than katakana. These results suggest that: (1) the Japanese public tends to perceive lampyrids with not a clear but an ambiguous taxonomic view; and (2) the attitude of the Japanese public toward lampyrids differs between those who perceive lampyrids with a clear taxonomic view (at species level) and with an ambiguous taxonomic view.
Two New Triterpene Glycosides with Monomethyl Malonate Groups from the Rhizome of Cimifuga foetida L.
Authors: Sun Li-Rong , Yan Jian , Zhou Lin , Li Zhong-Rong , Qiu Ming-Hua
Published: July 2011

Two new 9,19-cycloartane triterpene glycosides 1-2, together with four known compounds—26-deoxyactein (3), actein (4), 7,8-didehydro-26-deoxyactein (5) and cimiaceroside B (6)—were isolated from the rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida. The new triterpene glycosides were identified as 23-O-methyl-24-deoxy-2'-O-(3''-methylmalonyl)-cimiaceroside B (1) and 2'-O-(3''-methylmalonyl)actein (2) based on analysis of their spectral data and chemical reactions.
Geospatial Technologies to Improve Urban Energy Efficiency
Authors: Hay Geoffrey J. , Kyle Christopher , Hemachandran Bharanidharan , Chen Gang , Rahman Mir Mustafizur , Fung Tak S. , Arvai Joseph L.
Published: July 2011

The HEAT (Home Energy Assessment Technologies) pilot project is a FREE Geoweb mapping service, designed to empower the urban energy efficiency movement by allowing residents to visualize the amount and location of waste heat leaving their homes and communities as easily as clicking on their house in Google Maps. HEAT incorporates Geospatial solutions for residential waste heat monitoring using Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis (GEOBIA) and Canadian built Thermal Airborne Broadband Imager technology (TABI-320) to provide users with timely, in-depth, easy to use, location-specific waste-heat information; as well as opportunities to save their money and reduce their green-house-gas emissions. We first report on the HEAT Phase I pilot project which evaluates 368 residences in the Brentwood community of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and describe the development and implementation of interactive waste heat maps, energy use models, a Hot Spot tool able to view the 6+ hottest locations on each home and a new HEAT Score for inter-city waste heat comparisons. We then describe current challenges, lessons learned and new solutions as we begin Phase II and scale from 368 to 300,000+ homes with the newly developed TABI-1800. Specifically, we introduce a new object-based mosaicing strategy, an adaptation of Emissivity Modulation to correct for emissivity differences, a new Thermal Urban Road Normalization (TURN) technique to correct for scene-wide microclimatic variation. We also describe a new Carbon Score and opportunities to update city cadastral errors with automatically defined thermal house objects.
Vision-Based Finger Detection, Tracking, and Event Identification Techniques for Multi-Touch Sensing and Display Systems
Authors: Chen Yen-Lin , Liang Wen-Yew , Chiang Chuan-Yen , Hsieh Tung-Ju , Lee Da-Cheng , Yuan Shyan-Ming , Chang Yang-Lang
Published: July 2011

This study presents efficient vision-based finger detection, tracking, and event identification techniques and a low-cost hardware framework for multi-touch sensing and display applications. The proposed approach uses a fast bright-blob segmentation process based on automatic multilevel histogram thresholding to extract the pixels of touch blobs obtained from scattered infrared lights captured by a video camera. The advantage of this automatic multilevel thresholding approach is its robustness and adaptability when dealing with various ambient lighting conditions and spurious infrared noises. To extract the connected components of these touch blobs, a connected-component analysis procedure is applied to the bright pixels acquired by the previous stage. After extracting the touch blobs from each of the captured image frames, a blob tracking and event recognition process analyzes the spatial and temporal information of these touch blobs from consecutive frames to determine the possible touch events and actions performed by users. This process also refines the detection results and corrects for errors and occlusions caused by noise and errors during the blob extraction process. The proposed blob tracking and touch event recognition process includes two phases. First, the phase of blob tracking associates the motion correspondence of blobs in succeeding frames by analyzing their spatial and temporal features. The touch event recognition process can identify meaningful touch events based on the motion information of touch blobs, such as finger moving, rotating, pressing, hovering, and clicking actions. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed vision-based finger detection, tracking, and event identification system is feasible and effective for multi-touch sensing applications in various operational environments and conditions.