bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Integration: Letting the Epigenome Out of the Bottle Without Losing Sight of the Structural Origins of Population Health
Authors: Geronimus Arline T.
Published: August 2013

Advances in stress physiology and molecular dynamics can illuminate population health inequality. The “weathering” hypothesis posits that socially structured, repeated stress process activation can accumulate and increase disease vulnerability across the life course in marginalized groups. The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis focuses on youthful programming for later life disease via epigenetic modifications to limiting uterine or early environments. Weathering and DOHaD are overlapping biopsychosocial models; yet, their emphases and implications vary. Evidence for the primacy of early development over experiences in young through middle adulthood for explaining population health inequality is lacking. By considering weathering and DOHaD together, we call for biomedical researchers to be more cautious in their claims about the social world and for a broader range of social researchers—including qualitative ones—to collaborate with them.
New Cold-Production Technique for Heavy Oil With Strong Bottomwaterdrive
Authors: Qin Wenting , Wojtanowicz Andrew K. , White Christopher D.
Published: August 2013

Few heavy-oil reservoirs with strong bottomwaterdrive have been developed successfully, because severe water coning causes low ultimate recovery, low well productivity, and high water production. In these reservoirs, thermal and gravity-assisted methods that could improve recovery are perceived as economically unfavorable or technologically infeasible. In this paper, we propose a new cold-production technique, called the bilateral water sink (BWS), to meet those challenges.

The BWS method suppresses water cresting by producing oil and water simultaneously from bilateral horizontal wells completed in the oil and water zones separately. Unlike conventional horizontal-well production, where water cresting causes water to bypass oil, making the waterdrive mechanism ineffective, the BWS prevents water cresting by altering the potential distribution in the near-well region. With cresting suppressed, water drives the oil from the edges of the well drainage area to the well, resulting in high ultimate recovery. By exploiting the natural reservoir energy of the bottomwaterdrive, the BWS becomes economically, technically, and environmentally appealing—especially for offshore fields where cold production is the only option and oil/water separation is a problem.

In this paper, new analytical models are derived to design the water and oil rates for the BWS and to quantify the method's effect of avoiding water cresting and improving oil recovery. The analytical models are verified with numerical simulations. The BWS technique is also theoretically demonstrated by use of data from an actual oil field. The results show a considerable increase of oil recovery, from less than 15% for a conventional horizontal well to approximately 40% for a BWS well.
Molecular Markers Highlight Variation within and among Kentucky Bluegrass Varieties and Accessions
Authors: Bushman B. Shaun , Warnke Scott E. , Amundsen Keenan L. , Combs Kathleen M. , Johnson Paul G.
Published: August 2013

Assessing relationships among germplasm and cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is limited to field evaluations or a small set of molecular markers. To improve the efficiency of characterizing Kentucky bluegrass cultivars and germplasm, this study was designed to develop a larger set of robust molecular makers and a concise panel of cultivars to assess relationships of Kentucky bluegrass. An extensive library of simple sequence repeat markers was developed and used to assess relationships among and within 24 cultivars and accessions. Plants generally grouped as cultivars in cluster analysis, but molecular outlying plants and phenotypic off‐type plants were found in 15 of the entries. The cultivars represented the major Kentucky bluegrass classification types and were consistent with previous reports. Salt‐tolerant National Plant Germplasm System accessions were placed in context with the cultivars and grouped closest to the Eurasian/Common type cultivar Kenblue. Similarity of plants within cultivars varied from 60 to 98% but never reached 100%. These data showed that, with two exceptions, the cultivars could represent the major Kentucky bluegrass classification types and also that molecular variation exists within putatively apomictic plants.
Improved wet weather wastewater influent modelling at Viikinmäki WWTP by on-line weather radar information
Authors: Heinonen M. , Jokelainen M. , Fred T. , Koistinen J. , Hohti H.
Published: August 2013

Municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent is typically dependent on diurnal variation of urban production of liquid waste, infiltration of stormwater runoff and groundwater infiltration. During wet weather conditions the infiltration phenomenon typically increases the risk of overflows in the sewer system as well as the risk of having to bypass the WWTP. Combined sewer infrastructure multiplies the role of rainwater runoff in the total influent. Due to climate change, rain intensity and magnitude is tending to rise as well, which can already be observed in the normal operation of WWTPs. Bypass control can be improved if the WWTP is prepared for the increase of influent, especially if there is some storage capacity prior to the treatment plant. One option for this bypass control is utilisation of on-line weather-radar-based forecast data of rainfall as an input for the on-line influent model. This paper reports the Viikinmäki WWTP wet weather influent modelling project results where gridded exceedance probabilities of hourly rainfall accumulations for the next 3 h from the Finnish Meteorological Institute are utilised as on-line input data for the influent model.
Effect of pH and distance between electrodes on the performance of a sediment microbial fuel cell
Authors: Sajana T. K. , Ghangrekar M. M. , Mitra A.
Published: August 2013

The performance of three sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) was evaluated at different feed water pH and electrode spacing for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, total nitrogen (TN) removal, and power density; while offering in situ remediation of aquaculture pond water. SMFC-A was operated at the feed water pH of 6.5 and spacing between the electrodes of 100 cm. SMFC-B and SMFC-C were operated at feed water pHs of 8.5 and 6.5, respectively, and distance between electrodes of 50 cm. The anode and cathode were connected with concealed copper wire through an external load of 100 Ω. The average amount of total COD removal rate and TN removal rate, per unit area of cathode, were 1.72 ± 0.06 and 0.021 ± 0.007 g/m2 d in SMFC-A, 1.03 ± 0.08 and 0.024 ± 0.005 g/m2 d in SMFC-B, and 1.14 ± 0.01 and 0.017 ± 0.001 g/m2 d in SMFC-C, respectively. SMFC-A, operated with higher distance between electrodes, demonstrated better removal of organic matter and highest open circuit voltage of 0.903 V. SMFCs with less feed pH (6.5) gave higher COD removal and feed pH of 8.5 gave higher TN removal. SMFCs operated with lesser distance between electrodes gave higher power density.
Effects of fluoride and chloride on the growth of Chlorella pyrenoidosa
Authors: Li Q. , Wu Y. Y. , Wu Y. D.
Published: August 2013

To compare the toxic action of fluoride (F−) and chloride (Cl−) on freshwater algae, effects of F− and Cl− on Chlorella pyrenoidosa growth were investigated by determination of the algal biomass and model analysis. Results showed that the exponential growth equation (D = D0 + aebT) may be used to fit the relationship between cell density (D) of C. pyrenoidosa and exposure time (T), but F− and Cl− have significantly different effects on parameters a (initial quantity of algae at the exponential growth stage) and b (growth constant). In the range of experimental concentrations, F− inhibited C. pyrenoidosa growth, and percent inhibition increased with increasing exposure time and F− concentration. By contrast, Cl− either inhibited or enhanced C. pyrenoidosa growth depending on Cl− concentration and exposure time, and percent inhibition increased with increasing Cl− concentration but decreased with increasing exposure time. The dose–response equation: I = min + (max − min)/(1 + 10lgEC50−lgC) may be used to fit the relationship between percent inhibition (I) and F− or Cl− concentration (C); however, F− was distinct from Cl− in terms of effects on parameter ‘min’. The EC50 values of F− and Cl− ranged from 118 to 170 mg/L and 19.73 to 36.33 g/L, respectively; the latter is much higher than the former. Thus F− has higher toxicity than Cl−.
The optimal dissolved oxygen profile in a nitrifying activated sludge process – comparisons with ammonium feedback control
Authors: Åmand L. , Carlsson B.
Published: August 2013

Ammonium feedback control is increasingly used to determine the dissolved oxygen (DO) set-point in aerated activated sludge processes for nitrogen removal. This study compares proportional-integral (PI) ammonium feedback control with a DO profile created from a mathematical minimisation of the daily air flow rate. All simulated scenarios are set to reach the same treatment level of ammonium, based on a daily average concentration. The influent includes daily variations only and the model has three aerated zones. Comparisons are made at different plant loads and DO concentrations, and the placement of the ammonium sensor is investigated. The results show that ammonium PI control can achieve the best performance if the DO set-point is limited at a maximum value and with little integral action in the controller. Compared with constant DO control the best-performing ammonium controller can achieve 1–3.5% savings in the air flow rate, while the optimal solution can achieve a 3–7% saving. Energy savings are larger when operating at higher DO concentrations.
Diversity and dynamics of ammonia-oxidizing bacterial communities in a sponge-based trickling filter treating effluent from a UASB reactor
Authors: Mac Conell E. F. A. , Almeida P. G. S. , Zerbini A. M. , Brandt E. M. F. , Araújo J. C. , Chernicharo C. A. L.
Published: August 2013

Changes in ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) population dynamics were examined in a new sponge-based trickling filter (TF) post-upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor by denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and these changes were linked to relevant components influencing nitrification (chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen (N)). The sponge-based packing media caused strong concentration gradients along the TF, providing an ecological selection of AOB within the system. The organic loading rate (OLR) affected the population dynamics, and under higher OLR or low ammonium-nitrogen (NH4+-N) concentrations some AOB bands disappeared, but maintaining the overall community function for NH4+-N removal. The dominant bands present in the upper portions of the TF were closely related to Nitrosomonas europaea and distantly affiliated to Nitrosomonas eutropha, and thus were adapted to higher NH4+-N and organic matter concentrations. In the lower portions of the TF, the dominant bands were related to Nitrosomonas oligotropha, commonly found in environments with low levels of NH4+-N. From a technology point of view, changes in AOB structure at OLR around 0.40–0.60 kgCOD m−3 d−1 did not affect TF performance for NH4+-N removal, but AOB diversity may have been correlated with the noticeable stability of the sponge-based TF for NH4+-N removal at low OLR. This study is relevant because molecular biology was used to observe important features of a bioreactor, considering realistic operational conditions applied to UASB/sponge-based TF systems.
Removal of methyl blue from aqueous solution by magnetic carbon nanotube
Authors: Wang S. , Gao Q. , Luo W. J. , Xu J. , Zhou C. G. , Xia H.
Published: August 2013

Magnetic carbon nanotube (mCNT) was formed via direct mixing of carbon nanotube (CNT) with magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) in dye solution. When the mass ratio of MNP to CNT was 4:1, all CNT were magnetically collected. The adsorption performance of mCNT was evaluated using methyl blue (MB) as a model adsorbate. Equilibrium of MB adsorption was attained in 60 min, and maximum adsorption occurred at pH 3–6. MB adsorption was independent of ionic strength and followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. According to the Langmuir isotherm, adsorption capacity of mCNT for MB was 115.34 mg g−1. Thermodynamic analysis suggested MB adsorption onto mCNT was a spontaneous process. Reusability study results showed that 97.06, 96.26, 94.33, 92.91 and 90.14% of MB were removed in five consecutive cycles. The study suggests that the mCNT has a great potential application in dye removal from industrial wastewater.
The adsorption of Sb(III) in aqueous solution by Fe2O3-modified carbon nanotubes
Authors: Yu Tingchao , Zeng Chao , Ye Miaomiao , Shao Yu
Published: August 2013

A novel kind of iron oxide supported on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was prepared for adsorption of antimony (Sb)(III) in aqueous solution. The iron (III) oxide (Fe2O3)-modified CNTs were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption–desorption and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. Parameters affecting the adsorption efficiencies, including solution pH value, initial Sb(III) concentration, adsorbent dosage, adsorption time and temperature, were investigated. The results indicate that the removal rate of Sb(III) by Fe2O3-modified CNTs is 99.97% under the initial Sb(III) concentration of 1.5 mg/L, adsorbents dosage of 0.5 g/L, temperature of 25 oC and pH value of 7.00, which is 29.81% higher than that of the raw CNTs. The adsorption capacity increased correspondingly from 3.01 to 6.23 mg/g. The equilibrium adsorption data can be fitted to the Freundlich adsorption isotherm. In addition, it has been found that the solution pH values and adsorption temperatures have no significant influence on Sb(III) removal.
Fluctuation of densities of bacteriophages and Escherichia coli present in natural biofilms and water of a main channel and a small tributary
Authors: Hirotani Hiroshi , Yu Ma , Yamada Takeshi
Published: August 2013

Fluctuation of bacteriophage and Escherichia coli densities in naturally developed riverbed biofilms were investigated for a 1-year period. E. coli ranged from 1,500 to 15,500 most probable number (MPN)/100 mL and from 580 to 18,500 MPN/cm2 in the main channel in the river water and biofilms, respectively. However, the fluctuations were much greater in the tributary, ranging from 0.8 to 100 MPN/100 mL and from 0.3 to 185 MPN/cm2 in water and biofilms, respectively. The fluctuations of coliphages were also greater in the tributary than in the main channel. FRNA phage serotyping results indicated no significant differences in the source type of the fecal contamination in the main channel and tributary sampling stations. Significant correlations between phage groups in biofilms and water were found at both main channel and tributary. It was assumed that natural biofilms developed in the streambed captured and retained somatic phages in the biofilms for a certain period of time in the main channel site. At the location receiving constant and heavy contamination, the usage of phage indicators may provide additional information on the presence of viruses. In the small tributary it may be possible to estimate the virus concentration by monitoring the E. coli indicator.
On data requirements for calibration of integrated models for urban water systems
Authors: Langeveld Jeroen , Nopens Ingmar , Schilperoort Remy , Benedetti Lorenzo , de Klein Jeroen , Amerlinck Youri , Weijers Stefan
Published: August 2013

Modeling of integrated urban water systems (IUWS) has seen a rapid development in recent years. Models and software are available that describe the process dynamics in sewers, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), receiving water systems as well as at the interfaces between the submodels. Successful applications of integrated modeling are, however, relatively scarce. One of the reasons for this is the lack of high-quality monitoring data with the required spatial and temporal resolution and accuracy to calibrate and validate the integrated models, even though the state of the art of monitoring itself is no longer the limiting factor. This paper discusses the efforts to be able to meet the data requirements associated with integrated modeling and describes the methods applied to validate the monitoring data and to use submodels as software sensor to provide the necessary input for other submodels. The main conclusion of the paper is that state of the art monitoring is in principle sufficient to provide the data necessary to calibrate integrated models, but practical limitations resulting in incomplete data-sets hamper widespread application. In order to overcome these difficulties, redundancy of future monitoring networks should be increased and, at the same time, data handling (including data validation, mining and assimilation) should receive much more attention.
St Maximus the confessor’s teaching on movement
Authors: Cvetkovic Vladimir
Published: August 2013

The article aims to present how the Byzantine scholar St Maximus the
Confessor perceived the notion of movement (kinesis). St Maximus exposed his
teaching on movement in the course of his refutation of Origenism, which
regarded the movement of created beings away from God as the cause of
breaking the original unity that existed between the Creation and the
Creator. By reversing Origen?s triad ?rest? - ?movement? - ?becoming? into
the triad ?becoming? - ?movement? - ?rest?, St Maximus viewed the movement
toward God as the sole goal of created beings, finding in the supreme being
the repose of their own movement. In addition to the cosmological view of the
movement, St Maximus developed a psychological and an ontological view on
movement, relying on previous Christian tradition. By transforming and
adapting Aristotelian and Neoplatonic notions to the basic principles of
Christian metaphysics, St Maximus creates a new Christian philosophy of
movement which he supported primarily with the views of the Cappadocian
Fathers and Dionysius the Areopagite.
Neo-meidevalism in contemporary social theory
Authors: Gajic Aleksandar
Published: August 2013

?Neo-medievalism? has become well known concept in contemporary social
theory. It is widely used by historians, sociologists of culture and
international relations theorists, not only for the critical reconsideration
of heritage from ?historical? Middle Ages, but also for the easier and more
accurate distinguishing of their cultural-historical and
international-political aspirations through analogies with contemporary
social processes. This paper deals with the emergence of ?neo-medieval
motives? in social theory and philosophy since Romanticism, throughout
?catholic cultural renewal? and ?Russian religious renaissance?, up to their
influences on ?theories of crisis of modernity? from the first half of 20th
century and on significant works of Spengler, Toynbee, Ortega y Gasset and
Pitirim Sorokin. Then, author follows the revival of interests for Middle
Ages in the seventies of the last century along with the onset of
postmodernism, and also the first use of ?neo-medieval model? for explanation
of international relations transformation (in the work of Hedley Bull and his
followers). Finally, contemporary ?neo-medieval? tendencies in scientific
approaches are being observed - from the systemic transformation from a
modern to a postmodern political economy, throughout urban studies, sociology
and philosophy seeking again the indisputable epistemological support in
religion and tradition.
Rights of the roman catholic religious minority in the Principality of Serbia
Authors: Dzomic Velibor
Published: August 2013

Due to the sparse Roman Catholic population in the Principality of Serbia,
Roman Catholics fell under the category of a religious minority. Through
different constitutional and other legal provisions Serbian state authorities
guaranteed Roman Catholics freedom of religion and also granted the legal
status to the Roman Catholic Church in Serbia. Austria and Russia had a
substantial influence on the resolution to this issue, and these relations
became even more dynamic after the Congress of Berlin. Decades-long process
of regulating the exercise of religious freedom for Roman Catholics was
overburdened with specific social and political circumstances and the overt
inclination of Roman Catholic clergy to proselytism, which was not the case
with other religious minorities in Serbia. Although several legal regulations
concerning this issue were enacted in the Principality of Serbia, it was only
with the Concordat between the Kingdom of Serbia and the Holy See (1914) that
the issue was resolved amicably for both agreement parties.
Medical terminology and phraseology and fate of the Journal Serbian archives for the whole medicine
Authors: Dimitrijevic Brana , Zizic-Borjanovic Slavica
Published: August 2013

Serbian Archives for the Whole Medicine (Archivum Serbicum pro universa
scientia et arte medica recipienda) is one of the oldest Serbian journals
still being published - the first issue came out in 1874 - next to Matica
Srpska Chronicle which is the oldest one. It played an extremely significant
role in the creation of Serbian medical terminology and phraseology, but only
during the first decades of its existence. Later on, after the First World
War and particularly after the Second World War, this very role was gradually
losing its importance, to be finally lost. So, in recent times, partly under
the pressure of higher instances, a proposal was made for the total
abandonment of Serbian language and printing this journal only in English.
Presenting historical facts - how and for whom Serbian Archives had been made
and what followed afterwards - and using statistical calculations of the
participation index, indicating the average annual number of authors ie.
participants in writing works, unjustifiably increased in the recent decades
(1950 = 1.3; 2012= 5.0), in this work we answered the question whether indeed
Serbian Archives should not be printed in the Cyrillic script and in Serbian
language anymore. The conclusion is: the further survival of Serbian Archives
is tightly related to the revival of the work on Serbian medical terminology
and phraseology, even if it means starting from the beginning to a great
extent at this moment. Otherwise, Serbian Archives will be suspended, after
140 years of existence.
Comparison of White and Chinese perception of esthetic Chinese lip position
Authors: Chong Hui Theng , Thea Kim Wei , Descallar Joseph , Chen Yong , Dalci Oyku , Wong Ricky , Darendeliler M. Ali
Published: August 2013

Objective:

To compare the esthetic preference of White and Chinese judges with regard to Chinese lip position.

Materials and Methods:

The profile images of a dental and skeletal Class I Chinese adult male and female were digitally adjusted to Chinese mean values. The lip profile was adjusted with the upper and lower lip at the mean distance from the Ricketts' E-line. These images were used as baseline images and were further digitally manipulated to generate six additional images with the upper and lower lip such that they lay 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 standard deviations (SDs) in front of or behind the E-line. An additional image was modified based on a White mean value. The images were viewed and ranked by 251 White and Chinese judges (dentists and laypersons) in Australia and China.

Results:

Significantly more Chinese judges ranked the retrusive profiles higher than the White judges. The White judges also ranked the profile image adjusted to −0.5 SD as the most esthetic for both the female and male, while the Chinese judges ranked the −1.0 SD profile as the most esthetic.

Conclusions:

The ethnicity of the judges is a significant factor influencing the perception of esthetic lip position. The Chinese judges prefer a more retrusive profile and are more likely to rate a protrusive profile as unacceptable, compared with the White judges.
Teratoid Hepatoblastoma with Abundant Cholangioblastic Component in a Child with Full Trisomy 13
Authors: Zhou Shengmei , Ranganathan Sarangarajan , Venkatramani Rajkumar , Gomulia Ellen , Wang Larry
Published: August 2013

Teratoid hepatoblastoma is a rare histological subtype of hepatoblastoma. A 15-month-old girl with full trisomy 13 presented with a liver mass (6 × 4.4 × 3.4 cm). Histological examination showed a teratoid hepatoblastoma with very different differentiation patterns intermixed with each other. Approximately 30% of the tumor demonstrated a primitive glandular epithelium component, which had a moderate to well-differentiated adenocarcinoma-like morphology, and features of mucinous epithelium with a biliary immunophenotype. We designated it as cholangioblastic component. The child received 4 cycles of monotherapy with doxorubicin after complete resection and showed no evidence of residual tumor 8 months after surgery. Our case is not only the 1st report of hepatoblastoma in trisomy 13 but also represents a unique example with a large glandular epithelium component with cholangioblastic features. Increased awareness of this entity and further molecular studies are needed for better understanding of the pathogenesis of teratoid hepatoblastoma.
Certificate and : “they were children yesterday…”
Authors: Melrose Andrew
Published: August 2013

Representations of young teenagers and adolescents (not yet young adults) in popular culture are problematic. All too often the term teenager is less about age and experience and more about consumer merchandise and lifestyles aimed at them as a demographic sector. This paper addresses some of the issues and myths that writers and film makers are confronted with when producing teenage culture - everything may not be as you think.
Taking Collaborative Stances to Tell the Story. A Socio-linguistic Approach to Nick Hornby’s A Long Way Down
Authors: Vasiloiu Dorina-Daniela
Published: August 2013

In the present study, I seek to examine narrative in consideration of three of its most important dimensions: the social (others’ narratives), the cognitive (acquisition of knowledge through stories), and the linguistic (acquiring and producing knowledge through language). There is no point of contention that ‘narrative’ is essentially communicative and dependent on a sociolinguistic and cultural context. Yet, with regard to fictional narratives, recent studies on text processing challenge the view of text as communication in its conventional sense. I explore the way(s) in which fictional worlds communicate from the constructivist standpoint and set out to develop the notion of narratorial stance. I then make use of the concept in the close reading section of the paper in order to examine and exemplify the modes in which Hornby’s homodiegetic narrators represent themselves and the others in their ‘turn-at-talk’ or stance-taking acts
Study on the thermal behavior of casein in air
Authors: Moldoveanu Costel , Odochian Lucia , Paius Cristina M. , Lorela Iancu , Baiceanu Adriana
Published: August 2013

The present paper is focused on the study of the thermal behavior of casein, the main protein in milk, by applying the TG-FTIR technique and calorimetric measurements. The research is of a great interest due to the large application areas of casein in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries. The analysis of the thermal behavior by the TG-DTG-DTA methods allwos the finding of the temperature range where the casein is thermally stable and the caseincontaining cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical products proper for using. The identification of the gaseous species released allwos the TG-FTIR coupled technique to give useful information on the possible environmental impact when the casein-containing products are used at temperatures above the casein initial degradation temperature. The combustion heat of casein estimated by means of the Berthelot calorimeter made evident this value to be close to those of the most important and used fuels which would recommend the waste casein-containing products to be used as fuels.
3-Methylpiperidinyl Carbodithioates as Building Blocks for 1,3-Dithiolium Derivatives
Authors: Sarbu Laura G. , Bahrin Lucian G.
Published: August 2013

New 1,3-dithiolium derivatives have been synthesized by heterocyclocondensation of various 3-methylpiperidinyl carbodithioates derived from 2-hydroxypropiophenones. Thus, 1,3-dithiolium perchlorates have been obtained by the treatment of the corresponding dithiocarbamates with a mixture of acetic and sulfuric acid, followed by the addition of perchloric acid. 1,3-Dithiolium perchlorates have been converted to the corresponding 2-(1,3-dithiolium) phenolates under weak basic conditions. These phenolates exhibit mesoionic character with an internal charge transfer absorption band.
Characterizations of ɛ-duality gap statements for constrained optimization problems
Authors: Boncea Horaţiu-Vasile , Grad Sorin-Mihai
Published: August 2013

In this paper we present different regularity conditions that equivalently characterize various ɛ-duality gap statements (with ɛ ≥ 0) for constrained optimization problems and their Lagrange and Fenchel-Lagrange duals in separated locally convex spaces, respectively. These regularity conditions are formulated by using epigraphs and ɛ-subdifferentials. When ɛ = 0 we rediscover recent results on stable strong and total duality and zero duality gap from the literature.
Effect of experimental top soil removal on vegetation of Pannonian salt steppes
Authors: Melečková Zuzana , Galvánek Dobromil , Dítě Daniel , Eliáš Pavol
Published: August 2013

Inland saline habitats of the Pannonian Lowland exhibit a specific variety of grasslands determined by a soil salinity gradient. Changes in the hydrological regime and absence of management have resulted in heavy degradation of the vegetation. The impact of topsoil removal on salt steppes was tested by a 3-year small-scale manipulated experiment in SW Slovakia (Kamenínske Slanisko Nature Reserve). Topsoil was removed in three contrasting types of vegetation with different soil salinities, i.e. in different stages of habitat degradation. Data were analysed by multi-way ANOVA and by multivariate methods. Species richness decreased and the proportion of halophytes increased significantly in the two types with the highest soil salinity; however, the total number of halophytes was not influenced by soil removal. The treatment caused inhibition of secondary succession on the plots with the highest salinity. The effect of the soil removal was only short-term in the vegetation with moderate salinity and on heavily degraded and desalinized types it even stimulated further recruitment of ruderal species. Topsoil removal has only limited potential for the restoration of Pannonian salt steppes. It should be applied only in slightly degraded vegetation, where salt accumulation is still present and target species propagules are available.
Elastic fields of interacting point defects within an ultra-thin fcc film bonded to a rigid substrate
Authors: Shodja Hossein , Tabatabaei Maryam , Ostadhossein Alireza , Pahlevani Ladan
Published: August 2013

Certain physical and mechanical phenomena within ultra-thin face-centered cubic (fcc) films containing common types of interacting point defects are addressed. An atomic-scale lattice statics in conjunction with many-body interatomic potentials suitable for binary systems is conducted to analyze the effects of the depth on the: (1) formation energy and layer-by-layer displacements due to the presence of vacancy-octahedral self-interstitial atom (OSIA) ensemble, and (2) elastic fields as well as the free surface shape in the case of vacancy-dopant interaction. Moreover, the effects of the inter-defect spacing for various depths are also examined. To ensure reasonable accuracy and numerical convergence, the atomic interaction up to the second-nearest neighbor is considered.
Soliton-like solutions to the generalized Burgers-Huxley equation with variable coefficients
Authors: Triki Houria , Wazwaz Abdul-Majid
Published: August 2013

In this paper, we consider the generalized Burgers-Huxley equation with arbitrary power of nonlinearity and timedependent coefficients. We analyze the traveling wave problem and explicitly find new soliton-like solutions for this extended equation by using the ansatz of Zhao et al. [X. Zhao, D. Tang, L. Wang, Phys. Lett. A 346 (2005) 288–291]. We also employ the solitary wave ansatz method to derive the exact bright and dark soliton solutions for the considered evolution equation. The physical parameters in the soliton solutions are obtained as function of the time-dependent model coefficients. The conditions of existence of solitons are presented. As a result, rich exact travelling wave solutions, which contain new soliton-like solutions, bell-shaped solitons and kink-shaped solitons for the generalized Burgers-Huxley equation with time-dependent coefficients, are obtained. The methods employed here can also be used to solve a large class of nonlinear evolution equations with variable coefficients.
Assessment of Synthetic Glucocorticoids in Asthmatic Sputum
Authors: Hagan John B. , Taylor Robert L. , Singh Ravinder J.
Published: August 2013

Nonadherence with anti-inflammatory treatment is a frequent cause of continued symptoms in asthmatic patients. Clinical assessments including patient-reported medication administration may provide the asthma specialist incomplete information regarding actual adherence to anti-inflammatory medications. The objective of this report was to describe the first case where adherence to inhaled asthma therapy was assessed by direct analysis of glucocorticoids in induced sputum. The patient's blood, urine, and sputum were tested for synthetic corticosteroids using mass spectrometry. To evaluate a clinical suspicion of poor adherence, sputum, urine, and blood were used to assess for current compliance to medication use. We report a case where asthma specialists attributed poorly controlled asthma to nonadherence to medical therapy. After modification of the medical regimen, adherence with oral and inhaled steroids was assessed–via examination of the urine, blood, and sputum. Direct analysis of glucocorticoids in sputum is feasible and in theory could provide a novel tool to document current medication adherence. Concomitant assessment of glucocorticoids and eosinophils in the same induced sputum specimen could provide insight into possible steroid resistance in select referral patients with difficult asthma.
Expression of Bone Morphogenic Protein in Sinonasal Inverted Papilloma with New Bone Formation
Authors: Okamoto Tomoyo , Kodama Satoru , Nomi Nozomi , Umemoto Shingo , Suzuki Masashi
Published: August 2013

Inverted papilloma (IP) is a common benign tumor in the nose and sinus. Osteogenesis in sinonasal IP is extremely rare; to date, only five cases of IP with new bone formation appear in the literature. In addition, the mechanism of osteogenesis in IP remains unclear. Here, we describe three cases of IP with new bone formation and an investigation into a possible role for bone morphogenic protein (BMP) in osteogenesis. Of three patients with sinonasal IP with new bone formation, two were treated by endoscopic sinus surgery and one was followed up with watchful waiting. Tumor tissues were subjected to immunohistochemistry to detect BMP expression. The patients were successfully treated surgically and showed no evidence of recurrence postoperatively. Follow-up examination is ongoing. Immunohistochemically, the tumors expressed BMP-4 but not BMP-2 or BMP-7. ESS could be successfully used to achieve complete removal of the sinonasal IPs with new bone formation. BMP-4 might be associated with new bone formation in the tumor.
Reproducibility, Validity, and Responsiveness of Cell Counts in Blown Nasal Secretions
Authors: Nair Parameswaran , Goodwin Sarah , Hargreave Frederick E.
Published: August 2013

Cell counts in nasal secretions are not used in routine clinical practice to decide on anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial therapy. This study investigated the reproducibility, reliability (validity), and responsiveness of cell counts in blown nasal secretions with a view to implementing this in routine clinical practice. Nasal secretions were obtained from 19 subjects with allergic rhinitis on 3 days in random order (each separated by 1–2 days) by spontaneously blowing their noses (on 2 days) and by a nasal lavage by the modified Grunberg method on the 3rd day. Total and differential cell counts were performed after dispersing the solutions with dithiothreitol as described previously. At the end of the study, subjects had 1 week of open label treatment with nasal corticosteroids if they had nasal eosinophilia or an antibiotic if they had nasal neutrophilia. If the cell counts were normal, they were not treated. The proportion of eosinophil (%) was highly reproducible (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC], 0.93), and the total cell count (X106/g) and the proportion of neutrophil (%) were modestly reproducible in blown nasal secretions (ICC, 0.46 and 0.55, respectively). The total cell count was consistently and significantly higher in the blown nasal secretions. The proportion of eosinophils (Rs = 0.4; p < 0.05) and neutrophils (Rs = 0.6; p < 0.05) showed modest correlation in the two types of samples. The responsiveness index for eosinophil count was 4.0 and for neutrophil count was 1.5. Total and differential cell counts can be reliably and reproducibly obtained from spontaneously blown nasal secretions. The cell counts are responsive to treatment and can help identify allergic and infective rhinosinusitis and guide therapy and are easy to implement in routine clinical practice.
Skull Base Defect in a Patient with Ozena Undergoing Dacryocystorhinostomy
Authors: Friedel Mark E. , Earley Marisa A. , Eloy Jean Anderson
Published: August 2013

Ozena, which is often used interchangeably with atrophic rhinitis or empty nose syndrome, is a progressive and chronically debilitating nasal disease that results in atrophy of the nasal mucosa, nasal crusting, fetor, and destruction of submucosal structures. Although the etiology is not completely understood, infection with Klebsiella ozaenae is widely believed to contribute to the destructive changes. We present a case of a patient with ozena secondary to K. ozaenae with extensive destruction of bony structures of the nasal cavity undergoing elective dacryocystorhinostomy. An extensively thinned skull base secondary to the disease process resulted in an unforeseen complication in which the skull base was entered leading to a cerebrospinal fluid leak. Patients with known history of ozena or atrophic rhinitis often have extensive destruction of the lateral nasal wall and skull base secondary to progression of disease. Submucosal destruction of these bony structures mandates the need for extreme caution when planning on performing endoscopic intervention at or near the skull base. If physical examination or nasal endoscopy is suspicious for atrophic rhinitis or a patient has a known history of infection with K. ozaenae, we recommend preoperative imaging for surgical planning with careful attention to skull base anatomy.
Polymorphic Variants of Interleukin-13 R130Q, Interleukin-4 T589C, Interleukin-4RA I50V, and Interleukin-4RA Q576R in Allergic Rhinitis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Yadav Aravind , Govindasamy Gopala Krishnan , Naidu Rakesh
Published: August 2013

The development of allergic rhinitis is considered to be caused by the complex interactions between genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-13/4/4RA pathway have previously been shown to be associated with atopic diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between IL-13 R130Q, IL-4 T589C, IL4 receptor alpha (IL-4RA) I50V, or IL-4RA Q576R polymorphisms and risk of allergic rhinitis in a hospital-based Malaysian population. A case-control pilot study was undertaken and genotyping of these polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism on 54 allergic rhinitis patients and 45 healthy individuals. Polymorphism of IL-13 R130Q showed significant difference in genotype (p = 0.048) and allele (p = 0.002) frequencies in allergic rhinitis when compared with healthy controls. Individuals who were GA heterozygotes (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 3.567; 95% CI, 1.211–10.509), and carriers of A allele genotype (ORadj = 3.686; 95% CI, 1.300–10.451) and A allele (ORadj = 3.071; 95% CI, 1.514–6.232) had an elevated risk of developing allergic rhinitis. The genotype and allele frequencies of IL-4 T589C, IL-4RA I50V, and IL-4RA Q576R polymorphisms were not significantly different between the allergic rhinitis patients and normal healthy individuals and did not show an associated risk with allergic rhinitis. Our findings indicate that polymorphic variant of IL-13 R130Q appears to be associated with increased risk for development of allergic rhinitis in a hospital-based Malaysian population but not IL-4 T589C, IL-4RA I50V, and IL-4RA Q576 polymorphisms. Additional studies using larger sample size are required to confirm our findings and its exact role in allergic rhinitis.
Sensitization Rate and Clinical Profile of Congolese Patients with Rhinitis
Authors: Nyembue Tshipukane Dieudonné , Ntumba Wivine , Omadjela L. August , Muyunga Christophe , Hellings Peter W. , Jorissen Mark
Published: August 2013

In the African continent, the sensitization pattern and clinical profile are unknown in patients with rhinitis/rhinosinusitis attending the outpatient ear, nose, and throat (ENT) clinics. We therefore aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics of rhinitis/rhinosinusitis patients in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), classify allergic rhinitis (AR) according to the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma criteria, and evaluate the sensitization profile and its associated factors. From January to May 2009, 423 patients with rhinitis symptoms attending the Outpatient ENT clinic of the University Hospital and Saint Joseph Hospital of Kinshasa were evaluated for allergy symptoms, severity, and duration of symptoms and underwent skin-prick tests (SPTs) for a panel of 15 allergens. Of 423 patients 35.2% had positive SPT results, with 40.9% showing polysensitization. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (DPT) (68.5%) and cockroach (36.2%) were the most common allergens among sensitized patients. Patients with rhinitis/rhinosinusitis mainly presented in decreasing order with sneezing, facial pain/pressure, nasal obstruction, postnasal discharge, nose itching, clear nasal discharge, and eye itching. Persistent and moderate/severe AR represented 61.4 and 69.3%, respectively. Sensitization was independently associated with younger age, rhinoconjunctivitis, and reaction to nonspecific trigger factors. In conclusion, 35.2% of patients attending the ENT Outpatient Clinic in DRC for rhinitis problems had a positive SPT to at least one allergen, with mainly DPT and cockroach allergens being involved; and a substantial portion showed persistent and moderate/severe AR. Therefore, allergy should not be neglected as an etiologic factor in rhinologic disease in the African continent.
Congenital Nasolacrimal Duct Cyst/Dacryocystocele: An Argument for a Genetic Basis
Authors: Barham Henry P. , Wudel Justin M. , Enzenauer Robert W. , Chan Kenny H.
Published: August 2013

Embryogenesis of a congenital nasolacrimal duct (NLD) cyst is attributed to the failure of the Hasner membrane of the NLD system to cannulate. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital NLD cysts supports the argument for a developmental error, with a postnatal prevalence of 6%. The role of a genetic basis for this malformation has never been ascribed. We present a set of monozygotic twins with bilateral congenital NLD cysts as an argument for a genetic basis of this entity. A case report and literature review were performed. We present two cases of bilateral congenital NLD cysts occurring in a set of monozygotic twins. Patients were delivered at 37 weeks via cesarean section. The pregnancy was complicated by preterm labor at 33 weeks requiring administration of terbutaline and betamethasone. At presentation, twin A had bilateral eye discharge, erythema, and swelling medial to the medial canthi as well as nasal obstruction. Computed tomography (CT) showed classic bilateral cystic masses in the inferior meatus. The diagnosis of bilateral infected congenital dacryocystoceles was made. Twin B initially presented with only bilateral eye discharge and CT showed a dilated NLD system. Twin B subsequently developed early signs of bilateral dacryocystoceles the following day. Both patients underwent lacrimal probing and endoscopic marsupialization of the dacryocystoceles. Biopsies were consistent with dacryocystocele. Dacryocystocele is a common presentation of unresolved neonatal NLD obstruction. This case report in a set of identical twins is an argument for a genetic basis for the formation of this lesion.
Efficacy of Medical Therapy in Treatment of Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Young Lee C. , Stow Nicholas W. , Zhou Lifeng , Douglas Richard G.
Published: August 2013

Uncomplicated chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is generally treated with medical therapy initially and surgery is contemplated only after medical therapy has failed. However, there is considerable variation in the medical treatment regimens used and studies defining their efficacy are few. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of patients treated medically who responded sufficiently well so that surgery was not required. Subgroup analysis to identify clinical features that predicted a favorable response to medical therapy was also performed. Eighty patients referred to the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic at North Shore Hospital were treated with a standardized medical therapy protocol (oral prednisone for 3 weeks, oral antibiotics and ongoing saline lavage and intranasal budesonide spray). Symptom scores were collected before and after medical therapy. Clinical features such as presence of polyps, asthma, and aspirin hypersensitivity were recorded. Failure of medical therapy was defined as the persistence of significant CRS symptoms, and those patients who failed medical therapy were offered surgery. Follow-up data were available for 72 (90%) patients. Of this group, 52.5%, (95% CI, 42.7%, 62.2%) failed to respond adequately to medical therapy and were offered surgery. The remaining patients (37.5%) were successfully treated with medical therapy and did not require surgery at the time of follow-up. The premedical therapy symptom scores were significantly higher than the postmedical therapy symptom scores (p < 0.01). The symptom scores of those patients postmedical therapy who proceeded to have surgery were significantly higher than the group who responded well to maximum medical therapy (MMT) and did not require surgery (p < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in the proportion of patients with asthma, aspirin sensitivity, or polyps between the groups failing or not failing MMT. In approximately one-third of patients with CRS, medical therapy improved symptoms sufficiently so that surgical therapy was avoided. Patients with more severe symptoms tended not to respond as well as those with less severe symptoms. Long-term follow-up is required for the group of responders to determine how many will eventually relapse.