bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Requirements for Interoperability in Healthcare Information Systems
Authors: Noumeir Rita
Published: June 2012

Interoperability is a requirement for the successful deployment of Electronic Health Records (EHR). EHR improves the quality of healthcare by enabling access to all relevant information at the diagnostic decision moment, regardless of location. It is a system that results from the cooperation of several heterogeneous distributed subsystems that need to successfully exchange information relative to a specific healthcare process. This paper analyzes interoperability impediments in healthcare by first defining them and providing concrete healthcare examples, followed by discussion of how specifications can be defined and how verification can be conducted to eliminate those impediments and ensure interoperability in healthcare. This paper also analyzes how Integrating the Healthcare Enterprise (IHE) has been successful in enabling interoperability, and identifies some neglected aspects that need attention.
Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Exenatide Once Weekly for the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Murphy Catherine E
Published: June 2012

OBJECTIVE:

To summarize and evaluate the available literature assessing the efficacy and safety of exenatide once weekly for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

DATA SOURCES:

PubMed (1966-January 2012) and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts (1969-January 2012) were searched using the term exenatide once weekly. Abstracts presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting in 2011 and reference citations from publications were reviewed for inclusion. Eli Lilly and Company and Amylin Pharmaceuticals were contacted for additional unpublished information.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:

All English-language articles and abstracts were evaluated for inclusion. All randomized controlled trials were included in the review.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

The efficacy and safety of exenatide once weekly has been evaluated as initial monotherapy and as add-on therapy to metformin, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones in patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes for up to 3 years. Results from 6 randomized, comparator-controlled studies in over 3000 patients indicate that treatment with exenatide once weekly results in significant glycemic improvements and weight loss. Gastrointestinal adverse effects and injection site reactions are common, but rarely lead to drug discontinuation.

CONCLUSIONS:

Exenatide once weekly holds promise as a convenient, efficacious, and well-tolerated antihyperglycemic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Studies evaluating outcomes such as cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality with exenatide once weekly are lacking.
Identification of Follistatin-Like 1 by Expression Cloning as an Activator of the Growth Differentiation Factor 15 Gene and a Prognostic Biomarker in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Widera Christian , Giannitsis Evangelos , Kempf Tibor , Korf-Klingebiel Mortimer , Fiedler Beate , Sharma Sarita , Katus Hugo A , Asaumi Yasuhide , Shimano Masayuki , Walsh Kenneth , Wollert Kai C
Published: June 2012

BACKGROUND

Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) is a stress-responsive cytokine and biomarker that is produced after myocardial infarction and that is related to prognosis in acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We hypothesized that secreted proteins that activate GDF15 production may represent new ACS biomarkers.

METHODS

We expressed clones from an infarcted mouse heart cDNA library in COS1 cells and assayed for activation of a luciferase reporter gene controlled by a 642-bp fragment of the mouse growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) gene promoter. We measured the circulating concentrations of follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1) and GDF15 in 1369 patients with ACS.

RESULTS

One cDNA clone that activated the GDF15 promoter–luciferase reporter encoded the secreted protein FSTL1. Treatment with FSTL1 activated GDF15 production in cultured cardiomyocytes. Transgenic production of FSTL1 stimulated GDF15 production in the murine heart, whereas cardiomyocyte-selective deletion of FSTL1 decreased production of GDF15 in cardiomyocytes, indicating that FSTL1 is sufficient and required for GDF15 production. In ACS, FSTL1 emerged as the strongest independent correlate of GDF15 (partial R2 = 0.26). A total of 106 patients died of a cardiovascular cause during a median follow-up of 252 days. Patients with an FSTL1 concentration in the top quartile had a 3.7-fold higher risk of cardiovascular death compared with patients in the first 3 quartiles (P < 0.001). FSTL1 remained associated with cardiovascular death after adjustment for clinical, angiographic, and biochemical variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study is the first to use expression cloning for biomarker discovery upstream of a gene of interest and to identify FSTL1 as an independent prognostic biomarker in ACS.
Facing complex crime: Investigating contemporary German crime fiction on television
Authors: Rothemund Kathrin
Published: June 2012

The article, after giving a short overview of the history and characteristics of German crime fiction on television, elaborates on recent tendencies in this area. Furthermore, a short reference concerning the resurrection of the gangster film genre in German cinema is made before focusing
more specifically on the textual analysis of the TV crime serials KDD – Kriminaldauerdienst/KDD – Berlin Crime Squad and Im Angesicht des Verbrechens/In Face of the Crime. Through critically discussing the dimension of ‘Quality TV’ and proposing, instead, to use the
concept of ‘narrative complexity’, the transformative potential of complex generic narrations is emphasized. Focusing on aspects of multiple interwoven and interacting story arcs, a high number of dominant and developing round characters, a clear visual style, a tendency towards
world making, self-referentiality and (generic) intertextuality, differentiating normative messages, as well as innovation and emergence, a textual analysis of the two abovementioned TV crime serials follows in order to exemplify recent tendencies in German crime fiction.
Crime fiction and moral emotions: How context lures the moral attitudes of viewers and readers
Authors: Grodal Torben
Published: June 2012

The article first discusses how crime fiction centrally activates moral emotions related to feelings of social trust and social conflicts. The article uses psychological theory to analyse audio-visual fiction, and it takes an evolutionary stance in relation to morality; within film
studies, and especially within literary studies, the inspiration from evolutionary studies has been strong in the last decade. Humans are adapted to group living, and emotions linked to fairness have an innate basis. The article then shows how different crime stories activate different stages
in Kohlberg’s functional typology of moral systems and how different stages relate to different social systems. Further, a functional description of the various moral emotions is used to characterize crime fictions. The use of moral emotions in crime fiction is exemplified in Oplev’s
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009), angry vigilantism in Fincher’s Se7en (1995) and moral disgust, shame, embarrassment and guilt in the Showtime TV series Dexter (2006–).
Chinese court case fiction: A corrective for the history of crime fiction
Authors: Hansen Kim Toft
Published: June 2012

Western history of crime fiction usually designates Edgar Allan Poe as the undisputed father of the detective fiction genre. Crime fiction is, hence, generally associated with incipient modernity and modern societies and cityscapes. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle even asks: Where was the detective
story until Poe breathed the breath of life into it? The usual answer is that crime fiction, in fact, was invented by Poe, but another counterview is that China – at that point – had had a long narrative tradition for stories about crime and detection. The so-called gongan genre
– court case fiction – was probably established as early as the sixth century AD, whereas the first substantial evidence of the tradition is from thirteenth century and the first Chinese crime fiction novels were written during the seventeenth century. This article is, then, a
corrective for the international history of crime fiction based on numerous sinological sources introducing a revised introduction of crime fiction on the world’s literary scene. So to answer Doyle’s question about crime fiction before Poe: Crime fiction may have been in China.
Learning-by-Exporting, Introduction of New Products, and Product Rationalization: Evidence from Korean Manufacturing
Authors: Hahn Chin Hee
Published: June 2012

Utilizing a previously unexplored plant-product matched dataset in the Korean manufacturing sector, this paper examines the impact of exporting on firms’ productivity and the mechanism by which it operates. We find strong evidence for the learning-by-exporting hypothesis. We also find that exporting induces plants to introduce new products and rationalize their products beginning from one year prior to, and until two years after, export market entry. The synchronous responses of product churning and TFP suggest that new-product introduction and product rationalization are indeed one mechanism of the learning-by-exporting effect. Finally, we find that plants increase, rather than decrease, their product scope after exporting, in contrast with the prediction from the recent theories of multi-product firms.
Teaching medical professionals and trainees about adolescent suicide prevention: five key problems
Authors: Sher Leo
Published: June 2012

Predicting and preventing suicide represent very difficult challenges for clinicians. The awareness of adolescent suicide as a major social and medical problem has increased over the past years. However, many health care professionals who have frequent contact with adolescents are not sufficiently trained in suicide evaluation techniques and approaches to adolescents with suicidal behavior. Suicide prevention efforts among adolescents are restricted by the fact that there are five key problems related to the evaluation and management of suicidality in adolescents: 1. Many clinicians underestimate the importance of the problem of adolescent suicidal behavior and underestimate its prevalence. 2. There is a misconception that direct questioning of adolescents about suicidality is sufficient to evaluate suicide risk. 3. Another misconception is that adolescents with non-psychiatric illnesses do not need to be evaluated for suicidality. 4. Many clinicians do not know about or underestimate the role of contagion in adolescent suicidal behavior. 5. There is a mistaken belief that adolescent males are at lower suicide risk than adolescent females. Educating medical professionals and trainees about the warning signs and symptoms of adolescent suicide and providing them with tools to recognize, evaluate, and manage suicidal patients represent a promising approach to adolescent suicide prevention.
Prevalence of common mental disorders among Dutch medical students and related use and need of mental health care: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Gaspersz Roxanne , Frings-Dresen Monique H.W. , Sluiter Judith K.
Published: June 2012

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess common mental disorders and the related use and need for mental health care among clinically not yet active and clinically active medical students.

Methods: All medical students (n=2266) at one Dutch medical university were approached. Students from study years 1–4 were defined as clinically not yet active and students from study years 5 and 6 as clinically active. An electronic survey was used to detect common mental disorders depression (BSI-DEP), anxiety (BSI-ANG), stress (4DSQ) and post-traumatic stress disorder (IES). The use of mental health services in the past 3 months and the need for mental health services were asked for. The prevalence of common mental disorders, the use and need for mental health services and differences between groups were calculated.

Results: The response rate was 52%: 814 clinically not yet active and 316 clinically active students. The prevalence of common mental disorders among clinically not yet active and clinically active students was 54% and 48%, respectively. The use of mental health services was 14% in clinically not yet active and 12% in clinically active students with common mental disorders (n.s.). The need for mental health services by clinically not yet active and clinically active students was 52% and 46%, respectively (n.s.).

Conclusions: The prevalence of probable common mental disorders are higher among clinically not yet active than among clinically active students. The need of mental health services exceeds use, but is the same in the two groups of students.
Late diagnosis of Cushing’s disease in a child: what lessons can be learned?1)
Authors: Gust Deborah Anne , Gordon Thomas P.
Published: June 2012

We present a case of late diagnosis of an adolescent female with Cushing’s disease or excess glucocorticoid secretion due to the presence of an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secreting tumor on the pituitary. Her main complaints at first presentation in 2008 were short stature and weight gain. Although these are the main criteria for testing for Cushing’s syndrome outlined by the 2008 Endocrine Society guidelines, they were not enough to lead to a timely diagnosis. The reasons may include the endocrinologists believing that additional more common symptoms needed to be present to test for Cushing’s syndrome. Consequently, the guidelines were not followed leading to placing the child on growth hormone (GH) with no further evaluation until well after 1 year of minimal growth. While Cushing’s syndrome is rare in children and hard to diagnose, a more collaborative effort among pediatricians, endocrinologists, radiologists, surgeons, as well as parents, is required to diagnose and help cure children with this disease.
Effect of particle size on mechanical properties and tribological behaviour of aluminium/fly ash composites
Authors: Kumar Krishnan Ravi , Mohanasundaram Kothavady Mylsamy , Arumaikkannu Ganesan , Subramanian Ramanathan
Published: June 2012

In the present study, aluminium alloy (A380) composites containing 3, 6, 9 and 12 weight percentage of fly ash particles were fabricated by liquid metallurgy technique. Three different size ranges of fly ash particles (50–75 μm, 75–103 μm and 103–150 μm) were used. The composites were evaluated for hardness, tensile strength, density, dry sliding wear and frictional behaviour. Pin-on disc apparatus was used to conduct wear tests at loads of 20, 30 and 40 N at a sliding speed of 3 m/s for a constant period of 10 min. Results showed that hardness, ultimate tensile strength, wear resistance and coefficient of friction were superior in composites reinforced with coarse fly ash particles (103–150 μm) compared to composites with fine particles. The hardness, ultimate tensile strength and wear resistance increased, whereas the coefficient of friction and density decreased with the increase in weight percentage of fly ash. Wear resistance and coefficient of friction decreased with increase in applied load. Scanning electron microscope investigations of worn-out samples were carried out to study the progress of wear.
Schönheit zwischen Segen und Errettung
Authors: Loader James Alfred
Published: June 2012

This article questions the claim that beauty in the Old Testament has nothing to do with salvation, but exclusively belongs in the realm of the reputedly unrelated idea of »blessing«. The argument is unfolded in three steps: First, it is shown that the logical components of the concepts salvation and blessing are very alike, and from a number of texts this can also be shown to match contemporary literary consciousness. This is taken a step further by the demonstration that the motifs of blessing and salvation are intertwined in the narratives of Genesis, the liberation from Egypt, the »occupation« of Canaan and the Book of Judges, to such an extent that it is not only impossible to separate them, but also justifiable to test the claim that the motif of beauty has nothing to do with salvation. The third step consists of identifying seven Old Testament complexes where both dominant and recessive occurrences of the motif recognize a saving role for beauty. The conclusion is that this is easily overlooked when the concept is not adequately appreciated as a literary motif in terms of the redactional intention.

Cette étude met en question l’affirmation que, dans l’Ancien Testament, la beauté n’aurait pas de lien avec le salut, mais qu’elle serait exclusivement à relier à la thématique indépendante de la »bénédiction«. L’argumentation se déroule en trois étapes: i) les composants logiques du salut et de la bénédiction sont très proches, ce qui est établi par une série de textes; ii) dans la Genèse, dans l’exode et la »conquête du pays«, ainsi que dans les récits des Juges, ces deux motifs sont si imbriqués qu’il n’est plus possible de les distinguer; iii) sept ensembles vétéro-testamentaires sont avancés qui montrent un rôle salvateur du motif de la beauté.

Der Artikel hinterfragt die Behauptung, dass Schönheit im Alten Testament nichts mit Errettung zu tun habe und ausschließlich im Bereich der damit angeblich nicht verwandten Idee des »Segens« zuhause sei. Das Argument wird in drei Schritten entfaltet: Zunächst, dass die logischen Komponenten von Errettung und Segen sehr ähnlich sind, was aufgrund einiger Texte auch als damaligem literarischem Bewusstsein entsprechend nachgewiesen werden kann. Das wird um einen Schritt weiter geführt, indem argumentiert wird, dass die Motive des Segens und der Errettung in den Erzählungen der Genesis, von der Befreiung aus Ägypten und der »Landnahme«, sowie in den Richtererzählungen so verflochten sind, dass es nicht nur unmöglich ist, sie zu trennen, sondern auch eine Hinterfragung der Behauptung, das Motiv der Schönheit habe mit Errettung nichts zu tun, rechtfertigt. Der dritte Schritt trägt sieben alttestamentliche Komplexe zusammen, in denen sowohl dominante als auch rezessive Belege des Motivs der Schönheit eine rettende Rolle zuerkennen. Dies wird leicht übersehen, wenn der Begriff nicht genügend als ein redaktionell intendiertes Motiv berücksichtigt wird.
Josuazeit und Richterzeit
Authors: Neef Heinz-Dieter
Published: June 2012

The article seeks to prove that Jdc 2,6–10 forms a unity because of its clear composition and structure. The proximity of its language and content to texts of Deuteronomy (v. 7f) and the Deuteronomistic History (v. 6) supports the literary attribution of vv. 6–10 to the Deuteronomist. The comparison with Jos 24,28–31 shows that Jdc 2,6–10 presupposes Jos 24,28–31. The resumption of Jos 24,28–31 can be explained by Jdc 1,1–36; 2,1–5. This why Jos 24,28–31 was taken up and the contradiction in regard to Joshua’s death was accepted. The time of Joshua as the time of ideal communion with God is contrasted to the time of the Judges as the time when God was forgotten.

L’étude voudrait prouver que Jdc 2,6–10 forme une unité à cause de sa composition et de sa structure évidentes. La proximité linguistique et de contenu par rapport au Deutéronome (vv. 7s.) et à l’oeuvre historique deuteronomiste (v. 6) plaident en faveur d’une attribution des vv. 6–10 au Deutéronomiste. La comparaison avec Jos 24,28–31 montre que Jdc 2,6–10 présuppose Jos 24,28–31. La reprise et le développement de Jos 24,28–31 s’expliquent par Jdc 1,1–36; 2,1–5. Pour cette raison, Jos 24,28–31 a été révisé et la contradiction concernant la mort de Josué a été approuvée. Le temps de Josué est présenté comme le temps de la communauté idéale avec Dieu, par opposition avec le temps de l’oubli de Dieu.

Die Studie möchte nachweisen, dass aufgrund des klaren Aufbaus und der Struktur Jdc 2,6–10 eine Einheit bilden. Die sprachliche und inhaltliche Nähe zu Texten aus dem Deuteronomium (V. 7f.) und dem deuteronomistischen Geschichtswerk (V. 6) sprechen für die literarische Zuordnung von V. 6–10 zum Deuteronomisten. Der Vergleich mit Jos 24,28–31 zeigt, dass Jdc 2,6–10 den Abschnitt Jos 24,28–31 voraussetzt. Die Wiederaufnahme und Weiterführung von Jos 24,28–31 ist mit Jdc 1,1–36 und 2,1–5 zu erklären. Deshalb wurde Jos 24,28–31 aufgenommen und der Widerspruch bezüglich des Todes Josuas in Kauf genommen. Die Josuazeit wird als Zeit der idealen Gottesgemeinschaft derjenigen der Richterzeit als Zeit der Gottvergessenheit gegenübergestellt.
Farming the Monsoon: A Return to Traditional Tohono O'odham Foods
Authors: cintio marcello di
Published: June 2012

The Tohono O'odham Indians of southern Arizona used to wrestle enough food from the Sonora Desert to sustain themselves. In the last fifty years, however, there has been a near total abandonment of indigenous farming on the O'odham nation. As a result, diabetes rates have skyrocketed on the reservation and contemporary O'odam have lost touch with their culinary traditions. However, a new initiative by a group called Tohono O'odham Community Action, or TOCA, is now working to revitalize the O'odham agricultural systems and reintroduce traditional food into the community. The article introduces Noland Johnson, an O'odham farmer who tends the bean fields of Papago Farms, and Ivalee Pablo, chef at Desert Rain Café, who serves O'odham ingredients to today's diners. The article also describes a unique cookbook published by TOCA, titled From I'itoi's Garden: Tohono O'odham Food Traditions that includes recipes, ancient farming techniques, traditional O'odham songs, and stories related to food.
Charles Darwin, the Gourmet Traveler
Authors: noyce diana
Published: June 2012

In 2009 the world celebrated the 150th anniversary of the publication of Charles Darwin's seminal work, the Origin of Species. While much was made of his evolutionary thinking, there was more to Darwin than merely challenging the way the Western World thought about the natural world. Gregarious by nature, Darwin also enjoyed the pleasures of the table. From his Glutton Club days at Cambridge University and throughout the voyage of the Beagle, Darwin not only collected specimens to develop his understanding of the natural world but he also ate them. He was never more satisfied than digesting species unknown to the human palate, at least the English palate. Darwin relished the culinary delights that different lands offered and approached the discovery of a new dish, and of the way it was cooked, with the same sense of curiosity and adventure he brought to collecting specimens.
Of Raspberries and Religion
Authors: swetnam susan h.
Published: June 2012

At the Monastery of St. Gertrude in Cottonwood, Idaho, evolving foodways have enabled Benedictine nuns to adapt to their evolving role as religious women over the past century. Early spare, simple foods reflected strict monastic practices inherited from the nuns’ enclosed European order, but physical labor and bishops’ insistence on outside service soon necessitated a more rich and balanced diet. After Vatican II, new mealtime practices that allowed sisters to converse during meals and choose dining companions (versus sitting in rank order in silence) helped them adjust to a new ethos of cooperative community. As the convent added a retreat ministry and mature professional women joined, mealtime options proliferated and old foodways were challenged. A contemporary emphasis on social justice and land stewardship is reflected in commitment to organic gardening and to purchasing food local, seasonal, fair-trade food. Cultivating the convent's extensive raspberry garden, in particular, invites these modern nuns to simultaneously affirm their continuing commitment to core Benedictine values and to the spirit of their patron, St. Gertrude of Helfta, and also to contemporary priorities.
Semantic Memory for Music in Dementia
Authors: Omar Rohani , Hailstone Julia C. , Warren Jason D.
Published: June 2012

there is currently limited information about the effects of dementia diseases on semantic memory for music: memory for musical objects and concepts. Here we review available evidence and emerging research directions in semantic memory for music in the degenerative dementias. Neurodegenerative pathologies affect distributed brain networks and can therefore provide a perspective on musical semantic memory that complements the traditional neuropsychological paradigm of the focal brain lesion. Recent work suggests that semantic memory for music may be fractionated and may share certain cognitive organizational principles with semantic memory for other kinds of material. Profiles of impairment on different dimensions of musical semantic memory may show some specificity for particular dementia diseases (for example, semantic dementia versus Alzheimer's disease).
XIAP: a potential determinant of ovarian follicular fate
Authors: Phillipps Hollian R , Hurst Peter R
Published: June 2012

X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein family, is involved in regulating a number of functions including receptor-mediated intracellular signalling and early development. Its role as an endogenous caspase inhibitor, however, is the most highly characterised. Consequently, this protein has been implicated as an anti-apoptotic factor in the ovary.In vitroandin vivostudies have begun dissecting the stimuli and signalling networks that lead to XIAP upregulation in granulosa cells. The objective of this review is to briefly summarise the current knowledge concerning XIAP and its interactions with different caspases. Furthermore, XIAP's emerging role in the mammalian ovary will be explored and comparison is made with its functions in the mammary gland. Finally, the idea that XIAP may act as a molecular signalling switch in granulosa cells following detachment from underlying layers to promote follicular atresia will be introduced.
Cement-based bearing pads for precast concrete connections
Authors: Siqueira Gustavo Henrique , Debs Mounir Khalil El
Published: June 2012

This paper reports some new results for cement-based bearing pads for precast concrete connections. The pads were composed of Portland cement mortar, incorporating heat-expanded vermiculite, latex and short fibres. These ingredients were used to obtain a cement-based material of greater deformability and higher toughness in comparison with ordinary cement mortar, to transfer compressive stresses in an appropriate manner. The paper presents a means of obtaining the range of material admixtures based on the mechanical characteristics of the material and the concentrated load tests on bearing pad strips. Uniform compression load tests on bearing pads, with monotonic and cyclic load, and uniform compression load tests on two concrete blocks connected by bearing pads were performed. Based on the experimental results, the main conclusions are: (a) the vermiculite amount should be around 10%; (b) after 1200 cycles, bearing pads do not exhibit appreciable plastic deformation or rigidity deterioration, showing resilient capacity for cyclic loads; (c) from the test of bearing pads in precast connection, it can be concluded that the proposed cement-based bearing pads can improve the connection strength by 20 to 35%, with respect to a connection without bearing pads.
Comparison of four models to rank failure likelihood of individual pipes
Authors: Kleiner Yehuda , Rajani Balvant
Published: June 2012

The use of statistical methods to discern patterns of historical breakage rates and use them to predict water main breaks has been widely documented. Particularly challenging is the prediction of breaks in individual pipes, due to the natural variations that exist in all the factors that affect their deterioration and subsequent failure. This paper describes alternative models developed into operational tools that can assist network owners and planners to identify individual mains for renewal in their water distribution networks. Four models were developed and compared: a heuristic model, a naïve Bayesian classification model, a model based on logistic regression and finally a probabilistic model based on the non-homogeneous Poisson process (NHPP). These models rank individual water mains in terms of their anticipated breakage frequency, while considering both static (e.g. pipe material, diameter, vintage, surrounding soil, etc.) and dynamic (e.g. climate, operations, cathodic protection, etc.) effects influencing pipe deterioration rates.
Comparison of multivariate adaptive regression splines with coupled wavelet transform artificial neural networks for runoff forecasting in Himalayan micro-watersheds with limited data
Authors: Adamowski Jan , Chan Hiu Fung , Prasher Shiv O. , Sharda Vishwa Nath
Published: June 2012

Himalayan watersheds are characterized by mountainous topography and a lack of available data. Due to the complexity of rainfall–runoff relationships in mountainous watersheds and the lack of hydrological data in many of these watersheds, process-based models have limited applicability for runoff forecasting in these areas. In light of this, accurate forecasting methods that do not necessitate extensive data sets are required for runoff forecasting in mountainous watersheds. In this study, multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), wavelet transform artificial neural network (WA-ANN), and regular artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed and compared for runoff forecasting applications in the mountainous watershed of Sainji in the Himalayas, an area with limited data for runoff forecasting. To develop and test the models, three micro-watersheds were gauged in the Sainji watershed in Uttaranchal State in India and data were recorded from July 1 2001 to June 30 2003. It was determined that the best WA-ANN and MARS models were comparable in terms of forecasting accuracy, with both providing very accurate runoff forecasts compared to the best ANN model. The results indicate that the WA-ANN and MARS methods are promising new methods of short-term runoff forecasting in mountainous watersheds with limited data, and warrant additional study.
Hydraulic performance analysis of sewer systems with uncertain parameters
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Mahmood , Ghasemi Ali
Published: June 2012

In this paper, a flexible fuzzy model is proposed for the hydraulic performance analysis of separate domestic sewer systems. In the proposed model, all modeling outputs such as discharge, velocity and depth are developed as fuzzy numbers by taking into account all the available information and expert knowledge about the basic design/analysis parameters. The fuzzy outputs are then combined with performance assessment curves to calculate the hydraulic performance values. The proposed model was applied to a part of the sewer system of a city in Iran, and performance graphs were plotted. Such graphs can be used by design engineers and operation managers to improve the design quality, reliability and the performance of a system with uncertain parameters. The analysis results can also be used in decision-making and identifying priorities to develop rehabilitation strategies.
An evaluation of nonlinear methods for estimating catchment-scale soil moisture patterns based on topographic attributes
Authors: Coleman Michael L. , Niemann Jeffrey D.
Published: June 2012

Physical processes that impact soil moisture are typically expressed as nonlinear functions, but most previous research on the estimation of soil moisture has relied on linear techniques. In the present work, two machine learning techniques, a spatial artificial neural network (SANN) and a mixture model (MM), that can infer nonlinear relationships are compared to multiple linear regression (MLR) for estimating soil moisture patterns using topographic attributes as predictor variables. The methods are applied to time-domain reflectometry (TDR) soil moisture data collected at three catchments with varying characteristics (Tarrawarra, Satellite Station and Cache la Poudre) under different wetness conditions. The methods' performances with respect to the number of predictor attributes, the quantity of training data and the attributes employed are compared using the Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient of efficiency (NSCE) as the performance measure. The performances of the methods are dependent on the site studied, the average soil moisture and the quantity of training data provided. Although the methods often perform similarly, the best performing method overall is the SANN, which incorporates additional predictor variables more effectively than the other methods.
Clinical and Non-Clinical Aspects of Distal Radioulnar Joint Instability
Authors: Wijffels MME , Brink PRG , Schipper IB
Published: June 2012

Untreated distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) injuries can give rise to long lasting complaints. Although common, diagnosis and treatment of DRUJ injuries remains a challenge. The articulating anatomy of the distal radius and ulna, among others, enables an extensive range of forearm pronosupination movements. Stabilization of this joint is provided by both intrinsic and extrinsic stabilizers and the joint capsule. These structures transmit the load and prevent the DRUJ from luxation during movement. Several clinical tests have been suggested to determine static or dynamic DRUJ stability, but their predictive value is unclear. Radiologic evaluation of DRUJ instability begins with conventional radiographs in anterioposterior and true lateral view. If not conclusive, CT-scan seems to be the best additional modality to evaluate the osseous structures. MRI has proven to be more sensitive and specific for TFCC tears, potentially causing DRUJ instability. DRUJ instability may remain asymptomatic. Symptomatic DRUJ injuries treatment can be conservative or operative. Operative treatment should consist of restoration of osseous and ligamenteous anatomy. If not successful, salvage procedures can be performed to regain stability.
Electrocoagulation Studies on the Removal of Copper from Water Using Mild Steel Electrode
Authors: Vasudevan Subramanyan , Lakshmi Jothinathan , Sozhan Ganapathy
Published: June 2012

This study provides an electrocoagulation process for the removal of copper from water using mild steel and stainless steel as anode and cathode, respectively. The effect of different operating parameters and coexisting ions on the removal efficiency of copper was investigated. The results showed that the optimum removal efficiency of 97.8% was achieved at a current density of 0.02 A/dm2 and a pH of 7.0. The adsorption of copper, preferably fitting the Langmuir adsorption isotherm, suggests monolayer coverage of adsorbed molecules. First‐ and second‐order rate equations and Elovich and intraparticle diffusion models were applied to study adsorption kinetics. The adsorption process follows the second‐order kinetics model with good correlation. Temperature studies showed that adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous in nature.
Quenched/unquenched nano bioactive glass-ceramics: Synthesis and in vitro bioactivity evaluation in Ringer’s solution with BSA
Authors: Nabian Nima , Delavar Maedeh , Rabiee Mahmood , Jahanshahi Mohsen
Published: June 2012

The paper reports the first attempt at changing cooling treatment of
synthesizing method in order to investigate its effect on the physical
properties of sol-gel derived nano bioactive glass-ceramic in the system
58SiO2-33CaO-9P2O5 (wt.%). We hypothesized that the method of cooling may
affect the properties of nano bioactive glass-ceramic. To test this
hypothesis, two different method of cooling treatment was applied after
calcinations in synthesizing method. Both quenched and unquenched nano
bioactive glass-ceramics were soaked in Ringer?s solution with bovine serum
albumin (BSA) for bioactivity evaluation. The obtained samples were analyzed
for their composition, crystalinity and morphology through X-ray powder
diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), surface
electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The SEM
images showed that the morphology of nano bioactive glass-ceramics was
completely changed by quenching process. Results of in vitro bioactivity
evaluation revealed that the unquenched attains faster apatite formation
ability than the quenched sample. Other properties of these two
morphologically different nano bioactive glass-ceramics were strongly
discussed.
An Analysis of Multiple Consecutive Years of Material Weaknesses in Internal Control
Authors: Gordon Lawrence A. , Wilford Amanda L.
Published: June 2012

The primary objective of the current study is to empirically reexamine the relation between material weaknesses in internal control (MW) and cost of equity (CE). We direct particular emphasis to the way non-remediation, as well as remediation, of MW affects a firm's CE. This study utilizes a dataset that contains a large sample of second-year MW non-remediation cases, as well as third-, fourth-, and fifth-year non-remediation cases. The findings provide evidence that reporting MW, absent any remediation, in multiple consecutive years has a significant negative impact on CE. However, the current study also shows that the market views favorably a reduction in the number of MW (i.e., partial remediation). Our study helps to reconcile conflicting results in the literature devoted to the relation between MW and CE.

JEL Classifications: M41; M42.

Data Availability: Available from sources identified within the article.
Emulsion chamber observations of Centauros, aligned events and the long-flying component
Authors: Kempa Janusz , Pattison Bryan , Gładysz-Dziaduś Ewa , Jones Lawrence , Mukhamedshin Rauf , Tamada Masanobu , Włodarczyk Zbigniew
Published: June 2012

The cosmic ray emulsion chamber community has reported several unusual phenomena which are also relevant to experiments at the current high-energy accelerators, in particular the Fermilab Tevatron Collider and the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC). A summary of the ”Cosmic Rays at Mountain Altitude” workshop held at Plock (Poland, September 2010) is given.
Changes in lipid composition of apple surface layer during long-term storage in controlled atmosphere
Authors: Duroňová Kateřina , Márová Ivana , Čertík Milan , Obruča Stanislav
Published: June 2012

Apples are the most frequently consumed fruit and about 90 % of apple production is stored. Fatty acids and lipids are important constituents of plant cells. Disturbances in the lipid composition of fruit may lead to various stress processes, resulting in some storage disorders. This work is focused on an analysis of surface lipids of different varieties of apples stored in a normal atmosphere and a modified atmosphere with ultra-low oxygen content, for 4 months and 6 months. The major fatty acids in apple surface layers are palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, and oleic acid. During the 6-months storage period, a variety-specific decrease in the total fatty acids content and an increase in saturation degree was observed in all the varieties tested, when compared with the 4-months storage. The greatest differences in saturation degree were observed in the Golden Delicious variety, in which the highest content of unsaturated fatty acids was also found. Microbial contamination of apple surfaces increased gradually over the storage process. Higher fungi levels were found in apples stored in the regular atmosphere than in the modified atmosphere, which can be attributed to changes observed in the total lipid content and saturation degree of the surface fatty acids and also to the sensitivity of microorganisms to the oxygen content in the storage room.
Corrosion of titanium diboride in molten FLiNaK(eut)
Authors: Pavlík Viliam , Boča Miroslav
Published: June 2012

Pure and enriched titanium dibromide (TiB2) samples (prepared by hot isostatic pressing) with different mole ratios of Ni and Ta were investigated in contact with molten eutectic salt (FLiNaK(eut); LiF/NaF/KF 42.5 mole %: 11.5 mole %: 42.0 mole %) at 600°C. Corrosion resistance of the materials was studied, the mass losses and depths of corrosion were calculated, and sample surfaces were investigated by scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Nickel addition decreased the corrosion resistance of TiB2. Simultaneous additions of both elements, Ni and Ta, as well as the addition of Ta only showed reducing effect on grain formation and they increased the corrosion resistance which is highest in the last case.
Bond-graph description and simulation of membrane processes: Permeation in a compartmental membrane system
Authors: Szczepański Piotr , Szczepańska Grażyna , Wódzki Romuald
Published: June 2012

Network and numerical analysis of permeation through a membrane under non-stationary, stationary, and pseudo-stationary conditions is described. A compartmentalized membrane system (feed solution|membrane|stripping solution) was represented by a linear network of capacitances, diffusion, and sorption/desorption graphs. Reticulation degree of diffusion layers sufficient for quantitative modeling of the diffusion through a homogeneous membrane was estimated. It was found that for membranes of the thickness from 0.001 cm to 0.1 cm and the diffusion coefficients from 1 × 10−7 cm2 s−1 to 1 × 10−5 cm2 s−1, the membrane (or other diffusion layer) partition into ten slices leads to simulated time lags and stationary fluxes differing from the theoretical ones by less than 0.5 % and 1 %, respectively. Extended model with two unstirred interfacial layers and the feed and stripping solution of finite volumes was applied to characterize the effects caused by possible membrane heterogeneity.
A power efficient bandwidth regulation technique for a low-noise high-gain RF wideband amplifier
Authors: Roy Apratim , Rashid S.
Published: June 2012

In this paper, a single-stage deep sub-micron wideband amplifier (LNA) using a reactive resonance tank and passive port-matching techniques is demonstrated operating in the microwave frequency range (K band). A novel power-efficient bandwidth (BW) regulation technique is proposed by incorporating a small impedance in the resonance tank of the amplifier configuration. It manifests a forward gain in the range of 5.9–10.7 dB covering a message bandwidth of 10.6–6.3 GHz. With regulation, input-output reflection parameters (S
11, S
22) and noise figure can be manipulated by −12.7 dB, −22.7 dB and 0.36 dB, respectively. Symmetric regulation is achieved for bandwidth and small signal gain with respect to moderate tank impedance (36.5% and −26.8%, respectively) but the effect on noise contribution remains relatively low (increase of 7% from a base value of 2.39 dB). The regulated architecture, when analyzed with 90 nm silicon CMOS process, supports low power (9.1 mW) on-chip communication. The circuit is tested with a number of combinations for tank (drain) impedance to verify the efficiency of the proposed technique and achieves better figures of merit when compared with published literature.
Relationship Between Intensity of Quadriceps Muscle Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation and Strength Recovery After Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Stevens-Lapsley Jennifer E. , Balter Jaclyn E. , Wolfe Pamela , Eckhoff Donald G. , Schwartz Robert S. , Schenkman Margaret , Kohrt Wendy M.
Published: June 2012

Background

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) can facilitate the recovery of quadriceps muscle strength after total knee arthroplasty (TKA), yet the optimal intensity (dosage) of NMES and its effect on strength after TKA have yet to be determined.

Objective

The primary objective of this study was to determine whether the intensity of NMES application was related to the recovery of quadriceps muscle strength early after TKA. A secondary objective was to quantify quadriceps muscle fatigue and activation immediately after NMES to guide decisions about the timing of NMES during rehabilitation sessions.

Design

This study was an observational experimental investigation.

Methods

Data were collected from 30 people who were 50 to 85 years of age and who received NMES after TKA. These people participated in a randomized controlled trial in which they received either standard rehabilitation or standard rehabilitation plus NMES to the quadriceps muscle to mitigate strength loss. For the NMES intervention group, NMES was applied 2 times per day at the maximal tolerable intensity for 15 contractions beginning 48 hours after surgery over the first 6 weeks after TKA. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation training intensity and quadriceps muscle strength and activation were assessed before surgery and 3.5 and 6.5 weeks after TKA.

Results

At 3.5 weeks, there was a significant association between NMES training intensity and a change in quadriceps muscle strength (R2=.68) and activation (R2=.22). At 6.5 weeks, NMES training intensity was related to a change in strength (R2=.25) but not to a change in activation (R2=.00). Furthermore, quadriceps muscle fatigue occurred during NMES sessions at 3.5 and 6.5 weeks, whereas quadriceps muscle activation did not change.

Limitations

Some participants reached the maximal stimulator output during at least 1 treatment session and might have tolerated more stimulation.

Conclusions

Higher NMES training intensities were associated with greater quadriceps muscle strength and activation after TKA.
Four Windows on Modern Science in Flavor and Fragrance Chemistry at Firmenich
Authors: Starkenmann Christian , Wünsche Laurent
Published: June 2012

Four young scientists, recently hired by Firmenich, presented lectures at the University of Geneva. The objective was to stimulate young students to choose sciences. The challenges in the discovery, synthesis, or extraction of new molecules were presented, as well as the structure–activity
relationships of human odorant receptors.
Thin-layer Chromatography–Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy – A Versatile Tool for Pharmaceutical and Natural Products Analysis
Authors: Gössi Angelo , Scherer Uta , Schlotterbeck Götz
Published: June 2012

Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) is a mature and very established technique, frequently used in many fields of applications ranging from natural product analysis to chemical or pharmaceutical applications. The introduction of a commercially available TLC–MS interface was a major
step complementing the ease of use of TLC with structural elucidation power of mass spectrometry (MS). The TLC-MS interface simplifies the workflow dramatically to gain structural information directly from TLC separations. This article describes the potential of TLC-nuclear magnetic resonance
spectroscopy (NMR) utilizing the TLC-MS interface to straightforwardly characterize zones of interest by NMR spectroscopy with a focus on quantification of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in formulations and identification of active principles in plant extracts.