bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reviews: Why Ellen Rosskam's Holistic Approach is Necessary: Excess Baggage: Leveling the Load and Changing the Workplace, Joining Sustainable Design and Substainable Livelihood: Beyond Child's Play, Sustainable Product Design in the Global Doll-Making Industry, Emerging Theories: Healthy Aging: Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging with a Closer Look at Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases
Authors: Yim Jun , Walker Cathy , Roberts Teresa
Published: July 2010

Environmental Threats to Healthy Aging, with a Closer Look at Alzheimer's & Parkinson's Diseases, a report published by Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility and the Science and Environmental Health Network (2008), explains emerging theories about contributors to and prevention of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Replete with graphics, maps, and diagrams, the report links a surprising number and variety of toxic exposures early in life to these neurodegenerative diseases diagnosed later in life. It also describes their relationships in what is described as the “Western disease cluster.” Evidence that good nutrition, physical activity, comfortable socio-economic status, and social and intellectual engagement throughout life are associated with a sturdier cognitive status late in life is presented.
Communicating the Risk of Scientific Research
Authors: Giles Timothy D.
Published: July 2010

Risk communication has been explored in technical communication for over 15 years, but it has been largely confined to communicating the risk of industrial activity, medical risks, or environmental threats to the public. Using the framework previous risk communication has provided, this article applies those ideas to research science, specifically to stem cell research, where government opposition until recently has limited this research, preventing it from potentially providing organs for those who need a replacement or more effective treatments for other diseases such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease. Risk communication in the United States and Europe is contrasted to delineate the greater effort being made in Europe to construct stem cell research socially for the researcher and the public.
The Banality of Rhetoric? (Part 2): Alternate Views of Technical Communication and the Holocaust
Authors: Ward Mark
Published: July 2010

Steven Katz's “The Ethic of Expediency” has become a reference point for discussions of ethics since its 1992 publication. Previously, this author assessed Katz's rhetorical analysis of Nazi technical communication against current research on the Holocaust and noted that scholarship suggests ideology rather than technological expediency as its motivating force. Yet implicit in the author's critique are two remaining questions, namely: What other rhetorical interpretations may be possible of the SS technical memo analyzed by Katz? And is Katz, who makes broad generalizations about Western rhetoric based on a single document, supported by examples of other Nazi technical communications? This article explores alternate interpretations of the SS memo suggested by the arguments of Rivers and Moore; presents the author's view that the Katz thesis decontextualizes the memo and that historical context argues for a primarily ideological ethos; and reviews sources for English translations of other Nazi documents.
An Application of Robert Gagné's Nine Events of Instruction to the Teaching of Website Localization
Authors: Zhu Pinfan , St. Amant Kirk
Published: July 2010

Website localization is an important part of international technical communication. However, at present, few technical communication programs offer courses in localization. This article provides an overview of a course devised to familiarize students with ideas and approaches related to website localization. The course was based upon Robert Gagné's nine events of instruction—an approach that allowed students to move from the learning of abstract ideas to the application of knowledge to the website localization process.
The Coaching and Mentoring Process: The Obvious Knowledge and Skill Set for Organizational Communication Professors
Authors: Stowers Robert H. , Barker Randolph T.
Published: July 2010

This article explores the uses of coaching and mentoring as they apply to organizational communication professors. The authors contend that these professors already are proficient at coaching and mentoring and the coaching and mentoring processes are routinely undertaken as part of their standard university teaching responsibilities. As coaches, these faculty members assist their students in improving student communication abilities through observation, discussion, and follow-up. As mentors, these faculty members enter into a developmental relationship with students that extend beyond the classroom. A greater knowledge of coaching and mentoring will enhance instructional efforts and benefit students in multiple ways.
Gas-Newtonian and Gas-Non-Newtonian Slug Flow in Vertical Pipe, Part I: Gas Holdup Characteristics
Authors: Majumder Subrata Kumar , Ghosh Sandip , Mitra Arun Kumar , Kundu Gautam
Published: July 2010

Studies on two-phase gas-liquid co-current flow with non-Newtonian liquid system has attracted the attention of researchers over the years due to its wide-spread applications and importance in various different processes in chemical and biochemical industries, such as the process of two-phase in oil and gas wells, transportation systems of crude and refined products, and food processing in biochemical engineering and bio-reactors. This article examines the sole objective of experimental studies on gas holdup in Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid slug flow within a range of gas and liquid flowrate of 0.5×10-4 to 1.92×10-4 m3/s and 1.6×10-4 to 6.7×10-4 m3/s, respectively. The present data was analyzed with different models. To predict gas holdup, correlations have been developed for individual system with Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid. A general correlation was also developed to predict the gas holdup combing both the Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid systems. The study of the gas holdup characteristics in gas-Newtonian and non-Newtonian liquid systems may give insight into a further understanding and modeling of this slug flow characteristics in industrial applications.
Reforming Perspectives: MSN Graduates' Knowledge, Attitudes and Awareness of Self-Transformation
Authors: Faulk Debbie R , Parker Francine M , Morris Arlene H
Published: July 2010

Socialization includes internalization of attitudes and values critical to the development of a professional identity. Resocialization relates to the returning registered nurse student's development of professional values and roles. Nurse educators challenge is to consider socialization/resocialization as a formation/re-formation process. The purpose of this article is to report findings from a replication qualitative descriptive study that examined the process of change in knowledge and attitudes of recent MSN graduates using Mezirows (1994)Transformative Learning Theory. Findings substantiated the changes in attitudes, knowledge and skills of MSN graduates identified by Cragg and Andrusyszyn (2005). Results further inform nurse educators of the process of transformation in MSN graduates according to Mezirows Phases of Perspective Transformation.
Benefit-Cost Analysis: Distributional Considerations under Producer Quota Buyouts
Authors: Schmitz Andrew , Schmitz Troy G.
Published: July 2010

Benefit-cost (B/C) analysis must take into account the distributional effects from a policy or program change. To highlight this, we focus on the theory of production quota buyouts within a B/C framework. As an empirical application, we provide evidence on the distributional effects of the U.S. government buyout of the peanut program in 2002, where production quotas were key ingredients. Two approaches to producer compensation under the buyout are discussed: (1) value of quota approach and (2) gains from quota approach. In the peanut quota program buyout, the U.S. government chose the value of quota approach. Both consumers and producers were made better off as a result of the buyout, and there was a net gain in efficiency. If the government had chosen the gains from quota approach instead, government expenditures and producer gains would have been lower, and consumer benefits would have remained unchanged. Under either approach, the B/C ratios calculated for the government quota buyout are almost identical.
Asymptotic Tail Probability of Randomly Weighted Sum of Dependent Heavy-Tailed Random Variables
Authors: Chen Yu , Zhang Weiping , Liu Jie
Published: July 2010

This paper investigates the asymptotic behavior of tail probability of a randomly weighted sum of real-valued heavy-tailed dependent random variables; the weights form another sequence random variable. Under some other mild conditions, the asymptotic relations obtained are further applied to derive asymptotic estimate for ruin probabilities in a discrete time risk model.
Survival Mixture Model for Credit Risk Analysis
Authors: Mo Leo S. F. , Yau Kelvin K. W.
Published: July 2010

The survival mixture model, which is an extension of the ordinary survival model that allows the existence of a fraction of the borrowers to be risk-free, is applied to credit risk analysis. In a regression setting, the effect of borrowers' characteristics on both the risk-free probability and default risk can be assessed simultaneously. Using the C statistic as a measure of accuracy, the survival mixture model shows improved power to discriminate between good' and bad' customers, when compared with other commonly used statistical models for credit risk analysis. A simulation study is conducted to assess the performance of the proposed numerical estimation method. The survival mixture model not only concentrates on the time-to-default of the borrowers, it also predicts the probability of being risk-free. It provides additional information about the borrowers' default risk in relation to their characteristics, which assists the lending institutions to better manage credit risk.
A Simple Metric for Gauging Risk Aversion
Authors: Eisenhauer Joseph G.
Published: July 2010

The underlying rationale for insurance purchases and other forms of risk management is aversion to risk, yet the measurement of risk aversion has been inappropriately focused on risks of little or no consequence. The present paper demonstrates that a quantitative measure of large-scale risk aversion can be constructed with elementary mathematics, facilitating the solution of numerical problems. We illustrate its use with hypothetical examples and empirical survey data.
Effectiveness of injection of local anesthetic into the retrobulbar space for postoperative analgesia following eye enucleation in dogs
Authors: Myrna Kathern E. , Bentley Ellison , Smith Lesley J.
Published: July 2010

Objective—To assess the efficacy of a retrobulbar bupivacaine nerve block for postoperative analgesia following eye enucleation in dogs.

Design—Randomized controlled trial.

Animals—22 dogs.

Procedures—Client-owned dogs admitted to the hospital for routine eye enucleation were enrolled with owner consent and randomly assigned to a treatment (bupivacaine hydrochloride) or control (saline [0.9% NaCl] solution) group. Baseline subjective pain scores were recorded. Anesthesia consisted of hydromorphone and midazolam preoperatively, thiopental or propofol for induction, and isoflurane in oxygen for maintenance. An inferior-temporal palpebral retrobulbar injection of either saline solution or bupivacaine was administered. Transpalpebral eye enucleation was performed. Pain scores were recorded at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 24 hours after extubation (time 0) by observers masked to treatment groups. Dogs were given hydromorphone (0.2 mg/kg [0.09 mg/lb], IM or IV) as a rescue analgesic if the subjective pain score totaled ≥ 9 (out of a maximum total score of 18) or ≥ 3 in any 1 category.

Results—9 of 11 control dogs required a rescue dose of hydromorphone, but only 2 of 11 dogs in the bupivacaine treatment group required rescue analgesia. Mean time to treatment failure (ie, administration of rescue analgesia following extubation) was 0.56 hours (95% confidence interval, 0.029 to 1.095 hours) for the 11 dogs that received hydromorphone.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Retrobulbar administration of bupivacaine in dogs in conjunction with traditional premedication prior to eye enucleation was an effective form of adjunctive analgesia and reduced the need for additional postoperative analgesics.
Evaluation of open versus closed urine collection systems and development of nosocomial bacteriuria in dogs
Authors: Sullivan Lauren A. , Campbell Vicki L. , Onuma Serene C.
Published: July 2010

Objective—To determine whether use of a closed urine collection system would decrease the incidence of nosocomial bacteriuria in hospitalized dogs, compared with use of an open urine collection system (used, sterile IV bags).

Design—Randomized controlled trial.

Animals—51 hospitalized dogs requiring indwelling urinary catheterization for ≥ 24 hours.

Procedures—Dogs were randomly assigned to an open or closed urine collection system group. A standardized protocol for catheter placement and maintenance was followed for all dogs. A baseline urine sample was collected via cystocentesis for aerobic bacterial culture, with additional urine samples obtained daily from the urine collection reservoir.

Results—27 dogs were assigned to the open urine collection system group, and 24 were assigned to the closed urine collection system group. The incidence of nosocomial bacteriuria in dogs with open urine collection systems (3/27 [11.1%]) was not significantly different from incidence in dogs with closed urine collection systems (2/24 [8.3%]). Median duration of catheterization was 2 days for dogs in both groups; the range was 1 to 7 days for dogs in the open group and 1 to 5 days for dogs in the closed group.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggested that for dogs requiring short-term indwelling urinary catheterization, the type of urine collection system (open vs closed) was not associated with likelihood of developing nosocomial bacteriuria. Use of a strict protocol for urinary catheter placement and maintenance was likely key in the low incidence of nosocomial bacteriuria in the present study.
Surgical extraction of an intraocular infection of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in a horse
Authors: Reinstein Shelby L. , Lucio-Forster Araceli , Bowman Dwight D. , Eberhard Mark L. , Hoberg Eric P. , Pot Simon A. , Miller Paul E.
Published: July 2010

Case Description—A 4-year-old Hanoverian gelding was evaluated because of a mobile worm-like structure in the right eye.

Clinical Findings—Ophthalmologic examination of the right eye revealed a white, thin, coiled, mobile parasite, which was presumed to be a nematode, located in the ventral portion of the anterior chamber of the eye; there also were vitreal strands located temporally and inferiorly near the margin of the pupil. Results of ophthalmologic examination of the left eye were unremarkable.

Treatment and Outcome—The horse was treated with a neomycin-polymyxin B-dexamethasone ophthalmic solution applied topically (1 drop, q 8 h) to the right eye and penicillin V potassium (22,000 U/kg [10,000 U/lb], IV, q 6 h). The horse was anesthetized. A stab incision was made in the cornea, and a viscoelastic agent was infused around the parasite. The parasite was extracted via the incision by use of an iris hook and tying forceps. The horse had an uncomplicated recovery from the procedure and retained vision in the right eye. Gross and microscopic examination was used to identify the parasite as an adult metastrongyloid nematode consistent with a fully developed male Parelaphostrongylus tenuis.

Clinical Relevance—To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of intraocular parelaphostrongylosis in a horse. This report provided evidence that vision could be retained after treatment for intraocular P tenuis infection in a horse.
Universal fractional Euler-Lagrange equation from a generalized fractional derivate operator
Authors: El-Nabulsi Rami
Published: July 2010

The purpose of this paper is to extend the fractional actionlike variational approach by introducing a generalized fractional derivative operator. The generalized fractional formalism introduced through this work includes some interesting features concerning the fractional Euler-Lagrange and Hamilton equations. Additional attractive features are explored in some details.
Isolation of 1,2-epoxybutane-3-ol and 2,3-epoxybutane-1-ol from post-reaction mixtures
Authors: Wróblewska Agnieszka , Wajzberg-Prokowska Joanna , Ławro Ewelina , Milchert Eugeniusz
Published: July 2010

Isolation of 1,2-epoxybutane-3-ol and 2,3-epoxybutane-1-ol from post-reaction mixtures

Attempts were made to isolate 1,2-epoxybutane-3-ol and 2,3-epoxybutane-1-ol from post-reaction mixtures left after the epoxidation of 1-butene-3-ol and 2-butene-1-ol with hydrogen peroxide by thin film distillation. From the raw mixture containing about 8.3 wt% of the epoxide at the first stage the concentration of epoxide is increased to 32 wt%. At the second stage of distillation the epoxide fraction is concentrated to about 76 wt%. After the third stage of thin film distillation the epoxide fraction of 99.6% purity can be obtained. The concentration of this fraction by azeotropic distillation with n-propanol as an azeotropic agent permits obtaining epoxide of 99.6 wt% purity.
Synthesis of inorganic oxide composites with the use of postgalvanic waste solutions of copper(II) sulfate
Authors: Modrzejewska-Sikorska Anna , Ciesielczyk Filip , Jesionowski Teofil
Published: July 2010

Synthesis of inorganic oxide composites with the use of postgalvanic waste solutions of copper(II) sulfate

The study was undertaken to obtain an oxide composite (inorganic colourful pigment) in the method based on the use of postgalvanic waste solution of copper(II) sulfate. The conditions of the process of precipitation of synthetic CuOSiO2 were optimised by checking the effect of the concentration and the volume ratio of the reagents and the temperature on the physico-chemical parameters of the final product. The oxide composite obtained in the optimum conditions was characterised by high refinement of particles and large specific surface area BET of 326 m2/g.
Epoxidation of crotyl alcohol in the presence of titanium silicalite Ti-MWW catalyst — the new and friendly method of 2,3-epoxybutane-1-ol synthesis
Authors: Wróblewska Agnieszka , Fajdek Anna , Milchert Eugeniusz
Published: July 2010

Epoxidation of crotyl alcohol in the presence of titanium silicalite Ti-MWW catalyst — the new and friendly method of 2,3-epoxybutane-1-ol synthesis

Epoxidation of crotyl alcohol (CA) with 30 wt% hydrogen peroxide over Ti-MWW catalyst has been studied with methanol as a solvent and at autogenic pressure. The influence of temperature in the range of 20-120°C, the molar ratio of CA/H2O2 1:1-5:1, methanol concentration 5-90 wt%, Ti-MWW catalyst concentration 0.0-5.0 wt% and the reaction time 5-300 min have been studied. The main product of CA epoxidation is 2,3-epoxybutane-1-ol (2,3EB1O), a compound with many applications.
Application of pyrolysis residue from waste materials in black coal flotation
Authors: Fečko Peter , Kašpárková Alena , Pertile Eva , Kříž Vlastimil , Tora Barbara , Jarosiński Andrzej , Janáková Iva
Published: July 2010

Application of pyrolysis residue from waste materials in black coal flotation

The paper deals with the verification of the floatability of pyrolytic oils, which were obtained through the pyrolysis of waste, namely mixed plastics, tyres and waste rubber in combination with black coal from Lazy Mine, and classical collector Montanol 551 in black coal flotation. Black coal from ČSA OKD, a.s. coal preparation plant was used for flotation tests. The results imply that it is possible to produce collectors from waste materials which may be applied in the flotation of black coal. Next, the paper focused on the identification of a suitable combination of pyrolytic oils and Montanol 551 in order to reach ash content in the concentrate below 10%.
Assessment of the loss of mass, organic substance and combustible elements in the waste biodegradation process
Authors: Generowicz Agnieszka , Olek Małgorzata
Published: July 2010

Assessment of the loss of mass, organic substance and combustible elements in the waste biodegradation process

The paper presents the results of an analysis of the changes of the mass and amounts of organic substances and combustible elements in a biodegradation process. The prepared sample of organic waste constituted the material used for the tests. The composting process was being carried out for 9 weeks in field conditions. The samples for analyses were collected every 7 days. The content of a biodegradable fraction was determined according to the procedure described in the standard of PN - EN 15169: 2007 "Characterization of waste-Determination of loss on ignition in waste, sludge and sediments". Reduction of the mass of the organic waste during the composting process amounted to 35%. A significant content of organic fraction (about 60-70% after 9 weeks) remains in the composted waste; and the content of combustible elements is reduced (by about 30%.)
Efficacy of Time-Area Method in simulating temporal variation of sediment yield in Chehelgazi watershed, Iran
Authors: Darvishan A. , Sadeghi S. , Gholami L.
Published: July 2010

Efficacy of Time-Area Method in simulating temporal variation of sediment yield in Chehelgazi watershed, Iran

The proper prediction of temporal and spatial variation of sediment yield from the watershed is a need for sediment control, river engineering and soil and water conservation studies. The present study was therefore planned to simulate the sediment graphs for Chehelgazi watershed in Gheshlagh dam upstream in Kurdistan Province, Iran, by using Time-Area Method. Towards this attempt, the study watershed was divided into 7 time-area segments based on the time of concentration. The soil erosion in each segment was estimated using the USLE and then routed to the main outlet using sediment delivery ratio as a function of land slope in two adjacent time-areas. The temporal variation of sediment was ultimately predicted with the help of lag time of sediment arrival to the outlet and the concept of superposition for 11 storm events, which occurred during winter 2006 and spring 2007. The comparison between estimated sediment graphs with corresponding observed ones verified the weak capability of the model in simulation of sediment graphs under consideration. The results also verified the calibration necessity of the model to achieve appropriate estimation for important components of the sediment graphs. The results of the calibration finally proved the considerable capability of the model in predicting of total volume of sediment yield with respective estimation and verification errors of 30.93 and 33.40%.
Suspended sediment concentration and yield in snowmelt flood events in a small lowland river
Authors: Hejduk Agnieszka , Banasik Kazimierz
Published: July 2010

Suspended sediment concentration and yield in snowmelt flood events in a small lowland river

Results of investigation on suspended sediment delivery from small lowland, agriculturally used catchment of Zagożdżonka River, located in central Poland, during snowmelt periods of 2001-2007 are presented. The study catchment's area, upstream of the well equipped gauging station at Czarna, is 23.4 km2. Suspended sediment concentration and sediment yield has been calculated and analysed for 15 snowmelt flood events. The relationship between suspended sediment concentration and the discharge has been analyzed. It has been found that the relation, in majority of the cases, has the form of clockwise hysteresis, however the existance of other types of hysteresis i.e. anticlockwise and "8" shape, have been also confirmed. Significant relation between suspended sediment yield and runoff volume of snowmelt flood events has been also found.
Estimating long term sediment yields from sediment core analysis
Authors: Kennie Patricia , Bogen Jim , Olsen Hans
Published: July 2010

Estimating long term sediment yields from sediment core analysis

Sediment cores from lakes and reservoirs can be used to estimate sediment yields. In proglacial lakes, the bed sediment typically accumulates as varves, reflecting changes in seasonal and annual sedimentation. This report compares the results from two different methods of measuring suspended sediment transport in a Norwegian glacial river and lake. Sediment yields obtained from a study of sediment cores in the proglacial lake Nigardsvatn along with measurements of the delta topset were compared with a 25-year record of sediment transport based on automatic water sampling and water discharge measurements at a monitoring station at the inflowing river. During the period from 1980 to 2005, analyses of sediment cores taken from the lake bed along with measurements and grain size distribution analysis of the delta indicated that a volume of 175,670 to 202,697 m3 was deposited in the lake Nigardsvatn and corresponding river delta. The year 1980 was selected as a convenient starting point because a large-magnitude flood with a 100-year recurrence interval occurred at the end of 1979, leaving an easily recognizable sediment layer and accurate reference point. Sediment cores were taken at a total of 24 locations throughout the lake and 25 locations in the delta. The densities of the sediment cores were found to vary between 1.3 and 1.5 g/cm3 during the period examined in this study, giving a total suspended sediment load of between 175,670 and 202,697 tons. The measurements carried out at the sediment station in the glacier melt-water river gave a value of 294,800 tons during the same period. A final value of 211,100 tons is calculated from the monitoring station results after deduction of the sediment fraction which passes through the lake without being deposited. This gives a discrepancy between the two methods of 8,403 to 35,430 tons (4-20%). This can be partially attributed to the difficulties of measuring the water discharge in the unstable glacier meltwater river. In conclusion, sediment cores may be used to extrapolate or correct measurements from sediment monitoring stations over longer periods but caution should be made when considering single years.
Estimation of wind erosion rates of Mongolian Plateau by using 137Cs tracing technique
Authors: Qi Yongqing , Liu Jiyuan , Shi Huading , Zhuang Dafang , Hu Yunfeng
Published: July 2010

Estimation of wind erosion rates of Mongolian Plateau by using 137Cs tracing technique

Wind erosion is one of the major environmental problems in semi-arid and arid regions. Here we established a transect from northwest (Tariat, Mongolia) to southeast (Xilingol, Inner Mongolia of China) across the Mongolian Plateau, and selected eight sampling sites along the transect. We then estimated the soil wind erosion rates by using the 137Cs tracing technique and examined their spatial dynamics. In the Mongolia section (from Tariat to Sainshand), the wind erosion rate increased gradually with vegetation type and climatic regimes; the wind erosion process was controlled by physical factors such as annual precipitation and vegetation coverage, etc. While in the China section (Inner Mongolia), the wind erosion rates of Xilinhot, Zhengxiangbai Banner and Taipusi Banner were thrice as much as those of Bayannur of Mongolia, although these four sites were all dominated by typical steppe. Besides the physical factors, higher population density and livestock carrying level should be responsible for the higher wind erosion rates in these regions of Inner Mongolia.
Looking for the One Who Looks Like Some One: The Unmarked Subject(s) in Gertrude Stein's A Play Called Not and Now
Authors: Fawcett Julia
Published: July 2010

This essay focuses on Gertrude Stein's 1936 work A Play Called Not and Now, often regarded as Stein's most virulent attack on the theatre and the theatre's corruption of selves into simulacra, “entity” into “identity.” But if the play articulates Stein's discomfort with how her rising literary fame complicated her expressions of entity, it also offers a solution to this discomfort within the very theatrical conventions it appears to critique. Employing the methodology of performance studies, which regards performance as a unique medium that, in the words of Peggy Phelan, “becomes itself through disappearance,” this essay locates the centre of the play in its verbs rather than in its nouns and in the authorial presence it refuses to describe rather than in the celebrities it names. The essay begins with a detailed analysis of Stein's repetition of the verb “to look” throughout the play in order to re-examine the often debated question of what Stein meant when she called a work a play.
Shapley Polygons in 4 x 4 Games
Authors: Hahn Martin
Published: July 2010

We study 4 x 4 games for which the best response dynamics contain a cycle. We give examples in which multiple Shapley polygons occur for these kinds of games. We derive conditions under which Shapley polygons exist and conditions for the stability of these polygons. It turns out that there is a very strong connection between the stability of heteroclinic cycles for the replicator equation and Shapley polygons for the best response dynamics. It is also shown that chaotic behaviour can not occur in this kind of game.
Bromopyrrole Alkaloids as Lead Compounds against Protozoan Parasites
Authors: Scala Fernando , Fattorusso Ernesto , Menna Marialuisa , Taglialatela-Scafati Orazio , Tierney Michelle , Kaiser Marcel , Tasdemir Deniz
Published: July 2010

In the present study,13 bromopyrrole alkaloids, including the oroidin analogs hymenidin (2), dispacamide B (3) and dispacamide D (4), stevensine (5) and spongiacidin B (6), their derivatives lacking the imidazole ring bromoaldisin (7), longamide B (8) and longamide A (9), the dimeric oroidin derivatives sceptrin (10) and dibromopalau’amine (11), and the non-oroidin bromopyrrolohomoarginin (12), manzacidin A (13), and agelongine (14), obtained from marine sponges belonging to Axinella and Agelas generahave been screened in vitro against four parasitic protozoa, i.e., two Trypanosoma species (T. brucei rhodesiense and T. cruzi), Leishmania donovani and Plasmodium falciparum (K1 strain, a chloroquine resistant strain), responsible of human diseases with high morbidity and, in the case of malaria, high mortality. Our results indicate longamide B (8) and dibromopalau’amine (11) to be promising trypanocidal and antileishmanial agents, while dispacamide B (3) and spongiacidin B (6) emerge as antimalarial lead compounds.In addition,evaluation of the activity of the test alkaloids (2–14) against three different enzymes (PfFabI, PfFabG, PfFabZ) involved in the de novo fatty acid biosynthesis pathway of P. falciparum (PfFAS-II) identified bromopyrrolohomoarginin (12) as a potent inhibitor of PfFabZ. The structural similarity within the series of tested molecules allowed us to draw some preliminary structure-activity relationships. Tests against the mammalian L6 cells revealed important clues on therapeutic index of the metabolites. This is the first detailed study on the antiprotozoal potential of marine bromopyrrole alkaloids.
Syntheses, Characterization, and Photo-Hydrogen-Evolving Properties of Tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) Derivatives Tethered to an H2-Evolving (2-phenylpyridinato)platinum(II) Unit
Authors: Kobayashi Masayuki , Masaoka Shigeyuki , Sakai Ken
Published: July 2010

With the aim of developing new molecular devices having higher photo-hydrogen-evolving activity, Pt(ppy)ClX units (ppy = 2-phenylpyridinate, X = Cl- or DMSO; DMSO = dimethylsulfoxide) have been employed as an H2-evolving site, as the catalytic activity of [Pt(ppy)Cl2]- was confirmed to be higher than those of other mononuclear platinum(II) complexes. In the present study, two new heterodinuclear Ru(II)Pt(II) complexes, produced by condensation of [Ru(bpy)2(5-amino-phen)]2+ (bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) with [Pt(cppy)Cl2]- and Pt(cppy)(DMSO)Cl (cppy = 9-carboxy-phenylpyridinate), respectively, have been prepared and their photo-hydrogen-evolving activities have been evaluated in detail. The ineffectiveness of these systems as photo-hydrogen-evolving molecular devices are interpreted in terms of their negative driving forces for the photoinduced electron transfer from the triplet MLCT excited state of the Ru chromophore to the p*(ppy) orbital of the catalyst moiety.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug-Induced Gastroduodenal Bleeding: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies
Authors: Venerito Marino , Wex Thomas , Malfertheiner Peter
Published: July 2010

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the most widely prescribed medications in the World. A frequent complication of NSAID use is gastroduodenal bleeding. Risk factors for gastroduodenal bleeding while on NSAID therapy are age, prior peptic ulcer and co-medication with anti-platelet agents, anticoagulants, glucocorticosteroids and selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). Prevention strategies for at-risk patients include the use of the lowest effective dose of NSAIDs, co-therapy with proton-pump inhibitors and/or the use of a COX-2 selective agent. Treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection is beneficial for primary prophylaxis of NSAID-induced gastroduodenal bleeding in NSAID-naive patients. For patients with cardiovascular risk factors requiring NSAIDs, naproxen should be selected. In very high risk patients for both gastrointestinal and cardiovascular complications NSAID therapy should be avoided altogether.
Voltammetry under a Controlled Temperature Gradient
Authors: Krejci Jan , Sajdlova Zuzana , Krejci Jan , Marvanek Tomas
Published: July 2010

Electrochemical measurements are generally done under isothermal conditions. Here we report on the application of a controlled temperature gradient between the working electrode surface and the solution. Using electrochemical sensors prepared on ceramic materials with extremely high specific heat conductivity, the temperature gradient between the electrode and solution was applied here as a second driving force. This application of the Soret phenomenon increases the mass transfer in the Nernst layer and enables more accurate control of the electrode response enhancement by a combination of diffusion and thermal diffusion. We have thus studied the effect of Soret phenomenon by cyclic voltammetry measurements in ferro/ferricyanide. The time dependence of sensor response disappears when applying the Soret phenomenon, and the complicated shape of the cyclic voltammogram is replaced by a simple exponential curve. We have derived the Cotrell-Soret equation describing the steady-state response with an applied temperature difference.
Improving the Net Benefits from Tourism for People Living in Remote Northern Australia
Authors: Greiner Romy
Published: July 2010

Tourism can be an important source of livelihoods at a destination level. Yet, while there are economic benefits associated with more tourists, there can also be costs to destinations in the form of negative environmental and social impacts. This paper illustrates tourism-related dilemmas for two remote regions within Australia’s tropical savannas where increasing visitor numbers are straining not only the very environmental assets that attract tourist, but also the host communities. The paper draws on research conducted under the auspices of the Tropical Savannas Management Cooperative Research Centre. Tourism impacts on the regions are described and, where possible, quantified and distributional effects discussed. Evidence is provided that host populations in the remote of Australia’s tropical savannas are willing to trade off environmental and social costs for economic benefits, but that this situation may not be ecologically sustainable. The regions are parts of much larger destinations and consequently peripheral to their concerns. The onus for sustainable tourism and regional development strategies therefore falls on local decision makers. The research presented here provides a framework for local decision makers and stakeholders to ask questions, collect relevant data, and proceed with informed debates and choices.
The Enterotoxicity of Clostridium difficile Toxins
Authors: Sun Xingmin , Savidge Tor , Feng Hanping
Published: July 2010

The major virulence factors of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are two large exotoxins A (TcdA) and B (TcdB). However, our understanding of the specific roles of these toxins in CDI is still evolving. It is now accepted that both toxins are enterotoxic and proinflammatory in the human intestine. Both purified TcdA and TcdB are capable of inducing the pathophysiology of CDI, although most studies have focused on TcdA. C. difficile toxins exert a wide array of biological activities by acting directly on intestinal epithelial cells. Alternatively, the toxins may target immune cells and neurons once the intestinal epithelial barrier is disrupted. The toxins may also act indirectly by stimulating cells to produce chemokines, proinflammatory cytokines, neuropeptides and other neuroimmune signals. This review considers the mechanisms of TcdA- and TcdB-induced enterotoxicity, and recent developments in this field.
Estimating Green Water Footprints in a Temperate Environment
Authors: Hess Tim
Published: July 2010

The “green” water footprint (GWF) of a product is often considered less important than the “blue” water footprint (BWF) as “green” water generally has a low, or even negligible, opportunity cost. However, when considering food, fibre and tree products, is not only a useful indicator of the total appropriation of a natural resource, but from a methodological perspective, blue water footprints are frequently estimated as the residual after green water is subtracted from total crop water use. In most published studies, green water use (ETgreen) has been estimated from the FAO CROPWAT model using the USDA method for effective rainfall. In this study, four methods for the estimation of the ETgreen of pasture were compared. Two were based on effective rainfall estimated from monthly rainfall and potential evapotranspiration, and two were based on a simulated water balance using long-term daily, or average monthly, weather data from 11 stations in England. The results show that the effective rainfall methods significantly underestimate the annual ETgreen in all cases, as they do not adequately account for the depletion of stored soil water during the summer. A simplified model, based on annual rainfall and reference evapotranspiration (ETo) has been tested and used to map the average annual ETgreen of pasture in England.
Isotopic evidence of partial mycoheterotrophy in the Gentianaceae: Bartonia virginica and Obolaria virginica as case studies
Authors: Cameron Duncan D. , Bolin Jay F.
Published: July 2010

• Premise of the study: An estimated 10% of plant species have evolved to steal C from their symbiotic fungal partners (mycoheterotrophy), and while physiological evidence for full and partial mycoheterotrophy is well developed in the Orchidaceae and Ericaceae, it is lacking for the majority of other mycoheterotrophic taxa. The family Gentianaceae not only contains several lineages of achlorophyllous mycoheterotrophs, but also contains species that are putative partially mycoheterotrophic. The North American genera Bartonia and Obolaria (Gentianaceae) are green but have leaves reduced to scales or foliose bracts and so have ambiguous mycoheterotrophic status.

• Methods: We investigated the natural abundance 13C and 15N profiles of both genera along with total N and chlorophyll content and investigated mycorrhizal infection using light microscopy.

• Key results: The shoots of B. virginica were significantly more enriched in 15N than the surrounding vegetation but not in 13C. In contrast, the shoots of O. virginica are not enriched in 15N compared to the surrounding vegetation but were significantly enriched in 13C. Total N concentrations were significantly higher than the surrounding vegetation in B. virginica, while the collaroid roots of both species were infected by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.

• Conclusions: This microscopic evidence coupled with the natural abundance stable isotope profiles strongly suggests that both species are partially mycoheterotrophic. However, differences in the root–shoot stable isotopic patterns relative to surrounding vegetation between B. virginica and O. virginica are suggestive of the utilization of different physiological pathways or extent of commitment to mycoheterotrophic C gain.
Molecular phylogeny and biogeographic diversification of Parthenocissus (Vitaceae) disjunct between Asia and North America
Authors: Nie Ze‐Long , Sun Hang , Chen Zhi‐Duan , Meng Ying , Manchester Steven R. , Wen Jun
Published: July 2010

• Premise of the study: Parthenocissus is a genus of the grape family Vitaceae and has a disjunct distribution in Asia and North America with members in both tropical and temperate regions. The monophyly of Parthenocissus has not yet been tested, and the species relationships and the evolution of its intercontinental disjunction have not been investigated with extensive sampling and molecular phylogenetic methods.

• Methods: Plastid (trnL‐F, rps16, and atpB‐rbcL) and nuclear GAI1 sequences of 56 accessions representing all 12 Parthenocissus species were analyzed with parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Divergence times of disjunct lineages were estimated with relaxed Bayesian dating. Evolution of the leaflet number was assessed by tracing this character onto Bayesian trees using the Trace Character Over Trees option in the program Mesquite.

• Key results: Parthenocissus is monophyletic and sister to the newly described segregate genus Yua. Two major clades within Parthenocissus are recognizable corresponding to their distribution in Asia and North America. The disjunction between the two continents is estimated to be at 21.64 (95% higher posterior densities 10.23–34.89) million years ago.

• Conclusions: Parthenocissus is likely to have derived from the Eocene boreotropical element. Its current Asian–North American disjunction is dated to the early Miocene, congruent with fossil and paleoclimatic evidence. The tropical species is nested within the temperate clade and is inferred to have dispersed from the adjacent temperate regions. Parthenocissus and Yua are best treated as distinct genera. Leaflet number in this genus has a complex history and cannot be used as a character for infrageneric classification.
KRAS Mutation Testing in the Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer with Anti-EGFR Therapies
Authors: Soulières D. , Greer W. , Magliocco Anthony M. , Huntsman D. , Young S. , Tsao M.-S. , Kamel-Reid Suzanne
Published: July 2010

Survival of patients with metastatic CRC (mCRC) has improved steadily over the past several decades, due largely to the development of new combinations of standard chemotherapy, as well as to the introduction of new targeted therapies. Among the available targeted therapies are two monoclonal antibodies that target the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)—cetuximab and panitumumab—which have demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of mCRC. These therapies are associated with a unique set of toxicities and costs, prompting the need for tools to select patients who are most likely to derive a benefit from them. Mutations in the KRAS oncogene have consistently been shown to predict non-response to cetuximab and panitumumab. The role of KRAS as a marker of efficacy of anti-EGFR therapies is reviewed.
DEVELOPMENT OF A DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SOLVING CONTAINER LOADING PROBLEMS
Authors: Dereli Türkay , Daş Gülesin Sena
Published: July 2010

The globalization of supply chains and rising fuel costs are forcing container carriers both to minimize the number of trips and to maximize available container space. This makes container loading (CL) a critical process especially in real‐life applications. Container loading (CL), which is a difficult problem to be solved, has many applications in container transportation and distribution industries. This article presents a container loading support system (CLSS). The proposed CLSS composes of three main components, including a hybrid Bees Algorithm as the main computational algorithm, the graphical user interface (GUI) and a simulation program. The aim of the designed system is to make the packing pattern more visible to the user in order to simplify the loading process. An illustrative example ‐a CL problem from literature ‐ is also provided to introduce the operation of the system and to prove its efficiency.
ROUTE PLANNING METHODOLOGY OF AN ADVANCED TRAVELLER INFORMATION SYSTEM IN VILNIUS CITY
Authors: Jakimavičius Marius , Burinskienė Marija
Published: July 2010

As a subsystem of an Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), an Advanced Traveller Information System (ATIS) disseminates real‐time traffic information to travellers. To help them with making better decisions on choosing their routes, a strong need to predict traffic congestion and to disseminate the predicted congestion information relating to travellers can be seen. This paper describes a methodology used by drivers for calculating an optimal driven route in Vilnius. The paper discusses how ATIS systems will likely evolve the experience of Information Service Providers (ISP) and optimal route planning calculations. A few methods of route planning have been taken into account. The paper presents the following types of route calculation: 1) the shortest route; 2) the quickest route; 3) the quickest forecasted route according to historical traffic information. Also, the paper deals with the architecture of the WEB based information system for drivers in Vilnius and analyzes data on traffic workflow. Furthermore, a comprehensive route planning procedure that forecasts data on driving time considering historical traffic is followed.
A TWO‐LEVEL APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF RAIL FREIGHT CAR FLEET COMPOSITION
Authors: Bojovic Nebojsa , Boskovic Branislav , Milenkovic Milos , Sunjic Aleksandar
Published: July 2010

One of the main objectives for a rail company is to minimize the size of rail freight car fleet in order to reduce operating costs. The problem of rail freight car fleet composition is aimed at determining an optimal structure and size of freight car fleet in order to respond to actual transport demand. A rail company must have capabilities to respond to actual transport demand in case it wants to increase the level of competitiveness on the transport market. Therefore, it is necessary that the structure and size of rail freight car fleet correspond to the structure and size of rail transport demand. In this paper, we developed a two‐level approach to determining an optimal rail freight car fleet composition. This approach has been tested for the case of the Public Enterprise ‘Serbian Railways’ and the obtained results show the potential for a practical application of the proposed approach.