bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Method for Separating Configurational and Constitutional Chiralities Using Diffuse Reflectance Circular Dichroism (DRCD)
Authors: Harada Takunori , Nakano Taku , Moriyama Hiroshi , Tajima Nobuo , Yokota Haruo , Kawakami Ryo , Mishima Kenji
Published: September 2013

Solid-state chiral chemistry has attracted significant scientific interest because of its application in the chiral-selective production, chiral recognition, resolution, and detection of enantiomers of a chiral compound. Combining a novel diffuse reflectance circular dichroism (DRCD) technique with powder X-ray crystallographic analysis, we investigated the origin of chiral properties from the molecular and supramolecular chiralities and the possibility of separating independent CD signals from the superimposed CD signal resulting from different chiral origins.
Daimones in the Thracian Sea: Mysteries, Iron, and Metaphors
Authors: Blakely Sandra
Published: September 2013

The daimones associated with the mystery cult of Samothrace have been interpreted as the distant memory of prehistoric smiths or dismissed from investigation altogether because of their absence from the epigraphic record. Anthropological models of metaphor formation offer a more nuanced approach to understanding their functions in the cult. The daimones’ ethnicity suggests a response to cultural interactions and economic production in the region; their metallurgical skills provided a key metaphor articulating a range of concepts which defined the rites, including secrecy, regional identity, and cosmological speculation.
“Oh, Lord, Give This One a Daimon So That He May No Longer Sin”: The Holy Man and His Daimones in Hagiography
Authors: Kalleres Dayna S.
Published: September 2013

This essay examines two hagiographical accounts, each features a Christian holy man performing an unusual, though not aberrant, ritual action: casting a daimon onto or into a person. I argue that the priest Innocent in Palladius’ Lausiac History and Abba Daniel in John Moschus’ Spirituale Pratum acted in accordance with their late antique role as ritual experts and “charismatic ombudsmen” and, thus, they could manipulate power relations between the daimon and human to cleanse, protect and/or punish a human, sinful body. To grasp fully the hagiographers’ explorations of a holy man’s charismata-his power over daimones and what kinds of bodies that creates, I situate these narratives within a particularized context of contemporary and earlier Greek demonologies (Plato, Plutarch and Greek Magical Papyri, especially katadesmoi or binding spells), which reveals variant daimon/human relations through time and the consequential material, moral, and intellectual transformations relevant in these hagiographies.
Loyalty Discounts
Authors: Akgün Uğur , Chioveanu Ioana
Published: September 2013

This article analyses the use of loyalty inducing discounts in vertical supply chains. An upstream supplier and a competitive fringe sell differentiated products to a retailer who has private information about the stochastic demand. We compare the market outcomes, when the supplier uses two-part tariffs (2PT), all-unit quantity discounts (AU), and market-share discounts (MS). We show that the retailer’s risk attitude affects supplier’s preferences over these pricing schemes. When the retailer is risk neutral, it bears all the risk and the three schemes lead to the same outcome. When the retailer is risk averse, a 2PT performs the worst from the supplier’s perspective, but it leads to the highest welfare. For a wide range of parameter values (but not for all), the supplier prefers MS to AU. By limiting the retailer’s product substitution possibilities, MS makes the demand for the manufacturer’s product more inelastic. This reduces the amount (share of total profits) the supplier needs to leave to the retailer for the latter to participate in the scheme.
On the local Bump–Friedberg L-function
Authors: Matringe Nadir
Published: September 2013

Let F be a p-adic field. If π be an irreducible representation of

GL
(
n
,
F
)

${{\rm GL}(n,F)}$

, Bump and Friedberg associated to π an Euler factor

L
(
π
,
𝐵𝐹
,

s
1

,

s
2

)

${L(\pi ,\mathit {BF},s_1,s_2)}$

in [Festschrift in honor of I. I. Piatetski-Shapiro on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. Part II, Weizmann, Jerusalem (1990), 47–65], that should be equal to

L

(
φ

(
π
)

,

s
1

)

L

(
φ

(
π
)

,

Λ
2

,

s
2

)

${L(\phi (\pi ),s_1)L(\phi (\pi ),\Lambda ^2,s_2)}$

, where

φ
(
π
)

${\phi (\pi )}$

is the Langlands' parameter of π. The main result of this paper is to show that this equality is true when

(

s
1

,

s
2

)

=

(
s
+
1
/
2
,
2
s
)

$(s_1,s_2)=(s+1/2,2s)$

, for
s in ℂ.
To prove this, we classify in terms of distinguished discrete series, generic representations of

GL
(
n
,

F
)

${{\rm GL}(n,\hspace*{-0.56905pt}F)}$

which are

χ
α

${\chi _\alpha }$

-distinguished by the Levi subgroup

GL
(
[
(
n
+
1
)
/
2
]
,

F
)
×
GL
(
[
n
/
2
]
,

F
)

${\rm GL}([(n+1)/2], \hspace*{-0.56905pt}F) \times {\rm GL}([n/2], \hspace*{-0.56905pt}F)$

, for

χ
α

(

g
1

,

g
2

)

=
α

(
det

(

g
1

)

/
det

(

g
2

)

)

${\chi _\alpha (g_1,g_2)=\alpha (\det (g_1)/{\det }(g_2))}$

, where α is a character
of F*
of real part between

-
1
/
2

${-1/2}$

and 1/2.
We then adapt
the technique of [`Derivatives and L-functions for

GL
(
n
)

${\rm GL}(n)$

',
preprint 2011] to reduce the proof of the equality to the case of discrete series. The equality for discrete
series is a consequence of the relation between linear periods and Shalika periods for discrete series, and the main result of [Math. Res. Lett. 19 (2012), no. 4, 785–804].
A decomposition theorem in II1-factors
Authors: Dykema Kenneth , Sukochev Fedor , Zanin Dmitriy
Published: September 2013

Building on results of Haagerup and Schultz, we decompose an arbitrary operator in a diffuse, finite von Neumann algebra
into the sum of a normal operator and an s.o.t.-quasinilpotent operator. We also prove an analogue of Weyl's inequality relating eigenvalues and singular values for operators in a diffuse, finite von Neumann algebra.
Symplectic representations of semidirect products
Authors: Sabitova Maria
Published: September 2013

We study symplectic representations of groups of the form

(
A
⋊
B
)
⋊
C

${(A\rtimes B)\rtimes C}$

, where A, B are finite cyclic groups of coprime orders, and C is an infinite cyclic group.
Critical materials for infrastructure: local vs global properties
Authors: Purnell Phil , Dawson David , Roelich Katy E. , Steinberger Julia K. , Busch Jonathan
Published: September 2013

Introducing new technologies into infrastructure (wind turbines, electric vehicles, low-carbon materials and so on) often demands materials that are ‘critical’; their supply is likely to be disrupted owing to limited reserves, geopolitical instability, environmental issues and/or increasing demand. Non-critical materials may become critical if introduced into infrastructure, owing to its gigatonne scale. This potentially poses significant risk to the development of low-carbon infrastructure. Analysis of this risk has previously overlooked the relationship between the ‘local properties’ that determine the selection of a technology and the overall vulnerability of the system, a global property. Treating materials or components as elements having fixed properties overlooks optima within the local–global variable space that could be exploited to minimise vulnerability while maximising performance. In this study, a framework for such analysis is presented along with a preliminary measure of relative materials criticality by way of a case study (a wind turbine generator). Although introduction of critical materials (in this case, rare earth metals) enhances technical performance by up to an order of magnitude, the associated increase in criticality may be two or three orders of magnitude. Analysis at the materials and component levels produces different results; design decisions should be based on analysis at several levels.
Network theory for infrastructure systems modelling
Authors: Dunn Sarah , Fu Gaihua , Wilkinson Sean , Dawson Richard
Published: September 2013

Currently, there is a great deal of interest in assessing the resilience of infrastructure systems. Much of this interest stems from the realisation that these systems are not only critical to civil defence but also, given the correct set of circumstances, can fail catastrophically. Three case studies are presented that show how network theory, which has been successfully applied to other fields, can also be used to help understand potential vulnerabilities in infrastructure systems. Through these case studies it is shown that traditional network theory can be extended to analyse infrastructures that are large, spatially distributed systems, or that carry flows of resources or are interconnected with other infrastructure systems. These methods demonstrate how this approach can help infrastructure designers, owners and operators to make rapid assessments of vulnerabilities in their systems and to identify components that are more important to the functioning of the these networks. Furthermore, this approach provides a basis for identifying and prioritising appropriate measures to improve the reliability of infrastructure at the systems scale.
Scenarios analysis through a futures performance framework
Authors: Hunt Dexter V. L. , Rogers Christopher D. F. , Jefferson Ian
Published: September 2013

Determining an urban environment's built form, whilst engineering the underlying infrastructure upon which it depends, has all too often been predicated on historical trends, legacies and hindsight. In the 21st century increased interconnectivity and interdependence requires management of complex systems (i.e. coupled human, natural and technological systems) where decision making and planning for the future are far from straightforward. Moreover, a greater awareness of sustainability and resiliency issues (e.g. engineering within resource constraints and climate change such that engineering solutions continue to deliver their intended benefits in the face of change) now requires consideration of a range of possible city changes and assessment of their short- and long-term impacts. Decision making in the face of such uncertainty requires interdisciplinary foresight tools that facilitate understanding and communication between diverse ranges of stakeholders. To facilitate this process, a newly developed future performance framework (FPF) is proposed. When used in conjunction with the long-term future scenario-based urban futures (UF) methodology and the UF (Excel-based) tool, the FPF demonstrates how to embed futures thinking within an earth systems engineering framework.
Geosynthetic applications in high-speed railways: a case study
Authors: Arulrajah Arul , Abdullah Affendi , Bo Myint Win , Leong Melvyn
Published: September 2013

A high-speed railway project for trains with speeds of 160–180 km/h was recently completed in Malaysia. An array of geosynthetics such as biaxial geogrids, non-woven geotextiles and woven geotextiles were extensively used in the project primarily for separation, filtration and reinforcement purposes. The geosynthetics were particularly used at locations of high embankments underlain by soft clays and loose sands. Ground improvement using geosynthetics in the project primarily included geogrid-reinforced piled embankments with individual pile caps, geogrids at bridge approach transitions, geogrids for ground treatment beneath culverts, geogrids for culverts supported by stone columns, woven geotextiles for cement column works, non-woven geotextiles for excavation works, non-woven geotextiles at the top of the railway subgrade layer, non-woven geotextiles for temporary retaining walls and non-woven geotextiles for slope protection works. This paper provides a detailed insight into the design and implementation of ground improvement using geogrids and geotextiles in this case study project, with a focus on the geogrid reinforcement design of piled embankments with individual pile caps. The use of geosynthetics in the various railway applications in the project was found to provide safe and cost-effective solutions to the various geotechnical engineering challenges encountered.
Rehabilitation of distressed retaining walls using soil nails
Authors: Sivakumar Babu G. L. , Jaladurgam Raja
Published: September 2013

The paper presents a case example of the rehabilitation of distressed cantilever retaining walls that were constructed for a road approach embankment. The retaining walls showed clear signs of distress immediately after completion and hence the road embankment was not opened for traffic. These distresses, in the form of translations, settlement of the pavement at the top and rotation of the retaining walls were observed in the field. Extensive geotechnical investigation and field measurements of distress were collected. In the present study, retaining wall sections with grouted nails as rehabilitation measures were analysed using conventional methods and finite-element analyses. The proposed rehabilitation of the retaining walls involved two types of soil nailing systems. The first system consisted of positioning nails at appropriate locations and each wall being treated as a separate entity. The second system consisted of joining the two back-to-back retaining walls using nailing across the entire width of the embankment. From the results of the finite-element analyses, it was observed that the second system of rehabilitation was likely to lead to less deformations and higher factors of safety in comparison with the first system and hence this system was considered for implementation in the field. The improved response is attributed to the counteracting effects offered by the back-to-back retaining systems. It emerges from the study that back-to-back reinforced retaining walls are likely to be more economical and stable in comparison with individual retaining walls for the design of approach embankments.
Travel plans from the developer perspective
Authors: Yeates Stephen , Enoch Marcus
Published: September 2013

Travel plans are packages of measures tailored to meet the needs of individual sites, which aim to promote greener, cleaner travel choices and reduce reliance on the car. Travel plans deliver transport improvements in a cheap, quick, acceptable and effective way, but to work properly they require institutions such as employers and schools to participate, which they are often unwilling to do voluntarily. Consequently, in the UK travel plans are now often legally required by local authorities through the planning process. This means land developers are major travel plan stakeholders, yet little is known of their views. The aim of this paper is to help redress this by reporting the results of 10 exploratory interviews with informed developers on the topic. The paper highlights that developers are generally positive about travel plans, but have concerns relating to financial penalties and associated future costs. Recommendations are made for practice and policy.
Cryptococcosis, A Risk for Immunocompromised and Immunocompetent
Individuals
Authors: Mesquita da Costa Maurimélia , Martins Teixeira Francisco , Ribeiro Schalcher Taysa , Thielli Figueiredo Magalhães de Brito Mioni , Silva Valerio Erika , Chagas Monteiro Marta
Published: September 2013

The genus Cryptococcus includes at least 37 different species, of which, two are important human pathogens:
Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. These fungi are opportunistic pathogens and etiologic agents of
cryptococcosis disease in humans and animals. A variety of virulence factors interfere with the establishment of
cryptococcal infection is usually acquired via inhalation of environmental basidiospores or desiccated yeasts.
Cryptococcosis has gained medical importance over the last decade due to the AIDS pandemic, and become an emerging
pathogen of immunocompetent individuals, especially in children. This disease in humans may involve every tissue,
including cutaneous and pulmonary sites, but the most serious manifestation is central nervous system involvement with
meningoencephalitis. In this review, we briefly described the taxonomy, the fungus biology, epidemiology and clinical
manifestations of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals.
Examining Scientific and Technical Writing Strategies in the 11th Century Chinese Science Book Brush Talks from Dream Brook
Authors: Zhang Yuejiao
Published: September 2013

This article examines the influential Chinese science book Brush Talks from Dream Brook, written by Shen Kuo in the 11th century. I suggest that Brush Talks reveals a tension between institutionalized science and science in the public, and a gap between the making of scientific knowledge and the communication of such knowledge to the general public. In writing Brush Talks, Shen preserved and popularized grassroots science and technology in the most respected medium of his time—the printed book. In the article, I ask what formal elements of this book reveal about the choices Shen made as a literati author to connect to his primary readers, most of which were middle and lower class lay audiences. As I will argue, he used three approaches that aided him in speaking to the public about science and technology—an ethnographic approach to knowledge, innovative uses of genre, and a straightforward writing style.
Cosmopolitanism: Extending Our Theoretical Framework for Transcultural Technical Communication Research and Teaching
Authors: Palmer Zsuzsanna Bacsa
Published: September 2013

The effects of globalization on communication products and processes have resulted in document features and interactional practices that are sometimes difficult to describe within current theoretical frameworks of inter/transcultural technical communication. Although it has been recognized in our field that the old theoretical frameworks and assumptions are no longer adequate by themselves in the global workplace, to date no comprehensive theoretical framework has been suggested that is capable of encompassing hybrid characteristics of transcultural technical communication that emerge as a result of increased contact and connectivity. This article provides an interdisciplinary overview of Cosmopolitan theory and suggests that applying the cosmopolitan framework of Ulrich Beck to our research and the Dialogical Cosmopolitanism approach of Suresh Canagarajah to our pedagogical practices can move us towards a deeper understanding of global phenomena.
Investigation of the charge-transfer in photo-excited nanoparticles for CO2 reduction in non-aqueous media
Authors: Dimitrijevic Nada
Published: September 2013

Photoinduced charge separation in TiO2 and Cu2O semiconductor nanoparticles
was examined using Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectroscopy in order to
get insight into the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 in nonaqueous media.
For dissolution/grafting of CO2 we have used carboxy-PEG4-amine, and as a
solvent poly(ethylene glycol) 200. We have found that, in this system,
reduction of CO2 starts at potential of -0.5 V vs Ag/AgCl, which is
significantly more positive than the potential for electrochemical reduction
of CO2 in most organic solvents and water (-2.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl). The electron
transfer from excited nanoparticles to CO2 is governed both by thermodynamic
and kinetic parameters, namely by the redox potential of conduction band
electrons and adsorption/binding of CO2 on the surface of nanoparticles.
Electrochemical and nanogravimetric studies of palladium phthalocyanine microcrystals
Authors: Nemes Ákos , Moore Colin , Inzelt György
Published: September 2013

The electrochemical quartz crystal nanobalance has been used to study the
redox behavior of palladium phthalocyanine microcrystals attached to gold and
platinum in aqueous solutions at different pH values. In order to investigate
the substrate effect, paraffin impregnated graphite electrodes were also
applied. It was found that the redox transformations of palladium
phthalocyanine are accompanied with deprotonation-protonation as well as the
sorption and desorption of counterions, respectively, the extent of which
depends on the pH. Based on the results of the nanogravimetric measurements,
a redox mechanism describing also the pH dependence is suggested.
Simultaneously with the charge transfer processes, solid-solid phase
transitions and water transport occur.
Investigation of the temporal change of the sources of Aeolian dust delivered to East Asia using electron spin resonance signals in quartz
Authors: Yamamoto Yuya , Toyoda Shin , Nagasima Kana , Igarashi Yasuhito , Tada Ryuji
Published: September 2013

The temporal change in the number of oxygen vacancies in quartz was investigated by ob-serving the E1’ center in the atmospheric depositions collected at two cities in Japan in the recent past. The depositions collected at Fukuoka in March show the ESR intensities being correlated with the sum of the number of the days, in the month, on which Kosa was observed while no such correlation was found in the deposition those collected at Akita but a trend of decrease with time. The present results suggest that the number of oxygen vacancies in quartz might be useful to estimate quantitatively the contribution of the dust originated from China to the atmospheric deposition in Japan.
ESR dating of the Donggutuo Palaeolithic site in the Nihewan Basin, northern China
Authors: Liu Chun-Ru , Yin Gong-Ming , Fang Fang , Voinchet Pierre , Deng Cheng-Long , Han Fei , Li Jian-Ping , Song Wei-Juan , Wang Duo , Bahain Jean-Jacques
Published: September 2013

The fluvio-lacustrine sequences in the Nihewan Basin, northern China, provide important terrestrial archives about Palaeolithic settlements and, therefore, about early human occupation in high northern latitude in East Asia. Here we present detailed ESR dating of the Donggutuo Palaeolithic site, located in this basin. Four levels A, B, C and E of the Donggutuo archaeological layer yield ESR ages ranging from 1060±129 ka to 1171±132 ka with a mean of 1119±132 ka. The ages are consistent with the paleomagnetic data, which show that the Donggutuo Palaeolithic site lies just below the onset of the Jaramillo normal subchron (0.99–1.07 Ma). Furthermore, our results indicate that the reliable ESR dating range of bleached quartz using Ti-Li centre can be effectively extended to 1100 ka and the Ti-Li centre was zeroed before the last deposition, which requires improvement of the understanding of the bleaching mechanism conditions.
ESR dose response of Al center measured in quartz samples from the Yellow River (China): Implications for the dating of Upper Pleistocene sediment
Authors: Voinchet Pierre , Yin Gongming , Falguères Christophe , Liu Chunru , Han Fei , Sun Xuefeng , Bahain Jean
Published: September 2013

The ESR dating method requires to describe the evolution of the ESR signal intensities vs. increasing gamma doses, then to extrapolate the equivalent dose of radiation received by the sample since its deposition using mathematical fitting. The function classically used to describe the growth curves of ESR aluminium signal in quartz was recently discussed and challenged for Lower Pleistocene sediments. In the present work, some alluvial sediments sampled in Upper Pleistocene fluvial terraces of the Yellow River system (China) permit us to test the application of another extrapolation function (linear + exponential) recently proposed for Lower Pleistocene sediments. The equivalent doses obtained here for the recent deposits of the Yellow River system and the corresponding ages are promising and indicate the potential of ESR to date quartz deposits from Upper Pleistocene times.
Luminescence dating of volcanogenic outburst flood sediments from Aso volcano and tephric loess deposits, southwest Japan
Authors: Tsukamoto Sumiko , Kataoka Kyoko , Miyabuchi Yasuo
Published: September 2013

Luminescence dating has been applied to volcanogenic outburst flood sediments (Takuma gravel bed) from Aso volcano, Japan, and tephric loess deposits overlying the gravel bed. The poly-mineral fine grains (4–11 μm) from loess deposits were measured with pulsed optically stimulated luminescence (pulsed OSL) and post-IR infrared stimulated luminescence (pIRIR) methods, whereas the Takuma gravel bed containing no quartz, was measured with IRSL and pIRIR methods using sand sized (150–200 μm) plagioclase. The loess deposits date back at least to ∼50 ka by consistent IRSL, pIRIR and pulsed OSL ages from the lowermost part of the loess deposits from one section. The ages obtained from the bottom part of the other loess section are not consistent each other. However, we consider that the pIRIR age (72±6 ka) which showed negligible anomalous fading is most reliable, and regard as a preliminary minimum age of the Takuma gravel bed. The equivalent doses (De) for the plagioclase from the Takuma gravel bed have a narrow distribution and the weighted mean of the three samples yield an age of 89±3 ka. This age is in agreement with the last caldera-forming eruption of Aso volcano (∼87 ka) and it is likely that the pIRIR signal has not been bleached before the deposition. IRSL dating without applying pIRIR using small aliquots was also conducted, however, the IRSL signal shows no clear evidence of an additional bleaching during the event of outburst flood from the caldera lake.
Ophthalmic oncology in Nepal – an area requiring special attention
Authors: Badhu BP
Published: September 2013

Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 145-146 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8704
Correlation of progression of diabetic retinopathy with the alterations in retrobulbar circulation
Authors: Sood S , Narang Subina , Kocchhar S , Sarda S , Aggarwal S , Arya SK
Published: September 2013

Introduction: Color Doppler Imaging (CDI) is used widely to study retrobulbar circulation. Objectives: To determine the association between progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and alterations in retrobulbar arterial circulation using CDI studies. Materials and methods: Prospective observational case series. It is single institutional study of 50eyes of nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy in 50 patients with type II diabetes mellitus. DR was graded according to ETDRS system. Retrobulbar circulation was studied in patients for Peak systolic velocity (PSV), End diastolic velocity (EDV) and Resistive index (RI) in Central retinal artery (CRA), Ophthalmic artery (OA) and Posterior ciliary artery (PCA) using CDI initially and reevaluated after 6 months or later for any change in retinopathy grade and arterial circulation parameters. The patients were grouped as Group I not showing progression of DR and Group II showing progression. The two groups were compared for any significant change in CDI parameters. Results: The baseline resistive indices were higher than normal population. There was significant increase in RI in PCA and CRA in all patients after 6 months. 14 patients (28%) showed progression of DR and 36 (72%) did not show progression of DR. There was no significant association with progression of retinopathy and CDI findings. (p=>0.05). Conclusion: The retrobulbar arterial circulation seems to be affected in all diabetics with DR. The changes appear to be progressive. The CDI findings in arterial circulation however lack predictive power for progression of diabetic retinopathy in non proliferative DR. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 147-153 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8705
Optical coherence tomography in diabetic macular edema: patterns and related risk factors
Authors: Ahmadpour-Baghdadabad Mohammadreza , Manaviat Masoudreza , Shojaoddiny-Ardekani Ahmad
Published: September 2013

Introduction: Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) is an important cause of vision loss in diabetic retinopathy. Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive modality that produces high-resolution images of retinal layers. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of DME patterns and their association with risk factors and visual acuity. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, type 2 diabetics with macular edema referred to our center during a ten-month period underwent OCT. Patients with macular edema due to causes other than diabetes and with OCT images of improper quality were excluded from the study. Four distinct patterns were found in the OCT images. A questionnaire including age, sex, duration of diabetes, serum TG and cholesterol, HbA1c, BMI and visual acuity, as well as the findings of OCT images were filled for the subjects. Results: Eighty-six eyes from 46 patients were evaluated. The most and the least common patterns were sponge-like retinal swelling (SLRS) and posterior hyaloidal traction (PHT) found in 64.0% and 5.8% of the subjects, respectively. A sub-retinal fluid pattern was more common in males (p=0.011) and in patients with serum TG > 200mg/dl (p=0.037). There were significant associations between central foveal (r=0.45, p<0.001), nasal (r=0.35, p=0.001) and temporal (r=0.32, p=0.003) thicknesses with visual acuity. Moreover, the highest thickness (462.4±119.2μm) and also the worst visual acuity (1.0±0.5logMAR) pertained to the cystoid macular edema (CME) pattern. Conclusion: Our study showed that the most common OCT pattern of DME is the sponge-like retinal swelling, while posterior hyaloidal traction has the lowest prevalence. A higher foveal thickness and a lower visual acuity are seen in the CME pattern. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 190-194 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8727
A study on plasma homocysteine level in age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Ghosh Sourav , Saha M , Das D
Published: September 2013

Introduction: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) related to adverse vascular changes is the most frequent cause of irreversible visual impairment in the elderly. Elevated plasma concentrations of serum homocysteine have been shown to increase the risk of vascular disease. Objective: To assess the relationship between plasma homocysteine level and age related macular degeneration. Materials and methods: A case control study was conducted in a tertiary eye care hospital with 32 diagnosed AMD patients. The patients were compared for plasma homocysteine levels with a control group of 32 patients without AMD. A 1.5 ml of fasting venous blood sample was obtained from each participant. Plasma homocysteine level was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The main outcome measure was hyperhomocysteinemia, defined as a plasma homocysteine level above 15 μmol/l. Results: Hyperhomocysteinemia was found in 10 blood samples (83.3 %) of patients in the wet AMD group, in 16 (80 %) blood samples in the dry AMD group, and in 12 blood samples (37%) of controls. The mean ± SD homocysteine level in the AMD group was 16.86 ± 3.52 μmol/L, while in the non-AMD control group it was 14.53 ± 4.08 μmol/L. This difference was statistically significant (p-value = 0.0186). In the individual analysis, it was also found out that the homocysteine level differed significantly between cases and controls in only the wet variety of AMD. Conclusion: Hyperhomocysteinemia was significantly associated with the wet AMD variety but not with the dry AMD. Thus, homocysteine by oxidative stress and vascular dysfunction can be an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of AMD. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 195-200 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8728
Prevalence and determinants of xerophthalmia in rural children of Uttarpradesh, India
Authors: Agrawal VK , Agrawal P , Dharmendra Dr
Published: September 2013

Introduction: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is recognized as a major cause of blindness among children in India. Objective: To find out the prevalence of VAD in rural children of Uttar Pradesh, India. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was undertaken amongst children (0-15 years) in a rural area of Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh) where the study population was selected by simple random sampling out of villages under a Primary Health Centre. Out of 844 children, 802 participated in the study. The WHO classification of xerophthalmia was used. Results: Overall, the prevalence of xerophthalmia was 5.4 %. The prevalence of Bitot’s spots was 0.9 % in children under six years of age and 3.3 % in children above six years. The prevalence of xerophthalmia was significantly more in older children. Overall, the prevalence of anemia was found to be 11.8 % in the study population. A significantly high prevalence of xerophthalmia (OR= 5.7; 95 % CI = 2.8 - 11.5) was observed in children suffering from anemia. Conclusion: The presence of a milder manifestation of xerophthalmia and a 0.9 % prevalence of Bitot’s spot in children under six years of age in the present study shows a declining trend of VAD although it is still a public health problem. The higher prevalence in children above six years of age shows that apart from strengthening of Vitamin A prophylaxis programs, health education is needed for dietary diversification to include vegetables and fruits in the diet for long-term sustainability in improving the vitamin A status of children of all age groups. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 226-229 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8733
Corneal edema after phacoemulsification surgery in patients with type II diabetes mellitus
Authors: Shakya Kiran , Pokharel S , Karki KJD , Pradhananga C , Pokharel RP , Malla OK
Published: September 2013

Introduction: Corneal edema delays early visual recovery after phacoemulsification surgery in diabetes mellitus. Objective: To compare corneal edema of eyes in patients with type II diabetes mellitus and in non-diabetics after phacoemusification surgery. Materials and methods: A hospital-based, retrospective study involving 96 eyes that underwent phacoemulsification surgery for immature cataract at the Department of Ophthalmology, Kathmandu Medical College Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal was carried out. Evaluation was performed of 33 eyes in patients with diabetes mellitus (diabetic group) and of 63 eyes in patients without diabetes mellitus (non-diabetic group). All diabetic patients had controlled blood glucose for at least one week prior to the surgery. The operated eye was examined before surgery and on one day, one week, and one month after surgery. Intraocular pressure was measured on each visit. Main outcome measures: The findings of post-operative corneal edema and visual acuity between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups were studied and compared. Results: There was no difference clinically in any pre-operative corneal examination between the diabetic and non-diabetic groups. The corneal edema after surgery was significantly higher in the diabetic group than in the non-diabetic group (p < 0.001). The number of patients with corneal edema one day and one week after surgery was significantly higher in the diabetic group than in the non-diabetic group (after 1 day, OR = 62.5; 95 % CI = 15.31 - 255.11, p < 0.000) and after 1 week, OR = 6.77; 95 % CI = 1.28 - 35.76, p < 0.006). Conclusion: Corneal edema following phacoemusification surgery in diabetic eyes is likely to be more frequent than in non-diabetic eyes. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 230-234 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8734
Outcome of the patients with post-operative cluster endophthalmitis referred to a tertiary level eye care center in Nepal
Authors: Gautam Pragati , Joshi SN , Thapa M , Sharma AK , Shah DN
Published: September 2013

Introduction: The causative organism and treatment outcomes of post operative endophthalmitis may vary depending on several factors. Objective: To find out the causative organisms and visual outcome after an outbreak of post-operative endophthalmitis. Materials and methods: An interventional prospective series of cases of clinically suspected endophthalmitis was studied. Eleven patients who presented within 48 hours after manual cataract surgery on the same day, by a one surgeon in a single center were enrolled in the study. They underwent both anterior chamber and vitreous aspiration and all of them received intravitreal Vancomycin, Amikacin and Dexamethasone. Samples were subjected to microbiological evaluation. All patients were followed up till 8 weeks for clinical and visual outcome. Results: Of the 11 eyes of suspected endopthalmitis, only one vitreous aspiration showed Gram negative bacilli on Gram stain and 3 vitreous aspirates showed Gram positive cocci. Of the 11 eyes, 3(42.85%) had culture positive on vitreous aspirate. In 2 cases E Coli was isolated and in 1 Staphylococcus aureus was isolated. After 48 hours of intravitreal injection, 10 out of 11 eyes improved and in one, intravitreal injection of vancomycin, amikacin and dexamethasone was repeated. The best corrected visual acuity of 6/9 was achieved in 2 patients, 5 had 6/18, 2 had 6/60 and 2 had 5/60 at the end of eight weeks. Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus and E coli can cause endophthalmitis immediately on the first day post-operatively. Clinically suspected endophthalmitis treated with antibiotics and steroid intravitreal injection can result in better visual outcome. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 235-241 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8735
A rare case of a solitary intraocular neurofibroma
Authors: Chawla Umil , Khurana AK , Anand N , Jain P
Published: September 2013

Background: Solitary neurofibroma in the absence of neurofibromatosis is of rare occurrence and very few cases have been reported till date. Objective: To report a case of a solitary intra-ocular neurofibroma. Case: A 65-year-old man presented to us with a large swelling appearing to arise from right pthisical eye for the past one and a half years. After knowing the extent and origin of mass lesion, right eyeball was enucleated and subjected to histopathological examination which revealed intraocular neurofibroma in the absence of neurofibromatosis which is of very rare occurrence. Conclusion: The isolated neurofibroma of intraocular origin can present as an isolated orbital mass without systemic features. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 262-264 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8740
Impacted iron nail in the orbit and maxillary sinus through a corneo-scleral perforation: a case report
Authors: Kharel Sitaula Ranju , Gautam V , KC Krishna , Shah DN
Published: September 2013

Introduction: Open globe injury is one of the commonest ophthalmic emergencies, and when accompanied by intraocular foreign bodies, the condition carries a poorer prognosis. Objective: To report a rare case of perforating injury of the globe with an iron nail which got lodged in the maxillary sinus. Case: A ten-year-old boy presented with the history of sudden painful loss of vision in his right eye. He reported that he was hit forcefully by the tail of a cow a day before the presentation. There was no perception of light in that eye. The ocular examination revealed a full thickness corneo-scleral perforation with prolapsed uveal tissue. The X-ray of the right orbit showed an impacted foreign body in the inferior orbit and computed tomography scan of the orbit confirmed the presence of a vertically impacted metal piece in the right orbit and right maxillary sinus. The repair of the perforation and removal of the impacted nail was done in two stages. The globe anatomy was maintained but the vision could not be restored due to the grave nature of the trauma. Conclusion: Perforating globe injury is an important cause of monocular blindness. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 268-271 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8742
Ocular myocysticercosis: an unusual case of ptosis
Authors: Agrawal S , Ranjan Somesh , Mishra A
Published: September 2013

Background: Cysticercosis is common in endemic countries like India. It can have various clinical manifestations depending on the tissue involved. It refers to a parasitic infestation by Cysticercus cellulosae, the larval form of the pork tapeworm or Taenia solium. Objective: To report an unusual case of ocular cysticercosis involving the levator palpebrae superioris and superior rectus muscle of the right eye. Case description: A young, male adult was diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan of the skull and orbit to have right-sided ocular cysticercosis. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and albendazole, to which he showed a significant improvement. Conclusion: Ocular myocysticercosis can be diagnosed by MRI and be treated medically with steroid and albendazole. Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 279-281 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8745
Blepharoptosis and cysticercosis
Authors: Wiwanitkit Viroj
Published: September 2013

Nepal J Ophthalmol 2013; 5(10): 286 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/nepjoph.v5i2.8748
Religion and Ecomodernity
Authors: Witoszek Nina
Published: September 2013

Religion has long stood at the center of debates on the environmental crisis of late modernity. Some have portrayed it as a malade imaginaire, providing divine legitimation for human domination and predatory exploitation of natural resources; others have looked up to it as an inspirational force that is the essential condition of planetary revival. There is an ongoing battle of the books on the salience of religion in the modern world. Some trendy volumes declare that God Is Back (Micklethwait and Wooldridge 2009). Others advert to The End of Faith (Harris 2004, harp the theme of The God Delusion (Dawkins 2006), or claim that God Is Not Great (Hitchens 2007). Both sides provide ample evidence to support their adversarial claims. In much of Canada and Western Europe, where religious establishments have courted or colluded with the state, religion has come to be viewed as the enemy of liberty and modernity. Not so in the United States, where the Jeffersonian separation of religion from politics forced religious leaders to compete for the souls of the faithful—and thus to make Christianity more reconcilable with the agenda of modernity,

individualism and capitalist enterprise.
Reclaiming Stewardship in Ghana: Religion and Climate Change
Authors: Golo Ben-Willie Kwaku , Awetori Yaro Joseph
Published: September 2013

The hydra-headed nature of climate change—affecting not just climate but all other domains of human life—requires not just technological fixes but cultural innovation. It is impossible to ignore a devoutly religious majority in Ghana, a nation where diverse religious communities' perspectives on climate change and their views on the way forward are crucial. This article aims to empirically explore how Christian, Islamic, and indigenous African religious leaders view the challenges of climate change and what countermeasures they propose. Interestingly, most our informants have indicated that the reasons for the current environmental crisis are, in equal degree, Ghana's past colonial experience and deviation from religious beliefs and practice, while the main obstacle to sustainable development is poverty. There was unanimity on the reclamation of religious values and principles that promote the idea of stewardship as a way forward toward a sustainable future. This, however, functions more as a faith claim and a religiously inspired normative postulate than a program of concrete action.
Feasibility of Quality Improvement of Jute Seed by Plant Extracts
Authors: Roy KK , Khan MMR , Hossain MM , Khokon MAR
Published: September 2013

Five plant extracts viz. garlic tablet, allamanda tablet, neem leaf extract, bishkatali leaf extract and zinger rhizome extract were assessed as seed treating agents against seed-borne pathogens of jute. Farmers seeds carry seed-borne fungi and their prevalence varies in varieties and locations. Garlic tablet was effective in controlling seed-borne fungal infection; consequently the seed germination was high. The effect of allamanda tablet was similar to that of garlic tablet. Neem leaf extract was able to reduce seed-borne fungi but the other three extracts were not effective in controlling seed-borne infection. The performance of garlic tablet was similar to that of Vitavax-200. A significant increase in seedling vigor was also observed over untreated control after garlic treatment.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v22i1-2.16461 Progress. Agric. 22(1 & 2): 1  10, 2011
Escherichia coli from Horses Reared in and around Bangladesh Agricultural University Campus- A Study on Isolation and Characterization
Authors: Nahar KM , Khan MSR , Alam M , Nesa MK
Published: September 2013

The present study was conducted with a view to isolate and characterize Escherichia coli (E. coli) from horses reared in and around Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) campus and to know the clonal relationship of the isolates with E. coli of cattle, goat and chicken. It also focused on the determination of antimicrobial sensitivity and resistant pattern of the isolated horse E. coli. A total of 10 faecal samples, comprising 4 from diarrhoeic horses and 6 from apparently healthy horses were collected. The overall prevalence of E. coli was recorded as 60%. All isolates fermented dextrose, maltose, sucrose, lactose and mannitol with the production of both acid and gas. The isolates were positive to MR and Indole tests, but negative to VP test. DNA fingerprinting analysis using PFGE of Xbal-digested genomic DNA revealed that the strains of E. coli from different areas seem to be same clonal lineage, although no genetic clue could be found related to cattle, goat and chicken E. coli strains. The antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance pattern showed that the isolates of horse E. coli were highly sensitive to ciprofloxacin and chloramphenicol but to the amoxicillin and cephalexin, the isolates were highly resistant.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v22i1-2.16464 Progress. Agric. 22(1 & 2): 27 - 35, 2011
Effect of COMBOzyme® and Renasol AD3E® on Body Weight and Hematological Parameters in Broiler Chicken
Authors: Mustari A , Rana S , Rahman MM
Published: September 2013

The present research work was undertaken to study the effect of multi enzymes and vitamin AD3E on body weight and hematological parameter (TEC, Hb Concentration and ESR) in growing broilers fed with enzyme and vitamin AD3E with normal broiler ration. 20 broiler chickens of 10 (ten) days old Hubbard Classic were taken for study. The chicks were divided randomly into four groups with five chicks in each group. Group A designated as control group and was given normal broiler ration and rest of the groups were given enzyme and vitamin preparation. Group B was given enzyme only, group C was given vitamin only and group D was given both enzyme and vitamin as per schedule. It was observed that enzyme and vitamin AD3E preparation enhanced the growth rate of broilers. On the final day of experiment the body weight was significantly increased (P<0.01) in the treated groups in comparison to that of control group, TEC, Hb concentration and ESR values were significantly (P<0.01) increased in all treated  groups than the control group and among the treated groups vitamin AD3E showed lowest performance.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v22i1-2.16471 Progress. Agric. 22(1 & 2): 97-103, 2011