bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of Clinico-Epidemiological Profile and Outcome of Poisonous Snake Bites in Children
Authors: Paudel KM , Sharma S
Published: March 2012

Introduction: Snake bite poisoning in children is an emergency condition with significant mortality. It is more prevalent in Terai and Inner Terai regions of Nepal especially during monsoon season. There is no study on snake bite poisoning in this part of the country after the introduction of national snake bite management guideline in 2003. This retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the clinicoepidemiological profile, amount of anti-snake venom used and outcome of snake bites. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and forty six cases of snake bite poisoning admitted in emergency department of the hospital up to the age of 14 years, over a period of 6 years from 2004/2005 to 2009/2010 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: The study showed male predominance (57.3%) in snake bites with higher incidence of children above ten years of age (58%). The most of the poisonings (71.9%) was seen during June, July and August months which correspond to the monsoon season in Nepal. Majority of the victims had been bitten by unidentified snakes (52 %), mostly on the fingers & hands (64.6 %). Ptosis was observed in all cases of snake bite poisoning. Slightly less than 1/3rd of the children had respiratory distress needing respiratory support. Average ASV used was 18.2 vials. Case fatality rate (CFR) was quite high (28.2%) with more fatality on those with respiratory distress. Conclusion: As mortality due to snakebite poisoning and consumption of antisnake venom is not reduced by the use of the national protocol 2003, further study to evaluate alternate protocol is recommended. Key words: Case fatality rate; Envenomation; Nepal; Poisoning; Snakebite. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v32i1.5948   J. Nepal Paediatr. Soc. Vol.32(1) 2012 47-52
Evaluation of Video Camera System to Reduce Side Collisions of Transit Buses
Authors: Kourtellis Achilleas , Lin Pei-Sung , Lee Chanyoung
Published: March 2012

An aftermarket sideview video system has great potential to reduce side crashes of transit buses. This paper presents a research project that investigated the use of a sideview video system as a countermeasure against most problems with mirrors that caused side crashes in transit operations. Measurements showed that the video camera system with a regular-angle lens could reduce about 64% of the blind zone of a flat mirror system. The video system could reduce about 40% of the blind zone of a common system that combined flat and convex mirrors. With a wide-angle lens, the blind zones on both sides of transit buses could be completely eliminated. The controlled driving test, designed to determine whether drivers could use the system to perform everyday maneuvers, showed no statistically significant difference between distances perceived with the mirrors and with the camera system in static and dynamic conditions. During testing, several advantages of using a camera-based system over one with mirrors were observed. The testing confirmed that the system could be implemented and that further enhancement of the performance of the system could improve its potential over mirrors used on transit vehicles, with a resulting increase in safety and reduction in crashes.
Prevention of Tractor–Semitrailer Rollovers: Effectiveness of Electronic Stability Control Systems
Authors: Woodrooffe John , Blower Daniel , Green Paul E.
Published: March 2012

This study estimated the effectiveness of electronic stability control systems and roll stability control systems in preventing rollovers of heavy-truck tractor–semitrailers. The study combined hardware-in-the-loop simulation with the analysis of independent crash data sets. Engineering and statistical techniques were used to estimate the probable safety benefits of stability control technologies for five-axle tractor–semitrailers. The conventional approach for assessing the safety benefits of vehicle technologies was to analyze crash data sets containing data on the safety performance of vehicles equipped with the technology of interest. Because the deployment of the stability technologies for large trucks was in its infancy, national crash databases did not yet have a sufficient amount of factual data that could be directly linked to the performance of the technologies. Therefore a novel method of examining the potential benefits of these systems was used. This study focused on untripped vehicle rollovers in curves through the examination of crash scenarios that would be likely to benefit from the technologies; the probable effectiveness of each technology was estimated. The analysis in this study did not have the advantage of examining representative crash data sets that contained identifiable data from vehicles equipped with the technologies. Therefore, the analysis was based on probable outcome estimates derived from hardware-in-the-loop simulation, field test experience, and expert panel assessment, and these methods were used to estimate the safety benefits from the national crash data population.
Evaluation of Large-Truck Transportation Alternatives with Safety, Mobility, Energy, and Emissions Analysis
Authors: Samba David , Park Byungkyu (Brian) , Gardner Brian
Published: March 2012

During 2008, more than 5.8 million motor vehicle crashes, resulting in 37,000 fatalities and 2.3 million injuries, were reported to police in the United States. Research has identified heavy trucks as significant contributors to unsafe traveling conditions because of the different operating and maneuvering capabilities of trucks. Three safety treatments—peak hour travel restrictions, speed limiters, and lane restrictions—have been proposed to alleviate the safety risks of heavy trucks in the traffic stream. However, it is often difficult to quantify the potential safety benefits of transportation alternatives because crash occurrences, the ultimate indicators of the safety of a roadway, are sporadic, random events. A safety evaluation module was developed for the TRANSIMS microsimulator to simulate the safety of a transportation network with respect to rear-end crashes with safe headway distance used as a crash surrogate. The safety evaluation module could measure the safety benefits of competing transportation alternatives. Simulation results indicated that left-lane restrictions were the most statistically significant and beneficial treatment strategy; network-aggregated safe headway distance as an indicator of the likelihood of a rear-end crash decreased from pretreatment levels by at least 2% and 1% for the off-peak and peak hour travel periods, respectively. Supplementary analysis with the microscopic energy and emissions model from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University indicated that left-lane restrictions also had marginally positive effects on fuel consumption and emissions.
Development of Hardware-in-the-Loop Testbed for Evaluating Truck Safety Systems
Authors: Donoughe Kelly , Rakha Hesham , Swanson Wayne , Park Sangjun , Bryson Jared
Published: March 2012

The research presented developed a hardware-in-the-loop system for testing in-truck safety technology. The paper describes the hardware and software components that were required to develop the system, how the various components were integrated, and some initial validation tests of the system. Specifically, the paper describes how the hardware-in-the-loop system interacted with the TruckSim simulator to produce realistic results. The models used for the validation of the system are detailed; a demonstration of the system validity follows. The absolute and relative errors between the TruckSim simulation results and the hardware-in-the-loop simulation were demonstrated by a comparison of the temporal variation in velocity and the truck roll angle. The study demonstrated the benefits of an accurate hardware-in-the-loop system for testing future in-vehicle safety systems.
Analysis of Motorcycle Crashes in Texas with Multinomial Logit Model
Authors: Geedipally Srinivas Reddy , Turner Patricia A. , Patil Sunil
Published: March 2012

Motorcyclists accounted for 15% of all traffic-related deaths in Texas in 2008. This proportion increased threefold during the past decade. Knowledge of the associated causes of motorcycle crashes and the factors that contributed to the severity of injuries to motorcyclists involved in crashes is useful in suggesting approaches for reducing their frequency and severity. In this study, crash data from police-reported motorcycle crashes in Texas were used to estimate multinomial logit models to identify differences in factors likely to affect the severity of crash injuries of motorcyclists. In addition, probabilistic models of the injury severity of motorcyclists in urban and rural crashes were estimated. Average direct and cross-pseudoelasticity results supported the development of probabilistic models for identifying factors that significantly influenced injury severity in urban and rural motorcycle crashes. Key findings showed that alcohol, gender, lighting, and presence of both horizontal and vertical curves played significant roles in injury outcomes of motorcyclist crashes in urban areas. Similar factors were found to have significantly affected the injury severity of motorcyclists in rural areas, but older riders (older than 55), single-vehicle crashes, angular crashes, and divided highways also affected injury severity outcomes in rural motorcycle crashes. From the study findings, recommendations to reduce the severity of motorcyclists’ crash injuries are presented.
Glancing and Stopping Behavior of Motorcyclists and Car Drivers at Intersections
Authors: Muttart Jeffrey W. , Peck Louis R. , Guderian Steve , Bartlett Wade , Ton Lisa P. , Kauderer Chris , Fisher Donald L. , Manning Joseph E.
Published: March 2012

For the past decade, motorcycle fatalities have risen while other motor vehicle fatalities have declined. Many motorcycle fatalities occurred within intersections after a driver failed to see a motorcyclist. However, little is known about the behavior of motorcyclists when they negotiate an intersection. A study was undertaken to compare the behavior at intersections of an experienced group of motorcyclists when they were operating a motorcycle with their behavior when they were driving a car. Each participant navigated a course through low-volume, open roads. Participants wore eye-tracking equipment to record eye-glance information, and the motorcycle and car were instrumented with an onboard accelerometer and Global Positioning System apparatus. Results showed that participants were more likely to make last glances toward the direction of the most threatening traffic before they made a turn when they were driving a car than when they were riding a motorcycle. In addition, motorcyclists were less likely to come to a complete stop at a stop sign than car drivers. These results suggested that motorcyclists were exposing themselves to unnecessary risk. Specifically, motorcyclists frequently failed to make proper glances and practice optimal riding techniques. The behavior of the motorcyclists was compared with the current Motorcycle Safety Foundation curriculum. The results suggested that threat-response and delayed-apex techniques should be added to the training curriculum.
Impact of Belt Use by Rear-Seat Occupants on Injury Severity of Belted Drivers in New Jersey
Authors: Nukenine Siri Konje Lawrencia , Daniel Janice
Published: March 2012

In January 2010, legislation in New Jersey required all occupants of vehicles to wear seatbelts regardless of seating positions. Although it is known that an unbelted rear-seat passenger affects the safety of the driver, the level of the impact is not clear. The objective of this research was to identify the factors that influenced the injury severity of a belted driver with and without rear-seat occupants. Injury severity models were developed with crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System for New Jersey for 2004 to 2006. The results indicated that the probability that a driver or right-front-seat occupant would sustain more-severe injuries was higher when a left-backseat, middle-backseat, or right-backseat occupant was unbelted. For vehicles with two backseat occupants (left-back and right-back), coefficient values for these variables indicated that lack of seat belt use by either occupant affected the injury severity level of a belted driver. The results showed that the right-backseat occupant had the greatest effect on the injury level of drivers compared with the left-back and middle-back occupants. Although seat belt use by a backseat occupant was found to affect the injury severity of a belted driver, this research demonstrated that the effect became more significant or increased as the number of backseat occupants in the vehicle increased.
Driver Response to Automated Speed Enforcement on Rural Highways in China
Authors: Liu Pan , Zhang Xu , Wang Wei , Xu Chengcheng
Published: March 2012

The primary objective of the present study was to identify how automated speed enforcement (ASE) affected the speeds that drivers choose on rural highways. The study specifically sought answers to the following two questions: (a) How did drivers respond to ASE on rural highways where live speed enforcement is limited? (b) What was the spatial extent of the speed reduction effects of ASE on rural highways? The research team compared speed data collected at various distances from seven sites in the Nanjing area of China where speed cameras were deployed. It was found that ASE significantly reduced vehicle speeds and speed violations in the vicinity of the locations where the speed cameras were deployed. However, ASE was not an effective way to reduce vehicle speeds on road sections beyond the area of influence of the speed cameras. The speed profiles developed in this study showed that the area of influence of a speed camera on a rural highway was generally less than 1 km. Drivers usually started to decelerate about 300 to 400 m before the speed cameras and recovered their original speeds about 300 to 400 m after the speed cameras. The findings suggested that without supplementation with other live speed enforcement efforts, such as mobile or stationary police patrols, elimination of speed violations on rural highways by the use of ASE alone would be difficult. A more realistic solution would be to deploy speed cameras at preselected potentially hazardous locations, such as intersections and horizontal curves, to help reduce speed violations.
Site Selection Process and Methodology for Deployment of Intersection Safety Cameras in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: de Leur Paul , Milner Mark
Published: March 2012

The Intersection Safety Camera Program (ISCP) in British Columbia, Canada, has proved effective in reducing the frequency of collisions at locations where intersection safety cameras (red light cameras) have been deployed. Postimplementation evaluations of ISCP conducted by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia detected a 14% reduction in collisions resulting in injuries 18 months after the program was implemented. A follow-up study conducted 36 months after ISCP implementation examined the safety performance of ISCP and found that the rate of collisions resulting in injuries was reduced by 6.4%. Given the ongoing and long-term success of ISCP at reducing collisions, it was decided that the program should be expanded. To support ISCP expansion, it was necessary to examine how the program had been implemented and to learn from the results of the previous program evaluations. A critical element of ISCP is the selection of sites to be targeted for deployment of intersection safety cameras. The sites selected should have a demonstrated safety problem, such that the site will offer significant potential for improvement after an intersection safety camera has been installed. In addition, sites should be selected such that the life-cycle cost of deployment of the intersection safety camera will be less than the safety benefits that will accrue from reduced numbers of collisions and the associated costs. This paper presents the process and methodology that were used to select candidate sites for the deployment of an expanded ISCP in British Columbia.
Transportation Alternatives of the Elderly after Driving Cessation
Authors: Kim Sungyop
Published: March 2012

Rapid growth of the older population poses a significant challenge in transportation. This study investigated stated transportation alternatives of the elderly, age 65 and older, when they can no longer drive; the data are from a national survey conducted by the American Association of Retired Persons in 2004. Using a multinomial logit model, this study analyzed various personal, household, and neighborhood environmental factors associated with transportation alternatives. The study found that getting a ride was the most preferred mode of transportation, regardless of the residential environment. Females were less likely to consider public transit or walking as their preferred transportation alternatives when they could no longer drive, and Hispanics were more likely to consider public transit as their alternative. The elderly with high incomes had a higher propensity toward walking when they were no longer able to drive. Walking was more popular among urban elderly residents. Public transit accessibility increased the propensity toward public transit use, and greater accessibility to activity locations within walking distance increased the propensity toward walking. Finally, the elderly were less likely to consider public transit and walking as their alternatives when they ceased driving if they had never been without transportation.
Liability Issues of Volunteer Driving Programs
Authors: Hendricks Sara J. , Audino Michael J.
Published: March 2012

There is a lack of transportation options suitable for seniors who can no longer drive, particularly for those too frail to use public transportation. The development and the operation of volunteer driving programs for seniors has been one approach to solve this problem. However, these programs encounter various operational challenges, including protecting the safety of riders and drivers, managing liability, and properly insuring the programs. On the basis of case study research, this paper proposes ideas for enhancing risk management by balancing the scales of liability, obtaining needed insurance, adopting suggested volunteer driver procedures, and using contracts, legislative remedies at the state and federal levels, and a charitable redress system.
Transportation, Distance, and Health Care Utilization for Older Adults in Rural and Small Urban Areas
Authors: Mattson Jeremy
Published: March 2012

Transportation is vital for access to health care, especially in rural areas, where travel distances are great and access to alternative modes such as transit is less prevalent. This study estimated the impacts of transportation and travel distance on the utilization of health care services for older adults in rural and small urban areas. With data collected from a survey, a model was developed on the basis of the Health Behavior Model, which considered transportation and distance as factors that could enable or impede health care utilization. A random sample of individuals age 60 years and older living in the rural Upper Great Plains states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming were surveyed by mail. Responses were received from 543 individuals (20% response rate). Probit models were used to estimate trip frequency and the likelihood that an individual would miss or would delay a health care trip. Distance and transportation variables were not found to influence significantly the total number of routine or chronic care trips made overall, while emergency care visits were affected by the availability of transportation options. Additional results showed that those who could not drive made more trips if someone in the household could drive and that distance and access to transportation affected the difficulty reported in making trips and the likelihood of missing or delaying a trip. The greatest problems for people using public transportation for health care trips were inconvenient schedules, the need to match transit and medical schedules, and infrequent service.
Simulation Study of Access Management at Modern Roundabouts: Treatments of Pedestrian Crosswalks
Authors: Lu George X. , Guan Fang , Noyce David A.
Published: March 2012

The widespread emergence of modern roundabouts in North America has kindled a controversy about pedestrian access. Almost uninterrupted traffic streams, ambient noises, and urban settings make it difficult for the visually impaired to perceive safe crossing gaps when only auditory cues are used. In 2005, the U.S. Access Board released a revised draft guideline calling for the provision of a “pedestrian-activated traffic signal … for each segment of the crosswalk” to ensure access for vision-impaired pedestrians. The Access Management Manual prescribes major transportation actions encompassing multimodal streets with sidewalks and adequate pedestrian refuges, but the manual does not address the issue of pedestrian access at roundabouts. In North America few roundabouts have been outfitted with pedestrian signals. Little research has explored signalizing roundabouts for pedestrian access improvements. This simulation study quantitatively assessed the performance of four pedestrian signals placed at roundabouts with a wide spectrum of test scenarios resulting from varied crosswalk layouts, installation schemes, and operational conditions. A two-stage installation scheme was found more operationally efficient than a one-stage scheme; with the two-stage scheme, no significant differences existed between three layouts. When a one-stage scheme operated, a distant layout reduced vehicle delay and queue length because of enlarged storage space. High-intensity activated crosswalk signals induced minimum vehicle delay, and pedestrian user-friendly interface signals minimized pedestrian delay while fully protecting pedestrians. The findings provide an objective basis for identifying crosswalk treatments to improve roundabout accessibility and are informative for transportation policy makers, planners, and practitioners in the access management community who work at enhancing roundabout accessibility for pedestrians.
On-Road Evaluation of Emission Impacts of Roundabouts
Authors: Hallmark Shauna L. , Wang Bo , Mudgal Abhisek , Isebrands Hillary
Published: March 2012

Reduced emissions and improved air quality are typically attributed to the use of roundabouts rather than traditional stop or signal control. Roundabouts are expected to reduce emissions as a result of reduced delays and stops. However, roundabouts slow all vehicles to speeds at which emissions may be higher, while signals stop and delay only a portion of vehicles. Roundabouts may also increase the amount of acceleration and deceleration for all vehicles. Because emissions are correlated to these modal events, their impacts should be considered in the evaluation of roundabouts. An on-road assessment of the emission impacts of two roundabouts compared with other types of traffic control was conducted with a vehicle instrumented with a portable emissions monitor. Emissions were measured along two corridors in Woodbury, Minnesota, with two drivers. The corridor at Bailey Road had two four-way stop-controlled intersections, one roundabout, and one signal. The corridor at Lake Road had one four-way stop, one roundabout, and one signal. Intersection spacing and traffic parameters were similar along each corridor. Emissions were compared for sections 750 ft upstream and 750 ft downstream of each intersection. Traffic conditions during data collection along both corridors were uncongested. Average emission rate by driver was compared for the three types of traffic control. Results suggested that emissions were highly dependent on driver behavior. The roundabouts did not necessarily have lower emissions than traditional stop or signal control.
Operations of Modern Roundabout with Unbalanced Approach Volumes
Authors: Valdez Marilyn , Cheu Ruey Long , Duran Carlos
Published: March 2012

This research examined the operations of a four-legged, two-lane modern roundabout with different combinations of approach volumes. Because of the insufficient number of roundabouts to collect field data, experiments were performed with the VISSIM microscopic traffic simulation model. The model's parameters were calibrated with real data collected at a four-legged, two-lane modern roundabout. Different combinations of approach volumes, which ranged from 400 to 1,600 vehicles per hour, were simulated to create relatively high or low traffic demand in one or two approaches. The performance of each roundabout approach was measured by average control delay and level of service. The results of the experiments highlight the potential operational issues of four-legged, two-lane modern roundabouts. The results are presented in three charts that may serve as a quick reference guide for engineers to determine whether a roundabout is a feasible type of intersection control for a given set of design volumes before in-depth engineering analysis is performed.
Risk factors for ischemic heart disorder patients: Outcome of a survey conducted in Dhaka city, Bangladesh
Authors: Sultana Rumana , Anisuzzaman Sharif Md , Begum Anjuman Ara , Chowdhury Sanchita Sharmin , Akter Taslima , Chowdhury AY SK Feroz Uddin Ahmed
Published: March 2012

This study was conducted to explore the risk factors of the patients of ischemic heart disorder. Data were collected by questionnaires on the basis of age, sex, body mass index, smoking and presence or absence of other diseases like lung, kidney, thyroid and peripheral vascular diseases, diabetes etc. Data of 150 patients were analyzed statistically. Males were found more vulnerable to ischemic heart disorder than females. This study also indicates that increased body weight, higher body mass index, hypertension, smoking, sedenatary life style and family history of cardiac diseases are influential risk factors for ischemic heart disorder. Key Words: Ischemic heart disorder, body mass index, physical activity, risk factors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i4.10060International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 1(4): 68-70
Development and Validation of RP-HPLC method for determination of Modafinil in bulk and dosage form(3ò¬
Authors: Bhimanadhuni Chusena Narasimha Raju , Garikapati Devala Rao , Karamsetty Swetha
Published: March 2012

A reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the determination of Modafinil in bulk and dosage form. The separation was effective on a Hypersil ODS C18 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm; 5μ) using a mobile phase mixture of Buffer:Acetonitrile in a ratio of 55:45 (v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0ml/min. The detection was made at 220nm. The retention time of modafinil was found to be 4.80±0.06 min. Calibration curve was linear over the concentration range of 20-120μg/ml of modafinil. The proposed method was validated as per the ICH guidelines. The method was accurate, precise, specific and rapid and thus found to be suitable for the quantitative analysis of modafi-nil in the bulk and dosage form.Key Words: Method development; validation; Modafinil; Tablets; Hypersil C18 Column; RP-HPLC.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v1i4.10062International Current Pharmaceutical Journal 2012, 1(4): 77-80
Using Web 2.0 Technologies for Collaborative Learning in Distance Education—Case Studies from an Australian University
Authors: Den Exter Kristin , Rowe Stephen , Boyd William , Lloyd David
Published: March 2012

This paper explores the use of Web 2.0 technologies for collaborative learning in a higher education context. A review of the literature exploring the strengths and weaknesses of Web 2.0 technology is presented, and a conceptual model of a Web 2.0 community of inquiry is introduced. Two Australian case studies are described, with an ex-poste evaluation of the use of Web 2.0 tools. Conclusions are drawn as to the potential for the use of Web 2.0 tools for collaborative e-learning in higher education. In particular, design and integration of Web 2.0 tools should be closely related to curriculum intent and pedagogical requirements, care must be taken to provide clear guidance on both expected student activity and learning expectations, and there is a clear need to develop, support and encourage strong interaction both between teachers and students, and amongst the students themselves.
Health Risk Assessment for Cyanobacterial Toxins in Seafood
Authors: Mulvenna Vanora , Dale Katie , Priestly Brian , Mueller Utz , Humpage Andrew , Shaw Glen , Allinson Graeme , Falconer Ian
Published: March 2012

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are abundant in fresh, brackish and marine waters worldwide. When toxins produced by cyanobacteria are present in the aquatic environment, seafood harvested from these waters may present a health hazard to consumers. Toxicity hazards from seafood have been internationally recognised when the source is from marine algae (dinoflagellates and diatoms), but to date few risk assessments for cyanobacterial toxins in seafood have been presented. This paper estimates risk from seafood contaminated by cyanobacterial toxins, and provides guidelines for safe human consumption.
Unraveling the Early Events of Amyloid-β Protein (Aβ) Aggregation: Techniques for the Determination of Aβ Aggregate Size
Authors: Pryor N. Elizabeth , Moss Melissa A. , Hestekin Christa N.
Published: March 2012

The aggregation of proteins into insoluble amyloid fibrils coincides with the onset of numerous diseases. An array of techniques is available to study the different stages of the amyloid aggregation process. Recently, emphasis has been placed upon the analysis of oligomeric amyloid species, which have been hypothesized to play a key role in disease progression. This paper reviews techniques utilized to study aggregation of the amyloid-β protein (Aβ) associated with Alzheimer’s disease. In particular, the review focuses on techniques that provide information about the size or quantity of oligomeric Aβ species formed during the early stages of aggregation, including native-PAGE, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, capillary electrophoresis, mass spectrometry, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy, light scattering, size exclusion chromatography, centrifugation, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and dot blotting.
Comparative Evolution of S7 Intron 1 and Ribosomal Internal Transcribed Spacer in Coilia nasus (Clupeiformes: Engraulidae)
Authors: Liu Dong , Guo Hong-Yi , Tang Wen-Qiao , Yang Jin-Quan
Published: March 2012

Coilia nasus is widely distributed in the Yangtze River, the coastal waters of China, Korea and the Ariake Sound of Japan. Several ecotypes exist and this provides a useful model for the study of comparative diversity between molecular markers. Here we analyze and compare the nucleotide sequences between single-copy ribosomal protein S7 gene intron 1 (rpS7) and multiple-copy ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) in this species to compare the phylogenetic signal of the two nuclear genes. Nucleotide substitutions among the two gene sequences and partial sequence of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were also analyzed. A total of 115 clones for rpS7 and 122 clones for ITS1 were obtained from 37 specimens. The nucleotide sequence length is 741 to 743 bp for rpS7 and 334 to 348 bp for ITS1. Intra- and inter-specimen variation in rpS7 results from nucleotide substitution, while such variation in ITS1 is mainly due to different numbers of short base repeats. The content of G + C is lower in rpS7 (43.5%) than in ITS1 (68.2%). Our results indicate that the proportion of the sequence variable sites is higher in rpS7 (61) than in ITS1 (23); the informative parsimony of rpS7 is evidently higher than that of ITS1 (26 vs. 2); the overall ratio between transitions and transversions in ITS1 is slightly lower than in rpS7, but remarkably lower than in COI. These results suggest that rpS7 is more suitable than ITS1 as a marker for genetic divergence of this group. Furthermore, gene flow is observed between the different geographic populations of C. nasus from the phylogeny of this species based on rpS7, showing that rpS7 has more evolutionary characteristics for understanding the processes of genomic evolution at the intraspecific level.
Glutathione Is a Key Player in Metal-Induced Oxidative Stress Defenses
Authors: Jozefczak Marijke , Remans Tony , Vangronsveld Jaco , Cuypers Ann
Published: March 2012

Since the industrial revolution, the production, and consequently the emission of metals, has increased exponentially, overwhelming the natural cycles of metals in many ecosystems. Metals display a diverse array of physico-chemical properties such as essential versus non-essential and redox-active versus non-redox-active. In general, all metals can lead to toxicity and oxidative stress when taken up in excessive amounts, imposing a serious threat to the environment and human health. In order to cope with different kinds of metals, plants possess defense strategies in which glutathione (GSH; γ-glu-cys-gly) plays a central role as chelating agent, antioxidant and signaling component. Therefore, this review highlights the role of GSH in: (1) metal homeostasis; (2) antioxidative defense; and (3) signal transduction under metal stress. The diverse functions of GSH originate from the sulfhydryl group in cysteine, enabling GSH to chelate metals and participate in redox cycling.
Gas-Foamed Scaffold Gradients for Combinatorial Screening in 3D
Authors: Chatterjee Kaushik , Kraigsley Alison M. , Bolikal Durgadas , Kohn Joachim , Simon Carl G.
Published: March 2012

Current methods for screening cell-material interactions typically utilize a two-dimensional (2D) culture format where cells are cultured on flat surfaces. However, there is a need for combinatorial and high-throughput screening methods to systematically screen cell-biomaterial interactions in three-dimensional (3D) tissue scaffolds for tissue engineering. Previously, we developed a two-syringe pump approach for making 3D scaffold gradients for use in combinatorial screening of salt-leached scaffolds. Herein, we demonstrate that the two-syringe pump approach can also be used to create scaffold gradients using a gas-foaming approach. Macroporous foams prepared by a gas-foaming technique are commonly used for fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds due to their high interconnectivity and good mechanical properties. Gas-foamed scaffold gradient libraries were fabricated from two biodegradable tyrosine-derived polycarbonates: poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine ethyl ester carbonate) (pDTEc) and poly(desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine octyl ester carbonate) (pDTOc). The composition of the libraries was assessed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and showed that pDTEc/pDTOc gas-foamed scaffold gradients could be repeatably fabricated. Scanning electron microscopy showed that scaffold morphology was similar between the pDTEc-rich ends and the pDTOc-rich ends of the gradient. These results introduce a method for fabricating gas-foamed polymer scaffold gradients that can be used for combinatorial screening of cell-material interactions in 3D.
Temperature-Frequency Converter Using a Liquid Crystal Cell as a Sensing Element
Authors: Marcos Carlos , Pena José M. Sánchez , Torres Juan C. , Santos José Isidro
Published: March 2012

A new temperature-frequency converter based on the variation of the dielectric permittivity of the Liquid Crystal (LC) material with temperature has been demonstrated. Unlike other temperature sensors based on liquid crystal processing optical signals for determining the temperature, this work presents a system that is able to sense temperature by using only electrical signals. The variation of the dielectric permittivity with temperature is used to modify the capacitance of a plain capacitor using a LC material as non-ideal dielectric. An electric oscillator with an output frequency depending on variable capacitance made of a twisted-nematic (TN) liquid crystal (LC) cell has been built. The output frequency is related to the temperature of LC cell through the equations associated to the oscillator circuit. The experimental results show excellent temperature sensitivity, with a variation of 0.40% of the initial frequency per degree Celsius in the temperature range from −6 °C to 110 °C.
Design and Fabrication of Single-Walled Carbon Nanonet Flexible Strain Sensors
Authors: Huang Ya-Ting , Huang Shyh-Chour , Hsu Chih-Chao , Chao Ru-Min , Vu Trung Kien
Published: March 2012

This study presents a novel flexible strain sensor for real-time strain sensing. The material for strain sensing is single-walled carbon nanonets, grown using the alcohol catalytic chemical vapor deposition method, that were encapsulated between two layers of Parylene-C, with a polyimide layer as the sensing surface. All of the micro-fabrication was compatible with the standard IC process. Experimental results indicated that the gauge factor of the proposed strain sensor was larger than 4.5, approximately 2.0 times greater than those of commercial gauges. The results also demonstrated that the gauge factor is small when the growth time of SWCNNs is lengthier, and the gauge factor is large when the line width of the serpentine pattern of SWCNNs is small.
Classical Knot Theory
Authors: Carter J. Scott
Published: March 2012

This paper is a very brief introduction to knot theory. It describes knot coloring by quandles, the fundamental group of a knot complement, and handle-decompositions of knot complements.
L'ordre des unités dans les diplômes militaires de Maurétanie tingitane à partir de 122 ap. J.-C
Authors: Labory Nadine
Published: March 2012

Après 122 ap.J.-C, les unités mentionnées sur les diplômes semblent énumérées selon leur emplacement géographique dans la province de Maurétanie tingitane, du sud au nord pour les ailes, et du nord au sud pour les cohortes.
Dans les jardins de Djemila
Authors: Blanchard-Lemée Michèle
Published: March 2012

En relation avec les recherches de W.F. fashemski sur les jardins de l'Empire romain, étude et nouvelle interprétation des jardins de deux domus de Cuicul (Djemila, Algérie) : la maison de l'Âne, avec des bassins imbriqués et un viridarium enclos dont le plan peut s'expliquer par l'hypothèse d'une salle de réception à l'étage, et la « maison de Bacchus », avec trois jardins dont on peut suivre l'évolution sur trois siècles. À la fin du IIe ou au début du IIIe s., le jardin ouest, reliant la salle à mosaïque dionysiaque au sud à de petits thermes au nord, comportait une terrasse, un grand bassin rectangulaire, une pergola, une statue de Vénus et une source. Il fut amoindri par la construction, au milieu du Ve s., de la salle à sept absides et du vivier prolongeant l'oecus. Réflexions sur les modifications du rapport de l'homme avec la nature et sur le rôle du paysage naturel dans le décor des maisons citadines.
Un témoignage sur les uenatores en Afrique : la statue de Sidi Ghrib (Tunisie)
Authors: Baratte François
Published: March 2012

A marble statue discovered at Sidi Ghrib (Tunisia) represents a venator fighting deer in the amphitheatre. Although the head is missing, the statue offers interesting details regarding the hunters 'dress, which may be compared with depictions of 'vena- tores on reliefs and mosaics. The statue is richly ornamented with an engraved breast-plate, that allows us to identify the individual as member of a sodality.
Méprise sur l'iconographie d'un four de verrier antique
Authors: Foy Danièle
Published: March 2012

This paper offers a new interpretation of a lamp discovered at Carthage thought to represent a glassmaker's oven. In fact, the lamp portrays a tree house, a theme well documented on lamps.
La céramique de l'édifice des Asclepeia à Thuburbo Majus (Tunisie)
Authors: Ben Abed-Ben Khader Aïcha , Bonifay Michel
Published: March 2012

La céramique recueillie dans l'édifice aux Asclépeia de Thuburbo Majus provient de deux contextes différents .· d'une part, une couche de destruction du VF siècle et, d'autre part, une fosse de la fin du IV ou du début du V siècle qui a livré, en association avec quelques tessons de vaisselles, une collection de dix-huit lampes en céramique commune (type dérivé de Deneauve VII Β, type Deneauve XI A à globules et lampes « à côtes de melon » Deneauve XI B). Cet ensemble ainsi que quelques éléments de comparaison provenant de Pupput et Sidijdidi suscitent quelques observations plus générales sur la typologie et la chronologie des lampes africaines tardives de tradition antique.
Emblèmes macédoniens. Une hypothèse sur une série de boucliers de Macédoine en Numidie
Authors: Polito Eugenio
Published: March 2012

L 'examen du décor à boucliers et cuirasses des deux monuments numides de Simitthus et du Kbor Klib, datés du milieu du IIe siècle av. J.-C, permet de proposer de nouvelles identifications pour quelques emblèmes, semblables à des exemplaires représentés sur d'autres monuments et sur des monnaies macédoniennes. Nous essayons ensuite d'expliquer la présence de ces motifs en suggérant que les deux bâtiments pourraient être en relation avec la participation de la Numidie aux Guerres macédoniennes aux côtés des Romains. Il pourrait toutefois s'agir d'un simple rappel des symboles royaux d'Alexandre le Grand.
Fouilles sur la nécropole de la gare routière de Cherchell, Algérie (1992-1993)
Authors: Leveau Philippe
Published: March 2012

La découverte d'une nécropole romaine à l'occasion de l'aménagement d'une gare routière dans le secteur occidental de la ville de Cherchell en 1990 a été à l'origine d'une fouille de sauvetage menée conjointement par une équipe de l'Agence Nationale algérienne de l'Archéologie et une équipe aixoise dans le cadre d'un protocole d'accord archéologique entre la France et l'Algérie. Deux campagnes de fouilles réalisées en 1992 et 1993 ont permis de mettre au jour un vaste secteur d'une nécropole où s'enchevêtrent étroitement des édifices funéraires entourés d'enclos et des sépultures de différentes natures (incinérations, inhumations), attestant d'une continuité d'utilisation de cet espace au Haut et au Bas Empire (IIe-Ve siècle de notre ère). Une typologie des tombes, des monuments et des rites funéraires est proposée par les auteurs, qui se sont attachés également à replacer la nécropole dans le contexte topographique qui était le sien dans l'Antiquité.
Renardie féline et ambiguïté cléricale : Les « Vêpres de Tibert le Chat »
Authors: Batany Jean
Published: March 2012

À propos d'un livre de Jean Dufournet sur la branche XII du Roman de Renart (Les Vêpres de Tibert le Chat), on reprend ici divers problèmes de détail de ce texte, où le chat s'affirme comme concurrent et victime de Renart, dont il est une sorte de réplique cléricale, chargée d'ambiguïté.
Contribution à l'étude de la transmission des cycles bibliques du haut moyen âge. Les enluminures du Livre de Daniel dans la Bible mozarabe de 960.
Authors: Vallejo Bozal Javier
Published: March 2012

Depuis la fin du IXe s., et au cours des siècles suivants, le commentaire de l'Apocalypse de Beatus de Liebana fut abondamment copié dans les scriptoria monastiques de Léon et de Castille. C'est vers le milieu du Xe s. qu'on accompagna généralement le Livre de Daniel d'un commentaire enluminé de saint Jérôme, constituant ainsi l'un des plus vastes cycles d'illustrations du prophète dans l'Occident chrétien avant le XIe s. À la différence de l'iconographie apocalyptique, le cycle prophétique a un parallèle contemporain dans une Bible bien connue, réalisée en 960, sans doute dans le scriptorium du monastère castillan de Valeranica, qui renferme une série d'enluminures illustrant le livre du prophète. L'analyse de ce cycle biblique et sa comparaison avec les ajouts aux manuscrits de Beatus révèlent une étroite relation entre eux, ce qui témoigne d'un modèle commun, interprété différemment : dans le premier cas, il existe un lien étroit avec le modèle, dans le deuxième il y a sans doute innovation.
La Vita Leopardini (B.H.L. 4882), source pour la Paix de Dieu
Authors: Howe John
Published: March 2012

Archbishop Aymo of Bourges is one of the most notorious figures of the Peace of God movement. Around 1038, his Peace League was destroyed in a battle on the banks of the River Cher. Because the Vita Leopardini, which is approximately contemporary with Aimo, is associated with his familial and cultic interests, it seems reasonable to assume that it reveals something about his world. The Vita would have provided a model for joyous acceptance of adversity, an affirmation that even bloody slaughter would be followed by ultimate glory. It opposes aggressive pride with humility. The « crowd » is extremely important. The Vita inclines one to favor Thomas Head's portrayal of Aimo as a Peace partisan rather than Guy Devailly's depiction of him as a bishop caught up in a typical quarrel over familial interests.
Les libéralismes économiques et la crise
Authors: De Vroey Michel
Published: March 2012

Economic Liberalisms and the Crisis.

The emergence of the crisis has given a new impetus to the criticism of economic liberalism. My claim in this paper is that such criticisms will be to no avail as long as the idea of liberalism remains homogenous. It should rather be considered that several degrees of liberalism coexist, which I call full liberalism, mitigated liberalism and mitigated anti-liberalism with additional subcategories for the first two categories. In the first part of the paper, I explain the salient traits of economic liberalism in general. Its justification by Adam Smith is discussed in part two. In part three, I show how the different forms of liberalism have emerged with the passing of time.
Une estimation de la cible implicite d’inflation dans la zone euro
Authors: Sahuc Jean-Guillaume , Matheron Julien , Fève Patrick
Published: March 2012

Estimation of the Implicit Inflation Target in the Euro Area.

Euro area countries as a whole have experienced a marked downward trend over the 1980s. Over this period, the unemployment rate has increased and economic activity has been sluggish. Changes in the implicit inflation target, viewed as low frequency movements of inflation, might possibly explain these developments. To highlight this issue, the present study estimates the dynamics of the implicit inflation target in the euro zone over the period 1970-2004. Based on a small macroeconometric model, the implicit target, not known by the econometrician, is identified through a minimal set of theoretical restrictions : (i) the inflation target is a non stationary process, (ii) inflation is a monetary phenomenon in the long-run, and (iii) changes in the implicit target have no long-run effects whatsoever on real variables. The model is estimated so as to match output growth, changes in inflation and the ex post real interest rate. Our main results are : (i) inflation target shocks account for the bulk of nominal fluctuations ; (ii) due to monetary policy inertia and nominal stickiness, changes in the target generate large swings in the real interest rate translating into substantial short-run effects on real variables ; (ii) in spite of this inflation target shocks moderately impact on output dynamics.