bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supervised community treatment: 2-year follow-up study in Suffolk
Authors: Dye Stephen , Dannaram Srinivas , Loynes Benjamin , Dickenson Rebecca
Published: August 2012

Aims and method

To describe the use of community treatment orders (CTOs) and outcomes for patients placed under CTOs within the first 8 months of use in Suffolk. We performed retrospective and prospective examination of health records to collect sociodemographic and clinical measurements with a specific data-collection tool.

Results

All of the patients studied had a major psychotic mental illness. A significant proportion of the patients had a history of alcohol or substance misuse and contact with judicial services. Implementation of a CTO was associated with an increase in engagement, a decrease in the number of admissions, and increased time spent outside hospital.

Clinical implications

This small localised study indicates that supervised community treatment can have benefits for some patients. The challenge now is to examine the practice of supervised community treatment and to receive meaningful feedback from people who are subject to such treatment.
Football and psychosis
Authors: Nolot Franck , Védie Christian , Stewart Alistair
Published: August 2012

After 25 years of promoting football in psychiatric hospitals, the authors highlight the potential benefits of sport and physical activity in treating people diagnosed with psychosis. A number of clinical cases are used to illustrate the benefits to individual people as well as to the collective and the institution.
Kinetic signatures of microRNA modes of action
Authors: Morozova Nadya , Zinovyev Andrei , Nonne Nora , Pritchard Linda-Louise , Gorban Alexander N. , Harel-Bellan Annick
Published: August 2012

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of all important biological processes, including development, differentiation, and cancer. Although remarkable progress has been made in deciphering the mechanisms used by miRNAs to regulate translation, many contradictory findings have been published that stimulate active debate in this field. Here we contribute to this discussion in three ways. First, based on a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, we hypothesize a model in which all proposed mechanisms of microRNA action coexist, and where the apparent mechanism that is detected in a given experiment is determined by the relative values of the intrinsic characteristics of the target mRNAs and associated biological processes. Among several coexisting miRNA mechanisms, the one that will effectively be measurable is that which acts on or changes the sensitive parameters of the translation process. Second, we have created a mathematical model that combines nine known mechanisms of miRNA action and estimated the model parameters from the literature. Third, based on the mathematical modeling, we have developed a computational tool for discriminating among different possible individual mechanisms of miRNA action based on translation kinetics data that can be experimentally measured (kinetic signatures). To confirm the discriminatory power of these kinetic signatures and to test our hypothesis, we have performed several computational experiments with the model in which we simulated the coexistence of several miRNA action mechanisms in the context of variable parameter values of the translation.
The allocation of the digital dividend in Austria
Authors: Börnsen Arne , Braulke Tim , Kruse Jörn , Latzer Michael
Published: August 2012

The digital dividend is the amount of spectrum that is freed up by the switchover from analogue TV to digital terrestrial TV in the ultra high frequency band. Drawing from a research project (Braulke et al. 2010) commissioned by the Austrian regulator Rundfunk und Telekommunikations
Regulierungs GmbH, this article prioritizes, analyses and evaluates the options of use of the 790–862 MHz frequency band – the so-called ‘upper digital dividend’ in Austria. The underlying economic considerations are based on an analysis of the incremental value. The
two main options are the use of the spectrum for digital television and the use for mobile broadband (MBB). The economic analysis clearly shows that the use of the upper digital dividend for MBB would generate the highest economic value. The Austrian government has, based on this analysis,
decided to assign the upper digital dividend for MBB use from 2012 onwards. An auction of the spectrum will take place in 2011.
Regulating content as communications converge
Authors: Darlington Roger , Tambini Damian
Published: August 2012

This article was compiled as a joint interview with the two authors, who have different views from one another. They answer in turn the question of how broadcasting and Internet content are regulated today, then they consider whether convergence will need to bring converged regulation,
and then they each outline their views on how this should be done. Finally, they do a critique of one another’s ideas.
The future organization of the United Kingdom’s DTT platform
Authors: Bell Martin L.
Published: August 2012

This article looks at the complex set of relationships between the main participants in the United Kingdom’s digital terrestrial television platform, gives a brief account of how they evolved, and summarizes many of the concerns now being expressed inside the industry about the
future of its organization.
Television in India: The starting point for digital switchover
Authors: BHAT RAMNATH
Published: August 2012

Starting from two channels of public broadcaster Doordarshan in the 1970s, today there are more than 500 television channels in India, making it one of the most vibrant in the digital communication sector. Digitization, however, is only just beginning. In 2005, plans were developed
for digitizing the largely analogue cable TV service in India and a timetable set for completing the process by December 2013. Meanwhile, the analogue terrestrial TV spectrum continues to be used only by the two public broadcaster channels, while all the private television channels operate
via satellite. The public broadcaster aims to digitize production of content, carriage and distribution by 2015. The resultant empty spectrum has been a greatly contested space between the broadcasting and mobile telephony sector. The broadcasting sector has plans to use the spectrum for digital
terrestrial television, whereas the mobile telephony sector has plans to use the same sector for 4G and Broadband Wireless Access (BWA). This commentary outlines the background to the present position and the challenges ahead for the TV sector to become completely digitized from end to end.
Experimental and reaction kinetic investigation of 1-octene metathesis reaction with Hoveyda-Grubbs first generation precatalyst
Authors: van der Gryp Percy , Marx Sanette , Vosloo Hermanus C.M.
Published: August 2012

In this work, we report the catalytic performance of the first generation Hoveyda-Grubbs precatalyst for the metathesis reaction of 1-octene. The reaction temperature (30 to 100°C) and catalyst load (1-octene/Ru molar ratio 5,000 to 10,000) were varied and quantities such as product distribution, activity and selectivity were evaluated. Reaction temperature showed a significant effect and turn over numbers as high as 4458 were observed for this system. Two competing mechanisms were observed for temperatures above 60°C, namely metathesis and isomerisation. The experimental product-time distribution data for the complex parallel reaction system was fairly accurately described by three elementary pseudo-first order reaction rates. The effects of temperature (Arrhenius Equation) and catalyst load were incorporated in the observed rate constant. The observed activation energies were around 10 kcal/mol.
Kinetic Modeling of Carbon Nanotube Production and Minimization of Amorphous Carbon Overlayer Deposition in Floating Catalyst Method
Authors: Samandari-Masouleh Leila , Mostoufi Navid , Khodadadi AA , Mortazavi Y. , Maghrebi Morteza
Published: August 2012

A kinetic modeling of longitudinal and depth profiles of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) synthesis using xylene and ferrocene in a floating catalyst (FC) reactor is hereby reported. Both amorphous and arrays of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are formed, whose ratio sharply increases along a growth window and from the bottom to top of the arrays. A model is presented for the rate of CNTs synthesis as well as the rate of amorphous carbon formation which undesirably forms on the nanotube walls and reduces nanotubes quality and synthesis efficiency. Based on the amounts of amorphous carbons and CNTs formed in the reactor, kinetic parameters of formation of these species from xylene were estimated. It is shown that, as the temperature increases, the weight ratio of amorphous carbon to CNTs shows minimum at 970 K. The ratio increases with decreasing the amount of deposited iron. Increasing pressure and carrier gas is found to have marginal effects on producing CNTs with lower amounts of amorphous carbon. Higher surface density of CNTs (number of CNTs per surface area) and their diameter, result in a significantly higher amount of amorphous carbon deposition.
Effect of Concentration by Thermal Swing Adsorption on the Catalytic Incineration of VOCs
Authors: Campesi Agustina , Luzi Carlos D. , Martínez Osvaldo M. , Barreto Guillermo
Published: August 2012

Among the different processes for elimination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from gaseous effluents (mainly air streams), the frequently employed catalytic oxidation is undertaken in this contribution. With the purpose of reducing the amount of catalyst needed for incineration and the surface of recuperative heat exchangers, thermal swing adsorption can be use as a previous step for VOC concentration.By means of simulating the behavior of a conventional packed bed reactor and using kinetic expressions recently developed for the incineration of mixtures of ethyl acetate and ethanol on a laboratory catalyst based on Mn/Cu oxides, it is shown in this paper that the reduction in catalyst volume is significantly larger than the concentration factor, due to the combined effect of the lower flow rate and temperature rise.A second aspect dealt with in this contribution concern the simulation of the packed bed reactor. The intraparticle mass-transfer limitations turn out to be very strong and, consequently, the mass conservation balances of three species inside the particles should be solved numerically and iteratively at each position inside the bed. A precise approximation to circumvent such procedure is developed and shown to reduce computing time in more than one order of magnitude and to avoid convergence troubles otherwise found with the numerical procedure.
Hydrothermal Conversion of Glycerin into Lactic Acid by a Continuous-Flow Reactor
Authors: Zhang Guangyi , Jin Fangming , Wu Bing , Cao Jianglin , Adam Yousif S. , Wang Yin
Published: August 2012

Using a self-established laboratory scale continuous-flow reactor, the experimental research on continuous hydrothermal conversion of glycerin into lactic acid was made, to lay a foundation for quantity production of lactic acid from glycerin. The optimal operation condition for producing lactic acid in the continuous-flow reactor, and a ~60% lactic acid yield was achieved. Bad mixing of the reactants as well as a large surface area of the inner wall of the reactor tube decreased significantly the lactic acid yields, especially with a long residence time under a high concentration of alkali. The continuous-flow reactor was modified by substituting the 1/8’’ tube with a 1/4’’ tube and equipping a mixing device, and was tested to perform as well as the one with a 1/8’’ tube. The research results would help design and establish a more high-efficient continuous-flow reactor for hydrothermal conversion of glycerin into lactic acid.
A Transient Stability Constrained, Line-Flow-Based Fast Contingency Screening and Power Flow Evaluation
Authors: Uzoechi Lazarus O. , Mahajan Satish M.
Published: August 2012

A new methodology for a possible fast evaluation of a power flow is presented. The proposed method involves a transient stability constrained line-flow-based (LFB) fast contingency screening. This direct method incorporates transient energy function (TEF) to carry out the evaluation of a power system. The proposed LFB method was tested on the WECC 9-bus, three machine, the IEEE 14-bus, five machine, and the IEEE 39-bus, ten machine systems. Results of the proposed LFB were compared with those obtained from the conventional Newton-Raphson (N-R) method. It was observed that the stable re-dispatch could be obtained by the LFB method within half the computation time as compared to the time required for the N-R method. Since the LFB method was based upon identification of the stable equilibrium points of the TEF, the proposed method appears to be inherently capable of delivering a stable power dispatch. In addition, a new index called critical energy performance index (CEPI) has been introduced to indicate the level of stability and to assist in the decisions related to the re-dispatch.
Solid State Fermentation in Food Processing
Authors: Ghoshal Gargi , Basu Santanu , Shivhare US
Published: August 2012

Agro processing industry generates substantial quantities of waste materials which cause serious environmental pollution throughout the year. Solid state fermentation (SSF) process offers great potential to utilize these waste materials to manufacture several important products such as enzymes, organic acids, alcohols, pigments, gums, aroma compounds, biopesticides, surfactants, vitamins etc. on commercial scale. Most important feature of SSF over submerged fermentation (SmF) is that crude fermented products may be used directly or after partial purification. An attempt has been made to present information on production of various enzymes, biopesticides, surfactants, vitamins as well as other products such as pigments, gums, alcohol, aroma compounds, etc. by SSF process.
Continuous and Intermittent Drying (Tempering) of Oblate Spheroidal Bodies: Modeling and Simulation
Authors: Carmo João Evangelista Franco do , de Lima Antonio Gilson Barbosa , Silva Carlota Joaquina e
Published: August 2012

In this work, modeling of continuous and intermittent drying of oblate spheroidal bodies is presented. The model considers the liquid diffusion as the only process of mass transfer inside the body, constant diffusion coefficient and equilibrium conditions at the surface of the solid. The diffusion equation is described in the oblate spheroidal coordinates system and it was discretized using the finite-volume method. Formulation was applied to predict drying of lentil grains. Several cases of intermittent drying for lentils were simulated: using a same time of tempering (time of rest), beginning in different drying time and for two or more drying passes (time steps) along the process. For a same useful time of the dryer, it was observed that the intermittent drying always increases the efficiency of the process. Another outstanding result is the improvement of the final quality of the product due to the absence of large moisture content gradients inside of the product during the drying process after tempering.
Overall and Fluid-to-particle Heat Transfer Coefficients associated with Canned Particulate non-Newtonian Fluids during Free Bi-axial Rotary Thermal Processing
Authors: Hassan Hussein F. , Ramaswamy Hosahalli S. , Dwivedi Mritunjay
Published: August 2012

Heat transfer to canned particulates in non-Newtonian fluids (Nylon particles suspended in aqueous carboxymethyl cellulose - CMC - solution) during fixed and free bi-axial rotation was studied in a pilot-scale, full water-immersion single-cage rotary retort. A response surface methodology was used in order to study the effect of different process parameters, including rotational speed (7-23 rpm), CMC concentration (0.0-1.0%) and retort temperature (110-130C), at five levels of each, on overall heat transfer coefficient (U) and fluid to particle heat transfer coefficient (hfp) in both rotation modes. The analysis of variance showed that the rotational speed, CMC concentration and retort temperature were significant (p < 0.05) factors for hfp in the following order: rotation speed > CMC concentration > retort temperature; however, only rotational speed and CMC concentration were significant (p < 0.05) factors for U. With an increase in rotational speed and retort temperature, there was an increase in the associated U and hfp values; however, increasing the CMC concentration resulted in the opposite. Using the numerical optimization of the Design Expert software, optimum heat transfer was found at a rotational speed of 20 rpm, CMC concentration of 0.6% and retort temperature of 126C. T-test revealed that both U and hfp were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the free bi-axial mode as compared to the fixed axial mode of rotation.
Analysis of physicochemical and thermo-mechanical characteristics of Iranian black seed (Nigella oxypetala Boiss)
Authors: Gharibzahedi Seyed Mohammad Taghi , Mousavi Seyed Mohammad , Jouki Mohammad , Ghahderijani Mohammad
Published: August 2012

The study experimentally scrutinized nutritional and engineering properties of Iranian black seed at a moisture content of 5.1% (w.b.) in order to design processing equipment and machinery for various post-harvest operations. Analysis of chemical composition, mineral content and fatty acid profile illustrated that the seeds had high nutritional value. Bulk density, true density and porosity were 539.3 kg/m3, 1009.4 kg/m3 and 46.5%, respectively. Mean values for angle of repose and terminal velocity were 5.6 m/s and 32.5°, respectively. Static friction coefficient on plywood, mild steel, aluminum and galvanized iron sheet were 0.53, 0.36, 0.32 and 0.37, respectively. Specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity varied from 1642 to 2035 J/kgK, 0.17 to 0.22 W/mK and 9.3 to 10.4 × 10-8 m2/s, respectively. The force required for initiating seed rupture decreased from 57.36 to 35.1 N and 55.7 to 30.24 N, and the energy absorbed at seed rupture decreased from 51.24 to 21.31 mJ and 26.67 to 6.31 mJ, with increase in loading rate from 1 to 10mm/min, for vertical and horizontal orientations, respectively.
Wide-band resonance reflectors for the visible spectrum
Authors: Saastamoinen Toni , Korhonen Minna , Kuittinen Markku
Published: August 2012

We present wide-band resonance waveguide reflectors at the visible wavelengths providing nearly 100% reflectance over a range of several tens of nanometres. The reflectors are based on multilayer designs consisting of layers of high and low index materials with a binary grating etched through the stack. We also fabricated an example structure and discuss the fabrication aspects of these elements.
Μέγιστα Γένη and Division in Aristotle’s Generation of Animals
Authors: Stoyles Byron J.
Published: August 2012

Aristotle refers to some animal kinds as μέγιστα γένη, or greatest kinds. The goal of this paper is to make clear the nature and significance of these kinds. I argue that Aristotle thinks of greatest kinds as the most general kinds within a specified domain. I then consider the fact that Aristotle’s discussion of animals’ reproductive parts and modes of reproduction in Generation of Animals is organized around divisions related to the cause of each of the features being explained. I conclude that, while classification is an important goal in Aristotle’s biological treatises, it is of little significance that some of the kinds he identifies are referred to as greatest kinds. The important divisions are, for Aristotle, the divisions that best serve his goal of explaining the various features of animals and these divisions sometimes group together and sometimes cut across the commonly recognized, including the greatest, animal kinds.
Phymatolithon lamii (Hapalidiaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta): a first report for the Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Kaleb Sara , Falace Annalisa , Woelkerling William
Published: August 2012

Phymatolithon lamii (Hapalidiaceae, Corallinales, Rhodophyta) is reported for the first time in the Mediterranean Sea. A morphological-anatomical account of Gulf of Trieste specimens is presented along with comparisons with P. lamii specimens from other regions, comparisons with other Mediterranean species of Phymatolithon and a dichotomous key to known Mediterranean species of Phymatolithon. Whether P. lamii occurs naturally in the Mediterranean Sea but was previously misidentified as P. lenormandii or is, alternatively, an alien species, or both, has not been resolved.
Aspectual marking among English and Korean learners of Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Tsang, Wai Lan
Published: August 2012

The present study reports on a small-scale investigation of Mandarin aspectual marking among two groups of pre-intermediate learners of Mandarin Chinese: native English speakers and native Korean speakers. The use of -le, -guo, and -zhe in the learners' written work was examined, with particular attention to three variables: (i) overall frequency of aspectual marking, (ii) frequency of occurrence of each marker, and (iii) interaction between these markers and situation types (Smith 1997). The learners' patterns were also compared with those of a group of native Mandarin speakers and analysed in terms of the postulates of the Aspect Hypothesis (Andersen & Shirai 1996, Bardovi-Harlig 2000). The overall analysis discerned both similarities and differences in the usage of the three markers among the learners. Such patterns are likely to be related to the distinctive nature of the markers, type of genre, the learners' L1 aspectual systems, and classroom/textbook input.
Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) in benign and malignant diseases
Authors: Hertlein Linda , Stieber Petra , Kirschenhofer Angela , Fürst Sophie , Mayr Doris , Hofmann Karin , Krocker Katja , Nagel Dorothea , Lenhard Miriam , Burges Alexander
Published: August 2012

Background: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is described as a useful new biomarker in ovarian cancer. As HE4 is neither tumor nor organ specific, we intensively investigated the occurrence of this protein in female and male patients with various benign and malignant diseases in order to avoid misinterpretation and to identify potential additional clinical relevance.

Methods: We retrospectively investigated HE4 (ARCHITECT®, Abbott Diagnostics, US) in the sera of 205 healthy individuals, 654 patients with benign disorders and 720 patients with cancer before initial treatment.

Results: The lowest concentrations of HE4 were observed in healthy men (median 26.2 pmol/L) followed by healthy women (median 40.4 pmol/L). In benign diseases, highest HE4 concentrations were seen in both women and men with renal failure (women, median 1041 pmol/L; men, median 1368 pmol/L). In women, the highest HE4 levels in malignant diseases were observed in ovarian cancer (median 242 pmol/l), whereas the highest HE4 concentrations in men occurred in lung cancer (median 89.2 pmol/L). The area under the curve (AUC) of HE4 in women was highest in ovarian cancer and borderline tumors as compared to benign gynecological disorders (88.9%), with a sensitivity of 67.4% at 95% specificity. Also, significantly elevated concentrations of HE4 with reference to the respective group of benign diseases were observed in uterus corpus and breast cancer as well as in lung cancer for men and women.

Conclusions: HE4 has the highest relevance in ovarian cancer but can be elevated in a variety of benign and malignant diseases.
A predictive equation to adjust for clinical variables in soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) levels
Authors: Park Eun-Kee , Wilson Donald , Yates Deborah H.
Published: August 2012

Background:Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive pleural tumor which is difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Thus, biomarkers for MM including soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) are currently an area of intense research interest. However, SMRP is affected by several factors other than malignancy which need to be taken into account in the individual patient. This study aimed to evaluate factors required to adjust SMRP levels for such variables and produce a useful prediction equation for clinical application.

Methods:Serum SRMP levels were measured in 535 subjects formerly exposed to asbestos and silica, including many with asbestos-related disorders (ARDs). Linear regression analyses were used to quantify the strength and “direction” of the relationship between SMRP and several independent variables, and 2×2 tables were used to determine the diagnostic accuracy of SMRP levels, taking into account clinical variables.

Results:SMRP levels were affected by age and glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which were strong confounders in this study. Body mass index (BMI) was also an initial confounder but lost significance after other factors were taken into account. SMRP was also affected by smoking. Poor sensitivity (15.1%) for SMRP values among subjects with non-malignant asbestos-related disorders was found when compared to currently healthy subjects with a history of asbestos exposure.

Conclusions:The present study proposes an equation based on age and GFR to improve diagnostic accuracy of SMRP. The poor sensitivity of SMRP found in this study suggests that further work is needed to find new candidate biomarkers for diagnosing early stage MM.
Laboratory hemostasis: milestones in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
Authors: Lippi Giuseppe , Favaloro Emmanuel J.
Published: August 2012

Hemostasis is a delicate, dynamic and intricate system, in which pro- and anti-coagulant forces cooperate for either maintaining blood fluidity under normal conditions, or else will prompt blood clot generation to limit the bleeding when the integrity of blood vessels is jeopardized. Excessive prevalence of anticoagulant forces leads to hemorrhage, whereas excessive activation of procoagulant forces triggers excessive coagulation and thrombosis. The hemostasis laboratory performs a variety of first, second and third line tests, and plays a pivotal role in diagnostic and monitoring of most hemostasis disturbances. Since the leading targets of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine include promotion of progress in fundamental and applied research, along with publication of guidelines and recommendations in laboratory diagnostics, this journal is an ideal source of information on current developments in the laboratory technology of hemostasis, and this article is aimed to celebrate some of the most important and popular articles ever published by the journal in the filed of laboratory hemostasis.
Absence of hemolytic disease of fetus and newborn (HDFN) in a pregnancy with anti-Yka (York) red cell antibody
Authors: Decaro Jorge , Pedrozo Angel , Gularte Martín , Tironi Gustavo , Citrín Estela
Published: August 2012

The York antigen, assigned to the Knops system (KN5-ISBT 022005), is a high frequency antigen present in 90% of the Caucasian and 98% of the African-American population. No cases of anti-Yka in pregnancies have been published. No hemolytic diseases of the fetus and newborn have been observed previously. We report the first case of anti-Yka antibody found in a pregnant woman without fetal anemia, which was monitored by Doppler assessment of peak systolic velocity at the middle cerebral artery. A 36-year-old white woman, gravida 2, para 2 (1994 and 1996) was transfused with two units of packed red cells in 2009. On July 1, 2011 at 13 weeks of gestation of her third pregnancy, “type and screen” showed blood group 0 RhD positive and was found to have one IgG antibody that reacted against all panel red blood cells in the anti-human globulin phase by gel technique. The antibody was identified as anti-Yka and titer was 64. The patient’s phenotype was YK(a–). Peak systolic velocity at the middle cerebral artery, performed by Doppler, at weeks 25, 28, 32 and 34 of gestation did not show fetal anemia. At birth, the newborn was group 0 Rh (D) positive, Yk(a+) with direct Coombs test negative without anemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Our case contributes, as further evidence, to the clinically benignity of the anti-Yka antibody not been a cause of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn.
Should clinicians advise terminating a pregnancy following the diagnosis of a serious fetal cardiac abnormality?
Authors: Menahem Samuel , Teoh Mark , Wilkinson Dominic
Published: August 2012

An 18-year-old single mother presented for counseling following the diagnosis of a hypoplastic left heart syndrome in the fetus. Despite being encouraged by her family members to terminate the pregnancy, the clinicians involved endeavored to provide information in a non-directive manner in accordance with widely accepted norms for antenatal counseling. Following the consultation, however, the clinicians wondered whether they should have provided more directive advice. In this report, we review the ethics of counseling following the diagnosis of a severe fetal cardiac abnormality. We assess the general and specific arguments in favor of providing directive advice, at least in some circumstances. There may be legitimate concerns about harms to the fetus, to the mother, or to the wider community from continuing a pregnancy. While these arguments yield rare exceptions to the generally accepted practice that antenatal counseling should not be directive, they may still not apply to the more severe forms of congenital cardiac abnormalities.
Development of a HPLC method for the determination of losartan urinary metabolic ratio to be used for the determination of CYP2C9 hydroxylation phenotypes
Authors: Dorado Pedro , Machín Esther , de Andrés Fernando , Naranjo María-Eugenia G. , Peñas-Lledó Eva M. , LLerena Adrián
Published: August 2012

Background: Losartan is metabolized to losartan carboxylic acid (E-3174) by the polymorphic cytochrome CYP2C9. The aim of the study was to develop a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method with fluorescence detection for simultaneously measuring losartan and its metabolite E-3174 in urine to evaluate the losartan urinary metabolic ratio (MR: losartan/E-3174) for CYP2C9 phenotyping in humans.

Methods: The compounds were separated in a reversed-phase chromatographic column and detected by fluorescence at a wavelength of 250 nm for excitation and of 370 nm for emission.

Results: No analytical interferences with endogenous compounds were found, and the extraction recoveries were over 88%. Limits of quantification of 2 ng mL–1 for losartan and 5 ng mL–1 for E-3174 were achieved, as well as good reproducibility with coefficients of variation of <9% in all cases. Analyses with the present HPLC method show significant differences (p<0.05) in losartan MRs between the four CYP2C9 genotype groups in 13 Spanish healthy volunteers.

Conclusions: The method developed is simple and affordable, as well as sensitive and reliable to calculate the MR. Therefore, it appears to be useful for CYP2C9 phenotyping using losartan as a drug test in populations, such as Hispanics with different allele combinations.
On the character degrees of Sylow p-subgroups of Chevalley groups G(pf
) of type E
Authors: Le Tung , Magaard Kay
Published: August 2012

Let 𝔽
q
be a field of characteristic p with q elements. It is known that the degrees of the irreducible
characters of the Sylow p-subgroup of GL(𝔽
q
) are powers of q. On the other hand Sangroniz (2003) showed that this is true for a Sylow
p-subgroup of a classical group defined over 𝔽
q
if and only if p is odd. For the classical groups
of Lie type B, C and D the only bad prime is 2. For the exceptional groups there are others. In this paper we construct irreducible characters for the Sylow p-subgroups of the Chevalley groups
D
4(q) with q = 2
f
of degree q
3/2. Then we use an analogous construction for
E
6(q) with q = 3
f
to obtain characters of degree q
7/3, and for E
8(q) with
q = 5
f
to obtain characters of degree q
16/5. This helps
to explain why the primes 2, 3 and 5 are bad for the Chevalley groups of type E in terms of
the representation theory of the Sylow p-subgroup.
Mock modular grids and Hecke relations for mock modular forms
Authors: Ahlgren Scott , Kim Byungchan
Published: August 2012

We construct and study several infinite grids of mock modular forms. The “rows” of each grid encode an infinite family of
forms, while the “columns” encode a second infinite family. Each of these grids contains a generating function of interest as its first entry
(for example, the “smallest parts” function of Andrews, or a mock theta function of Ramanujan). We show that the Hecke operators transform these grids in systematic ways,
and from this we deduce many corollaries for the generating functions under consideration. For example, we recover the systematic families of congruences for the smallest parts function
which have recently been discovered by various authors, and we obtain families of Hecke relations
in the grid associated to the mock theta function f(q).
A criterion on oscillation and variation for the commutators
of singular integral operators
Authors: Liu Feng , Wu Huoxiong
Published: August 2012

This paper gives a criterion on the
weighted norm estimates of the oscillatory and variation operators
for the commutators of Calderón–Zygmund singular integrals in
dimension 1. As applications, the weighted Lp
-boundedness of the
oscillation operators and the ρ-variation operators for
commutators of the Hilbert transform and the Hermitian Riesz
transform are obtained. In addition, the corresponding results for
the λ-jump operators and the numbers of up-crossings
associated with these operators are also given.
Effects of hydrothermal processing on the cellulosic fraction of Eucalyptus globulus wood
Authors: Vila Carlos , Francisco José Luis , Santos Valentin , Parajó Juan Carlos
Published: August 2012

The effects of hydrothermal treatments of Eucalyptus globulus wood have been evaluated in terms of the solid yield and the composition of the treated wood. The contents of cellulose, xylan, and Klason lignin in treated solids were determined and interpreted by means of kinetic models. Particular attention was paid to the degree of polymerization (DP) lowering of cellulose caused by hydrothermal treatments, which was assessed by measurements of intrinsic viscosity.
Elastic properties of cellular wood panels with hexagonal and auxetic cores
Authors: Smardzewski Jerzy
Published: August 2012

Light cellular wood panels have been gaining increasing interest among furniture manufacturers, but only a few articles can be found dealing with modeling of mechanical properties of cellular wood panels with a paper honeycomb core inside. The present paper intends to fill this gap, and thus, the elastic properties of cellular wood panels with paper honeycomb of hexagonal and auxetic cells were evaluated. Analytical models have been employed by comparison of experimental data with those obtained by numerical calculations. The cores of the examined cellular wood panels exhibited strong orthotropic properties. Results of numerical calculations of sandwich beam deflections corroborated their satisfactory conformity. The results of laboratory measurements proved the correctness of the determined elastic constants.
Uncle Sam wants you to be the first-inventor-to-file for nanotechnology inventions
Authors: Garsson Ross Spencer , Pham Chinh H.
Published: August 2012

By the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), the U.S. patent system is experiencing the most significant reform since the U.S. Patent Act was enacted some 60 years ago. This article focuses on one aspect of the AIA that has perhaps triggered the biggest debate, namely the conversion under the U.S. Patent laws from a “first-to-invent” system to a “first-inventor-to-file” system. The change to the first-inventor-to file system has broad implications to all entities filing patents in the U.S. Under the new first-inventor-to-file system, the emphasis is now on filing patent applications in the U.S. Patent Office even more quickly than before. Thus, a strategy to file early and often (including using provisional applications) will generally better protect against a later inventor winning the race to the U.S. Patent Office.
Evaluation of factors and kinetics study of polyacrylamide redox polymerization using statistical design modeling
Authors: Lee Khai Ern , Morad Norhashimah , Teng Tjoon Tow , Poh Beng Teik
Published: August 2012

Polyacrylamide was produced through redox polymerization in a single batch reactor. Ammonium persulfate and sodium bisulfite were applied as the redox initiators. Statistical design consisting a 24 full factorial design was used to determine the dependence of the factors such as temperature, concentrations of acrylamide, ammonium persulfate and sodium bisulfite, as well as their interactions in affecting the initial rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization. All independent factors were shown to have a significant effect on the rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization. The order of significance was: temperature>ammonium persulfate>acrylamide>sodium bisulfite. The interactive effects of the factors were also investigated. The 24 ull factorial design was augmented to central composite design (CCD), to optimize the rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization. The results showed that a high rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization occurred at a high level of the factors. A statistical design kinetics model was constructed through second-order regression to predict the rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization and the R2 value was 0.9888, which fitted the experimental rate of polyacrylamide redox polymerization better compared to the classical kinetics model.
Effect of warm compaction and microwave sintering on the densification, tribological and electrochemical properties of TiC/316L composites
Authors: Lin Shaojiang , Xiong Weihao , Chen Shan , Yao Zhenhua
Published: August 2012

In this study, TiC/316L stainless steel composites were fabricated by combining warm compaction and microwave sintering (WMS). X-ray diffraction analysis was used to identify the phases in the material. Microstructure characteristics of composites were performed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Density, microhardness, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance were evaluated at room temperature. Results revealed that TiC/316L composites with higher relative density and finer properties can be obtained by WMS, compared with conventional powder metallurgy process. For all the tested species, the hardness of the composites prepared by WMS is higher than that of the composites prepared by conventional powder metallurgy (P/M). Wear tests showed that the WMS species exhibited significantly good wear resistance. Furthermore, it is found that the composites prepared by WMS were not only has high mechanical properties but also better corrosion resistance compared with the conventional P/M species.
The tribological properties of A356-SiCp metal-matrix composites fabricated by thixomoulding technique
Authors: Özyürek Dursun , Yıldırım Musa , Çiftçi İbrahim
Published: August 2012

In this study, A356-SiCp metal-matrix composites were produced through thixomoulding process, and these composites were subjected to wear tests. The composites containing various volume fractions of SiCp particles (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) as the reinforcement were produced at two different temperatures of 590°C and 600°C. The influences of processing temperatures and reinforcement ratio on the properties and wear behaviour of the composites were investigated. Prior to the wear tests, microstructural properties and hardness of the composites were determined. For the wear tests, a pin-on-disc-type wear apparatus was employed to carry out the wear tests. The wear tests were carried out at 2.0 m/s sliding speed under 15 N load and for four different sliding distances. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to examine the wear mechanisms on the worn surfaces of the composites. The results indicated that sphericity rate and hardness of the composites produced at 590°C were higher than those of the composites produced at 600°C. In addition, the composites produced at 590°C exhibited lower weight loss and friction coefficient.
„Ernsthafte Philosophie oder Kniefallvor dem Nichts?“
Authors: Funk Eva
Published: August 2012

Der folgende Beitrag präsentiert Ergebnisse einer qualitativenStudie, welche sich der Rekonstruktion gegenwärtiger Rezeptionsprozessebezüglich Lehren und Praktiken des tibetischen Buddhismus sowie seiner Vertreterund Vertreterinnen in der Schweizer Öffentlichkeit ab Mitte der 1990erJahre widmete. Anhand der Untersuchung gesellschaftlicher Diskurse über dentibetischen Buddhismus wird auf der Grundlage einer diskurstheoretischen Forschungsperspektivedie Frage nach der gesellschaftlichen Konstruktion, Repräsentationund (Re-)Produktion kulturell-religiöser Differenz thematisiert. Im Rahmen der öffentlichen Rezeption und medialen Repräsentation des tibetischenBuddhismus bildet sich dabei eine verstärkte (wenn auch implizite) Auseinandersetzungmit der eigenen Religiosität, mit Vorstellungen der eigenenkulturellen und nationalen Identität sowie kollektiven Wertvorstellungen derSchweizer Gesellschaft ab. Insgesamt zeigt sich, dass das Diskursfeld über tibetischenBuddhismus in der Schweiz von gegenläufigen Tendenzen geprägt ist: Sosteht den dominant in Erscheinung tretenden positiv bewertenden Topoi, die alsElemente eines bestehenden Wissensrepertoires über Tibet, Tibeter und „dieWeltreligion Buddhismus“ gelten können und selbstverständlich reproduziertwerden, eine multidimensionale Dekonstruktion dieser Topoi entgegen, welchejedoch über eine weitaus geringere Reichweite bezüglich einer sich in öffentlichausgetragenen sozialen Debatten und gesellschaftlichen Handlungsmustern manifestierendenFremdheits- bzw. Differenzkonstruktion verfügt.
Electrophysiological Studies of Shoemakers Exposed to Sub‐TLV Levels of n‐hexane
Authors: Neghab Masoud , Soleimani Esmaeel , Khamoushian Kambiz
Published: August 2012

Electrophysiological Studies of Shoemakers Exposed to Sub‐TLV Levels of n‐hexane: Masoud NEGHAB, et al. Department of Occupational Health, School of Health and Nutrition and Research Center for Health Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran—

Background and Objectives

Exposure to n‐hexane, a neurotoxic solvent, has been associated with sensorimotor polyneuropathy, both in occupationally exposed workers and in glue‐sniffing addicts. The present study was carried out to ascertain whether exposure to sub‐TLV levels of n‐hexane was associated with electrophysiological abnormalities and to determine if these possible abnormalities have any correlations with parameters such as the biological exposure index (BEI) of this neurotoxic chemical, workers' TWA exposure to n‐hexane and/or duration of employment.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐seven asymptomatic male workers from 6 shoemaking workshops were studied and compared with a group of 20 age‐ and sexmatched normal controls with no history of exposure to any neurotoxic agent. They underwent physical examinations as well as conventional needle electromyographic examinations and sensory and motor nerve conduction studies of upper and lower extremities. The TWA exposure to n‐hexane and urinary concentration of free 2,5‐hexanedione were also determined. Data were analyzed using version 16.0 of the SPSS/PC statistical package.

Results

The TWA exposure to n‐hexane was estimated to be 83.2 mg/m3. Electrophysiological studies showed that the amplitudes of sensory nerve action potential (SAP) for median and sural nerves were significantly lower in exposed subjects than in unexposed normal controls. Additionally, a significant correlation was found between these decreases and the urinary concentration of free 2,5hexanedione.

Conclusion

The significant decrements in SAP amplitudes for the median and sural nerves may be considered as appropriate indicators for early detection of n‐hexane‐induced peripheral neuropathy in asymptomatic workers with current exposure to sub‐TLV levels of n‐hexane.
End-Tidal Breath Carbon Monoxide Measurements: Current Directions
Authors: Cohen, MD Ronald S. , Wong, MD Ronald J. , Stevenson, MD David K.
Published: August 2012

Because heme catabolism leads to the formation of equimolar amounts of carbon monoxide (CO) and bilirubin, a variety of techniques have been developed to correlate CO production rates as indices of bilirubin production. The use of end-tidal breath CO measurements for estimating rates of bilirubin production in infants has been well documented and validated in a number of clinical studies for its use and predictive value in identifying infants who are high producers of bilirubin and hence at risk for developing pathologic neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. Recently, end-tidal breath CO has been suggested as a marker for chronic lung disease and developmental problems. Trace gas analysis remains an area for interesting investigation in the future.
Viabilidade econômica da produção de novilhas leiteiras a pasto em sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária
Authors: Silva Hernani Alves da , Moraes Anibal de , Carvalho Paulo César de Faccio , Fonseca Adriel Ferreira da , Guimarães Vânia Di Addario , Monteiro Alda Lúcia Gomes , Lang Claudete Reisdorfer
Published: August 2012

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a rentabilidade do sistema de integração lavoura-pecuária (ILP), em comparação ao cultivo de cereais de inverno e de plantas de cobertura para o plantio direto de soja e milho no verão. Foram comparados dados simulados de sistema agrícola tradicional com produção de grãos de milho e soja, no verão, e cultivo de trigo e plantas de cobertura do solo, no inverno; e dados de um trabalho publicado em que foram avaliadas combinações de pastagens (diversificadas ou puras) e categorias de animais (leves ou pesados), com produção de grãos de milho e soja, no verão, e pastejo no inverno. A análise econômica foi realizada com base nos resultados experimentais e simulada para uma propriedade de 100 ha. A ILP com recria de novilhas leiteiras em pastagens anuais de inverno, em substituição ao sistema convencional com cultivo de cereais de inverno e plantas de cobertura de solo para o plantio direto, é a alternativa mais rentável aos produtores.
Assimilação metabólica de nitrogênio em plântulas de seringueira cultivadas com nitrato ou amônio
Authors: Shan Andrea Yu Kwan Villar , Oliveira Luiz Edson Mota de , Bonome Lisandro Tomas da Silva , Mesquita Alessandro Carlos
Published: August 2012

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a assimilação metabólica de nitrogênio em plântulas de seringueira cultivadas na presença de nitrato ou de amônio, por meio da quantificação da atividade das enzimas redutase do nitrato (RN), glutamina sintetase (GS), glutamato sintase (GOGAT) e glutamato desidrogenase (GDH). Os seguintes tratamentos foram avaliados: fontes de N - controle, sem aplicação de N; amônio a 8 mmol L-1; e nitrato a 8 mmol L-1 - e tempos de exposição - 0 e 27 dias -, em arranjo fatorial 3x2, no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições. A forma amoniacal promoveu maior assimilação metabólica de N, o que resultou em maior acúmulo de aminoácidos. A assimilação, tanto da forma nítrica quanto da amoniacal, aconteceu principalmente via GS/GOGAT; parte do N nítrico é assimilado nas raízes, com pequena participação da GDH, e parte é translocada para outros órgãos. O N amoniacal é totalmente assimilado nas raízes, com significativa participação da GDH. Nas folhas, a GS participa tanto da assimilação primária como da reassimilação do amônio fotorrespirado, independentemente da fonte nitrogenada, enquanto a enzima GDH tem papel secundário, independentemente da fonte ou do tempo de exposição. A atividade da RN in vitro é detectada somente em raízes e caules.