bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of pattern of adverse drug reaction due to cancer chemotherapy and their management in hospitalized patient in B P koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital
Authors: Thapaliya K , Shrestha A , Prajapti A , Subedi R , Giri S
Published: January 2015

Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) are a global problem adding to the economic burden of the society. Anti-cancer drugs are prone to cause ADRs and there is lack of pharmacovigillance data on such type drugs. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to monitor suspected ADRs in the cancer chemotherapy with its management in B.P. Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital (BPKMCH). The study was done in the inpatient department of BPKMCH from May, 2014 to July, 2014, among the patients receiving chemotherapy. It was a hospital based prospective observational study. Most commonly occurring cancer were lung (16%), ovary (15%), cervix (11%), breast, blood, and throat (9%). Most frequently used drugs for cancer chemotherapy were paclitaxel (25%), cyclophosphamide (18%), vincristine (9%), cisplatin (11%) and adriamycin (6%). Most common ADRs experienced were nausea & vomiting (85.45%), loss of appetite (72.72%), mucositis (65.45%), pain (63.63%), loss of breath (40%), constipation (52.72%) and polyneuropathy (58.18%). DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmc.v4i4.11967
Skin diseases in a Nepali prison
Authors: Parajuli N , Jonkman Veenstra G , Jonkman M
Published: January 2015

Here we report on the pattern of dermatoses presented during a dermatological camp in Bharatpur prison. A total of 119(27.2%) inmates out of 437 inmates had dermatological problem. Most common dermatoses were skin infections (34.8%). Among the infections, fungal infections were most common (82%). In non-infectious group eczematous disorders and pigmentary disorders were common. Overcrowding in prison with three times excess could be contributing factor for the excess infectionsDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmc.v4i4.11968
Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among adolescence at intellectual academy in Kumarigal-7, Tushal, Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Rana G
Published: January 2015

Introduction: Young people in Nepal are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS because of their poor knowledge of sexual health, unsafe sex practices, and limited use of condom. Adolescence should be targeted for prevention programs because it is possible to modify adolescents’ behavior as they may not have developed unsafe practices or if developed, these behaviors are not deeply rooted. The objective of this study was to identify knowledge of HIV/AIDS among adolescence. Methods: A descriptive design was used. A total of 50 adolescence were selected by using simple random sampling technique (lottery method) from Intellectual Academy, Kumarigal-7, Tushal, Kathmandu. Self administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data from January 10, 2006 (2062-9-29) to April 8, 2006 (2062-12-26). Results: Only 66% of adolescence had knowledge that HIV/AIDS is communicable disease. Regarding transmission of HIV/AIDS, 90% adolescence answered transmit through unprotected sexual contact, 84% through contaminated blood products, 90% through infected mother to child transmission, 52% through use of shared razors and 94% through use of contaminated needles and syringes. Regarding preventive measures, All the participants had knowledge of using condom, screening of blood before transfusion, and avoid sharing of needles and syringes as preventive measures while 92% as one faithful sex partner and 52% as avoid use of shared razors. Conclusion: Most of adolescence had knowledge regarding mode of transmission of HIV/AIDS through unprotected sexual contact; infected mother to child transmission and use of contaminated needles and syringes. Likewise, on the context of signs of AIDS and preventive measures on HIV transmission, adolescence had knowledge.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmc.v4i4.11971
The Last Walk of Adolfo Ich
Authors: de Vries Marion
Published: January 2015

Trevor Schwellnus Retracing The Last Walk of Adolfo Ich

Marion de Vries The Last Walk of Adolfo Ich
Challenges and Issues in the Evaluation of Teaching Quality: How Does it Affect Teachers' Professional Practice? A UK Perspective
Authors: Warman Sheena M.
Published: January 2015

Evaluation of the quality of higher education is undertaken for the purposes of ensuring accountability, accreditation, and improvement, all of which are highly relevant to veterinary teaching institutions in the current economic climate. If evaluation is to drive change, it needs to be able to influence teaching practice. This article reviews the literature relating to evaluation of teaching quality in higher education with a particular focus on teachers' professional practice. Student evaluation and peer observation of teaching are discussed as examples of widely used evaluation processes. These approaches clearly have the potential to influence teachers' practice. Institutions should strive to ensure the development of a supportive culture that prioritizes teaching quality while being aware of any potential consequences related to cost, faculty time, or negative emotional responses that might result from the use of different evaluation methods.
Assessment of Capacity Charges for Shared-Use Rail Lines
Authors: Lai Yung-Cheng (Rex) , Lin Yi-Ju , Cheng Yu-Fang
Published: January 2015

North American freight rail demand is projected to increase, and new passenger services are being proposed to operate simultaneously over portions of the freight infrastructure. Capacity allocation and corresponding charges have become important issues in shared-use rail lines. This study developed new approaches suitable for North American shared-use corridors with capacity models and base train equivalent concepts to estimate the possible capacity charges in congestion cost and opportunity cost. The possible access charging schemes were also assessed and compared with the current regime (infrastructure cost only). The evaluation of capacity charges demonstrates that owning railroads may bear significant congestion or opportunity cost, or both, resulting from the addition of passenger services. Opportunity cost, which represents the profit loss caused by lack of capacity and is paid by the owning railroad, is higher than the congestion cost. Therefore, capacity charges should be considered in the negotiation process between freight railroads and passenger operators. The proposed approaches facilitate the estimation of capacity charges from additional passenger trains with rational and quantitative methods. The charging schemes can assist railroads and operators in achieving a mutually satisfactory agreement.
Load Characterization Techniques and Overview of Loading Environment in North America
Authors: Van Dyk Brandon J. , Dersch Marcus S. , Edwards J. Riley , Ruppert Conrad J. , Barkan Christopher P. L.
Published: January 2015

In North America, many design guidelines for track components in shared-use railway infrastructure use historic wheel loads that may not necessarily be representative of those seen on rail networks today. Without a clear understanding of the nature of these loads, it is impossible to evaluate the superstructure adequately to make design improvements. Therefore, researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign are conducting research to lay the groundwork for an improved and thorough understanding of the loading environment entering the track structure. Wheel impact load detectors (WILDs) have been used in North America for decades to identify defective wheels that could damage the rail infrastructure or result in a rolling stock failure. Information regarding loads obtained from a WILD can be used to identify trends that not only provide a clearer picture of the existing loading environment created by widely varied traffic characteristics but also can be used in future design and maintenance planning of infrastructure according to the anticipated traffic. The current trends in wheel loads across the North American rail network are discussed, and the effects of speed and other sources of load variability are investigated. In addition to WILD data, instrumented wheel set data were used to gain insight into loading conditions, and preliminary analyses of these data are included. Ultimately this work will lead to useful distinctions of loads for improved design methodologies that are specific to the intended type of traffic traversing a given route or network.
Track Ballast Fouling and Permeability Characterization by Using Resistivity
Authors: Parsons Robert L. , Rahman A. J. , Han Jie , Glavinich Thomas E.
Published: January 2015

Ballasted tracks are the most common tracks used in the railroad industry and are designed to provide a stable, safe, and efficient rail foundation. The main functions of ballast are to support the superstructure by distributing the loads from moving trains and to provide lateral resistance to tie movement and drainage. Ballast deterioration and fouling are major issues in the railroad industry. Resistivity methods have the potential to identify easily and inexpensively areas that have fouled ballast. A test box was fabricated at the University of Kansas to investigate the relationship between resistivity, permeability (hydraulic conductivity), and the fouling ratio for ballast fouled with crushed ballast, clay, and coal dust. The tests showed a relationship between the fouling ratio and ballast resistivity in which the resistance of the ballast layer decreased as the fouling ratio increased because of greater water retention. The permeability also decreased as the fouling ratio increased because of the presence of fine particles between the ballast particles; therefore, resistivity and permeability were also correlated. The relationship between resistivity and water content was also observed during a large-scale test.
Express Lanes Performance Evaluation
Authors: Buckeye Kenneth R.
Published: January 2015

Transportation authorities around the United States are challenged to develop highway projects that deliver the best operational performance for the public investment. Congestion pricing has been promoted as an efficient operational performance strategy that helps to add roadway capacity when it is needed most, during peak periods of the day. The Minnesota Department of Transportation has implemented its second high-occupancy toll lane in the I-35W MnPASS express lane. This paper examines the performance of the southern 7 mi of the MnPASS lane and considers a number of performance indexes as reported through the project evaluation process. Since the opening of the MnPASS express lanes on the I-35W corridor, average speeds on those lanes during the a.m. peak period have increased by 3 to 4 mph. Average speed in the adjacent general purpose lanes appears to have declined by about 1 to 2 mph in the evaluation period. Vehicle throughput on the MnPASS lanes has increased by 77% and person throughput has increased by 39% over the base year of 2008. Through dynamic pricing, MnPASS lanes are able to ensure free-flow speeds more than 95% of the time. Customers are generally pleased with MnPASS operations and performance, citing value for their money in the form of time savings, less traffic, faster travel, and reduced stress. The I-35W MnPASS express lanes ensure greater speed and reliability for transit service and systems, encourage greater transit use through higher performance, and provide a congestion-free lane for those who choose to pay and those who carpool or ride transit.
Examination of Paid Travel on I-85 Express Lanes
Authors: Wood Nicholas S. , Burris Mark , Danda Santosh Rao
Published: January 2015

The implementation of the I-85 express lanes in Atlanta, Georgia, was the first conversion of a high-occupancy vehicle lane to a high-occupancy toll lane that simultaneously increased the occupancy requirement (from two or more persons to three or more persons) and implemented tolls without the creation of additional lanes. This paper presents the findings of an analysis of tolling data collected during the first year of operation as part of the National Evaluation of Urban Partnership Agreement and Congestion Reduction Demonstration programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This analysis found the median willingness to pay for express lane travel time savings to be $19.45 per hour across all time periods and $33.17 per hour for southbound a.m. peak travel. There was little difference in the willingness to pay between frequent and infrequent travelers of the express lanes. This analysis was based on actual tolls paid by travelers and therefore represents the minimum these travelers were willing to pay.
Impacts to Transit from Seattle, Washington, Urban Partnership Agreement Program
Authors: Pessaro Brian , Songchitruksa Praprut
Published: January 2015

This paper describes the impacts on transit that were observed in the evaluation of the Urban Partnership Agreement in Seattle, Washington. In December 2011, variable tolls were instituted on the SR-520 bridge in Seattle. Transit service frequency was enhanced approximately 11 months before tolling. The Seattle findings compared favorably with other congestion pricing projects across the United States and the world. Ridership across the SR-520 bridge increased 10% after the new service was added. It increased another 14% after tolling. The larger increase that came after tolls was similar to that observed in Stockholm, Sweden, and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Speeds across the bridge increased by 14 to 18 mph. That increase was higher than the increase observed in London but lower than the increase observed in Miami, Florida, and in Minneapolis. In the pretoll survey of SR-520 bus riders, 19% said they were influenced to take transit by the enhanced transit service. An even greater percentage, 55%, said the tolls influenced them to take transit. In Atlanta, Georgia, Miami, and Minneapolis, the percentage of riders influenced by the tolls was 45%, 53%, and 23%, respectively. In the posttoll survey, 57% of riders said the tolls on SR-520 had improved their personal travel. Altogether, these findings reconfirm that congestion pricing can create a tangible incentive to take transit.
Measurement of Pavement Roughness Using Android-Based Smartphone Application
Authors: Islam Shahidul , Buttlar William G. , Aldunate Roberto G. , Vavrik William R.
Published: January 2015

Pavement roughness is an expression of the irregularities in a pavement surface that adversely affect the ride quality of a vehicle. Roughness also affects vehicle delay costs, fuel consumption, tires, and maintenance costs. Roughness is predominantly characterized by the international roughness index (IRI), which is often measured with inertial profilers. Inertial profilers are equipped with sensitive accelerometers, a height-measuring laser, and a distance-measuring instrument for measuring vehicle vertical acceleration data and the pavement profile. Modern smartphones are equipped with several sensors including a three-axis accelerometer, which was used in this project to collect vehicle acceleration data with an Android-based application. In the study, acceleration data were double integrated numerically to obtain a pavement profile, which was input into the software program ProVAL. The pavement roughness was then calculated. For the initial validation, pavement profile and acceleration data were collected with both an inertial profiler and the newly developed smartphone application from three test sites. The initial validation results suggest that the newly developed smartphone application can measure IRI with good correspondence to the inertial profiler and with good repeatability between measurement replications. However, calibration is needed for rougher pavement sections because the current analysis techniques do not directly account for acceleration damping resulting from vehicle suspension systems. With improvements in analysis that consider the vehicle suspension effects and additional validation, the approach could be used to reduce the cost of acquiring pavement roughness data for agencies and to reduce user costs for the traveling public by providing more robust feedback about route choice and its effect on estimated vehicle maintenance cost and fuel efficiency.
Cost Assessment of Highway Bridge Network Subjected to Extreme Seismic Events
Authors: Furtado Mark N. , Alipour Alice A.
Published: January 2015

A transportation network is the economic backbone of a developed country. For that reason, it is important that the network maintain functionality after catastrophic natural events and minimize downtime to reduce adverse effects on society and the economy. A holistic framework that integrates seismic risk, vulnerability of system components, and a traffic model is developed. This framework is used to evaluate the direct and indirect costs associated with extreme seismic events. The combined effect of ground motion and liquefaction is considered to estimate the seismic risk of the system. Bridges are considered the most vulnerable network components. The concept of fragility curves is used to combine the probability of bridge failure with the postevent functionality of the network. An integrated traffic model is used to predict route choices after an earthquake. Finally, the developed framework is used to estimate the earthquake risk of the test bed transportation network in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. The direct and indirect costs associated with several earthquake scenarios in the region are estimated, and annual risk curves are developed.
Simulation Study of Evacuation Routes and Traffic Management Strategies in Short-Notice Emergency Evacuation
Authors: Wang Feng , Bu Lei , Li Chao , Rong Jian , Guo Runhua
Published: January 2015

Emergency evacuation traffic is simulated in response to an assumed chlorine gas spill incident in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. The best evacuation corridors are identified, and possible effective traffic management strategies are compared to increase the cumulative number of vehicles evacuated out of the protective action zone and to decrease the average travel times for evacuees. To relieve the heavy traffic congestion around the spill location caused by the sudden increase in demand, traffic management strategies (law enforcement for traffic control, contraflow operations, and variable message signs) are tested on the three major arterial streets in the protective action zone to improve evacuation performance over a baseline traffic management strategy. A multiway analysis of variance was conducted for the simulation results to numerically assess the effect of each factor that might contribute to the performance of the short-notice evacuation. Results of a comparison of evacuation scenarios used to determine evacuation effectiveness and statistical analysis indicated that ( a) selection of a best contraflow operation route depends on interference from intersecting links and the cost of deploying traffic management and ( b) the use of both contraflow and variable message signs could improve evacuation performance over using neither or only one of the two strategies.
Efficient Negative Cycle–Canceling Algorithm for Finding the Optimal Traffic Routing for Network Evacuation with Nonuniform Threats
Authors: Nassir Neema , Zheng Hong , Hickman Mark
Published: January 2015

A new network flow solution method is designed to determine optimal traffic routing efficiently for the evacuation of networks with several threat zones and with nonuniform threat levels across zones. The objective is to minimize total exposure (as duration and severity) to the threat for all evacuees during the evacuation. The problem is formulated as a minimum cost dynamic flow problem coupled with traffic dynamic constraints. The traffic flow dynamic constraints are enforced by the well-known point queue and spatial queue models in a time-expanded network presentation. The key to the efficiency of the proposed method is that, for any feasible solution, the algorithm can find and can cancel multiple negative cycles (including the cycle with the largest negative cost) with a single shortest path calculation made possible by applying a proposed transformation to the original problem. A cost transformation function and a multisource shortest path algorithm are proposed to facilitate the efficient detection and cancelation of negative cycles. Zone by zone, negative cycles are canceled at the border links of the zones. The solution method is proved to be optimal. The algorithm is implemented, tested, and verified to be optimal for a midsized example problem.
Use of Social Media Data to Explore Crisis Informatics
Authors: Ukkusuri Satish V. , Zhan Xianyuan , Sadri Arif Mohaimin , Ye Qing
Published: January 2015

Microblogs posted to Twitter after the tornado in Moore, Oklahoma, on May 20, 2013, were analyzed in this study. The potential of social media data was explored for the extraction of relevant and useful information during natural disasters and as an additional data source for better understanding of individual behavior during a crisis. Data records were attributed to user groups, and the most frequently used words were ranked to track the variation of common interests for each user group. In addition, the data were classified into different content categories, and the temporal variation patterns were analyzed. A sentiment analysis, which revealed variations in public mood and perception over time, was conducted to quantify the sentiment in the data. The techniques presented can be applied to the analysis of similar major social crises and natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes and earthquakes) to provide valuable complementary information in crisis awareness and response to users, first responders, and emergency preparedness agencies. Different stakeholders can determine the needs and activities of people during disasters by using the proposed method with the help of social media data.
Trigeminal branch stimulation for the treatment of intractable craniofacial pain
Authors: Ellis Jason A. , Mejia Munne Juan C. , Winfree Christopher J.
Published: January 2015

OBJECT

Trigeminal branch stimulation has been used in the treatment of craniofacial pain syndromes. The risks and benefits of such an approach have not been clearly delineated in large studies, however. The authors report their experience in treating craniofacial pain with trigeminal branch stimulation and share the lessons they have learned after 93 consecutive electrode placements.

METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent trigeminal branch electrode placement by the senior author (C.J.W.) for the treatment of craniofacial pain was performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients underwent implantation of a total of 93 trial and permanent electrodes between 2006 and 2013. Fifteen patients who experienced improved pain control after trial stimulation underwent implantation of permanent stimulators and were followed for an average of 15 months. At last follow-up 73% of patients had improvement in pain control, whereas only 27% of patients had no pain improvement. No serious complications were seen during the course of this study.

CONCLUSIONS

Trigeminal branch stimulation is a safe and effective treatment for a subset of patients with intractable craniofacial pain.
Airborne fine-resolution UHF radar: an approach to the study of englacial reflections, firn compaction and ice attenuation rates
Authors: Lewis Cameron , Gogineni Sivaprasad , Rodriguez-Morales Fernando , Panzer Ben , Stumpf Theresa , Paden John , Leuschen Carl
Published: January 2015

We have built and operated an ultra-wideband UHF pulsed-chirp radar for measuring firn stratigraphy from airborne platforms over the ice sheets of Greenland and West Antarctica. Our analysis found a wide range of capabilities, including imaging of post firn–ice transition horizons and sounding of shallow glaciers and ice shelves. Imaging of horizons to depths exceeding 600 m was possible in the colder interior regions of the ice sheet, where scattering from the ice surface and inclusions was minimal. The radar’s high sensitivity and large dynamic range point to loss tangent variations as the dominant mechanism for these englacial reflective horizons. The radar is capable of mapping interfaces with reflection coefficients as low as −80 dB near the firn–ice transition and as low as −64 dB at depths of 600 m. We found that firn horizon reflectivity strongly mirrored density variance, a result of the near-unity interfacial transmission coefficients. Zones with differing compaction mechanisms were also apparent in the data. We were able to sound many ice shelves and areas of shallow ice. We estimated ice attenuation rates for a few locations, and our attenuation estimates for the Ross Ice Shelf, West Antarctica, appear to agree well with earlier reported results.
Oil Content, Fatty Acid Composition and Distributions of Vitamin-E-Active Compounds of Some Fruit Seed Oils
Authors: Matthäus Bertrand , Musazcan Özcan Mehmet
Published: January 2015

Oil content, fatty acid composition and the distribution of vitamin-E-active compounds of selected Turkish seeds that are typically by-products of the food processing industries (linseed, apricot, pear, fennel, peanut, apple, cotton, quince and chufa), were determined. The oil content of the samples ranged from 16.9 to 53.4 g/100 g. The dominating fatty acids were oleic acid (apricot seed oil, peanut oil, and chufa seed oil) in the range of 52.5 to 68.4 g/100 g and linoleic acid (pear seed oil, apple seed oil, cottonseed oil and quince seed oil) with 48.1 to 56.3 g/100 g, while in linseed oil mainly α-linolenic acid (53.2 g/100 g) and in fennel seed oil mainly 18:1 fatty acids (80.5 g/100 g) with petroselinic acid predominating. The total content of vitamin-E-active compounds ranged from 20.1 (fennel seed oil) to 96 mg/100 g (apple seed oil). The predominant isomers were established as α- and γ-tocopherol.
Effect of Ce and Zr Addition to Ni/SiO2 Catalysts for Hydrogen Production through Ethanol Steam Reforming
Authors: Calles Jose , Carrero Alicia , Vizcaíno Arturo , Lindo Montaña
Published: January 2015

A series of Ni/Ce\(_{x}\)Zr\(_{1-x}\)O\(_{2}\)/SiO\(_{2}\) catalysts with different Zr/Ce mass ratios were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. Ni/SiO\(_{2}\), Ni/CeO\(_{2}\) and Ni/ZrO\(_{2}\) were also prepared as reference materials to compare. Catalysts' performances were tested in ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production and characterized by XRD, H\(_{2}\)-temperature programmed reduction (TPR), NH\(_{3}\)-temperature programmed desorption (TPD), TEM, ICP-AES and N\(_{2}\)-sorption measurements. The Ni/SiO\(_{2}\) catalyst led to a higher hydrogen selectivity than Ni/CeO\(_{2}\) and Ni/ZrO\(_{2}\), but it could not maintain complete ethanol conversion due to deactivation. The incorporation of Ce or Zr prior to Ni on the silica support resulted in catalysts with better performance for steam reforming, keeping complete ethanol conversion over time. When both Zr and Ce were incorporated into the catalyst, Ce\(_{x}\)Zr\(_{1-x}\)O\(_{2}\) solid solution was formed, as confirmed by XRD analyses. TPR results revealed stronger Ni-support interaction in the Ce\(_{x}\)Zr\(_{1-x}\)O\(_{2}\)-modified catalysts than in Ni/SiO\(_{2}\) one, which can be attributed to an increase of the dispersion of Ni species. All of the Ni/Ce\(_{x}\)Zr\(_{1-x}\)O\(_{2}\)/SiO\(_{2}\) catalysts exhibited good catalytic activity and stability after 8 h of time on stream at 600°. The best catalytic performance in terms of hydrogen selectivity was achieved when the Zr/Ce mass ratio was three.
Effects of Direct Fuel Injection Strategies on Cycle-by-Cycle Variability in a Gasoline Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition Engine: Sample Entropy Analysis
Authors: Hunicz Jacek , Medina Alejandro , Litak Grzegorz , Curto-Risso Pedro , Guzmán-Vargas Lev
Published: January 2015

In this study we summarize and analyze experimental observations of cyclic variability in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) combustion in a single-cylinder gasoline engine. The engine was configured with negative valve overlap (NVO) to trap residual gases from prior cycles and thus enable auto-ignition in successive cycles. Correlations were developed between different fuel injection strategies and cycle average combustion and work output profiles. Hypothesized physical mechanisms based on these correlations were then compared with trends in cycle-by-cycle predictability as revealed by sample entropy. The results of these comparisons help to clarify how fuel injection strategy can interact with prior cycle effects to affect combustion stability and so contribute to design control methods for HCCI engines.
Thermoeconomic Optimization of a Renewable Polygeneration System Serving a Small Isolated Community
Authors: Calise Francesco , D'Accadia Massimo , Piacentino Antonio , Vicidomini Maria
Published: January 2015

During the last years, special attention has been paid to renewable polygeneration technologies, able of simultaneously producing thermal, cooling, electrical energy and desalinated water from seawater. This paper focuses on an innovative polygeneration system driven by renewable energy sources, including the following technologies: hybrid photovoltaic/thermal collectors, concentrating parabolic trough (CPVT), a biomass heater, a single-stage absorption chiller and a multiple-effect distillation desalination system. The system is designed to cover the base load of an isolated small community. In previous papers, the dynamic simulation model about plant operation is discussed. In this paper, a detailed exergy, economic and environmental analysis of the plant is presented. In addition, the plant was optimized using different objective functions, applying the Design of Experiment (DoE) methodology which evaluates the sensitivity of the different objective functions with respect to the selected design parameters. The results show that an increase of the storage volume is generally negative, whereas increasing the solar field area involves an increase of the exergy destruction rate, but also an improvement of the CPVT exergy output provided; the final result is an increase of both the exergy efficiency and the economic profitability of the polygeneration system.
Modeling the Distribution of Solar Radiation on a Two-Axis Tracking Plane for Photovoltaic Conversion
Authors: Frydrychowicz-Jastrzębska Grażyna , Bugała Artur
Published: January 2015

The paper presents selected isotropic and anisotropic mathematical models to calculate the distribution of solar radiation on the photovoltaic module plane with any spatial orientation. A comparison of solar radiation models for Poland is based on measured data and received from the Institute of Meteorology and Water Management. Power density of solar radiation for different angular positions, especially for representative days of each month, was calculated. Based on the statistical analysis of the percentage root-mean-square error (RMSE%), mean-bias error (MBE%) and the Pearson correlation coefficient of an individual mathematical model, our own correction factor for diffuse radiation was proposed. A modified Liu-Jordan model was compared with six common mathematical models showing better agreement of measured and calculated values of solar radiation density. The presented analysis explains which mathematical model is the most suitable for central Poland (Poznań, 52°25’ N, 16°56’ E) and shows the validity of applying the modified model to improve the accuracy of determination of the radiation power density for a given elevation and azimuth angle using values for a horizontal plane.
Detection of Critical LUCC Indices and Sensitive Watershed Regions Related to Lake Algal Blooms: A Case Study of Taihu Lake
Authors: Lin Chen , Ma Ronghua , Su Zhihu , Zhu Qing
Published: January 2015

Taihu Lake in China has suffered from severe eutrophication over the past 20 years which is partly due to significant land use/cover change (LUCC). There is an increasing need to detect the critical watershed region that significantly affects lake water degradation, which has great significance for environmental protection. However, previous studies have obtained conflicting results because of non–uniform lake indicators and inadequate time periods. To identify the sensitive LUCC indices and buffer distance regions, three lake divisions (Meiliang Lake, Zhushan Lake and Western Coastal region) and their watershed region within the Taihu Lake basin were chosen as study sites, the algal area was used as a uniform lake quality indicator and modeled with LUCC indices over the whole time series. Results showed that wetland (WL) and landscape index such as Shannon diversity index (SHDI) appeared to be sensitive LUCC indices when the buffer distance was less than 5 km, while agricultural land (AL) and landscape fragmentation (Ci) gradually became sensitive indices as buffer distances increased to more than 5 km. For the relationship between LUCC and lake algal area, LUCC of the WC region seems to have no significant effect on lake water quality. Conversely, LUCC within ML and ZS region influenced algal area of corresponding lake divisions greatly, while the most sensitive regions were found in 3 km to 5 km, rather than the whole catchment. These results will be beneficial for the further understanding of the relationship between LUCC and lake water quality, and will provide a practical basis for the identification of critical regions for lake.
Addendum: Han, Y.; Grogan-Kaylor, A.; Delva, J.; Xie, Y. Estimating the Heterogeneous Relationship Between Peer Drinking and Youth Alcohol Consumption in Chile Using Propensity Score Stratification. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2014, 11, 11879–11897
Authors: Han Yoonsun , Grogan-Kaylor Andrew , Delva Jorge , Xie Yu
Published: January 2015

The authors wish to update the Acknowledgments in their paper published in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health [1], doi:10.3390/ijerph111111879, website: http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/11/11/11879.[...]
Characterization of Extremely Low Frequency Magnetic Fields from Diesel, Gasoline and Hybrid Cars under Controlled Conditions
Authors: Hareuveny Ronen , Sudan Madhuri , Halgamuge Malka , Yaffe Yoav , Tzabari Yuval , Namir Daniel , Kheifets Leeka
Published: January 2015

This study characterizes extremely low frequency (ELF) magnetic field (MF) levels in 10 car models. Extensive measurements were conducted in three diesel, four gasoline, and three hybrid cars, under similar controlled conditions and negligible background fields. Averaged over all four seats under various driving scenarios the fields were lowest in diesel cars (0.02 μT), higher for gasoline (0.04–0.05 μT) and highest in hybrids (0.06–0.09 μT), but all were in-line with daily exposures from other sources. Hybrid cars had the highest mean and 95th percentile MF levels, and an especially large percentage of measurements above 0.2 μT. These parameters were also higher for moving conditions compared to standing while idling or revving at 2500 RPM and higher still at 80 km/h compared to 40 km/h. Fields in non-hybrid cars were higher at the front seats, while in hybrid cars they were higher at the back seats, particularly the back right seat where 16%–69% of measurements were greater than 0.2 μT. As our results do not include low frequency fields (below 30 Hz) that might be generated by tire rotation, we suggest that net currents flowing through the cars’ metallic chassis may be a possible source of MF. Larger surveys in standardized and well-described settings should be conducted with different types of vehicles and with spectral analysis of fields including lower frequencies due to magnetization of tires.
Effects of Atmospheric Pressure Plasmas on Isolated and Cellular DNA—A Review
Authors: Arjunan Krishna , Sharma Virender , Ptasinska Sylwia
Published: January 2015

Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (APP) is being used widely in a variety of biomedical applications. Extensive research in the field of plasma medicine has shown the induction of DNA damage by APP in a dose-dependent manner in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems. Recent evidence suggests that APP-induced DNA damage shows potential benefits in many applications, such as sterilization and cancer therapy. However, in several other applications, such as wound healing and dentistry, DNA damage can be detrimental. This review reports on the extensive investigations devoted to APP interactions with DNA, with an emphasis on the critical role of reactive species in plasma-induced damage to DNA. The review consists of three main sections dedicated to fundamental knowledge of the interactions of reactive oxygen species (ROS)/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) with DNA and its components, as well as the effects of APP on isolated and cellular DNA in prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species in Defense/Stress Responses Activated by Chitosan in Sycamore Cultured Cells
Authors: Malerba Massimo , Cerana Raffaella
Published: January 2015

Chitosan (CHT) is a non-toxic and inexpensive compound obtained by deacetylation of chitin, the main component of the exoskeleton of arthropods as well as of the cell walls of many fungi. In agriculture CHT is used to control numerous diseases on various horticultural commodities but, although different mechanisms have been proposed, the exact mode of action of CHT is still unknown. In sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.) cultured cells, CHT induces a set of defense/stress responses that includes production of H2O2 and nitric oxide (NO). We investigated the possible signaling role of these reactive molecules in some CHT-induced responses by means of inhibitors of production and/or scavengers. The results show that both reactive nitrogen and oxygen species are not only a mere symptom of stress conditions but are involved in the responses induced by CHT in sycamore cells. In particular, NO appears to be involved in a cell death form induced by CHT that shows apoptotic features like DNA fragmentation, increase in caspase-3-like activity and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondrion. On the contrary, reactive oxygen species (ROS) appear involved in a cell death form induced by CHT that does not show these apoptotic features but presents increase in lipid peroxidation.
Differential Salt-Induced Dissociation of the p53 Protein Complexes with Circular and Linear Plasmid DNA Substrates Suggest Involvement of a Sliding Mechanism
Authors: Šebest Peter , Brázdová Marie , Fojta Miroslav , Pivoňková Hana
Published: January 2015

A study of the effects of salt conditions on the association and dissociation of wild type p53 with different ~3 kbp long plasmid DNA substrates (supercoiled, relaxed circular and linear, containing or lacking a specific p53 binding site, p53CON) using immunoprecipitation at magnetic beads is presented. Salt concentrations above 200 mM strongly affected association of the p53 protein to any plasmid DNA substrate. Strikingly different behavior was observed when dissociation of pre-formed p53-DNA complexes in increased salt concentrations was studied. While contribution from the p53CON to the stability of the p53-DNA complexes was detected between 100 and 170 mM KCl, p53 complexes with circular DNAs (but not linear) exhibited considerable resistance towards salt treatment for KCl concentrations as high as 2 M provided that the p53 basic C-terminal DNA binding site (CTDBS) was available for DNA binding. On the contrary, when the CTDBS was blocked by antibody used for immunoprecipitation, all p53-DNA complexes were completely dissociated from the p53 protein in KCl concentrations ≥200 mM under the same conditions. These observations suggest: (a) different ways for association and dissociation of the p53-DNA complexes in the presence of the CTDBS; and (b) a critical role for a sliding mechanism, mediated by the C-terminal domain, in the dissociation process.
HPV Carcinomas in Immunocompromised Patients
Authors: Reusser Nicole , Downing Christopher , Guidry Jacqueline , Tyring Stephen
Published: January 2015

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide and can result in pre-malignancies or overt malignancies of the skin and mucosal surfaces. HPV-related illnesses are an important personal and public health problem causing physical, mental, sexual and financial detriments. Moreover, this set of malignancies severely affects the immunosuppressed population, particularly HIV-positive patients and organ-transplant recipients. There is growing incidence of HPV-associated anogenital malignancies as well as a decrease in the average age of affected patients, likely related to the rising number of high-risk individuals. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common type of HPV-related malignancy. Current treatment options for HPV infection and subsequent disease manifestations include imiquimod, retinoids, intralesional bleomycin, and cidofovir; however, primary prevention with HPV vaccination remains the most effective strategy. This review will discuss anogenital lesions in immunocompromised patients, cutaneous warts at nongenital sites, the association of HPV with skin cancer in immunocompromised patients, warts and carcinomas in organ-transplant patients, HIV-positive patients with HPV infections, and the management of cutaneous disease in the immunocompromised patient.
Influence of Size on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of an AISI 304L Stainless Steel—A Comparison between Bulk and Fibers
Authors: Baldenebro-Lopez Francisco , Gomez-Esparza Cynthia , Corral-Higuera Ramon , Arredondo-Rea Susana , Pellegrini-Cervantes Manuel , Ledezma-Sillas Jose , Martinez-Sanchez Roberto , Herrera-Ramirez Jose
Published: January 2015

In this work, the mechanical properties and microstructural features of an AISI 304L stainless steel in two presentations, bulk and fibers, were systematically studied in order to establish the relationship among microstructure, mechanical properties, manufacturing process and effect on sample size. The microstructure was analyzed by XRD, SEM and TEM techniques. The strength, Young’s modulus and elongation of the samples were determined by tensile tests, while the hardness was measured by Vickers microhardness and nanoindentation tests. The materials have been observed to possess different mechanical and microstructural properties, which are compared and discussed.
The Anti-Addiction Drug Ibogaine and the Heart: A Delicate Relation
Authors: Koenig Xaver , Hilber Karlheinz
Published: January 2015

The plant indole alkaloid ibogaine has shown promising anti-addictive properties in animal studies. Ibogaine is also anti-addictive in humans as the drug alleviates drug craving and impedes relapse of drug use. Although not licensed as therapeutic drug and despite safety concerns, ibogaine is currently used as an anti-addiction medication in alternative medicine in dozens of clinics worldwide. In recent years, alarming reports of life-threatening complications and sudden death cases, temporally associated with the administration of ibogaine, have been accumulating. These adverse reactions were hypothesised to be associated with ibogaine’s propensity to induce cardiac arrhythmias. The aim of this review is to recapitulate the current knowledge about ibogaine’s effects on the heart and the cardiovascular system, and to assess the cardiac risks associated with the use of this drug in anti- addiction therapy. The actions of 18-methoxycoronaridine (18-MC), a less toxic ibogaine congener with anti-addictive properties, are also considered.
The Roles of Direct Recognition by Animal Lectins in Antiviral Immunity and Viral Pathogenesis
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Jianying , Pang Xiaojing , Liu Tao , Ning Zhijie , Cheng Gong
Published: January 2015

Lectins are a group of proteins with carbohydrate recognition activity. Lectins are categorized into many families based on their different cellular locations as well as their specificities for a variety of carbohydrate structures due to the features of their carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) modules. Many studies have indicated that the direct recognition of particular oligosaccharides on viral components by lectins is important for interactions between hosts and viruses. Herein, we aim to globally review the roles of this recognition by animal lectins in antiviral immune responses and viral pathogenesis. The different classes of mammalian lectins can either recognize carbohydrates to activate host immunity for viral elimination or can exploit those carbohydrates as susceptibility factors to facilitate viral entry, replication or assembly. Additionally, some arthropod C-type lectins were recently identified as key susceptibility factors that directly interact with multiple viruses and then facilitate infection. Summarization of the pleiotropic roles of direct viral recognition by animal lectins will benefit our understanding of host-virus interactions and could provide insight into the role of lectins in antiviral drug and vaccine development.
Elderberries: A Source of Ribosome-Inactivating Proteins with Lectin Activity
Authors: Tejero Jesús , Jiménez Pilar , Quinto Emiliano , Cordoba-Diaz Damián , Garrosa Manuel , Cordoba-Diaz Manuel , Gayoso Manuel , Girbés Tomás
Published: January 2015

Sambucus (Adoxaceae) species have been used for both food and medicine purposes. Among these, Sambucus nigra L. (black elder), Sambucus ebulus L. (dwarf elder), and Sambucus sieboldiana L. are the most relevant species studied. Their use has been somewhat restricted due to the presence of bioactive proteins or/and low molecular weight compounds whose ingestion could trigger deleterious effects. Over the last few years, the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of Sambucus species have been investigated. Among the proteins present in Sambucus species both type 1, and type 2 ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs), and hololectins have been reported. The biological role played by these proteins remains unknown, although they are conjectured to be involved in defending plants against insect predators and viruses. These proteins might have an important impact on the nutritional characteristics and food safety of elderberries. Type 2 RIPs are able to interact with gut cells of insects and mammals triggering a number of specific and mostly unknown cell signals in the gut mucosa that could significantly affect animal physiology. In this paper, we describe all known RIPs that have been isolated to date from Sambucus species, and comment on their antiviral and entomotoxic effects, as well as their potential uses.
The Effect of Chicken Extract on Mood, Cognition and Heart Rate Variability
Authors: Young Hayley , Benton David , Carter Neil
Published: January 2015

Chicken extract, which is rich in anserine and carnosine, has been widely taken in Asian countries as a traditional remedy with various aims, including attenuation of psychological fatigue. The effects of consuming BRAND’S Essence of Chicken (EOC) or a placebo on 46 young adults’ responses to a standard psychological “stressor” were considered. Heart rate variability (HRV), cortisol responses, mood and cognition were measured at baseline and after ten days supplementation. EOC resulted in feeling less anxious, depressed and confused and more agreeable and clearheaded. A decrease in HRV was observed after EOC but only in females. Cognition and cortisol levels were not influenced by EOC. Findings suggest that EOC may be a promising supplement to improve mood in a healthy population.