bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence Of Different Protozoan Parasites In Patients Visiting At ICDDR'B Hospital, Dhaka
Authors: Alam Shahela , Khanum Hamida , Zaman Rimi Farhana , Haque Rashidul
Published: August 2013

Gastrointestinal protozoan parasites are important cause of diarrhoeal illness in Bangladesh. The present study was conducted to observe the prevalence of different human gastrointestinal parasites in patients visiting a Hospital in Dhaka. Several classical techniques were employed to diagnose the causal agents which include E. histolytica, G. intestinalis, Cryptosporidium sp. and A. lumbricoides etc. A total of 540 samples from outdoor patients of ICDDRB Hospital at Dhaka was examined where different protozoan parasites including E. histolytica (1.11%), G. intestinalis (0.37%), and Cryptosporidium sp. (4.44%) were detected. Several diagnostic tools were employed that include ELISA, acid fast staining and trichrome staining techniques. Age and sex-specific susceptibility and seasonal incidence pattern were also assessed. J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 39(1): 117-123, June 2013 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v39i1.16040
Chikungunya Fever
Authors: Azad Khan Abdul Kalam
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 129-130 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15298
Urinary Tract Infection in Severely Malnourished Children
Authors: Islam Ariful , Begum Hosne Ara , Saha Santoch Kumar , Banu Nazneen Akhter , Hossain Mohammad Zaid , Chowdhury Md. Shafiqul Alam , Shamim Md.
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 143-147 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15301
Evaluation of Results of Arthroscopic ACL Reconstruction by Hamstring Graft
Authors: Alam Mohammad Khurshed , Shamsuzzaman Md. , Bhuiyan Mashifique Ahmed , Hassan Md. , Shoma Farzana Khan
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 148-151 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15336
Aetiological Factors of Infertility: A Study done in Bangabandhu Shekh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Hospital - A Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Anwar Begum Rokeya , Fatima Parveen , Afza Nasim , Begum Naznen , Kulsum Syeda Umme , Parveen Shaila
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 152-155 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15337
Characteristics of Lichen Planus in Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Mahmud Md. Mostaque , Khandker Lubna , Hossain Md. Shahadat , Rahman Md. Mostafizur , Hossain Mohammad Zaid
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 156-159 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15338
Hearing Status in High Risk Neonates: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Saha Anamika , Saha Narayan Chandra , Saha Kanu Lal , Talukder Debesh Chandra , Datta Pran Gopal
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 166-176 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15340
Outcome of Radioiodine Ablation in the Management of Differentiated Carcinoma Thyroid
Authors: Islam Md. Zahidul , Fakir Abu Yusuf , Talukder Debesh Chandra , Hossain Mohammad Zaid , Rahman Md. Mostafizur
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 177-183 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15355
Study on Effects of Wheatgrass (Triticum aestivum) Juice on Serum Triglyceride of Experimentally Induced Hypercholesterolaemic Male Long Evans Rat
Authors: Afroz Rokhsana Dil , Nurunnabi Abu Sadat Mohammad , Hossain Mohammad Zaid , Khan Md. Ismail , Parvin Shamima , Rahman Hasanur
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 197-203 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15358
Risk Factors and Clinical Profile of Seizure in Childhood
Authors: Chowdhury Rumpa Mani , Alam Badrul , Sharma Zhulam Das , Das Krishna Priya , Hossain Mohammad Zaid , Deb Sudip Ranjan
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 211-217 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15361
Rhinosporidiosis Cheek: A Very Rare Presentation
Authors: Shah Rameez , Fakir Mohammad Abu Yousuf , Khan AF Mohiuddin
Published: August 2013

J Dhaka Medical College, Vol. 21, No. 2, October, 2012, Page 242-244 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v21i2.15367
Peptic ulcer disease
Authors: Ali Md. Zulfikar
Published: August 2013

A peptic ulcer, also known as peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is the most common ulcer of an area of the gastrointestinal tract that is usually acidic and thus extremely painful. It is defined as mucosal erosions equal to or greater than 0.5 cm. As many as 70%-90% of such ulcers are associated with Helicobacter pylori, a spiral-shaped bacterium that lives in the acidic environment of the stomach. KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-2, January 2013, Page 270-272 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i2.15164
Post Radiotherapy Uro-gynaecological Morbidities in Cancer Cervix-Retrospective Study
Authors: Sultana Mst. Atia , Shahnewaj Kh. , Akhter Monira , Sharmin Meher Nigar , Shejuty Tasneema Rahman , Anam ABM Shafiul
Published: August 2013

Aims & Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the complications related to uro-genital system of patients who received radiotherapy for invasive cervical cancer. The patient selection is randomized who were evaluated in OPD Obst. Gynae. Deptt.of KYAMCH after receiving their full course of radiotherapy.100 patients were evaluated. In this study most of the women were perimenopausal, having 2-5 children, most of them were presented with vaginal discharge & postcoital bleeding, most of them received surgical treatment followed by radiotherapy & chemotherapy. During radiotherapy most of them having no complains, some of them were suffering from frequency of micturation & dysuria. 31% patient suffered from dyspareunia, 17% vaginal stenosis, 7% vaginal discharge and 7% cystitis. KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-2, January 2013, Page 273-276 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i2.15166
Outcome of Urgent Hemodialysis in Chronic Kidney Disease in a Rural Tertiary Care Hospital
Authors: Ahmed Sheik Salahuddin , Ali Md. Zulfikar , Laila Tarafdar Runa , Moniruzzaman -
Published: August 2013

Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide public health problem with an increasing incidence and prevalence. Outcomes of chronic kidney disease include not only complications of decreased kidney function and cardiovascular disease but also end stage renal failure causing increased morbidity and mortality. The development of acute but serious uremic complications in advanced kidney disease may put the patient's life at risk requiring immediate dialysis. The objective of this study was to find out the outcomes of urgent hemodialysis in advanced kidney disease, the minimum number of hemodialysis required for satisfactory clinical improvement, and to detect uremic emergencies associated with those patients. Twenty two patients with end stage renal failure admitted in a rural tertiary care private hospital of Bangladesh for emergency and short term dialysis were included in this study. For each patient hemodialysis was done at one day interval three times in a week in a dialysis unit. Results show that two sessions of hemodialysis produced 72 % and three sessions, almost 100% clinical recovery at satisfactory level. Urgent hemodialysis was found to be life saving in observed uremic emergencies like acute pulmonary edema, cerebral encephalopathy, metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, gross fluid overload and pericardial effusion. Dialysis therapy ameliorates many of the clinical manifestations of renal failure and postpones otherwise imminent death and for these logical reasons it is recommended that dialysis should not be delayed in uremic emergencies for the best interest of clinical outcomes. KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-2, January 2013, Page 277-281 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i2.15167
Postmenopausal Urogenital Diseases in Bangladesh A Study of Kumudini Womens Medical College & Hospital
Authors: Ferdous A , Jahan AA , Begu S , Hassan A , Shahnewaj Kh
Published: August 2013

Background: All women go through menopause stage after a certain age and menopause women suffer from different medical problems which needs specific attention. Aim: The aim of the study is to find out the consequences of postmenopausal women attending in the hospital for medical treatment. This study also identifies the outcome of different consequences in those patients. Methods: Among 105 patients were selected for the study purposively those who were admitted in the gynecological ward in Kumodini Women's medical college from March 2008 to February 2009. All patients were undertake clinical examination and find out the consequence of menopause in one year observation period. A structured questionnaire was used to interview the patient and information also collected from patient's treatment file. Statistical analysis was performed by using statistical software SPSS 11.5 window. Results: Among 105 patients, age was above 40 years. Most of the patients were coming from low and low middle income society having maltiparous We have examined that most of the menopausal women developed uterovaginal prolapse was 63.8%, genital malignancies was found among 17.4% patients and rest were faced other benign disorders (19%) which includes leiomyoma, pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID), uncontrolled bleeding, urinary tract infections (UTI) and ovarian cysts. Conclusions: In Post menopausal phase of women in Bangladesh suffered from different health consequences like uterine prolapse, benign diseases and carcinoma which causes of hospital admission for better management. KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-2, January 2013, Page 290-293 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i2.15169
A Retrospective Study of Suicidal Death Studied in Dinajpur Medical College, Dinajpur
Authors: Rahman MM , Rahman MZ , Hossain MG
Published: August 2013

Suicide is one of the forms of criminal offence in our country and it is also prevailing in other countries of the world. Whenever attempts to commite suicide and does any act towards the commission of such offence, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both. Shooting, hanging and stabbing are a 'hard way' of committing suicide and typically a male choice. Poisoning and drowning are 'soft way' of committing suicide and typically a female choice. A retro spective study was conducted on suicidal death, the department of forensic medicine, Dinajpur medical college. 20 cases were examined from June 2004 to June 2006 for 2 years. All the cases were referred from 13 different police stations and one railway station of Dinajpur district. Among them the highest number of cases were brought by Kotowally police station and the lowest from Hakimpur police station. But among the 20 cases 70% were female Muslims. The highest frequency of offence was found in lower socioeconomic growth. The age group of the was from 20 - 35 years. KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-2, January 2013, Page 298-300 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i2.15171
Interpretation Of Ultrasound Image
Authors: Islam Md. Saidul , Mostafa Md. Gulam
Published: August 2013

An ultrasound system constructs an image by a series of sound waves produced by its transducer elements from different tissues at different depths of the body. Normal B (Brightness) mode Ultrasonography displays an image at grey scales from bright to black according to the tissue characters and nature of sound wave transmission. M(Motion) mode produced a wavy line taking B-mode waves which is applicable in moving structure like heart.Doppler sonography is a special technique to evaluate blood flow through a blood vessel using Doppler shift equation. Color Doppler uses for direction and speed of blood flow, where as, power Doppler can detect even a very low flow state of a blood vessel. Combined uses of B-mode and color denotes either Duplex or Triplex sonography according to numbe of images used. KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-2, January 2013, Page 301-305 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i2.15172
An Unusual Incarcerated Port Site Hernia due to retained partial gall bladder with stones - A case report.
Authors: Hossain Mohd. Farid , Uddin Md. Rakib , Emon Raihanul Islam , Sarkar Md. Manhbur Rashid
Published: August 2013

A 50 years old lady presented to the Emergency department with what appeared to be a strangulated infraumbilical hernia. She was explored and found to have an unexpected, unusual diagnosis -- incarcerated port site hernia with early features of strangulation. There was fundic part of gall bladder loaded with stones in the center of hernial contents. Gall bladder was surrounded by inflammed pad of omentum. The defect and the mass was approximately 6-8 cm below the umbilical port site incision scar of laparoscopic cholecystectomy, performed 13 years back. Excision of the inflammed hernial contents and Herniorraphy was performed. Patient recovered completely. Complications related to introduction of ports and incomplete removal of gall bladder may present in various ways and sometimes many years after the primary surgery. Methods of reducing the risk of such complications and pathogenesis of hernia in this case are discussed. KYAMC Journal Vol. 3, No.-2, January 2013, Page 309-311 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/kyamcj.v3i2.15174
Permanent Pace Maker Lead Vegetation along with Tricuspid Valve Leaflets Involvement - A Case Report
Authors: Fatema Nilufar , Sultana Nazneen , Deeba Sahajadi Farah , Ahmad CM , Rahman Fazlur , Siddique Md Abu , Banerjee Sajal K , Sultan Md Ashraf Uddin
Published: August 2013

Permanent pace maker (PPM) lead vegetation is a rare condition. Diagnosis is made by persistent fever after PPM lead implantation, blood culture,2D & M-mode Echocardiography and confirmed by Transoesophageal echocardiography. Many literatures showed that Staphylococcus epidermidis is the most responsible organism as it can grow on plastic material. In this case, we confirmed the vegetations in PPM lead and Tricuspid valve (TV) leaflets by Transoesophageal echocardiography. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/uhj.v8i2.16088 University Heart Journal Vol. 8, No. 2, July 2012
Successful Percutaneous Coronary Interventionin a Patient with Dextrocardia and Situs Inversus-a case report
Authors: Ahsan Syed Ali , Rahman Hafizur , Hossain Ahmed Shafiqul , Siddique Md Abu , Mahmood Manzoor
Published: August 2013

Dextrocardia is a rare congenital anomaly of development characterized by a mirror- image position of the heart. Unlike dextrocardia with situs solitus or ambiguus, the coincidence of congenital heart disease is relatively low among dextrocardic patients with situs inversus. However, patients with dextrocardia may suffer from coronary heart disease as do people with normally positioned hearts. Few cases of coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with dextrocardia have been reported. This is a case of a 48-year-old male patient with dextrocardia who developed unstable angina and was able to undergo diagnostic catheterization and percutaneous coronary intervention. We successfully performed percutaneous coronary angioplasty followed by coronary stenting to the left circumflex artery (LCX) and described our experience in the selection of the guiding catheters (standard preformed catheters), angiographic image acquisition (mirror image views with subtle modification) and coronary catheter engaging techniques (opposite-direction catheter rotations). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/uhj.v8i2.16089 University Heart Journal Vol. 8, No. 2, July 2012
A Maximum Entropy-Based Chaotic Time-Variant Fragile Watermarking Scheme for Image Tampering Detection
Authors: Chen Young-Long , Yau Her-Terng , Yang Guo-Jheng
Published: August 2013

The fragile watermarking technique is used to protect intellectual property rights while also providing security and rigorous protection. In order to protect the copyright of the creators, it can be implanted in some representative text or totem. Because all of the media on the Internet are digital, protection has become a critical issue, and determining how to use digital watermarks to protect digital media is thus the topic of our research. This paper uses the Logistic map with parameter u = 4 to generate chaotic dynamic behavior with the maximum entropy 1. This approach increases the security and rigor of the protection. The main research target of information hiding is determining how to hide confidential data so that the naked eye cannot see the difference. Next, we introduce one method of information hiding. Generally speaking, if the image only goes through Arnold’s cat map and the Logistic map, it seems to lack sufficient security. Therefore, our emphasis is on controlling Arnold’s cat map and the initial value of the chaos system to undergo small changes and generate different chaos sequences. Thus, the current time is used to not only make encryption more stringent but also to enhance the security of the digital media.
Gender-Dependent Effects of Enriched Environment and Social Isolation in Ischemic Retinal Lesion in Adult Rats
Authors: Kiss Peter , Szabadfi Krisztina , Horvath Gabor , Tamas Andrea , Farkas Jozsef , Gabriel Robert , Reglodi Dora
Published: August 2013

Exposure to an enriched environment has been shown to have many positive effects on brain structure and function. Numerous studies have proven that enriched environment can reduce the lesion induced by toxic and traumatic injuries. Impoverished environment, on the other hand, can have deleterious effects on the outcome of neuronal injuries. We have previously shown that enriched conditions have protective effects in retinal injury in newborn rats. It is well-known that the efficacy of neuroprotective strategies can depend on age and gender. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to examine the effects of environmental enrichment and social isolation in retinal ischemia. We used bilateral common carotid artery occlusion to induce retinal hypoperfusion in adult Wistar rats of both genders. Groups were housed in standard, enriched or impoverished conditions. Impoverished environment was induced by social isolation. Retinas were processed for histological analysis after two weeks of survival. In the present study, we show that (1) enriched environment has protective effects in adult ischemic retinal lesion, while (2) impoverished environment further increases the degree of ischemic injury, and (3) that these environmental effects are gender-dependent: females are less responsive to the positive effects of environmental enrichment and more vulnerable to retinal ischemia in social isolation. In summary, our present study shows that the effects of both positive and negative environmental stimuli are gender-dependent in ischemic retinal lesions.
Post-Transcriptional Regulation by Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of the RNA-Binding Proteins
Authors: Ji Yingbiao , Tulin Alexei
Published: August 2013

Gene expression is intricately regulated at the post-transcriptional level by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) via their interactions with pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) and mRNA during development. However, very little is known about the mechanism regulating RBP activities in RNA metabolism. During the past few years, a large body of evidence has suggested that many RBPs, such as heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs), undergo post-translational modification through poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation to modulate RNA processing, including splicing, polyadenylation, translation, miRNA biogenesis and rRNA processing. Accordingly, RBP poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation has been shown to be involved in stress responses, stem cell differentiation and retinal morphogenesis. Here, we summarize recent advances in understanding the biological roles of RBP poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation, as controlled by Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases (PARPs) and Poly(ADP-ribose) Glycohydrolase (PARG). In addition, we discuss the potential of PARP and PARG inhibitors for the treatment of RBP-related human diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
Hepatotoxic Seafood Poisoning (HSP) Due to Microcystins: A Threat from the Ocean?
Authors: Vareli Katerina , Jaeger Walter , Touka Anastasia , Frillingos Stathis , Briasoulis Evangelos , Sainis Ioannis
Published: August 2013

Cyanobacterial blooms are a major and growing problem for freshwater ecosystems worldwide that increasingly concerns public health, with an average of 60% of blooms known to be toxic. The most studied cyanobacterial toxins belong to a family of cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxins, called microcystins. The microcystins are stable hydrophilic cyclic heptapeptides with a potential to cause cell damage following cellular uptake via organic anion-transporting proteins (OATP). Their intracellular biologic effects presumably involve inhibition of catalytic subunits of protein phosphatases (PP1 and PP2A) and glutathione depletion. The microcystins produced by cyanobacteria pose a serious problem to human health, if they contaminate drinking water or food. These toxins are collectively responsible for human fatalities, as well as continued and widespread poisoning of wild and domestic animals. Although intoxications of aquatic organisms by microcystins have been widely documented for freshwater ecosystems, such poisonings in marine environments have only occasionally been reported. Moreover, these poisonings have been attributed to freshwater cyanobacterial species invading seas of lower salinity (e.g., the Baltic) or to the discharge of freshwater microcystins into the ocean. However, recent data suggest that microcystins are also being produced in the oceans by a number of cosmopolitan marine species, so that Hepatotoxic Seafood Poisoning (HSP) is increasingly recognized as a major health risk that follows consumption of contaminated seafood.
The Potential of Use Basil and Rosemary Essential Oils as Effective Antibacterial Agents
Authors: Sienkiewicz Monika , Łysakowska Monika , Pastuszka Marta , Bienias Wojciech , Kowalczyk Edward
Published: August 2013

The considerable therapeutical problems of persistent infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacterial strains constitute a continuing need to find effective antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the activities of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) and rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) essential oils against multidrug- resistant clinical strains of Escherichia coli. A detailed analysis was performed of the resistance of the drug to the strains and their sensitivity to the tested oils. The antibacterial activity of the oils was tested against standard strain Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 as well as 60 other clinical strains of Escherichia coli. The clinical strains were obtained from patients with infections of the respiratory tract, abdominal cavity, urinary tract, skin and from hospital equipment. The inhibition of microbial growth by both essential oils, presented as MIC values, were determined by agar dilution. Susceptibility testing to antibiotics was carried out using disc diffusion. The results showed that both tested essential oils are active against all of the clinical strains from Escherichia coli including extended-spectrum β-lactamase positive bacteria, but basil oil possesses a higher ability to inhibit growth. These studies may hasten the application of essential oils in the treatment and prevention of emergent resistant strains in nosocomial infections.
On Visiting Our Dead
Authors: Herman Joanna , Mudd Lucia , Mudd Anna
Published: August 2013

A redefining of the meaning of death and grief: this essay explores a rejection of conventional ideas about mourning and describes the experiences of two daughters after they have lost their beloved father. In the one case, it is an evocation of his spirit that feels like a conversation and, in the other, visits by the father to the daughter through palpable signs.
Estimating Riparian and Agricultural Actual Evapotranspiration by Reference Evapotranspiration and MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index
Authors: Nagler Pamela , Glenn Edward , Nguyen Uyen , Scott Russell , Doody Tanya
Published: August 2013

Dryland river basins frequently support both irrigated agriculture and riparian vegetation and remote sensing methods are needed to monitor water use by both crops and natural vegetation in irrigation districts. We developed an algorithm for estimating actual evapotranspiration (ETa) based on the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) sensor on the EOS-1 Terra satellite and locally-derived measurements of reference crop ET (ETo). The algorithm was calibrated with five years of ETa data from three eddy covariance flux towers set in riparian plant associations on the upper San Pedro River, Arizona, supplemented with ETa data for alfalfa and cotton from the literature. The algorithm was based on an equation of the form ETa = ETo [a(1 − e−bEVI) − c], where the term (1 − e−bEVI) is derived from the Beer-Lambert Law to express light absorption by a canopy, with EVI replacing leaf area index as an estimate of the density of light-absorbing units. The resulting algorithm capably predicted ETa across riparian plants and crops (r2 = 0.73). It was then tested against water balance data for five irrigation districts and flux tower data for two riparian zones for which season-long or multi-year ETa data were available. Predictions were within 10% of measured results in each case, with a non-significant (P = 0.89) difference between mean measured and modeled ETa of 5.4% over all validation sites. Validation and calibration data sets were combined to present a final predictive equation for application across crops and riparian plant associations for monitoring individual irrigation districts or for conducting global water use assessments of mixed agricultural and riparian biomes.
Real-Time N2O Gas Detection System for Agricultural Production Using a 4.6-µm-Band Laser Source Based on a Periodically Poled LiNbO3 Ridge Waveguide
Authors: Tokura Akio , Asobe Masaki , Enbutsu Koji , Yoshihara Toshihiro , Hashida Shin-nosuke , Takenouchi Hirokazu
Published: August 2013

This article describes a gas monitoring system for detecting nitrous oxide (N2O) gas using a compact mid-infrared laser source based on difference-frequency generation in a quasi-phase-matched LiNbO3 waveguide. We obtained a stable output power of 0.62 mW from a 4.6-μm-band continuous-wave laser source operating at room temperature. This laser source enabled us to detect atmospheric N2O gas at a concentration as low as 35 parts per billion. Using this laser source, we constructed a new real-time in-situ monitoring system for detecting N2O gas emitted from potted plants. A few weeks of monitoring with the developed detection system revealed a strong relationship between nitrogen fertilization and N2O emission. This system is promising for the in-situ long-term monitoring of N2O in agricultural production, and it is also applicable to the detection of other greenhouse gases.
Biophilic Cities Are Sustainable, Resilient Cities
Authors: Beatley Timothy , Newman Peter
Published: August 2013

There is a growing recognition of the need for daily contact with nature, to live happy, productive, meaningful lives. Recent attention to biophilic design among architects and designers acknowledges this power of nature. However, in an increasingly urban planet, more attention needs to be aimed at the urban scales, at planning for and moving towards what the authors call “biophilic cities”. Biophilic cities are cities that provide close and daily contact with nature, nearby nature, but also seek to foster an awareness of and caring for this nature. Biophilic cities, it is argued here, are also sustainable and resilient cities. Achieving the conditions of a biophilic city will go far in helping to foster social and landscape resilience, in the face of climate change, natural disasters and economic uncertainty and various other shocks that cities will face in the future. The paper identifies key pathways by which biophilic urbanism enhances resilience, and while some are well-established relationships, others are more tentative and suggest future research and testing.
Does the Color of Feedback Affect Investment Decisions?
Authors: Shavit Tal , Rosenboim Mosi , Cohen Chen
Published: August 2013

This paper presents a multi-period experiment that extends a classic experiment on investment allocation preferences by adding colors to the feedback returned to participants. The results show that investors allocate the same proportion of their investment to the stock and the bond funds without regard to the colors. However, red feedback activates an avoidance motivation (vs. an approach motivation), and this reduces chasing past returns. The authors also found that the color of the feedback affected the time needed to make a decision. Financial institutions might use colored feedback to encourage approach or avoidance motivations in their clients.
A Study on Worker’s Perceptions of Psychological Capital on their Earnings
Authors: Thapa Amrit
Published: August 2013

This study explores the perceptions of workers on the influence of psychological capital on their earnings using qualitative data analysis. Workers from diverse socio-economic groups, cultures and occupations in New York City were interviewed using both individual interviews as well as focused groups to find out their viewpoints on psychological capital and its impact on their earnings. The analysis of this paper suggests that workers perceive psychological capital to play a meaningful role in influencing their earnings. In particular, the results indicate that psychological capital workers perceive to be important for their earnings are self-confidence, motivation, positive attitude, ambition and perseverance.
The Effect of Farmer Capacities, Farm Business Resources and Perceived Support of Family, Friends and Associational Networks on Intentions to Invest in Renewable Energy Ventures in the UK
Authors: Mbzibain Aurelian
Published: August 2013

The specific role of farmers and their actual or potential involvement with RE adoption and the wider community is potentially important but has not been addressed by research. This research carried out a postal survey of 2000 (response rate of 20.1%) farmers in the West Midlands region of the UK to investigate some of the factors affecting farmers’ intentions to invest in RE production and associated enterprises. Multivariate linear regressions showed that the farmer’s level of education, level of farm diversification, land tenancy status and farm business turnovers were the most important factors affecting intentions. It also emerged that perceived support of family, friends and associational networks was a significant positive influence on farmer’s investment intentions. The policy implications for these results are discussed.
On the Reliability of Cryptopometry
Authors: Martin Thomas , O’Toole Laurence , Jones Andrew
Published: August 2013

Forensics investigators encounter many challenges when it comes to digital evidence: the constantly changing technology that may store evidence, the vast amounts of data involved, and the increasing use of encryption. Cryptography, when used correctly, can prevent any useful information from being retrieved and is encountered in the use of communication protocols, whole-disk encryption, password managers, and so forth. There are some techniques that can assist the investigator when encountering encrypted material. Simple password-based systems can be brute-forced, and live memory capture can obtain key material directly. It has been suggested that the ciphertext length can be used to conclusively determine the plaintext (McGrath, Gladyshev, & Carthy, 2010). In this paper, the authors devise an experiment to test this claim. Based on the results, they argue that there are flaws with this approach.
Exploiting Geometrical Structure for Forensic Applications of Timing Inference Channels
Authors: Shebaro Bilal , Pérez-González Fernando , Crandall Jedidiah R.
Published: August 2013

Timing inference channels are a well-studied area of computer security and privacy research, but they have not been widely applied in digital forensic applications. Timing signatures (for example, of movies) are not robust against variations in the machine, the encoder, the environment, and other factors that affect timing, and unfortunately such issues have limited many researchers from using timing inference channels for revealing hidden data, detecting machine behavior, or even forensic analysis. The authors develop a geometrical interpretation in a high dimensional space of timing signatures for movies as an example of pattern-like software. The results suggest that timing signatures can be made robust against different machines, different encoders, and other environmental conditions by exploiting geometrical structure in this space. This geometrical structure helps identify the behavior of running pattern-like software that is useful for identifying digital crimes, privacy invasion matters, and network behaviors. This paper is focused on a thought experiment: how much information can an unprivileged process learn by just running on a system and observing its own timing? Although installing administrative software is the most frequent approach for understanding system behavior and detecting running software, the results show that it is feasible that such goals could be still achieved without any administrative privileges.
Data Integration Capability Evaluation of ERP Systems
Authors: Isikdag Umit , Underwood Jason , Kuruoglu Murat , Acikalin Utku
Published: August 2013

ERP implementations within large scale construction organizations have yielded more failures than successes. As a result of this high failure rate, the integration capability of ERP systems could not be fully understood and recognized by the construction (AEC) industry. The aim of the research presented in this paper was to investigate the role of ERP systems in enabling and facilitating Data Level Integration in construction industry organizations. In parallel with this aim, an ERP Data Level Integration Capability Matrix was developed as the metric for measuring the capability of ERP systems in enabling Data Level Integration. The matrix is validated with four case studies. The development of the matrix and the results of the case studies are presented in this paper.
Clinical Examination Results in Individuals With Functional Ankle Instability and Ankle-Sprain Copers
Authors: Wright Cynthia J. , Arnold Brent L. , Ross Scott E. , Ketchum Jessica , Ericksen Jeffrey , Pidcoe Peter
Published: August 2013

Context:

Why some individuals with ankle sprains develop functional ankle instability and others do not (ie, copers) is unknown. Current understanding of the clinical profile of copers is limited.

Objective:

To contrast individuals with functional ankle instability (FAI), copers, and uninjured individuals on both self-reported variables and clinical examination findings.

Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Setting:

Sports medicine research laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants:

Participants consisted of 23 individuals with a history of 1 or more ankle sprains and at least 2 episodes of giving way in the past year (FAI: Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool [CAIT] score = 20.52 ± 2.94, episodes of giving way = 5.8 ± 8.4 per month), 23 individuals with a history of a single ankle sprain and no subsequent episodes of instability (copers: CAIT score = 27.74 ± 1.69), and 23 individuals with no history of ankle sprain and no instability (uninjured: CAIT score = 28.78 ± 1.78).

Intervention(s):

Self-reported disability was recorded using the CAIT and Foot and Ankle Ability Measure for Activities of Daily Living and for Sports. On clinical examination, ligamentous laxity and tenderness, range of motion (ROM), and pain at end ROM were recorded.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Questionnaire scores for the CAIT, Foot and Ankle Ability Measure for Activities of Daily Living and for Sports, ankle inversion and anterior drawer laxity scores, pain with palpation of the lateral ligaments, ankle ROM, and pain at end ROM.

Results:

Individuals with FAI had greater self-reported disability for all measures (P < .05). On clinical examination, individuals with FAI were more likely to have greater talar tilt laxity, pain with inversion, and limited sagittal-plane ROM than copers (P < .05).

Conclusions:

Differences in both self-reported disability and clinical examination variables distinguished individuals with FAI from copers at least 1 year after injury. Whether the deficits could be detected immediately postinjury to prospectively identify potential copers is unknown.
Side-Alternating Vibration Training for Balance and Ankle Muscle Strength in Untrained Women
Authors: Spiliopoulou Styliani I. , Amiridis Ioannis G. , Tsigganos Georgios , Hatzitaki Vassilia
Published: August 2013

Context:

Side-alternating vibration (SAV) may help reduce the risk of falling by improving body balance control. Such training has been promoted as a strength-training intervention because it can increase muscle activation through an augmented excitatory input from the muscle spindles.

Objective:

To determine the effect of SAV training on static balance during 3 postural tasks of increasing difficulty and lower limb strength.

Design:

Randomized controlled clinical trial.

Setting:

Laboratory.

Patients or Other Participants:

A total of 21 healthy women were divided into training (n = 11; age = 43.35 ± 4.12 years, height = 169 ± 6.60 cm, mass = 68.33 ± 11.90 kg) and control (n = 10; age = 42.31 ± 3.73 years, height = 167 ± 4.32 cm, mass = 66.29 ± 10.74 kg) groups.

Intervention(s):

The training group completed a 9-week program during which participants performed 3 sessions per week of ten 15-second isometric contractions with a 30-second active rest of 3 exercises (half-squat, wide-stance squat, 1-legged half-squat) on an SAV plate (acceleration = 0.91–16.3g). The control group did not participate in any form of exercise over the 9-week period.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

We evaluated isokinetic and isometric strength of the knee extensors and flexors and ankle plantar flexors, dorsiflexors, and evertors. Static balance was assessed using 3 tasks of increasing difficulty (quiet bipedal stance, tandem stance, 1-legged stance). The electromyographic activity of the vastus lateralis, semitendinosus, medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and peroneus longus was recorded during postural task performance, baseline and pretraining, immediately posttraining, and 15 days posttraining.

Results:

After training in the training group, ankle muscle strength improved (P = .03), whereas knee muscle strength remained unaltered (P = .13). Improved ankle-evertor strength was observed at all angular velocities (P = .001). Postural sway decreased in both directions but was greater in the mediolateral (P < .001) than anteroposterior (P = .02) direction. The electromyographic activity of the peroneus longus increased during the sharpened tandem (P = .001) and 1-legged tasks (P = .007). No changes were seen in the control group for any measures.

Conclusions:

The SAV training could enhance ankle muscle strength and reduce postural sway during static balance performance. The reduction in mediolateral sway could be associated with the greater use of ankle evertors due to their strength improvement.
Therapeutic Interventions for Increasing Ankle Dorsiflexion After Ankle Sprain: A Systematic Review
Authors: Terada Masafumi , Pietrosimone Brian G. , Gribble Phillip A.
Published: August 2013

Context:

Clinicians perform therapeutic interventions, such as stretching, manual therapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound, and exercises, to increase ankle dorsiflexion. However, authors of previous studies have not determined which intervention or combination of interventions is most effective.

Objective:

To determine the magnitude of therapeutic intervention effects on and the most effective therapeutic interventions for restoring normal ankle dorsiflexion after ankle sprain.

Data Sources:

We performed a comprehensive literature search in Web of Science and EBSCO HOST from 1965 to May 29, 2011, with 19 search terms related to ankle sprain, dorsiflexion, and intervention and by cross-referencing pertinent articles.

Study Selection:

Eligible studies had to be written in English and include the means and standard deviations of both pretreatment and posttreatment in patients with acute, subacute, or chronic ankle sprains. Outcomes of interest included various joint mobilizations, stretching, local vibration, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, electrical stimulation, and mental-relaxation interventions.

Data Extraction:

We extracted data on dorsiflexion improvements among various therapeutic applications by calculating Cohen d effect sizes with associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and evaluated the methodologic quality using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale.

Data Synthesis:

In total, 9 studies (PEDro score = 5.22 ± 1.92) met the inclusion criteria. Static-stretching interventions with a home exercise program had the strongest effects on increasing dorsiflexion in patients 2 weeks after acute ankle sprains (Cohen d = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.12, 2.42). The range of effect sizes for movement with mobilization on ankle dorsiflexion among individuals with recurrent ankle sprains was small (Cohen d range = 0.14 to 0.39).

Conclusions:

Static-stretching intervention as a part of standardized care yielded the strongest effects on dorsiflexion after acute ankle sprains. The existing evidence suggests that clinicians need to consider what may be the limiting factor of ankle dorsiflexion to select the most appropriate treatments and interventions. Investigators should examine the relationship between improvements in dorsiflexion and patient progress using measures of patient self-reported functional outcome after therapeutic interventions to determine the most appropriate forms of therapeutic interventions to address ankle-dorsiflexion limitation.
On the Riemann surface type of random planar maps
Authors: Gill James T. , Rohde Steffen
Published: August 2013

We show that the (random) Riemann surfaces of the Angel–Schramm uniform infinite planar triangulation and of Sheffield’s infinite necklace construction are both parabolic. In other words, Brownian motion on these surfaces is recurrent. We obtain this result as a corollary to a more general theorem on subsequential distributional limits of random unbiased disc triangulations, following work of Benjamini and Schramm.
On Input Market Frictions and Estimation of Factors' Demand
Authors: Dupuy Arnaud , Sorensen Todd
Published: August 2013

In this article, we explore the impact of imperfectly competitive input markets on production function estimation. First‐order profit‐maximizing conditions are altered when frictions in input markets cause the elasticity of input supply to the firm to be finite. A consequence of this is that the standard econometric model used for production function estimation will be misspecified. We prove that, in all nontrivial cases, finite elasticities of supply to the firm will lead to inconsistent estimates of production function parameters. Monte Carlo simulations show that the resulting bias can be economically significant.
Seasonal cycle and modal structure of particle number size distribution at Dome C, Antarctica
Authors: Järvinen E. , Virkkula A. , Nieminen T. , Aalto P. P. , Asmi E. , Lanconelli C. , Busetto M. , Lupi A. , Schioppo R. , Vitale V. , Mazzola M. , Petäjä T. , Kerminen V.-M. , Kulmala M.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. We studied new particle formation and modal behavior of ultrafine aerosol particles on the high East Antarctic plateau at the Concordia station, Dome C (75°06' S, 123°23' E). Aerosol particle number size distributions were measured in the size range 10–600 nm from 14 December 2007 to 7 November 2009. We used an automatic algorithm for fitting up to three modes to the size distribution data. The total particle number concentration was low with the median of 109 cm−3. There was a clear seasonal cycle in the total particle number and the volume concentrations. The concentrations were at their highest during the austral summer with the median values of 260 cm−3 and 0.086 μm3 cm−3, and at their lowest during the austral winter with corresponding values of 15 cm−3 and 0.009 μm3 cm−3. New particle formation events were determined from the size distribution data. During the measurement period, natural new particle formation was observed on 60 days and for 15 of these days the particle growth rates from 10 to 25 nm in size could be determined. The median particle growth rate during all these events was 2.5 nm h−1 and the median formation rate of 10 nm particles was 0.023 cm−3 s−1. Most of the events were similar to those observed at other continental locations, yet also some variability in event types was observed. Exceptional features in Dome C were the winter events that occurred during dark periods, as well as the events for which the growth could be followed during several consecutive days. We called these latter events slowly growing events. This paper is the first one to analyze long-term size distribution data from Dome C, and also the first paper to show that new particle formation events occur in central Antarctica.
Free troposphere as a major source of CCN for the equatorial pacific boundary layer: long-range transport and teleconnections
Authors: Clarke A. D. , Freitag S. , Simpson R. M. C. , Hudson J. G. , Howell S. G. , Brekhovskikh V. L. , Campos T. , Kapustin V. N. , Zhou J.
Published: August 2013

Abstract. Airborne aerosol measurements in the central equatorial Pacific during PASE (Pacific Atmospheric Sulfur Experiment) revealed that cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activated in marine boundary layer (MBL) clouds were strongly influenced by entrainment from the free troposphere (FT). About 65% entered at sizes effective as CCN in MBL clouds, while ~25% entered the MBL too small to activate but subsequently grew via gas to particle conversion. The remaining ~10% were inferred to be sea salt aerosol. FT aerosols at low carbon monoxide (CO) mixing ratios (< 63 ppbv) were mostly volatile at 360 °C with a number mode peak of around 30–40 nm dry diameter and tended to be associated with cloud outflow from distant (3000 km or more) deep convection. Higher CO concentrations were commonly associated with trajectories from South America and the Amazon region (ca. ~10 000 km away) and occurred in layers indicative of combustion sources (biomass burning season) partially scavenged by precipitation. These had number modes near 60–80 nm dry diameter with a large fraction of CCN.2 (those activated at 0.2% supersaturation and representative of MBL clouds) prior to entrainment into the MBL. Flight averaged concentrations of CCN.2 were similar for measurements near the surface, below the inversion and in the FT just above the inversion, confirming that subsidence and entrainment of FT aerosol strongly influenced MBL CCN.2. Concurrent flight-to-flight variations of CCN.2 at all altitudes below 3 km also imply MBL CCN.2 concentrations were in quasi-equilibrium with the FT over a 2–3 day timescale. The observed FT transport over thousands of kilometers indicates teleconnections between MBL CCN and cloud-scavenged sources of both natural and/or residual combustion origin. Nonetheless, in spite of its importance, this source of CCN number is not well represented in most current models and is generally not detectable by satellite because of the low aerosol scattering in such layers as a result of cloud scavenging. In addition, our measurements confirm nucleation in the MBL was not evident during PASE and argue against a localized linear relation in the MBL between dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and CCN suggested by the CLAW hypothesis. However, when the FT is not impacted by long-range transport, sulfate aerosol derived from DMS pumped aloft in the ITCZ (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) can provide a source of CCN to the boundary layer via FT teleconnections involving more complex non-linear processes.