bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PRODUCT‐COOLING LOAD AND MOISTURE LOSS UNDER DIFFERENT LOADING PATTERNS AND COOLING RATES OF POTATOES IN COLD STORAGE
Authors: CHOURASIA M.K. , GOSWAMI T.K.
Published: March 2008

Product‐cooling load is one of the most important components, contributing about two‐thirds toward the total refrigeration load during the transient cooling period of a cold storage. Therefore, time‐variable behavior of product‐cooling load is necessary for the efficient design and operation of a refrigeration system. A well‐designed refrigeration system not only avoids wastage of electrical energy but also restricts the moisture loss within permissible limit. In the present study, a total of 15 combinations, with three cooling rates and five loading patterns, were investigated and corresponding product‐cooling loads were predicted. The effect of cooling rates was studied on moisture loss as well. It was found that although the high cooling rate gave low moisture loss, it required a high capacity refrigeration system, which might not be justifiable over the reduced moisture loss during the long‐term storage period. Loading rate of the product also had a similar effect on refrigeration load as that of cooling rate. A cooling rate corresponding to half cooling time of 6.72 days (cool‐down time = 30 days) in combination with linearly decreasing product loading rate of 30 days duration gave the minimum refrigeration load with affordable increased moisture loss, which could be adopted in commercial potato cold storage.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The results of the present study highlight the interdependence of two different but most burning problems of the Indian potato cold storage industry, i.e., higher electrical power consumption and storage losses beyond permissible limits. The quantitative information of product‐cooling load under different combinations of loading patterns and cooling rates would enable the operators of cold storage in managing these parameters within the installed refrigeration capacity in order to avoid fluctuation in temperature of storage air and resultant storage losses.
PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SESAME PASTES (TAHIN) PROCESSED FROM HULLED AND UNHULLED ROASTED SESAME SEEDS AND THEIR BLENDS AT VARIOUS LEVELS
Authors: AKBULUT MEHMET , ÇOKLAR HACER
Published: March 2008

In this study, proximate composition, certain quality and rheological properties of sesame pastes (tahin) produced from hulled roasted sesame seeds (without hull), called simply tahin, from unhulled roasted sesame seeds (with hull), so‐called Bozkir tahin, and their blends (25–75%) were determined at temperatures ranging from 15 to 65C and shear rates from 0.5 to 100 1/s. Tahin, Bozkir tahin and their blends were found to exhibit non‐Newtonian, pseudoplastic behavior at all temperatures. Apparent viscosity versus shear rate data were successfully fitted to the power law model. The flow behavior index, n, varied in the range of 0.4587–0.6830. The consistency coefficient, K, was in the range of 3.97–28.08 Pa·sn. Both parameters were significantly affected by temperature. The increase in levels of unhulled sesame seeds in tahin resulted in higher viscosity (K) for all temperatures. Temperature sensitivity of the consistency coefficient was assessed by applying an Arrhenius‐type equation, and Ea value appeared in the range of 17.87–24.92 kJ/mol.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Roasting of sesame seeds is the most significant step in tahin processing that causes important physical, chemical, structural and sensorial changes. The sesame roasting is carried out to promote more flavor, desired color and texture changes that ultimately increases the overall palatability. A major concern facing the tahin industry is the production of a product with proper consistency, emulsion stability, color and textural properties. Reliable and accurate rheological data are necessary for the design of flow process and to evaluate heating and cooling rate during different engineering operations. So, this work is very important in terms of the estimation of physicochemical and rheological properties of sesame paste containing hulls.
Small nuclear RNA variants of three Bombyx mori strains
Authors: MESA Annia , SOMARELLI Jason A. , HERRERA Rene J.
Published: March 2008

The spliceosome is a high molecular weight cellular complex responsible for the removal of non‐protein coding introns from pre‐mRNA to form mature mRNA transcripts. It comprises five major uridine (U)‐rich small nuclear (sn)RNAs, to which a number of proteins bind and interact. Variant snRNAs have been identified in several organisms, although it remains to be seen whether or not these isoforms have distinct cellular roles. Nevertheless, many of these sequences have spatio‐temporal trends in expression, suggesting that the variant snRNAs are not functionally equivalent. In this report, we examine and contrast the available data on snRNAs in two strains of Bombyx mori: European 703 and Nistari from India. In addition, the genomic snRNA sequences from the p50T strain are described. Thus far, isoforms of U1, U2, U4 and U6 have been characterized in B. mori European 703 and/or Nistari strains using expression libraries. In this study, an in silico approach was used to identify the genomic counterparts of the U snRNA variants in the 6X Whole Genome Shotgun (WGS) of the B. mori p50T strain. The present study is the first comparison of snRNAs in different B. mori strains. Overall, we found that 46 full length U snRNA loci and 76 suspected truncated genes are present in the B. mori genome of the p50T strain. A total of 14 full length genes match previously identified snRNAs in either the Nistari and/or the European 703 strains. Multiple sequence alignments of upstream controlling elements revealed conserved boxes in a subset of U snRNA genes. The presence of divergent promoters within specific snRNA 5′‐flanking sequences suggests that these loci may be transcribed from different controlling elements or are not expressed. The number of nucleotide differences within a given type of U snRNA is strongly correlated with its copy number in the genome (r2 = 77.8%) and it may reflect a relaxation of selection pressure on genes of higher copy number. The multiplicity in gene copy may provide for numerous, full length snRNA loci with variable sequences that adopt unique roles in pre‐mRNA splicing, possibly by modulating protein–RNA and/or RNA–RNA interactions and in doing so affecting gene expression and development.
Maternal control of cold and desiccation tolerance in eggs of the band‐legged ground cricket Dianemobius nigrofasciatus in relation to embryonic diapause
Authors: GOTO Shin G. , DOI Kengo , NAKAYAMA Shin , NUMATA Hideharu
Published: March 2008

Cold and desiccation tolerance was investigated in the eggs of the band‐legged ground cricket Dianemobius nigrofasciatus in relation to embryonic diapause. Diapause eggs were more tolerant to both desiccation and cold than non‐diapause eggs. In addition, diapause‐destined eggs on day zero (0–12 h after being laid) already showed high tolerance to these stresses before entering diapause. This clearly indicates that stress tolerance, like diapause, is controlled by photoperiod, but is not directly associated with diapause itself. Because the acquisition of stress tolerance predates the onset of diapause, it is plausible that diapause programming during some period before the onset of diapause is involved in the acquisition of stress tolerance. Weights and sizes were nearly identical in short‐day and long‐day eggs until day five. Sorbitol, a major sugar alcohol in eggs of D. nigrofasciatus, was accumulated at the same level in short‐day and long‐day eggs on days zero and five. These results indicate that the surface‐to‐volume ratio as well as the accumulation of sugar alcohol is not involved in the acquisition of stress tolerance. Maternal factors are clearly involved in the acquisition of stress tolerance in D. nigrofasciatus eggs, but the physiological mechanisms underlying the tolerance are still unclear.
Tissue‐specific variation of heat shock protein gene expression in relation to diapause in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris
Authors: KIM Back‐Guen , SHIM Jae‐Kyoung , KIM Dong‐Woo , KWON Yong Jung , LEE Kyeong‐Yeoll
Published: March 2008

Diapause‐associated expression patterns of heat shock protein genes (hsp) were determined in the queen of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris, a pollination insect. Partial cDNA sequences of three hsp genes –shsp, hsc70 and hsp90– were obtained, and the deduced amino acid sequences were found to be highly homologous with corresponding hsp of hymenopteran insects. Using northern hybridization, the transcript level of each gene was compared in six stages relating to diapause: pre‐mating, post‐mating, chilling for 1, 2 and 3 months, and post‐chilling. The transcript level was also compared in four tissues of adult queens: brain, thoracic muscle, gut and ovary. The transcript levels of the three hsp genes changed at various rates in relation to diapause, and each pattern was highly tissue‐specific. Overall patterns of hsc70 and hsp90 expression were similar in each tissue. The shsp level in the brain was downregulated after 1 month chilling, but its level in the ovary was upregulated during a long chilling period; levels in muscle and gut did not change in relation to diapause. The levels of both hsc70 and hsp90 in muscle were gradually upregulated in late diapause and postdiapause stages, but levels in the ovary were downregulated during the chilling period, while levels in the brain and gut did not change in relation to diapause. Our results show that the three hsp genes were differentially regulated in stage‐ and tissue‐specific manners throughout diapause, and suggest unique physiological roles for these genes in relation to diapause in each tissue of queen bumblebees.
Constructing and contesting legitimacy and accountability in polycentric regulatory regimes
Authors: Black Julia
Published: March 2008

The legitimacy and accountability of polycentric regulatory regimes, particularly at the transnational level, has been severely criticized, and the search is on to find ways in which they can be enhanced. This paper argues that before developing even more proposals, we need to pay far greater attention to the dynamics of accountability and legitimacy relationships, and to how those in regulatory regimes respond to them. The article thus first seeks to develop a closer analysis of three key elements of legitimacy and accountability relationships which it suggests are central to these dynamics: The role of the institutional environment in the construction of legitimacy, the dialectical nature of accountability relationships, and the communicative structures through which accountability occurs and legitimacy is constructed. Second, the article explores how organizations in regulatory regimes respond, or are likely to respond, to multiple legitimacy and accountability claims, and how they themselves seek to build legitimacy in complex and dynamic situations. The arguments developed here are not normative: There is no “grand solution” proposed to the normative questions of when regulators should be considered legitimate or how to make them so. Rather, the article seeks to analyse the dynamics of legitimacy and accountability relationships as they occur in an attempt to build a more realistic foundation on which grander “how to” proposals can be built. For until we understand these dynamics, the grander, normative arguments risk being simply pipe dreams – diverting, but in the end making little difference.
Dental school Special Patient Care Program during 1977–1979 and 1987–1989: comparisons of regional and state disabled populations
Authors: Jedrychowski Joseph R. , Lindemann Robert
Published: March 2008

New patients referred to the Special Patient Care Program at UCLA School of Dentistry during the period of 1977–1979 were compared with new patients referred during the period of 1987–1989. Parameters measured were age, gender, geographic distance from the treatment facility, and primary disability. The UCLA profile of disabilites was then compared with local, regional, and state data on disabilities. The mean patient age decreased from 47 years of age in 1977–1979 to 34 years in 1987–1989 while gender distribution remained approximately the same. The distance from patient's residence to the dental treatment facility increased from the 1977–1979 period to the 1987–1989 period with more new patients traveling over 5 miles for treatment. The 1987–1989 special patient care new patient population was highly representative when disability type was compared with a juvenile population (< 21 years of age) from the five Regional Centers in LA County and the LA County and State of California Department of Developmental Disabilities populations. The patient training base of an undergraduate dental school program for persons with disabilities is representative of the disabled population of LA county and the state of California.
Out‐of‐office dentistry: an alternative delivery system
Authors: Krust Kim S. , Schuchman Lynn
Published: March 2008

Access to care continues to be a barrier in meeting the dental needs of a growing elderly population as well as other special patient care groups. One nontraditional delivery system reported and used by some practitioners is the mobile dental clinic. A dual purpose written survey was designed to: collect descriptive information about the operation of mobile and portable dental clinics and examine the attitudes and beliefs of dentists practicing out‐of‐office dentistry. This survey showed out‐of‐office dental clinics deliver dental services to a variety of patient populations. Portable dental clinics appear to be suited for care delivery to nursing home patients. There also appears to be a significant correlation between portable clinics and the delivery of denture service (P < .05).
Dental service utilization of disabled children
Authors: Lo Geok Lam , Soh George , Vignehsa Hemalatha , Chellappah Naren K.
Published: March 2008

This study examines factors influencing the use of dental services by disabled children. A total of 322 disabled children, aged 6 to 18 years, attending nine special schools were randomly selected for a clinical examination. Their parents or guardians were interviewed to determine the child's pattern of dental service use, parental perception of the child's dental needs, and special problems encountered with seeking care. It was found that 68.3% of the children had never visited a dentist within the previous year. The most common reason given for no care was an assumption that “nothing was wrong.” The results indicated a low rate of dental service use among the disabled children. A lack of parental dental awareness appeared to be a major contributory factor.
Development of highly polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers in Austrocedrus chilensis
Authors: ARANA MARÍA VERÓNICA , BUONAMICI ANNA , SEBASTIANI FEDERICO , ALIA RICARDO , GALLO LEONARDO A. , MARCHELLI PAULA , MORENO CAROLINA , VENDRAMIN GIOVANNI G.
Published: March 2008

An enriched genomic library was constructed and 9 novel polymorphic tetranucleotide microsatellite markers developed for Austrocedrus chilensis, the most economically important native conifer in the Andean Patagonian region. Polymorphism was investigated for these markers in 48 individuals from two populations. Numbers of alleles ranged from 3 to 19 and levels of observed heterozygosity among the 9 loci ranged from 0.32 to 0.95. No locus combinations exhibited linkage disequilibrium. These polymorphic markers will be useful tools for the study of demography and gene flow and more in general for population and conservation genetics of this species.
A Takayama-type extension theorem
Authors: Varolin Dror
Published: March 2008

We prove a theorem on the extension of holomorphic sections of powers of adjoint bundles from submanifolds of complex codimension 1 having non-trivial normal bundle. The first such result, due to Takayama, considers the case where the canonical bundle is twisted by a line bundle that is a sum of a big and nef line bundle and a $\mathbb {Q}$-divisor that has Kawamata log terminal singularities on the submanifold from which extension occurs. In this paper we weaken the positivity assumptions on the twisting line bundle to what we believe to be the minimal positivity hypotheses. The main new idea is an L2 extension theorem of Ohsawa–Takegoshi type, in which twisted canonical sections are extended from submanifolds with non-trivial normal bundle.
Moyennes de certaines fonctions multiplicatives sur les entiers friables, 3
Authors: Tenenbaum Gérald , Wu Jie
Published: March 2008

We consider logarithmic averages, over friable integers, of non-negative multiplicative functions. Under logarithmic, one-sided or two-sided hypotheses, we obtain sharp estimates that improve upon known results in the literature regarding both the quality of the error term and the range of validity. The one-sided hypotheses correspond to classical sieve assumptions. They are applied to provide an effective form of the Johnsen–Selberg prime power sieve.
On the determinant bundles of abelian schemes
Authors: Maillot Vincent , Rössler Damian
Published: March 2008

Let $\pi :\mathcal {A}\rightarrow S$ be an abelian scheme over a scheme S which is quasi-projective over an affine noetherian scheme and let $\mathcal {L}$ be a symmetric, rigidified, relatively ample line bundle on $\mathcal {A}$. We show that there is an isomorphism of line bundles on S, where d is the rank of the (locally free) sheaf $\pi _*{\cal L}$. We also show that the numbers 24 and 12d are sharp in the following sense: if N>1 is a common divisor of 12 and 24, then there are data as above such that
Moduli spaces of orthogonal and symplectic bundles over an algebraic curve
Authors: Serman Olivier
Published: March 2008

We prove that, given a smooth projective curve C of genus g≥2, the forgetful morphism $\mathcal {M}_{\mathbf {O}_r} \longrightarrow \mathcal {M}_{\mathbf {GL}_r}$ (respectively $\mathcal M_{\mathbf {Sp}_{2r}}\longrightarrow \mathcal M_{\mathbf {GL}_{2r}}$) from the moduli space of orthogonal (respectively symplectic) bundles to the moduli space of all vector bundles over C is an embedding. Our proof relies on an explicit description of a set of generators for the polynomial invariants on the representation space of a quiver under the action of a product of classical groups.
On the local structure of Dirac manifolds
Authors: Dufour Jean-Paul , Wade Aïssa
Published: March 2008

We give a local normal form for Dirac structures. As a consequence, we show that the dimensions of the pre-symplectic leaves of a Dirac manifold have the same parity. We also show that, given a point m of a Dirac manifold M, there is a well-defined transverse Poisson structure to the pre-symplectic leaf P through m. Finally, we describe the neighborhood of a pre-symplectic leaf in terms of geometric data. This description agrees with that given by Vorobjev for the Poisson case.
Functoriality and the inverse Galois problem
Authors: Khare Chandrashekhar , Larsen Michael , Savin Gordan
Published: March 2008

We prove that, for any prime ℓ and any even integer n, there are infinitely many exponents k for which $\mathrm {PSp}_n(\mathbb {F}_{\ell ^k})$ appears as a Galois group over $\mathbb {Q}$. This generalizes a result of Wiese from 2006, which inspired this paper.
Semistable reduction for overconvergent F-isocrystals, II: A valuation-theoretic approach
Authors: Kedlaya Kiran S.
Published: March 2008

We introduce a valuation-theoretic approach to the problem of semistable reduction (i.e. existence of logarithmic extensions on suitable covers) of overconvergent isocrystals with Frobenius structure. The key tool is the quasicompactness of the Riemann–Zariski space associated to the function field of a variety. We also make some initial reductions, which allow attention to be focused on valuations of height 1 and transcendence degree 0.
Deformation of finite morphisms and smoothing of ropes
Authors: Gallego Francisco Javier , González Miguel , Purnaprajna Bangere P.
Published: March 2008

In this paper we prove that most ropes of arbitrary multiplicity supported on smooth curves can be smoothed. By a rope being smoothable we mean that the rope is the flat limit of a family of smooth, irreducible curves. To construct a smoothing, we connect, on the one hand, deformations of a finite morphism to projective space and, on the other hand, morphisms from a rope to projective space. We also prove a general result of independent interest, namely that finite covers onto smooth irreducible curves embedded in projective space can be deformed to a family of 1:1 maps. We apply our general theory to prove the smoothing of ropes of multiplicity 3 on P1. Even though this paper focuses on ropes of dimension 1, our method yields a general approach to deal with the smoothing of ropes of higher dimension.
Emergence of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor‐induced postsynaptic potentiation of NMDA currents during the postnatal maturation of the Kölliker–Fuse nucleus of rat
Authors: Kron Miriam , Reuter Julia , Gerhardt Ellen , Manzke Till , Zhang Weiqi , Dutschmann Mathias
Published: March 2008

The Kölliker–Fuse nucleus (KF) contributes essentially to respiratory pattern formation and adaptation of breathing to afferent information. Systems physiology suggests that these KF functions depend on NMDA receptors (NMDA‐R). Recent investigations revealed postnatal changes in the modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission by brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the KF. Therefore, we investigated postnatal changes in NMDA‐R subunit composition and postsynaptic modulation of NMDA‐R‐mediated currents by BDNF in KF slice preparations derived from three age groups (neonatal: postnatal day (P) 1–5; intermediate: P6–13; juvenile: P14–21). Immunohistochemistry showed a developmental up‐regulation of the NR2D subunit. This correlated with a developmental increase in decay time of NMDA currents and a decline of desensitization in response to repetitive exogenous NMDA applications. Thus, developmental up‐regulation of the NR2D subunit, which reduces the Mg2+ block of NMDA‐R, causes these specific changes in NMDA current characteristics. This may determine the NMDA‐R‐dependent function of the mature KF in the control of respiratory phase transition. Subsequent experiments revealed that bath‐application of BDNF progressively potentiated these repetitively evoked NMDA currents only in intermediate and juvenile age groups. Pharmacological inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC), as a downstream component of the BDNF–tyrosine kinase B receptor (trkB) signalling, prevented BDNF‐induced potentiation of NMDA currents. BDNF‐induced potentiation of NMDA currents in later developmental stages might be essential for synaptic plasticity during the adaptation of the breathing pattern in response to peripheral/central commands. The lack of plasticity in neonatal neurones strengthens the hypothesis that the respiratory network becomes permissive for activity‐dependent plasticity with ongoing postnatal development.
Haemodynamic responses to exercise, ATP infusion and thigh compression in humans: insight into the role of muscle mechanisms on cardiovascular function
Authors: González‐Alonso José , Mortensen Stefan P. , Jeppesen Tina D. , Ali Leena , Barker Horace , Damsgaard Rasmus , Secher Niels H. , Dawson Ellen A. , Dufour Stéphane P.
Published: March 2008

The muscle pump and muscle vasodilatory mechanims are thought to play important roles in increasing and maintaining muscle perfusion and cardiac output during exercise, but their actual contributions remain uncertain. To evaluate the role of the skeletal muscle pump and vasodilatation on cardiovascular function during exercise, we determined leg and systemic haemodynamic responses in healthy men during (1) incremental one‐legged knee‐extensor exercise, (2) step‐wise femoral artery ATP infusion at rest, (3) passive exercise (n= 10), (4) femoral vein or artery ATP infusion (n= 6), and (5) cyclic thigh compressions at rest and during passive and voluntary exercise (n= 7). Incremental exercise resulted in progressive increases in leg blood flow (ΔLBF 7.4 ± 0.7 l min−1), cardiac output ( 8.7 ± 0.7 l min−1), mean arterial pressure (ΔMAP 51 ± 5 mmHg), and leg and systemic oxygen delivery and . Arterial ATP infusion resulted in similar increases in , LBF, and systemic and leg oxygen delivery, but central venous pressure and muscle metabolism remained unchanged and MAP was reduced. In contrast, femoral vein ATP infusion did not alter LBF, or MAP. Passive exercise also increased blood flow (ΔLBF 0.7 ± 0.1 l min−1), yet the increase in muscle and systemic perfusion, unrelated to elevations in aerobic metabolism, accounted only for ∼5% of peak exercise hyperaemia. Likewise, thigh compressions alone or in combination with passive exercise increased blood flow (ΔLBF 0.5–0.7 l min−1) without altering , MAP or . These findings suggest that the skeletal muscle pump is not obligatory for sustaining venous return, central venous pressure, stroke volume and or maintaining muscle blood flow during one‐legged exercise in humans. Further, its contribution to muscle and systemic peak exercise hyperaemia appears to be minimal in comparison to the effects of muscle vasodilatation.
Calmodulin binding to M‐type K+channels assayed by TIRF/FRET in living cells
Authors: Bal Manjot , Zaika Oleg , Martin Pamela , Shapiro Mark S.
Published: March 2008

Calmodulin (CaM) binds to KCNQ2–4 channels within their carboxy termini, where it regulates channel function. The existing data have not resolved the Ca2+dependence of the interaction between the channels and CaM. We performed glutathione S‐transferase (GST)‐pull‐down assays between purified KCNQ2–4 carboxy termini and CaM proteins to determine the Ca2+dependence of the interactionin vitro. The assays showed substantial Ca2+dependence of the interaction of the channels with wild‐type (WT) CaM, but not with dominant‐negative (DN) CaM. To demonstrate CaM–channel interactions in individual living cells, we performed fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between ECFP‐tagged KCNQ2–4 channels and EYFP‐tagged CaM expressed in CHO cells, performed under total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy, in which excitation light only penetrates several hundred nanometres into the cell, thus isolating membrane events. FRET was assayed between the channels and either WT or DN CaM, performed under conditions of normal [Ca2+]i, low [Ca2+]ior high [Ca2+]iinduced by empirically optimized bathing solutions. The FRET data suggest a strong Ca2+dependence for the interaction between WT CaM and KCNQ2, but less so for KCNQ3 and KCNQ4. FRET between all KCNQ2–4 channels and DN CaM was robust, and not significantly Ca2+dependent. These data show interactions between CaM and KCNQ channels in living cells, and suggest that the interactions between KCNQ2–4 channels and CaM are likely to have Ca2+‐dependent and Ca2+‐independent components.
Impact of Artificial Reservoir Water Impoundment on Global Sea Level
Authors: Chao B. F. , Wu Y. H. , Li Y. S.
Published: March 2008

By reconstructing the history of water impoundment in the world's artificial reservoirs, we show that a total of ∼10,800 cubic kilometers of water has been impounded on land to date, reducing the magnitude of global sea level (GSL) rise by –30.0 millimeters, at an average rate of –0.55 millimeters per year during the past half century. This demands a considerably larger contribution to GSL rise from other (natural and anthropogenic) causes than otherwise required. The reconstructed GSL history, accounting for the impact of reservoirs by adding back the impounded water volume, shows an essentially constant rate of rise at +2.46 millimeters per year over at least the past 80 years. This value is contrary to the conventional view of apparently variable GSL rise, which is based on face values of observation.
British American Tobacco ghost-wrote reports on tobacco advertising bans by the International Advertising Association and J J Boddewyn: Figure 1
Authors: Davis R M
Published: March 2008

In 1983 and 1986, the International Advertising Association (IAA) published an original version and then a revision of a report entitled “Tobacco Advertising Bans and Consumption in 16 Countries,” which were edited by J J Boddewyn, a marketing professor. The reports concluded that tobacco advertising bans have not been accompanied by any significant reduction in tobacco consumption. Opponents of tobacco advertising restrictions trumpeted the IAA reports in print materials, media communications and legislative hearings during the 1980s and beyond. A new analysis of tobacco industry documents and transcripts of tobacco litigation testimony reveals that British American Tobacco ghost-wrote the IAA reports and that the Tobacco Institute (the trade association then representing the major US cigarette manufacturers) helped to arrange for Boddewyn to present the findings to the US Congress and the media. Further research on tobacco industry documents and tobacco litigation transcripts should assess whether tobacco industry sources were responsible for ghost-writing other studies favourable to the industry.
Randomised aspirin assignment and risk of adult-onset asthma in the Women’s Health Study
Authors: Kurth T , Barr R G , Gaziano J M , Buring J E
Published: March 2008

Background:

Randomised data in men show a small but significant reduction in the risk of adult-onset asthma among those given aspirin. The results from an observational study in women suggest that frequent use of aspirin decreases the risk of adult-onset asthma, but randomised data in women are lacking. A study was undertaken to test the effect of 100 mg aspirin or placebo on alternate days on the risk of adult-onset asthma in the Women’s Health Study.

Methods:

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of aspirin and vitamin E was performed in apparently healthy women with no indication or contraindication to aspirin therapy and no history of asthma at study entry. Female health professionals self-reported an asthma diagnosis on yearly questionnaires.

Results:

Among 37 270 women with no reported history of asthma prior to randomisation and during 10 years of follow-up, there were 872 new cases diagnosed with asthma in the aspirin group and 963 in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0.90; 95% CI 0.82 to 0.99; p = 0.027). This apparent 10% lower relative risk of incident adult-onset asthma among those assigned to aspirin was significantly modified by body mass index, with no effect in women with a body mass index of ⩾30 kg/m2. The effect of aspirin on adult-onset asthma was not significantly modified by age, smoking status, exercise levels, postmenopausal hormone use or randomised vitamin E assignment.

Conclusions:

In this large randomised clinical trial of apparently healthy adult women, administration of 100 mg aspirin on alternate days reduced the relative risk of a newly reported diagnosis of asthma.

Trial registration number:

NCT00000479
TABU SEARCH MODEL SELECTION FOR SVM
Authors: LEBRUN GILLES , CHARRIER CHRISTOPHE , LEZORAY OLIVIER , CARDOT HUBERT
Published: March 2008

A model selection method based on tabu search is proposed to build support vector machines (binary decision functions) of reduced complexity and efficient generalization. The aim is to build a fast and efficient support vector machines classifier. A criterion is defined to evaluate the decision function quality which blends recognition rate and the complexity of a binary decision functions together. The selection of the simplification level by vector quantization, of a feature subset and of support vector machines hyperparameters are performed by tabu search method to optimize the defined decision function quality criterion in order to find a good sub-optimal model on tractable times.
PATTERNS OUT OF CASES USING KOHONEN MAPS IN BREAST CANCER DIAGNOSIS
Authors: FORNELLS A. , MARTORELL J. M. , GOLOBARDES E. , GARRELL J. M. , VILASÍS X.
Published: March 2008

DESMAI is a framework for helping experts in breast cancer diagnosis. It allows experts to explore digital mammographic image databases according to a certain topology criteria when they need to decide whether a sample is benign or malignant. In this way, they are provided with complementary information to enhance their interpretations and predictions. The core of the application is a SOMCBR system, which is variant of a Case-Based Reasoning system featured by organizing the case memory using a Self-Organizing Map. The article presents a strategy for improving the SOMCBR reliability thanks to the relations between cases and clusters. The approach is successfully applied in DESMAI for estimating, if it is possible, the class of the recovered mammographies.
TOWARDS EXPANDING RELEVANCE VECTOR MACHINES TO LARGE SCALE DATASETS
Authors: SILVA CATARINA , RIBEIRO BERNARDETE
Published: March 2008

In this paper we develop and analyze methods for expanding automated learning of Relevance Vector Machines (RVM) to large scale text sets. RVM rely on Bayesian inference learning and while maintaining state-of-the-art performance, offer sparse and probabilistic solutions. However, efforts towards applying RVM to large scale sets have met with limited success in the past, due to computational constraints. We propose a diversified set of divide-and-conquer approaches where decomposition techniques promote the definition of smaller working sets that permit the use of all training examples. The rationale is that by exploring incremental, ensemble and boosting strategies, it is possible to improve classification performance, taking advantage of the large training set available. Results on Reuters-21578 and RCV1 are presented, showing performance gains and maintaining sparse solutions that can be deployed in distributed environments.
TRAVELLING WAVES IN INVASION PROCESSES WITH PATHOGENS
Authors: DUCROT ARNAUD , LANGLAIS MICHEL
Published: March 2008

This work is devoted to the study of a singular reaction–diffusion system arising in modelling the introduction of a lethal pathogen within an invading host population. In the absence of the pathogen, the host population exhibits a bistable dynamics (or Allee effect). Earlier numerical simulations of the singular SI model under consideration have exhibited stable travelling waves and also, under some circumstances, a reversal of the wave front speed due to the introduction of the pathogen. Here we prove the existence of such travelling wave solutions, study their linear stability and give analytical conditions yielding a reversal of the wave front speed, i.e. the invading host population may eventually retreat following the introduction of the lethal pathogen.
QUASI-VARIATIONAL APPROACH OF A COMPETITIVE ECONOMIC EQUILIBRIUM PROBLEM WITH UTILITY FUNCTION: EXISTENCE OF EQUILIBRIUM
Authors: DONATO MARIA BERNADETTE , MILASI MONICA , VITANZA CARMELA
Published: March 2008

A Walrasian pure exchange economy with utility functions, a particular case of a general economic equilibrium problem, is considered in this paper. We assume that each agent is endowed with goods and maximizes his utility function, under his budget constraints. We are able to characterize the Walrasian equilibria as solution of an associated quasi-variational inequality. This approach allows us to obtain an existence result of equilibrium solutions. As an application, we provide the explicit equilibrium in the case of two agents and two goods.
AN ALTERNATING DESCENT METHOD FOR THE OPTIMAL CONTROL OF THE INVISCID BURGERS EQUATION IN THE PRESENCE OF SHOCKS
Authors: CASTRO CARLOS , PALACIOS FRANCISCO , ZUAZUA ENRIQUE
Published: March 2008

We introduce a new optimization strategy to compute numerical approximations of minimizers for optimal control problems governed by scalar conservation laws in the presence of shocks. We focus on the 1 - d inviscid Burgers equation. We first prove the existence of minimizers and, by a Γ-convergence argument, the convergence of discrete minima obtained by means of numerical approximation schemes satisfying the so-called one-sided Lipschitz condition (OSLC). Then we address the problem of developing efficient descent algorithms. We first consider and compare the existing two possible approaches: the so-called discrete approach, based on a direct computation of gradients in the discrete problem and the so-called continuous one, where the discrete descent direction is obtained as a discrete copy of the continuous one. When optimal solutions have shock discontinuities, both approaches produce highly oscillating minimizing sequences and the effective descent rate is very weak. As a solution we propose a new method, that we shall call alternating descent method, that uses the recent developments of generalized tangent vectors and the linearization around discontinuous solutions. This method distinguishes and alternates the descent directions that move the shock and those that perturb the profile of the solution away of it producing very efficient and fast descent algorithms.
GLOBAL EXISTENCE AND ASYMPTOTIC BEHAVIOR FOR A SEMICONDUCTOR DRIFT-DIFFUSION-POISSON MODEL
Authors: WU HAO , MARKOWICH PETER A. , ZHENG SONGMU
Published: March 2008

In this paper a time-dependent as well as a stationary drift-diffusion-Poisson system for semiconductors are studied. Global existence and uniqueness of weak solution of the time-dependent problem are proven and we also prove the existence and uniqueness of the steady state. It is shown that as time tends to infinity, the solution of the time-dependent problem will converge to a unique equilibrium. Due to the presence of recombination-generation rate R in our drift-diffusion-Poisson model, the work of this paper in some sense extends the results in the previous literature (on both time-dependent problem and stationary problem).
AN ASYMPTOTIC ANALYSIS ON THE FORM OF NAGHDI TYPE ARCH MODEL
Authors: ZHANG SHENG
Published: March 2008

We consider a one-dimensional model of generally curved elastic arches whose cross-sections are rectangular. The model is of Naghdi's type which is a generalization of the Timoshenko beam model, which allows bending, membrane and transverse shearing deformations. Its form is basically determined in the literature, except for the value of a shear correction factor. With this factor being set to 1, we prove that the modelling error in the interior relative energy norm is proportional to the arch thickness. This result holds for the full range of arch shapes and very general loads. Lower modelling accuracy is proven to hold up to the arch ends. Any shear correction factor other than 1 makes the model diverge from the elasticity theory when a significant shear is involved in the deformation.
SURGICAL TREATMENT OF PSEUDOSYNDACTYLY OF CHILDREN WITH EPIDERMOLYSIS BULLOSA: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Moon Eun Sun , Jung Sung Taek , Kim Myung Sun
Published: March 2008

Recessive dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (RDEB) is an uncommon and severe disorder characterised by trauma-induced blisters, intractable skin ulcers, scarring, milia, and nail dystrophy. We report the good result of both surgical release of fingers allowing spontaneous epithelisation without skin grafting and post-operative meticulous skin care without splinting, followed-up for one year.
A MODIFIED PERIUNGUAL APPROACH FOR TREATMENT OF SUBUNGUAL GLOMUS TUMOUR
Authors: Fong S. T. , Lam Y. L. , So Y. C.
Published: March 2008

Subungal glomus tumours are uncommon; the only treatment is complete surgical excision. Transungual approach is often preferred; however, secondary nail deformity may occur. Lateral periungual approach is used to avoid this complication, but this approach provides limited exposure and is used for peripheral lesion only. We describe a modified periungual approach which can be applied to central lesions. This approach can provide adequate exposure for complete excision of the subungual tumour while avoiding incision of the nail bed.
GENICULAR CORTICOPERIOSTEAL FLAP SALVAGE OF RESISTANT ATROPHIC NON-UNION OF THE DISTAL RADIUS METAPHYSIS
Authors: Henry Mark
Published: March 2008

Non-union at the metaphyseal level is rare following a fracture of the distal radius. When a non-union does occur, it is usually easily treated with cancellous bone graft from the iliac crest. Resistant and multiply operated atrophic non-unions more frequently occur at the diaphyseal level of long bones. A corticoperiosteal free flap based on the articular branch of the descending genicular artery has previously been described to treat such difficult non-union cases in various sites, but not at the distal radius. At the distal radius metaphysis, the close relationship with the extensor tendons raises concern regarding the ability to fit this free flap to the non-union site without significant interference with tendon function. By careful technique of crumbling the cortex of the flap without tearing the periosteal continuity, the flap can be contoured and snugly fit to this particular site while preserving tendon function. A unique case is presented of a multiply operated resistant atrophic non-union of the distal radius metaphysis in a heavy smoker that was rapidly healed using the genicular corticoperiosteal free flap.
BILATERAL AVULSION OF RING FINGER FLEXOR DIGITORUM PROFUNDUS TENDONS DURING CONTACT SPORT: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Lin Frank , McDonald Anthony
Published: March 2008

We report on the case of a 14-year-old patient with bilateral avulsion of flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) in both ring fingers. This was noted four days after a basketball match. At surgical exploration both FDP were ruptured with the ends located at A2 and A3 pulleys. These were repaired with excellent functional results. While FDP avulsions can often occur affecting the ring finger this is the first reported case of a patient presenting with a bilateral injury affecting the ring finger on both sides.
ELBOW GANGLION ARISING FROM MEDIAL EPICONDYLE PSEUDARTHROSIS
Authors: Chim Harvey , Yam Andrew K. T. , Teoh Lam-Chuan
Published: March 2008

We present a patient with an asymptomatic painless medial elbow swelling of one year's duration, which was diagnosed as a ganglion originating from a non-united avulsion fracture of the medial epicondyle with a pseudarthrosis. Medial elbow ganglia are unusual lesions typically arising from the medial aspect of the ulnohumeral joint capsule, often in combination with symptoms of cubital tunnel syndrome. To our knowledge, a ganglion arising from a pseudarthrosis has not been reported in the literature, and should be considered in the differential diagnoses of lesions encountered over the site of fracture non-union in proximity to a joint.
PLEXIFORM NEUROFIBROMA WITH DUAL NERVE ORIGIN WITHIN THE PALM: A CASE REPORT
Authors: Jones M. E. , Tonkin M. A.
Published: March 2008

We describe a unique case of a 44-year-old gentleman who presented to our hand department with a history of a lump within his right palm that spanned several decades. Its gradual increase in size together with pain on palpation merited further investigation and subsequent surgical excision. Extensive tumour emanating from both ulnar and median nerves was resected, the histopathological diagnosis of which was plexiform neurofibroma. We believe this is the first description of an isolated plexiform neurofibroma of the hand with dual nerve origin.
LIQUEFACTION ANALYSIS: CPT VERSUS SPT RESULTS AT JFK AIRPORT
Authors: MOHAMMAD ALY M. , CRINCOLI ANTHONY , ARMFIELD KAREN C.
Published: March 2008

The design and construction of the new JetBlue 26-gate Terminal Facility at JFK Airport in New York City, USA was a complex and interesting endeavor for the Geotechnical Engineers at DMJM Harris. Once operational, the 635,000 sq. ft. facility will operate up to 250 daily flights; an estimated 20 million passengers a year.

The new Jet Blue Terminal 5 incorporates the historical TWA Terminal, designed by Eero Saarinen in 1962. The main portion of this structure is being refurbished and incorporated into the new terminal. There were many challenging features to the design of this Project; including marrying the existing historical structure to the new terminal, preventing cross contamination in the aquifers below the site and achieving a design which will perform under seismic conditions.

The challenge of the evaluation of the soil under seismic conditions is discussed herein. Liquefaction under seismic conditions at JFK Airport can be a key factor to foundation design and selection. Our investigation of the site incorporated the use of both Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) and Cone Penetration Testing (CPT) to closely identify the areas subject to liquefaction risk. A correlation between the results of both the analyses was established. This enabled us to determine the thickness of liquefiable zone and develop a cost effective design solution that will perform successfully should a seismic hazard occur in the future. The methodology utilized and the correlation observed will be presented in the paper.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF PIPE BURIED IN SATURATED SOIL DEPOSIT SUBJECT TO EARTHQUAKE LOADING
Authors: LING HOE I. , SUN LIXUN , LIU HUABEI , MOHRI YOSHIYUKI , KAWABATA TOSHINORI
Published: March 2008

A coupled stress-flow finite element procedure, based on dynamic Biot equations, was used to analyze the behavior of pipe buried in liquefiable soil. The governing equations, soil constitutive model, finite element discretization and solutions were described. The results of analysis were compared with two cases of dynamic centrifuge test of soil deposit and pipe conducted at 30 g acceleration field. The horizontal soil deposit was analyzed followed by the deposit having a buried pipe of diameter 10 cm (3 m in prototype). The deposit was composed of loose Nevada sand that was saturated with a viscous solution in satisfying the similitude rules of time for the dynamic event and diffusion phenomena. The response of the ground, such as acceleration and excess pore water pressure, and the earth pressure and uplifting of the pipe, were presented and compared. The results of analysis indicated that a coupled stress-flow finite element procedure where the soil was expressed by Pastor–Zienkiewicz Mark-III model was able to simulate the dynamic response of the soil and pipe up to the stage of liquefaction. Several other issues related to the analysis were discussed.
EFFECTS OF BODY WAVES AND SOIL AMPLIFICATION ON SEISMIC EARTH PRESSURES
Authors: NIMBALKAR SANJAY S. , CHOUDHURY DEEPANKAR
Published: March 2008

To design a retaining wall, conventional Mononobe–Okabe method, which is based on the pseudo-static approach and gives the linear distribution of seismic earth pressures in an approximate way, is used to compute the seismic earth pressures. In this paper, pseudo-dynamic approach is used to compute the seismic earth pressures on a rigid retaining wall by considering the effects of time, phase difference in shear and primary waves and soil amplification along with the horizontal and vertical seismic accelerations and other soil properties. Design value of the seismic active earth pressure coefficient is found to increase with increase in the seismic accelerations, phase difference in body waves and soil amplification, whereas the reverse trend is observed for the passive case. Influence of various soil parameters on seismic passive earth pressure is more significant than that for the active case under harmonic seismic loading. Results are provided in the combined tabular and graphical non-dimensional form for both the seismic active and passive earth pressures. Present results are compared with the available results in literature to validate the proposed non-linearity of seismic earth pressure distribution.