bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distributed Adaptive Control for Multi-Agent Systems with Pseudo Higher Order Neural Net
Authors: Das Abhijit , Lewis Frank
Published: September 2012

The idea of using multi-agent systems is becoming more popular every day. It not only saves time and resources but also eliminates much of the human workload. These ideas are especially effective in the combat zone, where multiple unmanned aerial vehicles can achieve simultaneous objectives or targets. The evolution of distributed control started with a simple integrator systems, and then different control methodologies have been adopted for more and more complex nonlinear systems. In addition, from a practical standpoint, the dynamics of the agents involved in networked control architecture might not be identical. Therefore, an ideal distributed control should accommodate multiple agents that are nonlinear systems associated with unknown dynamics. In this chapter, a distributed control methodology is presented where nonidentical nonlinear agents communicate among themselves following directed graph topology. In addition, the nonlinear dynamics are considered unknown. While the pinning control strategy has been adopted to distribute the input command among the agents, a Pseudo Higher Order Neural Net (PHONN)-based identification strategy is introduced for identifying the unknown dynamics. These two strategies are combined beautifully so that the stability of the system is assured even with minimum interaction among the agents. A detailed stability analysis is presented based on the Lyapunov theory, and a simulation study is performed to verify the theoretical claims.
Glacial geomorphology and till geochemistry of central Melville Peninsula, Nunavut
Authors: Tremblay T , Paulen R
Published: September 2012

In 2009, the Geological Survey of Canada and the Canada-Nunavut Geoscience Office commenced Quaternary fieldwork on northern Melville Peninsula as part of the Geo-Mapping for Energy & Minerals (GEM) Multiple-metals - Melville Peninsula Geoscience Project.
An important component of this project augments an already substantial amount of Quaternary data and knowledge for Melville Peninsula. This new research, focuses on: i) providing a better understanding of the glacial history in the region, and ii) conducting a till geochemistry and heavy mineral
sampling survey to assist mineral exploration in regions underlain by prospective bedrock but mantled by deposits of varying thicknesses. The geochemistry and mineralogy of both heavy mineral concentrates from till and silt-sized till matrix were analyzed to obtain results regarding base metals,
gold and diamond potential. Quaternary studies were focused on the northern half of Melville Peninsula in 2009.
Organisational readiness for introducing a performance management system
Authors: Ochurub Michael , Bussin Mark , Goosen Xenia
Published: September 2012

Orientation: The successful introduction of performance management systems to the public service requires careful measurement of readiness for change. Research purpose: This study investigated the extent to which employees were ready for change as an indication of whether their organisation was ready to introduce a performance management system (PMS).Motivation for the study: Introducing system changes in organisations depends on positive employee preconditions. There is some debate over whether organisations can facilitate these preconditions. This research investigates change readiness linked to the introduction of a PMS in a public sector organisation. The results add to the growing literature on levels of change readiness.Research design, approach and method: The researchers used a quantitative, questionnairebased design. Because the organisation was large, the researchers used stratified sampling to select a sample from each population stratum. The sample size was 460, which constituted 26% of the total population. They used a South African change readiness questionnaire to elicit employee perceptions and opinions.Main findings: The researchers found that the organisation was not ready to introduce a PMS. The study identified various challenges and key factors that were negatively affecting the introduction of a PMS.Practical/managerial implications: The intention to develop and introduce performance management systems is generally to change the attitudes, values and approaches of managers and employees to the new strategies, processes and plans to improve productivity and performance. However, pre-existing conditions and attitudes could have an effect. It is essential to ensure that organisations are ready to introduce performance management systems and to provide sound change leadership to drive the process effectively. This study contributes to the body of knowledge about the challenges and factors organisations should consider when they introduce performance management systems.Contribution/value-add: This research adds to the knowledge about aspects of change readiness, change management and introducing change initiatives.
Phylogenomic Study of Lipid Genes Involved in Microalgal Biofuel Production—Candidate Gene Mining and Metabolic Pathway Analyses
Authors: Misra Namrata , Panda Prasanna Kumar , Parida Bikram Kumar , Mishra Barada Kanta
Published: September 2012

Optimizing microalgal biofuel production using metabolic engineering tools requires an in-depth understanding of the structure-function relationship of genes involved in lipid biosynthetic pathway. In the present study, genome-wide identification and characterization of 398 putative genes involved in lipid biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Volvox carteri, Ostreococcus lucimarinus, Ostreococcus tauri and Cyanidioschyzon merolae was undertaken on the basis of their conserved motif/domain organization and phylogenetic profile. The results indicated that the core lipid metabolic pathways in all the species are carried out by a comparable number of orthologous proteins. Although the fundamental gene organizations were observed to be invariantly conserved between microalgae and Arabidopsis genome, with increased order of genome complexity there seems to be an association with more number of genes involved in triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis and catabolism. Further, phylogenomic analysis of the genes provided insights into the molecular evolution of lipid biosynthetic pathway in microalgae and confirm the close evolutionary proximity between the Streptophyte and Chlorophyte lineages. Together, these studies will improve our understanding of the global lipid metabolic pathway and contribute to the engineering of regulatory networks of algal strains for higher accumulation of oil.
A Universal Volume Comparison Theorem for Finsler Manifolds and Related Results
Authors: Zhao Wei , Shen Yibing
Published: September 2012

In this paper, we establish a universal volume comparison theorem for Finsler manifolds and give the Berger–Kazdan inequality and Santalá's formula in Finsler geometry. Based on these, we derive a Berger–Kazdan type comparison theorem and a Croke type isoperimetric inequality for Finsler manifolds.
Ship impacts on the marine atmosphere: insights into the contribution of shipping emissions to the properties of marine aerosol and clouds
Authors: Coggon M. M. , Sorooshian A. , Wang Z. , Metcalf A. R. , Frossard A. A. , Lin J. J. , Craven J. S. , Nenes A. , Jonsson H. H. , Russell L. M. , Flagan R. C. , Seinfeld J. H.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. We report properties of marine aerosol and clouds measured in the shipping lanes between Monterey Bay and San Francisco off the coast of Central California. Using a suite of aerosol instrumentation onboard the CIRPAS Twin Otter aircraft, these measurements represent a unique set of data contrasting the properties of clean and ship-impacted marine air masses in dry aerosol and cloud droplet residuals. Below-cloud aerosol exhibited average mass and number concentrations of 2 μg m−3 and 510 cm−3, respectively, which are consistent with previous studies performed off the coast of California. Enhancements in vanadium and cloud droplet number concentrations are observed concurrently with a decrease in cloud water pH, suggesting that periods of high aerosol loading are primarily linked to increased ship influence. Mass spectra from a compact time-of-flight Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer reveal an enhancement in the fraction of organic at m/z 42 (f42) and 99 (f99) in ship-impacted clouds. These ions are well correlated to each other (R2>0.64) both in and out of cloud and constitute 14% (f44) and 3% (f99) of organic mass during periods of enhanced sulfate. High-resolution mass spectral analysis of these masses from ship measurements suggests that the ions responsible for this variation were oxidized, possibly due to cloud processing. We propose that the organic fractions of these ions be used as a metric for determining the extent to which cloud-processed ship emissions impact the marine atmosphere where (f42 > 0.15; f99 > 0.04) would imply heavy influence from shipping emissions, (0.05 < f42 < 0.15; 0.01 < f99 < 0.04) would imply moderate, but persistent, influences from ships, and (f42 < 0.05; f99 < 0.01) would imply clean, non-ship-influenced air.
Analysis of CCN activity of Arctic aerosol and Canadian biomass burning during summer 2008
Authors: Lathem T. L. , Beyersdorf A. J. , Thornhill K. L. , Winstead E. L. , Cubison M. J. , Hecobian A. , Jimenez J. L. , Weber R. J. , Anderson B. E. , Nenes A.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. The NASA DC-8 aircraft characterized the aerosol properties, chemical composition, and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations of the summertime Arctic during the 2008 NASA Arctic Research of the Composition of the Troposphere from Aircraft and Satellites (ARCTAS) campaign. Air masses characteristic of fresh and aged biomass burning, boreal forest, Arctic background, and anthropogenic industrial pollution were sampled. Observations were spatially extensive (50–85° N and 40–130° W) and exhibit significant variability in aerosol and CCN concentrations. The chemical composition was dominated by highly oxidized organics (66–94% by volume), more than half of which was water-soluble. The aerosol hygroscopicity parameter, κ, ranged between κ = 0.1–0.32 for all air mass types. Industrial pollution had the lowest κ of 0.08 ± 0.01, while the Arctic background had the highest and most variable κ of 0.32 ± 0.21, resulting from a lower and more variable organic fraction. Both fresh and aged (long-range transported) biomass burning air masses exhibited remarkably similar κ (0.18 ± 0.13), consistent with observed rapid chemical and physical aging of smoke emissions in the atmosphere, even in the vicinity of fresh fires. The organic hygroscopicity (κorg) was parameterized by the volume fraction of water-soluble organic matter (ϵWSOM), with a κ = 0.12, such that κorg = 0.12ϵWSOM. Assuming bulk (size-independent) composition and including the κorg parameterization enabled CCN predictions to within 30% accuracy for nearly all environments sampled. The only exception was for industrial pollution from Canadian oil sands exploration, where an external mixture and size-dependent composition was required. Aerosol mixing state assumptions (internal vs. external) in all other environments did not significantly affect CCN predictions; however, the external mixing assumption provided the best results, even though the available observations could not determine the true degree of external mixing. No correlation was observed between κorg and O : C. A novel correction of the CCN instrument supersaturation for water vapor depletion, resulting from high concentrations of CCN, was also employed. This correction was especially important for fresh biomass burning plumes where concentrations exceeded 1.5 × 104 cm−3 and introduced supersaturation depletions of ≥25%. Not accounting for supersaturation depletion in these high concentration environments would therefore bias CCN closure and inferred κ by up to 50%.
The link between organic aerosol mass loading and degree of oxygenation: an α-pinene photooxidation study
Authors: Pfaffenberger L. , Barmet P. , Slowik J. G. , Praplan A. P. , Dommen J. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Baltensperger U.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. A series of smog chamber (SC) experiments was conducted to identify driving factors responsible for the discrepancy between ambient and SC aerosol degree of oxygenation. An Aerodyne high resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer is used to compare mass spectra from α-pinene photooxidation with ambient aerosol. Composition is compared in terms of the fraction of organic mass measured at m/z 44 (f44), a surrogate for carboxylic/organic acids as well as the atomic oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O : C), vs. f43, a surrogate for aldehydes, alcohols and ketones. Low (near-ambient) organic mass concentrations were found to be necessary to obtain oxygenation levels similar to those of low-volatility oxygenated organic aerosol (LV-OOA) commonly identified in ambient measurements. The effects of organic mass loading and OH (hydroxyl radical) exposure were decoupled by inter-experiment comparisons at the same integrated OH concentration. On average, an OH exposure of 2.9 ± 1.3 × 107 cm−3 h is needed to increase f44 by 1% during aerosol aging. For the first time, LV-OOA-like aerosol from the abundant biogenic precursor α-pinene was produced in a smog chamber by oxidation at typical atmospheric OH concentrations. Significant correlation between measured secondary organic aerosol (SOA) and reference LV-OOA mass spectra is shown by Pearson's R2 values larger than 0.90 for experiments with low organic mass concentrations between 1.5 and 15 μg m−3 at an OH exposure of 4 × 107 cm−3 h, corresponding to about two days oxidation time in the atmosphere, based on a global mean OH concentration of ∼1 × 106 cm−3. Not only is the α-pinene SOA more oxygenated at low organic mass loadings, but the functional dependence of oxygenation on mass loading is enhanced at atmospherically-relevant precursor concentrations. Since the degree of oxygenation influences the chemical, volatility and hygroscopic properties of ambient aerosol, smog chamber studies must be performed at near-ambient concentrations to accurately simulate ambient aerosol properties.
Investigating late Holocene variations in hydroclimate and the stable isotope composition of precipitation using southern South American peatlands: an hypothesis
Authors: Daley T. J. , Mauquoy D. , Chambers F. M. , Street-Perrott F. A. , Hughes P. D. M. , Loader N. J. , Roland T. P. , van Bellen S. , Garcia-Meneses P. , Lewin S.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. Ombrotrophic raised peatlands provide an ideal archive for integrating late Holocene records of variations in hydroclimate and the estimated stable isotope composition of precipitation with recent instrumental measurements. Modern measurements of mean monthly surface air temperature, precipitation, and δD and δ18O-values in precipitation from the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries provide a short but invaluable record with which to investigate modern relationships between these variables, thereby enabling improved interpretation of the peatland palaeodata. Stable isotope data from two stations in the Global Network for Isotopes in Precipitation (GNIP) from southern South America (Punta Arenas, Chile and Ushuaia, Argentina) were analysed for the period 1982 to 2008 and compared with longer-term meteorological data from the same locations (1890 to present and 1931 to present, respectively). δD and δ18O-values in precipitation have exhibited quite different trends in response to local surface air temperature and precipitation amount. At Punta Arenas, there has been a marked increase in the seasonal difference between summer and winter δ18O-values. A decline in the deuterium excess of summer precipitation at this station was associated with a general increase in relative humidity at 1000 mb over the surface of the Southeast Pacific Ocean, believed to be the major vapour source for the local precipitation. At Ushuaia, a fall in δ18O-values was associated with an increase in the mean annual amount of precipitation. Both records are consistent with a southward retraction and increase in zonal wind speed of the austral westerly wind belt. These regional differences, observed in response to a known driver, should be detectable in peatland sites close to the GNIP stations. Currently, insufficient data with suitable temporal resolution are available to test for these regional differences over the last 3000 yr. Existing peatland palaeoclimate data from two sites near Ushuaia, however, provide evidence for changes in the late Holocene that are consistent with the pattern observed in modern observations.
Impact of precipitation and land biophysical variables on the simulated discharge of European and Mediterranean rivers
Authors: Szczypta C. , Decharme B. , Carrer D. , Calvet J.-C. , Lafont S. , Somot S. , Faroux S. , Martin E.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. This study investigates the impact on river discharge simulations of errors in the precipitation forcing, together with changes in the representation of vegetation variables and of plant transpiration. The most recent European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts reanalysis (ERA-Interim) is used to drive the Interactions between Soil, Biosphere, and Atmosphere–Total Runoff Integrating Pathways (ISBA-TRIP) continental hydrological system over Europe and the Mediterranean basin over the 1991–2008 period. As ERA-Interim tends to underestimate precipitation, a number of precipitation corrections are proposed. In particular, the monthly Global Precipitation Climatology Centre (GPCC) precipitation product is used to bias-correct the 3-hourly ERA-Interim estimates. This correction markedly improves the match between the ISBA-TRIP simulations and the river discharge observations from the Global Runoff Data Centre (GRDC), at 150 gauging stations. The impact on TRIP river discharge simulations of various representations of the evapotranspiration in the ISBA land surface model is investigated as well: ISBA is used together with its upgraded carbon flux version (ISBA-A-gs). The latter is either driven by the satellite-derived climatology of the Leaf Area Index (LAI) used by ISBA, or performs prognostic LAI simulations. The ISBA-A-gs model, with or without dynamically simulated LAI, allows a better representation of river discharge at low water levels. On the other hand, ISBA-A-gs does not perform as well as the original ISBA model at springtime.
Surface mass balance model intercomparison for the Greenland ice sheet
Authors: Vernon C. L. , Bamber J. L. , Box J. E. , van den Broeke M. R. , Fettweis X. , Hanna E. , Huybrechts P.
Published: September 2012

Abstract. Four simulations of the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) are compared over the period 1960–2008. Total SMB estimates for the GrIS are in agreement within 34% of the four model average when a common ice sheet mask is used. When models' native land/ice/sea masks are used this spread increases to 57%. Variation in the spread of components of SMB from their mean: runoff 42% (29% native masks), precipitation 20% (24% native masks), melt 38% (74% native masks), refreeze 83% (142% native masks) show, with the exception of refreeze, a similar level of agreement once a common mask is used. Previously noted differences in the models' estimates are partially explained by ice sheet mask differences. Regionally there is less agreement, suggesting spatially compensating errors improve the integrated estimates. Modelled SMB estimates are compared with in situ observations from the accumulation and ablation areas. Agreement is higher in the accumulation area than the ablation area suggesting relatively high uncertainty in the estimation of ablation processes. Since the mid-1990s each model estimates a decreasing annual SMB. A similar period of decreasing SMB is also estimated for the period 1960–1972. The earlier decrease is due to reduced precipitation with runoff remaining unchanged, however, the recent decrease is associated with increased precipitation, now more than compensated for by increased melt driven runoff. Additionally, in three of the four models the equilibrium line altitude has risen since the mid-1990s, reducing the accumulation area at a rate of approximately 60 000 km2 per decade due to increased melting. Improving process representation requires further study but the use of a single accurate ice sheet mask is a logical way to reduce uncertainty among models.
Shelf Life and Heavy Metals Study of Two Common Edible Insects in Ijebu Division, Southwestern, Nigeria
Authors: A. D. Banjo , S. A. Aina , A. R. Salau
Published: September 2012

The shelf life and heavy metal contaminants of two commonly available edible insects in Ijebu division of Ogun State, Nigeria were studied. The samples were collected through water trap and by handpicking respectively with a view of adopting the method of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists for the shelf life and heavy metal study. Heavy metal contaminants such as Cadmium (10.95mg/kg, 12.70mg/kg), Zinc (5.50mg/kg, 2.70mg/kg) and Lead (39.55mg/kg, 40.15mg/kg) respectively, were revealed in both insects. After three months of storage, the results showed that there was high depreciation in the nutritional components in both Rhynchophorus phoenicis (larva) and Macrotermes bellicosus (winged). Therefore, this insinuates an 80% reduction in the nutritional composition it can supply when consumed after three months of storage. The need to study further adequate methods of extending their shelf life is of utmost importance.
Comparison of an Automated System with Conventional Identification and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing
Authors: Duggal Shalini , Gaind Rajni , Tandon Neha , Deb Manorama , Chugh Tulsi Das
Published: September 2012

The present study was designed to compare a fully automated identification/antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) system BD Phoenix (BD) for its efficacy in rapid and accurate identification and AST with conventional manual methods and to determine if the errors reported in AST, such as the (very major errors) VME (false susceptibility), (major errors) ME (false resistance), and (minor errors) MiE (intermediate category interpretation) were within the range certified by FDA. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test results of eighty-five clinical isolates including both gram-positive and negative were compared on Phoenix considering the results obtained from conventional manual methods of identification and disc diffusion testing of antibiotics as standards for comparison. Phoenix performed favorably well. There was 100% concordance in identification for gram-negative isolates and 94.83% for gram-positive isolates. In seven cases, Phoenix proved better than conventional identification. For antibiotic results, categorical agreement was 98.02% for gram-positive and 95.7% for gram-negative isolates. VME was 0.33%, ME 0.66%, MiE 0.99% for gram-positive isolates and 1.23% VME, 1.23% ME, and 1.85% MiE for gram-negative isolates. Therefore, this automated system can be used as a tool to facilitate early identification and susceptibility pattern of aerobic bacteria in routine microbiology laboratories.
Sex Differences in the Effects of Inhaled Corticosteroids on Weight Gain among Patients with Asthma
Authors: Rizk Amanda K. , Lavoie Kim L. , Pepin Véronique , Wright Alicia , Bacon Simon L.
Published: September 2012

Background. Studies have shown that asthma and asthma exacerbations are related to body weight and that this relationship might be sex-specific. While oral corticosteroids have been associated with weight gain, little is known about the effect of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use on short-term weight gain. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether ICSs would be associated with weight gain among asthmatic patients.Methods. A total of 180 adult patients with physician-diagnosed asthma provided details of their medical history and demographic information, along with height and weight at baseline and at one year. Weight change was defined as follow-up minus baseline weight. General linear models were used to assess the relationship between ICS dose (fluticasone propionate equivalent) and sex.Results. Significant main effects of sex (P=.005) and ICS dose (P=.036) and an interaction effect of sex and ICS dose (P=.003) on weight change were observed. Further analysis of the interaction indicated that women had greater weight gain, while men had decreased weight with increased ICS dose.Conclusions. Findings suggest that ICSs may trigger weight gain in females and highlight the need for studies to confirm this relationship and examine the potential underlying mechanisms.
Finite Element Analysis of Chemical Reaction and Radiation Effects on Isothermal Vertical Oscillating Plate with Variable Mass Diffusion
Authors: Sivaiah S. , Murali G. , Reddy M. C. K.
Published: September 2012

The objective of this paper is to investigate an unsteady flow of a viscous incompressible flow past an infinite isothermal vertical oscillating plate, in the presence of thermal radiation and chemical reaction. The fluid considered here is a gray, absorbing-emitting radiation but a nonscattering medium. The plate temperature is arised to , and the concentration level near the plate is raised linearly with respect to time. An exact solution to the dimensionless governing equations has been obtained by the finite element method, when the plate is oscillating harmonically in its own plane. The effects of velocity, temperature, and concentration are studied for different physical parameters like thermal Grashof number, mass Grashof number, radiation parameter, prandtl number, chemical reaction parameter, Schmidt number, phase angle, and time are studied graphically. The skin-friction coefficient, the Nusselt number, and the Sherwood number at the plate are discussed, and their numerical values for various values of physical parameters are presented through tables.
Compression Experiments on γ′-Nanoparticles
Authors: Landefeld Andreas , Mook William M. , Rösler Joachim , Michler Johann
Published: September 2012

The mechanical behavior of cubic γ′-nanoparticles is investigated in uniaxial compression. These nanoparticles are freestanding, single crystalline and have a well-defined crystallography related to the cubic geometry (cube faces correspond to the crystallographic {100}-planes). The true values of stress and strain were measured and evaluated. With a true strength of about 3000 MPa to 5000 MPa the nanoobjects reach a significant portion of the theoretical strength. Even after a true strain of about one, no signs of particle damage are observed.
Laparoscopic Umbilical Hernia Repair: Technique Paper
Authors: Abhishek V. , Mallikarjuna M. N. , Shivaswamy B. S.
Published: September 2012

Objective. Laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair has largely replaced open method. The purpose of this study was to document the laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair using two port, combined herniorrhaphy with intraabdominal mesh fixation with transabdominal absorbable suture technique and demonstrate that it is feasible, efficient, and safe.Methods. Thirty-two patients with umbilical hernia underwent laparoscopic repair by combined herniorrhaphy and intraabdominal mesh. Two-port technique was used and the umbilical defect was closed using transabdominal PDS suture, composite polypropylene, and PTFE mesh was placed intra-bdominally and fixed to abdominal wall using transabdominal PDS suture.Results. Thirty-two patients underwent laparoscopic repair. The operating time ranged from 45 min to 100 min (mean 64 min). Early postoperative complication was seen in five patients with two having ileus for 4 days and one patient each developed urinary retention, wound infection and seroma. Late postoperative complication was seen in 6 patients with five complaining of persistent abdominal pain which resolved without treatment and one case of keloids at port sites. None of the patients developed chronic pain or had recurrence over the follow-up period.Conclusion. Laparoscopic umbilical hernia repair with combined herniorrhaphy and intraabdominal mesh fixation using absorbable sutures offers an efficient, safe, and effective repair for umbilical hernia.
Positive Predictive Value of Blood Cultures Utilized by Community Emergency Physicians
Authors: Lin Edward C. , Boehm Kevin M.
Published: September 2012

Objective. To determine the positive predictive value of blood cultures obtained from patients from a suburban ED and how the ED physicians use empirical antibiotics. Method. This retrospective chart review study was conducted at the ED of a suburban teaching hospital. The study consisted of adult patients who presented to the ED with evidence of clinical conditions suggesting bacteremia. Result. Over a 12-month period, 408 patients with positive blood cultures were drawn in the ED. The mean age of the patients was 65.85 years. The positive predictive value was 58.3%, and community ED physicians used appropriate empirical antibiotics in 72.3% of patients with true bacteremia. Conclusion. The positive predictive value indicated that many of the positive blood culture results were false positives from skin contamination. Blood cultures are necessary to follow up any positive results with more reliable tests to obtain a more accurate assessment as to whether bacteremia is present in the emergency department. True positive blood cultures can assist other doctors in adjusting the antibiotics. Emergency physicians overall used appropriate antibiotics in 72.3% of patients with true bacteremia. This study demonstrated that emergency physicians have the potential to improve the empirical treatment in treating patients.
The General Practitioner’s Consultation Approaches to Medically Unexplained Symptoms: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Hansen Henriette Schou , Rosendal Marianne , Fink Per , Risør Mette Bech
Published: September 2012

Background. The prevalence of medically unexplained symptoms (MUSs) in primary care is about 10–15%. The definition of MUS is descriptive and there are no specific diagnostic criteria for MUS in primary care. Furthermore, a general practitioner’s (GP’s) categorisation of patients with MUS shows large variation. The aim of the present study is to investigate how GPs employ the definition of MUS and how they manage patients with MUS in daily practice. Methods. With a grounded theory approach five focus group interviews with GPs were performed. The interviews addressed how GPs managed MUS and their reflections on the course and prognosis for MUS patients. Results. Consultations about MUS develop around the individual patient and usually include several appointments. We identified three different types of consultations: (1) “searching for a disease,” (2) “going by the routine,” and (3) “following various paths.” These types of consultations spanned from a biomedical approach to an approach where multiple explanations were offered to explain the patient’s problem. The choice of consultation types was influenced by the GP, the patient and contextual factors which, in turn, affected the diagnostic process. Conclusions. A diagnosis of MUS is contextually embedded and the diagnostic process is shaped by the consultation.
Robust Adaptive Integral Backstepping Control of a 3-DOF Helicopter
Authors: Fang Zheng , Gao Weinan , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2012

Unmanned aerial vehicles have enormous potential applications in military and civil fields. A Quanser's 3-DOF helicopter is a simplified and benchmark experimental model for validating the effectiveness of various flight control algorithms. The attitude control of the 3-DOF helicopter is a challenging task since the helicopter is an under-actuated system with strong coupling and model uncertainty characteristics. In this paper, an adaptive integral backstepping algorithm is proposed to realize robust control of the 3-DOF helicopter. The proposed control algorithm can estimate model uncertainties online and improve the robustness of the control system. Simulation and experiment results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm performs well in tracking and under model uncertainties.
An Immunology-Inspired Fault Detection and Identification System
Authors: Weng Liguo , Xia Min , Liu Qingshan , Wang Wei
Published: September 2012

This paper presents a fault detection and identification (FDI) approach inspired by the immune system. The salient features of the immune system, such as adaptability, robustness, flexibility, archival memory and distributed cognition abilities, have been the valuable source of inspiration for fundamentally new methods for fault detection and identification. This research makes use of immunological concepts to develop a robust fault detection and identification mechanism, capable of detecting and classifying diverse system faults dynamically. Such an FDI mechanism also has the ability to learn and classify overlapping faults using distributed sensing. Moreover, its detection accuracy can be continuously improved during system operation. As tested by numerical simulations in which faults are represented by overlapping banana functions, the proposed algorithms are adaptive to new types of faults and overlapping faults.
Real-Time Sound Source Localization for a Mobile Robot Based on the Guided Spectral-Temporal Position Method
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Shen Miao , Wang Wenmin , Liu Hong
Published: September 2012

Sound source localization based on a microphone array for mobile robots faces great challenges because of factors such as uncertainty of the robot's movement, noise and reverberation, the requirements of a compact microphone array and so on. This paper studies a method for sound source localization in a dynamic environment using a cross-microphone array plane, which consists of four microphones on an intelligent mobile robot platform. Firstly, the method of spectral subtraction and campestral mean normalization is introduced to de-noise. Then GCC-PHAT-ργ and the guided spectral-temporal (ST) position method are proposed to suppress noise and reverberation based on the generalized cross-correlation method to estimate time delay. Finally, the sound source is positioned by adopting the geometric location method. This system is tested by a total of 2,016 sets of experiments. Even in an intensely noisy and reverberating environment, the guided ST position method achieves angle positioning accuracy of more than 95% with a less than 15 degrees localization error. Meanwhile, all the experimental data can be processed in real-time, within 0.4s.
Paper‐Derived Bioactive Glass Tape
Authors: Stares Steferson Luiz , Kirilenko Alina , Fredel Márcio Celso , Greil Peter , Wondraczek Lothar , Travitzky Nahum
Published: September 2012

Porous bioactive glass (BaG) structures were manufactured applying novel preceramic paper process. Preceramic papers were produced for aqueous suspensions loaded with different contents of pulp fiber and BaG filler. Pressure loading was applied in order to increase the packing density in the paper sheets. The paper sheets were sintered at 630 °C for 1 h. The porous glass–ceramic specimens were characterized for density, porosity, composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties. A pronounced volumetric shrinkage was observed, but no surface flaws or inhomogeneous areas were detected. The mechanical strength using the ball on three balls test and elastic modulus of sintered specimens vary between 21 and 33 MPa and 0.30–0.85 GPa, respectively.
Force Control of an Electrohydraulic Actuator Using a Fractional‐Order Controller
Authors: Sangpet Teerawat , Kuntanapreeda Suwat
Published: September 2012

This paper presents an application of fractional‐order control to industrial electrohydraulics. An optimization based frequency domain approach is used to obtain a fractional‐order proportional‐integral controller for force control of an electrohydraulic actuator. The controller is designed to have a feature of robustness to gain variations with the step responses exhibiting an iso‐damping property. In practice, the gain variations are due to the changes in the environment or the load's force interacting with the actuator. Results of real life experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the controller.
New spectrofluorimetric method for determination of cephalosporins in pharmaceutical formulations
Authors: Ali Ahmed Shazalia M. , Elbashir Abdalla A. , Suliman Fakhr Eldin O. , Aboul‐Enein Hassan Y.
Published: September 2012

A simple, accurate, precise spectrofluorimetric method has been proposed for the determination of three cephalosporins, namely, cefixime (cefi), cephalexine (ceph), and cefotaxime sodium (cefo) in pharmaceutical formulations. This method is based on a reaction between cephalosporins with 8‐hydroxy‐1,3,6‐pyrenetrisulfonic acid trisodium salt (HPTS) in alkaline medium, at pH 12.0 for cefi and 13.0 for ceph and cefo to give highly fluorescent derivatives extracted with chloroform and subsequent measurements of the formed fluorescent products at 520, 500 and 510 nm after excitation at 480, 470 and 480 nm for cefi, ceph and cefo respectively. The optimum experimental conditions have been studied. Beer's law is obeyed over concentrations of 10–60 ng/mL, 5–35 ng/mL and 10–60 ng/mL for cefi, ceph and cefo, respectively. The detection limits were 4.20 ng/mL, 2.54 ng/mL and 4.09 ng/mL for cefi, ceph and cefo, respectively, with a linear regression correlation coefficient of 0.99783, 0.99705 and 0.9978 and recoveries in ranges 96.96–105.77, 96.13–102.55 and 95.45–105.39% for cefi, ceph and cefo, respectively. This method is simple and can be applied for the determination of cefi, ceph and cefo in pharmaceutical formulations in quality control laboratories. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comprehensive fluorogenic derivatization–liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry proteomic analysis of colorectal cancer cell to identify biomarker candidate
Authors: Koshiyama Akiyo , Ichibangase Tomoko , Imai Kazuhiro
Published: September 2012

Existing colorectal cancer biomarkers are insufficient for providing a quick and accurate diagnosis, which is critical for a good prognosis. More appropriate biomarkers are thus needed. To identify new colorectal cancer biomarker candidates, we conducted a comprehensive differential proteomic analysis of six cancer cell lines and a normal cell line, utilizing a fluorogenic derivatization–liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (FD‐LC‐MS/MS) approach. Two sets of intracellular biomarker candidates were identified: one for colorectal cancer, and the other for metastatic colorectal cancer. Our results suggest that cooperative expression of FABP5 and cyclophilin A might be linked to Her2 signaling. Upregulation of LDHB and downregulation of GAPDH suggest the existence of a specific nonglycolytic energy production pathway in metastatic colorectal cancer cells. Downregulation of 14‐3‐3ζ/δ, cystatin‐B, Ran and thioredoxin could be a result of their secretion, which then stimulates metastasis via activity in the sera and ascitic fluids. We propose a possible flow scheme to describe the dynamics of protein expression in colorectal cancer cells leading to tumor progression and metastasis via cell proliferation, angiogenesis, disorganization of actin filaments and epithelial–mesenchymal transition. Our results suggest that colorectal tumor progression may be regulated by signaling mediated by Her2, hypoxia, and TGFβ. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation for severe regurgitation in native and degenerated bioprosthetic aortic valves
Authors: Sarkar Kunal , Sardella Gennaro , Romeo Francesco , De Benedictis Mauro , Tarsia Giandomenico , Iadanza Alessandro , Sharma Samin. K. , Barbanti Marco , Tamburino Corrado , Ussia Gian Paolo
Published: September 2012

Objectives

We evaluated transcatheter aortic valve Implantation (TAVI) in high‐risk patients with severe aortic regurgitation (AR) in native or degenerated bioprosthetic valves. Background: TAVI has emerged as a viable treatment modality for severe aortic stenosis in inoperable or high‐risk patients. The use of TAVI for treatment of severe AR has remained largely unexplored.

Methods

Eight patients (age 79.6 years ± 5.75 years) with severe AR underwent TAVI at six tertiary hospitals between April 2010 and May 2011. All patients were considered to be at prohibitive risk for surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).TAVI with the nitinol based Core Valve bioprosthesis (CRS) (Medtronic) was performed in all patients.

Results

Transfemoral access was used in all cases. Procedural success was obtained in all cases without any intraprocedural complications. There was no in hospital or 30‐day mortality. There were no cases of atrioventricular blocks requiring permanent pacemaker implantation. At a mean follow up of 15.5 ± 15 months; all patients had improvement in New York Heart Association functional class. Follow up echocardiography revealed improved or stable left ventricular ejection fraction and optimal device function in all cases.

Conclusions

TAVI with the CRS bioprosthesis is feasible and effective in appropriately selected cases of severe aortic regurgitation in native and bioprosthetic aortic valves.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Industrial Biotechnology – The Unique Tool for Big Industry to Handle Climate Change
Authors: Ringpfeil Manfred
Published: September 2012

The connection between production of energy and climate change is elucidated. CO2 from burning fossil carbon is the main agent responsible for the hazardous climatic development. The use of this process in energy production has to be vigorously restricted. The gaps have to be filled by conversion of renewable carbon into reduced forms. Big industry shall adopt biotechnology as an enabling technology.
Sediments Quality Assessment of Jacarepaguá Lagoon: The Venue of the 2011 Rock in Rio
Authors: Araruna Júnior José Tavares , Benedetti Paula Elias , Pires Patrício José Moreira , de Almeida Ricardo Froitzheim Rinelli
Published: September 2012

In order to aid in the efforts of the 2016 Olympic Games, the organizers of 2011 Rock in Rio decided to build a permanent venue next to the Olympic Park. The area is problematic from the geotechnical point of view since it presents soils with low shear strength, low permeability, and high plasticity, so major soil improvement works were carried out. Bored soil–cement columns were placed to increase soil shear strength and reduce compressibility. A meter thick fill composed of gneiss residual soil was placed and trenches were digged to drain rainwater. However, earlier studies conducted on Jacarepaguá Lagoon have detected the presence of heavy metals in these sediments. In this study, an environmental survey on the Jacarepaguá Lagoon sediments took place in order to choose a place where its sediments could be dredged to be later used in the drainage facilities. The results indicated areas where the threshold level 1 (low probability of adverse effects) issued by the general procedures for sediments quality assessments for dredging purposes, Resolution no 344 of the Brazilian Federal Government, was surpassed. Levels above the limits established for cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) were detected. Based on this consideration the State Environmental Agency issued a permit allowing the organizers of 2011 Rock in Rio to dredge an area close to City of Rock in order to obtain coarse sediments for the drainage facilities. In addition, it was found that those sediments were ideal for this application since their hydraulic conductivity is on the order of 10−2 cm/s.
Hydro‐morphologic Revision of the Cuautla Channel at Nayarit, Mexico
Authors: Ochoa Cuauhtemoc Franco , Baldwin Edgar Mendoza , Casarín Rodolfo Silva , Martínez Gabriel Ruiz
Published: September 2012

Pollution, habitat modification, and species migration are some of the results of human activities on natural environments which can be mitigated or compensated with proper planning. Irresponsibility or ignorance in planning coastal projects too often produces damage to natural systems which can be unpredictable and sometimes irrevocable. The specific site analyzed in this paper is the Cuautla littoral sub‐system which was originally a lagoon that diverted river water to other lagoons and estuaries, thus irrigating the Mexican Marismas Nacionales system, in the states of Nayarit and Sinaloa, Mexico. In the 1970s social and economic considerations motivated the construction of a small breaching canal from the sea to the lagoon. The subsequent growth of this channel was unforeseen and has produced an irreversible impact not only in the sub‐system but probably in the entire area of Marismas Nacionales. A lack of understanding of the present balances in the damaged system and of the impacts the changing morphology has on future change has created the need to study this area using numerical hydrodynamic simulation. The present distribution of water in the sub‐system was established and the governing processes were detected. By means of an analytical estimation of equilibrium conditions it was found that if nothing is done, the channel will continue eroding and the ecosystem will continue to degrade. Only by understanding the dramatic perturbations caused by the construction of the channel to the hydrologic and morphologic equilibriums can there be any hope of rescuing the ecosystem, including its human activities.
Classification of acute and delayed contrast media‐induced reactions: proposal of a three‐step system
Authors: Böhm Ingrid , Heverhagen Johannes T. , Klose Klaus J.
Published: September 2012

Physicians and scientists use a broad spectrum of terms to classify contrast media (CM)‐induced adverse reactions. In particular, the designation of hypersensitivity reactions is quite varied. Consequently, comparisons of different papers dealing with this subject are difficult or even impossible. Moreover, general descriptions may lead to problems in understanding reactions in patients with a history of adverse CM‐reactions, and in efficiently managing these patients. Therefore, the goal of this paper is to suggest an easy system to clearly classify these reactions. The proposed three‐step systems (3SS) is built up as follows: step 1 exactly describes the clinical features, including their severity; step 2 categorizes the time point of the onset (immediate or nonimmediate); and step 3 generally classifies the reaction (hypersensitivity or nonhypersensitivity reaction). The 3SS may facilitate better understanding of the clinical manifestations of adverse CM reactions and may support the prevention of these reactions on the basis of personalized medicine approaches. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Two forms of iron as an intrinsic contrast agent in the basal ganglia of PKAN patients
Authors: Dezortova Monika , Herynek Vit , Krssak Martin , Kronerwetter Claudia , Trattnig Siegfried , Hajek Milan
Published: September 2012

Iron deposits in the human brain can be considered as intrinsic contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and are used as markers of neurodegeneration accompanied by brain‐iron accumulation. We studied one of them – panthotenate‐kinase associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) – by using relaxometry at 1.5, 3.0 and 7 T in a group of six patients; we also measured a group of five volunteers for comparison. Based on the magnetic field dependency of antiferromagnetic ferritin and maghemite iron oxide nanoparticle relaxivities, we derived a two‐component model for the description of iron deposits in the globus pallidus of PKAN patients. According to this model, we estimated the iron content in PKAN patients as 391 µg/ml of antiferromagnetic iron (ferritin) and 1.1 µg/ml of ferrimagnetic iron, compared with 178 µg/ml of iron in ferritin found in controls. This two‐component model explains the nonlinear shape of the relaxometric curves in in vivo measurements of the relaxation rates of PKAN patients and is supported by histological findings in the original reports on PKAN patients. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.