bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation training improves clinical knowledge of major haemorrhage management in foundation year doctors
Authors: Green R. , Curry N.
Published: November 2014

Objectives

(i) To develop a major haemorrhage simulation training programme. (ii) To design an assessment tool to measure the effectiveness of this programme. (iii) To use simulation training to create more effective protocols.

Background

Major haemorrhage is a time‐critical medical emergency that can be faced by every Foundation Year (FY) doctor. Standard methods of teaching provide limited opportunity for junior doctors to improve their knowledge and practical skills for major haemorrhage situations. Simulation is increasingly used in medical training but has not been used as a means both to facilitate learning and refine hospital major haemorrhage policy.

Methods

The effect of major haemorrhage simulation on attendees' learning was compared to a comparator group not exposed to simulation. Questionnaire pre‐simulation and 3 months post‐simulation training assessed knowledge of the Trust Major Haemorrhage Protocol (MHP).

Results

Sixteen FY1 doctors attended simulation training. The comparator group included 47 FY1 doctors. No significant difference was found between simulation and comparator groups on baseline questionnaire scores. The simulation group showed significant improvement (total score, mean standard deviation (SD) pre‐test 27·15 (4·02), post‐test 39·13 (3·91), p < 0·001). The comparator group showed no significant change (total score, pre‐test 25·06 (5·70), post‐test 23·54 (6·85), p = 0·33) (19 lost to follow up). The study resulted in the production of a new MHP.

Conclusion

This study has demonstrated that simulation training improved doctors' knowledge in major haemorrhage management and that the experience of observing the simulation training allowed senior staff to undertake analysis and improvement of an existing MHP.
Mass Transport of Low Density Lipoprotein in Reconstructed Hemodynamic Environments of Human Carotid Arteries: The Role of Volume and Solute Flux Through the Endothelium
Authors: Kim Sungho , Giddens Don P.
Published: November 2014

The accumulation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) in the arterial intima is a critical step in the initiation and progression of atheromatous lesions. In this study we examine subject-specific LDL transport into the intima of carotid bifurcations in three human subjects using a three-pore model for LDL mass transfer. Subject-specific carotid artery computational models were derived using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to obtain the geometry and phase-contract MRI (PC-MRI) to acquire pulsatile inflow and outflow boundary conditions for each subject. The subjects were selected to represent a wide range of anatomical configurations and different stages of atherosclerotic development from mild to moderate intimal thickening. A fluid–solid interaction (FSI) model was implemented in the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach in order to consider the effects of a compliant vessel on wall shear stress (WSS). The WSS-dependent response of the endothelium to LDL mass transfer was modeled by multiple pathways to include the contributions of leaky junctions, normal junctions, and transcytosis to LDL solute and plasma volume flux from the lumen into the intima. Time averaged WSS (TAWSS) over the cardiac cycle was computed to represent the spatial WSS distribution, and wall thickness (WTH) was determined from black blood MRI (BBMRI) so as to visualize intimal thickening patterns in the bifurcations. The regions which are exposed to low TAWSS correspond to elevated WTH and higher mass and volume flux via the leaky junctions. In all subjects, the maximum LDL solute flux was observed to be immediately downstream of the stenosis, supporting observations that existing atherosclerotic lesions tend to progress in the downstream direction of the stenosis.
Optimal Arrangement of Combined-Hole for Improving Film Cooling Effectiveness
Authors: Han Chang , Chi Zhongran , Ren Jing , Jiang Hongde
Published: November 2014

Film cooling technique is widely used to protect the components from being destroyed by hot mainstream in a modern gas turbine. Combining round-holes is a promising way of improving film cooling effectiveness. A DoE (design of experiment) simulation of 396 cases focusing on the arrangement of the combined-hole with double holes for improving film cooling performance is carried out in this work, and the influence of an aerodynamic parameter, blowing ratio is considered as well. The dimensionless lateral distance (PoD) and compound angle (CA) of the double holes have relative influence on the film cooling performance of the combined-hole unit. At the low blowing ratio, increasing symmetrical compound angle (SCA) has positive influence on the area-average effectiveness (EFF) of the combined-hole. But at the intermediate and large blowing ratio, the influence of SCA on the area-average EFF depends on the range of PoD. At the small PoD, the area-average EFF ascends basically along SCA axis. However, the area-average EFF first ascends and subsequently descends along SCA axis at the large PoD. Asymmetrical compound angle (ACA) is also considered to fit the antikidney vortexes produced in the combined-hole film cooling compared to their ideal schematic. However, the film cooling effect of the cases with ACA is not as good as expected. The area-average EFF of ACA cases locates in the level between that of the adjacent SCA cases. The optimal arrangement of combined-hole unit for improving film cooling effectiveness is relative to the local flow field. The optimal arrangement of PoD and CA for improving the combined-hole film cooling performance is different at different blowing ratios.
Characteristics of the Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient at the End Winding of a Hydro Generator
Authors: Klomberg Stephan , Farnleitner Ernst , Kastner Gebhard , Bíró Oszkár
Published: November 2014

The focus of this paper is a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of the end winding region of a hydro generator as basis for development of correlations between the convective wall heat transfer coefficient (WHTC) and speed and flow rate parameters. These correlations are used as boundary conditions for thermal networks. Furthermore, there is also a focus on the influence of the numerical settings on the correlations. This work deals with a reduced numerical model which is designed to calculate a hydro generator fast and accurately by using a steady-state simulation with the mixing plane (MP) method.
Multiscale Modeling of Trabecular Bone Marrow: Understanding the Micromechanical Environment of Mesenchymal Stem Cells During Osteoporosis
Authors: Vaughan T. J. , Voisin M. , Niebur G. L. , McNamara L. M.
Published: November 2014

Mechanical loading directs the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in vitro and it has been hypothesized that the mechanical environment plays a role in directing the cellular fate of MSCs in vivo. However, the complex multicellular composition of trabecular bone marrow means that the precise nature of mechanical stimulation that MSCs experience in their native environment is not fully understood. In this study, we developed a multiscale model that discretely represents the cellular constituents of trabecular bone marrow and applied this model to characterize mechanical stimulation of MCSs in vivo. We predicted that cell-level strains in certain locations of the trabecular marrow microenvironment were greater in magnitude (maximum ε12 = ∼24,000 με) than levels that have been found to result in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs in vitro (>8000 με), which may indicate that the native mechanical environment of MSCs could direct cellular fate in vivo. The results also showed that cell–cell adhesions could play an important role in mediating mechanical stimulation within the MSC population in vivo. The model was applied to investigate how changes that occur during osteoporosis affected mechanical stimulation in the cellular microenvironment of trabecular bone marrow. Specifically, a reduced bone volume (BV) resulted in an overall increase in bone deformation, leading to greater cell-level mechanical stimulation in trabecular bone marrow (maximum ε12 = ∼48,000 με). An increased marrow adipocyte content resulted in slightly lower levels of stimulation within the adjacent cell population due to a shielding effect caused by the more compliant behavior of adipocytes (maximum ε12 = ∼41,000 με). Despite this reduction, stimulation levels in trabecular bone marrow during osteoporosis remained much higher than those predicted to occur under healthy conditions. It was found that compensatory mechanobiological responses that occur during osteoporosis, such as increased trabecular stiffness and axial alignment of trabeculae, would be effective in returning MSC stimulation in trabecular marrow to normal levels. These results have provided novel insight into the mechanical stimulation of the trabecular marrow MSC population in both healthy and osteoporotic bone, and could inform the design three-dimensional (3D) in vitro bioreactor strategies techniques, which seek to emulate physiological conditions.
The Effect of Uphill and Downhill Walking on Joint-Position Sense: A Study on Healthy Knees
Authors: Bottoni Giuliamarta , Heinrich Dieter , Kofler Philipp , Hasler Michael , Nachbauer Werner
Published: November 2014

Context:

During sport activity, knee proprioception might worsen. This decrease in proprioceptive acuity negatively influences motor control and therefore may increase injury risk. Hiking is a common activity characterized by a higher-intensity-exercise phase during uphill walking and a lower-intensity-exercise phase during downhill walking. Pain and injuries are reported in hiking, especially during the downhill phase.

Objective:

To examine the effect of a hiking-fatigue protocol on joint-position sense.

Design:

Repeated measures.

Setting:

University research laboratory.

Participants:

24 nonprofessional sportswomen without knee injuries.

Main Outcome Measures:

Joint-position sense was tested at the beginning, after 30 min uphill walking, and after 30 min downhill walking on a treadmill (continuous protocol).

Results:

After downhill walking, joint-position sense was significantly worse than in the test at the beginning (P = .035, α = .05). After uphill walking, no differences were observed in comparison with the test at the beginning (P = .172, α = .05) or the test after downhill walking (P = .165, α = .05).

Conclusion:

Downhill walking causes impairment in knee-joint-position sense. Considering these results, injury-prevention protocols for hiking should focus on maintaining and improving knee proprioception during the descending phase.
Familial eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis in a mother and daughter
Authors: Harmanci Koray , Anil Hulya , Kocak Abdulkadir , Dinleyici Ener Cagri
Published: November 2014

A 17-year-old girl was admitted to our unit with weight loss, dyspnoea, arthralgia and sinusitis. Her medical history was noteworthy for bronchial asthma and she required systemic steroid therapy. Her mother had a history of eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). Laboratory tests revealed excessive eosinophilia and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation. The assay for peripheral antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies was negative. Histopathological examination of lung biopsy revealed EGPA. The patient was treated with methylpredinosolone; her eosinophil count normalised and she began to improve clinically and radiographically. There is no genetic factor to influence susceptibility to this disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of familial EGPA disease in the literature, with a mother and daughter both being affected. EGPA disease should be kept in mind in a patient with uncontrolled asthma and eosinophilia with a positive family history for EGPA.
The common prophylactic therapy for bowel surgery is ineffective for clearing Bacteroidetes, the primary inducers of systemic inflammation, and causes faster death in response to intestinal barrier damage in mice
Authors: Sinsimer Daniel , Esseghir Amira , Tang May , Laouar Amale
Published: November 2014

Introduction and objective

The role of secreted gut microbial components in the initiation of systemic inflammation and consequences of antibiotic therapies on this inflammatory process are poorly elucidated. We investigate whether peripheral innate cells mount an inflammatory response to gut microbial components, the immune cells that are the primary drivers of systemic inflammation, the bacterial populations that are predominantly responsible, and whether perioperative antibiotics affect these processes.

Method and experimental design

Conditioned supernatants from gut microbes were used to stimulate murine innate cell typesin vitroandin vivo, and proinflammatory responses were characterised. Effects of antibiotic therapies on these responses were investigated using a model of experimental intestinal barrier damage induced by dextran sodium sulfate.

Results

Proinflammatory responses in the periphery are generated by components of anaerobes from the Bacteroidetes phylotype and these responses are primarily produced by myeloid dendritic cells. We found that the common prophylactic therapy for sepsis (oral neomycin and metronidazole administered to patients the day prior to surgery) is ineffective for clearing Bacteroidetes from the murine intestine. A point of critical consequence of this result is the increased systemic inflammation and premature death observed in treated mice, and these outcomes appear to be independent of gut bacterial spread in the initial phase of intestinal barrier damage. Importantly, spillage of gut microbial products, rather than dissemination of gut microbes, may underlay the initiation of systemic inflammation leading to death.

Conclusions

Our data further affirm the importance of a balanced gut microflora biodiversity in host immune homeostasis and reinforce the notion that inadequate antibiotic therapy can have detrimental effects on overall immune system.
A DNA barcode survey of Haida Gwaii kelp (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) reveals novel ecological and distributional observations andSaccharina druehliisp. nov.
Authors: Saunders Gary W. , McDevit Daniel C.
Published: November 2014

A DNA barcode survey using mitochondrial COI-5P and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) markers of kelp from Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, has uncovered 18 genetic groups encompassing 17 morphospecies. The discrepancy derived from collections identified in the field as Saccharina sessilis (C.Agardh) Kuntze, which formed two distinct clusters in molecular (both mitochondrial COI-5P and nuclear ITS) analyses leading to the proposal of Saccharina druehlii sp. nov. The morphospecies listed in the literature for this region (∼25), but not found during our survey (8) were accounted for in previous molecular studies that have synonymized taxa, viz., from six to a single species of Alaria, or involve uncertain reports for two Laminaria spp. We did not collect Eisenia arborea Areschoug, which with its distinctive morphology would represent bona fide records for this region. This species was previously reported at only two locations in Haida Gwaii, suggesting that it is rare and restricted in distribution in this flora yielding a total of 19 species of Laminariales. In addition, novel distributional and ecological observations are discussed for the kelp in Haida Gwaii.
Development of III-Sb Technology for p-Channel MOSFETs
Authors: Greene Andrew , Madisetti Shailesh , Yakimov Michael , Tokranov Vadim , Oktyabrsky Serge
Published: November 2014

Alternative channel materials with superior transport properties over conventional silicon based systems are required for supply voltage scaling in CMOS circuits. Group III- Sb 's are a candidate for high mobility p-channel applications due to a low hole effective mass, large injection velocity in scaled devices and the ability to achieve enhanced hole mobility in strained quantum wells (QW). Multiple challenges in antimonide MOSFET development are assessed and developed technologies were implemented into p-channel MOSFET fabrication with a low thermal processing budget of 350°C. These challenges include growth of “bulk” GaSb and bi-axial compressively strained In x Ga 1-x Sb QW channels on lattice mismatched GaAs substrates, reduction of interface trap state density (Dit) at the III- Sb /high-k oxide interface and avoiding ion implanted source and drain contacts with high temperature activation annealing. A “self-aligned” single mask p-channel MOSFET fabrication process was developed on buried In 0.36 Ga 0.64 Sb QW channels using intermetallic source and drain contacts. The first “gate-last” MOSFET process on In 0.36 Ga 0.64 Sb QW channels with pre-grown epitaxial p++- GaSb contacts is demonstrated. InAs has been proven to be an excellent etch stop layer when using an optimized tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) etch of p++- GaSb to prevent InGaSb QW damage.
Deep UV LEDs for Public Health Applications
Authors: Gaska Ignas , Bilenko Olga , Smetona Saulius , Bilenko Yuri , Gaska Remis , Shur Michael
Published: November 2014

In 2011, According to the World Health Organization, roughly 768 million people did not use any improved sources for drinking water while 185 million people relied on only regular surface water in order to meet their drinking water needs. The number of people living in slums with no clean water supply is expected to double by 2030 to 2 billion. Each year in U.S. hospitals there are an estimated 1.7 million healthcare acquired infections (HAI) resulting in approximately 99,000 deaths (2007 data). Deep Ultraviolet Light Emitting Diodes (DUV LEDs) technology can help solve these and a variety of other problems related to public health and wellbeing. In contrast to more conventional UV sources, such as mercury lamps, DUV LEDs do not require any warm up time, are toxic chemical free, and possess the capability to be molded into compact systems. The DUV LED diodes fabricated by SET, Inc. are based on III-Nitride Semiconductors ( AlGaN ). These devices are capable of providing spectral power distribution with the peak emission wavelengths from 227 nm to 340 nm. A novel compact low flow water purification unit using DUV LEDs demonstrated a 4.15 LOG reduction of viral MS2 bacteriophage and > 6 LOG (99.9999%) reduction of E.coli at 100mL/min flow and 40mW of optical output power. At higher optical output powers, the LOG reduction begins to saturate and taper off. The water disinfection unit incorporated 20 TO-39 packages and was controlled by a single custom power supply. Arrangement of the LEDs insured minimal to no shadowing of influent water. The germicidal efficacy of the system was further enhanced by photon recycling using UV-reflecting chamber walls and multiple passes through exposed water stream. The water disinfection units are geared towards affordable and durable Point-of-Use (POU) drinking water systems. Current modifications are being made in order to further increase the efficacy of the water disinfection units at higher flow rates and lower power requirements. DUV LED technology was also used to design efficient hard surface microbial disinfection systems. Many microbes have become more resistant to everyday chemical disinfectants. Higher dose and more concentrated chemical solutions are needed to the point that they themselves become toxic for humans. Initial testing has produced visual evidence of microbial inactivation on hard surfaces contaminated with E.coli. Testing involved a single SETi TO-39 package with a wavelength of approximately 275nm. A higher than the 2 LOG reduction at approximately 1 mW optical output power was achieved. Based on these results, a 2nd generation system was designed for portable DUV LED cell phone disinfection containing few separate LED chips at 270-275 nm. Initial testing revealed an almost 2 LOG (99%) reduction of E.coli after 30 minutes of exposure at low microbial influent levels.
Reflections on the Future Electric Power Grid Monitoring System
Authors: Gouzman Michael , Luryi Serge
Published: November 2014

A shortcoming of the contemporary power grid monitoring is that the system does not know its own state. Instead of taking automatic note of energy-flow disruptions, one deals with haphazard telephone reports of “no light in our house”. We propose a novel monitoring system that requires no restructuring of the power distribution network and can be applied both to the existing grids and the future “smart grids”. The proposed system is based on a network of inexpensive sensors, installed on every connecting line and communicating measured data to a central processing unit. Our approach is topological in nature, based on the connectivity aspects of the power grid embodied in Kirchhoff's current law that must be valid at every node of the network. We argue that the state of the network can be adequately characterized by specifying the RMS currents and the direction of energy flow in all connecting lines. It is essential that in this description one does not have to know the magnitude of the energy flow, only its direction. This eliminates the need to measure voltage, which would be prohibitively costly on the massive scale. In contrast, the relative phase between the current and voltage can be measured easily. Another essential point is that the instantaneous RMS currents are impractical to record and communicate, hence local averaging is required. Since Kirchhoff's law should remain valid upon averaging, the latter must be carried out at each sensor synchronously over the entire network with global synchronization provided by the GPS.
Vibration Reduction Performance of an Active Damping Control System for a Scaled System of a Cable-Stayed Bridge
Authors: Cárdenas Roberto Alvarado , Viramontes Francisco Carrión , Toledo Aarón Sariñana
Published: November 2014

The main objective of this work is to develop an active damping system that can be used to reduce the vibrations of cables in stayed bridges. As a first stage, a laboratory physical scale model of a prestressed cable was used to characterize and test the dynamic performance of the damping system that comprises accelerometers to measure cable vibrations, an electromagnetic actuator which interacts with the cable to compensate for externally induced vibrations, and a digital controller in which control strategies and algorithms are defined. In the experiment, an additional actuator was used to excite vibration disturbances on the cable modifying its frequency and amplitude, and the location for the accelerometers was defined from simulations with a linear model of the cable to optimize the damping control method. Two different system identification approaches were used to calculate the frequency response function of the whole system (cable, accelerometers and actuators); the first approach used the spectral analysis to get initial dynamic results of the cable system, while the second employed the parametric identification to obtain the transfer function of the system, by which different models were assessed. Model reduction techniques and the direct synthesis approach were selected to get a second-order model for the controller. The active damping system was first evaluated with simulation studies and then, in the laboratory. Results show that the damping system reduces the vibration amplitude up to 50% for the resonance frequency. Complementary simulations using a full scale cable model of the stayed bridge with an equivalent active damping system, showed the same damping efficiency as for that in the laboratory experiment; however, a practical application must consider the scaling factor and the limitations of possible locations and orientations of the damping actuator to get the best dynamic performance.
Global dimension of Harada rings and serial rings
Authors: Koike Kazutoshi
Published: November 2014

Baba [On Harada rings and quasi-Harada rings with left global dimension at most 2. Comm. Algebra28(6) (2000) 2671–2684] proved that every left Harada rings with global dimension at most 2 is a serial ring. In this paper, improving the result, we show that every left Harada ring with global dimension at most 3 is a serial ring. We also prove that if a left Harada ring A of finite global dimension is of type (*) or has homogeneous right socle, then A is serial. Finally, we give an example of a non-serial left Harada ring of finite global dimension.
Endomorphism ring of local cohomology modules with respect to a pair of ideals
Authors: Talemi Atiyeh Pour Eshmanan , Tehranian Abolfazl
Published: November 2014

Let (R, 𝔪, k) be a complete Gorenstein local ring of dimension n. Let [Formula: see text] be the local cohomology module with respect to a pair of ideals I, J and [Formula: see text]. In this paper we will show that the endomorphism ring [Formula: see text] is a commutative ring. In particular if [Formula: see text] for all i ≠ t, then B is isomorphic to R. Also we prove that, B is a finite R-module if and only if [Formula: see text] is an Artinian R-module, where d = n - t. Moreover we will show that in the case that [Formula: see text] for all i ≠ t the natural homomorphism [Formula: see text] is nonzero which gives a positive answer to a conjecture due to Hellus–Schenzel (see [On cohomologically complete intersections, J. Algebra 320 (2008) 3733–3748]).
SIMULATION RESULTS FOR THE EFFECT OF FIN GEOMETRY ON THE PERFORMANCE OF A CONCENTRIC HEAT EXCHANGER
Authors: CHO HONGGI , KIM TAEHUN , KIM JUNGHO , LEE CHANGSEON , CHOI JAEYOUNG
Published: November 2014

The present study is aimed to investigate the effect of fin geometry on the performance of a concentric heat exchanger with the commercial CFD software of Star CCM+. In general, the concentric heat exchanger consists of inner and outer tubes. The inner tube has a lot of serrated fins spirally manufactured on its surface in order to increase the heat transfer performance. A simplified simulation model has been applied to simulate the performance of the concentric heat exchanger in this study. Both inner and outer tubes have the same length of 60 mm. The inner diameter of outer tube is 17.05 mm. The outer diameter of inner tube before manufacturing fins is 11.5 mm. Water is used as a working fluid and the concentric heat exchanger has a counter-flow configuration. The simulation parameters were fin height, fin thickness and fin width. It was found that heat transfer rate increased by 3–4% as the fin height increased from 0.95 to 1.15 mm. However, pressure drop increased highly by 39–41%. The effectiveness, which could be evaluated by calculating the ratio of enhancement of heat transfer rate to that of pressure drop, was about 74% for the fin height of 1.15 mm. In case of fin height of 1.05 mm, the effectiveness was 88% due to the increase in pressure drop, about 15%, compared with the base fin height of 0.95 mm. Also, it was noted that the effectiveness was about 88% and 95% for the fin thickness of 0.5 and 0.4 mm, respectively, compared with the base fin thickness of 0.3 mm. In case of increasing the fin width from 0.8 to 1.2 mm, the heat transfer rates slightly increased by 1–2% and the pressures drops increased by 3–4%. Hence, the effectiveness was about 98% for the fin width of 1.2 mm. And the effectiveness for the fin width of 1.0 mm was 97%. Based on the simulation results, it was concluded that maximum heat transfer rate has been obtained when the fin height is 1.15 mm. However, pressure drop is considerably increased by 39–41%. Therefore, the fin height should be carefully determined according to the criteria of pressure drop.
A Comparison between Characterization and Biological Properties of Brazilian Fresh and Aged Propolis
Authors: Schmidt Eduardo Morgado , Stock Daniele , Chada Fabio José Garcia , Finger Daiane , Christine Helena Frankland Sawaya Alexandra , Eberlin Marcos Nogueira , Felsner Maria Lurdes , Quináia Sueli Pércio , Monteiro Marta Chagas , Torres Yohandra Reyes
Published: November 2014

Objective. As propolis is a highly valued bee product, we aimed to verify the quality of aged propolis, investigating their phenolic and flavonoid composition, levels of toxic metals, radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities.Material and Methods. Samples of fresh and aged propolis of six different beekeepers, from the same geographical location, were investigated in terms of their phenolic and flavonoid composition and levels of Pb, Cd, and Cr, as well as radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities.Results. The two groups of propolis had similar qualitative composition by HPLC-PDA and ESI(-)-MS. Fresh propolis and aged propolis show no differences when average values of extraction yield, flavonoids, EC50, or MIC were compared and both types of propolis showed good antimicrobial activity at low concentrations. Only levels of phenolic compounds were higher in fresh propolis.Conclusion. The propolis samples considered in this study, aged or fresh, had similar qualitative composition, although they were collected in different periods. Samples only differed in their levels of total phenolic content. Moreover, aged propolis conserves significant radical scavenging and antimicrobial properties. We suggest that aged propolis should not be discarded but explored for alternative applications.
Proton Irradiations on SJ HV Power MOSFETs to Realize Fast Diode Devices
Authors: Bertuglia Ignazio , Consentino Giuseppe , Laudani Michele
Published: November 2014

This paper studies the effects of proton irradiations on Super Junction High Voltage power MOSFETs to realize transistors with fast diode. Experiments were performed on a sample of 600 V power MOSFETs and achieved results were compared to standard irradiated devices by electrons.
Tillage Effects on Selected Soil Physical Properties in a Maize-Bean Intercropping System in Mwala District, Kenya
Authors: Karuma Anne , Mtakwa Peter , Amuri Nyambilila , Gachene Charles K. , Gicheru Patrick
Published: November 2014

A field study was carried out to evaluate the effects of tillage practices on soil physical properties in Mwala district, Eastern Kenya, during the long rains (LR) and short rains (SR) of 2012/13. The treatments were disc ploughing (DP), disc ploughing and harrowing (DPH), ox-ploughing (OX), subsoiling-ripping (SSR), hand hoeing with tied ridges (HTR), hand hoeing only (H). These were investigated under three cropping systems of sole maize, sole bean, and maize-bean intercrop in a split-plot design with four replications. Soil physical properties were monitored at different weeks after planting (WAP) throughout the growing seasons. A four-season average shows that soil moisture content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in OX > SSR > DPH > H > HTR > DP with values ranging from 13.1 to 14.1%. Soil surface roughness and crust strength varied significantly (P<0.05) over time within the growing seasons, between the tillage practices, and across the different seasons with values ranging from 26 to 66% and 1.21 to 1.31 MPa, respectively. Tillage practices and cropping systems did not significantly affect bulk density, porosity, or Ksat values. It is apparent that long term tillage experiment (>4 seasons) would be required to detect changes in soil physical properties as a result of the soil management practices.
Citric Acid Production by Aspergillus niger Cultivated on Parkia biglobosa Fruit Pulp
Authors: Auta Helen Shnada , Abidoye Khadijat Toyin , Tahir Hauwa , Ibrahim Aliyu Dabai , Aransiola Sesan Abiodun
Published: November 2014

The study was conducted to investigate the potential of Parkia biglobosa fruit pulp as substrate for citric acid production by Aspergillus niger. Reducing sugar was estimated by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid and citric acid was estimated spectrophotometrically using pyridine-acetic anhydride methods. The studies revealed that production parameters (pH, inoculum size, substrate concentration, incubation temperature, and fermentation period) had profound effect on the amount of citric acid produced. The maximum yield was obtained at the pH of 2 with citric acid of 1.15 g/L and reducing sugar content of 0.541 mMol−1, 3% vegetative inoculum size with citric acid yield of 0.53 g/L and reducing sugar content of 8.87 mMol−1, 2% of the substrate concentration with citric acid yield of 0.83 g/L and reducing sugar content of 9.36 mMol−1, incubation temperature of 55°C with citric acid yield of 0.62 g/L and reducing sugar content of 8.37 mMol−1, and fermentation period of 5 days with citric acid yield of 0.61 g/L and reducing sugar content of 3.70 mMol−1. The results of this study are encouraging and suggest that Parkia biglobosa pulp can be harnessed at low concentration for large scale citric acid production.
The Number of Roots and Canals in the Maxillary Second Premolars in a Group of Jordanian Population
Authors: Al-Ghananeem Muna M. F. , Haddadin Khattar , Al-Khreisat Abeer Salem , Al-Weshah Moeen , Al-Habahbeh Nidal
Published: November 2014

Objectives. The aim of this study was to investigate the number of roots and root canals in the maxillary second premolar in a group of Jordanian population.Materials and Methods. A total of 217 patients, 100 female (46%) and 117 male (54%), received root canal treatment of maxillary second premolar from January 2012 to January 2014. The mean age of the patients was 32.7, ranging from 18 to 60 years. The teeth included in the study were examined clinically and radiographically for the number of roots and root canals using magnifying loupes.Results. Out of the total of 217 maxillary second premolars, 120 teeth had one root (55.3%), 96 teeth had two roots (44.2%), and one tooth had three roots (0.46%). Regarding root canal configuration, 30 teeth (13.8%) had one canal, 54 teeth (24.9%) had two canals shared in one apical foramen, 132 teeth (60.8%) had two canals with two separate apical foramina, and one tooth (0.46%) had three canals with separate apical foramina.Conclusion. The incidence of two canals (either with shared or separate apical foramina) is very high in the maxillary second premolars in Jordanian population; therefore inspection should be done for the presence of second canal whenever endodontic treatment is planned for this tooth.
Fuzzy-Based Adaptive Hybrid Burst Assembly Technique for Optical Burst Switched Networks
Authors: Muhammad Umaru Abubakar , Abd Latiff Muhammad Shafie , Coulibaly Yahaya
Published: November 2014

The optical burst switching (OBS) paradigm is perceived as an intermediate switching technology for future all-optical networks. Burst assembly that is the first process in OBS is the focus of this paper. In this paper, an intelligent hybrid burst assembly algorithm that is based on fuzzy logic is proposed. The new algorithm is evaluated against the traditional hybrid burst assembly algorithm and the fuzzy adaptive threshold (FAT) burst assembly algorithm via simulation. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the hybrid and the FAT algorithms in terms of burst end-to-end delay, packet end-to-end delay, and packet loss ratio.
Effect of Initial Orientation on the Laser-Induced Cycloaddition Reaction of Benzene and Ethylene
Authors: Yuan Shuai , Hong Huiling , Wang Gang , Zhang Wenying , Wu Weifeng , Dou Yusheng , Lo Glenn V.
Published: November 2014

The [2 + 2] photocycloaddition reaction of benzene and ethylene was investigated by semiclassical dynamics simulation and complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF)ab initiocalculations. Following laser excitation of the benzene molecule, two mechanisms were observed depending on the location of the second C of ethylene in relation to the hexagonal prism space defined by the first C and the plane of the benzene ring. Synchronous formation of two bonds was observed when the second C is outside the prism space; an asynchronous mechanism is observed otherwise. Charge transfer was observed only in the asynchronous mechanism; CASSCF calculations suggest that the asynchronous mechanism involves a barrierless path from the Frank-Condon point to a conical intersection, while the synchronous mechanism involves 0.8 eV barrier. These results are consistent with a higher quantum yield observed in the simulations for the asynchronous pathway.
Neck Flexion Induces Larger Deformation of the Brain Than Extension at a Rotational Acceleration, Closed Head Trauma
Authors: Hansson Hans-Arne , Krave Ulrika , Höjer Svante , Davidsson Johan
Published: November 2014

A closed head trauma induces incompletely characterized temporary movement and deformation of the brain, contributing to the primary traumatic brain injury. We used the pressure patterns recorded with light-operated miniature sensors in anaesthetized adult rabbits exposed to a sagittal plane rotational acceleration of the head, lasting 1 ms, as a measure of brain deformation. Two exposure levels were used and scaled to correspond to force levels reported to cause mild and moderate diffuse injury in an adult man, respectively. Flexion induced transient, strong, extended, and predominantly negative pressures while extension generated a short positive pressure peak followed by a minor negative peak. Low level flexion caused as strong, extended negative pressures as did high level extension. Time differences were demonstrated between the deformation of the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum. Available X-ray and MRI techniques do not have as high time resolution as pressure recordings in demonstrating complex, sequential compression and stretching of the brain during a trauma. The exposure to flexion caused more protracted and extensive deformation of the brain than extension, in agreement with a published histopathological report. The severity and extent of the brain deformation generated at a head trauma thus related to the direction at equal force.
Oxytocin in der Verhaltenstherapie: Förderung der Akzeptanz von Körperkontakt zwischen Mutter und Kindern durch Einsatz von Oxytocin - eine Fallvignette
Authors: Egert Susanne
Published: November 2014

Hintergrund: Der folgende Fallbericht beschreibt die Oxytocinbehandlung einer traumatisierten Patientin, die darunter litt, keinen Körperkontakt mit ihren Kindern zu tolerieren. Nach erfolgreichem Abschluss ihrer Traumatherapie blieb die Intoleranz für Körperkontakt weiterhin bestehen. Fallbericht: Das Oxytocin wurde eingesetzt, um die Akzeptanz von Körperkontakt bei der Mutter zu unterstützen und einen Löschungs- und Gegenkonditionierungsprozess zu initiieren, der zusätzlich durch die Kinder positiv verstärkt würde. Die Hypothese war, dass die Intoleranz für Körperkontakt nicht mehr traumabezogen war, sondern ein Rest, der auf der Basis klassischer Konditionierung weiterbestand, ohne irgendeine aktuelle Funktion. Der Effekt des Oxytocins trat fast sofort nach Anwendung ein und steigerte die Toleranz für Körperkontakt von 10 s (vor der Intervention) auf eine Stunde und mehr (mit Oxytocin). Die Patientin beschrieb den Effekt als angenehm und entspannend. Nach 3 Wochen wurde der Einsatz von Oxytocin beendet, und wie vorausgesagt steigerte sich die Akzeptanz von Körperkontakt kontinuierlich weiter und blieb mindestens 22 Monate stabil. Schlussfolgerungen: Dies zeigt, dass der Einsatz von Oxytocin die Mutter-Kind-Interaktion schnell und nachhaltig verbessern kann. Weitere Studien sollten untersuchen, ob der Einsatz von Oxytocin eine effektive Möglichkeit sein könnte, physischem Missbrauch von Kindern vorzubeugen und die Eltern-Kind-Beziehung zu verbessern.
Traveling Libraries: The Arabic Manuscripts of Muley Zidan and the Escorial Library
Authors: Hershenzon Daniel
Published: November 2014

In 1612, a Spanish fleet captured a French ship whose stolen cargo included the entire manuscript collection of the Sultan of Morocco, Muley Zidan. Soon, the collection made its way to the royal library, El Escorial, transforming the library into an important repository of Arabic books, which, since then, Arabists from across Europe sought to visit. By focusing on the social life of the collection, from the moment of its capture up through the process of its incorporation into the Escorial, this article examines three related issues: the first regards the social trajectories of books and the elasticity of their meaning and function, which radically altered in nature. The second part of the article examines the circulation of the Moroccan manuscripts in relation to a complex economy of restrictions over the reading and possession of Arabic manuscripts in early modern Spain. Finally, the third part focuses on the political and legal debates that ensued the library’s capture, when the collection became the locus of international negotiations between Spain, Morocco, France and the Dutch United Provinces over Maritime law, captives, and banned knowledge. By placing and analyzing the journey of Zidan’s manuscripts within the context of Mediterranean history, the paper explains (1) why Spain established one of the largest collections of Arabic manuscripts exactly when it was cleansing its territories of Moriscos (Spanish forcibly converted Muslims), and (2) why the Moroccan collection was kept behind locked doors at the Escorial.
Peacekeeping, Private Security and International Human Rights Law
Authors: White Nigel D.
Published: November 2014

The un is used to ‘outsourcing’ or ‘contracting out’ its peacekeeping functions but, traditionally, this has been to states willing to contribute troops to an operation under overall un command and control. This model itself has created tensions between contributing states and the un. Given these conditions, and the fact that international law is traditionally seen as primarily applicable to states, it seems even more legally problematic that the un has, in recent years, started to outsource certain peacekeeping functions to the private sector. Inevitably, issues of applicable international laws, lines of responsibility and mechanisms for accountability, are less clear. In recent years the un has addressed this new practice by adopting a series of guidelines and polices on armed security contractors. The aim of this paper is to analyse these current un policies in the light of their compatibility with international law, particularly international human rights law.
Prayer and Love in Franz Rosenzweig’s Star of Redemption
Authors: Turner Yossi (Joseph)
Published: November 2014

This article considers the various passages in Franz Rosenzweig’s Star of Redemption which give particular focus to the effective role Rosenzweig assigns to prayer with regard to the realization of divine and human love in the Star, as well as to the epistemic role of prayer in what he calls “entreating the Kingdom.” The conclusion reached is that the various passages relating to prayer in the Star of Redemption reflect a very powerful and inspiring religious vision, but that the detailed labor of systematization remains largely incomplete vis-à-vis the relationship between love and prayer in his thought.
Re-description of three species of the genus Sectonema Thorne, 1930 (Nematoda: Dorylaimida: Aporcelaimidae) originally studied by E. Altherr
Authors: PEÑA-SANTIAGO R. , ÁLVAREZ-ORTEGA S.
Published: November 2014

Three species of the genus Sectonema, namely S. demani, S. heynsi and S. macrospiculum, originally described by E. Altherr, are re-described on the basis of type material. Detailed descriptions, morphometrics and illustrations, including line drawings and/or LM pictures, diagnoses and remarks about their identity and later reports are provided for each species. Sectonema demani is characterized by its 6.78–7.24 mm long body, lip region 27–28 µm broad, mural tooth 19–20 µm long at its ventral side, pharyngeal expansion 834–875 µm long or 68–69% of total neck length, uterus a simple tube-like structure 2.1–2.2 times the corresponding body diameter, V = 49–52, tail short and rounded conoid (51–55 µm, c = 123–143, c’ = 0.7–0.8), and male unknown. Sectonema heynsi is distinguished by its body 6.45 mm long, lip region 28 μm broad, circumoral area bearing cilia- or seta-like structures, mural tooth-like structure 20 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 856 μm long or 68% of total neck length, uterus a tube-like structure ?1.7 times the corresponding body diameter, V = 50, tail short and rounded to conoid (54 μm, c = 120, c’ = 0.7), and male unknown. And S. macrospiculum is characterized by its 4.07–5.06 mm long body, lip region 27–28 μm broad, ventral side of the odontostyle 15 μm long, pharyngeal expansion 555–640 μm long or 67–68% of total neck length, uterus a simple tube-like structure 1.9–2.1 times the corresponding body diameter, V = 53, female tail short and convex conoid with rounded terminus (62 μm, c = 82, c’ = 0.7), male tail more conoid than that of female and with the ventral side visibly more straight (58 μm, c = 71, c’ = 0.8), spicules 107 μm long, and eight irregularly spaced ventromedian supplements bearing hiatus.
Development of North Atlantic Tropical Disturbances near Upper-Level Potential Vorticity Streamers
Authors: Galarneau Thomas J. , McTaggart-Cowan Ron , Bosart Lance F. , Davis Christopher A.
Published: November 2014

Tropical cyclone (TC) development near upper-level potential vorticity (PV) streamers in the North Atlantic is studied from synoptic climatology, composite, and case study perspectives. Midlatitude anticyclonic wave breaking is instrumental in driving PV streamers into subtropical and tropical latitudes, in particular near the time-mean midocean trough identified previously as the tropical upper-tropospheric trough. Twelve TCs developed within one Rossby radius of PV streamers in the North Atlantic from June through November 2004–08. This study uses composite analysis in the disturbance-relative framework to compare the structural and thermodynamic evolution for developing and nondeveloping cases.

The results show that incipient tropical disturbances are embedded in an environment characterized by 850–200-hPa westerly vertical wind shear and mid- and upper-level quasigeostrophic ascent associated with the PV streamer, with minor differences between developing and nondeveloping cases. The key difference in synoptic-scale flow between developing and nondeveloping cases is the strength of the anticyclone north of the incipient tropical disturbance. The developing cases are marked by a stronger near-surface pressure gradient and attendant easterly flow north of the vortex, which drives enhanced surface latent heat fluxes and westward (upshear) water vapor transport. This evolution in water vapor facilitates an upshear propagation of convection, and the diabatically influenced divergent outflow erodes the PV streamer aloft by negative advection of PV by the divergent wind. This result suggests that the PV streamer plays a secondary role in TC development, with the structure and intensity of the synoptic-scale anticyclone north of the incipient vortex playing a primary role.
Multifractal analysis of 3D video representation formats
Authors: Zeković Amela , Reljin Irini
Published: November 2014

One of the main properties of a three-dimensional (3D) video is the large amount of data, which impose challenges for network transport of videos, in applications such as digital video broadcast (DVB), streaming over IP networks, or for transmission over mobile broadband. Addressing these challenges requires a thorough understanding of the characteristics and traffic properties of 3D video formats.

We analyzed 3D video formats using publicly available long video frame-size traces of videos in full high definition (HD) resolution with two views. Examined 3D video representation formats are the multiview (MV) video format, the frame sequential (FS) format, and the side-by-side (SBS) format. We performed a multifractal analysis through extensive simulation and showed multifractal properties of 3D video representation formats. It was shown that the MV video had the highest multifractal nature, while the FS video had the lowest. Also, a part of the multifractal spectrum connected to the highest changes in the signal (high bitrate variability) is analyzed in detail. Changes in multifractal properties for different streaming approaches of 3D videos with aggregated frames are examined, as well as the influence of frame types and values of quantization parameters. Multifractal analysis was performed by the method of moments and by the histogram method.