bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mice prefer draught-free housing
Authors: Krohn T C , Hansen A K
Published: July 2010

An increasing number of rodents are housed in individually ventilated cage (IVC) systems, as these seem to be very effective for the protection of animals against infections, as well as protecting the staff against allergens. For the IVC systems to be properly ventilated, a huge amount of air has to be blown into the cage, which may cause a draught at animal level inside the cage. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the preferences of mice for differing levels of air speeds and air changes inside the cage. It has been concluded that mice do react to draughts, whereas they do not seem to be affected by a high number of air changes delivered without draught, which underlines the importance of applying draught-free IVC systems for mice.
The Vehicle Routing Problem with Stochastic Demand and Duration Constraints
Authors: Erera Alan L. , Morales Juan C. , Savelsbergh Martin
Published: July 2010

Time considerations have been largely ignored in the study of vehicle routing problems with stochastic demands, even though they are crucial in practice. We show that tour duration limits can effectively and efficiently be incorporated in solution approaches that build fixed, or a priori, tours for such problems. We do so by assuming that each tour must be duration feasible for all demand realizations, and determine the maximum duration of a given delivery tour by solving the optimization problem of an adversary. A computational study demonstrates the approach, and shows that enforcing tour duration limits impacts the structure of nearly-best solutions and may create the need for additional tours. However, for the instances considered, the price paid for robustness is small as the increase in total expected tour duration is modest.
A Note on the Exact Expected Length of the kth Part of a Random Partition
Authors: Eriksson Kimmo
Published: July 2010

Kessler and Livingstone proved an asymptotic formula for the expected length of the largest part of a partition drawn uniformly at random. As a first step they gave an exact formula expressed as a weighted sum of Euler's partition function. Here we give a short bijective proof of a generalization of this exact formula to the expected length of the
The Divisibility of an – bn by Powers of n
Authors: Győry Kálmán , Smyth Chris
Published: July 2010

For given integers

We also show that determination of the set of integers
Assessment of the Modified CUAPS Apparatus to Estimate In Situ Properties of Cemented Paste Backfill
Authors: Yilmaz Erol , Belem Tikou , Benzaazoua Mostafa , Bussière Bruno
Published: July 2010

This paper evaluates some improvements in the design of a laboratory apparatus called curing under applied pressure system (CUAPS) designed to estimate in situ properties of cemented paste backfill (CPB). This apparatus is effective in conducting the following tests on samples during curing: (i) One-dimensional consolidation test with or without pore water pressure (PWP) measurement, (ii) PWP dissipation test, (iii) saturated hydraulic conductivity (permeability) test, and (iv) curing under constant or variable vertical pressure. Unconfined compression tests can be also performed on consolidated CPB samples after each of these tests. The modified CUAPS apparatus is assessed in this paper. Preliminary results are promising and validate the functionality of the CUAPS apparatus, which will contribute to the knowledge on consolidation behaviour of in situ CPB material.
X-Ray Fluorescence in Corrosive Drywall Investigations: Strontium Levels in Several Corrosive and Non-Corrosive Drywalls and Effects of Drywall Finish on XRF Strontium Detection
Authors: Hejzlar Zdenek
Published: July 2010

A U.S. building boom in the 1990s and 2000s resulted in imports of drywall from foreign sources particularly from China. Some of the homeowners began experiencing problems with homes built during this time. A number of investigations found that the problems could be related to imported Chinese drywall. Limited testing indicated the problem drywall contained elevated levels of strontium (Sr) and suggested that portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was a useful screening tool to identify potentially corrosive drywall from non-corrosive drywall. Some investigators suggested that XRF could be used to detect corrosive drywall and differentiate between non-corrosive drywall in a residence by measuring strontium levels through the wall finish. The first part of this paper presents selected XRF data obtained from research of certified gypsum standards and various corrosive and non-corrosive drywalls. The second part of this paper presents XRF data obtained from field samples exhibiting different wall finishes. The results show that although strontium levels in corrosive drywalls are typically higher than some of the non-corrosive drywalls, there are number of non-corrosive domestic and imported drywalls that have strontium levels above the 1200 parts per million (ppm) level referenced in the Consumer Product Safety Commission report (Saltzman, L. E., U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Staff Summary of Contractor’s Indoor Air Quality Assessment of Homes Containing Chinese Drywall, CPSC Division of Health Sciences, 2009). The results also document some corrosive drywalls with strontium levels below 600 ppm. The results from the evaluation of the impact of the drywall finish indicate that it can reduce the detected strontium value by over 90 %. The combined results indicate that false positives and false negatives can be readily encountered, thus potentially reducing the reliability of these approaches. The results indicate that the investigators should use caution in interpreting the results from the XRF analysis and should seek corroborating data to verify the results.
Evaluation of charged particle induced reaction cross section data for production of the important therapeutic radionuclide186Re
Authors: Hussain M. , Sudár S. , Aslam M. N. , Malik A. A. , Ahmad R. , Qaim Syed M.
Published: July 2010

186Re is an important radionuclide having a half-life of 3.72 d that is suitable for radioimmunotherapy. Its production in no-carrier-added form is doneviacharged particle induced reactions and the data are available in EXFOR library. We evaluated two charged particle induced reactions, namely186W(p,n)186Re and186W(d,2n)186Re. In the first case, analysis was done up to about 70 MeV but in the latter only up to about 50 MeV. A statistical procedure supported by nuclear model calculations using the codes STAPRE, EMPIRE and TALYS was used to validate and fit the data. The recommended sets of data derived together with 95% confidence limits are reported. The application of those data, particularly in the calculation of integral yields is discussed. The186W(p,n)186Re reaction on highly enriched186W is presently the method of choice for production of no-carrier-added186Re and, taking into account the radionuclidic purity, the maximum recommended proton energy is 18 MeV. The formation of the very long-lived isomer,186mRe, is briefly discussed. The186W(d,2n)186Re reaction could also be interesting if a high-intensity accelerator would be available.
Exploitation of the sorptive properties of mica for the preparation of higher-resolution alpha-spectroscopy samples
Authors: Wilson Richard E. , Schwindt Oliver , Fenter Paul , Soderholm L.
Published: July 2010

The ion adsorption properties of muscovite mica were exploited to prepare higher resolution alpha-spectroscopy samples of 242Pu. The samples prepared by our method are compared to those prepared using electrodeposition methods in terms of their energy resolution. The mica adsorption method results in significant increases in energy resolution vs. that of electrodeposition. Muscovite surface adsorption properties of the mica allow for monolayer adsorption of plutonium thus minimizing energy attenuation and maximizing energy resolution of the resulting spectra. The mica adsorption method allows for simplified preparation of higher-resolution alpha-spectroscopy samples useful for the isotopic analysis of alpha-emitting radionuclides.
Adsorption of Sr(II) and Eu(III) on Na-rectorite: Effect of pH, ionic strength, concentration and modelling
Authors: Hu Jun , Chen C. L. , Sheng G. D. , Li Jiaxing , Chen Yixue , Wang Xiangke
Published: July 2010

The surface charge characteristics of Na-rectorite (NaAl4[Si,Al]8O20(OH)4·n H2O) were studied by potentiometric acid-base titrations. Sr(II) and Eu(III) adsorptions on Na-rectorite as a function of pH, ionic strength, and Sr(II)/Eu(III) concentrations were carried out to investigate the surface interactions between Sr(II)/Eu(III) with Na-rectorite. The results indicated that the adsorptions of Sr(II) and Eu(III) on Na-rectorite increased with increasing pH and decreased with increasing ionic strength and initial Sr(II)/Eu(III) concentrations, and that the affinity of Na-rectorite for Eu(III) was much higher than for Sr(II). The experimental data of Sr(II)/Eu(III) adsorption were simulated by the diffuse-layer model (DLM) well with the aid of FITEQL 3.2. Simultaneous adsorptions of Sr(II) and Eu(III) on Na-rectorite were also modeled using the DLM. The adsorption mechanisms of Sr(II) and Eu(III) on Na-rectorite may be dominated by ion exchange interaction at low pH or moderate pH, and by surface complexation interaction at high pH.
Control of Arabidopsis Leaf Morphogenesis Through Regulation of the YABBY and KNOX Families of Transcription Factors
Authors: Ha Chan Man , Jun Ji Hyung , Fletcher Jennifer C
Published: July 2010

The patterning of initiating organs along specific axes of polarity is critical for the proper development of all higher organisms. Plant lateral organs, such as leaves, are derived from the shoot apical meristems located at the growing tips. After initiation, the leaf primordia of species such as Arabidopsis thaliana differentiate into a polarized structure consisting of a proximal petiole and a distal blade, but the molecular mechanisms that control proximal–distal pattern formation are poorly understood. The transcriptional activators BLADE-ON-PETIOLE1 (BOP1) and BOP2 are known to control Arabidopsis lateral organ differentiation by regulating gene expression along the adaxial–abaxial (dorsal–ventral) and proximal–distal polarity axes. Here, we demonstrate that the development of ectopic blade tissue along bop1 bop2 leaf petioles is strongly suppressed in a dosage-dependant manner by mutations in either of two closely related YABBY (YAB) genes, FILAMENTOUS FLOWER (FIL) and YAB3. Three KNOTTED-LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOX1) genes also make lesser, and partially redundant, contributions to ectopic blade development in bop1 bop2 leaves. Mutation of these YAB and KNOX1 genes together causes nearly complete suppression of bop1 bop2 ectopic organ outgrowth at the morphological and cellular levels. Our data demonstrate that BOP1 and BOP2 regulate leaf patterning by controlling YAB and KNOX1 gene activity in the developing petiole.
Depth distribution of SOM stock in fine-textured soils of Hungary
Authors: Fuchs M. , Gál A. , Michéli E.
Published: July 2010

The soil cover of the world stores more carbon than that present in biomass and in the atmosphere, so the depth and distribution of soil organic matter (SOM) might be important in point of carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. Texture, among several other factors, plays an important role in the distribution of SOM. Most national and the main international soil classification systems (Soil Taxonomy, World Reference Base for Soil Resources) have a separate unit for high clay content soils on the highest level of classification, as Vertisols. Due to the high swelling clay content, these soils open deep cracks when they are dry. During the process called “pedoturbation”, the high SOM content surface material falls into the cracks, where it accumulates and mixes with subsoil, and enhances the accumulation of SOM in great depth. Although the effect of texture on the stabilization, distribution and properties of SOM have been investigated, only little information is available on SOM distribution in high clay content soils. The objective of the present study was to analyze the vertical distribution of SOM in high clay content soils of Hungary. Our results, based on the investigations of the Hungarian TIM database supported the hypothesis that high clay content soils store significantly more SOM and in greater depth than other soils under similar climatic conditions.
Effects of long-term fertilization on the yield of winter wheat and N forms on Luvic Phaeosem soil determined in 0.01 M CaCl 2
Authors: Bertáné Szabó E. , Loch J. , Zsigrai Gy. , Blaskó L.
Published: July 2010

The effects of regular NPK fertilization on the amounts of winter wheat yield and the amounts and proportion of different N forms (NO3-N, NH4-N, Norg, Ntotal) of a Luvic Phaeosem soil determined in 0.01MCaCl2were studied in the B1740 variant of the National Long-Term Fertilization Experiment at Karcag. According to the yield data, N and P fertilization increased winter wheat yield significantly. When applying the 200 kg N·ha-1dose, P fertilization resulted in a more than 2 t·ha-1yield increase, as compared to the treatments without P fertilization. K fertilization had no effect on the yield, similarly to preceding years. These findings may be adapted to fields of the Middle-Tisza Region with similar conditions to the trial site. The N forms of the soil determined in CaCl2reflected fertilization well. All of the fractions, but especially NO3-N and Ntotal, increased significantly in response to N fertilization. Close relationships (r = 0.87–0.88) were found among the NO3-N and Ntotalfractions and the N balance, which means that the amounts of NO3-N and Ntotalare suitable for assessing both the N deficit and the N surplus. The strength of the correlation between the NH4-N content and N balance was moderate (r = 0.65). The Norgfraction increased significantly as a function of N and P fertilization. These results can be explained with the yield increase. A significant correlation (r = 0.55) was found between the Norgfraction and yield amounts. It can be established that organic residuals remaining on the site resulted in a significant increase in the Norgcontent of soils. The gained results confirm that the Norgfraction is suitable for the characterization of the readily mobilizable N reserves previously ignored in fertilization practice. On the basis of the presented results the CaCl2method is recommended for the precise estimation of nutrient requirements.
Soil cultivation, nitrogen fertilization and weeds
Authors: Lehoczky É. , Kismányoky A.
Published: July 2010

The cultivation methods used in the experiments resulted in marked differences in the weediness of maize and wheat. The least weediness was found in the conventional tillage treatment. The crucial question in the conservation and no tillage for sustainable agriculture is the weed problem, especially if the technology of weed controls is unaltered as compare to the traditional one. The lower yield in this cultivation system can be attributed to the competition of weeds. To clarify the question, investigations were carried out in the years 2005–2008 in a long-term field experiment set up on brown forest soil at the University of Pannonia, Georgikon Faculty Keszthely. The lowest yields were obtained in the wheat–maize no-tillage system in comparison to the others. This was valid at high and low levels alike (good and unfavorable years). On the average of years the yield decrease was 10–15% as compared to the traditional cultivation. In the spring survey of the weed cover (%) in the wheat trials it was found that the weed coverage increased parallel with the N fertilizer amounts, and then declined in the treatment above 200 kg N. The relation of weeds v.s. N fertilizer is similar to the second power equation of the yield curve. In case of the maize trials, there were no significant differences between the N treatments (25–30%) regarding weed coverage. The gained results call attention to the fact that with the propagation of the reduced soil cultivation systems it is necessary to modify and harmonize the practice of weed control and fertilization. Instead of the schematic weed control and fertilization process, the application of scientifically well-established methods should be urged. In sustainable agriculture the data collection of weeds, the survey of dominant species, special herbicide combinations and the means of precision agriculture have to be taken into consideration.
Impact of water availability on winter wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) yield characteristics
Authors: Klupács H. , Tarnawa Á. , Balla I. , Jolánkai M.
Published: July 2010

Water supply of crop plants is the most essential physiological condition influencing quality and quantity performance of grain yield. In a 12-year experimental series of winter wheat agronomic trials run at the Nagygombos experimental site (Hungary) the effect of water availability has been studied. The location represents the typical average lowland conditions of the country, the annual precipitation of the experimental site belonging to the 550–600 mm belt of the Northern edges of the Great Hungarian Plain, while the average depth of groundwater varies between 2 to 3 metres. Crop years with various precipitation patterns have had different impacts on crop yield quality and quantity. Yield figures were in positive correlation with annual precipitation in general. Water availability had diverse influence on quality manifestation. Good water supply has often resulted in poorer grain quality, especially wet gluten and Hagberg values have been affected by that. Drought reduced the amount of yield in general, but contributed to a better quality manifestation in some of the crop years.
Effect of inter-row cultivation on soil carbon dioxide emission in a peach plantation
Authors: Tóth E. , Farkas Cs.
Published: July 2010

Soil biological properties and CO2emission were compared in undisturbed grass and regularly disked rows of a peach plantation. Higher nutrient content and biological activity were found in the undisturbed, grass-covered rows. Significantly higher CO2fluxes were measured in this treatment at almost all the measurement times, in all the soil water content ranges, except the one in which the volumetric soil water content was higher than 45%. The obtained results indicated that in addition to the favourable effect of soil tillage on soil aeration, regular soil disturbance reduces soil microbial activity and soil CO2emission.
Method for the compilation of a stratified and harmonized soil physical database using legacy and up-to-date data sources
Authors: Bakacsi Zs. , Kuti L. , Pásztor L. , Vatai J. , Szabó J. , Müller T.
Published: July 2010

An attempt is outlined for the compilation of an integrated and harmonized stratified soil physical database serving hydrologic modeling, as the basis of estimating soil hydraulic parameters in the unsaturated zone. Due to the appropriate spatial and thematic resolution and data processing status, the Digital Kreybig Soil Information System (DKSIS) and Hungarian Agrogeological Database (HAD) were chosen as pedological and agrogeological data sources for describing the soil physical properties in the unsaturated zone. The DKSIS contains legacy soil data (as hy, pH, salt, OM, CaCO3content, etc.) in finely stratified resolution (3–5 soil layers within 1.5–2.0 m), but lacks particle size data. HAD has a coarser stratification (8–15 layers within 8–10 m) with detailed particle size data. The five-cleft FAO texture classification can serve as an interface in their joint application. The particle size and hy data pairs from the existing Hungarian Soil Monitoring (TIM) network made it possible to define the relation between FAO texture class vs.hyvalue, and based on the HYPRES database each FAO texture class can be characterized by typical Mualem-van Genuchten parameter sets (Wöstenet al., 1999). The compiled, harmonized database characterizes the distinguished soil and sediment layers – with a thickness of at least 10 cm – for a 690 km2large model area, describing their thickness and texture classes to the depth of the permanent groundwater level, in every single square kilometer cell of the model area. The compiled database is indispensable in the model simulation based analysis of regional water management problems like drought, flood and inland inundation.
Application of the Digital Kreybig Soil Information System for the delineation of naturally handicapped areas in Hungary
Authors: Pásztor L. , Szabó J. , Bakacsi Zs.
Published: July 2010

EU’s Common Agricultural Policy encourages maintaining agricultural production in less favored areas (LFA) to secure both stable production and income to farmers and to protect the environment. Recently the delimitation of LFAs is suggested to be carried out using common biophysical diagnostic criteria on low soil productivity and poor climate conditions all over Europe. The criterion system was elaborated by European Commission’s Joint Research Center (JRC) and its operational implementation comes under member state competence. This process requires the existence of an adequate national spatial soil information system with appropriate data structure and spatial resolution as well as a proper methodology for its analysis. Hungary possesses an appropriate, nationwide, 1:25,000 scale legacy dataset originating from the national soil mapping project, which was digitally processed and developed into the Digital Kreybig Soil Information System (DKSIS). In the paper we present how DKSIS was applied for the identification and delineation of areas in Hungary concerned by the common biophysical criteria related to soil. Soil data linked to soil profiles and SMUs were jointly spatially analyzed for the compilation of nationwide digital maps displaying spatial distribution of specific limiting factors.
Invited Paper: Depth reproducibility of multiview depth‐fused 3‐D display
Authors: Date Munekazu , Andoh Yasuko , Takada Hideaki , Ohtani Yoshimitsu , Matsuura Norihiko
Published: July 2010

Abstract— A multi‐view depth‐fused 3‐D (DFD) display that provides smooth motion parallax for wide viewing angles is proposed. A conventional DFD display consists of a stack of two transparent emitting screens. It can produce motion parallax for small changes in observation angle, but its viewing zone is rather narrow due to the split images it provides in inclined views. On the other hand, even though multi‐view 3‐D displays have a wide viewing angle, motion parallax in them is discrete, depending on the number of views they show. By applying a stacked structure to multi‐view 3‐D displays, a wide‐viewing‐angle 3‐D display with smooth motion parallax was fabricated. Experimental results confirmed the viewing‐zone connection of DFD displays while the calculated results show the feasibility of stacked multi‐view displays.
Multi‐view 3‐D display employing a flat‐panel display with slanted pixel arrangement
Authors: Takaki Yasuhiro
Published: July 2010

Abstract— A flat‐panel display with a slanted subpixel arrangement has been developed for a multi‐view three‐dimensional (3‐D) display. A set of 3M × N subpixels (M × N subpixels for each R, G, and B color) corresponds to one of the cylindrical lenses, which constitutes a lenticular lens, to construct each 3‐D pixel of a multi‐view display that offers M × N views. Subpixels of the same color in each 3‐D pixel have different horizontal positions, and the R, G, and B subpixels are repeated in the horizontal direction. In addition, the ray‐emitting areas of the subpixels within a 3‐D pixel are continuous in the horizontal direction for each color. One of the vertical edges of each subpixel has the same horizontal position as the opposite vertical edge of another subpixel of the same color. Cross‐talk among viewing zones is theoretically zero. This structure is suitable for providing a large number of views. A liquid‐crystal panel having this slanted subpixel arrangement was fabricated to construct a mobile 3‐D display with 16 views and a 3‐D resolution of 256 × 192. A 3‐D pixel is comprised of 12 × 4 subpixels (M = 4 and N = 4). The screen size was 2.57 in.
Full‐parallax autostereoscopic display with scalable lateral resolution using overlaid multiple projection
Authors: Yamasaki Masami , Sakai Hideyuki , Koike Takafumi , Oikawa Michio
Published: July 2010

Abstract—A method to increase the viewing resolution of an autostereoscopic display without increasing the density of microlenses is proposed. Multiple projectors are used for the projection images to be focused and overlaid on a common plane in the air behind the microlens array. The multiple overlaid projection images yield multiple light spots inside the region of each elemental lenslet of the microlens array. This feature provides scalable high‐resolution images by increasing the number of projectors. Based on the proposed method, a prototype display that includes 15 projectors was designed and built. 3‐D images were successfully reproduced on the prototype display with full parallax and a wide viewing angle of 70°.
Depth‐map generation for multi‐view autostereoscopic 3‐D displays based on the SIFT algorithm constrained by boundary
Authors: Zhang Ying‐Quan , Wang Qiong‐Hua , Wang Ai‐Hong , Li Da‐Hai
Published: July 2010

Abstract—A depth‐map estimation method, which converts two‐dimensional images into three‐dimensional (3‐D) images for multi‐view autostereoscopic 3‐D displays, is presented. The proposed method utilizes the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) matching algorithm to create the sparse depth map. The image boundaries are labeled by using the Sobel operator. A dense depth map is obtained by using the Zero‐Mean Normalized Cross‐Correlation (ZNCC) propagation matching method, which is constrained by the labeled boundaries. Finally, by using depth rendering, the parallax images are generated and synthesized into a stereoscopic image for multi‐view autostereoscopic 3‐D displays. Experimental results show that this scheme achieves good performances on both parallax image generation and multi‐view autostereoscopic 3‐D displays.
Integral floating‐image display using two lenses with reduced distortion and enhanced depth
Authors: Baasantseren Ganbat , Park Jae‐Hyeung , Erdenebat Munkh‐Uchral , Seo Seung‐Woo , Kim Nam
Published: July 2010

Abstract— An integral floating display (IFD) with a long depth range without floating lens distortion is proposed. Two lenses were used to reduce barrel distortion of the floating lens and three‐dimensional (3‐D) image deformation from object‐dependent longitudinal and lateral magnifications in the floating‐display system, combined with an integral imaging display. The distance between the floating lenses is the sum of their focal lengths. In the proposed configuration, lateral and longitudinal magnifications are constant regardless of the distance of the integrated 3‐D images, so the distortions from the distant‐dependent magnifications of the floating lens do not occur with the proposed method. In addition, the proposed floating system expands the depth range of the integral imaging display. As a result, the display can show a correct 3‐D floating image with a large depth range. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method successfully displays a 3‐D image without floating lens distortions across a large depth range.
Macrophage Response to UHMWPE Submitted to Accelerated Ageing in Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Rocha Magda F.G. , Mansur Alexandra A.P. , Martins Camila P.S. , Barbosa-Stancioli Edel F. , Mansur Herman S.
Published: July 2010

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been the most commonly used bearing material in total joint arthroplasty. Wear and oxidation fatigue resistance of UHMWPE are regarded as two important properties to extend the longevity of knee prostheses. The present study investigated the accelerated ageing of UHMWPE in hydrogen peroxide highly oxidative chemical environment. The sliced samples of UHMWPE were oxidized in a hydrogen peroxide solution for 120 days with their total level of oxidation (Iox) characterized by Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The potential inflammatory response, cell viability and biocompatibility of such oxidized UHMWPE systems were assessed by a novel biological in vitro assay based on the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) by activated murine macrophages with gamma interferon (IFN-γ) cytokine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, macrophage morphologies in contact with UHMWPE oxidized surfaces were analyzed by cell spreading-adhesion procedure using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results have given significant evidence that the longer the period of accelerated aging of UHMWPE the higher was the macrophage inflammatory equivalent response based on NO secretion analysis.
HIV Patient Characteristics that Affect Adherence to Exercise Programmes: An Observational Study
Authors: Petróczi Andrea , Hawkins Kim , Jones Gareth , Naughton Declan P
Published: July 2010

Background:

Benefits of exercise for HIV-infected persons have been documented, although in clinical practice, diminished adherence to exercise limits the effectiveness of this auxiliary treatment. Exercise intervention studies carry the caveat that the results are limited to volunteers with good compliance and completion profiles.

Objectives:

This study aimed to identify characteristics contributing to adherence vs non-adherence to prescribed supervised 10-week 75-minute aerobic and progressive resistance exercise programme in a clinical setting that requires twice-weekly attendance at the physiotherapy gym.

Study Design:

This observational study was comprised of 11 males and 11 females, physician-assessed, HIV seropositive patients referred to exercise programmes in a tertiary multi-disciplinary outpatient service for HIV patients at an urban Teaching Hospital in London (UK). Measurements taken prior to the exercise programme were used as dependent variables and include CD4 count, fitness level, flexibility and perceived physical-, emotional-, functional- and psychological- well-being. Attendance records were categorised into a dichotomous independent variable of adherence based on a natural break that occurred at 8/20 attended sessions.

Results:

Prior-to-treatment differences in perceived physical, functional and psychological well-being exist between adherent and non-adherent patients, but no differences were found in age, CD4 count or fitness level. Perceived well-being explained 55.7% of the variances in attendance. Gender and reason for referral appear to be independent of adherence, whereas ethnicity may play an influential role.

Conclusion:

Perceived well-being appears to differentiate between adherent and non-adherent patients. Further studies are required to investigate other psychological characteristics and barriers to maintaining exercise.
Survey Cover Pages: To Take or Not to Take
Authors: Sansone Randy A. , Lam Charlene , Wiederman Michael W.
Published: July 2010

In survey research, the elements of informed conset, including contact information for the researchers and the Institutional Review Board, may be located on a cover page, which participants are advised that they may take. To date, we are not aware of any studies examining the percentage of research participants that actually take these cover pages, which was the purpose of this study. Among a consecutive sample of 419 patients in an internal medicine setting, 16% removed the cover page. There were no demographic predictors regarding who took versus did not take the cover page.
Modeling of Infrared Drying of Polymer Solutions
Authors: ul- Islam Zia , Dhib Ramdhane , Dahman Yaser
Published: July 2010

This work presents the dynamic modeling of drying behavior of polymer solutions in an infrared-convective oven. Two study cases were considered for the drying process. The first one deals with the drying of a coated polymer solution on a fixed substrate while the second one includes drying of the same solution on a moving substrate in an infrared (IR) oven. Both models involve simultaneous heat and mass transfer equations that describe changes in the solvent concentration and the polymer temperature during the drying process. The set of partial differential equations (PDEs) arising from the mass and energy balances constitute a highly nonlinear system due to inter-dependence of the thermodynamic and transport properties of polymer solutions. The models were numerically solved and were validated using published experimental data. The models were employed to simulate the drying of a polyvinyl acetate coating (in toluene) on a polyester substrate. Results obtained from the derived model demonstrated the importance of parameters such as web velocity, heater temperature, and inlet air velocity in the IR drying process. In general, high temperature and air velocity cause rapid drying of the polymer coating, while high substrate velocity resulted in drying. This model can be applied on any industrial applications that include continuous IR drying process of polymer-coated layers to predict the drying behavior of the coated product.
Trade Liberalization, Standards and Protection
Authors: Essaji Azim
Published: July 2010

As conventional trade barriers fall, nations may increasingly resort to product standards to protect domestic industries. While ostensibly protecting their citizens from the environmental and health side-effects of a particular product, countries could enact standards that are facially-neutral, but impose greater compliance costs on foreign producers. This paper examines the impact of trade liberalization on standard setting by using a two-country Cournot duopoly model in which the Domestic government imposes a standard to mitigate a consumption externality. The standard increases production costs for both Domestic and Foreign firms, especially for the latter. The paper finds that one cannot make an unequivocal connection between falling tariffs and subsidies and rising standards. If the initial tariffs or subsidies are prohibitive, reducing subsidies and tariffs to allow minimal import penetration will generally create incentives for the Domestic government to impose higher standards. If the ex ante tariffs are not prohibitive, however, it is only optimal for the government to raise standards following tariff cuts if (i) tariff revenues are an important component of the welfare calculus and the ex ante tariff rate is high, or (ii) the standard's effect on the per unit externality is large. Likewise, if the initial subsidies are small enough to allow imports the government should only raise standards following subsidy reductions if the per unit externality is substantial, or the standard's impact on the per unit externality is large.
The Effects of Rent Seeking over Tradable Pollution Permits
Authors: Hanley Nick , MacKenzie Ian A
Published: July 2010

The establishment of a tradable permit market requires the regulator to select a level of aggregate emissions and then distribute the associated permits to specific groups. Both these decisions create opportunities for rent seeking. In this paper, we use a contest model to analyse the incentives to rent seek for pollution permits and to analyse the consequences for social welfare. We find differences in firms' rent-seeking choices compared to a conventional rent-seeking contest. We see that a fundamental aspect of firms' incentives to rent seek depends on the market value of the permits, that is, the value of the ex post reallocated rents. This impact depends on the responsiveness of the regulator to aggregate rent-seeking effort. The responsiveness, in some cases, may improve welfare by reducing the per-unit value of permits, which may lower the rent-seeking effort more than it increases the damages experienced from the additional emissions.
Who Will Benefit from a Wide-Scale Introduction of Vaginal Microbicides in Developing Countries?
Authors: Dimitrov Dobromir T , Masse Benoit , Boily Marie-Claude
Published: July 2010

Vaginal microbicides (VMB) are currently among the few biomedical interventions designed to help women reduce their risk of acquiring HIV infection. However, the microbicide containing antiretroviral (ARV-VMB) may lead to the development of antiretroviral resistance and could paradoxically become more beneficial to men at the population level.We developed a mathematical model to study the impact of a wide-scale population usage of VMB in a heterosexual population. Gender ratios of prevented infections and prevalence reduction are evaluated in 63 different intervention schedules including continuous and interrupted ARV-VMB use by HIV-positive women. The influence of different factors on population-level benefits is also studied through Monte Carlo simulations using parameters sampled from primary ranges representative of developing countries.Our analysis indicates that women are more likely than men to benefit from ARV-VMB use since 78-80% of the total 63,000 simulations investigated (under different parameter sets) showed a female advantage whether benefit is measured as cumulative number of infections prevented, the percentage of cumulative infections prevented, or the expected reduction in prevalence. Stratified analysis by scenarios indicates that the likelihood of a male advantage with respect to the fractions of prevented infections varies from 6% to 49% among the scenarios. It is substantial only if the risk of systemic absorption and development of resistance to ARV-VMB is high and the HIV-positive women use VMB indefinitely without interruption. Therefore, the use of ARV-VMB, with successful control measures restricting usage by HIV-positive women, is still very much a female prevention tool.
Bases for Media Education
Authors: Pal'a Gabriel
Published: July 2010

Bases for Media Education

Media are phenomenon, which seriously affect the world of youth and have effect on forming of their personality. Thereat problems of education of critical recipient of medial products are very actual in these days. The Church presents, that human dignity is centre of every right communication. This dignity should be also the principle at adaptation of media education in any learning, or at implementation of separate object media education, whose basic motto is good as reflex of God love. It inspires and revives the hearts and minds of youth, whereas vulgarism and obscenity impact on young man destructively.
Pontifical Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943) and Principle of Interpretation Bible
Authors: Slivka Daniel
Published: July 2010

Pontifical Encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu (1943) and Principle of Interpretation Bible

Divino Afflante Spiritu (Inspired by the Divine Spirit) is an encyclical letter issued by Pope Pius XII on September 30, 1943. It inaugurated the modern period of Roman Catholic Bible studies by permitting the limited use of modern methods of biblical criticism. The Catholic bible scholar Raymond E. Brown described it as a 'Magna Carta for biblical progress'. The first purpose of the encyclical was to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the issuing of Providentissimus Deus by Pope Leo XIII in 1893, which had condemned the use of higher criticism. In the encyclical, Pius XII noted that since then, advances had been made in archeology and historical research, making it advisable to further define the study of the Bible. In his encyclical the Pope stressed the importance of diligent study of these original languages and other cognate languages, so as to arrive at a deeper and fuller knowledge of the meaning of the sacred texts. Catholic translations of the Bible have been based directly on the texts found in manuscripts in the original languages, taking into account also the ancient translations that sometimes clarify what seem to be transcription errors in those manuscripts, although the Latin Vulgate remains the official Bible in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. The Holy Scripture as a source of revelation was getting more often towards the believers at the beginning of last century. Interest in individual aspects of biblical text meant many difficulties for the Church. On the other end it brought great interest in Bible. Also new movements in Church and Magisterium explications helped it. Convocation of Second Vatican council vouched Catholics interest in positive changes in various Church ranges. It led to ratification the constitutions, edicts and declarations.
Co-Fuelling of Peat with Meat and Bone Meal in a Pilot Scale Bubbling Bed Reactor
Authors: McDonnell Kevin , Cummins Enda J. , Fagan Colette C. , Orjala Markku
Published: July 2010

Co-combustion performance trials of Meat and Bone Meal (MBM) and peat were conducted using a bubbling fluidized bed (BFB) reactor. In the combustion performance trials the effects of the co-combustion of MBM and peat on flue gas emissions, bed fluidization, ash agglomeration tendency in the bed and the composition and quality of the ash were studied. MBM was mixed with peat at 6 levels between 15% and 100%. Emissions were predominantly below regulatory limits. CO concentrations in the flue gas only exceeded the 100 mg/m3 limit upon combustion of pure MBM. SO2 emissions were found to be over the limit of 50 mg/m3, while in all trials NOx emissions were below the limit of 300 mg/m3. The HCl content of the flue gases was found to vary near the limit of 30 mg/m3. VOCs however were within their limits. The problem of bed agglomeration was avoided when the bed temperature was about 850 °C and only 20% MBM was co-combusted. This study indicates that a pilot scale BFB reactor can, under optimum conditions, be operated within emission limits when MBM is used as a co-fuel with peat. This can provide a basis for further scale-up development work in industrial scale BFB applications.
The Molecular Mechanisms of Anesthetic Action: Updates and Cutting Edge Developments from the Field of Molecular Modeling
Authors: Bertaccini Edward J.
Published: July 2010

For over 160 years, general anesthetics have been given for the relief of pain and suffering. While many theories of anesthetic action have been purported, it has become increasingly apparent that a significant molecular focus of anesthetic action lies within the family of ligand-gated ion channels (LGIC’s). These protein channels have a transmembrane region that is composed of a pentamer of four helix bundles, symmetrically arranged around a central pore for ion passage. While initial and some current models suggest a possible cavity for binding within this four helix bundle, newer calculations postulate that the actual cavity for anesthetic binding may exist between four helix bundles. In either scenario, these cavities have a transmembrane mode of access and may be partially bordered by lipid moieties. Their physicochemical nature is amphiphilic. Anesthetic binding may alter the overall motion of a ligand-gated ion channel by a “foot-in-door” motif, resulting in the higher likelihood of and greater time spent in a specific channel state. The overall gating motion of these channels is consistent with that shown in normal mode analyses carried out both in vacuo as well as in explicitly hydrated lipid bilayer models. Molecular docking and large scale molecular dynamics calculations may now begin to show a more exact mode by which anesthetic molecules actually localize themselves and bind to specific protein sites within LGIC’s, making the design of future improvements to anesthetic ligands a more realizable possibility.
Factor Structure, Reliability, and Convergent Validity of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey for Older Adults
Authors: Eakman Aaron M. , Carlson Mike E. , Clark Florence A.
Published: July 2010

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Engagement in Meaningful Activities Survey (EMAS) (Goldberg, Brintnell, & Goldberg, 2002) in a sample of older adults living in the greater Los Angeles area. The EMAS evidenced moderate test—retest reliability (r = .56) and good internal consistency (α = .89). Exploratory factor analysis (principal components) discerned a two-component structure within the EMAS, indicative of Personal—Competence and Social—Experiential meaning. The EMAS demonstrated theoretically predicted zero-order correlations with measures of meaning and purpose in life, depressive symptomology, life satisfaction, and health-related quality of life. Regression analyses discerned that purpose and meaning in life consistently predicted the EMAS and its components. Furthermore, individuals reporting greater levels of Social—Experiential relative to Personal—Competence meaning had the lowest levels of physical health-related quality of life. This study offers initial evidence in support of the EMAS as a valid measure of meaningful activity in older adults.
Typification and nomenclatural updating in Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae) described and/or related to the collections made by Martín de Sessé and José Mariano Mociño
Authors: Téllez Valdés Oswaldo , Blanco Fernández de Caleya Paloma , Rico Arce Lourdes
Published: July 2010

The collections of the family Dioscoreaceae filed in the Herbaria of the Royal Botanic Garden of Madrid (MA), Conservatory and Botanic Garden of Geneva (G) and from the Botanic Institute of Barcelona (BC), made by Martín de Sessé y Lacasta (1751-1808) and José Mariano Mociño y Losada (1757-1820) during the Royal Botanic Expedition to Nueva España (1787-1803) were studied; as well as, some type specimens related with them filed in other herbaria (BR, K, P and MEXU). Results show that independently from the historical importance of the collections themselves, five species have been lectotypified and in consequence, have allowed initially, to apply to them the current accepted names, as well as, to solve important doubts due to the ignorance where herbaria they were filed in, and more important to solve nomenclatural issues pending for many years in several Mexican species of the genus Dioscorea (Dioscoreaceae).
The involvement of Narcissus hispanicus Gouan in the origin of Narcissus bujei and of cultivated trumpet daffodils (Amaryllidaceae)
Authors: Zonneveld B. J.M.
Published: July 2010

To investigate the origin of cultivated trumpet daffodils the genome size (2C-value) of more than 100 old and new cultivars were measured. A large number of concolored yellow tetraploid cultivars with large coronas seem to be derived from a doubling of chromosomes of a hybrid of the two species N. hispanicus Gouan and N. pseudonarcissus L. This can also still be recognized by the presence of a black spot at the top of the anthers in about 15 % of the tetraploid cultivars. Assuming N. pseudonarcissus as one of the parents of the allotetraploid cultivars, species of trumpet daffodils of section Pseudonarcissi investigated earlier were compared. Doubling of the nuclear DNA content of 23.8 pg of N. pseudonarcissus falls short of the values found for the trumpet daffodils. Species of trumpet daffodils of section Pseudonarcissi with a complementing higher amount of nuclear DNA like N. hispanicus with 25.8 pg, N. poeticus L. with 26 pg and the hexaploid N. pseudonarcissus ssp. bicolor (L.) Baker with 67.7 pg (Zonneveld,2008) and other species were evaluated. N. hispanicus with 25.8 pg clearly differs from N. pseudonarcissus with 23.8 pg and is accepted here also as a species. The nuclear DNA content of N. bujei (Fern. Casas) Fern. Casas with 30 pg fits with the (ancient) hybrid origin for N. bujei between N. longispathus Pugsley (36 pg) and N. hispanicus Gouan (25.8 pg). The tetraploids with white tepals and yellow corona’s can be obtained by crossing a diploid N. pseudonarcissus with the hexaploid and bicolored N. pseudonarcissus ssp. bicolor (L.) Baker.