bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creating a Smarter U.S. Electricity Grid
Authors: Joskow Paul L
Published: February 2012

This paper focuses on efforts to build what policymakers call the “smart grid,” involving 1) improved remote monitoring and automatic and remote control of facilities in high-voltage electricity transmission networks; 2) improved remote monitoring, two-way communications, and automatic and remote control of local distribution networks; and 3) installation of “smart” metering and associated communications capabilities on customer premises so that customers can receive real-time price information and/or take advantage of opportunities to contract with their retail supplier to manage the consumer's electricity demands remotely in response to wholesale prices and network congestion. I examine the opportunities, challenges, and uncertainties associated with investments in “smart grid” technologies. I discuss some basic electricity supply and demand, pricing, and physical network attributes that are critical for understanding the opportunities and challenges associated with expanding deployment of smart grid technologies. Then I cover issues associated with the deployment of these technologies at the high voltage transmission, local distribution, and end-use metering levels.
Is There an Energy Efficiency Gap?
Authors: Allcott Hunt , Greenstone Michael
Published: February 2012

Many analysts of the energy industry have long believed that energy efficiency offers an enormous “win-win” opportunity: through aggressive energy conservation policies, we can both save money and reduce negative externalities associated with energy use. In 1979, Daniel Yergin and the Harvard Business School Energy Project estimated that the United States could consume 30 or 40 percent less energy without reducing welfare. The central economic question around energy efficiency is whether there are investment inefficiencies that a policy could correct. First, we examine choices made by consumers and firms, testing whether they fail to make investments in energy efficiency that would increase utility or profits. Second, we focus on specific types of investment inefficiencies, testing for evidence consistent with each. Three key conclusions arise: First, the evidence presented in the long literature on the subject frequently does not meet modern standards for credibility. Second, when one tallies up the available empirical evidence from different contexts, it is difficult to substantiate claims of a pervasive Energy Efficiency Gap. Third, it is crucial that policies be targeted. Welfare gains will be larger from a policy that preferentially affects the decisions of those consumers subject to investment inefficiencies.
The Private and Public Economics of Renewable Electricity Generation
Authors: Borenstein Severin
Published: February 2012

Generating electricity from renewable sources is more expensive than conventional approaches but reduces pollution externalities. Analyzing the tradeoff is much more challenging than often presumed because the value of electricity is extremely dependent on the time and location at which it is produced, which is not very controllable with some renewables, such as wind and solar. Likewise, the pollution benefits from renewable generation depend on what type of generation it displaces, which also depends on time and location. Without incorporating these factors, cost–benefit analyses of alternatives are likely to be misleading. Other common arguments for subsidizing renewable power—green jobs, energy security, and driving down fossil energy prices—are unlikely to substantially alter the analysis. The role of intellectual property spillovers is a strong argument for subsidizing energy science research, but less persuasive as an enhancement to the value of installing current renewable energy technologies.
Effect of α-tocopherol on salivary reactive oxygen species and trace elements in oral submucous fibrosis
Authors: Chitra S , Balasubramaniam M , Hazra Jayram
Published: February 2012

Background

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a chronic debilitating disease and a well-recognized, potentially malignant condition of the oral cavity associated with betel quid chewing. Betel quid chewing is a popular oral habit in India and shows strong association in the incidence of OSMF. The objective of the study was to determine the levels of trace elements, pro-oxidants and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in saliva of betel quid chewers and OSMF patients, which may help in the diagnosis of cancer progression in the oral cavity.

Methods

A total of 35 cases of OSMF and 35 cases of healthy individuals were included in the present study. The salivary status of ROS, pro-oxidants and some trace elements was studied in OSMF patients and normal healthy individuals.

Results

The levels of lipid peroxides ( P < 0.001), conjugated dienes ( P < 0.01), hydroxyl radicals ( P < 0.01), superoxide dismutase ( P < 0.05), copper ( P < 0.05), calcium ( P < 0.01), magnesium (NS), potassium ( P < 0.05) and iron ( P < 0.05) in OSMF patients were elevated when compared with normal healthy individuals. The levels of hydrogen peroxide ( P < 0.05) and sodium ( P < 0.01) in OSMF patients were found to be decreased when compared with control subjects. A significant alteration was noticed after supplementing with α-tocopherol in oral precancerous patients.

Conclusion

These parameters may help in the detection of the severity of oral diseases.
A review of the scientific literature related to the adverse impact of physical restraint: gaining a clearer understanding of the physiological factors involved in cases of restraint-related death
Authors: Barnett Richard , Stirling Chris , Pandyan Anand D
Published: February 2012

Deaths occurring during and/or in close proximity to physical restraint have been attributed to positional asphyxia, a conclusion primarily based on opinion and reviews of case studies. This review sought to identify the current scientific evidence available in regard to the aetiology of adverse events or death occurring during or in close proximity to physical restraint. A systematic search of electronic databases (SPORTDiscus, AMED, CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) for papers published in English, between 1980 and 2011, using keywords that related to restraint, restraint position and cardiovascular function resulted in 11 experimental papers being found for review. The term positional asphyxia as a mechanism for sudden death is poorly understood. The literature shows that restraint position has the ability to impede life-maintaining physiological functions, but that the imposed impediment is not uniform across all restraint positions/techniques. Further research is required to ascertain the risks posed by struggling during restraint for more prolonged periods of time and in different positions using varied techniques of restraint. This research should seek to and rank known or future risk factors of adverse events occurring during restraint, seeking to understand the interactions and if present the cumulative effect of these risk factors. Finally, future research should focus on populations other than apparently healthy male adults.
Alcohol and khat use as risk factors for HIV infection among visitors to voluntary counselling and testing centres in Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Ayenew Fantahun , Tadesse Takele , Azale Telake
Published: February 2012

Alcohol and khat are commonly used substances in Ethiopia and are believed to be risk factors for HIV infection. We assessed alcohol and khat use as risk factors for HIV infection among visitors to voluntary counselling and testing centres. In this institution-based unmatched case control study, a total of 495 respondents aged ≥15 years participated. Data were collected using a pretested and structured questionnaire by voluntary counselling and testing service providers. Of the 495 visitors recruited for the study, 155 were cases and 316 were controls. Adjusted for confounding variables, the chewers of khat and alcohol drinkers among the cases were adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 2.68; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.31–5.47 and AOR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.10–3.07, respectively. This study revealed that alcohol and khat uses were significantly associated with those infected with HIV.
Typical image of splenic hydatidosis
Authors: Papavramidis Theodossis S , Laskou Styliani , Michalopoulos Nick , Pliakos Ioannis , Kesisoglou Isaak , Papavramidis Spiros
Published: February 2012

This is a typical case of a splenic hydatid cysts. We present the clinical features, the diagnostic work-up and the management of the disease.
Infiltrated leishmaniasis recidivans cutis on the face: a rare clinical presentation
Authors: Masood Sadia , Naveed Shaheen , Alvi Rehan Uddin
Published: February 2012

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease caused by Leishmania and transmitted by the bite of some species of sand flies. Usually it presents with variety of clinical manifestations depending on both the infecting species of Leishmania and the immune response of the host. Leishmaniasis recidivans cutis (LRC) is a unique form of cutaneous leishmaniasis characterized by unusual clinical features and its chronic relapsing nature. It is an evolving form of cutaneous leishmaniasis which clinically presents as a spreading of the initial nodule, leading to a plaque formation simulating discoid lupus erythematosus. A clinical course of leishmania recidivans is probably related to changes in cell-mediated immunity leading to localized or diffuse lesions. We report a case that presented with infiltrated, atrophic plaque on a patient's face. Clinically, the lesion resembled the lesion of discoid lupus erythematosus and lupus vulgaris but the cutaneous biopsy proved the diagnosis to be LRC.
Regulation of expression and catalytic activity of Escherichia coli RsmG methyltransferase
Authors: Benítez-Páez Alfonso , Villarroya Magda , Armengod M.-Eugenia
Published: February 2012

RsmG is an AdoMet-dependent methyltransferase responsible for the synthesis of m7G527 in the 530 loop of bacterial 16S rRNA. This loop is universally conserved, plays a key role in ribosomal accuracy, and is a target for streptomycin binding. Loss of the m7G527 modification confers low-level streptomycin resistance and may affect ribosomal functioning. Here, we explore the mechanisms controlling RsmG expression and activity, which may somehow respond to the demand set by the amount of rRNA. We confirm that rsmG is the second member in a bicistronic operon and demonstrate that rsmG also has its own promoter, which appears, in actively growing cells, as a control device to offset both the relatively low stability of RsmG and inhibition of the operon promoter. RsmG levels decrease under conditions that down-regulate rRNA synthesis. However, coordination between rRNA and RsmG expression does not seem to occur at the level of transcription initiation. Instead, it might depend on the activity of an inverted repeated region, located between the rsmG promoter and ribosome binding site, which we show to work as a weak transcriptional terminator. To gain insights into the enzymatic mechanism of RsmG, highly conserved residues were mutated and the abilities of the resulting proteins to confer streptomycin resistance, to modify rRNA, and to bind AdoMet were explored. Our data demonstrate for the first time the critical importance of some residues located in the active site of Escherichia coli RsmG for the m7G modification process and suggest a role for them in rRNA binding and catalysis.
Creative Projects: A Less Routine Approach Toward Getting New Things Done
Authors: Obstfeld David
Published: February 2012

This paper presents a framework for action that accounts for both how organizations get routine things done and how they pursue markedly new things through “creative projects.” Based on this framework, organizational routines and creative projects are viewed as two types of action trajectories differing with respect to their repetitiveness. An ethnographic case study of an automotive prototype-purchasing process and two initiatives to redesign that process is used to compare an organizational routine with creative projects occurring within the same organizational setting and to further explicate the framework. Case analysis reveals how projection and planning, as well as combinatorial action, knowledge articulation, and contingency management, unfold differentially in organizational routines and creative projects. This paper contributes to our understanding of different forms of organizational change and innovation. It also provides a framework to examine the role of nonroutine organizing at several levels of organizational analysis and its relationship to more routine forms of organizing.
Capabilities: Structure, Agency, and Evolution
Authors: Jacobides Michael G. , Winter Sidney G.
Published: February 2012

This paper examines conceptual issues and reviews empirical results bearing on the relationship between research approaches emphasizing organizational capabilities and those based in transaction cost economics (TCE)—or in organizational economics more generally. Following a review of conceptual fundamentals—what capability is and why organizations differ in capability—it assesses recent progress toward an integration of the capabilities and transaction cost approaches, primarily in the context of the analysis of vertical structure and related phenomena. This review suggests that progress has been substantial and that the key elements of a promising dynamic synthesis have been identified. The paper then considers issues that call for attention if further progress is to be achieved. The first of these is the role of agency, which must be seen in expansive terms (relative to standard economic rationality) if its evolutionary significance is to be fully appreciated. The second is the role of structure, or more specifically, industry architecture, which affects capability development by way of its effect on the feedback that firms receive. After drawing on the recent financial crisis for an illustration of these ideas, this paper considers the rise of interest in business models as a useful field of application, and it concludes with a discussion of the role of organizational economics (beyond TCE). We argue that, whatever the theoretical perspective at the level of the firm, analyses must reach beyond that level to grasp the important causal forces affecting capability development, firm boundaries, and structural features more generally.
The Duplicity of Protection—Prosecuting Frightened Victims: An Act of Gender-Based Violence
Authors: Edwards Susan
Published: February 2012

This article considers the recent developments in the prosecution of perpetrators and victims of domestic violence, and focuses on domestic and European Court of Human Rights' jurisdiction. Particular consideration is given to hearsay and bad character provisions (Criminal Justice Act 2003) in bolstering the prosecution of perpetrators. The article examines the application by judges of the ‘interests of justice’ and ‘fairness' tests in the admission of such evidence. The recent prosecution of victims of domestic violence for contempt of court and perverting the course of justice because of their failure to give evidence is a serious breach of the state's obligation to protect, is vindictive and oppressive and, as such, perpetuates gender-based violence.
A Resource of Quantitative Functional Annotation forHomo sapiensGenes
Authors: Taşan Murat , Drabkin Harold J , Beaver John E , Chua Hon Nian , Dunham Julie , Tian Weidong , Blake Judith A , Roth Frederick P
Published: February 2012

The body of human genomic and proteomic evidence continues to grow at ever-increasing rates, while annotation efforts struggle to keep pace. A surprisingly small fraction of human genes have clear, documented associations with specific functions, and new functions continue to be found for characterized genes. Here we assembled an integrated collection of diverse genomic and proteomic data for 21,341 human genes and make quantitative associations of each to 4333 Gene Ontology terms. We combined guilt-by-profiling and guilt-by-association approaches to exploit features unique to the data types. Performance was evaluated by cross-validation, prospective validation, and by manual evaluation with the biological literature. Functional-linkage networks were also constructed, and their utility was demonstrated by identifying candidate genes related to a glioma FLN using a seed network from genome-wide association studies. Our annotations are presented—alongside existing validated annotations—in a publicly accessible and searchable web interface.
Transcriptome Atlases of Mouse Brain Reveals Differential Expression Across Brain Regions and Genetic Backgrounds
Authors: Sun Wei , Lee Seunggeun , Zhabotynsky Vasyl , Zou Fei , Wright Fred A , Crowley James J , Yun Zaining , Buus Ryan J , Miller Darla R , Wang Jeremy , McMillan Leonard , Pardo-Manuel de Villena Fernando , Sullivan Patrick F
Published: February 2012

Mouse models play a crucial role in the study of human behavioral traits and diseases. Variation of gene expression in brain may play a critical role in behavioral phenotypes, and thus it is of great importance to understand regulation of transcription in mouse brain. In this study, we analyzed the role of two important factors influencing steady-state transcriptional variation in mouse brain. First we considered the effect of assessing whole brain vs. discrete regions of the brain. Second, we investigated the genetic basis of strain effects on gene expression. We examined the transcriptome of three brain regions using Affymetrix expression arrays: whole brain, forebrain, and hindbrain in adult mice from two common inbred strains (C57BL/6J vs. NOD/ShiLtJ) with eight replicates for each brain region and strain combination. We observed significant differences between the transcriptomes of forebrain and hindbrain. In contrast, the transcriptomes of whole brain and forebrain were very similar. Using 4.3 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms identified through whole-genome sequencing of C57BL/6J and NOD/ShiLtJ strains, we investigated the relationship between strain effect in gene expression and DNA sequence similarity. We found that cis-regulatory effects play an important role in gene expression differences between strains and that the cis-regulatory elements are more often located in 5′ and/or 3′ transcript boundaries, with no apparent preference on either 5′ or 3′ ends.
Genetic Analysis of Hematological Parameters in Incipient Lines of the Collaborative Cross
Authors: Kelada Samir N P , Aylor David L , Peck Bailey C E , Ryan Joseph F , Tavarez Urraca , Buus Ryan J , Miller Darla R , Chesler Elissa J , Threadgill David W , Churchill Gary A , Pardo-Manuel de Villena Fernando , Collins Francis S
Published: February 2012

Hematological parameters, including red and white blood cell counts and hemoglobin concentration, are widely used clinical indicators of health and disease. These traits are tightly regulated in healthy individuals and are under genetic control. Mutations in key genes that affect hematological parameters have important phenotypic consequences, including multiple variants that affect susceptibility to malarial disease. However, most variation in hematological traits is continuous and is presumably influenced by multiple loci and variants with small phenotypic effects. We used a newly developed mouse resource population, the Collaborative Cross (CC), to identify genetic determinants of hematological parameters. We surveyed the eight founder strains of the CC and performed a mapping study using 131 incipient lines of the CC. Genome scans identified quantitative trait loci for several hematological parameters, including mean red cell volume (Chr 7 and Chr 14), white blood cell count (Chr 18), percent neutrophils/lymphocytes (Chr 11), and monocyte number (Chr 1). We used evolutionary principles and unique bioinformatics resources to reduce the size of candidate intervals and to view functional variation in the context of phylogeny. Many quantitative trait loci regions could be narrowed sufficiently to identify a small number of promising candidate genes. This approach not only expands our knowledge about hematological traits but also demonstrates the unique ability of the CC to elucidate the genetic architecture of complex traits.
Imputation of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Inbred Mice Using Local Phylogeny
Authors: Wang Jeremy R , de Villena Fernando Pardo-Manuel , Lawson Heather A , Cheverud James M , Churchill Gary A , McMillan Leonard
Published: February 2012

We present full-genome genotype imputations for 100 classical laboratory mouse strains, using a novel method. Using genotypes at 549,683 SNP loci obtained with the Mouse Diversity Array, we partitioned the genome of 100 mouse strains into 40,647 intervals that exhibit no evidence of historical recombination. For each of these intervals we inferred a local phylogenetic tree. We combined these data with 12 million loci with sequence variations recently discovered by whole-genome sequencing in a common subset of 12 classical laboratory strains. For each phylogenetic tree we identified strains sharing a leaf node with one or more of the sequenced strains. We then imputed high- and medium-confidence genotypes for each of 88 nonsequenced genomes. Among inbred strains, we imputed 92% of SNPs genome-wide, with 71% in high-confidence regions. Our method produced 977 million new genotypes with an estimated per-SNP error rate of 0.083% in high-confidence regions and 0.37% genome-wide. Our analysis identified which of the 88 nonsequenced strains would be the most informative for improving full-genome imputation, as well as which additional strain sequences will reveal more new genetic variants. Imputed sequences and quality scores can be downloaded and visualized online.
Varying Coefficient Models for Mapping Quantitative Trait Loci Using Recombinant Inbred Intercrosses
Authors: Gong Yi , Zou Fei
Published: February 2012

There has been a great deal of interest in the development of methodologies to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) using experimental crosses in the last 2 decades. Experimental crosses in animal and plant sciences provide important data sources for mapping QTL through linkage analysis. The Collaborative Cross (CC) is a renewable mouse resource that is generated from eight genetically diverse founder strains to mimic the genetic diversity in humans. The recombinant inbred intercrosses (RIX) generated from CC recombinant inbred (RI) lines share similar genetic structures of F2 individuals but with up to eight alleles segregating at any one locus. In contrast to F2 mice, genotypes of RIX can be inferred from the genotypes of their RI parents and can be produced repeatedly. Also, RIX mice typically do not share the same degree of relatedness. This unbalanced genetic relatedness requires careful statistical modeling to avoid false-positive findings. Many quantitative traits are inherently complex with genetic effects varying with other covariates, such as age. For such complex traits, if phenotype data can be collected over a wide range of ages across study subjects, their dynamic genetic patterns can be investigated. Parametric functions, such as sigmoidal or logistic functions, have been used for such purpose. In this article, we propose a flexible nonparametric time-varying coefficient QTL mapping method for RIX data. Our method allows the QTL effects to evolve with time and naturally extends classical parametric QTL mapping methods. We model the varying genetic effects nonparametrically with the B-spline bases. Our model investigates gene-by-time interactions for RIX data in a very flexible nonparametric fashion. Simulation results indicate that the varying coefficient QTL mapping has higher power and mapping precision compared to parametric models when the assumption of constant genetic effects fails. We also apply a modified permutation procedure to control overall significance level.
A General Bayesian Approach to Analyzing Diallel Crosses of Inbred Strains
Authors: Lenarcic Alan B , Svenson Karen L , Churchill Gary A , Valdar William
Published: February 2012

The classic diallel takes a set of parents and produces offspring from all possible mating pairs. Phenotype values among the offspring can then be related back to their respective parentage. When the parents are diploid, sexed, and inbred, the diallel can characterize aggregate effects of genetic background on a phenotype, revealing effects of strain dosage, heterosis, parent of origin, epistasis, and sex-specific versions thereof. However, its analysis is traditionally intricate, unforgiving of unplanned missing information, and highly sensitive to imbalance, making the diallel unapproachable to many geneticists. Nonetheless, imbalanced and incomplete diallels arise frequently, albeit unintentionally, as by-products of larger-scale experiments that collect F1 data, for example, pilot studies or multiparent breeding efforts such as the Collaborative Cross or the Arabidopsis MAGIC lines. We present a general Bayesian model for analyzing diallel data on dioecious diploid inbred strains that cleanly decomposes the observed patterns of variation into biologically intuitive components, simultaneously models and accommodates outliers, and provides shrinkage estimates of effects that automatically incorporate uncertainty due to imbalance, missing data, and small sample size. We further present a model selection procedure for weighing evidence for or against the inclusion of those components in a predictive model. We evaluate our method through simulation and apply it to incomplete diallel data on the founders and F1's of the Collaborative Cross, robustly characterizing the genetic architecture of 48 phenotypes.
Rates and Fitness Consequences of New Mutations in Humans
Authors: Keightley Peter D
Published: February 2012

The human mutation rate per nucleotide site per generation (μ) can be estimated from data on mutation rates at loci causing Mendelian genetic disease, by comparing putatively neutrally evolving nucleotide sequences between humans and chimpanzees and by comparing the genome sequences of relatives. Direct estimates from genome sequencing of relatives suggest that μ is about 1.1 × 10−8, which is about twofold lower than estimates based on the human–chimp divergence. This implies that an average of ∼70 new mutations arise in the human diploid genome per generation. Most of these mutations are paternal in origin, but the male:female mutation rate ratio is currently uncertain and might vary even among individuals within a population. On the basis of a method proposed by Kondrashov and Crow, the genome-wide deleterious mutation rate (U) can be estimated from the product of the number of nucleotide sites in the genome, μ, and the mean selective constraint per site. Although the presence of many weakly selected mutations in human noncoding DNA makes this approach somewhat problematic, estimates are U ≈ 2.2 for the whole diploid genome per generation and ∼0.35 for mutations that change an amino acid of a protein-coding gene. A genome-wide deleterious mutation rate of 2.2 seems higher than humans could tolerate if natural selection is “hard,” but could be tolerated if selection acts on relative fitness differences between individuals or if there is synergistic epistasis. I argue that in the foreseeable future, an accumulation of new deleterious mutations is unlikely to lead to a detectable decline in fitness of human populations.
James F. Crow and the Stochastic Theory of Population Genetics
Authors: Ewens Warren J
Published: February 2012

Research in population genetics theory has two main strands. The first is deterministic theory, where random changes in allelic frequencies are ignored and attention focuses on the evolutionary effects of selection and mutation. The second strand, stochastic theory, takes account of these random changes and thus is more complete than deterministic theory. This essay is one in the series of Perspectives and Reviews honoring James F. Crow on the occasion of his 95th birthday. It concerns his contributions to, and involvement with, the stochastic theory of evolutionary population genetics.
The Influence of Thermal Annealing on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in High Performance Liquid Crystal Copolyesters
Authors: Reyes-Mayer Adriana , Constant Amaury , Romo-Uribe Angel , Jaffe Michael
Published: February 2012

In this research we have focused on the influence of thermal treatment for periods of time on the thermal and mechanical properties of extruded films of a series of high-performance thermotropic liquid crystal polymers (LCPs). The dependence of microstructure, thermal and mechanical properties on the extent of thermal treatment is investigated. Especially synthesized wholly aromatic LCPs based on hydroxybenzoic acid (B), hydroxynaphthoic acid (N), terephthalic acid (TA) and biphenol (BP) are kindly supplied by Hoechst Celanese Research Corp in the form of 50 μm thick extruded films. Thus, the influence of monomer composition is also studied in order to contrast the influence of molecular conformation. Thermal treatments are carried out at temperatures close to the solid-to-nematic transition (Ts→n) for up to several hours under dry air conditions. The results show a profound influence of thermal annealing on morphology and mechanical modulus when annealing is carried out c.a. 40ºC below Ts→n, where solid-to-nematic transition and Young’s modulus are significantly increased.
Improvement of Electrochemical Activity of Pt/MWCNT Catalyst for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell
Authors: Baatar Battsengel , Jamiyansuren Bayardulam , Myakhlai Munkhshur , Myagmarsuren Baasandorj
Published: February 2012

In last years, the carbon nanotubes have been studied as an advanced metal catalyst support for proton exchange membrane fuel cell. This study focuses on the sonochemical treatment of multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as a platinum supporting material for proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) by mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid and mixture of sulfuric acid and hydrogen peroxide. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy were used to characterize the surface of sonochemically treated MWCNT and nanostructured electrocatalyst Pt/MWCNT. According to the experimental results of this work, the surface of MWCNT can be more successfully functionalized with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups after sonochemical treatment by mixture of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The particle size of prepared Pt -electrocatalyst on MWCNT was determined 3.4 nm by XRD.
New Developments for Lignocellulosics-Nanocomposites with Low Carbon Footprint
Authors: Leao Alcides L. , Cherian Bibin M. , Souza Sivoney F. , Sain Mohini , Narine Suresh
Published: February 2012

Cellulose nanofibrils have been evaluated as reinforcement material in polymeric matrixes due to their potential to improve the mechanical, optical, and dielectric properties of these matrixes as well as its environmental positive footprint. This work describes how banana nanocellulose can be used to replace others not so friendly materials in many applications including, biomaterials, automotive industries and packaging by proved with their mechanical properties. The process used is very mild to the environment and consists of a high pressure fibrillation followed by a chemical purification which affects the fiber morphology. Many fibers characterization processes were used including microscopy techniques and X-ray diffraction to study the structure and properties of the prepared nanofibers and composites. Microscopy studies showed that the used individualization processes lead to a unique morphology of interconnected web-like structure of the fibers.
Trends in Risk Perceptions and Vaccination Intentions: A Longitudinal Study of the First Year of the H1N1 Pandemic
Authors: Gidengil Courtney A. , Parker Andrew M. , Zikmund-Fisher Brian J.
Published: February 2012

Objectives. We sought to evaluate longitudinal trends in people’s risk perceptions and vaccination intentions during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.

Methods. We used data from 10 waves of a US national survey focusing on the H1N1 pandemic (administered between May 2009 and January 2010) to conduct a longitudinal analysis of adult respondents’ risk perceptions and vaccination intentions.

Results. Self-reported perceived risk of becoming infected with H1N1 paralleled H1N1 activity throughout the pandemic’s first year. However, intention to be vaccinated declined from 50% (May 2009) to 16% (January 2010) among those who remained unvaccinated (27% had been vaccinated by January 2010). Respondents who indicated that they had previously been vaccinated against seasonal influenza reported significantly higher H1N1 vaccination intentions than those who had not been vaccinated (67% vs 26%; P < .001).

Conclusions. Reported intention to be vaccinated declined well before vaccine became available and decreased throughout the pandemic year. To the extent that prior vaccination for seasonal influenza vaccination is a strong correlate of H1N1 risk perceptions, encouraging seasonal influenza vaccination may benefit pandemic preparedness efforts.
Worrying About Terrorism and Other Acute Environmental Health Hazard Events
Authors: Greenberg Michael , Babcock-Dunning Lauren
Published: February 2012

Objectives. To better understand why some people worry more about terrorism compared with others, we measured how much US residents worried about a terrorist event in their area and examined the association of their fears with their concerns about acute and chronic hazards and other correlates.

Methods. In 2008 (n = 600) and 2010 (n = 651), we performed a random-digit dialing national landline telephone survey. We asked about worries about terrorism and 5 other environmental health hazard issues. We also collected demographic and socioeconomic data.

Results. Only 15% worried “a great deal” about a terrorist event in their area and 18% to 33% were greatly concerned about other environmental issues. Fear about acute hazard events was a stronger predictor of a great deal of concern about terrorism than were age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational achievement, and other correlates.

Conclusions. Those who worried most about acute environmental health hazard events were most likely to worry about terrorism. Also, those who were older, poorer, Blacks, or Latinos, or who lived in populous urban areas felt they were most vulnerable to terrorist attacks. We recommend methods to involve US citizens as part of disaster planning.
Maternal Perceptions of Help From Home Visits by Nurse–Community Health Worker Teams
Authors: Roman Lee Anne , Raffo Jennifer E. , Meghea Cristian I.
Published: February 2012

We used data from a home visiting trial to examine low-income women's perceptions of services received from nurses (the community care [CC] group) and from a nurse–community health worker (CHW) team. More mothers in the nurse–CHW group than in the CC group reported receiving help in all of the categories assessed. For both groups, assistance with health education ranked highest among the types of assistance received. A higher percentage of women in the nurse–CHW group than the CC group reported that they received psychosocial help.
Religious Climate and Health Risk Behaviors in Sexual Minority Youths: A Population-Based Study
Authors: Hatzenbuehler Mark L. , Pachankis John E. , Wolff Joshua
Published: February 2012

Objectives. We examined whether the health risk behaviors of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youths are determined in part by the religious composition of the communities in which they live.

Methods. Data were collected from 31 852 high school students, including 1413 LGB students, who participated in the Oregon Healthy Teens survey in 2006 through 2008. Supportive religious climate was operationalized according to the proportion of individuals (of the total number of religious adherents) who adhere to a religion supporting homosexuality. Comprehensive data on religious climate were derived from 85 denominational groups in 34 Oregon counties.

Results. Among LGB youths, living in a county with a religious climate that was supportive of homosexuality was associated with significantly fewer alcohol abuse symptoms (odds ratio [OR] = 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.40, 0.85) and fewer sexual partners (OR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.60, 0.99). The effect of religious climate on health behaviors was stronger among LGB than heterosexual youths. Results remained robust after adjustment for multiple confounding factors.

Conclusions. The religious climate surrounding LGB youths may serve as a determinant of their health risk behaviors.
Comparison of Macroscopic and Microscopic Assessment of Specimens Collected for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis
Authors: Banu Sayera , Hossain Shahed , Khaja Mafij Uddin Mohammad , Toufiq Rahman Md. , Khatun Razia , Zaman K , A Quaiyum M , van Leth Frank
Published: February 2012

Diagnosis of tuberculosis in a field setting depends on the quality of specimens submitted for smearmicroscopy.
Macroscopic assessment (sputum or saliva) of the specimen for suitability for further examination is common
practice in routine care. We examined whether macroscopic assessment could correctly identify sputum specimens based
on four published algorithms using microscopic features in the setting of active case finding in a community survey.

The study included 901 randomly selected adults who reported cough for 3 weeks or more in the national tuberculosis
prevalence survey in Bangladesh. A single specimen of each was assessed with microscopy and microscopy (Gram-stain)
to classify it as either sputum or saliva. The primary outcome was the agreement between the two assessment methods
(Kappa statistic)

From 901 specimens, 561 (62%) were macroscopically classified as saliva and 340 (38%) as sputum. From these, 888
Gram-stained slides could be examined for microscopic features. The agreement between the macroscopic assessment
with any of the four microscopy algorithms for sputum was very poor (all Kappa’s below 0.1).

While macroscopic assessment of submitted specimens might be of value in routine care, it is not warranted in a setting of
active case finding in a community survey. Submitting a specimen in the first place should be the primary goal in this
setting.
Relations Between Bulk Precipitation, PM10 Composition and Meteorological Conditions in the Metropolitan Area of Costa Rica
Authors: Herrera Murillo Jorge , Rodríguez Susana , Félix Rojas José , Baez Armándo
Published: February 2012

Concentrations of inorganic ions (Cl-, H+, SO42-, NO3-, NH4+, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+) and metals (V, Ni, Cu, Pb, Cr Mn, Al, Fe) in bulk precipitation and PM10 samples collected in the metropolitan area of Costa Rica were analyzed. Good correlations between acidity in bulk precipitation with the concentrations of aerosols in the air were observed. The scavenging of the pollutants from the air directly affects the pH and composition of the bulk precipitation. The major ions in bulk precipitation in the metropolitan area of Costa Rica were SO42-, NH4+, Ca2+, Na+ ion percentages with 41.4, 12.0, 10.9 and 9.1 respectively. Al, Fe and Mn were the most abundant trace metals. The alkaline cations, NH4+ and Ca2+, actedas acid neutralizers and buffered the acidity of bulk precipitation. Meteorological conditions presented during the events
determine the composition of bulk precipitation samples.
A Comparison of Generic Skills and Emotional Intelligence in Accounting Education
Authors: Daff Lyn , de Lange Paul , Jackling Beverley
Published: February 2012

Embedding generic skills such as communication and teamwork in the accounting curriculum continues to attract attention from stakeholders. In parallel, the business world and more recently some faculty, have recognized and explored the need to incorporate emotional intelligence (EI) in the curriculum. EI is viewed as a desirable quality as it allows accountants to excel in strategic decision making, teamwork, leadership, and client relations. We contend that in the quest to find the best employees, employers have focused on EI, whereas accounting faculty have placed less emphasis on EI skill development and a greater emphasis on generic skills. This paper addresses the need for accountants to have a combination of EI and generic skills. The commonalities and differences between an EI framework and a generic skills framework are identified when the two are juxtaposed. This provides guidance for faculty seeking to develop highly skilled graduates via the development of a range of curriculum resources designed to enhance EI.
Examining the Psychological Pathways to Behavior Change in a Group-Based Lifestyle Program to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Critchley Christine R. , Hardie Elizabeth A. , Moore Susan M.
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

To examine the psychological process of lifestyle change among adults at risk for type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

A randomized control trial in which 307 volunteers (intervention, n = 208; wait control, n = 99) diagnosed with prediabetes completed a six-session group-based intervention to promote healthier living. Participants’ motivation to change, diet and exercise self-efficacy, mood, knowledge about diabetes, activity levels, healthy eating, waist circumference, and weight were assessed before and after the program.

RESULTS

Participation in the program was associated with significant increases in healthy eating and physical activity, reductions in waist and weight, and improvements in motivation, positive mood, self-efficacy, and knowledge. Examination of the pathways to lifestyle change showed that the educational aspect of the program increased activity levels because it increased diabetes knowledge and improved mood. Eating behavior was not mediated by any of the psychological variables. Improvements in diet and physical activity were, in turn, directly associated with changes in weight and waist circumference.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the program significantly improved motivation, self-efficacy, and mood, its impact on knowledge uniquely explained the increase in physical activity. Group-based programs that are tailored to lifestyle behaviors may provide a cost-effective method of diabetes prevention, but more research is needed to explain why they improve healthy eating.
Sustained Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Stress-Reduction Intervention in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
Authors: Hartmann Mechthild , Kopf Stefan , Kircher Claudia , Faude-Lang Verena , Djuric Zdenka , Augstein Florian , Friederich Hans-Christoph , Kieser Meinhard , Bierhaus Angelika , Humpert Per M. , Herzog Wolfgang , Nawroth Peter P.
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) intervention is effective for reducing psychosocial distress (i.e., depression, psychosocial stress) and the progression of nephropathy (i.e., albuminuria) and for improving the subjective health status of patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients with type 2 diabetes and microalbuminuria were randomized to a mindfulness-based intervention (n = 53) or a treatment-as-usual control (n = 57) group. The study is designed to investigate long-term outcomes over a period of 5 years. We present data up to the first year of follow-up (FU).

RESULTS

At FU, the MBSR group showed lower levels of depression (d = 0.71) and improved health status (d = 0.54) compared with the control group. No significant differences in albuminuria were found. Per-protocol analysis also showed higher stress reduction in the intervention group (d = 0.64).

CONCLUSIONS

MBSR intervention achieved a prolonged reduction in psychosocial distress. The effects on albuminuria will be followed up further.
Lipoprotein-Associated Phospholipase A2 Mass and Activity and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in a Population With High Prevalences of Obesity and Diabetes
Authors: Kizer Jorge R. , Umans Jason G. , Zhu Jianhui , Devereux Richard B. , Wolfert Robert L. , Lee Elisa T. , Howard Barbara V.
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) mass and activity with incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a population with high prevalences of insulin resistance and diabetes, conditions for which epidemiological data remain sparse.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a nested, case-control study (n = 1,008) within a population-based cohort of American Indians. Case subjects were defined by incidence of first-ever CVD up to 10 years later. Control subjects comprised participants free of CVD events during the follow-up period who were frequency matched to case subjects by age, sex, and diabetes status. LpPLA2 mass and activity were measured using commercially available assays.

RESULTS

LpPLA2 mass and activity were moderately correlated with each other (r = 0.30), but only LpPLA2 activity exhibited moderate correlations with lipid fractions. After extensive adjustment for covariates, both LpPLA2 measures were significantly associated with incident CVD, but the relationship was inverse for LpPLA2 mass (highest versus lowest tertile, relative risk [RR] 0.55 [95% CI 0.39–0.79]) and positive for LpPLA2 activity (highest versus lowest tertile, 1.65 [1.12–2.42]). These associations were similar when participants with and without diabetes were examined separately.

CONCLUSIONS

In this population-based cohort enriched with dysmetabolic phenotypes, LpPLA2 mass and activity showed divergent associations with CVD. The inverse relationship for LpPLA2 mass is contrary to observations from predominantly nondiabetic populations and will require independent replication. Whether this finding relates to redistribution of LpPLA2 to lipoprotein classes where it is less atherogenic or reflects incomplete measurement of LpPLA2 mass associated with altered lipoprotein composition in insulin resistance warrants further investigation.
The Risk of a Persistent Glucose Metabolism Impairment After Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Is Increased in Patients With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Palomba Stefano , Falbo Angela , Russo Tiziana , Rivoli Laura , Orio Marcello , Cosco Andrea Gregorio , Vero Raffaella , Capula Carmelo , Tolino Achille , Zullo Fulvio , Colao Annamaria , Orio Francesco
Published: February 2012

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypothesis that the risk of persistent glucose impairment after gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increased in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The prospective case-control study included 42 pregnant patients with PCOS and GDM and 84 pregnant control patients with GDM but without clinical and biochemical hyperandrogenism, polycystic ovaries, and oligo-anovulation. The case and control subjects were matched one to two for age and BMI. The glycemic profiles were studied in all subjects 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 18 months after delivery. The incidence and the relative risk (RR) were calculated for overall persistence of an abnormal glycemic pattern and for each specific alteration, i.e., impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and diabetes mellitus (DM).

RESULTS

At 18 months after delivery, the incidences of IFG, IGT, and IFG-IGT were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the cases than in the controls. At the 18-month follow-up, the RR for the composite outcome of glucose metabolism impairment in PCOS women was 3.45 (95% CI 1.82–6.58).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with PCOS are at increased risk for a persistent impaired glucose metabolism after GDM.