bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Treatment of the humeral shaft fractures - minimally invasive osteosynthesis with bridge plate versus conservative treatment with functional brace: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Matsunaga Fabio T , Tamaoki Marcel J S , Matsumoto Marcelo H , dos Santos João B G , Faloppa Flavio , Belloti João C
Published: August 2013

Background

Humeral shaft fractures account for 1 to 3% of all fractures in adults and for 20% of all humeral fractures. Non-operative treatment is still the standard treatment of isolated humeral shaft fractures, although this method can present unsatisfactory results. Surgical treatment is reserved for specific conditions. Modern concepts of internal fixation of long bone shaft fractures advocate relative stabilisation techniques with no harm to fracture zone. Recently described, minimally invasive bridge plate osteosynthesis has been shown to be a secure technique with good results for treating humeral shaft fractures. There is no good quality evidence advocating which method is more effective. This randomised controlled trial will be performed to investigate the effectiveness of surgical treatment of humeral shaft fractures with bridge plating in comparison with conservative treatment with functional brace.

Methods/Design

This randomised clinical trial aims to include 110 patients with humeral shaft fractures who will be allocated after randomisation to one of the two groups: bridge plate or functional brace. Surgical treatment will be performed according to technique described by Livani and Belangero using a narrow DCP plate. Non-operative management will consist of a functional brace for 6 weeks or until fracture consolidation. All patients will be included in the same rehabilitation program and will be followed up for 1 year after intervention. The primary outcome will be the DASH score after 6 months of intervention. As secondary outcomes, we will assess SF-36 questionnaire, treatment complications, Constant score, pain (Visual Analogue Scale) and radiographs.

Discussion

According to current evidence shown in a recent systematic review, this study is one of the first randomised controlled trials designed to compare two methods to treat humeral shaft fractures (functional brace and bridge plate surgery).

Trial registration

Current Controlled Trials:ISRCTN24835397
A mutation in the c-Fos gene associated with congenital generalized lipodystrophy
Authors: Knebel Birgit , Kotzka Jorg , Lehr Stefan , Hartwig Sonja , Avci Haluk , Jacob Sylvia , Nitzgen Ulrike , Schiller Martina , März Winfried , Hoffmann Michael M , Seemanova Eva , Haas Jutta , Muller-Wieland Dirk
Published: August 2013

Background

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy (CGL) or Berardinelli–Seip congenital lipodystrophy (BSCL) is a rare genetic syndrome characterized by the absence of adipose tissue. As CGL is thought to be related to malfunctions in adipocyte development, genes involved in the mechanisms of adipocyte biology and maintenance or differentiation of adipocytes, especially transcription factors are candidates. Several genes (BSCL1-4) were found to be associated to the syndrome but not all CGL patients carry mutations in these genes.

Methods and results

In a patient with CGL and insulin resistance we investigated the known candidate genes but the patient did not carry a relevant mutation. Analyses of the insulin activated signal transduction pathways in isolated fibroblasts of the patient revealed a postreceptor defect altering expression of the immediate early gene c-fos. Sequence analyses revealed a novel homozygous point mutation (c.–439, T→A) in the patients’ c-fos promoter. The point mutation was located upstream of the well characterized promoter elements in a region with no homology to any known cis-elements. The identified mutation was not detected in a total of n=319 non lipodystrophic probands. In vitro analyses revealed that the mutation facilitates the formation of a novel and specific protein/DNA complex. Using mass spectrometry we identified the proteins of this novel complex. Cellular investigations demonstrate that the wild type c-fos promoter can reconstitute the signaling defect in the patient, excluding further upstream signaling alterations, and vice versa the investigations with the c-fos promoter containing the identified mutation generally reduce basal and inducible c-fos transcription activity. As a consequence of the identified point mutation gene expression including c-Fos targeted genes is significantly altered, shown exemplified in cells of the patient.

Conclusion

The immediate-early gene c-fos is one essential transcription factor to initiate adipocyte differentiation. According to the role of c-fos in adipocyte differentiation our findings of a mutation that initiates a repression mechanism at c-fos promoter features the hypothesis that diminished c-fos expression might play a role in CGL by interfering with adipocyte development.
Is an increase in skin temperature predictive of neuropathic foot ulceration in people with diabetes? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Houghton Vanessa J , Bower Virginia M , Chant David C
Published: August 2013

Introduction

The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the strength of the existing research to answer the question: Is an increase in skin temperature predictive of neuropathic foot ulceration in people with diabetes?

Methods

This study is a systematic review and meta‐analysis of temperature‐monitoring in the prediction and prevention of diabetic foot ulceration. Two investigators conducted a literature search for all relevant articles from 1960 until July 2011. During this process the following data bases were searched: MEDLINE, Science Direct, AMED, Australian Medical Index, APAIS‐Health, ATSIhealth, EMBASE, Web of Science and OneSearch. Keywords used in this search included diabetes, foot complications, ulceration, temperature‐monitoring, prediction and prevention.

Results

Results of the meta‐analysis support the theory that an increase in skin temperature is predictive of foot ulceration when compared with the same site on the contralateral limb. The theory that there is a mean norm foot temperature which can be used as a benchmark to monitor pathological change was unsupported by this meta‐analysis.

Conclusions

The conclusions derived from this review are based on the best available scientific evidence in this field. It is intended that the results of this study will improve clinical decision‐making and encourage the appropriate measures used to predict and prevent ulceration in people with diabetes at high risk of foot complications. Based on quality studies in this area, the results of this review have indicated that the use of temperature‐monitoring is an effective way to predict, and thus prevent, diabetic foot ulceration.
Process evaluation of podiatric treatment of patients with forefoot pain
Authors: van der Zwaard Babette C , Swagerman Wim JC , Vanwanseele Benedicte , Gorter Kees J , van der Horst Henriëtte E , Elders Petra JM
Published: August 2013

Background

Foot pain is a common problem for people aged 50 and over and occurs more often in women than in men. About 60% of the foot problems are forefoot problems and slightly more than half of these patients seek medical help, mainly in the form of podiatric care. Podiatric treatment of forefoot problems is known to be heterogeneous. The aims of the present study are to describe the podiatric treatment of patients with forefoot pain and to evaluate the podiatric examination and treatment using an expert panel.

Method

We invited twenty‐five randomly selected subjects with forefoot problems who had received podiatric treatment in a pragmatic randomised clinical trial to participate in an analysis of their treatment by an expert panel. The panel retrospectively established the cause of the foot problem as well as the therapeutic goals and evaluated the treatment. These findings were compared to those reported by the treating podiatrist.

Results

Two fundamentally different approaches were found in approach of podiatric examination; a functional approach (n =13) and a non‐functional approach (n =12). In nine cases the expert panel agreed with the cause recorded by the podiatrist. In five other cases the expert panel concluded that the treatment of the podiatrist was not consistent with the cause of the problem recorded by the podiatrist. Of the 10 patients for whom the podiatrist had recorded to have given shoe advice, only two were able to recollect the proper advice. Three patients did not remember receiving advice at all.

Conclusion

In this study almost half of the podiatrists worked according to a non‐functional approach where the other half (like the expert panel) chose a functional strategy that analyses the underlying problem. Fundamental differences in treatment plans and thus heterogeneous treatments could be a consequence.
Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG mono-association suppresses human rotavirus-induced autophagy in the gnotobiotic piglet intestine
Authors: Wu Shaoping , Yuan Lijuan , Zhang Yongguo , Liu Fangning , Li Guohua , Wen Ke , Kocher Jacob , Yang Xingdong , Sun Jun
Published: August 2013

Background

Human rotavirus (HRV) is the most important cause of severe diarrhea in infants and young children. Probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) reduces rotavirus infection and diarrhea. However, the molecular mechanisms of LGG-mediated protection from rotavirus infection are poorly understood. Autophagy plays an essential role in responses to microbial pathogens. However, the role of autophagy in HRV infection and LGG treatment is unknown. We hypothesize that rotavirus gastroenteritis activates autophagy and that LGG suppresses virus-induced autophagy and prevents intestinal damage in infected piglets.

Methods

We used LGG feeding to combat viral gastroenteritis in the gnotobiotic pig model of virulent HRV infection.

Results

We found that LGG feeding did not increase autophagy, whereas virus infection induced autophagy in the piglet intestine. Virus infection increased the protein levels of the autophagy markers ATG16L1 and Beclin-1 and the autophagy regulator mTOR. LGG treatment during viral gastroenteritis reduced autophagy marker expression to normal levels, induced apoptosis and partially prevented virus-induced tissue damage.

Conclusion

Our study provides new insights into virus-induced autophagy and LGG suppression of uncontrolled autophagy and intestinal injury. A better understanding of the antiviral activity of LGG will lead to novel therapeutic strategies for infant infectious diseases.
Screening and risk factors of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in critically ill adult patients receiving enteral nutrition
Authors: Wang Sheng , Ma Lijie , Zhuang Yugang , Jiang Bojie , Zhang Xiangyu
Published: August 2013

Introduction

Malnutrition is a frequent problem associated with detrimental clinical outcomes in critically ill patients. To avoid malnutrition, most studies focus on the prevention of inadequate nutrition delivery, whereas little attention is paid to the potential role of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI). In this trial, we aim to evaluate the prevalence of EPI and identify its potential risk factors in critically ill adult patients without preexisting pancreatic diseases.

Methods

In this prospective cross-sectional study, we recruited 563 adult patients with critical illnesses. All details of the patients were documented, stool samples were collected three to five days following the initiation of enteral nutrition, and faecal elastase 1 (FE-1) concentrations were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Blood samples were also taken to determine serum amylase and lipase activity.

Results

The percentages of recruited patients with EPI (FE-1 concentration <200 μg/g) and severe EPI (FE-1 concentration <100 μg/g) were 52.2% and 18.3%, respectively. The incidences of steatorrhea were significantly different (P < 0.05) among the patients without EPI, with moderate EPI (FE-1 concentration = 100 to 200 μg/g) and severe EPI (FE-1 concentration < 100 μg/g). Both multivariate logistic regression analysis and z-tests indicated that the occurrence of EPI was closely associated with shock, sepsis, diabetes, cardiac arrest, hyperlactacidemia, invasive mechanical ventilation and haemodialysis.

Conclusions

More than 50% of critically ill adult patients without primary pancreatic diseases had EPI, and nearly one-fifth of them had severe EPI. The risk factors for EPI included shock, sepsis, diabetes, cardiac arrest, hyperlactacidemia, invasive mechanical ventilation and haemodialysis.

Trial registration

NCT01753024
Coordinated induction of cyclooxygenase-2/prostaglandin E2 and hepatocyte growth factor by apoptotic cells prevents lung fibrosis
Authors: Yoon Young-So , Lee Ye-Ji , Choi Ji-Yeon , Cho Min-Sun , Kang Jihee Lee
Published: August 2013

Apoptotic cell instillation after bleomycin induces persistent HGF production and protects from pulmonary fibrosis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. We investigated immediate and prolonged effects of in vivo instillation of apoptotic cells into bleomycin-stimulated mouse lungs (2 days old) on COX-2 expression in lung tissue and alveolar macrophages and PGE2 production in BALF. Furthermore, functional interaction between these molecules and HGF, following apoptotic cell instillation in a bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model, was assessed. Apoptotic cell instillation results in enhanced immediate and prolonged expression of COX-2 and PGE2 when compared with those from bleomycin-only-treated mice. Coadministration of the COX-2-selective inhibitor NS398 or the selective PGE2R EP2 inhibitor AH6809 inhibited the increase in HGF production. Inhibition of HGF signaling using PHA-665752 inhibited increases in COX-2 and PGE2. Long-term inhibition of COX-2, PGE2, or HGF reversed the reduction of TGF-β, apoptotic and MPO activities, protein levels, and hydroxyproline contents. Up-regulation of COX-2/PGE2 and HGF through a positive-feedback loop may be an important mechanism whereby apoptotic cell instillation exerts the net results of anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic action.
Detection of Nerve Agents Using Proton Transfer Reaction Mass Spectrometry with Ammonia as Reagent Gas
Authors: Ringer Joachim M.
Published: August 2013

The chemical warfare agents (CWA) Sarin, Soman, Cyclosarin and Tabun were characterised by proton transfer mass spectrometry (PTRMS). It was found that PTRMS is a suitable technique to detect nerve agents highly sensitively, highly selectively and in near real-time. Methods were found to suppress molecule fragmentation which is significant under PTRMS hollow cathode ionisation conditions. In this context, the drift voltage (as one of the most important system parameters) was varied and ammonia was introduced as an additional chemical reagent gas. Auxiliary chemicals such as ammonia affect ionisation processes and are quite common in context with detectors for CWAs based on ion mobility spectrometry (IMS). With both, variation of drift voltage and ammonia as the reagent gas, fragmentation can be suppressed effectively. Suppression of fragmentation is crucial particularly concerning the implementation of an algorithm for automated agent identification in field applications. On the other hand, appearance of particular fragments might deliver additional information. Degradation and rearrangement products of nerve agents are not distinctive for the particular agent but for the chemical class they belong to. It was found that switching between ammonia doped and ordinary water ionisation chemistry can easily be performed within a few seconds. Making use of this effect it is possible to switch between fragment and molecular ion peak spectra. Thus, targeted fragmentation can be used to confirm identification based only on single peak detection. PTRMS turned out to be a promising technique for future CWA detectors. In terms of sensitivity, response time and selectivity (or confidence of identification, respectively) PTRMS performs as a bridging technique between IMS and GC-MS.
Characterization of Secondary Metabolites from the Raphides of Calcium Oxalate Contained in Three Araceae Family Plants Using Laser Microdissection and Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole/Time of Flight-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Liang Zhitao , Zhang Jian , Wong Lailai , Yi Tao , Chen Hubiao , Zhao Zhongzhen
Published: August 2013

The dried stem tubers of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit, P. pedatisecta Schott and Typhonium flagelliforme (Lodd.) Blume from the Araceae family are used as Chinese medicines, namely Banxia, Zhangye Banxia and Shui Banxia, respectively. They have been reported to have a strong irritative effect on mucosa. Previous studies have indicated that the pure raphides of calcium oxalate contained in the stem tubers of three plants have attributed to this strong irritation. However, the processed products of the stem tubers of P. ternata, including Fabanxia, Qingbanxia and Jiangbanxia, have been found to have no irritative effects on mucosa. Currently, the secondary metabolites from the raphides of calcium oxalate contained in the stem tubers of P. ternata with its processed products, P. pedatisecta and T. flagelliforme were analyzed by means of laser microdissection and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time of flight-mass spectrometry. The results indicate that the stem tubers of P. ternata P. pedatisecta and T. flagelliforme mainly contain amino acids, fatty acids, cyclic dipeptides and alkaloids. The secondary metabolite profile of the stem tuber of P. ternata was different from those of its processed products, Fabanxia, Qingbanxia and Jiangbanxia. However, the secondary metabolites from their raphides of calcium oxalate all contained beta-sitosterol, sitosterol palmitate, trigonelline, octadecenoic acid, pedatisectine A and thymidine. The raphides of calcium oxalate from P. ternata, P. pedatisecta and T. flagelliforme do not include any specific irritants. The results indicated that the irritation induced by raphides of calcium oxalate of three Araceae family plants is not relevant to the secondary metabolites but relates to the special needle shape.
Identification of Wood between Phoebe Zhennan and Machilus Pingii Using the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Direct Injection Technique
Authors: Xu Bin , Zhu Tao , Li Jingya , Liu Shuai
Published: August 2013

In this paper, the technique of direct injection gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) was employed to discriminate between two batches of wood ( Phoebe zhennan and Machilus pingii) with characteristic smells. Based on the GC-MS fingerprints obtained, similarities between samples were evaluated via correlation coefficient, hierarchical clustering and characteristic constituents analysis. The results showed that distinct differences in total ion chromatograms existed between the two species of wood and their correlation coefficients were low; however, the relationship between the same species of different batches showed the opposite; meanwhile, the analysis of hierarchical clustering and characteristic constituents also demonstrated an interrelationship. All the analytical methods achieved the goal of identification between the two species of wood, which verified that the technique can be used to identify different species of wood with characteristic smells.
Alternative Representation for the Stability Diagram of Quadrupole Ion Traps upon Additional Quadrupolar Excitation
Authors: Vernier Arnaud , Chirot Fabien , Antoine Rodolphe , Salvador Arnaud , Charrier Jean-Philippe , Lemoine Jerome , Dugourd Philippe
Published: August 2013

We present a combined theoretical and experimental study of the stability of ions in a linear ion trap under the application of one or two auxiliary radiofrequency (RF) fields, in order to perform simultaneous resonant excitation/ejection of several different ions. The influence of the amplitude and frequency of the auxiliary field is addressed through the construction of experimental and theoretical stability diagrams. Theoretical diagrams are constructed using the method developed by Konenkov et al. [ J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom. 13, 597 (2002)]. We propose a new representation of stability diagrams more adapted to the study of auxiliary excitations than the canonical one. Stability regions are represented as a function of the fundamental RF amplitude and of the relative intensity of the excitation. This representation facilitates the monitoring of the evolution of the mass-selectivity of first- and higher-order resonant excitations in the trap, for which an empirical law is derived. We also show that the relative phase shift between the excitation field and the main driving field has a strong influence on the shape of the diagrams.
Improvement of Ensemble Smoother with Clustered Covariance for Channelized Reservoirs
Authors: Lee Kyungbook , Jeong Hoonyoung , Jung SeungPil , Choe Jonggeun
Published: August 2013

Ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) has been researched for reservoir characterization in petroleum engineering. However, the repeated assimilation causes lots of simulation cost. Ensemble smoother (ES) assimilates all available data once. It has advantages over EnKF: efficiency and simplicity. The two ensemble methods are based on the same assumptions: Gaussian distribution and trust in the mean of all ensembles. Many researchers have pointed out that EnKF gives overshooting and filter divergence problems when the two key assumptions are not satisfied. This paper presents characterization of channel fields using ES with the concept of clustered covariance, especially improper ensemble design. The standard EnKF, ES, and the proposed method are applied to a 2D synthetic channel field with 200 ensembles. From distance-based clustering method, we separate initial ensembles into 10 groups based its on similarity. The proposed method uses 10 Kalman gains, since each cluster has own Kalman gain. They can represent ensembles properly by using similar ensembles instead of 200 different ensembles. For the channel fields, the standard EnKF and ES show overshooting and filter divergence problems. Updated permeability fields have extreme values and lose the continuity of channel stream. However, the proposed method manages those two problems and provides reasonable results. We can get future prediction with reliable uncertainty. The proposed method only requires about 5% of simulation time compared to EnKF, since it is based on ES. It can be applied to the characterization of channel fields, even though we have improper ensembles due to limited information.
Concentrations of Valuable Elements of the Coals from the Pingshuo Mining District, Ningwu Coalfield, Northern China
Authors: Sun Yuzhuang , Zhao Cunliang , Zhang Jianya , Yang Jingjing , Zhang Yanzhong , Yuan Yue , Xu Jing , Duan Dujuan
Published: August 2013

A total of 840 coal samples were taken from the Pingshuo (Pinglu-Shuoxian) Mining District, Ningwu Coalfield, northern China. The samples were analysed by optical microscopy, sequential chemical extraction procedure, SEM–EDX analysis, X-ray powder diffraction and ICP-MS techniques. The results indicate that the Li, Ga and Al contents of the coals have reached an economically valuable level. Total Li reserves reached 100000, 558400 and 382600 tons in the Nos. 4, 9 and 11 seams, respectively. Total Ga reserves reached 28600, 80700 and 40900 tons in the Nos. 4, 9 and 11 seams, respectively. Total Al reserves reached 206000000 tons in the No. 9 seam. The sequential chemical extraction procedure results indicate that the element concentrations are mainly related to inorganic matter. The minerals are kaolinite, boehmite, chlorite-group mineral, quartz, calcite, pyrite, siderite and amorphous clay material. The kaolinite, boehmite and chlorite phase could be the most likely host of the Li, Ga and Al. These elements could be migrated from the Yinshan Oldland or bauxite of the Benxi formation by absorption. The bauxite of the Benxi formation should be the most possible source of Li, Ga and Al of the coal in the Pingshuo district.
Characteristics of Pulverized Coal during Coalbed Methane Drainage in Hancheng Block, Shaanxi Province, China
Authors: Wei Yingchun , Cao Daiyong , Yuan Yuan , Zhu Xuesheng , Zhang Xiaoyu , Yao Zheng , Zhou Ji
Published: August 2013

Pulverized coal is one of the main controlling factors constraining the capacity of coal-bed methane wells during CBM drainage. The characteristics of pulverized coal can be used to identify the sources of the pulverized coal particles and to develop reasonable means of controlling pulverized coal output. Using light transmission microscopy, laser particle size testing, X-ray diffraction, reflection polarized optical microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X, the characteristics of pulverized coal collected during CBM drainage in the Hancheng block were analyzed for concentration, particle size, composition, and morphology. These traits were used to identify the sources of pulverized coal. The results showed that coal body structure (structural damage) was a primary control factor of pulverized coal output. The sizes of the pulverized coal particles tended to be around 100 μm. The main components of pulverized coal were vitrinite and clay minerals. The pulverized coals were divided into groups based on their columnar, flaky, or granular morphology. Columnar pulverized coal may involve the formation of the native structure coal or the fragmented coal that later sustains erosive damage. Flaky pulverized coal may be produced by the flaking of scaled coal or leaf coal. In this way, granular pulverized coal may be produced from granulated coal. Therefore, the morphology of the pulverized coal was found to be related to its coal body structure and to late mechanical destruction.
De-Oiled Rice Bran as a Source of Bioethanol
Authors: Beliya Esmil , Tiwari Shubhra , Jadhav Shailesh Kumar , Tiwari Kishan Lal
Published: August 2013

Bioethanol is regarded as one of the most promising biofuel from renewable sources. The development of ethanol production from lignocellulosic material is thus considered as the second-generation biofuel technology. Lignocelluloses account for the majority of the total biomass present in the world. To initiate the production of industrially important products from cellulosic biomass, bioconversion of the cellulosic components into fermentable sugars is necessary. A variety of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi may have the ability to degrade the cellulosic biomass to glucose monomers. The main aim of this work is the production of bioethanol from Deoiled Rice Bran by using Pichia kudriavzevii RCEF4907 and to optimize various parameters affecting the production of bioethanol. The production of bioethanol from Deoiled Rice Bran can be estimated by specific gravity method. In this study, various physical and biological methods carried out for the production of bioethanol and analysed optimum parameters such as incubation period, temperature, pH, nutrient supplements and biological pretreatment. Thus under the optimum conditions of temperature 25 °C, pH 6.5, and on 3rd day of fermentation, P. kudriavzevii RCEF4907 produced maximum bioethanol 10.5% while in biological pretreatment 10.8% bioethanol produced and in case of nutrient analysis, 1ml of 1% Urea solution maximum production of bioethanol 11.4% was obtained.
Adsorption Behaviour of Pymetrozine by Four Kinds of Biochar from Aqueous Solution
Authors: Cui Liqiang , Yan Jinlong , Quan Guixiang , Ding Cheng , Chen Tianming , Hussain Qaiser
Published: August 2013

A laboratory experiment was performed to investigate the potential of biochar (BC) as an adsorbent for removing pymetrozine from aqueous solution. The adsorption data were well described by Langmuir isotherm, with maximum pymetrozine adsorption capacities of 13.8, 20.6, 11.0 and 18.8 mg g−1 for bush-, wheat straw-, peanut- and corn-derived BC in a single solution at 25 °C, respectively. The functional groups of BCs were –NH (1628.25 cm−1), –OH (3443.78 cm−1), –PO4 (1089.2 cm−1) and –C–Cl (769.23 cm−1), which were responsible for binding pymetrozine. The adsorption capacity of BC was increased by 7.2–106.4% at different solution pH (1, 3, 5 and 7). The removal efficiency increased with the addition of BCs and over 70% pymetrozine removal was observed upon addition of up to 8 g l−1. The rate of pymetrozine adsorption was fast, with 50–80% of the adsorption occurring in the first 120 minutes, followed by a much slower approach to equilibrium. The ΔG° values decreased (increasingly negative) from −165.3% to 235.9% at 298 K compared with 318 K for the adsorption of pymetrozine onto different BCs in a single solution. The study results indicate that plant residue- or agricultural waste-derived BC can act as an effective surface sorbent, but their ability to treat mixed waste streams needs to be carefully evaluated on an individual basis.
Synthesis of a Molecularly Imprinted Polymer on Silica-Gel Surfaces for the Selective Adsorption of Indole from Fuel Oil
Authors: Cao Yang , Xu Wanzhen , Wu Xiangyang , Li Yuan , Li Hui , Huang Weihong
Published: August 2013

We report a successful synthesis of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) by surface imprinting technique. The polymer was then used for selective adsorption of indole from fuel oil. Nitrogen adsorption, Fourier transform-infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the morphology of indole–MIP. The study results show that indole–MIP has a large specific surface area and enhanced porosity. Static adsorption data indicate that the adsorption capacity of indole–MIP is 54.6639 mg g−1, with the adsorption equilibrium achieved in 40 minutes. The indole–MIP molecule has a high adsorption and elution rate due to the presence of hydrogen bond between the functional monomer (4-vinylpyridine) and the template molecule (indole). According to the results of thermodynamic analysis, the adsorption process is spontaneous. In addition, based on the results of kinetics and isotherm analysis, adsorption performances obey pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir equation. The selectivity of indole–MIP is favourable and can be reused even after 10 cycles.
Synthesis and Adsorption of Ni(II) on Ni(II)-Imprinted Polyaniline Supported on Attapulgite Modified with 3-Methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane
Authors: Xu Hui , Tang Jing , Tan Lin , Wang Wei , Lu Hailin , Guo Donghong
Published: August 2013

A novel Ni(II) ion-imprinted polymer [Ni(II)–IIP] was prepared by surface-imprinting technique using aniline as the functional monomer and 3-methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS)-modified attapulgite as the support material. The prepared sorbents were characterized by Fourier transmission infrared spectra, BET and scanning electron microscopy. The adsorption experiments carried out using Ni(II)–IIPs were optimized by changing the length of the polymer, contact time, solution pH, the concentration of template ion and the amount of cross-linking agent, etc. In addition, batch experiments were performed to evaluate adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherms. The study results revealed that Ni(II)–IIPs had higher adsorption capacity and higher recognizing ability for Ni2+ compared with non-imprinted polymers. The experimental data fitted well with both the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model. The maximum theoretical adsorption capacity for Ni2+ ions is 123.61 mg/g. The relative selectivity factor values of Ni(II)–IIPs for adsorbing Ni2+/Cu2+, Ni2+/Hg2+ and Ni2+/Cr2O72– are 80.94, 31.68 and 5.29, respectively. In addition, the decrease in the adsorption capacity of Ni(II)–IIPs is negligible after reusing several times.
Adsorption of Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution by Periodic Mesoporous Titanium Phosphonate Materials
Authors: Ren Tie-Zhen , Zhu Xiao-Hua , Ma Tian-Yi , Yuan Zhong-Yong
Published: August 2013

Periodic mesoporous titanium phosphonate (PMTP-1) materials were synthesized and used as an adsorbent for the removal of a cationic dye, methylene blue (MB), from aqueous solutions. The PMTP-1 powder has a uniform mesopore size of 2.9 nm with high surface area of 606 m2/g. The batch-dye adsorption experiments were performed under various conditions including contact time, adsorbent dose, initial MB concentration, solution pH and temperature. The adsorption equilibrium was achieved after 30 minutes of contact time, and the adsorption of MB on PMTP-1 was best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm model with the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 617.28 mg/g. Thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG, ΔH and ΔS were calculated. Results of kinetic studies indicated that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model, which suggests that the process might be a chemisorption. The study results indicate that the PMTP-1 powder could be used as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of textile dyes from effluents.
Synthesis of Zeolite SSZ-13 for N2 and CO2 Separation
Authors: Tang Jiaodi , Zhou Yaping , Su Wei , Liu Xiuwu , Sun Yan
Published: August 2013

Zeolite SSZ-13 was synthesized by a traditional hydrothermal method, and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The porous structure of the samples was determined from nitrogen uptake measurements at 77 K, and the surface properties were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The zeolite SSZ-13 had a type I isotherm with a uniform pore-size distribution and most pores were less than 1 nm. The Langmuir surface area was 703 m2/g. The adsorption of various gases on SSZ-13 was studied experimentally and a high selectivity for CO2 over N2 was achieved.
Kinetic and Equilibrium Studies on the Adsorption of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) by Rape Straw
Authors: Gong Xiao-Bao
Published: August 2013

Various kinds of biological materials have been investigated as an alternative biosorbent to treat low-metal-bearing wastewaters. In this study, rape straw (RS), a kind of agricultural waste abundantly available at no cost, was used as an efficient biosorbent for the removal of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions from aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacity of RS was found to be 61.9 mg g−1 for Pb(II) at pH 4.0, 17.7 mg g−1 for Cd(II) at pH 6.0 and 7.82 mg g−1 for Cu(II) at pH 5.0. The Langmuir isotherm model provides the closest fit to the adsorption data of Pb(II) and Cd(II), whereas the Freundlich model best explained the adsorption of Cu(II). Moreover, the adsorption data of these three metals were all well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Scanning electron microscopic analysis demonstrated a conspicuous surface morphology change in the Pb(II)-, Cd(II)- or Cu(II)-adsorbed adsorbent system. Results of Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis suggested the involvement of amine, carboxyl, phosphate and hydroxyl groups during adsorption. Based on the study results, it can be concluded that RS can be evaluated as an alternative biosorbent to remove Pb(II), Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions from industrial wastewaters.
Stories on Geographies: Geo-Social Tagging for Co-Creation of Cultural Value
Authors: Bonacini E.
Published: August 2013

ICTs evolution in the field of digital cultural participation has helped turn geo-social tagging into a new form of creation of cultural value through user-generated contents (UGC). Tagging a place is giving that place a story: this means being able to write digital stories on geographies and to rediscover our territory in a new and shared way. Aim of this paper is to demonstrate the potential of these digital tools, basing our study on some examples of geo-tagging and geo-social blogs, in Italy and abroad, creating forms of real social tagging and urban digital storytelling.
3D Digital Terrestrial Model Creation Using Image Assisted Total Station and Rapid Prototyping Technology
Authors: Pantazis G. , Lambrou E. , Polydoras S. , Gotsis V.
Published: August 2013

This paper presents the integrate procedure for the documentation and fabrication of the 3D Digital Terrestrial Model (DTM) of inaccessible and rough surfaces. The proposed procedure combines the use of modern Image Assisted Total Stations (IATS) with Rapid Prototyping (RP) Technology. The determination of the measurement accuracy, as well as, the a-priori estimation of σo of the surface creation is achieved by using the Monte Carlo technique and the least square method. Also, basic concepts and principles of RP technologies are presented. The application of the procedure was realized at the difficult and inhospitable area of the central crater “Stefanos” on Nisyros Island's Volcano, Greece. The a-priori calculation of the minimum essential scanning step, as well as, the testing use of two IATSs is included. Additionally, the elaboration and the special algorithms used for the actual RP fabrication of the crater's tangible model are illustrated. Finally a scholastic check of the model's reliability is applied.
123D Catch: Efficiency, Accuracy, Constraints and Limitations in Architectural Heritage Field
Authors: Santagati C. , Inzerillo L.
Published: August 2013

Today, the accurate and detailed reconstruction of geometric models of real objects has become a common process. The diffusion of Image-based 3D modeling techniques, through image-based free, low cost and open source software, have increased drastically in the past few years, especially in the sector of Cultural Heritage (Architecture, Archeology, Urban planning). Nevertheless, web based software (ARC3D, 123D Catch, Hyp3D, my3Dscanner) offer another opportunity respect the desktop systems: they use the power of cloud computing to carry out a semi-automatic data processing. In this way is overcome the considerably slowing-down of the computer of hardware-heavy approaches. Our research investigates the limits and potentialities of 3D models obtained by using Autodesk 123D Catch in Architectural Heritage field, in order to verify the applicability of the method for the practitioner purpose. Our goal is to evaluate Catch efficiency, accuracy, constraints and limitations in order to provide insight into the current state of 3D modeling products. Our methodology forecasts the comparison between 123D Catch models and terrestrial laser scanner 3D acquisition in order to verify metric accuracy. Therefore, we propose a lot of interesting examples applied in architectural heritage field from the detail to the large scale.
THE PRACTICE OF EFFECTIVE INCENTIVES
Authors: Комаров Евгений , Komarov Evgeniy
Published: August 2013

This article shows the experience of famous Mary Kay Cosmetics to encourage staff. This experience will be useful for each enterprise and each manager.

Not every manager can create an effective system of incentives for staff. One of the reasons of this fact is that they forgot the time, when they were subordinates, and their perceptions of incentives and disincentives. “Return to the subordinate” is a useful method for assessing the pros and cons of the system of incentives. It is also useful to get acquainted with the practice of effective stimulation and to compare it with your own.
Risks of entrepreneurship and its security
Authors: Горбунов Владимир , Gorbunov Vladimir
Published: August 2013

The author analizes various methods of risk assessment and describes the features of performance of financial calculations under innovative projects by means of a software package “AEProject”. The used likelihood model of business processes allowing more precisely defines the financial streams of the project, the account of risks concerning such features with their likelihood characteristics and possibility of designing of process taking into account real risk situations.
Quality indexes impact of innovative products on the rate of diffusion
Authors: Киндюкова Светлана , Kindyukova Svetlana , Черкасов Михаил , Cherkasov Mikhail
Published: August 2013

The article is devoted to the increase of the rate of innovations diffusion developed by the manufacturing companies. The authors reveal the main factors that speed up and slow down the process, analyze the possibility of accelerating the diffusion of innovations developed by the manufacturing companies on the basis of the boundary-bunt management of quality indicators.
How donors choose charities: the role of personal taste and experiences in giving decisions
Authors: Breeze Beth
Published: August 2013

The question of how donors decide which charities to support, as opposed to questions about whether to give and how much to give, has been under-researched. This article presents findings from a qualitative study of 60 committed donors in the United Kingdom and concludes that charitable decision making is primarily driven by donors’ tastes and personal background, and that inertia and path dependency also account for many of their current donation decisions. Despite subscribing to popular beliefs that charitable giving should be directed primarily to the needy, donors often support organisations that promote their own preferences, that help people with whom they feel some affinity and that support causes that relate to their own life experiences.
Antibodies Biotinylated Using a Synthetic Z-domain from Protein A Provide Stringent In Situ Protein Detection
Authors: Andersson Sandra , Konrad Anna , Ashok Nikhil , Pontén Fredrik , Hober Sophia , Asplund Anna
Published: August 2013

Antibody-based protein profiling on a global scale using immunohistochemistry constitutes an emerging strategy for mapping of the human proteome, which is crucial for an increased understanding of biological processes in the cell. Immunohistochemistry is often performed indirectly using secondary antibodies for detection, with the benefit of signal amplification. Direct immunohistochemistry instead brings the advantage of multiplexing; however, it requires labeling of the primary antibody. Many antibody-labeling kits do not specifically target IgG and may therefore cause labeling of stabilizing proteins present in the antibody solution. A new conjugation method has been developed that utilizes a modified Z-domain of protein A (ZBPA) to specifically target the Fc part of antibodies. The aim of the present study was to compare the ZBPA conjugation method and a commercially available labeling kit, Lightning-Link, for in situ protein detection. Fourteen antibodies were biotinylated with each method and stained using immunohistochemistry. For all antibodies tested, ZBPA biotinylation resulted in distinct immunoreactivity without off-target staining, regardless of the presence of stabilizing proteins in the buffer, whereas the majority of the Lightning-Link biotinylated antibodies displayed a characteristic pattern of nonspecific staining. We conclude that biotinylated ZBPA domain provides a stringent method for antibody biotinylation, advantageous for in situ protein detection in tissues.
Returns from the margins: Little Edie Beale and the legacy of Grey Gardens
Authors: Adair David , Boyd Annita
Published: August 2013

Too often, innovation in style has been thought of in terms of either top/down or bottom/up movements of ideas. The continuing interest in Edie Bouvier Beale of Grey Gardens as a style innovator is an opportunity to question this orthodoxy. This article seeks to understand the myriad ways in which Edie challenged the rules of acceptable behaviour and dress. It also deals with her recent recuperation and rehabilitation into a cultural icon. Edie’s image has come to us via numerous reiterations, beginning with the Maysles Brothers’ 1975 documentary Grey Gardens. It is through these retellings that Edie as a creative force has recirculated and gained mythic status. Edie played with inversion of categories, and bodily and geographical zones: wearing too-small skirts upside down; cardigans wrapped as turbans around her head; bedspreads as dresses; the American flag as shawl; and her favourite – accessorizing a bathing suit with pantyhose, pumps and skivvy. In life, Edie’s unconventionality threatened to consume her; in death it has brought her a measure of immortality.
Refashioning the post-mastectomy body in How to Look Good Naked
Authors: Powell Liz
Published: August 2013

Breast cancer occupies a prominent and powerful position within our cultural imagination. Unlike most other forms of cancer, and indeed most other medical conditions in general, breast cancer is widely discussed and repeatedly represented within popular culture. In order to investigate the impact this development in the cultural understanding of breast cancer has had on both the narration and experience of the disease, this article will examine two televised breast cancer narratives that directly address issues of body-image, sexuality and femininity.
Contesting feminisms, commercial femininities and the fashioning of adolescent girlhood in Wild Child (2008)
Authors: Gwynne Joel
Published: August 2013

This article presents a detailed analysis of one film in the genre of adolescent romantic comedy, Nick Moore’s Wild Child (2008), and considers how the film can be read as a case study of postfeminist girlhood. In particular, it focuses on the film’s implicit construction of young women’s complicated engagement with feminist history, with the aim of answering the following questions: if much of second-wave feminist discourse dismissed femininity as an artificial, man-made product, and if ‘new feminisms’ oppose this political position by reclaiming and reconstituting femininity, then how is this divisive relationship enacted in contemporary Hollywood cinema? What is the role of consumer culture and fashion in the discordant performances of contesting feminisms and commercial femininities?
Ugly Betty’s Latina body: Race, ethnicity, class and gender in contemporary US television
Authors: Tierney Dolores
Published: August 2013

This article explores how ABC’s fashion magazine set Ugly Betty (Ventanarosa/Reveille Productions, 2006–2010) makes a camp challenge to the ethnic- and class-based constructions of Latinness in mainstream media. It argues that the series’ progressiveness lies in its self conscious ‘makeover’ of both the original telenovela and the character of Betty. In the series Betty’s ‘ugliness’ is shown to be the product of not just aesthetics but also class and ethnographic discourses. This article traces the origins of the cultural, class-based and racial norms of beauty that Betty plays with exploring how these are mapped onto Betty’s body in the first two seasons. It looks at how these beauty norms connect to contemporary notions of social mobility that are increasingly prominent in the third and final fourth season of the series.
Lp
compression of some HNN extensions
Authors: Jolissaint Pierre-Nicolas , Pillon Thibault
Published: August 2013

In [J. Lie Theory 13 (2003), no. 2, 383–385], the authors introduced a framework to prove that a large class of HNN extensions have the Haagerup property, the main motivation being Baumslag–Solitar groups. Using this framework and new tools on locally compact groups developed in [“Amenable
hyperbolic groups”, preprint (2012)], we are able to obtain quantitative results on embeddings into Lebesgue spaces for a large class of HNN extensions.