bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High negative predictive value of a normal faecal calprotectin in patients with symptomatic intestinal disease
Authors: Turvill James
Published: September 2011

Background

Calprotectin is a heat stable intracellular protein shed by neutrophils into the intestinal lumen in response to inflammation. Lack of specificity makes its role in the assessment of inflammatory bowel disease uncertain. However, the strength of faecal calprotectin testing may lie in its negative predictive value (NPV) rather than positive predictive value (PPV) of organic intestinal disease.

Objectives

To determine whether a normal faecal calprotectin in new patients with symptoms safely predicts for functional intestinal disease.

Methods

To determine the predictive values of normal and raised faecal calprotectin by retrospective review of outcomes in consecutive primary care referrals into secondary care. Patients aged 16–60 years (mean age 41 years; 70% female patients) with intestinal symptoms were identified. 500 referrals had a normal faecal calprotectin and 130 had a raised result. ‘Fast track’ referrals were excluded. Outcome measures were the NPV of a normal faecal calprotectin and PPV of a raised faecal calprotectin.

Results

Normal faecal calprotectin had an NPV of 0.964 for excluding symptomatic organic intestinal disease. Significant incidental non-intestinal (3.6%) and intestinal (6.4%) diseases were also identified. Mean follow-up was 4.8 years with no diagnostic revisions. In the raised faecal calprotectin cohort, the PPV for organic intestinal disease was 0.7.

Conclusions

A normal faecal calprotectin safely predicts for functional intestinal disease. It may represent a powerful screening tool for excluding organic intestinal disease in primary care. A prospective primary care based study is needed.
THE INTERPOLATING ELEMENT-FREE GALERKIN (IEFG) METHOD FOR TWO-DIMENSIONAL ELASTICITY PROBLEMS
Authors: REN HONGPING , CHENG YUMIN
Published: September 2011

In this paper, a new method for deriving the moving least-squares (MLS) approximation is presented, and the interpolating moving least-squares (IMLS) method proposed by Lancaster is improved. Compared with the IMLS method proposed by Lancaster, a simpler formula of the shape function is given in the improved IMLS method in this paper so that the new method has higher computing efficiency. Combining the shape function constructed by the improved IMLS method with Galerkin weak form of the elasticity problems, the interpolating element-free Galerkin (IEFG) method for the two-dimensional elasticity problems is presented, and the corresponding formulae are obtained. In the IEFG method, the boundary conditions can be applied directly which makes the computing efficiency higher than the conventional EFG method. Some numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of the method.
HEAT TRANSFER AND PRESSURE DROP CHARACTERISTICS OF FIN-AND-TUBE HEAT EXCHANGERS HAVING SPIRAL FINS UNDER WET CONDITIONS
Authors: LEE JIN-WOOK , KIM NAE-HYUN , SIM HYUN-MIN
Published: September 2011

In this study, wet surface j and f factors were obtained for spiral fin-and-tube heat exchangers. Nine samples having different fin pitches (2.12, 2.54 and 3.18 mm) and different tube rows (1, 2 and 3 row) were tested. Data are compared with those of the dry surface. For the wet surface, the effect of fin pitch on j factor is not significant. However, f factor decreases as the number of tube row increases. The j factor increases as the number of tube row increases. Different from the j factor, f factor decreases as the number of tube row increases. At one row configuration, the dry surface j factor is larger than that of the wet surface one. As the number of tube row increases, the trend is gradually reversed. Possible reasoning is provided considering the condensate behavior under wet condition. A new j and f factor correlation is developed, which predicts j and f factors within ± 20% and ± 30%, respectively.
Heavy traffic analysis of the discriminatory randomorderofservice discipline
Authors: Ayesta U. , Izagirre A. , Verloop I. M.
Published: September 2011

We study the steady-state queue-length vector in a multiclass single-server queue with relative priorities. Upon service completion, the probability that the next customer to be served is from class k is controlled by class-dependent weights. Once a customer has started service, it is served without interruption until completion. This is a generalization of the random-order-of-service discipline.

We investigate the system in a heavy-traffic regime. We first establish a state-space collapse for the scaled queue length vector, that is, the scaled queue length vector is in the limit the product of an exponentially distributed random variable and a deterministic vector. As a direct consequence, we obtain that the scaled number of customers in the system reduces as classes with smaller mean service requirement obtain relatively larger weights. In addition, we present the distribution of the scaled sojourn time of a customer given its class, in heavy traffic.
Search, adapt, and reuse
Authors: Cohen-Boulakia Sarah , Leser Ulf
Published: September 2011

Over the last years, a number of scientific workflow management systems (SciWFM) have been brought to a state of maturity that should permit their usage in a production-style environment. This is especially true for the Life Sciences, but SciWFM also attract considerable attention in fields like geophysics or climate research. These developments, accompanied by the growing availability of analytical tools wrapped as (web) services, were driven by a series of very interesting promises: End users will be empowered to develop their own pipelines; reuse of services will be enhanced by easier integration into custom workflows; time necessary for developing analysis pipelines will decrease; etc. But despite all efforts, SciWFM have not yet found widespread acceptance in their intended audience. In this paper, we argue that a wider adoption of SciWFM will only be achieved if the focus of research and development is shifted from methods for developing and running workflows to searching, adapting, and reusing existing workflows. Only by this shift can SciWFM outreach to the mass of domain scientists actually performing scientific analysis - and with little interest in developing them themselves. To this end, SciWFM need to be combined with communitywide workflow repositories allowing users to find solutions for their scientific needs (coded as a workflow). In this vision paper, we show how and where such developments have already started and highlight new research questions arising.
Use of Silicone Sizers in Implantation of Porous Polyethylene Nasal Dorsal Implants in Asians
Authors: Pham Randal
Published: September 2011

Introduction. A new technique of implantation of high-density porous polyethylene nasal dorsal implants in Asians is described in this paper. Silicone sizers, which have smooth surfaces, were used to facilitate implantation of porous polyethylene implants in Asian patients. Materials and Methods. Twenty-three patients of Asian descent underwent dorsal augmentation rhinoplasty with open technique using high-density porous polyethylene implants. In all cases, silicone sizers were used to facilitate implantations of high-density porous polyethylene nasal dorsal implants. Patient selection criteria exclude patients with history of cocaine use, history of nasal or sinus disorders, previous nasal surgery, deviated septum, poor cartilage support, and thin skin. Results. No bleeding, infection, rejection, displacement, or extrusion was noted. One implant was removed because of a patient's dissatisfaction with the resulting tip height. Conclusion. The use of silicone sizers to facilitate implantations of high-density porous polyethylene nasal dorsal implants was safe and efficacious.
Health Assessment of Large Two Dimensional Structures Using Limited Information: Recent Advances
Authors: Das Ajoy Kumar , Haldar Achintya , Chakraborty Subrata
Published: September 2011

Some recent advances of a recently developed structural health assessment procedure proposed by the research team at the University of Arizona, commonly known as generalized iterative least-squares extended Kalman filter with unknown input (GILS-EKF-UI) are presented. The procedure is a finite elements-based time-domain system-identification technique. It can assess structural health at the element level using only limited number of noise-contaminated responses. With the help of examples, it is demonstrated that the structure can be excited by multiple loadings simultaneously. The method can identify defects in various stages of degradation in single or multiple members and also relatively less severe defect. The defective element(s) need not be in the substructure, but the defect detection capability increases if the defect spot is close to the substructure. Two alternatives are suggested to locate defect spot more accurately within a defective element. The paper advances several areas of GILS-EKF-UI to assess health of large structural systems.
An Empirical Analysis of China's Dualistic Economic Development: 1965–2009
Authors: Ercolani Marco G. , Wei Zheng
Published: September 2011

We analyze China's rapid economic development in the context of the dualistic development theory. Over the period 1965–2009, we find that China's economic growth is mainly attributable to the development of the non-agricultural (industrial and service) sector, driven by rapid labor migration and capital accumulation. We find that the sectoral reallocation of labor plays a significant role in promoting China's economic growth. Further, we find that the marginal productivity of agricultural labor stopped stagnating in 1978, which indicates that China entered quickly into phase two of economic development with the initiation of market reforms. Moreover, by 2009, the marginal productivity of labor has likely exceeded the institutional wage, as defined by the initially low average labor productivity, indicating that China may be now in the process of entering phase three of economic development.
Hyperspectral Earth Observation from IASI: Five Years of Accomplishments
Authors: Hilton Fiona , Armante Raymond , August Thomas , Barnet Chris , Bouchard Aurelie , Camy-Peyret Claude , Capelle Virginie , Clarisse Lieven , Clerbaux Cathy , Coheur Pierre-Francois , Collard Andrew , Crevoisier Cyril , Dufour Gaelle , Edwards David , Faijan Francois , Fourrié Nadia , Gambacorta Antonia , Goldberg Mitchell , Guidard Vincent , Hurtmans Daniel , Illingworth Samuel , Jacquinet-Husson Nicole , Kerzenmacher Tobias , Klaes Dieter , Lavanant Lydie , Masiello Guido , Matricardi Marco , McNally Anthony , Newman Stuart , Pavelin Edward , Payan Sebastien , Péquignot Eric , Peyridieu Sophie , Phulpin Thierry , Remedios John , Schlüssel Peter , Serio Carmine , Strow Larrabee , Stubenrauch Claudia , Taylor Jonathan , Tobin David , Wolf Walter , Zhou Daniel
Published: September 2011

The Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) forms the main infrared sounding component of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites's (EUMETSAT's) Meteorological Operation (MetOp)-A satellite (Klaes et al. 2007), which was launched in October 2006. This article presents the results of the first 4 yr of the operational IASI mission. The performance of the instrument is shown to be exceptional in terms of calibration and stability. The quality of the data has allowed the rapid use of the observations in operational numerical weather prediction (NWP) and the development of new products for atmospheric chemistry and climate studies, some of which were unexpected before launch. The assimilation of IASI observations in NWP models provides a significant forecast impact; in most cases the impact has been shown to be at least as large as for any previous instrument. In atmospheric chemistry, global distributions of gases, such as ozone and carbon monoxide, can be produced in near–real time, and short-lived species, such as ammonia or methanol, can be mapped, allowing the identification of new sources. The data have also shown the ability to track the location and chemistry of gaseous plumes and particles associated with volcanic eruptions and fires, providing valuable data for air quality monitoring and aircraft safety. IASI also contributes to the establishment of robust long-term data records of several essential climate variables. The suite of products being developed from IASI continues to expand as the data are investigated, and further impacts are expected from increased use of the data in NWP and climate studies in the coming years. The instrument has set a high standard for future operational hyperspectral infrared sounders and has demonstrated that such instruments have a vital role in the global observing system.
Student Impacts on Urban Neighbourhoods: Policy Approaches, Discourses and Dilemmas
Authors: Munro Moira , Livingston Mark
Published: September 2011

This paper provides evidence on the impacts that students have had on neighbourhoods in five case study cities in the UK. Drawing on extensive qualitative interview data in these cities, the paper shows how national policy towards higher education had unintended and unanticipated problems for urban policy-makers. It argues that responses to these problems are shaped by discourses about what is normalised student behaviour and, implicitly, class-based ideologies. These are argued to shape the way in which the problems created by studentified neighbourhoods are perceived and the way in which local actors subsequently respond.
A robust and efficient genetic algorithm for solving a chemical reactor problem: theory, application and convergence analysis
Authors: Alsmadi Othman MK , Abo-Hammour Zaer S , Al-Smadi Adnan M , Saraireh Mohammad S
Published: September 2011

Solution of the chemical reactor problem, as an optimal control problem, using continuous genetic algorithms (CGAs) is presented in this paper. The proposed approach overcomes the drawbacks of the traditional approaches in terms of lack of efficiency, lack of accuracy and lack of robustness. The solution is based on the value of the performance index and the final system state constraints. Simulation results show clearly that the new technique outperforms the existing direct and indirect methods. Based on the convergence analysis, the solution of the optimal control problem is achieved without any limitation on the nature of the problem and regardless of the CGA tuning parameters.
System identification for the errors-in-variables problem
Authors: Söderström Torsten
Published: September 2011

In this paper we give an overview of errors-in-variables methods in system identification. Background and motivation are given. Simple examples illustrate why the identification problem can be difficult. Under general weak assumptions, the systems are not uniquely identifiable, but can be parameterized using one degree of freedom. Examples where identifiability is achieved under additional assumptions are also provided. A number of approaches for parameter estimation of errors-in-variables models are presented. The underlying assumptions and principles for each approach are highlighted.
Statelessness, sentimentality and human rights
Authors: Staples Kelly
Published: September 2011

This article considers the ongoing difficulties for mainstream political theory of actualizing human rights, with particular reference to Rorty’s attempt to transcend their liberal foundations. It argues that there is a problematic disjuncture between his articulation of exclusion and his hope for inclusion via the expansion of the liberal human rights culture. More specifically, it shows that Rorty’s description of victimhood is based on premises unavailable to him, with the consequence that stateless persons are rendered inhuman, and, further, that his accounts of sentimentality and solidarity have limited potential for the inclusion of such victims within the liberal ‘community of justification’. In the final analysis, the article argues that there is a substantial mismatch between Rorty’s dependence on both liberal norms and international political practice, and his hopes for the human rights culture to include those stripped of human dignity.
How to enhance humification during composting of separately collected biowaste: impact of feedstock and processing
Authors: Binner Erwin , Smidt Ena , Tintner Johannes , Böhm Katharina , Lechner Peter
Published: September 2011

Conventional parameters (loss on ignition, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, C/N-ratio, respiration activity (RA4), compost status (= ‘Rottegrad’), NH4-N and NO3-N) are not correlated to humification. At best, they provide information on the biological stability (status of degradation) of composts. Humic substances which are a source of stable organic matter and nutrients are discussed as a parameter describing compost quality. Thus, in the present research project a photometric method evaluating humic acids was used to characterize the quality of 211 Austrian and foreign composts made from source-separated collected biowaste or sewage sludge. Furthermore, parameters influencing the formation of humic acids during the rotting process were investigated by implementing rotting experiments in the laboratory as well as in composting plants. The analysed composts showed humic acid contents between 2.5 and 47 %, calculated on a organic dry matter (oDM) basis. In addition to the duration of treatment the main influence on humification was the feedstock used. Stabilized sewage sludge, biowaste after intensive anaerobic pre-treatment or biowaste with low reactivity (RA4) or uniform composition (e.g. mainly grass) showed a low formation of humic acids. For optimum humification the feedstock needed to contain components that are well balanced from scarcely to easily degradable compounds. Processing also influenced humification. Open windrow systems and reactor systems allow the same quality to be produced when operated well, but optimizing mineralization (e.g. very intensive aeration) showed negative effects. The positive condition required for humification is an unhurried (not too intense) degradation with long-lasting biological activity in which microbes have enough time to use the metabolic products of degradation for humification.
Investigating composition and production rate of healthcare waste and associated management practices in Bandar Abbass, Iran
Authors: Koolivand Ali , Mahvi Amir Hossein , Alipoor Vali , Azizi Kourosh , Binavapour Mohammad
Published: September 2011

The objective of this study was to identify the composition and production rate of healthcare waste and associated management practices in healthcare centres in Bandar Abbas, southern Iran. A total of 90 centres, including 30 physician offices, 30 dental offices and 30 clinics were selected in random way. Two samples in summer and two samples in winter were taken and weighed from each selected centre at the end of successive working day on Mondays and Tuesdays. Results showed that the mean of daily production rate for each clinic, dental and physician office were 2125.3, 498.3 and 374.9 g, respectively. Domestic-type and potentially infectious waste had the highest and chemical and pharmaceutical waste and sharps had the lowest percentages in all centres. Questionnaire results indicated that there were no effective activity for waste minimization, separation, reuse and recycling in healthcare centres and management of sharps, potentially infectious and other hazardous waste was poor.
Incinerator performance: effects of changes in waste input and furnace operation on air emissions and residues
Authors: Astrup Thomas , Riber Christian , Pedersen Anne Juul
Published: September 2011

Waste incineration can be considered a robust technology for energy recovery from mixed waste. Modern incinerators are generally able to maintain relatively stable performance, but changes in waste input and furnace operation may affect emissions. This study investigated how inorganic air emissions and residue composition at a full-scale incinerator were affected by known additions of specific waste materials to the normal municipal solid waste (MSW) input. Six individual experiments were carried out (% ww of total waste input): NaCl (0.5%), shoes (1.6%), automobile shredder waste (14%), batteries (0.5%), poly(vinyl chloride) (5.5%) and chromate-cupper-arsenate impregnated wood (11%). Materials were selected based on chemical composition and potential for being included or excluded from the waste mix. Critical elements in the waste materials were identified based on comparison with six experiments including ‘as-large-as-possible’ changes in furnace operation (oxygen levels, air supply and burnout level) only using normal MSW as input. The experiments showed that effects from the added waste materials were significant in relation to: air emissions (in particular As, Cd, Cr, Hg, Sb), element transfer coefficients, and residue composition (As, Cd, Cl, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Sb, Zn). Changes in furnace operation could not be directly linked to changes in emissions and residues. The results outlined important elements in waste which should be addressed in relation to waste incinerator performance. Likely ranges of element transfer coefficients were provided as the basis for sensitivity analysis of life-cycle assessment (LCA) results involving waste incinerator technologies
Rapport de thèse de doctorat en Science politique (Paris Dauphine) de Philippe Blanchard : Les médias et l’agenda de l’électronucléaire en France. 1970-2000
Authors: Brugidou Mathieu
Published: September 2011

Report on the Political Science Doctoral Thesis (Paris Dauphine) of Philippe Blanchard: The Media and the Agenda of Nuclear Power in France, 1970-2000: This book review focuses on the thesis of Philippe Blanchard, The Media and the Agenda of Nuclear Power in France 1970-2000. In this thesis, the agenda has been studied in two complementary ways: one based on modelling, the other on sociology. Their combined use helps to understand the construction of the nuclear issue as a long-term public controversy and policy. This note highlights the important methodological issues addressed by this thesis.
Modelling and testing of ageing of short fibre reinforced polymer composites
Authors: Młyniec A , Uhl T
Published: September 2011

A study in accelerated humidity–temperature ageing and it is numerical modelling for short fibre reinforced polymer composites (SFRPC) based on poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) is reported. Authors described experimental results of humidity–temperature ageing of PBT reinforced with glass fibres and proposed a novel computation method of strength and durability analysis for SFRPC parts. Experimental results showed different ageing behaviours, which depend on fibre alignment, e.g. a decrease of Young’s modulus in longitudinal fibre alignment in tension after ageing, an increase of Young’s modulus in transverse direction in tension after ageing, and the increase of the shear modulus and decrease of shear strength after ageing in both directions. Proposed modelling procedure takes the fibre orientation from mould filling analysis as an independent material orientation, using a developed ageing dependent material model, based on tensile, compressive, and shear properties for longitudinal and transverse fibre alignments, and calculates failure criteria as a function of the ageing time and fibre alignment. An innovative approach is to create a fibre alignment dependent material ageing model which takes into account changes of material properties depending on the direction of the reinforcement. This methodology was extended to arbitrary models and validated on real parts made of SFRPC.
Development and in vitro evaluation of a flow-adjustable elastic drug infusion pump
Authors: Choi S-W , Kang S-M , Kim H-Y , Nam K-W
Published: September 2011

Passive-type drug infusion pumps have several advantages over active-type pumps including a simple drug chamber structure and relatively high operational stability. However, conventional passive-type infusion pumps also have several limitations compared to active ejection pumps, such as a fixed flowrate and monotonic flow pattern. To enhance the clinical feasibility of using passive-type drug infusion pumps, flow readjustment and flow regulation abilities are needed. This paper proposes a new portable elastic drug infusion pump that integrates the advantages of active and passive infusion pumps to improve clinical feasibility. The proposed infusion pump incorporates a passively driven drug chamber and an actively adjusted flow controller, which can adjust and regulate various target flowrates and adjust the flow pattern in accordance with the patient’s time-varying physiological status. The proposed infusion pump uses the contraction force of an expanded elastic membrane to extract the drug from the drug chamber for delivery into the patient’s body through an outlet catheter. It also utilizes a flow sensor, a flow resistor, and a motor-driven flow restrictor that can monitor the real-time flowrate through the outlet catheter and automatically regulate the actual flowrate around the target value. Experiments on the proposed system resulted in actual injection rates of 0.49 ± 0.03 (mean ± standard deviation), 0.98 ± 0.03, 1.49 ± 0.04, and 1.99 ± 0.03 ml/h when the target injection rate was set to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 ml/h, respectively. During the entire period of operation from the fully filled state to the totally empty state, an inner-chamber pressure of >100 mmHg was maintained, which shows that the proposed infusion pump can stably maintain its target flowrate as the amount of drug remaining to be injected decreases. It appears that the proposed drug infusion pump can be applied to a wide variety of patient treatments that require short-term, accurate, and stable drug delivery.
Simultaneous repair of two large cranial defects using rapid prototyping and custom computer-designed titanium plates: a case report
Authors: Morrison D A , Guy D T , Day R E , Lee G Y F
Published: September 2011

Custom titanium cranioplasty plates, manufactured by a variety of techniques, have been used to repair a range of cranial defects. The authors present a case where two relatively large, adjacent cranial defects were repaired by custom computer-designed titanium plates. The two plates were designed and fabricated simultaneously using a unique methodology. A 28-year-old woman underwent a corpus callosotomy for medically intractable epilepsy. The surgery was complicated by unexpected haemorrhage which necessitated a second craniotomy. Subsequent deep infection required the removal of bilateral bone flaps, presenting a challenge in the reconstruction of extensive, bilateral but asymmetrical cranial defects. The patient underwent a head computed tomography scan, from which a rapid-prototype model of the skull was produced. The surfaces for the missing cranial segments were generated virtually using a combination of software products and two titanium plates that followed these virtual contours were manufactured to cover the defects. The cranioplasty procedure to implant both titanium cranial plates was performed efficiently with no intra-operative complications. Intra-operatively, an excellent fit was achieved. The careful planning of the plates enhanced the relative ease with which the cranial defects were repaired with an excellent cosmetic outcome.
Researching Urban Space, Reflecting on Advertising
Authors: Cronin Anne M.
Published: September 2011

This photo essay places into dialogue practices of photographing urban space and the market research practices of the U.K. outdoor advertising industry. It explores photography as a method for accessing understandings of cities, and it examines ways of analyzing the interplay between photographic practices and data gathered through ethnography. Through personal reflections on the research process, the essay considers the spatial practices of the outdoor advertising industry and how its billboards and panels act to space out cities and city imaginaries.
Surface interactions in lubrication of titanium, aluminium, and titanium–aluminium alloys with the ionic liquid [C2mim]Tf2N under increasing temperature
Authors: Bermúdez MD , Jiménez AE
Published: September 2011

The tribological behaviour and surface interactions of Al2011/AISI 52100 steel at 25°C, 100°C, and 200°C, using the room-temperature ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide ([C2mim][Tf2N]) as lubricant have been studied and compared with that of Ti6Al4V and Ti Grade 3. The best tribological performance at room temperature is that of Ti6Al4V, while Ti Grade 3 shows the lowest friction coefficients and wear rates at high temperature. Al2011 shows constant friction coefficients with no running-in periods. The tribochemical interactions between [C2mim][Tf2N] and Al2011 produce a tribolayer on the steel ball containing sulphur from the IL anion combined with Cu from the Al2011 alloy, while wear debris are mainly composed of aluminium oxide and fluoride. Al2011 wear debris morphology evolves from powder at 25°C, to adhesion flat flakes at 100°C, to abrasion chips at 200°C. The titanium alloys show high running-in friction values, with running-in distances that increase with increasing temperature. Titanium Grade 3 shows an adhesive wear mechanism, with material transference to the steel ball and formation of a tribolayer on the wear track as a result of the tribochemical interactions with the IL anion. At 200°C, Ti6Al4V shows a more abrasive wear mechanism than Ti Grade 3, due to severe corrosion of the steel ball.
Ashes to asses: an archaeological perspective on death and donkeys
Authors: Williams Howard
Published: September 2011

This article considers the Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon, UK, as an example of how animal rescue centres and sanctuaries have developed in the UK over the last 30 years as a new form of charity-run commemorative landscape. Human ashes are scattered in the Sanctuary grounds, memorial plaques cover the buildings of the Sanctuary, and many more are set on benches and beside memorial trees around the donkey paddocks. Through text and material culture, these memorials constitute a commemorative parity between people and animals in death, and the Donkey Sanctuary has become a complex memorial landscape. Using a sample of over 500 memorials from the Sanctuary’s grounds, the article explores the use of material culture in creating an emotive and utopian ‘donkey heaven’ in the contemporary Devon landscape.
Burn surgery and blood loss – a review
Authors: Brazier Andrew , Sheena Yezen , Jeffery Steven LA
Published: September 2011

Objectives: Blood loss has long been recognised as a significant problem in burn surgery. Efforts have been made in the past to quantify this loss and determine what factors influence it the most. Several researchers have been able to produce and validate formulae that predict the volume of blood loss during excisional surgery. Accurately determining this allows appropriate volumes of blood to be ordered, reducing risk to patients and saving scarce resources. This article reviews the literature on blood loss in burns surgery, including influencing factors, methods of prediction and effective management.

Methods: A literature review was conducted to examine methods used to measure, calculate and reduce blood loss in burn surgery. The validity of these methods and the limitations on accuracy will be discussed. Alternative methods shall also be considered.

Results: Most current methods of estimating blood loss attempt to determine the volume of erythrocytes required to return haemoglobin concentrations to their pre-operative level. Various formulae have been developed to calculate this volume.

Conclusions: Several authors have produced formulae that predict the volume of blood loss to a significant degree of accuracy. Different techniques have been shown to significantly reduce blood loss. In other areas of surgery, thromboelastometry has been used to identify the levels of specific blood component defects. The use of this method in burns surgery could, in the future, help develop a protocol for operative blood transfusion.
On the Spatial Semiotics of Vernacular Landscapes in Global Cities
Authors: Krase Jerome , Shortell Timothy
Published: September 2011

Ordinary people living ordinary lives inhabit meaningful spaces; in globalized urban environments, these spaces are vernacular landscapes. Urban spaces are also subject to the effects of social inequality. Class, racial/ethnic, religion, and citizenship hierarchies mark urban territories with differential meanings. Spatial semiotic analysis makes it possible to see even the most powerless of urban dwellers as social agents in the local reproduction of urban culture. The authors argue that sociological analysis of visual data is necessary to understand how urban vernacular neighborhoods are changing as a result of globalization. They present visual data on vernacular neighborhoods in Antwerp, Berlin, Brooklyn, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Lisbon, London, Manchester, Paris, Philadelphia, Rome, St Petersburg, Stockholm, and Tirana. These images are among the 9000+ photographs from more than 40 global cities available from their online archive. Urban spaces are filled with signs of collective identity. In the physical environment, architectural details, commercial signs, and graffiti, among other things, signify the flows of people and culture. So too do social practices, such as commercial transactions, socializing, and commuting in the public spaces of vernacular ethnic neighborhoods. The authors’ analysis, based on hundreds of images in their archive, reveals distinctive visual representations of social differences in vernacular landscapes.
Crossing Territories: Live Art as a Mediator of Intimacy
Authors: Sharp Miranda
Published: September 2011

‘I love Basildon’ was an art project conceived in 2009 as a response to a public art commission to investigate the spirit of place. Over a three-month period the public encountered the author’s interventions during visits to their local community centre, shopping precinct and ‘residents lounge’. As an artist and a self-imposed ‘independent researcher’, the author explored the possibility of using art as a research tool, combining sociological methodology with the act of live art. The ensuing visual data such as photographic portraits, props, costumes and field diary extracts are presented here, both as a work of ‘art’ which the public encountered and a unique ‘research output’. The author argues that this approach can provide a level of access to the public and can mediate ‘intimacy’ that is often inaccessible by traditional research methods. She challenges the notion of art for art’s sake as the piece extends the territory of art as a ‘multiple method experience’ for the spectator, audience, participant and artist – an encounter, a viable research tool, which has the potential to access the heart of a community. It is at the point of such access that intimacy becomes available in the public realm. ‘I love Basildon’ (2009) is presented as a record of the exchange of intimacy, a visual methodology and a ‘work of art’.
Current Emotion Research in Political Science: How Emotions Help Democracy Overcome its Collective Action Problem
Authors: Groenendyk Eric
Published: September 2011

Though scholars have long acknowledged the vital role of affect in politics, recent research has sought to more thoroughly integrate emotions into models of political behavior. Emotions may prove to be the missing piece in a variety of puzzles with which political scientists have struggled for decades. At its core, democracy poses a collective action problem. For each individual citizen, the cost of productive political engagement often outweighs the additional policy benefits to be gained from such behavior. However, for a variety of reasons, emotions appear to motivate citizens to at times break out of “cold” individual utility calculation and engage in politics. Still, emotions may also bias information processing, so scholars should keep this in mind as we continue to build on our understanding of emotion’s role in politics.
Following Local Television News Personalities on Twitter
Authors: Greer Clark F. , Ferguson Douglas A.
Published: September 2011

News workers are finding social networking to be a means of maintaining personal contact with their audiences. In an exploratory study, Twitter followers of local television news personalities were surveyed to assess their motivations for following these individuals, as well as their affinity toward the local station. The findings of this survey of 212 Twitter followers support the notion that social motivations best explain the use of social media. In addition, news workers who have Twitter followers might be enhancing viewers' affinity toward the news person’s television station.
Identification of the earliest natural killer cell–committed progenitor in murine bone marrow
Authors: Fathman John W. , Bhattacharya Deepta , Inlay Matthew A. , Seita Jun , Karsunky Holger , Weissman Irving L.
Published: September 2011

Natural killer (NK) cells develop in the bone marrow and are known to gradually acquire the ability to eliminate infected and malignant cells, yet the cellular stages of NK lineage commitment and maturation are incompletely understood. Using 12-color flow cytometry, we identified a novel NK-committed progenitor (pre-NKP) that is a developmental intermediate between the upstream common lymphoid progenitor and the downstream NKP, previously assumed to represent the first stage of NK lineage commitment. Our analysis also refined the purity of NKPs (rNKP) by 6-fold such that 50% of both pre-NKP and rNKP cells gave rise to NKp46+ NK cells at the single-cell level. On transplantation into unconditioned Rag2−/−Il2rγc−/− recipients, both pre-NKPs and rNKPs generated mature NK cells expressing a repertoire of Ly49 family members that degranulated on stimulation ex vivo. Intrathymic injection of these progenitors, however, yielded no NK cells, suggesting a separate origin of thymic NK cells. Unlike the rNKP, the pre-NKP does not express IL-2Rβ (CD122), yet it is lineage committed toward the NK cell fate, adding support to the theory that IL-15 signaling is not required for NK commitment. Taken together, our data provide a high-resolution in vivo analysis of the earliest steps of NK cell commitment and maturation.
Multi-objective optimization of enzyme manipulations in metabolic networks considering resilience effects
Authors: Wu Wu-Hsiung , Wang Feng-Sheng , Chang Maw-Shang
Published: September 2011

Background

Improving the synthesis rate of desired metabolites in metabolic systems is one of the main tasks in metabolic engineering. In the last decade, metabolic engineering approaches based on the mathematical optimization have been used extensively for the analysis and manipulation of metabolic networks. Experimental evidence shows that mutants reflect resilience phenomena against gene alterations. Although researchers have published many studies on the design of metabolic systems based on kinetic models and optimization strategies, almost no studies discuss the multi-objective optimization problem for enzyme manipulations in metabolic networks considering resilience phenomenon.

Results

This study proposes a generalized fuzzy multi-objective optimization approach to formulate the enzyme intervention problem for metabolic networks considering resilience phenomena and cell viability. This approach is a general framework that can be applied to any metabolic networks to investigate the influence of resilience phenomena on gene intervention strategies and maximum target synthesis rates. This study evaluates the performance of the proposed approach by applying it to two metabolic systems: S. cerevisiae and E. coli. Results show that the maximum synthesis rates of target products by genetic interventions are always over-estimated in metabolic networks that do not consider the resilience effects.

Conclusions

Considering the resilience phenomena in metabolic networks can improve the predictions of gene intervention and maximum synthesis rates in metabolic engineering. The proposed generalized fuzzy multi-objective optimization approach has the potential to be a good and practical framework in the design of metabolic networks.
Severe propylthiouracil-induced hepatotoxicity in pregnancy managed successfully by liver transplantation: A case report
Authors: Sequeira Evan , Wanyonyi Sikolia , Dodia Raj
Published: September 2011

Introduction

Propylthiouracil-induced severe hepatotoxicity is a relatively rare occurrence, with very few cases reported in the literature. The management of this complication in pregnancy can be a challenge because of the effects of the various treatment options on the fetus.

Case presentation

We report a rare case of fulminant hepatic failure in a 36-year-old gravida 2 black woman of African descent that occurred at 17 weeks gestation following propylthiouracil treatment for Graves' disease. Her liver failure was managed by liver transplantation and thyroidectomy. Her pregnancy was continued to term, though with not so favorable early childhood sequelae.

Conclusion

This case illustrates a very rare complication of treatment with a presumed safe drug during pregnancy followed by adverse neonatal outcomes due to the extensive treatment.
A National Filmmaker without a Home: Home and Displacement in the Films of Amir Naderi
Authors: Gadassik Alla
Published: September 2011

Amir Naderi is one of Iran’s most internationally acclaimed directors, and he is considered to be among the central figures in the nation’s postrevolutionary film industry. Paradoxically, his choice to leave Iran in hopes of expanded artistic opportunities in the United States has cost him the critical and scholarly recognition bestowed on his former compatriots Abbas Kiarostami and Mohsen Makhmalbaf. This essay seeks to address this imposed cultural exile by analyzing Naderi’s work and situating him as an important diasporic Iranian filmmaker. Films discussed include The Runner (1985), the Manhattan Trilogy (1993–2002), Sound Barrier (2005), and Vegas: Based on a True Story (2008). The analysis foregrounds continuities of displacement and confinement between Naderi’s films about Iran and his subsequent portraits of the United States. The journeys and paths undertaken by Naderi’s protagonists are explored as reflections of a diasporic filmmaker who left the constraints of one home for the limitations of another.
The Allocation of Resources in the Presence of Indivisibilities
Authors: Scarf Herbert E
Published: September 2011

A major theme of economic theory is that optimality, at the level of the firm or the economy as a whole, can be reached by profit maximization using competitive prices. The conclusion requires the assumption that the production possibility set be convex and is not valid if production displays economies of scale based on significant indivisibilities. The paper provides a specific quantity test for detecting optimality in the presence of indivisibilities and suggests that it may be useful to view the large firm as an algorithm for solving programming problems in which some of the variables assume integral values.
Valuing the Environment Through Contingent Valuation
Authors: Hanemann W. Michael
Published: September 2011

Contingent valuation is now used around the world to value many types of public goods, including transportation, sanitation, health, and education, as well as the environment. The author describes how researchers go about making such surveys reliable, mentioning recent innovations in sampling, questionnaire design, and data analysis, including formulating the valuation as a closed-ended question about voting in a referendum to raise taxes for a particular purpose. He addresses various objections that contingent valuation results are incompatible with economic theory. Even without a market, there still exists a latent demand curve for nonmarket goods; contingent valuation represents a way to tease this out.
Seismic and Resistivity Measurements for Real-Time Monitoring of Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation in Sand
Authors: Weil Matthew H. , DeJong Jason T. , Martinez Brian C. , Mortensen Brina M.
Published: September 2011

A variety of biogeochemical processes, from inorganic mineral precipitation to bio-film formation to bio-gas generation, are being investigated as alternative methods to improve soil properties. Every process applied in a geotechnical application requires the ability to monitor the progression of treatment, preferably in real time. While monitoring of the biogeochemical processes is necessary to properly apply and manage the treatment process, ultimately verification that the treatment is improving the engineering soil properties as desired is necessary. Because direct measurements of soil properties (e.g., strength tests) during treatment are infeasible, the use of indirect non-destructive measurements during treatment is desirable. Development of these real-time, non-destructive measurements would increase the “certainty of execution” of bio-treatment methods. To this end, seismic velocity, and resistivity measurements are examined herein to assess their ability to monitor the extent and spatial distribution of microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) in sands. Shear wave velocity (S-wave) test results are used to develop a generalized correlation to the precipitated calcite mass; this in turn enables prediction of changes in void ratio (porosity), density, and shear modulus during treatment. Compression wave velocity (P-wave) measurements are determined under different saturation conditions and used in combination with S-wave measurements to observe how the Poisson’s ratio evolved during treatment. The applicability of resistivity measurements for monitoring the MICP treatment process is also examined. Finally, the seismic properties of MICP treated sand are compared with other conventional materials and the implications of these results for real-time monitoring during future field-scale applications discussed.
Buchbesprechung
Authors: Bruns Thomas
Published: September 2011

Rothstein, Björn, Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten für Linguisten. Tübingen: narr Verlag, 2011. 218 S. ISBN 3823366300
The distribution of labor between adpositions and case within complex spatial PPs
Authors: Lestrade Sander , de Schepper Kees , Zwarts Joost
Published: September 2011

This paper discusses a cross-linguistic sample of spatial PPs in languages that both have adpositions and case. It is shown that the distribution of labor within these potentially complex PPs follows from two general principles only. According to the principle of Grammaticalization, less frequent meaning elements should never be expressed by more grammatical means than more frequent ones. According to the principle of Compositionality, the syntactic construction should reflect the order of semantic function application. The only viable spatial PP constructions according to these principles are those constructions in which the P simultaneously expresses configuration and directionality, and constructions in which the P expresses configuration and the case marker on the P directionality.