bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Coming Home: Religion, Mass Violence, and the Exiled and Secret Selves of a Citizen-Killer
Authors: Nandy Ashis
Published: March 2010

This story can be read as a case study of a heartless killer sentenced to life imprisonment not for killing Muslims but for killing Gandhi because of his bias for the Muslims. Had Madanlal Pahwa not been part of the conspiracy, he would have gone scot-free. Yet that impunity was not conclusive. As he in his advanced years moved diffidently toward the vernacular tradition of religion he was reared on and toward its distinctive forms of openness and inclusivity, he was bound to become a bundle of contradictions and unwittingly tilt toward a worldview in which the Muslims and Islam had a place, as did Gandhi himself. The borderlines between faiths once again became porous for Pahwa. His unflinching loyalty to Hindutva, however, failed to defend him from the vernacular Hinduism and Islam of his ancestral village. He could disown neither his ideology nor Pakpattan.
This Is Not a Pipe: The Treacheries of Indigenous Housing
Authors: Lea Tess , Pholeros Paul
Published: March 2010

This essay describes the surreality of Aboriginal housing in Australia, where images reroute remedial concern from the literal conditions toward a pathologization of the indigenous householder. Using governmental data against governmental interpretation, the essay shows how a pragmatic issue of substandard original construction, undersupervised repairs, poor to nonexistent maintenance, and rapid shifts in policy attention is hidden to reinsert householders as the main culprits of substandard living conditions in many Aboriginal communities. A dirty literalism that sees the surreal in the everyday is required to unpack the means and the methods through which such maneuvers are made.
The small GTPase Rif is an alternative trigger for the formation of actin stress fibers in epithelial cells
Authors: Fan Lifei , Pellegrin Stephanie , Scott Alice , Mellor Harry
Published: March 2010

Actin stress fibers are fundamental components of the actin cytoskeleton that produce contractile force in non-muscle cells. The formation of stress fibers is controlled by the small GTPase RhoA and two highly related proteins, RhoB and RhoC. Together, this subgroup of actin-regulatory proteins represents the canonical pathway of stress-fiber formation. Here, we show that the Rif GTPase is an alternative trigger of stress-fiber formation in epithelial cells. Rif is distantly related to RhoA; however, we show that the two proteins share a common downstream partner in stress-fiber formation – the Diaphanous-related formin mDia1. Rif-induced stress fibers also depend on the activity of the ROCK protein kinase. Unlike RhoA, Rif does not raise ROCK activity in cells, instead Rif appears to regulate the localization of myosin light chain phosphorylation. This study establishes Rif as a general regulator of Diaphanous-related formins and shows how non-classical Rho family members can access classical Rho pathways to create new signaling interfaces in cytoskeletal regulation.
Contracting for Collaborative Services
Authors: Roels Guillaume , Karmarkar Uday S. , Carr Scott
Published: March 2010

In this paper, we analyze the contracting issues that arise in collaborative services, such as consulting, financial planning, and information technology outsourcing. In particular, we investigate how the choice of contract type—among fixed-fee, time-and-materials, and performance-based contracts—is driven by the service environment characteristics. We find that fixed-fee contracts contingent on performance are preferred when the service output is more sensitive to the vendor's effort, that time-and-materials contracts are optimal when the output is more sensitive to the buyer's effort, and that performance-based contracts dominate when the output is equally sensitive to both the buyer's and the vendor's inputs. We also discuss how the performance of these contracts is affected with output uncertainty, process improvement opportunities, and the involvement of multiple buyers and vendors in the joint-production process. Our model highlights the trade-offs underlying the choice of contracts in a collaborative service environment and identifies service process design changes that improve contract efficiency.
Reference Process Modelling for Utility CompaniesReferenzprozessmodellierung für Unternehmen der Energiewirtschaft
Authors: Deindl Matthias , Naß Eric , Laing Peter , Stich Volker
Published: March 2010

The German energy industry is rapidly changing and especially small and mid-sized companies are facing various challenges. Currently, there is no structured method to support business process management of these companies by means of a business process reference model. Therefore, within the project “Smart Watts” such a model is being developed for municipal utilities processes with end customer interaction.
Development and Demonstration of Decentralised Power Systems Culminating in a Future E-Energy MarketplaceEntwicklung und Demonstration dezentral vernetzter Energiesysteme hin zum E-Energy-Marktplatz der Zukunft
Authors: Laskowski Michael , Franz Oliver , König Dieter , Rehtanz Christian
Published: March 2010

The introduction of smart meter solutions — especially within the residential and commercial customer segment — will lead to new opportunities for customer interaction with the energy market and for boosting consumer awareness for electricity consumption. Both of them help to increase end user energy efficiency. Within the BMWi project E-Energy the E-DeMa consortium with the members RWE, Siemens, ef.ruhr, Stadtwerke Krefeld, Miele and ProSyst draws on the capabilities of current smart meter solutions and extends them to a future marketplace for all services and products around demand side management, flexible tariff structures or network services. The subscriber as prosumer (simultaneously producer and consumer) develops to become an active market player. The aim of this project is to create conditions for the efficient handling of energy resources.
Endogenous hormones, androgen receptor CAG repeat length and fluid cognition in middle-aged and older men: results from the European Male Ageing Study
Authors: Lee David M , Ulubaev Aslan , Tajar Abdelouahid , Pye Stephen R , Pendleton Neil , Purandare Nitin , O'Neill Terence W , O'Connor Daryl B , Labrie Fernand , Platt Hazel , Payne Debbie , Bartfai Gyorgy , Boonen Steven , Casanueva Felipe F , Finn Joseph D , Forti Gianni , Giwercman Aleksander , Han Thang S , Huhtaniemi Ilpo T , Kula Krzysztof , Lean Michael E J , Punab Margus , Silman Alan J , Vanderschueren Dirk , Wu Frederick C W , _ _
Published: March 2010

Objective

Data remain divergent regarding the activational effects of endogenous hormones on adult cognitive function. We examined the association between cognition, hormones and androgen receptor (AR) CAG repeat length in a large cohort of men.

Design

Community-based, cross-sectional study of 3369 men aged 40–79 years.

Methods

Cognition tests were the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure, Camden Topographical Recognition Memory and Digit-Symbol Substitution. A fluid cognition (FC) z-score was computed from the individual tests. Testosterone, oestradiol (OE2) and 5α-dihydrotestosterone were measured by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; DHEAS, LH, FSH and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) by electrochemiluminescence. Free testosterone and OE2 were calculated from total hormone, SHBG and albumin. CAG repeat lengths were assayed by PCR genotyping.

Results

Total testosterone and free testosterone were associated with higher FC z-scores, LH and FSH with lower FC z-scores in age-adjusted linear regressions. After adjusting for health, lifestyle and centre, a modest association was only observed between DHEAS and a lower FC z-score (β=−0.011, P=0.02), although this was driven by subjects with DHEAS levels >10 μmol/l. Locally weighted plots revealed no threshold effects between hormones and FC. There was no association between CAG repeat length and FC z-score after adjustment for age and centre (β=−0.007, P=0.06), nor any interaction effect between CAG repeat length and hormones.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that endogenous hormones are not associated with a vision-based measure of FC among healthy, community-dwelling men. Further studies are warranted to determine whether ‘high’ DHEAS levels are associated with poorer performance on a broader range of neuropsychological tests.
MIB-1 labeling index correlated with magnetic resonance imaging detected tumor volume doubling time in pituitary adenoma
Authors: Hsu Chih-Yi , Guo Wan-Yuo , Chien Chen-Ping , Ho Donald Ming-Tak
Published: March 2010

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether MIB-1 labeling index (LI) could be used to predict growth velocity of residual pituitary adenomas after surgery.

Materials and methods

One hundred and sixty pituitary adenomas which had not received other treatment modality except for surgery were collected. Each of them had at least two post-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies with an interval of at least 1 month apart. Tumor volume doubling time (TVDT) was calculated for those in which volume increased.

Results

Post-operative tumor progression was noted in 54 (33.8%) cases, of which 39 (72.2%) cases were non-functioning adenomas. The MIB-1 LIs of the functioning and non-functioning adenomas were not significantly different. The median TVDT of these 54 cases was 34.6 months. The mean and median MIB-1 LI were 2.7 and 1.1 respectively (range 0.4–20.6). The MIB-1 LI was significantly correlated with log2(TVDT) (r=−0.363,P=0.007); when LI was <0.8, the TVDT of 90.5% cases was ≥ 2 years.

Conclusions

Only one-third of the pituitary adenomas progressed after surgery, and their MIB-1 LIs were generally low. The MIB-1 LI was significantly correlated with the MRI detected TVDT of post-operative residual pituitary adenomas.
Electronic Health Record–Based Decision Support to Improve Asthma Care: A Cluster-Randomized Trial
Authors: Bell Louis M. , Grundmeier Robert , Localio Russell , Zorc Joseph , Fiks Alexander G. , Zhang Xuemei , Stephens Tyra Bryant , Swietlik Marguerite , Guevara James P.
Published: March 2010

OBJECTIVE:

Asthma continues to be 1 of the most common chronic diseases of childhood and affects ∼6 million US children. Although National Asthma Education Prevention Program guidelines exist and are widely accepted, previous studies have demonstrated poor clinician adherence across a variety of populations. We sought to determine if clinical decision support (CDS) embedded in an electronic health record (EHR) would improve clinician adherence to national asthma guidelines in the primary care setting.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective cluster-randomized trial in 12 primary care sites over a 1-year period. Practices were stratified for analysis according to whether the site was urban or suburban. Children aged 0 to 18 years with persistent asthma were identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for asthma. The 6 intervention-practice sites had CDS alerts imbedded in the EHR. Outcomes of interest were the proportion of children with at least 1 prescription for controller medication, an up-to-date asthma care plan, and the performance of office-based spirometry.

RESULTS:

Increases in the number of prescriptions for controller medications, over time, was 6% greater (P = .006) and 3% greater for spirometry (P = .04) in the intervention urban practices. Filing an up-to-date asthma care plan improved 14% (P = .03) and spirometry improved 6% (P = .003) in the suburban practices with the intervention.

CONCLUSION:

In our study, using a cluster-randomized trial design, CDS in the EHR, at the point of care, improved clinician compliance with National Asthma Education Prevention Program guidelines.
A Systematic Review of Motor and Cognitive Outcomes After Early Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Snookes Suzanne H. , Gunn Julia K. , Eldridge Bev J. , Donath Susan M. , Hunt Rod W. , Galea Mary P. , Shekerdemian Lara
Published: March 2010

CONTEXT:

Brain injury is the most common long-term complication of congenital heart disease requiring surgery during infancy. It is clear that the youngest patients undergoing cardiac surgery, primarily neonates and young infants, are at the greatest risk for brain injury. Developmental anomalies sustained early in life have lifelong repercussions.

OBJECTIVE:

We conducted a systematic review to examine longitudinal studies of cognitive and/or motor outcome after cardiac surgery during early infancy.

METHODS:

Electronic searches were performed in Medline, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (Cinahl), and Embase (1998–2008). The search strategy yielded 327 articles, of which 65 were reviewed. Eight cohorts provided prospective data regarding the cognitive and/or motor outcome of infants who had undergone surgery for congenital heart disease before 6 months of age. Two authors, Ms Snookes and Dr Gunn, independently extracted data and presented results according to 3 subgroups for age of follow-up: early development (1 to <3 years); preschool age (3–5 years); and school age (>5 to 17 years). Weighted analysis was undertaken to pool the results of studies when appropriate.

RESULTS:

All of the identified studies reported results of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development for children younger than the age of 3. Outcome data as reported by the Bayley Scales were combined for infants assessed at 1 year of age, revealing a weighted mean Mental Development Index of 90.3 (95% confidence interval: 88.9–91.6) and Psychomotor Development Index of 78.1 (95% confidence interval: 76.4–79.7). Additional analysis was limited by a lack of data at preschool and school age.

CONCLUSIONS:

With this review we identified a limited number of prospective studies that systematically addressed outcome in patients at the highest risk. These studies consistently revealed cognitive and motor delay in children after cardiac surgery during early infancy. Additional investigation is required to ascertain the consequences of such impairment during later childhood and into adult life.
Who will win the competition? Personality, strategy and success in a competitive game
Authors: Czibor Andrea , Bereczkei Tamás
Published: March 2010

Jelenleg is folyó vizsgálatunk központi kérdése, hogy a személyiség különböző aspektusai miképpen befolyásolják az alkalmazott stratégiát egy versengő viselkedést igénylő szituációban; illetve, hogy mely személyiségtényezők viszik sikerre az egyéneket versengő helyzetekben. Vizsgálatunkban egy valódi pénzért játszott, versengést indukáló kísérleti játékot alkalmaztunk, amely során a személyek választott játékstratégiáit és sikerességük mértékét vetettük össze a személyiségükről – különböző tesztek útján – szerzett adatokkal. A kompetícióban elért siker tekintetében markáns nemi különbségeket találtunk: a férfiak szignifikánsan magasabb összeget nyertek a játék során, mint a nők. A személyiségjellemzők közül a Jutalomfüggőség és a Kitartás faktora mutatott szignifikáns, negatív korrelációt a végső nyereménnyel, amelyet úgy értelmeztünk, hogy minél inkább érzékeny valaki a társak elismerésére – mint egyfajta szociális jutalomra –, annál kevésbé képes hatékony versengésre, és annál inkább hajlik az együttműködésre. A Machiavellizmus mértéke és a játékstratégia, illetve a nyert összeg között nem találtunk szignifikáns kapcsolatot. A résztvevők játék során mutatott szociális értékorientációja (individuális vagy proszociális attitűdje) jelentős hatást gyakorolt felajánlásaik összegére és a játék végső kimenetelére.
Multiple Darwins – on the myth-producing reception of a natural historian
Authors: Zemplén Gábor
Published: March 2010

A tanulmány célja A fajok eredete megjelenésének 150. és Darwin születésének 200. évfordulója kapcsán vizsgálni az évfordulók és megemlékezések hatását a tudósokkal kapcsolatos mítoszok kialakulásában és elterjedésében. Legelőször a legelterjedtebb Darwinnal kapcsolatos mítosz történetét vizsgálom, amely a természetes szelekció elméletének kialakulását kapcsolja Darwin Galápagos-szigeteken tett megfigyeléseivel a földi pintyek szokásairól. Ezt követően a tudománytörténetben is nagy hatású pszichológus, Howard E. Gruber Darwin-monográfiája kapcsán a természetes szelekció elmélete késleltetett publikálásának elterjedt mítoszát vizsgálom. Végül a mára kialakult Darwinnal kapcsolatos tudománytörténeti konszenzust vázolom, ami igen távoli a mindennapos Darwin-képtől, és röviden elemzem ennek a különbségnek az okait és jelentőségét.
The effects of demographic factors on the folate-supplementation and health-behavior in pregnant women
Authors: Bödecs Tamás , Horváth Boldizsár , Szilágyi Enikő , Sándor János
Published: March 2010

A szerzők a várandósok folsavszupplementációs és egyéb egészség-magatartási szokásait, illetve azok demográfiai tényezőkkel való összefüggéseit igyekeztek feltárni.
Módszer:
Szombathely város tíz védőnői körzetében populációs monitoringot hoztak létre, ahol 2008. február 1. és 2009. február 1. között minden terhességi nyilvántartásba kerülő nőről rendszeres adatgyűjtést folytattak.
Eredmények:
Az alacsonyabb életkor és iskolai végzettség a gyermekvállalásra való felkészülés esélyét csökkentette. A gyermekvállalásra tudatosan készülők közül több mint kétszer annyian vittek be folsavat, háromszor annyian vittek be vitaminokat és csaknem feleannyian dohányoztak. A folsavszupplementáció esélyét a magasabb életkor és szocioökonómiai státus, valamint a felsőfokú végzettség szignifikánsan növelte, míg a testvérek száma csökkentette. Az érettséginél alacsonyabb végzettségűek nagyobb eséllyel dohányoztak (EH = 4,72; 95% MT = 2,34–9,51), mint a felsőfokú végzettségűek, csakúgy, mint az élettársi kapcsolatban élők a házasságban élőkhöz képest (EH = 2,74; 95% MT = 1,54–4,89).
Következtetések:
A folsavszupplementációban nem részesülők főleg a fiatalok, az alacsony képzettséggel és jövedelemmel rendelkezők köréből kerülnek ki, ugyanők egyéb vonatkozásban is kedvezőtlen egészség-magatartást folytatnak.
Testing a soil–steel bridge under static and dynamic loads
Authors: Flener E. Bayoğlu , Karoumi R.
Published: March 2010

The static and dynamic response of a long-span arch soil–steel composite railway bridge is studied. The bridge has a span of 11 m and a rise of 4·3 m. Two field tests were carried out before and after the first winter. Strains and displacements were measured during passages of a locomotive at different speeds. Vertical ballast accelerations and the effects of braking forces were also measured. The measurements indicated that the speed of the vehicle had a large influence on the displacements, thrusts and moments. The structure was found to be safe when measured values of moments and thrusts were compared with live load calculations according to design codes. It is concluded that the dynamic amplification factors calculated from the tests were larger than the theoretical values according to bridge design codes. However, there are indicators of post-winter effects in the form of reduced dynamic amplification factors.
Comparative analysis of mixing efficiency and distribution induced by radial impellers in bioreactors with stirred bed of immobilized cells
Authors: Galaction Anca-Irina , Lupăşteanu Anca-Marcela , Turnea Marius , Caşcaval Dan
Published: March 2010

The influences of the main factors on the mixing efficiency and distribution for a bioreactor with stirred/mobile bed of immobilized S. cerevisiae cells in alginate (biocatalyst particles with 4, 4.6 and 5.2 mm diameters) have been comparatively analyzed for six radial impellers: a disperser sawtooth, Smith turbine, a pumper mixer, a curved bladed turbine, a paddle with six blades, a pitched bladed turbine vs. Rushton turbine. The most efficient impellers, from the viewpoint of intensity and uniformity of the suspension circulation were found to be the Smith turbine, the paddle with six blades and the pitched bladed turbine. The mathematical correlations describing the influence of the main factors on mixing time were established for each studied impeller offering a good concordance with the experimental data (the average deviations vary from ?7.9% for pitched bladed turbine to ?12.1% for disperser sawtooth).
Sensitive spectrophotometric methods for determination of some organophosphorus pesticides in vegetable samples
Authors: Gouda Ayman , Amin Alaa , El-Sheikh Ragaa , Akl Magda
Published: March 2010

Three rapid, simple, reproducible and sensitive spectrophotometric methods (A, B and C) are described for the determination of two organophosphorus pesticides, (malathion and dimethoate) in formulations and vegetable samples. The methods A and B involve the addition of an excess of Ce4+ into sulphuric acid medium and the determination of the unreacted oxidant by decreasing the red color of chromotrope 2R (C2R) at a suitable ?max = 528 nm for method A, or a decrease in the orange pink color of rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) at a suitable ?max = 525 nm. The method C is based on the oxidation of malathion or dimethoate with the slight excess of N-bromosuccinimide (NBS) and the determination of unreacted oxidant by reacting it with amaranth dye (AM) in hydrochloric acid medium at a suitable ?max = 520 nm. A regression analysis of Beer-Lambert plots showed a good correlation in the concentration range of 0.1-4.2 ?g mL?1. The apparent molar absorptivity, Sandell sensitivity, the detection and quantification limits were calculated. For more accurate analysis, Ringbom optimum concentration ranges are 0.25-4.0 ?g mL?1. The developed methods were successfully applied to the determination of malathion, and dimethoate in their formulations and environmental vegetable samples.
Low-nutrient R2A medium in monitoring microbiological quality of drinking water
Authors: Ciric Slavica , Petrovic Olga , Milenkovic Dragan
Published: March 2010

The possibility of using low-nutrient R2A medium for determining the total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria was investigated. Sampling of water from particular points of water treatment and distribution at Krusevac drinking water treatment plant was conducted. The samples were inoculated simultaneously on Plate Count Agar (PCA) and R2A media, and incubated at 37 ?C and at room temperature. The bacterial count was determined after 48, 72, 120 and 168 h. The statistical analysis of the results showed significantly higher bacterial count on R2A medium compared to PCA. Moreover, a significantly higher bacterial count developed at room temperature compared to the temperature of 37?C. R2A medium recorded 3.6% of unsafe samples in the distribution system after the 7-day incubation at room temperature. On the basis of the obtained results, an optimum method for determining the total count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria for all investigated waters has been defined. The process of incubation is predictable and it can be described by a mathematical model in the form of a polynomial of the second or the third power.
Spectrofluorimetric determination of carvedilol in dosage form and spiked human plasma through derivatization with 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene-5-sulphonyl chloride
Authors: El-Sayed Fattah , Mohamed Taghreed , Taha Anwer
Published: March 2010

A sensitive, simple and selective spectrofluorimetric method was developed for the determination of carvedilol (CA) in pharmaceutical formulation and a biological fluid. The method is based on the reaction between the drug and 1-dimethylaminonaphthalene- 5-sulphonyl chloride (dansyl chloride) in the presence of mixture (acetone:0.5 M sodium carbonate, 3:2) at pH 10 to yield a highly fluorescent derivative that is measured at 445 nm after excitation at 350 nm. Different experimental parameters affecting the development and stability of the reaction product were carefully studied and optimized. The fluorescence concentration plot was rectilinear over the range of 5.0-80.0 ng ml-1 with a lower detection limit (LOD) of 1.90 ng ml-1 and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 5.15 ng ml-1. Quantum yield, formation constant (K) and free energy change (?G) values were calculated. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of commercial tablets. The results obtained were in good agreement with those obtained using the official titrimetric method [1,2]. Furthermore, the method was applied for the determination of CA in spiked human plasma, the mean % recovery (n = 5) is 97.82?0.373. A proposal of the reaction pathway was presented.
Monitoring of thermal and oxidation stability of sodium picosulfate by modified RP-HPLC method
Authors: Savic Ivana , Nikolic Goran , Marinkovic Valentina , Savic Ivan
Published: March 2010

A selective, precise and stability-indicating, modified high performance liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of sodium picosulfate both as a bulk drug and in formulations was developed and validated. As the method could effectively separate the drug from its degradation product, it can be employed as a stability-indicating one. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a ZORBAX Eclipse XDB C-18 analytical column. The mobile phase consisted of phosphate buffer (pH 7):acetonitrile (85:15 v/v). The absorbance was monitored with a DAD detector at 263 nm. The flow rate was 1.5 mL min-1. Statistical analysis proved the method is repeatable, selective, and accurate for estimation of sodium picosulfate in the presence its degradation product. Forced degradation studies were performed on bulk sample of sodium picosulfate using heat (25, 40, 60 and 80 ?C) and oxidation (0.1, 0.5 and 1% v/v hydrogen peroxide). The proposed method was successfully applied, with excellent recovery, to the analysis of a pharmaceutical formulation (Sodium picosulfate, Zdravlje-Actavis, Serbia).
Acid-base titrimetric assay of hydroxyzine dihydrochloride in pharmaceutical samples
Authors: Rajendraprasad Nagaraju , Basavaiah Kanakapura , Vinay Basavaiah
Published: March 2010

Two simple titrimetric methods have been developed for the determination of hydroxyzine dihydrochloride (HDH) in pure form and in tablets. The principle of the methods are simple acid-base reactions in which the hydrochloride content of the drug was determined by titrating with an aqueous standardized NaOH solution either visually using phenolphthalein as indicator (method A) or potentiometrically (method B) using glass-calomel electrode system. The methods were applicable over the range of 2-20 mg HDH. The procedures were also applied for the determination of HDH in its dosage forms and the results were found in good agreement with those obtained by the reference method. The precision, expressed by intra-day and inter-day relative standard deviation values, was satisfactory (RSD ? 2.76%). The accuracy was satisfactory as well RE ? 2.67%. Excipients used as additives in pharmaceutical formulations did not interfere in the proposed procedures as shown by the recovery study via standard addition technique with recovery percentage in the range 97.48 - 106.3% with a standard deviation of 1.76-3.42%.
Estimating domestic wood burning emissions of particulate matter in two Nordic cities by combining ambient air observations with receptor and dispersion models
Authors: Denby Bruce , Karl Matthias , Laupsa Herdis , Johansson Christer , Pohjola Mia , Karppinen Ari , Kukkonen Jaakko , Ketzel Matthias , Wåhlin Peter
Published: March 2010

The major emission source of primary PM2.5 in many Nordic countries is wood burning for domestic heating. Though direct measurements of wood burning emissions are possible under controlled conditions, emission inventories for urban scale domestic heating are difficult to calculate and remain uncertain. As an alternative method for estimating these emissions this paper makes use of ambient air measurements, chemical analysis of filter samples, receptor models, dispersion models, and simple inverse modelling methods to infer emission strengths. A comparison of dispersion models with receptor models indicates that the dispersion models tend to overestimate the contribution from wood burning. The inverse modelling results are found to agree with those from the receptor modelling. Though both the receptor and inverse modelling point to an overestimation of the wood burning emissions of PM2.5 it is not possible to assign this solely to errors in the emissions inventory as dispersion model error can be significant. It is recommended to improve plume rise and urban canopy meteorological descriptions in the dispersion models before these models will be of sufficient quality to allow quantitative assessments of emission inventories.
Synthesis and biological activity of some new 1-benzyl and 1-benzoyl-3-heterocyclic indole derivatives
Authors: El-Sawy Eslam , Bassyouni Fatma , Abu-Bakr Sherifa , Rady Hanaa , Abdlla Mohamed
Published: March 2010

Synthesis and biological activity of some new 1-benzyl and 1-benzoyl-3-heterocyclic indole derivatives

Starting from 1-benzyl- (2a) and 1-benzoyl-3-bromoacetyl indoles (2b) new heterocyclic, 2-thioxoimidazolidine (4a, b), imidazolidine-2,4-dione (5a, b), pyrano(2,3-d)imida-zole (8a, band9a, b), 2-substituted quinoxaline (11a, b-17a, b) and triazolo(4,3-a)quinoxaline derivatives (18a, band19a, b) were synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial and anticancer activities. Antimicrobial activity screening performed with concentrations of 0.88, 0.44 and 0.22 μg mm-2showed that 3-(1-substituted indol-3-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)ones (11a, b) and 2-(4-methyl piperazin-1-yl)-3-(1-substituted indol-3-yl) quinoxalines (15a, b) were the most active of all the tested compounds towardsP. aeruginosa, B. cereusandS. aureuscompared to the reference drugs cefotaxime and piperacillin, while 2-chloro-3-(1-substituted indol-3-yl)quinoxalines (12a, b) were the most active against C.albicanscompared to the reference drug nystatin. On the other hand, 2-chloro-3-(1-benzyl indol-3-yl) quinoxaline12adisplay potent efficacy against ovarian cancer xenografts in nude mice with tumor growth suppression of 100.0 ± 0.3 %.
Isolation and free-radical-scavenging properties of cyanidin 3-O-glycosides from the fruits of Ribes biebersteinii Berl.
Authors: Delazar Abbas , Khodaie Laleh , Afshar Jalil , Nahar Lutfun , Sarker Satyajit
Published: March 2010

Isolation and free-radical-scavenging properties of cyanidin 3-O-glycosides from the fruits of Ribes biebersteinii Berl.

The reversed-phase preparative high performance liquid chromatographic purification of the methanol extract of the fruits of Ribes biebersteinii Berl. (Grossulariaceae) afforded five cyanidin glycosides, 3-O-sambubiosyl-5-O-glucosyl cyanidin (1), cyanidin 3-O-sambubioside (2), cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (3), cyanidin 3-O-(2G-xylosyl)-rutinoside (4) and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside (5). They showed considerable free-radical-scavenging properties in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay with the RC50 values of 9.29 × 10-6, 9.33 × 10-6, 8.31 × 10-6, 8.96 × 10-6 and 9.55 × 10-6 mol L-1, respectively. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by various chemical hydrolyses and spectroscopic means. The total anthocyanin content was 1.9 g per 100 g dried fruits on cyanidin 3-glucoside basis.
Box-Behnken experimental design in the development of pectin-compritol ATO 888 compression coated colon targeted drug delivery of mesalamine
Authors: Patel Nirav , Patel Jayvadan , Shah Shreeraj
Published: March 2010

Box-Behnken experimental design in the development of pectin-compritol ATO 888 compression coated colon targeted drug delivery of mesalamine

The aim of this study was to investigate the combined influence of 3 independent variables in the compression coated tablet of mesalamine for ulcerative colitis. A 3-factor, 3-level Box-Behnken design was used to derive a second order polynomial equation and construct contour plots to predict responses. The independent variables selected were: percentage of polymers (pectin and compritol ATO 888) in compression coating (X1), coating mass (X2) and coating force (X3). Fifteen batches were prepared and evaluated for percent of drug released in 5 h (Y5), time required for 50 % mesalamine to dissolve (t50) with rat cecal (RC) content and without rat cecal content (t50), percent of drug released in 24 h in the presence of rat cecal content (Y24with RC). Transformed values of independent and dependent variables were subjected to multiple regressions to establish a full-model second-order polynomial equation.Fwas calculated to confirm the omission of insignificant terms from the full-model equation. The computer optimization process and contour plots predicted the levels of independent variablesX1,X2, andX3(0, 0.2 and -0.15, respectively) for colon targeting and total percent of drug released up to 24 h.
Two New Species of the Genus Sycophila (Hymenoptera, Eurytomadae) from Yemen
Authors: Zerova M. , van Harten A.
Published: March 2010

Two New Species of the Genus Sycophila (Hymenoptera, Eurytomadae) from Yemen

Two new species of the genus Sycophila Walker from Yemen are described. Sycophila yemeni Zerova, sp. n. (type locality: Ta'izz, Yemen) is similar to Sycophila kestraneura (Masi) (Africa) but differs in shorter radial vein and longer gasteral petiolus in female. Sycophila setulosa Zerova, sp. n. (type locality: Ta'izz, Yemen) differs from all known Sycophila species in having the long bristles at the base of parastigma (upper side).
Ethological Aspects of Honeybee Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera, Apidae), Adaptation to Parasitic Mite Varroa Destructor (Mesostigmata, Varroidae) Invasion
Authors: Akimov I. , Kiryushyn V.
Published: March 2010

Ethological Aspects of HoneybeeApis mellifera(Hymenoptera, Apidae), Adaptation to Parasitic MiteVarroa Destructor(Mesostigmata, Varroidae) Invasion

Some ethological aspects ofA. melliferaLinnaeus, 1758 (Hymenoptera, Apidae), adaptation to parasiting the miteV. destructorAnderson et Trueman (Mesostigmata, Varroidae) are shown. The basic complexes of behaviour reactions, directed on a fight against the parasitic mites of bees brood at the genusApisare shown, their comparative efficiency under various conditions and evolutional perspective. Possibility of ethological adaptation of honey bee toV. destructorparasiting, direction of selection by this sign and influencing of human on parasitic-host system was discussed. An approach to the selection of bees with the purpose of resistanse to varroosis promoution is proposed.
Tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy in two African countries: Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: CHOMBA ELWYN , TSHEFU ANTOINETTE , ONYAMBOKO MARIE , KASEBA‐SATA CHRISTINE , MOORE JANET , MCCLURE ELIZABETH M , MOSS NANCY , GOCO NORMAN , BLOCH MICHELE , GOLDENBERG ROBERT L
Published: March 2010

Objective.To study pregnant women's knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards tobacco use and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, and exposure to advertising for and against tobacco products in Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).Design.Prospective cross‐sectional survey between November 2004 and September 2005.Setting.Antenatal care clinics in Lusaka, Zambia, and Kinshasa, DRC.Population.Pregnant women in Zambia (909) and the DRC (847).Methods.Research staff administered a structured questionnaire to pregnant women attending antenatal care clinics.Main outcome measures.Pregnant women's use of tobacco, exposure to SHS, knowledge of the harms of tobacco and exposure to advertising for and against tobacco products.Results.Only about 10% of pregnant women reported ever having tried cigarettes (6.6% Zambia; 14.1% DRC). However, in the DRC, 41.8% of pregnant women had tried other forms of tobacco, primarily snuff. About 10% of pregnant women and young children were frequently or always exposed to SHS. Pregnant women's knowledge of the hazards of smoking and SHS exposure was extremely limited. About 13% of pregnant women had seen or heard advertising for tobacco products in the last 30 days.Conclusions.Tobacco use and SHS exposure pose serious threats to the health of women, infants and children. In many African countries, maternal and infant health outcomes are often poor and will likely worsen if maternal tobacco use increases. Our findings suggest that a ‘window of opportunity’ exists to prevent increased tobacco use and SHS exposure of pregnant women in Zambia and the DRC.
Chemical composition of some medicinal plant products of indigenous origin
Authors: Bhowmik S , Chowdhury SD , Kabir MH , Ali MA
Published: March 2010

Chemical compositions of leaves of neem (Azadirachta indica), sajna (Moringa oleifera), arjun (Terminalia arjuna), tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), turmeric (Curcuma longa); rhizomes of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric; fruits of amla (Emblica officinalis), haritaki (Terminalia chebula), bohera (Terminalia belerica) and bulbs of garlic (Allium sativum) of indigenous origin were determined. Proximate and mineral components [Calcium (Ca), Phosphorus (P), Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Magnesium (Mg), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn)] were determined. Dry matter (DM) varied from 964g/kg in arjun leaves to 892g/kg in tulsi leaves. Sajna leaves were high in protein (240g/kg), whereas haritaki fruits were low (34g/kg). Highest amount of ether extract (EE) was found in turmeric rhizomes and the lowest in amla fruits. The crude fibre (CF) ranged from 134 g/kg in turmeric leaves to 7g/kg in garlic bulbs. Highest amounts of ash were found in tulsi leaves (136g/kg), whereas haritaki had 42g/kg. All the plant products had high Nitrogen Free Extract (NFE) and haritaki ranked the highest. Neem leaves contained the highest amount of Ca and Mg. Fruits had lower amounts of P than other products. K content ranged between 8510 ppm in turmeric leaves and 4190 ppm in arjun leaves. Tulsi leaves contain higher amounts of Na, whereas arjun leaves contained less. Tulsi leaves contain higher amount of Cu and Zn than other plant products. The Mn content ranged from 17 ppm in ginger to 780 ppm in garlic bulbs. Only sajna and neem leaves are considered as fair sources of protein. Such ingredients may be considered as good sources of Ca and Mg. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v25i1.4616 Bangl. vet. 2008. Vol. 25, No. 1, 32-39
Productive and reproductive performance of dairy cattle in Char areas of Bangladesh
Authors: Alam MM , Sarder MJU , Ferdousi Z , Rahman MM
Published: March 2010

Production traits of 60 indigenous (Desi), 20 Friesian × Desi and 20 Sahiwal × Desi cows were recorded in six char villages of Sariakandi upazila (Sub-district) of Bogra district. The mean (± SD) daily milk yields were 1.7 ± 0.6, 6.3 ± 1.2 and 5.1 ± 1.0 litres, respectively. The lactation lengths, ages at puberty, gestation lengths, calving intervals, numbers of services per conception, intervals between calving and first oestrus were 217.9 ± 18.7, 253.8 ± 21.9, 240.8 ± 15.7 days; 27.4 ± 2.7, 23.9 ± 2.0, 26.2 ± 2.4 months; 277.4 ± 4.2, 278.3 ± 4.2, 278.3 ± 4.0 days; 494.8 ± 27.3, 487.5 ± 17.4, 493.3 ± 16.2 days; 1.3 ± 0.5, 1.7 ± 0.6, 1.6 ± 0.5; 145.6 ± 27.4, 166.8 ± 33.0 and 170.5 ± 34.9 days, respectively. Daily milk yield and lactation length were significantly (p<0.01) better for cross-bred cows than for Desi, and age at puberty was significantly (p<0.01) better for Friesian-cross cows than for Desi, while number of services per pregnancy and onset of post partum oestrus were significantly (p<0.01) better for Desi than for cross-bred cows. There were no significant differences in gestation length and calving interval. It is suggested that the overall productive and reproductive performance of Friesian × Desi and Sahiwal × Desi cows were better than those of Desi cows. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v25i2.4620 Bangl. vet. 2008. Vol. 25, No. 2, 68-74
Effects of different nitrogen sources on yield, chemical composition and nutritive value of Dal grass (Hymenachne amplexicaulis)
Authors: Khan MJ , Hannan MA , Islam S , Islam MN
Published: March 2010

The effects of different sources of nitrogen on yield, chemical composition and nutritive value of Dal grass (Hymenachne amplexicaulis) were measured. Control (T0) had no fertilizer; T1 was treated with urea - 240 kg N/ha; T2 with cow manure-25.8 tonnes (t)/ha; T3 with goat manure-13.2 t/ha; T4 with rabbit manure-7.6 t/ha and T5 with poultry manure-5.9 t/ha. All treatments provided the same amount of nitrogen. Experiment was conducted following completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications in each treatment. In the first cutting maximum green forage (33.3 & 31.1), dry matter (7.7 & 7.1) and organic matter (7.1 & 6.5) MT/ha were obtained (p<0.01) for the treatments of urea and poultry droppings. In second cutting, poultry manure showed higher value (p<0.01) than other treatments for green forage (27.8), dry matter (DM; 5.3), organic matter (OM; 4.9) and crude protein (CP; 0.6). In first cutting, urea showed higher DM (23.0) and EE (2.1) than other nitrogen sources. On the other hand, rabbit manure showed higher nitrogen free extract (NFE) (46.8) than other treatments. For crude fibre (CF) and ash, no significant difference was observed between treatments. In second cutting, poultry manure showed higher DM (19.1) and EE (3.7). In both cuttings, urea gave higher CP (11.2 and 12.1) than other nitrogen sources. CF was not significantly different (p>0.05) for second cutting. Control group showed higher (9.9) and NFE (48.2) than other treatments. There was no significant (p>0.05) difference in organic matter digestibility and metabolizable energy content of Dal grass between treatments. It is suggested that poultry manure may be recommended as a source of nitrogen fertilizer for Dal grass production in Bangladesh. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v25i2.4621 Bangl. vet. 2008. Vol. 25, No. 2, 75-81
Epidemiology of Epstein-Barr virus in Malaysia
Authors: Norzuriza MR , Kon Ken W , Mohammad M , Isahak I , Rahman MM
Published: March 2010

An epidemiological investigation was carried out on patients reported to Hospital University Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM) suspected to be carriers of Epstein-Barr virus from July 2005 to June 2006. A total of 402 patients' sera were analyzed by Enzyme Immunoassay with Kit Enzygnost® by automated BEP® 2000 instrument. Of these 91.3% were found to carry Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies. Among these, 90.4%of male and 92.2% of female patients were positive: the difference was not significant. Considering community, 91.9% of Malay, 91.9% of Chinese, 75% of Indian and 93.3% of others were positive: the differences were not significant. Among the age groups, 77.5% of 0-20 year-olds, 98.6% of 21-40 year-olds, 96% of 41-60 year-olds and 100% of those above 60 years of age were positive: these differences were significant (p<0.005). No significant difference in the prevalence of EBV antibodies existed between the months of sampling. In the present study, EBV-specific IgG and IgM antibodies were determined. The proportion of samples positive to IgM was much less than those positive to IgG. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v25i2.4622 Bangl. vet. 2008. Vol. 25, No. 2, 82-87
Effects of chick separation and feeding on the performance of hens and chicks
Authors: Amin MJR , Howlider MAR , Ali MA
Published: March 2010

A study was conducted to observe the effect of separating chicks from broody hens after hatching, and supplementary feeding, on the performance of broody hens and chicks. Eighteen broody hens incubated 360 eggs of native hens. Broody hens and chicks were divided into three treatment groups; in T1, chicks were not separated, and chicks scavenged with mothers; in T2, chicks were separated at five days and fed ad libitum; and in T3, chicks were separated at 10 days and fed ad libitum. Hens in T2 and T3 received 50g feed/hen/day. The interval between end of incubation and first lay was shorter in T2 (36.3 days) and T3 (41.7) than in T1 (55.2). Clutch length was shortest in T1 (12.7 days), medium in T3 (15.0) and longest in T2 (17.0). There were more eggs/clutch in T2 (14.7) and T3 (14.3) than in T1 (11.5). There were no differences in broody hen's body weight between treatment groups. Mortality of chicks was highest in T2 (39.6%), medium in T3 (33.9), and lowest in T1 (21.0). Body weight of chicks was highest in T2, medium in T3 and lowest in T1, except at 1st week of age. It is suggested that separation of chicks and supplementary feeding was beneficial in terms of interval between end of incubation and first lay, clutch length, number of eggs per clutch and body weight of chicks. DOI: 10.3329/bvet.v26i1.4626 Bangl. vet. 2009. Vol. 26, No. 1, 13-16
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Wei Di
Published: March 2010

Dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is the only solar cell that can offer both the flexibility and transparency. Its efficiency is comparable to amorphous silicon solar cells but with a much lower cost. This review not only covers the fundamentals of DSSC but also the related cutting-edge research and its development for industrial applications. Most recent research topics on DSSC, for example, applications of nanostructured TiO2, ZnO electrodes, ionic liquid electrolytes, carbon nanotubes, graphene and solid state DSSC have all been included and discussed.
Liquid-Phase Synthesis of Cyanuric Acid from Urea
Authors: She Dong-Mei , Yu Hai-Lin , Huang Qi-Liang , Li Fen-Ming , Li Chun-Jiu
Published: March 2010

The focus of this paper was to identify a cheaper solvent from among diesel fuel, kerosene, sulfolane or a mixture of sulfolane and cyclohexanol for the preparation of cyanuric acid heterocyclization of urea. To obtain a higher yield, the effects of catalyst (sodium, ammonium, calcium and zinc salts) and temperature (160 °C to 220 °C) on the trimerization of urea were also carefully studied. We established the optimal reaction conditions and further validated them in our scale-up experiments.
Quantitative Determination of Fibrinogen of Patients with Coronary Heart Diseases through Piezoelectric Agglutination Sensor
Authors: Chen Qinghai , Hua Xing , Fu Weiling , Liu Dongbo , Chen Ming , Cai Guoru
Published: March 2010

Fibrinogen can transform fibrin through an agglutination reaction, finally forming fibrin polymer with grid structure. The density and viscosity of the reaction system changes drastically during the course of agglutination. In this research, we apply an independently-developed piezoelectric agglutination sensor to detect the fibrinogen agglutination reaction in patients with coronary heart diseases. The terminal judgment method of determining plasma agglutination reaction through piezoelectric agglutination sensor was established. In addition, the standard curve between plasma agglutination time and fibrinogen concentration was established to determinate fibrinogen content quantitatively. The results indicate the close correlation between the STAGO paramagnetic particle method and the method of piezoelectric agglutination sensor for the detection of Fibrinogen. The correlation coefficient was 0.91 (γ = 0.91). The determination can be completed within 10 minutes. The fibrinogen concentration in the coronary heart disease group was significantly higher than that of the healthy control group (P < 0.05). The results reveal that high fibrinogen concentration is closely correlated to the incurrence, development and prognosis of coronary heart diseases. Compared with other traditional methods, the method of piezoelectric agglutination sensor has some merits such as operation convenience, small size, low cost, quick detecting, good precision and the common reacting agents with paramagnetic particle method.