bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trace Lead Measurement andOnlineRemoval of Matrix Interference in Geosamples by Ion‐Exchange Coupled with Flow Injection and Hydride Generation Atomic FluorescenceSpectrometry
Authors: Tan Chun-Hua , Huang Xu-Guang
Published: September 2009

A flow injection method has been developed for the direct determination of free available Pb(II). The method is based on the chemical sorption of Pb(II), from pH7 solutions, on a column packed of chelating resin. The retained complex was afterwards eluted with hydrochloric acid followed by hydride generation with reduction by tetrahydroborate. The preconcentration system proposed in this paper allows the elimination of great part of the saline content in the sample. A thorough scrutiny was made for chemical variables and FI parameters. With a sampling volume of 10.5 mL, quantitative retention of Pb (II) was obtained, along with an enrichment factor of 40 and a sampling frequency of 15 h−1. The detection limit, defined as 3 times the blank standard deviation (3σ), was 0.0031 ngml−1. The precision was characterized by an RSD value of 3.78% (at the 4 ng· ml−1 level, n = 11). The developed method has been applied to the determination of trace Pb in three standard reference materials. Accuracy was assessed through comparing the results with the accepted values.
Floorplan-Driven Multivoltage High-Level Synthesis
Authors: Xing Xianwu , Jong Ching Chuen
Published: September 2009

As the semiconductor technology advances, interconnect plays a more and more important role in power consumption in VLSI systems. This also imposes a challenge in high-level synthesis, in which physical information is limited and conventionally considered after high-level synthesis. To close the gap between high-level synthesis and physical implementation, integration of physical synthesis and high-level synthesis is essential. In this paper, a technique named FloM is proposed for integrating floorplanning into high-level synthesis of VLSI system with multivoltage datapath. Experimental results obtained show that the proposed technique is effective and the energy consumed by both the datapath and the wires can be reduced by more than 40%.
Extremely Long-Closed Galls of a Social Aphid
Authors: Kurosu Utako , Aoki Shigeyuki
Published: September 2009

The aphidNipponaphis monzeni(Hormaphidinae, Nipponaphidini) forms large, hard, completely closed galls on the evergreenDistylium racemosum, its primary host, in south-western Japan. By marking 100 galls on a tree and monitoring them over five years, and by sampling many immature galls from another tree in various seasons and dissecting them, we found that galls ofN. monzeniare initiated in June, that they remain small for at least 21–22 months and that tiny fundatrices survive for over one year. Some galls rapidly expand during April/May in the third year. Others remain small and swell up in the fourth year and still others in the fifth year. Full-grown galls open in November/December, and alates fly to evergreen oaks, the secondary host. Thus galls ofN. monzenitake 2.5 years to mature at earliest (3-year life cycle) and some galls 3.5 or 4.5 years (4- or 5-year life cycle).
Integrable Equations and Their Evolutions Based on Intrinsic Geometry of Riemann Spaces
Authors: Bracken Paul
Published: September 2009

The intrinsic geometry of surfaces and Riemannian spaces will be investigated. It is shown that many nonlinear partial differential equations with physical applications and soliton solutions can be determined from the components of the relevant metric for the space. The manifolds of interest are surfaces and higher‐dimensional Riemannian spaces. Methods for specifying integrable evolutions of surfaces by means of these equations will also be presented.
Multiresolution Wavelet Analysis of the Dynamics of a Cracked Rotor
Authors: Sawicki Jerzy T. , Sen Asok K. , Litak Grzegorz
Published: September 2009

We examine the dynamics of a healthy rotor and a rotor with a
transverse crack, which opens and closes due to its self weight.
Using discrete wavelet transform, we perform a multiresolution
analysis of the measured vibration signal from each of these
rotors. In particular, the measured vibration signal is decomposed
into eight frequency bands, and the rms amplitude values of the
healthy and cracked rotors are compared in the three
lowest‐frequency bands. The results indicate that the rms
vibration amplitudes for the cracked rotor are larger than those
of the healthy rotor in each of these three frequency bands. In
the case of externally applied harmonic force excitation to the
rotor, the rms values of the vibration amplitude of the cracked
rotor are also found to be larger than those of a healthy rotor in
the three lowest‐frequency bands. Furthermore, the difference in
the rms values between the healthy and cracked rotors in each of
the three lowest‐frequency bands is more pronounced in the
presence of external excitation than that with no excitation. The
obtained results suggest that the present multiresolution approach
can be used effectively to detect the presence of a crack in a
rotor.
Designing 2D Phononic Crystal Slabs with Transmission Gaps for Solid Angle as well as Frequency Variation
Authors: Ivansson Sven M.
Published: September 2009

Phononic crystals (PCs) can be used as acoustic frequency selective insulators and filters. In a two‐dimensional (2D) PC, cylindrical scatterers with a common axis direction are located periodically in a host medium. In the present paper, the layer multiple‐scattering (LMS) computational method for wave propagation through 2D PC slabs is formulated and implemented for general 3D incident‐wave directions and polarizations. Extensions are made to slabs with cylindrical scatterers of different types within each layer. As an application, the problem is considered to design such a slab with small sound transmittance within a given frequency band and solid angle region for the direction of the incident plane wave. The design problem, with variable parameters characterizing the scatterer geometry and material, is solved by differential evolution, a global optimization algorithm for efficiently navigating parameter landscapes. The efficacy of the procedure is illustrated by comparison to a direct Monte Carlo method.
Long Memory of Pathfinding Aesthetics
Authors: Coleman Ron
Published: September 2009

This paper investigates a new dynamic (i.e., space‐time) model to measure aesthetic values in pathfinding for videogames. The results we report are important firstly because the artificial intelligence literature has given relatively little attention to aesthetic considerations in pathfinding. Secondly, those investigators who have studied aesthetics in pathfinding have relied largely on anecdotal arguments rather than metrics. Finally, in those cases where metrics have been used in the past, they show only that aesthetic paths are different. They provide no quantitative means to classify aesthetic outcomes. The model we develop here overcomes these deficiencies using rescaled range (R/S) analysis to estimate the Hurst exponent, H. It measures long‐range dependence (i.e., long memory) in stochastic processes and provides a novel well‐defined mathematical classification for pathfinding. Indeed, the data indicates that aesthetic and control paths have statistically significantly distinct H signatures. Aesthetic paths furthermore have more long memory than controls with an effect size that is large, more than three times that of an alternative approach. These conclusions will be of interest to researchers investigating games as well as other forms of entertainment, simulation, and in general nonshortest path motion planning.
A Message‐Passing Hardware/Software CosimulationEnvironment for Reconfigurable Computing Systems
Authors: Saldaña Manuel , Ramalho Emanuel , Chow Paul
Published: September 2009

High‐performance reconfigurable computers (HPRCs) provide a mix of standard processors and FPGAs to collectively accelerate applications. This introduces new design challenges, such as the need for portable programming models across HPRCs and system‐level verification tools. To address the need for cosimulating a complete heterogeneous application using both software and hardware in an HPRC, we have created a tool called the Message‐passing Simulation Framework (MSF). We have used it to simulate and develop an interface enabling an MPI‐based approach to exchange data between X86 processors and hardware engines inside FPGAs. The MSF can also be used as an application development tool that enables multiple FPGAs in simulation to exchange messages amongst themselves and with X86 processors. As an example, we simulate a LINPACK benchmark hardware core using an Intel‐FSB‐Xilinx‐FPGA platform to quickly prototype the hardware, to test the communications. and to verify the benchmark results.
On System of Generalized Vector Quasiequilibrium Problems with Applications
Authors: Peng Jian-Wen , Wan Lun
Published: September 2009

We introduce a new system of generalized vector quasiequilibrium problems which
includes system of vector quasiequilibrium problems, system of vector equilibrium problems, and
vector equilibrium problems, and so forth in literature as special cases. We prove the existence of solutions
for this system of generalized vector quasi‐equilibrium problems. Consequently, we derive some
existence results of a solution for the system of generalized quasi‐equilibrium problems and the generalized
Debreu‐type equilibrium problem for both vector‐valued functions and scalar‐valued functions.
Token‐Aware Completion Functions for Elastic Processor Verification
Authors: Srinivasan Sudarshan K. , Sarker Koushik , Katti Rajendra S.
Published: September 2009

We develop a formal verification procedure to check that elastic pipelined processor designs correctly implement their instruction set architecture (ISA) specifications. The notion of correctness we use is based on refinement. Refinement proofs are based on refinement maps, which—in the context of this problem—are functions that map elastic processor states to states of the ISA specification model. Data flow in elastic architectures is complicated by the insertion of any number of buffers in any place in the design, making it hard to construct refinement maps for elastic systems in a systematic manner. We introduce token‐aware completion functions, which incorporate a mechanism to track the flow of data in elastic pipelines, as a highly automated and systematic approach to construct refinement maps. We demonstrate the efficiency of the overall verification procedure based on token‐aware completion functions using six elastic pipelined processor models based on the DLX architecture.
A Subgrid Model for the Time-Dependent Navier-Stokes Equations
Authors: Zhang Yan , He Yinnian
Published: September 2009

We propose a stabilized subgrid finite-element method for the two-dimensional (2D) nonstationary incompressible Naver-Stokes equation (NSE). This method yields a subgrid eddy viscosity which does not act on the large flow structures. The proposed eddy viscous term is constructed by a fluctuation operator
based on an L2-projection. The fluctuation operator can be implemented by the
L2-projection from high-order interpolation finite-element spaces to the low-order
interpolation finite-element spaces. In this paper, P2/P1 mixed finite-element spaces are adopted to implement the calculation and the analysis. The error analysis is
given based on some regular assumptions. Finally, in the part of numerical tests, the numerical computations show that the numerical results agree with theoretical analysis very well. Meanwhile, the numerical investigations demonstrate that
the proposed subgrid is very effective for high Reynolds number fluid flows and superior to other referred subgrid models.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Misoprostol and Sulprostone to End Pregnancy after Fetal Death
Authors: Van Mensel Kristin , Claerhout Filip , Debois Patrick , Keirse Marc J. N. C. , Hanssens Myriam
Published: September 2009

Objective. To compare effectiveness, side effects, and patients' perception of vaginal misoprostolversusintravenous sulprostone for ending pregnancy after fetal death between 14 and 42 weeks gestation.Method. Multicenter randomized controlled trial, using block randomization, central allocation, and prior power analysis.Outcome measures. Induction-delivery interval, gastrointestinal side effects, use of analgesia, pain perception, pyrexia, placental retention, hemorrhage, and women's opinions.Results. Of 176 women aimed for, 143 were randomized over 7 years, of whom 4 were excluded. There was no difference in delivery within 24 and 36 hours: 91.4% and 97.1% with misoprostol ()versus85.5% and 92.8% with sulprostone (). There was no difference in either gastrointestinal side effects, as reported by the women and their caregivers, use of analgesia, women's pain perception, blood loss or placental retention. Hyperthermia 38°C was more common with misoprostol (24.3%) than with sulprostone (11.6%; difference: +12.7%; 95% CI: +1.2% to +25.3%) and related to the total dose used. Acceptability of both induction methods was similar except for freedom of movement, which was substantially in favor of misoprostol (lack of freedom reported with misoprostol in 34.3%versus63.8% with sulprostone; difference: −29.5%; 95% CI: −13.6% to −45.4%).Conclusions. Misoprostol and sulprostone are similarly effective with little difference in side effects except for hyperthermia, related to the dose of misoprostol used, and women's reported lack of mobility with intravenous sulprostone. Effectiveness of both methods increased with gestational age.
Impaired Perinatal Growth and Longevity: A Life History Perspective
Authors: Sloboda Deborah M. , Beedle Alan S. , Cupido Cinda L. , Gluckman Peter D. , Vickers Mark H.
Published: September 2009

Life history theory proposes that early-life cues induce highly integrated responses in traits associated with energy partitioning, maturation, reproduction, and aging such that the individual phenotype is adaptively more appropriate to the anticipated environment. Thus, maternal and/or neonatally derived nutritional or endocrine cues suggesting a threatening environment may favour early growth and reproduction over investment in tissue reserve and repair capacity. These may directly affect longevity, as well as prioritise insulin resistance and capacity for fat storage, thereby increasing susceptibility to metabolic dysfunction and obesity. These shifts in developmental trajectory are associated with long-term expression changes in specific genes, some of which may be underpinned by epigenetic processes. This normative process of developmental plasticity may prove to be maladaptive in human environments in transition towards low extrinsic mortality and energy-dense nutrition, leading to the development of an inappropriate phenotype with decreased potential for longevity and/or increased susceptibility to metabolic disease.
Palliation with Oesophageal Metal Stent of Pseudoachalasia from Gastric Carcinoma at the Cardia: A Case Report
Authors: Campo Salvatore Maria Antonio , Lorenzetti Roberto , de Matthaeis Marina , Hassan Cesare , Zullo Angelo , Cerro Paola , Morini Sergio
Published: September 2009

We present an 82-year-old woman with a 3-month history of progressive dysphagia and a normal initial upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. The diagnosis of pseudoachalasia was suspected by oesophageal manometric and barium swallow studies, and confirmed by biopsies revealing an intestinal type carcinoma of the stomach at a repeated endoscopy. In view of the history of heart disease, diabetes, and old age, this patient was treated by a partially covered Ultraflex self-expanding metal stent (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) placed into the oesophageal body with no direct complications and obtaining the relief from dysphagia. During the 11-month follow-up she was treated for an iron deficiency anaemia due to reflux oesophagitis with ulcerations in the oesophageal body and died from myocardial infarction. According to the localization of the cancer, the old age, and the presence of comorbidities, we should recommend the insertion of a partially covered self-expanding metal stent as a reasonable palliative treatment in selected subjects with pseudoachalasia.
The Rabinowitsch‐Mollin‐Williams Theorem Revisited
Authors: Mollin R. A.
Published: September 2009

We completely classify all polynomials of type (x2 + x − (Δ − 1))/4 which are prime or 1 for a range of consecutive integers x ≥ 0, called Rabinowitsch polynomials, where Δ ≡ 1(mod 4) with Δ > 1 square‐free. This corrects, extends, and completes the results by Byeon and Stark (2002, 2003) via
the use of an updated version of what Andrew Granville has dubbed
the Rabinowitsch‐Mollin‐Williams Theorem—by Granville and Mollin (2000) and Mollin (1996). Furthermore, we verify conjectures of this author and pose more based
on the new data.
Outcome and Prognostic Indicators of Patients with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplants Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Huynh Thanh N. , Weigt S. Sam , Belperio John A. , Territo Mary , Keane Michael P.
Published: September 2009

The prognosis of patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) who require admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) has been regarded as extremely poor. We sought to re-evaluate recent outcomes and predictive factors in a retrospective cohort study. Among the 605 adult patients that received an HSCT between 2001 and 2006, 154 required admission to the ICU. Of these, 47% were discharged from the ICU, 36% were discharged from the hospital, and 19% survived 6 months. Allogeneic transplant, mechanical ventilation, vasopressor-use, and neutropenia were each associated with increased mortality, and the mortality of patients with all four characteristics was 100%. Hemodialysis was also associated with increased mortality in a Kaplan-Meier analysis but did not appear important in a multivariate tree analysis. A final Cox model confirmed that allogeneic transplant, mechanical ventilation, and vasopressor-use were each independent risk factors for mortality in the 6 months following ICU admission.
Synthesis, Spectroscopic and Thermal Characterization of Copper(II) and Iron(III) Complexes of Folic Acid and Their Absorption Efficiency in the Blood
Authors: Hamed E. , Attia M. S. , Bassiouny K.
Published: September 2009

The absorption efficiency of any drug in blood is of prime importance. Compounds having the general formula: , where (M = Cu(II) or Fe(III), n = 2 or 1 , FO = folate anion, x = 2 or 3 with respect), were prepared, and their absorption efficiency in rodent′s blood was determined. The obtained compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared as well as thermogravimetric analysis and polarization of light. The results suggest that the two folate complexes were formed in 1 : 2 molar ratio (metal : folic acid) which acted as a bidentate ligand through both carboxylic groups. Polarization of light proved that the folate complexes have symmetric geometry. Biological application proved that Cu(II) and Fe(III) complexes were absorbed more efficiently in rodent blood than folic acid itself.
Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Intake Trends in US Adolescents and Their Association with Insulin Resistance-Related Parameters
Authors: Bremer Andrew A. , Auinger Peggy , Byrd Robert S.
Published: September 2009

The purpose of this study was to evaluate current sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption trends and their association with insulin resistance-related metabolic parameters and anthropometric measurements by performing a cross-sectional analysis of the NHANES data during the years 1988–1994 and 1999–2004. Main outcome measures included SSB consumption trends, a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, blood pressure, waist circumference, body mass index, and fasting concentrations of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. Although overall SSB consumption has increased, our data suggest that this increase was primarily due to an increase in the amount of SSBs consumed by males in the high-SSB intake group alone. Multivariate linear regression analyses also showed that increased SSB consumption was independently associated with many adverse health parameters. Factors other than SSB consumption must therefore be contributing to the increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in the majority of US children.
Application of CFD Codes in Nuclear Reactor Safety Analysis
Authors: Höhne T. , Krepper E. , Rohde U.
Published: September 2009

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is increasingly being used in nuclear reactor safety (NRS) analyses as a tool that enables safety relevant phenomena occurring in the reactor coolant system to be described in more detail. Numerical investigations on single phase coolant mixing in Pressurised Water Reactors (PWR) have been performed at the FZD for almost a decade. The work is aimed at describing the mixing phenomena relevant for both safety analysis, particularly in steam line break and boron dilution scenarios, and mixing phenomena of interest for economical operation and the structural integrity. For the experimental investigation of horizontal two phase flows, different non pressurized channels and the TOPFLOW Hot Leg model in a pressure chamber was build and simulated with ANSYS CFX. In a common project between the University of Applied Sciences Zittau/Görlitz and FZD the behaviour of insulation material released by a LOCA released into the containment and might compromise the long term emergency cooling systems is investigated. Moreover, the actual capability of CFD is shown to contribute to fuel rod bundle design with a good CHF performance.
The Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Is Similar between Thyroid Nodule and Thyroid Cancer Patients
Authors: Laney Nathan , Meza Jane , Lyden Elizabeth , Erickson Judi , Treude Kelly , Goldner Whitney
Published: September 2009

Introduction. There are reported associations between vitamin D deficiency and breast, prostate, and colon cancer, but the relationship in thyroid cancer has not been evaluated.Methods. We evaluated serum calcium, creatinine, albumin, and 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OH-D) in 42 thyroid nodule, 45 thyroid cancer in remission, and 24 active thyroid cancer patients.Results. 25-OH-D was not different between groups. The percent with 25-OH-D levels<75 nmol/L was not significantly different between groups and was not affected by season of measurement, age, or cancer stage. Multivariate regression showed a BMI of≥30 kg/m2to be the only significant predictor of vitamin D deficiency.Conclusions. Rates of vitamin D deficiency are similar in thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer, although higher than the general population. This is different than previous studies for other cancers, which show higher rates of vitamin D deficiency. BMI was the only predictor of vitamin D deficiency.
A Phase I Pharmacokinetic and Biological Correlative Study of IMP321, a Novel MHC Class II Agonist, in Patients with Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Brignone Chrystelle , Escudier Bernard , Grygar Caroline , Marcu Manon , Triebel Frédéric
Published: September 2009

Purpose: To evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of IMP321, a recombinant soluble LAG-3Ig fusion protein which agonizes MHC class II–driven dendritic cell activation.

Experimental Design: Patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were treated with escalating doses of IMP321 s.c. Blood samples were assayed to determine plasma pharmacokinetic parameters, detect human anti-IMP321 antibody formation, and determine long-lived CD8 T cell responses.

Results: Twenty-one advanced renal cell carcinoma patients received 119 injections of IMP321 at doses ranging from 0.050 to 30 mg/injection s.c. biweekly for 6 injections. No clinically significant adverse events were observed. Good systemic exposure to the product was obtained following s.c. injections of doses above 6 mg. IMP321 induced both sustained CD8 T-cell activation and an increase in the percentage of long-lived effector-memory CD8 T cells in all patients at doses above 6 mg. Tumor growth was reduced and progression-free survival was better in those patients receiving higher doses (>6 mg) of IMP321: 7 of 8 evaluable patients treated at the higher doses experienced stable disease at 3 months compared with only 3 of 11 in the lower dose group (P = 0.015).

Conclusion: The absence of toxicity and the demonstration of activity at doses above 6 mg warrant further disease-directed studies of IMP321 in combined regimens (e.g., chemoimmunotherapy). (Clin Cancer Res 2009;15(19):6225–31)
Age-Related Change of LDH Activity and Isoenzyme Patterns in the Bovine Fetus
Authors: Davis R.M. , Baetz A.L. , Hubbert W.T. , Graham C.K.
Published: September 2009

Total lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and isoenzyme patterns were determined for sera, red cells, stomach content, kidney, spleen, thymus, adrenal, liver, muscle, brain, thyroid, pancreas, lung, and heart in normal bovine fetuses with crown-rump length (SRL) ranging from 22.2to 88.7 cm. A wide variety of changes in both total LDH activity and isoenzyme patterns were found to correlate with increasing CRL. The observed changes fit a model in which the LDH sub-units are independently synthesized and randomly combine with each other to form the tetrameric LDH molecule. When considered with the metabolic role of LDH, the results in general provided the basis for understanding certain aspects of the developing bovine fetus, and showed that age of the fetus is an important variable in assessing LDH activity.
Experimental Intrauterine Growth Retardation
Authors: van Marthens E. , Harel S. , Zamenhof S.
Published: September 2009

The effects of experimental intrauterine growth retardation on subsequent fetal development, especially with respect to brain development, were studied in a new animal model. The rabbit was chosen since it has a perinatal pattern of brain development similar to that of the human. Experimental ischemia was induced during the last trimester by ligation of spiral arterioles and the differential effects on fetal development at term (30th gestational day) are reported. Specific brain regions were examined for wet weight, total cell number (DNA) and total protein content. Highly significant decreases in all these parameters were found in both the cortex and cerebellum following experimental intrauterine growth retardation; these two organs were differentially affected. The prospects and advantages of using this animal model for the study of the postnatal Ê»catch up growth’ are discussed.
Association of
AHSG
Gene Polymorphisms With Fetuin-A Plasma Levels and Cardiovascular Diseases in the EPIC-Potsdam Study
Authors: Fisher Eva , Stefan Norbert , Saar Kathrin , Drogan Dagmar , Schulze Matthias B. , Fritsche Andreas , Joost Hans-Georg , Häring Hans-Ulrich , Hubner Norbert , Boeing Heiner , Weikert Cornelia
Published: September 2009

Background—

Elevated circulating levels of fetuin-A in blood have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. The goal of our study was to prospectively investigate the potential causal nature of the association between fetuin-A levels and myocardial infarction (MI) and ischemic stroke by applying a Mendelian randomization approach.

Methods and Results—

Five tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs2248690, rs2070633, rs2070635, rs4917, and rs6787344) capturing the common genetic variation of the fetuin-A coding gene α
2
-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein (
AHSG
) were genotyped in a case-cohort comprising 214 MI cases, 154 ischemic stroke cases, and 2152 persons who remained free of cardiovascular disease events in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Potsdam study. One single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs6787344) was discarded because of Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium. All
AHSG
tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with fetuin-A plasma levels (
P
<0.0001).
AHSG
rs4917 C>T showed the strongest association, explaining 21.2% of the phenotypic variance independent of potential confounding factors (+35.5 μg/mL increase per C-allele,
P
=2�10
−121
). Furthermore, the rs4917 C-allele showed a significant association with MI (adjusted hazard rate ratio [RR] 1.34, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.70,
P
=0.02). Based on this association, the expected RR for MI corresponding to 1 SD in fetuin-A was 1.54 and, thus, strikingly matches the previously observed association between fetuin-A plasma levels and MI risk (RR 1.59).

Conclusions—

These data provide evidence for the causal nature of the recently reported association between fetuin-A plasma levels and MI risk, thereby suggesting an involvement of fetuin-A in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.
What do users associate with ‘interactivity’?
Authors: Quiring Oliver
Published: September 2009

‘Interactivity’ was one of the major buzzwords of the 1990s. Although the academic discourse has produced a large number of different concepts of ‘interactivity’, in everyday life it still remains a label put on all kinds of aspects of online communication and digital media. Drawing on schema theory this article explores the concepts of ‘ordinary’ users (i.e. people who are not professional experts). The results indicate that users associate the foremost social and individual issues with the term ‘interactivity’, i.e. what they can accomplish by using media in terms of self-development, social influence and social relationships.
My music, my world: using the MP3 player to shape experience in London
Authors: Simun Miriam
Published: September 2009

This article examines the ways in which individuals use MP3 players to shape their experiences of the London commute. To investigate MP3 listening practices, I conducted semi-structured qualitative interviews with eight DJs and ‘listeners’ living in London. I argue that MP3 players enable individuals to use music to precisely shape their experiences of space, place, others and themselves while moving through the city. In doing so, individuals experience great control as they transform urban journeys into private and pleasurable spaces. While experienced effects of MP3 player listening were similar among respondents, pre-existing relationships to music appear to relate to motivations for use. This article draws on a variety of social theorists ranging from Simmel and Adorno to Lefebvre to interrogate the experience of control MP3 users describe, and to understand the implications for the autonomy of urban inhabitants.
The repertoire niches of interpersonal media: competition and coexistence at the level of the individual
Authors: Feaster John Christian
Published: September 2009

The uses and gratifications approach has been useful in explaining media use by individuals. However, it has been limited in that the use of a medium has always been considered independently from other media options available and from use trends occurring at the level of a population. The theory of the niche has been used to partially overcome these limitations by examining uses and gratification concepts in the context of media competition; but, up to this point, it has only been used to explain trends at the system level. Through the introduction of repertoire niches, the present article extends the theory of the niche by examining competition at the level of the individual within the resource space of his/her media repertoire. Results indicate that repertoire niche dimensions of breadth, overlap, and superiority have some predictive power over media use.
Power through the algorithm? Participatory web cultures and the technological unconscious
Authors: Beer David
Published: September 2009

The movement toward what is often described as Web 2.0 is usually understood as a large-scale shift toward a participatory and collaborative version of the web, where users are able to get involved and create content. As things stand we have so far had little opportunity to explore how new forms of power play out in this context of apparent ‘empowerment’ and ‘democratization’. This article suggests that this is a pressing issue that requires urgent attention. To begin to open up this topic this article situates Web 2.0 in the context of the broader transformations that are occurring in new media by drawing on the work of a number of leading writers who, in various ways, consider the implications of software ‘sinking’ into and ‘sorting’ aspects of our everyday lives. The article begins with this broader literature before exploring in detail Scott Lash’s notion of ‘post-hegemonic power’ and more specifically his concept of ‘power through the algorithm’. The piece concludes by discussing how this relates to work on Web 2.0 and how this work might be developed in the future.
Understanding the complexity of the digital divide in relation to the quality of House campaign websites in the United States
Authors: Latimer Christopher
Published: September 2009

This research considers the growing use of the internet by campaigns in the United States at the sub-presidential level and its relationship to the digital divide. The primary goal is to understand why candidates’ websites have different levels of quality and whether this is somehow connected to the digital divide. Examining the quality of campaign websites reflects scholarly research concerning information technology, the digital divide and political campaigns and elections. I observe the relative quality of House campaign websites from the 2002 mid-term election in relation to demographic features of a congressional district including race, family income and education. The objective is to predict the quality of these candidate websites using these variables; and, subsequently, to discover whether campaign website quality has a relationship to the digital divide.
Visual spaces, norm governed places: the influence of spatial context online
Authors: Stromer-Galley Jennifer , Martey Rosa Mikeal
Published: September 2009

Current theories of social interaction and normative influence in Computer-Mediated Communication were developed in the era of the internet predominated by text-based interaction. With the growth of visual-spatial worlds like Second Life, these theories need to be re-examined. The evolution of thinking about social norms online has moved from a mechanistic view to a systems view of humans and communication technology intertwined in a complex relationship that includes groups, identity, communication, and norms. Missing from that system is explicit attention to context and the important role of the environment that encases interaction. This article discusses theories of how architecture and embodiment shape offline life and how such theories increasingly apply in online interaction in visual social spaces. We argue that such spaces communicate normative information that influences behavior within a given context in both conscious and unconscious ways. This article then discusses implications of visual-spatial environments on existing theories of interaction online.
Microstructure and wear properties of in situ multiple carbides reinforced Fe based surface composite coating produced by laser cladding
Authors: Wang X. H. , Zhang M. , Du B. S. , Qu S. Y. , Zou Z. D.
Published: September 2009

In situ multiple carbide of TiC+ δ-(Ti,V)C reinforced Fe based surface composite coating was produced by laser cladding melting a precursor mixture of graphite, ferrotitanium (Fe–Ti) and ferrovanadium (Fe–V) alloy powders on AISI 1045 steel substrate. The microstructure and wear properties of the composite coatings were investigated by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, as well as dry sliding wear tester. The results showed that the surface composite coating consisted of in situ TiC+ δ-(Ti,V)C carbides and α-Fe matrix. TiC+ δ-(Ti,V)C carbides with cubic or radial dendrites shape were synthesised during laser clad processing, and the carbide particles uniformly dispersed in the matrix. δ-(Ti,V)C is carbide with V dissolved in the TiC structure. The introduction of ferrovanadium leaded to reduce the size of carbide particles. The multiple carbides of TiC+ δ-(Ti,V)C created a higher microhardness and more excellent wear resistance than TiC on its own would under dry sliding wear test condition.
Preparation of porous ZnO/SnO2 compound films by sol-dipping template method
Authors: Liu Z. F. , Ya J. , L.E.  , Liu J. W.
Published: September 2009

Porous ZnO/SnO2 compound film was prepared by sol-dipping template method. The morphology and characteristics of the film were analysed by SEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that precursor sol concentration played an important role in the formation of porous structure. The thickness of inorganic wall increases with increasing sol concentration. The suitable sol concentration, which has a satisfactory permeation and a good pore structure, is about 0·4M. X-ray diffraction pattern showed that ZnO and SnO2 were wurtzite and rutile structure respectively.
Estimation of Weibull parameters with linear regression method
Authors: Zhou J. C. , Wu D. F.
Published: September 2009

Based on minimum mean square error, a modified probability estimator is proposed by a Monte Carlo simulation for estimating the Weibull parameters with the linear regression method. It is shown that compared with the commonly used estimators, the modified probability estimator gives a more accurate estimation of the Weibull modulus and the same estimation precision of the scale parameter. Furthermore, it is more conservative than the commonly used estimator recommended by previous authors and hence results in a higher safety in reliability predictions.
Microstructure and texture evolution of particle-containing AA3104 alloy cold rolled to large strains
Authors: Yao Z. Y. , Zhang Z. Q. , Godfrey A. , Liu W. , Liu Q.
Published: September 2009

The evolution of the microstructure in a particle-containing AA3104 aluminium alloy cold rolled to large strains has been investigated using the electron channelling contrast imaging and electron backscattered diffraction techniques. It is found that the microstructure evolves from cell-block structure at low strains into a lamellar structure composed of lamellar boundaries (LBs) and interconnecting cell boundaries at high strains. The orientation dependence of deformation microstructure is also observed in this particle-containing alloy even at high strains. Different particles have different effects on the microstructure evolution. It is found that there is no clear effect of the fine dispersoids on the evolution of lamellar structure even at large strains, while significant distortion of LBs structure occurs around the coarse constituent particles. For both types of boundaries, the average boundary spacing decreases and the average misorientation angle increases with increasing strain. No saturation of these structure parameters is reached. The texture evolves in a typical manner with finely distributed deformation texture components composed of small volume elements of the ideal texture components (brass, S and copper) separated by LBs. It is found that the particles have no strong effect on the texture evolution.
TTP diagrams for aluminium alloy 1933
Authors: Liu S. D. , Zhong Q. M. , Zhang X. M. , Deng Y. L.
Published: September 2009

The Vickers hardness time–temperature–property (TTP) diagrams for aluminium alloy 1933 were constructed by an interrupted quenching technique. The nose temperature of TTP diagram for 99·5% maximum attainable hardness was about 310°C, at which the hardness decreased rapidly with increasing isothermal holding time. Comparison of TTP diagrams for 1933 and 7050 alloys indicated lower quench sensitivity for the former alloy. The reason was discussed mainly according to the difference in their chemical compositions.
Similar and dissimilar RSW of low carbon and austenitic stainless steels: Effect of weld microstructure and hardness profile on failure mode
Authors: Pouranvari M. , Marashi S. P. H.
Published: September 2009

In this paper, the failure behaviour of similar and dissimilar resistance spot welded joints of low carbon and austenitic stainless steel sheets was studied under tensile shear test with attention focused on the failure mode. Results showed that the microstructure of the fusion zone and the hardness distribution across the weld have a profound effect on the failure behaviour. Similar spot welds of stainless steel sheets exhibit the highest tendency to fail in interfacial failure mode, compared to low carbon steel similar spot welds and dissimilar low carbon and stainless steel spot welds. This behaviour is explained by the consideration of pullout failure location and hardness profile characteristics of each joint. It was shown that the failure mode transition is controlled by the hardness ratio of the fusion zone and the pullout failure location. In the case of dissimilar resistance spot welding, the hardness of the fusion zone which is governed by the dilution between two base metals, and the fusion zone size of the low carbon steel side are the dominant factors determining the failure mode of the joint.
Laser surface alloying of 1045 AISI steel using Ni–CrB2 powder
Authors: Klachuk S. , Bamberger M.
Published: September 2009

Laser surface alloying is a process whose purpose is to improve the surface properties by incorporating alloying elements into the surface. The advantages of using laser for surface treatment are: formation of a non-equilibrium or amorphous phase as well as homogenisation and refinement of the microstructure, all without affecting the substrate properties. Powder (50 wt-%Ni–50 wt-%CrB2) was injected into a melt pool created by a CW–CO2 laser on AISI1045 steel plates. In order to alloy the entire surface, the sample was scanned at scan speeds in the range of 600–6000 mm min–1 and the laser power was in the range of 1750–2500 W. The powder feed rate was 1·6 g min–1, the laser beam was 2 mm in diameter, with 60% overlap between successive laser paths. Metallographic cross-sections were made of the samples. For each sample the following properties were characterised: layer depth, microhardness (HV), layer microstructure and composition. It has been found that the scan speed and the laser power affect the depth of the melt pool, the microstructure, the hardness and the treated layer composition. The laser boronised surface exhibits better wear resistance than D2 tool steel hardened to 59 ± 1 HRC. This will be discussed based on numerical analysis of the laser/material interaction.
Quasicrystalline phase formation during heat treatment in mechanically alloyed Al65Cu20Fe15 alloy
Authors: Gogebakan M. , Avar B.
Published: September 2009

Quasicrystalline phase formation during heat treatment in the mechanically alloyed Al65Cu20Fe15 powders was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The mechanical alloying was performed at speed of 300 rev min–1 for times up to 70 h. It was found that mechanical alloying of the Al65Cu20Fe15 powders did not result in the quasicrystalline (QC) icosahedral phase (i-phase) formation. The long time milling resulted in the formation of a cubic Al (Cu,Fe) solid solution phase ( β-phase). The cubic Al (Cu,Fe) solid solution identified as β-phase was observed to be present as one of the major phases in the Al65Cu20Fe15 alloy. The formation of the quasicrystalline icosahedral phase (i-phase) was only observed for short time milled powders after additional annealing at temperature above 500°C. The present investigation also showed that a tetragonal Al2Cu phase ( θ-phase) forms with short time milling. The tetragonal Al7Cu2Fe1 phase (w-phase) was observed after heat treatment of the short time milled and unmilled powders. The present investigation indicated that an effective process to prepare the quasicrystalline materials was using a combination of short time milling and subsequent annealing.
Prediction of residual stress distributions for single weld beads deposited on to SA508 steel including phase transformation effects
Authors: Dai H. , Francis J. A. , Withers P. J.
Published: September 2009

The sensitivity of residual stress distributions in bainitic–martensitic steel welds to the transformation strains that arise when austenite decomposes on cooling has been assessed by examining the predictions of three models for a simple bead-on-plate configuration. These cover the following scenarios: case I, no phase transformations; case II, transformations with volume change effects only; case III, transformations with volume change effects and associated Greenwood–Johnson transformation plasticity. Austenite decomposition was predicted by implementing Kirkaldy's reaction rate equations as a subroutine in the finite element code Sysweld, eliminating the need for a continuous cooling transformation diagram. Predicted residual stresses were then compared and rationalised alongside measurements obtained by neutron diffraction and the contour method. It was found that serious errors in predicting the location and magnitude of the peak stresses occurred if transformations were not included, while cases II and III gave similar results generally in agreement with the stress maps. Indeed, the trends in the experimental results were intermediate between cases II and III. Differences between the models and the potential for further improvements are discussed.
Synthesis and microstructural characterisation of CrSiN thin films deposited on Si(100) substrate
Authors: Shah H. N. , Jayaganthan R. , Kaur D.
Published: September 2009

The effect of deposition time, power (Si concentration) and sputtering pressure on the microstructural morphologies and phase compositions of sputter deposited CrSiN the thin films was investigated by filed emission SEM/EDS, AFM and XRD in the present work. The films deposited under an equal proportion of Ar+N2 atmosphere exhibited a (111) preferred orientation of CrSiN films, as evident from XRD results, with increasing deposition time. The crystallite size of the films has increased from 34 to 73 nm with increasing deposition time. It is observed from the field emission SEM results that, with increasing mode of radio frequency power on Si target during the CrSiN deposition, the triangular needle shaped columnar morphology has transformed into a finer columnar morphology. The reduction in crystallite size and surface roughness of the films has occurred with increasing radio frequency power supplied to the Si target as seen from their corresponding AFM images.
Hot corrosion behaviour of D-gun sprayed NiCoCrAlYTa coated superalloys at 900°C in molten salt environment
Authors: Kamal S. , Jayaganthan R. , Prakash S.
Published: September 2009

Detonation-gun sprayed NiCoCrAlYTa coatings deposited on superalloys have been investigated for their hot corrosion behaviour at 900°C in molten salt environment under cyclic conditions. The weight change measurements made on the bare and coated superalloys were used to determine the kinetics of hot corrosion. X-ray diffraction, X-ray mapping and field emission scanning electron microscope/EDS were used to characterise the corroded products of the coated and bare superalloys and substantiate the corrosion mechanisms. The formation of scales such as NiCr2O4, NiAl2O4 and Al2O3 on the coated superalloys provided a higher hot corrosion resistance as observed in the present work.