bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Genotype and Acute Pancreatitis in Turkey
Authors: Kasap E , Akyıldız M , Tekin F , Akarca U
Published: February 2010

Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Genotype and Acute Pancreatitis in Turkey

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic pancreatitis. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is the key enzyme which activates RAS. The ACE intron 16 insertion/ deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with ACE activity and is considered to be a risk factor for several inflammatory processes. We investigated this polymorphism in 68 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) and 157 healthy Turkish control subjects. Patients were evaluated with ultrasonography, abdominal tomography and laboratory markers and grouped by status for diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension (HT), and both these diseases and by etiology. Genotyping of the I/D polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The DD genotype was more prevalent in healthy controls, however, genotype II was significantly more frequent in AP patients (p <0.05). In severe AP patients, the genotype II frequency was significantly higher than in controls (p <0.05). Acute pancreatitis patients with both DM and HT had lower frequencies of genotype DD and of the D allele, and higher frequencies of genotype II and of the I allele than patients with either DM or HT (p <0.05).
The Prothrombin Factor II G20210A Mutation with Pulmonary Thromboembolism and a Normal Level of Fibrin Degradation Products
Authors: Nagorni-Obradovic Lj , Miljic P , Djordjevic V , Pešut D , Jovanovic D , Stojsic J , Stevic R , Radojkovic D
Published: February 2010

The Prothrombin Factor II G20210A Mutation with Pulmonary Thromboembolism and a Normal Level of Fibrin Degradation Products

Diagnosis of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) usually includes clinical pretest probability assessment, testing for specific degradation products of cross-linked fibrin (D-dimer) and imaging studies. Patients with radiological findings attributable to pulmonary infarction and normal D-dimer level, may present a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. A 37-year-old Caucasian female had episodes of hemoptysis, and bilateral pulmonary nodular infiltrates on chest radiograph and computerized tomography. The plasma D-dimer level was normal, perfusion lung scan was not conclusive and histological examination of an open lung biopsy revealed recent thrombotic pulmonary infarction. She deteriorated and more perfusion defects were detected on perfusion lung scan. Genetic analysis revealed her to be a carrier of the prothrombin factor II (FII) G20210A mutation.
Salts Application for Suppressing Potato Early Blight Disease
Authors: El-Mougy Nehal , Abdel-Kader Mokhtar
Published: February 2010

Salts Application for Suppressing Potato Early Blight Disease

The suppressive effect of sodium and calcium salts applied individually or combined with the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiaeagainstAlternaria solanithe causal agent of early blight disease of potato was evaluated under laboratory, greenhouse and field conditions.In vitrotest a complete inhibition in fungal growth was observed at concentration of 30 mg/ml of both sodium bicarbonate and calcium chloride. The commercial backing yeastS. cerevisiae(CBY) enhanced the inhibitory effect of tested salts reflected in increasing mycelial fungal growth reduction when combined at the rate of 1:1 at each concentration tested. In pot experiment, under artificial infestation with pathogenic fungus, application of sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride significantly reduced the early blight incidence and severity by increasing their concentrations. Their most effective concentration were 30 mg/ml that reduced the disease incidence by 50 and 62.4%, respectively. Superior effect of sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride in disease reduction was observed when they combined with CBY. Field trails for evaluating the most promising greenhouse treatments were preformed under natural infestations during two successive summer seasons. Calcium chloride proved higher efficacy for reducing both disease incidence and severity than that of sodium bicarbonate when applied either alone or combined with CBY. Also, it is observed that increasing concentrations of both sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride showed parallel decrease in disease incidence and severity. Application of (CBY) enhanced the efficacy of salts spraying against early blight disease. Similar trend was also observed with the increase of potato tubers yield. On the light of the present study it could be suggested that the usage of combined application of the yeastS. cerevisiaewith sodium bicarbonate or calcium chloride might be used as easily applied, safely and cost effective control methods against such plant diseases.
In Vitro Evaluation of Antagonistic Microorganisms for the Control of Die-Back of Neem Causal Agent Phomopsis Azadirachtae
Authors: Girish Krishna , Bhat Sarpangala , Raveesha Koteshwara
Published: February 2010

In VitroEvaluation of Antagonistic Microorganisms for the Control of Die-Back of Neem Causal AgentPhomopsis Azadirachtae

The die-back of neem caused byPhomopsis azadirachtaeis a devastating disease in India reducing the life span and seed production of neem. Six isolates of antagonistic bacteria and fungi,Bacillus cereus(MTCC 430),B. subtilis(MTCC 619),Pseudomonas aeruginosa(MTCC 2581),P. oleovorans(MTCC 617),Trichoderma harzianum(MTCC 792) andT. viride(MTCC 800) were evaluated againstP. azadirachtaeunderin vitroconditions. Culture filtrates of all these microorganisms were extracted using ethyl acetate, and the obtained fractions were tested for their antifungal activity againstP. azadirachtaeat different concentrations. Ethyl acetate extracts ofB. subtilisandP. aeruginosawere highly effective and completely inhibited the growth ofP. azadirachtaeat 25 ppm concentration. Both these isolates may be considered as factors for the biological control of die-back of neem.
Development of Aphis Spiraecola Patch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Apple
Authors: Andreev Radoslav , Rasheva Donka , Kutinkova Hristina
Published: February 2010

Development ofAphis SpiraecolaPatch (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on Apple

Aphis spiraecolais a recently found pest on apple in Bulgaria, where it develops in the absence of secondary hosts. The aphid has displaced the native speciesAphis pomiDeGeer in some regions of the country. Its development, from newborn nymph to adult female takes, in laboratory conditions, 9-10 days at 22-24°C or 6-7 days at 28-30°C. The average fecundity of one female at both temperatures is 9.5-10.5 nymphs. Under field conditions, in May and July of 2007 and 2008, the full development lasted 8.1-8.6 days of average, and the average fecundity of one female was 20.7-21.2 nymphs. About 67% of them became adults, but more than 20% of the females died without having progeny. Theoretically, the species could develop twenty and more generations per the vegetation period of apple.
Changes in Application System - Influence on Herbicides Residue in Soil and Sugar Beet Roots
Authors: Kucharski Mariusz
Published: February 2010

Changes in Application System - Influence on Herbicides Residue in Soil and Sugar Beet Roots

The aim of performed investigation was to evaluate the influence of changes in herbicide application system on herbicide residues in soil and sugar beet roots. Chemical weed control in sugar beet was carried out by herbicides that included substances such as phenmedipham, desmedipham, ethofumesate, metamitron, triflusulfuron and surfactant adjuvant applied in three different systems: two times application at bare soil (preemergence) and postemergence application (weeds in phase of 2-4 leaves) - system "A", 3 times split, postemergence application (full dose of herbicide mixture) - system "B" and 4 times application at 7 to 10 day intervals starting at the beginning of weed emergence - system "C". Samples of soil and roots of sugar beet were taken at the day of lifting. Herbicide residues were analysed using HPLC with UV-detection. At lifting time, in soil samples, where herbicides were applied in system "A", the residues of metamitron amounted from 0.0097 to 0.0132 mg/kg. Sum of all detected residues of applied substances amounted 0.0341-0.0458 mg/kg. In sugar beet root samples, the residues amounted to respectively, 0.0049-0.0064 and 0.0136-0.0247 mg/kg. The application of herbicides in "B" and "C" systems caused a significant decrease of residues by about 50% (system "B") and 65% (system "C") on average, in comparison with results obtained for herbicide application in "A" system. Residues of active substances determined in roots of sugar beet did not exceed acceptable limits (MRLs).
Occurrence of Eyespot on Winter Wheat in the Central-Southern Region of Poland
Authors: Głazek Mariola
Published: February 2010

Occurrence of Eyespot on Winter Wheat in the Central-Southern Region of Poland

Eyespot is one of the most important diseases of economical significance in wheat production in the regions of Śląskie and Opolskie voivodeships where it presents a permanent problem. The aim of performed experiment was to collect data on the occurrence and characteristics ofOculimacula yallundaeandO. acuformisstrains in these regions in the years 2003-2008, and to perform their taxonomic characterization. The studies originated as an attempt to find the explanation of processes related to winter wheat infection by casual agents of this disease in the Śląskie and Opolskie Provinces.
Evaluation of Different Grape Varieties for Resistance to Powdery Mildew Caused by Uncinula Necator
Authors: Khiavi H. , Shikhlinski Haji , Ahari A. , Heydari Asgar
Published: February 2010

Evaluation of Different Grape Varieties for Resistance to Powdery Mildew Caused byUncinula Necator

Powdery mildew is one of the most serious and destructive diseases of grapes around the world including Iran. Although the application of chemical pesticides is the most common control method, the use of resistant varieties may be the most effective and environmentally sound strategy for managing the disease. Fourteen grape varieties were evaluated for testing powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) resistance under natural infection conditions and artificial inoculation methods were used during 2007-2008 in Ardabil province of Iran. Disease severity on leaves and fruit (cluster) were evaluated using Voytovich (1987) procedure. Results of the experiments showed that Shahani, Yagothi and Tabrizkishmishi cultivars were immune, Sahibi cultivar was highly resistant, Agshilig and Tokoulgan were resistant, Kishmishi, Khalili and Tabarzeh cultivars were tolerant, Aldarag and Koupakbogan were susceptible and Garashilig, Seyrakpousteh and Rasmi cultivars were highly susceptible to the disease. In general, results of this study were promising and some immune, highly resistant and resistant cultivars toU. necatorwere identified and they may be used as a resistance genetic source for management of the disease in national and international programs.
Impact of Seed-Transmitted Viruses on Quality of Cereal Seeds
Authors: Jeżewska Małgorzata , Trzmiel Katarzyna
Published: February 2010

Impact of Seed-Transmitted Viruses on Quality of Cereal Seeds

Among seed-transmitted cereal viruses the most important isBarley stripe mosaic virus(BSMV), infecting barley. Investigations on the occurrence of BSMV in Poland have been carried out in the Institute of Plant Protection in Poznań since 2000. The studies aimed at the evaluation of the BSMV distribution in plant material, the rate of its seed transmission in different barley cultivars and the assessment of the effect of barley infection on the yield. The potential risk of BSMV occurrence for barley crops was discussed. The rate of infection by two seed-transmitted viruses,Maize dwarf mosaic virus(MDMV) andSugarcane mosaic virus(SCMV), in Poland was investigated in view of the risk assessment.
Development of a Therapeutic Exercise Program for Patients With Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Authors: Fernandes Linda , Storheim Kjersti , Nordsletten Lars , Risberg May Arna
Published: February 2010

Background and Purpose

No detailed exercise programs specifically for patients with hip osteoarthritis (OA) have been described in the literature. This lack of data creates a gap between the recommendation that people with OA should exercise and the type and dose of exercises that they should perform. The purpose of this case report is to describe and demonstrate the use of a therapeutic exercise program for a patient with hip OA.

Case Description

A 58-year-old woman with hip OA completed a 12-week therapeutic exercise program (TEP) with a 6-month follow-up. The patient reported hip pain, joint stiffness, and limited physical function, and she had decreased hip range of motion (ROM) at baseline.

Outcomes

The patient performed 19 sessions during the TEP, with a mean of 19.5 exercises per session. She increased the resistance in 3 of 5 strength (force-generating capacity) training exercises and achieved the highest degree of difficulty in all functional exercises. During the TEP and follow-up, the patient reported improvements in pain, joint stiffness, and physical function. Performance improved on the following physical tests: isokinetic peak torque strength (60°/s) in hip extension (40%), hip flexion (27%), knee extension (17%), and knee flexion (42%); hip ROM extension (8°); and 6-minute walk distance (83 m).

Discussion

The patient experienced less pain and improved physical function and physical test outcomes after intervention and at the 6-month follow-up. The main challenges when prescribing an exercise program for a patient with hip OA are monitoring the exercises to provide improvements without provoking persistent pain and motivating the patient to achieve long-term adherence to exercising. Randomized clinical trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of this TEP in patients with hip OA.
Quality-of-Life Change Associated With Robotic-Assisted Therapy to Improve Hand Motor Function in Patients With Subacute Stroke: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Kutner Nancy G. , Zhang Rebecca , Butler Andrew J. , Wolf Steven L. , Alberts Jay L.
Published: February 2010

Background

At 6 months poststroke, most patients cannot incorporate their affected hand into daily activities, which in turn is likely to reduce their perceived quality of life.

Objective

This preliminary study explored change in patient-reported, health-related quality of life associated with robotic-assisted therapy combined with reduced therapist-supervised training.

Design and Setting

A single-blind, multi-site, randomized clinical trial was conducted.

Participants

Seventeen individuals who were 3 to 9 months poststroke participated.

Intervention

Sixty hours of therapist-supervised repetitive task practice (RTP) was compared with 30 hours of RTP combined with 30 hours of robotic-assisted therapy.

Measurements

Participants completed the Stroke Impact Scale (SIS) at baseline, immediately postintervention, and 2 months postintervention. Change in SIS score domains was assessed in a mixed model analysis.

Results

The combined therapy group had a greater increase in rating of mood from preintervention to postintervention, and the RTP-only group had a greater increase in rating of social participation from preintervention to follow-up. Both groups had statistically significant improvement in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living scores from preintervention to postintervention. Both groups reported significant improvement in hand function postintervention and at follow-up, and the magnitude of these changes suggested clinical significance. The combined therapy group had significant improvements in stroke recovery rating postintervention and at follow-up, which appeared clinically significant; this also was true for stroke recovery rating from preintervention to follow-up in the RTP-only group.

Limitations

Outcomes of 30 hours of RTP in the absence of robotic-assisted therapy remain unknown.

Conclusion

Robotic-assisted therapy may be an effective alternative or adjunct to the delivery of intensive task practice interventions to enhance hand function recovery in patients with stroke.
Primary Care Mental Health Consultation-Liaison: A Connecting System for Private Psychiatrists and General Practitioners
Authors: Sved-Williams Anne , Poulton Jill
Published: February 2010

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe and evaluate a service that provides a single point-of-entry for general practitioners (GPs) wishing to refer their patients for one-off psychiatric consultations, using a new Medicare Item, number 291.

Method: Statistics of all referrals made through a single access point used by GPs for referral to psychiatrists were collated, as well as data regarding psychiatrists' provision of appointments. GPs using the service were surveyed after 28 months of operation.

Results: Both GP and psychiatrist user groups were predominantly positive about their experience of a system that provided ease of access for GPs and appropriate use of psychiatric expertise. Use of the service rose from six referrals per week to 10 per week during the survey period. Fifty-five percent of psychiatrists who joined the service continued to provide appointments on a regular basis.

Conclusion: A single access point for GPs to access patient appointments to private psychiatric consultants is a simple and acceptable mode of increasing access for many patients to expert assessment and management plans.
Effects of Physical Activity on Cancer Survival: A Systematic Review
Authors: Barbaric Mary , Brooks Eleanor , Moore Lisa , Cheifetz Oren
Published: February 2010

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) has been suggested to help increase the survival of individuals with cancer. The objective of this review was to systematically evaluate and summarize the available evidence investigating the effect of PA on the survival of individuals with cancer.

Methods: Electronic databases (CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE) were systematically searched for randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. Selected studies were assessed by two independent investigators for methodological quality, using the PEDro scale.

Results: Ten prospective cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. Quality-assessment scores averaged 5/10 on the PEDro scale, with two articles obtaining a score of 6/10. The majority of studies found that individuals participating in higher levels of physical activity had a reduced risk of cancer-related mortality. This trend was observed specifically for breast, colon, and colorectal cancers. On average, it appears that engaging in higher levels of metabolic equivalent hours per week may help to improve survival rates among individuals diagnosed with cancer.

Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with cancer demonstrated a trend toward increased survival with greater levels of PA. However, because only prospective cohort studies were included in the study, the conclusions drawn should be regarded with caution.
Changes in Activities of Wives Caring for Their Husbands Following Stroke
Authors: Cao Vi , Chung Cynthia , Ferreira Ana , Nelken Joanna , Brooks Dina , Cott Cheryl
Published: February 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of caregivers of persons with stroke with respect to their own physical activity.

Methods: A qualitative, descriptive approach was used to study 10 caregivers of persons with stroke, recruited from a stroke exercise class in a large urban rehabilitation facility. Caregivers participated in individual, semi-structured interviews that were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using a constant comparative method. An inductive, iterative approach was applied to determine the codes and themes.

Results: Four main themes were identified: change in role, change in activity, barriers to activity and health, and change in meaning of activity. Barriers to activity included guilt, time, and energy. Participants revealed that activity became more therapeutic after stroke and that participants preferred purposeful, functional, and partnered activities.

Conclusions: These findings emphasize the importance of the husband–wife dyad and of movement toward a family-centred care approach. Education should be provided to caregivers regarding their role, barriers, and health-promoting activities. Future research should focus on determining appropriate physical-activity programmes for caregivers as well as on evaluating implementation of partnered exercise programmes for caregivers and persons with stroke.
A Pilot Study of the Incidence of Post-thoracotomy Pulmonary Complications and the Effectiveness of Pre-thoracotomy Physiotherapy Patient Education
Authors: Reid Julie C. , Jamieson Anne , Bond Jennifer , Versi Bashir M. , Nagar Arpit , Ng Bernard H.K. , Moreland Julie D.
Published: February 2010

Purpose: To estimate the incidence and examine the pattern of post-thoracotomy pulmonary complications (PPC) that are amenable to physiotherapy treatment and to estimate the effect size of a pre-thoracotomy physiotherapy education session compared to no preoperative physiotherapy for reducing PPC.

Methods: Forty-two patients undergoing thoracotomy participated in this two-group retrospective-prospective cohort study. The preop group (n=22) received physiotherapy education prior to surgery and the no preop group (n=20) did not receive preoperative physiotherapy education. Chest radiographs were examined for PPC for 5 days postoperatively. Incidences of PPC were determined. The effect size was based on a grand count of PPC.

Results: The 5-day incidence of atelectasis, collapse, consolidation, and other complications was 85.0%, 39.0%, 31.7%, and 38.1%, respectively. Patterns of PPC showed large increases at days 2 and 3. The effect size for pre-thoracotomy physiotherapy education was zero.

Conclusions: In our sample, incidence of PPC was high and did not substantially differ based on whether or not preoperative education was provided.
Printing materials for electronic devices
Authors: Mathews Nripan , Lam Yeng Ming , Mhaisalkar Subodh G. , Grimsdale Andrew C.
Published: February 2010

Printing technology offers the potential for the rapid and inexpensive, large scale manufacture of electronic devices, especially organic and hybrid organic/inorganic devices. A variety of printing techniques, including gravure, flexography and ink-jet printing have been utilized for the fabrication of electronic devices. An overview is given of the types of printing used, the advantages of each technique, the materials requirements for successful printing, and the types of materials, including organic polymers and inorganic nanoparticles, that can be printed. Examples are given of how printing can be used to successfully print the active and inactive layers, including electrodes and dielectrics, of devices such as LEDs, solar cells and transistors, and the relative performance of devices made by different techniques is compared. The limitations and advantages of current technologies are discussed.
Advanced high-k/metal gate stack progress and challenges – a materials and process integration perspective
Authors: Park C. S. , Lysaght P. , Hussain M. M. , Huang J. , Bersuker G. , Majhi P. , Kirsch P. D. , Jammy R. , Tseng H. H.
Published: February 2010

Scaling of complementary metal oxide semiconductor devices is critical to enhancing performance and reducing the production cost of transistors. Conventional gate stack film systems consisting of a SiO2 dielectric layer between the Si substrate channel and a doped polycrystalline silicon (poly-Si) gate electrode exhibited excessively high gate current leakage when the physical thickness of this traditional dielectric was scaled to Tphys = ∼2 nm. The rate of scaling was initially preserved by incorporating nitrogen to form an SiOxNy insulator layer; however, this material soon experienced unacceptable levels of direct tunneling leakage current, which launched an industry-wide investigation of potential high dielectric constant (high-k) metal oxides as replacement materials for the SiO2 based gate dielectric layer. Thermal stability requirements for the introduction of high-k dielectric materials necessitated the simultaneous replacement of poly-Si with a metal gate electrode due to several performance factors including unscalable threshold voltage. Although high-k/metal gate thermal stability has been demonstrated, significant challenges remain to be resolved for future technology nodes. This paper reviews the progress and challenges associated with the introduction of high-k/metal gate transistors, including threshold voltage tuning and gate dielectric thickness scaling, from a materials and process integration perspective.
Scaling effects on microstructure and reliability for Cu interconnects
Authors: Ho Paul S. , Zschech Ehrenfried , Schmeisser Dieter , Meyer Moritz A. , Huebner Rene , Hauschildt Meike , Zhang Lijuan , Gall Martin , Kraatz Matthias
Published: February 2010

Continuous scaling of Cu interconnect structures can significantly impact reliability-limiting processes such as electromigration and stress-induced voiding. Prior to the 65 nm technology node, mass transport under electromigration is dominated by diffusion along the Cu/dielectric cap interface and the electromigration lifetime will degrade by about half for every generation, even with the same current density. Beyond the 65 nm node, small grains were found to mix with bamboo grains in the 90 nm Cu damascene lines and the contribution of the grain boundary transport degraded the electromigration lifetime. The scaling effects on microstructure and electromigration reliability are examined in this paper with the objective of identifying the key issues and exploring potential solutions for sub-100 nm Cu interconnects. We discuss first the scaling effect on electromigration lifetime and the effect due to the small grains on electromigration lifetime and statistics. This is followed by a discussion on grain growth studies focusing on the formation of small grains and a recent simulation study on small grain effect on electromigration reliability. This paper concludes with a discussion of some recent developments in analytical techniques to investigate grain structure and electromigration reliability in sub-100 nm Cu lines.
A comparative study of room-temperature creep in lead-free tin-based solder alloys
Authors: Mahmudi R. , Geranmayeh A. R.
Published: February 2010

Creep behavior of the tin-based lead-free Sn-0.7Cu, Sn-3.8Ag, Sn-9Zn, Sn-5Sb and Sn-2Bi binary alloys together with pure Sn, as the material for comparison, was studied by impression and indentation creep testing at room temperature. Stress exponent values in the range 3.5 to 14.7, obtained by the two methods, were in good agreement with each other and with those determined by room-temperature creep testing of the same materials reported in the literature. All of the tin-based alloys showed creep resistances higher than pure Sn. Among all tested materials, as indicated by their steady-state creep rates, Sn-2Bi showed the highest creep resistance followed by Sn-5Sb, Sn-9Zn, Sn-3.8Ag, Sn-0.7Cu and pure Sn. Different creep behaviors of the materials were discussed in terms of their microstructural features.
Capillary equilibrium in a semi-solid Al – Cu slurry
Authors: Limodin Nathalie , Salvo Luc , Suery Michel , Delannay Francis
Published: February 2010

The microstructural evolution of an Al-15.8 wt.% Cu slurry held for 80 min at 555 °C has been characterised in-situ by X-ray microtomography. The different parameters measured by segmentation of the 3D images are analysed by reference to a model describing capillary equilibrium in an aggregate of solid particles with uniform solid/liquid interface curvature. Excellent agreement is found between model predictions and experimental data, except for the fact that the solid/liquid interface area predicted by the model is lower by about 12.5 % than that measured experimentally. This suggests that, owing to the progressive grain coarsening, the slurry does not achieve uniform interface curvature. The model makes possible the conversion of experimental data into evolutions of the dihedral angle, average surface tensions ratio, and capillary pressure in the liquid.
Effect of thermal and mechanical treatments on the hot working response of Mg-3Sn-1Ca alloy
Authors: Prasad Y. V. R. K. , Rao K. P. , Hort N. , Kainer K. U.
Published: February 2010

The effects of homogenization treatment and high-temperature extrusion on the hot working behavior of Mg-3Sn-1Ca alloy have been studied with a view to find an optimum processing route for the manufacture of wrought products. Processing maps and kinetic parameters have been obtained from the flow stress data recorded in hot compression experiments in the temperature range of 300 – 550 °C and strain rate range of 0.0003 – 10 s– 1. These reveal that the homogenization treatment has only a marginal effect on the hot workability, the result attributable to the high thermal stability of CaMgSn particles in the microstructure. High temperature extrusion, however, lowers the hot working temperature significantly (by about 150 °C) and this has been attributed to grain refinement during primary processing. The mechanisms of hot deformation remained unchanged by the above treatments and the apparent activation energies for hot deformation are higher than those for self-diffusion suggesting that CaMgSn particles in the matrix cause large back-stress.
Thermodynamic predictions of Mg – Al – Ca alloy compositions amenable to semi-solid forming
Authors: Liang Songmao , Chen Rongshi , Han Enhou
Published: February 2010

Thermodynamic prediction based on a two-stage simulation has been carried out to investigate the composition range of Mg–Al–Ca alloys amenable to semi-solid forming. The results show that increasing the solute elements decreases the temperature sensitivity, but their effects on the solidification range are greatly different. In some Mg–Al–Ca alloys, the highest knee point in the liquid fraction vs. temperature curve is generated by the formation of Al2Ca phase. Several critical sections of the Mg–Al–Ca ternary system are also given. The criteria for semi-solid formability are identified and a range of compositions for Mg–Al–Ca alloys are evaluated in relation to these criteria. By comparing with A356 alloy and AZ91 alloy, a typical Mg–Al–Ca alloy AC74, is predicted to exhibit good semi-solid formability comparable to A356 and much better than AZ91.
Modeling creep in a thick composite cylinder subjected to internal and external pressures
Authors: Singh Tejeet , Gupta Vinay K.
Published: February 2010

A mathematical model to describe secondary creep in a thick composite cylinder made of Al–SiCpand subjected to both internal and external pressures has been developed. The creep behavior of the composite has been described by a threshold stress based creep law with a stress exponent of 5. The model developed has been used to investigate the effect of varying size and content of the SiCpdispersoid on the stresses and strain rates in a composite cylinder. It is observed that the stress distributions in the cylinder do not have significant variation with varying size and content of the SiCp. Unlike stresses, the strain rates in the cylinder are reduced to a significant extent by decreasing the size of SiCpand increasing the content of SiCp.
Effects of e-beam curing on glass structureand mechanical properties of nanoporous organosilicate thin films
Authors: Gage David M. , Peng Luming , Stebbins Jonathan , Yim Kang Sub , Al-Bayati Amir , Demos Alex , Dauskardt Reinhold H.
Published: February 2010

Structural characterization techniques, including solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies, were used in conjunction with mechanical testing to study the effects of thermally activated electron bombardment curing on organosilicate thin films. The electron beam process produced significant improvements in elastic modulus and fracture resistance while still preserving low dielectric constant. Detailed and quantitative analysis was used to elucidate fundamental curing effects on glass structure, including changes in film composition and local bond rearrangements. Enhancements in fracture properties with curing are shown to be due to increased network bond density resulting from changes in network connectivity coupled with moderate film densification.
“Un mes en Londres”: Angel Cabrera Latorre at the British Museum (Natural History) and the launch of an international career
Authors: Tellado J. M. , Molina J.
Published: February 2010

Angel Cabrera Latorre (1879–1960) was the authority on mammalian studies in Spain during the early twentieth century. Even though his first professional progress at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid were driven by the former naturalists of Comisión Científica al Pacífico (1862–1866), nevertheless Oldfield Thomas (1858–1929) acted as his mentor. Cabrera's mastery was learned at the British Museum (Natural History) in London where he spent a month during 1910. After returning to Madrid, Cabrera introduced in a short time several modifications in the vertebrate collections, museum's display and nomenclature, and in 1914 contributed the volume about mammals to Fauna Ibérica. Cabrera's Mamiferos remains a landmark in Iberian faunal studies.
History and dating of the publication of the Philadelphia (1822) and London (1823) editions of Edwin James'sAccount of an expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains
Authors: Woodman Neal
Published: February 2010

The public record of Major Stephen H. Long's 1819–1820 exploration of the American north-west, Account of an expedition from Pittsburgh to the Rocky Mountains, compiled by Edwin James, contains valuable contributions regarding the natural landscapes, native peoples and wildlife of a mostly unexplored region of the American west compiled from the notes of some of America's foremost naturalists, and it includes the first descriptions of 67 new species. The original plan was to publish the Account in Philadelphia and London simultaneously, yet these two editions differ substantially in ways that are relevant to the taxonomic contributions in the work. It is generally assumed that the Philadelphia edition was published in early January 1823 and was available first, but little substantive evidence has been presented to support its priority over the London edition. Review of contemporary correspondence and periodicals indicates the Philadelphia edition was available and for sale on 31 December 1822, whereas the London edition was available in late February 1823. As previously assumed by most sources, the Philadelphia edition has priority of publication and is the authority for most species names. Its correct year of publication, however, is 1822 rather than 1823.
(William T. Stearn Prize 2009) “The mighty cassowary”: the discovery and demise of the King Island emu
Authors: Pfennigwerth S.
Published: February 2010

Nicolas Baudin's 1800–1804 voyage was the only scientific expedition to collect specimens of the dwarf emu (Dromaius ater) endemic to King Island, Bass Strait, Australia. The expedition's naturalist, François Péron, documented the only detailed, contemporaneous description of the life history of the bird, and the artist Charles-Alexandre Lesueur made the only visual record of a living specimen. Hunted to extinction by 1805, the King Island emu remains relatively unfamiliar. It is ironic that a bird collected as part of one of the most ambitious ordering enterprises in early nineteenth-century science – a quest for intellectual empire – has been more or less forgotten.

This paper discusses how human error, assumption, imagination and circumstance hampered recognition and understanding of the King Island emu. Poor record-keeping led to the confusion of this species with other taxa, including the Australian emu and a dwarf species restricted to Kangaroo Island, contributing to the epistemological loss of the species. The expedition's agenda was equally influential in the perception and documentation of the species, with consequences for its conservation in the wild. The paper also argues that as a symbolic rather than a scientific record, Lesueur's illustration fostered inaccuracies in later descriptions of the King Island emu, especially when the image was taken out of context, subjected to the vagaries of nineteenth-century printing techniques and reproduced in more recent ornithological literature. Rather than increasing knowledge about this species, the Baudin expedition and its literature contributed, albeit unwittingly, to the King Island emu's textual and literal extinction.
The first record of Marcgrave's capuchin in Europe: South American monkeys in Italy during the early sixteenth century
Authors: Masseti Marco , Veracini Cecilia
Published: February 2010

Around the end of the second decade of the sixteenth century, in the Villa Medici of Poggio a Caiano in the vicinity of Florence, the Florentine artist Andrea del Sarto painted a great fresco, commissioned by Pope Leo X in honour of his late father, Lorenzo de’ Medici. This fresco contains one of the earliest representations in Europe of a living South American primate, which can easily be identified as Marcgrave's capuchin, Cebus flavius ( Schreber, 1774 ). The appearance is so accurate that we can assume that the painter was familiar with the animal, and may even have used a live monkey as a model. Marcgrave's capuchin is a taxon that was recently rediscovered in Brazil, where it has been found in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Paraíba. The portrayal of this species in the early sixteenth-century decoration of Poggio a Caiano raises interesting questions about the popularity of Brazilian primates in European artistic and scientific circles from the time of the discovery of the New World, and about the rapidity of the initial anthropogenic diffusion of some of these animals beyond their homeland.
The Cheeseman–Giglioli correspondence, and museum exchanges between Auckland and Florence, 1877–1904
Authors: Gill B. J.
Published: February 2010

Letters between Thomas Frederic Cheeseman of Auckland Museum (New Zealand) and Enrico Hillyer Giglioli of the Florence Natural History Museum (Italy) spanning 27 years (1877–1904), document repeated exchanges of natural history and ethnographic objects (consignments received at Florence in 1879, 1885, 1887, 1890, about 1895 and 1899, and at Auckland in 1882, 1888, 1891, 1896 and 1904). Extracts from the correspondence are used to give a chronological account of the transactions as a detailed case-study of a nineteenth century museum exchange between institutions half a world apart. Emphasis is given to land vertebrates, of which some 150 New Zealand birds were sent to Florence, and more than 600 Italian and foreign birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians were sent to Auckland. Giglioli especially sought Maori and Pacific ethnographic items and persistently requested these. He could offer royal acknowledgement of Cheeseman's efforts, and the latter received a Galileian silver medal of merit from the Florence Faculty of Sciences in 1887. The exchanges show what could be achieved over time by relatively few letters, despite the slow postal service, the need for agents, and the vagaries of freighting by sailing ship and steamer that included port strikes, unscheduled transhipment and the loss of ethnographic items by pillage en route.
Ageing well? Older people’s health and well-being as portrayed in UK magazine advertisements
Authors: Ylänne Virpi , Williams Angie , Wadleigh Paul Mark
Published: February 2010

The media, including advertising, is an important source of information about health and ageing. Furthermore, advertising makes certain discourses, vocabularies and imagery available as resources for age and health identity formation for older adults. The aim of this study was to investigate qualitatively the prominent themes relating to health and ageing that emerged from a sub-corpus of 140 British magazine advertisements depicting older adults. We focus on how these depictions construct health identity in older age through their underlying discourses. The six main themes included solutions to health problems; maintenance or regaining of independence and quality of life; managing risks; staying younger, healthy and active; taking pride in appearance; and discourses of responsibility and choice. The most prominent underlying discourse was the possibility, necessity and desirability to take positive action to maintain health and well-being in older age. We relate these findings to current societal discourses of active ageing and anti-ageing.
Measurement Invariance, Entropy, and Probability
Authors: Frank Steven A. , Smith D. Eric
Published: February 2010

We show that the natural scaling of measurement for a particular problem defines the most likely probability distribution of observations taken from that measurement scale. Our approach extends the method of maximum entropy to use measurement scale as a type of information constraint. We argue that a very common measurement scale is linear at small magnitudes grading into logarithmic at large magnitudes, leading to observations that often follow Student’s probability distribution which has a Gaussian shape for small fluctuations from the mean and a power law shape for large fluctuations from the mean. An inverse scaling often arises in which measures naturally grade from logarithmic to linear as one moves from small to large magnitudes, leading to observations that often follow a gamma probability distribution. A gamma distribution has a power law shape for small magnitudes and an exponential shape for large magnitudes. The two measurement scales are natural inverses connected by the Laplace integral transform. This inversion connects the two major scaling patterns commonly found in nature. We also show that superstatistics is a special case of an integral transform, and thus can be understood as a particular way in which to change the scale of measurement. Incorporating information about measurement scale into maximum entropy provides a general approach to the relations between measurement, information and probability.
Complex Nanostructures: Synthesis and Energetic Applications
Authors: Liu Xiaohua , Lin Yongjing , Zhou Sa , Sheehan Stafford , Wang Dunwei
Published: February 2010

Connected through single crystalline junctions, low dimensional materials such as nanowires and nanorods form complex nanostructures. These new materials exhibit mechanical strengths and electrical conductivities superior to their constituents while maintaining comparable surface areas, an attribute ideal for energetic applications. More efficient solar cells, higher capacity batteries and better performing photoelectrochemical cells have been built using these materials. This article reviews this exciting new class of materials and covers topics from controlled syntheses to applications in photovoltaics, chemical energy conversion and electrical charge storage. Mechanisms responsible for the improved performance are discussed. The prospect of their applications in a broader energy-related field is analyzed.
The Impact of School Tobacco Policies on Student Smoking in Washington State, United States and Victoria, Australia
Authors: Evans-Whipp Tracy J. , Bond Lyndal , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Toumbourou John W. , Catalano Richard F.
Published: February 2010

This paper measures tobacco polices in statewide representative samples of secondary and mixed schools in Victoria, Australia and Washington, US (N = 3,466 students from 285 schools) and tests their association with student smoking. Results from confounder-adjusted random effects (multi-level) regression models revealed that the odds of student perception of peer smoking on school grounds are decreased in schools that have strict enforcement of policy (odds ratio (OR) = 0.45; 95% CI: 0.25 to 0.82; p = 0.009). There was no clear evidence in this study that a comprehensive smoking ban, harsh penalties, remedial penalties, harm minimization policy or abstinence policy impact on any of the smoking outcomes.
Usefulness of Mendelian Randomization in Observational Epidemiology
Authors: Bochud Murielle , Rousson Valentin
Published: February 2010

Mendelian randomization refers to the random allocation of alleles at the time of gamete formation. In observational epidemiology, this refers to the use of genetic variants to estimate a causal effect between a modifiable risk factor and an outcome of interest. In this review, we recall the principles of a “Mendelian randomization” approach in observational epidemiology, which is based on the technique of instrumental variables; we provide simulations and an example based on real data to demonstrate its implications; we present the results of a systematic search on original articles having used this approach; and we discuss some limitations of this approach in view of what has been found so far.
Prevention of Overweight and Obesity: How Effective is the Current Public Health Approach
Authors: Chan Ruth S.M. , Woo Jean
Published: February 2010

Obesity is a public health problem that has become epidemic worldwide. Substantial literature has emerged to show that overweight and obesity are major causes of co-morbidities, including type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, various cancers and other health problems, which can lead to further morbidity and mortality. The related health care costs are also substantial. Therefore, a public health approach to develop population-based strategies for the prevention of excess weight gain is of great importance. However, public health intervention programs have had limited success in tackling the rising prevalence of obesity. This paper reviews the definition of overweight and obesity and the variations with age and ethnicity; health consequences and factors contributing to the development of obesity; and critically reviews the effectiveness of current public health strategies for risk factor reduction and obesity prevention.
Interleukin 12 a Key Immunoregulatory Cytokine in Infection Applications
Authors: Hamza Therwa , Barnett John B. , Li Bingyun
Published: February 2010

Interleukin 12 (termed IL-12p70 and commonly designated IL-12) is an important immunoregulatory cytokine that is produced mainly by antigen-presenting cells. The expression of IL-12 during infection regulates innate responses and determines the type of adaptive immune responses. IL-12 induces interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production and triggers CD4+ T cells to differentiate into type 1 T helper (Th1) cells. Studies have suggested that IL-12 could play a vital role in treating many diseases, such as viral and bacterial infections and cancers. The unique heterodimeric structure, which IL-12 shares with its family members including IL-23, IL-27, and IL-35, has recently brought more attention to understanding the mechanisms that regulate the functions of IL-12. This article describes the structure and biological activities of IL-12 in both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, and discusses the applications of IL-12 in treating and preventing infections.