bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Global View of Equatorial Waves and Tropical Cyclogenesis
Authors: Schreck Carl J. , Molinari John , Aiyyer Anantha
Published: September 2011

This study investigates the number of tropical cyclone formations that can be attributed to the enhanced convection from equatorial waves within each basin. Tropical depression (TD)-type disturbances (i.e., easterly waves) were the primary tropical cyclone precursors over the Northern Hemisphere basins, particularly the eastern North Pacific and the Atlantic. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, the number of storms attributed to TD-type disturbances and equatorial Rossby waves were roughly equivalent. Equatorward of 20°N, tropical cyclones formed without any equatorial wave precursor most often over the eastern North Pacific and least often over the western North Pacific.

The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) was an important tropical cyclone precursor over the north Indian, south Indian, and western North Pacific basins. The MJO also affected tropical cyclogenesis by modulating the amplitudes of higher-frequency waves. Each wave type reached the attribution threshold 1.5 times more often, and tropical cyclogenesis was 3 times more likely, within positive MJO-filtered rainfall anomalies than within negative anomalies. The greatest MJO modulation was observed for storms attributed to Kelvin waves over the north Indian Ocean.

The large rainfall rates associated with tropical cyclones can alter equatorial wave–filtered anomalies. This study quantifies the contamination over each basin. Tropical cyclones contributed more than 20% of the filtered variance for each wave type over large potions of every basin except the South Pacific. The largest contamination, exceeding 60%, occurred for the TD band near the Philippines. To mitigate the contamination, the tropical cyclone–related anomalies were removed before filtering in this study.
Validation and Test–Retest Reliability of a Health Measure, Health as Ability of Acting, Based on the Welfare Theory of Health
Authors: Snellman Ingrid , Jonsson Bosse , Wikblad Karin
Published: September 2011

The aim of this study was to conduct a validation and assess the test–retest reliability of the health questionnaire based on Nordenfelt’s Welfare Theory of Health (WTH). The study used a questionnaire on health together with the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey (SF-12) questionnaire, and 490 pupils at colleges for adult education participated. The results of the study are in accordance with Nordenfelt’s WTH. Three hypotheses were stated, and the first was confirmed: People who were satisfied with life rated higher levels than those who were dissatisfied with life concerning both mental and physical health, measured with the SF-12. The second hypothesis was partially confirmed: People with high education were more often satisfied with life than those with low education, but they were not healthier. The third hypothesis, that women are unhealthy more often than men, was not confirmed. The questionnaire on health showed acceptable stability.
Recovery of nickel from spent NiO/Al2O3 catalyst through sulfuric acid leaching, precipitation and solvent extraction
Authors: Nazemi MK , Rashchi F
Published: September 2011

Effective recovery of nickel (Ni) from spent NiO/Al2O3 catalyst in a simple hydrometallurgical route is suggested. Nickel recovery of 99.5% was achieved with sulfuric acid leaching. The leach liquor was partly neutralized and nickel ammonium sulfate was precipitated by adding ammonia. The nickel in the supernatant was concentrated by solvent extraction using D2EHPA and subsequently stripped back into sulfuric acid and returned to the precipitation stage. Necessary counter current extraction and stripping stages were determined in McCabe–Thiele diagrams. The suggested method appears simple and very effective in recovering nickel from spent catalysts from the petrochemical industry
Advancing Family Business Research Through Narrative Analysis
Authors: Dawson Alexandra , Hjorth Daniel
Published: September 2011

Despite advances in family business research, the field would benefit from greater methodological rigor. However, rigor does not mean convergence of methodologies. In this article, the authors adopt a novel approach, based on narrative analysis, to address the succession process in a family business. This interpretive perspective is appropriate for family business studies, which address multifaceted and complex social constructs that are performed by different actors in multiple contexts. The analysis highlights five key themes centering on leadership style and succession, trust and communication, balance between agents, history and identity, and fear of losing one’s identity and social standing through the succession process.
Computational fluid dynamics simulation of the supersonic steam ejector. Part 2. Optimal design of geometry and the effect of operating conditions on the ejector
Authors: Cai L , Zheng H T , Li Y J , Li Z M
Published: September 2011

The aim of this study is to investigate the use of computational fluid dynamics in predicting the performance and optimal design of the geometry of a steam ejector used in a steam turbine. In the current part, the real gas model was considered using IAPWS IF97 model, and the influences of working fluid pressure and backpressure were investigated. The results illustrate that working critical pressure and backflow critical pressure exist in the flow. Moreover, the entrainment ratio reaches its peak at the working critical pressure. The performance of the ejector was nearly the same when the outlet pressure was lower than the critical backpressure. Effects of ejector geometries were also investigated. The distance between the primary nozzle and the mixing chamber was at optimum, the length of the mixing chamber and the diameter of the throat had an optimal value according to the entrainment ratio. When the length of the diffuser or throat was decreased within a range, the entrainment ratio did not change significantly.
Dasatinib as first-line treatment for adult patients with Philadelphia chromosome–positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Foà Robin , Vitale Antonella , Vignetti Marco , Meloni Giovanna , Guarini Anna , De Propris Maria Stefania , Elia Loredana , Paoloni Francesca , Fazi Paola , Cimino Giuseppe , Nobile Francesco , Ferrara Felicetto , Castagnola Carlo , Sica Simona , Leoni Pietro , Zuffa Eliana , Fozza Claudio , Luppi Mario , Candoni Anna , Iacobucci Ilaria , Soverini Simona , Mandelli Franco , Martinelli Giovanni , Baccarani Michele ,   on behalf of the GIMEMA Acute Leukemia Working Party
Published: September 2011

Dasatinib is a potent BCR-ABL inhibitor effective in chronic myeloid leukemia and Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) resistant/intolerant to imatinib. In the GIMEMA LAL1205 protocol, patients with newly diagnosed Ph+ ALL older than 18 years (with no upper age limit) received dasatinib induction therapy for 84 days combined with steroids for the first 32 days and intrathecal chemotherapy. Postremission therapy was free. Fifty-three patients were evaluable (median age, 53.6 years). All patients achieved a complete hematologic remission (CHR), 49 (92.5%) at day 22. At this time point, 10 patients achieved a BCR-ABL reduction to < 10−3. At 20 months, the overall survival was 69.2% and disease-free survival was 51.1%. A significant difference in DFS was observed between patients who showed at day 22 a decrease in BCR-ABL levels to < 10−3 compared with patients who never reached these levels during induction. In multivariate analysis, BCR-ABL levels of < 10−3 at day 85 correlated with disease-free survival. No deaths or relapses occurred during induction. Twenty-three patients relapsed after completing induction. A T315I mutation was detected in 12 of 17 relapsed cases. Treatment was well tolerated; only 4 patients discontinued therapy during the last phase of the induction when already in CHR. In adult Ph+ ALL, induction treatment with dasatinib plus steroids is associated with a CHR in virtually all patients, irrespective of age, good compliance, no deaths, and a very rapid debulking of the neoplastic clone. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00391989.
Post-stroke infection: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Westendorp Willeke F , Nederkoorn Paul J , Vermeij Jan-Dirk , Dijkgraaf Marcel G , de Beek Diederik van
Published: September 2011

Background

stroke is the main cause of disability in high-income countries, and ranks second as a cause of death worldwide. Patients with acute stroke are at risk for infections, but reported post-stroke infection rates vary considerably. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled post-stroke infection rate and its effect on outcome.

Methods

MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for studies on post-stroke infection. Cohort studies and randomized clinical trials were included when post-stroke infection rate was reported. Rates of infection were pooled after assessment of heterogeneity. Associations between population- and study characteristics and infection rates were quantified. Finally, we reviewed the association between infection and outcome.

Results

87 studies were included involving 137817 patients. 8 studies were restricted to patients admitted on the intensive care unit (ICU). There was significant heterogeneity between studies (P < 0.001, I2= 97%). The overall pooled infection rate was 30% (24-36%); rates of pneumonia and urinary tract infection were 10% (95% confidence interval [CI] 9-10%) and 10% (95%CI 9-12%). For ICU studies, these rates were substantially higher with 45% (95% CI 38-52%), 28% (95%CI 18-38%) and 20% (95%CI 0-40%). Rates of pneumonia were higher in studies that specifically evaluated infections and in consecutive studies. Studies including older patients or more females reported higher rates of urinary tract infection. Pneumonia was significantly associated with death (odds ratio 3.62 (95%CI 2.80-4.68).

Conclusions

Infection complicated acute stroke in 30% of patients. Rates of pneumonia and urinary tract infection after stroke were 10%. Pneumonia was associated with death. Our study stresses the need to prevent infections in patients with stroke.
Snail1 induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and tumor initiating stem cell characteristics
Authors: Dang Hien , Ding Wei , Emerson Dow , Rountree C Bart
Published: September 2011

Background

Tumor initiating stem-like cells (TISCs) are a subset of neoplastic cells that possess distinct survival mechanisms and self-renewal characteristics crucial for tumor maintenance and propagation. The induction of epithelial-mesenchymal-transition (EMT) by TGFβ has been recently linked to the acquisition of TISC characteristics in breast cancer. In HCC, a TISC and EMT phenotype correlates with a worse prognosis. In this work, our aim is to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which cells acquire tumor initiating characteristics after EMT.

Methods

Gene and protein expression assays and Nanog-promoter luciferase reporter were utilized in epithelial and mesenchymal phenotype liver cancer cell lines. EMT was analyzed with migration/invasion assays. TISC characteristics were analyzed with tumor-sphere self-renewal and chemotherapy resistance assays. In vivo tumor assay was performed to investigate the role of Snail1 in tumor initiation.

Conclusion

TGFβ induced EMT in epithelial cells through the up-regulation of Snail1 in Smad-dependent signaling. Mesenchymal liver cancer post-EMT demonstrates TISC characteristics such as tumor-sphere formation but are not resistant to cytotoxic therapy. The inhibition of Snail1 in mesenchymal cells results in decreased Nanog promoter luciferase activity and loss of self-renewal characteristics in vitro. These changes confirm the direct role of Snail1 in some TISC traits. In vivo, the down-regulation of Snail1 reduced tumor growth but was not sufficient to eliminate tumor initiation. In summary, TGFβ induces EMT and TISC characteristics through Snail1 and Nanog up-regulation. In mesenchymal cells post-EMT, Snail1 directly regulates Nanog expression, and loss of Snail1 regulates tumor growth without affecting tumor initiation.
RETRACTED ARTICLE:Differential modulatory
effects of GSK-3β and HDM2 on sorafenib-induced AIF nuclear translocation (programmed
necrosis) in melanoma
Authors: Liu Qingjun , Mier James W , Panka David J
Published: September 2011

Background

GSK-3β phosphorylates numerous substrates that govern cell survival. It
phosphorylates p53, for example, and induces its nuclear export, HDM2-dependent
ubiquitination, and proteasomal degradation. GSK-3β can either enhance or inhibit
programmed cell death, depending on the nature of the pro-apoptotic stimulus. We
previously showed that the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib activated GSK-3β and
that this activation attenuated the cytotoxic effects of the drug in various
BRAF-mutant melanoma cell lines. In this report, we describe the results of
studies exploring the effects of GSK-3β on the cytotoxicity and antitumor activity
of sorafenib combined with the HDM2 antagonist MI-319.

Results

MI-319 alone increased p53 levels and p53-dependent gene expression in
melanoma cells but did not induce programmed cell death. Its cytotoxicity,
however, was augmented in some melanoma cell lines by the addition of sorafenib.
In responsive cell lines, the MI-319/sorafenib combination induced the
disappearance of p53 from the nucleus, the down modulation of Bcl-2 and
Bcl-xL, the translocation of p53 to the mitochondria and
that of AIF to the nuclei. These events were all GSK-3β-dependent in that they
were blocked with a GSK-3β shRNA and facilitated in otherwise unresponsive
melanoma cell lines by the introduction of a constitutively active form of the
kinase (GSK-3β-S9A). These modulatory effects of GSK-3β on the activities of the
sorafenib/MI-319 combination were the exact reverse of its effects on the
activities of sorafenib alone, which induced the down modulation of Bcl-2 and
Bcl-xL and the nuclear translocation of AIF only in cells
in which GSK-3β activity was either down modulated or constitutively low. In A375
xenografts, the antitumor effects of sorafenib and MI-319 were additive and
associated with the down modulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL,
the nuclear translocation of AIF, and increased suppression of tumor
angiogenesis.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrate a complex partnership between GSK-3β and HDM2 in the
regulation of p53 function in the nucleus and mitochondria. The data suggest that
the ability of sorafenib to activate GSK-3β and alter the intracellular
distribution of p53 may be exploitable as an adjunct to agents that prevent the
HDM2-dependent degradation of p53 in the treatment of melanoma.
Phytoceramide and sphingoid bases derived from brewer's yeast Saccharomyces pastorianus activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors
Authors: Murakami Itsuo , Wakasa Yukari , Yamashita Shinji , Kurihara Toshio , Zama Kota , Kobayashi Naoyuki , Mizutani Yukiko , Mitsutake Susumu , Shigyo Tatsuro , Igarashi Yasuyuki
Published: September 2011

Background

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are ligand-activated transcription factors that regulate lipid and glucose metabolism. PPARα is highly expressed in the liver and controls genes involved in lipid catabolism. We previously reported that synthetic sphingolipid analogs, part of which contains shorter-length fatty acid chains than natural sphingolipids, stimulated the transcriptional activities of PPARs. Sphingosine and dihydrosphingosine (DHS) are abundant sphingoid bases, and ceramide and dihydroceramide are major ceramide species in mammals. In contrast, phytosphingosine (PHS) and DHS are the main sphingoid bases in fungi. PHS and phytoceramide exist in particular tissues such as the epidermis in mammals, and involvement of ceramide species in PPARβ activation in cultured keratinocytes has been reported. The purpose of the present study is to investigate whether natural sphingolipids with C18 fatty acid and yeast-derived sphingoid bases activate PPARs as PPAR agonists.

Method

Lipids of brewer's yeast contain PHS- and DHS-based sphingolipids. To obtain the sphingoid bases, lipids were extracted from brewer's yeast and acid-hydrolyzed. The sphingoid base fraction was purified and quantified. To assess the effects of sphingolipids on PPAR activation, luciferase reporter assay was carried out. NIH/3T3 and human hepatoma (HepG2) cells were transfected with expression vectors for PPARs and retinoid × receptors, and PPAR responsive element reporter vector. When indicated, the PPAR/Gal4 chimera system was performed to enhance the credibility of experiments. Sphingolipids were added to the cells and the dual luciferase reporter assay was performed to determine the transcriptional activity of PPARs.

Results

We observed that phytoceramide increased the transcriptional activities of PPARs significantly, whereas ceramide and dihydroceramide did not change PPAR activities. Phytoceramide also increased transactivation of PPAR/Gal4 chimera receptors. Yeast-derived sphingoid base fraction, which contained PHS and DHS, or authentic PHS or DHS increased PPAR-dependent transcription. Additionally, phytoceramide stimulated PPARα activity in HepG2 hepatocytes, suggesting that phytoceramide activates genes regulated by PPARα.

Conclusions

Phytoceramide and yeast-derived sphingoid bases activate PPARs, whereas ceramide and dihydroceramide do not change the PPAR activity. The present findings suggest that phytoceramide acts as a PPAR ligand that would regulate PPAR-targeted genes.
2D DIGE analysis of maternal plasma for potential biomarkers of Down Syndrome
Authors: Heywood Wendy E , Madgett Tracey E , Wang Darrell , Wallington Amanda , Hogg Julie , Mills Kevin , Avent Neil D
Published: September 2011

Background

Prenatal screening for Down Syndrome (DS) would benefit from an increased number of biomarkers to improve sensitivity and specificity. Improving sensitivity and specificity would decrease the need for potentially risky invasive diagnostic procedures.

Results

We have performed an in depth two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D DIGE) study to identify potential biomarkers. We have used maternal plasma samples obtained from first and second trimesters from mothers carrying DS affected fetuses compared with mothers carrying normal fetuses. Plasma samples were albumin/IgG depleted and expanded pH ranges of pH 4.5 - 5.5, pH 5.3 - 6.5 and pH 6 - 9 were used for two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE). We found no differentially expressed proteins in the first trimester between the two groups. Significant up-regulation of ceruloplasmin, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain H4, complement proteins C1s subcomponent, C4-A, C5, and C9 and kininogen 1 were detected in the second trimester in maternal plasma samples where a DS affected fetus was being carried. However, ceruloplasmin could not be confirmed as being consistently up-regulated in DS affected pregnancies by Western blotting.

Conclusions

Despite the in depth 2DE approach used in this study the results underline the deficiencies of gel-based proteomics for detection of plasma biomarkers. Gel-free approaches may be more productive to increase the number of plasma biomarkers for DS for non-invasive prenatal screening and diagnosis.
Biologically-inspired data decorrelation for hyper-spectral imaging
Authors: Picon Artzai , Ghita Ovidiu , Rodriguez-Vaamonde Sergio , Iriondo Pedro Ma , Whelan Paul F
Published: September 2011

Hyper-spectral data allows the construction of more robust statistical models to sample the material properties than the standard tri-chromatic color representation. However, because of the large dimensionality and complexity of the hyper-spectral data, the extraction of robust features (image descriptors) is not a trivial issue. Thus, to facilitate efficient feature extraction, decorrelation techniques are commonly applied to reduce the dimensionality of the hyper-spectral data with the aim of generating compact and highly discriminative image descriptors. Current methodologies for data decorrelation such as principal component analysis (PCA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), wavelet decomposition (WD), or band selection methods require complex and subjective training procedures and in addition the compressed spectral information is not directly related to the physical (spectral) characteristics associated with the analyzed materials. The major objective of this article is to introduce and evaluate a new data decorrelation methodology using an approach that closely emulates the human vision. The proposed data decorrelation scheme has been employed to optimally minimize the amount of redundant information contained in the highly correlated hyper-spectral bands and has been comprehensively evaluated in the context of non-ferrous material classification
Monocytes and macrophages and placental malaria infections in an area of unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan
Authors: Salih Magdi M , Mohammed Amal H , Mohmmed Ahmed A , Adam Gamal K , Elbashir Mustafa I , Adam Ishag
Published: September 2011

Background

Maternal immunity is thought to play a major role in the increased susceptibility of pregnant women toPlasmodium falciparummalaria. Few studies exist on immunohistochemical characterization of the placental inflammatory infiltrate. The current study was conducted in Gadarif hospital in an area characterized by unstable malaria transmission in eastern Sudan.

Method

Ninety three placentae were investigated for malaria histological changes and immunohistochemical study for monocytes and macrophages (CD68).

Results

While 1(1.1%), 2(2.2%) and 20(21.5%) of the 93 placentae had acute, chronic and past malaria infections, 70(75.2%) had no malaria infections. Monocytes and macrophage (CD 68) were detected in 29 (31.2%) of these 93 placentae. Significantly higher rate of monocytes and macrophage were detected in placentae with malaria infections [11/23 (47.8%) vs. 18/70 (25.7%);P= 0.047] especially in placentae with past malaria infections. Placental malaria infections and monocytes and macrophages cells infiltration were not different between primiparae and multiparae. There was no significant difference in the birth weight between the women with placental malaria infections/monocytes and macrophages cells infiltration and those who had no placental malaria infections/cellular infiltrations.

Conclusion

Significantly higher rate of monocytes and macrophage were detected in placentae with malaria infections. Neither placental malaria infections nor cellular infiltrates were associated with parity or lead to reduction of birth weight.
Anaplasmataceae and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in the sand lizard Lacerta agilis and co-infection of these bacteria in hosted Ixodes ricinus ticks
Authors: Ekner Anna , Dudek Krzysztof , Sajkowska Zofia , Majláthová Viktória , Majláth Igor , Tryjanowski Piotr
Published: September 2011

Background

Anaplasmataceae and Borrelia burgdorferi s.l. are important tick-borne bacteria maintained in nature by transmission between ticks and vertebrate hosts. However, the potential role of lizards as hosts has not been sufficiently studied.

Results

The current study showed that 23 of 171 examined sand lizards Lacerta agilis were PCR positive for Anaplasmataceae. The nucleotide sequences of the several selected PCR products showed 100% homology with Anaplasma spp. found in Ixodes ricinus collected in Tunisia and Morocco (AY672415 - AY672420). 1.2% of lizard collar scale samples were PCR positive for B. lusitaniae. In addition, 12 of 290 examined I. ricinus were PCR positive for B. burgdorferi s.l. and 82 were PCR positive for Anaplasmatacea. The number of ticks per lizard and the number of ticks PCR positive for both microorganisms per lizard were strongly correlated. Moreover, we found a significant correlation between numbers of ticks infected with Anaplasmataceae and with B. burgdorferi s.l. living on the same lizard. However, there was no significant correlation between detection of both bacteria in the same tick.

Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Anaplasmataceae DNA and additionally the second report of B. burgdorferi s.l DNA detection in the sand lizard.
Imperfect Competition and the Trade Cycle: Aborted Guidelines from the Late 1930s
Authors: d'Aspremont Claude , Ferreira Rodolphe Dos Santos , Gérard-Varet Louis-André
Published: September 2011

The cyclical behavior of wages and prices was a central topic in trade cycle analysis on the eve of the Second World War. Keynes and Harrod independently referred in the same year to the supposed countercyclicality of real wages, a feature that was contested soon after, on empirical grounds, by Dunlop and Tarshis. An ambitious research program integrating macroeconomics and imperfect competition was elaborated to reconcile theory and observations, but was suddenly discontinued. This program was sufficiently ripe to include the main ingredients of the New Keynesian research program, which was only put forth in the 1980s.
The Historical Fertility Transition: A Guide for Economists
Authors: Guinnane Timothy W
Published: September 2011

The historical fertility transition is the process by which much of Europe and North America went from high to low fertility in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. This transformation is central to recent accounts of long-run economic growth. Prior to the transition, women bore as many as eight children each, and the elasticity of fertility with respect to incomes was positive. Today, many women have no children at all, and the elasticity of fertility with respect to incomes is zero or even negative. This paper discusses the large literature on the historical fertility transition, focusing on what we do and do not know about the process. I stress some possible misunderstandings of the demographic literature, and discuss an agenda for future work. (JEL I12, J13, N30)
The Causal Effect of Parents' Schooling on Children's Schooling: A Comparison of Estimation Methods
Authors: Holmlund Helena , Lindahl Mikael , Plug Erik
Published: September 2011

We review the empirical literature that estimates the causal effect of parent's schooling on child's schooling, and conclude that estimates differ across studies. We then consider three explanations for why this is: (a) idiosyncratic differences in data sets, (b) differences in remaining biases between different identification strategies, and (c) differences across identification strategies in their ability to make out-of-sample predictions. We conclude that discrepancies in past studies can be explained by violations of identifying assumptions. Our reading of past evidence, together with an application to Swedish register data, suggests that intergenerational schooling associations are largely driven by selection. Parental schooling constitutes a large part of the parental nurture effect, but as a whole does not play a large role. (JEL I21, J13)
Economics in the Laboratory
Authors: Smith Vernon L
Published: September 2011

The questions addressed in this paper include: What is a laboratory experiment? What are the reasons why economists conduct such experiments? What have we learned? Among the many findings of experiments are included: institutions (the rules of exchange) matter; optimization in markets is not achieved by conscious calculation; less information is sometimes better; common information is not sufficient to yield common ‘knowledge’ or expectations; underrevelation is compatible with efficiency; and fairness is a matter of tastes or expectations. Also discussed is the methodological role of experiments in contributing to our knowledge of how things work.
Issues in the Design of Environmental Excise Taxes
Authors: Barthold Thomas A
Published: September 2011

This paper explores economic, political, and practical issues that arise in the design of environmental taxes. The observed dearth of Pigouvian taxes may result from perceived political or practical problems in the design of such taxes. The author provides a taxonomy for assessing design issues: (1) what is taxed; (2) who is to pay; (3) how large is the tax; and (4) accommodations for ancillary policy concerns. He uses this taxonomy to address issues of design to achieve economically efficient and administratively feasible outcomes. The author illustrates these points with discussion of the recently enacted excise tax on ozone-depleting chemicals.
Selling Spectrum Rights
Authors: McMillan John
Published: September 2011

The design of the FCC spectrum-license auction is a case study in the application of economic theory. Auction theory helped address policy questions such as: Should an open auction or a sealed-bid auction be used? Should the licenses be auctioned sequentially or simultaneously? Should the government allow bids for combinations of licenses, or should it accept only single-license bids? How should the auction be structured to promote the interests of minority-owned and other designated firms? Should the government impose royalties or reserve prices? How much should the bidders be informed about their competition?
Retrospectives: Fixed Capital, Railroad Economics and the Critique of the Market
Authors: Perelman Michael
Published: September 2011

Where average fixed costs are large compared to marginal costs, competition will drive industry into bankruptcy. During the last century, the chaos that competition created within the railroad industry caused many prominent U.S. economists to reject the market in favor of trusts, cartels, and monopolies. They created the American Economic Association to counter the prevailing laissez faire theory. Nonetheless, some, such as J. B. Clark, still wrote in favor of abstract laissez to counter socialist and populist agitation.
Contingent Valuation: Is Some Number Better than No Number?
Authors: Diamond Peter A , Hausman Jerry A
Published: September 2011

Without market outcomes for comparison, internal consistency tests, particularly adding-up tests, are needed for credibility. When tested, contingent valuation has failed. Proponents find surveys tested poorly done. To the authors’ knowledge, no survey has passed these tests. The ‘embedding effect’ is the similarity of willingness-to-pay responses that theory suggests (and sometimes requires) be different. This problem has long been recognized but not solved. The authors conclude that current methods are not suitable for damage assessment or benefit-cost analysis. They believe the problems come from an absence of preferences, not a flaw in survey methodology, making improvement unlikely.
Transnationale Literatur – eine Herausforderung für die Wissenschaft: der tschechische Jude J. M. Langer
Authors: Koschmal Walter
Published: September 2011

Especially in Eastern Europe, literature frequently crosses borders; it has a transnational orientation. Scholarship, however, must often devise new systematic methods to analyze transnational literature. The example of the Jewish-Czech Poet J. M. Langer demonstrates this problem, in which questions such as what kind of readers do multilingual authors have and to which literary history do they belong must be addressed. It is also necessary to examine how national/European historicism has shaped scholarship, i. e. the purpose of national literary historiographies. We shall see that conjunctions of influences create a network of transna­tional intertextuality, not differences in works of literature.
Die „moderne Seele“ und ihre Topologie: Penčo Slavejkovs Slavenbilder
Authors: Kroucheva Katerina
Published: September 2011

These reflections on the images of the Slavs in Penčo Slavejkovs work provide a component of a more general study on modern and avant-garde concepts of ‘the nation’. Various ideas on the ‘modern soul’ and its topographical character are essential for these concepts. One of the paradoxes of the period of modernism is that the ‘soul’, – which is usually first and foremost defined as being immaterial and a-historical – can be geographically and ethnically determined. The reflections on the ‘Slavic Soul’, which play a crucial role in Slavejkovs aesthetics, are accompanied by a derogatory attitude towards other ethnicities, such as the Germanic or Latin. Nonetheless, Slavejkov is nowadays portrayed as an ironical opponent of any nationalism. The essay at hand seeks an explanation for such a characterization of Slavejkov in the key concepts of Bulgarian literary criticism, namely in the notions of “Europe” and “the Belated Nation”.
„Die Unterschiede sind nun da“: Zur sprachlichen Entwicklung in Bosnien und Herzegowina
Authors: Tolimir-Hölzl Nataša
Published: September 2011

Linguistically, the past two decades in Bosnia and Hercegovina were characterized by the implementation of three legal languages, “Bosnian”, “Croatian” and “Serbian”, which replaced the formerly used “Serbocroatian”. What initially looked like a merely terminological change for ideological reasons has developed into a gradually growing language change along ethnic lines, which could be measured by quantitative analysis, the methods and results of which will be presented partly in this article. Through additional qualitative analysis it became evident that these linguistic changes are not spreading equally within each linguistic group, but are only affecting the language use and speech of the majorities of certain areas. This means, that there is a great difference between the level of standardization, acceptance and actual use of the three languages in question leading to the establishment of linguistic areas rather than the planed equal trilingualism in the state.
Review
Authors: Heine Bernd
Published: September 2011

Nicole Dehé & Yordanka Kavalova (eds.), Parentheticals, (Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today, 106), Amsterdam, Philadelphia: John Benjamins, 2007. 314 pp.
Spa-Drain Entrapment Complicated by Suspicions of Nonaccidental Trauma and Epilepsy Onset
Authors: Furter Matthias , Germerott Tanja , Thali Michael J.
Published: September 2011

We present here the case of an adolescent female near-drowning victim who was reportedly discovered submerged and unconscious by family members in a whirlpool spa. Physical examination revealed extensive posterior soft tissue bruising, which raised the suspicion of nonaccidental trauma. Detailed forensic evaluation of the injuries and the scene proved that the soft tissue findings represented an unusual manifestation of whirlpool-spa suction-vent injury. Medical evaluation indicated that epilepsy onset might have contributed to the near-drowning, although forensic evaluation of this possibility was less convincing. In this article we review these rare but important injuries, which have the potential to be confused with child abuse, and detail the atypical presentation and clinically presumed etiologic event in our case.
10-year Cognition in Preterms After Random Assignment to Fatty Acid Supplementation in Infancy
Authors: Isaacs Elizabeth B. , Ross Sarah , Kennedy Kathy , Weaver Lawrence T. , Lucas Alan , Fewtrell Mary S.
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE:

To test the hypothesis that long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation in infancy would improve cognition into later childhood (after 9 years) at both general and specific levels.

METHODS:

A comprehensive cognitive battery was completed by 107 formerly preterm infants (mean age: 128 months). As infants, they had been assigned randomly to receive LCPUFA-supplemented (N = 50) or control (N = 57) formula, between birth and 9 months; the docosahexaenoic acid level (DHA) in the supplemented formulas was 0.5%. In addition to randomized comparisons, we planned supplementary analyses to examine the effects of both gender and feeding group (those receiving some maternal breast milk versus those receiving none).

RESULTS:

There were no significant differences between randomized diet groups on any cognitive measure. There was significant interaction between gender and supplementation; girls only showed beneficial effects of LCPUFAs on literacy. Significant interaction also occurred between feeding group and supplementation; increases of 0.7 SD in verbal IQ, full-scale IQ, and memory scores were found for the LCPUFA group, but only for infants who received only formula and no maternal breast milk.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this post–9-year cognitive follow-up study in a randomized trial of LCPUFA-supplemented formula for preterm infants suggest no overall group effects but indicate that gender-specific and diet-specific effects may exist. The data provide some evidence that LCPUFAs are a key factor in the cognitive benefits of breast milk. Caution is advised in data interpretation because of the small groups used.
Comparison of Umbilical Venous and Intraosseous Access During Simulated Neonatal Resuscitation
Authors: Rajani Anand K. , Chitkara Ritu , Oehlert John , Halamek Louis P.
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE:

Emergent umbilical venous catheter (UVC) placement for persistent bradycardia in the delivery room is a rare occurrence that requires significant skill and involves space constraints. Placement of an intraosseous needle (ION) in neonates has been well described. The ION is already used in the pediatric population and is placed at an anatomic location distant from where chest compressions are performed. In this study we compared time to placement, errors in placement, and perceived ease of use for UVCs and IONs in a simulated delivery room.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS:

Forty health care providers were recruited. Subjects were shown an instructional video of both techniques and allowed to practice placement. Subjects participated in 2 simulated neonatal resuscitations requiring intravenous epinephrine. In 1 scenario they were required to place a UVC and in the other an ION. Scenarios were recorded for later analysis of placement time and error rate. Subjects were surveyed regarding the perceived level of difficulty of each technique.

RESULTS:

The average time required for ION placement was 46 seconds faster than for UVC placement (P < .001). There was no significant difference in the number of errors between UVC and ION placement or in perceived ease of use.

CONCLUSIONS:

In a simulated delivery room setting, ION placement can be performed more quickly than UVC insertion without any difference in technical error rate or perceived ease of use. ION insertion should be considered when rapid intravenous access is required in the neonate at the time of birth, especially by health care professionals who do not routinely place UVCs.
Adequacy of Milk Intake During Exclusive Breastfeeding: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Nielsen Susan B. , Reilly John J. , Fewtrell Mary S. , Eaton Simon , Grinham James , Wells Jonathan C. K.
Published: September 2011

OBJECTIVE:

To test whether and how human lactation and breastfeeding practices can adapt to fulfill infant energy requirements during exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.

METHODS:

The First-Feed study was a longitudinal, observational field study to measure milk intake, energy intake (from the doubly labeled water method), anthropometry, and breastfeeding practices at 2 time points around 15 and 25 weeks of age. Fifty healthy exclusively breastfeeding mother-infant dyads were included from breastfeeding support groups in greater Glasgow, Scotland. Forty-seven completed (23 boys), and 41 were exclusively breastfed to 25 weeks of age.

RESULTS:

Milk intakes were higher than literature values (923 [SD: 122] g/day, n = 36; and 999 [SD: 146] g/day, n = 33) at both 15 and 25 weeks of age (both P < .001) and increased significantly between time points (mean increase: 61 g/day [95% confidence interval: 23–99]; P = .003). Infant growth was normal compared with World Health Organization Child Growth Standards, and energy intakes were adequate compared with references for energy requirements. Behavioral data indicated no evidence of strain on breastfeeding practices.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results of this prospective study reveal that when mothers are well supported and follow the World Health Organization recommendation on breastfeeding, milk intakes are high and increase over time, and there is adequate energy intake, normal infant growth, and no marked changes in breastfeeding practices. This new empirical evidence on adaptations during exclusive breastfeeding should help health professionals promote the initiation, duration, and exclusivity of breastfeeding.
Effect of Thermal Annealing on Proton Conduction in Ion Exchange Membranes
Authors: Kwon Osung , Wu Shijie , Zhu Da-Ming
Published: September 2011

The configurations of proton channel network on the surface of Nafion® membranes were studied using current sensing atomic force microscopy after the membranes were annealed at elevated temperatures, aimed at understanding the effect of aging process in the membranes. The results reveal that proton conductance of the membranes becomes more uniform and the proton channels become chain-like aligning in parallel to the membrane surface. Accompanied to the configuration changes, the proton conductivity of the membrane shows an increase. As the annealing continues, the chain-like configuration for the proton channels persists but the conductance of the membranes decreases. The time constant of the conductivity decay decreases with increase of the annealing temperature. The observed changes can be attributed to reorientation of proton channels near the membrane surface from perpendicular to parallel to the surface as the annealing temperature approaches the glass transition of the membranes.
Study of thermoelectric properties of InGaN/GaN superlattice
Authors: Huang Hung-Hsun , Wu Yuh-Renn
Published: September 2011

As many reports show that the superlattice structure could greatly enhance the figure of merit ZT value for the thermoelectric application. We studied the thermal and electrical properties of the InGaN/GaN superlattice structure, and further analyze the thermoelectric features with different superlattice period, doping concentration, and operation temperature. The elastic continuum model and Callaway model have been applied to calculate the phonon dispersion relation and the thermal conductivity, respectively. The electrical properties are obtained by the Boltzmann transport equation with the relaxation time approximation. Simulation results indicate that both the reduced thermal conductivity and enhanced power factor would have the contribution to the enhancement of the figure of merit ZT.
Finite Element Studies of Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Dislocation Nucleation based on the Rice-Peierls Framework
Authors: Li T.L. , Lee J.H. , Gao Y.F.
Published: September 2011

The study of dislocation nucleation has gained increasing attentions recently primarily due to the advancement of small scale mechanical testing methods. Based on the classic Rice model of dislocation nucleation from a crack tip in which the dislocation core is modeled by a continuous slip field, a nonlinear finite element method can be formulated with the interplanar potential as the input, and the development of interplanar slip field can be solved from the resulting boundary value problems. The effects of geometric boundary conditions, loading patterns, etc. can be conveniently determined, as opposed to the time consuming molecular simulations. To validate the method, we compare the simulations results of homogeneous dislocation nucleation and heterogeneous dislocation nucleation from a two-dimensional crack tip to the literature results. As proposed by Rice and Beltz (J. Mech. Phys. Solids, 1994), the activation energy for dislocation nucleation from a three-dimensional crack tip depends on the finite thickness in the direction parallel to the crack tip, which has been successfully reproduced in the finite element simulation results reported here.
The Energetics of Hydrogen-Vacancy Clusters in BCC Iron
Authors: Hayward Erin , Deo Chaitanya S.
Published: September 2011

We present a general method for investigating the energetics of small impurity-vacancy clusters in crystalline materials. We use a combination of molecular dynamics and Monte Carlo methods to locate low energy configurations of the bubbles, from which the binding energies of various point defects can be determined. This method is applied to case of hydrogen bubbles in alpha-iron. Clusters with ratios of up to 10 hydrogen atoms to a vacancy are studied. We find that hydrogen does help to stabilize voids in alpha-iron, but that hydrogen is quite weakly bound to these voids. Ratios of up to approximately 4 can be supported at low temperatures.
Laser-assisted surface engineering of thin film electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Pfleging Wilhelm , Kohler Robert , Scholz Steffen , Ziebert Carlos , Proell Johannes
Published: September 2011

Electrode thin films made of LiCoO2, Li-Mn-O and SnO2 were synthesized by rf magnetron sputtering on silicon and stainless steel substrates. In order to increase the active surface direct laser structuring methods using ns- and ps-laser sources were applied. A laser system operating at a wavelength of 248 nm with a pulse length of 4-6 ns and repetition rates up to 500 Hz enabled the formation of high aspect ratio micro- and sub-micron structures with feature sizes down to less than 400 nm. Subsequent to the laser structuring process, laser annealing of LiCoO2 and Li-Mn-O was performed in order to achieve an appropriate crystalline phase which shows improved electrochemical cycling performance. Laser annealing was applied via a high power diode laser system operating at a wavelength of 940 nm. In case of LiCoO2 the high temperature phase was obtained through laser-annealing while for Li-Mn-O the spinel phase was formed. For both LiCoO2 and Li-Mn-O thin films appropriate annealing parameters were temperatures of up to 680 °C and an annealing time of 100 s.
Szilard-Chalmers and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy to Locate Copper Cations in Synthetic Faujasite, Zeolite X
Authors: Khalid Syed M.
Published: September 2011

The sodium in synthetic faujasite, commercial zeolite-X, was exchanged with copper cations at room temperature. A maximum number of 70 out of 86 Na cations were replaced with 35 copper cations (1). The copper exchanged zeolite was divided in six equal parts. Five of them were calcined at 43, 73, 112, 150 and 195 deg C. After calcination the samples were eluted with saturated solution of ammonium chloride to remove copper cations from open sites (super-cages) of the zeolite (Fig 1). The remaining copper cations were in locked sites (sodalite-cages or hexagonal-prisms). Using XAS edge-jump as a measure of quantitative analysis, we found that 9.0, 11.5, 12.7, 13.3 and 20.0 copper cations were locked at calcination temperatures of 43, 73, 112, 150 and 195 deg C respectively. The analysis of the first shell Fourier Transformed radial distribution shows that cations at site I in the hexagonal-prism and site I ‘ and II ’ in the sodalite-cages, adjacent to site I, are distributed at equal proportion, independent of temperature.