bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation of Clinical and Neuroimaging Findings affecting Management in Postpartum Eclampsia: A Prospective Study
Authors: Kokila MS , Dwivedi Akhilesh Dutta
Published: September 2011

Objectives

To correlate clinical and radiologic findings, to determine whether brain tomography affects management and routinely indicated in uncomplicated postpartum eclampsia and to differentiate it from other potentially treatable conditions. Methodology: This was a prospective hospital-based study of 28 postpartum eclamptics with atypical or complicated course. Neuroimaging was done after stabilizing them with standardized eclampsia regimen. The relationship between maternal demographic, clinical and neuroimaging data with the cause for postpartum seizures was statistically analyzed with Yate's Chi-square test and Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval.

Results

The eclampsia incidence was 3.64% (326/8944 deliveries). Noneclamptic organic cause for seizures was more in late postpartum eclamptics. Among ten early postpartum eclamptics, 80% had normal neuroimaging, one cerebral edema and one neurocysticercosis. Among 18 late postpartum eclamptics, four had normal neuroimaging, one falcian calcification, one cerebral hypoxia, eight (28.6%) cortical venous thrombosis, three granuloma and one gliosis.

Conclusion

Despite many abnormalities seen on imaging studies, some are incidental and transient, without chronic neurologic sequelae. Thus, expensive neuroimaging has limited role in uncomplicated cases with typical clinical course and prompt response to standard therapy. Thus, neuroimaging is indicated in atypical and fatal cases where specific therapy may be required.
Comparison of Diagnostic Efficacy of Visual Inspection of Cervix with Acetic Acid and Pap Smear for Prevention of Cervical Cancer: Is VIA Superseding Pap Smear?
Authors: Patil Kamal , Durdi G , Lakshmi KS
Published: September 2011

Objectives

To estimate diagnostic efficacy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in comparison to Pap smear.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was carried over a period of 24 months on 200 women attending colposcopy clinic at KLES Dr Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Center, Belgaum, India. All women enrolled in study underwent Pap smear, VIA, colposcopy and biopsy. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, false-positive rate and false-negative rate were calculated for VIA, Pap smear and colposcopy with biopsy as the reference standard.

Results

In our study, sensitivity and specificity of VIA were found to be 86.95% and 72.51% respectively, and that of Pap smear 37.68% and 92.36% respectively. Colposcopy showed higher sensitivity (94.20%) and specificity (94.65%).

Conclusion

VIA is a suitable primary screening procedure alternative to Pap smear as it has high sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Vulvar Merkel Cell Carcinoma: A Rare Entity
Authors: Soni Monica , Aggarwal Sudesh , Soni Prasoon , Gupta Puja , Dadhich Shaifali , Saini Sharadlata
Published: September 2011

Merkel cell carcinoma is a primary small cell carcinoma of the skin that resembles oat cell carcinomas of the lung. This tumor has a predilection for head and neck region but may rarely occur as isolated vulvar tumor. It has aggressive malignant behavior and should not be missed while evaluating vulvar masses. We report a case of 45-year-old Mrs I, who presented with recurrent vulvar swelling and was diagnosed as stage III Merkel cell carcinoma of the vulva.

Synonyms

Primary neuroendocrine carcinoma, Trabecular carcinoma, Primary small cell carcinoma, Cutaneous apudoma.
Rupture Uterus in Pregnancy with Didelphys Uterus: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Dadhich Shaifali , Suthar Shashi , Choudhary Rekha
Published: September 2011

Uterus didelphys is rare and sometimes not even diagnosed. We report a case of didelphys uterus in a 26-year-old pregnant lady who previously had three successful pregnancies with previous one C-section and remained undiagnosed till she presented to us as ruptured uterus. This case report aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics and perinatal outcome of VBAC in pregnancy with didelphys uterus and history of previous cesarean section.
Pregnancy following Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Aspiration and Sclerotherapy of Endometrioma
Authors: Begum Mosammat Rashida , Baby Hosne Ara
Published: September 2011

Many researchers have tried for aspiration of endometrioma followed by alcohol or tetracycline sclerotherapy in order to avoid delicate surgical procedure as well as to keep a functioning ovarian reserve. It has traditionally being used for recurrent cases of endometriomas. But this case report illustrates the importance of applying this procedure in unavoidable and exceptional circumstances.
A laboratory investigation into the aggregation efficiency of small ice crystals
Authors: Connolly P. J. , Emersic C. , Field P. R.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. The aggregation of ice crystals and its temperature dependence is studied in the laboratory using a large ice cloud chamber. This process is important to the evolution of ice clouds in earth's atmosphere, yet there have been relatively few laboratory studies quantifying this parameter and its dependence on temperature. A detailed microphysical model is used to interpret the results from the experiments and derive best estimates for the aggregation efficiency as well as error bars. Our best estimates for a parameter known as the the aggregation efficiency, at temperatures other than −15 °C, (in the interval −30 ≤ T ≤ −5 °C) are mostly in agreement with previous findings, which were derived using a very different approach to that described here. While the errors associated with such experiments are reasonably large, statistically, at temperatures other than −15 °C, we are able to rule out aggregation efficiencies larger than 0.5 at the 75th percentile and rule out non-zero values at −15 °C, whereas at −15 °C we can rule out values higher than 0.85 and values lower than 0.35. The values of the aggregation efficiency shown here may be used in model studies of aggregation, but care must be taken that they only apply for the initial stages of aggregate growth, with humidities at or close to water saturation, and for particles up to a maximum size of ~500 μm. They may therefore find useful application for modelling supercooled mid-level layer clouds that contain ice crystals, which are known to be important radiatively.
Seasonal and interannual variability of sedimentation and organic matter distribution in the Buor-Khaya Gulf: the primary recipient of input from Lena River and coastal erosion in the southeast Laptev Sea
Authors: Charkin A. N. , Dudarev O. V. , Semiletov I. P. , Kruhmalev A. V. , Vonk J. E. , Sánchez-García L. , Karlsson E. , Gustafsson Ö.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Climate warming is amplified in the land-sea system of the East Siberian Arctic, which also holds large pools of vulnerable carbon in permafrost. This coastal area is strongly influenced by sediment and carbon transport from both its large rivers and extensive erosion of Pleistocene permafrost along its coastline. This study is investigating the coastal fate of the sediment and organic carbon delivered to the Buor-Khaya Gulf, which is the first recipient of the overwhelming fluvial discharge from the Lena River and is additionally receiving large input from extensive erosion of the coastal ice-complex (permafrost a.k.a. Yedoma; loess soil with high organic carbon content). Both water column suspended particulate matter (SPM) and surface sediments were sampled at about 250 oceanographic stations in the Gulf in this multi-year effort, including one winter campaign, and analyzed for the distribution and sorting of sediment size, organic carbon content, and stable carbon isotope signals. The composition of the surface sediment suggests an overwhelmingly terrestrial contribution from both river and coastal erosion. The objective of this paper is to improve our understanding of the seasonal (i.e., winter vs summer) and interannual variability of these coastal sedimentation processes and the dynamics of organic carbon (OC) distribution in both the water column SPM and the surface sediments of the Buor-Khaya Gulf. Based on data collected during several years in the period 2000–2008, two different sedimentation regimes were revealed for the Buor-Khaya Gulf, the relative importance of each at a given time depend on hydrometeorological conditions, the Lena River water discharge and sea-ice regime: Type 1 erosion-accumulation and Type 2 accumulation. The Type 1 erosion-accumulation sedimentation regime is typical (2000–2006) for the ice-free period of the year (here considered in detail for August 2005). Under such conditions terrigenous sources of SPM and particulate organic carbon (POC) stem predominantly from river discharge, thermal erosion of coastal ice-complex and remobilized bottom sediments. The Type 2 accumulation sedimentation regime develops under ice-covered conditions, and only occasionally during the ice-free period (August 2008). In Type 2 winter, combined terrigenous and marine-biogenic SPM and POC sources are dominating due to relatively low overall terrigenous input (April 2007). In Type 2 summer, river alluvium becomes the major SPM and POC source (August 2008). The water column SPM and POC loadings vary by more than a factor of two between the two regimes. This study underscores the necessity of multi-year investigations to better understand the functioning of the primary recipient of terrestrially expulsed matter in the East Siberian Arctic.
Ecosystem-scale compensation points of formic and acetic acid in the central Amazon
Authors: Jardine K. , Yañez Serrano A. , Arneth A. , Abrell L. , Jardine A. , Artaxo P. , Alves E. , Kesselmeier J. , Taylor T. , Saleska S. , Huxman T.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Organic acids, central to terrestrial carbon metabolism and atmospheric photochemistry, are ubiquitous in the troposphere in the gas, particle, and aqueous phases. As the dominant organic acids in the atmosphere, formic acid (FA, HCOOH) and acetic acid (AA, CH3COOH) control precipitation acidity in remote regions and may represent a critical link between the terrestrial carbon and water cycles by acting as key intermediates in plant carbon and energy metabolism and aerosol-cloud-precipitation interactions. However, our understanding of the exchange of these acids between terrestrial ecosystems and the atmosphere is limited by a lack of field observations, the existence of biogenic and anthropogenic primary and secondary sources whose relative importance is unclear, and the fact that vegetation can act as both a source and a sink. Here, we first present data obtained from the tropical rainforest mesocosm at Biosphere 2 which isolates primary vegetation sources. Strong light and temperature dependent emissions enriched in FA relative to AA were simultaneously observed from individual branches (FA/AA = 2.1 ± 0.6) and mesocosm ambient air (FA/AA = 1.4 ± 0.3). We also present long-term observations of vertical concentration gradients of FA and AA within and above a primary rainforest canopy in the central Amazon during the 2010 dry and 2011 wet seasons. We observed a seasonal switch from net ecosystem-scale deposition during the dry season to net emissions during the wet season. This switch was associated with reduced ambient concentrations in the wet season (FA < 1.3 nmol mol−1, AA < 2.0 nmol mol−1) relative to the dry season (FA up to 3.3 nmol mol−1, AA up to 6.0 nmol mol−1), and a simultaneous increase in the FA/AA ambient concentration ratios from 0.3–0.8 in the dry season to 1.0–2.1 in the wet season. These observations are consistent with a switch between a biomass burning dominated source in the dry season (FA/AA < 1.0) to a vegetation dominated source in the wet season (FA/AA > 1.0). Our observations provide the first ecosystem-scale evidence of bidirectional FA and AA exchange between a forest canopy and the atmosphere controlled by ambient concentrations and ecosystem scale compensation points (estimated to be 1.3 nmol mol−1: FA, and 2.1 nmol mol−1: AA). These results suggest the need for a fundamental change in how future biosphere-atmosphere exchange models should treat FA and AA with a focus on factors that influence net exchange rates (ambient concentrations and ecosystem compensation points) rather than treating emissions and deposition separately.
Coastal observing and forecasting system for the German Bight – estimates of hydrophysical states
Authors: Stanev E. V. , Schulz-Stellenfleth J. , Staneva J. , Grayek S. , Seemann J. , Petersen W.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. A coastal observing system for Northern and Arctic Seas (COSYNA) aims at construction of a long-term observatory for the German part of the North Sea, elements of which will be deployed as prototype modules in Arctic coastal waters. At present a coastal prediction system deployed in the area of the German Bight integrates near real-time measurements with numerical models in a pre-operational way and provides continuously state estimates and forecasts of coastal ocean state. The measurement suite contributing to the pre-operational set up includes in situ time series from stationary stations, a High-Frequency (HF) radar system measuring surface currents, a FerryBox system and remote sensing data from satellites. The forecasting suite includes nested 3-D hydrodynamic models running in a data-assimilation mode, which are forced with up-to-date meteorological forecast data. This paper reviews the present status of the system and its recent upgrades focusing on developments in the field of coastal data assimilation. Model supported data analysis and state estimates are illustrated using HF radar and FerryBox observations as examples. A new method combining radial surface current measurements from a single HF radar with a priori information from a hydrodynamic model is presented, which optimally relates tidal ellipses parameters of the 2-D current field and the M2 phase and magnitude of the radials. The method presents a robust and helpful first step towards the implementation of a more sophisticated assimilation system and demonstrates that even using only radials from one station can substantially benefit state estimates for surface currents. Assimilation of FerryBox data based on an optimal interpolation approach using a Kalman filter with a stationary background covariance matrix derived from a preliminary model run which was validated against remote sensing and in situ data demonstrated the capabilities of the pre-operational system. Data assimilation significantly improved the performance of the model with respect to both SST and SSS and demonstrated a good skill not only in the vicinity of the Ferry track, but also over larger model areas. The examples provided in this study are considered as initial steps in establishing new coastal ocean products enhanced by the integrated COSYNA-observations and numerical modelling.
Bio-chemostratigraphy of the Barremian–Aptian shallow-water carbonates of the southern Apennines (Italy): pinpointing the OAE1a in a Tethyan carbonate platform
Authors: Di Lucia M. , Mutti M. , Parente M.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. Low resolution and lack of chronostratigraphic calibration of carbonate platform biostratigraphy hinder precise correlation with coeval deep-water successions. This is the main obstacle when studying the record of Mesozoic oceanic anoxic events in carbonate platforms. In this paper we use carbon isotope stratigraphy to produce the first chronostratigraphic calibration of the Barremian–Aptian biostratigraphy of the Apenninic carbonate platform of southern Italy. According to our calibration, the "Selli level" black shales of epicontinental and oceanic basins corresponds in the southern Apenninic carbonate platform to the interval between the "Orbitolina level", characterized by the association of Mesorbitolina parva and Mesorbitolina texana, and the second acme of Salpingoporella dinarica. The biocalcification crisis of nannoconids corresponds to the interval going from the first acme of S. dinarica to just above the top of the "Orbitolina level". Since these bioevents have been widely recognized beyond the Apenninic platform, our calibration can be used to pinpoint the interval corresponding to the Early Aptian oceanic anoxic event in other carbonate platforms of central and southern Tethys.
The Potsdam Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM-PIK) – Part 1: Model description
Authors: Winkelmann R. , Martin M. A. , Haseloff M. , Albrecht T. , Bueler E. , Khroulev C. , Levermann A.
Published: September 2011

Abstract. We present the Potsdam Parallel Ice Sheet Model (PISM-PIK), developed at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research to be used for simulations of large-scale ice sheet-shelf systems. It is derived from the Parallel Ice Sheet Model (Bueler and Brown, 2009). Velocities are calculated by superposition of two shallow stress balance approximations within the entire ice covered region: the shallow ice approximation (SIA) is dominant in grounded regions and accounts for shear deformation parallel to the geoid. The plug-flow type shallow shelf approximation (SSA) dominates the velocity field in ice shelf regions and serves as a basal sliding velocity in grounded regions. Ice streams can be identified diagnostically as regions with a significant contribution of membrane stresses to the local momentum balance. All lateral boundaries in PISM-PIK are free to evolve, including the grounding line and ice fronts. Ice shelf margins in particular are modeled using Neumann boundary conditions for the SSA equations, reflecting a hydrostatic stress imbalance along the vertical calving face. The ice front position is modeled using a subgrid-scale representation of calving front motion (Albrecht et al., 2011) and a physically-motivated calving law based on horizontal spreading rates. The model is tested in experiments from the Marine Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project (MISMIP). A dynamic equilibrium simulation of Antarctica under present-day conditions is presented in Martin et al. (2011).
Lateral Entry Fixation Using Three Divergent Pins for
Displaced Paediatric Supracondylar Humeral Fractures
Authors: Guy Stephen Paul , Ponnuru Ramakrishna Rao , Gella Sreenadh , Tulwa Nirmal
Published: September 2011

Background. Supracondylar fractures are the commonest elbow injury in
children. Most displaced supracondylar fractures are manipulated and
held with a medial/lateral entry or two lateral Kirschner wires.
This clinical study has results purely from a three lateral divergent
wire technique. Methods. Displaced supracondylar fractures were
manipulated closed and three lateral divergent wires inserted. Primary
study end points were range of movement and carrying angle relative to
the contralateral uninjured elbow (Flynn's grading system) and
presence of iatrogenic nerve or vessel injury. Results. 25 children
between 3 and 10 years (median 5, range 3–10) suffered a displaced
fracture (15 type III, 10 type IIB). 15 left-, 10 right-sided
fractures, 14 boys and 11 girls). 23 were fixed primarily, of these 21
in the first 24 hours. 2 were delayed due to swelling. 2 were fixed
secondarily with lateral k-wires after loss of position (from a
primarily fixed crossed wire technique). One radial and one median
nerve palsy sustained at injury settled. No iatrogenic nerve injuries
occurred. 21 Excellent, 3 good and 1 poor result on Flynn's grading.
Conclusions. The use of three wires on the lateral side in this cohort
showed no evidence of slip in fracture position and no iatrogenic
nerve injury.
Management of Women with Surgically Staged 1 Uterine Papillary Serous Cancer
Authors: Elit Laurie , LaRoche Andre , Smith Lauren , Mazurka John , Moens Francois , Hauspy Jan , Jimenez Waldo
Published: September 2011

Objective. To review the management and outcomes of women with surgically staged 1 UPSC. Methods. We report on a case series from 2008–2010 from Hamilton Canada. We summarize the data from a literature search on surgically staged 1 UPSC. Results. There is a group women with Stage 1A UPSC with no residual disease at time of surgery who do not require adjuvant therapy. Vault recurrences appear to be lower in women who received adjuvant vault radiation. Chemotherapy appears to confer longer survival for those women with Stage 1B or 1C disease compared of those observed or who had radiation alone. Conclusion. Adjuvant therapy appears to confer benefit in certain groups of women with stage 1 UPSC. A randomized controlled study would clarify the degree of benefit.
Best Approximation of Data Distributed in a Band
Authors: Cuenya H. , Levis F. , Rodriguez C.
Published: September 2011

We study the problem to approximate a data set which are affected in a such way that they present us as a band in the plane. We introduce a deviation measure, and we research the asymptotic behavior of the best approximants when the band shrink in some sense.
The Pathogenesis of Candida Infections in a Human Skin Model: Scanning Electron Microscope Observations
Authors: Raz-Pasteur A. , Ullmann Y. , Berdicevsky I.
Published: September 2011

Cutaneous candidiasis is an opportunistic infection that arises, in most cases, from endogenous, saprophytic candidal blastospores that selectively colonize oral, gastrointestinal, vaginal, and cutaneous epithelium.
Candida albicans has been regarded as the most common causative agent in human fungal infections. However, other Candida species have become a significant cause of infection. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations were used to analyze the capability of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis to adhere to human skin model, used in this study, which was found to mimic the human skin in vivo. The skin sections were inoculated with low and high concentration of the yeasts and followed for 1 and 5 days; then they were viewed by SEM. The electron microscopy observations revealed that all three yeasts tested adhered to the skin but C. albicans covered the entire skin model to a higher extent than C. tropicalis or C. parapsilosis. Mucin-like material coated the blastoconidia mainly in C. albicans. All Candida species have shown characteristics resembling biofilm formation. The use of human skin sections for ex vivo evaluation of adherence of various yeasts may partially explain the predominance of C. albicans in cutaneous pathogenicity.
Evaluation of Nitrilotrimethylene Phosphonic Acid and Nitrilotriacetic Acid as Corrosion Inhibitors of Mild Steel in Sea Water
Authors: Kar P. K. , Singh Gurmeet
Published: September 2011

The inhibition efficiency of nitrilotrimethylene phosphonic acid (NTP) in controlling mild steel corrosion in sea water has been evaluated by galvanostatic polarization, electron scanning for chemical analysis (ESCA), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) methods. The results are compared with those obtained for nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA). NTP is found to be more effective in protecting mild steel against sea water corrosion as compared to NTA. The surface of mild steel in presence and absence of NTP and NTA is characterized by ESCA and SEM. From the ESCA studies, it is found that NTP formed a stable and compact film over the mild steel.
Subarachnoid-Pleural Fistula: Applied Anatomy of the Thoracic Spinal Nerve Root
Authors: Shamji Mohammed F. , Sundaresan Sudhir , Da Silva Vasco , Seely Jean , Shamji Farid M.
Published: September 2011

Subarachnoid-pleural fistula (SPF) is a rare complication of chest or spine operations for neoplastic disease. Concomitant dural and parietal pleural defects permit flow of cerebrospinal fluid into the pleural cavity or intrapleural air into the subarachnoid space. Dural injury recognized intraoperatively permits immediate repair, but unnoticed damage may cause postoperative pleural effusion, intracranial hypotension, meningitis, or pneumocephalus. We review two cases of SPF following surgical intervention for chest wall metastatic disease to motivate a detailed review of the anatomy of neural, osseous, and ligamentous structures at the intervertebral foramen. We further provide recommendations for avoidance and detection of such complication.
Granules in Granular Cell Lesions of the Head and Neck: A Review
Authors: Yogesh T. Lakkashetty , Sowmya S. V.
Published: September 2011

Granular cell lesions of the oral mucosa, jaws, and salivary glands constitute a heterogeneous group of lesions which may be either odontogenic, salivary gland, or metastatic in origin. Granular cells in these proliferations most commonly are the result of lysosomal accumulation, aging, degenerative, metabolic alteration, increased apoptosis, cytoplasmic autophagocytosis, and many more. Many benign and malignant tumors that occur in the oral cavity contain granular cells as a characteristic component of their pathology. Sometimes dilemma exists in the proper diagnosis of these granular cell lesions and the cell of origin because they share similar light and electron microscopic features. Therefore, immunohistochemistry helps to confirm histologic impressions and differentiate other neoplastic entities with granular cytoplasmic features. Granularity in a normal histopathology is a rare but innocuous change and does not influence the biologic behaviour of smooth muscle tumors except few lesions such as cutaneous granular cell angiosarcoma and granular cell ameloblastoma which have shown poor prognosis. This paper aims to review the clinical and pathologic features, different immunohistochemical profiles of granules in granular cell lesions of head and neck with an attempted working classification.
A Prediction on Nigeria's Oil Depletion Based on Hubbert's Model and the Need for Renewable Energy
Authors: Akuru Udochukwu B. , Okoro Ogbonnaya I.
Published: September 2011

The paper examined Nigeria's oil sector in order to get a time point of total depletion. Data for production rate, P, was sourced from 1958–2008 for the study. This research employed Hubbert's Model that based the peaking of oil reserves on the simulation of a bell-shaped curve that rises rapidly to a peak and declines just as quickly. MATLAB tool was employed in the analysis of data. Findings include that there is an imminent decline in Nigeria's oil reserve since peaking could have occurred or just about to occur; this is shown to be in agreement with previous studies, and an account of how oil depletion will affect domestic use of energy is also highlighted. Recommendations amongst others include the immediate adoption of Hirsch Report on the employment of mitigation efforts like alternative energy investments in order to tackle the dire effects which may come as economic, social, and political demands in the wake of a sudden decline, as well as domesticating energy retail by setting up small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) which are empowered to provide basic energy source using renewable energy resources.
Site Monitoring and Numerical Modelling of a Trial Embankment's Behaviour on Venice Lagoon Soils
Authors: Berengo Valentina , Benz Thomas , Simonini Paolo , Leoni Martino
Published: September 2011

Mineralogical and mechanical characterization of Venice lagoon soils is required for design and construction of movable floodgates that aim to safeguard the city of Venice against recurrent floods. An instrumented circular test embankment was constructed in the lagoon area, enabling accurate measurement of relevant ground displacements. In situ stress-strain-time measurements were carried out in order to investigate the viscous behaviour of Venice lagoon soils during and after embankment loading. Site monitoring was kept up also during embankment removal so that information on soil behaviour in unloading is available, too. This paper illustrates key results from embankment monitoring and also focuses on modelling of creep behaviour. A recently developed anisotropic constitutive model was calibrated for Venice lagoon soils and is used in back analysis of the embankment construction and removal process. The constitutive parameters of the model were calibrated from in situ and laboratory tests.
Tθ∗-Extensions of n-Lie Algebras
Authors: Bai Ruipu , Li Ying
Published: September 2011

The paper is mainly concerned with Tθ∗-extensions of n-Lie algebras. The Tθ∗-extension Lθ(L∗) of an n-Lie algebra L by a cocycle θ is defined, and a class of cocycles is constructed by means of linear mappings from an n-Lie algebra on to its dual space. Finally all Tθ∗-extensions of (n+1)-dimensional n-Lie algebras are classified, and the explicit multiplications are given.
Effect of Trapping Method on Leukocyte Profiles of Black-Chested Spiny-Tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura melanosterna): Implications for Zoologists in the Field
Authors: Davis Andrew K. , Ruyle Leslie E. , Maerz John C.
Published: September 2011

When wild animals are captured for zoological research, researchers must choose a method of capture, and often this can be some form of passive, baited cage trap, or a direct capture with nets or nooses. If information on basal levels of circulating leukocytes is a goal, these two methods may provide different information, since recent evidence indicates that animals that enter cage traps experience stress, and, elevated stress hormones are known to alter leukocyte numbers in circulation by lowering lymphocyte and raising heterophil numbers. We tested this idea using a study of Black-chested Spiny-tailed iguanas (Ctenosaura melanosterna), which were captured using cage traps () and noose (). Based on cell counts made from blood smears, iguanas caught with cage traps had significantly greater relative and absolute numbers of heterophils and higher heterophil-lymphocyte (H-L) ratios than those captured by noose. Cage-trapped animals also had a nonsignificant reduction in lymphocyte numbers. Similar trends were observed in animals captured with both methods. These patterns are consistent with the effects of stress hormones on white blood cell distributions and indicate that caution must be taken in interpreting leukocyte data from studies of wild animals captured with cage traps.
Vibration Signature Analysis and Parameter Extractions on Damages in Gears and Rolling Element Bearings
Authors: Shen Chia-Hsuan , Wen Jie , Arunyanart Pirapat , Choy Fred K.
Published: September 2011

This paper is to analyze and identify damage in gear teeth and rolling element bearings by establishing pattern feature parameters from vibration signatures. In the present work, different damage scenarios involving different combinations of gear tooth damage, bearing damage are considered. Each of the damage scenarios are studied and compared in the time domain, the frequency domain, and the joint time-frequency domain using the FM0 technique, the Fourier Transform, the Wigner-Ville Transform, and the Continuous Wavelet Transform, respectively. Results obtained from the three different signal domains are analyzed to develop indicative parameters and visual presentations that measure the integrity and wellness of the bearing and gear components. The joint time-frequency domain obtained from the continuous wavelet transform has shown to be a superior technique for providing clear visual examination solution for different types of component damages as well as for feature extractions used for computer-based machine health monitoring solution.
A Method for the Recovery of Gaps in General Analytic Signals
Authors: Salomon Benjamin G. , Ur Hanoch
Published: September 2011

We propose a generalized Papoulis-Gerchberg algorithm for the recovery of gaps in general analytic functions. The continuous-time algorithm is based on signal expansions in terms of the Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind, and the discrete-time implementation is based on a suitable nonuniform sampling scheme and the discrete cosine transform.
Nonnormal Edge-Transitive Cubic Cayley Graphs of Dihedral Groups
Authors: Alaeiyan Mehdi , Firouzian Siamak , Ghasemi Mohsen
Published: September 2011

A Cayley graph of a finite group is called normal edge transitive if its automorphism group has a subgroup which both normalizes and acts transitively on edges. In this paper we determine all cubic, connected, and undirected edge-transitive Cayley graphs of dihedral groups, which are not normal edge transitive. This is a partial answer to the question of Praeger (1999).
Results of a Pilot Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial in Primary and Secondary Raynaud's Phenomenon with St. John's Wort: Detecting Changes in Angiogenic Cytokines When RP Improves
Authors: Malenfant Déanne , Summers Kelly , Seney Shannon , McBain Donna , Petrlich Lisa , Watson Sharon , Vanderhoek Louise , Samadi Nooshin , Bonner Ashley , Pope Janet
Published: September 2011

Objectives.To perform a 6-week double-blind RCT in Raynaud's phenomenon (RP) comparing the plant extract St. John's Wort (SJW) to placebo. Methods. RP patients having at least 7 attacks per week were stratified by primary and secondary RP and within secondary by systemic sclerosis or other connective tissue disease. Subjects completed a daily standardized diary recording all RP attacks (frequency, duration and severity). Serum levels of 18 inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines were measured pre- and post-treatment. Results. Eighteen patients completed the study; 8 received SJW and 10 placebo. The decrease in mean number of attacks per day was 0.75 with SJW and 1.01 with placebo, P=0.06. Attack duration and severity were not different between groups. Cytokine analyses demonstrated no between-groups differences. Combining treatment groups, those with >50% improvement in frequency of attacks yielded a significant increase in E-selectin (P=0.049), MMP-9 (P=0.011), G-CSF (P=0.02), and VEGF (P=0.012) pre- versus post-treatment. A ≥50% improvement in severity of attacks corresponded to a significant increase in levels of sVCAM-1 (P=0.003), sICAM-1 (P=0.007), and MCP-1 (P=0.004). Conclusions. There were no clinical or biomarker benefit of SJW versus placebo in RP. However, combining all patients, there were changes in some cytokines that may be further investigated.
Copper Nanoparticles Prepared from Oxalic Precursors
Authors: Baco-Carles Valérie , Datas Lucien , Tailhades Philippe
Published: September 2011

The synthesis of nanoparticles of copper metal via a soft chemistry route is presented in this paper. The method is based on the thermal decomposition under nitrogen or hydrogen of oxalic precursors with a well-controlled morphology and particle size. The precipitation of the copper oxalates in a water-alcohol medium allows the submicron size of the precursor grains to be controlled and, consequently, the nanometric size of the metallic copper particles to be determined, as required, between 3.5 and 40 nm. The majority of the final particles are made of pure copper metal although some present a superficial layer of cuprous oxide (Cu2O).
Autoantibodies to theβ1-Adrenoceptor from Patients with Periodontitis as a Risk Factor for Cardiac Dysfunction
Authors: Segovia Marcela , Reina Silvia , Borda Enri , Sterin-Borda Leonor
Published: September 2011

The presence of serum autoantibodies in periodontitis (P) patients againstβ1-adrenoceptor (β1-AR), using cardiac membranes or a syntheticβ1-AR peptide corresponding to the second extracellular loop of humanβ1-AR as antigens, permit us to detect circulating antibody from 40 P patients but not in 20 normal individuals (control). Simultaneously, the P patients exhibited a decrease in HRV. Anti-β1-AR IgG titters correlated with the decrease in HRV of the same patients and the anti-β1-AR peptide IgG displayed partial agonist-like activity and modified the contractility of isolated atria, produced cyclic nucleotides, and inhibited theβ1-AR agonistic activity of isoproterenol. We demonstrated in this study an association between periodontitis infection and an increased risk of cardiac disease, thereby highlighting the role of anti-β1-AR autoantibodies in alteration of myocardial contractility.
Physicians' Perceptions and Practices Regarding Patient Reports of Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Authors: Gibson Pamela Reed , Lindberg Amanda
Published: September 2011

Ninety physicians practicing in the state of Virginia USA completed a mail survey regarding Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Survey questions addressed demographics; familiarity with MCS; etiology; overlapping conditions; accommodations made for patients and practices regarding evaluation, treatment, and referral. A little over half of respondents were familiar with MCS. Under a third had received any medical training regarding chemical sensitivity, only 7% were “very satisfied” with their knowledge, and 6% had a treatment protocol for the condition. Participants cited a range of etiologies and overlapping conditions including asthma, Reactive Airway Dysfunction Syndrome (RADS), Sick Building Syndrome (SBS), Chronic Fatigues Syndrome (CFS), and Fibromyalgia. Physicians infrequently considered chemicals as a cause of illness when seeing new patients. Evaluation techniques included interviews, blood work, immune profiles, and allergy testing. Interventions recommended included chemical avoidance, alterations in the home environment, diet restrictions, the use of air filters, and referrals to outside specialists.
Experimental Investigation on Effect of Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Fibres on the Behavior of Plain Cement Mortar Composite Round Bars under Direct Tension
Authors: Hunashyal A. M. , Tippa Sagar V. , Quadri S. S. , Banapurmath N. R.
Published: September 2011

This paper investigates the behavior of reinforced cement mortar composite round bars with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and carbon fibers (CFs). The percentage of CFs was fixed at 2.25 wt% of cement, while the percentage of MWCNTs was fixed at 0.5, by wt% of cement. Dispersion of both MWCNTs and CFs was carried out using ultrasonic energy method. Composite round bars were tested under direct tension in order to evaluate their mechanical properties such as ultimate load, deflection criteria, and stress-strain behavior. These results were then compared with the results of plain cement control round bars. From the study, it is shown that the load carrying capacity of composite bars under direct tension is substantially higher than the plain controlled bar.
Mutually Permutable Products of Finite Groups
Authors: Hijazi Rola A.
Published: September 2011

Let G be a finite group and G1, G2 are two subgroups of G. We
say that G1 and G2 are mutually permutable if G1 is permutable with every
subgroup of G2 and G2 is permutable with every subgroup of G1. We prove
that if is the product of three supersolvable subgroups G1, G2, and G3, where Gi and Gj are mutually permutable for all i
and j with and the Sylow subgroups of G are abelian, then G is supersolvable. As a corollary of this result, we also prove that if G possesses three
supersolvable subgroups whose indices are pairwise relatively
prime, and Gi and Gj are mutually permutable for all i and j with , then
G is supersolvable.
Prepubertal Daidzein Exposure Enhances Mammary Gland Differentiation and Regulates the Expression of Estrogen Receptor-Alpha and Apoptotic Proteins
Authors: Mishra Prachi , Kar Anand , Kale R. K.
Published: September 2011

Mechanism of chemoprevention by daidzein (500 μg/g bwt) was examined by injecting it subcutaneously at 16th, 18th, and 20th day postpartum, followed by counting of terminal end buds (TEBs), terminal ducts (TDs), and lobules and immunohistochemistry of ER-α, Bcl2, Bax, and caspase-3. DNA fragmentation was also analysed to measure the apoptosis level. Estradiol benzoate (EB) (500 ng/g bwt) and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) were used as reference and vehicle, respectively.
Observations show a significant enhancement of mammary gland differentiation at postnatal day 21 (PND21) as well as PND50. There was a significant decrease of ER-α expression at PND21 and increase in its expression at PND50, in daidzein-treated animals. The ratio of expression of Bcl-2 to Bax proteins increased at PND50 the same whereas, it decreased at PND50 due to daidzein. An increased expression of caspase-3 and DNA fragmentation was also seen due to daidzein at PND50. The mammary gland of EB-treated animals showed response a somewhat similar to that of daidzein-treated animals.
Group-Based Reduction Schemes for Streaming Applications
Authors: Bernardini Riccardo , Cesco Fabbro Roberto , Rinaldo Roberto
Published: September 2011

Some peer-to-peer streaming systems make use of linear codes to reduce the rate of the data uploaded by peers with limited upload capabilities. Such “data reduction” techniques are based on a vector-space approach and produce the data to be uploaded by means of linear combinations of the content data in a suitable finite field. In this paper, we propose a more general approach based on group theory. The
new approach, while including the vector space approach as a special case, allows to design schemes that cannot be modeled as linear codes. We analyze the properties of the schemes based on the new approach, showing also how a group-based scheme can be used to prevent stream poisoning and how a group-based scheme can be converted into a secret-sharing scheme. Examples of group-based schemes that cannot be described in the vector-space framework are also shown.
Comparison of Performance and Computational Complexity of Nonlinear Active Noise Control Algorithms
Authors: Sahib Mouayad A. , Kamil Raja
Published: September 2011

Research on nonlinear active noise control (NANC) revolves around the investigation of the sources of nonlinearity as well as the performance and computational load of the nonlinear algorithms. The nonlinear sources could originate from the noise process, primary and secondary propagation paths, and actuators consisting of loudspeaker, microphone or amplifier. Several NANCs including Volterra filtered-x least mean square (VFXLMS), bilinear filtered-x least mean square (BFXLMS), and filtered-s least mean square (FSLMS) have been utilized to overcome these nonlinearities effects. However, the relative performance and computational complexities of these algorithm in comparison to FXLMS algorithm have not been carefully studied. In this paper, systematic comparisons of the FXLMS against the nonlinear algorithms are evaluated in overcoming various nonlinearity sources. The evaluation of the algorithms performance is standardized in terms of the normalized mean square error while the computational complexity is calculated based on the number of multiplications and additions in a single iteration. Computer simulations show that the performance of the FXLMS is more than 80% of the most effective nonlinear algorithm for each type of nonlinearity sources at the fraction of computational load. The simulation results also suggest that it is more advantageous to use FXLMS for practical implementation of NANC.
The Meshless Local Petrov-Galerkin Method for Large Deformation Analysis of Hyperelastic Materials
Authors: Hu De'an , Sun Zhanhua
Published: September 2011

Nonlinear formulations of the meshless local Petrov-Galerkin method (MLPG) are presented for the large deformation analysis of hyperelastic materials which are considered to be incompressible or nearly incompressible. The MLPG method requires no explicit mesh in computation and therefore avoids mesh distortion difficulties. In this paper, a simple Heaviside test function is chosen for reducing the computational effort by simplifying domain integrals for hyperelasticity problems. Trial functions are constructed using the radial basis function (RBF) coupled with a polynomial basis function. The plane stress hypothesis and a pressure projection method are employed to overcome the incompressibility or nearly incompressibility in the plane stress and plane strain problems, respectively. Effects of the sizes of local subdomain and interpolation domain on the performance of the present MLPG method are investigated. The behaviour of shape parameters of multiquadrics (MQ) function has been studied. Numerical results for several examples show that the present method is effective in dealing with large deformation hyperelastic materials problems.
Synthesis and Characterization of Hydrolysis Grown Zinc Oxide Nanorods
Authors: Vasudevan Arun , Jung Soyoun , Ji Taeksoo
Published: September 2011

We present ZnO nanorods grown by a low-cost hydrolysis method with a rod diameter on the order of 30–40 nm and spacing on the order of 20–40 nm that find their applications in the field of solar cells and UV photodetectors with high efficiency and sensitivity. The effect of different process parameters on nanorod growth, such as the seed layer orientation in the growth medium, and the concentration of the growth medium were studied while characterizing the structure of the grown nanorods using XRD, EDAX, and SEM.
“We want it now and we want it easy”: Usability testing of an online health library for healthcare practitioners
Authors: Neilson Christine J. , Wilson Virginia
Published: September 2011

Introduction – The purpose of this study was to undertake website usability testing of the Saskatchewan Health Information Resources Partnership (SHIRP) online library website,. a digital library for healthcare providers working in the province of Saskatchewan, to determine whether the SHIRP website is intuitive for healthcare practitioners to use. Methods: Thirteen volunteers from four locations in the province participated in a usability test that included a portion devoted to the completion of tasks, as well as a series of semi-structured interview questions. Data were analyzed and themes were identified that were used to redesign the SHIRP website. Results – Nine out of the 13 main menu terms on the SHIRP website were problematic. A relatively low number of participants completed the assigned tasks on the first try. The SHIRP website was determined to be unwieldy and not completely intuitive. Conclusions – Asking front line healthcare providers what they need and want in an online library website should be the first step in creating or redesigning such a site. The time available to healthcare providers for doing library research is often limited, so the site needs to be simple, clean, and fast to use.
High‐Temperature Performance of Alumina–Zirconia Composite Coatings Containing Amorphous Phases
Authors: Tarasi Fariba , Medraj Mamoun , Dolatabadi Ali , Oberste‐Berghaus Jorg , Moreau Christian
Published: September 2011

Amorphous phases are commonly found in nanostructured plasma‐sprayed coatings. Nonetheless, the role of these phases in the resulting coatings’ properties has remained uninvestigated until now. In the present work, pseudo‐eutectic coatings—based on alumina and 8 wt% yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ)—containing amorphous phases are produced using a suspension‐plasma‐spray process. These composite materials are a potential choice for thermal‐barrier coating applications. The role of the amorphous phase on the performance of the coatings is investigated before and after heat treatment. Results show that, although the amorphous phases in untreated coatings reduce the thermal conductivity, they impair the mechanical properties. However, treatment above the crystallization temperature leads to better mechanical properties as well as enhanced high‐temperature stability of the resulting nanostructure. Moreover, the role of alumina as a stabilizer of high‐temperature YSZ phases (tetragonal and cubic) is confirmed and the high‐temperature phase stability of the alumina–YSZ composite is demonstrated. The amorphous phases are found to crystallize into their corresponding high‐temperature stable phases; i. e., α‐alumina and tetragonal zirconia.