bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Four Techniques for Injecting the Trochanteric Bursa of Horses
Authors: Tóth Ferenc , Schumacher Jim , Schramme Michael , Hecht Silke
Published: April 2011

Objective: To describe the anatomic features of the equine trochanteric bursa and to evaluate 4 techniques for bursa centesis.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized design.

Animals: Equine cadavers (n=2) and 20 live horses.

Methods: The trochanteric bursae of 2 equine cadavers were injected with latex to identify the boundaries of the bursae. Four techniques for centesis of the trochanteric bursa were evaluated by attempting to inject dye into both trochanteric bursae of 20 live horses. Techniques included injection of the bursa with the limb‐bearing weight and injection with the limb nonweight bearing and supported on a block, with or without ultrasonographic guidance of the needle. Ultrasonographic guidance of the needle was performed with or without the use of a guide channel attached to the ultrasound probe. Each of the 4 techniques was used to inject 10 bursae. The region of the bursa was dissected after horses were euthanatized to determine the location of the dye.

Results: The trochanteric bursa was most successfully injected with the limb positioned caudally with the foot on a block, even though topographic landmarks for centesis were more difficult to identify when the limb was in this position. The highest incidence of success was achieved when the needle was inserted using ultrasonographic guidance with the foot in a Hickman block.

Conclusion: Positioning the limb caudally with the foot nonweight bearing and on a block facilitated centesis of the trochanteric bursa.
Smoking Cessation and Chronic Pain: Patient and Pain Medicine Physician Attitudes
Authors: Hooten W. Michael , Vickers Kristin S. , Shi Yu , Ebnet Kaye L. , Townsend Cynthia O. , Patten Christi A. , Warner David O.
Published: April 2011

Although previous studies suggest that the clinical setting of an interdisciplinary pain treatment program may provide an optimal environment to promote smoking cessation, currently available smoking cessation interventions may be less effective for adults with chronic pain due, in part, to unrecognized clinical factors related to chronic pain. The specific aim of this qualitative study was to solicit information from adult smokers with chronic pain participating in an interdisciplinary pain treatment program regarding their perceptions of how smoking affects pain symptoms, and how these beliefs, cognitions, and emotions may either impede or facilitate smoking cessation. Similar information was solicited from a group of pain specialty physicians. The study involved 18 smokers with chronic pain, and seven physicians. Patients reported that smoking was an important coping strategy for pain and distress, primarily by offering an opportunity for distraction and avoidance, respectively. The majority of patients using opioids reported that opioid consumption stimulated smoking. Important barriers were identified toward making a quit attempt during pain treatment including quitting smoking while making changes in opioid use, and perceived difficulty managing multiple treatment‐related stressors. Several pain‐related benefits of smoking cessation were identified by physicians, but important barriers to providing smoking cessation services were recognized including lack of time and knowledge about how to help patients quit smoking. The findings of this study identified several novel and important clinical factors that should be incorporated into a targeted smoking cessation intervention for adults with chronic pain.
Show the Data, Don’t Conceal Them
Authors: DRUMMOND GORDON B. , VOWLER SARAH L.
Published: April 2011

Please cite this paper as: Drummond and Vowler (2011). Show the Data, Don’t Conceal Them. Microcirculation 18(4), 313–315.
Expectations of an Emergency Medicine Clerkship Director
Authors: Rogers Robert L. , Wald David A. , Lin Michelle , Zun Leslie S. , Christopher Theodore , Manthey David E.
Published: April 2011

Academic Emergency Medicine 2011; 18:513–518 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

The clerkship director (CD) serves as a faculty leader within a school of medicine and plays a vital role in the hierarchy of undergraduate medical education. Collectively, CDs across specialties serve a multitude of roles and are responsible for clerkship administration, curricular development, teaching, mentoring, and advising students. The emergency medicine (EM) CD has a vitally important role to play in the future development of medical students. EM CDs should be valued and supported, because they often represent our specialty within the medical school and play a vital role in training the physicians of tomorrow. Opportunities and resources must be made available to CDs to run and maintain a successful EM clerkship, while also balancing their clinical duties and academic endeavors. In addition, EM CDs need support from their respective medical schools and departments to run highly successful medical student rotations.

This article was prepared with the objective of establishing the importance of the EM CD, defining the job description of the CD, explaining the importance of adequate release time to perform the role of the CD, and describing the necessary resources and support for the position. With EM becoming an increasingly popular and integral rotation for medical students, it is likely that additional emphasis will be placed on the role of the EM CD. This reference document serves as a template for the job description and expectations of an EM CD.
Using Second Life Virtual Simulation Environment for Mock Oral Emergency Medicine Examination
Authors: Schwaab Jillian , Kman Nicholas , Nagel Rollin , Bahner David , Martin Daniel R. , Khandelwal Sorabh , Vozenilek John , Danforth Douglas R. , Nelson Richard
Published: April 2011

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE 2011; 18:559–562 © 2011 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Objectives:  Oral examination is a method used to evaluate emergency medicine (EM) residents and is a requirement for board certification of emergency physicians. Second Life (SL) is a virtual three‐dimensional (3‐D) immersive learning environment that has been used for medical education. In this study we explore the use of SL virtual simulation technology to administer mock oral examinations to EM residents.

Methods:  This was a prospective observational study of EM residents who had previously completed mock oral examinations, participating in a similar mock oral examination case scenario conducted via SL. EM residents in this training program completed mock oral examinations in a traditional format, conducted face to face with a faculty examiner. All current residents were invited to participate in a similar case scenario conducted via SL for this study. The examinee managed the case while acting as the physician avatar and communicated via headset and microphone from a remote computer with a faculty examiner who acted as the patient avatar. Participants were surveyed regarding their experience with the traditional and virtual formats using a Likert scale.

Results:  Twenty‐seven EM residents participated in the virtual oral examination. None of the examinees had used SL previously. SL proved easy for examinees to log into (92.6%) and navigate (96.3%). All felt comfortable communicating with the examiner via remote computer. Most examinees thought the SL encounter was realistic (92.6%), and many found it more realistic than the traditional format (70.3%). All examinees felt that the virtual examination was fair, objective, and conducted efficiently. A majority preferred to take oral examinations via SL over the traditional format and expressed interest in using SL for other educational experiences (66.6 and 92.6%, respectively).

Conclusions:  Application of SL virtual simulation technology is a potential alternative to traditional mock oral examinations for EM residents.
Coast Guard Reliability‐Centered Maintenance
Authors: LINTON ERIC M.
Published: April 2011

Since 2001, the Coast Guard's surface fleet has had a condition‐based maintenance (CBM) policy. The reliability‐centered maintenance (RCM) process is used to implement the policy by identifying minimum system maintenance requirements. The Coast Guard's RCM program provides the standards and capabilities needed to develop preventive maintenance systems that satisfy operational requirements. RCM requirements are based on the industry standard SAE JA‐1011, which provides evaluation criteria for RCM processes. Department of Defense (DoD) data‐deliverable specifications, training programs, continuous improvement functions, information system requirements, and condition assessment programs complete the Coast Guard's RCM program. This paper discusses the genesis of the Coast Guard surface fleet's RCM program, how it is managed, and the benefits that it provides.
Automated Noise Measurement System for Radar and EW Transmitter Components
Authors: HOOVER LOWELL , CRESPO WILLIAM , MITSDARFFER BRYAN
Published: April 2011

The development of a 2–18 GHz instrument for radar and electronic warfare (EW) transmitter test and measurement is reported. The transmitter component analyzer was developed by NSWC Crane to measure critical performance parameters of the AN/SPY‐1 radar's components. Typical measurements include clutter attenuation, clutter improvement factor, intrapulse noise, moving target indicator residues, random pulse jitter, systematic pulse jitter, phase noise, and amplitude noise.
Association of clinicopathologic parameters with the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and vascular endothelial growth factor in mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Authors: Ke‐xiong Ou Yang , Jun Liang , Zhi‐quan Huang
Published: April 2011

Oral Diseases (2011) 17, 590–596

Background:  The roles that inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play in tumorigenesis have been given special attention. In many tumors, their expression is upregulated. In addition, iNOS can stimulate the expression of VEGF. This study was carried out to investigate the expression of iNOS and VEGF as well as their relationship with angiogenesis and the clinicopathological characteristics of mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC).

Method:  The expression of iNOS and VEGF was detected by Streptavidin–peroxidase immunohistochemistry, and microvessel density (MVD) was determined by anti‐CD34 antibody staining in 70 MEC cases and 40 normal salivary gland tissues (NSG). Follow‐up was performed on the 70 patients with MEC. Non‐parametric tests were performed for the comparison of iNOS and VEGF expression.

Results:  The positive expression rates of iNOS and VEGF were successively enhanced in NSG, well‐differentiated and poorly differentiated MEC (P < 0.05). MVD counts were positively correlated with the expression levels of iNOS and VEGF in MEC (P < 0.05). The expression of iNOS was positively correlated with the expression of VEGF (P < 0.05). iNOS and VEGF expression were significantly associated with tumor differentiation, size metastasis, and relapse (P < 0.05) but were not correlated lymph node metastasis and metastasis.

Conclusion:  Inducible nitric oxide synthase can stimulate the expression of VEGF, and their expression status may help assess tumor malignancy and patient prognosis.
Genetics of atopic dermatitis
Authors: Bussmann Caroline , Weidinger Stephan , Novak Natalija
Published: April 2011

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a multifactorial disease, with a strong genetic predisposition. Genome‐wide studies as well as candidate gene studies revealed several susceptibility loci. Since the observation of a strong association of “loss of function” mutations in the filaggrin gene with AD, the epidermal barrier was rediscovered as important pathophysiological co‐factor of this disease.
Ecological ranges for the pH and NO3 of syntaxa: a new basis for the estimation of critical loads for acid and nitrogen deposition
Authors: Wamelink G.W.W. , Goedhart P.W. , Malinowska A.H. , Frissel J.Y. , Wegman R.J.M. , Slim P.A. , van Dobben H.F.
Published: April 2011

Question: Can the abiotic ranges of syntaxonomic units (associations) in terms of pH and nitrate concentration be estimated and then in principle be used to estimate critical loads for acid and nitrogen deposition?

Location: Europe.

Methods: Using splines, abiotic ranges of syntaxonomic units were estimated on the basis of measured soil pH and nitrate concentration and vegetation relevés. Owing to limited calibration data, this yielded responses for only a few syntaxa. In a second attempt, we used a 160 000‐relevé training set; the syntaxon of each relevé was known but not their soil pH values and soil nitrate concentrations, so for each relevé, the soil pH and nitrate concentration were estimated by inference from species composition. We again estimated abiotic ranges using the spline method, including the 5th and 95th percentiles as a proxy for the ecological range.

Results: The second (indirect) method yielded ranges for soil pH and for nitrate concentration for many of the associations. The means and percentiles were corrected for regression to the mean.

Conclusions: It is not yet possible to directly estimate ranges for syntaxa for pH and nitrate on a large scale from the data available. However, indirectly estimated soil pH and nitrate concentrations are sufficiently available to derive ranges for many associations. The lower (5th) percentile of the indirectly estimated pH ranges for associations may be used as the starting point for the estimation of critical loads for acid deposition. The 95th percentile should still be regarded as a rather uncertain estimate of the maximum nitrate concentration.
CONTRAST‐ENHANCED ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE NORMAL CANINE ADRENAL GLAND
Authors: PEY PASCALINE , VIGNOLI MASSIMO , HAERS HENDRIK , DUCHATEAU LUC , ROSSI FEDERICA , SAUNDERS JIMMY H.
Published: April 2011

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography is useful in differentiating adrenal gland adenomas from nonadenomatous lesions in human patients. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the feasibility and to describe contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography of the normal canine adrenal gland. Six healthy female Beagles were injected with an intravenous bolus of a lipid‐shelled contrast agent (SonoVue®). The aorta enhanced immediately followed by the renal artery and then the adrenal gland. Adrenal gland enhancement was uniform, centrifugal, and rapid from the medulla to the cortex. When maximum enhancement was reached, a gradual homogeneous decrease in echogenicity of the adrenal gland began and simultaneously enhancement of the phrenicoabdominal vessels was observed. While enhancement kept decreasing in the adrenal parenchyma, the renal vein, caudal vena cava, and phrenicoabdominal vein were characterized by persistent enhancement until the end of the study. A second contrast enhancement was observed, corresponding to the refilling time. Objective measurements were performed storing the images for off‐line image analysis using Image J (ImageJ©). The shape of the time–intensity curve reflecting adrenal perfusion was similar in all dogs. Ratios of the values of the cortex and the medulla to the values of the renal artery were characterized by significant differences from initial upslope to the peak allowing differentiation between the cortex and the medulla for both adrenal glands only in this time period. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography of the adrenal glands is feasible in dogs and the optimal time for adrenal imaging is between 5 and 90 s after injection.
Sexual Health During Pregnancy and the Postpartum (CME)
Authors: Johnson Crista E.
Published: April 2011

Introduction

Pregnancy and childbirth is a special period in a woman's life, which involves significant physical, hormonal, psychological, social, and cultural changes that may influence her own sexuality as well as the health of a couple's sexual relationship.

Aim

To comprehensively review the literature on the effects of pregnancy and the postpartum period on a couple's sexual health and well-being.

Main Outcome Measures

Evidence from the published literature of the impact of pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period on sexual function.

Methods

Medline and PubMed search for relevant publications on the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on sexual health and function, with particular focus on the physical, hormonal, psychological, social, and cultural changes that may occur during the antepartum, intrapartum, and postpartum period.

Results

Despite fears and myths about sexual activity during pregnancy, maintaining a couple's sexual interactions throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period can promote sexual health and well-being and a greater depth of intimacy.

Conclusions

Clinicians must seek to engage in an open discussion and provide anticipatory guidance for the couple on expected changes in sexual health as well as promote the design of rigorous, evidence-based studies to further elucidate our understanding of sexual function during pregnancy and the postpartum.
Short‐term Effects of Single Species Browsing Release by Different‐sized Herbivores on Sand Forest Vegetation Community, South Africa
Authors: Lagendijk Georgette , Page Bruce R. , Slotow Rob
Published: April 2011

Manipulations of herbivores in protected areas may have profound effects on ecosystems. We examine short‐term effects on tree species assemblages and resource utilization by a mesoherbivore and small‐size herbivores (ungulates <20 kg) in Sand Forest, after browsing release from a megaherbivore (elephant), or both a mega‐ and mesoherbivore (nyala), respectively. Effects were experimentally separated using replicated exclosures where all trees were counted, identified to species and browsing events recorded. Tree species assemblages were impacted by both elephant and nyala, and by each herbivore species individually. Tree turnover rates were higher where both herbivore species were present than in their combined absence. Diet was segregated among elephant, nyala and small‐size herbivores. Both resource specificity and browsing pressure by nyala increased in absence of elephant; small‐size herbivores increased resource specificity in absence of elephant, and increased browsing pressure in absence of both elephant and nyala. This implies interference competition with competitive release. The indirect effect of the manipulation of herbivore populations, through the removal of one or two herbivore species, caused a shift in tree species composition and diet of smaller‐size herbivores. These indirect effects, especially on tree species composition, can become critical as they affect vegetation dynamics, biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Therefore, in order to conserve habitats and biodiversity across all trophic levels, conservation managers should consider the effects of: (1) the full herbivore assemblage present; and (2) any effects of altering the relative and absolute abundance of different herbivore species on other herbivore species and vegetation.
The Structure of Morphological and Genetic Diversity in Natural Populations of Carica papaya (Caricaceae) in Costa Rica
Authors: Brown Jennifer E. , Bauman Jenise M. , Lawrie Joseph F. , Rocha Oscar J. , Moore Richard C.
Published: April 2011

In Costa Rica, dioecious Carica papaya has been observed growing in disturbed areas and within secondary lowland forests. Such populations can serve as a reservoir of genetic and morphological diversity for this tropical fruit crop. We quantify the levels and patterns of the diversity of naturally occurring populations of C. papaya and address the demographic history of these populations. We measured 29 vegetative and reproductive morphological traits in situ from 252 plants and found significant heterogeneity among regional populations in the majority of these traits. Significant variation was found among regional populations with respect to fruit size and shape, with plants in the Nicoya Peninsula possessing smaller, less fleshy fruit, a characteristic of previously described wild populations of papaya. We then assessed the levels and patterns of genetic diversity in 164 plants from natural populations and 20 cultivars. Natural populations exhibit a deficiency of heterozygotes; however, this is much more pronounced within the cultivars. Although there is little genetic differentiation among natural populations, we did find evidence of cryptic genetic population structure. Analyses of population demography indicate that these natural populations have undergone a recent genetic bottleneck, followed by recent population expansion, possibly promoted by the transformation of the Costa Rican landscape for agricultural use.

Abstract in Spanish is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp.
Investment in Fine Roots and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Decrease During Succession in Three Brazilian Ecosystems
Authors: Zangaro Waldemar , Alves Ricardo A. , Lescano Luiz E. , Ansanelo Adrielly P. , Nogueira Marco A.
Published: April 2011

The functional groups of plants that characterize different phases of succession are expected to show differences in root distribution, fine‐root traits and degrees of association with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The relationship involving fine‐root traits and AM fungi that regulate the nutrient acquisition potential among different plant functional groups are still not well understood. We assessed fine‐root morphology, AM fungal variables and soil fertility in grassland, secondary forest and mature forest in Atlantic, Araucaria and Pantanal ecosystems in Brazil. Soil cores were collected at 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths. Fine roots were extracted from soil by sieving and root morphological traits and AM colonization were determined. The AM spores were extracted from soil and counted. In all ecosystems, soil fertility, fine‐root mass and root diameter increased with the succession, while root length, specific root length, root‐hair length, root‐hair incidence, AM colonization and AM spore density decreased. These results suggest that plant species from early stages of tropical succession with inherent rapid growth invest in fine roots and maintain a high degree of AM colonization in order to increase the capacity for nutrient acquisition. Conversely, fine root morphological characteristics and low degree of AM colonization exhibited by plants of the later stages of succession lead toward a low nutrient uptake capacity that combine with their typical low growth rates.

Abstract in Portuguese is available at http://www.blackwell‐synergy.com/loi/btp.
CLARIFICATION OF ORANGE JUICE USING CERAMIC MEMBRANE AND EVALUATION OF FOULING MECHANISM
Authors: NANDI B.K. , DAS B. , UPPALURI R.
Published: April 2011

This work reports microfiltration (MF) studies of orange juice using low‐cost ceramic membrane prepared from locally available inorganic precursors. Characterization of the prepared membrane was carried out using scanning electron microscopy analysis, porosity determination and pure water permeation experiments. The average pore diameter, total porosity and hydraulic resistance of the membrane were evaluated as 0.285 µm, 23.6% and 9.26 × 1011 m2/m3, respectively. Dead‐end MF experiments were performed for both centrifuged orange juice (CJ) and enzyme‐treated centrifuged orange juice (ETCJ). It was observed that after MF, important properties like total soluble solid, pH, acidity and density of both CJ and ETCJ were almost unaffected. However, significant improvement in juice color, clarity and alcohol insoluble solid was observed. Permeate flux of 5.32 × 10−6 and 13.23 × 10−6 m3/m2.s were observed after 30 min of experimental run at 137.9 kPa trans‐membrane pressure drop (ΔP) for CJ and ETCJ, respectively. Various membrane pore blocking models were used to analyze the observed permeate flux decline.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The obtained microfiltration data for ceramic membrane‐based clarification of orange juice could be useful to aid process design, development and operation studies for low‐cost ceramic membrane technology‐based juice processing systems. Pertinent flux decline behavior indicating the relevance of cake filtration model further indicates the applicability of membrane technology for juice processing applications with the fact that reversible membrane fouling is a proximate consequence of cake filtration and suitable cleaning procedures could enable long life span of the membrane. Enzyme treatment followed with membrane‐based clarification of orange juice is found to be effective even from preservation and storage perspective.
BIOETHANOL AND XYLITOL PRODUCTION FROM DIFFERENT LIGNOCELLULOSIC HYDROLYSATES BY SEQUENTIAL FERMENTATION
Authors: ARRIZON J. , MATEOS J.C. , SANDOVAL G. , AGUILAR B. , SOLIS J. , AGUILAR M.G.
Published: April 2011

Sugarcane bagasse, Agave tequilana bagasse and coffee husks were hydrolyzed by steam explosion followed by enzymatic treatment without detoxifying process prior to fermentation. The hydrolysates underwent sequential fermentations using three different microorganisms to produce bioethanol and xylitol. Sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate was found to be the best media for bioethanol (0.44 g/g yield, 85.5% efficiency) and xylitol (0.29 g/g yield) production and S. cerevisiae ITV01 performed efficient alcoholic fermentation in the presence of a high acetic acid concentration (5.0 g/L, initial hydrolysate concentration). For all hydrolysates, Candida tropicalis grew less; however, it produced more xylitol than Candida magnolia (0.29 and 0.22 g/g, respectively). The effect of oxygen on xylitol production in Candida tropicalis was also investigated, xylitol production improving as oxygen concentration level increased (flask volume/medium volume ratios of 1.25, 3.3 and 6.6 yielded 0.143, 0.320 and 0.406 g/g, respectively). The maximum calculated efficiency for the conversion of consumed xylose to xylitol was 44.6%, with a maximum xylitol production of 12.18 g/L.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Bioethanol and xylitol production by sequential fermentation process using different lignocellulosic materials like sugarcane bagasse, Agave tequilana bagasse and coffee husks, is a new simple and interesting process because it takes into account the total utilization of the principal component, the lignocellulosic material (glucose and xylose) as well as the use of waste material. One fermentation step produces two important products, bioethanol and xylitol, which have various applications in different kinds of industry.
DYNAMIC MODELING OF PEACH FRUIT DURING NORMAL IMPACT
Authors: AHMADI EBRAHIM , GHASSEMZADEH HAMID REZA , SADEGHI MORTEZA , MOGHADDAM MOHAMMAD , NESHAT SAEED ZARIF , ETTEFAGH MIER MOHAMMAD
Published: April 2011

Impact forces during the contact are the main sources of damage in Peach fruit. In order to reduce this damage, it is necessary to model the impact forces during handling and transporting. An experimental procedure was conducted to determine the parameters of a viscoelastic normal contact force model. Peaches were subjected to dynamic loading by means of a pendulum at the levels of impact. In order to estimate the values of the parameters (spring, “k” and damping, “c”) of the Kuwabara and Kono viscoelastic contact force models for normal impacts the nonlinear least squares technique to be calculated. Two prediction models were constructed for the parameters “k” and “c” using multiple linear regression analyses. In these models, impact velocity and two fruit properties (the effective radius of curvature and acoustic stiffness) were used as independent variables. Significant effect of impact velocity, the effective radius of curvature and acoustic stiffness and some interactions on the parameters “k” and “c” were obtained at 5% probability level with the coefficient of determination of 0.99 for models. It was concluded that lowering the impact velocity and increasing the effective radius of curvature and acoustic stiffness will enhance the parameters “k” and “c” of the peach fruit, but there was no significant effect of the acoustic stiffness on the damping parameter.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

A very promising approach for the simulation of fruit impact damage during transport and handling is the contact force discrete element method (DEM). In order to do so, models for the forces acting between particles (like fruits) in contact need to be specified. Forces acting between the two particles are decomposed into normal and tangential components. In this paper the focus is set on normal contacts. The presented research determines the parameters of normal contact forces models suited for DEM simulation of viscoelastic materials (peach fruit).
Population Growth and Change: Implications for Australia's Cities and Regions
Authors: McGUIRK PAULINE , ARGENT NEIL
Published: April 2011

Australia's distinctive pattern of settlement has long presented a suite of social, economic, infrastructural, and environmental challenges for the nation's cities and regions. These challenges will be intensified by the population growth and dynamics anticipated in the 2010 Intergenerational Report. Future growth will inevitably have differential impacts for metropolitan, regional, and rural settlements, and for inland and coastal regions. This paper analyses current trends and likely directions in population change and distribution and the major implications for the nation's metropolitan and non‐metropolitan areas. For Australia's cities, core issues include: access to affordable housing, suitable employment, infrastructure, and services; managing growth within environmental constraints; and the political management of popular anxieties around urban diversity and consolidation. For rural regions, processes of depopulation, demographic decline, ageing, and threats to community socio‐economic viability are intermingled with differential patterns of repopulation and consolidation, and issues of growth management. While the paper works through the distinctive character of the issues facing urban and regional contexts, it also highlights the interconnected nature of demographic change in Australia's settlement system and the questions that these pose for urban and regional governance.
Ethanol‐Enhanced Dissolution of a Residually Trapped Synthetic Gasoline Source
Authors: He Xiaohong , Stafford Brent P. , Rixey William G.
Published: April 2011

Batch partitioning and column experiments were conducted to assess the effect of ethanol on the enhancement of BTX (benzene, toluene, and xylenes) concentrations in groundwater near existing sources of NAPL (nonaqueous phase liquid, i.e., gasoline) contamination. The experiments were conducted to approximate a possible worst case scenario in which highly concentrated ethanol (e.g., fuel‐grade ethanol) becomes in direct contact with pre‐existing gasoline in water‐saturated conditions such as near the ground water table. The enhancements of BTX, 1,2,4‐trimethylbenzene (TMB), and n‐octane concentrations in the aqueous phase by ethanol were investigated. Significant enhancements in the BTX and TMB concentrations occurred with injections of highly concentrated ethanol. For example, when a pulse of 97% ethanol, equivalent to one source pore volume, passed through the source region containing trapped NAPL, the enhancements in the effluent peak concentrations over the solvent‐free water concentrations ranged from factors of 1.7 (for benzene) to 3.0 (for m‐xylene). When the ethanol pulse size was doubled, the enhancements in peak effluent concentrations increased by factors of 10 (for benzene) to 125 (for m‐xylene). Experimental results were consistent with equilibrium dissolution model simulations.
Species and sex identification of Formosa landlocked salmon using loop‐mediated isothermal amplification
Authors: HSU TE‐HUA , ADIPUTRA YUDHA T. , OHTA HIROMI , GWO JIN‐CHYWAN
Published: April 2011

Species and sex identification are among the most important parameters for conservation management. However, it is extremely difficult to perform such identification in Formosa landlocked salmon (Oncorhynchus masou formosanus). Both sexual dimorphism in landlocked dwarf form Formosa landlocked salmon and morphological difference among cherry salmon complex are minimal. We developed a simple, rapid and noninvasive method for identifying sex and species of this critically endangered species using a loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. The LAMP assay showed the advantage of simple detection (evaluated by visual inspection), rapid reaction time (<1 h), isothermal condition (less equipment required) and high efficiency (only 0.5–5 pg of DNA was required in the reaction mixture). Therefore, the method is more economical and practical than PCR. The LAMP assay can be easily performed in the field and is a valuable tool for detecting sex ratios in wild populations and identifying species in commercial imports. This is the first application of LAMP in identifying species and sex of salmonids as far as we know and clearly shows the potential application of LAMP in molecular ecology and conservation efforts.
Rapid species identification of pygmy rabbits (Brachylagus idahoensis) from faecal pellet DNA
Authors: ADAMS JENNIFER R. , GOLDBERG CAREN S. , BOSWORTH WILLIAM R. , RACHLOW JANET L. , WAITS LISETTE P.
Published: April 2011

The pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is a small lagomorph of the western United States that specializes in sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitat. Intensive habitat loss and modification have increased the vulnerability of pygmy rabbit populations, but the current geographic distribution and population status remain unclear. To aid in detection and population monitoring, we developed a species identification test that uses mitochondrial DNA species‐specific primers to distinguish among six sympatric lagomorph species using DNA isolated from faecal pellets. Applying this test, we successfully identified the species of origin for all pellet samples that produced a positive PCR result (77% of 283 pellets collected). Pellets collected during the winter (December–February) had higher PCR success rate (93%) than pellets collected at other times of the year (72%). This test, using non‐invasive genetic sampling of faecal pellets, provides an efficient method for assessing site occupancy and distribution of pygmy rabbits and other lagomorphs across large geographic areas.
Copper incorporation into ceruloplasmin is regulated by Niemann–Pick C1 protein
Authors: Yanagimoto Chikatoshi , Harada Masaru , Kumemura Hiroto , Abe Mitsuhiko , Koga Hironori , Sakata Masahiro , Kawaguchi Takumi , Terada Kunihiko , Hanada Shinichiro , Taniguchi Eitaro , Ninomiya Haruaki , Ueno Takato , Sugiyama Toshihiro , Sata Michio
Published: April 2011

Aim:  Wilson disease is a genetic disorder of copper metabolism characterized by impaired biliary copper excretion. Wilson disease gene product (ATP7B) functions in copper incorporation to ceruloplasmin (Cp) and biliary copper excretion. Our previous study showed the late endosome localization of ATP7B and described the copper transport pathway from the late endosome to trans‐Golgi network (TGN). However, the cellular localization of ATP7B and copper metabolism in hepatocytes remains controversial. The present study was performed to evaluate the role of Niemann–Pick type C (NPC) gene product NPC1 on intracellular copper transport in hepatocytes.

Methods:  We induced the NPC phenotype using U18666A to modulate the vesicle traffic from the late endosome to TGN. Then, we examined the effect of NPC1 overexpression on the localization of ATP7B and secretion of holo‐Cp, a copper‐binding mature form of Cp.

Results:  Overexpression of NPC1 increased holo‐Cp secretion to culture medium of U18666A‐treated cells, but did not affect the secretion of albumin. Manipulation of NPC1 function affected the localization of ATP7B and late endosome markers, but did not change the localization of a TGN marker. ATP7B co‐localized with the late endosome markers, but not with the TGN marker.

Conclusion:  These findings suggest that ATP7B localizes in the late endosomes and that copper in the late endosomes is transported to the secretory compartment via an NPC1‐dependent pathway and incorporated into Cp.
Efficacy of pegylated interferon‐α2a monotherapy in Japanese children with chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Tsunoda Tomoyuki , Inui Ayano , Etani Yuri , Kiyohara Yuki , Sugiura Tokio , Ito Koichi , Miyazawa Reiko , Nagata Ikuo , Ida Shinobu , Fujisawa Tomoo ,   Working Group for the Study of Pegylated Monotherapy for Children with Chronic Hepatitis C in the Japan Society of Pediatric Hepatology
Published: April 2011

Aim:  There is little information available on the efficacy of pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) therapy for children with chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of PEG IFN‐α2a monotherapy for children infected by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV).

Methods:  From 2004–2006, we conducted a prospective, open‐label, multicenter study of 22 patients aged 4–18 years, including eight with genotype 1 and 14 with genotype 2. None had previously received IFN. The patients were treated with s.c. PEG IFN‐α2a at a dose of 3 µg/kg once a week for 48 weeks. Rapid virological response (RVR) was defined as: undetectable serum HCV RNA at week 4; early viral response (EVR) as a 2 or more log reduction or undetectable serum HCV RNA at week 12; and sustained viral response (SVR) as undetectable serum HCV RNA at 24 weeks after the cessation of treatment.

Results:  SVR was achieved in 10 (45%) of the 22 patients (three with genotype 1, seven with genotype 2). Retrospectively, the patients with SVR included five with RVR (one with genotype 1, four with genotype 2) and five with EVR (two with genotype 1, three with genotype 2). PEG IFN‐α2a monotherapy was well tolerated, except in one patient in whom alanine aminotransferase activity flared (>500 IU/L) during treatment.

Conclusion:  The efficacy of PEG IFN‐α2a monotherapy in children is similar to that for adults, while tolerability seems to be better in children than in adults.
Major role of apolipoprotein B in cycloheximide‐induced acute hepatic steatosis in mice
Authors: Murakami Mari , Bessho Kazuhiko , Mushiake Sotaro , Kondou Hiroki , Miyoshi Yoko , Ozono Keiichi
Published: April 2011

Aim:  Hepatic steatosis accompanied by impaired protein synthesis is often observed in hepatic dysfunction. To assess whether protein synthesis inhibition directly induces hepatic steatosis, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of cycloheximide (CHX)‐induced fatty liver mice.

Methods:  C57/BL6CR mice were i.p. administrated CHX (20 mg/kg) three times every 4 h to induce hepatic steatosis. Hepatic lipid secretion, fatty acid oxidation, hepatic lipogenesis and hepatic lipid uptake were evaluated.

Results:  Twenty‐four hours after the first CHX injection, hepatic lipid levels increased in CHX‐treated mice to 1.8‐fold of that in controls but returned to normal within 48 h. The hepatic triglyceride (TG) secretion rate decreased significantly to 22% of controls, and the apolipoprotein B (apoB) protein level, but not microsomal TG transfer protein, decreased in CHX‐treated mice. The apob gene expression was not significantly different between controls and CHX‐treated mice. On the other hand, plasma free fatty acid and lipogenic protein levels did not increase and plasma β‐hydroxybutyrate level remained stable, suggesting that the coordinated balance between fatty acid oxidation, hepatic lipid uptake and lipogenesis was not disrupted in this model. Cellular lipid accumulation and decreased cellular and secreted apoB were also observed in CHX‐treated HepG2 cells. Knockdown of apoB in HepG2 cells also resulted in the cellular TG accumulation.

Conclusion:  We demonstrated that decreased hepatic lipid secretion due to acute apoB reduction is involved in the pathogenesis of CHX‐induced liver steatosis.
Effect of the regulation of retinoid X receptor‐α gene expression on rat hepatic fibrosis
Authors: Wang Zheng , Xu Jiapeng , Zheng Yongchao , Chen Wei , Sun Yongwei , Wu Zhiyong , Luo Meng
Published: April 2011

Aim:  To study the effect of retinoid X receptor‐α (RXR‐α) expression on rat hepatic fibrosis.

Methods:  Rat hepatic fibrosis was induced by CCl4, and the rats were randomly divided into an early‐phase hepatic fibrosis group (2 weeks) and a sustained hepatic fibrosis group (8 weeks). They were then divided into four groups (normal control, hepatic fibrosis, negative control and RXR‐α groups). A recombinant lentiviral expression vector carrying the rat RXR‐α gene was injected into the rats to induce RXR‐α expression by intraportal infusion, hepatic tissue pathological examination was performed, and hydroxyproline content was detected. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) were cultured in vitro, an RXR‐α lentivirus vector was used to activate HSC, and 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) activation was assayed to detect HSC proliferation.

Results:  In vivo experiments indicated that in the sustained hepatic fibrosis group, there were significant differences in the hydroxyproline content, and expression of RXR‐α, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) and type I collagen (P < 0.01). However, in the early‐phase hepatic fibrosis group, hydroxyproline content and the protein level of RXR‐α showed no significant difference compared with the normal control group (P > 0.05). In vitro studies revealed that expression of RXR‐α significantly inhibited expression of α‐SMA and type I collagen in activated HSC (P < 0.01), as well as HSC proliferation (P < 0.01).

Conclusion:  The increased RXR‐α gene expression inhibited HSC activation and proliferation and the degree of hepatic fibrosis.
Effects of late evening snack including branched‐chain amino acid on the function of hepatic parenchymal cells in patients with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Koreeda Chizu , Seki Toshihito , Okazaki Kazuichi , Ha‐Kawa Sang Kil , Sawada Satoshi
Published: April 2011

Aim:  A late evening snack (LES) improves protein‐energy malnutrition due to overnight starvation and the catabolic state in patients with liver cirrhosis. Our aim was to examine whether LES including a branched‐chain amino acid (BCAA) could maintain hepatic reserve and the function of hepatic parenchymal cells in patients with liver cirrhosis, including those in the early stage of disease.

Methods:  Seventeen patients with liver cirrhosis received LES with a BCAA‐enriched nutrient mixture. During the study period, each patient was instructed on energy and protein intake. Indicators of liver function measured at 6 months included maximum asialoscintigraphic removal (Rmax: indicator of total liver receptors), asialoscintigraphic imaging grade, serum albumin, ammonia, tyrosine and BTR (molar ratio of branched‐chain amino acids to tyrosine).

Results:  Serum albumin levels, BTR and tyrosine levels of the 17 patients were significantly improved after nutrient treatment. In patients with Rmax of 0.2 or higher, serum albumin level and tyrosine level were significantly improved.

Conclusion:  LES with BCAA‐enriched nutrient therapy can improve protein malnutrition in patients with liver cirrhosis, and is more useful in the early stages of liver cirrhosis in improving hepatic parenchymal cell mass.
A note on consistency of non‐parametric rank tests and related rank transformations
Authors: Zimmerman Donald W.
Published: April 2011

The extent to which rank transformations result in the same statistical decisions as their non‐parametric counterparts is investigated. Simulations are presented using the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test, the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and the Kruskal–Wallis test, together with the rank transformations and t and F tests corresponding to each of those non‐parametric methods. In addition to Type I errors and power over all simulations, the study examines the consistency of the outcomes of the two methods on each individual sample. The results show how acceptance or rejection of the null hypothesis and differences in p‐values of the test statistics depend in a regular and predictable way on sample size, significance level, and differences between means, for normal and various non‐normal distributions.
Strange duality of weighted homogeneous polynomials
Authors: Ebeling Wolfgang , Takahashi Atsushi
Published: April 2011

We consider a mirror symmetry between invertible weighted homogeneous polynomials in three variables. We define Dolgachev and Gabrielov numbers for them and show that we get a duality between these polynomials generalizing Arnold’s strange duality between the 14 exceptional unimodal singularities.
Turbine Blade Tip Heat Transfer in Low Speed and High Speed Flows
Authors: Wheeler Andrew P. S. , Atkins Nicholas R. , He Li
Published: April 2011

In this paper, high and low speed tip flows are investigated for a high-pressure turbine blade. Previous experimental data are used to validate a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code, which is then used to study the tip heat transfer in high and low speed cascades. The results show that at engine representative Mach numbers, the tip flow is predominantly transonic. Thus, compared with the low speed tip flow, the heat transfer is affected by reductions in both the heat-transfer coefficient and the recovery temperature. The high Mach numbers in the tip region (M>1.5) lead to large local variations in recovery temperature. Significant changes in the heat-transfer coefficient are also observed. These are due to changes in the structure of the tip flow at high speed. At high speeds, the pressure side corner separation bubble reattachment occurs through supersonic acceleration, which halves the length of the bubble when the tip-gap exit Mach number is increased from 0.1 to 1.0. In addition, shock/boundary-layer interactions within the tip gap lead to large changes in the tip boundary-layer thickness. These effects give rise to significant differences in the heat-transfer coefficient within the tip region compared with the low speed tip flow. Compared with the low speed tip flow, the high speed tip flow is much less dominated by turbulent dissipation and is thus less sensitive to the choice of turbulence model. These results clearly demonstrate that blade tip heat transfer is a strong function of Mach number, an important implication when considering the use of low speed experimental testing and associated CFD validation in engine blade tip design.
Effect of Freestream Turbulence Intensity on Film Cooling Jet Structure and Surface Effectiveness Using PIV and PSP
Authors: Wright Lesley M. , McClain Stephen T. , Clemenson Michael D.
Published: April 2011

An experimental investigation of film cooling jet structure using two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been completed for cylindrical, simple angle (θ=35 deg) film cooling holes. The PIV measurements are coupled with detailed film cooling effectiveness distributions on the flat plate obtained using a steady state, pressure sensitive paint (PSP) technique. Both the flow and surface measurements were performed in a low speed wind tunnel where the freestream turbulence intensity was varied from 1.2% to 12.5%. With this traditional film cooling configuration, the blowing ratio was varied from 0.5 to 1.5 to compare the jet structure of relatively low and high momentum cooling flows. Velocity maps of the coolant flow (in the streamwise direction) are obtained on three planes spanning a single hole: centerline, 0.25D, and 0.5D (outer edge of the film cooling hole). From the seeded jets, time averaged, mean velocity distributions of the film cooling jets are obtained near the cooled surface. In addition, turbulent fluctuations are obtained for each flow condition. Combining the detailed flow field measurements obtained using PIV (both instantaneous and time averaged) with detailed film cooling effectiveness distributions on the surface (PSP) provides a more complete view of the coolant jet-mainstream flow interaction. Near the edge of the film cooling holes, the turbulent mixing increases, and as a result the film cooling effectiveness decreases. Furthermore, the PIV measurements show the increased mixing of the coolant jet with the mainstream at the elevated freestream turbulence level resulting in a reduction in the jet to effectively protect the film cooled surface.