bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors Affecting the Methanol Content and Yield of Plum Brandy
Authors: Zhang Hui , Woodams Edward E. , Hang Yong D.
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  This study was conducted to determine the influence of plum cultivar, harvest year, and plum component on the methanol content and the yield of plum brandy. Seven plum cultivars (Geneva Mirabelle, French Damson, Pozegaca, Oblinaya, Early Golden, Lohr, and Rosy Gage) grown in the Finger Lakes fruit region of New York State were processed into mash and juice. The samples of plum mash or juice were fermented with commercial Red Star wine yeast Montrachet (Sachharomyces cerevisiae Davis 522) for 12 d. The fermented samples were distilled, and the distillates were analyzed for methanol, ethanol, and higher alcohols by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Duncan's multiple range tests show significant differences in the methanol content and the yield of plum brandy made from 7 plum cultivars. The harvest year also had a significant effect on the methanol content and the yield of plum brandy. Student's t‐test results indicate that plum juices gave a lower methanol content of brandy than plum mashes without significantly reducing the brandy yield. The results of the current research can be used by the industry to select the better plum cultivar and to adopt the process to improve the product yield and quality.

Practical Application:  The brandy industry can apply the results of the current research to improve product yield and to reduce the methanol content of plum brandy. The economic benefits to the brandy producers adopting the brandy production process will be significant due to the sales of new products with an acceptable level of methanol.
Electrochemical Behavior of Chlorogenic Acid at a Boron‐Doped Diamond Electrode and Estimation of the Antioxidant Capacity in the Coffee Samples Based on Its Oxidation Peak
Authors: Yardım Yavuz
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  In this study, an electroanalytical methodology for the determination of chlorogenic acid (CGA) was achieved at a boron‐doped diamond electrode under adsorptive transfer stripping voltammetric conditions. The values obtained for CGA were used to estimate the antioxidant properties of the coffee sample based on CGA oxidation. By using square‐wave stripping mode, the compound yielded a well‐defined voltammetric response at +0.49 V with respect to Ag/AgCl in Britton–Robinson buffer at pH 3.0 (after 120 s accumulations at a fixed potential of 0.40 V). At the optimum experimental conditions, linear calibration curve is obtained within the concentration range of 0.25 to 4.0 μg mL−1 with the limit of detection 0.049 μg mL−1. The developed protocol was successfully applied for the analysis of antioxidant capacity in the coffee products such as Turkish coffee and instant coffee.
Reduction of Patulin in Aqueous Solution by Lactic Acid Bacteria
Authors: Hatab Shaimaa , Yue Tianli , Mohamad Osama
Published: March 2012

Abstract:  This study aims to investigate the ability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to remove patulin (PAT) from aqueous solution with respect to the bacterial viability, initial PAT concentration, incubation time, temperature, and pH. The removal of PAT determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with UV detector. The maximum PAT uptake was achieved by Bifidobacterium bifidum 6071 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus 6149 strains (52.9% and 51.1%) for viable and (54.1% and 52.0%) for nonviable cells after 24 h incubation. The highest removal of PAT was at pH 4.0 and 37 °C and increased with decreasing of toxin levels. The removal ability of selected strains could represent new strategies for a possible application in contaminated food products and animal feed.
Modulation of Optical Properties of Dissolved Humic Substances by their Molecular Complexity†
Authors: Mignone Ricardo A. , Martin Marcela V. , Morán Vieyra Faustino E. , Palazzi Valeria I. , López de Mishima Beatriz , Mártire Daniel O. , Borsarelli Claudio D.
Published: March 2012

In this study, we show that several UV–Vis absorbance, steady‐state and time‐resolved fluorescence parameters of a series of dissolved humic substances (DHS) from different sources (e.g. terrestrial fulvic and humic acids, and humic acid‐like molecules extracted from composted and vermicomposted wastes) correlate with the molar absorptivity at 280 nm per mole of organic carbon (ε280), which in turn is proportional to the molecular complexity (e.g. molecular size, aromaticity and oxidation degree) of the DHS. Both absorbance and fluorescence spectral responses were sensitive to the molecular complexity associated with the maturation degree of the DHS. Depending on the DHS, different emitting responses by excitation at the UVA (340 nm) and VIS (460 nm) regions of the absorption spectra were observed. The results were explained in terms of the extent of intramolecular electronic interactions between electron donor groups, such as polyhydroxylated aromatics and indoles, and more oxidized acceptor groups (e.g. quinones or other oxidized aromatics) as the molecular complexity of the DHS increased.
Institutional Care for Young Children: Review of Literature and Policy Implications
Authors: Dozier Mary , Zeanah Charles H. , Wallin Allison R. , Shauffer Carole
Published: March 2012

Millions of infants and toddlers are in institutional care around the world, care that is poorly suited to meet young children's developmental needs. In this article, we briefly review the history of institutional care and surrogate care. We then discuss why institutional care is at odds with children's needs, and review the empirical evidence regarding the effects of institutional care on young children's development. Finally, we discuss alternatives to institutional care, and make recommendations for changes.
Entrepreneurship – A Suitable Case for Sociological Treatment
Authors: Watson Tony J.
Published: March 2012

Entrepreneurs are of great interest inside and outside the academic world. But there are considerable ambiguities and confusions about the nature of entrepreneurship among members of the public and entrepreneurship scholars alike, with the latter typically failing to locate entrepreneurial activities fully in their historical and societal contexts. Even work in the sociology of entrepreneurship is achieving less than might be expected in this respect. To overcome these problems it is helpful to return to basic sociological principles associated with Durkheim, Weber and Wright Mills and work with two newer sociological concepts; those of ‘institutional logics’ and ‘situated creativity’. Working in this way encourages us to drop entirely the analytical concept of ‘entrepreneur’ and to study, instead, ‘entrepreneurial action’– a concept which enables us to appreciate the relationship between the making of adventurous, creative or innovative exchanges in societies and both the organisational and the societal/institutional/historical settings in which these comes about – for better or worse.
Cutting to Live: A Phenomenology of Self‐Harm
Authors: Brown Tiffany B. , Kimball Thomas
Published: March 2012

This exploratory study utilizes a phenomenological methodology as described by Moustakas (Phenomenological research methods, Sage Publications, 1994). Data were gathered via qualitative face‐to‐face interviews from a midsize southwestern community. Eleven participants, ten females and one male, were included in this study. Data suggested three categories that described the participants’ experiences of self‐harm: Self‐harm is Misunderstood, Self‐Harm has a Role, and Advice to Professionals. Among these categories, 11 themes emerged, including Self‐Harm is Not Suicide, Self‐Harm is an Addiction, Individuals Who Self‐Harm are Traumatized, Help That’s Not Helpful, Self‐Harm is a Release, Physical Pain versus Emotional Pain, Self‐Harm IS Control, and Need to be Punished. Advice to professionals who work with individuals who self‐harm is offered by the participants. The study concludes with a discussion of the phenomenon of self‐harm, as well as clinical and training implications for professionals. Future directions for research are also discussed.
Client Narratives About Experiences With a Multicouple Treatment Program for Intimate Partner Violence
Authors: Todahl Jeff , Linville Deanna , Tuttle Shamblin Abby F. , Ball David
Published: March 2012

A handful of clinical trials have concluded that conjoint couples treatment for intimate partner violence is safe and at least as effective as conventional batterer intervention programs, yet very few researchers have explored couples’ perspectives on conjoint treatment. Using qualitative narrative analysis methodology, the researchers conducted 48 client participant interviews and five staff interviews to better understand couples’ experiences of a conjoint treatment program for intimate partner violence. Themes that recurred throughout participants’ narratives included (a) perceptions of safety, (b) benefits received, (c) attitudinal change, (d) behavioral change, and (e) important learning. Research directions and training implications are discussed.
An Exploratory Investigation of Marital Functioning and Order of Spousal Onset in Couples Concordant for Psychopathology
Authors: Van Orden Kimberly A. , Braithwaite Scott , Anestis Mike , Timmons Katherine A. , Fincham Frank , Joiner Thomas E. , Lewinsohn Peter M.
Published: March 2012

Individuals with a psychiatric disorder are significantly more likely to have a spouse with a clinical diagnosis—marital concordance. We used a community sample of 304 couples concordant for either major depressive disorder (MDD) or substance use disorders (SUDs) to examine the relationship between marital functioning and gendered patterns of mental health diagnosis onset. For SUD concordance, couples in which wives onset before husbands—despite typical later onset for men—reported lower levels of marital satisfaction compared with couples in which the husband onset first. For MDD concordance, couples in which husbands onset with depression before wives—despite typical later onset for men—reported lower levels of marital satisfaction. These results suggest that for couples concordant for mental diagnoses, it is most problematic for marital functioning for one partner to have an atypically early onset. Implications for treatment targets in marital therapy are discussed.
Reactions to a Partner‐Assisted Emotional Disclosure Intervention: Direct Observation and Self‐Report of Patient and Partner Communication
Authors: Porter Laura S. , Baucom Donald H. , Keefe Francis J. , Patterson Emily S.
Published: March 2012

Partner‐assisted emotional disclosure is a couple‐based intervention designed to help patients disclose cancer‐related concerns to their spouses–partners. We previously found that, compared with an education/support control condition, partner‐assisted emotional disclosure led to significant improvements in relationship quality and intimacy for couples in which the patient initially reported holding back from discussing cancer‐related concerns (Porter et al., 2009, Cancer, 115, 4326–4338). The purpose of this study was to examine the process data from couples who participated in the disclosure sessions including (a) observational ratings of couples’ communication during the sessions; (b) couples’ ratings of their communication during the sessions; and (c) associations between participants’ observed communication and their baseline psychological/relationship functioning. As rated by trained observers, couples’ communication was in the moderate range of adaptive skills. Self‐report data indicated that participants had positive perceptions of their communication. Observational and self‐report ratings were weakly associated. Patients reporting lower levels of relationship quality, higher levels of holding back, and higher partner avoidance at baseline were rated by observers as more expressive during the sessions. Overall, these findings suggest that the intervention was acceptable to couples and was particularly helpful for patients who had difficulty talking with their partners on their own without skills training.
Reducing Situational Violence in Low‐Income Couples by Fostering Healthy Relationships
Authors: Cleary Bradley Renay P. , Gottman John M.
Published: March 2012

This work evaluated a psycho‐educational intervention designed to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) in low‐income situationally violent couples. The primary objective was to evaluate the mechanism through which violence was reduced. It was hypothesized that IPV would be reduced via use of therapeutic skills taught during the intervention (i.e., friendship, sex/romance/passion, shared meaning, and conflict management skills). One‐hundred‐fifteen couples were randomly assigned to a treatment or no‐treatment control group. Couples self‐reported attitudes reflecting healthy relationship skills and IPV at multiple time points (baseline, post‐intervention, and long‐term post‐intervention). Results support the notion that violence was reduced via an increase in intervention‐based skills. Findings suggest that IPV can be safely reduced in low‐income situationally violent couples via conjoint treatment focused on building healthy relationship skills.
Adolescents, Parents, and Monitoring: A Review of Constructs With Attention to Process and Theory
Authors: Anderson Ryan J. , Branstetter Steven A.
Published: March 2012

This article summarizes the parental monitoring literature with attention to the fact that researchers have enlarged the pool of monitoring variables to the point that the literature is advancing in many new and sometimes opposing directions. The specific aims were as follows: (a) to trace parental monitoring constructs to early conceptualizations in the parenting literature; (b) to describe current self‐report measurement models in terms of five broad constructs with attention to inconsistencies in measurement; (c) to outline a construct that has received increased attention, parent‐adolescent communication; (d) to stress the importance of theory‐based investigations; and (e) to describe the general need to translate findings to applied settings.
Corporate Disclosures of the Major Sources of Estimation Uncertainties
Authors: Mayorga Diane M. , Sidhu Baljit K.
Published: March 2012

We investigate compliance with regulatory requirements by the largest 20 Australian listed firms to disclose key assumptions and major sources of estimation uncertainties. These relate to accounting estimates that require management's judgement in measuring the carrying amount of the entity's assets and liabilities. While we find that firms provide some disclosure, the information is not sufficiently informative to give users meaningful insights. Overall, the level of disclosure falls short of the intentions of the relevant requirements. Our findings suggest that additional guidance may be necessary to improve compliance and thus increase the information value that these disclosures contribute to financial reports.
Accounting Policies in the Extractive Industry: A Global and a Turkish Perspective
Authors: Karapinar Aydin , Zaif Figen , Torun Salih
Published: March 2012

This paper investigates the influence of accounting standards on financial reporting for companies in the extractive industry. In Turkey, listed firms have prepared their financial reports according to the International Accounting Standards and the International Financial Reporting Standards (IAS/IFRS) since 2005, as has the European Union. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of compliance with IFRS 6, comparing global and Turkish extractive entities. We find that the entities reporting in accordance with IFRS 6 in Turkey are more likely to fail to declare their accounting policies, whereas global companies are more likely to be compliant with IFRS 6.
The ‘Cost’ of Climate Change: How Carbon Emissions Allowances are Accounted for Amongst European Union Companies
Authors: Warwick Peter , Ng Chew
Published: March 2012

Following the withdrawal of IFRIC 3: Emissions Rights in 2005, European Union (EU) companies participating in an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) do not have definitive guidelines as to how to account for carbon emissions allowances. Using a content analysis methodology, this study examines the disclosed accounting policies of companies participating in the EU ETS, and reveals how, in the absence of clear guidance, they account for their carbon emissions allowances. As the accounting method adopted will impact upon a company's financial statements, these findings are of interest to accounting standards setters, investors, financial reporting preparers, auditors, and researchers.
Commentary: Financial Reporting and Financial Stability: Causes and Effects
Authors: Singleton‐Green Brian
Published: March 2012

Distinguished academics at a panel session of the American Accounting Association meeting in Denver in August 2011 discussed the relationship between financial reporting and financial stability. While accounting has been blamed for causing financial crises, the panellists noted that the evidence for this claim, particularly in relation to the recent financial crisis, seems to be missing. It is possible that accounting has an amplifying effect on crises, but even on this point the evidence is weak and complicated. However, financial reporting did not do a good job in reporting on risk ahead of the recent crisis; risks were hidden. Panellists also drew attention to the role of inadequate accounting in the financial problems of sovereign states.
Thrombocytosis: a retrospective study of 165 dogs
Authors: Neel Jennifer A. , Snyder Laura , Grindem Carol B.
Published: March 2012

Background

Thrombocytosis has been associated with various conditions, including inflammation, neoplasia, iron deficiency, splenectomy, and drug administration.

Objective

The aim of this study was to characterize diseases and conditions associated with thrombocytosis in dogs.

Methods

In this retrospective study, dogs with thrombocytosis (platelet count > 600 × 103/μL) and complete medical records during a 1‐year period were included, and breed, sex, age,CBCresults, alkaline phosphatase and gamma‐glutamyltransferase activities in some dogs, administration of glucocorticoids or vincristine, and primary diagnosis were evaluated.

Results

Thrombocytosis was found in 240 of 5342 dogs (4.6%), and 165 (3.1%) met inclusion criteria. Thrombocytosis was secondary in all dogs, and underlying diseases and conditions (n,%) were neoplasia (56, 33.9%), inflammation (55, 33.3%), miscellaneous disorders (26, 15.8%), neoplasia plus a second disease (13, 7.9%), endocrine diseases (8, 4.8%), and multiple diseases (7, 4.2%). In dogs with neoplasia, carcinomas (24) and round cell neoplasms (20), especially lymphoma and mast cell tumor, were the most frequent tumors. Inflammatory disorders consisted of immune‐mediated disorders (11), neurologic diseases (8), infectious diseases (6), allergic disease (5), orthopedic diseases (4), gastrointestinal diseases (4), and miscellaneous conditions (17). Of the 165 dogs, 73 (44.2%) had received glucocorticoids (55) or vincristine (18) Marked (850–969 × 103platelets/μL) or extreme ( ≥ 970 × 103platelets/μL) thrombocytosis occurred in 24 (14.5%) dogs; 12 (50.0%) had neoplasia. Thromboembolism occurred in 13 (7.9%) dogs.

Conclusions

Thrombocytosis in dogs occurred most frequently secondary to neoplastic and inflammatory diseases and was commonly associated with glucocorticoid and vincristine administration. Thromboembolic complications occurred in a small number of patients. Marked or extreme thrombocytosis was more likely to occur with neoplasia than with other conditions.
Involvement of heparan sulfate 3‐O‐sulfotransferase isoform‐1 in the insulin secretion pathway
Authors: Takahashi Iwao , Ohashi Kazuaki , Nata Koji
Published: March 2012

Aims/Introduction:  Heparan sulfate (HS) mediates a variety of molecular recognition events that are essential for differentiation, morphogenesis and homeostasis through various HS forms that result from differential sulfate modification. Recently, we found that HS is localized exclusively around βß‐cells in islets of adult mice and is required for insulin secretion. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of HS sulfate groups to insulin secretion.

Materials and Methods:  Glucose‐induced insulin secretion (GIIS) was examined in mouse pancreatic islets, the mouse pancreatic β‐cell line MIN6 cells and its derivative MIN6T3 cells after removal of sulfate groups by sodium chlorate, a competitive inhibitor of glycosaminoglycan sulfation. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used for analyzing messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression of HS modification enzymes. Expression of HS 3‐O‐sulfotransferase isoform‐1 (Hs3st1) was silenced and GIIS was examined.

Results:  Impaired insulin secretion by islets, MIN6 cells and MIN6T3 cells was observed after treatment with sodium chlorate. Sodium chlorate‐treatment upregulated the mRNA expression of sulfotransferases expressed in MIN6T3 cells. Expression of the Hs3st1 was strongly upregulated by sodium chlorate‐treatment, and its silencing by RNA interference reduced GIIS in MIN6T3 cells.

Conclusions:  Our data suggest that the 3‐O‐sulfate group of HS that is modified by Hs3st1 plays a significant role(s) in the insulin secretory pathway, selectively through an interaction with factor(s) upstream of membrane depolarization in β‐cells. (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040‐1124.2012.00205.x, 2012)
The motor cortex drives the muscles during walking in human subjects
Authors: Petersen T. H. , Willerslev‐Olsen M. , Conway B. A. , Nielsen J. B.
Published: March 2012

Key points 

It is often assumed that automatic movements such as walking require little conscious attention and it has therefore been argued that these movements require little cortical control.

In humans, however, the gait function is often heavily impaired or completely lost following cortical lesions such as stroke.

In this study we investigated synchrony between cortical signals recorded with electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyographic signals (EMG activity) recorded from the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) during walking.

We found evidence of synchrony in the frequency domain (coherence) between the primary motor cortex and the TA muscle indicating a cortical involvement in human gait function.

This finding underpins the importance of restoration of the activity and connectivity between the motor cortex and the spinal cord in the recovery of gait function in patients with damage of the central nervous system.
The Expansion-Cycle Evaporation Turbine
Authors: Barton N. G.
Published: March 2012

This paper investigates a continuous-flow heat engine based on evaporative cooling of hot air at reduced pressure. In this device, hot air is expanded in an expansion turbine, spray-cooled to saturation and re-compressed to ambient pressure in several stages with evaporative cooling between each stage. More work is available in expansion than is required during re-compression, so the device is a heat engine. The device provides a relatively cheap way to boost the power output of open-cycle gas turbines. The principal assumptions for the theoretical model developed herein are that air and water vapor are regarded as ideal gases with constant specific heat capacities. In the absence of losses associated with expansion and compression, the engine produces more power as the inlet temperature and the pressure ratio increase. The effects of irreversibilities are subsequently included in the expansion and compression stages, with realistic values used for the adiabatic efficiencies of turbine and fans. Purification and injection of water are also considered in the overall energy budget. As a typical result for the new engine, if the inlet air is the exhaust of a 56 MW open-cycle gas turbine, the adiabatic efficiencies of turbine and fan are 0.9, the pressure ratio is 6.5 and there is four-stage re-compression, then the power output is 20.5% that of the gas turbine. The power output is sensitive to the adiabatic efficiencies of turbine and fans.
Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet Fuel Evaluation, Performance, and Emissions in a T63 Turbine Engine
Authors: Klingshirn C. D. , DeWitt M. , Striebich R. , Anneken D. , Shafer L. , Corporan E. , Wagner M. , Brigalli D.
Published: March 2012

Due to potential beneficial environmental impacts and increased supply availability, alternative fuels derived from renewable resources are evolving on the forefront as unconventional substitutes for fossil fuel. Focus is being given to the evaluation and certification of Hydroprocessed Renewable Jet (HRJ), a fuel produced from animal fat and/or plant oils (triglycerides) by hydroprocessing, as the next potential synthetic aviation fuel. Extensive efforts have recently been performed at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) to evaluate the potential of two HRJ fuels produced from camelina and tallow feedstocks. These have included characterization of the fuel chemical, physical fuel characteristics and Fit-for-Purpose properties (FFP). The present effort describes general combustion performance and the emission propensity of a T63-A-700 Allison turbine engine operated on the HRJs and 50/50 (by volume) HRJ/JP-8 fuel blends relative to a specification JP-8. In addition, engine and emission testing with a blend of the tallow-derived HRJ and 16% bio-derived aromatic components was completed. Fundamental engine performance characterization allows for determination of the suitability of potential synthetic fuels while quantitation of gaseous and particulate matter emissions provides an assessment of the potential environmental impact compared to current petroleum-derived fuels. In addition, an extended 150 h endurance test was performed using a 50/50 blend of tallow-derived HRJ with JP-8 to evaluate the long-term operation of the engine with the synthetic fuel blend. This paper discusses the laboratory testing performed to characterize HRJs and results from the basic engine operability and emissions studies of the alternative fuel blends.
Physical Design Tools Support and Hinder Innovative Engineering Design
Authors: Jang Jooyoung , Schunn Christian D.
Published: March 2012

Engineers use various physical tools (e.g., computers, smart boards, notes, and prototypes) to support their design work. To understand cognitive processes underlying the innovative design process and to reveal the characteristics of innovation-supporting environments, we examined the pattern of tool use in 43 interdisciplinary engineering design teams enrolled in a full-semester product realization course. Teams worked all semester on a single project, with each team being assigned a different industry-sponsored project. Group meetings were video-recorded. Team success was measured in terms of meeting client requirements, and groups were divided into high, medium, and low success. Successful teams (i.e., high and medium success groups) were found to use a smart board and physical prototypes consistently more often throughout the design process, whereas unsuccessful teams (i.e., low success group) used a computer, laptop, and paper notes more often. Particularly, late adoption of physical prototypes was a key characteristic of unsuccessful teams.
Continuous Deposition of a Liquid Thread onto a Moving Substrate. Numerical Analysis and Comparison With Experiments
Authors: Ubal S. , Xu B. , Derby B. , Grassia P.
Published: March 2012

The printing of a thin line of liquid onto a moving flat solid substrate was studied numerically. For a fixed value of the Capillary number, the window of steady state deposition was explored in terms of the substrate-nozzle gap and flow rate parameter space for two nozzle configurations: a nozzle pointing vertically at the plate and a nozzle slightly tilted towards the substrate motion direction. A lower limit for the flow rate was found, below which no steady state solutions could be obtained. This minimum flow rate increases as the nozzle stand-off and the nozzle tilting do. Solutions near this lower flow rate boundary were stable under a flow rate perturbation. The process was also studied experimentally and the measurements were compared with the corresponding numerical simulations, giving a fairly good agreement, except in the advancing front deposition region.
Measurement of Effective Bulk Modulus for Hydraulic Oil at Low Pressure
Authors: Kim Sunghun , Murrenhoff Hubertus
Published: March 2012

Oil properties are very important input parameters for the simulation of hydraulic components. Precise values of effective bulk modulus at low pressures are especially required to improve the simulation accuracy of the pumps suction side or of cavitation in pumps or valves. So far, theoretical equations to compute the effective bulk modulus of hydraulic oil have not been experimentally verified, and only poor measured data are available to calculate the effective bulk modulus at low pressure. Therefore in this paper, the theoretical equation was verified for effective bulk moduli based on measurements of pressure change as a function of volume change at low pressures, varying temperature, entrained air content, and type of state change. Furthermore, the comparison of effective bulk moduli calculated with three different methods (mass-change, volume-change, and sound-speed method) shows that the effective bulk modulus can be calculated well from the measurement results of all three methods. The calculated effective bulk moduli values show little variation among the methods. Additionally, the release pressure of dissolved air in oil and the change of the polytropic gas constant depending on the speed of volume change rate were identified in this study.
Numerical Simulation of Low Specific Speed American Petroleum Institute Pumps in Part-Load Operation and Comparison With Test Rig Results
Authors: Benigni Helmut , Jaberg Helmut , Yeung Hoi , Salisbury Tony , Berry Owen , Collins Tim
Published: March 2012

A low specific speed centrifugal pump is investigated by means of numerical simulation, especially in deep part-load operation. The 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model includes the front and back cavities, a 360 deg impeller and a double volute, as well as suction and pressure pipes. Stationary calculations show a strong clocking effect and lead to an overprediction of the head close to zero flow rate. A one-dimensional estimation of the head at the closed valve operation point is compared to the 3D CFD results and also a series of test rig results. In a second step, the whole head curve is calculated by a fully transient calculation using the shear stress transport–scale-adaptive simulation (SST–SAS) turbulence model. For the net positive suction head (NPSH) estimation, the histogram method is applied providing good correlation to the test rig measurement—as do the head curve and the efficiency.
Formulating Second-Hand Market Value as a Function of Product Specifications, Age, and Conditions
Authors: Kwak Minjung , Kim Harrison , Thurston Deborah
Published: March 2012

Second-hand market value is important for manufacturers in that it affects the profitability of both new product sales and end-of-life recovery. To gain a better understanding of second-hand market value, this paper presents an empirical study of buy-back price using laptop computers and mobile phones as examples. A thousand items that were on the market in recent years were examined, and their current buy-back prices were estimated using the pricing engine of a real buy-back company. The statistical analysis provided a model that could assess the value of used products. The model links a product’s specifications to its second-hand market value. It also incorporates the impacts of product age and cosmetic and hardware conditions. Based on the results of the analysis, the design implications for improving the value of used products were discussed.
An Automated Design Method for Active Trailer Steering Systems of Articulated Heavy Vehicles
Authors: He Yuping , Manjurul Islam Md.
Published: March 2012

An important design decision for active trailer steering (ATS) systems for articulated heavy vehicles (AHVs) is the trade-off between maneuverability and lateral stability. This paper presents an automated design method for this trade-off. The proposed method has the following features: (1) a design framework for bilevel optimization of ATS systems is formulated; (2) design variables of ATS controllers and trailers are optimized simultaneously; (3) two controllers are designed for the ATS system for improving stability and enhancing maneuverability, respectively; and (4) a driver model is introduced in the virtual vehicle simulation for closed-loop testing maneuvers. The design framework allows automation of vehicle modeling, controller construction, performance evaluation, and design variable selection, and all required design processes are implemented in a single loop. The proposed method is compared to a previously published two-loop design method, showing that the new approach can effectively identify desired variables and predict performance envelopes.
Study of Ti etching and selectivity mechanism in fluorocarbon plasmas for dielectric etch
Authors: Weilnboeck F. , Bartis E. , Shachar S. , Oehrlein G. S. , Farber D. , Lii T. , Lenox C.
Published: March 2012

The authors studied the behavior of Ti hardmasks in CF4/Ar and C4F8/Ar discharges using conditions relevant to pattern transfer processes into organosilicate glass (OSG), a reference low-k material investigated in parallel. The authors examined various material erosion stages and determined the dependencies of etch rates (ERs) and etching selectivities (ESs) on the following plasma parameters: self-bias voltage (50–150 V), processing pressure (20–60 mTorr) and %CF4 (10–30 %) in CF4/Ar discharges, and O2 addition (0–10 %) and N2 addition (0–20 %) to C4F8/Ar discharges. Erosion behavior and ERs were characterized by real-time ellipsometric measurements and multilayer optical modeling. These measurements were complemented by x ray photoelectron spectroscopy to study the surface composition. The impact of plasma parameter changes were investigated by comparing ERs and corresponding ESs (OSG ER/Ti ER). During the erosion of Ti, the initially oxidized film surface was transformed into a TiFx layer (x ∼ 3) covered by a FC film. The FC film thickness strongly depended on the FC feed gas and was significantly thicker for the C4F8-based etch (1.5 nm) than for the CF4-based etch (0.9 nm). Ti erosion was found to be dependent on the energy deposited on the film surface by ion bombardment and to exponentially decrease with increasing FC film thicknesses. For thin FC films (< 1 nm), erosion was ion driven, i.e., “chemical sputtering”, and, for thick FC films (> 1 nm), erosion was limited by the amount of F that could diffuse through the FC layer to the Ti interface. In contrast to organic masking materials, Ti hardmasks have lower ESs for the more polymerizing C4F8-based discharges than for CF4-based discharges. This can be explained by the consumption of the limited supply of F at the OSG surface by C and H impurities, which form volatile CF4 and HF etch products. For thin FC films and low ion energy deposition by ion bombardment, ESs up to 15 have been achieved.
Behavioral model for electrical response and strain sensitivity of nanotube-based nanocomposite materials
Authors: Amini Alborz , Bahreyni Behraad
Published: March 2012

An algorithm to study the electrical conductivity of nanocomposite layers, made by dispersing nanotubes inside a polymer structure, is proposed. Conduction is modeled by following the path of electric current through the nanotube network within the polymer. Based on this algorithm, a numerical simulator is developed to study the effect of nanoparticles and nanocomposite film dimensions and concentration on the conductance of a nanocomposite resistor. This simulator is also capable of predicting the behavior of nanocomposite resistors under mechanical strain for devices with different parameters. To verify the simulation results, several test devices with different filler concentrations are fabricated from a composite of SU-8 and multiwall carbon nanotubes. The experimental results agree with the performance anticipated by the simulator, as the applied strain and filler concentration are altered independently. The simulator is capable of illustrating the tradeoffs between conductivity, sensitivity, and repeatability and can be used as a powerful tool to pave the path for designing reliable electronic components from nanocomposite materials.
Akt and ERK Control the Proliferative Response of Mammary Epithelial Cells to the Growth Factors IGF-1 and EGF Through the Cell Cycle Inhibitor p57
Kip2
Authors: Worster Devin T. , Schmelzle Tobias , Solimini Nicole L. , Lightcap Eric S. , Millard Bjorn , Mills Gordon B. , Brugge Joan S. , Albeck John G.
Published: March 2012

The cell cycle inhibitor p57 is induced by Akt but suppressed by ERK to control growth factor–induced proliferation and limit oncogenic behavior.
STING Specifies IRF3 Phosphorylation by TBK1 in the Cytosolic DNA Signaling Pathway
Authors: Tanaka Yasuo , Chen Zhijian J.
Published: March 2012

The adaptor protein STING recruits a kinase and a transcription factor to mediate responses to cytosolic DNA.
More Than a Protease
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: March 2012

A matrix metalloprotease activates phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling to regulate immune responses independently of its protease activity.
Carriage of an ACME II Variant May Have Contributed to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Sequence Type 239-Like Strain Replacement in Liverpool Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Authors: Espedido B. A. , Steen J. A. , Barbagiannakos T. , Mercer J. , Paterson D. L. , Grimmond S. M. , Cooper M. A. , Gosbell I. B. , van Hal S. J. , Jensen S. O.
Published: March 2012

Approximately 39% of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) sequence type 239 (ST239)-like bloodstream isolates from Liverpool Hospital (obtained between 1997 and 2008) carry an arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME). Whole-genome sequencing revealed that an ACME II variant is located between
orfX
and SCC
mec
III, and based on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and temporal relationships of all ST239-like isolates (
n
= 360), ACME carriage may have contributed to subpulsotype strain replacement.
Antiviral Activity andIn VitroMutation Development Pathways of MK-6186, a Novel Nonnucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
Authors: Lu Meiqing , Felock Peter J. , Munshi Vandna , Hrin Renee C. , Wang Ying-Jie , Yan Youwei , Munshi Sanjeev , McGaughey Georgia B. , Gomez Robert , Anthony Neville J. , Williams Theresa M. , Grobler Jay A. , Hazuda Daria J. , McKenna Philip M. , Miller Michael D. , Lai Ming-Tain
Published: March 2012

MK-6186 is a novel nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) which displays subnanomolar potency against wild-type (WT) virus and the two most prevalent NNRTI-resistant RT mutants (K103N and Y181C) in biochemical assays. In addition, it showed excellent antiviral potency against K103N and Y181C mutant viruses, with fold changes (FCs) of less than 2 and 5, respectively. When a panel of 12 common NNRTI-associated mutant viruses was tested with MK-6186, only 2 relatively rare mutants (Y188L and V106I/Y188L) were highly resistant, with FCs of >100, and the remaining viruses showed FCs of <10. Furthermore, a panel of 96 clinical virus isolates with NNRTI resistance mutations was evaluated for susceptibility to NNRTIs. The majority (70%) of viruses tested displayed resistance to efavirenz (EFV), with FCs of >10, whereas only 29% of the mutant viruses displayed greater than 10-fold resistance to MK-6186. To determine whether MK-6186 selects for novel resistance mutations,in vitroresistance selections were conducted with one isolate each from subtypes A, B, and C under low-multiplicity-of-infection (MOI) conditions. The results showed a unique mutation development pattern in which L234I was the first mutation to emerge in the majority of the experiments. In resistance selection under high-MOI conditions with subtype B virus, V106A was the dominant mutation detected in the breakthrough viruses. More importantly, mutant viruses selected by MK-6186 showed FCs of <10 against EFV or etravirine (ETR), and the mutant viruses containing mutations selected by EFV or ETR were sensitive to MK-6186 (FCs of <10).
Functional Characterization of a Cassette-Specific Promoter in the Class 1 Integron-Associated
qnrVC1
Gene
Authors: da Fonseca Érica Lourenço , Vicente Ana Carolina Paulo
Published: March 2012

Integrons are natural expression vectors due to the presence of an intrinsic promoter (P
c
). Although rare, gene cassettes can harbor their own promoter. This study determined the functionality of an internal promoter in the
qnrVC1
cassette whose presence was suggested by a level of transcription similar to that of the preceding cassette (
aadA2
) and confirmed by
in silico
analysis. Its functionality was determined by 5′ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and cloning into promoter-probe vectors. P
qnrVC
was found in the
qnrVC
cassette family, stressing its role in contributing to resistance manifestation.
Assessment of the Pharmacokinetic Interaction between Eltrombopag and Lopinavir-Ritonavir in Healthy Adult Subjects
Authors: Wire Mary B. , McLean Heidi B. , Pendry Carolyn , Theodore Dickens , Park Jung W. , Peng Bin
Published: March 2012

Eltrombopag is an orally bioavailable thrombopoietin receptor agonist that is approved for the treatment of chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura. It is being developed for other medical disorders that are associated with thrombocytopenia. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) may suffer from thrombocytopenia as a result of their HIV disease or coinfection with hepatitis C virus (HCV). HIV medications, particularly ritonavir (RTV)-boosted HIV protease inhibitors, are involved in many drug interactions. This study evaluated the potential drug-drug interaction between eltrombopag and lopinavir (LPV)/RTV. Forty healthy adult subjects enrolled in this open-label, three-period, single-sequence crossover study received a single 100-mg dose of eltrombopag (period 1), LPV/RTV at 400/100 mg twice daily (BID) for 14 days (period 2), and LPV/RTV at 400/100 mg BID (2 doses) with a single 100-mg dose of eltrombopag administered with the morning LPV/RTV dose (period 3). There was a 3-day washout between periods 1 and 2 and no washout between periods 2 and 3. Serial pharmacokinetic samples were collected during 72 h in periods 1 and 3 and during 12 h in period 2. The coadministration of 400/100 mg LPV/RTV BID with a single dose of 100 mg eltrombopag decreased the plasma eltrombopag area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero extrapolated to infinity (AUC0-∞) by 17%, on average, with no change in plasma LPV/RTV exposure. Adverse events (AEs) reported in period 2 were consistent with known LPV/RTV AEs, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, rash, and fatigue. No subjects withdrew due to AEs, and no serious AEs were reported. These study results suggest that platelet counts should be monitored and the eltrombopag dose adjusted accordingly if LPV/RTV therapy is initiated or discontinued.
The Composition of the Culture Medium Influences the β-1,3-Glucan Metabolism of Aspergillus fumigatus and the Antifungal Activity of Inhibitors of β-1,3-Glucan Synthesis
Authors: Clavaud Cécile , Beauvais Anne , Barbin Lise , Munier-Lehmann Hélène , Latgé Jean-Paul
Published: March 2012

In vitro
testing of
Aspergillus fumigatus
susceptibility to echinocandins has always been a challenge. Using a simple and quick colorimetric method to analyze the activity of inhibitors of β-1,3-glucan synthesis, we found that the composition of the culture medium significantly influences glucan synthesis and consequently the antifungal properties of inhibitors of β-1,3-glucan synthesis when they are tested alone or in combination with chitin synthase inhibitors.
Bactericidal Activity of Multiple Combinations of Tigecycline and Colistin against NDM-1-Producing Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Albur Mahableshwar , Noel Alan , Bowker Karen , MacGowan Alasdair
Published: March 2012

The interaction between colistin and tigecycline against eight well-characterized NDM-1-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
strains was studied. Time-kill methodology was employed using a 4-by-4 exposure matrix with pharmacokinetically achievable free drug peak, trough, and average 24-h serum concentrations. Colistin sulfate and methanesulfonate alone showed good early bactericidal activity, often with subsequent regrowth. Tigecycline alone had poor activity. Addition of tigecycline to colistin does not produce increased bacterial killing; instead, it may cause antagonism at lower concentrations.
Posaconazole Exposure-Response Relationship: Evaluating the Utility of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring
Authors: Dolton Michael J. , Ray John E. , Marriott Deborah , McLachlan Andrew J.
Published: March 2012

Posaconazole has become an important part of the antifungal armamentarium in the prophylaxis and salvage treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Structurally related to itraconazole, posaconazole displays low oral bioavailability due to poor solubility, with significant drug interactions and gastrointestinal disease also contributing to the generally low posaconazole plasma concentrations observed in patients. While therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) of plasma concentrations is widely accepted for other triazole antifungal agents such as voriconazole, the utility of TDM for posaconazole is controversial due to debate over the relationship between posaconazole exposure in plasma and clinical response to therapy. This review examines the available evidence for a relationship between plasma concentration and clinical efficacy for posaconazole, as well as evaluating the utility of TDM and providing provisional target concentrations for posaconazole therapy. Increasing evidence supports an exposure-response relationship for plasma posaconazole concentrations for prophylaxis and treatment of IFIs; a clear relationship has not been identified between posaconazole concentration and toxicity. Intracellular and intrapulmonary concentrations have been studied for posaconazole but have not been correlated to clinical outcomes. In view of the high mortality and cost associated with the treatment of IFIs, increasing evidence of an exposure-response relationship for posaconazole efficacy in the prevention and treatment of IFIs, and the common finding of low posaconazole concentrations in patients, TDM for posaconazole is likely to be of significant clinical utility. In patients with subtherapeutic posaconazole concentrations, increased dose frequency, administration with high-fat meals, and withdrawal of interacting medications from therapy are useful strategies to improve systemic absorption.