bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A numerical study of fluids with pressure‐dependent viscosity flowing through a rigid porous medium
Authors: Nakshatrala K. B. , Rajagopal K. R.
Published: May 2010

Much of the work on flow through porous media, especially with regard to studies on the flow of oil, are based on ‘Darcy's law’ or modifications to it, such as Darcy–Forchheimer or Brinkman models. While many theoretical and numerical studies concerning flow through porous media have taken into account the inhomogeneity and anisotropy of the porous solid, they have not taken into account the fact that the viscosity of the fluid and drag coefficient could depend on the pressure in applications, such as enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Experiments clearly indicate that the viscosity varies exponentially with respect to the pressure and the viscosity can change, in some applications, by several orders of magnitude. The fact that the viscosity depends on pressure immediately implies that the ‘drag coefficient’ would also depend on the pressure. In this paper we consider modifications to Darcy's equation wherein the drag coefficient is a function of pressure, which is a realistic model for technological applications, such as EOR and geological carbon sequestration. We first outline the approximations behind Darcy's equation and the modifications that we propose to Darcy's equation, and derive the governing equations through a systematic approach using mixture theory. We then propose a stabilized mixed finite element formulation for the modified Darcy's equation. To solve the resulting nonlinear equations we present a solution procedure based on the consistent Newton–Raphson method. We solve representative test problems to illustrate the performance of the proposed stabilized formulation. One of the objectives of this paper is to show that the dependence of viscosity on the pressure can have a significant effect both on the qualitative and quantitative nature of the solution. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stack Modelling of a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC)
Authors: Pfafferodt M. , Heidebrecht P. , Sundmacher K.
Published: May 2010

A model of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) stack including internal steam reforming is presented. It comprises a symmetric section of the stack, consisting of one half indirect internal reforming unit (IIR) and four fuel cells. The model describes the gas phase compositions, the gas and solid temperatures and the current density distribution within the highly integrated system. The model assumptions, the differential equations and boundary conditions as well as the coupling equations used in the model are shown. The strategy to solve the system of partial differential equations is outlined. The simulation results show that the fuel cells within the stack operate at different temperatures. This is expected to have an impact on the voltages as well as the degradation rates within the individual fuel cells.
Risperidone versus olanzapine for the treatment of delirium
Authors: Kim Sung‐Wan , Yoo Joon‐An , Lee Sam‐Yeon , Kim Seon‐Young , Bae Kyung‐Yeol , Yang Su‐Jin , Kim Jae‐Min , Shin Il‐Seon , Yoon Jin‐Sang
Published: May 2010

Objective

This study compared the effectiveness of risperidone and olanzapine in the treatment of delirium.

Methods

This was a 7‐day, randomized, comparative clinical trial of risperidone and olanzapine in patients with delirium. The primary outcome measure was the Delirium Rating Scale‐Revised‐98 (DRS‐R‐98).

Results

We enrolled 32 subjects (median age, 70 years). Significant within‐group improvements in the DRS‐R‐98 scores over time were observed at every time point in both treatment groups; however, differences in the change of the DRS‐R‐98 score from baseline were not significant between the treatment groups. On the first day after drug treatment, there was a trend toward greater improvement in the DRS‐R‐98 score in the olanzapine group compared with the risperidone group, but it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.076). The response rates did not differ significantly between the two groups (risperidone group: 64.7%, olanzapine group: 73.3%). However, the response to risperidone was significantly poorer in patients ≥70 years of age compared with those aged <70 years. There was no significant difference in the safety profiles, including extrapyramidal symptoms (EPSs), between the two groups.

Conclusion

Risperidone and olanzapine were equally effective in reducing delirium symptoms. The response to risperidone was poorer in the older age group. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Neutron radiography and tomography of water distribution in the root zone
Authors: Esser Hanna G. , Carminati Andrea , Vontobel Peter , Lehmann Eberhard H. , Oswald Sascha E.
Published: May 2010

Water uptake by roots and resulting water redistribution along the soil profile depend on soil hydraulic properties and root distribution, as well as on the physical, chemical, and biological soil–plant interactions that occur in the root zone. The hydraulic properties of the soil in the root zone are difficult to investigate in situ at the needed high spatial resolution, and they still present important open questions. For instance, is there more or less water at the root–soil interface compared to the bulk soil? Neutron radiography (2‐D) and tomography (3‐D) are efficient methods to answer such questions, providing the possibility to image simultaneously water distributions and root structure in situ at high spatial resolution. We planted a lupin and a maize in rectangular boxes filled with sandy soils. The plants were grown for 3 weeks at controlled conditions.

Infiltrated water and subsequent water redistribution were imaged for 5 d at regular intervals by means of neutron radiography and tomography. Soil water‐content distributions were quantified from the radiographs after correcting for neutron scattering. The radiographs showed that the water content in the root zone was higher than in the bulk soil both during and after infiltration. Similarly, the tomograms showed localized regions of high water content around some locations of the roots, in particular near the tips of the lupin. Local regions of water depletion, which are expected as a consequence of water uptake, were visible along the main root where laterals branched. These results reflect the complexity of soil–plant–water relations, showing the different properties of bulk soil and root zone, as well as the varying moisture gradients along the root system.
Hydrophobic ionic liquid‐based ultrasound‐assisted extraction of magnolol and honokiol from cortex Magnoliae officinalis
Authors: Zhang Lijin , Wang Xiao
Published: May 2010

The hydrophobic ionic liquid of [BMIM][PF6] was successfully used for the ultrasound‐assisted extraction of hydrophobic magnolol and honokiol from cortex Magnoliae officinalis. To obtain the best extraction efficiencies, some ultrasonic parameters including the concentration of [BMIM][PF6], pH, ultrasonic power and ultrasonic time were evaluated. The results obtained indicated that the [BMIM][PF6]‐based ultrasound‐assisted extraction efficiencies of magnolol and honokiol were greater than those of the [BMIM][BF4]‐based ultrasound‐assisted extraction (from 48.6 to 45.9%) and the traditional ethanol reflux extraction (from 16.2 to 13.3%). Furthermore, the proposed extraction method is validated by the recovery, correlation coefficient (R2) and reproducibility (RSD, n=5), which were 90.8–102.6, 0.9992–0.9998, and 1.6–5.4%, respectively.
A study on separation and extraction of four main alkaloids in Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. with strip dispersion hybrid liquid membrane
Authors: Ouyang Li , Su Xiaoli , He Dingsheng , Chen Yuanyuan , Ma Ming , Xie Qingji , Yao Shouzhuo
Published: May 2010

A technique based on strip dispersion hybrid liquid membrane was developed for the separation and extraction of four main alkaloids from fruits of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. A microporous polypropylene membrane impregnated with an organic membrane solution comprised the heart of the strip dispersion hybrid liquid membrane system. The membrane solution was made by dissolving a cationic carrier, di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid in an inexpensive, less toxic membrane solvent, kerosene. The transport of alkaloids from an aqueous feed solution through the membrane to a strip dispersion phase was driven by the concentration gradient of H+ and facilitated by di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phosphoric acid. The effects of the extraction time and reuse times of the membrane, the strip solution composition, the carrier concentration, the volume ratio of the aqueous strip solution to the organic membrane solution, and the flow rates of the feed solution and the strip dispersion phase on the transport of alkaloids were investigated. Under the optimal conditions, the permeability coefficients obtained for the four main alkaloids allocryptopine, protopine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine were 1.66, 1.99, 2.98, and 3.06×10−4 cm/s, and the transport efficiencies were as high as 68, 77, 83, and 85%, respectively.
The critical condition for intrusion of a steel ball into sliding contact space
Authors: Li Fuxun , Diao Dongfeng , Fan Xue
Published: May 2010

The intrusion tests of a ball into sliding contact space were carried out. A stainless steel ball with 3.175 mm radius was used as a sphere particle to study the critical intrusion condition of the ball into the contact space between the organic glass and the polyurethane rubber. The effect of intrusion angle of the contact space and the friction coefficients among the ball, the organic glass and the polyurethane rubber on the critical condition were studied experimentally. Then, the intrusion conditions for the ball into the contact space were analysed theoretically. The results showed that the calculated critical intrusion angles agreed well with the experimental ones. Finally, the intrusion diagram as a function of critical intrusion angle, friction coefficient µ1 and µ2 (here, µ1 is the friction coefficient between the ball and the polyurethane rubber, µ2 is the friction coefficient between the ball and the organic glass) was introduced to evaluate the intrusion performance of a ball into the sliding contact space. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Haploidentical stem cell transplantation as a salvage therapy for cord blood engraftment failure in a patient with Fanconi anemia
Authors: Rihani Rawad , Lataifeh Isam , Halalsheh Hadeel , Hussein Ayad Ahmed , Al‐Zaben Abdulhadi , Abdel‐Rahman Fawzi , Sarhan Mahmoud
Published: May 2010

A 7‐year‐old male with Fanconi Anemia who developed primary graft failure following one antigen‐mismatched unrelated cord blood transplantation and a nonradiation‐based conditioning, underwent a second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) from his 2‐loci mismatched haploidentical father, using a nonradiation‐based regimen, 79 days after the first HSCT. A sustained hematological engraftment was achieved at 9 days post‐second HSCT. At 15 months post‐second HSCT; the patient demonstrated normal blood counts, sustained donor chimerism, and no evidence of GVHD. Haploidentical HSCTs as primary or secondary sources of stem cells, with appropriate T‐cell depletion, may be a readily available option in the absence of HLA‐matched related or unrelated donors. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2010;55:580–582. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Structural, thermal, micromechanical and electrical study of polyimide composite thin films incorporating indium tin oxide
Authors: Gupta Anand Kumar , Garg Roopa , Keller Jag Mohan , Balakrishnan Vettai Raman
Published: May 2010

Studies of composite films incorporating inorganic materials are of immense importance for current technological applications. Polyimide (PI) composite thin films incorporating indium tin oxide (ITO) at various weight ratios were processed using an in situ generation approach. The resultant product was imidized up to 350 °C to test the ability of the material to endure high temperatures without affecting the host matrix. The morphological behaviour of the PI/ITO composite films was investigated using Fourier transform infrared, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy characterization techniques. The degrees of crystallinity and ITO particle size within the PI matrix were studied using X‐ray diffraction. The thermal, structural and electrical properties were analysed using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, UV‐visible spectroscopy and the four‐probe technique. The micromechanical properties of the composites were evaluated in terms of tensile strength, tensile modulus and elongation. An overall improvement in the properties of the composite films was observed in comparison to those of pure PI. The synergistic improvement in the composite films is associated with the interaction mechanism between ITO and PI, where ITO becomes dispersed and interacts within the PI matrix. This leads to a decrease in available free‐space volume and increases the surface enrichment providing reinforcement to the matrix. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry
Role of partial protein unfolding in alcohol‐induced protein aggregation
Authors: Singh Surinder M. , Cabello‐Villegas Javier , Hutchings Regina L. , Mallela Krishna M. G.
Published: May 2010

Proteins aggregate in response to various stresses including changes in solvent conditions. Addition of alcohols has been recently shown to induce aggregation of disease‐related as well as nondisease‐related proteins. Here we probed the biophysical mechanisms underlying alcohol‐induced protein aggregation, in particular the role of partial protein unfolding in aggregation. We have studied aggregation mechanisms due to benzyl alcohol which is used in numerous biochemical and biotechnological applications. We chose cytochrome c as a model protein, for the reason that various optical and structural probes are available to monitor its global and partial unfolding reactions. Benzyl alcohol induced the aggregation of cytochrome c in isothermal conditions and decreased the temperature at which the protein aggregates. However, benzyl alcohol did not perturb the overall native conformation of cytochrome c. Instead, it caused partial unfolding of a local protein region around the methionine residue at position 80. Site‐specific optical probes, two‐dimensional NMR titrations, and hydrogen exchange all support this conclusion. The protein aggregation temperature varied linearly with the melting temperature of the Met80 region. Stabilizing the Met80 region by heme iron reduction drastically decreased protein aggregation, which confirmed that the local unfolding of this region causes protein aggregation. These results indicate that a possible mechanism by which alcohols induce protein aggregation is through partial rather than complete unfolding of native proteins. Proteins 2010. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Nanotubes in biosensing
Authors: Lei Jianping , Ju Huangxian
Published: May 2010

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have extensively been used for electrochemical and optical biosensing due to the unique mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties. This review introduces two functionalization categories, noncovalent interaction along the CNTs sidewalls via physical adsorption or entrapment and covalent binding via carboxylate chemistry or nonselective attack of nanotube sidewalls by highly reactive species and gives an overview on the functionalized CNTs‐based biosensing methodologies for DNA, antigen‐antibody, cells, and other biological molecules. Furthermore, the in vivo near‐IR fluorescence biosensing application of CNTs with high photostability and efficiency is discussed. Finally, field‐effect transistors based on semiconductor CNTs are also summarized for ultrasensitive detection. Biosensors based on CNTs provide a significant avenue for the detection of biomolecules in vivo and in vitro applications. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2010 2 496–509

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing
Blood replacement with nanobiotechnologically engineered hemoglobin and hemoglobin nanocapsules
Authors: Chang Thomas Ming Swi
Published: May 2010

Unlike donor red blood cells (RBCs), blood substitutes can be treated to remove infective agents and can be used on the spot or in the ambulance in emergency without the time‐consuming typing and cross‐matching. Donor RBC requires storage at 4°and is only good for 42 days, but blood substitutes can be stored for much longer time. For example, a bovine polyhemoglobin (PolyHb) can be stored at room temperature for more than 1 year. It has been shown as far back as 1957 that artificial RBC can be prepared with ultrathin polymer membranes of nanodimension thickness. To increase the circulation time, the first‐generation engineered hemoglobin (Hb) is formed by using glutaraldehyde to crosslink Hb into soluble nanodimension PolyHb that has been tested clinically in patients. Further extension includes conjugated Hb, intramolecularly crosslinked Hb and recombinant Hb. For certain clinical uses, in addition to engineered Hb, we also need antioxidants to remove oxygen radicals to prevent injury from ischemia reperfusion. Thus, we use nanobiotechnology to prepare second‐generation engineered Hb by assembling Hb together with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) to form a nanodimension soluble complex of polyhemoglobin (PolyHb)‐CAT‐SOD. A third generation system is to prepare nanodimension complete artificial RBCs that can circulate for sufficient length of time after infusion. One approach uses lipid vesicles to encapsulate hemoglobin (Hb). Another approach is to use biodegradable polymer‐like polylactic acid or a copolymer of polyethylene glycol‐polylactide (PEG‐PLA) to form the membrane of nanodimension complete artificial RBC (www.artcell.mcgill.ca).WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol2010 2 418–430

This article is categorized under:

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanotechnology in Tissue Repair and Replacement
Virtual software team project management
Authors: Casey Valentine
Published: May 2010

Globally distributed information systems development has become a key strategy for large sections of the software industry. This involves outsourcing projects to third parties or offshoring development to divisions in remote locations. A popular approach when implementing these strategies is the establishment of virtual teams. The justification for embarking on this approach is to endeavor to leverage the potential benefits of labor arbitrage available between geographical locations. When implementing such a strategy organizations must recognize that virtual teams operate differently to collocated teams, therefore, they must be managed differently. These differences arise due to the complex and collaborative nature of information systems development and the impact distance introduces. Geographical, temporal, cultural, and linguistic distance all negatively impact on coordination, cooperation, communication, and visibility in the virtual team setting. In these circumstances, it needs to be recognized that the project management of a virtual team must be carried out in a different manner to that of a collocated team. Results from this research highlight six specific project management areas, which need to be addressed to facilitate successful virtual team operation. They are: Organizational Virtual Team Strategy, Risk Management, Infrastructure, Implementation of a Virtual Team Process, Team Structure and Organization, and Conflict Management.
Testing the Liberal Multiculturalist Hypothesis: Normative Theories and Social Science Evidence
Authors: Kymlicka Will
Published: May 2010

Abstract.For much of the 1990s, the academic literature on multiculturalism was heavily normative, dominated by political philosophers who developed idealized theories of a distinctly liberal–democratic form of multicultural citizenship. This “liberal multiculturalism hypothesis”—the notion that multiculturalism policies can be adopted without jeopardizing core liberal–democratic values—has been quite influential, shaping debates not just within the field of philosophy, but more widely in academia and indeed in public life. Many social scientists, however, question whether multiculturalism in the real world has been so benign. This paper considers the available evidence, empirically testing the liberal multiculturalism hypothesis, both in Canada and cross-nationally. What does this evidence tell us about the prospects for liberal–democratic multiculturalism and about the impact of multicultural policies on liberal–democratic values?

Résumé.Au cours des années 1990, la littérature académique sur le multiculturalisme était décidément normative, dominée par des philosophes politiques qui ont développé des théories idéalisées d'une forme de citoyenneté multiculturelle nettement libérale-démocrate. Cette «hypothèse du multiculturalisme libéral» – la notion que des politiques de multiculturalisme peuvent être adoptées sans compromettre les valeurs fondamentales de la démocratie libérale – s'est avérée très influente, structurant les débats non seulement dans l'enceinte de la philosophie, mais aussi dans l'arène plus vaste du milieu académique et même dans la vie publique. Plusieurs chercheurs en sciences humaines, cependant, se demandent si le multiculturalisme dans le monde réel a été si bénin. Cet article examine la preuve disponible tout en évaluant empiriquement l'hypothèse du multiculturalisme libéral, tant au Canada qu'ailleurs. Que nous indique cette preuve concernant l'avenir du multiculturalisme libéral démocratique et l'impact des politiques multiculturelles sur les valeurs de la démocratie libérale?
Multiple Minorities and Deceptive Dichotomies: The Theoretical and Political Implications of the Struggle for a Public French Education System in Alberta
Authors: Abu-Laban Yasmeen , Couture Claude
Published: May 2010

Abstract.In this article we re-establish the relevance of linguistic diversity by highlighting that French is a minority language spoken by a growing number of non-white and non-Christian minority groups, including Muslims. These groups are often characterized in contemporary Canada as essentially non-modern, traditional and opposed to secularism—characterizations that were used historically to depict French ethnic minorities as essentially Catholic, traditional and non-modern. Utilizing a historically grounded case study of the evolution of French language education rights in Alberta, the study reveals how “Franco-Albertans” are a linguistic minority comprised of other minorities. We also show the contradictions inherent in dichotomous representations of “secularism” when it comes to “Western” and “non-Western” societies, or “Christian” and “Muslim” groups. We argue that in expanding the discipline's focus to deal with a wider range of “groups,” analysts need to attend to how “multiple minorities” may take analytically relevant forms, and be wary of evolutionary and dichotomous constructions of diverse “others.”

Résumé.Dans cet article, nous redonnons une place importante à la question linguistique comme dimension politique fondamentale au Canada, et au français comme langue minoritaire parlée par un nombre croissant de groupes minoritaires non blancs et non chrétiens, y compris les musulmans. Ces groupes, ce qui n'est pas selon nous sans intérêt, sont souvent globalement décrits aujourd'hui comme étant non modernes, traditionnels et opposés au sécularisme dans un discours qui n'est pas sans évoquer la façon dont les Canadiens français furent historiquement décrits comme une société strictement catholique et prémoderne. Dans ce cas-ci, le Canada francophone est étudié à travers le prisme de la francophonie albertaine, elle-même composée de plusieurs minorités. Nous nous concentrons en particulier sur les droits scolaires en Alberta et un lien est aussi établi entre cette situation et la description souvent dichotomique par rapport au sécularisme de la société canadienne entre les groupes «occidentaux» et «non occidentaux» ou encore entre les groupes «chrétiens» d'un côté, et de l'autre, les groupes de la diversité multiculturelle canadienne, notamment les musulmans francophones. La thèse de cet article est qu'en élargissant le champ d'investigation de la discipline de façon à inclure un éventail de groupes plus grand, les analystes doivent être vigilants quant à l'articulation complexe du concept de «minorités multiples» de façon à éviter les constructions trop évolutionnistes et dichotomiques des divers «autres».
EFFECTS OF TILLAGE INTENSITY, PLANTING TIME AND NITROGEN RATE ON WHEAT YIELD FOLLOWING RICE
Authors: ARORA V. K. , SIDHU A. S. , SANDHU K. S. , THIND S. S.
Published: May 2010

Puddling coarse-textured soils for rice culture in the irrigated tract of the Indo-Gangetic Plains causes high soil strength in the upper layers. This may adversely affect growth and yield of following upland crops. It is possible that no-tillage (NT) in wheat (without residues of preceding rice crop) could aggravate this problem and reduce fertilizer nitrogen (N) use efficiency. In certain production scenarios, NT has been reported to be advantageous because it allows for earlier planting of wheat by eliminating delays caused by tillage. This study examined the combined effects of two crop establishment options for wheat in relation to fertilizer N and planting time following puddled rice cultivation in an irrigated environment of Punjab, northwest India. Combinations of two establishment systems, NT-direct planting and conventional-tillage (CT) with soil disruption to 0.10 m depth in main plots, with two N rates, 120 and 150 kg ha−1in subplots, were evaluated. Variation in planting time, 31 October (D1) and 7 and 10 November (D2), was used to evaluate effect of planting-earliness. Under D1in NT, grain yield of wheat was comparable to that under D2in CT. However, under no advancement of wheat planting in NT, grain yield was 0.2–0.3 t ha−1less than that in CT. This yield reduction in NT could be overcome by adding 30 kg ha−1more fertilizer N suggesting that tillage enhanced N use efficiency. These tillage gains are ascribed to the greater extraction of profile stored and applied water and nutrients because of denser crop rooting caused by reduction in soil strength and less weed competition. Higher N use efficiency in CT suggests that farmers could achieve fertilizer N savings with this system. Comparing the tillage systems showed that NT was more cost-effective than CT even after accounting for the cost of additional fertilizer N (saving of Rs. 1685 ha−1) to overcome associated yield penalties under no advancement in planting time.
Effects of ewe size and nutrition during pregnancy on performance of 2-year-old female offspring
Authors: VAN DER LINDEN D. S. , KENYON P. R. , LOPEZ-VILLALOBOS N. , JENKINSON C. M. C. , PETERSON S. W. , BLAIR H. T.
Published: May 2010

The current study investigated the effects of dam weight and nutrition during gestation on the reproductive performance of female primiparous offspring at 2 years of age. Four hundred and fifty heavy (H) (mean±s.e.m.: 60·8 kg±0·18) and 450 light (L) (42·5 kg±0·17) dams were randomly allocated to ad libitum (A) or maintenance (M) nutritional regimens from day 21 until day 140 of pregnancy, under pastoral grazing conditions. One week prior to lambing, all dams and their lambs were provided with ad libitum feeding through to weaning. After weaning, female progeny were managed and fed to requirements as one group. At 2 years of age, the oestrous cycles of the female offspring (n=207) were synchronized and the offspring were naturally mated. Ewes were scanned for pregnancy by ultrasound at day 70 of pregnancy. Within 24 h of birth, lambs were weighed and body dimensions were measured. Lambs were also weighed at day 24 (L24) and weaning. No effects of dam nutrition or dam weight were found (P>0·10) on the reproductive performance of the ewe offspring. Lambs of M-grand-dams were heavier at birth (P=0·024) and weaning (P=0·031) than lambs of A-grand-dams. Twin lambs of H-grand-dams were heavier at birth (P=0·014) than twin lambs of L-grand-dams; however, grand-dam weight had no effect (P>0·10) on lamb weaning weight. In summary, dam weight had no effect on reproductive performance of the female offspring, with only a minor effect on the weight of grand-offspring. Thus, being born to a larger dam has no advantages over being born to a smaller dam, in terms of number of lambs born and weight of lambs at birth and weaning. Grand-dam maintenance nutrition had no effect on reproductive performance although it increased lamb birth and weaning weight and lamb growth rates of the grand-offspring. Therefore, this indicates that ewes born to dams fed at maintenance during pregnancy have an advantage over A-ewes in physiological stressful situations including pregnancy or lactation.
Hot spot generated by non-thermal electrons just before disruption in HT-7 tokamak
Authors: LI ERZHONG , HU LIQUN , CHEN KAIYUN , LING BILI , LIU YONG , LU HONGWEI , LIN SHIYAO , SHEN BIAO , GAO XIANG
Published: May 2010

Intense non-thermal radiation spikes were observed prior to energy quench in HT-7 tokamak. The dynamic properties of non-thermal electrons have been analyzed. Observation manifests that some non-thermal electrons are confined in the vicinity of q = 1 magnetic surface which results in hot spot phenomenon just before disruption.
Fish oil and rheumatoid arthritis: past, present and future
Authors: James Michael , Proudman Susanna , Cleland Les
Published: May 2010

Meta- and mega-analysis of randomised controlled trials indicate reduction in tender joint counts and decreased use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs with fish-oil supplementation in long-standing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs confer cardiovascular risk and there is increased cardiovascular mortality in RA, an additional benefit of fish oil in RA may be reduced cardiovascular risk via direct mechanisms and decreased non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Potential mechanisms for anti-inflammatory effects of fish oil include inhibition of inflammatory mediators (eicosanoids and cytokines), and provision of substrates for synthesis of lipid suppressors of inflammation (resolvins). Future studies need progress in clinical trial design and need to shift from long-standing disease to examination of recent-onset RA. We are addressing these issues in a current randomised controlled trial of fish oil in recent-onset RA, where the aim is to intervene before joint damage has occurred. Unlike previous studies, the trial occurs on a background of drug regimens determined by an algorithm that is responsive to disease activity and drug intolerance. This allows drug use to be an outcome measure whereas in previous trial designs, clinical need to alter drug use was a ‘problem’. Despite evidence for efficacy and plausible biological mechanisms, the limited clinical use of fish oil indicates there are barriers to its use. These probably include the pharmaceutical dominance of RA therapies and the perception that fish oil has relatively modest effects. However, when collateral benefits of fish oil are included within efficacy, the argument for its adjunctive use in RA is strong.
Prescriptivism and descriptivism in the first, second and third editions of OED
Authors: Brewer Charlotte
Published: May 2010

There is a pervasive view, held by academics and educated laypeople alike, that the Oxford English Dictionary is a descriptive work. When plans for this great dictionary were first taking shape, the originators made their intentions very clear. Archbishop Trench, delivering the two lectures to the London Philological Society in 1857 which initiated the project, famously stated the axiom that the lexicographer ‘is a historian of [the language], not a critic’, while the Philological Society's Dictionary Committee announced to its members in a document of 1860 that their job was to list and describe words accurately and disinterestedly.
How Fowler became 'The Fowler': an anatomy of a success story
Authors: Busse Ulrich , Schröder Anne
Published: May 2010

“Dictionary of Modern English Usage, short forms Modern English Usage, MEU. The best-known usage manual of the 20C, compiled by H. W. Fowler and published by Oxford University Press in 1926 […]. This work in particular has made the name Fowler as well known among those interested in usage and the language as Johnson and Webster, a point of reference for both those who venerate and those who regret what he has had to say.” (Burchfield, 1992a: 311)

If the quotation above is anything to go by, it tells us two things, namely that Fowler's Modern English Usage [MEU] is regarded as the best-known usage manual of the 20th century and that opinions about Fowler are highly controversial. Works like the Fowler Brothers' (1906) The King's English [KE] and Henry W. Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage (1926) [MEU-1] can be regarded as role models for usage handbooks in Britain. The immense success and popularity, especially of the latter work, with new editions in 1965 (revised by Sir Ernest Gowers) [MEU-2] and in 1996 (further revised by Robert Burchfield) [MEU-3], calls for an explanation. In order to reveal the relationship between authority and success, the present article places MEU and its predecessor KE in their socio-historical contexts and then gives a detailed account of the success story of MEU. It analyses the book's reception in its three editions and its treatment in English-language histories and introductory textbooks to the English language.
Coarse woody debris stocks as a function of forest type and stand age in Costa Rican tropical dry forest: long-lasting legacies of previous land use
Authors: Kissing Lisa B. , Powers Jennifer S.
Published: May 2010

The ecological importance of trees lasts much longer than their life spans. Standing dead trees (snags) and fallen trunks and branches are an important component of above-ground carbon stocks and nutrient reserves, provide habitat for wildlife, and interact with disturbance regimes (e.g. by serving as fuel for fires) (Clark et al. 2002, Harmon et al. 1986, Pyle et al. 2008). Despite these diverse functions, woody debris stocks remain poorly quantified in tropical forests in general (Brown 1997), and in tropical dry forests in particular (Harmon et al. 1995). More empirical studies of the patterns of woody debris and processes that control its dynamics are needed to understand its role in global biogeochemical cycles and for ecosystem simulation models, many of which do not represent coarse woody debris (CWD) as a separate pool (Cornwell et al. 2009).
Seasonal variation in atmospheric relative humidity contributes to explaining seasonal variation in trunk circumference of tropical rain-forest trees in French Guiana
Authors: Stahl Clément , Burban Benoit , Bompy Félix , Jolin Zachari B. , Sermage Juliette , Bonal Damien
Published: May 2010

Large seasonal variation in the rate of change in girth of tropical rain-forest tree species has been described, but its origin is still under debate. We tested whether this variation might be related to variation in atmospheric relative humidity through its influence on bark water content and thickness. Variation in trunk circumference of 182 adult trees was measured about twice a month in an undisturbed tropical rain forest over 18 mo using dendrometers. Furthermore, a laboratory experiment was conducted to test the direct influence of relative air humidity on bark water content and thickness. In the field, most trees displayed highly positive rates of change in girth at the onset of the wet season, while a quarter of the trees displayed negative changes during long dry seasons, whatever their total annual growth. This variation was correlated with environmental conditions, particularly with atmospheric relative humidity. Trees with high bark water content and thickness displayed a stronger decrease in girth during the dry season. In the chamber experiment, desiccation induced a decrease in the diameter of the trunk sections in tandem with a decrease in bark water content. As a result, seasonal variation in the rate of change in girth of tropical rain-forest trees reflects variation in trunk biophysical properties, through the influence of relative humidity on bark properties, but not directly variation in secondary growth.
Flower mites decrease nectar availability in the rain-forest bromeliadNeoregelia johannis
Authors: Guerra Tadeu J. , Romero Gustavo Q. , Benson Woodruff W.
Published: May 2010

Nectarivorous flower mites can reduce the volume of nectar available to pollinators. The effects of the flower miteProctolaelapssp. on nectar availability in flowers of a melittophilous bromeliadNeoregelia johannis(Bromeliaceae) was evaluated in a coastal rain forest in south-eastern Brazil. In a randomized block experiment utilizing 18 flower pairs, one per bromeliad ramet, pollinators (Bombus morio) and mites were excluded, and then nectar volume, sugar concentration and sugar mass were quantified over the anthesis period. Mites significantly reduced nectar volume early in the morning (6h00–8h00), but not later (10h00–12h00). Mites decreased total volume of nectar available up to 22%. Sugar concentration in nectar was higher earlier in the morning, and decreased between 10h00–12h00. The pronounced consumption of nectar by mites during the period of higher sugar concentration reduced the total amount of sugar available to pollinators by 31%. This is the first study showing that flower mites decrease nectar rewards in a melittophilous plant. Because nectar volume by itself incompletely describes nectar production rates and the effects of nectar removal by flower mites on the availability of sugar, our study highlights the inclusion of sugar content in future studies assessing the effects of thieves on nectar production rates.
A Hybrid GNSS Integrity Design Leveraging a Priori Signal Noise Characteristics
Authors: DiLellio James
Published: May 2010

The objective of this paper is to explore a hybrid Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) architecture that efficiently meets the stringent needs of safety of life systems. An architecture is proposed that allocates error bounding and alerting functionality between the space, ground and user segments based on refining the assumptions of the leading-order fault free error sources expected in the near future from developing GNSS technologies. By revisiting the first principles used to derive standard RAIM fault detection, a modified detection algorithm is developed to more accurately accommodate these new fault-free error distributions while supporting timely user alerts. The results of the analysis and simulation indicate that this optimized receiver algorithm and associated architecture can provide significant development and operational benefit for navigation users requiring high levels of integrity.
Alternative Sources of Energy in Shipping
Authors: Fernández Soto J.L. , Garay Seijo R. , Fraguela Formoso J.A. , Gregorio Iglesias G. , Carral Couce L.
Published: May 2010

In recent years, there have been strategy changes in international and European policies and procedures about the environment and sustainable development. The focus has been on the agents and activities that exhaust natural resources and harm the environment. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and shipping companies' international organisations are trying to reduce the polluting emissions and greenhouse gases generated by vessels. This article looks at various alternative energy sources that can be used to power vessels and their auxiliary equipment, as well as at their economic and environmental repercussions on the transport of goods by sea.
Discovering Knowledge from AIS Database for Application in VTS
Authors: Tsou Ming-Cheng
Published: May 2010

The widespread use of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) has had a significant impact on maritime technology. AIS enables the Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) not only to offer commonly known functions such as identification, tracking and monitoring of vessels, but also to provide rich real-time information that is useful for marine traffic investigation, statistical analysis and theoretical research. However, due to the rapid accumulation of AIS observation data, the VTS platform is often unable quickly and effectively to absorb and analyze it. Traditional observation and analysis methods are becoming less suitable for the modern AIS generation of VTS. In view of this, we applied the same data mining technique used for business intelligence discovery (in Customer Relation Management (CRM) business marketing) to the analysis of AIS observation data. This recasts the marine traffic problem as a business-marketing problem and integrates technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), database management systems, data warehousing and data mining to facilitate the discovery of hidden and valuable information in a huge amount of observation data. Consequently, this provides the marine traffic managers with a useful strategic planning resource.
Simplified Dead Reckoning on a Tortuous Path
Authors: Robertson David
Published: May 2010

An approximation procedure is described, which greatly simplifies dead reckoning on a tortuous path. The journey is divided into N segments of equal length, L. The overall direction is approximately the average direction of the segments. The net distance is approximately NL[1-var(α)/2], where var(α) is the variance (in radians squared) of bearings, αi, corresponding to the segments, and must be less than 0·7. Propagation of random errors is discussed. In a case study in sub-tropical rainforest the technique gives an estimated position whose associated circle of 68% confidence has a radius of about 10% of the net distance.
Adaptive community-based biodiversity conservation in Australia's tropical rainforests
Authors: HILL ROSEMARY , WILLIAMS KRISTEN J. , PERT PETINA L. , ROBINSON CATHERINE J. , DALE ALLAN P. , WESTCOTT DAVID A. , GRACE ROWENA A. , O'MALLEY TONY
Published: May 2010

In the globally significant Australian tropical rainforests, poor performance of community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) approaches mandated by national policy highlights the importance of the global search for better models. This paper reports on co-research to develop, apply and test the transferability and effectiveness of a new model and tools for CBNRM in biodiversity conservation. Adaptive co-management, designed with specific communities and natural resources, recognized as linked multi-scalar phenomena, is the new face of CBNRM. New tools used to achieve adaptive co-management include a collaborative focal species approach focused on the iconic southern cassowary, scenario analysis, science brokering partnerships, a collaborative habitat investment atlas and institutional brokering. An intermediate-complexity analytical framework was used to test the robustness of these tools and therefore likely transferability. The tools meet multiple relevant standards across three dimensions, namely empowering institutions and individuals, ongoing systematic scientific assessment and securing effective on-ground action. Evaluation of effectiveness using a performance criteria framework identified achievement of many social and environmental outcomes. Effective CBNRM requires multi-scale multi-actor collaborative design, not simply devolution to local-scale governance. Bridging/boundary organizations are important to facilitate the process. Further research into collaborative design of CBNRM structures, functions, tools and processes for biodiversity conservation is recommended.
Commentary: Who Should Take on the Responsibility of Decisionmaking?
Authors: Athanassoulis Nafsika
Published: May 2010

Should a 9-year-old, severely mentally disabled child undergo extensive operations to limit her growth, prevent development of sexual characteristics, and alter appearance, all in the interests of protecting her from other alleged harms and allowing her to be cared for by her family? I think we should resist engaging with this question, and I think the ethics committee was wrong to accept the burden of making the decision regardless of the outcome they arrived at.
When Any Answer Is a Good Answer: A Mandated-Choice Model for Advance Directives
Authors: APPEL JACOB
Published: May 2010

Approximately one in three American adults has executed a living will or healthcare declaration stating personal preferences regarding medical treatment in the event that he or she becomes terminally ill and unable to communicate. This figure stands in striking contrast to the 90% of Americans who, when asked, express specific wishes regarding their choice of care under such circumstances. Congress attempted to increase the number of Americans with advance directives when it passed the Patient Self Determination Act in 1990, billed at the time as the “Miranda Warning” of medicine, which requires hospitals and nursing homes receiving federal funds both to inform patients of their right to refuse life-sustaining care and to record all written directive in patients’ charts.
Quality of transgenic rabbit embryos with different EGFP gene constructs
Authors: Chrenek P. , Bauer M. , Makarevich A.V.
Published: May 2010

The aim of this study was to compare the quality of rabbit transgenic embryos obtained upon microinjection of gene constructs containing different promoters and green fluorescent proteins (CMVIE–EGFP, PGK–EGFP and CMVIE–hrGFP). Developmental rate, total cell number in hatching blastocyst stage, number of apoptotic cells, diameter of embryos, transgene integration and transgenic mosaicism were investigated.

The rate of rabbit embryos microinjected with the different gene constructs developed up to morula stage was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of intact (non-microinjected) rabbit embryos (66–74vs. 98%). The highest efficiency of transgene integration (15%) was found when the CMVIE–EGFP (DrdI) gene construct was used, however a significantly higher transgenic mosaicism (60%) was found in rabbit embryos using this gene. The lowest cell number was counted in rabbit transgenic embryos with CMVIE–rhGFP linearized by ScaI (115.0 ± 8.20), the highest cell number (134.0 ± 35.00) was detected in rabbit transgenic embryos carrying PGK–EGFP (Not I) gene. The highest number of apoptotic cells (2.6 ± 0.33) was recorded in rabbit transgenic embryos with the integrated CMVIE–EGFP (ClaI) transgene.

Based on these results a more suitable gene marker for rabbit transgenic embryos production and selection is the CMVIE–EGFP (ClaI) gene construct. Prior to using microinjected embryos (for embryo transfer, vitrification or ESC isolation) it is necessary to pre-select microinjected embryos with evident transgenic mosaicism.
Patterns and Predictors of Subjective Units of Distress in Anxious Youth
Authors: Benjamin Courtney L. , O'Neil Kelly A. , Crawley Sarah A. , Beidas Rinad S. , Coles Meredith , Kendall Philip C.
Published: May 2010

Background: Subjective Units of Distress Scale (SUDS) ratings are commonly used during exposure tasks in cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) for anxiety. Aims: The present study examined patterns and predictors of SUDS in a sample of anxiety-disordered youth. Method: Youth (N = 99) aged 7 to 14 (M = 10.4, SD = 1.8) were treated with CBT for social phobia (SP), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and/or separation anxiety disorder (SAD). Analyses were conducted using hierarchical linear modeling. Results: Child's peak SUDS and magnitude of change in SUDS significantly increased between sessions. Higher child self-reported pretreatment total Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) score predicted greater change in SUDS within the first exposure session. Primary GAD diagnosis predicted less increase in change in SUDS between sessions. Conclusions: Results suggest that higher pretreatment total MASC scores are associated with increased first exposure within-session habituation. Additionally, youth with a principal diagnosis of GAD experienced less between-session habituation, perhaps because they may have required more imaginal than in-vivo exposures.