bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STORIA NATURALE DELLE SCIMMIE 1600-1800
Authors: BARSANTI GIULIO
Published: April 2012

title SUMMARY /title The story narrated in this article opens with the first encounter with the gorilla (Battel, 1613), an animal which will only be encountered again and correctly described between 1847 and 1852. Seventeenth-century naturalistic literature concentrated on the chimpanzee (Tulp's satyre , 1641, in particular) and on the orang-utan, both considered as belonging to the same species. The connotations of that species favoured the classification of man within the same order of the monkeys (Linnaeus, 1535), and provoked an astonishing exchange of position within the classification itself: the orang-utan is classified as a second human species, and a population in Indonesia is considered the first species within apes (Linneaus, 1758). Eighteenth-century taxonomical research became increasingly more rigorous (starting with Buffon, 1766). Towards the end of the century, the result is achieved of distinguishing between the chimpanzee and the orang-utan (Blumenbach, 1779-1780). The Asiatic ape is however divided in two well-defined species, the small orang-utan described by Vosmaer and Camper (1778-1779), and the great one described by von Wurmb (1780), whereas the one really existing is placed among the baboons (Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 1795). Thus, the chimpanzee conquered the top of the scala naturae, and was eventually identified with man's ancestor (Lamarck, 1802). This article is based on writings and drawings by naturalists and medical writers, as well as on texts and images by travellers, philosophers, artists, and aims at reconstructing the complex network of interactions between observations, expectations, interpretations, ideologies, nomenclature, and classification.
IL FENG SHUIE LA BUSSOLA GEOMANTICA DELL'ISTITUTO E MUSEO DI STORIA DELLA SCIENZA DI FIRENZE
Authors: IANNACCONE ISAIA
Published: April 2012

title SUMMARY /title The Istituto e Museo di Storia della Scienza of Florence preserves some ancient Chinese scientific instruments, very interesting for historians. These instruments are: one compass for navigation, one geomantic compass, one compass with agricultural calendar, two sound spheres, two balances. Only the first of them has been studied, the others are not known yet. The present paper begins a close cooperation between the Institute of Florence and the Istituto Universitario Orientale of Naples (Group of Research on History of Sciences and Technologies of Eastern Asia, direct by A. Tamburello); here, I will attend to the second instrument over mentioned, the geomantic compass. The geomantic compasses are very important for the history of sciences because they bear witness to enormous complexity of the Chinese thought and, in the technical and scientific field, they represent the instrument for the ancient studies on feng shui. After a panoramic description of the divining system of feng shui, I give a deep explication of the geomantic compass preserved in Florence that seems particularly important because it presents some characters rarely used in this kind of instruments.
UN'EDIZIONE COMPUTERIZZATA DI ALCUNI MANOSCRITTI DI LAZZARO SPALLANZANI
Authors: CASTELLANI CARLO
Published: April 2012

title SUMMARY /title The author has transcribed the most important manuscripts containing the laboratory notebooks of biological interest of L. Spallanzani. Here we show their importance, content and structure by means of a series of tables which give the location, dates of writing and subject matter of the individual manuscripts (which are kept at the A. Panizzi library in Reggio Emilia). An edition of these manuscripts has been transferred to floppy disc and entrusted to the Florence History of Science Museum. In this article we present the criteria which were followed in the preparation of this edition which can be consulted, after complying with the necessary formalities, at the library itself.
GIUSEPPE TOALDO: LA LUNA, IL SAROS E LE METEORE *
Authors: CASATI STEFANO
Published: April 2012

 SUMMARY
The origin and evolution of scientific meteorology began and evolved with rhythms and procedures quite different from other scientific disciplines. This particularity is seen in the work of Giuseppe Toaldo, a padovan scientist of the eighteenth century. He dedicated himself to the study of the atmospheric phenomena and contributed, although in a paradoxical way, to the success of the modern meteorology.He created a network of observatories all over Italy and, in trying to verify the hypothesis of lunar influence on weather changes, he collected a large quantity of phenomenological and instrumental data. From his research program, which was mainly based on « lunaristic physics », many contradictions and peculiarities of meteorology of the eighteenth century emerge. Toaldo's attempt to demonstrate his theory, gave rise to a heated scientific debate in which the polemic with Paolo Frisi represents one of the most interesting moments.
PER UN INVENTARIO DEL CARTEGGIO DI ALBERTO FORTIS
Authors: MULJAČIĆ ŽARKO
Published: April 2012

 SUMMARY
Presented is Alberto Fortis' correspondence list (Padova, 9 november 1741 - Bologna, 21 october 1803), which includes, to date, 1338 letters written and received by Fortis.Many letters are here reported for the first time, and many data relative to letters already published have been revised and corrected.The large extent of the Fortis' interests, the number of his correspondents and the chronologic extension of his correspondence (1760-1803) make this collection of his letters a very useful tool for historians of the late eighteenth century.
LA FISIOLOGIA IN ITALIA FRA OTTOCENTO E NOVECENTO*
Authors: POGLIANO CLAUDIO
Published: April 2012

title SUMMARY /title After a brief outline of the impressive expansion of physiology which took place in Europe during the Nineteenth century, the essay focuses on the developments occurred in Italy following the national unification. The main schools and exponents are considered, while an important common feature is seen in their broad philosophical attitudes and in their strong social bent. Furthermore, the essay suggests that Italian physiologists tried hard to hinder the process of growing specialization of medical knowledge and practice by claiming a sort of holistic approach to the bodily functions.
PER UN ARCHIVIO DELLA CORRISPONDENZA DEGLI SCIENZIATI ITALIANI
Authors: LUIGI PEPE
Published: April 2012

title SUMMARY /title Two letters of Gianfrancesco Malfatti (1731-1807) are published. The first one is addressed to Cassini de Thury (1784), the second one to Vincenzo Monti (1806). These letters also regard other important figures of the eighteenth century in Ferrara and of the Napoleonic Period, such as the physician Giuseppe Antonio Testa (1756-1814) and Giovanni Battista Costabili Containi (1756-1841).
ACQUISTO DI DUE MANOSCRITTI MAGALOTTI DI PROVENIENZA GINORI-VENTURI
Authors: TRUCI ISABELLA
Published: April 2012

title SUMMARY /title In July 1990 Ministero dei Beni Culturali bought two important manuscripts of XVII century, belonging to Lorenzo Magalotti and given from the Ministero itself to the Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale in Florence, the most suitable seat to receive them. The first one is Scritture intorno al paragone degli occhiali di S.A.S., containing autographic letters by Magalotti, Campani, Falconieri, and others. The other one, entitled Miscellanea di cose fisiche non stampate dal Galileo ed altri, contains copied and autographic documents and letters.
ISTITUZIONI E FONTI
Authors: BIAGIOLI MARIO
Published: April 2012

 RIASSUNTO
Questa nota riproduce alcune lettere e documenti recentemente rinvenuti in archivi fiorentini e pisani contenenti informazioni sulla vita e carriera scientifica di Galileo.
UN NUOVO OROLOGIO NOTTURNO
Authors: MINIATI MARA
Published: April 2012

 SUMMARY
This paper presents and describes a Nocturnal signed by Girolamo della Volpaia. The Florentine Museo di Storia della Scienza acquired recently this instrument.
Sustainable Resource Management—New Legal Approaches Needed?
Authors: Rehbinder Eckard
Published: April 2012

Compared to climate protection and the promotion of renewable energy and energy efficiency, the saving of natural resources has been a somewhat neglected field of EU sustainability law. Based on the thesis that from an environmental policy perspective it is not resource scarcity as such but the environmental impacts associated with resource use that must be addressed, the article analyses the existing EU law and possibilities for strengthening resource efficiency and eco-efficiency in EU law. In particular, it discusses possible strategic concepts and instruments, focusing on activity-based strategies such as product life cycle thinking.
Cognitive, cultural, and institutional capital: An approximation to a local development perspective
Authors: Flotts de los Hoyos Marcela , Antunez Diaz Paula
Published: April 2012

This article presents the key findings of a case study of how intangible capital supports local development in an association of Mapuche women in Chile. Findings indicated that certain intangible capitals favor processes of local development, which identify interesting challenges for social work particularly in regards to collective intervention with indigenous groups.
Predictors of violence and delinquency among high risk youth and youth gang members in San Salvador, El Salvador
Authors: Olate René , Salas-Wright Christopher , Vaughn Michael G.
Published: April 2012

Low future orientation, low empathy, educational difficulty, school expulsion, delinquent peers, gang membership, and low social support were found to be significant risk factors for violence and delinquency among a sample ( N = 174) of high risk youth and youth gang members in San Salvador, El Salvador.
Use of Propensity Score Matching to Evaluate a National Smoking Cessation Media Campaign
Authors: Villanti Andrea C. , Cullen Jennifer , Vallone Donna M. , Stuart Elizabeth A.
Published: April 2012

Sustained mass media campaigns have been recommended to stem the tobacco epidemic in the United States. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to estimate the effect of awareness of a national smoking cessation media campaign (EX®) on quit attempts and cessation-related cognition. Participants were 4,067 smokers and recent quitters aged 18–49 in targeted U.S. media markets. Controlling for potential confounders through PSM and regression analysis, confirmed awareness of EX was not significantly associated with either outcome at 6-month follow-up. Matched analyses excluding 217 quitters resulted in a significant effect of EX on both outcomes.
Probiotics in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Morrow Lee E. , Gogineni Vijaya , Malesker Mark A.
Published: April 2012

Probiotics are living microorganisms that, when ingested in adequate amounts, provide benefits to the host. The benefits include either a shortened duration of infections or decreased susceptibility to pathogens. Proposed mechanisms of beneficial effects include improving gastrointestinal barrier function, modification of the gut flora by inducing host cell antimicrobial peptides and/or local release of probiotic antimicrobial factors, competition for epithelial adherence, and immunomodulation. With increasing intensive care unit (ICU) antibacterial resistance rates and fewer new antibiotics in the research pipeline, focus has been shifted to non‐antibiotic approaches for the prevention and treatment of nosocomial infections. Probiotics offer promise to ICU patients for the prevention of antibiotic‐associated diarrhea, Clostridium difficile infections, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and ventilator‐associated pneumonia. Our current understanding of probiotics is confounded by inconsistency in probiotic strains studied, optimal dosages, study durations, and suboptimal sample sizes. Although probiotics are generally safe in the critically ill, adverse event monitoring must be rigorous in these vulnerable patients. Delineation of clinical differences of various effective probiotic strains, their mechanisms of action, and optimal dosing regimens will better establish the role of probiotics in various disorders. However, probiotic research will likely be hindered in the future given a recent ruling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Speech Pathology Services to Children With Cancer and Nonmalignant Hematological Disorders
Authors: Taylor Olivia D. , Ware Robert S. , Weir Kelly A.
Published: April 2012

Children with cancer and nonmalignant hematological disorders may require speech pathology (SP) support; however, limited evidence is available describing prevalence and severity of swallowing/feeding and communication impairments in this population. A retrospective chart review of 70 children referred to SP at the newly formed Queensland Children’s Cancer Centre was conducted to describe the prevalence and severity of swallowing/feeding and communication dysfunction, and the association between impairment, oncology and hematology diagnosis, and service utilization (time and occasions of service). Swallowing/feeding disorders were the most commonly observed impairments at initial assessment (58.6%). Children with central nervous system tumors ( P = .03) and nonmalignant hematological disorder ( P = .03) had significantly higher rates of feeding impairment than other oncology and hematology diagnostic groups. Children with central nervous system tumors had the highest rates of oral phase ( P = .01) and pharyngeal phase ( P = .01) dysphagia (swallowing disorder). No significant difference was found between diagnostic groups for intensity of SP service delivery. Prospective research is required to examine prevalence and severity of disorders, and service utilization in a more established clinic, and to investigate interactions between cancer treatment and swallowing/feeding and communication dysfunction.
Exploring Boundaries in Pediatric Oncology Nursing
Authors: Hartlage Heather N.
Published: April 2012

Professional patient boundaries are an issue that is relevant across all realms of nursing practice. By nature, nurses are caring individuals. Therapeutic relationships are integral to the care of patients. When caring for patients on a daily basis for extended periods of time, it can be difficult for nurses to know when their care goes beyond professional boundaries. Providing care to patients in a pediatric oncology situation substantially increases this ethical dilemma. Length of stay, degree of crisis, embedded relationships, and emotional turmoil, along with the nurturing connection between adult and child, are among the reasons that boundaries are often blurred within the context of this sensitive patient population. This article explores the differences between nursing care, boundary crossings, and boundary violations. Strategies to evaluate nursing actions for appropriateness, along with reflection and development of individual boundaries, are offered. The information presented is relevant not only to nursing care of pediatric patients who are facing chronic or life-threatening conditions but also to each nurse–client relationship established in nursing practice.
Epidemiological and clinical features of human rabies cases in Bali 2008-2010
Authors: Susilawathi Ni M , Darwinata Agus E , Dwija Ida BNP , Budayanti Nyoman S , Wirasandhi Gusti AK , Subrata Ketut , Susilarini Ni K , Sudewi Raka AA , Wignall Frank S , Mahardika Gusti NK
Published: April 2012

Background

Previously thought to be rabies free, Bali experienced an outbreak of animal and human rabies cases in November 2008. We describe the epidemiological and clinical data of human rabies cases occurring in the first two years of the outbreak.

Methods

We analysed the patient records of all rabies cases from the Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar, and district hospitals in Buleleng and Tabanan. A conventional reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction was developed to detect the rabies virus genome in saliva, corneal swabs, and ante- and post-mortem cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Results

There were 104 human rabies cases in Bali during November 2008-November 2010. Patients' mean age was 36.6 years (range 3-84 years; SD 20.7), most were male (56.7%), and originated from rural districts. Almost all (92%) cases had a history of dog bite. Only 5.8% had their wounds treated and received an anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) after the bite incident. No patients received rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). The estimated time from dog bite to the onset of signs and symptoms was 110.4 days (range 12-720 days; SD 118.2). The mean length of medical care until death was 21.8 hours (range 1-220 hours; SD 32.6). Less than 50% of patients had prodromal symptoms. The most frequent prodromal symptom was pain or paraesthesia at the bite site (37.6%). The two most common central nervous system infection signs were agitation (89.2%) and confusion (83.3%). Signs of autonomic nervous system dysfunction included hydrophobia (93.1%), hypersalivation (88.2%), and dyspnea (74.4%). On admission, 22 of 102 patients (21.6%) showed paralytic manifestations, while the rest (78.4%) showed furious rabies manifestations. The case-fatality rate was 100%. The rabies virus genome was detected in 50 of 101 patients (49.5%) with the highest detection rate from post-mortem CSF samples.

Conclusions

Rabies is a major public health problem in Bali. Human fatalities occur because of a lack of knowledge regarding rabies risk, the poor management of dog bites, and the limited availability of RIG. Increasing public awareness of dog bite management, increasing the availability of ARV and RIG, and implementing an island-wide dog vaccination campaign will help prevent human rabies cases.
Semi-automatic analysis of standard uptake values in serial PET/CT studies in patients with lung cancer and lymphoma
Authors: Ly John , Garpered Sabine , Höglund Peter , Jönsson Eskil , Valind Sven , Edenbrandt Lars , Wollmer Per
Published: April 2012

Background

Changes in maximum standardised uptake values (SUVmax) between serial PET/CT studies are used to determine disease progression or regression in oncologic patients. To measure these changes manually can be time consuming in a clinical routine. A semi-automatic method for calculation of SUVmax in serial PET/CT studies was developed and compared to a conventional manual method. The semi-automatic method first aligns the serial PET/CT studies based on the CT images. Thereafter, the reader selects an abnormal lesion in one of the PET studies. After this manual step, the program automatically detects the corresponding lesion in the other PET study, segments the two lesions and calculates the SUVmax in both studies as well as the difference between the SUVmax values. The results of the semi-automatic analysis were compared to that of a manual SUVmax analysis using a Philips PET/CT workstation. Three readers did the SUVmax readings in both methods. Sixteen patients with lung cancer or lymphoma who had undergone two PET/CT studies were included. There were a total of 26 lesions.

Results

Linear regression analysis of changes in SUVmax show that intercepts and slopes are close to the line of identity for all readers (reader 1: intercept = 1.02, R2 = 0.96; reader 2: intercept = 0.97, R2 = 0.98; reader 3: intercept = 0.99, R2 = 0.98). Manual and semi-automatic method agreed in all cases whether SUVmax had increased or decreased between the serial studies. The average time to measure SUVmax changes in two serial PET/CT examinations was four to five times longer for the manual method compared to the semi-automatic method for all readers (reader 1: 53.7 vs. 10.5 s; reader 2: 27.3 vs. 6.9 s; reader 3: 47.5 vs. 9.5 s; p < 0.001 for all).

Conclusions

Good agreement was shown in assessment of SUVmax changes between manual and semi-automatic method. The semi-automatic analysis was four to five times faster to perform than the manual analysis. These findings show the feasibility of using semi-automatic methods for calculation of SUVmax in clinical routine and encourage further development of programs using this type of methods.
Impact of perinatal different intrauterine environments on child growth and development in the first six months of life - IVAPSA birth cohort: rationale, design, and methods
Authors: Bernardi Juliana Rombaldi , Ferreira Charles Francisco , Nunes Marina , da Silva Clécio Homrich , Bosa Vera Lúcia , Silveira Patrícia Pelufo , Goldani Marcelo Zubaran
Published: April 2012

Background

In the last twenty years, retrospective studies have shown that perinatal events may impact the individual health in the medium and long term. However, only a few prospective studies were designed to address this phenomenon. This study aims to describe the design and methods of the Impact of Perinatal Environmental Variations in the First Six Months of Life - the IVAPSA Birth Cohort.

Method/Design

This is a clinical study and involves the recruitment of a birth cohort from hospitals in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Mothers from different clinical backgrounds (hypertensive, diabetics, smokers, having an intrauterine growth restricted child for idiopathic reasons, and controls) will be invited to join the study twenty-four hours after the birth of their child. Data on economic, social, and maternal health care, feeding practices, anthropometric measures, physical activity, and neuropsychological evaluation will be obtained in interviews at postpartum, 7 and 15 days, 1, 3 and 6 months of life.

Discussion

To our knowledge, this is the first thematic cohort focused on the effects of intrauterine growth restriction to prospectively enroll mothers from different clinical backgrounds. The IVAPSA Birth Cohort is a promising research platform that can contribute to the knowledge on the relationship between perinatal events and their consequences on the children's early life.
A prospective cohort study to evaluate peridomestic infection as a determinant of dengue transmission: Protocol
Authors: Martínez-Vega Ruth Aralí , Danis-Lozano Rogelio , Velasco-Hernández Jorge , Díaz-Quijano Fredi Alexander , González-Fernández Mariana , Santos René , Román Susana , Argáez-Sosa Jorge , Nakamura Miguel , Ramos-Castañeda José
Published: April 2012

Background

Vector control programs, which have focused mainly on the patient house and peridomestic areas around dengue cases, have not produced the expected impact on transmission. This project will evaluate the assumption that the endemic/epidemic transmission of dengue begins around peridomestic vicinities of the primary cases. Its objective is to assess the relationship between symptomatic dengue case exposure and peridomestic infection incidence.

Methods/Design

A prospective cohort study will be conducted (in Tepalcingo and Axochiapan, in the state of Morelos, Mexico), using the state surveillance system for the detection of incident cases. Paired blood specimens will be collected from both the individuals who live with the incident cases and a sample of subjects residing within a 25-meter radius of such cases (exposed cohort), in order to measure dengue-specific antibodies. Other subjects will be selected from areas which have not presented any incident cases within 200 meters, during the two months preceding the sampling (non-exposed cohort). Symptomatic/asymptomatic incident infection will be considered as the dependent variable, exposure to confirmed dengue cases, as the principal variable, and the socio-demographic, environmental and socio-cultural conditions of the subjects, as additional explanatory variables.

Discussion

Results indicating a high infection rate among the exposed subjects would justify the application of peridomestic control measures and call for an evaluation of alternate causes for insufficient program impact. On the other hand, a low incidence of peridomestic-infected subjects would support the hypothesis that infection occurs outside the domicile, and would thus explain why the vector control measures applied in the past have exerted such a limited impact on cases incidence rates. The results of the present study may therefore serve to reassess site selection for interventions of this type.
Successful staged hip replacement in septic hip osteoarthritis in osteopetrosis: a case report
Authors: Manzi Giovanni , Romanò Delia , Moneghini Laura , Romanò Carlo L
Published: April 2012

Background

Osteopetrosis is a rare, inherited, bone disorder, characterized by osteosclerosis, obliteration of the medullary cavity and calcified cartilage. The autosomal dominant form is compatible with a normal life span, although fractures often result from minimal trauma, due to the pathologic nature of bone. Osteomyelitis is common in patients with osteopetrosis because of a reduced resistance to infection, attributed to the lack of marrow vascularity and impairment of white cell function. Only one case of osteomyelitis of the proximal third of the femur has been previously reported, treated with several repeated debridements and finally with femoral head resection. Here we present for the first time a case of a staged implant of a cementless total hip prosthesis for the treatment of a septic hip in femoral neck nonunion in osteopetrosis.

Case presentation

A 36-years-old woman, affected by autosomal dominant osteopetrosis was referred to our department because of a septic hip arthritis associated with femoral neck septic non-union, with draining fistulas. The infection occurred early after a plate osteosynthesis for a closed perthrocanteric fracture of the femur and persisted in spite of osteosynthesis removal, surgical debridement and external fixation. In our hospital the patient underwent accurate debridement, femoral head and greater trochanter resection, preparation of the diaphyseal intramedullary canal and implant of an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer. The spacer was exchanged after one month, due to infection recurrence and four months later, a cementless total hip arthroplasty was implanted, with no clinical and laboratory signs of infection recurrence at two years follow-up.

Conclusions

In case of hip septic arthritis and proximal femur septic non-union, femoral head resection may not be the only option available and staged total hip arthroplasty can be considered.
Transmissibility of caprine scrapie in ovine transgenic mice
Authors: O’Rourke Katherine I , Schneider David A , Spraker Terry R , Dassanayake Rohana P , Highland Margaret A , Zhuang Dongyue , Truscott Thomas C
Published: April 2012

Background

The United States control program for classical ovine scrapie is based in part on the finding that infection is typically spread through exposure to shed placentas from infected ewes. Transmission from goats to sheep is less well described. A suitable rodent model for examining the effect of caprine scrapie isolates in the ovine host will be useful in the ovine scrapie eradication effort. In this study, we describe the incubation time, brain lesion profile, glycoform pattern and PrPSc distribution patterns in a well characterized transgenic mouse line (Tg338) expressing the ovine VRQ prion allele, following inoculation with brain from scrapie infected goats.

Results

First passage incubation times of caprine tissue in Tg338 ovinized mice varied widely but second passage intervals were shorter and consistent. Vacuolation profiles, glycoform patterns and paraffin-embedded tissue blots from terminally ill second passage mice derived from sheep or goat inocula were similar. Proteinase K digestion products of murine tissue were slightly smaller than the original ruminant inocula, a finding consistent with passage of several ovine strains in previous reports.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that Tg338 mice propagate prions of caprine origin and provide a suitable baseline for examination of samples identified in the expanded US caprine scrapie surveillance program.
Over-expression of AtPAP2 in Camelina sativa leads to faster plant growth and higher seed yield
Authors: Zhang Youjun , Yu Laura , Yung Ka-Fu , Leung Dennis YC , Sun Feng , Lim Boon L
Published: April 2012

Background

Lipids extracted from seeds of Camelina sativa have been successfully used as a reliable source of aviation biofuels. This biofuel is environmentally friendly because the drought resistance, frost tolerance and low fertilizer requirement of Camelina sativa allow it to grow on marginal lands. Improving the species growth and seed yield by genetic engineering is therefore a target for the biofuels industry. In Arabidopsis, overexpression of purple acid phosphatase 2 encoded by Arabidopsis (AtPAP2) promotes plant growth by modulating carbon metabolism. Overexpression lines bolt earlier and produce 50% more seeds per plant than wild type. In this study, we explored the effects of overexpressing AtPAP2 in Camelina sativa.

Results

Under controlled environmental conditions, overexpression of AtPAP2 in Camelina sativa resulted in longer hypocotyls, earlier flowering, faster growth rate, higher photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance, increased seed yield and seed size in comparison with the wild-type line and null-lines. Similar to transgenic Arabidopsis, activity of sucrose phosphate synthase in leaves of transgenic Camelina was also significantly up-regulated. Sucrose produced in photosynthetic tissues supplies the building blocks for cellulose, starch and lipids for growth and fuel for anabolic metabolism. Changes in carbon flow and sink/source activities in transgenic lines may affect floral, architectural, and reproductive traits of plants.

Conclusions

Lipids extracted from the seeds of Camelina sativa have been used as a major constituent of aviation biofuels. The improved growth rate and seed yield of transgenic Camelina under controlled environmental conditions have the potential to boost oil yield on an area basis in field conditions and thus make Camelina-based biofuels more environmentally friendly and economically attractive.
Interpreting in psychiatry: a clinician's perspective. Commentary on … The need for measurable standards in mental health interpreting
Authors: MacSuibhne Seamus
Published: April 2012

Cambridgeet aldescribe the neglect into which consideration of the role of the interpreter in the encounter between patient and mental health professional has fallen. Much of what little literature exists on the topic is concerned with adverse events related to interpreting, rather than the interpreter's roleper se. Cambridgeet alare to be commended for a paper which may help bridge the gap between theory and practice of interpretation on the one side and psychiatry on the other.
Learning in a Medium-Scale DSGE Model with Expectations Based on Small Forecasting Models
Authors: Slobodyan Sergey , Wouters Raf
Published: April 2012

This paper evaluates the empirical performance of a medium-scale DSGE model with agents forming expectations using small forecasting models updated by the Kalman filter. The adaptive learning model fits the data better than the rational expectations (RE) model. Beliefs about the inflation persistence explain the observed decline in the mean and the volatility of inflation as well as Phillips curve flattening. Learning about inflation results in lower estimates for the persistence of the exogenous shocks that drive price and wage dynamics in the RE version of the model. Expectations based on small forecasting models are closely related to the survey evidence on inflation expectations. (JEL C53, D83, D84, E13, E17, E31)
The Health Economics of Ankle Fracture Fixation
Authors: Kheir E , Charopoulos I , Dimitriou R , Ghoz A , Dahabreh Z , Giannoudis PV
Published: April 2012

In the current climate of modernisation of the NHS, attention has been given to improving the efficiency and efficacy of the service provided across the different disciplines without an overspend of the allocated budget. Implementation of the cost-saving plans is also encouraged owing to the ever-increasing financial burden on the NHS, obviously without compromising patient safety and the standard of care provided. In this context, the cost of operative procedures has been given a lot of attention.
Effect of Lump Partitioning on the Accuracy of a Commercial Vacuum Gas Oil Hydrocracking Model
Authors: Sadighi Sepehr , Ahmad Arshad , Masoudian Seyed Kamal
Published: April 2012

In an industrial hydrocracking plant, except to the reactor, the separation section can affect the accuracy of the developed mathematical model. In this study, two combined-bed six and seven-lump kinetic models for the hydrocracking of vacuum gas oil in a real refinery are developed and their accuracies for the prediction of product yields are compared. In the six-lump model, the engaged components are selected according to the actual products of the plant, but the seven-lump one is included of lumps which are partitioned based on the specified initial and final boiling points.For both approaches, a complete kinetic network with the catalyst-decay functions is considered. It is found that over a 17-month period of operation from the start of run, the average absolute deviation (AAD%) of the six-lump and the seven-lump models for the yield prediction are 20.51% and 5.21%, respectively for all products. Additionally, the sum of residuals for the seven-lump model has been appreciably decreased in comparison to the six-lump one. Therefore, it is confirmed that partitioning of the products to the lumps with specific boiling points can acceptably decrease the deviation of the prediction. So it is conclusive that including the operation of the separation section in commercial models can effectively increase the accuracy of the model and smooth the prediction error.
Neonatal Seizures
Authors: Olson Donald M.
Published: April 2012

Neonatal seizures are a common problem encountered or suspected by those caring for neonates. The estimated incidence of newborns affected is between 0.1% to 0.5%. Because several causes of seizures in newborns require rapid recognition and treatment to prevent further injury, early recognition is important. Seizures in newborns frequently have more subtle clinical manifestations than in older children. Electroencephalographic seizures without clinical signs present additional diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This article reviews the various seizure types, etiologies, diagnostic modalities, and treatment options for neonates with seizures and seizure-like episodes.
A Simple and Green Method for Synthesis of Ag and Au Nanoparticles using Biopolymers and Sugars as Reducing Agent
Authors: Ayala Germán , Vercik Luci Cristina de Oliveira , Menezes Thiago Antônio Villa , Vercik Andrés
Published: April 2012

In this work we study the effect of different reducing agent (chitosan, starch and sugars) on to synthesis of silver (AgNPs) and gold (AuNPs) nanoparticles by reduction of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and chloroauric acid (HAuCl4), respectively. The plasmon absorption peak between 419 - 434 nm, measured using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer indicates the existence of AgNPs, this reaction was favored by the increase of temperature with optimal results at 90°C. Synthesis of AuNPs was only obtained using chitosan as reducing agent, the use of solutions of starch and sugars allows the reduction of the gold salt present in the chloroauric acid, however the low pH of the solutions creates thermodynamic instabilities for the AuNP synthesis, due to low repulsive force for colloid stability.
Combinatorial Screening of Polymer/Fullerene Blends for Solar Cells by Inkjet Printing
Authors: Teichler Anke , Perelaer Jolke , Schubert Ulrich S.
Published: April 2012

Inkjet printing is a highly material-efficient solution deposition technique that enables the preparation of thin-film libraries using little amounts of materials. As a reproducible and precise patterning technique inkjet printing can be integrated into a combinatorial screening workflow that allowed the systematic characterization of thin-film properties of newly developed materials as well as the methodical investigation of preparation parameter that influence the performance of the inkjet printed layers.

This contribution provides a demonstration of a combinatorial screening workflow that utilizes inkjet printing to evaluate structure-property relationships of polymer/fullerene blends for the application in organic photovoltaics. Using this approach it is shown that optimized blend compositions as well as printing conditions lead to improved performances of organic solar cell devices.
EXAMINING THE DISCRIMINATIVE AND STRENGTHENING EFFECTS OF REINFORCERS IN CONCURRENT SCHEDULES
Authors: Boutros Nathalie , Elliffe Douglas , Davison Michael
Published: April 2012

Reinforcers may increase operant responding via a response‐strengthening mechanism whereby the probability of the preceding response increases, or via some discriminative process whereby the response more likely to provide subsequent reinforcement becomes, itself, more likely. We tested these two accounts. Six pigeons responded for food reinforcers in a two‐alternative switching‐key concurrent schedule. Within a session, equal numbers of reinforcers were arranged for responses to each alternative. Those reinforcers strictly alternated between the two alternatives in half the conditions, and were randomly allocated to the alternatives in half the conditions. We also varied, across conditions, the alternative that became available immediately after a reinforcer. Preference after a single reinforcer always favored the immediately available alternative, regardless of the local probability of a reinforcer on that alternative (0 or 1 in the strictly alternating conditions, .5 in the random conditions). Choice then reflected the local reinforcer probabilities, suggesting some discriminative properties of reinforcement. At a more extended level, successive same‐alternative reinforcers from an alternative systematically shifted preference towards that alternative, regardless of which alternative was available immediately after a reinforcer. There was no similar shift when successive reinforcers came from alternating sources. These more temporally extended results may suggest a strengthening function of reinforcement, or an enhanced ability to respond appropriately to “win—stay” contingencies over “win—shift” contingencies.
AN EVALUATION OF PERSISTENCE OF TREATMENT EFFECTS DURING LONG‐TERM TREATMENT OF DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR
Authors: Wacker David P. , Harding Jay W. , Berg Wendy K. , Lee John F. , Schieltz Kelly M. , Padilla Yaniz C. , Nevin John A. , Shahan Timothy A.
Published: April 2012

Eight young children who displayed destructive behavior maintained, at least in part, by negative reinforcement received long‐term functional communication training (FCT). During FCT, the children completed a portion of a task and then touched a communication card attached to a microswitch to obtain brief breaks. Prior to and intermittently throughout FCT, extinction probes were conducted within a withdrawal design in which task completion, manding, and destructive behavior were placed on extinction to evaluate the relative persistence of appropriate and destructive behavior over the course of treatment. FCT continued until appropriate behavior persisted and destructive behavior failed to recur at baseline levels during extinction probes. The completion of FCT was followed by four challenges to the persistence of treatment effects conducted within mixed‐ or multiple‐schedule designs: (a) extended extinction sessions (from 5 to 15 min), (b) introduction of a novel task, (c) removal of the microswitch and communication card, and (d) a mixed schedule of reinforcement in which both appropriate and destructive behavior produced reinforcement. The results showed that although FCT often resulted in quick reductions in destructive behavior and increases in appropriate behavior, destructive behavior often recurred during the extinction probes conducted during the initial treatment. When the effects of treatment persisted during the extinction probes, the remaining challenges to treatment effects resulted in only mild to moderate disruptions in behavior. These results are consistent with the quantitative predictions of behavioral momentum theory and may provide an alternative definition of maintenance as constituting behavioral persistence.
SWITCH HITTING IN BASEBALL: APPARENT RULE‐FOLLOWING, NOT MATCHING
Authors: Poling Alan , Weeden Marc A. , Redner Ryan , Foster T. Mary
Published: April 2012

Many studies, including some dealing with shot selection in basketball and play selection in football, demonstrate that the generalized matching equation provides a good description of the allocation of time and effort to alternative responses as a function of the consequences of those alternatives. We examined whether it did so with respect to left‐ and right‐handed at bats (alternative responses) and left‐and right‐handed total bases earned, runs batted in, and home runs (three consequences) for the outstanding baseball switch‐hitters Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray, and Pete Rose. With all hitters, undermatching, suggesting insensitivity to the consequences of behavior (reinforcement), was evident and there was substantial bias towards left‐handed at bats. These players apparently chose handedness based on the rule “bat opposite the pitcher,” not on differential consequences obtained in major league games. The present findings are significant in representing a counter‐instance of demonstrations of a matching relationship in sports in particular and in human behavior in general and in calling attention to the need for further study of the variables that affect choice.
Scale Inhibition using Nano-silica Particles
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Chishti Sadaf S. , Rai Abhishek , Patwardhan Samarth D.
Published: April 2012

Scale deposition in producing wellbores is a serious problem in the industry. The problem gets worse, when the scale is caused due to barium and strontium salts. These salts are difficult to clean as they are not easily soluble in any kinds of solution or chelating agents. In case of offshore operation, the scaling phenomenon is inevitable, as sea water injection is done.

Formation of scales changes the surface roughness of the production tubing, thereby increasing the frictional pressure drop leading to a decreased production rate. Further deposition clogs the production tubing, creating hindrances for lowering tools into lower sections of the production string. In worst cases tubing replacement needs to be done, which is a capital intensive activity.

Creating a super hydrophobic surface with multi-scale nano structures on the inside of the production tubing can greatly reduce the chances of scale deposition. This surface is created on epoxy paint surfaces using a feasible dip coating process. Microstructures are created on this surface using sandblast. Then nano structures are introduced on to the micro surface by anchoring 50–100 micro-meter SiO2 particles and finally completed by dip coating with nano SiO2/epoxy adhesive solution. The hydrophobicity is further enhanced by another dip coating of a low surface energy polymer, aminopropyl. The super hydrophobic surface shows a contact angle of 167.8 degrees (Cui, Yin, Wang et al. 2009) for water, and has high stability in basic and common organic solvents.

The ions are carried in the water present in the crude. By increasing the contact angle for water, the chances of deposition of the ions that pose scaling can be reduced. This method may provide a long term solution for scale deposition especially in offshore fields where scaling incurs huge losses.
The Revolution of Sustainable Service Quality
Authors: Phillips Randolph , Schmidt Scott
Published: April 2012

Over the past two years, Baker Hughes has undergone an extensive reorganization from 7 independent P&L divisions to 9 cross-product line regional P&L centers. During the second year of this transformation, the acquisition of BJ Services was announced, thus adding to the services and products portfolio. Finally, the events in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 have created a new level of standards and oversight from government regulators, third-party industrial groups and customers. In many ways, the requirements for Service Quality and HS&E are now converging for certain "Products & Services". In this presentation, we will cover the consolidation of 7+ divisional Quality systems into one operating and Quality Management System (QMS) and the change management process still underway to drive standardized and consistent execution of products and services worldwide. This includes consolidation of "best practice" processes/procedures over the product lifecycle including design, manufacturing, and operations.

Throughout this transformation, our goal has been to be compliant with all required, existing and new, regulatory, third-party (e.g., ISO, API) and customer-specific requirements. The Baker Hughes Operating System (BHOS) will enable flawless execution to help reduce our customers’ operating costs as well as drive internal productivity. As we enter the third year of our transformation, the benefits of the reorganization are now becoming measurable to Baker Hughes and our customers. This presentation will conclude with a summary of the progress to date, the ongoing changes to compliance standards and oversight for products and services due to the Gulf of Mexico, the growing synergies between Reliability, Quality and HS&E.
Applying Life Cycle Assessment to Evaluate the Sustainability of Completion Fluids
Authors: Grosse-Sommer Anahi , Sava Xavier , Gilbert Ylva
Published: April 2012

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of chemicals is gaining ground as a practical tool for comparing the overall sustainability of different chemical solutions, but is rarely used for comparing well construction fluid choices. A discussion of the relative merits and insights to be gained from combining LCA and total cost of ownership for identification of the most sustainable well construction fluid solution is presented, using high-density completion brines as case examples. The comparison is made using the Eco-Efficiency Analysis tool, which has a proven track-record from over 450 studies since the 1990's as a means of determining the relative costs and environmental impacts of different industrial chemical solutions. This approach to LCA has not been previously used in the upstream oil and gas industry, but could easily be extended to assess different chemical solutions and products in the future.

The methodology and the merits of the Eco-Efficiency tool in assessing the sustainability of well construction fluid are discussed in relation to a case study comparing two families of high-density completion fluids, viz. bromide and formate brines. The analysis includes emissions, material and energy use, toxicity and risk potentials as well as the overall operational costs of running the fluids. The results from the case study and four different scenarios were subjected to an independent scientific review and were discussed with two major operators. The results show clear differences between the sustainability of the two product families, particularly taking into account the costs of the entire operation. The use of the results for supporting management decisions is discussed and it is argued that using overall LCA and cost comparisons data for decisions can improve well construction economics as well as reducing potential environmental or human health impacts.
Control Loop Performance Management to Improve Business Objectives
Authors: Liu Zhenhai , Al Ali Jasim Josham , Abbas Ahmed
Published: April 2012

Production process in LNG plants are often subject to frequent disturbances, typically due to variations in feed conditions, changes in the air ambient and cooling water temperature, outage and deterioration of equipment performance. Therefore, it has been a very challenging task to maintain sound, accurate and stable control performance over a wide range of conditions to ensure all plant units operate reliably and at maximum efficiency, and production losses due to unplanned shutdowns are minimised.

This paper describes how the control loop performance management is implemented at ADGAS LNG plants to continuously monitor and improve control loop performance which has resulted in a significant reduction of flaring and lost production.