bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solid organ transplantation in survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation: a single institution case series and literature review
Authors: Beitinjaneh Amer , Burns Linda J. , Majhail Navneet S.
Published: November 2009

Beitinjaneh A, Burns LJ, Majhail NS. Solid organ transplantation in survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation: a single institution case series and literature review. Clin Transplant 2010: 24: E94–E102. © 2009 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

Abstract: For selected hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) survivors with severe organ dysfunction, solid organ transplantation (SOT) may offer the best chance for better quality of life and extended survival. However, SOT following HCT has not been well described. We report our institutional experience of SOT in 12 HCT recipients and present a review of the published literature of this procedure in HCT survivors. Our experience with transplanted organs included kidney (n = 7), lung (n = 3), liver (n = 2) and heart (n = 1). Age at HCT ranged from 2 to 56 yr. Median time between HCT and SOT was 7.9 yr (range 1.2–15.9 yr). Among the 11 patients with post‐SOT follow‐up information, 10 had normal function of the transplanted solid organ at the time of last contact or death. Infections and secondary malignancy were the most common complications. Four other institutional experiences with kidney transplant, 21 case reports of liver transplant, 11 case reports of lung transplant and one cardiac transplant are also summarized. SOT is feasible for selected HCT survivors with organ failure and may be associated with favorable long‐term survival and graft function. More research is needed to further delineate the subset of survivors who will benefit the most from SOT with the least risk of complications.
DNAJB13 is a Radial Spoke Protein of Mouse ‘9+2’ Axoneme
Authors: Guan J , Ekwurtzel E , Kvist U , Hultenby K , Yuan L
Published: November 2009

Contents

It has been shown that DNAJB13, a type II heat shock protein 40, is highly expressed in the testis and is an axonemal component of mouse mature spermatozoa. By multi‐tissue reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we found that Dnajb13 gene was expressed not only in the testis but also in several other ciliated cell‐containing tissues like brain, lung and oviduct. Immunohistochemistry on mouse trachea and oviduct sections shown that DNAJB13 was present in the motile cilia of those tissues. To define further its localization in the axoneme, immunoelectron microscopy of mouse sperm flagella was performed and shown that DNAJB13 was localized to radial spokes of the axoneme. Taken together, our data indicate that DNAJB13 is a radial spoke protein of the mouse ‘9+2’ axoneme.
Protective ventilation to reduce inflammatory injury from one lung ventilation in a piglet model
Authors: THEROUX MARY C. , FISHER ALICIA O. , HORNER LIANA M. , RODRIGUEZ MARIA E. , COSTARINO ANDREW T. , MILLER THOMAS L. , SHAFFER THOMAS H.
Published: November 2009

Objectives:  To test the hypothesis that protective ventilation strategy (PVS) as defined by the use of low stretch ventilation (tidal volume of 5 ml·kg−1 and employing 5 cm of positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) during one lung ventilation (OLV) in piglets would result in reduced injury compared to a control group of piglets who received the conventional ventilation (tidal volume of 10 ml·kg−1 and no PEEP).

Background:  PVS has been found to be beneficial in adults to minimize injury from OLV. We designed the current study to test the beneficial effects of PVS in a piglet model of OLV.

Methods:  Ten piglets each were assigned to either ‘Control’ group (tidal volume of 10 ml·kg−1 and no PEEP) or ‘PVS’ group (tidal volume of 5 ml·kg−1 during the OLV phase and PEEP of 5 cm of H2O throughout the study). Experiment consisted of 30 min of baseline ventilation, 3 h of OLV, and again 30 min of bilateral ventilation. Respiratory parameters and proinflammatory markers were measured as outcome.

Results:  There was no difference in PaO2 between groups. PaCO2 (P < 0.01) and ventilatory rate (P < 0.01) were higher at 1.5 h OLV and at the end point in the PVS group. Peak inflating pressure (PIP) and pulmonary resistance were higher (P < 0.05) in the control group at 1.5 h OLV. tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (P < 0.04) and IL‐8 were less (P < 0.001) in the plasma from the PVS group, while IL‐6 and IL‐8 were less (P < 0.04) in the lung tissue from ventilated lungs in the PVS group.

Conclusions:  Based on this model, PVS decreases inflammatory injury both systemically and in the lung tissue with no adverse effect on oxygenation, ventilation, or lung function.
The effect of rosiglitazone on insulin sensitivity and mid‐thigh low‐density muscle in patients with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Nam J. S. , Nam J. Y. , Yoo J. S. , Cho M. , Park J. S. , Ahn C. W. , Cha B. S. , Lee E. J. , Lim S. K. , Kim K. R. , Lee H. C.
Published: November 2009

Diabet. Med. 27, 30–36 (2010)

Aims  We examined the effect of rosiglitazone on insulin sensitivity, abdominal fat and mid‐thigh intramuscular fat distribution, and plasma concentrations of adipocytokines in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods  Rosiglitazone was administered at a daily dose of 4 mg to 42 Type 2 diabetes patients [age 32–70 years, body mass index (BMI) 17.5–32.6 kg/m2, 15 women, 27 men] for 12 weeks. Various anthropometric and metabolic profiles, plasma adiponectin, leptin, and resistin levels were measured, and insulin resistance was calculated from the short insulin tolerance test. Body fat composition was assessed by computed tomography.

Results  Twelve weeks’ rosiglitazone treatment resulted in improved insulin resistance despite increases in body weight and BMI. There was a significant decrease in abdominal visceral adipose tissue area (145 ± 65.6 vs. 129 ± 73.1 cm2, P = 0.049). Mid‐thigh low‐density muscle area (TLDMA) increased from 23 ± 9.6 to 26 ± 8.2 cm2 (P = 0.009). There were significant changes in plasma adipocytokines, but they were not significantly correlated with changes in insulin resistance.

Conclusions  Rosiglitazone treatment resulted in an improvement of insulin responsiveness in Type 2 diabetic subjects, which was associated with the redistribution of visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue, an increase in TLDMA, and changes in serum adipocytokine levels. Further studies are needed to elucidate the insulin sensitizing mechanism of rosiglitazone on peripheral skeletal muscles.
Potentiation by WIN 55,212‐2 of GABA‐activated currents in rat trigeminal ganglion neurones
Authors: Li Zhi‐Wang , Zhang Jian , Ouyang Chang‐han , Li Chao‐Ying , Zhao Feng‐Bo , Liu Yu‐Wei , Ai Yong‐Xun , Hu Wang‐Ping
Published: November 2009

Background and purpose: Although both natural and synthetic cannabinoid compounds have been shown to exert an antinociceptive effect on acute and persistent pain, the anatomical locus of the target of cannabinoid‐induced analgesia has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of the cannabinoid agonist WIN 55,212‐2 on GABA‐activated currents (IGABA) in rat primary sensory neurones.

Experimental approach: In the present study, experiments were performed on neurones freshly isolated from rat trigeminal ganglion (TG) by using whole‐cell patch clamp and repatch techniques.

Key results: GABA‐evoked inward currents were potentiated by pretreatment with WIN 55,212‐2 in a concentration‐dependent manner (10−10–10−8 M). WIN 55,212‐2 shifted the GABA concentration–response curve upwards, with an increase of 30.3 ± 3.7% in the maximal current response but with no significant change in the EC50(agonist concentration producing a half‐maximal response) value. WIN 55,212‐2 potentiated the responses to GABA in a manner independent of holding potential and in the absence of any change in the reversal potential of the current. This potentiation ofIGABAinduced by WIN 55,212‐2 was almost completely blocked by AM 251 (3 × 10−8 M), a CB1receptor antagonist, and, using the repatch technique, was found to be abolished after intracellular dialysis with the protein kinase A (PKA) activator cAMP or the PKA inhibitor H89.

Conclusions and implications: The potentiation by WIN 55,212‐2 ofIGABAin primary sensory neurones may help to elucidate the mechanism underlying the modulation of analgesia by cannabinoids in the spinal dorsal horn.
Transient shivering during Wada test provides insight into human thermoregulation
Authors: Shah Aashit K. , Atkinson Marie D. , Gupta Preeti , Zak Imad , Watson Craig E. , Rothermel Robert , Asano Eishi , Fuerst Darren
Published: November 2009

Purpose:  Some patients with pharmacoresistant epilepsy undergoing the Wada test experience transient shivering. The purpose of this study was to investigate various clinical and radiographic characteristics of these individuals to delineate underlying mechanisms of this phenomenon.

Methods:  A systematic review of prospectively collected information on patients undergoing the Wada test was performed. All demographic, clinical, and radiographic information was obtained and reviewed by the appropriate expert in the field; statistical analysis was performed to determine the predictors of transient shivering.

Results:  A total of 120 consecutive carotid artery injections in 59 patients were included in the study. Shivering was observed in 46% of the patients, and it was not significantly affected by gender, age, location of epileptogenic zone, brain lesion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), side of the first injection, duration of the hemiparesis, or excess slow wave activity on electroencephalography (EEG). However, shivering was more likely to follow sodium amobarbital injection if there was no filling of the posterior circulation on cerebral angiogram.

Discussion:  Transient shivering during the Wada test is common. A transient but selective functional lesion of the anterior hypothalamus produced by the effects of sodium amobarbital may result in disinhibition of the posterior hypothalamus and other brainstem thermoregulatory centers, thereby inducing transient shivering.
Epilepsy with dual pathology: Surgical treatment of cortical dysplasia accompanied by hippocampal sclerosis
Authors: Kim Dong W. , Lee Sang K. , Nam Hyunwoo , Chu Kon , Chung Chun K. , Lee Seo‐Young , Choe Geeyoung , Kim Hyun K.
Published: November 2009

Purpose: The presence of two or more epileptogenic pathologies in patients with epilepsy is often observed, and the coexistence of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) with hippocampal sclerosis (HS) is one of the most frequent clinical presentations. Although surgical resection has been an important treatment for patients with refractory epilepsy associated with FCD, there are few studies on the surgical treatment of FCD accompanied by HS, and treatment by resection of both neocortical dysplastic tissue and hippocampus is still controversial.

Methods: We retrospectively recruited epilepsy patients who had undergone surgical treatment for refractory epilepsy with the pathologic diagnosis of FCD and the radiologic evidence of HS. We evaluated the prognostic roles of clinical factors, various diagnostic modalities, surgical procedures, and the severity of pathology.

Results: A total of 40 patients were included, and only 35.0% of patients became seizure free. Complete resection of the epileptogenic area (p = 0.02), and the presence of dysmorphic neurons or balloon cells on histopathology (p = 0.01) were associated with favorable surgical outcomes. Patients who underwent hippocampal resection were more likely to have a favorable surgical outcome (p = 0.02).

Conclusions: We show that patients with complete resection of epileptogenic area, the presence of dysmorphic neurons or balloon cells on histopathology, or resection of hippocampus have a higher chance of a favorable surgical outcome. We believe that this observation is useful in planning of surgical procedures and predicting the prognoses of individual patients with FCD patients accompanied by HS.
CONFERENCE REPORT: Can intravenous iron therapy meet the unmet needs created by the new restrictions on erythropoietic stimulating agents?
Authors: Shander Aryeh , Spence Richard K. , Auerbach Michael
Published: November 2009

In 2008, after reports of an association between erythropoietic stimulating agent (ESA) therapy and the potential for either thrombotic cardiovascular events or more rapid tumor progression in some cancers, the Food and Drug Administration changed the product labeling for ESAs, adding a black box warning as well as more restrictive indications, especially in oncology patients. In addition the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has placed significant restrictions on payments for ESA therapy. These new limitations on ESA have led to increased use of transfusions in anemic cancer patients. This increase in allogeneic transfusions potentially will place an additional burden on the US blood supply. Although allogeneic blood transfusion is one answer to ESA restrictions, the use of intravenous iron therapy (IV iron) is another possible alternative. We will discuss the use of IV iron as primary therapy for anemia, the use of combination IV iron and ESA therapy to improve efficiency and decrease costs, and evidence that IV iron with and without ESA therapy can reduce allogeneic blood transfusions in surgical patients. We will also review the available IV iron agents and their comparative safety profiles.
Activation of cathepsin D by glycosaminoglycans
Authors: Beckman Marie , Freeman Craig , Parish Christopher R. , Small David H.
Published: November 2009

We have previously shown that heparin can increase the activity of the proenzyme form of Alzheimer’s β‐site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). Cathepsin D (CD) is a member of the aspartic protease family and has sequence similarity to BACE1. Therefore, we examined whether heparin and other glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) can influence the activity of CD. Heparin and other GAGs were found to stimulate the activity of recombinant proCD. Desulfation of heparin almost abolished the stimulation, indicating that sulfate groups were important for the stimulatory effect. In addition, the stimulation was dependent on the length of the GAG chain, as larger GAGs were more potent in their ability to stimulate proCD than shorter fragments. In the presence of heparin, limited autocatalytic proteolysis of the proenzyme was increased, suggesting that heparin increases the activity of proCD by accelerating the conversion of proCD, which has little activity, to pseudoCD, an active form lacking residues 1–26 of the prodomain. Furthermore, the activity of spleen‐derived mature CD, which lacks the entire 44 amino acid residue prodomain, was also increased by heparin, indicating that the catalytic domain of CD contains at least one region to which GAGs bind and stimulate enzyme activity. Because heparin also stimulated the activity of pseudoCD, proenzyme activation was probably accelerated by the interaction of heparin with the catalytic domain of pseudoCD. However, it is possible that heparin may also activate the proenzyme directly. On the basis of this study, we propose that GAGs may regulate CD activity in vivo.
Mean cell volume of neutrophils and monocytes compared with C‐reactive protein, interleukin‐6 and white blood cell count for prediction of sepsis and nonsystemic bacterial infections
Authors: MARDI D. , FWITY B. , LOBMANN R. , AMBROSCH A.
Published: November 2009

Clinicians are in need of better diagnostic markers for rapid diagnosis of severe infections. Therefore, we studied the diagnostic significance of mean cell volume of neutrophils (MNV) and monocytes (MMV) compared with Interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), C‐reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell count for predicting systemic clinical infection (sepsis). MNV and MMV were obtained by volume conductivity scatter (VCS) technique of the Coulter LH 750 hematology analyzer during automated differential counts, and blood samples from patients with sepsis (n = 37), nonsystemic bacterial infections (n = 39) and controls (n = 48) were studied. We observed a significant increase in MNV and MMV in the sepsis group compared with limited infections and controls. However, at a designated cut‐off point of 250 pg/ml, IL‐6 seemed to be the best predictor for sepsis with a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 76%. Compared with CRP (cut‐off point 60 mg/dl), MNV at a cut‐off of 150 had a comparable sensitivity and specificity and was the most predictive VCS parameter. Taken together, MNV and MMV seemed to be potential parameters to discriminate between sepsis and nonsystemic infections.
Is Content-Related Evidence Useful in Validating Selection Tests?
Authors: Murphy Kevin R.
Published: November 2009

The 12 papers commenting on K. R. Murphy (2009a) raise a number of important issues, most of which can be subsumed in one of four themes. First, papers examining content-oriented validation strategies are still necessary and useful, in part because of the frequent use of these strategies in the practice of industrial–organizational (I–O) psychology. Second, the term “content validity” means many different things both within and beyond the field of I–O psychology, and it is useful to understand what sorts of inferences examinations of test content do and do not support. Third, these 12 papers present very little evidence that content validation, as typically carried out by I–O psychologists, actually provides information about the likelihood that people who do well on the test will do well on the job. Finally, I believe that the best use of content-related evidence in validating selection tests is in developing hypotheses about relationships between test scores and criteria rather than in testing these hypotheses.
The Effects of Ion Implantation on Friction and Wear of Metals
Authors: Shepard S. R. , Suh N. P.
Published: November 2009

The effects of ion implantation on the friction and wear behavior of metals were investigated. Experiments were conducted with iron, titanium, and copper implanted with nitrogen ions, iron implanted with aluminum ions, and copper implanted with zinc ions. The significant reduction in friction and wear of the iron and titanium systems is attributed to a hard layer formed during the ion implantation process. This hard layer minimizes plowing and subsurface deformation and hence reduces the delamination wear process, i.e., crack nucleation, crack propagation, and the formation of delamination wear sheets. The implanted copper specimens did not appear to have a hard surface layer and showed little improvement in their tribological behavior over the unimplanted copper. Iron implanted with nitrogen ions was compared with ion nitrided iron. Under dry sliding conditions and high loads ion nitriding appears to be superior to ion implantation. However, at lower loads and under lubricated conditions, ion implantation is more advantageous due to its superior surface finish. A finite element model of an elastic semi-infinite solid under the contact of a stationary rigid asperity showed that the hard layer does not change the subsurface stress distribution. Therefore, the role of this thin layer is not to support the load, but to decrease the plowing component of friction, which, in turn, substantially reduces subsurface deformation and thus wear.
Observation of Pressure Variation in the Cavitation Region of Submerged Journal Bearings
Authors: Etsion I. , Ludwig L. P.
Published: November 2009

Visual observations and pressure measurements in the cavitation zone of a submerged journal bearing are described. Tests were performed at various shaft speeds and ambient pressure levels. Some photographs of the cavitation region are presented showing strong reverse flow at the downstream end of the region. Pressure profiles are presented showing significant pressure variations inside the cavitation zone, contrary to common assumptions of constant cavitation pressure.
Subsurface and Surface Cracking Due to Hertzian Contact
Authors: Keer L. M. , Bryant M. D. , Haritos G. K.
Published: November 2009

Numerical results are presented for a cracked elastic half-space surface-loaded by Hertzian contact stresses. A horizontal subsurface crack and a surface breaking vertical crack are contained within the half-space. An attempt to correlate crack geometry to fracture is made and possible mechanisms for crack propagation are introduced.
A Study on Thermal Behavior of Large Seal-Ring
Authors: Suganami T. , Masuda T. , Oishi N. , Shimazu T.
Published: November 2009

The behavior of seal-ring in the shaft seal which operates on oil film to seal high pressure gas is studied. The experiment on the 60 cm diameter seal-ring shows the slow whirl phenomenon, i.e., the local oil film thickness and that temperature varies with the period of about 100 seconds. The analytical model is formulated and predicts the oval deformation of seal-ring due to hot spots, and that the oval shape rotates slowly but periodically according to the shift of hot spots. Theoretical predictions are confirmed to agree well with the experiment. Also, the effects of some design parameters are described to prevent the relevant slow whirl.
A Sensitivity Analysis of Squeeze-Film Bearings
Authors: Burrows C. R. , Turkay O. S.
Published: November 2009

It is shown that amplitude and phase spectra should not be used to assess the quality of estimates of oil-film coefficients unless the results are interpreted in conjunction with a sensitivity analysis of the bearing model. The implications of using only the amplitude spectrum are discussed. Sensitivity analysis is shown to give valuable insight into the problem of selecting test signals for estimating oil-film coefficients. Moreover the analysis gives an indication of the validity of the model structure.
Graphical Signatures for Manufactured Surfaces
Authors: Tanimura Y. , Teague E. C. , Scire F. E. , Young R. D. , Vorburger T. V.
Published: November 2009

Three dimensional surface signatures were calculated from radial profile measurements of two lapped specimens, two ground specimens and a milled specimen. These signatures are polar autocorrelation function (ACF) maps and Ra maps. The ACF maps were obtained by plotting contours of equal autocorrelation values. The ACF maps reveal more structure than the Ra maps and their shapes appear to be characteristic of the corresponding manufacturing methods. Therefore, radial profile measurement together with the use of ACF maps is a useful technique for relating surface topographies to manufacturing processes.
Toward a Mechanical Wear Equation
Authors: Halling J.
Published: November 2009

It is first shown that the simple form of linear wear/load relation of the adhesive and abrasive wear laws arises from the nature of the asperity distribution. Without recourse to specific wear mechanisms, simple concepts for material properties, size of wear particles, and the production of wear particles are introduced. This procedure leads to an increasing appreciation of those factors which might be embraced by the specific wear constant. Of particular interest is the role of ductility in wear behavior. Finally, these ideas are extended to deal with the wear of surface films where it is seen that the film thickness is of paramount importance. Some experimental evidence for the concepts used is also provided.
Wear and Friction of Nitrogen Ion Implanted Steel
Authors: Kirk J. A. , Egerton G. W. , Sartwell B. D.
Published: November 2009

A pin on disk wear test apparatus was used to evaluate wear and friction properties for nitrogen ion implanted and non-ion implanted steel disks in the presence of a lubricant. Both AISI/1018 mild steel and 304 stainless steel were examined. Typical fluence levels for ion implantation were above 1017 ions/cm2. In this paper disk wear is measured directly by a Talysurf profilometer tracing of the disk wear scar. By varying the contact area of the pin it was possible to evaluate wear behavior of both unimplanted and implanted disks over a wide range of contact pressures. It is shown that stainless steel disk wear can be decreased by nitrogen ion implantation, provided that contact pressures remain less than the yield strength of the substrate material. No significant wear improvements were observed for 1018 steel. To evaluate improvements in hardness due to nitrogen ion implantation, very low penetration depth microhardness measurements were made and the indentation diagonals were measured in a scanning electron microscope. These results and their limitations are also presented.
Annular Squeeze Films With Inertial Effects
Authors: Turns S. R.
Published: November 2009

An analysis of the laminar squeezing flow of an incompressible Newtonian fluid between parallel plane annuli is presented in which a successive approximation technique is used to account for fluid inertia effects. An expression for the force generated by the fluid is developed and coupled to the equation of motion for the annular plate. Results are presented from the numerical integration of the governing equations for the plate motion.
A Study of the Thermohydrodynamic Performance of a Plain Journal Bearing Comparison Between Theory and Experiments
Authors: Ferron J. , Frene J. , Boncompain R.
Published: November 2009

Both theoretical and experimental thermohydrodynamic problem of a finite length journal bearing is studied. The analysis takes into acount heat transfer between the film and both the shaft and the bush. Cavitation and lubricant recirculation are also taken into account. The experimental program is conducted on an original device to study the performance of a plain bearing. The pressure and the temperature distribution on bearing wall are measured along with the eccentricity ratio and the flows rate for different speeds and loads. The effect on the eccentricity ratio of differential dilatation is underlined. Agreement between theoretical results and experimental data is satisfactory.
Finite-Length Solutions for Rotordynamic Coefficients of Turbulent Annular Seals
Authors: Childs D. W.
Published: November 2009

Expressions are derived which define dynamic coefficients for high-pressure annular seals typical of wear-ring and interstage seals employed in multistage centrifugal pumps. Completely developed turbulent flow is assumed in both the circumferential and axial directions, and is modeled by Hirs’ turbulent lubrication equations. Linear zeroth and first-order perturbation equations are developed by an expansion in the eccentricity ratio. The influence of inlet swirl is accounted for in the development of the circumferential flow. The zeroth-order momentum and continuity equations are solved exactly, while their first-order counterparts are reduced to three ordinary, complex, differential equations in the axial coordinate Z. The equations are integrated to satisfy the boundary conditions and define the pressure distribution due to seal motion. Integration of the pressure distribution defines the reaction force developed by the seal and the corresponding dynamic coefficients. Finite-length solutions for the coefficients are compared to two “short-seal” solutions.
Corrosive Wear of Steel With Gasoline-Ethanol-Water
Authors: Nakajima K. , Yahagi Y.
Published: November 2009

The wear rate of high C-Cr steel (AISI 52100) has been measured when lubricated with gasoline, ethanol, and water. The wear experiments were performed in air and argon in order to study the relationship between the wear and load, the water-ethanol content in gasohol, and the atmosphere. A larger wear rate was found in gasohol, having a constant ethanol content which was completely dissolved. Among gasohols of different ethanol content and involving hygroscopic water, the highest wear rate of steel was found to be in gasohol with about 20 percent ethanol content. It is concluded that the wear of steel in gasohol is caused by corrosive wear, which is jointly affected by oxygen and water.
Depletion and Retention of Fluid on a Rotating Disk
Authors: Tu Yih-O
Published: November 2009

Assuming that a dry circular center is present at which the contact angle between the liquid and solid phases remains constant at all times, the axisymmetric free surface of liquid on a flat disk is determined from the Laplace formula in which the radial gradient of the fluid pressure balances the centrifugal force. The depletion of a thin layer of fluid from a rotating finite disk is described quasi-statically. A remnant of residual fluid is determined to remain on the disk. For moderate rotating speed, this remnant fluid volume is retained on the disk without loss.
Analysis of Gas Lubricated Compliant Thrust Bearings
Authors: Heshmat H. , Walowit J. A. , Pinkus O.
Published: November 2009

This work is concerned with an evaluation of the performance of a gas thrust bearing using what amounts to a spring supported compliant foil as the bearing surface. To enhance the load capacity of such a device, the leading portion of the foil is given an appropriate converging geometry. The paper offers an analytical investigation of the elastohydrodynamics of the compliant foil bearing, and the effects that the various structural and operational variables have on bearing behavior. Following the solution of the relevant differential equation, the geometry of the thrust sector is first optimized, then solutions are provided for a range of relevant geometrical and operational parameters. The parametric study shows that the optimum geometry for a bearing with the common OD to ID ratio of 2 is β=45deg,b=0.5,h¯1>10 In addition to the geometric parameters, there are also the structural parameters of the foil. The load capacity is shown to increase as the compliance of the bearing rises. While at moderate Λ’s high values of compliance yield the highest load capacity, at high Λ, the optimum compliance is some intermediate value, in our case, α* = 1. Since the stiffness of the bearing is a function of both the structural and hydrodynamic film stiffnesses, high loads tend to flatten the values of K for the softer bearings, leaving essentially the structural stiffness as the dominating spring constant.
Improving field-emission uniformity of large-area W18O49 nanowire films by electrical treatment
Authors: Li Z. L. , Liu Fei , Xu N. S. , Chen Jun , Deng S. Z.
Published: November 2009

W 18 O 49 nanowires exhibit stable field emission at low fields. To explore the potential application of such nanowires in backlight and display devices, it is necessary to achieve uniform emission on a large area. In the present study, the authors demonstrate that field-emission uniformity of large-area samples may be improved by following an electrical-current treatment procedure. This is due to the increase in the number of nanowires that join in the field emission during the process, in which a small number of strong emitters are gradually melted down. The process of self-melting occurring in field emission is studied using a point anode in situ with a scanning electron microscope. The self-melting is attributed to the effect of Joule heating occurring due to passing of current through field electron emitting nanowires. These results are useful for the device application of W18O49 nanowires as large-area cold cathodes.
Characterization of cylindrical ionization chambers for patient specific IMRT QA
Authors: Fraser Danielle , Parker William , Seuntjens Jan
Published: November 2009

Proven conventional dosimetry techniques do not provide accuracy and precision in the measurement of inverse planned intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) fields. Dynamic and step‐and‐shoot multileaf collimation (DMLC/SMLC) challenge current ionization chamber dosimetry practices. Ionization chamber performance in these fields is evaluated for three cylindrical chambers of varying volumes (PinPoint (PP): 0.015 cm3, IC10: 0.13 cm3, Farmer type NE2571 (FT): 0.69 cm3) in terms of measurement reproducibility, dose measurement linearity, and IMRT dose measurements. Fifty IMRT patient specific quality assurance dose measurements were performed with each chamber. DMLC measurements are compared between chambers, and to dose calculations from a commercial treatment planning system (TPS) that used a finite size pencil‐beam model (FSPB). Ten SMLC measurements are compared to Monte Carlo simulations available in the TPS. The three chambers demonstrated adequate measurement reproducibility characteristics for both open and DMLC fields, with each chamber able to perform within 2% (2SD) for DMLC fields. Both smaller volume chambers over responded when irradiated with a small number of monitor units in open fields. FT and IC10 chambers demonstrated dose linearity in DMLC fields down to 10 monitor units, while dose linearity for the PP chamber broke down at 100 monitor units. The evaluation of 50 DMLC treatment plan quality assurance procedures revealed that the FT chamber measurements were closest to the FSPB calculated values . Quality assurance plans calculated independently with Monte Carlo more closely matched chamber measurements (FSPB: 1.0, MC: 0.97, FT: 0.95). Measurements of absorbed dose to water in IMRT fields are highly chamber and IMRT plan dependent.

PACS number: 87.55.Gh; 87.55.km; 87.55.Qr; 87.56.Fc; 87.56.N‐
A positioning QA procedure for 2D/2D (kV/MV) and 3D/3D (CT/CBCT) image matching for radiotherapy patient setup
Authors: Guan Huaiqun , Hammoud Rabih , Yin Fang‐Fang
Published: November 2009

A positioning QA procedure for Varian's 2D/2D (kV/MV) and 3D/3D (planCT/CBCT) matching was developed. The procedure was to check: (1) the coincidence of on‐board imager (OBI), portal imager (PI), and cone beam CT (CBCT)'s isocenters (digital graticules) to a linac's isocenter (to a pre‐specified accuracy); (2) that the positioning difference detected by 2D/2D (kV/MV) and 3D/3D(planCT/CBCT) matching can be reliably transferred to couch motion. A cube phantom with a 2 mm metal ball (bb) at the center was used. The bb was used to define the isocenter. Two additional bbs were placed on two phantom surfaces in order to define a spatial location of 1.5 cm anterior, 1.5 cm inferior, and 1.5 cm right from the isocenter. An axial scan of the phantom was acquired from a multislice CT simulator. The phantom was set at the linac's isocenter (lasers); either AP MV/R Lat kV images or CBCT images were taken for 2D/2D or 3D/3D matching, respectively. For 2D/2D, the accuracy of each device's isocenter was obtained by checking the distance between the central bb and the digital graticule. Then the central bb in orthogonal DRRs was manually moved to overlay to the off‐axis bbs in kV/MV images. For 3D/3D, CBCT was first matched to planCT to check the isocenter difference between the two CTs. Manual shifts were then made by moving CBCT such that the point defined by the two off‐axis bbs overlay to the central bb in planCT. (PlanCT can not be moved in the current version of OBI1.4.) The manual shifts were then applied to remotely move the couch. The room laser was used to check the accuracy of the couch movement. For Trilogy (or Ix‐21) linacs, the coincidence of imager and linac's isocenter was better than 1 mm (or 1.5 mm). The couch shift accuracy was better than 2 mm.

PACS number: 87.55.Qr, 87.57.Q‐
Clinical implementation of electron energy changes of Varian linear accelerators
Authors: Zhang Sean , Liengsawangwong Praimakorn , Lindsay Patricia , Prado Karl , Sun Tzouh–Liang , Steadham Roy , Wang Xiaochun , Salehpour Mohammad R. , Gillin Michael
Published: November 2009

Modern dual photon energy linear accelerators often come with a few megavoltage electron beams. The megavoltage electron beam has limited range and relative sharp distal falloff in its depth dose curve compared to that of megavoltage photon beam. Its radiation dose is often delivered appositionally to cover the target volume to its distal 90% depth dose (d90), while avoiding the normal ‐ sometimes critical ‐ structure immediately distal to the target. Varian linear accelerators currently offer selected electron beams of 4, 6, 9, 12, 16 and 20 MeV electron beam energies. However, intermediate electron energy is often needed for optimal dose distribution. In this study we investigated electron beam characteristics and implemented two intermediate 7 and 11 MeV electron beams on Varian linear accelerators. Comprehensive tests and measurements indicated the new electron beams met all dosimetry parameter criteria and operational safety standards. Between the two new electron beams and the existing electron beams we were able to provide a choice of electron beams of 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 16 and 20 MeV electron energies, which had d90 depth between 1.5 cm and 6.0 cm (from 1.5 cm to 4.0 cm in 0.5 cm increments) to meet our clinical needs.

PACS number: 87.56.bd.
Direct machine parameter optimization for intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) of oropharyngeal cancer – a planning study
Authors: Dobler Barbara , Koelbl Oliver , Bogner Ludwig , Pohl Fabian
Published: November 2009

The purpose of the study was to investigate the potential of direct machine parameter optimization (DMPO) to achieve parotid sparing without compromising target coverage in IMRT of oropharyngeal cancer as compared to fluence modulation with subsequent leaf sequencing (IM) and forward planned two‐step arc therapy (IMAT). IMRT plans were generated for 10 oropharyngeal cancer patients using DMPO and IM. The resulting dose volume histograms (DVH) were evaluated with regard to compliance with the dose volume objectives (DVO) and plan quality. DMPO met the DVO for the targets better than IM, but violated the DVO to the parotids in some cases. DMPO provided better target coverage and dose homogeneity than IM and was comparable to IMAT. Dose to the parotids (23Gy) was significantly lower than for IMAT (48Gy), but somewhat higher than for IM (20Gy). Parotid sparing with IM was, however, only achieved at the cost of target coverage and homogeneity. DMPO allows achieving parotid sparing in the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer without compromising target coverage and dose homogeneity in the target as compared to two‐step IMAT. Better overall plan quality can be delivered with less monitor units than with IM.

PACS number: 87.50.Gi
Accroissement d'une érablière à la suite de coupes d'éclaircie: résultats de 20 ans
Authors: Pothier David
Published: November 2009

Two intensities of thinning were executed in a 50-year-old sugar maple stand of the Station forestière de Duchesnay (46°57′N, 71°39′W). Initial basal area was reduced by 22 and 35% in moderate and heavy thinned plots, respectively. Twenty years after treatment, basal area of thinned plots approached that of controls and their basal area in sugar maple (Acersaccharum Marsh.) was larger than that of controls. Diameter growth of sugar maples was proportional to the intensity of thinning and a significant difference was detected between thinned and unthinned plots. Net increment of the 70 sampled plots was proportional to the intensity of thinning but mortality was inversely related to the thinning level. Ingrowth was also proportional to the intensity of thinning but its impact on net increment was relatively low. Ten years following treatment, the number of saplings of yellow birch (Betulaalleghaniensis Britt.) increased with increasing thinning intensity. However, the number of sugar maple saplings remains stable among treatments for all measurement periods. Diameter growth was not affected in sugar maples with annual tapping in comparison to sugar maples with no tapping during the whole study period.
QUASI-ALTERNATING MONTESINOS LINKS
Authors: WIDMER TAMARA
Published: November 2009

The aim of this article is to detect new classes of quasi-alternating links. Quasi-alternating links are a natural generalization of alternating links. Their knot Floer and Khovanov homology are particularly easy to compute. Since knot Floer homology detects the genus of a knot as well as whether a knot is fibered, characterization of quasi-alternating links becomes an interesting open problem. We show that there exist classes of non-alternating Montesinos links, which are quasi-alternating.
AN ALTERNATIVE TEST FOR UNIFORMITY
Authors: CHEN ZHENMIN , YE CHUNMIAO
Published: November 2009

Improving power of goodness-of-fit tests is an important research topic in statistics. The goal of the goodness-of-fit test is to check whether the underlying probability distribution, from which a sample is drawn, differs from a hypothesized distribution. Numerous research papers have been published in this area. It has been shown that the power of the existing goodness-of-fit tests in the literature is unsatisfactory when the alternative distributions are of V-shape or when the sample sizes are small. This motivates the development of more powerful test statistics. In this research, a new test statistic is proposed. The result can be used to test whether the underlying probability distribution differs from a uniform distribution. By applying the probability integral transformation, the proposed test statistic can be used to check whether the underlying distribution differs from any hypothesized distribution. The performance of the method proposed in this research is compared with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, which is a widely adopted statistical test in the literature. It has been shown that the test proposed in this proposal is more powerful than the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test in some cases.
SEQUENTIAL SURVEILLANCE OF THE TANGENCY PORTFOLIO WEIGHTS
Authors: BODNAR OLHA
Published: November 2009

In this paper we derive sequential procedures for monitoring the structure of the tangency portfolio. A new measure of the distance between the estimated weights and the weights of the holding portfolio is suggested which is used in the derivation of the control schemes. The results are applied in a situation that is practically relevant.
Nonmonetary Compensation in the Public Teacher Labor Market
Authors: Player Daniel
Published: November 2009

Because of the rigid salary structure in the public teacher labor market, principals may have the incentive to align classes favorably for high-quality teachers as a form of nonmonetary compensation. This article tests whether higher-quality teachers, holding other characteristics constant, tend to be matched with more favorable assignments. The findings show that elementary teachers with higher licensure exam scores and greater observed classroom success tend to be matched to students with higher prior math ability, fewer students with learning disabilities, fewer students eligible for subsidized lunch, and more female students. Several tests indicate that matching patterns are not entirely driven by parental pressure or the technology of learning, providing evidence that principals use class assignments as a way to compensate teachers.
The Causal Relationships in Mean and Variance between Stock Returns and Foreign Institutional Investment in India
Authors: Inoue Takeshi
Published: November 2009

This paper examines the causalities in mean and variance between stock returns and foreign institutional investment (FII) in India. The analysis in this paper applies the cross-correlation function approach from Cheung and Ng (1996), and uses daily data from January 1999 to March 2008 divided into two periods before and after May 2003. Empirical results showed that there are uni-directional causalities in mean and variance from stock returns to FII flows irrelevant of the sample periods, while the reverse causalities in mean and variance are only found in the period beginning with 2003. These results point to FII flows having exerted an impact on the movement of Indian stock prices during the more recent period.
Agency and Power of Single Children in Multi-Generational Families in Urban Xiamen, China
Authors: Goh Esther C.L. , Kuczynski Leon
Published: November 2009

This paper examines ethnographic data collected over six months from Xiamen, China, on children as active agents in their relationships with their parents and grandparents. It explicates the usefulness of the conceptual tools of ‘agency’ and ‘interdependent power’ derived from social relational theory in demonstrating the bilateral influences between children, grandparents and parents. Ways in which children’s agency is enhanced in their interactions with the adult caregivers are explicated. It provides a reinterpretation of the ‘little emperor’ syndrome in contemporary urban China.
Commentary: About the Danger of Relying on Common Vocabulary
Authors: Watzlawik Meike
Published: November 2009

Janssen (2009) raises the criticism that life stages and related concepts are not clearly defined and that even within the same study or data pool different conceptualizations can be found. A lack of clear definitions and the resulting difficulties are, nevertheless, not exclusive to life stage research. The general need for unambiguous definitions of the terminology used, even if these limit broader concepts to a certain scope of meaning, is stressed in order to avoid misunderstandings and to foster— especially interdisciplinary— communication.
Prototyping and optical evaluation of 9‐in. OCB time‐division‐multiplexing 18‐view 3‐D display
Authors: Kashiwagi Masako , Saishu Tatsuo , Taira Kazuki , Kobayashi Hitoshi , Hirayama Yuzo
Published: November 2009

Abstract— An integral imaging time‐division‐multiplexing 18‐view 3‐D display based on the one‐dimensional integral‐imaging (1‐D‐II) technique using a 9‐in. OCB‐LCD, lenticular sheet, and active shutter has been developed. By simulating a lens shape and a shutter structure and analyzing the light‐beam profile of the increasing‐parallax‐number region to find the best conditions, depth range, and viewing angle were an enhanced and a brighter and flicker‐less 3‐D image with smooth motion parallax was obtained.
Highly efficient cathodoluminescence from undoped ZnO nanophosphor
Authors: Xiao Zhiyan , Okada Morihro , Neo Yoichiro , Aoki Toru , Mimura Hidenori
Published: November 2009

Abstract— Various ZnO morphologies with hexagonal cross sections were fabricated by using a thermal oxidation method. Comparison of the cathodoluminescence (CL) of synthesized ZnO to that of commercial ZnO:Zn phosphor revealed that strong green luminescence can be realized in undoped ZnO by using fabricated low‐dimensional nanostructures. The reasons for the enhancement in CL intensity are investigated in detail. Reabsorbed UV emission by the nanostructures themselves could be partly converted into green emission and therefore contributes to the enhancement of green emission. Moreover, whispering gallery resonance modes produced in the hexagonal microcavity were assumed to provide one of the qualitative explanations for the observation of enhanced green emission.
Model-Based Monitoring and Leak Detection in Oil and Gas Pipelines
Authors: Hauge Espen , Aamo Ole Morten , Godhavn John-Morten
Published: November 2009

An adaptive Luenberger-type estimator for the purpose of monitoring flow conditions and locating and quantifying leakages in petroleum pipelines is presented. The estimator only needs measurements of velocity, pressure, and temperature at the inlet and velocity and pressure at the outlet to function. The measurements are used to form a special set of boundary conditions for the estimator that ensures fast convergence of the estimation error. Depending only on measurements from inlet and outlet makes it possible to use OLGA, which is a state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics simulator, to govern the one-phase fluid flow of the estimator. The estimator is tested with both a straight, horizontal pipeline and an actual, long pipeline with inclinations, and both simulations with oil and gas are carried out. In order to cope with modeling errors and biased measurements, estimation of roughness in the monitored pipeline is introduced.