bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Cloning of Bambusa pallida Munro through Axillary Shoot Proliferation and Evaluation of Genetic Fidelity by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Markers
Authors: D.B. Beena , T.S. Rathore
Published: December 2012

Multiple shoots emerged from the nodal shoot segments of the field-grown candidate plus clump explants of Bambusa pallida Munro when cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium with additives (ascorbic acid 50 mg/L + citric acid 25 mg/L + cysteine 25 mg/L) and combined use of α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) 1.34 μM + thiodiozuron 1.125 μM in a 2-week period. Further shoot multiplication was achieved in MS liquid medium with additives + NAA 1.34 μM + 6-benzylaminopurine 4.4 μM at 25 ± 2 °C and 33.78 μmol photons m−2 s−1 light illumination for a 12-h photoperiod. These shoots were rooted within four weeks in MS/2 basal salt medium with additives +2% sucrose +1% glucose, and 0.6% agar by pulse treatment of shoots with indole 3 butyric acid 0.5 mg/mL for 30 min prior to inoculation. Rooted plants were successfully hardened in the mist chamber. Survival rate during hardening was more than 95%. Micropropagated plants achieved a height of 25–30 cm with 3–4 tillers (shoots) with miniature rhizome in a 4-month period. Genetic stability was observed in the micropropagated plants.
Giant serous microcystic pancreas adenoma
Authors: Dikmen Kursat , Bostanci Hasan , Yildirim Ali Cihat , Sakrak Omer , Kerem Mustafa
Published: December 2012

Serous cystadenomas are rare tumors comprising 1–2% of exocrine pancreas tumors. They are mostly known as benign conditions but malign transformation as serous cystadenocarcinoma is also reported. It is usually seen in females. Non-specific symptoms, such as abdominal pain or symptoms due to mass affect, are usually seen. A 64-year old female patient was investigated for abdominal pain. Physical and laboratory findings were normal. Abdomen ultrasonography confirmed an 11×9.5 cm solid cystic lesion and abdomen computed tomography scan confirmed a 12×11 cm lobulated cystic solid lesion which had central cystic necrotic areas extending from liver hilus inferiorly. Fine needle biopsy confirmed benign cytology and trucut biopsy of the pancreatic mass reported chronic inflamation. Nevertheless, this mass could have malignant contents and transformation potential. A laparatomy was decided due to patient's symptoms and mass effect. Due to vascular invasion of the tumor, Whipple procedure was performed. The pathology report confirmed serous microcystic adenoma. These rare tumors are usually benign but pre-operative malignity criterias are not identified. There are few differential diagnostic tools for excluding malignity. We suggest surgical resection as best treatment approach for selected cases.
’n Empiriese ondersoek na die sosiale en mediese omstandighede van gelowiges met MIV/VIGS ten einde riglyne vir hoop-getuienis te bepaal
Authors: Du Plooy Bain Erina , De Klerk Ben J.
Published: December 2012

Hierdie eerste artikel in ’n reeks waar die sentrale en skerpsinnig-wyse sleutelposisie van eskatologiese hoop en getuienis daarvan in die lewe van die gelowiges met MIV/VIGS beklemtoon word, fokus op die mediese en sosiale omstandighede van die persoon met Vigs in ’n terminale fase. Empiriese navorsing is onderneem aan die hand van ’n kwalitatiewe studie by die gesondheidsentrum van ’n voorstedelike motorvervaardigingsaanleg. Die navorsingsontwerp en -metodologie word bespreek en geverifieer. Twee groepsonderhoude met multi-veranderlikes per deelnemer (gelowiges met MIV/VIGS  en ’n kontrolegroep van mediese personeel/gesondheidwerkers) wat onderneem is, het vasgestel dat die persone met MIV/VIGS in ’n uiters negatiewe situasie leef, wat onder meer bestuurbaar gemaak word deur die sogenaamde signature strengths van die Positiewe Psigologie. Pastorale behoeftes sluit gebed, vertroosting en koinonia/samesyn (fellowship) in. Opvolartikels sal fokus op die bydrae van die metateorieë van die mediese en kommunikasiewetenskap en die Positiewe Psigologie as komplementerende ervaringsveld. Op ’n veel hoër vlak is spirituele gesondheid en heling as vrug van die Heilige Gees van kardinale belang vir die ewige lewe: versterkende geestelike krag vanuit hulle eskatologiese hoop vir die ewige lewe saam met God, waar geen swaarkry is nie. Praktiese riglyne tot kerugmatiese, liturgiese, koinoniale en diakoniale getuienis oor hoop sal in hierdie opvolgartikels voorgestel word.An empirical investigation into the social and medical conditions of religious people living with HIV or AIDS in order to determine guidelines for hope. This first article in a series where the central and perspicacious position of eschatological hope and witnessing thereof in the life of a believer with HIV or AIDS is emphasised, focuses on the medical and social circumstances of people with HIV or AIDS. Empirical research via a qualitative study at the health centre of an urban vehicle manufacturing plant was conducted in this study. The research methodology and design are discussed and verified. Two group interviews with multi-variables per participant (believers with HIV or AIDS  and a control group of health workers) established that people living with HIV or AIDS are spiritually enormously strengthened by their eschatological hope of eternal life with God without this earthly suffering. Pastoral needs include prayer, comfort and koinonia and/or fellowship. They revealed an extremely grave situation, which can, however, be made manageable with inter alia positive signature strengths. Follow-up articles will focus on the contribution of meta-theories of complementary and entwined sciences. Practical guidelines in terms of witnessing hope by means of kerygmatical, liturgical, koinonial and diaconial communication and acts will be suggested in these articles.
Student teachers’ perceptions of democracy in the mathematics classroom: Freedom, equality and dialogue
Authors: Daher Wajeeh
Published: December 2012

This article studies student teachers’ perceptions of the pedagogic and didactic aspects of teaching and learning mathematics in a democratic classroom. It is concerned primarily with issues of democracy in the mathematics classroom, specifically freedom, equality and dialogue. The research was conducted in two mathematics teacher education classes, where students were in their third year of study to major in mathematics. To find these students’ perceptions of democracy in the mathematics classroom the first two stages of the constant comparison method were followed to arrive at categories of democratic and undemocratic acts. The participants in the research emphasised that instructors should refrain from giving some students more time or opportunities to express themselves or act in the mathematics classroom than other students, because this would make them feel unequal and possibly make them unwilling to participate further in the mathematics classroom. The participants also emphasised that instructors should not exert their power to stop the flow of students’ actions in the mathematics classroom, because this would trouble them and make them lose control of their actions. Further, the participants mentioned that instructors would do better to connect to students’ ways of doing mathematics, especially of defining mathematical terms, so that students appreciate the correct ways of doing mathematics and defining its terms.
Alignment between South African mathematics assessment standards and the TIMSS assessment frameworks
Authors: Ndlovu Mdutshekelwa , Mji Andile
Published: December 2012

South Africa’s performance in international benchmark tests is a major cause for concern amongst educators and policymakers, raising questions about the effectiveness of the curriculum reform efforts of the democratic era. The purpose of the study reported in this article was to investigate the degree of alignment between the TIMSS 2003 Grade 8 Mathematics assessment frameworks and the Revised National Curriculum Statements (RNCS) assessment standards for Grade 8 Mathematics, later revised to become the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS). Such an investigation could help to partly shed light on why South African learners do not perform well and point out discrepancies that need to be attended to. The methodology of document analysis was adopted for the study, with the RNCS and the TIMSS 2003 Grade 8 Mathematics frameworks forming the principal documents. Porter’s moderately complex index of alignment was adopted for its simplicity. The computed index of 0.751 for the alignment between the RNCS assessment standards and the TIMSS assessment objectives was found to be significantly statistically low, at the alpha level of 0.05, according to Fulmer’s critical values for 20 cells and 90 or 120 standard points. The study suggests that inadequate attention has been paid to the alignment of the South African mathematics curriculum to the successive TIMSS assessment frameworks in terms of the cognitive level descriptions. The study recommends that participation in TIMSS should rigorously and critically inform ongoing curriculum reform efforts.
Potential Biomarkers in the Sera of Breast Cancer Patients from Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Authors: Nasim Faiz-ul-Hassan , Ejaz Samina , Ashraf Muhammad , RehmanAsif Abdul , Oellerich Michael , Ahmad Gulzar , Malik Gulzar Ahmad , Attiq-ur-Rehman
Published: December 2012

Most of the approximately 90,000 cases of Breast Cancer (BC) documented annually in Pakistan are not diagnosed properly because of lack of suitable markers. We performed serum proteome expression profiling of BC and benign breast disease (BBD) patients with the aim to identify biomarkers that can be helpful for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease. Sera of patients were analyzed by one-dimensional SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). Differentially expressed proteins were subjected to identification through LC-MS/MS analysis. In majority of the BC cases some acute phase proteins (APP) and some complement system components (C3 and C8) containing fractions were up-regulated with the exception of transthyretin (TTR) which was predominantly (68.75%) down-regulated (n = 33/48) in the sera of these patients. Varying expression patterns were observed in BBD patients and healthy controls. These differentially expressed proteins have the potential to serve as diagnostic biomarkers for BC as well as benign breast diseases.
Prediction of Breast Cancer Metastasis by Gene Expression Profiles: A Comparison of Metagenes and Single Genes
Authors: Burton Mark , Thomassen Mads , Tan Qihua , Kruse Torben A.
Published: December 2012

Background

The popularity of a large number of microarray applications has in cancer research led to the development of predictive or prognostic gene expression profiles. However, the diversity of microarray platforms has made the full validation of such profiles and their related gene lists across studies difficult and, at the level of classification accuracies, rarely validated in multiple independent datasets. Frequently, while the individual genes between such lists may not match, genes with same function are included across such gene lists. Development of such lists does not take into account the fact that genes can be grouped together as metagenes (MGs) based on common characteristics such as pathways, regulation, or genomic location. Such MGs might be used as features in building a predictive model applicable for classifying independent data. It is, therefore, demanding to systematically compare independent validation of gene lists or classifiers based on metagene or individual gene (SG) features.

Methods

In this study we compared the performance of either metagene- or single gene-based feature sets and classifiers using random forest and two support vector machines for classifier building. The performance within the same dataset, feature set validation performance, and validation performance of entire classifiers in strictly independent datasets were assessed by 10 times repeated 10-fold cross validation, leave-one-out cross validation, and one-fold validation, respectively. To test the significance of the performance difference between MG- and SG-features/classifiers, we used a repeated down-sampled binomial test approach.

Results

MG- and SG-feature sets are transferable and perform well for training and testing prediction of metastasis outcome in strictly independent data sets, both between different and within similar microarray platforms, while classifiers had a poorer performance when validated in strictly independent datasets. The study showed that MG- and SG-feature sets perform equally well in classifying independent data. Furthermore, SG-classifiers significantly outperformed MG-classifier when validation is conducted between datasets using similar platforms, while no significant performance difference was found when validation was performed between different platforms.

Conclusion

Prediction of metastasis outcome in lymph node–negative patients by MG- and SG-classifiers showed that SG-classifiers performed significantly better than MG-classifiers when validated in independent data based on the same microarray platform as used for developing the classifier. However, the MG- and SG-classifiers had similar performance when conducting classifier validation in independent data based on a different microarray platform. The latter was also true when only validating sets of MG- and SG-features in independent datasets, both between and within similar and different platforms.
Is Endometrial Thickness on the Day of ET Really Predictive of IVF Outcome?
Authors: Srinivas MS , Rao Kamini , Sharma Richa , Jones Theodre
Published: December 2012

Background

The effect of endometrial thickness on pregnancy rates in assisted reproductive technology (ART) patients has been evaluated by many authors, with controversial results. Endometrial thickness has been utilized as an indirect indicator for endometrial receptivity.

Objective

To evaluate relationship between endometrial thickness on day of embryo transfer and pregnancy outcome inin vitrofertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles. Should we cancel cycles based on endometrial thickness only?

Material and methods

A prospective analysis was conducted at Dr Kamini Rao Hospital, Bangaluru, of 239 patients. Various parameters were compared between pregnant and nonpregnant patients to see whether there is any cut-off for endometrial thickness on day of embryo transfer by which we can predict good prognosis in form of pregnancy and what effect other variables on endometrial thickness and pregnancy respectively and should we cancel embryo transfer, if endometrial thickness is not within certain range?

Results

In the study population, 174 (73%) had primary and 65 (27%) had secondary infertility, Ovarian stimulation was performed with long protocol in 37% cases, antagonist protocol in 47% and other protocols like microflare, short, ultralong, ultrashort in 15%. Mean age of patients was 31.04 ± 3.79 years. Among causes of infertility male factor was present in 39%, tubal factor was seen in 18%, unexplained were 13%, polycystic ovarian syndrome in 11%, poor ovarian reserve in 4.1% and mixed causes in 13%. Majority of our patients were in normal and overweight as per body mass index (BMI). ET were easy in 90% of cases and 14 (5.8%) ETs were cancelled. The reason for cancellation was ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in 9 cases, fluid in cavity in 2 cases, one patient had hyperpyrexia on day of ET and 2 cases of failed fertilization. Endometrial thickness was >10 mm in 35% cases. Overall clinical pregnancy rate was 39% with implantation rate of 21%, fertilization rate of 92% and cleavage rate of 95% and live birth rate of 26%. There were more follicles, oocytes and embryos, the endometrium was >10 mm and embryo quality was higher among women who became pregnant when compared with nonpregnant women after assisted reproduction though not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The pregnancy rate improved as endometrial thickness increased showing a linear association.

Conclusion

Increased endometrial thickness is associated with higher pregnancy rates, but as such a cut off cannot be decided. In our study we have seen pregnancies at both thin and thick endometrium so we should not cancel ET merely on the basis of endometrial thickness as pregnancy is affected by multiple variables and not by endometrial thickness alone.

How to cite this article

Sharma R, Rao K, Srinivas MS, Jones T. Is Endometrial Thickness on the Day of ET Really Predictive of IVF Outcome? Int J Infertility Fetal Med 2012;3(2): 40-47.
Endometrial Vascularity: Its Relation to Implantation Rates
Authors: Panchal Sonal , Nagori Chaitanya
Published: December 2012

Aim

The aim of this study was to find out if endometrial vascularity can be used as a predictive factor for implantation

Materials and methods

This is a retrospective study of 500 ovum donation—embryo transfer cycles, with basal S FSH > 25. Those with endometrial thickness of >8 mm with intact junctional zone and uterine artery PI < 3.2 were taken for embryo-transfer. Vaginal micronized progesterone was started from the day of ovum pick up of the ovum donor. Two fresh grade 1, 4-6 cell embryos, were transferred on day 3. Progesterone support was continued till the day of β-hCG. β-hCG was checked in all patients followed by USG 2 weeks later. Results were observed for four groups, depending on vascularity zones 1, 2, 3, 4.2Follow-up with ultrasound was done till 8 weeks for ongoing pregnancy.

Results

The biochemical pregnancy rates and ultrasound evidenced pregnancy rates were very high when vascularity was seen in zone 3 and 4 of endometrium with low abortion rates.

Conclusion

We believe that endometrial vascularity is an important parameter to assess the implantation potential of the endometrium.

How to cite this article

Nagori C, Panchal S. Endometrial Vascularity: Its Relation to Implantation Rates. Int J Infertility Fetal Med 2012;3(2):48-50.
Experimental and modeled UV erythemal irradiance under overcast conditions: the role of cloud optical depth
Authors: Antón M. , Alados-Arboledas L. , Guerrero-Rascado J. L. , Costa M. J. , C Chiu J. , Olmo F. J.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. This paper evaluates the relationship between the cloud modification factor (CMF) in the ultraviolet erythemal range and the cloud optical depth (COD) retrieved from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) "cloud mode" algorithm under overcast cloudy conditions (confirmed with sky images) at Granada, Spain, mainly for non-precipitating, overcast and relatively homogenous water clouds. Empirical CMF showed a clear exponential dependence on experimental COD values, decreasing approximately from 0.7 for COD = 10 to 0.25 for COD = 50. In addition, these COD measurements were used as input in the LibRadtran radiative transfer code allowing the simulation of CMF values for the selected overcast cases. The modeled CMF exhibited a dependence on COD similar to the empirical CMF, but modeled values present a strong underestimation with respect to the empirical factors (mean bias of 22%). To explain this high bias, an exhaustive comparison between modeled and experimental UV erythemal irradiance (UVER) data was performed. The comparison revealed that the radiative transfer simulations were 8% higher than the observations for clear-sky conditions. The rest of the bias (~14%) may be attributed to the substantial underestimation of modeled UVER with respect to experimental UVER under overcast conditions, although the correlation between both dataset was high (R2 ~ 0.93). A sensitive test showed that the main reason responsible for that underestimation is the experimental AERONET COD used as input in the simulations, which has been retrieved from zenith radiances in the visible range. In this sense, effective COD in the erythemal interval were derived from an iteration procedure based on searching the best match between modeled and experimental UVER values for each selected overcast case. These effective COD values were smaller than AERONET COD data in about 80% of the overcast cases with a mean relative difference of 22%.
ACE-FTS observations of pyrogenic trace species in boreal biomass burning plumes during BORTAS
Authors: Tereszchuk K. A. , González Abad G. , Clerbaux C. , Hadji-Lazaro J. , Hurtmans D. , Coheur P.-F. , Bernath P. F.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. To further our understanding of the effects of biomass burning emissions on atmospheric composition, the Quantifying the impact of BOReal forest fires on Tropospheric oxidants over the Atlantic using Aircraft and Satellites (BORTAS) campaign was conducted on 12 July to 3 August 2011 during the Boreal forest fire season in Canada. The simultaneous aerial, ground and satellite measurement campaign sought to record instances of Boreal biomass burning to measure the tropospheric volume mixing ratios (VMRs) of short- and long-lived trace molecular species from biomass burning emissions. The goal was to investigate the connection between the composition and the distribution of these pyrogenic outflows and their resulting perturbation to atmospheric chemistry, with particular focus on oxidant species to determine the overall impact on the oxidizing capacity of the free troposphere. Measurements of pyrogenic trace species in Boreal biomass burning plumes were made by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) onboard the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) SCISAT-1 satellite during the BORTAS campaign. Even though most biomass burning smoke is typically confined to the boundary layer, emissions are often injected directly into the upper troposphere via fire-related convective processes, thus allowing space-borne instruments to measure these pyrogenic outflows. An extensive set of 15 molecules, CH3OH, CH4, C2H2, C2H6, C3H6O, CO, HCN, HCOOH, HNO3, H2CO, NO, NO2, OCS, O3 and PAN have been analyzed. Included in this analysis is the calculation of age-dependent sets of enhancement ratios for each of the species.
Mapping Congo Basin vegetation types from 300 m and 1 km multi-sensor time series for carbon stocks and forest areas estimation
Authors: Verhegghen A. , Mayaux P. , de Wasseige C. , Defourny P.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. This study aims to contribute to the understanding of the Congo Basin forests by delivering a detailed map of vegetation types with an improved spatial discrimination and coherence for the whole Congo Basin region. A total of 20 land cover classes were described with the standardized Land Cover Classification System (LCCS) developed by the FAO. Based on a semi-automatic processing chain, the Congo Basin vegetation types map was produced by combining 19 months of observations from the Envisat MERIS full resolution products (300 m) and 8 yr of daily SPOT VEGETATION (VGT) reflectances (1 km). Four zones (north, south and two central) were delineated and processed separately according to their seasonal and cloud cover specificities. The discrimination between different vegetation types (e.g. forest and savannas) was significantly improved thanks to the MERIS sharp spatial resolution. A better discrimination was achieved in cloudy areas by taking advantage of the temporal consistency of the SPOT VGT observations. This resulted in a precise delineation of the spatial extent of the rural complex in the countries situated along the Atlantic coast. Based on this new map, more accurate estimates of the surface areas of forest types were produced for each country of the Congo Basin. Carbon stocks of the Basin were evaluated to a total of 49 360 million metric tons. The regional scale of the map was an opportunity to investigate what could be an appropriate tree cover threshold for a forest class definition in the Congo Basin countries. A 30% tree cover threshold was suggested. Furthermore, the phenology of the different vegetation types was illustrated systematically with EVI temporal profiles. This Congo Basin forest types map reached a satisfactory overall accuracy of 71.5% and even 78.9% when some classes are aggregated. The values of the Cohen's kappa coefficient, respectively 0.64 and 0.76 indicates a result significantly better than random.
Density and distribution of megafauna at the Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano (the Barents Sea) based on image analysis
Authors: Rybakova (Goroslavskaya) E. , Galkin S. , Bergmann M. , Soltwedel T. , Gebruk A.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. During a survey of the Håkon Mosby Mud Volcano (HMMV), located on the Bear Island Fan in the southwest Barents Sea at ~ 1250 m water depth, different habitats inside the volcano caldera and outside it were photographed using a towed camera platform, an Ocean Floor Observation System (OFOS). Three transects were performed across the caldera and one outside, in the background area, each transect was ~ 2 km in length. We compared the density, taxa richness and diversity of non-symbiotrophic megafauna in areas inside the volcano caldera with different bacterial mat and pogonophoran tubeworm cover. Significant variations in megafaunal composition, density and distribution were found between considered areas. Total megafaunal density was highest in areas of dense pogonophoran populations (mean 52.9 ind. m−2) followed by areas of plain light-coloured sediment that were devoid of bacterial mats and tubeworms (mean 37.7 ind. m−2). The lowest densities were recorded in areas of dense bacterial mats (mean ≤ 1.4 ind. m−2). Five taxa contributed to most of the observed variation: the ophiuroid Ophiocten gracilis, lysianassid amphipods, the pycnogonid Nymphon macronix, the caprellid Metacaprella horrida and the fish Lycodes squamiventer. In agreement with previous studies, three zones within the HMMV caldera were distinguished, based on different habitats and megafaunal composition: "bacterial mats", "pogonophoran fields" and "plain light-coloured sediments". The zones were arranged almost concentrically around the central part of the caldera that was devoid of visible megafauna. The total number of taxa showed little variation inside (24 spp.) and outside the caldera (26 spp.). The density, diversity and composition of megafauna varied substantially between plain light-coloured sediment areas inside the caldera and the HMMV background. Megafaunal density was lower in the background (mean 25.3 ind. m−2) compared to areas of plain light-coloured sediments inside the caldera.
Radiative effects of ozone on the climate of a Snowball Earth
Authors: Yang J. , Hu Y. , Peltier W. R.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Some geochemical and geological evidence has been interpreted to suggest that the concentration of atmospheric oxygen was only 1–10 % of the present level in the time interval from 750 to 580 million years ago when several nearly global glaciations or Snowball Earth events occurred. This low concentration of oxygen would have been accompanied by a lower ozone concentration than exists at present. Since ozone is a greenhouse gas, this change in ozone concentration would alter surface temperature, and thereby could have an important influence on the climate of the Snowball Earth. Previous works that have focused either on initiation or deglaciation of the proposed Snowball Earth has not taken the radiative effects of ozone changes into account. We address this issue herein by performing a series of simulations using an atmospheric general circulation model with various ozone concentrations. Our simulation results demonstrate that, as ozone concentration is uniformly reduced from 100 % to 50 %, surface temperature decreases by approximately 0.8 K at the Equator, with the largest decreases located in the middle latitudes reaching as high as 2.5 K. When ozone concentration is reduced and its vertical and horizontal distribution is simultaneously modulated, surface temperature decreases by 0.4–1.0 K at the Equator and by 4–7 K in polar regions. These results here have uncertainties, depending on model parameterizations of cloud, surface snow albedo, and relevant feedback processes, while they are qualitatively consistent with radiative-convective model results that do not involve such parameterizations and feedbacks. These results suggest that ozone variations could have had a moderate impact on the climate during the Neoproterozoic glaciations.
Simulating the temperature and precipitation signal in an Alpine ice core
Authors: Brönnimann S. , Mariani I. , Schwikowski M. , Auchmann R. , Eichler A.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Accumulation and δ18O data from Alpine ice cores provide information on past temperature and precipitation. However, their correlation with seasonal or annual mean temperature and precipitation at nearby sites is often low. Based on an example we argue that, to some extent, this is due to the irregular sampling of the atmosphere by the ice core (i.e. ice cores only record precipitation events and not dry periods) and the possible incongruity between annual layers and calendar year due to dating uncertainty. Using daily meteorological data from nearby stations and reanalyses we replicate the ice core from the Grenzgletscher (Switzerland, 4200 m a.s.l.) on a sample-by-sample basis. Over the last 15 yr of the ice core record, accumulation and δ18O variations can be well reproduced on a sub-seasonal scale. This allows a wiggle-matching approach for defining quasi-annual layers. For this period, correlations between measured and replicated quasi-annual δ18O values approach 0.8. Further back in time, the quality of the agreement deteriorates rapidly. Nevertheless, we find significant correlations for accumulation and precipitation over the entire length of the record (1938–1993), which is not the case when comparing ice core δ18O with annual mean temperature. A Monte Carlo resampling approach of long meteorological time series is used to further explore the relation, in a replicated ice core, between δ18O and annual mean temperature. Results show that meteorologically very different years can lead to quasi-identical values for δ18O. This poses limitations to the use of δ18O from Alpine ice cores for temperature reconstructions in regions with a variable seasonality in precipitation.
Review article "Geo-neutrinos"
Authors: Ludhova L.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. Geo-neutrinos, electron anti-neutrinos produced in β-decays of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes in the Earth, are a unique direct probe of our planet's interior. After a brief introduction about the Earth (mostly for physicists) and the very basics about the neutrinos and anti-neutrinos (mostly for geologists), I describe the geo-neutrino properties and the main aims of their study. An overview of the latest experimental results obtained by KamLAND and Borexino experiments is provided. A short overview of future perspectives of this new inter-disciplinary field is given.
On the use of the Strouhal/Stokes number to explain the dynamics and water column structure on shelf seas
Authors: Souza A. J.
Published: December 2012

Abstract. In recent years coastal oceanographers have suggested the use of the "Strouhal" number or it's inverse the "Stokes" number, which have been defined as the ratios of the frictional depth (δ) to the water column depth (h) or vice versa, to describe the effect of bottom boundary layer turbulence on the vertical structure of both density and currents. Although they have mention that the effects of rotation should be important, they have tended to omit it. This omission may be important when talking about tidal currents as the frictional depth from a fully cyclonic to a fully anticyclonic tidal ellipse can vary up to an order of magnitude in the mid latitudes; so that the stokes number might appear smaller (larger) than it is resulting in frictional effects being underestimated (overestimated). Here a way to calculate a Stokes number, in which the effect of the Earth's rotation is taken into account, is suggested. Then the standard Stokes and the rotational Stokes numbers are used as predictors for the position of the tidal mixing fronts in the Irish Sea. Results show that the rotational number improves prediction of the front in shallow cyclonic areas of the eastern Irish Sea. This suggest that the effect of rotation on the water column structure will be more important in shallow shelf seas and estuaries with strong rotational currents.
Early Failures in Large Head Metal-On-Metal Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Althuizen Martje N.R. , Hooff Miranda L. v. , Erp Saskia H.M. v.d. Berg-v. , Limbeek Jacques v. , Nijhof Marc W.
Published: December 2012

Concerns have recently been raised about large head metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasties (LDH THA). Metal ion release due to wear may cause osteolysis, pseudotumours and necrosis. In addition, fixation of certain acetabular components is thought to be suboptimal.

We present the short term outcome of the Durom LDH THA. Retrospectively, a consecutive series of 64 implants in 60 patients was analysed with a mean follow-up of 37 months.

Clinical and radiological evaluation was performed on a regular basis, followed by additional evaluations when indicated. The 10-year revision percentage was calculated and compared with National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) standards.

Six patients (six hips) underwent cup revision (9%). Four of these cups showed no or minimal bone fixation. Three patients had a pseudotumour. In two revision cases, ALVAL (aseptic lymphocyte-dominated vasculitis-associated lesion) was present.

Lack of bone ingrowth and the presence of ARMD (adverse reaction to metal debris) seem to contribute to a high failure rate of the Durom LDH THA. The predicted ten-year revision rate of 14.2% (95% CI 5.6–22.8) is, given the broad confidence interval, not significantly outside NICE recommended standards. However, it is not clear which factors, if any, predict implant failure. Therefore, we do not advocate the use of this implant.
On Nietzsche's Judgment of Style and Hume's Quixotic Taste: On the Science of Aesthetics and “Playing” the Satyr
Authors: Babich Babette
Published: December 2012

I read Nietzsche's discussion of scholarly judgments of style beginning with his own inaugural lecture at Basel together with David Hume's stylistic reflections in his “On the Standard of Taste.” This casts light both on the context and the substance of Nietzsche's own scholarly concern with the question of style and taste in terms of what Nietzsche called the “science of aesthetics” and consequently of scholarly judgment in both classics (or classical philology, here including archaeology and historiography) and philosophy. I also include a brief discussion of Nietzsche's phenomenological performance practice of dance or playing the “satyr.”
Nietzsche's Use of Amor Fati in Ecce Homo
Authors: Domino Brian
Published: December 2012

In Ecce Homo, Nietzsche flaunts his credentials to convince his readers to take him seriously. At the same time, he needs to counteract the human herd instinct. In the works of 1888, Nietzsche diagnoses humanity as approaching the enervated state of the last men. Nietzsche knows that he is similarly afflicted, so he must do what he can to avoid spreading an infected teaching while trying to improve his readers' health. At the end of “Why I Am So Clever,” he mentions amor fati. By the time his readers reach this section, Nietzsche has made it clear that he has failed to live up to the ideal of amor fati. This failure forces them to question whether he has failed because it's a poor teaching or whether the teaching is a healthy one despite his failings. In either case, Nietzsche succeeds in getting his readers to focus on the teaching, not the teacher.
Daybreak 72: Nietzsche, Epicurus, and the after Death
Authors: Rempel Morgan
Published: December 2012

Dozens of references to Epicurus and Epicureanism can be found in the writings of Nietzsche. Very little scholarly attention, however, has been paid to Nietzsche's particular interest in Epicureanism's relationship to Christianity. One motif within Nietzsche's ruminations on this larger theme is the persuasive opposing view Epicureanism is said to have offered to notions of personal immortality circulating among antiquity's “mystery religions” and nascent Christianity. This article examines Daybreak 72's highly original portrayal of Epicureanism's struggle with these rival “redemption doctrines.” While perhaps not as exciting as teachings of personal immortality and posthumous recompense, Nietzsche concludes that Epicurus's calm, straightforward denial of such ideas was, in fact, “real redemption.”
Theoretical and Experimental Aspects of the Corrosivity of Simulated Soil Solutions
Authors: de Sena Rodrigo Antunes , Bastos Ivan Napoleão , Platt Gustavo Mendes
Published: December 2012

Corrosion of buried steel pipe is a permanent engineering problem and, albeit the counter measures against degradation, when the corrosion process takes place, the damage has costly impact. In order to study the corrosion behavior of pipelines, it is possible to use actual soil extracts or simulated soil solutions. The extract is much related to specific sites and consequently too strict to permit a general understanding. The simulated soil presents, as advantage, its inorganic characteristic and easy preparation. In this paper, we present some theoretical results concerning the chemical equilibria of NS1, NS2, NS3, and NS4 simulated soil solutions. Besides, we have studied the effect of the above four media in corrosion behavior and polarization curves were performed for an API 5L X65 steel. The theoretical findings show that each ionic concentration varies for a 6–12 pH range. The experimental data suggested that the corrosion currents decrease as high is the pH and increase as high is the chloride content. Notwithstanding these facts, for multielectrolyte solutions, a simple correlation with a given ion is not straightforward but the complementary approaches used here give useful insights.
Self-Limited Pneumoporta in the Era of Computed Tomography: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Liao Yu-Tso , Lai Hong-Shee , Hu Rey-Heng , Lee Po-Huang , Ho Cheng-Maw
Published: December 2012

Pneumoporta in patients with abdominal pain has been thought to be suggestive of fatal underlying conditions, such as mesenteric infarct, requiring emergency treatment. Widespread use of computed tomography (CT) has increased the frequency of detection of pneumoporta in patients with diseases other than mesenteric infarct. The natural course of resolution of pneumoporta has been rarely discussed in the literature and mainly focused on patients with iatrogenic diseases. Herein, we report the case of a 64-year-old woman who presented at our emergency department with positive peritoneal signs and pneumoporta. A 10 cm long segment of resolved ischemic bowel was detected on exploratory laparotomy, and bowel resection was not performed. Follow-up CT performed 62 hours later revealed complete resolution of pneumoporta. The patient was discharged uneventfully and was administered short-term prophylactic therapy with enoxaparin for thromboembolism. The epidemiology, etiology, and resolution of pneumoporta are also reviewed.
Performance Updating of Concrete Structures Using Proactive Health Monitoring: A Systems Approach
Authors: Rafiq M. Imran
Published: December 2012

Uncertainties in predictive models for concrete structures performance can influence adversely the timing of management activities. A methodology has been developed that uses data obtained through proactive health monitoring to increase the confidence in predicted performance by reducing the associated uncertainties. Due to temporal and spatial variations associated with climatic changes, exposure conditions, workmanship, and concrete quality, the actual performance could vary at different locations of the member. In this respect, the use of multiple sensors may be beneficial, notwithstanding cost and other constraints. Two distinct cases are identified for which an updating methodology based on data from multiple sensors needs to be developed. In the first case the interest lies in improving the performance prediction for an entire member (or a structure) incorporating spatial and temporal effects. For this purpose, the member is divided into small zones with the assumption that a sensor can be located in each zone. In the second case, the objective is to minimise uncertainties in performance prediction, or to increase the redundancy of health monitoring systems, at critical locations. The development of updating methodologies for the above-mentioned scenarios is described in this paper. Its implications on the management activities, for example, establishing the timing of principal inspections, are evaluated and discussed.
Committee Report: Update on residuals management for low‐pressure membrane filtration
Authors:   AWWA Residuals Management, Residuals Research, and Membrane Subcommittees
Published: December 2012

Application of low‐pressure membrane processes has increased significantly over the past decade; as a result, it is important to provide utilities, regulatory agencies, and water processes engineers examples of lessons learned and how low‐pressure membrane residuals are successfully managed today.
Physical activity advocacy and promotion: The South African experience
Authors: Kolbe-Alexander T , Bull F , Lambert E
Published: December 2012

Background. The global mandate by the WHO World Health Report of 2002, Global Strategy for Diet, Physical Activity and Health, were mirrored by the policy environment in South Africa. The ‘Vuka South Africa – Move for your Health’ campaign was an example of an initiative adopted by national government, promoting physical activity (PA) for health. Methods. This manuscript describes the process, events and lessons learned during the initial phase of Vuka SA from 2004 to 2010. Data were obtained from the grey literature, minutes and reports of meetings and from stakeholders. Results. Utilising a multi-sectoral approach, this initiative was partnered by governmental and non-governmental organisations, the private sector and tertiary institutions. The main anticipated short-term outcome was an increased awareness of the message (‘move for your health’), with a view to achieving increased population levels of participation in health-enhancing physical activity over the long term. Vuka SA was initiated by the National Department of Health and launched in 2005. Subsequently, 36 partner organisations participated in two national workshops, who together with provincial health promoters undertook to promote the campaign. This was followed by an international training course on PA and public health for policy makers and programme implementers, and the subsequent call for the development of an African Physical Activity Network. Discussion. Although the campaign has not yet undergone rigorous evaluation and participation at present appears to be modest, there are promising examples of multi-sectoral awareness and advocacy activities resulting in some national dissemination of the role of PA in health promotion.
A trajetória da democracia socialista: da fundação ao PT
Authors: Angelo Vitor Amorim de
Published: December 2012

Os partidos políticos frequentemente são objetos de estudo nas Ciências Sociais. Entretanto, o mesmo não se pode dizer de suas tendências internas, que pouca atenção têm recebido dos pesquisadores. O livro de Vitor Amorim de Angelo vem justamente cumprir este papel. Com base numa farta documentação, o autor reconstituiu a história da organização trotskista Democracia Socialista, uma das tendências do Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT). Com uma narrativa que não deixa escapar os detalhes dessa trajetória, o livro apresenta ao leitor o fecundo debate travado nos anos 1980 entre as principais correntes do partido, especialmente as trotskistas. Com uma postura sempre conciliatória, a Democracia Socialista não apenas se manteve na legenda, como também cresceu na estrutura partidária. Porém, sem conseguir hegemonizar seu programa dentro do PT, precisou justificar a permanência num partido que não seguiu pelo caminho da revolução.
Terapia assistida por animais (TAA): aplicação no desenvolvimento psicomotor da criança com deficiência intelectual
Authors: Capote Patrícia Sidorenko de Oliveira , Costa Maria da Piedade Resende da
Published: December 2012

É um livro que trata sobre a importância da Terapia Assistida por Animais e sua aplicabilidade. Destina-se a profissionais como psicólogos, pedagogos, terapeutas ocupacionais, professores de Educação Física, entre outros, inclusive pais. Esperamos que esta leitura traga contribuições para melhorar a qualidade de vida da população de crianças com deficiência intelectual no seu desenvolvimento psicomotor.
Biomimetic Multienzyme Complexes Based on Nanoscale Platforms
Authors: Jia Feng , Narasimhan Balaji , Mallapragada Surya K.
Published: December 2012

Significance

Inspired by the widely present multienzyme complexes in nature that enable highly cooperative catalytic mechanisms, we designed a biomimetic dual‐functionalized nanoparticle‐based platform for colocalizing multiple enzymes. The use of nanoscale materials together with a novel sequential colocalization approach with two model enzymes [glucose oxidase (GOX) and horseradish peroxidase] resulted in a 100% increase in the overall conversion rate compared to the equivalent amount of free enzymes in solution and a physical mixture of individual immobilized enzymes on nanoparticles. GOX is an important enzyme used in glucose biosensors for diagnostics. Colocalizing GOX with peroxidase allows for colorimetric visualization of the peroxide formed that enables monitoring glucose levels in solution. This platform can be readily applicable to other multienzyme systems as well. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 355–360, 2013
Photoactivatable Prodrugs of Highly Potent Duocarmycin Analogues for a Selective Cancer Therapy
Authors: Tietze Lutz F. , Müller Michael , Duefert Svenia‐C. , Schmuck Kianga , Schuberth Ingrid
Published: December 2012

A main problem of common cancer chemotherapy is the occurrence of severe side effects caused by insufficient selectivity of the applied drugs. A possible concept to overcome this limitation is light‐driven prodrug monotherapy. The synthesis as well as photochemical and biological evaluation of new photoactivatable prodrugs is described. Best results were obtained with prodrug (S,S)‐7 a. The photochemical labile protecting groups in (S,S)‐7 a can easily be removed by irradiation with UV‐A light in 30 min with a power of only 2 J cm−2. The determination of the in vitro cytotoxicity by using an HTCFA‐test reveals a QIC50 value of 8200 and the prodrug is more than two million times less cytotoxic than the corresponding seco‐drug (−)‐(S,S)‐5 with an IC50 value of about 110 fM. The big therapeutic window makes (S,S)‐7 a very suitable for its use in selective cancer therapy.