bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CONSTITUTIVE EQUATION OF BLOOD: A MESOMECHANICAL MODEL
Authors: KAFKA VRATISLAV
Published: September 2009

The general author's mesomechanical concept is applied to constitutive modeling of rheological behavior of human blood. The thermomechanical properties of blood are very complicated and their mathematical modeling — although studied for many years — deserves still attention, as phenomenological descriptions do not seem to achieve the due generality and accuracy. Our mesomechanical approach is rooted within the mesoscale description of the substructure of erythrocyte aggregates and their changes in the course of different time-dependent loading paths. Good agreement of the outcomes of our model with experimental findings received under complicated conditions corroborates the usefulness of this approach.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE "PENETRATION-" AND THE "FILLING-RATIOS" ON THE PULL-OUT STRENGTH OF TRANSPEDICULAR SCREWS
Authors: KOURKOULIS S. K. , CHATZISTERGOS P.
Published: September 2009

The stress field developed in the human lumbar vertebral bone due to the presence of transpedicular fixation screws is studied in an attempt to quantify the force required to pull the screw out of the bone. The study is focused on the pure pull-out phenomenon, namely the case in which the external loads act parallel to the longitudinal axis of the screw. The parameters considered are the penetration ratio, i.e. the ratio of the screw length divided by the distance from the posterior pedicle entrance site to the anterior vertebral cortex, and the filling ratio, i.e. the ratio of the major diameter of the screw divided by the transverse diameter of the pedicle. The study is carried out numerically with the aid of the finite element method. The analysis takes into account both the variation of the mechanical properties of the bone in terms of the distance from its surface as well as the geometrical details of a typical transpedicular screw. The results of the analysis are compared with existing experimental data from the literature and the comparison is very satisfactory.
ISOMETRY GROUPS OF WEIGHTED SPACES OF HOLOMORPHIC FUNCTIONS: TRANSITIVITY AND UNIQUENESS
Authors: Boyd Christopher , Rueda Pilar
Published: September 2009

We survey some recent results on the isometries of weighted spaces of holomorphic functions defined on an open subset of ℂn. We will see that these isometries are determined by a subgroup of the automorphisms on a distinguished subset of the domain. We will look for weights with 'large' groups of isometries and observe that in certain circumstances the group of isometries determines the weight.
HOLOMORPHIC NEAR INVERSES
Authors: Dineen Seán , Venkova Milena
Published: September 2009

In this article we show that holomorphic Fredholm-valued mappings defined on connected pseudo-convex domains in Banach spaces with unconditional basis always have meromorphic generalised inverses. We show they have holomorphic generalised inverses if and only if the kernels have the same dimension at all points in Ω.
ON WEAK*-CLOSED INNER IDEALS IN JBW*-TRIPLES
Authors: Isidoro José M. , Jiménez Garcia Alfonso
Published: September 2009

We continue the study of the relations between the set Tri (A) of all tripotents in an arbitrary JBW *-triple A and the set of weak*-closed inner ideals in A. Particular attention is paid to the subset of those weak*-closed inner ideals that are principal.
Trust and nuanced profile similarity in online social networks
Authors: Golbeck Jennifer
Published: September 2009

Online social networks, where users maintain lists of friends and express their preferences for items like movies, music, or books, are very popular. The Web-based nature of this information makes it ideal for use in a variety of intelligent systems that can take advantage of the users' social and personal data. For those systems to be effective, however, it is important to understand the relationship between social and personal preferences. In this work we investigate features of profile similarity and how those relate to the way users determine trust. Through a controlled study, we isolate several profile features beyond overall similarity that affect how much subjects trust hypothetical users. We then use data from FilmTrust, a real social network where users rate movies, and show that the profile features discovered in the experiment allow us to more accurately predict trust than when using only overall similarity. In this article, we present these experimental results and discuss the potential implications for using trust in user interfaces.
Dynamic memory balancing for virtual machines
Authors: Zhao Weiming , Wang Zhenlin , Luo Yingwei
Published: September 2009

Virtualization essentially enables multiple operating systems and applications to run on one physical computer by multiplexing hardware resources. A key motivation for applying virtualization is to improve hardware resource utilization while maintaining reasonable quality of service. However, such a goal cannot be achieved without efficient resource management. Though most physical resources, such as processor cores and I/O devices, are shared among virtual machines using time slicing and can be scheduled flexibly based on priority, allocating an appropriate amount of main memory to virtual machines is more challenging. Different applications have different memory requirements. Even a single application shows varied working set sizes during its execution. An optimal memory management strategy under a virtualized environment thus needs to dynamically adjust memory allocation for each virtual machine, which further requires a prediction model that forecasts its host physical memory needs on the fly. This paper introduces MEmory Balancer (MEB) which dynamically monitors the memory usage of each virtual machine, accurately predicts its memory needs, and periodically reallocates host memory. MEB uses two effective memory predictors which, respectively, estimate the amount of memory available for reclaiming without a notable performance drop, and additional memory required for reducing the virtual machine paging penalty. Our experimental results show that our prediction schemes yield high accuracy and low overhead. Furthermore, the overall system throughput can be significantly improved with MEB.
Dynamic displays
Authors: Harrison Chris , Hudson Scott
Published: September 2009

While touchscreens allow extensive programmability and have become ubiquitous in today's gadgetry, such configurations lack the tactile sensations and feedback that physical buttons provide. As a result, these devices require more attention to use than their button-enabled counterparts. Still, the displays provide the ultimate interface flexibility and thus afford a much larger design space to application developers.
USP19-deubiquitinating enzyme regulates levels of major myofibrillar proteins in L6 muscle cells
Authors: Sundaram Priyanka , Pang Zhiyu , Miao Miao , Yu Lu , Wing Simon S.
Published: September 2009

The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays an important role in the degradation of myofibrillar proteins that occurs in muscle wasting. Many studies have demonstrated the importance of enzymes mediating conjugation of ubiquitin. However, little is known about the role of deubiquitinating enzymes. We previously showed that the USP19-deubiquitinating enzyme is induced in atrophying skeletal muscle (Combaret L, Adegoke OA, Bedard N, Baracos V, Attaix D, Wing SS. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 288: E693–E700, 2005). To further explore the role of USP19, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) in L6 muscle cells. Lowering USP19 by 70–90% in myotubes resulted in a 20% decrease in the rate of proteolysis and an 18% decrease in the rate of protein synthesis, with no net change in protein content. Despite the decrease in overall synthesis, there were ∼1.5-fold increases in protein levels of myosin heavy chain (MHC), actin, and troponin T and a ∼2.5-fold increase in tropomyosin. USP19 depletion also increased MHC and tropomyosin mRNA levels, suggesting that this effect is due to increased transcription. Consistent with this, USP19 depletion increased myogenin protein and mRNA levels approximately twofold. Lowering myogenin using siRNA prevented the increase in MHC and tropomyosin upon USP19 depletion, indicating that myogenin mediated the increase in myofibrillar proteins. Dexamethasone treatment lowered MHC and increased USP19. Depletion of USP19 reversed the dexamethasone suppression of MHC. These studies demonstrate that USP19 modulates transcription of major myofibrillar proteins and indicate that the ubiquitin system not only mediates the increased protein breakdown but is also involved in the decreased protein synthesis in atrophying skeletal muscle.
Increased susceptibility of aged hearts to ventricular fibrillation during oxidative stress
Authors: Morita Norishige , Sovari Ali A. , Xie Yuanfang , Fishbein Michael C. , Mandel William J. , Garfinkel Alan , Lin Shien-Fong , Chen Peng-Sheng , Xie Lai-Hua , Chen Fuhua , Qu Zhilin , Weiss James N. , Karagueuzian Hrayr S.
Published: September 2009

Oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) readily promotes early afterdepolarizations (EADs) and triggered activity (TA) in isolated rat and rabbit ventricular myocytes. Here we examined the effects of H2O2on arrhythmias in intact Langendorff rat and rabbit hearts using dual-membrane voltage and intracellular calcium optical mapping and glass microelectrode recordings. Young adult rat (3–5 mo, N = 25) and rabbit (3–5 mo, N = 6) hearts exhibited no arrhythmias when perfused with H2O2(0.1–2 mM) for up to 3 h. However, in 33 out of 35 (94%) aged (24–26 mo) rat hearts, 0.1 mM H2O2caused EAD-mediated TA, leading to ventricular tachycardia (VT) and fibrillation (VF). Aged rabbits (life span, 8–12 yr) were not available, but 4 of 10 middle-aged rabbits (3–5 yr) developed EADs, TA, VT, and VF. These arrhythmias were suppressed by the reducing agent N-acetylcysteine (2 mM) and CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 (1 μM) but not by its inactive form (KN-92, 1 μM). There were no significant differences between action potential duration (APD) or APD restitution slope before or after H2O2in aged or young adult rat hearts. In histological sections, however, trichrome staining revealed that aged rat hearts exhibited extensive fibrosis, ranging from 10–90%; middle-aged rabbit hearts had less fibrosis (5–35%), whereas young adult rat and rabbit hearts had <4% fibrosis. In aged rat hearts, EADs and TA arose most frequently (70%) from the left ventricular base where fibrosis was intermediate (∼30%). Computer simulations in two-dimensional tissue incorporating variable degrees of fibrosis showed that intermediate (but not mild or severe) fibrosis promoted EADs and TA. We conclude that in aged ventricles exposed to oxidative stress, fibrosis facilitates the ability of cellular EADs to emerge and generate TA, VT, and VF at the tissue level.
GPS Satellite Kinematic Relative Positioning: Analyzing and Improvingthe Functional Mathematical Model Using Wavelets
Authors: Souza Eniuce Menezes de , Monico João Francisco Galera , Pagamisse Aylton
Published: September 2009

Although GPS kinematic relative positioning can provide high accuracy, GPS observables, like any other kind of measurement, are not free of errors. Indeed, they have several kinds of errors. In this paper, we show how to construct a functional mathematical model within the context of a Kalman Filter in order to eliminate most of these errors. Furthermore, we discuss how the multipath effect, a kind of error not modeled in the functional model, can be corrected using the proposed wavelet method. The behavior of the double difference functional model in the kinematic mode is also demonstrated and analyzed aiming to provide better insight into the problem. The results obtained from the multipath experiments were very promising and are presented here.
Intra–Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Hypothermia With and Without Volume Loading in an Ischemic Model of Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Yannopoulos Demetris , Zviman Menekhem , Castro Valeria , Kolandaivelu Aravindan , Ranjan Ravi , Wilson Robert F. , Halperin Henry R.
Published: September 2009

Background—

We investigated the effects of intra–cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) hypothermia with and without volume loading on return to spontaneous circulation and infarction size in an ischemic model of cardiac arrest.

Methods and Results—

Using a distal left anterior descending artery occlusion model of cardiac arrest followed by resuscitation with a total of 120 minutes of occlusion and 90 minutes of reperfusion, we randomized 46 pigs into 5 groups and used myocardial staining to define area at risk and myocardial necrosis. Group A had no intervention. Immediately after return of spontaneous circulation, group B received surface cooling with cooling blankets and ice. Group C received intra-CPR 680±23 mL of 28°C 0.9% normal saline via a central venous catheter. Group D received intra-CPR 673±26 mL of 4°C normal saline followed by surface cooling after return of spontaneous circulation. Group E received intra-CPR and hypothermia after return of spontaneous circulation with an endovascular therapeutic hypothermia system placed in the right atrium and set at a target of 32°C. Intra-CPR volume loading with room temperature (group C) or iced saline (group D) significantly (
P
<0.05) decreased coronary perfusion pressure (group C, 12.8±4.78 mm Hg; group D, 14.6±9.9 mm Hg) compared with groups A, B, and E (20.6±8.2, 20.1±7.8, and 21.3±12.4 mm Hg). Return of spontaneous circulation was significantly improved in group E (9 of 9) compared with groups A plus B and C (10 of 18 and 1 of 8). The percent infarction to the area at risk was significantly reduced with intra-CPR hypothermia in groups D (24.3±4.2%) and E (4±3.4%) compared with groups A (72±5.1%) and B (67.3±4.2%).

Conclusions—

Intra-CPR hypothermia significantly reduces myocardial infarction size. Elimination of volume loading further improves outcomes.
Accelerated Telomere Shortening in Leukocyte Subpopulations of Patients With Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Spyridopoulos Ioakim , Hoffmann Jedrzej , Aicher Alexandra , Brümmendorf Tim H. , Doerr Hans W. , Zeiher Andreas M. , Dimmeler Stefanie
Published: September 2009

Background—

Shortening of mean telomere length (TL) in white blood cells is correlated with the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) and with increased mortality due to infectious disease. The goal of the present study was to investigate whether telomere shortening in CHD is restricted to specific peripheral blood lymphocyte and/or myeloid cell subpopulations. Results were correlated to TL in CD34
+
hematopoietic peripheral blood stem cells and progenitor cells obtained from the same individual patients.

Methods and Results—

TL was measured by multicolor flow cytometry–fluorescent in situ hybridization in 12 leukocyte subpopulations after immunomagnetic bead sorting. We investigated TL in 14 young (mean age 25 years) and 13 older (mean age 65 years) healthy male volunteers and in 25 age-matched patients with CHD (mean age 65 years). We show that TL in granulocytes and monocytes mirrors TL of CD34
+
peripheral blood stem cells and progenitor cells extremely well (
r
=0.95,
P
<0.0001) in patients and in healthy adults. TL was ≈0.5 kilobases (kb) shorter in leukocytes from patients with CHD than in their age-matched control subjects. This difference was identical for CD34
+
peripheral blood stem cells and progenitor cells, monocytes, granulocytes, B lymphocytes, and CD4
+
T cells, including their memory and naïve subpopulations. Surprisingly, only in cytotoxic CD8
+
T lymphocytes, we found a substantially increased TL deficit of 1.0 kb in CHD patients as opposed to control subjects. Further analysis revealed that TL shortening was particularly pronounced in CD8
+
CD28
−
T cells obtained from cytomegalovirus-seropositive CHD patients, whereas such a difference was not observed in healthy cytomegalovirus-positive as opposed to cytomegalovirus-negative control subjects. Finally, TL shortening of CD8
+
CD45
RA+
T cells was correlated with the decrease in left ventricular function in CHD patients (
r
=0.629,
P
=0.001).

Conclusions—

Telomere shortening in patients with CHD could potentially be attributed to either inherited TL shortening or acquired accelerated telomere shortening restricted to the hematopoietic system, which affects the baseline TL of all peripheral blood cell populations, including peripheral blood stem cells and progenitor cells. In addition, cytomegalovirus-seropositive patients but not healthy control subjects exhibited further shortening of their cytotoxic T lymphocytes. Surprisingly, TL shortening of CD8
+
T lymphocytes in CHD patients demonstrated a very strong correlation with cardiac dysfunction, which suggests a mechanistic link between CHD and immunosenescence.
Prenatal Dexamethasone Exposure Does Not Alter Blood Pressure and Nephron Number in the Young Adult Marmoset Monkey
Authors: Bramlage Carsten Paul , Schlumbohm Christina , Pryce Christopher Robert , Mirza Serkan , Schnell Christian , Amann Kerstin , Amstrong Victor William , Eitner Frank , Zapf Antonia , Feldon Joram , Oellerich Michael , Fuchs Eberhard , Müller Gerhard Anton , Strutz Frank
Published: September 2009

The influence of prenatal factors on the development of arterial hypertension has gained considerable interest in recent years. Prenatal dexamethasone exposure was found to induce hypertension and to alter nephron number and size in rodents and sheep. However, it is not clear whether these findings are applicable to nonhuman primates. Thus, we examined the effects of prenatal dexamethasone treatment on blood pressure (BP) and nephron number in marmoset monkeys. Fifty-two marmosets were allotted to 3 groups according to the gestational stage during which their mothers were exposed to oral 5-mg/kg dexamethasone for 7 days (gestation period: 20 weeks): (1) the early dexamethasone group at week 7; (2) the late dexamethasone group at week 13; and (3) the control group. BP was determined by telemetric (n=12) or cuff measurements (n=30), along with cystatin C, proteinuria, and body weight. All of the animals were euthanized at the age of 24 months, and glomerular number and volume were determined. Prenatal exposure to dexamethasone did not lead to a significant difference between the groups with regard to BP, kidney morphology and function, or body weight. BP correlated significantly with body weight, relative kidney weight, and mean glomerular volume and the body weight with the glomerular volume regardless of dexamethasone treatment. In conclusion, prenatal exposure to dexamethasone in marmosets does not, in contrast to other mammals studied, result in hypertension or changes in kidney morphology. Our data support the role of body weight as a predictor of elevated glomerular volume and BP development rather than prenatal dexamethasone exposure.
A Component-based Simulator for MIPS32 Processors
Authors: Yu Chen  , Sarjoughian Hessam S.
Published: September 2009

Processor concepts, implementation details, and performance analysis are fundamental in computer architecture education, and MIPS (microprocessor without interlocked pipeline stages) processor designs are used by many universities in teaching the subject. In this paper we present a MIPS32 processor simulator, which enriches students’ learning and instructors’ teaching experiences. A family of single-cycle, multi-cycle, and pipeline processor models for the MIPS32 architecture are developed according to the parallel Discrete Event System Specification (DEVS) modeling formalism. A collection of elementary sequential and combinational model components along with the processor models are implemented in DEVS-Suite. The simulator supports multi-level model abstractions, register-transfer level animation, performance data collection, and time-based trajectory observation. These features, which are partially supported by a few existing simulators, enable important structural and behavioral details of computer architectures to be described and understood. The MIPS processor models can be reused and systematically extended for modeling and simulating other MIPS processors.
Optimized Policies for the Retransmission Probabilities in Slotted Aloha
Authors: Chakraborty Anshuk , Bhatnagar Shalabh
Published: September 2009

In this paper, we study the behaviour of the slotted Aloha multiple access scheme with a finite number of users under different traffic loads and optimize the retransmission probability qr for various settings, cost objectives and policies. First, we formulate the problem as a parameter optimization problem and use certain efficient smoothed functional algorithms for finding the optimal retransmission probability parameter. Next, we propose two classes of multi-level closed-loop feedback policies (for finding in each case the retransmission probability qr that now depends on the current system state) and apply the above algorithms for finding an optimal policy within each class of policies. While one of the policy classes depends on the number of backlogged nodes in the system, the other depends on the number of time slots since the last successful transmission. The latter policies are more realistic as it is difficult to keep track of the number of backlogged nodes at each instant. We investigate the effect of increasing the number of levels in the feedback policies. We also investigate the effects of using different cost functions (with and without penalization) in our algorithms and the corresponding change in the throughput and delay using these. Both of our algorithms use two-timescale stochastic approximation. One of the algorithms uses one simulation while the other uses two simulations of the system. The two-simulation algorithm is seen to perform better than the other algorithm. Optimal multi-level closed-loop policies are seen to perform better than optimal open-loop policies. The performance further improves when more levels are used in the feedback policies.
Effects of Air Temperature, Relative Humidity, and Wind Speed on Water Vapor Transmission Rate of Fabrics
Authors: Jianhua Huang  , Yubo Chen
Published: September 2009

The primary environmental variables which influence the water vapor transmission rate of fabrics include air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed. The combined quantitative effects of air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed have been explored. The air temperature varied from 10 °C to 30 °C in 5 °C-intervals. The relative humidity ranged from 0% to 50%. The wind speed was from 0.1 m/s to 0.4 m/s. A new test method was employed to measure the water vapor transmission rate of four typical fabrics exposed under 120 conditions of combinations of relative humidity and wind speed with air temperature. The results showed that high air temperature, low relative humidity, and high wind speed led to high water vapor transmission rate. The exponential equations were obtained from the whole database based on the multiple nonlinear regression analysis, resulting in a generalized quantitative description of various effects on the water vapor permeability of fabrics. The prediction quality was good, as the regression equations provided high correlation coefficients and low standard errors of the estimate. The prediction values from the regression equations agreed well with the experimental results.
A Hybrid Planning Process for Improving Fabric Utilization
Authors: Wong W.K. , Leung S. Y. S
Published: September 2009

In the textile and clothing industry, marker planning is a critical operation in the fabric-cutting room, in which pattern pieces of different sizes and styles of a garment are laid out on a sheet of paper with fixed width and arbitrary length in order to achieve the highest fabric utilization (marker efficiency). The layout always contains areas of unusable fabric due to the irregular shapes of garment pattern pieces. The minimization of fabric wastage is crucial to the reduction of production costs. In this study, a methodology that hybridizes a heuristic packing (HP) approach based on grid approximation with an integer representation-based (µ + λ) evolutionary strategy (ES) is proposed in order to obtain an efficient layout of garment patterns so as to optimize the fabric utilization. The performance of the proposed methodology is validated by the experiments and the results demonstrate that the proposed method provides an effective means by which to increase the marker efficiency.
Properties of Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Membranes and Chemically-activated Carbon Nanofibers
Authors: Liu Wei , Adanur Sabit
Published: September 2009

Electrospinning was used to make activated carbon nanofibers with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as the precursor. The applied voltage was found to be more influential on electrospun PAN fiber diameters than the flow rate and needle tip-collector distance. Tensile load and tear strength of electrospun PAN membranes increased with thickness, accompanied with a decrease in air permeability; however, burst strength was not significantly influenced by the thickness. Electrospun PAN nanofiber membranes were stabilized in air and then activated at 800°C with KOH as the activating agent to make activated carbon nanofibers. Stabilized PAN membranes showed different breaking behaviors from those before stabilization. The maximum tensile stress of the stabilized PAN membranes from different concentrations was affected differently by the stabilization process. The resulting activated carbon nanofibers had no C ≡ N bond. The activation process generated micropores which contributed to a large surface area of 936.2 m2/g and a micropore volume of 0.59 cc/g. Pore size distributions of electrospun PAN and activated carbon nanofibers were analyzed based on the Dubinin-Astakhov equation and the generalized Halsey equation. The results showed that activated carbon nanofibers had many more micropores than electrospun PAN, increasing their potential applications in adsorption.
Prediction of Dimensional Changes in Circular Knitted Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Ulson de Souza Antônio Augusto , Cabral Cherem Luiz Felipe , Souza Selene M. A. Guelli U.
Published: September 2009

Cotton fiber continues to be the most important textile fiber in the world; however, in contrast to its excellent attributes of comfort, knit fabrics produced in cotton have a high degree of dimensional instability. In this study, a knowledge database of the relaxation process of cotton knit fabrics, during all phases of their production up to the finished textile, has been developed. To obtain cotton knit fabrics with dimensional stability, apart from controlling the manufacturing process, a development system is required which simulates all of the process variables. This can be used to select the characteristics of the raw material, machines and processes which best attend to the quality needs of the client. This procedure allows the final quality of the product to be determined in advance without the need to generate costs and wastages with experimental lots.
Design of a Novel Filament with Vapor Absorption Capacity Without Creating Any Feeling of Wetness
Authors: Ucar Nuray , Beskisiz Emre , Demir Ali
Published: September 2009

The aim of this study is to design and develop a novel filament that can absorb water vapor but does not cause any feeling of wetness to the person who touches it. Thus, a polypropylene fiber which absorbs no water vapor (0%) may be used as an outer surface while SAP (super absorbent polymer) may be used as a filler placed into the cavity of the filament in order to absorb the required excessive amount of water vapor. It has been proven that the developed novel filament with SAP filler could absorb water vapor, without creating any feeling of wetness. It has been observed that while a filament with SAP absorbs 8% water vapor providing a dry sense on the outer surface of the filament, a filament without SAP absorbs 0% water vapor. All samples dried in about 20—30 minutes following the first water absorption test. The dry cleaning process caused a decrease in water vapor absorption capacity at a ratio of up to 50%. The amount of SAP, the number of filaments in the filament bundle and the covering density on the filament bundle affected the absorption capacity at statistically significant levels.
Effect of Overspray Treatments on the Processing Efficiency of a 50/50 Flax/Cotton Blend
Authors: Gamble Gary , Foulk Jonn
Published: September 2009

Limited studies exist related to the short-staple spinning of flax ( Linum usitatissimum L.) and cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium barbadense) blends. The purpose of this study was to determine if various surface chemical treatments, including water, salt solution, and a suspension of polymer encapsulated silica nanoparticles applied via rotor spraying techniques were either detrimental or beneficial to spinning. Results indicate that neither yarn processing efficiency nor yarn quality appears to be significantly influenced by any of the spray applications in the case of 100% cotton. However, in the case of the flax blend yarns studied, processing efficiencies were impacted with fewer ends-down in the case of the nanoparticle solution in conjunction with significant yarn quality improvements. In addition, the application of a potassium malate salt solution also appears to significantly impact the amount of foreign matter present in the sliver, possibly due to anti-static effects. The beneficial effects produced are such that the application of chemical over-sprays appears to be a viable option for textile mills wanting to spin flax more efficiently. Results also indicate that chemical overspraying can be beneficial to yarn properties, but additional research is needed for the optimization of this practice.
The Transformational Potential of Public Policy Discourse
Authors: Motion Judy , Leitch Shirley
Published: September 2009

In this paper we examine the relationship between public policy, legitimacy and organizational identity in the context of a societal controversy. Public policy is theorized as a mode for effecting discourse transformations which offer new possibilities and rules for organizational legitimacy and societal relations. Our study highlights the legitimating function of public policy formation processes and possible legitimacy-appreciating and-depreciating identity attributes for organizations at the centre of controversy. We develop a macro-level understanding of discursive legitimacy and organizational identity, examining the broader societal context and associated democratic implications of power/knowledge and truth claims.
Labour, exchange and recognition: Marx contra Honneth
Authors: Borman David A.
Published: September 2009

This article explores Marx’s contention that the achievement of full personhood and, not just consequently, but simultaneously, of genuine intersubjectivity depends upon the attainment of recognition for one’s place in the social division of labour, recognition which is systematically denied to some individuals and groups of individuals through the capitalist organization of production and exchange. This reading is then employed in a critique of Axel Honneth’s theory of recognition which, it is argued, cannot account for the systematic obstacles faced by some struggles for recognition.
Attorney Perspectives and Decisions on the Presentence Investigation Report
Authors: Fiftal Alarid Leanne , Montemayor Carlos D.
Published: September 2009

Presentence investigation reports (PSIRs) are still used as an important component in some sentencing recommendations. Perspectives on the utility of the PSIR have typically focused on probation officers and less so on attorneys who use the document in plea negotiations and in sentencing recommendations. This study examines the importance of the PSIR for 57 prosecutors and 16 defense attorneys. Findings indicate that adult record, history of probation/parole, victim-impact statements, official version of offense, gang affiliation, and pending cases were viewed as important for prosecutors than for defense attorneys when preparing sentencing recommendations using the PSIR. Implications of these findings will be discussed.
Movement as utopia
Authors: Couton Philippe , López José Julián
Published: September 2009

Opposition to utopianism on ontological and political grounds has seemingly relegated it to a potentially dangerous form of antiquated idealism. This conclusion is based on a restrictive view of utopia as excessively ordered panoptic discursive constructions. This overlooks the fact that, from its inception, movement has been central to the utopian tradition. The power of utopianism indeed resides in its ability to instantiate the tension between movement and place that has marked social transformations in the modern era. This tension continues in contemporary discussions of movement-based social processes, particularly international migration and related identity formations, such as open borders transnationalism and cosmopolitanism. Understood as such, utopia remains an ongoing and powerful, albeit problematic instrument of social and political imagination.
An Experimental Study of Self-diagnosis of Interlaminar Damage in Carbon-fiber Composites
Authors: Ngabonziza Y. , Ergun H. , Kuznetsova R. , Li J. , Liaw B.M. , Delale F. , Chung J.H.
Published: September 2009

An experimental study was conducted to sense interlaminar delamination in carbon-fiber composites utilizing inherent material piezoresistivity. Mode I and II interlaminar fracture tests were carried out on double cantilever beam and end-notched-flexure specimens following ASTM standards. The traditional DC-sourcing two-point probe technique was employed to measure the through-thickness electrical resistance change. For comparison, optical marker method and acoustic emission technique were also applied to detect interlaminar crack growth. The investigation demonstrates the application potential of the self-sensing capabilities of carbon-fiber composites for structural health monitoring.
Resilience and Well-being in College Students With and Without a Diagnosis of ADHD
Authors: Wilmshurst Linda , Peele Marella , Wilmshurst Luke
Published: September 2009

Objective: The study examines psychological well-being and self-concept in college students diagnosed with ADHD. Method: We surveyed 17 undergraduate college students with ADHD and 19 undergraduate controls concerning academic and emotional support received from family and friends. All students completed the Connor’s Continuous Performance Test (CPT-II), Connor’s Adult Rating Scale (CAARS), Tennessee Self-Concept Scale (TSCS:2) and Psychological Well-Being Scale (PWB). Results: Between group differences were significant for the CAARS and CPT-II, but not total self-concept (TSC) or global PWB. The strongest predictors for TSC were e nvironmental mastery (PWB) for the ADHD group and positive relations with others (PWB) for the controls. Students with ADHD reported significantly higher paternal support than controls who reported significantly greater support from friends. Conclusion: College students with a diagnosis of ADHD may represent an especially resilient group. Future studies should investigate competencies of students with ADHD who have achieved success against the odds.
Season of birth and not vitamin D receptor promoter polymorphisms is a risk factor for multiple sclerosis
Authors: de Abreu DA Fernandes , Babron I MC , Rebeix C. , Fontenille J. , Yaouanq D. , Brassat B. , Fontaine F. , Clerget-Darpoux F. , Jehan F. , Feron
Published: September 2009

Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to multiple sclerosis, the most common neurodegenerative disorder with onset in young adults. The objective of the current study is, based on the hypothesis that environmentally predisposed individuals are at risk for multiple sclerosis, to investigate whether they also carry genetic variants within the vitamin D machinery. Using medical files and DNA samples from 583 trios (a patient and both parents) of the French Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Group as well as data from the French Statistics Bureau, we aimed to assess whether: (1) a seasonality of birth was observed in French multiple sclerosis patients; (2) three single nucleotide polymorphisms within the promoter region of the vitamin D receptor were associated with multiple sclerosis susceptibility; and (3) the combination of a high risk month of birth and vitamin D receptor polymorphisms were correlated to multiple sclerosis incidence. We observed a significantly reduced number of individuals born in November who were later diagnosed as multiple sclerosis patients. However, we found no association between the three studied vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and multiple sclerosis. In conclusion, our data suggest that high levels of vitamin D during the third trimester of pregnancy could be a protective factor for multiple sclerosis.
Development of a student health questionnaire: the necessity of a symbiosis of science and practice
Authors: Boot Cécile R. L. , Donders Nathalie C. G. M. , Vonk Peter , Meijman Frans J.
Published: September 2009

Rationale, aims and objectives: University students report more health complaints than their working peers, but do not appear to seek help for these problems. This stresses the importance of early detection. The aim of this study was to obtain information on indicators of health associated with academic functioning to develop a preliminary health surveillance questionnaire. In addition, we aimed to gain insight in the additional value of adding experience-based information from the priority population, and individuals in their direct environment, to the knowledge gained from the scientific literature. Method: First, a review of literature on indicators of health associated with academic functioning was conducted. Next, interviews were held with students (n = 11) and two groups of significant others with professional experience in student health care: general practitioners (n = 9) and practice assistants (n = 8). Results and conclusions: A health surveillance questionnaire to detect students with health problems associated with academic functioning should consist of questions on social support, general health, physical health, psychological health, study-related issues and health, help-seeking behaviour and life events in the past. Experiences from practice should be integrated when developing a questionnaire. (Global Health Promotion, 2009; 16(3): pp. 35-44)
Anti-CD3 antibodies modulate anti–factor VIII immune responses in hemophilia A mice after factor VIII plasmid-mediated gene therapy
Authors: Peng Baowei , Ye Peiqing , Rawlings David J. , Ochs Hans D. , Miao Carol H.
Published: September 2009

One major obstacle in gene therapy is the generation of immune responses directed against transgene product. Five consecutive anti-CD3 treatments concomitant with factor VIII (FVIII) plasmid injection prevented the formation of inhibitory antibodies against FVIII and achieved persistent, therapeutic levels of FVIII gene expression in treated hemophilia A mice. Repeated plasmid gene transfer is applicable in tolerized mice without eliciting immune responses. Anti-CD3 treatment significantly depleted both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, whereas increased transforming growth factor-β levels in plasma and the frequency of both CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ and CD4+CD25−Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in the initial few weeks after treatment. Although prior depletion of CD4+CD25+ cells did not abrogate tolerance induction, adoptive transfer of CD4+ cells from tolerized mice at 6 weeks after treatment protected recipient mice from anti-FVIII immune responses. Anti-CD3–treated mice mounted immune responses against both T-dependent and T-independent neo-antigens, indicating that anti-CD3 did not hamper the immune systems in the long term. Concomitant FVIII plasmid + anti-CD3 treatment induced long-term tolerance specific to FVIII via a mechanism involving the increase in transforming growth factor-β levels and the generation of adaptive FVIII-specific CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells at the periphery. Furthermore, anti-CD3 can reduce the titers of preexisting anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies in hemophilia A mice.
Control of CD56 expression and tumor cell cytotoxicity in human Vγ2Vδ2 T cells
Authors: Urban Elizabeth M , Li Haishan , Armstrong Cheryl , Focaccetti Chiara , Cairo Cristiana , Pauza C David
Published: September 2009

Background

In lymphocyte subsets, expression of CD56 (neural cell adhesion molecule-1) correlates with cytotoxic effector activity. For cells bearing the Vγ2Vδ2 T cell receptor, isoprenoid pyrophosphate stimulation leads to uniform activation and proliferation, but only a fraction of cells express CD56 and display potent cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. Our goal was to show whether CD56 expression was regulated stochastically, similar to conventional activation antigens, or whether CD56 defined a lineage of cells committed to the cytotoxic phenotype.

Results

Tracking individual cell clones defined by their Vγ2 chain CDR3 region sequences, we found that CD56 was expressed on precursor cytotoxic T cells already present in the population irrespective of their capacity to proliferate after antigen stimulation. Public T cell receptor sequences found in the CD56+ subset from one individual might appear in the CD56- subset of another donor. The commitment of individual clones to CD56+ or CD56- lineages was stable for each donor over a 1 year interval.

Conclusion

The ability to express CD56 was not predicted by TCR sequence or by the strength of signal received by the TCR. For γδ T cells, cytotoxic effector function is acquired when cytotoxic precursors within the population are stimulated to proliferate and express CD56. Expression of CD56 defines a committed lineage to the cytotoxic phenotype.
Antimicrobial resistance profiling and molecular subtyping of Campylobacterspp. from processed turkey
Authors: Lutgen Ellen M , McEvoy John M , Sherwood Julie S , Logue Catherine M
Published: September 2009

Background

Campylobacter is a major cause of human disease worldwide and poultry are identified as a significant source of this pathogen. Most disease in humans is associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry or cross-contamination with other foods. The primary drugs of choice for treatment of human campylobacteriosis include erythromycin and ciprofloxacin. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of resistance to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin in Campylobacter isolates recovered from turkey carcasses at two processing plants in the Upper Midwest US. Further analysis of a subset of isolates was carried out to assess resistance and genotype profiles.

Results

Campylobacter isolates from plant A (n = 439; including 196 C. coli and 217 C. jejuni) and plant B (n = 362, including 281 C. coli and 62 C. jejuni) were tested for susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin using agar dilution. C. coli were more frequently resistant than C. jejuni in both plants, including resistance to ciprofloxacin (28% of C. jejuni and 63% of C. coli, plant B; and 11% of C. coli, plant A). Erythromycin resistance was low among C. jejuni (0% plant A and 0.3% plant B) compared to C. coli (41%, plant A and 17%, plant B). One hundred resistant and susceptible isolates were selected for additional antimicrobial susceptibility testing, restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the flaA gene (fla typing), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Fla-PFGE types obtained (n = 37) were associated with a specific plant with the exception of one type that was isolated from both plants. C. coli isolates (n = 65) were grouped into 20 types, while C. jejuni isolates (n = 35) were grouped into 17 types. Most isolates with identical fla-PFGE patterns shared identical or very similar antimicrobial resistance profiles. PFGE alone and composite analysis using fla-PFGE with resistance profiles separated C. jejuni and C. coli into distinct groups.

Conclusion

Ciprofloxacin and erythromycin resistance in Campylobacter recovered from processed turkey occurred more frequently among C. coli than C. jejuni. Fla-PFGE types were associated with a particular species, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and a specific plant. Molecular subtyping in this study provided more information about the relationships among antimicrobial-resistant Campylobacter at the processing level.
Association analyses of the INSIG2polymorphism in the obesity and cholesterol levels of Korean populations
Authors: Cha Seongwon , Koo Imhoi , Choi Sun Mi , Park Byung Lae , Kim Kil Soo , Kim Jae-Ryong , Shin Hyoung Doo , Kim Jong Yeol
Published: September 2009

Background

While INSIG2 has been reported to be associated with BMI in many populations, conflicting results have prevented consensus over its role. In analyses of mice and cell cultures the gene has been found to be involved in the regulation of cholesterol synthesis; however, no relationship has been found with cholesterol metabolism in human epidemiological research. Therefore, this study attempts to assess the effect of rs7566605 near INSIG2 on both obesity- and cholesterol-related traits in Koreans.

Methods

The rs7566605 polymorphism was genotyped with 2,364 Koreans, and associations with obesity- and cholesterol-related traits were analyzed statistically via an ANOVA or T-test.

Results

Replication of an association with BMI, WHR, fat mass, fat percent, and abdominal fat area failed, and the C allele of rs7566605 was not associated significantly with total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, or triglyceride. However, it was found in a meta-analysis of a dominant model that the C allele of rs7566605 appeared to affect the level of the total cholesterol, especially in female subjects.

Conclusion

We failed to show associations of rs7566605 with cholesterol- and obesity-related phenotypes, although we newly suggest the possible involvement of INSIG2 with the plasma level of the total cholesterol in women.
Development of a theoretical framework for analyzing cerebrospinal fluid dynamics
Authors: Cohen Benjamin , Voorhees Abram , Vedel Søren , Wei Timothy
Published: September 2009

Background

To date hydrocephalus researchers acknowledge the need for rigorous but utilitarian fluid mechanics understanding and methodologies in studying normal and hydrocephalic intracranial dynamics. Pressure volume models and electric circuit analogs introduced pressure into volume conservation; but control volume analysis enforces independent conditions on pressure and volume. Previously, utilization of clinical measurements has been limited to understanding of the relative amplitude and timing of flow, volume and pressure waveforms; qualitative approaches without a clear framework for meaningful quantitative comparison.

Methods

Control volume analysis is presented to introduce the reader to the theoretical background of this foundational fluid mechanics technique for application to general control volumes. This approach is able to directly incorporate the diverse measurements obtained by clinicians to better elucidate intracranial dynamics and progression to disorder.

Results

Several examples of meaningful intracranial control volumes and the particular measurement sets needed for the analysis are discussed.

Conclusion

Control volume analysis provides a framework to guide the type and location of measurements and also a way to interpret the resulting data within a fundamental fluid physics analysis.