bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TOWARD CASE‐BASED REASONING FOR DIABETES MANAGEMENT: A PRELIMINARY CLINICAL STUDY AND DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM PROTOTYPE
Authors: Marling Cindy , Shubrook Jay , Schwartz Frank
Published: July 2009

This paper presents a case‐based decision support system prototype to assist patients with Type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy. These patients must vigilantly maintain blood glucose levels within prescribed target ranges to prevent serious disease complications, including blindness, neuropathy, and heart failure. Case‐based reasoning (CBR) was selected for this domain because (a) existing guidelines for managing diabetes are general and must be tailored to individual patient needs; (b) physical and lifestyle factors combine to influence blood glucose levels; and (c) CBR has been successfully applied to the management of other long‐term medical conditions. An institutional review board (IRB) approved preliminary clinical study, involving 20 patients, was conducted to assess the feasibility of providing case‐based decision support for these patients. Fifty cases were compiled in a case library, situation assessment routines were encoded to detect common problems in blood glucose control, and retrieval metrics were developed to find the most relevant past cases for solving current problems. Preliminary results encourage continued research and work toward development of a practical tool for patients.
On Wittgenstein's Notion of Meaning‐Blindness: Its Subjective, Objective and Aesthetic Aspects
Authors: Wenzel Christian Helmut
Published: July 2009

Das Aussprechen eines Wortes ist gleichsam ein Anschlagen einer Taste auf dem Vorstellungsklavier. (Uttering a word is like striking a note on the keyboard of the imagination.) (PU §6)

Polonius: What do you read, my lord?

Hamlet: Words, words, words!

(Hamlet, act 2, scene 2)

Wittgenstein in his later years thought about experiences of meaning and aspect change. Do such experiences matter? Or would a meaning‐ or aspect‐blind person not lose much? Moreover, is this a matter of aesthetics or epistemology? To get a better perspective on these matters, I will introduce distinctions between certain subjective and objective aspects, namely feelings of our inner psychological states versus fine‐tuned objective experiences of the outer world. It seems to me that in his discussion of meaning‐blindness, Wittgenstein unhappily floats between these two extremes, the subjective and the objective. I will also introduce some notions from Kant's aesthetics, to get a better understanding of the interplay between feeling and meaning. This will shed some new light on Wittgenstein's enquiry into meaning‐ and aspect‐blindness.
Currency Undervaluation and Sovereign Wealth Funds: A New Role for the World Trade Organization
Authors: Mattoo Aaditya , Subramanian Arvind
Published: July 2009

Two aspects of global imbalances – undervalued exchange rates and sovereign wealth funds – require a multilateral response. For reasons of inadequate leverage and eroding legitimacy, the International Monetary Fund has not been effective in dealing with undervalued exchange rates. This paper proposes new rules in the World Trade Organization to discipline cases of significant undervaluation that are clearly attributable to government action. The rationale for WTO involvement is that there are large trade consequences of undervalued exchange rates, which act as both import tariffs and export subsidies, and that the WTO's enforcement mechanism is credible and effective. The World Trade Organization would not be involved in exchange rate management, and would not displace the International Monetary Fund. Rather, the authors suggest ways to harness the comparative advantage of the two institutions, with the International Monetary Fund providing the essential technical expertise in the World Trade Organization's enforcement process. There is a bargain to be struck between countries with sovereign wealth funds, which want secure and liberal access for their capital, and capital‐importing countries, which have concerns about the objectives and operations of sovereign wealth funds. The World Trade Organization is the natural place to strike this bargain. Its General Agreement on Trade in Services already covers investments by sovereign wealth funds, and other agreements offer a precedent for designing disciplines for these funds. Placing exchange rates and sovereign wealth funds on the trade negotiating agenda may help revive the Doha Round by rekindling the interest of a wide variety of groups.
Importance of sunscreen products spreading protocol and substrate roughness for in vitro sun protection factor assessment
Authors: Fageon L. , Moyal D. , Coutet J. , Candau D.
Published: July 2009

Synopsis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of substrate roughness and of product spreading method on in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) measurement and to define the experimental conditions most appropriate to reach the best level of correlation to in vivo SPF. In vitro SPF assessment was carried out on 13 products (including different formulation types with SPF from 20 to 75) using various in vitro SPF protocols and comparing related predictive potential regarding in vivo SPF. In the first part, two spreading methods were compared on two types of PMMA (Polymethyl methacrylate plate with different roughness. The impact of a second spreading step after product drying was also evaluated. From the various investigated parameters, it was shown that (i) a higher roughness (Ra = 4, 5 μm) was preferred for O/W formulations (ii) using a defined sequence of light linear and circular strokes was more adequate than monitoring product spreading in terms of time and pressure (iii) both correlation to in vivo SPF and results variability were improved when a second spreading step was added. The altered protocol showed a good predictive potential regarding in vivo SPF values for O/W formulations (correlation coefficient 0.92, correlation curve slope 0.98) and coefficient of variation of in vitro results (14% of the mean SPF value) close to what is usually obtained in vivo. The repeatability of the protocol was also demonstrated. In the second part, we evaluated the impact of PMMA plate pre‐treatment with paraffinum liquidum before spreading the product to get a better correlation between in vivo and in vitro SPF values for W/O formulations. This allowed us to define a protocol suitable for both O/W and W/O formulations.
Three paediatric patients with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes
Authors: Liu H-Y , Fuh J-L , Lirng J-F , Chen S-P , Wang S-J
Published: July 2009

Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes (RCVS) occur predominantly in middle-aged women. Only one child with RCVS has ever been reported. We report three boys (aged 10, 16 and 10 years) who had multiple thunderclap headaches, including one boy with bath-related attacks. None of them had secondary causes. All their magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated reversible cerebral vasoconstrictions of the major arteries with increased cerebral blood flow velocities on transcranial colour-coded sonography studies. Two of the three had hypertensive surges during headache attacks. None of the three boys had seizure, stroke or other neurological deficits. However, a left occipital subcortical lesion of unknown nature was noted in one boy. The efficacy of calcium channel blockers was variable in these three boys. This report suggests that, although rare, RCVS should be considered in paediatric patients if they present with a history of multiple attacks of thunderclap headache.
Scaling of plantar pressures in mammals
Authors: Michilsens F. , Aerts P. , Van Damme R. , D'Août K.
Published: July 2009

The interaction of the limbs with the substrate can teach a lot about an animal's gait mechanics. Unlike ground‐reaction forces, plantar pressure distributions are rarely studied in animals, but they may provide more detailed information about the loading patterns and locomotor function of specific anatomical structures. With this study, we aim to describe pressures for a large and diverse sample of mammalian species, focusing on scaling effects. We collected dynamic plantar pressure distributions during voluntary walking in 28 mammal species. A dynamic classification of foot use was made, which distinguished between plantiportal, digitiportal and unguliportal animals. Analysis focused on scaling effects of peak pressures, peak forces and foot contact areas. Peak pressure for the complete mammal sample was found to scale to (mass)1/2, higher than predicted assuming geometric similarity, and we found no difference between the different types of foot use. Only the scaling of peak force is dependent on the dynamic foot use. We conclude that plantar peak pressure rises faster with mass than expected, regardless of the type of foot use, and scales higher than in limb bones. These results might explain some anatomical and behavioural adaptations in graviportal animals.
Mutations of cytosolic loop residues impair assembly and maturation of α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors
Authors: Mukherjee Jayanta , Kuryatov Alexander , Moss Stephen J. , Lindstrom Jon M. , Anand Rene
Published: July 2009

Mechanisms that regulate early events in the biogenesis of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7 AChR) are not well understood. Data presented here show that single amino acid mutations in the cytoplasmic loop of the α7 AChR, between position 335 and 343, abolish or attenuate expression of mature pentameric α7 AChRs in both human embryonic kidney tsA201 (HEK) and neuronal SH‐SY5Y cells. Although the number of mature α7 AChRs is increased significantly in the presence of the chaperone protein resistant to inhibitors of cholineesterase‐3 in HEK cells, sucrose gradient sedimentation reveals that the vast majority of α7 subunits are aggregated or improperly assembled. Transfection of α7 AChRs in SH‐SY5Y cells, which endogenously express the α7 AChR, results in a much larger fraction of subunits assembled into mature AChRs. Thus, efficient assembly of α7 AChRs is influenced by several regions of the large cytoplasmic domain, as well perhaps by other parts of its structure, and requires as yet unknown factors not required by other AChR subtypes.
Agonist‐induced internalization of mGluR1α is mediated by caveolin
Authors: Hong Yun Hwa , Kim Ji Young , Lee Jeong Ho , Chae Hong Gu , Jang Sung Soo , Jeon Ju Hong , Kim Chul Hoon , Kim Jun , Kim Sang Jeong
Published: July 2009

Agonist‐induced internalization of metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) plays an important role in neuronal signaling. Although internalization of mGluRs has been reported to be mediated by clathrin‐dependent pathway, studies describing clathrin‐independent pathways are emerging. Here, we report that agonist‐induced internalization of mGluR1α is mediated by caveolin. We show that two caveolin‐binding motifs of mGluR1α interact with caveolin1/2. Using cell surface‐immunoprecipitation and total internal reflection fluorescence imaging, we found that agonist‐induced internalization of mGluR1α is regulated by caveolin‐binding motifs of the receptor in heterologous cells. Moreover, in the cerebellum, group I mGluR agonist dihydroxyphenylglycol increased the interaction of phosphorylated caveolin with mGluR1α. This interaction was blocked by methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin, known to disrupt caveolin/caveolae‐dependent signaling by cholesterol depletion. Methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin also blocked the agonist‐induced internalization of mGluR1α. Thus, these findings represent the evidence for agonist‐induced internalization of mGluR1α via caveolin and suggest that caveolin might play a role in synaptic metaplasticity by regulating internalization of mGluR1α in the cerebellum.
Structure‐based discovery of low molecular weight compounds that stimulate neurite outgrowth and substitute for nerve growth factor
Authors: Williams Britney , Dwyer Donard S.
Published: July 2009

Olanzapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug, was previously shown to protect neuronal cells against nutrient deprivation and to enhance neurite outgrowth. In an effort to identify small molecules with greater potency, the structure of olanzapine was used as a template to search commercially available chemical inventories for compounds with similar features. These compounds were evaluated for their ability to protect cells against glutamine deprivation and low‐serum conditions. Positive compounds, ‘hits’ from initial screening, were then tested for stimulation of neurite outgrowth, alone and in combination with suboptimum concentrations of nerve growth factor (NGF). Numerous neuroprotective compounds (mw < 550 Da) were identified that significantly stimulated neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. These included 4′, 6′‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole, a nuclear stain; staurosporine, an antibiotic and kinase inhibitor; and 2‐phenylamino‐adenosine, an adenosine analog. The small molecules were comparable with NGF, and in fact, replaced NGF in outgrowth assays. Pharmacophore analysis of the hits led to the design and synthesis of an active compound, LSU‐D84, which represented an initial lead for drug discovery efforts.
Effects of pretransfusion warming of platelets to 35°C on posttransfusion platelet viability
Authors: Slichter Sherrill J. , Christoffel Todd , Corson Jill , Jones Mary Kay , Pellham Esther , Bolgiano Doug
Published: July 2009

BACKGROUND: Three of four prior studies suggested that warming platelets (PLTs) to 37°C before transfusion into patients with thrombocytopenia gave improved corrected PLT count increments.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Eighteen normal subjects had apheresis PLTs collected that were stored at 22°C for 5 days in two storage bags. One bag of PLTs was warmed to 35°C before infusion, and one remained at 22°C. Three different methods of warming the donor's autologous PLTs before reinfusion were evaluated: warming PLTs to 35°C for 10 or 60 minutes followed by radiolabeling or radiolabeling the PLTs followed by warming to 35°C for 60 minutes. In the first two methods, the warmed PLTs would have returned to 22°C before infusion, and in the third, the PLTs would still be warm when injected. The paired test and control PLTs were radiolabeled with either 111In or 51Cr to determine posttransfusion PLT recoveries and survivals. PLT morphology score, pH, hypotonic shock response, extent of shape change, and annexin V binding were determined just before transfusion.

RESULTS: There were no differences in posttransfusion autologous radiolabeled PLT recoveries and survivals or in the in vitro measurements for the PLTs maintained at 22°C versus those warmed to 35°C using any of the three methods of PLT warming before infusion.

CONCLUSION: Based on these 5‐day‐stored autologous radiolabeled PLT recovery and survival measurements, there is no evidence that warming PLTs to 35°C before infusion improves postinfusion PLT viability.
Blood component therapy in postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: James Andra H. , Paglia Michael J. , Gernsheimer Terry , Grotegut Chad , Thames Betty
Published: July 2009

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine blood component therapy in the treatment of postpartum hemorrhage.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Records were reviewed for subjects who delivered during the 5‐year period between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2004, at Duke University Medical Center and had postpartum hemorrhage coded as International Classification of Diseases Version 9 (ICD‐9) codes 666.0X, 666.1X, and 666.2X. Records were reviewed to determine whether blood components had been transfused. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the chi‐square test.

RESULTS: During the 5‐year period from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2004, there were 12,476 deliveries at Duke University Medical Center. A total of 671 or 5.4% had a diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage. A total of 108 (0.87%) required blood component therapy, 106 received red blood cells (RBCs), and 30 (0.24%) received components other than RBCs. Of these 30, all received fresh‐frozen plasma (1‐20 units); eight received one to two transfusions of cryoprecipitate (each containing 10 units); and five received between one and three transfusions of apheresis or pooled whole blood platelets. None of the women received hemostatic agents such as antifibrinolytic medication, DDAVP, recombinant Factor VIIa, or clotting factor concentrates. None of the women experienced thromboembolic events postpartum. There were no deaths and none of the women developed organ dysfunction as a result of hemorrhage.

CONCLUSION: Among 12,476 deliveries at a major United States medical center with a modern blood bank and readily available blood component therapy, there were no deaths or organ dysfunction as a consequence of severe postpartum hemorrhage.
Outcomes of Pregnancy in Patients with Preexisting Postural Tachycardia Syndrome
Authors: KANJWAL KHALIL , KARABIN BEVERLY , KANJWAL YOUSUF , GRUBB BLAIR P.
Published: July 2009

Background: Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) occurs more commonly in women than in men and often affects women of childbearing age. Many of these women wish to have children, yet there are little reported data on the outcomes of pregnancy in patients with POTS. To date there has been one report of two patients with POTS who successfully completed pregnancy. We report the outcomes of 22 women with preexisting POTS who became pregnant.

Objective: To assess the outcome of pregnancy in patients with preexisting POTS.

Methods and Results: Twenty‐two patients, age 30 ± 7 years, with POTS became pregnant. Migraine was the common comorbidity found in 40% of patients. Medications used wereβ‐blockers (18%), midiodrine (31%), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (31%), fludrocortisone (13%), combination (40%), and none (18%). During pregnancy, symptoms of POTS remained unchanged in three (13%), improved in 12 (55%), and worsened in seven (31%) patients. One patient who had recurrent episodes of syncope without aura was found to have complete heart block and received a cardiac pacemaker. All patients completed pregnancy successfully. There were no stillbirths. One patient developed hyperemesis. Eighteen patients had vaginal delivery and four patients delivered by cesarian section. No other complications of pregnancy were encountered. Congenital abnormalities were encountered in the form of one atrial septal defect, one ventricular septal defect, and one Down's syndrome. Postpartum symptoms of POTS remained stable in 15 (69%) patients and worsened in seven (31%) patients.

Conclusion: Based on our observation, patients with POTS can safely complete pregnancy if they desire to do so. POTS should not be considered a contraindication to pregnancy per se.
Advances in Manufacturing Boron Carbide‐Aluminum Composites
Authors: Jung Jinkwan , Kang Shinhoo
Published: July 2009

An infiltration method for preparing a boron carbide‐aluminum (B4C‐AI) composite was modified so as to reduce the processing temperature and time. Titanium metal and titanium‐based compounds were added to B4C powders to enhance the wettability of the liquid aluminum on boron carbide skeletons. As expected, the time required for infiltration was significantly reduced on using the additives. Of these additives titanium metal was the most effective in facilitating aluminum infiltration. Another method, involving the heat treatment of boron carbide compacts at 1300°3C for 1 h before infiltration, was attempted, and a significant improvement was gained. These findings show that the treatment modified the surface condition of boron carbide powders via the removal of oxides. An additional attempt was made to increase the boron carbide content of the system by using a bimodal powder mixture. A maximum green density of 78% was achieved by mixing fine particle size and coarse particle size powders. The infiltrated boron carbide composites prepared using a bimodal powder with a preinfiltration heat treatment of the compacts exhibited promising mechanical properties, such as a Vickers hardness (HV) of 11 Gpa and an indentation toughness (KIC) in the range of 5–7.5 MPa·m1/2.
Synthesis of Silicon Nitride from Carbothermal Reduction of Rice Husks by the Constant‐Rate‐Thermal‐Analysis (CRTA) Method
Authors: Real Concepción , Alcalá Maria D. , Criado José M.
Published: July 2009

Silicon nitride (Si3N4) has been obtained from the carbothermal reduction of rice husks by applying the constant‐rate‐thermal‐analysis (CRTA) method. Under this method, the reaction rate of carbothermal reduction can be controlled and at the same time the CO concentration generated is maintained constant at a previously selected value by the user. By using this synthesis technique it has been possible to obtain ceramic powder from rice husks with a determined phase composition and a controlled microstructure. Therefore, rice husks have great potential as a raw material for producing Si3N4 by the CRTA method.
Kinetics of Electrophoretic Deposition for Nanocrystalline Zinc Oxide Coatings
Authors: Wang Yuan‐Chung , Leu Ing‐Chi , Hon Min‐Hsiung
Published: July 2009

An integrated process combining the preparation of ZnO nanoparticles and the formation of ZnO coatings using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is reported. The work focuses on the deposition kinetics of nanocrystalline ZnO coatings on copper electrodes during EPD by direct measurement of the thickness of the deposited layer. The experimental results show that the EPD process is a powerful route to fabricate uniform coatings with desired thickness and excellent surface smoothness, which might be attributed to small particle size and narrow size distribution. On the other hand, the deposition kinetics changes with applied voltage and deposition time. The deposition thickness increases with increasing applied voltage and deposition time. In a short deposition time, the deviation of deposition rate between the theoretical and experimental values is caused by voltage drops during deposition, and the discrepancy increases with the applied voltage. Moreover, the increasing voltage drop and depletion of the suspension lead to decreasing current and lower deposition rate after longer deposition time. The critical transition time of deposition kinetics is found to exponentially decrease with increasing applied voltage.
Crack‐Size Effects on Cyclic and Monotonic Crack Growth in Polycrystalline Alumina: Quantification of the Role of Grain Bridging
Authors: Kruzic J. J. , Cannon R. M. , Ritchie R. O.
Published: July 2009

The role of grain bridging in affecting the initial rising portion of the R‐curve and the transient, non‐steady‐state behavior of short cracks during (cyclic) fatigue‐crack propagation has been quantitatively examined in a 99.5% pure alumina. Fatigue‐crack growth properties for both long and short (Δaf < 2 mm) cracks emanating from machined notches (root radius, ∼ 15–150 μm) were investigated, where Δaf is the extension of the fatigue crack from the notch. Growth rates (da/dN) were far higher at the same applied stress‐intensity range (ΔK) and fatigue thresholds, ΔKTH, were markedly lower for short cracks than for corresponding long cracks. Crack extension was measured at the lowest driving forces for short cracks emanating from razor micronotches with ∼ 15 μm. For growth rates <10‐8 m/cycle, da/dN vs ΔK curves for short cracks merged with the demonstrably steady‐state curve for long cracks after ∼2 mm of crack extension. This length corresponds well to the extent of the measured crack‐bridging zone for a near‐threshold steady‐state fatigue crack. For da/dN > 10‐8 m/cycle, however, non‐steady‐state behavior was observed at all crack sizes, indicating that achieving steady state at each ΔK level is difficult. The crack‐tip shielding contribution due to such grain bridging was determined using both direct compliance and the more accurate multi‐cutting/crack‐opening profile techniques. Bridging stress‐intensity factors were computed and subtracted from the applied stress intensities to estimate an effective (near‐tip) driving force, ΔKeff These results provided (i) a lower threshold (in terms of ΔKeff) below which both long and short fatigue cracks should not propagate, and (ii) an estimate of the intrinsic toughness, K0, for the start of the R‐curve. Such results quantitatively affirm that the reduced role of grain bridging is a primary source of the transient behavior of short cracks in grain‐bridging alumina‐based ceramics under cyclic loading.
Prominent Nanocrystallization of 25K2O·25Nb2O5·50GeO2 Glass
Authors: Narita Kazuhiro , Takahashi Yoshihiro , Benino Yasuhiko , Fujiwara Takumi , Komatsu Takayuki , Hanada Takeshi , Hirotsu Yoshihiko
Published: July 2009

Some K2O‐Nb2O5‐GeO2 glasses are prepared, and their crystallization behaviors are examined. 25K2O·25Nb2O5·50GeO2 glass with the glass transition temperature Tg= 622°3C and crystallization onset temperature Tx= 668°3C shows a prominent nanocrystallization. The crystalline phase is K3,8Nb5Ge3O20,4 with an orthorhombic structure. The sizes of crystals in the crystallized glasses heat‐treated at 630° and 720°3C for 1 h are °10 and 20–30 nm, respectively, and the crystallized glasses obtained by heat treatments at 620°‐850°3C for 1 h maintain good transparency. The density of crystallized glasses increases gradually with increasing heat‐treatment temperature, and the volume fraction of crystals in the sample heat‐treated at 630°3C for 1 h is estimated to be ∼35%. The usual Vickers hardness and Martens hardness (estimated by nanoindentation) of 25K2O·25Nb2O5·50GeO2 glass change steeply by heat treatment at Tg, i.e., at around 35% volume fraction of nanocrystals. The present study demonstrates that the composite of nanocrystals and the glassy phase has a strong resistance against deformation during Vickers indenter loading in crystallized glasses.
Coarsening Process of Penetration‐Twinned Grains in PMN‐35 mol% PT Ceramics
Authors: Chung Ui‐Jin , Jo Wook , Lee Je‐Hun , Hwang Nong‐Moon , Kim Doh‐Yeon
Published: July 2009

In a Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3‐35 mol% PbTiO3 (PMN‐35PT) specimen with 5 mol% excess PbO, the pores trapped inside grains by heat treatment in a double cycle at 1150°3C have revealed the coarsening pattern of the grains. Using this technique, the coarsening process of abnormal large grains with typical characteristics of penetration twins could be determined. The results suggest that two‐dimensional nucleation and lateral growth enhanced at the reentrant edges are the cause of zigzag‐shaped σ3 incoherent twin boundaries.
Small‐Angle Neutron Scattering and Rheological Characterization of Aluminosilicate Hydrogels
Authors: Phair John W. , Schulz Jamie C. , Aldridge Laurie P. , Smith J. David
Published: July 2009

Structure and formation of aluminosilicate hydrogels were investigated as a function of chemical composition. Oscillatory rheometry was used to measure the dynamic moduli, G‘ and G“, of the gels during setting. The formation of aluminosilicate hydrogels was monitored over time as a function of the storage modulus for gels of low solids volumes, φ < 0.030. Overall gel strength correlated well to the fractal dimension, D, observed by neutron scattering. Scattering data were interpreted using the power law, and the Guinier relationship was used to determine the size of the constructing colloidal/gel particles. Aluminosilicate hydrogels were observed to consist of large fractal aggregates of indeterminable size constructed from smaller subunits of ∼45 Å in dimension. Structure and formation of the gels were highly dependent on [Al2O3] and [Na2O] content.
Differential Sintering by Improper Selection of Sintering Parameters during Pulse Electric Current Sintering
Authors: Jayaseelan D. Doni , Ueno Shunkichi , Ohji Tatsuki , Kanzaki Shuzo
Published: July 2009

Recently, we reported on the retention of fine‐grained micro‐structure in Al2O3/3 vol% 3Y‐ZrO2 composites using the pulse electric current sintering (PECS) technique. It was demonstrated that a high heating rate is beneficial for the retention of fine grains and homogeneous microstructure. As there are few reports on microstructural inhomogeneity and excessive grain growth in compacts densified by the PECS technique, we carried out a series of experiments on monolithic alumina by varying the sintering parameters and discussed the characteristic results. All specimens that were densified under selective sintering conditions attained high density (∼99% of the theoretical density) at 1250°3C in > 5 min. The average fracture strength of monolithic alumina was observed to be 741 ± 25 MPa and the fracture toughness was 2.2 MPa.m <1/2, and these were reasoned out to small grains. However, compacts sintered under very low compaction pressure attained ∼92%‐93% of the theoretical density, and these specimens had undesirable microstructural inhomogeneity owing to differential sintering. Hence, in the present study, we address the problem of differential sintering.
Influence of Microstructure Evolution on the Electroconducting Behavior of Intragranular TiN/ZTM Nanocomposites
Authors: Jin Xihai , Gao Lian , Li Jingguo , Zheng Shan
Published: July 2009

Electroconductive zirconia‐toughened mullite (TiN/ZTM) intragranular nanocomposite was fabricated by hot‐pressing a powder mixture of nano‐sized TiN, ZrO2(2Y), and mullite gel. The material showed a good sinterability and could be highly densified at a low temperature of 1300°3C. Sintering temperature strongly influenced the microstructure and electrical resistivity of the material. The electrical resistivity increased monotonously from 20 Ω‐cm to 1.5 times 106°3Cm, as the sintering temperature was increased from 1300° to 1500°3C. TEM results indicated that such a phenomenon could be ascribed to the changes in the microstructure of the material, which led to a decrease in the connectivity of the TiN network in the sample as the sintering temperature was increased.
Influence of Pulling Rates on the Thermoluminescence and Optically Stimulated Luminescence of α‐Al2O3:C Crystals Grown by the Edge‐Defined, Film‐Fed Growth Technique
Authors: Yang Xinbo , Xu Jun , Li Hongjun , Su Liangbi , Bi Qunyu , Cheng Yan , Tang Qiang
Published: July 2009

In this work, α‐Al2O3:C crystals were grown by the edge‐defined, film‐fed growth method with different pulling rates. The influence of pulling rate on the optical, thermoluminescence (TL), and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) properties of the as‐grown α‐Al2O3:C crystals was investigated. All the α‐Al2O3:C crystals grown with different pulling rates show a single TL glow peak and an invariable blue emission band at 415 nm. With an increasing pulling rate in the 0.1–0.7 mm/min range, the absorption coefficient of optical absorption bands at 206 and 256 nm increased, the TL and OSL dose response improved, the TL peak shifted to higher temperatures, and the OSL decay rate increased. When the pulling rate is increased to 1 mm/min, the absorption coefficients of the bands at 206 and 256 nm, the TL temperature and intensity, the OSL intensity, and the decay rate declined. The TL and OSL dose response of the as‐grown α‐Al2O3:C crystals shows a linear–sublinear saturation characteristic. The pulling rates almost show no influence on the crystals' saturation dose. The α‐Al2O3:C crystal grown with the pulling rate of 0.7 mm/min shows the best TL and OSL properties.
Phase Constitution and Mechanical Properties of Carbides in the Ta–C System
Authors: Hackett Kenneth , Verhoef Shane , Cutler Raymond A. , Shetty Dinesh K.
Published: July 2009

Carbides in the Ta–C system were prepared by hot‐pressing mixed powders of TaC and Ta in C/Ta atomic ratios of 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, 0.7, and 0.6 at 1800°C for 2 h. The compositions, 1.0, 0.9, and 0.8, produced single face‐centered‐cubic (fcc) TaCy phase with C/Ta ratios essentially the same as the starting compositions and densities exceeding 96.5% of theoretical. Grain size decreased with increasing carbon deficiency with a corresponding increase in Vickers hardness from 13.5 to 20 GPa. The flexural strength, however, decreased from 650 to 500 MPa due to a decrease in fracture toughness from 5.3 to 3.8 MPa√m. The compositions 0.7 and 0.6 produced two carbide phases, fcc TaCy and rhombohedral ζ‐Ta4C3−x phase in the 0.7 composition and ζ‐Ta4C3−x and hexagonal‐close‐packed (hcp) α‐Ta2C phase in the 0.6 composition. Fracture toughness measured by single‐edge‐precracked‐beam technique was exceptionally high (12.7±0.7 MPa√m) for the 0.6 composition with a high weight percent of the ζ‐Ta4C3−x phase (∼83 wt%). The fracture surface was highly faceted with multiple cleavage crack planes and steps.
Effects of the introduction of the German “Praxisgebühr” on outpatient care and treatment of patients with atopic eczema
Authors: Schmitt Jochen , Kirch Wilhelm , Meurer Michael
Published: July 2009

Background: The introduction of a co‐payment of 10 Euros per quarter and physician for adults (the so called “Praxisgebühr”) as of January 01, 2004 was a significant health policy measure with unknown effects on medical care of patients with atopic eczema (AE).

Methods: Analysis of an administrative healthcare database from Saxony, Germany. Comparison of outpatient care and treatment of 11,036 patients with AE (6,696 adults) in the year before (2003) and after (2004) the introduction of the co‐payment using descriptive statistics and logistic regression modeling.

Results: The proportion of adults with AE treated by dermatologists decreased from 52.8% in 2003 to 42.3% in the year after the co‐payment was introduced. Consultations of general practitioners by adults and health services utilization by children/adolescents did not change. Treatment with topical calcineurin inhibitors in 2003 was an independent predictor for re‐consultation in 2004 (p < 0.001). The proportion of adults receiving systemic steroids for AE significantly increased in 2004 (males: 2003: 5.9%, 2004:10.3%, p < 0.001; females: 2003: 5.7%, 2004: 8.2%, p < 0.001). The risk for treatment with systemic steroids increased with the decrease in consulting frequency due to AE relative to 2003 (p = 0.006).

Conclusions: After the introduction of the German “Praxisgebühr” fewer patients with AE received dermatological treatment. Simultaneously, an unexpectedly significant increase in the (non evidence‐based) treatment of AE with systemic steroids was observed, of which patients with relatively lower consultation frequency after the introduction of the co‐payment were particularly affected.
Sanctioning Foreign Policy: The Rhetorical Use of President Harry Truman
Authors: EDWARDS JASON A.
Published: July 2009

This article examines how contemporary presidents invoke the memory of President Harry Truman within their foreign policy discourse. Specifically, it is argued that Truman has become an authorizing figure—a person of historical importance that rhetors invoke and interpret in justifying their own policies and principles. Presidents Reagan, Clinton, and Bush cited and interpreted Truman's words and deeds in various ways to serve different foreign policy ends. Exploring how contemporary presidents use and appropriate Truman's memory presents an opportunity to mine the contour of the thirty‐third president's foreign policy legacy and to obtain a better understanding of collective memory in presidential rhetoric.
Combination of Vacuum Erection Device and PDE5 Inhibitors as Salvage Therapy in PDE5 Inhibitor Nonresponders with Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Canguven Onder , Bailen James , Fredriksson William , Bock David , Burnett Arthur L.
Published: July 2009

Introduction

Oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) have improved treatment options for erectile dysfunction (ED). In case of unresponsiveness to PDE5i, alternative therapies are considered.

Aim

To evaluate whether combination of vacuum erection device (VED) and PDE5i is effective as salvage therapy in subjects with ED in whom PDE5i alone failed.

Methods

From September 2007 to May 2008, we evaluated 69 men (aged 36–82 years) in whom PDE5i treatment at the highest recommended dose, with at least 4–6 attempts at intercourse during a 3 months period, had failed. The clinical efficacy of combination therapy was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire, Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP)-2, SEP-3, and Global Patient Assessment Scale (GPAS).

Main Outcome Measures

Scores on IIEF-5, SEP-2, SEP-3, and GPAS before and after combination therapy were measured.

Results

After 4 weeks of combination therapy, the mean IIEF-5 score increased significantly over baseline from 9.0 to 17.6 (P < 0.001). Of the 34 subjects with a SEP-2 response of “no” at baseline, 27 (79%) responded “yes” after combination therapy (P < 0.001). Of the 50 subjects with a SEP-3 response of “no” at baseline, 35 (70%) responded “yes” after combination therapy (P < 0.001). Furthermore, of the 42 subjects with a GPAS response of “not at all” or “slightly” improved at baseline, 31 (74%) responded “moderately” or “greatly” improved after combination therapy (P < 0.001). One subject (1.5%) experienced device-related intermittent penile pain, which resolved after 4 days without any action.

Conclusions

Statistically significant improvements over baseline were seen in IIEF-5, SEP-2, SEP-3, and GPAS measures following 4 weeks of combination therapy of PDE5i and VED. This study supports the use of PDE5i with VED in men in whom PDE5i alone failed. This combination therapy may be offered to patients not satisfied with PDE5i alone before being switched to more invasive alternatives.
15‐Deoxy‐Δ12,14‐prostaglandin J2 Inhibits Angiotensin II‐induced Fibronectin Expression via Hepatocyte Growth Factor Induction in Human Peritoneal Mesothelial Cells
Authors: Yokoyama Yukio , Masaki Takao , Kiribayashi Kei , Nakashima Ayumu , Kokoroishi Keiko , Ogawa Takahiko , Kohno Nobuoki , Yorioka Noriaki
Published: July 2009

15‐Deoxy‐Δ12,14‐prostaglandin J2 (15d‐PGJ2) is an endogenous peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist that suppresses progressive matrix deposition; however, little is known about the effects of 15d‐PGJ2 on human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMCs). We investigated the following: (i) the expression of PPARγ; (ii) the effect of 15d‐PGJ2 on angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced fibronectin (FN) expression and secretion; (iii) the effect of 15d‐PGJ2 (with or without Ang II and with or without the specific PPARγ antagonist GW9662) and pioglitazone, a synthetic PPARγ agonist, on hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) expression and secretion; (iv) the effect of HGF on Ang II‐induced FN expression and secretion; (v) the expression of c‐Met (a specific HGF receptor) and its phospho‐signal; and (vi) the involvement of HGF in the effect produced by 15d‐PGJ2 using selective c‐Met inhibitor PHA‐665752. The presence of PPARγ was detected by western blot analysis. 15d‐PGJ2 inhibited Ang II‐induced FN expression and increased HGF expression, even in the presence of Ang II. This effect of HGF expression was completely prevented by co‐treatment with GW9662. Additionally, upregulation of HGF secretion induced by 15d‐PGJ2 and HGF production induced by pioglitazone was revealed. We demonstrated the presence of c‐Met, and presented evidence that HGF inhibits Ang II‐induced FN expression and activates phosphorylation of c‐Met, which is blocked by PHA‐665752; 15d‐PGJ2 also activated c‐Met phosphorylation. Furthermore, PHA‐665752 attenuates the inhibitory effects of 15d‐PGJ2 on FN secretion. These findings suggest that 15d‐PGJ2 has a novel and potent antifibrotic effect in HPMC and this action is likely mediated by HGF.
Impact of Renal Survival on the Course and Outcome of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Treated With Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis
Authors: Liang Chih‐Chia , Huang Chiu‐Ching , Wang I‐Kuan , Chang Chiz‐Tzung , Chen Kuan‐Hsing , Weng Cheng‐Hao , Lin Ja‐Liang , Hung Cheng‐Chieh , Yang Chih‐Wei , Yen Tzung‐Hai
Published: July 2009

This longitudinal study investigated whether renal survival can affect the course and outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients treated with chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD). Thirty‐five SLE patients, out of 1115 end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients treated with chronic PD, were seen between 1990 and 2007 at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Patients were followed up for a mean of 38.8 ± 22.9 months. There were no significant differences between patients with short renal survival (<3 years) and long renal survival (>3 years) for the various demographic variables such as age, sex, PD duration, immunosuppressive drug administration, or exchange system (P > 0.05). Interestingly, before PD, patients with short renal survival had lower serum complement levels than patients with long renal survival (C3, 40.2 ± 14.4 vs 76.3 ± 18.5 mg/dL, P < 0.001; and C4, 14.8 ± 4.7 vs 22.4 ± 8.1 mg/dL, P < 0.05). However, the differences in complement levels between the groups disappeared after PD (C3, 76.5 ± 27.3 vs 84.2 ± 27.8 mg/dL; and C4, 26.7 ± 11.3 vs 22.6 ± 10.8 mg/dL, both P > 0.05). Patients with short renal survival were more likely to have a high peritoneal solute transporter rate (PSTR) than their long renal survival counterparts (χ2‐test, P = 0.02, and AUROC = 0.744 and P = 0.040); however, there were no significant differences for other variables such as cardiothoracic ratio (CTR), Kt/V, residual renal function, exit site infection, and peritonitis (P > 0.05). Finally, Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the two groups did not differ in patient and technical survival (P > 0.05). Therefore it was concluded that renal survival might be associated with PSTR, but not with patient and technical survival in SLE patients treated with PD.
Differential stellar population models: how to reliably measure [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] in galaxies
Authors: Walcher C. J. , Coelho P. , Gallazzi A. , Charlot S.
Published: July 2009

We present differential stellar population models, which allow improved determinations of the ages, iron and α-element abundances of old stellar populations from spectral fitting. These new models are calibrated at solar abundances using the predictions from classical, semi-empirical stellar population models. We then use the predictive power of fully synthetic models to compute predictions for different [Fe/H] and [α/Fe]. We show that these new differential models provide remarkably accurate fits to the integrated optical spectra of the bulge globular clusters NGC 6528 and 6553, and that the inferred [Fe/H] and [α/Fe] agree with values derived elsewhere from stellar photometry and spectroscopy. The analysis of a small sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey early-type galaxies further confirms that our α-enhanced models provide a better fit to the spectra of massive ellipticals than the solar-scaled ones. Our approach opens new opportunities for precision measurements of abundance ratios in galaxies.
EXPERIMENTAL COMPARISON OF NATURAL CONVECTION AND CONDUCTION HEAT TRANSFER
Authors: ERDOĞDU FERRUH , UYAR RAHMI , PALAZOĞLU T. KORAY
Published: July 2009

Magnitude of fluid motion is significant in convective heat transfer (the faster the fluid motion, the greater the heat transfer), while in conductive heat transfer, there is no physical movement of objects undergoing heat transfer. Due to this statement, it is a real fact that convection can be many times faster than conduction. The objective of this research was to compare natural convection and conduction by creating both heat transfer mechanisms in the same product. For this purpose, canned water and 1% agar‐gelled water were used in the experimental and further computational fluid dynamics studies. Experiments were conducted at 70C and in boiling water, and ANSYS V.10 (Ansys Inc., Canonsburg, PA) was used in the numerical simulations. The results showed that addition of agar prevented the natural convection phenomena in the gels resulting in pure conduction while the effect of natural convection, which occurred due to thermal buoyancy effects in the given gravitational force field, was obvious in the case of water. Creation of both natural convection and conduction heat transfer mechanisms in the same medium is an important contribution as the effect of natural convection over the conduction heat transfer can directly be emphasized.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Creation of both natural convection and conduction heat transfer mechanisms in the same medium would be an important contribution as the effect of natural convection over the conduction heat transfer can experimentally be emphasized. The results of this study are significant to show the significant difference between these heat transfer modes as both mechanisms were created in the same medium, and these results will be useful especially for teaching heat transfer purposes.
MODELLING OF HIGH‐PRESSURE PHASE EQUILIBRIUM IN SYSTEMS OF INTEREST IN THE FOOD ENGINEERING FIELD USING THE PENG‐ROBINSON EQUATION OF STATE WITH TWO DIFFERENT MIXING RULES
Authors: OLIVEIRA ALESSANDRA L. , MELO VANDERSON L.S. , GUIMARÃES AHRON R. , CABRAL FERNANDO A.
Published: July 2009

In this work, thermodynamic models for fitting the phase equilibrium of binary systems were applied, aiming to predict the high pressure phase equilibrium of multicomponent systems of interest in the food engineering field, comparing the results generated by the models with new experimental data and with those from the literature. Two mixing rules were used with the Peng‐Robinson equation of state, one with the mixing rule of van der Waals and the other with the composition‐dependent mixing rule of Mathias et al. The systems chosen are of fundamental importance in food industries, such as the binary systems CO2‐limonene, CO2‐citral and CO2‐linalool, and the ternary systems CO2‐Limonene‐Citral and CO2‐Limonene‐Linalool, where high pressure phase equilibrium knowledge is important to extract and fractionate citrus fruit essential oils. For the CO2‐limonene system, some experimental data were also measured in this work. The results showed the high capability of the model using the composition‐dependent mixing rule to model the phase equilibrium behavior of these systems.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The use of the Peng–Robinson equation of state (PR‐EOS) in description of phase equilibrium of systems at high pressure has been largely reported in the scientific literature. On the other hand, the low prediction capability of the PR‐EOS to thermodynamic properties of polar multicomponent systems has been provided with the development and application of new mixing rules. The main purpose of the present work was to study a thermodynamic model to correlate systems of interest in the food engineering field, applying the PR‐EOS to a composition‐dependent mixing rule, by comparing the results with those represented by the classical mixing rule of van Der Waals (PR‐EOS). In spite of the large interest in applying supercritical technology in obtaining highly purified extracts from food, available data from systems at high pressure related to food process, and passable to be modeled, are scarce in the literature. Therefore, the investigation of simple and effective models on the description of these systems is of great importance and is a valuable tool in the study of the high‐pressure systems behavior in the food processing field.