bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Water absorption and frost heaving of recycled aggregates
Authors: Ayan Vahid , Omer Joshua R. , Limbachiya Mukesh C. , Nasr Azadani Seyed Masoud
Published: November 2012

Water absorption and frost heaving of aggregates have a strong influence on the performance of a highway pavement. This is because several mechanical properties of aggregates change in direct response to water ingress and ground freezing. Recycled aggregates of different types are increasingly being used in pavements; however, their frost heaving and water absorption potential has not been fully investigated and documented. In the present study the opportunity was taken to study the water absorption and freeze–thaw properties of three different aggregates: (i) 100% recycled concrete aggregate, (ii) 100% natural aggregate from limestone rock, and (iii) 50% recycled concrete aggregate + 50% reclaimed asphalt pavement. For different particle size ranges, extensive tests were carried out for each of the above materials ((i)–(iii)) using the pyknometer and wire basket methods as well as simulation in a self-refrigerated unit. The following three kinds of density were measured: (a) over-dry, (b) saturated and surface dry, and (c) apparent particle density. The 100% natural aggregate had the lowest water absorption and highest densities ((a)–(c)) whereas the 100% recycled concrete aggregate had the highest water absorption. In contrast to the above findings, the frost heave potential was found to be much less sensitive to the aggregate type and particle size. Water absorption of recycled concrete aggregate decreased with increasing mean particle size. The measured relationships between density, grading and water absorption led to increased understanding of the behaviour of materials containing different fractions of recycled concrete aggregate and reclaimed asphalt pavement.
2000 W society: a sustainable energy vision for the future
Authors: Fink Andrin Mirco , Stulz Roland J.
Published: November 2012

A group of Swiss researchers has developed a vision of a sustainable future where both energy demand and carbon dioxide emissions are substantially reduced without compromising standards of living. The upcoming challenges of climate change, scarcity of resources and growing disparities between industrialised countries and developing countries in energy need and carbon dioxide emissions require changes from the building and engineering sector. 2000 W compatible construction is planned in Switzerland based on the Swiss Society of Engineers and Architects' (SIA) efficiency path for energy. Apart from the operations energy, this standard also includes both the embodied energy accounting with the construction materials and mobility related to the use of the building to calculate a building's energy footprint. To implement the 2000 W vision in the design and construction of new buildings, a holistic approach to lower energy consumption is essential. Such an holistic approach includes both the appliance of the best available technologies and the substitution of the current carbon dioxide-intensive energy supply by a considerable proportion of renewable power.
Compacted soil behaviour: initial state, structure and constitutive modelling
Authors: ALONSO E.E. , PINYOL N.M. , GENS A.
Published: November 2012

The paper explores the behaviour of compacted soils throughout the (dry density–water content) compaction plane by means of a conceptual framework that incorporates microstructural information. The engineering properties of compacted soils are described by an initial state in terms of a yielding stress, soil suction and a microstructural state variable. Microstructure is defined by the ratio of microvoid volume to total void volume. The pattern of variation of the microstructural parameter within the compaction plane has been determined, for some compacted soils, by analysing mercury intrusion porosimetry data. The microstructure of wet and dry compaction conditions can then be quantified. To ensure consistency, the framework is cast in the form of a constitutive model defined in terms of an effective suction and a constitutive stress that incorporate the microstructural variable. The model is shown to be consistent with a number of experimental observations and, in particular, it explains the intrinsic collapse potential of compacted soils. It predicts, for a common initial suction, a higher collapse potential for dry of optimum conditions than for wet compaction. It also predicts in a natural manner the observed evolution of soil compressibility during drained or undrained loading. Model capabilities are illustrated by application to a testing programme on statically compacted samples of low-plasticity silty clay. The compression behaviour of samples compacted wet and dry of optimum and the variation of collapse strains with confining stress have been successfully reproduced by the model.
Experimental observations on reinforced concrete bearing walls subjected to all-sided fire exposure
Authors: Lee Chadon , Lee Songhee , Kim Hyun
Published: November 2012

Experimental observations were made on eight reinforced concrete wall specimens, with all sides being exposed to an International Organization for Standardization standard heating curve. The main variables were wall thickness, level of axial load, reinforcement ratio, concrete compressive strength and curing period. During the test, temperature increases in the wall, and the heating time plotted against axial deformations, were measured. The effects of the main variables on the fire resistance and axial deformation of the wall in fire were investigated. The walls with shorter curing periods and the wall of high-strength concrete with a thin wall thickness under concentric load were more susceptible to the loss of fire resistance. Initial axial extension followed by contraction to failure was observed for relatively thin walls that were subjected to an axial load during the fire test. Based on comparisons between the experimental observations and code provisions, it was suggested that the incorporation of load levels and the exposure condition of the wall in fire could improve the accuracy of estimation of the fire resistance.
Performance of a double-skinned composite tubular column under lateral loading: analysis
Authors: Han Taek Hee , Won Deok Hee , Kim Seungjun , Kang Young Jong
Published: November 2012

An analytical model of a double-skinned composite tubular (DSCT) column was developed and verified using test results. The experimental results demonstrated the rigour and the validity of the present analytical model. Brief parametric studies were carried out for DSCT columns. The developed model considered the confining effect and material non-linearity of concrete. By the buckling or yielding condition of the inner tube of a DSCT column, its failure mode and concrete model were defined. The strength of concrete, the hollow ratio of a DSCT column, and the thickness of an inner tube were selected as the main parameters that affect the behaviour of a DSCT column. The analysis results showed that concrete strength and the thickness of the inner tube affect the axial strength and moment capacity of the column, while the hollow ratio affects only its axial strength.
High-temperature mechanical properties and microscopic analysis of hybrid-fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete
Authors: Yan Lan , Xing YongMing , Li JiJun
Published: November 2012

Hybrid-fibre-reinforced high-performance concrete (HFHPC) and normal concrete (NC) are prepared and their high-temperature mechanical properties investigated. Compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, flexural strength and ignition loss are tested at room temperature and at 200, 400, 600 and 800°C. The microstructure of concrete specimens after heating at high temperatures is also observed using scanning electron microscopy. Results show that mechanical properties of concrete reinforced with hybrid fibre at room temperature and at high-temperature levels increased significantly. The compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of HFHPC are higher than those of NC at the given test temperatures, reaching their maximum levels after heating at 400°C. In excess of 400°C, however, the mechanical properties of HFHPC decrease as temperature increases, but still remain significantly higher than those of NC at the same temperatures. This phenomenon is most particularly observed in the splitting tensile strength. At 800°C, the compressive strength, splitting tensile strength and flexural strength of HFHPC are 1·24, 4·5 and 1·61 times that of NC, respectively.
Body Regard in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Theoretical Explanations and Treatment Directions
Authors: Muehlenkamp Jennifer J.
Published: November 2012

Nonsuicidal self-injury among youth and young adults remains a challenging behavior for clinicians to treat. Etiological models of self-injury have laid a foundation for the development of effective treatments that focus on the intrapersonal and interpersonal regulating functions of the behavior but have failed to consider other mechanisms that may facilitate the initiation and maintenance of the self-injury. This article presents a theoretical argument that body disregard is a necessary factor to include in etiological conceptualizations of nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior as well as within treatment approaches. Empirical literature is reviewed to provide a solid basis for the tenant that body disregard facilitates self-injury. Suggestions for incorporating treatment strategies that address body-related factors are offered along with some directions for future research.
Temporal Stability of Soil Water Contents: A Review of Data and Analyses
Authors: Vanderlinden Karl , Vereecken Harry , Hardelauf Horst , Herbst Michael , Martínez Gonzalo , Cosh Michael H. , Pachepsky Yakov A.
Published: November 2012

Temporal stability (TS) of soil water content (SWC) has been observed throughout a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Yet, the evidence with respect to the controlling factors on TS SWC remains contradictory or nonexistent. The objective of this work was to develop the first comprehensive review of methodologies to evaluate TS SWC and to present and analyze an inventory of published data. Statistical analysis of mean relative difference (MRD) data and associated standard deviations (SDRD) from 157 graphs in 37 publications showed a trend for the standard deviation of MRD (SDMRD) to increase with scale, as expected. The MRD followed generally the Gaussian distribution with R2 ranging from 0.841 to 0.998. No relationship between SDMRD and R2 was observed. The smallest R2 values were mostly found for negatively skewed and platykurtic MRD distributions. A new statistical model for temporally stable SWC fields was proposed. The analysis of the published data on seven measurement‐, terrain‐, and climate‐related potentially controlling factors of TS SWC suggested intertwined effects of controlling factors rather than single dominant factors. This calls for a focused research effort on the interactions and effects of measurement design, topography, soil, vegetation and climate on TS SWC. Research avenues are proposed which will lead to a better understanding of the TS phenomenon and ultimately to the identification of the underlying mechanisms.
Water Infiltration into a Frozen Soil with Simultaneous Melting of the Frozen Layer
Authors: Watanabe Kunio , Kito Tetsuya , Dun Shuhui , Wu Joan Q. , Greer R. Cory , Flury Markus
Published: November 2012

Understanding water infiltration into frozen soil is important for preventing soil erosion and managing soil water and nutrients. In this study, we performed a column experiment on infiltration through frozen soil using a variably‐saturated silt loam. Three soil columns (7.8 cm i.d., 35 cm long), with three different initial soil water contents, were cooled from the top to form a frozen layer of the same thickness. The columns were instrumented with 34 thermocouples, seven time‐domain reflectometry (TDR) probes, and seven tensiometers. Water at a temperature of 3.5°C was applied to the top of the columns with a 15‐cm constant head. We monitored ice and liquid water contents, temperatures, and the position of the infiltration front. Three phases of infiltration were observed: (i) no infiltration at the beginning, (ii) slow infiltration as the infiltration front advanced through the frozen layer, and (iii) increased infiltration as the infiltration front advanced through the unfrozen soil below the frozen layer. The duration of each phase became longer with increasing initial soil water content as the infiltration rate of each phase decreased. The volumetric ice content and thickness of the frozen layer controlled the infiltration process. We use a capillary bundle model to characterize the hydraulic conductivity as a function of ice content during infiltration. Based on our experimental data and results, we mechanistically describe the water infiltration into frozen soil.
A solidification/stabilization process for wastewater treatment sludge from a primary copper smelter
Authors: Ivsic-Bajceta Dragana , Kamberovic Zeljko , Korac Marija , Gavrilovski Milorad
Published: November 2012

Wastewater treatment sludge from primary copper smelter is characterized as
hazardous waste that requires treatment prior disposal due to significant
amount of heavy metals and arsenic. The aim of the presented study was to
investigate the feasibility and the effectiveness of
solidification/stabilization process of the sludge using fly ash and lime as
binders. The effectiveness of the process was evaluated by Unconfined
Compressive Strength (UCS) testing, leaching tests (EN 12457-4 and Toxicity
Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)) and Acid Neutralization Capacity
(ANC) test. All samples reached target UCS of 0.35 MPa. Calcium to silicon
concentration ratio (cCa/cSi), determined by X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)
analysis, was identified as main factor governing strength development.
Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analyses
of solutions after leaching tests showed excellent stabilization of Cu, Ni,
Pb and Zn (above 99 %) and arsenic (above 90 %) in samples with high Ca(OH)2
content. Results of ANC test indicated that buffering capacity of solidified
material linearly depended on Ca concentration in FA and lime. Sample with 20
% of binder heaving 50 % of FA and 50 % of lime met all requirements to be
safely disposed.
Breast cancer metastasis to the conjunctiva
Authors: Bobic-Radovanovic Anica , Rasic Dejan , Buta Marko , Dzodic Radan
Published: November 2012

Introduction. Conjunctival metastasis is exceedingly rare, and it is, as a
rule, a sign of advanced malignant disease with poor prognosis. We presented
a female patient with breast cancer metastasis to the conjunctiva. Case
report. A 45-yearold premenopausal female patient was presented with a
solitary, yellowish, thin, demarcated lesion in the superior nasal quadrant
of the bulbar conjunctiva of the left eye noted by chance a week earlier.
There was no sign of irritation, and no pain, and no other functional or
morphological problem in either eye or orbit. Five years before the
appearance of conjunctival metastasis, breast carcinoma was diagnosed and the
patient underwent chemotherapy, preoperative radiotherapy and radical
mastectomy. Three years later, computed tomography scan showed metastasis in
the left hepatic lobe with ascites and the patient underwent chemotherapy
again. But, four months prior to the appearance of conjunctival lesion body
scintigraphy showed multifocal sceletal lesions and nuclear magnetic
resonance revealed diffuse hepatic metastases and bilateral ovarial tumors.
Paliative radiotherapy and hormonal therapy (megestrol, 160 mg) were carried
out. An excisional biopsy of the observed conjunctival lesion was performed
under topical anesthesia and the material was subjected to histopathological
(HP) examination. HP and immunohistochemical examinations established the
presence of breast infiltrating lobular carcinoma metastatic to the
conjunctiva. The patient showed rapid deterioration after intervention, and
died after three weeks. Conclusion. A survival period less than one month
after the appearance of conjunctival metastasis deserves attention because it
is unexpected and has never been reported previously. It is not a rule that
HP presentation of a metastatic lesion is so characteristic that it is
possible to determine a primary tumor.
Projections of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Burden in the U.S. Population Aged <20 Years Through 2050
Authors: Imperatore Giuseppina , Boyle James P. , Thompson Theodore J. , Case Doug , Dabelea Dana , Hamman Richard F. , Lawrence Jean M. , Liese Angela D. , Liu Lenna L. , Mayer-Davis Elizabeth J. , Rodriguez Beatriz L. , Standiford Debra ,   for the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study Group
Published: November 2012

OBJECTIVE

To forecast the number of U.S. individuals aged <20 years with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) through 2050, accounting for changing demography and diabetes incidence.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We used Markov modeling framework to generate yearly forecasts of the number of individuals in each of three states (diabetes, no diabetes, and death). We used 2001 prevalence and 2002 incidence of T1DM and T2DM from the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study and U.S. Census Bureau population demographic projections. Two scenarios were considered for T1DM and T2DM incidence: 1) constant incidence over time; 2) for T1DM yearly percentage increases of 3.5, 2.2, 1.8, and 2.1% by age-groups 0–4 years, 5–9 years, 10–14 years, and 15–19 years, respectively, and for T2DM a yearly 2.3% increase across all ages.

RESULTS

Under scenario 1, the projected number of youth with T1DM rises from 166,018 to 203,382 and with T2DM from 20,203 to 30,111, respectively, in 2010 and 2050. Under scenario 2, the number of youth with T1DM nearly triples from 179,388 in 2010 to 587,488 in 2050 (prevalence 2.13/1,000 and 5.20/1,000 [+144% increase]), with the greatest increase in youth of minority racial/ethnic groups. The number of youth with T2DM almost quadruples from 22,820 in 2010 to 84,131 in 2050; prevalence increases from 0.27/1,000 to 0.75/1,000 (+178% increase).

CONCLUSIONS

A linear increase in diabetes incidence could result in a substantial increase in the number of youth with T1DM and T2DM over the next 40 years, especially those of minority race/ethnicity.
Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Presenting in Blast Phase with Nodal, Bilineal Myeloid Sarcoma and T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in a Child
Authors: Chen Xueyan , Rutledge Joe C. , Wu David , Fang Min , Opheim Kent E. , Xu Min
Published: November 2012

A 14-year-old boy presented with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in blast phase with segregated extramedullary (nodal) myeloid sarcoma and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. Immunohistochemical stains performed on the lymphadenectomy sample demonstrated T lymphoblasts in the lymph nodes and myeloblasts in the adjacent soft tissue. Fluorescence in situ hybridization performed on paraffin sections confirmed that both T-lymphoblast and myeloblast populations were positive for the t(9;22) BCR/ABL1 translocation. Subsequent flow cytometry analysis of the bone marrow showed expanded populations of abnormal myeloblasts and T lymphoblasts diagnostic of blast phase CML. To the best of our knowledge, bilineal blast phase of CML with segregated extramedullary T lymphoblasts and myeloblasts has not been reported.
Comparison of the diuretic effects of medetomidine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride in healthy cats
Authors: Murahata Yusuke , Hikasa Yoshiaki
Published: November 2012

Objective—To investigate dose-related diuretic effects of medetomidine hydrochloride and xylazine hydrochloride in healthy cats.

Animals—5 sexually intact cats (4 males and 1 female).

Procedures—The 5 cats received each of 11 treatments. Cats were treated by IM administration of saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control treatment), medetomidine hydrochloride (20, 40, 80, 160, and 320 μg/kg), and xylazine hydrochloride (0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg). Urine and blood samples were collected 9 times during a 24-hour period. Variables measured were urine volume, pH, and specific gravity; plasma arginine vasopressin (AVP) concentration; and creatinine and electrolyte concentrations as well as osmolality in both urine and plasma.

Results—Both medetomidine and xylazine increased urine production for up to 5 hours after injection. Xylazine had a dose-dependent diuretic effect, but medetomidine did not. Urine specific gravity and osmolality decreased in a dose-dependent manner for both drugs. Free-water clearance increased for up to 5 hours after injection, whereas glomerular filtration rate, osmolar clearance, plasma osmolality, and electrolyte concentrations did not change significantly. Area under the curve for AVP concentrations decreased in a dose-dependent manner for medetomidine but not for xylazine; however, this was not related to diuresis.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Both medetomidine and xylazine induced profound diuresis in cats by decreasing reabsorption of water in the kidneys. The diuretic effect of medetomidine, including the change in AVP concentration, differed from that of xylazine. Care must be used when administering these drugs to cats with urinary tract obstruction, hypovolemia, or dehydration.
Association of oxidative stress with motor neuron disease in horses
Authors: Mohammed Hussni O. , Divers Thomas J. , Kwak Justin , Omar Adil H. , White Maurice E. , de Lahunta Alexander
Published: November 2012

Objective—To investigate the influence of oxidative stress in terms of antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation on the probability of motor neuron disease (MND) in horses.

Animals—88 horses with MND (cases) and 49 controls.

Procedures—Blood samples were collected from all horses enrolled, and RBCs and plasma were harvested. Activity of the enzyme erythrocytic superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was determined in the RBCs. Plasma concentrations of α-tocopherols and β-carotenes and activity of glutathione peroxidase were also evaluated. Degree of lipid peroxidation was measured by determining plasma concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides. Differences were evaluated between horse groups.

Results—Cases had lower erythrocyte SOD1 activity than did controls, but the difference was not significant. On the other hand, plasma vitamin E concentrations differed significantly between groups, with the cases having lower concentrations. Neither plasma vitamin A concentration nor glutathione peroxidase activity differed between groups; however, cases had significantly higher concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides (18.53μM) than did controls (12.35μM).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Horses with MND differed from those without MND by having a lower plasma concentration of vitamin E and higher concentrations of lipid hydroperoxides. Results parallel the findings in humans with sporadic amyotrophic sclerosis and provide evidence supporting the involvement of oxidative stress in the 2 conditions.
Analysis of the transport of and cytotoxic effects for nalbuphine solution in corneal cells
Authors: Spatola Ronald A. , Thangavelu Mirunalni , Upadhyayula Vijayasaradhi , Lee Seungsoo , Phelps Mitch A. , Chandler Heather L.
Published: November 2012

Objective—To assess the in vitro effects of various nalbuphine concentrations on viability and wound healing ability of corneal cells and potential drug transport through the corneal epithelium.

Sample—Cultured canine and human corneal epithelial cells (CECs) and cultured canine corneal stromal fibroblasts.

Procedures—CECs and stromal fibroblasts were exposed to nalbuphine (concentration of solutions ranged from 0% to 1.2%) for up to 30 minutes, and viability was assessed with a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. A standard scratch test technique was used. Wound healing of CECs and stromal fibroblasts was evaluated following treatment with nalbuphine solutions < 0.1%. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry–mass spectrometry analysis was used to evaluate drug transport across a monolayer and a multilayer of human CECs.

Results—A progressive decrease in viability was detected in canine CECs for all nalbuphine treatment groups, whereas treatment with only 0.5% or 1.2% nalbuphine significantly reduced corneal stromal fibroblast viability, compared with results for control cells. Within 24 hours, treatment with 0.1% nalbuphine solution significantly altered the healing rate of both canine CECs and stromal fibroblasts. Continuous increases in transport rates of nalbuphine were detected with time for both the monolayer and multilayer of human CECs.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In vitro, nalbuphine potentially could penetrate through corneal tissue, but it may cause damage to the corneal epithelium and stromal fibroblasts. Therefore, nalbuphine potentially may impair corneal wound healing.
Preparation, characterisation, and dielectric properties of polypyrrole-clay composites
Authors: Madakbaş Seyfullah , Çakmakçı Emrah , Kahraman Memet , Esmer Kadir
Published: November 2012

In this study, polypyrrole-clay (PPy-clay) composites were prepared by the in situ chemical oxidative polymerisation of pyrrole in the presence of clay. The chemical structures of the composites were characterised by FTIR and XRD analysis. The thermal properties of these novel composites were analysed by TGA and DSC measurements. Glass-transition temperatures and char yields increased with the increase in clay content in the nanocomposites. The interactions between PPy and clay were mainly between polypyrrole and the layers of clay. It was observed that, as the amount of clay in the composites increased, the dielectric permittivity decreased while the dielectric conductivity of the composite materials increased.
Micelle nano-reactors as mediators of water-insoluble ligand complexation with Cu(II) ions in aqueous medium
Authors: Adıgüzel Ragıp , Taşcıoğlu Senay
Published: November 2012

Complexation reactions between water-soluble and -insoluble reactants were shown to occur in aqueous media in the presence of normal or reverse surfactant micelles, in significantly higher yields at lower temperatures compared to those achieved in neat organic solvents. The highest yield enhancement in the complexation of novel water-insoluble bis(2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazolyl)methane and 1,4-bis(2-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazolyl)benzene ligands with Cu(II) ions was achieved in the sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate (AOT)-heptane-water reverse micellar system at the hydration ratio of 15. The results revealed that AOT normal micelles cause a change in the reaction mechanism together with the enhancement of the complex formation. The observed micellar effects were rationalized on basis of the properties of bulk solvents, surfactants and ligands, considering the solvation and hydration ratios of reverse micelles. The results have proved the dependence of complex yield on the amount and accordingly also on the properties of water in the micellar core, indicating that the yield can be maximized by the optimization of the hydration ratio.
Dynamic shape and wall correction factors of cylindrical particles falling vertically in a Newtonian liquid
Authors: Strnadel Jaroslav , Šiška Bedřich , Machač Ivan
Published: November 2012

Results of numerical calculations of dynamic shape and wall correction factors for the flow of a Newtonian fluid over a vertically oriented cylindrical particle in a cylindrical tube are reported. Mathematical model of the flow was solved using the finite element method by means of the COMSOL Multiphysics software. Dependences of the shape factor on the cylinder aspect ratio and of the wall correction factor, F W, on the ratio of the cylindrical particle diameter to the tube diameter, and on the aspect ratio were obtained. Numerical dependences were approximated by simple relationships suitable for dynamic shape and wall correction factors prediction.
Along for the Ride
Authors: Cherng Hua-Yu Sebastian , Calarco Jessica McCrory , Kao Grace
Published: November 2012

Research on social capital in education rarely considers how the resources students can access through their friendships affect educational outcomes later in life. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we explore how having resource-rich best friends impacts adolescents’ college completion. We compare the influence of friends’ material and cultural resources and their effects relative to adolescents’ family resources. We find that having a best friend with a college-educated mother significantly increases the likelihood of college completion, though having a best friend whose parents are high income does not. This positive effect of best friends’ cultural resources is not explained fully by school achievement or by the expectations of respondents, best friends, or parents. We conclude that adolescent friendships are an underrecognized source of social capital.
Effectiveness of Front-of-pack Nutrition Symbols: A Pilot Study with Consumers
Authors: Emrich Teri E. , Mendoza Julio E. , L’abbé Mary R.
Published: November 2012

Purpose: The effectiveness of different front-of-pack nutrition rating systems and symbols (FOPS) has not been studied among Canadians. We pilot tested an online FOPS survey with consumers.

Methods: Members of the Guelph Food Panel were randomly exposed to traffic light, Percent Daily Value, Health Check, and Smart Pick logos on mock food packages and were asked to rate the FOPS on a Likert-type scale. The FOPS were rated on consumers’ ability to understand them, credibility, and influence on purchase decisions. Participants also provided feedback on the survey.

Results: Participants (n=337) deemed the survey appropriate in length and language, and provided suggestions for improving survey clarity. More than 50% of the respondents believed that FOPS should be present on all food packages (65.1%) and should be government regulated (53.0%). The Percent Daily Value symbol was rated highest with respect to liking, credibility, helpfulness, and influence, but was the least understood. When they used direct comparison, consumers preferred the traffic light symbol (53.1%) over the Percent Daily Value (40.0%), Health Check (6.7%), and Smart Pick (0.3%) symbols.

Conclusions: The survey was revised as a result of the pilot study feedback. Preliminary findings from this pilot study suggest that consumers prefer a single, government-regulated symbol, and value more complex FOPS, like the Percent Daily Value symbol, despite finding them harder to understand.
Midterm and long-term follow-up of cerebral aneurysms treated with flow diverter devices: a single-center experience
Authors: Piano Mariangela , Valvassori Luca , Quilici Luca , Pero Guglielmo , Boccardi Edoardo
Published: November 2012

Object

The introduction of flow diverter devices is revolutionizing the endovascular approach to cerebral aneurysms. Midterm and long-term results of angiographic, cross-sectional imaging and clinical follow-up are still lacking. The authors report their experience with endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms using both the Pipeline embolization device and Silk stents.

Methods

From October 2008 to July 2011 a consecutive series of 104 intracranial aneurysms in 101 patients (79 female, 22 male; average age 53 years) were treated. Three of the 104 aneurysms were ruptured and 101 were unruptured. Silk stents were implanted in 47 of the aneurysms and Pipeline stents in the remaining 57. In 14 cases a combination of flow diverter devices and coils were used to treat larger aneurysms (maximum diameter > 15 mm).

Patients underwent angiographic follow-up examination at 6 months after treatment, with or without CT or MRI, and at 1 year using CT or MRI, with or without conventional angiography.

Results

In all cases placement of flow diverter stents was technically successful. The mortality and morbidity rates were both 3%. Adverse events without lasting clinical sequelae occurred in 20% of cases. Angiography performed at 6 months after treatment showed complete aneurysm occlusion in 78 of 91 cases (86% of evaluated aneurysms) and subocclusion in 11 (12%); only in 2 cases were the aneurysms unchanged. Fifty-three aneurysms were evaluated at 1 year after treatment. None of these aneurysms showed recanalization, and 1 aneurysm, which was incompletely occluded at the 6-month follow-up examination, was finally occluded. Aneurysmal sac shrinkage was observed in 61% of assessable aneurysms.

Conclusions

Parent artery reconstruction using flow diverter devices is a feasible, safe, and successful technique for the treatment of endovascular treatment of cerebral aneurysms.
Concurrent dural and perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas at the craniocervical junction: case series with special reference to angioarchitecture
Authors: Sato Kenichi , Endo Toshiki , Niizuma Kuniyasu , Fujimura Miki , Inoue Takashi , Shimizu Hiroaki , Tominaga Teiji
Published: November 2012

Object

Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) and perimedullary arteriovenous fistulas (PAVFs) are uncommonly associated in the craniocervical junction. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical and angiographic characteristics of such concurrent lesions.

Methods

Authors reviewed 9 cases with a coexistent DAVF and PAVF at the craniocervical junction. Clinical presentation, angiographic characteristics, intraoperative findings, and treatment outcomes were assessed.

Results

All patients (male/female ratio 5:4; mean age 66.3 years) presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Angiography revealed that 8 patients had both a DAVF and PAVF on the same side, whereas 1 patient had 3 arteriovenous fistulas, 1 DAVF, and 1 PAVF on the right side and 1 DAVF on the left side. All of the fistulas shared dilated perimedullary veins (anterior spinal vein, 7 cases; anterolateral spinal vein, 2 cases) as a main drainage route. The shared drainage route was rostrally directed in 8 of 9 cases. Eight patients exhibited an arterial aneurysm on the distal side of the feeding arteries to the PAVF, and the aneurysm in each case was intraoperatively confirmed as a bleeding point. One patient had ruptured venous ectasia at the perimedullary fistulous point. All patients underwent direct surgery via a posterolateral approach. No recurrence was observed in the 4 patients who underwent postoperative angiography, and no rebleeding event was recorded among any of the 9 patients during the follow-up period (mean 38.4 months).

Conclusions

The similarity of the angioarchitecture and the close anatomical relationship between DAVF and PAVF at the craniocervical junction suggested that these lesions are pathogenetically linked. The pathophysiological mechanism and anatomical features of these lesions represent a unique vascular anomaly that should be recognized angiographically to plan a therapeutic strategy.
The effect of exercise on mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells involved in the repair of sciatic nerve crush injury [RETRACTED]
Authors: Cheng Fu-Chou , Sheu Meei-Ling , Su Hong-Lin , Chen Ying-Ju , Chen Chun-Jung , Chiu Wen-Ta , Sheehan Jason , Pan Hung-Chuan
Published: November 2012

Object

Mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) from bone marrow involved in the process of peripheral nerve regeneration occurs mostly through deposits of CD34+ cells. Treadmill exercise, with either differing intensity or duration, has been shown to increase axon regeneration and sprouting, but the effect of mobilization of HPCs on peripheral nerve regeneration due to treadmill exercise has not yet been elucidated.

Methods

Peripheral nerve injury was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats by crushing the left sciatic nerve using a vessel clamp. The animals were categorized into 2 groups: those with and without treadmill exercise (20 m/min for 60 minutes per day for 7 days). Cytospin and flow cytometry were used to determine bone marrow progenitor cell density and distribution. Neurobehavioral analysis, electrophysiological study, and regeneration marker expression were investigated at 1 and 3 weeks after exercise. The accumulation of HPCs, immune cells, and angiogenesis factors in injured nerves was determined. A separate chimeric mice study was conducted to assess CD34+ cell distribution according to treadmill exercise group.

Results

Treadmill exercise significantly promoted nerve regeneration. Increased Schwann cell proliferation, increased neurofilament expression, and decreased Schwann cell apoptosis were observed 7 days after treadmill exercise. Elevated expression of S100 and Luxol fast blue, as well as decreased numbers of vacuoles, were identified in the crushed nerve 3 weeks after treadmill exercise. Significantly increased numbers of mononuclear cells, particularly CD34+ cells, were induced in bone marrow after treadmill exercise. The deposition of CD34+ cells was abolished by bone marrow irradiation. In addition, deposits of CD34+ cells in crushed nerves paralleled the elevated expressions of von Willebrand factor, isolectin B4, and vascular endothelial growth factor.

Conclusions

Bone marrow HPCs, especially CD34+ cells, were able to be mobilized by low-intensity treadmill exercise, and this effect paralleled the significant expression of angiogenesis factors. Treadmill exercise stimulation of HPC mobilization during peripheral nerve regeneration could be used as a therapy in human beings.
Cult and culture in a medieval community: Ayton and Coldingham, 1188–1376
Authors: Donnelly J.
Published: November 2012

It was assumed only recently that there was little to be said about popular religious culture in Scotland, below the level of rural gentry or the urban classes, for any period much before 1400. Charters and account rolls do exist however which, read with synodal statutes and liturgical texts, reveal such features of cultural life as the churching of women, marriage settlements, widowhood, the neighbourly pax, blessed bread or the commemoration of the dead, all in a rural parish. The cult was appropriate to an illiterate society, deploying ceremony, drama, art, music, textiles and architecture. Foreign evidence, English and continental, provides comparison – as do aspects of Orthodox religious practice. The texts studied for Ayton and Coldingham reveal both parochial benefactions and popular religious objectives, while the archival context identifies grants to the parish church. A calendar is being prepared, but in the meantime outline lists are given here. Coinciding with the launch of a database of the ‘People of Medieval Scotland’ (PoMS), this paper suggests that we can develop the study of that people's religious culture in ways well beyond those imagined as recently as 2008.
Iona in 1771: Gaelic tradition and visitors’ experience
Authors: Sharpe Richard
Published: November 2012

This account of Iona has long been known only under the claim, made in 1883, that it was translated from Irish. It is here shown to have been printed in English in Edinburgh in 1774. The account provides important testimony to the experience of a Scottish visitor before the famous visits by Joseph Banks, Thomas Pennant, and Samuel Johnson opened up Iona and Staffa as popular destinations. Its valuable evidence on the state of the antiquities in 1771 is drawn out by comparison with the nearest available witnesses. This account is unusual in the richness of its Gaelic material, both sayings and stories associated with St Columba and also names of local features pointed out to visitors in Iona. One poem cited by the visitor is found in Irish manuscripts from the sixteenth century, raising the question whether his reportage was backed up by written texts. This account more than any other gives a glimpse of Catholic tradition with roots in Irish hagiography. The writer's circumstances are nowhere made explicit, but there are signs that his knowledge of Columban stories in Gaelic was not acquired in the context of a brief visit. In the local setting, however, what was told to visitors was also adapted to their expectations, so that, over the following twenty years we have an instructive example of an early transition from vernacular, and largely oral, transmission to a polite written circulation of selected stories retold by visitors. This in turn has its effect on the antiquities, which in some cases were actually replenished. Detectable changes in what was pointed out and said to visitors show that what visitors received as ancient tradition was already in the 1770s capable of new and creative responses to their expectations based on their awareness of what earlier visitors had seen. This account is the most important key to understanding Iona in the years before the regular stream of visitors began.
Multidrug Efflux Systems in Helicobacter cinaedi
Authors: Morita Yuji , Tomida Junko , Kawamura Yoshiaki
Published: November 2012

Helicobacter cinaedi causes infections, such as bacteremia, diarrhea and cellulitis in mainly immunocompromised patients. This pathogen is often problematic to analyze, and insufficient information is available, because it grows slowly and poorly in subculture under a microaerobic atmosphere. The first-choice therapy to eradicate H. cinaedi is antimicrobial chemotherapy; however, its use is linked to the development of resistance. Although we need to understand the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of H. cinaedi, unfortunately, sufficient genetic tools for H. cinaedi have not yet been developed. In July 2012, the complete sequence of H. cinaedi strain PAGU 611, isolated from a case of human bacteremia, was announced. This strain possesses multidrug efflux systems, intrinsic antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and typical mutations in gyrA and the 23S rRNA gene, which are involved in acquired resistance to fluoroquinolones and macrolides, respectively. Here, we compare the organization and properties of the efflux systems of H. cinaedi with the multidrug efflux systems identified in other bacteria.
Climate, Management and Habitat Associations of Avian Fauna in Restored Wetlands of California’s Central Valley, USA
Authors: Kahara Sharon , Duffy Walter , DiGaudio Ryan , Records Rosemary
Published: November 2012

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) is one of several programs implemented by the United States Department of Agriculture to facilitate natural resource management on private lands. Since the WRP’s inception approximately 29,000 ha in California’s Central Valley (CCV) have been restored. However until now, actual benefits of the program to wildlife have never been evaluated. Hydrology in the CCV has been heavily modified and WRP wetlands are managed primarily to support wintering waterfowl. We surveyed over 60 WRP easements in 2008 and 2009 to quantify avian use and categorized bird species into 11 foraging guilds. We detected over 200 bird species in 2008 and 119 species in 2009, which is similar to or higher than numbers observed on other managed sites in the same area. We found that actively managed WRP wetlands support more waterfowl than sites under low or intermediate management, which is consistent with intended goals. Despite reported water shortages, greater upland and un-restored acreage in the southern CCV, WRP wetlands support large numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds, particularly in the early fall months. This is probably due to the severe lack of alternative habitat such as wildlife friendly crops at appropriate stages of the migration cycle. Improved access to water resources for hydrological management would greatly enhance waterfowl use in the southern CCV.
An Industrial System Powered by Wind and Coal for Aluminum Production: A Case Study of Technical Demonstration and Economic Feasibility
Authors: Sun Yuan-Zhang , Lin Jin , Song Yong-Hua , Xu Jian , Li Xiao-Ming , Dong Jian-Xun
Published: November 2012

This paper presents a case study of an isolated industrial power system for aluminum production. The novel concept is that the cost of aluminum electrolysis can be significantly reduced by innovative application of hybrid systems incorporating wind energy and low-grade coal. In addition, the low-grade coal, which sale is not profitable in the market, can be locally consumed by the isolated power system. The power system thus fully utilizes the local resources in an effective and economic manner. However, several technical and economic issues are still of concern because the industrial system is isolated from the state grid. This paper hence discusses these issues and demonstrates the feasibility of such a hybrid power system from the technical and economic perspectives.
Sustainability Impact Assessment on the Production and Use of Different Wood and Fossil Fuels Employed for Energy Production in North Karelia, Finland
Authors: Den Herder Michael , Kolström Marja , Lindner Marcus , Suominen Tommi , Tuomasjukka Diana , Pekkanen Matias
Published: November 2012

The utilization rate of woody biomass in eastern Finland is high and expected to increase further in the near future as set out in several regional, national and European policies and strategies. The aim of this study was to assess the sustainability impacts of changes in fuel consumption patterns. We investigated fossil and woody biomass-based energy production chains in the region of North Karelia, focusing on some economic, environmental and social indicators. Indicators were selected based on stakeholder preferences and evaluated using the Tool for Sustainability Impact Assessment (ToSIA). The analysis was based on representative values from National Forest Inventory data, scientific publications, national and regional statistics, databases, published policy targets and expert opinion. From the results it became evident that shifting from fossil to wood-based energy production implies some trade-offs. Replacing oil with woody biomass in energy production would increase the local value added remaining in the region, create employment opportunities and would reduce total GHG emissions. However, firewood, wood chips from small-diameter trees from early thinning and wood pellets have high production costs. Moreover, large greenhouse gas emission resulted from wood pellet production. The case study generated valuable reference data for future sustainability assessments and demonstrated the usefulness of ToSIA as a tool presenting existing knowledge on sustainability impacts of alternative energy supply chains to inform decision making.
Associations between Endogenous Dimethylarginines and Renal Function in Healthy Children and Adolescents
Authors: Jaźwińska-Kozuba Aleksandra , Martens-Lobenhoffer Jens , Surdacki Andrzej , Kruszelnicka Olga , Rycaj Jarosław , Godula-Stuglik Urszula , Bode-Böger Stefanie
Published: November 2012

The structural isomer of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), is eliminated almost entirely by urinary excretion and considered a sensitive index of glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, reports on this relationship in healthy subjects younger than 18 years of age are rare. Therefore, our aim was to investigate relations between endogenous dimethylarginines and renal function indices in healthy children and adolescents. We studied 40 subjects aged 3–18 years free of coexistent diseases or subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. A serum creatinine-derived estimated GFR (eGFR) was calculated by the revised bedside Schwartz equation. L-arginine, ADMA and SDMA were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mean eGFR was 122 ± 22 (SD) mL/min per 1.73 m2. Creatinine and eGFR exhibited closer correlations with the SDMA/ADMA ratio (r = 0.64, p < 0.0001; r = −0.63, p < 0.0001, respectively) than with SDMA (r = 0.31, p = 0.05; r = −0.35, p = 0.03). Neither creatinine nor eGFR correlated with ADMA or L-arginine. Adjustment for age or height only slightly attenuated the associations between the SDMA/ADMA ratio and eGFR or creatinine. Our findings suggest the superiority of the SDMA/ADMA ratio over SDMA as a renal function index in healthy children. Thus, further studies are warranted to verify our preliminary results in a larger group of subjects below 18 years of age.