bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IRCS: Valuing Ethics at the Expense of Inventory
Authors: Long James H. , Mertins Lasse , Searcy DeWayne L.
Published: September 2012

Lisa Martin, the newly promoted controller at International Retail Computer Solutions (IRCS), faces an ethical dilemma. According to her calculations, the company should record a substantial inventory impairment loss. However, top management at IRCS is concerned that Martin's proposed inventory impairment adjustment will place the company in violation of an important debt covenant, which would allow the bank to call IRCS's $10 million note. Should Martin insist on keeping her original inventory impairment adjustment? Or should she be a team player and revise the adjustment downward to prevent a debt covenant violation? As students respond to the case questions, they are exposed to a realistic scenario requiring them to think critically about the underlying accounting issues and to consider the ethical implications of Martin's actions. In addition, the case requires them to apply an ethical framework (the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct) to determine the ethical course of action.
Gross Umbilical Cord Complications are Associated with Placental Lesions of Circulatory Stasis and Fetal Hypoxia
Authors: Chan Joanna S. Y. , Baergen Rebecca N.
Published: September 2012

Umbilical cord complications (UCC), such as true knots (TK), velamentous (VEL) insertion, marginal umbilical cord (MUC) insertion, umbilical cord entanglement (UCE) (both nuchal and non-nuchal), excessively long umbilical cord (ELUC), and excessively twisted umbilical cord (ETUC), can lead to decreased UC blood flow and have been associated with adverse fetal outcome and intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD). Few large series exist that correlate UCC with specific pathologic findings of the placenta. We present the largest series of UCC at this time. Eight hundred forty-one 3rd-trimester placentas with UCC were identified, as well as 858 randomly selected gestational age–matched placentas with grossly unremarkable UC. Lesions associated with circulatory stasis and thrombosis, including villous capillary congestion (VC), umbilical vessel distension (UVD), chorionic plate vessel distension (CPD), umbilical vessel thrombosis (UVT), fetal vascular thrombosis (FVT), intimal fibrin cushions (IFC), and avascular villi (AV), were noted, as well as other pathologic lesions. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and Fisher exact tests, with P < 0.05 statistically significant. Umbilical cord complications as a group was associated with a significant increase in placental circulatory stasis lesions. Lesions associated with hypoxia, namely nucleated red blood cells and chorangiosis, were also increased. Finally, the presence of any UCC was significantly associated with IUFD. We also found that multiple UCC are associated with nonreassuring fetal heart rate and chorangiosis but that the presence of a single UCC was not. This indicates that UCC may lead to intrauterine hypoxia and subsequent adverse fetal outcome and that multiple UCC may be cumulative in effect.
Dilatometric Characterization of Foundry Sands
Authors: Břuska M. , Beňo J. , Cagala M , Jasinková V
Published: September 2012

Dilatometric Characterization of Foundry Sands

The goal of this contribution is summary of physical - chemistry properties of usually used foundry silica and no - silica sands in Czech foundries. With the help of dilatometry analysis theoretical assumptions of influence of grain shape and size on dilatation value of sands were confirmed. Determined was the possibility of dilatometry analysis employment for preparing special (hybrid) sands with lower and/or more linear character of dilatation.
Gating Systems for Sizeable Castings from Al Alloys Cast into Ceramic Moulds
Authors: Stachovec I. , Horáček M. , Zemčík L. , Kolda V. , Horenský J.
Published: September 2012

Gating Systems for Sizeable Castings from Al Alloys Cast into Ceramic Moulds

In contrast to casting to conventional non-reusable "sand" moulds, for which calculating technique for an optimum design of the gating system is comparatively well-developed, a trial-and-error method is applied mostly for casting to ceramic shell moulds made by the investment casting technology. A technologist selects from gating systems of several types (that are standardized by the foundry mostly) on the basis of experience. However, this approach is not sustainable with ever growing demands on quality of castings and also the economy of their fabrication as well as with new types of complex sizeable castings introduced to the production gradually (by new customers from the aircraft industry above all) any more. The simulation software may be used as a possible tool for making the process of optimising gating systems more effective.
Microstructure and Microhardness of Ti6Al4V Alloy Treated by GTAW SiC Alloying
Authors: Bochnowski W.
Published: September 2012

Microstructure and Microhardness of Ti6Al4V Alloy Treated by GTAW SiC Alloying

In this work, the change of the structure and microhardness of Ti6Al4V titanium alloy after remelting and remelting with SiC alloing by electric arc welding (GTAW method) was studied. The current intensity equal 100 A and fixed scan speed rate equal 0,2 m/min has been used to remelting surface of the alloy. Change of structure were investigated by optical and scanning electron microscopy. Microhardness test showed, that the remelting of the surface does not change the hardness of the alloy. Treated by GTAW SiC alloying leads to the formation of hard (570 HV0, 1) surface layer with a thickness of 2 mm. The resulting surface layer is characterized by diverse morphology alloyed zone. The fracture of alloy after conventional heat treatment, similarly to fracture after remelting with GTAW is characterized by extremely fine dimples of plastic deformation. In the alloyed specimens the intergranular and crystalline fracture was identified.
Individualized Behavioral Assessments and Maternal Ratings of Mastery Motivation in Mental Age–Matched Toddlers With and Without Motor Delay
Authors: Wang Pei-Jung , Morgan George A. , Hwang Ai-Wen , Liao Hua-Fang
Published: September 2012

Background

Mastery motivation is a precursor of future developmental outcomes. Evidence about whether toddlers with motor delay have lower mastery motivation is inconclusive.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between mental age–matched toddlers with and without motor delay on various mastery motivation indicators.

Design

A mental age– and sex-matched case-control study was performed.

Methods

Twenty-two children with motor delay, aged 23 to 47 months, and 22 children who were developing typically, aged 15 to 29 months, were recruited. Persistence and mastery pleasure were measured with behavioral tasks that were moderately challenging for each child and with maternal ratings using the Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire (DMQ). The DMQ was rated by each child's mother based on her perception of her child's motivation. Two types of structured tasks (a puzzle and a cause-effect toy selected to be moderately challenging for each child) were administered in a laboratory setting and recorded on videos. Paired t tests or Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to examine group differences in persistence and mastery pleasure (α=.007, 2-tailed).

Results

Children with motor delay were rated lower on DMQ persistence than the typically developing group, but they did not show significantly lower persistence on the structured tasks. There were no significant differences in mastery pleasure between the 2 groups on either measure.

Limitations

Large within-sample variability on the tasks and small sample size makes subgroup analysis (eg, different severities) difficult.

Conclusions

Toddlers with motor delay did not show lower persistence and pleasure when given tasks that were moderately challenging; however, their mothers tended to view them as having lower motivation. Clinicians and parents should provide appropriately challenging tasks to increase children's success and motivation.
Nutritional status and morbidity pattern in school age children in Nepal
Authors: Bhandari N , Shrestha GK
Published: September 2012

School Health has been regarded as a high priority intervention in developing countries. However it has not been prioritized in Nepal for many years. The objectives of the study are to find out the nutritional status and morbidity pattern in school age children. To arouse importance of personal hygiene and healthful surrounding through information, education and communication (IEC). This cross-sectional study was administered in two schools located in Bolde phedeche and Mahure of Kavrepalanchowk. From the selected schools, a total number of 160 students studying from Grade 1 to V were enumerated in the study using census survey method. Among 160 students, the most important three problems were pediculosis 42(26.2 %), dental caries 29(18.1%), and waxy ear 27(17.1 %). Thus the school health education should put more emphasis on oral care, nutrition, personal hygiene and others. Applying classification of Indian Academy of Pediatrics: based on weight for age, 36(55.3%) boys and 34(35.8%) girls fall under 1st degree malnutrition and 15(23.07%) boys and 44(46.3%) girls fall under IInd degree malnutrition, 7(7.2 %) girls fall under IIIrd degree malnutrition.The health and nutritional standards of school children in this study were found to be unsatisfactory. Among different morbidity pediculosis is found more in girls. The present study put more emphasis on the need for initiation of school health program in the school with more on improving personal hygiene, prevention of disease like parasitic infection/infestation and improvement of their nutritional status. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal,2012,Vol-8,No-2, 12-16 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v8i2.6832
A case of leptospirosis in a child with unusual clinical manifestation
Authors: Biswas A , Kumar R , Chaterjee A , Pan A
Published: September 2012

Leptospirosis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. In the mild form it may present as flu like illness. Severe form characterized by jaundice, renal dysfunction and hemorrhagic diathesis is referred to as Weil’s syndrome. Very few cases have been reported in India, and pediatric cases are extremely rare. We report a case of leptospirosis in a 12 year old girl who presented with irregular fever, malaise and spontaneous bleeding from nose. She also had headache, vomiting, subconjunctival hemorrhage, photophobia, pain abdomen, cervical lymphadenopathy, myalgia, and arthralgia. She developed severe coagulopathy, bilateral pleural effusion, ascitis, acalculous cholecystitis ultimately leading to ARDS and later multi-organ failure. ELISA for IgM leptospira was sent which came to be positive. She was given several units of packed cell, platelet concentrate, and plasma transfusion, and later mechanical ventilation and inotropic support. The patient was put on intravenous penicillin G.. which was continued for 10 days. Three weeks following admission, she had made a complete recovery and was discharged. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal,2012,Vol-8,No-2, 37-41 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v8i2.6836
Chylous ascites in cirrhosis-A case report
Authors: Laudari S , Subedi K , Toyena R , Vamja J , Kumar S Nanda , Subedi S
Published: September 2012

Chylous ascites is a rare presentation in cirrhotic liver disease but its incidence has increased because of aggressive cardiothoracic/abdominal surgeries and increasing survival of patients with chronic liver disease and cancer. We report here a case presenting with spontaneous chylous ascites in cirrhosis of liver. It has been associated with poor prognosis. Journal of College of Medical Sciences-Nepal,2012,Vol-8,No-2, 42-45 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jcmsn.v8i2.6837
Toying with China: Cosmopolitanism and Chinoiserie in Russian Garden Design and Building Projects under Catherine the Great
Authors: Milam Jennifer
Published: September 2012

An emerging cosmopolitanism in the eighteenth century bolstered the search for the foundations of a shared humanity across the boundaries of different cultures, which was one of the central aspects of Enlightenment thought. Similar ideas and principles transformed the traditions of European garden design in the second half of the eighteenth century with William Chambers’s writings on Chinese gardens suggesting aesthetic values that both paralleled and rivalled those found in the English gardens of his contemporaries. In 1771, Catherine the Great translated Chambers’s Designs of Chinese Buildings (1757) into Russian, which led to the creation of the largest complex of chinoiserie in any eighteenth-century European garden. Taking as my focus the gardens of Tsarskoye Selo, I explore the tensions between cosmopolitanism, exoticism, and imperialism in Russian garden design under Catherine the Great.
Tears in Tehran/Laughter in London: James Morier, Mirza Abul Hassan Khan, and the Geopolitics of Emotion
Authors: O’Quinn Daniel
Published: September 2012

Throughout the eighteenth century, diplomatic relations were frequently supplemented by the deployment of entertainment, specifically the theatre, as a potential site where negotiation could be furthered, altered, or impeded. Both the British embassy to Tehran in 1809 and the Persian embassy to London in 1809–10 involved acts of shared theatrical consumption. James Morier, the secretary to Harford Jones, published detailed descriptions of Ta’ziyeh performances in Tehran in A Journey through Persia, Armenia, and Asia Minor (1812). And the journal of his counterpart, Mirza Abul Hassan Khan, engages with the many operas and plays he attended during his sojourn in London. Both envoys recognize and contain the allegorical scenarios being staged in the scene of diplomacy. In each case, Morier and Abul Hassan are troubled by the reception of these affect-laden performances, and the ways in which they distinguish themselves from the audience around them reveal the limits of intercultural exchange at this moment in the Napoleonic wars.
The Queen of Sorrow and the Knight of the Indies: Cosmopolitan Possibilities in The Recess and The New Cosmetic
Authors: Rosenthal Laura J.
Published: September 2012

Historians have documented the rise of English nationalism in the eighteenth century. Two eighteenth-century authors, Sophia Lee and Samuel Jackson Pratt, turn to the Gothic as a specific way in which to explore what gets left out and left behind during the rise of nationalism. Lee’s Gothic novel The Recess tells the counterfactual story of the two secret daughters of Mary, Queen of Scots, in a way that imagines alternatives to the aggressive nationalism that her fictional Elizabeth comes to represent. Lee’s lingering on the extreme suffering of her heroines aligns her novel aesthetically with other artists and writers who challenged imperial expansion through an emphasis on the anguish obscured by other aesthetic choices. A fan of Gothic fiction and a Gothic novelist himself, Pratt offers a farcical version of similar dynamics through the juxtaposition of Gothic tropes with colonial slavery. In his play The New Cosmetic, an ointment holds the promise of changing skin colour, but only after excruciating pain.
Repair of a median nerve transection injury using multiple nerve transfers, with long-term functional recovery
Authors: Murphy Rory K. J. , Ray Wilson Z. , Mackinnon Susan E.
Published: September 2012

Complete loss of median nerve motor function is a rare but devastating injury. Loss of median motor hand function and upper-extremity pronation can significantly impact a patient's ability to perform many activities of daily living independently. The authors report the long-term follow-up in a case of median nerve motor fiber transection that occurred during an arthroscopic elbow procedure, which was then treated with multiple nerve transfers. Motor reconstruction used the nerves to the supinator and extensor carpi radialis brevis to transfer to the anterior interosseous nerve and pronator. Sensory sensation was restored using the lateral antebrachial cutaneous (LABC) nerve to transfer to a portion of the sensory component of the median nerve, and a second cable of LABC nerve as a direct median nerve sensory graft. The patient ultimately recovered near normal motor function of the median nerve, but had persistent pain symptoms 4 years postinjury.
Normalization of hindbrain morphology after decompression of Chiari malformation Type I
Authors: Heiss John D. , Suffredini Giancarlo , Bakhtian Kamran D. , Sarntinoranont Malisa , Oldfield Edward H.
Published: September 2012

Object

Chiari malformation Type I (CM-I) is characterized by hindbrain deformity. We investigated the effects of craniocervical decompression surgery on the anatomical features of hindbrain deformity with a prospective MRI study of patients with CM-I.

Methods

A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in 48 patients with CM-I (39 with syringomyelia) treated with craniocervical decompression. Clinical examinations and cervical MRI were performed before surgery and 1 week, 3–6 months, and annually after surgery. Hindbrain deformity was defined by tonsillar ectopia, pointed cerebellar tonsils, and/or cervicomedullary protuberance. The length of the clivus, basiocciput (sphenooccipital synchondrosis to basion), supraocciput (internal occipital protuberance to opisthion), and anteroposterior (AP) width of CSF pathways at the foramen magnum were measured and compared with those from 18 healthy volunteers (control group).

Results

Before surgery, the patients' posterior fossa bones were short and their CSF pathways were narrow. All patients had tonsillar ectopia (mean [± SD] 12.3 ± 5.1 mm; normal 0.3 ± 1.0). The majority of patients had pointed tonsils and more than two-thirds exhibited a cervicomedullary protuberance. Clivus and basiocciput lengths were significantly shorter than the values obtained in the control group. However, the supraocciput length did not differ significantly from control measurements. The mean bulbopontine sulcus distance superior to the basion was 9.5 ± 2.6 mm (vs 13.6 ± 2.8 mm in controls; p < 0.0001). The AP widths of the CSF pathways at the level of the foramen magnum were significantly narrowed. After surgery, CSF pathways significantly expanded both ventrally and dorsally. By 3–6 months after surgery, pointed tonsils became round, cervicomedullary protuberance disappeared, and tonsillar ectopia diminished by 51% (to 6.0 ± 3.3 mm; p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The cerebellar tonsils and brainstem assumed a normal appearance within 6 months after craniocervical decompression. These findings support the concept that the CM-I is not a congenital malformation of the neural elements but rather an acquired malformation that arises from pulsatile impaction of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum. Clinical trial registration no.: NCT00001327.
Dysplastic-reactive choroid plexus presenting as an intramedullary tumor of the cervicomedullary junction in a patient with myelomeningocele
Authors: Singla Amit , Silvera V. Michelle , Ciarlini Pedro , Warf Benjamin C.
Published: September 2012

Dysplastic structural lesions within the fourth ventricle have been reported in patients with Chiari malformation Type II (CM-II). The authors report the unique case of a 22-year-old patient with myelomeningocele who presented with progressive pain, decreasing hand function, and lower cranial nerve dysfunction in the context of a slowly enlarging intramedullary mass at the cervicomedullary junction. At surgery a multinodular mass attached to caudally displaced fourth ventricle choroid plexus was completely removed from an expanded central canal. The histopathological findings were consistent with dysplastic-reactive choroid plexus. Postoperatively the patient experienced relief of pain and improvement in hand strength. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case in which dysplastic fourth ventricle choroid plexus was displaced caudally through the obex to become an intramedullary lesion at the cervicomedullary junction. Its subsequent slow enlargement with progressive neurological deficits may have been secondary to reactive inflammatory changes. For patients with myelomeningocele and CM-II, intramedullary dysplastic-reactive choroid plexus should be included in the differential diagnosis of mass lesions in this location.
Incomplete Information about Social Preferences Explains Equal Division and Delay in Bargaining
Authors: Kohler Stefan
Published: September 2012

Two deviations of alternating-offer bargaining behavior from economic theory are observed together, yet have been studied separately. Players who could secure themselves a large surplus share if bargainers were purely self-interested incompletely exploit their advantage. Delay in agreement occurs even if all experimentally controlled information is common knowledge. This paper rationalizes both regularities coherently by modeling heterogeneous social preferences, either self-interest or envy, of one bargaining party as private information in a three period game of bargaining and preference screening and signaling.
Use of Biotinylated Ubiquitin for Analysis of Rat Brain Mitochondrial Proteome and Interactome
Authors: Buneeva Olga A. , Medvedeva Marina V. , Kopylov Arthur T. , Zgoda Victor G. , Medvedev Alexei E.
Published: September 2012

Applicability of in vitro biotinylated ubiquitin for evaluation of endogenous ubiquitin conjugation and analysis of ubiquitin-associated protein-protein interactions has been investigated. Incubation of rat brain mitochondria with biotinylated ubiquitin followed by affinity chromatography on avidin-agarose, intensive washing, tryptic digestion of proteins bound to the affinity sorbent and their mass spectrometry analysis resulted in reliable identification of 50 proteins belonging to mitochondrial and extramitochondrial compartments. Since all these proteins were bound to avidin-agarose only after preincubation of the mitochondrial fraction with biotinylated ubiquitin, they could therefore be referred to as specifically bound proteins. A search for specific ubiquitination signature masses revealed several extramitochondrial and intramitochondrial ubiquitinated proteins representing about 20% of total number of proteins bound to avidin-agarose. The interactome analysis suggests that the identified non-ubiquitinated proteins obviously form tight complexes either with ubiquitinated proteins or with their partners and/or mitochondrial membrane components. Results of the present study demonstrate that the use of biotinylated ubiquitin may be considered as the method of choice for in vitro evaluation of endogenous ubiquitin-conjugating machinery in particular subcellular organelles and changes in ubiquitin/organelle associated interactomes. This may be useful for evaluation of changes in interactomes induced by protein ubiquitination under norm and various brain pathologies.
A Neural Network Based Hybrid Mixture Model to Extract Information from Non-linear Mixed Pixels
Authors: Kumar Uttam , Raja Kumar S. , Mukhopadhyay Chiranjit , Ramachandra T.V.
Published: September 2012

Signals acquired by sensors in the real world are non-linear combinations, requiring non-linear mixture models to describe the resultant mixture spectra for the endmember’s (pure pixel’s) distribution. This communication discusses inferring class fraction through a novel hybrid mixture model (HMM). HMM is a three-step process, where the endmembers are first derived from the images themselves using the N-FINDR algorithm. These endmembers are used by the linear mixture model (LMM) in the second step that provides an abundance estimation in a linear fashion. Finally, the abundance values along with the training samples representing the actual ground proportions are fed into neural network based multi-layer perceptron (MLP) architecture as input to train the neurons. The neural output further refines the abundance estimates to account for the non-linear nature of the mixing classes of interest. HMM is first implemented and validated on simulated hyper spectral data of 200 bands and subsequently on real time MODIS data with a spatial resolution of 250 m. The results on computer simulated data show that the method gives acceptable results for unmixing pixels with an overall RMSE of 0.0089 ± 0.0022 with LMM and 0.0030 ± 0.0001 with the HMM when compared to actual class proportions. The unmixed MODIS images showed overall RMSE with HMM as 0.0191 ± 0.022 as compared to the LMM output considered alone that had an overall RMSE of 0.2005 ± 0.41, indicating that individual class abundances obtained from HMM are very close to the real observations.
Biological Control of Tephritid Fruit Flies in Argentina: Historical Review, Current Status, and Future Trends for Developing a Parasitoid Mass-Release Program
Authors: Ovruski Sergio M. , Schliserman Pablo
Published: September 2012

In Argentina there are two tephritid fruit fly species of major economic and quarantine importance: the exotic Ceratitis capitata that originated from Southeast Africa and the native Anastrepha fraterculus. In recent years, the use of fruit fly parasitoids as biocontrol agents has received renewed attention. This increasing interest has recently led to the establishment of a program for the mass rearing of five million Diachasmimorpha longicaudata parasitoids per week in the BioPlanta San Juan facility, San Juan, Argentina. The first augmentative releases of D. longicaudata in Argentina are currently occurring on commercial fig crops in rural areas of San Juan as part of an integrated fruit fly management program on an area-wide basis. In this context, research is ongoing to assess the suitability of indigenous parasitoid species for successful mass rearing on larvae of either C. capitata or A. fraterculus. The purpose of this article is to provide a historical overview of the biological control of the fruit fly in Argentina, report on the strategies currently used in Argentina, present information on native parasitoids as potential biocontrol agents, and discuss the establishment of a long-term fruit fly biological control program, including augmentative and conservation modalities, in Argentina’s various fruit growing regions.
Magnesium-Based Sacrificial Anode Cathodic Protection Coatings (Mg-Rich Primers) for Aluminum Alloys
Authors: Pathak Shashi S. , Mendon Sharathkumar K. , Blanton Michael D. , Rawlins James W.
Published: September 2012

Magnesium is electrochemically the most active metal employed in common structural alloys of iron and aluminum. Mg is widely used as a sacrificial anode to provide cathodic protection of underground and undersea metallic structures, ships, submarines, bridges, decks, aircraft and ground transportation systems. Following the same principle of utilizing Mg characteristics in engineering advantages in a decade-long successful R&D effort, Mg powder is now employed in organic coatings (termed as Mg-rich primers) as a sacrificial anode pigment to protect aerospace grade aluminum alloys against corrosion. Mg-rich primers have performed very well on aluminum alloys when compared against the current chromate standard, but the carcinogenic chromate-based coatings/pretreatments are being widely used by the Department of Defense (DoD) to protect its infrastructure and fleets against corrosion damage. Factors such as reactivity of Mg particles in the coating matrix during exposure to aggressive corrosion environments, interaction of atmospheric gases with Mg particles and the impact of Mg dissolution, increases in pH and hydrogen gas liberation at coating-metal interface, and primer adhesion need to be considered for further development of Mg-rich primer technology.
Synthesis and Chromatography-Free Purification of PNA-PEO Conjugates for the Functionalisation of Gold Sensors
Authors: Dettin Monica , Silvestri Davide , Danesin Roberta , Cretaio Erica , Picariello Gianluca , Casarin Elisabetta , Sonato Agnese , Romanato Filippo , Morpurgo Margherita
Published: September 2012

Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) linked to high molecular weight (MW) poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) derivatives could be useful conjugates for the direct functionalisation of gold surfaces dedicated to Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR)-based DNA sensing. However their use is hampered by the difficulty to obtain them through a convenient and economical route. In this work we compared three synthetic strategies to obtain PNA-high MW PEO conjugates composed of (a) a 15-mer PNA sequence as the probe complementary to genomic DNA of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, (b) a PEO moiety (2 or 5 KDa MW) and (c) a terminal trityl-protected thiol necessary (after acidic deprotection) for grafting to gold surfaces. The 15-mer PNA was obtained by solid-phase synthesis. Its amino terminal group was later condensed to bi-functional PEO derivatives (2 and 5 KDa MW) carrying a Trt-cysteine at one end and a carboxyl group at the other end. The reaction was carried out either in solution, using HATU or PyOxim as coupling agents, or through the solid-phase approach, with 49.6%, 100% and 5.2% yield, respectively. A differential solvent extraction strategy for product purification without the need for chromatography is described. The ability of the 5 KDa PEO conjugate to function as a probe for complementary DNA detection was demonstrated using a Grating-Coupling Surface Plasmon Resonance (GC-SPR) system. The optimized PEO conjugation and purification protocols are economical and simple enough to be reproduced also within laboratories that are not highly equipped for chemical synthesis.
Primary Investigation of the Preparation of Nanoparticles by Precipitation
Authors: Vaculikova Eliska , Grunwaldova Veronika , Kral Vladimir , Dohnal Jiri , Jampilek Josef
Published: September 2012

The absorption, distribution, biotransformation and excretion of a drug involve its transport across cell membranes. This process is essential and influenced by the characteristics of the drug, especially its molecular size and shape, solubility at the site of its absorption, relative lipid solubility, etc. One of the progressive ways for increasing bioavaibility is a nanoparticle preparation technique. Cholesterol, cholestenolone and pregnenolone acetate as model active pharmaceutical ingredients and some of the commonly used excipients as nanoparticle stabilizers were used in the investigated precipitation method that was modified and simplified and can be used as an effective and an affordable technique for the preparation of nanoparticles. All 120 prepared samples were analyzed by means of dynamic light scattering (Nanophox). The range of the particle size of the determined 100 nanoparticle samples was from 1 nm to 773 nm, whereas 82 samples contained nanoparticles of less than 200 nm. Relationships between solvents and used excipients and their amount are discussed.
Enteral Nutrition for Feeding Severely Underfed Patients with Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Gentile Maria Gabriella
Published: September 2012

Severe undernutrition nearly always leads to marked changes in body spaces (e.g., alterations of intra-extracellular water) and in body masses and composition (e.g., overall and compartmental stores of phosphate, potassium, and magnesium). In patients with severe undernutrition it is almost always necessary to use oral nutrition support and/or artificial nutrition, besides ordinary food; enteral nutrition should be a preferred route of feeding if there is a functional accessible gastrointestinal tract. Refeeding of severely malnourished patients represents two very complex and conflicting tasks: (1) to avoid “refeeding syndrome” caused by a too fast correction of malnutrition; (2) to avoid “underfeeding” caused by a too cautious rate of refeeding. The aim of this paper is to discuss the modality of refeeding severely underfed patients and to present our experience with the use of enteral tube feeding for gradual correction of very severe undernutrition whilst avoiding refeeding syndrome, in 10 patients aged 22 ± 11.4 years and with mean initial body mass index (BMI) of 11.2 ± 0.7 kg/m2. The mean BMI increased from 11.2 ± 0.7 kg/m2 to 17.3 ± 1.6 kg/m2 and the mean body weight from 27.9 ± 3.3 to 43.0 ± 5.7 kg after 90 days of intensive in-patient treatment (p < 0.0001). Caloric intake levels were established after measuring resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry, and nutritional support was performed with enteral feeding. Vitamins, phosphate, and potassium supplements were administered during refeeding. All patients achieved a significant modification of BMI; none developed refeeding syndrome. In conclusion, our findings show that, even in cases of extreme undernutrition, enteral feeding may be a well-tolerated way of feeding.
Fiber-Optical Sensors: Basics and Applications in Multiphase Reactors
Authors: Li Xiangyang , Yang Chao , Yang Shifang , Li Guozheng
Published: September 2012

This work presents a brief introduction on the basics of fiber-optical sensors and an overview focused on the applications to measurements in multiphase reactors. The most commonly principle utilized is laser back scattering, which is also the foundation for almost all current probes used in multiphase reactors. The fiber-optical probe techniques in two-phase reactors are more developed than those in three-phase reactors. There are many studies on the measurement of gas holdup using fiber-optical probes in three-phase fluidized beds, but negative interference of particles on probe function was less studied. The interactions between solids and probe tips were less studied because glass beads etc. were always used as the solid phase. The vision probes may be the most promising for simultaneous measurements of gas dispersion and solids suspension in three-phase reactors. Thus, the following techniques of the fiber-optical probes in multiphase reactors should be developed further: (1) online measuring techniques under nearly industrial operating conditions; (2) corresponding signal data processing techniques; (3) joint application with other measuring techniques.
Species Discrimination among Three Kinds of Puffer Fish Using an Electronic Nose Combined with Olfactory Sensory Evaluation
Authors: Zhang Meixiu , Wang Xichang , Liu Yuan , Xu Xinglian , Zhou Guanghong
Published: September 2012

Species discrimination among three kinds of puffer fish, Takifugu obscurus, Takifugu flavidus and Takifugu rubripes, was conducted using an electronic nose combined with olfactory sensory evaluation. All data were treated by multivariate data processing based on principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factor analysis (DFA). The results showed the discriminant model by PCA method and DFA method. Using PCA and DFA, it was shown that the electronic nose was able to reasonably distinguish between each of the eleven puffer fish groups, with a discrimination index of 85. The olfactory sensory evaluation was undertaken in accordance to Sensory analysis—Methodology—Initiation and training of assessors in the detection and recognition of odors (BS ISO 5496-2006), and the results showed that the evaluation was able to identify puffer fish samples according to their species, geographical origin and age. Results from this analysis demonstrate that the E-nose can be used to complement the discrimination of odors by sensory evaluation from the three species of puffer fish studied here.
Youth for Sale: Using Critical Disability Perspectives to Examine the Embodiment of ‘Youth’
Authors: Slater Jenny
Published: September 2012

‘Youth’ is more complicated than an age-bound period of life; although implicitly paired with developmentalism, youth is surrounded by contradictory discourses. In other work [1], I have asserted that young people are demonized as risky and rebellious, whilst simultaneously criticized for being lazy and apathetic; two intertwining, yet conflicting discourses meaning that young people’s here-and-now experiences take a backseat to a focus on reaching idealized, neoliberal adulthood [2]. Critical examination of adulthood ideals, however, shows us that ‘youthfulness’ is itself presented as a goal of adulthood [3–5], as there is a desire, as adults, to remain forever young [6]. As Blatterer puts it, the ideal is to be “adult and youthful but not adolescent” ([3], p. 74). This paper attempts to untangle some of the youth/adult confusion by asking how the aspiration/expectation of a youthful body plays out in the embodied lives of young dis/abled people. To do this, I use a feminist-disability lens to consider youth in an abstracted form, not as a life-stage, but as the end goal of an aesthetic project of the self that we are all (to differing degrees) encouraged to set out upon.
Public Procurement and Forest Governance: A German Case Study of Governmental Influences on Market-Driven Governance Systems
Authors: Albrecht Moritz
Published: September 2012

With increased privatization of natural resource regulation, green or sustainable public procurement policies are emerging as incentives for sustainable development. Thus, a revival of governmental influences on so-called non-state, market-driven governance systems takes place. The paper exemplifies this development by reference to the green public procurement directives for wood products in Germany and its influence on major forest certification systems and forest governance. Using an approach of governmentality in relational space, the paper displays how governmental entities play a significant role in influencing forest governance systems and the greening of markets. The importance of the underlying relations that shape governmental instruments and their influences on forest certification and governance are evaluated from a German perspective. Acknowledging the market-driven aspects of forest certification systems, the paper highlights the often-neglected impacts of governmental regulation on emerging forest governance systems. Thus, the framework allows insights into how relations among political entities and their means of knowledge production are essential for processes of forest governance.
The importance of ecological constraints on the control of multi‐species treeline dynamics in eastern Nunavik, Québec
Authors: Dufour‐Tremblay Geneviève , De Vriendt Laurent , Lévesque Esther , Boudreau Stéphane
Published: September 2012

•Premise of the study:Treelines are temperature‐sensitive ecotones that should be able to expand in response to global warming; however, they are also controlled by ecological constraints. These constraints can create bottlenecks for tree regeneration, hindering treeline advances. Near Kangiqsualujjuaq (Nunavik, subarctic Québec), previous studies suggested successful recruitment ofLarix laricinaabove the altitudinal treeline, whilePicea marianaestablishment remains scarce. We studied regeneration of both species to identify factors responsible for such contrasting responses.

•Methods:We measured seeds and wings to evaluate species dispersal potential. We compared seed viability and tolerance to shrub leachates with germination trials. To evaluate seedbed preferences, we compared seedling occurrence on the different seedbeds with seedbed relative abundance in the field.

•Key results:Seed germination was similar betweenL. laricinaandP. mariana, whereas dispersal potential was higher for the latter. Germination ofP. marianaseeds was more strongly inhibited by shrub leachates than wereL. laricinaseeds. In the field, we found only a fewPiceaseedlings, but numerous seedlings ofLarixhad established disproportionally on several seedbeds. WhileBetula glandulosa, mosses, andVaccinium uliginosimimpededLarixestablishment, numerous seedlings were found on lichens, mineral soil, and liverworts. The low occurrence of suitable seedbeds forPicea, mainly mineral soil, could explain the seedling scarcity of this species.

•Conclusions:This study highlighted that allelopathy and unsuitable seedbeds could contribute to regeneration failure ofP. marianain eastern Nunavik and emphasizes the need to consider ecological preferences of species before predicting treeline expansion under a warmer climate.
Scientific report: Highlights of 25th ICAR, 16–19 April 2012, Sapporo, Japan
Authors: Hodge Anthony Vere
Published: September 2012

Each year, the International Society for Antiviral Research (ISAR) organises a conference covering many differing aspects of antiviral research. The 25th International Conference on Antiviral Research (ICAR) was held in Japan. This special anniversary meeting was co-sponsored by the Japanese Association for Antiviral Therapy.

This Workshop Report contains summaries of the four major lectures and each of the invited presentations in the Clinical symposium and in the three mini-symposia. Of the many interesting contributor presentations, there are brief summaries of a small selection of these. This report concludes with a few personal comments and observations.

A brief summary of this report is included within the ISAR News published in this issue of AVCC.
Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab Treatment in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitides: Results from a German Registry (GRAID)
Authors: ROLL PETRA , OSTERMEIER EVA , HAUBITZ MARION , LOVRIC SVJETLANA , UNGER LEONORE , HOLLE JULIA , KÖTTER INA , HENES JÖRG C. , BERGNER RAOUL , RUBBERT-ROTH ANDREA , SPECKER CHRISTOF , SCHULZE-KOOPS HENDRIK , MÜLLER-LADNER ULF , FLECK MARTIN , BURMESTER GERD-RÜDIGER , HIEPE FALK , HEITMANN STEFAN , ARINGER MARTIN , FISCHER-BETZ REBECCA , DÖRNER THOMAS , TONY HANS-PETER
Published: September 2012

Objective.

Rituximab (RTX) therapy is a treatment option in patients with refractory antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). We investigated the tolerability and clinical efficacy of RTX in a cohort of patients with refractory AAV.

Methods.

Clinical and safety data of patients with AAV treated with RTX were retrospectively assessed from the data of a German national registry.

Results.

In total, 58 patients were included in this analysis (50/58 with granulomatosis with polyangiitis; 8/58 with microscopic polyangiitis who received at least 1 cycle, 17 patients who received 2 cycles, and 3 patients who received 3 cycles of RTX). Response was classified as complete and partial in 22 (40%) and in 29 cases (52.7%), respectively. Four patients (7.3%) were classified as nonresponders.

Conclusion.

RTX was well tolerated with good clinical efficacy in patients with refractory AAV.
Fan fiction and the author in the early 17th century: The case of Sidney's "Arcadia"
Authors: Simonova Natasha
Published: September 2012

An analysis of the body of supplements and continuations written during the first half of the 17th century around Sir Philip Sidney's romance, The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia, may usefully be approached as a precedent for fan fiction practice. The incomplete nature of the Arcadia as published left a number of textual gaps that were filled by later writers, with many of their works coming to be included within subsequent reissues of the Arcadia itself. The texts discussed include William Alexander and James Johnstoun's supplements to book 3, Richard Belling's Sixth Booke, Anna Weamys's Continuation, Gervase Markham's English Arcadia, and an anonymous Historie of Arcadia in manuscript. Like contemporary fan fiction, these works adopt Sidney's characters and setting in order to fill apparent gaps, propel the story toward a happy ending, or recast it in an altogether different mold. Moreover, the paratextual materials surrounding these texts—including prefaces, dedications, and commendatory poems—provide important evidence about early modern conceptions of authorship, originality, and literary property.
mediation of fandom in Karin Giphart's "Maak me blij"
Authors: Lamerichs Nicolle
Published: September 2012

The plot of the Dutch novel Maak me blij (Make me happy) (2005) by Karin Giphart draws from the culture of online fan communities. It describes the life of a lesbian in her late 20s, Ziggy, who has a terminally ill mother. Ziggy is an active fan who writes and reads femmeslash fan fiction—that is, lesbian interpretations of characters from mainstream series such as Star Trek: Voyager (1995–2001). By providing through Ziggy a personal view of fan communities and the genres that flourish there, Maak me blij connects the romantic motives of original lesbian fiction with its underground sister, fan fiction. The novel draws from various source texts and illustrates how fans interpret texts within a wider literary landscape. I use the concept of intermediality to analyze how Maak me blij mediates different types of original fiction (lesbian romances, science fiction) and fan fiction (femmeslash, Star Trek fan fiction) to establish new views on fandom and its construction of gender and intimacy. These motives are not only apparent within the text itself but also within the character of Ziggy as a fan writer with her own original alien characters.
Queer bandom: A research journey in eight parts
Authors: Wilson D.
Published: September 2012

The story starts like this: you're a graduate student, you want to show that bandom is important, that bandom is new. You start out wanting to demonstrate a new way of experiencing community, you want to map and detail the space where that community lives.
Ciberdemocracia y cibercampaña: ¿Un matrimonio difícil? El caso de las Elecciones Generales en España en 2008
Authors: Sampedro Víctor , López Rey José A. , Muñoz Goy Celia
Published: September 2012

Este artículo matiza la aplicación del concepto de “cibercampaña” en el Sur de Europa a partir de dos encuestas sobre el uso de las herramientas digitales y el consumo de información política en Internet durante la campaña electoral de 2008 en España. La primera encuesta fue dirigida a los internautas en general y la segunda a quienes se conectaron con una alta frecuencia y llamamos internautas intensivos. Comparamos estos resultados con los de la población española y del extranjero. Entre los hallazgos destacan: el bajo uso de los recursos disponibles en la Red (no atribuible al grado de implantación de las nuevas tecnologías), el policonsumo de información política a partir de múltiples medios, con inercias heredadas del consumo mediático tradicional y la escasa importancia de los dispositivos más interactivos. Estos rasgos son imputables a ciertos desequilibrios entre la demanda ciudadana y la oferta de las herramientas tecnológicas y los contenidos que los actores políticos vehiculan en Internet durante las elecciones. También constatamos la existencia de una minoría de cibernautas muy activa que resulta importante en términos cualitativos y que justifica el empleo electoral de la Red. Sin embargo, los internautas más intensivos apenas muestran más interés ni mayor participación telemática en la cibercampaña, evidenciando así sus limitaciones.
En el origen de la novela corta del Siglo de Oro: Los Novellieri desde sus paratextos
Authors: González Ramírez David
Published: September 2012

Como complemento documental de otro artículo anterior publicado en Arbor, “En el origen de la novela corta del Siglo de Oro: los novellieri en España”, el que ahora ve la luz es una una antología, con una nota inicial indicando los criterios de selección y edición de una serie de censuras, prólogos y dedicatorias en los que se manifiestan los problemas de traducción de algunos pasajes de obras italianas difíciles de asimilar en la España de la Contrarreforma, se aprecian los recelos de la censura inquisitorial, y también se adivina, en las últimas décadas del siglo XVI, un estado de conciencia de estar haciendo algo nuevo, algo que podía despertar el genio de los literatos para que España se pusiese a la altura de Italia en el terreno novelístico.