bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
As the World Bank Turns: Determinants of IDA Lending in the Cold War and After
Authors: Morrison Kevin M.
Published: August 2011

How does the internal organization of a foreign aid donor affect its aid allocation decisions? Despite the voluminous literature on the political economy of foreign aid, little systematic scholarship exists on this topic. This paper analyzes the allocations of the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank's lending arm for the poorest countries, to all eligible countries between 1977 and 2005. While factors such as a country's need and its policy environment have consistently impacted IDA's allocation decisions, other factors have changed in important ways. For example, IDA disbursements do not follow US aid disbursements in the post–Cold War period the way they did during the Cold War. And most strikingly, IDA's allocations have become tightly linked to debt owed to IDA's sister organization, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD). While IDA used to shy away from countries with higher debt to the IBRD, the last two decades have seen IDA engage in apparently defensive lending for the IBRD, lending more to countries with outstanding balances to that institution. The results suggest greater focus on the internal structures of donors would yield insight into their allocation decisions.
The Economics and Politics of Corporate Social Performance
Authors: Baron David P. , Agus Harjoto Maretno , Jo Hoje
Published: August 2011

Firms operate in a capital market, a product market, and a market for social pressure directed at them by social activists, NGOs, and governments. An equilibrium in these three markets yields a three-equation structural model that relates corporate financial performance (CFP), corporate social performance (CSP), and social pressure. This paper estimates the simultaneous equation model for a panel of over 1,600 firms and finds that CFP is uncorrelated with CSP and negatively correlated with social pressure. CSP is decreasing in CFP and increasing in social pressure. Social pressure is increasing in CSP and decreasing in CFP, which is consistent with social pressure being directed to soft targets. Disaggregating the panel indicates that CFP is positively correlated with CSP for firms in consumer markets and negatively correlated for industrial markets. For consumer markets, CSP is increasing in CFP, which is consistent with a perquisites hypothesis that managers spend on CSR when they can afford it. For industrial markets CSP is decreasing in CFP, which is consistent with a moral management hypothesis. For both consumer and industrial markets, CSP is responsive to social pressure.
Poultry By-Products and Enzymatic Hydrolysis: Optimization by Response Surface Methodology Using Alcalase® 2.4L
Authors: Taheri Ali , Abedian Kenari Abdolmohammad , Motamedzadegan Ali , Habibi-Rezaei Mehran
Published: August 2011

The objective of this study was to determine the optimum conditions for production of a poultry by-product hydrolysate by Alcalase® 2.4L. Response surface methodology was conducted to ascertain this aim. The effects of enzyme/substrate ratio (Anson unit/g protein), time (minute) and temperature (°C) were determined. The responses included the degree of hydrolysis (%) and nitrogen recovery (%) at pH 8.5. The model showed a good fit, since the R2 = 0.981 for DH and the R2 = 0.968 for nitrogen recovery indicated that 98.1% and 96.8% of the variability within the range of values studied could be explained by the models. Furthermore, lack of fit of the models was not significant (p<0.05). Optimum conditions were an enzyme/substrate ratio of 0.05 Anson unit/g protein, a time of 85.64 minutes and a temperature of 45.52°C. The predicted responses were 26.14% DH and 81.38% nitrogen recovery. Histidine and methionine were the limiting amino acids in the hydrolysate. These results showed that this optimized assay is suitable to screen for protein hydrolysate production from poultry by-products. This work suggests that the protein hydrolysate could be a good protein source in fish diets and a functional additive in the food industry.
Bonding to Glass Ionomer Cements Using Resin-based Adhesives
Authors: Zhang Y , Burrow MF , Palamara JEA , Thomas CDL
Published: August 2011

Clinical Relevance

The adhesion of self-etching and etch-and-rinse adhesive systems may be effective when bonding to conventional glass ionomer cements (GIC). These systems can be used reliably with the GIC-resin composite laminate technique for restoration of approximal cavities.
Dual and Self-curing Potential of Self-adhesive Resin Cements as Thin Films
Authors: Moraes RR , Boscato N , Jardim PS , Schneider LFJ
Published: August 2011

Clinical Relevance

Self-adhesive resin cements present slower polymerization and lower degree of conversion than conventional resin cements, in either the dual- or self-cure mode.
The Influence of Time and Cement Type on Push-Out Bond Strength of Fiber Posts to Root Dentin
Authors: Leme AA , Coutinho M , Insaurralde AF , Scaffa PMC , da Silva LM
Published: August 2011

Clinical Relevance

A self-adhesive resin cement can provide a significantly stronger bond than a three-step etch-and-rinse adhesive and resin cement when used to lute fiber posts.
Effect of Chlorhexidine Pretreatment on Bond Strength Durability of Caries–affected Dentin Over 2-Year Aging in Artificial Saliva and Under Simulated Intrapulpal Pressure
Authors: Mobarak EH
Published: August 2011

Objective

To evaluate the influence of 2% and 5% chlorhexidine (CHX) pretreatment on bond durability of a self-etching adhesive to normal (ND) and caries-affected (AD) dentin after 2-years of aging in artificial saliva and under simulated intrapulpal pressure (IPP).

Methods

One hundred twenty freshly extracted carious teeth were ground to expose ND and AD. Specimens were distributed into three equal groups (n=40) according to whether the dentin substrates were pretreated with 2% or 5% CHX or with water (control). Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray) was applied to both substrates and composite cylinders (0.9 mm diameter and 0.7 mm height) were formed. Pretreatment and bonding were done while the specimens were subjected to 15 mm Hg IPP. After curing, specimens were aged in artificial saliva at 37°C and under IPP at 20 mm Hg until being tested after 24 hours or 2 years (n=20/group). Microshear bond strength was evaluated. Failure modes were determined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) at 400× magnification. Data were statistically analyzed using three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA); one-way ANOVA tests, and t-test (p<0.05). Additional specimens (n=5/group) were prepared to evaluate interfacial silver precipitation.

Results

For the 24-hour groups, there were no significant differences among the ND groups and AD groups. For ND aged specimens, the 5% CHX group had the highest value followed by the 2% CHX and control groups, although the difference was statistically insignificant. For AD aged specimens, the 5% CHX group revealed statistically higher bond values compared to the 2% CHX and control groups. Fracture modes were predominately adhesive and mixed. Different interfacial silver depositions were recorded.

Conclusions

Two percent or 5% CHX pretreatment has no adverse effect on the 24-hour bonding to ND and AD. Five percent CHX was able to diminish the loss in bonding to AD after 2years of aging in artificial saliva and under simulated IPP.
Placental and Fetal Findings in Intrauterine Candida Lusitaniae Infection Following in Vitro Fertilization and Embryo Transfer
Authors: Huang Michael , Cham Elaine M. , Eppes Carey S. , Gerber Susan E. , Reed Kurt D. , Ernst Linda M.
Published: August 2011

Intrauterine infection with non- albicans Candida species is rare but can be catastrophic to the fetus. A subset of intrauterine infections with non- albicans Candida species has occurred in women who have undergone in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). We report a case of a 33-year-old healthy woman, pregnant with triplets by in vitro fertilization, who experienced preterm premature rupture of membranes of fetus A at 16 weeks' gestation and subsequently developed oligohydramnios in all 3 fetuses. Following elective pregnancy termination, microscopic examination and molecular analysis demonstrated Candida lusitaniae chorioamnionitis and pneumonia in all 3 fetuses associated with granulomatous inflammation. Our case is only the 2nd report of C. lusitaniae chorioamnionitis and should raise awareness that C. lusitaniae intrauterine infection is associated with IVF-ET. We also show here that C. lusitaniae can cause granulomatous intraplacental inflammation and intrauterine pneumonia.
Limitation of petrographic indices in depositional environmental interpretation of coal deposits
Authors: Sahay Vinay
Published: August 2011

Organic petrology based petrographic indices (Tissue Preservation Index and Gelification Index) is a widely utilized tool in the study of depositional palaeoenvironment of coal. Evaluation of these petrographic indices suggests that, at present, utilize only vitrinite/huminite and inertinite macerals to interpret depositional environment of coal. Liptinite group macerals have important depositional environment implications, but liptinite macerals have not been taken into account in earlier petrographic indices (TPI and GI) formulations. This article examines the limitation of TPI and GI, and proposes improved TPI and GI indices, including the liptinite and inertinite macerals having depositional environment significance.
Bacteriological Safety Assessment of Municipal Tap Water and Quality of Bottle Water in Dhaka City: Health Hazard Analysis
Authors: Islam Saiful , Begum Housne Ara , Nili Nilufar Yeasmin
Published: August 2011

Bacteriological quality of treated water of different sources was determined by presumptive coliform count. In source-wise distribution of samples, 50% of mineral water, 87.5% of filtered water and 100% of tap water samples were exceeded the drinking water guideline value of WHO. Microorganisms in tap water comprised Escherichia coli spp. (60%), Klebsiella spp. (40%), Enterobacter spp. (20%), Pseudomonas spp. (70%), Proteus spp. (10%), Staphylococcus spp. (40%) and Salmonella spp. (0%). Furthermore, there was no correlation between faecal coliform and the presence of Salmonella species. Results obtained from this investigation revealed that municipal tap water of Dhaka city was contaminated with a number of enteric bacteria such as E. coli. This organism was considered as a good bioindicator model for surveillance studies of antimicrobial resistance. So, only antibiotic resistance pattern of E. coli was determined. A total of 10 E. coli isolates were used for the sensitivity test. All the isolates were totally resistant to Rifampin and Bacitracin (100%). Most of the isolates were found highly resistant to Tetracycline (90%) and Erythromycin (90%), moderately resistant to Amoxicillin (70%), Streptomycin (70%) and Novobiocin (60%). On the other hand, the isolates were totally sensitive to Gentamycin (100%) and Kanamycin (90%) and highly sensitive to Chloramphenicol (80%). Key words: Municipal tap water, Bacteriological safety assessment, Quality, Bottle water, Health hazard DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v4i1.8462 BJMM 2011; 4(1): 9-13
Urine-Based ELISA for the Detection of Helicobacter pylori IgG Antibody and Comparison with Other Invasive Methods.
Authors: Islam Md Din-ul , Rahman Sufi HZ , Shamsuzzaman SM , Muazzaman Naima , Ahmed Nasim , Nahar Shamsun
Published: August 2011

The present study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka during the period of January, 2007 to December, 2007. Urine samples were collected from 86 dyspeptic patients undergoing upper Gastrointestinal Tract (GIT) endoscopy to determine anti-H. pylori IgG antibody by an ELISA method. Gastric biopsy tissues were tested for culture, rapid urease test and H&E/Giemsa stain. Out of 86 endoscopic biopsy specimens, 45 (52.33%) were culture positive, 63 (73.26%) were rapid urease test positive and 64 (74.42%) were H&E/Giemsa stained positive for H. pylori. According to operational standard definition, among the 86 study population, 66 (76.74%) were H. pylori infected, 16 (18.60%) were uninfected and 4 (4.65%) were indeterminate. Among 66 H. pylori infected cases, 63 (95.45%) were urine ELISA positive and among 16 uninfected cases 3 (18.75%) were urine ELISA positive. Out of 86 study population, 66 (76.74%) were urine ELISA positive. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPP and accuracy of urine ELISA were 95.45%, 81.25%, 95.45%, 81.25% and 92.68% respectively. The result of the study shows that H. pylori infection can be rapidly and reliably diagnosed by detecting anti-H. pylori IgG from urine. Key words: H. pylori; ELISA; GIT; IgG. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v4i1.8463 BJMM 2011; 4(1): 14-17
Use of Chromogenic Agar Media for Identification of Uropathogen
Authors: Sharmin Sohely , Alamgir Farhana , Begum Fahmida , Hassan Jaigirdar Md Qamrul
Published: August 2011

Chromogenic agar media are increasingly being used as versatile tools in early differentiation and identification of Gram positive and Gram negative isolates from clinical specimens. We have evaluated the chromogenic medium as it’s use reduces the burden of biochemical characterization and reduces the workload for identification of bacteria. This study included 400 consecutively collected midstream and/or catheter-catch urine samples obtained from patients attending the hospital out patient department (OPD) and also from patients admitted in BSMMU hospital. They were inoculated on blood agar, MacConkey agar, cystine lactose, electrolyte deficient media and chromogenic agar plate for isolation of uropathogen. Out of 400 urine samples tested, 154 (38.5%) yielded significant growth of single organism and 16 (4%) yielded mixed growth. No growth was observed in 230 (57.5%) cases. The chromogenic agar media allowed the growth and primary identification in 171 (92.5%) strains out of 186 strains. The predominant uropathogens were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp. Enterococcus spp. and Eneterobacter spp. (KES group). The different coloured colonies produced by the breakdown of the chromogenic substrate by the specific enzymes of the bacteria were very useful in the presumptive identification of these organisms even from polymicrobial cultures by the color differences of the colonies. The medium also supported growth and differentiation of Gram positive organisms like Staphylococcus and Enterococci. Chromogenic agar media can be used as primary culture medium for isolation and identification of predominant uropathogens like E.coli, KES group and Enterococci. It is an easy to use primary screening medium that considerably reduces the daily workload and thus minimizes or limits the use of identification tests. Key words: Chromogenic agar medium, KES, CLED media, UTI DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v4i1.8464 BJMM 2011; 4(1): 18-23
Predisposing Factors and Aetiologic Diagnosis of Infectious Corneal Ulcer
Authors: Ahmed Sharmeem , Ghosh Anamica , Hassan Syed A , Tarafder Shirin , Amin Miah Md Ruhul
Published: August 2011

This cross-sectional study was carried out to identify causative pathogens and to determine the demographic characteristics and predisposing factors of corneal ulcer presenting at tertiary care hospitals in Dhaka. A total of 250 samples (corneal swab and scrapings) were collected from clinically diagnosed corneal ulcer patients attending Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and Islamia Eye Hospital from February, 2004 to January, 2005. Out of 250 samples, microbial infection was established in 147 (58.8%) cases by culture and microscopy in which 82 (32.8%) patients showed fungal growth, 52 (20.8%) cases had bacterial growth and 13 (5.2%) cases had mixed bacterial & fungal growth. Aspergillus species 48 (50.53%) were the most common fungal isolates followed by Fusarium species 25 (26.32%). The predominant bacterial isolates were Staphylococcus epidermidis 22(32.85%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus 17 (26.15%) and Pseudomonas species 13 (20%). Out of 147 cases a larger group of patients (105, 71.43%) were in middle age group (21 to 50 years). Males (95, 64.63%) were more often affected (P<0.001). A majority of patients (114, 77.55%) came from rural areas (P<0.001), and most patients (55, 37.41%) of bacterial & fungal keratitis were farmers. Ocular trauma (87, 59.18%) was a highly significant risk factor (P<0.001) of which mostly (41, 27.89%) were due to agricultural materials. The findings of this study would help the ophthalmologists in the management of their patients with keratitis. Keywords: Corneal Ulcer, Infective Keratitis, Predisposing factors. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v4i1.8466 BJMM 2011; 4(1): 28-31
Metallo-ß-Lactamase Producing Pseudomonas species in a Tertiary Care Hospital of Dhaka City
Authors: Nasrin Tanzinah , Alam Jilani Md Shariful , Barai Lovely , Haq J Ashraful
Published: August 2011

Among the various beta-lactam antibiotics, carbapenems are the most potent and have been reserved for use in treating infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram negative bacilli, especially Pseudomonas. They are effective even against Extended Spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and Amp C b-lactamase producing bacteria. The clinical utility of carbapenems is under threat with the emergence of carbapenem resistant bacteria due to production of carbapenem hydrolyzing metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) which confers high-level resistance to all b-lactam antibiotics except aztreonam. The prevalence of MBLs have been studied in many countries but not been reported in Bangladesh. The purpose of the study to determine the presence of MBLs producing Pseudomonas in clinical samples from a tertiary care hospital. MBLs producing Pseudomonas in various clinical samples of an urban hospital of Dhaka city was investigated over a 6-month period (January 2009-June 2009). EDTA-IMP agar dilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) reduction method was employed to detect MBL producing Pseudomonas sp. Out of 44 Pseudomonas isolates 08 (18.2%) were sensitive and 23 (52.3%) were resistant to imipenem while 13 (29.5%) were intermediate resistant (MIC = 8 μg/ml) to imipenem. All Pseudomonas showing intermediate resistance to imipenem were found sensitive by disc diffusion method. MBL phenotype was detected in 43%(10 out of 23) imipenem resistant Pseudomonas spp. while the rate was 61%(08 out of 13) is intermediate resistant strains by EDTA-IMP agar dilution MIC method. The results of the study indicated high prevalence of MBL producing Pseudomonas spp. in our hospital environment. Early detection of these MBL producing Pseudomonas is necessary to institute appropriate treatment and effective infection control measures. Key words: Metallo-ß-lactamase, Pseudomonas species, Gram negative bacilli. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v4i1.8469 BJMM 2011; 4(1): 43-45
Anthrax: An Emerging Zoonotic Disease in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Be-Nazir , Sultana Yasmin , Fatema DSM , Ara Khorshed , Begum Nurjahan , Mostanzid SM , Jubayer Shamim
Published: August 2011

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmm.v4i1.8470BJMM 2011; 4(1): 46-50
Francis Hutcheson: Why Be Moral?
Authors: Paletta Douglas R.
Published: August 2011

Like all theories that account for moral motivation, Francis Hutcheson's moral sense theory faces two related challenges. The skeptical challenge calls into question what reasons an agent has to be moral at all. The priority challenge asks why an agent's reasons to be moral tend to outweigh her non-moral reasons to act. I argue a defender of Hutcheson can respond to these challenges by building on unique features of his account. She can respond to skeptical challenge by drawing a direct parallel between an agent's reasons to pursue natural, self-directed goods and her reasons to pursue moral goods. This parallel, however, makes establishing the significance of morality difficult. Given this difficulty, a separate aspect of Hutcheson's account, the additional weight given to benevolence in our assessment of mixed actions, can be used to respond to the priority challenge.
Adam Smith and the Problem of the External World
Authors: Glenney Brian
Published: August 2011

How does the mind attribute external causes to internal sensory experiences? Adam Smith addresses this question in his little known essay ‘Of the External Senses.’ I closely examine Smith's various formulations of this problem and then argue for an interpretation of his solution: that inborn perceptual mechanisms automatically generate external attributions of internal experiences. I conclude by speculating that these mechanisms are best understood to operate by simulating tactile environments.
The ‘Sub-Rational’ in Scottish Moral Science
Authors: Carey Toni Vogel
Published: August 2011

Jacob Viner introduced the term ‘sub-rational’ to characterize the faculties – human instinct, sentiment and intuition – that fall between animal instinct and full-blown reason. The Scots considered sympathy both an affective and a physiological link between mind and body, and by natural history, they traced the most foundational societal institutions – language and law, money and property – to a sub-rational origin. Their ‘social evolutionism’ anticipated Darwin's ‘dangerous idea’ that humans differ from the lower animals only in degree, not in kind. Darwin had the ability to ‘trade places in the imagination’, as Adam Smith would say, with plants and animals, and ‘think’ as they do. The trend today is to ‘positivize,’ ‘behaviorize’ and otherwise reduce the sub-rational to the purely biological. My suggestion is that we trade places in the imagination with the Scottish moral scientists and Darwin, and try thinking as they did.
Sub-Grid Scale Plume Modeling
Authors: Karamchandani Prakash , Vijayaraghavan Krish , Yarwood Greg
Published: August 2011

Multi-pollutant chemical transport models (CTMs) are being routinely used to predict the impacts of emission controls on the concentrations and deposition of primary and secondary pollutants. While these models have a fairly comprehensive treatment of the governing atmospheric processes, they are unable to correctly represent processes that occur at very fine scales, such as the near-source transport and chemistry of emissions from elevated point sources, because of their relatively coarse horizontal resolution. Several different approaches have been used to address this limitation, such as using fine grids, adaptive grids, hybrid modeling, or an embedded sub-grid scale plume model, i.e., plume-in-grid (PinG) modeling. In this paper, we first discuss the relative merits of these various approaches used to resolve sub-grid scale effects in grid models, and then focus on PinG modeling which has been very effective in addressing the problems listed above. We start with a history and review of PinG modeling from its initial applications for ozone modeling in the Urban Airshed Model (UAM) in the early 1980s using a relatively simple plume model, to more sophisticated and state-of-the-science plume models, that include a full treatment of gas-phase, aerosol, and cloud chemistry, embedded in contemporary models such as CMAQ, CAMx, and WRF-Chem. We present examples of some typical results from PinG modeling for a variety of applications, discuss the implications of PinG on model predictions of source attribution, and discuss possible future developments and applications for PinG modeling.
A Multidisciplinary, Open Access Platform for Research on Biomolecules
Authors: Bähler Jürg
Published: August 2011

I am pleased to introduce Biomolecules, a new journal to report on all aspects of science that focuses on biologically derived substances, from small molecules to complex polymers. Some examples are lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, hormones, amino acids, nucleotides, peptides, RNA and polysaccharides, but this list is far from exhaustive. Research on biomolecules encompasses multiple fascinating questions. How are biomolecules synthesized and modified? What are their structures and interactions with other biomolecules? How do biomolecules function in biological processes, at the level of organelles, cells, organs, organisms, or even ecosystems? How do biomolecules affect either the organism that produces them or other organisms of the same or different species? How are biomolecules shaped by evolution, and how in turn do they affect cellular phenotypes? What is the systems-level contribution of biomolecules to biological function? [...]
Raiding the Coral Nurseries?
Authors: Jones Alison M.
Published: August 2011

A recent shift in the pattern of commercial harvest in the Keppel Island region of the southern inshore Great Barrier Reef raises concern about the depletion of a number of relatively rare restricted range taxa. The shift appears to be driven by demand from the United States (US) for corals for domestic aquaria. Data from the annual status reports from the Queensland Coral Fishery were compared with export trade data to the US from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Evidence was found of recent increases in the harvest of species from the Mussidae family (Acanthastrea spp.) which appears to be largely driven by demand from the US. On present trends, the industry runs the risk of localized depletion of Blastomussa and Scolymia; evidenced by an increase in the harvest of small specimens and the trend of decreasing harvest despite a concurrent increase in demand. Considering their relatively high sediment tolerance compared to other reef-building species, and the current lack of information about their functional role in reef stability, the trend raises concerns about the impact of the harvest on local coral communities. The recent shift in harvest patterns could have impacts on slow-growing species by allowing harvest beyond the rate of population regeneration. In light of these factors, combined with the value of such species to local tourism, a commercial coral fishery based on uncommon but highly sought-after species may not be ecologically sustainable or economically viable in the Keppels.
Distinguishability in Entropy Calculations: Chemical Reactions, Conformational and Residual Entropy
Authors: Suárez Ernesto
Published: August 2011

By analyzing different examples of practical entropy calculations and using concepts such as conformational and residual entropies, I show herein that experimental calorimetric entropies of single molecules can be theoretically reproduced considering chemically identical atoms either as distinguishable or indistinguishable particles. The broadly used correction in entropy calculations due to the symmetry number and particle indistinguishability is not mandatory, as an ad hoc correction, to obtain accurate values of absolute and relative entropies. It is shown that, for any chemical reaction of any kind, considering distinguishability or indistinguishability among identical atoms is irrelevant as long as we act consistently in the calculation of all the required entropy contributions.
Forecasting Electricity Demand in Thailand with an Artificial Neural Network Approach
Authors: Kandananond Karin
Published: August 2011

Demand planning for electricity consumption is a key success factor for the development of any countries. However, this can only be achieved if the demand is forecasted accurately. In this research, different forecasting methods—autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), artificial neural network (ANN) and multiple linear regression (MLR)—were utilized to formulate prediction models of the electricity demand in Thailand. The objective was to compare the performance of these three approaches and the empirical data used in this study was the historical data regarding the electricity demand (population, gross domestic product: GDP, stock index, revenue from exporting industrial products and electricity consumption) in Thailand from 1986 to 2010. The results showed that the ANN model reduced the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) to 0.996%, while those of ARIMA and MLR were 2.80981 and 3.2604527%, respectively. Based on these error measures, the results indicated that the ANN approach outperformed the ARIMA and MLR methods in this scenario. However, the paired test indicated that there was no significant difference among these methods at α = 0.05. According to the principle of parsimony, the ARIMA and MLR models might be preferable to the ANN one because of their simple structure and competitive performance
The Price of Anarchy for Network Formation in an Adversary Model
Authors: Kliemann Lasse
Published: August 2011

We study network formation with n players and link cost α > 0. After the network is built, an adversary randomly deletes one link according to a certain probability distribution. Cost for player ν incorporates the expected number of players to which ν will become disconnected. We focus on unilateral link formation and Nash equilibrium. We show existence of Nash equilibria and a price of stability of 1 + ο(1) under moderate assumptions on the adversary and n ≥ 9. We prove bounds on the price of anarchy for two special adversaries: one removes a link chosen uniformly at random, while the other removes a link that causes a maximum number of player pairs to be separated. We show an Ο(1) bound on the price of anarchy for both adversaries, the constant being bounded by 15 + ο(1) and 9 + ο(1), respectively.
Vulnerability of Newborns to Environmental Factors: Findings from Community Based Surveillance Data in Bangladesh
Authors: Mannan Ishtiaq , Choi Yoonjoung , Coutinho Anastasia J. , Chowdhury Atique I. , Rahman Syed Moshfiqur , Seraji Habib R. , Bari Sanwarul , Shah Rasheduzzaman , Winch Peter J. , El Arifeen Shams , Darmstadt Gary L. , Baqui Abdullah H.
Published: August 2011

Infection is the major cause of neonatal deaths. Home born newborns in rural Bangladeshi communities are exposed to environmental factors increasing their vulnerability to a number of disease agents that may compromise their health. The current analysis was conducted to assess the association of very severe disease (VSD) in newborns in rural communities with temperature, rainfall, and humidity. A total of 12,836 newborns from rural Sylhet and Mirzapur communities were assessed by trained community health workers using a sign based algorithm. Records of temperature, humidity, and rainfall were collected from the nearest meteorological stations. Associations between VSD and environmental factors were estimated. Incidence of VSD was found to be associated with higher temperatures (odds ratios: 1.14, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.21 in Sylhet and 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.07 in Mirzapur) and heat humidity index (odds ratios: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.08 in Sylhet and, 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01 to 1.04 in Mirzapur). Four months (June-September) in Sylhet, and six months in Mirzapur (April-September) had higher odds ratios of incidence of VSD as compared to the remainder of the year (odds ratios: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.32 to 2.23 in Sylhet and, 1.62, 95% CI: 1.33 to1.96 in Mirzapur). Prevention of VSD in neonates can be enhanced if these interactions are considered in health intervention strategies.
Loss of Propiconazole and Its Four Stereoisomers from the Water Phase of Two Soil-Water Slurries as Measured by Capillary Electrophoresis
Authors: Garrison Arthur W. , Avants Jimmy K. , Miller Rebecca D.
Published: August 2011

Propiconazole is a chiral fungicide used in agriculture for control of many fungal diseases on a variety of crops. This use provides opportunities for pollution of soil and, subsequently, groundwater. The rate of loss of propiconazole from the water phase of two different soil-water slurries spiked with the fungicide at 50 mg/L was followed under aerobic conditions over five months; the t1/2 was 45 and 51 days for the two soil slurries. To accurately assess environmental and human risk, it is necessary to analyze the separate stereoisomers of chiral pollutants, because it is known that for most such pollutants, both biotransformation and toxicity are likely to be stereoselective. Micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC), the mode of capillary electrophoresis used for analysis of neutral chemicals, was used for analysis of the four propiconazole stereoisomers with time in the water phase of the slurries. MEKC resulted in baseline separation of all stereoisomers, while GC-MS using a chiral column gave only partial separation. The four stereoisomers of propiconazole were lost from the aqueous phase of the slurries at experimentally equivalent rates, i.e., there was very little, if any, stereoselectivity. No loss of propiconazole was observed from the autoclaved controls of either soil, indicating that the loss from active samples was most likely caused by aerobic biotansformation, with a possible contribution by sorption to the non-autoclaved active soils. MEKC is a powerful tool for separation of stereoisomers and can be used to study the fate and transformation kinetics of chiral pesticides in water and soil.
p66Shc Aging Protein in Control of Fibroblasts Cell Fate
Authors: Suski Jan M. , Karkucinska-Wieckowska Agnieszka , Lebiedzinska Magdalena , Giorgi Carlotta , Szczepanowska Joanna , Szabadkai Gyorgy , Duszynski Jerzy , Pronicki Maciej , Pinton Paolo , Wieckowski Mariusz R.
Published: August 2011

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are wieldy accepted as one of the main factors of the aging process. These highly reactive compounds modify nucleic acids, proteins and lipids and affect the functionality of mitochondria in the first case and ultimately of the cell. Any agent or genetic modification that affects ROS production and detoxification can be expected to influence longevity. On the other hand, genetic manipulations leading to increased longevity can be expected to involve cellular changes that affect ROS metabolism. The 66-kDa isoform of the growth factor adaptor Shc (p66Shc) has been recognized as a relevant factor to the oxygen radical theory of aging. The most recent data indicate that p66Shc protein regulates life span in mammals and its phosphorylation on serine 36 is important for the initiation of cell death upon oxidative stress. Moreover, there is strong evidence that apart from aging, p66Shc may be implicated in many oxidative stress-associated pathologies, such as diabetes, mitochondrial and neurodegenerative disorders and tumorigenesis. This article summarizes recent knowledge about the role of p66Shc in aging and senescence and how this protein can influence ROS production and detoxification, focusing on studies performed on skin and skin fibroblasts.
The hsp 16 Gene of the Probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus Is Differently Regulated by Salt, High Temperature and Acidic Stresses, as Revealed by Reverse Transcription Quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) Analysis
Authors: Capozzi Vittorio , Arena Mattia Pia , Crisetti Elisabetta , Spano Giuseppe , Fiocco Daniela
Published: August 2011

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps) are ubiquitous conserved chaperone-like proteins involved in cellular proteins protection under stressful conditions. In this study, a reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) procedure was developed and used to quantify the transcript level of a small heat shock gene (shs) in the probiotic bacterium Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, under stress conditions such as heat (45 °C and 53 °C), bile (0.3% w/v), hyperosmosis (1 M and 2.5 M NaCl), and low pH value (pH 4). The shs gene of L. acidophilus NCFM was induced by salt, high temperature and acidic stress, while repression was observed upon bile stress. Analysis of the 5' noncoding region of the hsp16 gene reveals the presence of an inverted repeat (IR) sequence (TTAGCACTC-N9-GAGTGCTAA) homologue to the controlling IR of chaperone expression (CIRCE) elements found in the upstream regulatory region of Gram-positive heat shock operons, suggesting that the hsp16 gene of L. acidophilus might be transcriptionally controlled by HrcA. In addition, the alignment of several small heat shock proteins identified so far in lactic acid bacteria, reveals that the Hsp16 of L. acidophilus exhibits a strong evolutionary relationship with members of the Lactobacillus acidophilus group.
Preparation and Microcosmic Structural Analysis of Recording Coating on Inkjet Printing Media
Authors: Jiang Bo , Liu Weiyan , Bai Yongping , Huang Yudong , Liu Li , Han Jianping
Published: August 2011

Preparation of recording coating on inkjet printing (RC-IJP) media was proposed. The microstructure and roughness of RC-IJP was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM). The surface infiltration process of RC-IJP was studied by a liquid infiltration instrument. The distribution of C, O and Si composites on recording coating surface is analyzed by energy dispersive spectrum (EDS). The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed that the nanoscale silica could be dissolved uniformly in water. Finally, the print color is shown clearly by the preparative recording coating.
Origin of Life and Birth of Life ― An Open Access Journal
Authors: Lin Shu-Kun
Published: August 2011

Our publishing company MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute) planned to launch this journal Life (ISSN 2075-1729) since June 2009. Life science as a topic covers a very broad area. We decided to focus the scope of this new journal on the origin of life and the evolution of biosystems such as molecular evolution. Of course any fundamental theoretical topics and experimental discoveries in biology, biochemistry and biophysics will be welcomed also. [...]
The Effect of Synovial Fluid Enzymes on the Biodegradability of Collagen and Fibrin Clots
Authors: Palmer Matthew , Stanford Elizabeth , Murray Martha M.
Published: August 2011

Recently there has been a great deal of interest in the use of biomaterials to stimulate wound healing. This is largely due to their ability to centralize high concentrations of compounds known to promote wound healing at a needed location. Joints present a unique challenge to using scaffolds because of the presence of enzymes in synovial fluid which are known to degrade materials that would be stable in other parts of the body. The hypothesis of this study was that atelocollagen scaffolds would have greater resistance to enzymatic degradation than scaffolds made of gelatin, fibrin and whole blood. To test this hypothesis, collagen and fibrin-based scaffolds were placed in matrix metallopeptidase-1 (MMP-1), elastase, and plasmin solutions at physiologic concentrations, and the degradation of each scaffold was measured at varying time points. The atelocollagen scaffolds had a significantly greater resistance to degradation by MMP-1, elastase and plasmin over the fibrin based scaffolds. The results suggest that atelocollagen-based scaffolds may provide some protection against premature degradation by synovial fluid enzymes over fibrin-based matrices.
Azaphenanthrene Alkaloids with Antitumoral Activity from Anaxagorea dolichocarpa Sprague & Sandwith (Annonaceae)
Authors: Lúcio Ana Silvia Suassuna Carneiro , Da Silva Almeida Jackson Roberto Guedes , Barbosa-Filho José Maria , Pita João Carlos Lima Rodrigues , Branco Marianna Vieira Sobral Castello , De Fátima Formiga Melo Diniz Margareth , De Fátima Agra Maria , Da-Cunha Emidio V.L. , Da Silva Marcelo Sobral , Tavares Josean Fechine
Published: August 2011

Phytochemical investigation of Anaxagorea dolichocarpa Sprague & Sandwith led to isolation of three azaphenanthrene alkaloids: eupolauramine, sampangine and imbiline 1. Their chemical structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic data from IR, HR-ESI-MS, NMR (including 2D experiments) and comparison with the literature. Sampangine and imbiline 1 are being described in the Anaxagorea genus for the first time. Eupolauramine and sampangine show concentration-dependent antitumoral activity in leukemic cells K562 with IC50 of 18.97 and 10.95 µg/mL, respectively.
The Growth Suppressing Effects of Girinimbine on Hepg2 Involve Induction of Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest
Authors: Syam Suvitha , Abdul Ahmad Bustamam , Sukari Mohd. Aspollah , Mohan Syam , Abdelwahab Siddig Ibrahim , Wah Tang Sook
Published: August 2011

Murraya koenigii is an edible herb widely used in folk medicine. Here we report that girinimbine, a carbazole alkaloid isolated from this plant, inhibited the growth and induced apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma, HepG2 cells. The MTT and LDH assay results showed that girinimbine decreased cell viability and increased cytotoxicity in a dose-and time-dependent manner selectively. Girinimbine-treated HepG2 cells showed typical morphological features of apoptosis, as observed from normal inverted microscopy and Hoechst 33342 assay. Furthermore, girinimbine treatment resulted in DNA fragmentation and elevated levels of caspase-3 in HepG2 cells. Girinimbine treatment also displayed a time-dependent accumulation of the Sub-G0/G1 peak (hypodiploid) and caused G0/G1-phase arrest. Together, these results demonstrated for the first time that girinimbine could effectively induce programmed cell death in HepG2 cells and suggests the importance of conducting further investigations in preclinical human hepatocellular carcinoma models, especially on in vivo efficacy, to promote girinimbine for use as an anticancer agent against hepatocellular carcinoma.
Benefits and Costs of Biologically Contained Genetically Modified Tomatoes and Eggplants in Italy and Spain
Authors: Groeneveld Rolf A. , Ansink Erik , Van de Wiel Clemens C.M. , Wesseler Justus
Published: August 2011

In this paper we assess the benefits and costs of introducing biologically contained genetically modified (GM) crops, with an application to the potential introduction of GM tomatoes and eggplants in Italy and Spain. Such crops possess both the standard beneficial GM traits, and they prevent introgression of transgenes from GM crops to their conventional or wild relatives, thereby adding to the safety of their cultivation. As a result, coexistence regulations for these crops are less stringent than for crops without biological containment. The potential adoption of biologically contained GM tomatoes and eggplants is assessed in a cost-benefit framework for Italy and Spain. We conclude that biological containment has considerable potential benefits if policy makers are willing to loosen the restrictions on the introduction of these varieties.
Squaring the Circle and Cubing the Sphere: Circular and Spherical Copulas
Authors: Perlman Michael D. , Wellner Jon A.
Published: August 2011

Do there exist circular and spherical copulas in ℝd? That is, do there exist circularly symmetric distributions on the unit disk in ℝ2 and spherically symmetric distributions on the unit ball in ℝd, d ≥ 3, whose one-dimensional marginal distributions are uniform? The answer is yes for d = 2 and 3, where the circular and spherical copulas are unique and can be determined explicitly, but no for d ≥ 4. A one-parameter family of elliptical bivariate copulas is obtained from the unique circular copula in ℝ2 by oblique coordinate transformations. Copulas obtained by a non-linear transformation of a uniform distribution on the unit ball in ℝd are also described, and determined explicitly for d = 2.
Fragmentation et recomposition des espaces économiques en Asie orientale : le Japon leader ou networker ?
Authors: Gipouloux François
Published: August 2011

Vu du Japon, le recentrage sur l'Asie de la région Asie-Pacifique semble constituer le fait marquant de la décennie 90. Il s'accompagne d'un autre phénomène remarquable : la diminution de la dépendance des pays asiatiques vis à vis du marché américain. Pourtant, le Japon ne sera pas le substitut du marché américain pour les économies asiatiques. Dans ce contexte, la constitution de zones régionales de coopération (mer du Japon, mer Jaune) semble être la conséquence du développement des échanges commerciaux et de flux d'investissements croisés qui se sont développés depuis une décennie. Une articulation plus visible apparaît désormais entre le Japon, les NIES, l'ASEAN et les zones côtières chinoises. Mais en raison de l'hétérogénéité extrême des espaces économiques, une solution unique visant à un regroupement institutionalise n'est pas envisageable. En revanche, la multiplication des initiatives régionales favorise le Japon. Refusant d'être un leader explicite, il joue en fait le rôle d'un networker discret mais omniprésent, sinon indispensable.
The Effectiveness of Carraguard, a Vaginal Microbicide, in Protecting Women against High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection
Authors: Marais Dianne , Gawarecki Daniel , Allan Bruce , Ahmed Khatija , Altini Lydia , Cassim Nazira , Gopolang Felicity , Hoffman Margaret , Ramjee Gita , Williamson Anna-Lise
Published: August 2011

Background

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found the vaginal microbicide Carraguard unable to prevent HIV infection. A substudy assessed the association of genital high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) in women at study end with Carraguard use.

Methods

Participants received Carraguard gel or placebo plus condoms, and were instructed to use gel plus condoms during each act of vaginal intercourse. HR-HPV detection on cervical samples from 1,723 women was by Digene Hybrid Capture 2 analysis. Poisson regression analysis assessed the prevalence of genital HR-HPV for individuals receiving Carraguard relative to individuals receiving placebo.

Results

In the Carraguard arm ( n=875) the end trial unadjusted HR-HPV prevalence was 23.5% (95% CI 20.8– 26.3) and 23.0% (95% CI 20.2–25.8) in placebo arm ( n=843). Significant risk factors for HR-HPV infection were younger age, being single, an abnormal pap smear, multiple sexual partners and promiscuous behaviour without the use of a condom. There were 348 compliant women (174 Carraguard, 174 placebo users), with relatively high adherence to gel use, who inserted 80% of their opened, returned applicators of test product with the proportion of applicator insertions to sex acts >30%. After adjusting for risk factors, these compliant Carraguard users were 0.62 as likely to be classified HR-HPV positive (95% CI 0.41–0.94) as compliant placebo users.

Conclusions

The prevalence of HR-HPV infection was lower in compliant Carraguard users than compliant placebo users. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing a negative association of HPV infection with a vaginal microbicide.
Le « projet Alizés-Électrique » ou les paradoxes du rapport de développement
Authors: Caratini Sophie
Published: August 2011

Résumé De 1994 à 1997, une ONG française, le GRET (Groupe de Recherche et d’Échanges Technologiques) réalise un « projet » d’électrification rurale en Mauritanie dont les schémas « de gestion » peuvent être rétrospectivement associés à la mouvance idéologique de la « bonne gouvernance ». Les premiers résultats d’une série d’enquêtes anthropologiques menées depuis 2002 en Mauritanie à la demande de l’AFD (Agence Française pour le Développement) puis de l’ADER (Agence du Développement de l’Électrification Rurale) sur le terrain villageois et institutionnel montrent que nombre de pratiques des professionnels du « développement » recèlent le désir de concrétiser un modèle d’organisation sociale porteur d’un fantasme d’ingérence politique. L’analyse des résistances provoquées par le « projet Alizés-Électrique » permet d’ouvrir quelques pistes de recherche sur l’ensemble du champ social défini par « l’Aide » et de s’interroger sur les logiques structurelles qui sous-tendent ce qu’il est proposé de nommer : « le rapport de développement ».