bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of long-term shunt-dependent hydrocephalus in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage requiring emergency cerebrospinal fluid diversion
Authors: Zacharia Brad E. , Vaughan Kerry A. , Hickman Zachary L. , Bruce Samuel S. , Carpenter Amanda M. , Petersen Nils H. , Deiner Stacie , Badjatia Neeraj , Connolly E. Sander
Published: March 2012

Object

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is frequently complicated by acute hydrocephalus, necessitating emergency CSF diversion with a subset of patients, ultimately requiring long-term treatment via placement of permanent ventricular shunts. It is unclear what factors may predict the need for ventricular shunt placement in this patient population.

Methods

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of a prospective database (ICH Outcomes Project) containing patients with nontraumatic ICH admitted to the neurological ICU at Columbia University Medical Center between January 2009 and September 2011. A multiple logistic regression model was developed to identify independent predictors of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus after ICH. The following variables were included: patient age, admission Glasgow Coma Scale score, temporal horn diameter on admission CT imaging, bicaudate index, admission ICH volume and location, intraventricular hemorrhage volume, Graeb score, LeRoux score, third or fourth ventricle hemorrhage, and intracranial pressure (ICP) and ventriculitis during hospital stay.

Results

Of 210 patients prospectively enrolled in the ICH Outcomes Project, 64 required emergency CSF diversion via placement of an external ventricular drain and were included in the final cohort. Thirteen of these patients underwent permanent ventricular CSF shunting prior to discharge. In univariate analysis, only thalamic hemorrhage and elevated ICP were significantly associated with the requirement for permanent CSF diversion, with p values of 0.008 and 0.033, respectively. Each remained significant in a multiple logistic regression model in which both variables were present.

Conclusions

Of patients with ICH requiring emergency CSF diversion, those with persistently elevated ICP and thalamic location of their hemorrhage are at increased odds of developing persistent hydrocephalus, necessitating permanent ventricular shunt placement. These factors may assist in predicting which patients will require permanent CSF diversion and could ultimately lead to improvements in the management of this disorder and the outcome in patients with ICH.
The Construction and Testing of a Combined Solar and Mechanical
Authors: Bhuiyan MHR , Alam MM , Islam MN
Published: March 2012

The combined solar and mechanical dryer was constructed to use solar energy and electrical energy either separately or in combination to conduct air drying. There was various arrangement of drying condition for mechanical drying system such as using either 1KH-1F or 1KH-2F or 2KH-1F or 2KH-2F. While for solar drying either no fan or one fan or two fans were used. Different drying conditions were applied by changing the heating source and flow of air. The highest temperature was obtained in 2KH-1F condition for mechanical drying and convection gives highest temperature among different solar drying alternatives. The temperature in upper shelf for different solar operational condition ranged from 1.53 to 1.67 times of ambient temperature (25°C- 31°C) at peak time and 1.28 to 1.36 for lower shelf. The air velocity was 0.35 m/sec and 0.70 m/sec for 1-fan and 2-fan respectively.The performance of dryer was evaluated by drying potato slices having thickness 3, 5 and 7 mm. In both methods, drying rate increases with the increasing temperature and decreases with the increasing slice thickness following the power law equation. The values for the index ‘n’ of the power law equation are less than 2 (range from 0.53 to 1.42) for all the conditions, this indicating that external resistance to mass transfer was significant and internal resistance to mass transfer did not control the drying process under the given conditions. The effect of temperature on Diffusion co-efficient (De) follows Arrhenius type relationship. While analyzing the effect of temperature, the maximum activation energy for diffusion of water from Potato (7 mm thick slices, at upper shelf) was found to be 7.656 Kcal/g-mole and 8.252Kcal/g-mole for mechanical and solar conditions respectively.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10132J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 35-40, 2011
Effect of Variety and Urea Super Granule on Growth and Yield of Wheat
Authors: Islam MS , Sarker AU , Kader MA , Biswas GC , Islam MM
Published: March 2012

The experiment was carried out at Agronomy Field Lab of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh during the period from November 2009 to March 2010 with a view of finding out the effect of appropriate dose of USG on growth and yield of wheat. Three wheat varieties viz. Shatabdi, Bijoy and Prodip and 6 levels of nitrogen (T0, T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5) were applied as treatments in this study. Among the application of USG on morpho-physiological and growth characters of wheat, the maximum plant height (98.33 cm), number of spikelet (21.33) and sterile spieklet (19.87) were found from V3T5. Similarly, V2T3 produced the highest no. of spikelet spile-1 (11.50) and grain yield (2.75 t ha-1) whereas similar treatment also showed the maximum no of non effective tiller (1.07) with V1T3.The treatment combination of V2T2 were recorded the highest on 1000-grain yield (51.98 g), no of non sterile spike (2.07) and no of grains spike-1 (48.87). The highest no of total tiller hill-1 (5.13) and effective tiller (4.33) were taken from the treatment combinations of V1T5. The highest straw yield (4.67 tha-1) was recorded in V2T4.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10134J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 51-54, 2011
Effect of Different Level of GA3 on Growth and Yield of Cabbage
Authors: Roy R , Nasiruddin KM
Published: March 2012

The research work was conducted to study the effect of GA3 on growth and yield of cabbage. Single factor experiment consisted of four concentrations of GA3, viz., 0, 25, 50 and 75 ppm. Significantly the minimum number of days to head formation (43.54 days) and maturity (69.95 days) was recorded with 50 ppm GA3 and 50 ppm GA3 gave the highest diameter (23.81 cm) of cabbage head while the lowest diameter (17.89 cm) of cabbage head was found in control (0 ppm GA3) treatment. The application of different concentrations of GA3 as influenced independently on the growth and yield of cabbage. Significantly the highest yield (45.22 kg/plot and 104.66 t/ha) was found from 50 ppm GA3.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10138  J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 79-82, 2011
Total Nutrient Uptake by Grain plus Straw and Economic of Fertilizer Use
Authors: Kabir MH , Talukder NM , Uddin MJ , Mahmud H , Biswas BK
Published: March 2012

An experiment was conducted at BINA (Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture) substation, Satkhira on slightly calcareous silty clay soil during the boro season of 2009-2010 to investigate the effects of different combinations of inorganic fertilizers in order to achieve sustainable high yield goal in the STL-655 rice mutant cultivar. The six treatment combinations were: T1 (absolute control), T2 (N60 P20 K40 S10 Zn1), T3 (N80 P25 K50 S15 Zn1.5), T4 (N100 P30 K60 S20 Zn2), T5 (N120 P35 K70 S25 Zn3) and T6 (N140 P40 K80 S30 Zn4) that was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications having per plot size was 5m x 4m. The results revealed that grain and straw yields of STL-655 rice mutant responded significantly with the different treatment combinations. The highest grain (3.95 t/ha) and straw yield (7.38 t/ha) was obtained in T6 (Soil test basis high yield goal) treatment, which was significantly higher than all other treatments. The treatment T6 (N140 P40 K80 S30 Zn4) caused an increase of 60% grain yield and 27% higher straw yield over the control. Nutrient uptake of N, P, K and S by grain of boro rice (STL-655 rice mutant) varied from 25.14 to 48.02, 5.40 to 8.14, 11.76 to 23.02 and 4.15 to 7.09 kg/ha, respectively. The N, P, K and S uptake by straw of boro rice (STL-655 rice mutant) varied from 20.36 to 35.85, 5.47 to 11.05, 59.01 to 159.6 and 9.54 to 12.97 kg/ha, respectively.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10139  J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 83-87, 2011
Assessing Environmental and Health Impact of Drought in the Northwest Bangladesh
Authors: Dey NC , Alam MS , Sajjan AK , Bhuiyan MA , Ghose L , Ibaraki Y , Karim F
Published: March 2012

Drought, the result of regional climatic variability is one of the dominant threats to environment. This study focuses on the biophysical, environmental and health issues concerning drought occurrence in northwest region of Bangladesh. Using both primary and secondary data, the analysis revealed that, during the drought period, rainfall as the dominant factor of supplying surface water and normalizing the dryness of the nature was almost 46% lower than the previous (normal) years. Similarly, average monthly sunshine hours in the drought year was about 7% higher compared to that of the normal year. On an average, groundwater level declined more than one meter compared to the previous years. Thus, many of the tubewells turned dry or failed to supply the required quantity of water for household and irrigation purposes. A significant number of surface water bodies including ponds, ditches, canals and streams had little volume of low quality water. In normal years, almost all households used hand tubewells (HTWs) as the major source of drinking water, while in the drought period only 90% households could use HTW water since substantial proportion of the HTWs turned dry. People had to collect drinking and domestic water from far distance to meet the basic requirements. Increase in temperature and prevalence of severe dust during drought periods compared to the normal years caused different health hazards including dysentery and diarrhoea due to unsafe drinking water. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10141 J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 89-97, 2011
Copper Contamination of Different Prawn Farms at Shatkhira District
Authors: Ali ML , Sattar MA , Baten MA
Published: March 2012

Copper (Cu) contamination of six prawn farms under three upazilas of Satkhira district were evaluated. Total 54 water, sediment and prawn samples were collected from six farms, 18 samples from each category were examined to observe the Cu contamination of water, sediment and prawn. Cu was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer at the central laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University and toxicity laboratory of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute, Mymensingh. The levels of Cu in water sample, sediment sample and samples of prawn species were collected from different surface and ground sources. The concentration of Cu in sediment samples were ranged from 45.3895 to 127.8771 ?g-1 and the average mean concentration was 76.92101 ?g-1. The concentration of Cu in prawn was ranged from 16.1069 to 97.3841 ?g-1 and the average mean concentration was 51.2342 ?g-1. The copper concentration in water ranged from 0.0309 to 0.0702 ppm. Cu concentrations in those samples were higher in sediment than prawn, but very lower concentration was found in water sample. The Cu in sediment samples were present higher amount than allowable limit. So prawn was mostly affected by contaminated water and sediment.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10157  J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 105-109, 2011
Assessment of Arsenic Concentration in Ground Water of Tube Wells in Selected Primary Schools at Palashbari Upazila of Gaibanda District
Authors: Khan MNH , Rahman MM , Rokanuzzaman M
Published: March 2012

Arsenic contamination has been recognized as an acute national problem in Bangladesh. Tube wells, one of the most important source of drinking water in Bangladesh, are contaminated by arsenic in 61 districts out of a total of 64. Children who are exposed to high levels of arsenic in their drinking water are 7 to 12 times susceptible then adult. This study was conducted to know the arsenic concentration level in primary schools tube wells. Twenty seven schools were selected at Palashbari upazila of Gaibandha district under Rangpur division. Econo Quick test kit was used to measure arsenic concentration. Global Positioning System (GPS) was used to indicate the geographic location. Fifteen were Sallow Tube Well no. 06 and eleven were Deep Tube Well no. 06 among the examined tube wells. Arsenic concentration of these studied tube wells were ranged between 0 to 200?g/L. Except two all are below (0 to 10?g/L) the WHO maximum permissible level (50?g/L). Among these two one lies marginal level (50?g/L) and another crosses the level (200?g/L). Arsenic concentrations of these tube wells were not high. So, there could be considered as a safe source of drinking water for the pupils of these primary schools.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10159  J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 115-120, 2011
Suitability of the Physical Properties of Soil for Crop Production: A Study in Tangail Sadar
Authors: Mamun SA , Rahman F , Yeasmin F , Islam MA
Published: March 2012

Use of imbalanced chemical fertilizer and changing crop and cropping pattern are becoming a serious threat for the sound environment of the soil. The study provided an assessment of the present status of soil quality of Tangail Sadar based on the laboratory analysis of physical parameters such as bulk density, water holding capacity, sand, silt and clay percentage from July, 2010 to December, 2010. 40 soil samples from 20 different places were collected from 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depth of the soil from 5 locations mentioned as Porabari, Santosh, Gharinda, By-pass and Ashekpur. The study conducted revealed that among the 40 soil samples, 30 soil's textural classes are sandy clay loam, 7 are sandy clay and rests 3 are clay loam and the pH value ranges from 5.3 to 6.4. The comparative analysis shows that the average texture class is sandy clay loam, which is not relevant to the standard level because the standard texture class is loamy. The average moisture percentage, bulk density and water holding capacity are found 2.865 %, 0.0926 gm/cm3 and 9.44% respectively which are almost similar to standard values and almost soil are suitable for plant growth.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jesnr.v4i2.10160  J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 4(2): 121-125, 2011
University History Teaching, National Identity and Unionism in Scotland, 1862–1914
Authors: Anderson Robert
Published: March 2012

In the nineteenth century nationalism and historiography were closely linked, and the absence of separatist nationalism in Scotland had consequences for academic history. This article looks at the content of university history teaching, using sources such as lecture notes, textbooks, and inaugural lectures. The nature of the Scottish curriculum made the Ordinary survey courses more significant than specialised Honours teaching. While chairs of general history were founded only in the 1890s, the teaching of constitutional history in law faculties from the 1860s transmitted an older tradition of whig constitutionalism, based partly on the idea of racial affinity between the English and Scots, which was reinforced by the influence of the English historians Stubbs and Seeley. Academic historians shared contemporary views of history as an evolutionary science, which stressed long-term development and allowed the Union to be presented in teleological terms. Their courses incorporated significant elements of Scottish history. Chairs of Scottish history were founded at Edinburgh in 1901 and Glasgow in 1913, but their holders shared the general unionist orientation. By 1914, therefore, university history courses embodied a distinctive Scoto-British historiography, which was a significant factor in the formation of British identity among the Scottish middle classes; there were many European parallels to this state-oriented form of national history.
Christian Higher Education in China: The Life of Francis C. M. Wei
Authors: Lautz Terry
Published: March 2012

Francis C. M. Wei (Wei Zhuomin) was the first Chinese president of Huazhong University in Wuhan, one of China's thirteen Christian colleges, from 1929 to 1951. Trained in Chinese philosophy and Christian theology, Wei sought a middle ground between Western and Chinese traditions and, ultimately, between Christian liberal thought and Communist ideology. His life-long quest was to reconcile the Christian missionary movement with China's national priorities. Wei believed the Christian faith offered the most effective pathway to the reform essential for China to become a modern nation, but to be successful he held that Christianity must be reconciled with China's Confucian heritage. It followed that education, informed by Christian as well as Confucian values, provided the best vehicle for training China's future leaders. The importance of Christian religious and theological education was a persistent theme in Wei's thinking. Despite the trials of war and civil war, Wei remained optimistic about the future of the Christian colleges. His moderate approach was soundly rejected after the Communists came to power, but scholars in China have reconsidered his legacy in recent years.
Historical Memory and Expanding Social Networks of Mennonite Mission School Women, Mara Region, Tanzania, 1938 to the Present
Authors: Shetler Jan Bender
Published: March 2012

Because of their structural position as boundary crossers in virilocal marriages, women in the Mara Region of Tanzania have used historical memory to construct social networks across ethnic boundaries for their own and their community's security. During the colonial era these networks were severely restricted, leading to increasingly difficult lives for women. One group of women who found creative ways to reconstruct these far-reaching networks was church women who went to mission boarding schools. Girls left their homes and made connections to a new family in the church that supported them as they moved into new interethnic communities. They began telling their own life histories in the form of the spiritual testimony, shaped by the practice of confession in the East African Revival beginning in 1942. These narratives of resistance to traditional practices like female circumcision inspired others and created a sense of individual agency. Although these stories seem to represent a rejection, even demonisation, of the past, they carry on work entrusted to these women by their grandmothers, of using storytelling, even within a new narrative genre and in a radically new context, to make connections and build community across ethnic boundaries.
‘Far from having unity, we are tending towards total disunity’: The Catholic Major Seminary in Rwanda, 1950–62
Authors: Carney J. J.
Published: March 2012

As the final training ground for local African men preparing for the Roman Catholic priesthood, Nyakibanda Major Seminary produced record numbers of priests in the 1940s and 1950s, symbolising the growth and vitality of the mid-century Rwandan Catholic Church. Between 1952 and 1962, however, the seminary experienced waves of seminarian withdrawals as interracial, nationalist and ethnicist tensions divided the Nyakibanda community. Nyakibanda's late colonial history demonstrates the mutability of ethnic and nationalist identities, highlights the importance of institutional politics and reveals the Rwandan church's failure to offer a counter-narrative to the zero-sum Hutu–Tutsi dialectic that swept Rwandan society in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Adaptive Management to Protect Biodiversity: Best Available Science and the Endangered Species Act
Authors: Green Olivia Odom , Garmestani Ahjond S.
Published: March 2012

Although flawed, the most powerful tool for protecting biodiversity in the United States is the Endangered Species Act, which requires the use of the best available science to ensure that endangered and threatened species are not put in jeopardy of extinction. Unfortunately, the best available science mandate is virtually meaningless and imposes no additional scientific rigor in agency decision making beyond what is normally required of administrative procedures. In this paper, we propose to define best available science in a way that shifts from a way of using science to a way of doing science, and a sound method of doing science for wildlife management and climate change is via the principles of adaptive management [1]. Adaptive management, as a means of data accumulation and continuous learning, can fulfill and give teeth to the best available science mandate while increasing the adaptive capacity of wildlife management agencies to protect biodiversity in an unpredictably dynamic environment.
Translation as the Catalyst of Cultural Transfer
Authors: Classen Albrecht
Published: March 2012

This essay reflects on the many different strategies involved in translation, which is both a linguistic and a cultural-historical strategy. Examples from the Middle Ages and the Modern Age are adduced to illustrate the huge impact which translations have had on peoples and societies throughout time.
The Relationship Between Grain Hardness, Dough Mixing Parameters and Bread-Making Quality in Winter Wheat
Authors: Salmanowicz Bolesław P. , Adamski Tadeusz , Surma Maria , Kaczmarek Zygmunt , Karolina Krystkowiak , Kuczyńska Anetta , Banaszak Zofia , Ługowska Bogusława , Majcher Małgorzata , Obuchowski Wiktor
Published: March 2012

The influence of grain hardness, determined by using molecular markers and physical methods (near-infrared (NIR) technique and particle size index—PSI) on dough characteristics, which in turn were determined with the use of a farinograph and reomixer, as well as bread-making properties were studied. The material covered 24 winter wheat genotypes differing in grain hardness. The field experiment was conducted at standard and increased levels of nitrogen fertilization. Results of molecular analyses were in agreement with those obtained by the use of physical methods for soft-grained lines. Some lines classified as hard (by physical methods) appeared to have the wild-type Pina and Pinb alleles, similar to soft lines. Differences in dough and bread-making properties between lines classified as hard and soft on the basis of molecular data appeared to be of less significance than the differences between lines classified as hard and soft on the basis of physical analyses of grain texture. Values of relative grain hardness at the increased nitrogen fertilization level were significantly higher. At both fertilization levels the NIR parameter determining grain hardness was significantly positively correlated with the wet gluten and sedimentation values, with most of the rheological parameters and bread yield. Values of this parameter correlated with quality characteristics in a higher degree than values of particle size index.
Chemical Bonding of AlH3 Hydride by Al-L2,3 Electron Energy-Loss Spectra and First-Principles Calculations
Authors: Tatsumi Kazuyoshi , Muto Shunsuke , Ikeda Kazutaka , Orimo Shin-Ichi
Published: March 2012

In a previous study, we used transmission electron microscopy and electron energy-loss (EEL) spectroscopy to investigate dehydrogenation of AlH3 particles. In the present study, we systematically examine differences in the chemical bonding states of Al-containing compounds (including AlH3) by comparing their Al-L2,3 EEL spectra. The spectral chemical shift and the fine peak structure of the spectra were consistent with the degree of covalent bonding of Al. This finding will be useful for future nanoscale analysis of AlH3 dehydrogenation toward the cell.
Essential Oil from Cryptomeria japonica Induces Apoptosis in Human Oral Epidermoid Carcinoma Cells via Mitochondrial Stress and Activation of Caspases
Authors: Cha Jeong-Dan , Kim Ji-Young
Published: March 2012

Cryptomeria japonica D. Don (C. japonica) has been used in traditional medicines from Asia for a variety of indications, including liver ailments, and an antitussive, and for its antiulcer activities. We examined the cell viability and apoptosis of KB cells treated with C. japonica essential oil at several concentrations for 12 h by MTT assay, Hoechst-33258 dye staining, DNA fragmentation, flow cytometry (cell cycle), and Western blotting for mitochondria stress, activation of caspases, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. The essential oil induced the apoptosis of KB cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, appearance of apoptotic bodies, and the sub-G1 ratio. The essential oil also induced rapid and transient caspase-3 activity and cleavage of PARP of the KB cells. Treating the cells with the oil also caused changes in the mitochondrial level of the Bcl-2 family proteins such as Bcl-2 and Bax, thereby inducing the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. The essential oil of C. japonica may have potential as a cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic agent.
Analysis of Traits Related to Weed Competitiveness in Sweet Corn (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Zystro Jared P. , De Leon Natalia , Tracy William F.
Published: March 2012

Weed management in sweet corn can be costly; genetic improvements in sweet corn competitiveness may reduce this expense. Competitive ability can exist as weed suppressive ability (WSA), or crop tolerance (CT). Previous studies in corn have found year of hybrid release, maturity, plant height, leaf angle and leafiness may affect WSA, while hybrid era, maturity, and plant height may affect CT. However, many of these studies were limited to very few genotypes. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of phenomorphological traits on sweet corn competitiveness and the inheritance of these traits. An incomplete half-diallel from seven historic sweet corn inbred lines of varying morphologies was evaluated in a split-block randomized complete block design in three environments. Forage sorghum was interplanted in half of the blocks to act as a model weed. Significant differences among hybrids were generally found for both phenomorphological traits and traits measuring WSA and CT, such as sorghum biomass and yield stability, respectively. Crop plant height was most predictive of WSA and CT. In this set of genotypes, competitive ability may be passed with reasonable fidelity from parent to offspring, suggesting that sweet corn could be bred for competitive ability.
Approaching Resonant Absorption of Environmental Xenobiotics Harmonic Oscillation by Linear Structures
Authors: Bulucea Cornelia A. , Rosen Marc A. , Mastorakis Nikos E. , Bulucea Carmen A. , Brindusa Corina C.
Published: March 2012

Over the last several decades, it has become increasingly accepted that the term xenobiotic relates to environmental impact, since environmental xenobiotics are understood to be substances foreign to a biological system, which did not exist in nature before their synthesis by humans. In this context, xenobiotics are persistent pollutants such as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls, as well as plastics and pesticides. Dangerous and unstable situations can result from the presence of environmental xenobiotics since their harmful effects on humans and ecosystems are often unpredictable. For instance, the immune system is extremely vulnerable and sensitive to modulation by environmental xenobitics. Various experimental assays could be performed to ascertain the immunotoxic potential of environmental xenobiotics, taking into account genetic factors, the route of xenobiotic penetration, and the amount and duration of exposure, as well as the wave shape of the xenobiotic. In this paper, we propose an approach for the analysis of xenobiotic metabolism using mathematical models and corresponding methods. This study focuses on a pattern depicting mathematically modeled processes of resonant absorption of a xenobiotic harmonic oscillation by an organism modulated as an absorbing oscillator structure. We represent the xenobiotic concentration degree through a spatial concentration vector, and we model and simulate the oscillating regime of environmental xenobiotic absorption. It is anticipated that the results could be used to facilitate the assessment of the processes of environmental xenobiotic absorption, distribution, biotransformation and removal within the framework of compartmental analysis, by establishing appropriate mathematical models and simulations.
Liquid-crystalline heterodimesogens and ABA-heterotrimesogens comprising a bent 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole central unit
Authors: Shanker Govindaswamy , Prehm Marko , Tschierske Carsten
Published: March 2012

Three new types of terminally connected ABA-heterotrimesogens and heterodimesogens, composed of a bent 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole central unit and one or two rod-shaped 4-cyanobiphenyl cores or one 2-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole core, connected by flexible spacers, have been synthesized, and their mesomorphic behavior was studied by optical polarizing microscopy (PM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). All dimesogens exhibit broad ranges of cybotactic nematic phases (NcybA and NcybC), in some cases accompanied by additional mesophases (CybA or SmC) at lower temperature. The combination of the 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole unit with one cyanobiphenyl core leads to the removal of tilted smectic and cybotactic nematic phases (SmC, NcybC), which are replaced by the nontilted CybA phases and nematic phases composed of SmA-type clusters (NcybA). The orthogonal cybotactic nematic phases of bent-core mesogens are of special interest for achieving biaxial nematic phases of the orthorhombic type. The orthogonal (NcybA) and skewed (NcybC) cybotactic nematic phases were distinguished by XRD and optical observations.
GREEN LOGISTICS STRATEGY FOR SOUTH EAST EUROPE: TO IMPROVE INTERMODALITY AND ESTABLISH GREEN TRANSPORT CORRIDORS
Authors: Beškovnik Bojan , Twrdy Elen
Published: March 2012

This article describes the trend towards European green initiatives in the transport sector. The introduction of green logistics management and green policy in Europe has been analysed to understand better the positive impact of green policy on environment, society and economy. With the most recent EU initiatives in the field of green logistics, intermodality has become the platform for green logistics development in the EU. This stimulated a complete study of the case of South East Europe. The perspective of intermodal infrastructure development, the use of intermodality and the environmental impact of the transport sector has been analysed to build an appropriate model for a macro green logistics strategy for South East Europe, where Green transport corridors should be exposed as the main goal. In our proposal of a seven-pillar strategy, all parties, including governmental institutions, manufacturing industry and logistics operators, should take an active part, enabling industry to co-create a macro transport development in the region and to influence future legislation of green issues in the transport sector, with an aim to establish Green transport corridors till 2020. There is a strong need to regulate green logistics issues in the region of South East Europe; therefore, additional studies and proposals will be necessary in the future.
SIMULATION-BASED PREDICTING THE POSITION OF ROAD TANK EXPLOSIONS. PART I: DATA AND MODELS
Authors: Vaidogas Egidijus Rytas , Linkutė Lina , Stulgys Dainius
Published: March 2012

Road tankers used for the transportation of flammable liquids and liquefied gases can be involved in accidents which escalate into fires and the so-called boiling liquid expanding vapour explosions. The damaging effects of these phenomena on roadside property depend on the position and orientation of exploding tanks in relation to vulnerable roadside objects. This study presents a simulation-based approach to the prediction of the position of road tank explosions. The position is expressed by longitudinal and transverse rest position of an exploding tank as well as departure angle of the tank. As a part of this study, data on transverse rest position and departure angle was collected and used to fit probability distributions which express uncertainties in these circumstantial characteristics of road tank accidents. It was found that data on the longitudinal rest position is difficult to obtain and modelling this accident characteristic will have to rely on a subjective specification of probability distributions. Such distributions can be chosen by applying approaches used in the field of quantitative risk assessment. Probability distributions, partly subjective and partly based on hard data, are applied to simulate values of potential explosion coordinates. The simulation results have the premise to be applied to forecasting mechanical and thermal effects of explosions on road and assessing damage from them. A case study used to evaluate the performance of the models proposed in this study is presented in the second part of the paper.
PARAMETER ANALYSIS OF NO EMISSIONS FROM SPARK IGNITION ENGINES
Authors: Bereczky Ákos
Published: March 2012

Environmental protection, especially a reduction in emissions from vehicles, bears great importance nowadays. Combustion engine manufacturers invest large sums of money in order to cut the emission of carbon monoxide (CO), unburnt hydro carbons (CH or THC), carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). To variously reduce NOx emission either inside (e.g. exhaust gas recirculation) and/or outside the engine (like three-way catalyst), different solutions have been elaborated. The most expedient methods are, however, those reducing NOx during the process of combustion itself. Modelling and parameter analysis of NOx formation in combustion engines provide a new possibility of optimizing engine combustion and operation. To accomplish the above objective, the author of the article has developed a computer model that calculates the thermo-formation of NO by means of the Zeldowich mechanism and applied a multi-zone model for making calculations.
POSSIBILITIES OF USING CAMELINA SATIVA OIL FOR PRODUCING BIODIESEL FUEL
Authors: Zaleckas Ernestas , Makarevičienė Violeta , Sendžikienė Eglė
Published: March 2012

Biofuels for diesel engines are produced mainly from rapeseed oil in Lithuania and the Member States of the European Union. In order to minimise an adverse impact of biodiesel fuel on the food sector, it is necessary to look for alternative feedstocks for producing biodiesel fuel including the potential utilisation of the new kinds of oilseed crops and various fatty waste. Camelina (Camelina sativa) could be one of the kinds of such oilseed crops, and therefore the physical and chemical parameters of Camelina sativa oil and biodiesel fuel produced from this oil were determined and the conformity of quality parameters with the requirements of biofuel standard was evaluated. It was found that fatty acid methyl esters made from Camelina sativa oil had a high iodine value (164.6÷169.6 g I2 / 100 g oil), and therefore could be used as fuel for diesel engines only in the mixtures with methyl esters produced from animal fat or used for frying oil. It has been established that similar mixtures can contain 50÷60% of Camelina sativa oil methyl esters. The possibilities of increasing oxidation stability as well as improving the cold flow properties of ester mixtures were investigated. The most effective antioxidant – Ionol (optimal dosage of 500 ppm) and the most efficient depressants Wintron XC-30 (optimal dosage – 1500 ppm) and Infineum R-442 (optimal dosage – 1200 ppm) were selected.
ROUTE PLANNING BASED ON UNCERTAIN INFORMATION IN TRANSPORT NETWORKS
Authors: Szűcs Gábor
Published: March 2012

The goal of this paper is to find a solution for route planning in a transport network where the network type can be arbitrary: a network of bus routes, a network of tram rails, a road network or any other type of a transport network. Furthermore, the costs of network elements are uncertain. The concept is based on the Dempster–Shafer theory and Dijkstra's algorithm which helps with finding the best routes. The paper focuses on conventional studies without considering traffic accidents or other exceptional circumstances. The concept is presented by an undirected graph. In order to model conventional real transport, the influencing factors of traffic congestion have been applied in the abstract model using uncertain probabilities described by probability intervals. On the basis of these intervals, the cost intervals of each road can be calculated. Taking into account the uncertain values of costs, an algorithm has been outlined for determining the best routes from one node to all other nodes comparing cost intervals and using decision rules that can be defined by the end user, and if necessary, node by node. The suggested solution can be applied for both one type of network as well as for a combination of a few of those.
QUALITY APPROACH TO THE SUSTAINABILITY OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Authors: Susnienė Dalia
Published: March 2012

Transport is an essential part of national economic, social and sustainable development that can produce both positive and negative effects on the environment and the quality of life depending on the level of development and indicated preferences. Modern interpretations of sustainable urban development require reducing the use of private cars through improving the quality of public transport services. Therefore, identifying the inefficiencies of the public transport system will help with improving service management, expanding coverage and increasing the attractiveness of public transport services. There is a general agreement that excellent customer service is a source of competitive advantage. The key to providing effective customer service is the accurate determination of the customer's needs and response to them in a consistent manner in order to assure their satisfaction. The SERQUAL model was employed as an instrument to measure customer satisfaction and give valuable information and guidelines for transport service companies on necessary improvements in their daily operations. The SERQUAL approach, in case service quality is defined and measured as the difference between expectations and perceptions, is the major point of departure from the previous attempts to find possible solutions to improving public transport services.
ECOLOGICAL PAYBACK TIME OF AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT MODULAR BUILDING
Authors: Faludi Jeremy , Lepech Michael
Published: March 2012

Ecological payback time was calculated for demolishing an existing commercial building with average energy performance and replacing it with an energy-efficient, prefabricated building. A life-cycle assessment was performed for a 5,000 ft2commercial building designed by Project Frog and prefabricated in San Francisco, California, and compared to the impacts of annual energy consumption and continued status quo operation of a comparable average commercial building. Scenarios were run both with and without rooftop solar panels intended to make the prefabricated building net zero energy. The analysis considers the materials and manufacturing, transportation, annual energy use of the new building, and disposal of the existing building, compared to continued annual energy use of the existing building. The carbon payback of a new building with no solar against operation of an existing commercial building was found to be roughly eleven years, and a building with enough rooftop solar to be net zero energy was roughly 6.5 years. The full EcoIndicator99 environmental impact payback for a new efficient building with no solar was found to be twenty years, and a solar net-zero building was roughly eleven years against operation of an existing commercial building.
PRAIRIE-BASED GREEN ROOFS: LITERATURE, TEMPLATES, AND ANALOGS
Authors: Sutton Richard K. , Harrington John A. , Skabelund Lee , MacDonagh Peter , Coffman Reid R. , Koch Gord
Published: March 2012

Native prairie species have been both promoted and questioned in their ability to serve as vegetative covers for green roofs. The green roof environment with its exposure to intense sun and wind and limited moisture restricts the capacity for a large diversity of species. The result has been, in many cases, a standard, low-diversity mix of Sedum species often focused on ornament and minimizes the potential for wider environmental benefits. We reviewed the ecological literature on prairie and grassland communities with specific reference to habitat templates from stressed environmental conditions and examined analogs of prairie-based vegetation on twenty-one existing green roofs. We found that many, but not all prairie and grassland species will survive and thrive on green roofs, especially when irrigated as needed or given adequate growing medium depth. We raise several important questions about media, irrigation, temperature, biodiversity and their interactions needing more study.
EFFECTS OF SEMI-TRANSPARENT GLAZING ON THE EMOTIONS OF OFFICE WORKERS
Authors: Sylvester Keith Everette , Bowler Jennifer Lynn
Published: March 2012

The use of sunlight has always been a major goal of architects and building owners in the design and operation of commercial buildings to minimize electrical consumption when using artificial lighting. However, glazing systems that are designed to allow optimal visible light transmission also allow significant unwanted direct solar gain. Conversely, glazing systems that are designed to reflect unwanted direct solar heat gain significantly reduce the transmittance of visible light through windows. Semi-transparent window glazing reduces light transmission through windows resulting in unknown effects of the natural illumination of spaces on emotional perceptions of office workers. A survey was administered to assess the emotional effect of office spaces that use semi-transparent glazing as compared to clear glazing during daylight hours. Computer visualization software was used to create animated recordings of an office environment, and a modified lighting approach was used to compute accurate solar irradiance levels for various geographic locations. While an analysis of variance revealed significant differences in satisfaction between groups, the differences did not create negative emotional responses to glazing with lower transmittances.
Components of Streptococcus pneumoniae Suppress Allergic Airways Disease and NKT Cells by Inducing Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Thorburn Alison N. , Foster Paul S. , Gibson Peter G. , Hansbro Philip M.
Published: March 2012

Asthma is an allergic airways disease (AAD) caused by dysregulated immune responses and characterized by eosinophilic inflammation, mucus hypersecretion, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). NKT cells have been shown to contribute to AHR in some mouse models. Conversely, regulatory T cells (Tregs) control aberrant immune responses and maintain homeostasis. Recent evidence suggests that Streptococcus pneumoniae induces Tregs that have potential to be harnessed therapeutically for asthma. In this study, mouse models of AAD were used to identify the S. pneumoniae components that have suppressive properties, and the mechanisms underlying suppression were investigated. We tested the suppressive capacity of type-3-polysaccharide (T3P), isolated cell walls, pneumolysoid (Ply) and CpG. When coadministered, T3P + Ply suppressed the development of: eosinophilic inflammation, Th2 cytokine release, mucus hypersecretion, and AHR. Importantly, T3P + Ply also attenuated features of AAD when administered during established disease. We show that NKT cells contributed to the development of AAD and also were suppressed by T3P + Ply treatment. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of NKT cells induced AHR, which also could be reversed by T3P + Ply. T3P + Ply-induced Tregs were essential for the suppression of NKT cells and AAD, which was demonstrated by Treg depletion. Collectively, our results show that the S. pneumoniae components T3P + Ply suppress AAD through the induction of Tregs that blocked the activity of NKT cells. These data suggest that S. pneumoniae components may have potential as a therapeutic strategy for the suppression of allergic asthma through the induction of Tregs and suppression of NKT cells.
Chronic Helminth Infection Reduces Basophil Responsiveness in an IL-10–Dependent Manner
Authors: Larson David , Hübner Marc P. , Torrero Marina N. , Morris Christopher P. , Brankin Amy , Swierczewski Brett E. , Davies Stephen J. , Vonakis Becky M. , Mitre Edward
Published: March 2012

Basophils play a key role in the development and effector phases of type 2 immune responses in both allergic diseases and helminth infections. This study shows that basophils become less responsive to IgE-mediated stimulation when mice are chronically infected with Litomosoides sigmodontis, a filarial nematode, and Schistosoma mansoni, a blood fluke. Although excretory/secretory products from microfilariae of L. sigmodontis suppressed basophils in vitro, transfer of microfilariae into mice did not result in basophil suppression. Rather, reduced basophil responsiveness, which required the presence of live helminths, was found to be dependent on host IL-10 and was accompanied by decreases in key IgE signaling molecules known to be downregulated by IL-10. Given the importance of basophils in the development of type 2 immune responses, these findings help explain the mechanism by which helminths protect against allergy and may have broad implications for understanding how helminth infections alter other disease states in people.
TGF-β Converts Apoptotic Stimuli into the Signal for Th9 Differentiation
Authors: Takami Mariko , Love Robert B. , Iwashima Makio
Published: March 2012

Naturally arising CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (nTregs) have an essential role in maintenance of immune homeostasis and peripheral tolerance. Previously, we reported that conventional CD4+ and CD8+ T cells undergo p53-induced CD28-dependent apoptosis (PICA) when stimulated with a combination of immobilized anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 Abs, whereas nTregs expand robustly under the same conditions, suggesting that there is a differential survival mechanism against PICA between conventional T cells and nTregs. In this study, we demonstrate that TGF-β signaling is required for nTregs to survive PICA. Conversely, when an active form of exogenous TGF-β is present, conventional T cells become resistant to PICA and undergo robust expansion instead of apoptosis, with reduction of the proapoptotic protein Bim and FoxO3a. A substantial fraction of PICA-resistant T cells expressed IL-9 (TH9 cells). Moreover, the presence of IL-6 along with TGF-β led to the generation of TH17 cells from conventional T cells. Together, the data demonstrate a novel role for TGF-β in the homeostasis of regulatory T cells and effector T cell differentiation and expansion.