bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Indapamide Sustained Release Tablet using Methocel K15 MCR and a Comparative Study with a Reference Product
Authors: Rahman BM , Wahed MII , Amran MS , Khondkar P , Rahman MM , Islam MR , Ahmed M
Published: March 2009

Indapamide, a low-dose thiazide-type diuretic, is used for the treatment of essential hypertension. In this study, we developed an indapamide sustained release formulation using Methocel K15 MCR (a modified hydroxypropyl methylcellulose), lactose and magnesium stearate considering technical feasibility and performed a comparative study with the release pattern of the reference product, Natrilix SRÂ® tablet. The tablets showed sustained release curves at pH 6.8 phosphate buffer for up to 12 h. The data obtained from the dissolution profiles were compared in the light of different kinetics models and the regression coefficients were also compared. The kinetics of dissolution fit the Higuchi kinetics model. The release rate decreased exponentially with the addition of Methocel K15 MCR. Indapamide release rate was observed to be the highest with the lowest concentration of Methocel K15 MCR used in the present study. On the other hand, Indapamide release rate was the lowest when Methocel K15 MCR concentration was 25%. Stability tests of the drug pellets showed no notable changes in the rate of drug release, related substances and drug content. Key words: Indapamide, Hypertension, Sustained Release, Methocel K15 MCR. doi: 10.3329/dujps.v7i2.2172 Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 7(2): 155-159, 2008 (December)
Combined System of Activated Sludge and Ozonation for the Treatment of Kraft E1 Effluent
Authors: Assalin Marcia Regina , Almeida Edna dos Santos , Durán Nelson
Published: March 2009

The treatment of paper mill effluent for COD, TOC, total phenols and color removal was investigated using combined activated sludge-ozonation processes and single processes. The combined activated sludge-O3/pH 10 treatment was able to remove around 80% of COD, TOC and color from Kraft E1 effluent. For the total phenols, the efficiency removal was around 70%. The ozonation post treatment carried out at pH 8.3 also showed better results than the single process. The COD, TOC, color and total phenols removal efficiency obtained were 75.5, 59.1, 77 and 52.3%, respectively. The difference in the concentrations of free radical produced by activated sludge-O3/pH 10 and activated sludge-O3/pH 8.3 affected mainly the TOC and total phenol removal values.
Explaining Ionic Liquid Water Solubility in Terms of Cation and Anion Hydrophobicity
Authors: Ranke Johannes , Othman Alaa , Fan Ping , Müller Anja
Published: March 2009

The water solubility of salts is ordinarily dictated by lattice energy and ion solvation. However, in the case of low melting salts also known as ionic liquids, lattice energy is immaterial and differences in hydrophobicity largely account for differences in their water solubility. In this contribution, the activity coefficients of ionic liquids in water are split into cation and anion contributions by regression against cation hydrophobicity parameters that are experimentally determined by reversed phase liquid chromatography. In this way, anion hydrophobicity parameters are derived, as well as an equation to estimate water solubilities for cation-anion combinations for which the water solubility has not been measured. Thus, a new pathway to the quantification of aqueous ion solvation is shown, making use of the relative weakness of interactions between ionic liquid ions as compared to their hydrophobicities.
Origin of Homochirality in Biosystems
Authors: Toxvaerd Søren
Published: March 2009

Experimental data for a series of central and simple molecules in biosystems show that some amino acids and a simple sugar molecule have a chiral discrimination in favor of homochirality. Models for segregation of racemic mixtures of chiral amphiphiles and lipophiles in aqueous solutions show that the amphiphiles with an active isomerization kinetics can perform a spontaneous break of symmetry during the segregation and self-assembly to homochiral matter. Based on this observation it is argued that biomolecules with a sufficiently strong chiral discrimination could be the origin of homochirality in biological systems.
Implementation of 3D Optical Scanning Technology for Automotive Applications
Authors: Kuş Abdil
Published: March 2009

Reverse engineering (RE) is a powerful tool for generating a CAD model from the 3D scan data of a physical part that lacks documentation or has changed from the original CAD design of the part. The process of digitizing a part and creating a CAD model from 3D scan data is less time consuming and provides greater accuracy than manually measuring the part and designing the part from scratch in CAD. 3D optical scanning technology is one of the measurement methods which have evolved over the last few years and it is used in a wide range of areas from industrial applications to art and cultural heritage. It is also used extensively in the automotive industry for applications such as part inspections, scanning of tools without CAD definition, scanning the casting for definition of the stock (i.e. the amount of material to be removed from the surface of the castings) model for CAM programs and reverse engineering. In this study two scanning experiments of automotive applications are illustrated. The first one examines the processes from scanning to re-manufacturing the damaged sheet metal cutting die, using a 3D scanning technique and the second study compares the scanned point clouds data to 3D CAD data for inspection purposes. Furthermore, the deviations of the part holes are determined by using different lenses and scanning parameters.
LULC Classification and Topographic Correction of Landsat-7 ETM+ Imagery in the Yangjia River Watershed: the Influence of DEM Resolution
Authors: Gao Yongnian , Zhang Wanchang
Published: March 2009

DEM-based topographic corrections on Landsat-7 ETM+ imagery from rugged terrain, as an effective processing techniques to improve the accuracy of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) classification as well as land surface parameter retrievals with remotely sensed data, has been frequently reported in the literature. However, few studies have investigated the exact effects of DEM with different resolutions on the correction of imagery.Taking the topographic corrections on the Landsat-7 ETM+ images acquired from the rugged terrain of the Yangjiahe river basin (P.R. China) as an example, the present work systematically investigates such issues by means of two commonly used topographic correction algorithms with the support of different spatial resolution DEMs. After the pre-processing procedures, i.e. atmospheric correction and geo-registration, were applied to the ETM+ images, two topographic correction algorithms, namely SCS correction and Minnaert correction, were applied to assess the effects of different spatial resolution DEMs obtained from two sources in the removal of topographic effects and LULC classifications. The results suggested that the topographic effects were tremendously reduced with these two algorithms under the support of different spatial resolution DEMs, and the performance of the topographic correction with the 1:50,000-topographic-map DEM was similar to that achieved using SRTM DEM. Moreover, when the same topographic correction algorithm was applied the accuracy of LULC classification after topographic correction based on 1:50,000-topographic-map DEM was similar as that based on SRTM DEM, which implies that the 90 m SRTM DEM can be used as an alternative for the topographic correction of ETM+ imagery when high resolution DEM is unavailable.
Spatial Forecast of Landslides in Three Gorges Based On Spatial Data Mining
Authors: Wang Xianmin , Niu Ruiqing
Published: March 2009

The Three Gorges is a region with a very high landslide distribution density and a concentrated population. In Three Gorges there are often landslide disasters, and the potential risk of landslides is tremendous. In this paper, focusing on Three Gorges, which has a complicated landform, spatial forecasting of landslides is studied by establishing 20 forecast factors (spectra, texture, vegetation coverage, water level of reservoir, slope structure, engineering rock group, elevation, slope, aspect, etc). China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite (Cbers) images were adopted based on C4.5 decision tree to mine spatial forecast landslide criteria in Guojiaba Town (Zhigui County) in Three Gorges and based on this knowledge, perform intelligent spatial landslide forecasts for Guojiaba Town. All landslides lie in the dangerous and unstable regions, so the forecast result is good. The method proposed in the paper is compared with seven other methods: IsoData, K-Means, Mahalanobis Distance, Maximum Likelihood, Minimum Distance, Parallelepiped and Information Content Model. The experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper has a high forecast precision, noticeably higher than that of the other seven methods.
Fabrication and Characterization of a Tunable In-plane Resonator with Low Driving Voltage
Authors: Kao Pin-Hsu , Dai Ching-Liang , Hsu Cheng-Chih , Lee Chi-Yuan
Published: March 2009

This study presents the fabrication and characterization of a micromechanical tunable in-plane resonator. The resonator is manufactured using the commercial 0.35 µm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) process. The resonator is made of aluminum, and the sacrificial layer is silicon dioxide. The post-process involves only one maskless etching step using an etchant to remove the sacrificial layer. The resonator includes three parts: a driving part to provide a driving force, a sensing part that is used to detect a change in capacitance when the resonator is vibrating, and a tuning part that changes the resonant frequency of the resonator. The main advantages of the tunable resonator are a low driving voltage and compatibility with the CMOS process. The resonant frequency of the resonator can be changed upon applying a dc voltage to the tuning part. To reduce the driving voltage, the driving part is designed as comb-finger rows. Experimental results show that the resonator has a resonant frequency of about 183 kHz and a driving voltage of 10 V; the resonant frequency increases 14 kHz when a tuning voltage of 30 V is applied. The resonator has a maximum frequency–tuning ratio of 7.6%.
Fishers, Divers, Scientists, Lawyers, and Marine Protected Areas: The US Experience in Protecting Coral Reefs
Authors: Craig Robin Kundis
Published: March 2009

Coral reef tourism in the US provides significant economic benefits that exceed those of reef-based commercial and recreational fisheries. While US coral reefs are subject to a number of stressors, fishing has created the most opposition to coral reef protection. One solution is increased
use of coral reef marine protected areas (MPAs), which could simultaneously improve reef-based fisheries. US law provides a number of mechanisms for creating MPAs but contains no clear policy in favor of coral reef preservation. Nevertheless, a tension between fishing and coral reef ecosystem
protection has been emerging in US law, indicating that federal law should be modified to promote coral reef ecosystem preservation.
The Value of Recreational Surfing to Society
Authors: Lazarow Neil , Miller Marc L. , Blackwell Boyd
Published: March 2009

This article comments briefly on the origins of surfing and its growth through the 20th century, discusses the growth of participation in surfing, and then uses a range of social science techniques including observed market expenditure and nonmarket valuation to describe the socioeconomic
value of surfing at various locations. The findings demonstrate the significant economic, social, and cultural importance of surfing amenity, the need to clearly articulate and measure changes in recreational amenity, and the need to consider any negative impacts on surf breaks and the natural
environment that may occur as a result of development, coastal planning, and protection works.
Linking Beach Recreation to Weather Conditions: A Case Study in Zandvoort, Netherlands
Authors: Moreno Alvaro , Amelung Bas , Santamarta Lorena
Published: March 2009

Beach recreation is one of the most weather-sensitive leisure activities. However, there is a lack of scientific knowledge about how the different weather/climate variables influence beach visitation levels, and the role of other factors such as the hour of the day or the day of the
week. This study, carried out during the summer of 2006, uses webcams in combination with real-time weather data as an innovative approach to study the relationship between weather and beach use in Zandvoort, a seaside town in The Netherlands. Over a period of 6 weeks, images were taken hourly
and for every day, and then compared to the specific weather conditions from a nearby weather station to assess the relationship between beach visitation and atmospheric conditions. Precipitation has an overriding effect over other weather variables while high temperatures lead to higher beach
visitation. These results indicate that webcam-based research is a promising field that can provide important information for coastal planning and climate change research.
Why Dive? and Why Here?: A Study of Recreational Diver Enjoyment at a Fijian Eco-Tourist Resort
Authors: Fitzsimmons Clare
Published: March 2009

A considerable challenge to coastal managers in tourism settings is to provide visitor opportunities to observe pristine coral reef systems, while simultaneously protecting them from tourist impacts. Most dive area management strategies are designed around the concept of restricting
numbers of visitors, in a variety of ways, or diverting their attention from pristine areas, to "sacrificial" sites, such as artificial reefs. For this to be economically and socially effective, as well as ecologically successful, further information is required, indicating to what level such
policies are acceptable to divers. Insight into the relative importance of a variety of attributes preferred by dive tourists, and trade-offs acceptable to divers, are required. Established interviewing and attitude assessment techniques were used to identify which pristine coral reef area
attributes and associated resort facilities most greatly contributed to ecotourist enjoyment at a Fijian dive resort. No significant increases in diver enjoyment were detected at sites representing "pristine reef," compared to more degraded inner lagoon sites. Additionally, managerial and
social factors were found to contribute significantly more to tourists' overall trip enjoyment than ecological and environmental factors, and quality of the diving experience. Initial indications are that diver satisfaction can be achieved with less than pristine reefs, and site substitution
policies should be accepted by divers. Management strategies attempting to offset degraded dive attributes by enhancing alternative aspects of the holiday environment are also likely to succeed. Effective implementation of policies based on these results has the potential to result in more
efficient economic exploitation of reef resources, minimal economic loss, and increased dive industry sustainability.
Deepwater Templates and Cluster Well Manifolds: Is There a Single Correct Approach?
Authors: Homer S.T. , Chitwood J.E. , Childers T.W. , Verrett A.J.
Published: March 2009

Traditional subsea production systems utilize wells and subsea manifoldssupported on a common structural template. Recent developments use cluster wellmanifolds supported independently from the subsea wells. This paper discussesthe template and cluster well concepts which were considered in the DeepStarProject. A comparison of the two concepts establishes a preference for thecluster well manifold systems which offer greater flexibility and fasterimplementation than template systems.

Introduction

The DeepStar project considered the feasibility of producing reservoirs inwater depths from 3500 ft to 6000 ft to remote shallow water platforms usingsubsea systems (Ref. 1). One of the project's objectives was to determine if asingle subsea system configuration could meet production requirements with lowcost and allow flexibility in implementation.

As part of the DeepStar project, a template/manifold study developedconceptual designs of template systems and cluster well systems consideringrequirements for production, installation, drilling, completion andmaintenance. The concepts were compared on the basis of cost, feasibility andrisk. This paper briefly reviews the design requirements, describes typicaltemplate and cluster well systems and summarizes the conclusions of theDeepStar study. The following definitions apply:

Template System: A subsea production facility where the wells, connectionsand manifolds are on a common supporting structure or template.

Cluster Well System: A centrally located manifold around which independentsatellite wells are clustered. These wells individually connect to theproduction manifold.

Deepwater Subsea Production System Requirements

Subsea production systems are designed to meet the functional requirementsof a specific project such as, number of wells, distance to export facilities, environment, water depth, reservoir conditions, production characteristics, etc.
A New Generation of Umbilical Hoses
Authors: Legallais Lucien , Stratfold Mark , Hardy Jean
Published: March 2009

Umbilical flexible hoses are unbonded composite constructions consisting ofThermoplastic layers and high tensile reinforcing fibres, they were introducedinto the market almost 20 years ago and are now manufactured in long continuouslengths.

To date over 50,000 km of umbilical hose have been installed world wide, with continuous service of more than 15 years.

A problem that has come to light is the ability of certain fluids and gasesto pass through the hose lining. Although the permeation rates are low, oververy long hose lengths, a significant volume of fluid can be conveyed back tothe platform along the interstices of a conventionally sheathed umbilical. Onesuch fluid is methanol which is commonly injected into wells.

Due to continuing research and development efforts a new lining material, based on cross linked polyethylene, has been introduced giving a new generationof umbilical hoses with greatly improved performance.

Introduction

Umbilicals are structures that contain two or more functional elements, i.e.hoses, electric cables and optical fibres. These are typically assembledtogether with a helical technique, to form a circular bundle, which is thenencased in and extruded Thermoplastic sheath, reinforced with twocontra-helically applied layers of steel wires and finished with a secondextruded Thermoplastic sheath (see figure 1).

The hoses used have to transport many different well head fluids and alsotransmit hydraulic power. One common injection fluid is methanol. The problemis that this fluid permeates through the current industry standard hose liningmaterials.

This permeated fluid, which is retained by the umbilical inner and outerThermoplastic sheath, due to the thicker section and different material used, builds up within the umbilical structure and egresses from the umbilical at itsends. With fluids, such as methanol, disposal of significant quantities canpresent problems.
Subsea Umbilicals: Operational Experience and New Development
Authors: Bjornebekk Svein , Eidsvik I.G. , Frafjord Peter
Published: March 2009

The paper will describe some of the operational experiences gained withumbilicals in Statoil's first subsea installation (1986), the dilemma posed inselecting a design for the Statfjord satellite project (SSP) and the solutionadopted.

After one-two years ofoperation on the Gullfaks field, Statoil found thatthe hydraulic/chemical umbilicals were less reliable than predicted.

In 1990, it was concluded that using thermoplastic hose materials for futureprojects with a design life of 15–20 years would involve greatuncertainties.

The solution was a newly-developed steel tube umbilical compatible with alarge variety of chemical fluids that might be used.

In-house company know-how and the willingness of the industry to meet newchallenges allowed the concept to be realised within the limited time frameavailable.

Introduction

Experience gained by Statoil from operating the Gullfaks and Tommelitensubsea developments in the Norwegian North Sea showed that thehydraulic/chemical umbilicals used did not have the reliability expected. Production shutdowns consequently occurred with increasing frequency on one ofthese fields.

Incompatibility between the thermoplastic hose material and the fluids, particularly methanol, was one of the principal reasons for the operationalproblems that were encountered.

In 1990, when these difficulties were recorded, Statoil had kicked off itsStatfjord satellite project (SSP). This development called for the delivery of70–80 km of longlife umbilicals, to be ready for installation less than threeyears later.

Gullfaks and Tommeliten: Umbilicals and Control Systems

The Gullfaks subsea system, which came on stream at the end of 1986, consists of six single satellite wells individually tied back to the Gullfaks Aplatform.
Statistically Based Material Specifications, Pipe for Deep Water
Authors: Sumner G.A.
Published: March 2009

When very precise control of submerged pipeline weight is desirable ornecessary, the weight and diameter of individual joints will usually be lessimportant than the average joint weight and diameter and how variations aredistributed over longer lengths. In such cases the law of averages makes itlikely that the weight per unit length of this longer length will fall within anarrower range than does the weight of individual joints. If the designer canquantify that likelihood it may give him confidence that he can controlsubmerged weight without greatly reducing the tolerances on individual joints. This paper sets out some of the considerations for developing statisticallybased design criteria for control of submerged pipeline weight and for writingspecifications based on these criteria. It is based on lessons learned indeveloping pipe specifications for EP Operating Company's Mississippi Canyon441 Field Development Project, the operating partner of which is EnserchExploration Company of Dallas, Texas.

Defining the Problem

The weight of any submerged pipeline must not only be sufficient to hold thepipeline down, it must also be distributed so that the line will be stablealong its entire length. For pipelines which are towed offshore, keeping weightto a minimum can be important to reduce drag. Minimizing weight may also beimportant for controlling loads on the unsupported span while laying pipes inultra deep water. As the weight approaches the minimum, the need for uniformweight distribution becomes more important because there is less margin forerror in a given section of the line. When the limits on weight or diameternarrows the tolerance on total weight below the mill's control capability forindividual joints, it will still be possible to hold tighter limits on the meanweight. At first glance one might be tempted to simply specify the averageweight and then select joints to maintain the average throughout the line. This, however, is complicated by the fact that the critical factor is not thedry weight but the submerged weight, which is a function of both wall thicknessand diameter.
An Overview of the Zinc Subsea Tree and Wellhead System
Authors: McInturff T.L. , Gist G.N.
Published: March 2009

Although deep water drilling systems and methods are already fairly welldeveloped as a result of exploration in deep water, as yet there is relativelylittle industry experience with deep water completions. The technical andeconomic challenges of deep water production systems are even greater whenmulti-well systems are involved.

Challenging too is the need to keep initial and subsequent costs as low aspossible. To this end it is beneficial to use proven technology where possible, as both initial design and fabrication costs are lower, and long-term costs areminimized due to greater reliability. The potential for avoiding high-costpost-installation interventions is further enhanced by building contingenciesinto the configuration of the equipment. These contingencies may includeredundant components, additional components specifically included to facilitatelow-cost intervention methods, and well thought-out arrangements of primarycomponents which allow for intervention flexibility. Where possible, theequipment design and configuration should be compatible with equipment andmethods that may reasonably be available within the design life of theproject.

The intent of this paper is to shed some light on the specifics of how thesechallenges were addressed in the design of the tree and wellhead system for theZinc Project.

The Zinc Prospect

The Zinc Prospect (MC-354) is located approximately 50 miles South of GrandIsle, Louisiana. The prospect lies beneath 1,460' of water in an old bed of theMississippi River. Though the seabed is relatively flat, the soil is veryunconsolidated to a depth of approximately 2,000', Numerous drilling problemswith discovery and delineation wells were encountered due to these soft soils. The Zinc reservoirs are expected to produce gas, some condensate, and varyingamounts of water. The use of methanol injection at various points is plannedfor hydrate prevention. The reservoirs are normally pressured. The platformwhich will serve to host the Zinc subsea system sits atop a subsea knoll in468' of water some six miles from the Zinc site.
Bioremediation of phenol by a novel partitioning bioreactor using cow dung microbial consortia
Authors: Singh Dipty , Fulekar M. H.
Published: March 2009

A bioreactor has been designed and developed for partitioning of aqueous and organic phases with a provision for aeration and stirring, a cooling system and a sampling port. The potential of a cow dung microbial consortium has been assessed for bioremediation of phenol in a single‐phase bioreactor and a two‐phase partitioning bioreactor. The advantages of the two‐phase partitioning bioreactor are discussed. The Pseudomonas putida IFO 14671 has been isolated, cultured and identified from the cow dung microbial consortium as a high‐potential phenol degrader. The methods developed in this study present an advance in bioremediation techniques for the biodegradation of organic compounds such as phenol using a bioreactor. We have also demonstrated the potential of microorganisms from cow dung as a source of biomass.
Iron Salts in the Catalyzed Synthesis of 5‐Substituted 1H‐Tetrazoles
Authors: Bonnamour Julien , Bolm Carsten
Published: March 2009

Clicking iron: Cheap and environmentally friendly [Fe(OAc)2] is used for the catalysis of cycloadditions between aryl nitriles and trimethylsilyl azide to prepare substituted 1H‐tetrazoles in good yield (see scheme).

magnified image
Parcellation of human temporal polar cortex: A combined analysis of multiple cytoarchitectonic, chemoarchitectonic, and pathological markers
Authors: Ding Song‐Lin , Van Hoesen Gary W. , Cassell Martin D. , Poremba Amy
Published: March 2009

Although the human temporal polar cortex (TPC), anterior to the limen insulae, is heavily involved in high‐order brain functions and many neurological diseases, few studies on the parcellation and extent of the human TPC are available that have used modern neuroanatomical techniques. The present study investigated the TPC with combined analysis of several different cellular, neurochemical, and pathological markers and found that this area is not homogenous, as at least six different areas extend into the TPC, with another area being unique to the polar region. Specifically, perirhinal area 35 extends into the posterior TPC, whereas areas 36 and TE extend more anteriorly. Dorsolaterally, an area located anterior to the typical area TA or parabelt auditory cortex is distinguishable from area TA and is defined as area TAr (rostral). The polysensory cortical area located primarily in the dorsal bank of the superior temporal sulcus, separate from area TA, extends for some distance into the TPC and is defined as the TAp (polysensory). Anterior to the limen insulae and the temporal pyriform cortex, a cortical area, characterized by its olfactory fibers in layer Ia and lack of layer IV, was defined as the temporal insular cortex and named as area TI after Beck (J. Psychol. Neurol. 1934;41:129–264). Finally, a dysgranular TPC region that capped the tip with some extension into the dorsal aspect of the TPC is defined as temporopolar area TG. Therefore, the human TPC actually includes areas TAr and TI, anterior parts of areas 35, 36, TE, and TAp, and the unique temporopolar area TG. J. Comp. Neurol. 514:595–623, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Soft Scorpionate Ligands Based on Imidazole‐2‐thione Donors
Authors: Spicer Mark D. , Reglinski John
Published: March 2009

This review describes the development of the anionic soft scorpionate ligand hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate (TmMe), its N‐alkyl and N‐aryl congeners and draws comparisons where appropriate with its close relatives, the dihydrobis(methimazolyl)borates (BmR). Key features of the interaction of these species with metal centres, including bonding modes, electron‐donor properties, M···H–B interactions, ligand degradation and metallaboratrane formation are addressed and a summary of the coordination chemistry of these species with both main group and transition metals is given. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Effects of maternal phenylketonuria on the development of the offspring's eye
Authors: El‐Sayyad Hassan I. , Abou‐El‐Naga Amora M. , Bayomi Ahmed A. , Gad Abdo Ahmed M.
Published: March 2009

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by phenylalanine‐4‐hydroxylase (P‐4‐H) deficiency, which is a liver‐specific enzyme that catalyzes the hydroxylation of l‐phenylalanine (Phe) to l‐tyrosine (Tyr). The deficiency of this enzyme leads to the accumulation of Phe in the tissues and plasma of patients. Among the clinical symptoms of this disease are mental retardation and other neurological features. The mechanisms of retinal cell damage are still poorly understood. In order to evaluate the damage in offspring of PKU mothers, fifty pregnant rats were used and arranged into two main groups, i.e., a control group and a group consisting of rats with experimentally induced PKU. Induction of PKU was carried out by daily intragastrical administration of 30 mg DL–alpha methylphenylalanine/150 g b.w. plus 60 mg/kg b.w. Phe at 12 h intervals throughout pregnancy till parturition as well as throughout lactation period till 14 days post‐partum. Morphometric analysis of retina in 1, 7 and 14‐day‐old pups of PKU mothers revealed a marked reduction of retinal thickness. Histological observations revealed numerical reduction of pigment cells. Apoptic cell death of retinal pigment cells, and of nuclear layer and ganglionic cells were observed. The nerve layer showed apparent vacuolar degeneration. At transmission electron microscope (TEM) level, pigment epithelium showed distortion of apical microvilli, vacuolation of cytoplasm and reduction of cytoplasm organelles. The Brush's membrane showed apparent thickening. In 7‐day‐old pups of PKU mothers, photoreceptor inner segment showed apparent degeneration. In 14‐day‐old pups of PKU mothers, both the inner and outer photoreceptor segment were degenerated and the stacked membrane of the outer segment appeared vacuolated and degenerated.
Stability‐type results for hereditary properties
Authors: Alon Noga , Stav Uri
Published: March 2009

The classical Stability Theorem of Erdös and Simonovits can be stated as follows. For a monotone graph propertyP, lett≥2 be such thatt+1=min{χ(H):H∉∈P}. Then any graphG*∈Ponnvertices, which was obtained by removing at mostedges from the complete graphG=Kn, has edit distanceo(n2) toTn(t), the Turán graph onnvertices withtparts. In this paper we extend the above notion of stability to hereditary graph properties. It turns out that to do so the complete graphKnhas to be replaced by a random graph. For a hereditary graph propertyP, consider modifying the edges of a random graphG=G(n,½) to obtain a graphG*that satisfiesPin (essentially) the most economical way. We obtain necessary and sufficient conditions onP, which guarantee thatG*has a unique structure. In such cases, for a pair of integers (r, s), which depends onP,G*, has distanceo(n2) to a graphTn(r, s, ½) almost surely. HereTn(r, s, ½) denotes a graph, which consists of almost equal‐sizedr+sparts,rof them induce an independent set,sinduce a clique and all the bipartite graphs between parts are quasi‐random (with edge density ½. In addition, several strengthened versions of this result are shown. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 62: 65–83, 2009
The deep breathing test: Median‐based expiration–inspiration difference is the measure of choice
Authors: Löllgen Deborah , Müeck‐Weymann Michael , Beise Reinhard D.
Published: March 2009

Heart rate variability (HRV) has become an important parameter for the assessment of autonomic function in many areas of medicine. In particular, respiratory sinus arrhythmia measured during the deep breathing test (DBT) is often used. Results are usually expressed in common time‐domain parameters. A “most preferred measure” has not yet been identified. We investigated the sensitivity of the DBT to the following anomalies: in‐test variance; shifts of mean heart rate; premature ventricular contractions; and breathing rate deviations. Frequency and magnitude of the anomalies were determined in a set of real DBTs (n = 514) and transferred to computer simulations to mimic realistic conditions. The sensitivity of standard deviation, mean circular resultant (MCR), root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), and four types of expiration–inspiration (E‐I) difference were quantified statistically. Median‐based E‐I differences, E‐I ratio, and MCR were most resistant to the anomalies. E‐I difference derived by median values should be used preferentially, providing the highest precision and independence from heart rate. Muscle Nerve 39: 536–544, 2009
Surface analysis of photolithographic patterns using ToF‐SIMS and PCA
Authors: Dubey, Manish , Emoto, Kazunori , Cheng, Fang , Gamble, Lara J. , Takahashi Hironobu , Grainger David W. , Castner David G.
Published: March 2009

Time‐of‐flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF‐SIMS) is a surface analysis technique well suited to detect and identify trace surface species. With the latest analyzers, ion sources and data analysis methods, imaging ToF‐SIMS provides detailed 2‐D and 3‐D surface reactivity maps. Coupling multivariate analysis methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) with ToF‐SIMS provide a powerful method for differentiating spatial regions with different chemistries. ToF‐SIMS and PCA are used in this study to image and analyze a two‐component photolithograph‐patterned surface chemistry currently published and commercialized for bioassays, bio‐chips and cell‐based biosensors. A widely used reactive surface coupling chemistry, N‐hydroxysuccinimide (NHS), and 2‐methoxyethylamine (MeO) were co‐patterned into adjacent regions on a commercial microarray polymer coating using standard photolithography methods involving deposition, patterning and removal of a routinely used photoresist material. After routine processing, ToF‐SIMS and PCA of the patterned surface revealed significant residual photoresist material remaining at the interface of the NHS/MeO patterns, as well as lower concentrations of residual photoresist material remaining within the MeO‐containing regions, providing spatial mapping and residue analysis not evident from other characterization techniques. As detection of surface photoresist residue remains an inherent challenge in photolithographic processing of a wide array of materials, the use of ToF‐SIMS coupled with PCA is shown to be a high‐resolution characterization tool with the high sensitivity and specificity required for surface quality control measurements following photolithography and pattern development relevant to many current processes. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of temperature on CO2 corrosion of carbon steel
Authors: Yin Z. F. , Feng Y. R. , Zhao W. Z. , Bai Z. Q. , Lin G. F.
Published: March 2009

This work investigates the effect of temperature on the corrosion product layer of carbon steel exposed to a CO2‐containing solution. The measurement techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectrometry, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, were used to systematically characterize the morphology and composition of the corrosion product layer. The corrosion rates were calculated by weight loss method. The corrosion mechanisms as a function of temperature are studied and discussed. The results showed that temperature is an important factor in the corrosion rate of carbon steel. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Increased serum OPG in atrophic nonunion shaft fractures
Authors: Marchelli Daniele , Piodi Luca P. , Corradini Costantino , Parravicini Luca , Verdoia Cesare , Ulivieri Fabio M.
Published: March 2009

Background

Bone repair alteration is hypothesized for nonunion fracture pathogenesis. Since it is involved in osteoclast regulation, the RANK/RANKL/OPG system (receptor activator of nuclear factor kB/its ligand/osteoprotegerin) may play a role.

Materials and methods

Serum OPG, free RANKL, bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP), osteocalcin (OC), and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) were determined in 16 male patients (20–39 years) with long bone atrophic nonunion fractures. Serum markers were also measured in 18 age-matched male controls who healed from the same type of fractures within six months, and in 14 age-matched male controls who were healing from the same fractures one month after injury. One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s test were used for statistical analysis.

Results

Only OPG was significantly higher (0.56 sd 0.11 ng/ml) in the patients compared to healed (0.26 sd 0.04 ng/ml; P < 0.001) and healing (0.29 sd 0.09 ng/ml; P < 0.001) controls. The patients’ DPD levels were normal. No correlations were found between bone markers and the characteristics of the subjects in all groups.

Conclusions

A normal steady state of bone metabolism seems to be present in patients with atrophic nonunion fractures, despite the high serum OPG. The reason for the inability of the patients’ OPG to inhibit osteoclastic activity is unknown. Osteoblast activity also appears normal, so another cellular source of OPG can be hypothesized.
Z‐palatopharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome
Authors: Yi Hong L. , Yin Shan K. , Zhang Yu J. , Chen Bin , Lu Wen Y. , Sun Xiao Q. , Cao Zhen Y. , Wu Hong M. , Guan Jian
Published: March 2009

Objective

To explore the feasibility, outcomes, and factors affecting the outcome of Z‐palatopharyngoplasty (ZP3) in the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Methods

ZP3 was performed on 34 Friedman stage II/III OSAHS patients with a posterior airway space (PAS) ≥ 11 mm. Postoperative follow‐up was at least 6 months, and the differences between responders and nonresponders were analyzed.

Results

On the basis of success criteria, defined as an apnea‐hypopnea index < 20 and a decrease > 50 percent, the success rate was 64.7 percent. The lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO2), percentage of time with an oxyhemoglobin saturation below 90 percent (CT90), mandibular plane angle (MPA), mandibular body length, position of the tongue, and Friedman clinical stage differed significantly between responders and nonresponders. The logistic regression analysis showed that MPA and Friedman stage were the key predictors of ZP3 surgical success. The best cutoff points for LSaO2, CT90, and MPA were 72 percent, 22.80 percent, and 29.40°, respectively.

Conclusions

Factors affecting the outcome of ZP3 included LSaO2, CT90, MPA, mandibular body length, position of the tongue, and Friedman clinical stage. Of these, the MPA and Friedman clinical stage were most influential.
A Worldly Vernacular: Urdu at Osmania University
Authors: DATLA KAVITA
Published: March 2009

Twinned as Urdu has become with the fate of India's largest religious minority, Muslims, and with the emergence of the independent state of Pakistan, for which Urdu is the official national language, the story of Urdu holds a peculiar place and a special significance in histories of the subcontinent. Stories of the Urdu language are dramatic, bound up as they are in questions of politics, the fate of Hindus and Muslims and the vicissitudes of both the Urdu and the Hindi languages. Though Hindi–Urdu language politics are an important part of these languages' colonial history, this article emphasizes another story. For, like the other vernaculars of south Asia, Urdu had to contend as much with English as with Hindi, and it is that story that is emphasized here. This article details how early-twentieth-century Hyderabad's Urdu educators engaged with questions of native education, language, and Western science. It highlights the discussions and disagreements that accompanied this educational project as Urdu advocates re-evaluated their language and its sources of authority, attempting to make the Urdu language a worldly vernacular, useful for more than the subcontinent's Muslim population.
Exogenous Colonialism: Java Sugar between Nippon and Taikoo before and during the Interwar Depression, c. 1920–1940
Authors: KNIGHT G. ROGER
Published: March 2009

This paper discusses the commercial history of the Java sugar industry in the interwar decades of the 1920s and 1930s. Java's late colonial industry had a uniquely exogenous character, in that, amongst the world's major producers of cane sugar in the late colonial era, it was singularly devoid of metropolitan or quasi-metropolitan markets. Instead, it sought its markets pre-eminently on the Asian ‘mainland’ to its north and northwest. The Indian subcontinent formed one such market, but East Asia formed the second, and it is the Java industry's fortunes in China and Japan that provide the focus of the present paper. This focus highlights the extent to which the partial collapse of the industry in the mid-1930s related to factors altogether more complex than a simple fall in consumption and drop in prices associated with the interwar Depression. Fundamentally, it was evolving economic autarchy throughout east Asia, encouraged by Depression conditions, which lay at the heart of the Java sugar industry's problems in this sector of its market. Key factors were Java's ambivalent relationship with an expanding but crisis-ridden Japanese sugar ‘empire,’ and the effect on its long-standing links with British sugar refineries in Hong Kong because of the latter's increasing difficulties in the China market. In tandem, they underscored the commercial hazards inherent in Java sugar's exogenous situation.
Fibroblasts from the new-born male testicle of Guangxi Bama mini-pig (Sus scrofa) can support nuclear transferred embryo development in vitro – CORRIGENDUM
Authors: Liu Hong-Bo , Lv Pei-Ru , Yang Xiao-Gan , Qin Xiao-E , Pi Dao-Yuan , Lu Yang-Qing , Lu Ke-Huan , Lu Sheng-Sheng , Li Dong-sheng
Published: March 2009

The authors apologise for the wrong affiliations being assigned to some of the authors, given on the title page of their paper (Liu, et al., 2009) published in Zygote.
Central bankers as good neighbours: US money doctors in Latin America during the 1940s
Authors: Helleiner Eric
Published: March 2009

This article analyses a set of financial advisory missions led primarily by Robert Triffin of the US Federal Reserve Board to Latin American countries during the 1940s. These missions developed a new approach to international ‘money doctoring’ that rejected both the content and style of the better-known US financial advisory missions led by Edwin Kemmerer during the 1920s. The missions were driven by a number of motivations that emerged from the politics of the New Deal and the Good Neighbour policy. The episode highlights the diversity of international money doctoring experiences, the importance of the financial dimensions of the Good Neighbour policy, and the wider geographical impact of a new kind of financial internationalism that emerged in US foreign policy in the wake of the 1930s.
Weavers of profit: terminating building societies in Lancashire, 1780–1840
Authors: Hart Rosine
Published: March 2009

Numerous handloom weavers' cottages in Lancashire were constructed by terminating building societies. Given their numbers, it is evident that the role of such societies in the regional socio-economic context has been understated. Identifying their membership reveals that these were not self-help schemes to enable artisans to own their own homes, but rather that they offered opportunities for those with surplus income to invest in tenanted properties at a time when the skills of the handloom weaver were at a premium. This provision was vital to Lancashire's burgeoning economy, and offered subscribers an additional source of income.
BELIEF-REVISION, THE RAMSEY TEST, MONOTONICITY, AND THE SO-CALLED IMPOSSIBILITY RESULTS
Authors: TENNANT NEIL
Published: March 2009

Peter Gärdenfors proved a theorem purporting to show that it is impossible to adjoin to the AGM-postulates for belief-revision a principle of monotonicity for revisions. The principle of monotonicity in question is implied by the Ramsey test for conditionals. So Gärdenfors’ result has been interpreted as demonstrating that it is impossible to combine the Ramsey test for conditionals with the basic postulates for rational belief-revision. It is shown here that this interpretation of Gärdenfors’ result is unwarranted. A new diagnosis is offered of a methodological error made in the statement of the key principle of monotonicity. Crucial applications of this principle in Gärdenfors’ proof require one to regard as revisions what are really expansions. If monotonicity is stated only for genuine revisions, then Gärdenfors’ proof does not go through. Nor can it; for, when the monotonicity principle for revisions is correctly formulated, one can actually establish a contrary consistency result. This requires only a slight adjustment to the postulates of AGM-theory, in order to ensure that the three operations of expansion, contraction, and revision trichotomize the domain of theory-changes. It is further shown that being careful in this way about the proper domains of definition of the three operations of expansion, contraction, and revision also disposes of another, more direct, impossibility result, due to Arló-Costa, that targets the Ramsey test.
SENTENCES, BELIEF AND LOGICAL OMNISCIENCE, OR WHAT DOES DEDUCTION TELL US?
Authors: PARIKH ROHIT
Published: March 2009

We propose a model for belief which is free of presuppositions. Current models for belief suffer from two difficulties. One is the well known problem of logical omniscience which tends to follow from most models. But a more important one is the fact that most models do not even attempt to answer the question what it means for someone to believe something, and justwhatit is that is believed. We provide a flexible model which allows us to give meaning to beliefs in general contexts, including the context of animal belief (where action is usually our only clue to a belief), and of human belief which is expressed in language.