bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Direct-Care Compensation in Nursing Homes: Medicaid Wage Pass-Through Adoption, 1999–2004
Authors: Miller Edward Alan , Wang Lili , Feng Zhanlian , Mor Vincent
Published: February 2012

Because states play such a prominent role in the U.S. health care system, they have long grappled with how to best control health care costs while maintaining high quality of care. There are many policy tools available to address efficiency and quality concerns — from pure state regulation to market-oriented competition designs. Given public discourse and official party platforms, one would assume that states controlled by Democrats would be more likely to adopt regulatory reforms. This study examines whether party control, as well as other economic and political factors, is associated with adopting wage pass-through (WPT) policies, which direct a portion of Medicaid reimbursement or its increase toward nursing home staff in an effort to reduce staff turnover, thereby increasing efficiency and the quality of care provided. Contrary to expectations, results indicate that states with Republican governors were against WPT adoption only when for-profit industry pressure increased; otherwise, they were more likely to favor adoption than their Democratic counterparts. This suggests a more complex relationship between partisanship and state-level policy adoption than is typically assumed. Results also indicate that state officials reacted predictably to prevailing political and economic conditions affecting state fiscal-year decisions but required sufficient governing capacity to successfully integrate WPTs into existing reimbursement system arrangements. This suggests that WPTs represent a hybrid between comprehensive and incremental policy change.
Proximal humeral fractures due to blunt trauma producing skin compromise
Authors: Robinson C. M. , Stone O. D. , Murray I. R.
Published: February 2012

We identified 16 patients with a mean age of 56.5 years (31 to 86) from a large consecutive series of patients with proximal humeral fractures over a 15-year period, who had sustained a fracture with skin compromise after a blunt injury. The study group represented 0.2% of 7825 proximal humeral fractures treated during this period and all had a displaced Neer two-part fracture pattern. Two patterns of skin injury were identified: in ten patients there was skin penetration at the time of the original injury, and the other six patients initially had closed injuries. These six patients had fracture fragments penetrating the muscular envelope to lie subcutaneously producing either early skin tethering (two patients) or delayed skin penetration and sinus formation (four patients). The pattern of injury to the soft-tissue envelope and the fracture pattern were similar for all injuries. Treatment of these injuries was determined by the initial severity of the soft-tissue injury and the medical status of the patient. We currently favour open reduction and internal fixation of these fractures wherever possible, owing to the high rate of nonunion with non-operative management.
Assessment of Workplace Air Concentrations of Indium Dust in an Indium‐recycling Plant
Authors: Miyauchi Hiroyuki , Minozoe Aoi , Tanaka Shigeru , Tanaka Akiyo , Hirata Miyuki , Nakaza Masahiro , Arito Heihachiro , Eitaki Yoko , Nakano Makiko , Omae Kazuyuki
Published: February 2012

Assessment of Workplace Air Concentrations of Indium Dust in an Indium‐recycling Plant: Hiroyuki MIYAUCHI, et al. The Association of Industrial Health—

Objectives

Suspended indium dust in an indium‐recycling plant was quantified, in order to improve the work environment and to reduce workers' exposure to the dust.

Methods

Assessment of indium dust in the workplace air by multipoint area sampling and personal breathing zone sampling was conducted twice in 2004 and 2008.

Results

In 2004, all recycling processes except for purity analysis were classified into control class III according to the 2004 Notification. Two out of 5 workers were exposed to total dust with indium concentrations exceeding the ACGIH's TLV‐TWA of 0.1 mg In/m3. In 2008, the indium‐contaminated workplace air was improved by local exhaust ventilation systems installed in some processes, resulting in control class I. According to the 2010 Technical Guideline, however, all the processes were classified into stage II or III, indicating that the first assessment value or Measurement B‐based concentrations exceeded the acceptable exposure concentration limit of 0.0003 mg In/m3of respirabe dust. Exposure of almost all the workers to indium dust was below the TLV‐TWA.

Conclusions

The first field survey showed that almost all workplaces were classified into control class III, and that some workers were exposed to dust with indium concentrations exceeding the TLV‐TWA. It was found in the second survey that workplace air contamination was improved by the local exhaust ventilation system, but was not reduced sufficiently to a level that meets the new Guideline.
Preparation of Protonated Titanate Nanotube Films with an Extremely Large Wetting Contrast
Authors: Lai Y. K. , Tang Y. X. , Gong D. G. , Gong J. J. , Chen Y. C. , Lin C. J. , Chen Z.
Published: February 2012

A facile anodic electrophoretic deposition (EPD) process has been developed to prepare thin uniform films consisting of titanate nanotubes (TNTs) that were synthesized by a hydrothermal approach. Such an EPD process offers easy control in the film thickness and the adhesion to the substrate was found to be strong. The chemical composition and structure of the products have been characterized by HRTEM, FESEM, XRD and TG/DTA. It was found that the functionalization of TNTs plays a key role on the electrolyte stability and the successful formation of a uniform TNT film with good adhesion. The as-prepared TNT films show exceptional superhydrophilic behavior with ultra-fast spreading, while it converts to superhydrophobicity yet with high adhesion after 1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl-triethoxysilane modification. This study provides an interesting method to prepare films with extremely high wettability contrast that are useful for producing different kinds of functional materials.
Physical Properties and Application Performance of Platinum-Palladium-Rhodium Alloys Modified with Cerium
Authors: Hu By Xin , Ning Yuantao , Chen Liangwei , Shi Qingnan , Jia Chaoguang
Published: February 2012

The physical properties and some application performance parameters of a platinum-palladium-rhodium-cerium alloy (Pt-4Pd-3.5Rh-0.1Ce) (wt%) are reported. This alloy possesses finer grain size, higher recrystallisation temperature and better mechanical properties, including tensile strength, lasting strength and creep resistance, than traditional Pt-10Rh and Pt-4Pd-3.5Rh catalytic alloys. Catalytic gauzes made of the Pt-4Pd-3.5Rh-0.1Ce alloy also show a higher conversion rate of ammonia to oxides of nitrogen, lower Pt loss rate, improved resistance to corrosion, adhesion and poisoning, and longer service lifetime for nitric acid production than gauzes made of the traditional alloys.
Removal of heavy metals in stormwater by hydrous ferric oxide
Authors: Mohammed Thamer , Aryal Rupak , Vigneswaran Saravanamuthu , Loganathan Paripurnanda , Kandasamy Jaya , Naidu Ravi
Published: February 2012

Stormwater runoff from urban and industrial areas contains several types of heavy metals that have negative ecological impacts on receiving waters, and therefore methods need to be developed to remove these pollutants. Combined removal of a mixture of heavy metal cations (Cu2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and Ni2+) and an oxy anion (selenate, SeO4−) from an artificially prepared stormwater was investigated by sorption of these heavy metals on hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) in a column experiment under intermittent runoff (wetting and drying) condition, as occurs between rainfall events in the field. The heavy metal removal behaviour varied between ions as well as with time. In each continuous column run (8 h) the amount of ions removed progressively decreased with time and reached a constant level at approximately 4–6 h. However, stopping the runoff for 40 h and starting the next runoff after this period removed a large quantity of heavy metals in the first few hours of this run. The intermittent runoff for seven runs showed that HFO has a high capacity to remove copper and zinc, which were present in higher concentrations in the stormwater than cadmium, nickel and selenium.
Curcumin Inhibits Thrombin‐Stimulated Connective Tissue Growth Factor (CTGF/CCN2) Production Through c‐Jun NH2‐Terminal Kinase Suppression in Human Gingival Fibroblasts
Authors: Chen Yi‐Wen , Yang Wan‐Hsien , Wong Man‐Ying , Chang Hao‐Hueng , Yen‐Ping Kuo Mark
Published: February 2012

Background: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF/CCN2), associated with multiple human fibrotic diseases, is overexpressed in the tissue of gingival overgrowth. Although surgical excision is the current treatment modality for gingival overgrowth, the recurrent rate is high despite proper recall programs. Thrombin plays a key role in wound repair, remodeling, and fibrosis after injury and exerts profibrotic effects by activating protease‐activated receptors (PARs). Curcumin [1,7‐bis(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)‐1,6‐heptadiene‐3,5‐dione] is a natural plant phenolic compound that possesses both anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study investigates the signaling pathway of thrombin‐induced CCN2 expression and inhibition of CCN2 expression by curcumin.

Methods: The signaling pathway of thrombin‐induced CCN2 expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) was studied using Western blot analysis. The CCN2 mRNA level was determined by quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Thrombin induced CCN2 expression in HGFs by activating PAR1. Pretreatment with antioxidant N‐acetyl‐l‐cysteine, apoptosis signal‐regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) inhibitor thioredoxin, and c‐Jun NH2‐terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor SP600125 (anthra[1,9‐cd]pyrazol‐6(2H)‐one) significantly reduced thrombin‐induced CCN2 expression in HGFs. Curcumin dose dependently inhibited thrombin‐induced CCN2 expression through JNK suppression in HGFs.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that thrombin‐induced CCN2 expression may occur through PAR1, reactive oxygen species, ASK1, and JNK signaling in HGFs. Curcumin could effectively inhibit CCN2 expression through JNK suppression. These signaling events are important for wound healing and fibrosis. Additional research, including animal studies, is required to confirm the inhibiting role of curcumin in the development of gingival overgrowth.
Implementation and Early Utilization of a Suicide Hotline for Veterans
Authors: Knox Kerry L. , Kemp Janet , McKeon Richard , Katz Ira R.
Published: February 2012

Suicide crisis lines have a respected history as a strategy for reducing deaths from suicide and suicidal behaviors. Until recently, however, evidence of the effectiveness of these crisis lines has been sparse. Studies published during the past decade suggest that crisis lines offer an alternative to populations who may not be willing to engage in treatment through traditional mental health settings. Given this promising evidence, in 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration implemented a National Suicide Hotline that is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by Veterans Affairs clinical staff. We report here on the implementation of this suicide hotline and our early observations of its utilization in a largely male population.
Coping styles and self-esteem as mediators of the perfectionism-depression relationship among Chinese undergraduates
Authors: Zhang Bin , Cai Taisheng
Published: February 2012

We examined the roles of negative coping, positive coping, and self-esteem as mediators of the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and depression with a sample of 412 Chinese undergraduates. Participants completed measures of perfectionism and it was found that negative coping
and positive coping both partially mediated the association between maladaptive perfectionism and depression. The final model also revealed that positive coping partially mediated the relationship between maladaptive perfectionism and self-esteem. Implications for counseling interventions
and future research are discussed.
An analysis of personality traits of Chinese military medical peacekeepers in Lebanon
Authors: Yu Ke , Zhang Yan , Li Congyang , Wang Qingsong , Tan Yingjun , Shao Yongcong
Published: February 2012

In this study the Chinese version of the 16 Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF; Cattell, Eber, & Tatsuoka, 1970; Dai & Zhu, 1988) was used to investigate the personality traits of 59 Chinese medical peacekeepers in Lebanon. Survey data were compared among 59 peacekeepers,
62 military personnel (control group 1), and 58 medical workers (control group 2). The social boldness, and abstractedness scores of peacekeepers were significantly lower than those of the military and medical worker groups. A secondary factor analysis of the 16PF revealed that the cowardice/decision
scores of the peacekeeper group were between the scores of the other 2 groups. The peacekeepers showed lower warmth, social boldness, and abstractedness and higher self-reliance in personality traits. The results suggest that for future peacekeeping missions psychological personality selection
should be conducted to recruit military personnel with higher scores of warmth and lower scores for self-reliance.
Factors influencing intention to forward short Internet videos
Authors: Huang Jinsong , Chen Rong , Wang Xia
Published: February 2012

Interpersonal short video forwarding is currently one of the most popular activities of Internet users. One of the key factors that affects this online interpersonal behavior is forwarding intention. In this study, a quality perception → benefit expectation → intention model
was proposed to explain the formation of video forwarding intention. To test the model data were collected from 210 undergraduate students. The results showed that perceptions of the quality of the content and empathy affect 3 benefit expectations of control, inclusion, and affection. In addition,
control, inclusion, and affection affect forwarding intention.
Numerical analysis and field study of time dependent exergy-energy of a gas-steam combined cycle
Authors: Barari Bamdad , Shirazi Abbasian , Keshavarzi Mohsen , Rostamsowlat Iman
Published: February 2012

In this study, time dependent exergy analysis of the Fars Combined Power
Plant Cycle has been investigated. Exergy analysis has been used for
investigating each part of actual combined cycle by considering
irreversibility from Apr 2006 to Oct 2010. Performance analysis has been
done for each part by evaluating exergy destruction in each month. By using
of exergy analysis, aging of each part has been evaluated respect to time
duration. In addition, the rate of lost work for each month has been
calculated and variation of this parameter has been considered as a function
of aging rate. Finally, effects of exergy destruction of each part have been
investigated on exergy destruction of whole cycle. Entire analysis has been
done for Unit 3 and 4 of gas turbine cycle which combined by Unit B of steam
cycle in Fars Combined Power Plant Cycle located in Fars province in Iran.
DISCUSSION OF The Impact of Mandatory IFRS Adoption on Accounting Quality: Evidence from Australia
Authors: Elias Nabil
Published: February 2012

Studying the impact of mandatory IFRS adoption on accounting quality in Australia provides a point of reference for comparison to other IFRS-adopting countries. It could also guide the process of transition for countries considering IFRS adoption. Similar to previous research, Chua et al. (2012) use earnings management, early loss recognition, and value relevance to surrogate accounting quality. The study concludes that there is accounting quality improvement as a result of less earnings management, early loss recognition, and increased value relevance. Although the reasons for the results are unexplored, this conclusion, similar to other prior research, is based on disputable interpretations that greater conservatism and lower earnings management reflect higher accounting quality.
Preparation of Zn1–

x
Mn
x
O nanoparticles by a simple “green” method and photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation
Authors: Barjasteh-Moghaddam Mohammad , Habibi-Yangjeh Aziz
Published: February 2012

A simple “green” method was applied for preparation of Zn1 –

x
Mn
x
O nanoparticles (x = 0, 0.025, 0.05, 0.075, 0.15 and 0.20) in water by refluxing for 2 h at about 90 °C. This method is mild and highly efficient involving no templates, surfactants or additives; therefore, it is very promising for low-cost and large-scale production. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns demonstrate that the nanoparticles have the same crystal structure, and loading of Mn2+ ions does not change the structure of ZnO. Scanning electron microscopy images show that the nanoparticles are mainly spherical. UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectra of the samples demonstrate increasing visible light absorption with mole fraction of Mn2+ ions. Photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue on the nanoparticles was evaluated under visible light irradiation. Among the prepared nanoparticles, Zn0.95Mn0.05O has the highest photocatalytic activity. Moreover, effects of refluxing time and calcination temperature on photocatalytic activity were investigated.
High temperature workability behaviour of a modified P92 steel
Authors: Carsí Manuel , Peñalba Félix , Rieiro Ignacio , Ruano Oscar A.
Published: February 2012

The high temperature forming behaviour of a modified P92, type 9 % Cr, steel is studied by means of torsion tests. The data obtained from these tests allowed correlation of the number of turns to failure, a measure of ductility, as a function of strain rate and temperature. In addition, the data were correlated by the Garofalo equation with a stress exponent of 4.78 and an activation energy of 390 kJ mol– 1. This equation was used to predict the formability behaviour for the rolling process and also to determine the maximum forming efficiency and stability of the steel. A temperature of 1 140 °C is found to give the optimum forming temperature.
Microstructure of austenitic stainless steels of various phase stabilities after cyclic and tensile deformation
Authors: Weidner Anja , Glage Alexander , Martin Stefan , Man Jiří , Klemm Volker , Martin Ulrich , Polák Jaroslav , Rafaja David , Biermann Horst
Published: February 2012

The microstructures of two metastable high-alloyed CrMnNi cast TRIP steels and a stable AISI 316L austenitic stainless steel were studied in detail after tensile and cyclic deformation. Electron backscattered diffraction was employed to localize the martensitic phase transformation and electron channelling contrast imaging to describe the typical dislocation arrangements. These were complemented by transmission electron microscopy and by scanning transmission electron microscopy performed in a scanning electron microscope. The TRIP steel with the lowest austenite stability shows a more pronounced martensitic phase transformation realized from the austenite via the intermediate formation of ∊-martensite. Martensitic phase transformation also occurred in the stable 316L austenitic stainless steel with a small volume fraction of α′-martensite, but only with cyclic deformation at low temperatures and/or at very high plastic strain amplitudes.
A meta-analysis of predictors of seizure freedom in the surgical management of focal cortical dysplasia
Authors: Rowland Nathan C. , Englot Dario J. , Cage Tene A. , Sughrue Michael E. , Barbaro Nicholas M. , Chang Edward F.
Published: February 2012

Object

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is one of the most common causes of medically refractory epilepsy leading to surgery. However, seizure control outcomes reported in isolated surgical series are highly variable. As a result, it is not clear which variables are most crucial in predicting seizure freedom following surgery for FCD. The authors' aim was to determine the prognostic factors for seizure control in FCD by performing a meta-analysis of the published literature.

Methods

A MEDLINE search of the published literature yielded 37 studies that met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seven potential prognostic variables were determined from these studies and were dichotomized for analysis. For each variable, individual studies were weighted by inverse variance and combined to generate an odds ratio favoring seizure freedom. The methods complied with a standardized meta-analysis reporting protocol.

Results

Two thousand fourteen patients were included in the analysis. The overall rate of seizure freedom (Engel Class I) among patients undergoing surgery for FCD in the cohort of studies was 55.8% ± 16.2%. Partial seizures, a temporal location, detection with MRI, and a Type II Palmini histological classification were associated with higher rates of postoperative seizure control. As a treatment-related factor, complete resection of the anatomical or electrographic abnormality was the most important predictor overall of seizure freedom. Neither age nor electroencephalographic localization of the ictal onset significantly affected seizure freedom after surgery.

Conclusions

Using a large population cohort pooled from the published literature, an analysis identified important factors that are prognostic in patients with epilepsy due to FCD. The most important of these factors—diagnostic imaging and resection—provide modalities through which improvements in the impact of FCD can be effected.
Neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects of thymosin β4 treatment initiated 6 hours after traumatic brain injury in rats
Authors: Xiong Ye , Zhang Yanlu , Mahmood Asim , Meng Yuling , Zhang Zheng Gang , Morris Daniel C. , Chopp Michael
Published: February 2012

Object

Thymosin β4 (Tβ4) is a regenerative multifunctional peptide. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that Tβ4 treatment initiated 6 hours postinjury reduces brain damage and improves functional recovery in rats subjected to traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

Traumatic brain injury was induced by controlled cortical impact over the left parietal cortex in young adult male Wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into the following groups: 1) saline group (n = 7); 2) 6 mg/kg Tβ4 group (n = 8); and 3) 30 mg/kg Tβ4 group (n = 8). Thymosin β4 or saline was administered intraperitoneally starting at 6 hours postinjury and again at 24 and 48 hours. An additional group of 6 animals underwent surgery without TBI (sham-injury group). Sensorimotor function and spatial learning were assessed using the modified Neurological Severity Score and the Morris water maze test, respectively. Animals were euthanized 35 days after injury, and brain sections were processed to assess lesion volume, hippocampal cell loss, cell proliferation, and neurogenesis after Tβ4 treatment.

Results

Compared with saline administration, Tβ4 treatment initiated 6 hours postinjury significantly improved sensorimotor functional recovery and spatial learning, reduced cortical lesion volume and hippocampal cell loss, and enhanced cell proliferation and neurogenesis in the injured hippocampus. The high dose of Tβ4 showed better beneficial effects compared with the low-dose treatment.

Conclusions

Thymosin β4 treatment initiated 6 hours postinjury provides both neuroprotection and neurorestoration after TBI, indicating that Tβ4 has promising therapeutic potential in patients with TBI. These data warrant further investigation of the optimal dose and therapeutic window of Tβ4 treatment for TBI and the associated underlying mechanisms.
Recovery from spinal cord injury using naturally occurring antiinflammatory compound curcumin
Authors: Ormond D. Ryan , Peng Hong , Zeman Richard , Das Kaushik , Murali Raj , Jhanwar-Uniyal Meena
Published: February 2012

Object

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a debilitating disease. Primary SCI results from direct injury to the spinal cord, whereas secondary injury is a side effect from subsequent edema and ischemia followed by activation of proinflammatory cytokines. These cytokines activate the prosurvival molecule nuclear factor–κB and generate obstacles in spinal cord reinnervation due to gliosis. Curcumin longa is an active compound found in turmeric, which acts as an antiinflammatory agent primarily by inhibiting nuclear factor–κB. Here, the authors study the effect of curcumin on SCI recovery.

Methods

Fourteen female Sprague-Dawley rats underwent T9–10 laminectomy and spinal cord contusion using a weight-drop apparatus. Within 30 minutes after contusion and weekly thereafter, curcumin (60 mg/kg/ml body weight in dimethyl sulfoxide) or dimethyl sulfoxide (1 ml/kg body weight) was administered via percutaneous epidural injection at the injury site. Spinal cord injury recovery was assessed weekly by scoring hindlimb motor function. Animals were killed 6 weeks postcontusion for histopathological analysis of spinal cords and soleus muscle weight evaluation.

Results

Curcumin-treated rats had improved motor function compared with controls starting from Week 1. Body weight gain significantly improved, correlating with improved Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan scores. Soleus muscle weight was greater in curcumin-treated rats than controls. Histopathological analysis validated these results with increased neural element mass with less gliosis at the contusion site in curcumin-treated rats than controls.

Conclusions

Epidural administration of curcumin resulted in improved recovery from SCI. This occurred with no adverse effects noted in experimental animals. Therefore, curcumin treatment may translate into a novel therapy for humans with SCI.
Glucose-Modulated Mitochondria Adaptation in Tumor Cells: A Focus on ATP Synthase and Inhibitor Factor 1
Authors: Domenis Rossana , Bisetto Elena , Rossi Davide , Comelli Marina , Mavelli Irene
Published: February 2012

Warburg’s hypothesis has been challenged by a number of studies showing that oxidative phosphorylation is repressed in some tumors, rather than being inactive per se. Thus, treatments able to shift energy metabolism by activating mitochondrial pathways have been suggested as an intriguing basis for the optimization of antitumor strategies. In this study, HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells were cultivated with different metabolic substrates under conditions mimicking “positive” (activation/biogenesis) or “negative” (silencing) mitochondrial adaptation. In addition to the expected up-regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, glucose deprivation caused an increase in phosphorylating respiration and a rise in the expression levels of the ATP synthase β subunit and Inhibitor Factor 1 (IF1). Hyperglycemia, on the other hand, led to a markedly decreased level of the transcriptional coactivator PGC-α suggesting down-regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, although no change in mitochondrial mass and no impairment of phosphorylating respiration were observed. Moreover, a reduction in mitochondrial networking and in ATP synthase dimer stability was produced. No effect on β-ATP synthase expression was elicited. Notably, hyperglycemia caused an increase in IF1 expression levels, but it did not alter the amount of IF1 associated with ATP synthase. These results point to a new role of IF1 in relation to high glucose utilization by tumor cells, in addition to its well known effect upon mitochondrial ATP synthase regulation.
Design, Synthesis and Preliminary Pharmacological Evaluation of New Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Agents Having a 4-(Methylsulfonyl) Aniline Pharmacophore
Authors: Mahdi Monther Faisel , Mohammed Mohamed Hassan , Jassim Akeel Abdul Kadhum
Published: February 2012

A series of 4-(methylsulfonyl)aniline derivatives were synthesized in order to obtain new compounds as a potential anti-inflammatory agents with expected selectivity against COX-2 enzyme. In vivo acute anti-inflammatory activity of the final compounds 11–14 was evaluated in rat using an egg-white induced edema model of inflammation in a dose equivalent to 3 mg/Kg of diclofenac sodium. All tested compounds produced significant reduction of paw edema with respect to the effect of propylene glycol 50% v/v (control group). Moreover, the activity of compounds 11 and 14 was significantly higher than that of diclofenac sodium (at 3 mg/Kg) in the 120–300 minute time interval, while compound 12 expressed a comparable effect to that of diclofenac sodium in the 60–240 minute time interval time, and compound 13 showed a comparable effect to that of diclofenac sodium at all experimental times. The result of this study indicates that the incorporation of the 4-(methylsulfonyl)aniline pharamacophore into naproxen, indomethacine, diclofenac and mefanamic acid maintained their anti-inflammatory activity and may increase selectivity towards the COX-2 enzyme which will be confirmed in the future by assessing COX-2: COX-1 inhibitory ratios using a whole blood assay.
Parametric Dense Stereovision Implementation on a System-on Chip (SoC)
Authors: Gardel Alfredo , Montejo Pablo , García Jorge , Bravo Ignacio , Lázaro José L.
Published: February 2012

This paper proposes a novel hardware implementation of a dense recovery of stereovision 3D measurements. Traditionally 3D stereo systems have imposed the maximum number of stereo correspondences, introducing a large restriction on artificial vision algorithms. The proposed system-on-chip (SoC) provides great performance and efficiency, with a scalable architecture available for many different situations, addressing real time processing of stereo image flow. Using double buffering techniques properly combined with pipelined processing, the use of reconfigurable hardware achieves a parametrisable SoC which gives the designer the opportunity to decide its right dimension and features. The proposed architecture does not need any external memory because the processing is done as image flow arrives. Our SoC provides 3D data directly without the storage of whole stereo images. Our goal is to obtain high processing speed while maintaining the accuracy of 3D data using minimum resources. Configurable parameters may be controlled by later/parallel stages of the vision algorithm executed on an embedded processor. Considering hardware FPGA clock of 100 MHz, image flows up to 50 frames per second (fps) of dense stereo maps of more than 30,000 depth points could be obtained considering 2 Mpix images, with a minimum initial latency. The implementation of computer vision algorithms on reconfigurable hardware, explicitly low level processing, opens up the prospect of its use in autonomous systems, and they can act as a coprocessor to reconstruct 3D images with high density information in real time.
Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Harsh Environments
Authors: Mihailov Stephen J.
Published: February 2012

Because of their small size, passive nature, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and capability to directly measure physical parameters such as temperature and strain, fiber Bragg grating sensors have developed beyond a laboratory curiosity and are becoming a mainstream sensing technology. Recently, high temperature stable gratings based on regeneration techniques and femtosecond infrared laser processing have shown promise for use in extreme environments such as high temperature, pressure or ionizing radiation. Such gratings are ideally suited for energy production applications where there is a requirement for advanced energy system instrumentation and controls that are operable in harsh environments. This paper will present a review of some of the more recent developments.
Secure Cooperation of Autonomous Mobile Sensors Using an Underwater Acoustic Network
Authors: Caiti Andrea , Calabrò Vincenzo , Dini Gianluca , Lo Duca Angelica , Munafò Andrea
Published: February 2012

Methodologies and algorithms are presented for the secure cooperation of a team of autonomous mobile underwater sensors, connected through an acoustic communication network, within surveillance and patrolling applications. In particular, the work proposes a cooperative algorithm in which the mobile underwater sensors (installed on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles—AUVs) respond to simple local rules based on the available information to perform the mission and maintain the communication link with the network (behavioral approach). The algorithm is intrinsically robust: with loss of communication among the vehicles the coverage performance (i.e., the mission goal) is degraded but not lost. The ensuing form of graceful degradation provides also a reactive measure against Denial of Service. The cooperative algorithm relies on the fact that the available information from the other sensors, though not necessarily complete, is trustworthy. To ensure trustworthiness, a security suite has been designed, specifically oriented to the underwater scenario, and in particular with the goal of reducing the communication overhead introduced by security in terms of number and size of messages. The paper gives implementation details on the integration between the security suite and the cooperative algorithm and provides statistics on the performance of the system as collected during the UAN project sea trial held in Trondheim, Norway, in May 2011.
Ground‐penetrating radar survey at the Roman town of Mariana (Corsica), complemented with fluxgate gradiometer data and old and recent excavation results
Authors: Verdonck Lieven , Vermeulen Frank , Corsi Cristina , Docter Roald
Published: February 2012

This paper presents the results of a GPR survey carried out at the Roman town of Mariana (Corsica, France). Excavations (1959–1965 and 2000–2007) yielded a Roman street with houses and shops, an early mediaeval cathedral and a mediaeval bishop’s palace. When compared with the hypothetical town limits derived from aerial photography, old cadastral maps and the location of two cemeteries, the excavations are in an eccentric position. The principal aim of the geophysical survey was to shed more light on the Early Imperial town centre (1st–2nd century AD), which was to be found further north. The results from a fluxgate gradiometer survey demonstrated the presence of buildings with an orientation corresponding to the excavated street. In the GPR data, an orthogonal street system became noticeable and most of the buildings can be identified as private dwellings. In several parts of the town, there are indications for more than one occupation phase. For example, in the north‐western insula of the main survey area, the GPR results show a large building complex with deep foundations, as well as shallow walls of poor construction quality in the courtyard of this building. A trial excavation confirmed this dichotomy: it revealed solid walls with brick facings originating in the 1st or 2nd century AD, as opposed to alignments of loose boulders, not older than the 3rd century. On the basis of the GPR results, two small excavation trenches from the 1930s, one of which contained the remains of a bathhouse, can now be located exactly.
Processing stepped frequency continuous wave GPR systems to obtain maximum value from archaeological data sets
Authors: Sala Jacopo , Linford Neil
Published: February 2012

Stepped frequency continuous wave ground penetrating radar (GPR) systems allow highly detailed data sets to be collected across a wide bandwidth using a multi‐element array antenna, such as the 3D‐radar GeoScope system. Although the final presentation of the results is similar to time‐domain systems, the correct processing of the initial frequency domain data acquired in the field is essential to obtain the maximum information from the site. Processing begins with the identification of a suitable frequency window for conversion to the time‐domain using an inverse Fourier transform and demonstrates how the use of a varying frequency window with depth can improve the final results. Various methods for background subtraction to minimize the loss of data quality and cope with the strong surface reflection experienced by an air‐launched antenna are also explored. The geometry of the air‐launched antenna is also considered with specific regard to developing a three‐dimensional migration model that accounts for the variation in a signal response expected from such a system. This paper explores these themes with relation to data from archaeological sites and also considers the data processing challenges presented by high density (e.g., 0.075 m x 0.075 m) multi‐hectare surveys.
GPR prospecting of cylindrical structures in cultural heritage applications: a review of geometric issues
Authors: Nuzzo Luigia , Quarta Tatiana
Published: February 2012

Cultural heritage diagnostics often involves the application of geophysical methods like ground‐penetrating radar (GPR) along non‐planar surfaces. Standard processing algorithms are based on the hypothesis of half‐space geometry. In the investigation of cylindrical structures like columns with a small radius, this basic assumption is strongly violated and the application of conventional algorithms may be inappropriate. Although frequently overlooked, this fact implies that appropriate algorithms should be developed to take into account the additional data complexity arising from the unusual acquisition setting and exceptional care should be used in interpreting the radargrams. The first part of this paper offers a systematic review of problems related to geometric issues (air waves, multiple reflections, shape of the various traveltime curves) performing a theoretical analysis of major differences between cylindrical and half‐space models. The second part shows, through numerical simulations and real data examples, the inappropriateness of the half‐space model in the processing and interpretation of GPR surveys along cylindrical structures. The numerical simulations help visualizing the differences in reflection/diffraction features from buried and above‐surface objects and errors arising from the use of inappropriate models. The real data examples offer a tangible demonstration of the benefits obtained from exploiting the correct cylindrical model and the additional information gained from later arrivals, such as multiple reflections, in constraining the estimation of electrical parameters (propagation velocity) related to constitutive and health states of the structure.
Research on Mathematical Model and Calibration of Weighing System by Digital Addition
Authors: Zhu Chao Fu , Ji Shu Jian , Zhao Jin Long
Published: February 2012

In practice the method is widely used, by which a gravity is measured using multiple load cells. A weighing system is introduced in this paper, in which a gravity is measured by multiple load cells with digital addition. The mathematical model of weighing system with digital addition is established. Normal calibration method is not suitable for the on-line calibration of weighing system with digital addition. When the mathematical model is given, the accurate on-line calibration of weighing system with digital addition is achieved by using optimization method.
Simulation of Dynamic Behavior of Slider at Head/Disk Interface of Hard Disk Drives
Authors: Chen Yi , Ao Hong Rui , Jiang Hong Yuan
Published: February 2012

The effect of contact between the sliders and disks on the flying characteristics of sliders in hard disk drives was modeled and analyzed. The differential equation of motion for slider was constructed based on slider/disk dynamics model with consideration of contact force. The contact was simplified as an elastic contact style and described by Hertzian contact method. The slider responses were simulated by using SimMechanics software. The results indicate that slider acts as periodic vibration under the contact force.
Research on the Method of Incline Degree Automatic Detection and Dynamic Compensation of Photoelectric Theodolite
Authors: Pu Peng Cheng , Guo Xiao Song , Zhou Zhao Fa , Wang Kun Ming
Published: February 2012

The method of incline degree automatic detection and dynamic compensation is proposed to eliminate the influence by vertical axis slop error. The vertical axis slop error compensation model is founded based on spherical triangle principle after analyzing the affect law to angle measuring by vertical axis slop error. The affect law to measuring angle of photoelectric theodolite by vertical axis slop error in the situation that the three axises are nonorthogonal is analysed according to shafting error model based on coordinate transformation, which indicate that the influence to measuring angle by each of the three axises error is independent and can be added. So the compensation model based on spherical triangle principle which is simple is also practicable in the situation that the three axises are nonorthogonal.
Numerical Simulation and Thermal Factorial Analysis of Pneumatic Drying on Straw Fuel
Authors: Lv Wei , Sun Hong Wei , Wang Xin Hai , Li Yan Dong , Yao Zhi Yue , Zhang De Li , Yuan Ji Long , Du Peng
Published: February 2012

Based on the mechanism of mass and heat transfer of the particles and air in drying tube, the mathematics model of pneumatic drying process was established which referred to straw fuel in straight horizontal tube, and the equations were solved by Runge-Kutta integration method. Then, by analyzing the thermal factors of gas flow drying，the most important factor in gas flow drying on straw fuel was summed up which was the mass of hot air. The method of orthogonal experimental design was used to analyze the whole process of gas flow drying, and primary and secondary roles led to the conclusion, which were the mass of hot air first , the equivalent diameter of the fuel granule and the temperature of hot air.
Research on Concept System of Mechanical Glide Symmetry
Authors: Ma Zhi Yong
Published: February 2012

As one kind of mechanical static structure symmetry, glide symmetry is grouped by mirror symmetry and translation symmetry. Glide symmetry is widely exists in mechanical systems, and plays an important role in realizing the technical, economic and social performances of mechanical products. On the basis of research on the concept systems of mirror symmetry, translation symmetry and glide symmetric instances, and taking the characters of the different combined types of symmetry benchmarks as the standard, the concept system of mechanical glide symmetry was established, which can be the foundation of further researches on the application laws of glide symmetry in mechanical systems.
Extending RRT for Robot Motion Planning with SLAM
Authors: Pan Hai Zhu , Zhang Jin Xue
Published: February 2012

In this paper,the motion planning problem for mobile robot is addressed. Motion planning (MP) has diversified over the past few decades to include many different approaches such as cell decomposition, road maps, potential fields, and genetic algorithms. Often the goal of motion planning is not just obstacle avoidance but optimization of certain parameters as well. A motion planning algorithms based on Rapidly-exploring random Tree(RRT) is present in the paper. Then the RRT algorithm has been extended which combines the SLAM algorithm.The Extend-RRT-SLAM has been simulated in MobileSim.Simulation results show Extend-RRT-SLAM to be very effective for robot motion planning.
Design and Error Analysis of Tool Checking Instrument on CNC Lathe
Authors: Wang Jun Feng , Wang Feng Juan , Du Xian Feng , Wang Shi Gang
Published: February 2012

With a high demand of clients to the precision and production efficiency about the CNC lathe, there is also a high demand to the precision of the sword of the tool checking instrument. In order to raise the precision of the sword and decrease the time of aligning tools, the thesis designs an auto-checking instrument applied on in-machine touch CNC lathe tool, and analyses its error. It proves that this auto-checking instrument has a wide size range and can locate once the size of the lathe tool. Its accuracy of the X-axis can be 0.02mm, of the Z-axis can be 0.025mm. It improves effectively the precision and production efficiency of the aligning knife, reduces labor cost. It has high practical value.
Performance Evaluation of Active Control Systems in Diffuse Fields
Authors: Tseng Wen Kung
Published: February 2012

In this paper design of quiet zones in broadband diffuse fields has been present by using the method of acoustic pressure minimization over various spaces and frequencies. The technique is squared acoustic pressure minimization. The theory and simulations of pressure minimization over space and frequency using one-channel and two-channel systems are presented. The work presented in this paper focus on diffuse primary fields with one and two secondary sources. It is shown that larger zones of quiet are obtained using two secondary sources, with better control over the shape and location of the quiet zones. The main contributions of the paper are that a design method of active systems to generate larger zones of quiet in broadband diffuse fields is proposed and the performance of the active systems is analyzed.
Dynamic Simulation Analysis for Processing of Screw Pump inside Spiral Surface
Authors: Wang Ke , Li Shan Shan , Shi Ya Jun
Published: February 2012

In order to avoid or reduce the large waste of manpower and material resources in the practical test machining process , Based on Object-Oriented analysis &design this paper describes the research on simulation procession that CNC machine manufactures inside spiral surface by use of triangle model，And both Visual C++ and OpenGL are used. The problem is about how to calculate the knife milling cutter work piece at some time. Torus tool fraise milling inside spiral surface artificial algorithm is put forward. In the end the practical simulation system software has been developed, which makes control manufacture combined with the whole complex inside spiral surface manufacture procession such as parameter input ,design and selection of milling cutter ,interference judgment , the sketch shows , process to imitate and control process . This paper carried out to inside the spiral surface working process dynamic simulation, for operation provided more a precision to keep the experiment platform of view.
Dancing Exercising Effect on the Middle-Aged Females’ Healthiness: A Pilot Study
Authors: Zhang Hua
Published: February 2012

As health is a major event in life, almost as a kind of urbanites’ Consensus, and spending money on health, taking the time to exercise has become a must of some people in life. In order to better guide the middle-aged women in scientific fitness training, this paper plans to analyze the following issues: the physical status of infrequent exercise of older women, fitness exercises on the impact of middle-aged women, the comparison about different types of fitness training methods on the impact of middle-aged women. The results shows long-term exercise can delay and change in body shape and quality of the middle-aged women on the law of aging, and can prevent the aging state such as being fat early, gaining weight, decreasing physical fitness. Physical exercise has enhanced the middle-aged women’s function of cardio-cerebral-vascular system and respiratory system. The exercisers who insist for a long time have obviously higher cardiopulmonary load ability than those who have no exercise.
A Novel Surface Reconstruction Framework from Point Clouds without Normal
Authors: Liu Yan Ju , Zhang Yong De , Jiang Ji Xiong
Published: February 2012

In this paper, we proposed a novel surface reconstruction framework from point clouds without normal. The proposed method involves three processes: partition of unit, which divide the point clouds into sub-domains using octree structure, generation of the sub-surface, which fit the sub-surface by implicit function in each sub-domain, the normal alignment, which compute normal of sub-surface and inference the global normal of surface by iteratively propagate algorithm. During the last process, sub-surfaces are blended to form entire surface reconstruction. The method is suitable to reconstruct surface with lack of information. The experimental results demonstrate that the method is effective in surface reconstruction.