bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biochemical and ultrastructural changes in the liver of European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in response to cyanobacterial bloom in the Gruza reservoir
Authors: Perendija Branka , Despotovic Svetlana , Radovanovic Tijana , Gavric Jelena , Mitic Borkovic , Pavlovic S.Z. , Ognjanovic Branka , Simic Snezana , Pajovic Snezana , Saicic Zorica
Published: January 2012

We investigated the biochemical and ultrastructural changes in the liver of
the freshwater fish, European perch (Perca fluviatilis), in response to
Aphanizomenon flos-aquae bloom in the Gruza Reservoir, Serbia. The activities
of total manganese- and copper zinc-containing superoxide dismutase (Tot SOD,
Mn-SOD, Cu/Zn-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px),
glutathione reductase (GR) and biotransformation phase II enzyme
glutathione-S-transferase (GST), as well as concentrations of total
glutathione (GSH) and sulfhydryl (-SH) groups were examined before and during
the bloom period. Mn-SOD activity was significantly higher, while the
activities of Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT and GSH-Px and the concentration of the -SH
groups were significantly lower during the bloom. The ultrastructure of the
liver revealed necrotic and apoptotic damage to the hepatocytes during the
bloom period. Our work represents the first study to report the influences of
an Aphanizomenon flos-aquae bloom in the Gruza Reservoir on antioxidant
biomarkers and on histopathological alterations in the liver of the
freshwater fish European perch (Perca fluviatilis).
Results and experiences after 1000 IVF cycles at the Clinic for gynecology and obstetrics in Novi Sad
Authors: Kopitovic Vesna , Milatovic Stevan , Trninic-Pjevic Aleksandra , Bjelica Artur , Bujas Irena , Tаbs Nada
Published: January 2012

Introduction. Infertility affects 15-17% of reproductive age couples in our
country, and 10-15% of couples worldwide. The aim of this paper was to
present results and experience gained after the first 1000 cycles of the
national In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) program, to offer professional standard
of work in our country and to compare it with results obtained in Europe and
worldwide. Material and methods. The study prospectively included 1000 women
who had undergone national In Vitro Fertilization program from October 2006
until November 2009 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical
Center of Vojvodina, Novi Sad. Results. The analysis included 1000 in vitro
fertilization cycles. Male factor infertility was the leading cause (56.9%)
followed by tubal factor (45.9%). The classic method of in vitro
fertilization constituted 72.3% of all cycles, while intracytoplasmic sperm
injection (ICSI) method was used in 27.7% of all cycles. The average number
of embryos transferred was 2.67. The cycle cancellation rate was 14.10% and
the aspiration rate was 94.40%. The clinical pregnancy and live birth rate
were 33.41% and 26.78% per embryo transfer, respectively. Discussion and
conclusion. The results in our study showed that in our setting there are far
less intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles compared with the European
average of 66.5% of all fresh cycles, and that we transferred more embryos on
average. Our success rates are comparable with those in other European
countries where the clinical pregnancy rates per aspiration and per transfer
for in vitro fertilization were 29 and 32.4%, respectively in the period of
observation. For intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the corresponding rates
were 29.9 and 33%.
Heterotopic ossification following surgical treatment of avulsion fracture of the anterior inferior iliac spine
Authors: Milankov Miroslav , Harhaji Vladimir , Gojkovic Zoran , Drapsin Miodrag
Published: January 2012

Avulsion fractures of the anterior inferior iliac spine are rare injuries of
the pelvic ring and occur during sports activities. Hereby is presented a
case of a 22-year-old professional football player who was diagnosed to have
an avulsion fracture of the anterior inferior iliac spine on the right side
four months after the initial injury and he was treated surgically with the
excision of the avulsed fragment. The football player recovered completely
and returned to his usual sports activities. Two years later, due to the pain
in the hip an x-ray and MR image were made, which established the existence
of crescent formation, a heterotopic bone, in the area of the anterior
inferior iliac spine, which was surgically removed. Physical and medical
therapy was conducted and after four months, the professional athlete was
back playing football. Two years after the surgical excision of heterotopic
ossification, the patient was completely asymptomatic with the same ROM
without any thigh muscle hypotrophy, although isokinetic muscle testing did
show some weakness of the thigh extensor muscles. An x-ray did not show any
signs of heterotopic ossification.
Pathology induced by Pomporhynchus kashmiriensis (Acanthocephala) in the alimentary canal of naturally infected Chirruh snow trout, Schizothorax esocinus (Heckel)
Authors: Irshadullah M. , Mustafa Y.
Published: January 2012

Histopathology of the alimentary canal of Chirruh snowtrout, Scizothorax esocinus (Heckel), naturally infected with the acanthocephalan parasite, Pomphorhynchus kashmiriensis was studied by light microscopy. The proboscis and bulb was found to be deeply penetrated into the host tissues. Macroscopic examination revealed over secretion of mucous and shedding of host tissues at the host parasite interface and white fibrous nodules on the external surface of infected intestine, which was an indication for the presence of parasite. The major changes in parasite induced histopathology were at the site of attachment to the host’s intestine which includes destruction of villi and epithelial linings. Increased cellular infiltrations at the site of attachment may be a consequence of host’s defence involving cell mediated immunity. In the areas of trunk contact with the host tissue, compression/absence of intestinal folds and loss of columnar appearance of epithelial cells were evident.
Introduction of Gyrodactylus perccotti (Monogenea) into Europe on its invasive fish host, Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii, Dybowski 1877)
Authors: Ondračková M. , Matějusová I. , Grabowska J.
Published: January 2012

Monogenean parasites of Amur sleeper Perccottus glenii introduced to Europe during the last century were studied during two seasons in the Wloclawski Reservoir (Poland). Introduction of a single species Gyrodactylus perccotti with its host was confirmed in both seasons: autumn 2006 and spring 2008. Occurrence of G. perccotti in Europe was reported for the first time. Intensity of infection decreased from 2006 to 2008, but the prevalence did not differ between the seasons. G. perccotti sampled in autumn 2006 showed low morphometrical variability and high morphological similarity with parasites collected in host native range, Amur River. In contrary, high morphological and metrical variability was found within the samples collected in spring 2008. Nucleic acid sequencing of the partial ITS rDNA confirmed that despite the variation in morphology or size of haptoral hard parts, all studied Gyrodactylus specimens belonged to the same species (G. percotti) and no intraspecific variation was detected.
Trematodes of herons (Aves: Ciconiiformes) in the Czech Republic
Authors: Sitko J.
Published: January 2012

A survey of 29 species of trematodes found in the Czech Republic in 530 herons of 8 species: Ardea cinerea 436 species examined (21 species of digeneas determined), A. purpurea 2 (4), Egretta alba 34 (7), E. garzetta 2 (3), Nycticorax nycticorax 28 (2), Ixobrychus minutus 19 (0), Botaurus stellaris 8 (5), Ardeola ralloides 1 (3) is presented. The species recorded for the first time in the Central Europe — Clinostomum heluans, Nephrostomum ramosum and Pygorchis affixus which has been brought from the wintering grounds in Africa, Echinochasmus militaris and Saakotrema metatestis brought by juvenile birds from breeding ground in the South Europe. Ophiosoma patagiatum and Posthodiplostomum brevicaudatum found for the first time in the Czech Republic.
Mel-han-cholia as Political Practice in Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's Dictée
Authors: Cho Jennifer
Published: January 2012

Drawing from theories of melancholy from David Eng, David Kazanjian, and Anne Anlin Cheng, I use Theresa Hak Kyung Cha's Dictée to reevaluate the accepted linear trajectory of Asian American identity formation in the U.S. In particular, I develop the term mel-han-choly—a hybridized form of melancholy and Korean han (a culturally specific grief)—to show how Cha uses it as a subversive political tool to defer historical closure. Cha's remembrance of the histories of Japanese colonialism in the Korean peninsula and the Korean War defies the expectation that minority populations somehow transcend their grievous pasts in becoming model American citizens. Because Korean history cannot be discussed without implicating the U.S. and calling into question its exceptional values, such recollection might be willfully avoided. I claim that Cha's mel-han-cholic plays generate productive disruptions on two levels. First, it challenges dominant understandings of the U.S. as a liberator of South Korea and the U.S.'s discursive power in narrating its history. Second, mel-han-choly serves a connective, transnational function within the diasporic Korean community. As depicted by the fractured relationship between Cha's narrator and her mother, a sense of shared loss and cultural grief can become the basis around which collective identity might be organized.
Microstructure – deformation relationships in fine grained high manganese TWIP steel – the role of local texture
Authors: Rüsing C. J. , Niendorf T. , Lackmann J. , Frehn A. , Maier H. J.
Published: January 2012

The local deformation behavior of fine grained high manganese steel featuring the twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) effect was investigated at different temperatures. A thorough set of mechanical, optical and electron optical experiments was conducted employing a miniature in-situ load frame, confocal laser scanning microscopy, digital image correlation and electron backscatter diffraction. The combination of the techniques used allowed for establishing a solid relationship between local texture, deformation and surface evolution. The results obtained show that on the microscopic scale the deformation is inhomogeneous even in the fine grained TWIP steel featuring the highest strains and the most significant surface evolution observed in regions with a local {111}-texture. Since grain orientation has an effect on both slip and twinning, the degree of heterogeneity of deformation is very similar in the temperature range studied, irrespective of the rate of twin evolution.
Thermal cycling damage evolution of a thermal barrier coating and the influence of substrate creep, interface roughness and pre-oxidation
Authors: Schweda Mario , Beck Tilmann , Singheiser Lorenz
Published: January 2012

The influence of roughness profile shape, roughness depth, bond coat creep strength and pre-oxidation on the thermal cycling damage evolution and lifetime of a plasma-sprayed ZrO2 thermal barrier coating system was investigated. A simplified model system was used where FeCrAlY substrates simulated the bond coat. Substrate creep was varied by using the oxide dispersoid strengthened alloy MA956 and the conventional material Fecralloy. Stochastic 3- and periodic 2-dimensional roughness profiles were produced by sand blasting and high speed turning. Damage evolution is significantly influenced by substrate creep with a trend to higher lifetimes for the fast creeping substrate. Pre-oxidation has no influence. Lifetimes of the periodically profiled samples are up to 100 times lower than these of stochastically profiled samples. In the case of periodically profiled samples, the highest lifetime was reached for the highest roughness depth combined with local undercuttings in the roughness profile. For stochastically profiled samples the influence of roughness depth could not be determined due to the wide lifetime scatter.
Influence of creep and cyclic oxidation in thermal barrier coatings
Authors: Seiler Philipp , Bäker Martin , Rösler Joachim
Published: January 2012

The lifetime of thermal barrier coating systems is limited by cracks close to the interfaces, causing delamination. To study the failure mechanisms, a simplified model system is analysed which consists of a bond-coat bulk material, a thermally grown oxide, and an yttria-stabilised zirconia topcoat. The stresses in the model system are calculated using a finite element model which covers the simulation of full thermal cycles, creep in all layers, and the anisotropic oxidation during dwelling. Creep in the oxide and the thermal barrier coating is varied with the use of different creep parameter sets. The influence of creep in the bondcoat is analysed by using two different bond-coat materials: fast creeping Fecralloy and slow creeping oxide dispersion strengthened MA956. It is shown that creep in the bondcoat influences the lifetime of the coatings. Furthermore, a fast creeping thermally grown oxide benefits the lifetime of the coating system.
Stress-gradient induced fatigue at ultra high frequencies in sub micron thin metal films
Authors: Eberl Christoph , Courty Diana , Walcker Astrid , Kraft Oliver
Published: January 2012

Mechanical fatigue at frequencies in the GHz regime in submicron metal thin films is governed by size and frequency effects. The cyclic load can lead to damage formation also known as acoustomigration and determines the reliability of micro electro mechanical systems and surface acoustic wave devices. The size and frequency effects dramatically change the fatigue behavior compared to bulk material. The resulting damage structure is similar to electromigration experiments where void and extrusion formation lead to failure. Here, a dislocation based mechanism is presented which explains the damage formation. This mechanism is induced by gradients in cyclic shear stress which is induced by the short acoustic wave length at frequencies in the GHz regime. Discrete dislocation dynamic simulations are presented that reflect the dislocation behavior at these ultra high frequencies.
Evaluation of Spatial and Temporal Speed Limit Compliance in Highway Work Zones
Authors: Wasson Jason S. , Boruff Guy W. , Hainen Alexander M. , Remias Stephen M. , Hulme Eric A. , Farnsworth Grant D. , Bullock Darcy M.
Published: January 2012

Typically, speed limits are reduced in work zones to safely accommodate construction activities and motorists on the roadway. This paper presents a methodology to evaluate the temporal and spatial effects of techniques designed to encourage compliance with work zone speed limits. The evaluations were performed over short and long segments within and adjacent to an Interstate construction work zone in suburban Indianapolis, Indiana, with the use of vehicle probe data. Space mean speed was measured by using 13 Bluetooth probe data acquisition stations, which provided a random sample of unique identifiers for approximately 11% of the passing vehicles. These space mean speed data were used to compute a series of comparisons between a day with no enforcement activity and a day with exceptionally high enforcement. During enforcement, the space mean speed decreased by approximately 5 mph throughout the 12.2-mi study segment. Within 30 min after the enforcement detail ended, however, space mean speeds increased, and there was no statistically significant residual impact on the space mean speed. Even at the absolute peak of enforcement, 75% of the probe vehicles exceeded the speed limit in all but one of the segments that had a posted speed limit of 45 mph. In addition, 25% of the probe vehicles exceeded the posted limit by more than 5 mph in all 45-mph segments during peak enforcement. The study is perhaps the largest ever conducted with respect to concurrent enforcement and extensive space mean measurement. The data represent an upper bound on the impact of enforcement activity on work zone speeds and should be of interest to public agencies as they consider compliance techniques.
Differences in Nighttime Luminance of Work Zone Drums with and without Steady-Burn Warning Lights
Authors: Gates Timothy J. , Savolainen Peter T. , Datta Tapan K. , Nannapaneni Prasad
Published: January 2012

Research was performed to explore the differences in the nighttime luminance of drums, with and without steady-burn warning lights, that are used in work zones to channelize traffic. Two evaluations were performed: one in the field, which included luminance measurements of 372 drums in 15 freeway work zones throughout Michigan, and another, controlled evaluation, which included luminance measurements of 24 common drum scenarios in a vacant parking lot. Drums with and without steady-burn lights were considered in both evaluations. All luminance measurements were performed from the passenger seat of a vehicle under low-beam headlamp illumination. The results of the controlled evaluation showed that the addition of a steady-burn warning light increased the average luminance of drums with high-intensity sheeting by 0.165 candelas per square meter (cd/m2) (2.6%). The added light increased the average luminance of drums with microprismatic sheeting by 0.50 cd/m2 (3.9%). Similar results were obtained during the field evaluation. It was concluded that drums with high-intensity sheeting and without steady-burn warning lights typically provided adequate levels of nighttime luminance when viewed from a vehicle under low-beam headlamp illumination. If additional nighttime brightness was desired, however, microprismatic sheeting offered far greater luminance than a steady-burn warning light.
Impact on Driver Behavior of Steady-Burn Warning Lights on Channelizing Drums in Work Zones
Authors: Gates Timothy J. , Savolainen Peter T. , Datta Tapan K. , Nannapaneni Prasad
Published: January 2012

Research was performed to explore the impact on driver behavior of steady-burn warning lights on drums used in highway work zones in the state of Michigan. Various characteristics related to nighttime driver behavior were evaluated with data collected in actual work zones. Thirty-six randomly selected work zones in 15 counties throughout lower Michigan were investigated in this study. Collectively, the work zones represented a broad range of commonly occurring scenarios. Work zones that used drums with steady-burn warning lights and work zones that did not were examined in a comparative parallel study. Data on nighttime driver behavior were collected by recording the movements of randomly selected subject vehicles as they were followed by a survey vehicle through the study work zones. For each subject vehicle, three measures of driver behavior were collected. The measures were (a) percent of time spent in the center lane position, (b) percent of time spent in the lane position closest to the drums, and (c) rate of steering reversals per minute. The data were compared by using analysis of variance techniques. The results showed that the presence of steady-burn warning lights on drums used to channelize traffic in work zones did not significantly affect either the time vehicles spent in the center lane position or the rate of steering reversals. The presence of steady-burn warning lights did, however, increase the tendency of drivers to travel in relatively close proximity to the drums. Collectively, the research findings suggest that the use of steady-burn warning lights on channelizing drums in work zones does not have a substantive impact on nighttime driver behavior.
Simulator Study of Primary and Precipitating Factors in Work Zone Crashes
Authors: McAvoy Deborah S. , Duffy Stephen , Whiting Harry S.
Published: January 2012

Research with a driving simulator was conducted to determine the impact of various primary and precipitating factors on work zone crashes and associated driver performance. The primary factors included in the study were roadway type (undivided and divided), traffic density (low, moderate, and high), and work zone type (lane closure and shoulder closure). Precipitating factors included elements that caused the driver behavior or the environment to change and initiate the potential for a crash, near crash, or incident. Twelve precipitating factors were investigated; all could be described as involving either a stopped or slow vehicle in the travel lane or an object in the roadway. Forty-five participants were exposed to 24 different work zone configurations for which performance measures of crash frequency, speed, lane deviation, and deceleration data were collected. The performance measures were used to determine the most hazardous work zone configurations. Neither the level of traffic density for mean speed nor the type of roadway for lane deviation was found to be statistically different. The remaining statistical test rejected the null hypothesis that the performance measures were similar. Overall, the most hazardous work zone configurations entailed a divided roadway with a lane closure during low-density traffic conditions and a stopped or braking truck or car.
Field Evaluation of Motorist Reactions to Reduced Work Zone Speed Limits and Other Work Zone Conditions
Authors: Finley Melisa D.
Published: January 2012

Many factors are taken into consideration in procedures to determine whether a reduced regulatory speed limit in a work zone is warranted. Low levels of compliance with work zone speed limits continue to show, however, that there is a disconnect between procedures to establish regulatory speed limits and motorists’ actual choice of speed in work zones. An improved understanding of how the conditions used to justify reduced speed limits in work zones actually affect speeds could improve the speed limit selection process. To address this need, researchers conducted field studies in Texas work zones to determine motorists’ speed choices adjacent to conditions that were used to warrant reduced speed limits. On the basis of the findings, researchers concluded the following: when no work zone conditions were apparent, speeds downstream of reduced work zone speed limit signs decreased only slightly, independent of the speed limit reduction. Motorists reduced their speeds in work zones when they perceived a need to do so. How much speed was reduced, however, appeared to depend on the normal operating speed of the roadway, the imposing nature of the situation, and enforcement activities. Some work zone conditions used to justify reduced speed limits were not adequately perceived by motorists. Thus it was these conditions that were most in need of enforcement, because motorists were less likely to reduce their speeds voluntarily. Reduced work zone speed limits that were left in place when conditions did not warrant them led to high levels of noncompliance.
Factors that Affect Failures of Snowplowable Raised Pavement Markers in Virginia
Authors: Fontaine Michael D. , Diefenderfer Brian K.
Published: January 2012

Snowplowable raised pavement markers (SRPMs) are commonly used in Virginia to supplement lane lines on the Interstate and portions of the primary system. Although SRPMs improve lane delineation at night and during inclement weather, they can become damaged or detached from the pavement after prolonged exposure to traffic and snowplows. Before 2009, Virginia had no formal method or schedule to routinely inspect these markers after their installation. In April 2006, a fragment of an SRPM metal casting became dislodged and injured a motorist. In response to this incident, a statewide study was initiated to determine whether systemic problems caused damage or detachment of SRPMs on Virginia's Interstates. Casting condition, reflector condition, epoxy condition, and installation adequacy were inspected on 78 1-mi segments of Interstate pavement that contained SRPMs. The study found that nearly 8% of all SRPM castings inspected were either missing or damaged. Approximately 35% of reflectors inspected were either missing or damaged. An analysis of risk factors showed that total traffic since installation and initial installation adequacy correlated most strongly with casting failures. These data were used to develop an SRPM casting inspection program and schedule that have been adopted by the Virginia Department of Transportation. The study recommends increased training for installers and inspectors.
Analysis of In-Service Traffic Sign Retroreflectivity and Deterioration Rates in Texas
Authors: Ré Jonathan M. , Miles Jeffrey D. , Carlson Paul J.
Published: January 2012

Roadway traffic signs are a fundamental medium for conveying critical information to the road user. In 2009, the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) set minimum retroreflectivity requirements for such signs. Developing sign management strategies on the basis of service life is one approach to achieving compliance with minimum MUTCD sign retroreflectivity requirements. Generating deterioration rates and prediction models from a sample of in-service sign measurements is one method for establishing expected service life. In 2009, researchers collected a sample of 859 ASTM D4956 Type III retroreflectivity signs in seven regions of Texas. The objective of this study was to assess the compliance of Type III signs throughout Texas and to generate useful data that would improve sign maintenance practices. The overall sign sample compliance rate was 99%. The observed likelihood of failure was 2% for signs that were between 10 and 12 years old and 8% for signs that were 12 to 15 years old. The linear prediction models revealed differences in deterioration rates between the regions. The differences ranged from −2 to −8 candelas (cd)/lx/m2 per year for white sheeting and −1 to −12 cd/lx/m2 per year for yellow sheeting. Models exhibited poor correlations between predicted and measured data, and the R-squared values ranged from .10 to .30. Despite the weak relationships, the models revealed insightful trends and provided a broad perspective on the Texas Department of Transportation's current sign practices. Deterioration rates and prediction models can be valuable components in a comprehensive sign maintenance program, but by themselves they do not ensure compliance with sign retroreflectivity requirements.
Comparison of Designs of Field Test Decks for Pavement Marking Materials
Authors: Zhang Yunlong , Pike Adam M. , Ge Hancheng , Carlson Paul J.
Published: January 2012

Historically, pavement marking materials (PMMs) have been prequalified or selected mainly on the basis of product specifications and lab testing, which do not always correlate well with the field performance of the products. Although different configurations of field test decks exist for assessing the performance of markings, no consensus exists on the optimal design. This study evaluated test deck designs for PMMs on the basis of field performance and focused on a comparison of transverse line and long line design. Field decks were designed incorporating regular long lines and long lines in the travel lane together with transverse stripes for accelerated testing, and several installation procedures were taken into consideration. Three test sites in Texas were used for data collection and analysis. The relationships between transverse and longitudinal test decks were evaluated with correlation analyses of retroreflectivity values. The results indicated that the points on transverse lines had high correlation with the corresponding five or seven longitudinal long lines in the travel lane when the retroreflectivity values of all products on a test deck were averaged. For individual products, the correlations between transverse line locations and corresponding long lines in the travel lane were not consistently high for all PMMs.
Construction of Passing-Maneuver Model on Two-Lane Highway with Consideration of Road Surface and Visibility Conditions
Authors: Takemoto Azuma , Munehiro Kazunori , Takahashi Naoto , Kasai Satoshi , Yamamoto Seiji , Tsutsumi Kei
Published: January 2012

Most national highways in rural parts of Hokkaido, Japan, are two-way, two-lane roads. On these highways, passing maneuvers that involve the use of the oncoming lane are frequently observed. Such passing is observed even when road surfaces are covered with compacted snow. To optimize speed and safety, simulated passing maneuvers have been conducted to make use of the oncoming lane of a two-way, two-lane highway. No such traffic simulations, however, have taken into consideration the surface conditions of roads in winter (e.g., snow-covered, icy, with poor visibility caused by snowfall and fog). In this study, a traffic flow simulation to model passing maneuvers that involved the oncoming lane was created through the use of values measured in a passing-maneuver field survey conducted on a two-lane road in summer and winter. The field values for the number of passing maneuvers, traffic volume, and speed distribution were compared with the simulation results. The outcomes confirmed that the difference between them was small. The sensitivity analysis results revealed that the number of passing maneuvers on surfaces covered with compacted snow under conditions of poor visibility did not increase as much as they did on dry surfaces, even when the traffic volume in the original lane was higher. The passing success rate tended to decrease with higher volumes of traffic in the oncoming lane, regardless of surface conditions.
Processes that Control Development of Quantity of Salt on Road Surfaces after Salt Application
Authors: Lysbakken Kai Rune , Norem Harald
Published: January 2012

This paper is part of a larger project to study how the quantity of salt on road surfaces develops after salt application. The goal of the work presented in this paper was to identify the physical processes that control the development of salt quantities on road surfaces. Field observations were made to study the quantity of salt after application. The results suggest that the development of salt quantity after salt application is controlled by three processes: initial loss, dissolution of salt, and loss of salt. A theoretical approach was taken to investigate the process of salt dissolution. The paper presents a principal, physically based model of the measured salt quantity on road surfaces as a function of traffic. It is proposed that the dissolution of salt be expressed by an exponential equation and that the rate of dissolution depends mainly on the quantity of water on the road. The loss of salt caused by blow-off and spray-off is considered to follow an exponential curve. The resultant equation that incorporated the dissolution and the loss was compared with field observations of moist and wet road surfaces.
Claiming the New North: Development and Colonialism at the Pine Point Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada
Authors: Sandlos John , Keeling Arn
Published: January 2012

This paper explores the history of economic, social and environmental change associated with the Pine Point lead-zinc mine, a now-abandoned industrial site and town in the Northwest Territories. Recent perspectives in cultural geography and environmental history have sought to rehabilitate mining landscapes from their reputation as places of degradation and exploitation - the so-called 'mining imaginary'. We argue that the landscapes of Pine Point epitomise the failures and contradictions of mega-project resource development in the north. While the mine and planned town built to service it flourished for nearly a quarter century, the larger goals of modernisation, industrial development and Aboriginal assimilation were unrealised. Ultimately, the mine's closure in 1988 resulted in the town's abandonment and the removal of the rail link, leaving behind a legacy of environmental destruction that remains unremediated. At Pine Point, the forces of mega-project development joined with modern mining's technologies of 'mass destruction' to produce a deeply scarred and problematic landscape that failed in its quest to bring modern industrialism to the Canadian sub-Arctic.
Compression-Based Tools for Navigation with an Image Database
Authors: Lillo Antonella Di , Daptardar Ajay , Thomas Kevin , Storer James A. , Motta Giovanni
Published: January 2012

We present tools that can be used within a larger system referred to as a passive assistant. The system receives information from a mobile device, as well as information from an image database such as Google Street View, and employs image processing to provide useful information about a local urban environment to a user who is visually impaired. The first stage acquires and computes accurate location information, the second stage performs texture and color analysis of a scene, and the third stage provides specific object recognition and navigation information. These second and third stages rely on compression-based tools (dimensionality reduction, vector quantization, and coding) that are enhanced by knowledge of (approximate) location of objects.
Zinc in Well Water and Infant Mortality in Bangladesh: A Report from Gonoshasthaya Kendra
Authors: Cherry Nicola , McDonald Corbett , Chowdhury Zafrullah
Published: January 2012

Zinc supplementation reduces the duration, severity and recurrence of diarrhoea in young children. This study examines whether zinc, found naturally in drinking water, reduced infant deaths from diarrhoea in rural Bangladesh. Information was compiled for births over two calendar years with follow-up for deaths within one year of birth. The study included 29,744 live births and 934 deaths in some 600 villages under the care of Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK), grouped into 15 health centre regions within 12 upazillas. Individual matching of death to birth data was not possible, but information on exposures through well water and on potential confounders was available for each upazilla. Average concentration of zinc in well water, reported by the British Geological Survey, was grouped into high (>0.07 mg/L), moderate (0.020–0.070 mg/L) and low (< 0.020 mg/L) concentrations. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for zinc by age and cause of death. Zinc concentration was unrelated to all-cause mortality but a decrease in deaths from diarrhoea (N = 50) was seen in areas with high zinc (OR = 0.30; 95% CI 0.13–0.69). No relation to diarrhoeal deaths was found with other well contaminants (arsenic, manganese) having accounted for zinc. Upazillas with a high proportion of women without education had higher rates of death from diarrhea, but the decrease in risk with high zinc remained (OR adjusted = 0.41; 95% CI 0.20–0.84). It is concluded that exposure to zinc through drinking water may reduce risk of diarrhoeal deaths.
Antiproliferative and Apoptotic Effects Triggered by Grape Seed Extract (GSE) versus Epigallocatechin and Procyanidins on Colon Cancer Cell Lines
Authors: Dinicola Simona , Cucina Alessandra , Pasqualato Alessia , D’Anselmi Fabrizio , Proietti Sara , Lisi Elisabetta , Pasqua Gabriella , Antonacci Donato , Bizzarri Mariano
Published: January 2012

Grape seed extract has been proven to exert anticancer effects on different tumors. These effects are mainly ascribed to catechin and procyanidin content. Analytical studies demonstrated that grape seed extract composition is complex and it is likely other components could exert biological activities. Using cell count and flow cytometry assays, we evaluated the cytostatic and apoptotic effects produced by three different grape seed extracts from Italia, Palieri and Red Globe cultivars, on Caco2 and HCT-8 colon cancer cells. These effects were compared to those induced by epigallocatechin and procyanidins, alone or in association, on the same cell lines. All the extracts induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in Caco2 and HCT-8 cells, along the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. On both cell lines, growth inhibition induced by Italia and Palieri grape seed extracts was significantly higher than that it has been recorded with epigallocatechin, procyanidins and their association. In Caco2 cells, the extract from Red Globe cultivar was less effective in inducing growth inhibition than procyanidins alone and in association with epigallocatechin, whereas, in HCT-8 cells, only the association of epigallocatechin and procyanidins triggers a significant proliferation decrease. On both cell lines, apoptosis induced by Italia, Palieri and Red Globe grape seed extracts was considerably higher than has been recorded with epigallocatechin, procyanidins and their association. These data support the hypothesis by which other compounds, present in the grape seed extracts, are likely to enhance the anticancer effects.
Use of Linear Free Energy Relationships (LFERs) to Elucidate the Mechanisms of Reaction of a γ-Methyl-β-alkynyl and an ortho-Substituted Aryl Chloroformate Ester
Authors: D’Souza Malcolm J. , Knapp Jaci A. , Fernandez-Bueno Gabriel A. , Kevill Dennis N.
Published: January 2012

The specific rates of solvolysis of 2-butyn-1-yl-chloroformate (1) and 2-methoxyphenyl chloroformate (2) are studied at 25.0 °C in a series of binary aqueous-organic mixtures. The rates of reaction obtained are then analyzed using the extended Grunwald-Winstein (G-W) equation and the results are compared to previously published G-W analyses for phenyl chloroformate (3), propargyl chloroformate (4), p-methoxyphenyl choroformate (5), and p-nitrophenyl chloroformate (6). For 1, the results indicate that dual side-by-side addition-elimination and ionization pathways are occurring in some highly ionizing solvents due to the presence of the electron-donating γ-methyl group. For 2, the analyses indicate that the dominant mechanism is a bimolecular one where the formation of a tetrahedral intermediate is rate-determining.
Marine Compounds Selectively Induce Apoptosis in Female Reproductive Cancer Cells but Not in Primary-Derived Human Reproductive Granulosa Cells
Authors: Edwards Vicki , Benkendorff Kirsten , Young Fiona
Published: January 2012

Anticancer properties of tyrindoleninone and 6-bromoisatin from Dicathais orbita were tested against physiologically normal primary human granulosa cells (HGC) and reproductive cancer cell lines. Tyrindoleninone reduced cancer cell viability with IC50 values of 39 µM (KGN; a tumour-derived granulosa cell line), 39 μM (JAr), and 156 μM (OVCAR-3), compared to 3516 μM in HGC. Apoptosis in HGC’s occurred after 4 h at 391 µM tyrindoleninone compared to 20 µM in KGN cells. Differences in apoptosis between HGC and KGN cells were confirmed by TUNEL, with 66 and 31% apoptotic nuclei at 4 h in KGN and HGC, respectively. These marine compounds therefore have potential for development as treatments for female reproductive cancers.
Modeling Forest Structural Parameters in the Mediterranean Pines of Central Spain using QuickBird-2 Imagery and Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART)
Authors: Gómez Cristina , Wulder Michael A. , Montes Fernando , Delgado José A.
Published: January 2012

Forest structural parameters such as quadratic mean diameter, basal area, and number of trees per unit area are important for the assessment of wood volume and biomass and represent key forest inventory attributes. Forest inventory information is required to support sustainable management, carbon accounting, and policy development activities. Digital image processing of remotely sensed imagery is increasingly utilized to assist traditional, more manual, methods in the estimation of forest structural attributes over extensive areas, also enabling evaluation of change over time. Empirical attribute estimation with remotely sensed data is frequently employed, yet with known limitations, especially over complex environments such as Mediterranean forests. In this study, the capacity of high spatial resolution (HSR) imagery and related techniques to model structural parameters at the stand level (n = 490) in Mediterranean pines in Central Spain is tested using data from the commercial satellite QuickBird-2. Spectral and spatial information derived from multispectral and panchromatic imagery (2.4 m and 0.68 m sided pixels, respectively) served to model structural parameters. Classification and Regression Tree Analysis (CART) was selected for the modeling of attributes. Accurate models were produced of quadratic mean diameter (QMD) (R2 = 0.8; RMSE = 0.13 m) with an average error of 17% while basal area (BA) models produced an average error of 22% (RMSE = 5.79 m2/ha). When the measured number of trees per unit area (N) was categorized, as per frequent forest management practices, CART models correctly classified 70% of the stands, with all other stands classified in an adjacent class. The accuracy of the attributes estimated here is expected to be better when canopy cover is more open and attribute values are at the lower end of the range present, as related in the pattern of the residuals found in this study. Our findings indicate that attributes derived from HSR imagery captured from space-borne platforms have capacity to inform on local structural parameters of Mediterranean pines. The nascent program for annual national coverages of HSR imagery over Spain offers unique opportunities for forest structural attribute estimation; whereby, depletions can be readily captured and successive annual collections of data can support or enable refinement of attributes. Further, HSR imagery and associated attribute estimation techniques can be used in conjunction, not necessarily in competition to, more traditional forest inventory with synergies available through provision of data within an inventory cycle and the capture of forest disturbance or depletions.
A Feedfordward Adaptive Controller to Reduce the Imaging Time of Large-Sized Biological Samples with a SPM-Based Multiprobe Station
Authors: Otero Jorge , Guerrero Hector , Gonzalez Laura , Puig-Vidal Manel
Published: January 2012

The time required to image large samples is an important limiting factor in SPM-based systems. In multiprobe setups, especially when working with biological samples, this drawback can make impossible to conduct certain experiments. In this work, we present a feedfordward controller based on bang-bang and adaptive controls. The controls are based in the difference between the maximum speeds that can be used for imaging depending on the flatness of the sample zone. Topographic images of Escherichia coli bacteria samples were acquired using the implemented controllers. Results show that to go faster in the flat zones, rather than using a constant scanning speed for the whole image, speeds up the imaging process of large samples by up to a 4x factor.
Underwater Sensor Networks: A New Energy Efficient and Robust Architecture
Authors: Climent Salvador , Capella Juan Vicente , Meratnia Nirvana , Serrano Juan José
Published: January 2012

The specific characteristics of underwater environments introduce new challenges for networking protocols. In this paper, a specialized architecture for underwater sensor networks (UWSNs) is proposed and evaluated. Experiments are conducted in order to analyze the suitability of this protocol for the subaquatic transmission medium. Moreover, different scheduling techniques are applied to the architecture in order to study their performance. In addition, given the harsh conditions of the underwater medium, different retransmission methods are combined with the scheduling techniques. Finally, simulation results illustrate the performance achievements of the proposed protocol in end-to-end delay, packet delivery ratio and energy consumption, showing that this protocol can be very suitable for the underwater medium.
Antisense miR-7 Impairs Insulin Expression in Developing Pancreas and in Cultured Pancreatic Buds
Authors: Nieto Margarita , Hevia Pedro , Garcia Enrique , Klein Dagmar , Alvarez-Cubela Silvia , Bravo-Egana Valia , Rosero Samuel , Molano R. Damaris , Vargas Nancy , Ricordi Camillo , Pileggi Antonello , Diez Juan , Domínguez-Bendala Juan , Pastori Ricardo L.
Published: January 2012

MicroRNAs regulate gene expression by inhibiting translation or inducing target mRNA degradation. MicroRNAs regulate organ differentiation and embryonic development, including pancreatic specification and islet function. We showed previously that miR-7 is highly expressed in human pancreatic fetal and adult endocrine cells. Here we determined the expression profile of miR-7 in the mouse-developing pancreas by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. MiR-7 expression was low between embryonic days e10.5 and e11.5, then began to increase at e13.5 through e14.5, and eventually decreased by e18. In situ hybridization and immunostaining analysis showed that miR-7 colocalizes with endocrine marker Isl1, suggesting that miR-7 is expressed preferentially in endocrine cells. Whole-mount in situ hybridization shows miR-7 highly expressed in the embryonic neural tube. To investigate the role of miR-7 in development of the mouse endocrine pancreas, antisense miR-7 morpholinos (MO) were delivered to the embryo at an early developmental stage (e10.5 days) via intrauterine fetal heart injection. Inhibition of miR-7 during early embryonic life results in an overall downregulation of insulin production, decreased β-cell numbers, and glucose intolerance in the postnatal period. This phenomenon is specific for miR-7 and possibly due to a systemic effect on pancreatic development. On the other hand, the in vitro inhibition of miR-7 in explanted pancreatic buds leads to β-cell death and generation of β-cells expressing less insulin than those in MO control. Therefore, in addition to the potential indirect effects on pancreatic differentiation derived from its systemic downregulation, the knockdown of miR-7 appears to have a β-cell-specific effect as well. These findings suggest that modulation of miR-7 expression could be utilized in the development of stem cell therapies to cure diabetes.
Generation of Glucose-Responsive, Insulin-Producing Cells from Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Prabakar Kamalaveni R. , Domínguez-Bendala Juan , Molano R. Damaris , Pileggi Antonello , Villate Susana , Ricordi Camillo , Inverardi Luca
Published: January 2012

We sought to assess the potential of human cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (CB-MSCs) to derive insulin-producing, glucose-responsive cells. We show here that differentiation protocols based on stepwise culture conditions initially described for human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) lead to differentiation of cord blood-derived precursors towards a pancreatic endocrine phenotype, as assessed by marker expression and in vitro glucose-regulated insulin secretion. Transplantation of these cells in immune-deficient animals shows human C-peptide production in response to a glucose challenge. These data suggest that human cord blood may be a promising source for regenerative medicine approaches for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.