bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential for Energy-From-Waste Carbon Offsets in North America
Authors: Van Brunt Michael , Bahor Brian
Published: November 2010

A carbon offset program is likely to be part of any future federal cap-and-trade program and is included in both the U.S. House of Representatives passed American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 and the Kerry-Boxer Senate draft greenhouse gas legislation. Internationally, Energy-from-Waste (EfW) facilities in emerging economies are eligible for carbon offset credits under the Clean Development Mechanism of the Kyoto Protocol. These carbon offset credits can be purchased by developed countries, such as those in Western Europe, to help comply with their obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. Although a similar mandatory market does not yet exist in the United States, there is a growing voluntary market in carbon offsets and a set of standards designed to provide some order to this market. One of the key players in the voluntary market is the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS). Project types, such as EfW, that are eligible for credits under the Clean Development Mechanism are also eligible to generate voluntary carbon credits under the VCS. This paper reviews the current methodology for calculating offsets from EfW projects. The current methodology is very conservative, severely restricts the accounting for avoided landfill methane, and significantly underestimates greenhouse gas savings relative to life cycle assessments performed on waste management practices. The current methodology for offsets is compared and contrasted with a more realistic methodology more in line with life cycle assessment calculations. A review of the potential for EfW offsets under evolving state and federal programs and precedents for offsets generated based on avoided landfill methane is also completed.
High Temperature Corrosion in a 24 MW Waste-to-Energy Plant
Authors: Ma Wenchao , Rotter Vera Susanne , Shao Dezhou , Chen Guanyi
Published: November 2010

Waste-to-energy (WTE) plants are utilized for the production of heat and electricity from municipal solid waste (MSW) and refuse derived fuel (RDF). Due to high chlorine content (0.5wt.%∼1.0wt.%) in MSW & RDF, high temperature corrosion is often observed on the superheater surfaces and correspondingly leads to a very low efficiency of 15%∼25% in practical WTE plants. To obtain information on the corrosion rate and high temperature corrosion mechanism, a full scale nine-month-long term corrosion test was therefore conducted in a heat and power generating WTE plant in Tianjin, China. The grate boiler with a capacity of 400 tons/d, runs at a burning temperature between 850∼900°C, flue gas temperature between 550∼650°C, steam temperature of 400°C, and steam pressure of 4MPa. The corrosion probes made of same metal alloy with heat exchanger were exposed on the surface of economizer, protector and superheater, respectively. The metal loss by corrosion was determined by measuring the distance from the inside of the ring to the interface between metal and oxide with a measuring microscope. The deposit characteristics as well as elemental compositions were determined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). The objective of this work is to evaluate: 1) plant specific corrosion rate on different superheater materials and 2) relationship among chlorine content in the feedstock, chlorine gas emission before air pollutant clean system, and deposits composition. The results showed deposits characteristics depend on the probe location, metal materials, temperature and windward/leeward. Barely chlorine exists in the deposits, except for the outer surface of the deposits at 3rd SH. The highest corrosion loss for 20G at 3rd SH was calculated to be 2mm/year, based on the assumption of linear extrapolation of corrosion rate.
Energy Recovery Improvement Using Organic Rankine Cycle at Covanta’s Haverhill Facility
Authors: Cui Heping , Lynch Jim , McQuillan David , Becker Joseph , Sundel Tim
Published: November 2010

Covanta Energy, in cooperation with United Technologies Corporation (UTC), has evaluated, designed, and is in the process of installing an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) system at its Haverhill Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility to improve heat recovery and energy efficiency, and to generate more clean renewable energy. ORC systems have been applied in geothermal applications and some other industrial processes to recover low grade and waste energy to generate electricity. This paper describes the design and integration of the ORC system into the Haverhill EfW steam cycle, and the landfill gas engine system, which also operates at the facility. The anticipated energy efficiency improvements and increased net power output have been analyzed and simulated. The results show that the integration of the ORC system could lead to a potential increase in the net power output by as much as 305 kWe in the summer and by 210 kWe in normal weather. It is also anticipated that with the ORC system the facility has the potential to improve the overall plant energy efficiency, as well as save city water.
Bio Green Waste-to-Energy: An Old Technology With a New Future
Authors: Norton John W.
Published: November 2010

After 17 years of quiet dormancy, modern incineration, now known as “municipal waste combustion,” is headed for a big comeback here in America. These modern combustion facilities often include energy recovery, and are known as “Waste-to-Energy” plants, or “WTE” plants for short.
Interface Modes for Interactive Visualization of Airborne Product Virtual Models
Authors: Opiyo Eliab Z.
Published: November 2010

Flat screen displays such as CRT displays, liquid crystal displays and plasma displays are predominantly used for visualization of product models in computer aided design (CAD) processes. However, future platforms for product model visualization are expected to include 3D displays as well. It can be expected that different types of display systems, each offering different visualization capability will complement the traditional flat-screen visual display units. Among the 3D display systems with biggest potential for product models visualization are holographic volumetric displays. One of the most appealing characteristic features of these displays is that they generate images with spatial representation and that appear to pop out of the flat screen. This allows multiple viewers to see 3D images or scenes from different perspectives. One of the main shortcomings of these displays, however, is that they lack suitable interfaces for interactive visualization. The work reported in this paper focused on this problem and is part of a large research in which the aim is to develop suitable interfaces for interactive viewing of holographic virtual models. Emphasis in this work was specifically on exploration of possible interaction styles and creation of a suitable interaction framework. The proposed framework consists of three interface methods: an intermediary graphical user interface (IGUI) — designed to be utilizable via a flat screen display and by using standard input devices; a gestural/hand-motions interface; and a haptic interface. Preliminary tests have shown that the IGUI helps viewers to rotate, scale and navigate virtual models in 3D scenes quickly and conveniently. On the other hand, these tests have shown that tasks such as selecting or moving virtual models in 3D scenes are not sufficiently supported by the IGUI, and that complementary interfaces may probably enable viewers to interact with models more effectively and intuitively.
A Study on Design Manufacturing and Control of a Cable Controlled Motion Simulator With Visual Feedback Helmet and Their Application on a Simulator Simulation System
Authors: Peng Chun-Chi , Her Ming-Guo , Ho Ming-In
Published: November 2010

The purpose of this research is to simulate high degree of freedom motions with low degree of freedom motions. It breaks the rule of using high degree of freedom to simulate high degree of freedom motions. Besides, except for using expensive servo slider, the study uses cables to control the simulator to reach the purpose of simulating unlimited space with limited space of the simulator and it also reach the demands of low cost. In the research, the operator’s tactile sense in body is simulated; the “visual helmet” is also added. Compared with the traditional infrared transmission, it is faster and the changes of the produced environments are more immediate. This makes the operator feels more realistic in the variation of the virtual scenes. The combination of the cable controlled simulator and the visual helmet with the software of virtual reality games makes the operator obtain more actual simulating effects in visual, audio feedback and tactile, motion feedback. It makes operator feel as if s/he is in the real world.
Keyframe-Based Scenegraph Animation API for Virtual Reality Applications
Authors: Noon Christian , Newendorp Brandon , Winer Eliot , Oliver Jim
Published: November 2010

Virtual reality (VR) applications are used in many areas of academic and industrial research areas including engineering, bio-medical & geo-sciences, among others. These applications generally focus on creating a VR environment to enhance user experience. One of the main challenges VR application developers face is to make objects within the environment move in a natural, realistic manner. Many commercial packages and programming libraries exist to help generate complex animations, including physics engines, game engines and modeling software such as Autodesk Maya. All of these tools are very useful, but have many disadvantages when applied to VR applications, as they were not designed for VR development. To address these issues, a VR application programming interface (API) was developed to help VR developers create and visualize natural, complex animations for VR-based systems utilizing OpenSceneGraph. This API, called the Animation Engine 2.0, was built in a manner animators and developers are already familiar with by integrating control points and keyframes for controlling animations. The system is time-based to scale to any size of VR system, which enabled the ability to support different time interpolations as well to incorporate acceleration into animations to create behavioral events such as a boing, bounce, or surge. In this paper, the Animation Engine API is presented along with its integration into a VR aircraft carrier application.
Automated Design Knowledge Capture Using Virtual Reality
Authors: Sung Raymond C. W. , Ritchie James M. , Robinson Graham , Day Phil
Published: November 2010

As the use of knowledge capture and reuse becomes more prevalent in industry, the research into how the capture process can be automated is also increasing. In this paper, research is presented on how basic design knowledge, such as design decisions and best practice, in a virtual reality-based cable harness design system can be automatically captured and represented. By automated and unobtrusive logging of a user as a design task is carried out, the resulting log file is parsed and various representations of the captured design processes are automatically generated. A user trial involving industrial collaborators was conducted to find out which of the representations were the most effective and preferred. It was discovered that users had a preference for representations that contain more visual information. Future work will involve utilising the captured knowledge to develop training tools which will aid new users performing similar design tasks.
An Approach for Measuring the Human Gesture Learning Ability in Third-Person View Virtual Environment for Motor Rehabilitation
Authors: Nguyen Van-Hanh , Me´rienne Fre´de´ric , Martinez Jean-Luc , Pozzo Thierry
Published: November 2010

In this paper, we describe a novel and quantitative approach to assess the capability of performing training task in the third-person view virtual environment for motor rehabilitation. Our proposed approach is based on human gestures which are constructed from gesture-units according to levels of complexity. Experimented in a Cave Automatic Virtual Environment, human gestures are represented by a virtual human thus the training task of the subject is to memorize those gestures and then to reproduce them. Performance of executing this training task is measured by the similarity between the virtual human’s gesture and the subject one which is captured by an optical motion capture device. In practice, a combination of performance and the complexity of the gesture is carried out to evaluate the ability of learning the human gestures of the subject.
Multimodal Navigation for a Haptic-Based Virtual Assembly Application
Authors: Belluco Paolo , Bordegoni Monica , Polistina Samuele
Published: November 2010

Some Virtual Reality applications are based on the use of haptic interfaces for a more intuitive and realistic manipulation of the virtual objects. Typically, the haptic devices have a fixed position in the real space, and their working space is rather limited. As a consequence, there are locations in the virtual space that are out of the working space of the haptic device, and thus cannot be reached by users during the virtual objects manipulation. The paper describes a multimodal navigation modality based on the integrated use of various and low cost interaction devices that can be operated by a user taking into account that one of his hands is engaged for the manipulation of the haptic device. Therefore, we have decided to implement the user interface by using the Nintendo® Wii Remote™ and the BalanceBoard™, which can be operated by the user using the other hand and his feet. The navigation modality has been integrated and tested in a Virtual Reality application for the virtual manual assembly of mechanical components. A preliminary validation of the application has been performed by an expert user with the aim of identifying major usability and performance issues by using the heuristic evaluation method.
Wayfinder: Evaluating Multitouch Interaction in Supervisory Control of Unmanned Vehicles
Authors: Roltgen Jay , Gilbert Stephen
Published: November 2010

In this paper we investigate whether the use of a multitouch interface allows users of a supervisory control system to perform tasks more effectively than possible with a mouse-based interface. Supervisory control interfaces are an active field of research, but so far have generally utilized mouse-based interaction. Additionally, most such interfaces require a skilled operator due to their intrinsic complexity. We present an interface for controlling multiple unmanned ground vehicles that is conducive to multitouch as well as mouse-based interaction, which allows us to evaluate novice users’ performance in several areas. Results suggest that a multitouch interface can be used as effectively as a mouse-based interface for certain tasks which are relevant in a supervisory control environment.
Interfaces for 3D Flight Path Visualization
Authors: Marsh William E. , Swartzentruber Levi , Holub Joseph , Gilbert Stephen , Oliver James , Winer Eliot
Published: November 2010

Increased use of unmanned aerial vehicles on the battlefield is driving a transition of human operators into supervisory roles. In these roles, operators will have access to mission data and they will be required to make rapid decisions based on criteria, prior experience, and instincts. To facilitate rapid decisions, an interface must provide information in a format that operators can readily understand. A study was performed to investigate an operator’s ability to rapidly understand flight path data presented in either top-down 2D or perspective 3D. Additionally, the study aimed to explore the benefits of interactivity when observing the 3D scenarios. It was found that participants in the 3D group with automatic camera movement were not more accurate but were faster than participants who saw a top-down 2D view or a 3D view with manual camera control. This suggests that there may be benefits to a 3D interface for displaying three-dimensional path data. It also confirms that providing an interactive interface will not necessarily lead to higher performance, as the user may not use it efficiently.
Assessment of Pointshell Shrinking and Feature Size on Virtual Manual Assembly
Authors: Faas Daniela , Vance Judy M.
Published: November 2010

This paper investigates the effect of pointshell shrinking and feature size on manual assembly operations in a virtual environment with haptic force feedback. Specific emphasis is on exploring methods to improve voxel-based modeling to support manual assembly of low clearance parts. CAD parts were created, voxelized and tested for assembly. The results showed that pointshell shrinking allows the engineer to assemble parts with a lower clearance than without pointshell shrinking. Further results showed that assemble-ability is dependent on feature size, particularly part diameter and clearance. In a pin and hole assembly, as the pin diameter increases, for a given percent clearance, assembling low clearance features becomes difficult. An empirical equation is developed to guide the designer in selecting an appropriate voxel size based on feature size. These results advance the effort to improve manual assembly operations via haptic feedback in the virtual environment.
Real-Time Simulation and Visualization Architecture With Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) Simulator
Authors: Karkee Manoj , Monga Madhu , Steward Brian L. , Zambreno Joseph , Kelkar Atul G.
Published: November 2010

Real-time simulation of dynamic vehicle system models is essential to facilitate advances in operator and hardware in the loop simulation and virtual prototyping. Real-time virtual reality-based simulation enables users to visualize and perceive the effect of their actions during the simulation. As model complexity is increased to improve the model fidelity, the computational requirements will also increase, thus increasing the challenge to meet real-time constraints. A distributed simulator architecture was developed for off-road vehicle dynamic models and 3D graphics visualization to distribute the overall computational load across multiple computational platforms. This architecture consisted of three major components: a dynamic model simulator, a virtual reality simulator, and an interface to controller and input hardware devices. The dynamic model simulator component was developed using Matlab/Simulink Real Time Workshop on a PC and also using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA), which offered a highly parallel hardware platform. The simulator architecture reduced the computational load to an individual platform and increased the real-time simulation capability with complex off-road vehicle system models and controllers. The architecture was used to develop, simulate and visualize a tractor and towed implement steering dynamics model. The model also included a steering valve subsystem which contained very high frequency hydraulic dynamics and required 10 μs integration time step for numerical stability. The real-time simulation goal was not achievable for the model with this level of complexity when the PC-based simulator was used. However, the FPGA-based simulator achieved a real-time goal taking only 2 μs to complete one integration time step.
Sediment fluxes and carbon budgets in Loch Creran, western Scotland
Authors: Loh Pei Sun , Reeves Alison D. , Miller Axel E. J. , Harvey S. Martyn , Overnell Julian
Published: November 2010

Sea lochs are regions where riverine and marine organic carbon (OC) undergoes decomposition, deposition or transportation to shelf slopes and the deep sea. According to the OC budget presented here, discharge from River Creran (1.44×10
6
kg a
−1
) and phytoplankton material (0.89×10
6
kg a
−1
) make up a significant input of OC to Loch Creran while 0.67×10
6
kg a
−1
OC is from other sources. A total of 1.28×10
6
kg a
−1
OC is deposited in the loch and 1.14×10
6
kg a
−1
OC is oxidized in the water column. Discharge to the Lynn of Lorn consists of 0.58×10
6
kg a
−1
OC. Hence Loch Creran is a sink for OC where 42.7% of the total OC input is buried and 38% and 1.7% decomposed in the water column and subsurface sediments, respectively. River Creran contributes 63% labile and 37% refractory organic matter to the loch. More than 95% of each of the total OC, lignin and organic matter deposited onto the surface sediments is buried in the subsurface sediments. Seventy-five percent of the total organic matter decomposed in the water column is labile. Output to Lynn of Lorn consists of 54.6% refractory organic matter.
Morphodynamic evolution of Kongsfjorden-Krossfjorden, Svalbard, during the Late Weichselian and Holocene
Authors: Maclachlan S. E. , Howe J. A. , Vardy M. E.
Published: November 2010

We present a combination of fjord bathymetry and shallow seismic data from Kongsfjorden and Krossfjorden, Svalbard, to characterize and analyse change in the fjord coastal environment physiography and the glaciosedimentary processes since the Last Glacial Maximum. Swath bathymetry reveals a series of several styles of landform, frequently superimposed upon each other, permitting the reconstruction of the relative timings of deposition of each landform with the oldest successively overlain and cross-cut by younger landforms and erosional processes. Large transverse ridges interpreted as recessional moraines are overlain by streamlined lineations formed subglacially during a subsequent ice advance. A complex of recessional morainal ridges occurring within the central fjord are incised by glacial lineations and meltwater channels from younger glacial events.
Climate fluctuations during the past two millennia as recorded in sediments from Maxwell Bay, South Shetland Islands, West Antarctica
Authors: Hass H. C. , Kuhn G. , Monien P. , Brumsack H.-J. , Forwick M.
Published: November 2010

The climate evolution of the South Shetland Islands during the last
c.
2000 years is inferred from the multiproxy analyses of a long (928 cm) sediment core retrieved from Maxwell Bay off King George Island. The vertical sediment flux at the core location is controlled by summer melting processes that cause sediment-laden meltwater plumes to form. These leave a characteristic signature in the sediments of NE Maxwell Bay. We use this signature to distinguish summer and winter-dominated periods. During the Medieval Warm Period, sediments are generally finer which indicates summer-type conditions. In contrast, during the Little Ice Age (LIA) sediments are generally coarser and are indicative of winter-dominated conditions. Comparison with Northern and Southern Hemisphere, Antarctic, and global temperature reconstructions reveals that the mean grain-size curve from Maxwell Bay closely resembles the curve of the global temperature reconstruction. We show that the medieval warming occurred earlier in the Southern than in the Northern Hemisphere, which might indicate that the warming was driven by processes occurring in the south. The beginning of the LIA appears to be almost synchronous in both hemispheres. The warming after the LIA closely resembles the Northern Hemisphere record which might indicate this phase of cooling was driven by processes occurring in the north. Although the recent rapid regional warming is clearly visible, the Maxwell Bay record does not show the dominance of summer-type sediments until the 1970s. Continued warming in this area will likely affect the marine ecosystem through meltwater induced turbidity of the surface waters as well as an extension of the vegetation period due to the predicted decrease of sea ice in this area.
Arctic fjords: a review of the oceanographic environment and dominant physical processes
Authors: Cottier F. R. , Nilsen F. , Skogseth R. , Tverberg V. , Skarðhamar J. , Svendsen H.
Published: November 2010

Fjords have long been recognized for their value as sites of sediment deposition, recording past climatic conditions. Recently, Arctic fjords have been recognized as the critical gateway through which oceanic waters can impact on the stability of glaciers. Arctic fjords are also used as idealized locations to study ice-influenced physical, biological and geochemical processes. In all cases a clear understanding of the physical oceanographic environment is required to interpret and predict related impacts and linkages. In this review we consider the characteristic elements of Arctic fjords and the important dynamical processes. We show how the intense seasonality of these regions is reflected in the varying stratification of the fjords. In particular, we show that sea ice has a central role in terms of the fjord salinity which ultimately influences the exchange with oceanic waters. When the fjord is ice free, wind forcing from the intense down-fjord katabatic winds gives rise to rapidly changing cross-fjord gradients, upwelling and strong surface circulations. The stratification and dimensions of Arctic fjords mean that they are often classed as ‘broad’ fjords where rotational effects are important in their circulation. We refer to the link between the physical oceanographic conditions and the related depositional records throughout.
Enhanced angiotensin II-mediated central sympathoexcitation in streptozotocin-induced diabetes: role of superoxide anion
Authors: Patel Kaushik P. , Mayhan William G. , Bidasee Keshore R. , Zheng Hong
Published: November 2010

Studies have shown that the superoxide mechanism is involved in angiotensin II (ANG II) signaling in the central nervous system. We hypothesized that ANG II activates sympathetic outflow by stimulation of superoxide anion in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In α-chloralose- and urethane-anesthetized rats, microinjection of ANG II into the PVN (50, 100, and 200 pmol) produced dose-dependent increases in renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA), arterial pressure (AP), and heart rate (HR) in control and STZ-induced diabetic rats. There was a potentiation of the increase in RSNA (35.0 ± 5.0 vs. 23.0 ± 4.3%, P < 0.05), AP, and HR due to ANG II type I (AT1) receptor activation in diabetic rats compared with control rats. Blocking endogenous AT1 receptors within the PVN with AT1 receptor antagonist losartan produced significantly greater decreases in RSNA, AP, and HR in diabetic rats compared with control rats. Concomitantly, there were significant increases in mRNA and protein expression of AT1 receptor with increased superoxide levels and expression of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits p22phox, p47phox, and p67phox in the PVN of rats with diabetes. Pretreatment with losartan (10 mg·kg−1·day−1 in drinking water for 3 wk) significantly reduced protein expression of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits (p22phox and p47phox) in the PVN of diabetic rats. Pretreatment with adenoviral vector-mediated overexpression of human cytoplasmic superoxide dismutase (AdCuZnSOD) within the PVN attenuated the increased central responses to ANG II in diabetes (RSNA: 20.4 ± 0.7 vs. 27.7 ± 2.1%, n = 6, P < 0.05). These data support the concept that superoxide anion contributes to an enhanced ANG II-mediated signaling in the PVN involved with the exaggerated sympathoexcitation in diabetes.
Cytokines in the Progression of Pancreaticβ-Cell Dysfunction
Authors: Wang Chunjiong , Guan Youfei , Yang Jichun
Published: November 2010

The dysfunction of pancreaticβ-cell and the reduction inβ-cell mass are the decisive events in the progression of type 2 diabetes. There is increasing evidence that cytokines play important roles in the procedure ofβ-cell failure. Cytokines, such as IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, leptin, resistin, adiponectin, and visfatin, have been shown to diversely regulate pancreaticβ-cell function. Recently, islet-derived cytokine PANcreatic DERived factor (PANDER or FAM3B) has also been demonstrated to be a regulator of isletβ-cell function. The change in cytokine profile in islet and plasma is associated with pancreaticβ-cell dysfunction and apoptosis. In this paper, we summarize and discuss the recent studies on the effects of certain important cytokines on pancreaticβ-cell function. The imbalance in deleterious and protective cytokines plays pivotal roles in the development and progression of pancreaticβ-cell dysfunction under insulin-resistant conditions.
Fluoride Nanoscintillators
Authors: Jacobsohn Luiz G. , Sprinkle Kevin B. , Roberts Steven A. , Kucera Courtney J. , James Tiffany L. , Yukihara Eduardo G. , DeVol Timothy A. , Ballato John
Published: November 2010

A preliminary investigation of the scintillation response of rare earth-doped fluoride nanoparticles is reported. Nanoparticles of CaF2 : Eu, BaF2 : Ce, and LaF3 : Eu were produced by precipitation methods using ammonium di-n-octadecyldithiophosphate (ADDP) as a ligand that controls growth and lessens agglomeration. The structure and morphology were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, while the scintillation properties of the nanoparticles were determined by means of X-ray and241Am irradiation. The unique aspect of scintillation of nanoparticles is related to the migration of carriers in the nanoscintillator. Our results showed that even nanoparticles as small as ~4 nm in size effectively scintillate, despite the diffusion length ofe-hpairs being considerably larger than the nanoparticles themselves, and suggest that nanoparticles can be used for radiation detection.
Effect of Antioxidant Vitamins on the Plasma Homocysteine Level in a Free-Living Elderly Population
Authors: Breilmann Johanna , Pons-Kühnemann Jörn , Brunner Christiane , Richter Margrit , Neuhäuser-Berthold Monika
Published: November 2010

Background: The factors influencing total plasma homocysteine levels (tHcy) are of special interest in the attempt to reduce cardiovascular risk. Aim: This investigation aimed to assess the independent effects of antioxidant vitamins on tHcy in elderly people. Methods: Our cross-sectional analysis included data of 184 subjects (≧60 years) from the longitudinal study in an aging population in Giessen (GISELA), Germany. We examined the effects of plasma levels, intake and supplementation of vitamin C, vitamin E, and β-carotene on tHcy. Results: The mean tHcy was within the normal range in this population. Serum folate, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and plasma vitamin C showed a negative association with tHcy in simple regression analysis. In a subsequent multiple regression analysis, eGFR, serum folate, and plasma vitamin C were the relevant independent predictors of tHcy. Intake and supplementation of vitamin C, as well as plasma levels, intake and supplementation of vitamin E, and β-carotene were not associated with tHcy. Conclusion: Vitamin C may be an independent predictor of tHcy in free-living elderly people and, therefore, should be considered in attempts to reduce tHcy.
Abdominal Fat, Adipose-Derived Hormones and Mild Cognitive Impairment: The J-SHIPP Study
Authors: Kamogawa Kenji , Kohara Katsuhiko , Tabara Yasuharu , Uetani Eri , Nagai Tokihisa , Yamamoto Miyuki , Igase Michiya , Miki Tetsuro
Published: November 2010

Background/Aim: Lower body weight in later life has been shown to be associated with dementia. However, abdominal fat distribution under conditions of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and the possible involvement of leptin and adiponectin in MCI have not been fully investigated. Methods: We analyzed 517 middle-aged-to-elderly community-dwelling persons. Abdominal subcutaneous fat and visceral fat areas were determined using computed tomography, and plasma leptin and adiponectin concentrations were measured in fasting samples. MCI was assessed using the Japanese version of the MCI screening method. Results: In men, the abdominal subcutaneous fat area was significantly lower in participants with MCI than in those with normal cognitive function [median (interquartile range): 107.4 (85.9, 133.1) cm2 vs. 136.4 (93.1, 161.4) cm2; p = 0.002]. Logistic regression analyses with confounding factors including age and abdominal subcutaneous fat area showed that a 10 mg/l increase in plasma adiponectin had a protective effect against the development of MCI in men (odds ratio: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.20–0.97; p = 0.041). In contrast, MCI was not found to be associated with abdominal fat area or adipose-derived hormones in women. Conclusion: Reduced amounts of subcutaneous fat and low levels of plasma adiponectin were found to be associated with MCI in men.
Genetic Regulation of Platelet Receptor Expression and Function
Authors: Williams Marlene S. , Weiss Ethan J. , Sabatine Marc S. , Simon Daniel I. , Bahou Wadie F. , Becker Lewis C. , Parise Leslie V. , Dauerman Harold L. , French Patricia A. , Smyth Susan S. , Becker Richard C.
Published: November 2010

Understanding genetic contributions to platelet function could have profound clinical ramifications for personalizing platelet-directed pharmacotherapy, by providing insight into the risks and possible benefits associated with specific genotypes. This article represents an integrated summary of presentations related to genetic regulation of platelet receptor expression and function given at the Fifth Annual Platelet Colloquium in January 2010. It is supplemented with additional highlights from the literature covering (1) approaches to determining and evidence for the associations of genetic variants with platelet hypo- and hyperresponsive phenotypes, (2) the ramifications of these polymorphisms with regard to clinical responses to antiplatelet therapies, and (3) the role of platelet function/genetic testing in guiding antiplatelet therapy.
A Common Connexin-40 Gene Promoter Variant Affects Connexin-40 Expression in Human Atria and Is Associated With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Wirka Robert C. , Gore Shamone , Van Wagoner David R. , Arking Dan E. , Lubitz Steven A. , Lunetta Kathryn L. , Benjamin Emelia J. , Alonso Alvaro , Ellinor Patrick T. , Barnard John , Chung Mina K. , Smith Jonathan D.
Published: November 2010

Background—

A common single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter of the Connexin-40 (Cx40) gene
GJA5
was suggested to affect
Cx40
promoter activity and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the role of other common
Cx40
polymorphisms is unknown.

Methods and Results—

Eight SNPs within the
Cx40
gene region were tested for association with
Cx40
levels measured in atrial tissue from 61 individuals. The previously described
Cx40
promoter SNP (rs35594137, −44G→A) was not associated with
Cx40
mRNA levels. However, a common SNP (rs10465885) located in the TATA box of an alternative
Cx40
promoter was strongly associated with
Cx40
mRNA expression (
P
<0.0001) and displayed strong and consistent allelic expression imbalance in human atrial tissue. A promoter-luciferase assay in cultured murine cardiomyocytes demonstrated reduced activity of the promoter containing the minor allele of this SNP (
P
<0.0001). Both rs35594137 and rs10465885 were tested for association with early-onset lone AF (≤60 years of age) in 384 cases and 3010 population control subjects. rs10465885 was associated with the AF phenotype (odds ratio, 1.18;
P
=0.046). This result was confirmed in a meta-analysis including 2 additional early-onset lone AF case-control cohorts (odds ratio, 1.16,
P
=0.022). rs35594137 was not associated with the lone AF phenotype in any of the cohorts studied or in a combined analysis.

Conclusions—

A previously described
Cx40
promoter SNP was not found to influence
Cx40
expression or risk of AF. We describe an alternate promoter polymorphism that directly affects levels of
Cx40
mRNA in vivo and is associated with early-onset lone AF.
To Avant or Not to Avant: Questioning the Experimental, the New, and the Potential to Shock in the New Garde
Authors: Cesare T. Nikki , Sandford Mariellen R.
Published: November 2010

A flush of new theatre ensembles producing, for the most part, group-devised work prompts questions about the viability of the term avantgarde, the confluence of events behind the activity of this latest “bunch of experimental theatres,” and their relationship to the original “bunch” from the 1970s.
Undocumented Immigrant Day Laborers Coping with the Economic Meltdown in Los Angeles
Authors: Bhimji Fazila
Published: November 2010

The study traces the ways in which 30 Central American and Mexican undocumented immigrant day laborers manage their lives in Los Angeles during the current economic downturn. There has been much scholarship which addresses the complexities of the immigrant day labor industry, but the studies assume a growing and stable economy in the receiving countries. This paper examines the significant role of social networks, religion, and knowledge of the geography of Los Angeles that enables the Latino immigrant men to self-govern their dire economic plight. Many studies have highlighted these important aspects in the context of immigration; however, the ways in which these issues gain relevance among Latino men in a less economically rich context has yet to be addressed. Furthermore, much scholarship has recognized how economic forces and social networking help sustain migration but subjective experiences such as religiosity, friendships, and affective ties to spaces within the host country have been less of a focus. This study examines how spirituality, affective bonds, and pragmatic thinking play crucial roles such that the immigrant day laborers manage to cope during difficult times. Data are drawn from in-depth interviews and participant observation from June to August 2009 of 30 undocumented immigrant Central American and Mexican men at three different hiring locations in Los Angeles. These interviews were conducted in the parking lots of three home improvement stores.
Evaluation of a novel sputum clearance technique—hydro-acoustic therapy (HAT) in adult patients with cystic fibrosis: A feasibility study
Authors: Jarad NA , Powell T. , Smith E.
Published: November 2010

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy, safety and patients’ acceptance of a novel system for sputum clearance—Hydro Acoustic Therapy (HAT) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). This is a prospective crossover study where 18 patients received 6 sessions of physiotherapy over 6 separate days. These consisted of 2 sessions of either HAT, flutter valve or and sitting in the bath with sounds without vibration (placebo) for 30 minutes each. The efficacy was investigated by measuring the weight of wet and dry sputum after each session and by change in spirometry values. The preference was assessed by a questionnaire completed by patients at the end of the study about their preference of which type of physiotherapy received. The weight of both dry and wet sputum produced was similar in the 3 arms of the study. Spirometry values but not oxygen saturation were reduced after HAT and flutter therapy sessions. HAT therapy was preferred to flutter and placebo in terms of breathlessness, ease of sputum production and relaxation. Of the patients, 70% stated that they would choose HAT as their preferred physiotherapy method compared to 0% for flutter (χ2 = 20.3, p < 0.0001). There were no procedure-related complications in any of the 3 arms of the study. HAT was found to be safe, well tolerated and favoured by the majority of CF patients. The effect of HAT, however, on sputum production was not superior to flutter or placebo.
Spatial and Temporal Dislocations of Theory, Subjectivity, and Post()Reason in the Geocolonial Politics of Subaltern Studies
Authors: Persram Nalini
Published: November 2010

This essay examines some prominent conceptualizations of “subalternity” and “the subaltern” in the literature on subaltern studies. A predominant history of Subaltern Studies has emerged that narrates the theorization, and materialist, national-historical and political tracking of “the subaltern” through the work of Antonio Gramsci, Ranajit Guha, Gayatri Spivak, and the South Asian Subaltern Studies collective. I investigation how the South Asian Subaltern Studies Group (SASS) came to achieve its celebrated postcolonial status, how it inspired the formation of the Latin American Subaltern Studies Group (LASS), and why nevertheless the two circles remained more or less discrete. At the fore are issues concerning the constitution of “subalternity” and the agency of “the subaltern,” as well as those related to the politics of academe. The secondary task of the article is to acknowledge the geographies of colonialism and how they respectively and collectively inform the distinct particularities in, as well as resemblances between the research interests of each group. It is then to account for the asymmetry between profiles of SASS and LASS within academe, and to discuss the hierarchy of epistemic privilege implicit/explicit in this relation and the implications it has held for institutional subjectivity. The reading concludes on an important note about how knowledge formation of Western modernity occurs within a spatio-temporal cartography of metropolitan-peripheral relations that erases a significant part of Occidental history, a history holding fundamental implications for how we conceive of certain crucial European originaries and thus hegemonic European realms of conceptual authority.
Mcm10 proteolysis initiates before the onset of M-phase
Authors: Kaur Manpreet , Sharma Aparna , Khan Muntaz , Kar Ananya , Saxena Sandeep
Published: November 2010

Background

Mcm10 protein is essential for initiation and elongation phases of replication. Human cells proteolyze Mcm10 during mitosis, presumably to ensure a single round of replication. It has been proposed that anaphase promoting complex ubiquitinates Mcm10 in late M and early G1phases.

Results

In contrast to the previous work, we report that the degradation of Mcm10 is initiated at the onset of mitosis. Immunoblotting and immunofluorescence assays display that Mcm10 levels are low in all phases of mitosis. We report that Mcm10 degradation is not dependent on anaphase promoting complex. Further, the proteolysis in M-phase can be independently mediated by non-overlapping regions of Mcm10, apparently employing a redundant mechanism to ensure downregulation.

Conclusions

It is believed that the proteolysis of Mcm10 during mitosis is a vital mechanism to prevent aberrant initiation of replication and the present study describes the regulation of Mcm10 during this phase of the cell-cycle.
Extracorporeal life support in pediatric cardiac dysfunction
Authors: Coskun Kasim O , Coskun Sinan T , Popov Aron F , Hinz Jose , El-Arousy Mahmoud , Schmitto Jan D , Kececioglu Deniz , Koerfer Reiner
Published: November 2010

Background

Low cardiac output (LCO) after corrective surgery remains a serious complication in pediatric congenital heart diseases (CHD). In the case of refractory LCO, extra corporeal life support (ECLS) extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or ventricle assist devices (VAD) is the final therapeutic option. In the present study we have reviewed the outcomes of pediatric patients after corrective surgery necessitating ECLS and compared outcomes with pediatric patients necessitating ECLS because of dilatated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods

A retrospective single-centre cohort study was evaluated in pediatric patients, between 1991 and 2008, that required ECLS. A total of 48 patients received ECLS, of which 23 were male and 25 female. The indications for ECLS included CHD in 32 patients and DCM in 16 patients.

Results

The mean age was 1.2 ± 3.9 years for CHD patients and 10.4 ± 5.8 years for DCM patients. Twenty-six patients received ECMO and 22 patients received VAD. A total of 15 patients out of 48 survived, 8 were discharged after myocardial recovery and 7 were discharged after successful heart transplantation. The overall mortality in patients with extracorporeal life support was 68%.

Conclusion

Although the use of ECLS shows a significantly high mortality rate it remains the ultimate chance for children. For better results, ECLS should be initiated in the operating room or shortly thereafter. Bridge to heart transplantation should be considered if there is no improvement in cardiac function to avoid irreversible multiorgan failure (MFO).
Sales Drops from Closing Shops: Assessing the Impact of Store Outlet Closures on Retail Chain Revenue
Authors: Haans Hans , Gijsbrechts Els
Published: November 2010

Although store closures have become a common feature in grocery retailers’ strategic decisions, knowledge about their implications remains minimal. In this article, the authors study how closure of a particular store affects the chain sales of a multioutlet retailer operating multiple formats. The authors show that the chain sales losses from a closure vary widely across outlets (ranging from less than 30% to more than 80% of the closed outlet's revenue) and depend not only on the closed store's format and distance to competitors but also on the profile of its clientele and type of shopping trip. The authors offer a methodology for predicting the magnitude of these losses for specific store closures that outperforms models calibrated on observed “regular” shopping patterns. This approach offers guidance to retailers in deciding whether a particular store closure is beneficial to the chain or, if the objective is to prune an overly dense network, which of a set of local outlets is the best candidate for closure.
Can Uncertainty Improve Promotions?
Authors: Goldsmith Kelly , Amir On
Published: November 2010

Many consumer promotions involve uncertainty (e.g., purchase incentives offering the chance to receive one of several rewards). Despite retailers’ heavy reliance on such promotions, much academic research on uncertainty has demonstrated examples of consumers avoiding and/or disliking uncertainty, implying that promotions involving uncertainty may not be as effective for retailers as promotions offering certain rewards. In an effort to reconcile the prevalence of uncertain promotions with the existing research, this article explores the conditions under which uncertain promotions may be effective for retailers. The article concludes with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications for these findings.
Prefrontal and Medial Temporal Lobe Activity at Encoding Predicts Temporal Context Memory
Authors: Jenkins Lucas J. , Ranganath Charan
Published: November 2010

One of the defining features of episodic long-term memory is that it includes information about the temporal context in which an event occurred. Little is known about the regions that support the encoding of temporal information in the human brain, although previous work has suggested a role for the lateral prefrontal cortex (PFC) and medial temporal lobes (MTL). Here we used event-related fMRI to examine the relationship between activity at encoding and subsequent memory for temporal context. Participants were scanned while performing a serial order working memory task with pictures of common objects and were later tested for temporal memory at two different timescales. In the coarse temporal memory test, participants viewed one object from each trial and indicated approximately when during the course of the experiment it had appeared. In the fine temporal memory test, participants were shown the remaining objects from each trial and asked to recall the order in which they had been originally presented. Activity in the parahippocampal cortex predicted subsequent fine temporal accuracy, whereas coarse temporal accuracy was predicted by activity in several regions of the PFC, as well as in the hippocampus. Additional multivoxel pattern analyses revealed evidence implicating the rostrolateral PFC in the representation of time-varying contextual states in a manner similar to that proposed by computational theories of temporal context memory. These results highlight MTL and PFC contributions to temporal memory at the time of encoding and suggest a particular role for the rostrolateral PFC in encoding coarse temporal context.