bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrophilic interaction chromatography in drug analysis
Authors: Ares Ana , Bernal José
Published: February 2012

Hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC) is an increasingly popular alternative to conventional HPLC for drug analysis. It offers increased selectivity and sensitivity, and improved efficiency when quantifying drugs and related compounds in complex matrices such as biological and environmental samples, pharmaceutical formulations, food, and animal feed. In this review we summarize HILIC methods recently developed for drug analysis (2006–2011). In addition, a list of important applications is provided, including experimental conditions and a brief summary of results. The references provide a comprehensive overview of current HILIC applications in drug analysis.
Recent theoretical and practical applications of micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) in pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
Authors: Kawczak Piotr , Bączek Tomasz
Published: February 2012

Micellar liquid chromatography (MLC) is an analytical technique belonging to the wide range of reversed-phase liquid chromatographic (RP-LC) separation techniques. MLC with the use of surfactant solutions above its critical micellar concentration (CMC) and the addition of organic modifiers is currently an important analytical tool with still growing theoretical considerations and practical applications in pharmaceutical analysis of drugs and other biologically active compounds. The use of MLC as an alternative, relatively much faster in comparison to conventional chromatographic separation techniques has several advantages, especially as being suitable for screening pharmaceutical analysis. The analytical data received from MLC analysis are considered a useful source of information to predict passive drug absorption, drug transport and other pharmacokinetics and physicochemical measures of pharmaceutical substances. In the review several MLC assays for determination of drugs and other active compounds in biological samples were compared and critically discussed. The presented overview provides information on recent applications and achievements connected with the practical use of MLC. The review covers fields of interest related to theory and mechanism of MLC separation, direct applications of MLC in pharmaceutical analysis, including optimization and efficiency of separation with the use of modification of stationary phase and mobile phase compositions as well as the determination of physicochemical characteristics of drugs by MLC.
Recent progress for capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection
Authors: Yu Huan , Xu Xiaoyu , Sun Jinying , You Tianyan
Published: February 2012

Capillary electrophoresis (CE) is an attractive technique in separation science because of its high separation performance, short analysis time and low cost. Electrochemical detection (EC) is a powerful tool for CE because of its high sensitivity. In this review, developments of CE-EC from 2008 to August, 2011 are reviewed. We choose papers of innovative and novel results to demonstrate the newest and most important progress in CE-EC.
Purification, characterization and induction of a C-type lectin in the freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica
Authors: Pang Qiuxiang , Liu Xuemei , Zhao Bosheng , Wei Wei , Zhang Xiufang , Zhao Lianfei , Xie Jingjing , Sun Huanhuan
Published: February 2012

Lectins are important components of the immune defense system of invertebrates. Given their important functions, numerous investigations have been carried out on the characterization and function of lectins in invertebrates. However, lectin studies with the freshwater planarian, an evolutionarily important animal, are rare. In this paper, we demonstrate agglutination of glutaraldehyde treated erythrocytes by a lectin with preference for rabbit erythrocytes. The result of hemagglutinating activity inhibition assays with several carbohydrates showed the most potent inhibitor was maltose. A natural lectin from the crude homogenates of freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica was purified by single step affinity chromatography using amylose-coupled agarose. The purified protein appeared as one band with a molecular mass of 350 kDa in PAGE, and as one band, approximately 56 kDa, in SDS-PAGE. The purified lectin showed dependence on calcium. The activity of the purified lectin was inhibited at temperatures greater than 50°C and showed a pH optimum between 5–8. The purified lectin also has binding activity to the Gram-negative bacteria E. coli, and the Gram-positive bacteria B. subtilis. Furthermore, the purified lectin obtained from injured and bacteria-induced planarians showed increased agglutinating activity against rabbit erythrocytes. These results suggest that the purified lectin may play an important role in the innate immunity of the freshwater planarian.
Atypical non-lipid-dependent strains of Malassezia furfur
Authors: Zinkeviciene Aukse , Norkunas Vilmantas , Citavicius Donaldas
Published: February 2012

Members of the yeast genus Malassezia, including atypical strains, are lipophilic except for Malassezia pachydermatis. New physiological features that characterize atypical Malassezia strains are mainly associated with alteration in Tween assimilation pattern — such isolates still require lipids for growth. We isolated three non-lipid-dependent strains of Malassezia from patients with diagnosed atopic dermatitis (AD). These isolates could not be identified to the species level via their physiological properties. Phylogenetic trees, based on the D1/D2 regions of the 26S rDNA gene sequences and nucleotide sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rRNA region, showed the isolates to belong to Malassezia furfur. Three non-lipid dependent isolates from AD skin were conspecific, and sequences analysis proved them to be M. furfur.
A review of concepts regarding the origin of respiratory muscle fatigue
Authors: Kuraszkiewicz Bożena , Piotrkiewicz Maria
Published: February 2012

A review of concepts regarding the origin of respiratory muscle fatigue

In this review, the classification of respiratory muscle fatigue from the perspective of its origin is presented. The fatigue is classified as central or peripheral, and the latter further subdivided into high- and low-frequency fatigue. However, muscle fatigue is a complex process and all three types of fatigue probably occur simultaneously in the overloaded respiratory muscles. The relative importance of each type depends on the duration of respiratory loading and other physiological variables. However, central and high-frequency fatigue resolve rapidly once muscle overload is removed, whereas low-frequency fatigue persists over long time.
Identification of the effects of peripheral nerves injury on the muscle control - A review
Authors: Cabaj Anna , Zmyslowski Wojciech
Published: February 2012

Identification of the effects of peripheral nerves injury on the muscle control - A review

Impairment of motor function following peripheral nerve injury is a serious clinical problem. Generally nerve injury leads to erroneous control of muscle activity that results in gait and voluntary movement abnormalities followed by muscle atrophy. This article presents a review of studies on the effects of peripheral nerve injury on the motor system performed on animal models. We focused our attention on the results that are fundamental for better understanding of the degenerative and regenerative processes induced by nerve injury as well as of the mechanisms of structural changes in neuronal networks controlling movement. Quoted results are also important for clinical applications because they allow to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques that can be used after nerve injury inducing motor deficits. However, till now no efficient therapy inducing satisfactory recovery was found. There is still a need to continue an advanced basic research directed to develop effective therapies. Thus the aim of this review is to compare the results of recent studies performed on various animal models in order to propose new methods for identification of mechanisms responsible for muscle deficits and propose targets for new pharmacological therapies.
The Role of Employee Relations in the Level of Internal Integration between Logistics and Marketing Functions: the Case of Slovenian Retail Companies
Authors: Topolšek Darja , Čurin Andreja
Published: February 2012

The Role of Employee Relations in the Level of Internal Integration between Logistics and Marketing Functions: the Case of Slovenian Retail Companies

Negative employee relations in companies are a ubiquitous phenomenon which, on one hand, may result in dissatisfaction and inefficiency of employees and, on the other hand, disappointing work results. The basis of research work for the following paper forms a definition of internal integration and its level as well as connection with the level of efficiency of inter-functional relations. The empirical part of the research paper examines the influence positive relations between functions may have on the level of internal integration. More specifically, the analysis focuses on employee relations from logistics and marketing functions. The research is based on the quantitative analysis of data acquired from a survey carried out at Slovenian retail companies.
Clustered Approach to ICT Services Utilization Analysis
Authors: Doucek Petr , Novotný Ota
Published: February 2012

Clustered Approach to ICT Services Utilization Analysis

The paper describes clustered approach to ICT services utilization analysis based on the WSA method. It allows extracting coherent groups of countries with nearly the same level of ICT services utilization based on the number of indicators analyzed. Approach is explained on case of the Czech Republic and its position in the European peloton with using available Eurostat data.
Natural and economic factors of shrinkage of lakes of the Wielkopolska Lakeland
Authors: Nowak Bogumił , Brodzińska Barbara , Gezella-Nowak Izabela
Published: February 2012

Natural and economic factors of shrinkage of lakes of the Wielkopolska Lakeland

The paper discusses the issue of plant overgrowth in the littoral zone of lakes. It presents the plant encroachment process and its environmental and economic consequences based on the example of selected lakes of the Wielkopolska Lakeland. In order to estimate changes of quantity in the riparian vegetation structure, historical records of changes of reed bed areas were compared with their present areas. Historical data included bathymetric plans from the 1960's created by the Institute of Inland Fisheries and information obtained from interviews with the inhabitants of settlements located in the vicinity of the studied lakes. Present-day boundaries of reed bed zones were identified using orthophotos, aerial photographs and in situ inspections. In the course of the field research, identification of plant species and estimates of plant condition in the studied stands were carried out. Obtained data combined with data on local hydrological-meteorological conditions, water quality and land use in the direct vicinity of lakes allowed the authors to determine the conditioning factors of riparian vegetation encroachment. The collected evidence allowed the authors to establish that in the last five decades, the area of reed beds around the studied lakes increased by an average of 15-20%. This process was usually accompanied by the encroachment of hydrophytic plants consequently leading to the shrinkage of supralittoral zones. In the last 20 years, these two phenomena intensified considerably, particularly during two low water periods noted during this period. However, the encroachment of riparian vegetation proceeded differently in the case of each lake and it was most protrusive in highly eutrophicated reservoirs and those with a history of permanent or long-term lowering of the water table. The qualitative structure of the studied plant communities was conditioned mostly by nutrient inflow and the type of growing medium. In large clean lakes and in zones of sandy lake bottom, the reed beds were dominated by the common reed (Phragmitetum australis). In smaller, polluted lakes and shielded bays of larger lakes with stagnant water, beside multi-species reed beds, floating-leaf hydrophytic macrophyte plants of the genus Nymphaea, tall stands of sedges and helophytes were observed.
Relationship between areal hypolimnetic oxygen depletion rate and the trophic state of five lakes in northern Poland
Authors: Borowiak Dariusz , Nowiński Kamil , Barańczuk Jacek , Marszelewski Włodzimierz , Skowron Rajmund , Solarczyk Adam
Published: February 2012

Relationship between areal hypolimnetic oxygen depletion rate and the trophic state of five lakes in northern Poland

The oxygen content in a lake is a fundamental factor in lake ecology. In stratified lakes, deep waters are isolated from the atmosphere for several months during the summer; therefore, oxygen (substantially consumed by biological and chemical processes at this time) cannot be replaced before the autumnal mixing period. Hypolimnetic oxygen depletion has been considered an indicator of lake productivity since the early twentieth century. Many recent studies have been in opposition to this view by showing that the areal hypolimnetic oxygen depletion rate (AHOD) is poorly correlated with seston biomass and/or phosphorus concentration. The objective of this study is to show relationships between the mean values of total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), chlorophyll a, and water transparency (Secchi disk depth, SDD) during the thermal stratification formation period and the AHOD rate. Hypolimnetic oxygen conditions in five dimictic lakes in northern Poland were examined in 2009 and 2010. Two of them were studied in the previous year. Monthly oxygen profiles taken from April to August, midsummer temperature profiles, and morphological data of the lakes were used to determine the AHOD rate. Standard water quality parameters such as concentrations of chlorophyll a, TP, and TN, as well as water transparency measured at the same time were used to calculate the trophic state indices (TSI) according to the Carlson-type formulas. On the basis of the collected data it is shown that AHOD is highly correlated with the TSI value for chlorophyll a, and poorly correlated with the TSI values for water transparency and phosphorus content. The best correlation between AHOD and TSI has been found for chlorophyll a (r2=0.702; p<0.001), as well as for overall TSI, determined by averaging separate component indices (r2=0.826; p<0.000). No correlation was found between AHOD and total nitrogen concentration. The research also confirmed previous observations, which pointed to a significant role of the hypolimnion depth in increasing oxygen deficits.
Lakes in the cascade model of storage and drainage reservoirs
Authors: Fac-Beneda Joanna
Published: February 2012

Lakes in the cascade model of storage and drainage reservoirs

The study area covers a compact, decentric hydrographic system called the Kashubian hydrographic system, which includes the drainage basins of the Słupia, Łupawa, Łeba, Reda, Wda, Wierzyca and Radunia. The Kashubian hydrographic system can be presented in the form of a cascade model of storage-drainage reservoirs - kord. One of the properties of a hydrographic system is its extent. Its horizontal extent is delimited by topographic watersheds, and its vertical extent is delimited at the bottom by the surface of the drainage base and in the roof by the land surface. Since reservoirs of the kord model are inscribed one into another, the upper border of all the reservoirs of the cascade is assumed to be the land surface, and the lower border of particular reservoirs of the cascade is a surface going through the level (elevation) of recipients receiving their waters. In the kord model on all its levels there are water reservoirs; however they differ in terms of origin, development, hydrological features and the role they play in the system. Depending on the type of recipient, drainage and storage can occur with various intensity. As follows from the hydrographic analysis the deepest lakes are situated in local and regional recipients, hence in these types of recipient, drainage and storage have greater intensity. On the other hand, in the transit recipient, transport is dominant.
The Strength of Weak Ties: Role of Networks in Nepali Migration to South and Southeast Asia 1900-2000
Authors: Nath Lopita
Published: February 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bodhi.v4i1.5809Bodhi 2010 4(1): 18-47
NGOs and rural poverty eradication in Karnataka-India: Tracing the root of the difficulty and solution
Authors: DC Nanjuda , Mohapathra Tanuja
Published: February 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bodhi.v4i1.5811Bodhi 2010 4(1): 71-80
Language as a way of shaping our identity, idea and action
Authors: Neupane Rebati Prasad
Published: February 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bodhi.v4i1.5819 Bodhi 2010 4(1): 191-197
Mass media in post-1990 Nepal: Ajar window of mass communication
Authors: Duwadi Eak Prasad
Published: February 2012

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/bodhi.v4i1.5821 Bodhi 2010 4(1): 210-222
Business Model for Subscription Service for Electric Vehicles Including Battery Swapping, for San Francisco Bay Area, California
Authors: Lidicker Jeffrey , Lipman Timothy , Williams Brett
Published: February 2012

A proposed strategy for facilitating the introduction of electric-drive vehicles calls for vehicle purchasers to own the vehicle but to lease the battery from a third party to help reduce the first-cost hurdle to consumers. A further extension of this concept for all-battery electric vehicles (EVs) would include the ability for consumers to exchange their discharged batteries for charged ones at battery swap stations. This factor would extend the driving range for EV service subscribers but with increased costs to build and operate the stations. This analysis centers around a base-case scenario from 2012 to 2027 that includes a set of assumptions about subscriber membership levels, gasoline and electricity prices, corporate level expenditures, and the capital costs of batteries, charging stations, and battery swap stations. The base-case set of assumptions is then systematically varied, and a few combinations are explored to determine whether and how such a service might be economically viable. Key sensitivities include buildup of the number of subscribers, the price of gasoline, capital costs of the batteries, distribution of total annual driving mileage of subscribers, and the number of corporate employees needed to operate and manage the subscription service business. Focusing on a network in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, the analysis suggests that, with current gasoline prices and the base-case scenario assumptions, the economics of this business model are challenging.
Climate Action Plans and Long-Range Transportation Plans in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska
Authors: Walker Lindsay , Figliozzi Miguel A. , Haire Ashley R. , MacArthur John
Published: February 2012

Research efforts in the past decade have produced a wealth of knowledge about the likely impacts of climate change on transportation infrastructure—effects witnessed to date as well as those anticipated in coming decades—the effects of which frequently conflict in both magnitude and scope. This research summarizes the findings of the surface transportation climate change literature and explores the efforts under way in the transportation planning realm with respect to adaptive preparations of transportation infrastructure for the effects of climate change. This research focuses on transportation facilities and operations in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. This report builds on recent research on governmental climate change planning efforts to explore how agencies in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington are preparing for climate change in their climate action plans, to investigate how the goals and recommendations of those plans are reflected in long-range transportation planning documents, and to identify key resources and strategies agencies may adopt to ensure that the anticipated impacts of climate change on transportation are addressed in transportation planning documents.
Algorithm for Finding Optimal Paths in a Public Transit Network with Real-Time Data
Authors: Jariyasunant Jerald , Mai Eric , Sengupta Raja
Published: February 2012

Recently, transit agencies have begun opening their route configuration and schedule data to the public, as well as providing online application programming interfaces to real-time bus positions and arrival estimates. On the basis of this infrastructure for providing transit data over the Internet, the authors developed an algorithm to calculate the travel times of K shortest paths in a public transportation network where all wait and travel times were known only in real time. Although there was a large body of work on routing algorithms in transit networks, the authors took cues from an algorithm to find the shortest paths in road networks, called transit node routing. This approach was based on observation of intuitive behavior by humans: when taking transit, travelers looked for a particular set of transfer points that connected transit routes that led from the origin and destination. A lookup table was precomputed of feasible paths between the origin stop of every bus route to the terminus of every other bus route by using the transfer points. This precomputation of paths significantly reduced the computation time and number of real-time arrival requests to transit agency servers, the bottleneck in computing this problem. The computational complexity of the algorithm is linear in real time, and implementation results show that queries from a web server are returned in 3 s in the worst case.
Identifying and Correcting Pulse-Breakup Errors from Freeway Loop Detectors
Authors: Lee Ho , Coifman Benjamin
Published: February 2012

Loop detectors are the most common sensors used to collect freeway management data. There has been considerable research to screen the quality of loop detector data, but some significant detector errors have not received much attention because of the difficulty of identifying their occurrence. This study examines one such error, pulse breakup, in which what should be a single pulse from a vehicle breaks up into two or more pulses because the detector momentarily drops out. An algorithm is developed to identify the presence of individual pulse-breakup events. The algorithm is based on the nature of pulse breakup revealed from individual vehicle actuations with concurrent video ground truth. The algorithm begins with the comparison of the on-times from the two successive pulses bounding a given short off-time. To differentiate between pulse breakup and tailgating, the algorithm includes several comparisons of the adjacent on-times with respect to the ambient traffic conditions. Six steps are included in the algorithm. If two successive pulses satisfy all steps, these pulses are a suspected pulse breakup. Otherwise, these pulses are considered to arise from non-pulse-breakup events. The process is repeated over all pulses at each detector. The results can be used to correct for the suspected pulse-breakup events, and the rate of suspected pulse-breakup events provides an indication of the detector's health. The algorithm was tested over 68,281 actuations with concurrent video ground truth, in both free-flow and congested conditions, from 15 detector stations (22 directional stations). As presented here, the algorithm demonstrated good performance.
Future Scenarios for Traffic Information and Management
Authors: Hoogendoorn Serge , Westerman Marcel , Hoogendoorn-Lanser Sascha
Published: February 2012

The limited coordination between public and private actors in the fields of traffic information and management has led to reduced efficiency and sometimes undesirable situations. The main objective of the Strategic Council for Traffic Information and Traffic Management installed by the Dutch Ministry of Transportation is to develop a joint strategy for the development and the organization of traffic information and traffic management by public authorities and private parties. This strategy will outline future developments and related actions, as well as the organization and roles of the relevant actors for traffic management and information activities. To satisfy these requirements, a proposed scenario-based approach entails sketching different scenarios to describe the situations in 2015, 2020, and 2028 for public and private stakeholders involved in traffic management and traffic information. The approach to determine these scenarios, the scenarios themselves, and their implications are described. The developed scenarios were built around the dimension of freedom of choice of the traveler. After extreme scenarios were identified, possible scenarios were sketched and were linked to instruments and to multiple objectives. On the basis of the scenarios, no-regret activities (those beneficial regardless of scenario) were identified as part of the robust strategy forming essential elements for all possible scenarios. These no-regret activities reflect an important outcome of the project; they entail setting up the value chain of traffic information, setting up a data warehouse to share all relevant data (including the functional and technical standards), and preparing for integrated network management and cooperative systems.
Evaluation of Nonintrusive Technologies for Traffic Detection, Phase 3
Authors: Minge Erik , Petersen Scott , Kotzenmacher Jerry
Published: February 2012

The third phase of the project on evaluation of nonintrusive technologies for traffic detection is a pooled-fund study in which field tests of selected nonintrusive sensors were conducted to determine their accuracy for volume, speed, and classification by length and by axle configuration. Sensors were evaluated in a variety of traffic and environmental conditions at two freeway test sites, with additional tests performed at both signalized and unsignalized intersections. Emphasis was placed on urban traffic conditions, such as heavy congestion, and varying weather and lighting conditions. Although previous tests evaluated sensors’ volume and speed accuracy, the current generation of nonintrusive sensors introduces robust classification capabilities. New technologies, such as ground-mounted laser sensors and improved radar, contribute to this improved performance. Overall, the sensors performed better than their counterparts in previous phases of research for volume and speed accuracy. However, the additional classification capabilities had mixed results. The length-based sensors were generally able to report vehicle lengths within their tolerances, and the axle-based sensors provided accurate interaxle measurements, but significant errors were found in relating these data with a standardized classification scheme, such as FHWA's 13-class scheme. Agencies must perform independent analysis of their classification schemes to determine whether nonintrusive sensors will provide acceptable results.
Forecasting Traffic Loads for Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design
Authors: Hajek Jerry J. , Billing John R. , Swan D. J.
Published: February 2012

An overview looks at issues affecting forecasting of traffic loads for pavement design with the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide methodology. The establishment of reliable observed traffic data has recently received considerable attention. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the necessary task of projecting observed historical traffic data to future years. The three hierarchical data input levels of the design guide apply not only to the observed traffic data but also to the forecasting of traffic data throughout the pavement design period. The forecasting effort should be commensurate with the hierarchical input levels. The topics related to forecasting of traffic loads for pavement design include forecasting of truck volumes, changes in truck types, and axle load spectra; the use of axle load spectra in the forecasting process; and the estimation of maximum traffic volumes that highways can carry. The main trends affecting future traffic loads include economic conditions, restructuring of the economy and manufacturing industries, globalization of the economy and the effect of free trade, regulatory changes in truck size and weight, changes in cargo shipping, e-commerce, and improvements in truck utilization.
Analysis of Weigh-in-Motion Data for Truck Weight Grouping in Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide
Authors: Kweon Young-Jun , Cottrell Benjamin H.
Published: February 2012

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Virginia Department of Transportation's traffic data plan for implementation of the Mechanistic–Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) with weigh-in-motion (WIM) data from 22 sites in Virginia for 2007 and 2008. The evaluation included an assessment of the WIM data for pavement design and for enforcement of overloaded trucks and the appropriateness of the truck weight groups. Grouping the sites on the basis of average equivalent single-axle loads was notably different from the current truck weight groups and grouping results based on traffic characteristics such as truck volume. Thus, further efforts to suggest a better grouping scheme are needed. For calculating monthly traffic factors, an input to the MEPDG, volume data from WIM sites could lead to biased results. Thus, vehicle classification count data are a better source than WIM data for the factors. The enforcement sites were found to carry heavier trucks in terms of average equivalent single-axle loads than the sites installed for pavement data collection. Thus, the concern that truck weights collected at the enforcement sites might be inappropriate for pavement design because of possible avoidance of the sites by overloaded trucks seems unwarranted. However, because of several factors and limitations, a definitive conclusion regarding this result could not be drawn.
The Performance of Softer Masculinities on the University Dance Floor
Authors: Peterson Grant Tyler , Anderson Eric
Published: February 2012

In this article we examine the masculinities of heterosexual men in English university dance club settings. We highlight that multiple influences shape perceptions of gender and sexuality—influences that are also used to subvert a polarized gender and sexuality order. This is evidenced by how straight men dance, interact, and even kiss each other. Accordingly, we ask what it means when queer masculinities are performed by otherwise straight-identifying men. We examine the implications that the queering of straights has on understandings of gender and sexuality, arguing that, whether the context is a sporting event or a dance hall, social terrains rely on a body of assumed knowledge that helps construct the social meanings inculcated in and performed by moving bodies. We suggest that homosocial intimacy expressed through men's dancing together, which used to be considered subversive in the 1980s, is increasingly found in the domain of popular and normative heterosexual youth culture today.
PET-Guided Surgery — High Correlation between Positron Emission Tomography with 11C-5-Hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) and Surgical Findings in Abdominal Neuroendocrine Tumours
Authors: Örlefors Håkan , Sundin Anders , Eriksson Barbro , Skogseid Britt , Öberg Kjell , Åkerström Göran , Hellman Per
Published: February 2012

Positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C-labeled 5-hydroxytryptophane (5-HTP) is a sensitive technique to visualize neuroendocrine tumours (NETs), due to high intracellular uptake of amine-precursors like L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) and 5-HTP. NETs are often small and difficult to localize in spite of overt clinical symptoms due to hormonal excess. In our study, 38 consecutive NET patients underwent 11C-5-HTP-PET and morphological imaging by CT within 12 weeks prior to surgery. Surgical, histopathological and 5-HTP PET findings were correlated. 11C-5-HTP-PET corresponded to the surgical findings in 31 cases, was false negative in six, and true negative in one case resulting in 83.8% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Positive predicted value was 100%. In 11 patients 11C-5-HTP-PET was the only imaging method applied to localize the tumour. Thus, we could demonstrate that functional imaging by 11C-5-HTP-PET in many cases adds vital preoperative diagnostic information and in more than every fourth patient was the only imaging method that will guide the surgeon in finding the NET-lesion. Although the present results demonstrates that 11C-5-HTP may be used as an universal NET tracer, the sensitivity to visualize benign insulinomas and non functioning pancreatic NETs was lower.
Polysilane Dendrimers
Authors: Krempner Clemens
Published: February 2012

The synthesis, structure and electronic properties of polysilane dendrimers, a relatively new class of highly branched and silicon-rich molecular architectures is reviewed. After a detailed discussion of main synthetic strategies to well-defined single-core and double-core polysilane dendrimers, important structural and conformational features determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography and 29Si-NMR spectroscopy are presented. The last part highlights the most interesting photochemical properties of polysilane dendrimers such as UV absorption and emission behavior, which are compared with those of linear and branched polysilanes.
Inscribing Authority: Female Title Bearers in Jewish Inscriptions
Authors: Duncan Carrie
Published: February 2012

This paper investigates representations of gender in the material culture of the ancient synagogue. The pertinent data are numerous dedicatory and funerary inscriptions linking individual Jews, men and women, with titles seemingly associated with leadership in Late Antique synagogues (ca. 200–600 CE). Bernadette Brooten’s influential 1982 monograph argued against the prevailing tendency to characterize these titles as indications of power, authority, and responsibility when associated with men but as meaningless flattery when applied to women. She suggests that synagogue titles denote power, authority and responsibility on all title bearers equally, both men and women. I question the continued utility of proffering female title-holders as enumerable examples of powerful women rescued from their forgotten place in history. Using theoretical insights developed by historians Elizabeth Clark and Gabrielle Spiegel, this paper will engage a comparative analysis with the work of Riet van Bremen and Saba Mahmood to develop new methods of conceptualizing women’s authority in early Jewish communities. I propose that viewing women’s synagogue titles as culturally constructed representations allows for a fruitful inquiry into how women’s titles were used by male-dominated synagogue communities in their self-articulation and public presentation of Judaism.
Vector Disparity Sensor with Vergence Control for Active Vision Systems
Authors: Barranco Francisco , Diaz Javier , Gibaldi Agostino , Sabatini Silvio P. , Ros Eduardo
Published: February 2012

This paper presents an architecture for computing vector disparity for active vision systems as used on robotics applications. The control of the vergence angle of a binocular system allows us to efficiently explore dynamic environments, but requires a generalization of the disparity computation with respect to a static camera setup, where the disparity is strictly 1-D after the image rectification. The interaction between vision and motor control allows us to develop an active sensor that achieves high accuracy of the disparity computation around the fixation point, and fast reaction time for the vergence control. In this contribution, we address the development of a real-time architecture for vector disparity computation using an FPGA device. We implement the disparity unit and the control module for vergence, version, and tilt to determine the fixation point. In addition, two on-chip different alternatives for the vector disparity engines are discussed based on the luminance (gradient-based) and phase information of the binocular images. The multiscale versions of these engines are able to estimate the vector disparity up to 32 fps on VGA resolution images with very good accuracy as shown using benchmark sequences with known ground-truth. The performances in terms of frame-rate, resource utilization, and accuracy of the presented approaches are discussed. On the basis of these results, our study indicates that the gradient-based approach leads to the best trade-off choice for the integration with the active vision system.
A MODEL FOR SOLVING STRUCTURAL, TECHNOLOGICAL AND SAFETY PROBLEMS / KONSTRUKCINIŲ, TECHNOLOGINIŲ IR SAUGOS PROBLEMŲ SPRENDIMO MODELIS
Authors: Liaudanskienė Rita , Simanavičienė Rūta , Ustinovichius Leonas
Published: February 2012

The authors of the present work offer the developed model of suggesting solutions to structural, technological and safety problems based on the use of a tree diagram as a tool for decision analysis and visualization. The model is aimed at integrating solutions worked out in the considered areas into a single variant as a research object. A multi-stage decision model reflecting a set of the available combinations of alternatives is developed. The branches of the tree diagram are interlinked based on the inherent relations between building structures, technologies and work safety. The interaction and interrelationship between the criteria describing the above issues affect each criterion in a very specific way. The performance of the system allows the authors to evaluate the effect of each criterion and its interaction with other criteria, which in turn helps with choosing appropriate solutions to solving structural, technological and safety problems. Santrauka Šiame darbe autoriai sukūrė konstrukcinių, technologinių ir saugos sprendimų modelį, taikydami sprendimų analizės ir vizualizavimo įrankį – sprendimų medį. Pagrindinė šio modelio paskirtis – sujungti trijų sričių sprendimus į vieną bendrą nagrinėjamą variantą. Sukurtas daugiapakopis sprendimo modelis, vaizduojantis galimų alternatyvių derinių aibę. Sprendimų medžio šakos tarpusavyje sujungiamos remiantis esamu konstrukcijų, technologijų ir darbų saugos neatsiejamu ryšiu. Veiksnių sąveikos ir susijungimas turi unikalią įtaką kiekvienam veiksniui. Sistemos veikimas leidžia įvertinti kiekvieno rodiklio sąveikos poveikius, o tai padeda užtikrinti tinkamą konstrukcinių, technologinių ir saugos sprendimų pasirinkimą, sudaro prielaidą įgyvendinti statybos projektus išsaugant žmogaus gyvybę ir užkertant kelią galimiems sveikatos sutrikdymams.
SERVICEABILITY ANALYSIS OF FLEXURAL REINFORCED CONCRETE MEMBERS / LENKIAMŲJŲ GELŽBETONINIŲ ELEMENTŲ TINKAMUMO ANALIZĖ
Authors: Kaklauskas Gintaris , Gribniak Viktor , Jakubovskis Ronaldas , Gudonis Eugenijus , Salys Donatas , Kupliauskas Rimantas
Published: February 2012

The paper presents a simple discrete crack model for analyzing the deformation and crack width of reinforced concrete beams. The model is based on a non-iterative algorithm and uses a rigid-plastic bond-slip law and elastic properties of materials. Curvatures and crack widths predicted by the proposed technique were checked against the test results of six experimental beams, reported by the authors and other investigators. The article also proposes and discusses a numerical procedure for deriving the average bond stress with reference to the test data. Serviceability analysis resulted in a reasonable agreement on the test measurements.

Santrauka

Straipsnyje pateikiamas supaprastintas diskrečiųjų plyšiu modelis gelžbetoninių sijų deformacijų ir plyšio pločio analizei. Modelis pagrįstas neiteraciniu algoritmu, remiantis standžiai plastiniu sukibimo desniu ir tampriosiomis medžiagų savybėmis. Remiantis skirtingų autorių atliktais eksperimentiniais duomenimis, modelis patikrintas skaičiuojant gelžbetoninių sijų kreivius ir plyšio pločius. Apskaičiuotos kreivių ir plyšio pločių reikšmės gana tiksliai sutapo su eksperimentiniais rezultatais. Taip pat pasiūlytas originalus vidutinių sukibimo įtempių apskaičiavimo metodas, remiantis eksperimentiniais lenkiamujų gelžbetoninių sijų bandymo rezultatais.
ACOUSTICALLY ASSESSED INFLUENCE OF AIR PORE STRUCTURE ON FAILURE OF SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETES UNDER COMPRESSION / AKUSTIŠKAI ĮVERTINTA ORO PORŲ STRUKTŪROS ĮTAKA SUSITANKINANČIO BETONO SUSILPNĖJIMUI VEIKIANT GNIUŽDYMUI
Authors: Gorzelańczyk Tomasz
Published: February 2012

The paper presents the results of investigations into the influence of pore structure on the failure of self-compacting concretes modified with superplasticizers commonly used in construction. Pore structure examinations were carried out in practically the whole range of pore diameters by means of an image analyzer and a mercury porosimeter. The failure of the self-compacting concretes under compression, was investigated by the acoustic emission technique and other methods. The levels of cracking initiating stress σiand critical stress σcr, demarcating the different stages in the failure process, were determined. It has been shown that there is a relationship between the pore structure parameters and the levels. The fatigue strength of the self-compacting concretes was calculated from the experimental results and on this basis the suitability of the concretes for structures subject to cyclic loads was determined. Santrauka Straipsnyje pateikiami porų struktūros įtakos susitankinančio betono su superplastikliais susilpnėjimui tyrimų rezultatai. Buvo atlikti praktiškai visų skersmenų porų struktūros tyrimai naudojant vaizdo analizatorių ir gyvsidabrio porosimetrą. Susitankinančio betono susilpnėjimas esant gniuždymui buvo tiriamas akustinės emisijos ir kitais metodais. Nustatyti pleišėjimo lygiai ir įtampos, žymintys skirtingus susilpnėjimo lygius. Parodyta, kad yra ryšys tarp porų struktūros parametrų ir susilpnėjimo lygių. Pagal eksperimentinius rezultatus suskaičiuotas betono atsparumas ir nustatytas betono tinkamumas konstrukcijoms, atsižvelgiant į ciklines apkrovas.
La consommation critique. Mouvements pour une alimentation responsable et solidaire
Authors: Chaillou Aurore
Published: February 2012

Résumé Geoffrey Pleyers (sous la dir.), La consommation critique. Mouvements pour une alimentation responsable et solidaire , DDB, 2011, 328 p., 26 €
La vie privée en péril
Authors: Renouard Camille
Published: February 2012

Résumé Alex Türk, La vie privée en péril, Odile Jacob, 2011, 270 p., 19,90 €
L'homme selon le DSM. Le nouvel ordre psychiatrique
Authors: Renouard Camille
Published: February 2012

Résumé Maurice Corcos, L’homme selon le DSM. Le nouvel ordre psychiatrique , Albin Michel, 2011, 235 p., 20 €
L'évaluation monétaire des dommages du risque naturel d'inondation en région PACA : une analyse à l'aide d'un modèle d'équilibre général calculable
Authors: Sassi Marc
Published: February 2012

Ce travail se propose d’évaluer les dommages monétaires des activités économiques clés de la région Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur au risque naturel d’inondation à l’aide d’un modèle d’équilibre général calculable. En retenant comme crue de référence l’inondation centennale de décembre 2003, nous élaborons un modèle statique intégrant le paramètre technique « inondation » aux activités agricoles et commerciales régionales. A l’aide de trois simulations, nous étudions le retour à l’équilibre du système ayant subi une perturbation. Les résultats montrent une plus grande vulnérabilité des activités agricoles au risque d’inondation mais des effets marginaux plus importants des activités commerciales sur l’économie régionale.
Le commentaire du Sermon sur la montagne par saint Augustin et la morale de saint Thomas
Authors: Pinckaers Servais
Published: February 2012

Résumé La Secunda Pars de la Somme théologique ne peut se comprendre sans le commentaire augustinien du Sermon sur la montagne. Ce commentaire est une œuvre de jeunesse, un peu rigide, mais déjà de grande valeur. Saint Augustin est le seul Père à commenter le Sermon pour lui-même. L’évêque d’Hippone veut convaincre ses auditeurs sur la question des meilleures mœurs chrétiennes. Mais, plus importante encore dans ce commentaire, est la question de la recherche du bonheur à laquelle il souhaite répondre. Les Béatitudes apparaissent alors comme le texte de référence. Saint Thomas assume l’option de saint Augustin lorsqu’il traite, de son côté, de la Loi nouvelle. Le Sermon sur la montagne remplace le Décalogue comme cœur de la morale chrétienne. Augustin avait lui-même déjà repris le travail de saint Ambroise sur les huit Béatitudes comme chemin de vie chrétienne. Le commentaire d’Augustin est fondé sur son expérience personnelle telle qu’il la relate dans les Confessions . C’est bien un chemin vertueux qu’il s’agit d’emprunter. Mt 5 est la réponse du Christ lui-même à la quête du bonheur. Saint Thomas modifie et synthétise les choix de saint Augustin en concentrant plus encore son explication sur le thème du bonheur. Le traité des Béatitudes est à la première place dans le plan de sa théologie morale. Son approche est plus spéculative. Le lien entre Béatitudes et vertu y est plus nettement signifié. Saint Thomas estime comme saint Augustin que la vie chrétienne a besoin de l’aide de l’Esprit Saint et de ses dons. Là encore, saint Thomas est plus spéculatif et plus systématique qu’Augustin. Enfin, les Béatitudes sont mises en lien par Augustin avec les demandes du Pater et les dons de l’Esprit. L’enseignement augustinien sur le Notre-Père n’a été que peu repris par saint Thomas.
Les sciences cognitives sont-elles condamnées ?
Authors: Desclès Jean-Pierre
Published: February 2012

Résumé Si on tente de dresser brièvement l’historique des sciences cognitives, il convient de rappeler que leur objet d’étude est très complexe. Dans un premier temps, elles ont travaillé à une modélisation idéalisée de supports neurobiologiques. Dans un second temps, ce qui est devenu le cognitivisme a introduit des représentations dans l’analyse du fonctionnement de l’esprit. Notons aussi l’approche originale de N. Chomsky, plus psychologique, l’émergence d’une psychologie cognitive distincte de la psychologie clinique sous l’influence de la linguistique et la mise en place de l’approche connexionniste où chaque neurone est un automate élémentaire. Comment Jean-Pierre Dupuy se situe-t-il face à ces sciences ? Il faudrait, en tout cas, se démarquer d’une approche par trop réductionniste ou dualiste entre esprit, d’un côté, et cerveau matériel, de l’autre. Pour ce faire, nous attirons l’attention sur le fait suivant : la compilation propre à l’informatique devient un véritable principe cognitif, ce qui n’est pas sans poser de nouvelles difficultés. Comment l’esprit adhère-t-il à la matière (J. Ladrière) ? Le réductionnisme est très présent dans les nanosciences et nanotechnologies. Changer l’homme sur la base de tels modèles est-il souhaitable ? C’est l’analyse de l’humain qui est menacé par un réductionnisme simpliste. Enfin, J.-P. Dupuy semble particulièrement pertinent lorsqu’il distingue temps de l’histoire et temps du projet. Le livre intitulé Catastrophisme éclairé jette les bases philosophiques d’une métaphysique de la temporalité.