bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation between panoramic radiographic signs and high‐risk anatomical factors for impacted mandibular third molars
Authors: Harada N. , Vasudeva S.B. , Joshi R. , Seki K. , Araki K. , Matsuda Y. , Okano T.
Published: February 2013

Aim

To determine the relationship between radiographic signs on panoramic radiographs and anatomic features of thinning of the cortical plates and closeness of the root of the third molar to the mandibular canal on cone beam computed tomography images (CBCT).

Methods

Panoramic images were analysed for the relationship of the root of the third molar to the mandibular canal. The CBCT images were analysed for the relation between mandibular canal and the third molar root. The results were tabulated, and Chi square test (P < 0.05) was used for the assessment of the relationship between the panoramic sign and the CBCT findings.

Results

The panoramic signs, especially, darkening of the root and interruption of the white line of the canal correlated with the location of the mandibular canal to the impacted tooth, thinning of the lingual cortical plate and the closeness of the canal and the molar.

Conclusion

Darkening of the root and interruption of the white line of the canal on panoramic radiograph can predict lingual cortical plate thinning and close relation between third molar root and the mandibular canal.
Humoral Autoimmune Response to IGF2 mRNA‐Binding Protein (IMP2/p62) and Its Tissue‐Specific Expression in Colon Cancer
Authors: Liu W. , Li Z. , Xu W. , Wang Q. , Yang S.
Published: February 2013

To understand the autoimmune response and immunogenicity of a tumour‐associated antigen (TAA) and IGF2 mRNA‐binding protein (IMP2/62) in colon cancer, autoantibody to this TAA was evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blotting and indirect immunofluorescence assay in sera from patients with colon cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) study with colon cancer tissues was also performed to analyse protein expression of IMP2/p62. The result has showed that there has a relatively higher frequency of autoantibody response to IMP2/p62 in colon cancer (23.4%, 15/64) compared to patients with colonic adenomas (4.8%, 2/42) and normal individuals (2.9%, 1/34). Of 64 colon cancer tissue specimens examined, 48 tissues (75.0%, 48/64) expressed p62, while normal colon tissues did not show any expression of p62 (0/34). The positive rate of antinuclear antibody (ANA) in colon cancer was 82.8% (53/64), which is significantly higher than that in patients with colonic adenomas (21.4%, 9/42) and normal individuals (17.6%, 6/34). The data suggest that the combinational detection of anti‐p62 autoantibody and ANA is of significance in diagnosing colon cancer and monitoring the prognosis of the disease.
The Social Aspects of Xenotransplantation
Authors: Cook Peta S.
Published: February 2013

Xenotransplantation is a controversial medical science where living animal parts are transplanted into humans. While the literature on xenotransplantation is vast in regards to medical and scientific research, and ethics, it is comparatively lacking in social science. This article examines the literature on the social aspects of xenotransplantation, with a focus on public perception, ontology and identity, meat, knowledge production, animal bodies and scientific knowledge. This demonstrates that the science seeks to stabilise the understandings and social perceptions of xenotransplantation by using natural and cultural arguments, but the public exhibit significant uncertainty and ambiguity. The article concludes by suggesting future directions for the social research on xenotransplantation.
Fighting Disease with Autophagy
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2013

A peptide that induces autophagy has beneficial effects in cellular responses to viruses and the accumulation of protein aggregates.
Draft Genome Sequence of the
Paenibacillus
sp. Strain ICGEB2008 (MTCC 5639) Isolated from the Gut of Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Adlakha Nidhi , Ritturaj Kushwaha Hemant , Rajagopal Raman , Yazdani Syed Shams
Published: February 2013

Paenibacillus
sp. strain ICGEB2008 (MTCC 5639) is a Gram-positive cellulolytic bacterium, isolated from the gut of
Helicoverpa armigera
. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Paenibacillus
sp. ICGEB2008. The annotation of the ~5.7-Mb sequence indicated a cluster of genes related to the glycosyl hydrolase family and the butanediol biosynthesis pathway.
Genome Sequence of Klebsiella pneumoniae KpQ3, a DHA-1 β-Lactamase-Producing Nosocomial Isolate
Authors: Tobes Raquel , Codoñer Francisco M. , López-Camacho Elena , Salanueva Iñigo J. , Manrique Marina , Brozynska Marta , Gómez-Gil Rosa , Martínez-Blanch Juan F. , Álvarez-Tejado Miguel , Pareja Eduardo , Mingorance Jesús
Published: February 2013

Klebsiella pneumoniae
KpQ3 is a multidrug-resistant isolate obtained from a blood culture of a patient in a burn unit in the Hospital Universitario La Paz (Madrid, Spain) in 2008. The genome contains multiple antibiotic resistance genes, including a plasmid-mediated DHA-1 cephalosporinase gene.
Genotypic composition and the relationship between genotypic composition and geographical proximity of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa in western Japan
Authors: Ohbayashi Kako , Hodoki Yoshikuni , Kobayashi Yuki , Okuda Noboru , Nakano Shin-ichi
Published: February 2013

Microcystis aeruginosa is one of the bloom-forming harmful algae in freshwater ecosystems. We genetically characterized Microcystis populations during bloom-forming periods in various reservoirs, lakes, and ponds in Japan during 2009. Using phylogenetic analysis, we evaluated the relationship between current genotype expansions and geographic location within western Japan and intraspecific variation. Microcystis aeruginosa colonies were isolated at 15 sites and were analyzed by sequencing the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal operon, and the potential to produce toxins was assessed by PCR-based detection of the microcystin synthetase gene mcyG. In total, 171 colonies were separated into 41 genotypes. The highest genotypic composition was detected in the south basin of Lake Biwa and the lowest in Lagoon Iba. Cluster analysis indicated no obvious association between genotypic composition and geographic distance. Thus, clear genetic differentiation accompanied by geographic origins was not found in western Japan. The resulting neighbor-joining tree revealed 3 clusters, 2 of which contained strains that showed both nonamplification and amplification of the mcyG gene.
THE EFFECT OF GATE ON PERSISTENT CURRENT IN MESOSCOPIC OPEN RING
Authors: WANG L. G. , HUANG Y. L.
Published: February 2013

The transport property of electrons in a mesoscopic ring with one arm subject to gate is investigated through the quantum waveguide theory. The persistent current is produced and controlled by tuning the strength of potential energy even in the absence of magnetic field. The persistent current can not only be observed if one tunes the Fermi energy nearing the antiresonance or the Fano resonance of the transport current in the weak strength of potential energy, but also can be detected at the resonance of the transport current in the strong strength of potential energy. An impurity is embedded in the right lead of the ring was also investigated and the large persistent current can be produced by varying the strength of the impurity potential and the length between the impurity and ring.
LOCATING AN OBNOXIOUS LINE AMONG PLANAR OBJECTS
Authors: CHEN DANNY Z. , WANG HAITAO
Published: February 2013

Given a set P of n points in the plane such that each point has a positive weight, we study the problem of finding an obnoxious line that intersects the convex hull of P and maximizes the minimum weighted Euclidean distance to all points of P. We present an O(n2 log n) time algorithm for the problem, improving the previously best-known O(n2 log 3 n) time solution. We also consider a variant of this problem whose input is a set of m polygons with a total of n vertices in the plane such that each polygon has a positive weight and whose goal is to locate an obnoxious line with respect to the weighted polygons. An O(mn + n log 2 n log m + m2 log n log 2 m) time algorithm for this variant was known previously. We give an improved algorithm of O(mn + n log 2 n + m2 log n) time. Further, we reduce the time bound of a previous algorithm for the case of the problem with unweighted polygons from O((m2 + n log m) log n) to O(m2 + n log m).
APPLICATION OF A TRANS-WEB APPROACH TO PLATING TECHNIQUE FOR AN EXTRA-ARTICULAR FRACTURE OF THE PROXIMAL PHALANX
Authors: Itadera Eichi , Himeno Daisuke
Published: February 2013

We report the case of an extra-articular fracture at the base of the proximal phalanx of the ring finger treated by plate and screw fixation using a modified trans-web approach. The combination of trans-web and mid-lateral approach provided a wide operative field and adequate visualization without marked damage to the soft tissues, and the operative outcome was excellent.
CONTROLLING THE REMOTE IONIZATION DISTANCE BY A LINEARLY CHIRPED FEMTOSECOND LASER PULSE IN AIR
Authors: SOHBATZADEH F. , HOSSEINI S. P.
Published: February 2013

In this paper, propagation of a linearly chirped laser pulse in air was investigated to control the remote ionization distance, numerically. Laser spot size and pulse length will be obtained versus effective initial parameters such as positive and negative initial chirp. It is seen that the initial chirp parameter and primary curvature of wave front have important role in focal distance variation and remote ionization. It was also shown that the group velocity dispersion (GVD) could alter and split the positively chirped laser pulse profile after nonlinear self-focusing.
ON THE CONVERGENCE OF THE MFS–MPS SCHEME FOR 1D POISSON'S EQUATION
Authors: CHEN C. S. , HUANG C.-S. , LIN K. H.
Published: February 2013

The method of fundamental solutions (MFS) has been an effective meshless method for solving homogeneous partial differential equations. Coupled with radial basis functions (RBFs), the MFS has been extended to solve the inhomogeneous problems through the evaluation of the approximate particular solution and homogeneous solution. In this paper, we prove the the approximate solution of the above numerical process for solving 1D Poisson's equation converges in the sense of Lagrange interpolating polynomial using the result of Driscoll and Fornberg [2002].
ON GENERALIZED NONHOLONOMIC CHAPLYGIN SPHERE PROBLEM
Authors: TSIGANOV A. V.
Published: February 2013

We discuss linear in momenta Poisson structure for the generalized nonholonomic Chaplygin sphere problem and prove that it is nontrivial deformation of the canonical Poisson structure on e*(3).
Limits on Estimating Autocorrelation Matrices from Mobile MIMO Measurements
Authors: Willink Tricia J.
Published: February 2013

On mobile radio links, data samples collected at successive time intervals and at closely spaced frequencies are correlated, so long data records are required to acquire sufficient independent samples for analysis. Statistical analysis of long data records is not reliable because the channel statistics remain wide-sense stationary only over short distances. This is a particular concern for MIMO systems when full autocorrelation matrices may be required for channel modelling or characterisation. MIMO channel responses from mobile measurements in an urban microcell have been used to investigate the limits on estimating autocorrelation matrices, and these are compared to those predicted by commonly used channel models.
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in Turkey: Experiences from 3 Centers
Authors: Selcukbiricik Fatih , Yalçın Suayip , Tural Deniz , Erdamar Sibel , Demir Gokhan , Doğusoy Gülen , Mandel Nil Molinas
Published: February 2013

Background: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal system. The most common primary site of GIST is the stomach. The treatment is primarily surgery, and the standard medical therapy is imatinib. Long-term survival can be obtained with good follow-up and treatment. Materials and Methods: In this study, data entry was performed using a web-based patient registry system for patients who were referred to 3 centers and retrospectively were diagnosed with GIST. Results: The study cohort consisted of 249 patients, including 160 men (64.3%) and 89 women (35.7%). The mean age was 59 years (range 21–90 years). Initially, 69.9% of the patients had local disease, while 30.1% had metastatic disease. The tumor was located in the stomach in 45.6% of patients. According to the Fletcher risk classification, the very low risk group included 8 subjects (3.2%), the low risk group included 40 subjects (16.1%), the moderate risk group included 56 subjects (22.5%), and the high risk group included 117 subjects (47%); the unspecified group included 28 subjects (11.5%). Conclusion: These data are important for revealing the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival data of patients with GIST, who are treated and followed up in Turkey.
Engraftment Patterns of Human Adult Mesenchymal Stem Cells Expose Electrotonic and Paracrine Proarrhythmic Mechanisms in Myocardial Cell Cultures
Authors: Askar Saïd F.A. , Ramkisoensing Arti A. , Atsma Douwe E. , Schalij Martin J. , de Vries Antoine A.F. , Pijnappels Daniël A.
Published: February 2013

Background—

After intramyocardial injection, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may engraft and influence host myocardium. However, engraftment rate and pattern of distribution are difficult to control in vivo, hampering assessment of potential adverse effects. In this study, the role of the engraftment patterns of MSCs on arrhythmicity in controllable in vitro models is investigated.

Methods and Results—

Cocultures of 4×10
5
neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and 7% or 28% adult human MSCs (hMSCs) in diffuse or clustered distribution patterns were prepared. Electrophysiological effects were studied by optical mapping and patch-clamping. In diffuse cocultures, hMSCs dose-dependently decreased neonatal rat cardiomyocyte excitability, slowed conduction, and prolonged action potential duration until 90% repolarization (APD
90
). Triggered activity (14% versus 0% in controls) and increased inducibility of re-entry (53% versus 6% in controls) were observed in 28% hMSC cocultures. MSC clusters increased APD
90
, slowed conduction locally, and increased re-entry inducibility (23%), without increasing triggered activity. Pharmacological heterocellular electric uncoupling increased excitability and conduction velocity to 133% in 28% hMSC cocultures, but did not alter APD
90
. Transwell experiments showed that hMSCs dose-dependently increased APD
90
, APD dispersion, inducibility of re-entry and affected specific ion channel protein levels, whereas excitability was unaltered. Incubation with hMSC–derived exosomes did not increase APD in neonatal rat cardiomyocyte cultures.

Conclusions—

Adult hMSCs affect arrhythmicity of neonatal rat cardiomyocyte cultures by heterocellular coupling leading to depolarization–induced conduction slowing and by direct release of paracrine factors that negatively affect repolarization rate. The extent of these detrimental effects depends on the number and distribution pattern of hMSCs. These results suggest that caution should be urged against potential adverse effects of myocardial hMSC engraftment.
Ambohitantelya yuripopovi gen. nov. et sp. nov., a new apterous Mezirinae from Madagascar (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aradidae) with unique metathoracic evaporatoria
Authors: HEISS ERNST , BAŇAŘ PETR
Published: February 2013

In addition to the ten genera of apterous Mezirinae recorded to date from Madagascar, a new genus Ambohitanlelya gen. nov. with uniquely formed metathoracic evaporatoria is erected for the A. yuripopovi sp. nov., which is described and illustrated.
Expression profile of the Plasmodium falciparum intra-erythrocytic stage protein, PF3D7_1363700
Authors: Roberts Renee N , Schlarman Maggie S , Kariuki Michael M , LaCrue Alexis N , Ou Ruguang , Beerntsen Brenda T
Published: February 2013

Background

Efforts to control malaria are demanding due to drug-resistant parasites, insecticide-resistant mosquitoes and poor health infrastructure in malaria-endemic countries. Therefore, the research and development of additional malaria control methods are crucial. For host-parasite interactions, surface antigens and secreted proteins are likely to be involved in infectivity and invasion of host tissues and therefore can be effective targets for control by vaccines, drug therapy, or novel mosquito control methods. In an effort to identify and characterize genes that may have a role in host-parasite interaction, this study describes the expression profile of Plasmodium falciparum PF3D7_1363700.

Methods

A P. falciparum gene, PF3D7_1363700, was identified by a search of the annotated Plasmodium genome database. Protein alignments of PF3D7_1363700 orthologues from various Plasmodium species were performed to demonstrate protein similarity. Transcript expression profiles of PF3D7_1363700 were determined via reverse-transcriptase PCR and protein expression was investigated by immunofluorescence assays, western blot analysis and green fluorescent trafficking studies.

Results

The PF3D7_1363700 protein demonstrates significant similarity with orthologues in other Plasmodium species and appears to be unique to Apicomplexans. The PF3D7_1363700 transcription profile demonstrated expression during the intra-erythrocytic, oocyst sporozoite, and salivary gland sporozoite stages while the PF3D7_1363700 protein was only detected during the intra-erythrocytic stages.

Conclusions

This research utilized an in silico approach to identify a well-conserved protein known as PF3D7_1363700. By molecular, biochemical and cellular analyses, PF3D7_1363700 was discovered to be an intra-erythrocytic-specific stage protein that is unique to Apicomplexans.
SET protein up-regulated testosterone production in the cultured preantral follicles
Authors: Xu Boqun , Gao Lingling , Cui Yugui , Gao Li , Dai Xue , Li Mei , Zhang Yuan , Ma Xiang , Diao Feiyang , Liu Jiayin
Published: February 2013

Background

We found previously that the expression of SET gene was up-regulated in polycystic ovaries. Evidences suggested that SET protein was essential for regulating both the promoter activity of CYP17A1 and the biological activity of P450c17. In this study, we explored whether SET regulated androgen production in preantral follicles.

Methods

The mouse preantral follicles were cultured in vitro. Testosterone secretion and expression of steroidogenic enzymes were observed in the preantral follicles treated in vitro by SET overexpression and knockdown.

Results

Testosterone levels in the media of the AdCMV-SET infected follicles significantly increased, and the CYP17A1 and HSD3B2 expression also significantly increased (P < 0.05). Testosterone levels in AdSiRNA-SET infected group decreased, and so did CYP17A1 and HSD3B2 expression (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

SET played a positive role in regulating ovarian androgen biosynthesis by enhancing the transcription of steroidogenic enzymes CYP17A1 and HSD3B2, which maybe contribute to the hyperandrogenism in PCOS.
Reviewer acknowledgement 2012
Authors: Menz Hylton , Potter Mike
Published: February 2013

Contributing reviewers

The Editors of Journal of Foot and Ankle Research would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 5 (2012).
Targeting early B-cell receptor signaling induces apoptosis in leukemic mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Boukhiar Mohand-Akli , Roger Claudine , Tran Julie , Gressin Remy , Martin Antoine , Ajchenbaum-Cymbalista Florence , Varin-Blank Nadine , Ledoux Dominique , Baran-Marszak Fanny
Published: February 2013

Background

We previously showed that B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling pathways are important forin vitrosurvival of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cells. To further identify early BCR-activated signaling pathways involved in MCL cell survival, we focused our study on BCR-proximal kinases such as LYN whose dysregulations could contribute to the aggressive course of MCL.

Methods

Primary MCL cells were isolated from 14 leukemic patients. Early BCR-induced genes were identified by qRT-PCR array. The basal and BCR-induced phosphorylation of LYN and JNK were evaluated by immunoblottting. Cell survival signals were evaluated by apoptosis using flow cytometry.

Results

We showed that LYN was constitutively phosphorylated in MCL cell lines and in 9/10 leukemic MCL cases. Treatment with dasatinib or with a specific inhibitor of Src kinases such as PP2 suppressed constitutive LYN activation and increasedin vitrospontaneous apoptosis of primary MCL cells. BCR engagement resulted in an increase of LYN phosphorylation leading to activation of c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and over-expression of the early growth response gene-1 (EGR-1). Inhibition of JNK with SP600125 induced apoptosis and reduced level of basal and BCR-induced expression of EGR-1. Furthermore, decreasing EGR1 expression by siRNA reduced BCR-induced cell survival. Treatment with PP2 or with dasatinib suppressed BCR-induced LYN and JNK phosphorylation as well as EGR-1 upregulation and is associated with a decrease of cell survival in all cases analysed.

Conclusions

This study highlights the importance of BCR signaling in MCL cell survival and points out to the efficiency of kinase inhibitors in suppressing proximal BCR signaling events and in inducing apoptosis.
Transitorisch ischämische Attacke nach Schaumverödung der Vena saphena parva
Authors: Winkler M. , Brunner A. , Noppeney T. , Noppeney J.
Published: February 2013

Wir berichten über einen 55-jährigen Patienten, der nach Schaumsklerotherapie der Vena saphena parva eine 30 Minuten dauernde transitorisch ischämische Attacke erlitten hat. Bei dem Patienten bestand eine ausgeprägte Varikose der Vena saphena parva beidseits sowie der Vena accessoria anterior linksseitig. Es bestand ein Stadium C3 nach CEAP-Klassifikation beidseits.

An Vorerkrankungen ist ein chronisches Vorhofflimmern bei ausgeprägtem Sinussyndrom bekannt, therapeutische Antikoagulation. Zusätzlich besteht eine dilatative Kardiomyopathie mit eingeschränkter EF von 35 %. Nach zunächst zwei unauffälligen Schaum -sklerotherapie-Sitzungen der Vena accessoria anterior mit 0,5 % aufgeschäumten Polidocanol kam es bei der dritten Sitzung, Schaum -sklerotherapie 0,5 % aufgeschäumtes Polidocanol der Vena saphena parva, zu einer transitorisch ischämischen Attacke mit Kraftlosigkeit im linken Bein, Kraftminderung im Be-reich der linken Hand und Taubheitsgefühl der oberen und unteren linken Extremität. Nach einer Dauer von 30 Minuten bildeten sich die Symptome komplett zurück.

Eine vor der Intervention durchgeführte kardiologische Abklärung konnte ein offenes Foramen ovale, sowie intrakardiale Thromben ausschließen. Eine Carotisstenose als Ursache der TIA konnte unsererseits mittels farbcodierter Duplexsonographie ausgeschlossen werden. Da während der Überwachungsphase nach Auftreten der TIA der Rhythmus stabil war und keinerlei Frequenzabfall oder größere Pausen in der EKG-Überwachung festzustellen war, gehen wir davon aus, dass die Schaumsklerotherapie Ursache der TIA war, wenngleich eine kardiale Ursache mit 100 %iger Sicherheit nicht ausgeschlossen werden kann.
Impact of staff commitment and morale on the implementation of the project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong
Authors: Shek Daniel T.L. , Yim Eunice P.Y.
Published: February 2013

In the field of positive youth development, there are few studies on program sustainability and the relationship between program implementation and program sustainability. Based on an in-depth case study in the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong, this study examines the intrinsic factors and mechanisms that influence program implementation and sustainability. The results reveal that implementers under study are highly flexible and responsive agents who operate in different areas at all school levels. With an understanding of the program philosophies and a belief in its efficacy, implementers also modify the program by integrating the “adopted” program to the existing strength-based framework, resulting in enhanced program effectiveness and sustainability. Furthermore, the present study underscores the importance of staff commitment and morale in the implementation and sustainability of positive youth development programs in the Chinese context.
Crystal structure of (Z)-N-((cyclopropanecarbonyl)oxy)benzimidoyl cyanide, C12H10N2O2
Authors: Wang Mei-Yi
Published: February 2013

C12H10N2O2, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 12.294(3) Å, b = 5.281(1) Å, c = 16.230(3) Å, β = 92.70(3)°, V = 1052.5 Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0441, wRref(F2) = 0.1171, T = 113 K.
Crystal structure of bis(cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylato)bis[aqua-(2,2'- dipyridyl) di cadmium(II)] monohydrate, C36H44Cd2N4O12
Authors: Liang Peng , Wu Wei , Tian Wei-Man , Ren Tia-Tian , Xia Wen-Xiu , Yin Xian-Hong
Published: February 2013

C36H44Cd2N4O12, triclinic, P1̄ (no. 2), a = 9.471(2) Å, b = 10.042(2) Å, c = 10.926(2) Å, α = 88.234(2)°, β = 69.891(2)°, γ = 73.314(2)°, V = 932.0 Å3, Z = 1, Rgt(F) = 0.0284, wRref(F2) = 0.0856, T = 296 K.
Electrocatalytic Evaluation of Shape-Dependent Platinum Nanocatalysts towards Methanol Oxidation Reaction
Authors: Wu Hong , Wang Yuxuan , Porter Nathan , Lin Cuikun , Fang Jiye
Published: February 2013

Electrocatalytic activity and stability of platinum nanocubes and nanospheres were comparatively investigated towards methanol oxidation reaction. The results indicate that the {100}-bounded Pt nanocubes exhibit not only higher catalytic activity but also higher stability compared with the mixed crystallographic facet-terminated Pt nanospheres.
Properties of Sputter Deposited ZnO Films Co-doped with Lithium and Phosphorus
Authors: Oder T. N. , Smith A. , Freeman M. , McMaster M. , Cai B. , Nakarmi M. L.
Published: February 2013

Thin films of ZnO co-doped with lithium and phosphorus were deposited on sapphire substrates by RF magnetron sputtering. The films were sequentially deposited from ultra pure ZnO and Li3PO4 solid targets. Post deposition annealing was carried using a rapid thermal processor in O2 and N2 at temperatures ranging from 500 °C to 1000 °C for 3 min. Analyses performed using low temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy measurements reveal luminescence peaks at 3.359, 3.306, 3.245 eV for the co-doped samples. The x-ray diffraction 2θ-scans for all the films showed a single peak at about 34.4° with full width at half maximum of about 0.17°. Hall Effect measurements revealed conductivities that change from p-type to n-type over time.
Groundwater management for adaptation under changing climate conditions in Indian Punjab
Authors: Kaur Samanpreet , Lubana Prit Pal Singh , Aggarwal Rajan
Published: February 2013

India is the largest groundwater user in the world, with an estimated usage of around 230 km3 per year. Agricultural demand for irrigation is already the single largest draw on India's water, yet estimates by the Ministry of Water Resources indicate that by the year 2050 irrigation needs will rise by 56%. From the climate change viewpoint, India's groundwater hotspots are concentrated in the seven states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu. The state of Punjab, with only 1.57% of the total geographical area, is contributing 27–40% rice, 55–65% wheat and 18–25% cotton to the central pool since the last three decades. The dropping water levels in these regions are largely attributed to unsustainable consumption of groundwater for irrigation and other uses along with increased runoff and/or evapotranspiration, which climate change may further exacerbate. This paper presents an overview of current groundwater issues and examines the potential and negative effects of climate change on the groundwater resources in Punjab. Therefore, in this paper an attempt has been made to analyze the problem of declining groundwater resources and possible factors responsible for this and suggest suitable strategies for arresting over-exploitation and for sustainable agriculture in Punjab.
Monocrotophos poisoning through contaminated millet flour
Authors: Patel Ashwin B. , Dewan Aruna , Kaji Bharat C.
Published: February 2013

Several episodes of mass poisoning by organophosphates (OPs) have been reported from the developing countries. The diagnosis of OP-poisoning is mainly based on the characteristic clinical features and history of exposure to a known OP compound. Estimation of serum and red blood cell (RBC) cholinesterase activities are helpful in confi rming the diagnosis. However, there is controversy regarding a defi nite relationship between serum cholinesterase activity and the severity of clinical manifestations and prognosis. This report describes an episode of mass monocrotophos poisoning that occurred due to accidental ingestion of monocrotophos-contaminated millet (so called bavta) fl our involving eight severely poisoned persons. Clinical presentation included severe abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, pupil narrowing, and diffi culty breathing. On hospital admission, plasma cholinesterase (PChE) and especially RBC acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities correlated well with clinical symptoms presented by the patients. This case study highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of OP-pesticide poisoning from food sources and the need to look for depressed PChE and AChE activities that may point to OP exposure, so that OP-poisoning can be identifi ed immediately and patients can receive specific treatment, rather than general treatment for food poisoning.
Fumonisin B1: A Neurotoxic Mycotoxin / Fumonizin B1: Neurotoksični Mikotoksin
Authors: Domijan Ana-Marija
Published: February 2013

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. moulds that contaminate crop, predominantly maize, all around the world. More than 15 types of fumonisins have been indentified so far, but FB1 is the most abundant and toxicologically the most significant one. FB1 has a wide range of toxic effects, depending on animal species. In horses FB1 causes equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM), in pigs pulmonary oedema and in experimental rodents nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. In humans exposure to FB1 is linked with higher incidence of primary liver cancer and oesophageal cancer, which are frequent in certain regions of the world (such as Transkei region in South Africa) where maize is staple food. The occurrence of neural tube defect in children in some countries of Central America (such as Mexico and Honduras) is connected with the consumption of FB1-contaminated maize-based food. However, possible involvement of FB1 in the development of human diseases is not clear. Nevertheless, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified FB1 as a possible carcinogen to humans (group 2B).

FB1 is a causative agent of ELEM, a brain disorder in equines, indicating that brain is a target organ of FB1 toxicity. Several studies on experimental animals or on cell cultures of neural origin have established that FB1 has a neurodegenerative potential, although the mechanism of its neurotoxicity is still vague. The aim of this article is to give an overview of available literature on FB1 neurotoxicity and involved mechanisms, and to offer a new perspective for future studies.
Routing Strategies Based on Macroscopic Fundamental Diagram
Authors: Knoop V. L. , Hoogendoorn S. P. , Van Lint J. W. C.
Published: February 2013

Traffic management can prevent too many vehicles in a traffic network from reducing traffic performance. In particular, traffic can be routed so that the bottlenecks are not oversaturated. The macroscopic fundamental diagram provides a relationship between the number of vehicles and network performance. Traffic control can be applied on this level to overcome the computational complexity of networkwide control with traditional control levels of links or vehicles. The main questions are (a) how effective traffic control is with aggregate variables compared with full information and (b) whether the shape of the macroscopic fundamental diagram changes under traffic control. A grid network with periodic boundary conditions is used as an example and is split into several subnetworks. The following routing strategies are compared: the shortest paths in distance and time (dynamic due to congestion) and approximations of the path shortest in time but calculated with only variables aggregated for a subnetwork and of the path shortest in time but calculated with only subnetwork accumulation. For the third and fourth routing strategies, only information aggregated over the subnetwork is used. The results show improved traffic flow with detailed information. Effective control is also possible by using aggregated information, but only with the right choice of a subnetwork macroscopic fundamental diagram. Furthermore, when detailed information is used to optimize—and therefore in a subnetwork—the macroscopic fundamental diagram changes.
New Filtering Method for Trajectory Measurement Errors and Its Comparison with Existing Methods
Authors: Marczak Florian , Buisson Christine
Published: February 2013

Dynamic traffic simulation tools are increasingly being used to help traffic managers and urban planners to make decisions. Therefore, simulation tool users require a validated methodology guaranteeing that simulation results can be trusted. This study contributes to the identification and correction of a possible deficiency in detailed calibration and validation of car-following models: the data errors of individual trajectory data. Some studies addressed the problem of filtering trajectory data. A new filtering technique to reduce the measurement errors on trajectories, speed profiles, and acceleration profiles is proposed here. This technique is based on some piecewise polynomials termed “splines.” The proposed technique is compared with a set of filtering techniques found in the literature. A complete trajectory data set available within the NGSIM program is used. As a quality indicator of the various filtering techniques, velocity distribution, acceleration distribution, and jerk analysis are used for the whole data set. Also, analyzing acceleration standard deviations for each trajectory of the data set is suggested. The main findings are as follows: (a) of the methods compared within this work, the I-spline method with the action points most reduces the spikes in the velocity distribution; (b) moreover, the I-spline method most reduces the percentage of jerk values higher than 15 m/s3 as well as the percentage of the 1-s windows with more than one sign inversion of the jerk; and (c) in some cases, this method increases the acceleration variability of smoothed trajectories.
Speed Modeling and Travel Time Estimation Based on Truncated Normal and Lognormal Distributions
Authors: Wang Yibing , Dong Wei , Zhang Liangqi , Chin David , Papageorgiou Markos , Rose Geoffrey , Young William
Published: February 2013

Travel time is a vital performance index in assessing transportation network performance. Vehicle speeds along any network route fluctuate, and route travel times are essentially random. This technical note first examines travel time modeling and estimation with the random modeling of speeds, and then a general approach is presented for travel time estimation based on speed distributions. Because normal and lognormal distributions are commonly employed for speed modeling in traffic engineering, travel time estimation is further discussed concerning distributions. Most probability distributions (including normal and lognormal) assume that a modeled random variable spreads over the whole or half-range of the real number axis, but in practice, any traffic quantity of interest makes sense only within a limited value range. The concept of truncated distributions is introduced, and specifically, the probability features of truncated normal and lognormal distributions are explored concerning the discussed travel time estimation issue.
Thirty Years of Gipps’ Car-Following Model
Authors: Ciuffo Biagio , Punzo Vincenzo , Montanino Marcello
Published: February 2013

Researchers and practitioners commonly use car-following models for road traffic studies. Although dozens of models have been presented so far, the one proposed by Peter G. Gipps in 1981 is still one of the most extensively used. However, many features of the model are still not well known or neglected in common applications. In this context, the current study summarizes and analyzes the main findings available in the scientific literature for the Gipps’ car-following model and introduces some of its novel features that may improve its capability to reproduce real trajectory data. In particular, the structure of the acceleration component of the model is analytically investigated for what concerns the meaning of some parameters that in common practice are usually kept to some empirically derived fixed values. Possible versions of Gipps’ model are presented, and their performance to reproduce real vehicle trajectories is evaluated and compared. The results achieved show the necessity for these parameters to be calibrated to improve the model's predictive capabilities.
Estimating Queue Dynamics at Signalized Intersections from Probe Vehicle Data
Authors: Cetin Mecit
Published: February 2013

As vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications technologies are evolving, data from vehicles equipped with location and wireless technologies provide new opportunities to observe traffic flow dynamics more precisely. A new methodology is presented for estimating the dynamics of vehicular queues at signalized intersections on the basis of the event data generated by probe vehicles. The methodology uses shock wave theory (i.e., the Lighthill–Whitham–Richards theory) to estimate the evolution of the back of the queue over time and space from the event data generated when probe vehicles join the back of the queue. The time and space coordinates of these events are used to develop a formulation for determining the critical points needed to create time–space diagrams or shock waves to characterize the queue dynamics. The methodology is applied to sample data generated from the microscopic traffic simulation software VISSIM. It is found that the proposed methodology is effective in estimating queue dynamics at traffic signals.
Presignal Used to Increase Bus- and Car-Carrying Capacity at Intersections
Authors: Xuan Yiguang (Ethan) , Gayah Vikash V. , Cassidy Michael J. , Daganzo Carlos F.
Published: February 2013

In theory midblock presignals can be used to increase the capacity of signalized intersections [The authors define “presignal” as “a set of signal heads that are installed in the middle of a block upstream of an intersection.”—Ed.]. The capacity is increased because presignals can reorganize how traffic is stored between a presignal and an intersection downstream. However, different vehicle classes have different acceleration characteristics, and the effectiveness of presignals hinges on the assumption of linear superposition; that is, the total time to discharge a mixture of distinct vehicle classes equals the sum of the times to discharge each vehicle class separately. This assumption has not been tested in the field. In this study, results from a natural experiment are used to validate the assumption for the case of cars and buses. The effectiveness of presignals to increase intersection capacity is also demonstrated.
Performance Enhancement of a GaAs Detector with a Vertical Field and an Embedded Thin Low-Temperature Grown Layer
Authors: Currie Marc , Dianat Pouya , Persano Anna , Martucci Maria , Quaranta Fabio , Cola Adriano , Nabet Bahram
Published: February 2013

Low temperature growth of GaAs (LT-GaAs) near 200 °C results in a recombination lifetime of nearly 1 ps, compared with approximately 1 ns for regular temperature ~600 °C grown GaAs (RT-GaAs), making it suitable for ultra high speed detection applications. However, LT-GaAs detectors usually suffer from low responsivity due to low carrier mobility. Here we report electro-optic sampling time response measurements of a detector that employs an AlGaAs heterojunction, a thin layer of LT-GaAs, a channel of RT-GaAs, and a vertical electric field that together facilitate collection of optically generated electrons while suppressing collection of lower mobility holes. Consequently, these devices have detection efficiency near that of RT-GaAs yet provide pulse widths nearly an order of magnitude faster—~6 ps for a cathode-anode separation of 1.3 μm and ~12 ps for distances more than 3 μm.
Research Approaches in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning
Authors: Bratitsis Tharrenos , Demetriadis Stavros
Published: February 2013

Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is concerned with how people learn when working and interacting in groups with the assistance of ICTs. The field involves collaboration, computer mediation, online – distance education which raises interesting theoretical considerations regarding the actual studying of learning within CSCL settings. Being a rather interdisciplinary research field in nature, it has a long history of controversy about its theory, methods, and definition. In this editorial, through a quick review of the literature the diversity of issues examined under the CSCL research field becomes obvious. Moreover, an attempt to categorize these research issues is made. In this vein, the four interesting contributions of this Special Issue, regarding theoretical perspectives and issues of research of the field, are introduced. They comply with the distinguished categories, but they open new research borders as well.
Design and Execution of Dynamic Collaborative Learning Experiences
Authors: Capuano Nicola , Miranda Sergio , Ritrovato Pierluigi , Mangione Giuseppina Rita , Pierri Anna
Published: February 2013

The Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is a research domain whose methodological instances are vaguely recognized and even more rarely modeled. The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach for the construction of dynamic collaborative learning experiences and their devolution inside an Intelligent Tutoring System. The presented approach is based on the concept of “pedagogical templates,” instructional artifact based on the CSCL scripting used to design learning experiences by applying principles of participatory learning and social media. In order to experiment this approach, a tool purposed to design and execute dynamic collaborative learning experiences has been developed and experimented in formal e-learning settings.
Understanding the geological development of the Lower Mainland: the first step to informed land-use decisions
Authors: Groulx B J , Mustard P S
Published: February 2013

The landscape of the Lower Mainland has been shaped by tectonic, glacial, and fluvial processes. The tectonic process of oceanic crust subducting beneath continental crust poses a threat of damaging earthquake and associated hazards such as soil liquefaction and
slope failures. Past glaciers have sculpted the landscape into steep-walled valleys and deposited thick layers of sediment. These steep slopes
are potential sites of mass movements of soil and rock that threaten transportation corridors in the eastern Fraser River valley and along Howe Sound. Thick sediments deposited by glaciers contain valuable groundwater aquifers and accommodate development with limited hazards. River deposits have
created more than 625 km2 of new land at the mouth of the Fraser River in just the last 10 000 years. The low elevation and physical properties of these young, river-deposited sediments make them prone to flooding, liquefaction during an earthquake, and submarine slides on the delta
slope.
Flooding in the Fraser River delta and urban estuary
Authors: Woods P
Published: February 2013

The Fraser River, with a drainage basin of some 233 000 km2, is the largest river in British Columbia. Depending on ground elevation and location along the river, flooding of the estuary and delta can be caused by winter storm surges originating from the Strait
of Georgia, and/or by high spring freshet flows on the Fraser River. As well, heavy fall and winter rainfalls exacerbated by poor drainage and tide levels combine to cause high water tables and overland flows within dyked areas requiring extensive drainage and
pumping facilities.

Current issues relating to flood control include maintenance of works in light of changing public priorities and environmental conflict. Future consideration could be given to upgrading existing works to higher standards justified by rapidly increasing population and development levels in the
benefiting areas. Concerns may be directed to the effects of sedimentation, earthquakes, relative sea-level changes, and
possible changes in climatic conditions.
The Nation and the Subaltern in Yvonne Vera’s Butterfly Burning
Authors: Nwakanma Obi
Published: February 2013

Yvonne Vera’s death in 2005 brought to a tragic close the career of one of Zimbabwe’s, indeed Africa’s, more engaging contemporary writers. But her powerful novel, Butterfly Burning continues to mirror an aspect of Vera’s enduring concern: the place of African women in the context of power both within the colonial and the postcolonial moments. This image of the “woman in shadows” also resonates in the kernel of the subaltern subject in Spivak’s essay, “Can the Subaltern Speak?” I draw from Spivak’s canonical essay, but simply as a critique of its notion of the burdened subjectivity of the colonized reified in the widow’s self-immolation, and seen as a problematic condition of representation—a form of impotent silence. In contrast, I suggest that Vera’s Phephelaphi directs our attention by a votive suicide that speaks. This essay thus proceeds from a re-reading of the discourse of subalternity to situate Yvonne Vera’s novel as an act primarily of resistance against the situation of patriarchal enclosure under colonialism.
Mémoires d’Océans et d’Ailleurs: Traversées interocéaniques
Authors: Cornille Jean-Louis
Published: February 2013

In order to gauge the possibilities of producing a minor literature in French, as defined by Deleuze and Guattari in their groundbreaking work on Kafka, we have confronted two books of contemporary authors who position themselves at the forefront of francophone postcolonial literature: Le Nègre et l’Amiral (1988) by Raphaël Confiant, a writer from Martinique famous for his praise of creolity; and Za (2008) by Jean-Luc Raharimanana, a lesser-known and seemingly more radical writer from Madagascar, based in Paris. They both seem to share a common purpose of representing the population of their respective islands by their particular way of pronouncing the French language: either by creolizing it, as is the case with Confiant, or by pronouncing it with a lisp, as in Za. But these variations of the French language lead to totally opposite aesthetics. Whereas the first attempt is marked by excessive verbal display, the second one seems to function almost by default: a painful scream wrapped in near silence. Indeed, Le Nègre et l’Amiral is dominated by images of verticality and erection, which translates in the cooccurrence of multiple version of the same events, while Za favours the horizontality of bodies and corpses lying down. From within the politico-literary context in which they were published, these works offer two different solutions to the same problem: how to escape the normative tendencies enshrined in a major language such as French, and flee or chase the discourse of the master.