bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reduction Kinetics of Metal Oxides by Hydrogen
Authors: Dang Jie , Chou Kuo‐Chih , Hu Xiao‐Jun , Zhang Guo‐Hua 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIn this paper, a new kinetic model has been developed for reduction of metal oxides with hydrogen under both isothermal and non‐isothermal conditions. This model describes the kinetics of single reductive reaction and double reductive reactions by considering the diffusion and chemical reaction controlling mechanisms. In particular, the model is in the analytic form of expressing the reduction extent as an explicit function of time, temperature, radius of the particle, and hydrogen partial pressure, which is convenient for using and theoretical analysis. The reduction kinetics of nickel oxide, natural ilmenite, and Fe2MoO4 agree well with the theoretical results by the present model.
Structural reliability for structural engineers evaluating and strengthening a tall building
Authors: Hart Gary C. , Conte Joel , Park Kidong , Reyes Daren , Huang Sampson C. 
Published: December 2012

SUMMARYThis paper addresses the topic of evaluating and strengthening a tall building in the Los Angeles region. Failure is characterized by the reliability index in terms that can be readily understood by structural engineers with only a basic knowledge of probability theory. The presented formulation requires the structural engineer to believe that the assumption of a normal or log‐normal probability density function for capacity and demand is acceptable for the evaluation and strengthening of a tall building in the Los Angeles region. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Exploratory Study of Managers' Perspective of Work‐Life Balance in Nigeria: A Case Analysis of the Nigerian Banking Sector
Authors: Mordi Chima , Mmieh Frederick , Ojo Stella Ibiyinka 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis study describes an exploratory research of managers' perspective of the concept of work‐life balance (WLB) policies and practices in Nigeria. This is done through in‐depth case studies of 20 banks in the banking sector. The data set is comprised of responses from 102 middle line managers in the Nigerian banking institutions. A review of the extant literature on WLB initiatives in the banking sector revealed that there is a dearth of knowledge on WLB policies and practices in an African context. In an attempt to fill the gap in the literature, this study examines the range and scope of WLB practices, managers' perception of WLB, and the forces helping or constraining to shape the choices of work life balance practices and policies. The findings reveal that there is diversity in terms of how middle‐line managers understand and experience WLB initiatives in Nigeria. Another finding highlights the practice of favoritism in most banks using WLB initiatives. In addition, the study shows that cultural sensitivity affects how WLB is appreciated and utilized. The study suggests some policy implications in the form of support for WLB policies in this context. © 2013 Crown copyright.
Results from 2011 for the transportMYpatient program for overcoming transport costs among women seeking treatment for obstetric fistula in Tanzania
Authors: Fiander Alison , Ndahani Clement , Mmuya Kaspar , Vanneste Tom 
Published: December 2012

AbstractBackgroundThe Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital program transportMY patient was launched in 2009 to address transport costs, which are a major barrier to patients accessing CCBRT health services. The initiative uses mobile phone technology to transfer funds to cover transport costs.MethodsData were reviewed for fistula patients using the transportMYpatient scheme in 2011, noting region of referral. Average costs of using the scheme were calculated and the location of “ambassadors” by region was recorded.ResultsBetween 2005 and 2009, CCBRT repaired approximately 170 fistulas annually, increasing to 286 in 2010 and 339 in 2011. In 2011, the transportMYpatient initiative transported 166 fistula patients from almost all regions in Tanzania, accounting for 49% of total repairs.ConclusionThe increase in referrals to CCBRT during 2011 as a result of the transportMYpatient program shows that transport costs are a real barrier to accessing care. Analysis of geographic referral data informs outreach and community sensitization initiatives, concentrating on regions of low referral. The use of mobile phone technology to transfer funds represents an innovative means of overcoming a major barrier to healthcare access for patients in low‐income countries.
Toxicity of
Jatropha curcas
L. as a biofuel crop and options for management.
Authors: Baldini M. , Raranciuc S. , Vischi M. 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

There are high expectations of
Jatropha curcas
L. as a new crop for biofuel production in the tropics and sub-tropical areas, as evidenced by the forecast expansion of its cultivation in various areas, especially in Asia. The definitive confirmation of the crop as realistic and suitable feedstock for biodiesel will come about when it is able to exploit the vast marginal areas present in many countries, demonstrating the economic sustainability of the whole Jatropha biodiesel chain. Increasing seed yield and oil content remain the main goals, but a valorization of the extruded seed cake, as animal feed, currently prevented by the presence of phorbol esters (PE) toxins, could contribute to a significant improvement in the economic sustainability of the crop. At present, the only reliable process is the seed cake detoxification by washing treatments with solvents and by biotransformation, but these treatments are expensive, not environmentally friendly and difficult to apply in developing countries. In the near future, the solution may come from non-toxic
J. curcas
accessions, which can be used in breeding programmes to recombine non-toxic traits into elite toxic varieties. In general, a plant free of PE would be more acceptable, opening additional market opportunities for the farmers. Strategies for breeding improved non-toxic varieties could be accelerated by DNA-based molecular marker technology, utilizing the simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers associated with toxicity. The whole genome of plant was recently sequenced and this important acquisition is expected to accelerate the process of molecular breeding in
J. curcas
.
Overcoming resistance and resilience of an invaded community is necessary for effective restoration: a multi‐site bracken control study
Authors: Alday Josu G. , Cox Emma S. , Pakeman Robin J. , Harris Mike P. K. , LeDuc Mike G. , Marrs Rob H. 
Published: December 2012

Summary

The search for appropriate management strategies to control invasive plants is an important theme in environmental management. However, the recovery of the resident community species complement does not necessarily respond predictably to restoration efforts. Increasing restoration success requires an understanding of the resistance and resilience of the invaded community and the response of the newly developing community to management. Here, we used Pteridium‐invaded heath and grass communities as a test system and investigated the effects of recommended Pteridium aquilinum control treatments on vegetation composition and diversity.

We evaluated seven field experiments in four regions of Great Britain designed to test five Pteridium control treatments, including ‘one‐off’ (applied only at the start) and ‘repeated’ (applied regularly) treatments, against an untreated experimental control. The sites had context‐dependent restoration targets, either a Calluna heathland or acid grassland. Species cover and diversity responses (higher plants, mosses plus lichens) to these treatments were monitored annually for 10 years.

Pteridium control treatments induced significant change in species composition compared to experimental controls in both vegetation types. On Calluna target sites, ‘repeated’ treatments overcame the resistance of the invaded community producing a gradual divergence in species composition and species diversity. In contrast, the ‘one‐off’ treatments were ineffective.

At the acid grassland target sites, all treatments overcame the resistance of the Pteridium‐dominated state producing changes in species composition in comparison with experimental controls.

Synthesis and applications. There are two important results for land managers: (i) where Calluna heathland is the target, ‘repeated’ treatments (cutting once or twice per year) were effective in overcoming the resistance of invaded community and moving species composition towards the target state, effectively creating an alternative state; (ii) where acid grassland is the target both ‘one‐off’ and ‘repeated’ treatments overcame the invaded community resistance (‘one‐off’ also overcame resilience) producing changes in species composition in the desired direction. The effectiveness of ‘one‐off’ treatments was site dependent and produced alternative stable states within 10 years. In contrast, ‘repeated’ treatments were site independent but took longer to work and were more expensive.
Disrupting the effects of synergies between stressors: improved water quality dampens the effects of future CO2 on a marine habitat
Authors: Falkenberg Laura J. , Connell Sean D. , Russell Bayden D. 
Published: December 2012

Summary

Synergies among stressors drive unanticipated changes to alternative states, yet little has been done to assess whether alleviating one or more contributing stressors may disrupt these interactions. It would be particularly useful to understand whether the synergistic effects of global and local stressors could be alleviated, leading to slower change or faster recovery, if conditions under the control of local management alone were managed (i.e. nutrient pollution).

We utilized field‐based mesocosms to manipulate CO2 (i.e. forecasted global concentrations) and nutrients (i.e. local pollution) to test the hypothesis that, where synergies exist, reducing one contributing stressor would limit the effect of the other. In testing this hypothesis, we considered the response of turfing algae, which can displace kelp forests on urbanized coastlines.

Initial manipulations of CO2 and nutrient enrichment produced an anticipated synergistic effect on the biomass of turfing algae.

Following exposure of algal turfs to a combination of enriched nutrients and CO2, a subsequent reduction in nutrients was able to substantially slow further increases in turf growth. Despite this substantial effect, the historical legacy of previous nutrient enrichment was evident as greater turf was maintained relative to ambient conditions (i.e. ambient CO2 and nutrients). Such legacies of past stressors may be stubborn (e.g. persist as intergenerational change) where the alternative state (i.e. turf algae) has substantial resilience to restorative actions.

Synthesis and applications. As stressors accumulate across global to local scales, some combine to produce synergistic effects which cause changes of disproportionate ecological magnitude. While strong synergies attract heavy scrutiny, there remains substantial merit in assessing whether their influence can be ameliorated by managing a contributing stressor. Of note, we show that by reducing a locally determined stressor (nutrients), its synergistic effects with a globally determined stressor (CO2 enrichment) on a key taxon (turf algae) may be substantially reduced. These results suggest that in the face of changing climate (e.g. ocean acidification), the management of local stressors (e.g. water pollution) may have a greater contribution in determining the dominant state than current thinking allows.
The lived experience of older adults' occupational adaptation following a stroke
Authors: Williams Shoshannah , Murray Carolyn 
Published: December 2012

Background/aimFollowing a stroke, individuals' abilities may not match the demands of their environment and occupations, resulting in compromised occupational performance. The process of adaptation can enable adjustment of the way occupations are performed to achieve occupational mastery. The purpose of this honours study was to investigate and describe older adults' lived experience of occupational adaptation following a stroke.MethodsAn interpretative phenomenological approach was used. Participants in the community were recruited through Domiciliary Care service co‐ordinators. In‐depth interviews were conducted with three men and two women, aged 68–78 years who had experienced a stroke up to 14 years ago. Data were analysed using the Colazzi's method to formulate themes.ResultsExperiencing a stroke is initially a ‘shock to the system’ and while ‘your whole life changes’, there are still ways to ‘get on and do your best’. The theme ‘your whole life changes’ had three subthemes: ‘apprehension and fear’, ‘problem solving’ and ‘stretching the limitations’. Resilience, motivation and effort are the required qualities for adaptive responses after stroke. Coping strategies identified to facilitate occupational mastery include the use of humour, touch, expressing anger, using self‐talk, maintaining hope, having a sense of being fortunate and supportive friends and family.ConclusionThese findings support an empowering approach to therapy, facilitating clients to identify and utilise individually appropriate coping strategies to negotiate negative emotions and apprehension and enable the required personal qualities for occupational adaptation.
Downregulation and altered function of natural killer cells in hepatitis B virus patients treated with entecavir
Authors: Zhao Ping‐Wei , Jia Fei‐Yong , Shan Yu‐Xing , Ji Hui‐Fan , Feng Jun‐Yan , Niu Jun‐Qi , Ayana Desalegn A , Jiang Yan‐Fang 
Published: December 2012

Summary

The aim of the present study was to investigate the natural killer (NK) cell phenotype and function in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients and to study the effects of entecavir therapy (10 mg/day, p.o.) on these responses.

Peripheral blood NK cells were collected from 18 chronic HBV patients and 14 healthy controls. The effect of entecavir therapy on the phenotype and function of NK cells in chronic HBV patients was characterized by flow cytometry analysis. Concentrations of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), HBV viral loads in both groups and potential associations between the frequency of peripheral NK cell subsets and clinical measures were determined.

There was a significant reduction in the number of CD3−CD56+ NK cells in chronic HBV patients compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, there were significant increases in the percentage of CD3−CD56+NKG2D+ and CD3−CD56+NKP30+ NK activating receptors in chronic HBV patients compared with healthy individuals, who exhibited downregulated expression following entecavir treatment. Spearman's correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of NKG2D+ and NKP30+ NK cells and serum ALT levels. Characterization of NK cell degranulation indicated that the frequency of CD107a+ NK cells in HBV patients (in response to K562 stimulation) was significantly greater than in healthy controls but decreased following entecavir treatment.

Entecavir treatment of hepatitis B e antigen‐positive chronic HBV‐infected patients not only led to a reduction in HBV DNA loads and normalization of ALT and AST levels, but also resulted in the recovery of NK cell‐mediated immunity.
High blood pressure enhances brain stem neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity in Dahl salt‐sensitive rats
Authors: Tandai‐Hiruma Megumi , Kato Kazuo , Kemuriyama Takehito , Ohta Hiroyuki , Tashiro Akimasa , Hagisawa Kohsuke , Nishida Yasuhiro 
Published: December 2012

Summary

The aims of the present study were to determine the mechanism underlying enhanced neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) activity in the brain of hypertensive Dahl salt‐sensitive (DSS) rats and the consequences of enhanced nNOS activity.

Male DSS rats were fed either a regular (0.4% NaCl) or high‐salt (8% NaCl) diet, with or without 0.25% nifedipine, for 4 weeks. The effects of nifedipine, which lowers blood pressure peripherally, on central nNOS were determined by measuring nNOS activity, as well as the number of nNOS‐positive neurons in the brain stem and diencephalon. The effects of chronic (12 days) infusion of 7 μg (0.5 μL/h, i.c.v.) S‐methyl‐l‐thiocitrulline (SMTC; a stereoselective competitive nNOS inhibitor) on mean arterial pressure were assessed in conscious DSS rats using a radiotelemetry system. In addition, the number of central nNOS‐positive neurons was compared between DSS and salt‐insensitive Sprague‐Dawley rats.

Normalization of blood pressure by nifedipine attenuated the increase in nNOS activity in the brain stem of DSS rats. Chronic i.c.v. infusion of SMTC further enhanced hypertension in DSS rats. Feeding of a high‐salt diet increased nNOS‐positive neurons in the lateral parabrachial nucleus, rostral ventrolateral medulla and nucleus tractus solitarius of DSS compared with Sprague‐Dawley rats, whereas nNOS‐positive neurons in the paraventricular nucleus remained downregulated in DSS rats.

The results of the present study suggest that hypertension, rather than a high‐salt diet, increases central nNOS activity in hypertensive DSS rats to buffer high blood pressure. However, this compensatory response may be insufficient to relieve salt‐induced hypertension.
How ‘Little’ Outsourcing Creates A Large Skill Premium: A Model of North‐to‐South Manufacturing Outsourcing
Authors: Tang Xiang 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThis paper develops a general equilibrium model that shows that a small volume of North–South trade (i.e. 2% of Northern GDP) could have caused the observed rise in the skill premium, thus resolving the ‘small trade volume paradox’ in the skill premium debate. We apply the concept of ‘trade in tasks’ of Grossman and Rossi‐Hansberg to analyze the nature of North‐to‐South manufacturing outsourcing. As a conceptual innovation, we carefully distinguish two different implicit assumptions of the Heckscher–Ohlin model: ‘factor immobility’ versus ‘task inseparability’. We show that outsourcing, as a form of trade in tasks, essentially attains ‘task separability’ while apparently retaining factor immobility, thus rendering the traditional Heckscher–Ohlin framework obsolete for analyzing current North–South trade. We argue that this change in the nature of trade calls for new thinking in economics and public policy‐making.
Footloose Capital and Comparative Advantage
Authors: Matsuoka Yuji , Kikuchi Toru 
Published: December 2012

AbstractWe investigate the effect of country size differentials and Ricardian technology differences on firms’ location decisions using a two‐country, two‐good (homogeneous agricultural good and differentiated manufacturing products), two‐factor (labour and footloose capital) simple new economic geography model. We found that manufacturing firms may agglomerate in a country where the manufacturing sector has a comparative disadvantage. In addition, when country size differentials and Ricardian technology differences exist between two countries, the key factor influencing firms’ location decisions changes according to the level of trade liberalization, from being market size‐dependent to becoming technology‐dependent.
Review article: Clinical impact of non‐cardiologist‐performed transthoracic echocardiography in emergency medicine, intensive care medicine and anaesthesia
Authors: Haji Darsim L , Royse Alistair , Royse Colin F 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThere is increased realisation of the emerging role of point‐of‐care transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) as ‘ultrasound‐assisted examination’, given the low sensitivity of clinical examination for cardiovascular pathologies and the time‐critical nature of these pathologies. There is evidence that point‐of‐care TTE provides higher accuracy in patient assessment and management, with potential prognostic impact by assessing the severity of cardiac dysfunction and response to treatment. Point‐of‐care TTE is increasingly used by non‐cardiologists, as a diagnostic, screening or monitoring tool. The literature shows that TTE identifies new clinical findings, and conversely can accurately rule out clinically important pathologies. Recent reports have examined more advanced ultrasound devices and patients in the critical care settings of emergency medicine, intensive care and anaesthesia. The diagnostic capability of new portable devices is improving rapidly and outdating its predecessors, thereby improving confidence in echocardiography findings.
Abundance and distribution of diverse membrane‐bound monooxygenase (Cu‐MMO) genes within the Costa Rica oxygen minimum zone
Authors: Tavormina Patricia L. , Ussler William , Steele Joshua A. , Connon Stephanie A. , Klotz Martin G. , Orphan Victoria J. 
Published: December 2012

SummaryDiverse copper‐containing membrane‐bound monooxygenase‐encoding sequences (Cu‐MMOs) have recently been described from the marine environment, suggesting widespread potential for oxidation of reduced substrates. Here, we used the well‐defined oxygen and methane gradients associated with the Costa Rican oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) to gain insight into the physico‐chemical parameters influencing the distribution and abundance of Cu‐MMO‐encoding marine microorganisms. Two Methylococcales‐related Cu‐MMO‐encoding lineages, termed groups OPU1 and OPU3, demonstrated differences in their relative abundance, with both pmoA and candidate 16S rRNA genes correlating significantly with reduced environmental oxygen concentrations and depth. In contrast, a newly identified Cu‐MMO‐encoding lineage, Group C, was primarily associated with the oxygenated euphotic zone. An updated phylogenetic analysis including these sequences, a marine pxmABC gene cluster, ethylene‐utilizing Cu‐MMO‐encoding lineages and previously reported planktonic Cu‐MMOs (Groups W, X, Z and O) demonstrates the breadth of diversity of Cu‐MMO‐encoding marine microorganisms. Groups C and X affiliated phylogenetically with ethane‐ and ethylene‐oxidizing Cu‐MMOs, Groups W and O affiliated phylogenetically with the recently described Cu‐MMO ‘pXMO’, and Group Z clustered with Cu‐MMOs recovered from soils. Collectively, these data demonstrate widespread genetic potential in ocean waters for the oxidation of small, reduced molecules and advance our understanding of the microorganisms involved in methane cycling in the OMZ environment.