bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of night shifts in bipolar disorders and extreme morningness
Authors: Meyrer Robert , Demling Joachim , Kornhuber Johannes , Nowak Magdalena 
Published: November 2009

Background:  Night work and shift work scenarios are increasing in modern society. Instability in the sleep‐wake rhythm is an important risk factor for triggering episodes of bipolar disorder. Extreme chronotype has negative effects on shift work (“shift‐worker syndrome”). Effects of night or shift work on patients with bipolar disorder and extreme chronotype are not well understood.Case report:  A patient with bipolar II disorder and extreme morning type followed a stable work schedule for a significant period of time, maintaining a stable mood. After changing to a night‐shift schedule, depressive symptoms developed. When the night‐shift schedule was stopped, her mental state normalised.Conclusions:  This case highlights the possibility of a sensitizing role of chronotype in triggering episodes of bipolar disorder after the sleep‐wake rhythm has been disrupted by night work or shift work. The evaluation of a person’s capability to perform night work or shift work should take into account psychiatric disorders and chronotype as well as physical conditions.
Strong relationship between NT‐proXNP levels and cardiac output following cardiac surgery in neonates and infants
Authors: BREUER T. , SKOUMAL R. , HORKAY F. , MERKELY B. , ALA‐KOPSALA M. , LEPPÄLUOTO J. , VUOLTEENAHO O. , RUSKOAHO H. , TÓTH M. , SZÉKELY A. 
Published: November 2009

Background: NT‐proXNP, a new natriuretic peptide analyte, incorporates information about the concentrations of both N‐terminal pro‐atrial and pro‐brain natriuretic peptides (NT‐proANP, NT‐proBNP). We aimed to investigate whether NT‐proXNP is a reliable indicator of the cardiac index (CI) and the hemodynamic state in neonates and infants undergoing an open heart surgery.Methods: We enrolled 26 children under the age of 1 year into this prospective study. All patients underwent an elective cardiac operation with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to achieve complete biventricular repair. Peri‐operative hemodynamic parameters were assessed by transpulmonary thermodilution and natriuretic peptide levels were recorded.Results: The NT‐proXNP level correlated significantly with the simultaneously measured NT‐proANP level (r=0.60, P<0.001), but more strongly with the NT‐proBNP level (r=0.89, P<0.001) and the arithmetic sum of both (r=0.88, P<0.001). NT‐proXNP had a strong correlation with CI (r=−0.85, P<0.001), the stroke volume index (r=−0.80, P<0.001) and the global ejection fraction (r=−0.67, P<0.009) throughout the post‐operative period. Conventionally measured parameters such as heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse‐pressure product exhibited weaker correlations with CI than NT‐proXNP. Among laboratory values, creatinine levels correlated significantly with CI (r=−0.77, P<0.001) and NT‐proXNP (r=0.76, P<0.001) during the post‐operative period. A post‐operative NT‐proXNP level of 3079 pmol/l was diagnostic for CI <3 l/min/m2 with 89% sensitivity and 90% specificity (area under the curve: 0.91 ± 0.05).Conclusion: NT‐proXNP is a good marker of cardiac output following pediatric cardiac surgery and might be a useful tool in the recognition of a low output state.
Expression of CXCL10 in cultured cortical neurons
Authors: Vinet Jonathan , De Jong Eiko K. , Boddeke Hendrikus W. G. M. , Stanulovic Vesna , Brouwer Nieske , Granic Ivica , Eisel Ulrich L. M. , Liem Robert S. B. , Biber Knut 
Published: November 2009

J. Neurochem. (2010) 112, 703–714.AbstractChemokines expressed in neurons are important mediators in neuron‐neuron and neuron‐glia signaling. One of these chemokines is CCL21 that activates microglia via the chemokine receptor CXCR3. As neurons also express CXCL10, a main ligand for CXCR3, we have thus investigated in detail the expression pattern of CXCL10 in neurons. We show that CXCL10 is constitutively expressed by neurons, is stored in large dense‐core vesicles and is not regulated by neuronal injury or stress. Neuronal CXCL10 release occurred constitutively at low level. In vivo CXCL10 expression was found in the developing brain at various embryonic stages and its peak expression correlates with the presence of CD11b‐ and GFAP‐positive cells expressing CXCR3. These results suggest a possible role of neuronal CXCL10 in recruitment and homing of glial cells during embryogenesis.
Potential of wind turbines to elicit seizures under various meteorological conditions
Authors: Smedley Andrew R. D. , Webb Ann R. , Wilkins Arnold J. 
Published: November 2009

SummaryPurpose:  To determine the potential risk of epileptic seizures from wind turbine shadow flicker under various meteorologic conditions.Methods:  We extend a previous model to include attenuation of sunlight by the atmosphere using the libradtran radiative transfer code.Results:  Under conditions in which observers look toward the horizon with their eyes open we find that there is risk when the observer is closer than 1.2 times the total turbine height when on land, and 2.8 times the total turbine height in marine environments, the risk limited by the size of the image of the sun’s disc on the retina. When looking at the ground, where the shadow of the blade is cast, observers are at risk only when at a distance <36 times the blade width, the risk limited by image contrast. If the observer views the horizon and closes their eyes, however, the stimulus size and contrast ratio are epileptogenic for solar elevation angles down to approximately 5°.Discussion:  Large turbines rotate at a rate below that at which the flicker is likely to present a risk, although there is a risk from smaller turbines that interrupt sunlight more than three times per second. For the scenarios considered, we find the risk is negligible at a distance more than about nine times the maximum height reached by the turbine blade, a distance similar to that in guidance from the United Kingdom planning authorities.
Dose consumption for quality assurance and maintenance with a dedicated IORT accelerator
Authors: Hensley Frank W. 
Published: November 2009

Dedicated accelerators for intra‐operative radiation therapy (IORT) are operated at high dose rates in order to achieve short treatment times within which the anaesthetisized patient must be remotely monitored (e.g. via video cameras and telemetric anesthesia instruments). Due to these high dose rates, large doses accumulate from the irradiations necessary for quality assurance (QA) and maintenance. In practice, the dose load for QA, maintenance and repairs will probably far exceed the patient dose. The total dose consumption for all of these actions must be considered in facility licensing, in radiation protection assessments, and in the shielding calculations. Dose consumption for QA and maintenance was assessed for the dedicated IORT facility at Heidelberg University for the operation period between June 1991 and December 2007 (15.5 years). Average doses per year of 5847 Gy for maintenance and repairs and 3686 Gy for QA were needed during this period. The causes and composition of these high doses are analyzed and discussed separately for irradiations that need to be performed in the operation room and which, with a mobile accelerator, may be performed in a separate QA vault.PACS number: 87.56.bd
Analysis of couch position tolerance limits to detect mistakes in patient setup
Authors: Hadley Scott W. , Balter James M. , Lam Kwok L. 
Published: November 2009

This work investigates the use of the tolerance limits on the treatment couch position to detect mistakes in patient positioning and warn users of possible treatment errors. Computer controlled radiotherapy systems use the position of the treatment couch as a surrogate for patient position, and a tolerance limit is applied against a planned position. When the couch is out of tolerance, a warning is sent to a user to indicate a possible mistake in setup. A tight tolerance may catch all positioning mistakes while at the same time sending too many warnings; a loose tolerance will not catch all mistakes. We developed a statistical model of the absolute position for the three translational axes of the couch. The couch position for any fraction is considered a random variable . The ideal planned couch position is unknown before a patient starts treatment and must be estimated from the daily positions of . As such, is also a random variable. The tolerance, tol, is applied to the difference between the daily and planned position, . The is a linear combination of random variables and therefore the density of is the convolution of distributions of and . Tolerance limits are based on the standard deviation of such that couch positions that are more than two standard deviations away are considered out of tolerance. Using this framework, we investigated two methods of setting and tolerance limits. The first, called first day acquire (FDA), is to take couch position on the first day as the planned position. The second is to use the cumulative average (CumA) over previous fractions as the planned position. The standard deviation of shrinks as more samples are used to determine and, as a result, the tolerance limit shrinks as a function of fraction number when a CumA technique is used. The metrics of sensitivity and specificity were used to characterize the performance of the two methods to correctly identify a couch position as in‐ or out‐of‐tolerance. These two methods were tested using simulated and real patient data. Five clinical sites with different indexed immobilization were tested. These were whole brain, head and neck, breast, thorax, and prostate. Analysis of the head and neck data shows that it is reasonable to model the daily couch position as a random variable in this treatment site. Using an average couch position for increased the sensitivity of the couch interlock and reduced the chances of acquiring a couch position that was a statistical outlier. Analysis of variation in couch position for different sites allowed the tolerance limit to be set specifically for a site and immobilization device. The CumA technique was able to increase the sensitivity of detecting out‐of‐tolerance positions while shrinking tolerance limits for a treatment course. Making better use of the software interlock on the couch positions could have a positive impact on patient safety and reduce mistakes in treatment delivery.PACS number: 87.55.Ne, 87.55.Qr, 87.55.tg, 87.55.tm
Algorithm for correcting optimization convergence errors in Eclipse
Authors: Zacarias Albert S. , Mills Michael D. 
Published: November 2009

IMRT plans generated in Eclipse use a fast algorithm to evaluate dose for optimization and a more accurate algorithm for a final dose calculation, the Analytical Anisotropic Algorithm. The use of a fast optimization algorithm introduces optimization convergence errors into an IMRT plan. Eclipse has a feature where optimization may be performed on top of an existing base plan. This feature allows for the possibility of arriving at a recursive solution to optimization that relies on the accuracy of the final dose calculation algorithm and not the optimizer algorithm. When an IMRT plan is used as a base plan for a second optimization, the second optimization can compensate for heterogeneity and modulator errors in the original base plan. Plans with the same field arrangement as the initial base plan may be added together by adding the initial plan optimal fluence to the dose correcting plan optimal fluence. A simple procedure to correct for optimization errors is presented that may be implemented in the Eclipse treatment planning system, along with an Excel spreadsheet to add optimized fluence maps together.PACS number: 87.53.Bn, 87.56.By
Evaluation of a biplanar diode array dosimeter for quality assurance of step‐and‐shoot IMRT
Authors: Feygelman Vladimir , Forster Kenneth , Opp Daniel , Nilsson Görgen 
Published: November 2009

In this paper, we describe and characterize a novel biplanar diode array, and demonstrate its applicability to dosimetric QA of step‐and‐shoot IMRT. It is the first commercially available device of its kind specifically designed for performing measurements at varying gantry angles. The detector consists of a cylindrical PMMA phantom with two orthogonal detector boards. There are a total of 1069 p‐type 1 mm wide diode detectors covering the measurement area of in each of the measurement planes. The orthogonal detector arrays ensure that the dose modulation information is not lost regardless of the beam incidence angle. For absolute calibration, the dose to the reference detector is calculated at the appropriate SSD and radiological depth by the treatment planning system and is scaled by the measured accelerator output. The directly measured rotational response on the central axis shows the maximum variation of approximately in the narrow angular intervals centered on the detector boards. This variation is reduced to less than outside of the four similarly centered angular intervals. For all detectors, the difference between the measured and the calculated dose for a plan with 12 equally spaced beams is . Of eleven IMRT plans, ten passed the γ (3%,3 mm) criterion at or above 95%, while one passed at 92%. The biplanar diode array is a useful tool for IMRT QA, allowing for essentially instantaneous online analysis of absolute dose errors in 3D.PACS number: 87.55Qr
AN EMBEDDED OSS RELIABILITY AND OPTIMIZATION ANALYSIS INCORPORATING IMPERFECT DEBUGGING
Authors: TAMURA YOSHINOBU , YAMADA SHIGERU 
Published: November 2009

As a result of the technological progress, software development environment has changed into development paradigm based on client/server systems by using network computing technologies. Network technologies have made rapid progress with the dissemination of computer systems in all areas. These network technologies become increasingly more complex in a wide sphere. Especially, open source software systems which serve as key components of critical infrastructures in the society are still ever-expanding now. In this paper, we propose a method of software reliability assessment based on stochastic differential equations. Especially, we derive several assessment measures in terms of imperfect debugging. Also, we analyze actual software fault-count data to show numerical examples of software reliability assessment for an embedded open source software. Further, it has been necessary to manage the software development process in terms of reliability, effort, and release time. Then, we find the optimal release time based on the total expected software maintenance effort.
Thermochemical Process To Remove Sludge From Storage Tanks
Authors: Rocha Nelson O. , Khalil Carlos N. , Leite Lúcia C. F. , Goja Andre M. 
Published: November 2009

Summary
When crude oil is stored in large tanks, invariably high-molecular-weight organic sediments are deposited. If left to accumulate, these deposits build up to form a sludge, which causes a reduction in the storage capacity. Routine industrial maintenance of storage tanks in vessels, terminals, and refineries unavoidably means the equipment's temporary inoperability. Furthermore, when conventional treatments are used to remove crude oil sludge, there is a potential for high environmental impact.
Petrobras has developed a thermochemical process to remove organic deposits in submersed oil pipelines, wax damage in production reservoirs, and petroleum sludge removal from storage tanks.
Based on a sludge removal case study, this paper describes the laboratory methodology to characterize the organic deposit physical/chemical properties, calculate thermochemical reaction kinetics and treatment dimensioning, and stage a physical simulation. It then reports the treatment's operational application to remove 800 m3 of organic deposit from an oil tanker storage tank.
The process relies on the strong exothermic reaction between two nitrogen salts estimated at 90°C that also produces large volumes of nitrogen generating turbulence. This reaction heats the sludge, which melts, and irreversibly disperses in the organic solvent. This condition was predicted in a previously studied phases diagram.
The method proved to be efficient, safe, and low cost compared to existing methods. The process' financial balance showed that the cost of the chemical reagents and operational facilities was covered by the value of the oil recovered from the organic deposit.
Novel Insights Into Microgel Systems for Water Control
Authors: Cozic Céline , Rousseau David , Tabary René 
Published: November 2009

Summary
The performances of water-shutoff and conformance-control micro-gels were investigated extensively in previous works (Chauveteau et al. 2004; Rousseau et al. 2005; Zaitoun et al. 2007). However, a broad range of potential application cases for microgels involves harsh conditions such as high-salinity reservoir brines. This paper studies how high salinity impacts microgel properties and treatment efficiency.
In order to provide specifications for optimum microgel dissolution, viscosity measurements and filterability tests of microgel solutions through calibrated membrane filters were first performed in an extended domain of brine salinities. Then, coreflood experiments in model granular packs were carried out with microgels diluted in brines of various salinities and at various microgel concentrations. These tests evaluate the injectivity and determine the permeability reductions. After microgel injection, the packs were flushed with brines of different salinities, and the permeability reductions were determined under these new conditions. These additional tests were aimed at reproducing the field conditions when setting a well back in production after a microgel treatment.
Results showed that the hydrodynamic thicknesses of adsorbed layers did not vary significantly when microgels were injected in brines of moderate to high salinities. At very high salinity (200 g/L NaCl with calcium), a shear-controlled overadsorption of the microgels was observed. Results also showed that adsorbed layers of microgels were very stable when exposed to brines of low to very high salinity. These positive outcomes bring new encouraging insights for the success of microgel applications.
Reserves in Nontraditional Reservoirs: How Can We Account for Them?
Authors: Lee W. J. 
Published: November 2009

Summary
The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), on 29 December 2008, adopted new rules for disclosing oil and gas reserves. The definitions contained within these rules are broadly consistent with the SPE Petroleum Resources Management System (PRMS); the definitions in the previous rules differed from PRMS in a number of specific instances (SPE 2007). A notable difference in the new rules is inclusion of more nontraditional resources as potential oil and gas reserves rather than as mining reserves. With new disclosure rules, new questions arise about the manner in which reserves in nontraditional resources are to be reported.
Application of Real Gas Flow Theory to Well Testing and Deliverability Forecasting
Authors: Al-Hussainy R. , Ramey H.J. 
Published: November 2009

Abstract
Previous gas well test analyses have been based mainly upon linearizationsof ideal gas flow results, although a method for drawdown analysis based uponreal gas flow results has been proposed. Linearizations based upon ideal gasflow require estimation of gas physical properties at some sort of averagepressure, and implicitly involve the assumption that pressure gradients aresmall everywhere in the reservoir. A new real gas flow equation has beendeveloped by means of a substitution which couples pressure, viscosity and gaslaw deviation factor. This substitution has been called the real gaspseudo-pressure. Use of the real gas pseudo-pressure leads to simple equationsdescribing real gas flow which do not contain pressure-dependent gasproperties, and which do not require the assumption of small pressure gradientseverywhere in the flow system.
Equations required to determine flow capacity, well condition and staticformation pressure from pressure drawdown and build-up tests with the real gaspseudo-pressure concept are presented. Also shown are applications of the realgas pseudo-pressure to back-pressure testing, the gas materials balance andrigorous determination of average gas properties for previous gas flowequations. Included are sample calculations for well test analyses.
Growth Attributes of Barley (<i>Hordeum vulgare</i> L.) in Relation to Soil Moisture Regimes and NPK Fertilizers
Authors: Mollah MSI , Paul NK 
Published: November 2009

An experiment was conducted in the experimental field of Rajshahi University Campus, Bangladesh during the rabi season of 2004-2005 to study the growth attributes of four varieties of barley (BARI Barley-1, BARI Barley-2, BHL-3, BL-1) in relation to different soil moisture regimes and NPK fertilizers. Three levels of irrigation (I0, I1, I2) and four levels of NPK fertilizers (F0, F1, F2, F3) were adopted in split-split plot design with three replications. Total dry matter (TDM), leaf area index (LAI) and crop growth rate (CGR) were increased with increasing number of irrigations. Net assimilation rate (NAR) fluctuated but in most of the cases, it was highest and lowest in the I2 treatment at the first and last harvest. With few exceptions, I0 treatment had the highest and lowest leaf area ratio (LAR) at the first and last harvest, respectively. The highest and lowest TDM, LAI and CGR were in the F3 and F0 treatment, respectively. NAR was higher in the fertilized plant than in the control plants. The highest and the lowest LAR were in the F0 treatment at the first and last harvest, respectively. Most of the growth attributes were higher in BHL-3. Key words: Barley, irrigation regimes, NPK fertilizers, growth attributes. DOI:10.3329/jbs.v16i0.3736 J. bio-sci. 16: 19-24, 2008
Enzyme Activities and Degradation of Nutrients in Chickpea (<i>Cicer arietinum</i> L.) Seeds during Germination
Authors: Rahman MS , Sana NK , Hasan MM , Huque ME , Shaha RK 
Published: November 2009

BARI-3 varieties of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed at different germinating periods. Among the varieties, the highest amylase activity was found in BARI-2 and lowest in BARI-3 during germination at 45 hours in water. The maximum activity of invertase was found in BARI-2 and minimum in BARI-1 at 72 hours of germination. Lipase activity was highest in BARI-2 and lowest in BARI-1. The highest protease activity was found in BARI-2 and lowest in BARI-3. The amount of total protein and water-soluble protein were found to be highest in BARI-1 and BARI-3, respectively. During light germination, carbohydrate depletion starts after initial imbibitions, and was completed in 120-144 hours. The variety BARI-1 was found to contain the highest amount of free sugar while BARI-3 had the lowest amount. BARI-2 was found to contain highest amount of reducing sugar and BARI-1 contained the lowest amount. The highest amount of starch was found in BARI-3 and lowest in BARI-1. The starch content in chickpea seed decreased gradually during germination. Among the varieties, BARI-1 was found to contain the highest amount of lipid while BARI-3 contained the lowest amount. The seed storage substances were found to decrease gradually with the increase of germination time. The results indicate that degradation of reserve seed nutrients accelerate the development of seedling growth during germination. Key words: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) seed, Carbohydrate, Protein, Lipid, Hydrolytic Enzymes. DOI:10.3329/jbs.v16i0.3738 J. bio-sci. 16: 29-34, 2008