bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study of the Kinetics of Droplets Size Evolution and the Mechanisms of Solid Particles Creation in an Atmospheric Plasma Jet, Using a Laser Beam Diffraction Technique
Authors: Descamps Pierre , Kaiser Vincent , Asad Syed Salman , Leempoel Patrick 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe kinetics of droplets size evolution in an atmospheric plasma jet in which a precursor is injected in liquid phase through a nebulizer to deposit thin films is studied using laser diffraction. In the absence of plasma, droplets reach the substrate (at 75 mm from the nebulizer), but when a pure helium discharge is ignited all the droplets transform into gaseous phase before reaching the substrate. Theoretical and experimental analysis of the system show that the size of these droplets evolve due to evaporation in the plasma and depends upon the plasma gas composition and gas flow rate. Other possible mechanisms like particle charging have been found to play a minor role in the droplet size evolution. In high energy pure helium plasmas when the droplets interact with plasma, small size SiOx particles (1 µm maximum diameter compared to droplet of size up to 70 µm) are formed. Increasing the power dissipated in the discharge increases the number of particles formed but not their size suggesting that nucleation depends on the density of active plasma species. The particle size however depends on the time of residence and precursor concentration in the high energy zone, hence particle size growth depends upon the local concentration and transport of the precursor species.magnified image
The Influence of Pixel Numbers and Image Centring upon Particle Size Analysis Accuracy
Authors: Wedd Maurice 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe paper focuses upon one aspect of the use of image analysis technique to characterise the size of particles to high accuracy for certified reference material purposes. An object of the simulation was to investigate the parameters required to achieve measurement errors of less than 1 %. The calibration of indirect particle sizing techniques such as laser diffraction, dynamic light scattering etc. Require certified reference materials, preferably having a high accuracy both in size and quantity. To improve the accuracy of reference materials Witt et al. [1] proposed a picket fence of nearly mono‐sized, solid, uniform density spherical particles, where precise weights of each mono‐sized fraction were to be added together to form a defined distribution. For this method to succeed high particle size accuracy, coupled with precision weighing and particle handling techniques are vital. A pixel array has been modelled to examine the influence, upon image analysis measurement accuracy, of pixel number, threshold levels and image centring.
The impact of solubility and electrostatics on fibril formation by the H3 and H4 histones
Authors: Topping Traci B. , Gloss Lisa M. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe goal of this study was to examine fibril formation by the heterodimeric eukaryotic histones (H2A‐H2B and H3‐H4) and homodimeric archaeal histones (hMfB and hPyA1). The histone fold dimerization motif is an obligatorily domain‐swapped structure comprised of two fused helix:β‐loop:helix motifs. Domain swapping has been proposed as a mechanism for the evolution of protein oligomers as well as a means to form precursors in the formation of amyloid‐like fibrils. Despite sharing a common fold, the eukaryotic histones of the core nucleosome and archaeal histones fold by kinetic mechanisms of differing complexity with transient population of partially folded monomeric and/or dimeric species. No relationship was apparent between fibrillation propensity and equilibrium stability or population of kinetic intermediates. Only H3 and H4, as isolated monomers and as a heterodimer, readily formed fibrils at room temperature, and this propensity correlates with the significantly lower solubility of these polypeptides. The fibrils were characterized by ThT fluorescence, FTIR, and far‐UV CD spectroscopies and electron microscopy. The helical histone fold comprises the protease‐resistant core of the fibrils, with little or no protease protection of the poorly structured N‐terminal tails. The highly charged tails inhibit fibrillation through electrostatic repulsion. Kinetic studies indicate that H3 and H4 form a co‐fibril, with simultaneous incorporation of both histones. The potential impact of H3 and H4 fibrillation on the cytotoxicity of extracellular histones and α‐synuclein‐mediated neurotoxicity and fibrillation is considered.
A framework for evaluation and control of the factors that influence the software process improvement in small organizations
Authors: Espinosa‐Curiel Ismael Edrein , Rodríguez‐Jacobo Josefina , Fernández‐Zepeda José Alberto 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYToday, many micro‐sized and small‐sized software enterprises (MSEs) have initiated a software process improvement (SPI) initiative to be more competitive in the software market. SPI initiatives in MSEs have not been entirely successful; in general, MSEs consider them a long, expensive, and difficult activity. One of the reasons of these results is that a large number of human, social, technical, and organizational factors influence these initiatives. MSEs require to control, mitigate, or solve these factors to succeed in their initiatives. However, because there is a lack of information regarding the characteristics and behavior of these factors in the context of the MSEs, SPI managers have limited information to design strategies to control these factors. This work proposes a framework of factors that influence SPI initiatives in MSEs and a methodology to evaluate and control these factors. This framework includes 132 factors grouped in six categories. Additionally, we specify their properties, their value scales, and the property values for each factor. SPI managers could use this framework to evaluate and control potential threats to SPI initiatives and to propose better SPI strategies. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Weighted least absolute value power system state estimation using rectangular coordinates and equivalent measurement functions
Authors: Rakpenthai Chawasak , Uatrongjit Sermsak , Ngamroo Issarachai , Watson Neville R. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThis paper presents a new efficient computation technique for robust power system state estimation based on weighted least absolute value (WLAV) criterion. The proposed method employs rectangular form of state variables and equivalent measurements technique in order to obtain the linear measurement functions with linear constraints of state variables. The state estimation problem is then formulated as an optimization problem with a set of equality and inequality constraints. A solution method based on interior point algorithm is also proposed. Tests with several IEEE standard systems have been performed to investigate the performance of the proposed algorithm. Results indicate that the proposed state estimator gives promising performance compared with weighted least square (WLS) based estimation algorithms using state variables in polar forms. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography: the ABC of MRCP
Authors: Griffin Nyree , Charles-Edwards Geoff , Grant Lee Alexander 
Published: September 2011

Abstract
Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) is a technique that has evolved over the past two decades. It continues to have a fundamental role in the non-invasive investigation of many pancreatico-biliary disorders. The purpose of this review is to summarise the key concepts behind MRCP, the different techniques that are currently employed (including functional and secretin-stimulated MRCP), the pitfalls the reader should be aware of, and the main clinical indications for its use.
The local and global stability of confined planar wakes at intermediate Reynolds number
Authors: Juniper M. P. , Tammisola O. , Lundell F. 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAt high Reynolds numbers, wake flows become more globally unstable when they are confined within a duct or between two flat plates. At Reynolds numbers around 100, however, global analyses suggest that such flows become more stable when confined, while local analyses suggest that they become more unstable. The aim of this paper is to resolve this apparent contradiction by examining a set of obstacle-free wakes. In this theoretical and numerical study, we combine global and local stability analyses of planar wake flows at $\mathit{Re}= 100$ to determine the effect of confinement. We find that confinement acts in three ways: it modifies the length of the recirculation zone if one exists, it brings the boundary layers closer to the shear layers, and it can make the flow more locally absolutely unstable. Depending on the flow parameters, these effects work with or against each other to destabilize or stabilize the flow. In wake flows at $\mathit{Re}= 100$ with free-slip boundaries, flows are most globally unstable when the outer flows are 50 % wider than the half-width of the inner flow because the first and third effects work together. In wake flows at $\mathit{Re}= 100$ with no-slip boundaries, confinement has little overall effect when the flows are weakly confined because the first two effects work against the third. Confinement has a strong stabilizing effect, however, when the flows are strongly confined because all three effects work together. By combining local and global analyses, we have been able to isolate these three effects and resolve the apparent contradictions in previous work.
The burden of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in the community: a survey of self-reported IID in The Netherlands
Authors: DOORDUYN Y. , VAN PELT W. , HAVELAAR A. H. 
Published: September 2011

SUMMARYIn 2009, a 1-year retrospective survey was performed in The Netherlands to estimate the incidence and the disease burden of infectious intestinal disease (IID) in the community, to study the selection of patients consulting a general practitioner and to identify potential risk factors for IID in the community. A questionnaire was sent to 6000 persons selected at random from the population registries of 28 municipalities, with 500 persons being approached per month. A total of 1975 (33%) persons participated. The incidence rate of IID was 964/1000 person-years. Potential risk factors associated with IID in the community were young age (0–4 years) [odds ratio (OR) 3·9, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·5–10·5], having asthma as a child (OR 3·4, 95% CI 1·1–10·3) and use of gastric acid suppressive medication by persons aged ⩾45 years (OR 2·8, 95% CI 1·4–5·6). Of the 146 cases with IID, 11 (8%) consulted a physician. Cases with a long duration of symptoms, blood in the stool, children with IID and cases with a low level of education were more likely to consult a physician. Two cases had a stool sample taken and one was admitted to hospital. In conclusion, IID is common and has a significant burden of illness in The Netherlands. Our data indicate that about 15·9 million episodes of IID occur in The Netherlands per year. The incidence rate is substantially higher than the rate of 283/1000 person-years as estimated in 1999 in The Netherlands. This is probably largely due to the retrospective nature of the present study and, to a lesser extent, to differences in case definitions.
Isolation, culture and characterization of chicken primordial germ cells
Authors: Xin-Yan Tang , Wei-Dong Zeng , Yu-Ling Mi , Hong-Yun Liu , Cai-Qiao Zhang 
Published: September 2011

AbstractPrimordial germ cells (PGCs) were isolated from the genital ridges of chicken (Gallus domesticus) embryos at the 19th stage and purified by Ficoll density-gradient centrifugation. PGCs were co-cultured with somatic cells in preliminary culture and subcultured. Identification of PGCs was carried out by histochemical methods, including alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS). The proliferating activity of PGCs in subculture was demonstrated by immunocytochemistry of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Meanwhile, proliferating PGCs were compared under different culture conditions of 5–20% fetal cattle serum (FCS), insulin–transferrin–selenite (ITS) medium, conditioned medium (CM), 15% FCS+ITS, 15% FCS+40% CM. The results showed that the cultured PGCs were positive for AKP and PAS staining and displayed intensive proliferating activity by PCNA. The PGCs without centrifugation grew better than those with centrifugation. The PGCs formed larger colonies in media with 5% FCS or ITS than other media, indicating that 5% FCS or ITS supplemented media could be an ideal culture system for PGC proliferation in the PGC-somatic cell co-culture, in addition to the embryonic fibroblast feeder layer.
The normalization method for cDNA microarray data
Authors: Ji-Gang Zhang , Qin Zhang , Zong-Jun Yin 
Published: September 2011

AbstractThe widely used processing method for cDNA microarray data involves background correction, log-ratio transformation and data normalization before the statistical testing can be done. Here we propose a method that avoids the log-transformation step in view of its drawbacks, but goes directly to normalization after background correction. This method could better estimate the ‘noise’ effect by utilizing the information more effectively. Simulation studies were carried out to compare the feasibility and efficiency of this approach for eliminating experimental ‘noise’ with the log-ratio approach. Results showed that our approach worked well and the method was more robust and powerful than the log-ratio approach.
Cloning and sequence analysis of the leucine-rich repeats region of cereal cyst nematode resistance gene
Authors: Xu-Guang Zhai , Yi Liu , Fang Wu , Guang-Bing Deng , Zhi-Fen Pan , Mao-Qun Yu 
Published: September 2011

AbstractAccording to the sequence of Rccn4, which is highly similar to the nucleotide-binding site (NBS) coding region of the cereal cyst nematode resistance gene, Cre3, three 3′ nested primers were designed to amplify its 3′ flanking region through single oligonucleotide nested polymerase chain reaction (SON-PCR). One 1264 bp band, Rccn-L, was amplified from E-10, a wheat–Aegilops variabilis translocation line containing the cereal cyst nematode resistance gene from Ae. variabilis. Sequence analysis showed that Rccn-L possesses the 3′ flanking sequence of Rccn4 and contains a 55 bp-sized consensus sequence with Rccn4. The coding region was 1026 bp, consisting of an incomplete open reading frame, a terminator codon and no initiation codon and intron; it encoded a peptide of 342 amino acid residues and shared 86% nucleotide sequence identity with Cre3. The peptide had a conserved leucine-rich repeat (LRR) domain, containing the imperfect repeats, XXLXXLXXL, comprising 17% leucine residues, and shares, respectively, 89% nucleotide sequence and 78% amino acid sequence identity with the LRR sequence of the Cre3 locus. In the present study, SON-PCR was used successfully, for the first time, in plant genome research and proved to be a valuable method in plant gene cloning. The acquirement of Rccn-L established the foundation for obtaining the complete Rccn gene and further structural and functional investigations.
Persian Sufism in its Historical Perspective
Authors: Zarrinkoob A. H. , Zarrinkoob Abdol-Hosein 
Published: September 2011

The eight sections of the present essay are drawn from the lectures I delivered at Princeton University and at the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1969-1970. Because of the diverse nature of the audience I did not go into the details that would be necessary in a new approach to a traditional problem. Instead, my principal aim was to present a brief sketch of the contents of what may be called Persian mysticism, while showing at the same time the remarkable role that this variety of Islamic mysticism has played in the cultural development of Persia.The origins of Sufism—as Islamic mysticism is generally called—presents a very controversial problem indeed, but that Persia was the cradle of early Sufism is beyond doubt. Moreover, if mysticism is taken to be—as it usually is—an expression of man's belief in direct connection with the godhead, the well-known ethical concepts of the Zoroastrians—for whom every particular deed of daily life, good or bad, is the joint product of man and either the principle of Good or of Evil—might also be considered as unconscious expressions of a pantheistic type of mysticism.
Syntactic and Semantic Categories of Echo Words in Persian
Authors: Nilsen Don L. F. 
Published: September 2011

The entire Persian-speaking world, including Iran, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan, has had a very long and colorful tradition in oral literature. Since memorization has long been an integral part of Persian culture, rhyming as an aid to memorization has been especially prevalent in Persian literature. Because of this, and because of the oral tradition in general, Persian speakers have long been especially conscious of rhyming patterns. It is the purpose of this paper to investigate what morphological and syntactic devices are used to form rhyming patterns (as well as alliteration and assonance patterns) in Persian, and to investigate the effect that these rhyming patterns have on Persian grammar. In addition, the paper will attempt to determine what semantic categories are especially amenable to echo-word formation.The least significant, and probably the least deliberate of syntactic devices for echo-word formation in Persian, is the use of various suffixes and prefixes.
Literature in Pre-Safavid Isfahan
Authors: Chelkowski Peter 
Published: September 2011

The most common classification of Persian literature is the classification according to geographical divisions. The literary style sabk carries the name of the geographical area in which it reached its climax. The boundaries of these divisions, however, are very flexible.The three main literary styles which follow each other consecutively are known as: Khurasani, ᶜIraqi, and Hindi. The time spans of each style are equally flexible. Within these broad geographical divisions we then come across certain “literary schools” which reflect regional peculiarities and idiosyncrasies and are identified with smaller entities like provinces or towns. For example, there are: the Azerbayjani school, the Tabriz school, or the Shirvan school. This paper deals with literature in Isfahan in pre-Safavid times.Isfahan has enjoyed a central geographical position and played a very important role in the history of Iran. It is, therefore, natural that in the history of Persian literature we come across The Isfahan School of poetry.
European Visitors to the Safavid Court
Authors: Stevens Roger 
Published: September 2011

Before 1600 few Europeans visited Persia. But with the advent of the seventeenth century there was a marked change from several causes: first, the awakened interest in Eastern trade; the East India Company of London was chartered on 31 December 1600, the Dutch East India Company less than two years later; second, the common enmity against the Turk shared by Persia and Western Europe; third, a by-product of that, Shāh ᶜAbbās’ tolerant and even encouraging attitude to Christians; fourth, the freeing of Persian Gulf ports from Portuguese domination; fifth, reports filtering back to Europe of the wonders of Persia and particularly of its splendid new capital; sixth, more Europeans with the means and urge to travel.And so we have, passing through Isfahan or settling there for long periods, a motley band of Europeans--ambassadors and adventurers, monks and mountebanks, traders and travellers, including combinations of each. Some could scarcely read or write, others wrote volumes--some went on writing about it for the rest of their lives.
Wall Paintings in the Seventeenth Century Monuments of Isfahan
Authors: Grube Ernst 
Published: September 2011

Almost nothing of monumental painting in the Islamic world survives. Speculation about its existence and its original appearance has long taken the place of the study of existing monuments. One consoled oneself with the consideration that at least part of the immense loss of monumental Islamic painting is compensated for by the fact that the surviving miniature paintings--or where those are lacking, paintings on pottery, glass, and ivory--in all likelihood reflect both in style and iconography the destroyed wall-paintings which had decorated the palaces of the rulers, princes, and wealthy.This assumption was supported by the close correspondance between the few fragments of wall-painting surviving from the Seljuq period in Iran and the mina'i and lustre-painted potteries of the time. It was finally substantiated by the discovery of the Varqah va Gulshah manuscript in Istanbul, illustrated with paintings in a style corresponding closely to both the surviving fragments of wall-paintings and the painted potteries of the period.
The Wedding
Authors: Sa'edi Gholamhoseyn 
Published: September 2011

Gholamhoseyn Sa'edi, also known by his pen name Gowhar Morad, is one of the two or three most prominent writers of prose fiction in Iran today. His first published work appeared in 1956, and since then he has published some twenty volumes of short stories and plays, and several monographic studies of rural Iranian communities. Initially trained as a physician, Dr. Sa'edi has for some years now devoted himself almost wholly to writing. Most recently he edited four volumes of a new literary journal, Alifba, for the publishing house of Amir Kabir.The present story is the first in a collection of three, entitled Gūr va Gahvārah (“Cradle and Grave“), that was first distributed some seven years ago and later confiscated.When we got off the bus, the old man said, “Here we are.” There was a big rectangular square, and at each corner a long street like a hallway that stretched off into the darkness. The old man leading the way, we walked down the street across from us until we reached an open space and a long concrete bridge.
The Fatal Rage: Heroic Anger in Modern Iranian Fiction
Authors: Shojai D.A. 
Published: September 2011

When anger becomes the dominant mode of expression in a narrative context—and this to such a heightened degree that its release determines a whole series of actions—then it becomes necessary to evaluate not only its effect but also its purpose. In epic literatures dealing with heroic warfare, when a hero gets mad, a whole community suffers: castastrophes occur on a broad scale. These catastrophes, Gertrude Levy points out in her Sword From the Rock, “are always brought about by excess of pride arising from [the hero's] special gift of mana, or manas or menos”: which she defines as “the heroic energy which is a sign of [the hero's] divine ancestry and upon which [his] leadership depends; now brought into conflict with the accepted loyalties of organized warfare.”The hero, in conflict with his society, then, comes to express not just an inner resentment, but a quality of divine origin, which enables history to work itself out.