bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia and its Biochemical Parameters among the Selected School- going Under-priviledged Children in Dhaka City
Authors: Hussain Deena AS , Arefin MS , Hussain Bushra , Sarker Alpana
Published: August 2014

Iron deficiency is a serious health complication particularly in developing countries, which is usually caused due to poor nutrition, genetic disorders and chronic infections. Compared to developed countries prevalence of anaemia in developing and underdeveloped countries is very high, and children are the ones which are mostly affected. In this paper an attempt has been made to study the prevalence of anaemia among some school-going children in Dhaka. An attempt has also been made to assess the severity of anaemia and iron status among the school-going underprivileged children by measuring serum iron (SI), serum TIBC and serum ferritin (SF) and explore a relationship between haemoglobin level and various parameters of iron nutrition. A substantial number of indicators have been used in determining the iron deficiency.Results obtained from the study show that two thirds of the study children are anaemic due to haemoglobin level below 12 gm/dl. However, majority of them had mild anaemia (haemoglobin level between 10.0 to 11.9 gm/dl) and only a few of them had moderate anaemia (haemoglobin level between 7.0 to 9.9 gm/dl). None of the study population had severe anaemia (haemoglobin level below 7.0 gm/dl). Results also show that only 10 of the study population (6%) were found to have significantly low serum iron, low serum ferritin and high serum iron binding capacity (TIBC) as compared to that of the students who had normal haemoglobin level.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v14i2.19657 J Medicine 2013, 14(2): 130-134
Wegeners Granulomatosis with Peripheral Eosinophilia in a Young Adult Patient
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Diwan S K , Chillawar Swapnil , Shabarwal Shagun , Goyal Sonam , Jain Shraddha
Published: August 2014

Wegeners granulomatosis is a rare autoimmue disease with multi-system involvement that manifests as granulomatous vasculitic lesions, mainly involving the upper respiratory tract, lower respiratory tract and kidney. We present a case in a young adult male patient presenting with complaints of epistaxis, cough and hemoptysis who was diagnosed as Wegeners granulomatosiswith peripheral eosinophilia on the basis of chest x-ray and CT Chest and pathological confirmation by high level of serum cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v14i2.19689 J Medicine 2013, 14(2): 204-206
Acoustic Schwannoma Presenting as Multiple Cranial Neuropathies
Authors: Mahajan S.N , Shukla Samarth , Acharya Sourya , Chillaawar Swapnil , Iratwar Sandeep , Banode Pankaj
Published: August 2014

No abstract availableDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v14i2.19695 J Medicine 2013, 14(2): 222-224
STAT3 Activities and Energy Metabolism: Dangerous Liaisons
Authors: Camporeale Annalisa , Demaria Marco , Monteleone Emanuele , Giorgi Carlotta , Wieckowski Mariusz , Pinton Paolo , Poli Valeria
Published: August 2014

STAT3 mediates cytokine and growth factor receptor signalling, becoming transcriptionally active upon tyrosine 705 phosphorylation (Y-P). Constitutively Y-P STAT3 is observed in many tumors that become addicted to its activity, and STAT3 transcriptional activation is required for tumor transformation downstream of several oncogenes. We have recently demonstrated that constitutively active STAT3 drives a metabolic switch towards aerobic glycolysis through the transcriptional induction of Hif-1α and the down-regulation of mitochondrial activity, in both MEF cells expressing constitutively active STAT3 (Stat3C/C) and STAT3-addicted tumor cells. This novel metabolic function is likely involved in mediating pre-oncogenic features in the primary Stat3C/C MEFs such as resistance to apoptosis and senescence and rapid proliferation. Moreover, it strongly contributes to the ability of primary Stat3C/C MEFs to undergo malignant transformation upon spontaneous immortalization, a feature that may explain the well known causative link between STAT3 constitutive activity and tumor transformation under chronic inflammatory conditions. Taken together with the recently uncovered role of STAT3 in regulating energy metabolism from within the mitochondrion when phosphorylated on Ser 727, these data place STAT3 at the center of a hub regulating energy metabolism under different conditions, in most cases promoting cell survival, proliferation and malignant transformation even though with distinct mechanisms.
Exergy Analysis of a Subcritical Refrigeration Cycle with an Improved Impulse Turbo Expander
Authors: Zhang Zhenying , Tian Lili
Published: August 2014

The impulse turbo expander (ITE) is employed to replace the throttling valve in the vapor compression refrigeration cycle to improve the system performance. An improved ITE and the corresponding cycle are presented. In the new cycle, the ITE not only acts as an expansion device with work extraction, but also serves as an economizer with vapor injection. An increase of 20% in the isentropic efficiency can be attained for the improved ITE compared with the conventional ITE owing to the reduction of the friction losses of the rotor. The performance of the novel cycle is investigated based on energy and exergy analysis. A correlation of the optimum intermediate pressure in terms of ITE efficiency is developed. The improved ITE cycle increases the exergy efficiency by 1.4%–6.1% over the conventional ITE cycle, 4.6%–8.3% over the economizer cycle and 7.2%–21.6% over the base cycle. Furthermore, the improved ITE cycle is also preferred due to its lower exergy loss.
The Ecology of Gynecological Care for Women
Authors: Chang Chia-Pei , Chou Chia-Lin , Chou Yueh-Ching , Shao Chun-Chih , Su H. , Chen Tzeng-Ji , Chou Li-Fang , Yu Hann-Chin
Published: August 2014

Gynecological care is vital to women’s health but utilization of gynecological care has been seldom addressed. We applied the population-based “ecology model” to demonstrate the utilization of gynecological care of women, with examples from Taiwan. We analyzed the claims data from the cohort datasets within the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Women’s utilization of gynecological care in 2009 was computed. Of 1000 women, 319 utilized gynecological care at least once, 277 visited Western medicine clinics, 193 visited physician clinics, 118 visited hospital-based outpatient clinics, 73 visited traditional Chinese medicine clinics, eight were hospitalized, four were hospitalized in an academic medical center, and four visited emergency departments. More than 90% of young and middle-aged women who sought gynecological care visited gynecologist clinics. Elderly women were less likely to utilize gynecological care in all settings of medical care, but were more likely to be attended by non-gynecologists. Young women tended to visit emergency departments. The ecology model highlighted age disparities in women’s utilization of gynecological care in various settings of medical care. Since gynecological conditions were common among women, more attention should be paid on the availability of gynecologists and continuing medical education in gynecological care for non-gynecologists to guarantee women’s health.
Antiviral Prophylaxis and Isolation for the Control of Pandemic Influenza
Authors: Zhang Qingxia , Wang Dingcheng
Published: August 2014

Before effective vaccines become available, antiviral drugs are considered as the major control strategies for a pandemic influenza. However, perhaps such control strategies can be severely hindered by the low-efficacy of antiviral drugs. For this reason, using antiviral drugs and an isolation strategy is included in our study. A compartmental model that allows for imported exposed individuals and asymptomatic cases is used to evaluate the effectiveness of control strategies via antiviral prophylaxis and isolation. Simulations show that isolation strategy plays a prominent role in containing transmission when antiviral drugs are not effective enough. Moreover, relatively few infected individuals need to be isolated per day. Because the accurate calculations of the needed numbers of antiviral drugs and the isolated infected are not easily available, we give two simple expressions approximating these numbers. We also derive an estimation for the total cost of these intervention strategies. These estimations obtained by a simple method provide a useful reference for the management department about the epidemic preparedness plans.
Occurrence of Vibrio Pathotypes in the Final Effluents of Five Wastewater Treatment Plants in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities in South Africa
Authors: Nongogo Vuyokazi , Okoh Anthony
Published: August 2014

We assessed the occurrence of Vibrio pathogens in the final effluents of five wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) located in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities in South Africa over a 12 months period between September 2012 and August 2013 using standard membrane filtration technique followed by cultivation on thiosulphate citrate-bile salts-sucrose (TCBS) agar. The identities of the presumptive Vibrio isolates were confirmed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) including delineation into V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus and V. fluvialis pathotypes. The counts of Vibrio spp. varied with months in all the study sites and ranged in the order of 101 and 104 CFU/100mL. Vibrio distribution also showed seasonality with high counts being obtained in autumn and spring (p < 0.05). Prevalence of Vibrio spp. among the five WWTPs also differed significantly (p < 0.05). Of the 300 isolates that were confirmed as belonging to the Vibrio genus, 29% (86) were V. fluvialis, 28% (84) were V. vulnificus and 12% (35) were V. parahaemolyticus. The isolation of Vibrio pathogens from the final effluent suggests that this pathogen is in circulation in some pockets of the population and that the WWTPs under study do not efficiently remove bacterial pathogens from the wastewater and consequently are threats to public health.
Effects of Lead on the Morphology and Structure of the Nucleolus in the Root Tip Meristematic Cells of Allium cepa L.
Authors: Jiang Ze , Zhang Huaning , Qin Rong , Zou Jinhua , Wang Junran , Shi Qiuyue , Jiang Wusheng , Liu Donghua
Published: August 2014

To study the toxic mechanisms of lead (Pb) in plants, the effects of Pb on the morphology and structure of the nucleolus in root tip meristematic cells of Allium cepa var. agrogarum L. were investigated. Fluorescence labeling, silver-stained indirect immunofluorescent microscopy and western blotting were used. Fluorescence labeling showed that Pb ions were localized in the meristematic cells and the uptake and accumulation of Pb increased with treatment time. At low concentrations of Pb (1–10 μM) there were persistent nucleoli in some cells during mitosis, and at high concentration (100 μM) many of the nucleolar organizing regions were localized on sticky chromosomes in metaphase and anaphase cells. Pb induced the release of particles containing argyrophilic proteins to be released from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. These proteins contained nucleophosmin and nucleolin. Pb also caused the extrusion of fibrillarin from the nucleus into the cytoplasm. Western blotting demonstrated the increased expression of these three major nucleolar proteins under Pb stress.
The Constituents of Roots and Stems of Illigera luzonensis and Their Anti-Platelet Aggregation Effects
Authors: Huang Chieh-Hung , Chan Yu-Yi , Kuo Ping-Chung , Chen Yu-Fon , Chang Ren-Jie , Chen Ih-Sheng , Wu Shwu-Jen , Wu Tian-Shung
Published: August 2014

Phytochemical investigation of the roots and stems of Illigera luzonensis afforded two new aporphine alkaloids (1) and (2), one new bisdehydroaporphine alkaloid (3), and one new benzenoid (4), along with 28 known structures. The structures of new compounds were elucidated by spectral and MS analysis. Among the isolated compounds, (1) and (4–13) were subjected into the examination for their inhibitory effects on the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets.
Two New Acylated Flavonol Glycosides from the Seeds of Lepidium sativum
Authors: Fan Qing-Lu , Zhu Yin-Di , Huang Wen-Hua , Qi Yun , Guo Bao-Lin
Published: August 2014

Two new acylated flavonol glycosides named kaempferol-3-O-(2-O-sinapoyl)-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1) and quercetin-3-O-(6-O-benzoyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-galactopyranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), were isolated together with six known compounds from the seeds of L. sativum. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. In vitro 1 and 2 inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, with IC50 values of 25.36 and 25.08 µM, respectively.
Roles of Intramolecular and Intermolecular Hydrogen Bonding in a Three-Water-Assisted Mechanism of Succinimide Formation from Aspartic Acid Residues
Authors: Takahashi Ohgi , Kirikoshi Ryota , Manabe Noriyoshi
Published: August 2014

Aspartic acid (Asp) residues in peptides and proteins are prone to isomerization to the β-form and racemization via a five-membered succinimide intermediate. These nonenzymatic reactions have relevance to aging and age-related diseases. In this paper, we report a three water molecule-assisted, six-step mechanism for the formation of succinimide from Asp residues found by density functional theory calculations. The first two steps constitute a stepwise iminolization of the C-terminal amide group. This iminolization involves a quintuple proton transfer along intramolecular and intermolecular hydrogen bonds formed by the C-terminal amide group, the side-chain carboxyl group, and the three water molecules. After a conformational change (which breaks the intramolecular hydrogen bond involving the iminol nitrogen) and a reorganization of water molecules, the iminol nitrogen nucleophilically attacks the carboxyl carbon of the Asp side chain to form a five-membered ring. This cyclization is accompanied by a triple proton transfer involving two water molecules, so that a gem-diol tetrahedral intermediate is formed. The last step is dehydration of the gem-diol group catalyzed by one water molecule, and this is the rate-determining step. The calculated overall activation barrier (26.7 kcal mol−1) agrees well with an experimental activation energy.
Design of Magnetic Gelatine/Silica Nanocomposites by Nanoemulsification: Encapsulation versus in Situ Growth of Iron Oxide Colloids
Authors: Allouche Joachim , Chanéac Corinne , Brayner Roberta , Boissière Michel , Coradin Thibaud
Published: August 2014

The design of magnetic nanoparticles by incorporation of iron oxide colloids within gelatine/silica hybrid nanoparticles has been performed for the first time through a nanoemulsion route using the encapsulation of pre-formed magnetite nanocrystals and the in situ precipitation of ferrous/ferric ions. The first method leads to bi-continuous hybrid nanocomposites containing a limited amount of well-dispersed magnetite colloids. In contrast, the second approach allows the formation of gelatine-silica core-shell nanostructures incorporating larger amounts of agglomerated iron oxide colloids. Both magnetic nanocomposites exhibit similar superparamagnetic behaviors. Whereas nanocomposites obtained via an in situ approach show a strong tendency to aggregate in solution, the encapsulation route allows further surface modification of the magnetic nanocomposites, leading to quaternary gold/iron oxide/silica/gelatine nanoparticles. Hence, such a first-time rational combination of nano-emulsion, nanocrystallization and sol-gel chemistry allows the elaboration of multi-component functional nanomaterials. This constitutes a step forward in the design of more complex bio-nanoplatforms.
Joint Asymptotic Distributions of Smallest and Largest Insurance Claims
Authors: Albrecher Hansjörg , Robert Christian , Teugels Jef
Published: August 2014

Assume that claims in a portfolio of insurance contracts are described by independent and identically distributed random variables with regularly varying tails and occur according to a near mixed Poisson process. We provide a collection of results pertaining to the joint asymptotic Laplace transforms of the normalised sums of the smallest and largest claims, when the length of the considered time interval tends to infinity. The results crucially depend on the value of the tail index of the claim distribution, as well as on the number of largest claims under consideration.
Does the Built Environment Make a Difference? An Investigation of Household Vehicle Use in Zhongshan Metropolitan Area, China
Authors: Zhang Yi , Wu Wei , Li Yuan , Liu Qixing , Li Chaoyang
Published: August 2014

To address worsening urban traffic and environmental issues, planners and policy makers in China have begun to recognize the importance of shaping vehicle use through the built environment. However, very few studies can be found that examine the relationship between the built environment and vehicle use in the Chinese context. With data collected in Zhongshan Metropolitan Area, this study examined how two built environment representations—simple measures and neighborhood types—were related to household car trips and motorcycle trips in China. The results of the negative binomial regression models showed that the household socio-demographic measures displayed significant association, and the built environment representations enhanced the explanatory powers. All else being equal, households in Zhongshan would generate less car and motorcycle trips if located in neighborhoods with denser land use development, better transit service and less connective street networks. In order to shape vehicle use, the findings provided informative insights for planners and policy makers to form a relatively high density of land use developments, slow down the construction of street networks, provide more jobs adjacent to residential areas and facilitate easy access to public transportation services.
Occurrence of Pre- and Post-Harvest Mycotoxins and Other Secondary Metabolites in Danish Maize Silage
Authors: Storm Ida , Rasmussen Rie , Rasmussen Peter
Published: August 2014

Maize silage is a widely used feed product for cattle worldwide, which may be contaminated with mycotoxins, pre- and post-harvest. This concerns both farmers and consumers. To assess the exposure of Danish cattle to mycotoxins from maize silage, 99 samples of whole-crop maize (ensiled and un-ensiled) were analyzed for their contents of 27 mycotoxins and other secondary fungal metabolites by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The method specifically targets the majority of common pre- and post-harvest fungi associated with maize silage in Denmark. Sixty-one samples contained one or more of the 27 analytes in detectable concentrations. The most common mycotoxins were zearalenone, enniatin B nivalenol and andrastin A, found in 34%, 28%, 16% and 15% of the samples, respectively. None of the samples contained mycotoxins above the EU recommended maximum concentrations for Fusarium toxins in cereal-based roughage. Thus, the present study does not indicate that Danish maize silage in general is a cause of acute single mycotoxin intoxications in cattle. However, 31 of the samples contained multiple analytes; two samples as much as seven different fungal metabolites. Feed rations with maize silage may therefore contain complex mixtures of fungal secondary metabolites with unknown biological activity. This emphasizes the need for a thorough examination of the effects of chronic exposure and possible synergistic effects.
The Emerging Profile of Cross-Resistance among the Nonnucleoside HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Authors: Sluis-Cremer Nicolas
Published: August 2014

Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are widely used to treat HIV-1-infected individuals; indeed most first-line antiretroviral therapies typically include one NNRTI in combination with two nucleoside analogs. In 2008, the next-generation NNRTI etravirine was approved for the treatment of HIV-infected antiretroviral therapy-experienced individuals, including those with prior NNRTI exposure. NNRTIs are also increasingly being included in strategies to prevent HIV-1 infection. For example: (1) nevirapine is used to prevent mother-to-child transmission; (2) the ASPIRE (MTN 020) study will test whether a vaginal ring containing dapivirine can prevent HIV-1 infection in women; (3) a microbicide gel formulation containing the urea-PETT derivative MIV-150 is in a phase I study to evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and acceptability; and (4) a long acting rilpivirine formulation is under-development for pre-exposure prophylaxis. Given their widespread use, particularly in resource-limited settings, as well as their low genetic barriers to resistance, there are concerns about overlapping resistance between the different NNRTIs. Consequently, a better understanding of the resistance and cross-resistance profiles among the NNRTI class is important for predicting response to treatment, and surveillance of transmitted drug-resistance.
Morphologic and morphometric features of the calcaneal insertions of the superficial digital flexor tendon in the horse
Authors: Wright I. M. , Barker W. H. J.
Published: August 2014

Introduction: Accurate description of the calcaneal insertions of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is lacking and inconsistent. The aim of this study was to undertake morphologic and morphometic evaluations of these structures to assist in elucidating their functional and pathogenic roles in displacement of the SDFT from the calcaneal tuber.

Method: Dissections were performed on 10 normal cadaveric hindlimbs. The anatomy was photographed to allow measurements at repeatable locations and differences in SDFT dimensions at the various locations were compared using a paired student t-test.

Results: This study demonstrated that the calcaneal insertions of the SDFT are independent from the overlying tarsal insertions of the biceps femoris and semitendinosus, which blend into the plantar surface of the fibrocartilaginous cap (FCC) of the SDFT before inserting dorsal to the insertion of the SDFT on the calcaneal tuber. The lateral insertion of the SDFT is larger in cross-sectional area (median: 219 mm2) at its origin from the FCC than its medial counterpart (median: 159 mm2, p = 0.004) and has a more complex fibre alignment. The lateral site of attachment of the SDFT on the calcaneal tuber is dorsolateral to the insertion of the gastrocnemius tendon and is larger (median: 525 mm2) than the medial insertion (median: 428 mm2, p = 0.036), which inserts distal to the insertion of the gastrocnemius tendon.

Conclusion: The features identified in this study suggest that the calcaneal insertions of the SDFT are complex and their morphological and morphometric differences are likely to contribute to clinical lesions identified at this site.
Creating a Culturally Sensitive Marketing Strategy for Diffusion of Innovations Using Hofstede's Six Dimensions of National Culture
Authors: Chandan Harish C.
Published: August 2014

Marketing incremental and radical innovations to consumers in different nations requires an understanding of the influence of their national culture, socioeconomic, and demographic variables (Everdingen & Warts, 2003). The innovation adoption process involves innovative and imitative consumer behavior (Rogers 1962, 2003; Bass, 1969; Norton & Bass, 1987). The consumer behavior of adoption of innovations can be predicted from their attitude towards the adoption, perceived behavioral control, social influence, and subjective norms, which are part of the national culture (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980; Ajzen, 1985, 1991). For multiple generations of the same product, innovation adoption and substitution occurs simultaneously. An integrated, multi-generation diffusion model has been developed that considers a dynamic market potential with a competitive relationship among generations and products (Kreng & Wang, 2013). The Hofstede framework of national culture is the most widely used cultural framework to explain the consequences of culture for global marketing, branding, and advertising (Hofstede, et al., 2010; Mooij & Hofstede, 2010, 2011; Rinnie & Fairweather, 2012). The purpose of this chapter is to summarize the current understanding about creating a culturally sensitive marketing intervention strategy including price, competition, and substitution for the diffusion of innovations using Hofstede's six dimensions of national culture.
Transcultural Understanding in Business Communication
Authors: Chang S. J.
Published: August 2014

Communication in the global business environment is inevitably culture-bound. While the importance of transcultural understanding looms large, the gaps between cultures remain wide. This motivates us to refine our perspectives on communication in the multicultural business environment. Based on experiential discussions, this chapter presents some cohesive points on transcultural communication between the Western and the Eastern cultures, which is presupposed by the cultural contrasts between America and Korea. The chapter can serve as a practically meaningful guideline for business communication between cultures.
To Russia with Love
Authors: Holt Svetlana , Marques Joan , Camillo Angelo A.
Published: August 2014

Clarwen is a small privately owned company based in southern California, USA. It designs, manufactures, and markets custom-made luxury accessories for men and women. The company is considering pursuing international expansion—primarily into Russia but also into the European and/or Chinese markets—in order to directly increase its revenues by adding potential new customers for its current products. Preliminary market analyses indicate that non-domestic customers are willing and able to buy Clarwen's products. Cultural factors, as well as the need for innovation, are key to Clarwen's expansion strategy. Additionally, an internal environmental scan reveals that the firm's current capabilities are limited, both in terms of production and distribution. Taking into consideration intellectual property and financial risks inherent in going international, especially for a small company, devising an appropriate entry strategy and executing it flawlessly becomes a matter of vital importance. This case examines the socio-economic factors involved in determining what entry mode Clarwen should choose: agents/distributors, franchising, direct marketing, or joint ventures in its attempts to penetrate these markets. Distribution and sales channels, selling factors and techniques, pricing, promotion and advertising, and customer support issues are considered as well.
The Foundation of Cultural Intelligence
Authors: Tran Ben
Published: August 2014

Globalization has expanded the domain of human capital requirements. Besides the traditional human capital requirements of technical knowledge and skills, the experience and skills associated with working in culturally diverse settings are becoming increasingly important (Tran, 2008). This additional human capital dimension—cosmopolitan human capital—is the focus of this chapter and the reason to study cultural intelligence, because they are so inextricably interlinked. Cosmopolitan human capital as a conceptualization has been expanded to include cosmopolitan human capital so as to include international experiences and cultural intelligence capabilities. Tomasello (2001) has argued that culture is what, in large part, separates human from animal intelligence. Tomasello (2001) states that humans have evolved as they have in part because of their cultural adaptions, which in turn develop from their ability even in infancy from about nine months onward to understand others as intentional agents. As such, the purpose of the chapter includes the foundation of cultural intelligence as it relates to human capital, and it concludes with recommendations on how to assess and evaluate whether an organization possesses human capital. The chapter will also assist organizations with evaluating whether they are equipped with developing human capital for competitive advantages based on 11 different types of intelligence.
Transcultural Marketing and Product Life Cycles in International Markets
Authors: Vianelli Donata , Valta Manuela
Published: August 2014

This chapter provides an overview of the main issues related to the management of the PLC and the diffusion of innovation across different national markets. Marketing plays a strategic role in establishing the most appropriate actions concerning innovation management and marketing decisions in foreign markets. The relationship between transcultural marketing and the PLC is investigated from consumer and company perspectives to provide an overview of the main criticalities. The design of the chapter follows a three-stage structure. The first section discusses the main issues related to the different shapes of the PLC in different countries, with a particular focus on the analysis of the takeoff point and adoption rate. In the second section, the relationship between consumer culture and the development of the PLC in multiple cultures is analyzed. Finally, the last section is dedicated to marketing strategies developed to manage different phases of the innovation process in different countries, with a focus on the role of the government and public policy makers in pushing the innovation process.
Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Malformations among Newborns in Monchegorsk (North-West Russia): A Register-Based Study
Authors: Postoev Vitaly A. , Talykova Ljudmila V. , Vaktskjold Arild
Published: August 2014

Background

Cardiovascular malformations (CVM) are one of the most prevalent groups of birth defects. Knowledge about the prevalence, distribution and survival in Russia has been limited. The aim of our study was to assess the perinatal prevalence, structure and risk factors for CVM among newborns in Monchegorsk (Murmansk Oblast, Russia) and the mortality among the affected newborns in the period 1973-2008.

Design and methods

A register-based study on data from the Kola and Murmansk County Birth Registers. The study included 28,511 births.

Results

The registered perinatal prevalence was 3.0 per 1000 new-borns, with septal defects as the most prevalent. CVM was twenty times more prevalent among stillborn than live born, and one-third of the live born with a CVM died during the first week of life. The perinatal mortality rate with CVM was 442 per 1000 newborns. This indicator decreased over time. The mothers of newborns with a CVM were ten times more likely to have stillbirth in their anamnesis. The adjusted odds ratio between maternal smoking during pregnancy and CVM was 4.09 [95% confidence interval: 1.75-9.53].

Conclusions

The diagnosed perinatal prevalence was relatively low. A previous stillbirth by the mother was highly associated with being born with a CVM. An adjusted elevated risk was also observed among smoking mothers. Perinatal survival increased over time, but varied to a large extent between the different types of CVM.
SO2 noontime-peak phenomenon in the North China Plain
Authors: Xu W. Y. , Zhao C. S. , Ran L. , Lin W. L. , Yan P. , Xu X. B.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. A phenomenon of frequent noontime SO2 concentration peaks was discovered in a detailed analysis of the SO2 concentrations in the North China Plain (NCP). The possible causes and their contributions are analyzed. The impacts of such a phenomenon on the sulphur cycle were studied and the implications of the phenomenon for atmospheric chemistry, cloud physics, and climate were discussed. Different from the more common SO2 diurnal patterns with high nighttime concentrations, NCP witnessed high frequencies of noontime SO2 peaks, with an occurrence frequency of 50 to 72% at four stations. Down mixing of elevated pollution layers, plume transport processes, mountain-valley winds, and fog/high RH haze events were the possible causes. The contribution of each process varies from day to day and from station to station, however, none of those four processes can be neglected. SO2 peaks occurring during noontime instead of nighttime will lead to a 13 to 35% increase in sulphur dry deposition, a 9 to 23% increase in gas phase oxidation, and an 8 to 33% increase in aqueous phase conversions, which will increase the hygroscopicity and the light scattering of aerosols, thus having important impacts on atmospheric chemistry, cloud physics, and climate.
Spatial and temporal variability of sources of ambient fine particular matter (PM2.5) in California
Authors: Hasheminassab S. , Daher N. , Saffari A. , Wang D. , Ostro B. D. , Sioutas C.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. To identify major sources of ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5, dp<2.5 μm) and quantify their contributions in the state of California, positive matrix factorization (PMF) receptor model was applied on speciation trends network (STN) data, collected between 2002 and 2007 at 8 distinct sampling locations, including El Cajon, Rubidoux, Los Angeles, Simi Valley, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Jose, and Sacramento. Between five to nine sources of fine PM were identified at each sampling site, several of which were common among multiple locations. Secondary aerosols, including secondary ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, were the most abundant contributor to ambient PM2.5 at all sampling sites, except for San Jose, with an annual average cumulative contribution of 26 to 63%, across the state. On an annual average basis, vehicular emissions (including both diesel and gasoline vehicles) were the largest primary source of fine PM at all sampling sites in southern California (17–18% of total mass), whereas in Fresno and San Jose, biomass burning was the most dominant primary contributor to ambient PM2.5 (27 and 35% of total mass, respectively), in general agreement with the results of previous source apportionment studies in California. In Bakersfield and Sacramento, vehicular emissions and biomass burning displayed relatively equal annual contributions to ambient PM2.5 mass (12 and 25%, respectively). Other commonly identified sources at all sites included aged and fresh sea salt as well as soil, which contributed to 0.5–13%, 2–27%, and 1–19% of the total mass, respectively, across all sites and seasons. In addition, few minor sources were exclusively identified at some of the sites (e.g. chlorine sources, sulfate-bearing road dust, and different types of industrial emissions). These sources overall accounted for a small fraction of the total PM mass across the sampling locations (1 to 15%, on an annual average basis).
Modeled black carbon radiative forcing and atmospheric lifetime in AeroCom Phase II constrained by aircraft observations
Authors: Samset B. H. , Myhre G. , Herber A. , Kondo Y. , Li S.-M. , Moteki N. , Koike M. , Oshima N. , Schwarz J. P. , Balkanski Y. , Bauer S. E. , Bellouin N. , Berntsen T. K. , Bian H. , Chin M. , Diehl T. , Easter R. C. , Ghan S. J. , Iversen T. , Kirkevåg A. , Lamarque J.-F. , Lin G. , Liu X. , Penner J. E. , Schulz M. , Seland Ø , Skeie R. B. , Stier P. , Takemura T. , Tsigaridis K. , Zhang K.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Atmospheric black carbon (BC) absorbs solar radiation, and exacerbates global warming through exerting positive radiative forcing (RF). However, the contribution of BC to ongoing changes in global climate is under debate. Anthropogenic BC emissions, and the resulting distribution of BC concentration, are highly uncertain. In particular, long range transport and processes affecting BC atmospheric lifetime are poorly understood. Here we discuss whether recent assessments may have overestimated present day BC radiative forcing in remote regions. We compare vertical profiles of BC concentration from four recent aircraft measurement campaigns to simulations by 13 aerosol models participating in the AeroCom Phase II intercomparision. An atmospheric lifetime of BC of less than 5 days is shown to be essential for reproducing observations in remote ocean regions, in line with other recent studies. Adjusting model results to measurements in remote regions, and at high altitudes, leads to a 25% reduction in AeroCom Phase II median direct BC forcing, from fossil fuel and biofuel burning, over the industrial era. The sensitivity of modeled forcing to BC vertical profile and lifetime highlights an urgent need for further flight campaigns, close to sources and in remote regions, to provide improved quantification of BC effects for use in climate policy.
An overview of the lightning and atmospheric electricity observations collected in Southern France during the HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment (HyMeX), Special Observation Period 1
Authors: Defer E. , Pinty J.-P. , Coquillat S. , Martin J.-M. , Prieur S. , Soula S. , Richard E. , Rison W. , Krehbiel P. , Thomas R. , Rodeheffer D. , Vergeiner C. , Malaterre F. , Pedeboy S. , Schulz W. , Farges T. , Gallin L.-J. , Ortéga P. , Ribaud J.-F. , Anderson G. , Betz H.-D. , Meneux B. , Kotroni V. , Lagouvardos K. , Roos S. , Ducrocq V. , Roussot O. , Labatut L. , Molinié G.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. The PEACH (Projet en Electricité Atmosphérique pour la Campagne HyMeX – the Atmospheric Electricity Project of HyMeX Program) project is the Atmospheric Electricity component of the HyMeX (Hydrology cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment) experiment and is dedicated to the observation of both lightning activity and electrical state of continental and maritime thunderstorms in the area of the Mediterranean Sea. During the HyMeX SOP1 (Special Observation Period; 5 September–6 November 2012), four European Operational Lightning Locating Systems (OLLSs) (ATDNET, EUCLID, LINET, ZEUS) and the HyMeX Lightning Mapping Array network (HyLMA) were used to locate and characterize the lightning activity over the Southeastern Mediterranean at flash, storm and regional scales. Additional research instruments like slow antennas, video cameras, micro-barometer and microphone arrays were also operated. All these observations in conjunction with operational/research ground-based and airborne radars, rain gauges and in situ microphysical records aimed at characterizing and understanding electrically active and highly precipitating events over Southeastern France that often lead to severe flash floods. Simulations performed with Cloud Resolving Models like Meso-NH and WRF are used to interpret the results and to investigate further the links between dynamics, microphysics, electrification and lightning occurrence. A description of the different instruments deployed during the field campaign as well as the available datasets is given first. Examples of concurrent observations from radio frequency to acoustic for regular and atypical lightning flashes are then presented showing a rather comprehensive description of lightning flashes available from the SOP1 records. Then examples of storms recorded during HyMeX SOP1 over Southeastern France are briefly described to highlight the unique and rich dataset collected. Finally the next steps of the work required for the delivery of reliable lightning-derived products to the HyMeX community are discussed.
HESS Opinions "A perspective on isotope versus non-isotope approaches to determine the contribution of transpiration to total evaporation"
Authors: Sutanto S. J. , van den Hurk B. , Dirmeyer P. A. , Seneviratne S. I. , Röckmann T. , Trenberth K. E. , Blyth E. M. , Wenninger J. , Hoffmann G.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Current techniques to disentangle the evaporative fluxes from the continental surface into a contribution evaporated from soils and canopy, or transpired by plants, are under debate. Many isotope-based studies show that transpiration contributes generally more than 70% to the total evaporation, while other isotope-independent techniques lead to considerably smaller transpiration fractions. This paper provides a perspective on isotope-based versus non-isotope-based partitioning studies. Some partitioning results from isotope-based methods, hydrometric measurements, and modeling are presented for comparison. Moreover, the methodological aspects of the partitioning analysis are considered, including their limitations, and explanations of possible discrepancies between the methods are discussed. We suggest sources of systematic error that may lead to biases in the results, e.g., instruments inaccuracy, assumptions used in analyses, and calibration parameters. A number of comparison studies using isotope-based methods and hydrometric measurements in the same plants and climatic conditions are consistent within the errors; however, models tend to produce lower transpiration fractions. The relatively low transpiration fraction in current state-of-the-art land-surface models calls for a reassessment of the skill of the underlying model parameterizations. The scarcity of global evaporation data makes calibration and validation of global isotope-independent and isotope-based results difficult. However, isotope-enabled land-surface and global climate modeling studies allow for the evaluation of the parameterization of land-surface models by comparing the computed water isotopologue signals in the atmosphere with the available remote sensing and flux-based data sets. Future studies that allow for this evaluation could provide a better understanding of the hydrological cycle in vegetated regions.
Reducing the ambiguity of karst aquifer models by pattern matching of flow and transport on catchment scale
Authors: Oehlmann S. , Geyer T. , Licha T. , Sauter M.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. Assessing the hydraulic parameters of karst aquifers is a challenge due to their high degree of heterogeneity. The unknown parameter field generally leads to a high ambiguity for flow and transport calibration in numerical models of karst aquifers. In this study, a distributive numerical model was built for the simulation of groundwater flow and solute transport in a highly heterogeneous karst aquifer in south western Germany. Therefore, an interface for the simulation of solute transport in one-dimensional pipes was implemented into the software Comsol Multiphysics® and coupled to the three-dimensional solute transport interface for continuum domains. For reducing model ambiguity, the simulation was matched for steady-state conditions to the hydraulic head distribution in the model area, the spring discharge of several springs and the transport velocities of two tracer tests. Furthermore, other measured parameters such as the hydraulic conductivity of the fissured matrix and the maximal karst conduit volume were available for model calibration. Parameter studies were performed for several karst conduit geometries to analyse the influence of the respective geometric and hydraulic parameters and develop a calibration approach in a large-scale heterogeneous karst system. Results show that it is not only possible to derive a consistent flow and transport model for a 150 km2 karst area, but that the combined use of groundwater flow and transport parameters greatly reduces model ambiguity. The approach provides basic information about the conduit network not accessible for direct geometric measurements. The conduit network volume for the main karst spring in the study area could be narrowed down to approximately 100 000 m3.
Fluctuations in a quasi-stationary shallow cumulus cloud ensemble
Authors: Sakradzija M. , Seifert A. , Heus T.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. We propose an approach to stochastic parameterization of shallow cumulus clouds to represent the convective variability and its dependence on the model resolution. To collect the information about the individual cloud lifecycles and the cloud ensemble as a whole, we employ a Large-Eddy Simulation model (LES) and a cloud tracking algorithm, followed by conditional sampling of clouds at the cloud-base level. In the case of a shallow cumulus ensemble, the cloud-base mass flux distribution is bimodal due to the different shallow cloud subtypes. Each distribution mode can be approximated with a Weibull distribution, explaining the deviation from a single-parameter exponential shape through the diversity in cloud lifecycles. The exponential distribution of cloud mass flux previously suggested for deep convection parameterization is a special case of the Weibull distribution, which opens a way towards unification of the statistical convective ensemble formalism of shallow and deep cumulus clouds. Based on the empirical and theoretical findings, a stochastic model has been developed to simulate a shallow convective cloud ensemble. It is formulated as a compound random process, with the number of convective elements drawn from a Poisson distribution, and the cloud mass flux sampled from a mixed Weibull distribution. Convective memory is accounted for through the explicit cloud lifecycles, making the model formulation consistent with the choice of the Weibull cloud mass flux distribution function. The memory of individual shallow clouds is required to capture the correct convective variability. The resulting distribution of the subgrid convective states in the considered shallow cumulus case is scale-adaptive – the smaller the grid size, the broader the distribution.
Importance of basal processes in simulations of a surging Svalbard outlet glacier
Authors: Gladstone R. , Schäfer M. , Zwinger T. , Gong Y. , Strozzi T. , Mottram R. , Boberg F. , Moore J. C.
Published: August 2014

Abstract. The outlet glacier of Basin 3 (B3) of Austfonna ice cap, Svalbard, is one of the fastest outlet glaciers in Svalbard, and shows dramatic changes since 1995. In addition to previously observed seasonal summer speed-up associated with the melt season, the winter speed of B3 has accelerated approximately fivefold since 1995. We use the Elmer/Ice full-Stokes model for ice dynamics to infer spatial distributions of basal drag for the winter seasons of 1995, 2008 and 2011. This "inverse" method is based on minimising discrepancy between modelled and observed surface velocities, using satellite remotely sensed velocity fields. We generate steady-state temperature distributions for 1995 and 2011. Frictional heating caused by basal sliding contributes significantly to basal temperatures of the B3 outlet glacier, with heat advection (a longer-timescale process than frictional heating) also being important in the steady state. We present a sensitivity experiment consisting of transient simulations under present-day forcing to demonstrate that using a temporally fixed basal drag field obtained through inversion can lead to thickness change errors of the order of 2 m year−1. Hence it is essential to incorporate the evolution of basal processes in future projections of the evolution of B3. Informed by a combination of our inverse method results and previous studies, we hypothesise a system of processes and feedbacks involving till deformation and basal hydrology to explain both the seasonal accelerations (short residence time pooling of meltwater at the ice–till interface) and the ongoing interannual speed-up (gradual penetration of water into the till, reducing till strength).