bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of digitalization – in what ways has the Internet changed the central issues of access to justice?
Authors: Cohen Richard , Clarke Humphrey
Published: October 2015

Access to justice for those who cannot afford it remains a serious and intractable problem. Financial shortfalls and austerity cuts have caused much of the free legal advice sector to contract. Recent gains in the economy have not been distributed to the poorest in society, many of whom view lawyers as expensive and inaccessible. The result has been a widening of the justice gap – one which can only be filled if new models based on digitalization and internet based technologies fulfill their potential and allow both law firms and major brands to provide more affordable services. A broader market based response to the coming shortfall in legal assistance is possible if unbundling can become standard among legal practitioners. Technology will enable citizens to be supported with targeted advice and information should they need it. It will also bring solicitor managed services to an increasingly wide segment of the public.
The benefits of organic farming to spontaneous vascular flora biodiversity, West Pomerania, Poland
Authors: Borysiak Janina
Published: October 2015

Research was carried out on the importance of organic farming practices for maintaining agricultural landscape complexity with consequent benefits for spontaneous vascular flora biodiversity. An agricultural landscape unit (75 ha) composed of extensively used arable lands and grasslands and small remnant natural habitats, occurring among fields or in field verges in the West Pomerania region, Poland, was investigated. Spontaneous vascular flora of extensively farmed landscape was mapped using the topographic method. The examined flora was analyzed in terms of plant species richness and diversity. The following attributes of flora were considered: taxonomic and syntaxonomic diversity, and the share of geographical and geographical–historical elements, Raunkiaer’s life forms, archaeophytes, kenophytes, plants with conservation status and threatened in the Polish regions or countries of the European Union, and ancient woodland plant species indicators. Spontaneous vascular flora included 338 species / 75 ha and represented rich taxonomic diversity: 213 genera, 71 families and 48 orders. The phytocoenoses included 52 plant associations from 17 classes, 23 orders, and 32 alliances of the phytosociological system, including 6 segetal synanthropic communities.
Germination of seeds of Avena fatua L. under different storage conditions
Authors: Dostatny Denise F. , Kordulasińska Izabela , Małuszyńska Elżbieta
Published: October 2015

Storage conditions have a strong influence on the germination of seeds of Avena fatua L, especially at variable conditions, the germination decreased. Seeds stored at a constant low temperature maintained the germination capability for 5 years. Under greenhouse conditions, seeds matured and germinated more rapidly comparing to field conditions, but individuals from these seeds were weaker and produced fewer seeds. The higher temperature in the greenhouse accelerated the development and maturing of plants. Field emergence varied depending on seed storage conditions, sample, further reproduction, and weather conditions. It was observed that individual specimens of A. fatua were able to form ripe seeds with high thousand grain mass (TGM), regardless of the occurrence of fungal diseases. The knowledge of the biology of A. fatua is very important due to its status as a restricted weed in certified seed of crop plants.
Optimizing Pump Operations in Water Supply Networks Through Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Mambretti Stefano , Orsi Enrico
Published: October 2015

Proper scheduling of pump operations (i.e., the specific combinations of pumps and operating parameters to meet system requirements) can yield substantial savings in energy costs for water supply systems. In recent decades, optimization procedures have been developed to solve this complex and multiobjective problem. In the current research, a genetic algorithm method was selected to optimize pump operations to reduce energy consumption while maintaining good service. The method was then applied to the water supply network of Milan, Italy, a large, complex system in which hydraulic head is maintained by the action of pumping stations. On the basis of real data and following field testing, the operations of the network and its pumping stations were first simulated with specially developed software that uses the EPANET Toolkit and then optimized with the proposed method. When checked against real data, simulation results indicated that application of the optimization procedures could produce significant improvement and cost savings.
Laboratory Assessment of Ferrate for Drinking Water Treatment
Authors: Goodwill Joseph E. , Jiang Yanjun , Reckhow David A. , Tobiason John E.
Published: October 2015

A laboratory assessment of ferrate (Fe(VI)) for drinking water treatment was conducted, including batch and continuous flow experiments on natural water samples. In batch experiments, ferrate preoxidation enhanced the removal of ultraviolet light‐absorbing compounds (UV254; absorbance at 254 nm) by subsequent coagulation in some water samples, while some samples showed no improvement. Ferrate oxidation was not found to have negative impacts on subsequent coagulation. In continuous flow experiments, ferrate preoxidation improved finished water turbidity, UV254 absorbance, and disinfection by‐product formation as compared with no preoxidation and to preoxidation with permanganate. However, improvements were similar in magnitude to those achieved by adding the same mass of ferric iron in place of ferrate prior to a formal coagulation step, in one water study. Particulate iron resulting from Fe(VI) reduction was effectively destabilized and removed via coagulation and filtration. Ferrate may be a viable technology for drinking water treatment depending on raw water quality and treatment goals.
Micropolitics of Public Space: On the Contested Limits of Citizenship as a Locational Practice
Authors: Di Masso Andrés
Published: October 2015

This article provides a social-psychological account of how public space dynamics may be consequential for the daily construction of citizenship. The article is organised around three interrelated ideas that are illustrated by a case study. First, it is argued that certain social-psychological processes that are typically involved in the construction of citizenship can be re-conceptualised as place-based processes that are located in public space. This interest in the ‘locational’ construction of citizenship implies focusing on membership, belonging, status, rights, entitlements and recognition as emplaced practices rather than as dislocated entities. The second idea relates to the troubled nature of citizenship as a place-related psychological category whose boundaries are hotly contested whenever disputes about controversial behaviour in public spaces surface. Accordingly, ‘the citizen’ is constantly re-shaped as everyday place-discourses and territorial practices in the public domain unfold in problematic ways. Finally, it is argued that such ‘locational’ constructions and enactments of citizenship in public space are usually framed by broader ideological dilemmas that are relevant to the maintenance and change of a given socio-political order. The ultimate purpose of the article is to demonstrate the potential for public space to become a possible site for grounding a social psychology of citizenship.
From Ex-Combatants to Citizens: Connecting Everyday Citizenship and Social Reintegration in Colombia
Authors: Rodríguez López Maivel , Andreouli Eleni , Howarth Caroline
Published: October 2015

Citizenship can be understood as a form of civic participation and a means of developing social relations with members of the broader community and, therefore, can act as an important means to help reintegrate ex-combatants back into mainstream society. This paper discusses an exploratory research project conducted with a sample of 23 Colombian ex-combatants from non-state armed groups who are current participants of the national programme of reintegration in the city of Bogotá, Colombia. By collecting their views and opinions about what it is like to become reintegrated, we explored the range of social factors that facilitate as well as obstruct practices of citizenship in everyday life and, subsequently, the ways in which this affects their overall experience of reintegration into Colombian society. Drawing on social psychological literature on citizenship and on the theory of social representations, we explored how citizenship is understood and enacted by this group as part of their reintegration process. A thematic analysis of three focus groups highlights an enabling as well as a limiting social context that affects former combatants’ ability to participate as citizens. This paper also contributes to the social psychology of citizenship by studying the experience of reintegration in conflict-affected societies.
Constructions of ‘the Polish’ in Northern England: Findings From a Qualitative Interview Study
Authors: Gibson Stephen
Published: October 2015

The enlargement of the European Union in 2004 gave rise to moral panics concerning the likelihood of mass migration from the new eastern European member states to established member states in the west. A great deal of social and political science research has examined the ongoing impact of the enlargement, but there remains a gap in the literature regarding the ways in which members of ‘receiving’ populations reacted to these changes. The present paper reports findings from a qualitative interview study of 14-16 year-olds conducted in northern England. It focuses on how migrants from one particular country – Poland – were constructed by participants. Drawing on previous analyses of immigration and racist discourse, the study points to some ways in which Polish migrants and migration were constructed, and how complaints against ‘the Polish’ were formulated. The analysis focusses on four key issues: employment and the economy; language and culture; threat and intimidation; and physical stereotyping. It is suggested that constructions of ‘the Polish’ draw on the tropes of both ‘old’ and ‘new’ racism, and that attention to the use of deixical ingroup referents (‘us’, ‘we’, ‘our’) in contrast to the explicit labelling of the outgroup (‘the Polish’) can be understood in terms of the requirement to present complaints concerning migrant groups via appeals to assumed universal standards of behaviour and civility.
Réflexions sur 25 ans de formation aux relations humaines dans une école d’ingénieurs
Authors: Offroy Jean-Gabriel
Published: October 2015

Il y a un peu plus de 25 ans, est créé un département de formation aux relations humaines dans une toute jeune école d’ingénieurs. Nous suivrons l’évolution de ce département, comment il a été reçu par le personnel enseignant et par les étudiants, les résistances qu’il a provoquées, la pédagogie que nous avons mise en oeuvre, notamment en lien avec la conduite de projets informatiques.
Developmental compartments in the larval trachea of Drosophila
Authors: Rao Prashanth R , Lin Li , Huang Hai , Guha Arjun , Roy Sougata , Kornberg Thomas B
Published: October 2015

The Drosophila tracheal system is a branched tubular network that forms in the embryo by a post-mitotic program of morphogenesis. In third instar larvae (L3), cells constituting the second tracheal metamere (Tr2) reenter the cell cycle. Clonal analysis of L3 Tr2 revealed that dividing cells in the dorsal trunk, dorsal branch and transverse connective branches respect lineage restriction boundaries near branch junctions. These boundaries corresponded to domains of gene expression, for example where cells expressing Spalt, Delta and Serrate in the dorsal trunk meet vein–expressing cells in the dorsal branch or transverse connective. Notch signaling was activated to one side of these borders and was required for the identity, specializations and segregation of border cells. These findings suggest that Tr2 is comprised of developmental compartments and that developmental compartments are an organizational feature relevant to branched tubular networks.
Expression signature based on TP53 target genes doesn't predict response to TP53-MDM2 inhibitor in wild type TP53 tumors
Authors: Sonkin Dmitriy
Published: October 2015

A number of TP53-MDM2 inhibitors are currently under investigation as therapeutic agents in a variety of clinical trials in patients with TP53 wild type tumors. Not all wild type TP53 tumors are sensitive to such inhibitors. In an attempt to improve selection of patients with TP53 wild type tumors, an mRNA expression signature based on 13 TP53 transcriptional target genes was recently developed (Jeay et al. 2015). Careful reanalysis of TP53 status in the study validation data set of cancer cell lines considered to be TP53 wild type detected TP53 inactivating alterations in 23% of cell lines. The subsequent reanalysis of the remaining TP53 wild type cell lines clearly demonstrated that unfortunately the 13-gene signature cannot predict response to TP53-MDM2 inhibitor in TP53 wild type tumors.
Frailty severity is significantly associated with electrocardiographic QRS duration in chronic dialysis patients
Authors: Chao Chia-Ter , Huang Jenq-Wen
Published: October 2015

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are at increased risk of sudden cardiac death, the risk of which is presumably related to arrhythmia. Electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters have been found to correlate with arrhythmia and predict cardiovascular outcomes in ESRD patients. Frailty is also a common feature in this population. We investigate whether the severity of dialysis frailty is associated with ECG findings, including PR interval, QRS duration, and QTc interval. Presence and severity of frailty was ascertained using six different self-report questionnaires with proven construct validity. Correlation analysis between frailty severity and ECG was made, and those with significant association entered into multiple regression analysis for confirmation. Among a cohort of chronic hemodialysis patients, we found that frailty severity, assessed by the Edmonton frailty scale, is significantly associated with QRS duration (r= − 0.3,p< 0.05). Dialysis patients with QRS longer than 120 ms had significantly lower severity of frailty than those with QRS less than 120 ms (p= 0.01 for the Edmonton frailty scale and 0.05 for simple FRAIL scale). Regression analysis showed that frailty severity, assessed by the Edmonton frailty scale and simple FRAIL scale, was significantly associated with QRS duration independent of serum electrolyte levels. In conclusion, a significant relationship exists between the severity of frailty and QRS duration in ESRD patients. This might be an under-recognized link between frailty and its adverse cardiovascular impact in these patients.
Classification of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules Using Wavelet Texture Analysis of Sonograms
Authors: Ardakani Ali Abbasian , Gharbali Akbar , Mohammadi Afshin
Published: October 2015

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a computer‐aided diagnostic system using texture analysis to improve radiologic accuracy for identification of thyroid nodules as malignant or benign.

Methods

The database comprised 26 benign and 34 malignant thyroid nodules. Wavelet transform was applied to extract texture feature parameters as descriptors for each selected region of interest in 3 normalization schemes (default, μ ± 3σ, and 1%–9%). Linear discriminant analysis and nonlinear discriminant analysis were used for texture analysis of the thyroid nodules. The first–nearest neighbor classifier was applied to features resulting from linear discriminant analysis. Nonlinear discriminant analysis features were classified by using an artificial neural network. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to examine the performance of the texture analysis methods.

Results

Wavelet features under default normalization schemes from nonlinear discriminant analysis indicated the best performance for classification of benign and malignant thyroid nodules and showed 100% sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy; the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 1.

Conclusions

Wavelet features have a high potential for effective differentiation of benign from malignant thyroid nodules on sonography.
Nomograms for Fetal Cardiac Ventricular Width and Right‐to‐Left Ventricular Ratio
Authors: Gabbay-Benziv Rinat , Turan Ozhan M. , Harman Chris , Turan Sifa
Published: October 2015

Objectives

To establish nomograms for right ventricular (RV) and left ventricular (LV) widths and their ratio from 16 to 38 gestational weeks.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective evaluation of 1242 fetal echocardiographic examinations with normal findings in a single referral medical center between 2007 and 2013. We excluded all echocardiographic examinations with abnormal findings. The RV and LV widths, measured in end diastole from inner to inner line below the valves' insertion at the 4‐chamber view, were obtained. Nomograms for the RV and LV widths and RV/LV ratio from 16 to 38 gestational weeks were constructed by using separate best‐fitted regression models for estimation of mean and standard deviation at each gestational age (GA).

Results

Regression models for the RV and LV widths and RV/LV ratio were best fit by different‐degree polynomial regression. The mean RV and LV widths and RV/LV ratio (±2 SD) increased statistically with GA from 16 to 38 weeks: 4.13 (3.00–5.44) to 16.68 (12.98–20.83) mm, 4.21 (3.18–5.49) to 15.17 (11.60–19.56) mm, and 1.03 (0.87–1.23) to 1.06 (0.87–1.30), respectively. Although the width increments in the RV and LV were both statistically and clinically significant, the ratio increment seemed to fall into the error of measurement and thus has no clinical significance.

Conclusions

Reference values for cardiac ventricle widths and their ratio throughout gestation were established. The RV/LV ratio increases with GA, although without clinical significance. These reference values will be useful in objective assessment of RV‐to‐LV disproportion.
Correlation Between Abdominal Muscle Thickness and Maximal Expiratory Pressure
Authors: Ishida Hiroshi , Suehiro Tadanobu , Kurozumi Chiharu , Ono Koji , Watanabe Susumu
Published: October 2015

Objectives

The activity of abdominal muscles mainly produces high expiratory pressure. These include the rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles. The purpose of this study was to determine whether maximal expiratory pressure is associated with each abdominal muscle thickness at rest.

Methods

Thirty‐nine healthy male volunteers (mean age ± SD, 20.7 ± 2.7 years) participated in the study. The thickness of the right rectus abdominis, external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles was measured by B‐mode sonography in the supine position. The maximal expiratory pressure was obtained with a spirometer in the sitting position. The correlations between each abdominal muscle thickness and maximal expiratory pressure were determined by the Pearson correlation coefficient.

Results

The correlation coefficient between the rectus abdominis muscle and maximal expiratory pressure was 0.571 (P< .001). Correlation coefficients between the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscles and maximal expiratory pressure were 0.297 (P = .066), 0.267 (P = .100), and 0.022 (P = .894), respectively.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the rectus abdominis muscle thickness might be more highly correlated with expiratory pressure production than the external oblique, internal oblique, and transverse abdominis muscle thickness.
Ultrasound‐Guided Proximal Suprascapular Nerve Block With Radiofrequency Lesioning for Patients With Malignancy‐Associated Recalcitrant Shoulder Pain
Authors: Chang Ke-Vin , Hung Chen-Yu , Wang Tyng-Guey , Yang Rong-Sen , Sun Wei-Zen , Lin Chih-Peng
Published: October 2015

The classic suprascapular nerve block has limitations, such as postural requirements and lack of direct nerve visualization. This series investigated the analgesic effect of ultrasound‐guided supraclavicular suprascapular nerve blocks in patients with malignancy‐associated shoulder pain. Ablative radiofrequency lesioning of the suprascapular nerve in 6 patients provided substantial pain relief. The mean distance from the suprascapular nerve to the brachial plexus was 8.05 mm, and the mean angle of needle entry was 20.6°. This approach appears to be effective in relieving malignancy‐associated shoulder pain and is tolerated by patients unable to sit or lie prone.
Reliability Assessment of Various Sonographic Techniques for Evaluating Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Junck Anthony D. , Escobedo Eva M. , Lipa Bethany M. , Cronan Michael , Anthonisen Colleen , Poltavskiy Eduard , Bang Heejung , Han Jay J.
Published: October 2015

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability of sonographic measurements of the median nerve cross‐sectional area in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy control participants.

Methods

The median nerve cross‐sectional area was evaluated by sonography in 18 participants with carpal tunnel syndrome (18 upper extremities) and 9 control participants (18 upper extremities) at 2 visits 1 week apart. Two examiners, both blinded to the presence or absence of carpal tunnel syndrome, captured independent sonograms of the median nerve at the levels of the carpal tunnel inlet, pronator quadratus, and mid‐forearm. The cross‐sectional area was later measured by each examiner independently. Each also traced images that were captured by the other examiner.

Results

Both the intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability rates were highest for images taken at the carpal tunnel inlet (radiologist, r = 0.86; sonographer, r = 0.87; inter‐rater, r = 0.95; all P < .0001), whereas they was lowest for the pronator quadratus (r = 0.49, 0.29, and 0.72, respectively; all P < .0001). At the mid‐forearm, the intra‐rater reliability was lower for both the radiologist and sonographer, whereas the inter‐rater reliability was relatively high (r = 0.54, 0.55, and 0.81; all P < .0001). Tracing of captured images by different examiners showed high concordance for the median cross‐sectional area at the carpal tunnel inlet (r = 0.96–0.98; P < .0001).

Conclusions

The highest intra‐ and inter‐rater reliability was found at the carpal tunnel inlet. The results also demonstrate that tracing of the median nerve cross‐sectional area from captured images by different examiners does not contribute significantly to measurement variability.
The 2013Mw6.2 Khaki‐Shonbe (Iran) Earthquake: Insights into seismic and aseismic shortening of the Zagros sedimentary cover
Authors: Elliott J. R. , Bergman E. A. , Copley A. C. , Ghods A. R. , Nissen E. K. , Oveisi B. , Tatar M. , Walters R. J. , Yamini‐Fard F.
Published: October 2015

Determining the relationship between folding and faulting in fold and thrust belts is important for understanding the growth of geological structures, the depth extent of seismic slip, and consequently, the potential earthquake hazard. The 2013Mw 6.2 Khaki‐Shonbe earthquake occurred in the Simply Folded Belt of the Zagros Mountains, Iran. We combine seismological solutions, aftershock relocations, satellite interferometry, and field observations to determine fault geometry and its relationship with the structure, stratigraphy, and tectonics of the central Zagros. We find reverse slip on two along‐strike, southwest dipping fault segments. The main shock rupture initiated at the lower northern end of the larger northwest segment. Based upon the hypocenter and rupture duration, slip on the smaller southern segment is likely aseismic. Both faults verge away from the foreland, toward the high‐range interior, contrary to the fault geometries depicted in many structural cross sections of the Zagros. The modeled slip occurred over two mutually exclusive depth ranges above 10 km, resulting in long (∼16 km), narrow rupture segments (∼7 km). Aftershocks cluster in the depth range 3–14 km. This indicates reverse slip and coseismic shortening occurred mostly or exclusively in the sedimentary cover, with slip distributions likely to be lithologically controlled in depth by the Hormuz salt at the base of the sedimentary cover (∼10–12 km), and the Kazhdumi Formation mudrocks at upper levels (∼4–5 km). Our findings suggest lithology plays a significant role in the depth extent of slip found in reverse faults in folded belts, providing an important control on the potential size of earthquakes.
The use of hyperspectral sounding information to monitor atmospheric tendencies leading to severe local storms
Authors: Weisz Elisabeth , Smith Nadia , Smith William L.
Published: October 2015

Operational space‐based hyperspectral sounders like the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder, the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer, and the Cross‐track Infrared Sounder on polar‐orbiting satellites provide radiance measurements from which profiles of atmospheric temperature and moisture can be retrieved. These retrieval products are provided on a global scale with the spatial and temporal resolution needed to complement traditional profile data sources like radiosondes and model fields. The goal of this paper is to demonstrate how existing efforts in real‐time weather and environmental monitoring can benefit from this new generation of satellite hyperspectral data products. We investigate how retrievals from all four operational sounders can be used in time series to monitor the preconvective environment leading up to the outbreak of a severe local storm. Our results suggest the potential benefit of independent, consistent, and high‐quality hyperspectral profile information to real‐time monitoring applications.
North Atlantic ecosystem sensitivity to Holocene shifts in Meridional Overturning Circulation
Authors: Douarin Mélanie , Elliot Mary , Noble Stephen R. , Moreton Steven G. , Long David , Sinclair Daniel , Henry Lea‐Anne , Roberts J. Murray
Published: October 2015

Rapid changes in North Atlantic climate over the last millennia were driven by coupled sea surface/atmospheric processes and rates of deep water formation. Holocene climate changes, however, remain poorly documented due to a lack of high‐resolution paleoclimate records, and their impacts on marine ecosystems remain unknown. We present a 4500 year absolute‐dated sea surface radiocarbon record from northeast Atlantic cold‐water corals. In contrast to the current view that surface ocean changes occurred on millennial‐scale cycles, our record shows more abrupt changes in surface circulation. Changes were centered at 3.4, 2.7, 1.7, and 1.2 kyr B.P. and associated with atmospheric reorganization. Solar irradiance may have influenced these anomalies but changes in North Atlantic deep water convection are likely to have amplified these signals. Critically, we provide the first evidence that these perturbations in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation led to the decline of cold‐water coral ecosystems from 1.2 to ~ 0.1 kyr B.P.
Geophysical evidence for the extent of crustal types and the type of margin along a profile in the northeastern Baffin Bay
Authors: Altenbernd Tabea , Jokat Wilfried , Heyde Ingo , Damm Volkmar
Published: October 2015

Investigating the crust of northern Baffin Bay provides valuable indications for the still debated evolution of this area. The crust of the southern Melville Bay is examined based on wide‐angle seismic and gravity data. The resulting P wave velocity, density, and geological models give insights into the crustal structure. A stretched and rifted continental crust underneath southern Melville Bay is up to 30 km thick, with crustal velocities ranging between 5.5 and 6.9 km/s. The deep Melville Bay Graben contains a 9 km thick infill with velocities of 4 to 5.2 km/s in its lowermost part. West of the Melville Bay Ridge, a ~80 km wide and partly only 5 km thick Continent‐Ocean Transition (COT) is present. West of the COT, up to 5 km thick sedimentary layers cover a 4.3 to 7 km thick, two‐layered oceanic crust. The upper oceanic layer 2 has velocities of 5.2 to 6.0 km/s; the oceanic layer 3 has been modeled with rather low velocities of 6.3 to 6.9 km/s. Low velocities of 7.8 km/s characterize the probably serpentinized upper mantle underneath the thin crust. The serpentinized upper mantle and low thickness of the oceanic crust are another indication for slow or ultraslow spreading during the formation of the oceanic part of the Baffin Bay. By comparing our results on the crustal structure with other wide‐angle seismic profiles recently published, differences in the geometry and structure of the crust and the overlying sedimentary cover are revealed. Moreover, the type of margin and the extent of crustal types in the Melville Bay area are discussed.
Fault plane orientations of intermediate‐depth and deep‐focus earthquakes in the Japan‐Kuril‐Kamchatka subduction zone
Authors: Warren Linda M. , Baluyut Elena C. , Osburg Timothy , Lisac Kristen , Kokkinen Siiri
Published: October 2015

In the northwestern Pacific, the Pacific plate subducts to the west at the Japan, Kuril, and Kamchatka trenches. Throughout most of the subduction zone, the subducting slab is planar and dipping at an angle of 30°–60°, with the exception of a fold in the southern Kuril segment. To investigate how the slab deforms in response to the applied forces and which mechanism generates the earthquakes, we analyze the rupture properties of 111 large (MW≥5.7) intermediate‐depth and deep‐focus earthquakes (60–656 km depth) from 1990 to 2014 in the Japan‐Kuril‐Kamchatka subduction zone. For each earthquake, we use rupture directivity to estimate rupture direction and rupture speed and to distinguish the fault plane from the auxiliary plane of the focal mechanism. Seventy six percent of the earthquakes with sufficient station coverage are well modeled by unilateral rupture propagation. The estimated rupture speeds range from zero to supershear. The estimated rupture directions allow identification of the fault plane as the more horizontal nodal plane for 30 earthquakes, while an additional 11 earthquakes rupture toward the intersection of the nodal planes, so the fault plane cannot be identified. Combining our newly identified fault planes with previously identified fault planes in the region, we observe that in planar slab segments, most earthquakes slip along a dominant fault orientation. For a steeply dipping slab, this orientation is subhorizontal. In more sharply bent slab segments, such as the Kuril fold, deformation is accommodated along more variable fault orientations, including subvertical faults. The correlation of slab geometry with fault orientation suggests that the local stress field controls fault orientations.
An examination of methods for estimating land surface microwave emissivity
Authors: Tian Yudong , Peters‐Lidard Christa D. , Harrison Kenneth W. , You Yalei , Ringerud Sarah , Kumar Sujay , Turk F. Joseph
Published: October 2015

Land surface emissivity is a critical variable for the passive microwave‐based remote sensing of the land and atmosphere. Driven by the Global Precipitation Measurement mission, we implemented and evaluated a variety of approaches for quantitative estimation of land surface emissivity and its variability, within a well‐defined common framework. These approaches fall into three classes: physical modeling, statistical modeling, and a hybrid of physical and statistical modeling. Every approach is subject to evaluation against retrieved emissivity over a large area in the Southern Great Plains for a period of 2 years. Physical modeling, based on two radiative transfer models coupled to a land surface modeling framework, produced reasonable estimates, with channel‐ and polarization‐dependent errors. Calibration of these models with historical data substantially improved their performance at lower frequencies. The statistical method was tested with five different regression models, and each of them consistently outperformed physical models by about 50%. The best statistical model had an average error of 0.9–2.1%. These statistical models were slightly improved when empirical orthogonal function analysis was incorporated in the emissivity data. The hybrid approach produced errors between the uncalibrated and calibrated physical model errors. In addition to their predictive performance, other aspects of each approach's strengths and weaknesses are discussed.
Tidal and seasonal variations in calving flux observed with passive seismology
Authors: Bartholomaus Timothy C. , Larsen Christopher F. , West Michael E. , O'Neel Shad , Pettit Erin C. , Truffer Martin
Published: October 2015

The seismic signatures of calving events, i.e., calving icequakes, offer an opportunity to examine calving variability with greater precision than is available with other methods. Here using observations from Yahtse Glacier, Alaska, we describe methods to detect, locate, and characterize calving icequakes. We combine these icequake records with a coincident, manually generated record of observed calving events to develop and validate a statistical model through which we can infer iceberg sizes from the properties of calving icequakes. We find that the icequake duration is the single most significant predictor of an iceberg's size. We then apply this model to 18 months of seismic recordings and find elevated iceberg calving flux during the summer and fall and a pronounced lull in calving during midwinter. Calving flux is sensitive to semidiurnal tidal stage. Large calving events are tens of percent more likely during falling and low tides than during rising and high tides, consistent with a view that deeper water has a stabilizing influence on glacier termini. Multiple factors affect the occurrence of mechanical fractures that ultimately lead to iceberg calving. At Yahtse Glacier, seismology allows us to demonstrate that variations in the rate of submarine melt are a dominant control on iceberg calving rates at seasonal timescales. On hourly to daily timescales, tidal modulation of the normal stress against the glacier terminus reveals the nonlinear glacier response to changes in the near‐terminus stress field.
Abundance, stable isotopic composition, and export fluxes of DOC, POC, and DIC from the Lower Mississippi River during 2006–2008
Authors: Cai Yihua , Guo Laodong , Wang Xuri , Aiken George
Published: October 2015

Sources, abundance, isotopic compositions, and export fluxes of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), dissolved and colloidal organic carbon (DOC and COC), and particulate organic carbon (POC), and their response to hydrologic regimes were examined through monthly sampling from the Lower Mississippi River during 2006–2008. DIC was the most abundant carbon species, followed by POC and DOC. Concentration and δ13C of DIC decreased with increasing river discharge, while those of DOC remained fairly stable. COC comprised 61 ± 3% of the bulk DOC with similar δ13C abundances but higher percentages of hydrophobic organic acids than DOC, suggesting its aromatic and diagenetically younger status. POC showed peak concentrations during medium flooding events and at the rising limb of large flooding events. While δ13C‐POC increased, δ15N of particulate nitrogen decreased with increasing discharge. Overall, the differences in δ13C between DOC or DIC and POC show an inverse correlation with river discharge. The higher input of soil organic matter and respired CO2 during wet seasons was likely the main driver for the convergence of δ13C between DIC and DOC or POC, whereas enhanced in situ primary production and respiration during dry seasons might be responsible for their isotopic divergence. Carbon export fluxes from the Mississippi River were estimated to be 13.6 Tg C yr−1 for DIC, 1.88 Tg C yr−1 for DOC, and 2.30 Tg C yr−1 for POC during 2006–2008. The discharge‐normalized DIC yield decreased during wet seasons, while those of POC and DOC increased and remained constant, respectively, implying variable responses in carbon export to the increasing discharge.
Distributed estimation based on information‐based covariance intersection algorithms
Authors: Mahmoud Magdi S.
Published: October 2015

A distributed estimation approach is developed in this paper using information matrix filter on a distributed tracking system in which multiple sensors are tracking the same target. The information matrix filter version is derived from covariance intersection, weighted covariance and Kalman‐like particle filter, respectively. The steady performance of these filters is evaluated with different feedback strategies. The developed filters are then validated on an industrial utility boiler. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fluorinated Alcohol‐Mediated SN1‐Type Reaction of Indolyl Alcohols with Diverse Nucleophiles
Authors: Wen Hao , Wang Liang , Xu Lubin , Hao Zhihui , Shao Chang‐Lun , Wang Chang‐Yun , Xiao Jian
Published: October 2015

This paper describes an efficient SN1‐type reaction of 3‐indolylmethanols with miscellaneous nucleophiles, featuring a catalyst‐free procedure, low cost, wide substrate scope and mild reaction conditions. This approach provides green and efficient methods for the synthesis of diverse 3‐substituted indolyl derivatives as well as unsymmetrical bisindolylmethanes and triarylmethanes.

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Enantioselektive oxidative aerobe Desalkylierung von N‐Ethylbenzyl‐ isochinolinen mithilfe des Berberin‐Brücken‐Enzyms
Authors: Gandomkar Somayyeh , Fischereder Eva‐Maria , Schrittwieser Joerg H. , Wallner Silvia , Habibi Zohreh , Macheroux Peter , Kroutil Wolfgang
Published: October 2015

N‐Desalkylierungsverfahren sind ausführlich in der organischen Chemie beschrieben und finden sich auch in der Natur sowie bei der Verstoffwechselung von Medikamenten wieder. Eine enantioselektive N‐Desalkylierung hingegen wurde nach unserem Wissen noch nie beschrieben. In der hier vorgestellten Studie wurde ausschließlich das S‐Enantiomer eines racemischen tertiären N‐Ethylamins (1‐Benzyl‐N‐ethyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroisochinolin) desalkyliert, wobei sich unter Verbrauch von molekularem Sauerstoff das entsprechende sekundäre S‐Amin bildete. Diese Reaktion wird vom Berberin‐Brücken‐Enzym, das für die Knüpfung von C‐C‐Bindungen bekannt ist, katalysiert. Die Desalkylierung wurde für einen Maßstab >100 mg gezeigt und brachte das Desalkylierungsprodukt in höchster optischer Reinheit hervor (>98 % ee).
μ3‐η2:η2:η2‐Coordination of Primary Silane on a Triruthenium Plane
Authors: Nagaoka Masahiro , Tsuruda Hiroyuki , Amako Masa‐aki , Suzuki Hiroharu , Takao Toshiro
Published: October 2015

A μ3‐η2:η2:η2‐silane complex, [(Cp*Ru)3(μ3‐η2:η2:η2‐H3SitBu)(μ‐H)3] (2 a; Cp*=η5‐C5Me5), was synthesized from the reaction of [{Cp*Ru(μ‐H)}3(μ3‐H)2] (1) with tBuSiH3. Complex 2 a is the first example of a silane ligand adopting a μ3‐η2:η2:η2 coordination mode. This unprecedented coordination mode was established by NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as X‐ray diffraction analysis and supported by a density functional study. Variable‐temperature NMR analysis implied that 2 a equilibrates with a tautomeric μ3‐silyl complex (3 a). Although 3 a was not isolated, the corresponding μ3‐silyl complex, [(Cp*Ru)3(μ3‐η2:η2‐H2SiPh)(H)(μ‐H)3] (3 b), was obtained from the reaction of 1 with PhSiH3. Treatment of 2 a with PhSiH3 resulted in a silane exchange reaction, leading to the formation of 3 b accompanied by the elimination of tBuSiH3. This result indicates that the μ3‐silane complex can be regarded as an “arrested” intermediate for the oxidative addition/reductive elimination of a primary silane to a trinuclear site.
Towards enhanced electrochemical capacitance with self‐assembled synthesis of poly(pyrrole‐co‐o‐toluidine) nanoparticles
Authors: Hou Zhenzhong , Yang Qinghao , Lu Hai , Li Ying
Published: October 2015

Poly(pyrrole‐co‐o‐toluidine) (PPOT) nanoparticles for electrochemical capacitors are easily and productively synthesized by a chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole (PY) ando‐toluidine (OT) in 0.5MHCl without any external additive. The polymerization yield, electrical conductivity, and size of the copolymer nanoparticles can significantly be optimized by the oxidant/monomer molar ratio and polymerization temperature. The chemical structure of the obtained copolymer is characterized by UV–vis and FTIR. The copolymer nanoparticles synthesized at 10°C are found to generally have irregular granular morphology with a diameter of 60–100 nm and a small polydispersity index of 1.06 by laser particle‐size analyzer, FE‐SEM, and TEM, and good dispersibility in water. The formation mechanism of the nanoparticles is proposed based on the powerful amphipathicity from comonomer aggregate formed by PY and OT in the monomer solution. The PPOT nanoparticles possess a specific capacitance of 310 F g−1at 25 mV s−1as well as retain 81% of the initial specific capacitance value after 1000 cycles, while its energy density and power density are found to be 40.2 and 1196 W Kg−1at 2 A g−1. The enhanced electrochemical properties can be attributed to the nanostructural advantage of the PPOT. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2016,133, 42995.
Syntheses, characterization, and hydrolytic degradation of P(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone) copolymers: Influence of molecular weight
Authors: Loriot Marion , Linossier Isabelle , Vallée‐Réhel Karine , Faÿ Fabienne
Published: October 2015

Biodegradable poly(ε‐caprolactone‐co‐δ‐valerolactone) copolymers were synthesized and investigated to study their behavior in aqueous medium. The copolyesters were produced by ring opening polymerization between ε‐caprolactone (CL) and δ‐valerolactone (VL) in bulk at 140°C using tin(II) octoate as catalyst. They were characterized by using 1H NMR, size exclusion chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and MALDI TOF mass spectrometry. Reactivity ratio determination gave an insight on their microstructure. Hydration, hydrolytic degradation, and biocide release of P(CL‐VL) films with different molecular weights values were studied. A one‐order kinetic whose rate constant decreases with copolymer macromolecular weight was observed. Although the molecular weight decrease remained relatively weak after 8 months of immersion, a correlation between molecular weight and hydrolysis rate was shown by high performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry. The ability of the P(CL‐VL) films to release active compounds dispersed in the films was studied by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The release behavior of all copolymers was identical with a zero‐order kinetic. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43007.
Analysis of mandipropamid residual levels through systematic method optimization against the matrix complexity of sesame leaves using HPLC/UVD
Authors: Farha Waziha , Rahman Md. Musfiqur , Abd El‐Aty A. M. , Kim Sung‐Woo , Jung Da‐I , Im So Jeong , Choi Jeong‐Heui , Kabir Md. Humayun , Lee Kang‐Bong , Shin Ho‐Chul , Shim Jae‐Han
Published: October 2015

An analytical method was developed to detect mandipropamid residues in sesame leaves using high‐performance liquid chromatography–ultraviolet detection. Samples were extracted with acetonitrile and were prepurified using a solid‐phase extraction (SPE) cartridge with an additional dispersive‐SPE (d‐SPE) sorbent application. The method was validated using an external calibration curve prepared using pure solvent. The linearity was excellent with determination coefficient = 1. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.003 and 0.01 mg/kg, respectively. Recoveries at three spiking levels – 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg – were in the range 80.3–90.7% with relative standard deviations <2%. This method was applied to field‐treated samples collected from two different areas, Gwangju and Muan, in the Republic of Korea and the half‐lives were similar, 5.10 and 5.41 days, respectively. The pre‐harvest residue limit was also predicted for both sites. The proposed method is sensitive and able to quantify trace amounts of mandipropamid in leafy vegetables. The combination of SPE and d‐SPE effectively removed the matrix components in sesame leaves. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Laser in infrapopliteal and popliteal stenosis 2 study (LIPS2): Long‐term outcomes of laser‐assisted balloon angioplasty versus balloon angioplasty for below knee peripheral arterial disease
Authors: Piyaskulkaew Chatchawan , Parvataneni Kesav , Ballout Hussein , Szpunar Susan , Sharma Tarun , Almahmoud Mohamed , LaLonde Thomas , Davis Thomas , Mehta Rajendra H. , Yamasaki Hiroshi
Published: October 2015

Background

Laser‐assisted balloon angioplasty (LABA) has been shown to be more effective in achieving angiographic success for treatment for below knee peripheral artery disease (PAD) compared with balloon angioplasty alone(BA). However, long‐term outcomes of LABA compared with BA for popliteal and infrapopliteal PAD are unknown.

Methods

We evaluated data on 726 patients undergoing LABA (n = 395) and BA (n = 331) for popliteal and infrapopliteal PAD retrospectively at a single center (2007–2012). Outcomes included long‐term ipsilateral major limb amputation, revascularization and mortality (median follow‐up = 36 months).

Results

Baseline features were similar in two groups with the exception of more TASC‐D lesions (92.4 vs. 66.5%; P < 0.0001) and chronic total occlusions (86.4 vs. 49.5%; P < 0.0001) in LABA group. Angiographic success was higher in LABA compared with BA (97.7 vs. 89.2%; P < 0.0001). Ipsilateral major limb amputation (4.1 vs. 5.1%, P = 0.48) and repeat revascularization (25.1 vs. 23.3%, P = 0.47) were similar in LABA and BA patients despite unfavorable baseline angiographic characteristics in the former. Compared with BA, death was more frequently in LABA group (35.2 and 26.3%, P = 0.01), a reflection of higher comorbid conditions in this group (adjusted HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.79–1.39).

Conclusion

Despite worse baseline angiographic characteristics compared with BA, LABA was associated with higher angiographic success and similar ipsilateral major amputation, repeat revascularization, and long‐term mortality. Future randomized clinical trial should evaluate the efficacy of LABA compared with BA (particularly drug‐eluting) in improving limb salvage and reducing repeat revascularization in these high‐risk PAD patients. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Outcomes of One straight‐line flow with and without pedal arch in patients with critical limb ischemia
Authors: Higashimori Akihiro , Iida Osamu , Yamauchi Yasutaka , Kawasaki Daizo , Nakamura Masato , Soga Yoshimitsu , Zen Kan , Yokoi Yoshiaki ,   on behalf of the OLIVE Investigators
Published: October 2015

Objectives

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of revascularization strategies for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) whereby single vessel run off to the foot was established with or without flow into a patent pedal arch.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from 312 consecutive patients with CLI who underwent endovascular therapy (EVT) between December 2009 and February 2011. Below‐the‐knee angiography identified one vessel run off in 137 patients (44%), and we aimed to compare the outcomes between those patients where revascularization resulted in one‐straight‐line flow into a patent pedal arch (76 limbs, Group A) versus those who attained one straight‐line flow to the distal end of a tibial vessel without flow into a patent pedal arch (61 limbs, Group B). The study endpoints were amputation free survival rate, limb salvage rate and wound healing rate at 12 months after EVT.

Results

Amputation free survival rate differed significantly between groups (88.2% in group A vs. 65.6% in group B, P = 0.01). Limb salvage rate also differed between groups (98.4% vs.89.3%, P = 0.03). Wound healing rate showed a trend towards difference between the two groups (89.4% vs. 80.6% P = 0.11).

Conclusions

Among patients with CLI where only one vessel runoff can be established to the foot, direct flow into a patent pedal arch is essential to improve their clinical outcomes. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.