bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Export-Quality Martyrs: Roman Catholicism and Transnational Labor in the Philippines
Authors: Bautista Julius
Published: August 2015

In this essay I examine how a Catholicized economic ethos in the Philippines is promulgated by rhetorical pronouncements about the positive value of sacrifice that rationalizes the cultivation of so-called export-quality martyrs. In the state’s discursive linkage of transnational capital to heroism, Filipino Catholicized neoliberalism is operationalized as an affective space in which the generation of remittance capital is branded as a legitimate return on the Overseas Filipino Worker’s moral and ethical investments. In this scenario, the Roman Catholic institution exerts a distinct yet complementary form of governmentality. I draw on ethnographic fieldwork on Roman Catholic Passion rituals in the Philippines in focusing on two embodied arenas of labor power: (1) a labor brokerage regime in which transnational agents have been trained to externalize certain ethical and corporeal disciplines as forms of export capital; and (2) the self-mortifying body able to craft and sustain transnational agency through a renegotiation of the soteriological promise of Christian salvation.
Storytelling as a Means to Transfer Knowledge via Narration
Authors: Wuttke Madlen , Belentschikow Valentin , Müller Nicholas H.
Published: August 2015

The following paper describes a new form of human-computer- / human-agent-interaction. Three scientific disciplines converge their knowledge about storytelling principles, pedagogical agent design and narrative structures to form an intuitive way of sharing information as well as transferring knowledge.
Comparative Analysis of Power Quality Instruments in Measuring Power under Distorted Conditions
Authors: Belchior Fernando , Galvão Thiago Moura , Ribeiro Paulo Fernando , Silveira Paulo Márcio
Published: August 2015

This paper aims to evaluate the performance of commercial power quality (PQ) instruments. By using a high precision programmable voltage and current source, five meters from different manufacturers are analyzed and compared. At first, three-phase voltage signals are applied to those PQ instruments, considering harmonic distortion, voltage dip, voltage swell, as well as unbalanced voltages. These events are measured, compared and evaluated considering the different instruments. In addition, voltage and current signals are applied under different conditions, with and without harmonic and unbalances, in order to obtain the measurements of electrical power. After analyzing the data generated in all these tests, efforts are focused on establishing a relationship between the accuracy of the measurements. Considering the percentages of errors, a score is assigned to each instrument. The tests have shown “excellent” and “good” results regarding measuring active and apparent power, as well as power factor. However, for non-active power, almost all instruments had lower performance. This work is relevant considering that Brazil is deploying standardization in terms of power quality measurements aiming towards regulatory procedures and index limits.
Tax Stimulus: The Third Direction for U.S. Government Cybersecurity Policy
Authors: Carlberg Kenneth
Published: August 2015

This paper proposes a new direction for U.S. Government cyber policy focusing on stimulus that indirectly incites actions by others to improve cybersecurity protection. To date, the U.S. government has relied on two directions to establish a foundation for cyber security policy: legislative and informative. The former is realized as legislative laws or regulation that provide specific direction to companies or the general public. The latter involves the production and dissemination of information, which is realized in three forms: guidelines, response efforts, and testbeds/pilots. This paper proposes a new “carrot and stick approach” that incorporates both taxes and tax rebates to stimulate solutions that address problems without the government dictating a specific solution.
Bringing Local Voices to the Global Negotiation Table: Norm Dissemination and Consensus Building on Tropical Forests and Climate Change
Authors: Rodrigues Maria G.
Published: August 2015

Initially rejected by the parties to the Kyoto Protocol, efforts to protect tropical forests are now an accepted strategy to mitigate the impact of climate change. Inspired by long-standing demands of Amazonia’s forests peoples, the notion of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) has been embraced in global arenas. What accounts for this shift in perceptions about the relation between forests and climate change? Answers lie in the efforts of a transnational advocacy network (TAN) at norm dissemination and consensus-building within Brazil and in the Kyoto Protocol. This study highlights the importance of domestic activism unfolding in democratizing societies to enhance the influence of transnational advocacy networks in norm dissemination and consensus building in global arenas. It enlarges the explanatory power of normative approaches by documenting a case in which the idea and set of values being globally propagated do not emanate from a Western liberal tradition.
CFD Modeling of Mixed-Phase Icing
Authors: Zhang Lifen , Liu Zhenxia , Zhang Fei
Published: August 2015

Ice crystal ingestion at high altitude has been reported to be a threat for safe operation of aero-engine in recently. Ice crystals do not accrete on external surface because of cold environment. But when they enter the core flow of aero-engine, ice crystals melt partially into droplets due to higher temperature. Air-droplets-ice crystal is the mixed-phase, which will give rise to ice accretion on static and rotating components in compressor. Subsequently, compressor surge and engine shutdowns may occur. To provide a numerical tool to analyze this in detail, a numerical method was developed in this study. The mixed phase flow was solved using Eulerian–Lagrangian method. The dispersed phase was represented by one-way coupling. A thermodynamic model that considers mass and energy balance with ice crystals and droplets was presented as well. The icing code was implemented by the user-defined function of Fluent. The method of ice accretion under mixed-phase conditions was validated by comparing the results simulated on a cylinder with experimental data derived from literature. The predicted ice shape and mass agree with these data, thereby confirming the validity of the numerical method developed in this research for mixed-phase conditions.
Home Reading Environment and Brain Activation in Preschool Children Listening to Stories
Authors: Hutton John S. , Horowitz-Kraus Tzipi , Mendelsohn Alan L. , DeWitt Tom , Holland Scott K. ,   the C-MIND Authorship Consortium
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Parent-child reading is widely advocated to promote cognitive development, including in recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics to begin this practice at birth. Although parent-child reading has been shown in behavioral studies to improve oral language and print concepts, quantifiable effects on the brain have not been previously studied. Our study used blood oxygen level–dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the relationship between home reading environment and brain activity during a story listening task in a sample of preschool-age children. We hypothesized that while listening to stories, children with greater home reading exposure would exhibit higher activation of left-sided brain regions involved with semantic processing (extraction of meaning).

METHODS:

Nineteen 3- to 5-year-old children were selected from a longitudinal study of normal brain development. All completed blood oxygen level–dependent functional magnetic resonance imaging using an age-appropriate story listening task, where narrative alternated with tones. We performed a series of whole-brain regression analyses applying composite, subscale, and individual reading-related items from the validated StimQ-P measure of home cognitive environment as explanatory variables for neural activation.

RESULTS:

Higher reading exposure (StimQ-P Reading subscale score) was positively correlated (P < .05, corrected) with neural activation in the left-sided parietal-temporal-occipital association cortex, a “hub” region supporting semantic language processing, controlling for household income.

CONCLUSIONS:

In preschool children listening to stories, greater home reading exposure is positively associated with activation of brain areas supporting mental imagery and narrative comprehension, controlling for household income. These neural biomarkers may help inform eco-bio-developmental models of emergent literacy.
Current Developments in the World of Risers
Authors: Whitfield Stephen
Published: August 2015

New technologies, practices, computer modeling, and design may help to improve the methods for the condition assessment and management of life cycle for risers. An area of recent study has addressed methods to improve the prediction of the riser annulus environment.
A Strategy for Driving Step Change Reduction in Capital Project Cost
Authors: Westney Richard E.
Published: August 2015

The low price of oil has resulted in operator's announcements of required reductions of 20% to 50% from current levels of project costs for projects going forward to be considered affordable. This level of capital cost reduction is not going to be achieved by ’nibbling at the edges.’ Cost reductions of this magnitude require a serious rethinking of the strategy for developing and executing projects.
Perforation Location Selection and Zonal Contribution Study of the Wolfberry Play in the Midland Basin
Authors: Liang Baosheng , Singh Amit , Otoo James N. , Griffin Cameron , Barraza Jesus , Blair Erika , Ngezelonye Alda
Published: August 2015

The selection of perforation zones in unconventional reservoirs can be very challenging. Great strides have been made by the integration of both engineering and geological data. However, a successful perforation zone selection methodology in one Basin might not be successful in another.

This paper presents a pilot study on a perforation zone selection and zonal contribution in a vertical well in the Midland Basin. Reservoir characteristics as well as the geomechanical properties of a formation are important in the selection of optimum locations for limited entry perforations. In this work, several data sets, including openhole logs, radioactive tracer logs, amount of proppant pumped, PVT sampling, and 3D fracture modeling were integrated. Additionally, temperature logs were used to identify zonal contributions during the early flowing period.

Results from this work indicate that closure stress is the dominant parameter greatly affecting the fracture initiation and growth in the observed well while both high and low brittleness sections were observed similar behavioris of hydraulic fracture failure. Learnings from radioactive proppant tracers and 3D fracture modeling efforts helped to identify the importance of closure stress in addition to brittleness in perforation placement identification. Temperature log interpretations were correlated with proppant tracers and fracture modeling which qualitatively indicates that the Lower Spraberry and Wolfcamp B formations are big contributors to production and thus good potentials targets for horizontal wells.
Development of a hydro-environmental model for inland navigational canals
Authors: Liang Dongfang , Zeckoski Rebecca W. , Wang Xiaolin
Published: August 2015

Before railroad and lorry traffic became common, many canals were built for transportation purposes. Water quality in canals has become a major concern as maintenance of these historically active canals has declined. A generic canal model has been developed to simulate the hydro-environmental processes specifically relevant to inland navigational canals, namely lockage, weir overflow, boat traffic, and algal growth. Apart from the movement of water, three types of particulate matter are tracked: algae (chlorophyll-a), inorganic non-cohesive sediment, and inorganic cohesive sediment. The newly developed model was applied to the Kennet and Avon Canal in southern England. The method of determining the input parameters for the model was documented herein, including setting up a Hydrological Simulation Program – Fortran model to obtain the landscape flow and sediment runoff to the canal. The model predictions were compared with the observed hydrological, sediment, and chlorophyll-a data at monitoring locations along the canal, and favourable agreements were achieved.
Effect of La2O3 on the structure and the properties of strontium borate glasses
Authors: Smiljanic Sonja , Grujic Snezana , Tosic Mihajlo , Zivanovic Vladimir , Matijasevic Srdjan , Nikolic Jelena , Topalovic Vladimir
Published: August 2015

The selected lanthanum-strontium-borate glasses were prepared by a
conventional melt-quenching technique. The compositions of the investigated
glasses were chosen to be: 5.7, 9.5, 14.3, 19.1 mol % for La2O3, 22.9, 19.1,
14.3, 9.5 for mol % SrO and 71.4 mol % for B2O3. The density, molar volume,
oxygen molar volume, oxygen packing density, oxygen/boron ratios and
structural transformations in the glass network were investigated according
to the substitution of SrO by La2O3. The density and the molar volume
increased in parallel with La2O3 content increase. Simultaneously, oxygen
molar volume values increased while the oxygen packing density values
decreased. A hot stage microscope (HSM) and a differential thermal analysis
(DTA) were used to determine the characteristic temperatures. By increasing
the content of lanthanum, the glass transition temperatures, changed with the
same trend as the molar volume. Glass stability parameters were calculated
from the temperatures obtained by DTA and HSM. The HSM results were used to
obtain the viscosity curves by applying Vogel-Fulcher-Tamman (VFT) equation.
Development of the Intervention Materials for the HomeStyles Obesity Prevention Program for Parents of Preschoolers
Authors: Martin-Biggers Jennifer , Spaccarotella Kim , Delaney Colleen , Koenings Mallory , Alleman Gayle , Hongu Nobuko , Worobey John , Byrd-Bredbenner Carol
Published: August 2015

Home environment is key to the development of obesity-preventing behaviors during childhood, yet few resources help preschool parents address factors at home associated with obesity risk. This paper describes creation of materials for an in-home intervention (HomeStyles) with this population. An advisory group of stakeholders and target audience members determined salient factors affecting childhood obesity to address in-home and developed program materials. The Social Cognitive Theory, Faith’s Core Behavior Change Strategies to Treat Childhood Obesity, Adult Learning Theory and motivational interviewing techniques guided development of 12 guides targeting strategies parents can use to shape the home environment. Interviews were conducted to determine effectiveness of the guides. Cognitive testing of guide design (n = 251) and content (n = 261) occurred in English and Spanish in New Jersey and Arizona with parents and home visitation staff who would present the guides. Interviews investigated perceptions of content usefulness and parent comprehension. Findings were also examined in light of theoretical underpinnings. Both home visitation staff and parents felt the guides were very readable and useful. Parents appreciated use of motivational interviewing techniques and Adult Learning Theory. Current research is testing these guides through an in-home, randomized control trial.
Homocysteine Metabolism Gene Polymorphisms (MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C, MTR A2756G and MTRR A66G) Jointly Elevate the Risk of Folate Deficiency
Authors: Li Wen-Xing , Dai Shao-Xing , Zheng Jun-Juan , Liu Jia-Qian , Huang Jing-Fei
Published: August 2015

Folate deficiency is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. We aimed to explore the joint effect of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C, methionine synthase (MTR) A2756G, and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) A66G polymorphisms on folate deficiency in a Chinese hypertensive population. A total of 480 subjects aged 28–75 were enrolled in this study from September 2005–December 2005 from six hospitals in different Chinese regions. Known genotypes were detected by PCR-RFLP methods and serum folate was measured by chemiluminescence immunoassay. Our results showed that MTHFR 677TT and MTR 2756AG + GG were independently associated with a higher risk of folate deficiency (TT vs. CC + CT, p < 0.001 and AG + GG vs. AA p = 0.030, respectively). However, the MTHFR A1298C mutation may confer protection by elevating the serum folate level (p = 0.025). Furthermore, patients carrying two or more risk genotypes showed higher odds of folate deficiency than null risk genotype carriers, especially those carrying four risk genotypes. These findings were verified by generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (p = 0.0107) and a cumulative effects model (p = 0.001). The results of this study have shown that interactions among homocysteine metabolism gene polymorphisms lead to dramatic elevations in the folate deficiency risk.
Ultrasound-Guided Injection of Botulinum Toxin Type A for Piriformis Muscle Syndrome: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Santamato Andrea , Micello Maria , Valeno Giovanni , Beatrice Raffaele , Cinone Nicoletta , Baricich Alessio , Picelli Alessandro , Panza Francesco , Logroscino Giancarlo , Fiore Pietro , Ranieri Maurizio
Published: August 2015

Piriformis muscle syndrome (PMS) is caused by prolonged or excessive contraction of the piriformis muscle associated with pain in the buttocks, hips, and lower limbs because of the close proximity to the sciatic nerve. Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) reduces muscle hypertonia as well as muscle contracture and pain inhibiting substance P release and other inflammatory factors. BoNT-A injection technique is important considering the difficult access of the needle for deep location, the small size of the muscle, and the proximity to neurovascular structures. Ultrasound guidance is easy to use and painless and several studies describe its use during BoNT-A administration in PMS. In the present review article, we briefly updated current knowledge regarding the BoNT therapy of PMS, describing also a case report in which this syndrome was treated with an ultrasound-guided injection of incobotulinumtoxin A. Pain reduction with an increase of hip articular range of motion in this patient with PMS confirmed the effectiveness of BoNT-A injection for the management of this syndrome.
In SilicoNeuro-Oncology: Brownian Motion-Based Mathematical Treatment as a Potential Platform for Modeling the Infiltration of Glioma Cells into Normal Brain Tissue
Authors: Antonopoulos Markos , Stamatakos Georgios
Published: August 2015

Intensive glioma tumor infiltration into the surrounding normal brain tissues is one of the most critical causes of glioma treatment failure. To quantitatively understand and mathematically simulate this phenomenon, several diffusion-based mathematical models have appeared in the literature. The majority of them ignore the anisotropic character of diffusion of glioma cells since availability of pertinent truly exploitable tomographic imaging data is limited. Aiming at enriching the anisotropy-enhanced glioma model weaponry so as to increase the potential of exploiting available tomographic imaging data, we propose a Brownian motion-based mathematical analysis that could serve as the basis for a simulation model estimating the infiltration of glioblastoma cells into the surrounding brain tissue. The analysis is based on clinical observations and exploits diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data. Numerical simulations and suggestions for further elaboration are provided.
Critical Theory and Contemporary Europe
Authors: Outhwaite William
Published: August 2015

Critical Theory and
Contemporary Europe introduces the major contributions critical
theorists made to the study of Europe, from the interwar years to the present
time.

The work begins with theorists such as Adorno who
addressed Nazism and the Holocaust, then moves on to discuss the postwar affluence
of capitalist Europe. It proceeds to examine how critical theorists provided much of
the analysis that motivated the student and youth movements of 1968 and subsequent
alternative social movements. Lastly, it relates the development of a critical
theory of state socialism, looking at the works of thinkers such as Arato, Offe, and
Habermas and how critical theory is now addressing social issues such as European
xenophobia and the future of Europe.

This new volume in the Critical Theory and
Contemporary Society series brings together critical theory and European studies in
a clear, accessible manner and shows the relevance of critical theory to practical
political issues.
Influence of biomass burning on CCN number and hygroscopicity during summertime in the eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Bougiatioti A. , Bezantakos S. , Stavroulas I. , Kalivitis N. , Kokkalis P. , Biskos G. , Mihalopoulos N. , Papayannis A. , Nenes A.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. This study investigates the CCN activity and hygroscopic properties of particles influenced by biomass burning in the eastern Mediterranean. Air masses sampled were subject to a range of atmospheric processing (several hours up to 3 days). Values of the hygroscopicity parameter, κ, were derived from cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements and a Hygroscopic Tandem Differential Mobility Analyzer (HTDMA). An Aerosol Chemical Speciation Monitor (ACSM) was also used to determine the chemical composition and mass concentration of non-refractory components of the submicron aerosol fraction. During fire events, the increased organic content (and lower inorganic fraction) of the aerosol decreases the hygroscopicity parameter, κ, for all particle sizes. The reason, however, for this decrease was not the same for all size modes; smaller particle sizes appeared to be richer in less hygroscopic, less CCN-active components due to coagulation processes while larger particles become less hygroscopic during the biomass burning events due to condensation of less hygroscopic gaseous compounds. In addition, smaller particles exhibited considerable chemical dispersion (where hygroscopicity varied up to 100 % for particles of same size); larger particles, however, exhibited considerably less dispersion owing to the effects of aging and retained high levels of CCN activity. These conclusions are further supported by the observed mixing state determined by the HTDMA measurements. ACSM measurements indicate that the bulk composition reflects the hygroscopicity and chemical nature of the largest particles and a large fraction of the CCN concentrations sampled. Based on Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis of the organic ACSM spectra, CCN concentrations follow a similar trend with the BBOA component, with enhancements of CCN in biomass burning plumes ranging between 65 and 150 %, for supersaturations ranging between 0.2 and 0.7 %. Using multilinear regression, we determine the hygroscopicity of the prime organic aerosol components (BBOA, OOA-BB and OOA); it is found that the total organic hygroscopicity is very close to the inferred hygroscopicity of the oxygenated organic aerosol components. Finally, the transformation of freshly-emitted biomass burning (BBOA) to more oxidized organic aerosol (OOA-BB) can result in a two-fold increase of the inferred organic hygroscopicity. Almost 10 % of the total aerosol hygroscopicity is related to the two biomass burning components (BBOA and OOA-BB), which in turn contribute almost 35 % to the fine-particle organic water of the aerosol. This is important as organic water can contribute to the atmospheric chemistry and the direct radiative forcing.
Global cloud top height retrieval using SCIAMACHY limb spectra: model studies and first results
Authors: Eichmann K.-U. , Lelli L. , von Savigny C. , Sembhi H. , Burrows J. P.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Cloud top heights (CTH) were retrieved for the period 1 January 2003 to 7 April 2012 using height-resolved limb spectra measured with the Scanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY) on board ENVISAT (ENVIronmental SATellite). In this study, we tested the sensitivity of the colour index method used in the retrieval code SCODA (SCIAMACHY Cloud Detection Algorithm) and the accuracy of the retrieved CTHs in comparison to other methods. Sensitivity studies using the radiative transfer model SCIATRAN showed that the method is capable of generally detecting cloud tops down to about 5 km and very thin cirrus clouds even up to the tropopause. Volcanic particles can also be detected that occasionally reach the lower stratosphere. Low clouds at 2–3 km can only be retrieved under very clean atmospheric conditions, as light scattering of aerosols interferes with the cloud retrieval. Upper tropospheric ice clouds are detectable for cloud optical depths down to about τN = 0.005, which is in the subvisual range. The detection sensitivity decreases towards the surface. An optical thickness of roughly 0.1 was the lower detection limit for water cloud top heights at 5 km. This value is much lower than thresholds reported for the passive cloud detection in nadir viewing direction. Comparisons with SCIAMACHY nadir cloud top heights, calculated with the Semi-Analytical CloUd Retrieval Algorithm (SACURA), showed a good agreement in the global cloud field distribution. But only opaque clouds (τN > 5) are detectable with the nadir passive retrieval technique in the UV-visible and infrared wavelength range. So due to the frequent occurrence of thin and sub-visual cirrus clouds in the tropics, large cloud top height deviations were detected between both viewing geometries. Also the land/sea contrast seen in nadir retrievals was not detected in limb mode. Co-located cloud top height measurements of the limb viewing Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS) on ENVISAT for the period from January 2008 to March 2012 were compared, showing good agreement to within 1 km, which is smaller than the vertical field of view of both instruments. Lower stratospheric aerosols from volcanic eruptions occasionally interfered with the cloud retrieval and inhibited detection of tropospheric clouds. Examples of the impact of these events are shown for the volcanoes Kasatochi in August 2008, Sarychev Peak in June 2009, and Nabro in June 2010. Long-lasting aerosol layers were detected after these events in the Northern Hemisphere down to the tropics. Particle top heights up to about 22 km were retrieved in 2009, when the enhanced lower stratospheric aerosol layer persisted for about 7 months. Up to about 82 % of the Northern hemispheric lower stratosphere between 30° and 70° was covered by scattering particles in August 2009 and nearly half in October 2008.
Woodland Survey of Great Britain 1971–2001
Authors: Wood C. M. , Smart S. M. , Bunce R. G. H.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The Woodland Survey of Great Britain is a unique data set, consisting of a detailed range of ecological measurements at a national scale, covering a time span of 30 years. A set of 103 woods spread across Britain were first surveyed in 1971, which were again surveyed in 2000–2003 (for convenience referred to subsequently as the "2001 survey"). Standardised methods of describing the trees, shrubs, ground flora, soils and general habitats present were used for both sets of surveys. The sample of 1648 plots spread through 103 woodland sites located across Britain makes it probably the most extensive quantitative ecological woodland survey undertaken in Britain; it is also notable for the range of sites that have been revisited after such a long interval. The data set provides a unique opportunity to explore the effects of a range of potential drivers of woodland change that operated between 1971 and 2001. The data set is available in four discrete parts, which have been assigned the following DOIs: doi:10.5285/4d93f9ac-68e3-49cf-8a41-4d02a7ead81a (Kirby et al., 2013b), doi:10.5285/d6409d40-58fe-4fa7-b7c8-71a105b965b4 (Kirby et al., 2013d), doi:10.5285/fb1e474d-456b-42a9-9a10-a02c35af10d2 (Kirby et al., 2013c), doi:10.5285/2d023ce9-6dbe-4b4f-a0cd-34768e1455ae (Kirby et al., 2013a).
Characterization of precipitation product errors across the United States using multiplicative triple collocation
Authors: Alemohammad S. H. , McColl K. A. , Konings A. G. , Entekhabi D. , Stoffelen A.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Validation of precipitation estimates from various products is a challenging problem, since the true precipitation is unknown. However, with the increased availability of precipitation estimates from a wide range of instruments (satellite, ground-based radar, and gauge), it is now possible to apply the triple collocation (TC) technique to characterize the uncertainties in each of the products. Classical TC takes advantage of three collocated data products of the same variable and estimates the mean squared error of each, without requiring knowledge of the truth. In this study, triplets among NEXRAD-IV, TRMM 3B42RT, GPCP 1DD, and GPI products are used to quantify the associated spatial error characteristics across a central part of the continental US. Data are aggregated to biweekly accumulations from January 2002 through April 2014 across a 2° × 2° spatial grid. This is the first study of its kind to explore precipitation estimation errors using TC across the US. A multiplicative (logarithmic) error model is incorporated in the original TC formulation to relate the precipitation estimates to the unknown truth. For precipitation application, this is more realistic than the additive error model used in the original TC derivations, which is generally appropriate for existing applications such as in the case of wind vector components and soil moisture comparisons. This study provides error estimates of the precipitation products that can be incorporated into hydrological and meteorological models, especially those used in data assimilation. Physical interpretations of the error fields (related to topography, climate, etc.) are explored. The methodology presented in this study could be used to quantify the uncertainties associated with precipitation estimates from each of the constellations of GPM satellites. Such quantification is prerequisite to optimally merging these estimates.
Predictors of burnout among physicians and advanced-practice clinicians in central New York
Authors: Waddimba Anthony C. , Nieves Melinda A. , Scribani Melissa , Krupa Nicole , Jenkins Paul , May John J.
Published: August 2015

Background: Provider wellbeing is a barometer of the strength of healthcare systems/organizations. Burnout prevalence among physicians exceeds that among other adult workers in the United States. Rural-based practitioners might be at greater risk.Objective: We investigated predictors of burnout among group employed providers within an integrated healthcare network.Methods: In a prospective observational study of physicians/advanced-practice clinicians serving an 8-county region of central New York, we linked administrative practice-setting data with responses to a questionnaire-survey comprising validated measures of burnout, resilience, work meaningfulness, satisfaction, risk aversion, and uncertainty/ambiguity tolerance. We included providers on the official payroll, excepting advisory board and/or research team members plus those who retired, resigned or were fired. 308 (65.1%) of 473 eligible clinicians completed the survey. 59.1% of these were physicians/doctoral-level practitioners; 40.9% advanced-practice clinicians. We assessed burnout using a validated 5-level single-item measure formatted as a binary outcome of “burned out/burning out” (levels 3–5) versus not. We derived a parsimonious generalized linear mixed-effects regression of this outcome on provider demographics, work-related needs, risk aversion, satisfaction, and unit characteristics.Results: Perceived workload, relatedness needs, practice satisfaction 75% of the time, dissatisfaction 50%, resilience, and practicing on a small unit were the significant, independent predictors.Conclusions: Heavy workloads, unmet relational needs, frequent dissatisfaction, low resilience, and serving on a small unit were most significantly associated with being “burned out/burning out”. Feeling satisfied most of the time and high resilience were protective. Profession, specialty, autonomy, and support staffing were not statistically significant.
Resistant pediatric priapism: A real challenge for the urologist
Authors: Sekerci Cagri Akin , Akbal Cem , Sener Tarik Emre , Sahan Ahmet , Sahin Bahadir , Baltacioglu Feyyaz , Simsek Ferruh
Published: August 2015

Priapism in pediatric patients is a rare entity. We present an 8-yearold boy with known cerebral palsy. He came to the emergency department with sustained painful erection for 12 hours. Physical examination showed rigid penis. Blood count and biochemical analysis were normal. Although penile Doppler ultrasound revealed normal arterial and venous flow, cavernosal blood gas was hypoxic. A total of 50 mL of dark blood was aspirated, and 2 mL of 0.001% adrenalin solution was applied to both corpus cavernosum, twice within 20 minutes, which eventually did not achieve detumescence. A distal Winter shunt was performed at the end of which the penis was semi-flaccid. By the 18th hour of surgery, the penis re-gained painful erection status, so an Al-Ghorab shunt was performed. After the Al-Ghorab shunt, the penis was still in the semi-flaccid state. The next day, an angiography was performed and an arteriovenous fistula was discovered and treated by embolization. The flaccid state was achieved and the patient was discharged the day after the embolization.
Wetgevingsjuristen ten prooi aan New Political Governance?
Authors: van den Berg C.F. , Dijkstra G.S.A.
Published: August 2015

Wetgevingsjuristen ten prooi aan New Political Governance? Een inventarisatie (2002-2015)

De bijdrage richt zich op de vraag in hoeverre de rol en positie van de wetgevingsjuridische functie in het laatste decennium zijn veranderd, in het bijzonder of het werk van wetgevingsjuristen is gepolitiseerd. Politisering komt voor in drie vormen, namelijk in patronagebenoemingen, het versterken van de partijpolitieke grip op beleid en uitvoering en in New Political Governance. De auteurs concluderen voorlopig dat het werk van wetgevingsjuristen inderdaad is gepolitiseerd, waarbij een transitie heeft plaatsgevonden van de tweede vorm van politisering naar New Political Governance. Dit is met name zichtbaar doordat steeds meer gebruik wordt gemaakt van gedelegeerde wetgeving, waar wetgevingsjuristen van oudsher minder bemoeienis mee hebben. De politisering van hun werk leidt ertoe dat wetgevingsjuristen steeds minder in staat zijn om rechtsstatelijke waarden te waarborgen. De auteurs onderscheiden, in navolging van Van Lochem, vijf verschillende strategieën om hiermee om te gaan, maar er lijkt onder wetgevingsjuristen zelf geen consensus te zijn over wat nu de beste strategie is. De auteurs zijn van mening dat de democratische rechtsstaat moet worden versterkt om de toegenomen politieke spanning in het werk van wetgevingsjuristen te verlichten.
Klokkenluiden en het belang van een open organisatiecultuur
Authors: Verhey L.F.M.
Published: August 2015

Klokkenluiden en het belang van een open organisatiecultuur

In deze bijdrage wordt de problematiek van klokkenluiden in publieke organisaties besproken geplaatst tegen het bredere perspectief van politiek-ambtelijke verhoudingen. Het verschijnsel hangt nauw samen met enerzijds de politieke loyaliteit en anderzijds de professionaliteit van de ambtenaar. Klokkenluiden krijgt steeds meer een positief onthaal door de toegenomen betekenis van de vrijheid van meningsuiting, de toenemende wens tot openbaarheid, veranderde opvattingen over politiek en ministeriële verantwoordelijkheid en een toenemend wantrouwen in de overheid en instituties. Tegelijkertijd signaleert de auteur ook enkele risico’s aan klokkenluiden, zoals de schade voor de betreffende organisatie bij onzorgvuldig gebruik, de onmogelijkheid om het begrip ‘misstand’ helder te definiëren en, in relatie daarmee, het risico op onzuivere motieven bij klokkenluiden. Verder zijn er de gevolgen voor de verhoudingen binnen de organisatie en het miskennen van het gevaar van het naar buiten brengen van schadelijke informatie, voor het openbaar belang, maar ook voor de privacy van burgers. Deze risico’s moeten terdege onder ogen worden gezien. De auteur ziet wetgeving niet als belangrijkste antwoord op dit vraagstuk, maar ziet de oplossing veelal in aanhoudende aandacht voor de cultuur en omgangsvormen binnen een ambtelijke organisatie. Een open organisatiecultuur is de beste garantie dat klokkenluiden een incidenteel verschijnsel blijft.
De maatschappelijke kosten van conflicten: een modelmatige benadering
Authors: Brinkman Ivor
Published: August 2015

A model to assess the macro-economic cost of conflicts in the Netherlands

The cost of conflicts in the Netherlands between civil parties or individuals and the government add up to more than 12 billion Euro. For this calculation, a framework has been developed to distinct between three cost categories: Subject (parties) cost, System cost (e.g. court) and Consequential cost. The latter category represents more than 50% of the total cost, the majority of which are born by commercial parties and employer. The government bears 12,5% of the total cost. The impact on insurance companies could not be estimated but is suspected to be substantial. It are these three parties who in concert should fund further investigation and develop initiatives to reduce the financial and human cost of conflicts. It is to be investigated which incentives are required to make this game change to take place.
Geschillencommissies in het Nederlandse onderwijs en het gelijk van een goed gesprek
Authors: Mertens Hilde
Published: August 2015

Alternative dispute resolution in Dutch education and the usefulness of a proper dialogue

The Netherlands has a long history of alternative dispute resolution in the area of education. Recently, empirical research by ‘Onderwijsgeschillen’, the largest organization for dispute resolution in this field, has lead to the successful introduction of mediation in certain types of alternative conflict resolution. In this article, Hilde Mertens, managing director of Onderwijsgeschillen, describes this research, the practical implementation of its findings, and the positive impact of mediation in conflict resolution in education.
Coevolution of bed surface patchiness and channel morphology: 2. Numerical experiments
Authors: Nelson Peter A. , McDonald Richard R. , Nelson Jonathan M. , Dietrich William E.
Published: August 2015

In gravel bed rivers, bed topography and the bed surface grain size distribution evolve simultaneously, but it is not clear how feedbacks between topography and grain sorting affect channel morphology. In this, the second of a pair of papers examining interactions between bed topography and bed surface sorting in gravel bed rivers, we use a two‐dimensional morphodynamic model to perform numerical experiments designed to explore the coevolution of both free and forced bars and bed surface patches. Model runs were carried out on a computational grid simulating a 200 m long, 2.75 m wide, straight, rectangular channel, with an initially flat bed at a slope of 0.0137. Over five numerical experiments, we varied (a) whether an obstruction was present, (b) whether the sediment was a gravel mixture or a single size, and (c) whether the bed surface grain size feeds back on the hydraulic roughness field. Experiments with channel obstructions developed a train of alternate bars that became stationary and were connected to the obstruction. Freely migrating alternate bars formed in the experiments without channel obstructions. Simulations incorporating roughness feedbacks between the bed surface and flow field produced flatter, broader, and longer bars than simulations using constant roughness or uniform sediment. Our findings suggest that patches are not simply a by‐product of bed topography, but they interact with the evolving bed and influence morphologic evolution.
Linking Group Influences Charge Separation and Recombination in All‐Conjugated Block Copolymer Photovoltaics
Authors: Mok Jorge W. , Lin Yen‐Hao , Yager Kevin G. , Mohite Aditya D. , Nie Wanyi , Darling Seth B. , Lee Youngmin , Gomez Enrique , Gosztola David , Schaller Richard D. , Verduzco Rafael
Published: August 2015

All‐conjugated block copolymers bring together hole‐ and electron‐conductive polymers and can be used as the active layer of solution‐processed photovoltaic devices, but it remains unclear how molecular structure, morphology, and electronic properties influence performance. Here, the role of the chemical linker is investigated through analysis of two donor–linker–acceptor block copolymers that differ in the chemistry of the linking group. Device studies show that power conversion efficiencies differ by a factor of 40 between the two polymers, and ultrafast transient absorption measurements reveal charge separation only in block copolymers that contain a wide bandgap monomer at the donor–acceptor interface. Optical measurements reveal the formation of a low‐energy excited state when donor and acceptor blocks are directly linked without this wide bandgap monomer. For both samples studied, it is found that the rate of charge recombination in these systems is faster than in poly­mer–polymer and polymer–fullerene blends. This work demonstrates that the linking group chemistry influences charge separation in all‐conjugated block copolymer systems, and further improvement of photovoltaic performance may be possible through optimization of the linking group. These results also suggest that all‐conjugated block copolymers can be used as model systems for the donor–acceptor interface in bulk heterojunction blends.
N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Synthesis of δ‐Sultones via α,β‐Unsaturated Sulfonyl Azolium Intermediates
Authors: Ungureanu Andrei , Levens Alison , Candish Lisa , Lupton David W.
Published: August 2015

A limited array of reactive intermediates have enabled a wealth of discoveries in N‐heterocyclic carbene organocatalysis. In this study, the viability of α,β‐unsaturated sulfonyl azoliums as double electrophiles in new reactions is examined. Specifically, the (3+3) annulation of such species with the trimethylsilyl enol ethers of various 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds has been developed. This reaction provides access to a range of novel unsaturated δ‐sultones (18 examples) in good yields (40–88 %) under mild reaction conditions. Mechanistic studies and the development of an enantioselective variant (55 % yield, 73:27 e.r.) support the intermediacy of an α,β‐unsaturated sulfonyl azolium species.
Enhanced plasmid DNA utilization in transiently transfected CHO–DG44 cells in the presence of polar solvents
Authors: Rajendra Yashas , Balasubramanian Sowmya , Kiseljak Divor , Baldi Lucia , Wurm Florian M. , Hacker David L.
Published: August 2015

Although the protein yields from transient gene expression (TGE) with Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells have recently improved, the amount of plasmid DNA (pDNA) needed for transfection remains relatively high. We describe a strategy to reduce the pDNA amount by transfecting CHO–DG44 cells with 0.06 μg pDNA/106 cells (10% of the optimal amount) in the presence of nonspecific (filler) DNA and various polar solvents including dimethylsufoxide, dimethyl formamide, acetonitrile, dimethyl acetamide (DMA), and hexamethyl phosphoramide (HMP). All of the polar solvents with the exception of HMP increased the production of a recombinant antibody in comparison to the untreated control transfection. In the presence of 0.25% DMA, the antibody yield in a 7‐day batch culture was 500 mg/L. This was fourfold higher than the yield from the untreated control transfection. Mechanistic studies revealed that the polar solvents did not affect polyethylenimine‐mediated pDNA delivery into cells or nuclei. The steady‐state transgene mRNA level was elevated in the presence of each of the polar solvents tested, while the transgene mRNA half‐life remained the same. These results indicated that the polar solvents enhanced transgene transcription. When screening a panel of recombinant antibodies and Fc‐fusion proteins for production in the presence of the polar solvents, the highest increase in yield was observed following DMA addition for 11 of the 12 proteins. These results are expected to enhance the applicability of high‐yielding TGE processes with CHO–DG44 cells by decreasing the amount of pDNA required for transfection. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1571–1578, 2015
Modification of TiO2 Nanotubes with PtRu/Graphene Nanocomposites for Enhanced Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Alammari Walaa , Govindhan Maduraiveeran , Chen Aicheng
Published: August 2015

The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the key fundamental reactions that occur at electrocatalytic cathode surfaces for fuel cell applications. Herein, we report the development of a series of nanocomposites of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and PtRu nanoparticles with different atomic ratios of Pt/Ru deposited on titanium dioxide nanotubes (TiO2NTs) (termed as TiO2NT/rGO–PtRu) for the ORR. The TiO2NT/rGO–PtRu nanocomposites were prepared by using a facile one‐step electrochemical deposition, and characterized through field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Our experimental results have shown that the synthesized TiO2NT/rGO–PtRu nanocomposite with a Pt/Ru ratio of 64:36 exhibits the highest electrocatalytic activity toward the ORR with an onset potential of 0.58 V (vs. RHE) and a high stability, which is promising for environmental and green energy applications.