bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mobile Collection and Dissemination of Seniors’ Skills
Authors: Salamin Anne-Dominique , Xia Leyun
Published: October 2015

By 2050, the 60+ population will have reached 2 billion—this will be the first time in history when people aged over 60 will outnumber children aged 14 and under.

The Mocodis project focused on collecting and valorizing seniors’ competencies in the firm, which can, as such, be regarded as a group producing value and no longer perceived as a vulnerable group deserving special attention.

We focused on “senior” in the sense of “elder workers, integrated in a company or association, and retiring in less than 5 years”.

The MOCODIS system aims at collecting resources, such as video, audio and text, on a voluntary basis, illustrating a competency a senior believes he holds and which he wishes to transmit to a junior in the firm. Then, the system organizes and analyses data and generates on the fly microcapsules of courses combined in such a way as to produce units containing independent knowledge. Each capsule lasts about 5 minutes and consists in a smart mix of video, audio and text resources.

This enables a junior to launch a research on a specific notion and consume the course capsule when and where it most suits him, on a mobile or desktop support. After consumption, he assesses each learning resource on different criteria (usefulness, interest, difficulty etc.). The next time Mocodis identifies a similar request, it will prioritize the resources included in the next capsule, according to their best evaluation.

The MOCODIS-TS platform was developed by the University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland (HES-SO) and can be used for any in-house training in the enterprise environment.

We will perform a demonstration of the application, provide scenarii on how to use the system and present feedback from the organizations that wish to use MOCODIS in-house.
The Rural Learning Challenge
Authors: Lauzon Al
Published: October 2015

This chapter examines how technology is supporting the health and health care system for rural/remote people, specifically telehealth and the Internet, with a focus on the Canadian context. I will begin by outlining the opportunities and the challenges that technology presents to rural people and communities. This is followed by highlighting the divide between rural and urban in the Canadian context, with a focus on inequities related to health. This is followed by exploring the role of ICTs in health and health care with a focus on changes in the Canadian healthcare system, telehealth and the Internet as a source of health related information. These issues are then examined through a rural lens, asking the question what, if any are the implications for rural people and communities. I end with a section of reflections followed by the conclusion that ICTs present new opportunities for rural people and communities, but if they are to be able to take advantage of these opportunities they must learn to develop the necessary capacities, both as individuals and as a community. Their challenge is a learning challenge.
Knowledge in Action
Authors: Barrett Theresa J.
Published: October 2015

This chapter will explore the possibilities and the challenges presented by technology in the area of patient education. Beginning with an overview of the use of the medical record in patient care, the chapter will move on to discuss the evolution of electronic health records (EHR) and the emergence of health information technology in the education of patients. Emerging technologies, the primary care physician's role in creating tailored education plans for their patients, as well as the importance of self-directness in learning both for the physician and the patient will also be discussed. The chapter will conclude with an overview of information and health literacy and how these impact shared-decision making and patient activation (the ability to be engaged in one's own health care). The overall goal of the chapter is to present how physicians and patients can use technology in order to facilitate better patient care and improve patient outcomes.
The Role of Online Health Education Communities in Wellness and Recovery
Authors: King Kathleen P. , Leos Julie A. , Norstrand Lu
Published: October 2015

This chapter discusses the powerful role of online health education communities in wellness, fitness, and recovery. From knee and hip replacement to student service worker burnout, there are many freely available professional online communities, which provide health education and support for a wide variety of needs. Using qualitative inquiry, this multiple case study includes site analysis. This study explores whether adult learning principles are embedded in the design and operation of these popular virtual health education communities. The analysis specifically examines the presence and function of four specific adult learning theories' characteristics: informal learning, self-directed learning, peer learning, and common adult learning principles. Additionally, the nature of benefits and support are documented. Finally, in addition to the analysis and discussion, the chapter provides examples to identify emergent guidelines for discerning trustworthy vs. unhelpful online health education communities. Several suggestions are provided for future research.
Literacy and Decision Making on Health Issues among Married Women in Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Babalola Adejoke Clara
Published: October 2015

It has been observed that women lag behind in participating in decision making in Nigeria as the number of women in key positions is nothing to write home about. The study is set to determine the level of women participation in health related decision making and investigate the effect of literacy on women's participation in health related decision making. A random sampling method was used to select three states; and from the three states three Local Government Areas (LGAs) and from the 3 (LGAs) 64 to 68 eligible respondents were selected by purposive sampling technique, making a total number of 600 respondents. Questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents.
Flavonoids
Authors: Mehta Vineet , Malairaman Udayabanu
Published: October 2015

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the major healthcare problems faced by the society today and has become alarmingly epidemic in many parts of the world. Despite enormous knowledge and technology advancement, available diabetes therapeutics only provide symptomatic relief by reducing blood glucose level, thereby, just slows down development and progression of diabetes and its associated complications. Thus, the need of the day is to develop alternate strategies that can not only prevent the progression but also reverse already “set-in” diabetic complications. Many flavonoids are reported, traditionally as well as experimentally, to be beneficial in averting diabetes and lowering risk of its accompanying complications. In the present chapter we have convened different flavonoids beneficial in diabetes and comorbid complications and discussed their mechanisms of action. Further, we conclude that coupling current therapeutics with flavonoids might provide exceptional advantage in the management of diabetes and its complications.
Mental Activity and the Act of Learning in the Digital Age
Authors: DeDonno Michael A.
Published: October 2015

Theories of the mind have been proposed since the Greek philosopher Plato (427 – 347 B.C.) compared memories to etchings on a wax tablet. Just as the resilience of a message etched on a wax table is based on such things as hardiness, purity, and depth of the wax, the resilience of our memories are based on factors, such as the significance, clarity and depth of processing. While theories of the mind have been proposed for thousands of years, it has really been in the last twenty-five years that we have truly begun to uncover the complex association between the mind, brain, and thought. With the advent of the digital age including new imaging technologies, we can explore the act of learning like never before. Indeed, the physiology and psychology of mental activity can be the foundation for exploring the act of learning.
Cutting Edge: Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells in Late-Stage Lupus Mice Defective in Producing IFN-α
Authors: Liao Xiaofeng , Li Song , Settlage Robert E. , Sun Sha , Ren Jingjing , Reihl Alec M. , Zhang Husen , Karyala Saikumar V. , Reilly Christopher M. , Ahmed S. Ansar , Luo Xin M.
Published: October 2015

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) are professional type I IFN producers believed to promote lupus. However, questions exist about whether they function at the same level throughout the course of lupus disease. We analyzed high-purity pDCs sorted from lupus mice. Although pDCs produced a large amount of IFN-α during disease initiation, those sorted from late-stage lupus mice were found to be defective in producing IFN-α. These pDCs expressed an increased level of MHC, suggesting a functional drift to Ag presentation. We examined the potential mechanism behind the defect and identified a novel transcriptional factor, Foxj2, which repressed the expression of several genes in pDCs, but not IFN-α. Dysregulation in pDCs appears to be predisposed, because they exhibited an altered transcriptional profile before the onset of clinical signs. Our results suggest that pDCs do not function the same throughout the disease course and lose the ability to produce IFN-α in late-stage lupus mice.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in oral cancers: Selecting the right patients
Authors: Vishak S , Rangarajan Bharath , Kekatpure Vikram D.
Published: October 2015

The standard of care treatment for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) at present, consist of surgical resection followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy as indicated. Despite recent advances the overall prognosis remains guarded. Role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is being explored with premise of reducing extent of surgical resection, improving loco-regional control and decreasing distant metastasis, thereby improving treatment outcomes by decreasing mortality and morbidity. However, indications of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in oral cancers are not clearly defined. Majority of studies have failed to demonstrate a significant benefit of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in terms of loco regional control and overall survival in resectable OSCC. In a select subset of patients with locally very advanced and unresectable OSCC, neoadjuvant chemotherapy has been shown to cause tumor shrinkage and improve resectability. These hypothesis generating findings of reduction in distant metastasis, improved resectability and functional outcome, however need further validation. In summary, the role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for OSCC remains investigational and has a limited role outside clinical trial.
B-Cell and Monocyte Contribution to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Identified by Cell-Type-Specific Differential Expression Analysis in RNA-Seq Data
Authors: Dozmorov Mikhail G. , Dominguez Nicolas , Bean Krista , Macwana Susan R. , Roberts Virginia , Glass Edmund , James Judith A. , Guthridge Joel M.
Published: October 2015

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by complex interplay among immune cell types. SLE activity is experimentally assessed by several blood tests, including gene expression profiling of heterogeneous populations of cells in peripheral blood. To better understand the contribution of different cell types in SLE pathogenesis, we applied the two methods in cell-type-specific differential expression analysis, csSAM and DSection, to identify cell-type-specific gene expression differences in heterogeneous gene expression measures obtained using RNA-seq technology. We identified B-cell-, monocyte-, and neutrophil-specific gene expression differences. Immunoglobulin-coding gene expression was altered in B-cells, while a ribosomal signature was prominent in monocytes. On the contrary, genes differentially expressed in the heterogeneous mixture of cells did not show any functional enrichment. Our results identify antigen binding and structural constituents of ribosomes as functions altered by B-cell- and monocyte-specific gene expression differences, respectively. Finally, these results position both csSAM and DSection methods as viable techniques for cell-type-specific differential expression analysis, which may help uncover pathogenic, cell-type-specific processes in SLE.
Power Hydrogen Evaluation of Apexification Materials: EndoCal 10, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Calasept Plus
Authors: Çiçek Ersan , Bodrumlu Emre
Published: October 2015

Aim

The present study was to evaluate pH values of apexification materials.

Materials and methods

The materials were placed in 1 cm long and 4 mm diameter tubes. After sample immersion, glass flasks were hermetically sealed with rubber caps to attenuate any effects of external environmental factors and maintained at 37°C. The power hydrogen of the pastes was measured 1 hour, 3 hours, 8 hours, 24 hours, 72 hours and 7 days after preparation. pH was calibrated with solutions of known pH (7.0). Mann-Whitney test were used to determine significant differences.

Results

The mean pH of all medications was < 12.0 throughout the experiment. At 24 hours, EndoCal 10 had the highest pH of all the materials (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A ccording t o t he r esults o btained, i t m ay b e concluded that calcium oxide (EndoCal 10) presented the higest pH compared with mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and Calasept Plus [Ca(OH)2].

Clinical significance

Apexification is an important treatment in immature teeth. For this reason, used materials in apexification should have some properties, such as high pH and stimulating to be hard tissue. Therefore, the material should be chosen carefully in apexification of immature teeth.

How to cite this article

Çiçek E, Bodrumlu E. Power Hydrogen Evaluation of Apexification Materials: EndoCal 10, Mineral Trioxide Aggregate and Calasept Plus. J Contemp Dent Pract 2015;16(6):463-467.
A Novel Approach for the Reimbursement of Permanent Partial Dental Disability Following Dental Injury
Authors: Nehme Edgar , Jad Sami
Published: October 2015

Reimbursement of long-term permanent disability following a dental injury can lead to claims and legal involvement by the injured person. This will delay the treatment the patient's quality of life and the court system. A new formula has been hypothesized to address the problem. This might help the stakeholders including patients, insurance companies. The details of calculating the index and its significance are discussed. Implication studies are mandatory to refine the proposed hypothesis.

How to cite this article

Ayoub F, Nehme E, Jad S, Salameh Z. A Novel Approach for the Reimbursement of Permanent Partial Dental Disability Following Dental Injury. J Contemp Dent Pract 2015;16(6):504-506.
Mandibular First Premolars with One Root and Three Canals: A Case Series
Authors: Jafarzadeh Hamid , Daneshvar Farzaneh , Baziar Hani , Karkehabadi Hamed
Published: October 2015

The possibility of extra canals in mandibular premolars is quite low; however, it must be taken into account in clinical and radiographic evaluations during root canal treatment. This case series describes the presence of one root and three canals in mandibular premolars in three patients. The case series underlines the importance of complete knowledge about root canal morphology and possible variations to increase the ability of clinicians to treat difficult cases.

How to cite this article

Daneshvar F, Baziar H, Karkehabadi H, Jafarzadeh H, Bhandi S, Patil S. Mandibular First Premolars with One Root and Three Canals: A Case Series. J Contemp Dent Pract 2015;16(6):519-522.
Atmospheric salt deposition in a tropical mountain rain forest at the eastern Andean slopes of South Ecuador – Pacific or Atlantic origin?
Authors: Makowski Giannoni S. , Trachte K. , Rollenbeck R. , Lehnert L. , Fuchs J. , Bendix J.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Salt (NaCl) is recently proven to be of highest importance for ecosystem functioning of the Amazon lowland forests because of its importance for herbivory, litter decomposition and thus, carbon cycling. Salt deposition should generally decline with distance from its marine sources. For tropical South America, a negative east-west salt availability gradient is assumed in the Amazon as a consequence of the barrier effect of the Andes for Pacific air masses. However, this generalized pattern may not hold for the tropical mountain rain forest in the Andes of southern Ecuador. To analyze salt availability, we investigate the deposition of Na+ and Cl- which are good proxies of sea spray aerosol. Because of the complexity of the terrain and related cloud and rain formation processes, salt deposition was analyzed from both, rain and occult precipitation (OP) water along an altitudinal gradient over a period from 2004 to 2009. To assess the influence of Atlantic and Pacific air masses on the locally observed deposition of sodium and chloride, sea-salt aerosol concentration data from the Monitoring Atmospheric Composition and Climate (MACC) reanalysis dataset and back-trajectory statistical methods were combined. Our results based on deposition time series and 2192 generated trajectories show a clear difference in the temporal variation of sodium and chloride concentration due to height and exposure to winds. The sea-salt transport was highly seasonal where higher locations revealed a stronger seasonality. Although the influence of the easterlies were predominant regarding atmospheric circulation, the statistical analysis of trajectories and hybrid receptor models revealed a stronger impact of the Pacific sea-salt sources on the deposition at the study area. The highest concentration in rain and cloud water was found between September and February originating from both, the equatorial Pacific and Atlantic. However, the Pacific sources contributed with up to 25 % to the observed total concentration of Na+ and Cl- at the receptor site although the frequency of occurrence of the respective trajectories is below 10 %. This highlights the great importance of westerly winds from the Pacific for the sea-salt transport to the deposition into the tropical mountain forests at the eastern Andean slopes of southern Ecuador.
Detecting moisture transport pathways to the subtropical North Atlantic free troposphere using paired H2O-δ D in situ measurements
Authors: González Y. , Schneider M. , Dyroff C. , Rodríguez S. , Christner E. , García O. E. , Cuevas E. , Bustos J. J. , Ramos R. , Guirado-Fuentes C. , Barthlott S. , Wiegele A. , Sepúlveda E.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. We present two years of measurements of water vapour (H2O) and its isotopologue ratio (δD, the standardized ratio between H216O and HD16O) made at two remote mountain sites on Tenerife Island in the subtropical North Atlantic. We show that the data – if measured during nighttime – are well representative for the lower/middle free troposphere. We use the measured H2O-δD pairs, together with dust measurements and back-trajectory modelling for analysing the moisture pathways to this region. We can identify four principally different transport pathways. The first two pathways are linked to transport from high altitudes and high latitudes, whereby the respective air can be dry, due to last condensation occurring at low temperatures, as well as humid, due to cross isentropic mixing with lower level and more humid air during transport since last condensation. The third pathway is transport from lower latitudes and lower altitudes, whereby we can identify rain re-evaporation as an occasional source of moisture. The fourth pathway is linked to the African continent, where during summer dry convection processes over the Sahara very effectively inject humidity from the boundary layer to higher altitudes. This so-called Saharan Air Layer (SAL) is then advected westward over the Atlantic and contributes to moisten the free troposphere. We demonstrate that different pathways leave distinct fingerprints on the measured H2O-δD pairs.
Microtopographic variation in soil respiration and its controlling factors vary with plant phenophases in a desert–shrub ecosystem
Authors: Wang B. , Zha T. S. , Jia X. , Gong J. N. , Wu B. , Bourque C. P. A. , Zhang Y. , Qin S. G. , Chen G. P. , Peltola H.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Soil respiration (Rs) and its biophysical controls were measured over a fixed sand dune in a desert–shrub ecosystem in northwest China in 2012 to explore the mechanisms controlling the spatial heterogeneity in Rs and to understand the plant effects on the spatial variation in Rs in different phenophases. The measurements were carried out on four slope orientations (i.e., windward, leeward, north- and south-facing) and three height positions on each slope (i.e., lower, upper, and top) across the phenophases of the dominant shrub species (Artemisia ordosica). Coefficient of variation (i.e., standard deviation/mean) of Rs across the 11 microsites over our measurement period was 23.5 %. Soil respiration was highest on the leeward slope, and lowest on the windward slope. Over the measurement period, plant-related factors, rather than microhydrometeorological factors, affected the microtopographic variation in Rs. During the flower-bearing phase, root biomass affected Rs most, explaining 72 % of the total variation. During the leaf coloration–defoliation phase, soil nitrogen content affected Rs the most, explaining 56 % of the total variation. Our findings highlight that spatial pattern in Rs was dependent on plant distribution over a desert sand dune, and plant-related factors largely regulated topographic variation in Rs, and such regulations varied with plant phenology.
Isotopic evidence for biogenic molecular hydrogen production in the Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Walter S. , Kock A. , Steinhoff T. , Fiedler B. , Fietzek P. , Kaiser J. , Krol M. C. , Popa M. E. , Chen Q. , Tanhua T. , Röckmann T.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Oceans are a net source of molecular hydrogen (H2) to the atmosphere. The production of marine H2 is assumed to be mainly biological by N2 fixation, but photochemical pathways are also discussed. We present measurements of mole fraction and isotopic composition of dissolved and atmospheric H2 from the southern and northern Atlantic between 2008 and 2010. In total almost 400 samples were taken during five cruises along a transect between Punta Arenas (Chile) and Bremerhaven (Germany), as well as at the coast of Mauretania. The isotopic source signatures of dissolved H2 extracted from surface water are highly deuterium-depleted and correlate negatively with temperature, showing δD values of (−629 ± 54) ‰ for water temperatures at (27 ± 3) °C and (−249 ± 88) ‰ below (19 ± 1) °C. The results for warmer water masses are consistent with biological production of H2. This is the first time that marine H2 excess has been directly attributed to biological production by isotope measurements. However, the isotope values obtained in the colder water masses indicate that beside possible biological production a significant different source should be considered. The atmospheric measurements show distinct differences between both hemispheres as well as between seasons. Results from the global chemistry transport model TM5 reproduce the measured H2 mole fractions and isotopic composition well. The climatological global oceanic emissions from the GEMS database are in line with our data and previously published flux calculations. The good agreement between measurements and model results demonstrates that both the magnitude and the isotopic signature of the main components of the marine H2 cycle are in general adequately represented in current atmospheric models despite a proposed source different from biological production or a substantial underestimation of nitrogen fixation by several authors.
S2P3-R (v1.0): a framework for efficient regional modelling of physical and biological structures and processes in shelf seas
Authors: Marsh R. , Hickman A. E. , Sharples J.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. An established one-dimensional (1-D) model of Shelf Sea Physics and Primary Production (S2P3) is adapted for flexible use in selected regional settings over selected periods of time. This Regional adaptation of S2P3, the S2P3-R framework (v1.0), can be efficiently used to investigate physical and biological phenomena in shelf seas that are strongly controlled by vertical processes. These include spring blooms that follow the onset of stratification, tidal mixing fronts that seasonally develop at boundaries between mixed and stratified water, and sub-surface chlorophyll maxima that persist throughout summer. While not representing 3-D processes, S2P3-R reveals the horizontal variation of the key 1-D (vertical) processes. S2P3-R should therefore only be used in regions where horizontal processes – including mean flows, eddy fluxes and internal tides – are known to exert a weak influence in comparison with vertical processes. In such cases, S2P3-R may be used as a highly versatile research tool, alongside more complex and computationally expensive models. In undergraduate oceanography modules and research projects, the model serves as an effective practical tool for linking theory and field observations. Three different regional configurations of S2P3-R are described, illustrating a range of diagnostics, evaluated where practical with observations. The model can be forced with daily meteorological variables for any selected year in the reanalysis era (1948 onwards). Example simulations illustrate the considerable extent of synoptic-to-interannual variability in the physics and biology of shelf seas. In discussion, the present limitations of S2P3-R are emphasised, and future developments are outlined.
A new sub-grid surface mass balance and flux model for continental-scale ice sheet modelling: testing and last glacial cycle
Authors: Le Morzadec K. , Tarasov L. , Morlighem M. , Seroussi H.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. To investigate ice sheet evolution over the timescale of a glacial cycle, 3-D ice sheet models (ISMs) are typically run at "coarse" grid resolutions (10–50 km) that do not resolve individual mountains. This will introduce to-date unquantified errors in sub-grid (SG) transport, accumulation and ablation for regions of rough topography. In the past, synthetic hypsometric curves, a statistical summary of the topography, have been used in ISMs to describe the variability of these processes. However, there has yet to be detailed uncertainty analysis of this approach. We develop a new flow line SG model for embedding in coarse resolution models. A 1 km resolution digital elevation model was used to compute the local hypsometric curve for each coarse grid (CG) cell and to determine local parameters to represent the hypsometric bins' slopes and widths. The 1-D mass transport for the SG model is computed with the shallow ice approximation. We test this model against simulations from the 3-D Ice Sheet System Model (ISSM) run at 1 km grid resolution. Results show that none of the alternative parameterizations explored were able to adequately capture SG surface mass balance and flux processes. Via glacial cycle ensemble results for North America, we quantify the impact of SG model coupling in an ISM. We show that SG process representation and associated parametric uncertainties, related to the exchange of ice between the SG and CG cells, can have significant (up to 35 m eustatic sea level equivalent for the North American ice complex) impact on modelled ice sheet evolution.
Determining lake surface water temperatures (LSWTs) worldwide using a tuned 1-dimensional lake model (FLake, v1)
Authors: Layden A. , MacCallum S. , Merchant C.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. FLake, a 1-dimensional freshwater lake model, is tuned for 244 globally distributed large lakes using lake surface water temperatures (LSWTs) derived from Along-Track Scanning Radiometers (ATSRs). The model, tuned using only 3 lake properties; lake depth, albedo (snow and ice) and light extinction co-efficient, substantially improves the measured biases in various features of the LSWT annual cycle, including the LSWTs of saline and high altitude lakes. The daily mean absolute differences (MAD) and the spread of differences (±2 standard deviations) across the trial seasonally ice covered lakes (lakes with a lake-mean LSWT remaining below 1 °C for part of the annual cycle) is reduced from 3.01± 2.25 °C (pre-tuning) to 0.84 ± 0.51 °C (post-tuning). For non-seasonally ice-covered trial lakes (lakes with a lake-mean LSWT remaining above 1 °C throughout its annual cycle), the average daily mean absolute difference (MAD) is reduced from 3.55 ± 3.20 °C to 0.96 ± 0.63 °C. The post tuning results for the trial lakes (35 lakes) are highly representative of the post tuning results of the 244 lakes. The sensitivity of the summer LSWTs of deeper lakes to changes in the timing of ice-off is demonstrated. The modelled summer LSWT response to changes in ice-off timing is found to be strongly affected by lake depth and latitude, explaining 0.50 (R2adj, p = 0.001) of the inter-lake variance in summer LSWTs. Lake depth alone explains 0.35 (p =0.003) of the variance. The tuning approach undertaken in this study, overcomes the obstacle of the lack of available lake characteristic information (snow and ice albedo and light extinction co-efficient) for individual lakes. Furthermore, the tuned values for lake depth, snow and ice albedo and light extinction co-efficient for the 244 lakes provide guidance for improving LSWTs modelling in FLake.
Sensitivity of water scarcity events to ENSO-driven climate variability at the global scale
Authors: Veldkamp T. I. E. , Eisner S. , Wada Y. , Aerts J. C. J. H. , Ward P. J.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Globally, freshwater shortage is one of the most dangerous risks for society. Changing hydro-climatic and socioeconomic conditions have aggravated water scarcity over the past decades. A wide range of studies show that water scarcity will intensify in the future, as a result of both increased consumptive water use and, in some regions, climate change. Although it is well-known that El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects patterns of precipitation and drought at global and regional scales, little attention has yet been paid to the impacts of climate variability on water scarcity conditions, despite its importance for adaptation planning. Therefore, we present the first global-scale sensitivity assessment of water scarcity to ENSO, the most dominant signal of climate variability. We show that over the time period 1961–2010, both water availability and water scarcity conditions are significantly correlated with ENSO-driven climate variability over a large proportion of the global land area (> 28.1 %); an area inhabited by more than 31.4 % of the global population. We also found, however, that climate variability alone is often not enough to trigger the actual incidence of water scarcity events. The sensitivity of a region to water scarcity events, expressed in terms of land area or population exposed, is determined by both hydro-climatic and socioeconomic conditions. Currently, the population actually impacted by water scarcity events consists of 39.6 % (CTA: consumption-to-availability ratio) and 41.1 % (WCI: water crowding index) of the global population, whilst only 11.4 % (CTA) and 15.9 % (WCI) of the global population is at the same time living in areas sensitive to ENSO-driven climate variability. These results are contrasted, however, by differences in growth rates found under changing socioeconomic conditions, which are relatively high in regions exposed to water scarcity events. Given the correlations found between ENSO and water availability and scarcity conditions, and the relative developments of water scarcity impacts under changing socioeconomic conditions, we suggest that there is potential for ENSO-based adaptation and risk reduction that could be facilitated by more research on this emerging topic.
Monitoring strategies of stream phosphorus under contrasting climate-driven flow regimes
Authors: Goyenola G. , Meerhoff M. , Teixeira-de Mello F. , González-Bergonzoni I. , Graeber D. , Fosalba C. , Vidal N. , Mazzeo N. , Ovesen N. B. , Jeppesen E. , Kronvang B.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Climate and hydrology are relevant control factors determining the timing and amount of nutrient losses from land to downstream aquatic systems, in particular of phosphorus (P) from agricultural lands. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the differences in P export patterns and the performance of alternative monitoring strategies in streams under contrasting climate-driven flow regimes. We compared a set of paired streams draining lowland micro-catchments under temperate climate and stable discharge conditions (Denmark) and under sub-tropical climate and flashy conditions (Uruguay). We applied two alternative nutrient sampling programs (high-frequency composite sampling and low-frequency instantaneous-grab sampling) and estimated the contribution derived from point and diffuse sources fitting a source apportionment model. We expected to detect a pattern of higher total and particulate phosphorus export from diffuse sources in streams in Uruguay streams, mostly as a consequence of higher variability in flow regime (higher flashiness). Contrarily, we found a higher contribution of dissolved P in flashy streams. We did not find a notably poorer performance of the low-frequency sampling program to estimate P exports in flashy streams compared to the less variable streams. We also found signs of interaction between climate/hydrology and land use intensity, in particular in the presence of point sources of P, leading to a bias towards underestimation of P in hydrologically stable streams and overestimation of P in flashy streams. Based on our findings, we suggest that the evaluation and use of more accurate monitoring methods, such as automatized flow-proportional water samplers and automatized bankside analyzers, should be prioritized whenever logistically possible. However, it seems particularly relevant in currently flashy systems and also in systems where climate change predictions suggest an increase in stream flashiness.
Impacts of climate change under CMIP5 RCP scenarios on the streamflow in the Dinder River and ecosystem habitats in Dinder National Park, Sudan
Authors: Basheer A. K. , Lu H. , Omer A. , Ali A. B. , Abdelgader A. M. S.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. The fate of seasonal rivers ecosystem habitats under climate change essentially depends on the changes in annual recharge, which related to alterations in precipitation and evaporation over the river basin. Therefore the change in climate conditions is expected to significantly affect hydrological and ecological components, particularly in fragmented ecosystems. This study aims to assess the impacts of climate change on the streamflow in Dinder River Basin (DRB), and infer its relative possible effects on the Dinder National Park (DNP) ecosystem habitats in the Sudan. Two global circulation models (GCMs) from Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 and two statistical downscaling approaches combined with hydrological model (SWAT) were used to project the climate change conditions over the study periods 2020s, 2050s and 2080s. The results indicated that the climate over the DRB will become warmer and wetter under the most scenarios. The projected precipitation variability mainly depends on the selected GCM and downscaling approach. Moreover, the projected streamflow was more sensitive to rainfall and temperature variation, and will likely increase in this century. In contrast to drought periods during (1960s, 1970s and 1980s), the predicted climate change is likely to affect ecosystems in DNP positively and promote the ecological restoration of the flora and fauna habitats'.
Assessment and comparison of extreme sea levels and waves during the 2013/14 storm season in two UK coastal regions
Authors: Wadey M. P. , Brown J. M. , Haigh I. D. , Dolphin T. , Wisse P.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. The extreme sea levels and waves experienced around the UK's coast during the 2013/14 winter caused extensive coastal flooding and damage. Coastal managers seek to place such extremes in relation to the anticipated standards of flood protection, and the long-term recovery of the natural system. In this context, return periods are often used as a form of guidance. This paper provides these levels for the winter storms, and discusses their application to the given data sets for two UK case study sites: Sefton, northwest England, and Suffolk, east England. Tide gauge records and wave buoy data were used to compare the 2013/14 storms with return periods from a national data set, and also joint probabilities of sea level and wave heights were generated, incorporating the recent events. The 2013/14 high waters and waves were extreme due to the number of events, as well as the extremity of the 5 December 2013 "Xaver" storm, which had a high return period at both case study sites. The national-scale impact of this event was due to its coincidence with spring high tide at multiple locations. Given that this event is such an outlier in the joint probability analyses of these observed data sets, and that the season saw several events in close succession, coastal defences appear to have provided a good level of protection. This type of assessment could in the future be recorded alongside defence performance and upgrade. Ideally other variables (e.g. river levels at estuarine locations) would also be included, and with appropriate offsetting for local trends (e.g. mean sea-level rise) so that the storm-driven component of coastal flood events can be determined. This could allow long-term comparison of storm severity, and an assessment of how sea-level rise influences return levels over time, which is important for consideration of coastal resilience in strategic management plans.
Simplified approach for locating the critical probabilistic slip surface in limit equilibrium analysis
Authors: Cheng Y. M. , Li L. , Liu L. L.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. This paper aims to develop a rapid and practical procedure that can locate the slip surface for a slope with the minimum reliability index for limit equilibrium analysis at the minimum expense of time. The comparative study on the reliability indices from different sample numbers using the Monte Carlo simulation method has demonstrated that the results from a large enough sample number are related to those from a small sample number with high correlation indices. This observation has been tested for many homogeneous and heterogeneous slopes under various conditions in parametric studies. Based on this observation, the reliability index for a potential slip surface can be calculated with a small sample number, and the search for the minimum reliability index and the slip surface can be determined by a heuristic optimization algorithm. Based on the comparisons between the critical deterministic and probabilistic slip surfaces for many different cases, the use of the proposed fast method in locating the critical probabilistic slip surface is found to perform well, which is suitable for normal routine analysis and design works.
Continuous seiche in bays and harbors
Authors: Park J. , MacMahan J. , Sweet W. V. , Kotun K.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Seiches are often considered a transitory phenomenon wherein large amplitude water level oscillations are excited by a geophysical event, eventually dissipating some time after the event. However, continuous small-amplitude seiches have recently been recognized presenting a question as to the origin of continuous forcing. We examine 6 bays around the Pacific where continuous seiches are evident, and based on spectral, modal and kinematic analysis suggest that tidally-forced shelf-resonances are a primary driver of continuous seiches.
Modeling of crack propagation in weak snowpack layers using the discrete element method
Authors: Gaume J. , van Herwijnen A. , Chambon G. , Birkeland K. W. , Schweizer J.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. Dry-snow slab avalanches are generally caused by a sequence of fracture processes including (1) failure initiation in a weak snow layer underlying a cohesive slab, (2) crack propagation within the weak layer and (3) tensile fracture through the slab which leads to its detachment. During the past decades, theoretical and experimental work has gradually led to a better understanding of the fracture process in snow involving the collapse of the structure in the weak layer during fracture. This now allows us to better model failure initiation and the onset of crack propagation, i.e., to estimate the critical length required for crack propagation. On the other hand, our understanding of dynamic crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity is still very limited. To shed more light on this issue, we performed numerical propagation saw test (PST) experiments applying the discrete element (DE) method and compared the numerical results with field measurements based on particle tracking. The goal is to investigate the influence of weak layer failure and the mechanical properties of the slab on crack propagation and fracture arrest propensity. Crack propagation speeds and distances before fracture arrest were derived from the DE simulations for different snowpack configurations and mechanical properties. Then, in order to compare the numerical and experimental results, the slab mechanical properties (Young's modulus and strength) which are not measured in the field were derived from density. The simulations nicely reproduced the process of crack propagation observed in field PSTs. Finally, the mechanical processes at play were analyzed in depth which led to suggestions for minimum column length in field PSTs.
Pradinių klasių mokinių mitybos namuose ir mokykloje ypatumai
Authors: Strukčinskienė Birutė , Strazdienė Neringa , Griškonis Sigitas
Published: October 2015

Vaikų mitybos įpročiai formuojasi šeimoje, nes vaikų mitybą lemia šeimos mitybos įpročiai. Ugdant mokinių sveikos mitybos įpročius svarbus tėvų ir mokytojų bendradarbiavimas. Darbo tikslas – atskleisti pradinių klasių mokinių mitybos namuose ir mokykloje ypatumus. Taikyta apklausa raštu. Tyrimas atliktas keturiolikoje Vakarų Lietuvos mokyklų. Apklausoje dalyvavo 490 3-4 klasių mokinių. Nustatyta, kad tik apie trečdalis pradinių klasių mokinių valgo 3 ir tiek pat 4 kartus per dieną. Dešimtadalis vaikų laikosi mitybos rekomendacijų ir valgo 5 kartus per dieną. Pusryčius visada valgo šiek tiek daugiau nei pusė apklaustųjų, pietus ir vakarienę visada valgo didesnė mokinių dalis. Darbo dienomis mokyklos valgykloje pietauja daugiau kaip pusė apklaustųjų. Pusryčiams mokiniai dažniausiai renkasi sumuštinius, košes, bandeles, pietums – mėsą, bulves, sriubą, žuvį, o vakarienei – vaisius, virtus arba keptus bulvių gaminius ir mėsą. Šokoladinius saldainius ir traškučius kaip užkandį renkasi dažniau berniukai negu mergaitės. Jie dažniau nei mergaitės valgo picas, dešrainius ir saldumynus. Valgydami mokyklos valgykloje, pusė apklaustųjų renkasi tik antrą patiekalą ir beveik tiek pat mokinių renkasi sriubą ir antrą patiekalą. Apie pusė apklaustųjų kartais su tėveliais kalbasi apie sveiką mitybą ir šeimose patys augina daržoves, vaisius. Apie trečdalis mokinių dažnai arba kartais su tėvais gamina sveiko maisto patiekalus ir perka ekologiškus produktus.
Pakartotinės operacijos chirurgijoje: 15 metų patirtis
Authors: Janušonis Vinsas
Published: October 2015

Darbo tikslas: įvertinti pacientų, kuriems atliktos pakartotinės operacijos, kontingentą ir chirurgijos profilius, pakartotinių operacijų priežastinius veiksnius, rizikos laipsnį, išvengiamumo galimybes bei palyginti medikų ir ekspertų vertinimą. Medžiaga ir tyrimo metodika. Tęstinis tyrimas vykdytas analizuojant 2000-2014 m. nepageidautinų įvykių − pakartotinių operacijų pranešimų formas Klaipėdos universitetinėje ligoninėje atskirais laikotarpiais - 2000-2004 m., 2005-2009 m., 2010- 2014 m. Tirti 757 pacientų, patyrusių pakartotines operacijas, duomenys pagal amžių, lytį, chirurgijos profilį. Rezultatai. Tyrimas parodė, kad pakartotinai operuota 0,31 proc. pacientų. Daugiau ketvirtadalio (27,7 proc.) nepageidautinų įvykių buvo pakartotinės operacijos. Daugiausia pakartotinai operuota dėl pilvo ir endokrininės chirurgijos patologijos profilio pacientų – 58,8 proc., daugiau nei pusė (51,7 proc.) vidutinės rizikos. Daug pakartotinai operuotų pacientų sirgo onkologine liga (39,8 proc.), 11,2 proc. pakartotinų operacijų susiję su infekcija. Operavusių chirurgų ir ekspertų nuomonės dėl pagrindinių pakartotinių operacijų priežastinių veiksnių (individualios pacientų charakteristikos – 85,3 ir 89,6 proc.) bei dėl jų išvengiamumo (pilnai ar dalinai buvo galima išvengti – 60,2 ir 66,7 proc.) buvo panašios. Išvados. 1. Pagrindiniai pakartotinių operacijų rodikliai – priežastys, rizikos laipsnis, laikotarpis tarp operacijų, operavusių chirurgų ir ekspertų vertinimas analizuojamais laikotarpiais iš esmės nesiskyrė. 2. Pakartotinių operacijų dalis KUL − didelėje daugiaprofilinėje išvystytos infrastruktūros teikiančioje ištisą parą skubią medicinos pagalbą aukšto operacinio aktyvumo ligoninėje yra nedidelė ir santykinai stabili. 3. Pagrindinė pakartotinių operacijų priežastis yra individualios pacientų charakteristikos. Didelė dalis (du penktadaliai) pakartotinai operuotų pacientų sirgo onkologine liga, kas šešta pakartotinė operacija susijusi su infekcija. 4. Didėjant operaciniam aktyvumui ir operacijų skaičiui, augant operacijų sudėtingumui, pakartotinių operacijų rizikos laipsnis ir jų neišvengiamumas didėjo. 5. Daugumos – dviejų trečdalių pakartotinių operacijų buvo galima visai ar dalinai išvengti, jeigu būtų taikytos multifaktorinės prevencijos priemonės.
Sarginio limfmazgio nustatymas sergant melanoma. Pirmoji Klaipėdos universitetinės ligoninės patirtis
Authors: Čižauskaitė Agnė , Petrauskas Donatas , Gelžinis Gintaras , Sakalauskaitė Marija , Česas Alvydas
Published: October 2015

Melanoma – piktybinė odos liga, pasižyminti didžiausiu mirtingumu tarp odos ligų. Sergamumas šia onkologine liga visame pasaulyje didėja. Chirurginis gydymas yra pagrindinis šios ligos gydymo metodas. Sarginio limfmazgio nustatymas IB ir II stadijos melanomos atveju yra neginčyjamas. Sarginio limfmazgio pašalinimas kelia daugybę diskusijų tam tikrų klinikinių situacijų atveju: melanomos lokalizacija galvos ar kaklo srityje, vyresnio amžiaus pacientai, „mažo storio“ melanoma, melanomai specifiškos komplikacijos, nerastas ir klaidingai neigiamas sarginis limfmazgis. Klaipėdos universitetinėje ligoninėje atlikta 18 sarginio limfmazgio pašalinimo operacijų. Galvos srityje melanoma buvo nustatyta 3(16,67%) pacientams. Vyresni nei 65 metų dėl melanomos mūsų įstaigoje gydyti pacientai sudarė 38,9%(n=7) visų gydytų ligonių. Sarginis limfmazgis buvo nustatytas 6(37,5%) „plona“ melanoma sirgusiems pacientams. Atliktų operacijų komplikacijų dažnis 11,11% (n=2). Sarginiai limfmazgiai nebuvo nustatyti 2(11,11%) ligoniams. Siekiant priimti tinkamiausią sprendimą nestandartinėse situacijose gydant melanoma sergančius ligonius, tikslingas multidisciplininis chirurgų, branduolinės diagnostikos gydytojų ir gydytojų patologų bendradarbiavimas.