bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La Constitution économique parmi les Constitutions européennes
Authors: Tuori Kaarlo
Published: March 2012

Notre (hypo) thèse est que la constitutionnalisation européenne peut être divisée en périodes, chacune d’elles étant marquée par une Constitution spécifique. Étant donné la primauté temporelle et fonctionnelle de l’intégration économique, la première vague de constitutionnalisation a procédé sous les auspices de la Constitution économique. L’accent s’est déplacé vers la Constitution juridique lors de la deuxième phase et vers la Constitution politique lors de la troisième phase. Finalement, depuis le Traité d’Amsterdam (1998) jusqu’à aujourd’hui, c’est la Constitution sécurité qui prime. Ceci étant dit, il ne faut pas déduire de cette succession temporelle que chaque aspect constitutionnel émergeant remplace ou supplante les précédents ; au contraire, les différents aspects se complètent les uns les autres. Ainsi, l’histoire de la Constitution économique ne se termine-t-elle pas lors de la première période de constitutionnalisation. Celle-ci a gardé sa primauté fonctionnelle, et les dimensions constitutionnelles non économiques se sont développées en tant que réponses aux demandes ou aux conséquences de la dimension économique. Pourtant, les relations entre les différents aspects de la Constitution peuvent aussi être de nature conflictuelle. Devant la Cour de justice, ces conflits se présentent souvent sous la forme de conflits entre différents types de droit : entre, d’un côté, les droits liés à la liberté du marché et, de l’autre côté, les droits politiques et sociaux.
A Cross-Genre Study of Online Gaming
Authors: Ghuman Davinder , Griffiths Mark
Published: March 2012

One key limitation with the contemporary online gaming research literature is that much of the published research has tended to examine only one genre of games (i.e., Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Games). Three relatively little studied online games are First Person Shooter (FPS) Games, Role Play Games (RPG), and Real Time Strategy (RTS) Games. Therefore, the current study examines player behaviour and characteristics in these three relatively under-researched online gaming genres. The study examines the differences between the three different game genres in terms of: (i) the demographic profile of players, (ii) the social interactions of players including the number and quality of friends, and how gaming related to real life friendship, and (iii) motivations to play specific game genres. The sample comprised 353 self-selected players. The RPG genre had the highest percentage of female players. The number of hours played per week varied significantly between the genres. RPG players played significantly longer hours than FPS or RTS players. In relation to playing motivation, achievement levels were highest for the FPS genre with RPG genre having the lowest achievement levels. RPG players had the highest immersion levels. RTS players were significantly less likely to report having made friends than players of the other two genres.
Perceived Social Support and Facebook Use Among Adolescents
Authors: Akbulut Yavuz , Günüç Selim
Published: March 2012

Online social networks have gained considerable popularity among adolescents, but investigations on adolescent engagement with this technology have been limited. The current study investigated adolescents’ Facebook use with regard to their perceived social support characteristics. The data were collected from 255 adolescents in two provincial state schools in Turkey. A personal information form and 12 scaled items were used to collect data. A confirmatory factor analysis was conducted on scale items and relationships between social support and Facebook use behaviors were investigated. Findings revealed that perceived social support from significant others were predicted by the time spent on Facebook. More support from actual face-to-face friends meant fewer online friends whereas more support from significant others meant more online friends. Profile and security settings varied with regard to perceived social support as well. Regardless of socioeconomic status, less family support was related with adding unknown people haphazardly, and using Internet cafés. Finally, less friend support was related with resorting to nicknames rather than real names. Findings are discussed accompanied with limitations of the current study and suggestions for further research.
Presentation of Complex Medical Information
Authors: Miller Susan M. , Geng Ying , Zheng Robert Z. , Dewald Aaron
Published: March 2012

The purpose was to test the effect of placement of concept maps on learning complex medical information presented online. Blocked by a median split of scores on the Paper Folding Test (Ekstrom, French, & Harman, 1979), college students were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions (map before text, map after text, and no map). For purposes of analyses, learners were categorized into low and high ability groups using the lower and upper 25% of scores. A 3 X 2 MANOVA was performed on two correlated dependent variables, recall and application, revealing a statistically significant interaction effect on application learning. For this dependent variable, low spatial ability learners in the no map condition (control group) scored statistically significantly lower than high spatial ability learners.
Lived Experiences in ‘Active’ Small Group Learning
Authors: Shankar P. Ravi
Published: March 2012

Active learning is becoming increasingly important in medical schools. In this article, the author describes his experiences with active learning in two medical schools in Nepal. The author employed active learning during pharmacology ‘practical’ sessions and medical humanities modules, as well as during correlation seminars. The author has also used the technique during workshops. Faculties are trained in small group facilitation skills during faculty training workshops.
Creating Awareness for Using a Wiki to Promote Collaborative Health Professional Education
Authors: Haque Karishma Sharmin , Bhuiyan Abu Md Akteruzzaman , Bhowmick Mou , Ahmed Ziauddin , Sarbadhikari S. N.
Published: March 2012

A Wiki is an expandable collection of interlinked web pages that allows users to quickly and easily create and edit content. Wikis can be used for obtaining information and knowledge. They can also serve as a method of virtual collaboration to share dialogue and information among participants in group projects or allow learners to engage in learning. Wikis enable such activities and actively involve learners in their own construction of knowledge. In this paper the authors discuss the wiki they created (http://bihs-wiki.wikispaces.com/) for the Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences. A brief orientation lecture and a hands-on workshop were arranged for all users. Content development for the wiki and learning activities went on concurrently. Students were more enthusiastic in this process and acted as ambassadors. The wiki is an effective platform for sharing information, experiences, and resources among health professional educators and learners.
Experiences of a Student Elective at McGill University
Authors: Mushtaq Mohsin Bin
Published: March 2012

It is often debated if medical electives are beneficial for students. While medical electives are not mandatory for students in the developing world, they are an important part of medical training in some Western universities (UCSD School of Medicine, n.d.) and have been part of UK undergraduate training since the 1970s (Cruikshank & Walsh, 1980). In the West medical schools form committees to guide, counsel, and help students plan their electives during vacations. In South Asia, the concept of electives is minimally encouraged; however, the students themselves share their elective experience and encourage other students to take electives, mostly through online forums. Electives often provide students a chance to work in a different setup, with different disease prevalence patterns, hospital management protocols, and learning experiences under various doctors with diverse problem solving approaches. It is also a two pronged tool whereby students can enhance their clinical skills and find opportunities to obtain a research project under the mentorship of research oriented academic consultants. This article is a brief sketch of experiences encountered by a South Asian medical student on a clerkship elective rotation in cardiology at a tertiary care hospital in Canada.
The Politics of Medical Curriculum Accreditation
Authors: de Leeuw Evelyne
Published: March 2012

The medical profession needs to adapt to the socio-political challenges of the 21st century. These have been described as the ‘Health Society’. Medical professionalism, however, is characterised by conservative values that are perpetuated by the professional attributes of autonomy, authority, and state-sanctioned altruism. The medical education enterprise is a replication and continuation of these values, sanctioned by its accreditation agencies. The Australian Medical Council through its accreditation standards only sanctions the formal curriculum. The status quo, however, is maintained by social, cultural and political parameters enmeshed in the informal and hidden curricula. By not addressing informal and hidden value constructs that maintain elitist medical arrogance the accreditation agency fails to uphold its remit. This paper explores the philosophical and empirical bases of these phenomena and illustrates them by means of a case study. Medical education and its sanctioning structure and agency are confirmed as forceful political enterprises. We conclude that explicit review of the informal and hidden curriculum is a feasible and necessary prerequisite for medical education reform and change.
The Patient is Dead
Authors: Bansal Shaifali
Published: March 2012

Most health professionals join their profession with an aim to do best for human suffering, fully understanding that reins of birth and death are not in their hands. It is possible that with time some begin to work mechanically and forget they are working with human lives. Then, one day a particular patient jolts a doctor from his or her slumber. This article follows a doctor/patient encounter and its attendant clinical complexity that is portrayed through a physician’s reflection, which examines if it is as simple as a patient dying.
Reforming Medical Curriculum While Ignoring Examinations
Authors: Sircar Sabyasachi
Published: March 2012

Successive national initiatives in India to improve the medical curriculum are plagued by the lack of objective data that can help grade the existing quality of medical education. Without such quantitative data, which can be conveniently obtained through national exit exams, it is infructuous to embark upon curricular reforms. The results of the national exit exams must serve as a starting point for all subsequent reforms.
A Multi-Stakeholder ’User Driven’ Medical Curriculum to Improve Health Care Outcomes
Authors: Sarbadhikari Suptendra Nath
Published: March 2012

In this commentary of Sood et al, which stresses on the linking of teaching, learning and as­sessment methods to learning objectives toward achieve excellence in postgraduate medical education, the commentator points out that policy making bodies seem to ignore that. While the authors seem to stress on communicating this aspect, the competent authorities prefer to form non-communicating Committees for delinking teaching / learning from assessment. The authors must be thanked for bringing out these issues for possible debates among all the stakeholders, leading to a renewed effort towards meaningful, timely and useful reforms of the healthcare education system in India.
Curricular Battles
Authors: Ananthakrishnan N. , Sood Rita
Published: March 2012

This paper is a response to the two commentaries (Sircar, 2012; Sarbadhikari, 2012) written for the article “Reforming Medical Curriculum in India in Recent Years: Conflicts of Political, Regulator, Educationist and Professional Nature and Strategies for their Resolution” (Sood & Ananthakrishnan, 2012). Considering the enormity of the process of bringing about a change, often compromises have to be made for a step wise approach to make the proposed changes more acceptable across the board. A ‘one size fits all’ approach is unlikely to work in India because of numerous conflicting pressures and the solution has to be tailored to the specific situations in the country. While a national exit examination as a measure of quality control looks admirable, a number of issues have to be addressed before it can become a reality. The authors conclude that a much higher role of educationists and professionals, consensus building, and political support are essential to achieve successful curricular reforms. A strong regulatory agency could play a definitive role in maintaining standards.
There is More Wrong with Medical Education than Accreditation
Authors: Sturmberg Joachim P.
Published: March 2012

The failures of health professional education are multi-faceted. The governance issues described by de Leeuw represent ‘the tip of the iceberg’ of the problems. Other, probably more important issues, are the loss of the ‘core values’ underpinning the healing professions, and a scientism-based approach to practice based on a naive view of evidence that fails to register ‘one’s delusion of certainty’. The selection of students lacking humanistic trades perpetuates the demise of the healing (meaning making whole again of all of the dis-ease domains) professions. The change required to achieve ‘balanced’ health professionals that treat the human condition of dis-ease with the scientific advances of managing disease is a change in core values and a selection of patient-centred role models. An example shows how patients can ultimately be our best allies in achieving these ‘long-overdue’ changes.
Continuing Medical Education and the Hidden Curriculum
Authors: Sarkar Shruti
Published: March 2012

Death following a chronic and complicated illness in hospital is common. This paper is an account of a physician who perceives such a death in a different and an introspective way hoping to make all stakeholders of health realise their responsibilities beyond the accepted norms. There is need for professionalism and patient centredness in healthcare delivery as is stressed in this narrative. Physicians have an added role of teaching medical students and resident doctors and are reminded that they unknowingly transmit their professional identity onto the learners by the manner in which they deal with patients.
Architecting Enterprises for IT-Enabled Value Creation
Authors: SenGupta Siddhartha
Published: March 2012

In spite of rapid strides in evolving Architecture processes that can help Enterprises leverage IT for creating Value, shortcomings are widely perceived. In this paper, the author discusses four points. Part I covers structuring the enterprise, business value and its measurement and maximizing returns from IT assets. This part examines architecting for value, IT enabled. It is suggested that, since the impacts are generally inseparable, IT changes should be planned within a holistic framework considering all other business considerations, merging all enterprise capabilities and all approaches from different disciplines to creating Value. Further, this Architecture should be aligned with the Architecture of the business, i.e., with business models, rather than with business strategies. A subsequent paper will study the application through a case study and share recommendations for IT services vendors.
Clean Energies for Sustainable Development in Built Environment
Authors: Omer Abdeen Mustafa
Published: March 2012

The move towards a de-carbonised world, driven partly by climate science and partly by the business opportunities it offers, will need the promotion of environmentally friendly alternatives, if an acceptable stabilisation level of atmospheric carbon dioxide is to be achieved. This requires the harnessing and use of natural resources that produce no air pollution or greenhouse gases and provides comfortable coexistence of human, livestock, and plants. The increased availability of reliable and efficient energy services stimulates new development alternatives. This paper focuses on and presents a comprehensive review of energy sources, and the development of sustainable technologies to explore these energy sources. The author investigates the potential renewable energy technologies, efficient energy systems, energy savings techniques and other mitigation measures necessary to reduce climate changes.
Finding Congruence Between Sensation Seeking, Brand Personality and Purchase Intention
Authors: Farhat Reshma , Khan Bilal Mustafa , Khan Ahmad Faraz
Published: March 2012

Human needs give way to the engagement of consumers in different activities which provide avenues for self-expression or to experience the anticipated emotional benefits that differentiate them from others. One such category of consumers is termed as Sensation Seekers. This research study explores the phenomenon of congruence and examines the correlation between sensation, brand personality and purchase intention. The key focus of the study is the brand personality of the automobile brands in India and with the use of multistage methodology, the purchase intentions of sensation seeking is being explored. Data was analyzed statistically and the study concludes that there is no marked difference in the purchase intentions of High and Low Sensation Seeking.
The Development and Implementation of a Multimedia Messaging Service for an Enhanced Mobile Telemedicine System
Authors: Setyono Andik , Alam Md. Jahangir , Eswaran C.
Published: March 2012

This paper presents an algorithm and architechture to enhance the performance of a mobile telemedicine system using the existing multimedia messaging service (MMS). With the proposed algorithm, the capacity of the MMS can be increased so that the mobile telemedicine system is able to send and receive a large content of multimedia messages using mobile phone devices which is not possible with the conventional MMS. This paper also presents the complete architechture of the mobile telemedicine system which can form the basis for building a practical mobile telemedicine system. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm outperforms the conventional MMS with regard to the file size that can be transmitted without degrading the quality of the data which is important for medical diagnosis in a telemedicine environment.
Medical Information Retrieval Strategies
Authors: Inthiran Anushia , Alhashmi Saadat M. , Ahmed Pervaiz K.
Published: March 2012

Medical search engines are frequently used not only by people in the medical fraternity but also amongst non-medical professionals. It is likely that non-medical professionals and first time medical searches may find the activity of searching for medical information to be an overwhelming experience. The use of appropriate terminology is essential for a successful search. Similarly, the ability to comprehend presented search results is equally important. In this paper, the authors review information retrieval techniques used in medical search engines. The authors focus on their strategies and comment on their suitability. The authors then conducted an exploratory survey to provide real-life examples of how non-medical professionals perform medical based searches. Results of the study provide insight to the medical search behavior of non-medical professionals. Based on the study results the authors mapped search behavior of non-medical professionals against information retrieval strategies to determine how these strategies help improve a search session. Finally, the authors conclude the paper by providing innovate ideas for the development of better information retrieval strategies on medical search engines.
Exploring Free Questionnaire Data with Anchor Variables
Authors: Kock Ned , Verville Jacques
Published: March 2012

This paper makes an important methodological contribution regarding the use of free questionnaires, illustrated through a study that shows that a healthcare professional’s propensity to use electronic communication technologies creates opportunities for interaction with other professionals, which would not otherwise be possible only via face-to-face interaction. This in turn appears to increase mutual trust, and eventually improve the quality of group outcomes. Free questionnaires are often used by healthcare information management researchers. They yield datasets without clear associations between constructs and related indicators. If such associations exist, they must first be uncovered so that indicators can be grouped within latent variables referring to constructs, and structural equation modeling analyses be conducted. A novel methodological contribution is made here through the proposal of an anchor variable approach to the analysis of free questionnaires. Unlike exploratory factor analyses, the approach relies on the researcher’s semantic knowledge about the variables stemming from a free questionnaire. The use of the approach is demonstrated using the multivariate statistical analysis software WarpPLS 2.0. The study leads to a measurement model that passes comprehensive validity, reliability, and collinearity tests. It also appears to yield practically relevant and meaningful results.
Pre-Standardization of Cognitive Radio Systems
Authors: Fomin Vladislav V. , Medeisis Arturas , Vitkute-Adžgauskiene Daiva
Published: March 2012

Cognitive Radio technology is commonly seen as a promise to form the basis of the next largest breakthrough in the development of ubiquitous wireless broadband services. However, the disruptive nature and complexity of this technology raises a host of associated issues, including the open question on reasons for the slow progression of the innovation. This paper reviews different streams of literature on technology evolution to suggest that CR development can be best conceptualized as anticipatory (pre-)standardizing process at an early phase. At the backdrop of the absent obvious leader in CR development, the authors conduct a co-evolutionary analysis of the CR innovation context to reveal a stakeholders’ domain, which is best positioned to lead the further CR development. Finally, the authors conclude that the regulatory domain oversees some of the most crucial enabling factors that may decide the future of CR technology.
The Evolution of IETF Standards and their Production
Authors: Gencer Mehmet
Published: March 2012

This paper reports the results of an exploratory study on the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) specifications corpus in relation to the changes in volume, structure, and production of Internet standards. Using data spanning three decades, the authors examine changes in the production volume and type composition of IETF documents, their interdependency, and the level of collaboration involved in their production. Longitudinal changes in the standards corpus exhibit an increasing trend in interdependency, number of refinement steps, and number of authors, and additionally reveal that standards production is of an episodic nature with regular peaks in output volume. Complementary analysis on the network structure of dependencies highlights a trend toward compartmentalization of the system over the years involving the emergence of relatively isolated subsystems of related standards. The authors suggest that a perspective which considers a system like IETF as an organization itself, rather than a constellation of extra-organizational activities, is needed to understand and manage standardization processes like this one.
Standards for ICT
Authors: Egyedi Tineke M. , Muto Sachiko
Published: March 2012

This paper takes the recent process towards standardizing the mobile phone charger in the EU as a starting point to consider the role that compatibility standards might play in mitigating the negative impact of ICT on the environment. Building on insights gained from the economics of standards literature, the authors explore how the inherent effects of compatibility standards – such as reducing variety, avoiding lock-in, and building critical mass – can have positive implications for the environment. While there is growing interest in how performance measurement standards initiatives with an explicit environmental purpose can contribute to sustainability, the authors argue that current standardization literature and policy have overlooked this important (side) effect of compatibility standards. Having first illustrated how excessive diversity and incompatibilities in ICT generate e-waste, discourage re-use and make recycling economically unviable, this paper develops an economic-environmental framework for analyzing the sustainability effects of compatibility standards and applies it to the case of mobile phone chargers. The authors conclude that compatibility standards are a form of ecodesign at sector level and should be recognized as a relevant complementary strategy towards greening the IT industry.
The Role of Technology Standardization in RFID Adoption
Authors: Tajima May
Published: March 2012

In the United States (U.S.) retail industry, endorsement from an industry key figure spurred the adoption of radio frequency identification (RFID), but this did not turn out to be the case within the pharmaceutical industry. In order to provide insight into adoption drivers that are specific to the pharmaceutical industry, this research develops a theoretical model of RFID adoption factors, in which: (i) technology standardization is the main driver; (ii) three aspects of RFID technology that need to be standardized are specified; (iii) special attention is given to the adoption behavior of late adopters, rather than the existing early adopters; and (iv) a specific context for the pharmaceutical industry is provided by taking into account the key industry characteristics. The model provides practical insight for dealing with some of the adoption challenges faced by the U.S. pharmaceutical industry.
A Dissociated Glucocorticoid Receptor Modulator Reduces Airway Hyperresponsiveness and Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Asthma
Authors: Reber Laurent L. , Daubeuf François , Plantinga Maud , De Cauwer Lode , Gerlo Sarah , Waelput Wim , Van Calenbergh Serge , Tavernier Jan , Haegeman Guy , Lambrecht Bart N. , Frossard Nelly , De Bosscher Karolien
Published: March 2012

The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is a transcription factor able to support either target gene activation via direct binding to DNA or gene repression via interfering with the activity of various proinflammatory transcription factors. An improved therapeutic profile for combating chronic inflammatory diseases has been reported through selectively modulating the GR by only triggering its transrepression function. We have studied in this paper the activity of Compound A (CpdA), a dissociated GR modulator favoring GR monomer formation, in a predominantly Th2-driven asthma model. CpdA acted similarly to the glucocorticoid dexamethasone (DEX) in counteracting OVA-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, recruitment of eosinophils, dendritic cells, neutrophils, B and T cells, and macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung Th2, Tc2, Th17, Tc17, and mast cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and goblet cell metaplasia. Both CpdA and DEX inhibited Th2 cytokine production in bronchoalveolar lavage as well as nuclear translocation of NF-κB and its subsequent recruitment onto the IκBα promoter in the lung. By contrast, DEX but not CpdA induces expression of the GR-dependent model gene MAPK phosphatase 1 in the lung, confirming the dissociative action of CpdA. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that CpdA inhibited IL-4–induced STAT6 translocation and that GR is essential for CpdA to mediate chemokine repression. In conclusion, we clearly show in this study the anti-inflammatory effect of CpdA in a Th2-driven asthma model in the absence of transactivation, suggesting a potential therapeutic benefit of this strategy.
A comparison of commonly used and novel electronic techniques for evaluating cattle temperament
Authors: Schwartzkopf-Genswein K. S. , Shah M. A. , Church J. S. , Haley D. B. , Janzen K. , Truong G. , Atkins R. P. , Crowe T. G.
Published: March 2012

Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K. S., Shah, M. A., Church, J. S., Haley, D. B., Janzen, K., Truong, G., Atkins, R. P. and Crowe, T. J. 2012. A comparison of commonly used and novel electronic techniques for evaluating cattle temperament. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 21–31. The temperament of steers (n=28) was assessed using five quantitative techniques including: flight time, flight distance, electronic (strain-gauge and accelerometer) tests, and three visual scores (VS) made during entry, restraint and exit from a squeeze chute. The objective of this study was to determine the most important predictive parameters based on those measurements and evaluate the relationship between the techniques. Flight time and distance were correlated with exit VS (r=−0.51, and 0.41, P<0.05; n=56), but were not related to restraint VS. Data from strain-gauge and accelerometer sensors were used to generate parameters such as peak response and area under the curve that were correlated with all three VS. Regression models using VS as the dependent variable and a combination of 2 to 5 parameters from the strain-gauge and accelerometer tests as independent variables predicted temperament with values of 29 to 65 or 41 to 57%, respectively. When all techniques, excluding VS, were used as independent variables, model accuracy increased to 72, 81 and 77% for restraint, exit and the sum of all VS, respectively. These findings suggest the objective measures of temperament assessed in this study could be used to identify highly reactive animals.
Nitrogen cycling, profit margins and sweet corn yield under fall cover crop systems
Authors: O'Reilly Kelsey A. , Lauzon John D. , Vyn Richard J. , Van Eerd Laura L.
Published: March 2012

O'Reilly, K. A., Lauzon, J. D., Vyn, R. J. and Van Eerd, L. L. 2012. Nitrogen cycling, profit margins and sweet corn yield under fall cover crop systems. Can. J. Soil Sci. 92: 353–365. In order to improve N best management practices in southwestern Ontario vegetable farming, the effect of cover crops on N dynamics in the fall and spring prior to sweet corn planting and during sweet corn season was assessed. The experiment was a split plot design in a fresh green pea – cover crop – sweet corn rotation that took place over 2 site-years at Bothwell and Ridgetown in 2006–2007 and 2007–2008, respectively. The main plot factor was fall cover crop type with five treatments including oat (Avena sativa L.), cereal rye (Secale cereale L.), oilseed radish (OSR; Raphanus sativus L. var. oleoferus Metzg Stokes), mixture OSR plus cereal rye (OSR&rye) and a no cover crop control. Compared with no cover crop, sweet corn profit margins were higher by $450 ha−1for oat at Bothwell and $1300 and $760 ha−1for OSR and OSR&rye, respectively, at Ridgetown. By comparing plant available N over the cover crop season, the cover crops tested were more effective at preventing N loss at Bothwell than at Ridgetown likely due to higher precipitation and sandier soil at Bothwell. Despite differences in site characteristics, cover crops did not result in increased plant available N compared with no-cover during the sweet corn season at either site, indicating that these cover crops will not provide an N credit to the following crop and growers should not modify N fertilizer applications based on cover crops.
Five blind men and the elephant: what can the NASA Aura ozone measurements tell us about stratosphere-troposphere exchange?
Authors: Tang Q. , Prather M. J.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. We examine whether the individual ozone (O3) measurements from the four Aura instruments can quantify the stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) flux of O3, an important term of the tropospheric O3 budget. The level 2 (L2) Aura swath data and the nearly coincident ozone sondes for the years 2005–2006 are compared with the 4-D, high-resolution (1° × 1° × 40-layer × 0.5 h) model simulation of atmospheric ozone for the same period from the University of California, Irvine chemistry transport model (CTM). The CTM becomes a transfer standard for comparing individual profiles from these five, not-quite-coincident measurements of atmospheric ozone. Even with obvious model discrepancies identified here, the CTM can readily quantify instrument-instrument biases in the tropical upper troposphere and mid-latitude lower stratosphere. In terms of STE processes, all four Aura datasets have some skill in identifying stratosphere-troposphere folds, and we find several cases where both model and measurements see evidence of high-O3 stratospheric air entering the troposphere. In many cases identified in the model, however, the individual Aura profile retrievals in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere show too much noise, as expected from their low sensitivity and coarse vertical resolution at and below the tropopause. These model-measurement comparisons of individual profiles do provide some level of confidence in the model-derived STE O3 flux, but it will be difficult to integrate this flux from the satellite data alone.
Estimation of biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions from the terrestrial ecosystem in China using real-time remote sensing data
Authors: Li M. , Huang X. , Li J. , Song Y.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. Because of the high emission rate and reactivity, biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play a significant role in the terrestrial ecosystems, human health, secondary pollution, global climate change and the global carbon cycle. Past estimations of BVOC emissions in China were based on outdated algorithms and coarsely resolved meteorological data, and there have been significant inconsistences between the land surface parameters of dynamic models and those of BVOC estimation models, leading to large inaccuracies in the estimated results. To refine BVOC emission estimations for China and to further explore the role of BVOCs in the atmosphere, we used the latest algorithms of MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature), with MM5 (the Fifth-Generation Mesoscale Model) providing highly resolved meteorological data, to estimate the biogenic emissions of isoprene (C5H8) and seven monoterpene species (C10H16) in 2006. Real-time MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) data were introduced to update the land surface parameters and to improve the simulation performance of MM5, and to determine the influence of leaf area index (LAI) and leaf age deviation from standard conditions. In this study, the annual BVOC emissions for the whole country totaled 12.97 Tg C, a relevant value compared with past studies. Therein, the most important individual contributor was isoprene (9.36 Tg C yr−1), followed by α-pinene (1.24 Tg C yr−1) and β-pinene (0.84 Tg C yr−1). Due to the considerable regional disparity in plant distributions and meteorological conditions across China, BVOC emissions presented significant spatial and temporal variations. Spatially, isoprene emission was concentrated in South China, which is covered by large areas of broadleaf forests and shrubs. While Southeast China was the top-ranking contributor of monoterpenes, in which the dominant vegetation genera consist of evergreen coniferous forests. Temporally, BVOC emissions primarily occurred in July and August, with daily emissions peaking at about 13:00∼14:00 h (Beijing Time, BJT). In this study, we present an improved estimation of BVOC emissions, which provides important information for further exploration of the role of BVOCs in atmospheric processes.
Aerosol radiative forcing during African desert dust events (2005–2010) over South-Eastern Spain
Authors: Valenzuela A. , Olmo F. J. , Lyamani H. , Antón M. , Quirantes A. , Alados-Arboledas L.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. The instantaneous values of the aerosol radiative forcing (ARF) at the surface and the top of the atmosphere (TOA) were calculated during desert dust events occurred at Granada (Southeastern Spain) from 2005 to 2010. For that, the SBDART radiative transfer model was utilized to simulate the global irradiance values (0.3–2.8 μm) at the surface and TOA using as input the aerosol properties derived from a CIMEL sun-photometer measurements and an inversion methodology that uses the sky radiance measurements in principal plane configuration and non-spherical particle shapes approximation. The SBDART modeled global irradiances at surface have been successfully validated against experimental measurements obtained by CM-11 pyranometer, indicating the reliability of the radiative transfer model used in this work for the ARF calculations. The monthly ARF values at surface ranged from −32 W m−2 to −46 W m−2, being larger in April and July than in the rest of months. The seasonal ARF evolution was inconsistent with seasonal aerosol optical depth (AOD) variation due to the effects induced by other aerosol parameter such as the single scattering albedo. The ARF at TOA changed from −9 W m−2 to −29 W m−2. Thus, the atmospheric ARF values (ARF at TOA minus ARF at surface) ranged from +15 to +35 W m−2. These results suggest that the African dust caused local atmospheric heating over the study location. The instantaneous aerosol radiative forcing efficiency (ARFE), aerosol radiative forcing per unit of AOD (440 nm), at surface and TOA during African desert dust events was evaluated according to the desert dust source origins. The ARFE values at surface were relatively high (in absolute term) and were −157 ± 20 (Sector A), −154 ± 23 (Sector B), and −147 ± 23 (Sector C) W m−2. These values were larger than many of the values found in literature which could be due to the presence of more absorbing atmospheric particles during African desert dust intrusions over our study area. Finally, our ARF computations showed good agreement with the corresponding ARF calculated by AERONET network.
French airborne lidar measurements for Eyjafjallajökull ash plume survey
Authors: Chazette P. , Dabas A. , Sanak J. , Lardier M. , Royer P.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. An Ultra-Violet Rayleigh-Mie lidar has been integrated aboard the French research aircraft Falcon 20 in order to monitor the ash plume emitted by the Eyjafjallajökul volcano in April–May 2010. Three operational flights were carried out on 21 April, 12 and 16 May 2010 inside French, Spanish and British air spaces, respectively. The original purpose of the flights was to provide the French civil aviation authorities with objective information on the presence and location of the ash plume. The present paper presents the results of detailed analyses elaborated after the volcano crisis. They bear on the structure of the ash clouds and their optical properties such as ash extinction coefficient and lidar ratio. Lidar ratios were measured in the range of 33 to 48 sr, in good agreement with the ratios derived from ground-based lidar measurements performed near Paris (France) in April 2010 (∼47 sr). The ash signature in terms of particulate depolarization was consistent around 45 ± 7% during all flights. Such a value seems to be a good identification parameter for ash. Using specific cross-sections between 0.29 and 1.1 m2 g−1, the minimum (maximal) mass concentrations in the ash plumes are derived for the flights on 12 and 16 May. They were 190 (2300) and 270 (1600) μg m−3, respectively. It may be rather less than, or of the order of the critical level of damage (2 mg m−3) for the aircraft engines, but well above the 200 μg m−3 warning level.
Modelling water quality in drinking water distribution networks from real-time direction data
Authors: Nazarovs S. , Dejus S. , Juhna T.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. Modelling of contamination spread and location of contamination source in a water distribution network is an important task. The paper considers applicability of real-time flow direction data based model for contaminant transport for a distribution network of a city. Simulations of several contamination scenarios are made to evaluate necessary number of flow direction sensors. It is found that for a model, containing major pipes of Riga distribution system, sensor number decrease from 927 to 207 results in average 20% increase of simulated contaminated length of pipes. Simulation data suggest that optimal number of sensors for Riga model is around 200.
Hydraulic properties at the North Sea island Borkum derived from joint inversion of magnetic resonance and electrical resistivity soundings
Authors: Günther T. , Müller-Petke M.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. In order to do hydraulic modelling for simulating the salt-/fresh water dynamics, the parameters porosity, salinity and hydraulic conductivity are needed. We present a methodology retrieve them by the joint analysis of magnetic resonance (MRS) and and vertical electric (VES) soundings. Both data sets are jointly inverted for resistivity, water content and decay time using a block discretization. We show the results of three soundings measured in the east part of the CLIWAT pilot area Borkum. Pumping test data is used to calibrate the petrophysical relationship for the local conditions. As a result we are able to predict porosity, salinity and hydraulic conductivities of the aquifers including their uncertainty. The joint inversion significantly improves the reliability of the results, which can be shown by comparison with a borehole. By a sounding in the flooding area we demonstrate that only the combined inversion leads to a correct subsurface model. Thanks to the joint application we are able to distinguish fluid conductivity from lithology and provide reliable hydraulic parameters.
History of EISCAT – Part 3: The early history of EISCAT in Norway
Authors: Holt O.
Published: March 2012

Abstract. The paper describes the Norwegian participation in the EISCAT project during the first years of planning the facility. This includes obtaining the support of the relevant research groups as well as the possible funding agencies. Attention is also given to strengthening the competence and capacity of the potential user groups, along with taking part in the cooperation with the participating groups in other countries.
Transplacental Passage of Metal Ions in Women with Hip Resurfacing: No Teratogenic Effects Observed
Authors: deSouza Ruth-Mary , Wallace David , Costa Matthew L. , Krikler Stephen J.
Published: March 2012

Over recent years, hip resurfacing has been performed in young, active patients, including women in their child bearing years. Current work investigating the transplacental passage of metal ions (cobalt and chromium) suggests significant passage of ions across the placenta in mothers with metal on metal hip resurfacing. In vitro studies show that cobalt and chromium can create DNA and chromosome damage in human cells. The consequences of this ion transfer on the child during fetal development and thereafter have not been fully quantified. We report on 3 patients with metal on metal hip resurfacings who had the prosthesis in situ during pregnancy. Our data show that umbilical cord blood chromium levels are under a quarter of the maternal serum levels. Cord blood cobalt levels are approximately half that of maternal blood. All 3 children are healthy. Although there was transplacental passage of ions, there was no significant effect on the child in these cases. We did not show any teratogenic effect of metal ions on the child, and this is consistent with the reported literature.
Avascular Necrosis of Bilateral Femoral Heads in a Patient with Fabry's Disease
Authors: O'Neill Francis , Rice John
Published: March 2012

The underlying cause of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head is often not apparent. We report the case of a 26 year old builder with a four month history of bilateral hip pain, and a diagnosis of bilateral femoral head avascular necrosis. Fabry's disease was identified as the probable cause. Since 2001, enzyme replacement therapy for Fabry's disease has become available, with a potential to influence the disease process, and this is of potential importance to clinicians treating AVN.
Randomised Trial Comparing Bone Remodelling around Two Uncemented Stems Using Modified Gruen Zones
Authors: ten Broeke René H.M. , Hendrickx Roel P.M. , Leffers Pieter , Jutten Liesbeth M.C. , Geesink Rudolph G.T.
Published: March 2012

For assessment of bone remodelling around total hip arthroplasty using dual-emission X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), a variety of different systems to identify regions of interest (ROI) have been used, making comparisons between stem designs difficult. The Gruen zones are now widely used for this purpose. We present the results of a randomised clinical trial comparing 2 uncemented stem designs with proximal coating, using a modification of the Gruen zones to allow improved representation of the effect of the implant on bone mineral density (BMD) over time.

DEXA-data were used in a randomised trial with 2 years follow up, comparing the uncemented Symax™ (n=25) and Omnifit® (n=24) stems. The effect on BMD was determined using the ‘standard’ adapted Gruen zones, and a modification which studied an equal length and position for zones 1 and 7 around both stems, assuring that the same regions in terms of cancellous and cortical bone were compared.

The ‘modified’ regions of interest give lower BMD values around the Omnifit® than using the ‘standard’ Gruen zones (3.6 % in zone 7, p<0.05). The difference with the Symax™ BMD values, which had been concealed using the standard Gruen zones, became statistically significant in favour of the Symax™ implant.

This adaptation can detect a statistically significant difference in bone preservation in zone 7 between stems that would otherwise not have been revealed. We recommend the use of ‘modified’ Gruen zones for more valid comparison of remodelling caused by different implant designs.
Incidental Prostatic Stromal Tumor of Uncertain Malignant Potential (STUMP): Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Findings
Authors: De Berardinis Ettore , Busetto Gian Maria , Antonini Gabriele , Giovannone Riccardo , Di Placido Mariarosaria , Maglioccia Fabio M. , Di Silverio Alessandro , Gentile Vincenzo
Published: March 2012

Stromal prostate tumors are rare neoplastic proliferative lesions that have been classified into prostatic stromal tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) and prostatic stromal sarcoma (SS) based on these criteria: stromal cellularity, presence of mitotic figures, necrosis, and stromal overgrowth. A prostatic stromal tumor of uncertain malignant potential (STUMP) is a non-epithelial, mesenchymal spindle-cell tumor that can be classified as a specialized stromal tumor of the prostate. STUMPs have the capability to diffusely infiltrate the prostate gland and extend into adjacent tissues. Furthermore, they often recur and this is why they are considered as neoplastic entities. STUMPs usually tend to be not aggressive, but occasional cases have been reported with an extension into adjacent tissues. A few cases develop a sarcomatous dedifferentiation.

A 67-year-old male referred to the Department of Urology, Sapienza Rome University, with acute urinary retention (AUR) and bladder overdistention. Digital rectal examination (DRE) showed the presence of a severe prostatic hyperplasia and a transvesical prostatic adenomectomy (TVPA) was performed. The pathological evaluation performed at the Department of Pathology, Sapienza Rome University, revealed an incidental diagnosis of prostatic STUMP. The patient's follow-up is made every year with transrectal ultrasonography and nuclear magnetic resonance with spectroscopy, and every two years with a transperineal prostate biopsy to exclude a progression to a stromal sarcoma. After 5 years of follow-up the STUMP is still detectable but there is no sign of sarcoma. As a result of its relative rarity and lack of long-term follow-up, the prognosis of STUMP is unclear. Therapy varies from a wait-and-see approach to a radical retropubic prostatectomy.