bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the CONSUME and FOFEM fuel consumption models in pine and mixed hardwood forests of the eastern United States
Authors: Prichard Susan J. , Karau Eva C. , Ottmar Roger D. , Kennedy Maureen C. , Cronan James B. , Wright Clinton S. , Keane Robert E.
Published: April 2014

Reliable predictions of fuel consumption are critical in the eastern United States (US), where prescribed burning is frequently applied to forests and air quality is of increasing concern. CONSUME and the First Order Fire Effects Model (FOFEM), predictive models developed to estimate fuel consumption and emissions from wildland fires, have not been systematically evaluated for application in the eastern US using the same validation data set. In this study, we compiled a fuel consumption data set from 54 operational prescribed fires (43 pine and 11 mixed hardwood sites) to assess each model’s uncertainties and application limits. Regions of indifference between measured and predicted values by fuel category and forest type represent the potential error that modelers could incur in estimating fuel consumption by category. Overall, FOFEM predictions have narrower regions of indifference than CONSUME and suggest better correspondence between measured and predicted consumption. However, both models offer reliable predictions of live fuel (shrubs and herbaceous vegetation) and 1 h fine fuels. Results suggest that CONSUME and FOFEM can be improved in their predictive capability for woody fuel, litter, and duff consumption for eastern US forests. Because of their high biomass and potential smoke management problems, refining estimates of litter and duff consumption is of particular importance.
Variational problem for Hamiltonian system on so(k, m) Lie–Poisson manifold and dynamics of semiclassical spin
Authors: Deriglazov A. A.
Published: March 2014

We describe the procedure for obtaining Hamiltonian equations on a manifold with so (k, m) Lie–Poisson bracket from a variational problem. This implies identification of the manifold with base of a properly constructed fiber bundle embedded as a surface into the phase space with canonical Poisson bracket. Our geometric construction underlies the formalism used for construction of spinning particles in [A. A. Deriglazov, Mod. Phys. Lett. A 28, 1250234 (2013); Ann. Phys. 327, 398 (2012); Phys. Lett. A 376, 309 (2012)], and gives precise mathematical formulation of the oldest idea about spin as the "inner angular momentum".
On two constructions of Brunnian links
Authors: Duzhin Fedor , Wong Shao Ming Zenas
Published: March 2014

Brunnian links and braids are those that become trivial upon removing any of the components. It is well known that any link is the closure of some braid. However, a Brunnian link might not be the closure of any Brunnian braid. In this paper, we present two methods of constructing Brunnian links from Brunnian braids and show that our methods do result in Brunnian links that cannot be obtained as the closure of a Brunnian braid.
Statistical method for estimation of the predictive power of a gene circuit model
Authors: Myasnikova Ekaterina , Kozlov Konstantin N.
Published: March 2014

In this paper, a specific aspect of the prediction problem is considered: high predictive power is understood as a possibility to reproduce correct behavior of model solutions at predefined values of a subset of parameters. The problem is discussed in the context of a specific mathematical model, the gene circuit model for segmentation gap gene system in early Drosophila development. A shortcoming of the model is that it cannot be used for predicting the system behavior in mutants when fitted to wild type (WT) data. In order to answer a question whether experimental data contain enough information for the correct prediction we introduce two measures of predictive power. The first measure reveals the biologically substantiated low sensitivity of the model to parameters that are responsible for correct reconstruction of expression patterns in mutants, while the second one takes into account their correlation with the other parameters. It is demonstrated that the model solution, obtained by fitting to gene expression data in WT and Kr - mutants simultaneously, and exhibiting the high predictive power, is characterized by much higher values of both measures than those fitted to WT data alone. This result leads us to the conclusion that information contained in WT data is insufficient to reliably estimate the large number of model parameters and provide predictions of mutants.
China's Foreign Policy: Pursuing a More Active Foreign Policy while Upholding its National Interests
Authors: ZHENG Yongnian , LYE Liang Fook
Published: April 2014

President Xi Jinping has been quick to make his mark on China's foreign policy compared to his predecessor, especially in fostering a positive momentum in China-US relations. China is also leveraging on its economic strength by engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation with other countries. Nevertheless, China's Air Defence Identification Zone and its expressed determination to administer the waters within the nine-dotted lines have cast doubts on China's professed policy of good neighbourly relations.
Devonian–Permian magmatic pulses in the northern Vosges Mountains (NE France): result of continuous subduction of the Rhenohercynian Ocean and Avalonian passive margin
Authors: Tabaud Anne-Sophie , Whitechurch Hubert , Rossi Philippe , Schulmann Karel , Guerrot Catherine , Cocherie Alain
Published: April 2014

Middle Devonian–Permian magmatic rocks from the northern Vosges Mountains show temporal and chemical variations which are linked to the continuous subduction of the Rhenohercynian oceanic crust and the Avalonian Devonian passive margin underneath the Saxothuringian continental crust. Major and trace elements and Sr–Nd isotopes of the northern Vosges basic to acidic magmatic rocks show that they evolved through time from: (1) Middle Devonian tholeiitic to calc-alkaline volcanic Rabodeau–Schirmeck sequence derived from partial melting of a depleted mantle, with these primary magmas having triggered anatexis of young crustal material of the Saxothuringian crust; (2) calc-alkaline Bande Médiane volcanic belt (
c.
334 Ma), diorite and Hohwald granodiorite intrusion (
c.
329 Ma) originated from enriched mantle contaminated and metasomatized by fluids expelled from a subduction zone; (3) high-K calc-alkaline Belmont granite (
c.
318 Ma), whose chemical signature suggests magma-mixing between enriched mantle-derived melts and magmas from a young crustal source; (4) Mg–K Younger granite (
c.
312 Ma) might be related to partial melting of enriched mantle which interacted with juvenile crustal material; and (5) Kagenfels S-type granite and Permian volcanic rocks generated by anatexis of meta-igneous and minor metasedimentary rocks.

Supplementary material:

Chemical analyses of biotite and amphibole of the northern Vosges rocks are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18740
.
Transient Natural Convection Flow of Thermomicropolar Fluid of Micropolar Thermal Conductivity along a Nonuniformly Heated Vertical Surface
Authors: Hossain Md. Mosharof , Roy N. C. , Mandal A. C. , Hossain M. A.
Published: April 2014

The unsteady free convection boundary layer flow of a thermomicropolar fluid along a vertical plate with effect of micropolar heat conduction has been investigated. The governing equations are transformed into a new form using a method of transformed coordinates. We then use an explicit finite difference scheme to solve the transformed equations. Here, the governing equations have been reduced to the forms that are valid for entire, small, and large time regimes, by using stream-function formulation. The results obtained for the above mentioned three time regimes are compared and found to be in excellent agreement. Moreover, the effects of the physical parameters such as the viscosity parameter, K, and the heat conduction parameter, α*, are presented in terms of the transient shear stress, couple stress, and surface heat transfer coefficient as well as transient velocity profiles, angular velocity profiles, and temperature profiles.
Open versus Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the Elective and Emergent Setting in a Pooled Population of 37,781 Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Thomas Dustin M. , Hulten Edward A. , Ellis Shane T. , Anderson David M. F. , Anderson Nathan , McRae Fiora , Malik Jamil A. , Villines Todd C. , Slim Ahmad M.
Published: April 2014

Background. We evaluated the incidence of mortality and myocardial infarction (MI) in endovascular repair (EVAR) as compared to open aneurysm repair (OAR) in both elective and ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA ) setting. Methods. We analyzed the rates of 30-day mortality, 30-day MI, and hospital length of stay (LOS) based on comparative observation and randomized control trials involving EVAR and OAR. Results. 41 trials compared EVAR to OAR with a total pooled population of 37,781 patients. Analysis of elective and ruptured AAA repair favored EVAR with respect to 30-day mortality with a pooled odds ratio of 0.19 (95% CI 0.17–0.20; I2=88.9%; P<0.001). There were a total of 1,835 30-day MI events reported in the EVAR group as compared to 2,483 events in the OAR group. The pooled odds ratio for elective AAA was 0.74 (95% CI 0.58–0.96; P=0.02) in favor of EVAR. The average LOS was reduced by 296.75 hrs (95% CI 156.68–436.82 hrs; P<0.001) in the EVAR population. Conclusions. EVAR has lower rates of 30-day mortality, 30-day MI, and LOS in both elective and ruptured AAA repair.
The Effects of Prior Outcomes on Risky Choice: Evidence from the Stock Market
Authors: Wen Fenghua , Gong Xu , Chao Youcong , Chen Xiaohong
Published: March 2014

How do prior outcomes affect the risk choice? Research on this can help people to understand investors’ dynamic decisions in financial market. This paper puts forward a new value function. By analyzing the new value function, we find that the prior gains and losses have an impact on the form of value function and the current investors’ risk attitude. Then the paper takes the behavior of the whole stock market as the research object, adopts aggregative index number of 14 representative stocks around the world as samples, and establishes a TVRA‐GARCH‐M model to investigate the influences of prior gains and losses on the current risk attitude. The empirical study indicates that, at the whole market level, prior gains increase people’s current willingness to take risk assert; that is to say, the house money effect exists in the market, while people are more risk aversion following prior losses.
Impact of Substance Use Disorder on Presentation and Short-Term Course of Schizophrenia
Authors: Chakraborty Rudraprosad , Chatterjee Arunima , Chaudhury Suprakash
Published: April 2014

The aim of the present study was to compare a cohort of schizophrenia patients with substance use disorder (SUD) with a similar cohort of schizophrenia patients without SUD with regard to sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, psychopathology, anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, treatment outcome, and side effect profile of drugs. A total of 143 consecutive inpatients with ICD-10 DCR diagnosis of schizophrenia were included after obtaining informed consent. Patients were evaluated by a semistructured data sheet and Maudsley Addiction Profile. They were then rated by Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, Calgary Depression Scale, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, and Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale at presentation, three weeks, and six weeks. At three weeks and six weeks, they were also evaluated by UKU Side Effect Rating Scale. Substance abuse was detected in 63.6% schizophrenia patients. Nicotine was the commonest substance followed by cannabis and alcohol. Substance users had longer untreated illness and more depressive symptoms at presentation and six-week follow-up. Dual diagnosis patients had difficulty in abstraction at three and six weeks but not at presentation. Schizophrenia patients with SUD had more depressive symptoms. SUD appeared to mask abstraction difficulties at presentation. Schizophrenia patients with SUD should be carefully assessed for presence of depression.
Neuroprotective Effects of Jitai Tablet, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, on the MPTP‐Induced Acute Model of Parkinson’s Disease: Involvement of the Dopamine System
Authors: Liu Jia , Gao Jinlong , Tu Shaoang , Xu Shasha , Liu Ying , Shang Weihu , Gu Chenxin , Huang Yiyun , Han Mei
Published: April 2014

Jitai tablet (JTT) is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat neuropsychiatric disorders. We previously demonstrated that JTT treatment led to increased level of dopamine transporter (DAT) in the striatum, thus indicating that JTT might have therapeutic potential for Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is characterized by dysregulated dopamine (DA) transmission and decreased striatal DAT expression. The aim of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of JTT on MPTP‐induced PD mice. Using locomotor activity test and rotarod test, we evaluated the effects of JTT (0.50, 0.15, or 0.05 g/kg) on MPTP‐induced behavioral impairments. Tyrosine hydroxylase TH‐positive neurons in the substantia nigra and DAT and dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) levels in the striatum were detected by immunohistochemical staining and/or autoradiography. Levels of DA and its metabolites were determined by HPLC. In MPTP‐treated mice, behavioral impairments were alleviated by JTT treatment. Moreover, JTT protected against impairment of TH‐positive neurons and attenuated the MPTP‐induced decreases in DAT and D2R. Finally, high dose of JTT (0.50 g/kg) inhibited the MPTP‐induced increase in DA metabolism rate. Taken together, results from our present study provide evidence that JTT offers neuroprotective effects against the neurotoxicity of MPTP and thus might be a potential treatment for PD.
Multinomial Regression with Elastic Net Penalty and Its Grouping Effect in Gene Selection
Authors: Chen Liuyuan , Yang Jie , Li Juntao , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: March 2014

For the multiclass classification problem of microarray data, a new optimization model named multinomial regression with the elastic net penalty was proposed in this paper. By combining the multinomial likeliyhood loss and the multiclass elastic net penalty, the optimization model was constructed, which was proved to encourage a grouping effect in gene selection for multiclass classification.
The Cleveland Clinic Experience with Supraclavicular and Popliteal Ambulatory Nerve Catheters
Authors: Gharabawy Ramez , Abd-Elsayed Alaa , Elsharkawy Hesham , Farag Ehab , Cummings Kenneth , Eid Gamal , Mendoza Maria , Mounir-Soliman Loran , Rosenquist Richard , Ali Sakr Esa Wael
Published: April 2014

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks (CPNB) are commonly used for intraoperative and postoperative analgesia. Our study aimed at describing our experience with ambulatory peripheral nerve catheters. After Institutional Review Board approval, records for all patients discharged with supraclavicular or popliteal catheters between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011 were reviewed. A licensed practitioner provided verbal and written instructions to the patients prior to discharge. Daily follow-up phone calls were conducted. Patients either removed their catheters at home with real-time simultaneous telephone guidance by a member of the Acute Pain Service or had them removed by the surgeon during a regular office visit. The primary outcome of this analysis was the incidence of complications, categorized as pharmacologic, infectious, or other. The secondary outcome measure was the average daily pain score. Our study included a total of 1059 patients with ambulatory catheters (769 supraclavicular, 290 popliteal). The median infusion duration was 5 days for both groups. Forty-two possible complications were identified: 13 infectious, 23 pharmacologic, and 6 labeled as other. Two patients had retained catheters, 2 had catheter leakage, and 2 had shortness of breath. Our study showed that prolonged use of ambulatory catheters for a median period of 5 days did not lead to an increased incidence of complications.
HELLP Syndrome Complicated by Subcapsular Hematoma of Liver: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Karateke Atilla , Silfeler Dilek , Karateke Faruk , Kurt Raziye , Guler Ayse , Kartal Ismail
Published: April 2014

Subcapsular liver hematoma (SLH) is a rare complication of severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. These patients must be followed up in intensive care unit for advanced medical support with infused fluid, replacement of blood products, and treatment of underlying disorders. There are a lot of therapeutic options varying from conservative management to surgical treatment including hepatic resection, hepatic artery ligation, and liver transplantation. In this report we aimed to present a 26-year-old woman with SLH secondary to HELLP syndrome.
Studies on Erosion Behavior of Plasma Sprayed Coatings of Glass Microspheres Premixed with Al2O3Particles
Authors: Gupta Gaurav , Satapathy Alok
Published: March 2014

Solid particle erosion (SPE) tests are carried out to evaluate the performance of plasma sprayed coatings of borosilicate glass microspheres (BGM) premixed with Al2O3particles on metallic substrates. For this purpose, an Air Jet Erosion test rig confirming to ASTM G 76 test standards is used. Relative influence of different operating parameters on erosion rate is assessed by statistical analysis of the experimental findings that are based on Taguchi’s L16orthogonal array. This analysis helps to identify the most significant factor affecting the erosion wear rate of the coating. The study reveals that the impact velocity, impingement angle, erodent size, and Al2O3content in the feed stock, in the declining sequence, are the significant factors influencing the wear rate of these coatings. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach is then implemented taking into account training and test procedure to predict the triboperformance of these coatings under wear conditions beyond the experimental range. Further, the microstructural features of the eroded samples are studied from SEM images to identify possible wear mechanisms.
A Case of Secondary Leukemia Subsequent to Myelodysplastic Syndromes Successfully Treated with Azacitidine
Authors: Kumode Takahiro , Fukui Ayano , Eguchi Go , Yamaguchi Terufumi , Maeda Yasuhiro
Published: March 2014

Elderly patients with secondary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) following myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are often medically unfit for or resistant to chemotherapy, and their prognosis is dismal. In the present paper, we reported a case of secondary leukemia following MDS in an 80-year-old male patient who was deemed unfit for chemotherapy owing to his old age and poor physical condition. Despite a high tumor burden, treatment with AZA exerted a remarkable response, leading to an immediate cytoreduction in our case. Our results suggest that AZA can be an attractive therapeutic option for elderly MDS or AML patients, offering adequate efficacy and high tolerability.
On the Cardinality of the T0-Topologies on a Finite Set
Authors: Kolli Messaoud
Published: March 2014

Let T0(n,k) be the number of all labeled T0-topologies having k open sets that we can define on n points, and let t0(n,k) be the number of those which are nonhomeomorphic. In this paper, we compute these numbers for k≥5·2n-4 and arbitrary n≥4. The numbers tn0(n,k) of all unlabeled and non-T0-topologies with k open sets are also given for k≥2n-2.
The Evolution of the Strategies of Innovation Cooperation in Scale-Free Network
Authors: Zhu Bing , Wang Wenping
Published: March 2014

One of the important research works is corporate partnering and reliance on various forms of external collaboration. Although many researchers have focused on the knowledge-based work to help firms collaborate and share their knowledge, few have comprehensively considered the structure of network and cooperative strategies. Our paper differentiates three situations of innovation, and simulates the actions of cooperation between firms with different life cycles in industry cluster with the scale-free network structure. The simulation results show that (a) when the industry cluster develops, firms’ absorbability also is growing, but the behaviors of cooperation do not always increase as firms’ absorbability grows. Sometimes they exhibit inverted U-shape, U-shape, or liner trend. (b) Firms will cooperate to share their information or knowledge automatically if the payoff of the innovation is bigger. (c) The incentive policy does encourage the cooperation between the firms, but the incentive policy about compensation with each cooperation action is more effective than with the periodic fixed incentive.
Analysis of Heat Transfer in Berman Flow of Nanofluids with Navier Slip, Viscous Dissipation, and Convective Cooling
Authors: Makinde O. D. , Khamis S. , Tshehla M. S. , Franks O.
Published: March 2014

Heat transfer characteristics of a Berman flow of water based nanofluids containing copper (Cu) and alumina (Al2O3) as nanoparticles in a porous channel with Navier slip, viscous dissipation, and convective cooling are investigated. It is assumed that the exchange of heat with the ambient surrounding takes place at the channel walls following Newton’s law of cooling. The governing partial differential equations and boundary conditions are converted into a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using appropriate similarity transformations. These equations are solved analytically by regular perturbation methods with series improvement technique and numerically using an efficient Runge-Kutta Fehlberg integration technique coupled with shooting scheme. The effects of the governing parameters on the dimensionless velocity, temperature, skin friction, pressure drop, and Nusselt numbers are presented graphically and discussed quantitatively.
Estimation of the Impact of the Forces from an External Explosion to Building Faces on the Responses of a 3D Frame Structure
Authors: Sadeghi Farzad , Sarafrazi Seyyed Reza , Ghods Ali
Published: March 2014

Surface explosions resulting from terrorist attacks will produce a hemispherical shock wave in the air, which, upon release, can affect five faces of the building which is in front of it. Given the fact that conventional buildings are usually exposed to such explosions, this study examined the effect of pressure to each face of a building on the responses of the structure and has compared different relevant scenarios. This study, which includes the following two steps, was conducted as a case study on earthquake resistant RC buildings, with the help of UFC guideline and using the software SAP2000. In the first step, responses of loading on each face were separately calculated so that they were compared with the responses from overall loading on all faces. The sensitivity of the responses and their ratio to the variables considered were evaluated in the second step. Accordingly, an outline was formed on the explosion hazards considered for these types of buildings.
The Role of Virtual Cystoscopy, after Multidetector Computed Tomography Imaging Reconstruction without the Use of Contrast Medium, in the Diagnosis and Evaluations of Bladder Tumors: Preliminary Study
Authors: Kalokairinou Kyriaki , Ploumidis Achilles , Kalogeropoulos Theodoros , Vlachos Lampros , Stringaris Kyriakos , Tavernaraki Ageliki , Thanos Anastasios , Papacharalampous Xenofon , Koutoulidis Vasilios , Letendre Julien , Traxer Olivier , Gouliamos Athanasios
Published: April 2014

Introduction. Although conventional cystoscopy is considered to be the gold standard for diagnosis and follow-up of bladder tumors, it remains an invasive and costly procedure. With the advent of the multidetector CT (MDCT) scanners supported by specialized software virtual cystoscopy (VC) is possible. We assess the role of VC in diagnosing and evaluating bladder lesions.Materials and Methods. Between September 2010 and October 2011, 25 consecutive patients with cystoscopically confirmed bladder tumor underwent VC. The radiologists involved in this prospective study were blinded to the exact findings. After draining any residual urine with a catheter, the bladder was retrogradely insufflated with 200–600 cc of air. No intravenous or intravesical contrast was used. MDCT scan was performed in supine and prone positions and three-dimensional reconstruction of the urinary bladder was performed.Results. The examination was well tolerated by all patients with no complications. In total, 43 lesions were detected both with conventional cystoscopy and VC. Tumor size measured by CT ranged from 3 to 80 mm in diameter. The pathological report revealed noninvasive transitional cell carcinomas in all cases.Conclusion. VC has promising results in detecting exophytic bladder lesions. In the future it could be part of the diagnostic algorithm for bladder tumors.
Inclusion Properties of New Classes of Analytic Functions
Authors: Das Mohan , Chendady Ramesha , Pal Indira Kasarkod
Published: March 2014

The purpose of the present paper is to introduce certain new subclasses of analytic functions defined by Srivastava-Attiya operator and study their inclusion relationships and to obtain some interesting consequences of the inclusion relations.
Cardiovascular Emergency Hospital Visits and Hourly Changes in Air Pollution
Authors: Yorifuji Takashi , Suzuki Etsuji , Kashima Saori
Published: April 2014

Background and Purpose—

Few studies have examined the effect of hourly changes in air pollution on cardiovascular disease morbidity. We evaluated the associations between hourly changes in air pollution and the risks of several types of cardiovascular disease.

Methods—

We used a time-stratified case-crossover design. Study participants were 10 949 residents of the city of Okayama, Japan, aged ≥65 years who were taken to hospital emergency rooms between January 2006 and December 2010 for onset of cardiovascular disease. We calculated city representative hourly average concentrations of air pollutants from several monitoring stations and examined the associations between air pollution exposure before the case event, focusing mainly on suspended particulate matter, and disease onset.

Results—

Suspended particulate matter exposure 0 to <6 hours before the case events was associated with risks of onset of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease; odds ratios after 1 interquartile range increase in suspended particulate matter exposure were 1.04 (95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.06) for cardiovascular disease and 1.04 (95% confidence interval, 1.00–1.08) for cerebrovascular disease. We observed an elevated risk of hemorrhagic as well as ischemic stroke, but the risk was slightly higher for hemorrhagic stroke, and this elevation was persistent. Women tended to have higher effect estimates.

Conclusions—

This study provides further evidence that particulate matter exposure increases the risks of onset of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (including hemorrhagic stroke) shortly after exposure.
On the monophyly of subfamily Tectarioideae (Polypodiaceae) and the phylogenetic placement of some associated fern genera
Authors: WANG FA-GUO , BARRATT SAM , FALCÓN WILFREDO , FAY MICHAEL F. , LEHTONEN SAMULI , TUOMISTO HANNA , XING FU-WU , CHRISTENHUSZ MAARTEN J. M.
Published: April 2014

The fern genus Tectaria has generally been placed in the family Tectariaceae or in subfamily Tectarioideae (placed in Dennstaedtiaceae, Dryopteridaceae or Polypodiaceae), both of which have been variously circumscribed in the past. Here we study for the first time the phylogenetic relationships of the associated genera Hypoderris (endemic to the Caribbean), Cionidium (endemic to New Caledonia) and Pseudotectaria (endemic to Madagascar and Comoros) using DNA sequence data. Based on a broad sampling of 72 species of eupolypods I (= Polypodiaceae sensu lato) and three plastid DNA regions (atpA, rbcL and the trnL-F intergenic spacer) we were able to place the three previously unsampled genera. Our results show that Cionidium, like Ctenitopsis, Fadyenia, Hemigramma and Quercifilix, is embedded in Tectaria, and the monophyly of Tectaria is therefore corroborated only if these segregate genera are included. Hypoderris is sister to Tectaria brauniana and together they are sister to Triplophyllum, which was found to be monophyletic. Despite their morphological similarity with Tectaria, the genera Pleocnemia and Pseudotectaria were placed in Dryopteridoideae. Polypodiaceae subfamily Tectarioideae (former family Tectariaceae) is hereby defined to include Arthropteris, Hypoderris, Pteridrys, Tectaria and Triplophyllum. Aenigmopteris may also belong here, but this genus remains unsampled.
The Role of Stratospheric Polar Vortex Breakdown in Southern Hemisphere Climate Trends
Authors: Sun Lantao , Chen Gang , Robinson Walter A.
Published: April 2014

This paper investigates the connection between the delay in the final breakdown of the stratospheric polar vortex, the stratospheric final warming (SFW), and Southern Hemisphere climate trends. The authors first analyze Interim European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-Interim) and three climate model outputs with different climate forcings. Climate trends appear when there is a delay in the timing of SFWs. When regressed onto the SFW dates (which reflect the anomaly when the SFW is delayed for one standard deviation of its onset dates), the anomaly pattern bears a resemblance to the observed climate trends, for all the model outputs, even without any trends. This suggests that the stratospheric and tropospheric circulations are organized by the timing of SFWs in both the interannual time scale and climate trends because of external forcings.

The authors further explore the role of the SFW using a simplified dynamical model in which the ozone depletion is mimicked by a springtime polar stratospheric cooling. The responses of zonal-mean atmospheric circulation, including zonal wind, temperature, and poleward edge of the Hadley cell and the Ferrel cell, are similar to the observed climate trends. The authors divide the years into those in which the SFW is delayed and those in which it is not. The responses for the years in which the SFW is delayed are very similar to the overall response, while the stratosphere is only characterized by the localized cooling for those years in which the SFW is not delayed, with no subsequent downward influence into the troposphere. This suggests that, in order to affect the troposphere, ozone depletion must first delay the SFW so as to induce a deep response in planetary wave drag and the associated eddy-driven circulation.
Sorption of As(V) by some oxyhydroxides and clay minerals. Application to its immobilization in two polluted mining soils
Authors: García- Sanchez A. , Alvarez-Ayuso E. , Rodriguez-Martin F.
Published: April 2014

Among the arsenic species in the environment, arsenate predominates under oxidizing conditions in soils and waters. The adsorption of As(V) by some natural Fe oxyhydroxides and clay minerals and synthetic Al(OH)3and FeOOH has been studied. The results show a very high As(V) adsorption capacity on both synthetic Al hydroxide (122 mg/g at pH: 5) and Fe oxyhydroxide (76 mg/g at pH 5). This adsorption capacity is pH dependent and shows maximum values at ∼pH 4. The application of these adsorbents to arsenic immobilization in the remediation process of two polluted mining soils with some differences in their physicochemical characteristics has also been studied. The best results were obtained when synthetic Al(OH)3and FeOOH were used; these materials decreased the water-extractable fraction of As by 55–79% for one soil and by nearly 100% for the other soil, the latter with higher pH and Eh values.
Conditions for starlikeness of the Libera operator
Authors: Nunokawa Mamoru , Sokół Janusz , Cho Nak Eun , Kwon Oh Sang
Published: March 2014

Let "Equation missing" denote the class of functions f that are analytic in the unit disc "Equation missing" and normalized by

f
(
0
)
=

f
′

(
0
)
−
1
=
0

. In this paper some conditions are determined for starlikeness of the Libera integral operator

F
(
z
)
=

2
z

∫
0
z

f
(
t
)

d
t

.

MSC:30C45, 30C80.
High prevalence of altered cardiac repolarization in patients with COPD
Authors: Sievi Noriane A , Clarenbach Christian F , Camen Giovanni , Rossi Valentina A , van Gestel Arnoldus JR , Kohler Malcolm
Published: April 2014

Background

Altered cardiac repolarization and increased dispersion of repolarization have been identified as risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD). The prevalence of and the mechanisms contributing to altered cardiac repolarization are currently unknown in COPD.

Methods

In 91 COPD patients, 32 controls matched for age, cardiovascular risk and medication, and 41 healthy subjects, measures of cardiac repolarization and dispersion of repolarization (QTc interval, QT dispersion) were derived from 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG). Prevalence rates of heart rate corrected QT (QTc) >450ms and QT dispersion >60ms were determined to assess the number of subjects at risk for SCD. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify possible factors contributing to altered cardiac repolarization.

Results

QTc was found to be prolonged in 31.9% and QT dispersion in 24.2% of the COPD patients compared to 12.5% in matched controls and 0% in healthy subjects. The QTc interval was longer in COPD patients compared to matched and healthy controls respectively (437.9 ± 29.5 vs. 420.1 ± 25.3 ms, p = 0.001 and vs. 413.4 ± 18.2 ms, p < 0.001). QT dispersion was significantly increased in COPD patients compared to healthy subjects (45.4 (34.8 , 59.5) vs. 39.7 (29.3 , 54.8) ms, p = 0.049). Only oxygen saturation was independently associated with QTc duration in multivariate analysis (β = -0.29, p = 0.015).

Conclusion

One third of a typical COPD population has altered cardiac repolarization and increased dispersion of repolarization, which may be related to hypoxia. Altered cardiac repolarization may expose these patients to an increased risk for malignant ventricular arrhythmias and SCD.
Anti-tumor pharmacological evaluation of extracts from stellera chamaejasme L based on hollow fiber assay
Authors: Liu Xiaoni , Yang Qing , Zhang Ganlin , Li Yujie , Chen Ying , Weng Xiaogang , Wang Yajie , Wang Yiwei , Zhu Xiaoxin
Published: March 2014

Background

Stellera chamaejasme L, a traditional Chinese herb, has long been used for treatment of various tumors in the Chinese population. In our previous study, we paid an attention to the cytotoxic and proapoptotic effects of Stellera chamaejasme L extracts (ESC, ESC-1 and ESC-2, the latter two were isolated from ESC) on 4 various tumor cells (NCI-H157, NCI-H460, BEL-7402 and SK-HEP-1) in vitro. ESCs showed significantly inhibitory effects on the 4 tumor cells. ESC-2 had the strongest inhibitory effect and the broadest sensitive cell spectrum. ESC-2 and ESC acted in a similar way against tumor cells, which suggested anti-tumor active fraction of ESC might exist in ESC-2. Here, we further observe the inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of Stellera chamaejasme L extracts in vivo.

Methods

In this study, we used hollow fiber tumor model to evaluate the inhibitory and proapoptotic effects of Stellera chamaejasme L extracts. Apoptotic rates of the cancer cells retrieved from the hollow fibers were measured with flow cytometric analysis, caspase 3, 8, 9 enzyme activities were detected by colorimetric assay, Fas, Fas-L, TNF-R1 and TNF-α expression were determined with elisa assay and radioimmunoassay respectively.

Results

The results showed that ESC, ESC-2 all had inhibitory effects on 4 tumor cells. According to the effect strength, dose and antitumor spectrum, the order of antitumor effects of ESCs was: ESC-2 > ESC > ESC-1. NCI-H460 cells were the most sensitive to ESCs. ESC, ESC-2 increased greatly the apoptotic rate and caspase 3, 8 enzyme activities in NCI-H460. ESCs had no significant effects on expression of Fas, Fas-L protein, but TNF-α/TNFR1 protein expression in NCI-H460 cells changed significantly after ESC and ESC-2 treatment.

Conclusion

ESC-2 had the similar antitumor effect to that of ESC in vivo and further confirmed that ESC-2 may be the main antitumor active fraction of ESC, which was consistent with our previous results in vitro.
Long-term satisfaction and quality of life following risk reducing surgery in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers
Authors: Hooker Gillian W , King Lesley , VanHusen Lauren , Graves Kristi , Peshkin Beth N , Isaacs Claudine , Taylor Kathryn L , Poggi Elizabeth , Schwartz Marc D
Published: April 2014

Background

As BRCA1/2 testing becomes more routine, questions remain about long-term satisfaction and quality of life following testing. Previously, we described long term distress and risk management outcomes among women with BRCA1/2 mutations. This study addresses positive psychological outcomes in BRCA1/2 carriers, describing decision satisfaction and quality of life in the years following testing.

Methods

We evaluated satisfaction with testing and management decisions among 144 BRCA1/2 carriers. Prior to genetic testing, we assessed family history, sociodemographics and distress. At a mean of 5.3 years post-testing, we assessed management decisions, satisfaction with decisions and, among women with cancer, quality of life.

Results

Overall, satisfaction with decision making was high. Women who had risk reducing mastectomy or oophorectomy were more satisfied with management decisions. Participants who obtained a risk reducing oophorectomy were more satisfied with their genetic testing decision. Among affected carriers, high pretest anxiety was associated with poorer quality of life and having had risk reducing mastectomy prior to testing was associated with better quality of life. The negative impact of pre-test anxiety was diminished among women who had mastectomies before testing.

Conclusions

BRCA1/2 carriers are satisfied with their testing and risk management decisions and report good quality of life years after testing. Having risk reducing surgery predicts increased satisfaction and improved quality of life.
Some moment inequalities for fuzzy martingales and their applications
Authors: Ahmadzade Hamed , Amini Mohammad , Taheri Seyed Mahmoud , Bozorgnia Abolghasem
Published: March 2014

Martingales are a class of stochastic processes which has had profound influence on the development of probability theory and stochastic processes. Some recent developments are related to mathematical finance. In the real world, some information about these phenomena might be imprecise and represented in the form of vague quantities. In these situations, we need to generalize classical methods to vague environment. Thus, fuzzy martingales have been extended as a vague perception of real-valued martingales. In this paper, some moment inequalities are presented for fuzzy martingales. Several convergence theorems are established based on these inequalities. As an application of convergence theorems, a weak law of large numbers for fuzzy martingales is stated. Furthermore, a few examples are devoted to clarify the main results.
Cardiovascular disease is increased prior to onset of rheumatoid arthritis but not osteoarthritis: the population-based Nord-Trøndelag health study (HUNT)
Authors: Pahau Helen , Brown Matthew A , Paul Sanjoy , Thomas Ranjeny , Videm Vibeke
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) events. We sought to test the hypothesis that due to increased inflammation, CV disease and risk factors are associated with increased risk of future RA development.

Methods

The population-based Nord-Trøndelag health surveys (HUNT) were conducted among the entire adult population of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway. All inhabitants 20 years or older were invited, and information was collected through comprehensive questionnaires, a clinical examination, and blood samples. In a cohort design, data from HUNT2 (1995–1997, baseline) and HUNT3 (2006–2008, follow-up) were obtained to study participants with RA (n = 786) or osteoarthritis (n = 3,586) at HUNT3 alone, in comparison with individuals without RA or osteoarthritis at both times (n = 33,567).

Results

Female gender, age, smoking, body mass index, and history of previous CV disease were associated with self-reported incident RA (previous CV disease: odds ratio 1.52 (95% confidence interval 1.11-2.07). The findings regarding previous CV disease were confirmed in sensitivity analyses excluding participants with psoriasis (odds ratio (OR) 1.70 (1.23-2.36)) or restricting the analysis to cases with a hospital diagnosis of RA (OR 1.90 (1.10-3.27)) or carriers of the shared epitope (OR 1.76 (1.13-2.74)). History of previous CV disease was not associated with increased risk of osteoarthritis (OR 1.04 (0.86-1.27)).

Conclusion

A history of previous CV disease was associated with increased risk of incident RA but not osteoarthritis.
Birth, Death, and Transformation
Authors: Androne Helane
Published: April 2014

This article examines the value and usage of ritual as a pedagogical tool in the literature-based composition classroom. Grounded in the interdisciplinarity of ritual studies, the author describes a ritual method that facilitates reflective writing, critical reading, student engagement, and creative performance as interpretive acts.
Frictionless Technology Diffusion: The Case of Tractors
Authors: Manuelli Rodolfo E. , Seshadri Ananth
Published: April 2014

Many new technologies display long adoption lags, and this is often interpreted as evidence of frictions inconsistent with the standard neoclassical model. We study the diffusion of the tractor in American agriculture between 1910 and 1960—a well-known case of slow diffusion—and show that the speed of adoption was consistent with the predictions of a simple neoclassical growth model. The reason for the slow rate of diffusion was that tractor quality kept improving over this period and, more importantly, that only when wages increased did it become relatively unprofitable to operate the alternative, labor-intensive, horse technology. (JEL L62, N51, N52, N71, N72, O33, Q11)
The Russian Market of Mergers and Acquisitions
Authors: Фролова Марина , Frolova Marina
Published: April 2014

The article investigates the trends in the Russian market of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) over the last decade. It provides a list of problematic aspects of the legislation of the Russian Federation in the sphere of state regulation of financial markets, the methodology of evaluation and corporate management affecting the number of transactions and the global market. The article analyses the dynamics in the number and value of deals of the Russian market of mergers and acquisitions in the period from 2003 to 2012. The author compares the value of Russian, USA and European markets during the analyzed period. The comparison involves the dynamics of the share of the Russian market and the market share dynamics in Europe, the USA and other countries in the framework of global mergers and acquisitions market. The article defines the similarities that M&A market trends in Russia, USA and Europe show and the discrepancies between the peak and trough periods for the Russian market value and for the market value of other countries, especially the BRICS countries. The article also researches the Russian market and sample Russian industry markets during the global financial crisis of 2008, in the immediately preceding and the following years. The peculiarities of the Russian market are identified, as well as the trends similar to those identified and described in the American research methodology in markets of mergers and acquisitions, with the research aiming at the selection of target companies that maximize the value of the acquiring company.
The Prospects of Podolsky Municipal District Development as a Factor of Tourist Destination Promotion
Authors: Макарова Дарья , Makarova Darya
Published: April 2014

The article evaluates the tourist-destination-development prospects for Podolsky Municipal District. The city of Podolsk is on the top-20 list of Moscow region greatest cultural and historical centres. In addition to the major contributors to the industry of hospitality, added incentive is provided by related spheres, such as the agricultural sector (rural tourism), education (professional training in service and tourism), physical culture and sports (sports tourism, recreational tourism), general beautification and ecological improvement (ecotourism), traffic infrastructure.
Obesity and hypothyroidism
Authors: Zakharova S M , Savelieva L V , Fadeeva M I
Published: March 2014

Obesity and hypothyroidism are common diseases, and consequently clinicians should be particularly alert to the possibility of thyroid dysfunction in obese patients. The relationship between thyroid function and obesity is likely to be bidirectional, with hypothyroidism affecting weight, but obesity also influencing thyroid function. Both serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and fT3 are typically increased in obese individuals, an effect likely mediated by leptin. Following L-T4 treatment for overt hypothyroidism, weight loss appears to be modest and mediated primarily by loss of water weight rather than fat. Selected thyroid analogs might be a means by which to improve weight loss by increasing energy expenditure in obese patients during continued caloric deprivation
Correction of metabolic syndrome and liver disease after biliopancreatic diversion in morbidly obese patients
Authors: Kotelnikova L P , Stepanov R A
Published: March 2014

The aim of this study was to analyze the corrections of the metabolic syndrome and the liver dysfunction of morbidly obese patients after the biliapancreatic diversion (BPD). All patients were divided into two groups: first group with average BMI 44,6±3,0 and second group with average BMI 53,0±6,7. After BPD the average % excess weight loss (EWL) in the first group was 72,8% and in the second - 53,2%. The corrections of the metabolic syndrome and the liver dysfunction were also better in the first group. The baseline BMI predicts the outcomes after BPD.
The relationship of hormone-metabolic disorders and indicators of anxiety and depression in young men with obesity on different types of therapy
Authors: Tel'nova M E , Kochetkov Ya A , Petunina N A , Trukhina L V , Perepelkina O S
Published: March 2014

Objective: to assess hormonal and metabolic parameters and psychological status of young men with obesity. Methods: The study included 60 men with obesity (BMI>30 kg/m2) divided in two groups. Patients in the first group (n=30) received orlistat for 12 weeks (120 mg 3 times daily with meal). Patients in second group (n=30) followed hypocaloric diet and aerobic exercise. All patients were examined before treatment and after 12 weeks. Evaluation included hormonal and biochemical analyses, 48 patients were examined by psychological questionnaires (Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire). Results: Patients that received orlistat treatment showed significant decrease of body mass: 50% of patients had decrease more than 5%, 30% of patients - more than 10% (p