bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Solving Initial-Boundary Value Problems for Local Fractional Differential Equation by Local Fractional Fourier Series Method
Authors: Zhang Yu
Published: July 2014

The initial-boundary value problems for the local fractional differential equation are investigated in this paper. The local fractional Fourier series solutions with the nondifferential terms are obtained. Two illustrative examples are given to show efficiency and accuracy of the presented method to process the local fractional differential equations.
A Two‐Stage Model for Project Optimization in Transportation Infrastructure Management System
Authors: Chen Zhang , Liu Liyuan , Li Li , Li Hui
Published: July 2014

Mathematical optimization is very important for project decision in the Transportation Infrastructure Management System (TIMS). However, it has not been widely employed in TIMS due to poor performance of conventional optimization models in calculation speed and practical application. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the performance of optimization models. According to the process of decision‐making in transportation management, a novel two‐stage project optimization model, including budget allocation and project distribution, was proposed in this paper. Moreover, the methods of dynamic programming (DP) and genetic algorithm (GA) were applied to obtain an effective solution. The findings indicate that the new optimization method can provide a satisfactory and reasonable maintenance schedule for transportation infrastructure maintenance agencies whose routine management will benefit from the newly proposed model.
Dynamics of a Stochastic Cooperative Predator-Prey System with Beddington-DeAngelis Functional Response
Authors: Huang Dongwei , Li Yu , Guo Yongfeng
Published: July 2014

Stochastic cooperative predator-prey system with Beddington-DeAngelis functional response is studied. It presents an investigation of dynamic properties of the system. Our results show that there exists a unique positive solution to the system for any positive initial value, and the positive solution is stochastically bounded. Moreover, under some conditions, we analyze global asymptotic stability of the positive solutions. With small environmental noises, the stochastic system is getting more similar to the corresponding deterministic system. Neither of the species in the system will die out. Finally, simulations are carried out to conform to our result.
Amino-Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes by Using a Factorial Design: Human Cardiac Troponin T Immunosensing Application
Authors: Freitas Tatianny A. , Mattos Alessandra B. , Silva Bárbara V. M. , Dutra Rosa F.
Published: July 2014

A simple amino-functionalization method for carbon nanotubes and its application in an electrochemical immunosensor for detection of the human cardiac troponin T are described. Amino-functionalized carbon nanotubes allow oriented antibodies immobilization via their Fc regions, improving the performance of an immunosensor. Herein multiwalled carbon nanotubes were amino-functionalized by using the ethylenediamine reagent and assays were designed by fractional factorial study associated with Doehlert matrix. Structural modifications in the carbon nanotubes were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. After amino-functionalization the carbon nanotubes were attached to screen-printed carbon electrode and a sandwich-type immunoassay was performed for measuring the cardiac troponin T. The electrochemical measurements were obtained through hydrogen peroxide reaction with peroxidase conjugated to the secondary antibody. Under optimal conditions, troponin T immunosensor was evaluated in serum samples, which showed a broad linear range (0.02 to 0.32 ng mL−1) and a low limit of detection, 0.016 ng mL−1. This amino platform can be properly used as clinical tool for cardiac troponin T detection in the acute myocardial infarction diagnosis.
Integrated Analysis Identifies Interaction Patterns between Small Molecules and Pathways
Authors: Li Yan , Li Weiguo , Chen Xin , Jiang Hong , Sun Jiatong , Chen Huan , Lv Sali
Published: July 2014

Previous studies have indicated that the downstream proteins in a key pathway can be potential drug targets and that the pathway can play an important role in the action of drugs. So pathways could be considered as targets of small molecules. A link map between small molecules and pathways was constructed using gene expression profile, pathways, and gene expression of cancer cell line intervened by small molecules and then we analysed the topological characteristics of the link map. Three link patterns were identified based on different drug discovery implications for breast, liver, and lung cancer. Furthermore, molecules that significantly targeted the same pathways tended to treat the same diseases. These results can provide a valuable reference for identifying drug candidates and targets in molecularly targeted therapy.
Effect of Awareness Programs on the Epidemic Outbreaks with Time Delay
Authors: Zuo Lixia , Liu Maoxing
Published: July 2014

An epidemic model with time delay has been proposed and analyzed. In this model the effect of awareness programs driven by media on the prevalence of an infectious disease is studied. It is assumed that pathogens are transmitted via direct contact between the susceptible and the infective populations and further assumed that the growth rate of cumulative density of awareness programs increases at a rate proportional to the infective population. The model is analyzed by using stability theory of differential equations and numerical simulations. Both equilibria have been proved to be globally asymptotically stable. The results we obtained and numerical simulations suggest the increasing of the dissemination rate and implementation rate can reduce the proportion of the infective population.
Effects of Different Regulatory Methods on Improvement of Greenhouse Saline Soils, Tomato Quality, and Yield
Authors: Maomao Hou , Xiaohou Shao , Yaming Zhai
Published: July 2014

To identify effective regulatory methods scheduling with the compromise between the soil desalination and the improvement of tomato quality and yield, a 3-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate and compare the effect of straw mulching and soil structure conditioner and water-retaining agent on greenhouse saline soils, tomato quality, and yield. A higher salt removing rate of 80.72% in plough layer with straw mulching was obtained based on the observation of salt mass fraction in 0~20 cm soil layer before and after the experiment. Salts were also found to move gradually to the deeper soil layer with time. Straw mulching enhanced the content of soil organic matter significantly and was conductive to reserve soil available N, P, and K, while available P and K in soils of plough layer with soil structure conditioner decreased obviously; thus a greater usage of P fertilizer and K fertilizer was needed when applying soil structure conditioner. Considering the evaluation indexes including tomato quality, yield, and desalination effects of different regulatory methods, straw mulching was recommended as the main regulatory method to improve greenhouse saline soils in south China. Soil structure conditioner was the suboptimal method, which could be applied in concert with straw mulching.
Multiplicity of Nontrivial Solutions for a Class of Nonlocal Elliptic Operators Systems of Kirchhoff Type
Authors: Cao Yuping , Bai Chuanzhi
Published: July 2014

We investigate the existence and multiplicity of nontrivial solutions for a Kirchhoff type problem involving the nonlocal integrodifferential operators with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. The main tool used for obtaining our result is Morse theory.
Obtaining P3P Privacy Policies for Composite Services
Authors: Sun Yi , Huang Zhiqiu , Ke Changbo
Published: July 2014

With the development of web services technology, web services have changed from single to composite services. Privacy protection in composite services is becoming an important issue. P3P (platform for privacy preferences) is a privacy policy language which was designed for single web services. It enables service providers to express how they will deal with the privacy information of service consumers. In order to solve the problem that P3P cannot be applied to composite services directly, we propose a method to obtain P3P privacy policies for composite services. In this method, we present the definitions ofPurpose,Recipient, andRetentionelements as well asOptionalandRequiredattributes for P3P policies of composite services. We also provide an instantiation to illustrate the feasibility of the method.
Mathematical Modelling of Cerebral Blood Circulation and Cerebral Autoregulation: Towards Preventing Intracranial Hemorrhages in Preterm Newborns
Authors: Lampe Renée , Botkin Nikolai , Turova Varvara , Blumenstein Tobias , Alves-Pinto Ana
Published: July 2014

Impaired cerebral autoregulation leads to fluctuations in cerebral blood flow, which can be especially dangerous for immature brain of preterm newborns. In this paper, two mathematical models of cerebral autoregulation are discussed. The first one is an enhancement of a vascular model proposed by Piechnik et al. We extend this model by adding a polynomial dependence of the vascular radius on the arterial blood pressure and adjusting the polynomial coefficients to experimental data to gain the autoregulation behavior. Moreover, the inclusion of a Preisach hysteresis operator, simulating a hysteretic dependence of the cerebral blood flow on the arterial pressure, is tested. The second model couples the blood vessel system model by Piechnik et al. with an ordinary differential equation model of cerebral autoregulation by Ursino and Lodi. An optimal control setting is proposed for a simplified variant of this coupled model. The objective of the control is the maintenance of the autoregulatory function for a wider range of the arterial pressure. The control can be interpreted as the effect of a medicament changing the cerebral blood flow by, for example, dilation of blood vessels. Advanced numerical methods developed by the authors are applied for the numerical treatment of the control problem.
Natural Recovery and Planned Intervention in Coastal Wetlands: Venice Lagoon (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) as a Case Study
Authors: Facca Chiara , Ceoldo Sonia , Pellegrino Nicola , Sfriso Adriano
Published: July 2014

The goals of conservation and sustainable use of environmental ecosystems have increased the need for detailed knowledge of ecological evolution and responses to both anthropogenic pressures and recovery measures. The present study shows the effects of natural processes and planned intervention in terms of reducing nutrient inputs in a highly exploited coastal lagoon, describing its evolution over a 16-year period from the late 1980s (when eutrophication was at its peak) until 2003. Changes in nutrient and carbon concentrations in the top layer of sediments were investigated in parallel with macroalgal and seagrass biomass in the most anthropized basin of Venice Lagoon in four surveys conducted in accordance with the same protocols in 1987, 1993, 1998, and 2003. A pronounced reduction in trophic state (mainly total nitrogen, organic phosphorus, and organic carbon concentrations) and macroalgal biomass was recorded, together with the progressive expansion of seagrass meadows. General considerations are also made on the effects of Manila clam farming and the shift from illegal to managed clam farming.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy Caused by Uterine Leiomyoma with Sarcoma-Like Findings on Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Taneichi Akiyo , Fujiwara Hiroyuki , Mizoguchi Yukako , Machida Shizuo , Nonaka Hiroaki , Takei Yuji , Saga Yasushi , Suzuki Mitsuaki
Published: July 2014

A leiomyoma rarely causes disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). In the present report, we describe a case of DIC caused by leiomyoma. A 36-year-old nulliparous woman presented with hypermenorrhea and a lower abdominal mass. On magnetic resonance imaging, we detected a 14 cm uterine tumor, which was suspected to be a sarcoma. Blood tests at the preoperative examination indicated platelet count of 9.6 × 104/μL, fibrin degradation product level of 107.1 μg/mL (normal value, 0–5.0 μg/mL), and fibrinogen level of 54 mg/dL (normal value, 129–271 mg/dL). Based on these findings, we diagnosed the patient with DIC. The patient was treated with nafamostat mesilate and fresh frozen plasma, but the DIC did not show any improvement. Subsequently, a hysterectomy was performed, after which the DIC improved. Clinicopathological findings indicated the presence of a leiomyoma with multiple vessels containing thromboemboli, and suggested that the DIC was caused by the leiomyoma. Therefore, it is essential to consider that that a benign leiomyoma may be a cause of DIC.
As interfaces da EAD na educação brasileira
Authors: Litto Fredric M.
Published: July 2014

As ambições do Brasil em incrementar sua importância no cenário internacional correm o risco de inviabilidade devido a uma força de trabalho cuja capacidade e quantidade está aquém dos parâmetros globais. A educação a distância (EAD) teve sua implantação no ensino superior no Brasil retardada pelo conservadorismo da comunidade acadêmica, gerações de burocratas sem visão da educação, e pelo Congresso Nacional. As críticas feitas no Brasil à EAD são resultado do desconhecimento das suas conquistas no exterior e dos mitos que impedem seu uso pleno para democratizar o acesso aos estudos avançados e à sua certificação. As novas ferramentas digitais, como objetos de aprendizagem, recursos educacionais abertos e cursos massivos abertos e on-line, certamente oferecem o caminho para dinamizar o ensino/aprendizagem em geral e possibilitar a aprendizagem independente.
Impaired Fibrous Repair
Authors: Edsfeldt Andreas , Gonçalves Isabel , Grufman Helena , Nitulescu Mihaela , Dunér Pontus , Bengtsson Eva , Mollet Inês G. , Persson Ana , Nilsson Marie , Orho-Melander Marju , Melander Olle , Björkbacka Harry , Nilsson Jan
Published: July 2014

Objective—

Diabetes mellitus (DM) type II is increasing rapidly worldwide. Patients with DM II have a greater atherosclerotic burden and higher risk of developing cardiovascular complications. Inflammation has been proposed as the main cause for the high risk of atherosclerotic disease in DM II. In this study, we compared markers of inflammation and fibrous repair in plaques from subjects with and without DM II.

Approach and Results—

Carotid endarterectomy specimens were obtained from 63 patients with and 131 without DM. Plaque structure, connective tissue proteins, inflammatory cells, and markers were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, ELISA, Mesoscale, and Luminex technology. Carotid plaques from diabetics had lower levels of extracellular matrix proteins, elastin, and collagen, which are critical for plaque stability. Plaques from diabetics had reduced levels of platelet-derived growth factor and matrix metalloproteinase-2, both important for tissue repair. No differences were observed in inflammatory markers in plaques from diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Conclusion—

This study suggests that atherosclerotic plaques in subjects with DM II are more prone to rupture because of impaired repair responses rather than to increased vascular inflammation. Although this study did not have a mechanistic design, our findings suggest that targeting impaired repair responses in carotid plaques may help to increase our understanding of atherosclerotic plaque development and vulnerability in patients with DM II.
Computer-Aided Image Analysis Algorithm to Enhance In Vivo Diagnosis of Plaque Erosion by Intravascular Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Wang Zhao , Jia Haibo , Tian Jinwei , Soeda Tsunenari , Vergallo Rocco , Minami Yoshiyasu , Lee Hang , Aguirre Aaron , Fujimoto James G , Jang Ik-Kyung
Published: July 2014

Background—

Recent reports show that plaque erosion can be diagnosed in vivo using optical coherence tomography in patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, quantitative optical coherence tomographic image criteria for computer-aided diagnosis of plaque erosion have not been established.

Methods and Results—

A total of 42 patients with acute coronary syndrome caused by plaque erosion were included. Plaque erosion was identified according to the previously established optical coherence tomography criteria. Both optical properties and morphological features of the focal-eroded region as well as erosion-adjacent region were analyzed using a custom-designed computer algorithm. Noneroded fibrous plaques remote from the erosion site within the same vessel were used as controls. Eroded plaques have significantly lower surface intensity (
P
<0.001), lower region of interest intensity (
P
<0.001), lower surface normalized SD (
P
<0.001), lower region of interest normalized SD (
P
<0.001), higher optical attenuation (
P
<0.001), larger tissue protrusion area (
P
<0.001), and greater surface roughness (
P
<0.001) when compared with control plaques. Erosion-adjacent regions also have lower region of interest normalized SD (
P
=0.008), higher attenuation (
P
<0.001), and greater surface roughness (
P
=0.005). Using a logistic regression model built on the quantitative features, plaque erosion can be accurately classified against intact fibrous plaques. There was low inter- and intraobserver variability associated with the algorithm-assisted quantitative assessment.

Conclusions—

Plaque erosion has distinctive optical properties and morphological features when compared with noneroded fibrous plaques. Quantitative image analysis may enhance diagnostic accuracy for plaque erosion in vivo.
Lacunar Strokes in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: Risk Factors, Infarct Location, and Prognosis
Authors: Palacio Santiago , McClure Leslie A. , Benavente Oscar R. , Bazan Carlos , Pergola Pablo , Hart Robert G.
Published: July 2014

Background and Purpose—

Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for lacunar strokes. Few data are available regarding patient features, infarct location, and recurrent vascular events for patients with diabetes mellitus with lacunar stroke.

Methods—

We compared features at study entry and prognosis during 3.6 years of follow-up of patients with diabetes mellitus versus patients without diabetes mellitus with recent lacunar stroke participating in the Secondary Prevention of Small Subcortical Strokes (SPS3) randomized trial.

Results—

Among the 3020 participants, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 37% with a mean duration of 11 years. Diabetes mellitus was independently associated with slightly younger age (63 versus 64 years;
P
<0.001), Hispanic ethnicity (36% versus 28%;
P
<0.0001), ischemic heart disease (11% versus 6%;
P
=0.002), and peripheral vascular disease (5% versus 2%;
P
<0.001). Patients with diabetes mellitus more frequently had intracranial stenosis ≥50% (
P
<0.001), infarcts involving the brain stem or cerebellum (
P
<0.001), and more extensive white matter abnormalities (
P
<0.001). Patients with diabetes mellitus were almost twice as likely to have a recurrent stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–2.3), recurrent ischemic stroke (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.4–2.4), disabling/fatal stroke (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.2–2.9), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.0–2.8), and death (HR, 2.1 95% CI, 1.6–2.8) compared with patients without diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions—

Patients with diabetes mellitus with lacunar stroke have a distinctive clinical profile that includes double the prevalence of systemic and intracranial atherosclerosis, preferential involvement of the posterior circulation, and a poor prognosis for recurrent stroke and death.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00059306.
Characterization of seasonal and inter-annual changes in the abundance of species of marine Cladocera on the Turkish coast of the northeastern Levantine Basin
Authors: Terbiyik Kurt Tuba , Polat Sevi°m
Published: July 2014

The purpose of this study was to describe temporal variations in the abundance of cladocerans in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to environmental parameters. The study was conducted between 2008 and 2011 at five sampling stations located in the coastal waters of İskenderun Bay. Zooplankton samples were seasonally collected for four years using a 200-μm mesh WP-2 zooplankton net. The contribution of cladocerans to the total zooplankton community was 22.8% in 2008 and 9.3% in 2009. In 2010 (59.4%) and 2011 (63.4%), the annual mean abundance of cladocerans increased markedly from 473 ind. m−3to 3917 ind. m−3and accounted for more than half of the zooplankton population. A total of five species of Cladocera were found:Penilia avirostrisDana, 1849,Pseudevadne tergestina(Claus, 1877),Evadne spiniferaP. E. Müller, 1867,Pleopis polyphaemoides(Leuckart, 1859) andPodon intermediusLilljeborg, 1853.Penilia avirostriswas the most abundant species during all seasons, especially in April and July, for all four years of the study. The abundance of total cladocerans andP. avirostriswas negatively correlated with salinity () and picoplankton abundance ().P. avirostrisalso exhibited a positive correlation with phytoplankton abundance (), as well as withE. spinifera. In addition, the abundance ofE. spiniferaandP. tergestinawas positively correlated with temperature (), butP. tergestinacorrelated negatively with chlorophyll a. In conclusion, species composition and abundance of cladocerans seems to be greatly affected by the amount of available food and other environmental factors, such as temperature and salinity.
Artificial infection of the native Korean freshwater prawn Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan, 1849) (Decapoda, Palaemonidae) with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV)
Authors: Yun J. M. , Kim B. S. , Hwang S. M. , Kim Y. B. , Choi W. B. , Choi T. J.
Published: July 2014

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV), an important shrimp pathogen that can affect both salt- and freshwater shrimp, has a high mortality rate that can reach up to 100% in 3-10 days. Therefore, we assessed the susceptibility of Macrobrachium nipponense (De Haan, 1849), a freshwater prawn native to Korea, to artificial WSSV infection. Although rearing in water containing WSSV-infected carcasses did not result in infection, M. nipponense was infected with WSSV after being fed a WSSV-containing diet, per os infection, or injection with the purified virus. In the feeding test, the first mortality was observed on the 7th day and cumulative mortality reached 30% by 3 weeks post-infection. After per os infection, experimental animals started dying on the second day and within 3 weeks mortality had reached 90%. In the injection test, the mortality was found to be dose-dependent. Prawn injected with 2.5 × 104, 900 and 80 copies/g body weight exhibited the first mortality at 1, 2 and 4 days post inoculation, with 100, 100 and 50% final mortality at 2, 10 and 12 days post inoculation, respectively. Histological observation revealed inclusion bodies in the gills, antennal glands and other tissues of ectodermal origin. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed the increase of viral titers, indicating viral replication in the inoculated host. This forms the first report of the experimental susceptibility of M. nipponense to WSSV.
The Inter-Religious Frontier
Authors: Tan Kang-San
Published: July 2014

The article explores the phenomenon of Christians who seek to maintain forms of multiple religious identity. It offers a dual-belonging theology from an Evangelical missiological perspective, with special reference to Christian and Buddhist traditions. The article seeks to offer some trajectories whereby softer forms of dual religious identity may not be incompatible with Evangelical faith. It uses theology of religion as a framework for understanding the phenomenon of multi-religious belonging. First, various types or expressions of multi-religious belonging are described in order to provide a more precise tool for analyzing various forms of religious belonging. Secondly, some of the apparent issues surrounding insider movements are framed in relation to the three typologies of pluralism, inclusivism and exclusivism, demonstrating how different paradigms in the theology of religions raise different sets of questions, add new perspectives and hopefully contribute toward theological clarity on some pastoral or mission issues. Finally, some brief considerations are offered for building a dual-belonging theology.
Possibilities and Limitations of Interreligious Scripture Reading
Authors: Haug Kari Storstein
Published: July 2014

Interreligious hermeneutics is an area of research which has developed rapidly in recent years. Studies include both general discussions about hermeneutical and methodological issues related to interreligious encounters, and more specific discussions of the interreligious engagement with religious scriptures. This article focuses on the latter, and more specifically on the contribution of interreligious scriptural reading to the practice of dialogue. It discusses how, and to what extent, reading and studying scriptures of another religious tradition than one’s own could contribute constructively in the context of interreligious dialogue. The discussion is based on an analysis of empirical examples of Thai Buddhist readings of Old Testament wisdom texts.
Study of the genus Cephennium Müler & Kunze, 1822 (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae) from the Balkan Peninsula. Part II. New species of the subgenus Cephennium s. str.
Authors: STEVANOVIĆ MIROSLAV
Published: July 2014

Twelve new species of the genus Cephennium Müler & Kunze, 1822 are described: C. (s. str.) irenae sp. n. (from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro); C. (s. str.) sladjanae sp. n. and C. (s. str.) fallax sp. n. (both from Serbia and Bulgaria); C. (s. str.) viti sp. n. (from Serbia, Macedonia, Greece and Bulgaria); C. (s. str.) fairchildi sp. n., C. (s. str.) ivanjicense sp. n., C. (s. str.) serbicum sp. n. and C. (s. str.) remisianum sp. n. (all from Serbia); C. (s. str.) assingi sp. n. and C. (s. str.) angelinii sp. n. (both from Greece); C. (s. str.) mlejneki sp. n. (from Montenegro) and C. (s. str.) vitoshae sp. n. (from Bulgaria). Aedeagi and male protibiae of all species are illustrated. Cephennium (s. str.) bosnicum Ganglbauer, 1899 is redescribed and its lectotype is designated.
Using Initialized Hindcasts to Assess Simulations of 1970–2009 Equatorial Pacific SST, Zonal Wind Stress, and Surface Flux Trends
Authors: Solomon Amy
Published: July 2014

Initialized decadal hindcasts are used to assess simulations of 1970–2009 equatorial Pacific SST, zonal wind stress, and surface flux trends. Initialized hindcasts are useful to assess how well the models simulate observed trends, as well as how simulations of observed trends (due primarily to natural variability) differ from ensemble-mean forecasted trends (due to the response to an increase in external forcing). All models forecast a statistically significant warming trend in both the warm-pool and cold-tongue regions. However, while the warm-pool warming trend is within the observed estimates, the cold-tongue warming trend is an order of magnitude larger than an ENSO residual estimated using SST instrumental reconstructions. Multimodel ensemble means formed using forecasts 6–10 years from initialization with 40 ensemble members do not produce an unambiguous zonal SST gradient response to an increase in external forcing. Systematic biases are identified in forecasts of surface fluxes. For example, in the warm-pool region all year-1 forecasts produce SST trends similar to observations but ocean mixed layer and net surface heat flux trends with an opposite sign to air–sea datasets. In addition, year-1 forecasts produce positive shortwave feedbacks on decadal time scales, whereas 6–10-yr forecasts produce negative or statistically insignificant shortwave flux feedbacks on decadal time scales, suggesting sensitivity to circulations forced by the initialized ocean state. In the cold-tongue region initialized ensembles forecast positive net radiative flux trends even though shortwave flux trends are negative (i.e., for increasing cloudiness). This is inconsistent with air–sea datasets, which uniformly show that the net surface radiative flux feedback is a damping of the underlying SSTs.
Simulations of Stratus Clouds over Eastern China in CAM5: Sensitivity to Horizontal Resolution
Authors: Zhang Yi , Chen Haoming , Yu Rucong
Published: July 2014

This paper evaluates the simulations of stratus clouds over eastern China (EC) in the Community Atmosphere Model, version 5 (CAM5), with an emphasis on the impact of changing horizontal resolutions on the performance. CAM5 in all experiments generally satisfactorily simulates the cloud radiative features over EC, including the spatial distributions of the continental shortwave cloud radiative forcing (SWCF) and stratus regimes, the responses of SWCF to the dynamic and thermodynamic ambient environment, and several relations in the environmental fields that are favorable to the stratus formation. Meanwhile, all experiments suffer from similar biases. Models tend to underestimate the stratus amount because of a corresponding underestimate of stratus occurrence frequency, while the stratus amount when present (AWP) is generally higher than that in the observation. Models also simulate similar errors in the environmental fields. The differences between low- and high-resolution experiments are distinct. An increase of resolution enhances the SWCF in southern China, but the skill deteriorates in the Sichuan basin. Correspondingly, the stratus amount increases in southern China from low- to high-resolution experiments, mainly because of more stratus occurrences, which are found to be related to the better represented environmental fields in the high-resolution experiments, especially the dynamic component. Several relations in the ambient environment are also slightly improved in the high-resolution experiments. Meanwhile, the reason for the decrease of stratus AWP within the Sichuan basin, which is mainly responsible for the decreased stratus amounts and weaker SWCF from low- to high-resolution experiments, is also discussed.
Nonlinear Controls on the Persistence of La Niña*
Authors: DiNezio Pedro N. , Deser Clara
Published: July 2014

A large fraction (35%–50%) of observed La Niña events last two years or longer, in contrast to the great majority of El Niño events, which last one year. Here, the authors explore the nonlinear processes responsible for the multiyear persistence of La Niña in the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4), a coupled climate model that simulates the asymmetric duration of La Niña and El Niño events realistically. The authors develop a nonlinear delayed-oscillator (NDO) model of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) to explore the mechanisms governing the duration of La Niña. The NDO includes nonlinear and seasonally dependent feedbacks derived from the CCSM4 heat budget, which allow it to simulate key ENSO features in quantitative agreement with CCSM4.

Sensitivity experiments with the NDO show that the nonlinearity in the delayed thermocline feedback is the sole process controlling the duration of La Niña events. The authors’ results show that, as La Niña events become stronger, the delayed thermocline response does not increase proportionally. This nonlinearity arises from two processes: 1) the response of winds to sea surface temperature anomalies and 2) the ability of thermocline depth anomalies to influence temperatures at the base of the mixed layer. Thus, strong La Niña events require that the thermocline remains deeper for longer than 1 yr for sea surface temperatures to return to neutral. Ocean reanalysis data show evidence for this thermocline nonlinearity, suggesting that this process could be at work in nature.
The Cultural Theory of Risk for Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: McNeeley Shannon M. , Lazrus Heather
Published: July 2014

The way in which people perceive climate change risk is informed by their social interactions and cultural worldviews comprising fundamental beliefs about society and nature. Therefore, perceptions of climate change risk and vulnerability along with people’s “myths of nature”—that is, how groups of people conceptualize the way nature functions—influence the feasibility and acceptability of climate adaptation planning, policy making, and implementation. This study presents analyses of cultural worldviews that broaden the current treatments of culture and climate change mitigation and adaptation decision making in communities. The authors use insights from community-based climate research and engage the Cultural Theory of Risk conceptual framework to situate community understandings of, and responses to, climate impacts. This study looks at how the issue of climate change manifests socially in four cases in the United States and Tuvalu and how ideas about climate change are produced by the institutional cultural contexts across scales from the local to the global. This approach helps us identify local and regional priorities and support the development of new relationships for adaptation research and planning by helping to diagnose barriers to climate change adaptation, assist improved communication through framing/reframing climate issues based on shared understandings and collective learning, and help move from conflict to cooperation through better negotiation of diverse worldviews.
A study of railway wheel profile parameters used as indicators of an increased risk of wheel defects
Authors: Asplund Matthias , Palo Mikael , Famurewa Stephen , Rantatalo Matti
Published: July 2014

The capacity demands on railways will increase in the future, as will demands for a robust and available system. The availability of a railway system is dependent on the condition of its infrastructure and rolling stock. To inspect rolling stock so as to prevent damage to the track due to faulty wheels, infrastructure managers normally install wayside monitoring systems along the track. Such systems indicate, for example, wheels that fall outside the defined safety limits and have to be removed from service to prevent further damage to the track. Due to the nature of many wayside monitoring systems, which only monitor vehicles at defined points along the track, damage may be induced on the track prior to fault detection at the location of the system. Such damage can entail capacity-limiting speed reductions and manual track inspections before the track can be reopened for traffic. The number of wheel defects must therefore be kept to a minimum. In this paper, wheel profile parameters measured by a wayside wheel profile measurement system, installed along the Swedish Iron Ore Line, are examined and related to warning and alarm indications from a wheel defect detector installed on the same line. The study shows that an increased wheel wear, detectable by changes in the wheel profile parameters, could be used to reduce the risk of capacity-limiting wheel defect failure events and their reactive measures.
Community Legal Clinics as Vehicles for Promoting Human Rights and Access to Justice in the Niger Delta: Prospects and Foreseeable Challenges
Authors: Lucia Odigie-Emmanuel Omoyemen
Published: July 2014

Human rights will amount to sweet nothings if violations of human rights cannot be redressed. The duty of ensuring that human rights actually transform lives and not just remain as a rhetoric, or an exercise in futility, lies with all citizens especially lawyers (including law students) and the courts. It follows that access to justice, including legal justice, is an imperative to the realization of human rights. Actualization of redress for human rights is impossible without a mechanism for enforcement usually commenced by an action in court. Citizens must be aware that they have rights which the state is obliged to respect, protect and fulfil and also have the means, both financial and otherwise, to seek redress and be accorded with a fair hearing in the courts of law. Human rights and justice mean nothing to a man who is too poor to afford a lawyer or to afford the costs of filing processes. However, the fate of such a person can be changed by community legal clinics. This article therefore seeks to explore the prospects of utilizing community legal clinics as a vehicle for promoting access to justice and identifying possible challenges. It also makes recommendations to deal with the same.
The PROactive innovative conceptual framework on physical activity
Authors: Dobbels Fabienne , de Jong Corina , Drost Ellen , Elberse Janneke , Feridou Chryssoula , Jacobs Laura , Rabinovich Roberto , Frei Anja , Puhan Milo A. , de Boer Willem I. , van der Molen Thys , Williams Kate , Pinnock Hillary , Troosters Thierry , Karlsson Niklas , Kulich Karoly , Rüdell Katja ,   the PROactive consortium
Published: July 2014

Although physical activity is considered an important therapeutic target in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), what “physical activity” means to COPD patients and how their perspective is best measured is poorly understood. We designed a conceptual framework, guiding the development and content validation of two patient reported outcome (PRO) instruments on physical activity (PROactive PRO instruments).

116 patients from four European countries with diverse demographics and COPD phenotypes participated in three consecutive qualitative studies (63% male, age mean±sd66±9 years, 35% Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage III–IV). 23 interviews and eight focus groups (n = 54) identified the main themes and candidate items of the framework. 39 cognitive debriefings allowed the clarity of the items and instructions to be optimised.

Three themes emerged,i.e.impact of COPD on amount of physical activity, symptoms experienced during physical activity, and adaptations made to facilitate physical activity. The themes were similar irrespective of country, demographic or disease characteristics. Iterative rounds of appraisal and refinement of candidate items resulted in 30 items with a daily recall period and 34 items with a 7-day recall period.

For the first time, our approach provides comprehensive insight on physical activity from the COPD patients’ perspective. The PROactive PRO instruments’ content validity represents the pivotal basis for empirically based item reduction and validation.
Human leukocyte antigen class II variants and adult-onset asthma: does occupational allergen exposure play a role?
Authors: Smit Lidwien A.M. , Strachan David P. , Vermeulen Roel , de Bakker Paul I.W. , Demenais Florence , Dumas Orianne , Carsin Anne-Elie , Cullinan Paul , Curjuric Ivan , Ghosh Rebecca E. , Heederik Dick , Imboden Medea , Jarvis Deborah , Lathrop Mark , Le Moual Nicole , Mehta Amar , Miedinger David , Sigsgaard Torben , Siroux Valérie , Vernez David , Zock Jan Paul , Kauffmann Francine , Probst-Hensch Nicole , Kogevinas Manolis , Bouzigon Emmanuelle
Published: July 2014

Recently, a locus centred on rs9273349 in theHLA-DQregion emerged from genome-wide association studies of adult-onset asthma. We aimed to further investigate the role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II in adult-onset asthma and a possible interaction with occupational exposures.

We imputed classical HLA-II alleles from 7579 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 6025 subjects (1202 with adult-onset asthma) from European cohorts: ECRHS, SAPALDIA, EGEA and B58C, and from surveys of bakers and agricultural workers. Based on an asthma-specific job–exposure matrix, 2629 subjects had ever been exposed to high molecular weight (HMW) allergens. We explored associations between 23 common HLA-II alleles and adult-onset asthma, and tested for gene–environment interaction with occupational exposure to HMW allergens. Interaction was also tested for rs9273349.

Marginal associations of classical HLA-II alleles and adult-onset asthma were not statistically significant. Interaction was detected between theDPB1*03:01allele and exposure to HMW allergens (p = 0.009), in particular to latex (p = 0.01). In the unexposed group, theDPB1*03:01allele was associated with adult-onset asthma (OR 0.67, 95%CI 0.53–0.86). HMW allergen exposures did not modify the association of rs9273349 with adult-onset asthma.

Common classical HLA-II alleles were not marginally associated with adult-onset asthma. The association of latex exposure and adult-onset asthma may be modified byDPB1*03:01.
Graphene as a transparent conducting and surface field layer in planar Si solar cells
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Mehta Bodh R , Bhatnagar Mehar , S Ravi , Mahapatra Silika , Salkalachen Saji , Jhawar Pratha
Published: July 2014

This work presents an experimental and finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulation-based study on the application of graphene as a transparent conducting layer on a planar and untextured crystalline p-n silicon solar cell. A high-quality monolayer graphene with 97% transparency and 350 Ω/□ sheet resistance grown by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition method was transferred onto planar Si cells. An increase in efficiency from 5.38% to 7.85% was observed upon deposition of graphene onto Si cells, which further increases to 8.94% upon SiO2 deposition onto the graphene/Si structure. A large increase in photon conversion efficiency as a result of graphene deposition shows that the electronic interaction and the presence of an electric field at the graphene/Si interface together play an important role in this improvement and additionally lead to a reduction in series resistance due to the conducting nature of graphene.
Mixed type iterations for multivalued nonexpansive mappings in hyperbolic spaces
Authors: Lei Xian-Cai , Li Hua , Di Lan
Published: July 2014

The purpose of this paper is to extend the iteration scheme of multivalued nonexpansive mappings from a Banach space to a hyperbolic space by proving Δ-convergence theorems for two multivalued nonexpansive mappings in terms of mixed type iteration processes to approximate a common fixed point of two multivalued nonexpansive mappings in hyperbolic spaces. The results presented in this paper are new and can be regarded as an extension of corresponding results from Banach spaces to hyperbolic spaces in the literature.

MSC:47H10, 54H25.
Ensuring Accuracy Within the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: An Example From Radiation Oncology
Authors: Falit Benjamin P. , Dosoretz Arie P. , Brennan Troyen A.
Published: July 2014

The authors suggest that one solution to ensure CMS pursues its policy goals separately from its RVU-setting initiative would be for Congress to reign in the ACA and codify a directive to preferentially use empirical data.
Using Breakthrough Series Collaborative Methodology to Improve Safe Delivery of Chemotherapy in Ontario
Authors: Simanovski Vicky , Green Esther , Meertens Elaine , Kaizer Leonard , Ahmad Noor , Hertz Sherrie , Cheng Roger , Burns Judy , Krzyzanowska Monika K.
Published: July 2014

Participation in a collaborative enabled local interdisciplinary teams to develop processes and structures to support ongoing quality improvement, including formation of a sustainable structure for knowledge translation and exchange, but lack of a shared provincial target limited overall evaluation.
Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent Use After Changes in Medicare Reimbursement Policies
Authors: Hershman Dawn L. , Neugut Alfred I. , Shim Jin Joo , Glied Sherry , Tsai Wei-Yann , Wright Jason D.
Published: July 2014

This study demonstrates a rapid decline in the percentage of patients treated with ESAs after changes to reimbursement policy, but not after warnings about use. Reimbursement restrictions of other overused or off-label drugs may help reduce health care expenditures.
Provider-Based Research Networks Demonstrate Greater Hospice Use for Minority Patients With Lung Cancer
Authors: Penn Dolly C. , Stitzenberg Karyn B. , Cobran Ewan K. , Godley Paul A.
Published: July 2014

Racial/ethnic minority patients with lung cancer receiving treatment in cancer-focused Provider-Based Research Network–affiliated practices have greater hospice enrollment than those treated in academic and community practices.
Physician Perspective on Incorporation of Oncology Patient Quality-of-Life, Fatigue, and Pain Assessment Into Clinical Practice
Authors: Hubbard Joleen M. , Grothey Axel F. , McWilliams Robert R. , Buckner Jan C. , Sloan Jeff A.
Published: July 2014

The authors conclude that single-item measures of pain, fatigue, and QOL can be incorporated into oncology clinical practice with positive implications for patients and physicians without increasing duration of visits or work burden.
Geriatric Oncology for the 21st Century: A Call for Action
Authors: Moy Beverly , Flaig Thomas W. , Muss Hyman B. , Clark Ben , Tse William , Windham T. Christopher
Published: July 2014

The recently released Institute of Medicine report further emphasizes the need for the oncology community to optimize care of older patients with cancer.
A Computational Study of the Interaction of Amphiphilic α-Helical Cell-Penetrating Peptides with Heparan Sulfate
Authors: Yang Ji , Furuta Tadaomi , Sakurai Minoru , Tsutsumi Hiroshi , Mihara Hisakazu
Published: July 2014

Recent studies have suggested that extracellular glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), such as heparan sulfate (HS), can bind cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and cluster during CPP binding, thereby affecting the efficiency of a wide range of CPPs. Recently, we experimentally investigated the HS interactions of four peptides, which were chosen from our amphiphilic α-helical CPP library and had only one or two amino acid(s) differences (Arg/Glu and Ala/Phe). Here, we describe the computational methods and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations used to reveal the detailed binding and clustering mechanisms of these four peptides with HS. The order of the HS-binding affinities and HS-clustering abilities of the four CPPs, which were obtained from the binding free energies calculated in our MD simulations, almost agreed with our previous experimental data. Using free energy decomposition analyses, Arg-containing peptides were found to contribute more electrostatic energy to the binding enthalpy in comparison with Glu-containing peptides, whereas Phe-containing peptides benefited more from nonelectrostatic energy in comparison with Ala-containing peptides. Furthermore, although electrostatic interactions were revealed as the initial driving force in HS–CPP binding, nonelectrostatic interactions might be more favorable during the HS–CPP clustering process because of their tolerance to local charge mismatch. Consequently, CPPs that adopt a nonelectrostatic-dominant HS-binding mechanism could be internalized by cells more efficiently. Therefore, the present study provides important insights into the design of useful CPPs.