bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A method for merging nadir-sounding climate records, with an application to the global-mean stratospheric temperature data sets from SSU and AMSU
Authors: McLandress C. , Shepherd T. G. , Jonsson A. I. , von Clarmann T. , Funke B.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. A method is proposed for merging different nadir-sounding climate data records using measurements from high-resolution limb sounders to provide a transfer function between the different nadir measurements. The two nadir-sounding records need not be overlapping so long as the limb-sounding record bridges between them. The method is applied to global-mean stratospheric temperatures from the NOAA Climate Data Records based on the Stratospheric Sounding Unit (SSU) and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit-A (AMSU), extending the SSU record forward in time to yield a continuous data set from 1979 to present, and providing a simple framework for extending the SSU record into the future using AMSU. SSU and AMSU are bridged using temperature measurements from the Michelson Interferometer for Passive Atmospheric Sounding (MIPAS), which is of high enough vertical resolution to accurately represent the weighting functions of both SSU and AMSU. For this application, a purely statistical approach is not viable since the different nadir channels are not sufficiently linearly independent, statistically speaking. The near-global-mean linear temperature trends for extended SSU for 1980–2012 are −0.63 ± 0.13, −0.71 ± 0.15 and −0.80 ± 0.17 K decade−1 (95 % confidence) for channels 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The extended SSU temperature changes are in good agreement with those from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) on the Aura satellite, with both exhibiting a cooling trend of ~ 0.6 ± 0.3 K decade−1 in the upper stratosphere from 2004 to 2012. The extended SSU record is found to be in agreement with high-top coupled atmosphere–ocean models over the 1980–2012 period, including the continued cooling over the first decade of the 21st century.
A new model of the global biogeochemical cycle of carbonyl sulfide – Part 2: Use of carbonyl sulfide to constrain gross primary productivity in current vegetation models
Authors: Launois T. , Peylin P. , Belviso S. , Poulter B.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Clear analogies between carbonyl sulfide (OCS) and carbon dioxide (CO2) diffusion pathways through leaves have been revealed by experimental studies, with plant uptake playing an important role for the atmospheric budget of both species. Here we use atmospheric OCS to evaluate the gross primary production (GPP) of three dynamic global vegetation models (Lund–Potsdam–Jena, LPJ; National Center for Atmospheric Research – Community Land Model 4, NCAR-CLM4; and Organising Carbon and Hydrology In Dynamic Ecosystems, ORCHIDEE). Vegetation uptake of OCS is modeled as a linear function of GPP and leaf relative uptake (LRU), the ratio of OCS to CO2 deposition velocities of plants. New parameterizations for the non-photosynthetic sinks (oxic soils, atmospheric oxidation) and biogenic sources (oceans and anoxic soils) of OCS are also provided. Despite new large oceanic emissions, global OCS budgets created with each vegetation model show exceeding sinks by several hundred Gg S yr−1. An inversion of the surface fluxes (optimization of a global scalar which accounts for flux uncertainties) led to balanced OCS global budgets, as atmospheric measurements suggest, mainly by drastic reduction (up to −50 %) in soil and vegetation uptakes. The amplitude of variations in atmospheric OCS mixing ratios is mainly dictated by the vegetation sink over the Northern Hemisphere. This allows for bias recognition in the GPP representations of the three selected models. The main bias patterns are (i) the terrestrial GPP of ORCHIDEE at high northern latitudes is currently overestimated, (ii) the seasonal variations of the GPP are out of phase in the NCAR-CLM4 model, showing a maximum carbon uptake too early in spring in the northernmost ecosystems, (iii) the overall amplitude of the seasonal variations of GPP in NCAR-CLM4 is too small, and (iv) for the LPJ model, the GPP is slightly out of phase for the northernmost ecosystems and the respiration fluxes might be too large in summer in the Northern Hemisphere. These results rely on the robustness of the OCS modeling framework and, in particular, the choice of the LRU values (assumed constant in time) and the parameterization of soil OCS uptake with small seasonal variations. Refined optimization with regional-scale and seasonally varying coefficients might help to test some of these hypothesis.
Speciated measurements of semivolatile and intermediate volatility organic compounds (S/IVOCs) in a pine forest during BEACHON-RoMBAS 2011
Authors: Chan A. W. H. , Kreisberg N. M. , Hohaus T. , Campuzano-Jost P. , Zhao Y. , Day D. A. , Kaser L. , Karl T. , Hansel A. , Teng A. P. , Ruehl C. R. , Sueper D. T. , Jayne J. T. , Worsnop D. R. , Jimenez J. L. , Hering S. V. , Goldstein A. H.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Understanding organic composition of gases and particles is essential to identifying sources and atmospheric processing leading to organic aerosols (OA), but atmospheric chemical complexity and the analytical techniques available often limit such analysis. Here we present speciated measurements of semivolatile and intermediate volatility organic compounds (S/IVOCs) using a novel dual-use instrument (SVTAG-AMS) deployed at Manitou Forest, CO during the Bio-hydro-atmosphere interactions of Energy, Aerosols, Carbon, H2O, Organics & Nitrogen – Rocky Mountain Biogenic Aerosol Study (BEACHON-RoMBAS) 2011 campaign. This instrument provides on-line speciation of ambient organic compounds with 2 h time resolution. The species in this volatility range are complex in composition, but their chemical identities reveal potential sources. Observed compounds of biogenic origin include sesquiterpenes with molecular formula C15H24 (e.g. β-caryophyllene and longifolene), which were most abundant at night. A variety of other biogenic compounds were observed, including sesquiterpernoids with molecular formula C15H22, abietatriene and other terpenoid compounds. Many of these compounds have been identified in essential oils and branch enclosure studies but were observed in ambient air for the first time in our study. Semivolatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkanes were observed with highest concentrations during the day and the dependence on temperature suggests the role of an evaporative source. Using statistical analysis by positive matrix factorization (PMF), we classify observed S/IVOCs by their likely sources and processes, and characterize them based on chemical composition. The total mass concentration of elutable S/IVOCs was estimated to be on the order of 0.7 μg m−3 and their volatility distributions are estimated for modeling aerosol formation chemistry.
Seasonal characterization of submicron aerosol chemical composition and organic aerosol sources in the southeastern United States: Atlanta, Georgia and Look Rock, Tennessee
Authors: Budisulistiorini S. H. , Baumann K. , Edgerton E. S. , Bairai S. T. , Mueller S. , Shaw S. L. , Knipping E. M. , Gold A. , Surratt J. D.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. A yearlong near-real-time characterization of non-refractory submicron aerosol (NR-PM1) was conducted at an urban (Atlanta, Georgia) and rural (Look Rock, Tennessee) site in the southeastern US using the Aerodyne aerosol chemical speciation monitor (ACSM) collocated with established air-monitoring network measurements. Seasonal variations in organic aerosol (OA) and inorganic aerosol species are attributed to meteorological conditions as well as anthropogenic and biogenic emissions in this region. The highest concentrations of NR-PM1 were observed during winter and fall seasons at the urban site and during spring and summer at the rural site. Across all seasons and at both sites, NR-PM1 was composed largely of OA (50–76 %) and inorganic sulfate (12–31 %). Six distinct OA sources were resolved by positive matrix factorization applied to the ACSM organic mass spectral data collected from the two sites over the one year of near-continuous measurements at each site: hydrocarbon-like OA (HOA), biomass burning OA (BBOA), semi-volatile oxygenated OA (SV-OOA), low-volatility oxygenated OA (OOA), isoprene-derived epoxydiol (IEPOX) OA (IEPOX-OA), and 91Fac OA (a factor dominated by a distinct ion at m/z 91 fragment ion previously observed in biogenic influenced areas). LV-OOA was observed throughout the year at both sites and contributed 30–66 % of total OA mass. HOA was also observed during the entire year only at the urban site (15–24 % of OA mass). BBOA (15–33 % of OA mass) was observed during winter and fall, likely dominated by local residential wood burning emission. Although SV-OOA contributes quite significantly (∼ 27 %), it was observed only at the urban site during colder seasons. IEPOX-OA was a major component (27–41 %) of OA at both sites, particularly in spring and summer. An ion fragment at m/z 75 is proposed as an additional marker for IEPOX-OA, as it is shown to correlate well with the m/z 82 ion shown to be associated with the aerosol mass spectrum of IEPOX-derived secondary organic aerosol (SOA). The contribution of 91Fac to the total OA mass was quite low at the urban site (∼ 9 %), but was significant (21–23 %) at the rural site during warmer months. Comparison of 91Fac OA time series with SOA tracers measured from filter samples collected at Look Rock suggests that isoprene oxidation through a pathway other than IEPOX SOA chemistry may contribute to its formation. Other biogenic sources could also contribute to 91Fac, but there remains a need to resolve the exact source of this factor based on its significant contribution to rural OA mass.
Protist communities in a marine oxygen minimum zone off Costa Rica by 454 pyrosequencing
Authors: Jing H. , Rocke E. , Kong L. , Xia X. , Liu H. , Landry M. R.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Marine planktonic protists, including microalgae and protistan grazers, are an important contributor to global primary production and carbon and mineral cycles, however, little is known about their population shifts along the oxic-anoxic gradient in the water column. We used 454 pyrosequencing of the 18S rRNA gene and gene transcripts to study the community composition of whole and active protists throughout a water column in the Costa Rica Dome, where a stable oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) exists at a depth of 400~700 m. A clear shift of protist composition from photosynthetic Dinoflagellates in the surface to potential parasitic Dinoflagellates and Ciliates in the deeper water was revealed along the vertical profile at both rRNA and rDNA levels. Those protist groups recovered only at the rDNA level represent either lysed aggregates sinking from the upper waters or potential hosts for parasitic groups. UPGMA clustering demonstrated that total and active protists in the anoxic core of OMZ (550 m) were distinct from those in other water depths. The reduced community diversity and presence of a parasitic/symbiotic trophic lifestyle in the OMZ, especially the anoxic core, suggests that OMZs can exert a selective pressure on protist communities. Such changes in community structure and a shift in trophic lifestyle could result in a modulation of the microbial loop and associated biogeochemical cycling.
On the potential for regolith control of fluvial terrace formation in semi-arid escarpments
Authors: Norton K. P. , Schlunegger F. , Litty C.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Cut-fill terraces occur throughout the western Andes where they have been associated with pluvial episodes on the Altiplano. The mechanism relating increased rainfall to sedimentation is however not well understood. Here, we apply a hillslope sediment model and reported cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in terraces to examine terrace formation in semi-arid escarpment environments. We focus on the Rio Pisco system in western Peru in order to determine probable hillslope processes and sediment transport conditions during phases of terrace formation. Specifically, we model steady state and transient hillslope responses to increased precipitation rates. The measured terrace distribution and reconstructed sediment loads measured for the Rio Pisco agree with the transient model predictions, suggesting strong climatic control on the cut-fill sequences in western Peru primarily through large variations in sediment load. Our model suggests that the ultimate control for these terraces is the availability of sediment on the hillslopes with hillslope stripping supplying large sediment loads early in wet periods. At the Rio Pisco, this is manifest as an approximately 4 × increase in erosion rates during pluvial periods. We suggest that this mechanism may also control terrace occurrence in other semi-arid escarpment settings.
MODIS NDVI and vegetation phenology dynamics in the Inner Mongolia grassland
Authors: Gong Z. , Kawamura K. , Ishikawa N. , Goto M. , Wulan T. , Alateng D. , Yin T. , Ito Y.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The Inner Mongolia grassland, one of the most important grazing regions in China, has long been threatened by land degradation and desertification, mainly due to overgrazing. To understand vegetation responses over the last decade, this study evaluated trends in vegetation cover and phenology dynamics in the Inner Mongolia grassland by applying a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) time series obtained by the Terra Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) during 2002–2014. The results showed that the cumulative annual NDVI increased to over 77.10 % in the permanent grassland region (2002–2014). The mean value of the total change showed that the start of season (SOS) date and the peak vegetation productivity date of the season (POS) had advanced by 5.79 and 2.43 days respectively. The end of season (EOS) was delayed by 5.07 days. These changes lengthened the season by 10.86 days. Our results also confirmed that grassland changes are closely related to spring precipitation (February–May) and increasing temperature during the growing period because of the global warming. Overall, productivity in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region tends to increase, but in some grassland areas with grazing, land degradation is ongoing.
Estimation and calibration of the water isotope differential diffusion length in ice core records
Authors: van der Wel G. , Fischer H. , Oerter H. , Meyer H. , Meijer H. A. J.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Palaeoclimatic information can be retrieved from the diffusion of the stable water isotope signal during firnification of snow. The diffusion length, a measure for the amount of diffusion a layer has experienced, depends on the firn temperature and the accumulation rate. We show that the estimation of the diffusion length using power spectral densities (PSDs) of the record of a single isotope species can be biased by uncertainties in spectral properties of the isotope signal prior to diffusion. By using a second water isotope and calculating the difference in diffusion lengths between the two isotopes, this problem is circumvented. We study the PSD method applied to two isotopes in detail and additionally present a new forward diffusion method for retrieving the differential diffusion length based on the Pearson correlation between the two isotope signals. The two methods are discussed and extensively tested on synthetic data which are generated in a Monte Carlo manner. We show that calibration of the PSD method with this synthetic data is necessary to be able to objectively determine the differential diffusion length. The correlation-based method proves to be a good alternative for the PSD method as it yields precision equal to or somewhat higher than the PSD method. The use of synthetic data also allows us to estimate the accuracy and precision of the two methods and to choose the best sampling strategy to obtain past temperatures with the required precision. In addition to application to synthetic data the two methods are tested on stable-isotope records from the EPICA (European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica) ice core drilled in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, showing that reliable firn temperatures can be reconstructed with a typical uncertainty of 1.5 and 2 °C for the Holocene period and 2 and 2.5 °C for the last glacial period for the correlation and PSD method, respectively.
Impact of debris cover on glacier ablation and atmosphere–glacier feedbacks in the Karakoram
Authors: Collier E. , Maussion F. , Nicholson L. I. , Mölg T. , Immerzeel W. W. , Bush A. B. G.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The Karakoram range of the Hindu-Kush Himalaya is characterized by both extensive glaciation and a widespread prevalence of surficial debris cover on the glaciers. Surface debris exerts a strong control on glacier surface-energy and mass fluxes and, by modifying surface boundary conditions, has the potential to alter atmosphere–glacier feedbacks. To date, the influence of debris on Karakoram glaciers has only been directly assessed by a small number of glaciological measurements over short periods. Here, we include supraglacial debris in a high-resolution, interactively coupled atmosphere–glacier modeling system. To investigate glaciological and meteorological changes that arise due to the presence of debris, we perform two simulations using the coupled model from 1 May to 1 October 2004: one that treats all glacier surfaces as debris-free and one that introduces a simplified specification for the debris thickness. The basin-averaged impact of debris is a reduction in ablation of ~ 14 %, although the difference exceeds 5 m w.e. on the lowest-altitude glacier tongues. The relatively modest reduction in basin-mean mass loss results in part from non-negligible sub-debris melt rates under thicker covers and from compensating increases in melt under thinner debris, and may help to explain the lack of distinct differences in recent elevation changes between clean and debris-covered ice. The presence of debris also strongly alters the surface boundary condition and thus heat exchanges with the atmosphere; near-surface meteorological fields at lower elevations and their vertical gradients; and the atmospheric boundary layer development. These findings are relevant for glacio-hydrological studies on debris-covered glaciers and contribute towards an improved understanding of glacier behavior in the Karakoram.
Impact of the AEC on Migrant Workers: A Case Study of the Rohingya in Khon Kaen Thailand
Authors: Hayeemad Mahmood , Buasri Rathakarn
Published: August 2015

There are several researches in Myanmese nevertheless they never concern Rohingya migrant workers. Because the ASEAN is going to become AEC in 2015, they can migrate freely in the region and National Treatment. The aim of this research is to study how AEC affects to Rohingya workers in Khon Kaen Thailand by qualitative research approach, sample selection with Snowball sampling, and in-depth interview, the limitation is interview only 11 sample. This study demonstrate awareness of AEC effects and find the workers have very less knowledge about AEC, in addition every Rohingya workers express that there is no effect from ASEAN community because they do not have Myanmese identity card and never be Myanmar nationality. Every migrant would not like to go back to Myanmar because there is not confident that the Myanmese government recognizes Rohingya as the Myanmese. In contrast, they hope the government’s merciful operations to provide citizenship as right as the one of Myanmese.
Human Rights and Democratic Development in Nigeria:The Missing Link
Authors: Christian Akani
Published: August 2015

Human rights have become a buzzword in the 21st century. Apart from its global legitimacy, it has become an index of measuring the level of good governance and has an organic link with development. Development here connotes the capacity of a people to reproduce themselves within a social context. All through ages, human rights have engendered democratic development principally because of a sustained social action, in most cases leading to the payment of the supreme sacrifice. After all, freedom is not given by the exploiter to the exploited on a platter of gold. Stupendously, in spite of flagrant violations of human rights by successive governments in Nigeria, it has not triggered a sustained social action to ensure democratic development. Although, some sparing efforts have been made, they fizzle out over time. This negative attitude has heightened Government impunity and deceit. Therefore, the focus of this paper is to examine why Nigerians are not conscious of their rights. ? Why is government not accountable to the people? In carrying out this task, the qualitative method of data collection was used with an emphasis on triangulation. It was discovered that Nigerians are not dogged in the protection of their rights, thinking that development can come to them by the benevolence of government. It recommends that Nigerians should not agonize, but doggedly and consistently organize to demand and protect their rights, at all times. Anything less will make democratic development elusive.
An Exploration of the Role of Hospital Committees to Enhance Productivity
Authors: Amirabadi zadeh Hassan , Maleki Mohammad Reza , Salehi Masoud , Watankhah Soudabeh
Published: August 2015

Productivity is the main concern of hospitals as organizations providing health services. As the role of hospital committees is increasing and their productivity and performance improvement is very important, the present study was performed to identify weaknesses and strengths of committee sessions. This analytical-descriptive study was conducted cross- sectional from January to April in 2012. Summary of 405 committee session’s agendas related to 11 kinds of committees in 8 hospitals (out of 23 hospitals) of capital cities in 3 provinces of Sistan and Balouchestan, South Khorasan and Khorasan Razavi in Iran were extracted. Data was collected through a form and was analyzed by SPSS16 software using descriptive statistics and variance analysis and content analysis technique. This study showed that the number of hospital committee's sessions holding in 2012 was more than 2011.The differences between public and private hospitals in terms of the following subjects were significant (P-Value < 0.001). In terms of the number of selected policies, participants of the committees, and the duration of the sessions the public hospitals had better conditions. And regarding documentation process, feedback of decisions to personnel and the implementation of the formulated policies in the committees, private hospitals performed better. According to the results of this study, to improve the productivity of hospital committees, it is suggested to motivate senior, tactical and operational managers to appropriately participate in the committees and necessary planning for the committees in advance is mandatory.
Functional Status Assessment of COPD Based on Ability to Perform Daily Living Activities: A Systematic Review of Paper and Pencil Instruments
Authors: Monjazebi Fateme , Dalvandi Asghar , Ebadi Abbas , Khankeh Hamid Reza , Rahgozar Mehdi , Richter Jörg
Published: August 2015

CONTEXT: Activity of daily living (ADL) is an important predictor of mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Increasing ADL is important in patients with COPD and assessment of ADL is one of the best ways to evaluate the status of COPD patients.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this systematic review was to provide an overview of the psychometric properties of paper and pencil instruments measuring ADL in patients with COPD.

DATA SOURCES: English papers published from 1980 to 2014 regarding ADL in patients with COPD were searched in  Web of Science, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane, PubMed, ProQuest, and CINAHL databases using the following keywords: “COPD”, “ADL”, “activities of daily living”, “daily activities”, “instrument”, “questionnaire”, “paper-and-pencil instruments”, and “measure”. Following the Internet search, manual search was also done to find article references.

STUDY SELECTION: A total of 186 articles were found. Of those, 31 met the inclusion criteria. Full texts of articles meeting the inclusion criteria were studied. Consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments"(COSMIN) were used to assess the quality of the studies.

DATA EXTRACTION: Data extraction form based on research aims developed by researchers and psychometric experts, with 17 questions was used.

RESULTS: In these articles, 14 pen and paper instruments were identified for examining ADL in patients with COPD; of which, 4 dealt directly with ADL while 9 assessed other criteria i.e. dyspnea as ADL indicator. The majority of instruments only dealt with two main dimensions of ADL: Basic Activities of Daily Living (BADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL), and did not consider Advanced Activities of Daily Living (AADL), which is influenced by cultural and motivational factors.

CONCLUSION: Despite several ADL instruments identified, complete psychometric processes have only been done in a few of them. Selection of the appropriate instrument should focus on the aim of the study and the target construct.
Hydroxyurea: Clinical and Hematological Effects in Patients With Sickle Cell Anemia
Authors: Keikhaei Bijan , Yousefi Homayon , Bahadoram Mohammad
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUND & AIM: it is well known that hydroxyurea impacts on clinical and hematologic indices in sickle cell disease (SCD), we aimed to evaluate the effect of hydroxyurea on clinical and hematological improvement of sickle cell anemia.

METHODS & MATERIALS: In this cohort study 48 patients with sickle cell disease were enrolled and pain crisis, severity of pain, acute chest syndrome, the number of hospitalization, the rate of transfusion, spleen size, total Hb, HbF levels, MCV, MCH were compared before and after treatment with HU 10 mg/kg/day/for one year.

RESULTS: In patients with Sickle cell disease Hu significantly decreased the rate of transfusion, hospitalization, spleen size and significantly increased Hb, RBC indices and HbF. Furthermore, we did not find any remarkable adverse effect related to HU during the one year follow up in patients.

CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that in the course of one year hydroxyurea 10 mg/kg/day can significantly increase HbF, total hemoglobin and RBC indices without any notable side effect in patients with SCD.
Use of Cyclosporine Therapy in Steroid Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome (SRNS): A Review
Authors: Shah Syed Raza , Altaf Areeba , Arshad Mohammad Hussham , Mari Anum , Noorani Sahir , Saeed Eraj , Mevawalla Areesh Amir , Haq Zaiyn Ul , Faquih Muhammad Ehsan
Published: August 2015

A chronic, progressive disorder Steroid Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome (SRNS) accounts for 10-20% of all children with Nephrotic Syndrome. It is a heterogeneous disorder comprised of persistent edema, proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hyperlipidemia. Treatment for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is challenging and children who suffer from SRNS require aggressive treatment to achieve remission. Calcineurin inhibitors have been used more in an empirical manner than on the basis of clear rationale. It was in 1984 when cyclosporine was first considered for the treatment of steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome. Cyclosporin is a calcineurin inhibitor that suppresses immune response by downregulating the transcription of various cytokine genes. Till now many studies have been conducted to determine dosages, duration of therapy, side effects and advantages of cyclosporine. Treatment of SRNS remains a difﬁcult challenge in pediatric nephrology.  Treatment should be individualized according to the underlying histopathology, and clinical and environmental conditions of the children. There is an urgent need to distinguish as soon as possible those patients who may beneﬁt from prolonged immunosuppressive treatment from those who will not beneﬁt from such treatment and who will just suffer from its major side effects. The emerging evidence that the majority of genetic forms of SRNS should receive symptomatic treatment only, should also be clinically tested and studies baring its significance should be evaluated in the future.
The Effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on Perceived Pain Intensity and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Headache
Authors: Bakhshani Nour Mohammad , Amirani Ahmadreza , Amirifard Hamed , Shahrakipoor Mahnaz
Published: August 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of Mindfulness-Based Stress reduction (MBSR) on perceived pain intensity and quality of life in patients with chronic headache. Thus, forty patients based on the diagnosis of a neurologist and diagnostic criteria of the International Headache Society (IHS) for migraine and chronic tension-type headache were selected and randomly assigned to the intervention group and control group, respectively. The participants completed the Pain and quality of life (SF-36) questionnaire. The intervention group enrolled in an eight-week MBSR program that incorporated meditation and daily home practice, per week, session of 90-minutes. Results of covariance analysis with the elimination of the pre-test showed significantly improvement of pain and quality of life in the intervention group compared with the control group. The findings from this study revealed that MBSR can be used non-pharmacological intervention for improvement the quality of life and development of strategies to cope with pain in patients with chronic headache. And can be used in combination with other therapies such as pharmacotherapy.
Comparison Between Effects of Home Based Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs Versus Usual Care on the Patients’ Health Related Quality of Life After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
Authors: Salavati Mohsen , Fallahinia Gholamhossein , Vardanjani Ali Esmaeili , Rafiei Hossein , Mousavi Saeid , Torkamani Mehdi
Published: August 2015

BACKGROUND & AIM: To compare home-based cardiac rehabilitation with usual care on the patients’ Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) after coronary artery bypass graft in patients with coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

METHODS: In a randomized controlled clinical conducted from March 2013 to June 2013, 110 patients with CABG surgery were randomly assigned into two groups. While patients in group I, were received usual care and patients in group II, in addition to the usual care were received home-based cardiac rehabilitation programs. The 27-item MacNew Heart Disease HRQoL questionnaire was used to evaluate the patient’s HRQoL under and over 2 months after intervention.

RESULTS: At the time of 0, mean score of HRQoL was 67.86±7.5 and 64.76±8.4 in patients in group I and group II, respectively (P> 0.05). Although mean score of HRQoL in all patients in both groups increased two month after intervention, but this increase in patients in group II were higher than patients in group I (154.93±4.6 vs 134.20±8.2). This difference were statistically significant (P< 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Quality of Life (QoL) can be considered as a quality indicator of health care systems. Results of present study showed that home-based cardiac rehabilitation program improved patients HRQoL after CABG surgery.
Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions among non blood donor female health care professionals
Authors: Bilal Muhammad , Haseeb Abdul , Zahid Ibrahim , Lashkerwala Sehan Siraj , Saeeduddin Fawad , Saad Muhammad , Arshad Mohammad Hussham , Moorpani Manpreet , Khan Midhat Zafar , Tariq Ahsan , Habib Haya , Islam Tehrema , Advani Rohan
Published: August 2015

Introduction: Blood donation is necessary in order to maintain an adequate supply of blood to patients who are suffering from any kind of disease or trauma, which requires them to have blood transfusion. Female non-blood donors are generally low in number. Therefore, this research was carried out to assess the main reasons behind the lack of blood donations made by females, and their knowledge, attitude and perceptions towards voluntary blood donation.

Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 664 female health professionals, who were selected by non-probability convenience sampling from two tertiary care hospitals. A pretested questionnaire was presented to the sample population, and the data was entered and analyzed on SPSS (V17).

Results: 94.6 % were aware with the fact that blood is screened for AIDS, Hepatitis B and C before transfusion. Moreover, 83.7% said that they will only donate blood if a family, relative or friend would need it and similarly 83.4%  suggested that they would donate blood if blood donation camps are arranged in hospital premises. 81.8 % thought that blood donors can contract Hepatitis B after donation where as only 29.5% did not blood due already blood loss in menstrual cycle.

Conclusion: The participants had adequate knowledge about the benefits of blood donation. The most important reason identified for not donating blood is the lack of facilities within the workplace or lack of approach by responsible authorities. The results of the study may help in minimizing the misconceptions of the participants about blood transfusion, which would increase their contribution towards blood donation.
Rapid Analysis of Disinfection Efficiency Through Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Zhang Jie , Tejada‐Martinez Andres E. , Zhang Qiong
Published: August 2015

Disinfection technologies are widely used in the water and wastewater treatment industry. A rapid evaluation of disinfection efficiency before facility construction would help engineers improve facility designs and consequently bring economic benefits to the water or wastewater treatment plant. With rapid advances in computing technologies, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become affordable and popular. In this study, CFD (instead of physical experiments) was used to inform a reduced‐order, segregated‐flow model (SFM) of chemical reactions and inactivation, serving to provide a rapid evaluation of disinfection efficiency. The CFD–SFM model was validated with the use of physical experimental data (i.e., effluent ozone and bromate concentration) and log inactivation from a column contactor and a baffled contactor. The effluent chemical concentrations and microorganism inactivation predicted by the proposed hybrid modeling approach are consistent with the experimental data, thereby demonstrating that the hybrid CFD–SFM is viable for evaluating water disinfection efficiency.
Decolonising Australian Psychology: Discourses, Strategies, and Practice
Authors: Dudgeon Pat , Walker Roz
Published: August 2015

Colonisation in Australia has had a devastating and lasting impact on the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia (herein referred to as Indigenous Australians). This paper discusses the role of psychology in Australia and the negative impact that certain disciplinary theories and practices have had on Indigenous Australians. The impact has been further exacerbated by the failure of mainstream policy makers and mental health practitioners to recognise the key, distinctive cultural and social determinants that contribute to Aboriginal health and wellbeing. There is a growing response by Aboriginal psychologists, critical social theorists, and their allies to decolonise psychological theory and practice to redress this situation. This paper outlines key decolonising strategies that have been effective in interrupting those aspects of psychology that are inimical to Aboriginal wellbeing.
A Postcolonial Feminist Critique of Harem Analogies in Psychological Science
Authors: Bharj Natasha , Hegarty Peter
Published: August 2015

Since the 1930s, psychologists have used the termharemas an analogy for social relations among animals. In doing so they draw upon gendered and racial stereotypes located in the history of colonialism. We present an experimental study on theharem analogyas a means of confronting and challenging colonial undercurrents in psychological science. We investigated whether the use of this colonialist image in studies of animal societies could subtly affect thinking about Middle Eastern Muslim people. Two-hundred and forty-nine participants read about animal societies; in the experimental condition these were described as “harems” and accompanied by the analogy of harems in Middle Eastern Muslim societies. In the two control conditions, animal societies were either described as “groups” or “harems”, with no mention of the analogy. In the experimental condition, participants falsely remembered descriptions of Muslim people of the Middle East as applying to animals. This finding replicates the “resistance is futile” effect (Blanchette & Dunbar, 2002; Perrott, Gentner, & Bodenhausen, 2005) by which false remembering of analogical statements as previously seen literal descriptions is taken as suggestive of analogical mapping between two disparate concepts. As such, the study contributes to debate between feminist and evolutionary psychology about the value-neutrality of psychology, and to postcolonial critique of the partiality of mainstream psychological accounts of the universality of nature and society.
Beyond Adaptation: Decolonizing Approaches to Coping With Oppression
Authors: Phillips Nia L. , Adams Glenn , Salter Phia S.
Published: August 2015

How should one respond to racial oppression? Conventional prescriptions of mainstream social psychological science emphasize the idea ofcopingwith oppression—whether via emotional management strategies that emphasize denial or disengagement; problem-focused strategies that emphasize compensation, self-efficacy, or skills training; or collective strategies that emphasize emotional support—in ways that promote adaptation to, rather than transformation of, oppressive social structures. Following a brief review of the literature on coping with racism and oppression, we present an alternative model rooted in perspectives of liberation psychology (Martín-Baró, 1994). This decolonial approach emphasizes critical consciousness (rather than cultivated ignorance) of racial oppression, a focus on de-ideologization (rather than legitimation) of status quo realities, and illumination of models of identification conducive to collective action. Whereas the standard approach to coping with oppression may ultimately both reinforce and reproduce systems of domination, we propose a decolonial approach to racism perception as a more effective strategy for enduring prosperity and well-being.
Decolonizing Liberation: Toward a Transnational Feminist Psychology
Authors: Kurtiş Tuğçe , Adams Glenn
Published: August 2015

This paper engages the theme of “decolonizing psychological science” in the context of a perspective on psychological theory and research—namely, feminist psychology—that shares an emphasis on broad liberation. Although conceived as a universal theory and practice of liberation, scholars across diverse sites have suggested that feminism—perhaps especially as it manifests in psychological science—is not always compatible with and at times is even contradictory to global struggles for decolonization. The liberatory impulse of feminist psychology falls short of its potential not only because of its grounding in neocolonial legacies of hegemonic feminisms, but also because of its complicity with neocolonial tendencies of hegemonic psychological science. In response to these concerns, we draw upon on perspectives of transnational feminisms and cultural psychology as tools to decolonize (feminist) psychology. We then propose the possibility of a (transnational) feminist psychology that takes the epistemological position of people in various marginalized majority-world settings as a resource to rethink conventional scientific wisdom and liberate “liberation”. Rather than freeing some women to better participate in global domination, a transnational feminist psychology illuminates sustainable ways of being that are consistent with broader liberation of humanity in general.
Decolonizing Psychological Science: Introduction to the Special Thematic Section
Authors: Adams Glenn , Dobles Ignacio , Gómez Luis H. , Kurtiş Tuğçe , Molina Ludwin E.
Published: August 2015

Despite unprecedented access to information and diffusion of knowledge across the globe, the bulk of work in mainstream psychological science still reflects and promotes the interests of a privileged minority of people in affluent centers of the modern global order. Compared to other social science disciplines, there are few critical voices who reflect on the Euro-American colonial character of psychological science, particularly its relationship to ongoing processes of domination that facilitate growth for a privileged minority but undermine sustainability for the global majority. Moved by mounting concerns about ongoing forms of multiple oppression (including racialized violence, economic injustice, unsustainable over-development, and ecological damage), we proposed a special thematic section and issued a call for papers devoted to the topic of "decolonizing psychological science". In this introduction to the special section, we first discuss two perspectives—liberation psychology and cultural psychology—that have informed our approach to the topic. We then discuss manifestations of coloniality in psychological science and describe three approaches to decolonization—indigenization, accompaniment, and denaturalization—that emerge from contributions to the special section. We conclude with an invitation to readers to submit their own original contributions to an ongoing effort to create an online collection of digitally linked articles on the topic of decolonizing psychological science.
Analysis of vibration effects on holographic data storage system
Authors: Ishii Toshiki , Shimada Ken-ichi , Hoshizawa Taku , Takashima Yuzuru
Published: August 2015

It is crucial to understand the effects of random mechanical vibration on holographic data storage system, but such effects have not yet been formalized. Therefore, we developed a generalized formalization of vibration effects using a concept of time-averaged holography. Normalized intensity as a function of a statistical measure of vibration waveforms is simulated by simple harmonic oscillation, then normalized intensity is predicted well even for random vibration waveforms. Servo and mechanical systems will be designed solely by specifying the required signal level, which enables efficient product development.
Bdellovibrio
Authors: Williams Henry N. , Baer Marcie L. , Tudor John J.
Published: August 2015

Bdel.lo.vib' ri.o
. Gr. n.
bdella
leech, sucker; M.L. masc. n.
Vibrio
a generic name; M.L. n.
Bdellovibrio
a leechlike vibrio.

Proteobacteria / Deltaproteobacteria / Bdellovibrionales / Bdellovibrionaceae / Bdellovibrio

Vibrios, 0.20–0.4 × 0.5–1.4 μm. Motile by a single, polar, sheathed flagellum
. Gram negative.
Prey upon Gram‐negative bacteria. Have a predatory lifestyle characterized by two distinct phases, a free‐living attack phase and an intraperiplasmic growth phase
(Figure 1). Prey‐independent mutants that have lost their requirement for prey cells occur spontaneously and can be isolated in the laboratory. Some of these prey‐independent mutants retain the ability to grow predaciously and are considered to be facultative with respect to their requirement for prey cells.
Aerobic
, having a strictly respiratory type of metabolism with oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Contain cytochromes
a, c
, and
b
.
Mesophilic. Oxidase positive
. Catalase variable. Occur in fresh and salt water, soil, and sewage.

The mol
%
G
+
C of the DNA is
: 49.5–51 (Torrella et al., 1978).

Type species
:
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus
Stolp and Starr 1963, 243.
Micavibrio
Authors: Baer Marcie L. , Williams Henry N.
Published: August 2015

Mi.ca.vib' ri.o
. M.L. fem. n.
mica
a tiny thing; L. v.
vibrio
to move rapidly to and fro; M.L. masc. n.
vibrio
that which vibrates; M.L. masc. n.
Micavibrio
a tiny vibrio.

Proteobacteria / Deltaproteobacteria / Bdellovibrionales / Bdellovibrionaceae / Micavibrio

Curved rods 0.25–0.4 × 0.5–1.0 μm
. Occur singly.
Motile by a single, sheathless, polar flagellum
approximately 13–15 nm in diameter. Gram negative. Electron microscopy demonstrates the cell wall infrastructure to be consistent with Gram‐negative bacteria (Lambina et al., 1982).
Exoparasitic on other bacteria
. Attach themselves to their bacterial prey by the end opposite the flagellum and position themselves parallel to the longitudinal axis of the prey cell.
They remain along the outside of the prey cell
(unlike the genus
Bdellovibrio
, which penetrates its prey).
After attachment, the cells lose their motility, multiply by binary fission, and eventually cause lysis of their prey cell. The organisms have an obligate requirement for prey cells for multiplication
and lack the ability to propagate themselves on nutrient rich media.

Initial prey susceptibility appears to be specific for members of the genus
Pseudomonas
and
Xanthomonas

, with different
Micavibrio
species having different prey requirements. Resistant to vibriostatic agent 0/129.

The mol
%
G
+
C of the DNA is
: 57.

Type species
:
Micavibrio admirandus
Lambina, Afinogenova, Romai Penabad, Konovalova and Pushkareva 1989, 93 (Effective publication: Lambina, Afinogenova, Romai Penabad, Konovalova and Pushkareva 1982, 106.)
Vampirovibrio
Authors: Baer Marcie L. , Williams Henry N.
Published: August 2015

Vam.pi.ro.vib' ri.o
. Fr. n.
vampire
vampire; L. v.
vibrio
to move rapidly to and fro; M.L. masc. n.
vibrio
that which vibrates; M.L. masc. n.
Vampirovibrio
a vampire‐like vibrio.

Proteobacteria / Deltaproteobacteria / Bdellovibrionales / Bdellovibrionaceae / Vampirovibrio

Cell shapes range from vibrios to wider curved rods to cocci and range from 0.3–0.6 μm wide
. Cell size and shape vary with life cycle form.
Gram negative
. Cell wall ultrastructure is consistent with that of Gram‐negative bacteria. Electron micrographs indicate the presence of extracellular appendages
including a single, unsheathed polar flagellum
and fibrils.
Require viable cells of the algal genus
Chlorella
for growth and development; reproduction occurs via binary fission.
Extracellular parasites
; penetration of the prey cell has never been observed, although the
Chlorella
cells are killed and the cell contents are digested (Coder and Starr, 1978).

The mol
%
G
+
C of the DNA is
: 50 (Coder and Starr, 1978).

Type species
:
Vampirovibrio chlorellavorus
Gromov and Mamkaeva 1980a, 676 (Effective publication: Gromov and Mamkaeva 1980b, 165.)