bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ADVANCING REGIONAL STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN CANADA'S WESTERN ARCTIC: IMPLEMENTATION OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Authors: FIDLER COURTNEY , NOBLE BRAM F.
Published: March 2013

The absence of Regional Strategic Environmental Assessment (R-SEA) in Canada's western Arctic has raised many questions concerning the country's preparedness for offshore Arctic energy development, given the constraints of project assessments in addressing long-term cumulative impacts of energy development on the marine environment and local communities. There has been much interest in R-SEA in recent years, and a growing body of research on the benefits of strategic approaches to environmental assessment, but relatively little attention has been given to implementation. This paper examines key opportunities for and challenges to the implementation of R-SEA in Canada's western Arctic. Results reinforce concerns that the current approach to environmental assessment in Canada's western Arctic is insufficient to address expanding offshore energy development. However, results also indicate several challenges to be addressed to advance R-SEA in the offshore environment including governance, stakeholder resistance to a futures-based approach, the timing of implementation, managing the diversity of expectations about R-SEA, and the nature and scope of alternatives assessment.
AN EASY METHOD TO SYNTHESIZE CARBON-COATED QUANTUM DOTS
Authors: VANCE STEPHEN A. , ZEIDAN EFFAT , WILLIAMS LEE B. , STAROBIN JOSEPH M. , SANDROS MARINELLA G.
Published: March 2013

This manuscript describes a general and simple method to carbon-coat quantum dots (QDs) using microwave-assisted technology. By coating QDs with carbohydrates, you extend their application for bioimaging (in vitro and in vivo) as the metal core is now shielded by a protective coating layer. XRD and TEM verified that nanoparticles were coated with a layer of carbon-based material (reduced sucrose). In addition, we demonstrated the versatility of this approach by coating other types of nanoparticles (i.e. gold). UV–Visible spectroscopic analysis presented a red shift in absorbance after carbon coating which further confirmed that the surface of these nanoparticles was modified. QDs emission wavelength was not altered but experienced an increase in intensity. The carbon-coated QDs and gold nanoparticles generated in this study measured 14 nm and 60 nm, respectively.
Magnetostratigraphic results from sedimentary rocks of IODP’s Nankai Trough Seismogenic Zone Experiment (NanTroSEIZE) Expedition 322
Authors: Zhao Xixi , Oda Hirokuni , Wu Huaichun , Yamamoto Tomohiro , Yamamoto Yuhji , Yamamoto Yuzuru , Nakajima Takeshi , Kitamura Yujin , Kanamatsu Toshiya
Published: March 2013

We conducted a palaeomagnetic study on the Cenozoic sedimentary sequences of the Nankai Trough, recovered by the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 322 in SE Japan. Sedimentary sections of Late Miocene age from the two subduction input sites (sites C0011 and C0012) recorded a pattern of magnetic polarity reversals that correlates well with the known magnetic polarity time scale. The polarity of characteristic remanent magnetization could be identified throughout the majority of the recovered cores of the two sites, following removal of a low-stability drilling-induced remanence. Most of the observed magnetostratigraphy from the characteristic directions is in good agreement with that to be expected from the stratigraphic position of the sequence deduced from the biostratigraphic data. Palaeomagnetic data from both shipboard and shore-based studies indicate changes in the rate of sedimentation from 9.5 to 2.7 cm/kyr at about 11 Ma, suggesting that some fundamental palaeoenvironmental change in the Shikoku Basin and/or significant tectonic event may have occurred in Late Miocene.
Characteristic wavelengths in VGP trajectories from magnetostratigraphic data of the Early Cretaceous Serra Geral lava piles, southern Brazil
Authors: Caminha-Maciel George , Ernesto Marcia
Published: March 2013

The virtual geomagnetic pole (VGP) trajectories during some geomagnetic polarity reversals of different ages are marked by anisotropic behaviour. This recurrent phenomenon may be reflected in the paleomagnetic data, even if the transitional field was not completely recorded. As the long-scale geomagnetic variations have a confined oscillatory character, the VGP paths from stratigraphically controlled sequences may be described on the basis of sine and cosine functions, even if time is not the independent variable. Here we considered longitude (or space) as the independent variable which had to be ‘unrolled’ to overcome the 360° repetitions as the VGPs moved around the geographic pole.

Sixteen VGP series from the Early Cretaceous Serra Geral lava flows of southern Brazil were analysed using a modified version of the periodogram for uneven data series, and a combination of information approach. The combination of all the spectra, as in a stacking procedure, reduces noise and results in a smooth curve highlighting features of interest. We found a set of highest correlation wavelengths of approximately 167, 190, 209, 257, 277 and 368°. Phase analyses using two different methods revealed strikingly good coherence for some of these wavelengths, indicating that they are not only artefacts of the spectral analysis. Similar analysis of magnetostratigraphic data from the Icelandic Magmatic Province indicated that the two datasets may have wavelengths of approximately 165 and 270° in common. These results suggest quasi-periodic behaviour, possibly with sub-harmonic instabilities owing to the modulating effect of inner Earth's anisotropies influencing the pole trajectory.
Massive streaming data analytics
Authors: Riedy Jason , Bader David A.
Published: March 2013

Analyzing massive streaming graphs efficiently requires new algorithms, data structures, and computing platforms.
How much (execution) time and energy does my algorithm cost?
Authors: Choi Jee Whan , Vuduc Richard W.
Published: March 2013

Do we need to design algorithms differently if our goal is to save energy, rather than time or space? This article presents a simple and speculative thought experiment that suggests when and why the answer could be "yes."
High-performance computing and the cloud
Authors: Marshall Paul , Tufo Henry , Keahey Kate
Published: March 2013

Infrastructure clouds offer tremendous potential for scientific users, however, they face numerous challenges that must be addressed before they are widely adopted by scientific communities.
Improving Bandwidth Efficiency for Consistent Multistream Storage
Authors: Hatzieleftheriou Andromachi , Anastasiadis Stergios V.
Published: March 2013

Synchronous small writes play a critical role in system availability because they safely log recent state modifications for fast recovery from crashes. Demanding systems typically dedicate separate devices to logging for adequate performance during normal operation and redundancy during state reconstruction. However, storage stacks enforce page-sized granularity in data transfers from memory to disk. Thus, they consume excessive storage bandwidth to handle small writes, which hurts performance. The problem becomes worse, as filesystems often handle multiple concurrent streams, which effectively generate random I/O traffic. In a journaled filesystem, we introduce
wasteless journaling
as a mount mode that coalesces synchronous concurrent small writes of data into full page-sized journal blocks. Additionally, we propose
selective journaling
to automatically activate wasteless journaling on data writes with size below a fixed threshold. We implemented a functional prototype of our design over a widely-used filesystem. Our modes are compared against existing methods using microbenchmarks and application-level workloads on stand-alone servers and a multitier networked system. We examine synchronous and asynchronous writes. Coalescing small data updates to the journal sequentially preserves filesystem consistency while it reduces consumed bandwidth up to several factors, decreases recovery time up to 22%, and lowers write latency up to orders of magnitude.
Inexact design
Authors: Anthes Gary
Published: March 2013

In a new approach to making computers more efficient, called "inexact," "probabilistic," or "approximate" computing, errors are not avoided; they are welcomed. Some call it "living dangerously."
Are the costs of 'free' too high in online education?
Authors: Cusumano Michael A.
Published: March 2013

Considering the economic implications as educational institutions expand online learning initiatives.
Code abuse
Authors: Neville-Neil George V.
Published: March 2013

One programmer's extension is another programmer's abuse.
A new technique for analyzing soft real-time self-suspending task systems
Authors: Liu Cong , Anderson James H.
Published: March 2013

We consider the problem of globally scheduling soft real-time sporadic self-suspending task systems on multiprocessors. Existing analysis methods are pessimistic, yielding O(n) utilization loss where n is the number of tasks in the system. Unless the number of tasks is small and suspension delays are short, such methods entail significant capacity loss. We identify the fundamental sources that cause pessimism in existing methods, and propose a new analysis technique that entails only O(m) suspension-related utilization loss, where m is the number of processors.
Towards an analysis framework for tasks with probabilistic execution times and probabilistic inter-arrival times
Authors: Maxim Dorin , Cucu-Grosjean Liliana
Published: March 2013

In this paper we investigate the problem of calculating the response time distribution for real-time tasks with probabilistic worst-case execution times, probabilistic inter-arrival times and probabilistic deadlines. We propose a definition for the probabilistic deadlines and a first discussion on the response time calculation.
Photosystem II: The Reaction Center of Oxygenic Photosynthesis
Authors: Vinyard David J. , Ananyev Gennady M. , Charles Dismukes G.
Published: March 2013

Photosystem II (PSII) uses light energy to split water into chemical products that power the planet. The stripped protons contribute to a membrane electrochemical potential before combining with the stripped electrons to make chemical bonds and releasing O2for powering respiratory metabolisms. In this review, we provide an overview of the kinetics and thermodynamics of water oxidation that highlights the conserved performance of PSIIs across species. We discuss recent advances in our understanding of the site of water oxidation based upon the improved (1.9-Å resolution) atomic structure of the Mn4CaO5water-oxidizing complex (WOC) within cyanobacterial PSII. We combine these insights with recent knowledge gained from studies of the biogenesis and assembly of the WOC (called photoassembly) to arrive at a proposed chemical mechanism for water oxidation.
Mitochondrial Complex I
Authors: Hirst Judy
Published: March 2013

Complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is crucial for respiration in many aerobic organisms. In mitochondria, it oxidizes NADH from the tricarboxylic acid cycle and β-oxidation, reduces ubiquinone, and transports protons across the inner membrane, contributing to the proton-motive force. It is also a major contributor to cellular production of reactive oxygen species. The redox reaction of complex I is catalyzed in the hydrophilic domain; it comprises NADH oxidation by a flavin mononucleotide, intramolecular electron transfer along a chain of iron-sulfur clusters, and ubiquinone reduction. Redox-coupled proton translocation in the membrane domain requires long-range energy transfer through the protein complex, and the molecular mechanisms that couple the redox and proton-transfer half-reactions are currently unknown. This review evaluates extant data on the mechanisms of energy transduction and superoxide production by complex I, discusses contemporary mechanistic models, and explores how mechanistic studies may contribute to understanding the roles of complex I dysfunctions in human diseases.
Modeling Gene Expression in Time and Space
Authors: Rué Pau , Garcia-Ojalvo Jordi
Published: March 2013

Cell populations rarely exhibit gene-expression profiles that are homogeneous in time and space. In the temporal domain, dynamical behaviors such as oscillations and pulses of protein production pervade cell biology, underlying phenomena as diverse as circadian rhythmicity, cell cycle control, stress and damage responses, and stem-cell pluripotency. In multicellular populations, spatial heterogeneities are crucial for decision making and development, among many other functions. Cells need to exquisitely coordinate this temporal and spatial variation to survive. Although the spatiotemporal character of gene expression is challenging to quantify experimentally at the level of individual cells, it is beneficial from the modeling viewpoint, because it provides strong constraints that can be probed by theoretically analyzing mathematical models of candidate gene and protein circuits. Here, we review recent examples of temporal dynamics and spatial patterning in gene expression to show how modeling such phenomenology can help us unravel the molecular mechanisms of cellular function.
The Relationship between Health‐Promoting Behaviors and Resilience in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Ma Li-Ching , Chang Hong-Jer , Liu Yueh-Min , Hsieh Hsiang-Li , Lo Lan , Lin Mei-Yu , Lu Kuo-Cheng
Published: March 2013

This cross‐sectional research study explored differences in health‐promoting behavior and resilience among three groups of chronic kidney disease patients (high‐risk, early chronic kidney disease; early CKD and pre‐end stage renal disease; pre‐ESRD) treated at the Nephrology outpatient clinic in northern Taiwan. A total of 150 CKD outpatients were interviewed using structured questionnaires including a CKD Health to Promote Lifestyle Scale, and resilience scale. We found that the pre‐ESRD group had lower resilience than either high‐risk or early CKD groups. Factors affecting pre‐ESRD resilience were gender, occupational status, diabetes and health‐promoting behaviors. Factors affecting resilience of the high‐risk group included level of education and health‐promoting behaviors while factors affecting resilience in the early CKD group involved whether they are employed and health promoting behaviors. A significant positive correlation was found between health promoting behavior and resilience in all study subjects. Multiple regression analysis found that factors which could effectively predict resilience in patients at high‐risk for CKD were gender, whether the patient had a job, nutrition, self‐actualization, and stress level, accounting for 69.7% of the variance. Therefore, nursing education should focus on health promotion advocacy throughout the life of not only patients but also their families.
A Retroactive-Burst Framework for Automated Intrusion Response System
Authors: Shameli-Sendi Alireza , Desfossez Julien , Dagenais Michel , Jabbarifar Masoume
Published: March 2013

The aim of this paper is to present an adaptive and cost-sensitive model to prevent security intrusions. In most automated intrusion response systems, response selection is performed locally based on current threat without using the knowledge of attacks history. Another challenge is that a group of responses are applied without any feedback mechanism to measure the response effect. We address these problems through retroactive-burst execution of responses and a Response Coordinator (RC) mechanism, the main contributions of this work. The retroactive-burst execution consists of several burst executions of responses with, at the end of each burst, a mechanism for measuring the effectiveness of the applied responses by the risk assessment component. The appropriate combination of responses must be considered for each burst execution to mitigate the progress of the attack without necessarily running the next round of responses, because of the impact on legitimate users. In the proposed model, there is a multilevel response mechanism. To indicate which level is appropriate to apply based on the retroactive-burst execution, we get help from a Response Coordinator mechanism. The applied responses can improve the health of Applications, Kernel, Local Services, Network Services, and Physical Status. Based on these indexes, the RC gives a general overview of an attacker’s goal in a distributed environment.
Chip Attach Scheduling in Semiconductor Assembly
Authors: Zhang Zhicong , Hu Kaishun , Li Shuai , Huang Huiyu , Zhao Shaoyong
Published: March 2013

Chip attach is the bottleneck operation in semiconductor assembly. Chip attach scheduling is in nature unrelated parallel machine scheduling considering practical issues, for example, machine-job qualification, sequence-dependant setup times, initial machine status, and engineering time. The major scheduling objective is to minimize the total weighted unsatisfied Target Production Volume in the schedule horizon. To apply Q-learning algorithm, the scheduling problem is converted into reinforcement learning problem by constructing elaborate system state representation, actions, and reward function. We select five heuristics as actions and prove the equivalence of reward function and the scheduling objective function. We also conduct experiments with industrial datasets to compare the Q-learning algorithm, five action heuristics, and Largest Weight First (LWF) heuristics used in industry. Experiment results show that Q-learning is remarkably superior to the six heuristics. Compared with LWF, Q-learning reduces three performance measures, objective function value, unsatisfied Target Production Volume index, and unsatisfied job type index, by considerable amounts of 80.92%, 52.20%, and 31.81%, respectively.
Best Possible Bounds for Neuman-Sándor Mean by the Identric, Quadratic and Contraharmonic Means
Authors: Zhao Tie-Hong , Chu Yu-Ming , Jiang Yun-Liang , Li Yong-Min
Published: March 2013

We prove that the double inequalitiesIα1(a,b)Q1-α1(a,b)<M(a,b)<Iβ1(a,b)Q1-β1(a,b),Iα2(a,b)C1-α2(a,b)<M(a,b)0witha≠bif and only ifα1≥1/2,β1≤log[2log(1+2)]/(1-log2),α2≥5/7, andβ2≤log[2log(1+2)], whereI(a,b),M(a,b),Q(a,b), andC(a,b)are the identric, Neuman-Sándor, quadratic, and contraharmonic means ofaandb, respectively.
Does Combination Therapy with Desmopressin and Tolterodine Improve the Treatment Outcomes of Patients with Monosymptomatic Nocturnal Enuresis? A Randomized Clinical Controlled Trial
Authors: Kazemi Rashed Fahimeh , Nourizade Davoud , Hajebrahimi Sakineh , Hasanzade Kamaleddin , Otoofat Abdolreza
Published: March 2013

Several therapeutic options have been described for children with nocturnal enuresis, but still their efficacy and outcomes are controversial. This study compares the combined Desmopressin and Tolterodine efficacy versus Desmopressin alone efficacy in the treatment of nocturnal enuresis. One hundred children 5–16 years old with nocturnal enuresis were enrolled in a randomized trial study and were assigned to two equal groups. In a double-blind manner, we used 2 mg of Tolterodine tablet plus 20 μg of nasal Desmopressin in group A and 20 μg of nasal Desmopressin plus placebo in group B. The two groups were matched for age and sex (P= 0.547,P= 0.414). The mean number of the wet nights was reduced in both groups (P< 0.001,P< 0.001). Upon ICCS scoring in the Tolterodine + Desmopressin group, 27 (54%) had full response, 17 (34%) had partial response, and 5 (10%) had an unsuccessful outcome. In the Desmopressin + placebo group, 17 (34%) had full response, 23 (46%) had partial response, and 10 (20%) had an unsuccessful outcome. The response in the Tolterodine + Desmopressin group was significantly higher (P= 0.049). Regarding the results, combined Tolterodine plus Desmopressin is slightly more effective than monotherapy.
Dedifferentiated Peripheral Chondrosarcoma: A Review of Radiologic Characteristics
Authors: Henderson Eric R. , Pala Elisa , Angelini Andrea , Rimondi Eugenio , Ruggieri Pietro
Published: March 2013

Introduction.Peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcomas are among the rarest malignant mesenchymal tumors. This tumor’s descriptive radiographic characteristics are reported but objective quantification does not exist. This investigation surveyed imaging of peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcomas to facilitate better recognition of these uncommon tumors.Methods.Database interrogation for peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcomas was performed; 23 patients were identified and imaging for 18 was reviewed. A musculoskeletal radiologist reviewed all studies for mineralization characteristics; presence of pre-existing osteochondromas; preserved corticomedullary continuity; adjacent cortical obliteration; soft-tissue mass; tumor necrosis; and presence of a cartilage cap. Tumor luminance was measured with computer software.Results.Mineralization was present in 17 tumors. Pre-existing exostoses were evident in nine cases, corticomedullary continuity was preserved in three cases. There was no difference in mineralization or other characteristics based on tumor location. Mean tumor luminance was 94.9 candela/m2.Conclusions.The imaging characteristics described for central de-differentiated chondrosarcomas are similar to the peripheral form of this tumor. Peripheral mineralization with a bimorphic pattern on CT scan and the presence of a soft-tissue mass should be considered worrisome for a peripheral de-differentiated chondrosarcoma, particularly in the setting of multiple hereditary exostoses.
On Fuzzy Modular Spaces
Authors: Shen Yonghong , Chen Wei
Published: March 2013

The concept of fuzzy modular space is first proposed in this paper. Afterwards, a Hausdorff topology induced by aβ-homogeneous fuzzy modular is defined and some related topological properties are also examined. And then, several theorems onμ-completeness of the fuzzy modular space are given. Finally, the well-known Baire’s theorem and uniform limit theorem are extended to fuzzy modular spaces.
Growth and Characterization of Pure and Doped L-Alanine Tartrate Single Crystals
Authors: Rajesh K. , Milton Boaz B. , Kumar P. Praveen
Published: March 2013

Single crystals of pure and Lanthanum doped L-Alanine Tartrate were grown by slow evaporation method. The cell parameters were determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction method. To improve the physical properties of the LAT crystal, Lanthanum dopant was added by 2 mol%. ICP studies confirm the presence of Lanthanum in the grown LAT crystal. Transparency range of the crystal was determined using UV-VIS-NIR spectrophotometer. The functional groups of pure and doped LAT crystals were analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy. Using Vickers microhardness tester, mechanical strength of the material was found. Dielectric studies of pure and doped LAT single crystals were carried out. The doped LAT crystal is found to have efficiency higher than that of pure LAT crystal.
Imaging Appearances in Gout
Authors: Girish Gandikota , Melville David M. , Kaeley Gurjit S. , Brandon Catherine J. , Goyal Janak R. , Jacobson Jon A. , Jamadar David A.
Published: March 2013

Gout is an ancient disease. Last decade has brought about significant advancement in imaging technology and real scientific growth in the understanding of the pathophysiology of gout, leading to the availability of multiple effective noninvasive diagnostic imaging options for gout and treatment options fighting inflammation and controlling urate levels. Despite this, gout is still being sub-optimally treated, often by nonspecialists. Increased awareness of optimal treatment options and an increasing role of ultrasound and dual energy computed tomography (DECT) in the diagnosis and management of gout are expected to transform the management of gout and limit its morbidity. DECT gives an accurate assessment of the distribution of the deposited monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in gout and quantifies them. The presence of a combination of the ultrasound findings of an effusion, tophus, erosion and the double contour sign in conjunction with clinical presentation may be able to obviate the need for intervention and joint aspiration in a certain case population for the diagnosis of gout. The purpose of this paper is to review imaging appearances of gout and its clinical applications.
A Massive Chondroblastoma in the Proximal Humerus Simulating Malignant Bone Tumors
Authors: Tonogai Ichiro , Takahashi Mitsuhiko , Manabe Hiroaki , Nishisho Toshihiko , Iwamoto Seiji , Takao Shoichiro , Kagawa Seiko , Kudo Eiji , Yasui Natsuo
Published: March 2013

Chondroblastoma is a mostly benign bone neoplasm that typically affects the second decade of life and exhibits a lytic lesion in the epiphysis of long bones. We report an extreme case of massive, destructive chondroblastoma of the proximal humerus in a 9-year-old girl. It was difficult to differentiate using imaging information the lesion from malignant bone tumors such as osteosarcoma. Histopathological examination from biopsy proved chondroblastoma. The tumor was resected after preoperative transcatheter embolization. Reconstructive procedure for the proximal humerus was not performed due to the local destruction. The present case demonstrates clinical and radiological differentiations of the massive chondroblastoma from the other lesions and histopathological understandings for this lesion.
Almost Everywhere Convergence of Riesz Means Related to Schrödinger Operator with Constant Magnetic Fields
Authors: Deng Liurui , Ma Bolin
Published: March 2013

We study almost everywhere convergence for Riesz means related to Schrödinger operator with constant magnetic fields. Through researching the weighted norm estimates for the maximal operator with power-weight functions, we obtain the desired result, which is similar to the work given by Anthony Carbery, Jose L. Rubio de Francia, and Luis Vega.
Some Common Fixed Point Theorems forF-Contraction Type Mappings in 0-Complete Partial Metric Spaces
Authors: Shukla Satish , Radenović Stojan
Published: March 2013

We prove some common fixed point theorems forF-contractions in 0-complete partial metric spaces. Our results extend, generalize, and unify several known results in the literature. Some examples are included which show that the generalization is proper.
Gene Therapy for Advanced Melanoma: Selective Targeting and Therapeutic Nucleic Acids
Authors: Viola Joana R. , Rafael Diana F. , Wagner Ernst , Besch Robert , Ogris Manfred
Published: March 2013

Despite recent advances, the treatment of malignant melanoma still results in the relapse of the disease, and second line treatment mostly fails due to the occurrence of resistance. A wide range of mutations are known to prevent effective treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs. Hence, approaches with biopharmaceuticals including proteins, like antibodies or cytokines, are applied. As an alternative, regimens with therapeutically active nucleic acids offer the possibility for highly selective cancer treatment whilst avoiding unwanted and toxic side effects. This paper gives a brief introduction into the mechanism of this devastating disease, discusses the shortcoming of current therapy approaches, and pinpoints anchor points which could be harnessed for therapeutic intervention with nucleic acids. We bring the delivery of nucleic acid nanopharmaceutics into perspective as a novel antimelanoma therapeutic approach and discuss the possibilities for melanoma specific targeting. The latest reports on preclinical and already clinical application of nucleic acids in melanoma are discussed.
Bounds for the Combinations of Neuman-Sándor, Arithmetic, and Second Seiffert Means in terms of Contraharmonic Mean
Authors: He Zai-Yin , Qian Wei-Mao , Jiang Yun-Liang , Song Ying-Qing , Chu Yu-Ming
Published: March 2013

We give the greatest valuesr1,r2and the least valuess1,s2in (1/2, 1) such that the double inequalitiesC(r1a+(1-r1)b,r1b+(1-r1)a)<αA(a,b)+(1-α)T(a,b)<C(s1a+(1-s1)b,s1b+(1-s1)a)andC(r2a+(1-r2)b,r2b+(1-r2)a)<αA(a,b)+(1-α)M(a,b)0witha≠b, whereA(a,b),M(a,b),C(a,b),andT(a,b)are the arithmetic, Neuman-Sándor, contraharmonic, and second Seiffert means ofaandb, respectively.
Mechanical Hybrid KERS Based on Toroidal Traction Drives: An Example of Smart Tribological Design to Improve Terrestrial Vehicle Performance
Authors: Bottiglione Francesco , Carbone Giuseppe , De Novellis Leonardo , Mangialardi Luigi , Mantriota Giacomo
Published: March 2013

We analyse in terms of efficiency and traction capabilities a recently patented traction drive, referred to as the double roller full-toroidal variator (DFTV). We compare its performance with the single roller full-toroidal variator (SFTV) and the single roller half-toroidal variator (SHTV). Modeling of these variators involves challenging tribological issues; the traction and efficiency performances depend on tribological phenomena occurring at the interface between rollers and disks, where the lubricant undergoes very severe elastohydrodynamic lubrication regimes. Interestingly, the DFTV shows an improvement of the mechanical efficiency over a wide range of transmission ratios and in particular at the unit speed ratio as in such conditions in which the DFTV allows for zero-spin, thus strongly enhancing its traction capabilities. The very high mechanical efficiency and traction performances of the DFTV are exploited to investigate the performance of a flywheel-based Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS), where the efficiency of the variator plays an important role in determining the overall energy recovery performance. The energy boost capabilities and the round-trip efficiency are calculated for the three different variators considered in this study. The results suggest that the energy recovery potential of the mechanical KERS can be improved with a proper choice of the variator.
Anorectal Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Singhal Sanjeev , Singhal Anu , Tugnait Rahul , Varghese Vineet , Tiwari Bishwanath , Arora Pankaj K. , Malik Pawan , Bharali Mriganka Deuri , Dhuria Ankur Subhash , Chauhan Pushkar , Singh Chandrakant , Ballani Amit , Panwar Vishnu
Published: March 2013

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors or “GIST” are mesenchymal neoplasms expressing KIT(CD117) tyrosine kinase and showing the presence of activating mutations in KIT orPDGFRα(platelet-derived growth factor alpha). GIST of anal canal is an extremely rare tumor, accounting for only 3% of all anorectal mesenchymal tumors and 0.1–0.4% of all GIST. GIST with large tumor size and high mitotic activity are highly malignant, but the biological behavior of anorectal GIST is less clear. Abdominoperineal resection (APR) or conservative surgery is the best treatment option. Imatinib mesylate, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has shown promising results in its management. We present a case of anorectal GIST diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and colonoscopy with biopsy. The patient underwent abdominoperineal resection (APR) and was confirmed on histopathology to have anal canal GIST with tumor size more than 5 cm in maximum dimension and mitotic figures more than 5/50 high power field (HPF). The CD117—immunoreactive score—was 3+ in spindled cells. Therefore the patient was put on adjuvant imatinib mesylate 400 mg daily.
First Report of a Small Supernumerary der(8;14) Marker Chromosome
Authors: Guilherme R.S. , Dutra A.R.N. , Perez A.B.A. , Takeno S.S. , Oliveira M.M. , Kulikowski L.D. , Klein E. , Hamid A.B. , Liehr T. , Melaragno M.I.
Published: March 2013

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMC) are structurally abnormal chromosomes, generally equal in size or smaller than a chromosome 20 of the same metaphase spread. Most of them are unexpectedly detected in routine karyotype analyses, and it is usually not easy to correlate them with a specific clinical picture. A small group of sSMCs is derived from more than one chromosome, called complex sSMCs. Here, we report on a patient with a de novo complex sSMC, derived from chromosomes 8 and 14. Banding karyotype analysis, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based array, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed to investigate its origin. Array and FISH analyses revealed a der(14)t(8;14)(p23.2;q22.1)dn. The propositus presents some clinical features commonly found in patients with partial duplication or triplication of 8p and 14q. This is the first report describing a patient with a congenital der(14)t(8;14)(p23.2;q22.1)dn sSMC.
Relating Centromeric Topography in Fixed Human Chromosomes to α-Satellite DNA and CENP-B Distribution
Authors: Khan W.A. , Chisholm R. , Tadayyon S. , Subasinghe A. , Norton P. , Samarabandu J. , Johnston L.J. , Knoll J.H. , Rogan P.K.
Published: March 2013

Despite extensive analyses on the centromere and its associated proteins, detailed studies of centromeric DNA structure have provided limited information about its topography in condensed chromatin. We have developed a method with correlative fluorescence light microscopy and atomic force microscopy that investigates the physical and structural organization of α-satellite DNA sequences in the context of its associated protein, CENP-B, on human metaphase chromosome topography. Comparison of centromeric DNA and protein distribution patterns in fixed homologous chromosomes indicates that CENP-B and α-satellite DNA are distributed distinctly from one another and relative to observed centromeric ridge topography. Our approach facilitates correlated studies of multiple chromatin components comprising higher-order structures of human metaphase chromosomes.
Cyclosporine in the Management of Impetigo Herpetiformis: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Patsatsi Aikaterini , Theodoridis Theodoros D. , Vavilis Dimitrios , Tzevelekis Vasilios , Kyriakou Aikaterini , Kalabalikis Dimitrios , Sotiriadis Dimitrios
Published: March 2013

A 27-year-old female, gravida 1, para 0, in week 22 of pregnancy, presented with an eruption consisting of annular erythematosquamous plaques with an active polycyclic elevated border comprised of superficial micropustules. Clinical and histological features were typical of impetigo herpetiformis (IH). Systemic steroids resulted in an unstable condition, with no resolution of lesions. Resistance to the above therapeutic scheme served as a stimulus to discuss the use of cyclosporine as a therapeutic option in this condition. Reviewing the limited literature, cyclosporine seems to serve not as a monotherapy in the management of IH but as an additional medication, in order to achieve a stable course of the disease and avoid high doses of systemic steroids.
Association of Lipids With Incident Heart Failure Among Adults With and Without Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ebong Imo A. , Goff David C. , Rodriguez Carlos J. , Chen Haiying , Sibley Christopher T. , Bertoni Alain G.
Published: March 2013

Background—

Dyslipidemia is a known risk factor for coronary disease, but its role in heart failure (HF) development is less well-defined.

Methods and Results—

We included 5688 participants, aged 45 to 84 years, without clinical cardiovascular disease, and not receiving lipid-lowering medications at baseline, from the Multiethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Cox-proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations of triglyceride, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein–cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, HDL-C, and non HDL-C with incident HF. We investigated for effect-modification by diabetes mellitus status and sex. During a median follow-up of 8.5 years, there were 152 incident HF cases. There were no interactions by sex. We observed significant interactions between triglyceride and diabetes mellitus (
P
interaction
<0.05). We stratified our analyses by diabetes mellitus status. In participants with diabetes, the hazard ratios were 2.03 (0.97–4.27) and 1.68 (1.18–2.38) for high triglyceride and log of triglyceride, respectively, after adjusting for confounders, comorbidities, and diabetes mellitus severity/treatment. The association of high triglyceride with incident HF was attenuated by interim myocardial infarction. The hazard ratios were greatest in participants with diabetes who also had high triglyceride, low HDL-C, or high total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio (3.59 [2.03–6.33], 3.62 [2.06–6.36], and 3.54 [1.87–6.70], respectively). Lipid measures were not associated with incident HF in individuals without diabetes.

Conclusions—

The risk of incident HF is greater in individuals with diabetes mellitus who also have high triglyceride, low HDL-C, or high total cholesterol/HDL-C ratio. The association of high triglyceride with incident HF is partly mediated by myocardial infarction.
Order out of Chaos: Public and Private Rules for Managing Carbon
Authors: Green Jessica F.
Published: March 2013

To date, much of the work on “regime complexes”—loosely connected nonhierarchical institutions—has excluded an important part of the institutional picture: the role of private authority. This paper seeks to remedy this shortcoming by examining privately created standards within the regime complex for climate change and their relationship to public authority. Public rules in the Kyoto Protocol serve as a “coral reef,” attracting private rulemakers whose governance activities come to form part of the regime complex. Using original data, I conduct a network analysis of public and private standards for carbon management. Surprisingly, I find evidence of policy convergence—both around public rules and a subset of privately created rules: there is an emerging order in the complex institutional landscape that governs climate change. The observed convergence arises from private standards' concerns about demonstrating credibility and providing benefits for users. These findings are important for scholars of institutional complexity and climate politics: public rules on carbon accounting have the potential to outlast their current incarnation in the Kyoto Protocol, as perpetuated through private authority.
Government, Anti-Reflexivity, and the Construction of Public Ignorance about Climate Change: Australia and Canada Compared
Authors: Young Nathan , Coutinho Aline
Published: March 2013

This article compares the political strategies used by conservative governments in Australia (John Howard) and Canada (Stephen Harper) to manage public impressions of climate change and climate change policy. These cases are significant in part because both governments acted against the weight of domestic public opinion. While many studies of political resistance to climate change mitigation focus on the role of denial, skepticism, and counter-claims, our comparison finds a significant role for what we call “affirmation techniques,” namely the rhetorical acceptance of the consensus position on climate change followed by concerted attempts to control precisely what acceptance means. We draw on recent theoretical work on anti-reflexivity and the sociology of ignorance to explain the political effectiveness of these strategies.
Transmitting Environmentalism? The Unintended Global Consequences of European Union Environmental Policies
Authors: Dudek Carolyn M.
Published: March 2013

Will European companies investing abroad be transmitters of EU environmental policies or environmental dumpers? This article utilizes a most-differentcases approach to analyze transnational corporation (TNC) behavior in countries with less stringent environmental standards. Drawing on rational institutionalism, the article examines two significant European business investments in Mercosur countries: paper pulp mills in Uruguay and fishing off the coast of Argentina. These cases demonstrate that EU environmental standards will be diffused beyond Europe's borders if significant fixed assets are involved, high levels of public awareness and action in response to environmental degradation are possible, and if the environmental policy of an industry is successfully implemented in Europe. Paper pulp milling in Uruguay fulfilled these conditions and TNCs, in this case applied EU standards. This was not so with TNC fishing practices in Argentina. Also, with high citizen attention, local companies will adopt similar environmental practices to those of their European counterparts, improving environmental practices even without domestic government regulations.
Delimiting species boundaries within the Bothriochloa saccharoides complex (Poaceae) through morphometric analysis
Authors: SCRIVANTI LIDIA R. , NORRMANN GUILLERMO A. , ANTON ANA M.
Published: March 2013

The Bothriochloa saccharoides complex is one of the most interesting groups within the genus Bothriochloa (Poaceae). The plants inhabit grasslands of tropical and subtropical regions from the Americas. Principal components analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) were employed to evaluate the morphological variation among 60 herbarium specimens tentatively identified as B. imperatoides, B. laguroides, B. longipaniculata, B. saccharoides and B. torreyana. Twenty-three morphological characters were included in the analysis in order to clarify problematic species boundaries. Chemical data was incorporated to improve the resolution on delimitation of the species complex. Taxa were delimited according to the observed clustering of specimens in the PCA plots and discriminant analysis, and diagnostic characters were identified. The results showed that five taxa could be distinguished on the basis of morphological characters and chemical data. Two new subspecies are described: B. saccharoides subsp. americana and B. saccharoides subsp. australis. An identification key and a taxonomic synopsis are provided.
Mucuna jarocha (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae-Phaseoleae), a new species from Mexico
Authors: MOURA TÂNIA M. , MANSANO VIDAL F. , GEREAU ROY , TOZZI ANA MARIA G. A.
Published: March 2013

Mucuna jarocha, a new species of Mucuna endemic to Mexico, is here described and illustrated. It is similar to M. holtonii, but the wing petals are shorter than the standard in M. holtonii and longer than the standard in this new species.
Meridional Energy Transport in the Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean System: Compensation and Partitioning
Authors: Farneti Riccardo , Vallis Geoffrey K.
Published: March 2013

The variability and compensation of the meridional energy transport in the atmosphere and ocean are examined with the state-of-the-art GFDL Climate Model, version 2.1 (CM2.1), and the GFDL Intermediate Complexity Coupled Model (ICCM). On decadal time scales, a high degree of compensation between the energy transport in the atmosphere (AHT) and ocean (OHT) is found in the North Atlantic. The variability of the total or planetary heat transport (PHT) is much smaller than the variability in either AHT or OHT alone, a feature referred to as “Bjerknes compensation.” Natural decadal variability stems from the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), which leads OHT variability. The PHT is positively correlated with the OHT, implying that the atmosphere is compensating, but imperfectly, for variations in ocean transport. Because of the fundamental role of the AMOC in generating the decadal OHT anomalies, Bjerknes compensation is expected to be active only in coupled models with a low-frequency AMOC spectral peak. The AHT and the transport in the oceanic gyres are positively correlated because the gyre transport responds to the atmospheric winds, thereby militating against long-term variability involving the wind-driven flow. Moisture and sensible heat transports in the atmosphere are also positively correlated at decadal time scales. The authors further explore the mechanisms and degree of compensation with a simple, diffusive, two-layer energy balance model. Taken together, these results suggest that compensation can be interpreted as arising from the highly efficient nature of the meridional energy transport in the atmosphere responding to ocean variability rather than any a priori need for the top-of-atmosphere radiation budget to be fixed.
Historical Evaluation and Future Prediction of Eastern North American and Western Atlantic Extratropical Cyclones in the CMIP5 Models during the Cool Season
Authors: Colle Brian A. , Zhang Zhenhai , Lombardo Kelly A. , Chang Edmund , Liu Ping , Zhang Minghua
Published: March 2013

Extratropical cyclone track density, genesis frequency, deepening rate, and maximum intensity distributions over eastern North America and the western North Atlantic were analyzed for 15 models from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) for the historical period (1979–2004) and three future periods (2009–38, 2039–68, and 2069–98). The cyclones were identified using an automated tracking algorithm applied to sea level pressure every 6 h. The CMIP5 results for the historical period were evaluated using the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR). The CMIP5 models were ranked given their track density, intensity, and overall performance for the historical period. It was found that six of the top seven CMIP5 models with the highest spatial resolution were ranked the best overall. These models had less underprediction of cyclone track density, more realistic distribution of intense cyclones along the U.S. East Coast, and more realistic cyclogenesis and deepening rates. The best seven models were used to determine projected future changes in cyclones, which included a 10%–30% decrease in cyclone track density and weakening of cyclones over the western Atlantic storm track, while in contrast there is a 10%–20% increase in cyclone track density over the eastern United States, including 10%–40% more intense (<980 hPa) cyclones and 20%–40% more rapid deepening rates just inland of the U.S. East Coast. Some of the reasons for these CMIP5 model differences were explored for the selected models based on model generated Eady growth rate, upper-level jet, surface baroclinicity, and precipitation.
Effect of Anthropogenic Land-Use and Land-Cover Changes on Climate and Land Carbon Storage in CMIP5 Projections for the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Brovkin V. , Boysen L. , Arora V. K. , Boisier J. P. , Cadule P. , Chini L. , Claussen M. , Friedlingstein P. , Gayler V. , van den Hurk B. J. J. M. , Hurtt G. C. , Jones C. D. , Kato E. , de Noblet-Ducoudré N. , Pacifico F. , Pongratz J. , Weiss M.
Published: March 2013

The effects of land-use changes on climate are assessed using specified-concentration simulations complementary to the representative concentration pathway 2.6 (RCP2.6) and RCP8.5 scenarios performed for phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5). This analysis focuses on differences in climate and land–atmosphere fluxes between the ensemble averages of simulations with and without land-use changes by the end of the twenty-first century. Even though common land-use scenarios are used, the areas of crops and pastures are specific for each Earth system model (ESM). This is due to different interpretations of land-use classes. The analysis reveals that fossil fuel forcing dominates land-use forcing. In addition, the effects of land-use changes are globally not significant, whereas they are significant for regions with land-use changes exceeding 10%. For these regions, three out of six participating models—the Second Generation Canadian Earth System Model (CanESM2); Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model, version 2 (Earth System) (HadGEM2-ES); and Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate, Earth System Model (MIROC-ESM)—reveal statistically significant changes in mean annual surface air temperature. In addition, changes in land surface albedo, available energy, and latent heat fluxes are small but significant for most ESMs in regions affected by land-use changes. These climatic effects are relatively small, as land-use changes in the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios are small in magnitude and mainly limited to tropical and subtropical regions. The relative importance of the climatic effects of land-use changes is higher for the RCP2.6 scenario, which considers an expansion of biofuel croplands as a climate mitigation option. The underlying similarity among all models is the loss in global land carbon storage due to land-use changes.