bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic impact of people's participation in forest management (a case study of Kabhre Palanchwok, Nepal)
Authors: Ranjit Yogesh
Published: January 2015

Forests as important renewable natural resources provide direct and indirect benefits to the people. Basically, it provides basic products of timber, poles, fuel wood, twigs, fodder, grass, leaf litter, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for the use of construction work, agriculture, livestock keeping, and forest based industries, etc. Similarly, a proper use of forests, forest products, and sustainable management could also contribute to income and employment generation and thereby reduction in the level of poverty of the nation. In addition, forests also provide vital role for bio-diversity conservation, environmental protection and ecological balance of the nation. Historically, people’s participation in forest protection and management work is very old through many informal traditional and indigenous forest management committees. But it has formally and legally been recognized only since mid of 1970’s through various forest plans, policies, acts, regulation and guidelines. The major aims of people’s participation are for basic forest products, socio-economic development, and overall improvement of forest resources in which the government and I/NGOs could also help significantly.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v13i0.7218 Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol.13 & 14 2011, pp.139-151
Demographic and Epidemiological Transitions in Nepal: Demographic Implications By Juhee Vajracharya Suwal
Authors: Kunwar Laxman Singh
Published: January 2015

Publisher: New Delhi: ADROIT PUBLISHERS, 2012, xvii+ 253p; Rs. 1272.00DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v13i0.7220 Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol.13 & 14 2011, pp.152-154
Impact of irrigation in the command area of Bagmati Irrigation Project
Authors: Dahal Ananta Raj
Published: January 2015

As an agrarian economy Nepal, irrigation is most important to achieve economic development. This research analyzes the impact of Bagmati irrigation project (BIP) in the command area. A comparative study of the output, employment, income and other variables related to the irrigated and un-irrigated agricultural land within and outside the Bagmati irrigation project area has led to positive result. This study found that agricultural productivity increases from 19.32 percent to 102.78 percent in different crops. Likewise irrigation seems to have contributed to increase employment, investment, net income.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v15i1-2.11854Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 15 & 16 No. 1-2, pp. 1-14
The nature of chronic and transient poverty: analyzing poverty dynamics in Nepal
Authors: Khanal Prabin
Published: January 2015

Cross sectional data are widely applied for studying and analyzing poverty at a particular point in time. However, it does not incorporate the changes in welfare level of an individual over a period in time. This paper uses the concept of poverty dynamics for studying the chronic and transient nature of poverty in different areas of Nepal. Using the data of Nepal Living Standard Survey (NLSS) of 1995/96 and 2003/04, this study reveals that the concentration of chronic poverty is larger than the transient poverty. Policies required for taking out chronic and transient poor from the state of poverty should be applied in a different way.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v15i1-2.11870Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 15 & 16 No. 1-2, pp. 102-115
Health care switching behaviour of the patients in Nepal: an ordered logit model analysis
Authors: Adhikari Shiva Raj
Published: January 2015

Analysis of health care utilization is becoming ever more difficult as consumer preferences change rapidly and the health care market becomes more complex. A number of studies primarily focused on demand for health care with first consultation of health care providers; however, the consumers have made several visits to the providers without referral from the first provider. The paper utilizes the ordered logit model in compensated demand function with example of Kala Azar (KA) care to understand the demand for health care in switching behaviour of the consumer. The individuals have adopted switching behaviour to minimize the cost of health care; however, due to the treatment failure; the total cost of care has increased with number of visits. Information and service obtaining costs have robustly determined the switching behaviour. The total cost of health care increases with the increase in events of switching behaviour that reduces the economic welfare of the household. The demand analysis of health care, which captures the multiple care seeking events, is appropriate for producing better information for policy maker.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v15i1-2.11871Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 15 & 16 No. 1-2, p. 128-147
Relationship between education and poverty in Nepal
Authors: Thapa Surya Bahadur
Published: January 2015

Education is an important component of human resource development. It is the first most important determinant of income poverty. This paper aims to explore political economy of the country simply dealing with secondary data to produce the general statement relevant to the policy makers/ leaders of the country. In this context this paper tries to establish the linkage between income poverty and different levels of education. For this purpose secondary data published by United Nations Development Program and Central Bureau of Statistics were used. The descriptive findings based on these data provide fresh insights into some of the widely recognized perceptions on the extent and causes of educational deprivation of the poor that the level of educational attainment is a positive function of the levels of income.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v15i1-2.11873Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 15 & 16 No. 1-2, pp. 148-161
Economics of Kautilya, Shukra and Brihaspati
Authors: Pandey Baikuntha
Published: January 2015

N/ADOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v15i1-2.11874Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 15 & 16 No. 1-2, pp. 162-164
Anal cancer: Current standards in care and recent changes in practice
Authors: Shridhar Ravi , Shibata David , Chan Emily , Thomas Charles R.
Published: January 2015

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE

The management of squamous cell carcinomas of the anal canal has evolved from surgery as first‐line treatment to curative chemoradiation, with surgery reserved for salvage. Significant progress has been made in understanding how to most effectively deliver chemotherapy and reduce toxicity through advancements in radiation delivery. The purpose of this article is to review the multimodality approach to the diagnosis and management of anal cancer based on a review of the published data and in light of available guidelines. CA Cancer J Clin 2015;65: 139–162. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
A Cross Sectional Descriptive Study on Non Descent Vaginal Hysterectomy (NDVH)
Authors: Begum Shahana , Akhtar Rowshan , Barua Sharmilla , Ferdous Jannatul
Published: January 2015

Aims and objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the less post operative morbidities and better compliance of the patient following vaginal hysterectomy in case of non descent uterus.Materials and Methods: This is a cross sectional descriptive study of patients admitted in Chittagong medical college Hospital and different private clinics between May 2010 and April 2013. Total 126 patients requiring hysterectomy recruited for the study. Indications of Non-descent vaginal hysterectomy (NDVH) were dysfunctional uterine bleeding ( DUB), fibroid uterus, adenomyosis, chronic cervicitis, CIN- II and III, endomertrial hyperplasia, PID and invasive mole. NDVH were performed in cases with mobile uterus, size not exceding 14 weeks of gestation, and with adequate vaginal access. Morcellation techniques like bisection, myomectomy, wedge debulking or combination of these were employed in bigger and firmer uteri.Results: Age ranged from 35 -60 years with majority (68.25%) between 45 and 50 years and 8.70% above 50 years. Seventy nine (62.698%) women were of 3 or more parity, 38 cases (30.15%) had two and 9 cases (7.14%) had one. Preoperative uterine size varied from eight weeks size 98 (77.77%), 12 weeks size 21 cases (16.66%) and more than 12 weeks size7 cases (5.55%). Table 1 depicts the indications for NDVH. One hundred nineteen patients had hysterectomy and remaining 7 had hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy. Eighty four (66.66%) operations were complete within 90 minutes and remainder needed 90 minutes to 3 hours. Average blood loss was up to 200 ml in 91 (72.20%) cases and in other cases it was more than 200 ml. Average hospital stay was 2 days in the majority (76.20%) while 3-5 days in others. Bladder injury occurred in 6 cases (4.76%) and rectum injury in 1case (0.79%) during operation. Postoperatively 12 (9.52%) patient were suffering from secondary haemorrhage and 15 (11.11%) patient from vault granuloma. Analgesic requirement was at minimum during post operative period. Cost was reduced with the compared to the other route of hysterectomy.Conclusion: NDVH is a less invasive technique with benefits,which includes shorter hospital stay and faster convalescence and avoid abdominal wound complications. It should be a primary methods for removal of large uterus provided one is familiar with morcellation technique.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cmoshmcj.v13i1.19411
Clinical Profile of Indoor Patients in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chittagong Medical College Hospital
Authors: Khan Aminuddin A , Chowdhury Md. Zahangir Alam , Moin Uddin Mohammad , Sultana Nusrat , Chowdhury Ahsanul Hoque
Published: January 2015

Background: This observational study done on the indoor patients of department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Chittagong Medical College Hospital, admitted during the year 2011. The objective of this study was to see the most prevalent diseases admitted in our department.Methods: Participants (225) were all the patients admitted during the period of 2011. Patients admitted more than once were recorded once only. Patients data were taken from hospital records.Results: Spondyloarthropathies (SpA) comprised 18.66% of the patients. Total patient of SpA was 42. Among them AS was 47.62%. Prolapsed lumbar disk (PLID) patients constituted 12.44% (28) of hospital admission. Twenty one (9.33%) patients suffered from other causes lumbago-sciatica. Admitted RA patient number were 12 (5.33%) during this year. Total twelve patients with bone TB (5.33%) were admitted during 2011. Nine TB patients (75% of bone TB) had TB in the hip. Total Stroke patients admitted in that year were 9 (4%). Among them 8 (88.89%) were ischemic.Conclusion: SpA, PLID and other lumbago-sciatica patients comprised the major bulk of the patients in inpatient department of PM&R. Musculoskeletal diseases were the commonest cause of hospital admission for rehabilitation. Neurological causes were next common. Inflammatory musculoskeletal diseases also formed a good number of patients.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cmoshmcj.v13i1.19416
Pattern of Chemical Ocular Injury: A Clinical Study
Authors: Das Subrata , Kabir Md. Firoz , Das Joyabrata , Hannan Ahmed Abdul , Chowdhury Md. Wazed , Nurul Anwar Saiem Mohd , Mothey Rajib
Published: January 2015

Background: Chemical ocular injury is a common injury among the population of Bangladesh. This present study in aimed to evaluate the pattern of chemical ocular injury in our context.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was done among 50 patients of chemical ocular injury by different substances between January and June 2013. After initial evaluation patients were also followed up for next 3 months to evaluate the visual outcome.Results: Male to female ratio was 1.7:1. Males between 21-30 years and 41-50 years were mostly affected whereas females of 41-50 were affected most. Most commonly affected occupation was service (36%) followed by housewives (22%) and majority (58%) were from low socio-economic conditions. Thirty five (70%) cases were alkali burn and remainder 15 (30%) were acid burn. Among alkali, hydrated lime Ca (OH)2 had highest percentage 82.8%. Most (46%) patients with good visual acuity i.e. 6/12  6/24 belongs to early (less than six hours) reporting time interval. It was found that 48% were grade  I and 34%  cases were grade  II injury and other grades were not pronounced. Study showed that improvement of visual acuity after initial management and subsequent treatment was significant.Conclusion: Alkali burn is the common pattern of ocular injury in our country where lime is the common chemical substance. Early intervention is essential to avoid long term visual disability.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cmoshmcj.v13i1.19418
The self-perception of adult educators in Eastern Europe in the post-Soviet transitional period
Authors: Kloubert Tetyana
Published: January 2015

This article addresses the self-images of adult educators in view of exercising their professional agency in contexts of social transformation after the fall of the communist regimes. It draws on research undertaken in Poland, Ukraine and Russia in 2009 which investigated the self-perception and self-evaluation of adult educators with regard to their own educational practice8211;vis-à-vis the challenges of transition in general and of the need of rethinking the dictatorial past in particular. The interviews with 91 adult educators in three countries illustrate the impact of socio-political change in the period of democratization on the concept of one's professional identity. They also demonstrate how transition policies create dilemmas for practice which adult educators accommodate or resist. The article discusses how different self-images are linked to socio-political challenges of society in the transition times. It analyses the possibilities, challenges, impacts and constraints of different perception and forms of educational practice in the light of the current situation in three countries.
Mini-P-gp and P-gp Co-Expression in Brown Trout Erythrocytes: A Prospective Blood Biomarker of Aquatic Pollution
Authors: Valton Emeline , Amblard Christian , Desmolles François , Combourieu Bruno , Penault-Llorca Frédérique , Bamdad Mahchid
Published: January 2015

In aquatic organisms, such as fish, blood is continually exposed to aquatic contaminants. Multidrug Resistance (MDR) proteins are ubiquitous detoxification membrane pumps, which recognize various xenobiotics. Moreover, their expression is induced by a large class of drugs and pollutants. We have highlighted the co-expression of a mini P-gp of 75 kDa and a P-gp of 140 kDa in the primary culture of brown trout erythrocytes and in the erythrocytes of wild brown trout collected from three rivers in the Auvergne region of France. In vitro experiments showed that benzo[a]pyrene, a highly toxic pollutant model, induced the co-expression of mini-P-gp and P-gp in trout erythrocytes in a dose-dependent manner and relay type response. Similarly, in the erythrocytes of wild brown trout collected from rivers contaminated by a mixture of PAH and other multi-residues of pesticides, mini-P-gp and P-gp were able to modulate their expression, according to the nature of the pollutants. The differential and complementary responses of mini-P-gp and P-gp in trout erythrocytes suggest the existence in blood cells of a real protective network against xenobiotics/drugs. This property could be exploited to develop a blood biomarker of river pollution.
Multiscale Entropy Analysis of Heart Rate Variability for Assessing the Severity of Sleep Disordered Breathing
Authors: Pan Wen-Yao , Su Mao-Chang , Wu Hsien-Tsai , Lin Meng-Chih , Tsai I-Ting , Sun Cheuk-Kwan
Published: January 2015

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor to which autonomic nervous dysfunction has been reported to be an important contributor. Ninety subjects recruited from the sleep center of a single medical center were divided into four groups: normal snoring subjects without OSA (apnea hypopnea index, AHI < 5, n = 11), mild OSA (5 ≤ AHI < 15, n = 10), moderate OSA (15 ≤ AHI < 30, n = 24), and severe OSA (AHI ≥ 30, n = 45). Demographic (i.e., age, gender), anthropometric (i.e., body mass index, neck circumference), and polysomnographic (PSG) data were recorded and compared among the different groups. For each subject, R-R intervals (RRI) from 10 segments of 10-minute electrocardiogram recordings during non-rapid eye movement sleep at stage N2 were acquired and analyzed for heart rate variability (HRV) and sample entropy using multiscale entropy index (MEI) that was divided into small scale (MEISS, scale 1–5) and large scale (MEILS, scale 6–10). Our results not only demonstrated that MEISS could successfully distinguish normal snoring subjects and those with mild OSA from those with moderate and severe disease, but also revealed good correlation between MEISS and AHI with Spearman correlation analysis (r = −0.684, p < 0.001). Therefore, using the two parameters of EEG and ECG, MEISS may serve as a simple preliminary screening tool for assessing the severity of OSA before proceeding to PSG analysis.
A Comparative Study on Energy and Exergy Analyses of a CI Engine Performed with Different Multiple Injection Strategies at Part Load: Effect of Injection Pressure
Authors: Özkan Muammer
Published: January 2015

In this study, a four stroke four cylinder direct injection CI engine was run using three different injection pressures. In all measurements, the fuel quantity per cycle, the pre injection and main injection timing, the boost pressure and the engine speed were kept constant. The motor tests were performed under 130, 140 and 150 MPa rail pressure. During the theoretical part of the study, combustion, emission, energy and exergy analysis were made using the test results. An increase in the injection pressure increases combustion efficiency. The results show that combustion efficiency is not enough by itself, because the increase in the power need of the injection pump, decreases the thermal efficiency. The increase in the combustion temperature, increases the cooling loss and decreases the exergetic efficiency. In addition, the NOx emissions increased by 12% and soot emissions decreased 44% via increasing injection pressure by 17%. The thermal and exergetic efficiencies are found inversely proportional with injection pressure. Exergy destruction is found independent of the injection pressure and its value is obtained as ~6%.
Work Related Stress, Burnout, Job Satisfaction and General Health of Nurses
Authors: Khamisa Natasha , Oldenburg Brian , Peltzer Karl , Ilic Dragan
Published: January 2015

Gaps in research focusing on work related stress, burnout, job satisfaction and general health of nurses is evident within developing contexts like South Africa. This study identified the relationship between work related stress, burnout, job satisfaction and general health of nurses. A total of 1200 nurses from four hospitals were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study (75% response rate). Participants completed five questionnaires and multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine significant relationships between variables. Staff issues are best associated with burnout as well as job satisfaction. Burnout explained the highest amount of variance in mental health of nurses. These are known to compromise productivity and performance, as well as affect the quality of patient care. Issues, such as security risks in the workplace, affect job satisfaction and health of nurses. Although this is more salient to developing contexts it is important in developing strategies and intervention programs towards improving nurse and patient related outcomes.
Ponicidin Induces Apoptosis via JAK2 and STAT3 Signaling Pathways in Gastric Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Yuan-Fei , Lu Yun-Min , Qu Guo-Qiang , Liu Yuan , Chen Wei-Xiong , Liao Xiao-Hong , Kong Wu-Ming
Published: January 2015

Ponicidin has a variety of biological effects such as immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory functions as well as anti-viral functions especially in the upper respiratory tract infection. This study was aimed to elucidate the antitumor effect of ponicidin in gastric carcinoma MKN28 cells and the possible molecular mechanism involved. Cell viability was measured by the Cell Count Kit-8 (CCK8). Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry as well as cell cycle and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis. Western blot analysis was used to detect the active form of caspase-3 as well as Bax and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) expressions after cells were treated with different concentrations of ponicidin. The results revealed that ponicidin could inhibit the growth of MKN28 cells significantly in both a time- and dose-dependent manner. The cell cycle was blocked and ROS generation was increased after the cells were treated with ponicidin. Bcl-2 expression was down-regulated remarkably while Bax expression and the active form of caspase-3 were increased after apoptosis occurred. We therefore conclude that ponicidin exhibited significant growth inhibition of gastric carcinoma cell line MKN28 and induced apoptosis of MKN28 cells via the signaling pathway regulated by Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3). Ponicidin may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for gastric carcinoma.
Caution Is Required in Interpretation of Mutations in the Voltage Sensing Domain of Voltage Gated Channels as Evidence for Gating Mechanisms
Authors: Kariev Alisher , Green Michael
Published: January 2015

The gating mechanism of voltage sensitive ion channels is generally considered to be the motion of the S4 transmembrane segment of the voltage sensing domains (VSD). The primary supporting evidence came from R→C mutations on the S4 transmembrane segment of the VSD, followed by reaction with a methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagent. The cys side chain is –SH (reactive form –S−); the arginine side chain is much larger, leaving space big enough to accommodate the MTS sulfonate head group. The cavity created by the mutation has space for up to seven more water molecules than were present in wild type, which could be displaced irreversibly by the MTS reagent. Our quantum calculations show there is major reorientation of three aromatic residues that face into the cavity in response to proton displacement within the VSD. Two phenylalanines reorient sufficiently to shield/unshield the cysteine from the intracellular and extracellular ends, depending on the proton positions, and a tyrosine forms a hydrogen bond to the cysteine sulfur with its side chain –OH. These could produce the results of the experiments that have been interpreted as evidence for physical motion of the S4 segment, without physical motion of the S4 backbone. The computations strongly suggest that the interpretation of cysteine substitution reaction experiments be re-examined in the light of these considerations.
Acknowledgement to Reviewers of the Journal of Risk and Financial Management
Authors: Journal of Risk Financial Management Editorial Office
Published: January 2015

The editors of the Journal of Risk and Financial Management would like to express their sincere gratitude to the following reviewers for assessing manuscripts in 2014:[...]
Special Issue: Design of Bioreactor Systems for Tissue Engineering
Authors: Chaudhuri Julian
Published: January 2015

Tissue engineering and, more broadly, regenerative medicine is moving into a phase where we are seeing potential therapies moving ‘slowly but surely’ from the laboratory into the clinic, i.e., from research to the clinic and into manufacturing. The numbers of cells required for cell therapy protocols can vary from tens of millions, to billions [1], and it is widely considered that such cell numbers can be produced in bioreactor systems. Thus, the bioreactor is becoming a key tool for culturing clinical numbers of human cells and the regenerative medicine industry will become increasingly reliant on such systems at the centre of cell therapy production and tissue engineering.[...]
Monitoring Groundwater Variations from Satellite Gravimetry and Hydrological Models: A Comparison with in-situ Measurements in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States
Authors: Xiao Ruya , He Xiufeng , Zhang Yonglei , Ferreira Vagner , Chang Liang
Published: January 2015

Aimed at mapping time variations in the Earth’s gravity field, the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite mission is applicable to access terrestrial water storage (TWS), which mainly includes groundwater, soil moisture (SM), and snow. In this study, SM and accumulated snow water equivalent (SWE) are simulated by the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) land surface models (LSMs) and then used to isolate groundwater anomalies from GRACE-derived TWS in Pennsylvania and New York States of the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The monitoring well water-level records from the U.S. Geological Survey Ground-Water Climate Response Network from January 2005 to December 2011 are used for validation. The groundwater results from different combinations of GRACE products (from three institutions, CSR, GFZ and JPL) and GLDAS LSMs (CLM, NOAH and VIC) are compared and evaluated with in-situ measurements. The intercomparison analysis shows that the solution obtained through removing averaged simulated SM and SWE of the three LSMs from the averaged GRACE-derived TWS of the three centers would be the most robust to reduce the noises, and increase the confidence consequently. Although discrepancy exists, the GRACE-GLDAS estimated groundwater variations generally agree with in-situ observations. For monthly scales, their correlation coefficient reaches 0.70 at 95% confidence level with the RMSE of the differences of 2.6 cm. Two-tailed Mann-Kendall trend test results show that there is no significant groundwater gain or loss in this region over the study period. The GRACE time-variable field solutions and GLDAS simulations provide precise and reliable data sets in illustrating the regional groundwater storage variations, and the application will be meaningful and invaluable when applied to the data-poor regions.
A Customized Metal Oxide Semiconductor-Based Gas Sensor Array for Onion Quality Evaluation: System Development and Characterization
Authors: Konduru Tharun , Rains Glen , Li Changying
Published: January 2015

A gas sensor array, consisting of seven Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) sensors that are sensitive to a wide range of organic volatile compounds was developed to detect rotten onions during storage. These MOS sensors were enclosed in a specially designed Teflon chamber equipped with a gas delivery system to pump volatiles from the onion samples into the chamber. The electronic circuit mainly comprised a microcontroller, non-volatile memory chip, and trickle-charge real time clock chip, serial communication chip, and parallel LCD panel. User preferences are communicated with the on-board microcontroller through a graphical user interface developed using LabVIEW. The developed gas sensor array was characterized and the discrimination potential was tested by exposing it to three different concentrations of acetone (ketone), acetonitrile (nitrile), ethyl acetate (ester), and ethanol (alcohol). The gas sensor array could differentiate the four chemicals of same concentrations and different concentrations within the chemical with significant difference. Experiment results also showed that the system was able to discriminate two concentrations (196 and 1964 ppm) of methlypropyl sulfide and two concentrations (145 and 1452 ppm) of 2-nonanone, two key volatile compounds emitted by rotten onions. As a proof of concept, the gas sensor array was able to achieve 89% correct classification of sour skin infected onions. The customized low-cost gas sensor array could be a useful tool to detect onion postharvest diseases in storage.
Thermocouple and Infrared Sensor-Based Measurement of Temperature Distribution in Metal Cutting
Authors: Kus Abdil , Isik Yahya , Cakir M. , Coşkun Salih , Özdemir Kadir
Published: January 2015

In metal cutting, the magnitude of the temperature at the tool-chip interface is a function of the cutting parameters. This temperature directly affects production; therefore, increased research on the role of cutting temperatures can lead to improved machining operations. In this study, tool temperature was estimated by simultaneous temperature measurement employing both a K-type thermocouple and an infrared radiation (IR) pyrometer to measure the tool-chip interface temperature. Due to the complexity of the machining processes, the integration of different measuring techniques was necessary in order to obtain consistent temperature data. The thermal analysis results were compared via the ANSYS finite element method. Experiments were carried out in dry machining using workpiece material of AISI 4140 alloy steel that was heat treated by an induction process to a hardness of 50 HRC. A PVD TiAlN-TiN-coated WNVG 080404-IC907 carbide insert was used during the turning process. The results showed that with increasing cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut, the tool temperature increased; the cutting speed was found to be the most effective parameter in assessing the temperature rise. The heat distribution of the cutting tool, tool-chip interface and workpiece provided effective and useful data for the optimization of selected cutting parameters during orthogonal machining.
Improving the Performance of an Electronic Nose by Wine Aroma Training to Distinguish between Drip Coffee and Canned Coffee
Authors: Fujioka Kouki , Tomizawa Yasuko , Shimizu Nobuo , Ikeda Keiichi , Manome Yoshinobu
Published: January 2015

Coffee aroma, with more than 600 components, is considered as one of the most complex food aromas. Although electronic noses have been successfully used for objective analysis and differentiation of total coffee aromas, it is difficult to use them to describe the specific features of coffee aroma (i.e., the type of smell). This is because data obtained by electronic noses are generally based on electrical resistance/current and samples are distinguished by principal component analysis. In this paper, we present an electronic nose that is capable of learning the wine related aromas using the aroma kit “Le Nez du Vin,” and the potential to describe coffee aroma in a similar manner comparable to how wine experts describe wine aroma. The results of our investigation showed that the aromas of three drip coffees were more similar to those of pine and honey in the aroma kit than to the aromas of three canned coffees. Conversely, the aromas of canned coffees were more similar to the kit coffee aroma. In addition, the aromatic patterns of coffees were different from those of green tea and red wine. Although further study is required to fit the data to human olfaction, the presented method and the use of vocabularies in aroma kits promise to enhance objective discrimination and description of aromas by electronic noses.
Landscape Valuation of Environmental Amenities throughout the Application of Direct and Indirect Methods
Authors: Loures Luís , Loures Ana , Nunes José , Panagopoulos Thomas
Published: January 2015

Landscape design, construction and management should no longer be the result of superficial approaches based exclusively on designers’ and planners’ ideas. This research starts with the assumption that the aesthetic component constitutes an essential attribute for better understanding and evaluating landscapes. This study analyzes the aesthetic quality and economic valuation of the Lower Guadiana river landscape, through the application of direct and indirect landscape evaluation methods. In order to gauge not only experts’ opinion, it is supported by the application of public participation techniques about the opinion and perceptions of the site visitors/users. The present research considered the analysis of six landscape subunits regarding landscape quality, fragility and visual absorption capacity. The obtained results showed that there are significant differences between the perceptions of the general public and experts’ analysis. Touristic Complexes and Golf Courses had high visual quality, while Agricultural and Production Areas had high visual fragility. Moreover, the performed analysis made clear that the combined use of landscape assessment methods is suited to this type of study, since it enables quantifying the value of existence, management and maintenance of a particular environmental assets and/or services.
Positional cloning in maize (Zea mays subsp. mays, Poaceae)
Authors: Gallavotti Andrea , Whipple Clinton J.
Published: January 2015

• Premise of the study: Positional (or map‐based) cloning is a common approach to identify the molecular lesions causing mutant phenotypes. Despite its large and complex genome, positional cloning has been recently shown to be feasible in maize, opening up a diverse collection of mutants to molecular characterization.

• Methods and Results: Here we outline a general protocol for positional cloning in maize. While the general strategy is similar to that used in other plant species, we focus on the unique resources and approaches that should be considered when applied to maize mutants.

• Conclusions: Positional cloning approaches are appropriate for maize mutants and quantitative traits, opening up to molecular characterization the large array of genetic diversity in this agronomically important species. The cloning approach described should be broadly applicable to other species as more plant genomes become available.
Grand Banks Scour Catalogue (GBSC) GeoDatabase
Authors: Campbell P , Burke E , Sonnichsen G V
Published: January 2015

In the late 1990's and early 2000's, NRCan, through the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), conducted research on the distribution and severity of seabed iceberg scour on the Grand Banks. One of the key products of that work was a research database that recorded
the location and geometric parameters for all mapped seabed scours on the Grand Banks. The Grand Banks Scour Database (GBSC) was developed under GSC contract to Canadian Seabed Research Ltd. (CSR) and updated sporadically when funding allowed new data to be captured. With the wind-down of GSC work
on Grand Bank seabed scour, it is important to formalize the database and release a standardized database in a documented and publicly accessible format. This report documents the development of a simplified GIS Geodatabase that represents the key scour parameters. The scours recorded in the GBSC
were identified and measured from various geophysical data sets including; sidescan sonar, multibeam sonar, sub-bottom profiler, single beam echo sounder, and high resolution single channel seismic (Huntec) systems. The GBSC survey coverage consists of an irregular network of regional lines (22,704
km) and site surveys (4762 km2) conducted by the GSCA and the petroleum industry. The simplified GBSC Geodatabase compiled during this study contains 5366 iceberg furrow features and 2680 iceberg pit features. The interaction of ice and seafloor sediments may result in a variety of ice scour types
and shapes. Features stored in the GBSC include furrows, furrows with an associated pit (s), individual pits and Pit Chains. Iceberg furrows and pits have been recorded in water depths ranging from 49 to 350 m and within sediment types of Predominantly Sand, Sand & Gravel, and Gravel.
Although a significant number of furrows occur within each 10° orientation bin the general orientation mode of the GBSC furrow population is northeast - southwest. Furrow length ranges from 5 m to 10,216 m, with a mean length of 584.7 m while Pit area ranges from 84 m² to 111,300 m²,
with a mean area of 6193 m². Furrow width measurements range from 1 to 208 m with a mean width of 26 m. Furrow depth ranges from 0.1 m to 7.0 m, with a mean depth of 0.88 m while Pit depth ranges from 0.1 m to 8.3 m, with a mean of 1.92 m.
Hepatic Dysfunction in Asphyxiated Neonates: Prospective Case-Controlled Study
Authors: Choudhary Mukesh , Sharma Deepak , Dabi Dhanraj , Lamba Mamta , Pandita Aakash , Shastri Sweta
Published: January 2015

Objective

This study was performed to determine the occurrence of hypoxic hepatitis in full-term neonates after perinatal asphyxia and to correlate between the rise in enzymes and severity of asphyxia with Apgar score and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) grading of the neonates.

Method and Material

This prospective case-controlled study was conducted in a tertiary-level hospital in India for a period of 12 months. The study group A comprised 70 newborns suffering from birth asphyxia, while 30 healthy neonates were included in group B (control). All biochemical parameters of liver function, ie, serum alanine transferase (ALT), aspartate transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein, serum albumin, bilirubin (total and direct), and international normalized ratio (INR), were measured on postnatal days 1, 3, and 10 in both study and control groups.

Results

In group A, 22.8% newborns had severe (Apgar score 0–3), 47.1% had moderate (Apgar score 4–5), and 30% had mild (Apgar score 6–7) birth asphyxia at five minutes. In all, 14.28% babies were in HIE stage I, 25.73% babies were in HIE stage II, and 11.42% babies were in HIE stage III. The rest of the newborns, 48.57%, were normal. The prevalence of liver function impairment was seen in 42.85% of asphyxiated neonates. On day 1, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, PT, and INR were significantly higher, and total protein and serum albumin were significantly lower in group A than in group B. However, ALT and AST correlated well with increasing severity of HIE score. On day 3, there was a rising trend observed in the concentration of mean LDH as HIE staging of neonates progressed from stage 0 to stage III, and among various HIE stages, the difference in LDH was statistically significant.

Conclusion

We concluded that AST, ALT at 24 hours, and LDH at 72 hours of animation can be a utilitarian diagnostic tool to differentiate asphyxiated neonates from non-asphyxiated neonates and to discover the severity of perinatal asphyxia because of easy accessibility and feasibility of tests. The outcomes of this survey would be useful for physicians who receive neonates for whom birth details are not easily documented as most of the time the referred newborn infants lack asphyxia history either because the attendants do not know clearly the whole birth history or it was an unattended delivery, or the referring healthcare professional has not been observant because of legal threats. The neurological assessment also becomes difficult and inconclusive as ventilator treatment, sedative drugs, and anticonvulsant therapy would produce an evaluation of severity of hypoxic ischemic brain disease and neurological insult difficult.
Итерационный подход к непереопределенной обратной задаче рассеяния при фиксированной энергии
Authors: Novikov Roman Gennadievich
Published: January 2015

Предлагается итерационный алгоритм приближенного восстановления для непереопределенной обратной
задачи рассеяния при фиксированной энергии $E$ с неполными данными в размерности $d\geqslant 2$. В частности, получены быстро сходящиеся приближенные восстановления для этой обратной задачи при $E\to+\infty$.
Библиография: 38 названий.
Аналоги теоремы Сегe для эргодических операторов
Authors: Kirsch Werner , Pastur Leonid Andreevich
Published: January 2015

Теорема Сегe об асимптотическом поведении детерминантов теплицевых матриц большого порядка обобщается на класс эргодичеcких операторов. Это обобщение формулируется в терминах тройки, состоящей из эргодического оператора и двух функций - символа и пробной функции. Показано, что для одномерного дискретного оператора Шрeдингера со случайным эргодическим или квазипериодическим потенциалом и различных выборов символа и пробной функции такое обобщение приводит к ряду результатов, не имеющих аналогов в ситуации теплицевых операторов.
Библиография: 22 названия.
Análisis del manejo de cuencas como herramienta para el aprovechamiento sustentable de recursos naturales
Authors: López Báez Walter
Published: January 2015

Ante el grave deterioro ambiental y los evidentes efectos del cambio climático, el concepto de cuencas hidrográficas ha recobrado importancia en el contexto mundial como una vía idónea para el aprovechamiento sustentable de los recursos naturales y la disminución de riesgos de desastres. A pesar de estar ampliamente sustentado que la cuenca hidrográfica es una vía idónea para el aprovechamiento sustentable de los recursos naturales, aún existen muchas limitaciones para su uso como unidad de planificación. Una de las principales causas de esta situación es el desconocimiento de los conceptos y principios del enfoque de manejo integral de cuencas con pensamiento sistémico, tan necesario para detener o revertir su deterioro. En este artículo se analiza el concepto y los desafíos que representa la tarea del manejo integral de cuencas con visión sistémica, con el propósito de que sirva de referencia para futuros proyectos sobre el tema.
Control de la cenicilla del melón (Podosphaera xanthii) mediante el uso de extracto de Larrea tridentata (D.C.) Coville (L.).
Authors: Chávez Solís Aarón Leobardo , Pedroza Sandoval Aurelio , Nava Díaz Cristian , Cano Ríos Pedro , Castro Franco Rafael
Published: January 2015

Este estudio se llevó a cabo en Ceballos del municipio de Mapimí, Durango con el objetivo de evaluar la efectividad del extracto de gobernadora (Larrea tridentata (D.C.) coville (L.)), para el control de cenicilla en el cultivo de melón. Se estableció un experimento en una parcela de 2,500 bajo un diseño de bloques con arreglo de parcelas sub sub-divididas, donde las parcelas grandes fueron las variedades de melón (Crusier y Navigator), las parcelas medianas fueron las formulaciones m2 del extracto de gobernadora (agua, hidroalcohólico 50 % agua y 50 % alcohol y, etanolico 96 %) y las parcelas chicas correspondieron a las dosis (0, 1000, 5000 y 10000 mg) de planta por litro de agua. Se evaluó la severidad de infección de cenicilla Podosphaera xanthii a los 37, 45 , 53 y 61 días después de la siembra. Los factores analizados fueron independientes entre sí. Las dosis 1,000 y 5,000 mg de planta de gobernadora por litro de agua, disminuyen el área bajo la curva del progreso de la enfermedad, con valores de: 7.9 y 8.7 %-días respectivamente. De acuerdo al análisis espacial, se identificó que el avance de la severidad de infección de la cenicilla es en la misma dirección de crecimiento todo el tiempo, de donde se originó el foco de infección lado noroeste, hacia el lado sureste. No hubo efecto de tratamiento en cosecha de fruto de primera; en tanto que, para fruto de rezaga la variedad Navigator mostró el mejor comportamiento al tener menor producción de este tipo de fruto de desecho (20.7 kg). También en contenido de azúcares, no hubo efecto entre tratamientos, excepto en la interacción Crusier y dosis de 10,000 mg de planta por litro de agua, donde el contenido de grados Brix, fue significativamente menor (6.8).
Regionalización de zonas con escaso régimen pluvial: Estudio de caso zona Centro-Norte del estado de Durango, México
Authors: Pedroza-Sandoval Aurelio , Sánchez-Cohen Ignacio , Becerra López Jorge Luis , Ramos Cortez Edith , Reyes Bernabé César , Rosales Palacios Lirio Vianey , Vargas-Piedra Gonzalo
Published: January 2015

La regionalización, es una parte fundamental de la planeación en el uso y manejo de los recursos naturales. La zona centro-norte del estado de Durango, es una de las áreas más representativas del semiárido mexicano, la cual presenta un alto grado de vulnerabilidad ecológica que hace imperante un uso y manejo de sus recursos naturales con mejores bases de planeación. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo identificar, con indicadores biofísicos, las diferentes microrregiones de la zona centro-norte del estado de Durango, México, para una mejor planeación de desarrollo regional en un marco de sustentabilidad. Mediante el uso de mapas fisiográficos digitalizados y técnicas SIG; así como de índices de aridez e intensidad de sequía usando bases de datos históricos climatológicos de temperaturas máximas y mínimas y precipitación, se obtuvieron diferentes microrregiones en el área de estudio. Con base en el tipo de vegetación, se identificaron dos grandes subrregiones: la de pastizal con orientación Este y la de matorral xerófilo con orientación Oeste; con base en el grado de aridez existen tres grandes subregiones, la más árida (Categoría A2) y menos árida (Categoría B2) de las zonas áridas y la menos árida de las zonas semiáridas (Categoría B3). Adicionalmente se identificaron tres principales intensidades de sequía: ligera, moderada y mínima. Integrando los tres criterios resultaron 13 ecorregiones, lo cual puede ser base para una mejor planificación de los procesos productivos agropecuarios y forestales en atención a un mejor uso y manejo de los recursos naturales.
Fundamentos para el análisis de riesgo climático en zonas áridas
Authors: Sánchez Cohen Ignacio
Published: January 2015

Los sistemas productivos de zonas áridas están sujetos a la aleatoriedad climática lo que les da la categoría de sistemas bajo riesgo. El uso de modelos de simulación que consideren esta aleatoriedad, son la mejor opción para cuantificar la probabilidad de ocurrencia de eventos de lluvia y/o escurrimiento (riesgo). En el presente trabajo se analizan los fundamentos teóricos estadísticos–matemáticos necesarios para incursionar en la simulación y modelación de procesos hidrológicos en zonas áridas. También, se propone un método para cuantificar la precipitación y escurrimiento en sistemas de captación de agua de lluvia para aquellas regiones desprovistas o con poca instrumentación. De igual manera se pondera la necesidad de realizar el análisis de sensibilidad del modelo así como el proceso de calibración.
Impacto hidrológico del cambio de uso del suelo de un pastizal nativo a praderas de zacate buffel (Pennisetum ciliare L.)
Authors: Velásquez-Valle Miguel Agustín , Sánchez-Cohen Ignacio , Gutiérrez-Luna Ramón , Muñoz-Villalobos J. Arcadio , Macías-Rodríguez Hilario
Published: January 2015

El objetivo de este trabajo es documentar el impacto del establecimiento de praderas de zacate buffel (Pennisetum ciliare L.) en terrenos de pastizal, sobre la tasa de infiltración del suelo. El estudio se estableció en el área de San Luis del Cordero, Dgo. Para determinar el impacto se realizaron pruebas de infiltración con un simulador de lluvia en praderas de zacate buffel y en terrenos de pastizal nativo. Las simulaciones se realizaron en condiciones secas y húmedas (24 horas después de las simulaciones en seco) para tres repeticiones en cada uso del suelo y condición de humedad. La base de datos hidrológica, lámina precipitada (mm) y volumen escurrido (l) fueron medidos cada 5 minutos durante la prueba, la cual tuvo una duración de 50 minutos. Los resultados indican que para las dos condiciones de uso del suelo la tasa de infiltración final se puede clasificar como moderada (entre 2.0 a 6.6 cm·h-1). Para las tasas de infiltración, la evaluación del cambio en el uso del suelo de un pastizal nativo al establecimiento de una pradera de zacate buffel en la región de estudio no representó diferencias estadísticamente significativas (P ≤ 0.05) entre usos de suelo. Para el sitio experimental, en la condición de la pradera con zacate buffel y la de pastizal nativo, en promedio la tasa de infiltración final fue de 5.04 y 3.88 cm·h-1, respectivamente.