bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal Healing of Achilles Tendons After Injury in Rodents Depends on Surgical Treatment and Activity
Authors: Freedman Benjamin R. , Salka Nabeel S. , Morris Tyler R. , Bhatt Pankti R. , Pardes Adam M. , Gordon Joshua A. , Nuss Courtney A. , Riggin Corinne N. , Fryhofer George W. , Farber Daniel C. , Soslowsky Louis
Published: August 2017

Introduction:

Achilles tendon ruptures affect 15 of 100,000 women and 55 of 100,000 men each year. Controversy continues to exist regarding optimal treatment and rehabilitation protocols. The objective of this study was to investigate the temporal effects of surgical repair and immobilization or activity on Achilles tendon healing and limb function after complete transection in rodents.

Methods:

Injured tendons were repaired (n = 64) or left nonrepaired (n = 64). The animals in both cohorts were further randomized into groups immobilized in plantar flexion for 1, 3, or 6 weeks that later resumed cage and treadmill activity for 5, 3, or 0 weeks, respectively (n = 36 for each regimen), which were euthanized at 6 weeks after injury, or into groups immobilized for 1 week and then euthanized (n = 20).

Results:

At 6 weeks after injury, the groups that had 1 week of immobilization and 5 weeks of activity had increased range of motion and decreased ankle joint toe stiffness compared with the groups that had 3 weeks of immobilization and 3 weeks of activity. The groups with 6 weeks of immobilization and no activity period had decreased tendon cross-sectional area but increased tendon echogenicity and collagen alignment. Surgical treatment dramatically decreased fatigue cycles to failure in repaired tendons from groups with 1 week of immobilization and 5 weeks of activity. Normalized comparisons between 1-week and 6-week postinjury data demonstrated that changes in tendon healing properties (area, alignment, and echogenicity) were maximized by 1 week of immobilization and 5 weeks of activity, compared with 6 weeks of immobilization and no activity period.

Discussion:

This study builds on an earlier study of Achilles tendon fatigue mechanics and functional outcomes during early healing by examining the temporal effects of different immobilization and/or activity regimens after initial postinjury immobilization.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrates how the temporal postinjury healing response of rodent Achilles tendons depends on both surgical treatment and the timing of immobilization/activity timing. The different pattern of healing and qualities of repaired and nonrepaired tendons suggest that two very different healing processes may occur, depending on the chosen immobilization/activity regimen.
Early Lessons on Bundled Payment at an Academic Medical Center
Authors: Jubelt Lindsay E. , Goldfeld Keith S. , Blecker Saul B. , Chung Wei-Yi , Bendo John A. , Bosco Joseph A. , Errico Thomas J. , Frempong-Boadu Anthony K. , Iorio Richard , Slover James D. , Horwitz Leora I.
Published: August 2017

Introduction:

Orthopaedic care is shifting to alternative payment models. We examined whether New York University Langone Medical Center achieved savings under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative.

Methods:

This study was a difference-in-differences study of Medicare fee-for-service patients hospitalized from April 2011 to June 2012 and October 2013 to December 2014 for lower extremity joint arthroplasty, cardiac valve procedures, or spine surgery (intervention groups), or for congestive heart failure, major bowel procedures, medical peripheral vascular disorders, medical noninfectious orthopaedic care, or stroke (control group). We examined total episode costs and costs by service category.

Results:

We included 2,940 intervention episodes and 1,474 control episodes. Relative to the trend in the control group, lower extremity joint arthroplasty episodes achieved the greatest savings: adjusted average episode cost during the intervention period decreased by $3,017 (95% confidence interval [CI], −$6,066 to $31). For cardiac procedures, the adjusted average episode cost decreased by $2,999 (95% CI, −$8,103 to $2,105), and for spinal fusion, it increased by $8,291 (95% CI, $2,879 to $13,703). Savings were driven predominantly by shifting postdischarge care from inpatient rehabilitation facilities to home. Spinal fusion index admission costs increased because of changes in surgical technique.

Discussion:

Under bundled payment, New York University Langone Medical Center decreased total episode costs in patients undergoing lower extremity joint arthroplasty. For patients undergoing cardiac valve procedures, evidence of savings was not as strong, and for patients undergoing spinal fusion, total episode costs increased. For all three conditions, the proportion of patients referred to inpatient rehabilitation facilities upon discharge decreased. These changes were not associated with an increase in index hospital length of stay or readmission rate.

Conclusion:

Opportunities for savings under bundled payment may be greater for lower extremity joint arthroplasty than for other conditions.
Support and Control: The Biaxial Relationship between Government and Social Organizations
Authors: Hu Yijun
Published: August 2017

In an era with rapidly developing social organizations, the policies and strategies made by the government and its role in social organizations have been the focus of research. Indeed, extraneous civil society theory and corporatism theory have certain explanatory power. However, these two theories do not quite conform to the national situation of China. Based on this background, this paper is conducted with a focus on administration of social organizations by the government. With an analysis of both theory and current status, this paper breaks through the traditional uniaxial relationship and puts forward that the relationship between the government and social organizations is actually biaxial. That is to say, the effect of the government is indispensable and its two roles of support and control on social organizations are separated. On this basis, we further expound the model of support and control in the biaxial relationship.
Leadership and Employees’ Innovative Work Behavior: Test of a Mediation and Moderation Model
Authors: Torres Francoise Contreras , Espinosa Juan C. , Dornberger Utz , Acosta Yonni Angel Cuero
Published: August 2017

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between Transformational (TFL)/ Transactional (TSL) leadership and employees’ Innovative Work Behavior (IWB), through a mediation and moderation model. The proposed model postulates that Organizational Climate for Innovation (OCI) and Organizational Absorptive Capacity (OAC) exert a mediating role whereas Employees´ Work Engagement (EWE) has a moderating effect in such relationship. A total of 267 Colombian workers from different kind of companies completed a reliable battery of questionnaires. The sample was collected through the MBA programs from two recognized universities located in Bogotá, Colombia. Structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analyses were used to test the proposed model. According to the results, there is a direct and positive relationship between TFL and IWB as was expected. However, contrary to what had been hypothesized, TSL demonstrated to exert the same positive linkage. OCI and OAC showed its mediator effect in the relationship between TFL/TSL and IWB, nevertheless, this effect was less strong than when the relationship between theses variables was direct. On the contrary, EWE does not exert a moderator effect in this relationship as it was posited, but shows a significant and direct relationship with IWB. This research allows assert that leadership influences IWB, either directly or mediated by organizational variables. These results contribute to extent the literature in a scarcely studied field, by testing an empirical model.
Staatsimmuniteit van executie: beslagmogelijkheden voor crediteuren na de herfstarresten van de Hoge Raad (2016)
Authors: Ryngaert C.M.J.
Published: August 2017

Staatsimmuniteit van executie: beslagmogelijkheden voor crediteuren na de herfstarresten van de Hoge Raad (2016)

In de herfst van 2016 heeft de Hoge Raad een aantal belangwekkende arresten inzake de staatsimmuniteit van executie gewezen, waarin hij met name het vermoeden bevestigt dat de vreemde staat immuniteit geniet in zowel executoriale als conservatoire beslagprocedures. De schuldeiser kan dit vermoeden weerleggen door te bewijzen dat de beoogde beslagobjecten gebruikt worden of bestemd zijn voor andere dan publieke doeleinden. Een en ander doet de vraag rijzen in hoeverre de schuldeiser de volgens de Hoge Raad op hem rustende stelplicht en bewijslast kan effectueren, en bijgevolg in hoeverre hij nog executiemaatregelen kan nemen ten aanzien van goederen van vreemde staten. Deze bijdrage situeert de arresten van de Hoge Raad in een internationaalrechtelijke context. Vervolgens wordt aangevoerd dat de Hoge Raad de op de schuldeiser rustende stelplicht praktisch werkbaar heeft willen houden teneinde de bescherming die de restrictieve immuniteitsleer aan de schuldeiser hoort te bieden niet illusoir te maken. De schuldeiser kan ermee volstaan aannemelijk te maken dat de onmiddellijke bestemming of het onmiddellijke gebruik van de opbrengsten uit de schuldvordering niet-publiek of niet-soeverein van aard zijn. Ten slotte wordt geargumenteerd dat de algemene gewoonterechtelijke regels inzake staatsimmuniteit niet onverkort gelden voor een bijzondere categorie van executieprocedures, namelijk deze die betrekking hebben op arbitrale vonnissen. Door met arbitrage in te stemmen wordt de betrokken vreemde staat geacht afstand te hebben gedaan van de immuniteit waarop hij eventueel recht heeft. De conclusie is dat de Hoge Raad de deur niet volledig heeft dichtgedaan voor schuldeisers die beogen beslag te leggen op goederen van vreemde staten,
Granulometria osadów dennych kanału Przekop Wisły
Authors: Rudowski Stanisław , Edut Justyna , Dworniczak Janusz , Wróblewski Radosław , Lisimenka Aliaksandr , Jereczek-Korzeniewska Katarzyna , Galer-Tatarowicz Katarzyna
Published: August 2017

The Przekop Wisły (or the Vistula Cross-cut) is a canal created 120 years ago in the Vistula River mouth to prevent floods. In 2013/2014, 82 samples of canal sediments were collected in the course of three sessions, which were next subjected to macroscopic descriptions and sieve analyses including calculation of granulation indices expressed in the phi scale. Characteristics of granulation are presented in relation to forms of bottom relief as well as varied transport and storage conditions of individual sessions. Sediments in the canal are relatively even-sized, with coarse and/or medium-grained sands, quite well-sorted, with moderately negative skewness and a leptokurtic distribution. It was demonstrated that deposition of sediments in the canal is progressing, especially in its estuarial section, which impacts significantly on its patency. Hence, it is necessary to monitor sediments in the canal in order to establish its condition and identify trends related to risks and flood prevention. The Przekop Wisły canal constitutes a natural area of a straight channel river, and studies of its sediments may be considered an important model of fluvial processes.
Concept of connection between the Mukhavets and the Bug river as an element of International Waterway E40 development on the Polish-Belarusian border
Authors: Kalinowski Marcin , Kuszewski Witold
Published: August 2017

International waterway E40 is part of the European inland waterway network of transnational importance. It is a specific link between two seas: the Baltic and the Black Sea. The route runs through three countries, Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine.The article presents the problem of the missing link on E40 IWW, particularly, the lack of adequate quality connection between the Bug and Mukhavets rivers. This missing link is on the Polish-Belarusian border in the high historical value - the fortress of Brest. The article shows three variants of connection. The concepts should not be taken as final projects recommended by the countries through which the concerned section of E40 runs. The article will be useful to create a strategy for the revitalization of international waterway E40 in Poland and will facilitate the decision on the accession and signing of the AGN Convention. The article can also be initial material supporting policies and companies’ development conducting their business, based on infrastructure along the E40 waterway.
A Atenção Primária Coordenando as Redes de Atenção à Saúde: a realidade dos grandes municípios
Authors: Sarti Thiago Dias
Published: August 2017

Esta resenha sublinha a relevância de empreendimentos acadêmicos que visam avaliar a estruturação do sistema de saúde brasileiro e seus desafios, como é o caso do livro “Atenção primária à saúde na coordenação do cuidado em regiões de saúde”, publicado em 2015 pela EDUFBA.
Quantification of Hexavalent Chromium in Surface Water Samples by a Selective Electrochemical Method
Authors: Baig Jameel Ahmed , Bhutto Ashfaque Ali , Uddin Siraj , Kazi Tasneem Gul , Khan Muhammad Irfan
Published: August 2017

The current study aimed to develop a robust, selective, and sensitive voltammetric method for hexavalent chromium (CrVI) at a chemically modified carbon paste electrode. For the preparation of the electrode, a micropipet tip was packed with modified carbon paste mainly consisting of graphite powder and diphenylcarbazone (5 + 1, w/w). Voltammetric mode, type of electrolyte, pH, volume of electrolytes, accumulation time, accumulation potential, and stirring rate were studied in detail. The current response was linearly dependent on the concentration of CrVI from 0.20 to 2.60 µmol/L. The reproducible results were obtained for replicate analyses (n = 11) of three proposed electrodes of the same composition with RSDs of <2.0%. The LODs and LOQs were found to be 0.052 and 0.174 µmol/L, respectively. The noticeable electrode surface passivation was not observed for the detection of CrVI. The proposed methods were successfully applied for CrVI in different surface waters in Sindh, Pakistan.
A relação dos ativos intangíveis e o valor de mercado das empresas
Authors: Vasconcelos Tiago de , Araújo Filho Hélio Ferraz , Jucá Michele Nascimento
Published: August 2017

De início as empresas eram valorizadas pelos seus ativos tangíveis, principalmente por serem mais fáceis evidenciados e mensurados. Ao longo do tempo se percebeu que o valor de uma empresa não se restringia à apenas aos ativos tangíveis, mas principalmente pelos seus ativos que não possuíam forma física, tais como marcas, capital intelectual, patentes, entre outras formas de ativos intangíveis. Após 2008, por meio da lei no. 11.638/07, foi introduzida a International Financial Report Standard (IFRS). Não obstante o esforço do Comitê de Pronunciamento Contábil - CPC 04 - em atribuir valor aos ativos intangíveis, o sistema de registro baseado no conservadorismo e custo histórico não atende à demanda do mercado em valorizar a totalidade dos ativos intangíveis. Logo, o objetivo desse trabalho é verificar se os ativos intangíveis influenciam o desempenho ou valor de mercado das empresas. A mensuração do valor dos intangíveis é feita por meio de proxies como MVA, EVA, Q de Tobin e RROI. Para tanto, utiliza-se como amostra empresas não financeiras que compõem o Ibovespa, abrangendo o período de 2010 a 2014. A análise do relacionamento entre ativos intangíveis e valor de mercado é feita por meio de modelo de regressão com dados em painel. Como resultado, verificou-se empiricamente que há uma influência positiva dos ativos intangíveis no valor de mercado das empresas analisadas. As proxies MVA e EVA apresentaram um alto índice de correlação, mas de maneira isoladas todas as proxies apresentam um bom nível de significância, verifica-se que a proxy EVA possui o maior percentual de explicação do VME, correspondendo a 72,91%. Pelo teste de Hausman as proxies QTOB, MVA e EVA são testadas por meio da regressão com dados em painel com efeito fixo, já o RROI é testado por meio de uma regressão com dados em painel com efeito aleatório.
Chloroplast genome expansion by intron multiplication in the basal psychrophilic euglenoidEutreptiella pomquetensis
Authors: Dabbagh Nadja , Bennett Matthew S. , Triemer Richard E. , Preisfeld Angelika
Published: August 2017

Background

Over the last few years multiple studies have been published showing a great diversity in size of chloroplast genomes (cpGenomes), and in the arrangement of gene clusters, in the Euglenales. However, while these genomes provided important insights into the evolution of cpGenomes across the Euglenales and within their genera, only two genomes were analyzed in regard to genomic variability between and within Euglenales and Eutreptiales. To better understand the dynamics of chloroplast genome evolution in early evolving Eutreptiales, this study focused on the cpGenome ofEutreptiella pomquetensis, and the spread and peculiarities of introns.

Methods

TheEtl. pomquetensiscpGenome was sequenced, annotated and afterwards examined in structure, size, gene order and intron content. These features were compared with other euglenoid cpGenomes as well as those of prasinophyte green algae, includingPyramimonas parkeae.

Results and Discussion

With about 130,561 bp the chloroplast genome ofEtl. pomquetensis, a basal taxon in the phototrophic euglenoids, was considerably larger than the two other Eutreptiales cpGenomes sequenced so far. Although the detected quadripartite structure resembled most green algae and plant chloroplast genomes, the gene content of the single copy regions inEtl. pomquetensiswas completely different from those observed in green algae and plants. The gene composition ofEtl. pomquetensiswas extensively changed and turned out to be almost identical to other Eutreptiales and Euglenales, and not toP. parkeae. Furthermore, the cpGenome ofEtl. pomquetensiswas unexpectedly permeated by a high number of introns, which led to a substantially larger genome. The 51 identified introns ofEtl. pomquetensisshowed two major unique features: (i) more than half of the introns displayed a high level of pairwise identities; (ii) no group III introns could be identified in the protein coding genes. These findings support the hypothesis that group III introns are degenerated group II introns and evolved later.
Effect of turbidity on primary productivity at two stations in the area of the Colorado River Delta
Authors: Santamaría-del-Ángel E , Millán-Núñez R , De-Peña-Nettel G
Published: August 2017

Most coastal lagoons that present high tide intervals and high turbulent kinetic energy have high turbidity and, therefore, light is a limiting factor for primary productivity. The Colorado River Delta has been reported with high turbidity values. Our purpose is to estimate the effect of turbidity on primary productivity. We took water samples from two locations within the Colorado River Delta (one turbid and another less turbid). We carried out daily experiments on primary productivity with the 14C technique during spring and neap tides, from 15 to 22 May, I991. We used artificial light incubators with lamps of cool white constant light with 66.33 uE m–2 s–1 of irradiance and another with a stroboscopic lamp with white xenon light with 66.17 uE m–2 s–1 of irradiance. In general, in the samples from the high turbid location we found a higher concentration of chlorophyll a and a higher concentration of chlorophyll a per cell. In the incubations with the stroboscopic lamp, the samples from the turbid station showed higher assimilation rates and assimilation rates per cell than the samples from the clear station. Meanwhile, for the samples from the clear station, the assimilation rates and assimilation rates per cell were higher in the incubations with constant light.
Ichthyofauna of Bahia de San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico, and its adjacent coast
Authors: Rosales-Casián JA
Published: August 2017

A check-list of fish species from Bahia de San Quintin, Baja California, Mexico, and its adjacent shallow coast (less than10 m depth) is presented. A total of 682 samplings were conducted between 1993 and 1995, with monthly efforts during 1994. A total of 90 species were identified, 9 of which were elasmobranchs, from 41 families. Sixty-nine species were collected from Bahia San Quintin and 71 from the coast; only 50 species were common to both environments. The best represented family was Embiotocidae, with 10 species, and the genus Sebastes showed the greatest number of species, with 5. The ichthyofauna of Bahia de San Quintin has never been studied in a systematic and integral manner, until now.
Systematics and distribution of the echinoderms from bahía de la paz
Authors: Solis-Marin F.A. , Reyes-Bonilla H. , Herrero-Perezrul M.D. , Arizpe-Covarrubias O. , Laguarda-Figueroa A.
Published: August 2017

Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron los de determinar el elenco sistemático, la riqueza y la distribución local de las especies del phylum Echinodermata en la Bahía de La Paz. Para ello, se realizó una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura publicada sobre el tema desde el siglo pasado hasta 1995, complementada con el análisis de los especímenes recolectados en la zona e incluidos en las colecciones de equinodermos de la UNAM y la UABCS. Una vez analizada y validada taxonómicamente la información, se encontró que en la Bahía de La Paz se han registrado 92 especies de equinodermos: 21 especies de la clase Asteroidea, 18 de la clase Ophiuroidea, 26 de la clase Echinoidea y 27 de la clase Holothuroidea. Tal nivel de riqueza de especies de equinodermos está entre los más altos conocidos, tanto en el Pacífico de México como en la región del Pacífico oriental tropical. El 41% de las especies se ha localizado en una sola zona de la bahía y apenas el 7% fue encontrado en toda su extensión. El elevado nivel de riqueza específica de la Bahía de La Paz puede explicarse como una combinación del gran esfuerzo de muestreo que se ha aplicado en la zona, junto con la ocurrencia incidental de varias especies, la ubicación de la bahía (cercana a una zona de transición zoogeográfica) y la diversidad de hábitats locales.

The objectives of this paper were to present a taxonomic list and determine the richness and local distribution of the species of the phylum Echinodermata at Bahía de La Paz. An exhaustive review of published material on this subject from the last century to 1995 was made, and complemented with an analysis of specimens collected in the zone and included in the UNAM and UABCS collections. After the taxonomic information was analyzed and validated, it was found that, at Bahía de La Paz. 92 echinoderm species have been recorded: 21 species of the class Asteroidea, 18 of the class Ophiuroidea, 26 of the class Echinoidea and 27 of the class Holothuroidea. This level of echinoderm species richness is one of the highest known for the Pacific coast of Mexico and the tropical eastern Pacific region; 41% of the species have been found only in one zone of the bay and just 7% inhabit the whole site. The high level of species richness of Bahía de La Paz might be explained as a combination of a large sampling effort in the zone, together with the incidental occurrence of severa1 species, the location of the bay (near a zoogeographical transition zone) and the variety of local habitats.
Community structure and geographic distribution of the coral reefs of nayarit, mexican pacific
Authors: Carriquiry J.D. , Reyes-Bonilla H.
Published: August 2017

Aunque gran parte de los arrecifes y comunidades coralinas del Pacífico oriental han sido bien estudiados, aún existe un notable desconocimiento sobre la ocurrencia, distribución y composición faunística de aquellos que se encuentran en la costa occidental de México. Aunado al problema anterior, el margen costero de esta región está siendo objeto de grandes modificaciones antropogénicas que pueden afectar de manera irreversible a las comunidades coralinas locales. El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo el de describir la estructura y distribución de los principales arrecifes y comunidades coralinas de la región costera en el estado de Nayarit (20-21ºN). Los resultados del estudio indican que estas zonas presentan una alta riqueza específica y una zonación clara, pero baja diversidad y uniformidad, principalmente debido a la dominancia de Pocillopora damicornis (L.) en las localidades. Debido a los efectos conjuntos de la pequeña área de plataforma continental colonizable por corales, la relativamente baja transparencia del agua y la presencia de una termoclina muy somera, todos los arrecifes observados en el sur de Nayarit son angostos, del tipo de franja. Las barreras fisiográficas e hidrológicas en la región, como las desembocaduras de ríos y amplias marismas al norte, y el efecto de las surgencias al sur, dan lugar a una distribución disjunta de las zonas de desarrollo arrecifal en la costa de Nayarit, limitándose a una sección de costa rocosa de unos 130 km de longitud.

Although most of the reefs and coral communities of the eastern Pacific have been well studied, there is still great ignorance regarding the occurrence, distribution and faunistic composition of those on the western coast of Mexico. Moreover, the coastal margin of this region is being subjected to great anthropogenic modifications that may irreversibly affect the local coral communities. The present study has the objective of describing the structure and distribution of the main coral reefs and coral communities in the coastal region of the state of Nayarit (20-21ºN). The results indicate that these zones are characterized by a high specific richness and a clear zonation, but with low diversity and uniformity, principally due to the dominance of Pocillopora damicornis (L.) in these localities. Because of the combined effects of the small continental shelf area that can be colonized by corals, the relatively low water transparency and the presence of a very shallow thermocline, all the coral reefs observed in southern Nayarit are narrow fringing reefs. The physiographic and hydrologic barriers in the region, such as river mouths and ample marsh areas to the north, and upwelling effects in the South, give place to a disjunct distribution of the zones of coral reef development on the Nayarit coast, limiting their distribution to a rocky coastal section of about 130 km in length.
On the interpretation of short-period fluctuations in the thermocline obtained from a towed sensor
Authors: Filonov A.E.
Published: August 2017

Se presentan algunas consideraciones relacionadas con la interpretación de los datos de las oscilaciones de la temperatura en la termoclina obtenidos con ayuda de un sensor en movimiento. En un modelo sencillo de relación de dispersión para ondas lineales internas con una disminución de energía en el espectro, isotrópica en cuanto a la dirección y uniforme por la frecuencia, se muestra que con determinadas velocidades de remolque del sensor es posible la aparición de un pico ficticio de densidad espectral en el espectro de frecuencias medido. También se analizan los resultados del estudio de la dependencia de la densidad espectral en los espectros de las ondas internas con respecto a la velocidad de movimiento del sensor, el carácter de la disminución de la energía y el número de onda para condiciones hidrológicas específicas. Se discute como evitar o disminuir las deformaciones Doppler en los espectros medidos.

Aspects related to the interpretation of data from temperature oscillations in the thermocline obtained from a towed sensor are presented. A simple model of dispersion relation for linear internal waves with a decrease in energy in the spectrum, isotropic with regard to direction and uniform in frequency, shows that, at determined tow speeds of the sensor, a fictitious spectral density peak may appear in the frequency spectrum measured. The results of the study on the dependency of the spectral density in the interna1 wave spectra with respect to the tow speed of the sensor, the nature of the decrease in energy and wave number for specific hydrological conditions are also analyzed. How to avoid or decrease Doppler deformations in the spectra measured is discussed.
Bacteria‐induced mixing in natural waters
Authors: Sommer T. , Danza F. , Berg J. , Sengupta A. , Constantinescu G. , Tokyay T. , Bürgmann H. , Dressler Y. , Sepúlveda Steiner O. , Schubert C. J. , Tonolla M. , Wüest A.
Published: August 2017

Swimming organisms can enhance mixing in their natural environments by creating eddies in their wake and by dragging water along. However, these mixing mechanisms are inefficient for microorganisms, because swimming‐induced variations in velocity, temperature, and dissolved substances are evened out before they can be advected. In bioconvection, however, microorganisms induce water movement not by propulsion directly but by locally changing the fluid density, which drives convection. Observations of bioconvection have so far mainly been limited to laboratory settings. We report the first observation and quantification of bioconvection within a stratified natural water body. Using in situ measurements, laboratory experiments, and numerical simulations, we demonstrate that the bacterium Chromatium okenii is capable of mixing 0.3 to 1.2 m thick water layers at around 12 m water depth in the Alpine Lake Cadagno (Switzerland). As many species are capable of driving bioconvection, this phenomenon potentially plays a role in species distributions and influences large‐scale phenomena like algal blooms.
Tidal and residual currents across the northern Ryukyu Island chain observed by ferryboat ADCP
Authors: Liu Zhao‐Jun , Nakamura Hirohiko , Zhu Xiao‐Hua , Nishina Ayako , Dong Menghong
Published: August 2017

Ferryboat Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) data from 2003 to 2012 are used to estimate the tidal and residual currents across the northern Ryukyu Island chain (RIC) between the islands of Okinawa and Amamioshima. In this region, the M2 tide current is the strongest tidal component, and the K1 tide current is the strongest diurnal tidal component. The corresponding maximum amplitudes are 40 and 34 cm s−1, respectively. After removal of the tidal currents, the mean volume transport, 1.5 ± 2.7 Sv, flows into the East China Sea (ECS) from the western North Pacific through four channels in this area. In an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis performed to clarify the temporal and spatial variability of currents through the four channels, the first two EOF modes account for 71% and 18% of the total variance, respectively. The EOF1 mode shows a clear bottom‐intensified mode through the deep channel, which is likely to be formed by the propagation of bottom‐trapped long topographic Rossby wave caused by the impingement of westward‐propagating mesoscale eddies upon the eastern slope of the northern RIC. The EOF2 mode has significant seasonal variability and may be driven by the wind stress prevailing over the Kuroshio flow region around the northern RIC in October–November. This study provides observational evidence of the water exchanges across the northern RIC, which is essential for constructing a circulation scheme in the North Pacific subtropical western boundary region.
Tsunami and shelf resonance on the northern Chile coast
Authors: Cortés Pablo , Catalán Patricio A. , Aránguiz Rafael , Bellotti Giorgio
Published: August 2017

This work presents the analysis of long waves resonance in two of the main cities along the northern coast of Chile, Arica, and Iquique, where a large tsunamigenic potential remains despite recent earthquakes. By combining a modal analysis solving the equation of free surface oscillations, with the analysis of background spectra derived from in situ measurements, the spatial and temporal structures of the modes are recovered. Comparison with spectra from three tsunamis of different characteristics shows that the modes found have been excited by past events. Moreover, the two locations show different response patterns. Arica is more sensitive to the characteristics of the tsunami source, whereas Iquique shows a smaller dependency and similar response for different tsunami events. Results are further compared with other methodologies with good agreement. These findings are relevant in characterizing the tsunami hazard in the area, and the methodology can be further extended to other regions along the Chilean coast.
Turbulent mixing within the Kuroshio in the Tokara Strait
Authors: Tsutsumi Eisuke , Matsuno Takeshi , Lien Ren‐Chieh , Nakamura Hirohiko , Senjyu Tomoharu , Guo Xinyu
Published: August 2017

Turbulent mixing and background current were observed using a microstructure profiler and acoustic Doppler current profilers in the Tokara Strait, where many seamounts and small islands exist within the route of the Kuroshio in the East China Sea. Vertical structure and water properties of the Kuroshio were greatly modified downstream from shallow seamounts. In the lee of a seamount crest at 200 m depth, the modification made the flow tend to shear instability, and the vertical eddy diffusivity is enhanced by nearly 100 times that of the upstream site, to Kρ ∼ O(10−3)–O(10−2) m2 s−1. A one‐dimensional diffusion model using the observed eddy diffusivity reproduced the observed downstream evolution of the temperature‐salinity profile. However, the estimated diffusion time‐scale is at least 10 times longer than the observed advection time‐scale. This suggests that the eddy diffusivity reaches to O(10−1) m2 s−1 in the vicinity of the seamount. At a site away from the abrupt topography, eddy diffusivity was also elevated to O(10−3) m2 s−1, and was associated with shear instability presumably induced by the Kuroshio shear and near‐inertial internal‐wave shear. Our study suggests that a better prediction of current, water‐mass properties, and nutrients within the Kuroshio requires accurate understanding and parameterization of flow‐topography interaction such as internal hydraulics, the associated internal‐wave processes, and turbulent mixing processes.
Linking plant functional trait plasticity and the large increase in forest water use efficiency
Authors: Mastrotheodoros Theodoros , Pappas Christoforos , Molnar Peter , Burlando Paolo , Keenan Trevor F. , Gentine Pierre , Gough Christopher M. , Fatichi Simone
Published: August 2017

Elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations are expected to enhance photosynthesis and reduce stomatal conductance, thus increasing plant water use efficiency. A recent study based on eddy covariance flux observations from Northern Hemisphere forests showed a large increase in inherent water use efficiency (IWUE). Here we used an updated version of the same data set and robust uncertainty quantification to revisit these contemporary IWUE trends. We tested the hypothesis that the observed IWUE increase could be attributed to interannual trends in plant functional traits, potentially triggered by environmental change. We found that IWUE increased by ~1.3% yr−1, which is less than previously reported but still larger than theoretical expectations. Numerical simulations with the Tethys‐Chloris ecosystem model using temporally static plant functional traits cannot explain this increase. Simulations with plant functional trait plasticity, i.e., temporal changes in model parameters such as specific leaf area and maximum Rubisco capacity, match the observed trends in IWUE. Our results show that trends in plant functional traits, equal to 1.0% yr−1, can explain the observed IWUE trends. Thus, at decadal or longer time scales, trait plasticity could potentially influence forest water, carbon, and energy fluxes with profound implications for both the monitoring of temporal changes in plant functional traits and their representation in Earth system models.
High‐frequency monitoring of catchment nutrient exports reveals highly variable storm event responses and dynamic source zone activation
Authors: Blaen Phillip J. , Khamis Kieran , Lloyd Charlotte , Comer‐Warner Sophie , Ciocca Francesco , Thomas Rick M. , MacKenzie A. Rob , Krause Stefan
Published: August 2017

Storm events can drive highly variable behavior in catchment nutrient and water fluxes, yet short‐term event dynamics are frequently missed by low‐resolution sampling regimes. In addition, nutrient source zone contributions can vary significantly within and between storm events. Our inability to identify and characterize time‐dynamic source zone contributions severely hampers the adequate design of land use management practices in order to control nutrient exports from agricultural landscapes. Here we utilize an 8 month high‐frequency (hourly) time series of streamflow, nitrate (NO3‐N), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and hydroclimatic variables for a headwater agricultural catchment. We identified 29 distinct storm events across the monitoring period. These events represented 31% of the time series and contributed disproportionately to nutrient loads (42% of NO3‐N and 43% of DOC) relative to their duration. Regression analysis identified a small subset of hydroclimatological variables (notably precipitation intensity and antecedent conditions) as key drivers of nutrient dynamics during storm events. Hysteresis analysis of nutrient concentration‐discharge relationships highlighted the dynamic activation of discrete NO3‐N and DOC source zones, which varied on an event‐specific basis. Our results highlight the benefits of high‐frequency in situ monitoring for characterizing short‐term nutrient fluxes and unraveling connections between hydroclimatological variability and river nutrient export and source zone activation under extreme flow conditions. These new process‐based insights, which we summarize in a conceptual model, are fundamental to underpinning targeted management measures to reduce nutrient loading of surface waters.
Synchronization of Complex Networks with Coupled and Self‐Feedback Delays Via Aperiodically Intermittent Strategy
Authors: Liu Mei , Yu Zhiyong , Jiang Haijun , Hu Cheng
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we concern the exponential synchronization problem for hybrid‐coupled delayed dynamical networks via aperiodically intermittent control. Different from previous works, the delayed coupling term considered here contains the transmission delay and self‐feedback delay, and the intermittent control can be aperiodic. By utilizing a different technique compared with some previous results, several useful criteria are derived analytically to realise exponential synchronization for a class of coupled complex network. As a special case, some sufficient conditions ensuring the exponential synchronization for a class of coupled neural network are obtained. Finally, a numerical example is given to demonstrate the validness of the proposed scheme.
Forecasting mortality rate by multivariate singular spectrum analysis
Authors: Mahmoudvand Rahim , Konstantinides Dimitrios , Rodrigues Paulo Canas
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we investigate the possibility of using multivariate singular spectrum analysis (SSA), a nonparametric technique in the field of time series analysis, for mortality forecasting. We consider a real data application with 9 European countries: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland, over a period 1900 to 2009, and a simulation study based on the data set. The results show the superiority of multivariate SSA in comparison with the univariate SSA, in terms of forecasting accuracy.
Yersiniabactin metal binding characterization and removal of nickel from industrial wastewater
Authors: Moscatello Nicholas J. , Pfeifer Blaine A.
Published: August 2017

Yersiniabactin (Ybt) is a metal‐binding natural product that has been re‐purposed for water treatment. The early focus of this study was the characterization of metal binding breadth attributed to Ybt. Using LC‐MS analysis of water samples exposed to aqueous and surface‐localized Ybt, quantitative assessment of binding was completed with metals that included Pd2+, Mg2+, and Zn2+. In total, Ybt showed affinity for 10 metals. Next, Ybt‐modified XAD‐16N resin (Ybt‐XAD) was utilized to quantify the affinity for metal removal, showing a rank order of Fe3+ > Ga3+ > Ni2+ > Cu2+ > Cr2+≈Zn2+ > Co2+ > Pd2+ > Mg2+ > Al3+, and in the applied treatment of wastewater from a local precious metal plating company, showing selective removal of nickel from the aqueous effluent. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1548–1554, 2017
pH variations during diafiltration due to buffer nonidealities
Authors: Baek Youngbin , Yang Deyu , Singh Nripen , Arunkumar Abhiram , Ghose Sanchayita , Li Zheng Jian , Zydney Andrew L.
Published: August 2017

Diafiltration is used for final formulation of essentially all biotherapeutics. Several studies have demonstrated that buffer/excipient concentrations in the final diafiltered product can be different than that in the diafiltration buffer due to interactions between buffer species and the protein product. However, recent work in our lab has shown variations in solution pH that are largely independent of the protein concentration during the first few diavolumes. Our hypothesis is that these pH variations are due to nonidealities in the acid‐base equilibrium coefficient. A model was developed for the diafiltration process accounting for the ionic strength dependence of the pKa. Experimental results obtained using phosphate and histidine buffers were in excellent agreement with model predictions. A decrease in ionic strength leads to an increase in the pKa for the phosphate buffer, causing a shift in the solution pH, even under conditions where the initial feed and the diafiltration buffer are at the same pH. This effect could be eliminated by matching the ionic strength of the feed and diafiltration buffer. The experimental data and model provide new insights into the factors controlling the pH profile during diafiltration processes. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 33:1555–1560, 2017
Product Stewardship Strategy: A Study of Indian Firms
Authors: Bhupendra Kumar Verma , Sangle Shirish
Published: August 2017

Product stewardship strategy (PSS) implementation creates ‘differentiation’ advantage for a firm. This paper presents a definition and measure of PSS. Based on an empirical analysis of 60 Indian firms known for their corporate citizenship behavior, it presents important features of PSS in a developing country like India. Results show that the firms are focusing on known, salient, and powerful stakeholders to run their existing business and are relatively less proactive in identifying new sets of stakeholders who might be critical in unknown circumstances. Firms are collaborating with upstream and downstream supply chain partners to design eco‐efficient products, and promoting their transformation toward sustainability with effective marketing and advertising campaigns. The firms are relatively more responsive than transparent so that they can balance the interests of all stakeholders. However, the firms are lagging in their commitment to go beyond regulatory norms. Further, the paper discusses some important managerial implications. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Can chemometrics protect pumpkin seed oil buyers from false Styrian PGI labels?
Authors: Balbino Sandra
Published: August 2017

A group of scientists from Loeben Universtity is proposing the use of chemometrics in the detection of authenticity of Styrian PGI pumpkin seed oil. They have shown that pumpkin seeds from Austria and foreign countries differ in the composition of various element traces. Based on that they are able to differentiate between false and authentic PGI pumpkin seed using mathematical modeling.
Oxygen Plasma Surface Activation of Electron‐Depleted ZnO Nanoparticle Films for Performance‐Enhanced Ultraviolet Photodetectors
Authors: Liu Qingfeng , Gong Maogang , Cook Brent , Thapa Prem , Ewing Dan , Casper Matthew , Stramel Alex , Wu Judy
Published: August 2017

Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) with uniform particle radius comparable to the desired Debye length provide a low‐cost and a scalable scheme to achieve optimized electron depletion effect, which is the key to high performance ultraviolet (UV) photodetection. Here, a simple and improved sol–gel method for in situ synthesis of highly crystalline constituent ZnO‐NP mesoporous thin films is reported. In combination with optimal oxygen plasma treatment to activate the ZnO‐NP surface, the UV‐detection performance is enhanced remarkably with a reduced dark current by one order of magnitude and an increased UV detectivity by over 300%. Moreover, such UV photodetectors exhibit extraordinary performance with high responsivity of up to 0.8 A W−1V−1 at 340 nm UV power of 0.003 mW cm−2, detectivity of 1.4 × 1011 Jones, and rise/decay time of 3.4 s/5.0 s. These results illustrate that the sol–gel ZnO‐NP films provide a promising template for high‐performance UV detectors to take full advantages of the electron depletion effect.
Experimental Investigation of Zinc Antimonide Thin Film Thermoelectric Element over Wide Range of Operating Conditions
Authors: Mirhosseini Mojtaba , Rezania Alireza , Blichfeld Anders B. , Iversen Bo B. , Rosendahl Lasse A.
Published: August 2017

Zinc antimonide compounds are among the most efficient thermoelectric (TE) materials with exceptional low thermal conductivity at moderate temperatures up to 350 °C. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a zinc antimonide thin film TE deposited on an insulating substrate, while the heat flows in plane with the thin film. At first, the effect of applying different temperatures at the hot side of the specimen is investigated to reach steady state in an open circuit analysis. Then, the study focuses on performance and stability analysis of the thermoelectric element operating under different resistive loads and over a wide range of operating temperatures from 160 to 350 °C. The results show that at a hot side temperature equal to 275 °C the Seebeck coefficient (α) reaches its maximum value (242 µV K−1), which is comparable to that of bulk materials reported in the literature. According to a variation of the load resistance, the maximum power output, that is a function of temperature, occurs at 170.25 Ω. The maximum power is 8.46 µW corresponding to a cold and hot side temperature of ≈30 and 350 °C, respectively.
Using an Education Intervention to Increase Preparedness Among Pet Owners: Results of a Pilot Study
Authors: Baker Lisa R. , Cormier Loretta A. , Vogtle Laura K.
Published: August 2017

Objectives

Households with pets are considered a high-risk population, presenting many challenges to response and recovery efforts. Research indicates that households with pets are less likely to evacuate during disasters, and pets left behind pose a health risk to relief workers and the general public. This pilot study explores a brief education intervention targeting households with pets as a method of increasing general household preparedness, with the purpose of facilitating evacuation and protective behaviors in this population.

Methods

A convenience sample of households with pets was recruited to participate in a one-group pre- and post-survey design evaluating the impact of a brief education intervention on increasing pet-specific and general household preparedness levels.

Results

Results suggest that the sample population was below national estimates in basic household preparedness before the intervention. Post-survey results indicate an increase in completion of some preparedness tasks after the intervention. There was a statistically significant increase in overall pet preparedness at the P=0.10 level; however, that difference did not translate into general household preparedness.

Conclusion

The findings from this study are consistent with those from previous literature suggesting that persons often place the needs of their pets above their own; however, the use of a brief education intervention may be successful in increasing pet-specific preparedness levels, which may be useful in successful evacuation and pet well-being. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:441–445)