bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
La rémunération des expatriés : le point de vue d'un consultant canadien
Authors: St-Onge Sylvie , Aoun Ronny
Published: June 2012

Résumé Ce texte présente des extraits d’une entrevue menée auprès d’un conseiller en rémunération des expatriés travaillant pour une grande société-conseil au Québec. Ce dernier exprime, dans des mots simples et concrets, les particularités et les tendances en matière de rémunération des expatriés. Il décrit aussi les risques et les principaux défis auxquels font face les dirigeants, les cadres, les professionnels des ressources humaines, les employés à l’étranger et les consultants dans ce domaine.
Comprendre le cycle émotionnel des expatriés de longue durée pour mieux le gérer
Authors: Joly Allain
Published: June 2012

Résumé La vie des expatriés de longue durée traverse une série d’étapes assez prévisibles. Ils vivent d’abord une période d’exaltation, à laquelle succède une phase dépressive. Ayant réussi à composer avec la réalité du pays d’accueil lorsqu’ils se rapprochent de la fin de leur mandat, ils rentrent chez eux pour découvrir un choc inattendu, celui du retour. Dans cet article, nous vous proposons de découvrir ces différentes phases de la vie des expatriés de longue durée. Ensuite, afin d’optimiser les retombées et de minimiser les inconvénients de l’expatriation sur les plans individuel et organisationnel, nous formulons des recommandations destinées aux employés expatriés ainsi qu’aux entreprises qui recourent à leurs services.
La gestion des magasins entrepôts : défis et stratégies
Authors: Brunet Johanne , Deschênes Jonathan , Lambert Emanuelle
Published: June 2012

Résumé On trouve de plus en plus de magasins entrepôts, c’est-à-dire des magasins de vente au rabais appartenant à un fabricant, des chaînes de magasins spécialisés ou de magasins à rayons. L’arrivée de cet acteur dans le secteur du commerce de détail n’est pas sans occasionner des conflits ou des défis dans un réseau de distribution. Cet article analyse, à l’aide d’une étude de cas d’un grand fabricant international, trois stratégies à adopter pour bien intégrer les magasins entrepôts aux canaux de distribution d’une entreprise, soit recourir à un mix marketing qui est propre au magasin entrepôt, communiquer les particularités du magasin entrepôt aux employés et aux clients et, finalement, nommer des leaders de marque, les consulter et solliciter leur participation.
Résoudre les tensions entre généralisation et singularité par l'écriture comparative ?
Authors: Béal Vincent
Published: June 2012

Résumé Cet article cherche à comprendre comment le dilemme entre montée en généralité théorique et idiosyncrasie des terrains peut être (partiellement) résolu lors de la phase d’écriture d’une recherche comparative. En mobilisant l’expérience de recherche portant sur la comparaison des politiques d’environnement et de développement durable dans quatre villes françaises et britanniques, l’article interrogera les stratégies d’écriture développées dans les études urbaines. L’article développera l’idée d’un possible dépassement de la monographie comme mode ultime de restitution dans les études urbaines, en présentant plusieurs techniques d’écriture – rédaction de monographies provisoires, mise en avant des processus plutôt que des effets causaux, etc. – limitant la tendance de la restitution terme à terme à « broyer » les cas dans la montée en généralité théorique.
Les troubles du langage sociologique dans la comparaison internationale : le cas des médias des mouvements sociaux au Chiapas et en Palestine
Authors: Ferron Benjamin
Published: June 2012

Résumé L’article met en évidence quelques-uns des enjeux et contraintes scientifiques d’écriture d’une comparaison internationale. La comparaison porte sur les stratégies médiatiques de réseaux militants transnationaux en Israël-Palestine (réseau anti-occupation), et au Mexique (réseau néozapatiste). Le premier problème est de distinguer des niveaux d’écriture dans la comparaison. Les journalistes, militants ou intellectuels de ces mouvements, qui produisent des « contre-informations » et des « médias alternatifs », utilisent un champ lexical polémique et des procédés rhétoriques par lesquels ils se marquent et se démarquent politiquement. L’analyse comparée implique donc un travail de déconstruction et de positionnement sémantique du chercheur, qui engage tout le processus d’écriture. Le deuxième problème consiste à articuler les niveaux de comparaison dans le processus d’écriture. Les deux cas sont en effet hétérogènes et en partie interdépendants. Il s’agit donc à la fois de conserver la singularité des cas, de monter en généralité en les comparant, et de déterminer les effets de cette interdépendance. Cette difficulté se retrouve dans la phase de problématisation, la construction du plan et l’écriture finale.
An Interactive Visualization of Genetic Algorithm on 2-D Graph
Authors: Farooq Humera , Zakaria Nordin , Siddique Muhammad Tariq
Published: June 2012

The visualization of search space makes it easy to understand the behavior of the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The authors propose a novel way for representation of multidimensional search space of the GA using 2-D graph. This is carried out based on the gene values of the current generation, and human intervention is only required after several generations. The main contribution of this research is to propose an approach to visualize the GA search data and improve the searching process of the GA with human’s intention in different generations. Besides the selection of best individual or parents for the next generation, interference of human is required to propose a new individual in the search space. Active human intervention leads to a faster searching, resulting in less user fatigue. The experiments were carried out by evolving the parameters to derive the rules for a Parametric L-System. These rules are then used to model the growth process of branching structures in 3-D space. The experiments were conducted to evaluate the ability of the proposed approach to converge to optimized solution as compared to the Simple Genetic Algorithm (SGA).
An Open-Bisimilarity Based Automated Verification Tool for -Calculus Family of Process Calculi
Authors: Rahimi Shahram , Rias Rishath A. S. , Khorasani Elham S.
Published: June 2012

The complexity of designing concurrent and highly-evolving interactive systems has grown to a point where system verification has become a hurdle. Fortunately, formal verification methods have arrived at the right time. They detect errors, inconsistencies and incompleteness at early development stages of a system formally modeled using a formal specification language. -calculus (Milner, 1999) is one such formal language which provides strong mathematical base that can be used for verifying system specifications. But manually verifying the specifications of concurrent systems is a very tedious and error-prone work, especially if the specifications are large. Consequently, an automated verification tool would be essential for efficient system design and development. In addition, formal verification tools are vital ingredient to fully harness the potential of component-based software composition. The authors developed such an automated verification tool which is highly portable and seamlessly integrates with the visualization, reduction and performance evaluation tools introduced (Ahmad & Rahimi, 2008; Rahimi, 2006; Rahimi et al., 2001, 2008) to provide a comprehensive tool for designing and analyzing multi process/agent systems. Open-Bisimulation (Sangiorgi, 1996) concept is utilized as the theoretical base for the design and implementation of the tool which incorporates an expert system implemented in Java Expert System Shell (JESS) (Friedman-Hill, 2003).
Seizure Mimicking Stroke: Role of CT Perfusion
Authors: Hedna Vishnumurthy Shushrutha , Shukla Prerak P. , Waters Michael F.
Published: June 2012

Stroke mimics constitute 15--20% of all cases presenting to the emergency department, prominent among them being seizures, hypoglycemia, tumors, migraines, and posterior reversible leucoencephalopathy. They have also abnormal computerized tomography perfusion (CTP) findings. We report a case where CTP helped us to diagnose and treat a seizure when initial presentation was that of a stroke.
Radiographic Study of the Prevalence of Dens Invaginatus in a Sample Set of Turkish Dental Patients
Authors: Çolak Hakan , Tan Enes , Aylıkçı Bahadır Uğur , Uzgur Recep , Turkal Mustafa , Hamidi Mehmet Mustafa
Published: June 2012

Aim:

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of dens invaginatus in a sample of Turkish dental patients.

Materials and Methods:

The sample included 6, 912 panoramic radiographs from different Turkish dental patients. The ages of the patients ranged from 18 to 50 years. A tooth was considered having dens invaginatus if an infolding of a radiopaque ribbon-like structure equal in density to enamel was seen extending from the cingulum into the root canal. Maxillary and mandibular teeth were evaluated on panoramic radiographs to determine the type of dens invaginatus using Oehlers’ classification.

Results:

The overall incidence of patients with dens invaginatus was 0.17%. Dens invaginatus were detected in 15 teeth of a total of 192 150 teeth to give a tooth prevalence of 0.008%. Maxillary lateral incisors were most commonly affected teeth in the mouth (80% of cases), followed by maxillary canine teeth (20% of cases). The bilateral incidence of a symmetrical distribution was 25%.

Conclusion:

The occurrence of dens invaginatus among this Turkish population was rare. Attention should be paid to the presence of dens invaginatus and the treatment problems associated with it.
Changes in Hip Bone Mineral Density and Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Middle-Aged Women: A 6-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Nokes Neil R. , Tucker Larry A.
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

This study was conducted to determine if physical activity volume (PAv) and intensity (PAi) at baseline influence the likelihood of gaining hip bone mineral density (BMD) over 6 years.

Design and Sample.

In a prospective study, the sample was limited to 244 female nonsmokers, ages 35 to 45 years, and was approximately 90% white.

Setting and Measures.

PAv and PAi were measured in daily living conditions using accelerometers at baseline. BMD, measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, and several confounding factors were measured in the lab.

Analysis.

On the basis of BMD change scores, participants were divided into three categories: BMD loss, minimal change, and BMD gain. Risk ratios were used to show the likelihood of BMD gains over time across different levels of PAv and PAi at baseline.

Results.

Women with higher PAv were more likely to show improvements in hip BMD from baseline to follow-up than their counterparts, as indicated by the Mantel-Haenszel chi-square (χ2mh = 6.1, p = .01). Women with high PAv were 2.50 times (95% CI, 1.19–5.24) more likely to experience hip BMD gains than women with low PAv, and women with moderate PAv were 2.20 times (95% CI, 1.08–4.45) more likely. PAi was not predictive of gains in hip BMD. Adjusting for potential confounders had little influence on the results.

Conclusions.

Middle-aged women with moderate or high levels of PAv are more likely to experience BMD gains at the hip over time compared with those who have low levels of PAv. However, PAi does not appear to influence the likelihood of gaining BMD at the hip over 6 years.
Does Community Type Moderate the Relationship between Parent Perceptions of the Neighborhood and Physical Activity in Children?
Authors: Durand Casey P. , Dunton Genevieve F. , Spruijt-Metz Donna , Pentz Mary Ann
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

To examine whether residing in a community designed to promote physical activity moderates the relationship between parent perceptions of the neighborhood and general physical activity or active commuting to school in their children.

Design.

Cross-sectional.

Setting.

San Bernardino County, California.

Subjects.

Three hundred sixty-five families (one parent and one child in grades four through eight). Eighty-five reside in a smart growth community designed to be more conducive to physical activity.

Measures.

Parent perceptions assessed using the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale (NEWS). General child physical activity was measured using accelerometers, and active commuting was self-reported by children.

Analysis.

Two sets of regressions were performed: one for general physical activity, and one for active commuting. Separate models were run in the two sets for each of the 14 NEWS factors, while controlling for demographics.

Results.

For general physical activity, walking infrastructure, lack of cul-de-sacs, and social interaction had significant main effect associations (p ≤ .05). No factors were moderated by community. The relationships between active commuting to school and perceived crime, traffic hazards, hilliness, physical barriers, cul-de-sac connectivity, aesthetics, and walking infrastructure were significant for those in the smart growth community only (p ≤ .05).

Conclusions.

Living in an activity-friendly environment is associated with positive relationships between parent perceptions and active commuting behaviors in children. Future interventions should account for both the perceived neighborhood environment and available physical activity infrastructure.
Validity and Reliability of a Dietary Stages of Change Measure among Economically Disadvantaged African-American Adolescents
Authors: Di Noia Jennifer , Mauriello Leanne , Byrd-Bredbenner Carol , Thompson Debbe
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

To examine the construct validity and 2-month test-retest reliability of a staging measure for assessing readiness to consume five or more daily servings of fruits and vegetables among economically disadvantaged African-American adolescents.

Design.

Longitudinal survey.

Setting.

Youth services agencies serving low-income communities in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Subjects.

African-American adolescents (N = 390) aged 11 to 14 years.

Measures.

Self-report measures of stage of change and fruit and vegetable consumption.

Analysis.

Correlation analysis and analysis of covariance were used to examine, cross-sectionally, whether fruit and vegetable consumption differed by stage of change (validity assessment). Correlation analysis and Cohen's kappa (κ) were used to assess the degree of association and level of agreement between stages longitudinally (test-retest reliability assessment).

Results.

Fruit and vegetable consumption was moderately correlated with stage of change (r ≥ .54, p = .000). Consistent with the transtheoretical model, youths' consumption increased from earlier to later stages (p = .000). Forty-six percent of youths were in the same stage at both measurements. The correlation between stages was .26, and Cohen's κ was .20 (p = .000).

Conclusions.

Despite preliminary evidence of construct validity, the low test-retest reliability found suggests that further research and testing are needed to improve the stability of the measure.
Food Outlet Accessibility and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
Authors: Ollberding Nicholas J. , Nigg Claudio R. , Geller Karly S. , Horwath Caroline C. , Motl Rob W. , Dishman Rod K.
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

To examine if spatial access to healthy and unhealthy outlets comprising the local food environment was associated with fruit and vegetable consumption.

Design.

Cross-sectional.

Setting.

Population-based sample residing in Hawaii.

Subjects.

Three hundred and eighty-four adults (36% Asian-American, 33% non-Hispanic white, 31% other/mixed race).

Measures.

A spatial model of the local food environment was constructed using radial buffers extending from participants' place of residence. Fruit and vegetable intake was estimated using the National Cancer Institute Fruit and Vegetable All-Day Screener.

Analysis.

Mean intakes of fruits and vegetables were compared for spatial access to total, healthy, and unhealthy food outlets at distances of .5 to 3.5 km. Multiple linear regression was used to estimate differences in fruit and vegetable intake for residing further from a food outlet or for residing in an area with a greater number of food outlets.

Results.

Residing in an area with a greater density of total or healthy food outlets was associated with a higher mean intake of fruits and vegetables (p < .05) at .5 km. No differences in mean intakes were detected for distances beyond .5 km or for regression models.

Conclusion.

Findings suggest that greater spatial accessibility to food outlets comprising the local food environment in Hawaii may not be meaningfully associated with fruit and vegetable consumption; however, associations were detected for the smallest spatial scale examined, warranting further investigation.
Medics as a Channel for Worksite Health Promotion in Remote Global Locations
Authors: Bullen Piroska A. Bisits
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

In the energy and mining sectors, it is common for employees to work in geographically remote locations, often with a medic for emergency response. This study evaluated an intervention to increase the number of medics conducting health promotion in remote worksites.

Design.

Interviews were conducted to gather data for informing intervention and survey development. The intervention was evaluated in a quasiexperimental posttest-only comparison group design using survey data collected at baseline and again after 12 months.

Setting.

The intervention was implemented in remote worksites (N = 201). There were 96 worksites in the intervention condition and 105 sites in the control condition.

Subjects.

The target population was medics, including nurses, doctors, and paramedics, operating in remote worksites in 44 countries.

Intervention.

The intervention was a series of campaign tool kits. The tool kits were adapted to the remote environment and could be customized for culture, language, and education level.

Measures.

The survey assessed frequency of health promotion activities, satisfaction with the intervention, and barriers to implementation.

Analysis.

Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and χ2 tests. Interview results were coded to identify themes.

Results.

Most medics (88%) in the intervention group reported running “tool box talks” (short education sessions) on at least a monthly basis, compared with 78% in the comparison group (p = .056). The trend was similar for displaying posters (71% vs. 55%; p = .021) and advocating for policy changes (84% vs. 71%; p = .027). Medic satisfaction was high. Difficulty distributing tool kits was the main barrier to implementation.

Conclusions.

When provided with appropriate tools, medics may be an ideal channel for health promotion in remote worksites.
Enhancing Industry-Based Dissemination of an Occupational Sun Protection Program with Theory-Based Strategies Employing Personal Contact
Authors: Buller David B. , Andersen Peter A. , Walkosz Barbara J. , Scott Michael D. , Cutter Gary R. , Dignan Mark B. , Kane Ilima L. , Zhang Xiao
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

Industry-based strategies for dissemination of an evidence-based occupational sun protection program, Go Sun Smart (GSS), were tested.

Design.

Two dissemination strategies were compared in a randomized trial in 2004–2007.

Setting.

The North American ski industry.

Subjects.

Ski areas in the United States and Canada (n = 69) and their senior managers (n = 469).

Intervention.

Employers received GSS through a basic dissemination strategy (BDS) from the industry's professional association that included conference presentations and free starter kits. Half of the areas also received the enhanced dissemination strategy (EDS), in which project staff met face-to-face with managers and made ongoing contacts to support program use.

Measures.

Observation of program materials in use and managers' reports on communication about sun protection.

Analysis.

The effects of two alternative dissemination strategies were compared on program use using PROC MIXED in SAS, adjusted for covariates using one-tailed p values.

Results.

Ski areas receiving the EDS used more GSS materials (x̄ = 7.36) than those receiving the BDS (x̄ = 5.17; F = 7.82, p < .01). Managers from more areas receiving the EDS reported communicating about sun protection in employee newsletters/flyers (x̄ = .97, p = .04), in guest e-mail messages (x̄ = .75, p = .02), and on ski area Web sites (x̄ = .38, p = .02) than those receiving the BDS (x̄ = .84, .50, .15, respectively).

Conclusion.

Industry professional associations play an important role in disseminating prevention programs; however, active personal communication may be essential to ensure increased implementation fidelity.
Does It Pay to Pay People to Share Information? Using Financial Incentives to Promote Peer Referral for Mammography among the Underinsured
Authors: Southwell Brian G. , Slater Jonathan S. , Nelson Christina L. , Rothman Alexander J.
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

Efforts to screen underinsured women for breast cancer face challenges in reaching desired audiences. One option is viral marketing through peer referral. We sought the optimal way to solicit nominations of peers.

Design.

An experiment (N = 2968) compared impact of incentives on peer nomination. Women were offered a $20 incentive each time someone they referred was screened, a $5 incentive for each name and valid address or phone number (regardless of screening completion), or no financial incentive for nomination.

Setting.

Study sample was drawn from free mammography program participants in Minnesota.

Analysis.

Post hoc Scheffé t-tests compared conditions on nominees per invitation card sent (N = 2968), mean number of nominees scheduling mammogram per referrer (n = 107), and proportion of total nominees (N = 1041) scheduling a mammogram for each incentive condition.

Results.

Offering $5 per nomination yielded .52 nominations per referral invitation sent, compared to .36 nominations per invitation sent for $20 per completed mammogram and only .17 nominations per invitation in the no incentive group. In the no incentive condition, however, each referrer generated .35 scheduled mammograms on average, which was statistically equivalent to the .16 scheduled mammograms delivered on average by $20 per completed mammogram referrers and statistically superior, p <.05, to the .09 rate produced by $5 per name referrers.

Conclusion.

Programs interested in peer referral could productively pursue the strategy without incurring incentive costs.
Psychological and Physiological Response of Students to Different Types of Stress Management Programs
Authors: Iglesias Silvia L. , Azzara Sergio , Argibay Juan Carlos , Arnaiz María Lores , de Valle Carpineta María , Granchetti Hugo , Lagomarsino Eduardo
Published: June 2012

Purpose.

To design, implement, and examine the psychoneuroendocrine responses of three different types of stress management programs.

Design.

Randomly assigned. A pre/post experimental design comparing variables between three different programs and a control group. The first program included training in deep breathing, relaxation response, meditation, and guided imagery techniques (RRGI). The second program included training in cognitive behavioral techniques (CB). The third program included both RRGI and CB (RRGICB).

Setting.

The study was conducted at Buenos Aires University.

Subjects.

Participants (N = 52) were undergraduate students.

Measures.

Anxiety, anger, hopelessness, neuroticism, respiration rate, and salivary cortisol levels were assessed.

Analysis.

Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to investigate differences in pre and post variables.

Results.

Subjects in the RRGI group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .011), anger (p < .012), neuroticism (p < .01), respiratory rate (p < .002), hopelessness (p < .01), and salivary cortisol (p < .002) after the treatment. Subjects in the CB group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .018), anger (p < .037), and neuroticism (p < .03) after the treatment. Subjects in the RRGICB group showed significantly lower levels of anxiety (p < .001), anger (p < .001), neuroticism (p < .008), hopelessness (p < .01), respiratory rate (p < .001), and salivary cortisol (p < .002) after the treatment. Subjects in the control group showed only one variable modification, a significant increase in cortisol levels (p < .004).

Conclusions.

The combination of deep breathing, relaxation response, meditation, and guided imagery techniques with CB seems to be effective at helping people to deal with stress.
Profiling tropospheric CO2 using the Aura TES and TCCON instruments
Authors: Kuai L. , Worden J. , Kulawik S. , Bowman K. , Biraud S. , Abshire J. B. , Wofsy S. C. , Natraj V. , Frankenberg C. , Wunch D. , Connor B. , Miller C. , Roehl C. , Shia R.-L. , Yung Y.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Monitoring the global distribution and long-term variations of CO2 sources and sinks is required for characterizing the global carbon budget. Although total column measurements will be useful for estimating large regional fluxes, model transport error remains a significant error source, particularly for local sources and sinks. To improve the capability of estimating regional fluxes, we estimate near-surface CO2 values from ground-based near infrared (NIR) measurements with space-based thermal infrared (TIR) measurements. The NIR measurements are obtained from the Total Carbon Column Observing Network (TCCON) of solar measurements which provide an estimate of the total CO2 atmospheric column amount. Estimates of tropospheric CO2 that are co-located with TCCON are obtained by assimilating Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) free-tropospheric CO2 estimates into the GEOS-Chem model. Estimates of the boundary layer CO2 are obtained through simple subtraction, as the CO2 estimation problem is linear. We find that the calculated random uncertainties in total column and boundary layer estimates are consistent with actual uncertainties as compared to aircraft data. For the total column estimates the random uncertainty is about 0.55 ppm with a bias of −5.66 ppm, consistent with previously published results. After accounting for the total column bias, the bias in the boundary layer CO2 estimates is 0.26 ppm with a precision of 1.02 ppm This precision is sufficient for capturing the winter to summer variability of approximately 12 ppm in the lower troposphere; double the variability of the total column. This work shows that a combination of NIR and IR measurements can profile CO2 with the precisions and accuracy needed to quantify near-surface CO2 variability.
Impact of rapid sea-ice reduction in the Arctic Ocean on the rate of ocean acidification
Authors: Yamamoto A. , Kawamiya M. , Ishida A. , Yamanaka Y. , Watanabe S.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. The largest pH decline and widespread undersaturation with respect to aragonite in this century due to uptake of anthropogenic carbon dioxide in the Arctic Ocean have been projected. The reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic Ocean have been caused by the melting of sea ice as well as by an increase in the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Therefore, future projections of pH and aragonite saturation in the Arctic Ocean will be affected by how rapidly the reduction in sea ice occurs. The observed recent Arctic sea-ice loss has been more rapid than projected by many of the climate models that contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report. In this study, the impact of sea-ice reduction rate on projected pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters was investigated. Reductions in pH and aragonite saturation were calculated from the outputs of two versions of an Earth system model with different sea-ice reduction rates under similar CO2 emission scenarios. The newer model version projects that Arctic summer ice-free condition will be achieved by the year 2040, and the older version predicts ice-free condition by 2090. The Arctic surface water was projected to be undersaturated with respect to aragonite in the annual mean when atmospheric CO2 concentration reaches 513 (606) ppm in year 2046 (2056) in new (old) version. At an atmospheric CO2 concentration of 520 ppm, the maximum differences in pH and aragonite saturation state between the two versions were 0.1 and 0.21 respectively. The analysis showed that the decreases in pH and aragonite saturation state due to rapid sea-ice reduction were caused by increases in both CO2 uptake and freshwater input. Thus, the reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state in the Arctic surface waters are significantly affected by the difference in future projections for sea-ice reduction rate. Our results suggest that the future reductions in pH and aragonite saturation state could be significantly faster than previously projected if the sea-ice reduction in the Arctic Ocean keeps its present pace.
A stochastic model for the polygonal tundra based on Poisson-Voronoi Diagrams
Authors: Cresto Aleina F. , Brovkin V. , Muster S. , Boike J. , Kutzbach L. , Sachs T. , Zuyev S.
Published: June 2012

Abstract. Sub-grid processes occur in various ecosystems and landscapes but, because of their small scale, they are not represented or poorly parameterized in climate models. These local heterogeneities are often important or even fundamental for energy and carbon balances. This is especially true for northern peatlands and in particular for the polygonal tundra where methane emissions are strongly influenced by spatial soil heterogeneities. We present a stochastic model for the surface topography of polygonal tundra using Poisson-Voronoi Diagrams and we compare the results with available recent field studies. We analyze seasonal dynamics of water table variations and the landscape response under different scenarios of precipitation income. We upscale methane fluxes by using a simple idealized model for methane emission. Hydraulic interconnectivities and large-scale drainage may also be investigated through percolation properties and thresholds in the Voronoi graph. The model captures the main statistical characteristics of the landscape topography, such as polygon area and surface properties as well as the water balance. This approach enables us to statistically relate large-scale properties of the system taking into account the main small-scale processes within the single polygons.
Incidental Diagnosis of a Retroperitoneal Schwannoma in a Patient with Chronic Leukemia Undergoing Prostatic Biopsy
Authors: Autieri Domenico , Pastore Antonio Luigi , Silvestri Luigi , Leto Antonino , Ripoli Andrea , Palleschi Giovanni , Porta Natale , Petrozza Vincenzo , Carbone Antonio
Published: June 2012

We present a case of retroperitoneal schwannoma incidentally diagnosed in a patient undergoing surgical drainage of a pelvic abscess as a complication of a prostatic biopsy. A 50-year-old male, suffering from lymphatic leukemia, came to our observation due to lichen ruber planus and ejaculatory pain. The patient underwent a trans-perineal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the right seminal vesicle and of a hypoechoic area documented by ultrasonography. 48 hours after the procedure, the patient had developed: cold sores, shortness of breath with dyspnea, and high fever (40°C). The patient was hospitalized, underwent an emergency CT which documented a right presacral and pararectal liquid mass (abscess). The patient underwent emergency laparotomy and drainage of the abscess. The lesion histological examination revealed a retroperitoneal schwannoma with inflammatory phenomena and hyperplasic lymphadenitis. The retroperitoneal schwannoma is a silent disease whose only clinical manifestation coincides with the compression of adjacent anatomical structures. In many cases, the symptoms, even if present, as in this case (ejaculatory pain with compression of the seminal vesicle), are non-specific, thus delaying diagnosis and the therapeutic approach.
Preliminary Resultson the use of Autologous Cell Culture Grafts of Buccal Mucosa in Urethral Repairs
Authors: Palminteri Enzo , Berdondini Elisa , Maruccia Serena , Larocca Lorenzo , Iannotta Luca , Franco Giorgio , Gentile Vincenzo , Ceccarelli Simona , Marchese Cinzia
Published: June 2012

Objective

We present our preliminary experience with the use of autologous cell cultures of buccal mucosa (BM) in urethral repair.

Patients and methods

Five patients with urethral stenosis underwent staged urethral reconstruction with MB autologous cell culture grafts. MB biopsies were obtained from each patient. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated. This cel-lular suspension was seeded into Petri dishes. The cultures were kept in chemically specific ground for keratinocyte cultures. Once they reached the proper confluence and extension for urethral reconstruction, the cultures were transplanted in the patients. During the first stage of surgery, after the removal of healing tissues, the MB culture grafts were transplanted in order to recreate a neo-urethral plate. Six months later, the neo-urethral plate was re-tubularized.

Results

Average follow-up was 24 mo. We reported successful staged reconstruction in 2 cases (40%). Three cases (60%) were unsuccessful. One patient developed a scar retraction of the grafts after the first stage of surgery, which prevented broad urethral reconstruction. Two patients who had completed the staged reconstructive process, developed a re-stenosis. There were no reported graft site infections and none of the grafts was rejected.

Conclusions

We report the procedure in order to obtain and use an MB homologous cell culture. Using autologous material reduced the surgical time and wiped out the risk of rejection; on the other hand, the tissue was so thin and with no adequate scaffold that the healing retraction of the graft was increased, thus compromising the urethral reconstruction. Preliminary results confirm that bio-engineering applied to urethral surgery is far from obtaining adequate tissue with reference to extension, thickness and biological features.
The Study on Effects of Concurrent Business on Cultivated Land Use Efficiency -Based on Empirical Analysis of Gansu and Qinghai Province
Authors: Li Jian Qiang , Yang Lu Jia , Zhu Tao , Fu Jie
Published: June 2012

This paper uses the farmer household’s model to structure the analytical framework of concurrent business cultivated land use behavior and its efficiency and then uses group comparison analysis and data envelopment analysis (DEA) to analyze the diversity of cultivated land use behavior and efficiency, among different types of concurrent business farmer which is based on the promise of separation not established and investigation data of farmer household. The results demonstrate that the concurrent business types have a significant influence on utilization patterns and farmer household’s behavioral options, different types of farmers’ investment, management and land scale have a big difference. Generally speaking, capital and labor input of concurrent business farmer household are high than that of specialized farmer, concurrent business farmer household Class ? are higher than that of Class ?; and different utilization patterns lead to the difference of cultivated land use efficiency. Moreover, technical efficiency of specialized farmer household is higher than that of concurrent business farmer household Class ? based on the separation was not established, and both of them are higher than that of concurrent business farmer household Class ?. That illustrates land use efficiency of farmer household will reduce as the level of concurrent business increase.
Vectors in CRISPR Gene Editing for Neurological Disorders: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Xiong Kexin , Wang Xiaxia , Feng Caicai , Zhang Kaixiang , Chen Di , Yang Sen
Published: February 2025

Diseases of the nervous system are recognized as the second leading cause of death worldwide. The global prevalence of neurological diseases, such as Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease has seen a significant rise due to the increasing proportion of the aging population. The discovery of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genome editing technique has paved way for universal neurological diseases treatment. However, finding a safe and effective method to deliver CRISPR gene‐editing tools remains a main challenge for genome editing therapies in vivo. Adeno‐associated virus (AAV) is currently one of the most commonly used vector systems, but some issues remain unresolved, including capsid immunogenicity, off‐target mutations, and potential genotoxicity. To address these concerns, researchers are actively encouraging the development of new delivery systems, like virus‐like particles and nanoparticles. These novel systems have the potential to enhance targeting efficiency, thereby offering possible solutions to the current challenges. This article reviews CRISPR delivery vectors for neurological disorders treatment and explores potential solutions to overcome limitations in vector systems. Additionally, the delivery strategies of CRISPR systems are highlighted as valuable tools for studying neurological diseases, and the challenges and opportunities that these vectors present.
On the Rigidity and Mechanical Behavior of Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces‐Based Lattices: Insights from Extensive Experiments and Simulations
Authors: Doyle Lucía , Terrones Humberto , González Carlos
Published: February 2025

Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS)‐based lattices are gaining attention for their multifunctional properties. Current studies have largely focused on limited cases, characterizing the mechanical properties of only a few TPMS architectures and often applying classification systems (e.g., stretching‐ or bending‐dominated behavior) developed for slender beam‐based lattices. However, TPMS structures are far frombeing slender beams, and the validity of such classifications has not been rigorously confirmed for their case. This study bridges these gaps by analyzing 36 distinct TPMS lattice architectures, covering both elastic and plastic regimes. We critically assess theapplicability of Gibson‐Ashby scaling laws, the rigidity classification, and the stretching‐bending paradigm to TPMS structures—none of which have been rigorously validated for TPMS lattices. Using experiments and numerical simulations, we investigate the strength and stiffness scaling in TPMS lattices, identifying rigid, compliant, and mixed architectures. Our findings show that TPMS rigidity depends on the alignment of surface members with load directions and the presence of solid regions that prevent rotation. We reveal that top‐performing geometries include so far unexplored TPMS such as P + CP (−), K (+), and Ss‐Yssxxx (+), further expanding the design space, challenging prior assumptions and providing critical insights for selecting the optimal TPMS‐based architecture for specific applications.
Molecular Trojan Based on Membrane‐Mimicking Conjugated Electrolyte for Stimuli‐Responsive Drug Release
Authors: Meng Yingying , Gao Ji , Huang Xiaoran , Liu Pengke , Zhang Chibin , Zhou Peirong , Bai Yuanqing , Guo Jingjing , Zhou Cheng , Li Kai , Huang Fei , Cao Yong
Published: February 2025

Enhancing payload encapsulation stability while enabling controlled drug release are both critical objectives in drug delivery systems but are challenging to reconcile. This study introduces a zwitterionic conjugated electrolyte (CE) molecule named Zwit, which acts as a molecular Trojan by mimicking the lipid bilayers. When integrated into liposome membranes, Zwit rigidifies the bilayer structure likely due to its hydrophobic interactions providing structural support, thus inhibiting drug leakage. Upon 808 nm laser excitation, Zwit rapidly accelerates DOX release from liposome core, likely due to light‐triggered conformational changes or photothermal effects that compromise membrane permeability. These findings demonstrate Zwit’s ability to overcome the challenge of simultaneously preventing premature payload leakage and enabling stimuli‐responsive drug release with a single component. Additionally, Zwit exhibits excellent biocompatibility with membranes, outperforming its quaternary ammonium counterpart and commonly used dye indocyanine green (ICG). By harnessing its NIR‐II emission, Zwit enables durable in vivo biodistribution tracking of nanocarriers, whereas ICG suffers from significant dye leakage. In subcutaneous tumor models, the synergistic effects of chemotherapy and thermotherapy facilitated by this light‐triggered system induced a potent antitumor immune response, further enhancing anticancer efficacy. This work underscores the potential of membrane‐mimicking CEs as multifunctional tools in advanced drug delivery systems.
Tumor‐Targeted Glutamine Metabolism Blocker Synergizes with TiO2‐Au Janus Nanoparticles for Enhanced Sono‐Metabolic Antitumor Therapy
Authors: Zheng Jinling , Zhao Fenghuan , Pariente Eugenie , Xu Xiaoyu , Zhang Xu , Shabiti Shayibai , Ke Yingying , Hao Junjie , Delville Jean‐Pierre , Delville Marie Helene , Li Wenjun
Published: February 2025

Sonodynamic therapy (SDT) is a promising therapeutic modality known for its non‐invasiveness, temporal‐spatial controllability, and deeper tissue penetration. However, the SDT treatment efficacy is still hampered by the scarcity of ideal sonosensitizers and complex tumor microenvironment (TME). To address these challenges, a sono‐metabolic nano‐composite (TiO2‐Au@DON) using the metabolic reprogramming prodrugs of 6‐Diazo‐5‐oxo‐l‐norleucine (DON) grafted on TiO2‐Au Janus nanoparticles (NPs) is fabricated. The coupling of TiO2 and gold in the TiO2‐Au@DON effectively prevents the fast recombination of excited electrons and holes under ultrasound irradiation. The result is the generation of higher levels of both type I and II reactive oxygen species (ROS) compared to pure TiO2, which helps overcome the limitations of SDT in the hypoxic TME. Furthermore, the TiO2‐Au Janus NPs act as nano‐carriers, delivering DON prodrugs to the tumor site. The released DON can disrupt nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen (NADPH) and tumor redox homeostasis by reprogramming the metabolic pathways while it intensifies the activities of immune cells. This metabolic disruption amplifies SDT‐mediated oxidative stress, resulting in the increase of tumor sensitivity to ROS through TiO2‐Au@DON‐integrated synergistic effects of SDT and glutamine reprogramming strategies. This increased sensitivity ultimately induces robust immunogenic cell death (ICD), enhancing antitumor therapeutic efficacy and remodeling the tumor's immunosuppressive microenvironment.
112 Gb s−1 Germanium Photodetector at 2 µm Enabled by a 3D Integrated Waveguide Loop
Authors: Wang Jianing , Zhang Xuelin , Li Yihang , Wang Xi , Xiao Shumin , Song Qinghai , He Zuyuan , Du Jiangbing , Tsang Hon Ki , Xu Ke
Published: February 2025

Recently, the 2 µm wavelength band has attracted increasing interest because of its potential prospects for free‐space and fiber optical communications. Silicon photonic integrated circuits can operate in this band, but a major challenge exists for integrated photodetectors because the photon energies in this wavelength band are less than the energy bandgap of germanium which is the material used for in silicon photonic photodetectors for the conventional optical communications bands. While it is possible to have weak optical absorption at the 2‐µm wavelength band using strained germanium and defect states, the need for a long absorption length can degrade the resistance‐capacitance (RC) limited bandwidth. To address this problem, we proposed a compact 3D waveguide loop to improve both the responsivity and the bandwidth. A closed loop for light‐matter interaction enhancement is demonstrated, enabling the responsivity of the detector to reach 0.11 A W−1 at wavelengths of 1955 nm. The measured 3 dB bandwidth of the photodetector is 36 GHz and is sufficient for high‐speed detection of 112 Gb s−1 PAM‐4 signals. The device is fabricated in a commercial foundry and extends the high‐speed communications capabilities of silicon photonics to the 2 µm wavelength band.
Remote Luminescent Temperature Sensing Using 3D‐Printed Eu(III)‐Doped Micropolymers at the Tip of an Optical Fiber
Authors: Baltieri Ricardo Santos , Reupert Aaron , Manzani Danilo , Wondraczek Lothar
Published: February 2025

Additive manufacturing offers a novel and versatile approach for fabricating micro‐ and nanoscale structures, allowing direct printing onto the tip of optical fibers. This technology facilitates the miniaturization of existing sensors and the development of new ones, providing exceptional precision and reproducibility. Meanwhile, optical thermometry based on lanthanide luminescence demonstrates significant potential for contactless and remote temperature measurements. This work employs two‐photon polymerization 3D printing to fabricate microstructures at the tip of a multimode silica optical fiber, incorporating the Eu3+ thenoyltrifluoroacetonate (tta) coordination complex. Temperature sensing measurements are conducted using two different methods: the Luminescence Intensity Ratio (LIR), which utilizes emissions from both the polymer fiber coating and the Eu3⁺ complex, and an RGB colorimetric analysis derived from optical images. The results confirm the successful development of an Eu3+‐doped resin/polymer and temperature evaluation in the range of 296 to 363 K using the returning emission from the fiber tip. A relative sensitivity of 5.0% K⁻¹ is achieved in the LIR method, with exceptional stability of the structure in different solvents and temperatures, showcasing the potential of this integrated approach for high‐performance, miniaturized optical temperature sensing.
A Portable and Low‐Cost Single Board Computer‐Based Spectrophotometric Platform for Optical Analysis in the UV and Visible Range
Authors: Tonelli Alessandro , Tortone Anna , Grazioli Alessandro , Pasquali Francesco , Sozzi Michele , Candiani Alessandro , Capelli Luca , Bertucci Alessandro
Published: February 2025

The growing ability of high‐performance consumer electronics is fostering innovation in prototyping and research. Although the Raspberry Pi single‐board computer (SBC) is widely used across various fields, including diagnostics, applications involving UV‐based reading remain underexplored. In this study, a simple, low‐cost (less than 100 euros), and portable device for UV–vis measurements based on Raspberry Pi is presented. The system integrates the AS7341 multi‐channel multispectral digital sensor, offering analytical performance comparable to two commercial spectrophotometers – one benchtop and one portable – in terms of linearity, limit of detection, quantitation, and repeatability. Furthermore, the device demonstrates reliable performance both in analyzing real wine samples using two different commercial enzymatic kits and in quantifying different concentrations of synthetic DNA oligonucleotides. By providing a ready‐to‐use, portable, and affordable platform for UV–vis diagnostics, this prototype is well‐suited for resource‐limited settings, educational environments, and IoT applications where numerous distributed sensors are required for specific diagnostic tasks.