bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vested interest: developing scales for assessing flooding preparedness
Authors: Adame Bradley , Miller Claude H
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report research testing scales developed from a combination of vested interest (VI) theory and the extended parallel process model of fear appeals. The scales were created to measure variables specified by an expanded model of VI: certainty, salience, immediacy, self-efficacy, response-efficacy, and susceptibility.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey was designed with subscales for each element and combined with additional disaster and risk perception variables. Survey data were collected from two populations in the US state of Oklahoma. Results from scale development and regression analyses are reported.

Findings

– Results show that the scales are robust and flexible to contextual modification. The scales return good to excellent reliabilities, providing evidence that the variables articulated by VI theory predict perceived salience and perceived preparedness.

Practical implications

– This study adds to the research pointing to the efficacy of VI theory in providing insight into the perceptual barriers to preparedness. These results demonstrate that perceived vestedness can be a valuable tool in crafting messages to inform audiences of risks and motivate them to prepare.

Social implications

– These results can facilitate the creation of more effective hazard and risk messages. Related research shows households that are prepared for natural and manmade hazards enjoy higher rates of survivability and lower levels of consequences.

Originality/value

– This paper presents new results concerning perceived vestedness and the utility of the scales. The research should be of value to practitioners and policymakers concerned with motivating public audiences to prepare for natural and manmade hazards.
Intra-organisational drivers of purchasing social responsibility
Authors: Robert Lauriane , Bocquet Rachel , Gardet Elodie
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This study aims to identify intra-organisational drivers that enhance the implementation of a purchasing social responsibility (PSR) approach and drivers that influence PSR throughout the phases of the process.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual framework presents PSR as a process, rather than merely a decision. It focuses on three dimensions (centralisation, specialisation and formalisation) to highlight the role and evolution of key drivers through a three-phase process (set-up, operating and sustaining). The empirical analysis is based on a single qualitative case study of Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer Français (SNCF), France’s state-owned railway company, which is particularly advanced in its PSR-related practices.

Findings

The intra-organisational drivers differ according to the phase of the PSR process. Transitions across the three phases entail organisational adaptation, which require the company to transform from a mechanistic to an organic structure.

Research limitations/implications

This research contributes to a better understanding of the PSR implementation process through an in-depth study focused on intra-organisational drivers. Although relatively understudied, these drivers play important roles.

Practical implications

This study identifies operational, intra-organisational leverage actions that can benefit firms that aim to adopt or maintain a PSR approach. It also provides comprehensive guidance for activating these leverages throughout the PSR implementation process, and it helps firms identify their level of PSR.

Originality/value

This study proposes the first processual, organisational interpretation of PSR approaches.
Trade-offs in managing commercial consumer returns for online apparel retail
Authors: de Leeuw Sander , Minguela-Rata Beatriz , Sabet Ehsan , Boter Jaap , Sigurðardóttir Runa
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how online apparel retailers make trade-offs in achieving efficiency in handling consumer returns, attempting to reduce the number of consumer returns they are faced with and increasing sales through returns management.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors use literature to develop propositions and employed a case study research design to understand how online apparel retailers make trade-offs in returns management practices in order to verify the propositions. Case study subjects have been anonimized.

Findings

– The authors have developed and verified five propositions with the aim to understand how retailers make trade-offs in reducing the number of online consumer returns, increasing the effectiveness of handling online consumer returns and increasing sales through returns management.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is limited by the use of interview data from cases, a focus on apparel retail only and by the use of companies located in the Netherlands only.

Practical implications

– The propositions help managers make trade-offs in reducing the number of returns versus increasing sales through returns management versus increasing the effectiveness of handling consumer returns.

Social implications

– Consumer returns lead to a significant flow of items from consumers back to online retailers, in particular in fashion. Reduction of this flow decreases social and environmental impacts through reduced transport and handling requirements.

Originality/value

– Several authors identify that more empirical research is welcome in the area of returns management. The research aims to contribute to this gap by focussing at how online apparel retailers make trade-offs in achieving efficiency in handling returns, increasing sales through returns management and attempting to reduce the number of consumer returns they receive.
Preparation and properties of C.I. Pigment Red 170 modified with silica fume
Authors: Zhang Baolian , Zhang Zhenzhen , Fei Xuening , Gu Yingchun , Yu Lu
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the study reported in this paper was to prepare modified C.I. Pigment Red (PR) 170 to reduce production cost and improve application performance. The structure of the modified pigment was characterised. The colour strength, thermal stability, mobility, aqueous dispersability and ultraviolet (UV) resistance of modified pigments were studied.

Design/methodology/approach

Silica fume was added into the diazonium salt solution under acidic condition, followed by the activation to generate new surface. Subsequently, coupling component was dropwise added to the system to form the modified pigments evenly on the surface of silica fume in situ. The structure and properties of the modified pigment were studied by fourier transform infrared spectoscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal gravity analysis (TG-DTA), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-Vis DRS), and commission internationale de L‘Eclairage (CIE L*a*b*) colour measurements.

Findings

The morphology and particle size of the modified pigment were controlled by the modification of the silica fume, and the organic pigment and silica fume formed a core–shell structure. The properties of the modified pigment including colour strength, thermal stability, mobility, aqueous dispensability and UV resistance were improved significantly.

Research limitations/implications

The effect of the amount of silica fume on the thickness of the organic pigment layer and the effect of the thickness of the organic pigment layer on the properties of the modified pigment need to be studied further.

Practical implications

This paper shows a feasible method of the modification of the PR170 with the silica fume, and the modification can improve the properties of the PR170. The use of silica fume to modify organic pigment can realise the reuse of solid waste and reduce the production cost of the organic pigment.

Social implications

This modification method of the organic pigment is adaptive and it can be adjusted to the modification of other species of the organic pigment.

Originality/value

The modification of the PR170 with the silica fume was carried out in its preparation process, which synchronised the preparation and modification of the organic pigment. The properties of the modified pigment were improved, which were beneficial for their application in inks and coatings.
The colour stability of natural dye coating films consisting of chlorophyll after exposed to UV-A
Authors: Usop R. , Abidin Z.H.Z , Mazni N.A. , Hadi A.N. , Halim N.A. , Taha R.M. , Careem M.A. , Majid S.R. , Arof A.K.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to study the colour stability of chlorophyll and the effect of copper (II) nitrate – Cu(NO3)2 – as an additive in natural dye coating films after being exposed to ultraviolet-A (UV-A).

Design/methodology/approach

The natural dye was extracted from the leaves of Cassia alata L. using absolute ethanol as the solvent. The extract was divided into two parts and, one of it was added with 3 wt.% Cu(NO3)2 as an additive. The polymer blend of poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and acrylic polyol was used as the coating binder. Both parts of the dye with and without additive were mixed with the blended polymer in a specific ratio. The resulted mixtures were applied as coating films on glass substrates. The colour stability of the coating films on exposure to UV-A with the time of exposure was observed with Commission internationale de l’éclairage (CIE) L*a*b* colour coordinates. The hidden power by the means of reflectivity and glossiness of the coatings was also studied. Statistical standard deviation (STD) was used to analyse the data.

Findings

The test showed that the coating films containing Cu(NO3)2 had smaller colour differences, (ΔE*) indicating higher colour stability. The analysis on hidden power also showed that the coating film with Cu(NO3)2 was 1.6 times more stable than the film without additive. All the measurements in this study were observed within 35 days of duration.

Research limitations/implications

This paper implies the potential of using natural dye extracted from Cassia alata L. leaves as a stable dye colourant for coating applications.

Practical implications

The coating film developed in this study is suitable for glass substrate applications.

Originality/value

A new method of preparing solvent-based coating film from PMMA–acrylic polyol with chlorophyll colourant is introduced in this study.
N‐acetylcysteine regimens for paracetamol overdose: Time for a change?
Authors: Wong Anselm , Graudins Andis
Published: May 2016

Paracetamol overdose is one of the commonest pharmaceutical poisonings in the world. For nearly four decades, intravenous acetylcysteine regimens have been used to treat most patients successfully and prevent or mitigate hepatotoxicity. However, the rate of occurrence of adverse reactions to acetylcysteine is quite high, and there is a potential for these to be reduced. Recent studies show that distributing the loading‐dose of acetylcysteine over the first few hours of treatment may decrease the incidence of adverse reactions. In addition, varying the duration of acetylcysteine administration may potentially benefit certain cohorts of poisoned patients, depending on their risk of developing hepatotoxicity.
Gender variability in electromyographic activity, in vivo behaviour of the human gastrocnemius and mechanical capacity during the take‐off phase of a countermovement jump
Authors: Rubio‐Arias Jacobo Ángel , Ramos‐Campo Domingo Jesús , Peña Amaro José , Esteban Paula , Mendizábal Susana , Jiménez José Fernando
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to analyse gender differences in neuromuscular behaviour of the gastrocnemius and vastus lateralis during the take‐off phase of a countermovement jump (CMJ), using direct measures (ground reaction forces, muscle activity and dynamic ultrasound).

Methods

Sixty‐four young adults (aged 18–25 years) participated voluntarily in this study, 35 men and 29 women. The firing of the trigger allowed obtainment of data collection vertical ground reaction forces (GRF), surface electromyography activity (sEMG) and dynamic ultrasound gastrocnemius of both legs.

Results

Statistically significant gender differences were observed in the jump performance, which appear to be based on differences in muscle architecture and the electrical activation of the gastrocnemius muscles and vastus lateralis. So while men developed greater peak power, velocity take‐offs and jump heights, jump kinetics compared to women, women also required a higher electrical activity to develop lower power values. Additionally, the men had higher values pennation angles and muscle thickness than women.

Conclusion

Men show higher performance of the jump test than women, due to significant statistical differences in the values of muscle architecture (pennation angle and thickness muscle), lower Neural Efficiency Index and a higher amount of sEMG activity per second during the take‐off phase of a CMJ.
Knee joint angle and vasti muscle electromyograms during fatiguing contractions
Authors: Ando Ryosuke , Tomita Aya , Watanabe Kohei , Akima Hiroshi
Published: May 2016

We compared vasti muscle electromyograms for two knee joint angles during fatiguing tetanic contractions. Tetanic contraction of the knee extensors was evoked for 70 s by electrical stimulation of the femoral nerve at knee joint angles of 60° (extended, with 0° indicating full extension) and 110° (flexed) in eight healthy men. Surface electromyography was recorded from the vastus intermedius (VI), vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles. Knee extension force and M‐wave amplitudes and durations were calculated every 7 s, which were normalized by the initial value. Normalized knee extension force was decreased at the flexed knee joint angle compared with that of the extended knee joint angle (P<0·05). Decreased normalized M‐wave amplitude and increased normalized M‐wave duration of the VI were greater at the flexed knee joint angle than the extended knee joint angle (P<0·05), whereas those for the VL and VM were similar (P>0·05). These results suggest that peripheral fatigue profiles of the VI might be greater at the flexed than the extended knee joint angles, but that of VL and VM might be similar in the tested range of knee joint angles (i.e. 60°–110°) during continuous tetanic contraction induced by electrical stimulation. Therefore, greater reduction of knee extension force at the flexed knee joint angle than the extended knee joint angle may reflect fatigue development of the VI more than other quadriceps femoris components.
Local Embeddedness, Market Focus, and Productivity: Evidence of Taiwanese Manufacturing MNE Subsidiaries in China
Authors: Joseph Li Chun‐Sheng , Chen Tser‐Yieth , Yang Phil Yihsing
Published: May 2016

There has been considerable literature discussing the characteristics and importance of location‐specific factors in the context of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), but very little literature linking location‐specific factors to productivity. This study explores, for each location‐specific factor, the relationship between the degree of local embeddedness and the labor productivity. We contribute to the body of literature on location‐specific factors by arguing that market focuses play a pivotal role in determining the impact of local embeddedness on productivity. Based on their strategic choices, we categorize Taiwanese manufacturing multinational enterprise (MNE) subsidiaries in China into two groups: the local‐market‐focus group and the export‐market‐focus group. The paper fits the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression models to the export‐market‐focus group and the local‐market‐focus group separately. For these two groups, each local‐embeddedness variable exerts different effect on labor productivity. Results also suggest that local‐market‐focus FDI is more affected by the host country's local business environment than is export‐market‐focus FDI. Although this study cannot represent all foreign companies in China, its dynamism offers a rich context in which to explore a deeper understanding of foreign companies' business activities in China.
Composition‐Dependent Microstructures and Properties of La‐, Zn‐, and Cr‐Modified 0.675BiFeO3–0.325BaTiO3 Ceramics
Authors: Zhang Lin‐Yu , Zhang Ji , Chang Yun‐Fei , Yuan Guo‐Liang , Yang Bin , Zhang Shan‐Tao
Published: May 2016

Pure and 1.0 mol% La2O3, ZnO, and Cr2O3‐modified 0.675BiFeO3–0.325BaTiO3 (BF–BT) multiferroic ceramics were prepared and comparatively investigated. For pure and La‐, Zn‐, and Cr‐modified BF–BT, the average grain size is 415, 325, 580, and 395 nm, and the maximum dielectric constant temperature is 460°C, 430°C, 465°C, and 445°C, respectively. All additives weaken the ferroelectricity slightly. Zn‐ and Cr‐modifications dramatically enhance the room‐temperature magnetic properties, whereas La‐modification has almost no effect on magnetic property. Especially, the Cr‐modified BF–BT ceramics show switchable polarization and magnetization of 4.9 μC/cm2 and 0.27 emu/g at room temperature, the magnetoelectric coupling is confirmed by the magnetization‐magnetic field curves measured on ceramics before and after electric poling. The mechanism responsible for the different effects of additive on microstructures and properties are discussed based on additive‐induced point defect and second phase as well as diffusion‐induced substitution. These results not only provide a promising room‐temperature multiferroic material candidate, but also are helpful to design new multiferroic materials with enhanced properties.
Intimacy, Autonomy and (Non) Domination
Authors: Humphries James
Published: May 2016

Accounts of autonomy which acknowledge the importance of non‐domination – that is, of being structurally protected against arbitrary interference with one's life – face an apparent problem with regards to intimate relationships (whether romantic or otherwise). By their very nature, such relations open us up to psychological and material suffering that would not be possible absent the particular relationship; even worse, from the non‐domination point of view, is that this vulnerability seems to be structural in a way exactly analogous to (for example) workplace or social domination. If being powerless to prevent an employer causing me harm constitutes domination at work, then what relevant differences can support the intuition that being powerless to prevent my partner causing me comparable pain is not autonomy‐hostile? I argue for the reassuring view that the obligations and possibility of pain arising from such relations aren't necessarily dominating; they would be so only if we believed that any obligation we have not explicitly agreed to is a restriction on our autonomy, and that is false. I conclude with a note of caution: even though intimate relations aren't necessarily dominating, they will often be contingently so if they take place in a wider social context of domination – such as that which we currently inhabit.
Bonhoeffer's Non‐Commitment to Nonviolence: A Response to Stanley Hauerwas
Authors: DeJonge Michael P.
Published: May 2016

Stanley Hauerwas's claim that Bonhoeffer had a “commitment to nonviolence” runs aground on Bonhoeffer's own statements about peace, war, violence, and nonviolence. The fact that Hauerwas and others have asserted Bonhoeffer's commitment to nonviolence despite abundant evidence to the contrary reveals a blind spot that develops from reading Bonhoeffer's thinking in general and his statements about peace in particular as if they were part of an Anabaptist theological framework rather than his own Lutheran one. This essay shows that Bonhoeffer's understanding of peace as “concrete commandment” and “order of preservation” relies on Lutheran concepts and is articulated with explicit contrast to an Anabaptist account of peace. The interpretation developed here can account for the range of statements Bonhoeffer makes about peace, war, violence, and nonviolence, many of which must be misconstrued or ignored to claim his “commitment to nonviolence.”
Dignity as (Self-)Determination: Hopi Sovereignty in the Face of US Dispossessions
Authors: Richland Justin B.
Published: May 2016

In 2013, the Arizona Snowbowl Ski Resort began spraying artificial snow made from reclaimed wastewater on Arizona's highest peak, a place the Hopi people call Nuvatukya'ovi, “Snow-on-top-of-it.” As one of the Hopis' most sacred places, the home of the katsinam and the southwestern boundary marker of their aboriginal territory, the Hopi have fought for decades to stop development of the ski resort, which today sits on US Forest Service land. Viewing the history of this dispute through the lens of Atuahene's notion of a “dignity taking,” this article argues that despite never having been relocated, the indignities that the Hopi have suffered by US dispossessions of much of their aboriginal territory are the product of a series of bureaucratic sleights of hand that only bear the mark of legality if one ignores history and denies the enduring right to self-determination and sovereignty that Hopi have continuously claimed with regard to the totality of their aboriginal land.

Yuuyahiwa,

Ayamo Nuvatukya'ove'e.

Oo'oomawutu,

angqw puma naayuwasinaya,

pewi'i.

They are preparing themselves [for a journey],

Over there at the snow-capped mountains [San Francisco Peaks].

The clouds,

From there, they are putting on their endowments [of rain power],

To come here.

A Hopi katsinam song recalled by Emory Sekaquaptewa (from Sekaquaptewa and Washburn, 2004, 468)
Genome‐wide analysis of transcription factors involved in maize embryonic callus formation
Authors: Ge Fei , Luo Xu , Huang Xing , Zhang Yanling , He Xiujing , Liu Min , Lin Haijian , Peng Huanwei , Li Lujiang , Zhang Zhiming , Pan Guangtang , Shen Yaou
Published: May 2016

In this study, a maize inbred line with a strong capacity to induce embryonic callus, 18‐599R, was used to analyze the transcription factors expressed during embryonic callus formation. A total of 1180 transcription factors were found to be expressed during three key stages of callus induction. Of these, compared with control, 361, 346 and 328 transcription factors were significantly downregulated during stages I, II and III, respectively. In contrast, 355, 372 and 401 transcription factors (TFs) were upregulated during the respective stages. We constructed a transcription factor‐mediated regulatory network and found that plant hormone signal transduction was the pathway most significantly enriched among TFs. This pathway includes 48 TFs regulating cell enlargement, cell differentiation, cell division and cell dedifferentiation via the response to plant hormones. Through real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and degradome sequencing, we identified 23 transcription factors that are regulated by miRNA. Through further analysis, ZmMYB138, a member of the MYB transcription factor family localized in the nucleus, was verified to promote embryonic callus formation in the maize embryo through GA signal transduction.
Assessing Recent Determinants of Borrowing Costs in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Gevorkyan Aleksandr V. , Kvangraven Ingrid Harvold
Published: May 2016

This study explores macroeconomic implications of the sovereign bond rush that has been taking place in sub‐Saharan Africa since 2006. The focus is on the sub‐Saharan sovereign bond yields as proxies for the region's ability to raise new funds on international markets. Despite the subcontinent'stour‐de‐forceentrance to the international bond market, this paper reveals that recent (since early 2000s) borrowing in foreign currency is not without macroeconomic risk. Empirically this paper finds that sovereign bond yields are significantly influenced by global volatility, commodity prices and global liquidity—all factors that are out of the control of the sub‐Saharan economies in question. These findings suggest that portfolio repositioning by institutional investors prompted by improved growth prospects and implicit monetary policy tightening in the advanced economies or heightened risk perceptions, are likely to result in increased borrowing costs for the sub‐Saharan bond issuers and affect their ability to raise funds in international markets. Furthermore, a change in borrowing costs might lead to higher debt‐service costs and policy uncertainty, which in turn could lead to suboptimal investment levels and, ultimately, hinder economic development.
Geometric Nonlinearity Effects in the Response of Sandwich Wide Panels
Authors: Yuan Zhangxian , Kardomateas George A. , Frostig Yeoshua
Published: May 2016

In the literature, there are various simplifying assumptions adopted in the kinematic relations of the faces and the core when considering a geometrically nonlinear problem in sandwich structures. Most commonly, only one nonlinear term is included in the faces and the core nonlinearities are neglected. A critical assessment of these assumptions, as well as the effects of including the other nonlinear terms in the faces and the core, is the scope of this paper. The comprehensive investigation of all the nonlinear terms is accomplished by deriving and employing an advanced nonlinear high-order theory, namely, the recently developed “extended high-order sandwich panel theory” (EHSAPT). This theory, which was derived as a linear theory, is first formulated in this paper in its full nonlinear version for the simpler one-dimensional case of sandwich wide panels/beams. Large displacements and moderate rotations are taken into account in both faces and core. In addition, a nonlinear EHSAPT-based finite element (FE) is developed. A series of simplified models with various nonlinear terms included are derived accordingly to check the validity of each of these assumptions. Two sandwich panel configurations, one with a “soft” and one with a “hard” core, loaded in three-point bending, are analyzed. The geometric nonlinearity effects and the relative merits of the corresponding simplifications are analyzed with these two numerical examples. In addition to a relative comparison among all these different assumptions, the results are also compared to the corresponding ones from a commercial FE code.
Antidepressants and the risk of hyponatremia: a Danish register-based population study
Authors: Leth-Møller Katja Biering , Hansen Annette Højmann , Torstensson Maia , Andersen Stig Ejdrup , Ødum Lars , Gislasson Gunnar , Torp-Pedersen Christian , Holm Ellen Astrid
Published: May 2016

Objective

To examine the association between classes of antidepressants and hyponatremia, and between specific antidepressants and hyponatremia.

Design

Retrospective register-based cohort study using nationwide registers from 1998 to 2012.

Setting

The North Denmark Region.

Participants

In total, 638 352 individuals were included.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Plasma sodium was obtained from the LABKA database. The primary outcome was hyponatremia defined as plasma sodium (p-sodium) below 135 mmol/L and secondary outcome was severe hyponatremia defined as p-sodium below 130 mmol/L. The association between use of specific antidepressants and hyponatremia was analysed using multivariable Poisson regression models.

Results

An event of hyponatremia occurred in 72 509 individuals and 11.36% (n=6476) of these events happened during treatment with antidepressants. Incidence rate ratios and CIs for the association with hyponatremia in the first p-sodium measured after initiation of treatment were for citalopram 7.8 (CI 7.42 to 8.20); clomipramine 4.93 (CI 2.72 to 8.94); duloxetine 2.05 (CI 1.44 to 292); venlafaxine 2.90 (CI 2.43 to 3.46); mirtazapine 2.95 (CI 2.71 to 3.21); and mianserin 0.90 (CI 0.71 to 1.14).

Conclusions

All antidepressants except mianserin are associated with hyponatremia. The association is strongest with citalopram and lowest with duloxetine, venlafaxine and mirtazapine.
Tree light capture and spatial variability of understory light increase with species mixing and tree size heterogeneity
Authors: Ligot Gauthier , Ameztegui Aitor , Courbaud Benoît , Coll Lluís , Kneeshaw Dan
Published: May 2016

Mixed and multi-layered forest ecosystems are sometimes more productive than monospecific and single-layered ones. It has been suggested that trees of different species and sizes occupy complementary positions in space, which would act as a mechanism to increase canopy light interception and wood production. However, greater canopy light interception reduces the average amount and variability of transmitted radiation, offering fewer opportunities for all species to regenerate and to maintain forest heterogeneity in the long run. We investigated whether increasing overstory heterogeneity indeed results in greater canopy light interception and lower variability in transmittance. We modeled the three-dimensional structure of forest stands with three typical forest structures, 10 mixtures of four tree species, and three different basal areas. We used the forest light interception model SamsaraLight and performed three-way analyses of covariance to analyze the effects of the three varied components of forest heterogeneity. We found no evidence that increasing structural heterogeneity increases canopy light interception. However, the light interception by mixed canopies was greater than the weighted average of light interception by the corresponding pure canopies. Variability in transmittance increased in some cases with compositional heterogeneity and, to a lesser extent, with tree size inequalities. The advantage of heterogeneous forests is in opportunities for natural regeneration, as well as in opportunities to enhance canopy light interception.
Realization of a twin beam source based on four-wave mixing in Cesium
Authors: Adenier G. , Calonico D. , Micalizio S. , Samantaray N. , Degiovanni I. P. , Berchera I. Ruo
Published: May 2016

Four-wave mixing (4WM) is a known source of intense non-classical twin beams. It can be generated when an intense laser beam (the pump) and a weak laser beam (the seed) overlap in a [Formula: see text] medium (here Cesium vapor), with frequencies close to resonance with atomic transitions. The twin beams generated by 4WM have frequencies naturally close to atomic transitions, and can be intense (gain [Formula: see text]) even in the CW pump regime, which is not the case for PDC [Formula: see text] phenomenon in nonlinear crystals. So, 4WM is well suited for atom-light interaction and atom-based quantum-protocols. Here, we present the first realization of a source of 4-wave mixing exploiting [Formula: see text] line of Cesium atoms.
Metal Adsorbate-Induced Plasmon Damping in Gold Nanorods: The Difference Between Metals
Authors: Xu Pengyu , Lu Xuxing , Zhao Junwei , Li Yue , Chen Sheng , Xue Junfei , Ou Weihui , Han Song , Ding Yaping , Ni Weihai
Published: May 2016

We presented a single particle study on the metal adsorbate-induced plasmon damping in Au nanorods (AuNRs) through adsorbing clusters of different metals including Pt, Au and Ag. AuNRs with different longitudinal surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) wavelength were measured and investigated individually. Linewidth broadening, plasmon shift and reduction of plasmonic resonance of single AuNRs were studied and compared between Pt, Au and Ag adsorbates. The measured linewidths perfectly match the theoretical predictions of the billiard model with increased scattering coefficients resulted from the metal adsorbates. The results indicate that the plasmon damping in case of Ag is significantly weaker than Pt and Au, which can be attributed to longer relaxation time of free electrons in Ag and therefore less loss of the oscillating plasmon electrons. In contrast to the red shift observed from Au and Pt, blue shift of the LSPR is observed in case of Ag. It suggests that plasmonic properties brought by the metal adsorbates can exert dramatic influence on the nanoparticle that is adsorbed with. We believe that our study not only provides important understanding on plasmon damping but pave the road for the fabrication of complex nanostructures with two or more metal elements.
Dynamics Analysis and Biomass Productivity Optimisation of a Microbial Cultivation Process through Substrate Regulation
Authors: Sun Kaibiao , Liu Shan , Kasperski Andrzej , Tian Yuan
Published: May 2016

A microbial cultivation process model with variable biomass yield, control of substrate concentration, and biomass recycle is formulated, where the biochemical kinetics follows an extension of the Monod and Contois models. Control of substrate concentration allows for indirect monitoring of biomass and dissolved oxygen concentrations and consequently obtaining high yield and productivity of biomass. Dynamics analysis of the proposed model is carried out and the existence of order-1 periodic solution is deduced with a formulation of the period, which provides a theoretical possibility to convert the state-dependent control to a periodic one while keeping the dynamics unchanged. Moreover, the stability of the order-1 periodic solution is verified by a geometric method. The stability ensures a certain robustness of the adopted control; that is, even with an inaccurately detected substrate concentration or a deviation, the system will be always stable at the order-1 periodic solution under the control. The simulations are carried out to complement the theoretical results and optimisation of the biomass productivity is presented.
Radical-Scavenging Activity and Ferric Reducing Ability ofJuniperus thurifera(L.),J. oxycedrus(L.),J. phoenicea(L.) andTetraclinis articulata(L.)
Authors: El Jemli Meryem , Kamal Rabie , Marmouzi Ilias , Zerrouki Asmae , Cherrah Yahia , Alaoui Katim
Published: May 2016

Objective. The aim of this work is to study and compare the antioxidant properties and phenolic contents of aqueous leaf extracts ofJuniperus thurifera,Juniperus oxycedrus,Juniperus Phoenicea,andTetraclinis articulatafrom Morocco.Methods. Antioxidant activities of the extracts were evaluated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging ability, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Also the total phenolic and flavonoids contents of the extracts were determined spectrophotometrically.Results. All the extracts showed interesting antioxidant activities compared to the standard antioxidants (butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), quercetin, and Trolox). The aqueous extract ofJuniperus oxycedrusshowed the highest antioxidant activity as measured by DPPH, TEAC, and FRAP assays with IC50values of17.91±0.37 μg/mL,19.80±0.55 μg/mL, and24.23±0.07 μg/mL, respectively. The strong correlation observed between antioxidant capacities and their total phenolic contents indicated that phenolic compounds were a major contributor to antioxidant properties of these plants extracts.Conclusion. These results suggest that the aqueous extracts ofJuniperus thurifera,Juniperus oxycedrus,Juniperus phoenicea,andTetraclinis articulatacan constitute a promising new source of natural compounds with antioxidants ability.
Diagnostic potential of plasma microRNA signatures in patients with deep-vein thrombosis
Authors: Wang Xiao , Sundquist Kristina , Elf Johan L. , Strandberg Karin , Svensson Peter J. , Hedelius Anna , Palmér Karolina , Memon Ashfaque A. , Sundquist Jan , Zöller Bengt
Published: May 2016

For excluding deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), a negative D-dimer and low clinical probability are used to rule out DVT. Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are stably present in the plasma, serum and other body fluids. Their diagnostic function has been investigated in many diseases but not in DVT. The aims of present study were to assess the diagnostic ability of plasma miRNAs in DVT and to examine their correlation with known markers of hypercoagulability, such as D-dimer and APC-PCI complex. Plasma samples were obtained from 238 patients (aged 16–95 years) with suspected DVT included in a prospective multicentre management study (SCORE). We first performed miRNA screening of plasma samples from three plasma pools containing plasma from 12 patients with DVT and three plasma pools containing plasma from 12 patients without DVT using a microRNA Ready-to-use PCR Panel comprising 742 miRNA primer sets. Thirteen miRNAs that differentially expressed were further investigated by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR in the entire cohort. The plasma level of miR-424–5p (p=0.01) were significantly higher, whereas the levels of miR-136–5p (p=0.03) were significantly lower in DVT patients compared to patients without DVT. Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis showed the area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.63 for miR-424–5p and 0.60 for miR-136–5p. The plasma level of miR-424–5p was associated with both D-dimer and APC-PCI complex levels (p<0.0001 and p=0.001, respectively). In conclusions, these findings indicate that certain miRNAs are associated with DVT and markers of hypercoagulability, though their diagnostic abilities are probably too low.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Assimilation of Gridded GRACE Terrestrial Water Storage Estimates in the North American Land Data Assimilation System
Authors: Kumar Sujay V. , Zaitchik Benjamin F. , Peters-Lidard Christa D. , Rodell Matthew , Reichle Rolf , Li Bailing , Jasinski Michael , Mocko David , Getirana Augusto , De Lannoy Gabrielle , Cosh Michael H. , Hain Christopher R. , Anderson Martha , Arsenault Kristi R. , Xia Youlong , Ek Michael
Published: May 2016

The objective of the North American Land Data Assimilation System (NLDAS) is to provide best-available estimates of near-surface meteorological conditions and soil hydrological status for the continental United States. To support the ongoing efforts to develop data assimilation (DA) capabilities for NLDAS, the results of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) DA implemented in a manner consistent with NLDAS development are presented. Following previous work, GRACE terrestrial water storage (TWS) anomaly estimates are assimilated into the NASA Catchment land surface model using an ensemble smoother. In contrast to many earlier GRACE DA studies, a gridded GRACE TWS product is assimilated, spatially distributed GRACE error estimates are accounted for, and the impact that GRACE scaling factors have on assimilation is evaluated. Comparisons with quality-controlled in situ observations indicate that GRACE DA has a positive impact on the simulation of unconfined groundwater variability across the majority of the eastern United States and on the simulation of surface and root zone soil moisture across the country. Smaller improvements are seen in the simulation of snow depth, and the impact of GRACE DA on simulated river discharge and evapotranspiration is regionally variable. The use of GRACE scaling factors during assimilation improved DA results in the western United States but led to small degradations in the eastern United States. The study also found comparable performance between the use of gridded and basin-averaged GRACE observations in assimilation. Finally, the evaluations presented in the paper indicate that GRACE DA can be helpful in improving the representation of droughts.
A Procedure to Compensate for the Response Drift of a Large Set of Thermistors
Authors: Cimatoribus Andrea A. , van Haren Hans , Gostiaux Louis
Published: May 2016

The drift of temperature measurements by semiconductor negative temperature coefficient thermistors is a well-known problem. This study analyzes the drift characteristics of the thermistors designed and used at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research for measuring high-frequency temperature fluctuations in the ocean. These thermistors can be calibrated to high precision and accuracy (better than 1 mK) and have very low noise levels. The thermistors can measure independently for long periods of time (more than one year), and the identification and compensation of the drift are thus essential processing steps. A laboratory analysis showing that the drift is similar, in its functional form, to the drift of commercial thermistors described in the literature is presented. An effective procedure to estimate this drift from ocean observations is described and tested using three datasets from the deep Atlantic Ocean. Since the functional form of the drift rate is, with good approximation, universal among different sensors, the procedure could easily be adapted to other datasets and, the authors argue, to measurements from thermistors by other manufacturers too.
ATDnet Detection Efficiency and Cloud Lightning Detection Characteristics from Comparison with the HyLMA during HyMeX SOP1
Authors: Enno Sven-Erik , Anderson Graeme , Sugier Jacqueline
Published: May 2016

This study provides the first comprehensive quantitative detection efficiency (DE) estimation of the Met Office long-range very low-frequency (VLF) lightning location system, the Arrival Time Difference Network ATDnet, with a focus on cloud flash detection. ATDnet uses sensors in and around Europe to detect lightning in Europe, northern Africa, and northern parts of the Atlantic.

In the present paper, ATDnet is validated against the Hydrological Cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX) Lightning Mapping Array (HyLMA) deployed in the south of France in autumn 2012 as a part of the HyMeX project Special Observation Period 1 (SOP1). Three storms (on 5, 11, and 25 September 2012) were selected for this study, as their activity was sufficient to provide good statistics but also low enough to avoid ambiguous situations due to temporally overlapping flashes.

The overall ATDnet flash DE was approximately 89% for the 281 ground flashes [cloud to ground (CG)] and 24% for the 1324 cloud flashes [inter/intracloud (IC)] during the storms. It was also demonstrated that variations in cloud flash characteristics (e.g., flash vertical extent) have a significant impact on DE between and during the studied storms.
Universalism in 3 Baruch
Authors: Lloyd Daniel
Published: May 2016

This article argues that universalistic themes of the apocalyptic work 3 Baruch should be seen as evidence for the integrity of the text's ending. The author of the work emphasizes the unity of the human condition through a firmly structured cosmology and universalistic moral demands. The text presents the figures associated with the Tower of Babel, a vision of a phoenix protecting the world, and a heavenly temple scene with the archangel Michael, as helping the seer Baruch to acknowledge God's dominion over the world. 3 Baruch presents God's glory as tied to a concern for all people and control over the cosmos. The structure and episodes created by the author of the text work to downplay Jewish particularism and halakhic commands as a response to the destruction of the Temple by the Romans.
Clinicopathological features and treatment outcomes of the rare, salivary duct carcinoma of parotid gland
Authors: Al-Qahtani Khalid Hussain , Tunio Mutahir A. , Bayoumi Yasser , Gurusamy Venkada Manickam , Bahamdain Fahad Ahmed A. , Fatani Hanadi
Published: May 2016

Background

Salivary ductal carcinoma (SDC) of parotid gland is a rare and aggressive entity; accounting for 1–3 % of all malignant salivary gland tumors, 0.2 % of epithelial salivary gland neoplasms, 0.5 % of salivary gland carcinomas, and 1.1 % of parotid gland carcinomas. Here in we aimed to evaluate the clinico-pathological features and treatment outcomes of parotid gland SDC in Saudi population.

Methods

Among 38 patients with parotid malignancies, who were treated in two major tertiary care referral cancer centers between December 2007 and December 2014, seven cases (18.4 %) were found to have SDC, which were investigated for clinicopathological features, locoregional recurrences (LRRs), distant metastasis (DM) and survival rates.

Results

Mean age of cohort was 62.3 years (range: 41–83) and female predominant (71.4 %). All patients underwent total parotidectomy and ipsilateral neck dissection. Mean tumor size was 3.4 cm (range: 2.1–5.3); perineural invasion (85.8 %); lymph node involvement (42.9 %); and HER-2 neu overexpression (28.6 %). Postoperative radiation therapy (PORT) was given to six patients (dose: 50–66 Gy). Median follow-up was 20.2 months (range: 11–48). LRRs were seen in five (71.4 %) patients (base of skull, 3 patients; cervical nodes, one patient; parotid bed, one patient). LRRs were salvaged with resection (two patients) and re-irradiation (one patient with base of skull). DM in lungs was seen in three patients (42.8 %); one treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel based chemotherapy. The 4-year disease free and overall survival rates were 16.7 % and 40 % respectively.

Conclusion

SDC of parotid gland is a rare and aggressive entity, and most of LRRs were seen in the base of skull, which warrants inclusion of base of skull in clinical target volume in PORT planning. Role of anti HER-2 targeted therapy in SDC with HER-2 neu overexpression needs further investigations.
Tourism logistics in focus of new logistics directions
Authors: Скоробогатова Татьяна , Skorobogatova Tatyana
Published: May 2016

The article is devoted to new logistics directions, primarily logistics of tourism that situated at the intersection of a number of branches of the logistics. The author defines the role of logistics as a multidisciplinary science. In the article presented and describe the classification categories of logistics, selected on the basis of following indications: functionality, resources (flows), type of business, novelty of management methods, the application to the economic sphere, control subject, problems of solving tasks, priority of flows, industry accessories (type of activity) with indicating a possible disaggregation of groups. The balance between resources and associated flows as the basic categories of logistics is revealed, and the fact that not all the resources form a flow and not all flows initially presented in the form of resources is specified. The article describes the basic provisions of the logistics of resource saving and defines its place in the logistics system. Comparison of components of logistics is made, namely: of supplying logistics, manufacturing (conventionally-production) logistics, logistics of sales - in the aspect of resource saving in relation to material production and tourism as a kind of service activity. The author has found out why the provisions of the service logistics is most clearly manifested in tourism: it is here consumers to obtain services are forced to move over long distances; logistics flows, in addition to the basic function of delivery, perform the connection between object-customer and environment, tourists as elements, which form flows, themselves perform communication-binding function of logistics. In addition, the ratio of tourism logistics, service logistics and logistics of resource saving is schematically shown, the definition of citylinks is expanded, and innovative targeted measures for material flow management and tourist flows aimed at resource conservation, where tourists are regarded as not only clients, but also partners of personnel of tourism enterprises, are offered.