bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benchmarks for ethically credible partnerships between industry and academic health centers: beyond disclosure of financial conflicts of interest
Authors: Meslin Eric M. , Rager Joshua B. , Schwartz Peter H. , Quaid Kimberly A. , Gaffney Margaret M. , Duke Jon , Tierney William M.
Published: December 2015

Relationships between industry and university‐based researchers have been commonplace for decades and have received notable attention concerning the conflicts of interest these relationships may harbor. While new efforts are being made to update conflict of interest policies and make industry relationships with academia more transparent, the development of broader institutional partnerships between industry and academic health centers challenges the efficacy of current policy to effectively manage these innovative partnerships. In this paper, we argue that existing strategies to reduce conflicts of interest are not sufficient to address the emerging models of industry‐academic partnerships because they focus too narrowly on financial matters and are not comprehensive enough to mitigate all ethical risk. Moreover, conflict‐of‐interest strategies are not designed to promote best practices nor the scientific and social benefits of academic‐industry collaboration. We propose a framework of principles and benchmarks for “ethically credible partnerships” between industry and academic health centers and describe how this framework may provide a practical and comprehensive approach for designing and evaluating such partnerships.
College students’ frequency of use of information sources by fashion leadership and style of information processing
Authors: Cho Siwon , Workman Jane E.
Published: December 2015

Information overload compels consumers to make decisions about how to distribute their limited attention across a variety of information sources. Today’s consumers use only one or two information sources from infinite digital choice and search engines available. Thus, it is not a case of more information, but more of the right information that needs to be communicated between consumers and marketers. The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of fashion leadership and style of information processing (SOP) on consumers’ frequency of use of information sources for apparel shopping. A survey was conducted using a non-probability sample of 351 US college students. The hypotheses were tested by MANOVA and ANOVA. Results showed that fashion leaders (vs. fashion followers) tended to be greater visualizers who preferred to engage in visual modality of information processing (SOP-visual) for apparel shopping. Fashion leaders (vs. fashion followers) and high visualizers (vs. low visualizers) were more likely to use internal information sources (i.e., experiences and knowledge) as well as impersonal external information sources (e.g., fashion magazines). Results of the study may help apparel marketers in identifying customers’ preference for information sources in order to communicate effectively. In turn, apparel consumers may have greater success in their search for reliable, credible, and accessible information. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Vitamin D Supplementation Modulates T Cell–Mediated Immunity in Humans: Results from a Randomized Control Trial
Authors: Konijeti Gauree Gupta , Arora Pankaj , Boylan Matthew R. , Song Yanna , Huang Shi , Harrell Frank , Newton-Cheh Christopher , O'Neill Dillon , Korzenik Joshua , Wang Thomas J. , Chan Andrew T.
Published: December 2015

Context:

Although studies have linked vitamin D deficiency with immune-mediated diseases, data demonstrating a direct effect on T-cell function are sparse.

Objective:

Our objective was to determine whether oral vitamin D3 influences T-cell activation in humans with vitamin D deficiency.

Design:

This was a single-center ancillary study within Vitamin D Therapy in Individuals at High Risk of Hypertension, a double-blind, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

This study was undertaken in a single academic medical center.

Participants:

Adults with vitamin D deficiency and untreated pre- or early stage I hypertension were included.

Intervention:

In Vitamin D Therapy in Individuals at High Risk of Hypertension, participants were randomized to either low- (400 IU daily) or high- (4000 IU daily) dose oral vitamin D3 for 6 months. In this ancillary study of 38 patients, we measured CD4+ T-cell activation estimated by intracellular ATP release after stimulation of whole blood with plant lectin phytohemagglutinin collected at baseline (pretreatment) and 2-month follow-up.

Main Outcome Measure:

Determining whether ATP level changes were significantly different between treatment groups was the main outcome measure.

Results:

Treatment with 4000 IU of vitamin D3 decreased intracellular CD4+ ATP release by 95.5 ng/ml (interquartile range, −219.5 to 105.8). In contrast, 400 IU of vitamin D3 decreased intracellular CD4+ ATP release by 0.5 ng/ml (interquartile range, −69.2 to 148.5). In a proportional odds model, high-dose vitamin D3 was more likely than low-dose vitamin D3 to decrease CD4+ ATP release (odds ratio, 3.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.11).

Conclusions:

In this ancillary study of a randomized controlled trial, we found that high-dose vitamin D3 significantly reduced CD4+ T-cell activation compared to low-dose vitamin D3, providing human evidence that vitamin D can influence cell-mediated immunity.
Development of Light Energy Conversion Materials Using Two-Dimensional Inorganic Nanosheets
Authors: Ida Shintaro
Published: December 2015

Nanosheets can be obtained by the exfoliation of layered compounds in a process where the three-dimensional structure of a bulk layered compound is converted into a two-dimensional structure. The change in the structural dimension is expected to result in new physical and/or chemical functions. This paper describes 1) light energy conversion properties, such as photocatalytic activity and emission for nanosheets obtained by exfoliation of the layered compounds, and 2) charge separation of photoexcited electrons and holes by the potential gradient formed in the ultrathin pn-junction prepared using nanosheets.
Stereochemical Stability Differences between Axially Chiral 6-Aryl-Substituted Picolinic Esters and Their Benzoic Ester Derivatives: sp2N: vs. sp2CH in CH3, C6H5, and CH3O ortho-Substitution Effect
Authors: Tanaka Shinji , Suzuki Yusuke , Matsushita Masaharu , Kitamura Masato
Published: December 2015

An axially chiral naphthyl-substituted picolinic acid (R-Naph-PyCOOH) or its allyl ester (R-Naph-PyCOOAll) acts as an excellent ligand for catalytic asymmetric dehydrative intramolecular allylation. Towards the future development of a high performance catalysis using R-Naph-PyCOOH or its carba-analogue (R-Naph-PhCOOH), the stereochemical stability of R-Naph-PyCOOAll and R-Naph-PhCOOAll has been investigated by a systematic change in the ortho-substituent R on the naphthalene ring from CH3 to C6H5 and CH3O to provide a range of effective radius (ER) and Hammett standard σ constant (σp). Enantiomerically pure R-Naph-PyCOOAll and R-Naph-PhCOOAll were prepared, and the rotational energy barriers ΔG‡(sp2N) and ΔG‡(sp2CH) as well as the racemization half-life (t1/2) were determined by time-interval chiral HPLC analysis of the enantiomer ratio (er). These experiments revealed have been i) that replacement of sp2CH with sp2N lowers ΔG‡ at least by 14 kJ mol−1 (3.3 kcal mol−1), and ii) that the degree of the ΔG‡ lowering (ΔΔG‡) is not proportional to ER, but has a high linear correlation to σp with a negative ρ value. In this particular system, a synergistic effect of the steric and electronic factors stabilizes TSφ180 with a 180° dihedral angle of CH3OC(2′)=C(1′)–C(6)=N(1) over TSφ0, decreasing the t1/2 of CH3O-Naph-PyCOOAll to 7 days from 1600 years of CH3-Naph-PyCOOAll.
The representation of research in the national curriculum and secondary school pupils’ perceptions of research, its function, usefulness and value to their lives
Authors: Yeoman Kay , Bowater Laura , Nardi Elena
Published: December 2015

Young people’s views on research, how it’s conducted and whether it’s important, influences the decisions they make about their further studies and career choices. We investigate how research is represented within the English national curriculum and the examination boards because we recognise that what is being taught influences secondary pupil views on research.  We use questionnaire data to focus particularly on pupil perceptions of research in the sciences and the scientific method. The questionnaire was a 25-item Likert Scale (1-5) distributed to seven collaborating schools. We received 2634 returns from pupils across key stages 3, 4 and 5. We also asked teachers to complete the questionnaire to reflect how they thought their pupils would respond. We received 54 teacher responses. Statistically significant differences in the responses were identified through a chi-square test on SPSS and the interpretive part of our analysis considers how the term ‘research’ appears in the national curriculum for England and Wales and the three main English exam boards. The main theoretical construct that informs our analysis is Angela Brew’s 4-tier descriptor of perceptions of research (domino, trading, layer, journey). We use this framework to map the national curriculum for Science in England to establish the when, what and how research is presented to school pupils in England and Wales. We highlight and discuss certain pupil views on: research as involving the identification of a research question; research as a means to confirm one’s own opinion; research as involving the generation of new knowledge and the collection of new data, such as interviews and questionnaires as well as laboratory work, field trips and library searches. We also discuss pupils’ statements of confidence in their ability to do research, school experiences of research, perceptions of difficulty and importance of research to future career choice.
Ancestral traits and specializations in the flowers of the basal grade of living angiosperms
Authors: Endress Peter K. , Doyle James A.
Published: December 2015

New morphological and phylogenetic data prompt us to present an updated review of floral morphology and its evolution in the basal ANITA grade of living angiosperms, Chloranthaceae, and Ceratophyllum. Floral phyllotaxis is complex whorled in Nymphaeales and spiral in Amborella and Austrobaileyales. It is unresolved whether phyllotaxis was ancestrally whorled or spiral, but if it was whorled, the whorls were trimerous. The flowers are probably ancestrally bisexual because in most families with unisexual flowers these flowers exhibit rudiments of the opposite sex. Carpels are largely ascidiate and the closure line is short, either transverse or longitudinal. A style is usually absent or, if present, generally short and not plicate. Angiospermy (carpel sealing) is by secretion, rather than postgenital fusion, except in large‐flowered Nymphaeales and in Illicium, correlated with unusual fruits. Carpels with a single, median, pendent ovule are probably plesiomorphic. Chloranth‐ aceae and Ceratophyllaceae have an unsettled phylogenetic position, but in some phylogenetic analyses they form a clade, which may be sister to the remaining mesangiosperms (Magnoliidae, monocots, eudicots). This position is supported by their carpel characters, which are similar to those of the ANITA grade and different from those of most other mesangiosperms.
The Pursuit of Information Sharing: Expressing Task Conflicts as Debates vs. Disagreements Increases Perceived Receptivity to Dissenting Opinions in Groups
Authors: Tsai Ming-Hong , Bendersky Corinne
Published: December 2015

Group members often over-weigh shared information and under-value unique information during discussions to the detriment of decision quality. Fortunately, perceiving other group members as receptive to dissenting opinions may enhance information sharing. We distinguish between two ways of expressing opinion-differences about tasks—debates and disagreements—that we predict are perceived by others as conveying varying degrees of receptivity to dissenting opinions. In four studies with mixed methods and a causal chain design, we manipulate and measure group members’ (the “senders”) expressions of debates and disagreements, others’ (the “receivers”) perceptions of the senders’ receptivity to dissenting opinions, and receivers’ information sharing intentions and behavior. We demonstrate that task conflicts that are expressed as debates rather than as disagreements are associated with greater information sharing because receivers perceive senders to be more receptive to dissenting opinions. We, thus, offer a novel approach to increasing information utilization during group decision making and help resolve the paradoxical effects of opinion differences on group performance.
Rationing of orthopaedic surgery in the UK
Authors: Dodd L. , Sharpe I. , Mandalia V. I. , Toms A. D. , Phillips J. R. A.
Published: December 2015

The global economy has been facing a financial crisis. Healthcare costs are spiraling, and there is a projected £30 billion health funding gap by 2020 in the UK. 1 This has prompted a drive for efficiency in healthcare provision in the UK, and in 2012, the Health and Social Care Act was introduced, heralding a fundamental change to the structure of the National Health Service, especially in the way that healthcare is funded in England. 2

What is happening in the UK is a reflection of a global problem. Rationing of healthcare is a topic of much discussion; as unless spending is capped, providing healthcare will become unsustainable. Who decides how money is spent, and which services should be rationed?

In this article we aim to discuss the impact that rationing may have on orthopaedic surgery, and we will discuss our own experiences of attempts to ration local services. 3 We also seek to inform and educate the general orthopaedic community on this topic.
Clinical negligence
Authors: Ahmed S. S.
Published: December 2015

The number of clinical negligence claims in the UK is constantly increasing. As a specialty, trauma and orthopaedic surgery has one of the highest numbers of negligence claims. 1 This study analyses NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) claims in trauma and orthopaedics between 2004 and 2014.

A formal request was made to the NHSLA under the Freedom of Information Act in order to obtain all data related to claims against orthopaedic surgery. It was found that the number of claims, and percentage of successful claims, has been constantly increasing over this period, with compensation paid of over £349 million.* Errors in clinical management accounted for the highest number of closed claims (2933 claims), costing over £119 million.*

The level of compensation paid out has a significant financial impact on the NHS. Reforms need to be made in order to tackle the high cost of legal fees generated by these claims, which further drain the limited resources available to the NHS.
Theologie und Exil
Authors: Lincoln Ulrich
Published: December 2015

This article analyses, with a systematic interest, the relevance of the experience of exile for the self-understanding of Protestant theology. Starting from the insight that within the German context the question of exile is hardly being raised, the attempt of a theological definition of the term is made. In view of the strong tendency of theology and the church to inculturate, the historical experience of both Israel and the Church invites the understanding of exile as a corrective for (inner-)theological discourses of self-reflection. The self-reflexive questioning of one’s own theological identity from the border has great relevance, especially for ecumenical hermeneutics.
Menschen im Alter vor Gott
Authors: Sauter Gerhard
Published: December 2015

Which traits of elderly people can symbolize human being - especially of frail, senile elderly people in need of help, not only of those who have remained vital and capable of actively organizing their twilight years? This question is sharpened regarding people willing to learn to experience their transience in view of God and to accept their afflictions and their suffering from old age as God’s action and to let themselves in with the perspective that their biographies will be kept in God’s memory.
Intergenerational learning among primary and lower secondary schools
Authors: Polat Soner , Çiçek Hande
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this qualitative study is to identify on which topics intergenerational learning takes place among primary and lower secondary school teachers of different generations. If intergenerational learning is present among colleagues, the content of this learning will be specified. For this purpose, in 2013-2014 school year, in the district of İzmit in the province of Kocaeli two primary and two lower secondary schools where different generations work together were, therefore, selected and 39 teachers of three different generations in these schools were interviewed. Semi-structured interview technique was used during these face-to- face interviews. Data of the study, which was designed using phenomenological pattern, was analyzed with descriptive analysis method. The results indicated that younger teachers learn about topics such as classroom management and handling problems with parents from the experiences of their older colleagues. On the other hand, older teachers learn about the new teaching methods and techniques, teaching materials and the use of technical equipments from their younger colleagues. It was clearly seen that intergenerational learning proceed more functionally at schools where collaboration and knowledge-sharing are important values; where there aren’t any prejudices against age and where there are individuals who are open for development.
Snake Envenomation to the Face of a Child – Rare Case
Authors: Şahan Mustafa , Duru Mehmet , Çalişkan Koca , Karakuş Ali , Özcan Oğuzhan , Kahraman Ahmet , Kuvandik Güven
Published: December 2015

Snakebites are seen in summer season in the southern part of Turkey, including Hatay province. In average of 40 patients with snakebites are admitted to our hospital every year. Viper is the most common venomous snakes in our region. Their hemotoxins and necrotoxins lead to local or systemic tissue damage and is responsible for the mortality and morbidity. In this report, we described a rare pediatric case, a six-year-old boy having been bitten on the left side of his face when he was looking around from their home’s balcony. The patient was orotracheally intubated and mechanically ventilated because of airway obstruction due to severe edema. 12 flacon of anti-snake venom, mannitol infusion, fresh frozen plasma, erythrocytes suspension and antibiotherapy were administered to the patient. Seven days after the admission, clinical and laboratory findings were improved and the patient was discharged in a good condition. Snakebites inflicted on face and neck areas may cause rapidly progressive edema in respiratory tract and lead to life-threatening conditions. Therefore early orotracheal intubation is very important to prevent mortality.
Generalized distance-squared mappings of the plane into the plane
Authors: Ichiki S. , Nishimura T. , Sinha R. Oset , Ruas M. A. S.
Published: December 2015

We define generalized distance-squared mappings, and we concentrate on the plane to plane case. We classify generalized distance-squared mappings of the plane into the plane in a recognizable way.
Sharply 2-transitive groups
Authors: Tent Katrin , Ziegler Martin
Published: December 2015

We give an explicit construction of infinite sharply 2-transitive groups with fixed point free involutions and without nontrivial abelian normal subgroup.
Intensification of the Process of Preparing Small Seed Crop Mixtures
Authors: Kovalyshyn Stepan , Dadak Viktor , Konyk Stanislav
Published: December 2015

The process of preparing small seed mixtures, especially of perennial cereal grasses, is intensified by certain difficulties. Research has shown that the process of separating mixtures can be enhanced by using a high-voltage electric field. As a result, the separation of quality seed and the seed without an embryo occurs.
Normalization of the Kolmogorov–Smirnov and Shapiro–Wilk tests of normality
Authors: Hanusz Zofia , Tarasińska Joanna
Published: December 2015

Two very well-known tests for normality, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the Shapiro- Wilk tests, are considered. Both of them may be normalized using Johnson’s (1949) SB distribution. In this paper, functions for normalizing constants, dependent on the sample size, are given. These functions eliminate the need to use non-standard statistical tables with normalizing constants, and make it easy to obtain p-values for testing normality.
Power comparison of Rao′s score test, the Wald test and the likelihood ratio test in (2xc) contingency tables
Authors: Dobek Anita , Moliński Krzysztof , Skotarczak Ewa
Published: December 2015

There are several statistics for testing hypotheses concerning the independence of the distributions represented by two rows in contingency tables. The most famous are Rao′s score, the Wald and the likelihood ratio tests. A comparison of the power of these tests indicates the Wald test as the most powerful.
A remark on genotype selection in plant breeding projects
Authors: Bakinowska Ewa , Bichoński Andrzej , Kala Radosław , Zawieja Bogna
Published: December 2015

One of the main problems in plant breeding is the selection of the best genotypes. Most often the selection is made using yield as a main trait of continuous type, and ignoring the other traits of discrete type. Here, a simple procedure is proposed for dealing with the selection problem using not only the yield, but also an auxiliary discrete trait. The method is based on transforming the continuous variable into a discrete one and testing the dependence of variables with the use of contingency tables. The procedure is illustrated by a real unreplicated experiment with winter wheat.
LEDs based video camera pose estimation
Authors: Sudars K. , Cacurs R. , Homjakovs I. , Judvaitis J.
Published: December 2015

For 3D object localization and tracking with multiple cameras the camera poses have to be known within a high precision. The paper evaluates camera pose estimation via a fundamental matrix and via the known object in environment of multiple static cameras. A special feature point extraction technique based on LED (Light Emitting Diodes) point detection and matching has been developed for this purpose. LED point detection has been solved searching local maximums in images and LED point matching has been solved involving patterned time functions for each light source. Emitting LEDs have been used as sources of known reference points instead of typically used feature point extractors like ORB, SIFT, SURF etc. In such a way the robustness of pose estimation has been obtained. Camera pose estimation is significant for object localization using the networks with multiple cameras which are going to an play increasingly important role in modern Smart Cities environments.
Impact of the Weld Geometry on the Stress Intensity Factor of the Welded T-Joint Exposed to the Tensile Force and the Bending Moment
Authors: Djoković Jelena M. , Nikolić Ružica R. , Bujňák Ján
Published: December 2015

In this paper it is analyzed the welded T-joint exposed to the axial tensile force and the bending moment, for determining the impact of the weld geometry on the fracture mechanics parameters. The stress intensity factor was calculated analytically, based on the concept of the linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM), by application of the Mathematica® programming routine. The presence of the weld was taken into account through the corresponding correction factors. The results show that increase of the size of the triangular welds leads to decrease of the stress intensity factor, while the SIF increases with increase of the welds’ width. The ratio of the two welded plates’ thicknesses shows that plate thicknesses do not exhibit significant influence on the stress intensity factor behavior.
Modified Fidelity Based On-Demand Secure (MFBOD) Routing Protocol in Mobile Ad-Hoc Network
Authors: Saha Himadri Nath , Singh Rohit , Bhattacharyya Debika , Banerjee P.K.
Published: December 2015

With advent of technology MANET is becoming more and more ubiquitous, and so is the vulnerability of such networks to attacks. In this paper, we propose a secure, lightweight, on-demand routing protocol for MANETs. It uses the concept of fidelity to allocate trust to a neighbor, thereby taking the decision whether to send data via that neighbor or not. To combat attacks efficiently new packets like report and recommendation are used. After receiving a few of these packets a node can conclude about the behavior of a node, thereby identifying and blacklisting the malicious nodes. We try to impose bounds for the fidelity with reference to the battery of the node, which restricts a node to increase its fidelity to infinity and become dominant in the network. This protocol not only finds a secure route to transmit data, but also identifies the malicious nodes in the network. Our protocol exhibits high packet delivery fraction, with low normalized routing load and low end to end delay; which has been observed while simulating in GloMoSim platform. We have observed that our protocol performs not only better than other existing secure routing protocol in a malicious environment, but also combats, many attacks which have not been dealt with these protocols.
Changes in the surface ozone after the windstorm in 2004, in the High Tatras
Authors: Bičárová Svetlana , Bilčík Dušan , Nejedlík Pavol , Janík Rastislav , Kellerová Daniela
Published: December 2015

Extreme wind event in November 2004 caused spacious destruction of slope forests in the Tatra National Park, Slovakia. Relevant changes of land cover motivated researchers to investigate damaged forest ecosystem and its response to different environmental conditions. Surface ozone (O3) is a minor but not negligible compound of the ambient air. Control strategies for the reduction of O3 precursor emissions have been applied in Europe during the last two decades. In spite of these reductions, air quality indices for O3 suggest that highland sites are more vulnerable to health and environmental risk than lowlands where mostly emissions from road transport and industry are produced. Both anthropogenic sources and biogenic precursors (BVOC) from forest vegetation play a relevant role in the tropospheric photochemistry, especially at mountainous and rural locations. The parameters of air quality are measured at background station Stará Lesná in the High Tatras region since 1992 in frame of an European project EMEP. Long-term data series (1992-2013) of O3 concentrations obtained for site Stará Lesná provide specific opportunity to investigate the response of BVOC reduction on O3 variability after windstorm 2004. Evaluation of these data indicates moderate increase of annual, monthly and hourly O3 means for the period from 2005 to 2013 in comparison with the previous period 1992-2004. Temporal interpolation shows evident changes of O3 concentrations, especially ~30% increase for night hours in spring season and on the contrary ~15% decrease for daylight afternoon hours in summer season. Statistically significant changes were identified for spring months (April and May, 0-6 hours) and summer months (July, 12-20 hours). Increasing O3 values in the night may be associated with the absence of BVOC for ozonolysis reaction that is one of the mechanism for O3 depletion. On the other hand, the decline of daylight O3 values in summer suggests lower O3 production via photochemical mechanism.
Phosphatase activities of spruce stand soils after serpentinite fertilisation in combination with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilisers
Authors: Błońska Ewa , Januszek Kazimierz , Wanic Tomasz , Małek Stanisław
Published: December 2015

The aim of this study was to assess the condition of soil after serpentine fertilisation by determining the activity of phosphatase and some physicochemical properties of soil. The study was conducted in southern Poland in the Wisła Forest District (49°8’12.92N 18°58’56.36E). The following variants: C - control - no fertiliser; S - ground serpentinite; SN - serpentinite + nitrogen; SP - ground serpentinite + P; SNP - ground serpentinite + NP; SNPK - ground serpentinite + NP (as above) + K. Fertilisation of serpentinite stimulates the activity of phosphatase in soil under spruce stands. The positive impact is reflected in the organic horizon. Less activity was noted in the humus-mineral horizon (AE) in all the fertiliser combinations three years after the fertilisation. Fertilisation of serpentinite improves the chemical properties - pH was increased, reduction of molar ratio of exchangeable calcium to magnesium form was noted.
Modelling forest loss and other land use change dynamics in Ashanti Region of Ghana
Authors: Koranteng Addo , Zawila-Niedzwiecki Tomasz
Published: December 2015

Forest losses amid land use dynamics have become issues of outermost concern in the light of climate change phenomenon which has captivated the world’s attention. It is imperative to monitor land use change and to forecast forms of future land use change on a temporal and spatial basis. The main thrust of this study is to assess land use change in the lower half of the Ashanti Region of Ghana within a 40 year period. The analysis of land use change uses a combination method in Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS). Cellular Automata and Markov Chain (Cellular Automata-Markov) are utilized to predict for land use land cover (LULC) change for 2020 and 2030. The processes used include: (i) a data pre-processing (geometric corrections, radiometric corrections, subset creation and image enhancement) of epoch Landsat images acquired in 1990, 2000, and Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC) 2010; (ii) classification of multispectral imagery (iii) Change detection mapping (iv) using Cellular Automata-Markov to generate land use change in the next 20 years. The results illustrate that in years 2020 to 2030 in the foreseeable future, there will an upsurge in built up areas, while a decline in agricultural land use is envisaged. Agricultural land use would still be the dominant land use type. Forests would be drastically reduced from close to 50% in 1990 to just fewer than 10% in 2030. Land use decision making must be very circumspect, especially in an era where Ghana has opted to take advantage of REDD+. Studies such as this provide vital pieces of information which may be used to monitor, direct and influence land use change to a more beneficial and sustainable manner
Contrasting development of declining and living larch-spruce stands after a disturbance event: A case study from the High Tatra Mts.
Authors: Šebeň Vladimír , Konôpka Bohdan , Bošeľa Michal , Pajtík Jozef
Published: December 2015

The decline of spruce stands caused by bark beetle outbreaks is a serious economic and ecological problem of forestry in Slovakia. In the preceding period, the decline affected mainly secondary spruce forests. Over the last decade, due to large bark-beetle outbreaks this problem has been observed also in natural spruce forests, even at high elevations. We dealt with this issue in a case study of short-term development of larch-spruce stands in the High Tatras (at a site called Štart). We compared the situation in the stand infested by bark beetles several years after the wind-throw in 2004 with the stand unaffected by bark beetles. We separately analysed the development of the mature (parent) stands and the regeneration. The results indicated that forest decline caused by bark beetles significantly depended on the stand structure (mainly tree species composition), which affected the period of stand disintegration. Mortality of spruce trees slowed down biomass accumulation (and thus carbon sequestration) in the forest ecosystem. In the new stand, pioneer tree species dominated (in the conditions of the High Tatras it is primarily rowan), although their share in the parent stand was negligible. The results showed different trends in the accumulation of below-ground and above-ground biomass in the declined and living stands. In the first years after the stand decline, rowan accumulated significantly more biomass than the main tree species, i.e. spruce. The reverse situation was under the surviving stand, where spruce trees accumulated more biomass than rowan. The different share of spruce and pioneer tree species, mainly rowan, affected the ratio between fixed (in woody parts of trees) and rotating (in foliage) carbon in the undergrowth. Forest die-back is a big source of carbon emissions from dead individuals, and the compensation of these losses in the form of carbon sequestration by future stands is a matter of several decades.
Ophiolitic detritus in Kimmeridgian resedimented limestones and its provenance from an eroded obducted ophiolitic nappe stack south of the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria)
Authors: Gawlick Hans-Jürgen , Aubrecht Roman , Schlagintweit Felix , Missoni Sigrid , Plašienka Dušan
Published: December 2015

The causes for the Middle to Late Jurassic tectonic processes in the Northern Calcareous Alps are still controversially discussed. There are several contrasting models for these processes, formerly designated “Jurassic gravitational tectonics”. Whereas in the Dinarides or the Western Carpathians Jurassic ophiolite obduction and a Jurassic mountain building process with nappe thrusting is widely accepted, equivalent processes are still questioned for the Eastern Alps. For the Northern Calcareous Alps, an Early Cretaceous nappe thrusting process is widely favoured instead of a Jurassic one, obviously all other Jurassic features are nearly identical in the Northern Calcareous Alps, the Western Carpathians and the Dinarides. In contrast, the Jurassic basin evolutionary processes, as best documented in the Northern Calcareous Alps, were in recent times adopted to explain the Jurassic tectonic processes in the Carpathians and Dinarides. Whereas in the Western Carpathians Neotethys oceanic material is incorporated in the mélanges and in the Dinarides huge ophiolite nappes are preserved above the Jurassic basin fills and mélanges, Jurassic ophiolites or ophiolitic remains are not clearly documented in the Northern Calcareous Alps. Here we present chrome spinel analyses of ophiolitic detritic material from Kimmeridgian allodapic limestones in the central Northern Calcareous Alps. The Kimmeridgian age is proven by the occurrence of the benthic foraminifera Protopeneroplis striata and Labyrinthina mirabilis, the dasycladalean algae Salpingoporella pygmea, and the alga incertae sedis Pseudolithocodium carpathicum. From the geochemical composition the analysed spinels are pleonastes and show a dominance of Al-chromites (Fe3+–Cr3+–Al3+ diagram). In the Mg/(Mg+ Fe2+) vs. Cr/(Cr+ Al) diagram they can be classified as type II ophiolites and in the TiO2 vs. Al2O3 diagram they plot into the SSZ peridotite field. All together this points to a harzburgite provenance of the analysed spinels as known from the Jurassic suprasubduction ophiolites well preserved in the Dinarides/Albanides. These data clearly indicate Late Jurassic erosion of obducted ophiolites before their final sealing by the Late Jurassic–earliest Cretaceous carbonate platform pattern.
Green’s Function In Free Axisymmetric Vibration Analysis Of Annular Thin Plates With Different Boundary Conditions
Authors: Żur K.K.
Published: December 2015

Free vibration analysis of homogeneous and isotropic annular thin plates by using Green’s functions is considered. The formula of the influence function for uniform thin circular and annular plates is presented in closed-form. The limited independent solutions of differential Euler equation were expanded in the Neumann power series based on properties of integral equations. The analytical frequency equations as power series were obtained using the method of successive approximations. The natural axisymmetric frequencies for singularities when the core radius approaches zero are calculated. The results are compared with selected results presented in the literature.
The Periodic Characteristics of Harmonic Measurement Errors with the Initial Sampling Time
Authors: Zhang Shaoyong , Xiong Jiefeng , Song Shuping , Bai Chuanzhen , Li Hongkai
Published: December 2015

The stability and consistency of harmonic amplitude measurement is very important for power quality analysis and assessment. Some random factors may influence the measurement results in the real world, for example the initial sampling time. In this paper, we put this view a little forward, and prove that the amplitude errors with DFT method change periodically with the initial-sampling time, and DFT method “may” give relatively worse results, with the window which has better characteristics. To mitigate this random influence and to achieve more stable measurement precision, the well known shifting window average DFT, which is based on expectation calculation, is adopted. The effectiveness of this method and its recursive mode has been tested on several simulated signals and measured signals generated by Electrical Power Standards Fluke 6100A.
Implementing PAT with Standards
Authors: Chandramohan Laakshmana Sabari , Doolla Suryanarayana , Khaparde S. A.
Published: December 2015

Perform Achieve Trade (PAT) is a market-based incentive mechanism to promote energy efficiency. The purpose of this work is to address the challenges inherent to inconsistent representation of business processes, and interoperability issues in PAT like cap-and-trade mechanisms especially when scaled. Studies by various agencies have highlighted that as the mechanism evolves including more industrial sectors and industries in its ambit, implementation will become more challenging. This paper analyses the major needs of PAT (namely tracking, monitoring, auditing & verifying energy-saving reports, and providing technical support & guidance to stakeholders); and how the aforesaid reasons affect them. Though current technologies can handle these challenges to an extent, standardization activities for implementation have been scanty for PAT and this work attempts to evolve them. The inconsistent modification of business processes, rules, and procedures across stakeholders, and interoperability among heterogeneous systems are addressed. This paper proposes the adoption of specifically two standards into PAT, namely Business Process Model and Notation for maintaining consistency in business process modelling, and Common Information Model (IEC 61970, 61968, 62325 combined) for information exchange. Detailed architecture and organization of these adoptions are reported. The work can be used by PAT implementing agencies, stakeholders, and standardization bodies.
Dose-dependent effect of N′-Nitrosodiethylamine on hepatic architecture, RBC rheology and polypeptide repertoire in Wistar rats
Authors: Mukherjee Devoshree , Ahmad Riaz
Published: December 2015

N′-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) is an effective hepatotoxicant, carcinogen and mutagen. NDEA-induced hepatic necrosis, through metabolic activation by CYP2E1, is an extensively used experimental model. In the present study, we analysed the dose- and time-dependent effect of NDEA on hepatic damage, RBC rheology and proteomic profile in male Wistar rats. The rats, 5–6 weeks old, were divided into four groups: Group-1 served as control and received normal saline, Group-2 received a single dose of 200 mg/kg body weight NDEA intraperitoneally (i.p.) and the animals were sacrificed after one week; the rats of Group-3 received a single dose of 100 mg/kg body weight NDEA and were sacrificed after one week; Group-4 received 100 mg/kg body weight/wk NDEA for two weeks and were then sacrificed. Various biochemical parameters such as ALT, AST, ALP and bilirubin were determined. Further, RBC rheology, histopathology (H&E staining) of liver biopsies and polypeptide profiling (SDS-PAGE) in sera and liver sections were also carried out both in control and NDEA treated groups. Our results showed a significant increase in all the biochemical parameters of the liver function test (p<0.05). In NDEA treated categories dacryocytes (tear drop cells), schistocytes (fragmented cells), codocytes (target cells), acanthocytes (spur cells) and ovalocytes (oval cells) were observed. H & E stained liver biopsies treated with NDEA showed abnormal liver architecture with severe haemorrhage, neutrophilic infiltration and dysplastic hepatocytes manifested in a dose-dependent manner. Software analysis of SDS-PAGE of control and NDEA treated rat sera and liver revealed qualitative and quantitative differences in polypeptide composition. Based on the presence/absence, polypeptides were classified in three different categories: (1) house-keeping, present in all the groups investigated; (2) novel, present in either control or NDEA treated group at any given time; (3) differential expression, showing quantitative differences. Our study indicates a dose and time-dependent hepatocellular damage and proteome profile which is likely due to NDEA-mediated oxidative stress in rats.
Jeavons syndrome – updated review
Authors: Covanis Athanasios
Published: December 2015

Introduction. Eyelid myoclonia and absences (ELMA) was first described by Jeavons in 1977 as a separate type of photosensitive epilepsy.

Aim and method. The aim is to consider the updated electro-clinical pathophysiology and to discuss terminology, classification and differential diagnosis. The review includes our own research and relevant papers on the subject of Jeavons syndrome (JS).

Review and differential diagnosis. Definition: Jeavons syndrome is a generalized idiopathic (genetic) epilepsy syndrome (IGE) characterized by eyelid myoclonia, other seizures (absences, myoclonic and or generalized tonic-clonic) and EEG paroxysms induced by voluntary or on command eye closure, in the light and photosensitivity. Demographical data: The prevalence of JS has been reported to vary from 7.3% to 12.9% among idiopathic generalized epilepsies and 2.5% to 2.7% among all patients with epileptic disorders.

Etiology: JS, as is the case for all idiopathic generalized epilepsies, is genetic and the familial preponderance and concordance is high. Pathophysiology: Three factors are important in order for JS to manifest clinically; the genetic predisposition, the voluntary or on command eye closure and the light input. Clinical forms of JS: we have identified four forms of JS; early onset (< 4 years), mild form, classical form and an ELMA-JME form. Diagnosis: the diagnosis of JS is based on the history, clinical observation and provocation and the confirmation with an EEG. Differential diagnosis: is easily made from tics, other idiopathic generalized or focal cryptogenic/symptomatic epilepsies.

Conclusion. JS is characterized by unique electro-clinical features evoked by voluntary or on command eye closure in the light and photosensitivity.
Sympatric guanacos and livestock share water resources in drylands of Argentina
Authors: Acebes Pablo , Malo Juan E. , Ovejero Ramiro , Traba Juan
Published: December 2015

There is growing concern about the effect of livestock on wild ungulate populations, particularly in arid ecosystems, where waterholes are an extremely scarce resource, around which animals tend to gather, primarily in the dry season. This situation is worrying in South American deserts, where guanaco is the native species that often shares trophic and water resources with livestock from local communities, even inside protected areas. We assess through general linear modeling (GLM) the use of waterholes by guanaco and two introduced species, free-ranging cattle and feral donkeys, during the summer-wet and winter-dry seasons, in an arid, water-limited region in northwestern Argentina. Waterholes were more intensively used in the dry than the wet season by all three herbivores. However, introduced ungulates did not use all of the waterholes, whereas guanaco used them all with equal intensity, which points to an apparent absence of interference probably due to the low density of the introduced species. Nevertheless these results could mask negative effects regarding the risk of parasite transmission, the under-use of one of the waterholes, and the risk related to increasing livestock density in a near future. Therefore, it would be advisable to make long-term monitoring to prevent potentially negative effects on guanacos.
Luck, Love, and Extreme Skiing: Distributive Injustice without Unfairness
Authors: Gordon-Solmon Kerah
Published: December 2015

In the classic article, “On the Currency of Egalitarian Justice,” G.A. Cohen states that “a large part of the fundamental egalitarian aim is to extinguish the effects of brute luck on distribution.” This canonical formulation pinpoints what is distinctive of the luck-egalitarian mandate. But it also indicates that that mandate, so stated, is incomplete. The primary task of the paper is to extend what is explicit within that mandate, and in doing so, to bring it closer to completion. To that end, I defend – in the spirit of Cohen, and by arguments he pioneered – a new, expanded conception of luck-egalitarian compensation. I propose, accordingly, an amendment, seemingly friendly, to Cohen’s statement. But, in fact, my proposed amendment, and its rationale, reveal a major lacuna in the normative underpinnings of Cohen-style egalitarianism. I thereby show that, contrary to what is widely assumed, important foundational work remains to be done for the luck-egalitarian project.
Annealing-induced effects on structural and optical properties of Cd1−xZnxS thin films for optoelectronic applications
Authors: Zakria M. , Khan Taj Muhammad , Nasir Abbas , Mahmood Arshad
Published: December 2015

Cd1−xZnxS thin films of variable compositions (x = 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8) were deposited on glass at room temperature by thermal evaporation process. The prepared samples were annealed at two different temperatures (300 °C, 400 °C) for 1 hour in ambient air. The effects of post-annealing on the structural and optical characteristics were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), spectrophotometry, and Raman spectroscopy (RS) methods. XRD studies suggested that the annealed and as-deposited samples belong to wurtzite structure for all Zn concentrations with a preferential orientation along (002) plane. Spectrophotometry analysis of the samples revealed that the energy band gap decreased with annealing temperature. RS investigated different phonon bands and crystalline phases. Two longitudinal optical phonon modes (1-LO, 2-LO) corresponding to monophase hexagonal structure were observed for all Cd1−xZnxS samples. The observed red-shift and anti-symmetrical nature of the 1-LO phonon mode can be associated with annealing, while the overall blue-shift, except for x ⩽ 0.6, was caused by the structural disorders in periodic Cd atomic sub-lattices and broken translational symmetry. The spectroscopic results were strengthened by the XRD studies and their results are consistent.
Ab-initio study of structural, elastic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of BaxSr1−xS ternary alloys
Authors: Chelli S. , Touam S. , Hamioud L. , Meradji H. , Ghemid S. , El Haj Hassan F.
Published: December 2015

The structural, elastic, electronic and thermodynamic properties of BaxSr1−xS ternary alloys have been investigated using the full-potential (linearized) augmented plane wave method. The ground state properties, such as lattice constant, bulk modulus and elastic constants, are in good agreement with numerous experimental and theoretical data. The dependence of the lattice parameters, bulk modulus and band gap on the composition x was analyzed. Deviation of the lattice constant from Vegard’s law and the bulk modulus from linear concentration dependence (LCD) was observed. The microscopic origins of the gap bowing were explained by using the approach of Zunger et al. The thermodynamic stability of BaxSr1−xS alloy was investigated by calculating the excess enthalpy of mixing, ΔHm and the calculated phase diagram showed a broad miscibility gap with a critical temperature.