bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wag the Dog: A Study on Film and Reality in the Digital Age
Authors: Thanouli Eleftheria
Published: October 2014

Wag the Dog is a film that became a media event and a cultural icon because it inadvertently short-circuited the distance that is supposed to separate reality and fiction. The film’s narration challenges the established boundaries between the fiction and nonfiction tradition, as Barry Levinson, the director, embeds his interest in documentary filmmaking and complicates the issue of narrative agency in the way he frames the story.

The examination of the historical and social context in which it was produced, exhibited and received worldwide enables the author to illuminate a series of changes in the way a fiction film reflects and interacts with reality, urging us to reconsider some of our central and long-standing concepts or even paradigms in film theory. Eleftheria Thanouli provides new insights into a series of issues from both classical and contemporary film theory, like the conceptual and ontological stakes in the use of digital technology, the impact of mass media on public memory and the political role of cinema in a globalized and conglomerated world.
How emissions, climate, and land use change will impact mid-century air quality over the United States: a focus on effects at National Parks
Authors: Val Martin M. , Heald C. L. , Lamarque J.-F. , Tilmes S. , Emmons L. K. , Schichtel B. A.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. We use a global coupled chemistry-climate-land model (CESM) to assess the integrated effect of climate, emissions and land use changes on annual surface O3 and PM2.5 on the United States with a focus on National Parks (NPs) and wilderness areas, using the RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 projections. We show that, when stringent domestic emission controls are applied, air quality is predicted to improve across the US, except surface O3 over the western and central US under RCP8.5 conditions, where rising background ozone counteracts domestic emissions reductions. Under the RCP4.5, surface O3 is substantially reduced (about 5 ppb), with daily maximum 8 h averages below the primary US EPA NAAQS of 75 ppb (and even 65 ppb) in all the NPs. PM2.5 is significantly reduced in both scenarios (4 μg m−3; ~50%), with levels below the annual US EPA NAAQS of 12 μg m−3 across all the NPs; visibility is also improved (10–15 deciviews; >75 km in visibility range), although some parks over the western US (40–74% of total sites in the US) may not reach the 2050 target to restore visibility to natural conditions by 2064. We estimate that climate-driven increases in fire activity may dominate summertime PM2.5 over the western US, potentially offsetting the large PM2.5 reductions from domestic emission controls, and keeping visibility at present-day levels in many parks. Our study suggests that air quality in 2050 will be primarily controlled by anthropogenic emission patterns. However, climate and land use changes alone may lead to a substantial increase in surface O3 (2–3 ppb) with important consequences for O3 air quality and ecosystem degradation at the US NPs. Our study illustrates the need to consider the effects of changes in climate, vegetation, and fires in future air quality management and planning and emission policy making.
GNAQPMS-Hg v1.0, a global nested atmospheric mercury transport model: model description, evaluation and application to trans-boundary transport of Chinese anthropogenic emissions
Authors: Chen H. S. , Wang Z. F. , Li J. , Tang X. , Ge B. Z. , Wu X. L. , Wild O. , Carmichael G. R.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Atmospheric mercury (Hg) is a toxic pollutant and can be transported over the whole globe due to its long lifetime in the atmosphere. For the purpose of assessing Hg hemispheric transport and better characterizing regional Hg pollution, a global nested atmospheric Hg transport model (GNAQPMS-Hg) has been developed. In GNAQPMS-Hg, the gas and aqueous phase Hg chemistry representing the transformation among three forms of Hg: elemental mercury (Hg(0)), divalent mercury (Hg(II)), and primary particulate mercury (Hg(P)) are calculated. A detailed description of the model, including mercury emissions, gas and aqueous phase chemistry, and dry and wet deposition is given in this study. Worldwide observations including extensive data in China have been collected for model evaluation. Comparison results show that the model reasonably simulates the global mercury budget and the spatial–temporal variation of surface mercury concentrations and deposition. Overall, model predictions of annual total gaseous mercury (TGM) and wet deposition agree with observations within a factor of two, and within a factor of five for oxidized mercury and dry deposition. The model performs significantly better in North America and Europe than in East Asia. This can probably be attributed to the large uncertainties in emission inventories, coarse model resolution and to the inconsistency between the simulation and observation periods in East Asia. Compared to the global simulation, the nested simulation shows improved skill at capturing the high spatial variability of Hg concentrations and deposition over East Asia. In particular, the root mean square error (RMSE) of simulated Hg wet deposition over East Asia is reduced by 24% in the nested simulation. Model sensitivity studies indicate that Chinese primary anthropogenic emissions account for 30 and 62% of surface mercury concentrations and deposition over China, respectively. Along the rim of the western Pacific, the contributions from Chinese sources are 11 and 15.2% over the Korean Peninsula, 10.4 and 8.2% over Southeast Asia, and 5.7 and 5.9% over Japan. But for North America, Europe and West Asia, the contributions from China are all below 5%.
A user-friendly forest model with a multiplicative mathematical structure: a Bayesian approach to calibration
Authors: Bagnara M. , Van Oijen M. , Cameron D. , Gianelle D. , Magnani F. , Sottocornola M.
Published: October 2014

Abstract. Forest models are being increasingly used to study ecosystem functioning, through the reproduction of carbon fluxes and productivity in very different forests all over the world. Over the last two decades, the need for simple and "easy to use" models for practical applications, characterized by few parameters and equations, has become clear, and some have been developed for this purpose. These models aim to represent the main drivers underlying forest ecosystem processes while being applicable to the widest possible range of forest ecosystems. Recently, it has also become clear that model performance should not be assessed only in terms of accuracy of estimations and predictions, but also in terms of estimates of model uncertainties. Therefore, the Bayesian approach has increasingly been applied to calibrate forest models, with the aim of estimating the uncertainty of their results, and of comparing their performances. Some forest models, considered to be user-friendly, rely on a multiplicative or quasi-multiplicative mathematical structure, which is known to cause problems during the calibration process, mainly due to high correlations between parameters. In a Bayesian framework using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo sampling this is likely to impair the reaching of a proper convergence of the chains and the sampling from the correct posterior distribution. Here we show two methods to reach proper convergence when using a forest model with a multiplicative structure, applying different algorithms with different number of iterations during the Markov Chain Monte Carlo or a two-steps calibration. The results showed that recently proposed algorithms for adaptive calibration do not confer a clear advantage over the Metropolis–Hastings Random Walk algorithm for the forest model used here. Moreover, the calibration remains time consuming and mathematically difficult, so advantages of using a fast and user-friendly model can be lost due to the calibration process that is needed to obtain reliable results.
Consumer Health Informatics: The Application Of ICT In Improving Patient-Provider Partnership For A Better Health Care
Authors: Abaidoo Benjamin , Larweh Benjamin Teye
Published: October 2014

Background: There is a growing interest concerning the potential of ICT solutions that are customized to consumers. This emerging discipline referred to as consumer health informatics (CHI) plays a major role in providing information to patients and the public, and facilitates the promotion of self-management.The concept of CHI has emerged out of the desire of most patients to shoulder responsibilities regarding their health and a growing desire of health practitioners to fully appreciate the potential of the patient.Aim: To describe the role of ICT in improving the patient-provider partnership in consumer health informatics.Methods: Systematic reviewing of literature, identification of reference sources and formulation of search strategies and manual search regarding the significance of developed CHI applications in healthcare delivery.Results: New consumer health IT applications have been developed to be used on a variety of different platforms, including the Web, messaging systems, PDAs, and cell phones. These applications assists patients with self-management through reminders and prompts, delivery of real-time data on a patient’s health condition to patients and providers, web-based communication and personal electronic health information.Conclusion: New tools are being developed for the purposes of providing information to patients and the public which has enhanced decision making in health matters and an avenue for clinicians and consumers to exchange health information for personal and public use. This calls for corroboration among healthcare organizations, governments and the ICT industry to develop new research and IT innovations which are tailored to the health needs of the consumer.
Google and Women’s Health-Related Issues: What Does the Search Engine Data Reveal?
Authors: Abenhaim Haim Arie , Baazeem Mazin
Published: October 2014

Objectives: Identifying the gaps in public knowledge of women’s health related issues has always been difficult. With the increasing number of Internet users in the United States, we sought to use the Internet as a tool to help us identify such gaps and to estimate women’s most prevalent health concerns by examining commonly searched health-related keywords in Google search engine. Methods: We collected a large pool of possible search keywords from two independent practicing obstetrician/gynecologists and classified them into five main categories (obstetrics, gynecology, infertility, urogynecology/menopause and oncology), and measured the monthly average search volume within the United States for each keyword with all its possible combinations using Google AdWords tool. Results: We found that pregnancy related keywords were less frequently searched in general compared to other categories with an average of 145,400 hits per month for the top twenty keywords. Among the most common pregnancy-related keywords was “pregnancy and sex’ while pregnancy-related diseases were uncommonly searched. HPV alone was searched 305,400 times per month. Of the cancers affecting women, breast cancer was the most commonly searched with an average of 247,190 times per month, followed by cervical cancer then ovarian cancer. Conclusion: The commonly searched keywords are often issues that are not discussed in our daily practice as well as in public health messages. The search volume is relatively related to disease prevalence with the exception of ovarian cancer which could signify a public fear.
Impact of Macroeconomics variable on the Stock Market index; A Study From Pakistan
Authors: Khan Waseem Ahmad , Javed Muhammad Arif , Shahzad Nimra , Sheikh Qandeel , Saddique Samina , Riaz Mariam , Batool Sania
Published: October 2014

The focal point of this research article is to examine the possible impact of macroeconomic variable like fiscal policies and monetary policies (interest rate) and inflation rates on stock market performance in Pakistan. The Pearson correlation and regression analysis techniques were applied. For this purpose monthly data have been used. The paper finds that the Pakistan stock market index is significantly affected by the fiscal policy, monetary policy and inflation. The results have shown that the interest rate  and government revenue have a significant negative relationship with the stock market index in Pakistan, whereas the inflation rate and the government expenditures have a significant positive relationship with the stock market Index in Pakistan.
The Role of Foreign, Family Ownership and Audit Committee in Evaluating the Company as a Going Concern: Evidence from Jordan
Authors: Zureigat Bilal Nayef , Fadzil Faudziah Hanim , Syed Ismail Syed Soffian
Published: October 2014

This study discusses the association between foreign, family ownership and audit committee on the going concern evaluation among Jordanian listed companies for the years 2011 and 2012. The data reveal through using OLS regression that there is a negative and not significant relationship between foreign ownership and going concern evaluation, while a negative significant relationship with family ownership. In addition, this study also finds a positive and significant relationship of audit committee with the going concern evaluation.The results alsoshow that most of the Jordanian companies have violated some of Corporate Governance requirements. For instance, approximately 43% of Jordanian firms did not have an audit committee. This study shows valuable insights to the understanding of factors that may affect going concern evaluation among Jordanian firms. Therefore, the findings of this study provide important conclusions for investors, regulators and policymakers and academics to shed the light on the mechanisms that ensure the continuity of companies.
Examining the Level of Financial Literacy among Saudi Investors and Its Impact on Financial Decisions
Authors: Mian Tariq Saeed
Published: October 2014

Financial literacy and information requires that a person knows and understands the forms, functions and use of money and financial services. In today’s world financial literacy is important to every individual who wishes to select the best way to carry out payments and take care of banking issues. The current paper examines the impact of different demographic variables on the level of financial literacy among Saudi investors. Furthermore, the impact of financial literacy on different kinds of financial decision making is also investigated. The result of the current study confirms a significant impact from gender and age on financial literacy. Males are more financially literate than females, and older people also show a higher level of financial literacy compared with younger people. There is no significant impact from educational level and current work situation on financial literacy. Financial literacy is measured in reference to retirement planning and stock market participation.  People with a higher level of financial literacy have a greater urge to engage in retirement planning and stock market participation. However, there is a negative relationship between financial literacy and the need for financial advice.
Volume Dependence of Thermodynamic Properties for Solids at high Temperatures
Authors: Cui Guanglei , Fan Bai , Zuo Zewen , Gu Min , Yu Ruilan
Published: October 2014

A new computing model on the volume dependence of the product αKT of the thermal expansion coefficient α and the isothermal bulk modulus KT is proposed straightforward in this paper. Based on this revised formula, the volume dependence of Grüneisen parameter, entropy, Anderson-Grüneisen parameter, and first pressure derivative of bulk modulus, respectively, are thus investigated. The calculated results agree well with the previous work for magnesium oxide, sodium chloride, lithium, sodium, and potassium.
Finite Element Legendre Wavelet Galerkin Approch to Inward Solidification in Simple Body Under Most Generalized Boundary Condition
Authors: Yadav Sarita , Kumar Dinesh , Nath Rai Kabindra
Published: October 2014

This paper deals with a mathematical model describing the inward solidification of a melt of phase change material within a container of different geometrical configuration like slab, circular cylinder or sphere under the most generalized boundary conditions. The thermal and physical properties of melt and solid are assumed to be identical. To solve this mathematical model, the finite difference scheme is used to convert the problem into an initial value problem of vector matrix form and further, solving it using the Legendre wavelet Galerkin method. The results thus obtained are analyzed by considering particular cases when one might impose either a constant=time varying temperature or a constant=time varying heat flux or a constant heat transfer coefficient on the surface. The whole analysis is presented in dimensionless form. The effect of variability of shape factor, condition posed at the boundary, Stefan number, Predvoditelev number, Kirpichev number, and Biot number on dimensionless temperature and solid-layer thickness are shown graphically. Furthermore, a comparative study of time for complete solidification is presented.
Tasks of Psychology
Authors: Georgiev Lyubomir Stoev
Published: October 2014

Задачите пред съвременната психология се отнасят до изучаване на психическата енергия; подобряване на здравето; повишаване на привлекателността на обучението, включително с подходящо използване на електронна техника в учебния процес; информираност на обществото относно сензитивните периоди в развитието; подобряване на психодиагностичните възможности чрез създаване на нов инструментариум и усъвършенстване на невербалното разпознаване на психични явления; повишаване компетентността на психолозите по посока на предлагане на повече обяснителни модели за психичните явления и др.
Discussion on the Claim That the Human Mind is a Computational Process Device
Authors: Varvatsoulias George
Published: October 2014

In this theoretical paper, there will be offered a short introduction to the various discussions around the claim that the human mind operates in terms of computational processes. A number of proponents who have discussed such a theory feature this assignment. Their ideas are presented, discussed and interrelated to the general discipline of cognitive psychology, where much of that claim has been and is being put under scrutiny. The main objective of this paper is to provide a concise understanding on the above thesis, which by the use of an extensive literature could be further explored both by students of human cognition as well as researchers who would like a presentation to the topic on the basis of some foundational elements regarding the mind's ability to operate as a computing metaphor.
Information versus persuasion : la controverse autour de l’impact de la publicité sur les préférences des consommateurs
Authors: Lanotte Hervé , Rossi David
Published: October 2014

La publicité reste un sujet majeur de discussion en économie, notamment du fait de son influence sur le comportement du consommateur et de son incidence sur la fonction de demande. Alors qu’une partie des économistes envisage la publicité sous un angle informatif, d’autres insistent davantage sur sa dimension persuasive. Cette opposition originelle fonde l’approche économique de la publicité sur un clivage dialectique fécond mais elle induit un biais normatif en matière de régulation. Cette dialectisation originelle du débat théorique illustre la difficulté des économistes à comprendre : 1) la relation entre la publicité et l’évolution des préférences des consommateurs; 2) la fonction qui lui est reliée. Nous nous proposons d’analyser ce diptyque fondateur en questionnant sa portée et ses limites.
Vibro-acoustic Diagnostics of Rolling Bearings in Vessels
Authors: Stanik Zbigniew
Published: October 2014

Rolling bearings for many years have formed part of many mechanisms of various machines. They are also found in vessels. Rolling bearings’ failure leads to failures of entire subsystems. For this reason, it is recommended to use objective and noninvasive methods to assess the condition of key bearings having a signifi cant impact on the reliability of operation. Tools of this type include vibro-acoustic diagnostics.
Liquefied Natural Gas Ship Route Planning Model Considering Market Trend Change
Authors: Cho Jaeyoung , Lim Gino J. , Biobaku Taofeek , Bora Selim , Parsaei Hamid
Published: October 2014

We consider a new biannual liquefied natural gas (LNG) ship routing and scheduling problem and a stochastic extension under boil-off gas (BOG) uncertainty while serving geographically dispersed multiple customers using a fleet of heterogeneous vessels. We are motivated not only by contract trend changes to shorter ones but also by technological advancesin LNG vessel design. The mutual coincidence of both transitions enables developing a new LNG shipping strategy to keep up with emerging market trend. We fi rst propose a deterministic LNG scheduling model formulated as a multiple vehicle routing problem (VRP). The model is then extended to consider BOG using a two-stage stochastic modeling approach in which BOG is a random variable. Since the VRP is typically a combinatorial optimization problem, its stochastic extension is much harder to solve. In order to overcome this computational burden, a Monte Carlo sampling optimization is used to reduce the number of scenarios in the stochastic model while ensuring ggood quality of solutions. The solutions are evaluated using expected value of perfect information (EVPI) and value of stochastic solution (VSS). The result shows that our proposed model yields more stable solutions than the deterministic model. The study was made possible by the NPRP award [NPRP 4-1249-2-492] from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of the Qatar Foundation).
Selective Exposure to Berita Harian Online and Utusan Malaysia Online: The Roles of Surveillance Motivation, Website Usability and Website Attractiveness
Authors: Zulkafli Nur Azimah , Omar Bahiyah , Hashim Nor Hazlina
Published: October 2014

News media allows audiences to be selective in determining both their news sources and type of news stories they read. This study examined factors influencing selective exposure to the online editions of two mainstream Malaysian newspapers,Berita HarianandUtusan Malaysia. Using selective exposure theory as the theoretical lens, this study compared both newspapers in terms of their audiences’ level of surveillance motivation, and how audiences rate the newspapers’ websites with respect to usability and attractiveness. This study used a within-subject experimental research design that exposed 51 subjects to bothBerita HarianandUtusan Malaysiaonline newspapers. The results of the experiment indicate that Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia online were significantly different in terms of website usability; however, no significant differences were found in terms of surveillance motivation or website attractiveness between the two newspapers. Further analysis indicate that the only significant predictor of selective exposure was website usability. This study highlights the importance of website usability for online newspapers wanting to harness audience selectivity.
Aerosol direct radiative effect of smoke over clouds over the southeast Atlantic Ocean from 2006 to 2009
Authors: de Graaf M. , Bellouin N. , Tilstra L. G. , Haywood J. , Stammes P.
Published: October 2014

The aerosol direct radiative effect (DRE) of African smoke was analyzed in cloud scenes over the southeast Atlantic Ocean, using Scanning Imaging Absorption Spectrometer for Atmospheric Chartography (SCIAMACHY) satellite observations and Hadley Centre Global Environmental Model version 2 (HadGEM2) climate model simulations. The observed mean DRE was about 30–35 W m−2 in August and September 2006–2009. In some years, short episodes of high‐aerosol DRE can be observed, due to high‐aerosol loadings, while in other years the loadings are lower but more prolonged. Climate models that use evenly distributed monthly averaged emission fields will not reproduce these high‐aerosol loadings. Furthermore, the simulated monthly mean aerosol DRE in HadGEM2 is only about 6 W m−2 in August. The difference with SCIAMACHY mean observations can be partly explained by an underestimation of the aerosol absorption Ångström exponent in the ultraviolet. However, the subsequent increase of aerosol DRE simulation by about 20% is not enough to explain the observed discrepancy between simulations and observations.
Climate controls how ecosystems size the root zone storage capacity at catchment scale
Authors: Gao H. , Hrachowitz M. , Schymanski S. J. , Fenicia F. , Sriwongsitanon N. , Savenije H. H. G.
Published: October 2014

The root zone moisture storage capacity (SR) of terrestrial ecosystems is a buffer providing vegetation continuous access to water and a critical factor controlling land‐atmospheric moisture exchange, hydrological response, and biogeochemical processes. However, it is impossible to observe directly at catchment scale. Here, using data from 300 diverse catchments, it was tested that, treating the root zone as a reservoir, the mass curve technique (MCT), an engineering method for reservoir design, can be used to estimate catchment‐scale SR from effective rainfall and plant transpiration. Supporting the initial hypothesis, it was found that MCT‐derived SR coincided with model‐derived estimates. These estimates of parameter SR can be used to constrain hydrological, climate, and land surface models. Further, the study provides evidence that ecosystems dynamically design their root systems to bridge droughts with return periods of 10–40 years, controlled by climate and linked to aridity index, inter‐storm duration, seasonality, and runoff ratio.
Trends in sulfate and organic aerosol mass in the Southeast U.S.: Impact on aerosol optical depth and radiative forcing
Authors: Attwood A. R. , Washenfelder R. A. , Brock C. A. , Hu W. , Baumann K. , Campuzano‐Jost P. , Day D. A. , Edgerton E. S. , Murphy D. M. , Palm B. B. , McComiskey A. , Wagner N. L. , de Sá S. S. , Ortega A. , Martin S. T. , Jimenez J. L. , Brown S. S.
Published: October 2014

Emissions of SO2 in the United States have declined since the early 1990s, resulting in a decrease in aerosol sulfate mass in the Southeastern U.S. of −4.5(±0.9)% yr−1 between 1992 and 2013. Organic aerosol mass, the other major aerosol component in the Southeastern U.S., has decreased more slowly despite concurrent emission reductions in anthropogenic precursors. Summertime measurements in rural Alabama quantify the change in aerosol light extinction as a function of aerosol composition and relative humidity. Application of this relationship to composition data from 2001 to 2013 shows that a −1.1(±0.7)% yr−1 decrease in extinction can be attributed to decreasing aerosol water mass caused by the change in aerosol sulfate/organic ratio. Calculated reductions in extinction agree with regional trends in ground‐based and satellite‐derived aerosol optical depth. The diurnally averaged summertime surface radiative effect has changed by 8.0 W m−2, with 19% attributed to the decrease in aerosol water.
Swept away by a turbidity current in Mendocino submarine canyon, California
Authors: Sumner E. J. , Paull C. K.
Published: October 2014

We present unique observations and measurements of a dilute turbidity current made with a remotely operated vehicle in 400 m water depth near the head of Mendocino Canyon, California. The flow had a two‐layer structure with a thin (0.5 to 30 m), relatively dense (<0.04 vol %) and fast (up to ~1.7 m/s) wedge‐shaped lower layer overlain by a thicker (up to 89 m) more dilute and slower current. The fast moving lower layer lagged the slow moving, dilute flow front by 14 min, which we infer resulted from the interaction of two initial pulses. The two layers were strongly coupled, and the sharp interface between the layers was characterized by a wave‐like instability. This is the first field‐scale data from a turbidity current to show (i) the complex dynamics of the head of a turbidity current and (ii) the presence of multiple layers within the same event.
ESA's satellite‐only gravity field model via the direct approach based on all GOCE data
Authors: Bruinsma Sean L. , Förste Christoph , Abrikosov Oleg , Lemoine Jean‐Michel , Marty Jean‐Charles , Mulet Sandrine , Rio Marie‐Helene , Bonvalot Sylvain
Published: October 2014

Gravity field and steady state Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) gravity gradient data of the entire science mission and data from LAGEOS 1/2 and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) were combined in the construction of a satellite‐only gravity field model to maximum degree 300. When compared to Earth Gravitational Model 2008, it is more accurate at low to medium resolution, thanks to GOCE and GRACE data. When compared to earlier releases of European Space Agency GOCE models, it is more accurate at high degrees owing to the larger amount of data ingested, which was moreover taken at lower altitude. The impact of orbiting at lower altitude in the last year of the mission is large: a model based on data of the last 14 months is significantly more accurate than the release 4 model constructed with the first 28 months. The (calibrated) cumulated geoid error estimate at 100 km resolution is 1.7 cm. The optimal resolution of the GOCE model for oceanographic application is between 100 and 125 km.
Study of the temporal correlations in the magnitude time series before major earthquakes in Japan
Authors: Varotsos Panayiotis A. , Sarlis Nicholas V. , Skordas Efthimios S.
Published: October 2014

A characteristic change of seismicity has been recently uncovered when the precursory Seismic Electric Signals activities initiate before an earthquake occurrence. In particular, the fluctuations of the order parameter of seismicity exhibit a simultaneous distinct minimum upon analyzing the seismic catalog in a new time domain termed natural time and employing a sliding natural time window comprising a number of events that would occur in a few months. Here we focus on the minima preceding all earthquakes of magnitude 8 (and 9) class that occurred in Japanese area from 1 January 1984 to 11 March 2011 (the day of the M9 Tohoku earthquake). By applying Detrended Fluctuation Analysis to the earthquake magnitude time series, we find that each of these minima is preceded as well as followed by characteristic changes of temporal correlations between earthquake magnitudes. In particular, we identify the following three main features. The minima are observed during periods when long‐range correlations have been developed, but they are preceded by a stage in which an evident anticorrelated behavior appears. After the minima, the long‐range correlations breakdown to an almost random behavior possibly turning to anticorrelation. The minima that precede M≥7.8 earthquakes are distinguished from other minima which are either nonprecursory or followed by smaller earthquakes. Furthermore, it is discussed whether Tsallis statistical mechanics, in the frame of which it has been suggested that kappa distributions arise, can capture the effects of temporal correlations between earthquake magnitudes.
Dipole‐Field Sums, Lorentz Factors, and Dielectric Properties of Organic Molecular Films Modeled as Crystalline Arrays of Polarizable Points
Authors: Vanzo Davide , Topham Benjamin J. , Soos Zoltán G.
Published: October 2014

The relative permittivity κ = ε/ε0 of thin films used in organic electronic devices is directly related to the structure and the molecular polarizability α when intermolecular overlap is small. Monolayer and multilayer films are modeled as lattices of polarizable points with induced dipoles μ = αF where the internal electric field F includes contributions from all induced dipoles. The polarization per unit volume is P = nμ for number density n. Dipole‐field sums are evaluated directly for atomic and molecular crystals and films through stacking of infinite layers. Lorentz factors in uniformly polarized crystals of less than cubic symmetry resolve completely the conditional convergence of dipole‐field sums in three dimensions. Thin films have equal P within layers but not at or near the surface. Surface effects are shown to increase with αn and sometimes to extend into films even though dipole fields are mainly due to adjacent layers. Simple and body‐centered tetragonal lattices illustrate polarizing or depolarizing interactions between layers that mimic molecules or oligomers tilted at angle Φ from normal to the surface in films or SAMs. Uniform P in molecular films refers to unit cells rather than to atoms and there are multiple ways to partition anisotropic molecular α among polarizable points. An illustrative analytical model based on polarizable points and dipole fields of adjacent layers is applied to oligophenyl films and to conjugated molecules in acene films.
Association between NOGGIN and SPRY2 polymorphisms and nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate
Authors: Song Tao , Shi Jinna , Guo Qiang , Lv Kewen , Jiao Xiaohui , Hu Tenglong , Sun Xiangyu , Fu Songbin
Published: October 2014

Nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCLP) is a common congenital malformation with a worldwide prevalence rate of 0.4–2.0% among live births, depending on race and ethnic background. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes may contribute to NSCLP risk, although the risk factors and pathogenesis of NSCLP remain unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate association of SNPs of noggin (NOG) and sprouty homolog 2 (SPRY2) with NSCLP risk. A total of 188 NSCLP patients and 228 healthy controls from northern China were recruited for genotyping of these SNPs using the SNaP shot method. The frequency of the NOG rs227731 genotype was significantly lower among NSCLP cases than among controls. Logistic regression analysis showed rs227731 CC genotype was associated with decreased NSCLP susceptibility (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.12–0.80) compared to the AA homozygote. However, no association between SPRY2, SNPs, and NSCLP risk were observed in this cohort of patients. In conclusion, NOG rs227731 genotype was associated with decreased NSCLP risk in a Northern Chinese population. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Neuroblastoma in a 17‐week fetus: A stimulus for investigation of tumors in a series of 2786 stillbirth and late miscarriages
Authors: McPherson Elizabeth , Cold Christopher , Johnson Peter , Schema Lynn , Zaleski Christina
Published: October 2014

Although tumors are an occasional cause of neonatal death and have been reported in stillbirths, there are no studies specifically evaluating the frequency or types of tumors in stillborn infants. We observed metastatic neuroblastoma in a fetus miscarried at 17 weeks of gestational age. Fetal death was attributed to endocrine effects of the tumor causing fetal hypertension, arrhythmia, and/or placental dysfunction. This case, which is the earliest report of a pathologically confirmed neuroblastoma, prompted review of all tumors in the Wisconsin Stillbirth Service Program database. There were 10 lethal and two incidental tumors among the 2,786 stillbirths and second trimester miscarriages in the database for an overall incidence of 1/232, which is about 50 times the incidence of clinically recognized tumors in liveborn infants. The most frequent tumors were teratoma and hemangioma that, while benign, caused death due to high output cardiac failure, hemorrhage into the tumor, or obstruction of vital organs. Only three tumors were malignant, and except for the index case, mechanisms of death were similar to those of the benign tumors. Except for the index case, all were found in the third trimester, suggesting that congenital tumors rarely become lethal until the third trimester. However, it is also possible that tumors may be missed in younger fetuses. The possibility of detecting an unsuspected tumor is yet another reason for autopsy in stillbirths and late miscarriages. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
KNOCKDOWN OF ATPsyn‐b CAUSED LARVAL GROWTH DEFECT AND MALE INFERTILITY IN Drosophila
Authors: Chen Ya‐Na , Wu Chun‐Hong , Zheng Ya , Li Jing‐Jing , Wang Jia‐Lin , Wang Yu‐Feng
Published: October 2014

The ATPsyn‐b encoding for subunit b of ATP synthase in Drosophila melanogaster is proposed to act in ATP synthesis and phagocytosis, and has been identified as one of the sperm proteins in both Drosophila and mammals. At present, its details of functions in animal growth and spermatogenesis have not been reported. In this study, we knocked down ATPsyn‐b using Drosophila lines expressing inducible hairpin RNAi constructs and Gal4 drivers. Ubiquitous knockdown of ATPsyn‐b resulted in growth defects in larval stage as the larvae did not grow bigger than the size of normal second‐instar larvae. Knockdown in testes did not interrupt the developmental excursion to viable adult flies, however, these male adults were sterile. Analyses of testes revealed disrupted nuclear bundles during spermatogenesis and abnormal shaping in spermatid elongation. There were no mature sperm in the seminal vesicle of ATPsyn‐b knockdown male testes. These findings suggest us that ATPsyn‐b acts in growth and male fertility of Drosophila.
Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology: Progress and Prospects
Authors: Mukherjee Joydeep
Published: October 2014

Environmental microbiology and biotechnology are crucial in the modern society. They influence human health, environment and serve as a source of energy and provider of novel bioproducts. The key areas of interest are bioremediation, microbial communities, pathogen detection, wastewater treatment, energy generation, bioprocesses, and natural product discovery. Environmental microbiology must interact with hydrology, biogeochemistry, limnology, oceanography and numerical modeling. This subject will continue to engage future generations of scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and policy makers.
Changing cancer care in the 1990s and the cost
Authors: Yarbro John W.
Published: October 2014

Progress in cancer research in the 1980s has led to predictions of a technologic explosion in the 1990s. Yet, with this progress there has been a groundswell of protest at the rapidly escalating costs of health care. More than $600 billion was spent on health care in 1989 and estimates of $1.5 trillion are made for the year 2000. Repeated attempts at cost containment have failed. It has been suggested that only by retarding technologic advances will we be able to control costs. Many observers believe that rationing of health care is the only solution, but new technology not only improves cancer care, it often decreases cost. It is not rational to retard advances that may later reduce costs, nor is it humane to retard advances that improve care, even if they cost more. In identifying priorities we should begin with the principle that treatments be restricted to clinical trials unless they have been demonstrated to prolong survival or improve the quality of life. If the payers reimburse procedures in an investigative setting, they will be on firm ground when they deny support for those same procedures outside an investigative setting. This is both an ethical and a fiscally responsible position for the third parties to take. It will not be easy for the profession or for the payers to deal with these problems. Public education and patient education will be key elements of any solution. Shifting the blame from politician to payer to professional will only make the problems worse.
Continuity of cancer care
Authors: Lauria Marie M.
Published: October 2014

The importance of providing continuity in the care of all patients with major medical problems, such as cancer, has widespread acceptance in our current health care system. From the perspective of an oncology social work clinician, this article offers a definition of the concept of continuity of care, examines factors influencing its provision in oncology, and reviews key components in continuity of cancer care planning and implementation. It also examines some innovative efforts in practice to improve continuity.
Patient perceptions
Authors: Seffrin John R. , Wilson John L. , Black Bruce L.
Published: October 2014

The cancer patient's perceptions about treatment, prognosis, and long‐term care have emerged in the context of interaction with the changing healthcare system. A brief overview of cancer patients' perceptions regarding their disease and subsequent care is provided. The economic, organizational, and technological environment in which this care is provided and the patient's perceptions of that environment are discussed. In addition to economic pressures, the ever‐increasing number of cancer patients, prolonged survival, and patients' perceptions have created changes in the healthcare system. These changes are mediated by important socioeconomic, cultural, and demographic characteristics of the cancer patient.

Recommendations to address these changes are discussed.
Observers for 2‐D systems with unknown disturbance
Authors: Shimonishi Jiro , Hinamoto Takao , Maekawa Sadao
Published: October 2014

This paper considers the problem of designing an observer for the Roesser state‐space model with unknown disturbance. After showing the minimal order for the existence of an observer, a necessary and sufficient condition for a minimal‐order potential observer to decouple unknown disturbance is given. Furthermore, a sufficient condition for a minimal‐order potential observer to be stabilizable is examined. Finally, an algorithm is presented for designing a disturbance decoupled observer. This algorithm is applicable to 2‐D systems without unknown disturbance as the special case.
Block demodulation for short radio packet
Authors: Namiki Junji
Published: October 2014

The demodulation of phase‐modulated signals is performed primarily by synchronous detection which has excellent characteristics. Thus, to regenerate a reference carrier wave that is identical with the transmitted one, a pure carrier should be received for a fixed time as a preamble before the data. Therefore, in digital radio terminals which are expected to appear, if a single extremely short information data burst has to be transmitted, it would possibly require the addition of a long preamble. If the relative carrier frequency offset is large in a low‐speed transmission system, then a longer preamble is necessary.

This paper proposes a demodulation system for phase‐modulated signals which allows a shorter preamble or eliminates the need for it completely. The proposed system is based on the recent rapid progress in the speed, capability, and price of the microprocessors which obviates immediate demodulation, but makes it practical to store a data sequence of a fixed length without any demodulation. In addition, it is possible to realize the demodulation with batch processing by a block demodulation system. In such a system the complete transmitted burst signal containing no preamble can be demodulated with the optimum carrier phase. If this system is used merely as a frequency offset detector, it can complete the detection more than 5 times faster than a phase‐locked system under the same noise conditions.
1 ∼ 10 GHz microwave applicators for medical applications
Authors: Miyakawa Michio
Published: October 2014

Attempts have been made to measure the brightness temperature of the electromagnetic waves radiated by the human body in response to its temperature via a radiometer with multiple observation frequencies (radiometric frequency) in the microwave range, and to estimate the temperature distribution in the body from the data obtained. Five applicators at 1.1, 1.7, 2.8, 4.6 and 10 GHz have been developed which satisfy conditions required for the antenna measuring the brightness temperature by contacting the body directly. Each applicator consists of a flanged open‐ended X‐band waveguide filled with a dielectric material with its dielectric constant decreasing in proportion to the inverse of the square of the radiometric frequency so that the body surface spatial resolution is not dependent on the observation frequency. By means of a stub and a shorting plunger, good impedance matching is realized even when the location of the measurement is changed. A temperature‐control setup is included so that the applicator temperature accurately follows the variation of the body surface temperature. This makes possible highly accurate temperature measurement. The body surface spatial resolution is 3 × 3 cm2 and the maximum mismatch loss to the body is less than 0.2 dB.
A new [2H]‐labelled α‐trichloroimidate glucuronic ester for the synthesis of deuterated drug conjugates
Authors: Heinkele Georg , Geditz Mirjam C. K. , Ganchev Boian , Kerb Reinhold , Hofmann Ute , Mürdter Thomas E.
Published: October 2014

A new reaction pathway for the synthesis of a [2H]‐labelled trichloroacetimidate precursor for the preparation of glucuronides is described. Therewith, stable isotope‐labelled drug glucuronides become accessible on a preparative scale, which can further be used as internal standards for quantitative analysis.
Suicide in cancer patients within the first year of diagnosis
Authors: Ahn Myung Hee , Park Subin , Lee Hochang Benjamin , Ramsey Christine M. , Na Riji , Kim Seon Ok , Kim Jeong Eun , Yoon Shinkyo , Hong Jin Pyo
Published: October 2014

Background

A diagnosis of cancer is associated with an increased suicide risk, and this risk is the highest within the first year of diagnosis. The aim of the present study was to determine risk factors of suicide occurring within the first year of cancer diagnosis (early suicide).

Methods

The sampling pool consisted of 164,497 patients with cancer admitted to a general hospital in Seoul, South Korea, from 1996 to 2009. We conducted a 1:2 matched case‐control study by matching 373 patients who died from suicide (cases) with 746 patients who did not die from suicide (controls) on age, sex, anatomic site, and at the time of cancer diagnosis. Data were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression modeling.

Results

Suicide within the first year after a cancer diagnosis occurred in 149 patients (40.0% of 373 total suicides). The standardized mortality ratio (SMR) for early suicide was 1.65 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.40–1.94] and was significantly higher for biliary‐pancreatic (SMR = 3.07; 95% CI = 2.02–4.46), lung (SMR = 1.94; 95% CI = 1.19–3.30), and stomach (SMR = 1.71; 95% CI = 1.16–2.42) cancers than for other cancers. Early and late suicide was significantly different in anatomic site (p = 0.01) and stage (p < 0.001), while not significant in other demographic factors. Advanced stage was more frequent among early suicide compared with late suicide (53.4 versus 18.7%; p < 0.001). Stage of cancer was independently associated with early suicide risk.

Conclusions

Cancers with an advanced stage at diagnosis were associated with an increased risk of suicide within 1 year of diagnosis. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.