bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dispersion compensation in millimeter wave radio over multimode fiber systems
Authors: Cseh Tamás , Berceli Tibor
Published: November 2014

Multimode fibers (MMF) provide a reasonable and efficient solution for radio over fiber systems. However, in MMF systems the modal dispersion and chromatic dispersion can be very high. In this article, an efficient compensator is purposed and investigated. The impact of the compensator is tested with different radio modulations by simulations and experiments, and the compensated transfer function is analyzed as well. The application of the compensator provides significant improvement in the error vector magnitude. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:204–207, 2015
On the behavior of compact ultrawideband tunable bandwidth semicomplementary split ring resonator bandpass filter
Authors: NaghshvarianJahromi Mahdi , Ghorabani Ayaz
Published: November 2014

This article proposes a compact quasi elliptic ultrawideband band‐pass filter with low insertion loss using a defective ground structure (DGS). The proposed filter is a DGS filter. The measurements results for 1‐dB cutoff frequency show that, the pass‐band is 3.2–7.4 GHz or 79% fractional bandwidth at 5.3 GHz center frequency and minimum insertion loss in pass‐band is 0.33 dB at frequencies of 5.4 GHz with two transmission zeros are found at 1.8 and 8.6 GHz. The upper stopband is stretched up to 11.2 GHz, over which a rejection is higher than 21.2 dB. The group delay in pass‐band is less than 0.40 ns with a maximum variation of 0.1 ns approximately. Therefore, its value and variations is really low. The bandwidth of the proposed filter is potentially tunable and the 1‐dB cutoff fractional bandwidth can change from 58.4% at 4.62 GHz up to 98.4% at 5.93 GHz center frequency. Furthermore, the design methodology and some new geometries are presented. Moreover, the distributed equivalent circuit model based on geometrical filter parameters is introduced in this article. Thus, the microstrip‐slotline transitions are used for modeling the magnetic field coupling between microstrip line and slotline. Finally, this contribution proposes an improved model and results for the semicomplementary split ring resonator resonator that are shown by practical results, design methodology, and distributed equivalent circuit model. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:256–263, 2015
An internal octa‐band printed antenna for mobile phones LTE applications
Authors: Wang Luofen , Lin Wenbin , Yang Guangli
Published: November 2014

A novel compact internal antenna combining a monopole and a parasitic planar inverted‐F antenna type of structure is presented. Based on voltage standing wave ratio <3:1, the operation bandwidths are 42% from 704 to 1083 MHz and 57.7% from 1660 to 3000 MHz to cover LTE700/GSM850/900/DCS1800/PCS1900/UMTS/LTE2300/LTE2500 for mobile phones. The proposed antenna is designed and printed on printed circuit board with compact size of 60 × 15 × 1.2 mm3. Measured average low band efficiency is about 60% and high band efficiency is about 70%. The simulated specific absorption rate at required frequency is less than 1.0 mW/g. Both antenna size and performance showed that this antenna has great potential for slim phone applications. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:247–252, 2015
Decreased induction morbidity and mortality following modification to induction therapy in infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia enrolled on AALL0631: A report from the children's oncology group
Authors: Salzer Wanda L. , Jones Tamekia L. , Devidas Meenakshi , Dreyer ZoAnn E. , Gore Lia , Winick Naomi J. , Sung Lillian , Raetz Elizabeth , Loh Mignon L. , Wang Cindy Y. , De Lorenzo Paola , Valsecchi Maria Grazia , Pieters Rob , Carroll William L. , Hunger Stephen P. , Hilden Joanne M. , Brown Patrick
Published: November 2014

Background

Infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have a poor prognosis. Intensification of therapy has resulted in fewer relapses but increased early deaths, resulting in failure to improve survival.

Procedure

AALL0631 is a Phase 3 study for infants (<366 days of age) with newly diagnosed ALL. Induction initially (Cohort 1) consisted of 3 weeks of therapy based on COG P9407. Due to excessive early mortality, induction was amended to a less intensive 5 weeks of therapy based on Interfant‐99. Additionally, enhanced supportive care guidelines were incorporated with hospitalization during induction until evidence of marrow recovery and recommendations for prevention/treatment of infections (Cohort 2).

Results

Induction mortality was significantly lower for patients in Cohort 2 (2/123, 1.6%) versus Cohort 1 (4/26, 15.4%; P = 0.009). All induction deaths were infection related except one due to progressive disease (Cohort 2). Sterile site infections were lower for patients in Cohort 2 (24/123, 19.5%) versus Cohort 1 (15/26, 57.7%; P = 0.0002), with a significantly lower rate of Gram positive infections during induction for patients in Cohort 2, P = 0.0002. No clinically significant differences in grades 3–5 non‐infectious toxicities were observed between the two cohorts. Higher complete response rates were observed at end induction intensification for Cohort 2 (week 9, 94/100, 94%) versus Cohort 1 (week 7, 17/25, 68%; P = 0.0.0012).

Conclusion

De‐intensification of induction therapy and enhanced supportive care guidelines significantly decreased induction mortality and sterile site infections, without decreasing complete remission rates. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:414–418. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Initial testing (stage 1) of BAL101553, a novel tubulin binding agent, by the pediatric preclinical testing program
Authors: Kolb E. Anders , Gorlick Richard , Keir Stephen T. , Maris John M. , Kang Min H. , Reynolds C. Patrick , Lock Richard B. , Carol Hernan , Wu Jianrong , Kurmasheva Raushan T. , Houghton Peter J. , Smith Malcolm A.
Published: November 2014

BAL101553 is a highly water soluble prodrug of BAL27862 that arrests tumor cell proliferation and induces cell death in cancer cells through disruption of the microtubule network. In vitro BAL27862 demonstrated potent activity, with the median relative IC50 (rIC50) of 13.8 nM (range 5.4–25.2 nM). The in vitro activity of BAL27862 against the PPTP cell lines is distinctive from that previously described for vincristine. BAL101553 induced significant differences in EFS distribution compared to control in 16 of 30 (53%) solid tumor xenografts and in two of four (67%) of the evaluable ALL xenografts. No objective responses were observed. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1106–1109. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Medical management of invasive fungal infections of the central nervous system in pediatric cancer patients
Authors: Carter John H. , Lenahan Jennifer L. , Ishak Gisele E. , Geyer J. Russell , Pollard Jessica , Englund Janet A.
Published: November 2014

Fungal infections of the central nervous system (CNS) are associated with high mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. Surgical intervention is a mainstay of therapy, but not always possible. We describe the use of medical therapy for the treatment of CNS fungal infections in four pediatric cancer patients. Definitive resection was not performed in any patient. All patients initially received combination antifungal therapy with good clinical response; long‐term survival was documented in two patients able to transition to long‐term azole therapy. Prolonged antifungal therapy is an important option for treating invasive CNS fungal infections when surgery is not feasible. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1095–1098. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The Difficult but Necessary Task of Developing a Specific Project Team Research Agenda
Authors: Chiocchio François , Hobbs Brian
Published: November 2014

Project teams are central to organizations everywhere; however, there is a knowledge gap between project management scholars on the one hand and organizational behavior and industrial–organizational (OB/IO) scholars on the other. This gap seriously impedes the advancement of knowledge, because scholars from both fields have not leveraged each other's considerable knowledge and might be relying on outdated models and evidence to study project team phenomena, manage project teams, or develop university curricula. A call is made for interdisciplinary research projects devoted specifically to developing a research agenda on project teams.
Dynamics of a local Alpine flooding event in October 2011: moisture source and large‐scale circulation
Authors: Piaget Nicolas , Froidevaux Paul , Giannakaki Paraskevi , Gierth Franziska , Martius Olivia , Riemer Michael , Wolf Gabriel , Grams Christian M.
Published: November 2014

Alpine heavy precipitation events often affect small catchments, although the circulation pattern leading to the event extends over the entire North Atlantic. The various scale interactions involved are particularly challenging for the numerical weather prediction of such events. Unlike previous studies focusing on the southern Alps, here a comprehensive study of a heavy precipitation event in the northern Alps in October 2011 is presented with particular focus on the role of the large‐scale circulation in the North Atlantic/European region. During the event exceptionally high amounts of total precipitable water occurred in and north of the Alps. This moisture was initially transported along the flanks of a blocking ridge over the North Atlantic. Subsequently, strong and persistent northerly flow established at the upstream flank of a trough over Europe and steered the moisture towards the northern Alps. Lagrangian diagnostics reveal that a large fraction of the moisture emerged from the West African coast where a subtropical upper‐level cut‐off low served as an important moisture collector. Wave activity flux diagnostics show that the ridge was initiated as part of a low‐frequency, large‐scale Rossby wave train while convergence of fast transients helped to amplify it locally in the North Atlantic. A novel diagnostic for advective potential vorticity tendencies sheds more light on this amplification and further emphasizes the role of the ridge in amplifying the trough over Europe. Operational forecasts misrepresented the amplitude and orientation of this trough.

For the first time, this study documents an important pathway for northern Alpine flooding, in which the interaction of synoptic‐scale to large‐scale weather systems and of long‐range moisture transport from the Tropics are dominant. Moreover, the trapping of moisture in a subtropical cut‐off near the West African coast is found to be a crucial precursor to the observed European high‐impact weather.
Low Voltage Transmission Electron Microscopy of Graphene
Authors: Bachmatiuk Alicja , Zhao Jiong , Gorantla Sandeep Madhukar , Martinez Ignacio Guillermo Gonzalez , Wiedermann Jerzy , Lee Changgu , Eckert Juergen , Rummeli Mark Hermann
Published: November 2014

The initial isolation of graphene in 2004 spawned massive interest in this two‐dimensional pure sp2 carbon structure due to its incredible electrical, optical, mechanical, and thermal effects. This in turn led to the rapid development of various characterization tools for graphene. Examples include Raman spectroscopy and scanning tunneling microscopy. However, the one tool with the greatest prowess for characterizing and studying graphene is the transmission electron microscope. State‐of‐the‐art (scanning) transmission electron microscopes enable one to image graphene with atomic resolution, and also to conduct various other characterizations simultaneously. The advent of aberration correctors was timely in that it allowed transmission electron microscopes to operate with reduced acceleration voltages, so that damage to graphene is avoided while still providing atomic resolution. In this comprehensive review, a brief introduction is provided to the technical aspects of transmission electron microscopes relevant to graphene. The reader is then introduced to different specimen preparation techniques for graphene. The different characterization approaches in both transmission electron microscopy and scanning transmission electron microscopy are then discussed, along with the different aspects of electron diffraction and electron energy loss spectroscopy. The use of graphene for other electron microscopy approaches such as in‐situ investigations is also presented.
Ghrelin augments murine T‐cell proliferation by activation of the phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and protein kinase C signaling pathways
Authors: Lee Jun Ho , Patel Kalpesh , Tae Hyun Jin , Lustig Ana , Kim Jie Wan , Mattson Mark P. , Taub Dennis D.
Published: November 2014

Thymic atrophy occurs during normal aging, and is accelerated by exposure to chronic stressors that elevate glucocorticoid levels and impair the naïve T cell output. The orexigenic hormone ghrelin was recently shown to attenuate age‐associated thymic atrophy. Here, we report that ghrelin enhances the proliferation of murine CD4+ primary T cells and a CD4+ T‐cell line. Ghrelin induced activation of the ERK1/2 and Akt signaling pathways, via upstream activation of phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase and protein kinase C, to enhance T‐cell proliferation. Moreover, ghrelin induced expression of the cell cycle proteins cyclin D1, cyclin E, cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and retinoblastoma phosphorylation. Finally, ghrelin activated the above‐mentioned signaling pathways and stimulated thymocyte proliferation in young and older mice in vivo.
NDS27 combines the effect of curcumin lysinate and hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin to inhibit equine PKCδ and NADPH oxidase involved in the oxidative burst of neutrophils
Authors: Derochette Sandrine , Mouithys-Mickalad Ange , Franck Thierry , Collienne Simon , Ceusters Justine , Deby-Dupont Ginette , Neven Philippe , Serteyn Didier
Published: November 2014

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) are involved in host defence against infections by the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but excessive PMN stimulation is associated with the development of inflammatory diseases. After appropriate stimuli, protein kinase C (PKC) triggers the assembly of NADPH oxidase (Nox2) which produces superoxide anion (O2
−), from which ROS derive. The therapeutic use of polyphenols is proposed to lower ROS production by limiting Nox2 and PKC activities. The purpose of this study was to compare the antioxidant effect of NDS27 and NDS28, two water‐soluble forms of curcumin lysinate respectively complexed with hydroxypropyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and γ‐cyclodextrin (γ‐CD), on the activity of Nox2 and PKCδ, involved in the Nox2 activation pathway. Our results, showed that NDS27 is the best inhibitor for Nox2 and PKCδ. This was illustrated by the combined effect of HPβCD and curcumin lysinate: HPβCD, but not γ‐CD, improved the release of curcumin lysinate and its exchange against lipid or cholesterol as demonstrated by the lipid colouration with Oil Red O, the extraction of radical lipophilic probes recorded by ESR and the HPLC measurements of curcumin. HPβCD not only solubilised and transported curcumin, but also indirectly enhanced its action on both PKC and Nox2 activities. The modulatory effect of NDS27 on the Nox2 activation pathway of neutrophils may open therapeutic perspectives for the control of pathologies with excessive inflammatory reactions.
Polytocus focus: Uterine position effect is dependent upon horn size
Authors: McLaurin Kristen A. , Mactutus Charles F.
Published: November 2014

Understanding the variability caused by uterine position effects in polytocus species, such as rats, may enhance prenatal animal models for the study of drug and environmental agents. The primiparous litters of 42 intact female Sprague‐Dawley rats were studied. Uterine position, fetal body weight, and fetal brain (wet) weight were recorded on gestation day (GD) 20 (GD 0 = sperm positive). Uterine position effect for brain and body weight varied depending upon horn size. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between horn size (and, to a lesser extent, litter size) and fetal weight applied to both body and brain weight measures. There were no statistical differences in brain and body weights between the left and right uterine horns. The position of the uterine horn (left vs. right) and litter size did not influence the uterine position effect in the rat. Collectively, the present data suggest the presence of a significant uterine position effect. Prenatal differences based on uterine position provide an untapped opportunity to increase our understanding of developmental neurotoxicological and teratological studies that employ a polytocus species as an animal model.
Efficacy in the Reduction of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection in a Patient With Intestinal Failure: An Ethanol Lock Pediatric Case Study
Authors: Pitts Stephanie , Bergamo Dale , Cartaya Carlos , Gore Beth
Published: November 2014

Intestinal failure and the subsequent reliance on parentral nutrition through central venous catheters increases the likelihood of a central line-associated bloodstream infection. Antimicrobial lock solutions such as ethanol lock therapy are providing promising evidence of the ability to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infection. This case study reviews the use of ethanol lock therapy for a pediatric patient who experienced 0 central line-associated bloodstream infections during the 2-year time period covered by this report.
Care of Peripheral Venous Catheter Sites: Advantages of Transparent Film Dressings Over Tape and Gauze
Authors: Bernatchez Stéphanie F.
Published: November 2014

Peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheters are the most commonly used catheters in hospitals, with up to 70% of patients requiring a peripheral venous line during their hospital stay. This represents 200 million PIV catheters used per year in acute-care hospitals in the United States alone. These medical devices are also used in other health care settings, such as long-term care facilities and nursing homes, and common indications include the administration of medications, nutrients, and fluids. These catheters require proper maintenance and care to avoid complications such as phlebitis, infiltration, occlusion, local infection, and bloodstream infection. Recently it has been suggested that PIV catheter use may lead to a higher rate of complications than previously thought. This is important because some studies have claimed that the rate of bloodstream infections due to PIV catheters is actually comparable to the rates observed with central venous catheters, rather than much lower as previously thought. Moreover, catheter-related infections are now seen as largely preventable. Our goal was to review the current literature and provide an overview of the various approaches used to manage PIV catheter sites as well as review current recommendations.
Exploring the phase diagram of fully turbulent Taylor–Couette flow
Authors: Ostilla-Mónico Rodolfo , van der Poel Erwin P. , Verzicco Roberto , Grossmann Siegfried , Lohse Detlef
Published: November 2014

Direct numerical simulations of Taylor–Couette flow, i.e. the flow between two coaxial and independently rotating cylinders, were performed. Shear Reynolds numbers of up to $3\times 10^{5}$, corresponding to Taylor numbers of $\mathit{Ta}=4.6\times 10^{10}$, were reached. Effective scaling laws for the torque are presented. The transition to the ultimate regime, in which asymptotic scaling laws (with logarithmic corrections) for the torque are expected to hold up to arbitrarily high driving, is analysed for different radius ratios, different aspect ratios and different rotation ratios. It is shown that the transition is approximately independent of the aspect and rotation ratios, but depends significantly on the radius ratio. We furthermore calculate the local angular velocity profiles and visualize different flow regimes that depend both on the shearing of the flow, and the Coriolis force originating from the outer cylinder rotation. Two main regimes are distinguished, based on the magnitude of the Coriolis force, namely the co-rotating and weakly counter-rotating regime dominated by Rayleigh-unstable regions, and the strongly counter-rotating regime where a mixture of Rayleigh-stable and Rayleigh-unstable regions exist. Furthermore, an analogy between radius ratio and outer-cylinder rotation is revealed, namely that smaller gaps behave like a wider gap with co-rotating cylinders, and that wider gaps behave like smaller gaps with weakly counter-rotating cylinders. Finally, the effect of the aspect ratio on the effective torque versus Taylor number scaling is analysed and it is shown that different branches of the torque-versus-Taylor relationships associated to different aspect ratios are found to cross within 15 % of the Reynolds number associated to the transition to the ultimate regime. The paper culminates in phase diagram in the inner versus outer Reynolds number parameter space and in the Taylor versus inverse Rossby number parameter space, which can be seen as the extension of the Andereck et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 164, 1986, pp. 155–183) phase diagram towards the ultimate regime.
Why, how and when MHD turbulence at low becomes three-dimensional
Authors: Pothérat Alban , Klein Rico
Published: November 2014

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence at low magnetic Reynolds number is experimentally investigated by studying a liquid metal flow in a cubic domain. We focus on the mechanisms that determine whether the flow is quasi-two-dimensional, three-dimensional or in any intermediate state. To this end, forcing is applied by injecting a DC current $I$ through one wall of the cube only, to drive vortices spinning along the magnetic field. Depending on the intensity of the externally applied magnetic field, these vortices extend part or all of the way through the cube. Driving the flow in this way allows us to precisely control not only the forcing intensity but also its dimensionality. A comparison with the theoretical analysis of this configuration singles out the influences of the walls and of the forcing on the flow dimensionality. Flow dimensionality is characterised in several ways. First, we show that when inertia drives three-dimensionality, the velocity near the wall where current is injected scales as $U_{b}\sim I^{2/3}$. Second, we show that when the distance $l_{z}$ over which momentum diffuses under the action of the Lorentz force (Sommeria & Moreau, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 118, 1982, pp. 507–518) reaches the channel width $h$, the velocity near the opposite wall $U_{t}$ follows a similar law with a correction factor $(1-h/l_{z})$ that measures three-dimensionality. When $l_{z}<h$, by contrast, the opposite wall has less influence on the flow and $U_{t}\sim I^{1/2}$. The central role played by the ratio $l_{z}/h$ is confirmed by experimentally verifying the scaling $l_{z}\sim N^{1/2}$ put forward by Sommeria & Moreau ($N$ is the interaction parameter) and, finally, the nature of the three-dimensionality involved is further clarified by distinguishing weak and strong three-dimensionalities previously introduced by Klein & Pothérat (Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 104 (3), 2010, 034502). It is found that both types vanish only asymptotically in the limit $N\rightarrow \infty$. This provides evidence that because of the no-slip walls, (i) the transition between quasi-two-dimensional and three-dimensional turbulence does not result from a global instability of the flow, unlike in domains with non-dissipative boundaries (Boeck et al. Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 101, 2008, 244501), and (ii) it does not occur simultaneously at all scales.
Forced dynamics of a short viscous liquid bridge
Authors: Vincent L. , Duchemin L. , Le Dizès S.
Published: November 2014

The dynamics of an axisymmetric liquid bridge of a fluid of density ${\it\rho}$, viscosity ${\it\mu}$ and surface tension ${\it\sigma}$ held between two co-axial disks of equal radius $e$ is studied when one disk is slowly moved with a velocity $U(t)$. The analysis is performed using a one-dimensional model for thin bridges. We consider attached boundary conditions (the contact line is fixed to the boundary of the disk), neglect gravity and limit our analysis to short bridges such that there exists a stable equilibrium shape. This equilibrium is a Delaunay curve characterized by the two geometric parameters $\ell _{0}=V_{0}/({\rm\pi}e^{3})$ and $S=\ell ({\rm\pi}e^{2})/V_{0}$, where $V_{0}$ is the volume of fluid and $\ell$ the length of the bridge. Our objective is to analyse the departure of the dynamical solution from the static Delaunay shape as a function of $\ell _{0}$, $S$, the Ohnesorge number $Oh={\it\mu}/\sqrt{{\it\rho}{\it\sigma}e}$, and the instantaneous velocity $U(t)$ and acceleration $\partial _{t}U$ (non-dimensionalized using $e$ and ${\it\sigma}/{\it\rho}$) of the disk. Using a perturbation theory for small velocity and acceleration, we show that (i) a non-homogeneous velocity field proportional to $U(t)$ and independent of $Oh$ is present within the bridge; (ii) the area correction to the equilibrium shape can be written as $U^{2}A_{i}+U\,Oh\,A_{v}+\partial _{t}UA_{a}$ where $A_{i}$, $A_{v}$ and $A_{a}$ are functions of $\ell _{0}$ and $S$ only. The characteristics of the velocity field and the shape corrections are analysed in detail. For the case of a cylinder ($S=1$), explicit expressions are derived and used to provide some insight into the break-up that the deformation would induce. The asymptotic results are validated and tested by direct numerical simulations when the velocity is constant and when it oscillates. For the constant velocity case, we demonstrate that the theory provides a very good estimate of the dynamics for a large range of parameters. However, a systematic departure is observed for very small $Oh$ due to the persistence of free eigenmodes excited during the transient. These same eigenmodes also limit the applicability of the theory to oscillating bridges with large oscillating periods. Finally, the perturbation theory is applied to the cylindrical solution of Frankel & Weihs (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 155 (1985), pp. 289–307) obtained for constant velocity $U$ when the contact lines are allowed to move. We show that it can be used to compute the correction associated with acceleration. Finally, the effect of gravity is discussed and shown to modify the equilibrium shape but not the main results obtained from the perturbation theory.
EFFECTS OF 30 YEARS REPEATED FERTILIZER APPLICATIONS ON SOIL PROPERTIES, MICROBES AND CROP YIELDS IN RICE–WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEMS
Authors: HU CHENG , LI SHUANG-LAI , QIAO YAN , LIU DONG-HAI , CHEN YUN-FENG
Published: November 2014

Long-term fertilization experiment has been conducted since 1981 to study the effect of soil management practices on soil fertility, soil carbon and nitrogen sequestration, soil culturable microbe counts and crop yields at the Nanhu Experimental Station in the Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences (situated in the middle reach of the Yangtze River and the rice–wheat cropping system). The experiment was designed with the following eight treatments: (1) unfertilized treatment: Control; (2) inorganic nitrogen fertilizer treatment: N; (3) inorganic nitrogen plus inorganic phosphorus fertilizer treatment: NP; (4) inorganic nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus plus inorganic potassium fertilizer treatment: NPK; (5) pig dung compost (manure) treatment: M; (6) inorganic nitrogen fertilizer plus manure: NM; (7) inorganic nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus fertilizer plus manure treatment: NPM and (8) inorganic nitrogen, inorganic phosphorus, inorganic potassium fertilizer plus manure treatment: NPKM. The results showed that long-term application of organic manure in combination with inorganic fertilizer significantly (p< 0.05) increased soil organic C concentrations compared with the corresponding inorganic fertilizers alone. Soil organic C contents were significantly (p< 0.05) increased in balanced application of NPK fertilizers in comparison to unbalanced application of fertilizers. After 30 years of experiment, soil organic C and total N sequestration rate averagely were 0.48 t ha−1year−1and 28.3 kg ha−1year−1in the fertilized treatments respectively; nevertheless, it were 0.27 t ha−1year−1and 9.7 kg ha−1year−1in the unfertilized treatment. Application of organic fertilizer in combination with inorganic fertilizer significantly (p< 0.05) increased culturable microbial counts compared with the corresponding inorganic fertilizers alone. The balanced application of NPK fertilizers significantly (p< 0.05) increased culturable microbial counts compared with unbalanced application of fertilizers. The average grain yield of wheat and rice was significantly (p< 0.05) higher in organic manure combined with inorganic fertilizer treatment than in inorganic fertilizer alone and unfertilized control. Therefore, long-term application of organic manure combined with inorganic fertilizer and balanced application of NPK fertilizers could increase soil organic C and total N sequestration, culturable microbial counts and crop grain yields.
“Lacking in Respect for Whitemen”: “Tropical Africans” on the Witwatersrand Gold Mines, 1903–1904
Authors: Cobley Alan
Published: November 2014

In May 1903, 380 Africans were recruited from British Central Africa (modern Malawi) by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association on one-year contracts to work in the gold mines. It was an experiment designed to test the potential for recruiting cheap black labor for the mines from the region north of the Zambesi. By the end of the contract period, more than a quarter of the men were either dead or permanently disabled. Their struggles to adapt to the harsh working conditions in the mines fueled a racist discourse among white South Africans about “Tropical Africans,” which focused on their supposed susceptibility to disease on the one hand, and their supposed “natural indolence” on the other. Notwithstanding these issues, the mine owners considered the experiment a success and moved rapidly to expand recruitment from the region in the years that followed. This article tells the story of this pioneering group of migrant workers, detailing their grim encounter with modernity and the power of capital in South Africa. It also suggests ways in which their experiences helped to determine the conditions of employment for the generations of migrant mineworkers that followed them.
Wage Labor and Mobility in Colonial Eritrea, 1880s to 1920s
Authors: Bellucci Stefano , Zaccaria Massimo
Published: November 2014

Mobility and wage labor are two key variables that help to explain some of the complexities of the labor history of colonial Eritrea. Focusing on the initial period of Italian colonization, between the 1880s and 1920s, this article analyzes the relationship between the two above-mentioned variables. Based on previously unexplored archival sources and documents, the authors conclude that wage labor did contribute to the mobility of workers throughout the region (and not vice versa). In the period under consideration, Eritrea did not become a settler colony, despite Italy's initial efforts to import a national labor force. Instead, through a mix of capital investments in construction and transport, and increasing military recruitment, the Italian regime contributed significantly to an increase in free wage labor in the region. Within a year of Italy's 1911 invasion of Libya, it needed to reinforce its colonial army. From 1912 onward, in return for wages, tens of thousands of Eritreans entered the Italian colonial army to fight on the Libyan front. This military employment left voids in the local labor market, which were filled by people from neighboring countries, particularly Ethiopians and Yemenis. A relationship thus developed and continued between mobility and wage labor.
Individual Responsibility in a Global Age
Authors: Scheffler Samuel
Published: November 2014

As the twentieth century begins to draw to a close, Europe is undergoing a process of political transformation whose outcome cannot be predicted with confidence, in part because the process is being driven by two powerful but conflicting tendencies. The first is the movement toward greater economic and political union among the countries of Western Europe. The second is the pressure, in the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, for the countries of Eastern Europe to fragment along ethnic and communal lines.
A NONPARAMETRIC ESTIMATOR FOR THE COVARIANCE FUNCTION OF FUNCTIONAL DATA
Authors: Sancetta Alessio
Published: November 2014

Many quantities of interest in economics and finance can be represented as partially observed functional data. Examples include structural business cycle estimation, implied volatility smile, the yield curve. Having embedded these quantities into continuous random curves, estimation of the covariance function is needed to extract factors, perform dimensionality reduction, and conduct inference on the factor scores. A series expansion for the covariance function is considered. Under summability restrictions on the absolute values of the coefficients in the series expansion, an estimation procedure that is resilient to overfitting is proposed. Under certain conditions, the rate of consistency for the resulting estimator achieves the minimax rate, allowing the observations to be weakly dependent. When the domain of the functional data isK(>1) dimensional, the absolute summability restriction of the coefficients avoids the so called curse of dimensionality. As an application, a Box–Pierce statistic to test independence of partially observed functional data is derived. Simulation results and an empirical investigation of the efficiency of the Eurodollar futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange are included.
Thinking and acting beyond the positive: the role of the cognitive and negative symptoms in schizophrenia
Authors: Carbon Maren , Correll Christoph U.
Published: November 2014

Since currently available antipsychotic medications predominantly treat hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thoughts and behavior, and related agitation/aggression, attention has traditionally been focused on managing positive symptoms. However, prominent negative symptoms and clinically relevant cognitive impairment affect approximately 40% and 80% of people with schizophrenia, respectively. Moreover, negative and cognitive symptoms are closely related to functional outcomes, and contribute substantially to the overall illness burden. Therefore, approaches to describe, measure, and manage these symptom domains are relevant. This article summarizes the phenomenology, prevalence, assessment, and treatment of negative and cognitive symptoms in patients with schizophrenia, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic management strategies that can be used in clinical care now, as well as pharmacologic approaches that are being tested. Currently, no approved treatments targeting negative or cognitive symptomatology in schizophrenia are available. It is hoped that progress in the understanding of the neurobiology of these important symptom domains of schizophrenia will help develop effective treatment strategies in the future. However, until this goal is achieved, clinicians should avoid therapeutic nihilism. Rather, the severity and impact of negative and cognitive symptoms should be determined, quantified, and monitored. Further, psychosocial treatments have shown therapeutic benefits. Thus, cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive remediation, social skills training, and computer-assisted training programs should be offered in conjunction with antipsychotic treatment. Several non-antipsychotic augmentation strategies can be tried off-label. Treatment plans that incorporate currently available management options for negative and cognitive symptomatology in patients with schizophrenia should be adapted over time and based on the individual’s needs, with the aim to enhance overall outcomes.
The lily, client and measure of Bruno Taut's Glashaus
Authors: Nielsen David , Kumarasuriyar Anoma
Published: November 2014

A current issue in architectural scholarship is the rethinking of the origins of Modernism. As a formative exemplar of early architectural Modernism, Bruno Taut's seminal exhibition pavilion, the Glashaus (1914) [1] is understandably part of this debate. In 1959, Reyner Banham in his article, ‘The Glass Paradise’ suggested that it would be appropriate to investigate the origins of the Glashaus, as it was both vastly dissimilar to and exceeded any of Taut's previous designs. In an effort to answer this question, Banham subsequently introduced the unique role played by the Bohemian poet Paul Scheerbart in the design of the Glashaus. As a result of Banham's inference, Rosemarie Haag Bletter systematically explored the Taut/Scheerbart relationship in ‘Bruno Taut and Paul Scheerbart's Vision: Utopian Aspects of German Expressionist Architecture’ in 1973.
Differentiation in language and gesture use during early bilingual development of hearing children of Deaf parents
Authors: KANTO LAURA , LAAKSO MARJA-LEENA , HUTTUNEN KERTTU
Published: November 2014

Hearing children of Deaf parents simultaneously acquire sign language and spoken language, which have many structural differences and represent two different modalities. We video-recorded eight children every six months between the ages of 12 and 24 months during three different play sessions: with their Deaf parent, with the Deaf parent and a hearing adult, and with a hearing adult alone. Additionally, we collected data on their vocabulary development in both sign language and spoken language. Children as young as 12 months old accommodated their language use according to the language(s) of their interlocutor(s). Additionally, the children used a manual modality that included gestures more frequently and in a more diverse way when interacting with their Deaf parent than with a hearing person. These findings bring new knowledge about language differentiation and gesture use of bilingual children during the early phases of language acquisition.
Sentence context effects in bilingual word recognition: Cognate status, sentence language, and semantic constraint
Authors: DIJKSTRA TON , VAN HELL JANET G. , BRENDERS PASCAL
Published: November 2014

In two lexical decision experiments, we investigated how sentence language affects the bilingual's recognition of target words from the same or a different language. Dutch–English bilinguals read Dutch (L1) or English (L2) sentences, presented word by word, followed by English (Experiment 1) or Dutch (Experiment 2) target words. Targets were Dutch–English cognates or non-cognates in isolation or preceded by sentences providing a high or a low semantic constraint. English cognates were facilitated irrespective of whether they were preceded by high or low constraining English sentences (no language switch) or Dutch sentences (switch). For Dutch cognates, inhibition effects arose in low constraining sentences (irrespective of Dutch or English) and in English (switch) sentences (irrespective of semantic constraint). Thus, under mixed language conditions, sentence constraint modulates target word processing but does not always completely eliminate cross-linguistic effects. The results are interpreted in a BIA+ model that extends monolingual views on sentence comprehension.
Assessment of In-Depth Degradation of Artificially Aged Triterpenoid Paint Varnishes Using Nonlinear Microscopy Techniques
Authors: Filippidis George , Mari Meropi , Kelegkouri Lambrini , Philippidis Aggelos , Selimis Aleksandros , Melessanaki Kristallia , Sygletou Maria , Fotakis Costas
Published: November 2014

The present work investigates the applicability of nonlinear imaging microscopy for the precise assessment of degradation of the outer protective layers of painted artworks as a function of depth due to aging. Two fresh and artificially aged triterpenoid varnishes, dammar and mastic, were tested. Nonlinear imaging techniques have been employed as a new diagnostic tool for determination of the exact thickness of the affected region due to artificial aging of the natural varnishes. The measured thicknesses differ from the calculated mean penetration depths of the samples. These nondestructive, high resolution modalities are valuable analytical tools for aging studies and they have the potential to provide unique in-depth information. Single photon laser induced fluorescence measurements and Raman spectroscopy were used for the integrated investigation and analysis of aging effects in varnishes.
Towards a comprehensive model of Earth's disk-integrated Stokes vector
Authors: García Muñoz A.
Published: November 2014

A significant body of work on simulating the remote appearance of Earth-like exoplanets has been done over the last decade. The research is driven by the prospect of characterizing habitable planets beyond the Solar System in the near future. In this work, I present a method to produce the disk-integrated signature of planets that are described in their three-dimensional complexity, i.e. with both horizontal and vertical variations in the optical properties of their envelopes. The approach is based on Pre-conditioned Backward Monte Carlo integration of the vector Radiative Transport Equation and yields the full Stokes vector for outgoing reflected radiation. The method is demonstrated through selected examples inspired by published work at wavelengths from the visible to the near infrared and terrestrial prescriptions of both cloud and surface albedo maps. I explore the performance of the method in terms of computational time and accuracy. A clear strength of this approach is that its computational cost does not appear to be significantly affected by non-uniformities in the planet optical properties. Earth's simulated appearance is strongly dependent on wavelength; both brightness and polarization undergo diurnal variations arising from changes in the planet cover, but polarization yields a better insight into variations with phase angle. There is partial cancellation of the polarized signal from the northern and southern hemispheres so that the outgoing polarization vector lies preferentially either in the plane parallel or perpendicular to the planet scattering plane, also for non-uniform cloud and albedo properties and various levels of absorption within the atmosphere. The evaluation of circular polarization is challenging; a number of one-photon experiments of 109 or more is needed to resolve hemispherically integrated degrees of circular polarization of a few times 10−5. Last, I introduce brightness curves of Earth obtained with one of the Messenger cameras at three wavelengths (0.48, 0.56 and 0.63 μm) during a flyby in 2005. The light curves show distinct structure associated with the varying aspect of the Earth's visible disk (phases of 98–107°) as the planet undergoes a full 24 h rotation; the structure is reasonably well reproduced with model simulations.
AXIOMS FOR FINITE COLLAPSE MODELS OF ARITHMETIC
Authors: TEDDER ANDREW
Published: November 2014

The collapse models of arithmetic are inconsistent, nontrivial models obtained from ℕ and set out in the Logic of Paradox (LP). They are given a general treatment by Priest (Priest, 2000). Finite collapse models are decidable, and thus axiomatizable, because finite. LP, however, is ill-suited to normal axiomatic reasoning, as it invalidates Modus Ponens, and almost all other usual conditional inferences. I set out a logic, A3, first given by Avron (Avron, 1991), and give a first order axiom system for the finite collapse models. I present some standard arithmetical axioms in addition to a cyclic axiom and prove that these axioms are sound and complete for the cyclic models, reporting a similar result for the heap models. The state of the situation for the each of the kinds of infinite collapse model is, however, left an open question.
Intrauterine exposure to smoking and wheezing in adolescence: the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort
Authors: Werhmeister F. C. , Nunes B. P. , Loret de Mola C. , Gómez-Cofré N. , de Oliveira P. D. , Marco P. L. , Assunção M. C. F. , Gonçalves H. , Horta B. L. , Menezes A. M. B.
Published: November 2014

Previous studies have suggested an association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and asthma symptoms such as wheezing during childhood. However, few have evaluated this association in adolescence, especially in populations with high prevalence of wheezing as in Brazil. Using the 1993 Pelotas birth cohort, a longitudinal study set in southern Brazil of 5249 urban live births, we aimed to evaluate the association between maternal and the partner’s smoking during pregnancy and wheezing at 11 and 15 years of age. We evaluated smoking during pregnancy using number of cigarettes/day, and our main outcomes were as follows: wheezing in the last year and number of wheezing crises, at both 11 and 15 years of age, as well as persistent wheezing (having crises at 11 and 15 years of age) and medical asthma diagnosis at age 15. In addition, other socio-demographic variables were included as possible confounders and mediators of this association. We used Poisson regression models to evaluate crude and adjusted associations. Of the 5249 live births in 1993, 87.5% and 85.7% were followed-up to 11 and 15 years of age, respectively. Maternal smoking during pregnancy showed a dose-response association with number of wheezing crises at age 15 (P=0.023), presence of persistent wheezing (P=0.034) and asthma diagnosis (P=0.023). Partner’s smoking was not associated with any wheezing variables. Maternal smoking during pregnancy appears to exert an effect on respiratory morbidity of adolescents, evaluated by wheezing symptoms.
Evidence for henipavirus spillover into human populations in Africa
Authors: Pernet Olivier , Schneider Bradley S. , Beaty Shannon M. , LeBreton Matthew , Yun Tatyana E. , Park Arnold , Zachariah Trevor T. , Bowden Thomas A. , Hitchens Peta , Ramirez Christina M. , Daszak Peter , Mazet Jonna , Freiberg Alexander N. , Wolfe Nathan D. , Lee Benhur
Published: November 2014

Zoonotic transmission of lethal henipaviruses (HNVs) from their natural fruit bat reservoirs to humans has only been reported in Australia and South/Southeast Asia. However, a recent study discovered numerous HNV clades in African bat samples. To determine the potential for HNV spillover events among humans in Africa, here we examine well-curated sets of bat (Eidolon helvum, n=44) and human (n=497) serum samples from Cameroon for Nipah virus (NiV) cross-neutralizing antibodies (NiV-X-Nabs). Using a vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based pseudoparticle seroneutralization assay, we detect NiV-X-Nabs in 48% and 3–4% of the bat and human samples, respectively. Seropositive human samples are found almost exclusively in individuals who reported butchering bats for bushmeat. Seropositive human sera also neutralize Hendra virus and Gh-M74a (an African HNV) pseudoparticles, as well as live NiV. Butchering bat meat and living in areas undergoing deforestation are the most significant risk factors associated with seropositivity. Evidence for HNV spillover events warrants increased surveillance efforts.
The DUSP–Ubl domain of USP4 enhances its catalytic efficiency by promoting ubiquitin exchange
Authors: Clerici Marcello , Luna-Vargas Mark P. A. , Faesen Alex C. , Sixma Titia K.
Published: November 2014

Ubiquitin-specific protease USP4 is emerging as an important regulator of cellular pathways, including the TGF-β response, NF-κB signalling and splicing, with possible roles in cancer. Here we show that USP4 has its catalytic triad arranged in a productive conformation. Nevertheless, it requires its N-terminal DUSP–Ubl domain to achieve full catalytic turnover. Pre-steady-state kinetics measurements reveal that USP4 catalytic domain activity is strongly inhibited by slow dissociation of ubiquitin after substrate hydrolysis. The DUSP–Ubl domain is able to enhance ubiquitin dissociation, hence promoting efficient turnover. In a mechanism that requires all USP4 domains, binding of the DUSP–Ubl domain promotes a change of a switching loop near the active site. This ‘allosteric regulation of product discharge’ provides a novel way of regulating deubiquitinating enzymes that may have relevance for other enzyme classes.