bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Sjögren’s syndrome – an interdisciplinary problem viewed by a dentist
Authors: Barczyk Agata , Foryś Sebastian
Published: January 2015

Zespół Sjögrena jest powszechnie znaną jednostką chorobową o przewlekłym przebiegu, dla której nie opracowano jeszcze skutecznej terapii. W 90% przypadków chorobę tę rozpoznaje się u kobiet, zwykle w okresie okołomenopauzalnym. Dotyczy ona wielu układów i narządów i dlatego stanowi przedmiot zainteresowania lekarzy wielu specjalności. Wyróżnia się pierwotny i wtórny zespół Sjögrena, w których dominującymi objawami są suchość jamy ustnej oraz suchość spojówki i rogówki. W artykule omówiono objawy zespołu Sjögrena ze strony jamy ustnej – dotyczące błony śluzowej jamy ustnej, warg, języka, dziąseł, zębów i przyzębia. Scharakteryzowano leczenie i postępowanie profilaktyczne stosowane w gabinecie stomatologicznym u pacjentów z zespołem Sjögrena. Uwzględniono elementy stylu życia mające wpływ na przebieg choroby oraz zalecenia dotyczące farmakoterapii, których celem jest uniknięcie nasilenia objawów.
Measurements of the stable carbon isotope composition of dissolved inorganic carbon in the Northeastern Atlantic and Nordic Seas during summer 2012
Authors: Humphreys M. P. , Achterberg E. P. , Griffiths A. M. , McDonald A. , Boyce A. J.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. The stable carbon isotope composition of dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) in seawater was measured in samples collected during two cruises in the Northeastern Atlantic and Nordic Seas from June to August 2012. One cruise was part of the UK Ocean Acidification research programme, and the other was a repeat hydrographic transect of the Extended Ellett Line. In combination with measurements made of various other variables on these and other cruises, these data can be used to constrain the anthropogenic component of DIC in the interior ocean, and also assist in determining the influence of biological carbon uptake on surface ocean carbonate chemistry. The measurements have been processed, quality-controlled and submitted to an in-preparation global compilation of seawater δ13CDIC data, and are available from the British Oceanographic Data Centre. The observed δ13CDIC values fall in a range from −0.58 to +2.37‰, relative to the Vienna Peedee Belemnite standard. From duplicate samples collected during both cruises, the precision for the 552 results is 0.07‰, which is similar to other published studies of this kind. Data doi:10.5285/09760a3a-c2b5-250b-e053-6c86abc037c0 (Northeastern Atlantic), doi:10.5285/09511dd0-51db-0e21-e053-6c86abc09b95 (Nordic Seas).
A reduced-complexity model for river delta formation – Part 2: Assessment of the flow routing scheme
Authors: Liang M. , Geleynse N. , Edmonds D. A. , Passalacqua P.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. In a companion paper (Liang et al., 2015) we introduced a reduced-complexity model (RCM) for river delta formation, developed using a parcel-based "weighted random walk" method for routing water and sediment flux. This model (referred to as DeltaRCM) consists of a flow routing scheme as the hydrodynamic component (referred to as FlowRCM) and a set of sediment transport rules as the morphodynamic component. In this work, we assess the performance of FlowRCM via a series of hydrodynamic tests by comparing the model outputs to Delft3D and theoretical predictions. These tests are designed to reveal the capability of FlowRCM to resolve flow field features that are critical to delta dynamics at the level of channel processes. In particular, we focus on (1) backwater profile, (2) flow around a mouth bar, (3) flow through a single bifurcation, and (4) flow through a distributary channel network. We show that while the simple rules are not able to reproduce all fine-scale flow structures, FlowRCM captures flow field features that are essential to deltaic processes such as bifurcations and avulsions, the partitioning of flux between channels and inundated islands, and the instability of flux distribution at channel mouths which is responsible for mouth-bar growth. Finally, we discuss advantages and limitations of FlowRCM and identify environments most suitable for it.
Spatial evapotranspiration, rainfall and land use data in water accounting – Part 2: Reliability of water acounting results for policy decisions in the Awash Basin
Authors: Karimi P. , Bastiaanssen W. G. M. , Sood A. , Hoogeveen J. , Peiser L. , Bastidas-Obando E. , Dost R. J.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Water Accounting Plus (WA+) is a framework that summarizes complex hydrological processes and water management issues in river basins. The framework is designed to use satellite-based measurements of land and water variables and processes as input data. A general concern associated with the use of satellite measurements is their accuracy. This study focuses on the impact of the error in remote sensing measurements on water accounting and information provided to policy makers. The Awash Basin in the central Rift Valley in Ethiopia is used as a case study to explore the reliability of WA+ outputs, in the light of input data errors. The Monte Carlo technique was used for stochastic simulation of WA+ outputs over a period of 3 yr. The results show that the stochastic mean of the majority of WA+ parameters and performance indicators are within 5% deviation from the original WA+ values based on one single calculation. Stochastic computation is proposed as a standard procedure for WA+ water accounting because it provides the uncertainty bandwidth for every WA+ output, which is essential information for sound decision-making processes. The majority of WA+ parameters and performance indicators have a coefficient of variation (CV) of less than 20%, which implies that they are reliable and provide consistent information on the functioning of the basin. The results of the Awash Basin also indicate that the utilized flow and basin closure fraction (the degree to which available water in a basin is utilized) have a high margin of error and thus a low reliability. As such, the usefulness of them in formulating important policy decisions for the Awash Basin is limited. Other river basins will usually have a more accurate assessment of the discharge in the river mouth.
Assessing the determinants of rill erosion on roadcuts in the south eastern region of South Africa
Authors: Seutloali K. E. , Beckedahl H. R.
Published: January 2015

Abstract. Erosion on roadcuts is a concern due to potential to cause environmental degradation which has significant economic costs. It is therefore critical to understand the relationship between roadcut characteristics and soil erosion for designing roadcuts that are less vulnerable to erosion and to help road rehabilitation works. This study investigated the characteristics (i.e. gradient, length and percentage of vegetation cover) of degraded (i.e. with rills) and non-degraded roadcuts (i.e. without rills) and explored the relationship of the roadcut characteristics with the dimensions (widths and depths) of the rills. Degraded roadcuts were steep (52.21°), long (10.70 m), and had a low percentage of vegetation cover (24.12) when compared to non-degraded roadcuts which had a gradient of 28.24°, length of 6.38 m and 91.7% of vegetation cover. Moreover, the gradient and percentage of vegetation cover of the roadcuts significantly determined the rill dimensions. The widths and depths of the rills increased with the increase in slope gradient and decreased with an increase in percentage of the vegetation cover. Moreover, the widths and depths of the rills decreased downslope of the roadcuts. Based on these results, re-vegetation of roadcuts as well as construction of gentle gradients could minimise rill erosion and hence the negative onsite and offsite effects.
The Royal Road to Time: How Understanding of the Evolution of Time in the Brain Addresses Memory, Dreaming, Flow, and Other Psychological Phenomena
Authors: HANCOCK PETER A.
Published: January 2015

It has been claimed that dreams are the royal road to the unconscious mind. The present work argues that dreams and associated brain states such as memory, attention, flow, and perhaps even consciousness itself arise from diverse conflicts over control of time in the brain. Dreams are the brain’s offline efforts to distill projections of the future, while memory represents the vestiges of the past successes and survived failures of those and other conscious projections. Memory thus acts to inform and improve the prediction of possible future states through the use of conscious prospects (planning) and unconscious prospective memory (dreams). When successful, these prospects result in states of flow for conscious planning and déjà vu for its unconscious comparator. In consequence, and contrary to normal expectation, memory is overwhelmingly oriented to deal with the future. Consciousness is the comparable process operating in the present moment. Thus past, present, and future are homeomorphic with the parts of memory (episodic and autobiographical) that recall a personal past, consciousness, and the differing dimensions of prospective memory to plan for future circumstances, respectively. Dreaming (i.e., unconscious prospective memory), has the luxury to run multiple “what if” simulations of many possible futures, essentially offline. I explicate these propositions and their relations to allied constructs such as déjà vu and flow. More generally, I propose that what appear to us as a range of normal psychological experiences are actually manifestations of an ongoing pathological battle for control within the brain. The landscape of this conflict is time. I suggest that there are at least 3 general systems bidding for this control, and in the process of evolution, each system has individually conferred a sequentially increasing survival advantage, but only at the expense of a still incomplete functional integration. Through juxtaposition of these respective brain systems, I endeavor to resolve some fundamental paradoxes and conundrums expressed in the basic psychological and behavioral processes of sleep, consciousness, and memory. The implication
Studying the Existence and Attributes of Consensus on Psychological Concepts by a Cognitive Psychometric Model
Authors: ORAVECZ ZITA , FAUST KATHERINE , BATCHELDER WILLIAM H. , LEVITIS DANIEL A.
Published: January 2015

Psychological research can take a variety of directions while building on theoretical concepts that are commonly shared among the population of researchers. We investigate the question of how agreement or consensus on basic scientific concepts can be measured. Our approach to the problem is based on a state-of-the-art cognitive psychometric technique, implemented in the theoretical framework of cultural consensus theory. With this approach, consensus-based answers for questions exploring shared knowledge can be derived while basic factors of the human decision-making process are accounted for. An example of the approach is provided by examining the definition of behavior, based on responses from researchers and students. We conclude that the consensus definition of behavior is “a response by the whole individual to external or internal stimulus, influenced by the internal processes of the individual, and is typically not a developmental change.” The general goal of the article is to demonstrate the utility of a cultural consensus theory–based approach as a method for investigating what current, working definitions of scientific concepts are.
Trabalho e educação na atualidade: mediações com a educação física brasileira
Authors: Nozaki Hajime Takeuchi
Published: January 2015

O objetivo do artigo é apresentar as discussões que permeiam o campo trabalho e educação no Brasil e analisar a sua interlocução com a produção no campo da educação física. Para tal, realizou um estado da arte das pesquisas do trabalho do professor de educação física. Tais estudos são mediados pela discussão em torno dos campos de atuação, sendo possível identificar duas grandes linhas, a da escola e a dos campos não escolares. Nos estudos dos campos não escolares, há uma predominância das academias de ginástica, investigando a gestão empresarial e o trabalho do professor. Os estudos do campo escolar referem-se, essencialmente, ao trabalho pedagógico da educação física. A importante contribuição destes estudos está na compreensão do objeto do trabalho do professor de educação física em uma totalidade concreta.
Estado de conhecimento e questões do campo científico
Authors: Morosini Marilia Costa
Published: January 2015

Este texto objetiva desvelar questões sobre a construção de Estados de Conhecimento na área da Educação e apontar posições teóricas fundamentadoras dessas questões com vista à prática de pesquisa articulada à realidade nacional. Parte de tematizações encima de experiências, ao longo de quatro anos, em um curso de pós-graduação de excelência. Identifica categorias de análise na perspectiva do campo cientifico (Bourdieu): Políticas públicas do Estado-nação e da área disciplinar; Finalidades do Estado de Conhecimento para a ruptura de pré-conceitos (Quivy e Capenhoudt); Qualidade interna do Estado de Conhecimento (Lovitts) marcado pela originalidade; e Metodologia de aprendizagem colaborativa. Conclui pela complexidade da produção de um Estado de Conhecimento decorrente das inúmeras inter-relações sócio-científicas e resgata sua importância para a inserção no campo cientifico e na área do objeto de pesquisa.
Editorial – Revista Educação
Authors: Tomazetti Elisete Medianeira , Bolzan Doris Pires Vargas , Henz Celso Ilgo
Published: January 2015

Editorial - Revista Educação
Perfil do diretor da escola pública estadual paulista
Authors: Hojas Viviani Fernanda , Abdian Graziela Zambão
Published: January 2015

O objetivo deste texto foi o de analisar o perfil do diretor de escola pública paulista, problematizando a literatura da área, os concursos públicos e as diretrizes da política. As constatações permitiram-nos afirmar que, apesar do avanço dos anos 1980, sobremaneira no que diz respeito à negação da Administração empresarial e ao incentivo para a construção de um corpo teórico próprio para a Administração escolar, o que predomina nos anos mais recentes é a não formação inicial do diretor de escola e uma atuação baseada no “manager”. Os avanços conquistados encontram barreiras reais quando este diretor concursado é submetido aos cursos de formação continuada e aos documentos legais que determinam um perfil gerencial, que não dialoga com uma formação inicial fortalecida e alternativa ao que recebe diariamente das instâncias superiores.
Adesão de crianças ao valor justiça: comparação entre respostas espontâneas e respostas a um questionário fechado
Authors: Menin Maria Suzana De Stefano , Moro Adriano , Bataglia Patricia Unger Raphael
Published: January 2015

O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a adesão ao valor justiça em crianças. Comparou-se as respostas dadas por crianças entre 9 e 12 anos a dois tipos de questionários: o primeiro com alternativas construídas em níveis crescentes de descentração de perspectiva social, e o segundo com as mesmas questões apresentadas de forma aberta. As questões foram apresentadas em formato de histórias que envolviam justiça distributiva, retributiva e processual. O questionário com alternativas foi aplicado em 111 crianças e o fechado em outras 28. Em ambos os tipos de questionários as crianças apresentaram as mesmas tendências na adesão ao valor, no entanto, as respostas espontâneas mostraram-se mais punitivas e com uso mais forte de sanções expiatórias que as fechadas no caso das histórias a respeito de justiça retributiva e processual.
Lingual Distribution of Tuberculosis Patients in Karachi - A Demographic Analysis
Authors: Muhammad Miandad  , Farkhunda Burke  , Syed Nawaz-ul-Huda  , Salahuddin Ghazi  , Muhammad Azam
Published: January 2015

The main objective of this paper is to investigate tuberculosis patients’ demographic distribution including their sociocultural impacts among various ethnic groups in the study area. Data was collected through questionnaire survey (interviewing patients) at TB diagnostic centers in the study area over a period of eight months (March to October 2013). Analysis was made with the help of Microsoft excel and SPSS version 20 for demographic analysis.The questionnaire survey revealed the respondents in terms of languages as Urdu (33.28), Sindhi (20.63), Punjabi (14.98), Pashtu (11.48), Seraiki (10.48%) and other languages 14.81. Researchers have identified other languages (which included, Hindko, Balti, Persian, Brahvi, Marwari, Gilgiti, Gujrati) as being the most vulnerable/impoverished lingual groups in the study area. Demographically, Urdu speaking TB patients were recorded as 53% females, but the case of Sindhi speaking female patients was slightly high (50.81%) compared to males. Punjabi speaking patients were found to number almost similar to the Urdu speaking patients as the percentage of females was 52.22%. Pashtu speaking females amounted to 44.9 %, while males recorded highest percentage i.e. 55.07%.The occurrence of TB in the purview of lingual distribution of population in Karachi provides an insight into the transmission of the disease especially in the context of the global as well as local environment, cultural and politico-economic scenario.
Use of Geometric Mean in Bioequivalence Trials
Authors: Rasheed Abdur , Siddiqui Afaq Ahmed
Published: January 2015

Bioequivalence data often do not follow the normality assumption on the linear (original) scale, therefore in that situation, the use of the logarithmic transformation is recommended. In the bioequivalence analysis, confusion arises about the use of geometric mean ratio when the logarithmic transformation is recommended by the regulatory authorities. The purpose of this research paper is to clear this confusion. Different average bioequivalence criteria are also reviewed in this paper.
The Change of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Values of Healthy Subjects According toTemperature and Aging
Authors: Kim Sung Su , Lew Dong Hoon , Choi Ja Yoon , Lee Eun Ju , Kim Min Gyo , Kim Kyong Young , Kim Soo Kyoung , Jung Jung Hwa , Jung Jae Hoon , Hahm Jong Ryea l
Published: January 2015

Objective: We conducted a study to investigate the normal range for TSH and within-individual variations of TSH according to temperat䴸re and aging. Patients and Methods: We enrolled patients who underwent periodic medical examinations five times over a six year period (2007.8~2013.6). Anthropometric data and thyroid ultrasonography were evaluated, and serum TSH, T3, and T4 were assayed. Results: Subjects were 19-64 years old, 120 were female, and 208 were male. Reference ranges for TSH were 0.53-4.94 mlU/L in the first test, 0.49-5.61 mlU/L in the second test, 0.46-6.06 mlU/L in the third test, 0.48-5.99 mlU/L in the fourth test, and 0.52-6.3 mlU/L in the fifth test. When the TSH level was analyzed according to temperature and sex, mean TSH was higher in months in which the average monthly temperatures were below 100C in Jinju, Gyeongnam and female. The aging and low temperatures are associated with increased serum TSH concentrations in the within-individual. Conclusions: This study showed that aging is associated with increased serum TSH concentrations in the within- individual and serum TSH concentrations are different in the within-individual according to the temperature.
Nerve-Sparing Cryoablation for the Treatment of Primary Prostate Cancer: the Preliminary Report
Authors: Choi Seong
Published: January 2015

Background: To present a pilot study of nerve-sparing cryoablation for the treatment of primary prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: Between 2008 and 2011, 9 patients underwent nerve-sparing cryoablation (unilateral 5, bilateral 4 patients). One neurovascular bundle (NVB) was spared on the side opposite the positive biopsy, and two NVBs were spared when indicated and possible. Just before the start of freezing, a 22-gauge spinal needle was placed into Denonvilliers fascia using a transperineal route, and normal saline was injected to separate the rectum from the prostate. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was sampled every 3 months for the first 2 years and then every 6 months thereafter. Patients were considered to have a stable PSA if they had two consecutive PSA measurements without a rise. Results: The follow-up was 4ᄋ-months (19-66 months). All patients had stable PSA levels at last follow-up. Potency (defined as an erection sufficient to complete intercourse to the satisfaction of the patient) was maintained in 4 of 9 patients, 5 were potent with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors or intracavernosal injection. Conclusions: Nerve-sparing cryoablation, in which one or two neurovascular bundle is spared, showed the possibility of preserving potency in most patients without compromising cancer control. These preliminary results warrant further study.
Çirpan kanatta kanat profilinin etkisi
Authors: KARAKAŞ Ferhat , PAÇA Onur , KÖSE Cihad , SON Onur , ZALOĞLU Berk , FENERCİOĞLU İdil , ÇETİNER Okşan
Published: January 2015

Özet

Mikro hava araçlarının (MHA) tasarımı ve pratikteki uygulamaları için yapılan çalışmalar, düşük Reynolds sayılı akışlarıdaki araştırmaların önemini arttırmıştır. Su canlıları, kuşlar ve böceklerin etrafındaki akışlardan biyolojik esinlenme ile yaratılabilen itki kuvveti, bu tür hareket mekanizmalarının havacılıkta kullanılabilecek tahrik sistemlerinin uygulama olanakları açısından gittikçe artan şekilde ilgi çekmektedir. Çırpan kanatlar, halihazırda kullanılmakta olan sabit ve döner kanatlı küçük-boyutlu hava araçlarının performansını arttırmada gelecek vaad etmektedir.

Daha önce, SD7003 profiline sahip, çift taraftan sonlandırılarak iki boyutlu incelemeye tabii tutulmuş, yunuslama ve ötelenme yapan bir çırpan kanatta, değişik hareket parametrelerinde oluşan vorteks yapıları sınıflandırılmıştır. Bu çalışmada ise vorteks yapılarına dayanarak niteliksel olarak itki veya sürükleme oluşturduğu belirlenen hareketlerde, dört değişik kanat profiline sahip model (SD7003, NACA0012, t/c=0.05 yuvarlak kenarlı ve t/c=0.05 keskin kenarlı düz levhalar) için üç boyutlu durumda (AR=4) kuvvet ölçümleri yapılmıştır. Çalışma deneysel olarak su kanalında 2,000 < Re < 15,000 arası değerlerde, DPIV (Digital Particle Image Velocimetry – Dijital Parçacık Görüntüleyerek Hız Belirleme) sistemi ve kuvvet/moment duyargası kullanılarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Niceliksel akım görüntüleme sonuçları kanat açıklığı boyunca üç değişik düzlemde elde edilmiştir. Sonuçlar çırpan kanadın yakın iz bölgesinde oluşan vorteks yapıları ile kanada etkiyen kuvvet değerleri arasındaki ilişkiyi zamana bağlı olarak ortaya koymaktadır. Ayrıca çalışmada, sonlu kanat için değişik kanat profilleri kullanımının vorteks oluşumları ile itki/sürükleme elde edilmesinde oluşturduğu farklılıklar incelenmiştir.
Hibrit ölçümlerle hedef kestirim algoritmasi tasarimi
Authors: KALE Suzan , KUTAY Ali Türker
Published: January 2015

ÖZET

Bazı güdümlü füzelerde, hedefe dair bilgiler (pozisyon/hız/ivme), arayıcının henüz hedefe kilitlenmediği durumda çalıştırılan arasafha güdüm algoritmalarında kullanılmak üzere, yer sisteminde bulunan radar tarafından ölçülerek/hesaplanarak veribağı yoluyla füzeye iletilir. Veribağı iletiminin terminal fazda sürmesi durumunda, bu bilgiler aynı zamanda terminal fazda tanımlı ileri güdüm yöntemlerinin uygulanması ve güdüm performansının arttırılması için kullanılabilir. Bu çalışmada, arayıcı ve radar tarafından sağlanan farklı frekanslardaki ölçümler, Extended Kalman Filtresi tabanlı kestirim yöntemiyle tümleştirilmiştir. 3 boyutlu füzehedef kinematiğini yansıtan küresel koordinat sisteminde tanımlı sistem modelinde, hedefin ivmelenmediği varsayılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın sonucunda, hedefe kalan mesafe ve yaklaşma hızı kestirimi elde edilmiştir.
Display Technologies (Other)
Authors:   Stanford Resources, Inc.
Published: January 2015

Electromechanical Displays

Rotatable Dipole Displays

Electrophoretic Imaging Displays (
EPID
)

Electrochromic Displays
Topographic influence on submesoscale dynamics in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Rosso Isabella , Hogg Andrew McC. , Kiss Andrew E. , Gayen Bishakhdatta
Published: January 2015

Topography influences the circulation in the Southern Ocean, generating stationary meanders in the lee of topographic features, triggering hot spots of mesoscale eddy kinetic energy, and modifying jets and fronts. However, the relationship between topography and submesoscale flows (with length scales of order 1–10 km) has not yet been explored. The first submesoscale‐resolving (1/80° resolution) ocean model, with realistic topography of the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean, is used to investigate this interaction. The results show spatial inhomogeneity in submesoscale activity that is correlated with topography. Topographic influence is primarily indirect: topography controls mesoscale flows, which in turn generate submesoscale activity. Mesoscale eddy kinetic energy and strain rate can be used, to first order, to infer submesoscale vertical velocity, implying a possible route to parameterise submesoscale activity in coarser resolution models.
Central American biomass burning smoke can increase tornado severity in the U.S.
Authors: Saide P. E. , Spak S. N. , Pierce R. B. , Otkin J. A. , Schaack T. K. , Heidinger A. K. , da Silva A. M. , Kacenelenbogen M. , Redemann J. , Carmichael G. R.
Published: January 2015

Tornadoes in the Southeast and central U.S. are episodically accompanied by smoke from biomass burning in central America. Analysis of the 27 April 2011 historical tornado outbreak shows that adding smoke to an environment already conducive to severe thunderstorm development can increase the likelihood of significant tornado occurrence. Numerical experiments indicate that the presence of smoke during this event leads to optical thickening of shallow clouds while soot within the smoke enhances the capping inversion through radiation absorption. The smoke effects are consistent with measurements of clouds and radiation before and during the outbreak. These effects result in lower cloud bases and stronger low‐level wind shear in the warm sector of the extratropical cyclone generating the outbreak, two indicators of higher probability of tornadogenesis and tornado intensity and longevity. These mechanisms may contribute to tornado modulation by aerosols, highlighting the need to consider aerosol feedbacks in numerical severe weather forecasting.
Contrasting soil thermal responses to fire in Alaskan tundra and boreal forest
Authors: Jiang Yueyang , Rocha Adrian V. , O'Donnell Jonathan A. , Drysdale Jessica A. , Rastetter Edward B. , Shaver Gaius R. , Zhuang Qianlai
Published: January 2015

Recent fire activity throughout Alaska has increased the need to understand postfire impacts on soils and permafrost vulnerability. Our study utilized data and modeling from a permafrost and ecosystem gradient to develop a mechanistic understanding of the short‐ and long‐term impacts of tundra and boreal forest fires on soil thermal dynamics. Fires influenced a variety of factors that altered the surface energy budget, soil moisture, and the organic‐layer thickness with the overall effect of increasing soil temperatures and thaw depth. The postfire thickness of the soil organic layer and its impact on soil thermal conductivity was the most important factor determining postfire soil temperatures and thaw depth. Boreal and tundra ecosystems underlain by permafrost experienced smaller postfire soil temperature increases than the nonpermafrost boreal forest from the direct and indirect effects of permafrost on drainage, soil moisture, and vegetation flammability. Permafrost decreased the loss of the insulating soil organic layer, decreased soil drying, increased surface water pooling, and created a significant heat sink to buffer postfire soil temperature and thaw depth changes. Ecosystem factors also played a role in determining postfire thaw depth with boreal forests taking several decades longer to recover their soil thermal properties than tundra. These factors resulted in tundra being less sensitive to postfire soil thermal changes than the nonpermafrost boreal forest. These results suggest that permafrost and soil organic carbon will be more vulnerable to fire as climate warms.
Unraveling bed slope from relative roughness in initial sediment motion
Authors: Prancevic Jeff P. , Lamb Michael P.
Published: January 2015

Understanding incipient sediment transport is crucial for predicting landscape evolution, mitigating flood hazards, and restoring riverine habitats. Observations show that the critical Shields stress increases with increasing channel bed slope, and proposed explanations for this counterintuitive finding include enhanced form drag from bed forms, particle interlocking across the channel width, and large bed sediment relative to flow depth (relative roughness). Here we use scaled flume experiments with variable channel widths, bed slopes, and particle densities to separate these effects which otherwise covary in natural streams. The critical Shields stress increased with bed slope for both natural gravel (ρs = 2.65 g/cm3) and acrylic particles (ρs = 1.15 g/cm3), and adjusting channel width had no significant effect. However, the lighter acrylic particles required a threefold higher critical Shields stress for mobilization relative to the natural gravel at a fixed slope, which is unexpected because particle density is accounted for directly in the definition of Shields stress. A comparison with model predictions indicates that changes in local velocity and turbulence associated with increasing relative roughness for lighter materials are responsible for increasing the critical Shields stress in our experiments. These changes lead to concurrent changes in the hydraulic resistance and a nearly constant critical stream power value at initial motion. Increased relative roughness can explain much of the observed heightened critical Shields stresses and reduced sediment transport rates in steep channels and also may bias paleohydraulic reconstructions in environments with exotic submerged densities such as iron ore, pumice, or ice clasts on Titan.
Thermal boundary conditions on western Greenland: Observational constraints and impacts on the modeled thermomechanical state
Authors: Meierbachtol Toby W. , Harper Joel T. , Johnson Jesse V. , Humphrey Neil F. , Brinkerhoff Douglas J.
Published: January 2015

The surface and basal boundary conditions exert an important control on the thermodynamic state of the Greenland Ice Sheet, but their representation in numerical ice sheet models is poorly constrained due to the lack of observations. Here we investigate a land‐terminating sector of western Greenland and (1) quantify differences between new observations and commonly used boundary condition data sets and (2) demonstrate the impact of improved boundary conditions on simulated thermodynamics in a higher‐order numerical flow model. We constrain near‐surface temperature with measurements from two 20 m boreholes in the ablation zone and 10 m firn temperature from the percolation zone. We constrain basal heat flux using in situ measurement in a deep bedrock hole at the study area margin and other existing assessments. To assess boundary condition influences on simulated thermal‐mechanical processes, we compare model output to multiple full‐thickness temperature profiles collected in the ablation zone. Our observation‐constrained basal heat flux is 30 mW m−2 less than commonly used representations. In contrast, measured near‐surface temperatures are warmer than common surface temperature data sets by up to 15°C. Application of lower basal heat flux increases a model cold bias compared to the measured temperature profiles and causes frozen basal conditions across the ablation zone. Temperate basal conditions are reestablished by our warmer surface boundary. Warmer surface ice and firn can introduce several times more energy to the modeled ice mass than what is lost at the bed from reduced basal heat flux, indicating that the thermomechanical state of the ice sheet is highly sensitive to near‐surface effects.
Axial obliquity control on the greenhouse carbon budget through middle‐ to high‐latitude reservoirs
Authors: Laurin Jiří , Meyers Stephen R. , Uličný David , Jarvis Ian , Sageman Bradley B.
Published: January 2015

Carbon sources and sinks are key components of the climate feedback system, yet their response to external forcing remains poorly constrained, particularly for past greenhouse climates. Carbon‐isotope data indicate systematic, million‐year‐scale transfers of carbon between surface reservoirs during and immediately after the Late Cretaceous thermal maximum (peaking in the Cenomanian‐Turonian, circa 97–91 million years, Myr, ago). Here we calibrate Albian to Campanian (108–72 Myr ago) high‐resolution carbon isotope records with a refined chronology and demonstrate how net transfers between reservoirs are plausibly controlled by ~1 Myr changes in the amplitude of axial obliquity. The amplitude‐modulating terms are absent from the frequency domain representation of insolation series and require a nonlinear, cumulative mechanism to become expressed in power spectra of isotope time series. Mass balance modeling suggests that the residence time of carbon in the ocean‐atmosphere system is—by itself—insufficient to explain the Myr‐scale variability. It is proposed that the astronomical control was imparted by a transient storage of organic matter or methane in quasi‐stable reservoirs (wetlands, soils, marginal zones of marine euxinic strata, and potentially permafrost) that responded nonlinearly to obliquity‐driven changes in high‐latitude insolation and/or meridional insolation gradients. While these reservoirs are probably underrepresented in the geological record due to their quasi‐stable character, they might have provided an important control on the dynamics and stability of the greenhouse climate.
The albedo of Earth
Authors: Stephens Graeme L. , O'Brien Denis , Webster Peter J. , Pilewski Peter , Kato Seiji , Li Jui‐lin
Published: January 2015

The fraction of the incoming solar energy scattered by Earth back to space is referred to as the planetary albedo. This reflected energy is a fundamental component of the Earth's energy balance, and the processes that govern its magnitude, distribution, and variability shape Earth's climate and climate change. We review our understanding of Earth's albedo as it has progressed to the current time and provide a global perspective of our understanding of the processes that define it. Joint analyses of surface solar flux data that are a complicated mix of measurements and model calculations with top‐of‐atmosphere (TOA) flux measurements from current orbiting satellites yield a number of surprising results including (i) the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (NH, SH) reflect the same amount of sunlight within ~ 0.2 W m−2. This symmetry is achieved by increased reflection from SH clouds offsetting precisely the greater reflection from the NH land masses. (ii) The albedo of Earth appears to be highly buffered on hemispheric and global scales as highlighted by both the hemispheric symmetry and a remarkably small interannual variability of reflected solar flux (~0.2% of the annual mean flux). We show how clouds provide the necessary degrees of freedom to modulate the Earth's albedo setting the hemispheric symmetry. We also show that current climate models lack this same degree of hemispheric symmetry and regulation by clouds. The relevance of this hemispheric symmetry to the heat transport across the equator is discussed.
Trends in Excess Mortality Among Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Widdifield Jessica , Bernatsky Sasha , Paterson J. Michael , Tomlinson George , Tu Karen , Kuriya Bindee , Thorne J. Carter , Pope Janet E. , Hollands Simon , Bombardier Claire
Published: January 2015

Objective

To evaluate excess mortality over time, comparing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with the general population.

Methods

We computed all‐cause mortality rates among Ontario residents age ≥15 years with RA versus without RA from 1996 to 2009. Age‐ and sex‐standardized mortality rates were expressed as the number of deaths per 1,000 population. Excess mortality rates were calculated as the difference between death rates among RA patients and those in the general population. We estimated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and mortality rate ratios (MRRs) to assess relative excess mortality over time.

Results

From 1996 to 2009, SMRs in RA ranged from 13.0 (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 12.2, 13.9) to 9.2 deaths per 1,000 RA patients (95% CI 8.4, 10.0); and for those without RA from 8.7 (95% CI 8.6, 8.7) to 6.0 deaths (95% CI 5.9, 6.0) per 1,000 general population. Over the study period, the excess mortality rate among RA patients was approximately 3 excess deaths per 1,000 population. Relative reductions in standardized mortality rates occurred over time for those with and without RA (−21.4% versus −13.4%). The SMRs for RA patients in 1996–1997, 2000–2001, 2004–2005, and 2008–2009 were 1.51 (95% CI 1.43, 1.59), 1.50 (95% CI 1.43, 1.57), 1.43 (95% CI 1.37, 1.50), and 1.41 (95% CI 1.35, 1.47), respectively. We did not find a significant change in the MRR by calendar time.

Conclusion

Mortality for RA patients has decreased over time but remains elevated compared to the general population, with 40–50% more deaths among RA patients. The relative excess mortality over time (mortality gap) remains unchanged in our sample.
Safety of Etoricoxib, Celecoxib, and Nonselective Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs in Ankylosing Spondylitis and Other Spondyloarthritis Patients: A Swedish National Population‐Based Cohort Study
Authors: Kristensen L. E. , Jakobsen A. K. , Askling J. , Nilsson F. , Jacobsson L. T. H.
Published: January 2015

Objective

Safety data regarding the use of etoricoxib and other nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and other spondyloarthritis (SpA) patients are rather limited. Our objective was to estimate and compare rates of gastrointestinal, renovascular, and cardiovascular adverse events in patients exposed to etoricoxib, celecoxib, or nonselective NSAIDs or totally unexposed to NSAIDs.

Methods

We performed a national register‐based cohort study on patients with AS or SpA (n = 21,872) identified in the Swedish national patient register from 1987–2009. Treatment exposure was assessed time dependently based on the prescription drug register from 2006–2009, adjusting for sociodemographics and comorbidities derived from national population‐based registers.

Results

Exposure to etoricoxib, celecoxib, and nonselective NSAIDs was 7.6%, 3.9%, and 71.2%, respectively. No major risk differences for serious cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, or renal adverse events were seen among the 3 exposure groups. Patients unexposed to NSAIDs had more baseline comorbidities and an increased relative risk for congestive heart failure events during the study period (2.0, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.3–3.2). The relative risk for atherosclerotic events was nonsignificant when compared to the nonselective NSAID group (1.0, 95% CI 0.7–1.5), while the relative risk for gastrointestinal events was lower for unexposed patients (0.5, 95% CI 0.4–0.7).

Conclusion

Overall, serious adverse events related to nonselective NSAIDs, etoricoxib, and celecoxib were similar and in the range of what would be expected in a group of SpA patients. Patients unexposed to NSAIDs had considerably more baseline comorbidities and increased risk for congestive heart failure, reflecting a selection of patients being prescribed NSAIDs in clinical practice.
Maintenance of Clinical and Radiographic Benefit With Intravenous Golimumab Therapy in Patients With Active Rheumatoid Arthritis Despite Methotrexate Therapy: Week‐112 Efficacy and Safety Results of the Open‐Label Long‐Term Extension of a Phase III, Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Bingham Clifton O. , Mendelsohn Alan M. , Kim Lilianne , Xu Zhenhua , Leu Jocelyn , Han Chenglong , Lo Kim Hung , Westhovens Rene , Weinblatt Michael E. ,   on behalf of the GO‐FURTHER Investigators
Published: January 2015

Objective

To evaluate the safety, efficacy, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and radiographic progression through 2 years of treatment with intravenous (IV) golimumab plus methotrexate (MTX) in an open‐label extension of a phase III trial of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) despite MTX therapy.

Methods

In the phase III, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled GO‐FURTHER trial, 592 patients with active RA were randomized (2:1) to intravenous golimumab 2 mg/kg plus MTX (Group 1) or placebo plus MTX (Group 2) at weeks 0 and 4, then every 8 weeks thereafter; placebo patients crossed over to golimumab at week 16 (early escape) or week 24 (crossover). The final golimumab infusion was at week 100. Assessments included American College of Rheumatology 20%, 50%, 70% (ACR20, ACR50, ACR70) response criteria, 28‐joint count disease activity score using the C‐reactive protein level (DAS28‐CRP), physical function and quality of life measures, and changes in the modified Sharp/van der Heijde scores (SHS). Safety was monitored through week 112.

Results

In total, 486 patients (82.1%) continued treatment through week 100, and 68.1%, 43.8%, and 23.5% had an ACR20/50/70 response, respectively, at week 100. Clinical response and improvements in physical function and quality of life were generally maintained from week 24 through 2 years. Mean change from baseline to week 100 in SHS score was 0.74 in Group 1 and 2.10 in Group 2 (P = 0.005); progression from week 52 to week 100 was clinically insignificant in both groups. A total of 481 patients completed the safety followup through week 112; 79.1% had an adverse event, and 18.2% had a serious adverse event.

Conclusion

Clinical response to IV golimumab plus MTX was maintained through week 100. Radiographic progression following golimumab treatment was clinically insignificant between week 52 and week 100. No unexpected adverse events occurred through week 112, and the safety profile was consistent with anti–tumor necrosis factor therapy.
Efficiency Gains for Rheumatology Consultation Using a Novel Electronic Referral System in a Safety‐Net Health Setting
Authors: Scheibe Meghan M. , Imboden John B. , Schmajuk Gabriela , Margaretten Mary , Graf Jonathan D. , Chen Alice H. , Yelin Edward H. , Yazdany Jinoos
Published: January 2015

Objective

Health information technology (HIT) holds promise in increasing access to rheumatologists by improving the quality and efficiency of referrals, but few studies have examined its use for this purpose. We evaluated the use and impact of a novel electronic referral (eReferral) system in rheumatology in a safety‐net health system.

Methods

We examined eReferrals over 4 years. Our primary outcome was use of preconsultation exchange, defined as back‐and‐forth communication between referring and specialty care providers, facilitating triage of referrals, requests for more information, or resolution of questions without a visit. We calculated the proportion of eReferrals that underwent preconsultation exchange, time to reviewer response, and number of visits scheduled. To increase generalizability, we selected a random sample of eReferrals to undergo additional blinded, adjudicated review to assess agreement on appropriateness for preconsultation exchange.

Results

Between 2008 and 2012, 2,383 eReferrals were reviewed and 2,105 were eligible for analysis. One‐fourth of eReferrals were resolved without a clinic visit. The proportion of eReferrals undergoing preconsultation exchange increased over time (55% in 2008 versus 74% in 2011), and the volume of referrals also steadily increased over time. Reviewer response time averaged between 1 and 4 days. In the random sample of eReferrals that underwent adjudicated review, agreement between reviewers was high (κ = 0.72).

Conclusion

HIT‐enabled preconsultation exchange was used for a majority of eReferrals and facilitated communication between referring clinicians and rheumatologists. This redesigned system of care allowed for triage of a high number of referrals, with many referrals determined to be appropriate for preconsultation exchange.
Fault diagnosis based on set membership identification using output‐error models
Authors: Reppa V. , Tzes A.
Published: January 2015

The objective of this article is the design of a fault diagnosis method based on set membership identification for systems subject to abrupt parametric faults. The proposed method assumes an output‐error, linearly parametrizable model, with unknown but bounded noise corrupting the measurement data. The set membership identification's objective is to compute (a) the smallest volume‐wise ellipsoid that contains the nominal parameter vector, which concurrently resides within a data‐hypersector and (b) the monotonically nonincreasing parametric set arisen from the orthotopes that tightly outer bound the ellipsoids. The fault detection mechanism is based on consistency tests between the estimated ellipsoids and the data‐hypersectors and the intersection of support orthotopes. At the sample instant of the fault detection, set‐theoretic operations are applied for the subsequent fault isolation and identification. The fault isolation is based on the projections of the intersections of orthotopes, while the distance of their centers is used for fault identification. Simulations studies are used to verify the efficiency of the suggested method applied on an electrostatic microactuator subject to several abrupt failure modes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fast and Complete Transimination of NH Imines into O‐Alkyl Oximes
Authors: Jeon Mina , Gupta Sreya , Im Young‐Woong , Rhee Young Ho , Park Jaiwook
Published: January 2015

A synthetic method for making O‐alkyl oximes was developed by combining the Ru‐catalyzed transformation of alkyl azides into NH imines and a transimination reaction with O‐alkyl hydroxylamine hydrochlorides. This process provides a wide range of O‐alkyl oximes in high yields at room temperature in short reaction times.