bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prioritization of Forest Restoration Projects: Tradeoffs between Wildfire Protection, Ecological Restoration and Economic Objectives
Authors: Vogler Kevin , Ager Alan , Day Michelle , Jennings Michael , Bailey John
Published: December 2015

The implementation of US federal forest restoration programs on national forests is a complex process that requires balancing diverse socioecological goals with project economics. Despite both the large geographic scope and substantial investments in restoration projects, a quantitative decision support framework to locate optimal project areas and examine tradeoffs among alternative restoration strategies is lacking. We developed and demonstrated a new prioritization approach for restoration projects using optimization and the framework of production possibility frontiers. The study area was a 914,657 ha national forest in eastern Oregon, US that was identified as a national priority for restoration with the goal of increasing fire resiliency and sustaining ecosystem services. The results illustrated sharp tradeoffs among the various restoration goals due to weak spatial correlation of forest stressors and provisional ecosystem services. The sharpest tradeoffs were found in simulated projects that addressed either wildfire risk to the urban interface or wildfire hazard, highlighting the challenges associated with meeting both economic and fire protection goals. Understanding the nature of tradeoffs between restoration objectives and communicating them to forest stakeholders will allow forest managers to more effectively design and implement economically feasible restoration projects.
Oligonucleotide Functionalised Microbeads: Indispensable Tools for High-Throughput Aptamer Selection
Authors: Fraser Lewis , Kinghorn Andrew , Tang Marco , Cheung Yee-Wai , Lim Bryce , Liang Shaolin , Dirkzwager Roderick , Tanner Julian
Published: December 2015

The functionalisation of microbeads with oligonucleotides has become an indispensable technique for high-throughput aptamer selection in SELEX protocols. In addition to simplifying the separation of binding and non-binding aptamer candidates, microbeads have facilitated the integration of other technologies such as emulsion PCR (ePCR) and Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS) to high-throughput selection techniques. Within these systems, monoclonal aptamer microbeads can be individually generated and assayed to assess aptamer candidate fitness thereby helping eliminate stochastic effects which are common to classical SELEX techniques. Such techniques have given rise to aptamers with 1000 times greater binding affinities when compared to traditional SELEX. Another emerging technique is Fluorescence Activated Droplet Sorting (FADS) whereby selection does not rely on binding capture allowing evolution of a greater diversity of aptamer properties such as fluorescence or enzymatic activity. Within this review we explore examples and applications of oligonucleotide functionalised microbeads in aptamer selection and reflect upon new opportunities arising for aptamer science.
Internal Fat and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Following a Meal-Replacement Regimen vs. Comprehensive Lifestyle Changes in Obese Subjects
Authors: König Daniel , Zdzieblik Denise , Deibert Peter , Berg Aloys , Gollhofer Albert , Büchert Martin
Published: December 2015

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of a meal-replacement regimen vs. comprehensive lifestyle changes in overweight or obese subjects on intra-abdominal fat stores (Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) measurements) and cardiometabolic risk factors. Forty-two obese men (n = 18) and women (n = 24) (age 49 ± 8 years; weight 96.3 ± 12.1 kg; BMI 32.7 ± 2.3 kg/m2) were selected for this randomized parallel-group design investigation. Subjects in the lifestyle group (LS-G; n = 22) received dietary counselling sessions and instructions how to increase physical activity. In the meal replacement group (MR-G; n = 20) meals were replaced by a low-calorie drink high in soy protein. After six months, subjects in the LS-G lost 8.88 ± 6.24 kg and subjects in the MR-G lost 7.1 ± 2.33 kg; p < 0.01 for changes within groups; no significant differences were found between the groups. Lean body mass remained constant in both intervention groups. MRI analyses showed that internal fat was significantly reduced in both groups to a comparable amount; the higher fat loss in the LS-G in the abdominal area was due to a higher reduction in subcutaneous fat. Both interventions significantly reduced components of the cardiometabolic risk profile and leptin levels. The decrease in the adipokines fetuin A and resistin was more pronounced in the MR-G. In conclusion, both interventions significantly reduced body weight, total fat mass and internal abdominal fat while preserving lean body mass. The reduction in the adipokines fetuin A and resistin was more pronounced in the meal replacement group suggesting an additional effect of soy protein components.
Influence of pH, Temperature and Sample Size on Natural and Enforced Syneresis of Precipitated Silica
Authors: Wilhelm Sebastian , Kind Matthias
Published: December 2015

The production of silica is performed by mixing an inorganic, silicate-based precursor and an acid. Monomeric silicic acid forms and polymerizes to amorphous silica particles. Both further polymerization and agglomeration of the particles lead to a gel network. Since polymerization continues after gelation, the gel network consolidates. This rather slow process is known as “natural syneresis” and strongly influences the product properties (e.g., agglomerate size, porosity or internal surface). “Enforced syneresis” is the superposition of natural syneresis with a mechanical, external force. Enforced syneresis may be used either for analytical or preparative purposes. Hereby, two open key aspects are of particular interest. On the one hand, the question arises whether natural and enforced syneresis are analogous processes with respect to their dependence on the process parameters: pH, temperature and sample size. On the other hand, a method is desirable that allows for correlating natural and enforced syneresis behavior. We can show that the pH-, temperature- and sample size-dependency of natural and enforced syneresis are indeed analogous. It is possible to predict natural syneresis using a correlative model. We found that our model predicts maximum volume shrinkages between 19% and 30% in comparison to measured values of 20% for natural syneresis.
Robust Design of Docking Hoop for Recovery of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle with Experimental Results
Authors: Lin Wei , Chin Cheng , Looi Leonard , Lim Jun , Teh Elvin
Published: December 2015

Control systems prototyping is usually constrained by model complexity, embedded system configurations, and interface testing. The proposed control system prototyping of a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) with a docking hoop (DH) to recover an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) named AUVDH using a combination of software tools allows the prototyping process to be unified. This process provides systematic design from mechanical, hydrodynamics, dynamics modelling, control system design, and simulation to testing in water. As shown in a three-dimensional simulation of an AUVDH model using MATLAB™/Simulink™ during the launch and recovery process, the control simulation of a sliding mode controller is able to control the positions and velocities under the external wave, current, and tether forces. In the water test using the proposed Python-based GUI platform, it shows that the AUVDH is capable to perform station-keeping under the external disturbances.
Les communes picardes au Moyen Age : une évolution originale.
Authors: Desportes Pierre
Published: December 2015

Cet article vise à mettre en lumière l'originalité de l'évolution interne des communes picardes de la fin du XIIe siècle au début du XVIe siècle. On peut en effet parler d'un modèle communal picard, nettement différent du flamand ou de l'artésien. Alors que le maire a conservé ses pouvoirs face au collège échevinal et ne s'est pas laissé absorber par celui-ci, l'oligarchie et le commun s'accordent pour assurer de concert le gouvernement urbain, dans le cadre d'une formule d'association très souple : à l'une le privilège de fournir les postulants aux magistratures, à l'autre celui de les élire par l'entremise de ses maires de métiers, installés dans le rôle de grands électeurs. L'exemple d'Amiens révèle les subtilités de ce compromis ; ceux de Péronne et de Beauvais établissent sa précoce mise au point dès les premières années du XIIIe siècle. Ce régime a permis aux villes picardes de traverser sans trop de heurts les agitations des années 1280-1360 ; au prix de quelques aménagements, il a subsisté en certains endroits jusqu'à la fin du Moyen Age.
La défense du Nord, couloir d'invasions (1871- 1940). Fortifications et plans stratégiques.
Authors: Vanderstraete Bertrand
Published: December 2015

Hoe heeft Frankrijk zich tweemaal, in 1914 en 1940, kunnen laten verrassen op zijn noorderflank ? Het strategische doorzicht van de Duitsers is maar een element ter verklaring, men moet de oorzaak ook zoeken in de opvattingen van de Franse générale staf.

De Franse militairen zijn nooit blind geweest voor de Duitse dreiging in het noorden en in de jaren 1870 en 1930 worden er versterkte verdedigingssystemen aangelegd. In 1914 had men de vergissing begaan te rekenen op een offensieve politiek, die van het noorden op een dramatische manier een strategische lokaas maakte. In 1940 was men realistischer en had men gekozen voor een ultradefensieve opstelling, gesteund op verouderde taktische begrippen. Vergis- singen of gewoon de onmogelijkheid uit de hinderlaag te raken van een grens die in 1815 in het nadeel van Frankrijk werd getrokken. Frankrijk heeft nooit een leefbare militaire oplossing gevonden, en heeft ook nooit deze lacune gevuld door een aangepaste diplomatie.
Du Lille ancien au Lille renaissant
Authors: Trénard Louis
Published: December 2015

Ville frontière, meurtrie par les deux guerres mondiales du XXe siècle, Lille paraissait, en 1950, une cité dépouillée de son passé. Un groupe de Lillois entreprit courageusement de redonner confiance aux habitants, de susciter un désir de sauvegarde et de mise en valeur de ce qui subsistait. En un quart de siècle, l'Association de la Renaissance du Lille ancien, fondée en 1964, est parvenue, avec l'aide des autorités et d'autres sociétés culturelles, à sensibiliser l'opinion, à créer un secteur sauvegardé et à donner un nouveau visage à cette grande ville classée, aujourd'hui, ville d'art.
La politique d'emprunts des collectivités locales de la région. 1870-1914.
Authors: Tassin Gérard
Published: December 2015

De leenpolitiek van de lokale besturen in de streek tussen 1870 en 1914.

Het eerste deel bevat een repertorium van de financieringsmogelijkheden van de lokale besturen aan wie de wet een reeks nieuwe taken oplegt en die zodoende meer geld nodig hebben. Men geeft de voorkeur aan leningen. En daarvoor heeft men de keuze tussen publieke of semi-publieke kredietinstellingen (Caisse des Ecoles, Caisse des Chemins Vicinaux), privépersonen of banken, en het uitschrijven van openbare leningen, met de mogelijkheid obligaties uit te geven, die in de beurs kunnen ingeschreven worden, bij voorbeeld in Rijsel.

Het tweede deel gaat over de studie van het voorbeeld Duinkerke, wat toelaat een overzicht van de evolutie van de financiering van 1870 tot 1914 te geven.
Les communistes du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais de l'agonie du Front Populaire à la guerre (1938-1939). Seconde partie : Forces et faiblesses du communisme du Nord à la veille de la guerre.
Authors: Le Maner Yves
Published: December 2015

Durement ébranlées par l'échec des «grèves du Nord» de novembre 1938 et par la répression patronale qui suivit, les régions communistes du Nord et du Pas-de-Calais se retrouvaient, à la veille de la guerre, en situation de repli et d'isolement. L'affrontement avait repris avec les fédérations socialistes -le Front Populaire était mort et enterré- et l'espoir de prendre le contrôle des directions syndicales régionales s'estompait au moment où l'aile ultra-réformiste de la C.G.T., menée par G. Dumoulin, choisissait le département du Nord pour servir de «laboratoire» à ses projets de «repensement du syndicalisme» et de collaboration de classes. Ainsi, dès avant guerre, la C.G.T. nordiste se trouvait-elle en état de pré-scission, sur des clivages qui, par maints aspects, annonçaient ceux de 1947.

Parti de «métallos» dans le Nord, de mineurs dans le Pas-de-Calais, le P. CF. était devenu, en 1939, une puissante machine politique dont les rouages principaux étaient de jeunes «cadres» ouvriers formés à l'école de la «bolchévisation» des années 1924-1934. La transmission familiale du credo communiste, déjà fortement établie, allait constituer l'un des éléments majeurs de la «traversée du désert» de 1939-1941.
Les garnisons dans les petites villes du Nord à la fin de l'Ancien Régime.
Authors: Milot Jean
Published: December 2015

Sedert het einde van de Amerikaanse oorlog vermindert de getalsterkte in de Noordfranse garnizoenen, meer in de kleine steden dan in de grote. Maar het aantal militairen blijft gewoonlijk hoog.

Deze militaire aanwezigheid brengt heel wat lasten mee, maar de kleine steden wensen steeds grotere garnizoenen te herbergen.

Zij beseffen al te goed dat de militaire aanwezigheid hun overlevingskansen als stad verhoogt.
Capacité d'attraction et hiérarchie des petites villes de Flandre maritime (fin XVIIIe, début XIXe siècle).
Authors: Terrier Didier
Published: December 2015

The study of immigration in the smaller cities of maritime Flanders in the late XVIIIth and early XlXth centuries enables us to understand how important demographic attractivity is as a criterion for defining an urban hierarchy.

In Bergues, Bourbourg, Gravelines and Hondschoote, population mobility remains always quite significant : one can even note cases when one citizen out of two marrying in a small city is not a native. But that immigration remains also quite selective : the newcomers are relatively educated and need not belong to the poorest rural classes. Finally every one of those cities possesses its own levying basin.

Nevertheless, as can be seen through the immigrants' varying importance, nature and geographical origins, one can make out notable differences between these cities. Behind their apparent unity, the belong in fact to three very clearcut types identified within the framework of the small scale urban units of northern France.
FALL RISK ASSESSMENT OF BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION USING BAYESIAN NETWORK TRANSFERRING FROM FAULT TREE ANALYSIS
Authors: CHEN Tung-Tsan , WANG Chih-Hui
Published: December 2015

Falling is the most common one during bridge construction. Current safety management on site mainly relies on checklist assessment. Yet the assessment result is often influenced by the ability and experience of the evaluator, thus is not impossible to achieve consistent and systematic assessment objective. Moreover, most critical factors that can prevent occurrence of accidents cannot be found from existing safety management and assessment method. This paper built a Bayesian Network (BN) model by converting Fault Tree to assess the fall risk of bridge construction projects. We analyse falling factors and their relationships in Bayesian Network, and collect prior probability event and calculate the probability for the entire model. Using the model to analyse and validate with the current bridge projects under construc­tion, the results from Bayesian Network is consistent with that from conventional labour safety performance assessment. Therefore, the ability to manage site safety of the model is proven to be useful.
Писмо: Промена на крвните лактати при ергометриско тестирање кај професионални фудбалери за време на една натпреварувачка полусезона (Макед Мед Електр С. 2015 Окт 02; 2015; 50012. http://dx.doi.org/10.3889/mmej.2015.50012)
Authors: Спироски Мирко
Published: November 2015

Поднесени се забелешки од Институтот за физиологија при Медицинскиот факултет во Скопје за автентичноста, плагијаризмот и другите етички отстапувања во трудот од Драгица Близнаковска Станчев (Макед Мед Електр С. 2015 Окт 02; 2015; 50012. http://dx.doi.org/10.3889/mmej.2015.50012) за кои, според нив, треба да се повлече трудот од списанието. По внимателна анализа на сите податоци поврзани со објавувањето на овој труд, како и меѓународните правила и стандарди, потребна е корекција на објавениот труд со отстранување на оригиналната статија и дискретна замена со корегираната верзија според политиката на Македонско електронско списание и меѓународните препораки за вакви случаи, како и со внесување нова дата за објавување.
Restoring Speech to Tracheostomy Patients
Authors: Morris Linda L. , Bedon Ana M. , McIntosh Erik , Whitmer Andrea
Published: December 2015

Tracheostomies may be established as part of an acute or chronic illness, and intensive care nurses can take an active role in helping restore speech in patients with tracheostomies, with focused nursing assessments and interventions. Several different methods are used to restore speech, whether a patient is spontaneously breathing, ventilator dependent, or using intermittent mechanical ventilation. Restoring vocal communication allows patients to fully express themselves and their needs, enhancing patient satisfaction and quality of life.
Alcohol Consumption Modulates Host Defense in Rhesus Macaques by Altering Gene Expression in Circulating Leukocytes
Authors: Barr Tasha , Girke Thomas , Sureshchandra Suhas , Nguyen Christina , Grant Kathleen , Messaoudi Ilhem
Published: December 2015

Several lines of evidence indicate that chronic alcohol use disorder leads to increased susceptibility to several viral and bacterial infections, whereas moderate alcohol consumption decreases the incidence of colds and improves immune responses to some pathogens. In line with these observations, we recently showed that heavy ethanol intake (average blood ethanol concentrations > 80 mg/dl) suppressed, whereas moderate alcohol consumption (blood ethanol concentrations < 50 mg/dl) enhanced, T and B cell responses to modified vaccinia Ankara vaccination in a nonhuman primate model of voluntary ethanol consumption. To uncover the molecular basis for impaired immunity with heavy alcohol consumption and enhanced immune response with moderate alcohol consumption, we performed a transcriptome analysis using PBMCs isolated on day 7 post–modified vaccinia Ankara vaccination, the earliest time point at which we detected differences in T cell and Ab responses. Overall, chronic heavy alcohol consumption reduced the expression of immune genes involved in response to infection and wound healing and increased the expression of genes associated with the development of lung inflammatory disease and cancer. In contrast, chronic moderate alcohol consumption upregulated the expression of genes involved in immune response and reduced the expression of genes involved in cancer. To uncover mechanisms underlying the alterations in PBMC transcriptomes, we profiled the expression of microRNAs within the same samples. Chronic heavy ethanol consumption altered the levels of several microRNAs involved in cancer and immunity and known to regulate the expression of mRNAs differentially expressed in our data set.
Mediterranean diet: not only food
Authors: Da Vico Letizia , Agostini Susanna , Brazzo Silvia , Biffi Barbara , Masini Maria Luisa
Published: December 2015

The proposal of a Mediterranean way of life is much more than advise how to eat. The Mediterranean Diet, a model of Sustainable Diet, is an example of how to combine personal choices, economic, social and cultural rights, protective of human health and the ecosystem. There is in fact fundamental interdependence between dietary requirements, nutritional recommendations, production and consumption of food. In literature studies and nutritional and epidemiological monitoring activities at national and international level have found a lack of adherence to this lifestyle, due to the spread of the economy, lifestyles of the Western type and globalization of the production and consumption. To encourage the spread of a culture and a constant practice of the Mediterranean Diet, there are some tools that are presented in this article. The Mediterranean Diet Pyramid in addition to the recommendations on the frequency and portions of food, focuses on the choice of how to cook and eat food. The “Double Food Pyramid” encourages conscious food choices based on “healthy eating and sustainability. All the nutrition professionals and dietitians in particular should be constantly striving to encourage the adoption of a sustainable and balanced nutrition.
Organ-on-a-Chip: New Platform for Biological Analysis
Authors: An Fan , Qu Yueyang , Liu Xianming , Zhong Runtao , Luo Yong
Published: November 2015

Direct detection and analysis of biomolecules and cells in physiological microenvironment is urgently needed for fast evaluation of biology and pharmacy. The past several years have witnessed remarkable development opportunities in vitro organs and tissues models with multiple functions based on microfluidic devices, termed as “organ-on-a-chip”. Briefly speaking, it is a promising technology in rebuilding physiological functions of tissues and organs, featuring mammalian cell co-culture and artificial microenvironment created by microchannel networks. In this review, we summarized the advances in studies of heart-, vessel-, liver-, neuron-, kidney- and Multi-organs-on-a-chip, and discussed some noteworthy potential on-chip detection schemes.
Synergistic Effects of Crizotinib and Temozolomide in Experimental FIG-ROS1 Fusion-Positive Glioblastoma
Authors: Das Arabinda , Cheng Ron Ron , Hilbert Megan L.T. , Dixon-Moh Yaenette N. , Decandio Michele , Vandergrift William Alex , Banik Naren L. , Lindhorst Scott M. , Cachia David , Varma Abhay K. , Patel Sunil J. , Giglio Pierre
Published: December 2015

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most common malignant brain tumor. Drug resistance frequently develops in these tumors during chemotherapy. Therefore, predicting drug response in these patients remains a major challenge in the clinic. Thus, to improve the clinical outcome, more effective and tolerable combination treatment strategies are needed. Robust experimental evidence has shown that the main reason for failure of treatments is signal redundancy due to coactivation of several functionally linked receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), including anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), c-Met (hepatocyte growth factor receptor), and oncogenic c-ros oncogene1 (ROS1: RTK class orphan) fusion kinase FIG (fused in GB)-ROS1. As such, these could be attractive targets for GB therapy. The study subjects consisted of 19 patients who underwent neurosurgical resection of GB tissues. Our in vitro and ex vivo models promisingly demonstrated that treatments with crizotinib (PF-02341066: dual ALK/c-Met inhibitor) and temozolomide in combination induced synergistic antitumor activity on FIG-ROS1-positive GB cells. Our results also showed that ex vivo FIG-ROS1+ slices (obtained from GB patients) when cultured were able to preserve tissue architecture, cell viability, and global gene-expression profiles for up to 14 days. Both in vitro and ex vivo studies indicated that combination blockade of FIG, p-ROS1, p-ALK, and p-Met augmented apoptosis, which mechanistically involves activation of Bim and inhibition of survivin, p-Akt, and Mcl-1 expression. However, it is important to note that we did not see any significant synergistic effect of crizotinib and temozolomide on FIG-ROS1-negative GB cells. Thus, these ex vivo culture results will have a significant impact on patient selection for clinical trials and in predicting response to crizotinib and temozolomide therapy. Further studies in different animal models of FIG-ROS1-positive GB cells are warranted to determine useful therapies for the management of human GBs.
Impact of Advertising on Tampon Wear-time Practices
Authors: Woeller Kara E. , Miller Kenneth W. , Robertson-smith Amy L. , Bohman Lisa C.
Published: November 2015

Objectives

(1) To determine whether advertising nighttime tampon use for up to eight hours was understood to be consistent with label recommendations and (2) to determine whether television and print advertising with this message affected tampon wear times in adults and teens.

Methods

(1) A comprehension study (online advertising and follow-up questionnaire) among women aged 14–49 years (300 per group) who viewed either the test or a control advertising message; (2) Diary-based surveys of tampon wear times performed prior to ( n = 292 adults, 18–49 years, 74 teens, 12–17 years) and after ( n = 287 adults, 104 teens) the launch of national advertising.

Results

Significantly more test message viewers than controls stated tampons should be worn less than or equal to eight hours (93.6% vs. 88.6%, respectively, P = 0.049). A directionally higher percentage of test message viewers said they would use a pad if sleeping longer than eight hours (52% vs. 42% of controls). Among the women who used tampons longer than eight hours when sleeping, 52% reported they would wake up and change compared with 45% of controls. No significant difference between baseline and follow-up diary surveys was found among teens or adults in various measures of tampon wear time (mean wear times; usage intervals from less than two hours to more than 10 hours; percentage of tampons used for more than or equal to eight hours; frequency of wearing at least one tampon more than eight hours).

Conclusions

Advertising nighttime tampon wear for up to eight hours effectively communicated label recommendations but did not alter tampon wear times. The informational intervention had limited impact on established habits.
Перекладывающиеся разбиения тора, подстановка Рози и множества ограниченного остатка
Authors: Kuznetsova Dar'ya Vladimirovna , Shutov Anton Vladimirovich
Published: December 2015

Работа посвящена двумерной проблеме распределения дробных долей
линейной функции. Введен новый класс разбиений двумерного тора на
множества ограниченного остатка с эффективной оценкой остаточного
члена. Показано, что примеры рассматриваемых разбиений могут быть
получены при помощи геометрического варианта подстановки Рози.
Библиография: 25 названий.
An Outbreak of Food-Borne Typhoid Fever Due to Salmonella enterica Serotype Typhi in Japan Reported for the First Time in 16 Years
Authors: Kobayashi Tetsuro , Kutsuna Satoshi , Hayakawa Kayoko , Kato Yasuyuki , Ohmagari Norio , Uryu Hideko , Yamada Ritsuko , Kashiwa Naoyuki , Nei Takahito , Ehara Akihito , Takei Reiko , Mori Nobuaki , Yamada Yasuhiro , Hayasaka Tomomi , Kagawa Narito , Sugawara Momoko , Suzaki Ai , Takahashi Yuno , Nishiyama Hiroyuki , Morita Masatomo , Izumiya Hidemasa , Ohnishi Makoto
Published: December 2015

For the first time in 16 years, a food-borne outbreak of typhoid fever due to Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi was reported in Japan. Seven patients consumed food in an Indian buffet at a restaurant in the center of Tokyo, while one was a Nepali chef in the restaurant, an asymptomatic carrier and the implicated source of this outbreak. The multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis showed 100% consistency in the genomic sequence for five of the eight cases.
The role of semi-volatile organic compounds in the mesoscale evolution of biomass burning aerosol: a modeling case study of the 2010 mega-fire event in Russia
Authors: Konovalov I. B. , Beekmann M. , Berezin E. V. , Petetin H. , Mielonen T. , Kuznetsova I. N. , Andreae M. O.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Chemistry transport models (CTMs) are an indispensable tool for studying and predicting atmospheric and climate effects associated with carbonaceous aerosol from open biomass burning (BB); this type of aerosol is known to contribute significantly to both global radiative forcing and to episodes of air pollution in regions affected by wildfires. Improving model performance requires systematic comparison of simulation results with measurements of BB aerosol and elucidation of possible reasons for discrepancies between them, which, by default, are frequently attributed in the literature to uncertainties in emission data. Based on published laboratory data on the atmospheric evolution of BB aerosol and using the volatility basis set (VBS) framework for organic aerosol modeling, we examined the importance of taking gas-particle partitioning and oxidation of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) into account in simulations of the mesoscale evolution of smoke plumes from intense wildfires that occurred in western Russia in 2010. Biomass burning emissions of primary aerosol components were constrained with PM10 and CO data from the air pollution monitoring network in the Moscow region. The results of the simulations performed with the CHIMERE CTM were evaluated by considering, in particular, the ratio of smoke-related enhancements in PM10 and CO concentrations (ΔPM10 and ΔCO) measured in Finland (in the city of Kuopio), nearly 1000 km downstream of the fire emission sources. It is found that while the simulations based on a "conventional" approach to BB aerosol modeling (disregarding oxidation of SVOCs and assuming organic aerosol material to be non-volatile) strongly underestimated values of ΔPM10/ΔCO observed in Kuopio (by a factor of 2), employing the "advanced" representation of atmospheric processing of organic aerosol material resulted in bringing the simulations to a much closer agreement with the ground measurements. Furthermore, taking gas-particle partitioning and oxidation of SVOCs into account is found to result in a major improvement of the agreement of simulations and satellite measurements of aerosol optical depth, as well as in considerable changes in predicted aerosol composition and top-down BB aerosol emission estimates derived from AOD measurements.
High-resolution inventory of technologies, activities, and emissions of coal-fired power plants in China from 1990 to 2010
Authors: Liu F. , Zhang Q. , Tong D. , Zheng B. , Li M. , Huo H. , He K. B.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. This paper, which focuses on emissions from China's coal-fired power plants during 1990–2010, is the second in a series of papers that aims to develop a high-resolution emission inventory for China. This is the first time that emissions from China's coal-fired power plants were estimated at unit level for a 20-year period. This inventory is constructed from a unit-based database compiled in this study, named the China coal-fired Power plant Emissions Database (CPED), which includes detailed information on the technologies, activity data, operation situation, emission factors, and locations of individual units and supplements with aggregated data where unit-based information is not available. Between 1990 and 2010, compared to a 479 % growth in coal consumption, emissions from China's coal-fired power plants increased by 56, 335, and 442 % for SO2, NOx, and CO2, respectively, and decreased by 23 and 27 % for PM2.5 and PM10 respectively. Driven by the accelerated economic growth, large power plants were constructed throughout the country after 2000, resulting in a dramatic growth in emissions. The growth trend of emissions has been effectively curbed since 2005 due to strengthened emission control measures including the installation of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) systems and the optimization of the generation fleet mix by promoting large units and decommissioning small ones. Compared to previous emission inventories, CPED significantly improved the spatial resolution and temporal profile of the power plant emission inventory in China by extensive use of underlying data at unit level. The new inventory developed in this study will enable a close examination of temporal and spatial variations of power plant emissions in China and will help to improve the performances of chemical transport models by providing more accurate emission data.
On the relationships between the Michaelis–Menten kinetics, reverse Michaelis–Menten kinetics, equilibrium chemistry approximation kinetics, and quadratic kinetics
Authors: Tang J. Y.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The Michaelis–Menten kinetics and the reverse Michaelis–Menten kinetics are two popular mathematical formulations used in many land biogeochemical models to describe how microbes and plants would respond to changes in substrate abundance. However, the criteria of when to use either of the two are often ambiguous. Here I show that these two kinetics are special approximations to the equilibrium chemistry approximation (ECA) kinetics, which is the first-order approximation to the quadratic kinetics that solves the equation of an enzyme–substrate complex exactly for a single-enzyme and single-substrate biogeochemical reaction with the law of mass action and the assumption of a quasi-steady state for the enzyme–substrate complex and that the product genesis from enzyme–substrate complex is much slower than the equilibration between enzyme–substrate complexes, substrates, and enzymes. In particular, I show that the derivation of the Michaelis–Menten kinetics does not consider the mass balance constraint of the substrate, and the reverse Michaelis–Menten kinetics does not consider the mass balance constraint of the enzyme, whereas both of these constraints are taken into account in deriving the equilibrium chemistry approximation kinetics. By benchmarking against predictions from the quadratic kinetics for a wide range of substrate and enzyme concentrations, the Michaelis–Menten kinetics was found to persistently underpredict the normalized sensitivity ∂ ln v / ∂ ln k2+ of the reaction velocity v with respect to the maximum product genesis rate k2+, persistently overpredict the normalized sensitivity ∂ ln v / ∂ ln k1+ of v with respect to the intrinsic substrate affinity k1+, persistently overpredict the normalized sensitivity ∂ ln v / ∂ ln [E]T of v with respect the total enzyme concentration [E]T, and persistently underpredict the normalized sensitivity ∂ ln v / ∂ ln [S]T of v with respect to the total substrate concentration [S]T. Meanwhile, the reverse Michaelis–Menten kinetics persistently underpredicts ∂ ln v / ∂ ln k2+ and ∂ ln v / ∂ ln [E]T, and persistently overpredicts ∂ ln v / ∂ ln k1+ and ∂ ln v / ∂ ln [S]T. In contrast, the equilibrium chemistry approximation kinetics always gives consistent predictions of ∂ ln v / ∂ ln k2+, ∂ ln v / ∂ ln k1+, ∂ ln v / ∂ ln [E]T, and ∂ ln v / ∂ ln [S]T, indicating that ECA-based models will be more calibratable if the modeled processes do obey the law of mass action. Since the equilibrium chemistry approximation kinetics includes advantages from both the Michaelis–Menten kinetics and the reverse Michaelis–Menten kinetics and it is applicable for almost the whole range of substrate and enzyme abundances, land biogeochemical modelers therefore no longer need to choose when to use the Michaelis–Menten kinetics or the reverse Michaelis–Menten kinetics. I expect that removing this choice ambiguity will make it easier to formulate more robust and consistent land biogeochemical models.
Brief communication: Getting Greenland's glaciers right – a new data set of all official Greenlandic glacier names
Authors: Bjørk A. A. , Kruse L. M. , Michaelsen P. B.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. Place names in Greenland can be difficult to get right, as they are a mix of Greenlandic, Danish, and other foreign languages. In addition, orthographies have changed over time. With this new data set, we give the researcher working with Greenlandic glaciers the proper tool to find the correct name for glaciers and ice caps in Greenland and to locate glaciers described in the historic literature with the old Greenlandic orthography. The data set contains information on the names of 733 glaciers, 285 originating from the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) and 448 from local glaciers and ice caps (LGICs).
The Approaching Lease Accounting Regulations and Its Impact on Cost of Capital, "A Practical Case Study"
Authors: El-qawaqneh Shahir , Binti Laili Dr Nur Hidayah , Bin Khairi Dr Khairil
Published: November 2015

We examine how the approaching international lease accounting regulations influence credit rating of particular airfreight company, we capitalize all of still effective operation lease agreements commencing in 2002 and expired on 2026. In particular we use actual operation lease data, not only the disclosed with off-balance sheet. Our results suggest that, on average, capitalization of over 12 months term operation leases, dramatically alter capital structure. Results either reports a positive impact on weighted average cost of capital WACC, credit rating is a financial risk assessment measurement used by credit holders, investors, and analysis, our results is consistent with the lease accounting standard sitters point of view; investors and credit holders have the right to obtain a full transparent picture about firms lease activities in benefit of all parties. We also find some evidence that the positive change in WACC is related to the increasing portion of capitalized lease liability accompanied with an escalating decreeing in conventional debt, in certain conditions, this result suggests that financial lease has the advantage over conventional debt. 
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Use of Antifibrinolytic Agents in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Huang Fei , Wu Yunfeng , Yin Zongsheng , Ma Guangwen , Chang Jun
Published: December 2015

Background

Antifibrinolytic agents such as tranexamic acid (TXA), epsilon aminocaproic acid (EACA), and aprotinin are widely used to reduce bleeding and the need for transfusion in cardiac, orthopaedic, and hepatic surgery. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of antifibrinolytic agents in total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed using MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, as well as the reference lists of relevant articles. Only randomised controlled trials were eligible for this study. The weighted mean difference in blood loss, number of transfusions per patient, and the summary risk ratio of transfusion requirements and deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) were calculated in the antifibrinolytic agents-treated and control groups.

Results

A total of 28 randomised controlled trials involving 2,131 patients were included. Patients receiving antifibrinolytic agents had a reduced total blood loss by a mean of 389.14 ml (95% CI, −483.05 to −295.23), and the number of blood transfusions per patient by 0.65 units (95% CI, −1.19 to −0.12). Antifibrinolytic agents led to a significant reduction in transfusion requirements (RR 0.55; 95% CI, 0.43 to 0.70) and no increase in the risk of DVT (RR 0.85; 95% CI, 0.51 to 1.42).

Conclusions

Our meta-analysis demonstrated that antifibrinolytic agents significantly reduce blood loss and blood transfusion requirements while not increasing the risk of DVT in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty.
Que los conflictos no escalen a la violencia
Authors: Torres Denis
Published: December 2015

Editorial de la Revista Cultura de Paz Nº 66.
Resiliencia y secuelas en pacientes sobrevivientes a un cáncer en edad pediátrica
Authors: Ponce Paredes Luis Fernando , Martínez Beckerat Roxana , Tejada Portillo Mildred
Published: November 2015

Antecedentes: El cáncer es una pandemia en Latinoamérica, se diagnostican 40,000 nuevos casos cada año en niños, hasta el 67% presenta alguna secuela. La resiliencia es considerada la habilidad para recuperarse rápidamente de la enfermedad, cambio o infortunio sufrido.Objetivo: Identificar las secuelas y resiliencia en pacientes sobrevivientes a un cáncer en edad pediátrica, que se encontraban en vigilancia y asistiendo a consulta de seguimiento en Hemato- oncología Pediátrica del Hospital Nacional Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas (HNMCR) de San Pedro Sula.Pacientes y Métodos: Es un estudio descriptivo-transversal, de alcance mixto (cuali- cuantitativo) con dos grupos de pacientes. El primero incluyó 80 pacientes en vigilancia independientemente de su edad, a quienes se aplicó el cuestionario “Secuelas”, el segundo incluyó 61 pacientes en vigilancia mayores de 13 años, al cual se aplicó el cuestionario “Escala Impacto de Cáncer” para determinar su resiliencia.Resultados: En el grupo secuelas el 65% fueron varones, el 39% fueron escolares 42 pacientes (52%) presentaron alguna secuela, siendo la más frecuente la cicatriz. Del grupo en el que se midió su resiliencia 7 aspectos de 8 tuvieron una resiliencia positiva, la excepción fue el de “tener hijos”.Conclusiones: Más de la mitad de los pacientes sobrevivientes presentaron algún tipo de secuela debido a su padecimiento. Con respecto a la resiliencia se encontró que la mayoría tenían resiliencia positiva en todos los aspectos medidos según la escala “Impacto de cáncer” a excepción del aspecto relacionado con” Tener hijos”, encontrándose mayoría con resiliencia negativaActa Pediátrica Hondureña, Vol. 4, No. 2 / Octubre 2013 a Marzo 2014: 291-297
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Applied Physics Research, Vol. 7, No. 6
Authors: Green Lily
Published: November 2015

Reviewer Acknowledgements for Applied Physics Research, Vol. 7, No. 6, 2015
Challenges Posed on The New Mining Act and Its Regulations in Tanzania
Authors: Marwa Charles W. , Warioba Isabela
Published: November 2015

This paper assesses the challenges that are posed to the new mining law and other Regulations that govern the mining sector in Tanzania. The main issues discussed in this paper include the conflicts between the local people and the mining companies regarding land ownership, compensation and forced eviction, conflicts between Small Scale Mining (SSM) and Large Scale Mining (LSM).

The findings obtained by the authors, intimates that the major problems in the mining sector are due to lack of law enforcement and good governance in the sector as well as lack of awareness of the laws governing the sector by the local communities.
Lastly, the authors concludes and recommend that, until and unless the laws are adhered to and kept into practice, the problems in the mining sector will not be easily resolved. Hence in order for the mining sector to benefit the indigenous and the investors, there should be enhancement of sustainable development;, people should be educated on the laws and the effects of mining on the environment and the relationship between SSM and LSM be improved.
Political Culture of the Arab Community in Germany - A Field Study
Authors: Al-Dajah Hasan Abdullah
Published: November 2015

The objective of this research to know the views members of the Arab community hold towards the political culture in its three dimensions. Members of the Arab community in Germany (ACG) were asked as well as about the sources of political information and about their views about the current events in the Arab world (Arab Spring). After reviewing relevant literature and concepts of political culture the researcher developed a questionnaire which was distributed to members of the ACG in several German cities of different sizes, both in West and East Germany.

The study used package (SPSS) statistical analysis of the study and adoption of percentages and frequencies, averages and standard deviations to examine the study questions and used Independent Samples Test to examine the hypotheses of the study. The results of the study indicate that the political culture of the Arab community in Germany is close and homogeneous and that the similarity of the political and social environment outweighs the differences of the many Arabian countries of origin. The reason for this is attributed to the fact that Germany as the hosting country is governed by the principles of democracy and political and cultural pluralism, , and this in turn reflects positively on the political culture of the members of the Arab community which is integrated rather than fragmented.
On a political level the study has shown that communication between the formal and informal German institutions with members of the Arab community needs to be improved and that members of the Arab community in Germany need to be encouraged to get involved and participate more in political life in Germany regarding both, general elections and affiliation to German political parties.
Academic Freedom in the Heartland: Rights Consciousness and the United States Supreme Court
Authors: Botello-Samson Darren
Published: November 2015

In late 2013, the Kansas Board of Regents proposed a social media policy, a policy which the board eventually unanimously approved. The policy authorized “the chief executive officer of a state university…to suspend, dismiss or terminate from employment any faculty or staff member who makes improper use of social media.” A strong and unified condemnation of the policy followed, led primarily by the faculty of those institutions and their various faculty governance organizations. This conflict between the free speech rights of academics and the governing authority of government and university administrations in the state of Kansas was neither the first nor last such conflict; U.S. courts had already established a doctrine over the free speech rights of public employees. Therefore, this conflict presents an opportunity to observe how the judicial establishment and definition of rights affects subsequent political conflict and discourse. The conflict over the social media policy adopted by the Kansas Board of Regents raises questions of whether the established judicial articulations of free speech in an academic setting shaped the efforts of Kansas faculty in opposition to this policy and the crafting of the policy itself.
State-Centric Realism Eclipsed: TNCs as the Rising Powerful Actors in the Age of Trade Liberalization
Authors: Tan Wei-en
Published: November 2015

This essay argues that the global trade liberalization, particularly since 1995, strengthens some transnational corporations (TNCs) to become more powerful. In this sense, some statements argued by state-centric realism have to be revised; however, doing that does not mean that realism is fully out-of-date. The case studies suggest that mother country, such as the U.S., is a critical agent for TNCs to project their power and/or to protect their vital interest in the global market. In other word, sovereign state, especially the stronger one, is still important under some specific conditions. Ironically, most countries in the global south are increasingly retreating from the stage of international trade while TNCs from the North are detaining many efficient means of control over technology, capital and even political access.
Europe´s Refugee Crisis in 2015 and Security Threats from the Baltic Perspective
Authors: Veebel Viljar , Markus Raul
Published: November 2015

Recent developments in Europe starting with the Russia-Ukraine conflict and ending with the economic and political instability in Greece have given rise to instability in the European Union. Yet, none of the previous crises could be compared with the crisis concerning the current massive influx of refugees into the EU that challenges both solidarity and responsibility of the member states. In this context, it is extremely important to understand the actual security threats related to the refugee crisis, particularly for the Baltic countries that have linked their security with European Union and the NATO. Particularly in Estonia and in Latvia, the refugee crisis has been presented as a high security matter as possible rejection of the EU-migrant could lead to the country’s isolation from the international community, the loss of the NATO security network and its exposure to the security threats from Russia. Alternative decision to accept the refugee quotas could on the other hand create challenges for internal security in terms of legitimacy of national governments and public support to refugee policy. In the light of recent terrorist attacks in France these questions seem even growingly important.