bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MODIS Collection 6 shortwave-derived cloud phase classification algorithm and comparisons with CALIOP
Authors: Marchant Benjamin , Platnick Steven , Meyer Kerry , Arnold G. Thomas , Riedi Jérôme
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Cloud thermodynamic phase (ice, liquid, undetermined) classification is an important first step for cloud retrievals from passive sensors such as MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). Because ice and liquid phase clouds have very different scattering and absorbing properties, an incorrect cloud phase decision can lead to substantial errors in the cloud optical and microphysical property products such as cloud optical thickness or effective particle radius. Furthermore, it is well established that ice and liquid clouds have different impacts on the Earth's energy budget and hydrological cycle, thus accurately monitoring the spatial and temporal distribution of these clouds is of continued importance. For MODIS Collection 6 (C6), the shortwave-derived cloud thermodynamic phase algorithm used by the optical and microphysical property retrievals has been completely rewritten to improve the phase discrimination skill for a variety of cloudy scenes (e.g., thin/thick clouds, over ocean/land/desert/snow/ice surface, etc). To evaluate the performance of the C6 cloud phase algorithm, extensive granule-level and global comparisons have been conducted against the heritage C5 algorithm and CALIOP. A wholesale improvement is seen for C6 compared to C5.
Integrating aquatic and terrestrial biogeochemical model to predict effects of reservoir creation on CO2 emissions
Authors: Wang Weifeng , Roulet Nigel T. , Kim Youngil , Strachan Ian B. , del Giorgio Paul , Prairie Yves T. , Tremblay Alain
Published: April 2016

Abstract. There is considerable debate on the role of hydroelectric reservoirs for the emission of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. To quantify CO2 emissions from a newly created reservoir that was formed by flooding the boreal landscape we developed a daily time-step reservoir model by integrating a terrestrial and an aquatic ecosystem model. We calibrated the model using the measurements of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (C) in a ~ 600 km2 boreal hydroelectric reservoir, Eastmain-1, in northern Quebec, Canada. A major constraint we dealt with is the dearth of basic environmental data for the Boreal region so we took a parsimonious approach for required inputs. We then evaluated the model performance against observed CO2 fluxes data from an eddy covariance tower in the middle of the EM-1 reservoir for the period from 2006 to 2012 and compared internal variables such as water column respiration, chlorophyll-a concentration, and sedimentation rate to measurements from field campaigns during 2006–2008. The model predicted the seasonal and inter-annual variability of CO2 emissions reasonably well compared to the observations. Discrepancies between simulation results and observations usually occurred near ice-off dates when there was large amount of dissolved CO2 under ice-cover. We applied the model to assess the effects of reservoir creation on C dynamics over the estimated “engineering” reservoir lifetime (i.e., 100 years). We found that the reservoir acts as a net C source over its lifetime and simulated CO2 fluxes were 204 g C m−2 yr−1 in the first year after flooding, steeply declined in the first three years, and then steadily decreased to ~110 g C m−2 yr−1 with increasing reservoir age. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the amount of terrestrial organic C flooded and oxygen effects can positively enhance benthic respiration and CO2 fluxes across air–water interface, but the effects on CO2 emissions were not significant. Higher temperatures dramatically stimulate CO2 emissions by enhancing CO2 production in both the water column and the sediment, and extending the duration of the open water period over which emissions can occur. Changing wind speeds had large uncertainties on annual CO2 emissions, given that wind speeds not only affect the gas transfer rate but also the open water period by affecting the surface energy balance. The model is useful for the estimation of CO2 emissions from reservoirs to the atmosphere and could be used to assist the hydro-power industry and others interested in emissions evaluate the role of boreal reservoirs as sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Role of CO2, climate and land use in regulating the seasonal amplitude increase of carbon fluxes in terrestrial ecosystems: a multimodel analysis
Authors: Zhao Fang , Zeng Ning , Akihiko Ito , Asrar Ghassam , Friedlingstein Pierre , Jain Atul , Kalnay Eugenia , Kato Etsushi , Koven Charles D. , Poulter Ben , Rafique Rashid , Sitch Stephen , Shu Shijie , Stocker Beni , Viovy Nicolas , Wiltshire Andy , Zaehle Sonke
Published: April 2016

Abstract. We examined the net terrestrial carbon flux to the atmosphere (FTA) simulated by nine models from the TRENDY dynamic global vegetation model project during 1961–2012 for its seasonal cycle and amplitude trend. While some models exhibit similar phase and amplitude compared to atmospheric inversions, with spring drawdown and autumn rebound, others tend to rebound early in summer. The model ensemble mean underestimates the magnitude of the seasonal cycle by 40 % compared to atmospheric inversions. Global FTA amplitude increase (19 ± 8 %) and its decadal variability from the model ensemble are generally consistent with constraints from surface atmosphere observations. However, models disagree on attribution of this long-term amplitude increase, with factorial experiments attributing 83 ± 56 %, −3 ± 74 % and 20 ± 30 % to rising CO2, climate change and land use/cover change, respectively. Seven out of the nine models suggest that CO2 fertilization is a stronger control — with the notable exception of VEGAS, which attributes approximately equally to the three factors. Generally, all models display an enhanced seasonality over the boreal region in response to high-latitude warming, but a negative climate contribution from part of the Northern Hemisphere temperate region, and the net result is a divergence over climate change effect. Six of the nine models show land use/cover change amplifies the seasonal cycle of global FTA: some are due to forest regrowth while others are caused by crop expansion or agricultural intensification, as revealed by their divergent spatial patterns. We also discovered a moderate cross-model correlation between FTA amplitude increase and increase in land carbon sink (R2 = 0.61). Our results suggest that models can show similar results in some benchmarks with different underlying mechanisms, therefore the spatial traits of CO2 fertilization, climate change, and land use/cover changes are crucial in determining the right mechanisms in seasonal carbon cycle change as well as mean sink change.
Spring temperature variability over Turkey since 1800 CE reconstructed from a broad network of tree-ring data
Authors: Köse Nesibe , Güner H. Tuncay , Harley Grant L. , Guiot Joel
Published: April 2016

Abstract. The 20th century was marked by significant decreases in spring temperature ranges and increased nighttime temperatures throughout Turkey. The meteorological observational period in Turkey, which starts ca. 1929 CE, is too short for understanding long-term climatic variability. Hence, the historical context of this gradual warming trend in spring temperatures is unclear. Here we use a network of 23 tree-ring chronologies to provide a high-resolution spring (March–April) temperature reconstruction over Turkey during the period 1800–2002. The reconstruction model accounted for 67 % (Adj. R2 = 0.64, p ≤ 0.0001) of the instrumental temperature variance over the full calibration period (1930–2002). During the pre-instrumental period (1800–1929) we captured more cold events (n = 23) than warm (n = 13), and extreme cold and warm events were typically of short duration (1–2 years). Compared to coeval reconstructions of precipitation in the region, our results are similar with durations of extreme wet and dry events. The reconstruction is punctuated by a temperature increase during the 20th century; yet extreme cold and warm events during the 19th century seem to eclipse conditions during the 20th century. During the 19th century, annual temperature ranges are more volatile and characterized by more short-term fluctuations compared to the 20th century. During the period 1900–2002, our reconstruction shows a gradual warming trend, which includes the period during which diurnal temperature ranges decreased as a result of increased urbanization in Turkey.
Extreme isotopologue disequilibrium in molecular SIMS species during SHRIMP geochronology
Authors: Magee Jr. Charles W. , Danišík Martin , Mernagh Terry
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Isotopologue deficits of up to 200 ‰ below ideal mixing are observed in UO2+ species during SIMS gechronological analyses using the SHRIMP IIe instrument. These are identified by bombarding natural U-bearing minerals with an 18O2-primary beam. The large anomalies are associated with repeat analyses down a single SIMS sputtering crater (Compston et al., 1984), analysis of high-uranium, radiation damaged zircon, and analysis of baddeleyite. Analysis of zircon under routine conditions yield UO2+ isotopologue anomalies generally within a few percent of equilibrium. The conditions under which the isotopologue anomalies are observed are also conditions in which the UOx-based corrections, or calibration, for relative U vs. Pb ionization efficiencies fail. The existence of these isotopologue anomalies suggest that failure of the various UOx species to equilibrate with each other is the reason that none of them will successfully correct the U / Pb ratio. No simple isotopologue-based correction is apparent. However, isotopologue disequilibrium appears to be a more sensitive tool for detecting hi U calibration breakdowns than Raman spectroscopy, which showed sharper peaks for ~ 37 Ma high uranium 20 zircons than for reference zircons OG1 and Temora. U-Th-Sm/He ages were determined for aliquots of reference zircons OG1 (755 ± 71 Ma) and Temora (323 ± 43 Ma), suggesting that the broader Raman lines for the Temora reference zircons may be due to something other than accumulated radiation damage. Isotopologue abundances for UO+ and ThO+ and their energy spectra are consistent with most or all molecular species being 25 the product of atomic recombination when the primary beam impact energy is greater than 5.7 kV. This, in addition with the large UO2+ instrumentally generated isotopologue disequilibria, suggest any attempts to use SIMS to detect naturally occurring isotopologue deviations could be tricky.
Hazard function theory for nonstationary natural hazards
Authors: Read Laura K. , Vogel Richard M.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Impact from natural hazards is a shared global problem that causes tremendous loss of life and property, economic cost, and damage to the environment. Increasingly, many natural processes show evidence of nonstationary behavior including wind speeds, landslides, wildfires, precipitation, streamflow, sea levels, and earthquakes. Traditional probabilistic analysis of natural hazards based on peaks over threshold (POT) generally assumes stationarity in the magnitudes and arrivals of events, i.e., that the probability of exceedance of some critical event is constant through time. Given increasing evidence of trends in natural hazards, new methods are needed to characterize their probabilistic behavior. The well-developed field of hazard function analysis (HFA) is ideally suited to this problem because its primary goal is to describe changes in the exceedance probability of an event over time. HFA is widely used in medicine, manufacturing, actuarial statistics, reliability engineering, economics, and elsewhere. HFA provides a rich theory to relate the natural hazard event series (X) with its failure time series (T), enabling computation of corresponding average return periods, risk, and reliabilities associated with nonstationary event series. This work investigates the suitability of HFA to characterize nonstationary natural hazards whose POT magnitudes are assumed to follow the widely applied generalized Pareto model. We derive the hazard function for this case and demonstrate how metrics such as reliability and average return period are impacted by nonstationarity and discuss the implications for planning and design. Our theoretical analysis linking hazard random variable X with corresponding failure time series T should have application to a wide class of natural hazards with opportunities for future extensions.
The 21st Century Decline in Damaging European Windstorms
Authors: Dawkins Laura C. , Stephenson David B. , Lockwood Julia F. , Maisey Paul E.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. A decline in damaging European windstorms has led to a reduction in insured losses in the 21st century. This decline is explored by identifying a damaging windstorm characteristic and investigating how and why this characteristic has changed in recent years. This novel exploration is based on 6103 high resolution model generated historical footprints (1979–2014) representing the whole European domain. The footprint of a windstorm is defined as the maximum wind gust speed to occur at a set of spatial locations over the duration of the storm. The area of the footprint exceeding 20 ms−1 over land, A20, is shown to be a good predictor of windstorm damage. This damaging characteristic has decreased in the 21st century, due to a statistically significant decrease in the relative frequency of windstorms exceeding 20 ms−1 in north-west Europe. This is explained by a decrease in the quantiles of the footprint wind gust speed distribution above approximately 18 ms−1 at locations in this region. Much of the change in A20 is explained by the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). The correlation between winter total A20 and winter averaged mean sea-level pressure resembles the NAO pattern, shifted eastwards over Europe, and a strong positive relationship (correlation of 0.715) exists between winter total A20 and winter averaged NAO. The shifted correlation pattern, however, suggests that other modes of variability may also play a role in the variation in windstorm losses.
Assessing the risk posed by natural hazards to infrastructures
Authors: Kolderup Eidsvig Unni Marie , Kristensen Krister , Vangelsten Bjørn Vidar
Published: April 2016

Abstract. This paper proposes a model for assessing the risk posed by natural hazards to infrastructures. The model prescribes a three level analysis with increasing level of detail, moving from qualitative to quantitative analysis. The focus is on a methodology for semi-quantitative analysis to be performed at the second level. The purpose of this type of analysis is to perform a screening of the scenarios of natural hazards threatening the infrastructures, identifying the most critical scenarios and investigating the need for further analyses (third level). The proposed semi-quantitative methodology considers the frequency of the natural hazard, different aspects of vulnerability including the physical vulnerability of the infrastructure itself and the societal dependency on the infrastructure. An indicator-based approach is applied, ranking the indicators on a relative scale according to pre-defined ranking criteria. The proposed indicators, which characterize conditions that influence the probability of an infrastructure break-down caused by a natural event, are defined as 1) Robustness and buffer capacity, 2) Level of protection, 3) Quality/Level of maintenance and renewal, 4) Adaptability and quality in operational procedures and 5) Transparency/complexity/degree of coupling. Further indicators describe the societal consequences of the infrastructure failure, such as Redundancy and/or substitution, Restoration effort/duration, Preparedness, early warning and emergency response and Dependencies and cascading effects. The aggregated risk estimate is a combination of the semi-quantitative vulnerability indicators, as well as quantitative estimates of the frequency of the natural hazard, the potential duration of the infrastructure malfunctioning (depending e.g. on the required restoration effort) and the number of users of the infrastructure. Case studies for two Norwegian municipalities are presented where risk posed by adverse weather and natural hazards to primary road, water supply and power network is assessed. The application examples show that the proposed model provides a useful tool for screening of potential undesirable events, contributing to a targeted reduction of the risk.
Analysis of applicability of flood vulnerability index in Pre-Saharan region, a pilot study to assess flood in Southern Morocco
Authors: Karmaoui A. , Balica S. F. , Messouli M.
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Abstract. Moroccan Pre-Saharan zone is an oasis system, which it is characterised by extreme events, like drought and flood. The flood risks will likely increases in frequency and magnitude due to global and regional climate change. Flood tends to have an important impact on isolated and poor regions such as oasis regions. This paper aims the analysis of applicability of Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) in pre-Saharan region of Morocco. The FVI, it is a numerical index that reflects the status of a region's flood vulnerability. It was determined for four components social, economic, physical, and environmental. These components can help to assist to propose strategies for improvement of the holistic system. For this study five sub-catchments were selected: Upper Draa Valley (UDV), Middle Draa Valley (MDV), Tata sub-catchment, Guelmim sub-catchment and Tafilalt sub-catchment; and five urban areas, Ouarzazate, Zagora, Tata, Guelmim and Errachidia. A comparative analysis of the results from thus areas allows us to assess the applicability of the FVI. The overall FVI for these areas was determined by the calculating and standardisation of 36 indicators for each sub-catchment scale and 34 for each urban scale.
Geophysical evidence of pre-sag rifting and post-rifting fault reactivation in the Parnaíba basin, Brazil
Authors: de Castro David Lopes , Bezerra Francisco Hilário , Fuck Reinhardt Adolfo , Vidotti Roberta Mary
Published: April 2016

Abstract. This study investigated the rifting mechanism that preceded the prolonged subsidence of the Paleozoic Parnaíba basin in Brazil and shed light on the tectonic evolution of this large cratonic basin in the South American platform. From the analysis of aeromagnetic, aerogravity, seismic reflection and borehole data, we concluded the following: (1) large pseudo-gravity and gravity lows mimic graben structures but are associated with linear supracrustal strips in the basement. (2) Seismic data indicate that 120–200 km wide and up to 300 km long rift zones occur in other parts of the basins. These rift zones mark the early stage of the 3.5 km thick sag basin. (3) The rifting phase occurred in the early Paleozoic and had a subsidence rate of 47 m Myr−1. (4) This rifting phase was followed by a long period of sag basin subsidence at a rate of 9.5 m Myr−1 between the Silurian and the late Cretaceous, during which rift faults propagated and influenced deposition. These data interpretations support the following succession of events: (1) after the Brasiliano orogeny (740–580 Ma), brittle reactivation of ductile basement shear zones led to normal and dextral oblique-slip faulting concentrated along the Transbrasiliano Lineament, a continental-scale shear zone that marks the boundary between basement crustal blocks. (2) The post-orogenic tectonic brittle reactivation of the ductile basement shear zones led to normal faulting associated with dextral oblique-slip crustal extension. In the west, pure-shear extension induced the formation of rift zones that crosscut metamorphic foliations and shear zones within the Parnaíba block. (3) The rift faults experienced multiple reactivation phases. (4) Similar processes may have occurred in coeval basins in the Laurentia and Central African blocks of Gondwana.
Full-field assessment of wind turbine near-wake deviation in relation to yaw misalignment
Authors: Trujillo Juan José , Seifert Janna Kristina , Würth Ines , Schlipf David , Kühn Martin
Published: April 2016

Abstract. Presently there is a lack of data revealing the behaviour of the path followed by the near wake of full scale wind turbines and its dependence on yaw misalignment. Here we present an experimental analysis of the horizontal wake deviation of a 5 MW offshore wind turbine between 0.6 and 1.4 diameters downstream. The wake field has been scanned with a short-range lidar and the wake path has been reconstructed by means of two-dimensional Gaussian tracking. We analysed the measurements for rotor yaw misalignments arising in normal operation and during partial load, representing high thrust coefficient conditions. We classified distinctive wake paths with reference to yaw misalignment, based on the nacelle wind vane, in steps of 3° in a range of ±10.5°. All paths observed in the nacelle frame of reference showed a consistent convergence towards 0.9 rotor diameters downstream, suggesting a kind of wake deviation shift. This contrasts with published results from wind tunnels which in general report a convergence towards the rotor. The discrepancy is evidenced in particular in a comparison which we performed against published paths obtained by means of tip vortex tracking.
Efficacy and Safety of 0.1% Cyclosporine a Cationic Emulsion in the Treatment of Severe Dry Eye Disease: A Multicenter Randomized Trial
Authors: Leonardi Andrea , Van Setten Gysbert , Amrane Mourad , Ismail Dahlia , Garrigue Jean-Sebastien , Figueiredo Francisco C. , Baudouin Christophe
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The SANSIKA study was conducted to assess the treatment effect of 0.1% cyclosporine A cationic emulsion (CsA CE) eye drops on signs and symptoms of patients with severe dry eye disease (DED).

Methods

This was a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, 2-parallel-arm, 6-month phase III study with a 6-month open-label treatment safety follow-up. Patients with severe DED with corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) grade 4 on the modified Oxford scale were randomized to receive once-daily CsA CE (Ikervis®) or its vehicle.

Results

A total of 246 patients were randomized. The proportion of patients achieving ≥2 grades improvement in CFS and a 30% improvement in symptoms (Ocular Surface Disease Index [OSDI]) by month 6 was 28.6% with CsA CE vs 23.1% with vehicle (p = 0.326) (primary endpoint). Assessment of corneal damage showed greater improvement with CsA CE over vehicle in mean adjusted CFS change from baseline to month 6 (-1.764 vs −1.418, p = 0.037). There was a reduction in ocular surface inflammation assessed by human leukocyte antigen DR expression in favor of CsA CE at month 6 (p = 0.021). The mean OSDI change from baseline was −13.6 with CsA CE and −14.1 with vehicle at month 6 (p = 0.858). The main adverse event was instillation site pain (29.2% vs 8.9% in the CsA CE and vehicle groups, respectively), and it was mostly mild.

Conclusions

CsA CE was well-tolerated and effective in improving corneal damage and ocular surface inflammation and confirmed the positive benefit-risk ratio of this new formulation of CsA for the treatment of severe keratitis in DED.
A New Strategy to Reduce Amyloid Deposition using Peptide-Imprinted Membranes
Authors: Cristallini Caterina , Bellotti Elena , Spezia Francesca , Rosellini Elisabetta , Cascone Maria G. , Barbani Niccoletta
Published: April 2016

Background

The accumulation of amyloid beta protein in the brain causes the cognitive impairment observed in neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that a rapid removal of amyloid beta protein peptides from the blood by an extracorporeal purification system could represent an alternative solution for the treatment of patients suffering from this neurodegenerative disease.

Methods

In this regard, we investigated the specific recognition properties of a molecularly imprinted membrane based on poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) toward the amyloid beta protein fragment 25-35 (AbP), the more neurotoxic domain of amyloid beta protein. A chemical modification of the copolymer backbone using succinic anhydride was also performed to favor the formation of carboxylic groups and thus improve imprinting performance.

Results

The physico-chemical, morphological, mechanical and functional characterisations gave interesting results confirming the ability of imprinted membranes to in vitro rebind AbP.

Conclusions

This work represents a proof of concept regarding the development of a biocompatible polymer membrane capable of selectively removing amyloid beta peptide from the blood and consequently from the cerebrospinal fluid.
Significant Association of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase Val158Met Polymorphism with Bladder Cancer Instead of Prostate and Kidney Cancer
Authors: Chen Yang , Yu Xiaoxiang , Li Tianyu , Yan Haibiao , Mo Zengnan
Published: April 2016

Background

Urological cancers occur worldwide. Many factors, among which the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism, are said to be associated with the cancer risk. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate the association between urological cancer susceptibility and COMT Val158Met in different genetic models.

Methods

This study was based on material obtained from the PubMed, HuGENet and Embase databases. Four models including dominant (AA + AG vs. GG), recessive (AA vs. AG + GG), codominant (AA vs. AG, AA vs. GG) and per-allele analysis (A vs. G) were applied. Odds ratios (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to evaluate the power of the associations.

Results

Fourteen eligible studies comprising 3,285 cases and 3,594 controls were included. Although we could not detect a positive function of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism in urological cancers, the polymorphism might be significantly associated with bladder cancer risk (dominant model [AA + AG vs. GG]: OR = 0.736, 95% CI = 0.586-0.925, I2 = 0.00%; recessive model [AA vs. AG + GG]: OR = 0.822, 95%CI = 0.653-1.035, I2 = 6.30%; codominant model [AA vs. AG]: OR = 0.908, 95% CI = 0.710-1.161, I2 = 0.00%; codominant model [AA vs. GG]: OR = 0.693, 95% CI = 0.524-0.917, I2 = 30.20%; allele analysis [A vs. G]: OR = 0.826, 95%CI = 0.717-0.951, I2 = 30.20%). The same significant associations were not found for kidney cancer and prostate cancer risk in different ethnicities. There also seemed to be no distinct effect of the polymorphism on benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Conclusions

We suggest that bladder cancer but not prostate cancer and kidney cancer could be significantly associated with the Val158Met polymorphism. Interaction of COMT genetic and related environmental factors for urological cancers should not be ignored in future.
Cardiac Veins: Collateral Venous Drainage Pathways in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Ozmen Evrim , Algin Oktay
Published: April 2016

Venous anomalies are diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Subclavian or superior vena cava stenosis can be developed and venous return can be achieved via cardiac veins and coronary sinus in patients with central venous catheter for long-term hemodialysis. These types of abnormalities are not extremely rare especially in patients with a history of central venous catheter placement. Detection of these anomalies and subclavian vein stenosis before the surgical creation of hemodialysis fistulae or tunneled central venous catheter placement may prevent unnecessary interventions in those patients. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) technique can give further information when compared with fluoroscopy or digital subtraction angiography in the management of these patients. This case report describes interesting aspects of central vein complications in hemodialysis patients. As a conclusion, there are limited data about thoracic venous return, and further prospective studies with large patient number are required. MDCT with 3D reconstruction is particularly useful for the accurate evaluation of venous patency, variations, and collateral circulation. Also it is an excellent tool for choosing and planning treatment.
Excellent Survival Regardless of Disease Stage in Patients with Advanced Nasopharyngeal Cancer
Authors: Belgioia Liliana , Bacigalupo Almalina , Vecchio Stefania , Marcenaro Michela , Pupillo Francesco , Agostinelli Stefano , Corvò Renzo
Published: April 2016

Background

We present our experience in assessing the feasibility and efficacy outcomes of intensified intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) delivered to patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

Between March 2009 and December 2014, 35 patients affected by advanced NPC with a median age of 53 years (range 11-77) were treated with definitive radiotherapy. Radiotherapy was delivered by helical tomotherapy with the SIB technique. The prescribed doses were 66 Gy to macroscopic disease, 60 Gy to high-risk subclinical disease, and 54 Gy to low-risk disease in 30 fractions. The daily SIB dose was 2.2 Gy to macroscopic disease.

Results

At the end of treatment 33 (94%) patients had obtained complete clearance of disease and 2 patients had died (1 of persistent disease after 3 months and 1 of cancer-unrelated causes after 4 months). At a median follow-up of 40 months (range 5-69), locoregional control rates at 2 and 4 years were 92.9% and 88.2%, respectively, and the overall survival after 4 years was 93.9%. The most significant acute toxicities were grade 2 and 3 mucositis (43%). No grade 3 and 4 late toxicities were observed; grade 2 xerostomia after 6 months from the end of treatment was reported in 11 patients; xerostomia toxicity decreased to grade 1 in 6/11 patients within 12 months.

Conclusions

These results show that intensified IMRT with SIB is an excellent strategy offering high local control rates for NPC patients with mild acute and late toxicity.
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Treatments for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Based on Prodige and MPACT Trials
Authors: Zhou Jing , Zhao Rongce , Wen Feng , Zhang Pengfei , Wu Yifan , Tang Ruilei , Chen Hongdou , Zhang Jian , Li Qiu
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX) and gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GEM-N) have shown a significant survival benefit for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of FOLFIRINOX versus GEM-N for treating metastatic pancreatic cancer based on the PRODIGE and MPACT trials.

Methods

A decision model was performed to compare FOLFIRINOX with GEM-N. Primary base case data were identified from PRODIGE and MPACT trials. Costs were estimated and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated at West China Hospital, Sichuan University, China. Survival benefits were reported in quality-adjusted life-years (QALY). Finally, sensitive analysis was performed by varying potentially modiﬁable parameters in the model.

Results

The base-case analysis showed that FOLFIRINOX cost $37,203.75 and yielded a survival of 0.67 QALY, and GEM-N cost $32,080.59 and yielded a survival of 0.51 QALY in the entire treatment. Thus, the ICER of FOLFIRINOX versus GEM-N was $32,019.75 per QALY gained.

Conclusions

The GEM-N regimen was more cost-effective compared with the FOLFIRINOX regimen for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer from a Chinese perspective.
Política e afeto no tempo das redes: ou a catarse coletiva - uma análise da Mídia Ninja
Authors: Rezende Renata
Published: April 2016

O artigo analisa o engajamento político nas redes sociais da Internet, particularmente no perfil Ninja - Narrativas Independentes, Jornalismo e Ação, no Facebook, – criado durante os protestos no Brasil, em 2013. Trata-se de um recorte que pertence a uma pesquisa ampliada, cujo objetivo é verificar a produção de sentidos na construção dos relatos dos usuários dessa rede, enquanto tessitura narrativa, bem como demonstrar como se configura e opera uma política de afetos como uma catarse coletiva, nas quais as interações evidenciam outras possibilidades de produção e difusão informativas. Em um estudo exploratório do objeto, principalmente por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica e documental, tomamos os conceitos de catarse e política, a partir de Aristóteles, e afeto, a partir de Spinoza.
Diálogo: o alicerce para humanizar a comunicação organizacional na sociedade contemporânea
Authors: Neiva Guedes Ellida , Da Silva Marcelo , Dos Santos Protásio Cézar
Published: April 2016

Com o surgimento das redes sociais digitais e a ampliação das oportunidades para a participação dos agentes sociais no desenvolvimento da sociedade, as organizações devem pensar em práticas de comunicação mais “humanizadas”, a fim de interagir com seus públicos de interesse, hoje, mais céticos e críticos no que tange às ações, reações e decisões corporativas. Desse desafio decorre o objetivo deste artigo: refletir sobre o diálogo como alternativa para humanizar a comunicação organizacional, de maneira a atender às necessidades e expectativas da sociedade e construir relacionamentos duradouros com os públicos contemporâneos.
Os desafios do jornalismo e dos jornalistas no século XXI: entrevista com Suzana Barbosa
Authors: Caetano Kati , Veiga Zaclis
Published: April 2016

A jornalista Suzana Barbosa é considerada uma das principais pesquisadoras brasileiras em jornalismo digital e temáticas afins, sendo uma das líderes do Grupo de Pesquisa em Jornalismo On-line (Gjol) do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Comunicação e Cultura Contemporâneas da Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), pioneiro no Brasil sobre estudos na área. Nesta entrevista, com a autoridade de quem recebeu, em 2008, o Prêmio Adelmo Genro Filho da Associação Brasileira dos Pesquisadores em Jornalismo (SBPJor), de “Melhor Tese de Doutorado”, trabalho que versou sobre jornalismo em base de dados, a pesquisadora assinala o marco histórico de vinte anos da vigência do jornalismo em redes digitais no país; aborda a recente crise que arrefeceu o lançamento de novos produtos jornalísticos autóctones no mercado digital; esclarece o uso de expressões como medialidade, transmidialidade e outras que marcam a comunicação na era da cibercultura; e defende a pesquisa como a forma mais segura de obter qualidade no ensino do jornalismo atual, marcado por permanências essenciais e por atualizações constantes em seu fazer e em suas formas de circulação e recirculação por inúmeras plataformas.
Um espelho que precisa ser quebrado na Comunicação
Authors: Dias Emerson Dos Santos
Published: April 2016

Com “O Estado de Narciso: a comunicação pública a serviço da vaidade particular” (Companhia das Letras), o jornalista, professor, pesquisador e escritor Eugênio Bucci reafirma sua trajetória como um dos raros profissionais que lançam luz neste ambiente nebuloso da informação pública.
Intercambio y sociabilidad en las redes de ayuda mutua del barrio madrileño de La Ventilla
Authors: Herrera Pineda Ivonne , Ibáñez Gijón Jorge
Published: April 2016

Analizamos la lógica de los intercambios informales en tres redes personales del barrio madrileño de La Ventilla para entender su relación con la sociabilidad vecinal en tiempos de crisis económica. La confianza y la obligación de devolución constituyen una lógica del don dinámica y multifuncional que permite una base social más sólida que otros tipos de intercambio, aunque no esté libre de conflictos. La evolución de esta dinámica puede explicarse con un modelo cualitativo simplificado que considera los procesos de sociabilidad-intercambio diádico, confianza y sociabilidad colectiva. Como conclusión, proponemos una perspectiva basada en la lógica de la reciprocidad para superar la dicotomía entre egoísmo y altruismo subyacente a la hoy dominante lógica de la solidaridad.
La motivación para el servicio público de los altos funcionarios españoles medida y efectos
Authors: Riba Clara , Ballart Xavier
Published: April 2016

Este artículo presenta el concepto de motivación para el servicio público (MSP) en el contexto español y su posible utilidad como instrumento de gestión pública para evaluar si los empleados de los servicios públicos están motivados por valores públicos. En el artículo se analiza la relación entre MSP y dos de las principales actitudes, compromiso organizacional y satisfacción en el trabajo, que la literatura ha considerado consecuencias posibles de tener un elevado nivel de MSP. Los resultados muestran una relación positiva entre MSP y compromiso organizativo pero no entre MSP y satisfacción en el trabajo. Este tipo de investigación tiene un elevado grado de aplicabilidad en gestión de personal
Understanding China’s Economic Success: “Embeddedness” with Chinese Characteristics
Authors: Xing Li
Published: April 2016

This study attempts to provide a framework for understanding the role of the “embeddedness” in China’s economic success reflected by a unique embedded integration of state-market-society relations. “Embeddedness with Chinese characteristics” is the central concept of this study for analyzing how cultural and political uniqueness influences economic activities and shapes distinctive institutional forms. In order to grasp the factors behind the Chinese economic success, it is important to understand how the disembedded forces of marketization and commodification were balanced by the embedded forces of socio-cultural and political structures. These historically and culturally shaped structures, such as the active role of the state and local governments, the variety of forms of property and business ownership, the traditional culture of clientele-based social relations, etc., provide rich empirical context to explain and analyze the “embedded” hegemony in transitional China. The first part of the this paper provides a conceptual framework for understanding socio-cultural and political embeddedness in China and the second part analyzes some characteristics of the state-market-society embedded process during its economic development in the past decades. The conclusion is that China’s economic reform and success manifest a long and innovative grinding-in process of state-market-society relations.
Why Dissatisfied Mobile Subscribers Stay: Role of Service Use Experience, Commitment and Corporate Reputation
Authors: Mbawuni Joseph , Nimako Simon Gyasi
Published: April 2016

This paper examines the extent to which service use experience, commitment and perceived positive corporate reputation affect loyalty behaviour of dissatisfied stayers in mobile telephony context. Drawing on relationship marketing and switching behaviour literature a conceptual framework was developed and tested using partial least square structural equation modelling. The proposed model was validated with data from 736 subscribers of six global providers of telecommunication services. Results show that commitment and corporate reputation have significantly positive influence on the loyalty of dissatisfied stayers. Generally, the present study confirms existing marketing literature that dissatisfied customers may not necessarily switch while making unique contribution on the influence of corporate reputation as a switching barrier for dissatisfied customers. The managerial and theoretical implications are discussed.
A Control of Collision and Deadlock Avoidance for Automated Guided Vehicles with a Fault-Tolerance Capability
Authors: Li Qin , Pogromsky Alexander , Adriaansen Teun , Udding Jan Tijmen
Published: April 2016

Based on a novel discrete-event zone-control model, in our previous papers [ 1 , 2 ], we presented a time-efficient traffic control for automated guided vehicle (AGV) systems to exclude inter-vehicle collisions and system deadlocks, together with a case study on container terminals. The traffic control allows each vehicle in an AGV system to freely choose its routes for any finite sequence of zone-to-zone transportation tasks and the routes can be constructed in an online fashion. In this paper, we extended our previous results with two practical goals: (1) to increase the utilization of the workspace area by reducing the minimally allowed area of each zone; (2) to avoid vehicle collisions and deadlocks with the occurrence of vehicle breakdowns. To achieve the first goal, we include one extra vehicle event that allows each vehicle to probe further ahead while it is moving on the guide-path. This leads to an extension of our previous discrete-event model and traffic control rules, which are presented in the first part of the paper. The second part of the paper concerns the second goal, for which an emergency traffic control scheme is designed as supplementary to the normal traffic control rules. As in our previous papers, the improved model and traffic control are applied to a simulation of quayside container transshipment at container terminals; our simulation results are compared with those from two interesting works in the literature.
Changes in self‐reported HIV testing during South Africa's 2010/2011 national testing campaign: gains and shortfalls
Authors: Maughan‐Brown Brendan , Lloyd Neil , Bor Jacob , Venkataramani Atheendar S
Published: April 2016

Objectives

HIV counselling and testing is critical to HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Mass campaigns may be an effective strategy to increase HIV testing in countries with generalized HIV epidemics. We assessed the self‐reported uptake of HIV testing among individuals who had never previously tested for HIV, particularly those in high‐risk populations, during the period of a national, multisector testing campaign in South Africa (April 2010 and June 2011).

Design

This study was a prospective cohort study.

Methods

We analyzed data from two waves (2010/2011, n=16,893; 2012, n=18,707) of the National Income Dynamics Study, a nationally representative cohort that enabled prospective identification of first‐time testers. We quantified the number of adults (15 years and older) testing for the first time nationally. To assess whether the campaign reached previously underserved populations, we examined changes in HIV testing coverage by age, gender, race and province sub‐groups. We also estimated multivariable logistic regression models to identify socio‐economic and demographic predictors of first‐time testing.

Results

Overall, the proportion of adults ever tested for HIV increased from 43.7% (95% confidence interval (CI): 41.48, 45.96) to 65.2% (95% CI: 63.28, 67.10) over the study period, with approximately 7.6 million (95% CI: 6,387,910; 8,782,986) first‐time testers. Among black South Africans, the country's highest HIV prevalence sub‐group, HIV testing coverage improved among poorer and healthier individuals, thus reducing gradients in testing by wealth and health. In contrast, HIV testing coverage remained lower for men, younger individuals and the less educated, indicating persistent if not widening disparities by gender, age and education. Large geographic disparities in coverage also remained as of 2012.

Conclusions

Mass provision of HIV testing services can be effective in increasing population coverage of HIV testing. The geographic and socio‐economic disparities in programme impacts can help guide best practices for future efforts. These efforts should focus on hard‐to‐reach populations, including men and less‐educated individuals.
Two FGFRL-Wnt circuits organize the planarian anteroposterior axis
Authors: Scimone M Lucila , Cote Lauren E , Rogers Travis , Reddien Peter W
Published: April 2016

How positional information instructs adult tissue maintenance is poorly understood. Planarians undergo whole-body regeneration and tissue turnover, providing a model for adult positional information studies. Genes encoding secreted and transmembrane components of multiple developmental pathways are predominantly expressed in planarian muscle cells. Several of these genes regulate regional identity, consistent with muscle harboring positional information. Here, single-cell RNA-sequencing of 115 muscle cells from distinct anterior-posterior regions identified 44 regionally expressed genes, including multiple Wnt and ndk/FGF receptor-like (ndl/FGFRL) genes. Two distinct FGFRL-Wnt circuits, involving juxtaposed anterior FGFRL and posterior Wnt expression domains, controlled planarian head and trunk patterning. ndl-3 and wntP-2 inhibition expanded the trunk, forming ectopic mouths and secondary pharynges, which independently extended and ingested food. fz5/8-4 inhibition, like that of ndk and wntA, caused posterior brain expansion and ectopic eye formation. Our results suggest that FGFRL-Wnt circuits operate within a body-wide coordinate system to control adult axial positioning.
Noise modulation in retinoic acid signaling sharpens segmental boundaries of gene expression in the embryonic zebrafish hindbrain
Authors: Sosnik Julian , Zheng Likun , Rackauckas Christopher V , Digman Michelle , Gratton Enrico , Nie Qing , Schilling Thomas F
Published: April 2016

Morphogen gradients induce sharply defined domains of gene expression in a concentration-dependent manner, yet how cells interpret these signals in the face of spatial and temporal noise remains unclear. Using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) and phasor analysis to measure endogenous retinoic acid (RA) directly in vivo, we have investigated the amplitude of noise in RA signaling, and how modulation of this noise affects patterning of hindbrain segments (rhombomeres) in the zebrafish embryo. We demonstrate that RA forms a noisy gradient during critical stages of hindbrain patterning and that cells use distinct intracellular binding proteins to attenuate noise in RA levels. Increasing noise disrupts sharpening of rhombomere boundaries and proper patterning of the hindbrain. These findings reveal novel cellular mechanisms of noise regulation, which are likely to play important roles in other aspects of physiology and disease.
Lys29-linkage of ASK1 by Skp1−Cullin 1−Fbxo21 ubiquitin ligase complex is required for antiviral innate response
Authors: Yu Zhou , Chen Taoyong , Li Xuelian , Yang Mingjin , Tang Songqing , Zhu Xuhui , Gu Yan , Su Xiaoping , Xia Meng , Li Weihua , Zhang Xuemin , Wang Qingqing , Cao Xuetao , Wang Jianli
Published: April 2016

Protein ubiquitination regulated by ubiquitin ligases plays important roles in innate immunity. However, key regulators of ubiquitination during innate response and roles of new types of ubiquitination (apart from Lys48- and Lys63-linkage) in control of innate signaling have not been clearly understood. Here we report that F-box only protein Fbxo21, a functionally unknown component of SCF (Skp1–Cul1–F-box protein) complex, facilitates Lys29-linkage and activation of ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1), and promotes type I interferon production upon viral infection. Fbxo21 deficiency in mice cells impairs virus-induced Lys29-linkage and activation of ASK1, attenuates c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 signaling pathway, and decreases the production of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferon, resulting in reduced antiviral innate response and enhanced virus replication. Therefore Fbxo21 is required for ASK1 activation via Lys29-linkage of ASK1 during antiviral innate response, providing mechanistic insights into non-proteolytic roles of SCF complex in innate immune response.