bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regional analysis of groundwater nitrate concentrations and trends in Denmark in regard to agricultural influence
Authors: Hansen B. , Dalgaard T. , Thorling L. , Sørensen B. , Erlandsen M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. The act of balancing between an intensive agriculture with a high potential for nitrate pollution and a drinking water supply almost entirely based on groundwater is a challenge faced by Denmark and similar regions around the globe. Since the 1980s, regulations implemented by Danish farmers have succeeded in optimizing the N (nitrogen) management at farm level. As a result, the upward agricultural N surplus trend has been reversed, and the N surplus has reduced by 30–55% from 1980 to 2007 depending on region. The reduction in the N surplus served to reduce the losses of N from agriculture, with documented positive effects on nature and the environment in Denmark. In groundwater, the upward trend in nitrate concentrations was reversed around 1980, and a larger number of downward nitrate trends were seen in the youngest groundwater compared with the oldest groundwater. However, on average, approximately 48% of the oxic monitored groundwater has nitrate concentrations above the groundwater and drinking water standards of 50 mg l−1. Furthermore, trend analyses show that 33% of all the monitored groundwater has upward nitrate trends, while only 18% of the youngest groundwater has upward nitrate trends according to data sampled from 1988–2009. A regional analysis shows a correlation between a high level of N surplus in agriculture, high concentrations of nitrate in groundwater and the largest number of downward nitrate trends in groundwater in the livestock-dense northern and western parts of Denmark compared with the southeastern regions with lower livestock densities. These results indicate that the livestock farms dominating in northern and western parts of Denmark have achieved the largest reductions in N surpluses. Groundwater recharge age determinations allow comparison of long-term changes in N surplus in agriculture with changes in oxic groundwater quality. The presented data analysis is based on groundwater recharged from 1952–2003, but sampled from 1988–2009. Repetition of the nitrate trend analyses at five-year intervals using dating of the groundwater recharged in the coming years and a longer time series of the nitrate analyses can reveal the evolution in nitrate leaching from Danish agriculture during the past 10 yr. Similar analyses can be carried out to compare with other regions internationally.
The effect of atmospheric turbulence and chamber deployment period on autochamber CO2 and CH4 flux measurements in an ombrotrophic peatland
Authors: Lai D. Y. F. , Roulet N. T. , Humphreys E. R. , Moore T. R. , Dalva M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Accurate quantification of soil-atmosphere gas exchange is essential for understanding the magnitude and controls of greenhouse gas emissions. We used an automatic, closed, dynamic chamber system to measure the fluxes of CO2 and CH4 for several years at the ombrotrophic Mer Bleue peatland near Ottawa, Canada and found that atmospheric turbulence and chamber deployment period had a considerable influence on the observed flux rates. With a short deployment period of 2.5 min, CH4 flux exhibited strong diel patterns and both CH4 and nighttime CO2 effluxes were highly and negatively correlated with ambient friction velocity as were the CO2 concentration gradients in the top 20 cm of peat. This suggests winds were flushing the very porous and relatively dry near-surface peat layers and reducing the belowground gas concentration gradient, which then led to flux underestimations owing to a decrease in turbulence inside the headspace during chamber deployment compared to the ambient windy conditions. We found a 9 to 57% underestimate of the net biological CH4 flux at any time of day and a 13 to 21% underestimate of nighttime CO2 effluxes in highly turbulent conditions. Conversely, there was evidence of an overestimation of ~ 100% of net biological CH4 and nighttime CO2 fluxes in calm atmospheric conditions possibly due to enhanced near-surface gas concentration gradient by mixing of chamber headspace air by fans. These problems were resolved by extending the deployment period to 30 min. After 13 min of chamber closure, the flux rate of CH4 and nighttime CO2 became constant and were not affected by turbulence thereafter, yielding a reliable estimate of the net biological fluxes. The measurement biases we observed likely exist to some extent in all chamber flux measurements made on porous and aerated substrate, such as peatlands, organic soils in tundra and forests, and snow-covered surfaces, but would be difficult to detect unless high frequency, semi-continuous observations were made.
Atmospheric deposition as a source of carbon and nutrients to an alpine catchment of the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Authors: Mladenov N. , Williams M. W. , Schmidt S. K. , Cawley K.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Many alpine areas are experiencing deglaciation, biogeochemical changes driven by temperature rise, and changes in atmospheric deposition. There is mounting evidence that the water quality of alpine streams may be related to these changes, including rising atmospheric deposition of carbon (C) and nutrients. Given that barren alpine soils can be severely C limited, atmospheric deposition sources may be an important source of C and nutrients for these environments. We evaluated the magnitude of atmospheric deposition of C and nutrients to an alpine site, the Green Lake 4 catchment in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Using a long-term dataset (2002–2010) of weekly atmospheric wet deposition and snowpack chemistry, we found that volume weighted mean dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were 1.12 ± 0.19 mg l−1, and weekly concentrations reached peaks as high at 6–10 mg l−1 every summer. Total dissolved nitrogen concentration also peaked in the summer, whereas total dissolved phosphorus and calcium concentrations were highest in the spring. To investigate potential sources of C in atmospheric deposition, we evaluated the chemical quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and relationships between DOM and other solutes in wet deposition. Relationships between DOC concentration, fluorescence, and nitrate and sulfate concentrations suggest that pollutants from nearby urban and agricultural sources and organic aerosols derived from sub-alpine vegetation may influence high summer DOC wet deposition concentrations. Interestingly, high DOC concentrations were also recorded during "dust-in-snow" events in the spring, which may reflect an association of DOM with dust. Detailed chemical and spectroscopic analyses conducted for samples collected in 2010 revealed that the DOM in many late spring and summer samples was less aromatic and polydisperse and of lower molecular weight than that of winter and fall samples. Our C budget estimates for the Green Lake 4 catchment illustrated that wet deposition (9.9 kg C ha−1 yr−1) and dry deposition (6.9 kg C ha−1 yr−1) were a combined input of approximately 17 kg C ha−1 yr−1, which could be as high as 24 kg C ha−1 yr−1 in high dust years. This atmospheric C input approached the C input from microbial autotrophic production in barren soils. Atmospheric wet and dry deposition also contributed 4.3 kg N ha−1 yr−1, 0.15 kg P ha−1 yr−1, and 2.7 kg Ca2+ ha−1 yr−1 to this alpine catchment.
Temperature response to external forcing in simulations and reconstructions of the last millennium
Authors: Fernández-Donado L. , González-Rouco J. F. , Raible C. C. , Ammann C. M. , Barriopedro D. , García-Bustamante E. , Jungclaus J. H. , Lorenz S. J. , Luterbacher J. , Phipps S. J. , Servonnat J. , Swingedouw D. , Tett S. F. B. , Wagner S. , Yiou P. , Zorita E.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. The understanding of natural climate variability and its driving factors is crucial to assess future climate change. Therefore, comparing proxy-based climate reconstructions with forcing factors as well as comparing these with paleoclimate model simulations is key to gain insights into the relative roles of internal versus forced variability. A review of the state of modeling of the last millennium climate previous to the CMIP5-PMIP3 coordinated effort is presented and compared to the available temperature reconstructions. Simulations and reconstructions broadly agree on reproducing the major temperature changes and suggest an overall linear response to external forcing on multidecadal or longer timescales. Internal variability is found to have an important influence at hemispheric and global scales. The spatial distribution of simulated temperature changes during the transition of the Medieval Climate Anomaly to the Little Ice Age disagrees with that found in the reconstructions, thus advocating for internal variability as a possible major player in shaping temperature changes through the millennium. A paleo transient climate response (PTCR) is defined to provide a quantitative framework for analysing the consistency between simulated and reconstructed climate. Beyond an overall agreement between simulated and reconstructed PTCR ranges, this analysis is able to single out specific discrepancies between some reconstructions and the ensemble of simulations. The disagreement is found in the cases where the reconstructions show reduced covariability with external forcings or when they present high rates of temperature change.
Mismatch between the depth habitat of planktonic foraminifera and the calibration depth of SST transfer functions may bias reconstructions
Authors: Telford R. J. , Li C. , Kucera M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. We demonstrate that the temperature signal in the planktonic foraminifera assemblage data from the North Atlantic typically does not originate from near surface waters and argue that this has the potential to bias sea surface temperature reconstructions using transfer functions calibrated against near surface temperatures if the thermal structure of the upper few hundred metres of ocean changes over time. CMIP5 climate models indicate that ocean thermal structure in the N Atlantic changed between the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the pre-industrial (PI), with some regions, mainly in the tropics, of the LGM ocean lacking good thermal analogues in the PI. Transfer functions calibrated against different depths reconstruct a marked subsurface cooling in the tropical Atlantic during the last glacial, in contrast to previous studies that reconstructed only a modest cooling. These possible biases in temperatures reconstructions may affect estimates of climate sensitivity based on the difference between LGM and pre-industrial climate. Quantifying these biases has the potential to alter our understanding of Last Glacial Maximum climate and improve estimates of climate sensitivity.
Calibration procedures and first data set of Southern Ocean chlorophyll a profiles collected by elephant seal equipped with a newly developed CTD-fluorescence tags
Authors: Guinet C. , Xing X. , Walker E. , Monestiez P. , Marchand S. , Picard B. , Jaud T. , Authier M. , `Cotté C. , Dragon A. C. , Diamond E. , Antoine D. , Lovell P. , Blain S. , D'Ortenzio F. , Claustre H.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. In-situ observation of the marine environment has traditionally relied on ship-based platforms. The obvious consequence is that physical and biogeochemical properties have been dramatically undersampled, especially in the remote Southern Ocean (SO). The difficulty in obtaining in situ data represents the major limitations to our understanding, and interpretation of the coupling between physical forcing and the biogeochemical response. Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) equipped with a new generation of oceanographic sensors can measure ocean structure in regions and seasons rarely observed with traditional oceanographic platforms. Over the last few years, seals have allowed for a considerable increase in temperature and salinity profiles from the SO. However we were still lacking information on the spatio-temporal variation of phytoplankton concentration. This information is critical to assess how the biological productivity of the SO, with direct consequences on the amount of CO2 "fixed" by the biological pump, will respond to global warming. In this research program, we use an innovative sampling fluorescence approach to quantify phytoplankton concentration at sea. For the first time, a low energy consumption fluorometer was added to Argos CTD-SRDL tags, and these novel instruments were deployed on 27 southern elephant seals between 25 December 2007 and the 4 February 2011. As many as 3388 fluorescence profiles associated with temperature and salinity measurements were thereby collected from a vast sector of the Southern Indian Ocean. This paper address the calibration issue of the fluorometer before being deployed on elephant seals and present the first results obtained for the Indian Sector of the Southern Ocean. This in situ system is implemented in synergy with satellite ocean colour radiometry. Satellite-derived data is limited to the surface layer and is restricted over the SO by extensive cloud cover. However, with the addition of these new tags, we're able to assess the 3 dimension distribution of phytoplankton concentration by foraging southern elephant seals. This approach reveals that for the Indian sector of the SO, the surface chlorophyll a (chl a) concentrations provided by MODIS were underestimated by a factor of the order of 2–3 compared to in situ measurements. The scientific outcomes of this program include an improved understanding of both the present state and variability in ocean biology, and the accompanying biogeochemistry, as well as the delivery of real-time and open-access data to scientists (doi:10.7491/MEMO.1x).
Development and evaluation of a global dynamical wetlands extent scheme
Authors: Stacke T. , Hagemann S.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. In this study we present the development of the dynamical wetland extent scheme (DWES) and evaluate its skill to represent the global wetland distribution. The DWES is a simple, global scale hydrological scheme that solves the water balance of wetlands and estimates their extent dynamically. The extent depends on the balance of water flows in the wetlands and the slope distribution within the grid cells. In contrast to most models, the DWES is not directly calibrated against wetland extent observations. Instead, wetland affected river discharge data are used to optimise global parameters of the model. The DWES is not a complete hydrological model by itself but implemented into the Max Planck Institute – Hydrology Model (MPI-HM). However, it can be transferred into other models as well. For present climate, the model evaluation reveals a good agreement for the spatial distribution of simulated wetlands compared to different observations on the global scale. The best results are achieved for the Northern Hemisphere where not only the wetland distribution pattern but also their extent is simulated reasonably well by the DWES. However, the wetland fraction in the tropical parts of South America and Central Africa is strongly overestimated. The simulated extent dynamics correlate well with monthly inundation variations obtained from satellites for most locations. Also, the simulated river discharge is affected by wetlands resulting in a delay and mitigation of peak flows. Compared to simulations without wetlands, we find locally increased evaporation and decreased river flow into the oceans due to the implemented wetland processes. In summary, the evaluation demonstrates the DWES' ability to simulate the distribution of wetlands and their seasonal variations for most regions. Thus, the DWES can provide hydrological boundary conditions for wetland related studies. In future applications, the DWES may be implemented into an Earth system model to study feedbacks between wetlands and climate.
Evolution of spatio-temporal drought characteristics: validation, projections and effect of adaptation scenarios
Authors: Vidal J.-P. , Martin E. , Kitova N. , Najac J. , Soubeyroux J.-M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Drought events develop in both space and time and they are therefore best described through summary joint spatio-temporal characteristics, such as mean duration, mean affected area and total magnitude. This paper addresses the issue of future projections of such characteristics of drought events over France through three main research questions: (1) Are downscaled climate projections able to simulate spatio-temporal characteristics of meteorological and agricultural droughts in France over a present-day period? (2) How such characteristics will evolve over the 21st century? (3) How to use standardized drought indices to represent theoretical adaptation scenarios? These questions are addressed using the Isba land surface model, downscaled climate projections from the ARPEGE General Circulation Model under three emissions scenarios, as well as results from a previously performed 50-yr multilevel and multiscale drought reanalysis over France. Spatio-temporal characteristics of meteorological and agricultural drought events are computed using the Standardized Precipitation Index and the Standardized Soil Wetness Index, respectively, and for time scales of 3 and 12 months. Results first show that the distributions of joint spatio-temporal characteristics of observed events are well simulated by the downscaled hydroclimate projections over a present-day period. All spatio-temporal characteristics of drought events are then found to dramatically increase over the 21st century, with stronger changes for agricultural droughts. Two theoretical adaptation scenarios are eventually built based on hypotheses of adaptation to evolving climate and hydrological normals, either retrospective or prospective. The perceived spatio-temporal characteristics of drought events derived from these theoretical adaptation scenarios show much reduced changes, but they call for more realistic scenarios at both the catchment and national scale in order to accurately assess the combined effect of local-scale adaptation and global-scale mitigation.
Fluorescent particle tracers in surface hydrology: a proof of concept in a semi-natural hillslope
Authors: Tauro F. , Grimaldi S. , Petroselli A. , Rulli M. C. , Porfiri M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. In this paper, a proof of concept experiment is conducted to assess the feasibility of tracing overland flow on an experimental hillslope plot via a novel fluorescent particle tracer. Experiments are performed by using beads of diameters ranging from 75 to 1180 μm. Particles are sensed through an experimental apparatus comprising a light source and a video acquisition unit. Runoff on the experimental plot is artificially simulated by using a custom-built rainfall system. Particle transits are detected through supervised methodologies requiring the presence of operators and unsupervised procedures based on image analysis techniques. Average flow velocity estimations are executed based on travel time measurements of the particles as they are dragged by the overland flow on the hillslope. Velocities are compared to flow measurements obtained using rhodamine dye. Experimental findings demonstrate the potential of the methodology for understanding overland flow dynamics in complex natural settings. In addition, insights on the optimization of particle size are presented based on the visibility of the beads and their accuracy in flow tracing.
Natural vs. artificial groundwater recharge, quantification through inverse modeling
Authors: Hashemi H. , Berndtsson R. , Kompani-Zare M. , Persson M.
Published: August 2012

Abstract. Estimating the change in groundwater recharge from an introduced artificial recharge system is important in order to evaluate future water availability. This paper presents an inverse modeling approach to quantify the recharge contribution from both an ephemeral river channel and an introduced artificial recharge system based on floodwater spreading in arid Iran. The study used the MODFLOW-2000 to estimate recharge for both steady and unsteady-state conditions. The model was calibrated and verified based on the observed hydraulic head in observation wells and model precision, uncertainty, and model sensitivity were analyzed in all modeling steps. The results showed that in a normal year without extreme events the floodwater spreading system is the main contributor to recharge with 80% and the ephemeral river channel with 20% of total recharge in the studied area. Uncertainty analysis revealed that the river channel recharge estimation represents relatively more uncertainty in comparison to the artificial recharge zones. The model is also less sensitive to the river channel. The results show that by expanding the artificial recharge system the recharge volume can be increased even for small flood events while the recharge through the river channel increases only for major flood events.
A new characterization of some Mathieu groups by the number of Sylow subgroups
Authors: Khalili Asboei Alireza , Salehi Amiri Syyed Sadegh , Iranmanesh Ali , Tehranian Abolfazl
Published: August 2012

Let G be a finite group with trivial center and n_{p}(G) be the number of Sylow p- subgroup of G. In this paper we prove that if n_{p}(G)=n_{p}(M_{n}), for every prime p in pi (G), where n in {11, 12}, then M_{n}<= G <= Aut(M_{n}).
Darboux rotation axis of spacelike biharmonic helices with timelike normal in the Lorentzian E(1, 1)
Authors: Körpınar Talat , Turhan Essin
Published: August 2012

In this paper, we study Darboux rotation axis for spacelike biharmonic helices in the Lorentzian group of rigid motions E(1,1). We obtain equation of Darboux vector of spacelike biharmonic helices in the Lorentzian E(1,1).
On Mannheim curves in Riemann-Otsuki space
Authors: Küçükarslan Zühal , Yıldırım Yılmaz Münevver
Published: August 2012

In this paper, we studied the Mannheim partner curves and their new characterizations are also obtained in Riemann-Otsuki space.
Properties of $\Gamma^{2}$ defined by a modulus function
Authors: Murugesan Chinnswamy , Subramanian Nagarajan
Published: August 2012

In this article, we introduces the generalized difference paranormed double sequence spaces $\Gamma^{2}\left(\Delta^{m}_{\gamma},f,p,q,s\right)$ and $\Lambda^{2} \left(\Delta^{m}_{\gamma},f,p,q,s\right)$ defined over a seminormed sequence space  $\left(X,q\right)$
On the gauss map of ruled surfaces of type ii in 3-dimensional Pseudo-Galilean space
Authors: Öğrenmiş Alper Osman , Ergüt Mahmut
Published: August 2012

In this paper, ruled surfaces of type II in a three-dimensional Pseudo-Galilean space are given. By studying its Gauss map and Laplacian operator, we obtain a classification of ruled surfaces of type II in a three-dimensional Pseudo-Galilean space.
Spectrum of the operator B(f, g) on the vector valued sequence space c_0(X)
Authors: Tripathy Binod Chandra , Paul Avinoy
Published: August 2012

In this paper we have investigated the spectrum of the operator B(f, g) on the vector valued sequence space c0(X).
On a class of generalized sequences related to the ℓ^p space defined by Orlicz functions
Authors: Esi Ayhan , Açikgöz Mehmet , Esi Ayten
Published: August 2012

In this article, we introduce the sequence space m(M,A, φ, q) on generalizing the sequence space m(φ) which was defined by Sargent [8], defined by Orlicz functions and infinite  matrices. We study its different properties like solidity, completeness, etc. Also we obtain  some inclusion results involving the sequence space m(M,A, φ, q).
Biharmonic S-curves according to Sabban frame in Heisenberg group Heis³
Authors: Körpınar Talat , Turhan Essin
Published: August 2012

In this paper, we study biharmonic curves accordig to Sabban frame in the Heisenberg group Heis³. We characterize the biharmonic curves in terms of their geodesic curvature and we prove that all of  biharmonic curves are helices in the Heisenberg group Heis³. Finally, we find out their explicit parametric equations according to Sabban Frame.
An Empirical Study of Industrial Conflict and Management in Nigeria Local Government System: A study of Enugu State
Authors: Chukwuemeka Emma E.O. , Ugwu Joy , Enugu Titus Okey , Igwegbe Dan
Published: August 2012

The study was carried out to assess labout conflict and  management in the local Government system in Nigeria with particular reference to Enugu State. Descriptive Research method was adopted, data were collected and analysed. Essentially, the findings revealed that the organizational framework for management of conflict and grievances is poor. The problem is as a result of leadership ineffectiveness which according to the study had resulted to disputes and consequently to strike actions. Management scarcely bargains with staff in resolving conflict situations. Management does not always explain its reasons for taking a particular position in resolving conflicts.The study further revealed that other factors that heightened labour conflict include low participation of employees in taking key decisions, especially matters affecting them. The Local overnment of Enugu State of Nigeria is believed to be poorly funded, This information was furnished by a key respondent, the  poor funding is peculiar to  the following local governments: Enugu North, Igbo-Eze North, and Nsukka Local Government Areas.. The aforementioned local government areas were consistently on ‘zero allocation’, which the resultant effect was epileptic payment of salaries and allowances of workers. Flowing from the findings, the following recommendations among others were proffered A democratic leadership style should be imbibed in Enugu State Local Government Councils to ensure congenial work relationship, the reign of democracy, as a style would ensure reduction of labour conflict. In spite of the fact that funding was not identified as a major problem that led to labour conflict, funding of the Local government in Nigeria should be strengthened. Management and staff of the local government should strive to see labour conflict as a process to change and thus try to resolve it in such a way that both parties are winners. Labour conflict should be resolved through the instrumentality of collective bargaining, which involves negotiation, dialogue, or mediation by a third party or through statutory framework which involves Trade Dispute ACT No.7 of 1976 as amended in 1977.   Keywords: Labour Conflict, Leadership, Funding of Local Government, Collective Bargaining
The Structural Equation Model of Factors Influencing the Hotel Staff in Thailand’s Intention to Quit
Authors: Limyothin Pakorn , Trichun Charlee
Published: August 2012

The purpose of this research was to study the relationship among factors influencing the hotel staff in Thailand’s intention to quit using the structural equation model gained from the review of related literature. The factors included quality of work life, perceived organizational culture, job satisfaction, organizational commitment and intention to quit. The population was the hotel staff in Thailand of which 908 were selected as subjects. The instrument used was a questionnaire with the reliability between 0.614-0.918. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the structural equation model was analyzed using SPSS and LISREL. The results revealed that the supervisors had higher levels of work life quality, perceived organizational culture, job satisfaction and organizational commitment than the non-supervisors. Job satisfaction had the highest direct effect and the highest total effect. The variables in the model could explain the 56% of the variance (R2) of the intention to quit.   Keywords: Intention to Quit, Hotel Business, Thailand
Perception of Departmental Heads and Chief Executives towards Hospital HR Management Issues: A Comparison of Public and Private Hospitals in India
Authors: Singh Gaurav , Singh Ajay , Singh Shashi
Published: August 2012

This paper analyses the perception of public and private hospital departmental heads and chief executives towards hospital management issues and compare their perceptions. A survey was conducted on private and public staff members. A total of 200 members formed the sample of which 100 belonged to public hospitals and 100 to private hospitals. The data were analysed with the help of t test analysis and the explanation of the responses of the respondents. The study reveals that there is no significant difference in the perceptions of heads towards the hospital management issues. It is also revealed that though there is no significant difference, yet private hospitals scores over public hospitals. Keywords: Public hospital, Private hospital, Departmental heads, Hospital Management
Cultivation Management of Pakistani TV Channels with Special Reference to Politics
Authors: Sultan Khalid , Jan Mirza , Khan Muhammad Imran
Published: August 2012

This cross-sectional survey explores the Pakistani TV channels and cultivation of politics. It discusses the voters’ attitude and behavior. There are number of media outlets in Pakistan. Media technology especially TV is the most influential medium that shape the trends of the audience. This time 83 private news channels are working in Pakistan. Cultivation of political thoughts is influenced according to exposure to television. An individual’s likelihood of receiving political information is a function of cognitive engagement with politics.Keywords: Cultivation, TV, News Channels, Politics
Exact Periodic Solutions of the Nonintegrable Kawahara Equation
Authors: Kamenov Ognyan Yordanov , Angova Anna P.
Published: August 2012

In the present paper, we have obtained an exact biperiodic, one-phase solution of the
Kawahara evolution equation. Two classes of real periodic waves generated by the biperiodic
solution have been analyzed. A modification of the bilinear-transformation method has been
applied allowing to provide a single solution of the residual equation derived from the
bidifferential reduction of the considered nonintegrable equation. It is shown that the spatial
displacements are individual for each separate harmonic of the real periodic solutions.
Micromagnetic Simulation of Spin Transfer Torque Magnetization
Precession Phase Diagram in a Spin-Valve Nanopillar under External Magnetic Fields
Authors: Huang H. B. , Ma X. Q. , Liu Z. H. , Shi X. M. , Yue T. , Xiao Z. H. , Chen L. Q.
Published: August 2012

We investigated spin transfer torque magnetization precession in a nanoscale pillar spin-valve under external magnetic fields using micromagnetic simulation. The phase diagram of the magnetization precession is calculated and categorized into four states according to their characteristics. Of the four states, the precessional state has two different modes: steady precession mode and substeady precession mode. The different modes originate from the dynamic balance between the spin transfer torque and the Gilbert damping torque. Furthermore, we reported the behavior of the temporal evolutions of magnetization components in steady precession mode at the condition of the applied magnetic field using the orbit projection method and explaining perfectly the magnetization components evolution behavior. In addition, a result of a nonuniform magnetization distribution is observed in the free layer due to the excitation of non-uniform mode.
Low-Complexity Localization and Tracking in Hybrid Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Kianoush S. , Goldoni E. , Savioli A. , Gamba P.
Published: August 2012

Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is an important research topic: readings come from sensors scattered in the environment, and most of applications assume that the exact position of the sensors is known. Due to power restrictions, WSN nodes are not usually equipped with a global positioning system—hence, many techniques have been developed in order to estimate the position of nodes according to some measurements over the radio channel. In this paper, we propose a new technique to track a moving target by combining distance measurements obtained from both narrowband IEEE 802.15.4 and Ultrawideband (UWB) radios, and then exploiting a novel speed-based algorithm for bounding the error. This process is applied to a real dataset collected during a measurement campaign, and its performance is compared against a Kalman filter. Results show that our algorithm is able to track target path with good accuracy and low computational impact.
Comparison of Full Blood Count Parameters Using Capillary and Venous Samples in Patients Presenting to the Emergency Department
Authors: Ponampalam R. , Fook Chong Stephanie Man Chung , Tan Sau Chew
Published: August 2012

Full blood count (FBC) analysis is a common investigation done in the emergency department (ED). The aim of this study was to determine the accuracy of bedside FBC analysis using capillary blood samples from a finger stab at point of care (POC) compared to a conventional venous blood sample analysis. A total of 314 consecutive patients presenting to the ED were recruited. After consenting, a sample of the patient’s venous (V) blood was obtained via venepuncture and sent to the haematology laboratory for analysis as standard practice. This was followed immediately by collection of a capillary (C) blood sample from a finger stab which was analysed at site using an automated FBC analyser at POC. Agreement between the paired samples for blood parameters including the total white cell count, hemoglobin, and platelet count was assessed by the statistical method of Bland and Altman using V sample as the gold standard. The results showed a statistically significant deviation between capillary and venous samples only for platelet counts (P<0.001) and haemoglobin (P<0.001). However, the magnitudes of this difference 7.3 × 109/L and 0.5 g/dL respectively, were not clinically significant. The study suggest that the analysis of capillary samples for FBC parameters is a reliable and acceptable alternative to conventional methods with the benefits of being a rapid, convenient, and minimally invasive technique.
Prevalence of HIV-Associated Metabolic Abnormalities among Patients Taking First-Line Antiretroviral Therapy in Uganda
Authors: Omech Bernard , Sempa Joseph , Castelnuovo Barbara , Opio Kenneth , Otim Marcel , Mayanja-Kizza Harriet , Colebunders Robert , Manabe Yukari C.
Published: August 2012

Introduction. While the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy decreased HIV-related morbidity and mortality rates in the sub-Saharan Africa, a subsequent increase in metabolic abnormalities has been observed. We sought to determine the prevalence of HIV-associated metabolic abnormalities among patients on first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in an ART clinic in Kampala, Uganda.Methods. Four hundred forty-two consecutive patients on first-line ART for at least 12 months were screened for eligibility in a cross-sectional study, and 423 were enrolled. Pre-ART patient characteristics were abstracted from medical charts, examinations included anthropometric measurement and physical assessment for lipodystrophy.Results. The prevalence of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia was 16.3% (69/423) and 81.5% (345/423), respectively. Prevalence of dyslipidemia between stavudine- and zidovudine-based regimens (91% versus 72%;P<0.001). Being on stavudine (aOR 4.79, 95%, 2.45–9.38) and peak body weight (aOR 1.44, 95% CI 1.05–1.97) were independent risk factors for dylipidemia. Stavudine (aOR 0.50, 95% CI  0.27–0.93) use was associated with lower risk for hyperglycemia while, and older age (aOR 1.31, 95% CI 1.11–1.56) and having a family history of DM (aOR 2.18, 95% CI 1.10–4.34) were independent risk factors for hyperglycemia.Conclusions. HIV-associated metabolic complications were prevalent among patients on thymidine analogue-containing ART regimens. Screening for lipid and glucose abnormalities should be considered in ART patients because of cardiovascular risks.
A Lesson in Resilience From Derecho
Authors: Spence Shannon , Morley Kevin M.
Published: August 2012

As this year's Fourth of July celebrations were being finalized, many people were not feeling particularly lucky ‐ a weather anomaly called a “derecho” disrupted power to 4.3 million people over 10 Midwest and Mid‐Atlantic states on June 29 and 30. The National Weather Service describes a derecho as a widespread, long‐lived, straight‐line windstorm that is associated with a fast‐moving band of severe thunderstorms. Given the widespread power outage and related communication issues, the severe weather tested the affected water utilities' ability to maintain normal operations. All of this coincided with one of the hottest periods on record in many states and escalated the public's frustration because of an inability to gain relief from the heat.
Le nectar et l’ambroisie
Authors: Ferland1 Catherine
Published: August 2012

À l’époque moderne, consommer du vin et des liqueurs constitue un marqueur identitaire pour l’élite, au même titre que le bas de soie ou la perruque. Au xviiie siècle, les membres de l’élite de la Nouvelle-France boivent en se conformant aux normes en vigueur chez leur homologue métropolitaine, depuis le choix et le service des boissons jusqu’à leur absorption et, parfois, de l’ivresse qu’elles procurent. On prend également soin de respecter les prescriptions sociales liées au Boire, particulièrement celles relatives au genre. Cette façon d’afficher des manières de boire bien françaises sert à marquer la distance qui les sépare des gens du peuple et ainsi de s’éloigner du spectre de la « sauvagerie », mais sert aussi à affirmer leur filiation identitaire avec la France, en perpétuant leur appartenance à la culture française et, par extension, à la « civilisation ».
Foucault’s Critique of Political Reason: Individualization and Totalization
Authors: Savoia Paolo
Published: August 2012

This paper tries to sketch the continuity between the topics of government and subjectification and that of discipline and bodies in Foucault’s work by assessing the pervasiveness and the importance of the two poles of what Foucault himself, in a Kantian fashion, called a critique of political reason: individualization and totalization. In the first place, I will sketch the mode of functioning of “government” with reference to the pastorate invented by the Christian Church, showing that the theme of government and of its historical origins appears for the first time when Foucault talks about the disciplinary powers of normalization of 19th-century psychiatry. In the second place, I will approach directly the logic of strategy that makes intelligible the relationships between government and discipline. Finally, these two concepts will be included in what Foucault called the double modern political rationality, and the persistence of this topic, in different forms, in many of his historico-philosophical analyses, and above all as the two sides of what he famously called bio-power. The main claim is that the relationship between the concepts of governmentality (the effect of which is totalization) and discipline (the effect of which is individualization) is neither one of conceptual incompatibility nor one of chronological succession in the development of Foucault’s thought, but rather a relation of interdependence that needs to be pointed out and further articulated in order to understand and pursue a critique of modern political reason.
Poder, resistencia y dominación en las Américas esclavistas: apostillas a Michel Foucault (paradojas y aporías)
Authors: Lugo-Ortiz Agnes
Published: August 2012

This article explores one of the most incidental, and thus least studied, equivocations in Michel Foucault’s work: his understan¬ding of slavery in relation to his conceptualizations of power, domination, resistance and freedom. The article also considers the heuristic value of these equivocations for thinking about the regimes of the large slave plantations of the Americas. Does slavery describe a relation of power or a state of domination? What distinct analytical and ethical implications would this distinction have upon examining the problem of freedom under subjugation? Through a careful exegesis of two late instances in the work of the French thinker, “Subject and power” (1982) and “The ethics of care of the self as a practice of freedom” (1984), this article identifies the conceptual ambiguities that accompany his brief observations on slavery, and takes them as a starting point for highlighting a series of moments in which games of power during the period of slavery in the Americas show the limits that were intuited, yet not theorized, by Foucault; limits which are no other than extreme violence and death. This is exemplified through a discussion of certain paradoxes in the phenomena of the fugitive slaves (cimarronaje) and of the aporias, that were manifested through the uses of the Christian pastoral as a means of subjection at the beginnings of the Cuban slave plantations during the 18th century – and in dialogue with their symbolization in art.
Chinese Scalp Acupuncture for Cerebral Palsy in a Child Diagnosed with Stroke in Utero
Authors: Hao Jason Jishun , Zhongren Sun , Xian Shi , Tiansong Yang
Published: August 2012

A 6-year-old patient with cerebral palsy was treated with Chinese scalp acupuncture. The Speech I, Speech II, Motor, Foot motor and sensory, and Balance areas were stimulated once a week, then every other week for 15 sessions. His dysarthria, ataxia, and weakness of legs, arms, and hands showed significant improvement from each scalp acupuncture treatment, and after 15 sessions, the patient had recovered completely. This case report demonstrates that Chinese scalp acupuncture can satisfactorily treat a child with cerebral palsy. More research and clinical trials are needed so that the potential of scalp acupuncture to treat cerebral palsy can be fully explored and utilized.
A Patient-defined “Best Case” of Multiple Sclerosis Related to the Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Authors: Salamonsen Anita , Drageset Brit J. , F⊘nneb⊘ Vinjar
Published: August 2012

Chronically ill people are frequent users of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Some patients experience great benefits from their use of CAM, like patient “XX” in this case report. XX was diagnosed with secondary progressive multiple sclerosis in 2004 and has reported a “best case” after the use of Dr Birgitta Brunes’ unconventional treatment. The patient reports that many of her symptoms that, according to her neurologist, were irreversible are gone or have been greatly reduced. Such patient-defined “best cases” related to the use of CAM should be further explored to optimize and safeguard patients’ treatment decisions and treatment outcomes.
Access to Medicines in Resource-limited Settings: The End of a Golden Decade?
Authors: Von Schoen-Angerer Tido , Ford Nathan , Arkinstall James
Published: August 2012

Strong international mobilization and political will drove a golden decade for global health. Key initiatives over the last decade include setting of health-related Millennium Development Goals; the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health; the creation of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health affirming countries’ rights to protect public health when implementing patent rules; and the creation of product development partnerships to address neglected areas of research and development. Significant progress was made in reducing the incidence of and morbidity and mortality from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis (TB), and malaria, with a major impact made through increased access to medicines. Antiretroviral treatment for HIV was expanded to 6.6 million people, and medication prices were reduced significantly through generic competition. However, donor support has started to decline at a time when many patients still wait for treatment and the prices of needed newer medicines are on the increase due to patent protection. TB incidence has started to decrease, but progress in diagnosis and treatment of multi-drug-resistant TB has been slow due to complexity of treatment and high drug costs. Promising new TB drugs in development need to be introduced rapidly and appropriately while treatment is being expanded. The introduction of more affordable artemisinin combination therapies for malaria contributed to significantly reducing malaria incidence and mortality, but challenges remain in ensuring that the latest recommendations for treating severe malaria are implemented. Looking to the next decade, there is a worrisome mismatch between additional health priorities accompanied by shifting burdens of disease that need to be addressed and dwindling political attention and financial support. Difficulties in producing and guaranteeing access to affordable medicines are expected from a changing pharmaceutical market where an appropriate balance between trade and health has not been found. Systematic changes through a global framework for research and development and access are needed to support increased innovation and access to the health tools of the next decade.
Propranolol for Infantile Hemangiomas
Authors: Levy Moise L.
Published: August 2012

Hemangiomas are common vascular birthmarks that usually present a predictable pattern of proliferation and ultimate involution. Most do not require any treatment. When intervention is clinically indicated, medical and surgical options exist. Historically, corticosteroids have been used and have been shown to slow or stop the growth of a majority of hemangiomas; however, growth concerns and infectious complications have complicated their use. In 2008, a letter to the editor in The New England Journal of Medicine described another serendipitous observation of the effect of the nonselective beta-blocker, propranolol, on hemangiomas in 9 cases. This finding has been expanded by the authors of this original observation as well as others.
A Homeopathic Arnica Patch for the Relief of Cellulitis-derived Pain and Numbness in the Hand
Authors: Barkey Elisabeth , Kaszkin-Bettag Marietta
Published: August 2012

Objectives:

Arnica montana, belonging to the Compositae family, is a plant with a longstanding tradition of relieving pain and/or inflammation in muscles and joints and may thus represent an alternative to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, which are often ineffective or lead to a number of adverse effects. A homeopathic arnica patch (3X dilution according to the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States) was developed to alleviate pain symptoms in the back and neck muscles and joints.

Case Presentation:

The present case report describes the treatment outcome after administration of the arnica patch in a 55-year-old female patient with pain in the right hand and numbness in the fourth finger after cellulitis in the palmar area. The cellulitis was treated with antibiotics, but pain symptoms remained at 7 points on a 0-to-10-point visual analog scale (VAS) for pain despite intake of oral ibuprofen and oral and topical application of an arnica-containing complex homeopathic ointment. Ten arnica patches were dispensed to the patient. She cut the patch into strips to cover all painful areas of the hand and applied them at night. After 3 days, she reported a substantial decrease in pain symptoms (VAS = 1) and a marked decrease in numbness and in the size of a tender nodule on the third meta-carpal area. Moreover, the patient was able to sleep through the night without being awakened by the pain. The symptoms declined further during the next 2 days.

Conclusion:

This case demonstrates that after a relatively short period of time, the administration of the arnica patch on the hand provided a marked reduction of pain and recovery of functionality of the hand.