bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geological interpretation of aerial magnetic and radiometric profiles, Arctic Archipelago, Northwest Territories
Authors: Gregory A F , Bower M E , Morley L W
Published: August 2015

Nine thousand line miles of widely spaced geophysical profiles were flown in conjunction with Operation Franklin, a geological exploration program carried out by the Geological Survey of Canada. Data were gathered along a series of traverses across the main
geological regions of the archipelago. The interpretation of the geophysical data substantiates the recognized regional structures, confirms general geological continuity between the islands and provides additional structural information in some areas. Noteworthy features are ( 1) the probable
horst-type structure of the Boothia Arch and its northward extension into southeastern Bathurst Island; (2) the relatively simple gross structure of the Palreozoic basins with the exception of certain fault-block structures; (3) a westerly trending regional fault that may offset the north end of the
Boothia Arch; ( 4) the probable absence in the Palreozoic fold belts of ferromagnetic rocks, with the exception of occasional small basic plutons; (5) the possible occurrence of a Palreozoic fold belt along the northwestern edge of the Sverdrup Basin; (6) the culmination of igneous activity and
folding in the eastern part of the Sverdrup Basin, although thin basic sheets probably occur in the western part also; (7) the great calculated thicknesses of the stratigraphic section except in the vicinity of the cratonic arches and edge of the Precambrian Shield; (8) the unique magnetic anomalies
over known gypsum domes; (9) and the relatively high radioactivity of certain formations on Bathurst Island. It is concluded that both aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric surveys will provide data useful for the geological study of this region. In particular, the magnetic contrasts may outline regional
and local structures of both academic and economic interest.
Stratigraphy and paleontology of the lowermost Upper Devonian Slave Point Formation on Lake Claire and the lower Upper Devonian Waterways Formation on Birch River, northeastern Alberta
Authors: Norris A W , Uyeno T T
Published: August 2015

Parts of the lowest Upper Devonian (lowest Frasnian) Slave Point Formation and lower Upper Devonian (lower Frasnian) Waterways Formation outcrop in the Lake Claire-Birch River area of northeastern Alberta. Slave Point beds consist of calcarenitic limestone and
the part of the Waterways Formation represented consists of a thin sequence of calcareous mudstone, argillaceous limestone and limestone.

The Slave Point contains a sparse poorly preserved megafauna suggestive of the Desguamatia (lndependatrypa) sp. cf. D. (I.) independensis Fauna that characterizes the upper part of the formation at Gypsum Cliffs, north of Lake Claire, where the fauna contains conodonts suggestive of the Lower
Polygnathus dengleri Subzone. The Waterways contain s a diverse but numerically sparse megafauna dominated by brachiopods that have their strongest affinities with forms in the Calumet and Christina Members of the Athabasca-Clearwater Rivers a rea of northeastern Alberta. The brachiopods represent a
single assemblage here refer red to as the Ladogioides asmenista Eleutherokomma jasperensis Fauna after its more diagnostic forms. Associated conodonts include Ancyrodella rotundiloba binodosa Uyeno, Ancyrodella rotundiloba rotundiloba (Byrant), Pandorinellina insita (Stauffer) and Mesotaxis
asymmetrica (Bischoff and Ziegler) as the more diagnostic elements that indicate assignment to the Lower Polygnathus asymmetricus Zone.

Eighteen brachiopod and fourteen conodont taxa are discussed and illustrated from the Waterways beds on Birch River.
Focus on Canadian landscapes
Authors: Blackadar R G , Vincent L E
Published: August 2015

Officers of the Geological Survey of Canada have been engaged in the task of studying, interpreting and explaining the geology of Canada for 130 years. For the first two decades pen-and-ink sketches were used to record field features and some of these were later
engraved and used to illustrate the early "Reports of Progress".

Photography was first used in 1860 by James Richardson, an officer of the Geological Survey who was then examining the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the island of Newfoundland. However, because of the time-consuming photographic processes then in use it was not until the 1870s that
photography became a common supplement to field observations.

In the past 100 years an extensive collection of photographs has been built up reflecting many aspects of Canada, especially the nature of the land and frontier life. The value of this collection to the nation is obvious and the older negatives now form part of the Public Archives.

This report comprises a selection of photographs designed to illustrate common landforms and the principal physiographic regions of our country. Some date from the 1870s, others from the 1970s. The collection is not presented as an example of high artistic attainment but as a working collection. The
inclusion of older photographs is not only of historic interest but is of current value as changes due to erosion or changing land use can readily be recognized.

The authors hope that this report will be of value and interest to the general public and especially to those engaged in the teaching of the earth sciences in Canada.
Genome-wide Identification of WRKY Genes in the Desert Poplar Populus euphratica and Adaptive Evolution of the Genes in Response to Salt Stress
Authors: Ma Jianchao , Lu Jing , Xu Jianmei , Duan Bingbing , He Xiaodong , Liu Jianquan
Published: August 2015

WRKY transcription factors play important roles in plant development and responses to various stresses in plants. However, little is known about the evolution of the WRKY genes in the desert poplar species Populus euphratica, which is highly tolerant of salt stress. In this study, we identified 107 PeWRKY genes from the P. euphratica genome and examined their evolutionary relationships with the WRKY genes of the salt-sensitive congener Populus trichocarpa. Ten PeWRKY genes are specific to P. euphratica, and five of these showed altered expression under salt stress. Furthermore, we found that two pairs of orthologs between the two species showed evidence of positive evolution, with dN/dS ratios >1 (nonsynonymous/synonymous substitutions), and both of them altered their expression in response to salinity stress. These findings suggested that both the development of new genes and positive evolution in some orthologs of the WRKY gene family may have played an important role in the acquisition of high salt tolerance by P. euphratica.
Convex Functions on Discrete Time Domains
Authors: Atıcı Ferhan M. , Yaldız Hatice
Published: August 2015

In this paper, we introduce the definition of a convex real valued function f defined on the set of integers, ℤ. We prove that f is convex on Z if and only if Δ2 f ≥ 0 on ℤ. As a first application of this new concept, we state and prove discrete Hermite–Hadamard inequality using the basics of discrete calculus (i.e., the calculus on Z). Second, we state and prove the discrete fractional Hermite–Hadamard inequality using the basics of discrete fractional calculus. We close the paper by defining the convexity of a real valued function on any time scale.
A Multilevel Correction Method for Steklov Eigenvalue Problem by Nonconforming Finite Element Methods
Authors: Han Xiaole , Li Yu , Xie Hehu
Published: August 2015

In this paper, a multilevel correction scheme is proposed to solve the Steklov eigenvalue problem by nonconforming finite element methods. With this new scheme, the accuracy of eigenpair approximations can be improved after each correction step which only needs to solve a source problem on finer finite element space and an Steklov eigenvalue problem on the coarsest finite element space. This correction scheme can increase the overall efficiency of solving eigenvalue problems by the nonconforming finite element method. Furthermore, as same as the direct eigenvalue solving by nonconforming finite element methods, this multilevel correction method can also produce the lower-bound approximations of the eigenvalues.
An Approximation of Three-Dimensional Semiconductor Devices by Mixed Finite Element Method and Characteristics-Mixed Finite Element Method
Authors: Yang Qing , Yuan Yirang
Published: August 2015

The mathematical model for semiconductor devices in three space dimensions are numerically discretized. The system consists of three quasi-linear partial differential equations about three physical variables: the electrostatic potential, the electron concentration and the hole concentration. We use standard mixed finite element method to approximate the elliptic electrostatic potential equation. For the two convection-dominated concentration equations, a characteristics-mixed finite element method is presented. The scheme is locally conservative. The optimalL2-norm error estimates are derived by the aid of a post-processing step. Finally, numerical experiments are presented to validate the theoretical analysis.
Copyright note for this edition - CC BY 4.0
Authors: . .
Published: August 2015

This is the first electronic publication of PAM Review: Energy Science & Technology. A hardcopy edition was published in 2014. This electronic first edition is published under a Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY 4.0).
Efficiency Comparisons of Secondary Biofuels
Authors: Day Connor , Tseng Yin-Chen , Puyol Reuben , Nissan Jessica
Published: August 2015

Biofuels are essential for the energy production of the future. This report is a meta-study of the efficiencies of first, second and third generation secondary biofuels used for transportation purposes. We present and compare data from several studies concerning the efficiency of converting raw biomass info biofuels. We also compare this data to the efficiencies of hydrogen and solar power transportation systems. The efficiency data was presented as percentages from ratios of different data types, primarily exergy and energy efficiency ratios, which are defined for each study throughout the report. The highest efficiency percentages were displayed by second-generation wood knot rejects that did not require pretreatment input energy and resulted in high-energy ethanol output. The lowest efficiency percentages were from quasi-solar thermophotovoltaic radiator technology, heightening the reputation of biofuels as the efficient, renewable transportation energy source of tomorrow.
Remote sensing of soot carbon – Part 2: Understanding the absorption Angstrom exponent
Authors: Schuster G. L. , Dubovik O. , Arola A. , Eck T. F. , Holben B. N.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Recently, some authors have suggested that the absorption Angstrom exponent (AAE) can be used to deduce the component aerosol absorption optical depths (AAOD) of carbonaceous aerosols in the AERONET database. This "AAE approach" presumes that AAE ≪ 1 for soot carbon, which contrasts the traditional small particle limit of AAE = 1 for soot carbon. Thus, we provide an overview of the AERONET retrieval, and investigate how the microphysics of carbonaceous aerosols can be interpreted in the AERONET AAE product. We find that AAE ≪ 1 in the AERONET database requires large coarse mode fractions and/or imaginary refractive indices that increase with wavelength. Neither of these characteristics are consistent with the current definition of soot carbon, so we explore other possibilities for the cause of AAE ≪ 1. We note that AAE is related to particle size, and that coarse mode particles have a smaller AAE than fine mode particles for a given aerosol mixture of species. We also note that the mineral goethite has an imaginary refractive index that increases with wavelength, is very common in dust regions, and can easily contribute to AAE ≪ 1. We find that AAE ≪ 1 can not be caused by soot carbon, unless soot carbon has an imaginary refractive index that increases with wavelength throughout the visible and near infrared spectrums. Finally, AAE is not a robust parameter for separating carbonaceous absorption from dust aerosol absorption in the AERONET database.
A dual, single detector relaxed eddy accumulation system for long-term measurement of mercury flux
Authors: Osterwalder S. , Fritsche J. , Nilsson M. B. , Alewell C. , Sommar J. , Jocher G. , Schmutz M. , Rinne J. , Bishop K.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The fate of anthropogenic emissions of mercury (Hg) to the atmosphere is influenced by the exchange of elemental Hg with the earth surface. This exchange which holds the key to a better understanding of Hg cycling from local to global scales has been difficult to quantify. To advance and facilitate research about land–atmosphere Hg interactions, we developed a dual-intake, single analyzer Relaxed Eddy Accumulation (REA) system. REA is an established technique for measuring turbulent fluxes of trace gases and aerosol particles in the atmospheric surface layer. Accurate determination of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) fluxes has proven difficult to technical challenges presented by extremely small concentration differences (typically < 0.5 ng m−3) between updrafts and downdrafts. To address this we present an advanced REA design that uses two inlets and two pair of gold cartridges for semi-continuous monitoring of GEM fluxes. They are then analyzed sequentially on the same detector while another pair of gold cartridges takes over the sample collection. We also added a reference gas module for repeated quality-control measurements. To demonstrate the system performance, we present results from field campaigns in two contrasting environments: an urban setting with a heterogeneous fetch and a boreal mire during snow-melt. The observed emission rates were 15 and 3 ng m−2 h−1. We claim that this dual-inlet, single detector approach is a significant development of the REA system for ultra-trace gases and can help to advance our understanding of long-term land–atmosphere GEM exchange.
Mineralization of soluble P fertilizers and insoluble rock phosphate in response to phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and poultry manure and their effect on the growth and P utilization efficiency of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Abbasi M. K. , Musa N. , Manzoor M.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The ability of soil microorganisms and organic manure to convert insoluble phosphorus (P) to an accessible form offers a biological rescue system for improving P utilization efficiency in soil–plant systems. Our objective was to examine the P mineralization potential of two soluble P fertilizers (SPF), i.e., single superphosphate (SSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), and of insoluble rock phosphate (RP) with and without phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and poultry manure (PM) and their subsequent effect on the growth, yield and P utilization efficiency (PUE) of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). An incubation study was carried out on a loam (slightly alkaline) soil with 12 treatments: T0 – control; T1 – RP; T2 – SSP; T3 – DAP; T4 – PM; T5 – 1/2 RP+1/2 SSP; T6 – 1/2 RP+1/2 DAP; T7 – 1/2 RP+1/2 PM; T8 – RP+PSB; T9 – 1/2 RP+1/2 SSP+PSB; T10 – 1/2 RP+1/2 DAP+PSB; and T11 – 1/2 RP+1/2 PM+PSB. Phosphorus mineralization was measured by analyzing extractable P from the amended soil incubated under controlled conditions at 25 °C for periods of 0, 5, 15, 25, 35 and 60 days. A complementary greenhouse experiment was conducted in pots with chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) as a test crop. Growth, yield, P uptake and PUE of the chilli was determined during the study. Results indicated that P mineralization in soil amended with RP was 6.0–11.5 mg kg−1, while both soluble P fertilizers resulted in 68–73 mg P kg−1 at day 0, which decreased by 79–82 % at the end of incubation. The integrated use of PSB and PM with RP in T11 stimulated P mineralization by releasing a maximum of 25 mg P kg−1 that was maintained at high levels without any loss. Use of PSB decreased soil pH. In the greenhouse experiment, RP alone or RP+PSB did not have a significant impact on plant growth. However, the combined use of RP, PM and PSB in T11 resulted in similar growth, yield and P uptake of chilli as DAP. The PUE of applied P varied from 4 to 29 % and was higher in the treatments that included PSB. We conclude that the use of PSB and PM with insoluble RP or with soluble P fertilizers could be a promising approach to enhance P availability from both low-grade RP and SPF for crop production in intensive cropping systems.
Designing optimal greenhouse gas monitoring networks for Australia
Authors: Ziehn T. , Law R. M. , Rayner P. J. , Roff G.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Atmospheric transport inversion is commonly used to infer greenhouse gas (GHG) flux estimates from concentration measurements. The optimal location of ground based observing stations that supply these measurements can be determined by network design. Here, we use a Lagrangian particle dispersion model (LPDM) in reverse mode together with a Bayesian inverse modelling framework to derive optimal GHG observing networks for Australia. This extends the network design for carbon dioxide (CO2) performed by Ziehn et al. (2014) to also minimize the uncertainty on the flux estimates for methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), both individually and in a combined network using multiple objectives. Optimal networks are generated by adding up to 5 new stations to the base network, which is defined as two existing stations, Cape Grim and Gunn Point, in southern and northern Australia respectively. The individual networks for CO2, CH4 and N2O and the combined observing network show large similarities because the flux uncertainties for each GHG are dominated by regions of biologically productive land. There is little penalty, in terms of flux uncertainty reduction, for the combined network compared to individually designed networks. The location of the stations in the combined network is sensitive to variations in the assumed data uncertainty across locations. A simple assessment of economic costs has been included in our network design approach, considering both establishment and maintenance costs. Our results suggest that while site logistics change the optimal network, there is only a small impact on the flux uncertainty reductions achieved with increasing network size.
The Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere model version 1.0: description, evaluation and implementation into NASA GISS ModelE2
Authors: Yue X. , Unger N.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The land biosphere, atmospheric chemistry and climate are intricately interconnected, yet the modeling of carbon–climate and chemistry–climate interactions have evolved as entirely separate research communities. We describe the Yale Interactive terrestrial Biosphere (YIBs) model version 1.0, a land carbon cycle model that has been developed for coupling to the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) ModelE2 global chemistry–climate model. The YIBs model adapts routines from the mature TRIFFID (Top-down Representation of Interactive Foliage and Flora Including Dynamics) and CASA (Carnegie–Ames–Stanford Approach) models to simulate interactive carbon assimilation, allocation, and autotrophic and heterotrophic respiration. Dynamic daily leaf area index is simulated based on carbon allocation and temperature- and drought-dependent prognostic phenology. YIBs incorporates a semi-mechanistic ozone vegetation damage scheme. Here, we validate the present-day YIBs land carbon fluxes for three increasingly complex configurations: (i) offline local site level, (ii) offline global forced with WFDEI (WATCH Forcing Data methodology applied to ERA-Interim data) meteorology, and (iii) online coupled to the NASA ModelE2 (NASA ModelE2-YIBs). Offline YIBs has hourly and online YIBs has half-hourly temporal resolution. The large observational database used for validation includes carbon fluxes from 145 flux tower sites and multiple satellite products. At the site level, YIBs simulates reasonable seasonality (correlation coefficient R > 0.8) of gross primary productivity (GPP) at 121 out of 145 sites with biases in magnitude ranging from −19 to 7 % depending on plant functional type. On the global scale, the offline model simulates an annual GPP of 125 ± 3 Pg C and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of −2.5 ± 0.7 Pg C for 1982–2011, with seasonality and spatial distribution consistent with the satellite observations. We assess present-day global ozone vegetation damage using the offline YIBs configuration. Ozone damage reduces global GPP by 2–5 % annually with regional extremes of 4–10 % in east Asia. The online model simulates annual GPP of 123 ± 1 Pg C and NEE of −2.7 ± 0.7 Pg C. NASA ModelE2-YIBs is a useful new tool to investigate coupled interactions between the land carbon cycle, atmospheric chemistry, and climate change.
Revision of the convective transport module CVTRANS 2.4 in the EMAC atmospheric chemistry–climate model
Authors: Ouwersloot H. G. , Pozzer A. , Steil B. , Tost H. , Lelieveld J.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. The convective transport module, CVTRANS, of the ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model has been revised to better represent the physical flows and incorporate recent findings on the properties of the convective plumes. The modifications involve (i) applying intermediate time stepping based on a settable criterion, (ii) using an analytic expression to account for the intra-time-step mixing ratio evolution below cloud base, and (iii) implementing a novel expression for the mixing ratios of atmospheric compounds at the base of an updraft. Even when averaged over a year, the predicted mixing ratios of atmospheric compounds are affected considerably by the intermediate time stepping. For example, for an exponentially decaying atmospheric tracer with a lifetime of 1 day, the zonal averages can locally differ by more than a factor of 6 and the induced root mean square deviation from the original code is, weighted by the air mass, higher than 40 % of the average mixing ratio. The other modifications result in smaller differences. However, since they do not require additional computational time, their application is also recommended.
Comparing the Ensemble and Extended Kalman Filters for in situ soil moisture assimilation with contrasting soil conditions
Authors: Fairbairn D. , Barbu A. L. , Mahfouf J.-F. , Calvet J.-C. , Gelati E.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Two data assimilation methods are compared for their ability to produce a deterministic soil moisture analysis on the Météo-France land surface model: (i) SEKF, a Simplified Extended Kalman Filter, which uses a climatological background-error covariance, (ii) EnSRF, the Ensemble Square Root Filter, which uses an ensemble background-error covariance and approximates random forcing errors stochastically. The accuracy of the deterministic analysis is measured on 12 sites with in situ observations and various soil textures in Southwest France (SMOSMANIA network). In the experiments with real observations, the two methods perform similarly and improve on the open loop. Both methods suffer from incorrect linear assumptions which are particularly degrading to the analysis during water-stressed conditions: the EnSRF by a dry bias and the SEKF by an over-sensitivity of the model Jacobian between the surface and the root zone layers. These problems are less severe for sandy soils than clay soils because sandy soils are less sensitive to perturbations in the initial conditions. A simple bias correction technique is tested on the EnSRF. Although this reduces the bias, it also suppresses the ensemble spread, which degrades the analysis performance. However, the EnSRF flow-dependent background-error covariance evidently captures seasonal variability in the soil moisture errors and should exploit planned improvements in the model physics. Synthetic experiments demonstrate that when there is only a random component in the precipitation forcing errors, the correct stochastic representation of these errors enables the EnSRF to perform better than the SEKF. But in the real experiments the same rainfall error specification does not improve the EnSRF analysis. It is likely that the actual rainfall errors are underestimated and that other sources of errors could limit the usefulness of this information. More comprehensive ways of representing the rainfall errors are suggested, which might improve the EnSRF performance.
Numerical models for ground deformation and gravity changes during volcanic unrest: simulating the hydrothermal system dynamics of an active caldera
Authors: Coco A. , Gottsmann J. , Whitaker F. , Rust A. , Currenti G. , Jasim A. , Bunney S.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Ground deformation and gravity changes in active calderas during periods of unrest can signal an impending eruption and thus must be correctly interpreted for hazard evaluation. It is critical to differentiate variation of geophysical observables related to volume and pressure changes induced by magma migration from shallow hydrothermal activity associated with hot fluids of magmatic origin rising from depth. In this paper we present a numerical model to evaluate the thermo-poroelastic response of the hydrothermal system in a caldera setting by simulating pore pressure and thermal expansion associated with deep injection of hot fluids (water and carbon dioxide). Hydrothermal fluid circulation is simulated using TOUGH2, a multicomponent multiphase simulator of fluid flows in porous media. Changes in pore pressure and temperature are then evaluated and fed into a thermo-poroelastic model (one-way coupling), which is based on a finite-difference numerical method designed for axi-symmetric problems in unbounded domains. Based on data for the Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy), a series of simulations assess the influence of fluid injection rates and mechanical properties on the hydrothermal system, uplift and gravity. Heterogeneities in hydrological and mechanical properties associated with the presence of ring faults are a key determinant of the fluid flow pattern and consequently the geophysical observables. Peaks (in absolute value) of uplift and gravity change profiles computed at the ground surface are located close to injection points (namely at the centre of the model and fault areas). Temporal evolution of the ground deformation indicates that the contribution of thermal effects to the total uplift is almost negligible with respect to the pore pressure contribution during the first years of the unrest, but increases in time and becomes dominant after a long period of the simulation. After a transient increase over the first years of unrest, gravity changes become negative and decrease monotonically towards a steady state value. Since the physics of the investigated hydrothermal system is similar to any fluid-filled reservoir, such as oil fields or CO2 reservoirs produced by sequestration, the generic formulation of the model will allow it to be employed in monitoring and interpretation of deformation and gravity data associated with other geophysical hazards that pose a risk to human activity.
Mapping snow depth from manned aircraft on landscape scales at centimeter resolution using structure-from-motion photogrammetry
Authors: Nolan M. , Larsen C. , Sturm M.
Published: August 2015

Abstract. Airborne photogrammetry is undergoing a renaissance: lower-cost equipment, more powerful software, and simplified methods have significantly lowered the barriers to entry and now allow repeat mapping of cryospheric dynamics at spatial resolutions and temporal frequencies that were previously too expensive to consider. Here we apply these advancements to the measurement of snow depth from manned aircraft. Our main airborne hardware consists of a consumer-grade digital camera directly coupled to a dual-frequency GPS; no inertial motion unit (IMU) or on-board computer is required, such that system hardware and software costs less than USD 30 000, exclusive of aircraft. The photogrammetric processing is done using a commercially available implementation of the structure from motion (SfM) algorithm. The system is simple enough that it can be operated by the pilot without additional assistance and the technique creates directly georeferenced maps without ground control, further reducing overall costs. To map snow depth, we made digital elevation models (DEMs) during snow-free and snow-covered conditions, then subtracted these to create difference DEMs (dDEMs). We assessed the accuracy (real-world geolocation) and precision (repeatability) of our DEMs through comparisons to ground control points and to time series of our own DEMs. We validated these assessments through comparisons to DEMs made by airborne lidar and by a similar photogrammetric system. We empirically determined that our DEMs have a geolocation accuracy of ±30 cm and a repeatability of ±8 cm (both 95 % confidence). We then validated our dDEMs against more than 6000 hand-probed snow depth measurements at 3 separate test areas in Alaska covering a wide-variety of terrain and snow types. These areas ranged from 5 to 40 km2 and had ground sample distances of 6 to 20 cm. We found that depths produced from the dDEMs matched probe depths with a 10 cm standard deviation, and were statistically identical at 95 % confidence. Due to the precision of this technique, other real changes on the ground such as frost heave, vegetative compaction by snow, and even footprints become sources of error in the measurement of thin snow packs (< 20 cm). The ability to directly measure such small changes over entire landscapes eliminates the need to extrapolate limited field measurements. The fact that this mapping can be done at substantially lower costs than current methods may transform the way we approach studying change in the cryosphere.
Language as Symbolic Action: A Burkean Analysis of Césaire’s Cahier d’un retour au pays natal
Authors: Binnie Chelsea R.
Published: August 2015

This paper sets out to put Kenneth Burke’s thought on language as representative of symbolic action into conversation with Aimé Césaire’s epic poem, Cahier d’un retour au pays natal. The paper is divided into three main sections that set the stage for Burke and Césaire’s work to converse. The first section lays out an overview of Kenneth Burke’s thought on language paying particular attention to his definition of man, understanding of symbolism and symbolic action, and thoughts on poetry and poetics. The second section provides a working history of African philosophy, the Négritude movement, Césaire as a philosopher, politician, and poet, and provides an overview of main themes and intentions present in Cahier. The third section works to put Burke and Césaire into conversation by using Burke’s understanding of symbolic action and his notion of order and identification to examine key passages from Césaire’s Cahier. The paper works to present an informative and textured engagement between the work of Kenneth Burke and Aimé Césaire.
Parenting Stress and Need Assessment of Families with Disabled Children across Himachal Himalaya
Authors: Ranta Randhir S. , Sharma Vijay Kumar , Gupta Pankaj
Published: August 2015

The study pertains to the parenting stress, which is believed to be the resultant of child disability and further assesses the needs of the families across selected pockets of Himachal Himalaya. Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ) and Need Assessment Scale were used for the purpose. For assessing the stress level among the parents, PQS was administered among two hundred parents having disabled children, herein called experimental group and two hundred parents with normal children, herein called control group. A three point Need assessment scale was used to measure the needs of 200 families on five different parameters. The result of t-test shows the significant difference between experimental and control groups indicating that the parents of disabled children experience more stress than their control counterpart. The study indicates that people need proper guidance and information regarding a child’s disability, nutritional requirements of a child, vocational training and child management. There is a need for proper counselling for parents suffering from stress and creating consciousness among parents of children with disabilities and in the society.
The PrinceAgainst Prudence:
Authors: Bush Randall
Published: August 2015

This article explores an alternative logic of imprudence at work in Machiavelli's The Prince, a text seemingly defined by its prudence. Arguing that crucial engagements with The Prince by Eugene Garver and Robert Hariman operate as “prudent” readings, I note that the text offers durable resources for radical political and rhetorical imagination. Such resources are recoverable, however, only in and through an alternative, imprudent, reading strategy. Following the work of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, I read The Prince—particularly in its aesthetic and rhetorical articulation of “the people”—neither as a manual for princes or realpolitik but as both irreducible plurality and differential network, reflecting a political imagination at work in the text beyond modern calculation. Reading The Prince imprudently, I explore the necessary interconnection between rhetorical reading and political thinking—and the subsequent importance of understanding political theory as an aesthetic and textual practice.
Pragmatism, Pluralism, and World Hypotheses:
Authors: Stroud Scott R.
Published: August 2015

This article addresses the ongoing debate between pluralistic and monistic approaches to dealing with critical disagreement. I return to the theory of world hypotheses advanced by Stephen C. Pepper, an understudied figure in aesthetics and pragmatism, to enunciate a version of pluralism that centers on the nature of critical evidence and its functioning in social settings of argument. I argue that Pepper's expansive philosophy holds interesting implications for what can be called the metaphysics of criticism, a point missed by partisans of standard views of pluralism and monism. Building on his analysis of equally autonomous (but noncommensurable) world hypotheses, this study enunciates an explicit notion of rhetorical pluralism that goes beyond simple relativism. This account can be labeled “evidentiary pluralism,” since it internalizes standards for evaluation to specific worldviews and recognizes their changeable nature in the context of critical disagreement.
Anatomical and functional outcome after bilateral scrotal flap in penile reconstruction
Authors: Pungrasmi Pornthep , Chayasadom Anon , Angspatt Apichai
Published: August 2015

Background: Injection of alloplastic material underneath the penile skin for penile augmentation causes many complications such as inflammation, infection, ulceration, and pain during sexual activity. One of the treatments for complications after these penile augmentation procedures is surgical excision of the foreign body granuloma followed by penile skin coverage with bilateral scrotal flaps. There are no prior prospective studies published about anatomical and functional outcomes.

Objective: To study the anatomical and functional outcome of one-stage bilateral scrotal flap reconstruction in patients after surgical removal of paraffinoma from penile shafts.

Methods: Patients who suffered from complications of penile foreign body granuloma were treated by surgical excision and reconstruction with bilateral scrotal flaps. The penile lengths and circumferences when flaccid and erect were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively. The patients were interviewed using questionnaires and satisfaction scored to determine their sexual experiences were recorded before and after surgery.

Results: Thirteen patients were enrolled in this study. The mean follow-up time was 23.5 (11.5-40.5) weeks. The mean erectile length and the maximal circumference were 11.8 (9-15) cm, 14.5 (11.5-17) cm preoperatively, and 11.7 (10-14) cm, 11.8 (10-13) cm postoperatively. Satisfaction scores of sexual activity is 6.84 (0-9) preoperatively, and 8.38 (5-10) postoperatively.

Conclusion: One-stage bilateral scrotal flap coverage is a good option for penile skin reconstruction. This technique can achieve satisfactory results both anatomically and functionally.
Early interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation significantly improves the quality of life of stroke survivors: a multi-center study
Authors: Piravej Krisna , Konjen Nipaporn , Cowintaveewat Vasana , Kuptniratsaikul Vilai , Kuptniratsaikul Patcharawimol Srisa-an
Published: August 2015

Background: Interdisciplinary and intensive stroke rehabilitation programs have been shown to be positively correlated with improved functional outcomes. However, data regarding their combined use on the quality of life (QOL) of stroke survivors appears scant.

Objective: To evaluate whether interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation programs for stroke survivors can improve their health-related QOL (HRQOL) scores and whether the timing of the interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation has a significant effect on HRQOL scores.

Materials and Methods: This was a multi-center, prospective study. Patients were retrospectively selected from the Thai Stroke Rehabilitation Registry database. Three hundred seventy-six stroke patients from nine main tertiary hospitals in Thailand who had received acute stroke rehabilitation were screened between March and December 2006. Two hundred seven patients completed World Health Organization Quality of Life scale abbreviated Thai version (WHOQOL-BREF-Thai) questionnaires and were divided into two groups based on the time after onset of stroke to start interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation: sub-acute (<1 month) and chronic (≥1 month). WHOQOL-BREF-Thai questionnaires were composed of four domains (physical health, psychological well being, social relationships and environment satisfaction), which were administered to the patients before and after interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation to assess QOL.

Results: After interdisciplinary intensive rehabilitation, patients from both groups showed significant improvement in their quality of life in all domains, sex life and family relationships. However, patients from the sub-acute group had more significant improvement in their environment domain, family relationships and overall WHOQOL scores than those in the chronic group.

Conclusion: Early interdisciplinary intensive stroke rehabilitation can significantly improve environment domain, family relationships and overall WHOQOL of stroke patients.
The effect of the Thai “Eye Drop Guide” on success rate of eye drop self-instillation by glaucoma patients
Authors: Sakiyalak Darin , Maneephagaphun Krissana , Metheetrairat Ankana , Ruangvaravate Ngamkae , Kitnarong Naris
Published: August 2015

Background: Noncompliance can mislead clinicians regarding the efficacy of therapy and result in more aggressive, but inappropriate treatment. Improper techniques used for eye drop instillation frequently occurs in chronic glaucoma patients. The Thai Eye Drop Guide (EDG) device has been developed to ensure precise instillation. However, whether the EDG is more effective than the traditional technique when careful instructions for both techniques are given is still unknown.

Objective: To compare success rates of eye drop self-instillation by chronic glaucoma patients using a traditional technique and the EDG when careful instructions for both are given.

Methods: Fifty-nine chronic glaucoma patients were instructed to instill eye drops using the EDG or a traditional technique in a randomized sequence. A two week practice period was assigned before groups were crossed-over. The instillation performance was VDO recorded after each practice period. Three criteria of success: time taken to instill an eye drop into the eye; instillation of only one drop; and without the bottle tip touching lids, lashes, periocular tissues, or the other hand, were scored by three independent readers from video-records. The readers were blinded to the sequence to which the patients were randomized.

Results: There were no significant differences in success rates between the EDG and traditional technique (61.0% and 66.1% respectively, p = 0.607) and the number of drops dispensed per application (median of 1 drop in both groups, p = 0.89). The time taken to instill eye drops with the EDG was significantly longer than using the traditional technique (median of 19 and 9 s respectively, p < 0.001). Older age (p = 0.049, OR 4.23) and more education (p = 0.025, OR 0.19) were found to be significantly associated with failure of the EDG.

Conclusion: EDG is not more effective than a traditional technique in terms of improving dispensing accuracy and decreasing the drops dispensed per application even when careful instructions are given. The results suggest that, if good instructions are provided, experienced glaucoma patients can improve their eye drop instillation performance.
Burns in Tehran: demographic, etiological, and clinical trends
Authors: Bahar Mohammad Ali , Pakyari Mohammadreza , Bahar Rayeheh
Published: August 2015

Background: Burns are a major public health problem. They often require intensive care and long periods of hospitalization. In Tehran, about 5% of all hospitalized injuries are burns. There are no published long-term epidemiological studies regarding burn injuries of adults in Iran.

Objective: To identify risk factors for burn injuries and provide a starting point for the establishment of an effective prevention plan.

Methods: We analyzed the demographic, etiological, and clinical data of 1860 burn patients admitted to a major acute care hospital in Tehran between March 2010 and April 2011. Data were obtained from the registry recorded in Shahid Motahari Trauma Hospital and evaluated using a chi-square test.

Results: Males were more than twice as likely to be burn patients than females (72.0% vs. 28.0%). Second and third-degree burns with a body surface area of 21%-30% constituted the highest injury reported (75.3%). The most common causes of the recorded burns were natural gas, gasoline (42%) and open fire (10.2%). Unintentional burns were reported in 85% of the cases, and 15% of the burn victims were suicide-related incidents; mainly among women. In 75% of suicide attempts, women set themselves on fire to commit suicide. The mean duration of hospitalization was 25 days and the mortality rate was 10.7%. Mean age of reported deaths was 38.6 years; with a mean of 30 years among women and 51.5 years among men.

Conclusion: The group at highest risk was young men 21-30 years old. However, an astonishing finding was that 75% of suicidal-related incidents involved women setting themselves on fire. Those with the highest mortality rate were victims of burns with gas, gasoline, and kerosene; with a mean age of 30 years of death among women.
Effects of daidzein on testosterone secretion in cultured immature mouse testis
Authors: Zhang Liuping , Shao Genbao , Pan Yaoqian
Published: August 2015

Background: Daidzein is a major isoflavone in soybeans. Several in vivo studies have showed that daidzein can affect immature male testosterone production. However, whether daidzein has direct action on immature male testis is unknown.

Objective: We investigated the effects of daidzein on testosterone secretion in 3-day-old and 21-day-old mouse Leydig cells with organotypic culture model.

Materials and Methods: The testes were exposed to different concentrations (10-7to 10-4M) of daidzein for 72 h with medium changed every 24 h. From 72 to 75 h of culture, 100 ng/ml human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was added. The testosterone production was determined, and the related mechanisms of daidzein action were also evaluated by measuring the mRNA levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD-1) involved in testosterone biosynthesis.

Results: The results revealed that in the presence of 100 ng/ml hCG, 10-7to 10-5M daidzein had no significant effect on testosterone secretion in cultured 3-day-old mouse testis. But 10-4M daidzein significantly increased testosterone concentration (p < 0.05). Daidzein in range of studied doses had no obvious influence on testosterone production in cultured 21-day-old mouse testis. RT-PCR results showed that 10-4M daidzein had obvious influence on the mRNA levels of StAR, P450scc and 3β-HSD-1 in cultured 3-day-old mouse testis (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: These results suggest that daidzein mainly influences neonatal mouse testis function, and the influence is partially related to the upregulation of StAR, P450scc, and 3β-HSD-1 mRNA levels.
Transperitoneal laparoscopic adrenalectomy: a review and single-center experience
Authors: Panumatrassamee Kamol , Usawachintachit Manint , Ratchanon Supoj , Santi-ngamkun Apirak
Published: August 2015

Background: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy (LA) is the preferred approach to adrenal gland tumors.

Objective: To evaluate the perioperative and functional outcomes of transperitoneal LA.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data of all consecutive patients who underwent transperitoneal LA at our institution between April 2000 and December 2011.

Results: Two hundred two patients with mean age of 46 years were included in the study. There were 109 left, 89 right, and 4 bilateral tumors. Preoperative diagnosis included 126 aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA), 33 patients with Cushing syndrome, 19 pheochromocytomas, 20 nonfunctional tumors, and 4 adrenal metastases. Mean tumor size was 3.3 cm (range 0.4-22 cm). Mean operative time was 109 min and estimated blood loss 90 mL for unilateral adrenalectomy; and 195 min and 300 mL for bilateral adrenalectomy. Four patients with pheochromocytoma required transfusion and 2 required conversion to an open approach. Seven intraoperative complications and 18 30-day postoperative complications occurred. These included 5 major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade 3-5). Ninety-seven percent of APA patients had normal serum potassium levels after surgery. Among the patients with functioning endocrine tumors, complete resolution rate from secondary hypertension was significantly higher in the pheochromocytoma group compared with those with APA or Cushing syndrome (82% vs. 48% vs. 68% respectively, p = 0.02). Mean follow up was 35.2 months.

Conclusion: LA is the treatment of choice for most adrenal gland tumors with excellent outcomes and low complication rates. There was a high chance for complete resolution of secondary hypertension after surgery for pheochromocytoma.
Original article. Human dental pulp stem cells as a potential feeder layer for human embryonic stem cell culture
Authors: Chattong Supreecha , Rungsiwiwut Ruttachuk , Yindeedej Wittaya , Sereemaspun Amornpun , Pruksananonda Kamthorn , Virutamasen Pramuan , Setpakdee Anant , Manotham Krissanapong
Published: August 2015

Background: Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are pluripotent, and can differentiate into three germ layers. Traditionally, cultures of hES cells are maintained in a system containing mouse embryonic fibroblasts as a feeder layer for support of undifferentiated growth. However, contamination by animal cells limits the use of hES cells.

Objective: We evaluated the use of human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) as a feeder layer for hES cell culture. It should be possible to obtain a new source of human mesenchymal stem cells for feeder cells to maintain undifferentiated growth of hES cells.

Methods: hDPSCs from removed impacted wisdom teeth (third molars) were extracted, cultured, and characterized for mesenchymal stem cell properties. Furthermore, hDPSCs were used as a feeder layer for culturing Chula2 and Chula5 hES cell lines. Finally, hES cell lines grown on hDPSCs feeders were examined embryonic stem cell properties.

Results: We found that hDPSCs, which have mesenchymal properties, can support undifferentiated growth of hES cell lines. After prolonged culture (passage 17), these hES cell lines still maintain ES cell properties including typical morphology seen in hES cells, the expression of pluripotency markers (Oct4, Sox2, Nanog, Rex1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, and TRA-1-81), embryoid body formation and retention of a normal karyotype.

Conclusion: hDPSCs, derived from the pulp tissue of impacted third molars, are a potential source of human feeder cells for the culture of undifferentiated hES cells.