bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Engineering of indole-based tethered biheterocyclic alkaloid meridianin into β-carboline-derived tetracyclic polyheterocycles via amino functionalization/6-endo cationic π-cyclization
Authors: Agarwal Piyush Kumar , Dathi Meena Devi , Saifuddin Mohammad , Kundu Bijoy
Published: November 2012

A mild, efficient and versatile method has been developed for the construction of a functionalized natural product, meridianin, and its post conversion to pyrimido-β-carboline by cationic π- cyclization. The strategy involves the introduction of an amino group at the C-5 of the pyrimidine ring and utilizing the nucleophilictiy of the C-2 in the indole ring to facilitate cationic π-cyclization.
Religion et parenté dans Les formes élémentaires
Authors: Porqueres i Gené Enric
Published: November 2012

Résumé L’article met en lumière la place structurante de la parenté et ses représentations dans la construction des Formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse . Dans ses travaux antérieurs sur le totémisme, Durkheim avait souligné le caractère religieux de la parenté. Dans Les Formes élémentaires , au contraire, suite aux critiques adressées à ses thèses sur la coprésence du totémisme et de l’exogamie, il sépare sociologie de la religion et sociologie de la famille. Pourtant, dans Les Formes , il dresse un système de correspondances entre personne, consubstantialité clanique et ordre cosmique qui viennent annoncer les points de vue contemporains sur la définition de la parenté. Durkheim apparaît ainsi comme un précurseur inattendu de l’anthropologie de la parenté d’aujourd’hui.
Le débat philosophique autour des Formes élémentaires (1912-1914)
Authors: Soulié Stéphan
Published: November 2012

Résumé Si la publication des Formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse est saluée comme un événement scientifique majeur, les thèses de Durkheim suscitent des réserves au sein de la communauté philosophique. Tout d’abord, l’affirmation selon laquelle la sociologie échapperait au conflit entre science et religion ne convainc guère. D’autre part, la discussion, parfois polémique, réactive un argumentaire déjà ancien contre le « sociologisme » et met en évidence l’articulation problématique, au cœur du programme durkheimien, de la démarche scientifique et de l’ambition philosophique. Davantage que la théorie de la religion élaborée par Durkheim, son prolongement en direction d’une théorie sociologique de la connaissance heurte de front la « tradition philosophique ». Enfin, la réception des Formes élémentaires révèle l’ambiguïté du déploiement, à l’intérieur d’un cadre de pensée rationaliste et laïque, d’une « apologétique » sociologique mettant l’accent sur la « vertu dynamogénique » de la religion, sur sa fonction morale. De façon générale, la discussion témoigne d’une résistance à la prétention affichée par Durkheim de renouveler la spéculation philosophique à partir de la sociologie.
Les Formes élémentaires et la sociologie contemporaine
Authors: Coenen-Huther Jacques
Published: November 2012

Résumé La théorie de la religion présentée dans Les Formes élémentaires de la vie religieuse est l’un des aspects les plus discutés de l’œuvre de Durkheim. Des critiques ont été formulées à plusieurs points de vue. Le livre a cependant continué à susciter les commentaires des exégètes. On aurait pu néanmoins s’attendre à ce que son rayonnement faiblisse. C’est pourtant l’inverse qui s’est produit. L’ouvrage a suscité un regain d’intérêt dans les dernières décennies du xx e  siècle. Au cours des années 1930, Parsons avait déjà souligné l’importance du symbolisme dans Les Formes élémentaires . Cette dimension symbolique fut une source d’inspiration pour les travaux de Bellah, d’Alexander et de Habermas. Quant à Boudon, c’est l’élément rationaliste de la théorie durkheimienne qui attira son attention. L’argumentation présentée dans le livre est à ses yeux une contribution majeure à la sociologie de la connaissance.
Le long parcours de l'abolition de la peine de mort
Authors: Bersay Claude
Published: November 2012

Résumé L’article retrace les arguments et les controverses qui ont alimenté un long débat, souvent passionné, sur l’abolition de la peine de mort.
L'évolution de la peine de mort dans la Grèce moderne : réflexion sur l'opposition entre peine capitale et dignité humaine
Authors: Chalanouli Christina
Published: November 2012

Résumé Cet article part d’une réflexion très simple à savoir que la peine de mort est injuste dans sa nature. Pour fonder notre point de vue nous avons essayé de l’illustrer à partir de la présentation de l’évolution à la fois historique et doctrinale de la peine capitale dans l’État grec moderne. Nous avons souligné qu’elle nie la dignité humaine, parce qu’elle transforme l’homme en moyen de la société politique, alors qu’elle est censée toujours être sa fin.
Crise écologique : vers un jardin des pays riches
Authors: Bouleau Nicolas
Published: November 2012

Vingt ans après le sommet de Rio, qu’en est-il des négociations internationales sur l’environnement ? Force est de constater que bien peu de choses ont été faites, si bien que c’est un choix par défaut qui s’impose : faute d’investir aujourd’hui, on reporte les décisions à demain. Ce qui veut dire que nous acceptons de fait une « écologie à deux vitesses », entre les pays qui auront les moyens de limiter les dégâts de la crise environnementale, et ceux qui seront démunis face aux risques écologiques.
Métamorphose de l'espace public
Authors: Mongin Olivier
Published: November 2012

À l’heure où les lieux publics se font moins monumentaux, où l’espace virtuel semble parfois prendre le pas sur l’espace matériel, comment repenser l’espace public ? Les rues, les places sont trop souvent modelées, balisées ; il s’agit donc de reconfigurer ces lieux de passage pour retrouver une diversité des vitesses, des échelles, dans l’arpentage de l’espace public.
Les espaces ouverts de Rogelio Salmona à Bogotá
Authors: Mongin Olivier
Published: November 2012

L’architecte franco-colombien Rogelio Salmona a marqué Bogotá de son empreinte ; ses projets s’inscrivent dans une attention au contexte, au site, au lieu, qui en fait de véritables espaces publics, privilégiant l’accès du plus grand nombre et la lisibilité du bâtiment qui s’inscrit dans un environnement naturel, mais aussi social.
Beckett. Au creux des mots
Authors: Roth Berta
Published: November 2012

L’œuvre de Samuel Beckett se dessine dans ses pièces de théâtre comme une ligne inéluctable qui lie la naissance et la mort. Comme il le dit lui-même, « celle de la mise en route et celui de la mise en corbeille ». Dès le début, les personnages de Beckett commencent par se taire, jusqu’à ce qu’à la fin, l’acte scénique devienne des balbutiements. Les silences, le rythme, les différentes sonorités, la musicalité, étaient pour Beckett, dans ses mises en scène, plus importants que la symbolique des mots. Son effort, en ce qui concerne son écriture était, précisément, de traiter les mots comme des choses qui se donnent à voir.
Cyrano de Bergerac. Le corps et la voix d'un destin
Authors: Léon Julien
Published: November 2012

Dans cet article l’auteur propose un aperçu de l’intrication entre sa propre sédimentation inconsciente, sa pratique, et le personnage de Cyrano de Bergerac mis en scène par Edmond Rostand. L’auteur montre comment les questionnements de Cyrano ont rencontré ceux d’un jeune homme devenu psychologue se revendiquant de la psychanalyse, et ressurgi au travers de questions agitées par les patients. Avec une préoccupation plus épistémologique : la place de la psychanalyse comme résistance possible.
Results of Corneal Collagen Cross-linking in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Arora Ritu , Gupta Deepa , Goyal Jawahar Lal , Jain Parul
Published: November 2012

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in the treatment of keratoconus in pediatric patients.

METHODS:

Epithelium-off CXL using the standard protocol was performed in 15 eyes from 15 patients (age range: 10 to 15 years) with moderate keratoconus in 1 eye and advanced disease in the fellow eye. Principal outcomes included uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refraction, and topography-derived outcomes of maximum and average keratometry (K).

RESULTS:

Mean uncorrected distance visual acuity improved significantly from 1.00±0.30 (20/200) to 0.72±0.29 (20/100) logMAR (
P
=.035) and mean CDVA from 0.56±0.21 (20/70) to 0.30±0.15 (20/40) logMAR (
P
=.003) at the end of 12 months. Mean change in apical K (1.01±2.40 diopters) was also significant (
P
=.004). No significant complications were noted.

CONCLUSIONS:

Corneal collagen CXL was found to be safe and effective in the first 12 months for keratoconus in children with similar initial efficacy as in adults in terms of improvement in visual and topographic outcomes.
In Vivo Imaging of Riboflavin Penetration During Collagen Cross-linking With Hand-held Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Malhotra Chintan , Shetty Rohit , Kumar Rajesh S. , Veluri Himabindu , Nagaraj Harsha , Shetty K. Bhujang
Published: November 2012

PURPOSE:

To compare the effect of complete versus grid-like epithelial removal on riboflavin penetration during collagen cross-linking (CXL) in vivo using hand-held spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT, Bioptigen Inc).

METHODS:

In this prospective, observational, comparative case series, patients with progressive keratoconus undergoing CXL with riboflavin and ultraviolet A (UVA) light were enrolled. Twenty eyes (20 patients) undergoing CXL using 0.1% riboflavin and UVA light (365 nm) were imaged intraoperatively at 30 and 60 minutes after starting the procedure, using hand-held spectral domain OCT. In 10 eyes, the epithelium was removed completely in the central 7-mm zone (complete removal group) whereas in the remaining 10 eyes, the epithelium was removed in a grid pattern, leaving behind intact islands of epithelium (grid-like removal group). The depth of hyperreflective band (representing penetration of riboflavin) in the anterior corneal stroma was measured.

RESULTS:

In the complete removal group, the hyper-reflective band was homogenous, extending to a mean depth of 54.2±5.2
μ
m and 72.4±7.1
μ
m at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively (
P
<.001). In the grid-like removal group, the mean depth of the hyperreflective band was uneven, being significantly more in the “epithelium off” areas (56.90±4.66 μm and 74.2±6.7 μm at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively) (
P
<.001) compared to the “epithelium on” areas (18.9±2.3 μm and 24.7±2.3 μm at 30 and 60 minutes, respectively) (
P
<.001).

CONCLUSIONS:

Epithelial removal appears to be an essential step prior to performing CXL, as an intact epithelium appears to block penetration of riboflavin in the anterior corneal stroma.
Morphological analysis of the Slovenian coast with data from lidar and sonar ranging
Authors: Kolega Nataša , Poklar Mojca
Published: November 2012

The coastal zone, the land and sea area bordering the shoreline, is an area with unique intertwining features. This article reveals a new study of the coastal zone as an inseparable whole in three-dimensional (3D) space. The starting points of the study were data from lidar and sonar ranging gathered in a 3D space of an approximately 1-kilometer-long coastal zone of Koprsko primorje. According to these data spatial analyses were made: height or depth analysis, slope and exposure analysis, and classification of land and sea interaction. Special attention was devoted to cliffs, abrasion platforms and underwater stone platforms. Spatial analyses gave a new vision of the coastal zone and revealed new features.
Integrated Planning of Public Passenger Transport between the City and the Region: The Case of Ljubljana
Authors: Bole David , Gabrovec Matej , Nared Janez , Razpotnik Visković Nika
Published: November 2012

This article draws attention to the connection between transport planning and the settlement pattern and consequently the need for comprehensive planning of both the settlement and transport system. It primarily focuses on the suburbanization of Ljubljana and the state of public passenger transport in the Ljubljana Urban Region. Certain topical transport studies and measures are discussed from this perspective. The analysis shows the need for comprehensive planning that could be realized in the form of the concept of a polycentric layout of the region with interconnected centers as the main bearers of residential and business functions.
Towards institutional and organisational framework for the National spatial data infrastructure development in Serbia
Authors: Živković Ljiljana
Published: November 2012

Spatial data infrastructure (SDI) represents a concept that tends to create a context for cooperation and exchange of data, information and knowledge between a particular spatial data community’s stakeholders. Thus, the aim of SDI concept development is to establish a common spatially supported platform for making right decisions relevant for economic progress, good governance and sustainable development within a certain domain or jurisdiction, i.e. administrative level. Today, the majority of launched SDI initiatives are on the national level that is also identified as the crucial one for evolution of this concept in general. Additionally, recent research has proven that national SDI (NSDI) developments have become prevailingly social phenomena since interactions between their stakeholders appeared to be critical for achieving purpose of these initiatives, and SDI concept vision in general. Therefore, the aim of this article is to propose an appropriate social, i.e. institutional and organisational framework, for NSDI development in Serbia.
Is sustainability science becoming more interdisciplinary over time?
Authors: Nučič Maruša
Published: November 2012

The theoretical foundations of sustainability science about the interconnectedness of natural, socio-cultural and economic systems imply that the emerging research field transcends traditional boundaries of academic disciplines. The article measures and maps the interdisciplinary nature of research in sustainability science and its developments over time period 1991–2011. It uses the integration index together with the visualisation method of science overlay maps. The article thus analyzes the disciplinary structure of the sustainability science and its development over time, with an emphasis on the role of geography in its disciplinary composition.
UPDATE ON THE ROLE OF AUTOLOGOUS HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANTATION IN MULTIPLE MYELOMA
Authors: Tosi Patrizia , Imola Manuela , Maria Mianulli Anna , Tomassetti Simona , Merli Anna , Molinari Annalia , Mangianti Serena , Ratta Marina , Isidori Alessandro , Visani Giuseppe
Published: November 2012

Autologous stem cell transplantation is considered the standard of care for multiple myeloma patients aged < 65 years with no relevant comorbidities. The addition of drugs acting both on bone marrow microenvironment and on neoplastic plasma cells has significantly increased the proportion of patients achieving a complete remission after induction therapy, and these results are mantained after high-dose melphalan, leading to a prolonged disease control. Studies are being carried out in order to evaluate whether short term consolidation or long-term maintenance therapy can result into disease eradication at the molecular level thus increasing also patients survival. The efficacy of these new drugs has raised the issue of deferring the transplant after achivng a second response upon relapse. Another controversial point is the optimal treatment strategy for high-risk patients, that do not benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation and for whom the efficacy of new drugs is still matter of debate.
INFECTIOUS COMPLICATIONS IN CHRONIC LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKEMIA
Authors: Nosari AnnaMaria
Published: November 2012

Infectious complications have been known to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in CLL patients who are predisposed to infections because of both the humoral immunodepression inherent to hematologic disease, which is related to stage and duration of CLL, and to further immunosuppression related to therapy. The majority of infections in CLL patients treated with alkilating agents is of bacterial origin. The immunodeficiency and natural infectious history of alkylator-resistant, corticosteroid-treated patients appears to have changed with the administration of purine analogs, which has been complicated by very severe and unusual infections and also more viral infections due to sustained reduction of CD4-positive T lymphocytes. The following introduction of monoclonal antibody therapies, in particular alemtuzumab, further increased the immunodepression, increasing also infections which appeared more often in patients with recurrent neutropenia due to chemotherapy cycles.Epidemiological data regarding fungal infections in lymphoproliferative disorders are scarce. Italian SEIFEM group in a retrospective multicentre study regarding CLL patients reported an incidence of mycoses 0.5%; however, chronic lymphoproliferative disorders emerged as second haematological underlying disease after acute leukemia in a French study on aspergillosis; in particular CLL with aspergillosis accounted for a third of these chronic lymphoproliferative diseases presenting mould infection.
MALARIA IN CHILDREN
Authors: Schumacher Richard-Fabian , Spinelli Elena
Published: November 2012

This review is focused on childhood specific aspects of malaria, especially in resource-poor settings. We summarise the actual knowledge in the field of epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, management and prevention.These aspects are important as malaria is responsible for almost a quarter of all child death in sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria control is thus one key intervention to reduce childhood mortality, especially as malaria is also an important risk factor for other severe infections, namely bacteraemia.In children symptoms are more varied and often mimic other common childhood illness, particularly gastroenteritis, meningitis/encephalitis, or pneumonia. Fever is the key symptom, but the characteristic regular tertian and quartan patterns are rarely observed. There are no pathognomonic features for severe malaria in this age group. The well known clinical (fever, impaired consciousness, seizures, vomiting, respiratory distress) and laboratory (severe anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hypoglycaemia, metabolic acidosis, and hyperlactataemia) features of severe falciparum malaria in children, are equally typical for severe sepsis.Appropriate therapy (considering species, resistance patterns and individual patient factors) – possibly a drug combination of an artemisinin derivative with a long-acting antimalarial drug - reduces treatment duration to only three days and should be urgently started.While waiting for the results of ongoing vaccine trials, all effort should be made to better implement other malaria-control measures like the use of treated bed-nets and new chemoprophylaxis regimens.
UPDATE ON THE ROLE OF AUTOLOGOUS HEMATOPOIETIC STEM CELL TRANSPLANT IN FOLLICULAR LYMPHOMAS
Authors: Cabrero Mónica , Redondo Alba , Martin Alejandro , Caballero Dolores
Published: November 2012

Follicular lymphoma (FL) remains incurable despite advances in new strategies of treatment, including monoclonal antibodies (MoAb). Except for early stages, FL is characterized by responses to treatments and systematic relapses. The main objective in this disease is to achieve a better progression free survival (PFS) and to increase overall survival (OS), mainly in young patients. In order to improve the results of conventional chemotherapy, autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is a feasible treatment in these patients. In this moment, ASCT is not recommended as first line treatment, except for transformed FL, but is a good strategy as salvage therapy with an improved PFS and OS. New drugs have been introduced to enhance responses of ASCT, but nowadays they are not part of conventional conditioning regimen.
Listening to Africa’s children in the process of practical theological interpretation: A South African application
Authors: Swart Ignatius , Yates Hannelie
Published: November 2012

As part of the theological task of developing a publicly oriented ministry that will do justice to the social plight of children in Africa, this article adopted as its point of departure an appreciation of the new ‘hermeneutics of listening’ that is advanced today by an interdisciplinary movement of scholars from the disciplines of practical theology, theological ethics and religion studies. Emphasising the fact that this new hermeneutics is by and large the result of this scholarly movement’s newly-found engagement with, and exposure to, the social science field of childhood studies, the article moved from a more general appreciation of the new hermeneutical line of thinking to a more pertinent evaluation of the unfolding of this line of thinking in the scholarly context of Africa. In a further development that narrows the African focus to South Africa, the results from a recent empirical investigation amongst members of the South African practical theological academy were discussed in particular to determine the extent of this group’s shift to the new line of thinking. This led the article to make a concluding statement, in the light of its overt practical theological interest, about the way in which the new ‘hermeneutics of listening’ to children could still be seen as an important ongoing challenge, not only for practical theological scholarship in South Africa but also within the larger context of Africa.
Multiple regenerative techniques for class II furcation defect
Authors: Verma Pushpendra Kumar , Srivastava Ruchi , Gautam Anju , Chaturvedi T. P.
Published: November 2012

Regeneration of the periodontium is a major goal in the treatment of teeth affected by periodontitis. Periodontal regeneration is quite challenging, especially when it is in the furcation area. There are several techniques used alone or in combination, considered to achieve periodontal regeneration, including bone grafts or substitutes, guided tissue regeneration, root surface modification, and biological mediators. Many factors may account for variability in the response to regenerative therapy in class II furcation. This case report describes the management of a buccal class II furcation defect, with the help of surgical intervention, including the guided tissue regeneration (GTR) membrane and bone graft materials. This combined treatment resulted in a healthy periodontium, with radiographic evidence of alveolar bone gain. This case report demonstrates that proper diagnosis, followed by removal of the etiological factors and utilizing combined treatment modalities, restored health and function of the tooth with severe attachment loss, at the 18-month follow-up.
Likelihood of Hospital Readmission after First Discharge: Medicare Advantage vs. Fee-for-Service Patients
Authors: Friedman Bernard , Jiang H. Joanna , Steiner Claudia A. , Bott John
Published: November 2012

This study tests whether the likelihood of hospital readmission within 30 days of discharge is different for enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans versus the standard fee-for-service program. A key requirement is to control for self-selection into Advantage plans. The study uses statewide inpatient databases maintained by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality for five states in 2006. The type of Medicare coverage is known, along with an encrypted patient identifier. We identify eligible first discharges and the first readmission within 30 days. We use selected area characteristics as instrumental variables for enrollment in Advantage plans and apply a bivariate probit analysis. Descriptively, there is a slightly lower likelihood of readmission for Advantage plan enrollees. However, the Advantage plan patients are younger and less severely ill. After risk adjustment and control for self-selection, the enrollees in Advantage plans have a substantially higher likelihood of readmission. Recognizing caveats and limitations, the study supports informing Medicare beneficiaries about the rates of readmission for Advantage plans in their area. Analytical methods to adjust for self-selection into particular plans or plan types should be considered when possible.
Variation in Medicaid Eligibility and Participation among Adults: Implications for the Affordable Care Act
Authors: Kenney Genevieve M. , Lynch Victoria , Haley Jennifer , Huntress Michael
Published: November 2012

Steep declines in the uninsured population under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will depend on high enrollment among newly Medicaid-eligible adults. We use the 2009 American Community Survey to model pre-ACA eligibility for comprehensive Medicaid coverage among nonelderly adults. We identify 4.5 million eligible but uninsured adults. We find a Medicaid participation rate of 67% for adults; the rate is 17 percentage points lower than the national Medicaid participation rate for children, and it varies substantially across socioeconomic and demographic subgroups and across states. Achieving substantial increases in coverage under the ACA will require sharp increases in Medicaid participation among adults in some states.
Impact of aging mechanism on model simulated carbonaceous aerosols
Authors: Huang Y. , Wu S. , Dubey M. K. , French N. H. F.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Carbonaceous aerosols that include organic carbon and black carbon, have significant implications for both climate and air quality. In the current global climate or chemical transport models, a simplified hydrophobic to hydrophilic conversion lifetime for carbonaceous aerosol (τ) is generally assumed, which is usually around 1 day. Based on results from recent chamber studies, we implemented a new detailed aging mechanism for carbonaceous aerosols in a chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem) where τ is affected by local conditions such as O3 concentration and humidity. The simulated τ exhibits large spatial and temporal variation with the global average calculated to be 4.3 days. The longest τ (up to 40 days for the Amazon forests) are found in the tropical areas, reflecting the low ozone concentration and high humidity there. The conversion lifetime generally decreases with altitude due to increases in ozone concentration and decreases in water vapor concentration. The updated aging mechanism has significant implications for model simulations of carbonaceous aerosols and improves the comparison to observations of carbonaceous aerosols. The strongest effects are found for the tropical regions and upper troposphere where the model simulated concentrations of black carbon and organic carbon increase by up to 0.16 μg C m−3 and 0.67 μg C m−3, respectively. This updated aging mechanism also leads to increases in model calculated global burden of black carbon and organic carbon by 31% and 17%, respectively. In addition, sensitivity studies show that the estimated continental outflow of carbonaceous aerosols would significantly increase with the updated aging mechanism.
Stable isotope and modelling evidence that CO2 drives vegetation changes in the tropics
Authors: Bragg F. J. , Prentice I. C. , Harrison S. P. , Eglinton G. , Foster P. N. , Rommerskirchen F. , Rullkötter J.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Atmospheric CO2 concentration is hypothesized to influence vegetation distribution via tree-grass competition, with higher CO2 concentrations favouring trees. The stable carbon isotope (δ13C) signature of vegetation is influenced by the relative importance of C4 plants (including most tropical grasses) and C3 plants (including nearly all trees), and the degree of stomatal closure – a response to aridity – in C3 plants. Compound-specific δ13C analyses of leaf-wax biomarkers in sediment cores of an offshore South Atlantic transect are used here as a record of vegetation changes in subequatorial Africa. These data suggest a large increase in C3 relative to C4 plant dominance after the Last Glacial Maximum. Using a process-based biogeography model that explicitly simulates 13C discrimination, we show that climate change alone cannot explain the observed shift in δ13C values. The physiological effect of increasing CO2 concentration is decisive, altering the C3 / C4 balance and bringing the simulated and observed δ13C values into line. It is concluded that CO2 concentration itself was a key agent of tropical vegetation change during the last glacial-interglacial transition. Two additional inferences follow. First, long-term variations in terrestrial δ13C values are not simply a proxy for regional rainfall as has sometimes been assumed. Such interpretations need to be re-examined. Second, rising CO2 concentration today is likely to be influencing tree-grass competition in a similar way, and thus contributing to the "woody thickening" observed in savannas worldwide. This second inference points to the importance of experiments to determine how vegetation composition in savannas is likely to be influenced by the continuing rise in CO2 concentration.
Kinetic bottlenecks to chemical exchange rates for deep-sea animals II: Carbon dioxide
Authors: Hofmann A. F. , Peltzer E. T. , Brewer P. G.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Increased ocean acidification from fossil fuel CO2 invasion, from temperature-driven changes in respiration, and from possible leakage from sub-seabed geologic CO2 disposal has aroused concern over the impacts of elevated CO2 concentrations on marine life. Discussion of these impacts has so far focused only on changes in the oceanic bulk fluid properties (ΔpH, Δ[∑CO2] etc.) as the critical variable and with a major focus on carbonate shell dissolution. Here we describe the rate problem for animals that must export CO2 at about the same rate at which O2 is consumed. We analyze the basic properties controlling CO2 export within the diffusive boundary layer around marine animals in an ocean changing in temperature (T) and CO2 concentration in order to compare the challenges posed by O2 uptake under stress with the equivalent problem of CO2 expulsion. The problem is more complex than that for a non-reactive gas since, as with gas exchange of CO2 at the air-sea interface, the influence of the ensemble of reactions within the CO2-HCO3–-CO32– acid-base system needs to be considered. These reactions significantly facilitate CO2 efflux compared to O2 intake at equal temperature, pressure and flow rate under typical oceanic concentrations.The effect of these reactions can be described by an enhancement factor. For organisms, this means mechanically increasing flow over their surface to thin the boundary layer as is required to alleviate O2 stress seems not necessary to facilitate CO2 efflux. Nevertheless the elevated pCO2 cost most likely is non-zero. Regionally as with O2 the combination of T, P, and pH/pCO2 creates a zone of maximum CO2 stress at around 1000 m depth. But the net result is that, for the problem of gas exchange with the bulk ocean, the combination of an increasing T combined with declining O2 poses a greater challenge to marine life than does increasing CO2. The relationships developed here allow a more accurate prediction of the impacts on marine life from the combined effects of changing T, O2, and CO2 than can be estimated from single variable studies.
Paleoclimatological perspective on the hydrometeorology of the Mekong Basin
Authors: Räsänen T. A. , Lehr C. , Mellin I. , Ward P. J. , Kummu M.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. During recent decades the Mekong River has experienced substantial interannual variations between droughts and major floods. The causes of these variations have been sought in climate change and dam construction. However, so far little research has addressed whether these recent variations are significantly different to long-term variations in the past. Hence, the aim of our paper is to place the recent variations between droughts and floods into a historical and paleoclimatological context. To achieve this we analysed the Mekong's meteorological conditions over the period 1300–2005 with a basin scale approach by using the Monsoon Asia Drought Atlas (MADA), which is a Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) dataset derived from tree-ring growth records. The correlation analyses, both in time and frequency domains, showed correlation between MADA and the Mekong's discharge over the period 1910–2005 which suggests that MADA can be used as proxy for the hydrometeorology of the Mekong Basin. We found that the meteorological conditions of the Mekong varied at multi-annual, decadal and centennial scales over the study period. We found two especially distinct features: firstly, multi-annual and decadal variation between prolonged wet and dry epochs; and secondly, epochs with higher or lower interannual variability between very dry and wet years. Furthermore we found two epochs with exceptionally large interannual variability, one at the beginning of 17th century and the other in the post 1950 epoch. Both epochs are characterized by distinct increases in variability between very wet and dry years. The variability in the post 1950 epoch is much higher compared to any of the other epochs included in this study. Thus, during recent decades the climate in the Mekong has exhibited features that have not been experienced for at least several centuries. These findings call for further climate research, particularly regarding increased climate variability, and resilient adaptation and development approaches in the basin.
Mapping flow distortion on oceanographic platforms using computational fluid dynamics
Authors: O'Sullivan N. , Ward B.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Ocean-Atmosphere Fluxes Eddy correlation (EC) is the most direct method to measure fluxes of trace gases over the Earth's surface. In its simplest form, an EC setup consists of a gas sensor and a sonic anemometer. EC is commonly used on land, but its adaptation at sea has proven difficult because of the marine environment, the motion of the research platform (ship or buoy), and flow distortion. Flow distortion occurs when streamlines circumvent the research platform, which may lead to significant errors in the calculation of the gas transfer velocity. This paper uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to simulate the errors in wind speed measurements caused by flow distortion on the R/V Celtic Explorer. Numerical measurements were obtained from the finite volume CFD code OpenFOAM, which was used to simulate the velocity fields. This was done over a range of orientations in the test domain from −60° to +60°, in increments of 10°. The simulation was also set up for a range of velocities, ranging from 5 m s−1 to 25 m s−1 in increments of 0.5 m s−1 The numerical analysis showed close agreement to experimental measurements to within a 12% mean difference prediction of flow distortion effects. Other aspects resulting from flow distortion that were investigated using the CFD tools included development of a correction method for flow distortion effects for in situ wind speed measurements; analysis of ideal positioning of anemometers; vertical tilt orientation of the vessel to inflow; meteorological mast design; and mast instrumentation setups.
Greenland ice sheet surface mass balance: evaluating simulations and making projections with regional climate models
Authors: Rae J. G. L. , Aðalgeirsdóttir G. , Edwards T. L. , Fettweis X. , Gregory J. M. , Hewitt H. T. , Lowe J. A. , Lucas-Picher P. , Mottram R. H. , Payne A. J. , Ridley J. K. , Shannon S. R. , van de Berg W. J. , van de Wal R. S. W. , van den Broeke M. R.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Four high-resolution regional climate models (RCMs) have been set up for the area of Greenland, with the aim of providing future projections of Greenland ice sheet surface mass balance (SMB), and its contribution to sea level rise, with greater accuracy than is possible from coarser-resolution general circulation models (GCMs). This is the first time an intercomparison has been carried out of RCM results for Greenland climate and SMB. Output from RCM simulations for the recent past with the four RCMs is evaluated against available observations. The evaluation highlights the importance of using a detailed snow physics scheme, especially regarding the representations of albedo and meltwater refreezing. Simulations with three of the RCMs for the 21st century using SRES scenario A1B from two GCMs produce trends of between −5.5 and −1.1 Gt yr−2 in SMB (equivalent to +0.015 and +0.003 mm sea level equivalent yr−2), with trends of smaller magnitude for scenario E1, in which emissions are mitigated. Results from one of the RCMs whose present-day simulation is most realistic indicate that an annual mean near-surface air temperature increase over Greenland of ~ 2°C would be required for the mass loss to increase such that it exceeds accumulation, thereby causing the SMB to become negative, which has been suggested as a threshold beyond which the ice sheet would eventually be eliminated.
A general treatment of snow microstructure exemplified by an improved relation for the thermal conductivity
Authors: Löwe H. , Riche F. , Schneebeli M.
Published: November 2012

Abstract. Finding relevant microstructural parameters beyond the density is a longstanding problem which hinders the formulation of accurate parametrizations of physical properties of snow. Towards a remedy we address the effective thermal conductivity tensor of snow via known anisotropic, second-order bounds. The bound provides an explicit expression for the thermal conductivity and predicts the relevance of a microstructural anisotropy parameter Q which is given by an integral over the two-point correlation function and unambiguously defined for arbitrary snow structures. For validation we compiled a comprehensive data set of 167 snow samples. The set comprises individual samples of various snow types and entire time series of metamorphism experiments under isothermal and temperature gradient conditions. All samples were digitally reconstructed by micro-computed tomography to perform microstructure-based simulations of heat transport. The incorporation of anisotropy via Q considerably reduces the root mean square error over the usual density-based parametrization. The systematic quantification of anisotropy via the two-point correlation function suggests a generalizable route to incorporate microstructure into snowpack models. We indicate the inter-relation of the conductivity to other properties and outline a potential impact of Q on dielectric constant, permeability and adsorption rate of diffusing species in the pore space.
Questions from the Bench and Independent Experts: A Study of the Practices of State Court Judges
Authors: Jurs Andrew W.
Published: November 2012

None
The causes, consequences, and mediating effects of job burnout among hospital employees in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Yea-Wen
Published: November 2012

For the purpose of explaining the causes, consequences and mediating effects of burnout on relevant variables, the researcher conducted a cross-sectional survey of 371 hospital employees in Taiwan. Four principal findings are made. First, with respect to the three components of burnout experienced by hospital employees, the most frequently reported is emotional exhaustion, being also the most problematic among hospital employees compared with employees in other industries. Second, while increased workload coupled with role conflict increases the likelihood of burnout among hospital employees, improved work autonomy and social support reduce its likelihood. Next, the study finds a direct correlation between employees’ perceptions of low levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and high levels of organizational commitment. In contrast, employees’ perceptions of high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization lead to high turnover intention. Finally, the result of the hierarchical regression analysis demonstrates a partial mediating effect of burnout in the current study. These findings suggest the need for hospital management to improve their wellbeing and incentive strategies, to embark upon regular investigations into job burnout and to adopt appropriate measures to meet the professional development needs of hospital employees.
Livelihood Resilient Strategies through Beekeeping in Chitanga Village, Mwenezi District, Zimbabwe
Authors: Chazovachii Bernard , Chuma Maxwell , Mushuku Alimos , Chirenje Leonard , Chitongo Leonard , Mudyariwa Raphel
Published: November 2012

The study sought to establish the contribution of beekeeping in rural livelihoods sustainability. Chitanga village had experienced low agricultural productivity due to poor and infertile soils and this has led to food insecurity which had driven them into beekeeping. This opportunity has been driven by the existence of tall trees and wild plants that develop flowers in the village which attracted bees. However, the utility of beekeeping enterprise as a livelihood activity has not been fully realised. This study was carried out in the context of a sustainable rural livelihoods framework. This framework states that at any given time, every community or society falls under a vulnerability context as a result of both natural and human made disasters. In light of the vulnerability, a community mobilises the various forms of its assets at its disposal to earn a living. Applying this framework, the study analysed the strategies the community employed to enhance its livelihoods through the sharing of benefits. The research used questionnaires, structured interviews and observations as sources of gathering data. The study established the benefits which accrued from beekeeping that included honey as food, income in the form of cash, medicines, scenery creation for tourism and income generating projects through making of hives, growing of flowers and citrus fruits which attract bees. A backward and forward linkage of enterprises emerged. Employment creation and increasing in the number of livelihood activities in the area has been witnessed due to beekeeping. This culminated in diversification of livelihood options leading to rural transformation through utilization of local available resources. The study recommends that the sustainability of beekeeping enterprise should be reinforced by backward and forward linkages. The government partnered by NGOs should take the lead and compliment the efforts of beekeepers by providing clear policy and planning.
Design of Robotic Human Assistance Systems Using a Mobile Manipulator
Authors: Jia Yunyi , Liu Yong , Xi Ning , Wang Hai , Stürmer Philipp
Published: November 2012

Robotic systems have been widely used in many areas to assist human beings. Mobile manipulators are among the most popular choices. This paper investigates human assistance systems using a mobile manipulator, for example, to guide the blind and to transport objects. Distinct from existing systems, an integrated dynamic model and controller of the mobile manipulator are designed. Singularity, manipulability and safety are all considered in the system design. Furthermore, two human assistance modes – Robot-Human mode and Teleoperator-Robot-Human mode – are designed and analysed. The Teleoperator-Robot-Human mode can integrate human intelligence into the assistance system to further enhance the system efficiency and safety. The experimental results implemented on a mobile manipulator demonstrated the effectiveness of the designed systems.
Exploring Success Criteria from the Developers' Perspective in Malaysia
Authors: Wai S.H. , Yusof Aminah Md , Ismail Syuhaida
Published: November 2012

There are many different sets of project success criteria, but none of them will be suitable for all of the different stakeholders involved in the construction industry. In this sense, the developer who finances any construction work has been considered as the main person in any construction project. Different people perceive things differently and therefore, from the developers' perspective, this paper seeks to achieve the followings: (1) review of the current literature on building success criteria and (2) develop an empirical framework for measuring the success of a building project in Malaysia. A total of 120 quantitative responses were distributed to different sizes and types of building project developers. 59 complete responses were retrieved. By employing Principal Component Analysis (PCA) through the Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS) software, the building project success criteria were reduced to five dimensions: Company Success; Profitability Success; Primary Product Success; Secondary Product Success and Branding Success. The implication of this framework is twofold: first it captures the developer's view on success criteria and second, it forms the foundation to measure success, thereby enhancing successful delivery of a project by prioritizing limited resources on the criteria related factors.
Simplied Methodology for Obtaining the Dynamic Model of Robot Manipulators
Authors: Sánchez-Sánchez Pablo , Arteaga-Pérez Marco Antonio
Published: November 2012

The main goal of this manuscript is to present a simplification of the Euler-Lagrange methodology, which allows us to simplify the obtaining of dynamic model of a robot using the intrinsic properties of dynamic model, which allows to reduce the computation time when the model is programmed. Using the [Formula: see text] norm, the proposed methodology is compared with the Euler-Lagrange methodology for obtaining a performance index to determine the proposed simplification efficiency. The main contribution of this manuscript is to present a methodology to obtain the completely symmetric dynamic model.
Towards Robust 3D Face Verification Using Gaussian Mixture Models
Authors: Križaj Janez , Štruc Vitomir , Dobrišek Simon
Published: November 2012

This paper focuses on the use of Gaussian Mixture models (GMM) for 3D face verification. A special interest is taken in practical aspects of 3D face verification systems, where all steps of the verification procedure need to be automated and no meta-data, such as pre-annotated eye/nose/mouth positions, is available to the system. In such settings the performance of the verification system correlates heavily with the performance of the employed alignment (i.e., geometric normalization) procedure. We show that popular holistic as well as local recognition techniques, such as principal component analysis (PCA), or Scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT)-based methods considerably deteriorate in their performance when an “imperfect” geometric normalization procedure is used to align the 3D face scans and that in these situations GMMs should be preferred. Moreover, several possibilities to improve the performance and robustness of the classical GMM framework are presented and evaluated: i) explicit inclusion of spatial information, during the GMM construction procedure, ii) implicit inclusion of spatial information during the GMM construction procedure and iii) on-line evaluation and possible rejection of local feature vectors based on their likelihood. We successfully demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed modifications on the Face Recognition Grand Challenge data set.
Kinematic Dexterity Maximization of an Omnidirectional Wheeled Mobile Robot: A Comparison of Metaheuristic and SQP Algorithms
Authors: Villarreal-Cervantes Miguel G. , Cruz-Villar Carlos A. , Álvarez-Gallegos Jaime , Portilla-Flores Edgar A.
Published: November 2012

Mobile robots with omnidirectional wheels are expected to perform a wide variety of movements in a narrow space. However, kinematic mobility and dexterity have not been clearly identified as an objective to be considered when designing omnidirectional redundant robots. In light of this fact, this article proposes to maximize the dexterity of the mobile robot by properly locating the omnidirectional wheels. In addition, four hybrid differential evolution (DE) algorithm based on the synergetic integration of different kinds of mutation and crossover are presented. A comparison of metaheuristic and gradient-based algorithms for kinematic dexterity maximization is also presented.