bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tricycle Injuries Presenting to US Emergency Departments, 2012–2013
Authors: Bandzar Sean , Vats Atul , Gupta Shabnam , Atallah Hany , Pitts Stephen R.
Published: September 2015

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate the characteristics of tricycle-related injuries in children presenting to US emergency departments (EDs).

METHODS:

Data regarding tricycle injuries in children younger than 18 years of age were obtained from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System for calendar years 2012 and 2013. Data included body regions injured, ED disposition, and demographics.

RESULTS:

There were an estimated 9340 tricycle-related injuries treated in US EDs from 2012 to 2013. The average age was 3 years. Children 2 years of age had the highest frequency of injuries. Boys accounted for 63.6% of all injuries. Children 1 to 2 years of age represented 51.9% of all injuries. Lacerations were the most common type of injury. Internal organ damage was the most common type of injury in 3- and 5-year-olds. Contusions were the most common type of injury in 1- and 7-year-olds. The head was the most commonly injured region of the body and the most common region to endure internal damage. The elbows were the most commonly fractured body part. The upper extremity was more frequently fractured than the lower extremity. Approximately 2.4% of all injured children were admitted to the hospital.

CONCLUSIONS:

The upper extremity of children, particularly the elbow, was more frequently fractured than the lower extremity. The head was the most common body part to endure internal damage. By elucidating the characteristics of tricycle-related injuries, preventive measures can be implemented to decrease the incidence of tricycle-related injuries and ED visits.
Residential Exposure to Pesticide During Childhood and Childhood Cancers: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Mei , Chang Chi-Hsuan , Tao Lin , Lu Chensheng
Published: September 2015

CONTEXT:

There is an increasing concern about chronic low-level pesticide exposure during childhood and its influence on childhood cancers.

OBJECTIVE:

In this meta-analysis, we aimed to examine associations between residential childhood pesticide exposures and childhood cancers.

DATA SOURCES:

We searched all observational studies published in PubMed before February 2014 and reviewed reference sections of articles derived from searches.

STUDY SELECTION:

The literature search yielded 277 studies that met inclusion criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Sixteen studies were included in the meta-analysis. We calculated effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by using a random effect model with inverse variance weights.

RESULTS:

We found that childhood exposure to indoor but not outdoor residential insecticides was associated with a significant increase in risk of childhood leukemia (odds ratio [OR] = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.26–1.72; I2 = 30%) and childhood lymphomas (OR = 1.43; 95% CI, 1.15–1.78; I2 = 0%). A significant increase in risk of leukemia was also associated with herbicide exposure (OR = 1.26; 95% CI, 1.10–1.44; I2 = 0%). Also observed was a positive but not statistically significant association between childhood home pesticide or herbicide exposure and childhood brain tumors.

LIMITATIONS:

The small number of studies included in the analysis represents a major limitation of the current analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:

Results from this meta-analysis indicated that children exposed to indoor insecticides would have a higher risk of childhood hematopoietic cancers. Additional research is needed to confirm the association between residential indoor pesticide exposures and childhood cancers. Meanwhile, preventive measures should be considered to reduce children’s exposure to pesticides at home.
Timing of the Diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Miodovnik Amir , Harstad Elizabeth , Sideridis Georgios , Huntington Noelle
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are core features of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often present with similar symptoms and may receive a diagnosis of ADHD first. We investigated the relationship between the timing of ADHD diagnosis in children with ASD and the age at ASD diagnosis.

METHODS:

Data were drawn from the 2011–2012 National Survey of Children's Health, which asked parents to provide the age(s) at which their child received a diagnosis of ADHD and/or ASD. Using weighted prevalence estimates, we examined the association between a previous diagnosis of ADHD and the age at ASD diagnosis, while controlling for factors known to influence the timing of ASD diagnosis.

RESULTS:

Our study consisted of 1496 children with a current diagnosis of ASD as reported by parents of children ages 2 to 17 years. Approximately 20% of these children had initially been diagnosed with ADHD. Children diagnosed with ADHD before ASD were diagnosed with ASD ∼3 years (95% confidence interval 2.3–3.5) after children in whom ADHD was diagnosed at the same time or after ASD. The children with ADHD diagnosed first were nearly 30 times more likely to receive their ASD diagnosis after age 6 (95% confidence interval 11.2–77.8). The delay in ASD diagnosis was consistent across childhood and independent of ASD severity.

CONCLUSION:

To avoid potential delays in ASD diagnosis, clinicians should consider ASD in young children presenting with ADHD symptoms.
On the rotational alignment of graphene domains grown on Ge(110) andGe(111)
Authors: Rogge P. C. , Foster M. E. , Wofford J. M. , McCarty K. F. , Bartelt N. C. , Dubon O. D.
Published: September 2015

We have used low-energy electron diffraction and microscopy to compare the growth of graphene on hydrogen-free Ge(111) and Ge(110) from an atomic carbon flux. Growth on Ge(110) leads to significantly better rotational alignment of graphene domains with the substrate. To explain the poor rotational alignment on Ge(111), we have investigated experimentally and theoretically how the adatom reconstructions of Ge interact with graphene. We find that the ordering transition of the Ge(111) adatom reconstruction is not significantly perturbed by graphene. Density functional theory calculations show that graphene on reconstructed Ge(110) has large-amplitude corrugations, whereas it is remarkably flat on reconstructed Ge(111). We argue that the absence of corrugations prevents graphene islands from locking into a preferred orientation.
Access to the linguistic system
Authors: Platt Elizabeth
Published: September 2015

.
Что угрожает британским университетам? (пер. с англ. Л. Трониной)
Authors: Head Simon
Published: September 2015

Head S. The grim threat to British universities. The New York Review of Books. January 13, 2011.
Как лучшие системы школьного образования продолжают совершенствоваться (пер. с англ. Н. Микшиной, Е. Шадриной)
Authors: Mourshed Mona , Chijioke Chinezi , Barber Michael
Published: September 2015

Перевод: Mona Mourshed, Chinezi Chijioke, Michael Barber. How the worlds most improved school systems keep getting better. McKinsey&Company. November 2010 (пер. с англ. Н. Микшиной, Е. Шадриной). Продолжение. Начало публикации см. в № 1 за 2011 г.Содержание1. Группа мер воздействия1.1. В Зазеркалье1.2. Система, а не набор явлений1.3. Предписывайте соответствие норме, но дайте возможность добиваться большего1.4. Общие, но различные 2. Адаптация мер воздействия к определенному контексту2.1. Как прорваться, а не провалиться2.2. Руководящий принцип: принуждение или убеждение? 3. Поддержание уровня3.1. Практика сотрудничества: пользовательский интерфейс3.2. Посредническое звено: операционная система3.3. Воспитание нового поколения лидеров: центральный процессор 4. Пусковой импульс4.1. На старте4.2. Хороший кризис всегда пригодится4.3. Не спрятаться, не скрыться4.4. Как правильно выйти на сцену4.5. Сценарий нового лидера4.6. Устойчивость лидера 5. ЗаключениеПриложение
Agentenbasierte cyberphysische Produktionssysteme
Authors: Vogel-heuser Birgit , Schütz Daniel , Schöler Thorsten , Pröll Sebastian , Jeschke Sabina , Ewert Daniel , Niggemann Oliver , Windmann Stefan , Berger Ulrich , Lehmann Christian
Published: September 2015

Obwohl die Anforderungen in der modernen Produktionstechnik durch wechselnde Kundenwünsche bestimmt werden, unterstützen aktuelle Automatisierungslösungen vor allem die geforderte Flexibilität für Losgröße 1 nicht in ausreichendem Maße. Der Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über eine prototypische Architektur für agentenbasierte cyber-physische Produktionssysteme. Mit dieser Architektur wird die standortübergreifende horizontale und vertikale Integration von Produktionssystemen vorgestellt und verschiedene sich daraus ergebende Potenziale werden aufgezeigt.
O lugar das ideias: panorama de um debate
Authors: Silva Julio Cezar Bastoni da
Published: September 2015

O artigo visa oferecer um panorama do debate desencadeado pelo ensaio “As ideias fora do lugar”, de Roberto Schwarz, primeiro capítulo de seu livro Ao vencedor as batatas (1977). Os diferentes argumentos do debate, bem como outras contribuições que aclaram seu problema central – a situação dissonante do liberalismo no Brasil – , são aqui elencados e discutidos, de forma a compreender os motivos e as diferentes posições sobre o tema. Desse modo, críticos e teóricos que tomaram parte do debate, como Maria Sylvia de Carvalho Franco, Alfredo Bosi, Carlos Nelson Coutinho, Marco Aurélio Nogueira, entre outros, perfazem o trajeto, ora exposto, de uma discussão que perdura por aproximadamente quatro décadas.
Individual Labor Mobility: Categorical Definitions and Priorities of State Regulation in Ukraine
Authors: Zolotaryova Olga
Published: September 2015

The purpose of the article to determine the category of "individual labor mobility", to reveal its methodological foundations of research and justify the need for it and the direction of government regulation. On the basis of official statistical data have been identified and analyzed the socio-economic factors, which have now negative impact on the individual labor mobility in Ukraine (unsatisfactory dynamics and structure of incomes of the population, a significant social inequalities and lack of a strong middle class, lack of labor market flexibilisation, deformed economic system of the country). Based on the analysis set forth the priorities of state regulation of individual labor mobility in Ukraine.
Didactic Communication as a Form Derived from Communicative Action
Authors: Oprea Oana Miruna
Published: September 2015

In this paper we will approach the issue of didactic communication in terms of communicative action. Thus, we will bring up for discussion the idea that communication and understanding are aspects of the didactic process, whereas the teacher’s main role is to transmit knowledge, to generate understanding and communication skills and also to create life skills for the individual’s social integration.
Phenomenologic Chippendale Chair: Stephen’s Nightmare
Authors: Moslemi Amir Abbas
Published: September 2015

James Joyce’s hermeneutics of narrative, Husserlian scholars, fictitious theory of history by Stephen Dedalus in Ulysses, interpretation in both terms of modes and meaning, exploration of the implication of passive intentionality, an ‘anonymity’ seeking for its ontological root, a stoppage on the notion of “as if of”, ‘noema’ and ‘noesis’ in their technical use, “natürliche Einstellung” and a handful of other issues are all cited here by Heidegger, Merleau-Ponty, Ricoeur and others just to shed more light on findings, insights, observations and conclusions in social and cognitive sciences, by the help of a static and genetic analysis of some key notions like ‘intentionality and consciousness’ from both historical and systematic perspectives, ranging from Dr. Johnson on Shakespeare to Husserl’s guidelines in phenomenology.
The Migration of Qualified Lebanese Women to France
Authors: Menhem Suzanne
Published: September 2015

Lebanon is defined as a country of emigration and immigration. Whereas previously, emigration was considered a male migration. Gradually, in recent years emigration has evolved and is becoming feminine also. Independent female migration is a growing phenomenon in the Lebanese society although men still play an important role in the migration project.In the past, women were emigrating most often in the context of family reunification, accompanying their husbands to join a member of their families. The majority of migrant women today are leaving the country for so many reasons (further education, work, etc.) and not only to join their husbands. This article examines highly skilled female migration from Lebanon.In France, the migration of skilled workers from Lebanon has experienced very rapid growth in the last decade. However, female migration does not seem to have been the subject of a sociological reading. The study includes qualitative analysis of twenty five cases studied of Lebanese skilled migrant women in France, especially a university degree or equivalent (nurses, architects, teachers, doctors, engineers, lawyers, researchers ...) who were not married or go join their family when they have emigrated, and they have a good command of French language, and who were not dual nationality holders.This article aims to fill some gaps in this area, examining the reasons for change: migration path, the link with the country of origin, the impact of female migration on their personal, social, cultural and family, their return project, exchanges on the remittances levels, career transition path and entrepreneurship, adaptations, their social networks, their identity reconstruction, etc. Besides, there are also non-measurable aspects noted as the autonomy of women to discuss.
O CAFÉ E A CIDADE A EVOLUÇÃO DAS ATIVIDADES URBANAS EM RIBEIRÃO PRETO, 1890-1933 * EL CAFÉ Y LA CIUDAD LA EVOLUCIÓN DE LAS ACTIVIDADES URBANAS EN RIBEIRÃO PRETO, 1890-1933
Authors: Suarez Lopes Luciana
Published: September 2015

Resumo: O texto considera a evolução das atividades urbanas em Ribeirão Preto – comércio, indústria e prestação de serviços – no período 1890-1933. Nessa época, diversos fatores contribuíram para o crescimento da população economicamente ativa em Ribeirão Preto, sendo o principal deles o início da atividade cafeeira durante a década de 1860. A ferrovia foi igualmente importante, tornando mais eficiente a comunicação com as demais cidades e com o porto de Santos, facilitando o transporte de mercadorias, a diversificação e a especialização dos negócios estabelecidos. A ferrovia promoveu também a chegada dos imigrantes, contribuindo com o aumento da população economicamente ativa e também com a expansão das atividades urbanas. Para analisar esse movimento, foram utilizadas como fontes de dados: almanaques, censos e publicações da época, além de material iconográfico.

Palavras-chave: cafeicultura, atividades urbanas, Ribeirão Preto.

Resumen: El texto considera la evolución de las actividades urbanas en Ribeirão Preto -comercio, industria y servicios - en el periodo 1890-1933. En esta época, diversos factores contribuyeran apara el crecimiento de la población económicamente activa en Ribeirão Preto, siendo el principal el inicio de la actividad cafetalera en la década de 1860. El ferrocarril fue igualmente importante. haciendo mas eficiente la comunicación con las tras ciudades y con el puerto de Santos, facilitando el transporte de mercancías, la diversificación y la especialización de los negocios ya establecidos. El ferrocarril también facilitó la llegada de los inmigrantes, contribuyendo con el crecimiento de la población económicamente activa y también con la expansión de las actividades urbanas. A fin de analizar este movimiento, fueran considerados como fuentes de datos: almanaques, censos y publicaciones de época, además de algunos materiales iconográficos.

Palabras-llave: caficultura, actividades urbanas, Ribeirão Preto.
BELO, André. História & livro e leitura. 2. Ed. 1. Reimp. Belo Horizonte: Editora Autêntica, 2013. 116 p. (Coleção História &... Reflexões, 3).
Authors: Barbosa Everton Vieira
Published: September 2015

__
“Integrated Carbonate Reservoir Characterization and Modelling with Depositional and Diagenetic Trends”
Authors: Inês Nuno , Bizarro Paulo , Ribeiro Teresa
Published: September 2015

Carbonate reservoir characterization is often a complex task, due to the interplay between primary processes (e.g. depositional environments, facies changes) and secondary processes (e.g. burial, diagenesis, faulting and fracturing, cementation). In order to properly characterize and model such a reservoir, it is paramount to unravel the order by which such processes have affected the rock, leading to the present day petrophysical properties.

In the presented case study (onshore dolomitized carbonate reservoir in Central Asia), a multi-step approach was taken for its characterization and modelling. The characterization phase was focused in understanding the key processes and controls on porosity and permeability. From the core and log data, a detailed sedimentologic and diagenetic study was performed, to identify the depositional environments and facies, as well as the pore system geometry, and its impact on fluid flow. Furthermore, several trends on reservoir quality were identified, related to faults, and associated with depositional cyclicity.

From the above work, a reservoir model was built, to support field development planning and associated uncertainties. A structural and stratigraphic framework was built, and Flow Unit Types (FUT) were defined using seismic, cores, thin sections, logs and mercury injection capillary pressure data (MICP). Property modelling was carried out for porosity and permeability, honouring FUT, depositional and diagenetic trends. In particular, two trends were modelled: a fault-related trend, to introduce the impact of diagenetic leaching related to faults (observed in core data); and a cyclicity related trend, to introduce the impact of preferential fluid flow pathways that occur at or near cycle tops. The uncertainty in the reservoir property models was evaluated with different FUT, driven by depositional and diagenetic concepts.

The results indicate that a significant improvement in reservoir understanding can be achieved with the use of an integrated study and model workflow, focusing on the key control factors that affect the pore system and the distribution of permeability. In this way it was possible to recognize spatial trends and capture the relationship between petrophysical properties, pore architecture and sweep efficiency.
Synthetic Generation of Random Permeability Fields for Heterogeneous Reservoir Simulation
Authors: Wilson J. L. , Gutjahr A.
Published: September 2015

Fields of permeability and other reservoir properties are synthetically generated using a variety of numerical algorithms. These fields are used in reservoir simulators to observe the effects of heterogeneous properties on reservoir behavior during secondary and enhanced oil recovery. They are also used to help develop pseudo-properties for simulator grid blocks that are too large to directly represent smaller scale spatial variation of properties.

Three methods for generating random property fields are reviewed and demonstrated by example: auto-regressive matrix decomposition methods (ARMD), the turning bands method (TBM) and FastFourier transforms (FFT). The methods are used to generate both continuous and discrete random fields, that are either stationary or nonstationary. The methods differ in cost, versatility, flexibility, accuracy, and CPU and storage costs.

The synthetically generated fields can be conditioned on observed data in order to represent actual reservoir conditions. Where additional synthetic data is required in order to resolve numerical detail, additional data points can be infilled. In some circumstances both properties and states (e.g., pressures) can be co-generated, using cross-covariances based on the physics of flow and displacement. Examples of each of these features are given.

Applications to well field simulations demonstrate that synthetically generated properties provide a powerful means for examining the effects of property heterogeneity on reservoir behavior.
Differential Quadrature for Reservoir Simulation
Authors: Civan F.
Published: September 2015

The application of the method of differential quadrature (Civan et al, 1984, 1988, 1988) is extended for efficient numerical solution of hydrocarbon reservoir models. This method approximates the partial derivatives by a sum of the discrete function values weighted according to a multi-dimensional polynomial. Hence, the differential quadrature method yields accurate solutions without the inherent efficiencies of the conventional methods such as grid point orientation effects, numerical dispersion and oscillations. Differential quadrature approximations can be designed for any order of accuracy without any difficulty. However, it is shown that quadratures of the order of seven to eleven are satisfactory for the solution of highly nonlinear and strongly coupled reservoir model equations.

First, the details and a comprehensive theory of the method of differential quadrature are presented. The significant advantages of this method over the conventional finite difference and element methods are demonstrated using model problems having analytic solutions. For this purpose, single phase radial flow problems and the Buckley-Leverett problem are considered for homogeneous and isotropic porous media and constant fluid properties. Second, the method is applied to more realistic cases including heterogeneous and anisotropic media, variable fluid properties and multiphase flow.

It is shown that the method of differential quadrature is a rapid, practical and accurate method which circumvents the commonly known difficulties and deficiencies of the conventional methods.
Unproduced Oil Identified in Reservoir Simulation
Authors: Hurst W.
Published: September 2015

The late A.F. VanEverdingen in finishing a brilliant career as a petroleum reservoir engineer, (1) reported that in the United States there are 300 billion barrels of oil left in the ground, of which 120 billion barrels are recoverable. This latter figure is equal to all the oil produced to-date since Colonel Drake produced oil in Pennsylvania in 1859.

This sizable amount of oil is the challenge to this industry to recover this oil, and can well be our future reserves. This paper deals with this problem, and to recover this oil in abandoned and producing oil fields. The method of recovery is to locate areas in these fields where in-fill wells can be drilled that showed the least oil production in a fields history.

This is accomplished by conformal mapping and stream-line flow from the reservoir itself to the producing wells. Where there are gaps in the mapping of the stream-lines, such designates areas of incomplete recovery and the regions where oil can be produced.

This can be simply stated that between every producing well, residual oil is left in the ground; this subject will be discussed further with illustrations.

Fig. 1 shows a circular reservoir, reproduced as a conformal rectangle, in which four wells are producing, each located in the center of a quadrant. It shows the vast gaps in plotting the streamlines along the major axis OX, and OY that defines areas of unproduced oil. Five additional wells can be drilled to produce this oil.

The application of conformal mapping and streamline flow have been discussed in the literature (2,3,4). The complications of reproducing these stream-lines is now performed by computer programming, as well as reproducing the field proper to a conformal rectangle, where all the work is done.

In this connection we have the writer's (5) own development of reproducing the potential problem, which is programmed; also the Schwartz-Christollel Method, by Gilicz, (6) a Hungarian, that is not yet completely programmed. Both of these methods are on a par with each other.

In all these respects this paper discusses reservoir simulation that apply to oil and gas fields to find new reserves.
Prediction of Sulfate Scaling Tendency in Oilfield Operations
Authors: Yuan Ming Dong , Todd A. C.
Published: September 2015

A model is presented for predicting the scaling tendencies of barium, strontium and calcium sulphates resulting from the mixing of injected and formation waters, as well as the effects of temperature and pressure. The model is able to predict competitive simultaneous co-precipitation of BaSO4, CaSO4 and SrSO4 of which sulphate is the common ion, reflecting closely the precipitation of more than one sulphate mineral. The sulphate scaling tendency may be predicted for a single fluid or solutions of mixed waters at all ratios by calculating the supersaturations and amounts of precipitation of the sulphates at temperatures and pressures covering surface and reservoir conditions. For mixed scale occurrence of more than one sulphate, an iterative process is used.

The model is based on the concept of thermodynamic equilibria between the scaling ions in the solution and their solid precipitates, which requires the knowledge of the sulphates solubilities at various brine compositions, temperatures and pressures representative of oilfield operation conditions, In the model, the solubilities of BaSO4, CaSO4 and SrSO4 are regenerated from the published solubility data by Pitzer's ion interaction approach, a widely accepted method because of its sound theoretical basis and accurate representation of the properties of aqueous electrolyte solutions. The generated solubilities by this method agree with the published data within the error of experimental measurement.

The paper presents the scale prediction results and comments on its application in both predicting formation damage scaling tendency and also within reservoir modelling studies where scaling within the near production well zone is a concern.
Intellectual Property and Consolidation in the Seed Industry
Authors: Howard Philip H.
Published: September 2015

Intellectual property protections on seeds have increased dramatically in recent decades, from the granting of patent‐like protections on certain types of seeds in 1970 to the enforcement of contract provisions for seeds beyond the first sale in 2013. During this same period, the seed industry has experienced rapid consolidation. Although as recently as the 1970s, it was characterized by thousands of small, mostly family‐owned business, by 2011, just three agrochemical firms controlled more than half of the global proprietary seed market. These trends have resulted in rapidly increasing prices for commodity seeds and reduced farmers' ability to save seeds. Given these important negative impacts, why do these trends continue? Expanding intellectual property protections and reducing the number of competitors are strategies that the largest firms understandably employ to increase their power but government support has also been essential to their success. Policy changes have reduced the enforcement of antitrust laws and increased the enforcement of alleged intellectual property infringements. In addition, synergies between stronger intellectual property protections and consolidation have further reinforced the dominance of top firms at the expense of a freely competitive industry. A better understanding of these trends is unlikely to reverse them in the near term but may increase the effectiveness of creating alternatives to a seed oligopoly.
Arsenic Distribution and Speciation in a Managed Turfgrass System Following Monosodium Methylarsenate Application
Authors: Mahoney Denis J. , Gannon Travis W. , Jeffries Matthew D. , Polizzotto Matthew L.
Published: September 2015

Monosodium methylarsenate (MSMA) is an organic arsenical herbicide commonly used in certain warm‐season turfgrasses. Recently, concerns about MSMA use have arisen because of the release of As into the environment, although the fate of applied As is not well quantified for realistic management scenarios. Greenhouse lysimeter experiments were conducted to determine As distribution and speciation over time following an MSMA application to established bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.]. At 1 wk after treatment (WAT), up to 65% of As from MSMA was detected in bermudagrass clippings and the remaining aboveground vegetation. Elevated soil and porewater As concentrations were detected to 5 cm depth but increases were not observed below this depth. Mass balance calculations revealed that As partitioned into the soil over time, with 91% of the applied As residing in the upper 5 cm of soil solids by 8 WAT. Arsenate was the dominant As species by 2 WAT and thereafter in porewater and soil. Results indicate that turfgrass management plans could be altered to minimize potential off‐target contamination from MSMA by returning clippings following mowing events and using MSMA in a herbicide rotation.
Nuclear and Related Techniques for Enhancing Livestock And Agriculture Productivity
Authors: Khanal D. R. , Munankarmy R. C.
Published: September 2015

Uses of isotopes and nuclear related techniques in livestock and agriculture are discussed in this review. How developed countries are using (125I) in radioimmunoassay (RIA) of progesterone hormone in serum/milk of cattle to optimize reproductive efficiency is briefly described. In addition, this paper discusses about the uses of (15N) in soil to know the dynamics of nitrogen and uses of Hydro Probe to determine moisture content in the soil. This review will also shed some light on the potential uses of isotopes and nuclear techniques and the necessity of such technology in Nepal for improving overall agricultural productivity. Key words: Radioimmunoassay; Progesterone; Productivity; Reproductive efficiency The Journal of Agriculture and Environment Vol:10, Jun.2009 Page: 150-155
Coronary Artery Disease Risk Factors among Employees of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal
Authors: Pokhrel Sunita , Neupane Pushpa
Published: September 2015

Background and Aims: As employees spent most part of their time at the worksite, it provides a venue to address multiple individual risk factors and promote health. We aim to assess the prevalence of risk factors for coronary artery disease among the employees of Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre, Kathmandu, Nepal.Methods: It was a prospective, single centre study conducted among randomly selected 129 (35.15%) out of 367 employees of our centre. All selected employees were subjected to detailed blood pressure, anthropometric and metabolic parameters measurement to identify risk factors. Results: Among the 129 participant 85(65.9%) were female and 44(34.1%) were male. Mean age was 25.8 years. Most of the patients 93(72%) were below the age of 40 years. Based upon BMI, 64(49.6%) were overweight, 20 (15.5%) were Obese, normal BMI was found in 38(29.9 %) where as underweight was found in 7(5.4%) employee. Based upon Central waist circumference Central waist obesity was common in female than male. Only 10(7.8%) of the employee were found to be hypertensive. Nineteen (14.7%) employee had RBS of ?125mg/dl.Conclusions: The high prevalence of risk factors of coronary artery disease is alarming. There should be the urgent and targeted interventions to prevent, treat and control non communicable diseases and their risk factors.Nepalese Heart Journal 2015;12(2):79-81
Surgical Embolectomy In Massive Acute Pulmonary Embolism: Our Experience
Authors: Nemirova SV , Medvedev AP , Pichugin VV , Bhandari Krishna
Published: September 2015

Background and Aims: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is the leading cause of hospital deaths among the non-surgical patients. Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of surgical embolectomy in massive acute PE.Methods: It was a single centre, prospective study conducted between January 2007 and August 2013 in Specialized Cardiovascular Surgical Hospital of Nizhny Nizhny Novgorod State Medical Academy Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. One hundred and seventy five patients were diagnosed as PE. Only 77 patients were diagnosed as massive pulmonary embolism and were included in this study. Surgical embolectomy was performed without cardiopulmonary bypass through thoracotomy approach only in the involved pulmonary artery. Right atriotomy and evacuation of embolus was done, in cases of right ventricle thrombus.Results: Seventy-seven patients with acute massive PE underwent surgical embolectomy. Four (5.1%) patients died before discharge. Mean time of ICU stay was 70.1±11.0 hours. During six months of follow up after the embolotomy. Eleven (14%) patients had deep vein thrombosis, two had sub-massive PE. During 6 months of follow up 62 patients (81%) had no further episode of venous thrombloembolism.Conclusions: Our study showed surgical embolectomy can be done with good clinical outcome with acceptable mortality rate.Nepalese Heart Journal 2015;12(2):83-86
Improving access to safe delivery for poor women by voucher scheme in Bangladesh
Authors: Das Akkur Chandra
Published: September 2015

Maternal and child mortality are still higher in Bangladesh where delivery care services are associated with a number of problems. Demand-side financing, popularly well-known as maternal health care voucher, is found to reduce the financial barriers, increases choice for clients, and improves efficiency in delivery and quality of services which ultimately enhances maternal health. A cross-sectional study was conducted in different upzilas of Bhola district in Bangladesh among poor married women and found that voucher scheme receivers were 17.64 times more likely to receive delivery care services than respondents who were not part of the voucher scheme. On the other hand, the study pointed out that recipients of the voucher scheme received comparatively higher levels of delivery care services compared to those not in the voucher scheme, such as skilled birth attendance (64.2% vs. 26.3%), institutional delivery services (86.9% vs. 24.7%), and transport costs (92.5% vs. 23.1%). As the voucher scheme receivers delivery care services ensured better health status and care services than non-voucher scheme receivers in Bangladesh, the current study suggests that increasing the accessibility of voucher scheme programs will facilitate the provision of effective maternal health care services.South East Asia Journal of Public Health Vol.5(1) 2015: 39-43
Mass Tourism and New Representations of Gender in Late Francoist Spain: The Sueca and Don Juan in the 1960s
Authors: Nash Mary
Published: September 2015

This article charts the gendering of mass tourism in Spain under Franco in the 1960s as a locus of intercultural encounters and innovation in forms of popular sociability and gender dynamics. By highlighting the centrality of gender it suggests that exploring the tourism that emerged in this period maps the reinvention of gender representations involving the alignment of tourist otherness and gendered cultural differences that reinscribe the Franco regime's models of femininity. The meaning of the new gender representations that emerged in tourist sites – the iconic Sueca (Nordic female tourist) and a reinvented Don Juan – is also explored from the frame of reference of privileged ‘contact zones’. This study argues for the need to examine the relationship between tourist discourse and practices on the meaning of femininity and masculinity and aims to disclose how the connections between new and old gender representations give insight into the complex contestation of the established Francoist gender order before the end of the Franco dictatorship.
The Role iNDF in the Regulation of Feed Intake and the Importance of Its Assessment in Subtropical Ruminant Systems (the Role of iNDF in the Regulation of Forage Intake)
Authors: Harper Karen , McNeill David
Published: September 2015

The intake and digestibility of forages is largely influenced by the fibre content and specifically the neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Currently, the focus in commercial diet formulation and the modelling of animal performance is on the total NDF so as to achieve higher ruminant feed intakes, higher production performance and rumen health. Rations are often formulated for a specific level of NDF in the diet assuming that the digestibility of NDF operates over a narrow range. Forage NDF, particularly in C4 forages, varies greatly in potential digestibility within the rumen. This potential digestibility is defined as the NDF fraction which disappears after a long incubation period and the remaining indigestible component of NDF (iNDF) is unavailable for microbial digestion. It is hypothesized that this dietary iNDF has an important role in contributing to rumen digesta load and voluntary intake. Formulating a diet to a specific level of NDF without reference to the iNDF could markedly affect the resulting intake, digestibility and metabolisable energy (ME) content of the diet. It is concluded that nutritional models need to be modified to accept directly determined iNDF.
Growth Strategy of Rhizomatous and Non-Rhizomatous Tall Fescue Populations in Response to Defoliation
Authors: Bryant Racheal , Matthew Cory , Hodgson John
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study was to determine the morphology of rhizome production, in two contrasting rhizomatous (R) and non-rhizomatous (NR) tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort) populations, and to assess whether rhizome production is associated with changed biomass allocation or plant growth pattern. Growth of R and NR populations was compared, under hard defoliation (H, 50 mm stubble), lax defoliation (L, 100 mm stubble), or without defoliation (U, uncut). Populations were cloned and grown in a glasshouse and defoliated every three weeks, with destructive harvests performed at 6, 12 and 18 weeks. R plants allocated more biomass to root and less to pseudostem than NR plants. Plant tiller numbers were greatly reduced by defoliation, and R and NR populations differed in leaf formation strategy. R plants had narrower leaves than NR, but their leaves were longer, because of greater leaf elongation duration. R plants were more plastic than NR plants in response to defoliation. Ultimately, biomass allocation to rhizomes did not differ between populations but R plants exhibited a subtle shift in distribution of internode length with a few longer internode segments typically located on secondary and tertiary tillers.
The Impact of Non-Enzymatic Reactions and Enzyme Promiscuity on Cellular Metabolism during (Oxidative) Stress Conditions
Authors: Piedrafita Gabriel , Keller Markus , Ralser Markus
Published: September 2015

Cellular metabolism assembles in a structurally highly conserved, but functionally dynamic system, known as the metabolic network. This network involves highly active, enzyme-catalyzed metabolic pathways that provide the building blocks for cell growth. In parallel, however, chemical reactivity of metabolites and unspecific enzyme function give rise to a number of side products that are not part of canonical metabolic pathways. It is increasingly acknowledged that these molecules are important for the evolution of metabolism, affect metabolic efficiency, and that they play a potential role in human disease—age-related disorders and cancer in particular. In this review we discuss the impact of oxidative and other cellular stressors on the formation of metabolic side products, which originate as a consequence of: (i) chemical reactivity or modification of regular metabolites; (ii) through modifications in substrate specificity of damaged enzymes; and (iii) through altered metabolic flux that protects cells in stress conditions. In particular, oxidative and heat stress conditions are causative of metabolite and enzymatic damage and thus promote the non-canonical metabolic activity of the cells through an increased repertoire of side products. On the basis of selected examples, we discuss the consequences of non-canonical metabolic reactivity on evolution, function and repair of the metabolic network.
Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube and Graphene Materials for Oxygen Reduction Reactions
Authors: Wei Qiliang , Tong Xin , Zhang Gaixia , Qiao Jinli , Gong Qiaojuan , Sun Shuhui
Published: September 2015

Nitrogen-doped carbon materials, including nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) and nitrogen-doped graphene (NG), have attracted increasing attention for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in metal-air batteries and fuel cell applications, due to their optimal properties including excellent electronic conductivity, 4e− transfer and superb mechanical properties. Here, the recent progress of NCNTs- and NG-based catalysts for ORR is reviewed. Firstly, the general preparation routes of these two N-doped carbon-allotropes are introduced briefly, and then a special emphasis is placed on the developments of both NCNTs and NG as promising metal-free catalysts and/or catalyst support materials for ORR. All these efficient ORR electrocatalysts feature a low cost, high durability and excellent performance, and are thus the key factors in accelerating the widespread commercialization of metal-air battery and fuel cell technologies.
Application of an Online-Coupled Regional Climate Model, WRF-CAM5, over East Asia for Examination of Ice Nucleation Schemes: Part II. Sensitivity to Heterogeneous Ice Nucleation Parameterizations and Dust Emissions
Authors: Zhang Yang , Chen Ying , Fan Jiwen , Leung Lai-Yung
Published: September 2015

Aerosol particles can affect cloud microphysical properties by serving as ice nuclei (IN). Large uncertainties exist in the ice nucleation parameterizations (INPs) used in current climate models. In this Part II paper, to examine the sensitivity of the model predictions to different heterogeneous INPs, WRF-CAM5 simulation using the INP of Niemand et al. (N12) [1] is conducted over East Asia for two full years, 2006 and 2011, and compared with simulation using the INP of Meyers et al. (M92) [2], which is the original INP used in CAM5. M92 calculates the nucleated ice particle concentration as a function of ice supersaturation, while N12 represents the nucleated ice particle concentration as a function of temperature and the number concentrations and surface areas of dust particles. Compared to M92, the WRF-CAM5 simulation with N12 produces significantly higher nucleated ice crystal number concentrations (ICNCs) in the northern domain where dust sources are located, leading to significantly higher cloud ice number and mass concentrations and ice water path, but the opposite is true in the southern domain where temperatures and moistures play a more important role in ice formation. Overall, the simulation with N12 gives lower downward shortwave radiation but higher downward longwave radiation, cloud liquid water path, cloud droplet number concentrations, and cloud optical depth. The increase in cloud optical depth and the decrease in downward solar flux result in a stronger shortwave and longwave cloud forcing, and decreases temperature at 2-m and precipitation. Changes in temperature and radiation lower surface concentrations of OH, O3, SO42−, and PM2.5, but increase surface concentrations of CO, NO2, and SO2 over most of the domain. By acting as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) and IN, dust particles have different impacts on cloud water and ice number concentrations, radiation, and temperature at 2-m and precipitation depending on whether the dominant role of dust is CCN or IN. These results indicate the importance of the heterogeneous ice nucleation treatments and dust emissions in accurately simulating regional climate and air quality.
Determination of Sample Entropy and Fuzzy Measure Entropy Parameters for Distinguishing Congestive Heart Failure from Normal Sinus Rhythm Subjects
Authors: Zhao Lina , Wei Shoushui , Zhang Chengqiu , Zhang Yatao , Jiang Xinge , Liu Feng , Liu Chengyu
Published: September 2015

Entropy provides a valuable tool for quantifying the regularity of physiological time series and provides important insights for understanding the underlying mechanisms of the cardiovascular system. Before any entropy calculation, certain common parameters need to be initialized: embedding dimension m, tolerance threshold r and time series length N. However, no specific guideline exists on how to determine the appropriate parameter values for distinguishing congestive heart failure (CHF) from normal sinus rhythm (NSR) subjects in clinical application. In the present study, a thorough analysis on the selection of appropriate values of m, r and N for sample entropy (SampEn) and recently proposed fuzzy measure entropy (FuzzyMEn) is presented for distinguishing two group subjects. 44 long-term NRS and 29 long-term CHF RR interval recordings from http://www.physionet.org were used as the non-pathological and pathological data respectively. Extreme (>2 s) and abnormal heartbeat RR intervals were firstly removed from each RR recording and then the recording was segmented with a non-overlapping segment length N of 300 and 1000, respectively. SampEn and FuzzyMEn were performed for each RR segment under different parameter combinations: m of 1, 2, 3 and 4, and r of 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25 respectively. The statistical significance between NSR and CHF groups under each combination of m, r and N was observed. The results demonstrated that the selection of m, r and N plays a critical role in determining the SampEn and FuzzyMEn outputs. Compared with SampEn, FuzzyMEn shows a better regularity when selecting the parameters m and r. In addition, FuzzyMEn shows a better relative consistency for distinguishing the two groups, that is, the results of FuzzyMEn in the NSR group were consistently lower than those in the CHF group while SampEn were not. The selections of m of 2 and 3 and r of 0.10 and 0.15 for SampEn and the selections of m of 1 and 2 whenever r (herein, rL = rG = r) are for FuzzyMEn (in addition to setting nL = 3 and nG = 2) were recommended to yield the fine classification results for the NSR and CHF groups.
Viscosity-Induced Crossing of the Phantom Barrier
Authors: Brevik Iver
Published: September 2015

We show explicitly, by using astrophysical data plus reasonable assumptions for the bulk viscosity in the cosmic fluid, how the magnitude of this viscosity may be high enough to drive the fluid from its position in the quintessence region at present time t = 0 across the barrier w = −1 into the phantom region in the late universe. The phantom barrier is accordingly not a sharp mathematical divide, but rather a fuzzy concept. We also calculate the limiting forms of various thermodynamical quantities, including the rate of entropy production, for a dark energy fluid near the future Big Rip singularity.
Using Landscape Metrics Analysis and Analytic Hierarchy Process to Assess Water Harvesting Potential Sites in Jordan
Authors: Albalawneh Abeer , Chang Tsun-Kuo , Huang Chun-Wei , Mazahreh Safa
Published: September 2015

Jordan is characterized as a “water scarce” country. Therefore, conserving ecosystem services such as water regulation and soil retention is challenging. In Jordan, rainwater harvesting has been adapted to meet those challenges. However, the spatial composition and configuration features of a target landscape are rarely considered when selecting a rainwater-harvesting site. This study aimed to introduce landscape spatial features into the schemes for selecting a proper water-harvesting site. Landscape metrics analysis was used to quantify 10 metrics for three potential landscapes (i.e., Watershed 104 (WS 104), Watershed 59 (WS 59), and Watershed 108 (WS 108)) located in the Jordanian Badia region. Results of the metrics analysis showed that the three non–vegetative land cover types in the three landscapes were highly suitable for serving as rainwater harvesting sites. Furthermore, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to prioritize the fitness of the three target sites by comparing their landscape metrics. Results of AHP indicate that the non-vegetative land cover in the WS 104 landscape was the most suitable site for rainwater harvesting intervention, based on its dominance, connectivity, shape, and low degree of fragmentation. Our study advances the water harvesting network design by considering its landscape spatial pattern.