bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An overview of the lightning and atmospheric electricity observations collected in southern France during the HYdrological cycle in Mediterranean EXperiment (HyMeX), Special Observation Period 1
Authors: Defer E. , Pinty J.-P. , Coquillat S. , Martin J.-M. , Prieur S. , Soula S. , Richard E. , Rison W. , Krehbiel P. , Thomas R. , Rodeheffer D. , Vergeiner C. , Malaterre F. , Pedeboy S. , Schulz W. , Farges T. , Gallin L.-J. , Ortéga P. , Ribaud J.-F. , Anderson G. , Betz H.-D. , Meneux B. , Kotroni V. , Lagouvardos K. , Roos S. , Ducrocq V. , Roussot O. , Labatut L. , Molinié G.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The PEACH project (Projet en Electricité Atmosphérique pour la Campagne HyMeX – the Atmospheric Electricity Project of the HyMeX Program) is the atmospheric electricity component of the Hydrology cycle in the Mediterranean Experiment (HyMeX) experiment and is dedicated to the observation of both lightning activity and electrical state of continental and maritime thunderstorms in the area of the Mediterranean Sea. During the HyMeX SOP1 (Special Observation Period) from 5 September to 6 November 2012, four European operational lightning locating systems (ATDnet, EUCLID, LINET, ZEUS) and the HyMeX lightning mapping array network (HyLMA) were used to locate and characterize the lightning activity over the northwestern Mediterranean at flash, storm and regional scales. Additional research instruments like slow antennas, video cameras, microbarometer and microphone arrays were also operated. All these observations in conjunction with operational/research ground-based and airborne radars, rain gauges and in situ microphysical records are aimed at characterizing and understanding electrically active and highly precipitating events over southeastern France that often lead to severe flash floods. Simulations performed with cloud resolving models like Meso-NH and Weather Research and Forecasting are used to interpret the results and to investigate further the links between dynamics, microphysics, electrification and lightning occurrence. Herein we present an overview of the PEACH project and its different instruments. Examples are discussed to illustrate the comprehensive and unique lightning data set, from radio frequency to acoustics, collected during the SOP1 for lightning phenomenology understanding, instrumentation validation, storm characterization and modeling.
Strong stoichiometric resilience after litter manipulation experiments; a case study in a Chinese grassland
Authors: Xiao C. , Janssens I. A. , Zhou Y. , Su J. , Liang Y. , Guenet B.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Global climate change has generally modified net primary production (NPP) which leads to increasing litter inputs in some ecosystems. Therefore, assessing the impacts of increasing litter inputs on soil nutrients, plant growth and ecological carbon (C) : nitrogen (N) : phosphorus (P) stoichiometry is critical for an understanding of C, N and P cycling and their feedback processes to climate change. In this study, we added plant above-ground litter, harvested near the experimental plots, to the 10–20 cm subsoil layer of a steppe community at rates equivalent to annual litter input of 0, 15, 30, 60 and 120%, respectively, covering the entire range of the expected NPP increases in this region due to climate change (10–60%). We measured the resulting C, N and P content of different pools (above- and below-ground plant biomass, litter, microbial biomass). Small litter additions, which are more plausible compared to the expected increase predicted by Earth system models, had no effect on the variables examined. Nevertheless, high litter addition (120% of the annual litter inputs) significantly increased soil inorganic N and available P, above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass and litter. Our results suggest that while very high litter addition can strongly affect C : N : P stoichiometry, the grassland studied here is resilient to more plausible inputs in terms of stoichiometric functioning.
Appraising the capability of a land biosphere model as a tool in modelling land surface interactions: results from its validation at selected European ecosystems
Authors: North M. R. , Petropoulos G. P. , Ireland G. , McCalmont J. P.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. In this present study the ability of the SimSphere Soil Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer (SVAT) model in estimating key parameters characterising land surface interactions was evaluated. Specifically, SimSphere's performance in predicting Net Radiation (Rnet), Latent Heat (LE), Sensible Heat (H) and Air Temperature (Tair) at 1.3 and 50 m was examined. Model simulations were validated by ground-based measurements of the corresponding parameters for a total of 70 days of the year 2011 from 7 CarboEurope network sites. These included a variety of biomes, environmental and climatic conditions in the models evaluation. Overall, model performance can largely be described as satisfactory for most of the experimental sites and evaluated parameters. For all model parameters compared, predicted H fluxes consistently obtained the highest agreement to the in-situ data in all ecosystems, with an average RMSD of 55.36 W m−2. LE fluxes and Rnet also agreed well with the in-situ data with RSMDs of 62.75 and 64.65 W m−2 respectively. A good agreement between modelled and measured LE and H fluxes was found, especially for smoothed daily flux trends. For both Tair 1.3 m and Tair 50 m a mean RMSD of 4.14 and 3.54 °C was reported respectively. This work presents the first all-inclusive evaluation of SimSphere, particularly so in a European setting. Results of this study contribute decisively towards obtaining a better understanding of the model's structure and its correspondence to the real world system. Findings also further establish the model's capability as a useful teaching and research tool in modelling Earth's land surface interactions. This is of considerable importance in the light of the rapidly expanding use of the model worldwide, including ongoing research by various Space Agencies examining its synergistic use with Earth Observation data towards the development of operational products at a global scale.
The role of velocity, pressure, and bed stress fluctuations in bed load transport over bed forms: numerical simulation downstream of a backward-facing step
Authors: Schmeeckle M. W.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Bed load transport over ripples and dunes in rivers exhibits strong spatial and temporal variability due to the complex turbulence field caused by flow separation at bedform crests. A turbulence-resolving flow model downstream of a backward-facing step, coupled with a model integrating the equations of motion of individual sand grains, is used to investigate the physical interaction between bed load motion and turbulence downstream of separated flow. Large bed load transport events are found to correspond to low-frequency positive pressure fluctuations. Episodic penetration of fluid into the bed increases the bed stress and moves grains. Fluid penetration events are larger in magnitude near the point of reattachment than farther downstream. Models of bed load transport over ripples and dunes must incorporate the effects of these penetration events of high stress and sediment flux.
Pangolin v1.0, a conservative 2-D advection model towards large-scale parallel calculation
Authors: Praga A. , Cariolle D. , Giraud L.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. To exploit the possibilities of parallel computers, we designed a large-scale bidimensional atmospheric advection model named Pangolin. As the basis for a future chemistry-transport model, a finite-volume approach for advection was chosen to ensure mass preservation and to ease parallelization. To overcome the pole restriction on time steps for a regular latitude–longitude grid, Pangolin uses a quasi-area-preserving reduced latitude–longitude grid. The features of the regular grid are exploited to reduce the memory footprint and enable effective parallel performances. In addition, a custom domain decomposition algorithm is presented. To assess the validity of the advection scheme, its results are compared with state-of-the-art models on algebraic test cases. Finally, parallel performances are shown in terms of strong scaling and confirm the efficient scalability up to a few hundred cores.
An approach to build an event set of European wind storms based on ECMWF EPS
Authors: Osinski R. , Lorenz P. , Kruschke T. , Voigt M. , Ulbrich U. , Leckebusch G. C. , Faust E. , Hofherr T. , Majewski D.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The properties of European wind storms under present climate conditions are estimated on the basis of surface wind forecasts from the European Center of Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) Ensemble Prediction System (EPS). While the EPS is designed to provide forecast information of the range of possible weather developments starting from the observed state of weather, we use its archive in a climatological context. It provides a large number of modifications of observed storm events, and includes storms that did not occur in reality. Thus it is possible to create a large sample of storm events, which entirely originate from a physically consistent model, whose ensemble spread represents feasible alternative storm realizations of the covered period. This paper shows that the huge amount of identifiable events in the EPS is applicable to reduce uncertainties in a wide range of fields of research focusing on winter storms. Wind storms are identified and tracked in this study over their lifetime using an algorithm, based on the local exceedance of the 98th percentile of instantaneous 10 m wind speed, calculating a storm severity measure. After removing inhomogeneities in the dataset arising from major modifications of the operational system, the distributions of storm severity, storm size and storm duration are computed. The overall principal properties of the homogenized EPS storm data set are in good agreement with storms from the ERA-Interim dataset, making it suitable for climatological investigations of these extreme events. A demonstrated benefit in the climatological context by the EPS is presented. It gives a clear evidence of a linear increase of maximum storm intensity and wind field size with storm duration. This relation is not recognizable from a sparse ERA-Interim sample for long lasting events, as the number of events in the reanalysis is not sufficient to represent these characteristics.
Eddy Surface properties and propagation at Southern Hemisphere western boundary current systems
Authors: Pilo G. S. , Mata M. M. , Azevedo J. L. L.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. Oceanic eddies occur in all world oceans, but are more energetic when associated to western boundary currents (WBC) systems. In these regions, eddies play an important role on mixing and energy exchange. Therefore, it is important to quantify and qualify eddies occurring within these systems. Previous studies performed eddy censuses in Southern Hemisphere WBC systems. However, important aspects of local eddy population are still unknown. Main questions to be answered relate to eddies' spatial distribution, propagation and lifetime within each system. Here, we use a global eddy dataset to qualify eddies based on their surface characteristics at the Agulhas Current (AC), the Brazil Current (BC) and the East Australian Current (EAC) Systems. We show that eddy propagation within each system is highly forced by the local mean flow and bathymetry. In the AC System, eddy polarity dictates its propagation distance. BC system eddies do not propagate beyond the Argentine Basin, and are advected by the local ocean circulation. EAC System eddies from both polarities cross south of Tasmania, but only anticyclonics reach the Great Australian Bight. Eddies in all systems and from both polarities presented a geographical segregation according to size. Large eddies occur along the Agulhas Retroflection, the Agulhas Return Current, the Brazil-Malvinas Confluence and the Coral Sea. Small eddies occur in the systems southernmost domains. Understanding eddies' propagation helps to establish monitoring programs, and to better understand how these features would affect local mixing.
Spatio-temporal variability of micro-, nano- and pico-phytoplankton in the Mediterranean Sea from satellite ocean colour data of SeaWiFS
Authors: Sammartino M. , Di Cicco A. , Marullo S. , Santoleri R.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The seasonal and year-to-year variability of the spatial distribution of the Phytoplankton Size Classes (PSCs) has been examined in the Mediterranean Sea using the entire time series of Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS) space observations (1998 to 2010). PSCs daily maps have been determined using an empirical model based on a synoptic relationship between surface chlorophyll a and diagnostic pigments referred to different taxonomic groups. The validation of model PSCs estimates using a Mediterranean HPLC pigments dataset revealed that the model is able to correctly detect the contribution of pico-, nano- and micro-phytoplankton to TChl a. The analysis of micro-, nano- and pico-phytoplankton satellite time series (1998–2010) describes quantitatively the seasonal and inter-annual variability of the spatial distribution of the algal assemblage structure over the basin. The analysis reveals that in most of the Mediterranean Sea the main contribution to the chlorophyll a all around the year comes from the pico-phytoplankton component, above all in poor nutrient conditions. Regions with different and peculiar features are the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, the Alborán Sea and several coastal areas, such as the north Adriatic Sea. In these areas, local interactions between physical and biological components modulate the competition between the three phytoplankton size classes. It results that, during the spring bloom season, micro-phytoplankton dominates in areas of intense vertical winter mixing and deep/intermediate water formation; while, in coastal areas, micro-phytoplankton dominates in all seasons, thanks to the nutrients supply that comes from the terrestrial inputs. In the Alborán Sea, in which the Atlantic inflow modulates the nutrient availability, any predominance of one class over the other two has been observed. Nano-phytoplankton component instead remains widespread over the entire basin along the year, and its contribution to the TChl a is of the order of 30–50%. The inter-annual variability is observed in the whole basin, but the largest inter-annual signal occurs in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea, driven by the year-to-year variation in intensity and extension of the spring bloom. In absence of sufficient in situ data of community composition, the satellite-based analysis demonstrated that pico, nano and micro classes often coexist. The predominance of one group over the other ones is strongly dependent on the physical-biological processes occurring at mesoscale. These processes directly influence the nutrient and light availability, which are the principal forcing for the algae growth.
From soil in art towards Soil Art
Authors: Feller C. , Landa E. R. , Toland A. , Wessolek G.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The range of art forms and genres dealing with soil is wide and diverse, spanning many centuries and artistic traditions, from prehistoric painting and ceramics to early Renaissance works in Western literature, poetry, paintings, and sculpture, to recent developments in cinema, architecture and contemporary art. Case studies focused on painting, installation, and cinema are presented with the view of encouraging further exploration of art about, in, with, or featuring soil or soil conservation issues, created by artists, and occasionally scientists, educators or collaborative efforts thereof.
Regional melt-pond fraction and albedo of thin Arctic first-year drift ice in late summer
Authors: Divine D. V. , Granskog M. A. , Hudson S. R. , Pedersen C. A. , Karlsen T. I. , Divina S. A. , Renner A. H. H. , Gerland S.
Published: February 2015

Abstract. The paper presents a case study of the regional (≈150 km) morphological and optical properties of a relatively thin, 70–90 cm modal thickness, first-year Arctic sea ice pack in an advanced stage of melt. The study combines in situ broadband albedo measurements representative of the four main surface types (bare ice, dark melt ponds, bright melt ponds and open water) and images acquired by a helicopter-borne camera system during ice-survey flights. The data were collected during the 8-day ICE12 drift experiment carried out by the Norwegian Polar Institute in the Arctic, north of Svalbard at 82.3° N, from 26 July to 3 August 2012. A set of > 10 000 classified images covering about 28 km2 revealed a homogeneous melt across the study area with melt-pond coverage of ≈ 0.29 and open-water fraction of ≈ 0.11. A decrease in pond fractions observed in the 30 km marginal ice zone (MIZ) occurred in parallel with an increase in open-water coverage. The moving block bootstrap technique applied to sequences of classified sea-ice images and albedo of the four surface types yielded a regional albedo estimate of 0.37 (0.35; 0.40) and regional sea-ice albedo of 0.44 (0.42; 0.46). Random sampling from the set of classified images allowed assessment of the aggregate scale of at least 0.7 km2 for the study area. For the current setup configuration it implies a minimum set of 300 images to process in order to gain adequate statistics on the state of the ice cover. Variance analysis also emphasized the importance of longer series of in situ albedo measurements conducted for each surface type when performing regional upscaling. The uncertainty in the mean estimates of surface type albedo from in situ measurements contributed up to 95% of the variance of the estimated regional albedo, with the remaining variance resulting from the spatial inhomogeneity of sea-ice cover.
Team strategies and tools to enhance performance and patient safety training: The effect of training on both nursing staff perceptions regarding physician behaviors and patient satisfaction scores in the ED
Authors: Brand Shari I. , M. Slee Kristen , Chang Yu-Hui , Cheng Meng-Ru , A. Lipinski Christopher , R. Arnold Rick , J.Traub Stephen
Published: February 2015

Introduction: Background: Program used to enhance teamwork and communication among health professionals to improve patient safety and employee satisfaction. Objective: We hypothesized that Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) training would improve communication between physicians and nurses and between physicians and their patients and family members, and that it would improve patient perceptions of emergency department teamwork.Methods: Design: Before and after prospective observational study. Setting: Tertiary Care Hospital Emergency Department. Participants/Subjects: Twelve core physicians and 43 nurses underwent two, 4-hour TeamSTEPPS training sessions in July 2011 and July 2012. The first session consisted of didactic instruction using the TeamSTEPPS material. The second session was comprised of simulations focusing on the content of the initial training course. Nurses were asked to rate individual physicians on five distinct aspects of communication, both before and after the training sessions. Statistical Methods: Survey results were compared using theWilcoxon signed rank test. Patient satisfaction survey questions regarding teamwork (4th Quarters 2010 and 2011) were analyzed using two-sample t-tests.Results: TeamSTEPPS improved nurse’s perception regarding physician communication with patients and their families (post: 4.28 ± 0.37 vs. pre: 4.16 ± 0.42, p = .0479), with a trend towards improvement in nurse’s perception of physician’s communication with nursing staff regarding changes in patient care plans (post: 3.94 ± 0.38 vs. pre: 3.81 ± 0.5, p = .0942). TeamSTEPPS was also associated with a significant improvement in patient’s rating of teamwork between doctors and nurses as “excellent” (post: 62.9% vs. pre: 48.3%, p = .0132).Conclusions: Team training with the TeamSTEPPS program improved selected aspects of nursing and patient perceptions of teamwork and communication between emergency department physicians and nurses.
Assessment of photoselective vaporization of prostate skills during Urology Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)
Authors: Noureldin Yasser A. , Elkoushy Mohamed A. , Fahmy Nader , Carrier Serge , Elhilali Mostafa M. , Andonian Sero
Published: February 2015

Introduction: We evaluated the use of the GreenLight Simulator (GL-SIM) (American Medical Systems, Guelph, ON) in the skill assessment of postgraduate trainees (PGTs) in photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP). We also sought to determine whether previous PVP experience or GL-SIM practice improved performance.Methods: PGTs in postgraduate years (PGY-3 to PGY-5) from all 4 Quebec urology training programs were recruited during 2 annual Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). During a 20-minute OSCE station, PGTs were asked to perform 2 exercises: (1) identification of endoscopic landmarks and (2) a PVP of a 30-g normal prostate. Grams vaporized, global scores, and number of correct anatomical landmarks were recorded and correlated with PGY level, practice on the GL-SIM, and previous PVP experience.Results: In total, 25 PGTs were recruited at each OSCE, with 13 PGTs participating in both OSCEs. When comparing scores from the first and second OSCEs, there was a significant improvement in the number of grams vaporized (2.9 vs. 4.3 g; p = 0.003) and global score (100 vs. 165; p = 0.03). There was good correlation between the number of previously performed PVPs and the global score (r = 0.4, p = 0.04). Similarly, PGTs with previous practice on the GL-SIM had significantly higher global score (100.6 vs. 162.6; p = 0.04) and grams vaporized (3.1 vs. 4.1 g; p = 0.04) when compared with those who did not practice on GL-SIM. Furthermore, there were significantly more competent PGTs among those who had previously practiced on the GL-SIM (32.7% vs. 10.2%; p = 0.009). PGY level did not significantly affect grams vaporized or global score (p > 0.05).Conclusion: Performance on the GL-SIM at OSCEs significantly correlated with previous practice on the GL-SIM and previous PVP experience rather than PGY level. Furthermore, there were significantly more competent PGTs among those who had previously practiced on the GL-SIM.
The association between renal tumour scoring system components and complications of partial nephrectomy
Authors: Desantis Darren , Lavallee Luke , Witiuk Kelsey , Mallick Ranjeeta , Kamal Fadi , Fergusson Dean , Morash Christopher , Cagiannos Ilias , Breau Rodney
Published: February 2015

Introduction: We evaluate the associations between 3 renal tumour scoring systems and their components with perioperative complications of partial nephrectomy.Methods: A consecutive cohort of partial nephrectomy patients was analyzed. Patient characteristics were abstracted from medical records. PADUA scores (preoperative aspects and dimensions used for anatomic classification), RENAL (radius exophyic/endophytic nearness anterior/posterior location scoring) nephrometry scores, and Centrality index (C-index) were determined from preoperative axial images by 2 independent reviewers. Cases were evaluated for postoperative complications up to 30 days after surgery. Pre-specified complication definitions were used for 33 potential medical and surgical complications. Unadjusted and adjusted associations between overall scores, individual components, and complications were determined using log binomial regression.Results: In total, 118 patients were included in the study. Of these, 36 (30.5%) surgical complications occurred in 27 (22.9%) patients. Fourteen (11.9%) were Clavien grade ≥3. Overall PADUA score was significantly associated with surgical and overall complications after adjusting for potential confounders. Among all components of the 3 scoring systems, only tumour diameter and exophytic/ endophytic nature of the tumour were significantly associated with complications after adjusting for the other components of the respective scoring system (p < 0.05).Conclusions: Renal tumour scoring systems may help predict the risk of complications after partial nephrectomy. Further refinement of current systems is required. A first step would be to include only components that are significantly associated with complications.
Laparo-endoscopic Single Site Surgery in Pediatrics: Feasibility and surgical outcomes from a preliminary prospective Canadian experience.
Authors: Khambati Aziz M. , Wehbi Elias , Farhat Walid A.
Published: February 2015

Introduction: Laparo-endoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) is becoming an alternative to standard laparoscopic surgery. Proposed advantages include enhanced cosmesis and faster recovery. We assessed the early post-operative surgical outcomes of LESS surgery utilizing different instruments in the pediatric urological population in Canada.Methods: We prospectively captured data on all patients undergoing LESS at our institution between February 2011 and August 2012. This included patient age, operative time, length of stay, complications and short-term surgical outcomes. Different instruments/ devices were used to perform the procedures. Access was achieved through a transumbilical incision.Results: A total of 16 LESS procedures were performed, including seven pyeloplasties, four unilateral and one bilateral varicocelectomies, two simple nephrectomies, one renal cyst decortication and one pyelolithotomy. There was no statistical difference in the operative times, hospital length of stay and cost (pyeloplasty only) in patients undergoing pyeloplasty and varicocelectomy using the LESS technique when compared to an age matched cohort of patients managed with the traditional laparoscopic approach. One pyeloplasty in the LESS group required conversion to open due to a small intra-renal pelvis. There were no immediate or short term post-operative complications; however, one patient experienced a decrease in renal function status post LESS pyeloplasty. Since all procedures were performed by a vastly experienced surgeon at a tertiary center, the generalizability of the results cannot be assessed.Conclusions: There are only a few series that have assessed the role of LESS in pediatric urological surgery. Although our experience is limited by a heterogeneous group of patients with a short follow-up period, the present cohort demonstrates the safety and feasibility of LESS. Further evaluation with randomized studies is required to better assess the role of LESS in pediatric urology.
Simultaneous bilateral laparoscopic nephrectomy in a child with peritoneal catheter dialysis using a 4-port trans-abdominal technique
Authors: De Carli Claudio , Guerra Luis A
Published: February 2015

We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with end-stage renal disease and a previously-inserted peritoneal dialysis catheter who underwent a bilateral transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy for hypertension refractory to medical treatment. We employed a 4-port transperitoneal technique using the first detached kidney to occlude the ipsilateral abdominal wall access port during the contralateral nephrectomy to avoid gas/fluid leak and to facilitate location of the first kidney at the end of the surgery. The patient had no morbidity and was able to resume use of the peritoneal dialysis catheter 5 days after the surgery.
Lumbar plexopathy as a complication of percutaneous nephrolithotomy in a horseshoe kidney
Authors: Lantz Andrea Gail , Honey R. John D'A
Published: February 2015

Treatment of nephrolithiasis in horseshoe kidneys can be challenging due to anomalies in renal position, collecting system anatomy and vascular supply. We report on a patient who was referred after a failed percutaneous nephrolithotomy for a left moiety staghorn calculus in a horseshoe kidney. Two punctures had been performed involving upper and middle posterior calyces. Both were very medially placed and inadvertently traversed the psoas muscle, resulting in lumbar plexopathy with permanent deficit. This complication presented postoperatively with left leg weakness, paresthesia, and pain which impaired independent ambulation. The patient went on to be successfully treated for her stone disease with robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy.
Advanced testicular cancer associated with life-threatening tumour lysis syndrome and choriocarcinoma syndrome
Authors: Kobatake Kohei , Kato Masao , Mita Koji
Published: February 2015

Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) and choriocarcinoma syndrome (CS) are severe complications of chemotherapy for testicular cancer. They are rare, but can be life-threatening. A 37-year-old man complaining of persisting cough was referred to our hospital. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed huge tumours that occupied the peritoneal cavity, with multiple lung, liver, and para-aortic metastases. Although there was no abnormal finding in the testes, serum testicular tumor markers showed marked elevation. A CT-guided biopsy for the peritoneal tumours revealed extragonadal germ cell tumour (GCT), including yolk sac tumour and choriocarcinoma. Chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) was started after admission. The morning after the beginning of BEP, the patient developed hemorrhagic shock, in addition to acute pulmonary and renal failure, because of TLS and massive hemorrhage at bilateral lung metastases. He was intubated and resuscitated. Despite appropriate therapy, his renal function did not recover and hemodialysis was started. The patient eventually died of severe respiratory distress syndrome and infection. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of TLS and CS as complications of hemorrhage at the lung metastases of advanced testicular cancer leading to death.
Schematic Approach to Information Services Reconfiguration
Authors: Al-Fedaghi Sabah
Published: February 2015

Information system change is concerned with deliberate modifications to an organization's technical and organizational subsystems that deal with information. Changes result in adjustments being made to the configuration of information systems that could have an impact on the operations of those systems. This paper examines the problem of interference between old configuration activities, new configuration activities and reconfiguration activities that occur due to overlapping modes. The paper proposes a novel form of depicting and solving the problem based on a flow-based conceptualization in which a configuration can be viewed as a system of flow systems organized architecturally, described by their internal flows, and connected by external flows and triggering. This method of diagramming is applied to a complex case study involving the reconfiguration of an office workflow for order processing described in BPMN. The diagrams resulting from this method and the BPMN diagrams are then examined side by side. Accordingly, the conclusion is that a new high-level representation seems more systematic as a foundation for building a conceptual schema of business processes.
Development of a Quadrotor Test Bed — Modelling, Parameter Identification, Controller Design and Trajectory Generation
Authors: Dong Wei , Gu Guo-Ying , Zhu Xiangyang , Ding Han
Published: February 2015

In this paper, a quadrotor test bed is developed. The technical approach for this test bed is firstly proposed by utilizing a commercial quadrotor, a Vicon motion capture system and a ground station. Then, the mathematical model of the quadrotor is formulated considering aerodynamic effects, and the parameter identification approaches for this model are provided accordingly. Based on the developed model and identified parameters, a simulation environment that is consistent with the real system is developed. Subsequently, a flight control strategy and a trajectory generation method, both of which are conceptually and computationally lightweight, are developed and tested in the simulation environment. The developed algorithms are then directly transplanted to the real system, and the experimental results show that their responses in the real-time flights match well with those from the simulations. This indicates that the control algorithms developed for the quadrotor can be preliminarily verified and refined though simulations, and then directly implemented to the real system, which could significantly reduce the experimental risks and costs. Meanwhile, real-time experiments show that the developed flight controller can efficiently stabilize the quadrotor when external disturbances exist, and the trajectory generation approach can provide safe guidance for the quadrotor to fly smoothly through cluttered environments with obstacle rings. All of these features are valuable for real applications, thus demonstrating the feasibility of further development.
Concept and Functional Structure of a Service Robot
Authors: Pineda Luis A. , Rodríguez Arturo , Fuentes Gibran , Rascon Caleb , Meza Ivan V.
Published: February 2015

In this paper, we present a concept of service robot and a framework for its functional specification and implementation. The present discussion is grounded in Newell's system levels hierarchy which suggests organizing robotics research in three different layers, corresponding to Marr's computational, algorithmic and implementation levels, as follows: (1) the service robot proper, which is the subject of the present paper, (2) perception and action algorithms, and (3) the systems programming level. The concept of a service robot is articulated in practice through the introduction of a conceptual model for particular service robots; this consists of the specification of a set of basic robotic behaviours and a number of mechanisms for assembling such behaviours during the execution of complex tasks. The model involves an explicit representation of the task structure, allowing for deliberative reasoning and task management. The model also permits distinguishing between a robot's competence and performance, along the lines of Chomsky's corresponding distinction. We illustrate how this model can be realized in practice with two composition modes that we call static and dynamic; these are illustrated with the Restaurant Test and the General Purpose Service Robot Test of the RoboCup@Home competition, respectively. The present framework and methodology has been implemented in the robot Golem-II+, which is also described. The paper is concluded with an overall reflection upon the present concept of a service robot and its associated functional specifications, and the potential impact of such a conceptual model in the study, development and application of service robots in general.
Measuring the Influence of Efficient Ports Using Social Network Metrics
Authors: Leem Byung-Hak , Chun Heuiju
Published: February 2015

Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is known as a useful tool that produces many efficient decision-making units (DMUs). Traditional DEA provides relative efficient scores and reference sets, but does not influence and rank the efficient DMUs. This paper suggests a method that provides influence and ranking information by using PageRank as a centrality of Social Network analysis (SNA) based on reference sets and their lambda values. The social network structure expresses the DMU as a node, reference sets as link, and lambda as connection strengths or weights. This paper, with PageRank, compares the Eigenvector centrality suggested by Liu, et al. in 2009, and shows that PageRank centrality is more accurate.
Los túmulos funerarios en las altas jerarquías sociales. La reproducción del modelo regio lejos de la Corte
Authors: Cuesta García de Leomardo Maria José
Published: February 2015

ABSTRACT: The society of the ancient regime recreated the distinctive, justifying, and propagandistic rites of power that were performed at court in cities far away from it. These rites were led by the holders of civil and religious power, and even utilized formulas that would not have been permitted, because they copied the royal ones. The rituals surrounding death form part of these practices, with first-class artistic derivations, including ephemeral architecture, emblematics and chalcography, or intaglio. My study focuses on the catafalque of a priest and another of a nobleman in Seville in the mid-eighteenth century. KEYWORDS: Funereal Emblematics, Colegio de San Basilio Magno, Eugenio González Moreno, José Dávila Tello de Guzmán, Pedro Tortolero.   RESUMEN: La sociedad del Antiguo Régimen reproduce los ritos distintivos, justificadores y propagandísticos del poder que se realizan en la corte, en las ciudades alejadas de ella. Aquí son protagonizados por los detentadores del poder civil y religioso, incluso con fórmulas que, por copiar a las regias, no les serían permitidas. Los ritos en torno a la muerte se inscriben en estos usos, con derivaciones artísticas de primer orden que incluyen la arquitectura efímera, la emblemática y la calcografía. Nuestro estudio se centra en un túmulo de un sacerdote y en otro de un noble en la Sevilla de mediados del siglo XVIII. PALABRAS CLAVES: Emblemática fúnebre,  Colegio de San Basilio Magno, Eugenio González Moreno, José Dávila Tello de Guzmán, Pedro Tortolero.
CINÉTICA DE SECAGEM DE GRÃOS DE ARROZ-VERMELHO
Authors: Da Costa Santos Dyego , Neto Alves de Oliveira Emanuel
Published: February 2015

A secagem de produtos agrícolas é o processo mais utilizado para assegurar sua qualidade e estabilidade,levando-se em consideração que a diminuição da quantidade de água do material reduz a atividade biológica,bem como as mudanças químicas e físicas que ocorrem durante o armazenamento. Por isso, o presentetrabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de estudar a secagem de grãos de arroz-vermelho (Oryza sativa L.)em secador de leito fixo nas temperaturas de 30, 40 e 50 ºC e ajustar diferentes modelos matemáticos aosdados experimentais. Como critério de avaliação destes, utilizou-se o coeficiente de determinação (R2) e odesvio quadrático médio (DQM). Observou-se que incrementos no valor da temperatura do ar de secagempromoveram redução significativa no tempo de secagem. Entre os modelos ajustados, os de Aproximaçãoda Difusão e Dois Termos apresentaram os maiores valores de R2 e os menores valores de DQM para a faixade temperatura de 30 ºC a 50 ºC.
RESÍDUO LÍQUIDO DA INDÚSTRIA DE ENZIMAS E SUA INTERAÇÃO SOLO-PLANTA Evaluation of soil-plant interactions resulting from the use of a commercial brand of industrial wastes
Authors: Roveda Luís Fernando , Vargas Motta Antonio Carlos , Genar Feliciano Maftum Edhna , Benedetti Eliziane Luiza , Ebling Brondani Gilvano , Alves Dionísio Jair , Gabardo Juarez , Chapaval Pimentel Ida , Vicente Vânia Aparecida
Published: February 2015

O reaproveitamento de resíduo industrial de baixo potencial contaminante na agricultura é uma importanteopção de disposição final, com vantagens ao meio ambiente. Objetivando avaliar o potencial agronômico doNovoGro®, resíduo resultante da fermentação microbiana da produção de enzimas (proteases), montou-seum experimento em uma pequena propriedade do município de Araucária (PR), em cambissolo cultivadosob plantio convencional. Foram realizados dois tratamentos (com e sem a adição de 50 m3 de resíduo), esteaplicado na superfície quando da implantação do experimento. Avaliaram-se os efeitos no solo em relaçãoaos seguintes parâmetros: pH CaCl2, H + Al, P, K, Ca, Mg e V% em 4 diferentes profundidades e em três épocasde coletas de solo. Avaliaram-se ainda os efeitos em três culturas sucessivas: feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris),aveia-preta (Avena strigosa) e milho (Zea mays L.). O delineamento foi em blocos ao acaso com seis repetições,sendo as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey, ao nível de 5%. Aumentos no pH, Ca, Mg, P, V% e quedas no H + Al foram observados no solo após a aplicação do tratamento. Não houve efeito do NovoGro® sobre nenhum dos parâmetros avaliados na cultura do feijão e no milho. Efeito pronunciado da aplicação foi obtido sobre a aveia, com aumento médio de 1000 kg ha-1 de matéria seca, sugerindo um efeito residual no solo de aproximadamente 4 meses após a aplicação.
INIBIÇÃO IN VITRO DO CRESCIMENTO MICELIAL DE COLLETOTRICHUM SPP. POR ÓLEOS ESSENCIAIS	In vitro inhibition of mycelial growth of Colletotrichum spp. by essential oils
Authors: Pereira Amilton José , Vivas Marcelo , Leoni Belan Leônidas , Gomes da Silva Dalza , Bucker Moraes Wanderson
Published: February 2015

A principal doença de pós-colheita em frutos de banana e mamão é a antracnose. Neste caso, extratos eóleos de diversas plantas vêm sendo testados para o manejo de fungos patogênicos em frutos pós-colheita.Avaliou-se, in vitro, o efeito de diferentes concentrações dos óleos essenciais de Corymbia citriodora eCymbopogon citratus sobre o crescimento micelial de Colletotrichum musae e C. gloeosporioides e determinou-se a concentração de inibição de 50% do crescimento micelial (CI50). Os óleos essenciais reduziramlinearmente o crescimento micelial de ambos os patógenos. Verificou-se que C. citratus apresentou CI50 <250 μL L-1 para ambos os patógenos; no entanto, para C. citriodora os valores da CI50 foram superiores, sendoeficiente a 696 μL L-1 para C. musae e 555 μL L-1 para C. gloeosporioides. Neste estudo, obteve-se inibiçãocompleta do crescimento micelial de ambos os patógenos apenas quando expostos ao óleo de C. citratus.
RENDIMENTO DO ÓLEO ESSENCIAL DE ZINGIBER OFFICINALE EM RESPOSTA A DIFERENTES PROCESSAMENTOS E TEMPOS DE EXTRAÇÃO	Yield of Zingiber officinale essential oil in response to different processing methods and extraction times
Authors: Moraes Dabague Isabel Cristina , Deschamps Cícero , Pereira Machado Marília , Côcco Lílian Cristina
Published: February 2015

O processamento e a extração de óleo essencial do gengibre são de grande importância, pois podem interferirno rendimento e qualidade do óleo essencial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar diferentes formas deprocessamento e tempos de extração do óleo essencial de rizomas de dois genótipos de gengibre, provenientesdo município de Morretes (PR). A extração do óleo essencial foi realizada por hidrodestilação, emaparelho tipo Clevenger, e a caracterização química do óleo essencial, por cromatrografia gasosa acopladaà espectrometria de massa. Foram utilizados 100 gramas de rizomas dos genótipos Paulista e Japonês, quepassaram por três formas de processamento (ralador manual, multiprocessador e triturador para silagem)e dois tempos de extração do óleo essencial (60 e 120 minutos). O tempo de extração do óleo essencial dosrizomas de Z. officinale teve maior influência sobre o rendimento do óleo essencial, sendo que a extração por120 minutos resultou num rendimento maior para ambos genótipos. Os tipos de processamento utilizadospara a trituração dos rizomas apresentaram resultados semelhantes, porém o ralador manual não é recomendadopara produção em larga escala. A porcentagem dos constituintes majoritários do óleo essencialvariou entre os genótipos e os tipos de processamento utilizados.
COOPERAÇÃO TÉCNICA PARA CERTIFICAÇÃO DE AGRICULTURA ORGÂNICA NA REGIÃO LITORÂNEA DO PARANÁ	Technical cooperation agreement to organic agricultural certification in the coastal region of Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Cavallet Luiz Ermindo , Ignácio Ribeiro Heloy , Bueno Martins Chaiane
Published: February 2015

Objetivou-se apresentar os resultados obtidos no projeto Fafipar do Programa Paranaense de Certificaçãode Produtos Orgânicos, realizado na região litoral do Paraná, de agosto de 2009 a abril de 2011. A metodologiafoi aplicada segundo instrumentos legais que definem os Sistemas Orgânicos de Produção (SOP) noBrasil. Basicamente envolveu visitas às propriedades rurais, estudos de caso, auditorias e o procedimento decertificação. Foram realizados 50 estudos de caso em propriedades rurais dos municípios de Guaraqueçaba,Morretes, Paranaguá e Pontal do Paraná, sendo que 29 foram pré-aprovadas para realização de auditoria e,destas, 20 receberam o selo de certificação. Guaraqueçaba teve o maior número de propriedades avaliadas,devido principalmente ao isolamento geográfico da região, à condição socioeconômica dos produtores ruraise as leis ambientais que restringem práticas de agricultura convencional. Constatou-se uma experiênciamultidisciplinar e interinstitucional entre os parceiros do projeto.
Presença de enteropatógenos resistentes a antimicrobianos em ostras e sururus da Baía do Iguape, Maragogipe (Bahia)
Authors: Barreto Norma Suely Evangelista , Pereira Adriana Freitas , Silva Rebeca Ayala Rosa da , Ferreira Luiza Teles Barbalho
Published: February 2015

Ostras e sururus são bivalves filtradores que habitam em regiões estuarinas podendo bioacumular microrganismospatogênicos quando presentes na água. O consumo desses organismos tem sido frequentementerelacionado às toxinfecções de origem alimentar em humanos. Objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade bacteriológicada ostra Crassostrea rhizophorae (Guilding, 1828) e do sururu Mytella guyanensis (Lamarck, 1819) (innatura) provenientes da Baía do Iguape, Maragogipe, Bahia, através da quantificação de coliformes a 35 ºC ea 45 ºC e pela pesquisa de Salmonella spp., bem como avaliar o perfil de suscetibilidade antimicrobiana dosmicrorganismos isolados. O Número Mais Provável (NMP.100 g-1) de coliformes a 35 ºC e a 45 ºC nas amostrasde ostra variou de 2,2 x 103 a 1,3 x 106 NMP.100 g-1 e < 1,8 x 102 a 4,6 x 105 NMP.100 g-1, respectivamente.No sururu, os valores de coliformes a 35 ºC foram de 3,3 x 105 a > 1,6 x 107 NMP.100 g-1 e 1,7 x 103 a 1,6 x 107NMP.g-1 para os coliformes a 45 ºC. As amostras de ostra e sururu analisadas foram consideradas imprópriaspara o consumo em 41,7% (5/12) e 66,7% (8/12) do total analisado, segundo a legislação do Brasil. A espécieEscherichia coli foi isolada em 75% (9/12) e em 100% (12/12) das amostras de ostra e sururu, respectivamente.Salmonella spp. foi confirmada em 8,3% (1/12) das amostras de ostras. Em relação à suscetibilidadeantimicrobiana, 59,3% (16/27) das cepas de E. coli isoladas a partir do sururu, apresentaram resistência apelo menos um dos 12 antimicrobianos testados, havendo maior resistência para a tetraciclina em 51,9% (14/27) dos isolados. Salmonella spp. apresentou sensibilidade a 58,3% (7/12) dos antimicrobianos e resistênciaà ampicilina e à cefalotina.
Osteossíntese biológica em tíbia de cão com aplicação de fixador esquelético externo: relato de caso
Authors: Serafini Gabriele Maria Callegaro , Schmitt Bernardo , Libardoni Renato Do Nascimento , Garcia Érika Fernanda Villamayor , Sprada Arícia Gomes , Dalmolin Fabíola , Müller Daniel Curvello de Mendonça , Schossler João Eduardo Wallau
Published: February 2015

Osteossíntese biológica é o tratamento dado, principalmente, às fraturas cominutivas diafisárias em quenão é possível a redução anatômica precisa dos fragmentos ósseos, preservando o alinhamento articularsem interferir no suprimento sanguíneo local. A fixação pode ser alcançada através de longa ponte na áreade fratura usando parafusos bloqueados, placas em ponte ou fixadores esqueléticos externos que levam àcicatrização do tecido ósseo fraturado. Demonstrou-se a utilização com sucesso desse princípio em cão comfratura cominutiva iatrogênica da tíbia causada pela colocação equivocada do fixador esquelético externo(FEE). A reintervenção cirúrgica com a aplicação do FEE baseando-se nos princípios da osteossíntese biológicapromoveu estabilidade aos fragmentos ósseos envolvidos e garantiu boa cicatrização do tecido.