bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring Cost and Quality of Medicare in the United States using Analytics
Authors: Raghupathi Viju , Raghupathi Wullianallur
Published: July 2016

In this research, the authors explore the association of cost and quality of care indicators for Medicare in the United States. Using analytics they offer a portfolio of influencing factors and geographic areas that are most and least expensive for Medicare recipients. The cost indicator includes Medicare charges; the quality of care indicators include hospital location, number of discharges, readmissions, mortality rate, age, percentages of uninsured population and population aged 65 and older. The results indicate that Medicare cost is not positively associated with quality of care, suggesting that patients in higher-priced facilities do not necessarily receive better quality of care. Moreover, there are regional cost variances for the same procedure. The authors show how a national effort to standardize costs of heart-related Medicare procedures could result in substantial savings in healthcare spending. They offer healthcare agencies and hospitals actionable insights for improving operational efficiency and providing more affordable care.
Threshold Secret Sharing Scheme for Compartmented Access Structures
Authors: Fathimal P. Mohamed , Rani P. Arockia Jansi
Published: July 2016

In the realm of visual cryptography, secret sharing is the predominant method of transmission and reception of secure data. Most of the (n, n) secret sharing schemes suffer from one common flaw — locking of information when the all- n number of receivers are not available for some reason. This paper proposes a new method of compartmented secret sharing scheme where some threshold number of equally privileged from each compartment can retrieve data. This scheme rules out regeneration of secret image at the single compartment thereby eliminating the danger of misusing secret image. The key features of this scheme are: better visual quality of the recovered image with no pixel expansion; non-requirement of half toning of color images; less computational complexity by reconstructing secret through XORing and simple addition of all share images. This scheme is highly beneficial in applications where data has to be stored securely in a database and in cloud computing to synchronize information passed to different groups or clusters from a single host.
Knowledge Leakage when SMEs Participate in Supply Chains
Authors: Aggestam Lena
Published: July 2016

The advantages of sharing knowledge when participating in a Supply Chain (SC) are well established in the literature, but the challenge of knowledge leakage, and how to manage it, is still in its infancy. In order to increase the understanding of knowledge leakage, when SMEs participate in SCs, this study describes types of knowledge that may leak away, how they are valued, and how knowledge leakage can occur. The result includes two frameworks that also have shown to be potentially useful for examining the maturity of a specific SME with regard to knowledge leakages when participating in the SC.
A Fuzzy Logic Approach in Emotion Detection and Recognition and Formulation of an Odor-Based Emotional Fitness Assistive System
Authors: Ghosh Sudipta , Kundu Debasish , Paul Gopal
Published: July 2016

This paper aims at a Fuzzy relational approach for similar emotions expressed by different subjects by facial expressions and predefined parameters. Different Facial attributes contribute to a wide variety of emotions under varied circumstances. These same features also vary widely from person to person, introducing uncertainty to the process. Facial features like eye-opening, mouth-opening and length of eye-brow constriction from localized areas from a face are Fuzzified and converted into emotion space by employing relational models. This is dealt with Fuzzy Type-2 logic, which reigns supreme in reducing uncertainty.
Emotional Computer
Authors: Jain Shikha , Asawa Krishna
Published: July 2016

Extensive studies established the existence of a close interaction between emotion and cognition with remarkable influence of the emotion on all sorts of cognitive process. Consequently, technologies that emulate human intelligent behavior cannot be thought completely intelligent without incorporating interference of emotional component in the rational reasoning processes. Recently, several researchers have been started working in the field of emotion modeling to cater the need of interactive computer applications that demand human-like interaction with the computer. However, due to the absence of structured guidelines, the most challenging task for the researcher is to understand and select the most appropriate definitions, theories and processes governing the human psychology to design the intended model. The objective of the present article is to review the background scenario and necessary studies for designing emotion model for a computer machine so that it could generate appropriate synthetic emotions while interacting with the external environmental factors.
Feature Selection for GUMI Kernel-Based SVM in Speech Emotion Recognition
Authors: Trabelsi Imen , Bouhlel Med Salim
Published: July 2016

Speech emotion recognition is the indispensable requirement for efficient human machine interaction. Most modern automatic speech emotion recognition systems use Gaussian mixture models (GMM) and Support Vector Machines (SVM). GMM are known for their performance and scalability in the spectral modeling while SVM are known for their discriminatory power. A GMM-supervector characterizes an emotional style by the GMM parameters (mean vectors, covariance matrices, and mixture weights). GMM-supervector SVM benefits from both GMM and SVM frameworks. In this paper, the GMM-UBM mean interval (GUMI) kernel based on the Bhattacharyya distance is successfully used. CFSSubsetEval combined with Best first algorithm and Greedy stepwise were also utilized on the supervectors space in order to select the most important features. This framework is illustrated using Mel-frequency cepstral (MFCC) coefficients and Perceptual Linear Prediction (PLP) features on two different emotional databases namely the Surrey Audio-Expressed Emotion and the Berlin Emotional speech Database.
A METHOD TO SET-UP CALIBRATION CURVE FOR INSTRUMENTED SPHERE IS100 TO CONTROL MECHANICAL DAMAGE DURING POST-HARVESTING AND HANDLING OF ORANGES
Authors: Di Renzo Giovanni Carlo , Altieri Giuseppe , Genovese Francesco , D'Antonio Carmen
Published: July 2016

Oranges quality is strictly dependent on their variety, pre-harvest and post-harvest practices. Especially post harvest management is responsible for fruits damages, causing quality deterioration and commercial losses, as underlined by many authors, which studied the influence of individual post harvest operations on the fruit quality. In this article Authors, using an instrumented sphere (IS 100) similar for shape and size to a true orange, showed a method for the control of orange damages along the processing line. Results allow a fundamental knowledge about the critical damage curve, which defines the incidence of the damages during the oranges processing and packaging. Data show that the fruit discharge (bins or boxes discharge) and the packaging step are the most critical operations in order to reduce or eliminate the fruits collisions and the consequent damages
AN LCA MODELTO ASSESS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT OF NEW FARMING SYSTEMS
Authors: Spugnoli Paolo , Baldi Fabio , Parenti Alessandro
Published: July 2016

The environmental impact of new farming practices is compared with that of conventional one. The approach is that of LCA and the assessing procedure is based on two cross-interaction matrices relating system inputs with emissions and impacts. With the aim to allow its application also at farm level by non-expert users, the procedure has been implemented in software that facilitate it use. Furthermore, the definition of standard impact values and a total environmental effects index make it easier to compare different systems and to evaluate the improvement achieved with a new agricultural practice. As an example, the model has been applied to compare the environmental effects generated in the production of sunflower using ecological, integrated and conventional farming techniques. Both Ecological and Integrated technique present lower impact than conventional even if for some specific impact the results are inverted. The application highlights the importance of the functional unit: when environmental effects are referred to the unit of production (ton), the total impact of the integrated technique is higher than the conventional one. Energy and CO2 efficiency are also computed, which are resulted to be good indicators of the overall environmental impact of a cultivation system
SURFACE ENERGY BALANCE OVER ORANGE ORCHARD USING SURFACE RENEWAL ANALYSIS
Authors: Barbagallo Salvatore , Consoli Simona , Russo Alfonso
Published: July 2016

Reliable estimation of surface sensible and latent heat flux is the most important process to appraise energy and mass exchange among atmosphere and biosphere. In this study the surface energy fluxes were measured over an irrigated orange orchard during 2005-2008 monitoring periods using a Surface Renewal- Energy Balance approach. The experimental area is located in a representative orchard growing area of eastern Sicily (Italy). The performance of Surface Renewal (SR) analysis for estimating sensible heat flux (H) was analysed and evaluated in terms of correlation with H fluxes from the eddy covariance (EC) method. Study revealed that the mean available energy (RN- G) and latent heat flux (LE) were of about 300 W m-2 and 237 W m-2, respectively, during dry periods and unstable-case atmospheric conditions. The estimated crop coefficient Kc values for the orchard crop averaged close to 0.80, which is considerably higher than previous FAO studies that found the value to be 0.65 for citrus with 70% of ground cover. The intercepted photosynthetically active radiation (LI PAR) by the crop was measured and relationships between LAI and crop coefficient (Kc) were established.
Correlation between leukocyte count and infarct size in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Ferrari Júlia Peixoto , Lueneberg Maria Emília , Silva Roberto Leo da , Fattah Tammuz , Gottschall Carlos Antônio Mascia , Moreira Daniel Medeiros
Published: July 2016

Introduction: Regarding the inflammatory mechanisms involved in ischemic heart disease, currently the leukocyte count is the subject of studies related to its association with the prognosis and mortality of ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Our aim is correlate the leukocyte count rise with the size of STEMI, evaluated with the area under the curve (AUC) and the peak of necrosis markers release.

Material and methods: This study is a sub-analysis of the TETHYS trial, a clinical trial that evaluated the effects of methotrexate in STEMI. We evaluated the correlation between quantitative variables with Pearson’s correlation, and the variables that did not follow a normal distribution were subjected to logarithmic transformation to base 10. The value of p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance.

Results: Males accounted for 73% of the participants, who had an average age of 59 years. A total of 58% were hypertensive and 53% smokers. The leukocyte count at hospital admission was significantly correlated with the AUC creatine kinase (CK) (r = 0.256, p = 0.021), troponin AUC (r = 0.247, p = 0.026), peak CK (r = 0.270, p = 0.015) and troponin peak (r = 0.233, p = 0.037). The leukocyte count at 72 h was significantly correlated with CK AUC (r = 0.238, p = 0.032), AUC of MB portion of CK (r = 0.240, p = 0.031) and peak CK (r = 0.224, p = 0.045).

Conclusions: White blood cell count correlates with STEMI size assessed by serial cardiac biomarker levels.
Predictive value of different radiographic parameters evaluating the proximal femoral geometry for hip fracture in the elderly: what is the role of the true moment arm?
Authors: Imren Yunus , Sofu Hakan , Dedeoglu Suleyman Semih , Desteli Engin Eren , Cabuk Haluk , Kir Mustafa Caglar
Published: July 2016

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the value of radiographic measurements of the proximal femur as predictive factors for hip fracture in the elderly population independent of bone mineral density.

Material and methods:  The study included 142 consecutive patients operated on for a hip fracture (group 1) and 86 healthy individuals without a hip fracture (group 2). The geometry of the contralateral nonfractured proximal femur in patients from group 1 was evaluated in comparison with healthy individuals from group 2. Anteroposterior pelvic roentgenograms were assessed to measure the geometric parameters of the proximal femur including femoral neck width, Q angle, medial cortical thickness (MCT), lateral cortical thickness (LCT), and true moment arm (TMA) for all hips. Lunar dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used for bone mineral density measurements in both the fracture and control groups. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the main predictive factors. A receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed for TMA to test the various cut-off points in predicting hip fracture.

Results: Regarding geometric measurement parameters, group 1 had significantly lower MCT and LCT values. The mean femoral neck width (FNW) and Q angle were significantly higher in group 1. Furthermore, TMA was also found to be significantly greater in patients with hip fracture compared to controls, 85 ±14 mm and 66 ±12 mm, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean TMA was also significantly greater in group 1 for both age groups (≤ 65 or > 65 years) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: True moment arm may provide the most valuable radiographic information as a predictor for hip fracture in the elderly.
Soldiers and their families in the Slovak Republic: a report on quality of functioning from the empirical perspective
Authors: Matis Josef
Published: July 2016

The article presents the problems that military families face nowadays, since the Slovak Armed Forces became fully professional. I provide a brief definition of the professional soldier’s family (military family) and its structure, and then introduce the problems that the Slovak Armed Forces have to solve in order to eliminate two sources of stress.

The first source is the impact of the professional soldiers’ job on their families and on the fulfilment of basic family roles. The second source of stress is the impact of the families on the fulfilment of soldiers’ duties at work. These two phenomena present in the Slovak Armed Forces were measured with a questionnaire distributed among 416 respondents. Its results confirmed that the impact of the soldiers’ profession on fulfilment of their basic family roles and the impact of the military family on soldiers’ performance at work (especially their mobility and career) raise serious problems that military families need to face.

I conclude by emphasizing that these problems can be eliminated with the help of a high-quality and complex system of social security for professional soldiers and their families, which could be implemented through social work in the armed forces and built alongside the development of the professional armed forces.
The analysis of change in behavior and development: on some errors and possibilities to correct them
Authors: Trempała Janusz , Cieciuch Jan
Published: July 2016

We aim to demonstrate that the understanding of behavior and development requires a better fit between methods to gather and analyze data and the dynamic nature of psychological phenomena. We argue that there are limits to the application of static designs of data collection in correlation design and to focusing on measures of central tendency when inferring on the complex processes of change in human behavior and development. We describe possible ways to correct the errors we make and to overcome the difficulties that we face when measuring change. We conclude that there is a need to identify a comprehensive model of gathering and analyzing data that takes into account the observation period of the phenomena (short- and long-term research), the complexity of the studied form of activity (elementary and complex) and the situation/context of the measurement (well-defined situation and situation “at large”).
Teachers’ intended classroom management strategies for students with ADHD: a cross-cultural study between South Korea and Germany
Authors: Lee Yumi , Witruk Evelin
Published: July 2016

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate Korean and German teachers’ intentions of using classroom management strategies (CMS) for students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) based on the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Participants and procedure

Participants were 639 Korean and 317 German teachers. Disproportional stratified sampling was used. As a result, 264 Korean and 264 German matched teachers were obtained. Kos’s questionnaire was slightly modified. The survey instrument was distributed from September 2012 to December 2013. SPSS 22.0 was used to analyze the data.

Results

Korean teachers were more influenced by norms of colleagues and parents than German teachers were. Teachers in both countries have more favorable attitudes towards positive-oriented CMS compared to negative-oriented CMS, and perceived themselves as being able to control all CMS in the classroom. The TRA proved to better predict both Korean and German teachers’ intentions of using CMS compared to the TPB.

Conclusions

This study is an important step towards understanding teachers’ CMS in the cultural context of Korea and Germany. The findings of this study will be an essential resource to develop an ADHD management manual based on theoretical and cultural perspectives, so that teachers in both countries are prepared for students with ADHD in their classroom, rather than give up on them.
Repeat renal biopsy in lupus nephritis – unnecessary harm and risk of complications or important diagnostic tool with clinical consequences?
Authors: Haładyj Ewa , Cervera Ricard
Published: July 2016

Renal biopsy at the diagnosis of lupus nephritis is well known standard of care, but the same procedure in the subsequent management is still a matter of debate. This editorial summarize the current value of repeat renal biopsy in lupus nephritis. According to the current standard of care in lupus nephritis the induction treatment is followed by maintenance therapy with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or azathioprine (AZA) for at least 3 years is indicated. At the end of therapy, because clinical symptoms can be absent and laboratory tests can be normal in patients with active disease. This article brings some arguments in favour of renal biopsy in lupus nephritis.
Social implications of rheumatic diseases
Authors: Kłak Anna , Raciborski Filip , Samel-Kowalik Piotr
Published: July 2016

Social consequences of a disease constitute limitations in performing roles relating to working life as well as family and social life caused by the disease, mainly chronic. The aim of the study was to analyze the social consequences of rheumatic diseases in the aspect of disability pensions with respect to incapacity for work and quality of life. The occurrence of rheumatic diseases is related not only to increased risk of different types of organic changes, but above all disability. In Europe almost 50% of persons suffering from diseases of the musculoskeletal system who are currently unemployed were breadwinners. Nearly 60% of them received legal disability status. The loss of work ability is, among other things, the consequence of progressive disability. In Europe 40% of persons suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had to stop working due to the disease. Most of the persons diagnosed with RA were of working age. It results in the decrease in the quality of life as well as economic difficulties (decreased incomes and increased disease-related costs). In Poland the results of the analysis of the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) of first-time disability recognition issued for the purpose of disability pensions in 2014 showed that the incapacity for work was caused by diseases relating to general health condition (65.5%). Diseases of the musculoskeletal system were the cause of partial inability to work of 21.6% of persons who received a disability pension for the first time (as many as 5,349 certificates were issued). Early diagnosis and implementation of effective treatment are the necessary conditions for a patient to sustain activity, both professional and social, which is of crucial importance to reduce the negative effects of the disease.
Erythema nodosum – presentation of three cases
Authors: Starba Aleksandra , Chowaniec Małgorzata , Wiland Piotr
Published: July 2016

Erythema nodosum (EN) is a well-known form of panniculitis. It may occur as an idiopathic form and also can be induced by certain clinical conditions such as infections and granulomatous diseases such as sarcoidosis. Erythema nodosum may be accompanied by general symptoms such as fever, weakness, and severe pain, but skin lesions resolve without skin damage. Erythema nodosum occurrence is for the clinician a signal for a wider diagnosis and determination of the cause of occurrence of symptoms. The article presents three cases of EN with different causes and treatment.
Rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors: the state-of-the-art – part one
Authors: Niklas Karolina , Niklas Arkadiusz A. , Majewski Dominik , Puszczewicz Mariusz
Published: July 2016

The majority of rheumatic diseases belong to the group of autoimmune diseases and are associated with autoantibody production. Their etiology is not fully understood. Certain medications and environmental factors may have an influence on the occurrence of rheumatic diseases. Establishing a cause-effect relationship between a certain factor and disease induction is not always simple. It is important to administer the drug continuously or monitor exposure to a given factor in the period preceding the onset of symptoms. The lack of previously diagnosed autoimmune disease, or finally the lack of symptoms within a few weeks/months after discontinuation of the drug/cessation of exposure, is also important. The most frequently mentioned rheumatic diseases caused by drugs and environmental factors include systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, systemic vasculitis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and Sjögren’s syndrome. The objective of this study is to summarize current knowledge on rheumatic diseases induced by drugs and environmental factors.
Intercomparison of aerosol extinction profiles retrieved from MAX-DOAS measurements
Authors: Frieß U. , Klein Baltink H. , Beirle S. , Clémer K. , Hendrick F. , Henzing B. , Irie H. , de Leeuw G. , Li A. , Moerman M. M. , van Roozendael M. , Shaiganfar R. , Wagner T. , Wang Y. , Xie P. , Yilmaz S. , Zieger P.
Published: July 2016

Abstract. A first direct intercomparison of aerosol vertical profiles from Multi-Axis Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy (MAX-DOAS) observations, performed during the Cabauw Intercomparison Campaign of Nitrogen Dioxide measuring Instruments (CINDI) in summer 2009, is presented. Five out of 14 participants of the CINDI campaign reported aerosol extinction profiles and aerosol optical thickness (AOT) as deduced from observations of differential slant column densities of the oxygen collision complex (O4) at different elevation angles. Aerosol extinction vertical profiles and AOT are compared to backscatter profiles from a ceilometer instrument and to sun photometer measurements, respectively. Furthermore, the near-surface aerosol extinction coefficient is compared to in situ measurements of a humidity-controlled nephelometer and dry aerosol absorption measurements. The participants of this intercomparison exercise use different approaches for the retrieval of aerosol information, including the retrieval of the full vertical profile using optimal estimation and a parametrised approach with a prescribed profile shape. Despite these large conceptual differences, and also differences in the wavelength of the observed O4 absorption band, good agreement in terms of the vertical structure of aerosols within the boundary layer is achieved between the aerosol extinction profiles retrieved by the different groups and the backscatter profiles observed by the ceilometer instrument. AOTs from MAX-DOAS and sun photometer show a good correlation (R>0.8), but all participants systematically underestimate the AOT. Substantial differences between the near-surface aerosol extinction from MAX-DOAS and from the humidified nephelometer remain largely unresolved.
Thermal alteration of soil physico-chemical properties: a systematic study to infer response of Sierra Nevada climosequence soils to forest fires
Authors: Araya Samuel N. , Meding Mercer , Berhe Asmeret Asefaw
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Fire is a common ecosystem perturbation that affects many soil properties. As global fire regimes continue to change with climate change, we investigated thermal alteration of soils' physical and chemical properties after they are exposed to a range of temperatures that are expected during prescribed and wildland fires. For this study, we used topsoils collected from a climosequence transect along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada that spans from 210 to 2865 m a.s.l. All the soils we studied were formed on a granitic parent material and had significant differences in soil organic matter (SOM) concentration and mineralogy owing to the effects of climate on soil development. Topsoils (0–5 cm depth) from the Sierra Nevada climosequence were heated in a muffle furnace at six set temperatures that cover the range of major fire intensity classes (150, 250, 350, 450, 550 and 650 °C). We determined the effects of heating temperature on soil aggregate strength, aggregate size distribution, specific surface area (SSA), mineralogy, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations. With increasing temperature, we found significant reduction of total C, N and CEC. Aggregate strength also decreased with further implications for loss of C protected inside aggregates. Soil pH and SSA increased with temperature. Most of the statistically significant changes (p  <  0.05) occurred between 350 and 450 °C. We observed relatively smaller changes at temperature ranges below 250 °C. This study identifies critical temperature thresholds for significant physico-chemical changes in soils that developed under different climate regimes. Our findings will be of interest to studies of inferences for how soils are likely to respond to different fire intensities under anticipated climate change scenarios.
A quality improvement project to reduce intravenous catheter related infections in the neonatology unit of Kibogora hospital in Rwanda
Authors: Nsengiyumva Jean Paul , Wong Rex , Adomako Eva , Pawelzik Victor , Yerger Julie , Uwitonze Euphrosine , Nsabimana Damien , Etherngton Sheila , Mukamusoni Dariya , Nyirazinyoye Laetitia
Published: July 2016

In developing countries, intravenous (IV) catheter related infections (CRI) rate is generally high. Neonates are more susceptible to develop CRI. We examined the impact of a quality improvement project on IV CRI rates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a district hospital in Rwanda. A pre- and post-intervention study was conducted from 2014 to 2016 to evaluate the IV CRI rate and nurses’ IV management technique. A written test was administered to evaluate their knowledge on the matter. The intervention had three components: First implementing an IV management policy. Secondly, training staff on the policy and finally, managers provided support and supervision during the change. We measured five indicators: (1) the IV CRI rate; (2) the percentage of nurses who tested 80% on IV management knowledge; (3) the percentage of IV devices changed following the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline; (4) IV management technique; and (5) the hospital length of stay (LOS). The IV CRI rate reduced from 32.1% to 14.5% (p < .001). The hospital LOS reduced from 15.31 to 7.43 days (p < .001). The compliance of changing IV following WHO guideline increased from 0% to 99% (p < .001); proper IV management technique use increased from 43% to 96% (p < .001); the mean rank of staff on IV management knowledge score significantly increased from 3.5 to 9.5 (p = .004). This project demonstrates that a quality improvement project can help address the IV CRI at very low cost in a resource-challenged setting.
Therapeutic Effects of Sansevieria Trifasciata Ointment in Callosities of Toes
Authors: Afrasiabian Hamidollah , Hododi Reza , Imanieh Mohammad Hadi , Salehi Alireza
Published: July 2016

Currently study was a double-blind clinical trial in terms of ointments with different contents and the variables such as sex, drug charges, occupation, age, number of lesions, patients, lesions location, time of manifestation, lesion size and methods of treatment and recovery time. In addition, total patients under studied were 100 people in dermatology clinic of Farshchian hospital of Hamadan in Iran that they were divided into two groups. The first group (A) contained of 68 individual who were divided into three groups which used sanseveria extract with different percentage of containing 5, 10, and 20%. Further, the second group (B) included 32 patients who used from other methods of treatment were divided into three groups. In one group12 patients have been treated by using salicylic acid, in the other groups 12 individuals used from electro cautery and 8 patients were used of the corn plasters method. In addition, 116 patients in this study were in the range of 7 to 57 years of age. In fact 100 of them have used the drug correctly while 16 patients were excluded due to wrong usage. Also the plant (Sansevieria Trifasciata) was prepared in Hamedan Research Center from plant by dried extracts method. Finally, the results were analyzed statistically using SPSS software. In conclusion, based on the results of significant impact on the treatment of corns, all patients (100%) in the first group have been treated, additionally all participants in the study were improved within 4 weeks such that the recovery time for the 5% ointment was 25 days, while for 10% and 20% ointment was 15 and 10 days respectively. 
Cooperation on Climate Change under Economic Linkages: How the Inclusion of Macroeconomic Effects Affects Stability of a Global Climate Coalition
Authors: Kersting Jan , Duscha Vicki , Weitzel Matthias
Published: July 2016

Game-theoretic models of international cooperation on climate change come to very different results regarding the stability of the grand coalition of all countries, depending on the stability concept used. In particular, the core-stability concept produces an encouraging result that does not seem to be supported by reality. We extend the game-theoretic model based on this concept by introducing macroeconomic effects of emission reduction measures in multiple countries. The computable general equilibrium model DART and damage functions from the RICE model are used to quantify the theoretical model. Contrary to the classical model, we find that, under damages in the IPCC range, the core of the resulting cooperative game is empty and no stable global agreement exists. This is mainly due to fossil fuel exporting countries, which are negatively affected by lower fossil fuel prices resulting from emission reduction measures.
El ebook busca en la lectura social la propuesta que impulse nuevos formatos de éxito
Authors: García Orosa Berta , López García Xosé
Published: July 2016

Los datos recientes señalan un punto de inflexión en la evolución creciente de la lectura digital que invita a la reflexión crítica. Según los últimos datos publicados, la edición de libros electrónicos se ha reducido por segundo año consecutivo en 2014, mientras que la producción libros de papel se ha incrementado (MECD, 2015). Al mismo tiempo, el último informe de la Fundación Telefónica (2015) indica que seis de cada diez españoles prefieren los libros impresos a los digitales. Este artículo expone los síntomas de un posible cambio de tendencia en los libros digitales y postula la necesaria creación de un nuevo ecosistema digital de producción y recepción de textos digitales en el que la lectura social destaca como espacio de lectura, de interpretación y de creación de conocimiento
High-power self-similar amplification seeded by a 1 GHz harmonically mode-locked Yb-fiber laser
Authors: Luo Daping , Li Wenxue , Liu Yang , Wang Chao , Zhu Zhiwei , Zhang Wenchao , Zeng Heping
Published: July 2016

We demonstrate 1 GHz, 75 W, 65 fs pulse generation through chirped-pulse and self-similar amplification of a second-harmonic mode-locked Yb fiber oscillator. To confirm the experimental results of a chirped-pulse pre-amplifier, a theoretically calculative model is designed to simulate gain narrowing in the amplification. Specifically, the Kelly sidebands generated by a seed laser experience similar evolution under both conditions. The grism-based self-similar amplifier together with a high-efficiency grating compressor contribute to high-power ultrashort pulses whose spectra are efficiently broadened to a maximum 10 dB bandwidth of 56 nm with a center wavelength of 1032.2 nm owing to self-phase modulation in a gain fiber.
An electromechanical displacement transducer
Authors: Villiers Marius , Mahboob Imran , Nishiguchi Katsuhiko , Hatanaka Daiki , Fujiwara Akira , Yamaguchi Hiroshi
Published: July 2016

Two modes of an electromechanical resonator are coupled through the strain inside the structure with a cooperativity as high as 107, a state-of-the-art value for purely mechanical systems, which enables the observation of normal-mode splitting. This coupling is exploited to transduce the resonator’s fundamental mode into the bandwidth of the second flexural mode, which is 1.4 MHz higher in frequency. Thus, an all-mechanical heterodyne detection scheme is implemented that can be developed into a high-precision displacement sensor.
Characterization of molecular interactions between Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and topoisomerase I by molecular simulations
Authors: Tiwari Purushottam B. , Chapagain Prem P. , Banda Srikanth , Darici Yesim , Üren Aykut , Tse‐Dinh Yuk‐Ching
Published: July 2016

Escherichia coli topoisomerase I (EctopoI), a type IA DNA topoisomerase, relaxes the negative DNA supercoiling generated by RNA polymerase (RNAP) during transcription elongation. Due to the lack of structural information on the complex, the exact nature of the RNAP‐EctopoI interactions remains unresolved. Herein, we report for the first time, the structure‐based modeling of the RNAP–EctopoI interactions using computational methods. Our results predict that the salt bridge as well as hydrogen bond interactions are responsible for the formation and stabilization of the RNAP‐EctopoI complex. Our investigations provide molecular insights for understanding how EctopoI interacts with RNAP, a critical step for preventing hypernegative DNA supercoiling during transcription.
Molecular insights into the mechanism of thermal stability of actinomycete mannanase
Authors: Kumagai Yuya , Uraji Misugi , Wan Kun , Okuyama Masayuki , Kimura Atsuo , Hatanaka Tadashi
Published: July 2016

Streptomyces thermolilacinus mannanase (StMan), which requires Ca2+ for its enhanced thermal stability and hydrolysis activity, possesses two Ca2+‐binding sites in loop6 and loop7. We evaluated the function of the Ca2+‐binding site in loop7 and the hydrogen bond between residues Ser247 in loop6 and Asp279 in loop7. The Ca2+‐binding in loop7 was involved only in thermal stability. Mutations of Ser247 or Asp279 retained the Ca2+‐binding ability; however, mutants showed less thermal stability than StMan. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that most glycoside hydrolase family 5 subfamily 8 mannanases could be stabilized by Ca2+; however, the mechanism of StMan thermal stability was found to be quite specific in some actinomycete mannanases.
Interactions among hydraulic conductivity distributions, subsurface topography, and transport thresholds revealed by a multitracer hillslope irrigation experiment
Authors: Jackson C. Rhett , Du Enhao , Klaus Julian , Griffiths Natalie A. , Bitew Menberu , McDonnell Jeffrey J.
Published: July 2016

Interactions among hydraulic conductivity distributions, subsurface topography, and lateral flow are poorly understood. We applied 407 mm of water and a suite of tracers over 51 h to a 12 by 16.5 m forested hillslope segment to determine interflow thresholds, preferential pathway pore velocities, large‐scale conductivities, the time series of event water fractions, and the fate of dissolved nutrients. The 12% hillslope featured loamy sand A and E horizons overlying a sandy clay loam Bt at 1.25 m average depth. Interflow measured from two drains within an interception trench commenced after 131 and 208 mm of irrigation. Cumulative interflow equaled 49% of applied water. Conservative tracer differences between the collection drains indicated differences in flow paths and storages within the plot. Event water fractions rose steadily throughout irrigation, peaking at 50% sixteen h after irrigation ceased. Data implied that tightly held water exchanged with event water throughout the experiment and a substantial portion of preevent water was released from the argillic layer. Surface‐applied dye tracers bypassed the matrix, with peak concentrations measured shortly after flow commencement, indicating preferential network conductivities of 864–2240 mm/h, yet no macropore flow was observed. Near steady‐state flow conditions indicated average conductivities of 460 mm/h and 2.5 mm/h for topsoils and the Bt horizon, respectively. Low ammonium and phosphorus concentrations in the interflow suggested rapid uptake or sorption, while higher nitrate concentrations suggested more conservative transport. These results reveal how hydraulic conductivity variation and subsurface topographic complexity explain otherwise paradoxical solute and flow behaviors.
Mass budget partitioning during explosive eruptions: insights from the 2006 paroxysm of Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador
Authors: Bernard Julien , Eychenne Julia , Le Pennec Jean‐Luc , Narváez Diego
Published: July 2016

How and how much the mass of juvenile magma is split between vent‐derived tephra, PDC deposits and lavas (i.e., mass partition) is related to eruption dynamics and style. Estimating such mass partitioning budgets may reveal important for hazard evaluation purposes. We calculated the volume of each product emplaced during the August 2006 paroxysmal eruption of Tungurahua volcano (Ecuador) and converted it into masses using high‐resolution grainsize, componentry and density data. This data set is one of the first complete descriptions of mass partitioning associated with a VEI 3 andesitic event. The scoria fall deposit, near‐vent agglutinate and lava flow include 28, 16 and 12 wt. % of the erupted juvenile mass, respectively. Much (44 wt. %) of the juvenile material fed Pyroclastic Density Currents (i.e., dense flows, dilute surges and co‐PDC plumes), highlighting that tephra fall deposits do not depict adequately the size and fragmentation processes of moderate PDC‐forming event. The main parameters controlling the mass partitioning are the type of magmatic fragmentation, conditions of magma ascent, and crater area topography. Comparisons of our data set with other PDC‐forming eruptions of different style and magma composition suggest that moderate andesitic eruptions are more prone to produce PDCs, in proportions, than any other eruption type. This finding may be explained by the relatively low magmatic fragmentation efficiency of moderate andesitic eruptions. These mass partitioning data reveal important trends that may be critical for hazard assessment, notably at frequently active andesitic edifices.
The rogue nature of hiatuses in a global warming climate
Authors: Sévellec F. , Sinha B. , Skliris N.
Published: July 2016

The nature of rogue events is their unlikelihood and the recent unpredicted decade‐long slowdown in surface warming, the so‐called hiatus, may be such an event. However, given decadal variability in climate, global surface temperatures were never expected to increase monotonically with increasing radiative forcing. Here surface air temperature from 20 climate models is analyzed to estimate the historical and future likelihood of hiatuses and “surges” (faster than expected warming), showing that the global hiatus of the early 21st century was extremely unlikely. A novel analysis of future climate scenarios suggests that hiatuses will almost vanish and surges will strongly intensify by 2100 under a “business as usual” scenario. For “CO2 stabilisation” scenarios, hiatus, and surge characteristics revert to typical 1940s values. These results suggest to study the hiatus of the early 21st century and future reoccurrences as rogue events, at the limit of the variability of current climate modelling capability.
Transient water adsorption on newly formed fault gouge and its relation to frictional heating
Authors: Mizoguchi K. , Hirose T.
Published: July 2016

Determination of the amount of frictional heating on faults during slips provides insight into the mechanics of faulting. Fault slips cause frictional heating as well as production of gouge materials. Newly formed gouge is mechanochemically stimulated to gain a transient water adsorption ability. We showed that the synthetic gouge from friction tests on rocks at a 1 mm/s slip rate without frictional heating adsorbed a large amount of water, comparable to that adsorbed by clay minerals. The amount of adsorbed water decreased significantly with increasing slip rate to 100 mm/s, where the fault temperature increased above 400°C. We confirmed there was no additional adsorption on the heated gouges after termination of the slip. We conclude that the adsorption state can be considered a new indicator of a temperature rise of < 400°C by frictional heating associated with recent, near‐surface faulting.
Spatial distribution of Mercury's flux ropes and reconnection fronts: MESSENGER observations
Authors: Sun W. J. , Fu S. Y. , Slavin J. A. , Raines J. M. , Zong Q. G. , Poh G. K. , Zurbuchen T. H.
Published: July 2016

We perform a statistical study of flux ropes and reconnection fronts based on MErcury Surface, Space ENviroment, GEochemistry, and Ranging (MESSENGER) magnetic field and plasma observations to study the implications for the spatial distribution of reconnection sites in Mercury's near magnetotail. The results show important differences of temporal and spatial distributions as compared to Earth. We have surveyed the plasma sheet crossings between −2 RM and −3 RM downtail from the planet, i.e., the location of Near‐Mercury Neutral Line (NMNL). Plasma sheets were defined to be regions with β ≥ 0.5. Using this definition, 39 flux ropes and 86 reconnection fronts were identified in the plasma sheet. At Mercury, the distributions of flux ropes and reconnection fronts show clear dawn‐dusk asymmetry with much higher occurrence rate on the dawnside plasma sheet than on the duskside. This suggests that magnetic reconnection in Mercury's magnetotail occurs more frequently in the dawnside than in the duskside plasma sheet, which is different than the observations in Earth's magnetotail showing more reconnection signatures in the duskside plasma sheet. The distribution of plasma sheet thickness shows that plasma sheet near the midnight is the thinnest part and does not show obvious asymmetry. Thus, the reasons that cause magnetic reconnection to preferentially occur on the dawnside of the magnetotail at Mercury may not be the plasma sheet thickness and require further study. The peak occurrence rates of flux ropes and reconnection fronts in Mercury's plasma sheet are ~ 60 times higher than that of Earth's values, which we interpret to be due to the highly variable magnetospheric conditions at Mercury. Such higher occurrence rate of magnetic reconnection would generate more plasma flows in the dawnside plasma sheet than in the duskside. These plasma flows would mostly brake and initiate the substorm dipolarization on the postmidnight sector at Mercury rather than the premidnight susbtorm onset location at Earth.
Metal‐Templated Asymmetric Catalysis: (Z)‐1‐Bromo‐1‐Nitrostyrenes as Versatile Substrates for Friedel–Crafts Alkylation of Indoles
Authors: Huang Kaifang , Ma Qiao , Shen Xiang , Gong Lei , Meggers Eric
Published: July 2016

An asymmetric Friedel–Crafts alkylation of indoles with (Z)‐1‐bromo‐1‐nitrostyrenes, which is efficiently catalyzed by a number of hydrogen bond interactions with the ligand sphere of bis‐cyclometalated iridium complexes, has been reported. The proposed transition state exploits a hydrogen bond network, which is illustrated by the co‐crystal structure of a model catalyst with an analog of the nitro substrate. The bromo functional group not only plays an important role for achieving a high asymmetric induction but also affords chiral indole‐containing products, which can be readily converted to a range of useful intermediates for the creation of chiral indole building blocks.
Morphological and functional implications of sexual dimorphism in the human skeletal thorax
Authors: García‐Martínez Daniel , Torres‐Tamayo Nicole , Torres‐Sanchez Isabel , García‐Río Francisco , Bastir Markus
Published: July 2016

Objectives

The human respiratory apparatus is characterized by sexual dimorphism, the cranial airways of males being larger (both absolutely and relatively) than those of females. These differences have been linked to sex‐specific differences in body composition, bioenergetics, and respiratory function. However, whether morpho‐functional variation in the thorax is also related to these features is less clear. We apply 3D geometric morphometrics to study these issues and their implications for respiratory function.

Material and methods

Four hundred two landmarks and semilandmarks were measured in CT‐reconstructions of rib cages from adult healthy subjects (Nmale = 18; Nfemale = 24) in maximal inspiration (MI) and maximal expiration (ME). After Procrustes registration, size and shape data were analyzed by mean comparisons and regression analysis. Respiratory function was quantified through functional size, which is defined as the difference of rib cage size between MI and ME.

Results

Males showed significantly larger thorax size (p < .01) and functional size (p < .05) than females. In addition, the 3D‐shape differed significantly between sexes (p < .01). Male rib cages were wider (particularly caudally) and shorter, with more horizontally oriented ribs when compared to females. While thorax widening and rib orientation were unrelated to allometry, thorax shortening showed a slight allometric signal.

Conclusions

Our findings are in line with previous research on sexual dimorphism of the respiratory system. However, we add that thorax shortening observed previously in males is the only feature caused by allometry. The more horizontally oriented ribs and the wider thorax of males may indicate a greater diaphragmatic contribution to rib cage kinematics than in females, and differences in functional size fit with the need for greater oxygen intake in males.