bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prolonged Lymphopenia, Lymphoid Depletion, and Hypoprolactinemia in Children with Nosocomial Sepsis and Multiple Organ Failure
Authors: Felmet Kate A. , Hall Mark W. , Clark Robert S. B. , Jaffe Ronald , Carcillo Joseph A.
Published: April 2014

Lymphopenia and lymphoid depletion occur in adults dying of sepsis. Prolactin increases Bcl-2 expression, suppresses stress-induced lymphocyte apoptosis, and improves survival from experimental sepsis. We hypothesized that prolonged lymphopenia, lymphoid depletion, and hypoprolactinemia occur in children dying with sepsis and multiple organ failure (MOF). Fifty-eight critically ill children with and 55 without MOF admitted to a university hospital pediatric intensive care unit were enrolled in a prospective, longitudinal, observational clinical study. Prolactin levels and absolute lymphocyte count were measured on days 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Lymph node, thymus, and spleen autopsy specimens were examined for lymphoid depletion, with immunohistochemical staining for CD4, CD20, and CD21 and for lymphoid apoptosis. Prolonged lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count < 1000 for >7 days) occurred only in children with MOF (29 vs 0%, p < 0.05) and was associated independently with nosocomial infection (odds ratio (OR), 5.5, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7–17, p < 0.05), death (OR, 6.8, 95% CI, 1.3–34, p < 0.05), and splenic and lymph node hypocellularity (OR, 42, 95% CI, 3.7–473, p < 0.05). Lymphocyte apoptosis and ante/postmortem infection were observed only in children with lymphoid depletion. Prolonged hypoprolactinemia (>7 days) was more common in children with MOF (17 vs 2%, p < 0.05) and was associated independently with prolonged lymphopenia (OR, 8.3, 95% CI, 2.1–33, p < 0.05) and lymphoid depletion (OR, 12.2, 95% CI, 2.2–65, p < 0.05). Prolonged lymphopenia and apoptosis-associated depletion of lymphoid organs play a role in nosocomial sepsis-related death in critically ill children. Prolonged hypoprolactinemia is a previously unrecognized risk factor for this syndrome.
Signal-Specific Activation and Regulation of Human Neutrophil Fcγ Receptors
Authors: Nagarajan Shanmugam , Fifadara Nimita H. , Selvaraj Periasamy
Published: April 2014

FcγRs with the ITIM domain have been shown to regulate the inflammatory signal delivered by the ITAM-containing FcγRs. In this study, we demonstrate that the function of human neutrophil FcγR type IIA (CD32A) is regulated in a distinct manner by different cell activation signals at the ligand-binding stage. Activation of neutrophils with fMLP up-regulated the ligand-binding function of CD32A, whereas PMA-mediated activation completely abolished ligand binding without altering CD32A expression. Furthermore, PMA treatment also abolished CD16B-dependent ligand binding irrespective of the level of expression. The effect of PMA was cell type specific, because the ligand-binding function of CD32A expressed on cultured cells such as K562 and CHO-CD32A transfectants was not affected by PMA. Interestingly, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, another phorbol ester, and IL-8 up-regulated CD32A-dependent ligand-binding function. These results demonstrate that regulation of CD32A-dependent ligand binding in human neutrophils is not only cell type specific but also activation signal specific. Moreover, these results suggest the possibility that signals delivered to neutrophils by various inflammatory stimuli can exert opposing effects on the function of human FcγRs, representing a novel inside-out regulatory mechanism of FcγR ligand binding.
A Role for CD103 in the Retention of CD4+CD25+ Treg and Control of Leishmania major Infection
Authors: Suffia Isabelle , Reckling Stacie K. , Salay Gerson , Belkaid Yasmine
Published: April 2014

Endogenous regulatory T cells (Treg) play a central role in the control of excessive or misdirected immune responses against self or foreign Ags. To date, virtually no data are available on the nature of the molecules and signals involved in the trafficking and retention of Treg in tissues where regulation is required. Here, we show that expression of αEβ7 integrin is necessary for the homing of Treg at site of Leishmania major infection. The vast majority of Treg present in the dermis at steady-state conditions or during L. major infection express the αE chain (CD103) of αEβ7. Genetically susceptible BALB/c mice that lack CD103 become resistant to infection, a phenotype that is associated with a poor capacity of Treg to be retained in the infected site. Such susceptible phenotype can be restored when Treg from wild-type mice were transferred in CD103−/− mice. The central role of CD103 in Treg retention was further demonstrated by usage of blocking Abs against CD103 and the transfer of Treg purified from CD103−/− mice. Our results strongly suggest that this molecule is induced and maintained on Treg following or just prior to their arrival in tissues. Furthermore, the expression of CD103 and the subsequent retention of Treg in tissues is highly regulated by their exposure to Leishmania Ag and the level of activation of the APCs they encounter. Thus, CD103, by controlling Treg retention, can contribute to the outcome of chronic infection by Leishmania.
Granzyme B Binds to Target Cells Mostly by Charge and Must Be Added at the Same Time as Perforin to Trigger Apoptosis
Authors: Shi Lianfa , Keefe Dennis , Durand Enrique , Feng Hanping , Zhang Dong , Lieberman Judy
Published: April 2014

Perforin (PFN) delivery of granzymes (Gzm) into the target cell at the immunological synapse is the major pathway for inducing apoptosis of virus-infected cells and tumors. A validated model for how PFN delivers Gzm into the cytosol is still lacking. PFN was originally thought to work by forming pores in the target cell plasma membrane that allow Gzm entry. This model was questioned when it was shown that GzmB is endocytosed without PFN. Moreover, apoptosis could be triggered by adding PFN to washed cells that have previously endocytosed GzmB. In this study, we show that GzmB binds to the plasma membrane mostly via nonspecific charge interactions. Washing in saline does not remove bound Gzm. However, if externally bound GzmB is completely removed, subsequent addition of PFN does not release previously endocytosed GzmB and does not trigger apoptosis. Therefore, PFN must be coendocytosed with GzmB to deliver it into the cytosol.
Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Controls Type 2 T Cell-Independent B Cell Response
Authors: Baudler Stephanie , Baumgartl Julia , Hampel Brigitte , Buch Thorsten , Waisman Ari , Snapper Clifford M. , Krone Wilhelm , Brüning Jens C.
Published: April 2014

The IGF-1 receptor (IGF-1R) is expressed on T and B lymphocytes, and the expression of the insulin- and IGF-1-signaling machinery undergoes defined changes throughout lineage differentiation, offering a putative role for IGF-1 in the regulation of immune responses. To study the role of the IGF-1R in lymphocyte differentiation and function in vivo, we have reconstituted immunodeficient RAG2-deficient mice with IGF-1R−/− fetal liver cells. Despite the absence of IGF-1Rs, the development and ex vivo activation of B and T lymphocytes were unaltered in these chimeric mice. By contrast, the humoral immune response to the T cell-independent type 2 Ag 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl-Ficoll was significantly reduced in mice reconstituted with IGF-1R-deficient fetal liver cells, whereas responses to the T cell-dependent Ag 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl acetyl-chicken globulin were normal. Moreover, in an in vitro model of T cell-independent type 2 responses, IGF-1 promoted Ig production potently upon polyvalent membrane-IgD cross-linking. These data indicate that functional IGF-1R signaling is required for T cell-independent B cell responses in vivo, defining a novel regulatory mechanism for the immune response against bacterial polysaccharides.
Pazopanib-the Latest First-Line Standard of Care Targeted Kinase Inhibitor for the Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lu Taylor Y. , Rampersaud Edward N.
Published: April 2014

Kidney cancer is the most lethal of the genitourinary malignancies. Prior to the advent of cytokine-based immunotherapy 25 years ago, surgery was the only viable treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Adjuvant therapy with interferon and interleukin-2 revolutionized the treatment paradigm, although responders were too often uncommon. The mid-portion of the last decade saw born a new class of drugs aimed at the angiogenesis/VEGF pathway, common to most clear-cell RCC. The latest FDA-approved compound in this class has promised to yield equal or better first-line efficacy as its predecessors while, perhaps, providing better tolerability. Here we review the available data at present regarding pazopanib.
A Randomized Double Blind Controlled Safety Trial Evaluating D-Lactic Acid Production in Healthy Infants Fed a Lactobacillus reuteri-containing Formula
Authors: Papagaroufalis Konstantinos , Fotiou Aikaterini , Egli Delphine , Tran Liên-Anh , Steenhout Philippe
Published: April 2014

Background

D-Lactic acidosis in infants fed lactic acid bacteria-containing products is a concern.

Methods

The primary objective of this non-inferiority trial was to compare urinary D-lactic acid concentrations during the first 28 days of life in infants fed formula containing Lactobacillus reuteri (1.2 x 106 colony forming units (CFU)/ml) with those fed a control formula. The non-inferiority margin was set at a two-fold increase in D-lactic acid (0.7 mmol/mol creatinine, log-transformed). Healthy term infants in Greece were enrolled between birth and 72 hours of age, and block randomized to a probiotic ( N = 44) or control ( N = 44) group. They were exclusively fed their formulae until 28 days of age and followed up at 7, 14, 28, 112, and 168 ± 3 days. Anthropometric measurements were taken at each visit and tolerance recorded until 112 days. Urine was collected before study formula intake and at all visits up to 112 days and blood at 14 days.

Results

D-Lactic acid concentration in the probiotic group was below the non-inferiority margin at 28 days: treatment effect -0.03 (95% confidence interval [CI]: [-0.48 to 0.41]) mmol/mol creatinine but was above the non-inferiority margin at 7 and 14 days–-treatment effect 0.50 (95% CI: [0.05-0.96]) mmol/mol creatinine and 0.45 (95% CI: [0.00-0.90]) mmol/mol creatinine, respectively. Blood acid excess and pH, anthropometry, tolerance, and adverse events (AEs) were not significantly different between groups.

Conclusion

Intake of L. reuteri-containing formula was safe and did not cause an increase in D-lactic acid beyond two weeks.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01119170.
Distance Caregivers of People with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia: A Phenomenological Study
Authors: Edwards Megan
Published: April 2014

Introduction:

This research study focused on exploring the lived experience of people caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia from a distance (defined as 2 or more hours' distance by car) to help shed light on this caregiving population.

Method:

Ten participants (all adult children caring for a parent with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia) were involved in this qualitative, phenomenological study. Each participant took part in two individual interviews, the first interview in person with a follow-up interview by telephone phone. After the interviews were transcribed, data were analysed using Moustakas's (1994) modified Van Kaam Method.

Findings:

Six general themes were derived from quotations from participants, revealing different aspects of the distance caregiving experience. Findings indicated that participants spent much time managing and coordinating the care of their relative. Participants indicated a wish to provide information on their relative that could help healthcare professionals provide effective care, and felt that the process of providing care to their relative impacted their professional and personal lives, including developing deeper connections with their relative and others. According to participants, the experience of caregiving, and balancing caregiving demands with other life demands, led to personal changes and growth.

Conclusion:

Occupational therapists and other healthcare professionals need to interact and communicate with distance caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia to better support the caregivers and the care being provided to the person with dementia.
Master's Level Occupational Therapy Students on Placement: An Exploration of Perceptions and Expectations
Authors: Bell Janice , Cox Diane , Marcangelo Caroline
Published: April 2014

Introduction:

The aims of this exploratory mixed methods study were to explore practice placement educators' perceptions and expectations of pre-registration master's level students on placement and to compare the findings of educators who had previous experience of master's level students with those who had none.

Method:

Twenty-six educators completed questionnaires and four took part in semi-structured interviews; forty placement reports were reviewed.

Findings:

The findings show that many educators have higher expectations of master's level students than they do of undergraduate students, due to perceptions of maturity and previous education, life, and work experience. These expectations were contradicted, however, by concerns that master's level students achieve less academic and clinical competence in the shorter time frame for study. Staff with no prior experience at this level lacked confidence in their own abilities to meet the challenge of supporting a master's level student, while staff experienced at this level found many benefits for their own learning as well as for their clinical team.

Conclusion:

Further education, support, and collaboration with the university could enhance the placement experience for both educators and students and may result in the acquisition of more placement offers. The findings will be used to inform future educator training days as well as widen dissemination of information to all practice placement educators. Further collaboration and effective communication between the university and the educators may promote self-confidence in staff, enhance confidence in student abilities, as well as ensuring that assessment is provided at an appropriate level.
Mothers' Experiences of Engaging in Occupational Performance Coaching
Authors: Graham Fiona , Rodger Sylvia , Ziviani Jenny
Published: April 2014

Introduction:

Occupational Performance Coaching is an intervention provided to parents, which targets their goals in occupational performance for themselves and their children. Preliminary evidence points to its effectiveness; however, little is known about parents' experiences of engaging in Occupational Performance Coaching.

Method:

Within a larger mixed methods study, a purpose-designed survey comprising open and closed questions was used to explore parents' (N = 29) experiences of engaging in Occupational Performance Coaching. The survey targeted their impressions, learning experiences, and perceptions of the impact of Occupational Performance Coaching. Numerical data were analysed descriptively; written comments were analysed using content analysis. In this case all participants were mothers.

Findings:

Mothers' descriptions of Occupational Performance Coaching were largely positive. Learning experiences included gaining insights about themselves and their children alongside learning specific strategies to support their children's occupational performance. They reported greater understanding of their children and a perception that Occupational Performance Coaching had engendered a calmer, happier emotional tone within the family.

Conclusion:

Mothers perceived Occupational Performance Coaching as a valuable means to support their children and themselves to attain occupational performance goals. Findings prompt greater attention to coaching approaches and, more widely, the use of transformative learning as a means to enabling occupation.
Validating an Irish-Language Version of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition
Authors: Hynes Sinéad , Shiel Agnes
Published: April 2014

Introduction:

This study translates and assesses the psychometric properties of an Irish-language version of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition (Wilson et al 2003), a screening measure for memory impairment in adults.

Method:

All four versions of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition were translated to Irish and administered to a sample of 21 participants aged 21–64 years. Equivalent translation of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition was achieved through multiple translations and back-translations of the instrument and field-testing with both bilingual and monolingual participants.

Findings:

Strong evidence of concurrent validity was clear from the results. Test—retest reliability of the measure proved to be low in comparison with the English version. In general, the four parallel versions seem to be of equal difficulty, and the Irish version of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition was no more difficult than the English version.

Conclusion:

The results support an Irish Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test — Second Edition as a valid test of everyday memory. Overall, the reliability of the tool is acceptable, but results must be considered cautiously due to the preliminary nature of the study and given the small sample size.
An ACGME Duty Hour Compliant 3-Person Night Float System for Neurological Surgery Residency Programs
Authors: Ragel Brian T. , Piedra Mark , Klimo Paul , Burchiel Kim J. , Waldo Heidi , McCartney Shirley , Selden Nathan R.
Published: April 2014

Background

In 2003, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) instituted the 24+6-hour work schedule and 80-hour workweek, and in 2011, it enhanced work hour and supervision standards.

Innovation

In response, Oregon Health & Science University's (OHSU) neurological surgery residency instituted a 3-person night float system.

Methods

We analyzed work hour records and operative experience for 1 year before and after night float implementation in a model that shortened a combined introductory research and basic clinical neurosciences rotation from 12 to 6 months. We analyzed residents' perception of the system using a confidential survey. The ACGME 2011 work hour standards were applied to both time periods.

Results

After night float implementation, the number of duty hour violations was reduced: 28-hour shift (11 versus 235), 8 hours off between shifts (2 versus 20), 80 hours per week (0 versus 17), and total violations (23 versus 275). Violations increased only for the less than 4 days off per 4-week interval rule (10 versus 3). No meaningful difference was seen in the number of operative cases performed per year at any postgraduate year (PGY) training level: PGY-2 (336 versus 351), PGY-3 (394 versus 354), PGY-4 (803 versus 802), PGY-5 (1075 versus 1040), PGY-7 (947 versus 913), and total (3555 versus 3460). Residents rated the new system favorably.

Conclusions

To meet 2011 ACGME duty hour standards, the OHSU neurological surgery residency instituted a 3-person night float system. A nearly complete elimination of work hour violations did not affect overall resident operative experience.
Weijnen tussen noord en zuid
Authors: Berns Jan B.
Published: April 2014

This contribution evaluates the role and position of Weijnen in dialectological debates about the relationships between the Netherlands in the north and Flanders in the south. This is done on the basis of the reception of Weijnen’s most important works by studying the book reviews
of his Flemish colleagues. It is examined how critical comments from Flemish origin were dealt with in reissues of these works and in other scientific work by Weijnen. Finally, it is investigated how Weijnen dealt with Flemish issues and phenomena in his own work.
De bijdrage van Weijnen aan de Nederlandse dialectologie
Authors: Goossens Jan
Published: April 2014

This paper discusses Weijnen’s most important and most representative contributions to Dutch dialectology. Weijnen’s scientific work is marked by combining an overall synthetic motivation and a stringently analytical approach. This combination resulted in both stratigraphic
studies of the dialect lexicon and innovative insights in the classification of the Dutch dialects. Weijnen succeeded in uniting bundles of isoglosses resulting from geographical studies on words and sounds and subjective, perception based ratings of dialect speakers on linguistics distances
between dialects. His work is strikingly consistent, from his dissertation onwards (1937), along his opus magnum, Nederlandse Dialectkunde (1958 en 1966), and up to and including his 1999 study on the old lexical layers in the south-central dialects.
Weijnen en de waarde van het dialect
Authors: Hagen A.M.
Published: April 2014

Weijnen paid elaborate attention to the societal position of dialects already in his earliest work, in a respectful way, without any romantic cherishing. The goals of language policy and language education needed to be directed, in his view, to competence in the standard language. That
meant that dialects were especially relevant from a scientific, linguistic point of view. He focused his academic work on dialect geography, not on sociolinguistic issues like the balance and relationship between the standard language and its dialects. In his last productive years he nevertheless
returned to the issue of the societal value and role of dialects, by pleading for a political recognition of Dutch dialect groups under the heading of European regional languages.
Weijnen en zijn nalatenschap
Authors: Kruijsen Joep
Published: April 2014

In this contribution, the paper legacy of Toon Weijnen, as stored and made digitally searchable in the library and archives of the Meertens Institute in Amsterdam, is described. Weijnen’s library is a reflection of the entire state of Dutch dialectology until the final decade
of last century. His scientific correspondence includes almost 2000 letters from the period 1935-2006 and around 500 other manuscripts. But above all this, his students are the scientific legacy of Toon Weijnen.
Plantennamen in de Nederlandse Dialecten (PLAND): Heukels eindelijk voltooid
Authors: Brok Har
Published: April 2014

On February, 16, 2006, the website PLAntennamen in de Nederlandse Dialecten was launched (,,plant names in the Dutch dialects, or PLAND), which contains over 300.000 tokens, and which is potentially the biggest database of its kind worldwide. This paper provides a description of the
history of PLAND, its contents and the interface.
Taalaccommodatie in Vlaanderen. Een onderzoek naar het taalgebruik van jongeren binnen de peer group en in contact met niet-streekgenoten
Authors: Gabel Heidi
Published: April 2014

The language situation in Flanders is and always has been unique. Varying from many different base dialects to a standard language, the Flemish language continuum makes an interesting topic of linguistic study. However research from the perspective of language accommodation theories
is not widely spread. Nonetheless, this type of research proves to open new possibilities to learn more about the use of language in Flanders. Based on a corpus of conversation recordings, we examined the informal speech of adolescents from two different provinces in Flanders, namely Limburg
and West Flanders. We investigated if and how the speech of the informants changed when in conversation with their peer group and when brought into contact with informants from another region in Flanders. To do this, we analyzed the data on three variables, being the diminutives, the personal
pronouns and the indefinite article. The results show a difference in the degree of accommodation between the two groups of informants. We noticed much more accommodation in the speech of the adolescents from Oostende whose informal speech in the peer group is still very close to the traditional
dialect. The informants from Limburg, who use a leveled out form of dialect, stick closer to their way of speaking when brought into contact with the informants from the other province. The accommodations (or lack of accomodations) prove of a Brabant background. This may also enforce some
of the existing theories about the so called ,,tussentaal.
Limburgse en Friese toestanden
Authors: Hoekstra Eric , Riemersma Alex
Published: April 2014

This review article discusses the merits and demerits of Rob Belemans' dissertation “Taal of Tongval. De gespleten Limburgse kus, oraal erfgoed en taalpolitiek” [language or dialect: the split Limburgian kiss, oral heritage and language politics]. In addition to a discussion
of Belemans' description of the different approaches of Belgium versus the Netherlands with regard to the recognition of Limburgian as a regional language in the Charter, this review article provides some basic background information about language politics in The Netherlands. More specifically,
it is argued that a fruitful strategy of language politics should be based on the use of the harmony model (instead of the conflict model), as is evidenced by the relative success of the language policy of the province of Fryslân.
Dialectologie in tijden van oorlog: het Berlijnse Lautarchiv van Wilhelm Doegen
Authors: Maes Ulrich
Published: April 2014

From the end of 1915 until just after the armistice, Wilhelm Doegen made gramophone recordings of the nearly 250 languages or dialects of the soldiers interned in the German prisoner of war camps. After the war, the 1650 shellac discs resulting from this impressive undertaking made
up the foundation of his Sound Department at the Prussian State Library. After Doegen’s dismissal in 1933, the department was attached to the University of Berlin. Eventually, it wholly lost its autonomy and its sound files were neglected. Recently, however, they have been rediscovered,
inventoried, digitized and integrated in a multimedia database at the Humboldt University. Doegen’s recordings of the respective dialects of six Dutch-speaking places in Belgium date back to the First World War. In 1927, he recorded an extensive series of samples of Frisian dialects
in the Netherlands. Nevertheless, Dutch dialectology has hitherto paid scarcely any attention to his extraordinary project.
The Measurement of Dutch Dialect Change: Lexicon versus Morphology versus Sound Components
Authors: Heeringa Wilbert , Hinskens Frans
Published: April 2014

In this paper we report on a dialectometrical study of dialect change at the lexical, morphological and sound component levels. In particular, recently collected fieldwork data on a reasonable number of different Dutch dialects have been analysed to trace the processes leading to their convergence and/or divergence. Then, using these data, we provide the answers to four sets of research questions: Do dialects change? Do the patterns of change at the different levels correlate with each other? Which level is most strongly affected? Do dialects converge towards each other? Do the patterns of convergence/divergence at the different levels correlate with each other? Do dialects converge towards or diverge from standard Dutch? Do the patterns of convergence/divergence at the different levels correlate with each other? Do dialects which are distant from standard Dutch converge more strongly towards it than those that are closer to it? Can dialect change be explained by convergence among dialects and dialect convergence towards standard Dutch?   In Section 2, as a first step towards answering the research questions, we outline the methods used to collect the data in the field and the measurement techniques applied to this information. Then, in Section 3, some initial results are presented and the research questions are answered. As this contribution is an interim report on work-in-progress, only part of our planned study can be discussed herein. Accordingly, only the preliminary conclusions from the outcomes of the available data for this part of the project will be discussed in Section 4.
Koineization in the present-day Dutch dialect landscape: postvocalic /r/ and more
Authors: Hinskens Frans
Published: April 2014

This contribution addresses a number of conceptual and methodological issues regarding processes of dialect change leading to koineization. After a discussion of some notions and key findings from  a few recent relevant studies concerning present-day Dutch dialects, two paradigms of linguistic theorizing will be briefly presented. Next, these paradigms will be compared on the basis of the findings from a recent diachronic study of the deletion of postvocalic /r/ before coronal obstruents. It will be shown that only one of the paradigms survives this test. As to the internal factors, the study offers evidence for the claim that, as far as phonological and morphophonological variation is concerned, the  place of a given dialect feature in the typology of phonological rules plays a determining role in its chances for survival in situations of long-lasting, extensive dialect contact. Finally, attention will be paid to some desiderata and possibilities for further research which are either of a methodological (especially data related) or of a more theoretical nature.
Enkele beschouwingen over processen van dialectverandering en regiolectvorming in Belgisch- en Nederlands-Limburg
Authors: Keulen Ronny
Published: April 2014

Although the border between Dutch and Belgian Limburg is younger than the remainder of the border between both countries, its influence has been illustrated repeatedly for e.g. lexical oppositions. This article deals with the question whether the border between the Netherlands and the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium might play a diverging role in the formation of regiolects in the Dutch and Belgian province of Limburg. Hinskens (1992) has been able to describe several instances of dialect levelling and regiolectization in the southeast Dutch Limburg dialect of Rimburg that take place in the direction of either Standard Dutch or the more western Limburg dialects. The same goes for e.g. the decline of the Sittard diphtongization. In Belgian Limburg, however, there as to be no sign yet of the formation of regiolects, at least as fas as concerns some phonological developments. This can be partly due to the less strong influence of the standard language and the orientation towards an own Belgian substandard, but might probably also be related to the fact that the dialect landscape in Belgian Limburg consists of many more smaller scaled areas than in Dutch Limburg and lacks a widely spread or prestigious variant. Furthermore, it seems that there is no significant difference with regard to the pace at which changes take place in dialects or regiolects. In contrast to what e.g. Hoppenbrouwers (1983) previously assumed, language change in dialects does not develop relatively slow, as can be shown by means of some internally conditioned dialect changes in Zutendaal in the second half of the twentieth century.
The impacts of precursor reduction and meteorology on ground-level ozone in the Greater Toronto Area
Authors: Pugliese S. C. , Murphy J. G. , Geddes J. A. , Wang J. M.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. Tropospheric ozone (O3) is a major component of photochemical smog and is a known human health hazard as well as a damaging factor for vegetation. Its precursor compounds, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have a variety of anthropogenic and biogenic sources and exhibit non-linear effects on ozone production. As an update to previous studies on ground-level ozone in the GTA, we present an analysis of NO2, VOC and O3 data from federal and provincial governmental monitoring sites in the GTA from 2000–2012. We show that over the study period, summertime 24 h VOC reactivity and NO2 midday (11:00–15:00) concentrations at all sites decreased significantly; since 2000, all sites experienced a decrease in NO2 of 28–62% and in measured VOC reactivity of at least 53–71%. Comparing 2002/2003 to 2011/2012, the summed reactivity of OH towards NO2 and a suite of measured VOCs decreased from 8.6 to 4.6 s−1. Ratios of reactive VOC pairs indicate that the effective OH concentration experienced by primary pollutants in the GTA has increased significantly over the study period. Despite the continuous decrease in precursor levels, ozone concentrations are not following the same pattern at all stations; it was found that the Canada-Wide Standard for ozone continues to be exceeded at all monitoring stations. Additionally, while the years 2008–2011 had consistently lower ozone levels than previous years, 2012 experienced one of the highest recorded summertime ozone concentrations and a large number of smog episodes. We demonstrate that these high ozone observations in 2012 may be a result of the number of days with high solar radiation, the number of stagnant periods and the transport of high ozone levels from upwind regions.
Transport capacity and saturation mechanism in a real-space cellular automaton dune model
Authors: Gao X. , Zhang D. , Rozier O. , Narteau C.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. In a real-space cellular automaton dune model, individual physical processes such as erosion, deposition and transport are implemented by nearest neighbor interactions and a time-dependent stochastic process. Hence, the transport capacity, the saturation mechanism and the characteristic wavelength for the formation of dunes are emergent properties that can only be determined a posteriori from the output of the numerical simulations. Here we propose a simplified version of the model to establish asymptotic relations between the microscopic erosion-deposition-transport rate parameters and the characteristic length and time scales of the flux saturation mechanism. In particular, we show that, in the cellular automaton, the saturation length is a mean transport distance controlled by the deposition of mobile sedimentary cells. Then, we discuss how these results can be used to determine the sediment flux within dune fields and the rate parameters of a new class of discrete models that concentrate on the effect of heterogeneities in grain-size on dune morphodynamics.
Short-term effects of biogas digestate and cattle slurry application on greenhouse gas emissions from high organic carbon grasslands
Authors: Eickenscheidt T. , Freibauer A. , Heinichen J. , Augustin J. , Drösler M.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The change in the German energy policy resulted in a strong development of biogas plants in Germany. As a consequence, huge amounts of nutrient rich residues remain from the fermentative process, which are used as organic fertilizers. Drained peatlands are increasingly used to satisfy the huge demand for fermentative substrates and the digestate is returned to the peatlands. However, drained organic soils are considered as hot spots for nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and organic fertilization is additionally known to increase N2O emissions from managed grasslands. Our study addressed the questions (a) to what extent biogas digestate and cattle slurry application increase N2O, methane (CH4) and ammonia (NH3) fluxes as well as the mineral nitrogen use efficiency (NUEmin), and (b) how different soil organic matter contents (SOM) promote the production of N2O. The study was conducted at two areas within a grassland parcel, which differed in their soil organic carbon (SOC) contents. At each area (named Corg-medium and Corg-high) two sites were established, one was fertilized five times with biogas digestate and one with cattle slurry. For each treatment, fluxes of N2O and CH4 were measured over two years using the closed chamber method. For NH3 measurements we used the calibrated dynamic chamber method. On an annual basis the application of biogas digestate significantly enhanced the N2O fluxes compared to the application of cattle slurry and additionally increased the NUEmin. Furthermore, N2O fluxes from the Corg-high site significantly exceeded N2O fluxes from the Corg-medium sites. Annual cumulative emissions ranged from 0.91 ± 0.49 kg N ha−1 yr−1 to 3.14 ± 0.91 kg N ha−1 yr−1. Significantly different CH4 fluxes between the investigated treatments or the different soil types were not observed. Cumulative annual CH4 exchange rates varied between −0.21 ± 0.19 kg C ha−1 yr−1 and −1.06 ± 0.46 kg C ha−1 yr−1. Significantly higher NH3 losses from treatments fertilized with biogas digestate compared to those fertilized with cattle slurry were observed. The total NH3 losses following splash plate application were 18.17 kg N ha−1 for the digestate treatments and 3.48 kg N ha−1 for the slurry treatments (36% and 15% of applied NH4+-N). The observed linear increase of 16 days cumulative N2O-N exchange or rather annual N2O emissions, due to a higher mean groundwater level and a higher application rate of NH4+-N, reveal the importance of site adapted N fertilization and the avoidance of N surpluses in Corg rich grasslands.
Towards assessing online uncertainty for three-phase flow metering in the oil and gas industry
Authors: Henry M. P. , Tombs M. S. , Zhou F. B.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. A new three-phase (oil/water/gas) flow metering system has been developed for use in the oil and gas industries, based on Coriolis mass flow metering. To obtain certification for use in the Russian oil and gas industries, trials have taken place at the UK and Russian national flow laboratories, NEL in Glasgow and VNIIR in Kazan, respectively. The metrology of three-phase flow is complex, and the uncertainty of each measurement varies dynamically with the operating point, as well as the metering technology, and other aspects. To a limited extent this is reflected in the error limits allowed in national standards, which may vary with operating point. For example, the GOST standard allows errors in the oil flow rate of ±6% for water cuts of less than 70%, which is increased to ±15% for water cuts between 70 and 95%. The provision of online uncertainty for each measurement, for example in accordance with the British Standard BS-7986, would be highly desirable, allowing the user to observe in real time variations in measurement quality. This paper will discuss how an online uncertainty assessment could be implemented in the Coriolis meter-based system.
Predicting freakish sea state with an operational third-generation wave model
Authors: Waseda T. , In K. , Kiyomatsu K. , Tamura H. , Miyazawa Y. , Iyama K.
Published: April 2014

Abstract. The understanding of freak wave generation mechanisms has advanced and the community has reached a consensus that spectral geometry plays an important role. Numerous marine accident cases were studied and revealed that the narrowing of the directional spectrum is a good indicator of dangerous sea. However, the estimation of the directional spectrum depends on the performance of the third-generation wave model. In this work, a well-studied marine accident case in Japan in 1980 (Onomichi-Maru incident) is revisited and the sea states are hindcasted using both the DIA (discrete interaction approximation) and SRIAM (Simplified Research Institute of Applied Mechanics) nonlinear source terms. The result indicates that the temporal evolution of the basic parameters (directional spreading and frequency bandwidth) agree reasonably well between the two schemes and therefore the most commonly used DIA method is qualitatively sufficient to predict freakish sea state. The analyses revealed that in the case of Onomichi-Maru, a moving gale system caused the spectrum to grow in energy with limited downshifting at the accident's site. This conclusion contradicts the marine inquiry report speculating that the two swell systems crossed at the accident's site. The unimodal wave system grew under strong influence of local wind with a peculiar energy transfer.
Women Struggle for Legal Empowerment in Pakistan Historical Overview
Authors: Noreen Naveeda , Musarrat Razia
Published: April 2014

Pakistan is a democratic country, wherein women comprised half of its population. The plight of women rights in Pakistan is not satisfactory, but with the pace of time, the process of legal empowerment for women is in  progression. The enforcement of laws lead towards safeguarding women rights more, which culminated into protection of women in a better way. In this study, the process of legal empowerment and protection of women rights has been evaluated in historical perspective. Women are fighting for their rights since colonial period. After creation of Pakistan, women are struggling for attaining more and more legal protection and empowerment. Laws are the reflection of the values of society.  The military rulers who were always in quest of legitimacy repealed the laws to safeguard  their own interests. which lessened the efficacy of these laws towards protecting women rights. The modernization of the society and awareness among the women compelled the elected Governments to take steps to repeal the discriminatory laws even Hadood Ordinance and honor killings. In Pakistan the lives of the women are governed more by the customs and values rather statutory laws. There are many factors responsible for the poor protection of women rights, lack of education, rigid values system, absence of proper implementation of the laws and complex judicial system.
Corruption and Reversal Burden of Proof
Authors: Wiriadinata Wahyu
Published: April 2014

This paper, entitled Corruption and Reversal Burden of Proof, was intended to deal with a question on the extent of the effectiveness of a reversal burden of proof as stipulated in positive (applicable) Indonesia law, that is, as provided for in Law Number 31 of 1999 on Eradication of Corruption Crime. Then, a problem that rose next was: could the application of reversal burden of proof in proving a corruption crime case prevent or reduce or even eliminate totally corruption crimes in Indonesia? This research built on a theoretical frame of thought from Roscoe Pound, who maintains that law is a tool of social engineering. This concept was cited by Muchtar Kusumaatmadja, who adapted it to Indonesia conditions and adjusted it to be law as a social engineering medium. Engineering is meant here as a transformation of the thinking ways of people from traditional thinking ways to modern ones. Law should be made as a means in resolving the entire problems that emerge between and among community, including corruption crimes. One of the things that needs to be changed is a law of proof law system, that is, from a conventional proof system to be a reversal one. This paper was written by a juridical-normative method, that is, by studying legislations, be they are contained in laws and those contained in literature/books on legal science, particularly legislations related to reversal burden of proof. Then, the results, in a form of juridical aspect, was written in a descriptive-analytical form. The overall conclusion of this research was an answer of the problems posed above, that is: Corruption crimes have been continuously occurring till now in Indonesia. Thus, Law Number 31 of 1999, particularly Article 37, has not been effective yet in eradicating corruption crimes.
The Indonesian Forestry in Economic, Ecosystem and Legal Perspectives
Authors: Wiriadinata Wahyu
Published: April 2014

Forest and forestry are strategic factors, because the forest existence in Indonesia as the world lung and it can maintain ecosystem equilibrium. A destruction in Indonesian’s forest can also affect and result in destruction in living environment. The forestry of Indonesia is in fact, especially in Borneo region has largely reduced and destructed. Its biological heterogenity has substantially been eliminated, too. This instance is, among other, caused by people’s shifting cultivation, illegal cuttings by local peoples, illegal cutting and logging by the Forest Managing Rights  and its slash and burn.  This article is written from literature research findings presented in analytical descriptive form. The objective of this article presentation is to provide an illustration and true condition about the Indonesian’s forest as an important strategic factor, where the forest itself and forestry has valuable role and serve as medium for maintaining the ecosystem equilibrium and preserve the world environmental life, especially in Indonesia itself and the most important objective of this research may be contribute a valuable benefit for entire scientific world and especially for the science of law. For preventing of the continuous forestry destruction and its recovery, it is important to make protective steps through legal instruments by appropriate and fair sanction enforcement, pursuant to the 41 Act of 1999 about Forestry, formulation of legal offense and the forestry criminal acts contained in Article 50. The heaviest sanction is 15 years in jail punishment and its highest fine is Rp. 10 billions and rehabilitation by reforestration.
The Behavior Of Bureaucracy in Application of Transparency, Participatory, and Accountability Services Procurement at Sidenreng Rappang Regency
Authors: Ahmad Jamaluddin , Adnan Astinah
Published: April 2014

Application of transparency, participation, and accountability in the procurement process of goods and services is in need to achieve good governance. Local governments Sidenreng Rappang has committed to implement through regulation principles so important to study. Therefore, this study aims to determine the principles of transparency, participation, and accountability and bureaucratic behavior that influence the process of procuring goods and services.This type of research is descriptive qualitative data collection techniques through documents, questionnaires, and informants. The data were then analyzed using qualitative descriptive analysis.Behavioral results showed that bureaucracy tends political types in the application of the principles of transparency, participation, and accountability services for goods and services. This supported the existence of a Representative Observer of Society (ROS) that help implement it. The factors that influence still more in human resources and the enforcement of sanctions against irregularities rules or procedures.
From “Al Aaraaf” to the Universe of Stars
Authors: Rachman Stephen
Published: April 2014

This paper traces the patterns of Poe's cosmological thinking from the Romantic science fiction of “Al Aaraaf” (1829) at the outset of his career to the poetic cosmology of Eureka (1848) at the end of his career. In particular, I am concerned with the ways that Poe incorporated Koranic, scientific, and aesthetic elements to imagine medial spaces as a place to conduct his poetic, literary, and cosmological practice. As the 1829 headnote to “Al Aaraaf” informs the reader: “Al Aaraaf, among the Arabians, a medium between Heaven and Hell, is supposed to be located in the celebrated star discovered by Tycho Brahe, which burst forth in one night upon the eyes of the world, and disappeared as suddenly.” This article addresses the implications of the occupation of medial spaces such as “Al Aaraaf” in Poe's work in two directions: the aesthetic and the cosmological. In terms of aesthetics these medial spaces lead Poe to considerations of the Arabesque as cultural figure and aesthetic pattern he would deploy and redeploy as he moved from poetry to short fiction with direct consequences for his treatment of the grotesque, the category that would come to dominate his reputation. In terms of cosmology, these medial spaces would return in Eureka (and in other moments in his work), as a central area of consideration in his theory of the generation and fate of the universe.