bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Magnetic analysis of K/T boundary layer clay from Stevns Klint, Denmark
Authors: Morden S. J.
Published: December 2015

Abstract— Following the distribution at The 53rd Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society of 40 kg of Cretaceous‐Tertiary boundary layer clay (Fish Clay) recovered from Stevns Klint, Denmark, a magnetic analysis of both the coarse and fine fractions was carried out. The magnetic mineralogy was found to be complex, consisting of single‐domain magnetite and fine‐grained sulphides of Fe. The Fe sulphide was present as ferrimagnetic pyrrhotite (Fe7S8) and other sulphides that decayed on heating to produce magnetite. A magnetic fraction of the material was separated by using a strong hand magnet. The separate from the coarse fraction was found to contain low‐Ni, Fe (TC=750–770 °C) in trace quantities. Since contamination seems unlikely, it must be concluded that the Fe has an extraterrestrial origin. Whilst partially‐degraded cosmic spherules may add to the signal, their input is believed to be insignificant. The other obvious source is debris from the vapourization of a K/T impactor.
Thallium in meteorites
Authors: Guo X. , Brooks R. R. , Reeves R. D.
Published: December 2015

Abstract— Thallium has been quantified in 50 iron meteorites and 6 chondrites using a combination of solvent extraction and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The accuracy of the data was checked by analysis of two iron meteorites by laser‐excited ICP mass spectrometry. The Tl abundance values for irons appear to be the first recorded and show that the Tl content allows for taxonomic separation of several groups on Tl vs. Ni abundance plots. The Tl content of irons is inversely correlated with abundances of platinum group metals such as Ir, Pt, and Rh and, in this respect, behaves like Pd and As that favour sulphur‐rich phases in meteorites. Analysis of carbonaceous chondrites showed a 30‐fold enrichment of Tl compared with ordinary chondrites.
Flood risk assessment in art cities: the exemplary case of Florence (Italy)
Authors: Arrighi C. , Brugioni M. , Castelli F. , Franceschini S. , Mazzanti B.
Published: December 2015

Flood risk assessment is a crucial step for flood risk management purposes, thus answering the requirements of the European Flood Directive 60/2007/EC (European Commission). In this work, a census data scale, which has been considered as a good compromise between spatial resolution and availability of open socio‐economic data, is adopted for risk analysis. The damage categories included are structures, household contents and the most representative economic activities in the city of Florence (Italy). Moreover, since Florence is an important art city, a preliminary evaluation of risk to cultural heritage is carried out. Data from hydraulic simulations, historical reports of the devastating 1966 flood and the cultural heritage recognition sheets allow estimating and mapping the annual expected number of works of art lost in the absence of risk mitigation strategies.
Trends in caries experience and associated contextual factors among indigenous children
Authors: Ha Diep Hong , Lalloo Ratilal , Jamieson Lisa M. , Giang Do Loc
Published: December 2015

Objective

To assess dental caries trends in indigenous children in South Australia, 2001‐2010; and contribution by area‐level socioeconomic status (SES), remoteness and water fluoridation status.

Methods

This study is a part of the Child Dental Health Survey (CDHS) is an ongoing national surveillance survey in Australia including children enrolled in the School Dental Services (SDS). Postcode‐level adjusted mean deciduous and permanent caries experience was estimated at each year. Time trend of dental caries experience was estimated using mixed effect models. Area‐level socioeconomic status, remoteness, water fluoridation status were independent variables in the models.

Results

There was a significant upward trend of dental caries experience over the 10 years. Dental caries experience of indigenous children living in low SES areas had nearly one more deciduous tooth and a half permanent tooth with caries than indigenous children living in higher SES areas. The remote postcodes showed higher levels of decay in deciduous dentition (+1.25 teeth) compared with others regions.

Conclusions

The dental caries trend increased in South Australian indigenous children over the study period, and was associated with area‐level SES and remoteness.

Implication

The increasing trend in dental caries in indigenous children is important evidence to inform policies to improve oral health.
Time to recovery from haemodialysis : location, intensity and beyond
Authors: Jayanti Anuradha , Foden Philip , Morris Julie , Brenchley Paul , Mitra Sandip ,   on behalf of the BASIC‐HHD study group
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Prolonged recovery time (RT) affects patient's quality‐of‐life adversely. Shorter dialysis RT in home haemodialysis (HHD) noted in observational studies has been attributed to intensive dialysis regimens. Home patients adopt different haemodialysis (HD) schedules. There is insufficient literature on RT in HHD patients receiving different HD schedules.

Methods

Data was prospectively collected for BASIC‐HHD study, a multicentre study of home and hospital HD across five tertiary centres in the UK. Two hundred and eighty‐eight patients answered the question, ‘how long does it take for you to recover from a haemodialysis session?’ Ninety‐one patients (31.8%) of study population performed HHD. Participants completed neuropsychometric tests and depression and anxiety screening inventories.

Results

Recovery time is longest amongst ‘in‐centre’ HD recipients (Mean 193 min; SD 295.37) and significantly higher than the mean RT of home HD recipients (Mean 67.3 min; SD 86.8). Within the home setting, RT was not significantly different between the intensive HD and conventional HD (67.8 vs 66.5 min; P > 0.05) groups but higher residual urine volumes in the standard home group had significantly shorter RT. Location of HD, not intensity, remained significant (P = 0.001) in the unadjusted and adjusted multivariable analysis. Longer RT was associated with female gender, unemployed or retired ‘work’ status, ‘non‐white’ ethnicity, lower predialysis systolic blood pressure and greater depression screening score.

Conclusions

Home‐based HD and higher residual urine volumes are significantly associated with shorter RT. This home advantage for RT may be sustained by preserving residual renal function (in early stages) and increasing HD intensity (in later stages) of dialysis therapy.
Comorbidity recording and predictive power of comorbidities in the Australia and New Zealand dialysis and transplant registry compared with administrative data: 2000–2010
Authors: Kotwal Sradha , Webster Angela C , Cass Alan , Gallagher Martin
Published: December 2015

Aim

To compare comorbidity recording and predictive power of comorbidities for mortality between a clinical renal registry and a state‐based hospitalisation dataset.

Methods

All patients that started renal replacement therapy (dialysis or transplant ‐ RRT) in New South Wales between 1/07/2001 and 31/7/2010 were identified using the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) and linked to the State Admitted Patient Data Collection (APDC) and the Death Registry. Comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic lung disease, peripheral vascular disease and cerebrovascular disease) were identified at the start of RRT in both datasets and compared using kappa statistics (κ).

Survival was calculated using cox proportional hazards models from the start of RRT to death date or end of study (31/07/2011). Four multivariable models were adjusted for age, gender and comorbidities to estimate the predictive power of the comorbidities as recorded in ANZDATA, APDC, either or both datasets

Results

We identified 6285 people (23,845 person‐years follow‐up). Diabetes recording had excellent agreement (94.5%, κ = 0.88), CAD had fair to good agreement (80. 6, κ = 0.56), with poor agreement between the two datasets for the other comorbidities.

Deaths totalled 2594 (41.3%). Median follow up time was 3.3 years (IQR 1.7 to 5.4). All five comorbidities were powerful predictors of poor survival in all four models. All models had a similar predictive ability (Harrell's c = 0.71‐0.72).

Conclusion

Variable agreement exists in comorbidity recording between the ANZDATA and APDC. The comorbidities have a similar predictive ability, irrespective of dataset of origin in an End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) population.
Spatial and seasonal shifts in bloom‐forming cyanobacteria in Lake Chaohu: Patterns and driving factors
Authors: Zhang Min , Zhang Yuchao , Yang Zhen , Wei Lijun , Yang Wenbin , Chen Chao , Kong Fanxiang
Published: December 2015

The patterns of spatial and temporal shifts in bloom‐forming cyanobacteria and the driving factors for these patterns were determined by analyzing the distribution of these cyanobacteria in Lake Chaohu using data from satellite images and field samples collected during 2012 and 2013. The cyanobacterial blooms primarily occupied the western region of Lake Chaohu, and the direction and speed of the prevailing wind determined the spatial distribution of these blooms. The cyanobacteria in Lake Chaohu were dominated by species of Microcystis and Anabaena. Microcystis reached its peak in June, and Anabaena had peaks in May and November, with an overall biomass that was higher than that of Microcystis. Microcystis generally occupied the western region of the lake in summer, whereas Anabaena dominated in other regions and seasons. Temperature may be responsible for these seasonal shifts. However, total phosphorus (TP), pH, temperature, turbidity and nitrate/nitrite nitrogen determined the coexistence of the two genera in different regions in summer. TP was correlated with Microcystis dominance, and pH and light availability were correlated with Anabaena dominance. Our results contribute to the understanding of shifts in bloom‐forming cyanobacteria and are important for the control of cyanobacterial blooms.
Mother's postnatal stress: an investigation of links to various factors during pregnancy and post‐partum
Authors: Andersson Ewa , Hildingsson Ingegerd
Published: December 2015

Background

Higher levels of parental stress have long‐term effects on children's health and could lead to dysfunction in the parent–child interaction. Different background factors can be predictors of high parental stress.

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine parental stress among Swedish women and identify different factors linked to women's parental stress.

Method

About 702 women were recruited to a clinical study and followed up six months after birth. Data were collected by two questionnaires, and 279 women completed the Swedish Parental Stress Questionnaire (SPSQ).

Findings

Less than very good mental health and depressive symptoms after birth were strongly associated with parental stress, and the strongest association was found between post‐partum depressive symptoms and high levels of stress in the subscale Incompetence. Multiparity was associated with high stress in two subscales, and lower level of education was a protective factor for stress in nearly all subscales.

Conclusions

Depressive symptoms and perceived poor mental health post‐partum are the most important factors related to high parental stress. The results point to the importance of identifying and supporting mothers with depressive symptoms, since these women have both mental illness and increased stress.
What Explains the Rise in Executive Pay in Germany? A Panel Data Analysis for 1977–2009
Authors: Fabbri Francesca , Marin Dalia
Published: December 2015

Executive compensation in Germany has become highly controversial since Vodafone's hostile takeover of Mannesmann in 2000. It has again been in the spotlight since the outbreak of the 2008–2009 global financial crisis. Using a unique panel dataset of the 500 largest firms in Germany in the period 1977–2009, we find that executives tend to be rewarded when the sector is doing well rather than the firm they work for. Furthermore, we find that CEO pay and the demand for managers increases in Germany in difficult times when the typical firm size shrinks. Finally, domestic and global competition for managers appear to contribute to the rise in executive pay.
Blood transfusions and pulmonary complications after hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Solh Melhem , Morgan Shanna , McCullough Jeffrey , Shanley Ryan , Weisdorf Daniel J.
Published: December 2015

BACKGROUND

Transfusion of blood products is an essential component of the hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) process. Blood transfusion carries several risks including, but not limited to, lung injury. The effect of transfusions on lung complications after HCT has not been previously investigated.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We retrospectively studied 215 adult allogeneic HCT recipients at the University of Minnesota and examined the association between transfusion of blood components and development of lung complications after HCT. Patients without lung complications were used as the control group.

RESULTS

A total of 113 (58%) of the patients developed lung injury events before Day 180 after HCT. Six‐month survival was significantly lower in the lung event group (52%) versus the controls (78%; p = 0.01). Patients who eventually developed lung events received more transfusion episodes per week in the first month after HCT (median, 4.3 vs. 2.7 for controls), platelet units per week (3.5 vs. 2.0), and RBC units per week (1.8 vs. 1.4; p < 0.01) for all. In a multivariable analysis, each additional transfusion before Day +30 was associated with a 2.7% higher risk of lung complication (95% confidence interval, 0.8‐4.8; p = 0.01), adjusting for time to engraftment, conditioning intensity, and donor type. Blood utilization increased after the lung event and remained high for several months relative to controls.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest that transfusion of blood products is associated with and may further complicate lung complications after HCT. Cautious use of blood components in the post HCT period is recommended.
Mechanisms of 5‐HT1A receptor‐mediated transmission in dorsal raphe serotonin neurons
Authors: Courtney Nicholas A. , Ford Christopher P.
Published: December 2015

Key points

In the dorsal raphe nucleus, it is known that serotonin release activates metabotropic 5‐HT1A autoreceptors located on serotonin neurons that leads to an inhibition of firing through the activation of G‐protein‐coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels.

We found that in mouse brain slices evoked serotonin release produced a 5‐HT1A receptor‐mediated inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC) that resulted in only a transient pause in firing.

While spillover activation of receptors contributed to evoked IPSCs, serotonin reuptake transporters prevented pooling of serotonin in the extrasynaptic space from activating 5‐HT1A‐IPSCs.

As a result, the decay of 5‐HT1A‐IPSCs was independent of the intensity of stimulation or the probability of transmitter release.

These results indicate that evoked serotonin transmission in the dorsal raphe nucleus mediated by metabotropic 5‐HT1A autoreceptors may occur via point‐to‐point synapses rather than by paracrine mechanisms.

In the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN), feedback activation by Gαi/o‐coupled 5‐HT1A autoreceptors reduces the excitability of serotoninergic neurons, which decreases serotonin release both locally within the DRN and in projection regions. Serotonin transmission within the DRN is thought to occur via transmitter spillover and paracrine activation of extrasynaptic receptors. Here, we tested the volume transmission hypothesis in mouse DRN brain slices by recording 5‐HT1A receptor‐mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents (5‐HT1A‐IPSCs) generated by the activation of G‐protein‐coupled inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs). We found that in the DRN of ePET1‐EYFP mice, which selectively express enhanced yellow fluorescent protein in serontonergic neurons, the local release of serotonin generated 5‐HT1A‐IPSCs in serotonin neurons that rose and fell within a second. The transient activation of 5‐HT1A autoreceptors resulted in brief pauses in neuron firing that did not alter the overall firing rate. The duration of 5‐HT1A‐IPSCs was primarily shaped by receptor deactivation due to clearance via serotonin reuptake transporters. Slowing diffusion with dextran prolonged the rise and reduced the amplitude the IPSCs and the effects were potentiated when uptake was inhibited. By examining the decay kinetics of IPSCs, we found that while spillover may allow for the activation of extrasynaptic receptors, efficient uptake by serotonin reuptake transporters (SERTs) prevented the pooling of serotonin from prolonging the duration of transmission when multiple inputs were active. Together the results suggest that the activation of 5‐HT1A receptors in the DRN results from the local release of serotonin rather than the extended diffusion throughout the extracellular space.
Habituation and acclimatization of sheep to cold following exposures of varying length and severity
Authors: Slee J.
Published: December 2015

1. Male and female Scottish Blackface sheep were shorn and exposed for 2 weeks either to a thermoneutral temperature (+30° C), to chronic cold (+8° C) or to +30° C interrupted by daily short cold shocks (−10° C). During and at the end of these conditioning treatments, the sheep also received two acute cold exposures (−20° C, 4 m.p.h. wind for 2–8 hr) 1 week apart. Some of these sheep and a fourth (control) group, were subsequently re‐shorn and slowly cooled to +8° C.

2. Resting metabolism and the metabolic response to cooling (both inferred from heart rates) were increased by previous chronic cold treatment. Resistance to body cooling (measured during acute cold exposure) was generally increased by both chronic and acute cold, and non‐shivering thermogenesis was probably induced in the female sheep. These effects were defined as acclimatization.

3. In contrast, cold shocks reduced the subsequent metabolic response to cold and encouraged facultative body cooling. This pattern of response (defined as habituation) therefore caused greater thermolability.

4. Habituation and acclimatization were antagonistic. Habituation was removed by acute cold exposure and, conversely, acclimatization was inhibited by short cold shocks.

5. There were sex differences in response but these were confounded by probable differences in insulation and in body condition (males thinner).

6. It was concluded that the induction of different forms of adaptation depended on the length, severity and frequency of cold exposures. Habituation to whole body cold exposure apparently involved central nervous system centres normally receiving peripheral cold stimuli.
The control of the plasma choline concentration in the cat
Authors: Gardiner J. E. , Paton W. D. M.
Published: December 2015

1. Changes in choline concentration of the blood after injections or infusions of choline were studied in cats anaesthetized with chloralose.

2. Single
I.V. injections of choline 10–100 μmole/kg produced arterial plasma levels 1 min later corresponding to an apparent volume of initial distribution of 430 ml./kg. The concentration then declined rapidly (half‐time, 1–2 min), with a later slower decline after large doses.

3. Infusions of choline at a rate of 0·8 μmole/kg.min or greater produced steady rises in plasma level, corresponding to a clearance of 28·6 ml. plasma/kg.min. The half time of rate of approach to steady state was 7 min or less. Infusions at rates of 0·40 μmole/kg.min or less produced much smaller or negligible rises, suggesting mechanisms for disposal which were saturated at higher concentration. At low rates, little infused choline appeared in urine. At the end of an infusion, the plasma choline level usually fell without delay.

4. Portal blood contained about 50% of the arterial level, renal venous blood 15–70%, caval blood 30–60%, and amniotic fluid 2·5%. Occlusion of renal coeliac or mesenteric arteries raised plasma choline, but relatively rapid choline removal still occurred in the eviscerate animal.

5. After infusions of [methyl‐14C]choline, the level of radioactivity retained in the circulation amounted to only a few per cent of the total dose infused. At low rates of infusion (0·0125‐0·1 μmole/kg.min) the radioactivity represented only a small fraction of bio‐assayable choline; but at 0·40 μmole/kg.min it came to exceed the concentration of free choline, indicating metabolic conversion. Only traces of 14C were found in expired air, and only 1–1·5% of total infused radioactivity in the urine. After infusion of 150 μmole over 3 hr, high levels of radioactivity were found in liver, kidney, lung, brain and heart, but levels in muscle and spleen were comparable to that of blood.

6. It was concluded that choline is rapidly lost from the blood, that the abdominal viscera, liver, kidney and lung are important extraction sites, that some partial metabolism occurs, the metabolites also being rapidly lost from blood, and that it is probable that choline lost to the tissues becomes bound in some form.
Transport of thyroxine glucuronide into bile
Authors: Hillier A. P.
Published: December 2015

1. The secretion of thyroxine glucuronide into bile has been investigated in the isolated perfused rat liver and also in the intact animal. Radioactive material for the study was prepared from the bile of rats treated with [125I]thyroxine.

2. The isolated liver actively transports thyroxine glucuronide from the perfusion fluid (Tyrode solution) into the bile. At equilibrium, its concentration in the bile is about 1800 × its concentration in the perfusion fluid.

3. Experiments with pulse infusions of glucuronide indicate that the substance enters the bile almost as soon as it is captured by the tissue.

4. Secretion of thyroxine glucuronide is strongly inhibited by bromosulphophthalein, indicating a common carrier mechanism. It is suggested that secretion probably involves two stages — transfer from the perfusion fluid into the cell and then from the cell into the bile. The second stage is certainly active.

5. When thyroxine glucuronide is injected intravenously into anaesthetized rats, some 77% is recovered from the bile, half of this being excreted within the first 14 min.
The effect of distending the atrial appendages on urine flow in the dog
Authors: Kappagoda C. T. , Linden R. J. , Snow H. M.
Published: December 2015

1. Distension of the atrial appendages resulted in a diuresis, an increase in the rate of Na+ excretion and an increase in heart rate.

2. Both the urinary and heart rate responses to distension of the appendages were either abolished or much reduced by crushing the bases of the appendages.

3. The diuresis in response to distension of the atrial appendages is similar to that previously described in response to distension of the pulmonary vein‐atrial junctions by Ledsome & Linden (1968).

4. It is concluded that stimulation of nerve endings within the atrial appendages results in a reflex increase in urine flow and heart rate.
Physiological correlates of adaptation to a rotated visual field
Authors: Fiorentini Adriana , Ghez C. , Maffei L.
Published: December 2015

1. Perceptual adaptation to a 30 or 45° visual tilt was induced in human subjects by means of prismatic spectacles worn for 5–7 days. Relative contrast thresholds and the amplitudes of the occipital potentials to vertical and oblique gratings were studied.

2. During continuous exposure to the tilted visual environment the normal differences between contrast thresholds for vertical and oblique targets decreased or were no longer significant. In all subjects the change from control threshold differences was significant at the 0·005 level.

3. During the course of adaptation the difference in amplitude of the potentials evoked by vertical and oblique oscillating gratings also decreased. The changes with respect to control differences were significant at the 0·005 level in each subject.

4. Intermittent exposure to tilt in one subject resulted only in minor adaptation of the apparent vertical, and the evoked potential differences did not change from control levels.

5. The changes are interpreted as suggesting that plastic changes in the extraretinal mechanism responsive to target orientation occur during adaptation to prismatic tilt.
Las fusiones como determinantes de bajos costos de capital: el caso de México mediante la aplicación de un modelo de regresión borrosa
Authors: Hinojosa Treviño Sergio Raúl , Cortez Alejandro Klender Aimer , Rodríguez García Martha del Pilar
Published: December 2015

En este estudio, analizamos si las fusiones disminuyen el costo de capital en las empresas públicas de México. Para ello se parte de una muestra formada por empresas de diversos sectores que componen el Índice de Precios y Cotizaciones (IPC) que realizaron una operación de adquisición aprobada por las autoridades mexicanas en los años 2010 y 2011. Para estimar el costo de capital se utilizó el CAPM tradicional y el D-CAPM, el cual considera una métrica de riesgo a la baja. Ambas estimaciones se realizaron 3 años antes y 3 años después de la adquisición con dos métodos de medición: Mínimos Cuadrados Ordinarios y Regresión Borrosa. Los resultados muestran la ventaja del modelo de regresión borrosa sobre mínimos cuadrados ordinarios, principalmente en períodos con mayor incertidumbre. Además, considerando las estimaciones del modelo D-CAPM, podemos concluir para las empresas de la muestra que existe una posibilidad entre 0.62 y 0.65 de reducción del costo de capital después de la fusión.
Los informes contables anuales y su papel en la institución del “yo” organizacional
Authors: Cuevas Mejía John Jairo
Published: December 2015

Este artículo se inscribe en la línea argumental de los estudios interdisciplinarios sobre los reportes corporativos, con énfasis en el corporate self, por lo que ahonda en el interrogante: ¿cómo son usados los informes contables anuales para instituir al “yo” de la organización económica moderna en el marco de la contemporaneidad? En consecuencia, desde una perspectiva interpretativa, se acude al psicoanálisis lacaniano junto con la apropiación de categorías conceptuales concebidas al seno de la sociología y la filosofía contemporáneas, para advertir las características en las que se soporta el desarrollo del “yo” y la subjetividad en el espacio de la contemporaneidad. Esto con el fin de hacer inteligible el papel instituyente de los informes contables anuales al margen de la dimensión económica y comunicativa a la que están adscritos hoy. De esta manera, se abordan y caracterizan, con base en el caso de una empresa colombiana, los mecanismos que hacen de los informes contables anuales espejos identitarios en los que se soporta el proceso de institucionalización del “yo” organizacional, al tiempo que cumplen la función de mostrar el texto que hace de las organizaciones económicas modernas como si adviniesen en una suerte de “ciudadanos corporativos”.
Representación contable desde la perspectiva del impacto ambiental empresarial. En el contexto del desarrollo de actividades industriales en Latinoamérica
Authors: Colmenares Loyda , Valderrama Yosman , Adriani Rolando
Published: December 2015

Las tendencias actuales de la representación contable empresarial apuntan al registro de hechos o fenómenos contables derivados de diversas perspectivas, entre las que se encuentran la ecológica o ambiental; en este sentido, además de registrar los resultados económicos y financieros de las entidades, la ciencia contable se enfrenta al reto de enfocarse en la valoración y presentación de datos derivados del impacto empresarial en el ecosistema. Con esta concepción, la investigación abarcó como objetivo analizar la representación contable desde la perspectiva del impacto ambiental originado por el desarrollo de actividades industriales en Latinoamérica. Metodológicamente, el estudio se llevó a cabo por medio de una exploración documental, utilizando como técnicas el fichaje, el análisis crítico y el resumen analítico. Entre las reflexiones finales, la revelación de información económica y financiera derivada de la actuación industrial en el ecosistema se sustenta desde la óptica ecológica en la cuantificación del impacto ambiental para presentarse como parte integral del lenguaje financiero de las entidades, amparados en el supuesto de negocio en marcha y revelación suficiente de la contabilidad, los cuales indican que los estados financieros deben revelar cualquier hecho que pueda poner en duda la situación financiera de la empresa o la prosecución de su giro económico.
An Analysis of the Quality of the Central American Strategy for Rural Territorial Development (ECADERT) as a Regional Public Policy
Authors: Fernández Portillo Luis Antonio , Santos Carrillo Francisco
Published: December 2015

The Central American Strategy for Rural Territorial Development is a regional policy regarding the rural territorial development of the Central American Integration System. A group of stakeholders was interviewed in order to analyze whether its different stages have characteristics that support the implementation and achievement of its desired goals. The results indicate that the design of this policy shows positive characteristics regarding the participatory process that involves the major stakeholders. However, the situation is worse regarding the implementation, primarily because of its weak ties to integrate system institutions, lack of funding, and the low involvement of national governments.
Exploring Prospective Structural Analysis to Assess the Relevance of Rural Territorial Development in Spain and Nicaragua
Authors: Delgado-Serrano María del Mar , Ambrosio-Albalá Mateo , Amador Francisco
Published: December 2015

Rural Territorial Development policy approach was launched in Europe to foster rural development under the LEADER initiative. It sparked off great interest in Latin America. We analyse the role played by RTD principles in the dynamics and evolution of four rural areas in Spain and Nicaragua. In doing so, we provide
empirical understanding on the validity of the principles to boost rural change and contribute to evidencebased policy-making.
Methodologically, we explore the use of participatory prospective tools that apprehend rural areas’ evolving and complex nature. The potential of Prospective Structural Analysis to describe rural dynamics, and to support social changes and decision-making is tested.

 
REDEFINIENDO TERRITORIOS HIDROSOCIALES: CONTROL HÍDRICO EN EL VALLE DE ICA, PERÚ (1993-2013)
Authors: Damonte Valencia Gerardo Héctor
Published: December 2015

En las últimas décadas, el crecimiento del sector agroexportador en el Perú ha traído consigo transformaciones significativas en los territorios hídricos, principalmente en los valles de la costa peruana. A partir de un estudio de caso, esta investigación explica cómo estas transformaciones han conllevado a la redefinición de territorios hidrosociales desde la consolidación de un proyecto político y económico agroexportador en la región de Ica. La investigación responde a este objetivo siguiendo una metodología cualitativa: revisión bibliográfica, información etnográfica y validación de resultados.
Blade Triggered Excitation of Periodically Unsteady Impinging Jets for Efficient Turbine Liner Segment Cooling
Authors: Scherhag Christian , Geiermann Jan Paul , Wartzek Fabian , Schiffer Heinz-Peter
Published: December 2015

In the present study, an application for efficient cooling of turbine liner segments employing pulsating impinging jets was investigated. A combined numerical and experimental study was conducted to evaluate the design of a case cavity device which utilizes the periodically unsteady pressure distribution caused by the rotor blades to excite a pulsating impinging jet. Through an opening between the main annulus and a case cavity, pressure pulses from the rotor blades propagated into this cavity and caused a strong pressure oscillation inside. The unsteady computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results were in good qualitative agreement with the measurement data obtained using high-frequency pressure transducers and hot wire anemometry. Furthermore, the numerical study revealed the formation of distinct toroidal vortex structures at the nozzle outlet as a result of the jet pulsation. Within the scope of the measurements, the influence of the operating point on the pressure propagation inside the cavity was investigated. The dependence of shape and amplitude of the pressure oscillation on engine speed and stage pressure ratio was found to be in accordance with an analytical consideration.
Thermal Radiation From Vertical Turbulent Jet Flame: Line Source Model
Authors: Zhou Kuibin , Jiang Juncheng
Published: December 2015

It is often reported that a jet fire occurs in industrial installations or in the transportation of hazardous materials and could amplify the scale of accident by imposing lots of heat on people and nearby facilities. This paper presents a new semi-empirical radiation model, namely, the line source model to predict the radiant heat flux distribution around a vertical turbulent hydrocarbon jet flame. In terms of the fact that the jet flame holds the large ratio of flame length to diameter, the new model assumes that all thermal energy is emitted by a line source located inside the jet flame volume. With three typically different shapes to simulate the jet flame shape, a formula is proposed to characterize the profile of the emissive power per line length (EPPLL), by which the line source model can be closed in theory. In comparison with the point source model, the multipoint source model, and the solid flame model, the new model agrees better with the measurement of the heat flux radiated from a small jet flame. It is found that the line source model can well predict the radiant heat flux of both small and large jet flames, yet with the flame shape simulated by the back-to-back cone and the cone–cylinder combined shape, respectively. By parameter sensitivity and uncertainty analysis, the ranking by importance of input parameters is also given for the new model.
Neuromuscular Activation During Short-Track Speed Skating in Young Athletes
Authors: Felser Sabine , Behrens Martin , Fischer Susanne , Baeumler Mario , Salomon Ralf , Bruhn Sven
Published: December 2015

Purpose:

To investigate differences in muscle activation of both legs between the straight and the curve and changes in muscle activity during a 1000-m time trial (TT) and their relationship to the change in skating velocity in 9 young short-track speed skaters. The authors recorded skating times and EMG data from different leg muscles during maximum-effort skating trials on the straight and in the curve, as well as during a 1000-m TT.

Results:

Muscle activation differs between the straight and the curves and between legs; ie, average activities of selected muscles of the right leg were significantly higher during skating through the curves than in the straights. This could not be observed for the left leg. The reduction in speed during the 1000-m TT highly correlates with the decrease in the muscle activity of both the tibialis anterior and the rectus femoris of the right leg. Muscle recruitment is different in relation to lap section (straight vs curve) and leg (right vs left leg). The decreased muscle activity of the tibialis anterior and rectus femoris of the right leg showed the highest relationships with the reduction in skating speed during the 1000-m TT.
Sensitivity and Reliability of a Specific Test of Stroke Performance in Table Tennis
Authors: Mansec Yann Le , Dorel Sylvain , Nordez Antoine , Jubeau Marc
Published: December 2015

Purpose:

To develop a simple, reliable, and sensitive test to measure stroke performance (ball speed and accuracy) in table tennis.

Methods:

Fifty-two players were divided into 3 groups in accordance with their level: expert (EG), advanced (AG), and inexperienced (IG). The test consisted of 45 forehand shots where players were asked to reach 3 targets. The test was performed 2 times (separated by 8 min) during the first session (n = 52) to assess intrasession reliability. A second session (n = 28), at least 3 d later, was performed to test intersession reliability. Both speed and accuracy of the ball were measured to evaluate the absolute sensitivity and reliability of the specific test.

Results:

This study showed good reliability of the specific test for both ball speed and accuracy of EG and AG (ICC range .42–.96, CV range 2.0–9.0%). However, the reliability is low for IG. Ball speed and accuracy were greater in EG than in the other groups, and both variables were correlated with the level of the players.

Conclusion:

Results suggest that the specific test appears to be a simple and sensitive procedure to assess stroke performance in table tennis and that this test could be a relevant tool for coaches in table tennis.
Dynamical excitation of the tropical Pacific Ocean and ENSO variability by Little Ice Age cooling
Authors: Rustic Gerald T. , Koutavas Athanasios , Marchitto Thomas M. , Linsley Braddock K.
Published: December 2015

East joins West to complete a picture

How have eastern equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures varied over the past 1000 years? Today, the tropical Pacific Ocean has a large influence on global climate, through processes such as El Niño. Researchers would thus like to know how the ocean varied in the past. Although good records exist from the western ocean, the same has not been true for the eastern side. Rustic
et al.
analyzed marine sediments recovered from near the Galapagos Islands. They conclude that the tropical Pacific Ocean changed state about 500 years ago, near the transition between the warm Medieval Climate Anomaly and the cold Little Ice Age.

Science
, this issue p.
1537
Fetal liver hematopoietic stem cell niches associate with portal vessels
Authors: Khan Jalal A. , Mendelson Avital , Kunisaki Yuya , Birbrair Alexander , Kou Yan , Arnal-Estapé Anna , Pinho Sandra , Ciero Paul , Nakahara Fumio , Ma’ayan Avi , Bergman Aviv , Merad Miriam , Frenette Paul S.
Published: December 2015

How HSCs populate the fetal liver

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) undergo dramatic expansion in the fetal liver before migrating to their definitive site in the bone marrow. Khan
et al.
identify portal vessel–associated Nestin
+
NG2
+
pericytes as critical HSC niche components (see the Perspective by Cabezas-Wallscheid and Trumpp). The portal vessel niche and HSCs expand according to fractal geometries, suggesting that niche cells—rather than factors expressed by the niche—drive HSC proliferation. After birth, arterial portal vessels transform into portal veins, and lose Nestin
+
NG2
+
pericytes. When this happens, the niche is lost and HSCs migrate away from the neonatal liver.

Science
, this issue p.
176
; see also p.
126
Structure and membrane remodeling activity of ESCRT-III helical polymers
Authors: McCullough John , Clippinger Amy K. , Talledge Nathaniel , Skowyra Michael L. , Saunders Marissa G. , Naismith Teresa V. , Colf Leremy A. , Afonine Pavel , Arthur Christopher , Sundquist Wesley I. , Hanson Phyllis I. , Frost Adam
Published: December 2015

ESCRTs work in two very different ways

The so-called ESCRT proteins are involved in the budding of vesicles into the lumen of endosomes and in virus budding. These reactions involve the formation of a cytoplasm-filled neck that spirals of the ESCRTs help to seal. McCullough
et al.
now show that ESCRTs can also promote the scission of membrane tubules with the completely opposite topology. ESCRT-III and IST1 ESCRT subunits form spirals on the outside of membrane tubules and so can mediate the budding of tubules and vesicles into the cytosol. Relatively minor structural rearrangements were required to turn ESCRT function on its head.

Science
, this issue p.
1548
Draft Genome Sequence of Vibrio owensii Strain SH-14, Which Causes Shrimp Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease
Authors: Liu Liyuan , Xiao Jinzhou , Xia Xiaoming , Pan Yingjie , Yan Shuling , Wang Yongjie
Published: December 2015

We sequenced
Vibrio owensii
strain SH-14, which causes serious acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp. Sequence analysis showed a large extrachromosomal plasmid, which encoded
pir
toxin genes and shared highly sequence similarity with the one observed in AHPND-causing
Vibrio parahaemolyticus
strains. The results suggest that this plasmid appears to play an important role in shrimp AHPND.
Complete Genome Sequence of Polypropylene Glycol- and Polyethylene Glycol-Degrading Sphingopyxis macrogoltabida Strain EY-1
Authors: Ohtsubo Yoshiyuki , Nagata Yuji , Numata Mitsuru , Tsuchikane Kieko , Hosoyama Akira , Yamazoe Atsushi , Tsuda Masataka , Fujita Nobuyuki , Kawai Fusako
Published: December 2015

Strain EY-1 was isolated from a microbial consortium growing on a random polymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide. Strain EY-1 grew on polyethylene glycol and polypropylene glycol and identified as
Sphingopyxis macrogoltabida
. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of
Sphingopyxis macrogoltabida
EY-1. The genome of strain EY-1 is comprised of a 4.76-Mb circular chromosome, and five plasmids. The whole finishing was conducted
in silico
, with aids of computational tools GenoFinisher and AceFileViewer. Strain EY-1 is available from Biological Resource Center, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (Tokyo, Japan) (NITE).
Genome Sequence of the Acetogenic Bacterium Oxobacter pfennigii DSM 3222
T
Authors: Bengelsdorf Frank R. , Poehlein Anja , Schiel-Bengelsdorf Bettina , Daniel Rolf , Dürre Peter
Published: December 2015

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Oxobacter pfennigii
DSM 3222
T
, an anaerobic, acetogenic, carbon monoxide-oxidizing, and butyrate-producing bacterium. The genome consists of a chromosome with a size of 4.49 Mbp.
Vets drive CPD in Scotland
Authors: Robertson Kathleen
Published: December 2015

The CPD provider, VET Trust, was set up by a group of vets nearly 25 years ago with the aim of making CPD accessible to vets and veterinary nurses in Scotland. Kathleen Robertson reports on the Trust's aims and its newest CPD prize
Diary of a parliamentary intern
Authors: Ridge Anthony
Published: December 2015

Anthony Ridge, the new parliamentary intern to Lord Trees, reflects on his first month in Parliament.
Dietary glycemic index and glycemic load and their relationship to cardiovascular risk factors in Chinese children
Authors: Zhang Xinyu , Zhu Yanna , Cai Li , Ma Lu , Jing Jin , Guo Li , Jin Yu , Ma Yinghua , Chen Yajun
Published: December 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the cross-sectional associations between dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Chinese children. A total of 234 Chinese schoolchildren aged 8–11 years in Guangdong participated in the study. Dietary intake was assessed via a 3-day dietary record. Seven established cardiovascular indicators were analyzed in this study: fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Higher dietary GI was significantly associated with higher TG levels (P = 0.037) and lower HDL-C levels (P = 0.005) after adjusting for age, sex, nutritional intake, physical activity, and body mass index z score. LDL-C was found to differ across tertiles of dietary GL. The middle tertile tended to show the highest level of LDL-C. TC, FPG, and blood pressure were independent of both dietary GI and GL. Our findings suggest that higher dietary GI is differentially associated with some CVD risk factors, including lower HDL-C and higher TG, in school-aged children from south China.
A shale gas resource potential assessment of Devonian Horn River strata using a well-performance method
Authors: Chen Zhuoheng , Hannigan Peter
Published: December 2015

Middle to Upper Devonian Horn River strata in British Columbia, western Canada, has become a proven province of commercial shale gas resource in the last few years. The shale gas resource potential in the Horn River Basin has been historically assessed based on reservoir volumetric characteristics. However, as fundamental mechanisms controlling shale gas ultimate recovery remain poorly understood, the classic theories and simulation techniques applied to evaluate recoverable gas for conventional reservoir have proven inadequate for shale gas reservoirs. Determining the ultimate recovery from production data at the well level and projecting these data to the basin level to establish the ultimate recoverable resource may provide a more realistic estimation for long-term sustainable development planning. This paper analyzes well performance of 206 wells using Arps and Valko models in the Horn River Basin with adequately protracted production records and projects these performances to the future to assess the ultimate recovery of shale gas resource. This process yields a mean estimate of recoverable methane gas resource of 114 TCF (1 TCF (trillion cubic feet) = 28.3 × 109 m3), with a large uncertainty range of 38–217 TCF (90%–10% confidence interval). This study also suggests that the drastic variation in estimated ultimate recovery (EUR) from wells across the basin is attributed primarily to the intrinsic geological character of the shale reservoir, though advances in technology and industry practice may also contribute in some degree to this variation.
Nuclear metamorphosis in mercury
Authors: Cardone F. , Albertini G. , Bassani D. , Cherubini G. , Guerriero E. , Mignani R. , Monti M. , Petrucci A. , Ridolfi F. , Rosada A. , Rosetto F. , Sala V. , Santoro E. , Spera G.
Published: December 2015

The conditions of local Lorentz invariance (LLI) breakdown, obtained during neutron emission from a sonicated cylindrical bar of AISI 304 steel, were reproduced in a system made of a mole of mercury. After 3 min, a part of the liquid transformed into solid state material, in which isotopes were found with both higher and lower atomic mass with respect to the starting material. Changes in the atomic weight without production of gamma radiation and radionuclides are made possible by deformed space–time reactions.
Causal Discovery on Discrete Data with Extensions to Mixture Model
Authors: Liu Furui , Chan Laiwan
Published: December 2015

In this article, we deal with the causal discovery problem on discrete data. First, we present a causal discovery method for traditional additive noise models that identifies the causal direction by analyzing the supports of the conditional distributions. Then, we present a causal mixture model to address the problem that the function transforming cause to effect varies across the observations. We propose a novel method called Support Analysis (SA) for causal discovery with the mixture model. Experiments using synthetic and real data are presented to demonstrate the performance of our proposed algorithm.