bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing the Performance of Hybrid Capture II and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the Identification of Cervical Dysplasia in the Screening and Diagnostic Settings
Authors: Luu Hung N. , Adler-Storthz Karen , Dillon Laura M. , Follen Michele , Scheurer Michael E.
Published: September 2013

Objective

Both PCR and Hybrid Capture II (HCII) have been used for identifying cervical dysplasia; however, comparisons on the performance between these two tests show inconsistent results. We evaluated the performance of HCII and PCR MY09/11 in both screening and diagnostic populations in sub-sample of 1,675 non-pregnant women from a cohort in three clinical centers in the United States and Canada.

Methods

Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and concordance between the two tests were calculated.

Results

Specificity of HCII in detecting low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) was higher in the screening group (88.7%; 95% CI: 86.2%–90.8%) compared to the diagnostic group (46.3%; 95% CI: 42.1%–50.6%); however, specificity of PCR was low in both the screening (32.8%; 95% CI: 29.6%–36.2%) and diagnostic (14.4%; 95% CI: 11.6%–17.6%) groups. There was comparable sensitivity by both tests in both groups to detect high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL); however, HCII was more specific (89.1%; 95% CI: 86.8%–91.0%; 66.2%; 95% CI: 62.0%–70.1%) than PCR (33.3%; 95% CI: 30.2%–36.5%; 17.9%; 95% CI: 14.8%–21.6%) in the screening and diagnostic groups, respectively. Overall agreement for HPV positivity was approximately 50% between HCII and PCR MY09/11; with more positive results coming from the PCR MY09/11.

Conclusion

In the current study, PCR MY09/11 was more sensitive but less specific than HCII in detecting LSIL, and HCII was more sensitive and specific in detecting HSIL than PCR in both screening and diagnostic groups.
Safety and Efficacy of Delamanid in the Treatment of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB)
Authors: Field Stephen K.
Published: September 2013

Globally, the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) is declining but the proportion of drug-resistant cases has increased. Strains resistant to both isoniazid and rifampin, and possibly other antibiotics, called multidrug-resistant (MDR), are particularly difficult to treat. Poorer outcomes, including increased mortality, occur in patients infected with MDR strains and the costs associated with treatment of MDR-TB are substantially greater. The recent recognition of MDR-TB and strains with more complex resistance patterns has stimulated the development of new TB medications including fluoroquinolones, oxazolidinones, diarylquinolines, nitroimidazopyrans, ethylenediamines, and benzothiazinones. Bedaquiline, a diarylquinoline, was approved for the treatment of MDR-TB in 2012. Addition of delamanid to WHO-approved treatment improved outcomes for MDR-TB and for extensively drug-resistant TB in a large randomized, controlled phase II clinical trial and is undergoing evaluation in a large international phase III study. This review will focus on MDR-TB and the role of delamanid in its treatment.
Approximation of Finitely Additive Functions with Values in Topological Groups
Authors: Cavaliere Paola , de Lucia Paolo , Weber Hans
Published: September 2013

We discuss the problem of the pointwise approximation of finitely additive functions, which are defined on a Boolean algebra and take values in a Hausdorff topological commutative group, via strongly continuous and exhaustive finitely additive functions. Related properties of topological groups are also investigated.
Introduction to special issue: the TransBrom Sonne expedition in the tropical West Pacific
Authors: Krüger K. , Quack B.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. This special section of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics gives an overview of scientific results, collected during a West Pacific ship expedition in October 2009 with the Research Vessel (R/V) Sonne. The cruise focussed on chemical interactions between the ocean surface and the atmosphere above the tropical West Pacific and was planned within the national research project TransBrom (www.geomar.de/~transbrom). TransBrom aimed to particularly investigate very short lived bromine compounds in the ocean and their transport to and relevance for the stratosphere. For this purpose, chemical and biological parameters were analysed in the ocean and in the atmosphere, accompanied by a high frequency of meteorological measurements, to derive new insights into the multidisciplinary research field. This introduction paper presents the scientific goals and the meteorological and oceanographic background. The main research findings of the TransBrom Sonne expedition are highlighted.
Microwave radiometer to retrieve temperature profiles from the surface to the stratopause
Authors: Stähli O. , Murk A. , Kämpfer N. , Mätzler C. , Eriksson P.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. TEMPERA (TEMPERature RAdiometer) is a new ground-based radiometer which measures in a frequency range from 51–57 GHz radiation emitted by the atmosphere. With this instrument it is possible to measure temperature profiles from ground to about 50 km. This is the first ground-based instrument with the capability to retrieve temperature profiles simultaneously for the troposphere and stratosphere. The measurement is done with a filterbank in combination with a digital fast Fourier transform spectrometer. A hot load and a noise diode are used as stable calibration sources. The optics consist of an off-axis parabolic mirror to collect the sky radiation. Due to the Zeeman effect on the emission lines used, the maximum height for the temperature retrieval is about 50 km. The effect is apparent in the measured spectra. The performance of TEMPERA is validated by comparison with nearby radiosonde and satellite data from the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Aura satellite. In this paper we present the design and measurement method of the instrument followed by a description of the retrieval method, together with a validation of TEMPERA data over its first year, 2012.
Probabilistic approach to cloud and snow detection on AVHRR imagery
Authors: Musial J. P. , Hüsler F. , Sütterlin M. , Neuhaus C. , Wunderle S.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. The derivation of probability estimates complementary to geophysical data sets has gained special attention over the last years. The information about a confidence level of provided physical quantities is required to construct an error budget of higher level products and to correctly interpret final results of a particular analysis. Regarding the generation of products based on satellite data the common input consists of a cloud mask which allows discrimination between surface and cloud signals. Further the surface information is divided between snow and snow-free components. At any step of this discrimination process a misclassification in a cloud/snow mask propagates to higher level products and may alter their usability. Within this scope a novel Probabilistic Cloud Mask (PCM) algorithm suited for the 1×1 km Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data is proposed which provides three types of probability estimates between: cloudy/clear-sky, cloudy/snow and clear-sky/snow conditions. As opposed to the majority of available techniques which are usually based on a decision-tree approach in the PCM algorithm all spectral, angular and ancillary information is used in a single step to retrieve the probability estimates from the pre-computed Look Up Tables (LUTs). Moreover, the issue of derivation of a single threshold value for a spectral test was overcome by the concept of multidimensional information space which is divided into small bins by an extensive set of thresholds. The discrimination between snow and ice clouds and detection of broken, thin clouds was enhanced by means of the Invariant Coordinate System (ICS) transformation. The study area covers a wide range of environmental conditions spanning from Iceland through central Europe to northern parts of Africa which exhibit diverse difficulties for cloud/snow masking algorithms. The retrieved PCM cloud classification was compared to the PPSv2012 and MOD35 collection 6 cloud masks, SYNOP weather reports, CALIPSO vertical feature mask version 3 and to MOD10A1 collection 5 snow mask. The outcomes of conducted analyses proved fine detection skills of the PCM method with comparable or better results than the reference PPS algorithm.
A method to represent ozone response to large changes in precursor emissions using high-order sensitivity analysis in photochemical models
Authors: Yarwood G. , Emery C. , Jung J. , Nopmongcol U. , Sakulyanontvittaya T.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Photochemical grid models (PGMs) are used to simulate tropospheric ozone and quantify its response to emission changes. PGMs are often applied for annual simulations to provide both maximum concentrations for assessing compliance with air quality standards and frequency distributions for assessing human exposure. Efficient methods for computing ozone at different emission levels can improve the quality of ozone air quality management efforts. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using the decoupled direct method (DDM) to calculate first- and second-order sensitivity of ozone to anthropogenic NOx and VOC emissions in annual PGM simulations at continental scale. Algebraic models are developed that use Taylor series to produce complete annual frequency distributions of hourly ozone at any location and any anthropogenic emission level between zero and 100%, adjusted independently for NOx and VOC. We recommend computing the sensitivity coefficients at the midpoint of the emissions range over which they are intended to be applied, in this case with 50% anthropogenic emissions. The algebraic model predictions can be improved by combining sensitivity coefficients computed at 10 and 50% anthropogenic emissions. Compared to brute force simulations, algebraic model predictions tend to be more accurate in summer than winter, at rural than urban locations, and with 100% than zero anthropogenic emissions. Equations developed to combine sensitivity coefficients computed with 10 and 50% anthropogenic emissions are able to reproduce brute force simulation results with zero and 100% anthropogenic emissions with a mean bias of less than 2 ppb and mean error of less than 3 ppb averaged over 22 US cities.
On the analytic approximation of bulk collision rates of non-spherical hydrometeors
Authors: Seifert A. , Blahak U. , Buhr R.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Analytic approximations of the binary collision rates of hydrometeors are derived for use in bulk microphysical parameterizations. Special attention is given to non-spherical hydrometeors like raindrops and snowflakes. The terminal fall velocity of these particles cannot be sufficiently well approximated by power law relations which are used in most microphysical parameterizations and therefore an improved formulation is needed. The analytic approximations of the bulk collision rates given in this paper are an alternative to look-up tables and can replace the Wisner approximation which is used in many atmospheric models.
Using the nonlinear aquifer storage–discharge relationship to simulate the base flow of glacier- and snowmelt-dominated basins in northwest China
Authors: Gan R. , Luo Y.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Base flow is an important component in hydrological modeling. This process is usually modeled by using the linear aquifer storage–discharge relation approach, although the outflow from groundwater aquifers is nonlinear. To identify the accuracy of base flow estimates in rivers dominated by snowmelt and/or glacier melt in arid and cold northwestern China, a nonlinear storage–discharge relationship for use in SWAT (Soil Water Assessment Tool) modeling was developed and applied to the Manas River basin in the Tian Shan Mountains. Linear reservoir models and a digital filter program were used for comparisons. Meanwhile, numerical analysis of recession curves from 78 river gauge stations revealed variation in the parameters of the nonlinear relationship. It was found that the nonlinear reservoir model can improve the streamflow simulation, especially for low-flow period. The higher Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency, logarithmic efficiency, and volumetric efficiency, and lower percent bias were obtained when compared to the one-linear reservoir approach. The parameter b of the aquifer storage–discharge function varied mostly between 0.0 and 0.1, which is much smaller than the suggested value of 0.5. The coefficient a of the function is related to catchment properties, primarily the basin and glacier areas.
PATH PLANNING OF AN AUTONOMOUS MOBILE MULTI-SENSOR PLATFORM IN A 3D ENVIRONMENT USING NEWTONIAN IMPERIALIST COMPETITIVE OPTIMIZATION METHOD
Authors: Heidari A. A. , Afghan-Toloee A. , Abbaspour R. A.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. This paper addresses an innovative evolutionary computation approach to 3D path planning of autonomous UAVs in real environment. To solve this Np-hard problem, Newtonian imperialist competitive algorithm (NICA) was developed and extended for path planning problem. This paper is related to optimal trajectory-designing before UAV missions. NICA planner provides 3D optimal paths for UAV planning in real topography of north Tehran environment. To simulate UAV path planning, a real DTM is used to algorithm. For real-world applications, final generated paths should be smooth and also physical flyable that made the path planning problems complex and more constrained. The planner progressively presents a smooth 3D path from first position to mission target location. The objective function contains distinctive measures of the problem. Our main goal is minimization of the total mission time. For evaluating of NICA efficiency, it is compared with other three well-known methods, i.e. ICA, GA, and PSO. Then path planning of UAV will done. Finally simulations proved the high capabilities of proposed methodology.
Urban Heat Island Growth Modeling Using Artificial Neural Networks and Support Vector Regression: A case study of Tehran, Iran
Authors: Sherafati Sh. A. , Saradjian M. R. , Niazmardi S.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Numerous investigations on Urban Heat Island (UHI) show that land cover change is the main factor of increasing Land Surface Temperature (LST) in urban areas. Therefore, to achieve a model which is able to simulate UHI growth, urban expansion should be concerned first. Considerable researches on urban expansion modeling have been done based on cellular automata. Accordingly the objective of this paper is to implement CA method for trend detection of Tehran UHI spatiotemporal growth based on urban sprawl parameters (such as Distance to nearest road, Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Slope and Aspect ratios). It should be mentioned that UHI growth modeling may have more complexities in comparison with urban expansion, since the amount of each pixel’s temperature should be investigated instead of its state (urban and non-urban areas). The most challenging part of CA model is the definition of Transfer Rules. Here, two methods have used to find appropriate transfer Rules which are Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Support Vector Regression (SVR). The reason of choosing these approaches is that artificial neural networks and support vector regression have significant abilities to handle the complications of such a spatial analysis in comparison with other methods like Genetic or Swarm intelligence. In this paper, UHI change trend has discussed between 1984 and 2007. For this purpose, urban sprawl parameters in 1984 have calculated and added to the retrieved LST of this year. In order to achieve LST, Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) night-time images have exploited. The reason of implementing night-time images is that UHI phenomenon is more obvious during night hours. After that multilayer feed-forward neural networks and support vector regression have used separately to find the relationship between this data and the retrieved LST in 2007. Since the transfer rules might not be the same in different regions, the satellite image of the city has divided to several parts and for each part a specific CA model has defined. In the training step some pixels have randomly selected to calibrate the neural network and the regression. Then, using the trained neural network and support vector regression, LST in year 2007 has retrieved for all pixels. Results have indicated a great relationship between the simulated LST and the real one which has retrieved from thermal band of satellite image in 2007 (r = 0.843 for ANN method and r = 0.856 for SVR method). Although SVR caused to a better result, this method is much more time consuming than ANN method, especially when the number of training pixels increase.
A DECISION LEVEL FUSION METHOD FOR OBJECT RECOGNITION USING MULTI-ANGULAR IMAGERY
Authors: Tabib Mahmoudi F. , Samadzadegan F. , Reinartz P.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Spectral similarity and spatial adjacency between various kinds of objects, shadow and occluded areas behind high rise objects as well as complex relationships lead to object recognition difficulties and ambiguities in complex urban areas. Using new multi-angular satellite imagery, higher levels of analysis and developing a context aware system may improve object recognition results in these situations. In this paper, the capability of multi-angular satellite imagery is used in order to solve object recognition difficulties in complex urban areas based on decision level fusion of Object Based Image Analysis (OBIA). The proposed methodology has two main stages. In the first stage, object based image analysis is performed independently on each of the multi-angular images. Then, in the second stage, the initial classified regions of each individual multi-angular image are fused through a decision level fusion based on the definition of scene context. Evaluation of the capabilities of the proposed methodology is performed on multi-angular WorldView-2 satellite imagery over Rio de Janeiro (Brazil).The obtained results represent several advantages of multi-angular imagery with respect to a single shot dataset. Together with the capabilities of the proposed decision level fusion method, most of the object recognition difficulties and ambiguities are decreased and the overall accuracy and the kappa values are improved.
EVALUATION OF DIFFERENT CHANGE DETECTION TECHNIQUES IN FORESTRY FOR IMPROVEMENT OF SPATIAL OBJECTS EXTRACTION ALGORITHMS BY VERY HIGH RESOLUTION REMOTE SENSING DIGITAL IMAGERY
Authors: Amiri N.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Earth observations which are being useable by spatial analysis ability play an important role in detecting, management and solving environmental problems such as climate changes, deforestation, disasters, land use, water resource and carbon cycle. Remote sensing technology in combination with geospatial information system (GIS) can render reliable information on vegetation cover. Satellite Remote sensed data and GIS for land cover/use with its changes is a key to many diverse applications such as Forestry. Change detection can be defined as the process of identifying differences in the state of an object or phenomenon by observing it at different times. The analysis of the spatial extent and temporal change of vegetation cover (Forest) by using remotely sensed data is critically importance to natural resource management sciences. The main aim of this review paper is to go through the different change detection methods and algorithms based on very high resolution remote sensing imagery data, evaluate the quality of the spatial individual crown cover extraction in forests with high density, analyse, compare the results by optimized performance of control data for the same objects to provide the improvement in technique for detection and improve the mathematical sides of the change detection algorithms for high dense forests regions with different boundaries.
Integrating spatial, temporal, and size probabilities for the annual landslide hazard maps in the Shihmen watershed, Taiwan
Authors: Wu C. Y. , Chen S. C.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Landslide spatial, temporal, and size probabilities were used to perform a landslide hazard assessment in this study. Eleven intrinsic geomorphological, and two extrinsic rainfall factors were evaluated as landslide susceptibility related factors as they related to the success rate curves, landslide ratio plots, frequency distributions of landslide and non-landslide groups, as well as probability–probability plots. Data on landslides caused by Typhoon Aere in the Shihmen watershed were selected to train the susceptibility model. The landslide area probability, based on the power law relationship between the landslide area and a noncumulative number, was analyzed using the Pearson type 5 probability density function. The exceedance probabilities of rainfall with various recurrence intervals, including 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 yr, were used to determine the temporal probabilities of the events. The study was conducted in the Shihmen watershed, which has an area of 760 km2 and is one of the main water sources for northern Taiwan. The validation result of Typhoon Krosa demonstrated that this landslide hazard model could be used to predict the landslide probabilities. The results suggested that integration of spatial, area, and exceedance probabilities to estimate the annual probability of each slope unit is feasible. The advantage of this annual landslide probability model lies in its ability to estimate the annual landslide risk, instead of a scenario-based risk.
Investigating volcanic hazard in Cape Verde Islands through geophysical monitoring: network description and first results
Authors: Faria B. , Fonseca J. F. B. D.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. We describe a new geophysical network deployed in the Cape Verde archipelago for the assessment and monitoring of volcanic hazards, and the first results from the network. Across the archipelago, the ages of volcanic activity range from ca. 20 Ma to present. In general, older islands are in the east and younger ones are in the west, but there is no clear age progression and widely-separated islands have erupted contemporaneously on geological time scales. The overall magmatic rate is low, and there are indications that eruptive activity is episodic, with intervals between episodes of intense activity ranging from 1 to 4 Ma. Although only Fogo island has experienced eruptions (mainly effusive) in the historic period (last 550 yr), Brava and Santo Antão have experienced numerous geologically recent eruptions including violent explosive eruptions, and show felt seismic activity and geothermal activity. Evidence for recent volcanism in the other islands is more limited and the emphasis has therefore been on monitoring of the three critical islands of Fogo, Brava and Santo Antão, where volcanic hazard levels are highest. Geophysical monitoring of all three islands is now in operation. The first results show that in Fogo the seismic activity is dominated by hydrothermal events and volcano-tectonic events that may be related to settling of the edifice after the 1995 eruption; in Brava by volcano-tectonic events (mostly offshore), and in Santo Antão by volcano-tectonic events, medium frequency events and harmonic tremor. Both in Brava and in Santo Antão, the recorded seismicity indicates that relatively shallow magmatic systems are present and causing deformation of the edifices that may include episodes of dike intrusion.
A top-down model to generate ensembles of runoff from a large number of hillslopes
Authors: Furey P. R. , Gupta V. K. , Troutman B. M.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. We hypothesize that total hillslope water loss for a rainfall–runoff event is inversely related to a function of a lognormal random variable, based on basin- and point-scale observations taken from the 21 km2 Goodwin Creek Experimental Watershed (GCEW) in Mississippi, USA. A top-down approach is used to develop a new runoff generation model both to test our physical-statistical hypothesis and to provide a method of generating ensembles of runoff from a large number of hillslopes in a basin. The model is based on the assumption that the probability distributions of a runoff/loss ratio have a space–time rescaling property. We test this assumption using streamflow and rainfall data from GCEW. For over 100 rainfall–runoff events, we find that the spatial probability distributions of a runoff/loss ratio can be rescaled to a new distribution that is common to all events. We interpret random within-event differences in runoff/loss ratios in the model to arise from soil moisture spatial variability. Observations of water loss during events in GCEW support this interpretation. Our model preserves water balance in a mean statistical sense and supports our hypothesis. As an example, we use the model to generate ensembles of runoff at a large number of hillslopes for a rainfall–runoff event in GCEW.
Meteorological drivers of ablation processes on a cold glacier in the semi-arid Andes of Chile
Authors: MacDonell S. , Kinnard C. , Mölg T. , Nicholson L. , Abermann J.
Published: September 2013

Abstract. Meteorological and surface change measurements collected during a 2.5 yr period are used to calculate surface mass and energy balances at 5324 m a.s.l. on Guanaco Glacier, a cold-based glacier in the semi-arid Andes of Chile. Meteorological conditions are marked by extremely low vapour pressures (annual mean of 1.1 hPa), strong winds (annual mean of 10 m s−1), shortwave radiation receipt persistently close to the theoretical site maximum during cloud-free days (mean annual 295 W m−2; summer hourly maximum 1354 W m−2) and low precipitation rates (mean annual 45 mm w.e.). Snowfall occurs sporadically throughout the year and is related to frontal events in the winter and convective storms during the summer months. Net shortwave radiation provides the greatest source of energy to the glacier surface, and net longwave radiation dominates energy losses. The turbulent latent heat flux is always negative, which means that the surface is always losing mass via sublimation, which is the main form of ablation at the site. Sublimation rates are most strongly correlated with net shortwave radiation, incoming shortwave radiation, albedo and vapour pressure. Low glacier surface temperatures restrict melting for much of the period, however episodic melting occurs during the austral summer, when warm, humid, calm and high pressure conditions restrict sublimation and make more energy available for melting. Low accumulation (131 mm w.e. over the period) and relatively high ablation (1435 mm w.e.) means that mass change over the period was negative (−1304 mm w.e.), which continued the negative trend recorded in the region over the last few decades.
Policing Visible Sexual/Gender Diversity as a Program of Governance
Authors: Dwyer Angela
Published: September 2013

Using interview data on LGBT young people’s policing experiences, I argue policing and security works as a program of government (Dean 1999; Foucault 1991; Rose 1999) that constrains the visibilities of diverse sexuality and gender in public spaces. While young people narrated police actions as discriminatory, the interactions were complex and multi-faceted with police and security working to subtly constrain the public visibilities of ‘queerness’. Same sex affection, for instance, was visibly yet unverifiably (Mason 2002) regulated by police as a method of governing the boundaries of proper gender and sexuality in public. The paper concludes by noting how the visibility of police interactions with LGBT young people demonstrates to the public that public spaces are, and should remain, heterosexual spaces.
Prevention and Pre-emption in Australia’s Domestic Anti-terrorism Legislation
Authors: Tulich Tamara
Published: September 2013

The move towards prevention in domestic anti-terror law and policy was initially justified as an exceptional response to the exceptional threat of transnational terrorism following September 11, 2001. However, commonalities are discernable between prevention in anti-terror law and prevention as employed in other areas of Australian law. To begin contextualising and analysing preventive practices in Australia, a framework is required. ‘The preventive state’ provides one way to view the collection of preventive measures employed in Australia. Engaging a governmentality perspective has the potential to make visible prevention and pre-emption in law and governance, and to inform critical treatment of the preventive state itself. Whether and how prevention and pre-emption in anti-terror law differ from and exhibit continuities with other preventive measures has the potential to expose issues of selectivity and proportionality between preventive measures and force consideration of the limits of state action to prevent or pre-empt harm.
‘Let the Punishment Match the Offence’: Determining Sentences for Australian Terrorists
Authors: McGarrity Nicola
Published: September 2013

To date, 38 men have been charged with terrorism offences in Australia. Twenty-six have been convicted. The article commences with an overview of the factual circumstances leading to these convictions. This provides important background for the following discussion of a largely unexplored issue in Australian anti-terrorism law and policy, namely, the difficulties faced by the Australian courts in adapting traditional sentencing principles to the (for the most part, preparatory) terrorism offences enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Of particular interest are how the courts determine the objective seriousness of these offences and the respective weight placed upon deterrence (both specific and general) and the rehabilitation of convicted terrorists.
Girls and Violence: The Case for a Feminist Theory of Female Violence
Authors: Carrington Kerry
Published: September 2013

Rises recorded for girls’ violence in countries like Australia, Canada, United Kingdom and United States have been hotly contested. One view is these rising rates of violence are an artefact of new forms of policy, policing, criminalisation and social control over young women. Another view is that young women may indeed have become more violent as they have increasingly participated in youth subcultural activities involving gangs and drugs, and cyber-cultural activities that incite and reward girls’ violence. Any comprehensive explanation will need to address how a complex interplay of cultural, social, behavioural, and policy responses contribute to these rises. This article argues that there is no singular cause, explanation or theory that accounts for the rises in adolescent female violence, and that many of the simple explanations circulating in popular culture are driven by an anti-feminist ideology. By concentrating on females as victims of violence and very rarely as perpetrators, feminist criminology has for the most part ducked the thorny issue of female violence, leaving a discursive space for anti-feminist sentiment to reign. The article concludes by arguing the case for developing a feminist theory of female violence.
Toxic State–Corporate Crimes, Neo-liberalism and Green Criminology: The Hazards and Legacies of the Oil, Chemical and Mineral Industries
Authors: Ruggiero Vincenzo , South Nigel
Published: September 2013

This paper uses examples from the history and practices of multi-national and large companies in the oil, chemical and asbestos industries to examine their legal and illegal despoiling and destruction of the environment and impact on human and non-human life. The discussion draws on the literature on green criminology and state-corporate crime and considers measures and arrangements that might mitigate or prevent such damaging acts. This paper is part of ongoing work on green criminology and crimes of the economy. It places these actions and crimes in the context of a global neo-liberal economic system and considers and critiques the distorting impact of the GDP model of ‘economic health’ and its consequences for the environment.
Producto de convolución de las derivadas de orden L por las derivadas de orden k de la delta de Dirac soportadas en (x-1), (x-a) y (x-n)
Authors: García Martha , Aguirre Manuel A.
Published: September 2013

No disponibleDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/nexo.v25i2.1023
Determinación de la Eficiencia de Campo para el Sistema de Máquinas de alza y transporte en el Ingenio Pantaleón utilizando diagramas cíclicos, en la zafra azucarera 2010/2011
Authors: Rivera Ricardo , Sánchez Murillo Norwin Bianell , Ríos Carrasco Gerardo
Published: September 2013

La ingeniería agrícola relacionada con los procesos mecanizados, no se limita a estimar sólo la operación de las máquinas agropecuarias en un estado fijo del sistema, sino que trata de predecir el estado exacto del sistema en cualquier instante, no solo con el objetivo de identificar las actividades de todo el sistema de máquinas, sino también encontrar las eficiencias de campo del sistema, la eficiencia de mano de obra y además, realizar un análisis de los tiempos de los ciclos en tiempo real. Este estudio permitió determinar -a nivel piloto-, en la práctica las eficiencias de campo; mano de obra, el rendimiento de las maquinas, así como identificar los factores que restringen el sistema de máquinas en el proceso de Alza y Transporte de Cosecha de la caña de azúcar en el Ingenio Pantaleón, ubicado en El Viejo, Chinandega, Nicaragua.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/nexo.v25i2.676
Principios y Campos de Aplicación en CUDA Programación paralela y sus potencialidades
Authors: Rivera G Iván Omar , Vargas-Lombardo Miguel
Published: September 2013

La siguiente monografía es un compendio de información reciente sobre la tecnología CUDA de procesamiento paralelo en la GPU, para uso computacional en general, descripción de la misma, como también algunas aplicaciones.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/nexo.v25i2.684
DESCUBRIENDO LA ANATOMÍA DE UNA APLICACIÓN SOBRE ANDROID
Authors: Delgado Jaén Benedik Jaseth , Vargas-Lombardo Miguel
Published: September 2013

La plataforma de trabajo Android incluye, un sistema operativo, un middleware y un conjunto de aplicaciones clave. La incorporación de servicios de acceso integrados a internet en estos dispositivos móviles, sin embargo, aumenta la exposición a los daños causados por varios tipos de malware. Este documento, muestra las más importantes partes que componen la anatomía de una aplicación sobre el sistema operativo Android, el comportamiento y función de cada una de ellas y la importancia que tiene  la estructura interna de Android, la cual, lo ha convertido en una plataforma, confiable, segura y flexible frente a las necesidades del mercado actual.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/nexo.v25i2.685
Red Vial de Nicaragua (Optimización y Mantenimiento)
Authors: Martínez Wilfredo
Published: September 2013

La red vial es un patrimonio nacional, el cual es necesario: proteger, conservar, aumentar y mejorar; para apoyar eldesarrollo socioeconómico de nuestro país.  La actividad de mantenimiento, constituye un factor determinante quegarantiza la operación satisfactoria del transporte durante la vida útil de los caminos; en sus diferentes modalidades. La ausencia de un mantenimiento preventivo y de un mantenimiento correctivo tardío, conduce a que la inversiónrealizada sufra una depreciación más acelerada, acortando su vida útil; obteniendo un grado de aprovechamientomenor que se traduce en una disminución de los beneficios estimados, ya que la rentabilidad no podrá ser óptima aldescuidar esta función. “Con frecuencia, los costos operativos de los vehículos, excederán los costos de losdepartamentos viales por un factor de 10 o màs, especialmente en carreteras de gran volumen de trànsito”.(Zaniewski, 1989). Por lo tanto, los costos (economía) de los usuarios deben ser tomados en cuenta al momento deproyectar la construcción de una carretera. Por tal razón el Gobierno de Nicaragua, en conjunto con lasinstituciones correspondientes, han asumido un rol prioritario en la ejecución y mantenimiento de la red vial. Esteensayo pretende aportar elementos cuantitativos y cualitativos, para el análisis y mejoramiento de la Red Vial.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/nexo.v26i1.1209
Metodología de diseño de un robot paralelo tipo Delta de 3-GDL en función de un espacio de trabajo prescrito
Authors: Balmaceda Santamaría Albert Lester , Castillo Castañeda Eduardo
Published: September 2013

En este artículo se desarrolla y aplica una metodología de diseño de un mecanismo paralelo tipo Delta en función de un espacio de trabajo prescrito, para cualquiera que sea su forma geométrica. La metodología se implementó en el software Matlab® sin utilizar una función objetivo, seleccionando los valores mínimos factibles de las variables de diseño, estas son las longitudes de: la plataforma fija y móvil, los eslabones o brazos que conforman la cadena cinemática y una distancia entre la base fija y el espacio prescrito. La forma geométrica del volumen prescrito fue definida en comparación con la forma del espacio de trabajo de dos robots tipo Delta disponibles en el mercado internacional. La metodología fue aplicada al robot paralelo tipo Delta Parallix LKF-2040, creado en el CICATA-Qro. del IPN, con el fin de diseñar su versión industrial.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/nexo.v26i1.853
Utility Sees the Light: UV Emerges as the Best Option
Authors: Ott Steve , Wells Kurt , Cotton Christine , Collins James , Kuhnel Ben , Crozes Gil
Published: September 2013

After exploring several options to reduce disinfection by‐product formation, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, an integrated team of employees, and consultants are pulling together to plan and build two UV facilities.
Prevention of Progressive Back-Specific Dysfunction During Pregnancy: An Assessment of Osteopathic Manual Treatment Based on Cochrane Back Review Group Criteria
Authors: Licciardone John C. , Aryal Subhash
Published: September 2013

Context: Back pain during pregnancy may be associated with deficits in physical functioning and disability. Research indicates that osteopathic manual treatment (OMT) slows the deterioration of back-specific functioning during pregnancy.

Objective: To measure the treatment effects of OMT in preventing progressive back-specific dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy using criteria established by the Cochrane Back Review Group.

Design: A randomized sham-controlled trial including 3 parallel treatment arms: usual obstetric care and OMT (UOBC+OMT), usual obstetric care and sham ultrasound therapy (UOBC+SUT), and usual obstetric care (UOBC).

Setting: The Osteopathic Research Center within the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth.

Participants: A total of 144 patients were randomly assigned and included in intention-to-treat analyses.

Main Outcome Measures: Progressive back-specific dysfunction was defined as a 2-point or greater increase in the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) score during the third trimester of pregnancy. Risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compare progressive back-specific dysfunction in patients assigned to UOBC+OMT relative to patients assigned to UOBC+SUT or UOBC. Numbers needed to treat (NNTs) and 95% CIs were also used to assess UOBC+OMT vs each comparator. Subgroup analyses were performed using median splits of baseline scores on a numerical rating scale for back pain and the RMDQ.

Results: Overall, 68 patients (47%) experienced progressive back-specific dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy. Patients who received UOBC+OMT were significantly less likely to experience progressive back-specific dysfunction (RR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.3-1.0; P=.046 vs UOBC+SUT; and RR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2-0.7; P<.0001 vs UOBC). The effect sizes for UOBC+OMT vs UOBC+SUT and for UOBC+OMT vs UOBC were classified as medium and large, respectively. The corresponding NNTs for UOBC+OMT were 5.1 (95% CI, 2.7-282.2) vs UOBC+SUT; and 2.5 (95% CI, 1.8-4.9) vs UOBC. There was no statistically significant interaction between subgroups in response to OMT.

Conclusion: Osteopathic manual treatment has medium to large treatment effects in preventing progressive back-specific dysfunction during the third trimester of pregnancy. The findings are potentially important with respect to direct health care expenditures and indirect costs of work disability during pregnancy.
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Bonds in Stereoselective Synthesis
Authors: Matsuda Tomoko , Yamanaka Rio , Nakamura Kaoru
Published: September 2013

Biocatalytic asymmetric synthesis through reduction of ketones, keto esters, and olefins; dynamic kinetic resolution; and deracemization are reviewed. Leading‐edge developments of methodologies as well as their practical applications with a variety of examples are discussed.
Fine‐Grained and Nanostructured AgPbmSbTem+2 Alloys with High Thermoelectric Figure of Merit at Medium Temperature
Authors: Li Zong‐Yue , Li Jing‐Feng
Published: September 2013

AgPbmSbTem+2 (abbreviated as LAST) has received tremendous attention as a promising thermoelectric material at medium temperature. It can be synthesized by a simple process combining mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). This work reveals that the thermoelectric figure of merit (ZT value) of LAST can be increased by 50%, benefiting from enhanced electrical conductivity and thermopower due to refined grains and from nanostructuring realized by repeating the milling and SPS processes. This modified process and further compositional optimization enables ZT values of the LAST alloys up to 1.54 at 723 K. This supports the potential of the LAST alloy as a promising medium‐temperature thermoelectric material and reveals the validity of ZT enhancement by a simple microstructural refining and nanostructuring method.
Scattering amplitudes and toric geometry
Authors: Amariti Antonio , Forcella Davide
Published: September 2013

Abstract

In this paper we provide a first attempt towards a toric geometric interpretation of scattering amplitudes. In recent investigations it has indeed been proposed that the all-loop integrand of planar$ \mathcal{N} $= 4 SYM can be represented in terms of well defined finite objects called on-shell diagrams drawn on disks. Furthermore it has been shown that the physical information of on-shell diagrams is encoded in the geometry of auxiliary algebraic varieties called the totally non negative Grassmannians. In this new formulation the infinite dimensional symmetry of the theory is manifest and many results, that are quite tricky to obtain in terms of the standard Lagrangian formulation of the theory, are instead manifest. In this paper, elaborating on previous results, we provide another picture of the scattering amplitudes in terms of toric geometry. In particular we describe in detail the toric varieties associated to an on-shell diagram, how the singularities of the amplitudes are encoded in some subspaces of the toric variety, and how this picture maps onto the Grassmannian description. Eventually we discuss the action of cluster transformations on the toric varieties. The hope is to provide an alternative description of the scattering amplitudes that could contribute in the developing of this fascinating field of research.
Advancing impact prediction and hypothesis testing in invasion ecology using a comparative functional response approach
Authors: Dick Jaimie T. A. , Alexander Mhairi E. , Jeschke Jonathan M. , Ricciardi Anthony , MacIsaac Hugh J. , Robinson Tamara B. , Kumschick Sabrina , Weyl Olaf L. F. , Dunn Alison M. , Hatcher Melanie J. , Paterson Rachel A. , Farnsworth Keith D. , Richardson David M.
Published: September 2013

Invasion ecology urgently requires predictive methodologies that can forecast the ecological impacts of existing, emerging and potential invasive species. We argue that many ecologically damaging invaders are characterised by their more efficient use of resources. Consequently, comparison of the classical ‘functional response’ (relationship between resource use and availability) between invasive and trophically analogous native species may allow prediction of invader ecological impact. We review the utility of species trait comparisons and the history and context of the use of functional responses in invasion ecology, then present our framework for the use of comparative functional responses. We show that functional response analyses, by describing the resource use of species over a range of resource availabilities, avoids many pitfalls of ‘snapshot’ assessments of resource use. Our framework demonstrates how comparisons of invader and native functional responses, within and between Type II and III functional responses, allow testing of the likely population-level outcomes of invasions for affected species. Furthermore, we describe how recent studies support the predictive capacity of this method; for example, the invasive ‘bloody red shrimp’Hemimysis anomalashows higher Type II functional responses than native mysids and this corroborates, and could have predicted, actual invader impacts in the field. The comparative functional response method can also be used to examine differences in the impact of two or more invaders, two or more populations of the same invader, and the abiotic (e.g. temperature) and biotic (e.g. parasitism) context-dependencies of invader impacts. Our framework may also address the previous lack of rigour in testing major hypotheses in invasion ecology, such as the ‘enemy release’ and ‘biotic resistance’ hypotheses, as our approach explicitly considers demographic consequences for impacted resources, such as native and invasive prey species. We also identify potential challenges in the application of comparative functional responses in invasion ecology. These include incorporation of numerical responses, multiple predator effects and trait-mediated indirect interactions, replacement versus non-replacement study designs and the inclusion of functional responses in risk assessment frameworks. In future, the generation of sufficient case studies for a meta-analysis could test the overall hypothesis that comparative functional responses can indeed predict invasive species impacts.
Volar Capitate Dislocation: A Case Report
Authors: Ward Christina M.
Published: September 2013

We present a rare injury involving a volar dislocation of the distal capitate with secondary median nerve compression. The injury was not recognized on the initial radiographs resulting in a delayed diagnosis and treatment. A satisfactory outcome was achieved following open reduction and internal fixation via dorsal and palmar approaches. This case illustrates the importance of careful review of radiographs for evidence of intercarpal injuries.
Error bounds for the (KdV)/(KP-I) and (gKdV)/(gKP-I) asymptotic regime for nonlinear Schrödinger type equations
Authors: Chiron D.
Published: September 2013

We consider the (KdV)/(KP-I) asymptotic regime for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a general nonlinearity. In a previous work, we have proved the convergence to the Korteweg–de Vries equation (in dimension 1) and to the Kadomtsev–Petviashvili equation (in higher dimensions) by a compactness argument. We propose a weakly transverse Boussinesq type system formally equivalent to the (KdV)/(KP-I) equation in the spirit of the work of Lannes and Saut, and then prove a comparison result with quantitative error estimates. For either suitable nonlinearities for (NLS) either a Landau–Lifshitz type equation, we derive a (mKdV)/(mKP-I) equation involving cubic nonlinearity. We then give a partial result justifying this asymptotic limit.