bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Le pouvoir réglementaire
Authors: Lemaître Alain J.
Published: November 2015

Si les parlements ont avant tout des attributions
judiciaires et s’ils exercent par ailleurs une veille politique par
leur droit d’enregistrement et de remontrances, ils jouent aussi un
rôle considérable en matière administrative puisqu’ils exercent la
police dans leur ressort. C’est cette fonction que cette communication
souhaite comprendre en se référant aux arrêts sur remontrances du
procureur général du roi au parlement de Bretagne au xviiie siècle. Ces arrêts
visent à adapter les principes généraux du droit et de la loi aux
impératifs locaux. Régissant toutes les formes de coexistence des
hommes les uns à l’égard des autres, ils portent sur des domaines
aussi différents que la religion et les moeurs, la sécurité et le
maintien de l’ordre, la vie économique, la santé et la population, ou
encore l’administration de la justice… Distincte de l’activité
judiciaire, l’activité policière peut donc être comprise comme «
administration » au service du roi et du bien public. On retiendra ici
la dimension doctrinale qui préside à l’élaboration de ces arrêts, la
distinction entre justice et police, et enfin une pratique qui met
face à face dans la Bretagne du xviiie siècle deux ordres normatifs concurrents et
conflictuels.
Vulnerability to Climate Change
Authors: Senapati Sibananda , Gupta Vijaya
Published: November 2015

This paper is based on a detail review of literature available in the area of climate change, vulnerability and impact assessment. Methodological issues pertaining to vulnerability like; development of vulnerability indicators, process of indicator selection etc are the main focus in this paper. As discussed indicators are more acceptable, easy to understand and help in comparing across regions. However, indicators also possess a number of limitations. There are issues in selecting indicators and how to aggregate their values. The current study tries to overcome those issues through a primary study. The study region is Mumbai, India and ‘Koli' fishing communities reside in the city. The socio-economic implications of climate change and vulnerability of communities depending on fishery are estimated by developing vulnerability indicators using Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA), and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Further experts opinions are considered while selecting indicators. Vulnerability indicators are derived from literature and validated through experts' opinion. Experts are chosen from higher learning institutes in the city. In the climate change literature vulnerability mainly divided into exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The indicators of sensitivity and exposure under vulnerability are combined here and categorized into two: livelihood and perceived changes. Similarly the indicators of adaptive capacity are of five categories comprising human, physical, financial, social and government policy related indicators. Thus a total 30 indicators are selected. Among five fishing villages surveyed, fishermen from Madh and Worli are found more vulnerable because of their high sensitivity and low adaptive capacity. The derived vulnerability scores are further compared and analyzed against the scores derived from experts. The overall result shows the experts value of indicators are similar with the indicator score derived in the study using simple aggregate method. This study further provides policy implications for reducing vulnerability of fishing villages.
Environmental Vulnerability to Climate Change in Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Karmaoui Ahmed
Published: November 2015

The Mediterranean basin (MB) connects the south with the north and the East (Europe, Africa & Asia).It is a highly heterogeneous region where natural and anthropogenic activities interact in complex ways with climate variability. Climate change (CC) impacts are already defined on the Mediterranean. That is why the time has come to formulate a long-term plan for adaptation to CC of the MB. In this chapter the author aims (i) the assessment of the environmental vulnerability under CC provided in the BM during the last 30 years, (ii) the determination of environmental vulnerability indicators that the author call Major Common Indicators (MCI), and (iii) identification of adaptation strategies based on these indicators. For this analysis the author used the results of the Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI), developed by SOPAC. In this paper, the author extracted, compiled, compared and analyzed the data of the EVI of 8 selected Mediterranean countries; 4 countries in North Africa (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt) and 4 Southern Europe (Spain, France, Italy and Greece).
Assessment of Annual, Monthly, and Seasonal Trends in the Long Term Rainfall of the Garhwal Himalayas
Authors: Rani Seema
Published: November 2015

Climate change is one of the very significant apprehension argued in the recent two decades. Its influence on rainfall has brought in considerable attention worldwide. Hence, this chapter focuses on assessing the trends in the rainfall during 1901-2012 in the Dehradun, Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Tehri-Garhwal, Pauri-Garhwal, Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts of the Garhwal Himalayas by applying non-parametric Mann-Kendall and the Theil-Sen's Slope Estimator tests for the determination of trend and its magnitude. The findings revealed a statistically significant positive trend in annual and monthly rainfall (May and July) of Dehradun district. Rainfall shows a statistically significant positive trend in May (Haridwar and Tehri Garhwal) and a significant negative trend in January (Uttarkashi and Chamoli). On the other hand, Pauri Garhwal and Rudraprayag indicates no significant trend in monthly rainfall. An insignificant trend has also been observed in seasonal rainfall of most of the districts. Annual, monthly and seasonal rainfall shown no particular pattern in the region.
Human Capital Management for the Improvement of Competitiveness in Firms
Authors: Westeren Knut Ingar
Published: November 2015

Human capital management has been viewed as a necessity to acquire and maintain a sustainable competitive advantage for firms since modern management theory emerged. In this chapter we will first give an overview of how knowledge capital can be linked to the competitive situation of companies. Then we will focus more specifically on how knowledge capital can be measured. We will use the MERITUM framework to measure how different aspects of the knowledge of the employees contribute to the competitiveness of the company. In the empirical part we will show a case study of how this analysis and measurement can be done. From the empirical study we find that the knowledge transfer process is the most important single factor to enhance competitiveness.
Innovation and the Value of Human Capital in a Collegiate Setting
Authors: Johnson Rachel Erin
Published: November 2015

This case study illustrates the value of intellectual capital measurement, specific to human capital and innovation capital within an academic unit at a University of Wisconsin System campus. Within the case study, the academic unit was audited for their innovation practices and then examined to identify the value of human capital on their front line employees. Innovation continues to be a crucial component within academia as well as organizations in general to provide a competitive advantage. Understanding the value front line employees brings to a non-profit organization in academia continues to be a growing concern for many Universities'. The case study contains three parts; an innovation audit, several models and formulas to understand the value of human capital within a particular academic unit, and an overall conclusion and recommendation will be given for the current academic unit at the University of Wisconsin System campus.
The Research on Effects of Different Binders on Performances of Carbonaceous Pelletizing in Industrial Silicon Production
Authors: Yang Ni , Xie Gang , Bao Chong Jun , Li Huai Ren , Yu Xiao Hua , Li Rong Xing , Yu Zhan Liang
Published: November 2015

The use of powder materials in smelting process has some impact on the breathability of the burden, and it ultimately results in poor production and quality of industrial silicon. If pelletizing is prepared by these powder materials, it not only reduces production cost but also reuses waste effectively. It could protect forest resources productively and contributes to sustainable development if charcoal is replaced by pelletizing using as carbonaceous reducing agent. Different powders such as anthracite fine, petroleum coke powders, charcoal powders, silica fume have been produced in the production process of industrial silicon. Briquetting of these powders with a binder starch D was voted into submerged arc furnace not only utilizes the resources sufficiently, but also reduces the production costs. Effects of content of starch D as binder and CaO as pore former on compressive strength, the shatter strength, the heat intensity and porosity of pelletizing were investigated in this paper. The following results were got: first, the performances of pelletizing except porosity were excellent when starch D was used as binder; second, CaO could efficiently improve porosity, and the pelletizing could satisfy requirement of industrial silicon production.
Continuous Casting of a Multi-Crystalline Silicon Billet
Authors: Li Mu Yi , Hu Yan , Hao Hai
Published: November 2015

In order to improve the production efficiency, numerical simulation and experiments of continuous casting of a multi-crystalline silicon (mc-silicon) billet were carried out. Modeling works were done firstly to optimize casting recipe and predict billet cooling behaviors, a three-dimensional finite element model for the simulation of thermal field and fluid flow was built. The continuous casting of cylindrical silicon billet was studied considering different casting parameters such as withdrawal speed and heat transfer ability of mold. The simulation results indicate that lower casting speed and lower heat transfer coefficient of mold are beneficial to acquire better morphology. Experimental works were practiced lying on the modeling results, using the self-designed mc-silicon continuous casting apparatus, mc-silicon billet with a diameter of 100 mm was obtained.
Study on Transformation Plasticity Behavior of Material SUS420J2
Authors: Moromasa Masafumi , Ju Dong Ying
Published: November 2015

In this paper, in order to study the transformation plasticity behavior of steel materials in heat treatment and other heating manufacturing process, experiment and simulation of heat treatment for SUS420J2 were carried out. With the conditions of the experiments and simulation, SUS420J2 steel was heating to the austenite transformation temperature and stress is loaded when the steel rapidly cooled to the martensitic transformation start temperature. The transformation plasticity behavior and influence in the load stress of the heat treatment process are revealed.
3D Investigation of Fatigue Crack Morphology and Crack Growth of Iron-Based Materials via Synchrotron X-Ray CT
Authors: Meng Jiang Ying , Chen Min An , Liu Shuai , Zhang Fu Cheng , Qian Li He
Published: November 2015

The present paper addresses a 3D investigation of a complicated fatigue crack profile and crack growth behavior in cast Hadfield high manganese steel by in-situ X-ray computed tomography (CT) experiments. In-situ loading experiments were performed on fatigue pre-cracked samples at the X-ray beamline BL13W1 of Shanghai synchrotron radiation facility in China, and high-resolution phase contrast imaging technique was applied to obtain the 3D images. Based on the rendered 3D images at varied loading levels, various crack features and the interactions of the fatigue crack with casting pores were identified and analyzed.
Study on the Preparation and High Temperature Oxidation Resistance of Mo(Si,Al)2 Layer on the Mo Surface
Authors: Li Xue , Lu Gong Hao , Ju Dong Ying , Zhao Hong Yang , Takada Jun
Published: November 2015

A layer of Mo (Si,Al)2 was prepared on the sample surface of Mo substrate by powder coating method using Al-Si mixed powder and then diffusion reaction in argon atmosphere at 900°C. The results of oxidation resistance showed that the Mo samples coated with the Mo (Si,Al)2 layer had an excellent oxidation resistance in air even at 1200°C. The reason of oxidation resistance is the formation of a dense alumina film on the sample surface. Therefore, the further oxidization of the sample can be prevented. In addition, The formation of Mo5(Si,Al)3 layer was also observed at the interface between the Mo substrate and the Mo (Si,Al)2 layer.
Fuzzy Controller Optimized by Genetic Algorithm for the Molten Metal Level in the Twin Roll Strip Casting Process
Authors: Zhang Wen Yu , Ju Dong Ying , Zhao Hong Yang , Hu Xiao Dong , Zhang Yu Jun , Teng Wei
Published: November 2015

In the twin roll strip casting process, the control for the molten metal level is difficult owing to non-linear and time-varying of the control parameters. In the paper, on the basis of the geometry shape of the molten metal pool and the continuity of metal, the level mathematic model is built. Then a fuzzy control strategy is adopted to control the level. Moreover GA(Genetic algorithm) is used to obtain better fuzzy parameters. Simulations show the fuzzy controller optimized by GA greatly improves the control performance.
Study on the Stiffness Compensation Control Method in Twin Roll Strip Casting Process
Authors: Zhang Yu Jun , Ju Dong Ying , Zhang Weng Yu , Yao Yao , Zhao Hong Yang , Hu Xiao Dong , Teng Wei
Published: November 2015

In this paper, the stiffness compensation is used in the roll-gap controller to improve the reliability of the control system. Simulation research indicates that this method can enhance the control quality than traditional control strategy.
Fatigue Crack Growth Behavior of High Manganese Austenitic TWIP Steels
Authors: Ma Peng Hui , Qian Li He , Meng Jiang Ying , Liu Shuai , Zhang Fu Cheng
Published: November 2015

Fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of three high manganese austenitic twin-induced plasticity (TWIP) steels with different stacking fault energy (SFE) was investigated, aiming at studying the correlation between the FCG resistance and the SFE of the steels. FCG tests were performed using three-point bending specimens at room temperature at stress ratio of 0.1 under the control of stress intensity factor range. Test results showed that the fatigue threshold values of these steels decrease with increasing the SFE. However, in the Paris regime, the crack growth rates of the steels do not appear to correlate directly with SFE. These results are discussed according to the degree of fatigue crack closure and the deformation mode of crack tip zone.
Effects of Minor Additions on Ni- and Be-Free Ti-Based Bulk Glassy Alloys
Authors: Zhu Sheng Li , Xie Guo Qiang , Inoue Akihisa , Cui Zhen Duo , Yang Xian Jin , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2015

We investigated the effects of addition elements (Sn, Al, Si, Ag, Fe, Cr) with a small amount on the glass-forming ability, thermal stability and mechanical properties of the Ti-Zr-Cu-Pd glassy alloy system. The results revealed that minor Sn addition improved the glass-forming ability, thermal stability and plasticity, Si addition enlarged the supercooled liquid region, and Fe addition improved the plasticity, while minor additions of Si, Ag, Fe, and Cr lowered the glass-forming ability, and Al and Cr additions were harmful to the plasticity of the Ti-Zr-Cu-Pd glassy alloy system.
Experimental Analysis on Vapour Compression Refrigeration System Using Nanolubricant with HFC-134a Refrigerant
Authors: Manoj Babu A. , Nallusamy S. , Rajan K.
Published: November 2015

This paper investigates the reliability and performance of a refrigeration system using nanolubricant with 1, 1, 1, 2-Tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) refrigerant. Mineral Oil (MO) is mixed with nanoparticles such as Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) and Aluminium Oxide (Al2O3). These mixtures were used as the lubricant instead of Polyolester (POE) oil in the HFC-134a refrigeration system as HFC-134a does not compatible with raw mineral oil. An investigation was done on compatibility of mineral oil and nanoparticles mixture at 0.1 and 0.2 grams / litre with HFC-134a refrigerant. To carry out this investigation, an experimental setup was designed and fabricated in the lab. The refrigeration system performance with the nanolubricant was investigated by using energy consumption test. The results indicate that HFC-134a and mineral oil with above mentioned nanoparticles works normally and safely in the refrigeration system. The refrigeration system performance was better than the HFC-134a and POE oil system. Thus nanolubricant (Mixture of Mineral Oil (MO) and nanoParticles) can be used in refrigeration system to considerably reduce energy consumption and better Coefficient of Performance (COP).
MicroRNA-15b/16 Enhances the Induction of Regulatory T Cells by Regulating the Expression of Rictor and mTOR
Authors: Singh Yogesh , Garden Oliver A. , Lang Florian , Cobb Bradley S.
Published: November 2015

CD4+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are essential for controlling immune responses and preventing autoimmunity. Their development requires regulation of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs). To understand miRNA function in Treg development, we searched for important miRNAs and their relevant target genes. Of the more abundantly expressed miRNAs in Tregs, only miR-15b/16, miR-24, and miR-29a impacted the production of in vitro–induced Tregs (iTregs) in overexpression and blocking experiments. miRNA mimics for these significantly enhanced the induction of iTregs in Dicer−/− CD4+ T cells. Furthermore, the overexpression of miR-15b/16 in conventional CD4+ T cells adoptively transferred into Rag2−/− mice increased the in vivo development of peripheral Tregs and diminished the severity of autoimmune colitis. In searching for targets of miR-15b/16, we observed that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway was enhanced in Dicer−/− CD4+ T cells, and its pharmacological inhibition restored induction of iTregs. Suppression of mTOR signaling is essential for induction of iTregs from naive CD4+ T cells, and the mTORC2 component, Rictor, contained a functional target site for miR-15b/16. Rictor was more abundantly expressed in Dicer−/− T cells as was mTOR, and their expression was downregulated by the overexpression of miR-15b/16. This led to a reduction in mTOR signaling, as measured by phosphorylation of the downstream target, ribosomal protein S6. Finally, knockdown of Rictor by small interfering RNAs enhanced Treg induction in Dicer−/− CD4+ T cells. Therefore, an important mechanism of miRNA regulation of Treg development is through regulation of the mTOR signaling pathway.
FLI1 Levels Impact CXCR3 Expression and Renal Infiltration of T Cells and Renal Glycosphingolipid Metabolism in the MRL/lpr Lupus Mouse Strain
Authors: Sundararaj Kamala P. , Thiyagarajan Thirumagal , Molano Ivan , Basher Fahmin , Powers Thomas W. , Drake Richard R. , Nowling Tamara K.
Published: November 2015

The ETS factor Friend leukemia virus integration 1 (FLI1) is a key modulator of lupus disease expression. Overexpressing FLI1 in healthy mice results in the development of an autoimmune kidney disease similar to that observed in lupus. Lowering the global levels of FLI1 in two lupus strains (Fli1+/−) significantly improved kidney disease and prolonged survival. T cells from MRL/lpr Fli1+/− lupus mice have reduced activation and IL-4 production, neuraminidase 1 expression, and the levels of the glycosphingolipid lactosylceramide. In this study, we demonstrate that MRL/lpr Fli1+/− mice have significantly decreased renal neuraminidase 1 and lactosylceramide levels. This corresponds with a significant decrease in the number of total CD3+ cells, as well as CD4+ and CD44+CD62L− T cell subsets in the kidney of MRL/lpr Fli1+/− mice compared with the Fli1+/+ nephritic mice. We further demonstrate that the percentage of CXCR3+ T cells and Cxcr3 message levels in T cells are significantly decreased and correspond with a decrease in renal CXCR3+ cells and in Cxcl9 and Cxcl10 expression in the MRL/lpr Fli1+/− compared with the Fli1+/+ nephritic mice. Our results suggest that reducing the levels of FLI1 in MRL/lpr mice may be protective against development of nephritis in part through downregulation of CXCR3, reducing renal T cell infiltration and glycosphingolipid levels.
IL-17A–Producing γδ T Cells Suppress Early Control of Parasite Growth by Monocytes in the Liver
Authors: Sheel Meru , Beattie Lynette , Frame Teija C. M. , de Labastida Rivera Fabian , Faleiro Rebecca J. , Bunn Patrick T. , Montes de Oca Marcela , Edwards Chelsea L. , Ng Susanna S. , Kumar Rajiv , Amante Fiona H. , Best Shannon E. , McColl Shaun R. , Varelias Antiopi , Kuns Rachel D. , MacDonald Kelli P. A. , Smyth Mark J. , Haque Ashraful , Hill Geoff R. , Engwerda Christian R.
Published: November 2015

Intracellular infections, such as those caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania donovani, a causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL), require a potent host proinflammatory response for control. IL-17 has emerged as an important proinflammatory cytokine required for limiting growth of both extracellular and intracellular pathogens. However, there are conflicting reports on the exact roles for IL-17 during parasitic infections and limited knowledge about cellular sources and the immune pathways it modulates. We examined the role of IL-17 in an experimental model of VL caused by infection of C57BL/6 mice with L. donovani and identified an early suppressive role for IL-17 in the liver that limited control of parasite growth. IL-17–producing γδ T cells recruited to the liver in the first week of infection were the critical source of IL-17 in this model, and CCR2+ inflammatory monocytes were an important target for the suppressive effects of IL-17. Improved parasite control was independent of NO generation, but associated with maintenance of superoxide dismutase mRNA expression in the absence of IL-17 in the liver. Thus, we have identified a novel inhibitory function for IL-17 in parasitic infection, and our results demonstrate important interactions among γδ T cells, monocytes, and infected macrophages in the liver that can determine the outcome of parasitic infection.
DDX19A Senses Viral RNA and Mediates NLRP3-Dependent Inflammasome Activation
Authors: Li Jiangnan , Hu Liang , Liu Yuanyuan , Huang Li , Mu Yang , Cai Xuehui , Weng Changjiang
Published: November 2015

The NLRP3 inflammasome plays a major role in innate immune responses by activating caspase-1, resulting in secretion of IL-1β and inflammatory pathologic responses. Viral RNA can induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation. However, none of the components of NLRP3 inflammasome has the ability to bind viral RNA. Therefore, it had been proposed that there might have been some unidentified cytosolic RNA sensors that could bind viral RNA and NLRP3 to initiate NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In this study, DDX19A, a member of the DEAD/H-box protein family, was identified as a novel component of NLRP3 inflammasome using arterivirus infection as a model. We found that DDX19A interacted with viral RNA and NLRP3. Knockdown of DDX19A expression efficiently inhibited procaspase-1 cleavage and IL-1β secretion in porcine reproductive and respiration syndrome virus (PRRSV)–infected or PRRSV RNA-stimulated primary porcine alveolar macrophages. Overall, DDX19A was identified as a novel cytosolic RNA sensor that bridged PRRSV RNA and NLRP3 to activate NLRP3 inflammasome.
Foxn1 Protein Expression in the Developing, Aging, and Regenerating Thymus
Authors: Rode Immanuel , Martins Vera C. , Küblbeck Günter , Maltry Nicole , Tessmer Claudia , Rodewald Hans-Reimer
Published: November 2015

The forkhead box N1 (Foxn1) protein is the key regulator of thymic epithelial cell (TEC) development, yet how Foxn1 functions remains largely unknown. All mature TECs arise from Foxn1-expressing progenitors/immature TECs and it is widely assumed that TECs as a whole are defined by Foxn1 expression. However, data on the Foxn1 protein are virtually lacking. In this study, we developed novel tools to visualize Foxn1 protein expression at single-cell resolution. We generated Foxn1 knock-in mice expressing a C-terminal hemagglutinin-tagged Foxn1 protein, and a cytometry-grade monoclonal anti-Foxn1 Ab. We evaluated Foxn1 expression patterns in TEC subsets and its dynamics during normal thymus development, aging, injury, and regeneration. Upon challenges, upregulation of Foxn1 was a common feature of thymus regeneration, but the timing of Foxn1 expression changed and the responding TEC subsets depended on the type of treatment. Whereas dexamethasone and recombinant human fibroblast growth factor 7 promoted expansion of Foxn1+Ly51+CD80− TECs, castration led to expansion of Foxn1+Ly51−CD80+ TECs. Collectively, Foxn1 expression is highly heterogeneous in the normal thymus, with large fractions of Foxn1low or Foxn1− TECs accumulating with age. Furthermore, Foxn1 expression is responsive to perturbations.
Learning end-of-life care within a constructivist model: Undergraduate nursing students’ experiences
Authors: Van der Wath Anna E. , Du Toit Pieter H.
Published: November 2015

Background: Although nursing education aims to equip nursing students to provide care to dying patients and their families, nurses often feel ill-prepared to cope with the emotional labour involved in end-of-life care.Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore and describe nursing students’ experiences of end-of-life care through experiential learning within a constructivist educational model.Method: A qualitative, descriptive design was used. As part of introducing experiential learning, innovative educational practices were initiated during a second year level undergraduate nursing module on end-of-life care. Qualitative data on second-year nursing students’ experiences were collected through written reflections and analysed using open coding.Results: The themes that emerged revealed participants’ sensory and emotional experiences during the learning opportunities. Participants reflected on what they learnt and clarified their values related to death and dying. They indicated how they would apply the new meanings constructed in clinical practice.Conclusion: A constructivist educational model of experiential learning holds potential to enhance value clarification and nursing students’ sensory and emotional awareness of death and dying. Experiential learning is recommended to develop nursing students’ competency inproviding end-of-life care.
Diagnosis of nerve root avulsion injuries in adults with traumatic brachial plexopathies: MRI compared with CT myelography
Authors: Van der Linde Ewoudt , Naidu Vanesha , Mitha Ayesha , Rocher Antoine
Published: November 2015

Background: Computed tomography myelography (CTM) has been broadly adopted as the ‘gold standard’ imaging technique in the diagnosis of nerve root avulsion injuries in traumatic brachial plexopathies. CTM has the distinct advantage of better spatial resolution than magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, this technique is invasive and can result in significant patient discomfort. MRI, therefore, seems relatively more advantageous as it is less invasive (requires no lumbar puncture), lacks radiation exposure, has no adverse reactions related to intrathecal contrast agents and confers excellent soft-tissue contrast. Objectives: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of MRI with CTM in the diagnosis of preganglionic nerve root avulsion injuries in adults with traumatic brachial plexopathies at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital.Method: A retrospective comparative analysis was performed on 16 adult patients with traumatic preganglionic brachial plexopathies who underwent both MRI and CTM at Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital. Radiologists experienced in both CTM and MRI interpreted the data and a comparison was made using CTM as the gold standard. Results: The sensitivity and specificity for MRI detecting preganglionic nerve root avulsion injuries and pseudomeningoceles was 82% and 100% respectively. The interobserver agreement between CTM and MRI for the detection of preganglionic nerve root avulsion injuries was 81.25% (Kappa = 0.77) and 87.5% (Kappa = 0.84) for the detection of pseudomeningoceles. Conclusion: MRI was as sensitive as CTM at detecting preganglionic nerve root avulsion injuries and pseudomeningoceles of spinal nerve roots C7–T1 of the brachial plexus. Some mild discrepancies existed at the C5 and C6 nerve root levels. Owing to the invasiveness of the procedure and resultant patient discomfort, CTM should be reserved for complicated cases or for patients with contraindications to MRI.
Pitfalls and mimics: The many facets of normal paediatric thymus
Authors: Khan Nausheen , Thebe Dimakatso C. , Suleman Farhanah , Van de Werke Irma
Published: November 2015

The thymus is a lymphatic organ that was often thought of as an organ of mystery by the ancientGreeks. A soft, pliable lymphatic organ positioned in the anterior superior mediastinum, itdoes not compress or displace the adjacent structures. It is disproportionately larger in thepaediatric population and then gradually regresses to ‘hide’ in the mediastinum as the childadvances into puberty. It regresses in size under conditions of stress and may be absent invarious congenital abnormalities such as DiGeorge syndrome and conditions of stress. Thethymus appears in a variety of shapes and sizes on a paediatric chest radiograph and at timesmay be misinterpreted as pathology. This article describes the normal thymus as it appears onpaediatric radiography, and addresses mimickers.
Field, discipline, and profession: Understanding three major labels of emergency management
Authors: Urby, PhD, JD Heriberto , McEntire, PhD David A.
Published: November 2015

The “field,” “discipline,” and “profession”—three major labels of emergency management—have often been interchanged as if any of these define the others. In this work, the authors examine these major labels to provide meaning, explanation, and application to each one based on the emergency management literature currently available. The authors accomplish this by the following: 1) defining and describing the established field's progression through the years; 2) examining how close we are to a discipline in today's emergency management arena; 3) discussing the advancement to becoming a profession; and 4) providing recommendations for the future. Clarifying these three major labels, the development of the field into a formidable and mature discipline as well as a distinguished and noble profession may be hastened.
Rodent-borne infectious disease outbreaks after flooding disasters: Epidemiology, management, and prevention
Authors: Diaz, MD, DrPH James H.
Published: November 2015

Objective: To alert clinicians to the climatic conditions that can precipitate outbreaks of the rodent-borne infectious diseases most often associated with flooding disasters, leptospirosis (LS), and the Hantavirus-caused diseases, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS); to describe the epidemiology and presenting clinical manifestations and outcomes of these rodent-borne infectious diseases; and to recommend both prophylactic therapies and effective control and prevention strategies for rodent-borne infectious diseases.Design: Internet search engines, including Google®, Google Scholar®, Pub Med, Medline, and Ovid, were queried with the key words as search terms to examine the latest scientific articles on rodent-borne infectious disease outbreaks in the United States and worldwide to describe the epidemiology and presenting clinical manifestations and outcomes of LS and Hantavirus outbreaks.Setting: Not applicable.Participants: Not applicable.Interventions: Not applicable.Main outcome measure: Rodent-borne infectious disease outbreaks following heavy rainfall and flooding disasters.Results: Heavy rainfall encourages excessive wild grass seed production that supports increased outdoor rodent population densities; and flooding forces rodents from their burrows near water sources into the built environment and closer to humans. Conclusions: Healthcare providers should maintain high levels of suspicion for LS in patients developing febrile illnesses after contaminated freshwater exposures following heavy rainfall, flooding, and evenfreshwater recreational events; and for Hantavirus-caused infectious diseases in patients with hemorrhagic fevers that progress rapidly to respiratory or renal failure following rodent exposures.
Opioid rotation: A case example using methadone in spinal cord injury
Authors: Pawasauskas, PharmD, BCPS Jayne
Published: November 2015

Opioid rotation is a practice used when patients with chronic pain have insufficient analgesia, experience unwanted opioid-related adverse reactions, or other pharmacologic challenges with their current opioid. Methadone is an opioid with unique pharmacological properties, which render it clinically distinct from other opioids. The drug's potential clinical benefits in treating nociceptive and neuropathic pain are coupled with risks of serious, life-threatening adverse reactions. Its unique pharmacokinetic profile contributes added complexity; therefore, clinicians should be experienced with its dosing and monitoring. This report discusses the successful use of methadone during opioid rotation for chronic pain secondary to spinal cord injury.
Furosemide as a potential unintended urine drug screen confounder during methadone maintenance treatment
Authors: Bauer, PharmD Rachel L. , Geminn, PharmD Wesley L. , Carter, PharmD Jason A.
Published: November 2015

Patients receiving chronic methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) for addiction are closely monitored for signs of relapse. Urine drug screen (UDS) comprises a major component of ongoing patient assessment. As patients continue with MMT, developing medical conditions may necessitate addition of medications that interfere with UDS. Although widely accepted as masking agents, little guidance is available regarding management of patients receiving MMT with legitimate medical need for diuretics. The following describes a case in which furosemide clinically interfered with UDS interpretation for a patient receiving MMT. Potential management strategies are also discussed.
Impacts of Amazonia biomass burning aerosols assessed from short-range weather forecasts
Authors: Kolusu S. R. , Marsham J. H. , Mulcahy J. , Johnson B. , Dunning C. , Bush M. , Spracklen D. V.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The direct radiative impacts of biomass burning aerosols (BBA) on meteorology are investigated using short-range forecasts from the Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) over South America during the South American Biomass Burning Analysis (SAMBBA). The impacts are evaluated using a set of three simulations: (i) no aerosols, (ii) with monthly mean aerosol climatologies and (iii) with prognostic aerosols modelled using the Coupled Large-scale Aerosol Simulator for Studies In Climate (CLASSIC) scheme. Comparison with observations show that the prognostic CLASSIC scheme provides the best representation of BBA. The impacts of BBA are quantified over central and southern Amazonia from the first and second day of 2-day forecasts during 14 September–3 October 2012. On average, during the first day of the forecast, including prognostic BBA reduces the clear-sky net radiation at the surface by 15 ± 1 W m−2 and reduces net top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiation by 8 ± 1 W m−2, with a direct atmospheric warming of 7 ± 1 W m−2. BBA-induced reductions in all-sky radiation are smaller in magnitude: 9.0 ± 1 W m−2 at the surface and 4.0 ± 1 W m−2 at TOA. In this modelling study the BBA therefore exert an overall cooling influence on the Earth–atmosphere system, although some levels of the atmosphere are directly warmed by the absorption of solar radiation. Due to the reduction of net radiative flux at the surface, the mean 2 m air temperature is reduced by around 0.1 ± 0.02 °C. The BBA also cools the boundary layer (BL) but warms air above by around 0.2 °C due to the absorption of shortwave radiation. The overall impact is to reduce the BL depth by around 19 ± 8 m. These differences in heating lead to a more anticyclonic circulation at 700 hPa, with winds changing by around 0.6 m s−1. Inclusion of climatological or prognostic BBA in the MetUM makes a small but significant improvement in forecasts of temperature and relative humidity, but improvements were small compare with model error and the relative increase in forecast skill from the prognostic aerosol simulation over the aerosol climatology was also small. Locally, on a 150 km scale, changes in precipitation reach around 4 mm day−1 due to changes in the location of convection. Over Amazonia, including BBA in the simulation led to fewer rain events that were more intense. This change may be linked to the BBA changing the vertical profile of stability in the lower atmosphere. The localised changes in rainfall tend to average out to give a 5 % (0.06 mm day−1) decrease in total precipitation over the Amazonian region (except on day 2 with prognostic BBA). The change in water budget from BBA is, however, dominated by decreased evapotranspiration from the reduced net surface fluxes (0.2 to 0.3 mm day−1), since this term is larger than the corresponding changes in precipitation and water vapour convergence.
Atmospheric methane evolution the last 40 years
Authors: Dalsøren S. B. , Myhre C. L. , Myhre G. , Gomez-Pelaez A. J. , Søvde O. A. , Isaksen I. S. A. , Weiss R. F. , Harth C. M.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Observations at surface sites show an increase in global mean surface methane (CH4) of about 180 parts per billion (ppb) (above 10 %) over the period 1984–2012. Over this period there are large fluctuations in the annual growth rate. In this work, we investigate the atmospheric CH4 evolution over the period 1970–2012 with the Oslo CTM3 global Chemical Transport Model (CTM) in a bottom-up approach. We thoroughly assess data from surface measurement sites in international networks and select a subset suited for comparisons with the output from the CTM. We compare model results and observations to understand causes both for long-term trends and short-term variations. Employing the Oslo CTM3 model we are able to reproduce the seasonal and year to year variations and shifts between years with consecutive growth and stagnation, both at global and regional scales. The overall CH4 trend over the period is reproduced, but for some periods the model fails to reproduce the strength of the growth. The observed growth after 2006 is overestimated by the model in all regions. This seems to be explained by a too strong increase in anthropogenic emissions in Asia, having global impact. Our findings confirm other studies questioning the timing or strength of the emission changes in Asia in the EDGAR v4.2 emission inventory over the last decades. The evolution of CH4 is not only controlled by changes in sources, but also by changes in the chemical loss in the atmosphere and soil uptake. We model a large growth in atmospheric oxidation capacity over the period 1970–2012. In our simulations, the CH4 lifetime decreases by more than 8 % from 1970 to 2012, a significant shortening of the residence time of this important greenhouse gas. This results in substantial growth in the chemical CH4 loss (relative to its burden) and dampens the CH4 growth. The change in atmospheric oxidation capacity is driven by complex interactions between a number of chemical components and meteorological factors. In our analysis, we are able to detach the key factors and provide simple prognostic equations for the relations between these and the atmospheric CH4 lifetime.
Contribution of ship emissions to the concentration and deposition of air pollutants in Europe
Authors: Aksoyoglu S. , Prévôt A. S. H. , Baltensperger U.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Emissions from the marine transport sector are one of the least regulated anthropogenic emission sources and contribute significantly to air pollution. Although strict limits were introduced recently for the maximum sulfur content in marine fuels in the SECAs (sulfur emission control areas) and in the EU ports, sulfur emissions outside the SECAs and emissions of other components in all European maritime areas have continued to increase in the last two decades. We have used the air quality model CAMx with and without ship emissions for the year 2006 to determine the effects of international shipping on the annual as well as seasonal concentrations of ozone, primary and secondary components of PM2.5 and the dry and wet deposition of nitrogen and sulfur compounds in Europe. Our results suggest that emissions from international shipping affect the air quality in northern and southern Europe differently and their contributions to the air concentrations vary seasonally. The largest changes in pollutant concentrations due to ship emissions were predicted for summer. Increased concentrations of the primary particle mass were found only along the shipping routes whereas concentrations of the secondary pollutants were affected over a larger area. Concentrations of particulate sulfate increased due to ship emissions in the Mediterranean (up to 60 %), in the English Channel and the North Sea (30–35 %) while increases in particulate nitrate levels were found especially in the north, around the Benelux area (20 %) where there were high NH3 land-based emissions. Our model results showed that not only the atmospheric concentrations of pollutants are affected by ship emissions, but also depositions of nitrogen and sulfur compounds increase significantly along the shipping routes. NOx emissions from the ships especially in the English Channel and the North Sea, cause a decrease in the dry deposition of reduced nitrogen at source regions by moving it from the gas-phase to the particle phase which then contributes to an increase in the wet deposition at coastal areas with higher precipitation. In the western Mediterranean region on the other hand, model results show an increase in the deposition of oxidized nitrogen (mostly HNO3) due to the ship traffic. Dry deposition of SO2 seems to be significant along the shipping routes whereas sulfate wet deposition occurs mainly along the Scandinavian and Adriatic coasts. The results presented in this paper suggest that evolution of NOx emissions from ships and land-based NH3 emissions will play a significant role in the future European air quality.
Evaluation of methods for gravity wave extraction from middle-atmospheric lidar temperature measurements
Authors: Ehard B. , Kaifler B. , Kaifler N. , Rapp M.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. This study evaluates commonly used methods of extracting gravity-wave-induced temperature perturbations from lidar measurements. The spectral response of these methods is characterized with the help of a synthetic data set with known temperature perturbations added to a realistic background temperature profile. The simulations are carried out with the background temperature being either constant or varying in time to evaluate the sensitivity to temperature perturbations not caused by gravity waves. The different methods are applied to lidar measurements over New Zealand, and the performance of the algorithms is evaluated. We find that the Butterworth filter performs best if gravity waves over a wide range of periods are to be extracted from lidar temperature measurements. The running mean method gives good results if only gravity waves with short periods are to be analyzed.
An automated cloud detection method based on the green channel of total-sky visible images
Authors: Yang J. , Min Q. , Lu W. , Yao W. , Ma Y. , Du J. , Lu T. , Liu G.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. Obtaining an accurate cloud-cover state is a challenging task. In the past, traditional two-dimensional red-to-blue band methods have been widely used for cloud detection in total-sky images. By analyzing the imaging principle of cameras, the green channel has been selected to replace the 2-D red-to-blue band for detecting cloud pixels from partly cloudy total-sky images in this study. The brightness distribution in a total-sky image is usually nonuniform, because of forward scattering and Mie scattering of aerosols, which results in increased detection errors in the circumsolar and near-horizon regions. This paper proposes an automatic cloud detection algorithm, "green channel background subtraction adaptive threshold" (GBSAT), which incorporates channel selection, background simulation, computation of solar mask and cloud mask, subtraction, an adaptive threshold, and binarization. Five experimental cases show that the GBSAT algorithm produces more accurate retrieval results for all these test total-sky images.
Microbial carbon recycling: an underestimated process controlling soil carbon dynamics – Part 2: A C3-C4 vegetation change field labelling experiment
Authors: Basler A. , Dippold M. , Helfrich M. , Dyckmans J.
Published: November 2015

Abstract. The mean residence times (MRT) of different compound classes of soil organic matter (SOM) do not match their inherent recalcitrance to decomposition. One reason for this is the stabilization within the soil matrix, but recycling, i.e. the reuse of "old" organic material to form new biomass may also play a role as it uncouples the residence times of organic matter from the lifetime of discrete molecules in soil. We analysed soil sugar dynamics in a natural 30-year old labelling experiment after a wheat-maize vegetation change to determine the extent of recycling and stabilization by assessing differences in turnover dynamics between plant and microbial-derived sugars: while plant-derived sugars are only affected by stabilization processes, microbial sugars may be subject to both, stabilization and recycling. To disentangle the dynamics of soil sugars, we separated different density fractions (free particulate organic matter (fPOM), light occluded particulate organic matter (≤ 1.6 g cm−3; oPOM1.6), dense occluded particulate organic matter (≤ 2 g cm−3; oPOM2) and mineral-associated organic matter (> 2 g cm−3; mineral)) of a silty loam under long-term wheat and maize cultivation. The isotopic signature of neutral sugars was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry (HPLC/IRMS), after hydrolysis with 4 M Trifluoroacetic acid. While apparent MRT of sugars were comparable to total organic carbon in the bulk soil and mineral fraction, the apparent MRT of sugar carbon in the oPOM fractions were considerably lower than those of the total carbon of these fractions. This indicates that oPOM formation was fuelled by microbial activity feeding on new plant input. In the bulk soil, MRT of the mainly plant-derived xylose were significantly lower than those of mainly microbial-derived sugars like galactose, rhamnose, fucose, indicating that recycling of organic matter is an important factor regulating organic matter dynamics in soil.