bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bone tumor mimickers: A pictorial essay
Authors: Mhuircheartaigh Jennifer Ni , Lin Yu-Ching , Wu Jim S
Published: July 2014

Focal lesions in bone are very common and many of these lesions are not bone tumors. These bone tumor mimickers can include numerous normal anatomic variants and non-neoplastic processes. Many of these tumor mimickers can be left alone, while others can be due to a significant disease process. It is important for the radiologist and clinician to be aware of these bone tumor mimickers and understand the characteristic features which allow discrimination between them and true neoplasms in order to avoid unnecessary additional workup. Knowing which lesions to leave alone or which ones require workup can prevent misdiagnosis and reduce patient anxiety.
Seronegative spondyloarthropathy-related sacroiliitis: CT, MRI features and differentials
Authors: Prakash Daya , Prabhu Shailesh M , Irodi Aparna
Published: July 2014

Seronegative spondyloarthropathy is a group of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases that predominantly affect the axial skeleton. Involvement of sacroiliac joint is considered a hallmark for diagnosis of seronegative spondyloarthropathy and is usually the first manifestation of this condition. It is essential for the radiologist to know the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of spondyloarthropathy-related sacroiliitis as imaging plays an important role in diagnosis and evaluation of response to treatment. We present a pictorial essay of CT and MRI imaging findings in seronegative spondyloarthropathy-related sacroiliitis in various stages and highlight common differentials that need to be considered.
Bone Scanning in the Adductor Insertion Avulsion Syndrome
Authors: Mahajan Madhuri
Published: July 2014

A thigh splint (adductor insertion avulsion syndrome) is a relatively uncommon diagnosis analogous to shin splints. This article reports a 19-year-old female patient NOT a regular athlete who presented with groin pain. Physical examination was non-specific; magnetic resonance imaging pelvis did not reveal any abnormality. Patient referred for whole body bone scan, especially to locate any abnormality in the spine. This study highlights the role of whole body bone scan in the evaluation of groin pain and importance of evaluation of whole lower extremity.
On an extension of Knuth’s rotation correspondence to reduced planar trees
Authors: Ebrahimi-Fard Kurusch , Manchon Dominique
Published: July 2014

We present a bijection from planar reduced trees to planar rooted hypertrees, which extends Knuth's rotation correspondence between planar binary trees and planar rooted trees. The operadic counterpart of the new bijection is explained. Related to this, the space of planar reduced forests is endowed with a combinatorial Hopf algebra structure. The corresponding structure on the space of planar rooted hyperforests is also described.
Dixmier traces generated by exponentiation invariant generalised limits
Authors: Sukochev Fedor , Usachev Alexandr , Zanin Dmitriy
Published: July 2014

We define a new class of singular positive traces on the ideal

\mathcal{M}_{1,\infty}

of

B(H)

generated by exponentiation invariant generalized limits. We prove that this new class is strictly contained in the class of all Dixmier traces. We also prove a Lidskii-type formula for this class of traces.
Thermodynamic semirings
Authors: Marcolli Matilde , Thorngren Ryan
Published: July 2014

The Witt construction describes a functor from the category of Rings to the category of characteristic 0 rings. It is uniquely determined by a few associativity constraints which do not depend on the types of the variables considered, in other words, by integer polynomials. This universality allowed Alain Connes and Caterina Consani to devise an analogue of the Witt ring for characteristic one, an attractive endeavour since we know very little about the arithmetic in this exotic characteristic and its corresponding field with one element. Interestingly, they found that in characteristic one, the Witt construction depends critically on the Shannon entropy. In the current work, we examine this surprising occurrence, defining a Witt operad for an arbitrary information measure and a corresponding algebra we call a thermodynamic semiring. This object exhibits algebraically many of the familiar properties of information measures, and we examine in particular the Tsallis and Renyi entropy functions and applications to non-extensive thermodynamics and multifractals. We find that the arithmetic of the thermodynamic semiring is exactly that of a certain guessing game played using the given information measure.
$L^2$-index formula for proper cocompact group actions
Authors: Wang Hang
Published: July 2014

We study index theory of

G

-invariant elliptic pseudo-differential operators acting on a complete Riemannian manifold, where a unimodular, locally compact group

G

acts properly, cocompactly and isometrically. An

L^2

-index formula is obtained using the heat kernel method.
Quantum gauge symmetries in noncommutative geometry
Authors: Bhowmick Jyotishman , D'Andrea Francesco , Das Biswarup , Dąbrowski Ludwik
Published: July 2014

We discuss generalizations of the notion of i) the group of unitary elements of a (real or complex) finite-dimensional C*-algebra, ii) gauge transformations and iii) (real) automorphisms in the framework of compact quantum group theory and spectral triples. The quantum analogue of these groups are defined as universal (initial) objects in some natural categories. After proving the existence of the universal objects, we discuss several examples that are of interest to physics, as they appear in the noncommutative geometry approach to particle physics: in particular, the C*-algebras

M_n(\mathbb{R})

,

M_n(\mathbb{C})

and

M_n(\mathbb{H})

, describing the finite noncommutative space of the Einstein–Yang–Mills systems, and the algebras

\mathcal{A}_F=\mathbb{C}\oplus \mathbb{H} \oplus M_3(\mathbb{C})

and

\mathcal{A}^{\mathrm{ev}}=\mathbb{H}\oplus \mathbb{H} \oplus M_4(\mathbb{C})

, that appear in Chamseddine–Connes derivation of the Standard Model of particle physics coupled to gravity. As a byproduct, we identify a “free” version of the symplectic group

\operatorname{Sp}(n)

(quaternionic unitary group).
Coupling of gravity to matter, spectral action and cosmic topology
Authors: Ćaćić Branimir , Marcolli Matilde , Teh Kevin
Published: July 2014

We consider a model of modified gravity based on the spectral action functional, for a cosmic topology given by a spherical space form, and the associated slow-roll inflation scenario. We consider then the coupling of gravity to matter determined by an almost-commutative geometry over the spherical space form. We show that this produces a multiplicative shift of the amplitude of the power spectra for the density fluctuations and the gravitational waves, by a multiplicative factor equal to the total number of fermions in the matter sector of the model. We obtain the result by an explicit nonperturbative computation, based on the Poisson summation formula and the spectra of twisted Dirac operators on spherical space forms, as well as, for more general spacetime manifolds, using a heat kernel computation.
The space of Penrose tilings and the noncommutative curve with homogeneous coordinate ring $k\langle x,y\rangle /(y^2)$
Authors: Smith S. Paul
Published: July 2014

It is shown that the noncommutative algebraic curve with homogeneous coordinate ring

\mathbb{C}\langle x,y\rangle/(y^2)

is a noncommutative algebraic-geometric analogue of the space of Penrose tilings of the plane. Individual tilings determine “points” on the noncommutative curve and the tilings coincide under isometry if and only if the skyscraper sheaves of the corresponding points are isomorphic. The category of quasi-coherent sheaves on the curve is equivalent to the category of modules over a von Neumann regular ring that is a direct limit of finite dimensional semisimple algebras. The norm closure of this von Neumann regular ring is the AF-algebra that Connes associates to the space of Penrose tilings. There is an algebraic analogue of the fact that every isometry-invariant subset of tilings is dense in the set of all Penrose tilings.
Twisted Calabi–Yau property of Ore extensions
Authors: Liu Liyu , Wang Shengqiang , Wu Quanshui
Published: July 2014

Suppose that

E=A[x;\sigma,\delta]

is an Ore extension with

\sigma

an automorphism. It is proved that if

A

is twisted Calabi–Yau of dimension

d

, then

E

is twisted Calabi–Yau of dimension

d+1

. The relation between their Nakayama automorphisms is also studied. As an application, the Nakayama automorphisms of a class of 5-dimensional Artin–Schelter regular algebras are given explicitly.
Inhibition of Metallic Corrosion in Aqueous Media★—A Review
Authors: GATOS HARRY C.
Published: July 2014

A brief discussion of corrosion processes from the electrochemical standpoint is given along with some of the electrochemical factors affecting corrosion. Organic and inorganic inhibitors are discussed separately and the mechanisms proposed for explaining their action as polarizers of the local corrosion cells are reviewed. Several experimental approaches to the study of corrosion inhibitors are given. In this connection a number of inhibitors are listed and their applications given.
Behavior of 18-8 Stainless SteelIn 2 Normal Boiling Nitric and Sulfuric Acid Mixtures★
Authors: KRYSTOW P. E. , BALICKI M.
Published: July 2014

The austenitic stainless steels when exposed to a range of boiling 2 Normal sulfuric-nitric acid solutions pass through a passive zone of negligible corrosion, a transition zone of irregular corrosion and two active zones of substantial corrosion. The corrosion rates in the passive and active zones were as anticipated while the rates in the transition zone were entirely unexpected. A plot of the corrosion rates in the transition zone revealed an unusual hump in the curve whose maximum occurred at a critical concentration.

From spectrographic analyses the corrosion rates or iron, chromium and nickel also were determined. A plot of these rates indicated that the hump in the transition zone of the corrosion curve was attributed to excessive corrosion of chromium in this zone. The percentage of the total corrosion attributable to iron was extremely high and above 99 percent in all the mixed acid solutions. In the transition zone there was an increase of chromium and nickel corrosion with a corresponding decrease of iron corrosion. 6.2.5
Analysis of Corrosion Pitting by Extreme-Value Statistics And Its Application to Oil Well Tubing Caliper Surveys★
Authors: ELDREDGE G. G.
Published: July 2014

A detailed account is given of how extreme-value statistics can be applied to the analysis of depths of corrosion pits. Particular attention is given in this connection to pitting in oil well tubing as measured by caliper surveys. It is shown how pit depth data may be sampled and abstracted to give predictions of the expectation of deep pits and of perforation. The methods are illustrated by evaluation of the effect on pit depths of certain factors (i.e., upset ends and depth in well).

A special graphical method has been developed for analysis of tubing caliper surveys and related pit depth surveys; this is known as the Pit Depth Rank Chart. Detailed directions are given for its use. This chart takes into account the normal occurrence of the deepest attack toward the top of the tubing strings, but is also suitable if this does not occur. 2.1.1
A Coating Evaluation Testing Program★
Authors: ALLEN E. R.
Published: July 2014

A program to test and evaluate external pipeline coatings is described. When this program was started ten years ago, many methods and procedures then in use did not give all of the information desired. Field burial tests are lengthly and because of the variable conditions which govern results can neither be controlled nor evaluated with any precision. Only laboratory type tests are suitable for a closely controlled system of coating evaluation. Laboratory results must be correlated with field service performance.

This test program was in three phases: First, laboratory procedures and apparatus were developed. Second, commonly used coatings were tested ana laboratory results correlated with field performance data. Third, new materials were tested and their performance compared with coatings in common use.

Laboratory and field test procedures and apparatus are described. A discussion on the application of test data to selection of pipeline coatings is included. 2.1.2
The Mechanism of Stress Corrosion Of Austenitic Stainless Steels In Hot Aqueous Chloride Solutions★
Authors: LEU K. W. , HELLE J. N.
Published: July 2014

An investigation into the mechanism of transcrystalline stress corrosion of austenitic stainless steels (18 Cr/8 Ni and 25 Cr/20 Ni) in hot aqueous chloride solutions has shown that this phenomenon must be described as being a process alternating between corrosion and mechanical cracking. Only sharp-edged pits formed by a specific corrosive attack initiate and propagate the mechanical cracking. These pits act as stress raisers; the conditions for notch brittleness of the materials involved are produced, so that mechanical cracking occurs, which is of a brittle nature.

At high stresses small pits occurring either at the slip bands or at the grain boundaries may cause cracking, whereas at low applied stresses, only longish pits formed at the slip bands initiate it.

The investigation proves that the initial corrosive attack is dependent primarily on the mechanical and chemical behavior of the passivating film already present on the steel or formed during exposure to the corrosive medium, and only to a minor extent on the structure of the metal itself.

If the type of initial corrosive attack is changed by comparatively small alterations in the composition of the corrosive medium, stress corrosion is either prevented or accelerated. Tests illustrating this observation are discussed. 3.5.8
Development of the Redox Probe Field Technique★
Authors: COSTANZO F. E. , McVEY R. E.
Published: July 2014

A description is given of a field technique developed to obtain oxidation-reduction potentials of soils through the use of a probe. The results of all tests with this probe indicate that redox potential can be an extremely useful tool for corrosion engineers. The instrument is rugged enough for use in the field but sensitive enough to find even small indications of bacterial corrosion.

A comparison is made between redox data and the following items: (1) Pipe-to-CuSO4 profile study, (2) Four-point soil resistance survey, (3) pH readings, (4) Earth current readings, and (5) Seasonal variation. 2.4.2
Corrosion of Steel Weldments
Authors: MacEWAN J. U. , YATES H. H.
Published: July 2014

Forty-six different steel weldments were subjected to 12 months' alternate immersion in 3 percent sodium chloride solution. Weight loss was more dependent on the type of steel than the nature of the weld, but severity of corrosion in the weld region was affected by both factors. Apparatus was constructed to measure short circuit current between exposed surfaces of parent metal and weld metal. Rapid fluctuations in this current made precise determinations difficult, but average values were reproducible if a set conditioning procedure was used prior to measurement. Variations in current with sodium chloride concentration and with oxygen content of a gas mixture bubbled into the solution were determined, and the activation energy in a 3 percent sodium chloride solution increased from 4 to 6 kcal/mole as the oxygen content of the gas mixture decreased from 100 to 20 percent. 3.7.3
Observations on the Mechanisms and Kinetics of Aqueous Aluminum Corrosion (Part 2—Kinetics of Aqueous Aluminum Corrosion)
Authors: DILLON R. L.
Published: July 2014

The corrosion of Al in high temperature deionized water in the range 100 to 363 C has been studied as a kinetic process. The observations described in the report coupled with lower temperature data taken from the literature indicate aluminum corrosion successively has a logarithmic, a parabolic and a linear dependence on time as the temperature increases. The temperature dependence for parabolic and linear processes have been determined. Certain similarities between air and water oxidation are pointed out and discussed. The effect of alloying additions has been considered and found to be negligible for the parabolic process, but important in the linear oxidation process. 3.8.4
High Temperature Metal Deterioration In Atmospheres Containing Carbon-Monoxide and Hydrogen★
Authors: HOYT W. B. , CAUGHEY R. H.
Published: July 2014

Carbon steel and stainless steel equipment exposed to gas mixtures rich in hydrogen and carbon-monoxide at temperatures from 800 to 1200 F have been attacked with resulting loss of metal. Conditions under which this attack has been observed in a coal-to-oil synthesis plant and the nature of metal deterioration are described, Mechanism of this type attack is not fully understood although a possible gas-metal reaction is postulated. 3.2.2
An Electrochemical Study Of Aluminum And Aluminum Alloys
Authors: KHAIRY E. M. , HUSSEIN M. KAMAL
Published: July 2014

Studies of the static electrode potentials of the R, Duralumin, M 22, DK and S 2 aluminum base alloys show that these alloys have the same behavior as pure metal in buffer solutions initially free from metal ions within the pH range 1 to 8. The repetitive oscillographic method was used to examine the corrosive action of chloride ions on the anodic behavior of the alloys studied. Oscillograms are presented to show the potentials of the alloys in various pH ranges. Composition of the buffer solutions at various pH levels are given in tables. 6.4.2
Principles and Criteria for Cathodic Protection Of Steel in Sea Water—A Review★
Authors: PETERSON M. H.
Published: July 2014

Development of cathodic protection is traced from the initial work of Davy to the formation of an adequate theory of cathodic protection. Techniques used in experimental determination of criteria for protection in laboratory and in field are given with the advantages and limitations of each. Reference list includes 84 items. 5.2.4
Recommended Screening and Preventive Practices for Long-Term Survivors after Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation
Authors: Majhail Navneet S. , Rizzo J. Douglas , Lee Stephanie J. , Aljurf Mahmoud , Atsuta Yoshiko , Bonfim Carmem , Burns Linda J. , Chaudhri Naeem , Davies Stella , Okamoto Shinichiro , Seber Adriana , Socie Gerard , Szer Jeff , Van Lint Maria Teresa , Wingard John R , Tichelli Andre
Published: July 2014

Advances in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) technology and supportive care techniques have led to improvements in long-term survival after HCT. Emerging indications for transplantation, introduction of newer graft sources (eg, umbilical cord blood) and transplantation of older patients using less intense conditioning regimens have also contributed to an increase in the number of HCT survivors. These survivors are at risk for developing late complications secondary to pre-, peri-, and posttransplantation exposures and risk factors. Guidelines for screening and preventive practices for HCT survivors were published in 2006. An international group of transplantation experts was convened in 2011 to review contemporary literature and update the recommendations while considering the changing practice of transplantation and international applicability of these guidelines. This review provides the updated recommendations for screening and preventive practices for pediatric and adult survivors of autologous and allogeneic HCT.
A randomized trial of brief treatment of earlystage Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Hamed Rasha Hamdy , Anter Abeer Hussein , Awad Ibrahim Aly
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Whether it is possible to reduce the intensity of treatment in early (stage I or II) Hodgkin lymphoma with a favorable prognosis remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted this randomized trial, comparing two treatment groups consisting of a combination chemotherapy regimen of two different intensities followed by involved-field radiation therapy at two different dose levels.

DESIGN AND SETTING:

Prospective, randomized, in patients referred to the Department of Clinical oncology and Nuclear Medicine.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Ninety-eight patients with histologically proven early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma with a favorable prognosis were enrolled in this study between January 2008 and June 2010. They were randomly assigned in one of two treatment arms: arm I received four cycles of ABVD (Adriamycin, belomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) followed by 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy; arm II received two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy.

RESULTS:

During the follow-up period, the 2-year relapse free survival rates were 96% and 95% in arm I and arm II, respectively(P=.8), while the 2-year overall survival rates were 98% and 95% in arm I and arm II, respectively (P=.16). acute toxicity affected 54% of patients treated with four cycles of ABVD, who had grade III or IV toxicity, as compared with 30% of those receiving two cycles (P<.02). the rates of acute toxicity (grade III or IV) were also higher among patients treated with 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy than among those receiving 20 Gy (16% vs. 2.5%, P<.03).

CONCLUSION:

In patients with early-stage Hodgkin lymphoma and a favorable prognosis, treatment with two cycles of ABVD followed by 20 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy was as effective as, and less toxic than, four cycles of ABVD followed by 30 Gy of involved-field radiation therapy.
A phase 2 study of the combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracyclines with/ without taxanes
Authors: Kohail Hanna , Shehata Samir , Mansour Omar , Gouda Youssri , Gaafar Rabbab , Hamid Thoraya Abdel , Nowieam Saiid El , Khodary Ahmed Al , Zawahry Heba El , Wareth Ahmed Abdel , Halim Iman Abdel , Taleb Fouad Abou , Hamada Emad , Barsoum Mohsen , Abdullah Mohamed , Meshref Mohamed
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Many patients with relapsed metastatic breast cancer are pre-treated with taxanes and anthracyclines, which are usually given in the neoadjuvant/adjuvant setting or as first-line treatment for metastatic disease. The primary objective of this study was to determine the overall response rate for combination treatment with gemcitabine and cisplatin in patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer who had relapsed after receiving one adjuvant/neoadjuvant or first-line metastatic chemotherapy regimen containing an anthracycline with/without a taxane. secondary endpoints included duration of response, time to progression, one-year survival probability, and toxicity.

DESIGN AND SETTING:

A single-arm, open-label, phase 2 study conducted at 17 investigative sites in Egypt.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Treatment consisted of gemcitabine (1250 mg/m2) on Days 1 and 8 and cisplatin (70 mg/m2) on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression or a maximum of 6 cycles.

RESULTS:

Of 1 44 patients all were evaluable for safety and 132 patients were evaluable for efficacy. The overall response rate was 33.3% and 45.5% of the patients with stable disease as their best response. The median time to progression was 5.1 months and the one-year survival probability was 73%. The most common grade 3/4 adverse events were nausea/vomiting (20.1%), neutropenia (19.4%), anemia (13.9%), asthenia (11.1%), diarrhea (9.7%), stomatitis (7.6%), leucopenia (7.6%), and thrombocytopenia (6.2%). twelve (8.3%) patients had serious adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS:

The results of this study indicate that gemcitabine and cisplatin were active and generally well tolerated in pretreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
A simplified method for autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma
Authors: Bekadja Mohamed-Amine , Brahimi Mohamed , Osmani Soufi , Arabi Abdessamed , Bouhass Rachid , Yafour Nabil , Entasoltan Badra , Rasheed Walid , Attaf Fadela
Published: July 2014

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of non-cryopreserved storage of autologous hematopoietic stem cells with no post-transplant granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) support in adult patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) for multiple myeloma (MM).

DESIGN AND SETTING:

Retrospective review of patients undergoing ASCT from May 2009 to July 2011.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Autologous stem cell were mobilized using G-CSF. Leukapheresis to harvest stem cells was performed on day -2 and -1. The grafts were kept in a conventional blood bank refrigerator at 4°C until reinfusion on day 0. The conditioning regimen consisted of melphalan 200 mg/m2 in all patients. The postchemotherapy myeloablative phase was managed without growth factors.

RESULTS:

Between May 2009 to July 2011, 54 adults with MM were treated in our center in oran. The median age at ASCT was 55 years (range, 35-65). There were 37 males and 17 females. the median harvested CD34+ cell count was 3.60×106/kg (range, 1.90 to 10.52). All patients had neutrophil engraftment on the median of day 10 (range, 6-17) and platelet transfusion independence on the median of day 13 (range 9-24). In the 47 evaluable patients the median post-transplant overall survival had not been reached; the estimated overall survival at 30 months was 93.8% (0.05%), and the estimated disease-free survival at 27 months was 93.6% (0.05%).

CONCLUSION:

High -dose chemotherapy and ASCT using non-cryopreserved stem cells and no G-CSF support is safe and feasible in the treatment of MM under our work conditions in developing countries.
Uptake of HO2 radicals onto Arizona test dust particles using an aerosol flow tube
Authors: Matthews P. S. J. , Baeza-Romero M. T. , Whalley L. K. , Heard D. E.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. Uptake coefficients for HO2 radicals onto Arizona test dust (ATD) aerosols were measured at room temperature and atmospheric pressure using an aerosol flow tube and the sensitive fluorescence assay by gas expansion (FAGE) technique, enabling HO2 concentrations in the range 3–10 × 108 molecule cm−3 to be investigated. The uptake coefficients were measured as 0.031 ± 0.008 and 0.018 ± 0.006 for the lower and higher HO2 concentrations, respectively, over a range of relative humidities (5–76%). A time dependence for the HO2 uptake onto the ATD aerosols was observed, with larger uptake coefficients observed at shorter reaction times. The combination of time and HO2 concentration dependencies suggest either the partial saturation of the dust surface or that a chemical component of the dust is partially consumed whilst the aerosols are exposed to HO2. A constrained box model is used to show that HO2 uptake to dust surfaces may be an important loss pathway of HO2 in the atmosphere.
Technical Note: Reanalysis of upper troposphere humidity data from the MOZAIC programme for the period 1994 to 2009
Authors: Smit H. G. J. , Rohs S. , Neis P. , Boulanger D. , Krämer M. , Wahner A. , Petzold A.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. In-situ observational data on the relative humidity (RH) in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere (UT/LS), or tropopause region, respectively, collected aboard civil passenger aircraft in the MOZAIC (Measurements of OZone, water vapour, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides by in-service AIrbus airCraft) programme were reanalysed for the period 2000 to 2009. Previous analyses of probability distribution functions (PDF) of upper troposphere humidity (UTH) data from MOZAIC observations from year 2000 and later indicated a bias of UTH data towards higher RH values compared to data of the period 1994 to 1999. As a result, PDF of UTH data show a substantial fraction of observations above 100% relative humidity with respect to liquid water (RHliquid), which is not possible from thermodynamical principles. An in-depth reanalysis of the data set recovered a calibration artefact from year 2000 on, while data of the previous period from 1994 to 1999 were found to be correct. The full data set for 2000–2009 was reanalysed applying the adjusted calibration procedure. Applied correction schemes and a revised error analysis are presented along with the reanalysed PDF of RHliquid and RHice.
Characterisation of organic contaminants in the CLOUD chamber at CERN
Authors: Schnitzhofer R. , Metzger A. , Breitenlechner M. , Jud W. , Heinritzi M. , De Menezes L.-P. , Duplissy J. , Guida R. , Haider S. , Kirkby J. , Mathot S. , Minginette P. , Onnela A. , Walther H. , Wasem A. , Hansel A. ,   the CLOUD Team
Published: July 2014

Abstract. The CLOUD experiment (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) investigates the nucleation of new particles and how this process is influenced by galactic cosmic rays in an electropolished, stainless-steel environmental chamber at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). Since volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can act as precursor gases for nucleation and growth of particles, great efforts have been made to keep their unwanted background levels as low as possible and to quantify them. In order to be able to measure a great set of VOCs simultaneously in the low parts per trillion (pptv) range, proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) was used. Initially the total VOC background concentration strongly correlated with ozone in the chamber and ranged from 0.1 to 7 parts per billion (ppbv). Plastic used as sealing material in the ozone generator was found to be a major VOC source. Especially oxygen-containing VOCs were generated together with ozone. These parts were replaced by stainless steel after CLOUD3, which strongly reduced the total VOC background. An additional ozone-induced VOC source is surface-assisted reactions at the electropolished stainless steel walls. The change in relative humidity (RH) from very dry to humid conditions increases background VOCs released from the chamber walls. This effect is especially pronounced when the RH is increased for the first time in a campaign. Also the dead volume of inlet tubes for trace gases that were not continuously flushed was found to be a short but strong VOC contamination source. For lower ozone levels (below 100 ppbv) the total VOC contamination was usually below 1 ppbv and therewith considerably cleaner than a comparable Teflon chamber. On average about 75% of the total VOCs come from only five exact masses (tentatively assigned as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, formic acid, and acetic acid), which have a rather high vapour pressure and are therefore not important for nucleation and growth of particles.
Uptake of algal carbon and the likely synthesis of an "essential" fatty acid by Uvigerina ex. gr. semiornata (Foraminifera) within the Pakistan margin oxygen minimum zone: evidence from fatty acid biomarker and 13C tracer experiments
Authors: Larkin K. E. , Gooday A. J. , Woulds C. , Jeffreys R. M. , Schwartz M. , Cowie G. , Whitcraft C. , Levin L. , Dick J. R. , Pond D. W.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. Foraminifera are an important component of benthic communities in oxygen-depleted settings, where they potentially play a significant role in the processing of organic matter. We tracked the uptake of a 13C-labelled algal food source into individual fatty acids in the benthic foraminiferal species Uvigerina ex. gr. semiornata from the Arabian Sea oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). The tracer experiments were conducted on the Pakistan margin during the late/post monsoon period (August–October 2003). A monoculture of the diatom Thalassiosira weisflogii was 13C-labelled and used to simulate a pulse of phytoplankton in two complementary experiments. A lander system was used for in situ incubations at 140 m water depth and for 2.5 days in duration. Shipboard laboratory incubations of cores collected at 140 m incorporated an oxystat system to maintain ambient dissolved oxygen concentrations and were terminated after 5 days. Uptake of diatoms was rapid, with a high incorporation of diatom fatty acids into foraminifera after ~ 2 days in both experiments. Ingestion of the diatom food source was indicated by the increase over time in the quantity of diatom biomarker fatty acids in the foraminifera and by the high percentage of 13C in many of the fatty acids present at the endpoint of both in situ and laboratory-based experiments. These results indicate that
What prevents nitrogen depletion in the OMZ of the Eastern Tropical South Pacific?
Authors: Su B. , Pahlow M. , Wagner H. , Oschlies A.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. Local coupling between nitrogen fixation and denitrification in current biogeochemical models could result in a run-away feedback in open-ocean oxygen minimum zones (OMZs), eventually stripping OMZ waters of all fixed nitrogen. This feedback does not seem to operate at full strength in the ocean, as nitrate does not generally become depleted in open-ocean OMZs. To explore in detail the mechanism that prevents nitrogen depletion in the OMZ of the Eastern Tropical South Pacific (ETSP), we develop a box model with fully prognostic cycles of carbon, nutrients, and oxygen in the upwelling region and its adjacent open ocean. Ocean circulation is calibrated with Δ14C data of the ETSP. The sensitivity of the simulated nitrogen cycle to nutrient and oxygen exchange and ventilation from outside the model domain and remineralization scales inside an OMZ is analysed. For the entire range of model configurations explored, we find that the fixed-N inventory can be stabilized at non-zero levels in the ETSP OMZ only if the remineralization rate via denitrification is slower than that via aerobic respiration. In our optimum model configuration, lateral oxygen supply to the model domain required at rates sufficient to oxidize at least about a fifth of the export production in the model domain to prevent anoxia in the deep ocean. Under these conditions, our model is in line with the view of phosphate as the ultimate limiting nutrient for phytoplankton, and implies that for the current notion of nitrogen fixation being favored in N-deficit waters, the water column of the ETSP could even be a small net source of fixed-N.
A novel model evaluation approach focusing on local and advected contributions to urban PM2.5 levels – application to Paris, France
Authors: Petetin H. , Beekmann M. , Sciare J. , Bressi M. , Rosso A. , Sanchez O. , Ghersi V.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. Aerosol simulations in chemistry transport models (CTMs) still suffer from numerous uncertainties, and diagnostic evaluations are required to point out major error sources. This paper presents an original approach to evaluate CTMs based on local and imported contributions in a large megacity rather than urban background concentrations. The study is applied to the CHIMERE model in the Paris region (France) and considers the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and its main chemical constituents (elemental and organic carbon, nitrate, sulfate and ammonium), for which daily measurements are available during a whole year at various stations (PARTICULES project). Back-trajectory data are used to locate the upwind station, from which the concentration is identified as the import, the local production being deduced from the urban concentration by subtraction. Uncertainties on these contributions are quantified. Small biases in urban background PM2.5 simulations (bias of +16%) hide significant error compensations between local and advected contributions, as well as in PM2.5 chemical compounds. In particular, winter time organic matter (OM) imports appear strongly underestimated while local OM and elemental carbon (EC) production is overestimated all along the year. Erroneous continental wood burning emissions and missing secondary organic aerosol (SOA) pathways may explain errors on advected OM, while the carbonaceous compounds is likely to be related to errors in emissions and dynamics. A statistically significant local formation of nitrate is also highlighted from observations, but missed by the model. Together with the overestimation of nitrate imports, it leads to a bias of +51% on the local PM2.5 contribution. Such an evaluation finally gives more detailed insights on major gaps in current CTMs on which future efforts are needed.
The generic simulation cell method for developing extensible, efficient and readable parallel computational models
Authors: Honkonen I.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. I present a method for developing extensible and modular computational models without sacrificing serial or parallel performance or source code readability. By using a generic simulation cell method I show that it is possible to combine several distinct computational models to run in the same computational grid without requiring any modification of existing code. This is an advantage for the development and testing of computational modeling software as each submodel can be developed and tested independently and subsequently used without modification in a more complex coupled program. Support for parallel programming is also provided by allowing users to select which simulation variables to transfer between processes via a Message Passing Interface library. This allows the communication strategy of a program to be formalized by explicitly stating which variables must be transferred between processes for the correct functionality of each submodel and the entire program. The generic simulation cell class presented here requires a C++ compiler that supports variadic templates which were standardized in 2011 (C++11). The code is available at: https://github.com/nasailja/gensimcell for everyone to use, study, modify and redistribute; those that do are kindly requested to cite this work.
Wintertime storage of water in buried supraglacial lakes across the Greenland Ice Sheet
Authors: Koenig L. S. , Lampkin D. J. , Montgomery L. N. , Hamilton S. L. , Turrin J. B. , Joseph C. A. , Moutsafa S. E. , Panzer B. , Casey K. A. , Paden J. D. , Leuschen C. , Gogineni P.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. Surface melt over the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is increasing and estimated to account for half or more of the total mass loss. Little, however, is known about the hydrologic pathways that route surface melt within the ice sheet. In this study, we present over-winter storage of water in buried supraglacial lakes as one hydrologic pathway for surface melt, referred to as buried lakes. Airborne radar echograms are used to detect the buried lakes that are distributed extensively around the margin of the GrIS. The subsurface water can persist through multiple winters and is, on average, ~4.2 + 0.4 m below the surface. The few buried lakes that are visible at the surface of the GrIS have a~unique visible signature associated with a darker blue color where subsurface water is located. The volume of retained water in the buried lakes is likely insignificant compared to the total mass loss from the GrIS but the water will have important implications locally for the development of the englacial hydrologic network, ice temperature profiles and glacial dynamics. The buried lakes represent a small but year-round source of meltwater in the GrIS hydrologic system.
Effect of Soaking and Cooking Methods on Extraction of Solids and Acceptability of Tiger Nut (Cyperus Esculentus L) Milk
Authors: Asante Frank A. , Ellis William O. , Oduro Ibok , Saalia Firibu K.
Published: July 2014

Vegetable milk is a nutritious alternative for consumers who for dietary and other constraints cannot consume dairy milk. The production of vegetable milk solids of acceptable taste and quantity is however an important consideration. The study determined the effect of soaking in combination with boiling, steaming and roasting on the yield of milk, solids and its sensory quality. Boiling of tubers before soaking yielded the highest quantity of milk for all tubers with a range of 4395.5 g kg-1 to 6530.4 g kg-1. Boiling before soaking however gave the lowest milk solids for the tubers with the lowest and highest recorded as 101.0 g kg-1 and 139.0 g kg-1 respectively.  Expected milk solids for all pre-treatments ranged from 541.4 g kg-1 to 619.4 g kg-1 for black tubers and 571.4 g kg-1 to 710.2 g kg-1 for the brown tubers. Roasting before soaking of brown tubers enhanced the flavor of milk however there were no differences in overall acceptability of milk extracted from different pre-treated tubers. This sequence of pretreatments will enhance the extraction of good quality tiger nut milk and solids to broaden its utilization as ingredient in the food industry.
Agénésie bilatérale des vésicules séminales et des canaux déférents
Authors: Kassogué Amadou , El Ammari J. Eddine , Diarra Alkadri , Amiroune Driss , Ahsaini Mustapha , Ouldim Karim , Traoré Zacharia , Sqalli H. Nadia , Tizniti Siham , Mellas Soufiane , Tazi M. Fadl , Khallouk Abdelhak , El Fassi M. Jamal , Farih My Hassan
Published: July 2014

L’absence de canaux déférents et de vésicules séminales est une cause très rare d’infertilité masculine qui pose des difficultés d’ordre diagnostique. De plus, son traitement est complexe. Dans le présent article, nous rapportons le cas d’un patient âgé de 43 ans qui a consulté pour infertilité primaire évoluant depuis 5 ans (un conseil génétique a été réalisé) et nous examinons les difficultés diagnostiques et thérapeutiques liées à cette forme particulière d’infertilité.
Comparison of robotic and open partial nephrectomy: Single-surgeon matched cohort study
Authors: Oh Jong Jin , Byun Seoksoo , Hong Sung Kyu , Jeong Chang Wook , Lee Sang Eun
Published: July 2014

Introduction: We present comparative outcomes among matched patients who underwent robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) or open partial nephrectomy (OPN) by a single surgeon at a single institution.Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 200 patients who underwent RPN (n = 100) or OPN (n = 100) between May 2003 and May 2013. The patients who underwent RPN were matched for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, as well as tumour size, side and location. Perioperative outcomes were compared.Results: There was no significant difference between the 2 cohorts with respect to patient age, BMI, ASA score, preoperative glomerular filtration rate, tumour size and the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score. The mean operative time was longer in the RPN group, but there were no significant differences with respect to warm ischemic time and postoperative renal function. The length of hospitalization and use of postoperative analgesics (ketoprofen) were more favourable in the RPN cohort. There was no significant difference in the mean estimated blood loss, transfusion rate, or complications between the cohorts.Conclusions: Considering the perioperative and postoperative parameters, RPN is a viable option as a nephron-sparing surgical procedure for small renal masses that yields outcomes comparable to those achieved with OPN. Despite matched cohort analysis among patients who underwent PN by a single surgeon, there may be inherent selection bias; therefore future prospective trials are needed.
Generating a Style-Adaptive Trajectory from Multiple Demonstrations
Authors: Zhao Yue , Xiong Rong , Fang Li , Dai Xiaohe
Published: July 2014

Trajectory learning and generation from demonstration have been widely discussed in recent years, with promising progress made. Existing approaches, including the Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), affine functions and Dynamic Movement Primitives (DMPs) have proven their applicability to learning the features and styles of existing trajectories and generating similar trajectories that can adapt to different dynamic situations. However, in many applications, such as grasping an object, shooting a ball, etc., different goals require trajectories of different styles. An issue that must be resolved is how to reproduce a trajectory with a suitable style. In this paper, we propose a style-adaptive trajectory generation approach based on DMPs, by which the style of the reproduced trajectories can change smoothly as the new goal changes. The proposed approach first adopts a Point Distribution Model (PDM) to get the principal trajectories for different styles, then learns the model of each principal trajectory independently using DMPs, and finally adapts the parameters of the trajectory model smoothly according to the new goal using an adaptive goal-to-style mechanism. This paper further discusses the application of the approach on small-sized robots for an adaptive shooting task and on a humanoid robot arm to generate motions for table tennis-playing with different styles.
Structural Synthesis of 3-DoF Spatial Fully Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Hernandez Alfonso , Ibarreche Jose Ignacio , Petuya Victor , Altuzarra Oscar
Published: July 2014

In this paper, the architectures of three degrees of freedom (3-DoF) spatial, fully parallel manipulators (PMs), whose limbs are structurally identical, are obtained systematically. To do this, the methodology followed makes use of the concepts of the displacement group theory of rigid body motion. This theory works with so-called ‘motion generators’. That is, every limb is a kinematic chain that produces a certain type of displacement in the mobile platform or end-effector. The laws of group algebra will determine the actual motion pattern of the end-effector. The structural synthesis is a combinatorial process of different kinematic chains’ topologies employed in order to get all of the 3-DoF motion pattern possibilities in the end-effector of the fully parallel manipulator.
Factors Determining Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) among Low Income Women: Focus Group Findings from Rural, Urban, and Peri-Urban Women Groups in Lilongwe District-Malawi
Authors: Marisen Mwale
Published: July 2014

Most high prevalence sub-Saharan African countries tend to over-emphasize fidelity and condom use as major preventative measures relative to HIV and AIDS prevention. Studies of behavior change that focus exclusively on these strategies of most interest to the prevention community bias examinations of behaviour change downward by ignoring other potentially effective ways of limiting the epidemic. Regardless of the dearth in efficacy, as well as tolerance bottlenecks; the prevailing debate over provider initiated testing in Malawi may depict a shift towards HIV Testing and Counseling (HTC) in Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention. The current study examines factors that determine VCT uptake among low income women in the Lilongwe district. A qualitative paradigm- the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was utilized to inform the study. Convenient sampling was used to isolate three women groups namely; St John Nsamba, Women of Action, and National Association of People Having AIDS in Malawi (NAPHAM) support group as participants. The first two groups were sampled as primary groups, the former representing the urban domain with the later representing the rural domain respectively. Between 10 – 15 participants from each group, approximately within the age category 20-49 were involved. Findings suggest socio-cultural gender stereotypes inhibiting negotiating testing with partners as well as the social comparison or optimistic bias motivating ordinary women to underestimate their risk of contracting HIV relative to significant others as major barriers. Recurrent illnesses was considered the major motivator, downplaying the empirical impression about access to treatment as major incentive. The methodical conclusion drawn from the study is that VCT has the potential to mitigate the spread of HIV but for the preventative measure to be successful there is need to surmount various ethnographic and socio-cultural constraints currently impeding the intervention.