bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Graduate Students’ Perspectives on Effective Teaching
Authors: Hill Lilian H.
Published: March 2014

This study employed data collected over an 8-year period in which graduate students’ perspectives on effective teaching were collected during a class exercise. The data were organized into three categories: (a) teaching competence (knowledge of content and teaching), (b) relationships with students (having the best interests of students at heart), and (c) teacher attitudes (with respect to teaching and learning). Students appear to concur with the literature in adult and higher education that effective teaching involves far more than presenting content and the methods used to convey that content to students. Equally important are the affective or emotional processes involved in learning, forming a relationship with students, and caring about students’ learning and ability to integrate and apply new information. Therefore, adult and higher education courses that address teaching need to go further than merely addressing course design and techniques. Unless students have direct instruction in teaching and an opportunity to practice, they will often uncritically reproduce the teaching models they have experienced. This article can serve as a way to introduce information about effective teaching that emanates from a source with which students can easily identify and serve as a platform to engage students in the study of teaching.
Sailing Against the Wind
Authors: Gatua Mary Wairimu
Published: March 2014

The purpose of this study was to explore the educational and sociocultural experiences of Kenyan women pursing higher education in the United States and how they negotiated their multiple identities. Using a sociocultural theoretical framework and narrative inquiry methodology, seven Kenyan immigrant women pursuing or who recently pursued advanced education at one land-grant public university in the United States were studied. Five significant and interrelated themes emerged including (a) negotiating two cultural contexts, (b) significance of strong support system; (c) impact of family educational backgrounds, (d) reentry to education in adulthood, and (e) dealing with linguistic issues. Implications for higher education, adult education, and diverse adult learners are provided.
Ovarian Paraganglioma
Authors: Schuldt Maolly , Retamero Juan Antonio , Tourné Malvina , Nogales Francisco F.
Published: March 2014

A rare case of ovarian paraganglioma was incidentally found as a 1.2-cm intraovarian mass in a 68-year-old hypertensive female operated for an endometrial carcinoma. Histologically, it was arranged in characteristic Zellballen composed of polygonal clear cells with a granular cytoplasm that expressed diffusely CAM5.2 cytokeratin, chromogranin, neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin, and CD56, while S-100 protein was only present in sustentacular cells. We analyzed differential diagnoses with other rare ovarian tumors such as Sertoli cell tumor, with which it may share an immunophenotype expressing cytokeratins, S-100, and other neural markers, and extra-axial ependymoma, which invariably expresses diffusely GFAP, that may be positive only in the sustentacular cells of paraganglioma. However, on simple hematoxylin–eosin inspection, ovarian paraganglioma displays characteristic Zellballen clusters and cells with a granular cytoplasm but lacks the distinctive Sertoli cell tubules and the characteristic rosettes and fibrillary cytoplasm of ependymoma. Pathologists should be aware of the unusual locations of paraganglioma.
Reflections on Researching Rape Resistance
Authors: Ullman Sarah E.
Published: March 2014

This article provides a retrospective account of my experience embarking on research about women’s resistance to rape, including reflections on personal and professional experiences related to studying this topic. I discuss factors inspiring my interest, including pioneering feminist rape researchers, my experience as a woman living with the reality and fear of rape, and influential mentors who facilitated my career development as a scholar in graduate school and beyond. I weave this narrative together with my thoughts about how the study of resistance relates to other important issues in the field of sexual assault including alcohol, recovery, and prevention.
Recurrent metastatic anal cancer treated with modified paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin and third-line mitomycin/cetuximab
Authors: Khawandanah Mohamad , Baxley Allison , Pant Shubham
Published: March 2014

Purpose

Squamous cell carcinoma represents approximately 75% of all anal cancers. Squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal is a rare malignancy often curable in the early stages with the combined modality therapy of chemoradiation. Treatment in the metastatic setting is challenging due to the rarity of metastatic disease with the majority of patients presenting with curative locally advanced disease, and the ability to design clinical trials for metastatic disease has yet to be explored. There are no established chemotherapy guidelines for patients with metastatic anal cancer after the failure of cisplatin and fluorouracil.

Methods

We used PubMed and OVID research engines to identify publications in English literature addressing treatments/therapeutics using the following keywords “metastatic anal cancer” and “metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of anus” in addition to reviewing related clinical trials in clinicaltrials.gov.

Results

We hereby report our experience in using aggressive combinations in the second- and third-line settings. A 49-year-old white male diagnosed with T3 N3 M0 Stage IIIB anal cancer was treated initially with surgical excision and adjuvant fluorouracil/cisplatin due unavailability of mitomycin. He developed metastatic disease to the skin and perianal region, was treated with four cycles of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin with growth factor support, and achieved minimal residual disease. On progression five months after finishing therapy, we treated him with mitomycin and cetuximab with mixed response after two cycles. The patient later elected to proceed with hospice care only and succumbed to his disease 16 months after first cycle of paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin and 24 months from diagnosis.

Conclusions

Paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin is highly active in metastatic setting in selected patients. Cetuximab based regimen can be valuable option as second or third line. Paclitaxel, ifosfamide, and cisplatin and mitomycin and cetuximab can be available options for unmet need in metastatic anal cancer.
Segmenting the senior tourism market in Ireland based on travel motivations
Authors: Ward Aisling
Published: March 2014

The mature market in Ireland as a tourism cohort is viable in terms of both size and disposable income. Not only is this, but international travel by the mature market in Ireland is a relatively new phenomenon, presenting opportunities for targeting this group. Previous research has indicated the heterogeneous nature of this cohort and the need for segmentation within this group has been documented. However, in an Irish context little or no research has been conducted into the motivations and behaviour of this tourism segment. Therefore, taking a sample of 500 mature Irish individuals, this article incorporates the multivariate techniques of both factor and cluster analyses to segment the mature tourism market in Ireland based on an examination of their push and pull (Dann, 1977) travel motivations. From this analysis, four distinctive segments are identified, namely enthusiastic travellers, cultural explorers, escapists and spiritual travellers.
Valuing telecare using willingness to pay from the perspective of carers for people with dementia: a pilot study from the West Midlands
Authors: Stephen Christopher , Sultan Hamira , Frew Emma
Published: March 2014

We carried out a cost-benefit analysis of the STAY telecare service (Sandwell Telecare Assisting You) for unpaid carers of people with dementia in the West Midlands. This was done from the perspective of the carers. We employed the willingness to pay (WTP) approach, an established economic method to quantify the benefits of healthcare. A questionnaire was given to 87 unpaid carers of people with dementia, and 34 completed questionnaires were returned (39%). Two WTP question designs were used (open-ended and bounded style). The annual mean WTP for telecare was £242-310 per person. Carers offered higher values if the cared-for person was suffering from moderate dementia. Carers offered WTP values that were similar to the resource costs of providing telecare services. The pilot study suggests that the provision of telecare for unpaid carers of people with dementia is beneficial to society.
Creating a duet: The Couples Life Story Approach in the United States and Japan
Authors: Ingersoll-Dayton Berit , Spencer Beth , Campbell Ruth , Kurokowa Yukiko , Ito Mio
Published: March 2014

There is a global need for interventions that help couples who are dealing with dementia. This paper describes the way in which interventionists from the United States and Japan participated in the development of an intervention for dyads in which one person is experiencing memory loss. The 5-week intervention, the Couples Life Story Approach, helps dyads to reminisce about their life together as a couple, to work on their patterns of communication, and to develop a Life Story Book. Based on an analysis of cases conducted in the United States ( n = 20 couples) and Japan ( n = 9 couples), this paper highlights the cross-fertilization process that has occurred as interventionists from the two countries have shared their experiences with one another. Using case illustrations, the discussion focuses on the clinical themes that have emerged for couples in the United States and Japan.
Intimate Partner Violence in Pakistan
Authors: Ali Parveen Azam , Naylor Paul B. , Croot Elizabeth , O’Cathain Alicia
Published: March 2014

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major social and public health problem affecting people in various cultures and societies. Though the issue of IPV in Pakistan has been researched since the 1990s, no attempt has been made systematically to review the available evidence on IPV in Pakistan. This article presents findings of a systematic review of available empirical literature related to IPV in Pakistan. Using various key words, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were searched to identify relevant studies. This resulted in the identification of 55 potential studies for inclusion. After application of exclusion criteria 23 studies were identified, 20 of which used quantitative research designs, two used qualitative designs and one adopted a mixed method case study approach. All studies reported men as the perpetrators of IPV and women as its victims. Findings are presented and discussed for IPV for its forms, predictors, effects and victims’ responses. Pakistani peoples’ perceived reasons for and their attitudes towards IPV are also presented and discussed.
Blockade of CXCR2 signalling: A potential therapeutic target for preventing neutrophil-mediated inflammatory diseases
Authors: Boppana Nithin B , Devarajan Asokan , Gopal Kaliappan , Barathan Muttiah , Bakar Sazaly A , Shankar Esaki M , Ebrahim Abdul S , Farooq Shukkur M
Published: March 2014

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) play a key role in host innate immune responses by migrating to the sites of inflammation. Furthermore, PMN recruitment also plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of a plethora of inflammatory disorders such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), gram negative sepsis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), lung injury, and arthritis. Of note, chemokine-dependent signalling is implicated in the amplification of immune responses by virtue of its role in PMN chemotaxis in most of the inflammatory diseases. It has been clinically established that impediment of PMN recruitment ameliorates disease severity and provides relief in majority of other immune-associated disorders. This review focuses on different novel approaches clinically proven to be effective in blocking chemokine signalling associated with PMN recruitment that includes CXCR2 antagonists, chemokine analogs, anti-CXCR2 monoclonal antibodies, and CXCR2 knock-out models. It also highlights the significance of the utility of nanoparticles in drugs used for blocking migration of PMN to the sites of inflammation.
Maintaining sexuality in menopause
Authors: Nappi Rossella E , Martini Ellis , Martella Silvia , Capuano Francesca , Bosoni David , Giacomini Sonia , Beraghi Matteo , Spinillo Arsenio
Published: March 2014

Sexual health in the menopause is a medical challenge because the progressive decline of sexual hormones interacts with the aging process and many psychosocial stressors modulate vulnerability for sexual symptoms (low sexual desire, poor arousal and lubrication, dyspareunia, orgasmic dysfunction and lack of satisfaction). In clinical practice, a coordinated approach is needed to optimally manage the risk for developing female sexual dysfunction (FSD), especially when chronic conditions are present. Biomedical and psychosocial interventions include general education, recognition of signs and symptoms, promotion of health, attention to the partner and individualization of treatment. Counselling to overcome personal and relational difficulties should be always combined with hormonal and non-hormonal strategies to maximize biological signals driving the sexual response. By enhancing women’s abilities to cope with sexual changes at midlife, health care providers may significantly optimize healthy aging and partnership.
Performance evaluation of a health insurance in Nigeria using optimal resource use: health care providers perspectives
Authors: Mohammed Shafiu , Souares Aurélia , Bermejo Justo Lorenzo , Sauerborn Rainer , Dong Hengjin
Published: March 2014

Background

Performance measures are often neglected during the transition period of national health insurance scheme implementation in many low and middle income countries. These measurements evaluate the extent to which various aspects of the schemes meet their key objectives. This study assesses the implementation of a health insurance scheme using optimal resource use domains and examines possible factors that influence each domain, according to providers’ perspectives.

Methods

A retrospective, cross-sectional survey was done between August and December 2010 in Kaduna state, and 466 health care provider personnel were interviewed. Optimal-resource-use was defined in four domains: provider payment mechanism (capitation and fee-for-service payment methods), benefit package, administrative efficiency, and active monitoring mechanism. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify provider factors that may influence each domain.

Results

In the provider payment mechanism domain, capitation payment method (95%) performed better than fee-for-service payment method (62%). Benefit package domain performed strongly (97%), while active monitoring mechanism performed weakly (37%). In the administrative efficiency domain, both promptness of referral system (80%) and prompt arrival of funds (93%) performed well. At the individual level, providers with fewer enrolees encountered difficulties with reimbursement. Other factors significantly influenced each of the optimal-resource-use domains.

Conclusions

Fee-for-service payment method and claims review, in the provider payment and active monitoring mechanisms, respectively, performed weakly according to the providers’ (at individual-level) perspectives. A short-fall on the supply-side of health insurance could lead to a direct or indirect adverse effect on the demand-side of the scheme. Capitation payment per enrolees should be revised to conform to economic circumstances. Performance indicators and providers’ characteristics and experiences associated with resource use can assist policy makers to monitor and evaluate health insurance implementation.
Determinants of the citation rate of medical research publications from a developing country
Authors: Annalingam Anupama , Damayanthi Hasitha , Jayawardena Ranil , Ranasinghe Priyanga
Published: March 2014

Background

The number of citations received by an article is considered as an objective marker judging the importance and the quality of the research work. The present study aims to study the determinants of citations for research articles published by Sri Lankan authors.

Methods

Papers were selectively retrieved from the SciVerse Scopus® (Elsevier Properties S.A, USA) database for 10 years from 1st January 1997 to 31st December 2006, of which 50% were selected for inclusion by simple random sampling. The primary outcome measure was citation rate (defined as the number of citations during the 2 subsequent years after publication). Citation data was collected using the SciVerse Scopus® Citation Analyzer and self citations were excluded. A linear regression analysis was performed with ‘number of citations’ as the continuous dependent variable and other independent variables.

Result

The number of publications has steadily increased during the period of study. Over three quarter of papers were published in international journals. More than half of publications were research studies (55.3%), and most of the research studies were descriptive cross-sectional studies (27.1%). The mean number of citations within 2 years of publication was 1.7 and 52.1% of papers were not cited within the first two years of publication. The mean number of citations for collaborative studies (2.74) was significantly higher than that of non-collaborative studies (0.66). The mean number of citations did not significantly change depending on whether the publication had a positive result (2.08) or not (2.92) and was also not influenced by the presence (2.30) or absence (1.99) of the main study conclusion in the title of the article. In the linear regression model, the journal rank, number of authors, conducting the study abroad, being a research study or systematic review/meta-analysis and having regional and/or international collaboration all significantly increased the number of citations.

Conclusion

The journal rank, number of authors, conducting the study abroad, being a research study or systematic review/meta-analysis and having regional and/or international collaboration all significantly increased the number of citations. However, the presence of a positive result in the study did not influence the citation rate.
Seismic Performance Evaluation of Intermediate Moment Frames with Reduced Beam Section and Bolted Web Connections
Authors: Han Sang Whan , Moon Ki Hoon , Hwang Seong-Hoon , Stojadinovic Bozidar
Published: March 2014

A reduced beam section with a bolted web (RBS-B) connection is permitted for use only in intermediate moment frames (IMF) according to the ANSI/AISC 358-05. This is because some RBS-B test specimens failed to achieve 4% total rotation capacity, which is the minimum story drift angle required for special moment frames (SMF). Several studies reported that some RBS-B connections could experience brittle connection fracture during earthquakes, which can also be detrimental to the seismic performance of IMF systems with RBS-B connections. For investigating whether IMFs with RBS-B connections provide a satisfactory seismic performance, this study evaluated the seismic performance of IMFs with pre-qualified RBS-B connections following the ATC-63 procedure. Twenty-four model buildings were designed according to current seismic design provisions. Several IMFs with RBS-B connections do not satisfy the acceptance criteria specified in ATC-63.
Achieving the Meaningful Use Standard: A Model for Implementing Change Within Medical Practices
Authors: Fryefield David C. , Staggs Stuart , Herman William , Stickler Alan , Ahmad Asif , Patt Debra A. , Beveridge Roy A.
Published: March 2014

Purpose:

Change management in medical practices is often an uphill battle. Lack of agreement on standards, ineffective leadership, inertia, inconsistent access to data, and inability to clearly define and communicate the benefits of change represent significant barriers to success. In 2009, the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act created the meaningful use (MU) incentive program administered through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). To earn financial incentive payments, eligible physicians adopt certified electronic health record (EHR) technology and use it to meet specified objectives. In response, leadership of the US Oncology Network launched an MU initiative designed to create a comprehensive system of tools, education, performance feedback, and support that would facilitate successful achievement of the MU standards.

Methods:

The EHR used by the majority of network physicians was modified according to the MU specifications, and EHR certification was obtained. Baseline compliance data were measured for each of the MU standards and for each of the eligible physicians. Physician and staff workflow processes necessary for consistent data input and compliance were outlined for each standard. Each practice identified one or more staff members who would act as MU leads. Training modules were developed for the MU leads as well as for physicians, mid-level providers, nurses, medical assistants, and office staff. An MU measurement tool was created, designed to target areas for MU process improvement and automate reporting. Data were updated and verified weekly to provide timely feedback to practices, including individual physician detail and links to individual patient records.

Results:

A total of 943 practitioners within the US Oncology Network met eligibility criteria for the MU program. At baseline, compliance with each MU standard ranged from 0% (clinical summaries) to 100% (computerized order entry). In many cases, data were simply not being entered into the EHR. Time from program launch to first submission of MU attestation was 18 months. As of March 2013, 781 practitioners (83%) had achieved the MU standards. In comparison, CMS reported that 44% of all eligible physicians and 26% of hematologists and oncologists had successfully achieved Medicare MU standards and received payment.

Conclusion:

Successful change management in medical practices can be accomplished through a comprehensive system of leadership, education, support, timely feedback of data, and clearly defined incentives. Incentives alone may be far less effective.
Oncologists' and Primary Care Physicians' Awareness of Late and Long-Term Effects of Chemotherapy: Implications for Care of the Growing Population of Survivors
Authors: Nekhlyudov Larissa , Aziz Noreen M. , Lerro Catherine , Virgo Katherine S.
Published: March 2014

Because primary care providers may not be directly exposed to chemotherapy-related late effects, oncologists must communicate this information to primary care providers as patients transition to primary care settings.
The State of Cancer Care in America, 2014: A Report by the American Society of Clinical Oncology
Authors:   American Society of Clinical Oncology
Published: March 2014

This publication is ASCO's inaugural report on the state of cancer care in America. Going forward, these annual reports will track progress against cancer and examine the most important trends that affect the oncology community's ability to provide high-quality, high-value cancer care.
Genetically encoded molecular probes to visualize and perturb signaling dynamics in living biological systems
Authors: Sample Vedangi , Mehta Sohum , Zhang Jin
Published: March 2014

In this Commentary, we discuss two sets of genetically encoded molecular tools that have significantly enhanced our ability to observe and manipulate complex biochemical processes in their native context and that have been essential in deepening our molecular understanding of how intracellular signaling networks function. In particular, genetically encoded biosensors are widely used to directly visualize signaling events in living cells, and we highlight several examples of basic biosensor designs that have enabled researchers to capture the spatial and temporal dynamics of numerous signaling molecules, including second messengers and signaling enzymes, with remarkable detail. Similarly, we discuss a number of genetically encoded biochemical perturbation techniques that are being used to manipulate the activity of various signaling molecules with far greater spatial and temporal selectivity than can be achieved using standard pharmacological or genetic techniques, focusing specifically on examples of chemically driven and light-inducible perturbation strategies. We then describe recent efforts to combine these diverse and powerful molecular tools into a unified platform that can be used to elucidate the molecular details of biological processes that may potentially extend well beyond the realm of signal transduction.
A Meniscus-climbing Gel Robot
Authors: Hara Yusuke , Saiki Mami , Suzuki Tomoya , Kikuchi Koki
Published: March 2014

We succeeded in the construction of a novel meniscus-climbing gel robot that autonomously converted the chemical energy from the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction to mechanical work. The gel periodically bent in synchronization with the change in the redox state of the [Ru(bpy)2(vmbpy)] moiety, owing to an asymmetric structure in the gel. The climbing force of the gel robot originated from the change in the surface tension due to the periodic change in the shape of the gel. The maximum speed of the gel robot was 1.5 mm s−1.
Multiple Site Occupation of Flexible Polymeric Compounds in Cocrystals of Syndiotactic Polystyrene
Authors: Kaneko Fumitoshi , Seto Naoki , Sasaki Keita , Sakurai Shinichi
Published: March 2014

To confirm that long flexible polymeric compounds are capable of forming cocrystals with syndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) by occupying more than one cavity in the crystalline lattice, the complexation of sPS with poly(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ethers of molecular weight 2000 (PD2000) was carried out through an additive-assisted guest-exchange procedure. The X-ray fiber and powder diffraction and IR spectrum of sPS films treated by the procedure showed that the original guest chloroform was completely substituted with PD2000, keeping the basic structure of the host sPS lattice. It has been clarified by gravimetric analysis and IR spectroscopy that the molar ratio of styrene monomer to PD2000 is 16, which can be justified only by assuming the multiple site occupation of PD2000 in the sPS complex. It is strongly suggested that longer flexible polymeric molecules can be introduced into sPS lattices in a similar manner.
Oil and Gas Asset and Project Management in Russia
Authors: ������  , Senko Aleksandr , ������  , Funtov Valeriy
Published: March 2014

Resources of the majority of oil and gas companies in Russia are managed within functional organizational structure. Thereof productivity and management efficiency depends a little on needs of a company for use and development of an oil and gas field and its infrastructure. In some industry enterprises a project management is used. The analysis of project management in such companies, as TNK-BP, LUKOIL Overseas, Rosneft, Gazprom dobycha Yamburg, Gazprom dobycha Noyabrsk was made. It is offered to use a complex of 2 models for oil and gas enterprise management. The first model has to be based on concept of oil and gas asset, the second one has to use a project management methodology. A new definition for the term "Oil and Gas Asset" is entered. The oil and gas asset is one or several fields with integrated economy, production, auxiliary and transport infrastructure, grouped according to their development logic. The oil and gas asset has its own life cycle consisting of stages and including life cycles of fields entering in the asset. Life cycle�s stages are filled both traditional (operational) activity, and design (projects� programs and projects themselves). Management of an oil and gas asset is impossible without application of one-man management principle. A project, as well as an asset has to be managed by one owner � manager or administrator (depending on powers and responsibility delegated to him). For development, elaboration and support of fields and their infrastructure (i. e. that activity which is difficult to operate in functional organizational structures) it is offered to apply the project management methodology. A multilevel project management model, as well as examples of projects� type design practice, and structures of decomposition of their works have been presented in this paper. The specified models were applied to development and deployment of mana gement�s corporate systems in OAO Tomskgazprom and OOO Gazprom transgaz Tomsk. Systems apply complex integration approach to a problem of coordinated management of fields and other assets and resources related to the oil and gas company.
How Often and Why There Is a Budget Overexpenditure in Large Infrastructure Projects
Authors: ��������  , Frolkina Ekaterina
Published: March 2014

We are living in the epoch of large projects. Never before in mankind�s history there have been so many large-scale, expensive and labor-intensive projects. Implementation experience of infrastructure projects in Russia and abroad shows that the problem of cost and schedule overrun in this kind of projects is still topical and remains unsolved for the past decades. It has been shown in this paper that the final cost overrun in large-scale infrastructure projects is specific to many countries and all types of such projects. Large projects� cost estimations for the last 70 years don?t become better.
Cleaning methods in planted Scots pine stands in southern Finland: 4-year results on survival, growth and whipping damage of pines
Authors: Saksa Timo , Miina Jari
Published: March 2014

The effects of four cleaning treatments on the survival, growth of, and whipping damage to Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) main stems were studied in young planted pine stands in southern Finland. Treatments were: no cleaning, point-cleaning of broadleaves (mainly birch, Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) within a radius of 1 m from the pine, topping of competing broadleaves, and total cleaning of broadleaves. A randomised complete block design with three replicates was established in five sapling stands: the mean height of the pines was 1.5 m in the three younger stands (6 or 7 years old), and 3 m in the two older stands (9 years old). Measurements taken four growing seasons later showed that in the younger stands, all cleaning treatments significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the mortality and increased the diameter increment of the pines. The height increment of the pines on point-cleaned and topped plots was significantly greater than on totally cleaned plots. In the older stands, the effects of cleaning treatments on the mortality and increment of pines were non-significant. In the younger and older stands, point-cleaning and total cleaning significantly reduced the whipping damage to pines, whereas the topping of competing broadleaves did not. The preliminary results support the use of point-cleaning in planted Scots pine stands when the mean height of the pines is about 1.5 m.
Stratification of regional sampling by model-predicted changes of carbon stocks in forested mineral soils
Authors: Peltoniemi Mikko , Heikkinen Juha , Mäkipää Raisa
Published: March 2014

Monitoring changes in soil C has recently received interest due to reporting under the Kyoto Protocol. Model-based approaches to estimate changes in soil C stocks exist, but they cannot fully replace repeated measurements. Measuring changes in soil C is laborious due to small expected changes and large spatial variation. Stratification of soil sampling allows the reduction of sample size without reducing precision. If there are no previous measurements, the stratification can be made with model-predictions of target variable. Our aim was to present a simulation-based stratification method, and to estimate how much stratification of inventory plots could improve the efficiency of the sampling. The effect of large uncertainties related to soil C change measurements and simulated predictions was targeted since they may considerably decrease the efficiency of stratification. According to our simulations, stratification can be useful with a feasible soil sample number if other uncertainties (simulated predictions and forecasted forest management) can be controlled. For example, the optimal (Neyman) allocation of plots to 4 strata with 10 soil samples from each plot (unpaired repeated sampling) reduced the standard error (SE) of the stratified mean by 9â34% from that of simple random sampling, depending on the assumptions of uncertainties. When the uncertainties of measurements and simulations were not accounted for in the division to strata, the decreases of SEs were 2â9 units less. Stratified sampling scheme that accounts for the uncertainties in measured material and in the correlates (simulated predictions) is recommended for the sampling design of soil C stock changes.
Effects of some sanding factors on the surface roughness of particleboard
Authors: Nemli Gökay , Akbulut Turgay , Zekoviç Emir
Published: March 2014

Effects of the grit sizes of the sand belt, feeding speed and the feed power of the heads of the sander on the surface roughness of the particleboard panels were investigated. Two surface roughness parameters, average roughness (R) and mean peak-to-valley height (R), obtained from board surfaces were used in the analysis. Sanding factors were found to have a significant effect on the surface roughness of the particleboard. Better results were obtained with 40 m/min of feeding speed, 40-60-80-120 of grit sizes, and 67 kW of the feed power of the heads of the sander.az
Establishment and height development of harvested and naturally regenerated Scots pine near the timberline in North-East Finnish Lapland
Authors: Hallikainen Ville , Hyppönen Mikko , Hyvönen Juha , Niemelä Juhani
Published: March 2014

Researchers and professionals in practical forestry have faced problems concerning the regeneration success of Scots pine in natural regeneration near the timberline in North-East Lapland. The aim of the study was to analyze the seedling establishment and seedling height development of Scots pine in seed-tree stands in the area. The average number of living pine seedlings in the study stands was about 1000 ha, but there was considerable variation between the stands. The seedling density was modelled using a multinomial logistic regression with a random factor. Forest site type and the time since seed-tree cutting were the most significant explanatory variables in the model. The probability of reaching the acceptable seedling density was higher on dry site types than on the more fertile ones. The probability increased with the time elapsed since the regeneration activities. Effective temperature sum and the number of intermediate pines also positively affected the probability, but the presence of residual trees negatively. On northern and eastern slopes the probability was lower than on southern and western ones. Seedling height was modelled using a linear mixed model. The age of a dominant seedling was the most positively effective explanatory variable in the height development model. Other positively affecting significant predictors were time since seed-tree cutting, number of intermediate birches, and distance between a seedling and the nearest seed tree. Degree of paludification had a negative effect. The study suggests that the regeneration of Scots pine in North-East Lapland is a relatively slow process.â1
Angiotensin-converting enzyme overexpression in myelocytes enhances the immune response
Authors: Bernstein Kenneth E. , Gonzalez-Villalobos Romer A. , Giani Jorge F. , Shah Kandarp , Bernstein Ellen , Janjulia Tea , Koronyo Yosef , Shi Peng D. , Koronyo-Hamaoui Maya , Fuchs Sebastien , Shen Xiao Z.
Published: March 2014

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in blood pressure control. ACE also has effects on renal function, reproduction, hematopoiesis, and several aspects of the immune response. ACE 10/10 mice overexpress ACE in monocytic cells; macrophages from ACE 10/10 mice demonstrate increased polarization toward a proinflammatory phenotype. As a result, ACE 10/10 mice have a highly effective immune response following challenge with melanoma, bacterial infection, or Alzheimer disease. As shown in ACE 10/10 mice, enhanced monocytic function greatly contributes to the ability of the immune response to defend against a wide variety of antigenic and non-antigenic challenges.
Maternal and neonatal outcome of labour induction at term comparing two regimens of misoprostol
Authors: Kreft Martina , Krähenmann Franziska , Roos Malgorzata , Kurmanavicius Juozas , Zimmermann Roland , Ochsenbein-Kölble Nicole
Published: March 2014

Aim: To compare the efficacy and safety of two misoprostol dosing regimens for induction of labour in primiparous (1P) and multiparous (>1P) women.

Methods: Retrospective study of induction of labour using vaginal misoprostol 25 μg vs. 50 μg every 6 h in 942 women at a tertiary centre. The main outcome variables are induction-to-delivery interval, latency period duration, vaginal delivery within 24 h, and maternal and foetal safety outcome.

Results: With the 50 μg regimen, induction-to-delivery intervals were significantly shorter: 18.4 h vs. 24.6 h (1P) and 14 h vs. 17.9 h (>1P), as was latency period duration (by 5.4 and 4 h, respectively). Vaginal delivery within 24 h was significantly more frequent, as were non-reassuring foetal heart rate (1P: 20% vs. 14%) and tachysystole (1P: 31% vs. 11%; >1P: 21% vs. 7%). No uterine rupture was reported. Neonatal outcomes were similar except for significantly more frequent infant referral to neonatal intensive care in the >1P group receiving the 50 μg regimen (11% vs. 4%).

Conclusion: Vaginal misoprostol 25 μg seems to maintain efficacy with more acceptable maternal and neonatal safety. As induction of labour is an off-label use for misoprostol, safety should be prioritised with the lower dosage regimen despite the longer induction-to-delivery interval.
A morphosyntactic chain shift in the Hindi-Panjabi area: Explications and implications
Authors: Hock Hans Henrich
Published: March 2014

Modern Hindi and neighboring languages employ structures with the present participle plus `be' as unmarked present, and structures with a form of rahnā `remain' as progressive present. This differs from Sanskrit and early Middle Indo-Aryan which have an undifferentiated simple present and optional structures with participles indicating continuous action, and also from late Middle Indo-Aryan (Apabhraṁśa) in which an innovated, marked progressive (present participle plus `be') contrasts with the old simple present.

I present evidence and arguments in favor of a drag-chain explanation, first adumbrated by Bloch (1920). I demonstrate that the old simple present changed to modal (or future) in almost all of Modern Indo-Aryan, as the result of a marking reversal by which the late Middle-Indo-Aryan progressive becomes unmarked (as in English) and the old simple present becomes marked perfective and hence incompatible with present tense. I show that different languages fill the resulting gap in different ways. The fact that Hindi and related languages choose the earlier progressive structure for this purpose in turn motivates the use of an older, marked, continuative construction with rahnā to fill the resulting gap.

Chain shifts, thus, are not limited to phonology but can also occur in morphology.
Crystal structure of (η5-cyclopentadienyl)-tris(η2-diethylphosphito-κ2O:P)-methanolato-dioxo-cobalt-molybdenum(V), C18H38CoMoO12P3
Authors: Jia Xiao-Chuan , Li Jing , Yu Zhi-Rui , Wang Na , Zhang Bin
Published: March 2014

C18H38CoMoO12P3, monoclinic, P21/n (no. 14), a = 8.9269(3) Å, b = 17.963(1) Å, c = 18.2368(8) Å, β = 93.430(4)°, V = 2919.1 Å3, Z = 4, Rgt(F) = 0.0477, wRref(F2) = 0.1292, T = 298 K.
Crystal structure of ammonium 2-carboxy-5(4-oxopyridine-(4H)-yl)-benzoate monohydrate, C13H14N2O6
Authors: Feng Xun , Li Guan Feng , Xie Shi-Yu , Su Bei-Ya
Published: March 2014

C13H14N2O6, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 3.829(1) Å, b = 20.036(5) Å, c = 8.520(2) Å, β = 93.407(3)°, V = 652.4 Å3, Z = 2, Rgt(F) = 0.0449, wRref(F2) = 0.1150, T = 293 K.
Crystal structure of diiodido-bis(3-phenylpyridine-κN)platinum(II), PtI2(C11H9N)2, C22H18I2N2Pt
Authors: Ha Kwang
Published: March 2014

C22H18I2N2Pt, triclinic, P1̅ (no. 2), a = 6.498(1) Å, b = 7.154(1) Å, c = 11.750(2) Å, α = 76.864(4)°, β = 82.627(3)°, γ = 82.129(3)°, V = 524.2 Å3, Z = 1, Rgt(F) = 0.0215, wRref(F2) = 0.0552, T = 200 K.
Crystal structure of tetrakis(5,7-dichloroquinolin-8-olato-κ2N,O) zirconium(IV) dimethylformamide disolvate, C42H30Cl8N6O6Zr
Authors: Steyn Maryke , Visser Hendrik G. , Roodt Andreas
Published: March 2014

C42H30Cl8N6O6Zr, monoclinic, C2/c (no. 15), a = 30.357(5) Å, b = 13.037(5) Å, c = 26.386(5) Å, β = 118.343(5)°, V = 9191 Å3, Z = 8, Rgt(F) = 0.042, wRref(F2) = 0.1128, T = 100 K.
Administration of pioglitazone alone or with alogliptin delays diabetes onset in UCD-T2DM rats
Authors: Cummings Bethany P , Bettaieb Ahmed , Graham James L , Stanhope Kimber , Haj Fawaz G , Havel Peter J
Published: March 2014

There is a need to identify strategies for type 2 diabetes prevention. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of pioglitazone and alogliptin alone and in combination to prevent type 2 diabetes onset in UCD-T2DM rats, a model of polygenic obese type 2 diabetes. At 2 months of age, rats were divided into four groups: control, alogliptin (20 mg/kg per day), pioglitazone (2.5 mg/kg per day), and alogliptin+pioglitazone. Non-fasting blood glucose was measured weekly to determine diabetes onset. Pioglitazone alone and in combination with alogliptin lead to a 5-month delay in diabetes onset despite promoting increased food intake and body weight (BW). Alogliptin alone did not delay diabetes onset or affect food intake or BW relative to controls. Fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and lipid concentrations were lower and adiponectin concentrations were threefold higher in groups treated with pioglitazone. All treatment groups demonstrated improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin secretion during an oral glucose tolerance test with an additive improvement observed with alogliptin+pioglitazone. Islet histology revealed an improvement of islet morphology in all treatment groups compared with control. Pioglitazone treatment also resulted in increased expression of markers of mitochondrial biogenesis in brown adipose tissue and white adipose tissue, with mild elevations observed in animals treated with alogliptin alone. Pioglitazone markedly delays the onset of type 2 diabetes in UCD-T2DM rats through improvements of glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, islet function, and markers of adipose mitochondrial biogenesis; however, addition of alogliptin at a dose of 20 mg/kg per day to pioglitazone treatment does not enhance the prevention/delay of diabetes onset.
A High-Resolution Genetic Map of Yellow Monkeyflower Identifies Chemical Defense QTLs and Recombination Rate Variation
Authors: Holeski Liza M , Monnahan Patrick , Koseva Boryana , McCool Nick , Lindroth Richard L , Kelly John K
Published: March 2014

Genotyping-by-sequencing methods have vastly improved the resolution and accuracy of genetic linkage maps by increasing both the number of marker loci as well as the number of individuals genotyped at these loci. Using restriction-associated DNA sequencing, we construct a dense linkage map for a panel of recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between divergent ecotypes of Mimulus guttatus. We used this map to estimate recombination rate across the genome and to identify quantitative trait loci for the production of several secondary compounds (PPGs) of the phenylpropanoid pathway implicated in defense against herbivores. Levels of different PPGs are correlated across recombinant inbred lines suggesting joint regulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway. However, the three quantitative trait loci identified in this study each act on a distinct PPG. Finally, we map three putative genomic inversions differentiating the two parental populations, including a previously characterized inversion that contributes to life-history differences between the annual/perennial ecotypes.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Alternative Polyadenylation in Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Using Transcriptome Sequences from Three Different Sequencing Platforms
Authors: Zhao Zhixin , Wu Xiaohui , Kumar Praveen Kumar Raj , Dong Min , Ji Guoli , Li Qingshun Quinn , Liang Chun
Published: March 2014

Messenger RNA 3′-end formation is an essential posttranscriptional processing step for most eukaryotic genes. Different from plants and animals where AAUAAA and its variants routinely are found as the main poly(A) signal, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii uses UGUAA as the major poly(A) signal. The advance of sequencing technology provides an enormous amount of sequencing data for us to explore the variations of poly(A) signals, alternative polyadenylation (APA), and its relationship with splicing in this algal species. Through genome-wide analysis of poly(A) sites in C. reinhardtii, we identified a large number of poly(A) sites: 21,041 from Sanger expressed sequence tags, 88,184 from 454, and 195,266 from Illumina sequence reads. In comparison with previous collections, more new poly(A) sites are found in coding sequences and intron and intergenic regions by deep-sequencing. Interestingly, G-rich signals are particularly abundant in intron and intergenic regions. The prevalence of different poly(A) signals between coding sequences and a 3′-untranslated region implies potentially different polyadenylation mechanisms. Our data suggest that the APA occurs in about 68% of C. reinhardtii genes. Using Gene Ontolgy analysis, we found most of the APA genes are involved in RNA regulation and metabolic process, protein synthesis, hydrolase, and ligase activities. Moreover, intronic poly(A) sites are more abundant in constitutively spliced introns than retained introns, suggesting an interplay between polyadenylation and splicing. Our results support that APA, as in higher eukaryotes, may play significant roles in increasing transcriptome diversity and gene expression regulation in this algal species. Our datasets also provide useful information for accurate annotation of transcript ends in C. reinhardtii.
Three-dimensional Modeling of Transient Electromagnetic Responses of Water-bearing Structures in Front of a Tunnel Face
Authors: Li Shucai , Sun Huaifeng , Lu XuShan , Li Xiu
Published: March 2014

We present a finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) approach for the simulation of three-dimensional (3-D) transient electromagnetic diffusion phenomena for the detection of water-bearing structures in front of a tunnel face. The unconditionally-stable du Fort-Frankel difference discrete method is used and an additional fictitious displacement current is introduced into the diffusion equations to form explicit difference equations. We establish a new excitation loop source which considers Maxwell's equations in source media to overcome the limitations of the precondition that the near-surface resistivity of the model is uniform in the well-known 3-D FDTD algorithm demonstrated by Wang and Hohmann in 1993. The algorithm has the ability to simulate any type of transmitting current waveforms and arbitrarily complicated earth structures. A trapezoidal wave is used to simulate a step-off source. The fictitious permittivity is allowed to vary during the computation to ensure the stability and optimize an efficient time step. Homogeneous full-space models with different resistivities are simulated and compared with the analytical solutions to demonstrate the algorithm. Transient electromagnetic (TEM) responses of a tunnel with and without a water-filled vertical fault in front of the tunnel face are simulated and compared. 3-D models with water-filled fault and karst caves in front of a tunnel face are simulated with different parameters considered.