bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of central review on outcome in malignant gliomas of the spinal cord: the CCG-945 experience
Authors: Bouffet Eric , Allen Jeffrey C. , Boyett James M. , Yates Allen , Gilles Floyd , Burger Peter C. , Davis Richard L. , Becker Laurence E. , Pollack Ian F. , Finlay Jonathan L.
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

The impact of central pathology review on outcome has been described in pediatric patients with high-grade glioma (HGG). The objective of this report was to analyze the impact of the central pathology review on outcome in the subgroup of patients with institutional diagnosis of HGG of the spinal cord enrolled in the Children's Cancer Group 945 cooperative study.

METHODS

Five neuropathologists centrally reviewed the pathology of the 18 patients with HGG of the spinal cord who were enrolled in the study. These reviews were independent, and reviewers were blinded to clinical history and outcomes. A consensus diagnosis was established for each patient, based on the outcome of the review.

RESULTS

Of 18 patients, only 10 were confirmed to have HGG on central review. At a median follow-up of 12 years, event-free and overall survival for all 18 patients was 43.2% ± 13.3% and 50% ± 13.4%, respectively. After central review, 10-year event-free and overall survival for confirmed HGGs and discordant diagnoses was 30% ± 12.5% versus 58.3% ± 18.8% (p = 0.108) and 30% ± 12.5% versus 75% ± 14.2% (p = 0.0757), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of discordant diagnoses in children and adolescents with institutional diagnosis of HGG of the spinal cord was 44% in this experience. However, there was no significant difference in outcome between patients with confirmed and discordant diagnosis. This group of tumor deserves a specific attention in future trials.
Early whole-brain CT perfusion for detection of patients at risk for delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage
Authors: Malinova Vesna , Dolatowski Karoline , Schramm Peter , Moerer Onnen , Rohde Veit , Mielke Dorothee
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

This prospective study investigated the role of whole-brain CT perfusion (CTP) studies in the identification of patients at risk for delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) and of tissue at risk for delayed cerebral infarction (DCI).

METHODS

Forty-three patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) were included in this study. A CTP study was routinely performed in the early phase (Day 3). The CTP study was repeated in cases of transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD)–measured blood flow velocity (BFV) increase of > 50 cm/sec within 24 hours and/or on Day 7 in patients who were intubated/sedated.

RESULTS

Early CTP studies revealed perfusion deficits in 14 patients, of whom 10 patients (72%) developed DIND, and 6 of these 10 patients (60%) had DCI. Three of the 14 patients (21%) with early perfusion deficits developed DCI without having had DIND, and the remaining patient (7%) had neither DIND nor DCI. There was a statistically significant correlation between early perfusion deficits and occurrence of DIND and DCI (p < 0.0001). A repeated CTP was performed in 8 patients with a TCD–measured BFV increase > 50 cm/sec within 24 hours, revealing a perfusion deficit in 3 of them (38%). Two of the 3 patients (67%) developed DCI without preceding DIND and 1 patient (33%) had DIND without DCI. In 4 of the 7 patients (57%) who were sedated and/or comatose, additional CTP studies on Day 7 showed perfusion deficits. All 4 patients developed DCI.

CONCLUSIONS

Whole-brain CTP on Day 3 after aSAH allows early and reliable identification of patients at risk for DIND and tissue at risk for DCI. Additional CTP investigations, guided by TCD–measured BFV increase or persisting coma, do not contribute to information gain.
A new Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network protocol to reduce cerebrospinal fluid shunt infection
Authors: Kestle John R. W. , Holubkov Richard , Douglas Cochrane D. , Kulkarni Abhaya V. , Limbrick David D. , Luerssen Thomas G. , Jerry Oakes W. , Riva-Cambrin Jay , Rozzelle Curtis , Simon Tamara D. , Walker Marion L. , Wellons John C. , Browd Samuel R. , Drake James M. , Shannon Chevis N. , Tamber Mandeep S. , Whitehead William E. , _ _
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

In a previous report by the same research group (Kestle et al., 2011), compliance with an 11-step protocol was shown to reduce CSF shunt infection at Hydrocephalus Clinical Research Network (HCRN) centers (from 8.7% to 5.7%). Antibiotic-impregnated catheters (AICs) were not part of the protocol but were used off protocol by some surgeons. The authors therefore began using a new protocol that included AICs in an effort to reduce the infection rate further.

METHODS

The new protocol was implemented at HCRN centers on January 1, 2012, for all shunt procedures (excluding external ventricular drains [EVDs], ventricular reservoirs, and subgaleal shunts). Procedures performed up to September 30, 2013, were included (21 months). Compliance with the protocol and outcome events up to March 30, 2014, were recorded. The definition of infection was unchanged from the authors' previous report.

RESULTS

A total of 1935 procedures were performed on 1670 patients at 8 HCRN centers. The overall infection rate was 6.0% (95% CI 5.1%–7.2%). Procedure-specific infection rates varied (insertion 5.0%, revision 5.4%, insertion after EVD 8.3%, and insertion after treatment of infection 12.6%). Full compliance with the protocol occurred in 77% of procedures. The infection rate was 5.0% after compliant procedures and 8.7% after noncompliant procedures (p = 0.005). The infection rate when using this new protocol (6.0%, 95% CI 5.1%–7.2%) was similar to the infection rate observed using the authors' old protocol (5.7%, 95% CI 4.6%–7.0%).

CONCLUSIONS

CSF shunt procedures performed in compliance with a new infection prevention protocol at HCRN centers had a lower infection rate than noncompliant procedures. Implementation of the new protocol (including AICs) was associated with a 6.0% infection rate, similar to the infection rate of 5.7% from the authors' previously reported protocol. Based on the current data, the role of AICs compared with other infection prevention measures is unclear.
Efficacy of phosphorus-32 brachytherapy without external-beam radiation for long-term tumor control in patients with craniopharyngioma
Authors: Ansari Shaheryar F. , Moore Reilin J. , Boaz Joel C. , Fulkerson Daniel H.
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

Radioactive phosphorus-32 (P32) has been used as brachytherapy for craniopharyngiomas with the hope of providing local control of enlarging tumor cysts. Brachytherapy has commonly been used as an adjunct to the standard treatment of surgery and external-beam radiation (EBR). Historically, multimodal treatment, including EBR, has shown tumor control rates as high as 70% at 10 years after treatment. However, EBR is associated with significant long-term risks, including visual deficits, endocrine dysfunction, and cognitive decline. Theoretically, brachytherapy may provide focused local radiation that controls or shrinks a symptomatic cyst without exposing the patient to the risks of EBR. For this study, the authors reviewed their experiences with craniopharyngioma patients treated with P32 brachytherapy as the primary treatment without EBR. The authors reviewed these patients' records to evaluate whether this strategy effectively controls tumor growth, thus avoiding the need for further surgery or EBR.

METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective review of pediatric patients treated for craniopharyngioma between 1997 and 2004. This was the time period during which the authors' institution had a relatively high use of P32 for treatment of cystic craniopharyngioma. All patients who had surgery and injection of P32 without EBR were identified. The patient records were analyzed for complications, cyst control, need for further surgery, and need for future EBR.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight patients were treated for craniopharyngioma during the study period. Nine patients (23.7%) were identified who had surgery (resection or biopsy) with P32 brachytherapy but without initial EBR. These 9 patients represented the study group. For 1 patient (11.1%), there was a complication with the brachytherapy procedure. Five patients (55.5%) required subsequent surgery. Seven patients (77.7%) required subsequent EBR for tumor growth. The mean time between the injection of P32 and subsequent treatment was 1.67 ± 1.50 years (mean ± SD).

CONCLUSIONS

In this small but focused population, P32 treatment provided limited local control for cyst growth. Brachytherapy alone did not reliably avert the need for subsequent surgery or EBR.
A formal framework for security analysis of NFC mobile coupon protocols
Authors: Alshehri Ali , Schneider Steve
Published: December 2015

Near Field Communication (NFC) is a Radio Frequency (RF) technology that allows data to be exchanged between devices that are in close proximity. An NFC-based mobile coupon (M-coupon) is a coupon that is retrieved by the user from a source such as a newspaper or a smart poster and redeemed afterwards. The M-coupon is a cryptographically secured electronic message with some value stored on user’s mobile. We develop a formal framework for security analysis of NFC mobile coupons protocols using formal methods ( CasperFDR). The framework aims to check whether NFC M-coupon protocols address their security requirements. The paper starts with a formal definition of the NFC M-coupon requirements in which can be applied to a variety of protocols. Then, we apply the framework to a quadratic residue-based NFC M-coupon protocol proposed in the literature. The analysis shows an attack against User Authentication property. An additional contribution is that we model the protocol with a challenge of modelling the quadratic residue theorem (QR). We propose two ways of abstracting QR in the model with the pros and cons of both methods. We show how to overcome some limitations of CasperFDR, the protocol analysis tool used, that prevent us from modelling the protocol in a natural way. Moreover, we discuss an interesting observation regarding how found attacks can be affected by a divided long message in CasperFDR.
Main Leaf Polyphenolic Components of Berry Color Variant Grapevines and Their Acclimative Responses to Sunlight Exposure
Authors: Kocsis Marianna , Abrankó László , Ayaydin Ferhan , Csepregi Kristóf , Papp Nóra , Teszlák Péter , Jakab Gábor
Published: December 2015

Grapevine leaf synthesizes a wide variety of bioactive secondary metabolites, including polyphenols, which are also key components in ensuring development and growth of the whole plant even under adverse environmental conditions. Our study evaluates the nonanthocyanin polyphenolic composition in grapevine leaves of three varieties of Gohér conculta (Vitis vinifera L.) native to Hungary. A high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system including a diode array detector (DAD) coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (q-TOFMS) was successfully applied to profile intact glycoconjugate forms in samples. In-source fragmentation was utilized in order to provide structural information on the compounds. Using this method, the presence of 16 polyphenolic metabolites were confirmed, and eight of them were subjected to further quantification in sun acclimated and half shaded leaves. Intracellular microimaging detected accumulation of flavonols in cell nuclei, cell wall and chloroplasts. Our findings demonstrated that Gohér conculta—a special grapevine taxon of our viticultural heritage with berry color variants—is a suitable model to study the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in determination of grapevine phenolic composition.
Oncogenic MicroRNAs: Key Players in Malignant Transformation
Authors: Frixa Tania , Donzelli Sara , Blandino Giovanni
Published: December 2015

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) represent a class of non-coding RNAs that exert pivotal roles in the regulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. MiRNAs are involved in many biological processes and slight modulations in their expression have been correlated with the occurrence of different diseases. In particular, alterations in the expression of miRNAs with oncogenic or tumor suppressor functions have been associated with carcinogenesis, malignant transformation, metastasis and response to anticancer treatments. This review will mainly focus on oncogenic miRNAs whose aberrant expression leads to malignancy.
Washcoat Deposition of Ni- and Co-ZrO2 Low Surface Area Powders onto Ceramic Open-Cell Foams: Influence of Slurry Formulation and Rheology
Authors: Balzarotti Riccardo , Ciurlia Mirko , Cristiani Cinzia , Paparella Fabio
Published: December 2015

The effect of formulations and procedures to deposit thin active layers based on low surface area powders on complex geometry substrates (open-cell foams) was experimentally assessed. An acid-free liquid medium based on water, glycerol, and polyvinyl alcohol was used for powder dispersion, while a dip-coating technique was chosen for washcoat deposition on 30 PPI ceramic open-cell foams. The rheological behavior was explained on the bases of both porosity and actual powder density. It was proved that the use of multiple dippings fulfills flexibility requirements for washcoat load management. Multiple depositions with intermediate flash drying steps at 350 °C were carried out. Washcoat loads in the 2.5 to 22 wt. % range were obtained. Pore clogging was seldom observed in a limited extent in samples with high loading (>20 wt. %). Adhesion, evaluated by means of accelerated stress test in ultrasound bath, pointed out good results of all the deposited layers.
Revisiting the Challenges in Fabricating Uniform Coatings with Polyfunctional Molecules on High Surface Energy Materials
Authors: Oyola-Reynoso Stephanie , Wang Zhengjia , Chen Jiahao , Çınar Simge , Chang Boyce , Thuo Martin
Published: December 2015

Modifying the chemistry of a surface has been widely used to influence interfacial properties of a material or nature of interaction between two materials. This article provides an overview on the role of polyfunctional molecules, specifically silanes, in surface modification of polar surfaces (bearing soft nucleophiles). An emphasis on the mechanism of the reaction in the presence of adsorbed water, where the modifying reagents are hydrolysable, is discussed. To highlight the complexity of the reaction, modification of paper with trichlorosilanes is highlighted. Preparation of hydrophobic cellulosic paper, and structure–property relations under different treatment conditions is used to highlight that a monolayer is not always formed during the surface modification. Gel-formation via step-growth polymerization suggests that at the right monomer:adsorbed water ratio, a monolayer will not form but rather self-assembly driven particle formation will occur leading to a textured surface. The review highlights recent work indicating that the focus on monolayer formation, is at the very least, not always the case but gel formation, with concomitant self-assembly, might be the culprit in understanding challenges associated with the use of polyfunctional molecules in surface modification.
The Ongoing Growth of the M87 Halo through Accretion Events
Authors: Longobardi Alessia , Arnaboldi Magda , Gerhard Ortwin
Published: December 2015

Planetary nebulas (PNs) offer a unique tool to investigate the outer regions of massive galaxies because their strong [OIII]λ5007Å emission line makes them detectable out to several effective radii from the galaxy’s centre. We use a deep and extended spectroscopic survey of PNs (∼300 objects) to study the spatial distribution, the kinematics and the stellar populations in the extended outer halo of the bright elliptical galaxy M87 (NGC 4486) in the Virgo cluster. We show that in the Virgo core, M87 stellar halo and the intracluster light are two distinct dynamical components, with different velocity distributions. Moreover the synergy of the PN kinematical information and the deep V/B-band photometry revealed an ongoing accretion event in the outer regions of M87. This satellite accretion represents a non-negligible perturbation of the halo properties: beyond 60 kpc the M87 halo is still growing with 60% of its light being added by the accretion event at the distance where it is detected.
Classifying Natural Waters with the Forel-Ule Colour Index System: Results, Applications, Correlations and Crowdsourcing
Authors: Garaba Shungudzemwoyo , Friedrichs Anna , Voß Daniela , Zielinski Oliver
Published: December 2015

Societal awareness of changes in the environment and climate has grown rapidly, and there is a need to engage citizens in gathering relevant scientific information to monitor environmental changes due to recognition that citizens are a potential source of critical information. The apparent colour of natural waters is one aspect of our aquatic environment that is easy to detect and an essential complementary optical water quality indicator. Here we present the results and explore the utility of the Forel-Ule colour index (FUI) scale as a proxy for different properties of natural waters. A FUI scale is used to distinguish the apparent colours of different natural surface water masses. Correlation analysis was completed in an effort to determine the constituents of natural waters related to FUI. Strong correlations with turbidity, Secchi-disk depth, and coloured dissolved organic material suggest the FUI is a good indicator of changes related to other constituents of water. The increase in the number of tools capable of determining the FUI colours, (i) ocean colour remote sensing products; (ii) a handheld scale; and (iii) a mobile device app, make it a versatile relative measure of water quality. It has the potential to provide higher spatial and temporal resolution of data for a modernized classification of optical water quality. This FUI colour system has been favoured by several scientists in the last century because it is affordable and easy to use and provides indicative information about the colour of water and the water constituents producing that colour. It is therefore within the scope of a growing interest in the application and usefulness of basic measurement methodologies with the potential to provide timely benchmark information about the environment to the public, scientists and policymakers.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Genes Involved in GA-GID1-DELLA Regulatory Module in Symbiotic and Asymbiotic Seed Germination of Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (Orchidaceae)
Authors: Liu Si-Si , Chen Juan , Li Shu-Chao , Zeng Xu , Meng Zhi-Xia , Guo Shun-Xing
Published: December 2015

Anoectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (Orchidaceae) is an endangered medicinal plant in China, also called “King Medicine”. Due to lacking of sufficient nutrients in dust-like seeds, orchid species depend on mycorrhizal fungi for seed germination in the wild. As part of a conservation plan for the species, research on seed germination is necessary. However, the molecular mechanism of seed germination and underlying orchid-fungus interactions during symbiotic germination are poorly understood. In this study, Illumina HiSeq 4000 transcriptome sequencing was performed to generate a substantial sequence dataset of germinating A. roxburghii seed. A mean of 44,214,845 clean reads were obtained from each sample. 173,781 unigenes with a mean length of 653 nt were obtained. A total of 51,514 (29.64%) sequences were annotated, among these, 49 unigenes encoding proteins involved in GA-GID1-DELLA regulatory module, including 31 unigenes involved in GA metabolism pathway, 5 unigenes encoding GID1, 11 unigenes for DELLA and 2 unigenes for GID2. A total of 11,881 genes showed significant differential expression in the symbiotic germinating seed sample compared with the asymbiotic germinating seed sample, of which six were involved in the GA-GID1-DELLA regulatory module, and suggested that they might be induced or suppressed by fungi. These results will help us understand better the molecular mechanism of orchid seed germination and orchid-fungus symbiosis.
Phenolic Assesment of Uncaria tomentosa L. (Cat’s Claw): Leaves, Stem, Bark and Wood Extracts
Authors: Navarro Hoyos Mirtha , Sánchez-Patán Fernando , Murillo Masis Renato , Martín-Álvarez Pedro , Zamora Ramirez William , Monagas Maria , Bartolomé Begoña
Published: December 2015

The phenolic composition of extracts from Uncaria tomentosa L. from different regions of Costa Rica was studied using advanced analytical techniques such as UPLC/TQ-ESI-MS and 13C-NMR. Samples from leaves, stems, bark and wood (n = 22) were subjected to extraction to obtain phenolic and alkaloid extracts, separately. Comparatively, higher values of total phenolic content were observed for leaves, stems and bark (225–494 gallic acid equivalents/g) than for wood extracts (40–167 gallic acid equivalents/g). A total of 32 non-flavonoid and flavonoid compounds were identified in the phenolic extracts: hydroxybenzoic acids (benzoic, salicylic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, prochatechuic, gallic, syringic and vanillic acids), hydroxycinnamic acids (p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic and isoferulic acids), flavan-3-ols monomers [(+)-catechin and (−)-epicatechin)], procyanidin dimers (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7 and two other of unknown structure) and trimers (C1, T2 and one of unknown structure), flavalignans (four unknown structures pertaining to the cinchonain family) and propelargonidin dimers (four unknown structures, reported for the first time in U. tomentosa). Additionally, alkaloid extracts obtained from the plant residue after phenolic extraction exhibited a content of tetracyclic and pentacyclic alkaloids ranging between 95 and 275 mg/100 g of dry material for bark extracts, and between 30 and 704 mg/100 g for leaves extracts. In addition, a minor alkaloid was isolated and characterized, namely 18,19-dehydrocorynoxinoic acid. Our results confirmed the feasibility of U. tomentosa as a suitable raw material for obtaining phenolic- and alkaloid-rich extracts of potential interest.
Facile and Eco-Friendly Synthesis of Finger-Like Co3O4 Nanorods for Electrochemical Energy Storage
Authors: Sun Shijiao , Zhao Xiangyu , Yang Meng , Ma Liqun , Shen Xiaodong
Published: December 2015

Co3O4 nanorods were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method. Eco-friendly deionized water rather than organic solvent was used as the hydrothermal media. The as-prepared Co3O4 nanorods are composed of many nanoparticles of 30–50 nm in diameter, forming a finger-like morphology. The Co3O4 electrode shows a specific capacitance of 265 F g−1 at 2 mV s−1 in a supercapacitor and delivers an initial specific discharge capacity as high as 1171 mAh g−1 at a current density of 50 mA g−1 in a lithium ion battery. Excellent cycling stability and electrochemical reversibility of the Co3O4 electrode were also obtained.
The Catholic Bishops vs. the Contraceptive Mandate
Authors: Griffin Leslie
Published: December 2015

The Roman Catholic bishops of the United States have publicly opposed artificial contraception since they first issued a public statement condemning it in 1919. Thereafter, the bishops were generally unsuccessful in persuading the public that contraceptive access should be restricted. Recently, however, the bishops succeeded in a campaign to restrict access to contraceptives for Catholic and non-Catholic women alike. Their lobbying and public criticism of the contraceptive mandate of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires employer health plans to offer preventive reproductive care coverage, forced Obama administration officials into a series of accommodations that gutted portions of the law intended to provide contraception to employees without copayment or cost sharing. In contrast to their earlier efforts to restrict reproductive freedom, the bishops successfully characterized their efforts against the ACA as a battle for religious freedom rather than against reproductive rights. This successful strategy may lead to future setbacks for women’s reproductive liberty.
A Regional Land Use Drought Index for Florida
Authors: Cheng Chi-Han , Nnadi Fidelia , Liou Yuei-An
Published: December 2015

Drought index is a useful tool to assess and respond to drought. However, current drought indices could not fully reveal land use effects and they have limitations in applications. Besides, El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), strongly influences the climate of Florida. Hence, understanding ENSO patterns on a regional scale and developing a new land use drought index suitable for Florida are critical in agriculture and water resources planning and management. This paper presents a 32 km high resolution land use adapted drought index, which relies on five types of land uses (lake, urban, forest, wetland, and agriculture) in Florida. The land uses were obtained from National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) data from 1979 to 2002. The results showed that Bowen ratio responded to land use and could be used as an indicator to monitor drought events. Then, an innovative regional land use drought index was developed from the normalized Bowen ratio, which could reflect not only the level of severity during drought events resulting from land use effects, but also La Niña driven drought impacts. The proposed new index may help scientists answer the critical questions about drought effect on various land uses and potential feedbacks of changes in land use and land cover to climate.
Validation of the Suomi NPP VIIRS Ice Surface Temperature Environmental Data Record
Authors: Liu Yinghui , Key Jeffrey , Tschudi Mark , Dworak Richard , Mahoney Robert , Baldwin Daniel
Published: December 2015

Continuous monitoring of the surface temperature is critical to understanding and forecasting Arctic climate change; as surface temperature integrates changes in the surface energy budget. The sea-ice surface temperature (IST) has been measured with optical and thermal infrared sensors for many years. With the IST Environmental Data Record (EDR) available from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (NPP) and future Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites; we can continue to monitor and investigate Arctic climate change. This work examines the quality of the VIIRS IST EDR. Validation is performed through comparisons with multiple datasets; including NASA IceBridge measurements; air temperature from Arctic drifting ice buoys; Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) IST; MODIS IST simultaneous nadir overpass (SNO); and surface air temperature from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis. Results show biases of −0.34; −0.12; 0.16; −3.20; and −3.41 K compared to an aircraft-mounted downward-looking pyrometer; MODIS; MODIS SNO; drifting buoy; and NCEP/NCAR reanalysis; respectively; root-mean-square errors of 0.98; 1.02; 0.95; 4.89; and 6.94 K; and root-mean-square errors with the bias removed of 0.92; 1.01; 0.94; 3.70; and 6.04 K. Based on the IceBridge and MODIS results; the VIIRS IST uncertainty (RMSE) meets or exceeds the JPSS system requirement of 1.0 K. The product can therefore be considered useful for meteorological and climatological applications.
An Effective Method for Snow-Cover Mapping of Dense Coniferous Forests in the Upper Heihe River Basin Using Landsat Operational Land Imager Data
Authors: Wang Xiao-Yan , Wang Jian , Jiang Zhi-Yong , Li Hong-Yi , Hao Xiao-Hua
Published: December 2015

The Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI) is an effective index for snow-cover mapping at large scales, but in forested regions the identification accuracy for snow using the NDSI is low because of forest cover effects. In this study, typical evergreen coniferous forest zones on Qilian Mountain in the Upper Heihe River Basin (UHRB) were chosen as example regions. By analyzing the spectral signature of snow-covered and snow-free evergreen coniferous forests with Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI) data, a novel spectral band ratio using near-infrared (NIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands, defined as (ρnir − ρswir)/(ρnir + ρswir), is proposed. Our research shows that this band ratio, named the normalized difference forest snow index (NDFSI), can be used to effectively distinguish snow-covered evergreen coniferous forests from snow-free evergreen coniferous forests in UHRB.
Pharmacokinetics of Chiral Dendrimer-Triamine-Coordinated Gd-MRI Contrast Agents Evaluated by in Vivo MRI and Estimated by in Vitro QCM
Authors: Miyake Yuka , Ishikawa Syungo , Kimura Yu , Son Aoi , Imai Hirohiko , Matsuda Tetsuya , Yamada Hisatsugu , Toshimitsu Akio , Kondo Teruyuki
Published: December 2015

Recently, we developed novel chiral dendrimer-triamine-coordinated Gd-MRI contrast agents (Gd-MRI CAs), which showed longitudinal relaxivity (r1) values about four times higher than that of clinically used Gd-DTPA (Magnevist®, Bayer). In our continuing study of pharmacokinetic differences derived from both the chirality and generation of Gd-MRI CAs, we found that the ability of chiral dendrimer Gd-MRI CAs to circulate within the body can be directly evaluated by in vitro MRI (7 T). In this study, the association constants (Ka) of chiral dendrimer Gd-MRI CAs to bovine serum albumin (BSA), measured and calculated with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) in vitro, were found to be an extremely easy means for evaluating the body-circulation ability of chiral dendrimer Gd-MRI CAs. The Ka values of S-isomeric dendrimer Gd-MRI CAs were generally greater than those of R-isomeric dendrimer Gd-MRI CAs, which is consistent with the results of our previous MRI study in vivo.
Waste Energy Recovery from Natural Gas Distribution Network: CELSIUS Project Demonstrator in Genoa
Authors: Borelli Davide , Devia Francesco , Marré Brunenghi Margherita , Schenone Corrado , Spoladore Alessandro
Published: December 2015

Increasing energy efficiency by the smart recovery of waste energy is the scope of the CELSIUS Project (Combined Efficient Large Scale Integrated Urban Systems). The CELSIUS consortium includes a world-leading partnership of outstanding research, innovation and implementation organizations, and gather competence and excellence from five European cities with complementary baseline positions regarding the sustainable use of energy: Cologne, Genoa, Gothenburg, London, and Rotterdam. Lasting four-years and coordinated by the City of Gothenburg, the project faces with an holistic approach technical, economic, administrative, social, legal and political issues concerning smart district heating and cooling, aiming to establish best practice solutions. This will be done through the implementation of twelve new high-reaching demonstration projects, which cover the most major aspects of innovative urban heating and cooling for a smart city. The Genoa demonstrator was designed in order to recover energy from the pressure drop between the main supply line and the city natural gas network. The potential mechanical energy is converted to electricity by a turboexpander/generator system, which has been integrated in a combined heat and power plant to supply a district heating network. The performed energy analysis assessed natural gas saving and greenhouse gas reduction achieved through the smart systems integration.
A Novel Forecasting Methodology for Sustainable Management of Defense Technology
Authors: Kim Sungchul , Jang Dongsik , Jun Sunghae , Park Sangsung
Published: December 2015

A dynamic methodology for sustainable management of defense technology is proposed to overcome the limitations of the static methodology, which involves comparative analysis based on the criterion of the highest technology level and has limitations for time series analysis, because the country with the highest level undergoes technical changes over time. To address these limitations, this study applies a technology growth model for a dynamic analysis of the Delphi result. An effective method using patents is also proposed to verify and adjust the analysis results. First, technology levels of the present and future are examined by the Delphi technique, and the growth curve is extracted based on the technology growth model. Second, the technology growth curve based on patents is extracted using the annual number of unexamined and registered patents related to the technology. Lastly, the statistical significance of the two growth curves is examined using regression analysis. Then the growth curves are adjusted by the rate of increase in patents. This methodology could provide dynamic technology level data to facilitate sustainable management of defense technology. The results could be useful to research institutions, as they establish strategies for securing technologies in defense or private domains.
Implications from Under-reporting at Lifetime, Death Certificate Notifications and Trace-back on the Recorded Incidence of a “Newly” Established Population-based Cancer Registry
Authors: Brenner H. , Holleczek B.
Published: December 2015

Objectives: Population-based cancer registries (CRs) are powerful tools for measuring cancer burden and progress against cancer. The study’s objective was to investigate the effects of under-reporting at lifetime, death certificate notifications, and trace-back on the incidence a newly established population-based CR may record during its initial 15 years of operation.

Methods: Using cancer data of nine CRs of the SEER programme we performed model calculations to investigate temporal trends of the recorded incidence that might be expected if registration started in 1995 with gradually increasing proportions of cancers reported to the CR. It was assumed that the CR obtains all death certificates providing cancer as the underlying cause of death. Different scenarios with regard to the development of the pro -portions of cancers reported to the CR and the use of trace-back were evaluated.

Results: Our model calculations demonstrated that the inclusion of cancers notified from death certificates which were diagnosed prior to the start of registration and which attribute to the incidence estimates of the year of death (‘prevalent’ cases) may compensate under-reporting typically observed right after the start of a CR. The re corded incidence may even be overestimated during the first years of registration, if large amounts of prevalent cancers are notified from death certificates (e.g. overestimation of lung cancer incidence by 8% and 21% in the first year of registration, if the proportions of cases reported were 50% and 70% in that year, overestimation of myeloma incidence still exceeding 5% after eight years of registration, if the proportion of cases reported to the CR had reached 97.5% after six years). Trace-back may effectively reduce the recorded surplus cancer cases.

Conclusions: During the initial years of registration, the inclusion of prevalent cancers from death certificates may compensate the higher amount of underreporting right after the start of a CR. Accurate incidence estimates may nevertheless be observed for highly fatal cancers if substantial proportions of cancer cases are missed at lifetime, however apparent incidence trends observed in the initial years of registration need to be interpreted with caution.
Catalytic asymmetric formal synthesis of beraprost
Authors: Kobayashi Yusuke , Kuramoto Ryuta , Takemoto Yoshiji
Published: December 2015

The first catalytic asymmetric synthesis of the key intermediate for beraprost has been achieved through an enantioselective intramolecular oxa-Michael reaction of an α,β-unsaturated amide mediated by a newly developed benzothiadiazine catalyst. The Weinreb amide moiety and bromo substituent of the Michael adduct were utilized for the C–C bond formations to construct the scaffold. All four contiguous stereocenters of the tricyclic core were controlled via Rh-catalyzed stereoselective C–H insertion and the subsequent reduction from the convex face.
MULTIPLE CRITERIA DECISION-MAKING TECHNIQUES IN TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE STATE OF THE ART LITERATURE
Authors: Mardani Abbas , Zavadskas Edmundas Kazimieras , Khalifah Zainab , Jusoh Ahmad , Nor Khalil MD
Published: December 2015

The main goal of this review paper is to provide a systematic review of Multiple Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) techniques in regard to transportation systems problems. This study reviewed a total of 89 papers, published from 1993 to 2015, from 39 high-ranking journals; most of which were related to transportation science and were extracted from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Papers were classified into 10 main application areas and nine transport infrastructure. Furthermore, papers were categorized based on the author(s) and year, name of the journal in which they were published, technique and approach, author(s) nationality, application area and scope, study purpose, gap and research problem and results and outcome. The results of this study indicated that more papers on MCDM in 2013 than in any other year. AHP and Fuzzy-AHP methods in the individual methods and hybrid MCDM and fuzzy MCDM in the integrated methods were ranked as the first and second methods in use, respectively. The Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice was the most significant journal in this study, with 13 publications on the topic. Finally, service quality was ranked as the first application area and airline industry was ranked as the first transport infrastructure that applied MCDM techniques.
EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF STEEL EQUAL ANGLE SUBJECTED TO COMPRESSION
Authors: Bhilawe Jyoti V. , Gupta Laxmikant M.
Published: December 2015

This paper presents pin-ended compression tests on steel equal angles. Three nominal section sizes were tested. Detailed measurements of material properties, residual stresses, and geometrical imperfections were conducted. The pin ended specimens were tested with a minimal eccentricity of L/1,000 applied about the minor axis to cause compression at the tips of the legs. The test data are compared with the Indian specifications for hot-rolled steel structures. The section capacities obtained from the column tests are found to be between 15 and 40% higher than those calculated according to the specifications. It is concluded that there is no need to include the additional eccentricity specified in the steel structures standards accounting for the shift of the effective centroid, and that the eccentricity of L/1,000, specified for all section classes, should be applied to slender sections only.
PROPERTIES OF THE OPEN CLUSTER TOMBAUGH 1 FROM HIGH-RESOLUTION SPECTROSCOPY AND uvbyCaHβ PHOTOMETRY*
Authors: Sales Silva João V. , Carraro Giovanni , Anthony-Twarog Barbara J. , Bidin Christian Moni , Costa Edgardo , Twarog Bruce A.
Published: December 2015

Open clusters can be the key to deepening our knowledge on various issues involving the structure and evolution of the Galactic disk and details of stellar evolution because a cluster’s properties are applicable to all its members. However, the number of open clusters with detailed analysis from high-resolution spectroscopy or precision photometry imposes severe limitations on studies of these objects. To expand the number of open clusters with well-defined chemical abundances and fundamental parameters, we investigate the poorly studied, anticenter open cluster Tombaugh 1. Using precision uvbyCaHβ photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy, we derive the cluster’s reddening, obtain photometric metallicity estimates, and, for the first time, present a detailed abundance analysis of 10 potential cluster stars (nine clump stars and one Cepheid). Using the radial position from the cluster center and multiple color indices, we have isolated a sample of unevolved, probable single-star members of Tombaugh 1. From 51 stars, the cluster reddening is found to be

 = 0.221 ± 0.006 or

 = 0.303 ± 0.008, where the errors refer to the internal standard errors of the mean. The weighted photometric metallicity from m
1 and hk is [Fe/H] = −0.10 ± 0.02, while a match to the Victoria-Regina Strömgren isochrones leads to an age of 0.95 ± 0.10 Gyr and an apparent modulus of

 = 13.10 ± 0.10. Radial velocities identify six giants as probable cluster members, and the elemental abundances of Fe, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Ni, Y, Ba, Ce, and Nd have been derived for both the cluster and the field stars. Tombaugh 1 appears to be a typical inner thin disk, intermediate-age open cluster of slightly subsolar metallicity, located just beyond the solar circle, with solar elemental abundance ratios except for the heavy s-process elements, which are a factor of two above solar. Its metallicity is consistent with a steep metallicity gradient in the galactocentric region between 9.5 and 12 kpc. Our study also shows that Cepheid XZ CMa is not a member of Tombaugh 1 and reveals that this Cepheid presents signs of barium enrichment, making it a probable binary star.
Quelle empathie pour les autistes ? Empathie et identifications
Authors: Trouvé Jean-Noël
Published: December 2015

Les résultats des travaux neuroscientifiques récents montrent que l’empathie traduit non pas une compétence unique, mais au moins l’articulation subtile de deux groupes de fonctions, qu’on peut résumer comme la simulation mentale d’une part, la lecture mentale d’autre part. À différents niveaux, ces compétences peuvent être en défaut chez les personnes autistes. Mais l’interprétation des manifestations de l’empathie seulement en termes fonctionnels ne permet pas de prendre en compte la structure subjective plus large dans laquelle le lien à l’autre se réalise. Cette structure dont certains philosophes avaient déjà montré la direction, nécessite de prendre en compte un tiers terme comme garant de l’échange humain, au-delà du jeu entre identification imaginaire et identification symbolique. Et notre empathie pour les autistes gagne à être interrogée plutôt sous cet angle.
Des biens collectifs aux biens communs en Europe
Authors: Vérez Jean-Claude
Published: December 2015

Si les défauts de marché existent bien, la désignation de biens comme biens collectifs, biens publics ou biens communs n’est pas aisée. Elle pose de multiples interrogations, dont leur réglementation, leur financement, leur contrôle, leur efficacité. L’UE à 28 se heurte à des défis majeurs en la matière dans un contexte mondial instable.
The European common good : an economist’s perspective
Authors: Le Cacheux Jacques
Published: December 2015

La notion de bien commun n’est pas familière pour les économistes, qui utilisent plus volontiers les concepts de biens collectifs ou de « biens club ». Dans le contexte de l’Union européenne, les progrès accomplis en matière d’intégration des marchés et d’unification monétaire ont renforcé les interdépendances entre États membres, rendant ainsi plus impératif le besoin d’institutions communes, pas seulement pour contraindre les gouvernements nationaux à ne pas nuire à leurs partenaires, mais pour pouvoir décider de ce qu’est le bien commun européen, de ce qu’il convient de faire pour le poursuivre, et des actions qu’il requiert. Comme l’a montré la gestion des crises récentes – la Grande récession de 2009, la crise des dettes souveraines entamée en 2010 et la récente crise des migrants --, le traité de Lisbonne n’a pas institué de procédures de prise de décision collective efficaces et le budget européen est aujourd’hui trop rigide, trop restreint et insuffisamment financé pour permettre de faire face aux défis que pose le bien commun européen.
Et les villes dépasseront les nations sur la route de l’innovation
Authors: Cramer Yann
Published: December 2015

Depuis son apparition il y a environ dix mille ans, l’espace urbain a eu pour vocation de rapprocher les talents de différentes disciplines et de faciliter les échanges commerciaux. Favorisant ainsi à la fois la production d’idées nouvelles et leur accès au marché, les villes ont offert un cadre idéal à l’innovation. Un temps éclipsées par la toute puissance des États-Nations, les villes font aujourd’hui leur grand retour sur la scène de l’innovation, grâce à la conjugaison de plusieurs facteurs : démographique, avec la forte croissance de l’urbanisation ; économique, avec l’essor du circuit court et de l’économie circulaire qui contribuent à une relocalisation partielle de l’économie ; politique, avec le grand retour de la Ville-État ou du moins d’une Ville-Monde qui, de plus en plus, s’affranchit de la tutelle de l’État. Plus petite entité géoéconomique qui puisse prétendre constituer un écosystème cohérent, la Ville se réaffirme comme le lieu privilégié de l’innovation, y compris de l’innovation d’usage à fort pouvoir transformationnel sur la société.
Cyberespace et intelligence économique
Authors: Kempf Olivier , Mazzucchi Nicolas
Published: December 2015

Le concept d’intelligence économique à la française, né il y a plus de vingt ans, se trouve bouleversé par l’irruption de plus en plus importante du cyberespace dans les organisations et la vie quotidienne de tout-un-chacun. Il serait possible de croire que cette rupture technologique pourrait rendre obsolète des méthodologies fondées sur l’appréhension de l’information à l’ère pré-numérique. Or il n’en est rien. Bien au contraire, l’intelligence économique se révèle, par ses méthodologies et son approche particulière de l’information, un parfait cadre d’adaptation à un environnement économique où la donnée devient la nouvelle richesse. Pour accompagner les mutations de business model de certaines entreprises, leur permettre de se projeter à l’international ou d’optimiser leur développement, l’intelligence économique s’allie aujourd’hui au Big Data afin de valoriser l’information.
Enjeux en Méditerranée
Authors: Coustillière Jean-François
Published: December 2015

La Méditerranée apparaît comme une zone de forte instabilité où les crises se nourrissent non seulement de conflits anciens le plus souvent liés à des revendications territoriales, mais aussi des détestables conditions de vie des populations du Sud soumises, pour la plupart, à des gouvernances corrompues, sans oublier les inégalités insupportables entre Sud et Nord ainsi que de la suspicion permanente d’être rejeté, voire méprisé par l’autre. Cet état de fait est aggravé par les révoltes populaires déstabilisantes survenues depuis début 2011. Ces conditions favorisent l’émergence et le développement du terrorisme. Pour s’opposer à cette menace, il importe d’identifier les enjeux par ordre de priorité afin d’enrayer l’instabilité grandissante que connaît la région méditerranéenne. Il est ainsi proposé un classement – entre enjeux vitaux, enjeux cruciaux et autres enjeux – qui pourrait permettre de répondre aux besoins des sociétés selon les urgences qui s’imposent naturellement et qui devraient guider la coopération entre Nord et Sud, faisant abstraction des intérêts particuliers au profit de l’intérêt général.
Les vingt ans de la Déclaration de Barcelone : reconstruire sur un champ de ruines
Authors: Daguzan Jean-François
Published: December 2015

Vingt ans après la Déclaration de Barcelone, le bilan du processus euro-méditerranéen est plus que mitigé. Si le Partenariat euro-méditerranéen avait contribué à maintenir un ensemble de liens entre les rives, il n’a pas résisté, ni l’Union pour la Méditerranée qui lui a succédé, à la crise économique et financière mondiale et aux révolutions arabes consécutives. Il convient donc de questionner, en cette date anniversaire, le sens et la pertinence de la coopération euro-méditerranéenne, et ses voies de relance, à un moment où la zone semble s’enliser dans l’insécurité et le marasme économique.
L’Inde, acteur géoéconomique majeur du négoce mondial du riz
Authors: Claverie Benjamin
Published: December 2015

Initiée dans un objectif national d’autosuffisance alimentaire, la Révolution verte appliquée à la riziculture conduit en quelques décennies à l’insertion de l’Inde dans la mondialisation agricole au moyen d’exportations. Aussi séduisant qu’il soit, ce modèle est aujourd’hui confronté à des questionnements : durabilité économique, sociale et environnementale ; accentuation des inégalités régionales dans les campagnes ; baisse de l’intervention publique ; montée des concurrences internationales et des critiques dans le cadre de l’OMC. Ces évolutions plaident en faveur d’une conversion à la Révolution doublement verte.