bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulating Volumetric Pricing for Irrigation Water Operational Cost Recovery under Complete and Perfect Information
Authors: Giraldo Luca , Cortignani Raffaele , Dono Gabriele
Published: May 2014

This study evaluated the implementation of a volumetric and cost-recovery pricing method for irrigation water under symmetric information conditions without the inclusion of implementation costs. The study was carried out in two steps. First, a cost function was estimated for irrigation water supplied by a water user association to a typical Mediterranean agricultural area, based on a translog function. Second, the economic impact of a pricing method designed according to this cost function was simulated using a mathematical programming territorial model for the same agricultural area. The outcomes were compared with those for the current pricing method. The impacts of this pricing method are discussed in terms of its neutral effects on total farm income and, conversely, the importance of the redistributive effects.
Sensitivity of Distributed Hydrologic Simulations to Ground and Satellite Based Rainfall Products
Authors: Chintalapudi Singaiah , Sharif Hatim , Xie Hongjie
Published: May 2014

In this study, seven precipitation products (rain gauges, NEXRAD MPE, PERSIANN 0.25 degree, PERSIANN CCS-3hr, PERSIANN CCS-1hr, TRMM 3B42V7, and CMORPH) were used to force a physically-based distributed hydrologic model. The model was driven by these products to simulate the hydrologic response of a 1232 km2 watershed in the Guadalupe River basin, Texas. Storm events in 2007 were used to analyze the precipitation products. Comparison with rain gauge observations reveals that there were significant biases in the satellite rainfall products and large variations in the estimated amounts. The radar basin average precipitation compared very well with the rain gauge product while the gauge-adjusted TRMM 3B42V7 precipitation compared best with observed rainfall among all satellite precipitation products. The NEXRAD MPE simulated streamflows matched the observed ones the best yielding the highest Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency correlation coefficient values for both the July and August 2007 events. Simulations driven by TRMM 3B42V7 matched the observed streamflow better than other satellite products for both events. The PERSIANN coarse resolution product yielded better runoff results than the higher resolution product. The study reveals that satellite rainfall products are viable alternatives when rain gauge or ground radar observations are sparse or non-existent.
The Therapeutic Potential of Anti-Interleukin-20 Monoclonal Antibody
Authors: Hsu Yu-Hsiang , Chang Ming-Shi
Published: May 2014

Interleukin (IL)-20, a member of the IL-10 family of cytokines, was discovered in 2001. IL-20 acts on multiple cell types by activating on a heterodimer receptor complex of either IL-20R1–IL-20R2 or IL-22R1–IL-20R2. Recent evidence indicates that IL-20's interaction with its receptors might have proinflammatory effects on chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis, and breast cancer. Updated information about IL-20, such as its identification, expression, receptors, signaling, and biological activities, is illustrated in this review based on our research and the data available in the literature. IL-20 is a pleiotropic cytokine, which promotes inflammation, angiogenesis, and chemotaxis. IL-20 also regulates osteoclast differentiation by altering the receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) and RANK ligand (RANKL) axis. Inflammation, angiogenesis, and osteoclastogenesis are critical for the pathogenesis of RA, osteoporosis, and breast cancer-induced osteolysis. Based on the in vitro and in vivo data and clinical samples, we demonstrated that IL-20 plays pivotal roles in these three diseases. In experimental models, anti-IL-20 monoclonal antibody ameliorates arthritis severity, protects against ovariectomized-induced bone loss, and inhibits breast tumor-induced osteolysis. This review presents the clinical implications of IL-20, which will lead to a better understanding of the biological functions of IL-20 in these diseases and provide new therapeutic options in the future.
Tai Chi Intervention Increases Progenitor CD34+ Cells in Young Adults
Authors: Ho Tsung-Jung , Ho Li-Ing , Hsueh Kuo-Wei , Chan Tzu-Min , Huang Shih-Li , Lin Jaung-Geng , Liang Wen-Miin , Hsu Wei-Hung , Harn Horng-Jyh , Lin Shinn-Zong
Published: May 2014

Tai Chi has been shown to have many great health benefits. However, few research attempts have been made to explore the effects of practicing TCC on life span. This study provides direct evidence of Tai Chi's antiaging effects. We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study to compare the rejuvenating and antiaging effects among Tai Chi group (TCC) and brisk walking group (BW) and no exercise habit group (NEH). Thirty-two participants were selected out of a possible 60 based on a survey, and they were separated into three groups: the TCC group (practicing for more than 1 year), the BW group (practicing for more than 1 year), and the NEH group. The CD34+ cell counts in peripheral blood of the participants was determined, and the Kruskal–Wallis test was used to evaluate and compare the antiaging effects of the three groups. Of the 32 participants in this study, the participants in the TCC group ( N = 10) outperformed the NEH group ( N = 12) with respect to the number of CD34+ progenitor cells. No significant difference was found between the TCC group and the BW group. TCC practice sustained for more than 1 year may be an intervention against aging as effective as BW in terms of its benefits on the improvement of CD34+ number.
MicroRNA142-3p Promotes Tumor-Initiating and Radioresistant Properties in Malignant Pediatric Brain Tumors
Authors: Lee Yi-Yen , Yang Yi-Ping , Huang Ming-Chao , Wang Mong-Lien , Yen Sang-Hue , Huang Pin-I , Chen Yi-Wei , Chiou Shih-Hwa , Lan Yuan-Tzu , Ma Hsin-I , Shih Yang-Hsin , Chen Ming-Teh
Published: May 2014

Primary central nervous system (CNS) atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) is an extremely malignant pediatric brain tumor observed in infancy and childhood. It has been reported that a subpopulation of CD133+ cells isolated from ATRT tumors present with cancer stem-like and radioresistant properties. However, the exact biomolecular mechanisms of ATRT or CD133-positive ATRT (ATRT-CD133+) cells are still unclear. We have previously shown that ATRT-CD133+ cells have pluripotent differentiation ability and the capability of malignant cells to be highly resistant to ionizing radiation (IR). By using microRNA array and quantitative RT-PCR in this study, we showed that expression of miR142-3p was lower in ATRT-CD133+ cells than in ATRT-CD133- cells. miR142-3p overexpression significantly inhibited the self-renewal and tumorigenicity of ATRT-CD133+ cells. On the contrary, silencing of endogenous miR142-3p dramatically increased the tumor-initiating and stem-like cell capacities in ATRT cells or ATRT-CD133- cells and further promoted the mesenchymal transitional and radioresistant properties of ATRT cells. Most importantly, therapeutic delivery of miR142-3p in ATRT cells effectively reduced its lethality by blocking tumor growth, repressing invasiveness, increasing radiosensitivity, and prolonging survival time in orthotropic-transplanted immunocompromised mice. These results demonstrate the prospect of developing novel miRNA-based strategies to block the stem-like and radioresistant properties of malignant pediatric brain cancer stem cells.
Dryocrassin Suppresses Immunostimulatory Function of Dendritic Cells and Prolongs Skin Allograft Survival
Authors: Fu Ru-Huei , Wang Yu-Chi , Liu Shih-Ping , Shih Ton-Ru , Lin Hsin-Lien , Chen Yue-Mi , Tsai Rong-Tzong , Tsai Chang-Hai , Shyu Woei-Cherng , Lin Shinn-Zong
Published: May 2014

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the major specialized antigen-presenting cells for the development of optimal T-cell immunity. DCs can be used as pharmacological targets to monitor novel biological modifiers for the cure of harmful immune responses, such as transplantation rejection. Dryopteris crassirhizoma Nakai (Aspiadaceae) is used for traditional herbal medicine in the region of East Asia. The root of this fern plant has been listed for treating inflammatory diseases. Dryocrassin is the tetrameric phlorophenone component derived from Dryopteris. Here we tested the immunomodulatory potential of dryocrassin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated activation of mouse bone marrow-derived DCs in vitro and in skin allograft transplantation in vivo. Results demonstrated that dryocrassin reduced the emission of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-12p70 by LPS-stimulated DCs. The expression of LPS-induced major histocompatibility complex class II, CD40, and CD86 on DCs was also blocked by dryocrassin. Moreover, LPS-stimulated DC-elicited allogeneic T-cell proliferation was alleviated by dryocrassin. In addition, dryocrassin inhibited LPS-induced activation of IkB kinase, JNK/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and the translocation of NF-κB. Treatment with dryocrassin noticeably diminished 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene-reduced delayed-type hypersensitivity and extended skin allograft survival. Dryocrassin may be one of the potent immunosuppressive agents for transplant rejection via the destruction of DC maturation and function.
Decellularization and Recellularization Technologies in Tissue Engineering
Authors: Fu Ru-Huei , Wang Yu-Chi , Liu Shih-Ping , Shih Ton-Ru , Lin Hsin-Lien , Chen Yue-Mi , Sung Jiun-Huei , Lu Chia-Hui , Wei Jing-Rong , Wang Zih-Wan , Huang Shyh-Jer , Tsai Chang-Hai , Shyu Woei-Cherng , Lin Shinn-Zong
Published: May 2014

Decellularization is the process by which cells are discharged from tissues/organs, but all of the essential cues for cell preservation and homeostasis are retained in a three-dimensional structure of the organ and its extracellular matrix components. During tissue decellularization, maintenance of the native ultrastructure and composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is extremely acceptable. For recellularization, the scaffold/matrix is seeded with cells, the final goal being to form a practical organ. In this review, we focus on the biological properties of the ECM that remains when a variety of decellularization methods are used, comparing recellularization technologies, including bioreactor expansion for perfusion-based bioartificial organs, and we discuss cell sources. In the future, decellularization–recellularization procedures may solve the problem of organ assembly on demand.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Insights: Prospects in Cardiovascular Therapy
Authors: Chou Shiu-Huey , Lin Shinn-Zong , Kuo Wei-Wen , Pai Peiying , Lin Jing-Ying , Lai Chao-Hung , Kuo Chia-Hua , Lin Kuan-Ho , Tsai Fuu-Jen , Huang Chih-Yang
Published: May 2014

Ischemic heart damage usually triggers cardiomyopathological remodeling and fibrosis, thus promoting the development of heart functional failure. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a heterogeneous group of cells in culture, with multipotent and hypoimmunogenic characters to aid tissue repair and avoid immune responses, respectively. Numerous experimental findings have proven the feasibility, safety, and efficiency of MSC therapy for cardiac regeneration. Despite that the exact mechanism remains unclear, the therapeutic ability of MSCs to treat ischemia heart diseases has been tested in phase I/II clinical trials. Based on encouraging preliminary findings, MSCs might become a potentially efficacious tool in the therapeutic options available to treat ischemic and nonischemic cardiovascular disorders. The molecular mechanism behind the efficacy of MSCs on promoting engraftment and accelerating the speed of heart functional recovery is still waiting for clarification. It is hypothesized that cardiomyocyte regeneration, paracrine mechanisms for cardiac repair, optimization of the niche for cell survival, and cardiac remodeling by inflammatory control are involved in the interaction between MSCs and the damaged myocardial environment. This review focuses on recent experimental and clinical findings related to cellular cardiomyoplasticity. We focus on MSCs, highlighting their roles in cardiac tissue repair, transdifferentiation, the MSC niche in myocardial tissues, discuss their therapeutic efficacy that has been tested for cardiac therapy, and the current bottleneck of MSC-based cardiac therapies.
Frienemies
Authors: Anderson Leigh R.
Published: May 2014

The working relationships between Native American tribes, the states, and the federal government have been strained for centuries. These intergovernmental interactions have led to a fragmented system whose attempt to deliver public service is consistently met with opposition. One area where this has become increasingly evident is within homeland security and emergency management policy. Guided by Agranoff (2012), this study used a cross sectional survey to gather information about the beliefs tribes held about the various aspects of their working relationships with states and the federal government within the context of homeland security and emergency management.
An Examination of Challenges Faced by First Responders in the Midst of Disaster
Authors: Adams Terri
Published: May 2014

The ineluctable threat of future natural and manmade disasters makes it imperative to advance the understanding of key issues that first responders face in the midst of disasters, and to develop meaningful strategies for preparing them for disaster response. The potential conflicts between professional and personal responsibilities that first responders may face in responding to an incident can represent a distinctive feature of a catastrophic event. This project examined the issues of role conflict and resilience among first responders who have participated in major disaster events. Answers to the project's research questions provide an understanding of the human dynamics experienced by first responders when they are personally impacted by a disaster. This work advances the mission of the Science and Technology Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by providing information needed for advancing the development of simulation models and effective training curricula to assist first responders in their quest for preparing and responding to future disaster events.
DHS Minority Serving Institution (MSI) Programs
Authors: Peters Kevin A. , Taru Nira C.
Published: May 2014

This chapter highlights seven (7) DHS programs/research that involved faculty and students at Morgan State University, a Minority Serving Institution (MSI) that was linked to a DHS Center for Excellence. The programs were developed in part from partnerships and collaborative efforts from researchers and principal investigators at Morgan State University and several DHS Centers of Excellence. Researchers from Morgan State University submitted summaries of their DHS-funded programs and activities. In addition, information was gathered from DHS Websites pertaining to their collaborative work with a DHS Center of Excellence (COE). This chapter emphasizes the importance of collaborative research and programs that support the overall mission of DHS in providing opportunities for MSIs to work with COEs in DHS priority research areas. These efforts have enhanced faculty as well as students at Morgan State University with regard to education, research, professional development, and training related to a DHS priority research.
Knowledge Intensive Regeneration versus Sustainable Communities
Authors: Arayici Yusuf , Ozturk Zafer
Published: May 2014

Regeneration is deemed as the enabler for societies and nations to transform them from industrial age to knowledge. In this regard, knowledge intensive regeneration is one of the latest models, called as New Century Cities (NCC) to make progress and ultimately achieve the transformation towards knowledge societies, which have the features and characteristics of sustainable communities. However, meeting the key features or characteristics of sustainable communities can be challenging due to its complex and interrelated features such as socio-economic requirement, environmental and physical requirements, which are all correlated to each other. This paper aims to discuss the knowledge intensive regeneration model in relation to the sustainable communities in order to highlight the level of match and conformance between them in order to justify the suitability of knowledge intensive regeneration for the sustainable communities' vision. Research methodology adopted in the paper is the case study approach, which is the Mediacity project, and used literature review, observation and interviews for data collection, while concept mapping was utilised for data analysis. Research findings reflect that the level of conformance is relatively high, social aspects is still weakly addressed in comparison to other dimensions. Therefore, paper proposes the stronger attention and strategic planning at the visioning and masterplanning stages of such projects in order to address this most challenging dimension of regeneration projects.
The Curriculum Development of a BIM Resilience Program for the National Institute of Building Science Facility Module
Authors: Redmond Alan , Smith Bob , Smith Deke
Published: May 2014

The main objective of this paper is to identify the design criteria for a BIM Education Resilient System STEM program. The curriculum's development will semantically relate to resilience concepts with Systems Engineering and Building Information Modeling (BIM) practices and standards. The Sustainable Facilities and Infrastructure in Constrained Environments' (SuFICE) in advancing STEM to Support Facility Design, Construction, Operations and Maintenance collaborative project is to be led by The National Institute of Building Sciences, and Total Learning Research Institute. The participating organizations intend to: engage representatives from across the building and infrastructure industry to revise existing STEM curricula and materials and develop new curricula and materials that recognize the role of science technologies important to both education and the building industry.
A Glimpse at the Portuguese Employees' Perceptions of Training and Development
Authors: Ferreira Ana Paula , Leite Regina
Published: May 2014

Training and development (T&D) has become a paramount subject in the workplace and societies, particularly in today's scenario of the European crisis. T&D literature has long highlighted the benefits for employees, managers and governments of training and education strategies and systems. However, the employees' perception of the T&D process has been systematically neglected. This paper presents an exploratory study focusing on the employees' perception about the T&D rationale, the initiatives, and tools used by their employing organizations. A sample (n= 101) of currently employed MSc students enrolled in management courses at a Portuguese University was used to analyse their opinion about the employers' reasons to invest in training activities, the organizational instruments adopted to conduct the training needs' assessment and evaluating the training effectiveness, and the problems underlying the whole process of training within their organizations. A questionnaire was used to collect data on those issues. Results are analysed and some major implications for employing organizations are discussed.
Towards a Model of Sustainability Capabilities and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Mandal Santanu
Published: May 2014

Firms have lately realized the importance of sustainability because of (1) decreasing resources (2) difficulty in getting adequate and skilled resources. Therefore firms are trying their best to include sustainability considerations in their operational, tactical and strategic planning. In this scenario, this paper makes an attempt to operationalize several kinds of resources existing in an organization from a sustainability perspective and tries to investigate which of these can best help the organization in developing sustainability capabilities which will eventually led the firm to gain competitive advantage. Based on the data collected from 204 executives engaged in different sectors, the findings indicate that except accounting resources, all other resources like information technology, finance, marketing and operations are significant in enabling the firm to develop sustainability capabilities. Relatively, operations resources and information technology resources are the most important predictors of sustainability capabilities and hence firms can focus more on these departments while strategic resource allocation. Finally, the study exhibited that sustainability capabilities do help a firm to gain competitive advantage.
Institutional Leaderships
Authors: Geraldes de Matos Maria Heliodora Vieira , Machado Carolina Feliciana de Sá Cunha
Published: May 2014

Leadership is a core foundation for banking organizations necessary to operate in today's environment. It is important to see how leaders perceive themselves as agents of success, both for the organization and its goals, as well as for the employees that work under their supervision. This paper intends to address these issues. This study was conducted through Crédito Agricola (CA) branches in Portugal and Azores, using online questionnaires. Data were collected from 85 leaders with different positions within the bank. Leaders generally perceive themselves as objective and impartial, capable of knowing the employees areas of personal and professional interest. Leaders are interested in developing their subordinates' capabilities, through on the job training and other skill enhancement alternatives. Data show that leaders prefer making decisions with participation of other team members and not alone. Data were collected through nonprobability sampling (quota sampling and purposive sampling). Relations between leaders and subordinates are analysed, and the paper addresses the leaders' personal views regarding their role in the decision process that affects their teams as well as the organization as a whole.
SpyNetMiner
Authors: Karthika S. , Bose S. , Kannan A.
Published: May 2014

The homeland security has become a very significant consideration for all the Governments throughout the world. To improve the OPerational SECurity (OPSEC), multi relational graphs were introduced for Covert Network Analysis (CNA). In this paper, proposed SpyNetMiner system identifies the key players who maximally influence the covert network. Abnormality of the nodes is analyzed based on the profile generated using enhanced selection strategies. It further justifies the findings by presenting layman understandable explanation through feature extraction and semantic rule convertors. An event that brought a worldwide attention towards terrorism is the unforgettable 9/11 disaster. The covert network involved in this attack is used as dataset for SpyNetMiner. The performance of SpyNetMiner is compared to a similar system called as UNICORN and other conventional algorithms. The results evidently show that SpyNetMiner outperforms all existing methodologies in covert network analysis.
Airports Environmental Management
Authors: Dimitriou Dimitrios , Voskaki Asimina , Sartzetaki Maria
Published: May 2014

Although airports contribute to region's economic development, they have a negative impact on the environment and on the communities around them. Environmental impacts such as noise, air and water pollution, and natural resources consumption are some of the implications resulting from the operation of airports that have the ability to constrain airports further development. In addition, increased public concern, regarding climate change, imposes more restrictions on carbon use and greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, many airports can no longer make full use of their capacity, especially when the mitigating cost is quite high. This paper is about airports environmental management and presents the results related to key components of the environmental plans that have been adopted in eight European regional airports. Key issue of the research is to investigate the differences and common practices in applied environmental strategies and systems. Even though most of the airports recognize the need to specify an environmental management strategy, not many regional airports have set specific targets about their environmental performance. Airports that serve more than five million passengers per year seem to have a more detailed environmental strategy; airports located in countries that do not have applied specific sustainable development strategies focus on facilitating growth, rather than taking measures to control their environmental disturbance.
Management of Environmental Issues in Port Activities
Authors: Palantzas Georgios , Naniopoulos Aristotelis , Koutitas Christoforos
Published: May 2014

?t is internationally observed that the environmental questions concerning ports gain continuously the attention of their administrations. This comes as a result of pressures that are mainly exercised from the legislation, the market and the society itself that, as a whole, show continuously higher interest for the environmental issues. It is also a result from factors such as gain of comparative advantages, reduction of operational cost, improvement of port profile, environmental sensitization of leadership. As the various port operations can lead to a variety of environmental and human effects, the need for a firm coexistence of financial development and environmental protection urges ports to the application of sustainable systems, plans and policies. The aim of this paper is to point out the need for an integrated environmental management of ports, to highlight the preconditions for the management of port environmental consequences through the development of appropriate Environmental Management Systems, to summarize and discuss the Hellenic reality concerning this issue and present a set of appropriate procedures and measures which could lead the Hellenic ports to the total environmental management in a cost-effective way.
DNA barcoding reveals unprecedented diversity in Dancing Frogs of India (Micrixalidae, Micrixalus): a taxonomic revision with description of 14 new species
Authors: Biju SD , Garg Sonali , Gururaja KV , Shouche Yogesh , Walujkar Sandeep A
Published: May 2014

In this study, we investigate species level diversity in the monotypic frog family Micrixalidae, which is endemic to the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. Attempting the first nearcomplete taxon sampling of Indian dancing frogs from the entire Western Ghats, we use 138 tissue samples collected from 70 localities over the last 12 years for DNA barcoding. Our results of multiple mitochondrial gene (16S and COI) barcoding reveal unexpectedly high species level diversity in the genus Micrixalus. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, we herein describe 14 new species, leading to a more than two-fold increase in the number of known species in this ancient lineage. Additionally, certain taxonomic uncertainties about the status of previously known taxa in this genus are resolved. Micrixalus narainensis and M. swamianus are considered as junior subjective synonyms of M. kottigeharensis, whereas M. herrei is resurrected from synonymy of M. fuscus and confirmed as a valid species. Taxonomic accounts of three species—M. elegans, M. silvaticus and M. thampi—are provided for the first time after their original descriptions. For nomenclatural stability, M. fuscus, M. saxicola and M. silvaticus are lectotypified, and M. elegans and M. kottigeharensis are neotypified. Detailed descriptions, morphological and genetic comparisons, illustrations, data on distribution, and natural history are provided for all species. We also provide the first osteological description of M. fuscus, the type species of the genus Micrixalus, and we report foot-flagging behavior in a total eight species, including two for which it has been studied previously. Overall, our results highlight the underestimation of true diversity in several amphibian groups of the Western Ghats, suggesting that spatial patterns of amphibian richness and endemism in this region need to be further re-examined. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v43i1.6850 Ceylon Journal of Science (Bio. Sci.) 43(1): 2014Please note that the Full Text PDF is a very large file (11MB) and may take a few minutes to download.
Clear Cell Myoepithelioma of Palate with Emphasis on Clinical and Histological Differential Diagnosis
Authors: Nair Bindu J. , Vivek Velayudhannair , Sivakumar Trivandrum T. , Joseph Anna P. , Varun Babyamma Raghavanpillai , Mony Vinod
Published: May 2014

Myoepitheliomas account for less than 1% of all salivary gland tumors and mostly occur in the parotid gland and palate. A 58-year old male patient reported to the Outpatient Department of PMS College of Dental Science and Research (Kerala, India) with a slow growing painless swelling on the palate for 4 years. Pleomorphic adenoma, basal cell adenoma, myoepithelioma, cyst adenoma, lipoma, neurofibroma, neurilemmoma and leiomyoma were considered. Histopathology revealed a thinly encapsulated tumor composed mainly of sheets of clear cells mixed with cells having eosinophilic cytoplasm. Histopathological differential diagnosis included pleomorphic adenoma, oncocytoma, oncocytic hyperplasia, sebaceous adenoma, malignant salivary gland neoplasms and metastatic lesions from kidney and thyroid. Myoepitheliomas mostly occur in the parotid gland and palatal region and various histological types of myoepithelioma are described. Myoepitheliomas of the palate are rare with clear cell variant even rarer.
Oncology Nursing Support for Safe and Effective Use of Eribulin in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Donovan Diana , Urquhart Laura , Hopkins Una , Knight Sandra , Moore Laura
Published: May 2014

Nurse practitioners play important roles in breast cancer prevention, early detection, therapeutic efficacy, and surveillance. Assessment of a patient's health status is part of the nine nurse practitioner core competencies updated in 2012 by the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties. Although adverse events are common in treatment for metastatic breast cancer (MBC), proactive management strategies can limit the number and/or severity of adverse events. Additionally, knowledge of common metastatic sites and clinical signs/symptoms of recurrence provides one of the first-line strategies for successful treatment. We review five case studies of women with MBC who were managed successfully with eribulin mesylate in late lines of therapy after at least two chemotherapeutic regimens for advanced breast cancer that included both an anthracycline and a taxane in either the adjuvant or metastatic setting.
Assignment of Calibration Information to Deeper Phylogenetic Nodes is More Effective in Obtaining Precise and Accurate Divergence Time Estimates
Authors: Mello Beatriz , Schrago Carlos G.
Published: May 2014

Divergence time estimation has become an essential tool for understanding macroevolutionary events. Molecular dating aims to obtain reliable inferences, which, within a statistical framework, means jointly increasing the accuracy and precision of estimates. Bayesian dating methods exhibit the propriety of a linear relationship between uncertainty and estimated divergence dates. This relationship occurs even if the number of sites approaches infinity and places a limit on the maximum precision of node ages. However, how the placement of calibration information may affect the precision of divergence time estimates remains an open question. In this study, relying on simulated and empirical data, we investigated how the location of calibration within a phylogeny affects the accuracy and precision of time estimates. We found that calibration priors set at median and deep phylogenetic nodes were associated with higher precision values compared to analyses involving calibration at the shallowest node. The results were independent of the tree symmetry. An empirical mammalian dataset produced results that were consistent with those generated by the simulated sequences. Assigning time information to the deeper nodes of a tree is crucial to guarantee the accuracy and precision of divergence times. This finding highlights the importance of the appropriate choice of outgroups in molecular dating.
A 41-Year-Old Woman with Migratory Panniculitis
Authors: Vanegas Edgar S. , Cendejas Rafael Franco , Mondragón Arturo
Published: May 2014

A 41-year-old woman had two months of intermittent migratory swellings in the trunk, face, and limbs associated with erythema, pruritus, and pain. Laboratory analysis showed moderate eosinophilia. The triad of eosinophilia, migratory lesions (nodular panniculitis), and raw fish consumption was highly suggestive of cutaneous gnathostomiasis. She was successfully treated with albendazole (400 mg twice a day for 21 days) and showed complete and permanent resolution of the lesions.
Neglected Parasitic Infections in the United States: Trichomoniasis
Authors: Secor W. Evan , Meites Elissa , Starr Michelle C. , Workowski Kimberly A.
Published: May 2014

Trichomonas vaginalis is one of the most common human parasitic infections in the United States, as well as the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infection. However, it has long received much less consideration than other parasitic and sexually transmitted diseases. Much of this inattention can be attributed to a poor understanding of the public health impact of trichomoniasis. Increasing recognition of the sequelae of infection, including increased risk of infection with human immunodeficiency virus and adverse outcomes of pregnancy, has led to increased interest in T. vaginalis. Recent innovations include development of diagnostic tests that could improve detection of the parasite. A number of important questions, such as the epidemiology among men and women, the true public health burden of symptomatic and asymptomatic T. vaginalis infections, and whether current treatments will be adequate to reduce the substantial health disparities and costs associated with trichomoniasis, need consideration to remedy neglect of this important disease.
Social Impact, a Theoretical Model
Authors: Onyx Jenny
Published: May 2014

This paper constructs a theoretical model of social impact as it applies to civil society organisations. It does so by drawing on the recent literature on the topic as well as recently completed empirical studies. First, the relationship between impact and evaluation is examined. This is followed by an exploration of the capitals, notably social, human, and cultural capital and their interrelationships, as a theoretical base for the explication of social impact. A formal model of social impact is then identified together with a set of basic principles that may be said to define social impact. Finally the implications of the model are discussed for social policy and organisational management.
The isotopic composition of water vapour and precipitation in Ivittuut, southern Greenland
Authors: Bonne J.-L. , Masson-Delmotte V. , Cattani O. , Delmotte M. , Risi C. , Sodemann H. , Steen-Larsen H. C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Since September 2011, a wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectroscopy analyser has been remotely operated in Ivittuut, southern Greenland, providing the first record of surface water vapour isotopic composition based on continuous measurements in South Greenland and the first record including the winter season in Greenland. The comparison of vapour data with measurements of precipitation isotopic composition suggest an equilibrium between surface vapour and precipitation. δ18O and deuterium excess are generally anti-correlated and show important seasonal variations, with respective amplitudes of ~10 and ~20‰, as well as large synoptic variations. The data depict small summer diurnal variations. At the seasonal scale, δ18O has a minimum in November–December and a maximum in June–July, while deuterium excess has a minimum in May–June and a maximum in November. The approach of low-pressure systems towards South Greenland leads to δ18O increase (typically +5‰) and deuterium excess decrease (typically −15‰). Seasonal and synoptic variations coincide with shifts in the moisture sources, estimated using a quantitative moisture source diagnostic based on a Lagrangian back-trajectory model. The atmospheric general circulation model LMDZiso correctly captures the seasonal and synoptic variability of δ18O, but does not capture the observed magnitude of deuterium excess variability. Covariations of water vapour isotopic composition with local and moisture source meteorological parameters have been evaluated. δ18O is strongly correlated with the logarithm of local surface humidity, consistent with Rayleigh distillation processes, and with local surface air temperature, associated with a slope of ~0.4‰ °C−1. Deuterium excess correlates with local surface relative humidity as well as surface relative humidity from the dominant moisture source area located in the North Atlantic, south of Greenland and Iceland.
Indoor/outdoor relationships and mass closure of quasi-ultrafine, accumulation and coarse particles in Barcelona schools
Authors: Viana M. , Rivas I. , Querol X. , Alastuey A. , Sunyer J. , Álvarez-Pedrerol M. , Bouso L. , Sioutas C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. The mass concentration, chemical composition and sources of quasi-ultrafine (quasi-UFP, PM0.25), accumulation (PM0.25–2.5) and coarse mode (PM2.5–10) particles were determined in indoor and outdoor air at 39 schools in Barcelona (Spain). Quasi-UFP mass concentrations measured (25.6 μg m−3 outdoors, 23.4 μg m−3 indoors) are significantly higher than those reported in other studies, and characterised by higher carbonaceous and mineral matter contents and a lower proportion of secondary inorganic ions. Results suggest that quasi-UFPs in Barcelona are affected by local sources in the schools, mainly human activity (e.g. organic material from textiles, etc., contributing 23–46% to total quasi-UFP mass) and playgrounds (in the form of mineral matter, contributing about 9% to the quasi-UFP mass). The particle size distribution patterns of toxicologically relevant metals and major aerosol components was characterised, displaying two modes for most elements and components, and one mode for inorganic salts (ammonium nitrate and sulfate) and elemental carbon (EC). Regarding metals, Ni and Cr were partitioned mainly in quasi-UFPs and could thus be of interest for epidemiological studies, given their high redox properties. Exposure of children to quasi-UFP mass and chemical species was assessed by comparing the concentrations measured at urban background and traffic areas schools. Finally, three main indoor sources across all size fractions were identified by assessing indoor / outdoor ratios (I / O) of PM species used as their tracers: human activity (organic material), cleaning products, paints and plastics (Cl− source), and a metallic mixed source (comprising combinations of Cu, Zn, Co, Cd, Pb, As, V and Cr). Our results support the need to enforce targeted legislation to determine a minimum "safe" distance between major roads and newly built schools to reduce exposure to traffic-derived metals in quasi-UFPs.
Prescribed burning of logging slash in the boreal forest of Finland: emissions and effects on meteorological quantities and soil properties
Authors: Virkkula A. , Levula J. , Pohja T. , Aalto P. P. , Keronen P. , Schobesberger S. , Clements C. B. , Pirjola L. , Kieloaho A.-J. , Kulmala L. , Aaltonen H. , Patokoski J. , Pumpanen J. , Rinne J. , Ruuskanen T. , Pihlatie M. , Manninen H. E. , Aaltonen V. , Junninen H. , Petäjä T. , Backman J. , Dal Maso M. , Nieminen T. , Olsson T. , Grönholm T. , Aalto J. , Virtanen T. H. , Kajos M. , Kerminen V.-M. , Schultz D. M. , Kukkonen J. , Sofiev M. , De Leeuw G. , Bäck J. , Hari P. , Kulmala M.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. A prescribed fire experiment was conducted on 26 June 2009 in Hyytiälä, Finland, to study aerosol and trace gas emissions from prescribed fires of slash fuels and the effects of fire on soil properties in a controlled environment. A 0.8 ha forest near the SMEAR II measurement station (Station for Measuring Ecosystem-Atmosphere Relations) was cut clear; some tree trunks, all tree tops and branches were left on the ground and burned. The amount of burned organic material was ~46.8 tons (i.e., ~60 tons ha−1). The flaming phase lasted 2 h 15 min, the smoldering phase 3 h. Measurements were conducted on the ground with both fixed and mobile instrumentation, and in the air from a research aircraft. In the middle of the burning area, CO2 concentration peaked around 2000–3000 ppm above the baseline, and peak vertical flow velocities were ~9 m s−1, as measured with a 10 Hz 3-D sonic anemometer placed within the burn area. In the mobile measurements the peak particle number concentrations were approximately 1–2 × 106 cm−3 in the plume at a distance of 100–200 m from the burn area. On the ground at the SMEAR II station the geometric mean diameter of the mode with the highest concentration was 80 ± 1 nm during the flaming phase and in the middle of the smoldering phase, but, at the end of the smoldering phase, the largest mode was 122 nm. In the volume size distributions, geometric mean diameter of the largest volume mode was 153 nm during the flaming phase and 300 nm during the smoldering phase. The lowest single-scattering albedo of the ground-level measurements was 0.7 in the flaming-phase plume and ~0.9 in the smoldering phase. Elevated concentrations of several volatile organic compounds (VOC) (including acetonitrile, a biomass burning marker) were observed in the smoke plume at ground level. Measurements at the forest floor (i.e., a richly organic layer of soil and debris, characteristic of forested land) showed that VOC fluxes were generally low and consisted mainly of monoterpenes, and VOC flux peaked after the burning. After one year, the fluxes had nearly stabilized close to the level before the burning. The clear-cutting and burning of slash increased the total long-term CO2 release from the soil, and altered the physical, chemical and biological properties of the soil, such as increased the available nitrogen contents of the soil, which in turn, affected the long-term fluxes of greenhouse gases.
Kinetic measurements of the reactivity of hydrogen peroxide and ozone towards small atmospherically relevant aldehydes, ketones and organic acids in aqueous solutions
Authors: Schöne L. , Herrmann H.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Free radical reactions are an important degradation process for organic compounds within the aqueous atmospheric environment. Nevertheless, non-radical oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide and ozone also contribute to the degradation and conversion of these substances (Tilgner and Herrmann, 2010). In this work, kinetic investigations of non-radical reactions were conducted using UV / Vis spectroscopy (dual-beam spectrophotometer and stopped flow technique) and a capillary electrophoresis system applying pseudo-first order kinetics to reactions of glyoxal, methylglyoxal, glycolaldehyde, glyoxylic, pyruvic and glycolic acid as well as methacrolein (MACR) and methyl vinyl ketone (MVK) with H2O2 and ozone at 298 K. The measurements indicate rather small rate constants at room temperature of k2nd < 3 M−1 s−1 (except for the unsaturated compounds exposed to ozone). Compared to radical reaction rate constants the values are about 10 orders of magnitude smaller (kOH• ~109 M−1 s−1). However, when considering the much larger non-radical oxidant concentrations compared to radical concentrations in urban cloud droplets, calculated first-order conversion rate constants change the picture towards H2O2 reactions becoming more important, especially when compared to the nitrate radical. For some reactions mechanistic suggestions are also given.
Role of the residual layer and large-scale subsidence on the development and evolution of the convective boundary layer
Authors: Blay-Carreras E. , Pino D. , Vilà-Guerau de Arellano J. , van de Boer A. , De Coster O. , Darbieu C. , Hartogensis O. , Lohou F. , Lothon M. , Pietersen H.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Observations, mixed-layer theory and the Dutch Large-Eddy Simulation model (DALES) are used to analyze the dynamics of the boundary layer during an intensive operational period (1 July 2011) of the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence campaign. Continuous measurements made by remote sensing and in situ instruments in combination with radio soundings, and measurements done by remotely piloted aircraft systems and two manned aircrafts probed the vertical structure and the temporal evolution of the boundary layer during the campaign. The initial vertical profiles of potential temperature, specific humidity and wind, and the temporal evolution of the surface heat and moisture fluxes prescribed in the models runs are inspired by some of these observations. The research focuses on the role played by the residual layer during the morning transition and by the large-scale subsidence on the evolution of the boundary layer. By using DALES, we show the importance of the dynamics of the boundary layer during the previous night in the development of the boundary layer at the morning. DALES numerical experiments including the residual layer are capable of modeling the observed sudden increase of the boundary-layer depth during the morning transition and the subsequent evolution of the boundary layer. These simulations show a large increase of the entrainment buoyancy flux when the residual layer is incorporated into the mixed layer. We also examine how the inclusion of the residual layer above a shallow convective boundary layer modifies the turbulent kinetic energy budget. Large-scale subsidence mainly acts when the boundary layer is fully developed, and, for the studied day, it is necessary to be considered to reproduce the afternoon observations. Finally, we also investigate how carbon dioxide (CO2) mixing ratio stored the previous night in the residual layer plays a fundamental role in the evolution of the CO2 mixing ratio during the following day.
Hydroxymethanesulfonic acid in size-segregated aerosol particles at nine sites in Germany
Authors: Scheinhardt S. , van Pinxteren D. , Müller K. , Spindler G. , Herrmann H.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. In the course of two field campaigns, size-segregated particle samples were collected at nine sites in Germany, including traffic, urban, rural, marine and mountain sites. During the chemical characterisation of the samples some of them were found to contain an unknown substance that was later identified as hydroxymethanesulfonic acid (HMSA). HMSA is known to be formed during the reaction of S(IV) (HSO3− or SO32−) with formaldehyde in the aqueous phase. Due to its stability, HMSA can act as a reservoir species for S(IV) in the atmosphere and is therefore of interest for the understanding of atmospheric sulfur chemistry. However, no HMSA data are available for atmospheric particles from central Europe, and even on a worldwide scale data are scarce. Thus, the present study now provides a representative data set with detailed information on HMSA concentrations in size-segregated central European aerosol particles. HMSA mass concentrations in this data set were highly variable: HMSA was found in 224 out of 738 samples (30%), sometimes in high mass concentrations exceeding those of oxalic acid. On average over all 154 impactor runs, 31.5 ng m−3 HMSA was found in PM10, contributing 0.21% to the total mass. The results show that the particle diameter, the sampling location, the sampling season and the air mass origin impact the HMSA mass concentration. Highest concentrations were found in the particle fraction 0.42–1.2 μm, at urban sites, in winter and with eastern (continental) air masses, respectively. The results suggest that HMSA is formed during aging of pollution plumes. A positive correlation of HMSA with sulfate, oxalate and PM is found (R2 > 0.4). The results furthermore suggest that the fraction of HMSA in PM slightly decreases with increasing pH.