bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human and biophysical influences on fire occurrence in the United States
Authors: Hawbaker Todd J. , Radeloff Volker C. , Stewart Susan I. , Hammer Roger B. , Keuler Nicholas S. , Clayton Murray K.
Published: April 2013

National‐scale analyses of fire occurrence are needed to prioritize fire policy and management activities across the United States. However, the drivers of national‐scale patterns of fire occurrence are not well understood, and how the relative importance of human or biophysical factors varies across the country is unclear. Our research goal was to model the drivers of fire occurrence within ecoregions across the conterminous United States. We used generalized linear models to compare the relative influence of human, vegetation, climate, and topographic variables on fire occurrence in the United States, as measured by MODIS active fire detections collected between 2000 and 2006. We constructed models for all fires and for large fires only and generated predictive maps to quantify fire occurrence probabilities. Areas with high fire occurrence probabilities were widespread in the Southeast, and localized in the Mountain West, particularly in southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico. Probabilities for large‐fire occurrence were generally lower, but hot spots existed in the western and south‐central United States The probability of fire occurrence is a critical component of fire risk assessments, in addition to vegetation type, fire behavior, and the values at risk. Many of the hot spots we identified have extensive development in the wildland–urban interface and are near large metropolitan areas. Our results demonstrated that human variables were important predictors of both all fires and large fires and frequently exhibited nonlinear relationships. However, vegetation, climate, and topography were also significant variables in most ecoregions. If recent housing growth trends and fire occurrence patterns continue, these areas will continue to challenge policies and management efforts seeking to balance the risks generated by wildfires with the ecological benefits of fire.
Enhanced accuracy of rainfall–runoff modeling with wavelet transform
Authors: Chou Chien-ming
Published: April 2013

Wavelet transform (WT) is typically used to decompose time series data for only one hydrological feature at a time. This study applied WT for simultaneous decomposition of rainfall and runoff time series data. For the calibration data, the decomposed rainfall and runoff time series calibrate the subsystem response function using the least squares (LS) method at each scale. For the validation data, the decomposed rainfall time series are convoluted with the estimated subsystem response function to obtain the estimated runoff at each scale. The estimated runoff at the original scale can be obtained by wavelet reconstruction. The efficacy of the proposed method is evaluated in two case studies of the Feng-Hua Bridge and Wu-Tu watershed. The analytic results confirm that the proposed wavelet-based method slightly outperforms the conventional method of using data only at the original scale. The results also show that the runoff hydrograph estimated by using the proposed method is smoother than that obtained using a single scale.
Nitrate leaching from a potato field using adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system
Authors: Shekofteh Hosein , Afyuni Majid , Hajabbasi Mohammad Ali , Iversen Bo V. , Nezamabadi-pour Hossein , Abassi Fariborz , Sheikholeslam Farid
Published: April 2013

The conventional methods of application of nitrogen fertilizers might be responsible for the increased nitrate concentration in groundwater of areas dominated by irrigated agriculture. Appropriate water and nutrient management strategies are required to minimize groundwater pollution and to maximize nutrient use efficiency and production. Design and operation of a drip fertigation system requires understanding of nutrient leaching behavior in cases of shallow rooted crops such as potatoes which cannot extract nutrient from a lower soil depth. This study deals with neuro-fuzzy modeling of nitrate (NO3−) leaching from a potato field under a drip fertigation system. In the first part of the study, a two-dimensional solute transport model was used to simulate nitrate leaching from a sandy soil with varying emitter discharge rates and fertilizer doses. The results from the modeling were used to train and validate an adaptive network-based fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in order to estimate nitrate leaching. Two performance functions, namely mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and correlation coefficient (R), were used to evaluate the adequacy of the ANFIS. Results showed that ANFIS can accurately simulate HYDRUS-2D behavior regarding nitrate leaching under the circumstances of the present study.
Application of the stochastic model for temporal rainfall disaggregation for hydrological studies in north western England
Authors: Abdellatif M. , Atherton W. , Alkhaddar R.
Published: April 2013

Assessment of climate change on any hydrological system requires higher temporal resolution at hourly or less in terms of time scale. This paper implements the Bartlett–Lewis Rectangular Pulses (BLRP) model coupled with a proportional adjusting procedure to disaggregate daily rainfall to hourly rainfall in order to demonstrate the reliability of this method. Three stations in northwestern England have been selected that represent different climates in the region. Parameters estimation of the BLRP model has been performed under different levels of hourly rainfall aggregation for a combination of rainfall statistics. The HYETOS model, which applies BLRP, reproduced standard statistics such as mean, variance, Lag-1, autocorrelation as well as dry proportions. Moreover, the model was proven to have the capability to disaggregate the rainfall extremes. The fitted BLRP model could then be used to disaggregate future daily rainfall in order to investigate the climate change impact of different rainfall intensities.
Transition mode of long distance water delivery project before freezing in winter
Authors: Liu Guoqiang , Guan Guanghua , Wang Changde
Published: April 2013

In order to automatically and safely control long distance water delivery projects in winter, there is a need for a reasonable and feasible transition mode to avoid the emergence of ice jam. Based on open canal hydraulics, a mathematical model of canal system operated by constant downstream depth method is developed. The principle of combining feed-forward control of discharges with feedback control of water level is adopted for operation of check gates and a simulation model of multiple serial canal sections is established. Also, reasonable parameters of proportional-integral (PI) controller and logical dead band are obtained by trial and optimizing. The model is applied to simulate the operation process of the canal sections part of the main canal of the middle route of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project in China. Flow velocities are reduced to less than 0.4 m/s by decreasing discharges of canal pools and turnouts in terms of 3 days' cold current forecast in advance. As a result, discharge in canal was reduced from 70% designed capacity to less than 30%, which is a big challenge for the controller. This paper tests the suggested transition mode from open-channel water transfer state to a low flow ice-forming state at the MATLAB platform, and the results show that this model can achieve the expected goals.
An adaptive predictive approach for river level forecasting
Authors: Aguilar José V. , Langarita Pedro , Linares Lorenzo , Gómez Manuel , Rodellar José
Published: April 2013

Efficient flood management requires accurate real-time forecasts to allow early warnings, real-time control of hydraulics structures, or other actions. Commercially available computing tools typically use hydraulic models derived from the numerical approximation of Saint-Venant equations. These tools need powerful computers, accurate knowledge of the riverbed topography, and skilled operators with a not insignificant hydraulic background. This paper presents an alternative approach in which the river basin is modeled as a network of cascade interconnected input–output systems. Each system is modeled by an adaptive predictive expert model, which provides real-time fast and accurate forecasts over a moving prediction horizon. The approach is evaluated using real data from the Ebro river basin in Spain. The main concluded advantages of the new approach are: (1) the formulation is simple with low computational burden; (2) it does not require topographic information on the river waterbeds; (3) the forecast may be performed autonomously.
Estimation of current-induced pile groups scour using a rule-based method
Authors: Ghaemi N. , Etemad-Shahidi A. , Ataie-Ashtiani B.
Published: April 2013

Scour phenomenon around piles could endanger the stability of the structures placed on them. Therefore, an accurate estimation of the scour depth around piles is very important for engineers. Due to the complexity of the interaction between the current, seabed and pile group; prediction of the scour depth is a difficult task and the available empirical formulas have limited accuracy. Recently, soft computing methods such as artificial neural networks (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) have been used for the prediction of the scour depth. However, these methods do not give enough insight into the generated models and are not as easy to use as the empirical formulas. In this study, new formulas are given that are compact, accurate and physically sound. In comparison with the other soft computing methods, this approach is more transparent and robust. Comparison between the developed formulas and previous empirical formulas showed the superiority of the developed ones in terms of accuracy. In addition, the given formulas can be easily used by engineers to estimate the scour depth around pile groups. Moreover, in this study, design factors are given for different levels of acceptable risks, which can be useful for design purposes.
Stochastic order-based optimal design of a surface reservoir–irrigation district system
Authors: Alizadeh Hosein , Mousavi S. Jamshid
Published: April 2013

This paper explores the effects of streamflow uncertainty and the type of stochastic order, which is used for comparing stochastic variables, on optimal design of a reservoir multi-crop irrigation district system. Four nonlinear mathematical programs with an economic objective function including deterministic, stochastic-EXP with expected value order, stochastic-SD with stochastic dominance (SD) order, and stochastic-EGCL with expected gain-confidence limit (EGCL) order were developed. Afterwards, the approaches of successive linear programming (SLP) and PSO–MC, which combines particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm and Monte Carlo simulation (MC), to solve the programs were selected. Hajiarab Irrigation District located in Ghazvin Province of Iran was used as a case study and the results obtained from using different programs and solution approaches were analyzed and compared. Among the solution approaches, SLP could not solve the programs other than the deterministic one while PSO–MC could find at least good solutions, if not the global optima, for all the programs. Among the main decision variables, the stochastic programs resulted in a reduced size of irrigation district compared with that obtained by the deterministic program. Moreover, the programs using stochastic orders other than a simple expected value converged at solutions different from the solution reached by the expected value-based program.
Hydro-NEXRAD-2: real-time access to customized radar-rainfall for hydrologic applications
Authors: Krajewski Witold F. , Kruger Anton , Singh Satpreet , Seo Bong-Chul , Smith James A.
Published: April 2013

Hydro-NEXRAD-2 (HNX2) is a prototype system that allows hydrologic users real-time access to NEXRAD radar data in support of a wide range of research. The system processes basic radar data (Level II) and delivers radar-rainfall products based on the user's custom selection of features such as spatial domain, rainfall product space and time resolution, and rainfall estimation algorithms. HNX2 collects real-time, unprocessed data from multiple NEXRAD radars as they become available, processes them through a user-configurable pipeline of data-processing modules, and publishes the processed data-products at regular intervals. Modules in the data-processing pipeline encapsulate algorithms such as non-meteorological echo detection, radar range correction, radar-reflectivity-rain rate (Z-R) conversion, echo advection correction, mosaicking of products from multiple radars, and grid projections and transformations. This paper describes the challenges involved in HNX2's development and implementation, which include real-time error-handling, time-synchronization of data from multiple asynchronous sources, generation of multiple-radar metadata products, and distribution of products to a user base with diverse needs and constraints. HNX2 publishes products through automation and allows multiple users access to published products. Currently, HNX2 is serving near real-time rain-rate maps for Iowa in the USA using data from seven radars covering the state. Hydrologic models operated by The University of Iowa's Iowa Flood Center use these products.
Enhanced DEM-based flow path delineation methods for urban flood modelling
Authors: Leitão J. P. , Prodanović D. , Boonya-aroonnet S. , Maksimović Č.
Published: April 2013

In order to simulate surface runoff and flooding, one-dimensional (1D) overland flow networks can be automatically delineated using digital elevation models (DEM). The resulting network comprises flow paths and terrain depressions/ponds and is essential to reliably model pluvial (surface) flooding events in urban areas by so-called 1D/1D models. Conventional automatic DEM-based flow path delineation methods have problems in producing realistic overland flow paths when detailed high-resolution DEMs of urban areas are used. The aim of this paper is to present the results of research and development of three enhanced DEM-based overland flow path delineation methods; these methods are triggered when the conventional flow path delineation process stops due to a flow obstacle. Two of the methods, the ‘bouncing ball and buildings’ and ‘bouncing ball and A*’ methods, are based on the conventional ‘bouncing ball’ concept; the third proposed method, the ‘sliding ball’ method, is based on the physical water accumulation concept. These enhanced methods were tested and their results were compared with results obtained using two conventional flow path delineation methods using a semi-synthetic test DEM. The results showed significant improvements in terms of the reliability of the delineated overland flow paths when using these enhanced methods.
Note on fuzzy sets
Authors: Lin Robert
Published: April 2013

We present some improvements for the landmark paper of fuzzy sets for
distributive law, convex combination and convex fuzzy sets. Our enhancement
will help researcher absorb the original paper of fuzzy sets.
Divestitures of Equity by Executives and Future Equity Granting Patterns
Authors: Cadman Brian
Published: April 2013

This paper empirically investigates the influence of executive wealth diversification on equity granting patterns. Risk-averse, undiversified executives who hold much wealth in the firm discount the value of their equity holdings. This study investigates how firms respond to changes in CEO wealth diversification that follow equity divestitures. The results suggest that firms provide greater equity incentives following increases in executive wealth diversification. In addition, the proportion of annual compensation in the form of equity increases with CEO wealth diversification. Overall, the results support agency theory predictions that wealth diversification is an important component of contracting with undiversified, risk-averse managers.

JEL Classifications: G31; G32; J33; M4.
Clinical Effects of Exposure to Coffee During At-home Vital Bleaching
Authors: Rezende M , Loguercio AD , Reis A , Kossatz S
Published: April 2013

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether exposure to coffee during bleaching treatment with 16% carbamide peroxide (CP) affects the degree of whitening and tooth sensitivity. Forty patients with central incisors darker than A2 were selected. Participants who did not drink coffee were assigned to the control group (CG), while participants who drink coffee at least twice a day were assigned to the experimental group (EG). For CG, foods with dyes were restricted. For EG there was no restriction on food and patients were asked to make coffee rinses for 30 seconds, four times daily. For both groups 16% CP was used for a period of three hours daily for three weeks. Shade evaluation was assessed visually by Vita classical shade guide and by the Easyshade spectrophotometer at baseline, during bleaching (first, second, and third weeks), and postbleaching (one week and one month). Patients recorded their sensitivity perceptions by means of the numerical rating scale and 0-10 visual analog scales. Variation in shade guide units and the two colors (ΔE) were evaluated by two-way analysis of variance and Tukey tests (α=0.05). Absolute risk of tooth sensitivity and intensity of tooth sensitivity was evaluated by Fisher exact and Mann-Whitney tests (α=0.05). Effective bleaching was observed for both groups after three weeks, without statistical difference. No difference in terms of risk of tooth sensitivity and intensity of tooth sensitivity was detected between groups. Approximately 57% of the participants experienced tooth sensitivity, which was recorded mainly as “mild.” Exposure to coffee during bleaching treatment does not seem to affect the degree of bleaching and tooth sensitivity.
The Evaluation of Working Casts Prepared from Digital Impressions
Authors: Hwang YC , Park YS , Kim HK , Hong YS , Ahn JS , Ryu JJ
Published: April 2013

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reproducibility of working casts of a digital impression system by comparing them with the original, virtual, and rapid prototyping casts.

Materials and Methods

A total of 54 cast sets in clinically stable occlusion were used. They were scanned by an iTero intraoral scanner and converted into STL format virtual casts. Rapid prototyping casts and polyurethane casts were fabricated from the iTero milling system based on the virtual casts. Several horizontal and vertical measurements were performed from the four types of casts, that is, original stone casts, virtual casts, rapid prototyping casts, and polyurethane casts of iTero. Measurement error, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and differences among the casts were calculated and compared.

Results

Casts from iTero milling machines exhibited greater dimensional differences and lower ICC values than did other casts. In addition, many of the measurements of the iTero working casts showed statistically significant differences in comparison to the three other types of casts. In contrast, there were no statistically significant differences between the virtual and original casts.

Conclusion

Virtual casts made by the iTero intraoral scanner exhibited excellent reproducibility. However, the casts from the iTero milling machine showed greater dimensional differences and lower reproducibility compared to other types of casts.
Effect of Postoperative Peroxide Bleaching on the Marginal Seal of Composite Restorations Bonded With Self-etch Adhesives
Authors: Roubickova A , Dudek M , Comba L , Housova D , Bradna P
Published: April 2013

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of peroxide bleaching on the marginal seal of composite restorations bonded with several adhesive systems. Combined cylindrical Class V cavities located half in enamel and half in dentin were prepared on the buccal and lingual surfaces of human molars. The cavities were bonded with the self-etch adhesives Clearfil SE-Bond (CLF), Adper Prompt (ADP), and iBond (IBO) and an etch-and-rinse adhesive Gluma Comfort Bond (GLU) and restored with a microhybrid composite Charisma. Experimental groups were treated 25 times for eight hours per day with a peroxide bleaching gel Opalescence PF 20, while the control groups were stored in distilled water for two months and then subjected to a microleakage test using a dye penetration method. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the etching and penetration abilities of the adhesives and morphology of debonded restoration-enamel interfaces after the microleakage tests. Statistical analyses were performed using nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, and Wilcoxon tests at p=0.05. The microleakage of all GLU groups was low and not significantly affected by peroxide bleaching. Low microleakage was recorded for CLF control groups, but after bleaching, a small but significant increase in microleakage at the enamel margin indicated its sensitivity to peroxide bleaching. For ADP and IBO control groups, the microleakage at the enamel margins was significantly higher than for GLU and CLF and exceeded that at the dentin margins. Bleaching did not induce any significant changes in the microleakage. Electron microscopy analysis indicated that in our experimental setup, decreased adhesion and mechanical resistance of the ADP- and IBO-enamel interfaces could be more important than the chemical degradation effects induced by the peroxide bleaching gel.
Surveillance and Correlation of Antibiotic Consumption and Resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii complex in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Northeast China, 2003–2011
Authors: Xu Jiancheng , Sun Zhihui , Li Yanyan , Zhou Qi
Published: April 2013

This study investigated the changes in resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii complex and the association of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii complex (CRAB) infection and hospital antimicrobial usage from 2003 to 2011 in a tertiary care hospital in northeast China. In vitro susceptibilities were determined by disk diffusion test and susceptibility profiles were determined using zone diameter interpretive criteria, as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). Data on consumption of various antimicrobial agents, expressed as defined daily dose/1,000 patients/day, were collected retrospectively from hospital pharmacy computer database. Most of 2,485 strains of A. baumannii complex were collected from respiratory samples (1,618 isolates, 65.1%), secretions and pus (465, 18.7%) over the years. The rates of antimicrobial resistance in A. baumannii complex increased significantly over the years. The rates of CRAB were between 11.3% and 59.1% over the years. The quarterly use of anti-pseudomonal carbapenems, but not other classes of antibiotics, was strongly correlated with the increase of quarterly CRAB (β = 1.661; p < 0.001). Dedicated use of anti-pseudomonal carbapenems would be an important intervention to control the increase of CRAB.
A First Approach to Differences in Continuity of Care Perceived by Immigrants and Natives in the Catalan Public Healthcare System
Authors: Aller Marta-Beatriz , Colomé Josep , Waibel Sina , Vargas Ingrid , Vázquez María
Published: April 2013

Objective: To compare immigrants’ and natives’ perceptions of relational, managerial and informational continuity of care and to explore the influence of the length of stay on immigrants’ perceptions of continuity. Methods: Cross-sectional study based on a survey of a random sample of 1,500 patients, of which 22% (331) were immigrants. The study area was made up by three healthcare areas of the Catalan healthcare system. To collect data, the CCAENA questionnaire was applied. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted. Results: Like natives, immigrants perceive high levels of managerial continuity (88.5%) and relational continuity with primary and secondary care physicians (86.7 and 81.8%), and lower levels of informational continuity (59.1%). There were no statistically significant differences in managerial and informational continuity between immigrants and natives. However, immigrants perceive a worse relational continuity with primary care physicians in terms of trust, communication and clinical responsibility. Conversely, immigrants perceive higher relational continuity with secondary care physicians in terms of effective communication and clinical responsibility. Discussion: Similar managerial and informational continuity perceptions seem to point towards a similar treatment of patients, regardless of their immigrant status. However, differences in relational continuity highlight the need for improvements in professionals’ skills in treating immigrants’ patients.
Sphingomyelin in High-Density Lipoproteins: Structural Role and Biological Function
Authors: Martínez-Beamonte Roberto , Lou-Bonafonte Jose , Martínez-Gracia María , Osada Jesús
Published: April 2013

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels are an inverse risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and sphingomyelin (SM) is the second most abundant phospholipid component and the major sphingolipid in HDL. Considering the marked presence of SM, the present review has focused on the current knowledge about this phospholipid by addressing its variable distribution among HDL lipoparticles, how they acquire this phospholipid, and the important role that SM plays in regulating their fluidity and cholesterol efflux from different cells. In addition, plasma enzymes involved in HDL metabolism such as lecithin–cholesterol acyltransferase or phospholipid transfer protein are inhibited by HDL SM content. Likewise, HDL SM levels are influenced by dietary maneuvers (source of protein or fat), drugs (statins or diuretics) and modified in diseases such as diabetes, renal failure or Niemann–Pick disease. Furthermore, increased levels of HDL SM have been shown to be an inverse risk factor for coronary heart disease. The complexity of SM species, described using new lipidomic methodologies, and their distribution in different HDL particles under many experimental conditions are promising avenues for further research in the future.
Dehydration Process of Hofmann-Type Layered Solids
Authors: Reyes-Martinez Omar , Torres-García Enelio , Rodríguez-Gattorno Geonel , Reguera Edilso
Published: April 2013

In the present work the dehydration process of layered solids with formula unit M(H2O)2[Ni(CN)4]·nH2O, M = Ni, Co, Mn; n = 1, 2, 4 is studied using modulated thermogravimetry. The results show that water molecules need to overcome an energetic barrier (activation energy between 63 and 500 kJ/mol) in order to diffuse through the interlayer region. The related kinetic parameters show a dependence on the water partial pressure. On the other hand, X-ray diffraction results provide evidence that the dehydration process is accompanied by framework collapse, limiting the structural reversibility, except for heating below 80 °C where the ordered structure remains. Removal of water molecules from the interlayer region disrupts the long-range structural order of the solid.
Development of a Direct Headspace Collection Method from Arabidopsis Seedlings Using HS-SPME-GC-TOF-MS Analysis
Authors: Kusano Miyako , Iizuka Yumiko , Kobayashi Makoto , Fukushima Atsushi , Saito Kazuki
Published: April 2013

Plants produce various volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are thought to be a crucial factor in their interactions with harmful insects, plants and animals. Composition of VOCs may differ when plants are grown under different nutrient conditions, i.e., macronutrient-deficient conditions. However, in plants, relationships between macronutrient assimilation and VOC composition remain unclear. In order to identify the kinds of VOCs that can be emitted when plants are grown under various environmental conditions, we established a conventional method for VOC profiling in Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) involving headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-TOF-MS). We grew Arabidopsis seedlings in an HS vial to directly perform HS analysis. To maximize the analytical performance of VOCs, we optimized the extraction method and the analytical conditions of HP-SPME-GC-TOF-MS. Using the optimized method, we conducted VOC profiling of Arabidopsis seedlings, which were grown under two different nutrition conditions, nutrition-rich and nutrition-deficient conditions. The VOC profiles clearly showed a distinct pattern with respect to each condition. This study suggests that HS-SPME-GC-TOF-MS analysis has immense potential to detect changes in the levels of VOCs in not only Arabidopsis, but other plants grown under various environmental conditions.
Chemical Composition and Nematicidal Activity of Essential Oil of Agastache rugosa against Meloidogyne incognita
Authors: Li He , Liu Qi , Liu Zhi , Du Shu , Deng Zhi
Published: April 2013

The aim of this research was to determine the chemical composition and nematicidal activity of essential oil of Agastache rugosa flowering aerial parts against the root knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, and to isolate and identify any nematicidal constituents from the essential oil. The essential oil of A. rugosa aerial parts was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. A total of 37 components of the essential oil were identified, with the principal compounds being methyleugenol (50.51%), estragole (8.55%), and eugenol (7.54%), followed by thymol (3.62%), pulegone (2.56%), limonene (2.49%) and caryophyllene (2.38%). Based on bioactivity-guided fractionation, the three active constituents were isolated from the essential oil and identified as methyleugenol, estragole and eugenol. The essential oil of A. rugosa exhibited strong nematicidal activity against M. incognita, with a LC50 value of 47.3 μg/mL. The components eugenol (LC50 = 66.6 μg/mL) and methyleugenol (LC50 = 89.4 μg/mL) exhibited stronger nematicidal activity against M. incognita (LC50 = 185.9 μg/mL). The results indicate that the essential oil of A. rugosa aerial parts and its constituent compounds have potential for development into natural nematicides for control of the root knot nematode.
Perioperative Immunonutrition in Well-Nourished Patients Undergoing Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer: Evaluation of Inflammatory and Immunologic Outcomes
Authors: Turnock Amy , Calder Philip , West Annette , Izzard Mark , Morton Randall , Plank Lindsay
Published: April 2013

Limited work is available on the benefits of nutritional support enriched with arginine and n-3 fatty acids in surgical patients with head and neck cancer, particularly if well-nourished. We conducted a pilot study in these patients to examine effects on inflammatory markers and clinical outcome. Patients scheduled for radical resection of the oral cavity were randomised to 5 day preoperative and 5 day postoperative Impact® (IMN, n = 4), or no preoperative supplementary nutrition and Isosource® postoperatively (STD, n = 4). Plasma fatty acids, C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 were measured at baseline, day of surgery and on postoperative days (POD) 2, 4 and 10. Postoperative complications were recorded. The (eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid) to arachidonic acid ratio was significantly higher in IMN patients on POD 2, 4 and 10 (P < 0.01). While not statistically significant, CRP, TNF-α, and IL-6 concentrations were higher in the STD group on POD2 while IL-10 was lower. Median length of stay was 10 (range 10–43) days in the IMN group and 21.5 (7–24) days in the STD group. Five complications were seen in the STD group and two in the IMN group. The results support the need for a larger trial focusing on clinical outcome.
Vitamin C in Cultured Human (HeLa) Cells: Lack of Effect on DNA Protection and Repair
Authors: Azqueta Amaya , Costa Solange , Lorenzo Yolanda , Bastani Nasser , Collins Andrew
Published: April 2013

Aims: Dietary antioxidants, including vitamin C, may be in part responsible for the cancer-preventive effects of fruits and vegetables. Human intervention trials with clinical endpoints have failed to confirm their protective effects, and mechanistic studies have given inconsistent results. Our aim was to investigate antioxidant/ pro-oxidant effects of vitamin C at the cellular level. Experimental approach: We have used the comet assay to investigate effects of vitamin C on DNA damage, antioxidant status, and DNA repair, in HeLa (human tumor) cells, and HPLC to measure uptake of vitamin C into cells. Results: Even at concentrations in the medium as high as 200 μM, vitamin C did not increase the background level of strand breaks or of oxidized purines in nuclear DNA. Vitamin C is taken up by HeLa cells and accumulates to mM levels. Preincubation of cells with vitamin C did not render them resistant to strand breakage induced by H2O2 or to purine oxidation by photosensitizer plus light. Vitamin C had no effect on the rate of repair of strand breaks or oxidized bases by HeLa cells. However, vitamin C at a concentration of less than 1 μM, or extract from cells preincubated for 6 h with vitamin C, was able to induce damage (strand breaks) in lysed, histone-depleted nuclei (nucleoids). Conclusion: In these cultured human cells, vitamin C displays neither antioxidant nor pro-oxidant properties; nor does it affect DNA strand break or base excision repair.
Microflow Cytometers with Integrated Hydrodynamic Focusing
Authors: Frankowski Marcin , Theisen Janko , Kummrow Andreas , Simon Peter , Ragusch Hülya , Bock Nicole , Schmidt Martin , Neukammer Jörg
Published: April 2013

This study demonstrates the suitability of microfluidic structures for high throughput blood cell analysis. The microfluidic chips exploit fully integrated hydrodynamic focusing based on two different concepts: Two-stage cascade focusing and spin focusing (vortex) principle. The sample—A suspension of micro particles or blood cells—is injected into a sheath fluid streaming at a substantially higher flow rate, which assures positioning of the particles in the center of the flow channel. Particle velocities of a few m/s are achieved as required for high throughput blood cell analysis. The stability of hydrodynamic particle positioning was evaluated by measuring the pulse heights distributions of fluorescence signals from calibration beads. Quantitative assessment based on coefficient of variation for the fluorescence intensity distributions resulted in a value of about 3% determined for the micro-device exploiting cascade hydrodynamic focusing. For the spin focusing approach similar values were achieved for sample flow rates being 1.5 times lower. Our results indicate that the performances of both variants of hydrodynamic focusing suit for blood cell differentiation and counting. The potential of the micro flow cytometer is demonstrated by detecting immunologically labeled CD3 positive and CD4 positive T-lymphocytes in blood.
Measurement of Spatial Pulse Wave Velocity by Using a Clip-Type Pulsimeter Equipped with a Hall Sensor and Photoplethysmography
Authors: Nam Dong-Hyun , Lee Woo-Beom , Hong You-Sik , Lee Sang-Suk
Published: April 2013

A prototype of a clip-type pulsimeter equipped with a magnetic field-sensing semiconductor Hall sensor was developed. It has a permanent magnet attached in the “Chwan” position to the center of a radial artery. The clip-type pulsimeter is composed of a hardware system measuring voltage signals. To measure spatial pulse wave velocity (SPWV), the signal from the radial artery pulsimeter and that from the photoplethysmography (PPG) were simultaneously compared. The pulse wave data from a clinical test of 39 clinical participants (male:female = 25:14) with a mean age of 24.36 (±2.35) years was analyzed. The mean SPWV, which was simultaneously measured from the radial artery pulsimeter and PPG, was 0.8 m/s. We suggest the SPWV results were higher for men than women, because of the better vascularity of terminal tissue in men. The findings of this research may be useful for developing a biomedical signal storage device for a U-health-care system.
Les modérés athéniens vers le milieu du IVe siècle : échos et concordances
Authors: Romilly Jacqueline de
Published: April 2013

En lisant ensemble certains textes de modérés athéniens, en particulier Isocrate, Xénophon et Eschine, on y relève des idées et des arguments très semblables ; on trouve ainsi des accords sur les personnes, — sur les questions intérieures (souci moralisant et préoccupations économiques), — sur la politique de paix (plus juste, et s'inspirant mieux du passé). Ces rapprochements sont assez étroits pour impliquer des influences et des emprunts.
La composition de la « Vie d'Aristote » chez Diogène Laërce
Authors: Moraux Paul
Published: April 2013

Bien des inepties déparent les biographies dues à Diogène Laërce. Comme le révèle l'analyse de la Vie d'Aristote, une grande partie d'entre elles s'expliquent par l'application maladroite d'un procédé de composition assez singulier : d'un thème normalement amené par la marche du récit chronologique, l'auteur passe volontiers, par associations d'idées, à un thème voisin ; de celui-ci, il saute à un autre, et ainsi de suite. Des digressions en cascades se mêlent donc à la narration biostraphique. On peut retrouver, cependant, la charpente originelle de la biographie : il suffit d'isoler les digressions et de ne considérer que les morceaux qui les ont déclenchées. Or ce démontage de la Vie d'Aristote révèle un fait d'une importance primordiale : le canevas, sur lequel a brodé Diogène est identique à celui qu'on retrouve chez le grand Apollodore , l'un et l'autre découlent d'une source commune, qui est probablement le péripatéticien Ariston de Céos. Diogène a fait de son mieux pour étoffer ce donné primitif en y insérant une foule de renseignements complémentaires ; il a rédigé lui-même une partie de ces digressions et a laissé à l'état brut les matériaux qu'il destinait aux autres. Son manuscrit, à demi achevé et bourré de notes additionnelles non encore incorporées au texte, a été confié à un éditeur, qui a transcrit le tout en un texte continu, non sans commettre une foule de bévues et d'erreurs. La stupidité d'un rédacteur incapable est ainsi venue s'ajouter à l'insigne naïveté de Diogène.
Un copiste des Perses
Authors: Roussel Louis
Published: April 2013

Plusieurs difficultés du texte peuvent être résolues ou du moins expliquées, si l'on admet, qu'un scribe peu perspicace a substitué parfois à l'expression d'Eschyle ce qui n'était, dans l'exemplaire qui lui servait de modèle, qu'une glose explicative (vv. 13. 164, 166, 196, 347, 624, 657, 665, 900, 988).
Les « notices et extraits » des bibliothèques grecques de Bagdad par Photius
Authors: Hemmerdinger Bertrand
Published: April 2013

II n'y a aucune raison de rejeter, comme on le fait d'habitude, le témoignage de Photius, qui nous dit que c'est au cours de son ambassade (c'est-à-dire à Bagdad) qu'il a lu les livres résumés dans sa Bibliothèque.
Sur la signification de l'apeiron d'Anaximandre
Authors: Wiśniewski Bohdan
Published: April 2013

Anaximandre doit avoir tenu l'apeiron pour un mélange, pour spatialement fini, pour qualitativement indéterminé. Ces propositions se fondent sur la considération de ce que le monde qui l'environnait pouvait présenter à l'esprit de l'antique philosophe.
Réflexions sur l'ὄχημα dans les Eléments de Théologie de Proclus
Authors: Trouillard Jean
Published: April 2013

Comme l'initié montant vers le sanctuaire rejette peu à peu ses vêtements, l'âme, en se purifiant, se dépouille de ses enveloppes infra-rationnelles. Proclus, après Plotin, reprend cette figure classique. Mais il la modifie. L'âme ne se dépouille jamais d'un corps pur ou οχημα, qui est le point d'insertion des autres enveloppes. Nous avons là une forme de médiation entre sensible et intelligible qui n'est pas un cas isolé et a des attaches profondes dans la pensée néoplatonicienne.
Ἐπιπροσθεῖν
Authors: Tréheux Jacques
Published: April 2013

L'A. revient sur une correction proposée par M. Mugler, REG, LXIX (1956), p. 20-28, au texte traditionnel du Parménide, 137 ·, où Platon définit la ligne droite. Il montre que la forme έπιπροσθέον, forgée par M. M., est irrecevable, que l'adverbe έπάτροσθεν contient déjà, contre l'avis de M. M., l'image de l'éclipsé et qu'il n'y a lieu de modifier ni la leçon des manuscrits ni l'interprétation qu'on en donne. Έπιπροσθεΐν n'a sûrement rien à voir avec θέω, « je cours », mais le rapport linguistique entre ἐπιπροσθεΐν et ἐπίπροσθεν reste à préciser.
Deux inscriptions d'Iasos
Authors: Robert Louis
Published: April 2013

L'auteur étudie une inscription de la ville d'Iasos en Carie, relative à une fondation pour la fourniture d'huile au gymnase. Il apporte des précisions sur la summa honoraria pour la stéphanéphorie d'Artémis et sur les travaux de skoutlôsis, le revêtement en marbre des parois d'édifices. Il traite des cultes égyptiens à lasos en publiant la dédicace inédite d'un autel et de brûle-parfums aux divinités égyptiennes, parmi lesquelles Anoubis et Isis Boubastis. La comparaison de ces deux inscriptions lui permet de retrouver dans l'une et l'autre le cognomen Synallasson d'un Romain, Caninius ; dans la première, on avait restitué un verbe. Remarques sur les services rendus aux villes grecques par les financiers, sur la provenance iasienne et non milésienne d'inscriptions de la péninsule milésienne et sur la révision des inscriptions à paraître dans le Corpus d'Iasos (tome IV de La Carie).
Styx et serments
Authors: Bollack Jean
Published: April 2013

Deux fragments d'Empédocle (30 et 115 D.-Kr.) donnent manifestement un sens concret au mot ὅρκος. De récentes études (Benveniste, Leumann), soulignant cette valeur originellement concrète, refusaient le rapprochement traditionnel d' ὅρκος et d'ἕρκος. L'étude littéraire des scènes de serment chez Homère permet de montrer que jurer (ὀμνύναι), c'est d'abord prendre à témoins dieux ou objets, c'est agir au nom d'un ordre cosmique, et que le châtiment du parjure est amené par la transgression elle-même plutôt que par le pouvoir maléfique d'un objet ou par l'intervention d'un dieu. Dans les scènes qui apparaissent comme les plus archaïques, les dieux invoquent les parties du monde et parmi elles l'eau du Styx. Il faudrait peut-être, d'après l'étude des textes (certaines expressions homériques ; la Théogonie ; Hérodote 6, 74), voir dans le Styx originel une muraille qui entoure le monde et assure l'ordre des choses. Ainsi dans la fameuse formule homérique (O 37 s. etc.), le Styx est lui-même « le plus puissant des liens ». Ernpédocle aurait connu la représentation ancienne que recouvre le mot ὅρκος et aurait employé le terme dans le sens concret d'« enceinte, muraille, lien ».
Le codex Hauniensis NKS 182
Authors: Dain Alphonse
Published: April 2013

L'auteur, choisissant le cas d'un manuscrit non attribué et non daté, montre comment on peut le situer dans un complexe philologique et en retrouver l'auteur et la date. Le manuscrit de Copenhague NKS 182 (Athénée, Philon, Biton, Naumachiques dédiées à Basile) a été écrit par l'érudit danois Zacharias Lund aux environs des années 1660. Il dérive du codex Berolinensis 306 et du codex Hauniensis 1849. Les manuscrits du XVIIe siècle sont particulièrement propices à l'ascèse philologique.
On Apollodori Bibliotheca
Authors: Van der Valk Marchinus H. A. L. H.
Published: April 2013

The author particularly studies the character of Bibliotheca and its relation to its sources. He thinks that the book was originally destined for a youthful public, as he tries to prove from a number of instances which show the author' s love of decency. He then enters on the modern views and thinks that Bibliotheca has been underestimated. He shows that the pre-Byzantine Scholia of Homer, of the Tragedians, etc. have made extensive use of it and that already at an early date the work was ascribed to Apollodorus. In his opinion, Bibliotheca has not made such an extensive and mechanical use of general manuals, as critics are mostly inclined to think. To this end he especially investigates the relation of Bibliotheca to Pherecydes, Akousilaos and Hellanicus. He tries to find traces and fragments of them in Bibliotheca. In this connection he also studies the Historiai of the Homeric D Scholia. He proposes as a hypothetical date the first century A. D.
La « démonologie » d'Empédocle
Authors: Détienne Marcel
Published: April 2013

Étude des stratifications qui composent une représentation religieuse, et en même temps recherche sur l'importance des démons dans la conscience religieuse d'Empédocle. La notion de δαίμων dans la pensée de ce poète philosophe recouvre diverses significations : d'abord, elle signifie l'âme incarcérée dans un corps humain ; c'est le δαίμων μακραίων, ainsi nommé parce qu'il peut muter en θεὸς. Puis, la représentation des δυνάμεις ψυχοπομποί, chargées de conduire l'âme démonique sur cette terre, conçue comme un Enfer. Enfin, les διτταί... μοϊραι καὶ δαίμονες qui tiennent compagnie durant la vie à la même âme démonique. En dernier lieu, δαίμων peut recouvrir la notion de φύσις, comme, dans Parménide, elle est une expression d'ἀνάγκη. L'A. insiste en conclusion sur l'ambiguïté fondamentale de δαίμων et sa polyvalence dans la pensée religieuse.
Le classement des constitutions d'Hérodote à Aristote
Authors: Romilly Jacqueline de
Published: April 2013

Le premier classement connu, et le plus classique, connaît trois régimes, distingués par leur structure (Hérodote). Sous l'influence des opinions politiques, certaines formes se subdivisent, et l'on adopte des critères moins extérieurs, le tout aboutissant au classement en six d'Aristote et à ses difficultés d'application. Platon se situe sur cette ligne d'évolution, qui peut éclairer certains de ses textes.
Notes de lexicographie et de grammaire hellénistiques
Authors: Cadiou René
Published: April 2013

Le style même atticiste de la seconde sophistique chez les écrivains chrétiens ne se conçoit réellement qu'en se référant aux normes du grec biblique et néo-testamentaire dans lequel l'équivalent sémitique est parfois impliqué. Seul le rapprochement avec la littérature syrienne permet de dégager les valeurs grammaticales nouvelles, qui sont fonction de la psychologie ot de l'eschatologie chrétiennes.
De quelques idéogrammes mycéniens
Authors: Lejeune Michel
Published: April 2013

Examen de quelques problèmes de méthode sur l'identification et l'interprétation des idéogrammes dans les documents en linéaire Β ; à propos, principalement, des idéogrammes qui désignent les denrées liquides (huile, vin, etc.), et de ceux qui désignent les divers « parfums » qu'on combinait à l'huile.
Allusion in Hesiod
Authors: Walcot Peter
Published: April 2013

On ne saurait prétendre qu'Hésiode fait allusion à Homère ou à la poésie épique quand il déclare que les Muses Héliconiennes peuvent indifféremment conter des mensonges ou proclamer des vérités (Théog. 27 sq.). En décrivant, dans les Travaux, le destin de la trième race d'hommes et sa propre victoire aux jeux d'Amphidamas, Hésiode mentionne l'arrêt des Grecs à Aulis et leur voyage vers Troie. L'A. suggère que ces allusions nous aident à identifier le sujet de l'hymne qui valut au poète le trépied par lui consacré aux Muses de l'Hélicon.
La lumière et la vision dans la poésie grecque
Authors: Mugler Charles
Published: April 2013

Les vers ayant pour objet la lumière et la vue non seulement comptent parmi les plus beaux de la poésie grecque, mais nous renseignent aussi sur les représentations les plus anciennes de l'humanité grecque relatives à la nature de la lumière et au mécanisme de son émission et de sa perception. L'optique scientifique des Grecs a éliminé certaines de ces représentations archaïques et retenu certaines autres, dont celle d'un flux visuel projeté par les yeux des êtres vivants pendant l'acte de la vision.
Platon et la médecine
Authors: Schuhl Pierre-Maxime
Published: April 2013

Platon se réfère souvent à la médecine, qui apparaît tantôt comme une technique conjecturale, tantôt comme un art rationnel, à portée morale, et qui découvre la structure organisée du vivant. La médecine, transposition de la philosophie ; la philosophie, transposition de la médecine.