bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measuring the effect of Chinese brand name syllable processing on consumer purchases
Authors: Pan Ming-Chuan , Kuo Chih-Ying , Pan Ching-Ti
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine consumer reactions to product categories, online seller reputation, and brand name syllables.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses four experimental designs to explore the seller reputation, product category, and brand name syllable effects in internet shopping. The authors chose sellers of (low/high) repute from Yahoo Mall. ANOVA is used to evaluate the results.

Findings

– Seller reputation moderates the effect of the brand name syllable level on purchase intention and product category moderates the effect of the brand name syllable level on purchase on internet (experiment 1). Consumers take the longest time to make purchasing decisions when buying credence goods or buying from sellers of low repute and that the response time mediates the moderating role of the product category (experiment 2) or reputation (experiment 3). Moreover, the effect of brand name syllable levels chosen/assigned by sellers of low repute is weakened for consumers with low (vs high) skepticism toward non-store shopping (experiment 4).

Practical implications

– This study is helpful to online sellers if they can identify their reputation, product category and those consumers have skepticism, they can create extra profit through brand name syllable practice.

Originality/value

– This paper extends the literature on consumers’ brand name syllable processing by identifying important moderators and probing into the decision process. The results allow us to substantiate prior research and suggest prescriptive strategies for internet retailers.
Contemporary diplomatics of the civil and deceased estate case files found at the national archives of Zimbabwe
Authors: Bhebhe Sindiso
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss how the originality, authenticity, reliability and genuineness of legal records found at the National Archives of Zimbabwe (NAZ) are maintained. Provenance issues and their implications in diplomatics are also discussed. It notes that the status quo at the NAZ favours the diplomatic archiving of paper records, while electronic records are neglected.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses a qualitative research approach. The data will mainly be collected using document analysis augmented by observations from the NAZ. Literature in regard to the Court Legal system of Zimbabwe will be reviewed and this even includes newspaper articles. Academic research papers on the archiving of electronic records in the less developed nations and developed nations will be reviewed also.

Findings

– The qualitative research approach revealed that the electronic national heritage of Zimbabwe is being lost mainly due to the archaic legislation which is silent on the management of electronic records. The results show again the violation of the sanctity of provenance principles in some selected cases. It was also found that the government is now producing both paper and electronic records, but the National Archives is only archiving paper records, the result of this being the incompleteness of records, thereby negatively affecting their diplomatics.

Originality/value

– Whereas a lot has been published about the management of electronic records in the developing world, this paper does not try to duplicate that but tries to bring a new dimension into this by showing how the diplomatics of these records is affected.
Stress-limiting test structures for rapid low-cost strength and stiffness assessment
Authors: Katz Andrew , Nussbaum Justin , Lusk Craig P , Crane Nathan B
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the use of a simple printed geometry to estimate mechanical properties (elastic modulus, yield strength) with inexpensive test equipment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Test geometry is presented that enables controlled strains with manual deformation and repeatable measurement of vibrational frequencies. This is tested with multiple fused deposition modeling (FDM) machines to assess measurement accuracy and repeatability. Printing orientation and some printing parameters are varied to assess the measurement sensitivity.

Findings

– The test methods show good correlation with manufacturer material specifications in the X-Y plane and reported elastic strain limits. It is also sensitive to printing orientation and printing parameters.

Research limitations/implications

– Further work is needed to assess the sensitivity of the method to particular defects and parameter errors expected in particular applications.

Originality/value

– This method supports process monitoring in production environments and inexpensive assessments of material properties for hobbyist and do-i- yourself users. While it is tested with FDM, it should be applicable to other additive manufacturing processes.
In vitro assessment of laser sintered bioactive glass scaffolds with different pore geometries
Authors: Kolan Krishna C R , Thomas Albin , Leu Ming C , Hilmas Greg
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to utilize the selective laser sintering (SLS) process to fabricate scaffolds with complex pore shapes and investigate the effects of pore geometry in vitro. The pore geometry of scaffolds intended for use in bone repair is one of the most important parameters used to determine the rate of bone regeneration.

Design/methodology/approach

– Scaffolds with five different architectures, having approximately 50 per cent porosity, were fabricated with silicate (13–93) and borate (13–93B3)-based bioactive glasses using the SLS process. An established late-osteoblasts/early-osteocytes cell line was used to perform cell proliferation tests on the scaffolds. The cell-seeded scaffolds were incubated for two, four and six days followed by MTT assay to quantify the metabolically active cells.

Findings

– The results indicated that the cells proliferate significantly more on the scaffolds which mimic the trabecular bone architecture compared to traditional lattice structures. The surface roughness of the SLS-fabricated scaffolds drives the initial cell proliferation which is followed by curvature-driven cell proliferation.

Originality/value

– There have been very few studies on the effects of pore geometry on tissue growth and the existing reports do not provide clear indications. Instead of using bio-polymer or titanium-based scaffolds, we use bioactive glass scaffolds. The results obtained from this study add to the understanding of the effect of pore geometry on cell proliferation, which is based on the experimental data and analysis of the scaffolds’ surface curvature.
Experimental-assisted design development for an octahedral cellular structure using additive manufacturing
Authors: Yang Li
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to demonstrate the design and verification of a 3D reticulate octahedral cellular structure using both analytical modeling and additive manufacturing. Traditionally, it has been difficult to develop and verify designs for 3D cellular structures due to their design complexity.

Design/methodology/approach

– Unit cell modeling approach was used to model the octahedral cellular structure. By applying structural symmetry simplification, the cellular structure was simplified into a representative geometry that could be further designed with a standard beam theory. The verification samples were fabricated with EBM process using Ti6Al4V as materials, and compressive testing were performed to evaluate their properties. In addition, designs with different number of unit cells were investigated to evaluate their size effect.

Findings

– Explicit mechanical property design (including modulus and compressive strength) of the octahedral cellular structure was realized via parametric equations driven by geometrical designs and material types. In addition, it was verified both numerically and experimentally that the octahedral cellular structure exhibit unusual size effect, which is highly predictable. Unlike some of the other cellular structures, the octahedral cellular structure exhibits softening behavior when the number of unit cell increases between the sandwich skins, which could be explained by the upsetting effect commonly observed in bulk deformation processes.

Originality/value

– This paper established a more comprehensive understanding in the design of octahedral cellular structures, which could enable this type of structure to be designed for sandwich structures with higher fidelity. Therefore, this study not only demonstrated an efficient methodology to design 3D cellular structures using additive manufacturing, but also facilitated the development of design for an additive manufacturing theory.
An exploration of binder jetting of copper
Authors: Bai Yun , Williams Christopher B
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the use of binder jetting to fabricate high-purity copper parts. The ability to fabricate geometrically complex copper shapes would have implications on the design and manufacture of components for thermal management systems and structural electronics.

Design/methodology/approach

– To explore the feasibility of processing copper via binder jetting, the authors followed an established material development process that encompasses powder selection and tuning process parameters in printing and thermal cycles. Specifically, the authors varied powder size and sintering cycles to explore their effects on densification.

Findings

– Three differently sized copper powders were successfully printed, followed by sintering in a reducing atmosphere. It was found that a 15-μm-diameter powder with a sintering cycle featuring a 1,080°C maximum temperature provides the most dense (85 per cent) and pure (97 per cent) final copper parts of the parameters tested.

Research limitations/implications

– Due to powder-based additive manufacturing techniques’ inherent limitations in powder packing and particle size diameter, there are difficulties in creating fully dense copper parts. To improve thermal, electrical and mechanical properties, future work will focus on improving densification.

Originality/value

– The paper demonstrates the first use of binder jetting to fabricate copper artifacts. The resulting copper parts are denser than what is typically found in binder jetting of metal powders (without infiltration); significant opportunity remains to further optimize the manufacturing process by introducing novel techniques to tailor the material properties for thermal/electrical applications.
Design and performance evaluation of a 3-axis force sensor for MIS palpation
Authors: Li Kun , Pan Bo , Zhan Juncheng , Gao Wenpeng , Fu Yili , Wang Shuguo
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to develop a novel miniature 3-axis force sensor which can detect the interaction forces during tissue palpation in MIS (minimally invasive surgery). MIS offers many significant merits compared with traditional open surgery, the wound to the patients and the postoperative pains are alleviated and reduced dramatically. However, the inherent drawback due to lack of force feedback still exists while conducting some operation procedures. For example, tissue palpation performed easily during open surgery could not be realized in an MIS manner.

Design/methodology/approach

– The force sensor is based on the resistive-based sensing method that utilizes strain gauges to measure the strain when the external loads are acting on the tip of the sensor. A novel flexible tripod structure with bending and compression deformations is designed to discriminate the magnitudes and directions of the three orthogonal force components. A linear characteristic matrix is derived to disclose the relationship between the sensitivity and the geometric parameters of the structure, and a straightforward geometric parameterized optimization method considering the sensitivity isotropy is proposed to provide the sensor structure with high sensitivity and adequate stiffness.

Findings

– The sensor prototype can perform force measurement with sensing ranges of ± 3.0 N in axial direction and ± 1.5 N in radial direction, and the resolutions are 5 per cent and 1 per cent, respectively. It is concluded that this force sensor is compatible with MIS instruments and the ex-vivo experiment shows that the sensor can be used to perform tissue palpation during MIS procedures.

Originality/value

– This paper is intended to address the significant role of force sensing and force feedback during MIS operations, and presents a new application of the resistive-based sensing method in MIS. A tripod structure is designed and a straightforward optimization method considering the sensitivity isotropy of the sensor is proposed to determine geometric parameters suited for the given external loads.
Wireless measurement for passive pressure sensors in high temperature environment
Authors: Hong Yingping , Liang Ting , Jia Pinggang , Liu Wenyi , Tan Qiulin , Li Chen , Zheng Tingli , Ge Binger , Xiong Jijun
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– Physical contact and traditional sensitive structure Physical contact and traditional pressure-sensitive structures typically do not operate well in harsh environments. This paper proposes a high-temperature pressure measurement system for wireless passive pressure sensors on the basis of inductively coupled LC resonant circuits.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper begins with a general introduction to the high-temperature pressure measurement system, which consists of a reader antenna inductively coupled to the sensor circuit, a readout unit and a heat insulation unit. The design and fabrication of the proposed measurement system are then described in detail.

Findings

– A wireless passive pressure sensor without an air channel is fabricated using high-temperature co-fired ceramics (HTCC) technology and its signal is measured by the designed measurement system. The designed heat insulation unit keeps the reader antenna in a safe environment of 159.5°C when the passive sensor is located in a 900°C high-temperature zone continuously for 0.5 h. The proposed system can effectively detect the sensor’s resonance frequency variation in a high bandwidth from 1 to 100 MHz with a frequency resolution of 0.006 MHz, tested from room temperature to 500°C for 30 min.

Originality/value

– Expensive and bulky equipment (impedance analyzers or network analyzers) restrict the use of the readout method outside the laboratory environment. This paper shows that a novel readout circuit can replace the laboratory equipment to demodulate the measured pressure by extracting the various sensors’ resonant frequency. The proposed measurement system realizes automatic and continuous pressure monitoring in a high-temperature environment with a coupled distance of 2.5 cm. The research finding is meaningful for the measurement of passive pressure sensors under a wide temperature range.
A self-developed indoor three-dimensional pedestrian localization platform based on MEMS sensors
Authors: Sang Shengbo , Zhai Ruiyong , Zhang Wendong , Sun Qirui , Zhou Zhaoying
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to design a new low-cost localization platform for estimating the location and orientation of a pedestrian in a building. The micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) sensor error compensation and the algorithm were improved to realize the localization and altitude accuracy.

Design/methodology/approach

– The platform hardware was designed with common low-performance and inexpensive MEMS sensors, and with a barometric altimeter employed to augment altitude measurement. The inertial navigation system (INS) – extended Kalman filter (EKF) – zero-velocity updating (ZUPT) (INS-EKF-ZUPT [IEZ])-extended methods and pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) (IEZ + PDR) algorithm were modified and improved with altitude determined by acceleration integration height and pressure altitude. The “AND” logic with acceleration and angular rate data were presented to update the stance phases.

Findings

– The new platform was tested in real three-dimensional (3D) in-building scenarios, achieved with position errors below 0.5 m for 50-m-long route in corridor and below 0.1 m on stairs. The algorithm is robust enough for both the walking motion and the fast dynamic motion.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a new self-developed, integrated platform. The IEZ-extended methods, the modified PDR (IEZ + PDR) algorithm and “AND” logic with acceleration and angular rate data can improve the high localization and altitude accuracy. It is a great support for the increasing 3D location demand in indoor cases for universal application with ordinary sensors.
A low power miniaturized monitoring system of six human physiological parameters based on wearable body sensor network
Authors: Zhou Congcong , Tu Chunlong , Tian Jian , Feng Jingjie , Gao Yun , Ye Xuesong
Published: March 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to design a low-power human physiological parameters monitoring system which can monitor six vital parameters simultaneously based on wearable body sensor network.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper presents a low-power multiple physiological parameters monitoring system (MPMS) which comprises four subsystems. These are: electrocardiogram (ECG)/respiration (RESP) parameters monitoring subsystem with embedded algorithms; blood oxygen (SpO2)/pulse rate (PR)/body temperature (BT)/blood pressure (BP) parameters monitoring subsystem with embedded algorithms; main control subsystem which is in charge of system-level power management, communication and interaction design; and upper computer software subsystem which manipulates system function and analyzes data.

Findings

– Results have successfully demonstrated monitoring human ECG, RESP, PR, SpO2, BP and BT simultaneously using the MPMS device. In addition, the power reduction technique developed in this work at the physical/hardware level is effective. Reliability of algorithms developed for monitoring these parameters is assessed by Fluke Prosim8 Vital Signs Simulators (produced by Fluke Corp. USA).

Practical implications

– The MPMS device provides long-term health monitoring without interference from normal personal activities, which potentially allows applications in real-time daily healthcare monitoring, chronic diseases monitoring, elderly monitoring, human emotions recognization and so on.

Originality/value

– First, a power reduction technique at the physical/hardware level is designed to realize low power consumption. Second, the proposed MPMS device enables simultaneously monitoring six key parameters. Third, unlike most monitoring systems in bulk size, the proposed system is much smaller (118 × 58 × 18.5 mm3, 140 g total weight). In addition, a comfortable smart shirt is fabricated to accommodate the portable device, offering reliable measurements.
Avian species identity drives predation success in tropical cacao agroforestry
Authors: Maas Bea , Tscharntke Teja , Saleh Shahabuddin , Dwi Putra Dadang , Clough Yann
Published: March 2015

Avian ecosystem services such as the suppression of pests are considered to be of high ecological and economic importance in a range of ecosystems, especially in tropical agroforestry. However, how bird predation success is related to the diversity and composition of the bird community, as well as local and landscape factors, is poorly understood.

We quantified arthropod predation in relation to the identity and diversity of insectivorous birds using experimental exposure of artificial, caterpillar‐like prey in 15 smallholder cacao agroforestry systems differing in local shade‐tree management and distance to primary forest. The bird community was assessed using both mist‐netting (targeting active understorey insectivores) and point counts (higher completeness of species inventories).

Bird predation was not related to local shade‐tree management or overall bird species diversity, but to the activity of insectivorous bird species and the proximity to primary forest. Insectivore activity was best predicted by mist‐netting‐based data, not by point counts. We identified the abundant Indonesian endemic lemon‐bellied white‐eye Zosterops chloris as the main driver of predation on artificial prey.

Synthesis and applications. The suppression of arthropods is a major ecosystem service provided by insectivorous birds in agricultural systems world‐wide, potentially reducing herbivore damage on plants and increasing yields. Our results show that avian predation success can be driven by single and abundant insectivorous species, rather than by overall bird species richness. Forest proximity was important for enhancing the density of this key species, but did also promote bird species richness. Hence, our findings are both of economical as well as ecological interest because the conservation of nearby forest remnants will likely benefit human needs and biodiversity conservation alike.
Sugar provisioning maximizes the biocontrol service of parasitoids
Authors: Tena Alejandro , Pekas Apostolos , Cano Dalmert , Wäckers Felix L. , Urbaneja Alberto
Published: March 2015

There is increasing interest in the use of food supplements in agriculture to enhance the performance of parasitoids as part of conservation biological control. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach, and this shortage of successful examples raises doubt regarding the validity of this approach.

The use of sugar sources relies on tiered premises that: (i) parasitoids are sugar limited and (ii) this limitation is alleviated through the provision of sugar sources, thereby increasing both (iii) parasitoid fitness and (iv) the population density, which together lead to (v) an increase in parasitism. In the present study, we address these five premises through experiments examining the release of the parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) into the citrus agroecosystem with and without sugars.

The results demonstrated that A. melinus is sugar limited when honeydew producers are scarce in the field. The provision of sugars did not increase the sugar contents in A. melinus females but rather increased the realized fecundity in these parasitoids, suggesting that females use energy for foraging and oviposition.

Sugar sources increased the parasitoid population density twofold, and this increase most likely reflects the enhanced parasitoid longevity.

Higher population densities and the increased realized fecundity of A. melinus obtained from trees with sugars were reflected in a twofold increase of parasitized hosts.

Synthesis and applications. This study provides the first evidence supporting the five premises underlying sugar provisioning for parasitoids and demonstrates the potential value of sugar provisioning to enhance natural pest control in agricultural systems.
Comparing impacts of alien plants and animals in Europe using a standard scoring system
Authors: Kumschick Sabrina , Bacher Sven , Evans Thomas , Marková Zuzana , Pergl Jan , Pyšek Petr , Vaes‐Petignat Sibylle , van der Veer Gabriel , Vilà Montserrat , Nentwig Wolfgang
Published: March 2015

Alien species can change the recipient environment in various ways, and some of them cause considerable damage. Understanding such impacts is crucial to direct management actions. This study addresses the following questions: Is it possible to quantify impact across higher taxa in a comparative manner? Do impacts differ between taxonomic groups? How are environmental and socio‐economic impacts related? Can impacts be predicted based on those in other regions?

To address these questions, we reviewed literature describing the impacts of 300 species from five major taxonomic groups: mammals, birds, fish, terrestrial arthropods and plants. To make very diverse impact measures comparable, we used the semi‐quantitative generic impact scoring system (GISS) which describes environmental and socio‐economic impacts using twelve categories. In each category, scores range from zero (no impact known or detectable) to five (the highest possible impact).

Using the same scoring system for taxa as diverse as invertebrates, vertebrates and plants, we found that overall, alien mammals in Europe have the highest impact, while fish have the lowest. Terrestrial arthropods were found to have the lowest environmental impact, while fish had relatively low socio‐economic impact.

Overall, the magnitude of environmental and socio‐economic impacts of individual alien species is highly correlated. However, at the species level, major deviations are found.

For mammals and birds, the impacts in invaded ranges outside of Europe are broadly similar to those recorded for alien species within Europe, indicating that a consideration of the known impacts of a species in other regions can be generally useful when predicting the impacts of an alien species. However, it should be noted that this pattern is not consistent across all mammal and bird orders, and thus, such information should be considered with caution.

Synthesis and applications. Comparing the impacts of alien species across taxa is necessary for prioritizing management efforts and effective allocation of resources. By applying the generic impact scoring system (GISS) to five major taxonomic groups, we provide the basis for a semi‐quantitative cross‐taxa listing process (e.g. ‘black lists’ or 100‐worst‐lists). If more data are collated from different geographical regions and habitats using standard GISS protocols, risk assessments for alien species based on rigorous measures of impact could be improved by taking into account local variation, and context dependence of impacts. This would also allow studies at lower taxonomic levels, and within‐taxon analyses of functional groups and guilds.
miR‐30c Mediates Upregulation of Cdc42 and Pak1 in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Raut Satish K. , Kumar Akhilesh , Singh Gurinder B. , Nahar Uma , Sharma Vibhuti , Mittal Anupam , Sharma Rajni , Khullar Madhu
Published: March 2015

Aim

Cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Altered expression of several genes and their regulation by microRNAs has been reported in hypertrophied failing hearts. This study aims to examine the role of Cdc42, Pak1, and miR‐30c in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy in DCM.

Methods

DCM was induced in Wistar rats by low‐dose streptozotocin‐high‐fat diet for 12 weeks. Cardiac expression of Cdc42, Pak1 and miR‐30c, and hypertrophy markers (ANP and β‐MHC) was studied in DCM vs control rats and in high‐glucose (HG)‐treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

Results

Diabetic rats showed cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, increased heart‐to‐body weight ratio, and an increased expression of ANP and β‐MHC. Cardiac expression of Cdc42 and Pak1 genes was increased in diabetic hearts and in HG‐treated cardiomyocytes. miR‐30c was identified to target Cdc42 and Pak1 genes, and cardiac miR‐30c expression was found to be decreased in DCM rats, patients with DCM, and in HG‐treated cardiomyocytes. miR‐30c overexpression decreased Cdc42 and Pak1 genes and attenuated HG‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, whereas miR‐30c inhibition increased Cdc42 and Pak1 gene expression and myocyte hypertrophy in HG‐treated cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion

Downregulation of miR‐30c mediates prohypertrophic effects of hyperglycemia in DCM by upregulation of Cdc42 and Pak1 genes.
A New Mesopsychid (Mecoptera) from the Middle Jurassic of Northeastern China
Authors: ChungKun SHIH , Xiao QIAO , LABANDEIRA Conrad C. , Dong REN
Published: March 2015

The family Mesopsychidae Tillyard, 1917 presently consists of ten described genera from the Early Permian to the Early Cretaceous of Australia, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, South Africa, Tajikistan, and Ukraine. Herein, a new genus and a new species of fossil mesopsychid, Epicharmesopsyche pentavenulosa gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Middle Jurassic Jiulongshan Formation of Inner Mongolia, China, supplementing the family‐level diversity. The well‐preserved, new material reveals many characters, including antennae, wing venation, shape and genitalia that increase our morphological understanding of the family, although unfortunately the mouthparts and most of the legs are not preserved. Diagnosis of the Mesopsychidae is emended to include a four‐ or five‐branched MP in both the fore‐ and hind wings. This is the first documentation of a wing coupling structure in the Mesopsychidae, consisting of three to four frenula bristles on the humeral lobe at the base of the costal margin of both hind wings. Asymmetrical shape and size of the left and right wings on a specimen of E. pentavenulosa gen. et sp. nov., seems to be a common condition for mesopsychid taxa from northeastern China.
Compaction Rate of an Early Permian Volcanic Tuff from Wuda Coalfield, Inner Mongolia
Authors: Jun WANG , Xuezhi HE , PFEFFERKORN Hermann W. , Jinrong WANG
Published: March 2015

Compaction rates of sediments or volcaniclastic material are needed to reconstruct original thickness of a bed, which in turn is required to reconstruct subsidence rates, sea‐level rise, or in the case of volcaniclastic, the location or direction of the eruption site. The knowledge of compaction rates can also aid in the reconstruction of deformed fossils. The known shape of deformed fossils can allow the determination of the compaction they experienced. Here we report the compaction rate in an early Permian volcanic tuff from Wuda, Inner Mongolia, determined from the deformation of standing tree fern stems of known anatomy. The compaction rate has been found to be 0.56 in this case, indicating that 44% of original thickness remains.
New Schizolepis Fossils from the Early Cretaceous in Inner Mongolia, China and its Phylogenetic Position
Authors: Xiaohui XU , Ruiyun LI , Chong DONG , Qiujun WANG , Peihong JIN , Bainian SUN
Published: March 2015

Three Schizolepis species collected from the Lower Cretaceous layer of the Huolinhe Basin, Inner Mongolia, China are described. These fossils are Schizolepis longipetiolus Xu XH et Sun BN sp. nov., which is a new species, Schizolepis cf. heilongjiangensis Zheng et Zhang, and Schizolepis neimengensis Deng. The new species is a well‐preserved female cone, slender and cylindrical in shape. The seed–scale complexes have long petioles and are arranged on the cone axis loosely and helically. The seed scales are divided into two lobes from the base. Each lobe is semicircular or elongate ligulate in shape, widest at the middle or the lower middle part, with an obtuse or bluntly pointed apex. The inner margin is almost straight and the outer margin is strongly arched. On the surface of the lobe, there are longitudinal and somewhat radial striations from the base to the margin. The seed is borne on the adaxial surface at the base or middle of each lobe. Schizolepis was established in 1847, and, although more than twenty species have been discovered and reported, its phylogenetic position is controversial because of the imperfection of fossils. Most authors have considered there to be a close evolutionary relationship between Schizolepis and extant Pinaceae. Here, we analyze characteristics and compare Schizolepis with Picea crassifolia Kom, which is morphologically most similar to Schizolepis. The results indicate that the genus probably has a distant evolutionary relationship with extant Pinaceae. A detailed statistical analysis of the global paleogeographic distribution of Schizolepis showed that all the fossils of this genus appeared in strata ranging from the Upper Triassic to the Lower Cretaceous in the North Hemisphere, being rare in the Upper Triassic and Lower Jurassic, but being very common from the Middle Jurassic to the Lower Cretaceous, and particularly abundant in the Lower Cretaceous. According to the statistical results, we speculate that the genus originated in Europe in the Late Triassic then spread from Europe to Asia between the Late Triassic and the Late Jurassic. In the Early Cretaceous most species existed in China's three northeastern Provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and adjacent areas. Combining the paleogeographic distribution of the genus with ancient climatic factors, we deduced that Schizolepis began to decline and became extinct in the Early Cretaceous, and the reason for its extinction is closely related to the icehouse climate during the Early Cretaceous.
Stable Carbon Isotope Variations in Cave Percolation Waters and their Implications in Four Caves of Guizhou, China
Authors: Weijun LUO , Shijie WANG , Xingneng XIE , Yunchao ZHOU , Tingyu LI
Published: March 2015

Monitoring and sampling of main plants, soil CO2, soil water, bedrock, spring water, drip water and its corresponding speleothem were performed at four cave systems of Guizhou, Southwest China, from April 2003 to May 2004, in order to understand stable carbon isotope ratios variations of dissolved inorganic Carbon (DIC) in cave percolation waters (δ13CDIC) and their implications for paleoclimate. Stable carbon isotopic compositions and ions (Ca, Mg, Sr, SO4, Cl etc.) were measured for all samples. The results indicate that there are significant differences among the δ13CDIC values from inter‐cave, even inter‐drip of intra‐cave in the four caves. The δ13CDIC values from the Liangfeng Cave (LFC) is lightest among the four caves, where vegetation type overlying the cave is primary forest dominated by tall trees with lighter average δ13C value (−29.9‰). And there are remarkable differences in δ13CDIC values of different drip waters in the Qixing Cave (QXC) and Jiangjun Cave (JJC), up to 6.9‰ and 7.8‰, respectively. Further analyses show that the δ13CDIC values in cave drip waters are not only controlled by vegetation biomass overlying the cave, but also hydro‐geochemical processes. Therefore, accurate interpreting of δ13C recorded in speleothems cannot be guaranteed if these effects of the above mentioned factors are not taken into consideration.
Prediction of Flowing Bottomhole Pressures for Two‐Phase Coalbed Methane Wells
Authors: Xinfu LIU
Published: March 2015

A method is proposed to predict the flowing bottomhole pressures (FBHPs) for two‐phase coalbed methane (CBM) wells. The mathematical models for both gas column pressure and two‐phase fluid column pressure were developed based on the well liquid flow equation. FBHPs during the production were predicted by considering the effect of entrained liquid on gravitational gradients. Comparison of calculated BHPs by Cullender‐Smith and proposed method was also studied. The results show that the proposed algorithm gives the desired accuracy of calculating BHPs in the low‐productivity and low‐pressure CBM wells. FBHP is resulted from the combined action of wellhead pressure, gas column pressure and fluid column pressure. Variation of kinetic energy term, compressibility and friction factors with depth increments and liquid holdup with velocity should be considered to simulate the real BHPs adequately. BHP is a function of depth of each column segment. The small errors of less than 1.5% between the calculated and measured values are obtained with each segment within 25 m. Adjusting BHPs can effectively increase production pressure drop, which is beneficial to CBM desorption and enhances reservoir productivity. The increment of pressure drop from 5.37 MPa2 to 8.66 MPa2 leads to an increase of CBM production from 3270 m3/d to 6700 m3/d and is attributed to a decrease in BHP from 2.25 MPa to 1.33 MPa.
Geochemical Modelling of Fluoride Concentration in Hard Rock Terrain of Madhya Pradesh, India
Authors: THAKUR Jay Krishna , SINGH Prafull , SINGH Sudhir Kumar , BHAGHEL Bijendra
Published: March 2015

The aim of the present study is to locate and decipher the groundwater quality, types, and hydrogeochemical reactions, which are responsible for elevated concentration of fluoride in the Chhindwara district in Madhya Pradesh, India. Groundwater samples, quality data and other ancillary information were collected for 26 villages in the Chhindwara District, M.P. India during May 2006. The saturation index was computed for the selected samples in the region, which suggest that generally most of the minerals are saturated with respect to water. The concentration of fluoride in the region varies from 0.6 to 4.74 mg/l, which is much higher as per the national and international water quality standards. The study also reveals that the fluoride bearing rock formations are the main source of the higher concentration of fluoride in groundwater along with the conjuncture of land use change. Moreover, the area is a hard rock terrain and consists of fractured granites and amygdaloidal and highly jointed compact basalt acting as good aquifer, which is probably enriching the high content of fluoride in groundwater. High concentration of fluoride is found in deeper level of groundwater and it is possible due to rock‐water interaction, which requires further detailed investigation. The highly alkaline conditions indicate fluorite dissolution, which works as a major process for higher concentration of fluoride in the study area. The results of this study will ultimately help in the identification of risk areas and taking measures to mitigate negative impacts related to fluoride pollution and toxicity.
Ichnofossils from the Miocene Middle Bhuban Formation, Mizoram, Northeast India and their Paleoenvironmental Significance
Authors: LOKHO Kapesa , SINGH Birendra P.
Published: March 2015

An ichnofossil assemblage is preserved in sediments of the Middle Bhuban Formation, Surma Group, of Miocene age from the Durtlang and Chanmari sections, Aizawl district, Mizoram, northeastern India. The studied sections comprise a thick, bioturbated and thinly bedded sandstone–silty shale facies. The preserved ichnofossils show high density and low diversity with the assemblage represented by feeding and resting traces, i.e., Psilonichnus upsilon Frey et al., 1984, Ophiomorpha isp., Teichichnus spiralis Mikuláš. 1990, Skolithos isp., Palaeophycus isp., and other horizontal burrows. Sedimentary structures associated with these traces are mainly cross bedding, flaser bedding and slump structures. Considering the distribution of the Psilonichnus ichnogenus across an integrated ichnological‐sedimentological framework, the stratigraphic interval of the Middle Bhuban Formation, in which they occur, are interpreted to have been deposited under a shallow, marginal‐marine channel complex dominated by tidal channels developed in quiet, brackish‐water portions of a delta plain.
A New Specimen of Shansisuchus shansisuchus Young, 1964 (Diapsida: Archosauriformes) from the Triassic of Shanxi, China
Authors: Runfu WANG , Shichao XU , Xiaochun WU , Chun LI , Suozhu WANG
Published: March 2015

Shansisuchus shansisuchus Young, 1964 was restudied on the basis of a new specimen. Some anatomical features that were either briefly or not described at all in the original study were detailed. The new specimen not only provides further information on the skull anatomy and the vertebral column but also expands the range of the geographical distribution of the taxon. With new information, the diagnosis of S. shansisuchus was emended and its phylogenetic relationships were further analyzed. S. shansisuchus differs from other archosauriforms primarily in the presence of a large subnarial fenestra anterior to the antorbital fenestra, tongue‐in‐groove articulations between the ascending process of the premaxilla and nasal and between the premaxilla and maxilla, a tall and posterodorsally directed ascending process of the maxilla, a knee‐shaped process of the postorbital projecting into the orbit, a broad descending process of squamosal distally well forked and a large, deeply bow‐shaped intercentrum tightly anchoring/capping the sharp ventral edges of two neighboring centra together in cervical and at least first eight dorsal vertebrae. With additional information derived from the new specimen, the phylogenetic relationships of S. shansisuchus were reanalyzed; it is closely related to Erythrosuchus‐Vjushkovia clade.
Implementation and preliminary validation of a new score that predicts post‐operative complications
Authors: CHELAZZI C. , VILLA G. , VIGNALE I. , FALSINI S. , BONI L. , DE GAUDIO A. R.
Published: March 2015

Background

An accurate pre‐operative risk assessment could reduce morbidity and mortality for high‐risk surgical patients. The aim of the study was to implement and preliminary validate a new score that could predict the occurrence of post‐operative complications (PoCs): the Anesthesiological and Surgical Postoperative Risk Assessment (ASPRA) score.

Methods

The ASPRA score was created through a literature's review; a score of 1–3 was given to each identified risk factor, according to its statistical correlation with PoC. ASPRA was retrospectively applied to a derivation set of 176 surgical patients. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis evaluated the discriminating ability of the score and cutoff value in predicting the occurrence of PoCs, according to the Clavien‐Dindo classification of surgical complications. The statistical validation of the score and related cutoff values was prospectively ran within a validation set of 1928 surgical patients.

Results

Through ROC analysis, an ASPRA score of 7 was chosen as the cutoff value in the derivation set. In the validation set, 65.3% of patients presented a PoC (Clavien ≥ 1). In this group, ROC analysis showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.72, and although potentially related to the high rate of complications a high positive predictive value of 87.0% has been observed. No significant differences were found in ROC‐AUC, sensitivity, specificity, or positive or negative predictive value between the derivation and validation sets (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

The new ASPRA score has a high positive predictive value to predict the occurrence of PoCs. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these results.
Emergency Department Revisits for Patients with Kidney Stones in California
Authors: Scales Charles D. , Lin Li , Saigal Christopher S. , Bennett Carol J. , Ponce Ninez A. , Mangione Carol M. , Litwin Mark S. ,   the NIDDK Urologic Diseases in America Project
Published: March 2015

Objectives

Kidney stones affect nearly one in 11 persons in the United States, and among those experiencing symptoms, emergency care is common. In this population, little is known about the incidence of and factors associated with repeat emergency department (ED) visits. The objective was to identify associations between potentially mutable factors and the risk of an ED revisit for patients with kidney stones in a large, all‐payer cohort.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients in California initially treated and released from EDs for kidney stones between February 2008 and November 2009. A multivariable regression model was created to identify associations between patient‐level characteristics, area health care resources, processes of care, and the risk of repeat ED visits. The primary outcome was a second ED visit within 30 days of the initial discharge from emergent care.

Results

Among 128,564 patients discharged from emergent care, 13,684 (11%) had at least one additional emergent visit for treatment of their kidney stone. In these patients, nearly one in three required hospitalization or an urgent temporizing procedure at the second visit. On multivariable analysis, the risk of an ED revisit was associated with insurance status (e.g., Medicaid vs. private insurance; odds ratio [OR] = 1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.43 to 1.61; p < 0.001). Greater access to urologic care was associated with lower odds of an ED revisit (highest quartile OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.80 to 0.97; p < 0.01 vs. lowest quartile). In exploratory models, performance of a complete blood count was associated with a decreased odds of revisit (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.75 to 0.97; p = 0.02).

Conclusions

Repeat high‐acuity care affects one in nine patients discharged from initial emergent evaluations for kidney stones. Access to urologic care and processes of care are associated with lower risk of repeat emergent encounters. Efforts are indicated to identify preventable causes of ED revisits for kidney stone patients and design interventions to reduce the risk of high‐cost, high‐acuity, repeat care.
Migration and farm technical efficiency: evidence from Kosovo
Authors: Sauer Johannes , Gorton Matthew , Davidova Sophia
Published: March 2015

This article investigates the effect of migration on farm technical efficiency drawing on a large and representative sample of agricultural households in Kosovo. A two‐stage estimation procedure is applied: a frontier technique to estimate the effect of migration on farm efficiency, followed by a propensity score based matching approach to robustly estimate the sample average effect on efficiency for different levels of migration intensity. Migration is found to have an efficiency decreasing effect, which is amplified for better educated workers. The observed negative effect of migration on efficiency is evident even at low levels of migration intensity.
Seasonal variation in understorey bird species diversity and abundance in the Uluguru Nature Reserve, Tanzania
Authors: Werema Chacha
Published: March 2015

The Uluguru Mountains form a component block of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania and Kenya and are known for a high degree of endemic vertebrate and plant taxa. Among the Eastern Arc Mountains, the Uluguru Mountains rank second in the number of endemic species. Although the forests in these mountains have received considerable ornithological attention, studies on how forest bird communities in the available low elevation forests are affected by seasons remain patchy and sporadic. Such studies are important because in the Uluguru Mountains, forest destruction in the lower slopes has been severe to an extent that there is very little substantial forest survives below 900 m above sea level. Using mist netting, seasonal variation in understorey bird communities in the remaining low elevation forests in the Uluguru Nature Reserve was assessed between 2005 and 2011. Species diversity and relative abundance of the birds were higher during the cold season in comparison with the hot season possibly due to seasonal elevational movements of some species. Elevational migrants made a large proportion of the avifauna in the study area. The results suggest that low altitude forests are important cold season refugia of elevational migrants and these forests need continual protection.