bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Cooperative and Competitive Workshop in Mechatronics Engineering
Authors: Krebs Stefan , Schmidt Sebastian , Matthiesen Sven , Hohmann Sören
Published: February 2014

This paper presents a new mechatronics laboratory for students in the 5th semester of the mechatronics degree course at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. It is the aim of this teaching event to sharpen the appreciation of synergy effects in the development of mechatronic systems among the students. Despite of the great freedom in the development process, a concept has been evolved, which causes low running costs due to the combination of a model kit with rapid prototyping methods. A first pilot study of the laboratory starting in the winter term 2014 has shown that the students approach the task despite of the high level of difficulty with fun and dedication, especially because of the wide solution space which was unknown for them from previous lectures.
How Do the Engineer Students Learn the SQL Language?
Authors: Czenky Márta Erzsébet
Published: February 2014

In the teaching of database management the teaching of standardized SQL language cannot be avoided. Until the appearance of e-learning education systems we could only support the learning of SQL language with showing example queries. Using e-learning education systems in the education enables using tests, tutorials, teacher feedbacks which facilitate the learning of SQL language. But still these education tools can not ensure that students receive error message and assessment for correctness of the query edited in database management system in their native language after running the SQL query. In order to accomplish these two latter purposes we wrote a SQL tutoring system which was used from 2012â??s autumn by the students. In the paper we describe the problems of learning the SQL language, the supporting methods for learning before installation of the SQL tutoring system and with analysis of data of log file of the SQL tutoring system the manner of studentsâ?? learning of SQL.
ICTs in Speech and Language Therapy
Authors: Drigas Athanasios , Petrova Alexia
Published: February 2014

Over the past decade speech and language therapy has taken an interesting turn towards the use of information communication technologies (ICTs) for diagnosis of disorders and delivery of therapy. In many cases ICTs have worked as assistive tools to therapists, while in others as sole providers of therapy, especially in remote areas. In this report we provide a brief overview of the most representative articles for applications and assistive technologies used for assessment and intervention purposes in Speech Therapy according to the type of disorders.
Auditing for Measuring the Extent of Lean Implementation
Authors: Vinodh S. , Kamala V. , Shama M. S. , Aravindraj S.
Published: February 2014

This chapter presents the details of a lean audit conducted among 25 Indian automotive manufacturing organizations. The audit consists of 59 indices grouped among 20 categories. The study consists of development of comprehensive lean audit procedure, gathering input scores, and grouping the organizations into 7 lean phases. The lean audit investigates the lean adoption and derives the appropriate lean phase. The conduct of the lean audit examines leanness level of organizations and the possible improvement proposals for leanness improvement. The conduct of the survey enables organizations to benchmark with similar organizations from a leanness perspective.
The Relationship Between E-WOM from SNS or Internet and Purchase
Authors: Rondán-Cataluña F. Javier , Arenas-Gaitán Jorge , Ramírez-Correa Patricio E.
Published: February 2014

The main proposal of this chapter is to analyze the influence of eWOM and Internet referrals across different product types, including gender as a moderator variable. In addition, some sub-objectives that drive to the main one are the following: 1) to analyze how important are the recommendations for the buying process, in the Internet and in SNS; 2) to study the gender effect on the importance of recommendations for the buying process; and 3) to examine the role of product types in the relationship between eWOM and purchase. Results pointed out that, in general, consumers prefer recommendations collected from the Internet to those picked up from their friends in SNS, but gender moderates the importance of SNS and Internet recommendations. In addition, the percentage of online purchase is significantly higher for men than for women.
Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges (M3R): A Toolset for Automated Detection, Localization, and Monitoring of Marine Mammals in Open Ocean Environments
Authors: Jarvis Susan M. , Morrissey Ronald P. , Moretti David J. , DiMarzio Nancy A. , Shaffer Jessica A.
Published: February 2014

AbstractNavy sonar has been associated with a number of marine mammal stranding events worldwide. As a result, determining the effects of anthropogenic noise on marine mammals is currently an active area of research. The development of methods to detect and localize the animals in their native environments is key to advancing this research and our understanding. This paper presents a collection of algorithms for automated passive acoustic detection, classification, and localization of vocalizing marine mammals in open ocean environments. The tool set known as M3R (Marine Mammal Monitoring on Navy Ranges) uses the large fields of wide-bandwidth bottom-mounted hydrophones that are part of the U.S. Navy’s undersea ranges to listen for vocalizing whales. M3R employs time-frequency analysis to passively detect whale vocalizations; it then aligns detections among neighboring hydrophones to determine the difference in times of arrival (TDOA) of each vocalization. Sets of TDOA are then used to determine 2-D or 3-D position points using hyperbolic localization techniques. An M3R system is capable of continuous, automated, real-time monitoring of over 200 wide-bandwidth hydrophones covering 2,000+ km2of open ocean. M3R is typically used in a collaborative fashion to localize animals in support of tagging exercises, visual surveys, and behavioral response experiments.
Accident Scenarios-Based Detail Design of a Life-Saving Appliance for Search and Rescue Activities
Authors: Kang Hee Jin , Shin Jong-Gye , Kim Kookhyun , Yang Youngsoon , Yang Hyang-Kweon
Published: February 2014

AbstractGenerally, in fatal accidents that occur at sea, the victims suddenly enter cold water. Because the victims can survive for only a brief time, the required rescue time is often more important than the quality of the victim’s lifejacket or life-saving equipment.
Additionally, locating a person in distress at sea during night time or inclement weather is difficult. We believe that rescue equipment such as SARTs (Search and Rescue Transponders) and EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) are effective rescue devices, but these devices are
still expensive, large, and limited to personal use. For these reasons, establishing the proof-of-concept for a new life-saving appliance (LSA) using the characteristic radar cross-section has been proposed. To realize proof-of-concept for this device, the service environment must be considered
and the functional reliability of the LSA, based on the characteristics of the human body, must be guaranteed. In this paper, a detailed design of the LSA is proposed using a systems engineering-based design process and quantitative functional reliability verification tool.
Automated Vertical Photography for Detecting Pelagic Species in Multitaxon Aerial Surveys
Authors: Taylor Jessica K.D. , Kenney Robert D. , LeRoi Donald J. , Kraus Scott D.
Published: February 2014

AbstractMarine aerial surveys are designed to maximize the potential for detecting target species. Collecting data on different taxa from the same platform is economically advantageous but normally comes at the cost of compromising optimal taxon-specific scanning patterns and survey parameters, in particular altitude. Here, we describe simultaneous visual and photographic sampling methods as a proof of concept for detecting large whales and turtles from a single aircraft, despite very different sighting cues. Data were collected for fishing gear, fish, sharks, turtles, seals, dolphins, and whales using two observers and automated vertical photography. The photographic method documented an area directly beneath the aircraft that would otherwise have been obscured from observers. Preliminary density estimates were calculated for five species for which there were sufficient sample sizes from both methods after an initial year of data collection. The photographic method yielded significantly higher mean density estimates for loggerhead turtles, ocean sunfish, and blue sharks (p < 0.01), despite sampling a substantially smaller area than visual scanning (less than 11%). Density estimates from these two methods were not significantly different for leatherback turtles or basking sharks (p > 0.05), two of the largest species included in the analysis, which are relatively easy to detect by both methods. Although postflight manual processing of photographic data was extensive, this sampling method comes at no additional in-flight effort and obtains high-quality digital documentation of sightings on the trackline. Future directions for this project include automating photographic sighting detections, expanding the area covered by photography, and performing morphometric measurement assessments.
Nutritional stress causes male-biased sex ratios in eastern spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Authors: Quezada-García Roberto , Pureswaran Deepa , Bauce Éric
Published: February 2014

Nutritional variability in resources may cause differential mortality between sexes resulting in biased sex ratios. If males and females differ in fitness, then mortality of the more sensitive sex can cause a bias in sex ratios, and can stimulate dispersion of males. We reared three generations of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens); Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on two artificial diets: a “normal” diet that provided all nutritional requirements for development and a “stress” diet (deficient in sugars and slightly higher in nitrogen), that simulated deterioration of food quality during outbreak conditions and had a detrimental impact on larval survival, development and growth. We tested the effects of continued nutritional stress on the sex ratio of pupae and adults. We found biased sex ratios in favour of males related to diet. Low quality food resulted in fewer females. This distortion was observed from the second generation onward, with a lower percentage of females reaching the pupal and adult stage. These results provide evidence that nutritional variation causes differential mortality between sexes, suggesting that females are more sensitive to nutritional stress. This is the first study that demonstrates sex ratio distortion due to nutritional selection pressure in spruce budworm. Our results indicate the importance of studying sex ratio distortion of spruce budworm in outbreak conditions.
New findings on life history traits ofXenos peckii(Strepsiptera: Xenidae)
Authors: Hrabar M. , Danci A. , McCann S. , Schaefer P.W. , Gries G.
Published: February 2014

We studied life history traits ofXenos peckiiKirby (Strepsiptera: Xenidae), a little-known parasite of the paper waspPolistes fuscatus(Fabricus) (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) in North America. We field-collected 24 wasp nests in early July 2012, isolated parasitised wasps, tracked life history events ofX. peckii, and recorded such behaviour as emergence of males and mating by normal-speed and high-speed cinematography. To emerge, males first cut the puparium with their mandibles along an ecdysial suture line, and then push aside the pupal cap during emergence. The endoparasitic females engage in active calling (pheromone release) behaviour by slowly inflating their cephalothorax, and then extruding it even farther out of, and tilting it away from, the host wasp abdomen. Seasonal and diel (afternoon) emergence periods of males coincide with seasonal and diel receptivity and calling periods of females. Males approach calling females in a swaying flight with smooth turns. They typically land on the anterior portion of the host wasp's abdomen, and then step backward until they make contact with the cephalothorax of the female. As soon as their mesothoracic legs contact the female's cephalothorax, they curl around it, and the male initiates mating. Thereafter, the female fully retreats and never re-mates.
Van Dis skryf oor Suid-Afrika se verwoestende towerpoeier
Authors: Van der Merwe Belia A.J.
Published: February 2014

No abstract available.
Ocular Surface Cytotoxicity and Safety Evaluation of Tafluprost, a Recently Developed Anti-Glaucoma Prostaglandin Analog
Authors: Niwano Yoshimi , Iwasawa Atsuo , Ayaki Masahiko
Published: February 2014

In vitro cytotoxicity of tafluprost, which is the most recently developed anti-glaucoma prostaglandin (PG) analog, in ocular surface cells is addressed in comparison with other PG analogs. Irrespective of cell lines and models, the cytotoxicity of anti-glaucoma PG eyedrops was primarily related to the concentration of benzalkonium chloride (BAK) contained in the eyedrops as a preservative. Accordingly, preservative-free tafluprost was apparently less cytotoxic than BAK-preserved PG analogs. Furthermore, our study for cytotoxicity assays on ocular cells, conducted by comprehensive investigations covering a variety of concentrations and treatment times, which is termed the cell viability score (CVS) system, demonstrated that 0.001% BAK-preserved tafluprost was not cytotoxic, and suggested that tafluprost may even reduce the cytotoxic effect of BAK.

It has been reported that adverse reactions associated with tafluprost in healthy human volunteers and patients with glaucoma include conjunctival hyperemia, eyelid pigmentation, eyelash bristles, and deepening of upper eyelid sulcus. Nonetheless, most clinical studies have demonstrated that not only preservative-free tafluprost but also BAK-preserved tafluprost is well tolerated and safe in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Some Remarks on the Semipositivity Theorems
Authors: Fujino Osamu , Fujisawa Taro , Saito Morihiko
Published: February 2014

We show that the dualizing sheaves of reduced simple normal crossings pairs have a canonical weight filtration in a compatible way with the one on the corresponding mixed Hodge modules by calculating the extension classes between the dualizing sheaves of smooth varieties. Using the weight spectral sequence of mixed Hodge modules, we then reduce the semipositivity theorem for the higher direct images of dualizing sheaves to the smooth case where the assertion is well known. This may be used to simplify some constructions in a recent paper of Y. Kawamata. We also give a simple proof of the semipositivity theorem for admissible variations of mixed Hodge structure in [FF] by using the theories of Cattani, Kaplan, Schmid, Steenbrink, and Zucker. This generalizes Kawamata's classical result in the pure case.
On the Ampleness of Positive CR Line Bundles over Levi-flat Manifolds
Authors: Adachi Masanori
Published: February 2014

We give an example of a compact Levi-flat CR 3-manifold with a positive-along-leaves CR line bundle which is not ample with respect to transversely infinitely differentiable CR sections. This example shows that we cannot improve the regularity of the Kodaira type embedding theorem for compact Levi-flat CR manifolds obtained by Ohsawa and Sibony.
Visualizing Overtwisted Discs in Open Books
Authors: Ito Tetsuya , Kawamuro Keiko
Published: February 2014

We give an alternative proof of a theorem of Honda{Kazez{Matic that every non-right-veering open book supports an overtwisted contact structure. We also study two types of examples that show how overtwisted discs are embedded relative to right-veering open books.
Radiative and dynamical contributions to past and future Arctic stratospheric temperature trends
Authors: Bohlinger P. , Sinnhuber B.-M. , Ruhnke R. , Kirner O.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Arctic stratospheric ozone depletion is closely linked to the occurrence of low stratospheric temperatures. There are indications that cold winters in the Arctic stratosphere have been getting colder, raising the question if and to what extent a cooling of the Arctic stratosphere may continue into the future. We use meteorological reanalyses from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) ERA-Interim and NASA's Modern-Era Retrospective-Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) for the past 32 yr together with calculations of the chemistry-climate model (CCM) ECHAM/MESSy Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) and models from the Chemistry-Climate Model Validation (CCMVal) project to infer radiative and dynamical contributions to long-term Arctic stratospheric temperature changes. For the past three decades the reanalyses show a warming trend in winter and cooling trend in spring and summer, which agree well with trends from the Radiosonde Innovation Composite Homogenization (RICH) adjusted radiosonde data set. Changes in winter and spring are caused by a corresponding change of planetary wave activity with increases in winter and decreases in spring. During winter the increase of planetary wave activity is counteracted by a residual radiatively induced cooling. Stratospheric radiatively induced cooling is detected throughout all seasons, being highly significant in spring and summer. This means that for a given dynamical situation, according to ERA-Interim the annual mean temperature of the Arctic lower stratosphere has been cooling by −0.41 ± 0.11 K decade−1 at 50 hPa over the past 32 yr. Calculations with state-of-the-art models from CCMVal and the EMAC model qualitatively reproduce the radiatively induced cooling for the past decades, but underestimate the amount of radiatively induced cooling deduced from reanalyses. There are indications that this discrepancy could be partly related to a possible underestimation of past Arctic ozone trends in the models. The models project a continued cooling of the Arctic stratosphere over the coming decades (2001–2049) that is for the annual mean about 40% less than the modeled cooling for the past, due to the reduction of ozone depleting substances and the resulting ozone recovery. This projected cooling in turn could offset between 15 and 40% of the Arctic ozone recovery.
Profile information on CO from SCIAMACHY observations using cloud slicing and comparison with model simulations
Authors: Liu C. , Beirle S. , Butler T. , Hoor P. , Frankenberg C. , Jöckel P. , Penning de Vries M. , Platt U. , Pozzer A. , Lawrence M. G. , Lelieveld J. , Tost H. , Wagner T.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. We apply a cloud slicing technique (CST), originally developed for Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) ozone observations, to CO vertical column densities retrieved from the SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY (SCIAMACHY). CST makes use of the shielding effect of clouds and combines trace gas column measurements of cloudy pixels with different cloud heights to retrieve fractional columns aloft. Here we determine seasonal mean tropospheric CO profiles at a vertical resolution of about 1 km, which is much finer than what can be obtained from thermal infrared (IR) instruments. However, since both the atmospheric CO profiles and the effective cloud heights depend systematically on meteorology, and in addition part of the retrieved signal originates from the clear part of the satellite ground pixel, the profiles retrieved from the CST have to be interpreted with care. We compare the seasonal mean SCIAMACHY CO profiles with the output from two atmospheric models sampled in the same way as the satellite observations. We find in general good agreement of the spatial patterns, but systematic differences in the absolute values are observed in both hemispheres (more strongly in the Northern Hemisphere), indicating that the source strengths in the emission inventories are probably underestimated.
A~study of aerosol liquid water content based on hygroscopicity measurements at high relative humidity in the North China Plain
Authors: Bian Y. X. , Zhao C. S. , Ma N. , Chen J. , Xu W. Y.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Water can be a major component of an aerosol particle. Also water serves as a medium for aqueous-phase reactions in aerosols. In this study, a novel method is presented to calculate the aerosol liquid water content at high relative humidity based on measurements of aerosol hygroscopic growth factor, particle number size distribution and relative humidity in the Haze in China (HaChi) summer field campaign (July–August 2009) in the North China Plain. The aerosol liquid water content calculated using this method agreed well with that calculated using a thermodynamic equilibrium model (ISORROPIA II) at high relative humidity (>60 %) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9658. At low relative humidity (<60%), an underestimation was found in the calculated aerosol liquid water content by the thermodynamic equilibrium model. This discrepancy mainly resulted from the ISORROPIA II model, which only considered limited aerosol chemical compositions. The mean and maximum values of aerosol liquid water content during the HaChi campaign reached 1.69 × 10−4; g m−3 and 9.71 × 10−4; g m−3, respectively. A distinct diurnal variation of the aerosol liquid water content was found, with lower values during daytime and higher ones at night. The aerosol liquid water content depended strongly on the relative humidity. The aerosol liquid water content in the accumulation mode dominated the total aerosol liquid water content.
Evolution of the complex refractive index in the near UV spectral region in ageing secondary organic aerosol
Authors: Flores J. M. , Zhao D. F. , Segev L. , Schlag P. , Kiendler-Scharr A. , Fuchs H. , Watne Å. K. , Bluvshtein N. , Mentel Th. F. , Hallquist M. , Rudich Y.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The chemical and physical properties of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formed by the photochemical degradation of biogenic and anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) are yet poorly constrained. The evolution of the complex refractive index (RI) of SOA, formed from purely biogenic VOC and mixtures of biogenic and anthropogenic VOC was studied over a diurnal cycle in the SAPHIR photochemical outdoor chamber in Jülich, Germany. The correlation of RI with SOA chemical and physical properties such as oxidation level and volatility was examined. The RI was retrieved by a newly developed broadband cavity enhanced spectrometer for aerosol optical extinction measurements in the near UV spectral region (360 to 420 nm). Chemical composition and volatility of the particles were monitored by a high resolution time of flight aerosol mass spectrometer, and a volatility tandem differential mobility analyzer. SOA was formed by ozonolysis of either (i) a mixture of biogenic VOC (α-pinene and limonene), (ii) biogenic VOC mixture with subsequent addition of an anthropogenic VOC (p-xylene-d10), or (iii) a mixture of biogenic and anthropogenic VOC. The SOA aged by ozone / OH reactions up to 29.5 h was found to be non-absorbing in all cases. The SOA with p-xylene-d10 showed an increase of the scattering component of the RI correlated with an increase of the O / C ratio and with an increase in the SOA density. There was a greater increase in the scattering component of the RI when the SOA was produced from the mixture of biogenic VOCs and anthropogenic VOC than from the sequential addition of the VOCs after the approximate same ageing time. The increase of the scattering component was inversely correlated with the SOA volatility. Two RI retrievals determined for the pure biogenic SOA showed a constant RI for up to 5 h of ageing. Mass spectral characterization shows the three types of the SOA formed in this study have significant amount of semivolatile components. The influence of anthropogenic VOCs on the oxygenated organic aerosol, and the atmospheric implications are discussed.
Stratospheric aerosol particle size information in Odin-OSIRIS limb scatter spectra
Authors: Rieger L. A. , Bourassa A. E. , Degenstein D. A.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. The Optical Spectrograph and InfraRed Imaging System (OSIRIS) onboard the Odin satellite has now taken over a decade of limb scatter measurements that have been used to retrieve the version 5 stratospheric aerosol extinction product. This product is retrieved using a representative particle size distribution to calculate scattering cross sections and scattering phase functions for the forward model calculations. In this work the information content of OSIRIS measurements with respect to stratospheric aerosol is systematically examined for the purpose of retrieving particle size information along with the extinction coefficient. The benefit of using measurements at different wavelengths and scattering angles in the retrieval is studied, and it is found that incorporation of the 1530 nm radiance measurement is key for a robust retrieval of particle size information. It is also found that using OSIRIS measurements at the different solar geometries available on the Odin orbit simultaneously provides little additional benefit. Based on these results, an improved aerosol retrieval algorithm is developed that couples the retrieval of aerosol extinction and mode radius of a log-normal particle size distribution. Comparison of these results with coincident measurements from SAGE III shows agreement in retrieved extinction to within approximately 10% over the bulk of the aerosol layer, which is comparable to version 5. The retrieved particle size, when converted to Ångström coefficient, shows good qualitative agreement with SAGE II measurements made at somewhat shorter wavelengths.
Retrieval of tropospheric column-averaged CH4 mole fraction by solar absorption FTIR-spectrometry using N2O as a proxy
Authors: Wang Z. , Deutscher N. M. , Warneke T. , Notholt J. , Dils B. , Griffith D. W. T. , Schmidt M. , Ramonet M. , Gerbig C.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Tropospheric column-averaged CH4 mole fractions were derived from ground-based absorption columns measurements. The method used stratospheric N2O columns to correct for the stratospheric contribution to the CH4 total column. The method was applied to four TCCON sites covering locations from the Northern Arctic to the tropics. It performs well for all sites. The derived tropospheric CH4 concentrations were compared with profiles measured by aircraft at three sites. The results indicate an inter-site consistency within 6 ppb (~ 0.3%). With aircraft profiles up to 3 km, the seasonal behavior of the derived tropospheric CH4 concentration was also checked. It reveals a difference of 20 ppb around. The mean relative uncertainty of the four sites is 0.23%. Comparing with the method using HF the proposed method shows a smaller relative uncertainty and less H2O dependence.
Evidence for benthic-pelagic food web coupling and carbon export from California margin bamboo coral archives
Authors: Hill T. M. , Myrvold C. R. , Spero H. J. , Guilderson T. P.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Deep-sea bamboo corals (order Gorgonacea, family Isididae) are known to record changes in water mass chemistry over decades to centuries. These corals are composed of a two-part skeleton of calcite internodes segmented by gorgonin organic nodes. We examine the spatial variability of bamboo coral organic node 13C/12C and 15N/14N from thirteen bamboo coral specimens sampled along the California margin (37–32° N; 792 to 2136 m depth). Radiocarbon analyses of the organic nodes show the presence of the anthropogenic bomb spike, indicating the corals utilize a surface-derived food source (pre-bomb D14C values of ∼ −100‰, post-bomb values to 82‰). Carbon and nitrogen isotope data from the organic nodes (13C = −15.9‰ to −19.2‰ 15N = 13.8‰ to 19.4‰) suggest selective feeding on surface-derived organic matter or zooplankton. A strong relationship between coral 15N and habitat depth indicate a potential archive of changing carbon export, with decreased 15N values reflecting reduced microbial degradation (increased carbon flux) at shallower depths. Using four multi-centennial length coral records, we interpret long-term 15N stability in the California Current. Organic node 13C values record differences in carbon isotope fractionation dictated by nearshore vs. offshore primary production. These findings imply strong coupling between primary production, pelagic food webs, and deep-sea benthic communities.
On the apparent CO2 absorption by alkaline soils
Authors: Chen X. , Wang W. F.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Alkaline soils in the Gubantonggut Desert were recently demonstrated socking away large quantities of CO2 in an abiotic form. This demands a better understanding of abiotic CO2 exchange in alkaline sites. Reaction of CO2 with the moisture or dew in the soil was conjectured as a potential mechanism. The main goal of this study is to determine the extent to which the dew deposition modulates Land–Atmosphere CO2 exchange at highly alkaline sites (pH ~ 10). Experiments were conducted at the most barren sites (canopy coverage < 5%) to cut down uncertainty. Dew quantities and soil CO2 fluxes were measured using a micro-lysimeters and an automated flux system (LI-COR, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA), respectively. There is an evident increase of dew deposition in nocturnal colder temperatures and decrease in diurnal warmer temperatures. Variations of soil CO2 flux are almost contrary, but the increase in diurnal warmer temperatures is obscure. It was shown that the accumulation and evaporation of dew in the soil motivates the apparent absorption and release of CO2. It was demonstrated that dew amounts in the soil has an exponential relation with the part in Fc beyond explanations of the worldwide utilized Q10 model. Therefore dew deposition in highly alkaline soils exerted a potential CO2 sink and can partly explain the apparent CO2 absorption. This implied a crucial component in the net ecosystem carbon balance (NECB) at alkaline sites which occupies approximately 5% of the Earth's land surface (7 million km). Further explorations for its mechanisms and representativeness over other arid climate systems have comprehensive perspectives in the quaternary research.
Sr isotopic characteristics in two small watersheds draining silicate and carbonate rocks: implication for studies on seawater Sr isotopic evolution
Authors: Wu W. H. , Zheng H. B. , Cao J. H. , Yang J. D.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. We systematically investigated the Sr isotopic characteristics of a small silicate watershed, the Xishui River a tributary of the Yangtze River, and a small carbonate watershed, the Guijiang River a tributary of the Pearl River. The results show that the two rivers have uncommon Sr isotopic characteristics compared with most small watersheds. Specifically, the silicate watershed (Xishui River) has relatively high Sr concentrations (0.468 to 1.70 μmol L−1 in summer and 1.30 to 3.17 μmol L−1 in winter, respectively) and low 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.708686 to 0.709148 in summer and 0.708515 to 0.709305 in winter). The carbonate watershed (Guijiang River) has low Sr concentrations (0.124 to 1.098 μmol L−1) and high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.710558 to 0.724605). As the 87Sr/86Sr ratios in the Xishui River are lower than those in seawater, the 87Sr/86Sr ratio of seawater will decrease after the river water is transported to the oceans. Previous studies have also shown that some basaltic watersheds with extremely high chemical weathering rates reduced the seawater Sr isotope ratios. In other words, river catchments with high silicate weathering rates do not certainly transport highly radiogenic Sr into oceans. Therefore, the use of the variations in the seawater 87Sr/86Sr ratio to indicate the continental silicate weathering intensity may be questionable. In the Guijiang River catchment, the 87Sr/86Sr ratios of carbonate rocks and other sources (rainwater, domestic and industrial waste water, and agricultural fertilizer) are lower than 0.71. In comparison, some non-carbonate components, such as sand rocks, mud rocks, and shales, have relatively high Sr isotopic compositions. Moreover, granites accounted for only 5% of the drainage area have extremely high 87Sr/86Sr ratios with an average of greater than 0.8. Therefore, a few silicate components in carbonate rocks obviously increase the Sr isotopic compositions of the river water.
The challenge of forecasting high streamflows 1–3 months in advance with lagged climate indices in southeast Australia
Authors: Bennett J. C. , Wang Q. J. , Pokhrel P. , Robertson D. E.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. Skilful forecasts of high streamflows a month or more in advance are likely to be of considerable benefit to emergency services and the broader community. This is particularly true for mesoscale catchments (< 2000 km2) with little or no seasonal snowmelt, where real-time warning systems are only able to give short notice of impending floods. In this study, we generate forecasts of high streamflows for the coming 1-month and coming 3-month periods using large-scale ocean–atmosphere climate indices and catchment wetness as predictors. Forecasts are generated with a combination of Bayesian joint probability modelling and Bayesian model averaging. High streamflows are defined as maximum single-day streamflows and maximum 5-day streamflows that occur during each 1-month or 3-month forecast period. Skill is clearly evident in the 1-month forecasts of high streamflows. Surprisingly, in several catchments positive skill is also evident in forecasts of large threshold events (exceedance probabilities of 25%) over the next month. Little skill is evident in forecasts of high streamflows for the 3-month period. We show that including lagged climate indices as predictors adds little skill to the forecasts, and thus catchment wetness is by far the most important predictor. Accordingly, we recommend that forecasts may be improved by using accurate estimates of catchment wetness.
Brief communication: Rapid mapping of event landslides: the 3 December 2013 Montescaglioso landslide (Italy)
Authors: Manconi A. , Casu F. , Ardizzone F. , Bonano M. , Cardinali M. , De Luca C. , Gueguen E. , Marchesini I. , Parise M. , Vennari C. , Lanari R. , Guzzetti F.
Published: February 2014

Abstract. We present a new approach for the rapid measurement of the three-dimensional surface deformations caused by a large, rapid moving landslide, in an emergency scenario. The technique exploits the amplitude information of high spatial and temporal resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar images captured by the COSMO-SkyMed satellites immediately before and after the landslide event. We show the results obtained for the Montescaglioso landslide, southern Italy, a large and rapid slope failure triggered by prolonged and intense rainfall on 3 December 2013. The slope failure damaged a main road, private homes, and commercial buildings. The results of our work open to the possibility of preparing accurate surface deformation maps for large, rapid moving landslides.
Modelo de rotación de personal y prácticas organizacionales.
Authors: Hernández Chávez Yazmin , Hernández Chávez Gerardo , Mendieta Ramírez Angélica
Published: February 2014

La industria del vestido es global, pues sus actividades de producción y comercialización se encuentran diseminadas en todos los países del planeta. Sin embargo, una forma de reducir los costos de producción ha sido trasladar el ensamble a los países con bajo costo de mano de obra como México, lo cual se ha traducido en precariedad y exclusión social en algunos casos, originando una alta rotación de personal en esta industria. Por su parte, la actividad de la confección en el Estado de Tlaxcala es una de las más importantes por el número de empleos que genera y el de empresas establecidas de manera formal, aunque existe también un porcentaje importante de la población en este Estado que se dedica de manera informal a la confección de prendas de vestir, bajo la modalidad de la maquila domiciliaria.
The rise of African SIM registration: The emerging dynamics of regulatory change
Authors: Donovan Kevin P. , Martin Aaron K.
Published: February 2014

The African experience with mobile telephony has been extolled as a defining moment in the continent’s contemporary economic, social, and political development. Yet SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) registration schemes are threatening to throttle the technology’s developmental potential. These mandates, which require the registration of identity information to activate a mobile SIM card, are fast becoming universal in Africa, with little to no public debate about the wider social or political effects. Whereas some authors have explored the motivations behind these drives, as well as their potential economic impacts, this paper focuses its critique on the broader diversity of implications of this regulatory transformation. Viewing SIM registration through a lens that combines surveillance studies and information & communication technologies for development, it examines elements of resistance across a range of actors, as well as other emerging effects like access barriers, linkages to financialization, and Africa’s budding mobile surveillance society.
“You may have a cancer-causing virus and not even know it” Fear appeals in online news
Authors: Love Brad , Mackert Michael S.
Published: February 2014

Most explanations of health risks are presented as “fear appeals,” messages that attempt to arouse fear to modify personal behavior. The central goal of this research is to assess fear appeal performance in online news while examining several research-design issues. Looking at digital news content as fear appeals will expand the scope of research into a new area, and more effective measurement and induction will avoid some common pitfalls. An online experiment produced data indicating that perceived threat and efficacy relationships developed as expected in online news and that improvements in research-design artifacts strongly affect observed variable relationships. Fear appeal and efficacy messages included in digital media content seem to be effective means to altering individual behavioral intentions.
Role of Neuroendocrine Cells in Prostate Cancer Progression
Authors: Sciarra Alessandro , Innocenzi Michele , Ravazlol Michele , Minisola Francesco , Alfarone Andrea , Cattarino Susanna , Panebianco Valeria , Buonocore Valeria , Gentile Vincenzo , Di Silverio Franco
Published: February 2014

Neuroendocrine (NE) cells represent the third epithelial cell type on normal prostatic tissue (in addition to basal and secretory cells). They are localized in all regions of the human prostate at birth but rapidly decrease in the peripheral prostate after birth, and then reappear at puberty. After puberty, their number seems to increase until an apparently optimum level is reached, which persists between the age of 25 and 54. NE cells were defined by Pearse as APUD to refer to chemical characteristics of amine precursor uptake and decarboxylation, common to the cells of this system. The most predominant product of prostatic NE cells is Chromogranin A, but they also produce serotonin, CgB, secretogranin or CgC, thyroid-stimulating hormone-like peptide, calcitonin, katacalcin, PTHrP and α-human chorionic gonadotropin-like peptide. NE cells in normal and neoplastic prostates are devoid of androgen receptors, but they express epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and c-erbB-2. For these reason NE cells are androgen-insensitive. The NE component of prostate adenocarcinoma is resistant to hormone therapy; some studies showed that the number of NE tumor cells and CgA serum levels increase with the recovery of human prostate tumor from hormonal therapy. Currently there are no clinical data available to support an active role of radiotherapy in NE differentiation.
Ochratoxin A is not detectable in renal and testicular tumours
Authors: Fahmy Nader , Woo Mark , Alameldin Mona , MacDonald Kyle , Goneau Lee W. , Cadieux Peter , Pautler Stephen E.
Published: February 2014

Introduction: Ochratoxin-A (OTA) is one of the most abundant food-contaminating mycotoxins, known for its nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, gonadotoxicity, teratogenicity, immunosuppression and carcinogenesis. OTA has been linked to several genitourinary pathologies, including Balkan nephropathy and genitourinary malignancies. We examine OTA levels in serum samples and tumour specimens collected from patients with renal and testicular tumours.Methods: Frozen samples were obtained from the Ontario Tumour Bank. Serum specimens, along with renal and testicular tumour biopsies, were included in this study. Normal tissue from the negative surgical margins of each tumour served as a control. OTA levels in serum was measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while OTA detection in tissue specimens was determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC).Results: We included specimens collected from 56 patients (36 men and 20 women). Histopathology of the 52 renal tumours included 31 (60%) conventional type renal cell carcinomas (RCC),5 (10%) chromophobe RCC, 5 (10%) papillary RCC, 1 (2%) oncocytoma and 10 (19%) upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UC). The 4 testicular tumours included 1 seminomatous (25%) germ cell tumour and 3 (75%) non-seminomatous germ cell tumours. OTA was detected in the serum of renal tumour patients, with a range from 0.004 to 0.25 ng/mL (mean: 0.07 and median 0.06 ng/mL).There was no OTA signal detected by IHC staining in all testedrenal and testicular tumours.Conclusions: The OTA levels detected in the serum of patients were highly variable and relatively low. No OTA was detected in the tissue samples.
Aesthetic scrotal reconstruction following extensive Fournier’s gangrene using bilateral island pedicled sensate anterolateral thigh flaps: A case report
Authors: Dayan Joseph H. , Clarke-Pearson Emily M. , Dayan Erez , Smith Mark L.
Published: February 2014

Achieving an aesthetic appearance of the scrotum after extensive Fournier’s gangrene is a reconstructive challenge. Testicular coverage is often prioritized over scrotal cosmesis due to the comorbidities typically seen in this patient population. We describe our treatment of a young, healthy male with extensive Fournier’s gangrene, with loss of the scrotum. Bilateral neurotized anterolateral thigh flaps were used to achieve a sensate and aesthetically acceptable result.
Organ procurement surgery as a means of increasing open surgical experience during urology residency
Authors: Hoag Nathan A , Flannigan Ryan , MacNeily Andrew E
Published: February 2014

Introduction: The introduction and advancement of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has resulted in a reciprocal decline in exposure to open surgery during urology residency training. We propose organ procurement surgery as a potential vehicle to facilitate an increase in open surgical experience among trainees. We define the surgical case volume for organ procurement surgeries currently performed by urology residents in Canada, and determine what capacity exists for expansion.Methods: Data on organ procurement surgeries were extracted for Canadian urology residents case-logs between 2005 and 2009. Case-logs were anonymously analyzed through the voluntary self-reporting program T-Res (Resilience Software Inc.). National deceased organ donor data were obtained from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.Results: The graduating Canadian urology resident has performed an average of 0.95 organ procurement surgeries during 5 years of training. An average of 469.6 procurement surgeries were performed yearly in Canada between 2005 and 2009. The theoretical capacity exists for each graduating resident to perform an additional 16.3 organ procurements during residency.Conclusions: With the establishment of MIS as standard of care for many urologic surgeries, the decrease in open operative experience is concerning. Innovative ways to enrich open surgical experience may be required, and increased formal incorporation of organ procurements into urology residency training curriculum may help fill the void.
45,X/46,XY mixed gonadal dysgenesis: A case of successful sperm extraction
Authors: Flannigan Ryan Kendrick , Chow Victor , Ma Sai , Yuzpe Albert
Published: February 2014

Infertility is common among couples, about one third of cases are the result of solely male factors, and rarely abnormalities of genetic karyotypes are the root cause. Individuals with a 45X,/46,XY mosaiscism are rare in the literature and very few have fertile potential. We discuss a case of a 27-year-old male with known mixed gonadal dysgenesis, 50:50 split mosaiscism of 45,X/46,XY, presenting for evaluation of 1.5 year history of infertility. He demonstrated low volume non-obstructive azoospermia. Upon testicular biopsy, spermatozoa were extracted. These sperm were subjected to aneuploidy studies demonstrating 95.95% euploidy. The sperm were further assessed and placed in cryopreservation after being deemed sufficient for potential intracytoplasmic sperm injection. This is a unique case of viable sperm in a man with mixed gonadal dysgenesis, 45,X/46,XY mosaiscism.
Re-assessment of 30-, 60- and 90-day mortality rates in non-metastatic prostate cancer patients treated either with radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy
Authors: Hansen Jens , Gandaglia Giorgio , Bianchi Marco , Sun Maxine , Rink Michael , Tian Zhe , Meskawi Malek , Trinh Quoc-Dien , Shariat Shahrokh F , Perrotte Paul , Chun Felix K.-H , Graefen Markus , Karakiewicz Pierre I
Published: February 2014

Introduction: It is customary to consider deaths that occur within 90 days of surgery as caused by that surgery. However, such practice may overestimate the true short-term mortality rates after radical prostatectomy (RP). Indeed, treatment-unrelated events might affect short-term mortality rates. We assess RP-specific excess short-term mortality.Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a population-based cohort of 59 010 patients (RP = 28 281 and external beam radiation therapy [EBRT] as reference group, n = 30 729) who were treated between 1998 and 2005 for non-metastatic prostate cancer. Using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, we assessed the rates of 30-, 60- and 90-day mortality after either RP or EBRT.Results: Within the cohort, 30-, 60- and 90-day mortality rates were 0.2, 0.5 and 0.6%, and 0.1, 0.4 and 0.6% for RP and EBRT patients, respectively. This resulted in overall 30-, 60, and 90- day mortality differences of 0.1, 0.1 and 0%, respectively. After stratification according to age and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), the magnitude of these differences increased up to 3.2% in favour of EBRT in patients aged >75 years with CCI ≥2. In multivariable analysis, rates of 30-, 60- and 90-day mortality were 5.2-, 1.8- and 1.3-fold higher after RP than EBRT, respectively. Our study is limited by its non-randomized design.Conclusion: Overall, absolute short-term mortality rates after RP are comparable to those of EBRT. The difference decreases over time: 90 days <60 days <30 days. Nonetheless, their magnitude is far from trivial in the elderly and sickest patients.
Functionalization of Sol-Gel Zirconia Composites with Europium Complexes
Authors: Danchova Nina , Gutzov Stoyan
Published: February 2014

Different sol-gel strategies based on functionalization of ZrO2:Eu microparticles with 1,10- phenanthroline (phen) and incorporation of colloidal Eu(phen)2(NO3)3 into zirconia have been used to obtain hybrid sol-gel composites with controlled optical properties. The process leads to materials with quantum yields of about 48% monitoring the 615 nm emission line at 350 nm excitation. Excitation/ luminescence spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction have been used to characterize the hybrid zirconia composites.