bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparison of the Drop Step and Hip Turn Techniques for Basketball Defense
Authors: McCormick Brian T. , Hannon James C. , Newton Maria , Shultz Barry , Detling Nicole , Young Warren B.
Published: September 2014

Change-of-direction speed (CODS) is an important quality to performance in multi-direction sports. The purpose of this study was to examine two methods used by basketball players to change directions when playing defense to see if one technique was faster than the other. Within basketball, there are two commonly taught methods of changing directions when playing defense: the drop step and the hip turn. Fourteen female college basketball players participated in this study. The study used a 2×2 (movement x direction) within-subjects repeated measures ANOVA to analyze the average differences between the time to change directions using a drop step compared to a hip turn. There was a significant difference between the two techniques in a novel test, with the hip turn faster than the drop step (F = 117.568, p < .0001). These results suggest that the hip turn compared to the drop step may be a quicker means of changing directions for female basketball players when playing defense.
Age at Peak Performance of Successful Track & Field Athletes
Authors: Hollings Stephen C. , Hopkins Will G. , Hume Patria A.
Published: September 2014

Knowledge of age at peak performance in competitive sport could inform decisions about selection and preparation of athletes for specific events. The purpose of the study was to estimate age at peak performance of elite track-and-field athletes. 168,576 performance times and distances by 2017 athletes in 19 men's and 19 women's track-and-field events from 1979 to 2009 were downloaded from tilastopaja.org . Each athlete had finished in the top 16 (track events and combined events) or top 12 (field events) of their event at an Olympic Games or a World Athletics Championships between 2000 and 2009. After adjustment for year of competition, and venue-related factors such as altitude, wind-speed, indoor or outdoor and level of competition, a mixed linear model provided quadratic age-related performance trajectories to estimate each athlete's age at peak performance and age window for negligible contiguous improvement and decline. Age at peak performance for men ranged from 23.9 ± 2.4 y (10000 m; mean ±SD) to 28.5 ± 2.2 y (discus throw) and for women from 24.7 ± 2.5 y (pole vault) to 28.1 ± 3.9 y (discus throw). There were clear differences in mean age at peak performance between male and female throwers (mean;±CL) (28.0;±0.4 vs. 26.7;±0.6 y), between male and female runners (25.1;±0.3 vs. 26.2;±0.4 y), and between throwers and runners or jumpers (27.3;±0.5 vs. 25.6;±0.3 or 25.7;±0.3 y). In conclusion, the current generation of track-and-field athletes should prepare for an age window of ~2.5 y each side of a peaking age of ~23-28 y depending on event. Differences and trends in participation, ethnic representation, professionalization and specialization could account for differences between events and for apparent changes from age at peak performance of previous generations.
Were Height and Mass Related to Performance at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups?
Authors: Barr Matt J , Newton Robert U , Sheppard Jeremy M
Published: September 2014

It has previously been reported that there are trends for height and mass in rugby players to be greater with higher levels of competition and historical increases over time are greater than the rates of increase seen in the normal population. The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of height and mass on performance in international rugby by analyzing final pool rankings at the 2007 and 2011 Rugby World Cups (RWC). The 2007 and 2011 RWCs both had four pools of five teams. Each team would play four games in the pool stages and points were given for wins, ties, scoring four or more tries and losing by less than seven points. The points accumulated from this system were used to examine the influence of height and mass on performance. Teams were subdivided into groups (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th) depending on final rankings in the pool stages. An ANOVA and Pearson's correlation were used to compare the influence of height, mass and Body Mass Index on final pool rankings and points accumulated in each of the two tournaments. Of all of the anthropometric measurements considered, the height and mass of forwards seem to be the best indicators of team performance.
Professionalism, Golf Coaching and a Master of Science Degree
Authors: Jenkins Simon
Published: September 2014

A distinction can be made between ‘professionalisation’, which is concerned with occupational status and standing, and ‘professionalism,’ which refers to matters of quality and standards of practice (especially specialized knowledge, ethics and altruism). The purpose of this stimulus article is to present key features of contemporary medical professionalism as a basis for critically reflecting on discourse associated with Tiger Woods' current coach, Sean Foley. It is suggested that that provision of a Master of Science degree in golf teaching/coaching would facilitate the development of ‘professionalism’ in golf coaches.
The Delimitation of Bipolar Metropolitan Area Within the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Region
Authors: Biczkowski Mirosław , Müller-Frączek Iwona , Muszyńska Joanna , Pietrzak Michał Bernard , Wilk Justyna
Published: September 2014

The objective of the article was to re-define the bipolar metropolitan area within the area of the Kujawsko-Pomorskie region (NUTS 2). Concentration of metropolitan features, as well as socio-economic situations of its communes (NUTS 5) in 2011, and also the dynamics of communes’ development in the period 2009-2011 were considered in the procedure of delimitation. Bydgoszcz and Toruń, as the economically strongest cities in the region, were established as the dual core of the bipolar metropolitan area. It was assumed that the determined metropolitan area would cover the best developed and the fastest developing communes which met the following criteria of a metropolitan area: neighbourhood, continuity, compactness, maximum distance and population. The development levels of the communes were determined with the use of synthetic measure. Its values were calculated considering the economic (e.g. the amount of income) and also social (e.g. unemployment) aspects of regional development, as well as features typical of metropolitan areas, such as: well-developed sectors of R&D, knowledge-based economy and serving superior services. In the research, linear arrangement methods classifying as taxonomic tools of multivariate data analysis was applied. The metropolitan area resulting from the research (BipOM) slightly differs from the Bydgoszcz-Toruń Metropolitan Area (B-TOM) which was formally appointed in 2005 and composed all of the communes located within the area of the Bydgoski and Toruński districts (NUTS 4). Chełmża and Koronowo, as the less developed communes of the districts, were excluded from the new metropolitan area, while the communes of Ciechocinek, Nakło and Unisław, belonging to the neighbouring districts of the region, were included in the BipOM due to their significant level of regional development and its dynamics. Furthermore the Inowrocław district (bordered on the BipOM) was identified as the prospective candidate for the BipOM, due to the fact that its communes demonstrate a high potential for regional development.
Removing the chains: building a community of mental health nurses in Somaliland
Authors: Doyle Mary-Jo , Askar Abdikani , Farax Hassan , Dahir Mariam Hasan , Hersi Suad , Macan Fadumo
Published: September 2014

This article highlights the coming together of a group of mental health nurses in a post-conflict, newly emerging country—Somaliland. Efforts via a health link to improve mental health services and care are described. Clinically, there is an emphasis on how nurses play a vital role in helping patients who have been chained for many years, and how their recovery offers real stories of hope. Nurses in Somaliland are actively challenging accepted stigma about mental illness and promoting new understandings of mental health within the community. The article describes how newly qualified nurses; nurses who trained prior to the civil war; and nurses from the UK, have all contributed to the health link and how together feel a sense of community and identity. Teaching trips, email and use of the Medicine Africa distance learning platform have all contributed to the development of mental health nursing in Somaliland.
Height distributions of Scots pine sapling stands affected by retained tree and edge stand competition
Authors: Siipilehto Jouni
Published: September 2014

The paper focused on the height structure of Scots pine saplings affected by (1) retained solitary pine trees or (2) a pine-dominated edge stand. The study material in (1) and (2) consisted of ten separate regeneration areas in southern Finland. In (1) 2-m radius study plots were located at 1, 3, 6 and 10 m distances from 10 systematically selected, solitary retained trees in each stand. In (2) the study plots were systematically located within 20 m from the edge stand. Competition of the individual trees was modelled using ecological field theory. The 24th and 93rd sample percentiles were used for estimating the height distribution using the two-parameter Weibull function. The models incorporated the effect of varying advanced tree competition on the predicted percentiles. Competition free dominant height was used as a driving variable for the developmental phase. Competition resulted in retarded height development within a radius of about 6 m from the retained tree, while it extended up to roughly half of the dominant height of the edge stand. The height distribution without external competition was relatively symmetrical, but increasing competition resulted in a more peaked and skewed distribution. Slight differences were found between northern sunny and southern shaded stand edges, while the least retarded height occurred at the north-western edge receiving morning sunlight. Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit tests showed acceptable and equal fit for both data sets; 2% and 8% of the distributions did not pass the test at the alpha 0.1 level when the Weibull distribution was estimated with the observed or predicted percentiles, respectively.
A decision support system for selective cleaning
Authors: Vestlund Karin , Nordfjell Tomas , Eliasson Lars , Karlsson Anders
Published: September 2014

Cleaning (pre-commercial thinning) costs have increased relative to logging and regeneration costs, creating a desire for rationalisation. Cleaning with robots may be a solution, but automating stem selections requires a decision support system (DSS) capable of rendering acceptable results. The aims were to develop a DSS for automation of individual stem selections in practical cleaning, and to test, using simulations, if it renders acceptable results. Data on 17 young forest stands were used to develop a DSS that selects stems by species, position (including distance and density parameters), diameter, and damage. Six simulations were run, following the DSS, with different target settings for density, percentage of deciduous stems and minimum distance between stems. The results depend on the initial state of the stands, but generally met the requested targets in an acceptable way. On average, the density results deviated by â20% to +6% from the target values, the amount of deciduous stems shifted towards the target values, and the proportion of stems with defined damaged decreased from initially 14â90% to 4â13%. The mean diameter at breast height increased and the minimum allowed distance between stems was never violated. The simulation results indicate that the DSS is operational. However, for implementation in robotics a crucial problem is to automatically perceive the selected attributes, so additional simulations with erroneous data were run. Correct measurements of diameters are less crucial than to find the majority of the trees and the majority of trees with damages.
Change detection in boreal forests using bi-temporal aerial photographs
Authors: Hyvönen Pekka , Anttila Perttu
Published: September 2014

Increased need for timely forest information is leading to continuous updating of stand databases. In continuous updating, stand attributes are estimated in the field after an operation and stored in databases. To find the changes caused by operations and forest damage, a semi-automatic method based on bi-temporal aerial photographs was developed. The test data were classified into three classes: No-change (952 stands), Moderate-change (163 stands) and Considerable-change (44 stands). The aerial photographs were acquired in years 2001 and 2004 with almost the same image specifications. Altogether 110 features at stand level were extracted and used in change detection analysis. The test data were classified with stepwise discriminant analysis. The overall accuracy of classification varied between 75.3 and 84.7%. The considerable changes were found without error, whereas the Moderate-change and No-change classes were often confused. However, 84.2% of thinned stands were classified correctly. The best accuracy in classification was obtained by using the histogram and textural features extracted from the original, uncorrected images. Radiometric correction did not improve the accuracy of classification. Soil type, characteristics of the growing stock and the location of a stand in an image were found to affect the change detection. Before the method can be applied operationally, issues related to, e.g., confusion between No-change and Moderate-change must be solved.
Time consumption analysis of the mechanized cut-to-length harvesting system
Authors: Nurminen Tuomo , Korpunen Heikki , Uusitalo Jori
Published: September 2014

The time consumption and productivity of harvesting are dependent on stand conditions, the operatorsâ skills, working techniques and the characteristics of the forestry machinery. Even if the basic methods and machine types of the cut-to-length harvesting system have not changed significantly in 10 to 15 years, improvements in the operatorsâ competence, technical solutions in forest machinery and changes in the working environment have undoubtedly taken place. In this study, the objective was to discover the special characteristics in the time consumption of mechanized cutting and forest haulage in Finnish conditions. The empirical time study was conducted with professional operators and medium-sized single-grip harvesters and forwarders in final fellings and thinnings in easy terrain in central Finland. The models for effective time consumption in the work phases and total productivity were formed. Stem size, tree species and bucking affected the cutting, whereas timber density on the strip road, the average driving distance, load capacity, wood assortment and the bunching result of the harvester operator had an effect on the forest haulage performance. The results may be used in simulations, cost calculations and education.
Defoliation by the common pine sawfly (Diprion pini) and subsequent growth reduction in Scots pine: a retrospective approach
Authors: Kurkela Timo , Aalto Tarmo , Varama Martti , Jalkanen Risto
Published: September 2014

The foliage status in the main stem of Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris) was studied retrospectively using the needle trace method (NTM) on a stand, seriously defoliated by the pine sawfly (Diprion pini) in the 1980s. Needle density increased abruptly in the seasons following the defoliation. The strongest reduction in annual needle production occurred one year later. As a consequence of lower needle production, the annual number of attached needles decreased three to five years after the defoliation. Needle retention and the average age of attached needles tended to increase after defoliation. In analyses of covariance with the NTM variables, needle density (logarithmic transformed values) and average age of attached needles, had the highest, significant, negative relationship with radial and height increments both in the period prior to the defoliation and in the time when the trees were suffering from defoliation. The relationships between height increment and the number of needles and needle loss were positive and significant. Also radial increment had a positive relationship with the number of needles but not with needle loss. Interestingly, an abrupt increase in the needle density gave a good indication of the effects of a sudden defoliation in pines.
Time consumption and damage to the remaining stock in mechanised and motor manual pre-commercial thinning
Authors: Ligné Daniel , Eliasson Lars , Nordfjell Tomas
Published: September 2014

Selective pre-commercial thinning (PCT) is usually carried out by workers with a brush saw in order to increase the growth of the potential crop trees (main stems) through removal of competing trees. In the last decade relative PCT costs have increased, partly because stands are denser and have higher trees when treated, which has led to new interest for mechanised PCT. The objective was to compare mechanised and motor manual PCT regarding productivity and damage to remaining main stems. Time consumption for, and damage after, mechanised and motor manual PCT were studied on 50 plots per treatment in mixed pine birch stands with an initial stand density exceeding 4500 stems haâ1. In the present study productivity was influenced by stand density, stand height and the quota between height and diameter. Irrespectively of these factors, mechanised PCT was 0.74 hours haâ1 slower than motor manual PCT. Motor manual PCT of the average stand (average height 3.69 m, 10 816 stems haâ1) took 5.06 effective hours. In average 2475 and 2805 main stems haâ1 were left after the mechanised and motor manual treatments, respectively, whereof 1.3 and 2.1% were damaged by the treatments. The results show that efficiency in motor manual PCT has increased in dense and tall stands compared to older studies. Motor manual PCT was more time effective than mechanised PCT, and thereby also even more cost-effective. However, the potential for technical and methodological development of mechanised PCT is probably larger than for motor manual PCT.
Ecology of species living on dead wood – lessons for dead wood management
Authors: Jonsson Bengt , Kruys Nicholas , Ranius Thomas
Published: September 2014

Dead wood has been identified as a crucial component for forest biodiversity. Recent research has improved our understanding of habitat relations for many species associated with dead wood. However, the consequences for forest management are yet to be explored. In this review we build upon the growing volume of studies on dead wood dependent species, the dynamics of dead wood and ecological theory in order to identify the challenges for forest management at the landscape level. The review has a Fennoscandian focus, but the problems and challenges are similar in many forest ecosystems. We argue that it is necessary to 1) counteract the current shortage in availability of dead wood, 2) concentrate planning at the landscape level in order to minimize isolation and reduce edge effects, 3) create a variety of dead wood types, and 4) utilise available quantitative analytical tools. This calls for new approaches to management that to a large extent includes available knowledge, and to find platforms for planning forested landscapes with diverse holdings.
Height-diameter models for Scots pine and birch in Finland
Authors: Mehtätalo Lauri
Published: September 2014

Height-Diameter (H-D) models for two shade-intolerant tree species were estimated from longitudinal data. The longitudinal character of the data was taken into account by estimating the models as random effects models using two nested levels: stand and measurement occasion level. The results show that the parameters of the H-D equation develop over time but the development rate varies between stands. Therefore the development of the parameters is not linked to the stand age but to the median diameter of the basal-area weighted diameter distribution (DGM). Models were estimated with different predictor combinations in order to produce appropriate models for different situations. The estimated models can be localized for a new stand using measured heights and diameters, presumably from different points in time, and the H-D curves can be projected into the future.
Projecting pulpwood prices under different assumptions on future capacities in the pulp and paper industry
Authors: Bolkesjø Torjus
Published: September 2014

Capacity changes in the pulp and paper industry affect demand for pulpwood and thus pulpwood prices. This paper analyzes the impacts on roundwood prices in Norway of two possible capacity changes (one new machine and one close-down) that currently are high on the agenda in the Norwegian paper industry, and assesses the generality of the results obtained from these case studies. The two cases are implemented exogenously into a regionalized partial equilibrium forest sector model, and the capacity change scenarios are compared with a business as usual scenario assuming no demand shocks. The projected pulpwood prices change significantly in regions near mills where capacity shifts, at least for the close-down case, but only moderately at an aggregated national level. The reduction in prices under the close-down studied is higher than the price increase from the possible capacity increase case. The asymmetric price responses projected for the two case studies are supported by sensitivity analyses on other regions and cases (technologies). For the capacity increase case it is shown that the level of the projected pulpwood price is sensitive to assumptions on base-year prices and transport costs of imported roundwood, but the magnitudes of the price increases projected as a result of increased demand are less affected by these assumptions.
Estimating canopy cover in Scots pine stands
Authors: Rautiainen Miina , Stenberg Pauline , Nilson Tiit
Published: September 2014

The way canopy cover is defined and measured influences the obtained canopy cover percentage. Estimates of canopy cover are needed, for example, in canopy radiation modelling and remote sensing applications and as a tool for political decision-making. In this paper, we demonstrated the use of two methods, the LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer instrument and the Cajanus tube, in Scots pine stands for canopy cover estimation, and also assessed the number of measurement points required for reliable estimates. The Cajanus tube yielded slightly larger canopy closure values than the LAI-2000 instrument, but the values were nevertheless in good agreement. Both of the methods required approximately 250 measurement points for canopy closure estimates of a stand to become relatively stable. We also present the first measured effective canopy transmittance values for Scots pine stands in Finland and an example of tree pattern mapping with the Cajanus tube.
Can electoral popularity be predicted using socially generated big data?
Authors: Yasseri Taha , Bright Jonathan
Published: September 2014

Today, our more-than-ever digital lives leave significant footprints
in cyberspace. Large scale collections of these socially generated
footprints, often known as big data, could help us to re-investigate
different aspects of our social collective behaviour in a quantitative
framework. In this contribution we discuss one such possibility: the
monitoring and predicting of popularity dynamics of candidates and
parties through the analysis of socially generated data on the web
during electoral campaigns. Such data offer considerable possibility
for improving our awareness of popularity dynamics. However they also
suffer from significant drawbacks in terms of representativeness and
generalisability. In this paper we discuss potential ways around such
problems, suggesting the nature of different political systems and
contexts might lend differing levels of predictive power to certain
types of data source. We offer an initial exploratory test of these
ideas, focussing on two data streams, Wikipedia page views and Google
search queries. On the basis of this data, we present popularity
dynamics from real case examples of recent elections in three
different countries.
Tweets vs. Mendeley readers: How do these two
social media metrics differ?
Authors: Haustein Stefanie , Larivière Vincent , Thelwall Mike , Amyot Didier , Peters Isabella
Published: September 2014

A set of 1.4 million biomedical papers was analyzed with
regards to how often articles are mentioned on Twitter or saved by users on
Mendeley. While Twitter is a microblogging platform used by a general
audience to distribute information, Mendeley is a reference manager targeted
at an academic user group to organize scholarly literature. Both platforms
are used as sources for so-called “altmetrics” to measure a new kind of
research impact. This analysis shows in how far they differ and compare to
traditional citation impact metrics based on a large set of PubMed papers.
Overcoming the Cause of Failure and the Role of Issue Salience: Toward a Comprehensive Theory for Nonprofit Activity and Competition in a Three-Sector Economy
Authors: Faulk Lewis
Published: September 2014

This paper extends the theoretical framework of nonprofit activity in three-sector economies. Perspectives from existing theories on nonprofit organizations and the agenda setting literature are simultaneously considered. The nonprofit form provides one solution to the causes of market failure that are inherent to the different classes of goods discussed by previous theory. However, issue salience can lead to public policies that correct market failures. Such policies can lead to greater competition for tax-supported funding and to for-profit entry. This combined framework allows for the integration of the various theories on the existence of nonprofit organizations under one theoretical lens. It also yields a framework to empirically analyze industry dynamics and inter-organizational competition specifically within nonprofit and mixed-sector markets. The temporal variation and relative strength of issue salience in various mission areas in which nonprofits participate are particularly considered. This theoretical perspective leads to several important implications for industrial structure, nonprofit competition for resources and market share, public policy, advocacy, contracting, and public–private partnerships as the issues nonprofits address evolve over time.
The Impact of Government Funding on Competition in the Nonprofit Sector: An Integrative Model and Review of Empirical Research
Authors: Ashley Shena
Published: September 2014

Changes in the scope and structure of public sector funding over the past few decades have had significant effects on the organizational environment in which nonprofit organizations operate. This article presents an integrative model within which the empirical literature regarding government funding effects on nonprofits is reviewed. This model conceptualizes the effects as deriving from two discrete forces – supply dynamics that have immediate population-level influences and a set of implementation dynamics that shape competition via organizational effects. This integrated model provides coherence to the literature and supplies a framework for future research.
Effect of process parameters on the electrical discharge machining of aluminum metal matrix composites through a response surface methodology approach
Authors: Balasubramaniam V. , Baskar N. , Narayanan Chinnaiyan Sathiya
Published: September 2014

This work presents the multiobjective optimization of machining parameters during the electrical discharge machining (EDM) of aluminum (Al)-silicon carbide (SiC) metal matrix composites (MMC). The process parameters considered were current, pulse on-time, dielectric flushing pressure, and SiC particles. A copper rod was used as an electrode. An Al-SiC MMC with Al 6061 as matrix and SiC particles having three different sizes (i.e., 15, 25, and 40 μm) were used as workpieces. The experiments were planned using design of experiments through response surface methodology (RSM). The mathematical models were developed to predict the better performance measures such as the material removal rate (MRR), electrode wear rate (EWR), surface roughness (SR), and cylindricity (CY). The desirability approach in RSM was performed for optimization. It was found that the MRR increases with increasing peak current, pulse on-time, flushing pressure, and particle size. The EDM parameters are to be analyzed for the MRR, EWR, SR, and CY. The best one is proposed for validation.
Comparison of V̇o 2peak and Achievement of V̇o 2peak Criteria in Three Modes of Exercise in Female Triathletes
Authors: Snoza Colleen T. , Berg Kris E. , Slivka Dustin R.
Published: September 2014

Snoza, CT, Berg, KE, and Slivka, DR. Comparison of V̇o
2peak and achievement of V̇o
2peak criteria in three modes of exercise in female triathletes. J Strength Cond Res 30(10): 2816–2822, 2016—The purpose of this study was to compare peak aerobic capacity in female triathletes in 3 modes of exercise: treadmill, cycle, and arm ergometer. A second purpose was to determine the extent that physiologic criteria for achieving V̇o
2peak were reached in each mode of exercise. Six criteria were examined: V̇o
2 plateau, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLC), respiratory exchange ratio, oxygen saturation, and rating of perceived exertion (RPE). Twelve recreational level female triathletes completed maximal tests on the treadmill, stationary bike, and arm ergometer. Results indicated V̇o
2peak (ml·kg−1·min−1) is highest on a treadmill (46.8 ± 2.1), intermediate in cycling (40.7 ± 5.0), and lowest in arm ergometry (28.2 ± 3.3) with mean differences being significant (p ≤ 0.05). Blood lactate concentration and RPE criteria were met by the highest number of subjects across the 3 modes of testing while the HR criterion was not achieved in any participant in arm ergometry and only 2 in cycling. It was concluded that in moderately trained recreational level triathletes, V̇o
2peak is highest in running and lowest in arm ergometry. Criteria for achieving V̇o
2peak most frequently were blood lactate level and RPE. Coaches and researchers should appreciate that V̇o
2peak values of moderately trained triathletes differ considerably in contrast to elite triathletes and tend to be highest on the treadmill and lowest in arm ergometry. Also, criteria used to determine achievement of V̇o
2peak should be carefully selected and seem to be best achieved using BLC and RPE.
Experimental Investigation on the Coefficient of Lateral Earth Pressure at Rest of Silty Sands: Effect of Fines
Authors: Lee Junhwan , Lee Dongyeol , Park Donggyu
Published: September 2014

The coefficient of lateral earth pressure at rest (K0) is an important state variable of soils and is often estimated using Jaky's K0 equation, which is based on the internal friction angle (φ′). When fines are contained in sand, the effect of the fines content needs to be properly taken into account for the φ′-based estimation of K0, as the strength characteristics change because of changes in particle interlocking and contact conditions. In this study, an experimental testing program was established to measure and analyze K0 and its correlation to shear strength characteristics of sand–silt mixtures focusing on the effect of silt content. Thin-wall oedometer tests, triaxial tests, and other property tests were conducted to obtain K0 values and characterize the test materials. The values of K0 became higher as the relative density and silt content decreased, which was found because of decreasing particle interlocking and friction angle. Jaky's K0 equation using the peak strength tended to underestimate K0 at lower relative densities, whereas the K0 matched closely to measured values for higher relative densities. The K0 correlation based on the mobilized inter-particle strength was proposed and was applicable to various sand conditions. The calculated results using the proposed K0 correlation matched the measured results well, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed method.
New Multi-Stage Triaxial Compression Test to Investigate the Loading-Rate Dependence of Rock Strength
Authors: Hashiba K. , Fukui K.
Published: September 2014

Compression tests for investigating the time-dependence of rock under confining pressures are time consuming and require more specimens than do uniaxial compression tests. In this study, a new testing method combining multi-stage confining pressure and alternating loading rate is proposed to investigate the loading-rate dependence of triaxial compressive strength from a small amount of rock sample. In the test, a small-size rock specimen 10 mm in diameter and 20 mm in height was loaded under a strain rate alternating between slow and fast and under a confining pressure increased once just after reaching the peak strength. Strengths corresponding to two strain rates and two confining pressures could be obtained from one specimen. The cohesion, angle of internal friction, and loading-rate dependence of strength from the data were consistent with those from the commonly used triaxial compression tests under a constant strain rate or constant confining pressure. The proposed test with a small amount of rock sample can reduce not only the time and cost but also the environmental load of sampling in situ.
Production of Austempered Gray Iron (AGI) Using Forced Air Cooling
Authors: Olawale J. O. , Oluwaseguun K. M. , Ezemenaka D. I. , Adisa S. B.
Published: September 2014

This paper presents the outcome of the production of austempered gray iron (AGI) using forced air cooling as the quenching medium. Samples from Class 20 gray cast iron were prepared for micrographic analysis, x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and mechanical testing. The prepared samples were austenitized at 920°C, soaked for 1 h, force air-cooled to the austempering temperature range of 250°C to 400°C (at 25°C intervals), held for another hour at the austempered temperature to allow for complete phase transformation, and then air-cooled to room temperature. The optical micrograph revealed a unique microstructure consisting of ferrite (α) and high carbon austenite (γHC) called ausferrite, the coarseness of which increases as the austempering temperatures increases. XRD analysis revealed only the peak of the α phase. The estimated effective particle size dα of this phase increases with an increase in austempering temperature. The results of mechanical tests showed significant increases in the tensile strength, hardness, toughness, and ductility of austempered samples of Class-20 grade gray cast iron. Conclusively, AGI has a unique combination of high strength and ductility that makes it suitable for the manufacture of parts in which high strength, high wear resistance, and high ductility are required.
In vivo oestrogenic modulation of Egr1 and Pitx1 gene expression in female rat pituitary gland
Authors: Gajewska Alina , Herman Andrzej P , Wolińska-Witort Ewa , Kochman Kazimierz , Zwierzchowski Lech
Published: September 2014

EGR1 and PITX1 are transcription factors required for gonadotroph cell Lhb promoter activation. To determine changes in Egr1 and Pitx1 mRNA levels in central and peripheral pituitary stimulations, an in vivo model based on i.c.v. pulsatile (1 pulse/0.5 h over 2 h) GnRH agonist (1.5 nM buserelin) or antagonist (2 nM antide) microinjections was used. The microinjections were given to ovariectomised and 17β-oestradiol (E2) (3×20 μg), ERA (ESR1) agonist propyl pyrazole triol (PPT) (3×0.5 mg), ERB (ESR2) agonist diarylpropionitrile (DPN) (3×0.5 mg) s.c. pre-treated rats 30 min after last pulse anterior pituitaries were excised. Relative mRNA expression was determined by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Results revealed a gene-specific response for GnRH and/or oestrogenic stimulations in vivo. Buserelin pulses enhanced Egr1 expression by 66% in ovariectomised rats, whereas the oestradiol-supplemented+i.c.v. NaCl-microinjected group showed a 50% increase in Egr1 mRNA expression. The oestrogenic signal was transmitted via ERA (ESR1) and ERB (ESR2) activation as administration of PPT and DPN resulted in 97 and 62%, respectively, elevation in Egr1 mRNA expression. A synergistic action of GnRH agonist and 17β-oestradiol (E2) stimulation of the Egr1 gene transcription in vivo were found. GnRHR activity did not affect Pitx1 mRNA expression; regardless of NaCl, buserelin or antide i.c.v. pulses, s.c. oestrogenic supplementation (with E2, PPT or DPN) consistently decreased (by −46, −48 and −41% respectively) the Pitx1 mRNA in the anterior pituitary gland. Orchestrated Egr1 and Pitx1 activities depending on specific central and peripheral regulatory inputs could be responsible for physiologically variable Lhb gene promoter activation in vivo.
A Foundation for Provitamin A Biofortification of Maize: Genome-Wide Association and Genomic Prediction Models of Carotenoid Levels
Authors: Owens Brenda F , Lipka Alexander E , Magallanes-Lundback Maria , Tiede Tyler , Diepenbrock Christine H , Kandianis Catherine B , Kim Eunha , Cepela Jason , Mateos-Hernandez Maria , Buell C Robin , Buckler Edward S , DellaPenna Dean , Gore Michael A , Rocheford Torbert
Published: September 2014

Efforts are underway for development of crops with improved levels of provitamin A carotenoids to help combat dietary vitamin A deficiency. As a global staple crop with considerable variation in kernel carotenoid composition, maize (Zea mays L.) could have a widespread impact. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of quantified seed carotenoids across a panel of maize inbreds ranging from light yellow to dark orange in grain color to identify some of the key genes controlling maize grain carotenoid composition. Significant associations at the genome-wide level were detected within the coding regions of zep1 and lut1, carotenoid biosynthetic genes not previously shown to impact grain carotenoid composition in association studies, as well as within previously associated lcyE and crtRB1 genes. We leveraged existing biochemical and genomic information to identify 58 a priori candidate genes relevant to the biosynthesis and retention of carotenoids in maize to test in a pathway-level analysis. This revealed dxs2 and lut5, genes not previously associated with kernel carotenoids. In genomic prediction models, use of markers that targeted a small set of quantitative trait loci associated with carotenoid levels in prior linkage studies were as effective as genome-wide markers for predicting carotenoid traits. Based on GWAS, pathway-level analysis, and genomic prediction studies, we outline a flexible strategy involving use of a small number of genes that can be selected for rapid conversion of elite white grain germplasm, with minimal amounts of carotenoids, to orange grain versions containing high levels of provitamin A.
Therapeutic potential of Brazilian fluoride varnishes: an in vivo study
Authors: Almeida Marcella Quirino de , Costa Olívia Ximenes Izidro , Ferreira Jainara Maria Soares , Menezes Valdenice Aparecida de , Leal Rossana Barbosa , Sampaio Fábio Correia
Published: September 2014

The aim of this study was to assess in vivo the therapeutic effect of three fluoride varnishes available in the Brazilian market on the performance of white spot lesions (WSL). The sample included 36 children aged 7 to 13 years old, with a total of 67 active WSL in permanent anterior teeth. The children were randomly divided into 3 groups, according to fluoride varnish used: FL- Fluorniz (n=24), DUO - Duofluorid XII (n=22) and DF - Durafluor (n=21). Maximum WSL dimensions (mesiodistal and incisogingival) were measured in millimeters by a previously calibrated single examiner using a periodontal probe. WSL were also assessed regarding lesion activity. Initial and final S-OHI (Simplified Oral Hygiene Index) scores were recorded. Pearson's chi-square test revealed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in the performance of the varnishes. At the end of the 5th week, FL had 6 active and 18 inactive WSL; DUO had 7 active and 15 inactive WSL; and DL had 6 active and 15 inactive WSL. Taking into account all lesions, there was a 45.7% reduction in WSL dimensions. Paired Student's t-test revealed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between the initial size (1.88) and final size (1.02). After four applications, all varnishes obtained similar clinical results.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Velar Muscle Tissue Distribution in Healthy Adults
Authors: Bae Youkyung , Kuehn David P. , Sutton Bradley P.
Published: September 2014

Objectives

To examine muscle tissue distribution along the length of the velum in living individuals using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Design

Using the three-dimensional MRI data acquired from 10 normal white adults, two area measures including the muscular area and the total velar area were obtained from 10 oblique slices running perpendicular to velar length. A polynomial regression analysis was performed where the proportion of the muscular to the total velar area was regressed on the slice numbers running along the length of the velum.

Results

The proportion of the muscular to total velar area increased from the anterior section of the velum, reaching a maximum (33.24%) in the midsection, and decreasing in the posterior section of the velum. A third-order (cubic) polynomial function that best illustrated the proportional data ( R2 = .47) was derived.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that MRI is a viable tool to examine the muscle tissue distribution of the velum in living individuals. Although the overall pattern in the muscle tissue distribution of the healthy velum was similar to that reported in previous literature based on cadaver specimens, the participants in the present study appeared to have greater muscular proportion of the velum. The muscular proportion measure derived from the healthy living individuals can be used as an additional parameter accounting for sufficient intravelar muscle mass for future studies.
Is Linear Advancement Related to Relapse in Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Orthognathic Surgery?
Authors: Watts Guy D. , Antonarakis Gregory S. , Forrest Christopher R. , Tompson Bryan D. , Phillips John H.
Published: September 2014

Objective

To investigate the stability of major versus minor Le Fort I maxillary advancements in unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) patients.

Design

A retrospective longitudinal study was undertaken on 30 nonsyndromic UCLP patients treated with the same protocol at The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada. Patients were grouped into major and minor movement groups based on planned surgical advancement. Standard lateral cephalometric radiographs were taken preoperatively (T1), immediately postoperatively (T2), and at least 1 year postoperatively (T3). Skeletal and dental variables were measured using cephalometric analysis. Stability was compared between groups using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between advancement and relapse for the entire study population.

Results

A mean maxillary advancement of 9.8 mm and 4.9 mm was seen for the major (n = 10) and minor (n = 20) movement groups, respectively. The mean skeletal horizontal relapse was 1.8 mm (18%) for the major advancement group and 1.5 mm (31%) for the minor advancement group. There was no significant difference in skeletal horizontal relapse between the groups ( P > .05). The correlation coefficient ( r) between linear horizontal advancement and relapse was calculated to be .31 ( P > .05). Dental horizontal relapse was not significant for either the major or minor groups, and no significant difference was found between the groups ( P > .05)

Conclusion

Skeletal and dental relapse was found to be unrelated to the amount of maxillary linear advancement using conventional Le Fort I osteotomies in UCLP.
Velopharyngeal Configuration Changes following Le Fort I Osteotomy with Maxillary Advancement in Patients with Cleft Lip and Palate: A Cephalometric Study
Authors: Wu Yu , Wang Xing , Ma Lian , Li Zili
Published: September 2014

Objective

To describe the morphological changes of velopharyngeal components in patients with cleft lip and palate after Le Fort I osteotomy with maxillary advancement and to clarify whether the velopharyngeal morphological changes are related to the distance of maxillary advancement.

Design

Retrospective case series.

Setting

Hospital and Stomatology Unit of Peking University, Beijing, China.

Patients

A total of 47 patients with maxillary hypoplasia secondary to cleft lip and palate.

Interventions

Le Fort I osteotomy combined with bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy and/or genioplasty for treatment of maxillofacial deformity.

Main Outcome Measures

The lateral cephalometric radiographs with velum at rest (n = 47) and during phonation of /i/ (n = 17) were undertaken preoperatively (T1), 1 week postoperatively (T2), and at least 6 months postoperatively (T3). Some measure indices of velopharyngeal configuration were collected and analyzed.

Results

The average maxillary advancement distance was 4.08 ± 1.58 mm. The velar length, velar angle, and nasopharyngeal depth increased, but velar thickness decreased. The motion of the soft palate had no significant change, but the motion of the posterior pharyngeal wall and the Passavant's ridge increased significantly. No significant linear correlation was found between maxillary advancement distance and velopharyngeal configuration changes.

Conclusion

Correction of maxillary hypoplasia by Le Fort I osteotomy with maxillary advancement increases the velopharyngeal cavity depth, which may impair velopharyngeal competence. The compensatory effects of the velopharyngeal soft tissue and posterior pharyngeal wall may alleviate this impairment to a certain extent.
Examining attributes of urban open spaces in Doha
Authors: Salama Ashraf M. , Azzali Simona
Published: September 2014

With intensive emerging and transforming urban spaces and centres, the city of Doha is experiencing continual rapid growth. However, minor attention has been paid to important growth aspects. This paper examines functional, social and perceptual attributes of three urban open spaces in the city by developing and implementing a walking tour assessment procedure composed of checklists and a scoring system. Results reveal important outcomes including the absence of landscape features and a dearth of green spaces or appropriate outdoor furniture, the absence of adequate shaded areas and shading devices and parasols and a lack of children's facilities or a specially designated area for children among other missing elements. These represent shortcomings that impede the maximum efficient and effective utilisation of such spaces. The paper suggests that opportunities to concretise and fulfil people's needs in open spaces should be underscored by urban planners, architects and policy-makers in a multicultural rapidly growing city.
Criteria and Techniques of Waterflooding Adjustment for Brownfield
Authors: Galeev Denis , Dadalko Roman , Potapov Alexander
Published: September 2014

The issue of waterflood control for fields in the 4th stage of development is analyzed. Generation of a wellwork program is based on the proposed method of integration of classical engineering methods and three-dimensional flow simulation. The results of the study allow to assess the current performance of oil-water displacement, to predict the profile of engineering parameters, and to form a targeted strategy to adjust the waterflooding system of an oil reservoir. The case study of a Western Siberia field is discussed, the deficiencies of the current development scheme are revealed, and measures to increase efficiency are presented in the form of both increased oil recovery and reduced volumes of produced and injected water.