bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Programas de reabilitação pulmonar em pacientes com DPOC
Authors: Wehrmeister Fernando César , Knorst Marli , Jardim José Roberto , Macedo Elaine Cardozo , Noal Ricardo Bica , Martínez-Mesa Jeovany , González David Alejandro , Dumith Samuel Carvalho , Maia Maria de Fátima , Hallal Pedro Curi , Menezes Ana Maria Baptista
Published: August 2011

Programas de reabilitação pulmonar visam à melhora do paciente com DPOC em vários aspectos. Esta revisão teve como objetivo avaliar a literatura sobre reabilitação em pacientes com DPOC. Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática incluindo artigos publicados entre 2005 e 2009, indexados em bases de dados nacionais e internacionais e escritos em inglês, espanhol ou português. Os artigos foram classificados segundo o critério da Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease para nível de evidência científica (grau de recomendação A, B e C). Os desfechos exercício, qualidade de vida, sintomas, exacerbações, mortalidade e função pulmonar foram pesquisados. Os tratamentos foram classificados como reabilitação padrão, reabilitação parcial, exercícios de força e exercícios de resistência. Dos 40 artigos selecionados, 4, 18 e 18 foram classificados com graus A, B e C, respectivamente. Das 181 análises oriundas desses artigos, 61, 50, 23, 23, 20 e 4, respectivamente, foram relacionadas aos desfechos qualidade de vida, exercício, sintomas, exacerbação, função pulmonar e mortalidade. Em todos os desfechos avaliados, os programas de reabilitação padrão tiveram efeitos positivos sobre os desfechos estudados, exceto para mortalidade pelo reduzido número de análises. Entretanto, não foram verificadas diferenças nos efeitos sobre os desfechos estudados quando os diferentes programas de reabilitação foram comparados. Programas de reabilitação pulmonar podem ser considerados importantes ferramentas no arsenal do tratamento da DPOC, merecendo atenção dos gestores em saúde para a implementação de políticas públicas que os incluam como rotina nos serviços de saúde.
Opiniones y representaciones sociales de varones sobre aborto en Buenos Aires, Argentina
Authors: Petracci Mónica
Published: August 2011

Este artículo está basado en una investigación cualitativa cuyo objetivo fue explorar las opiniones de varones de 25 a 39 años de estratos socioeconómicos medios y populares, residentes en el Área Metropolitana de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina (n: 30) acerca de la despenalización del aborto y sus representaciones sociales sobre el mismo. Los hallazgos han corroborado resultados previos y han aportado nuevos conocimientos. Se confirmó la ambivalencia de los discursos sobre el aborto, ya que primaron una opinión favorable a su despenalización, y una representación social fundada en un eje moral opuesto al aborto. De los resultados se desprende la necesidad de investigar los puntos de vista de los varones sobre los derechos de mujeres y varones, y de profundizar los sondeos de opinión a través de estudios cualitativos en los que se indaguen sus representaciones sociales en el campo de los derechos sexuales y reproductivos.
A (im)possível pureza: medicalização e militância na experiência de travestis e transexuais
Authors: Carvalho Mario Felipe de Lima
Published: August 2011

Este artigo analisa possibilidades de purificação que visam superar a exclusão simbólica de travestis e transexuais do espectro de inteligibilidade do humano, uma vez que essas pessoas vivem e manifestam socialmente uma ruptura com a matriz heterossexual. A partir de observações etnográficas de encontros do movimento LGBT e específicos de travestis e transexuais no Brasil, assim como de entrevistas com travestis e transexuais que são consideradas como lideranças dentro do movimento, são abordados dois caminhos de purificação da diferença que se mostraram mais relevantes: a medicalização e a politização das identidades "travesti" e "transexual". Além disso, destaca-se uma possibilidade menor de relativa purificação que passa pelo uso do glamour como meio de superação das adversidades.
Retention and Graduation Rates: Insights from an Extended Longitudinal View
Authors: Boden Gary T.
Published: August 2011

This study examines a 118-year continuous record of retention and graduation rates at a public university for long-term trends not observable in shorter studies. While the first year retention rates stayed level over much of this period, second year rates increased steadily by 1.2% per decade. In contrast, graduation rates at 4 years compared to 6 years declined by 1.9% per decade. Even with large changes in cohort size and composition, these rates demonstrate remarkable stability over long periods, not varying by more than a few percent within narrow ranges. Considered in context with other institutional and student data, the patterns are reminiscent of those exhibited by complex adaptive systems. The state of equilibrium for the last 70 years is attributed to continuing co-adaptation between the capabilities and preparation of entering students and the expectations and requirements of the institution, implying that over the long-term, retention and graduation rates are measures of institutional stability rather than performance.
Production of carbon molecular sieves from palm shell through carbon deposition from methane
Authors: Mohammadi Maedeh , Najafpour Ghasem , Mohamed Abdul
Published: August 2011

The possibility of production of carbon molecular sieve (CMS) from palm shell
as a waste lignocellulosic biomass was investigated. CMS samples were
prepared through heat treatment processes including carbonization,
physiochemical activation and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) from methane.
Methane was pyrolyzed to deposit fine carbon on the pore mouth of palm
shell-based activated carbon to yield CMS. All the deposition experiments
were performed at 800 ?C, while the methane flow rate (100, 200, 300 mL
min-1 CH4 diluted in 500 mL min-1 N2) and deposition time (30 to 60 min)
were the investigated parameters. The textural characteristics of the CMSs
were assessed by N2 adsorption. The largest BET surface area (752 m2 g-1),
micropore surface area (902.2 m2 g-1) and micropore volume (0.3466 cm3 g-1)
was obtained at the CH4 flow rate of 200 mL min-1 and deposition time of 30
min. However, prolonging the deposition time to 45 min yielded in a
micropouros CMS with a narrow pore size distribution.
Faunistical Overview of Calanoid Copepods (Crustacea) from Continental Waters of Ukraine
Authors: Samchyshyna L.
Published: August 2011

Faunistical Overview of Calanoid Copepods (Crustacea) from Continental Waters of Ukraine

Faunistic overview together with updated checklist, comprising 38 species and 2 subspecies of calanoid copepods inhabiting fresh and brackish Ukrainian waters classified in three families and twelve genera is provided. The only freshwater calanoid species endemic to Ukraine is Speodiaptomus birsteini Borutzky, 1962, a stygobiont found once in an underground lake in the Skels'ka Cave (Crimean Peninsula). Two species, Hemidiaptomus (Hemidiaptomus) rylovi Charin, 1928 and S. birsteini are included as a threatened species in the Red Book of Ukraine. Dubious records and distribution patterns of some calanoid taxa are discussed. The calanoid fauna of Ukraine is compared with those of adjacent countries.
Distribution of the Ixodid Tick Hyalomma Marginatum (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae) in Ukraine
Authors: Akimov I. , Nebogatkin I.
Published: August 2011

Distribution of the Ixodid Tick Hyalomma Marginatum (Ixodoidea, Ixodidae) in Ukraine

The Northern boundary of the current distribution range of Hyalomma marginatum Koch in Ukraine that passes along the North of Odesa, Mykolayiv, Kirovograd, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts has been specified. The natural habitat is mapped according to different possibilities for mass reproduction. Regular findings of H. marginatum inhabited unusual places may contribute to the spreading of diseases dangerous to humans and animals to new areas, where the latter may be treated as a biological threat of large epidemics and epizootics. Natural habitat of the Ixodidae species has been mapped in consideration of feeding types and the ability of it hosts to travel. Only the areas where all stages are regularly found were included what corroborates Ixodidae species establishing in new areas.
The Hierarchical System of Speech Acts
Authors: Kiklewicz Aleksander
Published: August 2011

The Hierarchical System of Speech Acts

The author discusses the problem of speech acts classification on the basis of the pragmatic function. The relevant elements of context, on the example control of the announcement directly to target addressee or to third parties, are also taken into account. The classification of speech acts proposed by the author has a dichotomous as well as a hierarchical character. The author distinguishes and describes the following types of speech acts: inventional vs. conventional; communicative vs. uncommunicative; polite vs. customary; representative vs. performative; expositive vs. verdictive; causative vs. deliberative; descriptive vs. declarative; directive vs. commissive; initiative vs. reactive; extentional vs. intentional; appellative vs. creative; cooperative vs. magic.
Latin Super, Hittite Šer, and the Indo-European Numeral ‘7’
Authors: Shields Kenneth
Published: August 2011

LatinSuper, HittiteŠer, and the Indo-European Numeral ‘7’

In this brief paper, it is argued that the initial*s- found in the Latin and perhaps Greek reflexes of the Indo-European adprep*uper(i)‘over, above’ derives from blending with another adprep of the same meaning,*ser(i). Evidence is also presented for the creation of another blend involving these two forms,*sep-, which may underlie the Indo-European root for ‘7’. This latter assertion is strengthened by typological precedent.
Hopkinson Effect Study in Spinel and Hexagonal Ferrites
Authors: Sláma Jozef , Šoka Martin , Grusková Anna , Gonzalez Alvaro , Jančárik Vladimír
Published: August 2011

Hopkinson Effect Study in Spinel and Hexagonal Ferrites

The magnetic susceptibility shows a Hopkinson peak just below the Curie temperature TC when heating the selected hexagonal and spinel ferrite samples. It is proposed that this peak can be associated with a transition from stable magnetic state to super-paramagnetic relaxation above the blocking temperature up to the TC. The Hopkinson effect results are compared with SEM micrographs of both studied hexagonal and spinel ferrites.
Performance of Dual-Hop Relaying Over Shadowed Ricean Fading Channels
Authors: Cvetković Aleksandra , Anastasov Jelena , Panić Stefan , Stefanović Mihajlo , Milić Dejan
Published: August 2011

Performance of Dual-Hop Relaying Over Shadowed Ricean Fading Channels

In this paper, an analytical approach for evaluating performance of dual-hop cooperative link over shadowed Ricean fading channels is presented. New lower bound expressions for the probability density function (PDF), cumulative distribution function (CDF) and average bit error probability (ABEP) for system with channel state information (CSI) relay are derived. Some numerical results are presented to show behavior of performance gain for the proposed system. Analytical exact and lower bound expression for the outage probability (OP) of CSI assisted relay are obtained and required numerical results are compared.
Estimating the Prevalence of DSM-IV Mental Illness in the Australian General Population Using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale
Authors: Sunderland Matthew , Slade Tim , Stewart Gavin , Andrews Gavin
Published: August 2011

Objective: The aim of this study was to present scoring rules for predicting DSM-IV mental illness in the previous 12 months using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale in the Australian population.

Method: The method described in Kessler et al. [ 1 ] was closely followed using data from the 2007 Australian Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing. A series of 93 nested logistic regression models were generated and compared to estimate the predicted probabilities of mental illness for each survey respondent using scores on the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. The best model was selected using information theoretic criteria. Concordance between the predicted probabilities of mental illness generated by the best models with DSM-IV defined mental illness, assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview, was determined using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

Results: The best fitting models were found to contain the quadratic form of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (both 6 item and 10 item versions). Age was found to be significant in the model predicting mood, anxiety, and substance use with serious impairment using the 6 item version whilst age and gender was found to be significant in the model for the 10 item version. The concordance between the predicted probabilities of mood, anxiety, and substance use with serious impairment generated from the best models and DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and substance use with serious impairment was within an acceptable level for both versions. Results were similar when predicting DSM-IV mood, anxiety, and substance use without seriousness indicators and DSM-IV anxiety and depression. The performance of predicted probabilities was then examined in various sub-populations of the Australian population.

Conclusions: Using a logistic regression model, the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale can be used to generate predicted probabilities of mental illness with an acceptable level of agreement in Australian-based population studies where it is not feasible to conduct a comprehensive assessment.
The Nature and Correlates of Avoidance in Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Starcevic Vladan , Berle David , Brakoulias Vlasios , Sammut Peter , Moses Karen , Milicevic Denise , Hannan Anthony
Published: August 2011

Objectives: Avoidance in obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) has been neglected by research. This study aimed (i) to collect information on the nature and frequency of avoidance in people with OCD and ascertain the types of obsessions related to avoidance; (ii) compare OCD individuals with and without avoidance, and (iii) determine predictors of avoidance in people with OCD.

Method: A total of 124 OCD adults underwent a comprehensive assessment. Participants were asked whether they engaged in any avoidance behaviour because of their OCD, and the nature and number of instances of such avoidance were recorded. The instances of avoidance were grouped according to the type of obsession and compulsion that they were related to.

Results: A total of 74 (59.7%) participants reported OCD-related avoidance. Avoidance was most commonly related to contamination obsessions. Almost 80% of all contamination obsessions and more than 50% of all aggressive obsessions were associated with avoidance, and contamination obsessions were significantly more common among the participants with avoidance. In contrast, very few obsessions about a need to collect and keep objects and obsessions about a need for ordering, arranging and doing things right or in an exact way were associated with avoidance; these types of obsessions were also significantly more common among the participants without avoidance. The strongest predictor of avoidance was the presence of contamination obsessions. Participants with avoidance had a significantly more severe OCD than those without avoidance.

Conclusions: Avoidance is common in OCD, and it is particularly frequently associated with contamination obsessions. There is a weak link between avoidance and hoarding and between avoidance and ordering/arranging/symmetry obsessions and compulsions. These results, along with the finding that OCD with avoidance is a more severe illness, have implications for the future diagnostic criteria, description, subtyping and treatment of OCD and for its relationship with other anxiety disorders.
Protection of civilians in a peacekeeping context Challenges and dilemmas of MONUC/MONUSCO
Authors: Manahl Christian R.
Published: August 2011

“Around Kamanyola in Walungu territory, FARDC soldiers looted property and ca􀄴 le and gang-raped a lady. When trying to fight off the rapists, two male members of the aff ected family were killed.” This is a short note from the daily situation report of MONUSCO’s South Kivu office, sent on 10 July 2010. It is one of many similar observations made by the dismayed and overwhelmed peacekeepers of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), whose first priority is the protection of civilians. On another day, or in another duty station, peacekeepers might report about a couple of children being abducted or a family burnt alive in their home by one of the militias roaming the subregion. On a few occasions – in July/August 2010 in Walikale territory in North Kivu, and in January and February 2011 in Fizi territory of South Kivu (see map 1) – the recurrent human rights violations in the DRC reached horrifi c proportions, with scores of people, including many children, sexually abused. In December 2008 and 2009, hundreds were massacred and several dozen abducted in Haut Uélé district (Province Orientale).
Coupling of Shear Acoustic Waves by Gratings: Analytical and Experimental Analysis of Spatial Periodicity Effects
Authors: Valier-Brasier T. , Potel C. , Bruneau M. , Leduc D. , Morvan B. , Izbicki J.-L.
Published: August 2011

A model, presented in a previous paper [J. App. Phys. 108 (2010) 074910], describing the modes coupling due to scattering on small one-dimensional irregularities (parallel ridges) of the surface of isotropic solid plates, when shear horizontal waves polarized along the ridges
propagate perpendicularly to them, appears to be a convenient tool to tackle the effects of the shape profile of the ridges (including the depth and the slope). Being concerned by the use of this analytical approach not utilised until now, several results, yet typical of applications, are
presented below and compared with some experimental and numerical results, even analytical results (from an alternative analytical model for particular cases). These comparisons permit to highlight the effects of spatial periodicities of the ridges and show that the method could provide information
on geometrical parameters characterising the profile of the roughness, which could be of interest when other methods like optical methods cannot be used.
Study of Circumferential Waves on a Poroelastic Cylinder
Authors: Descheemaeker J. , Glorieux C. , Lauriks W. , Groby J. P. , Leclaire P. , Boeckx L.
Published: August 2011

The dispersion relations of acoustic modes in poroelastic cylinders with and without elastic shell coating are determined and solved. The influence of elastic frame parameters and the Biot parameters on the dispersion curves is studied in the configuration with and without coating.
The dispersive Rayleigh and whispering gallery waves are highly sensitive to the density and the shear modulus of the skeleton, opening a perspective for the evaluation of the mechanical parameters of poroelastic materials confined in cylindrical tubes during the manufacturing process. The
predicted dispersion curves are validated with experimental results obtained by use of different experimental set-up in the case of a porous circular cylinder.
Prediction of Forces Applied on a Receiver by Two Vibrating Structures Installed in Series; Application to an Engine Cooling Fan Mounted on a Car Chassis
Authors: Martin Vincent , Moulet Marie-Hélène , Mapagha Saül
Published: August 2011

Prediction of vibration and/or acoustic radiation of machines is an old problem which has in part been solved via a linear vibrations approach. Equipment mounted on a host structure, or receiver, is often responsible for vibration and radiation of the latter. The equipment is called
source (electrical motor, ventilation system, cylinder and vibrating laminae in a music box . . . ). The host structure is passive (receiver structure of an engine, building supporting the ventilation system, music box itself. . . ). Beyond the case where one source structure is coupled with
a host structure, there are a great number of configurations where the source structure excites an intermediary structure, itself mounted on the receiver. Our contribution pertains to such cases with an application to a car engine cooling fan system: the fan (source) is attached via elastic
connections to a plate (intermediary structure), which excites the chassis (receiver) through rigid and elastic links. The vibratory behaviour of the assembled structure depends on those of the structures, which are known either by their technical specifications or because they are physically
obtainable. According to the situation, there may or may not be a choice between different methods to predict the vibration and/or acoustic radiation of the host structure. In cases where choice exists, the predictions obtained by different methods vary and this paper attempts to show how
to obtain the best prediction of forces imposed on the receiver structure. The originality is to be found in a metrological procedure more apt than another to predict the vibratory behaviour of an assembly in series of three structures in an industrial context. Indeed, when inertance matrices
necessary for the prediction are measured on isolated structures, the prediction is of lesser quality than when a certain number of them are measured on coupled structures. This echoes a similar conclusion drawn recently from academic configurations.
Practical theology: Can it really help the local congregation?
Authors: Tucker A. Roger
Published: August 2011

This article sought to demonstrate that a synthesis of various church growth methods used within the framework of Heitink’s (1999:124ff.) three theory of action perspectives, namely the ‘hermeneutical’, ‘empirical’ and ‘strategic’, has successfully enabled the building up of one congregation both structurally and spiritually. The ‘building up’ concept was drawn from the practical theological subdiscipline of ‘building up the local church’. This subdiscipline judges the success of God’s work in a local congregation by how effective it is in mobilising its members, facilitating growth towards holistic maturity, making disciples and serving others in mission. Since 2006, St John’s has moved towards this goal by mobilising its members into four new ministry teams (with 13 subsidiary teams), which appear to have achieved growth in these areas.
Polarization Measurement and Inference in Many Dimensions When Subgroups Can Not Be Identified
Authors: Anderson Gordon
Published: August 2011

The most popular general univariate polarization indexes for discrete and continuous variables are extended and combined to describe the extent of polarization between agents in a distribution defined over a collection of many discrete and continuous agent characteristics. A formula for the asymptotic variance of the index is also provided. The implementation of the index is illustrated with an application to Chinese urban household data drawn from six provinces in the years 1987 and 2001 (years spanning the growth and urbanization period subsequent to the economic reforms). The data relates to household adult equivalent log income, adult equivalent living space, which are both continuous variables and the education of the head of household which is a discrete variable. For this data set combining the characteristics changes the view of polarization that would be inferred from considering the indices individually.
Climatic effects of 1950–2050 changes in US anthropogenic aerosols – Part 1: Aerosol trends and radiative forcing
Authors: Leibensperger E. M. , Mickley L. J. , Jacob D. J. , Chen W.-T. , Seinfeld J. H. , Nenes A. , Adams P. J. , Streets D. G. , Kumar N. , Rind D.
Published: August 2011

Abstract. We use the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model combined with the GISS general circulation model to calculate the aerosol direct and indirect (warm cloud) radiative forcings from US anthropogenic sources over the 1950–2050 period, based on historical emission inventories and future projections from the IPCC A1B scenario. The aerosol simulation is evaluated with observed spatial distributions and 1980–2010 trends of aerosol concentrations and wet deposition in the contiguous US. The radiative forcing from US anthropogenic aerosols is strongly localized over the eastern US. We find that it peaked in 1970–1990, with values over the eastern US (east of 100° W) of −2.0 W m−2 for direct forcing including contributions from sulfate (−2.0 W m−2), nitrate (−0.2 W m−2), organic carbon (−0.2 W m−2), and black carbon (+0.4 W m−2). The aerosol indirect effect is of comparable magnitude to the direct forcing. We find that the forcing declined sharply from 1990 to 2010 (by 0.8 W m−2 direct and 1.0 W m−2 indirect), mainly reflecting decreases in SO2 emissions, and project that it will continue declining post-2010 but at a much slower rate since US SO2 emissions have already declined by almost 60 % from their peak. This suggests that much of the warming effect of reducing US anthropogenic aerosol sources may have already been realized by 2010, however some additional warming is expected through 2020. The small positive radiative forcing from US BC emissions (+0.3 W m−2 over the eastern US in 2010) suggests that an emission control strategy focused on BC would have only limited climate benefit.
Evaluation on the role of sulfuric acid in the mechanisms of new particle formation for Beijing case
Authors: Wang Z. B. , Hu M. , Yue D. L. , Zheng J. , Zhang R. Y. , Wiedensohler A. , Wu Z. J. , Nieminen T. , Boy M.
Published: August 2011

Abstract. New particle formation (NPF) is considered as an important mechanism for gas-to-particle transformation, and gaseous sulfuric acid is believed as a curcial precursor. Up to now few field-based studies on nucleation mechanisms and the role of sulfuric acid were conducted in China. In this study, simultaneously measurements of particle number size distributions and gaseous sulfuric acid concentrations were performed from July to September in 2008. Totally, 22 new particle formation events were observed during the entire 85 campaign days. The results show that the condensation sink of pre-existing particles is one of the limiting factors to determine the occurrence of nucleation events in Beijing. The concentrations of gaseous sulfuric acid show good correlations with freshly nucleated particles (N3–6) and formation rates (J3 and J1.5). The power-law relationship between H2SO4 concentration and N3–6 or J was adopted to explore the nucleation mechanism. The exponents range from 1 to 5. More than half of the NPF events exhibit an exponent larger than 2.5. For these cases, the thermodynamic process works better than the activation or kinetic nucleation theories to explain the nucleation events in urban atmosphere of Beijing.
Development of a new Long Path Absorption Photometer (LOPAP) instrument for the sensitive detection of NO2 in the atmosphere
Authors: Villena G. , Bejan I. , Kurtenbach R. , Wiesen P. , Kleffmann J.
Published: August 2011

Abstract. A compact and simple instrument for the sensitive detection of NO2 in the atmosphere has been developed. NO2 is sampled in a stripping coil by a selective chemical reaction, converted into a highly absorbing dye, which is detected by long path absorption in a liquid core waveguide. Several interferences were quantified in the laboratory which so far can all be neglected. The significant interferences against HONO and O3 were suppressed by using an upstream HONO/O3-scrubber. The instrument has a detection limit of 2 pptv, an accuracy of 10 % and a precision of 0.5 % for 3 min time resolution. Thus, the new NO2-LOPAP technique is more sensitive than known commercial NO2 instruments. The new analyzer is much simpler to apply than other highly sensitive and selective NO2 methods, e.g. LIF or REMPI methods. The new instrument allows an absolute calibration that can be easily performed with liquid nitrite standards, which is a significant advantage compared with other NO2 measurement techniques for which NO2 calibration gas mixtures are typically necessary. The new instrument has been validated against the chemiluminescence technique during an urban field campaign and against the FTIR technique in a smog chamber under complex photosmog conditions. The data sets exhibit high correlation and excellent agreement.
Plant-mediated CH4 transport and contribution of photosynthates to methanogenesis at a boreal mire: a 14C pulse-labeling study
Authors: Dorodnikov M. , Knorr K.-H. , Kuzyakov Y. , Wilmking M.
Published: August 2011

Abstract. Plant-mediated methane (CH4) transport and the contribution of recent photosynthates to methanogenesis were studied on two dominating vascular plant species – Eriophorum vaginatum and Scheuchzeria palustris – at three types of microrelief forms (hummocks – E. hummocks, lawns – E. lawns and hollows – S. hollows) of a boreal natural minerogenic, oligotrophic fen in Eastern Finland. 14C-pulse labeling of mesocosms with shoots isolated from entire belowground peat under controlled conditions allowed estimation of plant-mediated CH4 flux and contribution of recent (14C) photosynthates to total CH4. The results showed (i) CH4 flux increased in the order E. hummocks ≤ E. lawns < S. hollows corresponding to the increasing water table level at the relief microforms as adjusted to field conditions. (ii) Plant-mediated CH4 flux accounted for 38, 31 and 51 % of total CH4 at E. hummocks, E. lawns and S. hollows, respectively. (iii) Contribution of recent photosynthates to methanogenesis accounted for 0.03 % for E. hummocks, 0.06 % for E. lawns and 0.13 % for S.hollows of assimilated 14C. Thus, microsites with S. palustris were characterized by higher rates of transported CH4 from the peat column to the atmosphere when compared to E. vaginatum of drier lawns and hummocks. Contribution of recent photosynthates to methanogenesis was dependent on the plant biomass within-species level (E. vaginatum at hummocks and lawns) but was not observed between species: smaller S. palustris had higher flux of 14CH4 as compared to larger E. vaginatum. Therefore, for the assessment of CH4 dynamics over meso- and macroscale as well as for the implication and development of the modeling of CH4 fluxes, it is necessary to account for plant species-specific differences in CH4 production, consumption and transport and the attribution of those species to topographic forms of microrelief.
Integrated versus isolated scenario for prediction dissolved oxygen at progression of water quality monitoring stations
Authors: Najah A. , El-Shafie A. , Karim O. A. , Jaafar O.
Published: August 2011

Abstract. This study examined the potential of Multi-layer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP-NN) in predicting dissolved oxygen (DO) at Johor River Basin. The river water quality parameters were monitored regularly each month at four different stations by the Department of Environment (DOE) over a period of ten years, i.e. from 1998 to 2007. The following five water quality parameters were selected for the proposed MLP-NN modelling, namely; temperature (Temp), water pH, electrical conductivity (COND), nitrate (NO3) and ammonical nitrogen (NH3-NL). In this study, two scenarios were introduced; the first scenario (Scenario 1) was to establish the prediction model for DO at each station based on five input parameters, while the second scenario (Scenario 2) was to establish the prediction model for DO based on the five input parameters and DO predicted at previous station (upstream). The model needs to verify when output results and the observed values are close enough to satisfy the verification criteria. Therefore, in order to investigate the efficiency of the proposed model, the verification of MLP-NN based on collection of field data within duration 2009–2010 is presented. To evaluate the effect of input parameters on the model, the sensitivity analysis was adopted. It was found that the most effective inputs were oxygen-containing (NO3) and oxygen demand (NH3-NL). On the other hand, Temp and pH were found to be the least effective parameters, whereas COND contributed the lowest to the proposed model. In addition, 17 neurons were selected as the best number of neurons in the hidden layer for the MLP-NN architecture. To evaluate the performance of the proposed model, three statistical indexes were used, namely; Coefficient of Efficiency (CE), Mean Square Error (MSE) and Coefficient of Correlation (CC). A relatively low correlation between the observed and predicted values in the testing data set was obtained in Scenario 1. In contrast, high coefficients of correlation were obtained between the observed and predicted values for the test sets of 0.98, 0.96 and 0.97 for all stations after adopting Scenario 2. It appeared that the results for Scenario 2 were more adequate than Scenario 1, with a significant improvement for all stations ranging from 4 % to 8 %.
Numerical modeling of dynamics of Russian south waters within the framework of operational oceanography tasks
Authors: Grigoriev A. V. , Zatsepin A. G. , Kubryakov V. A. , Charikov I. V. , Fedotova L. D.
Published: August 2011

Abstract. Modeling of the Black Sea and Caspian Sea waters dynamics was conducted within the framework of the European ECOOP project and Russian project JISWO on the basis of the Princeton Ocean Model (POM). Nowcasting and tree days forecasting of the Black Sea dynamics was carried out in a daily mode with horizontal resolution of ∼1 km along the Russian coast of the basin. The nowcasting of the Caspian Sea dynamics was carried out every ten days with horizontal resolution of ∼5 km on the basis of climatic information about water temperature and salinity and decade-averaged wind NCEP-NCAR. Examples of calculations are presented here and their comparison with space remote sensing and in situ (hydrological measurements) data is fulfilled, and the results of model validation are discussed.
Forest stand structure, composition, and dynamics in 34 sites over Japan
Authors: Ishihara Masae I. , Suzuki Satoshi N. , Nakamura Masahiro , Enoki Tsutomu , Fujiwara Akio , Hiura Tsutom , Homma Kosuke , Hoshino Daisuke , Hoshizaki Kazuhiko , Ida Hideyuki , Ishida Ken , Itoh Akira , Kaneko Takayuki , Kubota Kaname , Kuraji Koichiro , Kuramoto Shigeo , Makita Akifumi , Masaki Takashi , Namikawa Kanji , Niiyama Kaoru , Noguchi Mahoko , Nomiya Haruto , Ohkubo Tatsuhiro , Saito Satoshi , Sakai Takeshi , Sakimoto Michinori , Sakio Hitoshi , Shibano Hirofumi , Sugita Hisashi , Suzuki Mitsuo , Takashima Atsushi , Tanaka Nobuyuki , Tashiro Naoaki , Tokuchi Naoko ,   Yakushima Forest Environment Conservation Center, Yoshida Toshiya , Yoshida Yumiko
Published: August 2011

This data paper reports tree census data collected in a network of 34 forest sites in Japan. This is the largest forest data set freely available in Japan to date. The network is a part of the Monitoring Sites 1000 Project launched by the Ministry of the Environment, Japan. It covers subarctic to subtropical climate zones and the four major forest types in Japan. Forty‐two permanent plots, usually 1 ha in size, were established in old‐growth or secondary natural forests. Censuses of woody species ≥15 cm girth at breast height were conducted every year or once during 2004 to 2009. The data provide species abundance, survivorship and stem girth growth of 52,534 individuals of 334 tree and liana species. The censuses adopted common census protocol, which provide good opportunities for meta‐analyses and comparative studies among forests. The data have been used for ecological studies as well as for the biodiversity reports published by the Ministry of the Environment.
Cognitive Outcomes and Activity of Daily Living for Neurosurgical Patients with Intrinsic Brain Lesions: A 1-year Prevalence Study
Authors: Wong George Kwok Chu , Wong Rosanna , Poon Wai Sang
Published: August 2011

Background

No prevalence data on cognitive outcomes are available for general neurosurgical patients and few studies have assessed the correlation between common cognitive assessment tools of the occupational therapists and activity of daily living (ADL) at 1 year.

Methods

Consecutive neurosurgical patients with intrinsic brain lesions (brain tumours, traumatic intracerebral haematomas, spontaneous intracerebral haematomas, and cerebral arteriovenous malformations) were approached for consent to participate in the present study.

Results

At 1 year, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (mean ± standard deviation) was 20.4 (±8.6) and 42% of the patients had scores less than 22. The median number of the Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination domains below the cutoff values was 8 (interquartile range: 3.5–9.75).

Conclusions

The cognitive assessments–-the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, the Frontal Assessment Battery, and the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test–-showed satisfactory discriminating power for complete independence in instrumental ADL. Instrumental ADL was best correlated with the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test.
Wrist Positioning and Muscle Activities in the Wrist Extensor and Flexor during Piano Playing
Authors: Oikawa Naoki , Tsubota Sadako , Chikenji Takako , Chin Gyoku , Aoki Mitsuhiro
Published: August 2011

Objective

Musicians tend to suffer from playing-related musculoskeletal problems over the forearm muscles. Lateral epicondylitis of the elbow is the most common disease of pianists. The purpose of this study was to measure by electromyography (EMG) the wrist extensor and flexor to clarify the burden of forearm muscles during piano playing with various wrist positions.

Methods

Fourteen female piano students and 14 novice females participated in this study. Surface EMG was conducted during piano playing in nine conditions that combined three wrist positions with three degrees of loudness.

Results

The muscle activities increased with the increase of loudness in both groups. Muscle activities for both the wrist extensor and flexor were the smallest in the neutral wrist position. There were no differences of the muscle activities between the piano-student and the control groups.

Conclusion

The neutral position of the wrist should be recommended for reduction of play ingrelated musculoskeletal burden during piano playing.
Optimal Resource Allocation with Time-varying Marketing Effectiveness, Margins and Costs
Authors: Raman Kalyan , Mantrala Murali K. , Sridhar Shrihari , Tang Yihui (Elina)
Published: August 2011

The importance of optimal marketing communications mix decisions is well-recognized by both marketing scholars and practitioners. A significant volume of work has addressed the problem of dynamic marketing mix optimization assuming constant effectiveness of marketing instruments. However, the effectiveness of marketing communications varies over time for a variety of reasons. Moreover, due to factors such as inflation or deflation in media prices and/or raw material inputs, there can be differential changes in the costs of communications and/or margins on the good (or service) sold over time. The academic literature offers little normative direction on how time-varying marketing effectiveness and costs drive optimal marketing-mix levels and their relative allocation. The authors shed light on these issues by solving a monopoly firm's finite horizon dynamic marketing communications mix optimization problem involving two marketing instruments with time-varying parameters, i.e., the marketing effectiveness parameters, media costs, and product margin are all allowed to vary over time. First, they find that the structure of the solutions is similar to that of the classic Nerlove–Arrow model, for a completely general nature of time-varying effectiveness. Second, their model can be used by managers to exactly determine whether and when to switch their marketing-mix emphasis (defined by the marketing element receiving the dominant portion of the budget) over a finite planning horizon. In sum, the authors expand knowledge on optimal allocation of marketing resources with time-varying effectiveness. They also extend their solution to incorporate multiple (more than two) marketing instruments.
A Clinical Comparison of Remifentanil or Alfentanil in Propofol-Anesthetized Cats Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy
Authors: Padilha Samanta T , Steagall Paulo VM , Monteiro Beatriz P , Kahvegian Marcia AP , Ubukata Rodrigo , Rodrigues Edilberto O , Rosa Andre Leguthe , Aguiar Antonio JA
Published: August 2011

Sixteen cats were used to compare the cardiovascular and anesthetic effects of remifentanil (REMI) or alfentanil (ALF) in propofol-anesthetized cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. After premedication with acepromazine, anesthesia was induced and maintained with a constant rate infusion of propofol (0.3 mg/kg/min). REMI or ALF infusions were administered simultaneously with propofol. Heart rate (HR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), pulse oximetry (SpO2), rectal temperature (RT), and response to surgical stimulation were recorded at predefined time points during anesthesia. Data [mean ± standard deviation (SD)] were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures followed by a Dunnett's test and Student t-test ( P < 0.05). SAP was significantly lower in ALF group than in REMI group. Extubation time was significantly shorter in REMI than in ALF group. Overall infusion rate of REMI and ALF was 0.24 ± 0.05 mg/kg/min and 0.97 ± 0.22 mg/kg/min, respectively. The combination of propofol and REMI or ALF provided satisfactory anesthesia in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
The impact of high‐frequency current variability on dispersion off the eastern Antarctic Peninsula
Authors: Trasviña A. , Heywood Karen J. , Renner A. H. H. , Thorpe S. E. , Thompson A. F. , Zamudio L.
Published: August 2011

We present observations of high‐frequency current variability on the continental shelf and the slope of the Antarctic Peninsula using Lagrangian surface drifters deployed as part of the Antarctic Drifter Experiment: Links to Isobaths and Ecosystems (ADELIE) project. Here we focus on high‐frequency processes such as tides and inertial oscillations that are typically smoothed out of large‐scale spatially averaged, and/or temporally averaged, observed current fields. We investigate the role that this class of motion plays in the transport of physical or biogeochemical properties. Lateral displacements on the shelf and slope are found to be larger than displacements in deeper waters where tidal currents are negligible. We apply this result in a parameterization of the lateral dispersion during an off‐line drifter modeling study. The outcome is an improvement on the modeling of Lagrangian drifting particles compared with a standard random walk scheme.
Climate impacts of intermittent upper ocean mixing induced by tropical cyclones
Authors: Manucharyan G. E. , Brierley C. M. , Fedorov A. V.
Published: August 2011

Tropical cyclones (TC) represent a powerful, albeit highly transient forcing able to redistribute ocean heat content locally. Recent studies suggest that TC‐induced ocean mixing can have global climate impacts as well, including changes in poleward heat transport, ocean circulation, and thermal structure. In several previous modeling studies devoted to this problem, the TC mixing was treated as a permanent (constant in time) source of additional vertical diffusion in the upper ocean. In contrast, this study aims to explore the highly intermittent character of the mixing. We present results from a series of coupled climate experiments with different durations of the imposed intermittent mixing but where each has the same annual mean diffusivity. All simulations show robust changes in sea surface temperature and ocean subsurface temperature, independent of the duration of the mixing that varies between the experiments from a few days to a full year. Simulated temperature anomalies are characterized by a cooling in the subtropics, a moderate warming in middle to high latitudes, a pronounced warming of the equatorial cold tongue, and a deepening of the tropical thermocline. These effects are paralleled by substantial changes in ocean and atmosphere circulation and heat transports. While the general patterns of changes remain the same from one experiment to the next, their magnitude depends on the relative duration of the mixing. Stronger mixing, but of a shorter duration, has less of an impact. These results agree with a simple model of heat transfer for the upper ocean with a time‐dependent vertical diffusivity.
mGluR5 knockout mice exhibit normal conditioned place-preference to cocaine
Authors: Fowler Melissa , Varnell Andrew , Cooper Donald
Published: August 2011

Metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) null mutant (-/-) mice have been reported to totally lack the reinforcing or locomotor stimulating effects of cocaine. We tested mGluR5 -/- and +/+ mice for their locomotor and conditioned place- preference response to cocaine. Unlike the previous finding, here we show that compared to mGluR5 +/+ mice, -/- mice exhibit no difference in the locomotor response to low to moderate doses of cocaine (10 or 20 mg/kg). A high dose of cocaine (40 mg/kg) resulted in a blunted rather than absent locomotor response. We tested mGluR5 -/- and +/+ mice for conditioned place-preference to cocaine and found no group differences at a conditioning dose of 10 mg/kg, suggesting normal conditioned rewarding properties of cocaine. These results differ substantially from Chiamulera et al. (2001) and replicates Olsen et al., (2010), who found normal cocaine place-preference in mGluR5 -/- mice at 5 mg/kg. Our results indicate mGluR5 receptors exert a modulatory rather than necessary role in cocaine-induced locomotor stimulation and exert no effect on the conditioned rewarding effects of cocaine.
Dynamics of proteins and DNA in a Paul trap
Authors: Shah Kushal
Published: August 2011

Paul traps are increasingly being used in a wide variety of applications in biology including study of protein dynamics and DNA sequencing. In this paper, statistical properties of a macromolecule chain in a Paul trap are theoretically analyzed using a simple model of charged particles connected by rigid rods. It is found that the mean displacement of chain varies linearly with the chain length, showing properties of enhanced diffusion, compared to the normal diffusion relation which exists for the case of a macromolecule chain in a force-free region. The dependence of the mean displacement on the chain length and trap parameters is also found to be very different for the case of pure dc operation and pure ac operation of the Paul trap.
Effect of resonant magnetic perturbations on secondary structures in drift-wave turbulence
Authors: Leconte M. , Diamond P. H.
Published: August 2011

Recent experiments showed a decrease of long range correlations during the application of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) [Y. Xu et al., Nucl. Fusion 51, 063020 (2011)]. This finding suggests that RMPs damp zonal flows. To elucidate the effect of the RMPs on zonal structures in drift wave turbulence, we construct a generalized Hasegawa-Wakatani model including RMP fields. The effect of the RMPs is to induce a linear coupling between the zonal electric field and the zonal density gradient, which drives the system to a state of electron radial force balance for large RMP amplitude. A predator-prey model coupling the primary drift wave dynamics to the zonal modes evolution is derived. This model has both turbulence drive and RMP amplitude as control parameters and predicts a novel type of transport bifurcation in the presence of RMPs. The novel regime has a power threshold which increases with RMP amplitude as γc~[δBrB]2.