bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indian Prospects for the Tiger Economy of 21st Century
Authors: Kumar Manoj
Published: September 2015

This paper attempts to unravel the historical place of pride of Indian exports and the present sorry state of affairs. India's performance on several indicators as reported by a multitude of international agencies also presents a grim picture. Our unenviable track record in terms of conviction for reforms, weak Infrastructure and lack of patent protection are some of the areas where India does not present a very good picture. The only areas where there could be any hope are – marketing the Indian educational system abroad, exploiting space, oceans and tourism. Some of the Indian private companies such as Ranbaxy and Sundaram Fasteners are going global, the other Indian companies should take a leaf out of this example. At the same time a few questions need to be fully answered such as:

1. Could there be an emotional backlash against globalisation?

2. Are unilateral sanctions under WTO still possible?

3. The pitfalls of globalisation.
Academic Status of Librarians of Management Education Institutions
Authors: C Gaur Ramesh , Sharma BK
Published: September 2015

In this paper efforts have been made to analyse the present status of librarians of management education institutions in terms of administrative and financial powers through a survey carried out in 18 management libraries of the National Capital Region (NCR). Issues such as academic status and pay parity have also been discussed. The role of AICTE in the development of libraries of management education institutions has been investigated. On the basis of results, the best possible organisational structure for a management library has been discussed. On the basis of the survey results, the academic status of the Deputy Librarians and Assistant Librarians has also been discussed.
Trends in Foreign Investment Interaction Between India and ASEAN in 1990s
Authors: Ambatkar Sanjay
Published: September 2015

The foreign investment during eighties and nineties was instrumental in bringing about rapid economic development of some of the ASEAN countries; on the contrary until 1991 it was almost elusive in the Indian economy. To give impetus to the economic reforms, the Indian Government unveiled the “look-east policy” in early 1992 to revitalise economic ties with Asian countries and initially selected ASEAN region as a launching platform. Despite earnest efforts made since 1992 to forge concrete investment partnerships with ASEAN countries India could gain moderate response and success mainly because ASEAN investors link their investment with the host country's trade regime. Their investments travel to such destinations where they can reap long-term trade benefits. For them, India's trade regime is highly protective and therefore they divert their investment to China, which not only offers a competitive environment but also a hassle-free regulaton; system. India needs to address specific expectations of the ASEAN investors, particularly opening of the trade sector, to become a favourable destination for larger ASEAN investment.
Education for Global Citizenship at Universities
Authors: Boni Alejandra , Calabuig Carola
Published: September 2015

This article explores how three different learning spaces could be appropriate for developing a sense of global citizenship among university students. We draw on an interview study conducted at the Universitat Politècnica of Valencia (UPV) between 2010 and 2012. The spaces analyzed were two electives devoted to international cooperation, a mobility program that took place mainly in Latin American countries and a student-led university group. We examined the three spaces in terms of expansion of capabilities and agency related to global citizenship and cosmopolitanism using a conceptual framework that synthesizes Nussbaum’s and Sen’s capability approach with Delanty’s critical cosmopolitanism to explore the limits and potentialities of those three spaces. Although the exploratory character of our study cannot allow us to generalize our findings, what we can affirm is each of these areas has the potentiality to enhance global citizenship but with nuances, differences, and complementarities. The electives appear to be good spaces for the critical learning capability, while international mobility (Meridies) is a strong enabler for narrative imagination capabilities. Students belonging to Mueve (student led group) showed elements of these capabilities plus a very strong emphasis on agency, which does not occur in the other two learning spaces. Critical cosmopolitan process happened both in Mueve and Meridies. In the student-led group, this cosmopolitan process begins with the local, while in the internships it was the global encounter that initiates a cosmopolitan reflection.
Analytical and semi-analytical modeling of effective moduli bounds: Application to transversely isotropic piezoelectric materials
Authors: El Ouafi Jamal , Azrar Lahcen , Aljinaidi Abdulmalik Ali
Published: September 2015

In this article, analytical and semi-analytical models of upper and lower bounds for the effective moduli of transversely isotropic piezoelectric heterogeneous materials based on the generalized Hashin–Shtrikman variational principle are presented. Compact matrix formulations are used to derive closed-form bound expressions for coupled and uncoupled effective moduli. Analytical models are given for some uncoupled coefficients and simplified formulations for the others. For more narrow bounds, downstream and upstream bounds are developed based on an incremental procedure. Numerical predictions are performed based on the developed methodological approaches, and the obtained results showed the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed models for transversely isotropic elastic and piezoelectric composite materials with ellipsoidal reinforcements of different types and shapes.
Experiences of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Authors: Knapton Olivia
Published: September 2015

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a mental health problem characterized by persistent obsessions and compulsions. This article provides insights into experiences of OCD through a qualitative, thematic analysis performed on a set of interviews with people with OCD. Four themes were found as central in the participants’ descriptions of OCD episodes: (a) space, (b) the body, (c) objects, and (d) interactions. The findings also show that episodes of OCD can be grouped into three broad categories: (a) activity episodes, which revolve around everyday tasks; (b) state episodes, which are concerned with the self and identity; and (c) object episodes, which are concerned with the effects of objects on the self. The relationship of this three-way classification of OCD episodes to existing cognitive models of OCD is discussed. The study also demonstrates the value of categorizing episodes, rather than people, into subtypes of OCD so that intra-participant variation can be highlighted.
Measuring the Dose of Quality Improvement Initiatives
Authors: McHugh Megan , Harvey Jillian B. , Kang Raymond , Shi Yunfeng , Scanlon Dennis P.
Published: September 2015

Although intervention dose—defined as the quality and quantity of an intervention and participation—might be key to understanding why some multisite quality improvement (QI) initiatives work and others do not, evaluations rarely consider dose, and there is no widely accepted method for measuring it. In this exploratory study, the authors examined the literature on QI dose, identified four methods for measuring QI dose, applied them to 14 communities participating in a QI initiative, examined whether the dose scores aligned with perceptions of QI dose among individuals knowledgeable of the initiative, and report on lessons learned. They conclude it is feasible to measure QI dose and found a high level of concordance between scores on a comprehensive dose measure and knowledgeable informants’ perceptions. However, measuring QI dose presents many challenges, including subjective decisions about the elements of dose to include in a measure and the need for extensive data collection.
Effect of feline skin specimen preparation on postexcision and postfixation tissue shrinkage
Authors: Risselada Marije , Mathews Kyle G , Griffith Emily
Published: September 2015

Objectives

This study was performed to assess skin–muscle–fascia specimen shrinkage and donor site changes, and to compare three techniques of specimen preparation for their effect on specimen shrinkage postexcision and after formalin fixation in feline cadaveric specimens.

Methods

Fifteen fresh feline cadavers were used for this study. Gelatin spheres were implanted in paired thoracic subcutaneous pockets and subsequently excised with 30 mm lateral margins and a fascial plane as the deep margin. Skin and fascia were either left unsutured, sutured together using four simple interrupted quadrant sutures (‘four-quadrant-sutured’) or sutured together in a continuous pattern (‘circumferentially sutured’). Specimens were measured for tumor-free margins on the excised and fixed specimens. The donor site defect was assessed for enlargement after specimen excision. Statistical analyses were performed to assess the donor site enlargement, and the influence of preparation technique on margin size, with significance set at P <0.05.

Results

The closest skin margins on the excised and fixed specimens were significantly smaller than the planned 30 mm margins; however, no significant difference was found between postexcision and postfixation specimens. No significant differences were found between the three techniques ( P = 0.74) with regard to margins either after excision or fixation. The fascial and skin defects of the donor site were significantly larger than the planned excision.

Conclusions and relevance

Surgically obtained feline skin–muscle–fascia specimens will significantly decrease in size prior to formalin fixation, resulting in falsely decreased measurements from tumor to tissue margins. Affixing the skin to the fascia does not significantly influence this decrease in margin size in feline tissue specimens at this location.
Development of numerical realistic model for predicting low-velocity impact response of aluminium honeycomb sandwich structures
Authors: Gunes Recep , Arslan Kemal
Published: September 2015

This paper presents the results of an experimental and numerical study on aluminium honeycomb sandwich structures under low-velocity impact loadings. In order to investigate the impact behavior of honeycomb sandwich structures, which is consisted of two identical aluminium facesheets and an aluminium honeycomb core, an experimental study was carried out by using a drop-weight impact test system. Using this system, the contact forces and absorbed energies were measured to determine the influence of impact energy for one configuration of the sandwich structure. According to these results, a numerical model by finite element method of sandwich structures was developed, which is in good agreement with experimental results in terms of contact forces and deformations. Later, the effect of the cell size and the height variation of aluminum honeycomb core on the impact response of sandwich structures were investigated using the improved numerical model. The obtained numerical and experimental results were interpreted in detail.
Analytical fluid film force calculation in the case of short bearing with a fully developed turbulent flow
Authors: Ruggiero Alessandro , Hloch Sergej , Kozak Drazan , Valasek Petr
Published: September 2015

The main purpose of this paper is to define a methodology to determine the analytical approximate closed-form expression of non-steady fluid film force and of the oil film coefficients for the liquid-lubricated journal bearings in the case of a fully developed turbulent flow regime. The considered model is a symmetrical rigid rotor supported on two lubricated journal bearings; this paper considers the cases of the short bearing approximation, introducing the turbulence correction flow factors in the classical Reynolds equation. The proposed methodology gives the opportunity to solve in approximate way the equation governing the distribution of pressure in the bearing oil gap and then to obtain the closed-form expressions for the non-steady fluid forces. This approach shows the benefit of minimising the calculation time required for the non-linear dynamic analysis of rotors on turbulent journal bearings without any significant loss of accuracy giving a better readability of the parameter involved on the system behaviour.
Study of a new mechanical variable valve actuation system: Part II—estimation of the actual fuel consumption improvement through one-dimensional fluid dynamic analysis and valve train friction estimation
Authors: Gimelli Alfredo , Muccillo Massimiliano , Pennacchia Ottavio
Published: September 2015

It is commonly recognized that one of the most effective ways to improve Brake-Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) in a spark-ignition engine at partial load is the adoption of VVA strategies, which largely affect the pumping work. Many different solutions have been proposed, characterized by different levels of complexity, effectiveness and costs. VVA systems currently available on the market allow for variable valve timing and/or lift (VVA). The design of a new mechanical VVA system has been discussed in Part I of this article. That study led to the development of a four-element VVA mechanism. Now, to estimate the potential advantages of the studied system on engine performances, one-dimensional thermo-fluid dynamic analyses were conducted, considering both full load and partial load operating conditions. For this reason, this article addresses the definition of the one-dimensional model of a 638-cm3 single-cylinder engine under development, which will be equipped with the four-element VVA system. The findings from the one-dimensional study will be discussed in detail. In particular, the parametric analyses, which concern the engine power at wide open throttle and the SFC at partial load, will be presented. These results, however, are only theoretical results because the one-dimensional simulation is not able to take into account the increased friction losses due to the complexity of the VVA system. Therefore, to correctly quantify the actual fuel consumption allowed by the studied system (net of the generally increased power dissipated by friction when compared to a conventional valve train), a specific methodology, discussed in Part I, has been adopted.
Hybridisation or ousterisation? The case of local accountability policy in Finnish early childhood education
Authors: Paananen Maiju , Lipponen Lasse , Kumpulainen Kristiina
Published: September 2015

Drawing on the analytic concept of imaginary, this study investigates policy hybridisation in the Finnish early childhood education. Specifically, it illuminates how the interplay between different imaginaries enabled the neoliberal imaginary to oust the social-democratic imaginary through a tripartite process in a case of local productivity policy in the early childhood education sector. The confrontation of the historical trajectories and analyses of a localised hybridisation process suggests that even though historical trajectories play an important role in defining future policy solutions, hybridisations may have the power to transform their direction. We suggest that focusing on both discursive features of policy deliberation and material-technical ways of governing policy directions provide valuable information concerning policy reforms.
Reliability of classification of ring and little finger carpometacarpal joint fracture subluxations: a comparison between two-dimensional computed tomography and three-dimensional computed tomography classifications
Authors: Kim J. H. , Kwon S.-S. , Moon S. J. , Choe J. S. , Kwak H. I. , Lee S. Y. , Le H. J. , Kim J. Y.
Published: September 2015

The aims of this study were to develop a classification for ring and little finger carpometacarpal joint fracture subluxations based on three-dimensional computed tomography images and evaluate the inter- and intraobserver reliability of the three-dimensional computed tomography classification. A retrospective review was performed of 30 cases of ring and little finger carpometacarpal joint fracture subluxations from 2005 to 2013. We classified ring and little finger carpometacarpal joint fracture subluxations into three types based on three-dimensional computed tomography images. An orthopaedic surgeon with 2 years of experience, a consultant hand surgeon with 8 years of experience, and a consultant radiologist with 9 years of experience, who were completely blind to the treatment algorithm, evaluated 30 cases twice at a 2-week interval using our new classification based on three-dimensional computed tomography images and the other classification based on two-dimensional computed tomography images. Our three-dimensional computed tomography classification showed almost perfect interobserver and intraobserver reliability and resulted in a better level of agreement than two-dimensional computed tomography classification.

Level of Evidence: IV
A gastrointestinal anti-infectious biotherapeutic agent: the heat-treated Lactobacillus LB
Authors: Liévin-Le Moal Vanessa
Published: September 2015

Experimental in vitro and in vivo studies support the hypothesis that heat-treated, lyophilized Lactobacillus acidophilus LB cells and concentrated, neutralized spent culture medium conserve the variety of pharmacological, antimicrobial activities of the live probiotic strain against several infectious agents involved in well-established acute and persistent watery diarrhoea and gastritis. Heat-treated cells and heat-stable secreted molecules trigger multiple strain-specific activities explaining the therapeutic efficacy of L. acidophilus LB. This review discusses the current body of knowledge on the antimicrobial mechanisms of action exerted by L. acidophilus LB demonstrated in in vitro and in vivo experimental studies, and the evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of this anti-infectious biotherapeutic agent proved in randomized clinical trials for the treatment of acute and persistent watery diarrhoea associated with several intestinal infectious diseases in humans.
Blue laser imaging endoscopy system for the early detection and characterization of colorectal lesions: a guide for the endoscopist
Authors: Togashi Kazutomo , Nemoto Daiki , Utano Kenichi , Isohata Noriyuki , Kumamoto Kensuke , Endo Shungo , Lefor Alan K.
Published: September 2015

Blue laser imaging is a new system for image-enhanced endoscopy using laser light. Blue laser imaging utilizes two monochromatic lasers (410 and 450 nm) instead of xenon light. A 410 nm laser visualizes vascular microarchitecture, similar to narrow band imaging, and a 450 nm laser provides white light by excitation. According to three recently published reports, the diagnostic ability of polyp characterization using blue laser imaging compares favorably with narrow band imaging. No published data are available to date regarding polyp detection with blue laser imaging. However, blue laser imaging has the possibility to increase the detection of colorectal polyps by depicting brighter and clearer endoscopic images, even at a distant view, compared with first-generation image-enhanced endoscopy. A clinical trial to compare the detection between blue laser imaging and xenon light is warranted.
How Should Blood Glucose Meter System Analytical Performance Be Assessed?
Authors: Simmons David A.
Published: September 2015

Blood glucose meter system analytical performance is assessed by comparing pairs of meter system and reference instrument blood glucose measurements measured over time and across a broad array of glucose values. Consequently, no single, complete, and ideal parameter can fully describe the difference between meter system and reference results. Instead, a number of assessment tools, both graphical (eg, regression plots, modified Bland–Altman plots, and error grid analysis) and tabular (eg, International Organization for Standardization guidelines, mean absolute difference, and mean absolute relative difference) have been developed to evaluate meter system performance. The strengths and weaknesses of these methods of presenting meter system performance data, including a new method known as Radar Plots, are described here.
Structural Changes by Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Mendez Nicole , Kommana Sumana S. , Szirth Bernard , Khouri Albert S.
Published: September 2015

Background:

With a possible increase in the prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), the pediatric patient population is expected to be at risk for other health care complications. Current imaging modalities, such as the spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), that allow micron resolution imaging of the retina have become a standard of care for showing morphological changes seen in the retina in adults with diabetes. Such pathologies can be associated with known risk factors such as poor glycemic control (HbA1C) and body mass index (BMI).

Methods:

A comprehensive screening was performed in subjects with DM1 including nonmydriatic fundus imaging (Canon, CR2 Plus-AF with EOS-60D, Tokyo, Japan) and SD-OCT imaging (Optovue, iVue, Fremont, CA). SD-OCT scans were acquired showing macular thickness (MT) and thickness of the parafoveal regions and the perifoveal regions. Associations of macular, paramacular, and perimacular thickness were analyzed as a function of HbA1C and BMI by simple linear regressions.

Results:

SD-OCT changes were analyzed in eyes of subjects with DM1 and normal fundus appearance by color imaging. Linear regression analysis of thickness of macula right eye (RT), paramacula RT, paramacula left eye (LT), perimacula LT with BMI were statistically significant ( P < .05). HbA1C >7.5% was also found statistically significant in the macula RT, paramacula RT, paramacula LT, perimacula RT, and perimacula LT. A general trend of thickening of the macula, paramacula, and perimacula was observed with increasing HbA1C (>7.5%) and increasing BMI; however, no statistical significance was found.

Conclusions:

SD-OCT with retinal imaging was feasible in young individuals with DM1 and revealed ultrastructural macular and perimacular changes prior to manifest clinical disease.
Progress in selective laser sintering using metallic powders: A review
Authors: Singh S. , Sharma V. S. , Sachdeva A.
Published: September 2015

Laser sintering is a newly well established additive manufacturing technique, which has higher capabilities to produce complex shapes models/parts in a short time period. In this technique, a solid model is directly produced according to computer aided design model, by fusing two adjacent layers together, with the interaction of laser light. These parts are widely used in industries like aerospace and automobile and for medical applications as well. This paper reviews the selective laser sintering process and its research progress with the use of metallic powders. The main focus of whole available research progress is to produce complex shape solid model/parts using different metallic materials having the desired mechanical as well as dimensional properties.
The relationship between upper airway collapse and the severity of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: A chart review
Authors: Schwartz Russell N. , Payne Richard J. , Forest Véronique-Isabelle , Hier Michael P. , Fanous Amanda , Vallée-Gravel Camille
Published: September 2015

Background

We sought to determine the ability of the endoscopic Mueller maneuver (MM) to predict the severity of OSAS based on upper airway (UA) collapse.

Methods

This chart review retrospectively analyzed the results of endoscopic Mueller maneuvers examining the UA on 506 patients suspected of having OSAS. There were 3 areas of UA collapse that were evaluated: velopharynx (VP), base of tongue (BOT), and lateral pharyngeal walls (LPW). A sleep study was done after the examination to assess the severity of OSAS based on the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI).

Results

A total of 506 patients met criteria for OSAS, with 194 mild cases (5 ≤ AHI < 15), 163 moderate cases (15 ≤ AHI < 30) and 149 severe cases (30 ≤ AHI). At the VP, 30 patients had minimal collapse (mean AHI = 17); 41 patients had moderate VP collapse (mean AHI = 25); 392 patients had severe VP collapse (mean AHI = 27). At the BOT, 144 patients had minimal collapse (mean AHI = 19); 187 patients had moderate BOT collapse (mean AHI = 24); 175 patients had severe BOT collapse (mean AHI = 33). At the LPW, 158 patients had minimal collapse (mean AHI = 20); 109 patients had moderate LPW collapse (mean AHI = 25); 120 patients had severe LPW collapse (mean AHI =33). The correlations found between VP collapse, BOT collapse, and LPW collapse and OSAS severity were: r = 0.069 (95 % CI; −0.022, 0.16), r = 0.26 (95 % CI; 0.18, 0.34) and r = 0.22 (95 % CI; 0.12, 0.31), respectively.

Conclusions

In this study, the degree of collapse of the UA at all levels, especially at the BOT and LPW levels, correlate significantly with the severity of OSAS. The Mueller maneuver helped identify patients with severe sleep apnea based on UA collapse. The MM cannot be used to diagnose OSAS, but can be a valuable tool to help the physician estimate the severity of sleep apnea and the urgency to obtain a sleep study.
Time to Revisit the Problem of CIN? The Low Incidence of Acute Kidney Injury with and without Contrast in Hospitalized Patients: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Hemmett Juliya , Er Lee , Chiu Helen H. L. , Cheung Christopher , Djurdjev Ognjenka , Levin Adeera
Published: September 2015

Background:

Acute kidney injury (AKI) following imaging procedures with contrast medium in hospitalized patients is commonly attributed to contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). This study sought to establish a benchmark of the incidence of AKI in hospitalized patients who underwent computed tomography (CT) scans, with and without intravenous contrast administration.

Methods:

This was a multi-center observational cohort study. Hospitalized patients in four hospitals with CT scans during two time periods in 2012 and 2013 were included. AKI post-scan was defined as a change in serum creatinine (sCr) in absolute terms of ≥26.5 μmol/L (≥0.3 mg/dl), occurring within 7 days of the CT scan. AKI incidence was examined by study phases and CT-scan types using logistic regression models. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the proportions of sCr availability between two study phases.

Results:

Three hundred and twenty-five patients in Period 1 and 518 patients in Period 2 were included in the study. The incidence of AKI in Period 1 was similar in those who received contrast and in those who did not (11.6 % [95 % C.I.: 6.5, 18.7] vs. 10.1 % [95 % C.I.: 5.1, 17.3]; p = 0.38). The incidence of AKI remained not significantly different between the two periods in those who received contrast (11.6 % [95 % C.I.: 6.5, 18.7] vs. 10.7 % [95 % C.I.: 6.8, 15.8]; p = 0.89) and those who did not (10.1 % [95 % C.I.: 5.1, 17.3] vs. 9.1 % [95 % C.I.: 5.2, 14.6]; p = 0.54). Among those who received contrast, there was a significant increase in the availability of both pre- and post- CT scan sCr in Period 2 compared to Period 1 (73.6 % [95 % C.I.: 67.7, 80.6] vs. 79.8 % [95 % C.I.: 75.2, 84.7]; p = 0.006).

Limitations:

Our study was not targeted to specifically assess the impact of a prevention protocol on the incidence of AKI and was limited to settings within one health authority in the province.

Conclusion:

In hospitalized patients, the incidence of AKI is low, not different between those who did and did not receive contrast, and was not impacted by improvement in the monitoring of sCr in at risk patients. A better understanding of the determinants of AKI post-contrast scan is required to improve strategies to reduce the incidence of AKI.
Improved-high-quality draft genome sequence of Rhodococcus sp. JG-3, a eurypsychrophilic Actinobacteria from Antarctic Dry Valley permafrost
Authors: Goordial Jacqueline , Raymond-Bouchard Isabelle , Ronholm Jennifer , Shapiro Nicole , Woyke Tanja , Whyte Lyle , Bakermans Corien
Published: September 2015

The actinobacteriumRhodococcus sp. JG-3 is an aerobic, eurypsychrophilic, soil bacterium isolated from permafrost in the hyper arid Upper Dry Valleys of Antarctica. It is yellow pigmented, gram positive, moderately halotolerant and capable of growth from 30 °C down to at least −5 °C. The 5.28 Mb high-quality-draft genome is arranged into 6 scaffolds, containing 9 contigs and 4998 protein coding genes, with 64 % GC content. Increasing the availability of genome sequences from cold-adapted species is crucial to gaining a better understanding of the molecular traits of cold adaptation in microbes.
Velocity analysis with vertical seismic profile data using migration of surface-related multiples
Authors: Nasyrov Denis , Kiyashchenko Denis , Kiselev Yurii , Kashtan Boris , Troyan Vladimir
Published: September 2015

We have developed an original method for migration velocity analysis for vertical seismic profile (VSP) data. The method is based on VSP imaging with the primary reflected data and surface-related multiples. Velocity updates are carried out by matching the images obtained by these two types of waves. To do it automatically, we have introduced an objective function of the crosscorrelation type and developed a gradient-based maximization algorithm. On synthetic walk-away VSP data sets, we found that maximization of the crosscorrelation of the images provided by the two different types of waves allowed the retrieval of the interval velocities below the borehole receivers — a problem that was considered to be challenging with a VSP acquisition. Also, the possibility of the lateral velocity gradient reconstruction was developed on a simple synthetic model. On the real walk-away VSP data set from the North Sea, we found that the method could also be used for estimation of effective anisotropy parameters below the borehole receivers. In all of our examples, the velocity model refinement based on the presented method led to significant improvements of the seismic images.
Geoscientists Without Borders update — It is good news for all of us
Authors: Jacobs Rhonda
Published: September 2015

“Geoscientists Without Borders. It is great for the world. It's great for our industry. How cool is that?” — Mark Gregg, president and CEO of Kiwi Energy
Introduction to this special section: Uncertainty assessment
Authors: Mukerji Tapan , Gonzalez Ezequiel , Djikpesse Hugues
Published: September 2015

Uncertainty assessment is hard because it requires us to assess what we do not know. How do we quantify what we don't know? Why even bother with assessing uncertainty? We bother because assessing uncertainty can help us to make better decisions. Domain experts best understand the assumptions and approximations of their models and interpretations, but along with great expertise comes great responsibility. It is the experts' responsibility to assess and convey the uncertainties of their interpretations to the decision makers. Moreover, understanding the uncertainties associated with different data is critical for integrating different sources of information, for quantifying the value of different information, and for making decisions about acquiring new information.
Uncertainty in inverted elastic properties resulting from uncertainty in the low-frequency model
Authors: Ball Vaughn , Tenorio Luis , Schiott Christian , Blangy J. P. , Thomas Michelle
Published: September 2015

A Bayesian linearized inversion (BLI) framework is used to analyze how uncertainty in the low-frequency model (LFM) affects the solution in prestack seismic inversion. Two related effects are considered: sensitivity addresses how a change in the LFM changes the inversion solution, whereas uncertainty addresses how uncertainty in the LFM is propagated into the inversion results. The posterior covariance matrix in the BLI equations does not depend on the LFM, and it can be concluded mistakenly that uncertainty in the inversion result is independent of uncertainty in the LFM. Instead, a broader characterization of uncertainty can be made by using a hierarchical BLI framework that includes uncertainties in the LFM. The standard BLI equations are adequate to describe uncertainty in relative rock-property inversion which can be obtained by subtracting the logarithm of the LFM from the logarithm of the inversion solution. Uncertainty in relative rock-property inversion is independent of both the particular LFM used in the solution and the uncertainty associated with the LFM. On the other hand, uncertainty in absolute rock-property inversion is independent of the particular LFM used but does depend on the uncertainty of that LFM. The uncertainty of absolute rock-property inversion is always greater than the uncertainty of the associated relative rock-property inversion.
Laissez les bon temps rouler! SEG returns to ‘the Big Easy’ for 2015 Annual Meeting
Authors: Blythe Natalie
Published: September 2015

After a nine-year hiatus, the Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) will return to New Orleans, Louisiana, for its International Exposition and 85th Annual Meeting on 18–23 October 2015 in the state-of-the-art Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. SEG's Annual Meeting is one of the year's most anticipated events, bringing together more than 8,500 attendees from 70 countries, representing the fields of global oil, gas, and mineral exploration to new areas of civil engineering, environmental regulation, and archaeology.
Thinking possible in Pittsburgh: The 2015 ISEF
Authors: Nolen-Hoeksema Richard
Published: September 2015

The theme for the 2015 International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) was “Think Possible.” The 2015 SEG award and honorable-mention winners tackled problems related to calculating horizons for unmanned aerial vehicles, measuring a sidereal day, simulating gas flow in fractures, generating electricity from wave motion, explaining polar-vortex weakening, modeling the El Niño Southern Oscillation, and designing filters for road runoff.
Generating a high-resolution global magnetic model for oil and mineral exploration
Authors: Fairhead J. D. , Green C. M.
Published: September 2015

Summary

This is the final contribution to the trilogy of articles on global potential-field data compilations. Getech's continental and national magnetic data compilations commenced in 1989 and were designed specifically for use in petroleum and mineral exploration. These studies complemented the continental-scale gravity-compilation studies that were the subject of the TLE “Meter Reader” contributions in March and May of this year. The success of these projects resulted from strategic partnerships, especially with Paterson, Grant and Watson Ltd. (PGW), and links to a wide range of national organizations. Early compilations covering the whole of Africa, South America, and China were followed by large-scale, small-scale, and national compilations and continue to this day with compilations of U. S. surveys. The projects spawned a range of technical developments, including approaches to remove survey-line noise, the integration of survey grids and disparate ship-track data, and the preservation of the longest-wavelength anomalies associated with the crustal magnetic field. The resulting global gravity and magnetic grids now form an invaluable resource for resource exploration.
Full-waveform inversion: Filling the gaps
Authors: Beydoun Wafik B. , Alkhalifah Tariq
Published: September 2015

After receiving an outstanding response to its inaugural workshop in 2013, SEG once again achieved great success with its 2015 SEG Middle East Workshop, “Full-waveform inversion: Filling the gaps,” which took place 30 March–1 April 2015 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The workshop was organized by SEG, and its partner sponsors were Saudi Aramco (gold sponsor), ExxonMobil, and CGG.
Reviews
Authors: Green William R. , Zhu Joseph , Avakian Bob , Sandham William A. , Zhu Joseph
Published: September 2015

Geological Structure and History of the Arctic Ocean, by Anatoly M. Nikishin, Nikolay A. Malyshev, and Eugene I. Petrov, ISBN 978-94-6282-188-0, 2014, EAGE, 88 p., ζ75. AVO, by Satinder Chopra and John P. Castagna, ISBN 978-1-560-80319-5, 2014, SEG, 304 p., US $149, US $119 (member price), US $95 (student price). Experiments in Reduced Gravity: Sediment Settling on Mars, by Nicholas Kuhn, ISBN 978-0-127-99965-4, 2014, Elsevier, 50 p., US $29.95. Practical Seismic Data Analysis, by Hua-Wei Zhou, ISBN 978-0-521-19910-0, 2014, Cambridge University Press, 496 p., £45. Wavelets and Fractals in Earth System Science, edited by E. Chandrasekhar, V. P. Dimri, and V. M. Gadre, ISBN 978-1-466-55359-0, 2013, CRC Press, 306 p., US $99.70.
State of the Net
Authors: Farley Isaac
Published: September 2015

Yes, it is the same great event, but with a new name. The third annual SEG Wiki Meetup ( wiki.seg.org/wiki/Wiki_Meetup ), formerly the SEG Wikithon, is back for the 2015 Annual Meeting. Look for the SEG Wiki Committee, technical wiki assistants, and SEG staff members in the Great Hall Foyer of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center to get all your wiki-related questions answered during four informational sessions daily on 19–21 October.
The molecular architecture of hemidesmosomes as revealed by super-resolution microscopy
Authors: Nahidiazar Leila , Kreft Maaike , van den Broek Bram , Secades Pablo , Manders Erik M. M. , Sonnenberg Arnoud , Jalink Kees
Published: September 2015

Hemidesmosomes have been extensively studied by immunofluorescence microscopy, but due to its limited resolution, their precise organization remained poorly understood. We studied hemidesmosome organization in cultured keratinocytes by 2- and 3-color super-resolution microscopy. We observed that in the cell periphery, nascent hemidesmosomes are associated with individual keratin filaments and that β4 is distributed along rather than under keratin filaments. By applying innovative methods to quantify molecular distances, we demonstrate that the hemidesmosomal plaque protein plectin interacts simultaneously and asymmetrically with β4 and keratin. Furthermore, we show that BP180 and BP230 are characteristically arranged within hemidesmosomes with BP180 surrounding a central core of BP230 molecules. In skin cross-sections, hemidesmosomes of variable sizes could be distinguished with BP230 and plectin occupying a position in between β4 and BP180, and the IF system. In conclusion, our data provide a detailed view of the molecular architecture of hemidesmosomes in cultured keratinocytes and skin.
Bumblebee flight performance in cluttered environments: effects of obstacle orientation, body size and acceleration
Authors: Crall James D. , Ravi Sridhar , Mountcastle Andrew M. , Combes Stacey A.
Published: September 2015

Locomotion through structurally complex environments is fundamental to the life history of most flying animals, and the costs associated with movement through clutter have important consequences for the ecology and evolution of volant taxa. However, few studies have directly investigated how flying animals navigate through cluttered environments, or examined which aspects of flight performance are most critical for this challenging task. Here, we examined how body size, acceleration and obstacle orientation affect the flight of bumblebees in an artificial, cluttered environment. Non-steady flight performance is often predicted to decrease with body size, as a result of a presumed reduction in acceleration capacity, but few empirical tests of this hypothesis have been performed in flying animals. We found that increased body size is associated with impaired flight performance (specifically transit time) in cluttered environments, but not with decreased peak accelerations. In addition, previous studies have shown that flying insects can produce higher accelerations along the lateral body axis, suggesting that if maneuvering is constrained by acceleration capacity, insects should perform better when maneuvering around objects laterally rather than vertically. Our data show that bumblebees do generate higher accelerations in the lateral direction, but we found no difference in their ability to pass through obstacle courses requiring lateral versus vertical maneuvering. In sum, our results suggest that acceleration capacity is not a primary determinant of flight performance in clutter, as is often assumed. Rather than being driven by the scaling of acceleration, we show that the reduced flight performance of larger bees in cluttered environments is driven by the allometry of both path sinuosity and mean flight speed. Specifically, differences in collision-avoidance behavior underlie much of the variation in flight performance across body size, with larger bees negotiating obstacles more cautiously. Thus, our results show that cluttered environments challenge the flight capacity of insects, but in surprising ways that emphasize the importance of behavioral and ecological context for understanding flight performance in complex environments.
Negative energy balance in a male songbird, the Abert's towhee, constrains the testicular endocrine response to luteinizing hormone stimulation
Authors: Davies Scott , Gao Sisi , Valle Shelley , Bittner Stephanie , Hutton Pierce , Meddle Simone L. , Deviche Pierre
Published: September 2015

Energy deficiency can suppress reproductive function in vertebrates. As the orchestrator of reproductive function, endocrine activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary–gonadal (HPG) axis is potentially an important mechanism mediating such effects. Previous experiments in wild-caught birds found inconsistent relationships between energy deficiency and seasonal reproductive function, but these experiments focused on baseline HPG axis activity and none have investigated the responsiveness of this axis to endocrine stimulation. Here, we present data from an experiment in Abert's towhees, Melozone aberti, using gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) challenges to investigate whether energy deficiency modulates the plasma testosterone responsiveness of the HPG axis. Wild-caught birds were either ad libitum fed or energetically constrained via chronic food restriction during photoinduced reproductive development. Energy deficiency did not significantly affect the development of reproductive morphology, the baseline endocrine activity of the HPG axis, or the plasma testosterone response to GnRH challenge. Energy deficiency did, however, decrease the plasma testosterone responsiveness to LH challenge. Collectively, these observations suggest that energy deficiency has direct gonadal effects consisting of a decreased responsiveness to LH stimulation. Our study, therefore, reveals a mechanism by which energy deficiency modulates reproductive function in wild birds in the absence of detectable effects on baseline HPG axis activity.
Interaction of osmoregulatory and acid–base compensation in white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) during exposure to aquatic hypercarbia and elevated salinity
Authors: Shaughnessy Ciaran A. , Baker Dan W. , Brauner Colin J. , Morgan John D. , Bystriansky Jason S.
Published: September 2015

Migratory fishes encounter a variety of environmental conditions, including changes in salinity, temperature and dissolved gases, and it is important to understand how these fishes are able to acclimate to multiple environmental stressors. The gill is the primary site of both acid–base balance and ion regulation in fishes. Many ion transport mechanisms involved with acid–base compensation are also required for the regulation of plasma Na+ and Cl+, the predominant extracellular ions, potentially resulting in a strong interaction between ionoregulation and acid–base regulation. The present study examined the physiological interaction of elevated dissolved CO2 (an acid–base disturbance) on osmoregulation during seawater acclimation (an ionoregulatory disturbance) in juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus). Blood pH (pHe), plasma [HCO3−], [Na+], [Cl−] and osmolality, white muscle water content, and gill Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) and Na+/K+/2Cl− co-transporter (NKCC) abundance were examined over a 10 day seawater (SW) acclimation period under normocarbia (NCSW) or during prior and continued exposure to hypercarbia (HCSW), and compared with a normocarbic freshwater (NCFW) control. Hypercarbia induced a severe extracellular acidosis (from pH 7.65 to pH 7.2) in HCSW sturgeon, and these fish had a 2-fold greater rise in plasma osmolarity over NCSW by day 2 of SW exposure. Interestingly, pHe recovery in HCSW was associated more prominently with an elevation in plasma Na+ prior to osmotic recovery and more prominently with a reduction in plasma Cl− following osmotic recovery, indicating a biphasic response as the requirements of osmoregulation transitioned from ion-uptake to ion-excretion throughout SW acclimation. These results imply a prioritization of osmoregulatory recovery over acid–base recovery in this period of combined exposure to acid–base and ionoregulatory disturbances.
Using Duration and Volatility Rates to Estimate Risk Indexes of Investment Projects
Authors: Титова  , Titova N. , Титов  , Titov S. , Титаренко  , Titarenko R.
Published: September 2015

The article proposes to applyduration and volatility rates, traditionally used to analyse financial risks, to estimate

risk indexes of investment projects, and defines these rates’ main advantages.
Home Bias in Online Investments: An Empirical Study of an Online Crowdfunding Market
Authors: Lin Mingfeng , Viswanathan Siva
Published: September 2015

An extensive literature in economics and finance has documented home bias, the tendency that transactions are more likely to occur between parties in the same geographical area rather than outside. Using data from a large online crowdfunding marketplace and employing a quasi-experimental design, we find evidence that home bias still exists in this virtual marketplace for financial products. Furthermore, through a series of empirical tests, we show that rationality-based explanations cannot fully explain such behavior and that behavioral reasons at least partially drive this remarkable phenomenon. As crowdfunding becomes an alternative and increasingly appealing channel for financing, a better understanding of home bias in this new context provides important managerial, practical, and policy implications.

This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.
Caesarean section by maternal request
Authors: Steel Ben J , Jomeen Julie
Published: September 2015

Caesarean section by maternal request (CSMR) is the provision of a caesarean section when requested by the mother, with no medical indication. This paper aims to provide a narrative overview of CSMR to inform clinicians about the pertinent issues. It will examine current provision of CSMR in the UK and contextualise it among prevailing social and societal factors. It will explore in detail the reasons why women may choose caesarean section, and provide arguments for and against the provision of CSMR on the NHS.