bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Las concesiones de ciudadanía romana : Pompeyo Magno e Hispania
Authors: Amela Valverde Luis
Published: December 2013

La concession de la citoyenneté romaine fut utilisée par les généraux pendant les guerres civiles de la fin de la République romaine pour gagner des partisans et récompenser des actes de loyauté. L'exemple de Pompée le Grand en Espagne, connu par les sources littéraires, est significatif à cet égard. Mais cela ne signifie pas que les individus d'époque impériale qui portaient le nom de Pompeius, principalement connus par l'épigraphie, avaient des ancêtres ayant reçu la citoyenneté de Pompée ou ayant appartenu à sa clientèle. Une analyse exhaustive de la documentation montre que le nom de bon nombre de ces personnes n'est plus qu'un cas d'acculturation de l'onomastique. Annexe : liste de Pompeii et Pompeiani en Espagne.
Imperial Cuirasses in Latin Verse: From Augustus to the Fall of the West
Authors: Charles Michael B.
Published: December 2013

Des descriptions détaillées des cuirasses portées par les empereurs romains et leurs généraux apparaissent rarement dans la prose latine. En revanche, des descriptions de l'armure défensive portée par les héros grecs, troyens et italiens se trouvent fréquemment dans la poésie latine de la période impériale. Puisque les poètes latins comme Virgile, Stace et Silius Italicus avaient l'habitude d'employer des éléments de leur propre monde dans leurs descriptions du passé, il est possible qu'ils aient décrit de cette manière les cuirasses des empereurs et de leurs généraux. Ainsi, des textes rarement utilisés dans les études militaires peuvent fournir un contraste fascinant avec les arts plastiques de la période impériale.
"Μάρκος Φλάβιος γραμματιστὴς Ἰταλός" Un commente a Lido, De mens. I, 8-9 W
Authors: Pedroni Luigi
Published: December 2013

In this note, the literary traditions concerning the evolution of the Roman alphabet are analyzed on the basis of a little known passage by John the Lydian, a writer of the Justinian age. In particular, the name and work of M. Flavius, who is identified by John the Lydian as the author of an important alphabetical innovation, are examined. Flavius' connection to an otherwise unknown Salvius, who is quoted by Isidorus of Sevilla, is also considered, as his relationship to Sp. Carvilius, who, according to Plutarch, was the author of a reform of the guttural letters in Latin in the 3rd cent. B.C. It is possible that the literary tradition was distorted over the centuries so that different names for the same man have survived.
Vers un concordanceur-lemmatisateur en ligne du grec ancien
Authors: Kevers Laurent , Kindt Bastien
Published: December 2013

Les travaux du Projet de recherche en lexicologie grecque (Université catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgique) visent à élaborer un dictionnaire général du grec ancien applicable aux logiciels de traitement automatique du langage naturel (TAL). Constitué de données lexicales produites par la lemmatisation systématique de sources patristiques et historiographiques d'époque byzantine, ce dictionnaire compte actuellement 174.758 «formes de mots » classées sous 33.874 lemmes accompagnés d'une indication de leur catégorie morphosyntaxique. Les sources littéraires analysées et les données générées ont été adaptées par le CENTAL (Louvain-la-Neuve) à Unitex, un logiciel d'exploration lexicale et syntaxique des textes développé au Laboratoire d'Informatique de l'Institut Gaspard Monge (Paris). Une interface originale permet d'interroger en ligne un corpus expérimental, entièrement lemmatisé et désambiguïsé, limité pour l'instant aux lettres de Basile de Césarée (134.511 occurrences) mais susceptible de s'accroître dans un futur proche. Les requêtes peuvent être formulées sur base des lemmes et des formes ou à partir de motifs syntaxiques. Les réponses s'affichent à l'écran en grec polytonique Unicode sous forme de concordances. Un étiquetage des morphèmes constitutifs des lemmes permet de plus d'appeler les lemmes formellement apparentés à un même mot. Le résultat apparaît sous la forme d'une « arborescence dérivationnelle » rassemblant les dérivés et les composés du terme étudié.
Les nouvelles tablettes en linéaire B de Thèbes et la religion grecque
Authors: Duhoux Yves
Published: December 2013

The New Linear B Tablets from Thebes and the Greek Religion.

The ca 240 new Linear B tablets discovered between 1993 and 1995 by V. Aravantinos at Thebes are causing considerable controversy. Their editors, in common with the vast majority of mycenologists, believe they contain remarkable discoveries - e.g. a "divine triad", prefiguring the Eleusinian sacred triad and bringing together "Mother Earth", "(Zeus) Protector of fruits" and their daughter "Kore" ; "sacred animals" etc. A small number of opponents firmly contest this point of view, however. How should we deal with this difficult problem ? The present study attempts briefly to answer this question. We will see that : 1) there is no single textual element supporting the existence of a triad ; 2) the three members of the pseudo-triad are probably human beings ; 3) there is not the slightest proof of the existence of "sacred animals".
The Second Stasimon in Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus
Authors: Brandenburg Philipp
Published: December 2013

Philipp Brandenburg (Kiel), The Second Stasimon in Sophocles' Oedipus Tyrannus.

This paper deals with the question who the Chorus are talking about in the second stasimon. Laius, locaste, or even Oedipus himself have been suggested, but the most conclusive solution was introduced by Sidwell : the Chorus take over Oedipus' delusion that a band of insurgents conspires to seize his power. This paper adduces further evidence and argument in order to strengthen Sidwell' s point of view. Understood in this way, the stasimon is in line with the humble attitude of the Chorus, and the otherwise incomprehensible allusions to the murder of Laius and to the forgery of oracular sayings become clear.
Seleukos of Seleukeia
Authors: Roller Duane W.
Published: December 2013

Séleukos de Séleucie.

Séleukos de Séleucie (ca. 160-120 av. J.-C.) est un obscur érudit hellénistique assez énigmatique. C'est un théoricien ancien de l'activité des marées, et il a également livré un essai de théorie héliocentrique. Il est connu pour avoir écrit deux traités, mais ils ont été conservés dans d'obscurs fragments presque totalement incompréhensibles, largement cités par Strabon et Aétius, mais aussi par l'érudit arabe al-Razi.
Priestesses of the Imperial Cult in the Latin West: Titles and Function
Authors: Hemelrijk Emily A.
Published: December 2013

Prêtresses du culte impérial en Italie et les provinces occidentales de l'Empire romain : titres et fonction.

Sur la base d'un corpus de 258 inscriptions des prêtresses du culte impérial en Italie et les provinces occidentales de l'Empire romain du Ier au IIIe siècle ap. J.-C, cet article examine les titres des prêtresses du culte impérial et la nature de leur prêtrise. Sont tout spécialement étudiés l'usage de deux titres différents (flaminica et sacerdos) et les ajouts à ces titres, avec leur distribution géographique et chronologique, et la relation entre ces titres et la position sociale et la fonction des prêtresses en question.
Les « petits-fils » de Jean le Lydien ou le parfum du scorpion
Authors: Schamp Jacques
Published: December 2013

Johannes Lydus' "grandsons " or the Scorpion's Perfume.

After the so-called Twelve Tables law the Romans introduced another, De nepotibus, according to J. the Lydian (Mag. I, 42) who proposes the meaning "spendthrift" for the word nepos. To date it has gone unnoticed that he bases his argument on a tradition, according to which scorpions devour their own claws during the winter before regaining them on touching a stalk of calamintha nepeta L. In mythology the well known aromatic properties of calamintha are connected with the ideas of love and death. As a widower who lost his wife very early, John was probably mistrustful of marriage and the risks associated with human reproduction.
APPLICABILITY OF EXISTING PERFORMANCE EVALUATION TOOLS AND CONCEPTS TO THE NIGERIAN FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PRACTICE
Authors: Koleoso Hikmot , Omirin Modupe , Adewunmi Yewande , Babawale Gabriel
Published: December 2013

There are noticeable gaps in aspects of Nigerian facilities management (FM) education and practice. Predicated by its relative infancy, one area where this gap is more apparent is in the measurement of performance. This paper is a systematic review of at least 22 performance measurement (PM) tools and concepts that are known and in use for assessment of performance of buildings / facilities and or performance of FM as a management process. Based on the literature, the research examined the essential features, strengths and weaknesses of each method generally and their specific applicability to the Nigerian environment, in view of her peculiarities as a developing nation. It also discusses the required attributes of a PM tool that will be applicable to FM in Nigeria. A major contribution of the study is the development of a table that presents a summary of the information on the tools or concepts at a glance. The paper is an extract from an ongoing PhD research; although it does not include details of the empirical survey, it nevertheless provides background work for a possible attempt at developing a PM tool that will be contextual and applicable to the measurement of building performance and effectiveness of facilities managers in the Nigerian FM practice and by extension, to most parts of the developing world.
Du « chapeau cabossé » de Loubet au « pif » du général de Gaulle, l'identité et la carrière caricaturales des présidents de la République française
Authors: Doizy Guillaume
Published: December 2013

La caricature politique fustige, encense ou commente l’action d’individus par le truchement de la métaphore corporelle. À l’identité publique de tel ou tel, elle oppose une identité caricaturale fantasmée, parasite et concurrente, devant semer le trouble ou accentuer la polarisation chez les destinataires de l’image. Les vingt-quatre présidents de la République française constituent un formidable corpus pour envisager la dynamique qui produit ces identités caricaturales et leur pendant, la carrière caricaturale de ces édiles à la symbolique première et au statut si particulier en République. Au-delà de la fonction qui connaît de grandes périodes de stabilité depuis 1848, au-delà des conditions historiques et culturelles changeantes et des personnalités de chacun des vingt-quatre hôtes de l’Élysée nécessairement très diverses, quelles forces particulières structurent la mécanique caricaturale à l’œuvre quand il s’agit de brocarder nos présidents de la République ?
De Gaulle et Le Canard enchaîné : je t'admire, moi non plus
Authors: Martin Laurent
Published: December 2013

Cet article a pour projet de décrire la relation très spéciale qui s’instaura entre l’hebdomadaire satirique Le Canard enchaîné et le général de Gaulle entre la Libération et la mort de ce dernier. Le jugement de la rédaction du Canard oscilla constamment entre admiration et détestation, tandis que de Gaulle une fois parvenu au pouvoir, ne dédaignait pas savoir ce que « le volatile » disait de lui. Les dessins publiés dans le journal apparaissent comme des révélateurs de la position prééminente occupée par le fondateur de la V e République mais aussi comme les éléments de la construction médiatique de ce personnage hors du commun.
La caricature à l'épreuve du « printemps arabe »
Authors: Fakhfah Souheil , Tlili Rachida
Published: December 2013

L’étude que nous proposons porte sur l’analyse de la représentation graphique de Moncef Marzouki, président de la République actuellement en exercice en Tunisie, à partir d’un corpus principalement numérique constitué de dessins de professionnels, mais aussi de dessins d’amateurs qui s’improvisent journalistes/citoyens. À travers cette étude, il s’agit de mesurer l’importance du changement induit par la représentation caricaturale en marge des mutations en cours.
Les registres de la grâce
Authors: de Boer Edwige
Published: December 2013

Malgré les avancées récentes de l’histoire de la justice en France, le droit de grâce demeure mal connu pour la période contemporaine et en particulier au xix e siècle. Cette institution atypique a pourtant produit de nombreuses archives, dossiers individuels et registres, mais dont l’exploitation comporte un certain nombre de difficultés et de frustrations. S’il faut, en raison des tris subis, renoncer à former des échantillons représentatifs à partir des dossiers d’instruction, ces derniers permettent toutefois d’aborder la justice pénale sous un angle différent. Le droit de grâce est une procédure à la limite de l’extrajudiciaire, au cours de laquelle les acteurs ne sont plus tenus à un respect scrupuleux de la loi, mais doivent juger selon leur conscience, en équité. Les pièces conservées dans ces dossiers permettent donc d’approcher les représentations et les valeurs sociales présidant à la répression pénale à une époque donnée. Le travail des grâces fait s’affronter deux argumentaires. À travers son recours, le condamné prend une dernière fois la parole en mobilisant des stratégies d’écriture. Il est intéressant de voir les arguments retenus, mais aussi le personnage qu’il choisit d’endosser dans ce qui s’apparente à un jeu de rôles. Ce discours est examiné par les magistrats et relecteurs du ministère, qui en évaluent la plausibilité et la compatibilité avec les grands principes légaux, mais aussi sociaux et moraux qui ont alors cours. Le droit de grâce offre donc un aperçu original sur le fonctionnement de la justice pénale, à travers une procédure écrite et en partie contrainte qui permet un dévoilement des stratégies des acteurs pour concilier l’application de la loi stricte avec les exigences de leur conscience.
Josep Renau and the restoration of a committed beauty
Authors: Cabañas Bravo Miguel
Published: December 2013

Besides the question about the link between beauty and commitment, the paper analyses and proposes the restoration of both the existential and creative trajectory of Josep Renau (Valencia, 1907-Berlin, 1982), as one of the greatest Spanish modern painters without any doubt, but also a most singular, versatile and committed one. He was dedicated to painting, muralist painting, illustration, graphics and posters design or photomontage. His very intense development, in a sort of progression in relation to both socio-cultural commitment and artistic renovation, went through artistic and cultural stages of three significant countries binding his life, creativity and pilgrimage: Spain, Mexico and the former German Democratic Republic. Nevertheless, this commitment, so previously linked to his creative development, was simultaneously changing and varying from the impetuous commitment to the Spanish stage, to an endogen commitment of Mexican character and finally to the hexogen German stage, thus becoming from the seventies a functional implication adapted to the social requirement. At any rate, under such conditionings and during his development, he generated a kind of contingent or complex beauty –which we have called “committed beauty”-, the recovery of which must be undertaken while we also restore the figure of the artist himself.
The Between Story: Physical and Psychic Trauma in the Poetry of Sonia Sanchez and Lucille Clifton
Authors: Bazemore Chanae D.
Published: December 2013

Rhetorical choices used by Black women poets makes their work a militant force in the theoretical war against racist and sexist oppression. Research on trauma and testimony supports a breakdown of the person’s or character’s sudden brush with death –a moment that will never be fully realized, however it is at the center of explicating the rhetorical signs of trauma. Through a reading of Sonia Sanchez’s poems “Wounded in the House of a Friend” (Sanchez, 1995: 5), “Poem for Some Women” (Sanchez, 1995: 72), “Eyewitness: Case No. 3456” (Sanchez, 1995: 70), and “Poem at Thirty” (Sanchez, 1985: 4), with Lucille Clifton’s “My Friends” (Clifton, 1987: 147), “Shapeshifter Poems” (Clifton, 2000: 52), and “Song at Midnight” (Clifton, 1993: 24), my analysis will trace how traumatic wounding constitutes a psychic wound. It then applies the racialized and gendered reading of the subjects in the poem (insidious trauma), and how time and space relates to the subjects, space, and silences (traumatic realism). With the use trauma theory, I will illustrate how Sanchez and Clifton’s aesthetic forms adapted the militancy of the Black Arts Movement to address the silenced voices. In particular, the silenced voices of subjects continually subsumed beneath the phallocentric undertones challenged by Black feminist discourse, art, and poetry will be addressed.
Field Programmable Gate Array Technology for NPP I&Cs
Authors: Sklyar Vladimir , Andrashov Anton , Babeshko Eugene , Kovalenko Andriy
Published: December 2013

FPGA is a convenient technology that is being applied intensively to build I&CS for critical industries like NPPs. Practical experience confirms that in some cases application of the FPGA technology is much more reasonable than application of other technologies like microprocessors, etc. Experience of RPC Radiy in FPGA-based I&C development is provided in this chapter, as well as general information on FPGAs. Dependability of NPP I&CS is an important but challenging task. There are several techniques that can be applied for safety and dependability assessments, but all of them have limitations and cannot be easily applied in most cases. Sometimes combined usage of different methods is the most appropriate solution. Techniques of dependability assessment and achievement developed and used by RPC Radiy, as well as elements of the assessment methodology are briefly described.
Security of Safety Important I&C Systems
Authors: Kharchenko Vyacheslav , Kovalenko Andriy , Andrashov Anton
Published: December 2013

One of the most challenging modern problems—security assessment and assurance for safety important I&C systems—is discussed. Interrelations and hierarchical structure of I&C systems attributes, including safety and security, are considered. Review of existing regulatory documents that covers various development and operation aspects of safety important I&C systems is presented. Such a review also addresses issues related to requirements for safety important I&C systems, including security requirements, depending on their underlying technology, as well as reveals the impact of the main features, including used technologies and development approaches. Main challenging problems and requirements in the area of security assurance for complex safety important I&C systems are outlined. A possible way to analyze the security vulnerabilities of safety important I&C system is considered; it is based on process-product approach, and it requires performance of assessments for products (components of I&C system at different life cycle stages) and all the processes within the product life cycle. A possible approach to assessment and assurance of safety important I&C systems security is discussed. Such an approach takes into account possible vulnerabilities of Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) technology and appropriate points of their insertion into the life cycle. An analysis of existing techniques for assurance of safety important I&C systems security is performed.
Emergency and Preventive Reactor Protection Systems
Authors: Rozen Yuri , Vinogradska Svetlana , Siora Alexander
Published: December 2013

In Chapter 9, Emergency and Preventive Reactor Protection (E&PRP) systems implemented at the Ukrainian NPPs during 2003-2013 are considered. The core of E&PRP systems is formed by software-hardware complexes (SHC E&PRP) developed on the base of the Research and Production Corporation “Radiy” equipment family. The first part describes the main purposes of E&PRP: forced power reduction or immediate reactor shutdown to prevent an emergency from developing into an accident. The second part describes the basic functions determined by the system purposes, along with additional functions performed by SHC E&PRP. The third part is devoted to describe SHC E&PRP technical characteristics, which implement the specified functions. The forth part deals with information about the composition and structure of SHC E&PRP, as well as about connections of SHC E&PRP with adjacent I & C systems are shown. In the fifth part, aspects of functional safety assurance during development, production, and acceptance of SHC E&PRP are considered.
Infection-Induced Changes in Hematopoiesis
Authors: Zaretsky Arielle Glatman , Engiles Julie B. , Hunter Christopher A.
Published: December 2013

The bone marrow (BM) is an important site for the interrelated processes of hematopoiesis, granulopoiesis, erythropoiesis, and lymphopoiesis. A wide variety of microbial challenges are associated with profound changes in this compartment that impact on hematopoietic differentiation and mobilization of a variety of cell types. This article reviews some of the key pathways that control BM homeostasis, the infectious and inflammatory processes that affect the BM, and how addressing the knowledge gaps in this area has the potential to widen our comprehension of immune homeostasis.
Self-Induced Velocity of a Vortex Ring Using Straight-Line Segmentation
Authors: Bhagwat Mahendra J. , Leishman J. Gordon
Published: December 2013

The accuracy of discretized induced velocity calculations that can be obtained using straight-line vortex elements has been reexamined, primarily using the velocity field induced by a vortex ring as a reference. The induced velocity of a potential (inviscid) vortex ring is singular
at the vortex ring itself. Analytical results were found by using a small azimuthal cutoff in the Biot–Savart integral over the vortex ring and showed that the singularity is logarithmic in the cutoff. Discrete numerical calculations showed the same behavior, with the self-induced velocity
exhibiting a logarithmic singularity with respect to the discretization, which introduces an inherent cutoff in the Biot–Savart integral. Core regularization or desingularization can also eliminate the singularity by using an assumed “viscous” core model. Analytical approximations
to the self-induced velocity of a thin-cored vortex ring have shown that the self-induced velocity has a logarithmic singularity in the core radius. It is further shown that the numerical calculations require special treatment of the self-induced velocity caused by curvature, which is lost
by the inherent cutoff in the straight-line discretization, to correctly recover this logarithmic singularity in the core radius. Numerical solution using straight-line vortex segmentation, augmented with curved vortex elements only for the self-induced velocity calculation, is shown
to be second-order accurate in the discretization.
Mediatory Myths in the U.S. Military: Tobacco Use as “Stress Relief”
Authors: Smith Elizabeth A. , Malone Ruth E.
Published: December 2013

Purpose.

To examine perceptions of military personnel about tobacco use.

Design.

Secondary analysis of (1) focus group and (2) interview data.

Setting.

U.S. military.

Subjects.

Total participants (n = 241): Enlisted personnel, supervisors (n = 189 individuals participating in 23 focus groups), tobacco control managers, and policy leaders (n = 52 interview participants).

Intervention.

Not applicable.

Measures.

Not applicable.

Analysis.

Inductive, iterative coding for salient themes using an interpretive approach. Application of the concept of mediatory myths, used by institutions to cover over internal contradictions.

Results.

All types of participants endorsed the idea that tobacco was needed in the military for stress relief. Types of stress identified included fitting in, (relationships with coworkers and superiors) and control of workflow (taking breaks). Participants also discussed beliefs about the impact of tobacco on the military mission, and institutional sanction of tobacco use.

Conclusion.

Despite tobacco's well-documented negative effects on fitness, the myth that tobacco relieves stress serves several institutional functions in the military. It serves to minimize perceptions of stress on the fitness of personnel, suggests that stress can be managed solely by individuals, and institutionalizes tobacco use. Growing recognition among military leadership that countering stress is essential to fitness offers an opportunity to challenge this myth.
Sex Moderates Associations between Perceptions of the Physical and Social Environments and Physical Activity in Youth
Authors: Moore Justin B. , Beets Michael W. , Kaczynski Andrew T. , Besenyi Gina M. , Morris Sara F. , Kolbe Mary Bea
Published: December 2013

Purpose.

To determine if the sex of the child moderates the relationships between perceptions of the physical/social environments and moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in youth.

Design.

Cross-sectional.

Setting.

North Carolina.

Subjects.

A final sample of 711 children, 8 to 17 years of age, was available for analysis.

Measures.

Self-reported presence of environmental factors previously identified to be associated with physical activity in youth was collected via survey. Daily MVPA was assessed via accelerometry for a minimum of 4 days.

Analysis.

Multilevel linear regression models were employed, adjusted for clustering at the county and individual level. MVPA was first regressed onto sex and environmental perception items while controlling for grade and race. The interaction term between sex and environmental perception was then added to the model.

Results.

A significant positive association was observed in the first models between MVPA and two items related to parent permission to (1) walk and (2) ride a bike in the neighborhood. These effects were fully moderated by sex, with males indicating “yes” on these items exhibiting 6.87 and 5.21 more minutes of MVPA (respectively) than males indicating “no.”

Conclusion.

Environmental perceptions appear to be related to MVPA, but this relationship is present only in males. Future research should be conducted to identify modifiable social and physical characteristics that are associated with MVPA in females.
Eat, Sleep, Work, Play: Associations of Weight Status and Health-Related Behaviors among Young Adult College Students
Authors: Quick Virginia , Byrd-Bredbenner Carol , White Adrienne A. , Brown Onikia , Colby Sarah , Shoff Suzanne , Lohse Barbara , Horacek Tanya , Kidd Tanda , Greene Geoffrey
Published: December 2013

Purpose.

To examine relationships of sleep, eating, and exercise behaviors; work time pressures; and sociodemographic characteristics by weight status (healthy weight [body mass index or BMI < 25] vs. overweight [BMI ≥ 25]) of young adults.

Design.

Cross-sectional.

Setting.

Nine U.S. universities.

Subjects.

Enrolled college students (N = 1252; 18–24 years; 80% white; 59% female).

Measures.

Survey included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ), Satter Eating Competence Inventory (ecSI), National Cancer Institute Fruit/Vegetable Screener, International Physical Activity Questionnaire, Work Time Pressure items, and sociodemographic characteristics.

Analysis.

Chi-square and t-tests determined significant bivariate associations of sociodemographics, sleep behaviors, eating behaviors, physical activity behavior, and work time pressures with weight status (i.e., healthy vs. overweight/obese). Statistically significant bivariate associations with weight status were then entered into a multivariate logistic regression model that estimated associations with being overweight/obese.

Results.

Sex (female), race (nonwhite), older age, higher Global PSQI score, lower ecSI total score, and higher TFEQ Emotional Eating Scale score were significantly (p < .05) associated with overweight/obesity in bivariate analyses. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that sex (female; odds ratio [OR] = 2.05, confidence interval [CI] = 1.54–2.74), older age (OR = 1.35, CI= 1.21–1.50), higher Global PSQI score (OR = 1.07, CI = 1.01–1.13), and lower ecSI score (OR = .96, CI = .94–.98), were significantly (p < .05) associated with overweight/obesity.

Conclusion.

Findings suggest that obesity prevention interventions for college students should include an education component to emphasize the importance of overall sleep quality and improving eating competence.
Association between Physical Activity and Inflammatory Markers among U.S. Adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Loprinzi Paul D. , Walker Jerome F. , Lee Hyo
Published: December 2013

Purpose.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may cause not only inflammation in the lungs but also systemic effects. One potential strategy to reduce systemic inflammation and attenuate disease progression is physical activity (PA). However, no nationally representative studies, to our knowledge, have examined the association between objectively measured physical activity and inflammation among those with COPD.

Design.

Cross-sectional.

Setting.

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003–2006.

Subjects.

Two hundred thirty-eight former or current smokers with self-reported COPD who had complete data on study variables.

Measures.

Participants wore an accelerometer for ≥4 days to assess light-intensity PA (LPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and total physical activity (TPA); completed questionnaires to assess self-reported COPD and smoking status; and had their blood taken to assess white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil levels.

Analysis.

Multivariable linear regression analysis was used.

Results.

LPA (β = –.0004), MVPA (β = –.04), and TPA (β = –.0004) were significantly inversely associated with WBC level. Similarly, LPA (β = –.001) and TPA (β = –.001) were significantly inversely associated with neutrophils; however, MVPA was marginally associated with neutrophils (β = –.05; p =.06).

Conclusion.

These analyses demonstrate an inverse association between objectively measured PA and inflammation among current or former smokers with COPD. If these findings are confirmed elsewhere, then PA among those with COPD may serve as an anti-inflammatory strategy to possibly decrease cardiovascular and metabolic disease occurrence.
Airborne observations and modeling of springtime stratosphere-to-troposphere transport over California
Authors: Yates E. L. , Iraci L. T. , Roby M. C. , Pierce R. B. , Johnson M. S. , Reddy P. J. , Tadić J. M. , Loewenstein M. , Gore W.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) results in air masses of stratospheric origin intruding into the free troposphere. Once in the free troposphere, ozone (O3)-rich stratospheric air can be transported and mixed with tropospheric air masses, contributing to the tropospheric O3 budget. Evidence of STT can be identified based on the differences in the trace gas composition of the two regions. Because O3 is present in such large quantities in the stratosphere compared to the troposphere, it is frequently used as a tracer for STT events. This work reports on airborne in situ measurements of O3 and other trace gases during two STT events observed over California, USA. The first, on 14 May 2012, was associated with a cutoff low, and the second, on 5 June 2012, occurred during a post-trough, building ridge event. In each STT event, airborne measurements identified high O3 within the stratospheric intrusion, which were observed as low as 3 km above sea level. During both events the stratospheric air mass was characterized by elevated O3 mixing ratios and reduced carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor. The reproducible observation of reduced CO2 within the stratospheric air mass supports the use of non-conventional tracers as an additional method for detecting STT. A detailed meteorological analysis of each STT event is presented, and observations are interpreted with the Realtime Air Quality Modeling System (RAQMS). The implications of the two STT events are discussed in terms of the impact on the total tropospheric O3 budget and the impact on air quality and policy-making.
Five years of CO, HCN, C2H6, C2H2, CH3OH, HCOOH, and H2CO total columns measured in the Canadian High Arctic
Authors: Viatte C. , Strong K. , Walker K. A. , Drummond J. R.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. We present a five-year timeseries of seven tropospheric species measured using a ground-based Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectrometer at the Polar Environment Atmospheric Research Laboratory (PEARL, Eureka, Nunavut, Canada, 80°05' N, 86°42' W) from 2007 to 2011. Total columns and temporal variabilities of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen cyanide (HCN), and ethane (C2H6), as well as the first derived total columns at Eureka of acetylene (C2H2), methanol (CH3OH), formic acid (HCOOH), and formaldehyde (H2CO) are investigated, providing a new dataset in the sparsely sampled high latitudes. Total columns are obtained using the SFIT2 retrieval algorithm based on the Optimal Estimation Method. The microwindows, as well as the a priori profiles and variabilities are selected to optimize the information content of the retrievals, and error analyses are performed for all seven species. Our retrievals show good sensitivities in the troposphere. The seasonal amplitudes of the timeseries, ranging from 34 to 104%, are captured while using a single a priori profile for each species. The timeseries of the CO, C2H6 and C2H2 total columns at PEARL exhibit strong seasonal cycles with maxima in winter and minima in summer, in opposite phase to the HCN, CH3OH, HCOOH and H2CO timeseries. These cycles result from the relative contributions of the photochemistry, oxidation, and transport, as well as biogenic and biomass burning emissions. Comparisons of the FTIR partial columns with coincident satellite measurements by the Atmospheric Chemistry Experiment Fourier Transform Spectrometer (ACE-FTS) show good agreement. The correlation coefficients and the slopes range from 0.56 to 0.97, and 0.50 to 3.35, respectively, for the seven target species. Our new dataset is compared with previous measurements found in the literature to assess atmospheric budgets of these tropospheric species in the high Arctic. The CO and C2H6 concentrations are consistent with negative trends observed over the Northern Hemisphere, attributed to fossil fuel emission decrease. The importance of poleward transport on the atmospheric budgets of HCN and C2H2 is highlighted. Columns and variabilities of CH3OH, and HCOOH at PEARL are comparable to previous measurements performed at other remote sites. However, the small columns of H2CO in early May might reflect its large atmospheric variability, and/or the effect of the updated spectroscopic parameters used in our retrievals. Overall, emissions from biomass burning contribute to the day-to-day variabilities of the seven tropospheric species observed at Eureka.
17O-excess traces atmospheric nitrate in paleo groundwater of the Saharan desert
Authors: Dietzel M. , Leis A. , Abdalla R. , Savarino J. , Morin S. , Böttcher M. E. , Köhler S.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. Saharan paleo groundwater from the Hasouna area of Libya contains up to 1.8 mM of nitrate, the origin of which is still disputed. Herein we show that a positive 17O-excess in NO3– (Δ17ONO3 = δ17ONO3 – 0.52 δ18ONO3) is preserved in the paleo groundwater. The 17O-excess provides an excellent tracer of atmospheric NO3–, which is caused by the interaction of ozone with NOx via photochemical reactions, coupled with a non-mass dependent isotope fractionation. Our Δ17ONO3 data from 0.4 to 5.0‰ (n = 28) indicate that up to x [NO3–]atm = 20 mol % of total dissolved NO3– originated from the Earth's atmosphere. High Δ17ONO3 values correspond to soils that are barren in dry periods, while low Δ17ONO3 values correspond to more fertile soils. Coupled high Δ17ONO3 and high x [NO3–]atm values are caused by a sudden wash out of dry deposition of atmospheric NO3– on plant or soil surfaces within humid-wet cycles. The individual isotope and chemical composition of the Hasouna groundwater can be followed by a binary mixing approach using the lowest and highest mineralized groundwater as end-members without considering evaporation. Using the δ34SSO4 and δ18OSO4 isotope signature of dissolved sulfate, no indication is found for a superimposition by denitrification, e.g. involving pyrite minerals within the aquifers. It is suggested that dissolved sulfate originates from the dissolution of calcium sulfate minerals during groundwater evolution.
Technical Note: A measure of watershed nonlinearity II: re-introducing an IFP inverse fractional power transform for streamflow recession analysis
Authors: Ding J. Y.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. This note illustrates, in the context of Brutsaert–Nieber (1977) model: −dQ/dt = aQb, the utility of a newly rediscovered inverse fractional power (IFP) transform of the flow rates. This method of streamflow recession analysis dates back a half-century. The IFP transform Δb on an operand Q is defined as Δb Q = 1/Qb-1. Brutsaert–Nieber model by IFP transform thus becomes: ΔbQ(t) = ΔbQ(0) + (b−1) at, if b ≠ 1. The IFP transformed recession curve appears as a straight line on a semi-IFP plot. The method has both the advantage of being independent of the size of computational time step, and the disadvantage of being depending on the parameter b value. This is used to calibrate the Brutsaert–Nieber recession flow model in which b is a slope (or shape) parameter, and a is an intercept (or a scale parameter). It is applied to four observed events on the Spoon River in Illinois (4237 km2). The results show that the IFP transform method gives a narrower range of parameter b values than the regression method in a recession plot. Theoretically, an IFP transformed recession curve for large watersheds falls between those performed by the reciprocal of the cubic root (RoCR) transform and the reciprocal of the square root (RoSR) one. In general, the forgotten IFP transform method merits a fresh look, especially for hillslopes and zero-order catchments, the building blocks of a watershed system. In particular, because of its origin in hillslope hydrology, the 1-parameter RoSR transform need be falsified or verified for application to headwater catchments.
Combining high-resolution satellite images and altimetry to estimate the volume of small lakes
Authors: Baup F. , Frappart F. , Maubant J.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. This study presents an approach to determine the volume of water in small lakes (<100 ha) by combining satellite altimetry data and high-resolution (HR) images. The lake being studied is located in the south-west of France and is only used for agricultural irrigation purposes. The altimetry satellite data are provided by RA-2 sensor on board Envisat, and the high-resolution images (<10 m) are obtained from optical (Formosat-2) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors (Terrasar-X and Radarsat-2) satellites. The altimetry data (data are obtained every 35 days) and the HR images (45) have been available since 2003 and 2010, respectively. In situ data (for the water levels and volumes) going back to 2003 have been provided by the manager of the lake. Three independent approaches are developed to estimate the lake volume and its temporal variability. The first two approaches are empirical and use synchronous ground measurements of the water volume and the satellite data. The results demonstrate that altimetry and imagery can be effectively and accurately used to monitor the temporal variations of the lake (R2altimetry = 0.97, RMSEaltimetry = 5.2%, R2imagery = 0.90, and RMSEimagery = 7.4%). The third method combines altimetry (to measure the lake level) and satellite images (of the lake surface) to estimate the volume changes of the lake and produces the best results (R2 = 0.99) of the three methods, demonstrating the potential of future Sentinel and SWOT missions to monitor small lakes and reservoirs for agricultural and irrigation applications.
On the nonstationarity of the decadal periodicities of the length of day
Authors: De Michelis P. , Tozzi R. , Consolini G.
Published: December 2013

Abstract. The Earth's rotation rate is not constant, but changes on all observable timescales, from subdaily to decadal and longer. These variations are usually discussed in terms of variations in the length of the day (LoD) and are caused by processes acting within the interior, at the surface and outside of the Earth. Here, we investigate the presence of long-standing decadal variations in yearly LoD data covering the period from 1832 to 2009 by applying the Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT). The HHT has been slightly modified here to take into account the uncertainty of LoD values that has changed greatly in time due to the use of different LoD measurement techniques. The LoD time series has been completely decomposed into five intrinsic mode functions (IMF) and a residual trend. The estimation of instantaneous frequencies and related amplitudes of the obtained IMFs has allowed us to compute the Hilbert spectrum that has been used as the starting point for studying and discussing the stationarity of typical LoD timescale stationarity. The obtained results while showing the presence of multiple periodicities also indicate the absence of really stationary periodicities. Therefore, rather than considering the processes taking place in the Earth's core as the result of a superposition of oscillations (i.e. stationary mechanisms) occurring on a discrete number of different timescales, it would be better to think of a superposition of fluctuations that are intermittent in both frequency and amplitude.
Transaction costs, privacy, and trust: The laudable goals and ultimate failure of notice and choice to respect privacy online
Authors: Martin Kirsten
Published: December 2013

The goal of this paper is to outline the laudable goals and ultimate failure of notice and choice to respect privacy online and suggest an alternative framework to manage and research privacy.  This paper suggests that the online environment is not conducive to rely on explicit agreements to respect privacy. Current privacy concerns online are framed as a temporary market failure resolvable through two options:  (a) ameliorating frictions within the current notice and choice governance structure or (b) shifting from a contract-governed exchange to a focus on implicit, negotiated rules within a long-term relationship. Importantly for firms, examining privacy in practice shifts the firm’s responsibility from adequate notice to identifying and managing the cost-benefit analysis within a specific context.
A New Germline Stop Codon Mutation in Exon 15 of the APC Gene Predisposing to Familial Adenomatous Polyposis
Authors: Schirosi Laura , Pellegrino Marcello , Tarantino Paolo , Mauro Salvatore , Tinelli Andrea , Greco Marilena
Published: December 2013

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal dominant disorder related to germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli ( APC) gene. It is characterized by the detection of numerous adenomatous polyps that, if untreated, develop into colorectal cancer. We studied an Italian family with FAP history and the related colorectal tumor sample of the proband. Sequencing analysis of blood samples revealed the presence of a never-reported germline mutation in the APC gene (exon 15): an heterozygous G deletion at position c.2126 resulting in a premature stop codon (p.Gly721GlufsX6) and in a truncated protein. This mutation was also identified in the colorectal tumor tissue, together with a second known pathogenic heterozygotic somatic mutation, c.4348C>T (p.Arg1450X), which generates a premature truncated protein. The novel identified germline mutation is therefore related to FAP and, in accordance with Knudson's “two hit” hypothesis, can be considered the first event predisposing to the insurgence of colorectal cancer in these patients. The somatic hit inactivating the second allele of the APC gene is located in the mutation cluster region of the gene; this is not a random event since it depends on the position of the germline mutation. The inactivation of APC generates the neoplastic growth advantage to the cell.
K-RAS Mutation Profile in Puerto Rican Patients with Colorectal Cancer: Trends from April 2009 to January 2011
Authors: Ruiz-Candelaria Yelitza , Miranda-Diaz Christine , Hunter-Mellado Robert F.
Published: December 2013

The frequency of K-RAS mutations ranges between 30% and 48% among the Caucasian, Asian, and European populations and these mutations are predictors of response to EGFR therapies. We sought to determine the expression of K-RAS gene mutations among colorectal cancer patients in PuertoRico. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the expression of mutant K-RAS among colorectal cancer patients in Puerto Rico between April 2009 and January 2011. The mutant expression of K-RAS was found in 39% (n=195) of the Puerto Rican population, and was more common in the age group of 51-69 years (53.8%) and in males (55.4%, p>0.05). Moreover, mutant K-RAS was more commonly found in tumors of the proximal area (43.8%; p=0.03), with distant metastasis (43.3%, p=0.018), with a mucinous histotype (31.7% p>0.05), and in ulcerated tumors (38.8%, p>0.05). K-RAS mutations were observed on codon 12 (87.7%) and codon 13 (12.3%). The most frequent mutation on codon 12 was 12 ASP (39.5%), followed by 12 VAL (25.4%) that is associated with a significant decrease in overall cancer survival. The mutant expression of K-RAS in cases of rectum carcinoma was 39.5%, where the most common mutation was 12 VAL (37.5%). The frequency of K-RAS mutations in the Puerto Rican population here studied was 39% and mutant K-RAS was associated with advanced colorectal cancer stage, mucinous histotype, and ulcerated tumors.
A Reliable and Reproducible Technique for DNA Fingerprinting in Biorepositories: A Pilot Study from BioBIM
Authors: Palmirotta Raffaele , De Marchis Maria Laura , Ludovici Giorgia , Ialongo Cristiano , Leone Barbara , Lopez Nadia , Valente Maria Giovanna , Spila Antonella , Ferroni Patrizia , Della-Morte David , Guadagni Fiorella
Published: December 2013

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) optimization for nucleic acid extraction from stored samples is of crucial importance in a biological repository, considering the large number of collected samples and their future downstream molecular and biological applications. However, the validity of molecular studies using stored specimens depends not only on the integrity of the biological samples, but also on the procedures that ensure the traceability of the same sample, certifying its uniqueness, and ensuring the identification of potential sample contaminations.

With this aim, we have developed a rapid, reliable, low-cost, and simple DNA fingerprinting tool for a routine use in quality control of biorepositories samples. The method consists of a double ALU insertion/deletion genotyping panel suitable for uniqueness, identification of sample contaminations, and gender validation. Preliminary data suggest that this easy-to-use DNA fingerprinting protocol could routinely provide assurances of DNA identity and quality in a biorepository setting.