bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Approach for Managing Pavement Friction and Reducing Road Crashes
Authors: McCarthy Ross , Flintsch Gerardo W. , Katicha Samer W. , McGhee Kevin K. , Medina-Flintsch Alejandra
Published: March 2016

Evaluation of crash count data as a function of roadway characteristics allows departments of transportation (DOTs) to predict expected average crash risks to assist in identifying segments that could benefit from various treatments. Crash risk is modeled using negative binomial regression, as a function of annual average daily traffic (AADT) and other variables. For this paper, a crash study was carried out for the Interstate, primary, and secondary routes in the Salem District of Virginia. The data used in the study included the following information obtained from Virginia DOT records: 2010 to 2012 crash data, 2010 to 2012 AADT, and horizontal radius of curvature. In addition, tire–pavement friction, or skid resistance, was measured with a continuous friction measurement, fixed-slip device called a GripTester. Negative binomial regression was used to relate the crash data to the AADT, skid resistance, and horizontal radius of curvature. To determine which of the variables to include in the final models, researchers performed the Akaike information criterion test. By mathematically combining the information acquired from the negative binomial regression models and the information contained in the crash counts, researchers empirically estimated the parameters of each network’s true average crash risks with the empirical Bayes approach. The new estimated average crash risks were then used to rank segments according to their empirically estimated crash risk and to prioritize segments according to their expected crash reduction if a friction treatment were applied.
Versatile utilization of real-time intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound in cranial neurosurgery: technical note and retrospective case series
Authors: Lekht Ilya , Brauner Noah , Bakhsheshian Joshua , Chang Ki-Eun , Gulati Mittul , Shiroishi Mark S. , Grant Edward G. , Christian Eisha , Zada Gabriel
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

Intraoperative contrast-enhanced ultrasound (iCEUS) offers dynamic imaging and provides functional data in real time. However, no standardized protocols or validated quantitative data exist to guide its routine use in neurosurgery. The authors aimed to provide further clinical data on the versatile application of iCEUS through a technical note and illustrative case series.

METHODS

Five patients undergoing craniotomies for suspected tumors were included. iCEUS was performed using a contrast agent composed of lipid shell microspheres enclosing perflutren (octafluoropropane) gas. Perfusion data were acquired through a time-intensity curve analysis protocol obtained using iCEUS prior to biopsy and/or resection of all lesions.

RESULTS

Three primary tumors (gemistocytic astrocytoma, glioblastoma multiforme, and meningioma), 1 metastatic lesion (melanoma), and 1 tumefactive demyelinating lesion (multiple sclerosis) were assessed using real-time iCEUS. No intraoperative complications occurred following multiple administrations of contrast agent in all cases. In all neoplastic cases, iCEUS replicated enhancement patterns observed on preoperative Gd-enhanced MRI, facilitated safe tumor debulking by differentiating neoplastic tissue from normal brain parenchyma, and helped identify arterial feeders and draining veins in and around the surgical cavity. Intraoperative CEUS was also useful in guiding a successful intraoperative needle biopsy of a cerebellar tumefactive demyelinating lesion obtained during real-time perfusion analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Intraoperative CEUS has potential for safe, real-time, dynamic contrast-based imaging for routine use in neurooncological surgery and image-guided biopsy. Intraoperative CEUS eliminates the effect of anatomical distortions associated with standard neuronavigation and provides quantitative perfusion data in real time, which may hold major implications for intraoperative diagnosis, tissue differentiation, and quantification of extent of resection. Further prospective studies will help standardize the role of iCEUS in neurosurgery.
Safe use of subdermal needles for intraoperative monitoring with MRI
Authors: Darcey Terrance M. , Kobylarz Erik J. , Pearl Michael A. , Krauss Patricia J. , Ferri Stephanie A. , Roberts David W. , Bauer David F.
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to develop safe, site-specific procedures for placing and leaving subdermal needle leads for intraoperative monitoring (IOM) during intraoperative MRI procedures.

METHODS

The authors tested a variety of standard subdermal needle electrodes designed and FDA-approved for IOM in the conventional operating room. Testing was used to determine the conditions necessary to avoid thermal injury and significant image artifacts with minimal disruption of IOM and MRI procedures. Phantom testing was performed with a fiber optic (lead) temperature monitoring system and was followed by testing of leads placed in a healthy volunteer. The volunteer testing used electrode placements typical of standard IOM cases, together with radiofrequency (RF) coil placement and imaging sequences routinely employed for these case types. Lead length was investigated to assess heating effects for electrodes placed within the RF coil.

RESULTS

The authors found that conventional stainless steel (SS) and platinum/iridium (Pt/Ir) subdermal needles can be used safely without significant heating when placed outside the RF coil, and this accounts for the majority or entirety of electrode placements. When placed within the RF coil, Pt/Ir leads produced minimal image artifacts, while SS leads produced potentially significant artifacts. In phantom testing, significant heating was demonstrated in both SS and Pt/Ir leads placed within the RF coil, but only during high-resolution T2-weighted scanning. This problem was largely, but not completely, eliminated when leads were shortened to 25 cm. Human testing was unremarkable except for nonpainful heating detected in a few electrodes during thin-slice (1.5 mm) FLAIR scanning. Transient irritation (skin reddening along the needle tract) was noted at 2 of the electrodes with detectable heating.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors were satisfied with the safety of their site-specific procedures and have begun with off-label use (following institutional review board approval and obtaining patient informed consent) of tested monitoring leads in cases that combine IOM and MRI. The authors recommend that all facilities perform their own site-specific testing of monitoring leads before proceeding with their routine use.
Pituitary surgery and volumetric assessment of extent of resection: a paradigm shift in the use of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Serra Carlo , Burkhardt Jan-Karl , Esposito Giuseppe , Bozinov Oliver , Pangalu Athina , Valavanis Antonios , Holzmann David , Schmid Christoph , Regli Luca
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the role of intraoperative high-field 3-T MRI (3T-iMRI) in improving the gross-total resection (GTR) rate and the extent of resection (EOR) in endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery (TSS) for pituitary adenomas.

METHODS

Radiological and clinical data from a prospective database were retrospectively analyzed. Volumetric measurements of adenoma volumes pre-, intraoperatively, and 3 months postoperatively were performed in a consecutive series of patients who had undergone endoscopic TSS. The quantitative contribution of 3T-iMRI was measured as a percentage of the additional rate of GTR and of the EOR achieved after 3T-iMRI.

RESULTS

The cohort consisted of 50 patients (51 operations) harboring 33 nonfunctioning and 18 functioning pituitary adenomas. Mean adenoma diameter and volume were 21.1 mm (range 5–47 mm) and 5.23 cm3 (range 0.09–22.14 cm3), respectively. According to Knosp's classification, 10 cases were Grade 0; 8, Grade 1; 17, Grade 2; 12, Grade 3; and 4, Grade 4. Gross-total resection was the surgical goal (targeted [t]GTR) in 34 of 51 operations and was initially achieved in 16 (47%) of 34 at 3T-iMRI and in 30 (88%) of 34 cases after further resection. In this subgroup, the EOR increased from 91% at 3T-iMRI to 99% at the 3-month MRI (p < 0.05). In the 17 cases in which subtotal resection (STR) had been planned (tSTR), the EOR increased from 79% to 86% (p < 0.05) and GTR could be achieved in 1 case. Intrasellar remnants were present in 20 of 51 procedures at 3T-iMRI and in only 5 (10%) of 51 procedures after further resection (median volume 0.15 cm3). Overall, the use of 3T-iMRI led to further resection in 27 (53%) of 51 procedures and permitted GTR in 15 (56%) of these 27 procedures; thus, the GTR rate in the entire cohort increased from 31% (16 of 51) to 61% (31 of 51) and the EOR increased from 87% to 95% (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of high-definition 3T-iMRI allowed precise visualization and quantification of adenoma remnant volume. It helped to increase GTR and EOR rates in both tGTR and tSTR patient groups. Moreover, it helped to achieve low rates of intrasellar remnants. These data support the use of 3T-iMRI to achieve maximal, safe adenoma resection.
The role of intraoperative MRI in resective epilepsy surgery for peri-eloquent cortex cortical dysplasias and heterotopias in pediatric patients
Authors: Sacino Matthew F. , Ho Cheng-Ying , Murnick Jonathan , Keating Robert F. , Gaillard William D. , Oluigbo Chima O.
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have demonstrated that an important factor in seizure freedom following surgery for lesional epilepsy in the peri-eloquent cortex is completeness of resection. However, aggressive resection of epileptic tissue localized to this region must be balanced with the competing objective of retaining postoperative neurological functioning. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of intraoperative MRI (iMRI) as a complement to existing epilepsy protocol techniques and to compare rates of seizure freedom and neurological deficit in pediatric patients undergoing resection of perieloquent lesions.

METHODS

The authors retrospectively reviewed the medical records of pediatric patients who underwent resection of focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) or heterotopia localized to eloquent cortex regions at the Children's National Health System between March 2005 and August 2015. Patients were grouped into two categories depending on whether they underwent conventional resection (n = 18) or iMRI-assisted resection (n = 11). Patient records were reviewed for factors including demographics, length of hospitalization, postoperative seizure freedom, postoperative neurological deficit, and need for reoperation. Postsurgical seizure outcome was assessed at the last postoperative follow-up evaluation using the Engel Epilepsy Surgery Outcome Scale.

RESULTS

At the time of the last postoperative follow-up examination, 9 (82%) of the 11 patients in the iMRI resection group were seizure free (Engel Class I), compared with 7 (39%) of the 18 patients in the control resection group (p = 0.05). Ten (91%) of the 11 patients in the iMRI cohort achieved gross-total resection (GTR), compared with 8 (44%) of 18 patients in the conventional resection cohort (p = 0.02). One patient in the iMRI-assisted resection group underwent successful reoperation at a later date for residual dysplasia, compared with 7 patients in the conventional resection cohort (with 2/7 achieving complete resection). Four (36%) of the patients in the iMRI cohort developed postoperative neurological deficits, compared with 15 patients (83%) in the conventional resection cohort (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that in comparison with a conventional surgical protocol and technique for resection of epileptic lesions in peri-eloquent cortex, the incorporation of iMRI led to elevated rates of GTR and postoperative seizure freedom. Furthermore, this study suggests that iMRI-assisted surgeries are associated with a reduction in neurological deficits due to intraoperative damage of eloquent cortex.
Customers Attitude towards E-commerce in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study on Some Selected B2C E-commerce Sites
Authors: Ahamed Bulbul , Islam SM Monirul , Qaom Kismat
Published: March 2016

This study aims at identifying salient attributes of e-commerce sites in Bangladesh. The study tries to assess the perception of customers about the performance of major-e-commerce sites on those attributes. Eighteen potential attributes are preliminarily selected, and after conducting a pre-test on 50 sample respondents eleven salient attributes are selected for the study. Finally 108 respondents are taken as the study sample. Mertin Fishbeins multi-attribute attitude models adopted to measure the customers attitude. Respondents were asked their belief and evaluation towards some B2C ecommerce sites. The benchmark of positive belief is hypothesized as 4 in a 5 point scale. The significance of the difference between observed mean of customers belief and the predetermined benchmark is measured by left tailed Z statistic. It is found that the sample respondents believe that the performance of the B2C e-commerce sites in Bangladesh is up to the benchmark in teams of only two attributes among the eleven. The findings of this study may be used by the existing B2C e-commerce companies as well as by the future e-commerce entrepreneurs in Bangladesh to establish a quality and customer-driven B2C e-commerce industry. Even the customers will be benefitting if the industry considers the findings of the study.Journal of Business and Technology (Dhaka) Vol.10(1) 2015; 37-54
A Comparative Study of Islamic and Conventional Banking in Bangladesh: Camel Analysis
Authors: Islam Md Tanim Ul , Ashrafuzzaman Mohammad
Published: March 2016

The aims of this study are to evaluate the financial performance of Islamic and conventional banks of Bangladesh through CAMEL test during the period of 2009 to 2013. The study tries and to determine whether there are significant differences between the two categories of banks for each of the ratios used in CAMEL test. A sample of five listed conventional banks and five listed Islamic banks were selected to study the objectives. The data used in this study were compiled from the financial statements of the respective sample banks. To make substantial noteworthy results, t-test(independent sample) is used. This paper found no significant difference between the Islamic banks and conventional banks regarding capital adequacy, management capability and earnings but found a significant difference regarding asset quality.Journal of Business and Technology (Dhaka) Vol.10(1) 2015; 73-91
Microbiological analysis and antibacterial activity of pear samples
Authors: Afroz Habiba , Ahmed Tasnia , Uddin Md Aftab
Published: March 2016

Present study attempted to isolate and quantify the microorganisms from the pear samples collected within Dhaka metropolis. Out of the five samples studied, total viable bacterial count and the total coliform count were near about 105 cfu/g and 104 cfu/g, respectively. Among the specific pathogens, prevalence of Salmonella spp. and Vibrio spp. were found only in two samples. Whereas Klebsiella spp, Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in all the samples studied. Fungal growth was also observed in each sample within the range of 8.8×104  9.5×104 cfu/g. The study of antibiogram revealed that, most of the pathogens were resistant to more than one antibiotic. Interestingly the pear samples showed no anti-bacterial activity against any of the laboratory isolates such as, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp. and Bacillus spp.Stamford Journal of Microbiology, Vol.5(1) 2015: 1-4
True Fictions: Biopolitics, Critical Theory and Clinical Materialism
Authors: Tarizzo Davide
Published: March 2016

When considering social phenomena, we can bring into focus either the way society works or the way society does not work. In the first case, emphasis is put on the functioning of society; in the second, on its dysfunctionality. In the first case, we adopt an operational approach; in the second, a clinical approach. In this article, ‘critical theory’ is described as a theory adopting a clinical approach to social and political history. On the basis of such a definition, one can list several paradigms of critical theory — among them, the Marxian, the Nietzschean, the Freudian. They name three different styles or trends of critical theory, which in turn display three different understandings of truth and history as well as three different stances towards ontology.
Biopolitics, Sexuality and the Unconscious
Authors: Zupančič Alenka
Published: March 2016

This article deals with the way in which Michel Foucault first introduced the notion of ‘biopolitics’ through the referential frame of sexuality and psychoanalysis. It focuses on the concept that is utterly and conspicuously missing from Foucault's account, in The History of Sexuality, of the psychoanalytic take on sexuality — namely, the unconscious. It argues that this omission has important and far-reaching consequences for the (Foucauldian) concept of biopolitics as such.
The Vital Error: Where Evolutionary Biology and Genealogy Meet
Authors: Piasentier Marco
Published: March 2016

In On the Genealogy of Morality, Nietzsche sets up an opposition between the ‘naïveté of English biologists’ in their research on the evolution of life and a methodology that records the singularity and the contingency of natural events without introducing any finality: genealogy. Nietzsche shares with these scientists the need to trace the explanation of living beings back to a naturalistic framework liberated from theology, but he questions their linear and progressive conception of the evolution of life. This article explores these two competing biological accounts of life. The first is informed by the adaptationist paradigm, namely the theoretical framework of contemporary ‘English biologists’; the second is elaborated by combining the theories of the palaeontologist Stephen J. Gould with the work of Nietzsche, Foucault and Esposito on life and genealogy. If the former account introduces a positive normative ground — rendering biology a synonym for destiny — the latter runs the risk of being secretly inhabited by a negative normative ground, which prescribes an infinite demand for liberation and transformation.
Temporal Dynamics in Rhizosphere Bacterial Communities of Three Perennial Grassland Species
Authors: Murphy Cheryl , Foster Bryan , Gao Cuilan
Published: March 2016

Rhizodeposition is considered a primary reason for the plant identity effect. However, the detection of distinct rhizosphere bacterial communities (RBC) with different plant species has been variable. The aim of this study was to examine the potential explanations for this variability using three perennial grassland species. In a Kansas field experiment, over two growing seasons, we sampled RBC during the active growth and flowering stages of Agrostis gigantea, Andropogon gerardii and Helianthus maximiliani to: (1) determine the extent of the plant identity effect among these species and if the effect was maintained over time; (2) assess if RBC showed seasonal patterns, corresponding to plant phenology; and (3) examine if soil properties were important for structuring these communities. We found that Helianthus RBC were distinct from those of Agrostis and Andropogon only when Helianthus was flowering. Further, Helianthus RBC exhibited seasonal shifts corresponding to plant phenology. In contrast, Agrostis and Andropogon RBC were similar over time and exhibited gradual non-seasonal changes in compositions. Similar results were observed when accounting for soil properties. Overall, the observance of a plant identity effect depended on the plant species and when RBC were sampled. The seasonality of RBC also depended on the plant species examined.
Capacity Degradation Mechanisms in Nickel/Metal Hydride Batteries
Authors: Young Kwo-hsiung , Yasuoka Shigekazu
Published: March 2016

The consistency in capacity degradation in a multi-cell pack (>100 cells) is critical for ensuring long service life for propulsion applications. As the first step of optimizing a battery system design, academic publications regarding the capacity degradation mechanisms and possible solutions for cycled nickel/metal hydride (Ni/MH) rechargeable batteries under various usage conditions are reviewed. The commonly used analytic methods for determining the failure mode are also presented here. The most common failure mode of a Ni/MH battery is an increase in the cell impedance due to electrolyte dry-out that occurs from venting and active electrode material degradation/disintegration. This work provides a summary of effective methods to extend Ni/MH cell cycle life through negative electrode formula optimizations and binder selection, positive electrode additives and coatings, electrolyte optimization, cell design, and others. Methods of reviving and recycling used/spent batteries are also reviewed.
On Objectivity, Irreversibility and Non-Newtonian Fluids
Authors: Kirwan A.
Published: March 2016

Early progress in non-Newtonian fluid mechanics was facilitated by the emergence of two fundamental and complementary principles: objective constitutive characterizations and unambiguous identification of irreversible processes. Motivated by practical and economic concerns in recent years, this line of fluid research has expanded to include debris flows, slurries, biofluids and fluid-solid mixtures; i.e., complex nonlinear fluids with disparate flow properties. Phenomenological descriptions of these fluids now necessarily include strong nonlinear coupling between the fluxes of mass, energy and momentum. Here, I review these principles, illustrate how they constrain the constitutive equations for non-Newtonian fluids and demonstrate how they have impacted other areas of fluid research.
The Impact of the Irrelevant: Temporary Buy-Options and Bidding Behavior in Auctions
Authors: Peeters Ronald , Strobel Martin , Vermeulen Dries , Walzl Markus
Published: March 2016

With a laboratory experiment, we study the impact of buy-options and the corresponding buy-price on revenues and bidding behavior in (online) proxy-auctions with independent private valuations. We show that temporary buy-options may reduce revenues for two reasons: At low buy-prices, the application of the buy-option avoids revenue-enhancing bidding; at high buy-prices, bidders are reluctant to bid above the option price (even though the option is no longer available once an auction has started). The latter suggests a particular type of anchoring, where bidders use the buy-price to update their expectations about the strengths of their opponents.
Study of Patients’ Willingness to Pay for a Cure of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Taiwan
Authors: Chen Yi-Ting , Ying Yung-Hsiang , Chang Koyin , Hsieh Ya-Hui
Published: March 2016

Objectives: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the fastest growing causes of death worldwide. However, few studies, if any, have been conducted that have investigated patient profiles in Asia. This paper analyzes patient willingness to pay (WTP) as a function of patient disease severity, health-related quality of life (HRQL), and smoking behavior in Taiwan. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using in-person interviews with COPD patients. A hypothetical scenario was designed and presented to ascertain each subject’s willingness to pay (WTP) for a cure for COPD. Methods: A survey of subjects with COPD was performed in Taiwan. The contingent valuation method (CVM) was employed to measure patient financial burden, which was analyzed along with covariates that included various types of health-related quality of life (HRQL), severity level, and demographic background. Multivariate regression and simulation methods were employed for analysis. Results: A total of 142 subjects were interviewed, with an average annual WTP of approximately $1422 USD (or 42,662.37 NTD, New Taiwan Dollars). The annual WTP for patients 55 years of age or younger, $5709.06, was the highest and equivalent to approximately one-third of Taiwan average annual personal income or quadruple the spending amount of the Taiwan National Bureau of Health Insurance (NBHI) for each COPD patient. Current cigarette smokers were willing to pay a substantially higher amount than former smokers and nonsmokers, which reflects a psychological desire for redemption in COPD patients. Conclusions: The results of this study provide directions for the relevant authorities regarding the alleviation of suffering as a result of COPD. Appropriate health promotion measures, such as measures to reduce tobacco usage, early diagnosis, and active treatment, may be necessary to contain the escalating costs related to COPD and to prevent this epidemic from worsening.
5-Methoxyl Aesculetin Abrogates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation by Suppressing MAPK and AP-1 Pathways in RAW 264.7 Cells
Authors: Wu Lei , Li Xueqin , Wu Haifeng , Long Wei , Jiang Xiaojian , Shen Ting , Qiang Qian , Si Chuanling , Wang Xinfeng , Jiang Yunyao , Hu Weicheng
Published: March 2016

For the first time, a pale amorphous coumarin derivative, 5-methoxyl aesculetin (MOA), was isolated from the dried bark of Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance (Oleaceae). MOA modulates cytokine expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, but the precise mechanisms are still not fully understood. We determined the effects of MOA on the production of inflammatory mediators and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the LPS-induced inflammatory responses of RAW 264.7 macrophages. MOA significantly inhibited the LPS-induced production of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β. It also effectively attenuated inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, and TNF-α mRNA expression and significantly decreased the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species. It inhibited phosphorylation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), thus blocking nuclear translocation of activation protein (AP)-1. In a molecular docking study, MOA was shown to target the binding site of ERK via the formation of three hydrogen bonds with two residues of the kinase, which is sufficient for the inhibition of ERK. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of MOA in RAW 264.7 macrophages derive from its ability to block both the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and one of their downstream transcription factors, activator protein-1 (AP-1). Our observations support the need for further research into MOA as a promising therapeutic agent in inflammatory diseases.
A Comparative Study on Weighted Central Moment and Its Application in 2D Shape Retrieval
Authors: Shu Xin , Zhang Qianni , Shi Jinlong , Qi Yunsong
Published: March 2016

Moment invariants have been extensively studied and widely used in object recognition. The pioneering investigation of moment invariants in pattern recognition was due to Hu, where a set of moment invariants for similarity transformation were developed using the theory of algebraic invariants. This paper details a comparative analysis on several modifications of the original Hu moment invariants which are used to describe and retrieve two-dimensional (2D) shapes with a single closed contour. The main contribution of this paper is that we propose several different weighting functions to calculate the central moment according to human visual processing. The comparative results are detailed through experimental analysis. The results suggest that the moment invariants improved by weighting functions can get a better retrieval performance than the original one does.
Geovisualization of Mercury Contamination in Lake St. Clair Sediments
Authors: Forsythe K. , Marvin Chris , Valancius Christine , Watt James , Aversa Joseph , Swales Stephen , Jakubek Daniel , Shaker Richard
Published: March 2016

The Laurentian Great Lakes of North America contain approximately 20% of the earth’s fresh water. Smaller lakes, rivers and channels connect the lakes to the St. Lawrence Seaway, creating an interconnected freshwater and marine ecosystem. The largest delta system in the Great Lakes is located in the northeastern portion of Lake St. Clair. This article focuses on the geovisualization of total mercury pollution from sediment samples that were collected in 1970, 1974 and 2001. To assess contamination patterns, dot maps were created and compared with surfaces that were generated using the kriging spatial interpolation technique. Bathymetry data were utilized in geovisualization procedures to develop three-dimensional representations of the contaminant surfaces. Lake St. Clair generally has higher levels of contamination in deeper parts of the lake, in the dredged shipping route through the lake and in proximity to the main outflow channels through the St. Clair delta. Mercury pollution levels were well above the Probable Effect Level in large portions of the lake in both 1970 and 1974. Lower contaminant concentrations were observed in the 2001 data. Lake-wide spatial distributions are discernable using the kriging technique; however, they are much more apparent when they are geovisualized using bathymetry data.
Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products and Risk Factors for Chronic Disease: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials
Authors: Clarke Rachel , Dordevic Aimee , Tan Sih , Ryan Lisa , Coughlan Melinda
Published: March 2016

Dietary advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) form during heating and processing of food products and are widely prevalent in the modern Western diet. Recent systematic reviews indicate that consumption of dietary AGEs may promote inflammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance. Experimental evidence indicates that dietary AGEs may also induce renal damage, however, this outcome has not been considered in previous systematic reviews. The purpose of this review was to examine the effect of consumption of a high AGE diet on biomarkers of chronic disease, including chronic kidney disease (CKD), in human randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Six databases (SCOPUS, CINHAL, EMBASE, Medline, Biological abstracts and Web of Science) were searched for randomised controlled dietary trials that compared high AGE intake to low AGE intake in adults with and without obesity, diabetes or CKD. Twelve dietary AGE interventions were identified with a total of 293 participants. A high AGE diet increased circulating tumour necrosis factor-alpha and AGEs in all populations. A high AGE diet increased 8-isoprostanes in healthy adults, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in patients with diabetes. Markers of CKD were not widely assessed. The evidence presented indicates that a high AGE diet may contribute to risk factors associated with chronic disease, such as inflammation and oxidative stress, however, due to a lack of high quality randomised trials, more research is required.
Change Detection of Submerged Seagrass Biomass in Shallow Coastal Water
Authors: Misbari Syarifuddin , Hashim Mazlan
Published: March 2016

Satellite remote sensing is an advanced tool used to characterize seagrass biomass and monitor changes in clear to less-turbid waters by analyzing multi-temporal satellite images. Seagrass information was extracted from the multi-temporal satellite datasets following a two-step procedure: (i) retrieval of substrate-leaving radiances; and (ii) estimation of seagrass total aboveground biomass (STAGB). Firstly, the substrate leaving radiances is determined by compensating the water column correction of the pre-processed data because of the inherent errors associated with the geometric and radiometric fidelities including atmospheric perturbations. Secondly, the seagrass leaving radiances were correlated to the corresponding in situ STAGB to predict seagrass biomass. The relationship between STAGB and cover percentage was then established for seagrass meadows occurring in Merambong, Straits of Johor, Malaysia. By applying the above-mentioned approach on Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) acquired in 2009 and Operational Land Imager (OLI) data acquired in 2013, the resulting maps indicated that submerged STAGB in less clear water can be successfully quantified empirically from Landsat data, and can be utilized in STAGB change detection over time. Data validation showed a good agreement between in situ STAGB and Landsat TM (R2 = 0.977, p < 0.001) and OLI (R2 = 0.975, p < 0.001) derived water leaving radiances for the studied seagrass meadows. The STAGB was estimated as 803 ± 0.47 kg in 2009, while it was 752.3 ± 0.34 kg in 2013, suggesting a decrease of 50.7 kg within the four-year interval. This could be mainly due to land reclamation in the intertidal mudflat areas performed, with a view to increase port facilities and coastal landscape development. Statistics on dugong sightings also supports changes in STAGB.
Fabrication and Evaluation of a Graphene Oxide-Based Capacitive Humidity Sensor
Authors: Feng Jinfeng , Kang Xiaoxu , Zuo Qingyun , Yuan Chao , Wang Weijun , Zhao Yuhang , Zhu Limin , Lu Hanwei , Chen Juying
Published: March 2016

In this study, a CMOS compatible capacitive humidity sensor structure was designed and fabricated on a 200 mm CMOS BEOL Line. A top Al interconnect layer was used as an electrode with a comb/serpent structure, and graphene oxide (GO) was used as sensing material. XRD analysis was done which shows that GO sensing material has a strong and sharp (002) peak at about 10.278°, whereas graphite has (002) peak at about 26°. Device level CV and IV curves were measured in mini-environments at different relative humidity (RH) level, and saturated salt solutions were used to build these mini-environments. To evaluate the potential value of GO material in humidity sensor applications, a prototype humidity sensor was designed and fabricated by integrating the sensor with a dedicated readout ASIC and display/calibration module. Measurements in different mini-environments show that the GO-based humidity sensor has higher sensitivity, faster recovery time and good linearity performance. Compared with a standard humidity sensor, the measured RH data of our prototype humidity sensor can match well that of the standard product.
Green Development Performance in China: A Metafrontier Non-Radial Approach
Authors: Li Ke , Song Malin
Published: March 2016

This paper proposes a green development growth index (GDGI) for measuring the changes in sustainable development over time. This index considers a wide range of pollutants, and allows for the incorporation of group heterogeneity and non-radial slack in the conventional green development index. The GDGI is calculated based on a non-radial directional distance function derived by several data envelopment analysis (DEA) models, and was decomposed into an efficiency change (EC) index, a best-practice gap change (BPC) index and a technology gap change (TGC) index. The proposed indices are employed to measure green development performance in 30 provinces in China from 2000 to 2012. The empirical results show that China has a low level of green development, with a 2.58% increase per year driven by an innovation effect. China’s green development is mainly led by the eastern region, and the technology gaps between the eastern region and the other two regions (the central and western regions) have become wider over the years. The group innovative provinces have set a target for resource utilization of non-innovative provinces in order to catch-up with the corresponding groups, while the metafrontier innovative provinces provide targets for the technology levels of other provinces to improve their green development performance.
The Role of Sustainable Service Innovation in Crafting the Vision of the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Horng Jeou-Shyan , Wang Chung-Jen , Liu Chih-Hsing , Chou Sheng-Fang , Tsai Chang-Yen
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the key characteristics of sustainable service innovation in the hospitality industry. We conducted a content analysis based on the interview records for 17 experts (including three academic scholars, three government officers and 11 top-level managers) with an average of 20 years of experience in the hospitality management domain in Taiwan. The analytical results conform to Amabile’s (1988) componential theory of creativity and innovation and show that 11 characteristics are major indicators of sustainable service innovation in the hotel management field. These include the following characteristics: market position, customer satisfaction, service orientation, environmental thinking, employee involvement, incentive mechanism, human resource development, environmental services, cultural resource management, government policy and school education. Accordingly, using the integrated theory of sustainable service innovation and professional opinions from experts, we provide theoretical and practical implications for current and future trends on sustainability and innovation in the hospitality industry.
Population-Based Trends in Systemic Therapy Use and Cost for Cancer Patients in the Last Year of Life
Authors: Pataky R.E. , Cheung W.Y. , de Oliveira C. , Bremner K.E. , Chan K.K.W. , Hoch J.S. , Krahn M.D. , Peacock S.J.
Published: March 2016

Background: The use of systemic therapy near the end of life can expose cancer patients to severe toxicity for minimal survival gain and comes with a high cost. Early palliative care is recommended, but there is evidence that aggressive care remains common. To better understand those patterns, the present study set out to describe trends in systemic therapy use and cost for cancer patients in the last year of life. Methods: Using the BC Cancer Registry, a retrospective population-based cohort of cancer decedents (2002–2007) was identified and linked to systemic therapy records. The outcomes of interest were any systemic therapy use and total systemic therapy costs during the last year of life. Multiple logistic regression (systemic therapy use) and generalized linear regression (costs) were conducted, adjusting for age, sex, and survival. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients with primary colorectal, lung, prostate, or breast cancer. Results: From 2002 to 2007, use of systemic therapy in the last 12–4 months of life increased by 21% (95% CI: 10% to 33%); no significant change in use in the last 3 months of life was observed. Costs for both periods increased over time, by 48% (95% CI: 36% to 63%) and by 33% (95% CI: 19% to 49%) respectively. The trends varied across cancer sites, with the greatest increases being observed for lung and colorectal cancer patients. Conclusions: The use and costs of systemic therapy have generally been increasing, putting pressure on health care providers and payers, but the quality-of-life implications for patients must be better understood.
GLOBULAR CLUSTERS AND SPUR CLUSTERS IN NGC 4921, THE BRIGHTEST SPIRAL GALAXY IN THE COMA CLUSTER
Authors: Lee Myung Gyoon , Jang In Sung
Published: March 2016

We resolve a significant fraction of globular clusters (GCs) in NGC 4921, the brightest spiral galaxy in the Coma cluster. We also find a number of extended bright star clusters (star complexes) in the spur region of the arms. The latter are much brighter and bluer than those in the normal star-forming region, being as massive as 3 × 105
M
⊙. The color distribution of the GCs in this galaxy is found to be bimodal. The turnover magnitudes of the luminosity functions of the blue (metal-poor) GCs (0.70 < (V − I) ≤ 1.05) in the halo are estimated V(max) = 27.11 ± 0.09 mag and I(max) = 26.21 ± 0.11 mag. We obtain similar values for NGC 4923, a companion S0 galaxy, and two Coma cD galaxies (NGC 4874 and NGC 4889). The mean value for the turnover magnitudes of these four galaxies is I(max) = 26.25 ± 0.03 mag. Adopting M

I
(max) = −8.56 ± 0.09 mag for the metal-poor GCs, we determine the mean distance to the four Coma galaxies to be 91 ± 4 Mpc. Combining this with the Coma radial velocity, we derive a value of the Hubble constant, H
0 = 77.9 ± 3.6 km s−1 Mpc−1. We estimate the GC specific frequency of NGC 4921 to be S

N
 = 1.29 ± 0.25, close to the values for early-type galaxies. This indicates that NGC 4921 is in the transition phase to S0s.
THE MOSDEF SURVEY: DYNAMICAL AND BARYONIC MASSES AND KINEMATIC STRUCTURES OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES AT 1.4 ≤ z ≤ 2.6
Authors: Price Sedona H. , Kriek Mariska , Shapley Alice E. , Reddy Naveen A. , Freeman William R. , Coil Alison L. , Groot Laura de , Shivaei Irene , Siana Brian , Azadi Mojegan , Barro Guillermo , Mobasher Bahram , Sanders Ryan L. , Zick Tom
Published: March 2016

We present

gas kinematics for 178 star-forming galaxies at

from the MOSFIRE Deep Evolution Field survey. We have developed models to interpret the kinematic measurements from fixed-angle multi-object spectroscopy, using structural parameters derived from Cosmic Assembly Near-Infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey Hubble Space Telescope/F160W imaging. For 35 galaxies, we measure resolved rotation with a median of

. We derive dynamical masses from the kinematics and sizes and compare them to baryonic masses, with gas masses estimated from dust-corrected

star formation rates (SFRs) and the Kennicutt–Schmidt relation. When assuming that galaxies with and without observed rotation have the same median

, we find good agreement between the dynamical and baryonic masses, with a scatter of

and a median offset of

. This comparison implies a low dark matter fraction (8% within an effective radius) for a Chabrier initial mass function (IMF), and disfavors a Salpeter IMF. Moreover, the requirement that

/

should be independent of inclination yields a median value of

for galaxies without observed rotation. If, instead, we treat the galaxies without detected rotation as early-type galaxies, the masses are also in reasonable agreement (

,

). The inclusion of gas masses is critical in this comparison; if gas masses are excluded, there is an increasing trend of

/

with higher specific SFR (SSFR). Furthermore, we find indications that

decreases with increasing

SSFR for our full sample, which may reflect disk settling. We also study the Tully–Fisher relation and find that at fixed stellar mass

was higher at earlier times. At fixed baryonic mass, we observe the opposite trend. Finally, the baryonic and dynamical masses of the active galactic nuclei in our sample are also in excellent agreement, suggesting that the kinematics trace the host galaxies.
LYMAN CONTINUUM ESCAPE FRACTION OF STAR-FORMING DWARF GALAXIES AT z ∼ 1
Authors: Rutkowski Michael J. , Scarlata Claudia , Haardt Francesco , Siana Brian , Henry Alaina , Rafelski Marc , Hayes Matthew , Salvato Mara , Pahl Anthony J. , Mehta Vihang , Beck Melanie , Malkan Matthew , Teplitz Harry I.
Published: March 2016

To date, no direct detection of Lyman continuum emission has been measured for intermediate-redshift (

) star-forming galaxies. We combine Hubble Space Telescope grism spectroscopy with GALEX UV and ground-based optical imaging to extend the search for escaping Lyman continuum to a large (∼600) sample of

low-mass (

9.3

), moderately star-forming (

≲ 10

yr−1) galaxies selected initially on Hα emission. The characteristic escape fraction of LyC from star-forming galaxies (SFGs) that populate this parameter space remains weakly constrained by previous surveys, but these faint (sub-L
⋆) SFGs are assumed to play a significant role in the reionization of neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium (IGM) at high redshift

. We do not make an unambiguous detection of escaping LyC radiation from this

sample, individual non-detections to constrain the absolute Lyman continuum escape fraction,

(3σ). We measure an upper limit of

from a sample of SFGs selected on high Hα equivalent width (EW

), which are thought to be close analogs of high redshift sources of reionization. For reference, we also present an emissivity-weighted escape fraction that is useful for measuring the general contribution SFGs to the ionizing UV background. In the discussion, we consider the implications of these intermediate redshift constraints for the reionization of hydrogen in the IGM at high (

) redshift. If we assume our

SFGs, for which we measure this emissivity-weighted

,  are analogs to the high redshift sources of reionization, we find it is difficult to reconcile reionization by faint (

) SFGs with a low escape fraction (

), with constraints from independent high redshift observations. If

 evolves with redshift, reionization by SFGs may be consistent with observations from Planck.
PROPERTIES OF THE INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM IN STAR-FORMING GALAXIES AT z ∼ 1.4 REVEALED WITH ALMA
Authors: Seko Akifumi , Ohta Kouji , Yabe Kiyoto , Hatsukade Bunyo , Akiyama Masayuki , Iwamuro Fumihide , Tamura Naoyuki , Dalton Gavin
Published: March 2016

We conducted observations of 12CO(J = 5–4) and dust thermal continuum emission toward 20 star-forming galaxies on the main sequence at z ∼ 1.4 using ALMA to investigate the properties of the interstellar medium. The sample galaxies are chosen to trace the distributions of star-forming galaxies in diagrams of stellar mass versus star formation rate and stellar mass versus metallicity. We detected CO emission lines from 11 galaxies. The molecular gas mass is derived by adopting a metallicity-dependent CO-to-H2 conversion factor and assuming a CO(5–4)/CO(1–0) luminosity ratio of 0.23. Masses of molecular gas and its fractions (molecular gas mass/(molecular gas mass + stellar mass)) for the detected galaxies are in the ranges of (3.9–12) × 1010 M
⊙ and 0.25–0.94, respectively; these values are significantly larger than those in local spiral galaxies. The molecular gas mass fraction decreases with increasing stellar mass; the relation holds for four times lower stellar mass than that covered in previous studies, and the molecular gas mass fraction decreases with increasing metallicity. Stacking analyses also show the same trends. Dust thermal emissions were clearly detected from two galaxies and marginally detected from five galaxies. Dust masses of the detected galaxies are (3.9–38) × 107 M
⊙. We derived gas-to-dust ratios and found they are 3–4 times larger than those in local galaxies. The depletion times of molecular gas for the detected galaxies are (1.4–36) × 108 yr while the results of the stacking analysis show ∼3 × 108 yr. The depletion time tends to decrease with increasing stellar mass and metallicity though the trend is not so significant, which contrasts with the trends in local galaxies.