bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward Improved Identifiability of Soil Hydraulic Parameters: On the Selection of a Suitable Parametric Model
Authors: Vrugt Jasper A. , Bouten Willem , Gupta Hoshin V. , Hopmans Jan W.
Published: April 2015

We present a thorough identifiability analysis of the soil hydraulic parameters in the parametric models of Brooks and Corey (BC; Brooks and Corey, 1964), Mualem–van Genuchten (VG; van Genuchten, 1980), and Kosugi (KC; Kosugi, 1996, 1999) using the recently developed Shuffled Complex Evolution Metropolis (SCEM‐UA) algorithm (Vrugt et al., 2002b, and unpublished data). Because the SCEM‐UA algorithm globally thoroughly exploits the parameter space and therefore explicitly accounts for parameter interdependence and nonlinearity of the employed parametric models, the algorithm is suited to generate a useful description of parameter uncertainty and its antithesis, parameter identifiability. A set of measured water retention characteristics of the UNSODA database (Leij et al., 1996) spanning a wide range of soil textures and three transient laboratory outflow experiments with decreasing flow rates were used to illustrate that a parameter identifiability analysis facilitates the selection of an adequate parametric model structure and provides useful information about the limitations of a model. Moreover, results suggest that one should be especially careful in establishing pedotransfer functions without knowledge of the underlying posterior uncertainty associated with the soil hydraulic parameters using direct estimation methods.
Income-Based Inequality in Educational Outcomes
Authors: Papay John P. , Murnane Richard J. , Willett John B.
Published: April 2015

We report results from our long-standing research partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. We make two primary contributions. First, we illustrate the wide range of informative analyses that can be conducted using a state longitudinal data system and the advantages of examining evidence from multiple cohorts of students. Second, we document large income-based gaps in educational attainments, including high school graduation rates and college-going rates. Importantly, we show that income-related gaps in both educational credentials and academic skill have narrowed substantially over the past several years in Massachusetts.
Comparative Evaluation of BacT/ALERT 3D Culture Medium and Nested PCR in the Diagnosis of Tuberculous Meningitis
Authors: Rahaman H Sk , Kumar G , Meena VK , Agarwal A , Nath G , Kumar K
Published: April 2015

Introduction: We evaluated the efficacy of BacT/ALERT 3D culture medium in comparison with nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for early diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Methodology: A total of 50 clinically suspected patients with CSF findings suggestive of TBM (Tuberculous meningitis) and 20 healthy controls were included in the present study.CSF from each of the patient was inoculated in BacT/ALERT-MP culture media along with the culture on convention Lowenstein in Jensen’s medium. Simultaneously nested PCR was carried out both in CSF and growth positive above culture media targeting heat shock protein gene (hsp65), a conserved gene of MTb. Results: The culture showed 76% (38/50) positivity in TBM; however, 15% (3/20) of controls also showed false positivity by BacT/ALERT-MP system. By nested CSF-PCR, TBM could be detected in 92% (46/50)cases and 5% (1/20) in the controls. The other interesting observation was that when DNA isolated from broth of BacT/ALERT MP culture were subjected for PCR amplification, 15 (39.5%) of them yielded the desired amp icon for MTb while the broths subjected to conventional LJ media yielded for M. tuberculosis in 12 of the 38 bottles (31.5%). None of culture negative medium was positive by PCR. Sensitivity and specificity of BacT/ALERT MP culture considering all of them as real positive were 76% and 85% while for nested PCR the corresponding values were 92% and 95% respectively. Conclusions: BacT/ALERT 3D culture medium seems to be unsatisfactory as isolation sensitivity rate is very poor. Moreover, growth indicated in the medium must be confirmed for being Myco bacteria as other contaminants can also grow.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v11i2.12429SAARC J TUBER LUNG DIS HIV/AIDS, 2014;XI(2),Page: 15-20
Delay in Diagnosis of Tuberculosis among Under Treatment Patients in Rajshahi City, Bangladesh
Authors: Chowdhury Md RK , Rahman Md S , Mondal Md N I , Islam Md R , Sayem Md A
Published: April 2015

Introduction: Delay in diagnosis regarding Tuberculosis (TB) is common in developing country as well as in Bangladesh. Therefore, the aim of the study is to identify the factors which have effects on delay in diagnosis. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out at Rajshahi City, Bangladesh. A total of 384 TB patients were took part in the interview presented in the study areas for seeking treatment. The samples were selected using stratified random sampling with simple random sampling techniques. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression methods in SPSS were employed in this analysis. Results: The results revealed that around 76.3% patients delay in diagnosis and among them 81.3% pulmonary patients were found delay. Patients’ sex, educational status, area of living, and monthly family income were significantly associated with delay in the diagnosis of TB, as obtained through Chisquare test. Multivariate logistic regression method identified sex, educational status, and monthly family income and first visit before diagnosis as risk factors of diagnostic delay. Conclusion: Massive health education needs to be included in the existing TB control programs to enhance the accessibility of patients in health-care service without delay in diagnosis.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v11i2.12435SAARC J TUBER LUNG DIS HIV/AIDS, 2014;XI(2), Page: 21-28
Lifestyle Pattern among the People Living with AIDS in Eastern Nepal
Authors: Mehta RS , Karki P
Published: April 2015

Introduction: In world more than 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, 2.3 million are under 15 yrs and 14000 new infections occur daily. The objectives of this study was to assess the lifestyle pattern among the people living with AIDS (PLWA) receiving anti-retroviral therapy at B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences and find out the association between lifestyle pattern and the selected demographic variables. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used to assess lifestyle pattern of the PLWA receiving anti-retroviral therapy at the ART clinic of Tropical ward at B.P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS). The PLWA receiving ART at BPKIHS for more than or equal to three months at the ART clinic who met the selection criteria constituted the sample of the study. Using purposive sampling technique total 113 PLWA were selected. The patients who themselves were physically present during the data collection period were included in the study, after their consent for the purpose. Results: It was found that most of the PLWA were of age less than 40 years, male (61.1%), residing in urban area (74.3%), married (75.2%) and Hindu (74.3%). It was found that 83.2% PLWA never do exercise, whereas 8.8% perform regularly. Most of the (91.2%) people living with AIDS reported feeling pressure and stress in daily life. About 57% PLWA only sleep less than 6 hours per day. About half (52.2%) of the PLWA never take food outside home, where as 34.5% take food outside regularly. The habit of using tobacco is present among 28.3% people living with ADIS, where the past history of using was 39.8%. Similarly only 0.9% PLWA had habit of taking alcohol at present and 63.7% in past; and 28.3% had habit of taking substances in past. The association calculated between selected demographic variables (age, sex, marital status, residence and religion) with lifestyle pattern (exercise, tobacco chewing, alcohol consumption, and food habit) found significant association between marital status and exercise (p <0.001), Tobacco consumption and age (p <0.001) only. Conclusion: The positive life style practices among the PLWA found high at present in comparison to past especially in relation to Tobacco, Alcohol and Substance use. Individual counseling and support is vital for improving the condition.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/saarctb.v11i2.12436SAARC J TUBER LUNG DIS HIV/AIDS, 2014;XI(2) 29, Page: 29-33
Interdigitated craniotomy: a simple technique to fix a bone flap with only a single plate
Authors: Takahashi Noboru , Fujiwara Kazunori , Saito Keiichi , Tominaga Teiji
Published: April 2015

In pterional craniotomy, fixation plates cause artifacts on postoperative radiological images; furthermore, they often disfigure the scalp in hairless areas. The authors describe a simple technique to fix a cranial bone flap with only a single plate underneath the temporalis muscle in an area with hair, rather than using a plate in a hairless area. The key to this technique is to cut the anterior site of the bone flap at alternate angles on the cut surface. Interdigitation between the bone flap and skull enables single-plate fixation in the area with hair, which reduces artifacts on postoperative radiological images and provides excellent postoperative cosmetic results.
Impairment of preoperative language mapping by lesion location: a functional magnetic resonance imaging, navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation, and direct cortical stimulation study
Authors: Ille Sebastian , Sollmann Nico , Hauck Theresa , Maurer Stefanie , Tanigawa Noriko , Obermueller Thomas , Negwer Chiara , Droese Doris , Boeckh-Behrens Tobias , Meyer Bernhard , Ringel Florian , Krieg Sandro M.
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

Language mapping by repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is increasingly used and has already replaced functional MRI (fMRI) in some institutions for preoperative mapping of neurosurgical patients. Yet some factors affect the concordance of both methods with direct cortical stimulation (DCS), most likely by lesions affecting cortical oxygenation levels. Therefore, the impairment of the accuracy of rTMS and fMRI was analyzed and compared with DCS during awake surgery in patients with intraparenchymal lesions.

METHODS

Language mapping was performed by DCS, rTMS, and fMRI using an object-naming task in 27 patients with left-sided perisylvian lesions, and the induced language errors of each method were assigned to the cortical parcellation system. Subsequently, the receiver operating characteristics were calculated for rTMS and fMRI and compared with DCS as ground truth for regions with (w/) and without (w/o) the lesion in the mapped regions.

RESULTS

The w/ subgroup revealed a sensitivity of 100% (w/o 100%), a specificity of 8% (w/o 5%), a positive predictive value of 34% (w/o: 53%), and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 100% (w/o: 100%) for the comparison of rTMS versus DCS. Findings for the comparison of fMRI versus DCS within the w/ subgroup revealed a sensitivity of 32% (w/o: 62%), a specificity of 88% (w/o: 60%), a positive predictive value of 56% (w/o: 62%), and a NPV of 73% (w/o: 60%).

CONCLUSIONS

Although strengths and weaknesses exist for both rTMS and fMRI, the results show that rTMS is less affected by a brain lesion than fMRI, especially when performing mapping of language-negative cortical regions based on sensitivity and NPV.
Association of intracranial aneurysms and meningiomas: a case-control study
Authors: Kim Young-Hoon , Lee Young Jin , Han Jung Ho , Ahn Soyeon , Lee Jaebong , Kim Jae Hyoung , Choi Byung Se , Bang Jae Seung , Kim Chae-Yong , Hwang Gyojun , Kwon O-Ki , Oh Chang Wan
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

The authors aimed to assess whether the prevalence of intracranial aneurysms in patients with intracranial meningiomas was higher than that in a healthy population.

METHODS

The authors performed a hospital-based case-control study of 300 patients with newly diagnosed intracranial meningiomas and 900 age- and sex-matched controls without a history of brain tumors to evaluate any associations between intracranial aneurysms and intracranial meningiomas. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression models were used for case-control comparisons.

RESULTS

Intracranial aneurysms were identified in 23 patients (7.7%) and 24 controls (2.7%; p < 0.001). There was a significant association between intracranial aneurysms and intracranial meningiomas (OR 2.913, 95% CI 1.613–5.261) and hypertension (OR 1.905, 95% CI 1.053–3.446). In a subgroup analysis of the patients with newly diagnosed intracranial meningiomas, there was a significant association between intracranial aneurysms and hypertension (OR 2.876, 95% CI 1.125–7.352) and tumor volume (OR 1.012, 95% CI 1.001–1.024). These patients were also more likely than controls to have other intracranial vascular diseases (p < 0.001), such as isolated occlusion of the intracranial vessels, excluding intracranial aneurysms.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of intracranial aneurysms was higher in patients with intracranial meningiomas. Hypertension and tumor volume appear to be associated with the formation of intracranial aneurysms in these patients.
Comparison of sinonasal quality of life and health status in patients undergoing microscopic and endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary lesions: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Little Andrew S. , Kelly Daniel F. , Milligan John , Griffiths Chester , Prevedello Daniel M. , Carrau Ricardo L. , Rosseau Gail , Barkhoudarian Garni , Jahnke Heidi , Chaloner Charlene , Jelinek Kathryn L. , Chapple Kristina , White William L.
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

Despite the widespread adoption of endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary adenomas, the sinonasal quality of life (QOL) and health status in patients who have undergone this technique have not been compared with these findings in patients who have undergone the traditional direct uninostril microsurgical technique. In this study, the authors compared the sinonasal QOL and patient-reported health status after use of these 2 surgical techniques.

METHODS

The study design was a nonblinded prospective cohort study. Adult patients with sellar pathology and planned transsphenoidal surgery were screened at 4 pituitary centers in the US between October 2011 and August 2013. The primary end point of the study was postoperative patient-reported sinonasal QOL as measured by the Anterior Skull Base Nasal Inventory–12 (ASK Nasal-12). Supplementary end points included patient-reported health status estimated by the 8-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-8) and EuroQol (EQ)-5D-5L instruments, and sinonasal complications. Patients were followed for 6 months after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 301 patients were screened and 235 were enrolled in the study. Of these, 218 were analyzed (111 microsurgery patients, 107 endoscopic surgery patients). Demographic and tumor characteristics were similar between groups (p ≥ 0.12 for all comparisons). The most common complication in both groups was sinusitis (7% in the microsurgery group, 13% in the endoscopic surgery group; p = 0.15). Patients treated with the endoscopic technique were more likely to have postoperative nasal debridements (p < 0.001). The ASK Nasal-12 and SF-8 scores worsened substantially for both groups at 2 weeks after surgery, but then returned to baseline at 3 months. At 3 months after surgery, patients treated with endoscopy reported statistically better sinonasal QOL compared with patients treated using the microscopic technique (p = 0.02), but there were no significant differences at any of the other postoperative time points.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first multicenter study to examine the effect of the transsphenoidal surgical technique on sinonasal QOL and health status. The study showed that surgical technique did not significantly impact these patient-reported measures when performed at high-volume centers.

Clinical trial registration no.: NCT01504399 (clinicaltrials.gov).
Long-term follow-up study of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture treated using balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty
Authors: Liu Jung-Tung , Li Cho-shun , Chang Cheng-Siu , Liao Wen-Jui
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

Long-term follow-up study is required for verifying whether the clinical outcomes of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are altered. The authors' findings showed only subtle differences between these operations within a 5-year period. However, they still suggest the use of vertebroplasty over kyphoplasty in view of the treatment costs. In their previous study, the authors performed a short-term prospective comparison between vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty. Vertebroplasty was recommended instead of kyphoplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) because of the subtle differences between this procedure and kyphoplasty and the treatment costs. To determine whether these clinical outcomes persist in the long term, they continued to observe the patients from their short-term study over a longer-term period.

METHODS

One hundred cases of VCF were assigned randomly to either the kyphoplasty or the vertebroplasty group. In cement augmentation, the authors used polymethylmethacrylate as bone filler. Pain was assessed by using a visual analog scale (VAS). For each patient, vertebral body height and wedge angle were measured from reconstructed CT images.

RESULTS

The duration of the follow-up period was 5 years. Vertebral body height, kyphotic wedge angle, and VAS score were not evidently altered. Eight patients in the kyphoplasty group had an adjacent fracture after the procedure, whereas 7 patients in the vertebroplasty group had an adjacent fracture after the procedure. These adjacent fractures occurred within 1 year of surgery in both treatment groups except in 1 kyphoplasty-treated patient in whom the adjacent fracture was noted 16 months after treatment. Three patients in the vertebroplasty group had a nonadjacent fracture, and 4 patients in the kyphoplasty group had a nonadjacent fracture. The link between angular correction and the occurrence of adjacent fracture was statistically significant in the vertebroplasty group.

CONCLUSIONS

Excessive angular correction is a critical concern in the risk of adjacent fracture after vertebroplasty. Given the subtle differences between vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty observed over the course of 5 years, vertebroplasty remains the preferred option in view of the costs.
Long-term quality of life after endonasal endoscopic resection of adult craniopharyngiomas
Authors: Patel Kunal S. , Raza Shaan M. , McCoul Edward D. , Patrona Aikaterini , Greenfield Jeffrey P. , Souweidane Mark M. , Anand Vijay K. , Schwartz Theodore H.
Published: April 2015

OBJECT

Craniopharyngiomas are benign parasellar tumors for which surgical removal, although potentially curative, often leads to morbidity with resulting decreases in quality of life (QOL). The endonasal endoscopic approach is a minimal-access technique for removing these tumors and may reduce postoperative morbidity. The QOL following this method for resection of craniopharyngiomas has not been documented.

METHODS

The authors reviewed a database of consecutive endonasal endoscopic surgeries done at Weill Cornell Medical College. Adult patients with histologically proven craniopharyngiomas were included who had completed either only postoperative (> 9 months) or both pre- and postoperative QOL forms, the Anterior Skull Base Quality of Life (ASBQ) questionnaire, and the 22-Item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). Rates of gross-total resection (GTR), complications, and visual and endocrine function were collected. Retrospective independence (Wen score) was also assigned. A contemporaneous group of patients undergoing endonasal endoscopic pituitary macroadenoma resection was used as a control.

RESULTS

This study included 33 procedures performed in 31 patients. The average postoperative ASBQ score was 3.35 and the SNOT-22 score was 19.6. Better QOL was associated with GTR and postoperative radiation. Worse QOL was associated with persistent visual defects, hypopituitarism, tumor recurrence, increase in body mass index, and worsening Wen score. In a subset of 10 patients, both pre- and postoperative (> 9 months) QOL scores were obtained. Both ASBQ and SNOT-22 scores showed stability and a trend toward improvement, from 2.93 ± 0.51 to 2.96 ± 0.47 (ASBQ) and 23.7 ± 10.8 to 18.4 ± 11.6 (SNOT-22). Compared with 62 patients undergoing endoscopic pituitary macroadenoma resection, patients with craniopharyngiomas had worse postoperative QOL on the ASBQ (3.35 vs 3.80; p = 0.023) and SNOT-22 (19.6 vs 13.4; p = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

This report of validated site-specific QOL following endoscopic surgery for craniopharyngiomas shows an overall maintenance of postoperative compared with preoperative QOL. Better QOL could be seen in patients with GTR and radiation therapy, and worse QOL was found in patients with visual or endocrine deficits. Nevertheless, patients with craniopharyngiomas still had worse QOL than those undergoing similar surgery for pituitary macroadenomas, confirming the worse prognosis of craniopharyngiomas even when removed via a minimally invasive approach. These measures should serve as benchmarks for comparison with open transcranial approaches to similar tumors.
Medullary hemangioblastoma in a child with von Hippel-Lindau disease: vascular tumor perfusion depicted by arterial spin labeling and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging
Authors: Goo Hyun Woo , Ra Young-Shin
Published: April 2015

Medullary hemangioblastoma is very rare in children. Based on small nodular enhancement with peritumoral edema and without dilated feeding arteries on conventional MRI, hemangioblastoma, pilocytic astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, and ganglioglioma were included in the differential diagnosis of the medullary tumor. In this case report, the authors emphasize the diagnostic value of arterial spin labeling and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in demonstrating vascular tumor perfusion of hemangioblastoma in a 12-year-old boy who was later found to have von Hippel-Lindau disease.
A Combined Quantum Mechanics and Molecular Mechanics Study on Nitrogen Oxide Adsorption/Dissociation on a Tungsten Oxide Surface
Authors: Izadyar Mohammad , Balgerdi Rahim , Pourayoubi Mehrdad
Published: April 2015

The kinetics and mechanism of the adsorption and dissociation of nitrogen monoxide (NO) into N2 and O2 molecules on a tungsten oxide nanocrystalline surface have been studied. Calculations were carried out using the framework of density functional theory (DFT) with the ONIOM method at the (B3LYP/LANL2DZ:UFF) level. In this study, four models of the dissociation have been proposed and investigated theoretically. Density of states (DOS) spectral analysis showed that the Fermi level is shifted to higher values and confirmed the effective interaction between the nanocrystal and adsorbate. The band gap is also reduced after adsorption.

Quantum reactivity indices showed that the chemical hardness was reduced after adsorption, which corresponds to the reduction in band gap. The electronic chemical potential has been shifted to more positive values while the electrophilicity of the surface has been reduced, both after adsorption. These parameters predict that charge transfers to the surface. Considering the activation energy, the first and second proposed models provide the most probable route of NO decomposition. Finally, from a comparison between the decomposition and oxidation processes, it is confirmed that NO oxidation is preferred.
Pt/Al2O3 Catalyst Prepared from Water-in-Oil Microemulsion and Used in Catalytic Hydrogenation
Authors: Li Feng , Ma Rui , Song Hualin , Song Hua
Published: April 2015

Pt/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared from a cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)/ n-butanol/cyclohexane water-in-oil (w/o) microemulsion. The preparation conditions of Pt/Al2O3 catalyst were investigated and are discussed in detail. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed uniform Pt nanoparticles (about 3 nm) with high dispersion in the catalyst. The Pt/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic properties in the liquid-phase hydrogenation of o-chloronitrobenzene ( o-CNB) to o-chloroaniline ( o-CAN). After 60-min reaction at normal pressure and 303 K, the conversion of o-CNB was 81.1% and the selectivity to o-CAN was 96.2%. Kinetic study showed o-CNB hydrogenation to be a first-order reaction with an apparent activation energy of 56.37 kJ mol−1. The microemulsion-derived catalyst shows a higher catalytic activity than an impregnation-drived catalyst.
Linking surface hydrology to flow regimes and patterns of velocity variability on Devon Ice Cap, Nunavut
Authors: Wyatt Faye R. , Sharp Martin J.
Published: April 2015

Supraglacial meltwater reaching a glacier bed can increase ice surface velocities via hydraulic jacking and enhanced basal sliding. However, the relationships between the structure of supraglacial drainage systems, sink-point distributions, glacier flow processes and the magnitude of interannual velocity variability are poorly understood. To explore the hypothesis that spatial variations in the rate and mechanisms of glacier flow are linked to variations in supraglacial drainage system structure and sink-point distribution across an ice cap, we mapped supraglacial drainage systems on Devon Ice Cap from Landsat-7 ETM+ imagery. Spatial patterns of surface velocity and interannual velocity variability were determined using gradient correlation applied to Landsat-7 ETM+ images. Velocity variability is greater in areas close to sink-point locations, presumably because hydrologically forced basal sliding and/or bed deformation are enhanced in such areas. The distribution and characteristics of supraglacial drainage systems may play an important role in determining the distribution of regions of basal sliding, highlighting the need for knowledge of the supraglacial drainage system structure and sink-point distribution to inform efforts to model the dynamic response of Arctic ice caps to future climate warming.
Assessment of current methods of positive degree-day calculation using in situ observations from glaciated regions
Authors: Wake L.M. , Marshall S.J.
Published: April 2015

The continued use of the positive degree-day (PDD) method to predict ice-sheet melt is generally favoured over surface energy-balance methods partly due to the computational efficiency of the algorithm and the requirement of only one input variable (temperature). In this paper, we revisit some of the assumptions governing the application of the PDD method. Using hourly temperature data from the GC-Net network we test the assumption that monthly PDD total (PDDM) can be represented by a Gaussian distribution with fixed standard deviation of monthly temperature (σM). The results presented here show that the common assumption of fixed σM does not hold, and that σM may be represented more accurately as a quadratic function of average monthly temperature. For Greenland, the mean absolute error in predicting PDDM using our methodology is 3.9°C d, representing a significant improvement on current methods (7.8°C d, when σM = 4.5°C). Over a range of glaciated settings, our method reproduces PDDM, on average, to within 1.5–8.5°C d, compared to 4.4–15.7°C d when σM = 4.5°C. The improvement arises because we capture the systematic reduction in temperature variance that is observed over melting snow and ice, when surface temperatures cannot warm above 0°C.
The second Chinese glacier inventory: data, methods and results
Authors: Guo Wanqin , Liu Shiyin , Xu Junli , Wu Lizong , Shangguan Donghui , Yao Xiaojun , Wei Junfeng , Bao Weijia , Yu Pengchun , Liu Qiao , Jiang Zongli
Published: April 2015

The second Chinese glacier inventory was compiled based on 218 Landsat TM/ETM+ scenes acquired mainly during 2006–10. The widely used band ratio segmentation method was applied as the first step in delineating glacier outlines, and then intensive manual improvements were performed. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation model was used to derive altitudinal attributes of glaciers. The boundaries of some glaciers measured by real-time kinematic differential GPS or digitized from high-resolution images were used as references to validate the accuracy of the methods used to delineate glaciers, which resulted in positioning errors of ±10 m for manually improved clean-ice outlines and ±30 m for manually digitized outlines of debris-covered parts. The glacier area error of the compiled inventory, evaluated using these two positioning accuracies, was ±3.2%. The compiled parts of the new inventory have a total area of 43 087 km2, in which 1723 glaciers were covered by debris, with a total debris-covered area of 1494 km2. The area of uncompiled glaciers from the digitized first Chinese glacier inventory is ∼8753 km2, mainly distributed in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, where no images of acceptable quality for glacier outline delineation can be found during 2006–10.
Settler-Colonialism, Memoricide and Indigenous Toponymic Memory: The Appropriation of Palestinian Place Names by the Israeli State
Authors: Masalha Nur
Published: April 2015

Cartography, place-naming and state-sponsored explorations were central to the modern European conquest of the earth, empire building and settler-colonisation projects. Scholars often assume that place names provide clues to the historical and cultural heritage of places and regions. This article uses social memory theory to analyse the cultural politics of place-naming in Israel. Drawing on Maurice Halbwachs’ study of the construction of social memory by the Latin Crusaders and Christian medieval pilgrims, the article shows Zionists’ toponymic strategies in Palestine, their superimposition of Biblical and Talmudic toponyms was designed to erase the indigenous Palestinian and Arabo-Islamic heritage of the land. In the pre-Nakba period Zionist toponymic schemes utilised nineteenth century Western explorations of Biblical ‘names’ and ‘places’ and appropriated Palestinian toponyms. Following the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948, the Israeli state, now in control of 78 percent of the land, accelerated its toponymic project and pursued methods whose main features were memoricide and erasure. Continuing into the post-1967 occupation, these colonial methods threaten the destruction of the diverse historical cultural heritage of the land.
The Framing of the Question of Palestine by the Early Palestinian Press: Zionist Settler-Colonialism and the newspaper Filastin, 1912–1922
Authors: Pappe Ilan
Published: April 2015

This article uses a new conceptual approach to the question of Palestine, namely the settler-colonialism paradigm. This paradigm enabled scholars to develop the depiction of Zionism as a settler-colonialist project. However new approaches which have focused on Zionism as a settler-colonialist movement have, in fact, neglected indigenous Palestinian perspectives. The article advocates further refinement to the discourse of anti-colonialism by revisiting early Palestinian perceptions of Zionism. The article also shows that in the early stages of Zionism the movement was clearly depicted as a settler-colonialist project by Palestinian journalists and press commentators of the newspaper Filastin. However the existential implications of such an analysis were ignored by the Palestinian political elite, an oversight which also contributed to the 1948 Palestinian Nakba (catastrophe).
Barley Leaf Area and Leaf Growth Rates Are Maximized during the Pre-Anthesis Phase
Authors: Alqudah Ahmad , Schnurbusch Thorsten
Published: April 2015

Leaf developmental traits are an important component of crop breeding in small-grain cereals. Surprisingly, little is known about the genetic basis for the differences in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) leaf development. The two barley row-type classes, i.e., two- and six-rowed, show clear-cut differences in leaf development. To quantify these differences and to measure the genetic component of the phenotypic variance for the leaf developmental differences in both row-type classes we investigated 32 representative spring barley accessions (14 two- and 18 six-rowed accessions) under three independent growth conditions. Leaf mass area is lower in plants grown under greenhouse (GH) conditions due to fewer, smaller, and lighter leaf blades per main culm compared to pot- and soil-grown field plants. Larger and heavier leaf blades of six-rowed barley correlate with higher main culm spike grain yield, spike dry weight, and harvest index; however, smaller leaf area (LA) in two-rowed barley can be attributed to more spikes, tillers, and biological yield (aboveground parts). In general, leaf growth rate was significantly higher between awn primordium and tipping stages. Moderate to very high broad-sense heritabilities (0.67–0.90) were found under all growth conditions, indicating that these traits are predominantly genetically controlled. In addition, our data suggests that GH conditions are suitable for studying leaf developmental traits. Our results also demonstrated that LA impacts single plant yield and can be reconsidered in future breeding programs. Six-rowed spike 1 (Vrs1) is the major determinate of barley row-types, the differences in leaf development between two- and six-rowed barleys may be attributed to the regulation of Vrs1 in these two classes, which needs further testing.
Anti-Amyloidogenic Properties of Some Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Porzoor Afsaneh , Alford Benjamin , Hügel Helmut , Grando Danilla , Caine Joanne , Macreadie Ian
Published: April 2015

A family of 21 polyphenolic compounds consisting of those found naturally in danshen and their analogues were synthesized and subsequently screened for their anti-amyloidogenic activity against the amyloid beta peptide (Aβ42) of Alzheimer’s disease. After 24 h incubation with Aβ42, five compounds reduced thioflavin T (ThT) fluorescence, indicative of their anti-amyloidogenic propensity (p < 0.001). TEM and immunoblotting analysis also showed that selected compounds were capable of hindering fibril formation even after prolonged incubations. These compounds were also capable of rescuing the yeast cells from toxic changes induced by the chemically synthesized Aβ42. In a second assay, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae AHP1 deletant strain transformed with GFP fused to Aβ42 was treated with these compounds and analyzed by flow cytometry. There was a significant reduction in the green fluorescence intensity associated with 14 compounds. We interpret this result to mean that the compounds had an anti-amyloid-aggregation propensity in the yeast and GFP-Aβ42 was removed by proteolysis. The position and not the number of hydroxyl groups on the aromatic ring was found to be the most important determinant for the anti-amyloidogenic properties.
Gemin5: A Multitasking RNA-Binding Protein Involved in Translation Control
Authors: Piñeiro David , Fernandez-Chamorro Javier , Francisco-Velilla Rosario , Martinez-Salas Encarna
Published: April 2015

Gemin5 is a RNA-binding protein (RBP) that was first identified as a peripheral component of the survival of motor neurons (SMN) complex. This predominantly cytoplasmic protein recognises the small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) through its WD repeat domains, allowing assembly of the SMN complex into small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs). Additionally, the amino-terminal end of the protein has been reported to possess cap-binding capacity and to interact with the eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF4E). Gemin5 was also shown to downregulate translation, to be a substrate of the picornavirus L protease and to interact with viral internal ribosome entry site (IRES) elements via a bipartite non-canonical RNA-binding site located at its carboxy-terminal end. These features link Gemin5 with translation control events. Thus, beyond its role in snRNPs biogenesis, Gemin5 appears to be a multitasking protein cooperating in various RNA-guided processes. In this review, we will summarise current knowledge of Gemin5 functions. We will discuss the involvement of the protein on translation control and propose a model to explain how the proteolysis fragments of this RBP in picornavirus-infected cells could modulate protein synthesis.
Analysis of Genetic Diversity of Two Mangrove Species with Morphological Alterations in a Natural Environment
Authors: Lira-Medeiros Catarina , Cardoso Mônica , Fernandes Ricardo , Ferreira Paulo
Published: April 2015

Mangrove is an ecosystem subjected to tide, salinity and nutrient variations. These conditions are stressful to most plants, except to mangrove plants that are well-adapted. However, many mangrove areas have extremely stressful conditions, such as salt marshes, and the plants nearby usually present morphological alterations. In Sepetiba Bay, two species of mangrove plants, Avicennia schaueriana and Laguncularia racemosa, have poor development near a salt marsh (SM) compared to plants at the riverside (RS), which is considered a favorable habitat in mangroves. The level of genetic diversity and its possible correlation with the morphological divergence of SM and RS plants of both species were assessed by AFLP molecular markers. We found moderate genetic differentiation between A. schaueriana plants from SM and RS areas and depleted genetic diversity on SM plants. On the other hand, Laguncularia racemosa plants had no genetic differentiation between areas. It is possible that a limited gene flow among the studied areas might be acting more intensely on A. schaueriana plants, resulting in the observed genetic differentiation. The populations of Laguncularia racemosa appear to be well connected, as genetic differentiation was not significant between the SM and RS populations. Gene flow and genetic drift are acting on neutral genetic diversity of these two mangrove species in the studied areas, and the observed genetic differentiation of A. schaueriana plants might be correlated with its morphological variation. For L. racemosa, morphological alterations could be related to epigenetic phenomena or adaptive loci polymorphism that should be further investigated.
3D CFD Analysis of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
Authors: Alaimo Andrea , Esposito Antonio , Messineo Antonio , Orlando Calogero , Tumino Davide
Published: April 2015

To analyze the complex and unsteady aerodynamic flow associated with wind turbine functioning, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an attractive and powerful method. In this work, the influence of different numerical aspects on the accuracy of simulating a rotating wind turbine is studied. In particular, the effects of mesh size and structure, time step and rotational velocity have been taken into account for simulation of different wind turbine geometries. The applicative goal of this study is the comparison of the performance between a straight blade vertical axis wind turbine and a helical blade one. Analyses are carried out through the use of computational fluid dynamic ANSYS® Fluent® software, solving the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. At first, two-dimensional simulations are used in a preliminary setup of the numerical procedure and to compute approximated performance parameters, namely the torque, power, lift and drag coefficients. Then, three-dimensional simulations are carried out with the aim of an accurate determination of the differences in the complex aerodynamic flow associated with the straight and the helical blade turbines. Static and dynamic results are then reported for different values of rotational speed.
Examining the Link Between Public Transit Use and Active Commuting
Authors: Bopp Melissa , Gayah Vikash , Campbell Matthew
Published: April 2015

Background: An established relationship exists between public transportation (PT) use and physical activity. However, there is limited literature that examines the link between PT use and active commuting (AC) behavior. This study examines this link to determine if PT users commute more by active modes. Methods: A volunteer, convenience sample of adults (n = 748) completed an online survey about AC/PT patterns, demographic, psychosocial, community and environmental factors. t-test compared differences between PT riders and non-PT riders. Binary logistic regression analyses examined the effect of multiple factors on AC and a full logistic regression model was conducted to examine AC. Results: Non-PT riders (n = 596) reported less AC than PT riders. There were several significant relationships with AC for demographic, interpersonal, worksite, community and environmental factors when considering PT use. The logistic multivariate analysis for included age, number of children and perceived distance to work as negative predictors and PT use, feelings of bad weather and lack of on-street bike lanes as a barrier to AC, perceived behavioral control and spouse AC were positive predictors. Conclusions: This study revealed the complex relationship between AC and PT use. Further research should investigate how AC and public transit use are related.
A Longitudinal Study of Long-Term Change in Contamination Hazards and Shallow Well Quality in Two Neighbourhoods of Kisumu, Kenya
Authors: Okotto-Okotto Joseph , Okotto Lorna , Price Heather , Pedley Steve , Wright Jim
Published: April 2015

Sub-Saharan Africa is experiencing rapid urbanisation and many urban residents use groundwater where piped supplies are intermittent or unavailable. This study aimed to investigate long-term changes in groundwater contamination hazards and hand-dug well water quality in two informal settlements in Kisumu city, Kenya. Buildings, pit latrines, and wells were mapped in 1999 and 2013–2014. Sanitary risk inspection and water quality testing were conducted at 51 hand-dug wells in 2002 to 2004 and 2014. Pit latrine density increased between 1999 and 2014, whilst sanitary risk scores for wells increased between 2002 to 2004 and 2014 (n = 37, Z = −1.98, p = 0.048). Nitrate levels dropped from 2004 to 2014 (n = 14, Z = −3.296, p = 0.001), but multivariate analysis suggested high rainfall in 2004 could account for this. Thermotolerant coliform counts dropped between 2004 and 2014, with this reduction significant in one settlement. Hand-dug wells had thus remained an important source of domestic water between 1999 and 2014, but contamination risks increased over this period. Water quality trends were complex, but nitrate levels were related to both sanitary risks and rainfall. Given widespread groundwater use by the urban poor in sub-Saharan Africa, the study protocol could be further refined to monitor contamination in hand-dug wells in similar settings.
Auditory Recognition of Familiar and Unfamiliar Subjects with Wind Turbine Noise
Authors: Maffei Luigi , Masullo Massimiliano , Gabriele Maria , Votsi Nefta-Eleftheria , Pantis John , Senese Vincenzo
Published: April 2015

Considering the wide growth of the wind turbine market over the last decade as well as their increasing power size, more and more potential conflicts have arisen in society due to the noise radiated by these plants. Our goal was to determine whether the annoyance caused by wind farms is related to aspects other than noise. To accomplish this, an auditory experiment on the recognition of wind turbine noise was conducted to people with long experience of wind turbine noise exposure and to people with no previous experience to this type of noise source. Our findings demonstrated that the trend of the auditory recognition is the same for the two examined groups, as far as the increase of the distance and the decrease of the values of sound equivalent levels and loudness are concerned. Significant differences between the two groups were observed as the distance increases. People with wind turbine noise experience showed a higher tendency to report false alarms than people without experience.
Non-Coding RNAs in Saliva: Emerging Biomarkers for Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Majem Blanca , Rigau Marina , Reventós Jaume , Wong David
Published: April 2015

Saliva is a complex body fluid that comprises secretions from the major and minor salivary glands, which are extensively supplied by blood. Therefore, molecules such as proteins, DNA, RNA, etc., present in plasma could be also present in saliva. Many studies have reported that saliva body fluid can be useful for discriminating several oral diseases, but also systemic diseases including cancer. Most of these studies revealed messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteomic biomarker signatures rather than specific non-coding RNA (ncRNA) profiles. NcRNAs are emerging as new regulators of diverse biological functions, playing an important role in oncogenesis and tumor progression. Indeed, the small size of these molecules makes them very stable in different body fluids and not as susceptible as mRNAs to degradation by ribonucleases (RNases). Therefore, the development of a non-invasive salivary test, based on ncRNAs profiles, could have a significant applicability to clinical practice, not only by reducing the cost of the health system, but also by benefitting the patient. Here, we summarize the current status and clinical implications of the ncRNAs present in human saliva as a source of biological information.
Turning-On of Coumarin Phosphorescence in Acetylacetonato Platinum Complexes of Cyclometalated Pyridyl-Substituted Coumarins
Authors: Jackel Andrej , Linseis Michael , Häge Christian , Winter Rainer
Published: April 2015

Two pyridine-functionalized coumarins differing with respect to the site of pyridine attachment to the coumarin dye (3 in L1 or 7 in L2) and with respect to the presence (L1) or absence (L2) of a peripheral NMe2 donor were prepared and used as cyclometalating ligands towards the Pt(acac) fragment. X-ray crystal structures of complexes 1 and 2 show strong intermolecular interactions by π-stacking and short Pt∙∙∙Pt or C-H∙∙∙O hydrogen bonding that result in the formation of sheetlike packing patterns. The NMe2 donor substituent has a profound influence on the absorption and emission properties of the free coumarin dyes; L1 emits strongly while L2 is only weakly emissive. On binding to Pt(acac) the strong fluorescence of L1 is partially quenched while coumarin phosphorescence is observed from cyclometalated L1 and L2. The ligand-centered nature of the LUMO was confirmed by IR spectroelectrochemistry while the assignment of the phosphorescence emission as ligand-based rests on the vibrational structuring, the negligible solvatochromism, the small temperature-induced Stokes shifts on cooling to 77 K, the emission lifetimes, and strong oxygen quenching. (TD-)DFT calculations confirm our experimental results and provide an assignment of the electronic transitions and the spin density distributions in the T1 state.
The Rise and Demise of Integrated Pest Management in Rice in Indonesia
Authors: Thorburn Craig
Published: April 2015

Indonesia’s 11-year (1989–1999) National Integrated Pest Management Program was a spectacularly successful example of wide-scale adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) principles and practice in a developing country. This program introduced the innovative Farmer Field School model of agro-ecosystem-based experiential learning, subsequently adapted to different crops and agricultural systems in countries throughout the world. Since the termination of the program in 1999, Indonesia has undergone profound changes as the country enters a new era of democratic reform. Government support for the national IPM program has wavered during this period, and pesticide producers and traders have taken advantage of the policy vacuum to mount an aggressive marketing campaign in the countryside. These factors have contributed to a reappearance of the pesticide-induced resurgent pest problems that led to the establishment of the National IPM Program in the first place.