bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WHAT SHAPES THE FAR-INFRARED SPECTRAL ENERGY DISTRIBUTIONS OF GALAXIES?
Authors: Safarzadeh Mohammadtaher , Hayward Christopher C. , Ferguson Henry C. , Somerville Rachel S.
Published: February 2016

To explore the connection between the global physical properties of galaxies and their far-infrared (FIR) spectral energy distributions (SEDs), we study the variation in the FIR SEDs of a set of 51 hydrodynamically simulated galaxies, both mergers and isolated systems representative of low- and high-redshift galaxies, that are generated by performing dust radiative transfer in post-processing. We study the FIR SEDs using principal component (PC) analysis, and find that 97% of the variance in the sample can be explained by two PCs. The first PC characterizes the wavelength of the peak of the FIR SED, and the second encodes the breadth of the SED. We find that the coefficients of both PCs can be predicted well using a double power law in terms of the IR luminosity and dust mass, which suggests that these two physical properties are the primary determinants of galaxies’ FIR SED shapes. Incorporating galaxy sizes does not significantly improve our ability to predict the FIR SEDs. Our results suggest that the observed redshift evolution in the effective dust temperature at a fixed IR luminosity is not driven by geometry: the SEDs of

ultraluminous IR galaxies (ULIRGs) are cooler than those of local ULIRGs, not because the high-redshift galaxies are more extended, but rather because they have higher dust masses at fixed IR luminosity. Finally, based on our simulations, we introduce a two-parameter set of SED templates that depend on both IR luminosity and dust mass.
THE FUNDAMENTAL PLANE OF THE BROAD-LINE REGION IN ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI
Authors: Du Pu , Wang Jian-Min , Hu Chen , Ho Luis C. , Li Yan-Rong , Bai Jin-Ming
Published: February 2016

Broad emission lines in active galactic nuclei (AGNs) mainly arise from gas photoionized by continuum radiation from an accretion disk around a central black hole. The shape of the broad-line profile, described by

, the ratio of full width at half maximum to the dispersion of broad Hβ, reflects the dynamics of the broad-line region (BLR) and correlates with the dimensionless accretion rate (

) or Eddington ratio (

/

). At the same time,

and

/

correlate with

, the ratio of optical Fe ii to Hβ line flux emission. Assembling all AGNs with reverberation mapping measurements of broad Hβ, both from the literature and from new observations reported here, we find a strong bivariate correlation of the form

where α = (2.47, 0.31), β = −(1.59, 0.82), and γ = (1.34, 0.80). We refer to this as the fundamental plane of the BLR. We apply the plane to a sample of z < 0.8 quasars to demonstrate the prevalence of super-Eddington accreting AGNs are quite common at low redshifts.
THE PDS 66 CIRCUMSTELLAR DISK AS SEEN IN POLARIZED LIGHT WITH THE GEMINI PLANET IMAGER
Authors: Wolff Schuyler G. , Perrin Marshall , Millar-Blanchaer Maxwell A. , Nielsen Eric L. , Wang Jason , Cardwell Andrew , Chilcote Jeffrey , Dong Ruobing , Draper Zachary H. , Duchêne Gaspard , Fitzgerald Michael P. , Goodsell Stephen J. , Grady Carol A. , Graham James R. , Greenbaum Alexandra Z. , Hartung Markus , Hibon Pascale , Hines Dean C. , Hung Li-Wei , Kalas Paul , Macintosh Bruce , Marchis Franck , Marois Christian , Pueyo Laurent , Rantakyrö Fredrik T. , Schneider Glenn , Sivaramakrishnan Anand , Wiktorowicz Sloane J.
Published: February 2016

We present H- and K-band imaging polarimetry for the PDS 66 circumstellar disk obtained during the commissioning of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI). Polarization images reveal a clear detection of the disk in to the 0.″12 inner working angle (IWA) in the H band, almost three times closer to the star than the previous Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations with NICMOS and STIS (0.″35 effective IWA). The centro-symmetric polarization vectors confirm that the bright inner disk detection is due to circumstellar scattered light. A more diffuse disk extends to a bright outer ring centered at 80 AU. We discuss several physical mechanisms capable of producing the observed ring + gap structure. GPI data confirm enhanced scattering on the east side of the disk that is inferred to be nearer to us. We also detect a lateral asymmetry in the south possibly due to shadowing from material within the IWA. This likely corresponds to a temporally variable azimuthal asymmetry observed in HST/STIS coronagraphic imaging.
New records of Sylvicola (Diptera: Anisopodidae) from Romania
Authors: Kolcsár Levente-Péter , Dvořák Libor , Beuk Paul
Published: February 2016

Anisopodidae (window gnats or wood gnats) is a small family of nematocerous Diptera. Until now only Sylvicola (Anisopus) punctatus (Fabricius, 1787) and Sylvicola (Sylvicola) fenestralis (Scopoli, 1763)​ were reported from Romania.

New faunistic records of Sylvicola (Diptera: Anisopodidae) are presented. Sylvicola (Sylvicola) cinctus (Fabricius, 1787) and S. (Anisopus) fuscatus (Fabricius, 1775) are recorded from Romania for the first time. An identification key and illustrations of Romanian Sylvicola species are presented.
Taxonomía de las especies reófilas del género Luciobarbus Heckel, 1842 (Actinopterygii, Cyprinidae) de Marruecos con la descripción de dos nuevas especies
Authors: Doadrio I. , Casal-López M. , Perea S. , Yahyaoui A.
Published: February 2016

El género Luciobarbus Heckel, 1843 se caracteriza por presentar especies de medio y gran tamaño que viven en las zonas bajas de grandes ríos con aguas lentas. Singularmente, en Marruecos también existen especies reófilas del género Luciobarbus de pequeño tamaño y que presentan diferentes caracteres morfológicos y distintos requerimientos de hábitat. Estas especies reófilas han sido tradicionalmente asignadas a Luciobarbus nasus (Günther, 1874) y L. magniatlantis (Pellegrin, 1919) aunque algunos autores consideran a L. magniatlantis como un sinónimo de L. nasus. Esta falta de consenso en la taxonomía de los barbos reófilos está limitada por los escasos estudios poblacionales realizados que no abarcan la totalidad del área de distribución de estos barbos. Nosotros, usando datos moleculares, morfométricos y osteológicos, estudiamos las poblaciones de los barbos reófilos de tres cuencas hidrográficas, en las cuales están actualmente presentes: Tensift, Moulouya y Oum er Rbia. Nuestros resultados claramente identifican a los barbos reófilos de cada una de estas cuencas como diferentes especies. La especie L. magniatlantis es una especie bien definida y endémica de la cuenca del Tensift. En contraste, las poblaciones analizadas de las cuencas del Moulouya y Oum er Rbia no pudieron ser asignadas a ninguna especie previamente descrita. Consecuentemente, nosotros describimos dos nuevas especies de Luciobarbus en las cuencas del Moulouya y del Oum er Rbia.
Le caring, une voie pour reconfigurer l’École française au moment de sa refondation ?
Authors: Réto Gwénola
Published: February 2016

À l’heure de la refondation de l’École française, cet article propose de confronter deux projets : celui porté par l’éthique du care et celui porté par l’Éducation Nationale afin d’envisager la possibilité de les faire entrer en dialogue. S’appuyant sur des textes du projet national, il interroge les liens entre le care et une notion en vogue dans le système éducatif français, celle de « bienveillance ». Puis, partant de l’hypothèse que cette bienveillance attendue a à voir avec le caring, il propose de prendre appui sur les travaux menés par la philosophe de l’éducation Nel Noddings afin de voir comment ces derniers peuvent contribuer à la configuration de la bienveillance tel qu’attendu pour le système français. Le fondement relationnel du caring et les quatre phases de son développement définies par Noddings permettent alors à la bienveillance de gagner en précision et en opérationnalisation et d’étayer le projet de refondation de l’école.
Pratiques de l’écrit et temporalités dans le travail domestique de jeunes mères
Authors: Mercier Jean-Pierre
Published: February 2016

Le travail domestique peut être vu comme occupant une partie du care. Il est tramé par de nombreuses pratiques sociales de l’écrit. Une étude de cas ethnographique a permis de documenter un ensemble de pratiques de l’écrit orientées vers la réalisation de ce travail par des jeunes mères (n =31). Ces femmes articulent ces pratiques à des temporalités différentes : la temporalité du moment présent et celle du moment futur, soit au registre des évènements planifiés ou à celui de l’avenir anticipé. Le but de cet article est de présenter ces pratiques de l’écrit et ces temporalités. Les résultats aident à comprendre les réalités que vivent ces femmes de retour en formation dans Ma place au soleil, une mesure québécoise de soutien à la formation et à l’intégration sociale et professionnelle des jeunes parents non diplômés du secondaire. Les résultats aident aussi à comprendre comment ces femmes concilient le travail domestique et le travail scolaire.
Exercice et apprentissage du métier d’infirmier : à la recherche du Care
Authors: Eyland Isabelle , Jean Alain
Published: February 2016

La notion du prendre soin a toujours été attachée à la fonction de l’infirmière mais le terme de care est devenu de plus en plus populaire dans divers domaines comme l’éducation, la sociologie ou la politique. Les premières mentions au concept datent des années 1970 aux USA et ont donné suite à de nombreux travaux, écrits et définitions… Dans le domaine des soins infirmiers, toute situation est l’occasion d’une rencontre sociale qui permet aux soignants échanges, engagement émotionnel et mise en pratique des activités liées au care. Pourtant, le concept est mis à mal… Et quelle place lui est-il donné en formation des étudiants en soins infirmiers ?
Le care en éducation : de la séparation à l’agir en dialogue
Authors: Usclat Pierre
Published: February 2016

Dans ce texte, nous établirons que lorsque l’école s’appuie sur le principe d’autonomie, les pratiques pédagogiques des enseignants en épousent les dynamiques. Il s’agit, en effet, de séparer l’élève de tout particularisme. Or une analyse ergologique de ce qui se passe dans une situation éducative nous montrera que c’est pourtant pour assumer sa dimension singulière, et particulière, que l’élève se met en activité. Nous nous demanderons alors ce que peut être un agir pédagogique des enseignants qui ne cherche pas d’abord à inscrire l’élève dans un universel le détournant de ce qu’il est mais qui travaille avec cela. Le care, notamment avec les 4 phases d’une action qu’il propose, nous conduira ainsi à envisager un agir pédagogique en dialogue.
Devenir professeur des écoles aujourd’hui : motivations, représentations, perspectives
Authors: Pachod André
Published: February 2016

Les Écoles supérieures du professorat et de l’éducation (Espe) organisent depuis 2013 des masters métiers de l’enseignement, de l’éducation et de la formation. L’étude de 289 dossiers de candidatures et de lettres de motivation d’entrée en Master 1 du 1er degré fournit diverses caractéristiques d’une population d’étudiants. Elle renseigne également une recherche sur les modes et les dispositions d’accès au métier : devenir professeur des écoles, oui, mais pourquoi ? Ce choix se situe dans un processus décisionnel inscrit dans des événements biographiques, en réponse à des représentations sur les missions de l’enseignant, son identité professionnelle, son statut social, ses compétences professionnelles, sa formation. Enfin, cette étude situe l’intervenant en formation de master dans une triple préoccupation éthique : reconnaître le candidat dans une identité sociale déjà construite, faire entrer le futur enseignant dans le métier réel, préparer au concours de recrutement.
Communicative Competency Development for High-School Students with a Multimedia Learning Strategy
Authors: Arellano Bertha Alicia Benítez , Alemán de la Garza Lorena Yadira , Zermeño Marcela Georgina Gómez
Published: February 2016

In this research, the authors carried out the design, development and implementation of a multimedia learning strategy supported on the Web. The investigation is quantitative, with control and experimental group. To compare the results of the experiment, four instruments were applied for data collection: a questionnaire of general data, a questionnaire of use and management of ITC, a knowledge test (pre-test and post-test) and a questionnaire for assessment and evaluation of the web page as support for a multimedia learning strategy. Results show that the implementation of a multimedia learning strategy contributes to the development of communication competencies, increases student's knowledge related to the topic, their skills in recognizing types of text from its structure; to construct meaning from text by activating prior knowledge and skills to create learning and increasing their interest, and having a positive and open attitude due to multimedia material used.
Influence of Nonvisual Secondary Tasks on Driver's Pedestrian Detection
Authors: Yoshizawa Akira , Iwasaki Hirotoshi
Published: February 2016

The most frequent type of fatal traffic accident is caused by “aimless driving” in Japan. In many cases the victims are pedestrians on straight roads, where there are usually fewer objects drivers need to pay attention to than at intersections. In this study, the authors investigate driver gazing for detecting pedestrians in such situations. To make subjects seem “aimless,” they gave them nonvisual secondary tasks of four difficulty levels while they tried to watch pedestrians and press a key to answer their moving direction. The result indicated that even nonvisual tasks influence eye movement and the subjects fail to react properly.
Boosting Algorithm and Meta-Heuristic Based on Genetic Algorithms for Textual Plagiarism Detection
Authors: Bouarara Hadj Ahmed , Hamou Reda Mohamed , Rahmani Amine , Amine Abdelmalek
Published: February 2016

Day after day, the plagiarism cases increase and become a crucial problem in the modern world, caused by the quantity of textual information available in the web and the development of communication means such as email service. This paper deals on the unveiling of two plagiarism detection systems: Firstly boosting system based on machine learning algorithm (decision tree C4.5 and K nearest neighbour) composed on three steps (text pre-processing, first detection, and second detection). Secondly using genetic algorithm based on an initial population generated from the dataset used a fitness function fixed and the reproduction rules (selection, crossover, and mutation). For their experimentation, the authors have used the benchmark pan 09 and a set of validation measures (precision, recall, f-measure, FNR, FPR, and entropy) with a variation in configuration of each system; They have compared their results with the performance of other approaches found in literature; Finally, the visualisation service was developed that provides a graphical vision of the results using two methods (3D cub and a cobweb) with the possibility to have a detailed and global view using the functionality of zooming and rotation. The authors' aims are to improve the quality of plagiarism detection systems and preservation of copyright.
Improvement of the Consistent Fuzzy Preference Relation Method and Comparison with the AHP Method
Authors: Chen Chun-An
Published: February 2016

AHP is always a popular method adopted by researchers in dealing with the issues of multiple criteria decision making. However, with the increase in the criteria, the traditional AHP may cause a problem in terms of the consistency of the questionnaires. Later on, the method of Consistent Fuzzy Preference Relation was developed to resolve such issue. But currently the utilization rate of this method is low, -probably because most researchers still doubt the result of the CFPR method. The main purpose of this study is using experiment and statistics analysis to compare the two methods. The final report shows that the results obtained by the CFFR method and the traditional AHP method are similar. It indicates CFPR is a good method for dealing with the MCDM problem. Moreover, this study also proposes a suggestion to improve the CFPR, so as to resolve the issue of screening out the valid questionnaires. Finally, this study used the CFPR method to code the software for use of follow-up researchers.
Fuzzy based Quantum Genetic Algorithm for Project Team Formation
Authors: Pitchai Arish , Reddy A. V.  , Savarimuthu Nickolas
Published: February 2016

Formation of an effective project team plays an important role in successful completion of the projects in organizations. As the computation involved in this task grows exponentially with the growth in the size of personnel, manual implementation is of no use. Decision support systems (DSS) developed by specialized consultants help large organizations in personnel selection process. Since, the given problem can be modelled as a combinatorial optimization problem, Genetic Algorithmic approach is preferred in building the decision making software. Fuzzy descriptors are being used to facilitate the flexible requirement specifications that indicates required team member skills. The Quantum Walk based Genetic Algorithm (QWGA) is proposed in this paper to identify near optimal teams that optimizes the fuzzy criteria obtained from the initial team requirements. Efficiency of the proposed design is tested on a variety of artificially constructed instances. The results prove that the proposed optimization algorithm is practical and effective.
A Study on Components and Features in Face Detection
Authors: Hua-Chun Yang , Wang Xu An
Published: February 2016

It's natural and convenient that the face is used as a feature in the city safety monitoring. Components and feature extraction are two key problems in face detection. To address the local occlusion and pose variation in face detection, face can be looked on as a whole composed of several parts from up to down. First, the face is divided into a number of local regions from which various features are extracted. Each region is identified by a local classifier and is assigned a preliminary part label. A random field is established based on these labels and multiple dependencies between different parts are modeled in a CRF framework. The probability that the test image may be a face is calculated by a trained CRF model. The probability is used as a measure to test the existence of a face. The experiments were carried out on the CMU/MIT dataset. As indicated by the experiment results, the following methods can improve the detection rate and enhance the robustness of face detection in case of occlusion: 1) integrating multiple features and multiple dependencies in CRF framework; 2) dividing the face optimally.
A High-Capacity Covering Code for Voice-Over-IP Steganography
Authors: Tian Hui , Qin Jie , Huang Yongfeng , Wang Xu An , Liu Jin , Chen Yonghong , Wang Tian , Cai Yiqiao
Published: February 2016

Although steganographic transparency and embedding capacity are considered to be two conflicting objectives in the design of steganographic systems, it is possible and necessary to strike a good balance between them in Voice-over-IP steganography. In this paper, to improve steganographic transparency while maintaining relatively large embedding capacity, the authors present a (2n-1, 2n) covering code, which can hide 2n-1 bits of secret messages into 2n bits of cover messages with not more than n-bit changed. Specifically, each (2n-1)-bit secret message is first transformed into two 2n-bit candidate codewords. In embedding process, the cover message is replaced with the optimal codeword more similar with it. In this way, the embedding distortion can be largely reduced. The proposed method is evaluated by comparing with existing ones with a large number of ITU-T G.729a encoded speech samples. The experimental results show that the authors' scheme can provide good performance on both steganographic transparency and embedding capacity, and achieve better balance between the two objectives than the existing ones.
An Improved Multilinear Map and its Applications
Authors: Gu Chunsheng
Published: February 2016

Cryptographic multilinear maps have extensive applications. However, current constructions of multilinear maps suffer from the zeroizing attacks. For a candidate construction of multilinear maps described by Garg, Gentry, and Halevi (GGH13), Hu & Jia recently presented an efficient attack, which broke the GGH13-based applications of multipartite key exchange (MPKE) and witness encryption (WE) based on the hardness of 3-exact cover problem. By introducing random matrix, the author presents an improvement of the GGH13 map, which supports the applications for public tools of encoding in the GGH13 map, such as MPKE and WE. The security of the construction depends upon new hardness assumption. Moreover, the author's improvement destroys the structure of the ring element in the principal ideal lattice problem, and avoids potential attacks using algorithm of solving short principal ideal lattice generator.
ICT in Social Care Practices: Opportunities and Critical Issues
Authors: Albuquerque Cristina Pinto
Published: February 2016

In the present article, the author will discuss the critical questions associated with the use of ICT in social care practices as well as the possibilities generated by them in terms of innovation, effectiveness and efficiency of solutions and responses. At this level, she will underline the connection between social care and ICT, namely in what concerns the information, knowledge and participatory processes and the strategic diagnosis of needs and resources.
An Evaluation of Ontology Based Domain Analysis for Model Driven Development
Authors: Guo Hong , Gao Shang , Krogstie John , Trætteberg Hallvard , Wang Alf Inge
Published: February 2016

Although Domain Analysis (DA) is important for Model Driven Development (MDD), traditional DA methods are demanding and not practical in many situations. When computer games are developed, game design (problem domain) is usually decided in a gradual way within iterations where software prototypes are constructed and playtest are performed. In such a case, it is not practical to fit a heavyweight DA in the highly iterative process. Researchers indicated that vocabularies were expected to automate game design. Such vocabularies can be reused in another form in DA tasks. In this research, the authors developed an ontology and a DA procedure based on it. To evaluate them, theoretical analysis, case studies, and a user acceptance survey were used. The results indicated that the ontology met the general requirement as a domain vocabulary, and it enhanced the DA process in an expected way. Most of external potential users (46 in total) considered the ontology useful and easy to use.
Semantic Network Formalism for Knowledge Representation
Authors: Mallat Souheyl , Hkiri Emna , Maraoui Mohsen , Zrigui Mounir
Published: February 2016

In this paper, the authors propose formalism for representing a knowledge base (KB) by network. The objective is to achieve a high coverage of this base. This type of network is similar to the semantic network with the difference that the arcs are quantified by a value indicating the semantic proximity between the concepts. This semantic proximity presents taxonomic relations, synonyms, and non-taxonomic relations (contextual relations). This latter are discovered based on the association rules model. This model is based on (i) indexing method (ii) the French lexical database EuroWordNet (EWNF) and (iii) the Apriori algorithm. The contextual relations are the latent relations buried in the KB, carried by the semantic context. Evaluating our representation formalism shows better result about 80% of coverage of the KB.
Temporal Data Management and Processing with Column Oriented NoSQL Databases
Authors: Hu Yong , Dessloch Stefan
Published: February 2016

This article introduces how temporal data can be maintained and processed by utilizing Column-oriented NoSQL databases (CoNoSQLDBs). Although each column in a CoNoSQLDB can store multiple data versions with their corresponded timestamps, its implicit temporal interval representation can cause wrong or misleading results during temporal query processing. In consequence, the original table representation supported by CoNoSQLDBs is not suitable for storing temporal data. To maintain the temporal data in the CoNoSQLDB tables, two alternative table representations can be adopted, namely, explicit history representation (EHR) and tuple time-stamping representation (TTR) in which each tuple (data version) has an explicit temporal interval. For processing TTR, the temporal relational algebra is extended to TTRO operator model with minor modifications. For processing EHR, a novel temporal operator model called CTO is proposed. Both TTRO and CTO contain eight temporal data operators, namely, Union, Difference, Intersection, Project, Filter, Cartesian product, Theta-Join and Group by with a set of aggregation functions, such as SUM, AVG, MAX and etc. Moreover, the authors implement each temporal operator by utilizing MapReduce framework to indicate which temporal operator model is more suitable for temporal data processing in the context of CoNoSQLDBs.
An exploration of learners’ theorems-in-action used in problems on ratio and proportion
Authors: Mahlabela Patisizwe T. , Bansilal Sarah
Published: February 2016

The purpose of this study is to explore Grade 9 learners’ understanding of ratio and proportion. The sample consists of a group of 30 mathematics learners from a rural school in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data were generated from their responses to two missing value items, adapted from the Concepts in Secondary Mathematics and Science test set in the United Kingdom over 30 years ago. The study utilised Vergnaud’s notion of theorems-in-action to describe the learners’ strategies. It was found that the most common strategy was the cross multiplication strategy. The data reveal that the strategy was reduced to identifying and placing (often arbitrarily) three given quantities and one unknown in four positions, allowing the learners to then carry out an operation of multiplication followed by the operation of division to produce an answer. The study recommends that the role of the function underlying the proportional relationship should be foregrounded during the teaching of ratio and proportion.
Developing a model for problem-solving in a Grade 4 mathematics classroom
Authors: Nieuwoudt Susan
Published: February 2016

The teaching of problem-solving through the development of a problem-solving model was investigated in a Grade 4 mathematics classroom. Learners completed a questionnaire regarding their knowledge of mathematical problem-solving, their attitudes towards problem-solving, as well as their experiences in solving problems. Learners’ responses revealed overall negative beliefs towards problem-solving as well as a lack of knowledge about what problem-solving in mathematics entails. The teacher then involved the learners in a structured learning programme where they worked in cooperative groups of six on different kinds of mathematical problems to solve. The groups regularly engaged in discussions about the different strategies they were using to solve a specific problem and eventually succeeded in formulating a generic problem-solving model they could call their own. The model was effectively used by the learners to solve various mathematical problems, reflecting their levels of cognitive development to a certain extent.
Molecular classification and prognostication of 300 node-negative breast cancer cases: A tertiary care experience
Authors: Shemin K. M. Zuhara , Smitha N. V. , Jojo Annie , Vijaykumar D. K.
Published: February 2016

Background: The proportion of node-negative breast cancer patients has been increasing with improvement of diagnostic modalities and early detection. However, there is a 20-30% recurrence in node-negative breast cancers. Determining who should receive adjuvant therapy is challenging, as the majority are cured by surgery alone. Hence, it requires further stratification using additional prognostic and predictive factors. Subjects and Methods: Ours is a single institution retrospective study, on 300 node-negative breast cancer cases, who underwent primary surgery over a period of 7 years (2005-2011). We excluded all cases who took NACT. Prognostic factors of age, size, lymphovascular emboli, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), HER2neu Ki-67, grade and molecular classification were analyzed with respect to those with and without early events (recurrence, metastases or second malignancy, death) using-Pearson Chi-square method and logistic regression method for statistical analysis. Results: Majority belonged to the age group of 50-70 years. On univariate analysis, size >5 cm (P = 0.03) and ER negativity had significant association (P = 0.05) for early failures; PR negativity and lymphovascular emboli (LVE) had borderline significance (P = 0.07). Multivariate analysis showed size >5 cm to be significant (P = 0.04) and LVE positivity showed borderline significant association (P = 0.07) with early failures. About 62% belonged to luminal category followed by basal-like (25%) in molecular classification. Conclusions: ER negativity, PR negativity, LVE/lymphovascular invasion positivity and size >5 cm (T3 and T4) are associated with poor prognosis in node-negative breast cancers.
Recurrent Glioblastoma: Where we stand
Authors: Roy Sanjoy , Lahiri Debarshi , Maji Tapas , Biswas Jaydip
Published: February 2016

Current first-line treatment regimens combine surgical resection and chemoradiation for Glioblastoma that provides a slight increase in overall survival. Age on its own should not be used as an exclusion criterion of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) treatment, but performance should be factored heavily into the decision-making process for treatment planning. Despite aggressive initial treatment, most patients develop recurrent diseases which can be treated with re-resection, systemic treatment with targeted agents or cytotoxic chemotherapy, reirradiation, or radiosurgery. Research into novel therapies is investigating alternative temozolomide regimens, convection-enhanced delivery, immunotherapy, gene therapy, antiangiogenic agents, poly ADP ribose polymerase inhibitors, or cancer stem cell signaling pathways. Given the aggressive and resilient nature of GBM, continued efforts to better understand GBM pathophysiology are required to discover novel targets for future therapy.
A relationship between quality-of-life and head and neck cancer: A systemic review
Authors: Parkar Sujal Mitul , Shah Mihir N.
Published: February 2016

Aim: The aim was to identify the literature and to assess the association between quality-of-life (QoL) and head and neck cancer (HNC) related outcomes systemically. Materials and Methods: The full articles published in English language bio-medical journals between 1992 and December 2014 were searched using Medline database. The keywords used for searching the articles include the combination of "health-related of QoL," "QoL," "HNC." The search limited only to the observational studies using questionnaires European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C 30 and EORTC QLQ H and N 35. Purely psychological studies were excluded. Results: A total of 5055 articles were retrieved, and 16 articles were selected for this review. Of 16 observational studies, 13 (81.25%) were prospective cohort studies while remaining 3 (18.75%) were cross-sectional studies. The main findings of the studies revealed that the treatment of HNC had a statistically significant influence on QoL. Others associated factors like age, female sex, duration of treatment, advance tumor, and site of the tumor has also the impact on QoL on patients suffering from HNC. Conclusion: This review provides evidence for a positive relationship between cancer-related outcomes and QoL. Assessment of QoL in relation to HNC with proper methodology and validated instruments is lacking hence there is a need for further evidence to support the relation between cancer and QoL.
Equidistribution estimates for Fekete points on complex manifolds
Authors: Lev Nir , Ortega-Cerdà Joaquim
Published: February 2016

We study the equidistribution of Fekete points in a compact complex manifold. These are extremal point configurations defined through sections of powers of a positive line bundle. Their equidistribution is a known result. The novelty of our approach is that we relate them to the problem of sampling and interpolation on line bundles, which allows us to estimate the equidistribution of the Fekete points quantitatively. In particular we estimate the Kantorovich–Wasserstein distance of the Fekete points to the limiting measure. The sampling and interpolation arrays on line bundles are a subject of independent interest, and we provide necessary density conditions through the classical approach of Landau, that in this context measures the local dimension of the space of sections of the line bundle. We obtain a complete geometric characterization of sampling and interpolation arrays in the case of compact manifolds of dimension one, and we prove that there are no arrays of both sampling and interpolation in the more general setting of semipositive line bundles.
Lifting pseudo-holomorphic polygons to the symplectisation of $P \times \mathbb{R}$ and applications
Authors: Dimitroglou Rizell Georgios
Published: February 2016

Let

\mathbb R \times (P \times \mathbb R)

be the symplectisation of the contactisation of an exact symplectic manifold

P

, and let

\mathbb R \times \Lambda

be a cylinder over a Legendrian submanifold of the contactisation. We show that a pseudo-holomorphic polygon in

P

having boundary on the projection of

\Lambda

can be lifted to a pseudo-holomorphic disc in the symplectisation having boundary on

\mathbb R \times \Lambda

. It follows that Legendrian contact homology may be equivalently defined by counting either of these objects. Using this result, we give a proof of Seidel's isomorphism of the linearised Legendrian contact homology induced by an exact Lagrangian filling and the singular homology of the filling.
Центральная предельная теорема на гиперболических группах
Authors: Benoist Yves , Quint Jean-Francois
Published: February 2016

Доказана центральная предельная теорема для случайных блужданий
с ограниченной дисперсией на группах, гиперболических в смысле Громова.
Библиография: 27 наименований.
On the long-term impact of emissions from central European cities on regional air quality
Authors: Huszar P. , Belda M. , Halenka T.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. For the purpose of qualifying and quantifying the impact of urban emission from Central European cities on the present-day regional air quality, the regional climate model RegCM4.2 was coupled with the chemistry transport model CAMx, including two-way interactions. A series of simulations was carried out for the 2001–2010 period either with all urban emissions included (base case) or without considering urban emissions. Further, the sensitivity of ozone production to urban emissions was examined by performing reduction experiments with −20 % emission perturbation of NOx and/or non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC). The modeling system's air quality related outputs were evaluated using AirBase, and EMEP surface measurements showed reasonable reproduction of the monthly variation for ozone (O3), but the annual cycle of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) is more biased. In terms of hourly correlations, values achieved for ozone and NO2 are 0.5–0.8 and 0.4–0.6, but SO2 is poorly or not correlated at all with measurements (r around 0.2–0.5). The modeled fine particulates (PM2.5) are usually underestimated, especially in winter, mainly due to underestimation of nitrates and carbonaceous aerosols. European air quality measures were chosen as metrics describing the cities emission impact on regional air pollution. Due to urban emissions, significant ozone titration occurs over cities while over rural areas remote from cities, ozone production is modeled, mainly in terms of number of exceedances and accumulated exceedances over the threshold of 40 ppbv. Urban NOx, SO2 and PM2.5 emissions also significantly contribute to concentrations in the cities themselves (up to 50–70 % for NOx and SO2, and up to 60 % for PM2.5), but the contribution is large over rural areas as well (10–20 %). Although air pollution over cities is largely determined by the local urban emissions, considerable (often a few tens of %) fraction of the concentration is attributable to other sources from rural areas and minor cities. For the case of Prague (Czech Republic capital), it is further shown that the inter-urban interference between large cities does not play an important role which means that the impact on a chosen city of emissions from all other large cities is very small. At last, it is shown that to achieve significant ozone reduction over cities in central Europe, the emission control strategies have to focus on the reduction of NMVOC, as reducing NOx (due to suppressed titration) often leads to increased O3. The influence over rural areas is however always in favor of improved air quality, i.e. both NOx and/or NMVOC reduction ends up in decreased ozone pollution, mainly in terms of exceedances.
PLAM – a meteorological pollution index for air quality and its applications in fog-haze forecasts in North China
Authors: Yang Y. Q. , Wang J. Z. , Gong S. L. , Zhang X. Y. , Wang H. , Wang Y. Q. , Wang J. , Li D. , Guo J. P.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Using surface meteorological observation and high-resolution emission data, this paper discusses the application of the PLAM/h index (Parameter Linking Air-quality to Meteorological conditions/haze) in the prediction of large-scale low visibility and fog-haze events. Based on the two-dimensional probability density function diagnosis model for emissions, the study extends the diagnosis and prediction of the meteorological pollution index PLAM to the regional visibility fog-haze intensity. The results show that combining the influence of regular meteorological conditions and emission factors together in the PLAM/h parameterization scheme is very effective in improving the diagnostic identification ability of the fog-haze weather in North China. The determination coefficients for four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, and winter) between PLAM/h and visibility observation are 0.76, 0.80, 0.96, and 0.86, respectively, and all of their significance levels exceed 0.001, showing the ability of PLAM/h to predict the seasonal changes and differences of fog-haze weather in the North China region. The high-value correlation zones are located in Jing-Jin-Ji (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei), Bohai Bay rim, and southern Hebei–northern Henan, indicating that the PLAM/h index is related to the distribution of frequent heavy fog-haze weather in North China and the distribution of emission high-value zone. Through comparative analysis of the heavy fog-haze events and large-scale clear-weather processes in winter and summer, it is found that PLAM/h index 24 h forecast is highly correlated with the visibility observation. Therefore, the PLAM/h index has good capability in identification, analysis, and forecasting.
Climate modulation of the Tibetan Plateau on haze in China
Authors: Xu X. , Zhao T. , Liu F. , Gong S. L. , Kristovich D. , Lu C. , Guo Y. , Cheng X. , Wang Y. , Ding G.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Rapid increases in pollutant emissions in conjunction with stagnant meteorological conditions result in haze pollution in China. Recent frequent haze in China has attracted worldwide attention. Here we show a relationship between the haze events and Tibetan Plateau (TP)'s environment and climate changes. Based on observational data taken over recent decades, we identify central-eastern China (CEC) as a climatological large-scale “susceptible region” of frequent haze, which is harbored by the TP with its impact on midlatitude westerly winds. The observational and modeling studies demonstrate that the interannual variations in the thermal forcing of TP are positively correlated with the incidences of wintertime haze over CEC. Further analysis indicates that the climate warming of the TP induced changes in atmospheric circulation, driving frequent haze events in CEC. The frequent haze occurrences in CEC are consistent with decreasing winter monsoon winds, intensifying downward air flows and increasing atmospheric stability in the lower troposphere over the CEC in association with upstream plateau's thermal anomalies. Therefore, variations of haze in China are related to mechanical and thermal forcing by the TP. Our results also suggest that implications of the large TP topography for environment and climate changes should be taken into account for air pollution mitigation policies in China.
Observed spatiotemporal variability of boundary-layer turbulence over flat, heterogeneous terrain
Authors: Maurer V. , Kalthoff N. , Wieser A. , Kohler M. , Mauder M. , Gantner L.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. In the spring of 2013, extensive measurements with multiple Doppler lidar systems were performed. The instruments were arranged in a triangle with edge lengths of about 3 km in a moderately flat, agriculturally used terrain in northwestern Germany. For 6 mostly cloud-free convective days, vertical velocity variance profiles were calculated. Weighted-averaged surface fluxes proved to be more appropriate than data from individual sites for scaling the variance profiles; but even then, the scatter of profiles was mostly larger than the statistical error. The scatter could not be explained by mean wind speed or stability, whereas time periods with significantly increased variance contained broader thermals. Periods with an elevated maximum of the variance profiles could also be related to broad thermals. Moreover, statistically significant spatial differences of variance were found. They were not influenced by the existing surface heterogeneity. Instead, thermals were preserved between two sites when the travel time was shorter than the large-eddy turnover time. At the same time, no thermals passed for more than 2 h at a third site that was located perpendicular to the mean wind direction in relation to the first two sites. Organized structures of turbulence with subsidence prevailing in the surroundings of thermals can thus partly explain significant spatial variance differences existing for several hours. Therefore, the representativeness of individual variance profiles derived from measurements at a single site cannot be assumed.
Oil and gas impacts on air quality in federal lands in the Bakken region: an overview of the Bakken Air Quality Study and first results
Authors: Prenni A. J. , Day D. E. , Evanoski-Cole A. R. , Sive B. C. , Hecobian A. , Zhou Y. , Gebhart K. A. , Hand J. L. , Sullivan A. P. , Li Y. , Schurman M. I. , Desyaterik Y. , Malm W. C. , Collett Jr. J. L. , Schichtel B. A.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The Bakken formation contains billions of barrels of oil and gas trapped in rock and shale. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing methods have allowed for extraction of these resources, leading to exponential growth of oil production in the region over the past decade. Along with this development has come an increase in associated emissions to the atmosphere. Concern about potential impacts of these emissions on federal lands in the region prompted the National Park Service to sponsor the Bakken Air Quality Study over two winters in 2013–2014. Here we provide an overview of the study and present some initial results aimed at better understanding the impact of local oil and gas emissions on regional air quality. Data from the study, along with long-term monitoring data, suggest that while power plants are still an important emissions source in the region, emissions from oil and gas activities are impacting ambient concentrations of nitrogen oxides and black carbon and may dominate recent observed trends in pollutant concentrations at some of the study sites. Measurements of volatile organic compounds also definitively show that oil and gas emissions were present in almost every air mass sampled over a period of more than 4 months.
Impact of chamber wall loss of gaseous organic compounds on secondary organic aerosol formation: explicit modeling of SOA formation from alkane and alkene oxidation
Authors: La Y. S. , Camredon M. , Ziemann P. J. , Valorso R. , Matsunaga A. , Lannuque V. , Lee-Taylor J. , Hodzic A. , Madronich S. , Aumont B.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. Recent studies have shown that low volatility gas-phase species can be lost onto the smog chamber wall surfaces. Although this loss of organic vapors to walls could be substantial during experiments, its effect on secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation has not been well characterized and quantified yet. Here the potential impact of chamber walls on the loss of gaseous organic species and SOA formation has been explored using the Generator for Explicit Chemistry and Kinetics of the Organics in the Atmosphere (GECKO-A) modeling tool, which explicitly represents SOA formation and gas–wall partitioning. The model was compared with 41 smog chamber experiments of SOA formation under OH oxidation of alkane and alkene series (linear, cyclic and C12-branched alkanes and terminal, internal and 2-methyl alkenes with 7 to 17 carbon atoms) under high NOx conditions. Simulated trends match observed trends within and between homologous series. The loss of organic vapors to the chamber walls is found to affect SOA yields as well as the composition of the gas and the particle phases. Simulated distributions of the species in various phases suggest that nitrates, hydroxynitrates and carbonylesters could substantially be lost onto walls. The extent of this process depends on the rate of gas–wall mass transfer, the vapor pressure of the species and the duration of the experiments. This work suggests that SOA yields inferred from chamber experiments could be underestimated up a factor of 2 due to the loss of organic vapors to chamber walls.
Warm Greenland during the last interglacial: the role of regional changes in sea ice cover
Authors: Merz Niklaus , Born Andreas , Raible Christoph C. , Stocker Thomas F.
Published: February 2016

Abstract. The last interglacial, the Eemian, is characterized by warmer than present conditions at high latitudes and is therefore often considered as a possible analogue for the climate in the near future. Simulations of Eemian surface air temperatures (SAT) in the Northern Hemisphere, however, show large variations between different climate models and it has been hypothesized that this model spread relates to diverse representations of the Eemian sea ice cover. Here we use versions 3 and 4 of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM3 and CCSM4), to highlight the crucial role of sea ice and sea surface temperatures during the Eemian, in particular for SAT in the North Atlantic sector and in Greenland. A substantial reduction in sea ice cover results in an amplified atmospheric warming and, thus, a better agreement with Eemian proxy records. Sensitivity experiments with idealized lower boundary conditions reveal that warming over Greenland is mostly due to a sea ice retreat in the Nordic Seas. In contrast, sea ice changes in the Labrador Sea have a limited local impact. Changes in sea ice cover in either region are transferred to the overlying atmosphere through anomalous surface energy fluxes. The large-scale warming simulated for the sea ice retreat in the Nordic Seas further relates to anomalous heat advection. Diabatic processes play a secondary role, yet distinct changes in the hydrological cycle are possible. Our results imply that temperature and accumulation records from Greenland ice cores are sensitive to sea ice changes in the Nordic Seas but insensitive to sea ice changes in the Labrador Sea. Moreover, our simulations suggest that the uncertainty in the Eemian sea ice cover accounts for 1.6 °C of the Eemian warming at the NEEM ice core site. The estimated Eemian warming of 5 °C above present-day based on the NEEM δ15N record can be reconstructed by the CCSM4 model for the scenario of a substantial sea ice retreat in the Nordic Seas combined with a reduced Greenland ice sheet.