bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improve 3D laser scanner measurements accuracy using a FFBP neural network with Widrow-Hoff weight/bias learning function
Authors: Rodríguez-Quiñonez J. , Sergiyenko O. , Hernandez-Balbuena D. , Rivas-Lopez M. , Flores-Fuentes W. , Basaca-Preciado L.
Published: September 2014

Many laser scanners depend on their mechanical construction to guarantee their measurements accuracy, however, the current computational technologies allow us to improve these measurements by mathematical methods implemented in neural networks. In this article we are going to introduce the current laser scanner technologies, give a description of our 3D laser scanner and adjust their measurement error by a previously trained feed forward back propagation (FFBP) neural network with a Widrow-Hoff weight/bias learning function. A comparative analysis with other learning functions such as the Kohonen algorithm and gradient descendent with momentum algorithm is presented. Finally, computational simulations are conducted to verify the performance and method uncertainty in the proposed system.
Sustainable noise abatement along motorways in Germany - an empirical study in the municipality Frasdorf (Bavaria)
Authors: Artmann Martina , Breuste Jürgen
Published: September 2014

As part of the planned expansion work of the motorway A8 between Rosenheim and Salzburg and the associated legal opportunity to develop new traffic noise protection measures, this study investigated properties of sustainable noise abatement in a community next to the A8. A two-stage empirical survey was conducted integrating a citizen and an expert Delphi survey. The results show that the noise from the motorway heavily affects the quality of life in health, economic and ecological respects. Sustainable noise abatement should take into consideration ecological and social aspects like landscape integration and contribution to local development due to the unique location of the municipality. Enclosed motorway canopies are particularly beneficial to meet these criteria. The costs for sustainable noise abatement measures should be weighted as less important; however, financial costs are crucial for the federal government due to the requirements of the Federal Pollution Control Act. Hence, residents and experts assume that noise barriers as the cheaper noise abatement measures will be implemented. However, the results of the study and the latest developments in the expansion plans suggest that the implementation of enclosed motorway canopies, which go beyond the legal requirements, is feasible through extensive citizen participation and community-specific planning.
What Predicts the Effectiveness of Foreign-Language Pronunciation Instruction? Investigating the Role of Perception and Other Individual Differences
Authors: Kissling Elizabeth M.
Published: September 2014

Abstract:

This study investigated second language (L2) learners’ perception of L2 sounds as an individual difference that predicted their improvement in pronunciation after receiving instruction. Learners were given explicit pronunciation instruction in a series of modules added to their Spanish as a foreign language curriculum and were then tested on their pronunciation accuracy. Their perception of the target sounds was measured with an AX discrimination task. Though the best predictor of pronunciation post-test score was pre-test score, perception made a unique and significant contribution. The other factors associated with better pronunciation of some L2 sounds were age, attitude, and time spent using Spanish outside the classroom. The results suggest that instructors should give adequate time for learners to hone their perception of target sounds at the outset of pronunciation instruction, because their initial ability to perceive the target sounds will, in part, determine how much they learn from such instruction. The results support models of L2 speech acquisition that claim that target-like perception is a precursor to target-like production, in this case in a formal learning context.
Correction: Brodzik, M.J., et al. EASE-Grid 2.0: Incremental but Significant Improvements for Earth-Gridded Data Sets. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information 2012, 1, 32–45
Authors: Brodzik Mary , Billingsley Brendan , Haran Terry , Raup Bruce , Savoie Matthew
Published: September 2014

We wish to make the following corrections to this paper [1]: [...]
Prediction of Multi-Target Networks of Neuroprotective Compounds with Entropy Indices and Synthesis, Assay, and Theoretical Study of New Asymmetric 1,2-Rasagiline Carbamates
Authors: Durán Francisco , Alonso Nerea , Caamaño Olga , García-Mera Xerardo , Yañez Matilde , Prado-Prado Francisco , González-Díaz Humberto
Published: September 2014

In a multi-target complex network, the links (Lij) represent the interactions between the drug (di) and the target (tj), characterized by different experimental measures (Ki, Km, IC50, etc.) obtained in pharmacological assays under diverse boundary conditions (cj). In this work, we handle Shannon entropy measures for developing a model encompassing a multi-target network of neuroprotective/neurotoxic compounds reported in the CHEMBL database. The model predicts correctly >8300 experimental outcomes with Accuracy, Specificity, and Sensitivity above 80%–90% on training and external validation series. Indeed, the model can calculate different outcomes for >30 experimental measures in >400 different experimental protocolsin relation with >150 molecular and cellular targets on 11 different organisms (including human). Hereafter, we reported by the first time the synthesis, characterization, and experimental assays of a new series of chiral 1,2-rasagiline carbamate derivatives not reported in previous works. The experimental tests included: (1) assay in absence of neurotoxic agents; (2) in the presence of glutamate; and (3) in the presence of H2O2. Lastly, we used the new Assessing Links with Moving Averages (ALMA)-entropy model to predict possible outcomes for the new compounds in a high number of pharmacological tests not carried out experimentally.
Production, Characterization and Biocompatibility of Marine Collagen Matrices from an Alternative and Sustainable Source: The Sea Urchin Paracentrotus lividus
Authors: Benedetto Cristiano , Barbaglio Alice , Martinello Tiziana , Alongi Valentina , Fassini Dario , Cullorà Emanuele , Patruno Marco , Bonasoro Francesco , Barbosa Mario , Carnevali Maria , Sugni Michela
Published: September 2014

Collagen has become a key-molecule in cell culture studies and in the tissue engineering field. Industrially, the principal sources of collagen are calf skin and bones which, however, could be associated to risks of serious disease transmission. In fact, collagen derived from alternative and riskless sources is required, and marine organisms are among the safest and recently exploited ones. Sea urchins possess a circular area of soft tissue surrounding the mouth, the peristomial membrane (PM), mainly composed by mammalian-like collagen. The PM of the edible sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus therefore represents a potential unexploited collagen source, easily obtainable as a food industry waste product. Our results demonstrate that it is possible to extract native collagen fibrils from the PM and produce suitable substrates for in vitro system. The obtained matrices appear as a homogeneous fibrillar network (mean fibril diameter 30–400 nm and mesh < 2 μm) and display remarkable mechanical properties in term of stiffness (146 ± 48 MPa) and viscosity (60.98 ± 52.07 GPa·s). In vitro tests with horse pbMSC show a good biocompatibility in terms of overall cell growth. The obtained results indicate that the sea urchin P. lividus can be a valuable low-cost collagen source for mechanically resistant biomedical devices.
Organic Nitrates: Past, Present and Future
Authors: França-Silva Maria , Balarini Camille , Cruz Josiane , Khan Barkat , Rampelotto Pabulo , Braga Valdir
Published: September 2014

Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the most important vasodilator molecules produced by the endothelium. It has already been established that NO/cGMP signaling pathway deficiencies are involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms of many cardiovascular diseases. In this context, the development of NO-releasing drugs for therapeutic use appears to be an effective alternative to replace the deficient endogenous NO and mimic the role of this molecule in the body. Organic nitrates represent the oldest class of NO donors that have been clinically used. Considering that tolerance can occur when these drugs are applied chronically, the search for new compounds of this class with lower tolerance potential is increasing. Here, we briefly discuss the mechanisms involved in nitrate tolerance and highlight some achievements from our group in the development of new organic nitrates and their preclinical application in cardiovascular disorders.
Voltammetric Electronic Tongue and Support Vector Machines for Identification of Selected Features in Mexican Coffee
Authors: Domínguez Rocio , Moreno-Barón Laura , Muñoz Roberto , Gutiérrez Juan
Published: September 2014

This paper describes a new method based on a voltammetric electronic tongue (ET) for the recognition of distinctive features in coffee samples. An ET was directly applied to different samples from the main Mexican coffee regions without any pretreatment before the analysis. The resulting electrochemical information was modeled with two different mathematical tools, namely Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) and Support Vector Machines (SVM). Growing conditions (i.e., organic or non-organic practices and altitude of crops) were considered for a first classification. LDA results showed an average discrimination rate of 88% ± 6.53% while SVM successfully accomplished an overall accuracy of 96.4% ± 3.50% for the same task. A second classification based on geographical origin of samples was carried out. Results showed an overall accuracy of 87.5% ± 7.79% for LDA and a superior performance of 97.5% ± 3.22% for SVM. Given the complexity of coffee samples, the high accuracy percentages achieved by ET coupled with SVM in both classification problems suggested a potential applicability of ET in the assessment of selected coffee features with a simpler and faster methodology along with a null sample pretreatment. In addition, the proposed method can be applied to authentication assessment while improving cost, time and accuracy of the general procedure.
An Efficient Approach for Preprocessing Data from a Large-Scale Chemical Sensor Array
Authors: Leo Marco , Distante Cosimo , Bernabei Mara , Persaud Krishna
Published: September 2014

In this paper, an artificial olfactory system (Electronic Nose) that mimics thebiological olfactory system is introduced. The device consists of a Large-Scale ChemicalSensor Array (16; 384 sensors, made of 24 different kinds of conducting polymer materials)that supplies data to software modules, which perform advanced data processing. Inparticular, the paper concentrates on the software components consisting, at first, of acrucial step that normalizes the heterogeneous sensor data and reduces their inherent noise.Cleaned data are then supplied as input to a data reduction procedure that extracts the mostinformative and discriminant directions in order to get an efficient representation in a lowerdimensional space where it is possible to more easily find a robust mapping between theobserved outputs and the characteristics of the odors in input to the device. Experimentalqualitative proofs of the validity of the procedure are given by analyzing data acquired fortwo different pure analytes and their binary mixtures. Moreover, a classification task isperformed in order to explore the possibility of automatically recognizing pure compoundsand to predict binary mixture concentrations.
Effects of Endurance Exercise Training and Crataegus Extract WS® 1442 in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction – A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Härtel Sascha , Kutzner Claire , Westphal Eva , Limberger Matthias , Burkart Martin , Ebner-Priemer Ulrich , Kohl-Bareis Matthias , Bös Klaus
Published: September 2014

Impaired exercise capacity is the core symptom of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We assessed effects of exercise training and Crataegus extract WS 1442 in HFpEF and aimed to identify mechanisms of action in an exploratory trial (German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00000259). 140 sedentary HFpEF NYHA II patients on standard treatment received eight weeks of aerobic endurance training and half were randomized to WS 1442 900 mg/day. Symptoms, 2 km walking time (T2km), parameters of exercise tolerance, cardiac and vascular function, muscular efficiency and skeletal muscular haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) measured during a treadmill protocol were captured at baseline and after eight weeks. Adverse events were recorded during the trial. Mechanisms of action were explored by correlation and path analyses of changes. Symptoms and exercise capacity improved with training, but correlations between improvements were low and path models were rejected. SO2 increased, decreased or undulated with increasing exercise intensity in individual patients and was not altered by training. WS 1442 improved T2km (-12.7% vs. -8.4%, p = 0.019), tended to improve symptoms and to pronounce SO2-decrease with increasing exercise, an indicator of oxygen utilisation. Endurance training and WS 1442 were safe and well tolerated in combination with standard drug treatment.
Drug Resistance in Non-B Subtype HIV-1: Impact of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors
Authors: Singh Kamalendra , Flores Jacqueline , Kirby Karen , Neogi Ujjwal , Sonnerborg Anders , Hachiya Atsuko , Das Kalyan , Arnold Eddy , McArthur Carole , Parniak Michael , Sarafianos Stefan
Published: September 2014

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes approximately 2.5 million new infections every year, and nearly 1.6 million patients succumb to HIV each year. Several factors, including cross-species transmission and error-prone replication have resulted in extraordinary genetic diversity of HIV groups. One of these groups, known as group M (main) contains nine subtypes (A-D, F-H and J-K) and causes ~95% of all HIV infections. Most reported data on susceptibility and resistance to anti-HIV therapies are from subtype B HIV infections, which are prevalent in developed countries but account for only ~12% of all global HIV infections, whereas non-B subtype HIV infections that account for ~88% of all HIV infections are prevalent primarily in low and middle-income countries. Although the treatments for subtype B infections are generally effective against non-B subtype infections, there are differences in response to therapies. Here, we review how polymorphisms, transmission efficiency of drug-resistant strains, and differences in genetic barrier for drug resistance can differentially alter the response to reverse transcriptase-targeting therapies in various subtypes.
Les vétérans sans bronze en Égypte
Authors: Cosme Pierre
Published: September 2014

En Égypte, certains documents rédigés à l’occasion de l’epikrisis mentionnent des vétérans sans diplôme. Ils pourraient correspondre aux soldats dont la démobilisation a été laissée aux soins du seul gouverneur de province, en raison du cas particulier qu’ils représentaient (par exemple les marins recrutés dans des légions). Ils auraient été appelés Χωρἰς Χαλκῶν car leur nom ne figurait sans doute pas sur les tables de bronze affichées à Rome. En revanche, leur cas était réglé par une décision du gouverneur de leur province de garnison qui pouvait leur délivrer des documents justificatifs. Dans le cas de l’Égypte au moins, le texte original de ces décisions était affiché dans le Caesareum d’Alexandrie. La découverte de documents comparables ailleurs qu’en Égypte témoigne de l’existence de cette procédure dans d’autres provinces.
Les poètes dans les inscriptions grecques de Rome: esquisse d’une approche socioculturelle
Authors: Gangloff Anne
Published: September 2014

Based on peruse of IGVR, this study offers a socio-cultural approach of Greek or Greek-speaking poets that stayed in Rome during Imperial times, from the first century AD to the end of the fourth century. Inscriptions relating poets names are relatively numerous (15). In the first part, we will discuss the artists’ origin, the choice and status of the language used in the inscriptions, the problems of identities they raised. In the second part, we will discuss what kind of esteem and career opportunities Greek speaking poets could meet in Rome ; we would distinguish the different professional categories of those poets and analyse their main functions as well as their relationships with Imperial power.
Alcuni casi di interazione oratore-pubblico a Roma tra il I secolo a.C. e il I d.C.
Authors: Balbo Andrea
Published: September 2014

In the large field of the study of the relations between orator and audience in ancient oratory, one of the less studied themes seems to be the influence of the solicitations that come from the audience and that could be expressed by signs and phrases of approval or disapproval. This article aims at examining two cases where there was this sort of interaction between orator and people (the judiciary oration of Albucius Silus in Milan in the years between 26-16 BC and the speech of Germanicus to the assembly of Alexandria of Egypt in 19 AD), thus studying the relation of the above-mentioned cases to the acclamatio, verifying if they can help us to understand the characteristics of another type of speech, the altercatio.
Early evidence of xeromorphy in angiosperms: Stomatal encryption in a new eocene species ofBanksia(Proteaceae) from Western Australia
Authors: Carpenter Raymond J. , McLoughlin Stephen , Hill Robert S. , McNamara Kenneth J. , Jordan Gregory John
Published: September 2014

•Premise of the study:Globally, the origins of xeromorphic traits in modern angiosperm lineages are obscure but are thought to be linked to the early Neogene onset of seasonally arid climates. Stomatal encryption is a xeromorphic trait that is prominent inBanksia, an archetypal genus centered in one of the world's most diverse ecosystems, the ancient infertile landscape of Mediterranean‐climate southwestern Australia.

•Methods:We describeBanksia paleocrypta, a sclerophyllous species with encrypted stomata from silcretes of the Walebing and Kojonup regions of southwestern Australia dated as Late Eocene.

•Key results: Banksia paleocryptashows evidence of foliar xeromorphy ∼20 Ma before the widely accepted timing for the onset of aridity in Australia. Species ofBanksiasubgenusBanksiawith very similar leaves are extant in southwestern Australia. The conditions required for silcrete formation infer fluctuating water tables and climatic seasonality in southwestern Australia in the Eocene, and seasonality is supported by the paucity of angiosperm closed‐forest elements among the fossil taxa preserved withB. paleocrypta. However, climates in the region during the Eocene are unlikely to have experienced seasons as hot and dry as present‐day summers.

•Conclusions:The presence ofB. paleocryptawithin the center of diversity of subgenusBanksiain edaphically ancient southwestern Australia is consistent with the continuous presence of this lineage in the region for ≥40 Ma, a testament to the success of increasingly xeromorphic traits inBanksiaover an interval in which numerous other lineages became extinct.
Differences in Male and Female Nurses’ Responses to Physical Assault by Psychiatric Patients: A Supplemental Finding of a Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Moylan Lois Biggin , Cullinan Meritta B. , Kimpel Jeanne E.
Published: September 2014

In one segment of a multifactor study conducted in 2011 at five psychiatric sites in three counties of Long Island, New York, 110 nurses were interviewed about their experiences with physical assault by psychiatric patients. Marked differences were identified between the male and female nurse participants who were assaulted. Women expressed feelings of inadequacy and questioned their competence. They felt blamed by administration and sometimes even colleagues. In addition, many did not report the incident for fear of reprisal. Women believed that violence was to be expected, and they considered it part of the job. On the other hand, men did not question their competency. They blamed external factors, such as poor staffing or unsafe design of the unit, or they stated that the patient was inadequately medicated and impossible to control. The male nurses did not feel blamed for the incident. All but one male nurse formally reported the incidents. They believed that violence in psychiatry is to be expected but should not be considered part of the job. These findings may be explained by Weiner’s Attribution Theory. [
Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 52
(12), 36–42.]
Plan verde para una ciudad patrimonio de la humanidad. Segovia
Authors: Arroyo F. , Esteban V. , Marcos M. , Yoldi L.
Published: September 2014

El Plan Verde de Segovia es la puesta en practica de una metodología de actuación general y peculiar para defender la sostenibilidad de la ciudad.
El objeto del referido Plan es la recuperación, conservación y mejora de la calidad ecológica y paisajística de la ciudad y su entorno, a partir de un análisis del medio urbano y periurbano, y sobre la base de una programación fundamentada en la visión integral de los aspectos ambientales.
El presente articulo describe, tanto los pasos dados para la redacción del plan y la subsiguiente elaboración de una propuesta general de actuación, como el desarrollo de esta ultima.
Se expresan también los resultados de la revisión y evaluación del Plan tras ocho años de ejecución y la estrategia derivada para completar y mejorar el Plan inicial.
Respuesta hidrológica del Pirineo central al cambio ambiental proyectado para el siglo XXI
Authors: López-Moreno J. I. , Vicente-Serrano S. M. , Zabalza J. , Revuelto J. , Gilaberte M. , Azorín-Molina C. , Morán-Tejeda E. , García-Ruiz J. M. , Tague C.
Published: September 2014

Se han simulado los caudales de cinco cabeceras de ríos en los Pirineos centrales españoles, considerando diferentes escenarios de cambio climático y de uso del suelo. Los caudales fueron simulados utilizando el modelo hidroecológico RHESSys (Regional Hydro-Ecologic Simulation System). Los resultados muestran que los cambios proyectados por un conjunto de modelos climáticos regionales en precipitaciones y temperaturas en el siglo XXI podrían causar una disminución del caudal anual entre el 13% y el 23%, dependiendo de la cuenca considerada. Cuando se añade a los efectos del cambio climático el efecto del aumento de la cubierta forestal en las cuencas, la disminución de los caudales anuales oscila entre el 19% y el 32%, dependiendo de la cuenca estudiada. Los mayores cambios hidrológicos se producirían a principios de primavera, verano y otoño, cuando la disminución puede superar el 40% respecto a los valores actuales. El invierno es la estación menos afectada como consecuencia del aumento de la escorrentía debido a una reducción del agua acumulada en forma de nieve y a un inicio más temprano de su fusión, así como por que durante los meses fríos el consumo de agua por parte de la vegetación es menor. La magnitud del cambio hidrológico, resultado de los escenarios de cambio ambiental, puede afectar seriamente a la gestión de los recursos hídricos y a las comunidades vegetales del Pirineo central, así como a la disponibilidad de agua en el conjunto de la cuenca del Ebro.
Quantifying “Magic”
Authors: Fisher Kristie J. , Nichols Tim , Isbister Katherine , Fuller Tom
Published: September 2014

In November 2010, Microsoft released the Kinect sensor as a new input device for the Xbox 360 gaming console, and more recently the “next generation” of Kinect was released in November 2013 as part of the Xbox One entertainment system. Kinect has the ability to detect multiple points of skeletal movement, differentiating among multiple simultaneous users. This ability enables users to control and interact with on-screen elements by moving their bodies in space (e.g., move characters, select menu items, manipulate virtual objects). Controllers or on-body sensors are not needed to use gesture inputs with Kinect, and Kinect can also detect speech inputs. The team at Microsoft Studios User Research (SUR) was an integral part of creating the first full-body gaming experiences for the Kinect system. During the development of Kinect, and in the more than 3 years since its initial launch, SUR has worked with game designers, programmers, and hardware developers on games and other applications that use Kinect. In this article the authors leverage data SUR has collected over the development cycles of many different games created for many different audiences to summarize the unique user experience challenges that the Kinect sensor brings to game development. The authors also propose principles for designing fun and accessible experiences for Kinect.
Integrating Product-Service Systems with New Business Models Definition for Manufacturing Industries
Authors: Marques Pedro C. , Cunha Pedro F.
Published: September 2014

Nowadays, manufacturing companies are pressured to be competitive and innovative. Particularly this concerns the delivery of value to their customers. The assessment of the overall value chain, designed and implemented for a specific product and/or service, should be sustained by new business models (NBM), thus contributing to higher levels of customer satisfaction. Integrated product-services are assuming importance, allowing manufacturing companies to achieve longer and stable relationships with their customers. This requires, among other, organizational changes and novel methodologies for product-service development. In fact, an effective integration allows product-service innovation, which being exploited, contributes significantly to businesses' competitiveness and sustainability. In this paper, a “roadmap” for NBM definition and implementation is presented, along with a new methodology for Product-Service Systems (PSS) development. Two case studies are used to test both the roadmap and the PSS methodology. As such, this work is expected to contribute to a clear understanding of NBM and their integration in a methodology for PSS.
A Self-Management System for Chronically Ill Patients
Authors: Torsi Silvia
Published: September 2014

This article describes the User Centered Design Process for providing chronically ill patients tools to better self-manage their conditions. Stroke, congestive heart failure and chronic pain are complex conditions in which regulated physical activity can provide real improvement of symptoms and health conditions. In particular the work is focused on how the authors gathered the guidelines from the patients, how they translated them into interface design and how did the patients react to the paper prototypes. Paper prototyping is a quick, inexpensive and easily modifiable way to create intermediate artifacts that can be iteratively modified by early evaluation with intended users.
Trends in Managing Multimedia Semantics
Authors: Poli Roberto , Kameas Achilles , Seremeti Lambrini
Published: September 2014

This paper reviews various efforts to define and capture the semantics of multimedia data. These efforts are particularly relevant to the problem of storing, managing and querying the semantic content of such data. Since there is not yet an accepted solution to the problem of how to represent, organize and manage multimedia data and the related semantics by means of a formal framework, this paper aims at providing some major research trends in this area. The focus is on ontologies, which allow the exchange of semantics of multimedia content between distributed information systems. This paper aims at reporting on recent trends in the development of multimedia ontologies.
A Simulation Framework for the Evaluation of Frequency Reuse in LTE-A Systems
Authors: Bilios Dimitrios , Bouras Christos , Diles Georgios , Kokkinos Vasileios , Papazois Andreas , Tseliou Georgia
Published: September 2014

Long Term Evolution Advanced (LTE-A) technology is considered as the most possible candidate for next generation mobile communications. LTE-A networks offer high capacity and are specified and designed to accommodate small, high performance, power-efficient end-user devices. Similarly to its predecessor LTE, LTE-A incorporates inter-cell interference mitigation methods in order to mitigate interference and to enhance efficiency in bandwidth usage. These methods include power and frequency allocation schemes that allow neighbouring cells and femtocells in heterogeneous networks to co-ordinately share and reuse available spectral resources, in order to avoid performance degradation for interference suffering cell-edge users. In this paper, the authors study the LTE-A multi-cell systems' performance using a simulation framework, which integrates several frequency reuse techniques and provides a user-friendly graphical presentation of the evaluation results. The optimal Fractional Frequency Reuse (FFR) configuration for the user-defined network instance is also determined, based on overall performance and fairness index metrics. Finally, the authors examine FFR techniques in two-tier femtocell/macrocell environments and evaluate them based on the optimization of different metrics, depending on the network operator's needs.
Current interpretations and scientific rationale of the ozone usage in dentistry: A systematic review of literature
Authors: Kumar Anil , Bhagawati Sharnamma , Tyagi Prashant , Kumar Prince
Published: September 2014

In the era of antibiotic resistance, a naturally occurring substance is needed to completely cure the infection without any toxic side-effects; a responsibility that “O3 or Ozone” seems to implement sincerely. Ozone gas has a high-oxidation potential and has the capacity to stimulate blood circulation and the immune response. It is a great supplement to conventional therapeutic dental modalities. Treatment may be achieved by increasing the resistance of the tooth against the microbial activity and reducing the extent of microbial activity. In addition to the recent materials and techniques, the therapeutic actions of ozone may provide beneficial results by reducing the demineralization of the tooth. Its bactericide, virucide and fungicide effects are based on its strong oxidation effect with the formation of free radicals as well as its direct destruction of almost all microorganisms. This potentially beneficial agent has been used in dentistry also. Ozone has a wide application in dentistry which includes treatment of carious lesions, root canal disinfection, wound healing impairments after surgical interventions, plaque control, disinfection of dentures, etc., The purpose of this article is to summarize the mechanism of action and different modalities of ozone therapy in the practice of dentistry.
Knowledge and behavior related to oral health among Jimma University Health Sciences students, Jimma, Ethiopia
Authors: Darout Ismail Abbas
Published: September 2014

Background: Oral health practices are essential for prevention of dental and other associated systemic diseases. This study explores Jimma University Health Sciences students, with the respect to frequency and quality of use and the effect of gender differences on the distribution of oral health knowledge and behavior. Materials and Methods: Self-reported questionnaires were distributed to be completed by the participants from health sciences students. These students were selected at random after having read a consent letter. Three hundred students (males 206 and 94 females) were completed the questionnaires. The data were processed and analyzed by means of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 14.0, Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results: About 57.6% males and 52.5% females scored highly in knowledge of caries. The corresponding rates regarding the knowledge of gingivitis were 49% and 44% respectively. Tooth brushing and the use of mefakia (chewing stick) ≤2 times a day was confirmed by 56.8% males and 58.2% females and by 74.8% males and 62.8% females, respectively. Conclusion: Awareness of oral health issues is high, but specific misconceptions exist. There is gender equality in knowledge and practice of oral hygiene among health sciences students. Mefakia chewing stick was equally used with toothbrush for oral hygiene practice.
A clinical and microbiological study to evaluate the effect of dietary supplement of coenzyme Q10 in nonsurgical treatment outcome of chronic periodontitis patients after phase 1 periodontal therapy
Authors: Saini Rajiv
Published: September 2014

Aim: The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary supplement of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in nonsurgical treatment outcome of chronic periodontitis patients after phase 1 periodontal therapy. Materials and Methods: A total of 50 generalized chronic periodontitis patient between the aged ranges between 18 and 55 years were enrolled in the study and divided into two categories (A and B). Clinical and microbiological parameters were recorded prior to phase 1 therapy; and subjects were put on conventional oral hygiene regime. The subjects under group B were incorporated with CoQ10 as nutritional dietary supplement (TDS). Results: The results of this study showed that there was significant decrease in clinical and microbiological parameters from baseline to 4 months in both groups (P < 0.01). The subjects under group B incorporated with dietary supplement of CoQ10 showed a highly significant reduction to all the parameters when compared to subjects under group A. Conclusion: Long-term regular intake of nutritional dietary supplement of CoQ10 is more beneficial in nonsurgical treatment outcome of periodontal disease.
Accidental swallowing of endodontic instrument: Could be a medical emergency
Authors: Bains Rhythm , Loomba Kapil , Sinha Sonal , Bains Vivek Kumar
Published: September 2014

Accidents are unpleasant incidences that happen when we are careless or when we do not follow the safety rules. In the dental office, foreign body ingestion or aspiration is a rare but serious mishappening. Ingestion of blunt foreign objects is less life-threatening and the object is generally egested through the gastrointestinal tract uneventfully, but sharp objects like endodontic files may sometimes cause intestinal perforation. Aspiration, on the other hand, is a more serious, but fortunately, less prevalent hazard and often leads to hospitalization of the patient. From a legal aspect also, such incidence is counted as negligence on the part of the operator and the dentist should be well aware of the legal liabilities and should take the appropriate preventive measures to prevent or intercept any untoward circumstance.
Anatomically-preserved cordaitalean trees from Lower Pennsylvanian (Langsettian) dryland alluvial-plain deposits at Joggins, Nova Scotia
Authors: Falcon-Lang Howard J.
Published: September 2014

Recent discoveries at Joggins, Nova Scotia have altered our understanding of the Pennsylvanian tropical biome. Of particular signiﬁcance has been the recognition of seasonal dryland ecosystems, compositionally distinct from the peat-forming wetland rainforests. Here I describe two anatomically-preserved fossil plant specimens from dryland alluvial plain facies. The ﬁrst specimen, Mesoxylon cf. sutclifﬁ i, is previously unknown from Joggins. It is a septate cordaitalean axis with mesarch leaf traces and a non-sympodial vasculature. Where found as isolated blocks, the secondary xylem of this plant has previously been classiﬁed as Dadoxylon recentium. The axis exhibits subtle growth interruptions suggestive of tropical rainfall seasonality, while associated traumatic zones may record ﬁre-damage. The second specimen is a Dadoxylon stump rooted within well-drained ﬂoodbasin soils. It conﬁrms earlier conjecture, based on parautochthonous assemblages, that cordaitalean trees grew in inter-channel areas. Together these new specimens improve our knowledge of the composition and ecology of seasonal dryland vegetation at Joggins.

RÉSUMÉ

Des découvertes récentes à Joggins (Nouvelle-Écosse), ont modiﬁé notre compréhension du biome tropical pennsylvanien. La reconnaissance d'écosystèmes de milieux arides saisonniers aux compositions distinctes des forêts tropicales humides ayant formé des tourbières, s'avère particulièrement importante. Je décris aux présentes deux spécimens préservés de plantes fossiles anatomiquement provenant du faciès d'une plaine alluviale de milieu aride. Le premier spécimen, un Mesoxylon cf. sutclifﬁ i, était auparavant inconnu à Joggins. Il s'agit d'un axe cordaitaléen cloisonné comportant des cicatrices foliaires à arc moyen et une vasculature non sympodiale. Lors de sa découverte sous forme de blocs isolés, on avait précédemment classiﬁé le xylème secondaire de cette plante en tant que Dadoxylon recentium L'axe présente des interruptions de croissance subtiles évoquant des chutes de pluie tropicales saisonnières, tandis que les cernes traumatiques associés pourraient témoigner de dommages causés par le feu. Le second spécimen est une souche de Dadoxylon qui plongeait ses racines à l'intérieur des sols d'un bassin de crue bien drainé. Il conﬁrme une conjecture antérieure, basée sur des assemblages parautochtones, supposant que les arbres cordaitaléens aient poussé dans des secteurs situés entre des chenaux. Ces deux nouveaux spécimens améliorent notre connaissance de la composition et de l'écologie de la végétation saisonnière des milieux arides à Joggins.

[Traduit par la rédaction.]
The "medullosalean forest" at the Lloyd Cove Seam (Pennsylvanian, Sydney Coalfield, Nova Scotia, Canada)
Authors: Zodrow Erwin L.
Published: September 2014

From a ca. 4,200 m+2 mining area of the roof shale of the Lloyd Cove Seam, Sydney Coalfield, Nova Scotia, an alethopterid-linopterid assemblage was discovered. Physically associated with, and not connected with leaf fragments, is a great abundance of medullosalean axes and stems. They range in length from several to over 130 cm, with attached axes of similarly variable lengths. Among them is a 130 cm long stem or trunk with "naked" 4 — 6 cm wide petioles in life position that are preserved for a maximum length of 60 cm; it represents an arborescent alethopterid, or "seed-fern" tree, 5 — 7 m tall, with as yet undetermined frond structure and foliar species. These fossil finds are interpreted to represent a "medullosalean forest" whose habitat was within the drier parts of a coastal-plain ecosystem of basal Stephanian age, at which time floral changes occurred at the Lloyd Cove Seam. This discovery is unequalled in the Canadian Carboniferous Maritimes Basin, where macrofossil collections date back to the 1840s.

RESUMÉ
On a découvert à l'intérieur d'un secteur d'extraction d'environ 4 200 mètres carrés du schiste supérieur de l'anse Lloyd, dans le terrain houiller de Sydney, en Nouvelle-Écosse, un assemblage d'aléthoptérides et de linoptérides. On trouve une grande abondance de tiges et d'axes médullosaléens physiquement associés, mais non rattachés, à des fragments de feuilles. Ceux-ci varient d'une longueur de plusieurs centimètres à plus de 130 cm, et comporte des axes de longueur similairement variables y étant rattachés. On trouve parmi eux une tige ou un tronc de 130 cm de longueur muni de pétioles « dénudés » de quatre à six centimètres de largeur, en position de vie, qui ont été conserves sur une longueur maximale de 60 cm. Cette tige représente un aléthoptéride arborescent, ou un arbre d'origine « ptéridospermale » de cinq à sept mètres de hauteur dont la structure des frondes et l'espèce foliaire restent encore indéterminées. Ces découvertes de fossiles sont interprétées comme des représentants d'une « forêt médullosaléenne » dont l'habitat se trouvait à l'intérieur des secteurs les plus secs de l'écosystème d'une plaine côtière remontant au début du Stéphanien, moment où sont survenus des changements floraux dans le filon de l'anse Lloyd. Cette découverte ne correspond à aucun équivalent dans le bassin carbonifère des Maritimes canadien, où les prélèvements de macrofossiles remontent aux années 1840.
Les Blocs d'estran a Saint-Fabien-Sur-Mer, Estuaire Maritime du Saint-Laurent, Quebec
Authors: Dionne Jean-Claude
Published: September 2014

RÉSUMÉ

L'estran de L’anse à Mercier, à Saint-Fabien-sur-Mer, c&x#F4;te sud de L’estuaire maritime du Saint-Laurent, est en grande partie couvert de blocs. lis ont jusqu'à 5 m de diamètre, reposent sur de L’argile marine post-glaciaire et avpartiennent à deux grandée categories lithologiques: roches ignées et métamorphiques, d'âge Précambrien, provenant du Bouclier Laurentidien â plus de 25 km au nord, et roches sédimentaires, d'âge Paléozoique, provenant des crêtes appalachiennes et des plates-formes littorales avoisinantes. Des aomptages faits sur 9900 blocs d'estran ont donné une proportion de 57% d'éléments laurentidiens et 43% d'éléments appalachiens. L'absence de till ou de dépôt norainique dans la région et la position stratigraphique des blocs à la surface de sédiments fins marins, d'âge post-glaciaire, permettent de conolure que les glaces flottantes sont le prinicpal agent de transport et de mise en place des blocs.

Various boulder accumulations occur at Mercier Cove, Saint-Fabien-sur-Mer, on the south shore of the Lower St. Lawrence Estuary. Boulders, up to 5 m in diameter, are found on marine postglacial deposits of thick clay. The boulders are composed of two main lithologies: Precambrian igneous and metamorphie rocks from the Laurentidian Shield over 25 km to the north, and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks from the surrounding Appalachian ridges and shore platforms. Of the 9900 boulders counted throughout the tidal zone, 57% are Laurentidian rocks and 43% Appalachian. As there is no evidence of glacial drift in the area, and as the boulders overlay fine marine sediments of postglacial age, drift ice can be considered as the principal agent of transportation and deposition.
Foraminiferal Distribution in Two Nova Scotia Marshes
Authors: Deonarine B.
Published: September 2014

Thirty sediment samples from marshes at Peggy's Cove and Clementsport, Nova Scotia, were examined and nine benthonic foraminifera species identified. Agglutinated tests form 98% of the total Foraminiferal population. Trochammina macrescens is the dominant form in upper marsh environments. This species is gradually replaced by Miliammina fuaca as lower marsh conditions are developed. M. fusca comprises 97% of the total population in the lower marsh environments sampled in this study.
Upper Holocene Paleoceanography of Inner Miramichi Bay
Authors: Wagner F. J. E. , Schafer C. T.
Published: September 2014

Changes in sediment texture and in foraminiferal and molluscan assemblages observed in three vibracores collected in Miramichi Inner Boy reflect the development of a barrier island system across the mouth of the Bayt and the opening and closing of channels between the islands. The barrier island system apparently developed initially between 4400 and 3600 C14 years B.P. Opening and infilling of Buckleberry Gulley during the past 1300 years is indicated by changes in the proportions of estuarine and open bay assemblages of benthonic foraminifera. Mollusc and foraminifera data do not always suggest the same paleoenvironmental conditions at any given place and time, but they are in good agreement with respect to the direction of paleoenvironmental trends.
A Sedimentological Continuum Occurring through Geologic Time: A Study for students
Authors: Pelletier B. R.
Published: September 2014

Exponential decrease in grain size with linear distance of sediment transport is expressed as a variation of Sternberg's Law. This variation is Y = Yoe-ax in which Y0 is the initial diameter of a particle, Y is the diameter of the particle after Travelling a distance X, and a is the slope of the curve. This slope was designated the coefficient of size reduction by Sternberg, Determination of paleoslope attitude, and paleocurrent direction, and sedimentary anisotropy were achieved from the field measurements on vectoral properties of foreset beds and current ripples, and from the examination of sedimentologic-stratigraphic maps such as grain size distribution, isopachs, and facies.

The basic equation (Y = Yoe-ax) is applied to grain diameters of sediment samples from Arctic rivers, thus representing sedimentation on the modern temporal plane. Next, the mathematical operations carried out on both scalar and vectoral entities are applied to the upper and lower parts of a Silurian member (the Grimeby Sandstone in the Niagara Peninsula) of Ontario, in order to illustrate the persistence of the exponential law through a small interval of geologic time. Superposition of the size-distance curves representing top and bottom beds show parallelism of slope. The operations applied across two members (the Grimsby and overlying Thorold sandstone) show a similar parallelism of size-distance curves. The operations applied across several formations representing almost an entire geologic period (the Triassic sandstones of northeastern British Columbia - Toad, Liard, and Grey Beds) yield a family of negative, exponential, size-distance curves, drawn from the textural analyses. Finally, the operations are applied to formations representing a long interval of geologic time (the conglomerates of the lower Mississippian Pocono and lower Pennsylvanian Pottsville). Size-distance curves based on textural variations along a sampling line trending northwesterly across Pennsylvania were constructed and superposed on the same graph. The resulting relationship demonstrates that under prograding conditions a natural law of growth for sedimentary clastic bodies exists and persists over long periods, being expressed in the form of a family of negative exponential curves. Also, this law together with sedimentary anisotropy and progradation constitute a sedimentologic continuum operating through this different but successive interval of geologic time.