bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of Beclin 1 Expression Enhances Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis Through a Mitochondrial-Dependent Pathway in Human Ovarian Cancer SKOV3/DDP Cells
Authors: Sun Yang , Liu Jia-hua , Jin Long , Sui Yu-xia , Lai Li , Yang Yin
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of autophagy on cisplatin-induced ovarian cancer SKOV3/DDP cell line death through regulation of the expression of the autophagy gene, Beclin 1, and to explore the potential mechanism underlying the relationship between autophagy
and apoptosis. When compared with a blank control group, the proportion of apoptotic cells undergoing Beclin 1 interfering increased significantly after cisplatin treatment, accompanied by reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, increase in activities of caspase-9/3 and cytoplasmic
cytochrome C, elevation of Bax expression, and reduction in Bcl-2 expression. However, the proportion of apoptotic cells with Beclin 1 overexpression reduced. These findings suggest that Beclin 1 plays an important role in the regulation of potent antitumor activity through a mitochondrial-dependent
pathway in SKOV3/DDP cell line, and inhibition of Beclin 1 expression may become a new target for the sensitization therapy of ovarian cancer with cisplatin.
Syntheses of fluorooxindole and 2-fluoro-2-arylacetic acid derivatives from diethyl 2-fluoromalonate ester
Authors: Harsanyi Antal , Sandford Graham , Yufit Dmitri S , Howard Judith AK
Published: May 2014

Diethyl 2-fluoromalonate ester is utilised as a building block for the synthesis of 2-fluoro-2-arylacetic acid and fluorooxindole derivatives by a strategy involving nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions with ortho-fluoronitrobenzene substrates followed by decarboxylation, esterification and reductive cyclisation processes.
Análisis fractal de las catedrales góticas españolas
Authors: Samper A. , Herrera B.
Published: May 2014

En las construcciones góticas la Geometría Euclídea, y en especial los ratios phi y pi, fue usada para dotarles de estructura, proporción y belleza; sin embargo, además de los elementos euclídeos existen otros conceptos complejos en las construcciones de las catedrales góticas: efectividad de ocupar espacio, rugosidad y escabrosidad de los detalles que constituyen sus estructuras. La mejor herramienta para describir estos conceptos la ofrece la Geometría Fractal a través del ratio llamado «dimensión fractal». Se trata de un parámetro geométrico, que da una medida de esos conceptos; y que no es atribuible únicamente a elementos euclídeos, sino que además viene generado por el resultado arquitectónico final de estas construcciones. Con el presente estudio mostramos que las Catedrales Góticas Españolas no sólo se rigen por los patrones geométricos euclídeos, sino que además poseen otro patrón característico, que viene determinado por su dimensión fractal.
La autoría científica en las áreas de ciencia y tecnología. Políticas internacionales y prácticas editoriales en las revistas científicas españolas
Authors: Ruíz-Pérez Rafael , Marcos-Cartagena Diego , Delgado López-Cózar Emilio
Published: May 2014

La autoría científica está ligada al crédito, al mérito científico y a la ética personal, existiendo evidencias sobre comportamientos inadecuados que plantean mejorar la regulación de las condiciones para otorgar la autoría de un trabajo científico. Esta regulación es competencia de las asociaciones de edición científica y de las propias revistas, por lo que el objetivo de este trabajo es analizar cuál es la situación de las políticas internacionales sobre autoría científica y de las prácticas editoriales de las revistas españolas en las áreas de ciencia y tecnología. Se realizo un análisis de contenido transversal de los manuales de edición científica y de una muestra de 37 revistas españolas de prestigio y se comprobaron los criterios sobre autoría, las responsabilidades derivadas, la función de los agradecimientos, el número de autores, orden de firma y la responsabilidad de correspondencia. Se observa como resultados centrales datos preocupantes: solo el 15% de los manuales aciertan a especificar de forma adecuada los criterios y entre las revistas solo el 8%. Se comparan los datos con estudios similares realizados en las áreas biomédicas. Se discute la incidencia de la no regulación en el comportamiento de los autores así como las implicaciones de la coautoría en los procesos de evaluación de la actividad científica.
Multidisciplinary in Cryptology
Authors: Sadkhan Al Maliky Sattar B. , Abbas Nidaa A.
Published: May 2014

To reach the high depths of knowledge and expertise that are required nowadays, scientists focus their attention on minute areas of study. However, the most complex problems faced by scientists still need the application of different disciplines to tackle them, which creates a necessity for multi-disciplinary collaboration. Cryptology is naturally a multidisciplinary field, drawing techniques from a wide range of disciplines and connections to many different subject areas. In recent years, the connection between algebra and cryptography has tightened, and established computational problems and techniques have been supplemented by interesting new approaches and ideas. Cryptographic engineering is a complicated, multidisciplinary field. It encompasses mathematics (algebra, finite groups, rings, and fields), probability and statistics, computer engineering (hardware design, ASIC, embedded systems, FPGAs), and computer science (algorithms, complexity theory, software design), control engineering, digital signal processing, physics, chemistry, and others. This chapter provides an introduction to the disciplinary, multidisciplinary, and their general structure (interdisciplinary, trans-disciplinary, and cross-disciplinary). And it also gives an introduction to the applications of the multidisciplinary approaches to some of the cryptology fields. In addition, the chapter provides some facts about the importance of the suitability and of the multidisciplinary approaches in different scientific, academic, and technical applications.
Cryptography Based on Error Correcting Codes
Authors: Repka Marek , Cayrel Pierre-Louis
Published: May 2014

Breaking contemporary cryptographic algorithms using any binary computer has at least sub-exponential complexity. However, if a quantum computer was used effectively, then our asymmetric cryptography would not be secure anymore. Since the code-based cryptography (cryptography based on error-correcting codes) relies on different problems, it is not as threatened as, for example, RSA or ECC. Recent years have been crucial in the progress of cryptography based on error-correcting codes. In contrast to the number-theoretic problems typically used in cryptography nowadays, certain instances of the underlying problems of code-based cryptography remain unbroken even employing quantum cryptanalysis. Thus, some code-based cryptography constructions belong to the post-quantum cryptography, especially cryptosystems based on binary irreducible Goppa codes. Many attempts to replace this underlying code in order to reduce the key size already have been proposed. Unfortunately, almost all of them have been broken. For instance, just a while ago, Reed Muller, Generalized Reed-Solomon Codes, and Convolutional codes were broken. Against some rank metric codes, a new attack was introduced. On the other hand, two prospective countermeasures in order to hide the exploitable code structure of the broken codes were fashioned. However, only the choice of binary irreducible Goppa codes remains secure in the post-quantum sense. This chapter surveys the more recent developments in code-based cryptography as well as implementations and side channel attacks. This work also recalls briefly the basic ideas, and provides a roadmap to readers.
Fuzzy Logic-Based Security Evaluation of Stream Cipher
Authors: Sadkhan Al Maliky Sattar B. , Jawad Sabiha F.
Published: May 2014

The main aim of this chapter is to provide a security evaluation method based on fuzzy logic “for a pseudo-random sequences used (mainly) in stream cipher systems. The designed Fuzzy rules consider two main parameters, which are the length of the maximum period of the key sequence obtained from Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR) and the entropy of the result in sequences obtained from different lengths of the shift registers. The security (complexity) evaluation method is applied to the summation generator (a type of non-linear feedback shift register) in this chapter. First it is applied to its original well-known form (with one bit memory); then the evaluation method is applied to the developed summation generator (by varying the number of the delayed bits by two and by three bits). The acceptability of the results of developed evaluation method indicates a goodness of such developed approach in the security evaluation.
Information Security-Based Nano- and Bio-Cryptography
Authors: Hamoudi W. K. , Al-Saidi Nadia M. G.
Published: May 2014

Information security can provide confidentiality, integrity, and availability for society to benefit efficiently from data storage and open networks. Free space communication networks suffer from adversaries who interfere with data on networked computers. Inventing new protection techniques has arisen to ensure integrity and authenticity of digital information. This chapter introduces Nano and Bio techniques in cryptography to enhance the information security systems. Tasks unfeasible on a classical computer can now be performed by quantum computers, yielding a big impact on online security. Threats of exponentially fast quantum algorithms on business transactions could be overcome by this new technology. Based on biological observations, the exploration of biometric cryptography and authentication to determine individuals' authenticity can be done through numeric measurements. This provides very reliable automated verification and strong protection against biometric system attacks.
Game Theory for Collaboration in Future Networks
Authors: Moura José André , Marinheiro Rui Neto , Silva João Carlos
Published: May 2014

Cooperative strategies have the great potential of improving network performance and spectrum utilization in future networking environments. This new paradigm in terms of network management, however, requires a novel design and analysis framework targeting a highly flexible networking solution with a distributed architecture. Game Theory is very suitable for this task, since it is a comprehensive mathematical tool for modeling the highly complex interactions among distributed and intelligent decision makers. In this way, the more convenient management policies for the diverse players (e.g. content providers, cloud providers, home providers, brokers, network providers or users) should be found to optimize the performance of the overall network infrastructure. The authors discuss in this chapter several Game Theory models/concepts that are highly relevant for enabling collaboration among the diverse players, using different ways to incentivize it, namely through pricing or reputation. In addition, the authors highlight several related open problems, such as the lack of proper models for dynamic and incomplete information games in this area.
Interference Mitigation and Energy Management in Heterogeneous Networks
Authors: Yang Chungang , Li Jiandong
Published: May 2014

In Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G systems, coexistence of multiple in-band smallcells defines what is called heterogeneous cellular networks. There is no doubt that the development of heterogeneous networks and the popularization of intelligent terminals facilitate subscribers with great convenience, better Quality of Experience (QoE) guarantee, and much higher traffic rate. However, interference management will be indispensable in heterogeneous networks. Meanwhile, with emerging various energy-hungry services of subscribers, energy-aware design attracts a wide attention. Motivated by interference mitigation and energy-saving challenges of the heterogeneous networks and the promising cognitive radio techniques, more advanced energy-saving and interference control techniques based on cognitive radio should be developed for better QoE. In this chapter, the authors first review cognitive radios, multiple types of smallcells, and introduce the benefits of cognitive radio-enabled heterogeneous networks. Then, focusing on the scheme design of cognitive interference management and energy management, finally, simulation results are provided to show the improved performance of these proposed cognitive schemes.
TraffCon
Authors: Collins Kevin , Muntean Gabriel-Miro
Published: May 2014

Traffic congestion is a major issue in the modern society, and unfortunately, it continues to worsen as the number of cars on the road grows behind the ability of existing road infrastructures to cope. Additionally, vehicle fuel consumption and gas emissions are increasing, and concentrated efforts to propose solutions to reduce these and consequently the pollution are needed. In this context, this chapter presents TraffCon, an innovative vehicle route management solution, which makes use of a novel best route selection algorithm for vehicular traffic routing and of vehicular wireless communications to reduce not only journey times but also fuel consumption and as a direct consequence vehicle gas emissions. The chapter shows how TraffCon can be supported by an IEEE 802.11p sparse roadside-vehicle network with very good results in comparison with classic approaches.
Indoor Short Range Wireless Broadband Communications Based on Optical Fiber Distribution
Authors: Shams Haymen
Published: May 2014

There is a continuous demand for increasing wireless access broadband services to the end users, especially with widespread high quality mobile devices. The Internet mobile applications and multimedia services are constantly hungry for broadband wireless bandwidth. In order to overcome this bandwidth limitation, a frequency band (57-64 GHz) has recently been assigned for short range indoor wireless broadband signals due to the large available bandwidth. However, the transmission at this band is limited to a few meters due to the high atmospheric absorption loss. Radio over Fiber (RoF) technology was considered an efficient solution to extend the distribution range and wireless capacity services. This chapter presents an introduction to RoF technology and its basic required optical components for indoor short range wireless millimeter waves (mm-waves). The limiting factors of RoF and its impairments are also described. Moreover, optical mm-wave generation solutions are explained and followed by the recent optical 60GHz activities and upcoming research areas such as THz and optical wireless.
The Role of Endogenous IFN-β in the Regulation of Th17 Responses in Patients with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Tao Yazhong , Zhang Xin , Chopra Manisha , Kim Ming-Jeong , Buch Kinnari R. , Kong Dehan , Jin Jianping , Tang Yunan , Zhu Hongtu , Jewells Valerie , Markovic-Plese Silva
Published: May 2014

IFN-β has been used as a first-line therapy for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Because only a few studies have addressed the role of endogenous IFN-β in the pathogenesis of the disease, our objective was to characterize its role in the transcriptional regulation of pathogenic Th17 cytokines in patients with RRMS. In vitro studies have demonstrated that IFN-β inhibits IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, and IFN-γ secretion in CD4+ lymphocytes through the induction of suppressor of cytokine secretion 1 and suppressor of cytokine secretion 3. We found that patients with RRMS have increased serum and cerebrospinal fluid Th17 (IL-17A and IL-17F) cytokine levels in comparison with the control subjects, suggesting that deficient endogenous IFN-β secretion or signaling can contribute to the dysregulation of those pathogenic cytokines in CD4+ cells. We identified that the endogenous IFN-β from serum of RRMS patients induced a significantly lower IFN-inducible gene expression in comparison with healthy controls. In addition, in vitro studies have revealed deficient endogenous and exogenous IFN-β signaling in the CD4+ cells derived from patients with MS. Interestingly, upon inhibition of the endogenous IFN-β signaling by silencing IFN regulatory factor (IRF) 7 gene expression, the resting CD4+ T cells secreted significantly higher level of IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21, IL-22, and IL-9, suggesting that endogenous IFN-β suppresses the secretion of these pathogenic cytokines. In vivo recombinant IFN-β–1a treatment induced IFNAR1 and its downstream signaling molecules’ gene expression, suggesting that treatment reconstitutes a deficient endogenous IFN-β regulation of the CD4+ T cells’ pathogenic cytokine production in patients with MS.
Class II MHC/Peptide Interaction in Leishmania donovani Infection: Implications in Vaccine Design
Authors: Roy Koushik , Naskar Kshudiram , Ghosh Moumita , Roy Syamal
Published: May 2014

We show that Leishmania donovani–infected macrophages (MΦs) are capable of stimulating MHC class II (MHC-II)–restricted T cells at 6 h of infection. At 48 h, infected MΦs (I-MΦs) failed to stimulate MHC-II–restricted T cells but not MHC class I–restricted ones, in contrast to normal MΦs. Such I-MΦs could stimulate T cells at a higher Ag concentration, indicating that general Ag processing and trafficking of peptide–MHC-II complexes are not defective. Analysis of the kinetic parameters, like “kon” and “koff,” showed that peptide–MHC-II complex formation is compromised in I-MΦs compared with normal MΦs. This indicates interference in loading of the cognate peptide to MHC-II, which may be due to the presence of a noncognate molecule. This notion received support from the finding that exposure of I-MΦs to low pH or treatment with 2-(1-adamantyl)-ethanol, a molecule that favors peptide exchange, led to T cell activation. When treated with 2-(1-adamantyl)-ethanol, splenocytes from 8 wk–infected BALB/c mice showed significantly higher antileishmanial T cell expansion in vitro compared with untreated controls. Hence, it is tempting to speculate that high, but not low, concentrations of cognate peptide may favor peptide exchange in I-MΦs, leading to expansion of the antileishmanial T cell repertoire. The results suggest that a high Ag dose may overcome compromised T cell responses in visceral leishmaniasis, and this has an important implication in therapeutic vaccine design.
Chemokines as Novel and Versatile Reagents for Flow Cytometry and Cell Sorting
Authors: Le Brocq Michelle L. , Fraser Alasdair R. , Cotton Graham , Woznica Kerry , McCulloch Clare V. , Hewit Kay D. , McKimmie Clive S. , Nibbs Robert J. B. , Campbell John D. M. , Graham Gerard J.
Published: May 2014

Cell therapy regimens are frequently compromised by low-efficiency cell homing to therapeutic niches. Improvements in this regard would enhance effectiveness of clinically applicable cell therapy. The major regulators of tissue-specific cellular migration are chemokines, and therefore selection of therapeutic cellular populations for appropriate chemokine receptor expression would enhance tissue-homing competence. A number of practical considerations preclude the use of Abs in this context, and alternative approaches are required. In this study, we demonstrate that appropriately labeled chemokines are at least as effective in detecting their cognate receptors as commercially available Abs. We also demonstrate the utility of biotinylated chemokines as cell-sorting reagents. Specifically, we demonstrate, in the context of CCR7 (essential for lymph node homing of leukocytes), the ability of biotinylated CCL19 with magnetic bead sorting to enrich for CCR7-expressing cells. The sorted cells demonstrate improved CCR7 responsiveness and lymph node–homing capability, and the sorting is effective for both T cells and dendritic cells. Importantly, the ability of chemokines to detect CCR7, and sort for CCR7 positivity, crosses species being effective on murine and human cells. This novel approach to cell sorting is therefore inexpensive, versatile, and applicable to numerous cell therapy contexts. We propose that this represents a significant technological advance with important therapeutic implications.
Gender-based genre conventions and the critical reception of Buchi Emecheta’s Destination Biafra (Nigeria)
Authors: Moji Polo B.
Published: May 2014

A gendered spatial schema of war – which creates a dichotomy between a masculine battlefront and a feminine home-front – undermines the credibility of women’s participation in battle, impacting on the legitimacy of women’s war novels. Through a study of Buchi Emecheta’s Destination Biafra, first published in 1982, this article highlights the role of genre conventions in the production and reception of war novels written by African women. Emecheta makes a daring choice to reconceptualise the home and/or battlefront dichotomy. By manipulating the representational genre convention of soldier-hero she subverts its archetypal masculinity. Debbie, the female soldier-hero, is the focal point of this analysis. Within the context of post-colonial African literature, women’s writing is portrayed as a process of ‘writing back’ to a canon that represents women as apolitical conduits of tradition. In Debbie, Emecheta foregoes canonical markers of African ‘authenticity’ to create a liminal figure that negotiates her identity between modernity and tradition; masculinity and femininity. The article concludes that the principal reason why the characterisation of Debbie is deemed dissatisfying is that it defies the facile categorisation offered by the adherence to the gendered representational conventions. Too often genre is considered a fixed category yet a meaningful analysis of Destination Biafra forces one to consider it as an open category whose conventions can be ‘bent’ to accommodate minority literatures spawning new sub-genres.
Optical, microphysical and compositional properties of the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic ash
Authors: Rocha-Lima A. , Martins J. V. , Remer L. A. , Krotkov N. A. , Tabacniks M. H. , Ben-Ami Y. , Artaxo P.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Microphysical, optical, and compositional properties of the volcanic ash from the April–May (2010) Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption are presented. Samples of the volcanic ash were taken on the ground in the vicinity of the volcano. The material was sieved, re-suspended, and collected on filters, separating particle sizes into coarse and fine modes. The spectral mass absorption efficiency αabs [m2 g−1] was determined for coarse and fine particles in the wavelength range from 300 to 2500 nm. Size distribution of particles on filters was obtained using a semi-automatic software to analyze images obtained by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The grain density of the volcanic ash was determined as 2.16(13) g cm−3 by measuring the variation of air volume in a system with volcanic ash and air under compression. Using Mie–Lorenz and T-matrix theories, the imaginary part of the refractive index was derived. Results show the spectral imaginary refractive index ranging from 0.001 to 0.005. Fine and coarse particles were analyzed by X-Ray fluorescence for elemental composition. Fine and coarse mode particles exhibit distinct compositional and optical differences.
Low-latitude climate variability in the Heinrich frequency band of the Late Cretaceous greenhouse world
Authors: de Winter N. J. , Zeeden C. , Hilgen F. J.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Deep marine successions of early Campanian age from DSDP (Deep Sea Drilling Project) site 516F drilled at low paleolatitudes in the South Atlantic reveal distinct sub-Milankovitch variability in addition to precession, obliquity and eccentricity-related variations. Elemental abundance ratios point to a similar climatic origin for these variations and exclude a quadripartite structure as an explanation for the inferred semi-precession cyclicity in the magnetic susceptibility (MS) signal as observed in the Mediterranean Neogene for precession-related cycles. However, semi-precession cycles as suggested by previous work are likely an artifact reflecting the first harmonic of the precession signal. The sub-Milankovitch variability, especially in MS, is best approximated by a ~7 kyr cycle as shown by spectral analysis and bandpass filtering. The presence of sub-Milankovitch cycles with a period similar to that of Heinrich events of the last glacial cycle is consistent with linking the latter to low-latitude climate change caused by a non-linear response to precession-induced variations in insolation between the tropics.
Upscaling of evapotranspiration fluxes from instantaneous to daytime scales for thermal remote sensing applications
Authors: Cammalleri C. , Anderson M. C. , Kustas W. P.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Four upscaling methods for estimating daytime actual evapotranspiration (ET) from single time-of-day snapshots, as commonly retrieved using remote sensing, were compared. These methods assume self-preservation of the ratio between ET and a given reference variable over the daytime hours. The analysis was performed using eddy covariance data collected at 12 AmeriFlux towers, sampling a fairly wide range in climatic and land cover conditions. The choice of energy budget closure method significantly impacted performance using different scaling methodologies. Therefore, a statistical evaluation approach was adopted to better account for the inherent uncertainty in ET fluxes using eddy covariance technique. Overall, this approach suggested that at-surface solar radiation was the most robust reference variable amongst those tested, due to high accuracy of upscaled fluxes and absence of systematic biases. Top-of-atmosphere irradiance was also tested and proved to be reliable under near clear-sky conditions, but tended to overestimate the observed daytime ET during cloudy days. Use of reference ET as a scaling flux yielded higher bias than the solar radiation method, although resulting errors showed similar lack of seasonal dependence. Finally, the commonly used evaporative fraction method yielded satisfactory results only in summer months, July and August, and tended to underestimate the observations in the fall/winter seasons from November to January at the flux sites studied. In general, the proposed methodology clearly showed the added value of an intercomparison of different upscaling methods under scenarios that account for the uncertainty in eddy covariance flux measurements due to closure errors.
Testing the realism of a topography-driven model (FLEX-Topo) in the nested catchments of the Upper Heihe, China
Authors: Gao H. , Hrachowitz M. , Fenicia F. , Gharari S. , Savenije H. H. G.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Although elevation data are globally available and used in many existing hydrological models, their information content is still underexploited. Topography is closely related to geology, soil, climate and land cover. As a result, it may reflect the dominant hydrological processes in a catchment. In this study, we evaluated this hypothesis through four progressively more complex conceptual rainfall-runoff models. The first model (FLEXL) is lumped, and it does not make use of elevation data. The second model (FLEXD) is semi-distributed with different parameter sets for different units. This model uses elevation data indirectly, taking spatially variable drivers into account. The third model (FLEXT0), also semi-distributed, makes explicit use of topography information. The structure of FLEXT0 consists of four parallel components representing the distinct hydrological function of different landscape elements. These elements were determined based on a topography-based landscape classification approach. The fourth model (FLEXT) has the same model structure and parameterization as FLEXT0 but uses realism constraints on parameters and fluxes. All models have been calibrated and validated at the catchment outlet. Additionally, the models were evaluated at two sub-catchments. It was found that FLEXT0 and FLEXT perform better than the other models in nested sub-catchment validation and they are therefore better spatially transferable. Among these two models, FLEXT performs better than FLEXT0 in transferability. This supports the following hypotheses: (1) topography can be used as an integrated indicator to distinguish between landscape elements with different hydrological functions; (2) FLEXT0 and FLEXT are much better equipped to represent the heterogeneity of hydrological functions than a lumped or semi-distributed model, and hence they have a more realistic model structure and parameterization; (3) the soft data used to constrain the model parameters and fluxes in FLEXT are useful for improving model transferability. Most of the precipitation on the forested hillslopes evaporates, thus generating relatively little runoff.
Integrated tsunami vulnerability and risk assessment: application to the coastal area of El Salvador
Authors: González-Riancho P. , Aguirre-Ayerbe I. , García-Aguilar O. , Medina R. , González M. , Aniel-Quiroga I. , Gutiérrez O. Q. , Álvarez-Gómez J. A. , Larreynaga J. , Gavidia F.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Advances in the understanding and prediction of tsunami impacts allow for the development of risk reduction strategies for tsunami-prone areas. This paper presents a tsunami vulnerability and risk assessment for the case study of El Salvador, the applied methodology dealing with the complexity and variability of coastal zones by means of (i) an integral approach to cover the entire risk-related process from the hazard, vulnerability and risk assessments to the final risk management; (ii) an integrated approach to combine and aggregate the information stemming from the different dimensions of coupled human and natural systems; and (iii) a dynamic and scale-dependent approach to integrate the spatiotemporal variability considerations. This work also aims at establishing a clear connection to translate the vulnerability and risk assessment results into adequate target-oriented risk reduction measures, trying to bridge the gap between science and management for the tsunami hazard. The approach is applicable to other types of hazards, having been successfully applied to climate-change-related flooding hazard.
Oscillatory subglacial drainage in the absence of surface melt
Authors: Schoof C. , Rada C. A , Wilson N. J. , Flowers G. E. , Haseloff M.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. The presence of strong diurnal cycling in basal water pressure records obtained during the melt season is well established for many glaciers. The behaviour of the drainage system outside the melt season is less well understood. Here we present borehole observations from a surge-type valley glacier in the St Elias Mountains, Yukon Territory, Canada. Our data indicate the onset of strongly correlated multi-day oscillations in water pressure in multiple boreholes straddling a main drainage axis, starting several weeks after the disappearance of a dominant diurnal mode in August 2011 and persisting until at least January 2012, when multiple data loggers suffered power failure. Jökulhlaups provide a template for understanding spontaneous water pressure oscillations not driven by external supply variability. Using a subglacial drainage model, we show that water pressure oscillations can also be driven on a much smaller scale by the interaction between conduit growth and distributed water storage in smaller water pockets, basal crevasses and moulins, and that oscillations can be triggered when water supply drops below a critical value. We suggest this in combination with a steady background supply of water from ground water or englacial drainage as a possible explanation for the observed wintertime pressure oscillations.
Prosecutor v. Charles Ghankay Taylor (SCSL)
Authors: Palmer Erin Louise
Published: May 2014

On September 26, 2013, the Appeals Chamber for the Special Court for Sierra Leone (Special Court) unanimously upheld the Trial Chamber’s conviction of Charles Ghankay Taylor, the former President of Liberia, and affirmed his fifty-year sentence for aiding and abetting rebel forces in Sierra Leone that perpetrated brutal crimes during the civil war in Sierra Leone. The Appeals Chamber’s judgment followed an almost four-year trial that included testimony from 115 witnesses, including Taylor himself—who testified in his defense for seven months—and celebrities such as British model Naomi Campbell and U.S. actress Mia Farrow, who the Prosecution called to show that Taylor knowingly handled blood diamonds. Taylor is the first head of state that an international or hybrid tribunal has convicted since the Nuremberg trials.
Economic analysis of processing tomato growing: the case study of Torbali, west Turkey
Authors: Engindeniz S.
Published: May 2014

The cost, yield, and price data from the processing of tomato grown in Torbali-Izmir, Turkey, were analyzed to determine the profitability of contracted and non-contracted tomato growing. According to the results of this study, farms growing tomatoes with and without contracts, respectively, utilized an average tomato production area of 5.55 and 2.48 ha; the total tomato production was 75,915 and 71,971 kg haE-1; the average cost of tomato production was 3,510 and 3,245 US$ haE-1; the gross margin was 2,829 and 3,575 US$ haE-1, and net profits were 1,804 and 2,513 US$ haE-1. It was also determined that production and market risks both affect the profitability and economic viability of tomato growing. Farmers should gather all the economic data about the tomato production and market conditions before making production decisions.
Simulation of the fate of the insecticide carbofuran in a rice field using a level 4 fugacity model
Authors: Paraiba L.C. , De M. Plese L.P. , Foloni L.L. , Carrasco J.M.
Published: May 2014

The object of this work was to verify the utility of a level 4 fugacity model to simulate the environmental fate of the insecticide carbofuran when employed in the cultivation of irrigated rice. The model simulated the dynamic distribution of carbofuran in a system comprising of air, water, rice plants and the soil. The results indicated preferential compartments quality, and provided further knowledge of the fate of carbofuran in rice cultivation. Field experiments on rice were carried out to test the correspondence between simulated and measured carbofuran concentration in water and soil. Simulated concentrations had higher values in the compartments water > soil > rice plants > air. The model can be a useful tool for simulating the environmental fate of this insecticide and can be coupled with sensitivity and uncertainty analyses to test the influence of all input parameters on the outputs.
Bean moisture diffusivity and drying kinetics: a comparison of the liquid diffusion model when taking into account and neglecting grain shrinkage
Authors: Resende O. , Corrêa P.C. , Jarén C. , Moure A.J.
Published: May 2014

The aim of this work was to compare the results of the liquid diffusion model with respect to bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) drying when taking into account or neglecting grain shrinkage. Bean grains were harvested with a moisture content of 0.92 kg water/kg dry matter and dried at air temperatures of 25-55 deg C and relative humidities of 20-75%. The volume of each grain, understood as a sphere, was determined several times over the drying process, taking the diameter to be the mean length of the three orthogonal axes. Grain shrinkage was determined by examining the relationships between the volume associated with each moisture content and the initial volume. The results show that the liquid diffusion model describes the drying kinetics of beans satisfactorily, and that grain shrinkage can be ignored. The diffusion coefficient increases with air temperature, with values ranging between 10.8 x 10-10 and 67.0 x 10-10 square m sE-1. This is described by the Arrhenius equation, with an activation energy of 40.08 kJ molE-1.
Short communication. IL-1 family members as possible candidate genes affecting economically important traits in cattle
Authors: Marcos-Carcavilla A. , Calvo J.H. , González C. , González C. , Moazami-Goudarzi K. , Laurent P. , Bertaud M. , Hayes H. , Alves M.E.F. , Serrano M. , Serrano M.
Published: May 2014

Health problems in cattle cause considerable economic losses for the producers. Proinflammatory cytokines have been shown to play important roles in different aspects of animal health and production. In the present work, interleukin-1 beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist genes (IL1B and IL1RN, respectively) have been localized on bovine chromosome 11 (BTA11q22). The precise location for IL1RN is reported and discrepancies concerning the exact position of IL1B (BTA 11q22 or BTA 11q23/11q24) are solved. In addition, the BTA11q22 region has been shown to carry several quantitative trait loci intervals affecting cattle production. Thus, it may be interesting to consider these two cytokines in order to develop more efficient breeding schemes and improve the accuracy and intensity of selection programs.
Massive stone burden in an ileocecal pouch: A preventable condition?
Authors: Valiquette Anne Sophie , Barrieras Diego , McCormack Michael
Published: May 2014

The challenges of transition from the pediatric to the adult setting have been reported. We describe a case of massive stone burden in the ileocecal pouch of a patient lost to follow-up after his transfer from a pediatric to an adult institution. Although we successfully managed the patient and retrieved the pouch stones without any complications, several surgical complications may occur in a patient with a history of extensive abdominal surgeryand bladder exstrophy. This patient’s late complication might have been prevented with a more efficient transfer from a pediatric to an adult institution.
Urethral squamous cell papilloma: Case report and review of literature
Authors: Gustafson Paul , Fenster Howard N. , So Alan I.
Published: May 2014

Lesions around the urethral meatus in women are common. The differential diagnosis for these lesions is extensive and includes urethral caruncle, urethral prolapse, urethral diverticulum, periurethral gland abscesses and, of most concern, urethral carcinoma. Non-invasive squamous lesions of the urethra are rare and their clinical significance is uncertain. We present a case of a urethral squamous papilloma at the urethral meatus in a premenopausal woman causing significant symptoms.
Survival analysis of patients with biochemical relapse after radical prostatectomy treated with androgen deprivation: Castration-resistance influential factors
Authors: Algarra Ruben , Hevia Mateo , Tienza Antonio , Merino Imanol , Velis Jose Maria , Zudaire Javier , Robles Jose Enrique , Pascual Ignacio
Published: May 2014

Introduction: We evaluate the prognosis of patients with biochemical recurrence (BCR) treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and to determine the influential factors to castration resistance (CR) and death.Methods: From a series of 1310 patients with T1-T2 prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy between 1989 and 2012, 371 had BCR. Patients with lymph node involvement were excluded. We analyzed only the 159 treated with salvage ADT. At the end of the study, 77 (48%) had developed CR.Results: The median follow-up to CR was 9.2 years. The CR-resistant-free survival (RFS) was 76 ± 3%, 62 ± 3% and 43 ± 9% in 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. The RFS median time was 14 years. In the multivariate study, the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time (PSA-DT) was <6 months (p = 0.01) (hazard ratio [HR] 3;95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4-6.8, p = 0.007); seminal vesicle involvement (HR 3.1; 95% CI 1.5-6.2, p = 0.01) and PSA velocity in ng/mL/year (HR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.5, p = 0.002) with better cut-off points of 0.84 ng/mL/year (p = 0.04) (HR 4; 95% CI 1.7-9.4, p = 0.001) were influential variables. Specific survival (SS) at 5, 10 and 15 years since surgery was 96 ± 1, 85 ± 2 and 76 ± 4, respectively. The time of CR to death was 30 ± 6% at 5 years, with the median at 3.2 years. In the multivariate only Ki 67 (HR1.04; 95% CI 1.005-1.08, p = 0.02) had an independent influence.Conclusions: In BCR patients treated with ADT, the median to CR was 14 years. PSA-DT <6 months, PSA velocity (ng/mL/year) and seminal vesicle involvement were influential variables. From the CR, the median time to death was 3.2 years. Ki-67 marker was an independent influence.
Bladder tumour antigen (BTA stat) test compared to the urine cytology in the diagnosis of bladder cancer: A meta-analysis
Authors: Guo Aiye , Wang Xiuhua , Shi Juan , Sun Changyi , Wan Zhen
Published: May 2014

Introduction: We evaluate the diagnostic value of bladder tumour antigen (BTA stat) tests compared with urine cytology test in detecting bladder cancer.Methods: We searched public databases including PubMed, MEDLINE Springer, Elsevier Science Direct, Cochrane Library and Google Scholar before December 2012. To collect relevant data of BTA stat tests and urine cytology tests in patients with bladder cancer, we studied meta-analyses of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR), negative LR and diagnostic odds ratios (DOR) of BTA stat tests and cytology tests from published studies. We applied the software of Rev. Man 5.1 and Stata 11.0 to the meta-analysis.Results: A total of 13 separate studies consisting of 3462 patients with bladder cancer were considered in the meta-analysis. We found that the BTA stat test had a higher sensitivity than the urine cytology test (0.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64 to 0.69 vs. 0.43, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.46), but the specificity, positive LR, negative LR, DOR, the area under the curve (AUC) and Q index of the BTA stat test were lower compared with the urine cytology test. The results of the Egger’s linear regression test showed no publication bias (p > 0.05).Conclusions: Specificity, positive LR, negative LR, DOR, the AUC and the Q index of the urine cytology test may be superior to the BTA stat test, but the BTA stat test has greater sensitivity than the urine cytology test.
Does gender influence morbidity or mortality in the surgical treatment of renal masses?
Authors: Minnillo Brian J. , Horowitz Andrew , Finelli Antonio , Alibhai Shabbir , Ponsky Lee E. , Abouassaly Robert
Published: May 2014

Introduction: We determine the relationship between gender and surgical morbidity after radical nephrectomy (RN) and partial nephrectomy (PN) for renal masses on a population level.Methods: We conducted a population-based, retrospective study using the Canadian Institute for Health Information Discharge Abstract Database. This included 20 286 RNs (82.5%) and 4292 PNs (17.5%) from April 1, 1998 to March 31, 2008. Complications were identified by ICD-9 and 10 codes, and comorbidity was assessed with the Charlson Index. The association between gender and in-hospital complication rates and mortality were examined using the Chi-square test, as well as with multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for explanatory variables including type of surgery, age, and comorbidity.Results: Overall, men experienced a higher unadjusted complication rate than women (35.1% vs. 32.7%), as well as a higher unadjusted in-hospital mortality rate (1.46% vs. 0.84%), respectively. Men also demonstrated significantly higher rates of cardiac, wound, nephrectomy-specific, and medical complications. Women experienced fewer complications than men after RN (p = 0.0002), but not after PN (p = 0.33). On multivariable logistic regression analysis, women had a lower overall complication rate (odds ratio [OR] 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-0.99), and a lower in-hospital mortality rate (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.49-0.83) after kidney surgery.Conclusions: In our population-based analysis, in-hospital morbidity after renal surgery was significantly lower for women. Further study is needed to determine if the observed effect is related to differences in surgical difficulty, perioperative care, or unmeasured confounders.
Isolated anterior urethral recurrence of prostatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Beiko Darren , Zaza Khaled , Power Kevin V. , Siemens D. Robert , Boag Alexander H.
Published: May 2014

Isolated anterior urethral metastases from prostate cancer are rare. The pathogenesis of this form of loco-regional recurrence may be related to spread by instrumentation-induced implantation and could potentially then be associated with a better prognosis than metastatic disease secondary to a more malignant phenotype. We report a case of a 68-year-old man with high-risk prostate cancer, diagnosed at transurethral resection of prostate, who was originally treated with combination external beam radiotherapy and hormonal therapy. He re-presented 4 years after his original diagnosis with recurrent gross hematuria and cystourethroscopic biopsies of anterior urethral polyps revealing isolated recurrent prostatic adenocarcinoma. We present our this case and review the literature.
Laparoscopic dissection of the intramural ureter to repair a complete transection of the distal ureter: Initial experience with a new minimally invasive technique that preserves the anatomy of the urinary tract
Authors: Juarez-Soto Alvaro , Arroyo-Maestre Jose Miguel , Soto-Delgado Manuel , Beardo-Villar Pastora , Arrabal-Polo Miguel Angel , Sanchez-Margallo Francisco M
Published: May 2014

We report 2 patients with ureteral injury after a simple total laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine myoma with a complete resection of the distal ureter. One patient had unilateral injury and the other 2 patients had bilateral injury. The surgical laparoscopic repair procedure was carried out 3 to 5 days after the injury. Surgery involved intramural dissection of the distal ureteral stump to expose at least 1 cm of the ureter, percutaneous ureteral stent placement, elimination of tension between the proximal ureter and the dissected distal stump, end-to-end anastomosis, and reinsertion of the distal ureter into the bladder muscle layer, which was previously dissected for the anastomosis.
Isolated rupture of the superficial vein of the penis
Authors: Eken Alper , Acil Meltem , Arpaci Taner
Published: May 2014

Penile emergencies are rare but when they do occur, prompt diagnosis and treatment are warranted. Emergent conditions of the male genitalia are mainly traumatic, vascular or infectious. Penile emergencies are usually caused by trauma to the penis, during sexual intercourse or manipulation of an erect penis during masturbation. One of the traumatic vascular penile emergencies is superficial penile dorsal vein rupture. This is a rare condition, with just a few reported cases. It is usually taken into differential diagnosis with the other acute penile injuries that present, such as acute penile edema or ecchymosis. We report a case of 59-year-old male with a superficial penile dorsal vein rupture which occurred during manipulation of the erect penis.
Sildenafil can induce the onset of a cluster headache bout
Authors: Lin Guan-Yu , Lee Jiunn-Tay , Peng Giia-Sheun , Yang Fu-Chi
Published: May 2014

About 25% of patients who are prescribed sildenafil, the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitor, for erectile dysfunction (ED) experience headaches. These migraine effects are well-described, including cluster headaches. We report the case of a man who experienced a cluster headache attack following each of 2 sildenafil doses. His symptoms were resolved by adding naproxen to his treatment regimen and changing his ED treatment from 50 mg of sildenafil to 5 mg of vardenafil. To our knowledge, no study has reported cluster headaches triggered by the less commonly used PDE-5 inhibitors, namely vardenafil and tadalafil. Urologists should be cautious in prescribing sildenafil to patients with ED and with a history of cluster headaches. In these patients, they should consider prescribing low-dose vardenafil or tadalafil instead. Failure to recognize sildenafil risks could result in unnecessary headache bouts in patients with a history of cluster headaches.