bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defining a Business-Driven Optimization Problem
Authors: Mirzaei Shokoufeh
Published: May 2014

The purpose of this chapter is to provide fundamental information about business analytics and optimization for users ranging from college students to consultants and managers for a successful practice of data analytics. Therefore, this chapter does not contain any mathematical programming. Instead, it is a proof that defining an optimization problem is neither a privilege nor a talent issue, but the ability of simply putting puzzle pieces together using directives. This chapter is written based on the challenges that the author has experienced as a business analytics consultant and a researcher in the field.
Digital Watermarking Techniques for Images
Authors: Rao Channapragada R. S. G. , Ravi Vadlamani , Prasad Munaga. V. N. K. , Gopal E. V.
Published: May 2014

This Chapter presents a brief review of the work done during 1990-2013, in the application of intelligent techniques and independent component analysis to digital image watermarking. The review considers only the gray-scale and color images excluding other multimedia. The intelligent techniques considered are support vector machines, singular value decomposition and cryptographic techniques. The review is structured by considering the type of technique applied to solve the problem as an important dimension. Consequently the papers are grouped into the following four families, (i) Support vector machines, (ii) Singular value decomposition and (iii) Cryptographic Techniques (iv) Independent component analysis. Comparative analysis of different techniques is also presented. Finally, the review is concluded with future directions.
Knowledge Management in Collaborative Business Networks
Authors: Smirnov Alexander , Levashova Tatiana , Shilov Nikolay , Kashevnik Alexey
Published: May 2014

Current worldwide economy conditions cause increasing popularity of collaborative business networks. Dealing with multiple organizations and multiple processes within a complicated network, identifying and locating a member that has a responsibility and/or a competence in a particular part of the network can be a laborious, time-consuming process. Knowledge management technology is aimed to assist in solving this problem. It requires intelligent interoperability support between information systems of collaborative network members. A presented approach is based on the context management technology. It allows allows describing the collaborative network at a particular moment. The context includes such current situation properties as time, location, competence profiles of collaborative network members, etc. The competence profiles allow formalizing and sharing member's knowledge and competencies.
Mathematical Programming Models for Classification
Authors: Sun Minghe
Published: May 2014

Mathematical programming models for discriminant and classification analysis are presented. Specifically, linear programming and mixed integer programming approaches are discussed. For each approach, two-class classification models and multi-class classification models are discussed. The emphasis is on the formulations of these mathematical programming models rather than on their performances. Two illustrative examples, one for two-class and the other for multi-class classification, are used to demonstrate the formulations of these mathematical programming models. An example is used to demonstrate the formulation after a mathematical programming model is presented.
Measuring Relative Efficiency and Effectiveness
Authors: Lengacher David , Cammarata Craig , Lloyd Shannon
Published: May 2014

Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) has been used to supply decision makers and analysts with new insights into the efficiency of peer entities called decision making units (DMUs). The advantage of DEA is that it provides an objective data-driven assessment of performance, free of user bias. However, because factor weights are determined by an algorithm and not a priori, many researchers and practitioners have difficulty understanding DEA models and the scores they produce. This may explain why DEA is seldom covered in university courses in the decision sciences. The result of this lack of awareness and understanding is that DEA is underutilized as a performance measurement tool in commercial, government, and military operations. This chapter aims to address this issue by providing a lucid overview of DEA, replete with examples and suggestions to make DEA more accessible for researchers and practitioners alike. Additionally, our didactic approach includes step-by-step instructions for preparing data, choosing DEA models, and avoiding pitfalls.
Support Vector Machine Models for Classification
Authors: Sun Minghe
Published: May 2014

As machine learning techniques, support vector machines are quadratic programming models and are recent revolutionary development for classification analysis. Primal and dual formulations of support vector machine models for both two-class and multi-class classification are discussed. The dual formulations in high dimensional feature space using inner product kernels are emphasized. Nonlinear classification function or discriminant functions in high dimensional feature spaces can be constructed through the use of inner product kernels without actually mapping the data from the input space to the high dimensional feature spaces. Furthermore, the size of the dual formulation is independent of the dimension of the input space and independent of the kernels used. Two illustrative examples, one for two-class and the other for multi-class classification, are used to demonstrate the formulations of these SVM models.
Lipid Droplets as Signaling Platforms Linking Metabolic and Cellular Functions
Authors: Arrese Estela L. , Saudale Fredy Z. , Soulages Jose L.
Published: May 2014

The main cells of the adipose tissue of animals, adipocytes, are characterized by the presence of large cytosolic lipid droplets (LDs) that store triglyceride (TG) and cholesterol. However, most cells have LDs and the ability to store lipids. LDs have a well-known central role in storage and provision of fatty acids and cholesterol. However, the complexity of the regulation of lipid metabolism on the surface of the LDs is still a matter of intense study. Beyond this role, a number of recent studies have suggested that LDs have major functions in other cellular processes, such as protein storage and degradation, infection, and immunity. Thus, our perception of LDs has been radically transformed from simple globules of fat to highly dynamic organelles of unexpected complexity. Here, we compiled some recent evidence supporting the emerging view that LDs act as platforms connecting a number of relevant metabolic and cellular functions.
A Distribution-based Method for Assessing The Differences between Clinical Trial Target Populations and Patient Populations in Electronic Health Records
Authors: Ryan P. , Zhang Y. , Liu F. , Gao J. , Bigger J.T. , Hripcsak G. , Weng C. , Li Y.
Published: May 2014

Objective: To improve the transparency of clinical trial generalizability and to illustrate the method using Type 2 diabetes as an example.

Methods: Our data included 1,761 diabetes clinical trials and the electronic health records (EHR) of 26,120 patients with Type 2 diabetes who visited Columbia University Medical Center of New-York Presbyterian Hospital. The two populations were compared using the Generalizability Index for Study Traits (GIST) on the earliest diagnosis age and the mean hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) values.

Results: Greater than 70% of Type 2 diabetes studies allow patients with HbA1c measures between 7 and 10.5, but less than 40% of studies allow HbA1c<7 and fewer than 45% of studies allow HbA1c>10.5. In the real-world population, only 38% of patients had HbA1c between 7 and 10.5, with 12% having values above the range and 52% having HbA1c<7. The GIST for HbA1c was 0.51. Most studies adopted broad age value ranges, with the most common restrictions excluding patients >80 or <18 years. Most of the real-world population fell within this range, but 2% of patients were <18 at time of first diagnosis and 8% were >80. The GIST for age was 0.75. Conclusions: We contribute a scalable method to profile and compare aggregated clinical trial target populations with EHR patient populations. We demonstrate that Type 2 diabetes studies are more generalizable with regard to age than they are with regard to HbA1c. We found that the generalizability of age increased from Phase 1 to Phase 3 while the generalizability of HbA1c decreased during those same phases. This method can generalize to other medical conditions and other continuous or binary variables. We envision the potential use of EHR data for examining the generaliz-ability of clinical trials and for defining population-representative clinical trial eligibility criteria.

Citation: Weng C, Li Y, Ryan P, Zhang Y, Liu F, Gao J, Bigger JT, Hripcsak G. A distribution-based method for assessing the differences between clinical trial target populations and patient populations in electronic health records. Appl Clin Inf 2014; 5: 463–479 http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2013-12-RA-0105
What Do Physicians Read (and Ignore) in Electronic Progress Notes?
Authors: Marquard J.L. , Amster B. , Romoser M. , Friderici J. , Goff S. , Fisher D. , Brown P.J.
Published: May 2014

Objective: Several studies have documented the preference for physicians to attend to the impression and plan section of a clinical document. However, it is not clear how much attention other sections of a document receive. The goal of this study was to identify how physicians distribute their visual attention while reading electronic notes.

Methods: We used an eye-tracking device to assess the visual attention patterns of ten hospitalists as they read three electronic notes. The assessment included time spent reading specific sections of a note as well as rates of reading. This visual analysis was compared with the content of simulated verbal handoffs for each note and debriefing interviews.

Results: Study participants spent the most time in the “Impression and Plan” section of electronic notes and read this section very slowly. Sections such as the “Medication Profile”, “Vital Signs” and “Laboratory Results” received less attention and were read very quickly even if they contained more content than the impression and plan. Only 9% of the content of physicians’ verbal handoff was found outside of the “Impression and Plan.”

Conclusion: Physicians in this study directed very little attention to medication lists, vital signs or laboratory results compared with the impression and plan section of electronic notes. Optimizing the design of electronic notes may include rethinking the amount and format of imported patient data as this data appears to largely be ignored.

Citation: Brown PJ, Marquard JL, Amster B, Romoser M, Friderici J, Goff S, Fisher D. What do physicians read (and ignore) in electronic progress notes? Appl Clin Inf 2014; 5: 430–444 http://dx.doi.org/10.4338/ACI-2014-01-RA-0003
Potential climate forcing of land use and land cover change
Authors: Ward D. S. , Mahowald N. M. , Kloster S.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Pressure on land resources is expected to increase as global population continues to climb and the world becomes more affluent, swelling the demand for food. Changing climate may exert additional pressures on natural lands as present day productive regions may shift, or soil quality may degrade, and the recent rise in demand for biofuels increases competition with edible crops for arable land. Given these projected trends there is a need to understand the global climate impacts of land use and land cover change (LULCC). Here we quantify the climate impacts of global LULCC in terms of modifications to the balance between incoming and outgoing radiation at the top of the atmosphere (radiative forcing; RF) that are caused by changes in long-lived and short-lived greenhouse gas concentrations, aerosol effects and land surface albedo. We simulate historical changes to terrestrial carbon storage, global fire emissions, secondary organic aerosol emissions, and surface albedo from LULCC using the Community Land Model version 3.5. These LULCC emissions are combined with estimates of agricultural emissions of important trace gases and mineral dust in two sets of Community Atmosphere Model simulations to calculate the RF from LULCC impacts on atmospheric chemistry and changes in aerosol concentrations. With all forcing agents considered together, we show that 45% (+30%, −20%) of the present-day anthropogenic RF can be attributed to LULCC. Changes in the emission of non-CO2 greenhouse gases and aerosols from LULCC enhance the total LULCC RF by a factor of 2 to 3 with respect to the LULCC RF from CO2 alone. This enhancement factor also applies to projected LULCC RF, which we compute for four future scenarios associated with the Representative Concentration Pathways. We calculate total RFs between 1 to 2 W m−2 from LULCC for the year 2100 (relative to a preindustrial state). To place an upper bound on the potential of LULCC to alter the global radiation budget we include a fifth scenario in which all arable land is cultivated by 2100. This "worst-case scenario" leads to a LULCC RF of 4.3 W m−2 (±1.0 W m−2), suggesting that not only energy policy but land policy is necessary to minimize future increases in RF and associated climate changes.
Aerosol-CFD modelling of ultrafine and black carbon particle emission, dilution, and growth near roadways
Authors: Huang L. , Gong S. L. , Gordon M. , Liggio J. , Staebler R. M. , Stroud C. A. , Lu G. , Mihele C. , Brook J. R. , Jia C. Q.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Many studies have shown that on-road vehicle emissions are the dominant source of ultrafine particles (UFP; diameter < 100 nm) in urban areas and near-roadway environments. In order to advance our knowledge on the complex interactions and competition among atmospheric dilution, dispersion and dynamics of UFPs, an aerosol dynamics-CFD coupled model is developed and validated against field measurements. A unique approach of applying periodic boundary conditions is proposed to model pollutant dispersion and dynamics in one unified domain from the tailpipe level to the ambient near-road environment. This approach significantly reduces the size of the computational domain, and therefore, allows fast simulation of multiple scenarios. The model is validated against measured turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and pollution gradients near a major highway. Through a model sensitivity analysis, the relative importance of individual aerosol dynamical processes on the total particle number concentration (N) and particle number-size distribution (PSD) near a highway is investigated. The results demonstrate that (1) coagulation has a negligible effect on N and particle growth, (2) binary homogeneous nucleation (BHN) of H2SO4-H2O is likely responsible for elevated N closest to the road, (3) N and particle growth are very sensitive to the condensation of semi-volatile organics (SVOCs), particle dry deposition, and the interaction between these processes. The results also indicate that, without the proper treatment of atmospheric boundary layer (i.e. its wind profile and turbulence quantities), the nucleation rate would be underestimated by a factor of 5 in the vehicle wake region due to overestimated mixing. Therefore, introducing ABL conditions to activity-based emission models may potentially improve their performance in estimating UFP traffic emissions.
Summertime tropospheric ozone assessment over the Mediterranean region using the thermal infrared IASI/MetOp sounder and the WRF-Chem model
Authors: Safieddine S. , Boynard A. , Coheur P.-F. , Hurtmans D. , Pfister G. , Quennehen B. , Thomas J. L. , Raut J.-C. , Law K. S. , Klimont Z. , Hadji-Lazaro J. , George M. , Clerbaux C.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Over the Mediterranean region, elevated tropospheric ozone (O3) values are recorded, especially in summer. We use the Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) and the Weather Research and Forecasting Model with Chemistry (WRF-Chem) to understand and interpret the factors and emission sources responsible for the high O3 concentrations observed in the Mediterranean troposphere. Six years of IASI data have been analyzed and show consistent maxima during summer, with an increase of up to 22% in the [0–8] km O3 column in the eastern part of the basin compared to the middle of the basin. We analyze 2010 as an example year to investigate the processes that contribute to these summer maxima. Using two modeled O3 tracers (inflow to the model domain and local anthropogenic emissions), we show that between the surface and 2 km, O3 is mostly formed from anthropogenic emissions and above 4 km, is mostly transported from outside the domain. Evidence of stratosphere to troposphere exchanges (STE) in the eastern part of the basin is shown, and corresponds with low relative humidity and high potential vorticity.
Storm pulses of particulate and dissolved organic carbon in a forested headwater stream and their environmental implications – importance of extreme rainfall events
Authors: Jung B.-J. , Lee J.-K. , Kim H. , Park J.-H.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Despite recent debates on erosion-enhanced sinks of CO2 and contrasting findings on the biodegradation of recalcitrant organic materials in large rivers, little attention has been paid to the export and transformations of particulate organic carbon (POC) and dissolved organic C (DOC) in mountainous headwater watersheds under monsoon climates. To comparatively evaluate the significance of heavy monsoon rainfalls for the magnitude and environmental implications of storm-enhanced export of POC and DOC, the relationships between storm magnitude and C export were examined in a mountainous, forested headwater stream in the Haean Basin, South Korea, during 50 storm events over the 4 year monitoring period. We also compared biodegradation and disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation potentials of the DOC and POC exported during an extreme rainfall event. Event mean concentrations and export of POC increased nonlinearly above thresholds of precipitation and discharge, significantly exceeding the increases of DOC. The export of POC during a few storm events with a total rainfall above 200 mm per event exceeded the annual organic C export during dry years. During the large storm event (209 mm), concentrations of total trihalomethanes formed by POC-derived dissolved components changed synchronously with POC concentrations, exhibiting lower levels than those formed by DOC. During a 30 day incubation at 25 °C, both DOC and POC exported during peak flow initially exhibited rapid biodegradation of labile components, whereas POC-derived materials increased continuously not only DOC concentrations, but also fulvic- and humic-like fluorescent components. These results highlight the significance of extreme rainfall events as "hot moments" for POC export and also suggest that storm pulses of POC can provide potential sources of labile DOC components that can rapidly biodegrade and form DBPs in headwater streams, contrasting with other studies assuming mountainous rivers as a passive conduit of organic C.
Endogenous change: on cooperation and water availability in two ancient societies
Authors: Pande S. , Ertsen M.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. We propose and test the theory of endogenous change in societal institutions based on historical reconstructions of two ancient civilizations, the Indus and Hohokam, in two water-scarce basins, the Indus Basin in the Indian subcontinent and the lower Colorado Basin in the southwestern United States. In our reconstructions, institutions are approximated by the scale of "cooperation", be it in the form of the extent of trade, sophisticated irrigation networks, a central state or a loosely held state with a common cultural identity. We study changes in institutions brought about by changes in factors like rainfall, population density, and land-use-induced water resource availability, in a proximate manner. These factors either change naturally or are changed by humans; in either case we contend that the changes affect the stability of cooperative structures over time. We relate the quantitative dimensions of water access by ancient populations to the co-evolution of water access and the socioeconomic and sociopolitical organizations. In doing so, we do not claim that water manipulation was the single most significant factor in stimulating social development and complexity – this would be highly reductionist. Nonetheless, we provide a discussion with the aim to enhance our understanding of the complexity of coupled human–hydrological systems. We find that scarcity triggered more complex cooperative arrangements in both Indus and Hohokam societies.
The length of the glaciers in the world – a straightforward method for the automated calculation of glacier center lines
Authors: Machguth H. , Huss M.
Published: May 2014

Abstract. Glacier length is an important measure of glacier geometry but global glacier inventories are mostly lacking length data. Only recently semi-automated approaches to measure glacier length have been developed and applied regionally. Here we present a first global assessment of glacier length using a fully automated method based on glacier surface slope, distance to the glacier margins and a set of trade-off functions. The method is developed for East Greenland, evaluated for the same area as well as for Alaska, and eventually applied to all ∼200 000 glaciers around the globe. The evaluation highlights accurately calculated glacier length where DEM quality is good (East Greenland) and limited precision on low quality DEMs (parts of Alaska). Measured length of very small glaciers is subject to a certain level of ambiguity. The global calculation shows that only about 1.5% of all glaciers are longer than 10 km with Bering Glacier (Alaska/Canada) being the longest glacier in the world at a length of 196 km. Based on model output we derive global and regional area-length scaling laws. Differences among regional scaling parameters appear to be related to characteristics of topography and glacier mass balance. The present study adds glacier length as a central parameter to global glacier inventories. Global and regional scaling laws might proof beneficial in conceptual glacier models.
Sperm Collection for Medically Assisted Procreation in Azoospermic Patients
Authors: Timpano Massimiliano , Fontana Dario , Rolle Luigi , Preto Mirko , Falcone Marco , Sibona Mattia , Frea Bruno
Published: May 2014

Infertility is defined as the inability of a sexually active non-contracepting couple to achieve spontaneous pregnancy in one year.

Factors of male infertility are present in 50% of infertile couples.

Azoospermia is defined as the absence of sperm in the ejaculate, even after centrifugation of the sample, and affects 10%-15% of the infertile male population. Therefore, it represents a pathological condition of primary importance in the context of infertility management.

Any assisted reproductive procedure must first refer to the availability of a suitable number of good quality gametes.

As regards sperm collection, if ejaculated semen is not suitable or available, it may be taken from the seminal duct or directly from the testicular parenchyma with different methodologies and techniques, which can be divided into percutaneous techniques and open surgical (TeSE and ESA) or microsurgical (micro-TeSE) techniques.

The purpose of this work is to evaluate and compare the retrieval rate in infertile patients suffering from azoospermia and treated with the various surgical techniques.
History of Laser in BPH therapy
Authors: Grande Marco , Facchini Francesco , Moretti Matteo , Larosa Michelangelo , Leone Marco , Ziglioli Francesco , Pozzoli Gian Luigi , Frattini Antonio
Published: May 2014

Laser technology has been used in the treatment of BPH for more than 15–20 years in order to challenge transurethral resection of the prostate. The aim of this review article is to analyze the evolution of laser in BPH therapy, from early coagulative techniques - progressively abandoned for their elevated postoperative morbidity and unfavorable outcomes - to the newer techniques of vaporization, resection and enucleation of the prostate. A better comprehension of tissue-laser interactions, the improvement of laser technology and a growing clinical experience have lead to the development of different laser systems (Holmium, KTP, Thulium laser) that challenge TURP. Today, HoLEP and, secondarily, PVP are the laser techniques supported by more clinical evidences and represent valid alternatives to TURP.
Ejaculatory System Cysts: A Case Report
Authors: Moretti Matteo , Facchini Francesco , Grande Marco , Larosa Michelangelo , Leone Marco , Ziglioli Francesco , Carlinfante Gabriele , Pozzoli Gian Luigi , Frattini Antonio
Published: May 2014

Introduction

Male pelvic floor cysts are a rare clinical entity that include: Wolffian duct remnants, Müllerian duct remnants, cysts of the seminal vesicles, prostate and ejaculatory duct/vas deferens cysts.

Case Report

We report the clinical case of a 21-year-old male patient with a history of previous surgery in childhood and more precisely: partial colectomy for congenital megacolon, removal of dysplastic right kidney and subsequent surgical adhesiolysis for bowel obstruction. At 17, the patient was submitted to MRI for groin pain with an incidental finding of a cystic mass at the level of the right seminal vesicle. Consequently, a TUR-ED was performed at another urology unit, for a suspected seminal vesicle ectasia, without resolution of pain symptoms. The patient was referred to us for persistent genitourinary infections, ejaculation disorder and episodes of gross hematuria. An additional MRI confirmed the presence of a cystic mass of 5,5 cm with a suspected opening into prostatic urethra. Urethrocystoscopy and urethrocystography retrograde confirmed this anatomical communication. For the persistence of the symptoms we performed retropubic surgical exeresis of the mass, with a histopathological finding of benign cyst of the vas deferens. Two major postoperative complications were reported: a pelvic hematoma that required surgical exploration and a urinary extravasation at the level of prostatic urethra, which resolved with prolonged urethral catheterization.

Conclusions

Male pelvic floor cysts are a rare disease with a complex clinical and therapeutic management. A correct diagnosis is based on clinical signs and symptoms together with imaging studies of the pelvic region. The high risk of erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory disorders correlated to a surgical approach, recommend a treatment of these lesions only for symptomatic cases.
Nefrolitiasi: Aspetti Metabolici e Implicazioni Terapeutiche
Authors: Tasca Andrea , Ammendola Ciro
Published: May 2014

Nephrolithiasis: Metabolic defects and terapeutic implications

Over the past 10 years, major progress has been made in the knowledge of urinary lithogenesis, including the potential pathogenetic role of Randall's plaques and renal tubular crystal retention. Urine supersaturation is the driving force of this process and can be induced by some risk factors, including low urine volume, high urinary excretion of calcium oxalate and uric acid and low urinary excretion of citrate. Primary hypercalciuria can be due to intestinal overabsorption renal leak and bone reabsorption of calcium. Prophilaxis is mainly conducted with thiazides and low calcium diet which is indicated only in the intestinal form. Primary hyperoxaluria is treated with pyridoxine and may require in the severe forms simultaneous renal and liver transplantation. Enteric hyperoxaluria is secondary to fatty acids malabsorption and requires diet, oral calcium and cholestiramine. Hyperuricosuria is caused by diet endogenous overproduction, mainly due to enzymatic defects or high renal excretion of uric acid. Urine alkalinization with K or K and Mg citrate can prevent stone formation even in idiopathic uric acid nephrolithiasis, in which a defect of urine acidification is supposed to be the main abnormality, and in hypocitraturic patients. Cystinuria is a rare inherited defect with an intense clinical impact. It can be classified in three forms and urinary stone formation is the role. Increased solubility and conversion of cystine in a more soluble form are the main goals of the prophylaxis which includes K citrate and thiol agents administration. Tiopronin is preferred to D-penicillamine due to its lower side effects.
Fattori Predittivi di Margini Chirurgici Positivi Dopo Chirurgia Conservativa per Neoplasia Renale: Analisi Retrospettiva Monocentrica su 298 Pazienti
Authors: Schiavina Riccardo , Borghesi Marco , Chessa Francesco , Rizzi Simona , Martorana Giuseppe
Published: May 2014

Predictors of positive surgical margins after nephron-sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma: retrospective analysis on 298 consecutive patients

Objectives

Aim of our study was to evaluate the predictive factors of positive surgical margins (PSM) in a cohort of patients who underwent partial nephrectomy (PN) for renal cell carcinoma.

Material and Methods

We retrospectively evaluated our Institutional database of patients treated with open or laparoscopic PN between 200 and 2013. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson's chi-square test and linear-by-linear association. Multivariable Cox analysis was used in order to evaluate independent predictors of PSM.

Results

Surgical margins were found to be negative in 274 out of 298 patients (91.9%), and the remaining 24 (8.1%) patients had PSM at the final pathological exam. The median clinical size was significantly lower in patients with PSM than those with negative margins (2.6 vs. 3 cm, p=0.03). At univariable analysis, a shorter operative time (p=0.04), a malignant histotype (p=0.04) and higher Fuhrman grade (p=0.02) were observed in patients with positive surgical margins compared to those without PSM. At multivariable analysis, median tumor dimension (p=0.02), the malignant histotype (p=0.01) and the high Fuhrman grade (3-4) (p=0.01) were found to be independent predictive factors of PSM.

Conclusions

The most important goal of any PN is to reach negative surgical margins. In our study, clinical tumor dimensions, malignant tumor histotype and the high Fuhrman grade demonstrated to be independent predictive factors of PSM after nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma. Other prospective, multi-institutional studies are needed in order to confirm these results.
Margini Chirurgici Positivi Nella Chirurgia Conservativa del Carcinoma Renale
Authors: Foschi Nazario , Vittori Matteo , Sacco Emilio , Recupero Salvatore Marco , Palermo Giuseppe , Bassi Pierfrancesco
Published: May 2014

Positive surgical margins in nephron sparing surgery for renal cell carcinoma

Nephron sparing surgery (NSS) with a minimal tumor-free margin is considered the cornerstone in the contemporary management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) stage T1. The aim of this study is to review incidence, predictive risk factors, clinical significance and oncologic outcomes of positive surgical margins (PSM) in NSS. English articles published before March 2014 have been searched in MEDLINE Databank. PSM are present in 0-7% of patients in all surgical approaches considered. Some predictive factors, such as tumor size, localization, and histology have been identified in the past. Other topics concerning surgical technique and approach are discussed. The majority of patients with PSM do not experience disease recurrence and PSM impact on overall survival and cancer-specific survival seems to be irrelevant. These results lead to more conservative clinical strategies. However, an active surveillance is mandatory for all patients with PSM and especially for those with high risk disease. Generalization of these results is limited by the low level of evidence of available studies. Further efforts are necessary to avoid PSM intraoperatively and to provide prospective information in order to standardize the postoperative management.
Etiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Renal Colic during Pregnancy
Authors: Grasso Angelica Anna Chiara , Cozzi Gabriele
Published: May 2014

Objectives

To assess the incidence and causes of renal stones in pregnant women, investigate the reliability and accuracy of diagnostic investigations and to consider the various therapeutic options available.

Methods

A review of the literature was conducted, searching for relevant papers on the physiology of urinary apparatus changes during pregnancy, as well as the etiology, diagnosis and management of renal colic in pregnant women.

Results

Standards of care in renal colic during pregnancy include accurate diagnosis primarily with ultrasound, or MRI if necessary, conservative therapy and careful surgical approach for urinary drainage in the first place or ureterorenoscopy when needed.

Conclusions

Renal colic during pregnancy is potentially troublesome and likely to lead to serious adverse effects on both mother and fetus. A multi-disciplinary approach is needed, which includes experts in the fields of Urology, Obstetrics, Radiology and Anesthesiology, to ensure the optimal care of this delicate cohort of patients.
Market Delineation Study of the Fish Market in Nigeria: An Application of Cointegration Analysis
Authors: Bada Teslim , Rahji M.A.Y.
Published: May 2014

In Nigeria aquaculture has provided an avenue to bridge the ever-widening demand and supply gap in fish. Ituses land resources that would have otherwise been a waste. This paper examined whether Catfish is in the samemarket with Hake, Mackerel and Sadinnela. Unit root tests, Johansen`s bivariate and multivariate co integrationanalyses were carried out. The analyses show that there is co integration among the species.. The hypothesis ofno substitution between Catfish and the imported species was rejected All the species were classified as being inthe same market and are close substitutes. The results indicate that the price of catfish is not insulated from theprices of the imported species. The prices of the imported species are however insulated from the price of thelocal species. Fish production policies designed to alter fish prices without taking into account the foreign pricesare not likely to be effective in Nigeria.
Screenhouse Assessment of Reaction of Fluted Pumpkin, Telfairia Occidentalis Hook F. to Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne Incognita
Authors: IZUOGU N. B. , OYEDUNMADE E.E.A , BABATOLA J.O.
Published: May 2014

Screenhouse studies were carried out between April – June and July – September, 2004 at the vegetable researchunit of National HorticulturalResearch Institute (NIHORT), Ibadan,Nigeria to investigate the reaction of five linesof Telfairia occidentalis (EN2000-4, EN2000-6, EN2000-10, EN2000-11, EN2000-13) to different populationlevels (0, 5000 and 10 000 eggs) of Meloidogyne incognita race 2. Seeds from five different matured pods ofTelfairia lines were planted on moist sawdust medium. They were watered every two days until germination andtransplanting. Experimental layout was a completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated fivetimes. Nematode inoculation was done at one week after transplanting. The plants were watered every two daysand observation of vine length, vine girth and number of leaves commenced two weeks after transplanting (WAT)on bi weekly basis and lasted till the 10th week. From the 4th WAT, roots were assessed for the presence of eggsevery five days in view of determining the generation time in the various lines. Soil nematode population and rootgall indices were determined at the end of the trial.Results showed that there were significant differences between the Telfairia lines in the measured parametersirrespective of the inoculum levels. EN2000-4 performed significantly better than the other lines. EN2000-13which closely followed EN2000-4 with respect to vegetative growth, recorded significantly higher galling indexthan all the other lines. There were significant differences between the inoculum levels. Inoculum levels wereinversely proportional to growth parameters and directly proportional to gall indices in all the lines. Chloroticpatches were also observed on the leaves of plants inoculated with 10 000 eggs. The uninoculated (control) plantsgave significantly better vegetative growth than their inoculated counterparts. The disparities in growth and yieldresponses indicate that there is genetic variability among the lines.
Study on Factors Affecting Performance of Non-profit Organizations in the Participatory Working Methods
Authors: Zhang Haixia , Zhuang Tianhui
Published: May 2014

Under the background of many non-profit organizations to investigate a study via participatory working methohd,and taking anti-poverty practice of Sichuan rural development organization, a non-profit organization with nearly15-year-old history, as an example, main factors affecting the performance of their participatory workingmethods were analyzed by factor analysis method. The results showed that the participation of projectbeneficiary groups and types of projects as well as effective participation of other stakeholders were importantfactors affecting the performance of participatory working methods. On this basis, experience and revelationcould be referenced by other non-profit organizations and relevant government departments.
Medicinal Plant Diversity and Vegetation Analysis of Logged over Hill Forest of Tekai Tembeling Forest Reserve, Jerantut, Pahang
Authors: Eswani Norhajar , Abd Kudus Kamziah , Nazre M. , Awang Noor A.G. , Ali M.
Published: May 2014

The study was carried out to analyze the species diversity and study of quantitative analysis of medicinal plantsin logged over forest in Tekai Tembeling Forest Reserve (TTFR). Four plots of 1-hectare size each wereestablished within the forest area. A total of 6788 individual medicinal trees and non trees representing 231species, 179 genera and 87 families were recorded. The species area curve did not approach an asymptotecondition. The regression equation to estimate species richness waswith r2=0.95%. The most diverse species for trees was Cinnamomum porrectum and Lygodium circinnatum fornon trees. The most diverse plot was plot 2 with 7335 individuals and 188 species. Since the forest area was diversein medicinal species, it is necessary to begin conservation assessment that will improve medicinal plantsbiodiversity.
Digestible Lysine Requirement of Liuzhou Mahua Broilers at Different Growth Stages
Authors: Jia Gang , Wang Ying , Deng Qiuhong , Wang Kangning , Guo Xiongxian
Published: May 2014

Experiments were conducted to determine the digestible lysine (DLys) requirement of Liuzhou Mahua broilersfrom 1 to 21 d and from 22 to 42 d of age. Monofactorial design was adopted in this study. 1200 one-day-oldhealthy broiler chicks were divided randomly and evenly into five treatments, and were all fed with isoenergeticdiet (with ME of 3.0 Mcal/kg) but with graded levels of DLys: 1.22%, 1.12%, 1.02%, 0.91% and 0.81% duringthe period of 1 to 21 days; 1.13%, 1.02%, 0.92%, 0.82% and 0.71% during the period of 22 to 42 days. Theresults showed that the DLys level in diet had a quadratic relationship both with the average daily gain (ADG)and feed:gain ratio (F/G). For Liuzhou Mahua broilers from 1 to 21 d of age, ADG was the highest at the DLyslevel of 1.12%, which was not significantly different from those at the levels of 1.22% and 1.02% (P>0.05), andF/G was the lowest at the DLys level of 1.22%. For Liuzhou Mahua broilers from 22 to 42 d of age, at the DLyslevel of 1.02%, ADG was the highest, and F/G was the lowest, but not significantly different from those at thelevels of 1.13% and 0.92% (P>0.05). According to regression analysis results, for Liuzhou Mahua broilers from1 to 21 d of age, the optimum DLys requirement was 1.07% with ADG as the indicator, and was 1.13% with F/Gas the indicator. For Liuzhou Mahua broilers from 22 to 42 d of age, with ADG and F/G as the indicator, DLysrequirement were 0.89% and 0.84%, respectively. Liuzhou Mahua broilers were not as sensitive to DLysconcentration variation as fast-growing broilers from abroad.
Effects of Treated Municipal Wastewater on Soil Chemical Properties and Heavy Metal Uptake by Sorghum (sorghum bicolor L.)
Authors: Galavi Mohammad , Jalali Abbas , Ramroodi Mahmmod , Mousavi Sayed Roholla , Galavi Hadi
Published: May 2014

In order to investigate the effect of treated municipal wastewater on soil chemical properties and heavy metal uptake by sorghum an experiment was carried out in the Institute of Agriculture at Zabol University, Iran 2007 in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments were managed for irrigation; with well water during entire period of growing season as control (T1); wastewater during the first half of growing season (T2); wastewater during the second half of growing season (T3); wastewater and well water alternately (T4) and wastewater during entire period of growing season (T5). The results have indicated that irrigation with wastewater lead to significant increase in N, P, K, Ca, Na, Mg, SAR, EC, O.C% than control treatment (p ? 0.05). In addition, the increases of Zn, Fe, Mo in soil, and Cu, Fe in sorghum plant were statistically significant in comparison with control treatment (p?0.01). The highest transfer coefficient was observed for Mo and Pb (1.28, 1.02), and the lowest for Cu (0.077 which highlight the high absorption power of sorghum toward these elements.
An Evaluation of Farmers’ Participation in Afforestation Programme in Kogi State, Nigeria
Authors: Saliu O.J. , Alao J.S , Oluwagbemi T
Published: May 2014

Extensive deforestation has reduced the 65 million hectares of intact forest cover of 1897 in Nigeria to thepresent 4 million hectares. The consequences of this unhealthy development have resulted to environmentaldegradation and accelerated wind and water erosion of the fertile land that has also left Nigerian soil too poor forsustainable agricultural production. Reforestation through small-scale village based farmers’ participation nowform one of the strategies embarked upon by several agencies in Nigeria including Kogi afforestation project.This study attempts to evaluate farmers’ participation in afforestation project in Kogi State. Structuredquestionnaire was used to interview 120 participants. Descriptive statistics, adoption index and sigma methodwere used to describe socio-economic characteristics, participation methods and to measure the level of adoptionwhile chi-square was used to find differences between income generated from adoption of the variousafforestation technologies. Findings reveal that 67 percent of the farmers had little or no formal education, morethan 30 percent of the farmers underwent passive participation in afforestation while adoption of improvedseedlings, exotic trees and pure stand technologies received high score of 4.90, 4.74 and 4.44 respectively. Seedscarification and harvesting by chipping technologies received the least adoption score of 2.61 and 2.94. Thechi-square test adjudged that there was a significant difference between income generated and type of technologyadopted. This study recommends that more pragmatic interactive participation method that will give room forjoint analysis of action plan and formation of local institutions should be put in place.
Empirical Research on the Priority Sequence of Entrepreneurial Factors of Agricultural Scientific Commissioners
Authors: Xu Lei , Fu Xinhong , Li Jun
Published: May 2014

Based on the survey of 254 agricultural scientific commissioners in Sichuan, China, this paper selects eightfactors affecting agricultural scientific commissioners' entrepreneurs. And agricultural scientific commissionersinclude two types, which are those who have been entrepreneurial and those who are ready to act asentrepreneurs. The work aims to determine if there exists significant demand differences for factors affecting thetwo types of commissioners with the method of Wilcoxon rank sum test, and then to rank the factors-prioritysequence. The result shows that, at present, the most urgently demanded elements of agricultural scientificcommissioner’s entrepreneurs are the three platforms for information service, for financial service, and forresearch-outcomes shown and exchanged, while the demand for the policies is relatively weak.
Mineral Composition and Amino Acid Profile of Mono-Culture Fungal Fermented Mango (Mangifera Indica) Kernel Cake
Authors: Kayode R.M.O. , Sani A.
Published: May 2014

The effect of mono-culture fungal fermentation on mineral composition and amino acid profile of mango(Mangifera indica) kernel cake was investigated. Rhizopus oligosporus, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer andPenicillium chrysogenum were isolated from decomposed mango kernels and then used to ferment mango kernelcake (MKC) for 168hrs. After fermentation the resulted MKC was dried at 600C before analysis for minerals andamino acid profiles. The values of calcium (119.3mg/kg), potassium (457.1mg/kg) and iron (187.1mg/kg) of the R.stolonifer fermented MKC were higher (p
Estimation Spatial Distribution of Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) in Groundwater of Tando Muhammad Khan Pakistan
Authors: Benish Nawaz Merani  , Saghir Ahmed Sheikh  , Mahvish Jabeen Channa  , Aasia Akbar Panhwar  , Aijaz Hussain Soomro
Published: May 2014

This study was conducted to evaluate factors regulating groundwater quality in an area with agriculture as main use. Water samples for determining the water quality were collected in one liter polyethylene bags by observing standard sample collection method. It was ensured that sample collection sites must be at least 500 feet away from each other.Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) were determined from the collected water and it was observed that in Tando Muhammad Khan taluka, the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR) in the samples ranged from 11.06 to 53.29, the highest (53.29) SAR was in UC Tando Saindad, while lowest (11.06) in the sample collected from UC-2 of Tando Muhammad Khan. The Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) in 36 collected groundwater samples ranged from 0.61 to 5.15 meq/l, the highest (5.15 meq/l) was in UC Tando Saindad, while lowest (0.61) in the sample collected from UC-3 of Tando Muhammad Khan.It was concluded that the SAR levels of groundwater samples indicated an alarming situation and most of the ground-water samples had SAR (
Testing the Equivalence of Survival Distributions using PP- and PPP-Plots
Authors: Cox Trevor F.
Published: May 2014

This paper discusses the use of PP-plots for survival distributions where for a pair of survival distributions, one is plotted against the other. This is another way of visualizing the nature of the relationship between the two survival distributions along with typical Kaplan-Meier plots. For three survival distributions, the PPP-plot is introduced where the survival distributions are plotted against each other in three-dimensions. At the population level, measures of divergence between distributions are introduced based on areas and lengths associated with the PP- and PPP- plots. At the sample level, two test statistics are defined, based on these areas and lengths, to test the null hypothesis of equivalent survival curves. A simulation exercise showed that, overall, the new tests are worthy competitors to the log-rank and Wilcoxon tests and also to a Levine-type test and a Kolmogorov-Smirnov type test for the case of crossing survival curves. The paper also shows how the PP-plot can be used to estimate the hazard ratio and to assess the ratio of hazard functions if proportional hazards are not appropriate. Finally, the methods introduced are illustrated on two cancer data sets