bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of graphic skills in the process of doing the prints on plastic at lessons in the field of supplementary education
Authors: Semina Victorya Vladimirovna
Published: August 2016

The authors of the follwing paper mark that students have great difficulties in creating the prints on plastic in case they don’t master the basic skills. Without obtaining the techniques, it is difficult for children to recognise this techniques themselves so it is very important to perform exercises.
Hypertext signs of the guidebook as a basis for its interactivity
Authors: Savchenko Lyubov Vasilyeva , Shum Olga Yurievna
Published: August 2016

The article explores the ways to optimize the size of the printed guide. As a result, being an edition with creolized text, the guide has components, which modernization will facilitate the introduction of interactive features into traditional genre model. As specific examples, the author offers to use activity elements in the printed guidebook from the formats that are widely used in children's literature, namely from the panorama book (three-dimensional images, inserts, paper engineering) and travel diary («journaling»).
Main approaches to the study of loss
Authors: Burina Ekaterina Aleksandrovna
Published: August 2016

This article presents the main approaches to the concepts of grief and loss study. The article describes the contribution of E. Lindemann, Z. Freud, J. Bowlby, F.E. Vasiluk, and E. Kubler-Ross. The research also contains the main forms of grief and some stadial models within the scope of problematics.
Methods of evaluating the risks of personnel and information security vulnerabilities
Authors: Vyazankina Alexandra Valerievna
Published: August 2016

The article analyzes the techniques of human risk assessment and information security vulnerabilities. The comparative characteristic of existing standards of the Central Bank of Russia and the scientific works of specialists are carried out, the experience of the development of the Russian Federation techniques are also considered. Standards and methods for the presence of components of employee motivation theory are analyzed: content and organizational theories. The author made a conclusion about the most optimal solution of development methodology, reflecting the cross-section of scientific knowledge and scientific experience.
Phraseology from the perspective of national-cultural specificity (based on English language material)
Authors: Osipova Inna Alekseevna
Published: August 2016

Within the scope of the current study, linguistic units of English phraseology are perceived from the point of view of the national-cultural identity of English-speaking ethnos. National and stylistic peculiarities have always drawn attention of linguists because of a high cultural potential hidden in nature of phraseological units. This article was created for specialists of philological direction and mainstream audience.
“I remember everything that happened to others…” Metamorphoses of the collective memory in extreme conditions of war and reliability of historical sources problems
Authors: Kiseleva Ekaterina Lvovna
Published: August 2016

The article is devoted to the problem of the influence of the mass consciousness perception under war conditions on the historical sources accuracy. In particular it deals with the investigative materials on the facts of detainees’ death in fasist prison camps in ports of Danzig and Gdynia on the eve of their liberation by the Red Army in March-June, 1945. The author came to the conclusion that although war prisoners’ testimony requires close attention from the point of view of reliability of their separate events perception, still it remains as a precious source of social history of World War II.
Specifics of human being
Authors: Baranov Gennady Vladimirovich
Published: August 2016

In this work a variant of the explanation of human specificity is presented; the basic qualities of human existence are characterized; the priority of social qualities of human existence is affirmed.
The question of students’ motivation to learn foreign languages increasing (cognitive approach, language universals)
Authors: Valiakhmetova Elvira Kamilovna
Published: August 2016

The problem of enhancing students’ motivation to foreign language learning is considered in this article. In this context a special place is taken by the methods of foreign language teaching on the basis of native language and learning language comparison, identification of language specific features and common features inherent to different languages, language universals. The cognitive approach to language description, its presentation in large groups through semantic fields and functional-cognitive spheres contribute to that.
Main Reasons of Structural Wall Collapse in Chile 2010 and New Zealand 2011 - Implications For Ecuador
Authors: Aguilar Maria Cristina Avalos , Haro Ana Gabriela , Sánchez Pablo Caiza
Published: August 2016

Previous works on the earthquakes of Chile 2010 and New Zealand 2011 indicate regular behavior of reinforced concrete buildings with structural walls. However, some buildings suffered significant damage associated with global or local collapse due to diagonal cracking and flexural-compression failure. Structural walls located at the ground floor presented tension-compression failure was probably provoked by high axial forces at the walls extreme ends which could cause this failure in places where there is a lack of bracing and confinement.

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the behavior of the reinforced concrete structural wall buildings that failed in the mentioned earthquakes, and identify some of the main reasons that caused the damage as an attempt to improve engineering practices in Ecuador to prevent catastrophic events.
Spatio-temporal Effect of Urbanization on Surface Water Bodies: A Method of RS and GIS
Authors: Zhu Jianfeng , Zhang Qiuwen , Tong Zhong , Liu Xiaofei , Yan Fei
Published: August 2016

This paper focuses on the spatio-temporal effects of urbanization on surface water resources in Wuhan, China. Specifically, the relationships between surface water bodies and their surrounding land use changes are discussed quantitatively by remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS). In this paper, surface water bodies and land use classifications in 1991 and 2005 are detected from Landsat TM/ETM+ images. On this basis, the area changes of water bodies and their transformations are extracted by overlap analysis. The result proves that most of the reduced surface water bodies had transformed into developed land in the urban districts. Finally, a comparative analysis indicates that the rate of increment of developed land in 100 m buffer (14%) is higher than in 1000 m buffer (8.8%). In other words, urban development is growing towards water bodies as urbanization. Therefore, the effects of urbanization on surface water bodies can be summarized as follows: (1) water bodies are likely to be occupied directly by developed land with urbanization; (2) the space of surface water is compressed due to urban expansion. This paper would provide a suggestion for urban planners and water resource managers.
Frailty Characteristics in Chronic HIV Patients are Markers of White Matter Atrophy Independently of Age and Depressive Symptoms: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kallianpur Kalpana J. , Sakoda Marissa , Gangcuangco Louie Mar A. , Ndhlovu Lishomwa C. , Umaki Tracie , Chow Dominic , Wongjittraporn Suwarat , Shikuma Cecilia M.
Published: August 2016

Background:

Chronic HIV disease is associated with neurocognitive impairment and age-related conditions such as frailty.

Objective:

To determine whether regional brain volumetric changes correlate with frailty parameters in older (≥ 40 years) HIV+ patients on stable combination antiretroviral therapy.

Method:

Thirty-five HIV-infected participants in the Hawaii Aging with HIV Cohort - Cardiovascular Disease study underwent T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging, frailty assessment and neuropsychological testing. Five physical frailty traits were assessed: low physical activity; exhaustion; unintentional weight loss; weak hand grip strength; slow walking speed. Linear regression quantified cross-sectional relationships of 12 brain regions to walking times and hand grip strength.

Results:

Participants were 50.6 ± 6.8 years old and 77% had undetectable plasma viral load. One subject was frail (possessing ≥ 3 frailty traits); 23% were pre-frail (1–2 frailty traits) and had worse composite learning and memory z-scores than did non-frail individuals (p=0.06). Pre-frail or frail subjects had reduced hand grip strength relative to the non-frail group (p=0.001). Longer walking times (slower gait) related independently to lower volumes of cerebellar white matter (p<0.001, β=−0.6) and subcortical gray matter (p<0.05, β=−0.30). Reduced thalamus volume was linked to weaker grip strength (p< 0.05, β=0.4). Caudate volume was negatively associated with grip strength (p<0.01, β=−0.5).

Conclusion:

Volumetric changes in cerebellar white matter and subcortical gray matter, brain regions involved in motor control and cognition, may be connected to frailty development in well-controlled HIV. Gait speed is particularly sensitive to white matter alterations and should be investigated as a predictor of frailty and brain atrophy in chronically infected patients.
Pengasuh berhubungan dengan keberhasilan pemberian ASI eksklusif pada baduta di Kecamatan Sedayu
Authors: Nurunniyah Siti , Sugesti Dian Tri
Published: August 2016

ABSTRACT

Background: The success of exclusive breastfeeding is influenced by several factors. One of them is the care taker contacts of children and old nursing mothers with children. Many mothers who leave their children because of work. It makes contact duration of mothers with their children becomes limited.

Objectives: This research aimed to determine the relationship between parenting with the success of exclusive breastfeeding in District of Sedayu, Bantul, Yogyakarta.

Methods: This research was quantitative analytical approach and reinforced with qualitative approach. This study used cross sectional design. The population in this study were all mothers with the children under two years old in the District of Sedayu, Bantul, Yogyakarta. The samples used in this study were 292 respondents that were selected by using techniques of probability proportional to size (PPS). Data were then collected using questionnaires and analyzed by using chi-square.  

Results: There was significant relationship between parenting with the success of exclusive breastfeeding (p=0,019).

Conclusions: There was relationship between parenting with the success of exclusive breastfeeding

KEYWORDS:parenting, care taker, exclusive breastfeeding

ABSTRAK

Latar belakang: Keberhasilan pemberian ASI eksklusif dipengaruhi oleh beberapa faktor, salah satunya adalah pengasuh utama anak dan lama kontak ibu menyusui dengan anak. Banyak ibu yang menitipkan anaknya karena bekerja, sehingga lama kontak ibu menyusui dengan anak menjadi terbatas.

Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan antara pola asuh dengan keberhasilan pemberian ASI eksklusif di Kecamatan Sedayu, Kabupaten Bantul, Yogyakarta.

Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian analitik dengan pendekatan kuantitatif dan diperkuat dengan pendekatan kualitatif. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan penelitian cross sectional. Populasi dalam penelitian ini adalah seluruh ibu yang memiliki anak di bawah umur dua tahun (baduta) di Kecamatan Sedayu.Sampel yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 292 responden menggunakan teknik probability propotional to size (PPS).Data dikumpulkan menggunakan kuesioner dan kemudian dianalisis menggunakan uji statistik chi-square.

Hasil: Ada hubungan yang signifikan antara pengasuh dengan pemberian ASI secara eksklusif (p=0,019).

Kesimpulan: Ada hubungan antara pengasuh dengan pemberian ASI secara eksklusif.

KATA KUNCI:pola asuh, pengasuh, ASI eksklusif
PENDIDIKAN FILSAFAT UNTUK ANAK? PENDASARAN, PENERAPAN DAN REFLEKSI KRITIS UNTUK KONTEKS INDONESIA
Authors: Wattimena Reza A.A.
Published: August 2016

This article argues for the importance of philosophical education for elementary school's students in Indonesia. Philosophy can be understood as value education and also life education. Both are very important for the human's personality development. Therefore, ideally, this kind of education should be provided since childhood age. But, philosophy has different teaching method in compare to other sciences. It asks the children to think for themselves and try to find answers for their questions independently. It should not be a burden for children that already have loads of subjects to learn. The program philosophy for children should also bear in mind the existing cultural context that already exists in Indonesian society.
Mixed convection of functionalized DWCNT-water nanofluid in baffled lid-driven cavities
Authors: Hemmat Esfe , Abbasian Arani , Yan Wei-Mon , Aghaie Alireza , Afrand Masoud , Sina Nima
Published: August 2016

The present study aims to evaluate the mixed convection flow and heat transfer of functionalized DWCNT/water nanofluids with variable properties in a cavity having hot baffles. The investigation is performed at different nanoparticles volume fraction including 0, 0.0002, 0.001, 0.002, and 0.004, Richardson numbers ranging from 0.01 to 100, inclination angles ranging from 0 to 60? and at constant Grashof number of 104. The results presented as streamlines and isotherms plot and Nusselt number diagrams. According to the finding with increasing nanoparticles volume fraction and distance between the left hot baffles of nanoparticles average Nusselt number enhances for all considered Richardson numbers and cavity inclination angles. Also with increasing Richardson number, the rate of changes of average Nusselt number increase with increasing distance between the left hot baffles. For example, at Richardson number of 0.01, by increasing L1 from 0.4 to 0.6, the average Nusselt number increases 7%; while for similar situation at Richardson number of 0.1, 1.0, and 10, the average Nusselt number increases, respectively, 17%, 24%, and 26%. At all Richardson numbers, the maximum value of average Nusselt number is achieved for a minimum length of left baffles.

 This article has been corrected. Link to the correction 10.2298/TSCI190203032E
Multi-response optimization of diesel engine operating parameters running with water-in-diesel emulsion fuel
Authors: Vellaiyan Suresh , Amirthagadeswaran Koduvayur
Published: August 2016

Water-in-diesel emulsion fuel is a promising alternative diesel fuel, which has the potential to promote better performance and emission characteristics in an existing Diesel engine without engine modification and added cost. The key factor that has to be focused with the introduction of such fuel in existing Diesel engine is desired engine-operating conditions. The present study attempts to address the previous issue with two-phases of experiments. In the first phase, stable water-in-diesel emulsion fuels (5, 10, 15, and 20 water-in-diesel) are prepared and their stability period and physico-chemical properties are measured. In the second phase, experiments are conducted in a single cylinder, 4-stroke Diesel engine with pre-pared water-in-diesel emulsion fuel blends based on L16 orthogonal array suggested in Taguchi?s quality control concept to record the output responses (perormance and emission levels). Based on signal-to-noise ratio and grey relational analysis, optimal level of operating factors are determined to obtain better response and verified through confirmation experiments. A statistical analysis of variance is applied to measure the significance of individual operating parameters on overall engine performance. Results indicate that the emulsion fuel prepared by Sorbitan monolaurate surfactant at high stirrer speed endows with better emulsion stability and acceptable variation in physicochemical properties. Results of this study also reveal that the optimal parametric setting effectively improves the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of Diesel engine.
Short-term Effects of Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding Versus Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Gastaldelli Amalia , Iaconelli Amerigo , Gaggini Melania , Magnone Maria Chiara , Veneziani Augusto , Rubino Francesco , Mingrone Geltrude
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

Bariatric surgery has been shown to have important long-term metabolic effects resulting in enhanced insulin sensitivity and improved glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes. The contribution of reduced caloric intake to these beneficial effects of surgery remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the short-term effects (1 week) of bariatric surgical procedures with a very low caloric intake (VLCI) on insulin sensitivity (IS) and insulin secretion (ISR) in nondiabetic obese subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Twenty obese patients without diabetes (BMI 44.2 ± 0.7 kg/m2) were admitted to the clinic for 1 week. At baseline and 1 week after VLCI (600 kcal/day), subjects received a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with tracer infusion to quantify endogenous glucose production (EGP), lipolysis (rate of appearance of glycerol [RaGlycerol]), peripheral insulin sensitivity (insulin-stimulated glucose disposal [M value] divided by the steady-state plasma insulin concentration [M/I]), hepatic insulin sensitivity (Hep-IS [= 1/(EGP ⋅ insulin)]), and adipose insulin sensitivity (Adipo-IS [= 1/(RaGlycerol ⋅ insulin)]). An intravenous glucose bolus was administered at the end of the insulin clamp to measure ISR and β-cell function (disposition index [DI]). Approximately 3 months later, patients were admitted for laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB) (n = 10) or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (n = 10), and were restudied 1 week after surgery under the same caloric regimen (600 kcal/day).

RESULTS

After 1 week of VLCI, patients lost 2.1 kg without significant changes in Hep-IS, Adipo-IS, M/I, or DI. RYGB and LAGB led to greater weight loss (5.5 and 5.2 kg, respectively) and to significant improvement in Hep-IS, EGP, and lipolysis. Only RYGB improved Adipo-IS and M/I. No change in ISR or DI was observed in either surgical group.

CONCLUSIONS

Bariatric surgery improves IS within 1 week. These metabolic effects were independent of caloric intake and more pronounced after RYGB compared with LAGB.
Randomized Controlled Study of Metformin and Sitagliptin on Long-term Normoglycemia Remission in African American Patients With Hyperglycemic Crises
Authors: Vellanki Priyathama , Smiley Dawn D. , Stefanovski Darko , Anzola Isabel , Duan Wenlan , Hudson Megan , Peng Limin , Pasquel Francisco J. , Umpierrez Guillermo E.
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

After intensive insulin treatment, many obese African American patients with new-onset diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and severe hyperglycemia are able to achieve near-normoglycemia remission. The optimal treatment to prevent hyperglycemic relapses after remission is not known.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This prospective, 4-year, placebo-controlled study randomly assigned 48 African American subjects with DKA and severe hyperglycemia to metformin 1,000 mg daily (n = 17), sitagliptin 100 mg daily (n = 16), or placebo (n = 15) after normoglycemia remission. Hyperglycemic relapse was defined as fasting glucose >130 mg/dL (7.2 mmol/L) and HbA1c >7.0% (53 mmol/mol). Oral glucose tolerance tests were conducted at randomization and at 3 months and then every 6 months for a median of 331 days. Oral minimal model and incremental area under the curve for insulin (AUCi) were used to calculate insulin sensitivity (Si) and β-cell function, respectively. Disposition index (DI) was calculated as a product of Si and incremental AUCi.

RESULTS

Relapse-free survival was higher in sitagliptin and metformin (P = 0.015) compared with placebo, and mean time to relapse was significantly prolonged in the metformin and sitagliptin groups compared with the placebo group (480 vs. 305 days, P = 0.004). The probability of relapse was significantly lower for metformin (hazard ratio 0.28 [95% CI 0.10–0.81]) and sitagliptin (0.31 [0.10–0.98]) than for placebo. Subjects who remained in remission had a higher DI (P = 0.02) and incremental AUCi (P < 0.001) than those with hyperglycemia relapse without significant changes in Si.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that near-normoglycemia remission was similarly prolonged by treatment with sitagliptin and metformin. The prolongation of remission was due to improvement in β-cell function.
Efficacy and Safety of Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabivarin on Glycemic and Lipid Parameters in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Pilot Study
Authors: Jadoon Khalid A. , Ratcliffe Stuart H. , Barrett David A. , Thomas E. Louise , Stott Colin , Bell Jimmy D. , O’Sullivan Saoirse E. , Tan Garry D.
Published: August 2016

OBJECTIVE

Cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) are nonpsychoactive phytocannabinoids affecting lipid and glucose metabolism in animal models. This study set out to examine the effects of these compounds in patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 62 subjects with noninsulin-treated type 2 diabetes were randomized to five treatment arms: CBD (100 mg twice daily), THCV (5 mg twice daily), 1:1 ratio of CBD and THCV (5 mg/5 mg, twice daily), 20:1 ratio of CBD and THCV (100 mg/5 mg, twice daily), or matched placebo for 13 weeks. The primary end point was a change in HDL-cholesterol concentrations from baseline. Secondary/tertiary end points included changes in glycemic control, lipid profile, insulin sensitivity, body weight, liver triglyceride content, adipose tissue distribution, appetite, markers of inflammation, markers of vascular function, gut hormones, circulating endocannabinoids, and adipokine concentrations. Safety and tolerability end points were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Compared with placebo, THCV significantly decreased fasting plasma glucose (estimated treatment difference [ETD] = −1.2 mmol/L; P < 0.05) and improved pancreatic β-cell function (HOMA2 β-cell function [ETD = −44.51 points; P < 0.01]), adiponectin (ETD = −5.9 × 106 pg/mL; P < 0.01), and apolipoprotein A (ETD = −6.02 μmol/L; P < 0.05), although plasma HDL was unaffected. Compared with baseline (but not placebo), CBD decreased resistin (−898 pg/ml; P < 0.05) and increased glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (21.9 pg/ml; P < 0.05). None of the combination treatments had a significant impact on end points. CBD and THCV were well tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

THCV could represent a new therapeutic agent in glycemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes.
Teacher Turnover, Teacher Quality, and Student Achievement in DCPS
Authors: Adnot Melinda , Dee Thomas , Katz Veronica , Wyckoff James
Published: August 2016

In practice, teacher turnover appears to have negative effects on school quality as measured by student performance. However, some simulations suggest that turnover can instead have large positive effects under a policy regime in which low-performing teachers can be accurately identified and replaced with more effective teachers. This study examines this question by evaluating the effects of teacher turnover on student achievement under IMPACT, the unique performance-assessment and incentive system in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS). Employing a quasi-experimental design based on data from the first years of IMPACT, we find that, on average, DCPS replaced teachers who left with teachers who increased student achievement by 0.08 standard deviation ( SD) in math. When we isolate the effects of lower-performing teachers who were induced to leave DCPS for poor performance, we find that student achievement improves by larger and statistically significant amounts (i.e., 0.14 SD in reading and 0.21 SD in math). In contrast, the effect of exits by teachers not sanctioned under IMPACT is typically negative but not statistically significant.
Impact of Climate Change on the Snow Hydrology of Koshi River Basin
Authors: Khadka A. , Devkota L.P. , Kayastha R.B.
Published: August 2016

Koshi river basin which is one of the largest river basins of Nepal has its headwaters in the northern Himalayan region of the country covered with perennial snow and glaciers. Increased warming due to climate change is most likely to impact snowpack of this Himalayan region. Snowmelt Runoff Model, a degree day based method, was used in this study to assess the snowmelt hydrology of the five sub-basins, viz. Tamor, Arun, Dudhkoshi, Tamakoshi and Sunkoshi of the Koshi river basin, with and without climate change impacts. The model has been fairly able to simulate the flow. Daily bias-corrected RCM data of PRECIS-ECHAM05 and PRECIS-HadCM3 for the period of 2041-2060 were used for future projection. A period of 2000-2008 was set as baseline period to evaluate changes in future flow. In climate change scenarios, magnitude and frequency of peak flows are expected to increase and snowmelt contribution to total river flows are likely to be more. Simulated flow results indicate that the annual flow would still be governed by monsoon flow even in the future under the climate change impact. A high probability of having more flows and snowmelt in 50’s decade than that in 40’s decade is seen. The estimated future flow by ECHAM05 is found more than those estimated by HadCM3 both seasonally and annually.Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology, Vol. 9(1) 2015, p.28-44
Impact of Climate Change on River Discharge and Rainfall Pattern: A Case Study from Marshyangdi River basin, Nepal
Authors: Parajuli Achut , Devkota Lochan Prasad , Adhikari Thirtha Raj , Dhakal Susmita , Kayastha Rijan Bhakta
Published: August 2016

Climate models have predicted increase in monsoon precipitation for Nepal and expected to enhance further in scenario of deforestation and global green house gas emission which induces extremes resulting risk of flood, landslide during monsoon while water shortage in dry season. In this study, the impact of climate change on water resource for glacierized Marshyangdi River is evaluated using HBV light hydrological model with available hydrological data (1988-2009) to predict the future water availability and change in rainfall pattern based on available rainfall data (1981-2009). The results for Marshyangdi basin with 4104.59km2 area with average discharge of 204.03 m3/s (1988-2009) suggested decrease in rainy days while increase in frequency of intense rainfall, and the projected rainfall based on downscaling showed increase in rainfall for 2050’s. The model performance is adequate and able to simulate accurate result with estimated average discharge of 224.82 m3/s (1988-2009). The simulated result provided good fit with model efficiency 0.86 for first calibration and 0.81 for second calibration, while total volume difference of 1.43% and Nash-Sutcliffe Efficiency of 0.80 between observed and simulated discharge.Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology, Vol. 9(1) 2015, p.60-73
Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in View of Contribution of Runoff Components in Stream Flow: A Case Study from Langtang Basin, Nepal
Authors: Bhattarai Bikas Chandra , Regmi Dhananjay
Published: August 2016

Observation and model-based studies suggest substantial hydrological flow pattern changes in mountain watershed where hydrology is dominated by cryospheric processes (IPCC 2007). The response of cryospheric processes to warming climate in mountain areas can be analysed by examining the responses in the seasonal and annual hydrologic regimes of rivers where snowmelt contributes significantly to the runoff. This study is carried out in Langtang basin, which aims to assess the impact of potential warming on snowmelt contribution and river discharge utilizes a Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM), which is one of a very few models in the world today that requires remote sensing derived snow cover data as a model input. In this study, snow cover and hydrometric data were derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectro-radiometer (MODIS) snow product and Snow and Glacier Hydrological Unit (SGHU) of Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, Government of Nepal. The model is calibrated for the year 2006 and validated in 2005. Different climatic scenarios are used (only change in temperature) to run the model in order to understand the impact of changing climate on runoff component and river discharge. In 2006, snow and glacier melt component contributes 35% in winter, 18% in summer and 19% annually in the stream flow. In this study, model predicts that snow and glacier melt contribution in stream flow will increase approximately at the rate of 2% in winter, 5% in summer and 4% in annual flow per 1°C temperature rise. Due to increase in snowmelt contribution, river discharge will also increase at the rate of 2% in winter, 6% in summer and 5% in annual flow under the projected temperature rise of 1°C.Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology, Vol. 9(1) 2015, p.74-84
Heavy metals Fractionation in Bagmati River Sediments, Nepal
Authors: Kayastha Sadhana Pradhanang
Published: August 2016

The aim of this work was speciation of heavy metals on the level of the geochemical background; in bottom sediments of the Bagmati River in Kathmandu valley. The distribution and accumulation of heavy metals in the sediments of the Bagmati River were investigated. Sediment samples from six locations were collected and characterized for metals content (cadmium, lead, copper and zinc). The determination of extractable heavy metals such as, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn, in the sediment samples was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry. The study has been conducted using five steps sequential extraction procedure described by tessier. Apart from total concentration, the distribution of the above metals into five fractions: exchangeable, bound to carbonates, bound to Fe-Mn oxides, bound to organic matter, and residual, was studied by means of an analytical procedure involving sequential chemical extraction. The result obtained showed total metal concentration to be in the range of Cd 0.89-2.29 mg/kg; Pb 57.58-221mg/kg; Cu 52.2 -198.17 mg/kg and 78.23-362.90 mg/kg in all the areas studied. The fractionated toxic metals like Cd, and Pb were observed to be in the range of 15-36%, and 11- 29%, respectively, in mobile or bio-available fractions of sediments. This potentially mobile fraction could pose a serious threat, with respect to contamination of waterways and aquatic environment.Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology, Vol. 9(1) 2015, p.119-128
Deep Ecology, the Holistic Critique of Enlightenment Dualism, and the Irony of History
Authors: Scerri Andy
Published: August 2016

In the 1970s, deep ecologists developed a radical normative argument for ‘ecological consciousness’ to challenge environmental and human exploitation. Such consciousness would replace the Enlightenment dualist ‘illusion’ with a post-Enlightenment holism that ‘fully integrated’ humanity within the ecosphere. By the 2000s, deep ecology had fallen out of favour with many green scholars. And, in 2014, it was described as a ‘spent force’. However, this decline has coincided with calls by influential advocates of ‘corporate social and environmental responsibility’ (CSER) and ‘green growth’ (GG) that urge market actors to ensure voluntarily that social and environmental ‘problems are addressed holistically’. Given that CSER and GG have also been associated with rent seeking, privatisation and reducing incomes of the poor, could it be that some of deep ecology's once radical ideas today serve to legitimate forms of exploitation that they once decried? A critical realist perspective can problematise deep ecology's highly normative response to exploitation and alienation. By settling ontological questions in favour of holism and promoting moral voluntarism, deep ecology failed to address how actors with different interests might adopt green ideas. This blind spot can be cured by focusing instead on the active deployment of ethics, morality, values, beliefs, ideas and knowledges by political actors in historically specific contexts. Both critical normative and critical realist modes of engaging with environmental values are important; however, at a time when holism and voluntarism are gaining influence, critical realism offers helpful insight into the uses and abuses of such values.
Eco-Sufficiency and Distributive Sufficientarianism – Friends or Foes?
Authors: Kanschik Philipp
Published: August 2016

The notion of sufficiency has recently gained some momentum in separate discourses on distributive justice (‘sufficientarianism') and the environment (‘eco-sufficiency'). An investigation of their relationship is warranted, as their scope overlaps in areas such as environmental justice and socio-economic policy. This paper argues that the two understandings of sufficiency are incompatible, because eco-sufficiency has adopted an extremely perfectionist view of the good life while sufficientarianism is committed to pluralism. A plausible explanation for this incompatibility relates to the two different meanings of the term sufficiency as a limit (eco-sufficiency) and as a minimum requirement (sufficientarianism).
Coping with the Horizontal Hitch: The ‘Con-Formism’ of the Degrowth Alternative
Authors: Romano Onofrio
Published: August 2016

Normally, during modernity, critical thinking and anti-systemic movements have countered the ruling institutions by envisaging not only new values and ideals, but mainly new ‘forms’ of social regulation. The current crisis reveals that, contrary to this tradition, the institutions in office and the antagonistic way of thinking now share the same basic ‘horizontal’ form. The degrowth project represents a paradigmatic example of this structural homology. The ecological and social crises, standing at the origins of the political engagement for degrowth, are not the outcome of execrable ‘values’ but mainly of the ‘horizontal’ form adopted by current institutions. In fact, the horizontal regime is uninterested in the promotion of specific values or ideas of justice. It only ensures that each singularity (the citizen and their networks) can freely play their game on the basis of their own values. This indifference is the basic reason for ecological, social and economic deregulation. The paradox of degrowth is that, on the one hand, it evokes the necessity of a return to ‘vertical’ regulation (i.e. collective sovereignty), while on the other, it is deeply subaltern to the paradigm of horizontalism (the same that frames the growth regime).
Registration of ‘Acala 1517‐16 B2RF’, a New Acala Cotton Cultivar with Insect and Herbicide Resistance
Authors: Zhang Jinfa , Flynn Robert , Hughs Sidney E. , Jones Don C.
Published: August 2016

Insect pests and weeds cause significant yield losses in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production. The New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station announces the release of an insect‐resistant and glyphosate herbicide‐tolerant Acala cotton cultivar, ‘Acala 1517‐16 B2RF’ (Reg. No. CV‐133, PI 678370), possessing Bollguard II (BGII or B2) and Roundup‐Ready Flex (RF) traits. Cotton with the B2 trait has an excellent season‐long in‐plant protection against pink bollworm [Pectinophora gossypiella (Saund.)], tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens F.), American bollworm [Helicoverpa armigera (Hubner)], and glyphosate and an improved resistance to beet armyworm [Spodoptera exigua (Hübner)], soybean looper (Pseudoplusia includens Walker), and bollworm (H. zea Boddie). The new cultivar was selected as a progeny row derived from a backcross BC3F3 between a Monsanto B2RF donor and NM 970123 as the recurrent parent. Acala 1517‐16 B2RF was tested in 11 replicated field trials in New Mexico from 2007 to 2009, one field test in the High Plains of Texas, and nine locations outside of the Southwest region in 2009. Acala 1517‐16 B2RF had similar lint yield to ‘Acala 1517‐99W’ containing two Bt genes and two conventional cultivars ‘Acala 1517‐08’ and ‘PHY 72 Acala’. The most improved trait was its greater boll weight. In general, Acala 1517‐16 B2RF had similar fiber quality to the three checks in most of the tests, but its fibers were coarser than Acala 1517‐99W and finer than Acala 1517‐08 and PHY 72 Acala. This insect‐resistant and glyphosate‐tolerant Acala cotton cultivar is best adapted to the U.S. Southwest arid region of the Cotton Belt, where conventional Acala 1517 cultivars are grown.
Optimum design of a truncated-cone antenna element used in microwave irradiation of liquid objects
Authors: Murai Masanori , Matsuoka Shuji , Hirano Takashi , Yamanaka Yoshinari , Yamanaka Kyoji , Takagi Toshiyuki , Uchimoto Tetsuya
Published: August 2016

To eliminate microwave reflections from a truncated-cone antenna element used to irradiate liquid objects with microwaves, the element needs to be designed optimally. Three design parameters were used in the optimization, the objective function to be minimized being power reflection coefficient of the microwaves. An applicable range of relative permittivity for the liquid objects was identified. The characteristics of the antenna were checked in experiments using water. Also the temperature dependency of the antenna was checked in both numerical and experimental tests.
Effect of a magnetic field from the horizontal direction on a magnetically levitated steel plate: Fundamental consideration on the levitation performance
Authors: Kurihara Takeshi , Narita Takayoshi , Kato Hideaki , Yamamoto Yoshio
Published: August 2016

Thin steel plates are widely used in various industrial products. However, there are problems where deterioration of surface quality and metal plating occurred by transporting. As a solution to these problems, a noncontact transport of steel plate using electromagnetic force has been proposed. However, there is a risk that side slipping or the dropping of the plate may occur. Therefore we have proposed the addition of electromagnetic actuators to control the horizontal motion of levitated steel plate. In this study, a thin steel plate (0.24 mm thickness) was magnetically levitated, and we carried out transport experiments to discuss the effect of a magnetic field from horizontal direction applied to the levitated steel plate on its elastic vibration. As a result, it is confirmed that the application of a magnetic field in the horizontal direction improves the levitation stability of transported thin steel plate.
Reconstruction of magnetic charge on breaking flaw based on two-layers algorithm
Authors: Li Hongmei , Chen Zhenmao , Zhang Dongli , Sun Hongxia
Published: August 2016

The equivalent magnetic-dipole model is widely used in magnetic flux leakage testing by assuming that some nonzero surface magnetic charges are concentrated in the walls of the breaking flaw, thus the distribution of the magnetic charges in testing structure conceives information about the edge of flaw, which can be utilized to evaluate the size of the breaking flaw by reconstructing the magnetic charges distribution in structures with measured magnetic flux leakage signals. However, the magnetic flux leakage signals above testing structure are usually influenced not only by the magnetic charges concentrating in the flaw walls, but also by which locating in the continuum below the flaw, and the magnetic charges distribution in the continuum layer is totally different from that of flaw layer, which reduces the estimation precision of flaw size. To strip away the magnetic charge influences in continuum layer and achieve high degree of accuracy in reconstructing the magnetic charge distribution around a flaw, increase the estimation precision of flaw size in magnetic flux leakage testing, a two-layer algorithm is proposed in this paper. In this algorithm, a structure with a flaw is divided into two layers according to the difference of the magnetic charge distribution, the layer 1 contains flaw and the layer 2 is the continuum of base materials, the magnetic flux leakage densities above the upper and lower surface of structure are measured. A scheme based on a new initial value regularization method and steepest descent method is proposed to reconstruct the magnetic charges distributing in flaw layer with the measured magnetic flux leakage signals. The simulation result shows that it can reconstruct the magnetic charges in flaw layers precisely; the experimental results show that it can improve the estimation precision of flaw in magnetic flux leakage testing clearly.
Sensitivity difference caused by eddy-current magnetic field in Hi-speed MFL testing and its elimination method
Authors: Wu Jianbo , Fang Hui , Wang Jie , Kang Yihua
Published: August 2016

Eddy current effect essentially occurs when relative movement happens between steel pipe and axial magnetization coil in Hi-speed MFL (magnetic flux leakage) testing. Based on the forming mechanism of eddy-current, the eddy-current magnetic field distributions in different parts were obtained, and it was found that the eddy-current magnetic field and the original magnetizing field in pipe tail have the same direction, resulting in the increase of the magnetization intensity; however, the direction of the eddy-current magnetic field is opposite to the one of the original magnetizing field in pipe head, which brings about the reduction of magnetization intensity; and that the eddy-current magnetic field in pipe body nearly has no influence on the magnetization. Due to the different magnetization intensity in different parts of the steel pipe, sensitivity difference is formed, lowering the accuracy of MFL testing. Further, the elimination method for sensitivity difference by building extending magnetic pole was proposed. Lastly, the relevant experiments for steel pipe were conducted to verify the influence of the eddy-current magnetic field and the effectiveness of elimination method.
The signal characteristics of rectangular induction coil affected by sensor arrangement and scanning direction in MFL application
Authors: Wu Jianbo , Hui Fang , Long Li , Yihua Kang
Published: August 2016

To improve the accuracy of the magnetic flux leakage(MFL) testing in practical application, we analyzed the signal characteristics of rectangular induction coil affected by the sensor arrangement and scanning direction. On the basis of magnetic dipole theory, the descriptions for the MFL field distributions of standard discontinuity were established. Further, based on Faraday's law of induction, the signal characteristics of rectangular induction coils were calculated and it was found that the signal waveform of the horizontal coil is similar with the x component of MFL; in contrast, the signal waveform of the vertical one has the same changing trend with the z component of MFL. Finally, the influence of scanning direction was analyzed and found that different scanning directions will generate different signal characteristics; and that with the angle β between the coil and discontinuity orientation changing from 0 to π/2, the signal amplitudes of both induction coils decrease, which was verified by relevant experiments.
Myasthenia Gravis: Unusual Presentations and Diagnostic Pitfalls
Authors: Rodolico Carmelo , Parisi Daniela , Portaro Simona , Biasini Fiammetta , Sinicropi Stefano , Ciranni Annamaria , Toscano Antonio , Messina Sonia , Musumeci Olimpia , Vita Giuseppe , Girlanda Paolo
Published: August 2016

Background: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disorder presenting with fluctuating, fatigable muscle weakness. Initial symptoms classically involve ocular and proximal limb muscles. Rarely, MG may onset with unusual features, so it can be misdiagnosed with other neuromuscular diseases.

Objective: To describe unusual and atypical presentations of MG in a large cohort of patients, considering and discussing diagnostic difficulties and pitfalls.

Methods: We report on 21 out of 508 MG patients, coming to our department in the last 27 years and presenting with atypical or unusual features. The diagnosis was achieved performing a careful clinical examination, a proper neurophysiological assessment, the neostigmine test, the AChR and MuSK antibodies assay and chest CT-scan.

Results: Patients with atypical/unusual MG onset were the 4.4% of all MG patients population. We describe seven different clinical categories: asymmetric distal upper limbs weakness, foot drop, isolated triceps brachii weakness and foot drop, post exertional axial weakness with dropped head, acute facial dyplegia, limb-girdle MG and MG with sudden lower limbs weakness and recurrent falls.

Conclusions: Atypical and unusual presentations may increase the risk to misdiagnose or delay MG diagnosis. Isolated limb-girdle presentation is the most frequent atypical form in our series.
Neo-epitope Peptides as Biomarkers of Disease Progression for Muscular Dystrophies and Other Myopathies
Authors: Arvanitidis A. , Henriksen K. , Karsdal M.A. , Nedergaard A.
Published: August 2016

For several decades, serological biomarkers of neuromuscular diseases as dystrophies, myopathies and myositis have been limited to routine clinical biochemistry panels. Gauging the pathological progression is a prerequisite for proper treatment and therefore identifying accessible, easy to monitor biomarkers that can predict the disease progression would be an important advancement. Most muscle diseases involve accelerated muscle fiber degradation, inflammation, fatty tissue substitution and/or fibrosis. All these pathological traits have been shown to give rise to serological peptide biomarkers in other tissues, underlining the potential application of existing biomarkers of such traits in muscle disorders. A significant quantity of tissue is involved in these pathological mechanisms alongside with qualitative changes in protein turnover in myofibrillar, extra-cellular matrix and immunological cell protein fractions accompanied by alterations in body fluids. We propose that protein and peptides can leak out of the afflicted muscles and can be of use in diagnosis, prediction of pathology trajectory and treatment efficacy. Proteolytic cleavage systems are especially modulated during a range of muscle pathologies, thereby giving rise to peptides that are differentially released during disease manifestation. Therefore, we believe that pathology-specific post-translational modifications like cleavages can give rise to neoepitope peptides that may represent a promising class of peptides for discovery of biomarkers pertaining to neuromuscular diseases.