bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Church planting in South Africa: The role of the Reformed Church Tshiawelo
Authors: Mutavhadsindi Muthuphei A. , Meiring Piet G.J.
Published: January 2014

The Reformed Congregation of Tshiawelo, in Soweto, South Africa, has undergone a profound change over the past 20 years. It has developed from an ailing introverted church to a congregation that reached out to the wider community, increasing its membership dramatically in the process. In this article, the authors reported on a number of issues related to this transformation, including: the importance of partnerships in the process of renewal, the methodology used in the process of renewal, the need for church planting and the necessity for future planning.
Outcome of critically ill hyperglycemic stroke patients admitted to the intensive care unit
Authors: Mohamed Kamel Abdelaziz , Saad Ahmad
Published: January 2014

Introduction

It has been suggested that admission hyperglycemia is a marker of extensive brain damage. Despite these observations, studies that have examined the relationship between glucose levels and the outcome after stroke in diabetic and nondiabetic patients have reported conflicting results.

Aim

We evaluated data on stroke patients admitted to the intensive care department to estimate the influence of hyperglycemia on the short-term mortality in both diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Patients and methods

A total of 100 consecutive adult patients with stroke admitted to the ICU were studied over a period of 28 months. The patients were followed up for 28 days until discharge from the hospital or until death, whichever occurred first. The patients were divided into three broad groups, on the basis of fasting blood glucose or random sugar and HbA1c to rule out undetected diabetes patients.

Results

There were no significant differences in the stroke subtype or the baseline stroke severity between diabetic (group 3) and hyperglycemic (group 2) patients. Also, there was no significant association between the stroke severity and the glycosylated hemoglobin level in group 2 and group 3 (r = 0.26, P = 0.4; r = 0.19, P = 0.31; respectively). With regard to an excellent outcome of stroke, which was measured by the modified Rankin scale (0–1), there was no significant difference between group 2 and group 3. The unadjusted risk ratio was 1.85 (95% confidence interval 0.52–4.41) for group 2, whereas it was 1.25 (95% confidence interval 0.7 6–4.3) in group 3. Nondiabetic patients with hyperglycemia had a 1.6 times higher relative risk of in-hospital 28-day mortality than diabetic patients. There were four nonsurvivors (11%) out of 36 patients in the control nondiabetic (group 1), whereas eight (26%) of 31 patients died in group 2, which was statistically significant when compared with group 1 (P = 0.02). However, six nonsurvivors (18%) of 33 in group 3 when compared with group 2 was statistically significant (P = 0.04).

Conclusion

Our current study showed that nondiabetic patients with hyperglycemia had a 1.6 times higher relative risk of in-hospital 28-day mortality than diabetic patients. Stress hyperglycemia predicts an increased risk of in-hospital mortality after ischemic stroke; thus, we should not underestimate the potential harm, as patients with the highest admission glucose levels would have most likely been treated earlier and more aggressively.
Colonic mucosal changes in Egyptian patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension
Authors: Salama Zakaria A. , Hassan Ahmad N. , Darweesh Samar K.
Published: January 2014

Background and aims

In patients with liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension (PHT), portal hypertensive colopathy (PHC) is thought to be an important cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding. This study aimed at evaluating the prevalence and clinical significance of colonic mucosal changes in Egyptian patients with liver cirrhosis and PHT.

Patients and methods

A prospective study was conducted on 35 patients with liver cirrhosis and PHT (proved by upper endoscopy and/or abdominal ultrasonography). They were evaluated using full colonoscopy to detect changes in colonic mucosa and using gastroscopy to detect the presence of both gastroesophageal varices and portal hypertensive gastropathy.

Results

Colonic lesions were found in 27 patients (77.1%), including haemorrhoids in 20 patients (57.1%), diffuse hyperaemic mucosa in 16 patients (45.7%), angiodysplastic lesions in 12 patients (34.3%) and rectal varices in five patients (14.3%). Bleeding per rectum was detected in seven patients (20%), and it significantly correlated with the presence of haemorrhoids (P = 0.02). The prevalence of PHC and the presence of haemorrhoids increased with the worsening Child–Pugh class (P = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively).

Conclusion

The prevalence of PHC and haemorrhoids increases with the progression of liver disease and worsening of the Child–Pugh grading in cirrhotic patients. However, haemorrhoids, rectal varices, hyperaemia and colonic angiodysplasia are not affected by the presence of portal hypertensive gastropathy.
Associations of fetuin-A level with vascular disease in hemodialysis patients with or without type II diabetes mellitus
Authors: Mohamed Amani K. , Abdallah Amany M. , Hassan Maha A. , Mohammed Nagwa A. , Kamel Solaf A.
Published: January 2014

Introduction

Fetuin-A is a circulating inhibitor of calcium deposition in the vasculature and may be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Low plasma fetuin-A level is independently associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease mortality among men and women without diabetes; in addition, low level of fetuin-A is linked to mortality in patients on dialysis.

Aim of the study

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of fetuin-A as a marker for microvascular and macrovascular diseases in a high-risk population of end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis, with and without diabetes mellitus.

Patients and methods

This study included 30 end-stage renal disease patients on regular hemodialysis, with and without diabetes and 10 age-matched and sex-matched apparently healthy controls. All patients were subjected to careful history-taking, including history of strokes and acute myocardial infarction and thorough physical examinations, and cardiac assessment was performed using ECG and ECHO. Routine laboratory tests were performed, such as hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, serum creatinine, serum urea, serum Na, serum K, uric acid, serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, serum aspartate aminotransferase, serum alanine aminotransferase, serum albumin, serum calcium, serum phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), and serum fetuin-A.

Results

The study showed significant statistical decrease in serum fetuin-A level in chronic renal failure (CRF) and diabetes patients with vascular strokes when compared with CRF patients and CRF patients with diabetes without history of vascular strokes. There was significant positive correlation between fetuin-A and hemoglobin, serum Ca, serum albumin, TIBC, and total protein (TP), whereas there was significant negative correlation between fetuin-A and serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum urea, serum creatinine, serum uric acis (UA), iPTH, serum Na, and serum K. No correlation was found between fetuin-A and age or BMI.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest a unique role for fetuin-A deficiency as a biomarker of vascular diseases in the setting of CRF and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Comparative Susceptibility of Mosquito Populations in North Queensland, Australia to Oral Infection with Dengue Virus
Authors: Ye Yixin H. , Ng Tat Siong , Frentiu Francesca D. , Walker Thomas , van den Hurk Andrew F. , O'Neill Scott L. , Beebe Nigel W. , McGraw Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2014

Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne virus, with at least 40% of the world's population at risk of infection each year. In Australia, dengue is not endemic, but viremic travelers trigger outbreaks involving hundreds of cases. We compared the susceptibility of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes from two geographically isolated populations to two strains of dengue virus serotype 2. We found, interestingly, that mosquitoes from a city with no history of dengue were more susceptible to virus than mosquitoes from an outbreak-prone region, particularly with respect to one dengue strain. These findings suggest recent evolution of population-based differences in vector competence or different historical origins. Future genomic comparisons of these populations could reveal the genetic basis of vector competence and the relative role of selection and stochastic processes in shaping their differences. Lastly, we show the novel finding of a correlation between midgut dengue titer and titer in tissues colonized after dissemination.
Molecular Mechanisms of In vitro Betulin-Induced Apoptosis of Leishmania donovani
Authors: Saudagar Prakash , Dubey Vikash Kumar
Published: January 2014

Although leishmanial infections of humans occur globally, the major health impact lies in developing nations, thus, leishmaniases remain “neglected” diseases for new drugs development. Multidrug resistance has been documented in most countries where leishmaniases is endemic. Betulin is a widely available and affordable natural product exerting leishmanicidal activity at micromolar concentration. In this study, the molecular mechanisms of death that contribute to the anti-leishmanial activity of betulin are investigated. In promastigotes, betulin stimulated reactive oxygen species generation at micromolar concentrations in Leishmania. Apoptosis was observed in betulin-treated promastigotes using flow cytometric analysis of treated cells stained with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide. Furthermore, betulin treatment of promastigotes led to mitochondrial membrane damage, activation of caspase-like proteases, and DNA fragmentation in Leishmania donovani promastigotes. Betulin treatment of amastigotes cultured within macrophages, resulted in a reduced number of amastigotes, with no substantive cytotoxic damage to the host macrophage cells at leishmanicidal drug concentrations.
Engaging Students in Constructive Youth-Adult Relationships: A Case Study of Urban School-based Agriculture Students and Positive Adult Mentors
Authors: Bird William A. , Martin Michael J. , Tummons John D. , Ball Anna L.
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this bounded single case study was to explore the day-to-day functioning of a successful urban school-based agriculture veterinary program. Findings indicated student success was a product of multiple youth-adult relationships created through communal environments. Adults served as mentors with whom students felt constant, caring support. The bonds formed between students and adults were a result of the program and/or internship atmosphere. This case demonstrated how a school-based agricultural veterinary program can serve the educational needs of students in urban areas. The potential learning outcomes include developing students’ understanding of agriculture content knowledge, professional skills attainment, and life skill development necessary for healthy, productive lives beyond formal schooling. The researchers recommend agriculture teachers develop opportunities for students to cultivate meaningful relationships with adult role models beyond the classroom. Agriculture teachers should adopt teaching and communication strategies to encourage open, trusting, and safe learning environments to enhance student engagement.
The direct and indirect radiative effects of biogenic secondary organic aerosol
Authors: Scott C. E. , Rap A. , Spracklen D. V. , Forster P. M. , Carslaw K. S. , Mann G. W. , Pringle K. J. , Kivekäs N. , Kulmala M. , Lihavainen H. , Tunved P.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. We use a global aerosol microphysics model in combination with an offline radiative transfer model to quantify the radiative effect of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) in the present-day atmosphere. Through its role in particle growth and ageing, the presence of biogenic SOA increases the global annual mean concentration of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN; at 0.2% supersaturation) by 3.6–21.1%, depending upon the yield of SOA production from biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), and the nature and treatment of concurrent primary carbonaceous emissions. This increase in CCN causes a rise in global annual mean cloud droplet number concentration (CDNC) of 1.9–5.2%, and a global mean first aerosol indirect effect (AIE) of between +0.01 W m−2 and −0.12 W m−2. The radiative impact of biogenic SOA is far greater when biogenic oxidation products also contribute to the very early stages of new particle formation; using two organically mediated mechanisms for new particle formation, we simulate global annual mean first AIEs of −0.22 W m−2 and −0.77 W m−2. The inclusion of biogenic SOA substantially improves the simulated seasonal cycle in the concentration of CCN-sized particles observed at three forested sites. The best correlation is found when the organically mediated nucleation mechanisms are applied, suggesting that the first AIE of biogenic SOA could be as large as −0.77 W m−2. The radiative impact of SOA is sensitive to the presence of anthropogenic emissions. Lower background aerosol concentrations simulated with anthropogenic emissions from 1750 give rise to a greater fractional CCN increase and a more substantial first AIE from biogenic SOA. Consequently, the anthropogenic indirect radiative forcing between 1750 and the present day is sensitive to assumptions about the amount and role of biogenic SOA. We also calculate an annual global mean direct radiative effect of between −0.08 W m−2 and −0.78 W m−2 in the present day, with uncertainty in the amount of SOA produced from the oxidation of BVOCs accounting for most of this range.
Evaluation of a 2-step thermal method for separating organic and elemental carbon for radiocarbon analysis
Authors: Dusek U. , Monaco M. , Prokopiou M. , Gongriep F. , Hitzenberger R. , Meijer H. A. J. , Röckmann T.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. We thoroughly characterized a system for thermal separation of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) for subsequent radiocarbon analysis. Different organic compounds as well as ambient aerosol filter samples were introduced into an oven system and combusted to CO2 in pure O2. The main objective was to test which combustion times and temperatures are best suited to separate OC and EC. The final separation step for OC was combustion at 360 °C for 15 min. Combustion at this temperature proved enough to remove several organic test substances from the filter (including high molecular weight humic acid) but did not remove substantial amounts of EC. For isolation of EC, OC first needs to be completely removed from the filter. This was achieved by water extraction of the filter, followed by combustion of the water insoluble OC at 360 °C and combustion at an intermediate temperature step of 2 min at 450 °C. This last step removed the most refractory OC together with some EC. Finally, the remaining EC was combusted to CO2 at 650 °C. The recovery of black carbon after the intermediate 450 °C step was approximately 80%. Several tests provided strong evidence that OC was removed efficiently during the intermediate temperature step: (i) brown carbon, indicative of refractory OC, was removed; (ii) the fraction modern of EC did not decrease significantly if the temperature of the intermediate step was further increased. Based on tests with various organic compounds, we estimated that charred organic carbon could contribute 4–8% to an elemental carbon sample that was isolated according to our method.
DIAL measurement of lower tropospheric ozone over Saga (33.24° N, 130.29° E), Japan, and comparison with a chemsitry-climate model
Authors: Uchino O. , Sakai T. , Nagai T. , Morino I. , Maki T. , Deushi M. , Shibata K. , Kajino M. , Kawasaki T. , Akaho T. , Takubo S. , Okumura H. , Arai K. , Nakazato M. , Matsunaga T. , Yokota T. , Kawakami S. , Kita K. , Sasano Y.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. We have improved an ozone DIfferential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) system, originally developed in March 2010. The improved DIAL system consists of a Nd:YAG laser and a 2 m Raman cell filled with 8.1 × 105 Pa of CO2 gas which generate four Stokes lines (276, 287, 299, and 312 nm) of stimulated Raman scattering, and two receiving telescopes with diameters of 49 and 10 cm. Using this system, 44 ozone profiles were observed in the 1–6 km altitude range over Saga (33.24° N, 130.29° E) in 2012. High ozone concentration layers were observed at around 2 km altitude during April and May. Ozone column amounts within the 1–6 km altitude range were almost constant from January to March, and increased from late April to July. From mid-July through August, ozone column amounts decreased greatly because of exchanges of continental and maritime air masses. Then in mid-September they increased again within 1–6 km, and subsequently decreased slowly, becoming almost constant by December. The Meteorological Research Institute's Chemistry-Climate Model version 2 (MRI-CCM2) successfully predicted most of these ozone variations with the following exceptions. MRI-CCM2 could not predict the high ozone-mixing ratios measured at around 2 km altitude on 5 May and 11 May, possibly in part because emissions were assumed in the model to be constant (climatological data were used). Ozone-mixing ratios predicted by MRI-CCM2 were low in the 2–6 km range on 7 July and high in the 1–4 km range on 19 July compared with those measured by DIAL.
Benthic biomass size spectra in shelf and deep-sea sediments
Authors: Kelly-Gerreyn B. A. , Martin A. P. , Bett B. J. , Anderson T. R. , Kaariainen J. I. , Main C. E. , Marcinko C. J. , Yool A.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. The biomass distributions of marine benthic organisms (meio- to macro-fauna, 1 μg–32 mg wet weight) across three contrasting sites were investigated to test the hypothesis that allometry can consistently explain observed trends in biomass spectra. Biomass (and abundance) size spectra were determined from observations made at the Faroe–Shetland Channel in the north-east Atlantic (water depth 1600 m), the Fladen Ground in the North Sea (150 m), and the hypoxic Oman Margin (500 m) in the Arabian Sea. Observed biomass increased with body size as a power law at FG (scaling exponent, b = 0.16) and FSC (b = 0.32), but less convincingly at OM (b = 0.12 but not significantly different from 0). A simple model was constructed to represent the same 16 metazoan size classes used for the observed spectra, all reliant on a common detrital food pool, and allowing the three key processes of ingestion, respiration and mortality to scale with body size. A micro-genetic algorithm was used to fit the model to observations at the sites. The model accurately reproduces the observed scaling without recourse to including the effects of local influences such as hypoxia. Our results suggest that the size-scaling of mortality and ingestion are dominant factors determining the distribution of biomass across the meio- to macrofaunal size range in contrasting marine sediment communities. Both the observations and the model results are broadly in agreement with the "Metabolic Theory of Ecology" in predicting a quarter power scaling of biomass across geometric body size classes.
Development and evaluation of new behavioral indexes for a biological early warning system using Daphnia magna
Authors: Jeong T. Y. , Jeon J. , Kim S. D.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. New behavioral indexes including combined index (CI), distribution index (DI), toxic index (TI), and altitude index (AI) for a biological early warning system (BEWS) were developed and evaluated using Daphnia magna in this study. The sensitivity and stability of each index were compared to evaluate the performance of the indexes through a real-time exposure test with a synthetic copper solution. The applicability of the CI to the field sample was evaluated through an effluent exposure test. The proportional relationship between toxicity level and magnitude of response was much lower in the effluent due to the complexity of water than in the copper solution. The results showed that the CI was most sensitive among the three indexes, while the DI was confirmed as the most useful index among the individual indexes. The combined index (CI) shows not only sensitivity but also stability in normal conditions below the statistically significant threshold (p < 0.01), whereas the individual indexes displayed unstable index values in normal conditions (p > 0.01). The CI improved performance of the BEWS in terms of sensitivity and stability, and it was confirmed as the higher correlation coefficient between the magnitude of the index and the toxicity level of the water sample.
A fast input/output library for high-resolution climate models
Authors: Huang X. M. , Wang W. C. , Fu H. H. , Yang G. W. , Wang B. , Zhang C.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. We describe the design and implementation of climate fast input/output (CFIO), a fast input/output (I/O) library for high-resolution climate models. CFIO provides a simple method for modelers to overlap the I/O phase with the computing phase automatically, so as to shorten the running time of numerical simulations. To minimize the code modifications required for porting, CFIO provides similar interfaces and features to parallel Network Common Data Form (PnetCDF), which is one of the most widely used I/O libraries in climate models. We deployed CFIO in three high-resolution climate models, including two ocean models (POP and LICOM) and one sea ice model (CICE). The experimental results show that CFIO improves the performance of climate models significantly versus the original serial I/O approach. When running with CFIO at 0.1° resolution with about 1000 CPU cores, we managed to reduce the running time by factors of 7.9, 4.6 and 2.0 for POP, CICE, and LICOM, respectively. We also compared the performance of CFIO against two existing libraries, PnetCDF and parallel I/O (PIO), in different scenarios. For scenarios with both data output and computations, CFIO decreases the I/O overhead compared to PnetCDF and PIO.
A flexible three-dimensional stratocumulus, cumulus and cirrus cloud generator (3DCLOUD) based on drastically simplified atmospheric equations and Fourier transform framework
Authors: Szczap F. , Gour Y. , Fauchez T. , Cornet C. , Faure T. , Jourdan O. , Dubuisson P.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. The 3DCLOUD algorithm for generating stochastic three-dimensional (3-D) cloud fields is described in this paper. The generated outputs are 3-D optical depth (τ) for stratocumulus and cumulus fields and 3-D ice water content (IWC) for cirrus clouds. This model is designed to generate cloud fields that share some statistical properties observed in real clouds such as the inhomogeneity parameter ρ (standard deviation normalized by the mean of the studied quantity), the Fourier spectral slope β close to −5/3 between the smallest scale of the simulation to the outer Lout (where the spectrum becomes flat). Firstly, 3DCLOUD assimilates meteorological profiles (humidity, pressure, temperature and wind velocity). The cloud coverage C, defined by the user, can also be assimilated, but only for stratocumulus and cumulus regime. 3DCLOUD solves drastically simplified basic atmospheric equations, in order to simulate 3-D cloud structures of liquid or ice water content. Secondly, Fourier filtering method is used to constrain intensity of ρ, β, Lout and mean of τ or IWC of these 3-D cloud structures. 3DCLOUD model was developed to run on a personnel computer under Matlab environment with the Matlab statistics toolbox. It is used to study 3-D interactions between cloudy atmosphere and radiation.
Continental hydrosystem modelling: the concept of nested stream–aquifer interfaces
Authors: Flipo N. , Mouhri A. , Labarthe B. , Biancamaria S.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Recent developments in hydrological modelling are based on a view of the interface being a single continuum through which water flows. These coupled hydrological-hydrogeological models, emphasising the importance of the stream–aquifer interface, are more and more used in hydrological sciences for pluri-disciplinary studies aiming at investigating environmental issues. This notion of a single continuum, which is accepted by the hydrological modellers, originates in the historical modelling of hydrosystems based on the hypothesis of a homogeneous media that led to the Darcy law. There is then a need to first bridge the gap between hydrological and eco-hydrological views of the stream–aquifer interfaces, and, secondly, to rationalise the modelling of stream–aquifer interface within a consistent framework that fully takes into account the multi-dimensionality of the stream–aquifer interfaces. We first define the concept of nested stream–aquifer interfaces as a key transitional component of continental hydrosystem. Based on a literature review, we then demonstrate the usefulness of the concept for the multi-dimensional study of the stream–aquifer interface, with a special emphasis on the stream network, which is identified as the key component for scaling hydrological processes occurring at the interface. Finally we focus on the stream–aquifer interface modelling at different scales, with up-to-date methodologies and give some guidances for the multi-dimensional modelling of the interface using the innovative methodology MIM (Measurements-Interpolation-Modelling), which is graphically developed, scaling in space the three pools of methods needed to fully understand stream–aquifer interfaces at various scales. The outcome of MIM is the localisation in space of the stream–aquifer interface types that can be studied by a given approach. The efficiency of the method is demonstrated with two approaches from the local (~1 m) to the continental (<10 M km2) scale.
Importance of hydrological uncertainty assessment methods in climate change impact studies
Authors: Honti M. , Scheidegger A. , Stamm C.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Climate change impact assessments have become more and more popular in hydrology since the middle 1980's with a recent boost after the publication of the IPCC AR4 report. During hundreds of impact studies a quasi-standard methodology emerged, which is mainly shaped by the growing public demand for predicting how water resources management or flood protection should change in the following decades. The "standard" workflow relies on a model cascade from global circulation model (GCM) predictions for selected IPCC scenarios to future catchment hydrology. Uncertainty is present at each level and propagates through the model cascade. There is an emerging consensus between many studies on the relative importance of the different uncertainty sources. The prevailing perception is that GCM uncertainty dominates hydrological impact studies. Our hypothesis was that the relative importance of climatic and hydrologic uncertainty is (among other factors) heavily influenced by the uncertainty assessment method. To test this we carried out a climate change impact assessment and estimated the relative importance of the uncertainty sources. The study was performed on two small catchments in the Swiss Plateau with a lumped conceptual rainfall runoff model. In the climatic part we applied the standard ensemble approach to quantify uncertainty but in hydrology we used formal Bayesian uncertainty assessment with two different likelihood functions. One was a time-series error model that was able to deal with the complicated statistical properties of hydrological model residuals. The second was an approximate likelihood function for the flow quantiles. The results showed that the expected climatic impact on flow quantiles was small compared to prediction uncertainty. The source, structure and composition of uncertainty depended strongly on the uncertainty assessment method. This demonstrated that one could arrive to rather different conclusions about predictive uncertainty for the same hydrological model and calibration data when considering different objective functions for calibration.
Pacific Plate slab pull and intraplate deformation in the early Cenozoic
Authors: Butterworth N. P. , Müller R. D. , Quevedo L. , M.O'Connor J. , Hoernle K. , Morra G.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Large tectonic plates are known to be susceptible to internal deformation, leading to a range of phenomena including intraplate volcanism. However, the space and time dependence of intraplate deformation and its relationship with changing plate boundary configurations, subducting slab geometries, and absolute plate motion is poorly understood. We utilise a buoyancy driven Stokes flow solver, BEM-Earth, to investigate the contribution of subducting slabs through time on Pacific Plate motion and plate-scale deformation, and how this is linked to intraplate volcanism. We produce a series of geodynamic models from 62 to 42 Ma in which the plates are driven by the attached subducting slabs and mantle drag/suction forces. We compare our modelled intraplate deformation history with those types of intraplate volcanism that lack a clear age progression. Our models suggest that changes in Cenozoic subduction zone topology caused intraplate deformation to trigger volcanism along several linear seafloor structures, mostly by reactivation of existing seamount chains, but occasionally creating new volcanic chains on crust weakened by fracture zones and extinct ridges. Around 55 Ma subduction of the Pacific-Izanagi ridge reconfigured the major tectonic forces acting on the plate by replacing ridge push with slab pull along its north-western perimeter, causing lithospheric extension along pre-existing weaknesses. Large scale deformation observed in the models coincides with the seamount chains of Hawaii, Louisville, Tokelau, and Gilbert during our modelled time period of 62 to 42 Ma. We suggest that extensional stresses between 72 and 52 Ma are the likely cause of large parts of the formation of the Gilbert chain and that localised extension between 62 and 42 Ma could cause late-stage volcanism along the Musicians Volcanic Ridges. Our models demonstrate that early Cenozoic changes in Pacific plate driving forces only cause relatively minor changes in Pacific absolute plate motions, and cannot be responsible for the Hawaii-Emperor Bend (HEB), confirming previous interpretations that the 47 Ma HEB does not reflect an absolute plate motion event.
Parameterization of basal hydrology near grounding lines in a one-dimensional ice sheet model
Authors: Leguy G. R. , Asay-Davis X. S. , Lipscomb W. H.
Published: January 2014

Abstract. Ice sheets and ice shelves are linked by the transition zone, the region where the grounded ice lifts off the bedrock and begins to float. Adequate resolution of the transition zone is necessary for numerically accurate ice sheet–ice shelf simulations. The required resolution depends on how the basal physics is parameterized. We propose a new, simple parameterization of the basal hydrology in a one-dimensional vertically integrated model. This parameterization accounts for connectivity between the basal hydrological system and the ocean in the transition zone. Our model produces a smooth transition between finite basal friction in the ice sheet and zero basal friction in the ice shelf. Through a set of experiments based on the Marine Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project (MISMIP), we show that a smoother basal shear stress, in addition to adding physical realism, significantly improves the numerical accuracy of our fixed-grid model, allowing for reliable grounding-line dynamics at resolutions ~1 km.
Comparison of outpatient versus inpatient transurethral prostate resection for benign prostatic hyperplasia: Comparative, prospective bi-center study.
Authors: Park Jae Young , Shim Ji Sung , Lee Jeong Gu , Moon Du Geon , Yoo Jeong Woo , Choi Hoon , Bae Jae Hyun
Published: January 2014

Introduction: We compare the symptomatic relief with urodynamic parameter change and operative safety of the outpatient transurethral resection in saline (TURIS-V) technique with inpatient transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).Methods: This prospective cohort comparison study enrolled patients who needed BPH surgery. Between January 2010 and June 2011, outpatient TURIS-V was performed at 1 centre and the results of the treatment were compared with inpatient TURP performed at a separate hospital. Preoperative characteristics, including prostate volume, were similar in both groups. Perioperative data and any treatment complications were recorded. The analysis compared postoperative outcomes, including a 6-month postoperative International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), a quality of life (QoL) evaluation and a record of any changes in uroflowmetry findings, between the 2 groups.Results: In the TURIS-V patient group, 75 patients agreed to be in the study. Of these, 69 ultimately complete the study. In the TURP group, 76 patients agreed and 71 of these completed the study. Both study groups were well-matched for age, IPSS, QoL and uroflowmetry findings. The TURIS-V group experienced both shorter operation times (54.6 vs. 74.8 minutes) and shorter catheterization times (2.2 vs. 4.2 days) when compared to the TURP group. There were comparable improvements in the 6-month postoperative IPSS, QoL, and uroflowmetry findings between the 2 groups. There were also equally low incidence rates of procedural complications.Conclusions: Both TURIS-V and TURP relieve lower urinary tract symptoms in a similar way, with great efficacy and safety. Overall, TURIS-V had shorter operative and catheterization times compared to TURP. Notwithstanding the paper’s limitations (non- randomized cohort comparison with possible selection or surgeon bias and small heterogeneous sample size), TURIS-V can be performed safely even in an outpatient setting.
Outcome of urethral strictures treated by endoscopic urethrotomy and urethroplasty
Authors: Tinaut-Ranera Javier , Arrabal-Polo Miguel Angel , Merino-Salas Sergio , Nogueras-Ocaña Mercedes , Lopez-Leon Victor , Palao-Yago Francisco , Arrabal-Martin Miguel , Lahoz-Garcia Clara , Alaminos Miguel , Zuluaga-Gomez Armando
Published: January 2014

Introduction: We analyze the outcomes of patients with urethral stricture who underwent surgical treatment within the past 5 years.Methods: This is a retrospective study of male patients who underwent surgery for urethral stricture at our service from January 2008 to June 2012. We analyzed the comorbidities, type, length and location of the stricture and the surgical treatment outcome after endoscopic urethrotomy, urethroplasty or both.Results: In total, 45 patients with a mean age of 53.7 ± 16.7 years underwent surgical treatment for urethral stricture. Six months after surgery, 46.7% of the patients had a maximum urinary flow greater than 15 mL/s, whereas 87.3% of the patients exhibited no stricture by urethrography after the treatment. The success rate in the patients undergoing urethrotomy was 47.8% versus 86.4% in those undergoing urethroplasty (p = 0.01). Twenty percent of the patients in whom the initial urethrotomy had failed subsequently underwent urethroplasty, thereby increasing the treatment success.Conclusion: In most cases, the treatment of choice for urethral stricture should be urethroplasty. Previous treatment with urethrotomy does not appear to produce adverse effects that affect the outcome of a urethroplasty if urethrotomy failed, so urethrotomy may be indicated in patients with short strictures or in patients at high surgical risk.
The relationship between bladder wall thickness and lower urinary tract symptoms: Does bladder wall thickness change after alpha-blocker therapy with alfuzosin?
Authors: Karakose Ayhan , Aydogdu Ozgu , Atesci Yusuf Ziya
Published: January 2014

Introduction: We evaluate the association between lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and bladder wall thickness (BWT) and investigate whether alfuzosin might improve BWT.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 164 patients with LUTS. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to BWT(Group 1: BWT ≤5 mm, n = 69; Group 2: BWT >5 mm, n = 95). Age, international prostate symptom score (IPSS), maximum and average urinary flow rates (Qmax and Qave), quality of life (QoL), postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume, prostate volume and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) were compared between the 2 groups. In total, 102 patients underwent transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and 62 patients were treated with alfuzosin. We compared BWT, Qmax, Qave, IPSS, QoL, PVR and PSA before and at the sixth month of alfuzosin therapy. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The mean BWT of Group 1 was 3.72 ± 0.56 mm and Group 2 was 6.43 ± 1.13 mm. There was a significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of mean Qmax and PVR. There was no statistical difference between the groups in terms of Qave, IPSS, QoL, prostate volume and PSA. There was significant difference between BWT before (6.8 ± 2.1) and after (4.6 ± 1.3) treatment with alfuzosin in 62 patients (p = 0.02). There was a significant difference between pre- and post-treatment values of mean Qmax, Qave, IPSS, QoL score, and PVR with alfuzosin.Conclusion: BWT is a non-invasive and effective test to evaluate patients with lower urinary tract obstruction and may be used for showing the effectiveness of alpha-blocker therapy in patients with LUTS.
Cost analysis of fixed-dose combination of dutasteride and tamsulosin compared with concomitant dutasteride and tamsulosin monotherapy in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia in Canada
Authors: Sayani Amyn P. , Ismaila Afisi S. , Walker Anna , Posnett John , Laroche Bruno , Nickel J. Curtis , Su Zhen
Published: January 2014

Introduction: We estimate the lifetime cost of treatment for moderate/severe symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in a cohort of Canadian men aged 50 to 59, and we evaluate the costs of 2 daily bioequivalent treatment options: fixed-dose combination (FDC) of dutasteride (0.5 mg) and tamsulosin (0.4 mg), or concomitant administration of dutasteride (0.5 mg) and tamsulosin (0.4 mg) monotherapies.Methods: The expected lifetime costs were estimated by modelling the incidence of acute urinary retention (AUR), BPH-related surgery and clinical progression over a patient’s lifetime (up to 25 years). A model was developed to simulate clinical events over time, based on a discrete Markov process with 6 mutually exclusive health states and annual cycle length.Results: The estimated lifetime budget cost for the cohort of 374 110 men aged 50 to 59 in Canada is between $6.35 billion and $7.60 billion, equivalent to between $16 979 and $20 315 per patient with moderate/severe symptoms associated with BPH. Costs are lower for FDC treatment, with the net difference in lifetime budget impact between the 2 treatment regimens at $1.25 billion. In this analysis, the true costs of BPH in Canada are underestimated for 2 main reasons: (1) to make the analysis tractable, it is restricted to a cohort aged 50 to 59, whereas BPH can affect all men; and (2) a closed cohort approach does not include the costs of new (incident) cases.Conclusion: Canadian clinical guidelines recommend the use of the combination of tamsulosin and dutasteride for men with moderate/severe symptoms associated with BPH and enlarged prostate volume. This analysis, using a representational patient group, suggests that the FDC is a more cost-effective treatment option for BPH.
L’impact des CAP sur le développement de la compétence des enseignants en évaluation des apprentissages
Authors: Fontaine Sylvie , Savoie-Zajc Lorraine , Cadieux Alain
Published: January 2014

L’automne 2011, trois communautés d’apprentissage professionnelles (CAP) ont été mises sur pied avec, pour thématique, l’évaluation des apprentissages. Ces CAP visaient à consolider la compétence en évaluation des apprentissages chez les enseignants en exercice, à soutenir ces derniers dans l’ajustement de leurs pratiques en évaluation et à susciter une dynamique de coformation entre les enseignants participant aux CAP. Cette recherche, de type formation, adopte une approche mixte et s’appuie sur le modèle d’évaluation de la formation continue de Guskey (2000) pour déterminer l’impact des CAP sur le développement de la compétence en évaluation des apprentissages. Les résultats indiquent que tous les enseignants des trois CAP ont consolidé leurs compétences en évaluation de manière significative et qu’un gain plus important a été noté pour les enseignants du secondaire. Les apprentissages réalisés sont surtout de nature cognitive. Parmi les apprentissages classés sous la dimension affective, c’est le partage des pratiques qui retient l’attention des participants. De plus, le choix d’avoir opté pour des CAP constituées de participants venant de plusieurs commissions scolaires a certainement contribué à élargir leurs perspectives grâce à la richesse des expertises et des milieux convoqués.
CAP : un leadership partagé entre le conseil scolaire, la direction et les enseignants
Authors: Isabelle Claire , Genier Éric , Davidson Ann Louise , Lamothe Roxane
Published: January 2014

Le ministère de l’Éducation de l’Ontario (2007) suggère fortement aux directions de modifier la structure de fonctionnement de leurs écoles pour que celles-ci travaillent en communauté d’apprentissage professionnelle (CAP). Or, force est de constater que peu d’études s’attardent au soutien à apporter aux directions pour qu’elles répondent avec efficacité à cette exigence et, plus particulièrement, pour que la nouvelle structure organisationnelle favorise le développement professionnel des enseignants et la réussite chez tous les élèves. Afin de comprendre les conditions d’implantation et d’évolution d’un fonctionnement en CAP, une étude de nature qualitative a été menée dans deux écoles élémentaires francophones de l’Ontario qui ont atteint un stade avancé de fonctionnement en CAP. Les résultats de notre étude soulignent l’importance d’un « leadership partagé » entre le conseil scolaire, la direction d’école et le personnel enseignant pour instaurer et faire évoluer un fonctionnement en CAP.
Teaching Divergence and Curl in an Electromagnetic Field Course
Authors: Huang Hui , Wang Jinbao , Chen Cheng , Zhang Xiaoqing
Published: January 2014

Based on our experiences in teaching an Electromagnetic Field course, we present a research-based teaching method designed for the concepts of divergence and curl, which are important for the course. Comparing the two concepts which have different definitions and expressions, we guide students to ‘seek the difference in the similarity’ so that they can understand the physical meaning more clearly. Furthermore, with the idea of ‘surface-point-volume’ and ‘line-point-surface’ transformation, students can understand the Gauss' law and Stokes formula more easily. It is proved that the method achieved good practical results.
Introduction to Microbots: A Hands-On, Contest-Driven, Interdisciplinary Course on Mobile Robot Design in a Developing Country
Authors: Troni Giancarlo , Abusleme Angel
Published: January 2014

Engineering outreach in a developing country like Chile is a difficult challenge. Different reasons explain a sustained decrease in the number of students enrolling in engineering education in the past years, and a special effort is necessary to reverse this trend. Focusing on teamwork, the non-conventional undergraduate-level course described in this paper represents an opportunity for motivated students in a developing country to focus their abilities in engineering design. In order to make the course more attractive for students, the final project consisted of designing an autonomous robot to compete in a contest. This article reviews experiences associated with this course and the students' design teams over a five-year period. The course methodology is explained, and the results are summarised.
Split Flowcharts in Teaching Digital System Design
Authors: Abramov Binyamin B. , Levin Ilya
Published: January 2014

Teaching design of digital systems is usually based on one of two main paradigms, namely either declarative—based on a functional description of system; or procedural-based on constructing a flow chart (algorithm) defining a sequence of steps of the system's operation. The paper proposes an integrative approach for digital systems description and digital systems design teaching, both for computer engineering and electrical engineering students. This approach combines together the main aspects of the above two paradigms. The central concept of the new approach is a split flowchart. The proposed approach enables a parallel representation of the description of digital system functional fragments that in turn can be described procedurally. This paper reports results of testing the effect of different paradigms on the design process and on its results, and especially the efficiency of the proposed approach in comparison with others. Additionally, a case study of teaching an introductory digital design course based on the proposed approach is presented.
Virtual communities in a secondary school — Discovering the internal grammar of video games
Authors: Méndez Laura , García-Pernía María Ruth , Cortés Sara
Published: January 2014

This study attempts to show how the creation of an innovative scenario, introducing video games and online communities as educational resources in the classroom, facilitates the development of new literacies in the context of participatory culture. The experience described was carried out during the 2010–2011 academic year in a secondary school located in Madrid. The workshop was organized using a social simulation video game, The Sims 3, and the online community Play and Learn, created specifically for this project. From an ethnographic perspective, the article focuses mainly on analyzing what happened outside the game sessions, when the students became involved in the online community after interacting with the game in the classroom. The fact that they participated in a virtual conversational space (through a forum) serves to support the game and encourage reflection from all participants. The results show that social relationships were developed within the online community, where individual contributions proved especially important for group discussion. Participation made it possible for students to become aware of the speech and rules of the game and to improve the acquisition process of new literacies.
Graphics, playability and social interaction, the greatest motivations for playing Call of Duty. Educational reflections
Authors: Marcano Lárez Beatriz Elena
Published: January 2014

War videogames raise a lot of controversy in the educational field and are by far the most played videogames worldwide. This study explores the factors that encouraged gamers to choose war videogames with a sample of 387 Call of Duty players. The motivational factors were pinpointed using a non-experimental descriptive exploratory study through an online Likert-type survey that was valid and reliable (Cronbachʼs α = 0.897, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin coefficient, KMO: 0.903). A factor analysis with varimax rotation was applied, which yielded 7 dimensions: graphics/playability; social interaction; learning; challenge/overcoming; fantasy; fun; and competition. Considering the score obtained for each dimension, it can be concluded that the most influential motivational factors were game graphics/playability game and the social interaction allowed by its multiplayer online status, both of them being factors determined by game design elements. These aspects should be considered in the design of educational activities so as to make them impactful and motivational.