bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Características epidemiológicas e espaciais da hanseníase no Estado do Maranhão, Brasil, 2001-2012
Authors: Barbosa Débora R.M. , Almeida Manoel G. , Santos Ariane G. dos
Published: February 2015

Introdução: o Brasil é o segundo país em prevalência de hanseníase no mundo, fato que retifica a assertiva de se tratar de importante problema de saúde em nosso meio, cabendo políticas públicas específicas de combate à enfermidade. Objetivo: descrever e analisar espacialmente o perfil dos casos de hanseníase notificados no Estado do Maranhão. Métodos: estudo epidemiológico quantitativo de abordagem descritiva, de série histórica, através de dados do Sistema de Vigilância Epidemiológico (SVE) referentes aos casos novos de hanseníase em residentes no Maranhão, entre 2001 e 2012. A análise se deu através de estatística descritiva, tendo sido utilizados os programas Tabwin 3.2 e Microssoft Excel 2007. Resultados: dos 54.719 casos novos registrados, a maior parte era do sexo masculino (56,69%), com idade entre 20 e 39 anos (35,17%), pardos (52,57%), com até 4 anos de estudo (43,33%). A forma clínica e classe operacional mais prevalentes foram a dimorfa e multibacilar, respectivamente, esta última mais frequente no sexo masculino. A maior prevalência foi encontrada em São Luís (13,65%) e o maior Coeficiente de Detecção foi registrado no município de Junco do Maranhão (23,27casos/10.000hab.). Conclusão: o estudo demonstrou mudanças significativas no perfil da doença no Estado no decorrer dos anos, com redução do número absoluto de casos em algumas regiões e padrões endêmicos ou hiperendêmicos em quase todo o Estado. O conhecimento das características espaciais da epidemiologia da doença possibilita a análise de suas peculiaridades e possíveis pontos de intervenção, potencializando reformas estruturantes com potencial de interferir no quadro epidemiológico da região.
Visual Tracking Using Neuromorphic Asynchronous Event-Based Cameras
Authors: Ni Zhenjiang , Ieng Sio-Hoi , Posch Christoph , Régnier Stéphane , Benosman Ryad
Published: February 2015

This letter presents a novel computationally efficient and robust pattern tracking method based on a time-encoded, frame-free visual data. Recent interdisciplinary developments, combining inputs from engineering and biology, have yielded a novel type of camera that encodes visual information into a continuous stream of asynchronous, temporal events. These events encode temporal contrast and intensity locally in space and time. We show that the sparse yet accurately timed information is well suited as a computational input for object tracking. In this letter, visual data processing is performed for each incoming event at the time it arrives. The method provides a continuous and iterative estimation of the geometric transformation between the model and the events representing the tracked object. It can handle isometry, similarities, and affine distortions and allows for unprecedented real-time performance at equivalent frame rates in the kilohertz range on a standard PC. Furthermore, by using the dimension of time that is currently underexploited by most artificial vision systems, the method we present is able to solve ambiguous cases of object occlusions that classical frame-based techniques handle poorly.
Accurate Connection Strength Estimation Based on Variational Bayes for Detecting Synaptic Plasticity
Authors: Isomura Takuya , Ogawa Yutaro , Kotani Kiyoshi , Jimbo Yasuhiko
Published: February 2015

Connection strength estimation is widely used in detecting the topology of neuronal networks and assessing their synaptic plasticity. A recently proposed model-based method using the leaky integrate-and-fire model neuron estimates membrane potential from spike trains by calculating the maximum a posteriori (MAP) path. We further enhance the MAP path method using variational Bayes and dynamic causal modeling. Several simulations demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately estimate connection strengths with an error ratio of less than 20%. The results suggest that the proposed method can be an effective tool for detecting network structure and synaptic plasticity.
Directions of Change in Japanese Religiosity
Authors: Lewis David C.
Published: February 2015

Assertions about ‘secularisation’ in Japan are dependent on the accuracy of attempts to measure religiosity. Most indices try to measure observable religious practices, some also trying to assess levels of belief, but very few studies have attempted to measure the prevalence of religious experience. Measurements in each of these dimensions is problematic to some extent, so it is very difficult to know whether or not Japanese religiosity overall is increasing, declining or staying about the same, albeit with some surface changes. It is probably premature to assert too confidently that there is secularisation in Japan, or that religion is increasing or staying the same.

This paper reviews some of the different dimensions of religiosity that need to be considered when trying to measure changes in religious behaviour. Statistics on alleged beliefs or observable practices need to be understood from the perspective of the motivations and attitudes behind them. In many cases, they are best understood in the perspective of the life-cycle, whereby expressions of religiosity change at different stages in a person’s life and are influenced by a variety of personal factors that affect whether or not an individual might participate in certain forms of religious practices.
The Sino-Miao-Yao Relationship Revisited
Authors: Gong Hwang-cherng
Published: February 2015

Between Chinese and Miao-Yao there exist a number of words which are similar in form and meaning. Whether Chinese is genetically related to Miao-Yao depends largely upon whether these words are cognates or loan words. This paper reviews the words which have been proposed as cognates, and compares them with cognates between Chinese and Tibeto-Burman. It is argued that some of these words are borrowed, whereas others are chance resemblances. Despite efforts made by many scholars, systematic correspondences between Chinese and Miao-Yao have not been established. The reason is that these words were borrowed from Chinese into Miao-Yao at different times and in different locations. This also explains why few of these words may be considered basic vocabulary.
Dialect Contact and the Production of Contaminated Forms — A Reconstruction of the History of Chinese Words for “Knee”
Authors: IWATA Ray
Published: February 2015

This paper attempts to reconstruct the history of Chinese words for “knee” by using the methodology of linguistic geography. Word forms are classified into five major types according to morphological features, and then their geographical distributions are observed. Observation suggests that dialect contact produces various types of “contaminated” forms (linguistic blends) in Chinese dialects.

Three types of blend formations are discernible: prefixed, infixed and suffixed types. As a rule, the dialects accept part of the new form, which is transmitted from the adjacent areas, as conforming to the morphology of the original form. The suffixed-type blending is currently distributed along the Changjiang basin. The infixed-type is typical of the Wu dialects, which is assumed to have accepted the northern form [kʰɑ] as the second component of a trisyllabic structure. The prefixed-type is currently observable in some northern dialects, and it is assumed that the same process might have once occurred in the northern area, where the unaspirated prefix [kɑk] changed to the aspirated one, i.e., [kʰɑk], due to contamination by the form [kʰɑ]. The etymology and historical formation of the newest type, “p-l-k” > “k-l-p”, is also discussed. Finally, historical changes of the “knee” forms are reconstructed.
Languages and Genes in China and In East Asia
Authors: Peyraube Alain
Published: February 2015

This article poses two main questions: can the history of genes help us understand better what the Chinese linguistic situation was some 5,000 years B.P., not to mention the population distribution in China? Consequently can the history of genes helps us in grouping the languages of China and East Asia into families and macro-families?

Languages and genes have two different histories and two different types of evolution – one being natural, the other one largely cultural – with different mechanisms of origin and reproduction. Nonetheless, there are indeed many clear analogies in the mechanisms of transmission: mutation, natural selection, migration, and chance. These have lead population geneticists and linguists to look for any congruence in genetic and linguistic evolution, in order to correlate genetic and linguistic distance.

In light of these congruences, but also of non-correlations existing between the genetic classification of populations and the classification of languages, the different hypotheses concerning the traditional grouping of languages (Sino-Tibetan, Austronesian, Austro-Asiatic, Tai-Kadai , Miao-Yao or Hmong-Mjen, Altaic), as well as the new groupings in macro-families (Austric, Austro-Tai, Sino-Tibetan-Austronesian, Sino-Indo-European, Sino-Caucasian, Proto-East-Asian, etc.) will be discussed.

It will be concluded that while we have various hypotheses, we are not sure of anything. The considerable accumulation of data in population genetics has rendered the landscape much less simple, all the more so since the theoretical models of evolution necessary to interpret the genetic data in historical context are still being refined.
Notes on Phonetically Redundant Words
Authors: Jiang Lansheng
Published: February 2015

This paper presents the concept of Phonetically Redundant Words (PRW). These are words that are derived from an original word base through a change of or extension to the syllable structure, but which bear no new meaning or grammatical function. Instances of sandhi, fusion reduplication, and syllable split are given to exemplify the origin, structure, and characteristics of PRW.
Apicalization and Its Related Changes Before and After the Menggu Ziyun
Authors: Shen Zhongwei
Published: February 2015

The term“apical vowel” is first seen in Bernhard Karlgren’s work Études sur la phonologie chinoise and widely accepted by Chinese linguists. However apical vowel is merely an articulatory description. In phonological analyses apical vowels actually create problems. They cannot be described as front, central, or back, and even cannot be included in a regular vowel chart. In this article we examine the historical process which produced the apical vowels and related changes before and after the Menggu Ziyun 蒙古字韻. Based on the analyses it is quite obvious that apicalization and other related changes after the retroflex initials are the results of the same phonological change. The result of this change is simply to delete the [+front] feature of the final after the retroflex initials. Thus phonologically the so-called apical vowels have to be central vowels that lack the front feature. The nature of this change can also be learned from analysis of the hP’ags-pa spellings employed in the MGZY. The hP’ags-pa spellings of the Yuan time not only provide the first phonetic transcription of a Chinese phonology; they also provide an insightful phonological analysis.
A brief description of the phonology of Changchun dialect, Xiapu prefecture, Fujian province
Authors: Akitani Hiroyuki
Published: February 2015

This paper analyzes the phonologcal system of Changchun dialect, Xiapu prefecture, Fujian province, including the comparison between Changchun dialect and Xiapu dialect, characters orded in homophony sets, and comparative syllabary of Changchun and Xiapu. The dialect belongs to Funing sub-group of Mindong group of Min supergroup.
The g (k, kh) Initials in Wu and Min
Authors: Wang Futang
Published: February 2015

In both the Wu and Min dialects, there are some  (, ) initials which belonged to Xia initial of Qieyun. But their current pronunciations reflect that, in Ancient Wu, the first, second and fourth grades of Archaic Qun initial still kept their Archaic form *, and did not merge into Xia as happened in the history of other dialects. A peculiarity of Wu is that there are also some  initials that belonged to non-Xia initials of the Jian initial series of Qieyun, or were produced through sandhi, or whose origin is unclear. These  initials might not derive from Archaic Qun. This phenomenon is not found in Min.
Notes on Phonetic Phenomena in Weishu
Authors: Chu Taisong
Published: February 2015

Although Weishu is a historical record, its linguistic data, such as variant characters, naming taboos and poetic passages, reveal a great deal of phonetic information. Through careful inspection and ranking of these data, this study summarizes and briefly analyzes all the phonetic phenomena in Weishu. We can roughly regard these phenomena as reflections of the phonetic features of Chinese in the Northern Dynasties. Compared to the historical records in the Southern Dynasties, we can see some important divergence between Northern and Southern pronunciation.
The Compilation, Publication and Dissemination of Rhyme Books and Rhyme Tables in Ming Dynasty
Authors: Sung Yun-Shan
Published: February 2015

The Ming and Qing Dynasties were a flourishing period for phonological studies. It witnessed the compilation of various rhyme books and rhyme tables, each with its particular features. Book printing during the Ming Dynasty saw a great increase in both the quantity and diversity of published works, while at the same time significant progress was made in the technologies of moveable type printing, multiple woodblock printing and printmaking. This paper investigates the conservative and innovative practices of rhyme book publishers and their publications. It also investigates how the interaction between the printing and publishing industries contributed to their common prosperity. It is found that the vigorous development of publication in both official and private sectors was the result of factors including favorable government policy, expansion of school education, growth of city economies, prosperity of the paper-making industry and advancement in printing technology, as well as the influence of new schools of literary and academic thought. The flourishing rhyme book and rhyme table publication during the Ming Dynasty cannot be understood independently of the academic currents and common publishing practices of the time.
Semantic and Pragmatic Analyses of Terms of Address in Taiwanese Southern Min
Authors: Chen Li-Hsueh
Published: February 2015

According to Chao (1956:230) terms of address in Chinese fall into three categories: vocative terms, designative terms and learned terms. Vocative terms are terms of direct address. Designative terms are used to refer to third parties. Learned terms are often used in epistolary style and scientific description. The main concern of this paper is vocative terms and designative terms. This paper will also examine self-addressing terms that Chao does not deal with. These three types of terms of address are referred to collectively as colloquial terms of address. The theoretical framework of the present paper for the study of the use of terms of addresses in Taiwanese Southern Min (TSM for short) is based on theoretical approaches of previous studies on terms of address in modern Mandarin (Gu 1990:248-252) as well as principles of sociolinguistics (Holmes 1992:372-376). Building on earlier studies, this paper aims at fleshing out the semantic features of different types of terms of address and their characteristics in TSM. The pivotal consideration is the speech event that takes place between speaker and hearer. I will then compare the differences in the use of terms of address between TSM and Mandarin, and explore the intriguing phenomena concerning the conflict between the use of kinship terms of address and self-denigration. The extended use of kinship terms bears on issues of solidarity / social distance and status / power.
Dating the Bifurcation of Min Colloquial Readings from Old Chinese: Another Look
Authors: Ting Pang-Hsin
Published: February 2015

This papers aims to determine the actual time when Min colloquial readings broke off from Old Chinese. There are five common vocabulary words in modern colloquial Min that are found in ancient texts of the Han time. This discovery reinforces the phonological arguments made in previous studies, namely, that the Min colloquial readings were directly derived from Old Chinese during the transition period from the Western Han to the Eastern Han.
A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF POGOSTEMON (LAMIACEAE) FROM CHINA
Authors: YAO GANG , DENG YUN-FEI , GE XUE-JUN
Published: February 2015

Based on field observation and extensive herbarium studies, a comprehensive taxonomic revision of the genus Pogostemon in China was carried out. Twenty-seven species and two varieties are recognized, among of which eleven species and one variety are endemic to China. A new species, P. henanensis, is described and illustrated. Two new combinations, P. glaber var. tsingpingensis and P. latifolius, are proposed. Six names are reduced to synonymy, eleven names are lectotypified and a name is neotypified. The record of P. menthoides in China is corrected as P. fraternus. One species, P. pressii, is listed as dubious species in China. In addition, nomenclature, descriptions and distribution maps of each species and variety as well as a key to Chinese Pogostemon taxa are presented.
Taxonomic and distributional notes on two species groups of the genus Dasyrhicnoessa Hendel (Diptera: Canacidae: Tethininae)
Authors: MUNARI LORENZO
Published: February 2015

Some taxonomic and distributional aspects of two species groups of the genus Dasyrhicnoessa Hendel, 1934, viz. D. tripunctata group and D. ciliata group, are discussed. Figures of the male terminalia and a key to species are also provided.
First Lanuginellinae (Porifera, Hexactinellida, Rossellidae) from the NE Pacific and first species of Doconesthes from the Pacific Ocean
Authors: REISWIG HENRY M.
Published: February 2015

A new sac-shaped hexactinellid collected from western Canada bearing long lateral prostal spicules was first thought to be a typical Rossellinae.  Subsequent examination of its spiculation proved it to have distinctive strobiloplumicomes, typical of the subfamily Lanuginellinae.  Other spicules showed it to be a member of the monospecific genus Doconesthes, known previously only from the North Atlantic Ocean.  The new species described here as Doconesthes dustinchiversi is only the second known species of the genus and the first to be found in the Pacific Ocean.
A new species of Solitariopagurus from the Red Sea with notes on S. profundus (Crustacea: Decapoda: Paguridae)
Authors: TÜRKAY MICHAEL
Published: February 2015

A new species of Solitariopagurus, S. cauticolus, from the Red Sea is described. This is the second species of the genus associated with coral reefs, and the fifth known for the genus. New material of S. profundus from the central deep Red Sea is listed. The bivalve shell carrying is confirmed also for this deep sea species.
Causal Counterfactual Theory for the Attribution of Weather and Climate-Related Events
Authors: Hannart A. , Pearl J. , Otto F. E. L. , Naveau P. , Ghil M.
Published: February 2015

The emergence of clear semantics for causal claims and of a sound logic for causal reasoning is relatively recent, with the consolidation over the past decades of a coherent theoretical corpus of definitions, concepts, and methods of general applicability that is anchored into counterfactuals. The latter corpus has proved to be of high practical interest in numerous applied fields (e.g., epidemiology, economics, and social science). In spite of their rather consensual nature and proven efficacy, these definitions and methods are to a large extent not used in detection and attribution (D&A). This article gives a brief overview of the main concepts underpinning the causal theory and proposes some methodological extensions for the causal attribution of weather and climate-related events that are rooted into the latter. Implications for the formulation of causal claims and their uncertainty are finally discussed.
Probabilistic 0–1-h Convective Initiation Nowcasts that Combine Geostationary Satellite Observations and Numerical Weather Prediction Model Data
Authors: Mecikalski John R. , Williams John K. , Jewett Christopher P. , Ahijevych David , LeRoy Anita , Walker John R.
Published: February 2015

The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R convective initiation (CI) algorithm predicts CI in real time over the next 0–60 min. While GOES-R CI has been very successful in tracking nascent clouds and obtaining cloud-top growth and height characteristics relevant to CI in an object-tracking framework, its performance has been hindered by elevated false-alarm rates, and it has not optimally combined satellite observations with other valuable data sources. Presented here are two statistical learning approaches that incorporate numerical weather prediction (NWP) input within the established GOES-R CI framework to produce probabilistic forecasts: logistic regression (LR) and an artificial-intelligence approach known as random forest (RF). Both of these techniques are used to build models that are based on an extensive database of CI events and nonevents and are evaluated via cross validation and on independent case studies. With the proper choice of probability thresholds, both the LR and RF techniques incorporating NWP data produce substantially fewer false alarms than when only GOES data are used. The NWP information identifies environmental conditions (as favorable or unfavorable) for the development of convective storms and improves the skill of the CI nowcasts that operate on GOES-based cloud objects, as compared with when the satellite IR fields are used alone. The LR procedure performs slightly better overall when 14 skill measures are used to quantify the results and notably better on independent case study days.
Delayed Impacts of Tropical Cyclones Irene 2011 and Isaac 2012 in the Caribbean Antilles
Authors: Jury Mark R.
Published: February 2015

This study considers tropical cyclones Irene in Puerto Rico from 2011 and Isaac in the Dominican Republic from 2012. Impacts trailed more than a day after the storm in both cases. Irene passed Puerto Rico on 22 August 2011, yet bands of heavy rainfall caused floods and disruption on 23 August. In the second case, Isaac passed Hispaniola on 24 August 2012, but stormy weather continued on 25 August. Onshore winds, 4-m waves, and associated tides and river outflow closed the harbor of Santo Domingo. Emergency managers and maritime operators should be aware of the delayed impacts of tropical cyclones in the Caribbean Sea region.
Diurnal and Seasonal Lightning Variability over the Gulf Stream and the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Virts Katrina S. , Wallace John M. , Hutchins Michael L. , Holzworth Robert H.
Published: February 2015

Recent observations from the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) reveal a pronounced lightning maximum over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream that exhibits distinct diurnal and seasonal variability. Lightning is most frequent during summer (June–August). During afternoon and early evening, lightning is enhanced just onshore of the coast of the southeastern United States because of daytime heating of the land surface and the resulting sea-breeze circulations and convection. Near-surface wind observations from the Quick Scatterometer (QuikSCAT) satellite indicate divergence over the Gulf of Mexico and portions of the Gulf Stream at 1800 LT, at which time lightning activity is suppressed there. Lightning frequency exhibits a broad maximum over the Gulf Stream from evening through noon of the following day, and QuikSCAT wind observations at 0600 LT indicate low-level winds blowing away from the continent and converging over the Gulf Stream. Over the northern Gulf of Mexico, lightning is most frequent from around sunrise through late morning. During winter, lightning exhibits a weak diurnal cycle over the Gulf Stream, with most frequent lightning during the evening.

Precipitation rates from a 3-hourly gridded dataset that incorporates observations from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), as well as other satellites, exhibit a diurnal cycle over the Gulf Stream that lags the lightning diurnal cycle by several hours.
Contraction of the Northern Hemisphere, Lower-Tropospheric, Wintertime Cold Pool over the Past 66 Years
Authors: Martin Jonathan E.
Published: February 2015

Employing reanalysis datasets, several threshold temperatures at 850 hPa are used to measure the wintertime [December–February (DJF)] areal extent of the lower-tropospheric, Northern Hemisphere, cold-air pool over the past 66 cold seasons. The analysis indicates a systematic contraction of the cold pool at each of the threshold temperatures. Special emphasis is placed on analysis of the trends in the extent of the −5°C air.

Composite differences in lower-tropospheric temperature, midtropospheric geopotential height, and tropopause level jet anomalies between the five coldest and five warmest years are considered. Cold years are characterized by an equatorward expansion of the jet in the Pacific and Atlantic sectors of the hemisphere and by invigorated cold-air production in high-latitude Eurasia and North America. Systematic poleward encroachment of the −5°C isotherm in the exit regions of the storm tracks accounts for nearly 50% of the observed contraction of the hemispheric wintertime cold pool since 1948. It is suggested that this trend is linked to displacement of the storm tracks associated with global warming.

Correlation analyses suggest that the interannual variability of the areal extent of the 850-hPa cold pool is unrelated to variations in hemispheric snow cover, the Arctic Oscillation, or the phase and intensity of ENSO. A modest statistical connection with the East Asian winter monsoon, however, does appear to exist. Importantly, there is no evidence that a resurgent trend in cold Northern Hemisphere winters is ongoing. In fact, the winter of 2013/14, though desperately cold in North America, was the warmest ever observed in the 66-yr time series.
Topographic Coupling of the Atlantic Overturning and Gyre Circulations
Authors: Yeager Stephen
Published: February 2015

The vorticity dynamics associated with the mean and time-varying gyre and overturning circulations of the Atlantic Ocean are examined in a realistic ocean model hindcast simulation of the late twentieth century. Abyssal flow interaction with sloping bottom bathymetry gives rise to the bottom pressure torque (BPT) term of the vertically integrated vorticity equation. The dominance of this term in the closure of the barotropic gyre circulation noted in previous studies is corroborated here for both non-eddy-resolving and eddy-resolving versions of the Parallel Ocean Program (POP) model. This study shows that BPT is also a dominant term in the vorticity balance of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) and therefore represents a key dynamical link between the overturning and gyre streamfunctions. The interannual variability of the Atlantic circulation over the last several decades, viewed in terms of time-varying integral vorticity balances, demonstrates the fundamental role played by BPT in coupling the large-scale barotropic and baroclinic flows. Forcing perturbation experiments show how flow–bathymetry interactions mediate buoyancy-driven changes in the gyre circulation and momentum-driven changes in the AMOC. Examples of topographic coupling of the overturning and gyre circulations that this analysis elucidates include the covariation of the high-latitude AMOC and subpolar gyre flows on decadal time scales, buoyancy-forced variance of the Gulf Stream, and large wind-driven variations in AMOC at subtropical latitudes.
The role of REE3+ in the crystallization of lanthanites
Authors: Rodriguez-Blanco Juan Diego , Vallina Beatriz , Blanco Jesus A. , Benning Liane G.
Published: February 2015

The formation of crystalline rare earth element (REE) (e.g. La, Ce, Pr, Nd) carbonates from aqueous solutions was examined at ambient temperature using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, combined with X-ray diffraction, high-resolution microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. In all experiments REE-lanthanites (REE2(CO3)3·8H2O) formed via a highly hydrated, nanoparticulate and poorlyordered REE-carbonate precursor. The lifetime of this precursor as well as the kinetics of crystallization of the various REE-lanthanites were dependent on the specific REE3+ ion involved in the reaction. The induction time and the time needed to fully form the crystalline REE-lanthanite end products increase linearly with the ionic potential. The authors show here that the differences in ion size and ionic potential as well as differences in dehydration energy of the REE3+ ions control the lifetime of the poorly ordered precursor and thus also the crystallization kinetics of the REE-lanthanites; furthermore, they also affect the structural characteristics (e.g. unit-cell dimensions and idiomorphism) of the final crystalline lanthanites.
Microstructural and chemical variation in silica-rich precipitates at the Hellisheiði geothermal power plant
Authors: Meier D. B. , Gunnlaugsson E. , Gunnarsson I. , Jamtveit B. , Peacock C. L. , Benning L. G.
Published: February 2015

Precipitation of amorphous silica (SiO2) in geothermal power plants, although a common factor limiting the efficiency of geothermal energy production, is poorly understood and no universally applicable mitigation strategy to prevent or reduce precipitation is available. This is primarily due to the lack of understanding of the precipitation mechanism of amorphous silica in geothermal systems.

In the present study data are presented about microstructures and compositions of precipitates formed on scaling plates inserted at five different locations in the pipelines at the Hellisheiði power station (SW-Iceland). Precipitates on these plates formed over 6 to 8 weeks of immersion in hot (120 or 60ºC), fast-flowing and silica-supersaturated geothermal fluids (~800 ppm of SiO2). Although the composition of the precipitates is fairly homogeneous, with silica being the dominant component and Fe sulfides as a less common phase, the microstructures of the precipitates are highly variable and dependent on the location within the geothermal pipelines. The silica precipitates have grown through aggregation and precipitation of silica particles that precipitated homogeneously in the geothermal fluid. Five main factors were identified that may control the precipitation of silica: (1) temperature, (2) fluid composition, (3) fluid-flow regime, (4) distance along the flow path, and (5) immersion time.

On all scaling plates, a corrosion layer was found underlying the silica precipitates indicating that, once formed, the presence of a silica layer probably protects the steel pipe surface against further corrosion. Yet silica precipitates influence the flow of the geothermal fluids and therefore can limit the efficiency of geothermal power stations.
The effect of a copolymer inhibitor on baryte precipitation
Authors: Ruiz-Agudo Cristina , Putnis Christine V. , Andrew Putnis
Published: February 2015

In situ atomic force microscopy (AFM) experiments were used to study the effect of trace amounts of a commercial inhibitor on the (001) baryte surface during growth. The additive tested was a copolymer, used as a scale inhibitor in oil recovery (maleic acid/allyl sulfonic acid copolymer with phosphonate groups, partial sodium salt). The morphology of the growth was used to gain a better understanding of the inhibition mechanism. Without an inhibitor, barium sulfate growth occurred by 2D island nucleation and spreading. The addition of a small amount (0.1 ppm and 0.5 ppm) of copolymer inhibitor enhances 2D nucleation but blocks growth. Just 1 ppm of inhibitor blocks nucleation and growth by adsorption of a copolymer layer onto the baryte surface. Similarly in 3D studies, small amounts of inhibitor seem to act on growth and not on nucleation and larger amounts of copolymer act on both by adsorption of the copolymer to all baryte surfaces keeping the particles in their embryo stage.
Carboxylic acids: effective inhibitors for calcium sulfate precipitation?
Authors: Rabizadeh Taher , Peacock Caroline L. , Benning Liane G.
Published: February 2015

Results are reported here of an investigation into the effects of three carboxylic acid additives (tartaric, maleic and citric acids) on the precipitation of calcium sulfate phases. Precipitation reactions were followed at pH 7 in the pure CaSO4system and in experiments with 0–20 ppm carboxylic acids added using in situ UV-VIS spectrophotometry (turbidity). The solid products were characterized in terms of their mineralogical composition, using X-ray diffraction, during and at the end of each reaction, and in terms of their morphological features, by scanning electron microscopy. All additives increased the time needed for turbidity to develop (induction time, start of precipitation) and the comparison between additive and additive-free experiments showed that, at equivalent concentrations, citric acid performed far better than the other two carboxylic acids. In all cases bassanite precipitated first and with time it transformed to gypsum. The addition of citrate stabilized bassanite and changed the final gypsum habit from typical needle-like crystals in the pure CaSO4system to plates in the citrate-additive experiments.
Effects of a small-scale, abandoned gold mine on the geochemistry of fine stream-bed and floodplain sediments in the Horsefly River watershed, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Clark Deirdre E. , Vogels Marjolein F. A. , Van Der Perk Marcel , Owens Philip N. , Petticrew Ellen L.
Published: February 2015

Mining is known to be a major source of metal contamination for fluvial systems worldwide. Monitoring and understanding the effects on downstream water and sediment quality is essential for its management and to mitigate against detrimental environmental impacts. This study aimed to examine the effects of the small-scale, abandoned, hydraulic Black Creek gold mine on the geochemical content of fine (<63 μm) stream bed and floodplain sediment in the Horsefly watershed (British Columbia, Canada), which is a part of the Quesnel River basin. Concentrations of As, Cd, Se and Zn were determined byaqua regiadigestion and the modified BCR (European Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure followed by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy or inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Age-depth models for the floodplain cores were constructed using excess Pb-210 and Cs-137 activity concentration profiles. The results show that the mine caused local As contamination of the Horsefly River floodplain sediment during the first years of operation, but at present the contamination is mainly contained in the Black Creek. Present-day and recent concentrations of Cd, Se and Zn in the Horsefly River are elevated and this is probably derived from other upstream mining activities. The spatial and temporal changes in heavymetal concentrations suggest a slight, but not particularly widespread, mining effect on the finesediment geochemistry in the Horsefly River system.
Dynamic navicular motion measured using a stretch sensor is different between walking and running, and between over‐ground and treadmill conditions
Authors: Barton Christian J , Kappel Simon L , Ahrendt Peter , Simonsen Ole , Rathleff Michael S
Published: February 2015

Background

Non‐invasive evaluation of in‐shoe foot motion has traditionally been difficult. Recently a novel ‘stretch‐sensor’ was proposed as an easy and reliable method to measure dynamic foot (navicular) motion. Further validation of this method is needed to determine how different gait analysis protocols affect dynamic navicular motion.

Methods

Potential differences in magnitude and peak velocity of navicular motion using the ‘stretch sensor’ between (i) barefoot and shod conditions; (ii) overground and treadmill gait; and/or (iii) running and walking were evaluated in 26 healthy participants. Comparisons were made using paired t‐tests.

Results

Magnitude and velocity of navicular motion was not different between barefoot and shod walking on the treadmill. Compared to walking, velocity of navicular motion during running was 59% and 210% higher over‐ground (p < 0.0001) and on a treadmill (p < 0.0001) respectively, and magnitude of navicular motion was 23% higher during over‐ground running compared to over‐ground walking (p = 0.02). Compared to over‐ground, magnitude of navicular motion on a treadmill was 21% and 16% greater during walking (p = 0.0004) and running (p = 0003) respectively. Additionally, maximal velocity of navicular motion during treadmill walking was 48% less than walking over‐ground (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The presence of footwear has minimal impact on navicular motion during walking. Differences in navicular motion between walking and running, and treadmill and over‐ground gait highlight the importance of task specificity during gait analysis. Task specificity should be considered during design of future research trials and in clinical practice when measuring navicular motion.
Early mobilization and recovery in mechanically ventilated patients in the ICU: a bi-national, multi-centre, prospective cohort study
Authors:   The TEAM Study Investigators
Published: February 2015

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate current mobilization practice, strength at ICU discharge and functional recovery at 6 months among mechanically ventilated ICU patients.

Method

This was a prospective, multi-centre, cohort study conducted in twelve ICUs in Australia and New Zealand. Patients were previously functionally independent and expected to be ventilated for >48 hours. We measured mobilization during invasive ventilation, sedation depth using the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS), co-interventions, duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW) at ICU discharge, mortality at day 90, and 6-month functional recovery including return to work.

Results

We studied 192 patients (mean age 58.1 ± 15.8 years; mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) (IQR) II score, 18.0 (14 to 24)). Mortality at day 90 was 26.6% (51/192). Over 1,351 study days, we collected information during 1,288 planned early mobilization episodes in patients on mechanical ventilation for the first 14 days or until extubation (whichever occurred first). We recorded the highest level of early mobilization. Despite the presence of dedicated physical therapy staff, no mobilization occurred in 1,079 (84%) of these episodes. Where mobilization occurred, the maximum levels of mobilization were exercises in bed (N = 94, 7%), standing at the bed side (N = 11, 0.9%) or walking (N = 26, 2%). On day three, all patients who were mobilized were mechanically ventilated via an endotracheal tube (N = 10), whereas by day five 50% of the patients mobilized were mechanically ventilated via a tracheostomy tube (N = 18).

In 94 of the 156 ICU survivors, strength was assessed at ICU discharge and 48 (52%) had ICU-acquired weakness (Medical Research Council Manual Muscle Test Sum Score (MRC-SS) score <48/60). The MRC-SS score was higher in those patients who mobilized while mechanically ventilated (50.0 ± 11.2 versus 42.0 ± 10.8, P = 0.003). Patients who survived to ICU discharge but who had died by day 90 had a mean MRC score of 28.9 ± 13.2 compared with 44.9 ± 11.4 for day-90 survivors (P <0.0001).

Conclusions

Early mobilization of patients receiving mechanical ventilation was uncommon. More than 50% of patients discharged from the ICU had developed ICU-acquired weakness, which was associated with death between ICU discharge and day-90.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01674608. Registered 14 August 2012.
Takayasu arteritis in childhood: retrospective experience from a tertiary referral centre in the United Kingdom
Authors: Eleftheriou Despina , Varnier Giulia , Dolezalova Pavla , McMahon Anne-Marie , Al-Obaidi Muthana , Brogan Paul A
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Takayasu arteritis (TA) is an idiopathic large-vessel vasculitis affecting the aorta and its major branches. Although the disease rarely affects children, it does occur, even in infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical features, disease activity, treatment and outcome of childhood TA in a tertiary UK centre.

Methods

We analysed a retrospective case series of children fulfilling the TA classification criteria of the European League against Rheumatism, the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society and the Paediatric Rheumatology International Trials Organisation. Data regarding demographics, clinical features, treatments and outcomes were recorded. Descriptive statistics are expressed as median and range. Fisher’s exact test was used for group comparisons. The Paediatric Vasculitis Activity Score (PVAS), Paediatric Vasculitis Damage Index (PVDI), Disease Extent Index-Takayasu (DEI.Tak) and Indian Takayasu Arteritis Activity Score (ITAS2010) were calculated retrospectively.

Results

A total of 11 children (64% female) with age at diagnosis of 11.8 (1.3 to 17) years were identified over a 23-year period. The median time to diagnosis was 17 (0 to 132) months. The most common clinical features at presentation were arterial hypertension (72.7%), systemic features (36%) and cardiovascular (45%), neurological (36%), pulmonary (27%), skin (9%), renal (9%) and gastrointestinal (9%) involvement. At presentation, PVAS was 5/63 (1 to 13); DEI.Tak was 7/81 (2 to 12) and ITAS2010 was 9/57 (6 to 20). Treatment included corticosteroids (81.8%), combined with methotrexate in most cases (72.7%). Cyclophosphamide (36.4%) and biologic agents (45.5%) were reserved for severe and/or refractory cases. PVDI at latest follow-up was 5.5/72 (3 to 15). Mortality was 27%. Young age at disease onset (<5 years old) and permanent PVDI scores ≥3 were significantly associated with mortality risk (P = 0.024).

Conclusion

TA is a rare and potentially life-threatening large-vessel vasculitis. Improved awareness of TA is essential to secure a timely diagnosis. Although the evidence base for the treatment of TA in children is weak, we found that it is essential to treat it aggressively because our data emphasise that the mortality and morbidity in the paediatric population remains high.
Animal model of acute gout reproduces the inflammatory and ultrasonographic joint changes of human gout
Authors: Pineda Carlos , Fuentes-Gómez Arturo J , Hernández-Díaz Cristina , Zamudio-Cuevas Yessica , Fernández-Torres Javier , López-Macay Ambar , Alba-Sánchez Ismael , Camacho-Galindo Javier , Ventura Lucio , Gómez-Quiróz Luis E , Gutiérrez-Ruíz María Concepción , García-Vázquez Francisco , Reginato Anthony M , Gutiérrez Marwin , López-Reyes Alberto
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Gout is an inflammatory condition induced by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints and soft tissues that can produce acute or chronic arthritis. Several animal models of crystal-induced inflammation have been proposed that involve direct injection of MSU-crystals into different anatomical structures; however, only a few of these models reflect a true diarthrodial joint microenvironment in which an acute gouty attack takes place. The aim of this study was to assess the inflammatory and structural joint changes in a rabbit model of acute gout attack by ultrasound (US), synovial fluid (SF) and histopathological analyses.

Methods

Under US guidance, 42 rabbit knees were randomly injected with a suspension of 50 mg/ml of either MSU or allopurinol synthetic crystals. The control group received intra-articular vehicle of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). US evaluation, SF and histopathological analyses were performed at days 1, 3, and 7.

Results

A total of 21 rabbit knees were assigned to the control group, 12 to the MSU-crystals group, and 9 to the allopurinol crystals group. By US, the MSU crystals group displayed the double contour sign and bright stippled aggregates in 67% and 75% of joints, respectively. Neither control knees nor allopurinol crystals group displayed these US signs. Power Doppler (PD) signal was moderate to intense in the MSU-crystals group and greater than both the allopurinol crystal and control groups at day 1 (P <0.001) and 3 (P <0.05), with its practical disappearance by day 7. SF leukocyte count was 40,312 ± 6,369 cells/mm3 in the MSU-crystals group, higher than in controls (P = 0.004) and allopurinol crystal group (P = 0.006). At day 7, SF leukocyte count decreased in both MSU and allopurinol crystal groups reaching the non-inflammatory range. Histologically, at day 3 intense synovial polymorphonuclear cells infiltration and MSU aggregates were identified.

Conclusion

The rabbit model of MSU crystal-induced acute arthritis efficiently reproduces the inflammatory, US, SF and histopathological changes of the human acute gouty attack.
Isolation of cellulolytic bacteria from the intestine of Diatraea saccharalis larvae and evaluation of their capacity to degrade sugarcane biomass
Authors: Dantur Karina I , Enrique Ramón , Welin Björn , Castagnaro Atilio P
Published: February 2015

As a strategy to find efficient lignocellulose degrading enzymes/microorganisms for sugarcane biomass pretreatment purposes, 118 culturable bacterial strains were isolated from intestines of sugarcane-fed larvae of the mothDiatraea saccharalis.All strains were tested for cellulolytic activity using soluble carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) degrading assays or by growing bacteria on sugarcane biomass as sole carbon sources. Out of the 118 strains isolated thirty eight were found to possess cellulose degrading activity and phylogenetic studies of the16S rDNAsequence revealed that all cellulolytic strains belonged to the phyla γ-Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Firmicutes. Within the three phyla, species belonging to five different genera were identified (Klebsiella,Stenotrophomonas, Microbacterium, BacillusandEnterococcus). Bacterial growth on sugarcane biomass as well as extracellular endo-glucanase activity induced on soluble cellulose was found to be highest in species belonging to generaBacillusandKlebsiella. Good cellulolytic activity correlated with high extracellular protein concentrations. In addition, scanning microscopy studies revealed attachment of cellulolytic strains to different sugarcane substrates. The results of this study indicate the possibility to find efficient cellulose degrading enzymes and microorganisms from intestines of insect larvae feeding on sugarcane and their possible application in industrial processing of sugarcane biomass such as second generation biofuel production.
Acknowledgement of manuscript reviewers 2014
Authors: Larijani Bagher , Faridbod Farnoush , Arzaghi Seyed Masoud , Bandarian Fatemeh , Ebrahim-Habibi Azadeh , Fakhrzadeh Hossein , Hasani-Ranjbar Shirin , Heshmat Ramin , Keshtkar Abbas Ali , Khashayar Patricia , Nasli-Esfahani Ensieh , Sharifi Farshad , Soltani Akbar , Zahedi Farzaneh
Published: February 2015

Contributing reviewers

The editors of Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 13 (2014).
Gyroscopes based on surface acoustic waves
Authors: Oh Haekwan , Lee Ki Jung , Lee Keekeun , Yang Sang Sik
Published: February 2015

This review gives an overview of the development of surface acoustic wave (SAW) based gyroscopes. Different types of SAW based gyroscope are first presented, which are categorized into standing-wave based or progressive-wave based gyroscopes according to their respective mechanisms. In addition, multi-axis detectable SAW based gyroscopes are also introduced in this review. Different principles, structures, production methods, and control technologies are analyzed.