bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Material Efficiency of Building Construction
Authors: Ruuska Antti , Häkkinen Tarja
Published: July 2014

Better construction and use of buildings in the European Union would influence 42% of final energy consumption, about 35% of our greenhouse gas emissions and more than 50% of all extracted materials. It could also help to save up to 30% of water consumption. This paper outlines and draws conclusions about different aspects of the material efficiency of buildings and assesses the significance of different building materials on the material efficiency. The research uses an extensive literature study and a case-study in order to assess: should the depletion of materials be ignored in the environmental or sustainability assessment of buildings, are the related effects on land use, energy use and/or harmful emissions significant, should related indicators (such as GHGs) be used to indicate the material efficiency of buildings, and what is the significance of scarce materials, compared to the use of other building materials. This research suggests that the material efficiency should focus on the significant global impacts of material efficiency; not on the individual factors of it. At present global warming and greenhouse gas emissions are among the biggest global problems on which material efficiency has a direct impact on. Therefore, this paper suggests that greenhouse gas emissions could be used as an indicator for material efficiency in building.
Structured Perovskite-Based Catalysts and Their Application as Three-Way Catalytic Converters—A Review
Authors: Keav Sylvain , Matam Santhosh , Ferri Davide , Weidenkaff Anke
Published: July 2014

Automotive Three-Way Catalysts (TWC) were introduced more than 40 years ago. Despite that, the development of a sustainable TWC still remains a critical research topic owing to the increasingly stringent emission regulations together with the price and scarcity of precious metals. Among other material classes, perovskite-type oxides are known to be valuable alternatives to conventionally used TWC compositions and have demonstrated to be suitable for a wide range of automotive applications, ranging from TWC to Diesel Oxidation Catalysts (DOC), from NOx Storage Reduction catalysts (NSR) to soot combustion catalysts. The interest in these catalysts has been revitalized in the past ten years by the introduction of the concept of catalyst regenerability of perovskite-based TWC, which is in principle well applicable to other catalytic processes as well, and by the possibility to reduce the amounts of critical elements, such as precious metals without seriously lowering the catalytic performance. The aim of this review is to show that perovskite-type oxides have the potential to fulfil the requirements (high activity, stability, and possibility to be included into structured catalysts) for implementation in TWC.
Mechanisms of Generating Polyubiquitin Chains of Different Topology
Authors: Suryadinata Randy , Roesley Siti , Yang George , Šarčević Boris
Published: July 2014

Ubiquitination is an important post-translational process involving attachment of the ubiquitin molecule to lysine residue/s on a substrate protein or on another ubiquitin molecule, leading to the formation of protein mono-, multi- or polyubiquitination. Protein ubiquitination requires a cascade of three enzymes, where the interplay between different ubiquitin-conjugating and ubiquitin-ligase enzymes generates diverse ubiquitinated proteins topologies. Structurally diverse ubiquitin conjugates are recognized by specific proteins with ubiquitin-binding domains (UBDs) to target the substrate proteins of different pathways. The mechanism/s for generating the different ubiquitinated proteins topologies is not well understood. Here, we will discuss our current understanding of the mechanisms underpinning the generation of mono- or polyubiquitinated substrates. In addition, we will discuss how linkage-specific polyubiquitin chains through lysines-11, -48 or -63 are formed to target proteins to different fates by binding specific UBD proteins.
Combinatorial Frequency Generation in Quasi-Periodic Stacks of Nonlinear Dielectric Layers
Authors: Shramkova Oksana , Schuchinsky Alexander
Published: July 2014

Three-wave mixing in quasi-periodic structures (QPSs) composed of nonlinear anisotropic dielectric layers, stacked in Fibonacci and Thue-Morse sequences, has been explored at illumination by a pair of pump waves with dissimilar frequencies and incidence angles. A new formulation of the nonlinear scattering problem has enabled the QPS analysis as a perturbed periodic structure with defects. The obtained solutions have revealed the effects of stack composition and constituent layer parameters, including losses, on the properties of combinatorial frequency generation (CFG). The CFG features illustrated by the simulation results are discussed. It is demonstrated that quasi-periodic stacks can achieve a higher efficiency of CFG than regular periodic multilayers.
Geothermal Power Plant Maintenance: Evaluating Maintenance System Needs Using Quantitative Kano Analysis
Authors: Atlason Reynir , Oddsson Gudmundur , Unnthorsson Runar
Published: July 2014

A quantitative Kano model is used in this study to identify which features are preferred by top-level maintenance engineers within Icelandic geothermal power plants to be implemented in a maintenance tool or software. Visits were conducted to the largest Icelandic energy companies operating geothermal power plants. Thorough interviews with chiefs of operations and maintenance were used as a basis for a quantitative Kano analysis. Thirty seven percent of all maintenance engineers at Reykjavik Energy and Landsvirkjun, responsible for 71.5% of the total energy production from geothermal resources in Iceland, answered the Kano questionnaire. Findings show that solutions focusing on (1) planning maintenance according to condition; (2) shortening documentation times; and (3) risk analysis are sought after by the energy companies but not provided for the geothermal sector specifically.
Protein Tyrosine Kinase 7 (PTK7) as a Predictor of Lymph Node Metastases and a Novel Prognostic Biomarker in Patients with Prostate Cancer
Authors: Zhang Hongtuan , Wang Andi , Qi Shiyong , Cheng Shang , Yao Bing , Xu Yong
Published: July 2014

Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (PTK7) has been studied in various tumors, but its role in prostate cancer remains unknown. This study is aimed to investigate the prognostic and predictive significance of PTK7 in patients with prostate cancer. PTK7 expression was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis in 20 pairs of benign prostatic hyperplasia specimens and prostate cancer specimens. Then, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of PTK7 in 180 prostate cancer specimens and evaluated its clinical significances. Elevated PTK7 expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastases, seminal vesicle invasion, prostate cancer stage, the higher preoperative prostate-specific antigen, the higher Gleason score, angiolymphatic invasion, and biochemical recurrence. The results revealed that the overexpression of PTK7 in prostate cancer was an independent prognostic factor for poor overall survival and biochemical recurrence-free survival. The present data provide evidence that PTK7 predicts lymph node metastasis and poor overall survival and biochemical recurrence-free survival, highlighting its potential function as a therapeutic target for prostate cancer.
Interplay between Dioxin-Mediated Signaling and Circadian Clock: A Possible Determinant in Metabolic Homeostasis
Authors: Wang Chun , Zhang Zhi-Ming , Xu Can-Xin , Tischkau Shelley
Published: July 2014

The rotation of the earth on its axis creates the environment of a 24 h solar day, which organisms on earth have used to their evolutionary advantage by integrating this timing information into their genetic make-up in the form of a circadian clock. This intrinsic molecular clock is pivotal for maintenance of synchronized homeostasis between the individual organism and the external environment to allow coordinated rhythmic physiological and behavioral function. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a master regulator of dioxin-mediated toxic effects, and is, therefore, critical in maintaining adaptive responses through regulating the expression of phase I/II drug metabolism enzymes. AhR expression is robustly rhythmic, and physiological cross-talk between AhR signaling and circadian rhythms has been established. Increasing evidence raises a compelling argument that disruption of endogenous circadian rhythms contributes to the development of disease, including sleep disorders, metabolic disorders and cancers. Similarly, exposure to environmental pollutants through air, water and food, is increasingly cited as contributory to these same problems. Thus, a better understanding of interactions between AhR signaling and the circadian clock regulatory network can provide critical new insights into environmentally regulated disease processes. This review highlights recent advances in the understanding of the reciprocal interactions between dioxin-mediated AhR signaling and the circadian clock including how these pathways relate to health and disease, with emphasis on the control of metabolic function.
Protein Microarrays with Novel Microfluidic Methods: Current Advances
Authors: Dixit Chandra , Aguirre Gerson
Published: July 2014

Microfluidic-based micromosaic technology has allowed the pattering of recognition elements in restricted micrometer scale areas with high precision. This controlled patterning enabled the development of highly multiplexed arrays multiple analyte detection. This arraying technology was first introduced in the beginning of 2001 and holds tremendous potential to revolutionize microarray development and analyte detection. Later, several microfluidic methods were developed for microarray application. In this review we discuss these novel methods and approaches which leverage the property of microfluidic technologies to significantly improve various physical aspects of microarray technology, such as enhanced imprinting homogeneity, stability of the immobilized biomolecules, decreasing assay times, and reduction of the costs and of the bulky instrumentation.
A New Modified Histogram Matching Normalization for Time Series Microarray Analysis
Authors: Astola Laura , Molenaar Jaap
Published: July 2014

Microarray data is often utilized in inferring regulatory networks. Quantile normalization (QN) is a popular method to reduce array-to-array variation. We show that in the context of time series measurements QN may not be the best choice for this task, especially not if the inference is based on continuous time ODE model. We propose an alternative normalization method that is better suited for network inference from time series data.
Adsorption Characteristics of Sol Gel-Derived Zirconia for Cesium Ions from Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Yakout Sobhy , Hassan Hisham
Published: July 2014

Zirconia powder was synthesized via a sol gel method and placed in a batch reactor for cesium removal investigation. X-ray analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were utilized for the evaluation of the developed adsorbent. The adsorption process has been investigated as a function of pH, contact time and temperature. The adsorption is strongly dependent on the pH of the medium whereby the removal efficiency increases as the pH turns to the alkaline range. The process was initially very fast and the maximum adsorption was attained within 60 min of contact. A pseudo-second-order model and homogeneous particle diffusion model (HPDM) were found to be the best to correlate the diffusion of cesium into the zirconia particles. Furthermore, adsorption thermodynamic parameters, namely the standard enthalpy, entropy, and Gibbs free energy, were calculated. The results indicate that cesium adsorption by zirconia is an endothermic (ΔH > 0) process and good affinity of cesium ions towards the sorbent (ΔS > 0) was observed.
A Comparative Study of the Physicochemical Properties of a Virgin Coconut Oil Emulsion and Commercial Food Supplement Emulsions
Authors: Khor Yih , Koh Soo , Long Kamariah , Long Shariah , Ahmad Sharifah , Tan Chin
Published: July 2014

Food manufacturers are interested in developing emulsion-based products into nutritional foods by using beneficial oils, such as fish oil and virgin coconut oil (VCO). In this study, the physicochemical properties of a VCO oil-in-water emulsion was investigated and compared to other commercial oil-in-water emulsion products (C1, C2, C3, and C4). C3 exhibited the smallest droplet size of 3.25 µm. The pH for the emulsion samples ranged from 2.52 to 4.38 and thus were categorised as acidic. In a texture analysis, C2 was described as the most firm, very adhesive and cohesive, as well as having high compressibility properties. From a rheological viewpoint, all the emulsion samples exhibited non-Newtonian behaviour, which manifested as a shear-thinning property. The G'G'' crossover illustrated by the VCO emulsion in the amplitude sweep graph but not the other commercial samples illustrated that the VCO emulsion had a better mouthfeel. In this context, the VCO emulsion yielded the highest zeta potential (64.86 mV), which was attributed to its strong repulsive forces, leading to a good dispersion system. C2 comprised the highest percentage of fat among all emulsion samples, followed by the VCO emulsion, with 18.44% and 6.59%, respectively.
Tuning of Essential Oil Properties by Enzymatic Treatment: Towards Sustainable Processes for the Generation of New Fragrance Ingredients
Authors: Antoniotti Sylvain
Published: July 2014

In this review, several strategies of modification of essential oils by enzymatic treatment are presented. Being either applied before or after the production of the essential oil, enzymatic methods are shown to be particularly adapted to attain the required selectivity, specificity and efficiency in sustainable processes delivering products eligible for the natural grade. Examples dealing with the optimization of the properties of essential oils in terms of biological activity, odor and safety are provided, and it is likely that these strategies will address other type of properties in the future, such as the physico-chemical properties, for example.
Open Access Data in Polar and Cryospheric Remote Sensing
Authors: Pope Allen , Rees W. , Fox Adrian , Fleming Andrew
Published: July 2014

This paper aims to introduce the main types and sources of remotely sensed data that are freely available and have cryospheric applications. We describe aerial and satellite photography, satellite-borne visible, near-infrared and thermal infrared sensors, synthetic aperture radar, passive microwave imagers and active microwave scatterometers. We consider the availability and practical utility of archival data, dating back in some cases to the 1920s for aerial photography and the 1960s for satellite imagery, the data that are being collected today and the prospects for future data collection; in all cases, with a focus on data that are openly accessible. Derived data products are increasingly available, and we give examples of such products of particular value in polar and cryospheric research. We also discuss the availability and applicability of free and, where possible, open-source software tools for reading and processing remotely sensed data. The paper concludes with a discussion of open data access within polar and cryospheric sciences, considering trends in data discoverability, access, sharing and use.
Land Classification and Change Intensity Analysis in a Coastal Watershed of Southeast China
Authors: Zhou Pei , Huang Jinliang , Pontius Robert , Hong Huasheng
Published: July 2014

The aim of this study is to improve the understanding of land changes in the Jiulong River watershed, a coastal watershed of Southeast China. We developed a stratified classification methodology for land mapping, which combines linear stretching, an Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis (ISODATA) clustering algorithm, and spatial reclassification. The stratified classification for 2002 generated less overall error than an unstratified classification. The stratified classifications were then used to examine temporal differences at 1986, 1996, 2002, 2007 and 2010. Intensity Analysis was applied to analyze land changes at three levels: time interval, category, and transition. Results showed that land use transformation has been accelerating. Woodland’s gains and losses were dormant while the gains and losses of Agriculture, Orchard, Built-up and Bare land were active during all time intervals. Water’s losses were active and stationary. The transitions from Agriculture, Orchard, and Water to Built-up were systematically targeting and stationary, while the transition from Woodland to Built-up was systematically avoiding and stationary.
Genèse et propagation des crues en milieu sub-aride : exemple de l'Oued Souss (Maroc) (Flood's genesis and propagation in sub-arid environment as exemplified by Oued Souss (Morrocco))
Authors: Elmehdi Saidi Mohamed
Published: July 2014

Le bassin du Souss se situe dans une zone du Maroc sub-saharien où interfèrent une aridité accrue en été, une irrégularité importante du régime de l'oued et une grande variabilité spatio-temporelle des pluies. Les crues du Souss apparaissent en saison froide de façon brutale et sont en général de courte durée. Leur violence et leur grande vitesse de propagation forment un trait marqué des crues en domaine aride et sub-aride.
Introduction : nouvelles approches et nouvelles questions à propos des agricultures périurbaines (Introduction : new approaches and new questions about suburban agricultures)
Authors: Charvet Jean-paul
Published: July 2014

Après un rappel des principaux inconvénients et avantages liés aux localisations périurbaines d'activités de production agricole, différentes questions sont abordées : celle de la distance à la ville, celle de la pertinence des analyses seulement conduites en terme d'exploitation agricole et celle de la compatibilité de planifications territoriales élaborées à des échelles différentes et à des époques différentes. Ceci permet d'introduire la très grande diversité de situations illustrée ensuite par les différentes communications.
Analyse de l'action d'une taille longue sur la récolte chez le cépage carignan en Tunisie
Authors: Bessis R.
Published: July 2014

Sous un climat sec, un essai de taille longue chez la vigne ne produit qu'une légère augmentation de la récolte par rapport à la taille courte et à la faible charge habituelle. L'étude de la répartition des différents facteurs de la fertilité montre que les bourgeons supérieurs des rameaux ayant subi une taille longue contiennent un nombre élevé de grappes ; mais l'augmentation de la charge par la taille longue provoque une baisse très sensible du pourcentage de débourrement des bourgeons, ainsi que du poids des baies.
Postsynthetic functionalization of glycodendrons at the focal point
Authors: Lindhorst Thisbe K , Elsner Katharina
Published: July 2014

Glycodendrons are multivalent glycoconjugates bearing an orthogonal functional group at the focal point of the molecule. This allows for their postsynthetic elaboration to achieve amphiphilic glycolipid mimetics, for example, which eventually can be applied in biology, biophysics, or material science. Here, postsynthetic modification of di- and tetravalent polyether glycodendrons has been explored using etherification, thiol-ene reaction and in particular olefin cross metathesis.
CaDMR1 Cosegregates with QTL Pc5.1 for Resistance to Phytophthora capsici in Pepper (Capsicum annuum)
Authors: Rehrig William Z. , Ashrafi Hamid , Hill Theresa , Prince James , Van Deynze Allen
Published: July 2014

A major problem for the pepper (Capsicum annuum) industry is the root rot disease caused by Phytophthora capsici (Pc), to which all commercial varieties suffer yield losses despite good management practices and available landraces with high levels of resistance. A high‐density map with 3887 markers was generated in a set of recombinant inbred lines (RIL) derived from the highly resistant Capsicum annuum accession Criollo de Morelos‐334 and Early Jalapeño. These lines have been systematically screened for Pc resistance against a set of isolates collected from Mexico, New Mexico, New Jersey, California, Michigan and Tennessee. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with effective resistance across isolates have been identified and validated with SNP markers across additional segregating populations. By leveraging transcriptomic and genomic information, we describe CaDMR1, a homoserine kinase (HSK), as a candidate gene responsible for the major QTL on chromosome P5 for resistance to Pc. SNP markers for the resistant allele were validated to facilitate gene pyramiding schemes for recurrent selection in pepper.
The Role of Academic Values in Higher Education Convergence in Romania
Authors: Seitz Victoria A. , Nicolae Mariana
Published: July 2014

The Bologna process set forth a transformation among institutions of higher education in Europe to increase student and staff mobility and to make the European Union more competitive in the world education market. Years of a centrally planned system, isolation from the international conversations, and developments of higher education values made the implementation of the Bologna process in Romania a difficult and controversial one. This chapter introduces a concept from the marketing literature regarding brand globalization that recognizes and supports an integral part of the Bologna process – that of academic values. Moreover, the discussion presents findings from an empirical study regarding leadership aspects in Romanian higher education. Recommendations are then provided as to the implementation of those values in Romania's higher education system.
Comparison of Two Classrooms
Authors: Ergen Barış
Published: July 2014

This chapter investigates how students attending environmental science classes in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at Bozok University in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 fall semesters learn concepts related to environmental science through a comparison of two different classes, using the Cosine Similarity Measure (CSM) method. The study demonstrates that the students lack the necessary knowledge about the concepts used in urban and regional planning literature and international conventions.
Evaluation of the Case Method with an Emphasis in Energy Issues and its Applicability for European Higher Education
Authors: Dieck-Assad Flory A.
Published: July 2014

Every professor is searching to improve teaching techniques in order to transform the students into agents of change. This chapter proposes the hypothesis that the use of the Case Method (CM) is an effective strategy for improving education. It is a breakthrough to demonstrate that undergraduate students in finance learned how to use their financial skills in solving a pollution issue in the Mexican swine farmhouses through biomass conversion to fuels, keeping their profitability criteria at the same time. This was achieved through the application of the CM. Europe is very advanced in renewable energy technologies. Thus, the way the CM was applied in Mexico could be replicated with great success in Europe, for example through the visit to solar, biomass, or wind farms. CM surges as a hope to enhance education in Europe, with a plausible way to replicate it in all European universities. This is explored in this chapter.
FUDAOWANG
Authors: Xu Wei , Zhao Ke , Li Yatao , Yi Zhenzhen
Published: July 2014

The intelligence of an intelligent tutoring system is composed of reasoning intelligence and tutorial intelligence. The way to make an intelligent tutoring system with tutorial intelligence is to make sure the system has good tutoring functions. Determining how to provide good tutoring functions is an important research direction of intelligent tutoring systems. In this study, the authors develop an intelligent tutoring system with good tutoring functions, which they call “FUDAOWANG.” The research domain that FUDAOWANG treats is junior middle school mathematics, which belongs to the objective mature domain. Its characteristic is that the knowledge employed is the mature knowledge accepted by most people. FUDAOWANG uses automatic reasoning technology about objective mature problems to realize its reasoning intelligence. Based on the results of the automatic reasoning, FUDAOWANG synthetically applies the problem-based tutoring and the advanced education concepts to achieve tutoring functions of stepwise, prompt, detailed answers, rethinking after solution, consolidated exercise, etc. The evaluation of FUDAOWANG shows that it is helpful to the students in improving their learning achievements and cultivating good learning habits.
Bridging the Concepts of Educational Software and Assistive Technology
Authors: Bocconi Stefania , Ott Michela
Published: July 2014

The chapter looks at the educational resources available for students with disabilities. It aims at defining the boundaries and interconnections between the concepts of assistive technologies and educational software, starting from the consideration that students with disabilities could highly benefit from the adoption of both these categories of tools. Here the question arises of whether educational software products can be considered per se as assistive devices or, if not, under which conditions. The chapter explores the matter, with the specific objective of providing teachers and educators with a conceptual key to properly explore the specific databases containing information on the educational available tools and, finally, to find the needed, suitable material for students with disabilities. The creation of the European ETNA portal for assistive technologies represented the occasion for starting the reflections reported in this chapter and for defining a specific methodology for the introduction of educational software in disability-related databases. The ETNA portal itself, whose aims and foundations are also briefly described, coherently instantiates the adopted methodology by referring to the emerging concept that educational software can be considered and adopted as an assistive device for learning, provided that it meets key accessibility requirements and/or that specific practices with disabled students are fully documented and reported.
Authoring Adaptive 3D Virtual Learning Environments
Authors: Ewais Ahmed , De Troyer Olga
Published: July 2014

The use of 3D and Virtual Reality is gaining interest in the context of academic discussions on E-learning technologies. However, the use of 3D for learning environments also has drawbacks. One way to overcome these drawbacks is by having an adaptive learning environment, i.e., an environment that dynamically adapts to the learner and the activities that he performs in the environment. In this paper, the authors discuss adaptive 3D virtual leaning environments and explain how a course author can specify such an environment (i.e., authoring). The approach and tool that the authors present allow authors to create adaptive 3D virtual learning environments without the need to be an expert in 3D or using programming or scripting languages. The authors also conducted an evaluation to validate the approach and the usability and acceptability of the authoring tool. Based on the results, recommendations for authoring adaptive 3D virtual learning environments have been formulated.
Providing Students with an Easystart to Higher Education
Authors: Hamshire Claire , Cullen W. Rod
Published: July 2014

The transition to higher education can be problematic for some students as they adapt to institutional procedures and degree level working at the same time as developing new social networks. To help facilitate these complex transitions institutions are increasingly turning towards digital technologies to provide both flexible access to resources and improved communication. This paper outlines the key issues associated with students' initial transitions to higher education and explores the challenges faced by academics designing induction procedures and programmes. The emerging role of digital technologies in supporting students' transitions into Higher Education, against the backdrop of a changing digital landscape in one institution is discussed and an evaluation of the easystart induction programme at Manchester Metropolitan University presented as a case study.
Got MOOC?
Authors: Stanton Jeffrey M. , Harkness S. Suzan J.
Published: July 2014

Media reports concerning massive open online courses (MOOCs) have vacillated between talk of an educational revolution and disillusionment with an over-hyped instructional technology. This paper reports how a group of university faculty and staff designed and delivered a MOOC to more than 800 students. The delivery of the MOOC was a labor-intensive, costly process that resulted in a variety of educational and institutional outcomes. The case report contains lessons for other groups who may have an interest in delivering a MOOC. The paper concludes with an interpretation of the significance of MOOCs for higher education.
Family Visitation in Greek Intensive Care Units: Nurses’ Perspective
Authors: Athanasiou Archonto , Papathanassoglou Elizabeth D.E. , Patiraki Elisabeth , McCarthy Mary S. , Giannakopoulou Margarita
Published: July 2014

Background

Policies of flexible and open visiting in intensive care units benefit both patients and patients’ families. In Greek intensive care units, gaps exist between evidence and practice for family visitation, resulting in restricted visiting policies.

Objectives

To explore the beliefs of nurses in Greek intensive care units about the effects of visiting on patients, patients’ families, and unit staff and nurses’ attitudes toward visiting policies.

Methods

A descriptive correlational survey was conducted in 6 public hospitals in Athens, Greece, with a sample of 143 critical care nurses. Data were collected via an anonymous questionnaire consisting of 3 validated scales to assess the nurses’ beliefs about and attitudes toward visitation.

Results

Generally, nurses were resistant to family visiting and open visiting, and most (94.4%) did not want an open policy in their unit. Nurses think that open visiting policies are supportive for patients and patients families, but the overall effects of visiting depend on both the nurse and the patient (91.6%). Nurses reported that open visiting created increased physical and psychological burdens for them (87.5%) and hampered nursing care (75.5%). Years of work experience, staffing level, and number of night shifts worked by nurses per 15 days were factors predictive of nurses’ attitudes toward and beliefs about family visitation.

Conclusions

Nurses’ beliefs about and attitudes toward visitation are important factors in the implementation of more flexible visiting policies in Greek intensive care units. Well-staffed units with experienced nurses and fewer shifts per week may affect nurses’ negative attitude toward open visitation.
Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Complex 2 Modulates αβTCR Processing and Surface Expression during Thymocyte Development
Authors: Chou Po-Chien , Oh Won Jun , Wu Chang-Chih , Moloughney Joseph , Rüegg Markus A. , Hall Michael N. , Jacinto Estela , Werlen Guy
Published: July 2014

An efficient immune response relies on the presence of T cells expressing a functional TCR. Whereas the mechanisms generating TCR diversity for antigenic recognition are well defined, what controls its surface expression is less known. In this study, we found that deletion of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex (mTORC) 2 component rictor at early stages of T cell development led to aberrant maturation and increased proteasomal degradation of nascent TCRs. Although CD127 expression became elevated, the levels of TCRs as well as CD4, CD8, CD69, Notch, and CD147 were significantly attenuated on the surface of rictor-deficient thymocytes. Diminished expression of these receptors led to suboptimal signaling, partial CD4−CD8− double-negative 4 (CD25−CD44−) proliferation, and CD4+CD8+ double-positive activation as well as developmental blocks at the CD4−CD8− double-negative 3 (CD25+CD44−) and CD8–immature CD8+ single-positive stages. Because CD147 glycosylation was also defective in SIN1-deficient fibroblasts, our findings suggest that mTORC2 is involved in the co/posttranslational processing of membrane receptors. Thus, mTORC2 impacts development via regulation of the quantity and quality of receptors important for cell differentiation.
Global Holomorphic Functions in Several Noncommuting Variables
Authors: Agler Jim , McCarthy John E.
Published: July 2014

We define a free holomorphic function to be a function that is locally, with respect to the free topology, a bounded nc-function. We prove that free holomorphic functions are the functions that are locally uniformly approximable by free polynomials. We prove a realization formula and an Oka-Weil theorem for free analytic functions.
Classification of three-dimensional complex $\omega$-Lie algebras
Authors: Chen Yin , Liu Chang , Zhang Runxuan
Published: July 2014

A complex

\omega

-Lie algebra is a vector space

L

over the complex field, equipped with a skew-symmetric bracket

[-,-]

and a bilinear form

\omega

such that

[[x,y],z]+[[y,z],x]+ [[z,x],y]=\omega(x,y)z+\omega(y,z)x+\omega(z,x)y

for all

x,y,z\in L

. The notion of

\omega

-Lie algebras, as a generalization of Lie algebras, was introduced in Nurowski [3]. Fundamental results about finite-dimensional

\omega

-Lie algebras were developed by Zusmanovich [5]. In [3], all three-dimensional non-Lie real

\omega

-Lie algebras were classified. The purpose of this note is to provide an approach to classify all three-dimensional non-Lie complex

\omega

-Lie algebras. Our method also gives a new proof of the classification in Nurowski [3].
Normal forms for symplectic matrices
Authors: Gutt Jean
Published: July 2014

We give a self contained and elementary description of normal forms for symplectic matrices, based on geometrical considerations. The normal forms in question are expressed in terms of elementary Jordan matrices and integers with values in

\{ -1,0,1\}

related to signatures of quadratic forms naturally associated to the symplectic matrix.
Asymptotic eigenvalue estimates for a Robin problem with a large parameter
Authors: Exner Pavel , Minakov Alexander , Parnovski Leonid
Published: July 2014

Robin problem for the Laplacian in a bounded planar domain with a smooth boundary and a large parameter in the boundary condition is considered. We prove a two-sided three-term asymptotic estimate for the negative eigenvalues. Furthermore, improving the upper bound we get a two term asymptotics in terms of the coupling constant and the maximum of the boundary curvature.
Integrality of Kauffman brackets of trivalent graphs
Authors: Costantino Francesco
Published: July 2014

We show that Kauffman brackets of colored framed graphs (also known as quantum spin networks) can be renormalized to a Laurent polynomial with integer coefficients by multiplying it by a coefficient which is a product of quantum factorials depending only on the abstract combinatorial structure of the graph. Then we compare the shadow-state sums and the state-sums based on

R

-matrices and Clebsch–Gordan symbols, reprove their equivalence and comment on the integrality of the weight of the states. We also provide short proofs of most of the standard identities satisfied by quantum

6j

-symbols of

U_q(\operatorname{sl}_2)

.
Ultra–Low-Cost Urine Filtration for Schistosoma haematobium Diagnosis: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Ephraim Richard K. D. , Duah Evans , Andrews Jason R. , Bogoch Isaac I.
Published: July 2014

Simple, efficient, and cost-effective strategies are needed for urine sample preparation in the field diagnosis of infection with Schistosoma haematobium. In this proof-of-concept study, we evaluated inexpensive and widely available paper products (paper towels, school workbook paper, and newspaper) to gravity-filter urine containing 60 eggs/mL of Schistosoma haematobium. Eggs were reliably visualized by light microscopy by using single-ply paper towels as urine filters. This filtration method has broad applicability in clinical and public health settings in resource-constrained environments.
Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Schistosomiasis Japonica in Lake and Marshland Areas in China: The Effect of Snail Habitats
Authors: Hu Yi , Gao Jie , Chi Meina , Luo Can , Lynn Henry , Sun Liqian , Tao Bo , Wang Decheng , Zhang Zhijie , Jiang Qingwu
Published: July 2014

The progress of the integrated control policy for schistosomiasis implemented since 2005 in China, which is aiming at reducing the roles of bovines and humans as infection sources, may be challenged by persistent presence of infected snails in lake and marshland areas. Based on annual parasitologic data for schistosomiasis during 2004–2011 in Xingzi County, a spatio-temporal kriging model was used to investigate the spatio-temporal pattern of schistosomiasis risk. Results showed that environmental factors related to snail habitats can explain the spatio-temporal variation of schistosomiasis. Predictive maps of schistosomiasis risk illustrated that clusters of the disease fluctuated during 2004–2008; there was an extensive outbreak in 2008 and attenuated disease occurrences afterwards. An area with an annually constant cluster of schistosomiasis was identified. Our study suggests that targeting snail habitats located within high-risk areas for schistosomiasis would be an economic and sustainable way of schistosomiasis control in the future.
Technical Note: SWIFT – a fast semi-empirical model for polar stratospheric ozone loss
Authors: Rex M. , Kremser S. , Huck P. , Bodeker G. , Wohltmann I. , Santee M. L. , Bernath P.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. An extremely fast model to estimate the degree of stratospheric ozone depletion during polar winters is described. It is based on a set of coupled differential equations that simulate the seasonal evolution of vortex-averaged hydrogen chloride (HCl), nitric acid (HNO3), chlorine nitrate (ClONO2), active forms of chlorine (ClOx = Cl + ClO + 2 ClOOCl) and ozone (O3) on isentropic levels within the polar vortices. Terms in these equations account for the chemical and physical processes driving the time rate of change of these species. Eight empirical fit coefficients associated with these terms are derived by iteratively fitting the equations to vortex-averaged satellite-based measurements of HCl, HNO3 and ClONO2 and observationally derived ozone loss rates. The system of differential equations is not stiff and can be solved with a time step of one day, allowing many years to be processed per second on a standard PC. The inputs required are the daily fractions of the vortex area covered by polar stratospheric clouds and the fractions of the vortex area exposed to sunlight. The resultant model, SWIFT (Semi-empirical Weighted Iterative Fit Technique), provides a fast yet accurate method to simulate ozone loss rates in polar regions. SWIFT's capabilities are demonstrated by comparing measured and modeled total ozone loss outside of the training period.
CARIBIC DOAS observations of nitrous acid and formaldehyde in a large convective cloud
Authors: Heue K.-P. , Riede H. , Walter D. , Brenninkmeijer C. A. M. , Wagner T. , Frieß U. , Platt U. , Zahn A. , Stratmann G. , Ziereis H.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. The chemistry in large thunderstorm clouds is influenced by local lightning-NOx production and uplift of boundary layer air. Under these circumstances trace gases like nitrous acid (HONO) or formaldehyde (HCHO) are expected to be formed or to reach the tropopause region. However, up to now only few observations of HONO at this altitude have been reported. Here we report on a case study where enhancements in HONO, HCHO and nitrogen oxides (NOx) were observed by the CARIBIC flying laboratory (Civil Aircraft for the Regular Investigation of the atmosphere Based on an Instrument Container). The event took place in a convective system over the Caribbean Sea in August 2011. Inside the cloud the light path reaches up to 100 km. Therefore the DOAS instrument on CARIBIC was very sensitive to the tracers inside the cloud. Based on the enhanced slant column densities of HONO, HCHO and NO2, average mixing ratios of 37, 468 and 210 ppt, respectively, were calculated. These data represent averages for constant mixing ratios inside the cloud. However, a large dependency on the assumed profile is found; for HONO a mixing ratio of 160 ppt is retrieved if the total amount is assumed to be situated in the uppermost 2 km of the cloud. The NO in situ instrument measured peaks up to 5 ppb NO inside the cloud; the background in the cloud was about 1.3 ppb, and hence clearly above the average outside the cloud (≈ 150 ppt). The high variability and the fact that the enhancements were observed over a pristine marine area led to the conclusion that, in all likelihood, the high NO concentrations were caused by lighting. This assumption is supported by the number of flashes that the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) counted in this area before and during the overpass. The chemical box model CAABA is used to estimate the NO and HCHO source strengths which are necessary to explain our measurements. For NO a source strength of 10 × 109 molec cm−2 s−1 km−1 is found, which corresponds to the lightning activity as observed by the World Wide Lightning Location network, and lightning emissions of 5 × 1025 NO molec flash−1 (2.3–6.4 × 1025). The uncertainties are determined by a change of the input parameters in the box model, the cloud top height and the flash density. The emission rate per flash is scaled up to a global scale and 1.9 (1.4–2.5) tg N a−1 is estimated. The HCHO updraught is of the order of 120 × 109 molec cm−2 s−1 km−1. Also isoprene and CH3OOH as possible HCHO sources are discussed.
Chemistry of α-pinene and naphthalene oxidation products generated in a Potential Aerosol Mass (PAM) chamber as measured by acetate chemical ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Chhabra P. S. , Lambe A. T. , Canagaratna M. R. , Stark H. , Jayne J. T. , Onasch T. B. , Davidovits P. , Kimmel J. R. , Worsnop D. R.
Published: July 2014

Abstract. Recent developments in high resolution, time-of-flight chemical ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ToF-CIMS) have made possible the direct detection of atmospheric organic compounds in real-time with high sensitivity and with little or no fragmentation, including low volatility, highly oxygenated organic vapors that are precursors to secondary organic aerosol formation. Here, for the first time, we examine gas-phase O3 and OH oxidation products of α-pinene and naphthalene formed in the PAM flow reactor with an HR-ToF-CIMS using acetate reagent ion chemistry. Integrated OH exposures ranged from 1.2 × 1011 to 9.7 × 1011 molec cm−3 s, corresponding to approximately 1.0 to 7.5 days of equivalent atmospheric oxidation. Measured gas-phase organic acids are similar to those previously observed in environmental chamber studies. For both precursors, we find that acetate-CIMS spectra capture both functionalization (oxygen addition) and fragmentation (carbon loss) as a function of OH exposure. The level of fragmentation is observed to increase with increased oxidation. We present a method that estimates vapor pressures of organic molecules using the measured O/C ratio, H/C ratio, and carbon number for each compound detected by the CIMS. The predicted condensed-phase SOA average acid yields and O/C and H/C ratios agree within uncertainties with previous AMS measurements and ambient CIMS results. While acetate reagent ion chemistry is used to selectively measure organic acids, in principle this method can be applied to additional reagent ion chemistries depending on the application.
Switching Intravitreal anti-VEGF Treatment in Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Küçükerdönmez Cem , Gelisken Faik , Yoeruek Efdal , Bartz-Schmidt Karl Ulrich , Leitritz Martin Alexander
Published: July 2014

Purpose

To compare the outcomes after switching between bevacizumab and ranibizumab therapy due to poor treatment effect in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Methods

This is a retrospective review of patients with neovascular AMD with first treatment using intravitreal bevacizumab (group 1) or ranibizumab (group 2) who switched to the other drug due to poor treatment effect. Primary outcome measures were change in mean best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and mean central retinal thickness (CRT) at 1 year and last visit.

Results

Eighty-seven eyes met the inclusion criteria. In group 1 (43 eyes), the mean BCVA decreased from 20/94 to 20/100 at 1 year after being switched (p = 0.573) and to 20/150 (p = 0.015) at final visit (mean 29.2 months, range 12-53). In group 2 (44 eyes), mean BCVA decreased from 20/72 to 20/90 (p = 0.401) and 20/100 (p = 0.081) at 1 year after switch and at final visit (mean 20.1 months, range 10-40), respectively. The mean CRT at switch, 1 year after switch, and at final visit were 344.4 ± 140 µm (mean ± SD), 286.26 ± 155 µm (p = 0.019), and 290.58 ± 196 µm (p = 0.009) in group 1 and 329.36 ± 144 µm, 302.0 ± 179 µm (p = 0.215), and 309.5 ± 220 µm (p = 0.154) in group 2, respectively.

Conclusions

The mean BCVA decreased over time in both groups; however, nearly 30% of the eyes in each group showed vision improvement after switching. Mean CRT decreased in both groups, which was more pronounced after being switched from bevacizumab to ranibizumab. In neovascular AMD, a switch between ranibizumab and bevacizumab can be considered as a further therapy option if poor treatment effect is seen with the initial therapy.
Preliminary Investigation of Corneal Wavefront Aberration following Femtosecond Laser Clear Corneal Incision for Cataract Surgery
Authors: Serrao Sebastiano , Lombardo Giuseppe , Schiano-Lomoriello Domenico , Rosati Marianna , Lombardo Marco
Published: July 2014

Purpose

To investigate the early changes of the anterior corneal wavefront aberration (WA) following femtosecond laser clear corneal incision (FS-CCI) for cataract surgery.

Methods

Twenty consecutive patients (20 eyes) with cataract underwent phacoemulsification and were divided into 2 groups: the study group received a 2.75-mm FS-CCI using an iFS Intralase; the control group received a 2.75-mm manual CCI using disposable knives. High-order corneal WA was analyzed over 3.5- and 6.0-mm pupils and corneal astigmatism was evaluated using vector analysis pre-operatively, 1 week postoperatively, and 1 month postoperatively.

Results

At 1 month postoperatively, the mean surgically induced astigmatism (D) of the anterior cornea was 1.22 ± 0.60 at 144° and 1.04 D ± 0.64 at 90° in the study and control groups (p<0.05), respectively. Over 3.5-mm pupil, there were no changes of corneal high-order aberrations (p>0.05) following FS-CCI. Trefoil increased significantly (p<0.01) following manual CCI at 1 week postoperatively. Over 6.0-mm pupil, FS-CCI did not induce any statistically significant change in corneal WA during follow-up. One week after manual CCI, total root mean square–high order aberrations (p<0.01), spherical aberration (p<0.05), and trefoil (p<0.001) were statistically significantly higher than pre-operatively.

Conclusions

The CCI method was shown to influence changes in corneal WA during the first month postoperatively. The different changes of corneal high-order WA between the study and control groups may depend on the different CCI geometry. These preliminary data are valuable to improve understanding of FS-CCI design.