bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Integration of traditional birth attendants into prevention of mother-to-child transmission at primary health facilities in Kaduna, North-West Nigeria
Authors: Nsirim Reward O. , Iyongo Joseph A. , Adekugbe Olayinka , Ugochuku Maureen
Published: May 2016

One of the fundamental challenges to implementing successful prevention of mother-tochild transmission (PMTCT) programs in Nigeria is the uptake of PMTCT services at health facilities. Several issues usually discourage many pregnant women from receiving antenatal care services at designated health facilities within their communities. The CRS Nigeria PMTCT Project funded by the Global Fund in its Round 9 Phase 1 in Nigeria, sought to increase demand for HIV counseling and testing services for pregnant women at 25 supported primary health centers (PHCs) in Kaduna State, North-West Nigeria by integrating traditional birth attendants (TBAs) across the communities where the PHCs were located into the project. Community dialogues were held with the TBAs, community leaders and women groups. These dialogues focused on modes of mother to child transmission of HIV and the need for TBAs to refer their clients to PHCs for testing. Subsequently, data on number of pregnant women who were counseled, tested and received results was collected on a monthly basis from the 25 facilities using the national HIV/AIDS tools. Prior to this integration, the average number of pregnant women that were counseled, tested and received results was 200 pregnant women across all the 25 health facilities monthly. After the integration of TBAs into the program, the number of pregnant women that were counseled, tested and received results kept increasing month after month up to an average of 1500 pregnant women per month across the 25 health facilities. TBAs can thus play a key role in improving service uptake and utilization for pregnant women at primary health centers in the community – especially in the context of HIV/AIDS. They thus need to be integrated, rather than alienated, from primary healthcare service delivery.
Evaluating the outcomes of a hearing screening service for grade one learners in urban areas at Durban, South Africa
Authors: Govender Samantha , Latiff Nabeela , Asmal Nusaiba , Ramsaroop Sadaksha , Mbele Tumeka
Published: May 2016

Early intervention through hearing screening can reduce the negative impact of hearing loss for children. Optimal outcomes are achieved when an appropriate screening protocol is selected, a pathway for follow up care is established, and when a hearing conservation component is included. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of a hearing screening service provided to grade one learners in urban areas at Durban. A cross-sectional design was employed. Learners (n=241) were conveniently sampled from six randomly selected schools. They were screened using otoscopy, tympanometry and pure tone audiometry. Fifty eight participants (24%) obtained a refer result, with 33% referred for diagnostic assessments, 29% for middle ear pathology and 38% for cerumen management. Findings further revealed that only 33% of referrals were followed up indicating poor compliance. Association between test results and income levels (P=0.38) as well as distance to the nearest health care facility (P=0.22) did not influence test outcomes. School aged children do present with common ear problems. Appropriate protocol selection, ensuring compliance to recommendations and education on hearing conservation are essential components of any health initiative.
The effects of symptoms, diagnostic labels, and education in psychiatry on the stigmatization towards schizophrenia: a questionnaire survey among a lay population in Japan
Authors: Matsunaga Asami , Kitamura Toshinori
Published: May 2016

This questionnaire survey was conducted to study the determinants of stigmatization toward schizophrenia in Japan. A total of 1003 persons living in Kumamoto Prefecture (mean age 25.5; SD=14.1) participated in this study through convenience sampling. They read one of four case vignettes about a person with mental illness and answered questions about their attitudes toward the case. Vignettes varied in terms of descriptions of symptoms (schizophrenia vs. depression) and presentation of the diagnostic label of schizophrenia (yes or no). A path analysis was performed to examine the effects of symptoms, diagnostic label, experience of education in psychiatry, and demographic features on stigmatizing attitudes. Results showed that schizophrenic symptoms, diagnostic label of schizophrenia, and experience of education in psychiatry were significantly associated with stigmatization toward the case. Interaction terms of these variables did not show significant association with stigmatization. These results highlight the importance of optimizing education techniques about mental illness so as to avoid cultivating stigmatizing attitudes toward schizophrenia.
Tennis enhances well-being in university students
Authors: Yazici Ahmet Bulent , Gul Mine , Yazici Esra , Gul Gazanfer Kemal
Published: May 2016

Sports and physical activity are widely recommended, both as guidelines and in clinical practice, because of their broad range of positive effects on health, depression, anxiety, and psychological well-being. While several studies have examined the anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects of physical activity in clinical populations, and fewer studies have focused on the nonclinical populations, the relationship between tennis and well-being has not been clearly investigated. This study was carried out with 76 student volunteers from Kocaeli University (Turkey) who had chosen tennis lessons as their University. The tennis exercise program consisted of 90-minute basic tennis skills lessons for 13 weeks. At the beginning and at the end of the study, the students were given the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scales, and were evaluated by the DeWitt- Dugan Tennis Service Test, the DeWitt-Dugan Speed Test, and the Dyer Backboard Tennis Test. Upon evaluating the students’ pre- and post-test scores, we concluded that their BDI and BAI scores had significantly decreased, with the most significant decreases seen in several sub-scores of the SCL-90-R; their tennis skills, meanwhile, increased significantly. This study shows that partaking in tennis exercise once a week decreases depression and anxiety symptoms and enhances well-being in healthy young people.
Epidemiology of extended spectrum β-lactamase, AmpC and class A carbapenemases-producing organisms isolated at San Camillo Hospital of Treviso (Italy) between April 2012 and March 2014
Authors: Scapaticci Margherita , Fossen Giacomo , Ius Vittorina
Published: May 2016

The indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum cephalosporins of the last years has favoured the selection of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs), AmpC and class A carbapenemases (KPC)-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains, representing a real health emergency. At San Camillo Hospital of Treviso, Italy, between April 2012 and March 2014, we isolated 263 suspected ESBL-producing strains from various specimens, including urine (76.4%), wound swabs (9.9%), blood cultures (4.6%), vaginal swabs (2.7%), fragments of bone (1.5%) and other materials (4.9%). The majority of the isolated bacteria were represented by Escherichia coli (43.3%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (34.2%), Proteus mirabilis (15.2%), Enterobacter spp. (3.8%), Morganella morganii (1.1%), Serratia spp. (0.8%), Proteus vulgaris (0.4%), Citrobacter freudii (0.4%), Providencia spp. (0.4%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.4%). Using confirmatory phenotypic tests, 89.4% of the isolated resulted ESBL producer, 15.3% of which were also AmpC-producers, 1.5% were ESBL negative and AmpC positive, 4.2% were ESBL negative and AmpC negative, and 4.9%, consisting solely of K.pneumoniae, were confirmed as KPC positive. ESBL-mediated resistance to cephalosporin is not always clearly evident using susceptibility testing performed by agar diffusion-disc or dilution methods, for this reason it is strictly recommended to use specific tests able to reveal important mechanisms of resistance. The optimal use of diagnostic tools in microbiology is necessary to fight the spreading of pathogens with multiple antibiotic resistance mechanisms and in order to avoid giving useless antibiotic therapies to the patients.
Protein tyrosine nitration in chronic intramuscular parasitism: immunohistochemical evaluation of relationships between nitration, and fiber type-specific responses to infection
Authors: Elsasser Ted H. , Romo German , Eastridge Janet , Kahl Stanislaw , Martinez Alfredo , Feng Changge , Li Cong Jung , Sartin James L. , Cuttitta Frank , Fayer Ronald
Published: May 2016

The present study was conducted to determine whether preferential muscle catabolism [psoas major (PM) > rectus femoris (RF)] observed during the chronic intramuscular stage of Sarcocystis cruzi infection could be associated with the pathological consequences of increased protein tyrosine nitration in fibers characteristically more metabolically active due to higher mitochondrial density. Holstein calves were assigned to control (C), or S. cruzi-infected (I) groups, n=5/group. Calves were euthanized on day 63 of infection. Samples of RF and PM were prepared for metabolic fiber typing (MFT: slow oxidative, SO – Type I; fast oxidative glycolytic, FOG - Type IIa; fast glycolytic, FG – Type IIb), fiber area, and immunohistochemical localization of fast myosin heavy chain 2a and 2b, nitrotyrosine (NT), and mitochondrial Complex V ATP-synthase. MFT analysis documented that PM contained twice the number of SO fibers compared to RF (32 v 16%, P<0.002). SO and FOG fibers (Both higher in mitochondrial density than FG fibers) in both PM and RF were significantly smaller in area in I calves with mean FG areas not different between C and I. Muscle NT content (Western blot of myofibrillar protein fraction) increased with infection; NT was immunohistochemically localized into three distinct patterns in fibers: i) sparse fiber staining, ii) dense punctuate intrafiber staining, and iii) pericystic staining. By image analysis, the greatest punctuate intrafiber pixel density of NT was associated with SO fibers from I calves with the NT colocalizing with mitochondrial Complex V – F1F0 ATP synthase. More fibers were positive for the colocalization in PM than RF (P<0.04). The data are consistent with the concept that fibers rich in mitochondria possessing more inherent oxidative energy capacity generate more nitrated proteins than glycolytic fibers and as such are more affected by the proinflammatory response to infections like Sarcocystosis.
Cutaneous melanomas in rabbits: rare but often fatal
Authors: Hammer Martin , Weigner Frank , Klopfleisch Robert
Published: May 2016

An adult male dwarf rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was presented to the veterinarian due to hind limb lameness. The rabbit was in a reduced body condition. Clinical examination and cytology identified a cutaneous melanoma in the inguinal region. Whole body radiographs identified multifocal radio-opaque masses in both lungs which where assumed to be lung metastases. The animal was euthanized due to the poor prognosis. Necropsy confirmed a malignant, melanotic melanoma with pulmonary and hepatic metastases. Histopathologically, the primary tumor and the metastases were composed of epitheloid cells which showed infiltrative growth. The rabbit was diagnosed with metastatic, cutaneous, melanotic melanoma. Melanomas in rabbits can be recognized as highly malignant independent on their pigmentation status. Pulmonary tropism seems to be a distinct feature of this tumor type in rabbits and indicates that a comprehensive diagnostic workup is necessary to avoid anesthesia-related incidents.
Antibacterial efficacies of some plant extracts against Aeromonas and Pseudomonas diseases of farmed catfish (Heterobranchus longifilis)
Authors: Ekanem Albert P. , Inyang-Etoh Aniema P. , Inyang-Etoh Paul C.
Published: May 2016

Aeromonas and Pseudomonas diseases are responsible for mortalities of some farmed catfish in Nigeria. The objective of the study is to investigate the efficacies of extracts of some plants against Aeromonas and Pseudomonas diseases of Heterobranchus longifilis. Ethanol extracts of Phyllanthus amarus, Allium sativum, Artemisia annua, Citrus limon, Moringa oleifera, Allium cepa and Azadirachta indica were tested against Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas flourescens of H. longifilis by disc diffusion assay. Extracts of P. amarus, A. sativum, A. annua and C. limon were significantly (P<0.05) more sensitive to A. hydrophila and P. flourescens than M. oleifera, A. cepa and A. indica which were effective against P. flourescens. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the extracts were 25mg/ml for P. amarus and A. annua; 25 and 100mg/ml for C. lemon and A. cepa respectively and 50mg/ml for A. indica.  Alkaloid was demonstrated in all plants except A. annua by qualitative methods. Moderate amount (++) of cardiac glycosides was demonstrated in A. sativum, M. oleifera and P. amarus. Saponin (+++) was present in M. oleifera and A. indica while, tannin (++) was present in M. oleifera, P. amarus and A. indica respectively. Phlobatanins and Anthraquinones (++) were present in P. amarus and M. oleifera respectively.  Extracts of aforementioned plants have potentials as therapy against Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas flourescens of farmed catfish.
Cerebellar peduncle abscess secondary to disseminated strangles in a six-week-old miniature foal
Authors: Henderson Brianne
Published: May 2016

During a strangles outbreak within a herd of minature horses, a six week old foal developed acute onset clinical signs of sepsis and neurological deficits. The foal was euthanized and submitted for post-mortem at the Animal Health Laboratories, Guelph Ontario. Gross post-mortem examination noted severe bronchopneumonia, hypopyon of the right eye and a singular cerebellar peduncle abscess. Culture of the lungs and cerebellum produced a pure growth of Streptococcus equi ssp. equi. Streptococcus equi ssp. equi, the causative agent of equine strangles, produces an acute pyrexia, purulent lymphadenopathy of submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. Commonly, lymph node abscesses rupture and resolve without complication. Rarely, complications may include: dissemination of the bacteria with diffuse abscess formation, immune mediated disease (purpura haemorrhagica), rarely abscess formation within the central nervous system (CNS) can occur. These can be managed medically with appropriate antibiotics and drugs to reduce intra-cranial pressure, however surgical drainage and debulking of the abscess has been attempted successfully in a few cases.
Mortality in free range rescued wild animals of Shivalik Hills in Himachal Pradesh, India
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Kumar Vipin , Raj Anshu
Published: May 2016

The present study was conducted on 143 free range wild animals of 12 different species rescued from different locations in Shivalik Hills since Jan 2004 to June 2011. Mortality was reported in 79.02% (113) of rescued wild animals. Mortality in Herbivores, Carnivores, Pheasants and Omnivores was 84.74% (50), 79.06% (34) 72.72% (24) and 62.50% (05) respectively. Post mortem was conducted at field level to determine causes of mortality in all the 113 died wild animals. Necropsy findings revealed musculoskeletal injuries 68.14% (77), more specifically fractures 37.16% (42) and fatal trauma 30.97% (35) as most common cause of mortality in all the animals. On the other hand Cardiovascular and haemorrhagic shock constituted 11.50% (13) while septicemia were noted in 8.84% (10) of all the recorded causes of mortality in rescued animals. Mortality with other causes noticed in 11.50% cases is attributable to diagnosed causes including froathy bloat, tympany, intussusceptions, senility with associated lesions and unknown causes like infectious diseases or toxicosis without a clear symptomatology. The highest mortality was found in male herbivores 28.31% (32) followed by female carnivores 16.81% (19) and male pheasants 13.27% (15). Only 39.82% (45) mortality was observed in adult animals compared to juveniles 51.32% (58). Mortality in winter season 52.21 % (59) was higher than summer 33.62% (38) and rainy season 14.15% (16).
The biofilm formation ability of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from meat, poultry, fish and processing plant environments is related to serotype and pathogenic profile of the strains
Authors: Meloni Domenico , Mazza Roberta , Piras Francesca , Lamon Sonia , Consolati Simonetta Gianna , Mureddu Anna , Mazzette Rina
Published: May 2016

In the present study, the relationships between serotype, pathogenic profile and in vitro biofilm formation of 106 Listeria monocytogenes strains, having no epidemiological correlation and isolated from different environmental and food sources, were analyzed. The quantitative assessment of the in vitro biofilm formation was carried out by using a microtiter plate assay with spectrophotometric reading (OD620). The isolates were also submitted to serogrouping using the target genes lmo0737, lmo1118, ORF2819, ORF2110, prs, and to the evaluation of the presence of the following virulence genes: prfA, hlyA, rrn, inlA, inlB, iap, plcA, plcB, actA and mpl, by multiplex PCRs. The 62% of the strains showed weak or moderate in vitro ability in biofilm formation, in particular serotypes 1/2b and 4b, frequently associated with sporadic or epidemic listeriosis cases. The 25% of these isolates showed polymorphism for the actA gene, producing a fragment of 268-bp instead of the expected 385-bp. The deletion of nucleotides in this gene seems to be related to enhanced virulence properties among these strains. Strains belonging to serotypes associated with human infections and characterized by pathogenic potential are capable to persist within the processing plants forming biofilm.
Ultrapathological evaluation of the anticancer effect of blackseed (Nigella sativa) and garlic (Allium sativum) in mice
Authors: Nouh Wael Gamal
Published: May 2016

In this experimental work, 120 virgin female mice (body weight 40±10 gm) were divided into 6 equal groups. Mice in Group 1 served as a control. Mice in Groups 2 and 3 were fed on a basal diet provided with 100 mg/kg b.wt from each of blackseed (Nigella sativa) and garlic (Allium sativum), respectively, for one month. Mice in Group 4 were inoculated subcutanously (S/C) with Ehrlich tumor cells after one month from the start of the experiment. Mice in Groups 5 and 6 were treated similarly to those in Groups 3 and 4, respectively, for one month and then immediately inoculated S/C with Ehrlich tumor cells (ETC, 0.1 mL/mouse). Blood samples were taken from mice of Groups 1, 2 and 3 at one month of experiment and tissue specimens were collected from mice in all groups two weeks after inoculation of Ehrlich tumor cells. Histopathologically, Groups 2 and 3 showed proliferation of mononuclear phagocytic system and mild degeneration of internal organs. In Group 4, histopathology revealed neoplastic mass with signs of malignancy, ultrastructurely exhibited pleomorphism, degenerated organelles with activated euo- and heterochromatin and cavitations of the cytoplasm. Groups 5 and 6 revealed much smaller neoplastic growth with necrosis and hemorrhage. The necrotic neoplastic cells replaced by empty cavities with congested blood vessels, the others showed pyknotic or karryolytic nuclei. In Groups 5 and 6, the electron microsopic appearance of the neoplastic growth exhibited degenerated and swollen cells with multiple cavitations. Most of the cytoplasmic organelles were degenerated with activation of lysozymes. It could be concluded that, both garlic and black seed minimize the histopathological and electron microscopic alterations of ETC in mice.
Short-term alpha- or gamma-delta-enriched tocopherol oil supplementation differentially affects the expression of proinflammatory mediators: selective impacts on characteristics of protein tyrosine nitration in vivo
Authors: Elsasser Ted H. , Kahl Stanislaw , Lebold Katie M. , Traber Maret G. , Shaffer Jessica , Li Cong-Jun , Block Stephanie
Published: May 2016

While vitamin E has been used for decades in cattle diets, the principle form used traditionally is the synthetic α-isoform acetate or succinate and largely no data exist on the biological partitioning or functionality of the major naturally occurring γ- and δ-isoforms in cattle. Using tyrosine 3’-nitrated protein (pNT) as a biomarker of nitrosative cell stress, we sought to evaluate the effectiveness of short-term feeding supplementation of high content natural α-tocopherol (α-T, 96% α-isomer) compared to high content γ- and δ-enriched low α-content mixed tocopherol oils (γ-T, ~70% γ-, 20% δ-, <5% α-isoform) to mitigate systemic and hepatic aspects of the proinflammatory response to endotoxin (LPS). Calves fed diets supplemented with α-T, γ-T for five days or no tocopherol supplement (T0E) were challenged with a low-level of LPS (0.25 μg/kg, iv, E. coli 055:B5) sufficient to effect a liver nitration response. As fed, α-T or γ-T increased plasma and liver content of the respective tocopherols reflecting their relative abundance in the respective diets. Plasma or tissue mediators and biomarkers of the proinflammatory response [plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, P<0.001), nitrate+nitrite (NOx, P<0.01), and serum amyloid A (SAA, P<0.001)], and general liver content of pNT (P<0.005) increased after LPS. LPS-mediated increases in TNF-α were not dif- ferent between diet treatments; both plasma NOx (P<0.05) and generalized liver pNT (P<0.03) responses were attenuated significantly in α-T and γ-T versus T0E calves. Plasma SAA was significantly decreased in γ-T calves at 24 h post-LPS relative to responses in α-T or T0E calves. The nitration of the mitochondrial proteins 24 h post-LPS was not only attenuated in α-T and γ-T vs T0E, but also the mitigating effect of γ-T on these specific nitration events was greater than that of α-T (P<0.01). Results are consistent with the concept that short-term α-T or γ-T supplementation can effectively decrease proinflammatory liver pNT after LPS; some mitochondrial nitration targets may be better protected with prophylactic supplementation with γ-,δ-tocopherol enriched oil.
Factors affecting gastrointestinal parasite infections in goats in semi-arid rural ecosystems in India
Authors: Sharma Dinesh Kumar , Mandal Ajoy
Published: May 2016

This study was undertaken in two adopted villages of a semi-arid zone of India (namely Mahuan and Bhahai) to assess the prevalence rates of different parasitic infections in goats and the various factors affecting them. In a 4-years study, the effect of various factors like year and season of sampling, farmer’s land holding, flock size, sex and age of the animals along with interactions, were observed and analyzed. The common parasites profile of both villages was equal. Coccidian infection in both villages (36.96 and 41.81 percent, respectively) was marked by the presence of Eimeria arliongi, E. ninakohlyakimovae, E. parva, E. caprina, E. alijevi species, while gastro-intestinal nematode infections (23.17 and 27.23 percent respectively) were dominated by the presence of Haemonchus contortus. The study revealed that different environmental factors, like farmer’s land holding, herd size and age of the animal, significantly influenced the load of coccidian infection. Among nematode ones, the effects of factors like herd size and age of the animals were significant on fecal egg count, whereas for Moniezial infection sampling year, land holding capacity of farmers and flock size had significant effect on fecal egg count of animals. We can conclude that the interaction effect between sampling village per sampling year had only a significant effect on coccidian infection of goats (P<0.05).
Patient perspectives about the healthcare of chronic musculoskeletal pain: Three patient cases
Authors: Ernstzen Dawn V. , Louw Quinette A. , Hillier Susan
Published: May 2016

Background: Consideration of the patient’s perspective in healthcare is important because it may inform holistic and contextually relevant management strategies.Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore patients’ experiences and perspectives about their chronic musculoskeletal (CMSK) pain and its management in the private healthcare sector in South Africa. This work was done as a pilot study to test, adapt and finalize an interview schedule.Methods: A descriptive, qualitative study was conducted. The sampling was purposive. Three patients with CMSK pain were recruited to participate in in-depth individual interviews. The interviews were recorded and transcribed ensuring confidentiality. Inductive, thematic content analyses of the transcripts were undertaken. Initial codes were assigned and a code book developed, which was applied to the transcripts to develop categories and themes.Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) the participants sought understanding about the pain’s origin and the reason for pain persistence; (2) pain impacted their lives in multiple ways; (3) the participants depended on healthcare providers (HCP) for guidance and support; and (4) they had the option of acceptance of chronic pain.Conclusion: The participants’ knowledge about their health condition had important implications as it influenced their perspectives on pain and its management. The pain presented the participants with several challenges, which included developing an understanding about pain and coping with the impact of pain in their lives. HCPs were perceived to play an important role in empowering or disempowering the participants.
Entropy generation by nanofluid with variable thermal conductivity and viscosity in a flat plate solar collector
Authors: Nasrin Rehena , Alim M. A.
Published: May 2016

The entropy generation by nanofluid with variable thermal conductivity and viscosity of assisted convective flow across a riser pipe of a horizontal flat plate solar collector is investigated numerically. The water based nanofluid with copper nanoparticles is used as the working fluid inside the fluid passing riser pipe. The governing partial differential equations with proper boundary conditions are solved by Finite Element Method using Galerkin’s weighted residual scheme with discretization by triangular mesh elements having six nodes. The effects of temperature dependent thermal conductivity and viscosity related to performance such as temperature, velocity and heat flux distributions, heat transfer rate, mean temperature and velocity, collector efficiency and mid-height temperature (dimensional), mean entropy generation and Bejan number of the nanofluid as well as base fluid are investigated systematically. The results show that the better performance of heat transfer through the collector is found by using the higher and lower values of variable thermal conductivity and viscosity respectively. Thermal efficiency improves about 8% using water/Cu nanofluid. Numerical result obtained from present study is validated with the result available in the literature.Keywords: Entropy generation, assisted convection, nanofluid, finite element method, variable thermal conductivity and viscosity.
Soret and Hall effects on unsteady MHD free convection flow of radiating and chemically reactive fluid past a moving vertical plate with ramped temperature in rotating system
Authors: Seth G. S. , Kumbhakar B. , Sarkar S.
Published: May 2016

Investigation of Soret and Hall effects on unsteady MHD free convection heat and mass transfer flow of a viscous, incompressible, electrically conducting and optically thick radiating fluid past an impulsively moving infinite vertical plate with ramped temperature through a uniform porous medium in a rotating system in the presence of first order chemical reaction is carried out. Exact analytical solution of the governing equations for fluid velocity, fluid temperature and species concentration subject to appropriate initial and boundary conditions is obtained using Laplace transform technique. Expressions for shear stress, rate of heat transfer and rate of mass transfer at the plate are derived for both ramped temperature and isothermal plates. The numerical values of primary and secondary fluid velocities, fluid temperature and species concentration are displayed graphically whereas those of shear stress and rate of mass transfer at the plate are presented in tabular form for various values of pertinent flow parameters.Keywords: Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), Hall current, chemical reaction, Soret effect, Ramped wall temperature.
MVMO-based approach for optimal placement and tuning of supplementary damping controller
Authors: Rueda Torres J.L> , Gonzalez-Longatt F
Published: May 2016

This paper introduces an approach based on the Swarm Variant of the Mean-Variance Mapping Optimization (MVMO-S) to solve the multi-scenario formulation of the optimal placement and coordinated tuning of power system supplementary damping controllers (POCDCs). The effectiveness of the approach is evaluated based on the classical IEEE 39-bus (New England) test system. Numerical results include performance comparisons with other metaheuristic optimization techniques, namely, comprehensive learning particle swarm optimization (CLPSO), genetic algorithm with multi-parent crossover (GA-MPC), differential evolution DE algorithm with adaptive crossover operator, linearized biogeography-based optimization with reinitialization (LBBO), and covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES).Keywords: Coordinated control, damping controllers, metaheuristics, small signal stability
Effect of varying experimental conditions on the viscosity of α-pinene derived secondary organic material
Authors: Grayson James W. , Zhang Yue , Mutzel Anke , Renbaum-Wolff Lindsay , Böge Olaf , Kamal Saeid , Herrmann Hartmut , Martin Scot T. , Bertram Allan K.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Knowledge of the viscosity of particles containing secondary organic material (SOM) is useful for predicting reaction rates and diffusion in SOM particles. In this study we investigate the viscosity of SOM particles as a function of relative humidity and SOM particle mass concentration, during SOM synthesis. The SOM was generated via the ozonolysis of α-pinene at < 5 % relative humidity (RH). Experiments were carried out using the poke-and-flow technique, which measures the experimental flow time (τexp, flow) of SOM after poking the material with a needle. In the first set of experiments, we show that τexp, flow increased by a factor of 3600 as the RH increased from < 0.5 RH to 50 % RH, for SOM with a production mass concentration of 121 µg m−3. Based on simulations, the viscosities of the particles were between 6  ×  105 and 5  ×  107 Pa s at < 0.5 % RH and between 3  ×  102 and 9  ×  103 Pa s at 50 % RH. In the second set of experiments we show that under dry conditions τexp, flow decreased by a factor of 45 as the production mass concentration increased from 121 to 14 000 µg m−3. From simulations of the poke-and-flow experiments, the viscosity of SOM with a production mass concentration of 14 000 µg m−3 was determined to be between 4  ×  104 and 1.5  ×  106 Pa s compared to between 6  ×  105 and 5  ×  107 Pa s for SOM with a production mass concentration of 121 µg m−3. The results can be rationalized by a dependence of the chemical composition of SOM on production conditions. These results emphasize the shifting characteristics of SOM, not just with RH and precursor type, but also with the production conditions, and suggest that production mass concentration and the RH at which the viscosity was determined should be considered both when comparing laboratory results and when extrapolating these results to the atmosphere.
Temporal and spectral cloud screening of polar-winter aerosol optical depth (AOD): impact of homogeneous and inhomogeneous clouds and crystal layers on climatological-scale AODs
Authors: O'Neill Norman T. , Baibakov Konstantin , Hesaraki Sareh , Ivanescu Liviu , Martin Randall V. , Perro Chris , Chaubey Jai P. , Herber Andreas , Duck Thomas J.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. We compared star photometry-derived, polar winter aerosol optical depths (AODs), acquired at Eureka, Nunavut, Canada and Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard with GEOS-Chem (GC) simulations as well as ground-based lidar and CALIOP retrievals. The results indicate significant cloud and/or low-altitude ice crystal (LIC) contamination which is only partially corrected using temporal cloud screening. Spatially homogeneous clouds and LICs that remain after temporal cloud screening represent an inevitable systematic error in the estimation of AOD: this error was estimated to vary from 78 % to 210 % at Eureka and from 2 % to 157 % at Ny-Ålesund. Lidar analysis indicated that LICs appeared to have a disproportionately large influence on the homogenous coarse mode optical depths that escape temporal cloud screening. In principle, spectral cloud screening (to yield fine mode or sub-micron AODs) reduces pre-cloud-screened AODs to the aerosol contribution if one assumes that coarse mode (super-micron) aerosols are a minor part of the AOD. Large, low frequency, differences between these retrieved values and their GC analogue appeared to be often linked to strong, spatially extensive planetary boundary layer events whose presence at either site was inferred from CALIOP profiles. These events were either not captured or significantly underestimated, by the GC simulations. High frequency AOD variations of GC fine mode aerosols at Ny-Ålesund were attributed to sea-salt (SS) while low frequency GC variations at Eureka and Ny-Ålesund were attributable to sulfates. CALIOP profiles and AODs were invaluable as spatial and temporal redundancy support (or, alternatively, as insightful points of contention) for star photometry retrievals and GC estimates of AOD.
Particulate matter (PM) episodes at a suburban site in Hong Kong: evolution of PM characteristics and role of photochemistry in secondary aerosol formation
Authors: Qin Yi Ming , Li Yong Jie , Wang Hao , Lee Berto Paul Yok Long , Huang Dan Dan , Chan Chak Keung
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Episodes with high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) across the seasons were investigated during four one-month campaigns at a suburban site in Hong Kong. High-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) measurements revealed that both regional transport and secondary formation contributed to high PM levels during the episodes at this site. Based on distinct meteorological conditions, episodes were categorized into three types: liquid water content (LWC), solar irradiance (IR), and long-range transport (LRT). Despite the difference in meteorological conditions, all episodes were characterized by a high fraction of sulfate (45 %–56 %) and organics (23 %–34 %). However, aerosols in LWC episodes were less aged, consisting of the lowest fraction of secondary organics aerosols (SOA) and the highest fraction of small particles. Large particles mixed internally while freshly formed small particles mixed externally in LWC episodes. Aerosols in LRT episodes, by contrast, were the most aged and consisted of the highest proportion of low-volatility oxygenated organic aerosols (LVOOA) and the lowest proportion of small particles. Both small and large particles mixed externally in LRT episodes. The highest proportion of semi-volatile oxygenated organic aerosols (SVOOA) and a medium proportion of small particles were observed in IR episodes. Both small and large particles were likely externally mixed during IR episodes. Unlike in the other two types of episodes, in IR episodes aerosols experienced the most dramatic size increase and diurnal variation, with a time lag between SVOOA and LVOOA and a gradual increase in carbon oxidation state (OSc ≈ 2 × O : C – H : C). Five out of ten episodes were of the IR type, further reflecting the importance of this type of episode. The evolution of aerosol components in one particular episode of the IR type, which exhibited a clear land-sea breeze pattern, was examined in detail. Sulfate and SOA due to photochemical aging were very efficiently produced during the course of six hours. The “fresh” SOA (SVOOA) was initially formed at a higher rate than the “aged” SOA (LVOOA). The SVOOA transformed to LVOOA at the later stage of photochemical aging. This tranformation was further supported by mass spectral analysis, which showed an increase in the most oxidized ion (CO2+) and decreases in moderately oxidized ones (C2H3O+, C3H3O+ and C3H5O+). By measuring the physical and chemical properties of PM in a highly time-resolved manner, the current study was able to demonstrate the dynamic and complex nature of PM transformation during high-PM episodes.
Maastrichtian carbon isotope stratigraphy and cyclostratigraphy of the Newfoundland Margin (Site U1403, IODP Leg 342)
Authors: Friedrich Oliver , Batenburg Sietske J. , Moriya Kazuyoshi , Voigt Silke , Cournède Cécile , Möbius Iris , Blum Peter , Bornemann André , Fiebig Jens , Hasegawa Takashi , Hull Pincelli M. , Norris Richard D. , Röhl Ursula , Westerhold Thomas , Wilson Paul A. ,   IODP Expedition
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Earth’s climate during the Maastrichtian (latest Cretaceous) was punctuated by brief warming and cooling episodes, accompanied by perturbations of the global carbon cycle. Superimposed on a long-term cooling trend, the middle Maastrichtian is characterized by deep-sea warming and relatively high values of stable carbon-isotope ratios, followed by strong climatic variability towards the end of the Cretaceous. A lack of knowledge on the timing of climatic change inhibits our understanding of underlying causal mechanisms. We present an integrated stratigraphy from Site U1403, providing an expanded deep ocean record from the North Atlantic (IODP Expedition 342, Newfoundland Margin). Distinct sedimentary cyclicity suggests that orbital forcing played a major role on depositional processes, which is confirmed by statistical analyses of high resolution elemental data obtained by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) scanning. Astronomical calibration reveals that the investigated interval encompasses seven 405-kyr cycles (Ma4051 to Ma4057) and spans 2.8 Myr directly preceding the Cretaceous/Paleocene (K/Pg) boundary. A high-resolution carbon-isotope record from bulk carbonates allows to identify global trends in the late Maastrichtian carbon cycle. Low-amplitude variations (up to 0.4 ‰), typical for open ocean settings, are compared to the hemipelagic Zumaia section (N-Spain), with a well-established independent cyclostratigraphic framework. Whereas the pre-K/Pg oscillations and the negative values of the Mid-Maastrichtian Event (MME) can be readily discerned in both records, patterns diverge around 67.5 Ma, with Site U1403 more reliably reflecting global climate change. Our new carbon isotope record and the established cyclostratigraphy from Site U1403 may serve as a future reference for detailed studies of late Maastrichtian events in the North Atlantic.
Effects of terracing on soil water and canopy transpiration of Chinese pine plantation in the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Zhang Handan , Wei Wei , Chen Liding , Wang Lixin
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Terracing has long been considered one of the most effective measures for soil water conservation and site improvement. However, the quantitative effects of terracing on soil water dynamics and vegetation water use have not been reported. To fill these knowledge gaps, in this study, soil water content and canopy transpiration were monitored in both terrace and slope environments in the semiarid Loess Plateau of China in 2014 and 2015. Results showed that terracing increased soil water content of different soil layers. Mean soil water content of the terrace site was 25.4 % and 13.7 % higher than that in the slope site in 2014 and 2015, and canopy transpiration at the terrace site increased by 9.1 % and 4.8 %, respectively. Canopy conductance at the terrace site was 3.9 % higher than that at the slope site and it decreased logarithmically with vapor pressure deficit. This study highlighted the critical role of terracing in increasing the soil water content and mitigating water stress in semiarid environments. Thus, terracing has the potential to enhance sustainable vegetation restoration in water-limited regions.
DTM generation with Radarsat-2 Data without GCP
Authors: Toutin T. , Omari K.
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Digital terain models (DTMs) were extracted from high-resolution Radarsat-2 stereo high-resolution images. The metadata supplied by MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates Ltd. were used to replace the ground control data used to compute for the deterministic geometric model. The DTMs are then evaluated with 0.2-m accurate lidar elevation data. Because DTMs included the height of land covers, elevation linear errors with 68 and 90 percent confidence level (LE68 and LE90) were both computed over the full study site and the bare surfaces. Comparisons were also performed with the same rigorous model using accurate differential GPS as ground control points (GCPs). Using the radargrammetric model using eight dGPS GCPs achieved the best results (3.3 m LE68) than using only the metadata (3.9 m LE68). However, this accuracy is compensated by the fact that the user does not have to collect any ground data, which offers a strong advantage in remote and harsh environments.
Predicted ripple dimensions in relation to the precision of in situ measurements
Authors: Krämer Knut , Winter Christian
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Ripples are common morphological features in sandy marine environments. Their shapes and dimensions are closely related to local sediment properties and the forcing by waves and currents. Numerous predictors for the geometry and hydraulic roughness of ripples exist but due to their empirical nature, they may fail to properly reflect conditions in the field. Here, situ measurements of ripple dimensions and their dynamics in a shallow shelf sea are reported. Technical and methodological limits of the detection of ripple dimensions and their dynamic evolution due to changing forcing are assessed. Methods of bed detection from sonar data and analysis of ripple dimensions in digital elevation models (DEM) are compared and evaluated. The range of measured ripple dimensions is quantified and compared to results of traditional and recent empirical predictors. The precision of measurements of bedform dimensions is taken as the repeatability of a measurement for inactive conditions and the accuracy of measurement is assessed via comparison to predicted dimensions. The precision of detection is limited to 10 % of the absolute ripple dimensions. The order of magnitude of the ripple dimension can be predicted by the empirical relations. However, these tend to return the height of the largest ripples rather than average heights. The application of different methods for detection of heights may result in derived form roughness heights by up to a factor of two.
Mechanisms of clay smear formation in unconsolidated sediments – insights from 3-D observations of excavated normal faults
Authors: Kettermann Michael , Thronberens Sebastian , Juarez Oscar , Urai Janos Lajos , Ziegler Martin , Asmus Sven , Krüger Ulrich
Published: May 2016

Abstract. Clay smears in normal faults can form seals for hydrocarbons and groundwater, and their prediction in the subsurface is an important problem in applied and basic geoscience. However, neither their complex 3-D structure, nor their processes of formation or destruction are well understood, and outcrop studies to date are mainly 2-D. We present a 3-D study of an excavated normal fault with clay smear, together with both source layers, in unlithified sand and clay of the Hambach open-cast lignite mine in Germany. The faults formed at a depth of 150 m, and have shale gouge ratios between 0.1 and 0.3. The fault zones are layered, with sheared sand, sheared clay and tectonically mixed sand–clay gouge. The thickness of clay smears in two excavated fault zones of 1.8 and 3.8 m2 is approximately log-normal, with values between 5 mm and 5 cm, without holes. The 3-D thickness distribution is heterogeneous. We show that clay smears are strongly affected by R and R' shears, mostly at the footwall side. These shears can locally cross and offset clay smears, forming holes in the clay smear, while thinning of the clay smear by shearing in the fault core is less important. The thinnest parts of the clay smears are often located close to source layer cut-offs. Locally, the clay smear consists of overlapping patches of sheared clay, separated by sheared sand. More commonly, it is one amalgamated zone of sheared sand and clay. A microscopic study of fault-zone samples shows that grain-scale mixing can lead to thickening of the low permeability smears, which may lead to resealing of holes.
A POLÍTICA COMO MOVIMENTO INDUTOR DO TRABALHO COLETIVO NAS ESCOLAS: O PROCESSO SINGULAR DE IMPLEMENTAÇÃO DA LEI FEDERAL 11.738/2008 NO MUNICÍPIO DE CURITIBA
Authors: Bellardo Waldirene Sawozuk , Dittrich Douglas Danilo , Frantz Maíra Gallotti
Published: May 2016

O pressuposto subjacente à construção deste trabalho acentua a capacidade do ente federado municipal em responder de modo singular às demandas inscritas na agenda nacional a partir das lacunas que circunscrevem o campo das políticas públicas e potencializam as disputas pelos distintos significados que assumem a produção das soluções para o problema posto na agenda. Nesse ínterim, intenta-se explicitar o modo peculiar de resposta dada pela Secretaria Municipal da Educação de Curitiba à demanda nacional de ampliação do tempo destinado à hora-atividade - prevista na Lei Federal 11.738/2008 (Lei do Piso). Aspecto indelével na análise deste trabalho diz respeito ao princípio da simultaneidade existente entre os distintos lócus de produção e significação das políticas. Destarte, a despeito dos movimentos contrários, dos obstáculos e das contradições próprias da movimentação política, o município de Curitiba elaborou um novo projeto de organização escolar, o qual potencializou pedagogicamente os preceitos legais da Lei Federal do Piso Nacional no que tange à hora-atividade, ressignificando a Permanência e induzindo o trabalho coletivo no interior das escolas. Este movimento político de reinterpretação e ressignificação da demanda local frente a uma determinada política nacional, foi analisado e sistematizado neste trabalho a partir dos pressupostos teóricos da Abordagem Sequencial. Palavras-chave: Política. Poder. Hora-atividade. Hora permanência. Trabalho coletivo. Lei do Piso Salarial Nacional.
UTILIZAÇÃO DOS LABORATÓRIOS PADRÃO MEC NAS ESCOLAS ESTADUAIS DO PARANÁ: O QUE DIZEM ESTUDANTES E PROFESSORES
Authors: Jorge Céuli Mariano
Published: May 2016

O artigo resulta de uma pesquisa realizada em 2014, em escolas estaduais do Paraná que receberam laboratórios padrão MEC de biologia, química, física e matemática, enviados pelo Governo Federal. O objetivo foi avaliar a utilização desses laboratórios, comparar com os dados obtidos na pesquisa realizada em 2013 e discutir elementos contributivos para a melhoria da efetivação das aulas práticas. Contemplou 3.969 estudantes e 397 professores do Ensino Médio, em 127 escolas, situados em 79 municípios. Teve como suporte teórico as atuais Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para o Ensino Médio, as quais apontam a pesquisa como princípio pedagógico e a importância em despertar a curiosidade científica nos estudantes. Priorizou uma análise qualitativa a partir dos dados quantitativos obtidos por meio de formulário respondido pelos estudantes e professores. Os dados mostram que as escolas apresentam laboratórios bem estruturados, em espaço apropriado, porém, as aulas práticas não estão sendo realizadas, e quando se realizam, não estimulam o interesse pela investigação e a ampliação do conhecimento pelos estudantes. A análise fornece elementos para discutir os fatores que interferem na efetivação e qualidade das aulas práticas.