bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods for detecting channel bed surface changes in a mountain torrent – experiences from the Dorfbach torrent
Authors: Willi C. , Graf C. , Deubelbeiss Y. , Keiler M.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. The erosion of and depositions on channel bed surfaces are instrumental to understanding debris flow processes. We present an overview of existing field methods and highlight their respective advantages and disadvantages. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), airborne laser scanning (ALS), erosion sensors, cross sections (CS) and geomorphological mapping are compared. Additionally, two of these approaches (i.e. TLS and CS) are tested and applied in the channel reaches of the torrent catchments. The results of the comparison indicate that the methods are associated with variable temporal and spatial resolution as well as data quality and invested effort. TLS data were able to quantify small-scale variations of erosion and deposition volumes. While the same changes could be detected with CS and geomorphological mapping, it was only possible with lower precision and coarser spatial resolution. The study presents a range of potential methods that can be applied accordingly to address the objectives and to support the analyses of specific applications. The availability of erosion data, acquired mainly by TLS and ALS, in combination with debris-flow monitoring data, provides promising sources of information to further support torrent risk management.
Boulder accumulations related to extreme wave events on the eastern coast of Malta
Authors: Biolchi S. , Furlani S. , Antonioli F. , Baldassini N. , Causon Deguara J. , Devoto S. , Di Stefano A. , Evans J. , Gambin T. , Gauci R. , Mastronuzzi G. , Monaco C. , Scicchitano G.
Published: October 2015

Abstract. The accumulation of large boulders related to waves generated either by tsunamis or extreme storm events has been observed in different areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Along the NE and E low-lying rocky coasts of Malta tens of large boulder deposits have been surveyed, measured and mapped. These boulders have been detached and moved from the seafloor and lowest parts of the coast by the action of sea waves. In the Sicily–Malta channel, heavy storms are common and originate from the NE and NW winds. Conversely, few severe earthquakes and tsunamis are recorded in historical documents to have hit the Maltese archipelago, originated by seismicity activity related mainly to the Malta Escarpment, the Sicily Channel Rift Zone and the Hellenic Arc. We present a multi-disciplinary study, which aims to define the characteristics of the boulder accumulations along the eastern coast of Malta, in order to assess the coastal geo-hazard implications triggered by the sheer ability of extreme waves to detach and move large rocky blocks inland. The wave heights required to transport coastal boulders were calculated using various hydrodynamic equations. Particular attention was devoted to the quantification of the input parameters required in the workings of these equations. The axis sizes of blocks were measured with 3-D digital photogrammetric techniques and their densities were obtained throughout the use of a N-type Schmidt Hammer. Moreover, AMS ages were obtained from selected marine organisms encrusted on some of the boulders in various coastal sites. The combination of the results obtained by hydrodynamic equations and the radiocarbon dating suggests that the majority of the boulders has been detached and moved by intense storm waves. Nonetheless, it is possible that some of them may have been transported by tsunami.
Growth and profitability on the emergent brazilian market
Authors:   Departamento de Economía Financiera y Contabilidad, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas y Empresariales, Av. Elvas s/n, 06071Badajoz (España). juliodaza@unex.es, Daza Izquierdo Julio
Published: October 2015

Currently, the emerging economies are taking the top positions globally. The consequences of the financial crisis have caused investors and companies manage their capital and effort to emerging markets for growth and corporate profitability that developed countries do not offer. In this context, the aim of this paper is to analyze firm growth in Brazil over the 1995-2011 period and, more precisely, its explanatory variables and its interrelationship with firm profitability. To that end, we firstly estimate a dynamic panel data regression model employing the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). Secondly, we employ a Vector Autoregressive (VAR) system to analyze the relationship between growth and profitability. Our main results indicate that to obtain higher rates of return provide increased business growth, but not vice versa. Also worth noting that business growth behavior is different depending on the ownership and control of companies. The findings provide a better understanding of the behavior of firm growth in Brazil being useful for making decision of entrepreneurs and investors, and can be used in the field of regional and social policy.
Academic spin-offs incubation strategies: the case of the Andalusian region
Authors:   Departamento de Economía Aplicada I, Facultad de Ciencias Económicas, Avda. Ramón y Cajal nº 1, 41071 Sevilla (España). rcaceres@us.es, Cáceres Carrasco F. Rafael , Aceytuno María Teresa ,   Departamento de Economía, Facultad de Ciencias Empresariales, Plaza de la Merced nº 11, 21071 Huelva (España). maria.aceytuno@dege.uhu.es
Published: October 2015

The objective of this paper is to analyze the incubation strategies developed in the universities of Andalusia, a relatively low-income region of Spain, to promote the creation of university spin-offs. These strategies are also compared to the incubation models noted in the literature. The performance of the university spin-offs created and its relation to the incubation strategies developed by the university are also analysed. The analysis is based on data from a survey of nine public universities that carry out strategies for the promotion of university spin-offs. The result of the analysis shows that university spin-off incubation strategies in Andalusia present specific characteristics not covered by certain models that are well-known in the literature on innovation. Then, a new stage in the process of the university spin-off incubation is proposed. We consider it to be a pre-strategic stage to the academic spin-off incubation strategies. The analysis also finds certain environmental factors associated to those spin-offs promoted by Andalusian universities that achieve the highest level of performance. This result suggests that previous to making any decision involving investment into developing incubation strategies, universities should gauge whether they have sufficient resources and the possibilities of connecting with a Technology Park.
Traditional budgeting during financial crisis
Authors:   ESCP Europe, Campus Madrid, C/ Arroyofresno 1, 28035 Madrid (España). mlorain@escpeurope.eu, Lorain Marie Anne , García Domonte Aurora ,   Departamento de Gestión Financiera, Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE, C/ Alberto Aguilera 23, 28015 Madrid (España). agdomonte@comillas.edu, Sastre Peláez Francisco ,   Departamento de Gestión Financiera, Universidad Pontificia Comillas – ICADE, C/ Alberto Aguilera 23, 28015 Madrid (España). fsastre@comillas.edu
Published: October 2015

This study examines the evolution of budgeting practices in the extremely difficult Spanish economic environment. In order to analyse if companies are still maintaining their budgeting process and if, right now, they are facing more difficulties in forecasting accurate indicators, two similar web surveys were addressed over two periods of time, firstly in 2008 at the beginning of the financial crisis, and secondly in 2013 after five years of a downward trend. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted to investigate how companies brought more flexibility to their budgeting process in order to cope with environmental uncertainty. The survey indicates that 97% of respondents are still using a traditional budgeting process being this result similar to the one found in 2008. However, 2013 showed that the reliance on forecasted information is being increasingly questioned. Furthermore the study revealed that the respondents are bringing more flexibility to their processes, being able to modify the objectives once the budget is approved and to obtain new resources outside the budgeting process. This paper contributes to revealing information about difficulties in setting reliable objectives in a turbulent environment and provides data about the evolution of budgeting practices over five years during an austere economic crisis.
“Seen and Heard”
Authors: Maxam Kijan
Published: October 2015

This article examines the role of religious communities as spaces of belonging and inclusion. Deliverance Tabernacle, a small church located in the Dudley Square section of Tivoli Gardens, provides a community of care in which residents, specifically women and youth, receive recognition and affirmation unavailable to them in mainstream Jamaican society. Their engagement and participation in the church contrasts with the alienation they experience from the state, evinced here in victims' experiences with offering testimonies to the West Kingston Commission of Enquiry.
Contextualizing the Late Minoan Tombs of the Western Siteia Mountains
Authors: Koh Andrew J. , Clinton Miriam G.
Published: October 2015

Scholars have long been aware of tombs in the western Siteia foothills of Crete, dating to the end of the Bronze Age and yielding an array of notable finds. While detailed analyses of these finds have been invaluable, the settlements to which the tombs were tied have proven elusive. Using topographic and GIS studies, this article analyzes the broader archaeology of these foothills to link the burials to their settlements. We now know that the tombs were part of a bustling landscape, one that adapted the preexisting settlement hierarchy of the region during a period of both continuity and change. This has important implications for current narratives of collapse and shows that life, though undoubtedly altered, did not end abruptly with the Bronze Age.
Fast Trajectory Planning for VGT Manipulator via Convex Optimization
Authors: Yang Yongsheng , Jiang Bosen , Hu Shiqiang
Published: October 2015

Variable-geometry truss (VGT) can be used as joints in a large, lightweight, high load-bearing manipulator for many industrial applications. This paper introduces the modelling process of a multisection three-degree-freedom double octahedral VGT manipulator and proposes a new point-to-point trajectory planning algorithm for a VGT manipulator with a nonlinear convex optimization approach. The trajectory planning problem is converted to a quadratic convex optimization problem, and if some parameters are appropriately chosen the proposed algorithm is proved to be of global convergence and to have a super-linear convergence rate. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is illustrated by numerical simulation.
Extended-Search, Bézier Curve-Based Lane Detection and Reconstruction System for an Intelligent Vehicle
Authors: Huang Xiaoyun , Gao Feng , Xu Guoyan , Ding Nenggen , Li Liujun , Cai Yao
Published: October 2015

To improve the real-time performance and detection rate of a Lane Detection and Reconstruction (LDR) system, an extended-search-based lane detection method and a Bézier curve-based lane reconstruction algorithm are proposed in this paper. The extended-search-based lane detection method is designed to search boundary blocks from the initial position, in an upwards direction and along the lane, with small search areas including continuous search, discontinuous search and bending search in order to detect different lane boundaries. The Bézier curve-based lane reconstruction algorithm is employed to describe a wide range of lane boundary forms with comparatively simple expressions. In addition, two Bézier curves are adopted to reconstruct the lanes' outer boundaries with large curvature variation. The lane detection and reconstruction algorithm — including initial-blocks' determining, extended search, binarization processing and lane boundaries' fitting in different scenarios — is verified in road tests. The results show that this algorithm is robust against different shadows and illumination variations; the average processing time per frame is 13 ms. Significantly, it presents an 88.6% high-detection rate on curved lanes with large or variable curvatures, where the accident rate is higher than that of straight lanes.
CF-Pursuit: A Pursuit Method with a Clothoid Fitting and a Fuzzy Controller for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Shan Yunxiao , Yang Wei , Chen Cheng , Zhou Jian , Zheng Ling , Li Bijun
Published: October 2015

Simple and efficient geometric controllers, like Pure-Pursuit, have been widely used in various types of autonomous vehicles to solve tracking problems. In this paper, we have developed a new pursuit method, named CF-Pursuit, which has been based on Pure-Pursuit but with certain differences. In CF-Pursuit, in order to reduce fitting errors, we used a clothoid C1 curve to replace the circle employed in Pure-Pursuit. This improvement to the fitting method helps the Pursuit method to decrease tracking errors. As regards the selection of look-ahead distance, we employed a fuzzy system to directly consider the path's curvature. There are three input variables in this fuzzy system, 6 mcurvature, 9 mcurvature and 12 mcurvature, calculated from the clothoid fit with the current position and the goal position on the defined path. A Sugeno fuzzy model was adapted to output a reasonable look-ahead distance using the experiences of human drivers as well as our own tests. Compared with some other geometric controllers, CF-Pursuit performs better in robustness, cross track errors and stability. The results from field tests have proven the CF-Pursuit is a practical and efficient geometric method for the path tracking problems of autonomous vehicles.
La satisfacción de la vida laboral de los enfermeros de las unidades móviles de emergencias de la Región de Murcia
Authors: Carrillo-García César , Ríos-Rísquez María Isabel , Fernández-Cánovas María Luisa , Celdrán-Gil Francisco , Vivo-Molina María Del Carmen , Martínez-Roche María Emilia
Published: October 2015

 El análisis de la satisfacción laboral es un indicador de la calidad del servicio prestado, convirtiéndose de forma indirecta, en un instrumento para mejorar la calidad de la atención sanitaria.
Objetivo: Analizar la satisfacción laboral de los profesionales de enfermería de las Unidades Móviles de Emergencias de la Región de Murcia.
Metodología: Estudio cuantitativo de corte transversal, con una muestra de conveniencia de 77 profesionales de enfermería de las Unidades Móviles de Emergencias, realizado en febrero/abril de 2013. Se utilizó la escala NTP 394: Satisfacción Laboral: escala general de satisfacción. Se procedió al análisis descriptivo y estadístico de asociación de variables con el programa estadístico SPSS (v.15).
Resultados: La participación fue del 90,58%. Los resultados del estudio reflejan una satisfacción general media (M=72.12; DT=13,97), los “compañeros de trabajo” y el “horario de trabajo” son los aspectos mejor evaluados.
Conclusiones: Este estudio mostró un elevado nivel de satisfacción laboral de los profesionales de enfermería de las Unidades Móviles de Emergencias de la Región de Murcia. No obstante, la detección de facetas laborales que producen insatisfacción constituye una herramienta importante para el establecimiento de acciones de mejora por parte de los gestores de las organizaciones de salud.
Investigación colombiana en enfermería. Un análisis bibliométrico de su visibilidad en ISI WoS (2001-2013)
Authors: Gregorio-Chaviano Orlando , Méndez-Rátiva Claudia Patricia , Peralta González María Josefa , Frías Guzmán Maylin
Published: October 2015

Objetivo: Evaluar el comportamiento de la actividad científica colombiana en enfermería visible en ISI WoS en el período 2001-2013 para conocer tendencias y regularidades.

Métodos: Se emplea el método descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo de utilidad en los análisis bibliométricos. La búsqueda se realizó utilizando los descriptores Nursing y Colombia con lo cual se obtienen 133 registros. Luego de un proceso de normalización, se examinaron 118 documentos publicados por 526 autores para estudiar la productividad de variables como autores, instituciones, descriptores y revistas, así como la distribución temporal y las redes de colaboración de autores, descriptores y la co-citación de autores y documentos.

Resultados: Se visualiza un decrecimiento en la producción anual de documentos, similar a las citas recibidas por año. El español como principal idioma de publicación de las contribuciones, donde el 40% de la producción científica está publicada en la Revista Aquichán y un 62.4% en universidades del país con enfoque a publicar sobre temas de cuidados en enfermería. Por medio del método de  análisis de Redes Sociales se obtienen matrices de colaboración y co-citación las cuales permiten concluir la existencia de pocos autores altamente citados, la no presencia de relaciones fuertes de colaboración y diversidad de términos relacionados con áreas clínicas, administrativas y sociales de la enfermería.

Conclusiones: La actividad científica presenta un aumento en la cantidad de documentos y citas anuales, aspecto que ha llevado a ganar en visibilidad y reconocimiento en la comunidad científica internacional, aspecto que se percibe en los indicadores obtenidos en la investigación.  
Evaluación de una intervención de Enfermería para prevenir la coagulación del circuito extracorpóreo en hemodiálisis
Authors: Tobo Medina Natalia
Published: October 2015

La coagulación en el circuito extracorpóreo es una de las complicaciones de la hemodiálisis. Para reducir su ocurrencia se requiere el diseño y estandarización de la intervención de enfermería, adicional a la anticoagulación farmacológica.

Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad de una intervención de enfermería para prevenir la coagulación en el circuito extracorpóreo en hemodiálisis.

Métodos: Estudio cuasi experimental en grupos no concurrentes en 20 individuos seleccionados aleatoriamente.  Se hicieron 120 observaciones, 60 con el  protocolo institucional y 60 con el plan de intervención. Se empleó porcentajes, media, desviación estándar, t-Student y la prueba de los signos de Wilcoxon. Se aceptó significancia estadística p≤0.05.

Resultados: Hubo diferencias significativas en la disminución de la coagulación en el circuito extracorpóreo entre las sesiones sin y con la intervención, p≤0.05. La cámara arterial fue la de  mayor número de eventos, 58% sin intervención, vs. 6.6% con intervención. Le siguió la cámara venosa con 35% vs. 3.3%.

Conclusión: Los resultados apoyan la efectividad del plan propuesto, sugiriendo la importancia de esas acciones y su estandarización para aportar una mejor calidad de la terapia.
Percepción de la actividad física en estudiantes de enfermería frente a fisioterapia
Authors: Moreno Collazos Jorge Enrique , Cruz Bermúdez Harold Fabián
Published: October 2015

La actividad física en la actualidad se convierte en una estrategia de prevención de enfermedades, la percepción de los profesionales en formación se convierte en un proceso importante al momento de generar estrategias de intervención en la población.

Objetivo: Establecer la percepción frente a la realización de actividad física en estudiantes de dos programas de ciencias de la salud.

Método: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal descriptivo e inferencial en estudiantes de primero y segundo semestre de la Universidad de la Sabana. Chía, Colombia.

Resultados: La población de estudio estuvo conformada por 99 estudiantes; en la evaluación de la percepción frente a la actividad física se evidencian diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los estudiantes (p=0,000)

Discusión: La percepción frente a la actividad física es importante al momento de generar estilos de vida saludable en la población, la actividad física es un factor determinante en estilos de vida saludable.
El cuidado de enfermeria ante los procesos quirúrgicos estéticos
Authors: Laguado Jaimes Elveny , Yaruro Bacca Karol Yadira , Hernández Calderón Emily Jurani
Published: October 2015

Introducción: El cuidado de enfermería dado en diferentes situaciones no puede estar ajeno al auge de las cirugías estéticas y su relación con la construcción social y cultural del significado del cuerpo, y las respuestas humanas de las personas que deben ser intervenidas. Desde algunas perspectivas sociológicas se describe la influencia de los paradigmas estéticos sobre los ideales y las prácticas de transformación actuales que se realizan los individuos para alcanzar la belleza que se instaura en la sociedad actual.

Objetivo: Fundamentar las intervenciones de enfermería para el manejo de los síntomas desagradables en el posoperatorio de cirugías estéticas, de igual forma  determinar las causas para realizarse los procedimientos.

Método: Revisión bibliográfica y documental en bases de datos SciELO,  Scopus, SCience Direct; se utilizan palabras claves como: cirugía, estética, educativo, ansiedad, dolor, cirugía plástica, cuidados, proceso quirúrgico, posoperatorio, preoperatorio, educación, guía de atención, síntomas desagradables, enfermería.

Conclusiones: La cirugía estética es un campo emergente y poco abordado por parte de los profesionales de enfermería; entre las causas los estereotipos, el uso y la percepción que se tiene del cuerpo nunca se ha mantenido al margen de la propia condición corporal. La educación preoperatoria  herramienta de enfermería para ayudar al afrontamiento del proceso en el posoperatorio; así como el apoyo social y familiar en esta persona es determinante, aumenta el afrontamiento y disminuye niveles de ansiedad y de igual forma brindar un proceso educativo a la familia.
Le paysage africain : ancestral ou colonial ?
Authors: Collot Michel
Published: October 2015

La notion de « paysage », telle que l’a forgée la culture européenne depuis la Renaissance, convient-elle pour caractériser les rapports que les sociétés et les consciences africaines entretiennent avec leur environnement ? Le paysage semble absent de la tradition orale : sa présence dans les littératures néo-africaines tient-elle seulement à ce que leurs auteurs ont été imprégnés par la culture occidentale ? Revenant sur l’histoire et sur les traits essentiels de la conception européenne du « paysage », Michel Collot fait apparaître ce qui la distingue de la tradition africaine ; mais il souligne que l’évolution récente de l’expression littéraire et artistique du paysage en Occident conduit à relativiser cette opposition, comme le montre par exemple la poésie de Léopold Sedar Senghor.
Les paysages du Karoo dans la littérature sud-africaine : une esthétique de l’indicible
Authors: Samin Richard
Published: October 2015

Dans l’introduction à son recueil d’essais sur la littérature sud-africaine blanche White Writing (1988), J.M. Coetzee soutient que les premiers colons européens en Afrique australe, devant l’aspect étrange et impénétrable des nouveaux paysages qui s’offraient à eux, ont éprouvé le besoin de se les approprier culturellement, de les humaniser en y projetant des modèles esthétiques qui leur étaient plus familiers, comme le paysage pastoral. J.M. Coetzee prolonge sa réflexion en affirmant que ce qui manquait à ces premiers colons, c’était une langue avec laquelle ils puissent s’adresser à l’Afrique, plus précisément une « langue adaptée à l’Afrique, une langue qui soit authentiquement africaine ». Le but de cette communication est de montrer que le Karoo, cette région semi-aride et géologiquement tourmentée du sud-est de l’Afrique du Sud, qui sert de cadre emblématique à de nombreux récits fictifs chez des romanciers sud-africains blancs (J.M. Coetzee, André Brink, Etienne Van Heerden, etc.), constitue un défi constant, sinon obsédant, auquel ils se confrontent. Il s’agira d’analyser en particulier, à la lumière des remarques de J.M. Coetzee, comment ces écrivains interrogent obstinément ces paysages en recherchant des formes linguistiques et narratives susceptibles de réduire leur caractère aliénant et mystérieux qui met à l’épreuve leur identité. Il s’agira aussi d’analyser comment leurs représentations du Karoo se muent en un lieu mythique et métaphorique où se réinscrivent, et parfois se rejouent, les enjeux historiques de la colonisation et où s’engendrent les interrogations, voire les incertitudes, sur la présence européenne en Afrique.
Précarité des populations francophones âgées vivant en situation linguistique minoritaire
Authors: Bouchard Louise , Batal Malek , Imbeault Pascal , Sedigh Golnaz , Silva Erika E. , Sucha Ewa
Published: October 2015

Le vieillissement des populations s’est considérablement accentué ces dernières décennies et ce plus particulièrement pour la population francophone vivant en situation linguistique minoritaire au Canada. Nos analyses secondaires de l’Enquête sur la santé des collectivités canadiennes (ESCC) révèlent qu’une grande proportion d’aînés francophones n’a pas de diplôme d’études secondaires et se situe dans le quintile de revenu le plus faible. Des analyses multidimensionnelles des données montrent que les déterminants de la pauvreté tels que le revenu et l’éducation exercent une influence sur la pauvreté des personnes âgées, mais que la langue et l’appartenance à la minorité francophone y contribuent de façon spécifique, ce qui constitue une donnée nouvelle.
La prise en compte du français dans l’organisation des services en foyers de soins majoritairement anglophones au Canada
Authors: Michaud Jacques , Forgues Éric , Guignard Noël Josée
Published: October 2015

L’accès aux services de santé en français préoccupe grandement les communautés francophones vivant en situation minoritaire. Le présent article offre un survol de l’espace francophone dans les résidences collectives d’aînés du Nouveau-Brunswick, de la Nouvelle-Écosse et de l’Ontario à la lumière d’une recherche exploratoire menée en 2012. L’analyse des données obtenues auprès d’aînés, d’aidants et du personnel, l’examen de la répartition géographique des résidences et de la population d’aînés francophones, ainsi qu’un aperçu du contexte réglementaire encadrant le fonctionnement de ces résidences permettent de définir la problématique pertinente. Des actions en vue d’améliorer la situation sont examinées.
Les politiques minières en Asie du Sud-Est
Authors: Mottet Éric
Published: October 2015

Cet article examine les stratégies mises en place par les États et par les acteurs non étatiques dans la course aux ressources minérales de la région. En Asie du Sud-Est, le secteur minier n’est certes pas l’unique outil employé pour assurer le développement économique et infrastructurel des États et des populations. Il s’impose toutefois de plus en plus comme un atout stratégique pour les pays de la région. Du fait des convoitises qu’elles suscitent et des richesses qu’elles procurent, les ressources minérales présentes dans le sous-sol de la région sont intégrées comme un élément central dans les politiques nationales de développement et dans la pensée géostratégique élaborée par les États de l’Asie du Sud-Est.
Structures intersubjectives et design des engagements internationaux
Authors: Mougnok Cyprien Bassamagne
Published: October 2015

La plupart des travaux traitant du design des engagements internationaux insistent sur la rationalité des acteurs, laquelle leur permet, face à plusieurs options, de choisir celle qui répond de façon optimale à leurs intérêts. Si ces travaux représentent une contribution remarquable à l’analyse des variations du comportement des États au sein des institutions internationales, ils négligent cependant le rôle des structures intersubjectives dans la construction des intérêts des États. À l’exception de quelques travaux théoriques qui soulignent cette limite d’ordre épistémologique, rares sont les études de cas qui s’y consacrent. Le propos central de cette étude qui s’inspire de la décision du Chili d’être membre associé au Mercosur est de démontrer que le design des engagements internationaux constitue certes un choix rationnel de la part des États, mais que ce choix est avant tout conditionné par les identités des États.
TAPBPR alters MHC class I peptide presentation by functioning as a peptide exchange catalyst
Authors: Hermann Clemens , van Hateren Andy , Trautwein Nico , Neerincx Andreas , Duriez Patrick J , Stevanović Stefan , Trowsdale John , Deane Janet E , Elliott Tim , Boyle Louise H
Published: October 2015

Our understanding of the antigen presentation pathway has recently been enhanced with the identification that the tapasin-related protein TAPBPR is a second major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-specific chaperone. We sought to determine whether, like tapasin, TAPBPR can also influence MHC class I peptide selection by functioning as a peptide exchange catalyst. We show that TAPBPR can catalyse the dissociation of peptides from peptide-MHC I complexes, enhance the loading of peptide-receptive MHC I molecules, and discriminate between peptides based on affinity in vitro. In cells, the depletion of TAPBPR increased the diversity of peptides presented on MHC I molecules, suggesting that TAPBPR is involved in restricting peptide presentation. Our results suggest TAPBPR binds to MHC I in a peptide-receptive state and, like tapasin, works to enhance peptide optimisation. It is now clear there are two MHC class I specific peptide editors, tapasin and TAPBPR, intimately involved in controlling peptide presentation to the immune system.
Looking for blood
Authors: Formaglio Pauline , Amino Rogerio
Published: October 2015

In vivo imaging has revealed new details about how the malaria parasite enters the bloodstream.
D&O Insurance and Corporate Investment Efficiency *
Authors: Chen Xinyuan , Zhu Kai , Li Nan
Published: October 2015

This paper investigates the effect of directors and officers liability insurance (D&O insurance) on firm investment behaviour. Under the Chinese institutional environment, we analyse the relationship between D&O insurance and firms’ capital expenditure decisions. We find that compared with firms without D&O insurance, firms with D&O insurance will invest more with free cash flow and that their investment efficiency decreases. We get the same findings when we compare the investment behaviour of the same company between a period with D&O insurance and a period without D&O insurance. Our findings imply that improving the effect of D&O insurance on corporate governance should rely on the development of minority shareholder protection under the existing institutional environment.
Forecasting patient length of stay in an emergency department by artificial neural networks
Authors: GUL Muhammet , Guneri Ali Fuat
Published: October 2015

Emergency departments (EDs) have faced with high patient demand during peak hours in comparison to the other departments of hospitals because of their complexity and uncertainty. Therefore prolonged waiting times in EDs have caused the dissatisfaction on patients. Patient length of stay (LOS), also known as patient throughput time, is generally considered to be the length of time that passes from the patient’s time of arrival at the ED until time of discharge or transfer to another department of the hospital. Starting from patient admissions to the EDs it becomes important have to be known the overall LOS in terms of right resource allocation and efficient utilization of the department. For this purpose this paper aims to forecast patient LOS using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) within the input factors that are predictive such as patient age, sex, mode of arrival, treatment unit, medical tests and inspection in the ED. The method can be used to provide insights to ED medical staff (doctors, nurses etc.) determining patient LOS.
Pore size is a critical parameter for obtaining sustained protein release from electrochemically synthesized mesoporous silicon microparticles
Authors: Pastor Ester L. , Reguera-Nuñez Elaine , Matveeva Eugenia , Garcia-Fuentes Marcos
Published: October 2015

Mesoporous silicon has become a material of high interest for drug delivery due to its outstanding internal surface area and inherent biodegradability. We have previously reported the preparation of mesoporous silicon microparticles (MS-MPs) synthesized by an advantageous electrochemical method, and showed that due to their inner structure they can adsorb proteins in amounts exceeding the mass of the carrier itself. Protein release from these MS-MPs showed low burst effect and fast delivery kinetics with complete release in a few hours. In this work, we explored if tailoring the size of the inner pores of the particles would retard the protein release process. To address this hypothesis, three new MS-MPs prototypes were prepared by electrochemical synthesis, and the resulting carriers were characterized for morphology, particle size, and pore structure. All MS-MP prototypes had 90 µm mean particle size, but depending on the current density applied for synthesis, pore size changed between 5 and 13 nm. The model proteinα-chymotrypsinogen was loaded into MS-MPs by adsorption and solvent evaporation. In the subsequent release experiments, no burst release of the protein was detected for any prototype. However, prototypes with larger pores (>10 nm) reached 100% release in 24–48 h, whereas prototypes with small mesopores (<6 nm) still retained most of their cargo after 96 h. MS-MPs with ∼6 nm pores were loaded with the osteogenic factor BMP7, and sustained release of this protein for up to two weeks was achieved. In conclusion, our results confirm that tailoring pore size can modify protein release from MS-MPs, and that prototypes with potential therapeutic utility for regional delivery of osteogenic factors can be prepared by convenient techniques.
Alternative Splicing Signatures in RNA‐seq Data: Percent Spliced in (PSI)
Authors: Schafer Sebastian , Miao Kui , Benson Craig C. , Heinig Matthias , Cook Stuart A. , Hubner Norbert
Published: October 2015

Thousands of alternative exons are spliced out of messenger RNA to increase protein diversity. High‐throughput sequencing of short cDNA fragments (RNA‐seq) generates a genome‐wide snapshot of these post‐transcriptional processes. RNA‐seq reads yield insights into the regulation of alternative splicing by revealing the usage of known or unknown splice sites as well as the expression level of exons. Constitutive exons are never covered by split alignments, whereas alternative exonic parts are located within highly expressed splicing junctions. The ratio between reads including or excluding exons, also known as percent spliced in index (PSI), indicates how efficiently sequences of interest are spliced into transcripts. This protocol describes a method to calculate the PSI without prior knowledge of splicing patterns. It provides a quantitative, global assessment of exon usage that can be integrated with other tools that identify differential isoform processing. Novel, complex splicing events along a genetic locus can be visualized in an exon‐centric manner and compared across conditions. © 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Atmosphere‐ocean coupled processes in the Madden‐Julian oscillation
Authors: DeMott Charlotte A. , Klingaman Nicholas P. , Woolnough Steven J.
Published: October 2015

The Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) is a convectively coupled 30–70 day (intraseasonal) tropical atmospheric mode that drives variations in global weather but which is poorly simulated in most atmospheric general circulation models. Over the past two decades, field campaigns and modeling experiments have suggested that tropical atmosphere‐ocean interactions may sustain or amplify the pattern of enhanced and suppressed atmospheric convection that defines the MJO and encourage its eastward propagation through the Indian and Pacific Oceans. New observations collected during the past decade have advanced our understanding of the ocean response to atmospheric MJO forcing and the resulting intraseasonal sea surface temperature fluctuations. Numerous modeling studies have revealed a considerable impact of the mean state on MJO ocean‐atmosphere coupled processes, as well as the importance of resolving the diurnal cycle of atmosphere‐upper ocean interactions. New diagnostic methods provide insight to atmospheric variability and physical processes associated with the MJO but offer limited insight on the role of ocean feedbacks. Consequently, uncertainty remains concerning the role of the ocean in MJO theory. Our understanding of how atmosphere‐ocean coupled processes affect the MJO can be improved by collecting observations in poorly sampled regions of MJO activity, assessing oceanic and atmospheric drivers of surface fluxes, improving the representation of upper ocean mixing in coupled model simulations, designing model experiments that minimize mean state differences, and developing diagnostic tools to evaluate the nature and role of coupled ocean‐atmosphere processes over the MJO cycle.
Anticipating the Anthropocene
Authors: Trachtenberg Zev
Published: October 2015

There is an important precedent in the history of ideas for the Anthropocene proposal. This is not found in the precursors that have been proposed to the formal scientific concept, but rather in the work of the eighteenth‐century social theorist Jean‐Jacques Rousseau. I argue that Rousseau's speculative account of the development of human society models a way of viewing the condition of the physical environment as an expression of the social and economic institutions that support human beings' way of life.
Phanerozoic surface history of southern Peninsular India from apatite (U‐Th‐Sm)/He data
Authors: Mandal Sanjay Kumar , Fellin Maria Giuditta , Burg Jean‐Pierre , Maden Colin
Published: October 2015

Quantifying bedrock cooling history is crucial for understanding the long‐term landform evolution across passive margins and its control onto the sediment routing system. To constrain the low‐temperature cooling history and its relationships to the Phanerozoic tectonic events of southern Peninsular India, we present new apatite (U‐Th‐Sm)/He (AHe) analyses of 39 Precambrian basement samples. The new AHe ages range from 38.1 ± 6.8 to 364.2 ± 44.6 Ma: they are younger than 50 Ma in the Palghat Gap region and older than 200 Ma in the interior of the Deccan Plateau. Thermal modeling based on AHe data indicates enhanced cooling and exhumation in the interior of the Deccan Plateau by Permian‐Triassic times followed by gradual cooling up to the Present. This discrete episode of Permian‐Triassic cooling is associated with continental extension that preceded the Early Jurassic breakup of Gondwana. Bedrock cooling and exhumation on the southeastern and southern limits of the Deccan Plateau was likely accomplished by Late Cretaceous drainage reorganization. The distribution of old (>200 Ma) AHe ages over the >2600 m high Nilgiri Plateau reflects very low erosion/exhumation rates and adds to examples of long‐lived postorogenic topography. The relatively younger AHe ages from the ∼30 km wide low mountain pass (Palghat Gap) within the Western Ghat Mountains attest for intense Cenozoic erosion likely facilitated by the erodible lithological backbone of the Neoproterozoic shear zone. AHe ages across the western coastal plain challenge the widely hold notion of ∼3 km of post‐breakup isostatic rebound in response to erosion of the margin. Instead, the new AHe data are more compatible with less than 1–1.5 km of crustal denudation along the coastal strip.
A GRACE‐based assessment of interannual groundwater dynamics in the Community Land Model
Authors: Swenson S. C. , Lawrence D. M.
Published: October 2015

The estimation of groundwater storage variations is important for quantifying available water resources and managing storage surpluses to alleviate storage deficiencies during droughts. This is particularly true in semi‐arid regions, where multiyear droughts can be common. To complement the local information provided by soil moisture and well level measurements, land models such as the Community Land Model (CLM) can be used to simulate regional scale water storage variations. CLM includes a bulk aquifer model to simulate saturated water storage dynamics below the model soil column. Aquifer storage increases when it receives recharge from the overlying soil column, and decreases due to lateral flow (i.e., base flow) and capillary rise. In this study, we examine the response of the CLM aquifer model to transitions between low and high recharge inputs, and show that the model simulates unrealistic long‐period behavior relative to total water storage (TWS) observations from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE). We attribute the model's poor response to large wetting events to the lack of a finite lower boundary in the bulk aquifer model. We show that by removing the bulk aquifer model and adding a zero‐flux boundary condition at the base of the soil column, good agreement with GRACE observations can be achieved. In addition, we examine the sensitivity of simulated total water storage to the depth at which the zero‐flux boundary is applied, i.e., the thickness of the soil column. Based on comparisons to GRACE, an optimal soil thickness map is constructed. Simulations using the modified CLM with the derived soil thickness map are shown to perform as well or better than standard CLM simulations. The improvements in simulated, climatically induced, long‐period water storage variability will reduce the uncertainty in GRACE‐based estimates of anthropogenic groundwater depletion.
An examination of the stability of interpersonal hostile‐dominance and its relationship with psychiatric symptomatology and post‐discharge aggression
Authors: Podubinski Tegan , Lee Stuart , Hollander Yitzchak , Daffern Michael
Published: October 2015

The relevance of interpersonal hostile‐dominance (HD) to post‐discharge aggression in mental health patients is unclear. This study assessed whether (1) HD is stable over time; (2) the relationship between HD and positive, negative, disorganized, and excited symptoms is consistent over time; and (3) HD is related to aggression post‐discharge. Two hundred psychiatric inpatients were recruited on admission to hospital; 41 were available for follow‐up at 6 months post‐discharge, including 29 men and 12 women, with an age range of 19–63 (M = 39.63 years, SD = 12.69 years). Psychiatric symptomatology and interpersonal style were assessed at recruitment and follow‐up; aggression in the community post‐discharge was measured at follow‐up. Results showed that (1) HD was stable over time despite an overall reduction in psychiatric symptoms, (2) HD was positively correlated with symptom severity at both time points, and (3) higher HD, excited symptoms, and positive symptoms measured in the community, and more severe positive symptoms measured in hospital, were associated with aggressive behavior post‐discharge. These results suggest that HD is a risk factor for more severe psychopathology. Furthermore, HD, positive symptoms, and excited symptoms measured in the community act as risk factors for aggressive behavior post‐discharge. As such, treatment planning and risk assessment should consider HD. Aggr. Behav. 42:324–332, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Corrosion Behavior and Mechanical Properties of Ultrafine‐Grained Pure Copper with Potential as a Biomaterial
Authors: Gholami Mozghan , Mhaede Mansour , Pastorek Filip , Altenberger Igor , Hadzima Branislav , Wollmann Manfred , Wagner Lothar
Published: October 2015

This study aims to evaluate and compare the mechanical and corrosion resistance properties of ultrafine‐grained (UFG) copper with that of coarse‐grained (CG) copper microstructures. Ultrafine‐grained microstructures are produced through severe plastic deformation using rotary swaging. Potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance tests are performed at 37 °C in Hank's solution as the simulated body fluid. The results reveal that the highly deformed UFG‐materials not only show marked enhancement of the mechanical properties but also remarkable enhancement of corrosion resistance compared with that of the CG counterpart.
Infrared Aluminum Metamaterial Perfect Absorbers for Plasmon‐Enhanced Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Kai , Dao Thang Duy , Ishii Satoshi , Aono Masakazu , Nagao Tadaaki
Published: October 2015

Matured surface chemistry and excellent chemical stability have enabled gold to become the material‐of‐choice for plasmonic sensing in both visible and infrared wavelength range. Here, successful surface functionalization of metamaterials made from a low‐cost abundant plasmonic material, aluminum, with phosphonic acid and subsequent detection of the CO vibration mode via surface‐enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy is demonstrated. The metamaterial consists of infrared perfect absorbers fabricated by colloidal lithography. Near perfect absorption is achieved at resonance wavelengths, which can be readily tuned by changing the diameters of the Al disk resonators, enabling excellent overlapping with the molecular vibration. Separately, the detection of a physically adsorbed protein layer on the Al metamaterial is also demonstrated. Surface functionalization with phosphonic acid provides various functional groups to the Al surfaces. Combined with tunable metamaterials, the work herein opens up great opportunities for Al‐based plasmonic nanostructures for biochemical sensing applications.
Development of Synthetic Platelet‐Activating Hydrogel Matrices to Induce Local Hemostasis
Authors: Qin Xiao‐Hua , Labuda Krystyna , Chen Jie , Hruschka Veronika , Khadem Anna , Liska Robert , Redl Heinz , Slezak Paul
Published: October 2015

Several hemostatic strategies rely on the use of blood components such as fibrinogen and thrombin, which suffer from high cost and short shelf‐life. Here, a cost‐effective synthetic biomaterial is developed for rapid local hemostasis. Instead of using thrombin, thrombin‐receptor‐agonist‐peptide‐6 (TRAP6) is covalently engineered in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogels. Soluble PVA‐TRAP6 is first prepared by covalent attachment of cysteine‐containing TRAP6 onto the backbone of PVA‐norbornenes (PVA‐NB) through photoconjugation. Cytotoxicity studies using C2C12 myoblasts indicate that PVA‐NB and PVA‐TRAP6 are nontoxic. Thromboelastography reveals that hemostatic activity of TRAP6 is retained in conjugated form, which is comparable to free TRAP6 solutions with equal concentrations. A 0.1% PVA‐TRAP6 solution can shorten the clotting time (CT) to ca. 45% of the physiological CT. High platelet‐activating efficiency is further confirmed by platelet aggregation assay and flow cytometry (FACS). For potential clinical applications, TRAP6‐presenting hydrogel particulates (PVA‐TRAP6‐P) are developed for local platelet activation and hemostasis. PVA‐TRAP6‐P is prepared by biofunctionalization of photopolymerized PVA‐NB hydrogel particulates (PVA‐NB‐P) with TRAP6. It is demonstrated that PVA‐TRAP6‐P can effectively shorten the CT to ca. 50%. FACS shows that PVA‐TRAP6‐P can activate platelets to a comparable extent as soluble TRAP6 control. Altogether, PVA‐TRAP6‐P represents a promising class of biomaterials for safe hemostasis and wound healing.