bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nanoseismicity and picoseismicity rate changes from static stress triggering caused by a Mw 2.2 earthquake in Mponeng gold mine, South Africa
Authors: Kozłowska Maria , Orlecka‐Sikora Beata , Kwiatek Grzegorz , Boettcher Margaret S. , Dresen Georg 
Published: December 2014

AbstractStatic stress changes following large earthquakes are known to affect the rate and distribution of aftershocks, yet this process has not been thoroughly investigated for nanoseismicity and picoseismicity at centimeter length scales. Here we utilize a unique data set of M ≥ −3.4 earthquakes following a Mw 2.2 earthquake in Mponeng gold mine, South Africa, that was recorded during a quiet interval in the mine to investigate if rate‐ and state‐based modeling is valid for shallow, mining‐induced seismicity. We use Dieterich's (1994) rate‐ and state‐dependent formulation for earthquake productivity, which requires estimation of four parameters: (1) Coulomb stress changes due to the main shock, (2) the reference seismicity rate, (3) frictional resistance parameter, and (4) the duration of aftershock relaxation time. Comparisons of the modeled spatiotemporal patterns of seismicity based on two different source models with the observed distribution show that while the spatial patterns match well, the rate of modeled aftershocks is lower than the observed rate. To test our model, we used three metrics of the goodness‐of‐fit evaluation. The null hypothesis, of no significant difference between modeled and observed seismicity rates, was only rejected in the depth interval containing the main shock. Results show that mining‐induced earthquakes may be followed by a stress relaxation expressed through aftershocks located on the rupture plane and in regions of positive Coulomb stress change. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the main features of the temporal and spatial distributions of very small, mining‐induced earthquakes can be successfully determined using rate‐ and state‐based stress modeling.
Climate change impacts on wave and surge processes in a Pacific Northwest (USA) estuary
Authors: Cheng T. K. , Hill D. F. , Beamer J. , García‐Medina G. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractTotal water levels (TWLs) within estuaries are influenced by tides, wind, offshore waves, and streamflow, all of which are uniquely affected by climate change. The magnitude of TWL associated with various return periods is relevant to understanding how the hydrodynamics of a bay or estuary may evolve under distinct climate scenarios. A methodology for assessing the hydrodynamic response of a small estuary under major boundary condition perturbations is presented in this study. The coupled Advanced Circulation (ADCIRC) and Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) model was used to simulate wave and water elevation conditions within Tillamook Bay, OR, USA for two long‐term scenarios; 1979–1998 and 2041–2060. The model output provided multidecadal time series of TWLs for statistical analysis. Regional climate data from the North American Regional Climate Change Assessment Program (NARCCAP) were used to drive streamflow modeling (MicroMet/SnowModel/HydroFlow) and meteorological forcing within ADCIRC‐SWAN. WAVEWATCH III, which was forced with global climate data from the Community Climate Science Model (CCSM, a contributing model to NARCCAP), was used to produce open boundary wave forcing. Latitudinal and seasonal gradients were found in TWLs associated with varying return periods for both the hindcast and forecast. Changes in TWLs from hindcast to forecast included the sea level rise component and were also modulated by changes in boundary conditions.
A connection between the tropical Pacific Ocean and the winter climate in the Asian‐Pacific region
Authors: Jia XiaoJing , Wang Su , Lin Hai , Bao Qing 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe impact of the tropical Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly on the winter mean surface air temperature (SAT) in the Asian‐Pacific region is investigated during the period from 1948 to 2008 using both observations and a linear baroclinic model (LBM). A singular value decomposition (SVD) analysis is conducted between the 500 hPa geopotential height (Z500) over the Northern Hemisphere and the SST over the tropical Pacific Ocean to obtain the large‐scale atmospheric patterns related to tropical Pacific SST. Focus is given to the second pair of SVD mode (SVD2) which bears some similarities in the Z500 field to the Arctic Oscillation over the North Atlantic sector and can impact the SAT over a larger area of Asian‐Pacific. In the winter of a positive SVD2 the SAT over the midlatitude to high‐latitude Asian continent, the Arctic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, and the western subtropical Pacific Ocean tends to be warmer than normal, while the North Pacific Ocean around the Bering Strait is abnormally cold, and vice versa. Examination of the associated surface general circulation shows that a positive SVD2 tends to shift the Siberian High southward and the Aleutian Low eastward resulting in anomalous weak pressure gradient between the Asian continent the North Pacific. Anomalous positive sea level pressure anomalies around Japan and southerly wind along the east coast of the Asian continent are observed. At the same time, the East Asian trough at midtroposphere becomes weaker than normal and the East Asian westerly jet stream is increased in magnitudes and shifted northward. The analysis of the wave activity flux and result of idealized numerical experiments show a possible influence of the western tropical Pacific SST forcing on the SVD2.
Estimation of direct, diffuse, and total FPARs from Landsat surface reflectance data and ground‐based estimates over six FLUXNET sites
Authors: Li Wenjuan , Fang Hongliang 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThe fraction of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) absorbed by green elements (FPAR) is an essential climate variable in quantifying canopy absorbed PAR (APAR) and gross and net primary production. Current satellite FPAR products typically correspond to black‐sky FPAR under direct illumination only, but the radiation transfer and vegetation absorption processes differ for direct and diffuse PARs. To address this, the present study developed a new approach to estimate direct, diffuse, and total FPARs, separately, from Landsat surface reflectance data. Field‐measured direct and diffuse FPARs were first derived for crops, deciduous broadleaf forests, and evergreen needleleaf forests at six FLUXNET sites. Then, a coupled soil‐leaf‐canopy radiative transfer model (SLC) was used to simulate surface reflectance under direct and diffuse illumination conditions. Direct, diffuse, and total FPARs were estimated by comparing Landsat‐5 Thematic Mapper (TM) data and simulated surface reflectances using a lookup table approach. The differences between the Landsat‐estimated and the field‐measured FPARs are less than 0.05 (10%). The diffuse FPAR is higher than the direct FPAR by up to 19.38%, whereas the total FPAR is larger than the direct FPAR by up to 16.07%. The direct APAR is higher than the diffuse APAR under clear‐sky conditions, but underestimates the total APAR by −277.72 µmol s−1 m−2 on average. The approach described here can be extended to estimate direct, diffuse, and total FPARs from other satellite data and the obtained FPAR variables could be helpful to improve modeling of vegetation processes.
Angular momentum and arboreal stability in common marmosets (Callithrixjacchus)
Authors: Chadwell Brad A. , Young Jesse W. 
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACTDespite the importance that concepts of arboreal stability have in theories of primate locomotor evolution, we currently lack measures of balance performance during primate locomotion. We provide the first quantitative data on locomotor stability in an arboreal primate, the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), predicting that primates should maximize arboreal stability by minimizing side‐to‐side angular momentum about the support (i.e.,Lsup). If netLsupbecomes excessive, the animal will be unable to arrest its angular movement and will fall. Using a novel, highly integrative experimental procedure we directly measured whole‐bodyLsupin two adult marmosets moving along narrow (2.5 cm diameter) and broad (5 cm diameter) poles. Marmosets showed a strong preference for asymmetrical gaits (e.g., gallops and bounds) over symmetrical gaits (e.g., walks and runs), with asymmetrical gaits representing >90% of all strides. Movement on the narrow support was associated with an increase in more “grounded” gaits (i.e., lacking an aerial phase) and a more even distribution of torque production between the fore‐ and hind limbs. These adjustments in gait dynamics significantly reduced netLsupon the narrow support relative to the broad support. Despite their lack of a well‐developed grasping apparatus, marmosets proved adept at producing muscular “grasping” torques about the support, particularly with the hind limbs. We contend that asymmetrical gaits permit small‐bodied arboreal mammals, including primates, to expand “effective grasp” by gripping the substrate between left and right limbs of a girdle. This model of arboreal stability may hold important implications for understanding primate locomotor evolution. Am J Phys Anthropol 156:565–576, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Xenotransplantation exposes the etiology of azoospermia factor (AZF) induced male sterility
Authors: Barr Justinn , Gordon Daniel , Schedl Paul , Deshpande Girish 
Published: December 2014

AbstractRamathal et al. have employed an elegant xenotransplantation technique to study the fate of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from fertile males and from males carrying Y chromosome deletions of the azoospermia factor (AZF) region. When placed in a mouse testis niche, hiPSCs from fertile males differentiate into germ cell‐like cells (GCLCs). Highlighting the crucial role of cell autonomous factors in male sterility, hiPSCs derived from azoospermic males prove to be less successful under similar circumstances. Their studies argue that the agametic “Sertoli cell only” phenotype of two of the AZF deletions likely arises from a defect in the maintenance of germline stem cells (GSCs) rather than from a defect in their specification. These observations underscore the importance of the dialogue between the somatic niche and its inhabitant stem cells, and open up interesting questions concerning the functioning of the somatic niche and how it communicates to the GSCs.
Expression patterns of transcription factor PPARγ and C/EBP family members during in vitro adipogenesis of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Zhao Xiao‐Yi , Chen Xiao‐Yong , Zhang Zi‐Ji , Kang Yan , Liao Wei‐Ming , Yu Wei‐Hua , Xiang Andy Peng 
Published: December 2014

AbstractIn the past decades increasing lines of evidence have demonstrated that adipose tissue, as an endocrine organ plays a central role in metabolic homeostasis and its related maladies. CCAAT/enhancer‐binding protein (C/EBP) family members and the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) were known to be the vital transcription factors in the regulation of adipogenesis. However, the exact mechanism for increased marrow fat in patients with bone metabolic diseases, such as osteoporosis, is still poorly understood. Herein, we studied the expression pattern of PPARγ and C/EBPs in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (hBMSC) adipogenesis and evaluated the effects of individual components of an adipogenic cocktail on the differentiation and transcription factor expression. We furthermore examined whether the ERK signaling pathway was involved in mediating these effects. These findings showed that C/EBPβ and C/EBPδ were detected in undifferentiated hBMSC and maintained during the whole process of adipogenesis, and could initiate the expression of PPARγ1 under the treatment of dexamethasone and IBMX. Subsequently, the activation of PPARγ1 by indomethacin, its exogenous ligand, activated C/EBPα, which, together with IBMX, up‐regulated PPARγ2 expression and therefore the fullest adipogenesis. Insulin and its downstream signal pathway extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK), however, were found not necessary for hBMSC adipogenesis. Our results revealed some unique characteristics of human adipocyte formation, which may help to understand the molecular mechanisms of bone marrow adipogenesis and give insights into the treatment of osteoporosis.
LEAD ‐ Leadership effectiveness, motivation, and culture in Africa: Lessons from Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda
Authors: Senaji Thomas Anyanje , Metwally Elham , Sejjaaka Samuel , Puplampu Bill Buenar , Michaud James , Adedoyin‐Rasaq Hassan 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThis exploratory study considers an African perspective on leadership behaviour and motivation in Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda using the Delphi Technique with a small sample of corporate, community, and religious leaders. Focus group sessions with working people (nonleaders) then followed. The findings indicate that vision, commitment, honesty, goal‐orientation, and humour were descriptors of effective leadership. Further, it was found that the quest for justice, extrinsic benefits, and service to community motivated leaders, while extrinsic rewards and the need to achieve motivated followers. This research contributes to understanding leadership effectiveness and motivation from an African context and informs both scholarship and practice in these areas. Copyright © 2014 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Projecting the impacts of rising seawater temperatures on the distribution of seaweeds around Japan under multiple climate change scenarios
Authors: Takao Shintaro , Kumagai Naoki H. , Yamano Hiroya , Fujii Masahiko , Yamanaka Yasuhiro 
Published: December 2014

AbstractSeaweed beds play a key role in providing essential habitats and energy to coastal areas, with enhancements in productivity and biodiversity and benefits to human societies. However, the spatial extent of seaweed beds around Japan has decreased due to coastal reclamation, water quality changes, rising water temperatures, and heavy grazing by herbivores. Using monthly mean sea surface temperature (SST) data from 1960 to 2099 and SST‐based indices, we quantitatively evaluated the effects of warming seawater on the spatial extent of suitable versus unsuitable habitats for temperate seaweed Ecklonia cava, which is predominantly found in southern Japanese waters. SST data were generated using the most recent multiple climate projection models and emission scenarios (the Representative Concentration Pathways or RCPs) used in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5). In addition, grazing by Siganus fuscescens, an herbivorous fish, was evaluated under the four RCP simulations. Our results suggest that continued warming may drive a poleward shift in the distribution of E. cava, with large differences depending on the climate scenario. For the lowest emission scenario (RCP2.6), most existing E. cava populations would not be impacted by seawater warming directly but would be adversely affected by intensified year‐round grazing. For the highest emission scenario (RCP8.5), previously suitable habitats throughout coastal Japan would become untenable for E. cava by the 2090s, due to both high‐temperature stress and intensified grazing. Our projections highlight the importance of not only mitigating regional warming due to climate change, but also protecting E. cava from herbivores to conserve suitable habitats on the Japanese coast.
Writing‐State Classification by Ambient Sedentary Behavior Sensing in Desk Work
Authors: Matsumoto Shohei , Wataya Ryo , Iwai Daisuke , Sato Kosuke 
Published: December 2014

SUMMARYThis paper presents a technique for writing‐state classification by sedentary behavior sensing with a sensor‐equipped chair, which wirelessly monitors the user's states such as behaviors or physiological and psychological conditions, for estimation of the user's subjective difficulty with a studying problem on a desktop. Avoiding user discomfort, four load cells are mounted behind the seat plate of a regular office chair. The system simply measures the weight and the center of pressure of the seat. These data are divided into time segments, which are labeled into four sedentary–body sway primitives by the decision tree algorithm, and then the behaviors are derived from the number and pitch of those primitives in a certain interval. In system‐evaluation experiments, it achieved more than 80% labeling accuracy for untrained users. We conducted a user experiment showing its potential for desk work applications. The results of the experiment showed that our proposed system could classify user states into the writing state and other states such as reading a document and watching a movie at a classification rate of 87%.
Photoacoustic Signals of Depletion Layer Spread Beneath Metal Electrode in Metal/Semiconductor Structure
Authors: Murakami Masahiko , Takabatake Nobuya , Sato Kazunori , Arai Toshihiko 
Published: December 2014

SUMMARYThe photoacoustic (PA) signal from the depletion layer beneath the metal electrode in a metal/semiconductor (M/S) structure was detected using the PA method. To measure the reverse‐bias voltage dependence of distribution of the PA signal from the depletion layer, the surface of the electrode was illuminated and scanned by an intensity‐modulated optical beam. It was found that the PA signal phase differences between depletion layer formation and the absence of a depletion layer were dependent on depletion layer spreading. One‐dimensional scanning of the electrode also revealed that spreading of the depletion layer extends from the edges of the electrode.
Dynamic Routing Control Based on Information Priority and Its Application to Monitoring Sensor Networks
Authors: Nakagawa Yoshitsugu , Irizuki Yasuharu 
Published: December 2014

SUMMARYA routing method with dynamic channel selection in wireless sensor networks is an effective way to specify a route. It is different from communication between nodes in a common channel and is able to transmit data including attribute information. In this case, nodes located in the middle of a route use different channels, normal communication between nodes is temporarily interrupted, and throughput decreases as a result. For applications to be built by another wireless network, this method holds promise as an effective communication traffic–control method for situations such as emergency information that must be sent immediately. In this paper we propose a time‐division communication system that can give priority rights to data transmission including attribute information by adding a priority information component to the transmission data packet. This method has the rule that routers temporarily string together as relay nodes in the priority path, and other relay nodes not on the path pause while the priority path is active.
Fatty acid moieties have little effect on cholesterol‐lowering potency of plant sterol esters
Authors: Liu Yuwei , Guan Lei , Zhao Youyou , Lei Lin , Wang Xiaobo , Ma Ka Ying , Li Yuk Man , Wang Lijun , Man Sun Wa , Wang Junkuan , Huang Yu , Chen Zhen‐Yu 
Published: December 2014

Plant sterol esters are the popular cholesterol‐lowering dietary supplements. In order to understand the role of fatty acid moieties in the cholesterol‐lowering activity of plant sterol esters, the present study was to: (i) compare the cholesterol‐lowering activity of sterol esters of sunflower oil (SSF) with that of sterol esters of canola oil (SCO); and (ii) to systematically investigate the effect of SSF and SCO on the gene expression of sterol transporters, enzymes, receptors and proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism in hamsters fed a high cholesterol diet. GC analysis showed that SSF and SCO had similar sterol profile but they had different fatty acid moieties. Results showed both SSF and SCO could equally reduce plasma cholesterol in a dose‐dependent manner. Both SSF and SCO could inhibit the cholesterol absorption and enhance the excretion of bile acids. In the similar ways, dietary SSF and SCO could up‐regulate hepatic cholesterol‐7α‐hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and down‐regulate intestinal sterol transporter Niemann‐Pick C1‐like 1 (NPC1L1), acyl coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase 2 (ACAT2) and hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase (HMG‐CoA reductase). It was concluded that the fatty acid moieties had little effect on the cholesterol‐lowering activity of SSF and SCO.Practical applications: Plant sterols are effective in reducing plasma cholesterol. Commercially, plant sterol esters of sunflower oil and plant sterol esters of canola oil are mostly used for this purpose. The present study found that SSF and SCO were equally effective in reducing plasma cholesterol in a dose‐dependent manner regardless the significant difference in their fatty acid compositions.Fatty acid moieties have little effect on cholesterol‐lowering potency of plant sterol esters.
Solving the Savage–Hutter equations for granular avalanche flows with a second‐order Godunov type method on GPU
Authors: Zhai Jian , Yuan Li , Liu Wei , Zhang Xinting 
Published: December 2014

SummaryIn this article, we apply Davis's second‐order predictor‐corrector Godunov type method to numerical solution of the Savage–Hutter equations for modeling granular avalanche flows. The method uses monotone upstream‐centered schemes for conservation laws (MUSCL) reconstruction for conservative variables and Harten–Lax–van Leer contact (HLLC) scheme for numerical fluxes. Static resistance conditions and stopping criteria are incorporated into the algorithm. The computation is implemented on graphics processing unit (GPU) by using compute unified device architecture programming model. A practice of allocating memory for two‐dimensional array in GPU is given and computational efficiency of two‐dimensional memory allocation is compared with one‐dimensional memory allocation. The effectiveness of the present simulation model is verified through several typical numerical examples. Numerical tests show that significant speedups of the GPU program over the CPU serial version can be obtained, and Davis's method in conjunction with MUSCL and HLLC schemes is accurate and robust for simulating granular avalanche flows with shock waves. As an application example, a case with a teardrop‐shaped hydraulic jump in Johnson and Gray's granular jet experiment is reproduced by using specific friction coefficients given in the literature. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Protecting the airway and the physician: Aspects of litigation arising from tracheotomy
Authors: Farida Jeremy P. , Lawrence Lauren A. , Svider Peter F. , Shkoukani Mahdi A. , Zuliani Giancarlo F. , Folbe Adam J. , Carron Michael A. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundIn recent decades, medical malpractice costs have increased and have led to a change in the way physicians practice medicine. Tracheotomies are cases in which complications have a high risk of morbidity and mortality and the potential for litigation.MethodsThe Westlaw legal database was used to gather data on 43 jury verdicts and settlements from 1987 to 2013. Various factors included outcome, defendant specialty, and the reason for litigation.ResultsMedian settlements were $500,000 and median verdict awards were $2,000,000. Postoperative negligence was alleged most often (81%) followed by intraoperative negligence (27.9%) and permanent injury (18.6%). Otolaryngologists were named as defendants most often (25.6%), with nurses named second most often. Pediatric cases had significantly higher awards and were more often named in favor of the plaintiff.ConclusionAn awareness of tracheotomy malpractice litigation has the potential to both help physicians avoid future litigation and improve patient safety. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: 751–754, 2016