bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Origins of the FIGO initiative to reduce the burden of unsafe abortion
Authors: Shaw Dorothy 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe origins of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Initiative for the Prevention of Unsafe Abortion and its Consequences began in 1969 when a young British medical student encountered a young woman in Canada with complications of unsafe abortion. Through evolving understanding of the context of women's lives, including the role of family planning and access to safe abortion globally in preventing the deaths and imprisonment of women, I was able to contribute to FIGO's advocacy through a collaborative initiative with country‐led action plans based on a situational analysis. Forty‐six member associations rapidly agreed to participate with results of situational analyses—an unprecedented result in FIGO's history. Professor Anibal Faúndes’ role has been pivotal to the success of this initiative, including the establishment of a working group of regional coordinators and collaborating agencies to oversee the implementation of action plans involving in‐country partners and the Ministry of Health. Deaths from unsafe abortion and its complications are preventable.
Value of conventional cytology in the presence of macroscopic lesions of the anal canal
Authors: Barcellos Lêda Pereira de , Russomano Fábio , Coutinho José Ricardo Hildebrandt 
Published: April 2014

Abstract
Objectives To verify the value of conventional cytology for the diagnosis of macroscopic lesions of the anal canal and to describe the limitations of the samples.
Method We evaluated 395 conventional cytology samples obtained by brushing the anal canal of patients (predominantly male, HIV-positive) and compared them to the presence of macroscopic lesions of the anal canal observed under anorectal examination.
Results Of the total, 91.6% of samples were classified as adequate. Cellular elements representative of the anal transformation zone were observed in 63.5% of samples. Sensitivity in the presence or absence of cellularity was 80% and 31%, respectively.
Conclusion The study demonstrates the feasibility of using conventional anal cytology in outpatients.
Motion and coalescence of sessile drops driven by substrate wetting gradient and external flow
Authors: Ahmadlouydarab Majid , Feng James J. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractWe report two-dimensional simulations of drop dynamics on a substrate subject to a wetting gradient and an external pressure gradient along the substrate. A phase-field formulation is used to represent the drop interface, and the moving contact line is modelled by Cahn–Hilliard diffusion. The Navier–Stokes–Cahn–Hilliard equations are solved by finite elements on an adaptively refined unstructured grid. For a single drop and a pair of drops, we consider three scenarios of drop motion driven by the wetting gradient only, by the external flow only, and by a combination of the two. Both the capillary force and the hydrodynamic drag depend strongly on the shape of the drop. Since the drop adapts its shape to the local wetting angles and to the external flow on a finite time scale, hysteresis is a prominent feature of the drop dynamics under opposing forces. For each wetting gradient, there is a narrow range of the magnitude of the external flow within which a single drop can achieve a stationary state. The equilibrium drop shape and position depend on its initial shape and the history of forcing. For a pair of drops, the wetting gradient or external flow alone tends to produce catch-up and coalescence. The flow-driven coalescence arises from a viscous shielding effect that relies on the asymmetric shape of the trailing drop once it is deformed by flow. This mechanism operates at zero Reynolds number, but is much enhanced by inertia. With the two forces opposing each other, the external flow favours separation while the wetting gradient favours coalescence. The outcome depends on their competition.
ISLAM IN AFRICA/AFRICANS AND ISLAM
Authors: Reese Scott S. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThis essay discusses some of the recent trends in the scholarship on Islam and Africa that contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the historical relationship between African Muslims and the globalecumeneof believers. Rather than looking at the faith as an insular African phenomenon, this piece examines the links between Africans and the wider community of believers across space and time. Such an approach has important ramifications for our understanding of the dynamics of Islam. However, it also challenges many of the assumptions underpinning the geographic area studies paradigm that has dominated the academy since the Second World War. This essay suggests the adoption of a more fluid approach to scholarly inquiry that reimagines our largely continental attachment to regions in favor of a more intellectually agile methodology where the scope of inquiry is determined less by geographic boundaries and more by the questions we seek to answer.
Local path planning for mobile robots based on intermediate objectives
Authors: Ma Yingchong , Zheng Gang , Perruquetti Wilfrid , Qiu Zhaopeng 
Published: April 2014

SUMMARYThis paper presents a path planning algorithm for autonomous navigation of non-holonomic mobile robots in complex environments. The irregular contour of obstacles is represented by segments. The goal of the robot is to move towards a known target while avoiding obstacles. The velocity constraints, robot kinematic model and non-holonomic constraint are considered in the problem. The optimal path planning problem is formulated as a constrained receding horizon planning problem and the trajectory is obtained by solving an optimal control problem with constraints. Local minima are avoided by choosing intermediate objectives based on the real-time environment.
Trajectory tracking of wheeled mobile robot by adopting iterative learning control with predictive, current, and past learning items
Authors: Yu Chong , Chen Xiong 
Published: April 2014

SUMMARYIn this paper, an iterative learning control algorithm is adopted to solve the high-precision trajectory tracking issue of a wheeled mobile robot with time-varying, nonlinear, and strong-coupling dynamics properties. The designed iterative learning control law adopts predictive, current and past learning items to drive the state variables, and input variables, and outputs variables converge to the bounded scope of their desired values. The algorithm can enhance the control performance, stability and robust characteristics. The rigorous mathematical proof of the convergence character of the proposed iterative learning control algorithm is given. The feasibility, effectiveness, and robustness of the proposed algorithm are illustrated by quantitative experiments and comparative analysis. The experimental results show that the proposed iterative learning control algorithm has an outstanding control effect on the trajectory tracking issue of wheeled mobile robots.
THE PETROGLYPHIC PRAYERS ON THE SUN STONE OF MOTECUHZOMA ILHUICAMINA
Authors: Boone Elizabeth Hill , Collins Rochelle 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe Sun Stone of Motecuhzoma Ilhuicamina is one of the major monuments revealed by excavations in and around the Aztec Templo Mayor since 1978. Featuring the sun disk on its top surface and the Mexica conquest of 11 enemy polities on its cylindrical sides, it is considered a gladiatorial stone, similar in both iconography and function to the later Stone of Tizoc. While Tizoc's stone locates its conquest scenes between earth and sky bands, this sun stone uniquely places its conquests between two bands of repeating motifs. The authors argue that these bands are extraordinary examples of pictographic texts that parallel and likely called forth ritual speech acts. The iconography and patterning of the motifs reveal the bands to be visual exhortations or prayers related to human sacrifice specifically associated with Tezcatlipoca. The complex pattern of the repeating motifs is rhythmic and reflects the discourse structure of Nahuatl high speech.
RÍO BEC GRAFFITI: A PRIVATE FORM OF ART
Authors: Patrois Julie 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThis article focuses on graffiti recorded in the micro-region of Río Bec (a 10 × 10 km zone around Group B), an art form well-known but little studied to date. Incised in plastered supports (wall, benches, or doorjambs), graffiti is found on residences of all ranks. A meticulous recording method has enabled us to distinguish two classes: graffiti produced during a building's occupation and those executed post-abandonment. The former were probably made by the residence dwellers themselves, children and adults. Their productions, which can be considered authentic artistic creations, reflected their unequal technical capacities, talents, ages, and inspirations. The subject matter was personal; remarkable individuals or animals, or outstanding collective events as memorialized by individuals. These graffiti emerge as the principal form of individual expression (retrieved by the archaeologist) from Río Bec society. Once the buildings were abandoned and full of rubble, new graffitists (occasional visitors or squatters) decorated the still accessible portions of plastered walls and notably illustrated some specific topics, such as female imagery and fabulous entities perhaps drawn during specific ceremonies. In the region as a whole, where glyphic inscriptions are scarce, graffiti provide a privilegedemicsource for the understanding of Río Bec society.
LIVING TOGETHER IN RÍO BEC HOUSES: CORESIDENCE, RANK, AND ALLIANCE
Authors: Arnauld M. Charlotte , Michelet Dominique , Nondédéo Philippe 
Published: April 2014

AbstractIn an attempt to interpret Classic Maya elite and commoner residential patterns beyond usual assumptions about filiation, family cycle, and household economic adaptation, we explore the specific ways people were “living together,” in the sense of the coresidence concept, in Maya societies conceived of as ranked societies, or “house societies,” as created by Claude Lévi-Strauss. Beyond kinship and economic organization, residential patterns can be understood as part of long-term strategies designed by inhabitants to integrate their social unit into the politico-religious city. The residential system of the Río Bec zone, where a major research project was carried out from 2002 to 2010, offers a series of well-defined architectural solutions, some of them common to most central lowlands cities, while others are innovative as forerunners of the northern lowlands large multiroom palaces. This paper analyzes Late and Terminal Classic period Río Bec domestic architecture in order to outline the material correlates of coresidence, growth, ranking, and alliance within and between Classic Maya social groupings.
A quantum random number generator certified by value indefiniteness
Authors: ABBOTT ALASTAIR A. , CALUDE CRISTIAN S. , SVOZIL KARL 
Published: April 2014

In this paper we propose a quantum random number generator (QRNG) that uses an entangled photon pair in a Bell singlet state and is certified explicitly by value indefiniteness. While ‘true randomness’ is a mathematical impossibility, the certification by value indefiniteness ensures that the quantum random bits are incomputable in the strongest sense. This is the first QRNG setup in which a physical principle (Kochen–Specker value indefiniteness) guarantees that no single quantum bit that is produced can be classically computed (reproduced and validated), which is the mathematical form of bitwise physical unpredictability.We discuss the effects of various experimental imperfections in detail: in particular, those related to detector efficiencies, context alignment and temporal correlations between bits. The analysis is very relevant for the construction of any QRNG based on beam-splitters. By measuring the two entangled photons in maximally misaligned contexts and using the fact that two bitstrings, rather than just one, are obtained, more efficient and robust unbiasing techniques can be applied. We propose a robust and efficient procedure based onXORing the bitstrings together – essentially using one as a one-time-pad for the other – to extract random bits in the presence of experimental imperfections, as well as a more efficient modification of the von Neumann procedure for the same task. We also discuss some open problems.
Irrigation as an adaptive strategy to climate change: an economic perspective on Brazilian agriculture
Authors: da Cunha Dênis Antônio , Coelho Alexandre Bragança , Féres José Gustavo 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThis paper analyzes the potential effects of climate change on Brazilian agriculture by considering irrigation as an adaptive strategy. Investigations were performed to determine how climatic variability influences irrigation and whether this adaptive measure actually reduces producers' vulnerability to climate change. We used a simultaneous equations model with endogenous switching to account for the heterogeneity in the decision of whether to use adaptive measures. We compared the expected land values under the actual and counterfactual cases of farm households that either adapt or do not adapt to climate change. Simulation results show that irrigation can be an effective tool for counteracting the harmful effects of climate change. The income of farmers tends to increase on lands where irrigation technologies are practiced. These conclusions confirm the need to invest in adaptation strategies to prepare Brazil for coping with the adverse effects of global climate change.
Toward 10 meV Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy Resolution for Plasmonics
Authors: Bellido Edson P. , Rossouw David , Botton Gianluigi A. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractEnergy resolution is one of the most important parameters in electron energy-loss spectroscopy. This is especially true for measurement of surface plasmon resonances, where high-energy resolution is crucial for resolving individual resonance peaks, in particular close to the zero-loss peak. In this work, we improve the energy resolution of electron energy-loss spectra of surface plasmon resonances, acquired with a monochromated beam in a scanning transmission electron microscope, by the use of the Richardson–Lucy deconvolution algorithm. We test the performance of the algorithm in a simulated spectrum and then apply it to experimental energy-loss spectra of a lithographically patterned silver nanorod. By reduction of the point spread function of the spectrum, we are able to identify low-energy surface plasmon peaks in spectra, more localized features, and higher contrast in surface plasmon energy-filtered maps. Thanks to the combination of a monochromated beam and the Richardson–Lucy algorithm, we improve the effective resolution down to 30 meV, and evidence of success up to 10 meV resolution for losses below 1 eV. We also propose, implement, and test two methods to limit the number of iterations in the algorithm. The first method is based on noise measurement and analysis, while in the second we monitor the change of slope in the deconvolved spectrum.
Multiband rectangular-shaped ring antenna embedded with inverted S- and C-shaped strips for WLAN/WiMAX/UWB applications
Authors: Parkash Davinder , Khanna Rajesh 
Published: April 2014

This research work presents a microstrip-fed antenna that is small, low-profile, planar, and suitable for WLAN/WiMAX and partially ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. The radiating element of the proposed antenna consists of rectangular-shaped ring embedded with a three inverted “S”-shaped and inverted “C”-shaped strips. This antenna is capable of generating penta bands having good impedance matching with wideband characteristics. Prototype of the proposed antenna has been designed, simulated, fabricated, and tested. The overall small size of the antenna is 24.75 mm × 27.39 mm × 1.6 mm with volumetric size of 1 cm3. To understand the characteristics of the proposed antenna, the parametric studies are being performed. The return loss of the proposed antenna shows fair agreement with the simulated and measured results.
Screening for Depression and Anxiety Disorders from Pregnancy to Postpartum with the EPDS and STAI
Authors: Tendais Iva , Costa Raquel , Conde Ana , Figueiredo Bárbara 
Published: April 2014

AbstractThe Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and the State Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) are widely used self-report measures that still need to be further validated for the perinatal period. The aim of this study was to examine the screening performance of the EPDS and the STAI-S in detecting depressive and anxiety disorders at pregnancy and postpartum. Women screening positive on EPDS (EPDS ≥ 9) or STAI-S (STAI-S ≥ 45) during pregnancy (n = 90), as well as matched controls (n = 58) were selected from a larger study. At 3 months postpartum, 99 of these women were reassessed. At a second stage, women were administered a clinical interview to establish a DSM-IV-TR diagnosis. Receiver operator characteristics (ROC) analysis yielded areas under the curve higher than .80 and .70 for EPDS and STAI-S, respectively. EPDS and STAI-S optimal cut-offs were found to be lower at postpartum (EDPS = 7; STAI-S = 34) than during pregnancy (EPDS = 9; STAI-S = 40). EPDS and STAI-S are reasonably valid screening tools during pregnancy and the postpartum.
Faktorenstruktur, psychometrische Eigenschaften und Messinvarianz der deutschsprachigen Version des 60-Item HEXACO Persönlichkeitsinventars
Authors: Moshagen Morten , Hilbig Benjamin E. , Zettler Ingo 
Published: April 2014

Im letzten Jahrzehnt wurden in lexikalischen Untersuchungen über diverse Sprachen und Kulturen hinweg sechs grundlegende Persönlichkeitseigenschaften identifiziert, welche im HEXACO-Modell der Persönlichkeit abgebildet werden. Die vorliegende Untersuchung behandelt eine umfangreiche psychometrische Evaluation der deutschen Version des 60-Item HEXACO-Persönlichkeitsinventars. Die sechsfaktorielle Struktur wurde anhand einer großen Stichprobe (N = 3240) bestätigt. Die resultierenden Faktoren verfügten über zufriedenstellende Reliabilitäten und waren praktisch unkorreliert. Überdies konnte Messinvarianz über das Geschlecht belegt werden. Anhand einer weiteren Stichprobe (N = 1012) wurde gezeigt, dass die 60-Item Version zu keinem bedeutsamen Informationsverlust gegenüber der 96-Item Version führt. Die Bestimmung von Korrelationen zu den Big-Five Persönlichkeitsfaktoren mittels einer dritten Stichprobe (N = 235) erbrachte durchweg erwartungskonforme Ergebnisse. Letztlich konnten anhand einer vierten Stichprobe (N = 31) hohe Retest-Reliabilitäten über einen Zeitraum von 7 Monaten belegt werden. Somit eignet sich die deutschsprachige Version des HEXACO-60 Persönlichkeitsinventars zur reliablen, validen und verhältnismäßig ökonomischen Erfassung der sechs Faktoren des HEXACO-Modells der Persönlichkeit.
Plasmonic Excitations of 1D Metal-Dielectric Interfaces in 2D Systems: 1D Surface Plasmon Polaritons
Authors: Mason Daniel R. , Menabde Sergey G. , Yu Sunkyu , Park Namkyoo 
Published: April 2014

AbstractSurface plasmon-polariton (SPP) excitations of metal-dielectric interfaces are a fundamental light-matter interaction which has attracted interest as a route to spatial confinement of light far beyond that offered by conventional dielectric optical devices. Conventionally, SPPs have been studied in noble-metal structures, where the SPPs are intrinsically bound to a 2D metal-dielectric interface. Meanwhile, recent advances in the growth of hybrid 2D crystals, which comprise laterally connected domains of distinct atomically thin materials, provide the first realistic platform on which a 2D metal-dielectric system with a truly 1D metal-dielectric interface can be achieved. Here we show for the first time that 1D metal-dielectric interfaces support a fundamental 1D plasmonic mode (1DSPP) which exhibits cutoff behavior that provides dramatically improved light confinement in 2D systems. The 1DSPP constitutes a new basic category of plasmon as the missing 1D member of the plasmon family: 3D bulk plasmon, 2DSPP, 1DSPP and 0D localized SP.
Crash and rebound of indigenous populations in lowland South America
Authors: Hamilton Marcus J. , Walker Robert S. , Kesler Dylan C. 
Published: April 2014

AbstractLowland South America has long been a battle-ground between European colonization and indigenous survival. Initial waves of European colonization brought disease epidemics, slavery and violence that had catastrophic impacts on indigenous cultures. In this paper we focus on the demography of 238 surviving populations in Brazil. We use longitudinal censuses from all known indigenous Brazilian societies to quantify three demographic metrics: 1) effects of European contact on indigenous populations; 2) empirical estimates of minimum viable population sizes; and 3) estimates of post-contact population growth rates. We use this information to conduct population viability analysis (PVA). Our results show that all surviving populations suffered extensive mortality during and shortly after, contact. However, most surviving populations exhibit positive growth rates within the first decade post-contact. Our findings paint a positive demographic outlook for these indigenous populations, though long-term survival remains subject to powerful externalities, including politics, economics and the pervasive illegal exploitation of indigenous lands.
Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition by Febuxostat Attenuates Experimental Atherosclerosis in Mice
Authors: Nomura Johji , Busso Nathalie , Ives Annette , Matsui Chieko , Tsujimoto Syunsuke , Shirakura Takashi , Tamura Mizuho , Kobayashi Tsunefumi , So Alexander , Yamanaka Yoshihiro 
Published: April 2014

AbstractAtherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease due to lipid deposition in the arterial wall. Multiple mechanisms participate in the inflammatory process, including oxidative stress. Xanthine oxidase (XO) is a major source of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and has been linked to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we show enhanced XO expression in macrophages in the atherosclerotic plaque and in aortic endothelial cells in ApoE−/− mice and that febuxostat, a highly potent XO inhibitor, suppressed plaque formation, reduced arterial ROS levels and improved endothelial dysfunction in ApoE−/− mice without affecting plasma cholesterol levels. In vitro, febuxostat inhibited cholesterol crystal-induced ROS formation and inflammatory cytokine release in murine macrophages. These results demonstrate that in the atherosclerotic plaque, XO-mediated ROS formation is pro-inflammatory and XO-inhibition by febuxostat is a potential therapy for atherosclerosis.
Simulated dynamics of optically pumped dilute nitride 1300 nm spin vertical‐cavity surface‐emitting lasers
Authors: Alharthi Sami S. , Al Seyab Rihab K. , Henning Ian D. , Adams Michael J. 
Published: April 2014

The authors report a theoretical analysis of optically pumped 1300 nm dilute nitride spin‐polarised vertical‐cavity surface‐emitting lasers (VCSELs) using the spin‐flip model to determine the regions of stability and instability. The dependence of the output polarisation ellipticity on that of the pump is investigated, and the results are presented in two‐dimensional contour maps of the pump polarisation against the magnitude of the optical pump. Rich dynamics and various forms of oscillatory behaviour causing self‐sustained oscillations in the polarisation of the spin‐VCSEL subject to continuous‐wave pumping have been found because of the competition of the spin‐flip processes and birefringence. The authors also reveal the importance of considering both the birefringence rate and the linewidth enhancement factor when engineering a device for high‐frequency applications. A very good agreement is found with the experimental results reported by the authors’ group.