bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Pilot Study of the Lung Solubility of Radioactive Materials Used at Awe
Authors: Miller T. J.
Published: July 2015

This paper begins with a review of the behaviour of inhaled actinide aerosols, the effect of physicochemical factors, the bio kinetic model for lung dissolution and absorption and dissolution tests. The paper then presents a technique for doing new solubility measurements adapted from successful published methodologies. The results achieved using a pilot solubility test are then discussed along with proposals for further work.
Analytical Challenges Posed by Norm Contaminated Sites
Authors: Read D.
Published: July 2015

This paper describes some of the challenges faced by testing laboratories when conducting compliance measurements for NORM wastes. Focus is placed on solid materials as these comprise by far the most common samples of this type sent for commercial analysis. The importance of understanding the industrial processes giving rise to the waste and the need for representative sampling are emphasised. The market for analysis of NORM will undoubtedly grow, driven by more rigorous, modern legislation; however, existing capacity is limited. Future needs are discussed with reference to hydraulic fracturing for shale gas, already a mature technology in North America and one that is set to play an increasing role in the UK and continental Europe.
A Search for Darmstadtium in Nature
Authors: Mietelski J. W. , Gaca P. , Tomankiewicz E.
Published: July 2015

Except for well-known predictions for the island of stability at Z=126 recently it was found that a similar kind of the stability region can be expected at Z=110-112. The half-life time estimation for two super-heavy nuclei of Darmstadtium (Ds, Z=110), gives the value of approximately 32 years and about 100 years for 292Ds and 293Ds, respectively. Other sources suggest even longer half-life times; for example, half-life time for 293Ds could be even as long as about 300 years5. These isotopes are yet to be observed. This paper describes the use alpha spectrometry to investigate the presence of Ds in a sample of stratospheric dust trapped in cabin filters of the two Boeing 767 airliners exploited on the north Atlantic routes between central Europe and east coast of America. After a relatively simple separation technique, alpha spectrometry was performed.
Uptake of Natural Uranium by Native Plants Grown in a High Background Radiation Area
Authors: Shabana E. I. , Qutub M. M. T. , Kinsara A. A.
Published: July 2015

This paper describes radiological data for the transfer of natural uranium, the predominant radioelement in the water of irrigation, into vegetation grown during the season prior to consumption. The results of the study are that the groundwaters of the study area (cultivated area very adjacent to Hail city, north-central Saudi Arabia) contain enhanced levels of natural uranium and negligible levels of radium isotopes, the soil contains enhanced levels of natural uranium and thorium compared to the normal levels in the environment, the distribution of uranium showed significant variations among the different parts and types of the plants and the concentration and transfer factor values of uranium isotopes were the highest in roots and leaves, and were the lowest in the fruit samples. Intermediate values were found for stems and tree-branches.
Waste Management Characterisation Strategy: From Raw Waste to Waste Containers for Long Term Disposal
Authors: Lamouroux C. , Piot G. , Strock P. , Cochin F.
Published: July 2015

This paper deals with the existing procedure and methodologies deployed for waste characterisation by taking into account the entire waste management life cycle: from raw waste to waste package disposal acceptance going through waste conditioning controls. The nuclear reprocessing produces High Level wastes (glasses), Intermediary Level Waste Long Lived including process-induced salts and internal structures of the nuclear fuel assembly (cladding, hulls and end-caps) and also Low and Intermediate-level short-lived waste mostly coming from clean-up operations (clothes, tools, gloves, filters, etc.). The paper presents a review of the key factors to be considered in a waste management characterisation program. It will consist of two principal themes: the first dealing with the waste characterisation requirements depending on the category of waste (classification based on life time and level of activity in France) and the second dealing with the most convenient methods used. This paper also addresses the demarche, through the example of elaboration of compacted waste in the ACC device and the dedicated characterisations involved.
Behaviour of Radionuclides and Environmentally Significant Elements in Nuclear Fuel Element Debris (FED)
Authors: Holmes C. G. , Caborn J. A. , Harvey C. R. , Hodge N. A. , Lee D. F. , Kralj B. , Wickenden D. , Patel A. , Saunders C.
Published: July 2015

There is estimated to be 1055 Tonnes of Magnox fuel element debris (FED) held in wet and/or dry storage vaults across the Magnox reactor fleet. The challenge for Magnox Ltd is to dispose of this Intermediate Level Waste waste in a safe, environmentally acceptable manner by 2025. To achieve this Magnox has explored the dissolution of FED waste in nitric acid, where the radionuclide and associated heavy metal contamination is removed and concentrated by precipitation and/or adsorption on nuclide specific ion-exchange media. The effect of pH and use of flocculation agents on the efficacy of the abatement process was assessed by radiochemical and elemental analysis of the FED dissolution liquors pre and post abatement. This paper reports the result of that study, namely the Decontamination Factors (% Abatement) for key gamma, beta and alpha (actinides) emitting radionuclides, including the behaviour of several heavy metals of environmental concern (i.e., Mg, Ca, S, Sr, B, Al, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, Ag, Cd, Si, and Pb).
Fukushima Accident Fallout in Food and Fodder in Germany
Authors: Tait D. , Roos N.
Published: July 2015

In the framework of German precautionary radiation protection following nuclear incidents or accidents with substantial release of radioactive substances, environmental radioactivity monitoring should give priority to the so-called “representative media”.4 Milk, leek (as an example of leafy vegetables) and pasture vegetation, respectively, are regarded as representative media for food of animal origin, food of plant origin and fodder. Thus, the Coordinating Office had appropriate sources to test the sensitivity of the available measurement capability and working procedures. The air filter measurements of the German network for determining trace radioactive substances in the atmosphere indicated that the relevant nuclides5 were the gamma-emitters I-131(t½ = 8,02 days6), Cs-134 (t½ = 2.06 year6) and Cs-137 (t½ = 30.2 years6). This paper describes the efforts to determine the variation of the activities of these nuclides in the samples in April and Mai 2011 by low-level gamma-spectrometry.
Responsive hairpin DNA aptamer switch to program the strand displacement reaction for the enhanced electrochemical assay of ATP
Authors: Wang Li , Fang Li , Liu Shufeng
Published: July 2015

A responsive hairpin DNA aptamer switch was ingeniously designed to program the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction for the sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of ATP.
Mass spectrometric imaging of in vivo protein and lipid adsorption on biodegradable vascular replacement systems
Authors: Fröhlich Sophie M. , Eilenberg Magdalena , Svirkova Anastasiya , Grasl Christian , Liska Robert , Bergmeister Helga , Marchetti-Deschmann Martina
Published: July 2015

Cardiovascular diseases present amongst the highest mortality risks in Western civilization and are frequently caused by arteriosclerotic vessel failure.
Application of mid-infrared (MIR) microscopy imaging for discrimination between follicular hyperplasia and follicular lymphoma in transgenic mice
Authors: Woess C. , Drach M. , Villunger A. , Tappert R. , Stalder R. , Pallua J. D.
Published: July 2015

Mid-infrared (MIR) microscopy imaging is a vibrational spectroscopic technique that uses infrared radiation to image molecules of interest in thin tissue sections.
A selective decoy–doxorubicin complex for targeted co-delivery, STAT3 probing and synergistic anti-cancer effect
Authors: Wang Shao-Jen , Hou Yung-Te , Chen Lin-Chi
Published: July 2015

A novel selective decoy oligodeoxynucleotide (dODN)–doxorubicin (DOX) complex is reported for cancer theranostics.
Engineering polypeptide folding through trans double bonds: transformation of miniature β-meanders to hybrid helices
Authors: Ganesh Kumar Mothukuri , Benke Sushil N. , Poopathi Raja K. Muruga , Gopi Hosahudya N.
Published: July 2015

Utilization of conjugated double bonds to engineer the novel folded miniature β-meander type structures, transformation of miniature β-meanders into 10/12-helices using catalytic hydrogenation, their solution and single crystal conformations are reported.
An ultra-microporous organic polymer for high performance carbon dioxide capture and separation
Authors: Sekizkardes Ali Kemal , Culp Jeffrey T. , Islamoglu Timur , Marti Anne , Hopkinson David , Myers Christina , El-Kaderi Hani M. , Nulwala Hunaid B.
Published: July 2015

Rationally designed porous organic polymer for CO2 capture and separation.
Ultra-thin Cu2S nanosheets: effective cocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production
Authors: Zhou Yixuan , Lei Yongpeng , Wang Dingsheng , Chen Chen , Peng Qing , Li Yadong
Published: July 2015

Two-dimensional Cu2S nanosheets with a thickness of 1.2 nm are synthesized by a novel strategy, which are proved to be effective cocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production.
Photophysical efficiency-boost of aqueous aluminium phthalocyanine by hybrid formation with nano-clays
Authors: Staniford Mark C. , Lezhnina Marina M. , Gruener Malte , Stegemann Linda , Kuczius Rauni , Bleicher Vera , Strassert Cristian A. , Kynast Ulrich H.
Published: July 2015

Aluminium phthalocyanines, solubilized by nano-clay shuttles, retain high fluorescence efficiencies and singlet oxygen generation capabilities in aqueous ambience, qualifying them for photodynamic therapies.
Coherent light-driven electron transport through polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon: laser frequency, field intensity, and polarization angle dependence
Authors: Hsu Liang-Yan , Rabitz Herschel
Published: July 2015

Laser frequency, field intensity, and polarization angle dependence of photon assisted tunneling in molecular junctions.
Why is the electroanalytical performance of carbon paste electrodes involving an ionic liquid binder higher than paraffinic binders? A simulation investigation
Authors: Ghatee M. H. , Namvar S. , Zolghadr A. R. , Moosavi F.
Published: July 2015

Ionic liquid preferentially leaves the graphite edge-plane uncovered when used as a binder in the fabrication of carbon-paste electrodes, enhancing the electron transfer rate.
Accurate quantum chemical modelling of the separation of Eu3+from Am3+/Cm3+by liquid–liquid extraction with Cyanex272
Authors: Cao Xiaoyan , Zhang Jun , Weissmann Daniel , Dolg Michael , Chen Xuebo
Published: July 2015

The liquid–liquid extraction of Eu(iii) with Cyanex272 from aqueous solutions containing Eu(iii), Am(iii) and Cm(iii) is modeled with quantum chemical methods.
Structure-activity relationships in the production of olefins from alcohols and ethers: a first-principles theoretical study
Authors: Kostetskyy Pavlo , Mpourmpakis Giannis
Published: July 2015

Olefin formation pathways on Lewis acid (LA) sites of Al2O3, Ga2O3 and In2O3 and gallium- and indium-doped alumina were investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations.
How to synthesize pure Li2−xFeSi1−xPxO4/C (x = 0.03–0.15) easily from low-cost Fe3+as cathode materials for Li-ion batteries
Authors: Chen Weihua , Zhu Dan , Li Yanyang , Li Chaopeng , Feng Xiangming , Guan Xinxin , Yang Changchun , Zhang Jianmin , Mi Liwei
Published: July 2015

Self-catalysis helps to synthesize pure Li2−xFeSi1−xPxO4/C (0.03–0.15) easily by using the low cost compounds Fe(NO3)3·9H2O and NH4H2PO4.
Hypoglycemic effects of Zanthoxylum alkylamides by enhancing glucose metabolism and ameliorating pancreatic dysfunction in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: You Yuming , Ren Ting , Zhang Shiqi , Shirima Gerald Gasper , Cheng YaJiao , Liu Xiong
Published: July 2015

Alkylamides extracted from Zanthoxylum, a seasoning spice and folk medicine, exhibited hypoglycemic properties by enhancing glucose metabolism and ameliorating pancreatic dysfunction.
High throughput cryopreservation of cells by rapid freezing of sub-μl drops using inkjet printing – cryoprinting
Authors: Dou Rui , Saunders Rachel E. , Mohamet Lisa , Ward Christopher M. , Derby Brian
Published: July 2015

We have successfully used inkjet printing to cryopreserve 3T3 mouse fibroblast cells and human neuroprogenitor cells (NPCs) derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs).
Synthesis, relaxation properties and in vivo assessment of a carborane-GdDOTA-monoamide conjugate as an MRI blood pool contrast agent
Authors: Goswami Lalit N. , Cai Quanyu , Ma Lixin , Jalisatgi Satish S. , Hawthorne M. Frederick
Published: July 2015

The synthesis, relaxivity measurements and in vivo assessment of CB-GdDOTA-MA amphiphilic conjugate as blood pool contrast agent (BPCA) is reported. This BPCA showed high relaxivity (r1 = 6.8 mM−1 s−1 at 7 T in PBS) and exhibited excellent binding (87.4%) with HSA.
N-heterocyclic carbene–palladium(ii)-1-methylimidazole complex catalyzed α-arylation reactions of tetralones with aryl chlorides and further transformation of the products
Authors: Yin Hui-Ying , Lin Xia-Li , Li Shu-Wan , Shao Li-Xiong
Published: July 2015

NHC–Pd(ii)–Im complex-catalyzed α-arylation of tetralones with aryl chlorides and further transformation of the products was reported.
Enhanced decolorization of aqueous dye solutions by a high quality copolymer flocculant
Authors: You Lijun , Lu Feifei , Song Lidao , Yin Yeping , Zhang Qiqing
Published: July 2015

A high quality copolymer flocculant (CATCS) with a high positive charge and unique strong bridging function is reported for the enhanced decolorization of dye solutions.
Growth of nanocrystalline thin films of metal sulfides [CdS, ZnS, CuS and PbS] at the water–oil interface
Authors: Thomas P. John , Stansfield Gemma L. , Komba Nathanael , Cant David J. H. , Ramasamy Karthik , Albrasi Enteisar , Al-Chaghouri Hanan , Syres Karen L. , O'Brien Paul , Flavell Wendy R. , Mubofu Egid , Bondino Federica , Magnano Elena
Published: July 2015

Films of Nanocrystalline CuS, PbS, CdS and ZnS at water toluene interface.
Fabrication of morphology-controlled MgO nanowhiskers and “nanocrosses” by magnesiothermic synthesis in vapor phase at 550 °C
Authors: Mao Yuanjie , Fang Minghao , Huang Zhaohui , Liu Haitao , Liu Shuyue , Liu Yan-gai , Wu Xiaowen , Min Xin , Tang Chao , Tang Hao , Wu Hui
Published: July 2015

Morphology-controlled MgO nanowhiskers and “nanocrosses” were prepared on quartz glass fibers by magnesiothermic synthesis at 550 °C.
Effect of HfO2 on the compatibility of borosilicate sealing glasses for solid oxide fuel cells application
Authors: Liu Honglin , Zhao Dandan , Chen Shunrun , Huang Jinwan , Tang Dian , Zhang Teng
Published: July 2015

HfO2 condenses the glass structure, blocks the interdiffusion between glasses and Cr-containing interconnects, and thus reduces the detrimental interfacial reaction.
Bridging structure and mechanics of three-dimensional porous hydrogel with X-ray ultramicroscopy and atomic force microscopy
Authors: Abuelfilat A. Y. , Kim Y. , Miller P. , Hoo S. P. , Li J. , Chan P. , Fu J.
Published: July 2015

By combining phase contrast X-ray ultramicroscopy and nanoindentation with atomic force microscopy, the mechanics of individual hydrogel pores as well as their collective performance as a scaffold can be modelled and simulated.
Si/NiCo2O4 heterostructures electrodes with enhanced performance for supercapacitor
Authors: Ma Mingze , Guo Jing , Zhang Yufei , Dai Ziyang , Huang Wei , Dong Xiaochen
Published: July 2015

Silicon doped metal oxides are potential materials for high-performance electrochemical energy storage because of the synergistic effect.
Hydrothermal synthesis of manganese oxide nanorods as a highly active support for gold nanoparticles in CO oxidation and their stability at low temperature
Authors: Miao Yu-Xin , Ren Li-Hui , Shi Lei , Li Wen-Cui
Published: July 2015

One active Au/MnO2 catalysts were prepared by a colloidal deposition method. The deactivation was studied by temperature programmed desorption of CO2 analysis.
Development and characterization of single step self-assembled lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles for effective delivery of methotrexate
Authors: Garg Neeraj K. , Singh Bhupinder , Sharma Gajanand , Kushwah Varun , Tyagi Rajeev K. , Jain Sanyog , Katare Om Prakash
Published: July 2015

The present study was designed to develop methotrexate (MTX) loaded lipid polymer hybrid nanoparticles (LPHNPs) for spatial and controlled delivery of this drug.
Influence of shear on the structures and properties of regenerated silk fibroin aqueous solutions
Authors: Jin Yuan , Hang Yichun , Peng Qingfa , Zhang Yaopeng , Shao Huili , Hu Xuechao
Published: July 2015

Regenerated silk fibroin molecules in aqueous solutions gradually form rod-like liquid crystal structures after being applied sufficient shear rate and shear time.
Inhibited corrosion-promotion activity of graphene encapsulated in nanosized silicon oxide
Authors: Sun Wen , Wang Lida , Wu Tingting , Pan Yanqiu , Liu Guichang
Published: July 2015

The corrosion-promotion activity of graphene is inhibited when graphene is encapsulated in insulating SiO2 because SiO2 can act as a spacer isolating graphene from the metal substrate so as to prevent graphene–metal micro-galvanic corrosion. Incorporating rGO@SiO2 nanosheets into a polymer coating also greatly enhances the corrosion resistance of the coating.
An insight into graphene oxide associated fluorogenic sensing of glycodye–lectin interactions
Authors: Ji Ding-Kun , Zhang Yue , He Xiao-Peng , Chen Guo-Rong
Published: July 2015

Fluorogenic glycoligand–lectin interactions are determined to be associated with graphene oxide in a size dependent manner.
Ratiometric multiplexed barcodes based on luminescent metal–organic framework films
Authors: Zhou You , Yan Bing
Published: July 2015

Luminescent MOF film based ratiometric multiplexed barcodes have been demonstrated in this work. The encoding strategy is based on tuning the emission intensity in multiple emission bands of lanthanides by controlling filtered dye loading, which represents a straightforward approach for lanthanide luminescent MOFs to generate ratiometric barcodes in a robust and reproducible way.
The Hearing-Loss Guide–A Review for the SLP
Authors: Fryer Melissa P.
Published: July 2015

A speech-language pathologist's review of the latest publication from audiologist John M. Burley of Yale University.
The Impact of Subjective and Objective Hearing Loss on Cognition and Memory in Older Adults
Authors: Rogalski Yvonne , Rominger Amy
Published: July 2015

For this exploratory cross-disciplinary study, a speech-language pathologist and an audiologist collaborated to investigate the effects of objective and subjective hearing loss on cognition and memory in 11 older adults without hearing loss (OAs), 6 older adults with unaided hearing loss (HLOAs), and 16 young adults (YAs). All participants received cognitive testing and a complete audiologic evaluation including a subjective questionnaire about perceived hearing difficulty. Memory testing involved listening to or reading aloud a text passage then verbally recalling the information. Key findings revealed that objective hearing loss and subjective hearing loss were correlated and both were associated with a cognitive screening test. Potential clinical implications are discussed and include a need for more cross-professional collaboration in assessing older adults with hearing loss.
Dual‐reconfigurable microstrip antenna for polarisation agility and diversity
Authors: Lee Dong‐Hyo , Pyo Seongmin
Published: July 2015

A novel design of a circular ring microstrip antenna using dual‐reconfigurable perturbation to obtain polarisation agility and diversity is reported. The proposed antenna employs two couples of slots and stubs at a diagonal corner for generating and alternating right‐/left‐handed circular polarisations, respectively. By switching the anti‐parallel bridged pin diodes of the implemented antenna, polarisation agility and diversity are successfully demonstrated.
Transition‐aware feed‐forward equaliser for reducing pattern‐dependent jitter in four‐level pulse‐amplitude modulation transmitters
Authors: Liu Peng , Wu Kejun
Published: July 2015

To reduce pattern‐dependent jitter in four‐level pulse‐amplitude modulation (PAM‐4) signalling, a transition‐aware feed‐forward equaliser (TFFE) is proposed. By allowing the transition time to vary according to the transition types of the PAM‐4 symbols, switching jitter in TFFE‐based PAM‐4 transmitters can be greatly suppressed, down to the non‐return‐to‐zero (NRZ) level. Simulation results confirm that a PAM‐4 transmitter that employs a TFFE can reduce the jitter level by 0.18 unit interval peak‐to‐peak, and this proposed equaliser can achieve nearly identical eye height as the conventional PAM‐4 feed‐forward equalisers design without introducing any signal‐to‐noise ratio penalty.
Concatenated codes using Reed–Muller codes and bit‐extension codes for a wiretap channel
Authors: Kim Sunghwan , Kwon Sungoh , Yoon Seokhoon
Published: July 2015

In this study, a concatenated coding scheme based on Reed–Muller (RM) codes and bit‐extension codes is proposed for equivocation of a wiretap channel. RM codes and their cosets are adopted for message encoding, and bit‐extension codes are used to enhance the equivocation capability for a wiretapper's channel. The average equivocation is discussed when only RM codes are used in the system, and the probability causing imperfect secrecy is also determined. Analytical results show that the proposed code can be used for the equivocation capability of wiretap channels and suggest a proper management over a wiretap channel.
People detection in surveillance: classification and evaluation
Authors: García‐Martín Álvaro , Martínez José María
Published: July 2015

Nowadays, people detection in video surveillance environments is a task that has been generating great interest. There are many approaches trying to solve the problem either in controlled scenarios or in very specific surveillance applications. The main objective of this study is to give a comprehensive and extensive evaluation of the state of the art of people detection regardless of the final surveillance application. For this reason, first, the different processing tasks involved in the automatic people detection in video sequences have been defined, then a proper classification of the state of the art of people detection has been made according to the two most critical tasks, object detection and person model, that are needed in every detection approach. Finally, experiments have been performed on an extensive dataset with different approaches that completely cover the proposed classification and support the conclusions drawn from the state of the art.
Phase‐encoded all‐optical reconfigurable integrated multilogic unit using phase information processing of four‐wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifier
Authors: Chandra Sutanu Kumar , Biswas Subhendu , Mukhopadhyay Sourangshu
Published: July 2015

Non‐linear properties of semiconductor optical amplifier are found very useful in optical switching and logic operation. Again, phase encoding system is established as an efficient method for implementing the ultrafast computing and communication with high spectral efficiency. Resulting phase of the intraband ultrafast four‐wave mixing sidebands in semiconductor optical amplifier has been utilised in processing the phase information encoded over the input pump and probe waves and which generally followed the logic operation XOR or its complement XNOR. However, in this study, the authors first time propose a new scheme of implementing an all‐optical integrated multilogic unit with phase‐encoded data using only four‐wave mixing in semiconductor optical amplifier, which can perform all the logic operations AND, OR, XOR and their complements after minor reconfiguration in the unit. This integrated scheme can exploit the parallelism of optics to achieve a superfast speed of operation.
Ultra‐compact liquid crystal dual core photonic crystal fibre multiplexer–demultiplexer
Authors: Azab Mohammad Y. , Hameed Mohamed Farhat O. , El‐Hefnawy Somia M. , Obayya Salah S.A.
Published: July 2015

In this study, the authors propose a novel design of ultra‐compact multiplexer–demultiplexer (MUX–DEMUX) based on silica photonic crystal fibre coupler. The suggested design has two large holes infiltrated with nematic liquid crystal of type E7. The reported MUX–DEMUX has short device length of 436 µm with low crosstalk better than −20 dB with bandwidths of 35 and 10 nm around operating wavelength of 1.3 and 1.55 μm, respectively. The simulation results are obtained using full‐vectorial finite‐difference method together with full‐vectorial beam propagation method.
Graph theory and stability analysis of protein complex interaction networks
Authors: Huang Chien‐Hung , Chen Teng‐Hung , Ng Ka‐Lok
Published: July 2015

Protein complexes play an essential role in many biological processes. Complexes can interact with other complexes to form protein complex interaction network (PCIN) that involves in important cellular processes. There are relatively few studies on examining the interaction topology among protein complexes; and little is known about the stability of PCIN under perturbations. We employed graph theoretical approach to reveal hidden properties and features of four species PCINs. Two main issues are addressed, (i) the global and local network topological properties, and (ii) the stability of the networks under 12 types of perturbations. According to the topological parameter classification, we identified some critical protein complexes and validated that the topological analysis approach could provide meaningful biological interpretations of the protein complex systems. Through the Kolmogorov–Smimov test, we showed that local topological parameters are good indicators to characterise the structure of PCINs. We further demonstrated the effectiveness of the current approach by performing the scalability and data normalization tests. To measure the robustness of PCINs, we proposed to consider eight topological‐based perturbations, which are specifically applicable in scenarios of targeted, sustained attacks. We found that the degree‐based, betweenness‐based and brokering‐coefficient‐based perturbations have the largest effect on network stability.
Familial risk for lifestyle‐related chronic diseases: can family health history be used as a motivational tool to promote health behaviour in young adults?
Authors: Prichard I. , Lee A. , Hutchinson A. D. , Wilson C.
Published: July 2015

Issue addressed

Risk for colorectal cancer, breast cancer, heart disease and diabetes has both a familial and a lifestyle component. This quasi‐experimental study aimed to determine whether a Family Health History (FHH) assessment and the subsequent provision of risk information would increase young adults' (17–29 years) intentions to modify health behaviours associated with the risk of these chronic diseases (i.e. alcohol consumption, fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity) and to talk to their family about their risk.

Methods

After baseline measures of current and intended health‐related behaviours, participants (n = 116) were randomly allocated to either a FHH assessment or control information. Based on the FHH provided, participants in the FHH condition were then classified as ‘above‐average risk’ or ‘average risk’. One week later, participants were provided with tailored health information and completed follow‐up measures of intended health‐related behaviours and perceived vulnerability.

Results

Participants classified as ‘above‐average risk’ had increased perceptions of vulnerability to a chronic disease. Despite this, no group differences were found in intentions to change physical activity or fruit and vegetable consumption. Participants with above‐average risk reported greater intentions to decrease the frequency of their alcohol consumption than average risk/control participants. In addition, completing a FHH assessment promoted intended communication with family members about chronic disease risk.

Conclusions

FHH assessments may have the greatest value within the family context.
Use of simulations to enhance knowledge integration and livestock producers’ adaptation to variability in the climate in northern Uruguay
Authors: Grosskopf H. Morales , Tourrand J. F. , Bartaburu D. , Dieguez F. , Bommel P. , Corral J. , Montes E. , Pereira M. , Duarte E. , Hegedus P.
Published: July 2015

Basaltic soils have an extremely reduced capacity to accumulate water in Uruguay where they occupy 3.5 m ha (25% of the area of Uruguay) and are mainly exploited by extensive cattle production systems. Drought can have a negative effect on forage growth and cattle production and can have a devastating impact on the economy of livestock producers, and damage the entire beef-supply chain. To improve the livestock producers ability to adapt to climate variability, the past effects of droughts were modelled to understand the dynamics of droughts at the level of the production unit through the development of an interactive agent-based simulation model. The simulator was constructed in four steps by simulating: (i) forage growth using a logistic growth equation calibrated with data originated from the Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite, (ii) the life cycle of livestock, (iii) the interaction between forage and livestock, and (iv) different strategies of management. Outputs of simulations were explored in five workshops with 82 livestock farmers and development actors. In these workshops, both biophysical models and those related to farm management were recognised as valid, and the typologies used were identified as realistic. Through the workshops and discussions about the models, the producers’ understanding of droughts was investigated. It was found that two types of information were important in encouraging better adaptation: (i) information that allowed a better understanding of the complex system and (ii) information that supported action. The workshops were found to valuable in generating a motivation to analyse and discuss climate variability.
Restoring the primacy of technological innovation
Authors: Kingston William
Published: July 2015

The industrial revolution depended upon a system of individual property rights which was unusually capable of forcing self-interest to serve the public good as well. This system led to unprecedented growth of wealth, primarily because it encouraged technological innovation. Over time, however, the laws of property (notably those relating to the corporation and to information protection) were captured by those who could benefit from them. In particular, financiers were released from the disciplines which had applied to them since the invention of money, and this made investment in financial innovation more attractive than technology. During the first part of the industrial revolution, growth in credit meant growth in wealth, but there is now a mass of empirical evidence that this correlation has turned negative. A series of proposals for reversing this trend is offered, specifically changes in corporation law and new means for protection of information. These include measuring grants of privilege by money instead of time, compulsory expert arbitration of disputes, and protection of innovation directly instead of indirectly, which is all that patents purport to offer. It is also argued that public provision of finance for innovation should generally follow a US model (which is described) rather than the practice of the EU, and that funding of university research should be transmitted through firms to a much greater extent than at present. A variant of an earlier Central Policy Review Staff experiment in the UK is suggested as offering some chance of introducing these reforms in the face of politicians’ vulnerability to interest pressures.
Repositioning of the Annular Ligament in the Management of Missed Monteggia Fracture
Authors: Lu Xuemin , Yan Guisen , Wang Yukun , Zhu Zhenhua , You Haifeng , Zhang Jianli , Guo Yuan
Published: July 2015

Background:

Successful treatment of missed Monteggia fractures usually requires ulnar osteotomy and open reduction of the radial head with reconstruction of the annular ligament. We have observed cases in which the annular ligament was displaced into the joint but remained intact. Here we report our experience with repositioning of the annular ligament at the time of the open reduction rather than reconstruction in the management of missed Monteggia fractures.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 23 patients with missed Monteggia fractures treated by repositioning of the annular. There were 16 males and 7 females with an average age of 6 years (range, 4 to 9 y). The average time from injury to definitive treatment was 7 months (range, 6 wk to 16 mo). The average follow-up was 18 months (range, 8 to 36 mo). We evaluated the patients by clinical examination, Kim score, and radiographs.

Results:

All patients had no pain and full elbow function at the latest follow-up. There were no significant differences between the preoperative and postoperative Kim scores. Radiographs at the latest follow-up demonstrated maintenance of radial head reduction in all cases.

Conclusions:

Repositioning of an intact annular ligament in cases of missed Monteggia fractures is a viable alternative to reconstruction of the ligament and provides long-term stability.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—therapeutic.
Correlation Between Standard Upper Extremity Impairment Measures and Activity-based Function Testing in Upper Extremity Cerebral Palsy
Authors: James Michelle A. , Bagley Anita , Vogler James B. , Davids Jon R. , Van Heest Ann E.
Published: July 2015

Background:

Although the treatment of cerebral palsy should be based on improving function as assessed by measures of impairment, activity, and participation, the standard indications for surgical treatment of upper extremity cerebral palsy (UECP) are impairment measures, primarily active and passive range of motion (ROM). Recently, validated activity measures have been developed for children with UECP. The purposes of this study were to determine the relationship between impairment and activity measures in this population, and whether measures of activity correlate with each other.

Methods:

A total of 37 children, ages 5 to 16 years, who met standard ROM surgical indications for UECP were evaluated with the impairment measures of active and passive ROM and stereognosis, as well as 3 activity measures [Assisting Hand Assessment (AHA), Box and Blocks test, and the Shriners Hospitals Upper Extremity Evaluation Dynamic Positional Analyses (SHUEE DPA)]. Impairment measures were correlated with activity measures using Spearman rank correlation coefficients.

Results:

Impairment measures showed inconsistent correlation with activity measures. Of the 12 comparisons, only 4 correlated: active forearm supination (ρ=0.47, P=0.003), wrist extension (ρ=0.55, P=0.001), and stereognosis scores (ρ=0.54, P=0.001) were correlated with AHA; and wrist extension was correlated with the SHUEE DPA (ρ=0.41, P=0.01). When the results of activity tests were compared, the AHA was correlated with the Box and Blocks tests (ρ=0.63, P<0.001), and the SHUEE DPA and Box and Blocks tests were correlated with each other (ρ=0.35, P=0.04).

Conclusions:

The goal of surgery in UECP is to improve the child’s ability to perform activities, and ultimately to participate in life situations. Impairment measures, such as ROM, were inconsistently correlated with validated measures of activity. Some activity measures correlated with each other, although they did not correlate with the same impairment measures. We conclude that impairment measures, including ROM, do not consistently predict functional dynamic ROM used to perform activities for children with UECP. Activity limitation measures may provide more appropriate indicators than impairment measures for upper extremity surgery for this population.

Level of Evidence:

Level II—diagnostic.
Off-Pump Debranching and Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair for Aortic Arch Pathology
Authors: Ghazy Tamer , Mashhour Ahmed , Schmidt Torsten , Mahlmann Adrian , Ouda Ahmed , Florek Hans-Joachim , Matschke Klaus , Kappert Utz
Published: July 2015

Objective

This study aimed to simplify an until-now complex procedure for the treatment of proximal aortic arch pathology (zones 0 and 1), where a deep hypothermic circulatory arrest even with selective cerebral perfusion is still a high-risk procedure with accompanying splanchnic and spinal cord ischemia.

Methods

From June 2012 until March 2013, 106 patients underwent aortic surgery in our institution, of whom, 20 patients underwent aortic arch surgery. Of the 20 patients, 7 with multiple comorbidities and a high operative risk and no other indication for a cardiopulmonary bypass were selected to undergo an off-pump aortic arch debranching and thoracic endovascular aortic repair: 4 patients had chronic dissections, and 3 patients had arch aneurysms. The procedure was performed through median sternotomy. The supraaortic branches were rerouted to the ascending aorta, and this process was followed by thoracic endovascular aortic repair of the aortic arch and proximal descending aorta. Transaortic antegrade stenting was performed in 5 cases. Cerebral protection and perfusion monitoring were achieved by biradial pressure monitoring, electroencephalogram, and online transcranial duplex sonography. The preoperative, operative, and postoperative data were collected and analyzed retrospectively.

Results

All procedures were successful. There were no conversions to cardiopulmonary bypass support. The mean operative time was 184 ± 24 minutes. Postoperatively, there was 1 rethoracotomy for bleeding and 1 cerebrovascular insult. The 30-day mortality was 1 patient.

Conclusions

Off-pump aortic debranching with arch stenting is a reproducible procedure that could be favorable in certain situations, such as in patients with a higher operative risk profile, thereby reducing the risks associated with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and also yielding favorable outcomes, even in an older patient cohort with more comorbidities.
Identifying Drug Therapy Problems Through Patient Consultation at Community Pharmacies: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: Patel Mira , Campbell Michael , Moslem Mobeen , Spriggel Preston , Warholak Terri
Published: July 2015

Objective

This study aimed to identify drug therapy problems during patient counseling at prescription pickup in the community pharmacy setting.

Methods

This descriptive quality improvement project assessed the number of drug therapy problems identified during patient consultation. Data were collected for 2 months at 6 community pharmacies in Arizona. The criterion for inclusion was any patient new or transferred prescription consultation provided by a pharmacist or pharmacy intern. Three doctor of pharmacy candidates collected data on a standardized form. The percentage and type of drug therapy problems identified during patient consultation were calculated.

Results

Data collectors counseled patients on 1305 prescriptions, and of those, 29 drug therapy problems (2.2%) were identified after the pharmacists' final check. The most common problems involved patient drug allergy or sensitivity (20.7%).

Conclusions

This project suggests that drug therapy problems in a community pharmacy setting can be identified via patient counseling at the time of prescription pickup.
Plant scents modify innate colour preference in foraging swallowtail butterflies
Authors: Yoshida Mina , Itoh Yuki , Ômura Hisashi , Arikawa Kentaro , Kinoshita Michiyo
Published: July 2015

Flower-visiting insects exhibit innate preferences for particular colours. A previous study demonstrated that naivePapilio xuthusfemales prefer yellow and red, whereas males are more attracted to blue. Here, we demonstrate that the innate colour preference can be modified by olfactory stimuli in a sexually dimorphic manner. NaiveP. xuthuswere presented with four coloured discs: blue, green, yellow and red. The innate colour preference (i.e. the colour first landed on) of the majority of individuals was blue. When scent from essential oils of either orange flower or lily was introduced to the room, females’ tendency to select the red disc increased. Scents of lavender and flowering pottedHibiscus rosa-sinensis,however,were less effective. Interestingly, the odour of the non-flowering larval host plant,Citrus unshiu, shifted the preference to green in females. In males, however, all plant scents were less effective than in females, such that blue was always the most favoured colour. These observations indicate that interactions between visual and olfactory cues play a more prominent role in females.
The origin of a new fin skeleton through tinkering
Authors: Stewart Thomas A.
Published: July 2015

Adipose fins are positioned between the dorsal and caudal fins of many teleost fishes and primitively lack skeleton. In at least four lineages, adipose fins have evolved lepidotrichia (bony fin rays), co-opting the developmental programme for the dermal skeleton of other fins into this new territory. Here I provide, to my knowledge, the first description of lepidotrichia development in an adipose fin, characterizing the ontogeny of the redtail catfish,
Phractocephalus hemioliopterus
. Development of these fin rays differs from canonical lepidotrich development in the following four ways: skeleton begins developing in adults, not in larvae; rays begin developing at the fin's distal tip, not proximally; the order in which rays ossify is variable, not fixed; and lepidotrichia appear to grow both proximally and distally, not exclusively proximodistally. Lepidotrichia are often wavy, of irregular thickness and exhibit no regular pattern of segmentation or branching. This skeleton is among the most variable observed in a vertebrate appendage, offering a unique opportunity to explore the basis of hypervariation, which is generally assumed to reflect an absence of function. I argue that this variation reflects a lack of canalization as compared with other, more ancient lepidotrichs and suggest developmental context can affect the morphology of serial homologues.
Great cities look small
Authors: Sim Aaron , Yaliraki Sophia N. , Barahona Mauricio , Stumpf Michael P. H.
Published: July 2015

Great cities connect people; failed cities isolate people. Despite the fundamental importance of physical, face-to-face social ties in the functioning of cities, these connectivity networks are not explicitly observed in their entirety. Attempts at estimating them often rely on unrealistic over-simplifications such as the assumption of spatial homogeneity. Here we propose a mathematical model of human interactions in terms of a local strategy of maximizing the number of beneficial connections attainable under the constraint of limited individual travelling-time budgets. By incorporating census and openly available online multi-modal transport data, we are able to characterize the connectivity of geometrically and topologically complex cities. Beyond providing a candidate measure of greatness, this model allows one to quantify and assess the impact of transport developments, population growth, and other infrastructure and demographic changes on a city. Supported by validations of gross domestic product and human immunodeficiency virus infection rates across US metropolitan areas, we illustrate the effect of changes in local and city-wide connectivities by considering the economic impact of two contemporary inter- and intra-city transport developments in the UK:
High Speed 2
and
London Crossrail
. This derivation of the model suggests that the scaling of different urban indicators with population size has an explicitly mechanistic origin.
Cooperation within von Willebrand factors enhances adsorption mechanism
Authors: Heidari Maziar , Mehrbod Mehrdad , Ejtehadi Mohammad Reza , Mofrad Mohammad R. K.
Published: July 2015

von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a naturally collapsed protein that participates in primary haemostasis and coagulation events. The clotting process is triggered by the adsorption and conformational changes of the plasma VWFs localized to the collagen fibres found near the site of injury. We develop coarse-grained models to simulate the adsorption dynamics of VWF flowing near the adhesive collagen fibres at different shear rates and investigate the effect of factors such as interaction and cooperativity of VWFs on the success of adsorption events. The adsorption probability of a flowing VWF confined to the receptor field is enhanced when it encounters an adhered VWF in proximity to the collagen receptors. This enhancement is observed within a wide range of shear rates and is mostly controlled by the attractive van der Waals interactions rather than the hydrodynamic interactions among VWF monomers. The cooperativity between the VWFs acts as an effective mechanism for enhancing VWF adsorption to the collagen fibres. Additionally, this implies that the adsorption of such molecules is nonlinearly dependent on the density of flowing VWFs. These findings are important for studies of primary haemostasis as well as general adsorption dynamics processes in polymer physics.
The profits and perils of publicity:
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung
, the Thurn und Taxis Post, and the periodical trade at the end of the eighteenth century
Authors: Broman Thomas
Published: July 2015

Recent historiography on the growth of periodical publishing has emphasized newspapers and journals as constituents of an emergent communications system in early modern Europe. This system comprised the newspapers, journals and other publications that contributed its content, and also the postal systems that were the principal method of distributing that content. This article describes how the growth of this system in central Europe was supported in large measure by financial incentives that it offered to both constituents. First, in contrast with postal systems in France and the UK, the Thurn und Taxis
Reichspost
inserted itself as a middleman in the sale of periodicals, which gave the
Reichspost
an incentive to promote the trade. Second, the financial conditions for periodical publication made their costs depend more heavily on costs that were scalable to circulation than is true today, which resulted in the viability of publications with a lower circulation. The same cost structure also made it possible for certain prominent periodicals of the era to earn considerable profits for their publishers, as illustrated in this article by
Allgemeine Literatur-Zeitung
, which was published in Jena from 1785.