bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clarifying habitat niche width using broad‐scale, hierarchical occupancy models: a case study with a recovering mesocarnivore
Authors: Moll R. J. , Kilshaw K. , Montgomery R. A. , Abade L. , Campbell R. D. , Harrington L. A. , Millspaugh J. J. , Birks J. D. S. , Macdonald D. W.
Published: June 2016

A species’ habitat niche width informs its position on the generalist–specialist continuum, which is central to life‐history theory and crucial to conservation planning. However, assessments of niche width are often based on local‐scale studies or qualitative descriptions rather than broad, quantitative assessments conducted in heterogeneous landscapes. Here, we show how broad‐scale, hierarchical occupancy models can clarify a species’ niche width and degree of habitat specialism by evaluating the woodland‐specialist classification of the European pine marten Martes martes. We deployed 526 camera‐trap stations at 27 sites throughout a vast extent (~50 000 km2) in Scotland and modeled pine marten occupancy as a function of habitat characteristics using a hierarchical Bayesian analysis. Our model was flexible to trap happiness due to baiting at camera traps and accounted for spatial autocorrelation among and imperfect detection at camera‐trap stations. We detected a positive association between pine marten occupancy probability and wooded habitats. However, pine marten occupancy probability was also high in numerous non‐wooded habitats, including agricultural land, heather and heather grassland, semi‐natural grassland and areas near anthropogenic structures. Our study is the first to record high pine marten occupancy in open habitats at broad spatial scales and thereby corroborates recent smaller scale indications that pine martens are more of a habitat generalist than previously thought. Our results guide ongoing conservation efforts by identifying that pine martens are not strict woodland specialists, but rather inhabit a mosaic of habitat types in the landscape. More broadly, our case study exemplifies how coupling hierarchical occupancy models with large‐scale experimental designs can clarify a species’ niche width and associated position on the generalist–specialist continuum.
An Evaluation of the Linearity of Curriculum–Based Measurement of Oral Reading (CBM–R) Progress Monitoring Data: Idiographic Considerations
Authors: Van Norman Ethan R. , Parker David C.
Published: June 2016

Educators use curriculum–based measurement of oral reading (CBM–R) to measure student response to instruction. Current decision–making frameworks assume students demonstrate linear growth across a school year. However, growth appears nonlinear for at least a subgroup of students. We assessed the degree to which grade two ( n = 800) and grade three ( n = 800) students receiving intensive interventions experienced discontinuous growth. We also explored when discontinuous growth tended to occur, and whether students improved or regressed afterward. Results indicate linear patterns were adequate for most students (80 percent). Students who showed discontinuous growth early tended to improve afterward. Conversely, students who showed discontinuous growth later tended to plateau. Findings suggest multilevel models may obscure variability in growth patterns. Practice and research implications are discussed.
NtDRP is necessary for accurate zygotic division orientation and differentiation of basal cell lineage toward suspensor formation
Authors: Zhao Jing , Xin Haiping , Cao Lingyan , Huang Xiaorong , Shi Ce , Zhao Peng , Fu Ying , Sun Meng‐Xiang
Published: June 2016

Plant embryogenesis begins with an asymmetric division of the zygote, producing apical and basal cells with distinct cell fates. The asymmetric zygote division is thought to be critical for embryo pattern formation; however, the molecular mechanisms regulating this process, especially maintaining the accurate position and proper orientation of cell division plane, remain poorly understood.

Here, we report that a dynamin‐related protein in Nicotiana tabacum, NtDRP, plays a critical role in maintaining orientation of zygotic division plane. Down‐regulation of NtDRP caused zygotic cell division to occur in different, incorrect orientations and resulted in disruption of suspensor formation, and even development of twin embryos.

The basal cell lineage totally integrated with the apical cell lineage into an embryo‐like structure, suggesting that NtDRP is essential to accurate zygotic division orientation and differentiation of basal cell lineage toward suspensor formation. We also reveal that NtDRP plays its role by modulating microtubule spatial organization and spindle orientation during early embryogenesis.

Thus, we revealed that NtDRP is involved in orientation of the asymmetric zygotic division and differentiation of distinct suspensor and embryo domains, as well as subsequent embryo pattern formation.
Effects of hypotension and/or hypocapnia during sevoflurane anesthesia on perfusion and metabolites in the developing brain of piglets—a blinded randomized study
Authors: Ringer Simone K. , Ohlerth Stefanie , Carrera Inés , Mauch Jacqueline , Spielmann Nelly , Bettschart‐Wolfensberger Regula , Weiss Markus
Published: June 2016

Background

Hypotension (HT) and/or hypocapnia (HC) are frequent complications occurring during pediatric anesthesia and may cause cerebral injury in the developing brain.

Aim

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of HT and/or HC on perfusion and metabolism in the developing brain.

Methods

Twenty‐eight piglets were randomly allocated to four groups: control (C), HT, HC, and hypotension and hyocapnia (HTC).

Anesthesia was induced and maintained using sevoflurane. Fentanyl was added for instrumentation. Piglets were fully monitored and their lungs were artificially ventilated. Before treatment, conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), dynamic susceptibility‐contrast‐enhanced T2*‐weighted MRI (DSC‐MRI), and single voxel proton MR spectroscopy (1H MRS) were performed. Hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure: 30 ± 3 mmHg) was induced by blood withdrawal and nitroprusside infusion, and hyperventilation was used to induce HC (PaCO2: 2.7–3.3 kPa). 1H MRS and DSC‐MRI were repeated immediately once treatment goals were achieved and 120 min later. Radiologists were blinded to the groups. DSCI‐MRI and 1H MRS analyses were performed in the thalamus, occipital and parietal lobe, hippocampus, and watershed areas.

Results

In comparison to C, mean time to peak (TTP) increased with HTC in all brain areas as assessed with DSC‐MRI (n = 26). Using 1H MRS, a significant decrease in N‐acetyl aspartate, choline, and myoinositol, as well as an increase in glutamine–glutamate complex (Glx) were detected independent of group. Compared to C, changes were more pronounced for Glx (due to an increase in glutamate) and myoinositol with HTC, for N‐acetyl aspartate with HT, and for Glx with HC. No lactate signal was present.

Conclusions

The combination of HT and HC during sevoflurane anesthesia resulted in alteration of cerebral perfusion with signs of neuronal dysfunction and early neuronal ischemia. HT and HC alone also resulted in signs of metabolic disturbances despite the absence of detectable cerebral perfusion alterations.
Roux‐en‐Y intussusception after pediatric liver transplant – A case report
Authors: Shakhin Victoria , Iyer Kishore , Chu Jaime , Ramaswami Archana , Lester Neil , Arnon Ronen
Published: June 2016

Small bowel obstruction in a pediatric patient following liver transplant often results from adhesions, hernias, or post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease. Here, we present an unusual and previously unreported entity – Roux‐en‐Y intussusception in an eight‐yr‐old female several years after liver transplantation. Although a rare complication, Roux‐en‐Y intussusception should be considered as a potential etiology in the patient presenting with bowel obstruction, with specific attention to acute presentation accompanying jaundice.
Complications of indwelling central venous catheters in pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Cousin Vladimir L. , Wildhaber Barbara E. , Verolet Charlotte M. , Belli Dominique C. , Posfay‐Barbe Klara M. , McLin Valérie A.
Published: June 2016

In pLT recipients, the advantages of ICVCs need to be weighed against the risk of complications. This single‐center retrospective study aimed to review ICVC complications in our cohort of pLT recipients. We performed chart reviews of pLT patients having undergone transplant between 01/2000 and 03/2014 and who underwent ICVC placement either before or after LT. We identified 100 ICVC in 85 patients. Overall observation time was 90 470 catheter‐days. There was no difference in catheter lifespan between those inserted pre‐ or post‐transplant; 46% of ICVC presented a complication. Most frequent complications were MD and infection. The infection rate was 0.09 per 1000 catheter‐days, and MD rate was 0.36 per 1000 catheter‐days. Patients having received technical variant grafts were more at risk of complications. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study examining ICVC complications in pLT recipients. We conclude that ICVC have a high rate of MD. Children receiving technical variants may be more at risk of complications. By removing ICVC in a select number of patients at six months post‐insertion, we might avoid as much as 60% of complications.
Political Action in Conflict and Nonconflict Regions in Indonesia: The Role of Religious and National Identifications
Authors: Kanas Agnieszka , Martinovic Borja
Published: June 2016

This study examined the relationship between group identification and political action in Indonesia. We made four contributions to the literature. First, we studied political action on behalf of religious groups and examined the role of religious identification alone and in combination with national identification. Second, we analyzed political action in a non‐Western country where social cleavages occur primarily along religious lines and where a conflict and nonconflict region can be studied. Third, we compared Muslims and Christians, whose majority and minority status varies across the two regions, and fourth, we investigated both normative and nonnormative forms of political action (protest and violence). In line with the dual‐identification model of politicization, we found that religious identification increased support for protest (but not violence) in the conflict region only and particularly among high national identifiers. In the nonconflict region, religious identification was not related to violence, and it was related to lower support for protest among high national identifiers. The patterns were largely similar for Muslims and Christians, but some differences were found depending on the majority‐minority status. We conclude that particularities of the intergroup context should be taken into consideration when studying politicization.
Personality Traits, Income, and Economic Ideology
Authors: Bakker Bert N.
Published: June 2016

While the psychological underpinnings of social ideology are well established, less is known about the psychological underpinnings of economic ideology. In this study, I assess whether Big Five personality traits are associated with economic ideology and when personality traits are more strongly or more weakly associated with economic ideology. I hypothesize that low income attenuates the association between the Big Five traits and economic ideology. Studies conducted in Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the United States show that Conscientiousness is positively correlated with economic conservatism, while Agreeableness and Neuroticism are negatively correlated with economic conservatism. Moreover, low income attenuates the association between personality traits and economic ideology. I report a weaker association between Agreeableness and economic ideology among poor people compared to wealthier people in all three countries. Low income also attenuates the association between economic ideology and the traits Openness (Denmark), Extraversion (United Kingdom), and Neuroticism (United States). I contribute to the literature addressing the psychological correlates of economic ideology by showing that (1) economic ideology has a distinct set of personality correlates and (2) low income attenuates the association between some personality traits and economic ideology.
The Effects of Counterstereotypic Gender Strategies on Candidate Evaluations
Authors: Bauer Nichole M.
Published: June 2016

Voters do not associate female candidates with feminine stereotypes, but voters also do not associate female candidates with the qualities most valued in political leaders such as experience and knowledge. Current research offers conflicting conclusions on whether female candidates benefit from breaking with feminine norms or face a backlash for being too aggressive and not likable enough. Using a series of experiments, I show how counterstereotypic gender strategies, including women emphasizing masculine trait competencies, improve evaluations of female candidates along both masculine and feminine leadership dimensions. These results offer novel insights into how female candidates can overcome perceptual deficits among voters that they lack critical masculine leadership qualities. I also show that female candidates can overcome these biases without losing on traditional feminine strengths such as warmth and likability. However, counterstereotypic female candidates can face a “likability” backlash from out‐partisan voters. These findings suggest counterstereotypes may be more beneficial for female candidates in a primary election context when voters are copartisans rather than general elections where candidates often need cross‐partisan support.
Effects of R&D policy choice on accounting performance and market value
Authors: Wang Yanni , Du Rong , Koong Kai S. , Fan Weiguo
Published: June 2016

Using primary data that was gathered from the annual reports of companies listed in the Chinese Stock Exchanges, this study analyzes and compares the different effects of R&D policy choice on their accounting performances and market values. For the period 2007 through 2014, the results show that different R&D policy choices provided different implications in firm value and firm strategy to the market. Specifically, the firms choosing to capitalize their R&D investments have higher market value, implying that the strategy was focused on sustaining their long‐term development. On the contrary, the companies selecting to expense their R&D expenditure have higher accounting performance and the focus was on improving short‐term gains. The results of this study suggest that the policy choice on R&D capitalization and expensing is a trade‐off result between the accounting performance and the market value of a firm.
Estimating the Causal Effect of Treatment in Observational Studies with Survival Time End Points and Unmeasured Confounding
Authors: Choi Jaeun , O'Malley A. James
Published: June 2016

Estimation of the effect of a treatment in the presence of unmeasured confounding is a common objective in observational studies. The two-stage least squares instrumental variables procedure is frequently used but is not applicable to time-to-event data if some observations are censored. We develop a simultaneous equations model to account for unmeasured confounding of the effect of treatment on survival time subject to censoring. The identification of the treatment effect is assisted by instrumental variables (variables related to treatment but conditional on treatment, not to the outcome) and the assumed bivariate distribution underlying the data-generating process. The methodology is illustrated on data from an observational study of time to death following endovascular or open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms. As the instrumental variable and the distributional assumptions cannot be jointly assessed from the observed data, we evaluate the sensitivity of the results to these assumptions.
Linear Regression with a Randomly Censored Covariate: Application to an Alzheimer's Study
Authors: Atem Folefac D. , Qian Jing , Maye Jacqueline E. , Johnson Keith A. , Betensky Rebecca A.
Published: June 2016

The association between maternal age of onset of dementia and amyloid deposition (measured by in vivo positron emission tomography imaging) in cognitively normal older offspring is of interest. In a regression model for amyloid, special methods are required because of the random right censoring of the covariate of maternal age of onset of dementia. Prior literature has proposed methods to address the problem of censoring due to assay limit of detection, but not random censoring. We propose imputation methods and a survival regression method that do not require parametric assumptions about the distribution of the censored covariate. Existing imputation methods address missing covariates, but not right-censored covariates. In simulation studies, we compare these methods with the simple, but inefficient, complete-case analysis, and with thresholding approaches. We apply the methods to the Alzheimer's study.
Can Direct Regulations Spur Innovations in Environmental Technologies? A Study on Firm‐Level Patenting
Authors: Klemetsen Marit E. , Bye Brita , Raknerud Arvid
Published: June 2016

Using a rich Norwegian panel dataset that includes information about the type and number of patent applications, direct environmental regulations, and a large number of control variables, we analyze the effects of direct regulations on environmental patenting. We use inspection violation status as a measure of regulatory stringency, while controlling for risk class. Violation status captures the probability that a firm might be sanctioned for violating its emission permit. Controlling for risk class captures firm heterogeneity related to dirtiness and inspection frequency. We empirically identify strong and significant effects on innovations resulting from the implicit regulatory costs of direct regulations.
The Discourse of the Ecological Precariat: Making Sense of Social Disruption in the Lower Ninth Ward in the Long‐Term Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Authors: Harvey Daina Cheyenne
Published: June 2016

The Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans was ground zero for Hurricane Katrina. In the prolonged aftermath, residents were forced to deal with social abandonment, discriminatory rebuilding policies, the BP disaster, redistricting, and the everyday toxic assault that comes from living in Cancer Alley. A 14‐month ethnography of the neighborhood revealed residents’ understanding of Katrina was grounded in a larger pattern of discourse surrounding extreme environmental threats. While not everyone in the community talked about suffering in the same way, there was a common discourse stemming from a cultural coherence based on shared perceptions and understandings of social disruption from the environment. This coherence reveals a discourse of environmental suffering. I refer to residents who employed this discourse as the ecological precariat. In this article, I focus on the discursive responses to suffering that constitute this particular way of making sense of suffering. In doing so, I denote three dominant discourses, including distrust, uncertainty, and confusion.
Language Matching Among Mother‐child Dyads: Associations with Child Attachment and Emotion Reactivity
Authors: Borelli Jessica L. , Ramsook Kizzann A. , Smiley Patricia , Kyle Bond David , West Jessica L. , Buttitta Katherine H.
Published: June 2016

Links between mother‐infant affective matching and attachment security are well‐documented, but research on other types of behavioral matching and attachment security are lacking, as are studies that examine these constructs later in children's development. We examine language style matching (LSM) between mothers and their school‐aged children (N = 68), using interviews with each dyad member. As predicted, regressions revealed that higher mother‐child relational LSM was associated with greater child attachment security (operationalized as high security, low dismissal), and that higher LSM predicted smaller increases in children's electrodermal response to a relational probe 1.5 years later. Further, mother‐child relational LSM was a mediator in the indirect path between children's attachment security and children's reactivity. We discuss the potential utility of LSM as a measure of relationship quality and future studies that could refine our understanding of parent‐child language matching.
The Influence of Competition on Resource Allocation in Preschool Children
Authors: Pappert Anna‐Theresa , Williams Amanda , Moore Chris
Published: June 2016

To examine how competition influences resource allocation in 4‐ to 6‐year‐olds, children were assigned to one of two conditions. In the experimental condition children colored a picture for a coloring contest whereas in the control condition they colored a picture to decorate a wall. Subsequently, all children participated in a resource allocation task with another child who was introduced as another participant in the coloring contest or who would also be coloring a picture for the wall. Finally, children were asked how many crayons (out of eight) they wanted to provide to the other child. In the resource allocation task, children made decisions about how to allocate stickers to self and other across four trial types: cost and no cost variations of both advantageous and disadvantageous inequality trials. Children were less prosocial in the experimental condition than in the control condition but only in disadvantageous inequality trials involving a cost. Children in the experimental condition withheld more crayons compared to children in the control condition. These results suggest that competition not only decreases prosocial behavior directly linked to the competition but also decreases generosity when provided with an unrelated resource allocation opportunity.
Platelets: handle with care
Authors: Thomas S.
Published: June 2016

Platelets are delicate cells that require careful handling between collection, preparation and transfusion. This review addresses practical questions relating to platelet concentration, resting time after collection, total time and number of periods without agitation and temperature. The bags in which platelets are stored are made from gas‐permeable plastic to allow sufficient oxygen for the platelets to maintain aerobic respiration. Manufacturers have assigned limits for platelet content and concentration, and these must not be exceeded. There is no strong evidence for or against the resting of platelets post‐collection and pre‐agitation, but platelets should not be over‐wrapped during this period as this compromises gas exchange; a short rest period of up to 1 h may allow the separation of minor aggregates. It is necessary to transport platelet concentrates (e.g. from manufacturing site to hospital), but these periods without gas exchange must be limited to avoid excessive damage to the platelets. Current data support a total of 24 h of transportation per component but with no individual period lasting more than 8 h. Platelets need to be stored at 20–24 °C based on evidence that colder storage leads to irreversible changes on the platelet membrane, resulting in phagocytosis of the platelets following transfusion. Storage at warmer temperatures may lead to an increase in bacterial risk. On the basis of this review, the UK Guidelines for Blood Transfusion Services have been updated to ensure that platelets are handled in the most appropriate way to ensure that efficacious components are provided for patients.
Carbon dioxide laser treatment of extensive pigmented viral plaque lesions in a golden retriever dog
Authors: Knight Evie C. , Munday John S. , Stone Brett M. , Shipstone Michael A.
Published: June 2016

Background

Canine pigmented viral plaque (PVP) is an uncommon skin disease, associated with papillomavirus infection. Lesions are usually small (<1 cm diameter), pigmented macules to plaques on the ventral abdomen and medial thigh.

Animals

An 8‐year‐old male, neutered golden retriever dog presented with numerous dark plaques forming cohesive plaques on the ventrum extending down the medial aspect of both hind legs. The plaques were associated with significant pruritus.

Results

Histology confirmed a diagnosis of PVP and PCR amplified Canis familiaris papillomavirus 4 from a formalin fixed plaque sample. The PVPs were completely resolved by two courses of CO2 laser treatment. There was very minimal postoperative discomfort and no relapse or new lesion development within a 12 months follow‐up period.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Extensive PVPs have not previously been described in a golden retriever dog or previously reported to cause pruritus in dogs. Due to the large skin area involved, surgical excision was not feasible in this case. However, two rounds of treatment using laser were completely curative for both focal pedunculated and plaque‐like PVP lesions. Additionally, compared to surgical excision, laser treatment is expected to result in less postoperative discomfort, reduced surgery time and fewer postoperative infections. This is the first report of successful treatment of canine PVPs using a CO2 laser. The success of this treatment in this case suggests that laser provides an excellent treatment option for extensive PVPs in dogs.
International society of blood transfusion working party on red cell immunogenetics and terminology: report of the Seoul and London meetings
Authors: Storry J. R. , Castilho L. , Chen Q. , Daniels G. , Denomme G. , Flegel W. A. , Gassner C. , de Haas M. , Hyland C. , Keller M. , Lomas‐Francis C. , Moulds J. M. , Nogues N. , Olsson M. L. , Peyrard T. , van der Schoot C. E. , Tani Y. , Thornton N. , Wagner F. , Wendel S. , Westhoff C. , Yahalom V.
Published: June 2016

The Working Party has met twice since the last report: in Seoul, South Korea 2014, and in London, UK 2015, both in association with the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) Congress. As in previous meetings, matters pertaining to blood group antigen nomenclature were discussed. Eleven new blood group antigens were added to seven blood group systems. This brings the current total of blood group antigens recognized by the ISBT to 346, of which 308 are clustered within 36 blood groups systems. The remaining 38 antigens are currently unassigned to a known blood group system.
Distribution of Salmonella in Humans, Production Animal Operations and a Watershed in a FoodNet Canada Sentinel Site
Authors: Flockhart L. , Pintar K. , Cook A. , McEwen S. , Friendship R. , Kelton D. , Pollari F.
Published: June 2016

Salmonella is an important human pathogen, and production animals as well as water are known potential sources. This study helped provide insight into the epidemiology of Salmonella by comparing Salmonella strains found in humans to those detected in production animals and water in the same geographic area and time frame. Salmonella was found in 55% of broiler, 30% of swine, 13% of dairy, and 10% of beef manure samples and 23% of water samples. At the farm level, Salmonella was found on 93% of broiler, 81% of swine, 32% of beef and 30% of dairy farms. Salmonella strains of importance to public health were found in all sources tested; however, they appeared to be more common in the broilers. A number of the farms in this study were mixed farms, in that they had more than one production animal species on the farm. At both the sample and farm levels, beef‐only farms had a significantly lower Salmonella prevalence (5% and 7%, respectively) than beef farms with additional production animal species (e.g. poultry) (12% and 42%, respectively) (P ≤ 0.05). Additionally, a number of mixed farms had more than one commodity sampled for this study and similar Salmonella strains by phage type and PFGE were found in the poultry and the other sampled commodity on the farm. This information can help inform the evidence base needed to help target interventions and modify best practices in production agriculture.
NEURO-FUZZY SYSTEMS APPROACH TO INFILL MISSING RAINFALL DATA FOR KLANG RIVER CATCHMENT, MALAYSIA
Authors: Nawaz Nadeem , Harun Sobri , Othman Rawshan , Heryansyah Arien
Published: June 2016

Rainfall data can be regarded as the most essential input for various applications in hydrological sciences. Continuous rainfall data with adequate length is the main requirement to solve complex hydrological problems. Mostly in developing countries hydrologists are still facing problems of missing rainfall data with inadequate length. Researchers have been applying a number of statistical and data driven approaches to overcome this insufficiency. This study is an application of neuro-fuzzy system to infill the missing rainfall data for Klang River catchment. Pettitt test, standard normal homogeneity test (SNHT) and Von Neumann Ratio (VNR) tests were performed to check the homogeneity of rainfall data. The neuro-fuzzy model performances were assessed both in calibration and validation stages based on statistical measures such as coefficient of determination (R2), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). To evaluate the performance of the neuro-fuzzy system model, it was compared with a traditional modeling technique known as autoregressive model with exogenous inputs (ARX). The neuro-fuzzy system model gave better performances in both stages for the best input combinations. The missing rainfall data was predicted using the input combination with best performances. The results of this study showed the effectiveness of the neuro-fuzzy systems and it is recommended as a prominent tool for filling the missing data.
EFFECT OF SULPHURIC ACID ON CONCRETE WITH IRON ORE TAILINGSc
Authors: Umara Shettima Ali , Hussin Mohd Warid , Ahmad Yusof , Yau Mohammed
Published: June 2016

Researches into the uses of waste materials are increasingly being explored to meet up society’s needs and global protection for sustainable, safe and economic development. This paper assessed concrete with iron ore tailings (IOT) exposed to dilute sulphuric acid. Iron ore tailings are the materials left-over after separating the valuable fraction from the uneconomic fraction of an ore. To study the effect of sulphuric acid, concrete of 100 mm cube with a different mix ratios containing IOT were prepared and cured for 28 days in water. The cubes were later immersed into dilute sulphuric acid at a concentration of 5%. The compressive strength of concrete at 7, 28 and 90 days of water curing were determined. Mass loss and strength reduction due to sulphuric effect were evaluated at 7, 28 and 90 days respectively. XRD microstructure of concrete specimens was analysed. Test results indicated that the IOT could be used in concrete as sand replacement since the concrete with IOT has similar trend in compressive strength loss and mass loss to sulphuric acid attack compared to control specimen. The mineralogical crystal failure patterns due to the sulphuric acid in terms X-ray diffraction analysis are the same for control and IOT concrete.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT FOR NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS DIRECT-SPLITTER-DIRECT SEQUENCE FRACTIONATION UNIT
Authors: Nafais Rahimi Ahmad , Mustafa Mohd. Faris , Zaine Muhammad Zakwan , Ibrahim Norazana , Ibrahim Kamarul Asri , Yusoff Nooryusmiza , M. Al-Mutairi Eid , Abd. Hamid Mohd. Kamaruddin
Published: June 2016

The objective of this paper is to present the study and analysis of the energy saving improvement for the NGLs Direct-Splitter-Direct fractionation sequence plant by using driving force method. To perform the study and analysis, the energy efficient distillation columns (EEDCs) methodology is developed. Basically, the methodology consists of four hierarchical steps; Step 1: Existing Sequence Energy Analysis, Step 2: Optimal Sequence Determination, Step 3: Optimal Sequence Energy Analysis, and Step 4: Energy Comparison. The capability of this methodology is tested in designing an optimal energy efficient direct-splitter-direct sequence of NGLs fractionation unit. The results show that the maximum of 10.62 % energy reduction was able to achieve by changing the sequence suggested by the driving force method. It can be concluded that, the sequence determined by the driving force method is able to reduce energy used for a NGLs fractionation. All of this findings show that the methodology is able to design energy efficient for NGLs fractionation sequence in an easy, practical and systematic manner.
HIGHLY HOMOGENEOUS NITROGEN DOPED TITANIA NANOMATERIALS: SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION
Authors: Zainal Nurul Diyana , Nur Hadi , Ling Lee Siew
Published: June 2016

A series of nitrogen doped titania nanomaterials were synthesized via sol-gel method by using tetraethyl ammonium hydroxide as N source. Doping of N into TiO2 was confirmed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Mixture of anatase and rutile phases appeared in the unmodified TiO2 which was calcined at 773 K. The addition of N to TiO2 matrix led to formation of single phase of anatase. It has been demonstrated thatTiO2 and all the N-doped TiO2 materials were in nanoscale ranging 15.91 – 20.82 nm. Change in surface morphology after N doping was detected by field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Results of EDX mapping analysis indicated homogeneous distribution of N dopants.
The acoustic power of a vibrating clamped circular plate revisited in the wide low frequency range using expansion into the radial polynomials
Authors: Rdzanek Wojciech P.
Published: June 2016

This study deals with the classical problem of sound radiation of an excited clamped circular plate embedded into a flat rigid baffle. The system of the two coupled differential equations is solved, one for the excited and damped vibrations of the plate and the other one—the Helmholtz equation. An approach using the expansion into radial polynomials leads to results for the modal impedance coefficients useful for a comprehensive numerical analysis of sound radiation. The results obtained are accurate and efficient in a wide low frequency range and can easily be adopted for a simply supported circular plate. The fluid loading is included providing accurate results in resonance.
Mistuning detection performance of ferrets in a go/no-go task
Authors: Homma Natsumi Y. , Bajo Victoria M. , Happel Max F. K. , Nodal Fernando R. , King Andrew J.
Published: June 2016

The harmonic structure of sounds is an important grouping cue in auditory scene analysis. The ability of ferrets to detect mistuned harmonics was measured using a go/no-go task paradigm. Psychometric functions plotting sensitivity as a function of degree of mistuning were used to evaluate behavioral performance using signal detection theory. The mean (± standard error of the mean) threshold for mistuning detection was 0.8 ± 0.1 Hz, with sensitivity indices and reaction times depending on the degree of mistuning. These data provide a basis for investigation of the neural basis for the perception of complex sounds in ferrets, an increasingly used animal model in auditory research.
Factors Discriminating High From Low Score Performance in Biathlon Shooting
Authors: Sattlecker Gerold , Buchecker Michael , Gressenbauer Christoph , Müller Erich , Lindinger Stefan J.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

To identify biomechanical predictors that distinguish between high- and low-score athletes in biathlon shooting and to determine the relationships among these variables in field testing.

Methods:

Twenty-two biathletes (8 female, 14 male) from the World Cup, the European Cup, and a federal youth squad each fired 3 clips of 5 shots in prone and standing shooting positions without physical load, followed by 2 respective series in both disciplines during a simulated 12.5-km pursuit race on roller skis. Biomechanical variables describing triggering, rifle force in the back shoulder, and body and rifle sway were calculated over the last 0.5 second before firing. For computed linear discriminant analyses, subjects were divided into high- and low-level performers based on mean scores for each condition separately. In addition, correlations among all biomechanical factors were calculated.

Results:

Regarding prone shooting, shoulder force in the rest condition and vertical rifle sway in the race simulation were shown to be main discriminators. Several body- and rifle-sway variables were found to be predictors in standing rest shooting. Body sway across the shooting line discriminated the groups in the standing race situation tendentially. Thus, the main performance predictors changed due to fatigue. Correlations between triggering and rifle sway, shoulder force and rifle sway, and body sway and rifle sway were discovered.

Conclusions:

Referring to the current results, athletes are recommended to focus on vertical rifle sway in prone position and on body sway across the shooting line during standing shooting when fatigued.
Acute-Weight-Loss Strategies for Combat Sports and Applications to Olympic Success
Authors: Reale Reid , Slater Gary , Burke Louise M.
Published: June 2016

It is common for athletes in weight-category sports to try to gain a theoretical advantage by competing in weight divisions that are lower than their day-to-day body mass (BM). Weight loss is achieved not only through chronic strategies (body-fat losses) but also through acute manipulations before weigh-in (“making weight”). Both have performance implications. This review focuses on Olympic combat sports, noting that the varied nature of regulations surrounding the weigh-in procedures, weight requirements, and recovery opportunities in these sports provide opportunity for a wider discussion of factors that can be applied to other weight-category sports. The authors summarize previous literature that has examined the performance effects of weightmaking practices before investigating the physiological nature of these BM losses. Practical recommendations in the form of a decision tree are provided to guide the achievement of acute BM loss while minimizing performance decrements.
Effects of Volitional Spine Stabilization and Lower-Extremity Fatigue on the Knee and Ankle During Landing Performance in a Population With Recurrent Low Back Pain
Authors: Haddas Ram , Sawyer Steven F. , Sizer Phillip S. , Brooks Toby , Chyu Ming-Chien , James C. Roger
Published: June 2016

Introduction:

Recurrent lower back pain (rLBP) and neuromuscular fatigue are independently thought to increase the risk of lower extremity (LE) injury. Volitional preemptive abdominal contraction (VPAC) is thought to improve lumbar spine and pelvis control in individuals with rLBP. The effects of VPAC on fatigued landing performance in individuals with rLBP are unknown.

Objectives:

To determine the effects of VPAC and LE fatigue on landing performance in a rLBP population.

Design:

Cross-sectional pretest-posttest cohort control design.

Setting:

A clinical biomechanics laboratory.

Subjects:

32 rLBP (age 21.2 ± 2.7 y) but without current symptoms and 33 healthy (age 20.9 ± 2.3 y) subjects.

Intervention(s):

(i) Volitional preemptive abdominal contraction using abdominal bracing and (ii) fatigue using submaximal free-weight squat protocol with 15% body weight until task failure was achieved.

Main Outcome Measure(s):

Knee and ankle angles, moments, electromyographic measurements from semitendinosus and vastus medialis muscles, and ground reaction force (GRF) were collected during 0.30 m drop-jump landings.

Results:

The VPAC resulted in significantly earlier muscle onsets across all muscles with and without fatigue in both groups (mean ± SD, 0.063 ± 0.016 s earlier; P ≤ .001). Fatigue significantly delayed semitendinosus muscle onsets (0.033 ± 0.024 s later; P ≤ .001), decreased GRF (P ≤ .001), and altered landing kinematics in a variety of ways. The rLBP group exhibited delayed semitendinosus and vastus medialis muscle onsets (0.031 ± 0.028 s later; P ≤ .001) and 1.8° less knee flexion at initial contact (P ≤ .008).

Conclusion:

The VPAC decreases some of the detrimental effects of fatigue on landing biomechanics and thus may reduce LE injury risk in a rLBP population.
A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study to Investigate the Effect of Whole-Body Vibration on Lower-Extremity Fatigue
Authors: Ansari Noureddin Nakhostin , Naghdi Soofia , Karimi-Zarchi Hadi , Fakhari Zahra , Hasson Scott
Published: June 2016

Context:

Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a type of weight-bearing exercise used in the field of sport and rehabilitation. There is no study on the effects of WBV on muscle recovery after a fatiguing activity.

Objective:

To determine the effects of a single WBV session on lower-extremity fatigue.

Design:

Randomized controlled pilot study.

Setting:

University Physiotherapy Clinic.

Subjects:

A total of 13 healthy young men volunteered to participate in this study. Subjects were randomly assigned into the WBV group (n = 7, mean age: 21 y) or control group (CG; n = 6, mean age: 20 y).

Intervention:

Subjects in the WBV group participated in a single-session WBV (30 Hz, amplitude 4 mm, 2 min) after lower-extremity fatigue.

Main Outcome Measures:

Peak force of quadriceps muscle, single leg hop test, and Y-test were measured before inducing muscle fatigue (T0), immediately after completing the fatigue protocol (T1), after WBV (T2), and 15 min following the application of WBV (T3). The same method was applied in the CG while the WBV machine was turned off.

Results:

Repeated-measure ANOVA revealed no significant differences between groups in any of the outcomes.

Conclusions:

The findings indicated that WBV was not effective in the recovery of lower-extremity fatigue in healthy young men.
Percutaneous endoscopic transgastric jejunostomy (PEG-J): a retrospective analysis on its utility in maintaining enteral nutrition after unsuccessful gastric feeding
Authors: Toh Yoon Ezekiel Wong , Yoneda Kaori , Nakamura Shinya , Nishihara Kazuki
Published: June 2016

Background/aims

Although percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is the method of choice for long-term enteral nutrition, feeding-related adverse events such as aspiration pneumonia and peristomal leakage can impede the use of PEG. Percutaneous endoscopic transgastric jejunostomy (PEG-J) using large-bore jejunal tubes may help by circumventing gastric passage during enteral nutrition and improving drainage of gastric secretions.

Methods

20 patients (12 males and 8 females) who received PEG-J after unsuccessful PEG feeding during a 6-year period in our institution were analysed retrospectively to evaluate the efficacy of large-bore jejunal feeding tubes in maintaining enteral nutrition.

Results

The median age was 83.5 (71–96) years. The median period between PEG and PEG-J was 33 (14–280) days. Indications were aspiration due to gastro-oesophageal reflux in 18 patients and severe peristomal leakage in 2 patients. Tube placements were successful in all patients. There were 6 (30%) in-hospital mortalities, with 3 (15%) occurring within 30 days after procedure.

Conclusions

PEG-J can be performed safely in patients with PEG and may facilitate the maintenance of enteral nutrition in most of the patients. Patients with unsuccessful PEG feeding can be offered the option of jejunal feeding before considering termination of enteral nutrition.
Group invariant solution for a pre-existing fracture driven by a power-law fluid in permeable rock
Authors: Fareo A. G. , Mason D. P.
Published: June 2016

Group invariant analytical and numerical solutions for the evolution of a two-dimensional fracture with nonzero initial length in permeable rock and driven by an incompressible non-Newtonian fluid of power-law rheology are obtained. The effect of fluid leak-off on the evolution of the power-law fluid fracture is investigated.
Thermal transfer and interaction mechanisms of localized excitons in families of InAs quantum dashes grown on InP(001) vicinal substrate emitting near 1.55 μm wavelength
Authors: Besahraoui Fatiha , Bouslama M’Hamed , Bouzaiene Lotfi , Saidi Faouzi , Maaref Hassen , Gendry Michel
Published: June 2016

With the help of photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PLS), we have investigated the optoelectronic properties of two different families of InAs quantum dashes (QDashes) grown on misoriented InP(001) substrate with 2[Formula: see text]off miscut angle toward the [110] direction (2[Formula: see text]F type). The lowest full width at half maximum (FWHM) of the PL spectrum measured at 12 K indicates the good self organization of InAs QDashes. The weak ratio of the integrated PL measured in 12–300 K temperature range denotes the good spatial confinement of the photogenerated carriers in InAs QDashes. The fast redshift of the PL peaks energy and the anomalous decrease of the FWHM with the increase of the temperature are attributed to an efficient thermal relaxation process of photogenerated carriers in the vicinal sample. This result is highlighted with the help of theoretical modeling of the PL peak energy as a function of the temperature, using three models (Varshni, “Vina, Logothetidis and Cardona” and Pässler). From experimental and theoretical results, we have evidenced the contribution of longitudinal acoustic-phonons (LA-phonons) in the PL of InAs/InP QDashes, via the deformation potential, especially in high temperatures range. We have attributed this behavior to the strained InAs/InP QDashes and/or to the topography of the vicinal InP(001) substrate which favors the presence of stepped phonons polarized along the steps. These vibrational modes can further interact with the excitons at high temperatures. The measured thermal activation energies of each family of InAs QDashes demonstrate that the InAs wetting layer act as a barrier for the thermoionic emission of photogenerated carriers. This result confirms the good spatial confinement of excitons in this sample.
Large-scale synthesis of WSe2 atomic layers on SiO2/Si
Authors: Cao Hui-Wen , Zhao Hai-Ming , Xin Xin , Shao Peng-Zhi , Qi Han-Yu , Jian Mu-Qiang , Zhang Ying-Ying , Yang Yi , Ren Tian-Ling
Published: June 2016

We report a systematic study of large-scale growth of high-quality WSe2 atomic layers directly on SiO2/Si substrates using a convenient method. Various parameters, especially growth temperatures, flow rate of carrier gas and tube pressure, are investigated in affecting the properties of as-grown WSe2 flakes in terms of their sizes, shapes and thickness. The pre-annealing step is demonstrated to be a key role in achieving the large-scale growth. Under an optimized condition, the lateral size of triangular single-crystal monolayer WSe2 is up to 30 [Formula: see text]m and the area of the monolayer thin film can be up to 0.25 mm2. And some other interesting features, such as nanoflowers, are observed, which are a promising for catalyzing research. Raman spectrum and microphotoluminescence indicate distinct layer dependent efficiency. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) studies demonstrate the atomic concentration of the as-grown WSe2. Electrical transport further shows that the [Formula: see text]-type WSe2 field-effect transistors exhibit excellent electrical properties with carrier mobility of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]64 cm[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] and current on/off ratio over 105. These results are comparable to the exfoliated materials.