bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BALANCING AGAINST THREATS IN INTERACTIONS DETERMINED BY DISTANCE AND OVERALL GAINS
Authors: HALAS MATUS
Published: August 2018

Actors in the Prisoner’s Dilemma agent-based model presented here decide between cooperation and defection in binary interactions determined by distance and overall gains. The paper thus tries to answer one of the fundamental questions of international politics: how does cooperative behavior perform in an environment governed by power and location? Two kinds of noise and the reward for mutual cooperation oscillating between temptation and punishment payoffs with a variable speed were added similarly like few completely new strategies inspired by foreign policy behavior of states. The initial success of generous reciprocal altruists is no surprise, but the lacking relationship between frequency of interactions and cooperativeness at the level of pairs already suggests some similarity with the system of states. Yet, the most important outcome is victory of the balance of threat strategy in all reruns with a heterogeneous pool of actors, despite the fact that this strategy was one of the least cooperative ones. At the same time, rules pre-selected by their success in the homogeneous and cooperative environment were still able to sustain intensive cooperation among themselves even within the heterogeneous pool of strategies.
Transcriptional processes: Models and inference
Authors: Shetty Keerthi S. , B Annappa
Published: August 2018

Many biochemical events involve multistep reactions. One of the most important biological processes that involve multistep reaction is the transcriptional process. Models for multistep reaction necessarily need multiple states and it is a challenge to compute model parameters that best agree with experimental data. Therefore, the aim of this work is to design a multistep promoter model which accurately characterizes transcriptional bursting and is consistent with observed data. To address this issue, we develop a model for promoters with several OFF states and a single ON state using Erlang distribution. To explore the combined effects of model and data, we combine Monte Carlo extension of Expectation Maximization (MCEM) and delay Stochastic Simulation Algorithm (DSSA) and call the resultant algorithm as delay Bursty MCEM. We apply this algorithm to time-series data of endogenous mouse glutaminase promoter to validate the model assumptions and infer the kinetic parameters. Our results show that with multiple OFF states, we are able to infer and produce a model which is more consistent with experimental data. Our results also show that delay Bursty MCEM inference is more efficient.
An Iterative Hard Thresholding Algorithm based on Sparse Randomized Kaczmarz Method for Compressed Sensing
Authors: Wang Ying , Li Guorui
Published: August 2018

The paper proposes a novel signal reconstruction algorithm through substituting the gradient descent method in the iterative hard thresholding algorithm with a faster sparse randomized Kaczmarz method. By designing a series of gradually attenuated weights for the matrix rows whose indexes lie outside of the support set of the original sparse signal, we can focus the iterations on the effective support rows of the measurement matrix. The experiment results show that the proposed algorithm presents a faster convergence rate and more accurate reconstruction accuracy than the state-of-the-art algorithms. Meanwhile, the successful reconstruction probability of the proposed algorithm is higher than that of other algorithms. Moreover, the characteristics of the proposed signal reconstruction algorithm are also analyzed in detail through numerical experiments.
CHANGES IN SERUM CONCENTRATION OF N-TERMINAL PRO-BRAIN NATRIURETIC PEPTIDE AFTER TREATMENT IN TWO DOGS WITH CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE SECONDARY TO MITRAL VALVE DISEASE
Authors: Chan I.-Ping , Hsueh Tung , Chen Wen-Ying
Published: August 2018

Two 8-year-old small-breed neutered dogs were referred due to respiratory distress caused by a new onset of congestive heart failure secondary to degenerative mitral valve disease. Medical treatment, including a diuretic and a vasodilator, was initiated, and blood samples for evaluating the levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were collected at every visit. The two dogs had entirely different outcomes: one is still alive with its symptoms well controlled by the medications, whereas the other one was unstable during the therapeutic period and only survived for 89 days after the diagnosis was made. Serial measurements of NT-proBNP concentration revealed that its gradual decline corresponded to better outcome, whereas fluctuant and ascending concentrations reflected a poor prognosis.
An Economic Assessment of the Southern Atlantic Coastal Region’s Stormwater Management Practices
Authors: Burnett James Wesley , Mothorpe Christopher
Published: August 2018

This study explores one of the least studied but most widely used instruments to control stormwater runoff — retention ponds. It is surprising that so little research within the economics literature has examined the efficacy of stormwater retention ponds. We address this gap in the literature by (1) offering a brief review of the existing literature; (2) discussing the nature of retention ponds as an impure public good; (3) extending a theoretical model to explain how stormwater runoff is currently managed; and (4) offering illustrative examples of governmental stormwater management practices in the coastal region of South Carolina. We posit that the current regulatory environment leads to a less than socially optimal level of management including a general lack of compliance enforcement and a misunderstanding of resource ownership. If sea levels continue to rise due to global climate change, then the mismanagement of stormwater runoff can lead to potentially severe adverse effects within coastal watersheds and estuarine ecosystems. We propose a combination of subsidy schemes and more-stringent enforcement actions to invoke a socially optimal provision of stormwater management services.
The State-of-the-Art in Twitter Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Zimbra David , Abbasi Ahmed , Zeng Daniel , Chen Hsinchun
Published: August 2018

Twitter has emerged as a major social media platform and generated great interest from sentiment analysis researchers. Despite this attention, state-of-the-art Twitter sentiment analysis approaches perform relatively poorly with reported classification accuracies often below 70%, adversely impacting applications of the derived sentiment information. In this research, we investigate the unique challenges presented by Twitter sentiment analysis and review the literature to determine how the devised approaches have addressed these challenges. To assess the state-of-the-art in Twitter sentiment analysis, we conduct a benchmark evaluation of 28 top academic and commercial systems in tweet sentiment classification across five distinctive data sets. We perform an error analysis to uncover the causes of commonly occurring classification errors. To further the evaluation, we apply select systems in an event detection case study. Finally, we summarize the key trends and takeaways from the review and benchmark evaluation and provide suggestions to guide the design of the next generation of approaches.
Implementing and Evaluating Serendipity in Delivering Personalized Health Information
Authors: Fan Xiangyu , Niu Xi
Published: August 2018

Serendipity has been recognized to have the potential of enhancing unexpected information discovery. This study shows that decomposing the concept of serendipity into unexpectedness and interest is a useful way for implementing this concept. Experts’ domain knowledge helps in providing serendipitous recommendation, which can be further improved by adaptively incorporating users’ real-time feedback.

This research also conducts an empirical user-study to analyze the influence of serendipity in a health news delivery context. A personalized filtering system named MedSDFilter was developed, on top of which serendipitous recommendation was implemented using three approaches: random, static-knowledge-based, and adaptive-knowledge-based models. The three different models were compared. The results indicate that the adaptive-knowledge-based method has the highest ability in helping people discover unexpected and interesting contents. The insights of the research will make researchers and practitioners rethink the way in which search engines and recommender systems operate to address the challenges of discovering unexpected and interesting information. The outcome will have implications for empowering ordinary people with more chances of bumping into beneficial information.
Machine Learning for the Developing World
Authors: De-Arteaga Maria , Herlands William , Neill Daniel B. , Dubrawski Artur
Published: August 2018

Researchers from across the social and computer sciences are increasingly using machine learning to study and address global development challenges. This article examines the burgeoning field of machine learning for the developing world (ML4D). First, we present a review of prominent literature. Next, we suggest best practices drawn from the literature for ensuring that ML4D projects are relevant to the advancement of development objectives. Finally, we discuss how developing world challenges can motivate the design of novel machine learning methodologies. This article provides insights into systematic differences between ML4D and more traditional machine learning applications. It also discusses how technical complications of ML4D can be treated as novel research questions, how ML4D can motivate new research directions, and where machine learning can be most useful.
View-Region Optimized Image-Based Scene Simplification
Authors: Lall Puneet , Borac Silviu , Richardson Dave , Pharr Matt , Ernst Manfred
Published: August 2018

We present a new algorithm for image-based simplification of complex scenes for virtual reality (VR). The algorithm transforms geometrically-detailed environments into a layered quad tile representation that is optimized for a specified viewing region and is renderable on low-power mobile-class VR devices. A novel constrained optimization formulation ensures that the scene can be rendered within a predetermined compute budget, with limits on both primitive count and fill rate. Furthermore, we introduce a new method for texturing from point samples of the original scene geometry that generates high-quality silhouettes without the drawbacks of traditional point splatting.

The resulting representation achieves a visual fidelity that was previously impossible on mobile graphics hardware; our algorithm can typically generate a high-quality representation of visually-rich scenes with billions of triangles using just 72k triangles and a single high-resolution texture map (with generally only about 50% more texels than a stereo panorama). The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated with a set of challenging test cases.
Identification of a novel microRNA profile in pediatric patients with cancer treated with anthracycline chemotherapy
Authors: Oatmen Kelsie E. , Toro-Salazar Olga H. , Hauser Kristine , Zellars Kia N. , Mason Kathryn C. , Hor Kan , Gillan Eileen , Zeiss Caroline J. , Gatti Daniel M. , Spinale Francis G.
Published: August 2018

Anthracycline chemotherapy (AC) is associated with decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), yet the mechanisms remain unclear. Although changes in microRNAs (miRs) have been identified in adult cardiovascular disease, miR profiles in pediatric patients with AC have not been well studied. The goal of this study was to examine miR profiles (unbiased array) in pediatric patients with AC compared with age-matched referent normal patients. We hypothesize that pediatric patients with AC will express a unique miR profile at the initiation and completion of therapy and will be related to LVEF. Serum was collected in pediatric patients (10–22 yr, n = 12) with newly diagnosed malignancy requiring AC within 24–48 h after the initiation of therapy (30–60 mg/m2) and ~1 yr after completing therapy. A custom microarray of 84 miRs associated with cardiovascular disease was used (quantitative RT-PCR) and indexed to referent normal profiles (13–17 yr, n = 17). LVEF was computed by cardiac MRI. LVEF fell from AC initiation at ~1 yr after AC completion (64.28 ± 1.78% vs. 57.53 ± 0.95%, respectively, P = 0.004). Of the 84 miRs profiled, significant shifts in 17 miRs occurred relative to referent normal ( P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the functional domain of miRs associated with myocardial differentiation and development fell over threefold at the completion of AC ( P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, eight miRs were significantly downregulated after AC completion in those patients with the greatest decline in LVEF (≥10%, P < 0.05). This study demonstrates, for the first time, that changes in miR expression occur in pediatric patients with AC. These findings suggest that miRs are a potential strategy for the early identification of patients with AC susceptible to left ventricular dysfunction.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Although anthracycline chemotherapy (AC) is effective for a number of pediatric cancers, an all too often consequence of AC is the development of left ventricular failure. The present study identified that specific shifts in the pattern of microRNAs, which regulate myocardial growth, function, and viability, occurred during and after AC in pediatric patients, whereby the magnitude of this shift was associated with the degree of left ventricular failure.
Facilitated Ca2+ homeostasis and attenuated myocardial autophagy contribute to alleviation of diabetic cardiomyopathy after bariatric surgery
Authors: Huang Xin , Liu Shaozhuang , Wu Dong , Cheng Yugang , Han Haifeng , Wang Kexin , Zhang Guangyong , Hu Sanyuan
Published: August 2018

Bariatric surgery has been reported to relieve diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) effectively. However, the mechanisms remain largely unknown. To determine the effects of bariatric surgery on DCM via modulation of myocardial Ca2+ homeostasis and autophagy, sleeve gastrectomy (SG), duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB), and sham surgeries were performed in diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet and a low dose of streptozotocin. Cardiac remodeling was assessed by a series of morphometric and histological analyses. Transthoracic echocardiography and hemodynamic measurements were performed to determine cardiac function. Ca2+ homeostasis was evaluated by measuring Ca2+ transients with fura-2 AM in isolated ventricular myocytes along with detection of the abundance of Ca2+ regulatory proteins in the myocardium. Myocardial autophagic flux was determined by expression of autophagy-related proteins in the absence and presence of chloroquine. Both SG and DJB surgery alleviated DCM morphologically and functionally. Ca2+ transients exhibited a significantly higher amplitude and faster decay after SG and DJB, which could be partially explained by increased expression of ryanodine receptor 2, sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-2ATPase, 12.6-kDa FK506-binding protein, and hyperphosphorylation of phospholamban. In addition, a lower level of light chain 3B and higher level of p62 were detected after both SG and DJB, which was not reversed by chloroquine treatment and associated with activated mammalian target of rapamycin and attenuated AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Collectively, these results provided evidence that bariatric surgery could alleviate DCM effectively, which may result, at least in part, from facilitated Ca2+ homeostasis and attenuated autophagy, suggesting a potential choice for treatment of DCM when properly implemented.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The present study is the first to investigate the modulation of myocardial Ca2+ homeostasis and autophagy after bariatric surgery and to examine its effects on diabetic cardiomyopathy. Bariatric surgery could facilitate myocardial Ca2+ homeostasis and attenuate myocardial autophagy, contributing to the alleviation of cardiomyopathy morphologically and functionally in a diabetic rat model.
Fatal Acute Hemolytic Transfusion Reaction due to Anti-Wra
Authors: Bahri Tanaz , de Bruyn Kim , Leys Rineke , Weerkamp Floor
Published: August 2018

Background: The Wra blood group antigen is a low-frequency antigen. Antibody screening sets used in pretransfusion laboratory investigations usually do not contain a Wr(a+) cell. If subsequent cross-matching is performed without indirect antiglobulin test (IAT), Wra antibodies reacting with donor red blood cells (RBCs) will be missed. For reasonable economic and time-saving arguments the risk of missing the detection of a potential clinically relevant antibody is worldwide accepted. Case Report: A 66-year-old women with a negative antibody screen rapidly deteriorated after she received two units of RBCs for symptomatic anemia after hip surgery. Diagnosis of a transfusion reaction was obscured by pre-existing and nonspecific symptoms. Laboratory investigation indicated acute hemolysis. Cross-matching in IAT was positive for the first unit, and an extended antibody identification panel showed reactivity with Wr(a+) cells. The patient did not respond to supportive therapy and died within 48 h after the start of transfusion. Conclusion: This dramatic case provides further evidence on the clinical relevance of Wra blood group antibodies. In addition, it underlines the clinical importance of risk awareness in the blood transfusion chain and the possible complexity in relation to patient monitoring in daily transfusion practice.
Zinc Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide Interference with Both Body Temperature and Sickness Behavior in Virgin Female Rats
Authors: Nascimento Amanda Fiorentina , Kirychuk Shelley , Bernardi Maria Martha , Felício Luciano F.
Published: August 2018

Objectives: Previous studies from our group showed that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure induces several signs of sickness behavior, including a decrease in food consumption, body weight gain, adipsia, and a biphasic effect in tympanic temperature with a first phase of hypothermia, followed by an increased tympanic temperature. LPS can activate a chain of nonspecific host responses, including the immune response, and decreased zinc levels. In addition, there are differences in the immune response between males and females, particularly fever, with sex hormones interfering with body temperature. This study aims to characterize the effects of zinc treatment on tympanic temperature, body weight gain, food and water consumption, and general activity in open field of virgin female rats exposed to a dose of LPS that was previously reported to induce sickness behavior. Methods: Virgin female Wistar rats were treated with either saline (S) or LPS. One hour later, the S group received another injection of saline (S + S group), half of the LPS group received saline (LPS + S group) and the other half received zinc (LPS + Zn group). Tympanic temperature, body weight, and water and food consumption were measured for 96 h. Measurements and observations started 2 h after LPS administration. Results: Treatment with zinc attenuated LPS-increased temperature, decreased the body weight gain and food consumption, and water consumption was increased. Conclusion: Zinc treatment is beneficial as it reduces the increased tympanic temperature induced by LPS, but it does not influence other sickness behavior caused by exposure to LPS.
RNAi Targeting of Human Metapneumovirus P and N Genes Inhibits Viral Growth
Authors: Nitschinsk Kathleen M. , Clarke Daniel T. , Idris Adi , McMillan Nigel A.
Published: August 2018

Background/Aims: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is an important human respiratory pathogen and is implicated in an array of respiratory illnesses, ranging from asymptomatic infection to severe bronchiolitis. Currently, there is no reliable vaccine or specific antiviral therapy for hMPV infection and treatment is supportive. The use of ribonucleic acid interference has the potential to change that with the targeting of essential viral genes via small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) offering the ability to directly and rapidly treat viral infections. Method: The human lung carcinoma epithelial cell line, A549, was transfected with siRNAs targeting the N and P genes before infecting with hMPV A2 CAN97-83. Viral growth inhibition was then measured by the viral plaque assay and nucleoprotein (N) and phosphoprotein (P) gene knockdown was determined by real-time PCR. Results: In vitro prophylactic use of siRNAs targeting the 3′-abundantly expressed N and P genes of hMPV resulted in potent, sequence-specific viral inhibition. The viral inhibition was specific and not mediated by an anti-viral interferon-β response or cell death. Conclusion: The findings presented here confirmed the highly potent, sequence-specific antiviral effect of siRNAs targeting the N and P gene of hMPV. These results may facilitate the development of a novel therapeutic agent for hMPV control.
An International Registry of Granulocyte Transfusions
Authors: Pagano Monica B. , Morton Suzy , Cohn Claudia S. , Gross Sylvie , Kutner Jose , Lewin Antoine , McCullough Jeffrey , Schweitzer Irwin , Tinmouth Alan T. , West Kamille , Stanworth Simon J.
Published: August 2018

Introduction: Granulocyte transfusions are used to either treat or prevent life-threatening infections in neutropenic patients. Current evidence from clinical trials does not support or reject efficacy, nor guide practice. Methods: A group of investigators have led the efforts to create an online registry to gather information on granulocyte transfusion practices from as broad a range of international settings. The data forms were adapted from an on-going study in England for electronic data management. Data is collected at the time of the request for granulocytes, weekly, at 28 days, and at 6 months. Information collected includes donor, granulocyte unit, patient and illness characteristics, and outcomes. Results: The PROspective GRanulocyte usage and outcomEs Survey (ProGrES) is currently open for data entry. Centres across the UK have collected data on 80 subjects. Five institutions from 4 countries (2 from the US, 1 each from Brazil, and national services in Canada and France) are in the process of joining the study. Other countries have expressed interest. Conclusion: It is feasible to develop an international registry of granulocyte transfusions to characterise current practices and describe outcomes. This registry would provide a platform to explore the relationship between intervention and outcomes, and to generate evidence to inform granulocyte transfusion efficacy.
Recomendações para correção e adubação de pastagens tropicais
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Pereira Lilian Elgalise Techio , Nishida Nathalia Tami ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Carvalho Lucas da Rocha ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Herling Valdo Rodrigues ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos
Published: August 2018

O objetivo da obra é fornecer instruções, de maneira simples e prática, para correção e adubação de pastagens tropicais. A elaboração deste livro é uma das iniciativas de ampliação no acesso à informação e transferência de tecnologia, desenvolvida pelo Grupo de Estudos em Forragicultura e Pastagens (GEFEP) da Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA-USP). Os autores esperam que essa iniciativa possa colaborar para o desenvolvimento dos sistemas produtivos na região, contribuir para a recuperação das pastagens e, ainda, oportunizar melhorias em produtividade e persistência das gramíneas tropicais.
A new species and a new record of Horaeomorphus Schaufuss (Staphylinidae: Scydmaeninae: Glandulariini) from China
Authors: ZHOU DE-YAO , YIN ZI-WEI
Published: August 2018

A new species of the genus Horaeomorphus Schaufuss, H. xiweii Zhou & Yin, sp. n., is described from Yunnan, southwestern China, and a new country record for H. solodovnikovi Jałoszyński is given (i.e., China). Diagnostic features of both species are illustrated.
Chloricalla Kerremans, 1893 not Chloricala Bellamy, 1985 (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Agrilinae)
Authors: PONTING JOHN
Published: August 2018

In 1893, Kerremans described a new genus of buprestid beetle, naming it Chloricalla. He subsequently used the same spelling of that name on at least two occasions (Kerremans 1900 & Kerremans, 1903).
Self-Perceived Hearing Loss, Hearing-Help Seeking and Hearing Aid Adoption Among Older Adults in Malaysia
Authors: Mukari Siti Zamratol Mai Sarah , Wan Hashim Wan Fazlina
Published: August 2018

Introduction:

The aims of this study were to examine the validity of self-perceived hearing loss in detecting hearing loss and factors associated with self-perceived hearing loss and hearing-help seeking and to report hearing aid adoption among a group of community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia.

Methods:

A total of 301 older adults (⩾60 years of age) participating in a study on aging had their hearing tested using pure-tone audiometry. Self-perceived hearing loss was assessed using a single question. Sociodemographic profile, otologic history, and general cognitive status were also obtained.

Results:

A single question had low sensitivity in detecting actual hearing loss: 31.3% for 4-frequency average > 25 dBHL and 48.8% for 4-frequency average > 40 dBHL. Besides hearing level, history of otorrhea and tinnitus were factors that were associated with self-perceived hearing loss among older adults with at least mild hearing loss. Hearing-help-seeking behavior was not associated with any of the tested variables. The hearing aid adoption rate was 2.7% and 7.3% among participants with 4-frequency averages > 25 dBHL and > 40 dBHL, respectively.

Conclusion:

The underestimation of hearing loss in the majority of older adults in this study poses a potential barrier to hearing loss intervention.
Are police cautions a soft option? Reoffending among juveniles cautioned or referred to court
Authors: Wang Jia J , Weatherburn Don
Published: August 2018

During the 1990s, many jurisdictions introduced police cautions as an alternative to referral to court for juveniles committing comparatively minor offences. The policy was motivated by a concern that contact with the court system for such offenders might be criminogenic. In recent years, however, elected officials have criticised police cautions as a ‘soft option’ and this (in some jurisdictions at least) has led to a decline in their use. Past research has often failed to ensure that the comparison group for a police caution consists of children referred to court who could have received a police caution. The current study overcomes this problem and employs a rigorous set of procedures for minimising the risk of selection bias. Our results indicate that cautioning young offenders who have committed comparatively minor offences and who have not previously been referred to court results in a lower risk of reoffending than referral to court. We conclude that restrictions on the use of cautions in these circumstances could increase the risk of juvenile reoffending.
Creating Critical Distance: Pierre Batiffol and Alfred Loisy on the Church
Authors: Talar CJT
Published: August 2018

Alfred Loisy’s L’Évangile et l’Église (1902), followed by his even more controversial Autour d’un petit livre (1903), brought into the open tensions that had been festering within the Catholic biblical movement over the preceding years. “Progressives” such as Lagrange and his close ally Pierre Batiffol had, on one hand, to defend in principle a legitimate use of criticism, and on the other to distinguish that use from the corrosive effects of its employ by Loisy. Divergent approaches to the use of criticism and its relation to theology surfaced in their respective approaches to the kingdom of God in the preaching and teaching of Jesus, and the Church that developed out of his ministry. Given the centrality of ecclesiology at Vatican II, the question of that relationship resurfaced, albeit on a different footing and possibilities for resolution.
Fracture mechanical characterization of mica-filled epoxy glass composites under monotonic and cyclic loading
Authors: Pothukuchi Harish Kalyan Ram , Fuchs Peter , Pinter Gerald , Stelzer Steffen
Published: August 2018

Stator insulations comprised of mica-filled epoxy glass composite materials are of paramount importance for the reliability of high-voltage rotating machines. The present work deals with the fracture mechanical characterization of the winding insulation under conditions of monotonic and cyclic loading. The identification and quantification of the weak interfaces in the material that will most likely result in the initiation and propagation of defects are investigated in detail. Material specimens are processed from insulation tapes, and tests are conducted under mode I, mode II and mixed mode (Fixed Ratio Mixed Mode) loading to characterize the weak interface. The influence of resin content on the strength of the weak interface is also investigated. The results give an indication of the delamination mechanism and a measure of the critical energy release rate in the insulation materials.
Influence of different surface-coated carbon fibers on the properties of the poly(phenylene sulfide) composites
Authors: Ucpinar Bedriye , Aytac Ayse
Published: August 2018

This paper aims to study the effect of different surface coatings of carbon fiber on the thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties of carbon fiber reinforced poly(phenylene sulfide) composites. To this end, unsized and different surface-coated carbon fibers were used. Prepared poly(phenylene sulfide)/carbon fiber composites were characterized by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile test, dynamic mechanical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Tensile strength values of the surfaced-coated carbon fibers reinforced poly(phenylene sulfide) composites are higher than the unsized carbon fiber reinforced poly(phenylene sulfide) composite. The highest tensile strength and modulus values were observed for the polyurethane-coated carbon fiber reinforcement. Dynamic mechanical analysis studies indicated that polyurethane-coated carbon fiber reinforced composite exhibited higher storage modulus and better adhesion than the others. Differential scanning calorimetry results show that melting and glass transition temperature of the composites did not change significantly. Scanning electron microscopic studies showed that polyurethane and epoxy-coated carbon fibers exhibited better adhesion with poly(phenylene sulfide).
Effect of seawater on the buckling behavior of hybrid composite plates
Authors: Öndürücü Ayşe , Kayıran Hüseyin Fırat
Published: August 2018

This paper addresses the effects of different stacking sequences and seawater on the buckling behavior of hybrid composite plates. For the buckling tests, 12-layered hybrid composite plates were produced using different combinations of carbon, E-glass and aramid fibers, with an epoxy resin system as the matrix (Araldite LY1564/Aradur 3486). The hybrid composite plates were designed at the symmetric orientation angles of [(0/90)3]s, [(30/−60)3]s, [(45/−45)3]s and an anti-symmetric orientation angle of [(0/90)3]2. The hybrid composite samples were divided into groups and were subjected to buckling tests after being kept in different settings for varying periods of time (room temperature for 90 days, Black Sea water for 90 days, Mediterranean Sea water for 90 days, Mediterranean Sea water for 150 days). In light of the data obtained from the tests, the buckling behaviors of the layered hybrid composite plates were examined. The highest critical buckling load occurred in the carbon/aramid/glass (CAG) hybrid samples with the stacking sequence of [(0/90)3]s, whereas the lowest critical buckling load occurred in the carbon/aramid/glass (CAG45) hybrid samples with the stacking sequence of [(45/−45)3]s. It was observed that the critical buckling loads of the samples immersed in seawater decreased when compared to the critical buckling loads of the samples kept at room temperature. It was also found that the critical buckling loads of the hybrid samples immersed in the Mediterranean Sea water, which has high salinity, were lower than the critical buckling loads of the hybrid samples immersed in the Black Sea water, which has lower salinity.
Producing Goods and Projecting Power: How What You Make Influences What You Take
Authors: Markowitz Jonathan , Fariss Christopher , McMahon R. Blake
Published: August 2018

How does a state’s source of wealth condition the domain in which it seeks to project influence? We argue that what a state makes conditions what they take. Specifically, the less states rely on land rents to acquire wealth, the less interested they will be in seeking control over territory and the more interested they will be in securing access to distant markets. We develop and test several observable implications that should follow whether this proposition is true. First, as states become less economically dependent on territory, they should be less likely to fight over territory; second, those states should be more likely to both invest in power projection capabilities and subsequently project power at greater distances. Our findings support our theory. These results are robust across a variety of model specifications that take into account potential confounds, such as regime type, economic development, threat, and geography.
Labour and democracy in the Maghreb: The Moroccan and Tunisian trade unions in the 2011 Arab Uprisings
Authors: Feltrin Lorenzo
Published: August 2018

This article focuses on the part played by Moroccan and Tunisian labour in the 2011 Arab Uprisings and their outcomes, aiming to add fresh evidence to the long-standing debate over the place of social classes in democratisation processes. In Morocco, most labour confederations supported a new constitution that did not alter the undemocratic nature of the political system. In Tunisia, instead, rank-and-file trade unionists successfully rallied the single labour confederation in support of the popular mobilisations, eventually contributing to democratisation. The most important facilitating factor for these divergent processes and outcomes was the different level of working-class power existing in the two countries. On the eve of the Uprisings, working-class power was higher in Tunisia than in Morocco and this enabled Tunisian workers to mobilise more effectively. Democratisation in Tunisia, however, has so far failed to address the demands for social justice that were at the core of the Uprisings.
Labour research under coercive authoritarianism: Comparative reflections on fieldwork challenges in China
Authors: Fuchs Daniel , Fuk-Ying Tse Patricia , Feng Xiaojun
Published: August 2018

This article examines conditions for the conduct of qualitative research on labour and industrial relations in China since the shift to a coercive form of authoritarian governance in 2012. In comparing the experiences of three doctoral students from Europe, Hong Kong and mainland China respectively who conducted fieldwork in China between 2015 and 2017, the article argues that coercive authoritarianism has significantly increased the challenges of fieldwork, resulting in a need for inventive coping strategies. The study highlights a need to establish informal networks and reciprocal trust relationships, and points to the elevated importance of ethical considerations in fieldwork on labour and industrial relations in China.
‘You have to pick’: Cotton and state-organized forced labour in Uzbekistan
Authors: McGuire Darren , Laaser Knut
Published: August 2018

This article explores state-organized forced labour in Uzbekistan’s cotton industry, the labour management practices applied in the sector and the experience of labour exploitation associated with Uzbek cotton. To theorize this, the authors bring together Andrew Crane’s slavery as a management practice theory with Amartya Sen’s capabilities approach, offering an alternative to theories focusing on lead firm–supplier relations or global value chains when investigating violations of working conditions. Based on analysis of monitoring data and reporting on Uzbekistan’s cotton sector, the authors explore what sustains and enables forced labour as well as the exploitation and insulation of human capabilities that follow.
A study on the thermal performance of solar oven based on phase-change heat storage
Authors: Xie Shukuan , Wang Hua , Wu Qi , Liu Yukang , Zhang Yiheng , Jin Jichang , Pei Chenchen
Published: August 2018

Solar oven based on sunlight condensation is a promising energy conservation and sustainable solar thermal utility way. However, the temperature of solar oven is greatly affected by the sunshine conditions. In this research, adding phase-change heat storage layer in the solar vacuum tubular collector has been proposed, and the thermal performance has been numerically studied. The influence of the food initial temperature on the temperature distribution of the heat storage layer has been investigated. The results show that adding phase-change heat storage layer (φ40 mm/80 mm × 770 mm) makes the oven inner wall temperature 30°C–80°C higher than that without phase-change heat storage layer when the oven cavity temperature is at a constant of 100°C; and the oven inner wall temperature fluctuation caused by sunshine is obviously reduced from 100°C to 18°C–35°C. It indicates that the food initial temperature has little effect on the temperature field of the heat storage layer with the food initial temperature being 10°C–50°C. The analysis of the heat storage performance shows that the heat storage layer has a certain heat storage capacity in all seasons, and the daily heat storage is up to 2718 kJ.
Effect of heat extraction on the thermal efficiency of salt gradient solar pond
Authors: Wu Qi , Wang Hua , Xie Shukuan , Zhang Liugang , Wang Jie , Dong Zhanwei , Zhao Tao
Published: August 2018

In this paper, the experiment simulates the salt gradient solar pond with heat extraction and that without heat extraction, setting temperature sensors in the solar pond to monitor the temperature change of each measuring point in real time, extracting heat in the low convective zone and nonconvective zone at the same time. The experimental results show that heat extraction can improve the heat storage capacity of solar pond. The heat storage of solar pond with heat extraction is 40.3% more than that without heat extraction according to the experimental results. The heat extraction can increase the overall thermal efficiency of the solar pond; the efficiency of solar pond with heat extraction and that without heat extraction is 22.2 and 28.7%, respectively.
Perceptions and Practices of Diabetes Educators in Providing Oral Health Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Poudel Prakash , Griffiths Rhonda , Wong Vincent W. , Arora Amit , Flack Jeff R. , Khoo Chee L. , George Ajesh
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the current perceptions and practices of diabetes educators (DEs) in providing oral health care to people with diabetes.

Methods

A qualitative study design involving focus groups was used to gather data. Purposive sampling was used to recruit DEs working across 3 metropolitan hospitals in South Western Sydney, Australia.

Results

Fourteen DEs participated in 3 focus groups. Participants had a mean ± SD age of 44.4 ± 9.2 years and 5.2 ± 5.3 years of work experience in diabetes care. Four main themes were identified: perceptions about oral health care and diabetes current oral health care practices, perceptions on incorporating oral health, and suggested model of care. DEs agreed that promoting oral health in diabetes clinics is important, and they reported seeing patients frequently with oral health problems. However, the majority do not include oral health care in consultations, primarily because they have limited knowledge in this area and have not received any formal oral health education or training. Additional barriers were the lack of referral pathways and resources for patient education. DEs were receptive to incorporating oral health provided that the current barriers were addressed. DEs also suggested a multidisciplinary team care approach to promote oral health.

Conclusions

Current practices of DEs in oral health care are limited, but they are willing to address oral health. A suggested model of oral health care should include capacity building of diabetes care providers, appropriate dental referral pathways, and a team approach within multidisciplinary diabetes care.
Do Happy Events Love Company? Cultural Variations in Sharing Positive Events With Others
Authors: Choi Hyewon , Oishi Shigehiro , Shin Jieun , Suh Eunkook M.
Published: August 2018

The present study examined cultural differences in the act of sharing positive events with others, called capitalization attempts. The first three studies tested whether capitalization attempts differ between two cultures using multiple methods: self-reports (Study 1), children’s storybooks (Study 2), and Facebook (Study 3). We found that Koreans are less likely to share their positive events with others than European Americans. Study 4 further examined the antecedents and consequences of capitalization attempts. We replicated the earlier findings that Koreans are hesitant to share their positive events and demonstrated that this is because Koreans are more concerned about the potential negative consequences for social relationships. Moreover, we found that the cultural differences in capitalization attempts partly account for mean-level differences in well-being between cultures. Implications for capitalization, culture, and well-being are discussed.
The Digital Architecture of Time Management
Authors: Wajcman Judy
Published: August 2018

This article explores how the shift from print to electronic calendars materializes and exacerbates a distinctively quantitative, “spreadsheet” orientation to time. Drawing on interviews with engineers, I argue that calendaring systems are emblematic of a larger design rationale in Silicon Valley to mechanize human thought and action in order to make them more efficient and reliable. The belief that technology can be profitably employed to control and manage time has a long history and continues to animate contemporary sociotechnical imaginaries of what automation will deliver. In the current moment we live in the age of the algorithm and machine learning, so it is no wonder, then, that the contemporary design of digital calendars is driven by a vision of intelligent time management. As I go on to show in the second part of the article, this vision is increasingly realized in the form of intelligent digital assistants whose tracking capacities and behavioral algorithms aim to solve life’s existential problem—how best to organize the time of our lives. This article contributes to STS scholarship on the role of technological artifacts in generating new temporalities that shape people’s perception of time, how they act in the world, and how they understand themselves.
How to be a Terrible Teacher: Kierkegaard’s Philosophical Fragments on what Education is not
Authors: Dalton Stuart
Published: August 2018

I argue for an approach to Philosophical Fragments that allows it to be philosophical (as opposed to theological) and fragmentary (as opposed to systematic), and that pays particular attention to the fragments, or crumbs, that seem least important. One such overlooked crumb is the theory of merely human education in the book—education that does not enlist God as the teacher, where humans simply try to teach and learn from each other. I argue that Philosophical Fragments defends this theory of education with several reductio ad absurdum proofs that are especially useful because they clarify why merely human education so often fails. Finally I apply the theory of merely human education in Philosophical Fragments to Kierkegaard’s authorship as a whole and argue that it gives us a paradigm for understanding all of Kierkegaard’s texts that is more fundamental than the distinction between direct and indirect communication.
The Nonclinical Safety Profile of GalNAc-conjugated RNAi Therapeutics in Subacute Studies
Authors: Janas Maja M. , Harbison Carole E. , Perry Victoria K. , Carito Brenda , Sutherland Jessica E. , Vaishnaw Akshay K. , Keirstead Natalie D. , Warner Garvin
Published: August 2018

Short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are the most clinically advanced oligonucleotide-based platforms. A number of N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-conjugated siRNAs (GalNAc-siRNAs), also referred to as RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, are currently in various stages of development, though none is yet approved. While the safety of ASOs has been the subject of extensive review, the nonclinical safety profiles of GalNAc-siRNAs have not been reported. With the exception of sequence differences that confer target RNA specificity, GalNAc-siRNAs are largely chemically uniform, containing limited number of phosphorothioate linkages, and 2’-O-methyl and 2’-deoxy-2’-fluoro ribose modifications. Here, we present the outcomes of short-term (3–5 week) rat and monkey weekly repeat-dose toxicology studies of six Enhanced Stabilization Chemistry GalNAc-siRNAs currently in clinical development. In nonclinical studies at supratherapeutic doses, these molecules share similar safety signals, with histologic findings in the organ of pharmacodynamic effect (liver), the organ of elimination (kidney), and the reticuloendothelial system (lymph nodes). The majority of these changes are nonadverse, partially to completely reversible, correlate well with pharmacokinetic parameters and tissue distribution, and often reflect drug accumulation. Furthermore, all GalNAc-siRNAs tested to date have been negative in genotoxicity and safety pharmacology studies.
Hong Kong Skateboarding and Network Capital
Authors: O’Connor Paul
Published: August 2018

The importance of East Asia to the skateboard industry is multifaceted. It represents a dense commercial asset where the “cool” of skateboarding can be leveraged for consumption. It is also a global resource for touring professional skateboarders visiting countries such as China, Korea, and Japan to film and photograph their tricks in new locations. The success of such strategies are entwined with a regional network of skateboarders, a group whose subcultural capital is operationalized through network capital. Analysis of these connections highlights that Hong Kong’s prominence in East Asian skateboarding is largely dependent on its position as a global city and hybrid entrepôt. By addressing the conservative culture of skateboarding, and the importance of Hong Kong as a global city rather than a “skateable” city, this article further contributes to the theorizing of skateboarding beyond discussions of space and resistance.
Biharis in Bangladesh and Their Restricted Access to Citizenship Rights
Authors: Haider Zaglul
Published: August 2018

The Urdu-speaking Biharis of Bangladesh have been facing obstructions in enjoying full citizenship rights since Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in 1971. This minority, living on the fringes of Bangladeshi society, still mostly in camps, experiences discrimination particularly in obtaining passports and other travel and identity documents, despite legal assertions that they are citizens. Using theoretical and empirical research, the article seeks to identify the extent of this denial of sociopolitical and legal rights. The research finds discriminatory policies and practices in public service delivery at local levels, regarding access to public education and employment, but especially concerning passports and driver’s licences. This supports a conclusion that the Biharis of Bangladesh remain even today effectively stateless. Not fully protected by the bureaucratic state structures that should be engaged in non-discriminatory public service delivery, they are defrauded of basic rights and equal opportunities, notably the freedom to travel.