bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revision Stapedectomy in a Female Patient with Inner Ear Malformation
Authors: Patel Tirth R. , Moberly Aaron C.
Published: April 2016

Objectives. We describe an unusual case of surgical management of congenital mixed hearing loss in a female patient with inner ear malformation. This report outlines the role of temporal bone imaging and previous surgical history in evaluating a patient’s risk of perilymph gusher during stapes surgery.Methods. A 68-year-old female patient with a history of profound bilateral mixed hearing loss due to ossicular and cochlear malformation presented to our otology clinic. She had undergone multiple unsuccessful previous ear surgeries. Computed tomography revealed bilateral inner ear malformations. She elected to proceed with revision stapedectomy.Results. The patient received modest benefit to hearing, and no operative complications occurred.Conclusions. Although stapedectomy has been shown to improve hearing in patients with stapes fixation, there is risk of perilymph gusher in patients with inner ear abnormalities. Evaluation and counseling of the risk of gusher during stapes surgery should be done on a case-by-case basis.
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells Endow Stem-like Qualities to Breast Cancer Cells through IL6/STAT3 and NO/NOTCH Cross-talk Signaling
Authors: Peng Dongjun , Tanikawa Takashi , Li Wei , Zhao Lili , Vatan Linda , Szeliga Wojciech , Wan Shanshan , Wei Shuang , Wang Yin , Liu Yan , Staroslawska Elzbieta , Szubstarski Franciszek , Rolinski Jacek , Grywalska Ewelina , Stanisławek Andrzej , Polkowski Wojciech , Kurylcio Andrzej , Kleer Celina , Chang Alfred E. , Wicha Max , Sabel Michael , Zou Weiping , Kryczek Ilona
Published: April 2016

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) contribute to immune suppression in cancer, but the mechanisms through which they drive metastatic progression are not fully understood. In this study, we show how MDSC convey stem-like qualities to breast cancer cells that coordinately help enable immune suppression and escape. We found that MDSC promoted tumor formation by enhancing breast cancer cell stem-like properties as well as by suppressing T-cell activation. Mechanistic investigations indicated that these effects relied upon cross-talk between the STAT3 and NOTCH pathways in cancer cells, with MDSC inducing IL6-dependent phosphorylation of STAT3 and activating NOTCH through nitric oxide leading to prolonged STAT3 activation. In clinical specimens of breast cancer, the presence of MDSC correlated with the presence of cancer stem-like cells (CSC) and independently predicted poor survival outcomes. Collectively, our work revealed an immune-associated mechanism that extrinsically confers cancer cell stemness properties and affects patient outcome. We suggest that targeting STAT3-NOTCH cross-talk between MDSC and CSC could offer a unique locus to improve cancer treatment, by coordinately targeting a coupled mechanism that enables cancer stemness and immune escape. Cancer Res; 76(11); 3156–65. ©2016 AACR.
The Role of Cholesterol in Cancer
Authors: Kuzu Omer F. , Noory Mohammad A. , Robertson Gavin P.
Published: April 2016

The roles played by cholesterol in cancer development and the potential of therapeutically targeting cholesterol homeostasis is a controversial area in the cancer community. Several epidemiologic studies report an association between cancer and serum cholesterol levels or statin use, while others suggest that there is not one. Furthermore, the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project using next-generation sequencing has profiled the mutational status and expression levels of all the genes in diverse cancers, including those involved in cholesterol metabolism, providing correlative support for a role of the cholesterol pathway in cancer development. Finally, preclinical studies tend to more consistently support the role of cholesterol in cancer, with several demonstrating that cholesterol homeostasis genes can modulate development. Because of space limitations, this review provides selected examples of the epidemiologic, TCGA, and preclinical data, focusing on alterations in cholesterol homeostasis and its consequent effect on patient survival. In melanoma, this focused analysis demonstrated that enhanced expression of cholesterol synthesis genes was associated with decreased patient survival. Collectively, the studies in melanoma and other cancer types suggested a potential role of disrupted cholesterol homeostasis in cancer development but additional studies are needed to link population-based epidemiological data, the TCGA database results, and preclinical mechanistic evidence to concretely resolve this controversy. Cancer Res; 76(8); 2063–70. ©2016 AACR.
HuR Contributes to TRAIL Resistance by Restricting Death Receptor 4 Expression in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Romeo Carmella , Weber Matthew C. , Zarei Mahsa , DeCicco Danielle , Chand Saswati N. , Lobo Angie D. , Winter Jordan M. , Sawicki Janet A. , Sachs Jonathan N. , Meisner-Kober Nicole , Yeo Charles J. , Vadigepalli Rajanikanth , Tykocinski Mark L. , Brody Jonathan R.
Published: April 2016

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is one of the most lethal cancers, in part, due to resistance to both conventional and targeted therapeutics. TRAIL directly induces apoptosis through engagement of cell surface Death Receptors (DR4 and DR5), and has been explored as a molecular target for cancer treatment. Clinical trials with recombinant TRAIL and DR-targeting agents, however, have failed to show overall positive outcomes. Herein, we identify a novel TRAIL resistance mechanism governed by Hu antigen R (HuR, ELAV1), a stress-response protein abundant and functional in PDA cells. Exogenous HuR overexpression in TRAIL-sensitive PDA cell lines increases TRAIL resistance whereas silencing HuR in TRAIL-resistant PDA cells, by siRNA oligo-transfection, decreases TRAIL resistance. PDA cell exposure to soluble TRAIL induces HuR translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that HuR interacts with the 3′-untranslated region (UTR) of DR4 mRNA. Pre-treatment of PDA cells with MS-444 (Novartis), an established small molecule inhibitor of HuR, substantially increased DR4 and DR5 cell surface levels and enhanced TRAIL sensitivity, further validating HuR's role in affecting TRAIL apoptotic resistance. NanoString analyses on the transcriptome of TRAIL-exposed PDA cells identified global HuR-mediated increases in antiapoptotic processes. Taken together, these data extend HuR's role as a key regulator of TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

Implications: Discovery of an important new HuR-mediated TRAIL resistance mechanism suggests that tumor-targeted HuR inhibition increases sensitivity to TRAIL-based therapeutics and supports their re-evaluation as an effective treatment for PDA patients. Mol Cancer Res; 14(7); 599–611. ©2016 AACR.
Língua (portuguesa) e identidade: traços do falar maranhense
Authors: Silva Paulo Círio , Sousa Layane Kessia Pereira , Bezerra José de Ribamar Mendes
Published: April 2016

O presente trabalho abordará conteúdos relacionados ao léxico da língua portuguesa no Brasil e, em especial, no estado do Maranhão. Serão apresentadas discussões voltadas à composição do falar maranhense evidenciando as influências dos diferentes povos (indígenas e não indígenas) que ajudaram a criar a identidade linguística do estado. As pesquisas realizadas por professores do Projeto ALiMA (Atlas Linguístico do Maranhão) que trabalham as variações da língua no Maranhão e por autores como, Antunes (2009) e Ilari e Basso (2007), que realizam e publicam estudos sobre a identidade linguística de um povo em geral e as variações da língua no Brasil, tornaram-se ferramentas de estudo essenciais para o desenvolvimento deste trabalho, que visa a mostrar que a língua portuguesa (falada e escrita) é variável tanto no Brasil quanto no estado do Maranhão, demonstrando que não há homogeneidade linguística dentro de um mesmo território. Além disso, embasaremos o artigo nos diferentes níveis de variação, com maior atenção às variações fonético-fonológica e semântica de diversas palavras utilizadas em São Luís, capital do estado, em relação a algumas cidades do interior maranhense. Apresentaremos termos linguísticos utilizados na fala dos maranhenses por meio de um pequeno dicionário popular que descreve seus significados.
Dostoiévski – Polifonias Contemporâneas
Authors: Cavaliere Arlete
Published: April 2016

este artigo pretende refletir sobre as possíveis transposições da ficção de Dostoiévski em diferentes linguagens artísticas, tais como o cinema, as artes visuais e o teatro, apreendendo, assim, o processo polifônico e dialógico do discurso dostoievskiano em interação dinâmica com outras vozes artísticas, flagradas em outros espaços e outros tempos
Petersburgo: personagem atuante em Crime e Castigo
Authors: Américo Edelcio
Published: April 2016

O artigo tem por objetivo abordar a presença de São Petersburgo no romance de Fiódor Dostoiévski, Crime e Castigo, bem como as condições histórico-culturais que precederam a obra. No romance, a cidade pode ser vista não apenas como o palco dos acontecimentos, mas também como um personagem atuante que interfere, de forma ativa, na conduta dos protagonistas. A análise é baseada nos trabalhos de Vladimir Toporov e Iúri Lotman, escritos nos anos 1970-80, que apontam para um texto único, chamado por eles "texto de São Petersburgo", presente em diversas obras literárias de diferentes autores russos
Человек Достоевского – человек веры и любви
Authors: Алиева Гюльнара Анвер
Published: April 2016

O artigo trata da concepção de homem na obra de Dostoiévski, que dos anos 40 até os anos de 80 do século XIX passou por uma série de estágios de desenvolvimento - desde o romance Gente pobre até a epopeia filosófica Os Irmãos Karamazov. Dostoiévski elaborou a sua filosofia do homem com base na idéia e na prática da humildade espiritual e do amor cristão. De acordo com o grande escritor, a verdade encontra-se no/é o caminho do amor pelo povo, da humildade diante do mal e do perdão de todos os culpados. O homem de Dostoiévski é, antes de tudo, um homem de fé e amor, um homem moral e espiritualmente perfeito
Grammothele hainanensis sp. nov. (Polyporales, Basidiomycota) and related species from Hainan, southern China
Authors: WU FANG , ZHOU LI-WEI , JI XIAO-HONG , TIAN XUE-MEI , HE SHUANG-HUI
Published: April 2016

Grammothele and Theleporus have a shallow pore surface, which makes them morphologically close to corticioid fungi. However, from a phylogenetic perspective, they are polyphyletic genera within the core polyporoid clade of the Polyporales. Eight specimens with a shallow pore surface from Hainan, southern China, were morphologically and phylogenetically studied. Among them, one was determined as Grammothele denticulata, four were identified as Theleporus membranaceus, and three are described as Grammothele hainanensis. G. hainanensis is characterized by the annual and resupinate basidiocarps with poroid to irpicoid hymenophore, a dimitic hyphal system with clamped generative hyphae and weakly dextrinoid skeletal hyphae, the presence of cystidioles, hyphal pegs and dendrohyphidia, and cylindrical, hyaline and thin-walled basidiospores. It is closely related to G. quercina in phylogeny. Morphologically, G. quercina differs in producing perennial basidiocarps with cream to pale greyish and larger pores. The morphological differences among the new species and other species were analyzed.
Alpinia austrosinense (Zingiberaceae), a new combination from China and its relationship with A. pumila
Authors: ZOU PU , YE YU-SHI , LIAO JING-PING
Published: April 2016

Amomum austrosinense was published in 1982, but examination the morphology of living plants and the type specimens makes it clear that it is a species of Alpinia. Its inflorescence has an involucre of sterile bracts in contrast to absent in Amomum Roxburgh, and the anther crest absent rather than usually present with variously lobed in Amomum. Furthermore, the staminodes are big and not small as in Amomum. Morphological comparisons show that it is very close to Alpinia pumila, from which it can be distinguished by the more densely flowered inflorescence and narrowly elliptic or oblong lamina without whitish stripes between the nerves. Hence the new combination Alpinia austrosinense is proposed.
Campanula hongii, a replacement name for C. chinensis (Campanulaceae)
Authors: DENG YUNFEI
Published: April 2016

Campanula Linnaeus (1753: 163) comprises about 420 species of the family Campanulaceae, which are distributed throughout the Arctic and North temperate regions (Lammers 2007a; Hong 2015). Campanula chinensis Hong (1980: 247) was described from Xizang and Yunnan, China. It was recognized by all recently published floras (Hong et al. 1983; Hong & Lian 1985; Huang 1991; Hong & Ma 1994; Li et al. 2000; Lammers 2007b; Hong et al. 2011; Hong 2015). It had not been noticed in the all recently published literature that a similar name, C. sinensis (Candolle 1830: 354) Dietrich (1839: 755), has been published in the genus. Example 11 under Art. 53.3 of the ICN (McNeill et al. 2012) makes it quite clear that “chinensis” and “sinensis” must be treated as homonyms; thus the name C. chinensis D.Y. Hong is a later illegitimate homonym, for which a new name is proposed here.
Remotely Sensed Land Skin Temperature as a Spatial Predictor of Air Temperature across the Conterminous United States
Authors: Oyler Jared W. , Dobrowski Solomon Z. , Holden Zachary A. , Running Steven W.
Published: April 2016

Remotely sensed land skin temperature (LST) is increasingly being used to improve gridded interpolations of near-surface air temperature. The appeal of LST as a spatial predictor of air temperature rests in the fact that it is an observation available at spatial resolutions fine enough to capture topoclimatic and biophysical variations. However, it remains unclear if LST improves air temperature interpolations over what can already be obtained with simpler terrain-based predictor variables. Here, the relationship between LST and air temperature is evaluated across the conterminous United States (CONUS). It is found that there are significant differences in the ability of daytime and nighttime observations of LST to improve air temperature interpolations. Daytime LST mainly indicates finescale biophysical variation and is generally a poorer predictor of maximum air temperature than simple linear models based on elevation, longitude, and latitude. Moderate improvements to maximum air temperature interpolations are thus limited to specific mountainous areas in winter, to coastal areas, and to semiarid and arid regions where daytime LST likely captures variations in evaporative cooling and aridity. In contrast, nighttime LST represents important topoclimatic variation throughout the mountainous western CONUS and significantly improves nighttime minimum air temperature interpolations. In regions of more homogenous terrain, nighttime LST also captures biophysical patterns related to land cover. Both daytime and nighttime LST display large spatial and seasonal variability in their ability to improve air temperature interpolations beyond simpler approaches.
What telomeres say about activity and health: A rapid review
Authors: To-Miles Flora Y. L. , Backman Catherine L.
Published: April 2016

Background.

Empirical studies on occupation as a determinant of health could be advanced with research incorporating biological measures of health. Telomere length and telomerase function are promising biomarkers of the interaction of genetics, lifestyle, and behaviour; however, they have not been used in occupational therapy research.

Purpose.

This paper reviews current evidence on the role of physical and mindfulness activities in sustaining telomeres. The findings are applied to the study of occupation, health, and aging.

Method.

A rapid review was conducted with an evidence synthesis of 23 studies published from 2008 to 2014.

Findings.

Mindfulness activities may preserve telomeres, slow cell senescence and death, and sustain health through mediating life stressors. Inconsistencies exist for the effect of physical activities on telomeres.

Implications.

Similar research examining a range of occupations may help to identify the health-promoting benefits of occupation and inform lifestyle interventions.
Pulp Fibroblasts Control Nerve Regeneration through Complement Activation
Authors: Chmilewsky F. , About I. , Chung S.-H.
Published: April 2016

Dentin-pulp regeneration is closely linked to the presence of nerve fibers in the pulp and to the healing mechanism by sprouting of the nerve fiber’s terminal branches beneath the carious injury site. However, little is known about the initial mechanisms regulating this process in carious teeth. It has been recently demonstrated that the complement system activation, which is one of the first immune responses, contributes to tissue regeneration through the local production of anaphylatoxins such as C5a. While few pulp fibroblasts in intact teeth and in untreated fibroblast cultures express the C5a receptor (C5aR), here we show that all dental pulp fibroblasts, localized beneath the carious injury site, do express this receptor. This observation is consistent with our in vitro results, which showed expression of C5aR in lipoteichoic acid–stimulated pulp fibroblasts. The interaction of C5a, produced after complement synthesis and activation from pulp fibroblasts, with the C5aR of these cells mediated the local brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) secretion. Overall, this activation guided the neuronal growth toward the lipoteichoic acid–stimulated fibroblasts. Thus, our findings highlight a new mechanism in one of the initial steps of the dentin-pulp regeneration process, linking pulp fibroblasts to the nerve sprouting through the complement system activation. This may provide a useful future therapeutic tool in targeting the fibroblasts in the dentin-pulp regeneration process.
Lexical Bundles in Chinese Undergraduate Academic Writing at an English Medium University
Authors: Ruan Zhoulin
Published: April 2016

This paper investigates the use of lexical bundles in Chinese students’ academic writing across different levels of studies at an English medium university. Frequency-based bundles were retrieved from a corpus of student academic texts written at four points of time between Year 1 and Year 4, and the structures and functions of the bundles were analysed to reveal the developmental patterns in bundle use. The analysis shows that, overall, students used more types of bundles when they progressed to the higher level of studies, but there were differences in the use of preferred structural forms. The analysis also suggests a developmental order of bundle use in L2 students’ academic writing: clausal and nominal bundles appeared to be acquired prior to prepositional bundles. In terms of functional distributions, discourse organizing bundles were much more prevalent than stance and referential expressions in student writing at all levels of studies, particularly in final year project dissertations. The findings indicate a linkage between levels of academic studies and the patterns of bundle use in student writing, as well as the effects of EAP instruction on the learning of lexical bundles by Chinese student writers at an English medium university in China.
Syntax and prosody in narratives: A study of preschool children
Authors: Zanchi Paola , Zampini Laura , Fasolo Mirco , D’Odorico Laura
Published: April 2016

The present study examines narrative competence and its relationships with syntactic and prosodic skills in preschool children. The narrative skills of 30 typically developing Italian children were assessed during their first year of kindergarten attendance (T1) and again one year later (T2). A picture book was used to elicit children’s narratives. All stories were examined for narrative competence, syntactic complexity and prosody. The results are discussed in the context of the relationships between prosody and the other linguistic skills, considering that the children who were more proficient storytellers and exhibited better syntactic construction were generally less able to produce their utterances within a single melodic contour. Therefore, the linguistic and cognitive abilities required by a storytelling task may negatively influence a child’s ability to produce sentences within a single melodic contour.
Narrative Construction, Social Perceptions, and the Situation Model
Authors: Costabile Kristi A.
Published: April 2016

The present investigation examined how three salient features of narrative thinking (situation model construction, linguistic concreteness, and perspective-taking) influenced the social inference process. Results of four experiments indicated that compared with those given other objectives, perceivers given narrative objectives were: (a) more likely to make situation rather than trait attributions for observed behaviors (Experiment 1), (b) less likely to make implicit trait inferences (Experiment 2), and (c) less likely to rely on behavior valence when making evaluative judgments (Experiment 4). Linguistic analyses indicated that narrative construction consistently entailed the creation of situation models of events and linguistic concreteness, but only situation model creation mediated the relationship between narrative and inferences. Experiment 3 confirmed the mediating role of situation models: Perceivers with narrative objectives made trait inferences only when behaviors were inconsistent with contextual information. The role of these core narrative features on social perceptions is discussed.
Ethical foundations of environmental radiological protection
Authors: Oughton D.H.
Published: April 2016

Assessing the potential ecological impact of ionising radiation raises a number of ethical questions. These include fundamental questions such as what exactly constitutes harming the environment, and how the environment should be valued, as well as links to political protection principles such as sustainability and biodiversity. Starting from developments within ecological risk assessment, this paper summarises some of the ethical issues concerning the protection of the environment from radiation. Chapter 2 gives a brief overview of different philosophical and cultural world views on valuing the environment in a context of radiation risk. Chapter 3 addresses some recent challenges to proposed environmental protection frameworks, including practical applications following the Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents, and some scientific developments such as the ecosystem approach. Finally, Chapter 4 offers some recommendations on how ethical evaluation can help produce a more robust and transparent approach to the protection of the environment. In conclusion, there is a need for a holistic evaluation of the environmental impacts of ionising radiation that not only considers the direct consequences on the health of humans and non-human species, but also the more complex social, ethical, and economic consequences of both human and non-human exposures.
Identification of downstream target genes regulated by the nitric oxide–soluble guanylate cyclase–cyclic guanosine monophosphate signal pathway in pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Zou Lihui , Xu Xiaomao , Zhai Zhenguo , Yang Ting , Jin Junhua , Xiao Fei , Wang Chen
Published: April 2016

Objective

To investigate the downstream target genes regulated by the nitric oxide–soluble guanylate cyclase–cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO-sGC-cGMP) signal pathway and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Methods

Digital gene expression tag profiling was performed to identify genes that are differentially expressed after activation of the NO-sGC-cGMP signal pathway in human pulmonary artery smooth muscles cells using 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate, BAY 41-2272 and BAY 60-2770. Results were confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Gene ontology and signal transduction network analyses were also performed.

Results

A number of genes were differentially expressed, including MMP1, SERPINB2, GREM1 and IL8. A total of 68 gene ontology terms and seven pathways were found to be associated with these genes. Most of these genes are involved in cell proliferation, cell migration and apoptosis, which may contribute to the pathological pulmonary vascular remodelling in PH.

Conclusion

These results may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of PH.
The hospital and the hospital: Infrastructure, human tissue, labour and the scientific production of relational value
Authors: Street Alice
Published: April 2016

How does science make a home for itself in a public hospital? This article explores how scientists working in ‘resource poor’ contexts of global health negotiate relationships with their hosts, in this case the doctors, nurses and patients who already inhabit a provincial-level hospital. Taking its lead from recent works on science, ethics and development, this article seeks to ‘provincialize the laboratory’ by focussing on the scientific tropics as a space of productive encounter and engagement. A view from the hospital reveals the tenuous process of ‘setting up’ a place for science, in a world that does not immediately recognize its value. The article examines the material exchanges of infrastructure, bodily tissues and labour that enable one young scientist to establish a scientific life for himself. The success of those transactions, it argues, ultimately derives from their objectification of scientific vulnerability and their enactment of relationships of mutual recognition. As opposed to asking how scientific knowledge is produced in the tropics, the view from the hospital challenges us to focus on the establishment of relationships between scientists and their hosts as a productive endeavour in its own right.
Digital homework for kinematics and dynamics of machinery
Authors: Canfield Stephen L , Zuccaro Stephen G
Published: April 2016

A digital homework program applicable to the study of kinematics and dynamics of machinery has been developed and successfully incorporated into an ongoing kinematics and dynamics of machinery course providing students with regulated self-practice, formative feedback, and partial credit scoring. The use of digital homework in upper-level engineering courses is sparsely documented in the literature but can provide homework assignments that give immediate feedback for self-assessment of learning while significantly reducing the time required of the instructor for grading. This paper presents a procedure for creating a digital homework set generally applicable to engineering courses using a commercially available course management tool. The paper then documents a specific implementation into a junior-level kinematics and dynamics of machinery course. This implementation is assessed over four semesters based on its comparison with traditional homework as perceived by students. The responses indicate that students were acquainted with digital homework from pre-engineering courses and did not regard the digital format as a hindrance. However, students perceived no benefit to the immediate feedback and, therefore, preferred the traditional format of upper-level courses. This perception is attributed to students’ tendency to make use of the homework feedback much later after the assignment and primarily at the point of exam preparation. However, this seems to be counter to the role of homework as a formative feedback tool that students use in real time to gauge and regulate learning activities. The authors conclude that the presented digital homework is both efficient and appropriate as a teaching supplement to an upper-level kinematics and dynamics of machinery course in the light of the role of homework as a tool to regulate learning of course material. Examples of the implemented digital homework problems are provided to serve as a resource for other instructors.
Current Capabilities and Limitations of Stable Isotope Techniques and Applied Mathematical Equations in Determining Whole-Body Vitamin A Status
Authors: Lietz Georg , Furr Harold C. , Gannon Bryan M. , Green Michael H. , Haskell Marjorie , Lopez-Teros Veronica , Novotny Janet A. , Palmer Amanda C. , Russell Robert M. , Tanumihardjo Sherry A. , Van Loo-Bouwman Carolien A.
Published: April 2016

Background:

Retinol isotope dilution (RID) methodology provides a quantitative estimate of total body vitamin A (VA) stores and is the best method currently available for assessing VA status in adults and children. The methodology has also been used to test the efficacy of VA interventions in a number of low-income countries. Infections, micronutrient deficiencies (eg, iron and zinc), liver disease, physiological age, pregnancy, and lactation are known or hypothesized to influence the accuracy of estimating total body VA stores using the isotope dilution technique.

Objective:

Our objectives were to review the strengths and limitations of RID methods, to discuss what is known about the impact of various factors on results, and to summarize contributions of model-based compartmental analysis to assessing VA status.

Methods:

Relevant published literature is reviewed and discussed.

Results:

Various equations and compartmental modeling have been used to estimate the total body VA stores using stable isotopes, including a newer 3-day equation that provides an estimate of total body VA stores in healthy adults. At present, there is insufficient information on absorption of the isotope tracer, and there is a need to further investigate how various factors impact the application of RID techniques in field studies.

Conclusions:

Isotope dilution methodology can provide useful estimates of total body VA stores in apparently healthy populations under controlled study conditions. However, more research is needed to determine whether the method is suitable for use in settings where there is a high prevalence of infection, iron deficiency, and/or liver disease.
Ethno-Racial Variation in Recovery From Severe Mental Illness
Authors: Whitley Rob
Published: April 2016

Objective:

Purpose-driven studies examining the relationship between ethnicity, culture, and recovery are absent from the empirical literature. As such, the overall aim of this study was to examine ethno-racial variations in recovery perspectives. Specific objectives consist of comparing and contrasting ethno-racial variations in 1) definitions of recovery, 2) barriers to recovery, and 3) facilitators of recovery.

Methods:

We recruited people with severe mental illness from 2 broad ethno-racial groups (Caribbean-Canadian and Euro-Canadian) to partake in a qualitative interview on recovery ( n = 47). Participants were asked to give their own definitions of recovery, as well as self-perceived barriers and facilitators. Interview transcripts were then subjected to thematic analysis. We compared and contrasted the distribution and salience of emerging themes between the Euro-Canadian and Caribbean-Canadian participants.

Results:

Recovery was consistently defined as a gradual process involving progress in key life domains including employment, social engagement, and community participation by both groups. This was underpinned by a growing future orientation. Stigma, financial strain, and psychiatric hospitalization were considered major barriers to recovery in both groups. Participants from both groups generally considered stated definitions of recovery to be simultaneous facilitators of recovery—employment and social engagement being the most frequently mentioned. God and religion were key facilitators for the Caribbean-Canadian group but not for Euro-Canadians.

Conclusions:

Definitions, barriers, and facilitators to recovery were generally shared among our sample, regardless of ethno-racial status, with the exception of God and religion.
Habermas on the European crisis
Authors: Heins Volker M.
Published: April 2016

Based on a critical reading of Jürgen Habermas’s journalistic writings on the European Union, the article argues that Europe’s current crisis is also a crisis of its narratives, and hence a crisis of meaning. The German philosopher has revised his political vision of a united Europe but has done so without abandoning his neo-Kantian ‘soft revolutionism’. The EU of the future is not only envisaged as an alternative to the allegedly defunct European nation-state, but also as the antithesis to US-style federalism and to what is called ‘post-democratic executive federalism’. What is more, Habermas no longer fully trusts in the power of the better argument, as championed in his critical social theory. Instead, his hope of normative progress towards a socially and politically more integrated Europe is founded on a belief in the power of the crisis itself – aided by a convincing pro-European narrative – to drive us in the same direction as that indicated by reason. The conclusion contrasts Habermas’s utopian Europeanism, which has failed to find favour with the wider European public, with a less utopian alternative inspired by the highly specific, non-universal situation of the Old Continent.
Physical and thermal properties of unidirectional banana–jute hybrid fiber-reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Devireddy Siva Bhaskara Rao , Biswas Sandhyarani
Published: April 2016

During the last few years, the hybrid composite materials are replacing the conventional composite materials because of their superior properties. In the present communication, unidirectional banana–jute hybrid fiber-reinforced epoxy composites were prepared by varying the fiber content from 0 to 40 wt% with different weight ratios. The physical and thermal properties of the hybrid composites were tested as per ASTM standards. The influence of fiber content on density, thermal conductivity, specific heat, thermal diffusivity, thermal stability, and water absorption of hybrid composites was investigated. A new micromechanical model for the transverse thermal conductivity of hybrid fiber-reinforced polymer composites is developed using the law of minimal thermal resistance and equal law of specific equivalent thermal conductivity. The results are validated with the results obtained by experimental, numerical simulation, and analytical methods existing in the literature. In numerical, steady state heat transfer simulations were performed to calculate thermal conductivity by using ANSYS software. It is encouraging to notice that the experimental and numerical results are in close approximation with the values predicted by the micromechanical model suggested in this work. It is found that the measured properties of the hybrid composites are suitable for building components and automobiles in order to decrease energy consumption.
Recovery of combustibles from electrostatic precipitator discharge
Authors: Jain Pankaj Kumar , Bhattacharya Sumantra , Kumar Shravan
Published: April 2016

Coal is the main fuel for the direct reduced iron (DRI) plants of India, which are one of the major sources of fly ash generation. The generation of fly ash and its disposal has raised concern because of the environmental impacts. In the present study, two different fly ash samples were investigated to explore the scope of recovery of combustibles. One did not show any recovery potential. The second sample indicated that about 40% of material could be recovered, with 35% fixed carbon and 10,841 kJ kg−1 gross calorific value. This can be used as a fuel blend in standard fluidised bed combustion boilers efficiently burning inferior coal. A process flowsheet has been suggested for the recovery purpose. It was estimated that for a small 0.2 million tonnes per year (Mtpy) capacity DRI plant, approximately 3.4 ha of land could thus annually be saved from dumping of the generated fly ash, while recovering 1.83 MW of electrical energy.
Simulation tools in enhancing metal casting productivity and quality: A review
Authors: Khan Muhammad Azhar Ali , Sheikh Anwar Khalil
Published: April 2016

Casting simulation softwares are increasingly being used in modern foundries and metal casting industries. Softwares simulate the casting process in a virtual domain and provide insight into mold filling, solidification and cooling, and casting defects. Casting simulations allow designers to model, verify, and validate the process followed by optimization of design and process parameters before they actually put into practice. This article aims at exploring the methods of modeling and simulation of metal casting processes with reference to some related case studies. Most commonly available casting simulation softwares and the underlying mathematical models used are briefly introduced. Casting process simulation together with the results obtained is well explained. Case studies from the literature revealed that simulation tools are playing a vital role in producing high-quality defect-free cast products by providing an in-depth understanding of mold filling and solidification, gating, runner and feeding system design, and other process parameters. Recent efforts on integrating the casting simulations to mechanical performance simulations are discussed which is quite promising in predicting the service life of cast products. It is concluded that simulations have been well established in metal casting processes and more developments in simulation tools are needed for reliability prediction of castings.
Influence of temperature distribution of heat affected zone on transient refractive index modifications of transparent materials
Authors: Najafi S , Arabanian AS , Massudi R
Published: April 2016

Thermoelastic wave equations are numerically solved by using finite element method to study effect of spatial distribution of microscale heat source, created inside transparent material, on physical parameters of heat affected zone. It is observed that temperature distribution has significant effect on spatial and temporal behavior of the displacement, strain, stress and, consequently, on refractive index changes of the material. Therefore, temperature distribution, which can be caused by laser pulse, can be employed as an important parameter to control refractive index profile inside transparent materials.
Mechanical analysis of spherical roller bearings due to misalignments between inner and outer rings
Authors: Xing Yu , Xu Hua , Pei Shiyuan , Zhang Xi , Chang Wei
Published: April 2016

This research presents a theoretical model to analyze the mechanical performance of spherical roller bearings, taking account of the angular and centroidal misalignments between the inner and outer rings. The angular misalignment can be improved by spherical roller bearings self-aligning feature to a certain degree. The interpolation method is used to determine the self-aligning contact angles of the different rollers. The centroidal misalignment is described by the angular and distance deviations. Non-Hertzian contact theory is applied to model and calculate the rollers load-distribution and total contact angles as well as the displacement of the inner ring. The loads of the rollers with the misalignments features and the external loads are included in the equilibrium equations, which is solved by Newton-Raphson method. This research shows spherical roller bearings self-aligning ability can balance the additional bending moment caused by the angular misalignment, which is at the cost of reducing its carrying capacity. But this carrying capacity will be improved to a certain degree by a proper axial load. It also illustrates that any kinds of centroidal misalignments are harmful for the service life of bearings. But the location of the misalignments can be roughly inferred by the external loads and the displacement of the inner ring, which is helpful for spherical roller bearings fault diagnose and elimination.
Solar sail structural analysis via improved finite element modeling
Authors: Boni Luisa , Mengali Giovanni , Quarta Alessandro A
Published: April 2016

Despite the existence of many studies about the structural analysis of a square solar sail, the need for obtaining reliable numerical results still poses a number of practical issues to be solved. The aim of this paper is to propose a new method that improves the existing analysis techniques. In this sense, the solar sail is modeled using distributed sail-boom connections, and its structural behavior in free flight is studied, using the inertia relief method, at different incidence angles of the incoming solar radiation. The proposed approach is able to circumvent the onset of numerical convergence problems by means of suitable strategies. A nonlinear analysis is carried out starting from an initial geometrical configuration in which the whole solar sail is perturbed using a linear combination of the first global buckling modes, obtained with a static eigenvalue analysis. Key points of the procedure are the application of a correct sail pre-stress, a clever choice of the type of elements to be used in the finite element analysis and the use of a suitable mesh refinement. The performance of the new approach have been successfully tested on square solar sails with side length varying from relatively small to medium-to-large sizes, in the range of 10–100 m. A detailed analysis is presented for a reference 20 m × 20 m square solar sail, where the paper shows that the suggested procedure is able to guarantee accurate results without the need of additional stabilization technique. In particular, the vibration global mode shapes and frequencies of the solar sail are correctly described even in presence of unsymmetrical loading conditions. In other terms, the numerical analysis is completed without any convergence problem and any disturbing local modes.
‘What the hell is a high standard?’ The Swedish Employers’ Confederation and the six-hour workday debate in the mid 1970s
Authors: Ottosson Mikael , Rosengren Calle
Published: April 2016

A concept that lies at the heart of political rhetoric is that of ‘workfare’. The issue, however, is what types of arguments have been invoked to assert the value of the concept. During the 1960s and 1970s, extensive criticism emerged towards a working life that was said to hinder women’s emancipation; a working life that wasted resources and had a negative impact on the environment; a working life that sought material consumerism rather than quality of life. The demand for a work time reduction also received much support. In this article, we have studied the use of language that The Swedish Employers’ Confederation used when publicly formulating their stances on the work time issue in 1975. We have chosen to highlight the argument contained in a discussion pamphlet published by Swedish Employers’ Confederation, in a situation where the use of language was determined by the left-wing movement, and solidarity, international aid and daycare places were keywords, rather than growth and consumption. The arguments employed in the discussion pamphlet were based in the idea that non-work entails a lack of solidarity for social development. Those who desired a work time reduction were portrayed by Swedish Employers’ Confederation as environmental villains and opponents to the liberation of both oppressed women and the impoverished of the third world. Swedish Employers’ Confederation’s pamphlet can be regarded as an example on how capitalism may handle major criticism. By reversing the meaning of the core concepts of the criticism, opponents’ arguments were assimilated, which contributed to a new rationalization of the capitalism. One of the major contributions from our study to the research field is an improved understanding of how this process developed.
When People Serve as Means to Goals
Authors: Orehek Edward , Forest Amanda L.
Published: April 2016

Goal pursuit is almost always conducted in concert with helpful others. People serve as instrumental means to goals, and evaluations of people are shaped by their perceived instrumentality. Assistance from another person may elicit feelings of relationship satisfaction and commitment. Assisting others in their goal pursuit is also gratifying. We present a novel goal-systemic perspective on close relationships. Our analysis suggests that satisfying relationships are achieved when partners experience mutual perceived instrumentality—when each partner feels instrumental to his or her partner’s important goals and perceives the partner as instrumental to his or her important goals. Considering relationship partners as means to goals has important implications for relationship processes including attraction, relationship maintenance, and relationship dissolution.
Putting the Terror in Terror Management Theory
Authors: Juhl Jacob , Routledge Clay
Published: April 2016

Rooted in the writings of existentialists, terror management theory states that the awareness of death has the potential to create debilitating anxiety and compromise psychological well-being and that psychological buffers (e.g., self-worth) protect against these adverse effects. Hundreds of studies have supported the theory. However, until recently, little work has focused on the central assertion that the awareness of death causes anxiety and undermines well-being. We review a recent program of research that fills this critical void in the literature. This work has demonstrated that experimentally heightening the awareness of death increases anxiety and decreases well-being for individuals who lack appropriate psychological buffers.
Something Old, Something New
Authors: Toro Juan M.
Published: April 2016

Infants face the paramount task of learning a language. Here, I review recent literature on two separate topics that suggest they use a combination of both evolutionarily old and new cognitive tools to face this task. Research on the principles that guide how humans and nonhuman animals group sequences of sounds has shown that we share with other species perceptual biases that we apply to linguistic stimuli. On the contrary, research on processing differences between consonants and vowels suggests humans, but not other animals, benefit from a “division of labor” across phonological representations. This division would help to extract regularities from the speech signal and facilitate language learning. The studies reviewed here provide support for the idea that perceptual biases together with language-specific representations guide the discovery of linguistic structures.
Services Exports and SAARC Countries: A Comparative Analysis of Growth, Performance and Competitive Advantage
Authors: Kaur Har Sandeep
Published: April 2016

Emerging new information processing and telecommunication technologies have given India an edge in exports of services. The analysis in this regard depicted that competitiveness and performance of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries in services exports is of crucial importance. The analysis in this paper is based on revealed comparative advantage methodology and covers the period 2002–2013. The evidence points out that India managed to produce and export modern services and gained comparative advantage and specialization due to supportive institutions and infrastructure. Further, services exports performance also evidently shows that India has emerged as the largest SAARC country in exports of services especially during the post WTO and GATS era. Therefore, the present study suggests India should invest in research and development of new technologies to produce quality services to further improve its position in world services exports.
Book Review: Vishwajyoti Ghosh (Ed.). 2013. This Side That Side: Restorying Partition
Authors: Kumar Kamayani
Published: April 2016

Vishwajyoti Ghosh (Ed.). 2013. This Side That Side: Restorying Partition. New Delhi, India: Yoda Press, pp. 327. ₹695. ISBN: 93-82579-01-X.