bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wait…This Counts as Reading?
Authors: Dempsey Allison
Published: October 2015

Many sixth grade students think they are telling the truth when they complain, “Reading is boring.” However, they don't realize what sort of activities encompass reading. As a teacher with a few years of experience, I am finding new ways to engage reluctant readers and show them reading can take many different forms. In this essay, I describe how I have felt defeated by student reluctance toward reading as well as how I am learning a different approach by surveying my students’ interests. These interest surveys fuel my read‐aloud selections and help me arm myself with literate materials seemingly tailored to my students. The students, at first, are surprised some of these materials “count as reading.”
Using Coding Apps to Support Literacy Instruction and Develop Coding Literacy
Authors: Hutchison Amy , Nadolny Larysa , Estapa Anne
Published: October 2015

In this article the authors present the concept of Coding Literacy and describe the ways in which coding apps can support the development of Coding Literacy and disciplinary and digital literacy skills. Through detailed examples, we describe how coding apps can be integrated into literacy instruction to support learning of the Common Core English Language Arts standards. The authors also provide suggestions for getting started with coding apps and discuss aspects of instruction for teachers to consider as they plan to integrate coding apps into their classrooms.
Outcome and toxicity assessment of feline small cell lymphoma: 56 cases (2000–2010)
Authors: Pope Kendra V. , Tun Alex E. , McNeill Conor J. , Brown Dorothy C. , Krick Erika L.
Published: October 2015

Feline small cell lymphoma is associated with greater response to treatment and survival when compared to large cell lymphoma. Treatment‐associated toxicity, response to rescue chemotherapy and prognostic factors are largely unknown. This retrospective study was performed to identify treatment‐associated toxicity, response to rescue chemotherapy and treatment outcome for cats diagnosed with small cell lymphoma of various anatomic locations. Medical records from 56 cats were evaluated. All cats were treated with glucocorticoid and chlorambucil with discontinuation of treatment recommended at 1 year if complete clinical response was documented. Chemotherapy toxicity was uncommon (33.9%) and generally mild. GradeIIIorIVhepatotoxicity was documented in 10.7% of patients. Overall response rate was 85.7% with glucocorticoid and chlorambucil. Median progression‐free survival was 1078 days. Overall response rate for rescue chemotherapy was 59%. Reintroduction of prednisone and chlorambucil was associated with significantly longer survival than prednisone and lomustine (>1500 vs. 492 days,P = 0.01). Median overall survival times for cats with lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract was not significantly different from those with extra‐intestinal disease locations (1148 vs. 1375 days,P = 0.23). Median overall survival was 1317 days. Toxicity, other than hepatotoxicity was mild. Rescue chemotherapy with re‐introduction of glucocorticoids and chlorambucil was most successful. Discontinuation of glucocorticoid and chlorambucil with subsequent reintroduction as rescue chemotherapy appears to be just as effective as continued administration in cats.
Sliding window energy detection for spectrum sensing under low SNR conditions
Authors: Tian Xin , Tian Zhi , Blasch Erik , Pham Khanh , Shen Dan , Chen Genshe
Published: October 2015

For spectrum sensing, energy detection has the advantages of low complexity, rapid analysis, and requires no knowledge of the transmission signal, which makes it suitable for a wide range of applications. However, under low signal‐to‐noise ratio conditions, the required window length (or the time‐bandwidth product) for energy detection to achieve a desired detection performance is large. In addition, conventional energy detection assumes that the detection tests are independent, that is, there is no overlap between individual detection tests. These properties significantly reduce the detection speed when energy detection is used for the continuous monitoring over a communication channel for the detection of signal transmission activities. In this paper, we propose a sliding window detection analysis with overlap among multiple tests. Algorithms for effective performance analysis of the proposed sliding window energy detection are proposed. The impact of window length on distribution of detection time is investigated. Simulation results on the proposed sliding window energy detection are also compared with the theoretically predicted and conventional energy detection performance estimates. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Care of Our Hybrid Selves: Ethics in Times of Technical Mediation
Authors: Dorrestijn Steven
Published: October 2015

What can the art of living after Foucault contribute to ethics in relation to the mediation of human existence by technology? To develop the relation between technical mediation and ethics, firstly the theme of technical mediation is elaborated in line with Foucault’s notion of ethical problematization. Every view of what technology does to us at the same time expresses an ethical concern about technology. The contemporary conception of technical mediation tends towards the acknowledgement of ongoing hybridization, not ultimately good or bad but ambivalent, which means for us the challenge of taking care of ourselves as hybrid beings. Secondly, the work of Foucault provides elements for imagining this care for our hybrid selves, notably his notions of freedom as a practice and of the care of the self. A conclusions about technical mediation and ethics is that whereas the approaches of the delegation of morality to technology by Latour and mediated morality by Verbeek see technical mediation of behavior and moral outlook as an answer in ethics, this should rather be considered the problem that ethics is about.
Formation of Benzo(a)pyrene in Sesame Seeds During the Roasting Process for Production of Sesame Seed Oil
Authors: Cheng Weiwei , Liu Guoqin , Wang Xuede , Liu Xinqi , Liu Bingge
Published: October 2015

The main aim of this research was to enhance the understanding of the formation mechanisms of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) during roasting of sesame seeds (SS). BaP levels in hot‐ and cold‐pressed sesame seed oil (SSO) were evaluated to correlate oil technology and BaP formation. Extracted principal components from SS were roasted either singly or in mixtures at 230 °C for 30 min. BaP was measured by HPLC with fluorescence detection. The results showed that BaP levels in hot‐pressed SSO were significantly higher than those in cold‐pressed SSO (p < 0.05), BaP formation mostly occurred during SS roasting and increased with roasting temperature (between 80 and 280 °C) and time (from 10 to 50 min). Furthermore, the BaP level in the roasted hulled SS (3.64 μg/kg) was higher than it was in roasted whole SS (1.63 μg/kg). The maximum BaP level observed (5.03 μg/kg) was detected in a roasted mixture of SS protein and SSO. The addition of sesame protein to protein‐free SSO promoted the formation of BaP, which suggests that the pyrolysis products of protein and triacylglycerols are probably important precursors in BaP formation.
The application of proton spectrometers at the SG-III facility for ICF implosion areal density diagnostics
Authors: Zhang Xing , Zheng Jianhua , Yan Ji , Yang Zhenghua , Su Ming , Pu Yudong , Yang Pin , Xie Xufei , Chen Li , Chen Ming , Huang Tianxuan , Jiang Shao’en , Liu Shenye , Yang Jiamin
Published: October 2015

Charged particle diagnostics is one of the required techniques for implosion areal density diagnostics at the SG-III facility. Several proton spectrometers are under development, and some preliminary areal density diagnostics have been carried out. The response of the key detector, CR39, to charged particles was investigated in detail. A new track profile simulation code based on a semi-empirical model was developed. The energy response of the CR39 detector was calibrated with the accelerator protons and alphas from a 241Am source. A proton spectrometer based on the filtered CR39 detector was developed, and D–D primary proton measurements were implemented. A step range filter spectrometer was developed, and preliminary areal density diagnostics was carried out. A wedged range filter spectrometer array made of Si with a higher resolution was designed and developed at the SG-III facility. A particle response simulation code by the Monte Carlo method and a spectra unfolding code were developed. The capability was evaluated in detail by simulations.
Investigation of a Case of Genotype 5a Hepatitis C Virus Transmission in a French Hemodialysis Unit Using Epidemiologic Data and Deep Sequencing
Authors: Aho-Glélé L. S. , Giraudon H. , Astruc K. , Soltani Z. , Lefebvre A. , Pothier P. , Bour J. B. , Manoha C.
Published: October 2015

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. A patient was recently found to be HCV seropositive during hemodialysis follow-up.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether nosocomial transmission had occurred and which viral populations were transmitted.

DESIGN

HCV transmission case.

SETTING

A dialysis unit in a French hospital.

METHODS

Molecular and epidemiologic investigations were conducted to determine whether 2 cases were related. Risk analysis and auditing procedures were performed to determine the transmission pathway(s).

RESULTS

Sequence analyses of the NS5b region revealed a 5a genotype in the newly infected patient. Epidemiologic investigations suggested that a highly viremic genotype 5a HCV-infected patient who underwent dialysis in the same unit was the source of the infection. Phylogenetic analysis of NS5b and hypervariable region-1 sequences revealed a genetically related virus (>99.9% nucleotide identity). Deep sequencing of hypervariable region-1 indicated that HCV quasispecies were found in the source whereas a single hypervariable region-1 HCV variant was found in the newly infected patient, and that this was identical to the major variant identified in the source patient. Risk analysis and auditing procedures were performed to determine the transmission pathway(s). Nosocomial patient-to-patient transmission via healthcare workers’ hands was the most likely explanation. In our dialysis unit, this unique incident led to the adjustment of infection control policy.

CONCLUSIONS

The data support transmission of a unique variant from a source with a high viral load and genetic diversity. This investigation also underlines the need to periodically evaluate prevention and control practices.

Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol.2016;37(2):134–139
Multifractal characteristics of combustor dynamics close to lean blowout
Authors: Unni Vishnu R. , Sujith R. I.
Published: October 2015

In classical literature, blowout is described as loss of static stability of the combustion system whereas thermoacoustic instability is seen as loss of dynamic stability of the system. At blowout, the system transitions from a stable reacting state to a non-reacting state, indicating loss of static stability of the reaction. However, this simple description of stability margin is inadequate since recent studies have shown that combustors exhibit complex nonlinear behaviour prior to blowout. Recently, it was shown that combustion noise that characterizes the regime of stable operation is itself dynamically complex and exhibits multifractal characteristics. Researchers have already described the transition from combustion noise to combustion instability as a loss of multifractality. In this work, we provide a multifractal description for lean blowout in combustors with turbulent flow and thus introduce a unified framework within which both thermoacoustic instability and blowout can be described. Further, we introduce a method for predicting blowout based on the multifractal description of blowout.
Third-order resonant wave interactions under the influence of background current fields
Authors: Waseda Takuji , Kinoshita T. , Cavaleri L. , Toffoli A.
Published: October 2015

A series of experiments were conducted in a wave basin (50 m long, 10 m wide and 5 m deep) generating two waves propagating at an angle by a directional wavemaker. When the two waves were selected from a resonant triplet, an initially non-existing wave grew as the waves propagated down the tank. The linear growth rate of the resonating wave agreed well with third-order resonance theory based on Zakharov’s reduced gravity equation. Additional experiments with opposing and coflowing mean current with large temporal and spatial variations were conducted. As the flow rate increased, the linear growth was suppressed. As reproduced numerically with Zakharov’s equation, the resonant interaction saturated at time scales inversely proportional to the magnitude of the forced random resonance detuning. It is conjectured that the resonance is detuned by the variation and not by the mean of the current field due to wavelength-dependent Doppler shift and to the refraction of wave rays. Further analysis of the spectral evolution revealed that while discrete peaks appear at high frequencies as a result of dynamical cascading, a continuously saturated spectrum develops in the background as the current speed increases. Additional experiments were conducted studying the evolution of the random directional wave on a dynamical time scale under the influence of current. Due to random resonance detuning by the current, the spectral tail tended to be suppressed.
Weyl Spectral Identity and Biquasitriangularity
Authors: Kubrusly C. S. , Duggal B. P.
Published: October 2015

Let A and B be operators acting on infinite-dimensional complex Banach spaces. We say that the Weyl spectral identity holds for the tensor product A⊗B if σw(A⊗B) = σw(A)·σ(B)∪σ(A)·σw(B), where σ(·) and σw(·) stand for the spectrum and the Weyl spectrum, respectively. Conditions on A and B for which the Weyl spectral identity holds are investigated. Especially, it is shown that if A and B are biquasitriangular (in particular, if the spectra of A and B have empty interior), then the Weyl spectral identity holds. It is also proved that if A and B are biquasitriangular, then the tensor product A ⊗ B is biquasitriangular.
Turán-Type Inequalities for Some Lommel Functions of the First Kind
Authors: Baricz Árpád , Koumandos Stamatis
Published: October 2015

In this paper certain Turán-type inequalities for some Lommel functions of the first kind are deduced. The key tools in our proofs are the infinite product representation for these Lommel functions of the first kind, a classical result of Pólya on the zeros of some particular entire functions, and the connection of these Lommel functions with the so-called Laguerre–Pólya class of entire functions. Moreover, it is shown that in some cases Steinig's results on the sign of Lommel functions of the first kind combined with the so-called monotone form of l’Hospital's rule can be used in the proof of the corresponding Turán-type inequalities.
ALCOHOL PANIC, SOCIAL ENGINEERING, AND SOME REFLECTIONS ON THE MANAGEMENT OF WHITES IN EARLY APARTHEID SOCIETY, 1948–1960
Authors: ROOS NEIL
Published: October 2015

The connection between ideologies of nation, alcohol abuse, and social engineering have not received systematic attention from historians. This article offers a case-study from the history of apartheid South Africa. Working around a fragment of apartheid history, a bureaucratic panic that excessive white drinking threatened the stability of the racial order, it explores geneaologies of state responses to white drinking in South Africa. It then concentrates on the role of Geoffrey Cronje, an intellectual / bureaucrat who not only drove the panic but then used it to implement new forms of social engineering in white South African society. Drawing on penal and welfarist traditions as well as medical models of treatment, he introduced a system for the discipline and correction of whites who drank heavily that drew on both state and private resources. I examine how the defiance of those incarcerated for drinking helped shaped subsequent, lighter-handed responses that managed the drinking of greater numbers of whites. This article may provide avenues for investigating alcohol abuse, state intervention, and social engineering in a range of mid-twentieth-century societies.
CONSERVATISM, EDMUND BURKE, AND THE INVENTION OF A POLITICAL TRADITION, c. 1885–1914
Authors: JONES EMILY
Published: October 2015

This article addresses the reputation of Edmund Burke and his transformation into the ‘founder of modern conservatism’. It argues that this process occurred primarily between 1885 and 1914 in Britain. In doing so, this article challenges the existing orthodoxy which attributes this development to the work of Peter Stanlis, Russell Kirk, and other conservative American scholars. Moreover, this article historicizes one aspect of the construction of C/conservatism as both an intellectual (small-c) and political (capital-C) tradition. Indeed, though the late Victorian and Edwardian period saw the construction of political traditions of an entirely novel kind, the search for ‘New Conservatism’ has been neglected by comparison with New Liberalism. Thus, this study explores three main themes: the impact of British debates about Irish Home Rule on Burke's reputation and status; the academic systematization of Burke's work into a ‘political philosophy of conservatism’; and, finally, the appropriation of Burke by Conservative Unionists during the late Edwardian constitutional crisis. The result is to show that by 1914 Burke had been firmly established as a ‘conservative’ political thinker whose work was directly associated with British Conservatism.
DEBATING FEMALE MUSICAL PROFESSIONALISM AND ARTISTRY IN THE BRITISH PRESS, c. 1820–1850
Authors: KENNERLEY DAVID
Published: October 2015

The entrance of women into the male-dominated spheres of the professions and the arts has been a major theme of women's and gender history in nineteenth-century Britain. In general, historians have located this development primarily in the second half of the century and depicted it as an important corollary to the political aims of the wider women's movement. In contrast, this article contends that an overlooked earlier context for the formation and emergence of ideas of female professionalism and artistry were the debates surrounding female singers in the press between c. 1820 and 1850. In this era, writers in newly emerging specialist music periodicals increasingly advocated a view of female singers as both professionals and artists. Such views did not dominate discourse, however. There remained a great deal of ambivalence even in specialist publications about just how far female singers should pursue the lifestyle of the professional artist, while in the mainstream press very different attitudes towards female singers prevailed. Although female musical professionalism and artistry therefore remained contested concepts, this article highlights the significance of these debates about female singers as an important source for the new ideas about women's professional and artistic work emerging in nineteenth-century British society.
Metabolic and oxidative status of Saanen goats of different parity during the peripartum period
Authors: Radin Lada , Šimpraga Miljenko , Vince Silvijo , Kostelić Antun , Milinković-Tur Suzana
Published: October 2015

The aim of this study was to research changes in metabolic and antioxidative status of Saanen goats of different parity occurring during the peripartum period. Blood samples were taken on 10–7 and 3–1 d prepartally and 1–3, 14 and 28 d postpartally from goats allocated in three groups according to their parity: primiparous (PRIM), goats that kidded the 2nd or 3rd time (MID), and goats that kidded 4 or more times (MULTI)). Metabolic profile parameters (non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), glucose, triglycerides, albumin and urea) and indicators of oxidative stress ((superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and malondialdehyde (MDA)) were determined. Intense metabolic changes associated with late pregnancy and onset of lactation were pronounced the most in MULTI goats that also had the biggest litter per goat. Significant differences were found in metabolic parameters NEFA, BHB, glucose, triglycerides within groups during peripartum period, as well as between them (the effect of parity). MDA concentrations were indicative of increased lipid peroxidation around parturition, especially pronounced in MULTI group 1–3 d prepartally, when the highest GSH-Px/SOD ratio was also found. Postpartally, antioxidant enzymes ratio in MID and MULTI group decreased while MDA concentrations remained high, suggesting antioxidant system inefficiency. Significant time × group interaction was observed for most of the parameters. The obtained results show that the goats of higher parity display higher levels of metabolism intensity and consequently, varying levels of oxidative stress during the peripartum period. Further studies should determine applicability of NEFA and BHB in periparturient metabolic profiling in dairy goats as well as establish normal ranges and cut-off levels for these biomarkers.
Histopathological evaluation of parotid gland neoplasms in Queensland, Australia
Authors: Coombe R F , Lam A K , O'Neill J
Published: October 2015

Background:

Parotid gland tumours are complex neoplasms with a broad histological range. The parotid gland is also a common site of face and scalp skin cancer metastases.

Method:

Parotidectomies performed by ENT department in the Gold Coast health district from 2006 to 2013.

Results:

A total of 158 specimens were examined. Of these, 53.80 per cent were benign and 46.20 per cent were malignant. Pleomorphic adenoma was the most common tumour (29.11 per cent), followed by cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (23.42 per cent) and Warthin's tumour (12.03 per cent).

Conclusion:

Metastatic squamous cell carcinoma accounted for a large proportion of parotid masses in our case series, reflecting the high prevalence of non-melanoma skin cancer in Australia. Primary parotid neoplasms had similar incidence rates to other studies.
Consistency in adult reporting of adverse childhood experiences
Authors: Colman I. , Kingsbury M. , Garad Y. , Zeng Y. , Naicker K. , Patten S. , Jones P. B. , Wild T. C. , Thompson A. H.
Published: October 2015

Background

Many studies have used retrospective reports to assess the long-term consequences of early life stress. However, current individual characteristics and experiences may bias the recall of these reports. In particular, depressed mood may increase the likelihood of recall of negative experiences. The aim of the study was to assess whether specific factors are associated with consistency in the reporting of childhood adverse experiences.

Method

The sample comprised 7466 adults from Canada's National Population Health Survey who had reported on seven childhood adverse experiences in 1994/1995 and 2006/2007. Logistic regression was used to explore differences between those who consistently reported adverse experiences and those whose reports were inconsistent.

Results

Among those retrospectively reporting on childhood traumatic experiences in 1994/1995 and 2006/2007, 39% were inconsistent in their reports of these experiences. The development of depression, increasing levels of psychological distress, as well as increasing work and chronic stress were associated with an increasing likelihood of reporting a childhood adverse experience in 2006/2007 that had not been previously reported. Increases in mastery were associated with reduced likelihood of new reporting of a childhood adverse experience in 2006/2007. The development of depression and increases in chronic stress and psychological distress were also associated with reduced likelihood of ‘forgetting’ a previously reported event.

Conclusions

Concurrent mental health factors may influence the reporting of traumatic childhood experiences. Studies that use retrospective reporting to estimate associations between childhood adversity and adult outcomes associated with mental health may be biased.
PERCEIVED LEARNING DIFFICULTY AND ACTUAL PERFORMANCE
Authors: Rodríguez Silva Luis Humberto , Roehr-Brackin Karen
Published: October 2015

This article draws on an approach that conceptualizes L2 learning difficulty in terms of implicit and explicit knowledge. In a study with first language Mexican Spanish university-level learners (n = 30), their teachers (n = 11), and applied linguistics experts (n = 3), we investigated the relationship between (a) these groups’ difficulty judgements of 13 selected L2 English structures and (b) perceived learning difficulty and learners’ actual performance on measures of implicit and explicit knowledge. Our findings show that experts’ learning difficulty judgements did not lead to significant predictions, whereas the learners’ own difficulty rankings correlated significantly with their performance on the measure of explicit knowledge. Although correlations based on teachers’ difficulty rankings did not reach statistical significance, the judgements of this group were the only ones that showed trends toward successful prediction of learners’ performance on both the implicit and the explicit L2 measures. Thus the teachers exhibited a trend toward the best overall prediction ability.
Evaluation of Shipping Accident Casualties using Zero-inflated Negative Binomial Regression Technique
Authors: Weng Jinxian , Ge Ying En , Han Hao
Published: October 2015

This study develops a Zero-Inflated Negative Binomial (ZINB) regression model to evaluate the factors influencing the loss of human life in shipping accidents using ten years' ship accident data in the South China Sea. The ZINB regression model results show that the expected loss of human life is higher for collision, fire/explosion, contact, grounding, hull damage, machinery damage/failure and capsizing accidents occurring in adverse weather conditions during night periods. Sinking can cause the highest loss of life compared to all other accident types. There are fewer fatalities and missing people when the ship involved in an accident is moored or docked. The results also reveal that the loss of human life is associated with shipping accidents occurring far away from the coastal area/harbour/ports. The results of this study are beneficial for policy-makers in proposing efficient strategies to reduce shipping accident casualties in the South China Sea.
Spirituality as an ethical challenge in Indian palliative care: A systematic review
Authors: Gielen Joris , Bhatnagar Sushma , Chaturvedi Santosh K.
Published: October 2015

Objective:

Spiritual care is recognized as an essential component of palliative care (PC). However, patients' experience of spirituality is heavily context dependent. In addition, Western definitions and findings regarding spirituality may not be applicable to patients of non-Western origin, such as Indian PC patients. Given the particular sociocultural, religious, and economic conditions in which PC programs in India operate, we decided to undertake a systematic review of the literature on spirituality among Indian PC patients. We intended to assess how spirituality has been interpreted and operationalized in studies of this population, to determine which dimensions of spirituality are important for patients, and to analyze its ethical implications.

Method:

In January of 2015, we searched five databases (ATLA, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and PubMed) using a combination of controlled and noncontrolled vocabulary. A content analysis of all selected reports was undertaken to assess the interpretation and dimensions of spirituality. Data extraction from empirical studies was done using a data-extraction sheet.

Results:

A total of 39 empirical studies (12 qualitative, 21 quantitative, and 6 mixed-methods) and 18 others (10 reviews, 4 opinion articles, and 4 case studies) were retrieved. To date, no systematic review on spirituality in Indian PC has been published. Spirituality was the main focus of only six empirical studies. The content analysis revealed three dimensions of spirituality: (1) the relational dimension, (2) the existential dimension, and (3) the values dimension. Religion is prominent in all these dimensions. Patients' experiences of spirituality are determined by the specifically Indian context, which leads to particular ethical issues.

Significance of results:

Since spiritual well-being greatly impacts quality of life, and because of the substantial presence of people of Indian origin living outside the subcontinent, the findings of our review have international relevance. Moreover, our review illustrates that spirituality can be an ethical challenge and that more ethical reflection on provision of spiritual care is needed.
MEMS-based LC tank with extended tuning range for low phase-noise VCO
Authors: Cazzorla Alessandro , Farinelli Paola , Urbani Laura , Cacciamani Fabrizio , Pelliccia Luca , Sorrentino Roberto , Giacomozzi Flavio , Margesin Benno
Published: October 2015

This paper presents the modeling, manufacturing, and testing of a micro-electromechanical system (MEMS)-based LC tank resonator suitable for low phase-noise voltage-controlled oscillators (VCOs). The device is based on a variable MEMS varactor in series with an inductive coplanar waveguide line. Two additional parallel stubs controlled by two ohmic MEMS switches have been introduced in order to increase the resonator tunability. The device was fabricated using the FBK-irst MEMS process on high resistivity (HR) silicon substrate. Samples were manufactured with and without a 0-level quartz cap. The radio frequency characterization of the devices without 0-level cap has shown a continuous tuning range of 11.7% and a quality factor in the range of 33–38. The repeatability was also tested on four samples and the continuous tuning is 11.7 ± 2%. Experimental results on the device with a 0-level cap, show a frequency downshift of about 200 MHz and a degradation of the quality factor of about 20%. This is, most likely, due to the polymeric sealing ring as well as to a contamination of the ohmic contacts introduced by the capping procedure. A preliminary design of a MEMS-based VCO was performed using Advanced Design System and a hardwired prototype was fabricated on Surface Mount Technology on RO4350 laminate. The prototype was tested resulting in a resonance frequency of 5 GHz with a phase noise of −105 and −126 dBc at 100 KHz and 1 MHz, respectively, and a measured output power of −1 dBm.
Entwicklung eines Inventars für Job-Coping und -Rückkehrintention (JoCoRi)
Authors: Muschalla Beate , Fay Doris , Hoffmann Karin
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Ein großer Anteil der Erwerbstätigen ist aufgrund gesundheitlicher Einschränkungen einmalig oder mehrfach in seiner Berufsbiografie längere Zeit arbeitsunfähig. Auf Grundlage etablierter psychologischer Konstrukte und empirischer Befunde wurde ein spezifisch arbeitsbezogenes Inventar für Job-Coping und Rückkehrintention (JoCoRi) entwickelt. Der Selbsteinschätzungsfragebogen wurde an drei unabhängigen Stichproben (N = 243, N = 337, N = 111) von Rehabilitationspatienten aus Psychosomatik, Orthopädie, Kardiologie und Neurologie geprüft. Faktorenanalytische Ergebnisse der ersten Stichprobe bestätigen eine mehrfaktorielle Struktur. Das Inventar enthält 30 Items in 7 Skalen: 1. Arbeitsbezogene Rückkehrintention und -planung, 2. Arbeitsbezogene Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung, 3. Arbeitsbezogene Selbstberuhigung und Selbstinstruktion, 4. Arbeitsbezogene externale Kontrollüberzeugung, 5. Aktives Coping am Arbeitsplatz, 6. Bedeutung der Arbeit, 7. Kontrollüberzeugung bzgl. der Arbeitsaufnahme. Die Varianzaufklärung liegt bei 68 %. 25 Items haben Hauptladungen > .60. Interne Konsistenzen und Trennschärfen sind überwiegend zufriedenstellend. Die Modellgüte der konfirmatorischen Faktorenanalyse ist überzeugend. Das Modell ist in einer unabhängigen Stichprobe stabil (N = 337). Die Skalen wurden mit inhaltlich analogen Globalkonstrukten validiert. Die mehrfaktorielle Struktur kann in der zweiten Stichprobe repliziert werden. Eine längsschnittliche Analyse der dritten Stichprobe prüft die prädiktive Validität der Rückkehrintentionsskala; sie wird hinsichtlich Arbeitsunfähigkeitsdauer und Arbeitsfähigkeitsstatus bestätigt.
Medienbasierte Empathie (MBE)
Authors: Happ Christian , Pfetsch Jan
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Empathie ist die Fähigkeit, die Emotionen anderer Personen zu verstehen und mitzufühlen ( Cohen & Strayer, 1996 ). Im Kontext der modernen Mediennutzung ist die Rolle von Empathie vergleichsweise wenig erforscht. Dabei scheint Empathie im Medienkontext und in direkter Kommunikation unterschiedlich zu entstehen (z. B. Leibetseder, Laireiter & Köller, 2007 ). Die vorliegende Arbeit stellt eine neue, der aktuellen Mediennutzung angemessene Skala zu medienbasierter Empathie (MBE) vor. Item- und Faktorenanalysen führten zu vier Subskalen: Mediale Anteilnahme, Affektive Medienempathie, Kognitive Medienempathie und Immersion bei Videospielen. Sowohl in einer Jugendlichen- (N = 273) als auch einer Erwachsenenstichprobe (N = 373) fanden sich eine identische Faktorstruktur und hohe Reliabilitäten. Die Konstruktvalidität konnte durch Zusammenhänge mit traditioneller Empathie, Aggression, Cyberbullying und Mediennutzung bestätigt werden. Der Subskala Immersion bei Videospielen kommt eine spezifische Rolle zu, was eine Auswertung auf Subskalenniveau nahelegt. In einem Ausblick wird erläutert, wie die MBE-Skala die Medienwirkungsforschung bereichern kann.
Die Beobachtung von Interaktionen im Kindergartenalltag
Authors: von Suchodoletz Antje , Gunzenhauser Catherine , Larsen Ross A. A.
Published: October 2015

Zusammenfassung. Interaktionen von Kindern mit Erwachsenen, mit Peers und mit der räumlich-materialen Umwelt spielen für Lernen und Entwicklung eine zentrale Rolle. Trotz der wachsenden Bedeutung der Entwicklungsdokumentation steht für den deutschen Kindergartenkontext bisher kein reliables Verfahren zur Beobachtung des Verhaltens von Kindern in Interaktionen zur Verfügung. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war daher die Adaptation des in den USA entwickelten Individualized Classroom Assessment Scoring Systems (inCLASS). An der Studie nahmen 110 Kinder teil (57 Mädchen). Die in US-amerikanischen Stichproben gefundene faktorielle Struktur des inCLASS wurde weitgehend bestätigt. Interne Konsistenzen und Beobachterübereinstimmung waren zufriedenstellend. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass das inCLASS im deutschen Kindergartenkontext ein geeignetes Instrument zur Dokumentation des Verhaltens von Kindern in Interaktionen ist.
Navigating the Uncertain Future of Global Oceanic Time Series
Authors: Smith Jr. K. , Messié Monique , Sherman Alana , Huffard Christine , Hobson Brett , Ruhl Henry , Boetius Antje
Published: October 2015

Long-term observing of our world's oceans is crucial to understanding climate change. Innovation and collaboration are needed to achieve sustainable oceanic time series.
Cassini Probe Dives Through Enceladus Plume
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: October 2015

NASA’s Cassini probe takes a trip through a cosmic sprinkler to learn more about a subsurface ocean.
P53-dependent upregulation of neutral sphingomyelinase-2: role in doxorubicin-induced growth arrest
Authors: Shamseddine A A , Clarke C J , Carroll B , Airola M V , Mohammed S , Rella A , Obeid L M , Hannun Y A
Published: October 2015

Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) is a ceramide-generating enzyme that has been implicated in growth arrest, apoptosis and exosome secretion. Although previous studies have reported transcriptional upregulation of nSMase2 in response to daunorubicin, through Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors, the role of the DNA damage pathway in regulating nSMase2 remains unclear. In this study, we show that doxorubicin induces a dose-dependent induction of nSMase2 mRNA and protein with concomitant increases in nSMase activity and ceramide levels. Upregulation of nSMase2 was dependent on ATR, Chk1 and p53, thus placing it downstream of the DNA damage pathway. Moreover, overexpression of p53 was sufficient to transcriptionally induce nSMase2, without the need for DNA damage. DNA-binding mutants as well as acetylation mutants of p53 were unable to induce nSMase2, suggesting a role of nSMase2 in growth arrest. Moreover, knockdown of nSMase2 prevented doxorubicin-induced growth arrest. Finally, p53-induced nSMase2 upregulation appears to occur via a novel transcription start site upstream of exon 3. These results identify nSMase2 as a novel p53 target gene, regulated by the DNA damage pathway to induce cell growth arrest.
K+ regulates Ca2+ to drive inflammasome signaling: dynamic visualization of ion flux in live cells
Authors: Yaron J R , Gangaraju S , Rao M Y , Kong X , Zhang L , Su F , Tian Y , Glenn H L , Meldrum D R
Published: October 2015

P2X7 purinergic receptor engagement with extracellular ATP induces transmembrane potassium and calcium flux resulting in assembly of the NLRP3 inflammasome in LPS-primed macrophages. The role of potassium and calcium in inflammasome regulation is not well understood, largely due to limitations in existing methods for interrogating potassium in real time. The use of KS6, a novel sensor for selective and sensitive dynamic visualization of intracellular potassium flux in live cells, multiplexed with the intracellular calcium sensor Fluo-4, revealed a coordinated relationship between potassium and calcium. Interestingly, the mitochondrial potassium pool was mobilized in a P2X7 signaling, and ATP dose-dependent manner, suggesting a role for mitochondrial sensing of cytosolic ion perturbation. Through treatment with extracellular potassium we found that potassium efflux was necessary to permit sustained calcium entry, but not transient calcium flux from intracellular stores. Further, intracellular calcium chelation with BAPTA-AM indicated that P2X7-induced potassium depletion was independent of calcium mobilization. This evidence suggests that both potassium efflux and calcium influx are necessary for mitochondrial reactive oxygen generation upstream of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly and pyroptotic cell death. We propose a model wherein potassium efflux is necessary for calcium influx, resulting in mitochondrial reactive oxygen generation to trigger the NLRP3 inflammasome.
DAB2IP loss confers the resistance of prostate cancer to androgen deprivation therapy through activating STAT3 and inhibiting apoptosis
Authors: Zhou J , Ning Z , Wang B , Yun E-J , Zhang T , Pong R-C , Fazli L , Gleave M , Zeng J , Fan J , Wang X , Li L , Hsieh J-T , He D , Wu K
Published: October 2015

Loss of DAB2IP, a novel tumor suppressor gene, is associated with the high risk of aggressive prostate cancer (PCa). Previously, we reported that DAB2IP modulated androgen receptor activation in the development of castration-resistant PCa; however, its direct action on the failure of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) remains largely unknown. In this study, we showed that DAB2IP knockdown could significantly enhance in vitro growth and colony formation of PCa cells following ADT as well as tumorigenicity in pre-castrated nude mice. In addition, DAB2IP loss stabilized mitochondrial transmembrane potential, prevented release of cytochrome c, Omi/HtrA2 and Smac from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm and inhibited intrinsic apoptosis induced by ADT. Mechanistically, DAB2IP could interact with the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) via its unique PR domain and suppress STAT3 phosphorylation and transactivation, leading to the inhibition of survivin expression in PCa cells. Moreover, the luminal epithelia in DAB2IP−/− mice with more activated STAT3 and survivin expression were resistant to castration-induced apoptosis. Consistently, DAB2IP expression inversely correlated with STAT3 phosphorylation and survivin expression in PCa patients. Together, our data indicate that DAB2IP loss reprograms intracellular signal transduction and anti-apoptotic gene expression, which potentiates PCa cell survival from ADT-induced cell death.
A conserved MADS-box phosphorylation motif regulates differentiation and mitochondrial function in skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle cells
Authors: Mughal W , Nguyen L , Pustylnik S , da Silva Rosa S C , Piotrowski S , Chapman D , Du M , Alli N S , Grigull J , Halayko A J , Aliani M , Topham M K , Epand R M , Hatch G M , Pereira T J , Kereliuk S , McDermott J C , Rampitsch C , Dolinsky V W , Gordon J W
Published: October 2015

Exposure to metabolic disease during fetal development alters cellular differentiation and perturbs metabolic homeostasis, but the underlying molecular regulators of this phenomenon in muscle cells are not completely understood. To address this, we undertook a computational approach to identify cooperating partners of the myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) family of transcription factors, known regulators of muscle differentiation and metabolic function. We demonstrate that MEF2 and the serum response factor (SRF) collaboratively regulate the expression of numerous muscle-specific genes, including microRNA-133a (miR-133a). Using tandem mass spectrometry techniques, we identify a conserved phosphorylation motif within the MEF2 and SRF Mcm1 Agamous Deficiens SRF (MADS)-box that regulates miR-133a expression and mitochondrial function in response to a lipotoxic signal. Furthermore, reconstitution of MEF2 function by expression of a neutralizing mutation in this identified phosphorylation motif restores miR-133a expression and mitochondrial membrane potential during lipotoxicity. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that miR-133a regulates mitochondrial function through translational inhibition of a mitophagy and cell death modulating protein, called Nix. Finally, we show that rodents exposed to gestational diabetes during fetal development display muscle diacylglycerol accumulation, concurrent with insulin resistance, reduced miR-133a, and elevated Nix expression, as young adult rats. Given the diverse roles of miR-133a and Nix in regulating mitochondrial function, and proliferation in certain cancers, dysregulation of this genetic pathway may have broad implications involving insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and cancer biology.
Stem and progenitor cell division kinetics during postnatal mouse mammary gland development
Authors: Giraddi Rajshekhar R. , Shehata Mona , Gallardo Mercedes , Blasco Maria A. , Simons Benjamin D. , Stingl John
Published: October 2015

The cycling properties of mammary stem and progenitor cells is not well understood. To determine the division properties of these cells, we administered synthetic nucleosides for varying periods of time to mice at different stages of postnatal development and monitored the rate of uptake of these nucleosides in the different mammary cell compartments. Here we show that most cell division in the adult virgin gland is restricted to the oestrogen receptor-expressing luminal cell lineage. Our data also demonstrate that the oestrogen receptor-expressing, milk and basal cell subpopulations have telomere lengths and cell division kinetics that are not compatible with these cells being hierarchically organized; instead, our data indicate that in the adult homeostatic gland, each cell type is largely maintained by its own restricted progenitors. We also observe that transplantable stem cells are largely quiescent during oestrus, but are cycling during dioestrus when progesterone levels are high.
CCR2 defines in vivo development and homing of IL-23-driven GM-CSF-producing Th17 cells
Authors: Kara Ervin E. , McKenzie Duncan R. , Bastow Cameron R. , Gregor Carly E. , Fenix Kevin A. , Ogunniyi Abiodun D. , Paton James C. , Mack Matthias , Pombal Diana R. , Seillet Cyrill , Dubois Bénédicte , Liston Adrian , MacDonald Kelli P. A. , Belz Gabrielle T. , Smyth Mark J. , Hill Geoffrey R. , Comerford Iain , McColl Shaun R.
Published: October 2015

IL-17-producing helper T (Th17) cells are critical for host defense against extracellular pathogens but also drive numerous autoimmune diseases. Th17 cells that differ in their inflammatory potential have been described including IL-10-producing Th17 cells that are weak inducers of inflammation and highly inflammatory, IL-23-driven, GM-CSF/IFNγ-producing Th17 cells. However, their distinct developmental requirements, functions and trafficking mechanisms in vivo remain poorly understood. Here we identify a temporally regulated IL-23-dependent switch from CCR6 to CCR2 usage by developing Th17 cells that is critical for pathogenic Th17 cell-driven inflammation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). This switch defines a unique in vivo cell surface signature (CCR6−CCR2+) of GM-CSF/IFNγ-producing Th17 cells in EAE and experimental persistent extracellular bacterial infection, and in humans. Using this signature, we identify an IL-23/IL-1/IFNγ/TNFα/T-bet/Eomesodermin-driven circuit driving GM-CSF/IFNγ-producing Th17 cell formation in vivo. Thus, our data identify a unique cell surface signature, trafficking mechanism and T-cell intrinsic regulators of GM-CSF/IFNγ-producing Th17 cells.
Efficient purification of ethene by an ethane-trapping metal-organic framework
Authors: Liao Pei-Qin , Zhang Wei-Xiong , Zhang Jie-Peng , Chen Xiao-Ming
Published: October 2015

Separating ethene (C2H4) from ethane (C2H6) is of paramount importance and difficulty. Here we show that C2H4 can be efficiently purified by trapping the inert C2H6 in a judiciously designed metal-organic framework. Under ambient conditions, passing a typical cracked gas mixture (15:1 C2H4/C2H6) through 1 litre of this C2H6 selective adsorbent directly produces 56 litres of C2H4 with 99.95%+ purity (required by the C2H4 polymerization reactor) at the outlet, with a single breakthrough operation, while other C2H6 selective materials can only produce ca. ⩽ litre, and conventional C2H4 selective adsorbents require at least four adsorption–desorption cycles to achieve the same C2H4 purity. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction and computational simulation studies showed that the exceptional C2H6 selectivity arises from the proper positioning of multiple electronegative and electropositive functional groups on the ultramicroporous pore surface, which form multiple C–H···N hydrogen bonds with C2H6 instead of the more polar competitor C2H4.
Opposite correlations between cation disordering and amorphization resistance in spinels versus pyrochlores
Authors: Uberuaga Blas Pedro , Tang Ming , Jiang Chao , Valdez James A. , Smith Roger , Wang Yongqiang , Sickafus Kurt E.
Published: October 2015

Understanding and predicting radiation damage evolution in complex materials is crucial for developing next-generation nuclear energy sources. Here, using a combination of ion beam irradiation, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction, we show that, contrary to the behaviour observed in pyrochlores, the amorphization resistance of spinel compounds correlates directly with the energy to disorder the structure. Using a combination of atomistic simulation techniques, we ascribe this behaviour to structural defects on the cation sublattice that are present in spinel but not in pyrochlore. Specifically, because of these structural defects, there are kinetic pathways for the relaxation of disorder in spinel that are absent in pyrochlore. This leads to a direct correlation between amorphization resistance and disordering energetics in spinel, the opposite of that observed in pyrochlores. These results provide new insight into the origins of amorphization resistance in complex oxides beyond fluorite derivatives.