bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling policing strategies for departments with limited resources
Authors: CAMACHO ALEJANDRO , LEE HYE RIN LINDSAY , SMITH LAURA M.
Published: November 2015

Crime prevention is a major goal of law-enforcement agencies. Often, these agencies have limited resources and officers available for patrolling and responding to calls. However, patrolling and police visibility can influence individuals to not perform criminal acts. Therefore, it is necessary for the police to optimize their patrolling strategies to deter the most crime. Previous studies have created agent-based models to simulate criminal and police agents interacting in a city, indicating a “cops on the dots” strategy as a viable method to mitigate large amounts of crime. Unfortunately, police departments cannot allocate all of the patrolling officers to seek out these hotspots, particularly since they are not immediately known. In large cities, it is often necessary to keep a few officers in different areas of the city, frequently divided up into beats. Officers need to respond to calls, possibly not of a criminal nature. Therefore, we modify models for policing to account for these factors. Through testing the policing strategies for various hotspot types and number of police agents, we found that the methods that performed the best varied greatly according to these factors.
Evolutionarily Conserved Sequence Features Regulate the Formation of the FG Network at the Center of the Nuclear Pore Complex
Authors: Peyro M. , Soheilypour M. , Lee B.L. , Mofrad M.R.K.
Published: November 2015

The nuclear pore complex (NPC) is the portal for bidirectional transportation of cargos between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. While most of the structural elements of the NPC, i.e. nucleoporins (Nups), are well characterized, the exact transport mechanism is still under much debate. Many of the functional Nups are rich in phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats and are believed to play the key role in nucleocytoplasmic transport. We present a bioinformatics study conducted on more than a thousand FG Nups across 252 species. Our results reveal the regulatory role of polar residues and specific sequences of charged residues, named ‘like charge regions’ (LCRs), in the formation of the FG network at the center of the NPC. Positively charged LCRs prepare the environment for negatively charged cargo complexes and regulate the size of the FG network. The low number density of charged residues in these regions prevents FG domains from forming a relaxed coil structure. Our results highlight the significant role of polar interactions in FG network formation at the center of the NPC and demonstrate that the specific localization of LCRs, FG motifs, charged and polar residues regulate the formation of the FG network at the center of the NPC.
Increased costs reduce reciprocal helping behaviour of humans in a virtual evacuation experiment
Authors: Bode Nikolai W. F. , Miller Jordan , O’Gorman Rick , Codling Edward A.
Published: November 2015

Altruistic behaviour is widespread and highly developed in humans and can also be found in some animal species. It has been suggested that altruistic tendencies can depend on costs, benefits and context. Here, we investigate the changes in the occurrence of helping behaviour in a computer-based experiment that simulates an evacuation from a building exploring the effect of varying the cost to help. Our findings illuminate a number of key mechanistic aspects of human decision-making about whether to help or not. In a novel situation where it is difficult to assess the risks associated with higher costs, we reproduce the finding that increasing costs reduce helping and find that the reduction in the frequency of helping behaviour is gradual rather than a sudden transition for a threshold cost level. Interestingly, younger and male participants were more likely to help. We provide potential explanations for this result relating to the nature of our experiment. Finally, we find no evidence that participants in our experiment plan ahead over two consecutive, inter-dependent helping opportunities when conducting cost-benefit trade-offs in spontaneous decisions. We discuss potential applications of our findings to research into decision-making during evacuations.
The effect of vitamin D supplementation on insulin and glucose metabolism in overweight and obese individuals: systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Jamka Małgorzata , Woźniewicz Małgorzata , Jeszka Jan , Mardas Marcin , Bogdański Paweł , Stelmach-Mardas Marta
Published: November 2015

The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on glucose and insulin metabolism in overweight and obese subjects. The search process was based on the selection of publications listed in the databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Embase and the Cochrane library that met the inclusion criteria. Twelve randomized controlled trials were included. The analysed population consisted of 1181 individuals with BMIs >23 kg/m2. Changes in the concentration of 25(OH)D, fasting glucose, insulin and the HOMA-IR index were assessed. In the meta-regression analysis, a restricted maximum likelihood method was applied. To combine individual study results, a meta-analysis was performed. Vitamin D supplementation did not have an effect on glucose concentrations, insulin level and HOMA-IR values when the supplemented dose, time of supplementation and baseline of 25(OH)D concentration were taken under consideration in subgroup-analysis. This meta-analysis provides evidence that vitamin D supplementation has no significant effect on glucose and insulin metabolism in overweight and obese individuals.
Brain size regulations by cbp haploinsufficiency evaluated by in-vivo MRI based volumetry
Authors: Ateca-Cabarga Juan C. , Cosa Alejandro , Pallarés Vicente , López-Atalaya José P. , Barco Ángel , Canals Santiago , Moratal David
Published: November 2015

The Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome (RSTS) is a congenital disease that affects brain development causing severe cognitive deficits. In most cases the disease is associated with dominant mutations in the gene encoding the CREB binding protein (CBP). In this work, we present the first quantitative analysis of brain abnormalities in a mouse model of RSTS using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and two novel self-developed automated algorithms for image volumetric analysis. Our results quantitatively confirm key syndromic features observed in RSTS patients, such as reductions in brain size (−16.31%, p < 0.05), white matter volume (−16.00%, p < 0.05) and corpus callosum (−12.40%, p < 0.05). Furthermore, they provide new insight into the developmental origin of the disease. By comparing brain tissues in a region by region basis between cbp+/− and cbp+/+ littermates, we found that cbp haploinsufficiency is specifically associated with significant reductions in prosencephalic tissue, such us in the olfactory bulb and neocortex, whereas regions evolved from the embryonic rhombencephalon were spared. Despite the large volume reductions, the proportion between gray-, white-matter and cerebrospinal fluid were conserved, suggesting a role of CBP in brain size regulation. The commonalities with holoprosencephaly and arhinencephaly conditions suggest the inclusion of RSTS in the family of neuronal migration disorders.
Lignosus rhinocerotis (Cooke) Ryvarden mimics the neuritogenic activity of nerve growth factor via MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway in PC-12 cells
Authors: Seow Syntyche Ling-Sing , Eik Lee-Fang , Naidu Murali , David Pamela , Wong Kah-Hui , Sabaratnam Vikineswary
Published: November 2015

The traditional application of the sclerotium of Lignosus rhinocerotis (tiger’s milk mushroom) by the indigenous folks as tonic and remedy to treat a variety of ailments has been documented in Malaysia. Indigenous communities claimed to have consumed the decoction to boost their alertness during hunting. Mental alertness is believed to be related to neuronal health and neuroactivity. In the present study, the cell viability and neuritogenic effects of L. rhinocerotis sclerotium hot aqueous and ethanolic extracts and crude polysaccharides on rat pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells were studied. Interestingly, the hot aqueous extract exhibited neuritogenic activity comparable to NGF in PC-12 cells. However, the extracts and crude polysaccharides stimulated neuritogenesis without stimulating the production of NGF in PC-12 cells. The involvements of the TrkA receptor and MEK/ERK1/2 pathway in hot aqueous extract-stimulated neuritogenesis were examined by Trk (K252a) and MEK/ERK1/2 (U0126 and PD98059) inhibitors. There was no significant difference in protein expression in NGF- and hot aqueous extract-treated cells for both total and phosphorylated p44/42 MAPK. The neuritogenic activity in PC-12 cells stimulated by hot aqueous and ethanolic extracts and crude polysaccharides of L. rhinocerotis sclerotium mimicking NGF activity via the MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway is reported for the first time.
Strong contribution of pore morphology to the high-rate electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Liang Yeru , Chen Luyi , Cai Lifeng , Liu Hao , Fu Ruowen , Zhang Mingqiu , Wu Dingcai
Published: November 2015

The interconnected ordered pore channels facilitate faster permeation of Li+ ions than the isolated ordered pore channels.
Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbons with high nitrogen contents and ultrahigh surface areas: synthesis and applications in catalysis
Authors: Ma Zhishuang , Zhang Hongye , Yang Zhenzhen , Ji Guipeng , Yu Bo , Liu Xinwei , Liu Zhimin
Published: November 2015

Mesoporous nitrogen-doped carbons with high nitrogen content and ultrahigh surface areas were prepared, which showed high efficiency for oxidation of alkanes in aqueous phase.
New insights into the complex regulation of the glycolytic pathway in Lactococcus lactis. II. Inference of the precisely timed control system regulating glycolysis
Authors: Dolatshahi Sepideh , Fonseca Luis L. , Voit Eberhard O.
Published: November 2015

The paper elucidates the intricate control scheme with which the dairy bacteriumLactococcus lactisresponds to the depletion of substrate in the medium.
New evidence for the role of the borohydride pretreatment on the hydrogen peroxide bleaching of kraft pulp
Authors: Li Jing , Hu Huichao , Song Yanting , Chai Xin-Sheng
Published: November 2015

New evidences for the role of borohydride pretreatment in hydrogen peroxide bleaching process of eucalyptus chemical pulps were provided,i.e., suppressing the catalysis effect of Fe(iii), decreasing carbonyl groups, and constituent lignin structure.
Highly efficient colorimetric detection of cancer cells utilizing Fe-MIL-101 with intrinsic peroxidase-like catalytic activity over a broad pH range
Authors: Chen Daomei , Li Bin , Jiang Liang , Duan Deliang , Li Yizhou , Wang Jiaqiang , He Jiao , Zeng Yanbo
Published: November 2015

We take advantage of the folic acid conjugated iron-based metal–organic frameworks (Fe-MIL-101) without any surface modification to design a simple and sensitive colorimetric assay to detect cancer cells based on its intrinsic peroxidase-like activity over broad pH range.
Strong memory effect at room temperature in nanostructured granular alloy Co0.3Cu0.7
Authors: Dhara S. , Chowdhury R. Roy , Bandyopadhyay B.
Published: November 2015

Non-interacting magnetic CoCu nanoparticles with a blocking temperature distribution show strong magnetic memory effect even at room temperature.
Microdynamics mechanism of D2O absorption of the poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-based contact lens hydrogel studied by two-dimensional correlation ATR-FTIR spectroscopy
Authors: Su Gehong , Zhou Tao , Zhang Yanyan , Liu Xifei , Zhang Aiming
Published: November 2015

A good understanding of the microdynamics of the water absorption of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA)-based contact lens is significant for scientific investigation and commercial applications.
A DFT study of Pt layer deposition on catalyst supports of titanium oxide, nitride and carbide
Authors: Xia Xin , Jones Glenn , Sarwar Misbah , Tang Qian , Harkness Ian , Thompsett David
Published: November 2015

Due to carbon corrosion under the electrochemical conditions in PEMFCs, alternative ceramic supports to carbon such as TiO2have been considered to improve the environmental resistance and catalyst durability.
Atomically thin MoSe2/graphene and WSe2/graphene nanosheets for the highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Guo Jiahao , Shi Yantao , Bai Xiaogong , Wang Xuchun , Ma Tingli
Published: November 2015

g–MoSe2and g–WSe2possess mesoporous structures that facilitate oxygen adsorption, mass transport, and prominent ORR catalytic activity with an ideal four-electron process. They also exhibited outstanding fuel crossover resistance and stronger durability.
Kinetics modeling of precipitation with characteristic shape during post-implantation annealing
Authors: Li Kun-Dar , Chen Kwanyu
Published: November 2015

In this study, we investigated the precipitation with characteristic shape in the microstructure during post-implantation annealing via a theoretical modeling approach. The processes of precipitates formation and evolution during phase separation were based on a nucleation and growth mechanism of atomic diffusion. Different stages of the precipitation, including the nucleation, growth and coalescence, were distinctly revealed in the numerical simulations. In addition, the influences of ion dose, temperature and crystallographic symmetry on the processes of faceted precipitation were also demonstrated. To comprehend the kinetic mechanism, the simulation results were further analyzed quantitatively by the Kolmogorov-Johnson-Mehl-Avrami (KJMA) equation. The Avrami exponents obtained from the regression curves varied from 1.47 to 0.52 for different conditions. With the increase of ion dose and temperature, the nucleation and growth of precipitations were expedited in accordance with the shortened incubation time and the raised coefficient of growth rate. A miscellaneous shape of precipitates in various crystallographic symmetry systems could be simulated through this anisotropic model. From the analyses of the kinetics, more fundamental information about the nucleation and growth mechanism of faceted precipitation during post-implantation annealing was acquired for future application.
Improved room-temperature-selectivity between Nd and Fe in Nd recovery from Nd-Fe-B magnet
Authors: Kataoka Y. , Ono T. , Tsubota M. , Kitagawa J.
Published: November 2015

The sustainable society requires the recycling of rare metals. Rare earth Nd is one of rare metals, accompanying huge consumption especially in Nd-Fe-B magnets. Although the wet process using acid is in practical use in the in-plant recycle of sludge, higher selectivity between Nd and Fe at room temperature is desired. We have proposed a pretreatment of corrosion before the dissolution into HCl and the oxalic acid precipitation. The corrosion produces γ-FeOOH and a Nd hydroxide, which have high selectivity for HCl solution at room temperature. Nd can be recovered as Mn2O3-type Nd2O3. The estimated recovery-ratio of Nd reaches to 97%.
Reporting land conflict in Uganda
Authors: Mugumya Levis , Visser Marianna
Published: November 2015

News reporting studies have largely been confined to the Western cultures and languages, yet news reporting in other languages has proliferated throughout the world (Thomson et al. 2008; Thomson & White 2008). This article explores news reporting in Runyankore-Rukiga, an agglutinating Ugandan Bantu language, focusing on land conflict. Assuming the influential discourse-linguistic framework of Appraisal theory and genre theory (Thomson et al. 2008), the article investigates the linguistic expressions of evaluative language in Runyankore-Rukiga across government-oriented and private newspapers. It also examines the properties that constitute Runyankore-Rukiga hard news reports. Although the genre analysis reveals that the structure of Runyankore-Rukiga hard news reports resembles the satellite structure of the English hard news reports as proposed by White (1997), some differences are identified. Not only does the news report unfold in a chronological order, it exhibits a distinct discursive feature that is characterized by anecdotes, metaphors, grim humor, or proverbs in the lead paragraph. This type of introduction does not necessarily capture the gist of the entire report but rather seeks out the reader’s attention. The article further explicates the nature of lexicogrammatical properties of evaluative language that news writers invoke to express attitudes in the news events. The appraisal exploration also examines instances of graduation in which different figures of speech and non-core lexis are invoked to amplify attitudinal values. The article thus extends Appraisal theory analysis to one of only a few African languages examined within this framework, and contributes to the understanding of news reporting in these languages and cultures.
Satellite-framed patterns in Romance languages
Authors: Martínez Vázquez Montserrat
Published: November 2015

The present analysis is grounded in the belief that linguists, when describing a language, should aim for a full and comprehensive coverage. Talmy’s (1985, 2000) influential two-way typology, verb-framed vs. satellite-framed patterns, represents the preferred option here for the encoding of motion events cross-linguistically, but does not cover other peripheral uses that a language may show. This paper provides evidence for the growing assumption that languages may in fact show both encoding options (Beavers, 2008; Beaverset al., 2010; Filipovic, 2007; Iacobini and Masini, 2006, 2007; Fortis, 2010, Croftet al., 2010,inter alia). The analysis of a large corpus sample of satellite-framed constructions shows that in Spanish this pattern is not only available but indeed is preferred under some circumstances. Previous assertions that Romance languages have poor lexical manner inventories and lack resultatives can help explain low productivity, but they do not argue against the existence of a satellite-framed encoding choiceper se. By analysing naturally occurring constructions in their contexts, I will outline the pragmatic conditions that compensate for lexical and aspectual limitations. When the resultative element (change of location) is a default inference, it can be lexicalized.
Economic and ecological aspects of aromatic-plant-based cropping systems.
Authors: Rao E. V. S. P.
Published: November 2015

Diversification of agriculture to support livelihoods and protect the environment has attracted the attention of scientists and policy makers. Aromatic plants have been considered as diversification crops in agricultural systems in many parts of the world. Aromatic plants synthesize secondary metabolites in the form of essential oils as a response to environmental and biotic stresses. These essential oils can be used in a variety of economic applications such as perfumes, flavours and fragrances as well as in pharmaceuticals, and provide additional economic returns to farmers. There is growing scientific evidence from different parts of the world suggesting that integration of aromatic crops in agricultural systems improves land use efficiencies as well as economic returns. The roles that aromatic plants play in ecological applications - such as soil erosion control, improvement of soil properties, carbon sequestration, phyto-remediation, utilization of low-quality irrigation waters and pest and disease management - have gained significance in agriculture. The present review discusses the role of aromatic plants in economic agriculture and in ecological services.
Plant pathogen evolution and climate change.
Authors: Santini A. , Ghelardini L.
Published: November 2015

The earth's system is currently experiencing dramatic climate change, with predicted rates of global-mean temperature increase unprecedented in the past 1000 years. Also temperature patterns at the local scale and precipitation regimes are rapidly changing. Extreme climatic events are becoming more intense and frequent, especially on the regional scale. Such sudden environmental changes reduce the time for adaptation and increase the vulnerability of natural ecosystems. Plant pathogens have three major adaptive responses to climate change: to exploit the existing phenotypic plasticity, to migrate to areas with more suitable climate and/or to evolve new attributes. Plastic genotypes may quickly adapt to a broad range of environmental conditions, but if phenotypic plasticity is insufficient, migration and/or evolution (which are facilitated by large population size, mixed mating system and parasexuality) are the only options. Global trade in live plants, which is nowadays the main pathway of introduction of alien plant pathogens to new areas, further complicates the picture. Once introduced into a new environment, pathogens may adapt their lifestyle to new local hosts (host jump), or evolve by introgressing useful genes for adaptation through hybridization with resident species or horizontal gene transfer. The implications of climate change for plant pathogens are difficult to predict, but since pathogens have an array of adaptive mechanisms much wider than their hosts and shorter generation times, their opportunities to adapt/evolve will probably increase. New strategies for predicting and monitoring plant pathogen evolution need to be developed to prevent the spread of new plant pathogens on naive or vulnerable hosts likely weakened by climate change pressure.
Diamonds, dependence and De Beers: monopoly capitalism and compliance with the Kimberley Process in Namibia
Authors: Munier Nathan
Published: November 2015

Why has Namibia, with a dependency on alluvial diamond wealth and location in sub-Saharan Africa, been able to comply with the Kimberley Process while other states in the region have not? The author's objective is to account for how domestic political economy can influence international agreements. He argues that diamond dependency in Namibia has facilitated compliance with the Kimberley Process. The case of how Namibia has responded to the Kimberley Process illustrates how De Beers has been able to constrain domestic policy and use the Kimberley Process as a way to maintain a virtual monopoly in domestic diamond production.
Aortic Pulse Pressure Amplification Imputed From Simple Clinical Measures
Adds to the Ability of Brachial Pressure to Predict Survival
Authors: Bursztyn Michael , Norton Gavin R. , Ben-Dov Iddo Z. , Booysen Hendrik L. , Sibiya Moekanyi J. , Sareli Pinhas , Woodiwiss Angela J.
Published: November 2015

BACKGROUND

Although aortic-to-brachial pulse pressure amplification (PPamp) may offer prognostic information beyond brachial blood pressure (BP), this approach is limited in resource-limited settings. We aimed to derive an equation to impute central aortic PP (PPc) from simple clinical measures and assess whether imputed PPamp adds to the ability of brachial BP to predict mortality.

METHODS

An imputation equation for PPc, incorporating brachial PP, age, mean arterial pressure, and pulse rate, was identified from multivariate modeling of the factors associated with radial applanation tonometry-derived (measured) PPc in 1,179 community participants and validated in a clinical sample of 351 patients. We applied the equation to ambulatory awake BP and pulse rate values in a separate group of 4,796 patients referred for ambulatory monitoring and evaluated the impact on all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Imputed PPc values closely approximated measured PPc ( r2 = 0.96, mean difference ± (2 × SD) = 1.4±6.2mm Hg). In adjusted Cox proportional models including adjustments for awake brachial PP during 47,111 person-years of follow-up, where 648 patients died, hazards ratio for all-cause mortality per SD of awake PPamp was 0.79 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.68–0.93, P < 0.005). The hazards ratio for brachial PP with (1.49, CI = 1.36–1.64, P < 0.0001) or without (1.46, CI = 1.35–1.59, P < 0.0001) PPamp in the model was similar. Awake PPamp also predicted survival independent of awake brachial systolic BP ( P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

PPc imputed from simple clinical assessments closely approximates measured PPc. PPamp derived from imputed PPc adds to the ability of brachial BP to predict survival. In resource-limited settings, an imputation equation may be employed to approximate aortic BP and enhance risk prediction.
Probiotic Administration in Infants With Gastroschisis
Authors: Powell Weston T. , Borghese Robyn A. , Kalanetra Karen M. , Mirmiran Majid , Mills David A. , Underwood Mark A.
Published: November 2015

Objectives:

Infants with gastroschisis often require long periods of gastric suctioning and hospitalization. The impact of these interventions on the intestinal microbiota and attempts to alter the microbial community have not been studied. We sought to determine how the intestinal microbiota is influenced by the current treatment of gastroschisis and whether alteration of the intestinal microbiota with a probiotic microbe will influence length of hospitalization.

Methods:

We performed a randomized, placebo‐controlled pilot study of administration of probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis in 24 infants with gastroschisis. The primary outcome was changes in the fecal microbiota, and the secondary outcome was length of hospital stay.

Results:

Administration of the probiotic or placebo was well tolerated, even during the period of gastric suctioning. The overall microbial communities were not significantly different between groups, although analysis of the final specimens by family demonstrated higher Bifidobacteriaceae, lower Clostridiaceae, and trends toward lower Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcaceae, Staphylococcaceae, and Streptococcaceae in the probiotic group. Clinical outcomes, including length of hospital stay, did not differ between groups.

Conclusions:

In this pilot study, there was significant in infants with gastroschisis that was partially attenuated by the administration of B longum subsp. infantis.
Family-friendly support programs and work family conflict among Indonesian higher education employees
Authors: Afrianty Tri Wulida , Burgess John , Issa Theodora
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the effectiveness of family-friendly programs at the workplace in the Indonesian higher education sector. The focus is the impact that these programs have on employees’ work family conflict.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey of academic and non-academic staff from 30 higher education institutions across Indonesia participated in the research. A total of 159 completed questionnaires from 109 academic and 50 from non-academic staff are reported and statistically analysed using SPSS.

Findings

– Work and family experiences in Indonesia do not positively align with the findings reported in most academic literature pertaining to western societies where the use of family-friendly programs (i.e. flexible work options, specialized leave options and dependent care support) leads to a reduction in employees’ work family conflict. In fact, some of the programs were found to have the opposite effect in the Indonesian context.

Research limitations/implications

– The design of family-friendly support has to take into account the context in which the policies will operates; these policies are not transferable across countries in terms of their effectiveness.

Originality/value

– This is one of the first studies that has examined the operation and effectiveness of family-friendly support programs in an Indonesian context.
Developing prescriptive environmental protection models from descriptive human accident behavior
Authors: Strang Kenneth David David
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This study aims to examine human-made oil–gas disasters to illustrate how a prescriptive model could be developed. Resilience to human-made disasters, such as oil or gas spills, can be improved by using prescriptive models developed by analyzing past behavior. This type of study is useful for urban planning and monitoring, as there is a higher probability of human triggered disasters in densely populated areas.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study examined 10 years of more than 1,000 oil–gas disasters that were caused by humans in the upstate New York area to illustrate how a prescriptive model could be developed.

Findings

– A statistically significant predictive model was developed that indicated humans in certain industry categories were approximately six times more likely to have an oil–gas accident resulting in environmental pollution.

Research limitations/implications

– A prescriptive environmental protection model based on human accident behavior would generalize to all levels of government for policy planning, and it would be relevant to environmental protection groups in any region with a large population of humans using oil and gas (that covers most countries on earth).

Originality/value

– The empirical risk management literature was reviewed to identify factors related to environmental accident prediction with the goal of developing an explanatory model that would fit the oil–gas human accident data.
Train re-scheduling based on an improved fuzzy linear programming model
Authors: Meng Xuelei , Jia Limin , Xiang Wanli , Xu Jie
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Train re-scheduling remains a longstanding challenge in railway operation. To design high-quality timetable in fuzzy environment, the purpose of this paper is to study train re-scheduling problem under the fuzzy environment, in which the fuzzy coefficients of the constraint resources have the fuzzy boundaries.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the improved fuzzy linear programming, the train re-scheduling model is constructed. Aiming at dealing with the fuzzy characteristics of the constraint coefficients value range boundaries, the description method of this kind of objective function is proposed and the solving approach is presented. The model has more adaptability to model a common train re-scheduling problem, in which some resources of the constraints are uncertain and have the characteristics of fuzziness and the boundaries of the resources are fuzzy.

Findings

– Two numerical examples are carried out and it shows that the model proposed in this paper can describe the train re-scheduling problem precisely, dealing with the fuzzy boundaries of the fuzzy coefficients of the constraint resources. And the algorithm present is suitable to solve the problem. The approach proposed in this paper can be a reference for developers of railway dispatching system.

Originality/value

– It is the first time to study train re-scheduling problem under the fuzzy environment, in which the fuzzy coefficients of the constraint resources have the fuzzy boundaries.
The business case of FryskLab, Europe’s first mobile library FabLab
Authors: de Boer Jeroen
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe the emergence of the mobile library FabLab FryskLab, a project of Bibliotheekservice Fryslân (BSF). There will be special attention on how the business case has been established.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author examines the broader development of (mobile) FabLabs in libraries. Based on the description of sub-projects that together make the project FryskLab the approach of BSF is described.

Findings

– The design of a mobile library lab speaks to many people’s imagination. However, achieving a sound business case requires a lot more than just driving around in a bus and providing practical workshops. Developing supporting projects is necessary.

Originality/value

– At this time most publications on mobile library makerspaces are held in the realm of popular publications (blogs, magazines). Very little has been written on a wider range of case studies where mobile library makerspaces have been integrated into library services. This paper serves as an insight on how BSF developed the FryskLab project.
What to make of makerspaces
Authors: Fourie Ina , Meyer Anika
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– Much has been published on makerspaces: the history, development and progress and how they are used – stories of successes and opinions on their potential. The purpose of this paper is to comment on such publications within the library and information science (LIS) literature and to warn libraries to not only focus on providing physical spaces and tools but to explore the bigger potential of extended, interconnected spaces for information and information resources and “mutations” of makerspaces such as makerlearning.

Design/methodology/approach

– The contribution is based on a pragmatic and reflective analysis of the LIS literature on makerspaces. The questions are: what to make of the literature, and what needs to be done to enrich the subject literature to support an interconnected approach to makerspaces and information resources and information support?

Findings

– There is a very strong focus in the literature on libraries as physical spaces for makerspaces, the planning, provision, maintenance and how-we-do-it approaches. Although very important this does not sufficiently explore an interconnection between makerspaces and an expanded information-related involvement of libraries, e.g. in information literacy training, guided inquiry, bridging the digital divide, research (embedded librarianship) and community support.

Research limitations/implications

– There are many publications on makerspaces in the LIS literature. They however, mostly do not reflect on the opportunities to take a more holistic look at the potential of makerspaces in libraries interconnected to the use of information resources, and information-related support and intervention from libraries.

Originality/value

– Although there are many papers on makerspaces the purpose of this contribution is to focus on extended input from libraries.
Social modeling effects on perception of the police
Authors: Lim Hyeyoung
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether indirect police contacts through observational learning models impact students’ trust in the police and their perceptions of police bias.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on a survey at two public universities in the mid-western and southern regions of the USA (921 out of 1,089 responses were retained for this study). The empirical analysis relied on a principle component factor analysis and a multivariate regression analysis.

Findings

– Results show that three observational learning models (live, verbal, and symbolic) significantly influence perceptions of the police. In particular, the symbolic model is significant regardless of students’ direct and indirect contact experiences with the police.

Originality/value

– This study is the first to examine the modeling effects on attitudes toward the police applying the classic social learning theory developed by Albert Bandura. The results highlight the importance of indirect police contact experiences in shaping young citizens’ perceptions of the police.
Music identification skills of children with specific language impairment
Authors: Mari Giorgia , Scorpecci Alessandro , Reali Laura , D'Alatri Lucia
Published: November 2015

Background

To date very few studies have investigated the musical skills of children with specific language impairment (SLI). There is growing evidence that SLI affects areas other than language, and it is therefore reasonable to hypothesize that children with this disorder may have difficulties in perceiving musical stimuli appropriately.

Aims

To compare melody and song identification skills in a group of children with SLI and in a control group of children with typical language development (TD); and to study possible correlations between music identification skills and language abilities in the SLI group.

Methods & Procedures

This is a prospective case control study. Two groups of children were enrolled: one meeting DSM‐IV‐TR® diagnostic criteria for SLI and the other comprising an age‐matched group of children with TD. All children received a melody and a song identification test, together with a test battery assessing receptive and productive language abilities.

Outcomes & Results

30 children with SLI (mean age = 56 ± 9 months) and 23 with TD (mean age = 60 ± 10 months) were included. Melody and song identification scores among SLI children were significantly lower than those of TD children, and in both groups song identification scores were significantly higher than melody identification scores. Song identification skills bore a significant correlation to chronological age in both groups (TD: r = 0.529, p = 0.009; SLI: r = 0.506, p = 0.004). Whereas no other variables were found explaining the variability of melody or song identification scores in either group, the correlation between language comprehension and song identification in the SLI group approached significance (r = 0.166, p = 0.076).

Conclusions & Implications

The poorer music perception skills of SLI children as compared with TD ones suggests that SLI may also affect music perception. Therefore, training programmes that simultaneously stimulate via language and music may prove useful in the rehabilitation of children affected by SLI.
Satyrization and satyrization‐resistance in competitive displacements of invasive mosquito species
Authors: Bargielowski Irka Ewa , Lounibos Leon Philip
Published: November 2015

Competitive displacements or reductions of resident populations of insects, often effected by a related species, may be caused by a variety of mechanisms. Satyrization is a form of mating interference in which males of one species mate with females of another species, significantly decreasing their fitness and not generating hybrids. Satyrization has been established to be the probable cause of competitive displacements of resident mosquitoes by invasive species, especially ofAedes aegyptibyAedes albopictus, two important vectors of dengue and chikungunya viruses. Mathematical models predict that even low levels of asymmetric mating interference are capable of producing competitive displacements or reductions. Couplings of virginAe. aegyptifemales withAe. albopictusmales effectively sterilize these females through the monogamizing actions of male accessory gland products, but the converse interspecific mating does not impact the future reproduction ofAe. albopictusfemales. Populations ofAe. aegyptiexposed to satyrization quickly evolve resistance to interspecific mating, which is believed to ameliorate reproductive interference from, and promote co‐existence with,Ae. albopictus. The evolution of satyrization resistance amongAe. aegyptiin laboratory cages is accompanied by fitness costs, such as reduced fecundity and slower receptivity to conspecific males. Cage experiments and field observations indicate thatAe. albopictusmales are capable of satyrizing females of other species of theStegomyiasubgenus, potentially leading to competitive displacements, and possible extinctions, especially of endemic species on islands. Examination of other examples of reproductive interference in insects reveals few parallels to the mechanism and outcomes of satyrization byAe. albopictus. We conclude by posing the hypothesis that satyrization may favor the ecological success ofAe. albopictus, and suggest many lines for future research on this phenomenon.
Employer perceptions of migrant candidates’ suitability: the influence of decision‐maker and organisational characteristics
Authors: Fernando Mario , Almeida Shamika , Dharmage Shyamali C
Published: November 2015

This paper reports on how decision‐makers’ personal characteristics and organisational characteristics can influence the screening of immigrant professionals during the recruitment and selection process. The sample consisted of 220 decision‐makers in the engineering industry working in New South Wales, Australia. The results show White/Anglo Australian decision‐makers had more suitability concerns of ethnic migrant candidates during the recruitment and selection process than decision‐makers of other ethnicities. However, this was moderated by organisational characteristics of size and clientele. Decision‐makers in larger organisations and a diverse ethnic client base showed less suitability concerns of migrant candidates during the recruitment and selection process.
Effect of roflumilast on airway remodelling in a murine model of chronic asthma
Authors: Kim S. W. , Kim J. H. , Park C. K. , Kim T. J. , Lee S. Y. , Kim Y. K. , Kwon S. S. , Rhee C. K. , Yoon H. K.
Published: November 2015

Background

Airway remodelling is associated with irreversible, or partially reversible, airflow obstruction and ultimately unresponsiveness to asthma therapies such as corticosteroids. Roflumilast is a selective phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitor that has an anti‐inflammatory effect in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objective

The objective of this study was to study the effect of roflumilast on airway inflammation and remodelling in a murine model of chronic asthma.

Methods

BALB/c mice sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) were chronically exposed to intranasal OVA administration twice a week for additional 3 months. Roflumilast was administered orally during the intranasal OVA challenge. A lung fibroblast cell line was used in the proliferation assay.

Results

Compared with control mice, mice chronically exposed to OVA developed eosinophilic airway inflammation, airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR), and exhibited features of airway remodelling. Administration of roflumilast significantly inhibited airway inflammation and AHR. Roflumilast also significantly decreased goblet cell hyperplasia and pulmonary fibrosis, which are parameters of airway remodelling. The levels of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were significantly lower in the roflumilast group. In vitro, roflumilast significantly inhibited stem cell factor (SCF)‐induced cell proliferation of fibroblasts. The SCF concentration and mRNA expression in a murine model also significantly decreased with roflumilast treatment.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the administration of roflumilast regulates airway inflammation, AHR, and airway remodelling in a model of chronic asthma. The beneficial effects from roflumilast may be related to the SCF/c‐kit pathway.
Positive plant and bird diversity response to experimental deer population reduction after decades of uncontrolled browsing
Authors: Chollet Simon , Padié Sophie , Stockton Stephen , Allombert Sylvain , Gaston Anthony J. , Martin Jean‐Louis
Published: November 2015

Aim

During the 20th century, deer (family Cervidae), both native and introduced populations, dramatically increased in abundance in many parts of the world and became seen as major threats to biodiversity in forest ecosystems. Here, we evaluated the consequences that restoring top‐down herbivore population control has on plants and birds.

Location

Forest ecosystems of Haida Gwaii (British Columbia, Canada) where introduced black‐tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus) have dramatically limited tree regeneration and simplified understorey plant, insect and bird assemblages.

Methods

We experimentally assessed ecosystem‐wide responses of plant and bird communities to a ~80% reduction of deer abundance on two medium‐sized islands (146 and 249 ha). We monitored changes in plant and bird communities for the 13 years following the start of culling and used two islands without culling and a set of exclosures as controls.

Results

Native plant communities increased in cover and richness after culling, while introduced plants decreased. Birds that depend on understorey vegetation for feeding and/or breeding increased significantly after deer were reduced in abundance but species not dependent on understorey vegetation did not. Finally, on control islands, plant and bird communities were stable or declined throughout the study period.

Main conclusions

Biodiversity losses caused by current continental‐scale trends of increasing deer populations are potentially reversible. We demonstrate that controlling large herbivore populations (native or introduced) offers significant conservation benefits to forest understorey plant communities, even to those most negatively affected by uncontrolled browsing. We also report, for the first time, strong evidence that higher trophic levels (birds) can respond rapidly and positively to herbivore density control.
Cardiac Amorphous Tumor on the Mitral Valve
Authors: Gecmen Cetin , Inanir Mehmet , Gecmen Gonca G. , Yilmaz Fatih , Ozdemir Nihal
Published: November 2015

Mini‐Abstract

A 62‐year‐old male patient with a history of hypertension, dialysis‐dependent chronic renal failure, and coronary artery bypass graft presented to our clinic with dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiographic assessment revealed moderate aortic stenosis (mean gradient: 32 mmHg), mild left ventricular systolic dysfunction (global left ventricle ejection fraction: 45%), and a mobile, racket‐shaped hyperechogenic mass of 2.1 × 1.1 cm in posterior mitral leaflet, which partially moved into the left ventricle during diastole. Transesophageal echocardiography revealed the mobile mass on the posterior leaflet as well as mild mitral regurgitation. During surgery, the mass was excised from the P2 scallop of posterior mitral leaflet. On histologic examination, hematoxylin and eosin–stained section of the 10 × 20 mm mass showed calcified nodules on an amorphous background of fibrin material and foreign body giant cells.
Productivity and resistance to weed invasion in four prairie biomass feedstocks with different diversity
Authors: Abernathy Jessica E. , Graham Dustin R. J. , Sherrard Mark E. , Smith Daryl D.
Published: November 2015

High‐diversity mixtures of native tallgrass prairie vegetation should be effective biomass feedstocks because of their high productivity and low input requirements. These diverse mixtures should also enhance several of the ecosystem services provided by the traditional monoculture feedstocks used for bioenergy. In this study, we compared biomass production, year‐to‐year variation in biomass production, and resistance to weed invasion in four prairie biomass feedstocks with different diversity: one species – a switchgrass monoculture; five species – a mix of C4 grasses; 16 species – a mix of grasses, forbs, and legumes; and 32 species – a mix of grasses, forbs, legumes, and sedges. Each diversity treatment was replicated four times on three soil types for a total of 48 research plots (0.33–0.56 ha each). We measured biomass production by harvesting all plant material to ground level in ten randomly selected quadrats per plot. Weed biomass was measured as a subset of total biomass. We replicated this design over a five‐year period (2010–2014). Across soil types, the one‐, 16‐, and 32‐species treatments produced the same amount of biomass, but the one‐species treatment produced significantly more biomass than the five‐species treatment. The rank order of our four diversity treatments differed between soil types suggesting that soil type influences treatment productivity. Year‐to‐year variation in biomass production did not differ between diversity treatments. Weed biomass was higher in the one‐species treatment than the five‐, 16‐, and 32‐species treatments. The high productivity and low susceptibility to weed invasion of our 16‐ and 32‐species treatments supports the hypothesis that high‐diversity prairie mixtures would be effective biomass feedstocks in the Midwestern United States. The influence of soil type on relative feedstock performance suggests that seed mixes used for biomass should be specifically tailored to site characteristics for maximum productivity and stand success.