bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Archaeomagnetic Data from Tunisia: Dating of Two Kilns and New Archaeointensities from Three Ceramic Artifacts
Authors: Casas Lluís , Fouzai Boutheina , Prevosti Marta , Laridhi‐Ouazaa Nejia , Járrega Ramon , Baklouti Siwar
Published: June 2016

Two isolated kilns of unknown age and three well‐dated artifacts from Tunisia have been investigated using archaeomagnetic techniques. Dating has been attempted for the kilns and archaeomagnetic intensities have been obtained for the artifacts. The kilns lack datable artifacts although one of them (Sidi Zahruni) could be related to a nearby late Roman site. Comparison with the SCHA.DIF.3K regional geomagnetic model suggests for both kilns two possible periods of last use, either Roman or Medieval. Three archaeomagnetic intensities were obtained for the well‐dated ceramic artifacts adding to scarce archaeomagnetic data from Africa. The new data along with recently published archaeointensities from other Tunisian sites have been compared with the regional model SCHA.DIF.3K, its updated version, and the global ARCH3k.1 geomagnetic model. The models show relatively good agreement with the new archaeointensities and with previously published intensities. The uncertainty of the experimental data tends to increase for older artifacts, and their agreement with the geomagnetic models diminishes. The observed trend of the intensity models to underestimate values in the Tunisian area for the Roman period could be overcome by adding new data from well‐dated artifacts from North African, particularly from pre‐Roman and Roman sites.
A cross‐sectional study on clinical correlates of anxiety disorders in 613 community living older adults in Hong Kong
Authors: Fung Ada Wai Tung , Lam Linda Chiu Wa
Published: June 2016

Objectives

Previous studies have reported that the prevalence of late life anxiety disorders varies between 3.2% and 15.3%. Despite its high prevalence, anxiety disorders are still under‐recognized in old age. This study evaluated the association among health, psychosocial factors, lifestyle choices, cognitive function and anxiety disorders in the older population in Hong Kong.

Methods

Six hundred and thirteen volunteer participants aged 60 years or above were interviewed for their socio‐demographic background, physical and mental health statuses, social network, cognitive function and their activity engagement style. Ascertainment of diagnosis of anxiety disorders was based on the use of ICD‐10 diagnostic criteria generated by the Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS‐R) algorithms.

Results

According to the ICD‐10 diagnostic criteria generated by the CIS‐R algorithms, 4.4% (N = 27) had mixed anxiety and depressive disorder, 2.5% (N = 15) had generalized anxiety disorders and 0.2% (N = 1) had other anxiety disorders (Phobia).

Individuals with anxiety disorders had more gastrointestinal conditions (OR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.48–4.76) and genitourinary problems (OR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.05–3.65), poor 10‐min delayed recall (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.56–0.83), worse abstract thinking (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.49–0.85) and poor social networking in confidante relationship (OR = 0.88, 95% CI 0.79–0.98). Lifestyle activity engagement was not associated with the presence of anxiety disorders.

Conclusions

Older adults with anxiety disorders appeared to have greater medical comorbidity and lower cognitive function. While anxiety may affect memory performance, future studies are needed to explore if anxiety symptom may reflect early neurodegeneration that easily escapes clinical attention. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Patterns of recurrence and treatment in male breast cancer: A clue to prognosis?
Authors: Henriques Abreu Miguel , Henriques Abreu Pedro , Afonso Noémia , Pereira Deolinda , Henrique Rui , Lopes Carlos
Published: June 2016

Male breast cancer (MBC) patients seem to have inferior survival compared to female (FBC) ones, which is not fully explained by usual prognostic factors. Recurrence analysis could show differences in relapse patterns and/or in patients' approaches that justify these outcomes. Retrospective analysis of MBC patients treated in a cancer center between 1990 and 2014, looking for relapse. For each patient, three matched FBC patients were selected by: diagnosis' year, age (within 5 years), stage and tumors' type (only luminal‐like were considered). Differences between cohorts were assessed by χ2 test and hierarchical clustering was performed to define subgroups according to relapse local. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan–Meier and compared using log‐rank test. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Groups were balanced according to age, histological grade, stage, expression of hormonal receptors and adjuvant treatments. Median time to recurrence was equivalent, p = 0.72, with the majority of patients presented with distant metastases, p = 0.69, with more lung involvement in male, p = 0.003. Male patients were more often proposed to symptomatic treatment (21.1% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.02). Overall and from recurrence survivals were poorer for male, median: 5 years [95% confidence interval (CI): 4.1–5.9 years] and 1 year (95% CI: 0–2.1 years) vs. 10 years (95% CI: 7.8–12.2 years) and 2 years (95% CI: 1.6–2.4 years), p < 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively, and this tendency remained in the five cluster subgroups, that identified five patterns of relapse, p = 0.003. MBC patients had the worst survival, even after controlling important factors, namely the local of relapse. Palliative systemic treatment had favorable impact in prognosis and its frequently avoidance in male could justify the outcomes differences.
The application of heat‐deproteinization to the morphological study of cortical bone: A contribution to the knowledge of the osteonal structure
Authors: Pazzaglia Ugo E. , Congiu Terenzio , Basso Petra , Alessandri Ivano , Cucca Lucia , Raspanti Mario
Published: June 2016

Observation of heat‐deproteinized cortical bone specimens in incident light enabled the high definition documentation of the osteonal pattern of diaphyseal Haversian bone. This prompted a study to compare these images with those revealed by polarized light microscopy, carried out either on decalcified or thin, undecalcified, resin‐embedded sections. Different bone processing methods can reveal structural aspects of the intercellular matrix, depending on the light diffraction mode: birefringency in decalcified sections can be ascribed to the collagen fibrils orientation alone; in undecalcified sections, to both the ordered layout of collagen and the inorganic phase; in the heat‐deproteinized samples, exclusively to the hydroxyapatite crystals aggregation mode. The elemental chemical analysis documented low content of carbon and hydrogen, no detectable levels of nitrogen and significantly higher content of calcium and phosphorus in heat‐deproteinized samples, as compared with dehydrated controls. In both samples, the X‐ray diffraction (XRD) pattern did not show any significant difference in pattern of hydroxyapatite, with no peaks of any possible decomposition phases. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) morphology of heat‐deproteinized samples could be documented with the fracturing technique facilitated by the bone brittleness. The structure of crystal aggregates, oriented in parallel and with marks of time periods, was documented. Comparative study of deproteinized and undecalcified samples showed that the matrix inorganic phase did not undergo a coarse grain thermal conversion until it reached 500°C, maintaining the original crystals structure and orientation. Incident light stereomicroscopy, combined with SEM analysis of deproteinized bone fractured surfaces, is a new enforceable technique which can be used in morphometric studies to improve the understanding of the osteonal dynamics. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:691–699, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Individuality and Transgenerational Inheritance of Social Dominance and Sex Pheromones in Isogenic Male Mice
Authors: Fang Qi , Zhang Yao‐Hua , Shi Yao‐Long , Zhang Jin‐Hua , Zhang Jian‐Xu
Published: June 2016

Phenotypic variation and its epigenetic regulations within the inbred isogenic mice have long intrigued biologists. Here, we used inbred C57BL/6 mice to examine the individual differences and the inheritance of social dominance and male pheromones, expecting to create a model for studying the underlying epigenetic mechanisms for the evolution of these traits. We used a repeated male–male contest paradigm to form stable dominance–submission relationships between paired males and make superior or inferior quality manifest. Females showed olfactory preferences for the urine of dominant males to that of subordinate opponents. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometer analysis revealed that dominance‐related or superior quality related pheromones were actually exaggerated male pheromone components (e.g., E‐β‐farnesene, hexadecanol, and 1‐hexadecanol acetate) of preputial gland origin. Although the socially naïve sons of both dominant and subordinate males elicited the same female attraction when reaching adulthood, the former could dominated over the latter during undergoing the male–male competition and then gained more attraction of females. Our results demonstrated that social dominance or superior quality and the related pheromones were heritable and could be expressed through the interaction between aggression‐related epigenotypes and male–male contests. It suggested that the evolution of sexually selected traits could be epigenetically determined and promoted through female mate choice. The epigenetic mechanisms driving the individual differences in behavior and male pheromones deserve further studies.
Conception, realization and qualification of a radioactive clean room lab facility dedicated to the synthesis of radiolabeled API for human ADME studies
Authors: Loewe Claudia , Atzrodt Jens , Reschke Kai , Schofield Joe
Published: June 2016

The human absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination study administering radiolabeled drugs to human volunteers is an important clinical study in the development program of new drug candidates. The manufacture of radiolabeled Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients is covered by national drug laws and may come within the scope of regulatory GMP requirements. Additionally, authorities may request an appropriate environmental zoning to minimize the risk of microbiological contaminations particularly during the synthesis of radiolabeled Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients intended for parenteral application. Thus, a radioactive clean room lab facility in line with both GMP and radiation safety regulations was installed and the environmental zoning validated by appropriate testing of technical parameters and microbial and particle monitoring. The considerations detailed in this paper cover only GMP aspects related to the synthesis of radioactive drug substance. The subsequent, final formulation step in the overall process for manufacturing of radioactive drug product for any kind of administration is not within the scope of this paper. Under these qualified and controlled environmental conditions, we are now in a position to provide radiolabeled drug substances for all kinds of drug administration including both po and iv.
In vivo visualization using MRI T2 mapping of induced osteochondrosis and osteochondritis dissecans lesions in goats undergoing controlled exercise
Authors: Tóth Ferenc , David Frédéric H. , LaFond Elizabeth , Wang Luning , Ellermann Jutta M. , Carlson Cathy S.
Published: June 2016

In vivo visualization of subclinical osteochondrosis (OC) lesions, characterized by necrosis of epiphyseal growth cartilage, is necessary to clarify the pathogenesis of this disease. Hence, our objectives were to demonstrate induced necrosis of the epiphyseal cartilage in vivo using MRI and to monitor progression or resolution of resulting lesions. We also aimed to improve the goat model of OC by introducing controlled exercise. Vascular supply to the epiphyseal cartilage was surgically interrupted in four 5‐day‐old goats to induce ischemic cartilage necrosis in a medial femoral condyle. Starting 3 weeks postoperatively, goats underwent daily controlled exercise until euthanasia at 6, 10, 11 (n = 2) weeks postoperatively. T2 maps of operated and control femora were obtained in vivo at 3 (n = 4), 6 (n = 4), 9 (n = 3), and 11 (n = 2) weeks postoperatively using a 3 T MR scanner. In vivo MRI findings were validated against MRI results obtained ex vivo at 9.4 T in three goats and compared to histological results in all goats. Surgical interruption of the vascular supply caused ischemic cartilage necrosis in three out of four goats. T2 maps obtained in vivo at 3 T identified regions of increased relaxation time consistent with discrete areas of cartilage necrosis 3–11 weeks postoperatively and demonstrated delayed progression of the ossification front at 9 (n = 1) and 11 (n = 2) weeks postoperatively. In vivo MRI findings were confirmed by ex vivo MRI at 9.4 T and by histology. Identification of cartilage necrosis in clinical patients in the early stages of OC using T2 maps may provide valuable insight into the pathogenesis of this condition. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:868–875, 2017.
Addition of grape pomace extract to probiotic fermented goat milk: the effect on phenolic content, probiotic viability and sensory acceptability
Authors: dos Santos Karina MO , de Oliveira Isabel C , Lopes Marcos AC , Cruz Ana Paula Gil , Buriti Flávia CA , Cabral Lourdes M
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Grape pomace is a source of phenolic compounds, which are associated with health benefits in humans. Additionally, fermented dairy foods with probiotics can be good vehicles to deliver these bioactive compounds. The effects of the addition of grape pomace extract (GPE) on the total phenolic (TP) content, physico‐chemical characteristics and viability of Lactobacillus acidophilus LA‐5 or Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 in fermented goat milks prepared with grape juice were investigated.

RESULTS

The TP concentration increased significantly in fermented milks with the addition of GPE. A protective effect of GPE on the viability of L. acidophilus was observed. However, after 14 days of storage, the populations of L. acidophilus were significantly lower when compared with those of L. rhamnosus, and only the last probiotic maintained its viability above 7 log CFU mL−1 throughout the period investigated. The sensory scores of flavor, color and overall acceptability of the fermented milk containing L. rhamnosus HN001 were significantly increased when GPE was added.

CONCLUSION

The use of GPE might increase the functionality of probiotic fermented goat milk processed with L. rhamnosus HN001 and grape juice because grape polyphenols are known for their antioxidant properties and positive effect on the modulation of gut microbiota. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Effects of nano‐TiO2‐LDPE packaging on postharvest quality and antioxidant capacity of strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) stored at refrigeration temperature
Authors: Li Dongdong , Ye Qingyang , Jiang Lei , Luo Zisheng
Published: June 2016

BACKGROUND

Nano‐TiO2–low‐density polyethylene (NTLDPE) packaging was prepared, and the effects of NTLDPE packaging on quality and antioxidant capacity of strawberry fruits were investigated.

RESULTS

With increased barrier properties, NTLDPE packaging quickly formed a relative lower O2 and higher CO2 air composition in comparison with LDPE. It was also more efficient in maintaining the overall quality of strawberry fruit, as reflected by lower decay rate and weight loss, as well as retarding the decrease in firmness and titratable acid. Meanwhile, reactive oxygen species (ROS) including superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide in NTLDPE‐packed fruits were 10.8% and 21.9% lower, respectively. Furthermore, the activities of antioxidant enzymes involved in ROS scavenging in NTLDPE‐packed fruits were significantly higher at the later period of storage time. Anthocyanin accumulation was inhibited, whereas ascorbic acid and total phenolics contents were better retained and 1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was 13.2% higher in NTLDPE‐packed fruit by the end of storage.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that the beneficial effects of NTLDPE packaging on postharvest quality and antioxidant capacity of strawberry are probably associated with the promotion of ROS scavenging and related antioxidant enzyme activities, and NTLDPE packaging together with refrigeration storage is a promising method for strawberry fruit preservation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
A method of holographic magnification based on Fresnel diffraction
Authors: Gan Feng‐Jiao , Wang Di , Wang Cui , Wang Jun , Wang Qiong‐Hua
Published: June 2016

In this paper, we propose a method of holographic magnification based on Fresnel diffraction. Similarity principle of Fourier transform is used in convolution algorithm in order to adjust the size of the reconstructed image. With the splicing technology based on a spatial light modulator, the reconstructed images can be magnified. By combining the similarity principle of Fourier transform with the splicing technology, the reconstructed images can be further magnified to eight times, which is verified by the experiments.
Protease‐Triggered, Integrin‐Targeted Cellular Uptake of Recombinant Protein Micelles
Authors: Gao Chen , Vargo Kevin B. , Hammer Daniel A.
Published: June 2016

Targeting nanoparticles for drug delivery has great potential for improving efficacy and reducing side effects from systemic toxicity. New developments in the assembly of materials afford the opportunity to expose cryptic targeting domains in tissue‐specific microenvironments in which certain proteases are expressed. Here, recombinant proteins are designed to combine the responsiveness to environmental proteases with specific targeting. Materials made recombinantly allow complete control over amino acid sequence, in which each molecule is identically functionalized. Previously, oleosin, a naturally occurring plant protein that acts as a surfactant, has been engineered to self‐assemble into spherical micelles—a useful structure for drug delivery. To make oleosins that are locally activated to bind receptors, oleosin is genetically modified to incorporate the integrin‐binding motif RGDS just behind a domain cleavable by thrombin. The resulting modified oleosin self‐assembles into spherical micelles in aqueous environments, with the RGDS motif protected by the thrombin‐cleavable domain. Upon the addition of thrombin, the RGDS is exposed and the binding of the spherical micelles to breast cancer cells is increased fourfold.

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Flexible and Bio‐Based Nonisocyanate Polyurethane (NIPU) Foams
Authors: Blattmann Hannes , Lauth Marc , Mülhaupt Rolf
Published: June 2016

The amine cure of cyclic carbonate blends, derived from renewable resources and carbon dioxide, in the presence of a liquid fluorohydrocarbon as physical blowing agent with no ozone depletion potential, enables the facile tailoring of flexible bio‐based nonisocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) foams. Unlike conventional PU foams, neither isocyanates nor phosgene or aromatic amines are required as intermediates in NIPU foaming. Typically, rigid cyclic carbonates such as carbonated trimethylolpropane glycidylether (TMPGC) are blended together with the corresponding flexible cyclic carbonate such as ethoxylated TMPGC (EO‐TMPGC) which lowers monomer viscosity and reactivity. This is reflected by higher pot life and gelation times for the cure with hexamethylene diamine (HMDA), improving NIPU foam processing. With increasing EO‐TMPGC content, rigid TMPGC/HMDA‐NIPU foams are rendered flexible and soft, as verified by simultaneously declining storage modulus and glass transition temperature. In this NIPU foam family, the TMPGC/EO‐TMPGC (60 wt%/40 wt%) blend cured with HMDA in the presence of Solkane 365/227 affords flexible NIPU foams exhibiting low density, very good mechanical hysteresis, and tailored hardness, meeting the demands of various applications like automotive seating. Emission tests confirm the absence of critical compounds mentioned in the global automotive declarable substance list.

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Influence of sepiolite on crystallinity of soft segments and shape memory properties of polyurethane nanocomposites
Authors: Yu Guihui , Chen Hongxiang , Wang Wanwan , Zhou Yu , Zhang Junheng , Li Yanjun
Published: June 2016

The shape memory polyurethane/sepiolite nanocomposites were prepared with sepiolite dispersed uniformly in polyurethane based on poly(ε‐caprolactone). The influence of sepiolite on the structure of polyurethane was investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, X‐ray diffraction, and polarized optical microscopy. The results show that sepiolite has little effect on the ordering of hard segments, but can act as a nucleating agent enhancing the crystallinity of soft segments. The maximum crystallinity of soft segments can be achieved when the content of sepiolite is 3 wt%. The results of shape memory test demonstrate that the addition of sepiolite improves the shape fixity ratio of polyurethane. The shape fixity ratio of polyurethane composite with 3 wt% of sepiolite reaches the maximum of 86.2%. The crystallinity of the soft segments can be adjusted by varying sepiolite content, which has a potential to realize controllability of shape memory properties. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:1674–1681, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Beta amino acid‐modified and fluorescently labelled kisspeptin analogues with potent KISS1R activity
Authors: Camerino M. A. , Liu M. , Moriya S. , Kitahashi T. , Mahgoub A. , Mountford S. J. , Chalmers D. K. , Soga T. , Parhar I. S. , Thompson P. E.
Published: June 2016

Kisspeptin analogues with improved metabolic stability may represent important ligands in the study of the kisspeptin/KISS1R system and have therapeutic potential. In this paper we assess the activity of known and novel kisspeptin analogues utilising a dual luciferase reporter assay in KISS1R‐transfected HEK293T cells. In general terms the results reflect the outcomes of other assay formats and a number of potent agonists were identified among the analogues, including β2‐hTyr‐modified and fluorescently labelled forms. We also showed, by assaying kisspeptin in the presence of protease inhibitors, that proteolysis of kisspeptin activity within the reporter assay itself may diminish the agonist outputs. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationships of Teachers’ Language and Explicit Vocabulary Instruction to Students’ Vocabulary Growth in Kindergarten
Authors: Bowne Jocelyn Bonnes , Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Snow Catherine E.
Published: June 2016

This study evaluates the relationships between aspects of Chilean teachers’ explicit vocabulary instruction and students’ vocabulary development in kindergarten. Classroom videotapes of whole‐class instruction gathered during a randomized experimental evaluation of a coaching‐based professional development program were analyzed. The amount of conceptual information about words made available during these discussions was the only significant predictor of students’ end‐of‐kindergarten vocabulary, when controlling for the density and diversity of teachers’ language and time spent in explicit vocabulary support, as well as child and teacher demographics. Each additional standard deviation of conceptual information about words provided predicted a 0.11 standard deviation increase in students’ vocabulary outcomes. Practice and policy implications of these findings are discussed.
Simulations and measurements in scanning electron microscopes at low electron energy
Authors: Walker Christopher G.H. , Frank Luděk , Müllerová Ilona
Published: June 2016

The advent of new imaging technologies in Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) using low energy (0–2 keV) electrons has brought about new ways to study materials at the nanoscale. It also brings new challenges in terms of understanding electron transport at these energies. In addition, reduction in energy has brought new contrast mechanisms producing images that are sometimes difficult to interpret. This is increasing the push for simulation tools, in particular for low impact energies of electrons. The use of Monte Carlo calculations to simulate the transport of electrons in materials has been undertaken by many authors for several decades. However, inaccuracies associated with the Monte Carlo technique start to grow as the energy is reduced. This is not simply associated with inaccuracies in the knowledge of the scattering cross‐sections, but is fundamental to the Monte Carlo technique itself. This is because effects due to the wave nature of the electron and the energy band structure of the target above the vacuum energy level become important and these are properties which are difficult to handle using the Monte Carlo method. In this review we briefly describe the new techniques of scanning low energy electron microscopy and then outline the problems and challenges of trying to understand and quantify the signals that are obtained. The effects of charging and spin polarised measurement are also briefly explored. SCANNING 38:802–818, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Evolution of Entrepreneurial Judgment With Venture‐Specific Experience
Authors: Uygur Ugur , Kim Sung Min
Published: June 2016

Research summary

This study advances research on entrepreneurial cognition by investigating how entrepreneurial judgment evolves during new venture creation. We conceptualize entrepreneurial judgment as a cognitive process in the minds of entrepreneurs that operates on the causal map—i.e., a knowledge structure concerning what factors they believe will help the chances of profitability under uncertainty. At the time of initial epiphany, entrepreneurs construct cognitive causal maps, which guide resource allocation decisions. Over time, venture‐specific experience accumulates and entrepreneurial judgment evolves in response to their observations. Using a dataset of 524 nascent entrepreneurs, we find that entrepreneurs with more venture‐specific experiences have more selective judgments, and they have stronger conviction in those judgments. We also find that perceived uncertainty and cognitive dispositions of the individuals affect entrepreneurial judgment.

Managerial summary

Entrepreneurs often have to exercise judgment due to limited information and resources when creating new businesses. Because they cannot effectively make progress in all aspects of a new venture at once, entrepreneurs choose the important success factors to focus on. Our findings suggest that it is important to understand the cognitive mechanisms underpinning their judgments. As entrepreneurs gain more experience with the venture, their chosen set of success factors narrows and their confidence increases. Additionally, their self‐efficacy and decisiveness encourage them to make stronger judgments. This may imply a precarious scenario because of the risk of overconfidence in their judgments. Similarly, investors are also advised to check if the entrepreneur's conviction is supported by accumulated experience in the context of the venture. Copyright © 2016 Strategic Management Society.
Quantitative analysis of MWCNT agglomeration in polymeric‐based membranes using atomic force microscope
Authors: Basri Hatijah , Irfan Masooma , Irfan Muhammad , Lau Woei‐Jye , Kartohardjono Sutrasno
Published: June 2016

In this work, we performed an analysis on the surface properties of polyethersulfone (PES)‐based ultrafiltration membranes that were prepared by incorporating acid functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotube (f‐MWCNT) and polyvinylpyrrolidone into membrane matrix via simple blending method. The bonding‐chemistry of the nanocomposites implanted within the PES membrane was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer while atomic force microscope was employed to observe the distribution of f‐MWCNT in the membrane matrix and further measured its agglomeration quantitatively. The resultant 3D atomic force microscope images provided the most satisfactory way to examine the distribution of nanomaterials in the membranes, and with the help of ‘point profile data’ the maximum height and width of the agglomerated cluster could be quantitatively calculated. Moreover, the surface profile studies of the membrane surface provided the information about the length, volume, area, perimeter, radius and diameter of grains. It was observed that PES/nanocomposite blended membranes were held together via strong hydrogen bonding, but poor dispersion of MWCNT in the membrane matrix reduced the membrane performance in terms of protein (pepsin and bovine albumin serum) rejection and increased the surface roughness. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Climate change and social transformations: is it time for a quantum leap?
Authors: O'Brien Karen L.
Published: June 2016

Climate change is recognized as an urgent societal problem with widespread implications for both natural and human systems, and transforming society at the rate and scale that is mandated by the 2015 Paris Agreement remains a major challenge. Do we need to be open to new paradigms for social change? In this opinion piece, I draw attention to the emerging field of quantum social theory and consider its implications for climate change responses. Quantum social theory considers how concepts, methods and understandings from quantum physics relate to societal issues, and it provides a physically based, holistic perspective on conscious and intentional transformations to sustainability. It is distinct from other social theories in that it raises deep metaphysical and ontological questions about what is really real. I explore the methodological, metaphorical and meaningful significance of quantum social theory for understandings of social change. Quantum concepts such as entanglement, complementarity, uncertainty, and superposition provide a strong basis for recognizing and promoting people as the solution to climate change. WIREs Clim Change 2016, 7:618–626. doi: 10.1002/wcc.413

This article is categorized under:

Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Values‐Based Approach to Vulnerability and Adaptation

Trans‐Disciplinary Perspectives > Humanities and the Creative Arts
Evaluating old and novel proxies for in vitro digestion assays in wild ruminants
Authors: Jean Pierre‐Olivier , Bradley Robert L. , Berthiaume Robert , Tremblay Jean‐Pierre
Published: June 2016

In vitro digestion assays provide useful data for wild ruminant ecologists. It remains highly constraining, however, to conduct these assays in the field. We evaluated various proxies for in vitro digestion assays that use ruminal liquor from wild ruminants. The ruminal liquor of freshly killed white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was used to measure in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), total gas, and volatile fatty acids (VFA) production of dominant summer and winter forage. We evaluated the ability of 4 proxies to predict these digestibility variables: 1) IVTD, total gas, and VFA produced with cow ruminal liquor; 2) acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentration; 3) CO2 production from soil–forage mixtures; and 4) predictive models based on near infrared spectra (NIRS) of forages. Predictions using NIRS were best correlated with all deer digestibility variables (each r2 > 0.93) with limited bias across forage species. Forage ADF and CO2 production from soil–forage mixtures were related with all digestibility variables (r2 = 0.62–0.95). Digestion assays using cow ruminal liquor was relatively good for predicting IVTD (r2 = 0.94) from deer ruminal liquor, but the weakest for predicting total gas (r2 = 0.63) and VFA production (r2 = 0.44). Calibrated NIRS models could substantially improve the prediction of in vitro digestibility variables. If access to NIRS technology or the ability to collect reference data with deer inocula for NIRS calibrations is impractical, forage ADF or CO2 production from soil–forage mixtures remain acceptable alternatives. Comparing the digestion kinetics and VFA production of wild and domestic ruminants is an innovative avenue for better understanding the adaptive ecophysiology of digestion by different herbivores. © 2016 The Wildlife Society.
Coupling on weighted branching trees
Authors: Chen Ningyuan , Olvera-Cravioto Mariana
Published: June 2016

In this paper we consider linear functions constructed on two different weighted branching processes and provide explicit bounds for their Kantorovich–Rubinstein distance in terms of couplings of their corresponding generic branching vectors. Motivated by applications to the analysis of random graphs, we also consider a variation of the weighted branching process where the generic branching vector has a different dependence structure from the usual one. By applying the bounds to sequences of weighted branching processes, we derive sufficient conditions for the convergence in the Kantorovich–Rubinstein distance of linear functions. We focus on the case where the limits are endogenous fixed points of suitable smoothing transformations.
Planar tessellations that have the half-Gilbert structure
Authors: Burridge James , Cowan Richard
Published: June 2016

In the full rectangular version of Gilbert's planar tessellation (see Gilbert (1967), Mackisack and Miles (1996), and Burridge et al. (2013)), lines extend either horizontally (with east- and west-growing rays) or vertically (north- and south-growing rays) from seed points which form a stationary Poisson point process, each ray stopping when it meets another ray that has blocked its path. In the half-Gilbert rectangular version, east- and south-growing rays, whilst having the potential to block each other, do not interact with west and north rays, and vice versa. East- and south-growing rays have a reciprocality of blocking, as do west and north. In this paper we significantly expand and simplify the half-Gilbert analytic results that we gave in Burridge et al. (2013). We also show how the idea of reciprocality of blocking between rays can be used in a much wider context, with rays not necessarily orthogonal and with seeds that produce more than two rays.
On the equivalence of systems of different sizes, with applications to system comparisons
Authors: Lindqvist Bo H. , Samaniego Francisco J. , Huseby Arne B.
Published: June 2016

The signature of a coherent system is a useful tool in the study and comparison of lifetimes of engineered systems. In order to compare two systems of different sizes with respect to their signatures, the smaller system needs to be represented by an equivalent system of the same size as the larger system. In the paper we show how to construct equivalent systems by adding irrelevant components to the smaller system. This leads to simpler proofs of some current key results, and throws new light on the interpretation of mixed systems. We also present a sufficient condition for equivalence of systems of different sizes when restricting to coherent systems. In cases where for a given system there is no equivalent system of smaller size, we characterize the class of lower-sized systems with a signature vector which stochastically dominates the signature of the larger system. This setup is applied to an optimization problem in reliability economics.
High-tech utopianism: Chinese and Indian science parks in the neo-liberal turn
Authors: DAS DIGANTA , LAM TONG
Published: June 2016

Science park developments have become ubiquitous in China and India in recent decades as both countries integrate further into the global economy. These exclusive high-tech spaces prioritize the partnership between industry, research and the government as a desirable mode of urbanization, economic growth and knowledge production. Contrary to the older form of industrial zone associated with big science and big industry for national mobilization during the Cold War, contemporary science parks constitute a network of global spaces that are designed to facilitate the circulation of technology, personnel and capital in the neo-liberal world. Similarly, science parks are closely linked to innovation, entrepreneurship and social exclusion rather than the collective social betterment. As utopian machines for the privileged, these exclusive spaces are about consumption, desire, hedging and speculation as much as about science, research and production.
“More than a Contract”: The Emergence of a State-Supported Marriage Welfare Service and the Politics of Emotional Life in Post-1945 Britain
Authors: Chettiar Teri
Published: June 2016

This article examines the seminal contributions of Britain's marriage counseling and therapy services toward cultivating a new emotional purpose for marriage in the decades following World War II. It presents two related narrative threads. First, it argues that psychologically oriented relationship services attracted government support because they supported the postwar ideal of a classless democratic society. Pioneering practitioners promoted a universalized view of citizens’ emotional relationships—rather than their socio-economic circumstances—as the determining fact of their lives. Second, it argues that these services provided a compelling language and set of concepts for articulating transforming understandings and expectations of marriage in the decades after 1945. To this end, the article reveals how the language and concepts of marriage therapists were mobilized by divorce reformers in the 1960s, and helped replace the offense model for divorce petitions with a less punitive psychological model of relationship “breakdown” in 1969. Britain's postwar marriage welfare services endowed stable harmonious families with crucial social and political importance as the bedrock for postwar social reconstruction and the most fitting environment for children and adults alike to develop into fully mature and self-realized democratic citizens.
Indigenous Learning Preferences and Interactive Technologies
Authors: Kitchenham Andrew
Published: June 2016

This three-year research study examined the influence of interactive technologies on the math achievement of Indigenous students in Years 4, 5, 6 and 7 technology — equipped classrooms in a rural elementary school in British Columbia, Canada. Using a mixed-methods approach, the researcher conducted semistructured interviews and collected math achievement data (reported elsewhere) over a three-year span, and distributed a survey to the teachers in the second year of the study. All data sources revealed that interactive technologies such as SMARTBoards, student response systems and document cameras influence positively Indigenous students’ math achievement over a three-year period.
Links Between Senior High School Indigenous Attendance, Retention and Engagement: Observations at Two Urban High Schools
Authors: Briggs Allan
Published: June 2016

This paper aims to provide some insight into the links between attendance, retention and engagement of Indigenous senior students in an urban environment. A study of 58 students from two urban high schools during the period 2009–14 was undertaken. The study used data from a variety of school records, as well as informal interviews with students. It is argued that while the broader comprehensive statistical studies are useful there is a need to have some more, in depth, localised studies in urban schools. Results of the study support the link between absences and student disengagement. There was a clear positive link between retention to Year 12 and superior attendance. In many individual instances, the links between attendance, retention and engagement were complex. There was also a need to place emphasis on alternative paths for some of the disengaged group rather than just trying to improve attendance. These paths included employment opportunities, Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and post school traineeships or apprenticeships. This paper points to the need for further longitudinal studies in urban high schools to study the long-term life outcomes for Indigenous students.
‘Working Together’: An Intercultural Academic Leadership Programme to Build Health Science Educators’ Capacity to Teach Indigenous Health and Culture
Authors: Durey Angela , Taylor Kate , Bessarab Dawn , Kickett Marion , Jones Sue , Hoffman Julie , Flavell Helen , Scott Kim
Published: June 2016

Progress has been slow in improving health disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians and other Australians. While reasons for this are complex, delivering healthcare respectful of cultural differences is one approach to improving Indigenous health outcomes. This paper presents and evaluates an intercultural academic leadership programme developed to support tertiary educators teaching Indigenous health and culture prepare interdisciplinary students to work respectfully and appropriately as health professionals with Indigenous peoples. The programme acknowledges the impact of colonisation on Indigenous Australians and draws on theories of the intercultural space to inform reflection and discussion on Indigenous/non-Indigenous relations and their impact on healthcare. Furthermore, the programme encourages establishing a community of practice as a resource for educators. Evaluation indicated participants’ confidence to teach Indigenous content increased following the programme. Participants felt more able to create intercultural, interdisciplinary and interactive learning spaces that were inclusive and safe for students from all cultures. Participants learned skills to effectively facilitate and encourage students to grapple with the complexity of the intercultural space, often tense, uncertain and risky, to enable new understandings and positions to emerge that could better prepare graduates to work in Indigenous health contexts.
EDITORS’ INTRODUCTION: HONORING OUR PARENTS
Authors: Ziettlow Amy , Cahn Naomi
Published: June 2016

What role does the honor commandment play in contemporary law and culture? Answering this question is especially pertinent in the early twenty-first century. With advances in longevity and declining birth rates, a growing percentage of the population is graying. In 2015, there were 901 million people aged sixty or over worldwide; a number projected to rise to 1.4 billion in 2030. By 2050, there will be more persons over the age of sixty than children under the age of fifteen. As the number of our global elders grows, so too will the number of those needing and providing physical and financial care.
COMPUTINGL-FUNCTIONS AND SEMISTABLE REDUCTION OF SUPERELLIPTIC CURVES
Authors: BOUW IRENE I. , WEWERS STEFAN
Published: June 2016

We give an explicit description of the stable reduction of superelliptic curves of the formyn=f(x) at primes$\mathfrak{p}$whose residue characteristic is prime to the exponentn. We then use this description to compute the localL-factor and the exponent of conductor at$\mathfrak{p}$of the curve.
ABELIAN IDEALS IN A COMPLEX SIMPLE LIE ALGEBRA
Authors: BROWNE PATRICK J.
Published: June 2016

In this note, we give a new simple construction of all maximal abelian ideals in a Borel subalgebra of a complex simple Lie algebra. We also derive formulas for dimensions of certain maximal abelian ideals in terms of the theory of Borel de Siebenthal.
THE STRUCTURE OF BALANCED BIG COHEN–MACAULAY MODULES OVER COHEN–MACAULAY RINGS
Authors: HOLM HENRIK
Published: June 2016

Over a Cohen–Macaulay (CM) local ring, we characterize those modules that can be obtained as a direct limit of finitely generated maximal CM modules. We point out two consequences of this characterization: (1) Every balanced big CM module, in the sense of Hochster, can be written as a direct limit of small CM modules. In analogy with Govorov and Lazard's characterization of flat modules as direct limits of finitely generated free modules, one can view this as a “structure theorem” for balanced big CM modules. (2) Every finitely generated module has a pre-envelope with respect to the class of finitely generated maximal CM modules. This result is, in some sense, dual to the existence of maximal CM approximations, which has been proved by Auslander and Buchweitz.
Gregory Cromwell: Two Portrait Miniatures by Hans Holbein the Younger
Authors: FITZGERALD TERI , MacCULLOCH DIARMAID
Published: June 2016

This paper presents a probable identification of not one but two portrait miniatures of Gregory Cromwell, only son of England's only vice-gerent in spirituals, by Hans Holbein the Younger. The historical evidence has hitherto remained unconnected because of misunderstandings about Gregory's age, which are clarified here, and also thanks to the unexpected modern locations of the two relevant miniatures.
Two Weddings and a Lawsuit: Marriage Litigation in Fourteenth-Century
Portugal
Authors: VITÓRIA ANDRÉ
Published: June 2016

Based on one of the few surviving records of marriage cases brought before
ecclesiastical courts in fourteenth-century Portugal, this article offers a rare
glimpse of marriage practice in a small village in a remote corner of Western Europe
and the complex ties that bound its inhabitants and which secular and ecclesiastical
authorities sought to regulate. Clear parallels can be drawn with the patterns of
marriage litigation observed in England and Northern France, but evidence also
suggests that royal legislation played an important part in the resolution of marital
disputes and in the shaping of conjugal behaviour.
Is trigonometry the preserve of the mathematical élite?
Authors: Griffiths Martin
Published: June 2016

This article, rather than purporting to be any sort of serious statistical analysis of the situation, is intended in some small way to foster further debate amongst school teachers, university lecturers, examiners, curriculum designers and policy makers regarding the level of mathematical skill and knowledge possessed in certain areas by students embarking on mathematics degree programmes. The title serves merely to set the scene, and to indicate our relatively narrow focus here. However, a whole host of mathematical words or phrases could have replaced ‘trigonometry’, and it would appear that much of the mathematics associated with straightforward A level work on functions causes even fairly bright students to struggle. Surely the study of functions ought to be regarded as a fundamental element of learning mathematics, and the acquisition of understanding in this area might consequently be seen as something of fundamental importance?
What's the Problem with Maths?
Authors: Acheson David
Published: June 2016

Mathematics is full of wonder and surprise, and I had my first big mathematical surprise at the age of 10, in 1956.

I was keen on conjuring at the time, and came across the following ‘mind-reading’ trick un a book.

Write down a 3-figure number.

Any such number will do, as long as the first and last figures differ by 2 or more.

Now reverse your number, and subtract the smaller 3-figure number from the larger.
Irrationality proofs à la Hermite
Authors: Zhou Li
Published: June 2016

In [1] Niven used the integral

to give a well-known proof of the irrationality of π. Recently Zhou and Markov [2] used a recurrence relation satisfied by this integral to present an alternative proof which may be more direct than Niven's.

Niven did not cite any references in [1] and thus the origin or Hn seems rather mysterious and ingenious. However if we heed Abel's advice to ‘study the masters’, we find that Hn emerged much more naturally from the great works of Lambert [3] and Hermite [4].
A classification of Kaprekar constant
Authors: Dolan Stan
Published: June 2016

The number 6174 has the well-known property that it equals the difference between the numbers formed by rearranging its digits in descending and ascending orders :

Numbers with this property are called Kaprekar constants after the Indian mathematician D. R. Kaprekar [1]. Similarly, the general process of finding the difference between numbers formed by rearranging digits in descending and ascending orders is called the Kaprekar process.