bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How much radioactive nickel does ASASSN-15lh require?
Authors: Kozyreva Alexandra , Hirschi Raphael , Blinnikov Sergey , den Hartogh Jacqueline
Published: March 2016

The discovery of the most luminous supernova ASASSN-15lh triggered a shock-wave in the supernova community. The three possible mechanisms proposed for the majority of other superluminous supernovae do not produce a realistic physical model for this particular supernova. In this study, we show the limiting luminosity available from a nickel-powered pair-instability supernova. We computed a few exotic nickel-powered explosions with a total mass of nickel up to 1500 solar masses. We used the hydrostatic configurations prepared with the geneva and mesa codes, and the stella radiative-transfer code for following the explosion of these models. We show that 1500 solar masses of radioactive nickel is needed to power a luminosity of 2 × 10 45 erg s − 1. The resulting light curve is very broad and incompatible with the shorter ASASSN-15lh time-scale. This rules out a nickel-powered origin of ASASSN-15lh. In addition, we derive a simple peak luminosity–nickel mass relation from our data, which may serve to estimate of nickel mass from observed peak luminosities.
A precontact binary and a shallow contact binary are in the same field
Authors: Liu Liang , Qian Shengbang , He Jiajia , Liao Wenping , Liu Nianping
Published: March 2016

The period changes of two close binaries, V1107 Cas and AX Cas, which are in the same field, were investigated. Their periods both show a long-term decrease. After further analysis, we found that the periods have their respective cyclic oscillations (T3 = 6.74 ± 0.24 yr for V1107 Cas and T3 = 13.8 ± 0.3 yr for AX Cas), which are possibly caused by a third body due to the light-time effect. We also obtained the complete VRcIc light curves for V1107 Cas and analyzed them with the 2010 version of the Wilson–Devinney code. The photometric results reveal that V1107 Cas is a W-type shallow contact (15.2%±1.8%) binary, with a mass-ratio of 1.797 ± 0.006. The period variation and photometric solution suggest that V1107 Cas is a newly formed contact binary system. Moreover, we estimated the fundamental parameters for V1107 Cas. They are: M1 = 0.39 ± 0.01 M⊙, M2 = 0.70 ± 0.03 M⊙, R1 = 0.52 ± 0.10 R⊙, R2 = 0.68 ± 0.12 R⊙, L1 = 0.178 ± 0.108 L⊙, and L2 = 0.196 ± 0.116 L⊙. Then, based on the coplane assumption, we deduced the masses of possible third bodies to be M3 = 0.091 ± 0.019 M⊙ for V1107 Cas and M3 = 0.325 ± 0.029 M⊙ for AX Cas. Finally, we inferred the evolutional stage of AX Cas, and believe that it is a precontact binary. Thus, the precontact binary AX Cas and the shallow contact binary V1107 Cas have adjoining evolutional stages.
Three distinct velocities of elongating RNA polymerase define exons and introns
Authors: Ye Qianqian , Kim Yoon Jung , Zhao Hongyu , Kim Tae Hoon
Published: March 2016

Differential elongation rates of RNA polymerase II (RNAP) have been posited to be a critical determinant for pre-mRNA splicing. Molecular dissection of mechanisms coupling transcription elongation rate with splicing requires knowledge of instantaneous RNAP elongation velocity at exon and introns. However, only average RNAP elongation rates over large genomic distances can be inferred with current approaches, and local instantaneous velocities of the elongating RNA polymerase across endogenous genomic regions remain difficult to determine at sufficient resolution to enable detailed kinetic analysis of RNAP at exons. In order to overcome these challenges and to investigate kinetic features of RNAP elongation at genomic scale, we have employed global nuclear run-on sequencing (GRO-seq) method to infer changes in local RNAP elongation rates across the human genome, as changes in the residence time of RNAP. Using this approach, we have investigated functional coupling between the changes in local pattern of RNAP elongation rate at the exons and their general expression level, as inferred by sequencing of mRNAs (mRNA-seq). Our genomic level analyses reveal acceleration of RNAP at lowly expressed exons and confirm the previously reported deceleration of RNAP at highly expressed exons, suggesting variable local velocities of elongating RNAP that are potentially associated with different inclusion or exclusion rates of exons across the human genome.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Understanding the mechanisms that enable high precision recognition and splicing of exons is fundamental to many aspects of human development and disease. Emerging data suggest that the speed of the elongating RNA polymerase affects pre-mRNA splicing; however, systematic genomic investigation of RNAP elongation speed and pre-mRNA have been lacking. Using a recently developed method for detecting synthesized nascent RNAs, we have inferred variable elongation rates of RNA polymerase II (RNAP) that are associated with included exons, introns and excluded exons, across the human genome. From this analysis, we have identified acceleration of RNAP at exons as a major determinant of exon exclusion across the genome, while confirming previous studies showing deceleration of RNAP at included exons.
Quantification of amorphous phases in the silt fraction of Mexican pre-Hispanic adobe earth bricks
Authors: Pérez Nora A. , Bucio Lauro , Bokhimi Xim , Lima Enrique , Soto Enrique
Published: March 2016

This study is focused on quantifying the amorphous phases in soil-related material samples by quantitative phase analysis (QPA) with a carefully designed methodological strategy in the X-ray diffraction sample measurement and in the refinement procedure. The configuration applied was Debye–Scherrer geometry with Mo Kα radiation which, together with meticulous instrumental profile modelling using an LaB6standard, allowed the refinement of a minimum of sample-related parameters. This method was applied to two micro-samples of adobe earth bricks from The Great Pyramid of Cholula, Mexico, and one local soil micro-sample containing several amorphous and semi-crystalline phases such as allophane, volcanic glass and opal. The results obtained by the QPA method, complemented by elemental particle induced X ray emission (PIXE) spectrometry analysis, were compared with a silicon chemical environment analysis by29Si MAS-NMR. An average amorphous content of 40 wt% was calculated with the QPA/PIXE results, which is in agreement within 10% with the NMR experiments. Consequently, the methodology proposed could be of interest for further studies of cultural heritage geomaterials, which usually contain amorphous phases in their composition and allow only micro-sampling.
4-(4-Methoxyphenyl)-5,7-dimethylchroman-2-one
Authors: Queiroz Jaqueline Evangelista , Vila Verde Giuliana Muniz , Pereira Mariette Miguens , Ramos Silva Manuela , Aquino Gilberto L. B.
Published: March 2016

In the title compound, C18H18O3, a dihydrocoumarin synthesizedviaa microwave-assisted hydroarylation reaction, the 4-methoxyphenyl ring is inclined to the mean plane of the coumarin moiety by 78.21 (9)°. The pyran ring has a screw-boat conformation and its mean plane is inclined to the fused benzene ring by 13.88 (11)°. In the crystal, molecules are linkedviaC—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming ribbons along theb-axis direction. The ribbons are linkedviaC—H...π interactions, forming slabs parallel to theabplane.
The effects of fatalism and denial on earthquake preparedness levels
Authors: Baytiyeh Hoda , Naja Mohamad
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of awareness and beliefs on college students’ preparedness for earthquake risks in Lebanon.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire was used to investigate Lebanese college students’ (n=901) perceptions and preparedness for earthquake hazards. Three factors were assessed to determine students’ disaster preparedness (DP): hazard and vulnerability awareness (HVA), fatalistic beliefs (FB) and denial beliefs (DB).

Findings

– The findings indicate an above average level of earthquake HVA among college students. Although the results do not reflect a high tendency towards DB, participants showed some inclinations to FB. Multiple regression showed that earthquake HVA plays the most important role in determining earthquake preparedness while denial and FB have a negative effect on DP. Fatalism is embedded in Middle Eastern societies, so higher education institutions are urged to increase the preparation knowledge of college students.

Originality/value

– This study offers a discussion of the interaction of awareness and belief factors and their effects on vulnerable communities.
An exploration of objectivism and social constructivism within the context of disaster risk
Authors: Chipangura Paul , Van Niekerk Dewald , Van Der Waldt Gerrit
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to understand the meaning of social constructivism and objectivism within the context of disaster risk from which disaster risk policy can be analysed. In particular, the paper attempts to explore the implications of social constructivism and objectivism in disaster risk which is essential in explaining why disaster risk has different nuances and consequently policy responses.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature survey was used to explore social constructivism and objectivism within the context of disaster risk. The survey involved documentary searches from academic books, journal articles and disaster risk reports to serve as primary research data.

Findings

– The analysis revealed that viewing and managing disasters through the lens of objectivism might not yield the desired results of minimising risk as it conceals the vulnerabilities to disaster risk. The objectivist perspective is therefore in itself considered inadequate for the study of disaster risk and that social constructivist assumptions are required in order to analyse disaster risk. Towards this end, social constructivism offers a discursive approach to disaster risk policy science; one that more optimally illuminates competing local perspectives.

Originality/value

– An epistemological and ontological assessment of social constructivism and objectivism in disaster risk can assist greatly in understanding the discursive dimension of disaster risk through explanations of how and why disasters are framed the way they are framed and the implications of this on policy formulation and implementation.
Women’s solidarity economy initiatives to strengthen food security in response to disasters
Authors: Ofreneo Rosalinda Pineda , Hega Mylene D.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the knowledge gained from the experiences of community-based, women-led organizations of workers in the informal economy which strengthen food security, enhance livelihoods in peri-urban areas through solidarity economy initiatives, and advance women’s empowerment as they respond to disasters arising from climate change.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is based on case studies of Buklod Tao in San Mateo, Rizal, and the PATAMABA chapter in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. The study was conducted within the tradition of gender-responsive participatory action research anchored on a human rights-based approach.

Findings

– Experience of flooding motivated mature organizations of women informal workers to establish community-based peri-urban gardens connected to other solidarity-based sustainable livelihood initiatives to address food security concerns, increase income, and mitigate the impact of similar disasters. Although women have been empowered through these initiatives, much still has to be done to transform gender relations in various spheres.

Research limitations/implications

– This research process lends itself toward unearthing gender inequalities which would otherwise remain hidden.

Practical implications

– The solidarity-based initiatives documented in these case studies may be adopted by women informal workers’ organizations in similar situations to advocate for and attain food security.

Originality/value

– Solidarity-based strategies to attain food security among women informal workers are rarely documented for assessment and knowledge sharing. How they are or can be further empowered by these initiatives is a significant contribution to the literature on gender and disasters.
Collaborative governance difficulty and policy implication
Authors: Bang Min Seok , Kim YunYoung
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the case of the disaster involving the South Korean ferry, Sewol; offer policy implications; and point to the difficulty of collaboration in the functioning of the national disaster management system.

Design/methodology/approach

– The government network approach of this paper is adopted in order to study how to link different policy actors, how to deal with disaster issues in their networking, and how to produce social-political resilience. This paper explores why the national incident management system was not working properly in terms of “governance networking”, and focuses on changes that have been made to the legal system and the government organizational system since 2000.

Findings

– The principle results of the analysis are as follows: first, the collaboration between organizations that existed at the time of the accident focused only on sharing resources, and service delivery involved little connection between organizations. Second, assessment of the scale of the disaster was not carried out correctly because of dysfunctional relations between government network organizations and disaster victims, which affected both sides’ awareness of policy issues and priorities.

Originality/value

– This paper found that an integrated disaster management framework was not available, and activities were carried out for the sake of form. Also, no governance network for collaboration had been systematically built up, and there was also little collaboration between public and private organizations.
Social media dilemmas in the employment context
Authors: Lam Helen
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse social media issues that give rise to employment-related legal and ethical dilemmas, with reference made to recent case law development, and offer recommendations for employers and employees.

Design/methodology/approach

– Prior research, statistical trends, and case laws are reviewed.

Findings

– Employers using social media for employment decisions may risk crossing the lines of discrimination, infringement on personal privacy, and/or interference with employees’ concerted activities protected by US law. However, employers not using social media may face negligent hiring and damages for improper employee messages posted. For employees, while social media provides a connection tool, messages posted off-duty and thought to be “private” may still be used as evidence in support of disciplinary actions.

Practical implications

– Employers, employees, and their unions must be cognizant of the ethical and legal implications of using social media in the employment context, and the latest developments in the privacy rights, human rights, labour relations rights, and contractual rights. Concerns about power shift need to be addressed.

Social implications

– Social media growth has blurred the boundary between work and private lives. With employers able to monitor employees’ social media activities almost at all times, this has implications for the overall power and control. On the other hand, employees may find social media offering another voice channel that can also potentially increase their power to some extent.

Originality/value

– Social media is a fast developing area with new case laws emerging regarding its use in the employment context. The paper provides a systemic review of the issues and latest developments.
School-based intervention for nutrition promotion in Mi Yun County, Beijing, China
Authors: Wang Dongxu , Stewart Donald , Chang Chun
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to assess whether the school-based nutrition programme using the health-promoting school (HPS) framework was effective to improve parents’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviour (KAB) in relation to nutrition in rural Mi Yun County, Beijing.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cluster-randomised intervention trial design was employed. Two middle schools were randomly selected and assigned to either the intervention school using the HPS framework (HPS School), or to the Control School, in Mi Yun County, Beijing. From each school 65 parents of seventh-grade students were randomly selected to participate in the study. Nutrition-related KAB were measured at pre- and post-intervention surveys with the same instrument. The nutrition intervention last for six months.

Findings

– The school-based nutrition intervention using the HPS framework was effective in increasing parents’ nutrition knowledge; however, it had no statistical significant impact on improving parents’ attitudes towards nutrition and their eating behaviours.

Research limitations/implications

– The intervention appeared to be inadequate from the point of view of its impact on parents in terms of content, form and frequency.

Practical implications

– Future school-based nutrition promotion programmes using the HPS framework should focus more on parents, providing them with a more informative, participative and interactive, and frequent intervention.

Originality/value

– There is very limited published research focusing on the effect of the school-based nutrition promotion programmes using an HPS framework on parents’ nutrition-related KAB. Although, the improved KAB in relation to nutrition among parents is essential to promote young people’s nutrition and healthy eating behaviours.
Behavioural effects of a short school-based fruit and vegetable promotion programme
Authors: Mittmann Silke , Austel Anja , Ellrott Thomas
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of the Cancer Society of Lower Saxony’s school-based nutrition education programme “5-a-day for kids”, designed to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption. Intervention: the programme included three parts (each 45 minutes): education-based classroom session; food knowledge in a local supermarket; and practical vegetable snack preparation. Additional promoting information materials for parents were provided.

Design/methodology/approach

– A pre-/post-test research design was used for the evaluation. In total, 1,376 pupils (age 7-14, 51 per cent female), their parents and 69 teachers of 35 schools in Lower Saxony participated in the study. The fruit and vegetable intake was measured with the KiGGS-Food Frequency Questionnaire.

Findings

– A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to determine the change in fruit and vegetable consumption over three measurements (baseline, one month, three months). No significant positive effect of the intervention was observed with the applied method for the daily intake of fruit and vegetables, neither at month 1 nor at month 3.

Research limitations/implications

– A 135 min school-based intervention does not seem to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption. To enhance its effectiveness, the programme may be improved by adding a longitudinal classroom component, extensive parental involvement and/or distribution of free fruit/vegetables every day.

Originality/value

– This is the first evaluation of a 5-a-day-intervention in Germany.
Energy system impacts of the Norwegian-Swedish TGC market
Authors: Tveten Åsa Grytli , Bolkesjø Torjus Folsland
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to analyze the power market and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission effects of the joint Norwegian–Swedish tradable green certificates (TGCs) market, which is established to support investments according to a 26.4 TWh increased annual renewable electricity generation (REG) by 2020.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study applies an energy system model with high granularity in time and space, and detailed power system data for the Nordic countries, Germany, The Netherlands and UK.

Findings

– The results show that the TGC scheme will cause a 8.7-9.3 /MWh reduction in average electricity prices in the Nordic countries. The price decrease will to a limited extent pass through to Germany, The Netherlands and UK. When assuming a low carbon price level, the new REG will reduce annual GHG emissions by 10.9 Mtonnes in 2020, primarily through substitution of German natural gas power. A sensitivity analysis shows that the GHG emission effect of the TGCs is highly sensitive to changes in the carbon price. Investment levels up to a 90 TWh increased REG per year are found to cause increasing GHG emission reductions.

Originality/value

– The study results signal the importance of taking the TGC policy into account in decision-making processes in the Northern European power system, in particular for market actors in the Nordic area. The authors conclude that the Nordic countries potentially can play a vital role in a future Northern European low carbon power system through export of green balancing power, substitution of thermal power and reduced GHG emissions from the Northern European power sector.
Precise decisions in Indian energy sector by imprecise evaluation
Authors: Soni Vivek , Singh Surya Prakash , Banwet Devinder Kumar
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to prioritize Indian energy sector projects, namely, coal, gas, hydro and solar using fuzzy PROMETHHE (F-PROMETHEE) and Visual PROMETHEE applications and multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) analyses.

Design/methodology/approach

– The MCDM outranking approach of PROMETHEE under fuzzy environment is used. Four projects of energy sector are selected as alternatives and are compared based on various criteria. These criteria selected on the perspectives of life cycle costing (LCC) analysis and related management approaches for prioritizing projects for effective decision-making (DM). The F-PROMETHEE is described and results are also compared with outranking application in Visual PROMETHEE software based on same set of criteria. For better understanding, the graphical representations of the multicriteria problem are also shown using graphical analysis for interactive aid.

Findings

– On applying F-PROMETHEE on four energy projects, coal and solar projects outrank high and results shows that coal-based project is preferable and should be considered.

Research limitations/implications

– Here F-PROMETHEE and Visual PROMETHEE are used as MCDM techniques. However, few other MCDM techniques such as ELECTRE and EATWOS can be also explored to outrank Indian energy sector projects.

Practical implications

– Indian energy sector involves high degree of complexity for effective DM on the front of prioritized investment-related capacity addition through energy projects. Outranking methods like F-PROMETHEE is able to address the criteria to criteria impact on DM support precisely.

Social implications

– The finding can provide information to the government or public sector regarding various possible investment options on energy projects in India.

Originality/value

– This paper can be supplement and act as the support for DM in conflicting situations specifically for prioritizing investments on various energy projects, which further can synergize conflicting ideas of various stakeholders of the Indian energy sector.
Linking service design to value creation and service research
Authors: Andreassen Tor Wallin , Kristensson Per , Lervik-Olsen Line , Parasuraman A , McColl-Kennedy Janet R , Edvardsson Bo , Colurcio Maria
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to develop a framework for understanding service design and how service design relates to central concepts within service marketing.

Design/methodology/approach

– For companies, service design is growing in importance and has become a crucial capability to survive in the service-dominant economy. Service design increases the capacity to improve not only service experiences but also organizational design. On this premise, the authors propose a conceptual framework.

Findings

– By relating service design to research efforts within service marketing, dual value creation can be enhanced. As such, the conceptual framework portrays service design as an enhancer of customer experience and organizational performance.

Originality/value

– To the authors knowledge, service design has not been discussed in the service marketing literature. Thus, this is the first attempt to see service design in light of well-established service marketing models such as SERVQUAL and an updated version of the Service-profit-chain.
Building on the past: advancing theory in services through meta-analysis
Authors: Orsingher Chiara , Hogreve Jens , Ordanini Andrea
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to offer a reflection on the role that meta-analysis can play in theory building for service phenomena.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper illustrates the benefits of conducting meta-analysis, presents its basic steps, and then uses an example to illustrate how meta-analytic findings can be used to enrich and develop theory.

Findings

– Meta-analytic findings allow identifying gaps in current theories, thereby offering the opportunity to develop new research. Theoretical advancement through meta-analysis can imply theory borrowing, mutual theoretical development with other disciplines, intradisciplinary and multidisciplinary theorizing.

Practical implications

– Experienced researchers might use this essay to better understand how meta-analysis can be used to generate new relevant research. Young researchers and PhD students may benefit from a greater use of meta-analysis to gain a thorough knowledge of their research topic and about the areas that require further exploration.

Originality/value

– Rather than thinking of meta-analysis mainly as the conclusion of a well-researched domain and a good summary of cites, this essay underlines to the service scholar community how meta-analysis can boost theoretical advancement in services.
Contactless Visualization of Latent Fingerprints on Nonporous Curved Surfaces of Circular Cross Section
Authors: Low Wei Zeng , Khoo Bee Ee , Abdullah Ahmad Fahmi Lim bin
Published: March 2016

Nondestructive techniques for gathering evidence are important in the field of forensics. Due to the geometry of the substrates, nondestructive visualization of fingermarks on curved surfaces remains challenging. A novel contactless technique was developed for visualizing and recording fingermark patterns on nonporous curved surfaces of circular cross section. The technique utilizes a plane mirror to transmit rays from a light source to illuminate the area of interest for fingermark visualization. The fingermark acquisition system consists of a digital single‐lens reflex (SLR) camera, a plane mirror, and a white light source. Mathematical equations are used to calculate the mirror size. Experiments were performed on various curved surfaces to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of the technique. Spectral Image Validation and Verification (SIVV) was used to analyze the captured images. The results of this study indicate that the technique described here is able to reveal fingermark patterns on curved surfaces of circular cross section.
Effects of habitat age and disturbance intensity on the biodiversity of three trophic levels in Central Kenya
Authors: Eisenring Michael , Beck Jan , Agwanda Bernard , Kioko Esther , Curran Michael
Published: March 2016

In recent decades, the extent of primary forest in tropical regions has decreased drastically, with concurrent increases in the extent of tropical secondary forest. This has important implications for conservation management. We present novel data on species diversity and composition for three taxa (bats, geometrid moths and plants) in forests at two stages of secondary growth located in the Aberdare Mountains in Central Kenya. We found no significant differences in alpha diversity for any of the sampled groups between forest types. However, we found disturbance‐driven differences of tree and herb community compositions and correlations between tree and moth – and tree and shrub community compositions. Changes in community compositions were more pronounced using an abundance‐based indicator (Bray–Curtis) in comparison with an incidence based (Sørensen). Our results demonstrate that solely working with alpha diversity values can be misleading in conservation planning as they might not reflect compositional changes between habitats. Furthermore, abundance‐based compositional measures appear to be superior to incidence‐based measures for detecting subtle effects of disturbance on biodiversity.
Plant cystine‐knot peptides: pharmacological perspectives
Authors: Molesini Barbara , Treggiari Davide , Dalbeni Andrea , Minuz Pietro , Pandolfini Tiziana
Published: March 2016

Cystine‐knot miniproteins are a class of 30–50 amino acid long peptides widespread in eukaryotic organisms. Due to their very peculiar three‐dimensional structure, they exhibit high resistance to heat and peptidase attack. The cystine‐knot peptides are well represented in several plant species including medicinal herbs and crops. The pharmacological interest in plant cystine‐knot peptides derives from their broad biological activities, mainly cytotoxic, antimicrobial and peptidase inhibitory and in the possibility to engineer them to incorporate pharmacophoric information for oral delivery or disease biomonitoring. The mechanisms of action of plant cystine‐knot peptides are still largely unknown, although the capacity to interfere with plasma membranes seems a feature common to several cystine‐knot peptides. In some cases, such as potato carboxypetidase inhibitor (PCI) and tomato cystine‐knot miniproteins (TCMPs), the cystine‐knot peptides target human growth factor receptors either by acting as growth factor antagonist or by altering their signal transduction pathway. The possibility to identify specific molecular targets of plant cystine‐knot peptides in human cells opens novel possibilities for the pharmacological use of these peptides besides their use as scaffold to develop stable disease molecular markers and therapeutic agents.
3‐Year Randomized Controlled Prospective Clinical Trial on Different CAD‐CAM Implant Abutments
Authors: Ferrari Marco , Tricarico Maria Gabriella , Cagidiaco Maria Crysanti , Vichi Alessandro , Gherlone Enrico Felice , Zarone Fernando , Sorrentino Roberto
Published: March 2016

Background

Zirconia abutments were introduced to restore esthetic regions and showed sufficient stability to support implant restorations. Nonetheless, to date the observation periods are shorter than those of titanium abutments.

Purpose

To assess the survival of implant crowns supported by computer aided design‐computer aided manufacturing (CAD‐CAM) abutments after 3 years.

Materials and Methods

Fifty‐six patients were selected for this prospective clinical study. Each patient received at least 1 titanium implant for a total of 89 fixtures. A two‐stage surgical technique and no additional soft or hard tissue graft were used. The implants were randomly divided into 3 groups receiving different CAD‐CAM abutments: titanium, titanium nitride, and zirconia. Zirconia or metal‐ceramic crowns were used as final restorations. Cementation was the baseline and the restorations were checked after 6 months, 1, 2, and 3 years, assessing any mechanical complication. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the 3‐year success rates.

Results

Five failures were reported in the zirconia group; all the failed restorations showed fractures of the abutment connection. Four failures occurred in posterior regions and one more occurred while screwing the abutment. Titanium and titanium nitride abutments had significantly higher 3‐year success rates than zirconia abutments (p < .05).

Conclusions

Atlantis titanium and titanium nitride abutments showed optimal clinical performances after 3 years. Conversely, Atlantis zirconia abutments should be avoided to restore posterior regions.
Bone volume changes after immediate implant placement with or without flap elevation
Authors: Mazzocco Fabio , Jimenez Daniel , Barallat Lucía , Paniz Gianluca , Del Fabbro Massimo , Nart Jose
Published: March 2016

Objectives

The aims of this prospective study were to evaluate bone dimensions after immediate implant placement with simultaneous grafting of the buccal gap, to determine if initial buccal bone width had an influence on bone remodelling and to compare bone volume changes using a flap or a flapless approach after 6 months of healing.

Material and methods

This prospective study included patients who required an extraction and a subsequent immediate implant placement at a non‐molar site. In those cases where tooth extraction was not feasible with a flapless approach (test group) a mucoperiosteal flap was carefully elevated (control group). After extraction, a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was taken. Then, an implant was placed and the buccal gap was grafted using anorganic bovine bone. After 6 months of healing, a second CBCT was performed. A blinded investigator superimposed both images and performed a series of measurements to determine bone volume changes between the two time points.

Results

Thirty‐five patients were included in this study, 20 of which belonged to the test group. All together, the differences between baseline and 6 months in buccal plate height, lingual plate height and in ridge width at 2, 4 and 6 mm were 0.48 ± 1.35; 0.58 ± 1.51; 0.64 ± 0.81; 0.59 ± 1.36 and 0.52 ± 1.16, respectively. Only a moderate correlation was observed between initial buccal plate width and buccal plate height at 6 months (P = 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were observed between flap and flapless approach.

Conclusions

A mean reduction of around 0.5 mm in height and width after placing immediate implants and filling the residual gap with anorganic bovine bone may be expected. No significant association between initial buccal bone width and ridge width at 6 months was seen. No statistically significant differences were found between the two treatment protocols although more ridge reduction was observed for the flap group.
Minimal Requirements for the Emergence of Learned Signaling
Authors: Spike Matthew , Stadler Kevin , Kirby Simon , Smith Kenny
Published: March 2016

The emergence of signaling systems has been observed in numerous experimental and real‐world contexts, but there is no consensus on which (if any) shared mechanisms underlie such phenomena. A number of explanatory mechanisms have been proposed within several disciplines, all of which have been instantiated as credible working models. However, they are usually framed as being mutually incompatible. Using an exemplar‐based framework, we replicate these models in a minimal configuration which allows us to directly compare them. This reveals that the development of optimal signaling is driven by similar mechanisms in each model, which leads us to propose three requirements for the emergence of conventional signaling. These are the creation and transmission of referential information, a systemic bias against ambiguity, and finally some form of information loss. Considering this, we then discuss some implications for theoretical and experimental approaches to the emergence of learned communication.
Effects of guided breath exercise on complex behaviour of heart rate dynamics
Authors: Tavares Bruna S. , de Paula Vidigal Giovanna , Garner David M. , Raimundo Rodrigo D. , de Abreu Luiz Carlos , Valenti Vitor E.
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Cardiac autonomic regulation is influenced by changes in respiratory rate, which has been demonstrated by linear analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Conversely, the complex behaviour is not well defined for HRV during this physiological state. In this sense, Higuchi Fractal Dimension is applied directly to the time series. It analyses the fractal dimension of discrete time sequences and is simpler and faster than correlation dimension and many other classical measures derived from chaos theory. We investigated chaotic behaviour of heart rate dynamics during guided breath exercises.

Method

We investigated 21 healthy male volunteers aged between 18 and 30 years. HRV was analysed 10 min before and 10 min during guided breath exercises. HRV was analysed in the time and frequency domain for linear analysis and through HFD for non‐linear analysis.

Results

Linear analysis indicated that SDNN, pNN50, RMSSD, LF, HF and LF/HF increased during guided breath exercises. HFD analysis illustrated that between Kmax 20 to Kmax 120 intervals, was enhanced during guided breath exercises.

Conclusion

Guided breath exercises acutely increased chaotic behaviour of HRV measured by HFD.
The cultural politics of mining and natural disaster in Indonesia: by fire and sword
Authors: Lewis Jeff , Lewis Belinda
Published: March 2016

Natural disasters are inevitably the outcome of cultural agonisms. The cultural politics of natural disasters are shaped by competing claims and conceptions of ‘nature’. Recent disasters in Indonesia are directly linked to these contending conceptions and the ways in which different social groups imagine risk and reward. The Sidoarjo volcanic mudflow of 2006 represents a volatile and violent exemplar of contending cultural and economic claims. Like other disasters in Indonesia and elsewhere in the developing world, this ‘natural’ disaster is characterised by differing conceptions of ‘nature’ as cultural tradition, divine force, and natural resource. A new extractive project in East Java is exhibiting similar economic and cultural agonisms, particularly around the notion of development, environment, self‐determination, and tradition. This paper examines the ‘disputes over meaning’ associated with natural disasters in contemporary societies, and the ways in which they are related to human culture, social organisation, and hierarchical systems of violence.
Developing indicators to measure post‐disaster community recovery in the United States
Authors: Horney Jennifer , Dwyer Caroline , Aminto Meghan , Berke Philip , Smith Gavin
Published: March 2016

Disaster recovery is a key capability of federal, state, and local government. To support this capability effectively practitioners need useful and validated metrics to document how well a community is recovering from a particular disaster. This study developed and categorised recovery indicators according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Recovery Support Functions and Recovery Mission Area Core Capabilities through a literature review, an evaluation of the pre‐disaster recovery plans for 87 coastal jurisdictions, and a case study of two communities (New Hanover County, North Carolina, and the City of Hoboken, New Jersey). Metrics identified in the literature were validated through the recovery plan review and the case study. The research team also identified sources for both baseline and current status data. Based on these findings, a user‐friendly checklist for practitioners was established, which will be piloted with practice partners during a future disaster recovery initiative.
Older coronary thrombus is an independent predictor of 1‐year mortality in acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Li Xiaofei , Kramer Miranda C. , Damman Peter , van der Wal Allard C. , Grundeken Maik J. , van Straalen Jan P. , Koch Karel T. , Henriques Jose P. , Baan Jan , Vis Marije M. , Piek Jan J. , Fischer Johan C. , Tijssen Jan G. P. , de Winter Robbert J.
Published: March 2016

Background

We have previously shown that older thrombus is associated with a twofold higher long‐term mortality in ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI). We evaluated whether the addition of the presence of older thrombus to a multimarker model would result in increased predictive power for 1‐year mortality in STEMI patients.

Methods

The study population (n = 1442) consists of STEMI patients treated with thrombus aspiration during pPCI. Patients were included if aspirated thrombus material could histopathologically be classified according to thrombus age (n = 870) and laboratory measurements of biomarkers (cardiac troponin T, glucose, N‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide, estimated glomerular filtration rate and C‐reactive protein) were available. The additional prognostic value of the presence of older thrombus beyond multiple biomarkers and established clinical risk factors was evaluated using multivariate Cox regression models.

Results

Serum biomarker concentrations were similar between patients with fresh and older thrombus. Sixty patients (7%) died within 1 year. The presence of older thrombus remained strongly associated with mortality at 1 year after multivariable adjustment for multiple biomarkers and established clinical risk factors. Addition of older thrombus to either a model including clinical risk factors and biomarkers or a model including solely biomarkers resulted in significant increases in the discriminative value, evidenced by net reclassification improvement and integrated discriminative improvement.

Conclusions

The presence of older thrombus provides independent complementary information to a multimarker model including established clinical risk factors and multiple biomarkers for predicting 1‐year mortality in STEMI patients treated with pPCI and thrombus aspiration.
Investigation of small fatigue crack initiation and growth behaviour of nickel base superalloy GH4169
Authors: Zhu L. , Wu Z. R. , Hu X. T. , Song Y. D.
Published: March 2016

Surface replication method was utilized to monitor the small fatigue crack initiation and growth process of single‐edge‐notch tension specimens fabricated by nickel base superalloy GH4169. Three different stress levels were selected. Results showed that small fatigue cracks of nickel base superalloy GH4169 initiated from grain boundaries or surface inclusions. The small fatigue crack initiation and growth stages took up about 80–90% of the total fatigue life. Multiple major cracks were observed in the notch root, and specimen with more major cracks seemed to have smaller fatigue life under the same test conditions. At the early growth stage, small crack behaviour might be strongly influenced by microstructures; thus, the crack growth rates had high fluctuations. However, the stress level effect on the small fatigue crack growth rates was not distinguishable for the three different stress levels. And no clear differences were found among the crack initiation lives by using replication technique.
Conserved interaction of Ctf18‐RFC with DNA polymerase ε is critical for maintenance of genome stability in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Okimoto Hiroko , Tanaka Seiji , Araki Hiroyuki , Ohashi Eiji , Tsurimoto Toshiki
Published: March 2016

Human Ctf18‐RFC, a PCNA loader complex, interacts with DNA polymerase ε (Polε) through a structure formed by the Ctf18, Dcc1 and Ctf8 subunits. The C‐terminal stretch of Ctf18, which is highly conserved from yeast to human, is necessary to form the Polε‐capturing structure. We found that in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Ctf18, Dcc1 and Ctf8 formed the same structure through the conserved C‐terminus and interacted specifically with Polε. Thus, the specific interaction of Ctf18‐RFC with Polε is a conserved feature between these proteins. A C‐terminal deletion mutant of Ctf18 (ctf18ΔC) exhibited the same high sensitivity to hydroxyurea as the complete deletion strain (ctf18Δ) or ATPase‐deficient mutant (ctf18K189A), but was somewhat less sensitive to methyl methanesulfonate than either of them. These phenotypes were also observed in dcc1Δ and ctf8Δ, predicted to be deficient in the interaction with Polε. Furthermore, both plasmid loss and gross chromosomal rearrangement (GCR) rates were increased in ctf18ΔC cells to the same extent as in ctf18Δ cells. These results indicate that the Ctf18‐RFC/Polε interaction plays a crucial role in maintaining genome stability in budding yeast, probably through recruitment of this PCNA loader to the replication fork.
Complete response to short‐term sorafenib treatment alone for hepatocellular carcinoma with bone, lymph node, and peritoneum metastases
Authors: Nakano Norihito , Kawaoka Tomokazu , Aikata Hiroshi , Honda Fumi , Nakamura Yuki , Morio Kei , Hatooka Masahiro , Fukuhara Takayuki , Kobayashi Tomoki , Hiramatsu Akira , Imamura Michio , Kawakami Yoshiiku , Takahashi Shoichi , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: March 2016

We report a 60‐year‐old male patient who developed extrahepatic metastases in bone, peritoneum, and lymph nodes (confirmed by computed tomography and positron emission tomography–computed tomography) after hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma. He was treated with sorafenib (800 mg/day) but developed grade 3 hand–foot syndrome. He continued to be treated with sorafenib but at a lower dose (400 mg/week). The response to sorafenib therapy was graded as complete response at 6 months by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors. Sorafenib was continued for 8 months and the patient remained in complete response for 11 months. Further reporting of similar cases should help design treatment strategies and evaluate predictors of the response to sorafenib therapy.
Fabrication of Lightweight Anorthite Bodies from Lithomargic Clay
Authors: Andrews Anthony , Amoah Gabriel , Anaman Sam , Gawu Simon
Published: March 2016

Lightweight anorthite bricks were fabricated by firing lithomargic clay with varied lime content. Mfensi clay was added as a binder, while sawdust was added to control porosity. The effect of lime on firing shrinkage, bulk density, apparent porosity, water absorption, and compressive strength of the anorthite bricks was investigated. Increasing lime content decreased firing shrinkage from 12% to 2% upon addition of 40 wt% lime. The bulk density and apparent porosity ranged from 0.77 to 0.96 g/cm3 and 45 to 56%, respectively. Water absorption was between 46 and 73%, while compressive strength was between 0.2 and 1.2 MPa.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about influenza illness and vaccination: a cross‐sectional survey in two South African communities
Authors: Wong Karen K. , Cohen Adam L. , Norris Shane A. , Martinson Neil A. , von Mollendorf Claire , Tempia Stefano , Walaza Sibongile , Madhi Shabir A. , McMorrow Meredith L. , Variava Ebrahim , Motlhaoleng Katlego M. , Cohen Cheryl
Published: March 2016

Background

Understanding knowledge and sentiment toward influenza and vaccination is important for effective health messages and prevention strategies. We aimed to characterize knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding influenza illness and vaccination in two South African communities and explore reasons for vaccine hesitancy.

Methods

Household primary caregivers in Soweto and Klerksdorp townships were interviewed about knowledge of influenza and intention to receive an influenza vaccine using a structured questionnaire. Factors associated with unwillingness to receive vaccine were explored using multivariable regression.

Results

We interviewed representatives of 973 households in Soweto and 1,442 in Klerksdorp. Most respondents in Soweto (692, 71%) and Klerksdorp (1247, 87%) thought weather or cold caused influenza. While most would get a free influenza vaccine, those unwilling to receive vaccine had concerns about efficacy (Soweto: 19%; Klerksdorp: 19%) and safety (Soweto: 17%; Klerksdorp: 10%). In Soweto, females (aRR 2·0, 95% CI 1·3–3·2) and those with higher household income (aRR 1·8, 95% CI 1·2–2·7) were less willing to receive vaccine. In Klerksdorp, more educated respondents (aRR 1·6, 95% CI 1·1–2·4) were less willing to receive vaccine; households reporting an HIV‐positive member were more willing to receive vaccine (aRR 0·3, 95% CI 0·1–0·8).

Conclusions

Although findings suggest most community participants were amenable to influenza vaccination, knowledge gaps were present. Emphasizing the importance of influenza as a health problem and addressing vaccine safety and efficacy concerns may improve uptake. Populations less amenable to vaccination, including those with higher education and income, may benefit from targeted messaging efforts.