bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weaving potential space and acculturation: Art therapy at the museum
Authors: Salom Andrée
Published: May 2015

Contemporary museum paradigms that address social responsibility, value diverse interpretations and promote communication create novel possibilities for cultural connections and exchanges. Evidencing these new roles, the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) in Bogotá, Colombia, offered an art therapy programme to serve internally displaced indigenous women (IDIW) of Wounaan and Guambiano ethnicities. The qualities of museums as safe holding environments able to serve in processes of acculturation, surfaced in the course of the art therapy programme. This article bridges discourses related to museums, immigrant populations and the object relations construct of potential space through the common denominator of the interplay between internal and external realities.
Study of transitory phenomena at connecting the capacitive loads to an AC power source
Authors: Niculescu Titu , Marcu Marius , Popescu Florin Gabriel
Published: May 2015

This paper presents a new and a modern method for study the inductive-capacitive circuits which are connected to an AC power source, using modern methods based on digital technology and software used in engineering applications. The capacitive circuits which are switched on an AC power source at the initial moment are presented below. We can determine the capacitor current variation forms, the capacitor voltage in a transient regime by using virtual mediums, in two different regimes: the oscillating regime and the-periodic regime. Each presented case contains an analytical presentation of the phenomenon, but it also contains the diagrams of current and voltage capacitors. The diagrams were obtained by two methods, which use MATLAB package. These diagrams are compared with experimental measurements obtained with a data-acquisition system produced by National Instruments using LABVIEW software.
Investigation of the secondary education students' conceptual understanding levels and attitudes towards force and motion
Authors: Sert Çıbık Ayşe , Bayram Sümeyye , Bezci Kevser
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate the 9th, 10th and 11th grade of secondary education students' conceptual understanding levels and attitudes regarding Force and Motion and the change according to the variables of gender and class level. The research sample is composed of 110 students in a state school in Ankara. 'Force Concept Inventory Test' and 'Attitude Scale towards Force and Motion' were used as data collection tools in the research in which the descriptive method was used. Results of the research, it was seen that the students' conceptual understanding levels regarding this concept were low. The class level were investigated, both the conceptual understanding levels and attitudes of the 9th grade students were observed to be in better level in terms of mean scores than the levels of the others. Conceptual understanding levels of 9th grade students differ meaningfully when compared with other grades. There were meaningful differences in favor of the males in the change of the students' conceptual understanding levels regarding Force and Motion according to gender. There were meaningful differences regarding the attitude between the 9th and 11th grade students and these differences were in favor of the males. Attitude scores of the 10th grade students did not change according to the factor of gender. It was revealed that there was a meaningful relationship at a medium level in a positive way between the students' conceptual understanding levels and attitudes regarding Force and Motion without making any discrimination at the class level.
Mesoscale simulation of the solidification process in injection moulded parts
Authors: Spekowius Marcel , Spina Roberto , Hopmann Christian
Published: May 2015

Due to their wide range of applications and their complex material properties, it is desirable to be able to predict the behaviour of injection moulded parts with the help of simulation tools. For semi-crystalline materials, this can only take place with considerable accuracy if the inhomogeneous material properties are taken into account. Because of this, it is necessary to calculate the microstructure of the solidified melt and to incorporate these findings in the simulation. We present an integrative, multiscale simulation approach in which the manufacturing process is calculated on a macroscale and the solidification process on a mesoscale. A multiphase filling and cooling simulation is done to calculate temperature and velocity fields, which are used as boundary conditions for the calculation of the spherulite distribution in the part. We present the used nucleation and growth model and shortly describe the parallelisation approach of the mesoscale simulation.
Experimental study on the mechanical properties of an epoxy-based nanocomposite using polymeric alloying and different nano-reinforcements: nanofiber, nanolayered and nanoparticulate materials
Authors: Rostamiyan Yasser , Fereidoon Abdolhossein , Mashhadzadeh Amin Hamed
Published: May 2015

This study investigated the effect of four different types of reinforcements on the mechanical properties of an epoxy system. The epoxy resin used was diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) cured by cycloaliphatic polyamine. These four mechanisms use a multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) as a nanofiber, clay as a nanolayer, SiO2 as a particulate nanofiller and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) for polymeric alloying. The properties that were studied are tensile, compression and flexural resistance. We used solvent mechanism to prepare homogeneous mixture samples. The test results were compared between different weight percent loading of each reinforcement and also between different mechanisms. Also, the morphological properties of DGEBA/CNT, DGEBA/clay, DGEBA/SiO2 and DGEBA/HIPS were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Generally, the comparison between the results led the authors to conclude that among the mentioned mechanisms, using silica nanofillers is the most effective way to enhance the mechanical properties of an epoxy resin.
A room for one’s words
Authors: Jacquesson François
Published: May 2015

Smaller animals have more names than bigger ones, not because of size, but because they escape people’s attention. For objects out of scope, human language cannot focus, and names proliferate from village to village. This paper gives examples from Slavic and other language groups. From these examples, the author shifts to the root/affix structure, showing that roots and affixes may change at different paces, giving a wide scope to dialect diversity. With reference to theories of cyclic evolutions of languages (Beames, Haudricourt, Hagège), the possibility is considered that the difference between center (root) and periphery (affixes) is motivated by opportunities for disjoined evolution.
The ALMaz (Atlas Lingüístico Mazateco): from geolinguistic data processing to typological traits
Authors: Léonard Jean Léo , Dell’Aquila Vittorio , Gaillard-Corvaglia Antonella
Published: May 2015

Mazatec (Popolocan, Eastern Otomanguean) became world-renowned following an article by Pike & Pike (1947) and the famous chapter VIII in Pike (1948) on the Huautla variety, which inspired several other seminal studies by Bull (1984), Kirk (1966), Jamieson (1988, 1996), and more recently by Steriade, Golston & Kehrein (1998, 2004), Silverman et al. (1995) on this extremely relevant language as far as phonological typology is concerned. However the early monographs and sketches, which have had a major impact on modern linguistics (laying the premises for the syllabic constituency theory, the theory of tones and tone sandhi as well as their functions in inflectional systems), only take into account a minute proportion of this language’s inner diversity. The ALMaz project is an attempt to both revisit second-hand data on Mazatec varieties all over the area where it is densely spoken (especially using Kirk 1966 lists of over 700 cognates as a data base), and to gather and process new data on Mazatec diatopic and diastratic variation, using computational geolinguistics.
Review
Authors: Hackmack Susanne
Published: May 2015

Thomas Stolz, Christina Vossmann und Barbara Dewein (eds.): Kolonialzeitliche Sprachforschung. Die Beschreibung afrikanischer und ozeanischer Sprachen zur Zeit der deutschen Kolonialherrschaft. (Koloniale und Postkoloniale Linguistik/Colonial and Postcolonial Linguistics I). Berlin:Akademie Verlag, 2011. 312 pp.
Is Yucatec Maya an omnipredicative language? Predication, the copula and focus constructions
Authors: Vapnarsky Valentina
Published: May 2015

In this article, we examine the omnipredicativity hypothesis (LAUNEY 1994, 2004) in the context of Yucatec Maya. The hypothesis implies three requirements: 1) most words are predicative, 2) the focus of a sentence is its main predicate, 3) arguments are subordinate predicates of the main predicate. Based on the analysis of the personal indexation patterns, morphosyntactic and semantic properties of non-verbal predicates, the use of the existential yàan and various focus constructions, we provide evidence supporting that requirements 1 and 2 apply to Yucatec.
Dwelling in Possibility
Authors: Lowe Hilary Iris
Published: May 2015

Challenges to historic house museums are often mired in the rhetoric of crisis. Toward countering that rhetoric, this essay attempts to draw attention to it and to the complicated history of narrative (and storytelling) in interpretation and the academy. It argues that literary house museums are sites of innovation within the house museum sector with lessons for us all. These lessons include a willingness to leverage “the old, bad history” toward reflective practice and continuity for multigenerational audiences; creating inventive university and school partnerships toward insuring strong community stakeholders; embracing the history of race, gender, and sexuality; and perhaps most importantly, making the most of fiction toward embracing multiple points of view about the past.
Fusion Cuisine and Bedouin Handcraft: the Transformative Power of Heritage Preservation in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Radke Heather , Al-Senan Maha
Published: May 2015

In the past decade, Saudi Arabia has begun investing resources in cultural heritage preservation. In this interview, Maha Al-Senan, the director of the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society, discusses this shift and reflects on how heritage preservation has the power to influence identity and power in the kingdom.
Numerical Investigation of Ground Cooling Potential for Malaysian Climate
Authors: Yusof T.M. , Anuar S. , Ibrahim H.
Published: May 2015

In equatorial countries like Malaysia, the cooling of buildings is almost entirely dependent on air-conditioning, with electricity as the main source of the energy required. As the country develops, with more buildings being built, and as the population grows, with more people demanding thermal comfort in the buildings they work and live in, the rate of electricity consumption for cooling purposes will continue to increase dramatically from year to year. This phenomenon requires the application of alternative energy options and thermal storage. Ground thermal storage is an example of thermal storage which can supply cooling and heating effects resulting in a significant reduction of electricity consumption. This paper discusses the potential of the implementation of ground thermal storage by using a ground heat exchanger (GHE) to supply passive cooling for any application. An analysis has been conducted based on an empirical equation from conduction heat transfer for depths of up to 30 m and thermal diffusivities from 0.04 to 0.1 m2/day. The main input parameters were obtained from a local weather station for three consecutive years. The result showed that a significant reduction occurs at a depth of 2.0 m and below, meaning that cooling can be supplied constantly throughout the year. The temperature amplitude is also attenuated relatively with depth, whereby amplitudes of less than 1 °C occur at a depth of more than 4 m with a thermal diffusivity of 0.04 m2/day. In addition, thermal diffusivity gives a significant increment in temperature amplitude and it is suggested to be maintained at a value of less than 0.06 m2/day. This result provides useful information to researchers and engineers in the field of underground installation of materials or systems such as gas pipelines, water supply and for underground cable transmittance.
Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor improves brain insulin sensitivity, but fails to prevent cognitive impairment in orchiectomy obese rats
Authors: Pintana Hiranya , Pongkan Wanpitak , Pratchayasakul Wasana , Chattipakorn Nipon , Chattipakorn Siriporn C
Published: May 2015

It is unclear whether the dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitor can counteract brain insulin resistance, brain mitochondrial dysfunction, impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive decline in testosterone-deprived obese rats. We hypothesized that DPP4 inhibitor vildagliptin improves cognitive function in testosterone-deprived obese rats by restoring brain insulin sensitivity, brain mitochondrial function and hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Thirty male Wistar rats received either a sham-operated (S, n=6) or bilateral orchiectomy (ORX, n=24). ORX rats were divided into two groups and fed with either a normal diet (ND (NDO)) or a high-fat diet (HFO) for 12 weeks. Then, ORX rats in each dietary group were divided into two subgroups (n=6/subgroup) to receive either a vehicle or vildagliptin (3 mg/kg per day, p.o.) for 4 weeks. After treatment, cognitive function, metabolic parameters, brain insulin sensitivity, hippocampal synaptic plasticity and brain mitochondrial function were determined in each rat. We found that HFO rats exhibited peripheral and brain insulin resistance, brain mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive decline. NDO rats did not develop peripheral and brain insulin resistance. However, impaired hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive decline occurred. Vildagliptin significantly improved peripheral insulin sensitivity, restored brain insulin sensitivity and decreased brain mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in HFO rats. However, vildagliptin did not restore hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive function in both NDO and HFO rats. These findings suggest that vildagliptin could not counteract the impairment of hippocampal synaptic plasticity and cognitive decline in testosterone-deprived subjects, despite its effects on improved peripheral and brain insulin sensitivity as well as brain mitochondrial function.
Diet-induced obesity causes peripheral and central ghrelin resistance by promoting inflammation
Authors: Naznin Farhana , Toshinai Koji , Waise T M Zaved , NamKoong Cherl , Md Moin Abu Saleh , Sakoda Hideyuki , Nakazato Masamitsu
Published: May 2015

Ghrelin, a stomach-derived orexigenic peptide, transmits starvation signals to the hypothalamus via the vagus afferent nerve. Peripheral administration of ghrelin does not induce food intake in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. We investigated whether this ghrelin resistance was caused by dysfunction of the vagus afferent pathway. Administration (s.c.) of ghrelin did not induce food intake, suppression of oxygen consumption, electrical activity of the vagal afferent nerve, phosphorylation of ERK2 and AMP-activated protein kinase alpha in the nodose ganglion, or Fos expression in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of mice fed a HFD for 12 weeks. Administration of anti-ghrelin IgG did not induce suppression of food intake in HFD-fed mice. Expression levels of ghrelin receptor mRNA in the nodose ganglion and hypothalamus of HFD-fed mice were reduced. Inflammatory responses, including upregulation of macrophage/microglia markers and inflammatory cytokines, occurred in the nodose ganglion and hypothalamus of HFD-fed mice. A HFD blunted ghrelin signaling in the nodose ganglion via a mechanism involvingin situactivation of inflammation. These results indicate that ghrelin resistance in the obese state may be caused by dysregulation of ghrelin signaling via the vagal afferent.
Amphibia, Anura, Dendropsophus ruschii: distribution extension, new state record, and geographic distribution map
Authors: Cassini Carla S. , Neves Charlene P. , Dayrell Jussara S. , Cruz Carlos A. G. , Feio Renato N.
Published: May 2015

None
Fish larvae in Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno and the adjacent oceanic region, Baja California, México
Authors: Jiménez-Rosenberg S. Patricia A. , Saldierna-Martínez Ricardo J. , Aceves-Medina Gerardo , Cota–Gómez Víctor M.
Published: May 2015

The taxonomic composition of the fish larvae assemblage of Bahía Sebastián Vizcaíno and the adjacent oceanic region is presented based on oblique zooplankton hauls made during 12 oceanographic surveys between fall 1997 and fall 2000. In total, 186 taxa representing 71 families were collected. Myctophidae, Phosichthyidae, and Engraulidae were the most abundant during winter and Myctophidae, Merlucciidae, and Bathylagidae during spring. In summer and fall Phosichthyidae and Myctophidae were the most abundant. During 1999 and 2000, seasonal variability was identified in the area by the fish larvae composition, defining winter and fall as a low diversity period and spring and summer as a high diversity period. Interannual variability was detected with an El Niño event, with higher larval abundances of tropical and subtropical taxa, and a La Niña event, with high abundances of larvae of Engraulis mordax.
Amphibia, Anura, Hylidae, Dendropsophus rubicundulus: distribution extension
Authors: Annunziata Bruno Barcellos , Fontenele Wolney Mateus , Castro Irismar Siqueira , Gurgel Rodrigo Fernandes , Nascimento Kely Araújo do
Published: May 2015

None
Mammalia, Chiroptera, Phyllostomidae, Diaemus youngi: first confirmed record for Ecuador and observations of its presence in museum collections
Authors: Pinto C. Miguel , Carrera Juan P. , Mantilla-Meluk Hugo , Baker Robert J.
Published: May 2015

None
Fish, Taquara river basin, northern of the state of Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Galves Wanner , Shibatta Oscar Akio , Jerep Fernando Camargo
Published: May 2015

Taquara River is situated in an agriculturist region, on the northern portion of the Tibagi river basin, state of Paraná. Fish fauna was collected in five stretches of the Taquara River and in nine headwaters of its tributaries, in the period of May to December 2006. Six orders, 22 families, and 74 species were collected, in a sum of 2,389 individuals. The orders Characiformes and Siluriformes were dominant.
Amphibia, Centrolenidae, Cochranella pulverata, Hyalinobatrachium aureoguttatum: distribution extension, Ecuador
Authors: Bustamante Martín R. , Cisneros-Heredia Diego F. , Yánez-Muñoz Mario H. , Ortega-Andrade H. Mauricio , Guayasamin Juan M.
Published: May 2015

None
Amphibia, Anura, Brachycephalidae, Brachycephalus hermogenesi: filling gap and geographic distribution map
Authors: Pimenta Bruno V. S. , Bérnils Renato S. , Pombal Jr. José P.
Published: May 2015

None
Large Persistent Photoconductivity in Strontium Titanate at Room Temperature
Authors: Poole Violet M. , Dashdorj J. , Zvanut Mary Ellen , McCluskey Matthew D.
Published: May 2015

Strontium titanate (SrTiO3) is a wide-band-gap semiconductor with a variety of novel properties. In this work, bulk single crystal SrTiO3 samples were heated to 1200°C, resulting in the creation of point defects. These thermally treated samples showed large persistent photoconductivity (PPC) at room temperature. Illumination with sub-gap light (>2.9 eV) caused an increase in free-electron concentration by over two orders of magnitude. After the light is turned off, the conductivity persists at room temperature, with essentially zero decay over several days. The results of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) measurements suggest that a point defect is responsible for PPC because the photo-induced response of one of the EPR signals is similar to that seen for the PPC. Due to a large barrier for recapture, the photo-excited electron remains in the conduction band, where it contributes to the conductivity.
Infra-red curing methodology for Roll-to-Roll (R2R) manufacturing of conductive electrodes through inkjet technology applicable for devices in the field of flexible electronics
Authors: Mitra Kalyan Yoti , Weise Dana , Hartwig Melinda , Baumann Reinhard. R.
Published: May 2015

The Inkjet printing technology is a direct patterning technique to deposit functional materials with high precision and accuracy. This deposition technology is often used to manufacture conductive electrodes for different active and passive electronic devices on flexible foils. It is an up-scalable process in terms of printing devices from low (via. Sheet-to-Sheet, S2S platform) to high (via. Roll-to-Roll platform) quantities. For manufacturing of these conductive electrodes and hence electronic devices through the R2R platform, a suitable post-treatment/curing methodology is very much desired. In this work, the focus is concentrated on the curing methodology using the Infra-red radiation for both the inkjet-printed conductive electrodes and insulator layer, for completing a “proof of concept” Metal-Insulator-Metal (MIM) electronic device structure over the R2R platform. A conductive silver nano-particle and a polymeric dielectric ink are used to print the top and bottom conductive electrodes, with a middle insulator layer for the MIM structure respectively. It is observed that not only the printed silver electrode layers (both top and bottom) can be cured with the help of the Infra-red radiation, but also the insulator layer. Additionally, the layers constituting the MIM device structure is cured with the conventional curing methodology which in this case is thermal curing using a convection oven. This curing procedure for the printed functional layers is generally performed for the S2S manufacturing process. The conductive electrodes are then electrically characterized by measuring the sheet resistance (on the foil and dielectric layer) as a function of the un-conventional Infra-red radiation and conventional oven curing methodologies. The cured layers for both the conductive electrodes and insulator layers are morphologically analyzed for the layer thickness and homogeneity. The electrical performance of the cured insulator in form of the obtained capacitance from the MIM passive device is compared for the two mentioned curing methodologies.
“Betwixt and Between”
Authors: Zaretsky Natasha
Published: May 2015

This essay offers a series of reflections about the challenges that arise for an ethnographer writing in the public sphere, especially when addressing controversial issues or moments of political uncertainty in sites of long-term fieldwork. In this case, Argentina, where the author has conducted fieldwork for over fourteen years, experienced a political crisis stemming from the unexplained death of a prosecutor in January 2015. In such moments of crisis, this essay asks, what is the role and responsibility of the academic voice? Inevitably, challenges arise when presenting ethnographically inflected work for a public audience, often leaving the author in a liminal space, “betwixt and between” the academic world and the public sphere. Yet, these challenges and liminal spaces can also expand the boundaries of one’s field of study, engaging new audiences while also offering powerful insights into the production of academic knowledge.
Speculative Grace: Bruno Latour and Object-oriented Theology, by Adam S. Miller
Authors: Culling Joshua
Published: May 2015

Speculative Grace: Bruno Latour and Object-oriented Theology, by Adam S. Miller. Fordham University Press, 2013. 166pp. Pb., $18.00. ISBN-13: 9780823251513.
Urban Catholic Education: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times, by Thomas C. Hunt, David J. O’Brien and Timothy Walch
Authors: Hoven Matthew
Published: May 2015

Urban Catholic Education: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times, by Thomas C. Hunt, David J. O’Brien and Timothy Walch. Peter Lang, 2013. 221pp. Hb., £86.00/US$139.95, ISBN-13: 9781433117787; Pb., £24.00/$38.95. ISBN-13 : 9781433117787.
Negocios y sostenibilidad en la Base de la Pirámide
Authors: Pineda-Escobar María Alejandra
Published: May 2015

El objetivo de este artículo de reflexión es explorar la relación existente entre la actividad empresarial y la sostenibilidad en contextos de Base de la Pirámide (BdP), con el propósito de esclarecer el papel que el sector empresarial puede tener para el alivio de la pobreza. Comenzando con una revisión exhaustiva de la evolución de la teoría de la BdP, el artículo examina de manera crítica la responsabilidad social empresarial (RSE) en contextos de pobreza, y sugiere la adopción de una interpretación más comprehensiva de la RSE que incorpore por completo la sostenibilidad (ambiental, económica y socialmente) en la operación del negocio. A continuación, se explora la noción de “empresa sostenible” (Hart, 2010) como un tipo mejorado de corporación que adopta el desarrollo sostenible, y se corresponde con los modelos de negocios para la BdP conocidos como negocios inclusivos. La sección final del artículo enfatiza la relevancia de los negocios inclusivos como empresas sostenibles con el potencial para mejorar de manera significativa las condiciones de vida para la mayoría de las comunidades pobres, siendo a su vez económicamente rentables y ambientalmente viables. Desde el punto de vista de la sostenibilidad, se sugiere que el mayor reto es alcanzar un balance entre un mayor consumo y producción en la BdP, y la limitada capacidad ambiental de la Tierra.
Identidad cultural y valores en los alumnos de la Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. Unidad Azcapotzalco (UAM-A)
Authors: Medina Salgado César
Published: May 2015

El presente artículo forma parte del proyecto de investigación “Ética y Administración” en curso en la UAM-Azcapotzalco en México. La investigación es puntual, exploratoria, explicativa, cualitativa y cuantitativa. Nace de la percepción a priori de una falta de cohesión entre los alumnos de las distintas licenciaturas ofrecidas en esta institución educativa. La hipótesis subyacente afirma la inexistencia de elementos de identificación entre los estudiantes. Por ello se pretende indagar ¿cuál es la identidad de los alumnos de la UAM-A? Para tal efecto se realizó una investigación exploratoria a partir de la percepción de los alumnos sobre la posesión de un conjunto determinado de valores y así definir un posible perfil de su identidad individual.
Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer in a Real-World Scenario: Is Progression-Free Survival With First Line Predictive of Benefit From Second and Later Lines?
Authors: Bonotto Marta , Gerratana Lorenzo , Iacono Donatella , Minisini Alessandro Marco , Rihawi Karim , Fasola Gianpiero , Puglisi Fabio
Published: May 2015

Introduction.

Despite the availability of several therapeutic options for metastatic breast cancer (MBC), no robust predictive factors are available to help clinical decision making. Nevertheless, a decreasing benefit from first line to subsequent lines of treatment is commonly observed. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of benefit from first-line therapy on outcome with subsequent lines.

Methods.

We analyzed a consecutive series of 472 MBC patients treated with chemotherapy (CT) and/or endocrine therapy (ET) between 2004 and 2012. We evaluated progression-free survival (PFS) at first (PFS1), second, third, and fourth therapeutic lines, according to treatment (ET and/or CT) and tumor subtypes.

Results.

In the whole cohort, median overall survival was 34 months, and median PFS1 was 9 months. A 6-month benefit was shown by 289 patients (63.5%) at first line, 128 (40.5%) at second line, 76 (33.8%) at third line, and 34 (23.3%) at fourth line. Not having a 6-month benefit at PFS1 was associated with less chance of benefit at second line (odds ratio [OR]: 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.29–0.77, p = .0026) and at any line beyond first (OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.24–0.62, p < .0001). In the total series, after stratification for tumor subtypes, a strong predictive effect was observed among HER2-positive tumors (OR: 0.2; 95% CI: 0.05–0.73, p = .0152).

Conclusion.

Our results suggest that the absence of at least a 6-month benefit in terms of PFS with first-line therapy predicts a reduced probability of benefit from subsequent therapeutic lines, especially in HER2-positive disease.

Implications for Practice:

This study supports evidence showing that the absence of a 6-month benefit in terms of progression-free survival with first-line therapy predicts a lack of benefit from subsequent therapeutic lines in metastatic breast cancer. The random distribution of benefit experienced by a subset of the cohort further spurs an interest in identifying predictive factors capable of identifying the most appropriate therapeutic strategy.
Modified wood: review of efficacy and service life testing
Authors: Ormondroyd Graham , Spear Morwenna , Curling Simon
Published: May 2015

Timber modification is an emerging commercial reality. Timber that has been acetylated, thermally modified or furfurylated is now readily available. However, the assessment of the effectiveness of each modification type in enhancement of durability, and therefore the effect on service life, has yet to be fully established. The paper includes a summary of the key points necessary to understand the mechanisms of protection given to wood by such modification. This paper also brings together the current work on the assessment of the durability of three types of modified wood and the effects that each has on the service life of timber structures, and addresses the harmonisation of standards in this field. This will allow for future development of appropriate standards for utilising these novel timber products, and therefore improve service life prediction and confidence when designing with these materials.
The use of glycerol and cooking oil in masonry unit production
Authors: Vu Hung Manh , Forth John P. , Toropov Vassilli V.
Published: May 2015

This paper presents an investigation into the development of a novel glycerol-bound masonry unit and the use of a multi-parameter mathematical modelling technique in evaluating the possibility to reduce the amount of sample produced with a comparable result obtained. Initially, an experimental optimisation was carried out to identify the best performance sample in term of compressive strength. The binder used for this stage is the blend of clean cooking oil and pure glycerol incorporating with secondary aggregates include incinerator bottom ash and pulverised fuel ash. Additional samples were made using natural aggregates and waste binders (waste cooking oil and waste glycerol) to evaluate their performance in relation to masonry products found in the UK in terms of compressive strength and water absorption properties. These properties are good indicators of overall performance of masonry units. In addition, modelling techniques were also used to evaluate the laboratory testing strategy to suggest the reduction in number of samples being produced in future experimental studies. Results from the study demonstrated that the novel masonry units could be produced with properties that were at least equivalent to those of currently used in the UK and modelling technique could reduce up to 90% of sample for the problem with three parameters.
Punching of slab–column connections strengthened using external steel shear bolts
Authors: Baig Zafar Iqbal , Alsayed Saleh H. , Abbas Husain
Published: May 2015

This paper describes the use and effectiveness of external steel shear bolts as shear reinforcement for retrofitting of slab–column connections in reinforced concrete (RC) flat plates and also compares the behaviour of slab–column connections with finite-element analysis. Four full-scale test specimens, representing interior slab–column connections in RC flat plates, were cast. Two concrete grades – low strength (14 MPa) and normal strength (28 MPa) – were used. One specimen for each concrete grade was used as a control and the other was strengthened using external steel shear bolts as the transverse shear reinforcement. The slab–column specimens were tested experimentally and their numerical models were analysed using Ansys. The results obtained through static non-linear analysis compared well with the experimental data. Shear strengthening of slabs changed the failure mode of the test specimens from punching shear to flexural mode and increased the ultimate load capacity of the slab–column connection by 64–73%. The shear strengthening also resulted in increased deflections and ductility. Analytical predictions of ultimate load were in good agreement with the experiments.
Eutrophication and cyanobacteria in South Africa’s standing water bodies: A view from space
Authors: Matthews Mark W. , Bernard Stewart
Published: May 2015

Satellite remote sensing can make a significant contribution to monitoring water quality in South African standing water bodies. Eutrophication, defined as enrichment by nutrients, and toxin-producing cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms pose a significant threat to the quality of South African surface water bodies. The status and trends of chlorophyll a (chl-a, a proxy for eutrophication), cyanobacterial blooms and cyanobacterial surface scum were determined for South Africa’s 50 largest water bodies between 2002 and 2012, using a recently developed algorithm and 10 years of data from the Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) satellite. The majority (62%) of the 50 water bodies were highly nutrient enriched or hypertrophic, while 26 had cyanobacterial blooms which posed a high health risk from surface scums. This study is the first of its kind to provide quantitative water quality information for South Africa’s water bodies from a time series of satellite remotely sensed data. We demonstrate the pivotal role that satellite remote sensing can play in greatly supplementing in-situ monitoring efforts such as the National Eutrophication Monitoring Programme. The finding that many water supply bodies are severely impacted by eutrophication and cyanobacterial blooms confirms that these remain issues of critical concern for water security and supply in South Africa.
Understanding context dependence in the contribution of intraspecific variation to community trait–environment matching
Authors: Lajoie Geneviève , Vellend Mark
Published: May 2015

Intraspecific trait variation (ITV) plays a potentially important role in determining functional community composition across environmental gradients. However, the importance of ITV varies greatly among studies, and we lack a coherent understanding of the contexts under which to expect a high vs. low contribution of ITV to trait–environment matching among communities. Here we first elaborate a novel conceptual framework posing specific hypotheses and predictions about the environmental and ecological contexts underlying the contribution of ITV to community trait turnover. We then empirically test these predictions in understory herbaceous plant communities in a montane environment, for three functional traits (flowering phenology, specific leaf area, and height). We found that different components of trait variation mapped onto different environmental axes, specifically reporting a greater contribution of ITV along non‐climatic axes (e.g., soil properties, light) than along the main climatic axis (i.e., elevation), as predicted by the hypothesis that phenotypic plasticity (a major source of ITV) is greatest in response to conditions varying at a small spatial scale. Based on a variant of the niche‐variation hypothesis, we predicted that the importance of ITV would be greatest in the lowest‐diversity portion of the elevational gradient (i.e., at high elevation), but this prediction was not supported. Finally, the generally strong intraspecific responses to the gradient observed across species did not necessarily give rise to a high contribution of ITV (or vice versa) given (1) an especially weak or strong response of a dominant species driving the community‐level trend, (2) differences among species in the direction of trait–environment response cancelling out, or (3) relatively narrow portions of the gradient where individual species abundances were high enough to have an important impact on community‐level trait means. Our research identifies contexts in which we can predict that local adaptation and phenotypic plasticity will play a relatively large role in mediating community‐level trait responses to environmental change.
A new focus on risk reduction: an ad hoc decision support system for humanitarian relief logistics
Authors: Schätter Frank , Wiens Marcus , Schultmann Frank
Published: May 2015

Particularly in the early phases of a disaster, logistical decisions are needed to be made quickly and under high pressure for the decision‐makers, knowing that their decisions may have direct consequences on the affected society and all future decisions. Proactive risk reduction may be helpful in providing decision‐makers with optimal strategies in advance. However, disasters are characterized by severe uncertainty and complexity, limited knowledge about the causes of the disaster, and continuous change of the situation in unpredicted ways. Following these assumptions, we believe that adequate proactive risk reduction measures are not practical. We propose strengthening the focus on ad hoc decision support to capture information in almost real time and to process information efficiently to reveal uncertainties that had not been previously predicted. Therefore, we present an ad hoc decision support system that uses scenario techniques to capture uncertainty by future developments of a situation and an optimization model to compute promising decision options. By combining these aspects in a dynamic manner and integrating new information continuously, it can be ensured that a decision is always based on the best currently available and processed information. And finally, to identify a robust decision option that is provided as a decision recommendation to the decision‐makers, methods of multi‐attribute decision making (MADM) are applied. Our approach is illustrated for a facility location decision problem arising in humanitarian relief logistics where the objective is to identify robust locations for tent hospitals to serve injured people in the immediate aftermath of the Haiti Earthquake 2010.
Dynamics of Plasma and Granule Membrane in Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Mast Cells after Re-stimulation
Authors: Kaneko Masahiro , Yamada Arisa
Published: May 2015

Mast cells are derived from hematopoietic stem cells and play important roles in allergic responses. Mast cells
are long-lived compared with other granular cell types. Since the response of the individual mast cell after FcεRI-induced
degranulation is unclear, the aim of this study was to analyze morphological changes in individual mast cells after restimulation.
To observe plasma and granule membrane dynamics, AcGFP-actb (β-actin) and DsRed-monomer (DRM)-
CD63 fusion constructs were introduced into bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Furthermore, AcGFP-CD63 and
DRM-Cma1 (mMCP-5) were introduced into BMMCs. Re-stimulation resulted in increased β-hexosaminidase release and
cytokine mRNA expression similar to those observed during initial stimulation. Moreover, expression of FcεRI on
BMMCs 24 h after initial stimulation was similar to that measured before initial stimulation. Changes in morphology of
the plasma membrane and colocalization of granules and plasma membrane were observed after initial stimulation.
BMMCs returned to normal 120 min after the initial stimulation. These phenomena were also observed in BMMCs after
re-stimulation. BMMC chymase content decreased 20 min after stimulation but returned to near normal 24 h after stimulation.
These findings suggest that mast cell functions can be maintained and that these cells can be repeatedly degranulated
after FcεRI-mediated stimulation.
Tietze Extension Theorem for n-dimensional Spaces
Authors: Pąk Karol
Published: May 2015

In this article we prove the Tietze extension theorem for an arbitrary convex compact subset of εn with a non-empty interior. This theorem states that, if T is a normal topological space, X is a closed subset of T, and A is a convex compact subset of εn with a non-empty interior, then a continuous function f : X → A can be extended to a continuous function g : T → εn. Additionally we show that a subset A is replaceable by an arbitrary subset of a topological space that is homeomorphic with a convex compact subset of En with a non-empty interior. This article is based on [20]; [23] and [22] can also serve as reference books.
Semiring of Sets: Examples
Authors: Coghetto Roland
Published: May 2015

This article proposes the formalization of some examples of semiring of sets proposed by Goguadze [8] and Schmets [13].
Effects of Adding an Internet-Based Pain Coping Skills Training Protocol to a Standardized Education and Exercise Program for People With Persistent Hip Pain (HOPE Trial): Randomized Controlled Trial Protocol
Authors: Bennell Kim L. , Rini Christine , Keefe Francis , French Simon , Nelligan Rachel , Kasza Jessica , Forbes Andrew , Dobson Fiona , Haxby Abbott J. , Dalwood Andrew , Vicenzino Bill , Harris Anthony , Hinman Rana S.
Published: May 2015

Background

Persistent hip pain in older people is usually due to hip osteoarthritis (OA), a major cause of pain, disability, and psychological dysfunction.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether adding an Internet-based pain coping skills training (PCST) protocol to a standardized intervention of education followed by physical therapist–instructed home exercise leads to greater reductions in pain and improvements in function.

Design

An assessor-, therapist-, and participant-blinded randomized controlled trial will be conducted.

Setting

The study will be conducted in a community setting.

Participants

The participants will be 142 people over 50 years of age with self-reported hip pain consistent with hip OA.

Intervention

Participants will be randomly allocated to: (1) a control group receiving a 24-week standardized intervention comprising an 8-week Internet-based education package followed by 5 individual physical therapy exercise sessions plus home exercises (3 times weekly) or (2) a PCST group receiving an 8-week Internet-based PCST protocol in addition to the control intervention.

Measurements

Outcomes will be measured at baseline and 8, 24, and 52 weeks, with the primary time point at 24 weeks. Primary outcomes are hip pain on walking and self-reported physical function. Secondary outcomes include health-related quality-of-life, participant-perceived treatment response, self-efficacy for pain management and function, pain coping attempts, pain catastrophizing, and physical activity. Measurements of adherence, adverse events, use of health services, and process measures will be collected at 24 and 52 weeks. Cost-effectiveness will be assessed at 52 weeks.

Limitations

A self-reported diagnosis of persistent hip pain will be used.

Conclusions

The findings will help determine whether adding an Internet-based PCST protocol to standardized education and physical therapist–instructed home exercise is more effective than education and exercise alone for persistent hip pain. This study has the potential to guide clinical practice toward innovative modes of psychosocial health care provision.
Modeling Information Accumulation in Psychological Tests Using Item Response Times
Authors: Ranger Jochen , Kuhn Jörg-Tobias
Published: May 2015

In this article, a latent trait model is proposed for the response times in psychological tests. The latent trait model is based on the linear transformation model and subsumes popular models from survival analysis, like the proportional hazards model and the proportional odds model. Core of the model is the assumption that an unspecified monotone transformation of the response times can be related to latent characteristics of the test taker. The model can be interpreted in terms of an information accumulation process, according to which test takers acquire information until they are able to respond. The rate of information accumulation can be related to the transformation function of the response times. In order to avoid strong distributional assumptions, the rate of information acquisition is approximated in a piecewise manner by a positive spline. The model can be calibrated with marginal maximum likelihood estimation. This allows a standard test of model fit as will be shown. The proposed approach to model estimation and model evaluation is investigated in a simulation study. Finally, the utility of the model is demonstrated in three real data sets.
Il "pensiero-anziano": verso l'ultima creatività
Authors: Cristini Carlo , Cesa-Bianchi Giovanni , Cesa-Bianchi Marcello
Published: May 2015

Ogni anziano può sempre imparare, sviluppare curiosità e conoscenze. Con l'invecchiamento si può diventare migliori, più selettivi e raffinati, più tolleranti e comprensivi, più disponibili e meno rigidi, più esperti dell'esistenza; ma occorre vivere la vecchiaia per capirla pienamente. In età senile il pensiero post-formale può sempre perfezionarsi, realizzando un "pensiero-anziano": la forma più evoluta e libera di pensiero, in quanto più ricco di esperienze, elaborazioni e sintesi. Il "pensiero-anziano" viene acquisito da chi invecchia in modo positivo, sostanzialmente in salute, in autonomia, vive imparando, sa rinnovarsi e mantenersi attivo, continua ad essere creativo, a prospettarsi un futuro, a completare la propria biografia. Ma il valore di "pensiero-anziano" può essere attribuito anche all'anziano meno fortunato che nonostante i problemi di salute riesce a vivere serenamente e a conservare una concezione positiva dell'esistenza. Un pensiero di "qualità", spesso attribuito al vecchio, riguarda il suo esprimersi in termini di saggezza. Studi sull'invecchiamento hanno evidenziato come nella fase terminale della vita, molti anziani ritrovano, mediante la creatività e l'ironia, una maggior serenità e ponderazione. Molti artisti hanno continuato ad esprimere i propri pensieri e sentimenti in età avanzata attraverso i loro capolavori finali: l'ultima creatività, quale immagine definita e spesso innovativa di sé. L'invecchiamento positivo costituisce un terreno favorevole per sviluppare il pensiero creativo e umoristico, quali risorse per realizzare se stessi e migliorare la qualità della vita nel suo concludersi. L'ultima creatività viene a rappresentare l'apice del "pensiero-anziano".
La riabilitazione motoria nel morbo di parkinson: nuovi interventi e prospettive future
Authors: Di Nuzzo Chiara
Published: May 2015

Il presente articolo ha lo scopo di fornire una panoramica di metodi innovativi per la riabilitazione motoria in pazienti con Morbo di Parkinson. Questa patologia neurodegenerativa e progressiva colpisce il circuito dei gangli della base, causando un significativo calo del neurotrasmettitore dopamina che permette di controllare il movimento volontario. Di conseguenza, un malato parkinsoniano ha difficoltà a eseguire anche le più semplici attività quotidiane. Non essendoci una cura definitiva a questa patologia, è necessario affiancare al trattamento farmacologico training di riabilitazione motoria che sostengano efficacemente il malato nel mantenere il più possibile un'autonomia funzionale e una buona qualità di vita. La ricerca, basandosi su quanto noto circa l'apprendimento motorio nei soggetti sani, si è adoperata nell'individuare metodi innovativi ed efficaci per il trattamento dei sintomi motori del Morbo di Parkinson. Attualmente sono proposti promettenti interventi di tipo multimodale che combinano l'osservazione di azioni, la musica ritmica e la neurostimolazione.