bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival of Children With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Authors: Siffel Csaba , Riehle-Colarusso Tiffany , Oster Matthew E. , Correa Adolfo
Published: September 2015

OBJECTIVE:

To examine the survival of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and potential influence of demographic and clinical characteristics on survival using population-based data.

METHODS:

Infants with nonsyndromic HLHS (n = 212) born between 1979 and 2005 were identified through the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program. Vital status was ascertained through 2009 based on linkage with vital records. We estimated Kaplan-Meier survival probabilities stratified by select demographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS:

The overall survival probability to 2009 was 24% and significantly improved over time: from 0% in 1979–1984 to 42% in 1999–2005. Survival probability was 66% during the first week, 27% during the first year of life, and 24% during the first 10 years. Survival of very low and low birth weight or preterm infants and those born in high-poverty neighborhoods was significantly poorer. For children with information on surgical intervention (n = 88), the overall survival was 52%, and preterm infants had significantly poorer survival (31%) compared with term infants (56%). For children who survived to 1 year of age, long-term survival was ∼90%.

CONCLUSIONS:

Survival to adolescence of children with nonsyndromic HLHS born in metropolitan Atlanta has significantly improved in recent years, with those born full term, with normal birth weight, or in a low-poverty neighborhood having a higher survival probability. Survival beyond infancy to adolescence is high. A better understanding of the growing population of survivors with HLHS is needed to inform resource planning.
Improving the Management of Vaso-Occlusive Episodes in the Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Kavanagh Patricia L. , Sprinz Philippa G. , Wolfgang Tahlia L. , Killius Kelly , Champigny Maria , Sobota Amy , Dorfman David , Barry Karan , Miner Renee , Moses James M.
Published: September 2015

OBJECTIVES:

Vaso-occlusive episodes (VOEs) account for the majority of emergency department (ED) visits for children with sickle cell disease (SCD). We hypothesized that addressing key barriers to VOE care would improve receipt of analgesics and outcomes.

METHODS:

A quality improvement (QI) initiative was conducted from September 2010 to April 2014 to streamline VOE care in an urban pediatric ED. Four interventions were used: a standardized time-specific VOE protocol; intranasal fentanyl as the first parenteral pain medication; an SCD pain medication calculator; and provider and patient/family education. Data were collected for 3 outcome measures (mean time from triage to first parenteral opioid and admission/discharge decision, and proportion discharged from the ED); 1 process measure (mean time from triage to initiation of patient-controlled analgesia); and 4 balancing measures (mean time from triage to second intravenous opioid dose, 24-hour ED readmission, respiratory depression, and length of stay).

RESULTS:

There were 289 ED visits in the study period. Improvements were seen in mean time to: first dose of parenteral opioid (56 to 23 minutes); second opiate intravenous dose (106 to 83 minutes); admission and discharge decisions (163 to 109 minutes and 271 to 178 minutes, respectively); and initiation of patient-controlled analgesia (216 to 141 minutes). The proportion discharged from the ED increased from 32% to 48% (χ2 = 6.5402, P = .01). No increase in 24-hour readmission, respiratory depression, or inpatient length of stay was observed.

CONCLUSIONS:

Using VOE-specific interventions, we significantly improved VOE care for children. Studies are needed to determine if these results can be replicated.
A Road Map to Address the Social Determinants of Health Through Community Collaboration
Authors: Henize Adrienne W. , Beck Andrew F. , Klein Melissa D. , Adams Monica , Kahn Robert S.
Published: September 2015

Economic, environmental, and psychosocial needs are common and wide-ranging among families cared for in primary care settings. Still, pediatric care delivery models are not set up to systematically address these fundamental risks to health. We offer a roadmap to help structure primary care approaches to these needs through the development of comprehensive and effective collaborations between the primary care setting and community partners. We use Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a well-recognized conceptual model to organize, prioritize, and determine appropriate interventions that can be adapted to both small and large practices. Specifically, collaborations with community organizations expert in addressing issues commonly encountered in primary care centers can be designed and executed in a phased manner: (1) build the case for action through a family-centered risk assessment, (2) organize and prioritize risks and interventions, (3) develop and sustain interventions, and (4) operationalize interventions in the clinical setting. This phased approach to collaboration also includes shared vision, codeveloped plans for implementation and evaluation, resource alignment, joint reflection and adaptation, and shared decisions regarding next steps. Training, electronic health record integration, refinement by using quality improvement methods, and innovative use of clinical space are important components that may be useful in a variety of clinical settings. Successful examples highlight how clinical-community partnerships can help to systematically address a hierarchy of needs for children and families. Pediatricians and community partners can collaborate to improve the well-being of at-risk children by leveraging their respective strengths and shared vision for healthy families.
Parental Supervision and Alcohol Abuse Among Adolescent Girls
Authors: Dickson Daniel J. , Laursen Brett , Stattin Håkan , Kerr Margaret
Published: September 2015

OBJECTIVE:

Inadequate parent supervision during the early adolescent years forecasts a host of conduct problems, including illicit alcohol consumption. Early pubertal maturation may exacerbate problems, because girls alienated from same-age peers seek the company of older, more mature youth. The current study examines overtime associations between parent autonomy granting and adolescent alcohol abuse during a developmental period when alcohol consumption becomes increasingly normative, to determine if early maturing girls are at special risk for problems arising from a lack of parent supervision.

METHODS:

At annual intervals for 4 consecutive years, a community sample of 957 Swedish girls completed surveys beginning in the first year of secondary school (approximate age: 13 years) describing rates of alcohol intoxication and perceptions of parent autonomy granting. Participants also reported age at menarche.

RESULTS:

Multiple-group parallel process growth curve models revealed that early pubertal maturation exacerbated the risk associated with premature autonomy granting: Alcohol intoxication rates increased 3 times faster for early maturing girls with the greatest autonomy than they did for early maturing girls with the least autonomy. Child-driven effects were also found such that higher initial levels of alcohol abuse predicted greater increases in autonomy granting as parent supervision over children engaged in illicit drinking waned.

CONCLUSIONS:

Early maturing girls are at elevated risk for physical and psychological adjustment difficulties. The etiology of escalating problems with alcohol can be traced, in part, to a relative absence of parent supervision during a time when peer interactions assume special significance.
Adenotonsillectomy Complications: A Meta-analysis
Authors: De Luca Canto Graziela , Pachêco-Pereira Camila , Aydinoz Secil , Bhattacharjee Rakesh , Tan Hui-Leng , Kheirandish-Gozal Leila , Flores-Mir Carlos , Gozal David
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Complications after adenotonsillectomy (AT) in children have been extensively studied, but differences between children with and without obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have not been systematically reported. Our objective was to identify the most frequent complications after AT, and evaluate if differences between children with and without OSA exist.

METHODS:

Several electronic databases were searched. A partial gray literature search was undertaken by using Google Scholar. Experts were consulted to identify any missing publications. Studies assessing complications after AT in otherwise healthy children were included. One author collected the required information from the selected articles. A second author crosschecked the collected information and confirmed its accuracy. Most of the selected studies collected information from medical charts.

RESULTS:

A total of 1254 studies were initially identified. Only 23 articles remained after a 2-step selection process. The most frequent complication was respiratory compromise (9.4%), followed by secondary hemorrhage (2.6%). Four studies compared postoperative complications in children with and without OSA, and revealed that children with OSA have nearly 5 times more respiratory complications after AT than children without OSA (odds ratio = 4.90; 95% confidence interval: 2.38–10.10). In contrast, children with OSA are less likely to have postoperative bleeding when compared with children without OSA (odds ratio = 0.41; 95% confidence interval: 0.23–0.74).

CONCLUSIONS:

The most frequent early complications after AT are respiratory compromise and secondary hemorrhage. Based on the current limited evidence, children with OSA appear to have more respiratory complications. Conversely, hemorrhage appears to be more frequent in children without OSA.
Chronic Neuromotor Disability After Complex Cardiac Surgery in Early Life
Authors: Ricci M. Florencia , Andersen John C. , Joffe Ari R. , Watt Man-Joe , Moez Elham Khodayari , Dinu Irina A. , Garcia Guerra Gonzalo , Ross David B. , Rebeyka Ivan M. , Robertson Charlene M.T.
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Little is known about chronic neuromotor disability (CND) including cerebral palsy and motor impairments after acquired brain injury in children surviving early complex cardiac surgery (CCS). We sought to determine the frequency and presentation of CND in this population while exploring potentially modifiable acute care predictors.

METHODS:

This prospective follow-up study included 549 children after CCS requiring cardiopulmonary bypass at ≤6 weeks of age. Groups included those with only 1 CCS, mostly biventricular CHD, and those with >1 CCS, predominantly single ventricle defects. At 4.5 years of age, 420 (94.6%) children received multidisciplinary assessment. Frequency of CND is given as percentage of assessed survivors. Predictors of CND were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:

CND occurred in 6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7%–8.2%) of 4.5-year survivors; for 1 CCS, 4.2% (CI 2.3%–6.1%) and >1, 9.8% (CI 7%–12.6%). CND presentation showed: hemiparesis, 72%; spasticity, 80%; ambulation, 72%; intellectual disability, 44%; autism, 16%; epilepsy, 12%; permanent vision and hearing impairment, 12% and 8%, respectively. Overall, 32% of presumed causative events happened before first CCS. Independent odds ratio for CND are age (days) at first CCS, 1.08 (CI 1.04–1.12; P < .001); highest plasma lactate before first CCS (mmol/L), 1.13 (CI 1.03–1.23; P = 0.008); and >1 CCS, 3.57 (CI 1.48–8.9; P = .005).

CONCLUSIONS:

CND is not uncommon among CCS survivors. The frequency of associated disabilities characterized in this study informs pediatricians caring for this vulnerable population. Shortening the waiting period and reducing preoperative plasma lactate levels at first CCS may assist in reducing the frequency of CND.
Granulated Faith-Holding
Authors: Keenan William J. F.
Published: September 2015

The contention here is that however firmly faiths are formally promulgated in creeds and public declarations, there exist innumerable “granulated” ways in which they are ‘held’ by groups and individuals. There is little published research work on granulated faith-holding, particularly on informal and implicit calibrations of shared and multi-faith frameworks of conviction and commitment in relation to the structuration of faith traditions. Building on the work of Bailey, Schnell and Francis, in particular, the concept of “traditioning” is introduced to address the missing “historical” dimension to theorizing in this field. Three ideal-typical modes of granulated faith-holding are constructed: monist, dualist and pluralist, and explored in the context of the critical rational Wertfreiheit vocational scientific tradition. Key biographies of three major contributors to the sociological study of religion, culture and society—Max Weber, Edward Shils and David Martin—are employed as source materials for three contrasting cameos of granulated scientific vocational faith-holding. As granulated faith-holding is likely to be evident within other domains of culture and society, such as, for example, religion, politics, intimate relations, and “fanships” in sport, élite and popular culture, the article concludes with some general lines of application of the theoretical framework formulated here.
Американские уроки (Перевод с франц. А. Устинова)
Authors: Compagnon Antoine
Published: September 2015

Compagnon Antoine. Leçons américaines // Revue mensuelle «Le Débat». 2009. No. 156. P. 99–116.
Опыт Сингапура: создание образовательной системы мирового уровня
Authors: Alishev Timirkhan , Gilmutdinov Albert
Published: September 2015

Система образования Сингапура была создана практически с нуля и за последние 45 лет смогла достичь высокого уровня эффективности и мирового признания. Сингапурские школьники стабильно показывают лучшие результаты в международных тестах знаний. Сингапур обгоняет развитые страны по качеству функционирования образовательных институтов, его образовательная инфраструктура компактна и отлично интегрирована в структуру экономики. В статье, написанной по итогам рабочего визита делегации руководителей образования Республики Татарстан в Сингапур, представлены основные этапы развития образовательной системы в этой стране. Особый акцент сделан на особенностях администрирования и управления образованием.
Метод проектов в отечественной и зарубежной педагогической теории и практике
Authors: Penkovskikh Elena
Published: September 2015

Предлагается периодизация этапов развития метода проектов, анализируется становление данного метода в отечественной и зарубежной педагогике.
Взаимодействие предпринимательской и академической культуры в экономике знаний
Authors: Shiverskikh Margarita
Published: September 2015

Рассматриваются культурные различия бизнес-среды и академического сообщества как двух крупнейших областей современной общественной жизни, особенности их трансформаций в условиях экономики знаний. Проведена серия экспертных фокусированных интервью с деятелями науки и бизнеса с применением метода многослойного причинного анализа с целью оценки барьеров, препятствующих конструктивному диалогу между наукой и бизнес-средой, а также требований, которые предъявляют друг к другу представители этих сфер общества. Сформулированы принципы совместной работы представителей академической среды и бизнеса над инновациями, приносящими прибыль.
Towards smart concrete for smart cities: Recent results and future application of strain-sensing nanocomposites
Authors: D’Alessandro Antonella , Ubertini Filippo , Laflamme Simon , Materazzi Annibale Luigi
Published: September 2015

The use of smart technologies combined with city planning have given rise to smart cities, which empower modern urban systems with the efficient tools to cope with growing needs from increasing population sizes. For example, smart sensors are commonly used to improve city operations and management by tracking traffic, monitoring crowds at events, and performance of utility systems and public transportation. Recent advances in nanotechnologies have enabled a new family of sensors, termed self-sensing materials, which would provide smart cities with means to also monitor structural health of civil infrastructures. This includes smart concrete, which has the potential to provide any concrete structure with self-sensing capabilities. Such functional property is obtained by correlating the variation of internal strain with the variation of appropriate material properties, such as electrical resistance. Unlike conventional off-the-shelf structural health monitoring sensors, these innovative transducers combine enhanced durability and distributed measurements, thus providing greater scalability in terms of sensing size and cost. This paper presents recent advances on sensors fabricated using a cementitious matrix with nanoinclusions of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs). The fabrication procedures providing homogeneous piezoresistive properties are presented, and the electromechanical behavior of the sensors is investigated under static and dynamic loads. Results show that the proposed sensors compare well against existing technologies of stress/strain monitoring, like strain gauges and accelerometers. Example of possible field applications for the developed nanocomposite cement-based sensors include traffic monitoring, parking management and condition assessment of masonry and concrete structures.
Indian megacities as localities of environmental vulnerability from air quality perspective
Authors: Gurjar Bhola R. , Nagpure Ajay S.
Published: September 2015

Large proportions of the Indian population live in megacities (e.g., Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata), which are vibrant centers of economic opportunities and offering better quality of social life. Due to increasing migration to these cities, Indian megacities are constantly expanding, which subsequently leads to strain on the environment with a range of impacts at local, regional and global levels. During the last few decades the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and other air pollutants have increased substantially, resulting in worsening ambient air quality of these cities. With respect to time span the concern over air pollutants has also changed in Indian megacities. Concern over particulate matter, black carbon, NOx and ozone has heightened recently due to their local and regional impacts on air quality and environmental (including public) health and also because they contribute to global climate change. Although authorities have implemented several measures to reduce air pollution and its impacts in Indian megacities, much more is yet to be done to improve their ambient air quality. This paper focuses on major air pollution and GHGs emission issues in Indian megacities and associated problems within the framework of their role in environmental vulnerability.
Multi‐taxa approach shows consistent shifts in arthropod functional traits along grassland land‐use intensity gradient
Authors: Simons Nadja K. , Weisser Wolfgang W. , Gossner Martin M.
Published: September 2015

Intensification of land use reduces biodiversity but may also shift the trait composition of communities. Understanding how land use affects single traits and community trait composition, helps to understand why some species are more affected by land use than others. Trait‐based analyses are common for plants, but rare for arthropods. We collected literature‐based traits for nearly 1000 insect and spider species to test how land‐use intensity (including mowing, fertilization, and grazing) across 124 grasslands in three regions of Germany affects community‐weighted mean traits across taxa and in single taxa. We additionally measured morphometric traits for more than 150 Heteroptera species and tested whether the weighted mean morphometric traits change with increasing land‐use intensity. Community average body size decreased and community average dispersal ability increased from low to high land‐use intensity. Furthermore, the relative abundance of herbivores and of specialists among herbivores decreased and the relative abundance of species using the herb layer increased with increasing land‐use intensity. Community‐weighted means of the morphometric traits in Heteroptera also changed from low to high land‐use intensity toward longer and thinner shapes as well as longer appendices (legs, wings, and antenna). While changes in traits with increasing mowing and fertilization intensity were consistent with the combined land‐use intensity, community average traits did often not change or with opposite direction under increasing grazing intensity. We conclude that high land‐use intensity acts as an environmental filter selecting for on average smaller, more mobile, and less specialized species across taxa. Although trait collection across multiple arthropod taxa is laborious and needs clear trait definitions, it is essential for understanding the functional consequences of biodiversity loss due to land‐use intensification.
Simulation of Flow and Displacement in a Heterogeneous Petroleum Reservoir Well Field
Authors: Schafer-Perini A. , Wilson J. L. , Gutjahr A. L.
Published: September 2015

Simulation of flow and transport in heterogeneous reservoirs containing many wells presents a variety of numerical difficulties. The wells and heterogeneities represent two different types of singularities. In the examples presented, a two dimensional reservoir contains both injection and production wells. Reservoir properties vary in space and are represented as a stochastic process. Flow is simulated by the modified method of characteristics method and hybrids. Areal displacement patterns and production well recovery curves are monitored.

A variety of numerical algorithms are applied to the solution of the equations: strongly implicit procedures, alternating direction methods, multi-griding procedures, pre-conditioned conjugate gradient methods, and domain decomposition. The algorithms are applied separately to three test problems involving (1) mean uniform flow through a heterogeneous media, (2) diverging/converging flow between many wells in a homogeneous media, and (3) flow between many wells in a heterogeneous media. Algorithms which work well in the presence of only one type of singularity, for example test problems (1) or (2), fail in the presence of both singularity types (problem 3). The most robust algorithms for solving problem 3 appear to be particular versions of the preconditioned conjugate gradient method with/without domain decomposition. Adaptive gridding methods may offer another potentially successful approach.

Another aspect of the simulations is the recognition that small fluctuations of permeability located near a well have much more influence on flow and displacement than the same fluctuation located at the midpoint between wells. This issue is explored from several points of view: gridding, domain decomposition, and pseudo-properties.
Traumatic Floating Knee: A Review of a Multi-Centric Series of 172 Cases in Adult
Authors: Feron J.-M. , Bonnevialle P. , Pietu G. , Jacquot1 F.
Published: September 2015

The traumatic floating knee in adults (FK) is a combined injury of the lower limb defined by ipsilateral
fractures of the tibia and femur. The first publications emphasized the severity of injuries, the bad results after
conservative treatment, the most severe functional outcome in case of articular fracture and the frequency of associated
cruciate ligament injuries. The surgical management of FK has been highly modified according the improvement of the
fracture fixation devices and the operative techniques. This retrospective multicentric observational study included 172
adults with a FK injury admitted in emergency in 5 different level I or II trauma centers. All the patients data were
collected on an anonymized database. Results were evaluated by the overall clinical Karlström’s score at latest follow-up.
Fracture union was assessed on X-rays when at least 3 out of 4 cortices were in continuity in two different radiological
planes. A statistical analysis was performed by a logistic regression method. Despite some limitations, this study confirms
the general and local severity of this high-energy trauma, mainly occurring in young people around the third decade. A
special effort should lead to a better initial diagnosis of associated ligamentous injury: a tear of PCL can be suspected on a
lateral-ray view and a testing of the knee should be systematically performed after fixation of the fracture under
anesthesia. Secondary MRI assessment is sometimes difficult to interpret because of hardware artifacts. The timing of
fracture fixation is discussed on a case by case basis. However, a first femoral fixation is recommended except in cases of
tibia fracture with major soft tissue lesion or leg ischemia requiring the tibia fixation first. Also a tibia stabilized facilitates
the reduction and fixation of a complex distal femur fracture. The dual nailing remains so far for us the best treatment in
Fraser I FK. Further prospective studies are needed to validate treatment algorithms, best fixation techniques in order to
decrease the rate of complication and improve the functional outcome of floating knee injuries.
Membrane Processes
Authors: Pellegrin Marie‐Laure , Sadler Mary E. , Greiner Anthony D. , Aguinaldo Jorge , Min Kyungnan , Zhang Kai , Arabi Sara , Burbano Marie S. , Kent Fraser , Shoaf Robert
Published: September 2015

This review, for literature published in 2014, contains information related to membrane processes for municipal and industrial applications. This review is a subsection of the Treatment Systems section of the annual Water Environment Federation literature review and covers the following topics: pretreatment, membrane bioreactor (MBR) configuration, design, nutrient removal, operation, industrial treatment, fixed film and anaerobic membrane systems, reuse, microconstituents removal, membrane technology advances, membrane fouling, and modeling.  Other sub‐sections of the Treatment Systems section that might relate to this literature review include: Biological Fixed‐Film Systems, Activated Sludge and Other Aerobic Suspended Culture Processes, Anaerobic Processes, Water Reclamation and Reuse. The following sections might also have related information on membrane processes: Industrial Wastes, Hazardous Wastes, and Fate and Effects of Pollutants.
Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Martinez‐Guerra Edith , Jiang Yi , Lee Gordon , Kokabian Bahareh , Fast Sara , Truax Dennis D. , Martin James L. , Magbanua Benjamin S. , Gude Veera Gnaneswar
Published: September 2015

This paper provides a review of the treatment technologies, which utilize natural processes or passive components in wastewater treatment. In particular, this paper primarily focuses on wetland systems and their applications in wastewater treatment (as an advanced treatment unit or decentralized system), nutrient and pollutant removal (single and multiple pollutants, and metals), and emerging pollutant removal (pharmaceuticals). A summary of studies involving the plant (vegetation) effects, wetland design and modeling, hybrid and innovative systems, storm water treatment and pathogen removal is also included.
Sustainability
Authors: Chang Chein‐Chi , DiGiovanni Kimberly , Zhang Gong , Yang Xiahua , You Shao‐Hong
Published: September 2015

This review on Sustainability covers selected 2014 publications on the focus of the following sections:  • Sustainable water and wastewater utilities  • Sustainable water resources management  • Stormwater and green infrastructure  • Sustainability in wastewater treatment  • Life cycle assessment (LCA) applications  • Sustainability and energy in wastewater industry,  • Sustainability and asset management
Automotive Wastes
Authors: Guigard Selma E. , Shariaty Pooya , Niknaddaf Saeid , Lashaki Masoud Jahandar , Atkinson John D. , Hashisho Zaher
Published: September 2015

A review of the literature from 2014 related to automotive wastes is presented. Topics include solid wastes from autobodies and tires as well as vehicle emissions to soil and air as a result of the use of conventional and alternative fuels. Potential toxicological and health risks related to automotive wastes are also discussed.
Mine Drainage and Oil Sand Water
Authors: Wei Xinchao , Wolfe F. Andrew , Li Yanjun
Published: September 2015

Mine drainage from the mining of mineral resources (coal, metals, oil sand, or industrial minerals) remains as a persistent environmental problem. This review summarizes the scientific literature published in 2014 on the technical issues related to mine drainage or mine water in active and abandoned coal/hard rock mining sites or waste spoil piles. Also included in this review is the water from oil sand operations. This review is divided into the four sections: 1) mine drainage characterization, 2) prediction and environmental impact, 3) treatment technologies, 4) oil sand water. Many papers presented in this review address more than one aspect and different sections should not be regarded as being mutuallyexclusive or all‐inclusive.
Bioenergy from Biofuel Residues and Wastes
Authors: Choudri B.S. , Baawain Mahad
Published: September 2015

This review includes works published in the general scientific literature during 2014 on the production of bioenergy and biofuel from waste residues generated during bioethanol and biodiesel production with a brief overview of current and emerging feedstocks. Anothersection of this review summarizes literature on culturing algae for biofuels including bioreactors and open pond cultivation systems with the utilization of inorganic and organic sources of nutrients. New methods applicable to the mass culture of algae are highlighted. Algal cell harvesting and oil extraction techniques tested and developed for algae are also discussed.
Radioactive Wastes
Authors: Choudri B.S. , Baawain Mahad
Published: September 2015

Papers reviewed herein present a general overview of radioactive waste activities around the world in 2014. These include safety assessments, decommission and decontamination of nuclear facilities, fusion facilities, transportation and management solutions for the final disposal of low and high level radioactive wastes (LLW and HLW), interim storage and final disposal options for spent fuel (SF), and tritiated wastes, with a focus on environmental impacts due to the mobility of radionuclides in water, soil and ecosystem alongwith other progress made in the management of radioactive wastes.
Emerging Pollutants ‐ Part II: Treatment
Authors: Bo Liu , Shengen Zhang , Chang Chein‐Chi , Zhanfeng Dong , Hongxiang Li
Published: September 2015

Emerging contaminants are considered as some substances of actual or potential threat to human health or environment, which include endocrine disruptors, pharmaceutical, personal care products, nanoparticles, antibiotic resistance genes and chemicals used in packaging products, etc. The disposal and treatment of emerging contaminants has become a key problem in the field of water pollution control. The purpose of this review is to summarize published researches on emerging pollutants treatment in 2014.
Health Effects Associated with Wastewater Treatment, Reuse, and Disposal
Authors: Li Yuan , Qu Xiaoyan , Yu Ruoren , Ikehata Keisuke
Published: September 2015

A review of the literature published in 2014 on topics relating to public and environmental health risks associated with wastewater treatment, reuse, and disposal is presented. This review is divided into the following sections: wastewater management, microbial hazards, chemical hazards, wastewater reuse, wastewater treatment plants, wastewater disposal, and sludge and biosolids.
Influence of acorn size on morphological characteristics of one-year-old Northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedlings
Authors: Popovic Vladan , Lucic Aleksandar , Rakonjac Ljubinko , Cirkovic-Mitrovic Tatjana , Brasanac-Bosanac Ljiljana
Published: September 2015

The aim of this research was to examine the influence of acorn size on
morphological characteristics of one-year-old Northern red oak (Quercus rubra
L.) seedlings. The quality of seedlings correlates with the quality of the
seed they are derived from. In species with large seeds, as in the case of
Northern red oak, the seedling growth in the first growing season is closely
related to seed size or the amount of reserve nutrients that are stored in
the seed. The height and root collar diameter of one-year-old Northern red
oak seedlings increases with increase in acorn size. The results obtained in
this research can be used as a guideline for acorn grading, because they show
that improved Northern red oak seedlings quality can be achieved using seeds
of appropriate size.
Association between insulin-like growth factor 1 and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and vascular inflammation in obese women
Authors: Ilincic Branislava , Djeric Mirjana , Stosic Zoran , Stokic Edita , Zivanovic Zeljko , Nikolic Stanislava , Mijovic Romana , Popovic Djordje , Cabarkapa Velibor
Published: September 2015

Given its possible protective effect on vascular endothelial function, we
hypothesized that the circulating level of insulin-like growth factor 1
(IGF-1) could be associated with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and
vascular inflammation, i.e., soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1
(sICAM-1), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and high-sensitivity C-reactive
protein (hs-CRP, in non-diabetic obese women. A total of 40 obese women
(median age 35 (31-39) years; moderately obese I (n=21) body mass index (BMI)
30.0-34.9 kg/m2 and severely obese (n=19) BMI 35.0-39.9 kg/m2) and 40
controls, age-matched healthy nonobese women were included in the study.
Anthropometric parameters (BMI, waist circumference, fat adipose tissue
percentage ? FAT% measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis), serum
concentrations of biomarkers (IGF-1, sICAM-1, sE-selectin and hs-CRP) and
common carotid artery intima-media thickness Z-score (CCIMT Z-score) were
assessed in all subjects. Severely obese subjects had a significantly lower
median concentration of IGF-1 compared to moderately obese and nonobese
subjects (95 (73.75-109.25) vs. 120 (108.3-141.7) vs. 115.5 (94.1-165.5)
mg/mL, P<0.05). In moderately obese subjects, the median concentration of
hs-CRP (3.41 (2.3-5.1) vs. 5.9 (3.2-9.57) mg/L, P=0.01) and sICAM-1 (244.5
(192.7-262.2) vs. 325.2 (229.2-339.6) mg/L, P=0.03) were significantly lower
compared to severely obese subjects. In regression analysis IGF-1
concentration was independently associated with FAT% (?=-3.14; P=0.03),
hs-CRP (?=-4.24; P=0.001) and CCIMT Z-score (?=-19.2; P=0.001). The
circulating level of IGF-1 is associated with hs-CRP, but not with
sE-selectin and sICAM-1 in non-diabetic obese women.
Maxillary arch width and buccal corridor changes with Damon and conventional brackets: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Shook Corey , Kim Sohyon (Michelle) , Burnheimer John
Published: September 2015

Objective: 

To evaluate the effect of Damon self-ligating and conventional bracket systems on buccal corridor widths and areas.

Materials and Methods: 

A retrospective sample of consecutively treated patients using either conventional (CG, n  =  45) or Damon self-ligating (SL, n  =  39) brackets was analyzed to determine any differences in buccal corridor widths and areas both within and between groups. Pretreatment and posttreatment frontal photographs were transferred to Photoshop CC, standardized using intercanthal width, and linear and area measurements were performed with tools in Photoshop CC. Ratios were then calculated for statistical analysis. Relationships between arch widths and buccal corridors were also examined.

Results: 

There were no significant differences in the posttreatment intercanine or intermolar widths either within or between the CG and SL groups. There were no significant differences in any buccal corridor width or area measurement either within or between the CG and SL groups. There were strong correlations with the intercanine width and the corresponding buccal corridor smile width measurements. There was an inverse correlation with the buccal corridor area in relation to the canine and the total smile width.

Conclusions: 

It is likely that posttreatment increases in arch width can be seen in patients treated with either a conventional bracket system or the Damon system. It is highly unlikely that there is any significant difference in buccal corridor width or area in patients treated with the Damon self-ligating system or a conventional bracket system.
Cash Management in Nepalese Manufacturing Enterprises
Authors: Sharma Dilli Raj
Published: September 2015

A firm that requires external financing can rely on either debt or equity, but both have an asymmetric information problem which may prevent obtaining financing. In the case of debt financing, the higher the level of informational asymmetry between the firm and the lender, the more difficult it will be for the lender to ascertain the firm's credit quality. In some cases, identifying a firm's quality may be so difficult that the lender may simply ration credit. Because of this asymmetry in lending and the possibility of credit rationing by banks, firms may decide to hold high levels of cash so they can take advantage of positive net present value (NPV) projects even when credit is tight. However, if a firm holds cash, it should not need as much bank financing as it otherwise would. Thus the bank may incur a cost by encouraging cash holdings, namely the loss of potential loans to those firms. Hence, Cash management is the process whereby the cash inflows and outflows are controlled so that current obligations will be met in time and any excess cash will earn income. Specifically, it aims at determining the level of cash holdings by Nepalese manufacturing enterprises. With this in mind, samples of Nepalese manufacturing firms have been used to conduct a study with secondary data. First, regression model is used to test for the existence of an optimal cash holding in this study. The study based on twelve manufacturing enterprises covering the period 1999-2012. The study is reveals that cash holdings are positively affected by the investment opportunity set and cash flows while negatively affected by asset’s liquidity, interest rate, leverage and size in Nepalese manufacturing enterprises.The Journal of Development and Administrative Studies, Vol. 22, No. 1-2, pp. 1-14, 2014
Efficacy of using simile completion tasks as a measure to evaluate the figurative language abilities in adolescents aged between 10-15 years
Authors: Karuppali S , Bhat JS
Published: September 2015

Background: Language development is an ongoing process. The understanding of figurative expressions such as similes begins during the preschool years with subsequent improvement throughout childhood, adolescence, and into adulthood. Studies pertaining to the development of such higher language skills are limited, especially in a multilingual setup like India.Methods: Participants were divided into six groups (10-10,11 to 15–15.11 years), with each group consisting of 5 children each. The groups selected for the present study were also classified into the Piaget’s cognitive stages. The participants were required to fill in the incomplete figurative expressions (similes). The responses were recorded. Univariate Analysis of Variance was employed to determine the main significant difference across two variables - chronological group and the cognitive stage.Results: Results revealed a significant main effect in the means of the accurate responses for the simile completion tasks across the chronological as well as the cognitive groups.Conclusion: The ability to understand similes follows a developmental pattern, and probably continues to develop even after 15 years. The responses obtained by the participants in the present study improved with age there by suggesting that the amount and quality of knowledge that a child possesses concerning a figurative expression, does play an important role in the child’s comprehension of such higher language aspects.Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.3(2) 2014: 110-115
Morphological variations in the basioccipital region of the South Indian skull
Authors: Ray B , Kalthur SG , Kumar B , Bhat MRK , D'souza AS , Gulati HS , KN LK , VS B
Published: September 2015

Background: The craniovertebral junction is a transitional region of spine that exhibits extensive structural variability. Variations of basiocciput are of interest for anatomists and clinicians because they produce clinical symptoms or lead to misinterpretations of radiological images.Materials and Methods: The study was conducted on 202 dry human skull bone (12 occipital bone and crania 190) belonging to south Indian population for variations of basiocciput over a period of six years.Results: Prevalence of hyperostotic variants was significantly higher than hypostotic variants in present study. Most common type observed was of precondylar tubercle (2.48%) followed by fossa navicularis (1.49). The prevalence of other variations such as prebasioccipital arch, third occipital condyle, exostosis and basioccipital cleft was similar (0.5%) in the study population.Conclusions: These cranio-vertebral anomalies will be useful not only to anatomists, radiologists and surgeons while dealing with base of the skull and basiocciput in particular but also to study anthropological significance and may guide the future researchers in comparative human anatomy.Nepal Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.3(2) 2014: 124-128
Overlay Thickness Design for Low-Volume Roads
Authors: Sarker Priyanka , Mishra Debakanta , Tutumluer Erol , Lackey Scott
Published: September 2015

Identifying the appropriate overlay thicknesses is critical to a local transportation agency's ability to maintain its pavement network. Local agencies often use empirical approaches for designing the overlay thickness for low-volume pavements. For example, overlay design for low-volume roads in Illinois is currently carried out using assumed layer coefficients for a limited number of material types. Although such empirical approaches are fairly simple to use, they are often not suitable for considering the effects of recycled and nontraditional construction materials that are more commonly considered in current-day sustainable pavement applications. The lack of mechanical testing for evaluating the pavement structural condition often leads to uneconomical practices in the rehabilitation of low-volume roads. This paper presents a mechanistic–empirical approach for overlay thickness designs of low-volume pavements through a combination of nondestructive deflection testing and preestablished pavement damage models. Five pavement sections, with varying structural and traffic characteristics, were selected from two counties in Illinois. Three sets of falling weight deflectometer tests were conducted over a period of one year to monitor changes in pavement deflection responses. Structural conditions of the pavement sections in their original configuration were evaluated first. Then, the corresponding required overlay thicknesses were determined by using two methods currently used by local agencies. The inability of the currently available methods to properly account for current pavement structural conditions was highlighted. A new mechanistic–empirical overlay thickness design method introduced in this study successfully identified structural deficiencies in the original pavement configurations.
The sociology of creativity: Part I: Theory: The social mechanisms of innovation and creative developments in selectivity environments
Authors: Burns Tom R. , Machado Nora , Corte Ugo
Published: September 2015

Abstract Creativity is a universal activity, essential in an evolutionary perspective, to adaptation and sustainability. This first part of a three part article on the sociology of creativity has three purposes: (1) to develop the argument that key factors in creative activity are socially based and developed; hence, sociology can contribute significantly to understanding and explaining human creativity; (2) to present a sociological systems approach which enables us to link in a systematic and coherent way the disparate social factors and mechanisms that are involved in creative activity and to describe and explain creativity; and (3) to illustrate a sociological systems theory’s conceptualization of multiple interrelated institutional, cultural, and interaction factors and their role in creativity and innovative development in diverse empirical instances. The article introduces and applies a model stressing the social embeddedness of innovative agents and entrepreneurs, either as individuals or groups, as they manipulate symbols, rules, technologies, and materials that are socially derived and developed. Their motivation for doing what they do derives in part from their social roles and positions, in part in response to the incentives and opportunities – many socially constructed – shaping their interaction situations and domains. Their capabilities including their social powers derive from the culturally and institutional frameworks in which they are embedded. In carrying out their actions, agents mobilize resources including technologies through the institutions and networks in which they participate. Following this theoretical part, Parts II and III focus on the concrete conditions and mechanisms characteristic of the “context of innovation” and the “context of receptivity and institutionalization”, respectively.