bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Game Changer: A Case Study of Social-Media Strategy in Big Ten Athletic Departments
Authors: Hipke Makayla , Hachtmann Frauke
Published: November 2014

This study used a case-study approach to develop an understanding of how social-media strategy is developed and deployed in Big Ten Conference athletic departments and to explore the issues associated with it. Based on in-depth interviews with department officials, the following 6 themes emerged: connecting with target audiences, varied approaches in coordination of postings, athletic communications as content gatekeepers, desire to incorporate sponsors and generate revenue, focusing on building fan loyalty through engagement, and challenges of negativity and metrics. The social-media strategy in Big Ten Conference athletic departments appears to be driven by athletic communications/sports information departments as opposed to marketing departments. The greatest benefit of social media has been the ease of engagement and instantaneous connection between fans and the teams they love, which can lead to building greater loyalty to a team. Some of the challenges departments face include having to deal with the reality of crises and negative attention around programs more quickly than with traditional media and to measure social-media success accurately.
The Same Old Stories: Exclusive News and Uniformity of Content in Sports Coverage
Authors: English Peter A.
Published: November 2014

Exclusive news is a demand of most news organizations, but previous research suggests the pursuit of unique material leads to uniformity of content among competitors. Bourdieu is among those who have argued homogeneity dominates journalism, and aspects of his field theory will be used to analyze the extent to which this occurs in sports journalism. Employing a sample of 6 broadsheet/quality sports sections from Australia, India, and the United Kingdom, this study examines the amounts of exclusive content and the same and similar articles in the sports pages. Thirty-six in-depth interviews with sports journalists from the titles were conducted, along with a content analysis of 4,103 print and online articles. The results show small levels of exclusive material and a tendency for domestic rivals to produce larger amounts of similar stories. This was often in contrast to the views of the sports journalists.
The Liancourt Rocks: Media Dynamics and National Identities at the 2012 Summer Olympic Games
Authors: Yan Grace , Watanabe Nicholas M.
Published: November 2014

After the South Korean men’s soccer team beat its Japanese counterpart in the bronze-medal match at the 2012 London Olympics, South Korean player Park Jung-Woo celebrated with a banner that displayed Dokdo is our land. Dokdo is called the Liancourt Rocks in English, the sovereignty over which has been an ongoing point of contention between South Korea and Japan. This study conducts a critical discourse analysis to examine media representations of Park’s banner celebration, as well as the ensuing discussion in major Korean and Japanese newspapers. The analysis reveals a contrastive picture: The Korean media vocally approached Park’s behavior as an emotional response of self-righteous indignation and quickly enacted memories of Korea’s victimhood in World War II to make justifications, whereas the Japanese media participated in a relatively disengaged absence. Japan’s silence disclosed a glimpse into its rich postwar history of social conflict and political resistance. Such contrast is also indicative of how sport media can be engaged in nuanced social contexts, generating representations that serve nation-state regimes situated in different political dynamics.
“The Most Evil Thing About College Sports”: The 1-Year Scholarship and a Former NCAA Athlete’s Personal Narrative
Authors: Hartman Karen L.
Published: November 2014

This autoethnographic account analyzes the culture of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), its rules, and the 1-year scholarship through a personal narrative of the author’s experience as a Division I basketball player who had her 1-year scholarship revoked before her senior year. The author seeks to provide a voice of resistance through an experience few have access to, as well as respond to calls for more communication scholars to use personal narrative research in sport. This scholarly commentary concludes with recommendations to change the culture of the NCAA to make it more amenable to multiyear scholarships and student-athlete rights: Communication between the NCAA and institutional members must continue to advocate for student-athlete rights; if schools are not going to offer multiyear scholarships, the NCAA needs to change the deadline for when schools must notify of nonrenewal; and student-athletes need to be encouraged to join associations that support their rights.
Exploring General and Sports Nutrition and Food Knowledge in Elite Male Australian Athletes
Authors: Devlin Brooke L. , Belski Regina
Published: November 2014

Nutrition knowledge is believed to influence nutritional intake, which in turn influences performance in elite athletes. There is currently no published data on the nutrition knowledge of elite Australian Football (AF) players. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the current level of general and sports nutrition knowledge in elite male AF athletes. Forty six elite male AF players (23.5 ± 2.8 years) answered 123 questions relating to five areas of nutrition knowledge: dietary recommendations, sources of nutrients, choosing everyday foods, alcohol and sports nutrition. Demographic details and perceptions of nutrition knowledge were collected for all participants. The mean nutrition knowledge score was 74.4 ± 10.9 (60.5%). The highest score was obtained in sports nutrition section (17.9 ± 3.0, 61.7%). The dietitian was selected as the first source of information by 98% of athletes, with club trainer and teammates as second choice for 45.7% and 23.9% of athletes, respectively. The majority of athletes correctly answered questions regarding recommendations to increase fruit and vegetable intake and decrease fat intake (95.6%, 91.1% and 93.3% correct respectively). While 80% of the athletes were aware fat intake should predominately be made up of unsaturated fat, they were less able to identify food sources of unsaturated fats (35.6% and 24.4% correct for statements regarding monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, respectively). Broad nutrition messages and recommendations appear to be well understood; however, gaps in nutrition knowledge are evident. A better understanding of nutrition knowledge in athletes will allow nutrition education interventions to target areas in need of improvement.
Dietary Intake, Anthropometric Characteristics, and Iron and Vitamin D Status of Female Adolescent Ballet Dancers Living in New Zealand
Authors: Beck Kathryn L. , Mitchell Sarah , Foskett Andrew , Conlon Cathryn A , Von Hurst Pamela R.
Published: November 2014

Ballet dancing is a multifaceted activity requiring muscular power, strength, endurance, flexibility, and agility; necessitating demanding training schedules. Furthermore dancers may be under aesthetic pressure to maintain a lean physique, and adolescent dancers require extra nutrients for growth and development. This cross-sectional study investigated the nutritional status of 47 female adolescent ballet dancers (13–18 years) living in Auckland, New Zealand. Participants who danced at least 1 hr per day 5 days per week completed a 4-day estimated food record, anthropometric measurements (Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry) and hematological analysis (iron and vitamin D). Mean BMI was 19.7 ± 2.4kg/m2 and percentage body fat, 23.5 ± 4.1%. The majority (89.4%) of dancers had a healthy weight (5th-85th percentile) using BMI-for-age growth charts. Food records showed a mean energy intake of 8097.3 ± 2155.6kJ/day (48.9% carbohydrate, 16.9% protein, 33.8% fat, 14.0% saturated fat). Mean carbohydrate and protein intakes were 4.8 ± 1.4 and 1.6 ± 0.5g/kg/day respectively. Over half (54.8%) of dancers consumed less than 5g carbohydrate/kg/day, and 10 (23.8%) less than 1.2 g protein/kg/day. Over 60% consumed less than the estimated average requirement for calcium, folate, magnesium and selenium. Thirteen (28.3%) dancers had suboptimal iron status (serum ferritin (SF) <20μg/L). Of these, four had iron deficiency (SF < 12μg/L, hemoglobin (Hb) ≥ 120g/L) and one iron deficiency anemia (SF < 12μg/L, Hb < 120g/L). Mean serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D was 75.1 ± 18.6nmol/L, 41 (91.1%) had concentrations above 50nmol/L. Female adolescent ballet dancers are at risk for iron deficiency, and possibly inadequate nutrient intakes.
Acute Consumption of an Energy Drink Does Not Improve Physical Performance of Female Volleyball Players
Authors: Fernández-Campos Catalina , Dengo Ana L. , Moncada-Jiménez José
Published: November 2014

To determine the acute effect of an energy drink (ED) on physical performance of professional female volleyball players. 19 females (age= 22.3 ± 4.9 yr.; height= 171.8 ± 9.4 cm; weight= 65.2 ± 10.1 kg) participated in a randomized, crossover, double-blind study to measure grip strength, vertical jump and anaerobic power in 3 different sessions (ED, placebo [PL] or no beverage [CTL]). For each session, participants arrived in a fasted state, consumed a standardized breakfast meal, and 1 hr later completed the 3 baseline performance tests without having ingested the beverage. After completing the premeasurements, the athletes drank 6 ml/kg of body weight of the ED or PL and in the CTL condition no beverage was consumed. Posttest measurements were taken 30 min after the ingestion of liquids. A 3 × 2 repeated-measures ANOVA revealed no significant within-session and measurement time interactions for each performance test. Regardless of the measurement time, right hand grip strength was significantly higher in the ED condition (34.6 ± 0.9 kg) compared with PL (33.4 ± 1.1 kg) and CTL (33.6 ± 1.0 kg) (p > 0.05). Regardless of the beverage ingested, averaged right hand grip strength, taking into account all 3 testing conditions, increased from pre to posttesting (Pre = 33.8 ± 0.9 kg vs. Post = 33.9 ± 1.0 kg; p = 0.029), as did the averaged fatigue index, obtained from the anaerobic power test (Pre = 65.9± 2.2% vs. Post = 68.7± 2.0%; p= 0.049). The acute ingestion of an ED did not improve physical performance of professional Costa Rican female volleyball players.
Spot Urine Concentrations Should Not Be Used for Hydration Assessment: A Methodology Review
Authors: Cheuvront Samuel N. , Kenefick Robert W. , Zambraski Edward J.
Published: November 2014

A common practice in sports science is to assess hydration status using the concentration of a single spot urine collection taken at any time of day for comparison against concentration (specific gravity, osmolality, color) thresholds established from first morning voids. There is strong evidence that this practice can be confounded by fluid intake, diet, and exercise, among other factors, leading to false positive/negative assessments. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to provide a simple explanation as to why this practice leads to erroneous conclusions and should be curtailed in favor of consensus hydration assessment recommendations.
Premovement Changes in Corticospinal Excitability of the Biceps Brachii are Not Different Between Arm Cycling and an Intensity-Matched Tonic Contraction
Authors: Copithorne David B. , Forman Davis A. , Power Kevin E.
Published: November 2014

The purpose of this study was to determine if supraspinal and/or spinal motoneuron excitability of the biceps brachii were differentially modulated before: 1) arm cycling and 2) an intensity-matched tonic contraction. Surface EMG recordings of motor evoked potentials (MEPs) and cervicomedullary motor evoked potentials (CMEPs) were used to assess supraspinal and spinal motoneuron excitability, respectively. MEP amplitudes were larger and onset latencies shorter, before arm cycling and tonic contraction when compared with rest with no intent to move, but with no difference between motor outputs. CMEP amplitudes and onset latencies remained unchanged before cycling and tonic contraction compared with rest. Premovement enhancement of corticospinal excitability was due to an increase in supraspinal excitability that was not task-dependent. This suggests that a common neural drive is used to initiate both motor outputs with task-dependent changes in neural excitability only being evident once the motor outputs have begun.
Energy Expenditure in Low Active Overweight and Obese Children at Varying Treadmill Grades
Authors: Paya Noemi Serra , Ensenyat Assumpta , Real Jordi Gatius , Blanco Alfonso
Published: November 2014

This study aimed to evaluate differences between low active overweight and obese children in terms of energy expenditure (EE), ventilation (VE), and cardiac response during graded submaximal treadmill testing at constant speed.

Methods:

We categorized 20 children into two weight groups according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria: overweight (n = 10; age = 9.7 ±1.34 years) and obese (n = 10; age = 10.4 ± 1.4 years). Children performed treadmill testing at a constant speed (1.53 ms1) and increasing grade (0%, 4%, and 8%). every 3 min.

Results:

The EE across all grades was significantly higher (p < .001) in obese than in overweight children. Differences at each grade disappeared when EE was adjusted by body mass; however, several differences remained when the EE was adjusted by fat-free mass or body surface area. The increase in EE with increasing grade was greater in obese children (effect size between 0% and 8% for EE was 1.17). BMI z-score and fat mass (kg) were the main predictors of EE (Kcal·min1) and contributed to explaining 66%, 70%, and 83.4% of the variance in EE at 0%, 4% and 8% gradients respectively.

Conclusion:

We suggest that when assessing EE response to exercise, the degree of obesity should be taken into consideration.
Effects of Active and Passive Recovery on Blood Lactate and Blood pH After a Repeated Sprint Protocol in Children and Adults
Authors: Kappenstein Jennifer , Fernández-Fernández Jaime , Engel Florian , Ferrauti Alexander
Published: November 2014

The aim of this study was to compare the effect of active (AR) and passive recovery (PR) after a high-intensive repeated sprint running protocol on physiological parameters in children and adults. Blood lactate (La) and blood pH were obtained during two sets of 5 × 5 s all-out sprints and several times during subsequent 30-min recovery in 16 children and 16 adults. End-exercise La was significantly lower and pH significantly higher in children (La: 5.21 ± 2.73 mmol·L1; pH: 7.37 ± 0.06) compared with adults (La: 10.35 ± 5.76 mmol·L−1; pH: 7.27 ± 0.10) (p > .01). La half-life during postexercise recovery was significantly shorter in children (AR: 436 ± 371 s, PR: 830 ± 349 s) than in adults (AR: 733 ± 371 s, PR: 1361 ± 372 s), as well as in active compared with passive recovery for both age groups (p > .01). The age x recovery interaction for La half-life only approached statistical significance (p = .06). The results suggest a faster lactate disappearance and an earlier return to resting pH after a repeated sprint running protocol in children compared with adults and a less pronounced advantage of active recovery in children.
Aerobic Training Suppresses Exercise-Induced Lipid Peroxidation and Inflammation in Overweight/Obese Adolescent Girls
Authors: Youssef Hala , Groussard Carole , Lemoine-Morel Sophie , Jacob Christophe , Moussa Elie , Fazah Abdallah , Pineau Jean-Claude , Pincemail Joel , Cillard Josiane , Delamarche Arlette
Published: November 2014

This study aimed to determine whether aerobic training could reduce lipid peroxidation and inflammation at rest and after maximal exhaustive exercise in overweight/obese adolescent girls. Thirty-nine adolescent girls (14-19 years old) were classified as nonobese or overweight/obese and then randomly assigned to either the nontrained or trained group (12-week multivariate aerobic training program). Measurements at the beginning of the experiment and at 3 months consisted of body composition, aerobic fitness (VO2peak) and the following blood assays: pre- and postexercise lipid peroxidation (15F2a-isoprostanes [F2-Isop], lipid hydroperoxide [ROOH], oxidized LDL [ox-LDL]) and inflammation (myeloperoxidase [MPO]) markers. In the overweight/obese group, the training program significantly increased their fat-free mass (FFM) and decreased their percentage of fat mass (%FM) and hip circumference but did not modify their VO2peak. Conversely, in the nontrained overweight/obese group, weight and %FM increased, and VO2peak decreased, during the same period. Training also prevented exercise-induced lipid peroxidation and/or inflammation in overweight/obese girls (F2-Isop, ROOH, ox-LDL, MPO). In addition, in the trained overweight/obese group, exercise-induced changes in ROOH, ox-LDL and F2-Isop were correlated with improvements in anthropometric parameters (waist-to-hip ratio, %FM and FFM). In conclusion aerobic training increased tolerance to exercise-induced oxidative stress in overweight/obese adolescent girls partly as a result of improved body composition.
The Influence of Organized Physical Activity (Including Gymnastics) on Young Adult Skeletal Traits: Is Maturity Phase Important?
Authors: Bernardoni Brittney , Scerpella Tamara A. , Rosenbaum Paula F. , Kanaley Jill A. , Raab Lindsay N. , Li Quefeng , Wang Sijian , Dowthwaite Jodi N.
Published: November 2014

We prospectively evaluated adolescent organized physical activity (PA) as a factor in adult female bone traits. Annual DXA scans accompanied semiannual records of anthropometry, maturity, and PA for 42 participants in this preliminary analysis (criteria: appropriately timed DXA scans at ~1 year premenarche [predictor] and ~5 years postmenarche [dependent variable]). Regression analysis evaluated total adolescent interscan PA and PA over 3 maturity subphases as predictors of young adult bone outcomes: 1) bone mineral content (BMC), geometry, and strength indices at nondominant distal radius and femoral neck; 2) subhead BMC; 3) lumbar spine BMC. Analyses accounted for baseline gynecological age (years pre- or postmenarche), baseline bone status, adult body size and interscan body size change. Gymnastics training was evaluated as a potentially independent predictor, but did not improve models for any outcomes (p < .07). Premenarcheal bone traits were strong predictors of most adult outcomes (semipartial r2 = .21-0.59, p < .001). Adult 1/3 radius and subhead BMC were predicted by both total PA and PA 1-3 years postmenarche (p < .03). PA 3-5 years postmenarche predicted femoral narrow neck width, endosteal diameter, and buckling ratio (p < .05). Thus, participation in organized physical activity programs throughout middle and high school may reduce lifetime fracture risk in females.
Sedentary Time and Screen-Based Sedentary Behaviors of Children With a Chronic Disease
Authors: Walker Rachel G. , Obeid Joyce , Nguyen Thanh , Ploeger Hilde , Proudfoot Nicole A. , Bos Cecily , Chan Anthony K. , Pedder Linda , Issenman Robert M. , Scheinemann Katrin , Larché Maggie J. , McAssey Karen , Timmons Brian W.
Published: November 2014

The objectives of this study were to (i) assess sedentary time and prevalence of screen-based sedentary behaviors of children with a chronic disease and (ii) compare sedentary time and prevalence of screen-based sedentary behaviors to age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Sixty-five children (aged 6-18 years) with a chronic disease participated: survivors of a brain tumor, hemophilia, type 1 diabetes mellitus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, cystic fibrosis, and Crohn’s disease. Twenty-nine of these participants were compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Sedentary time was measured objectively by an ActiGraph GT1M or GT3x accelerometer worn for 7 consecutive days and defined as less than 100 counts per min. A questionnaire was used to assess screen-based sedentary behaviors. Children with a chronic disease engaged in an average of 10.2 ± 1.4 hr of sedentary time per day, which comprised 76.5 ± 7.1% of average daily monitoring time. There were no differences between children with a chronic disease and controls in sedentary time (adjusted for wear time, p = .06) or in the prevalence of TV watching, and computer or video game usage for varying durations (p = .78, p = .39 and, p = .32 respectively). Children with a chronic disease, though relatively healthy, accumulate high levels of sedentary time, similar to those of their healthy peers.
Treatment of recalcitrant subcutaneous emphysema using negative pressure wound therapy dressings
Authors: Towe Christopher , Solomon Brian , Donington Jessica S , Pass Harvey I
Published: November 2014

Subcutaneous emphysema frequently occurs after pulmonary resection, but is usually mild and self-limiting. Patients can, however, develop severe symptomatic subcutaneous emphysema despite adequate thoracic drainage. There is a paucity of efficacious treatments for subcutaneous emphysema that does not respond to chest tube drainage. Previous reports have suggested that thoracoscopy may be an efficacious treatment, but is unfavourable due to the risks associated with reoperation. We present a case of a patient who developed severe subcutaneous emphysema after pulmonary lobectomy that was quickly and effectively treated using a commercially available negative pressure wound therapy dressing.
A report of a successfully treated case of ABPA in an HIV-infected individual
Authors: Muthu Valliappan , Agarwal Ritesh
Published: November 2014

Aspergillus fumigatusis a ubiquitous fungus responsible for a variety of pulmonary diseases, ranging from infection of a pre-existing cavity as in aspergilloma to highly invasive disease in immunocompromised hosts. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is a hypersensitivity response mounted against antigens ofA. fumigatusmanifesting as poorly controlled asthma and bronchiectasis. Although ABPA is not uncommon, occurrence of ABPA in HIV-affected individuals is distinctly rare. We describe the occurrence of ABPA in a 35-year-old woman with poorly controlled asthma since childhood and HIV-1 infection of 11 years duration. This is the second documented case of ABPA in a HIV-affected individual, and the first reported case to be successfully managed with antifungal therapy alone. We also discuss the complex management issues involved in treating ABPA in HIV-affected individuals.
‘How to deal with this, that and the other?’ An orthopaedic surgeon's unexpected encounter with a trio of problems in an elderly man
Authors: Chen Yongsheng , Singh Amritpal , Long Yiling Angeline , Chee Yu Han
Published: November 2014

This is the first clinical report of a psoas abscess encountered during a routine hemiarthroplasty surgery for a femoral neck fracture in a man with a recent urinary tract infection. There were no prior symptoms to suggest a psoas abscess, which was present on the same side as the hip fracture, apart from a history of recurrent urinary tract infection. The surgery had to be altered intraoperatively to that of an excision arthroplasty of the displaced non-viable femoral head along with insertion of an antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer into the hip joint. Relevant microbiological studies confirmed a methicillin-sensitiveStaphylococcus aureuspsoas abscess with bacteraemia in addition toStaphylococcus bacteriuria, so 6 weeks of intravenous antibiotics were started. A planned second-stage hemiarthroplasty was undertaken and the patient recovered fully without complications. Primary infection of the urinary tract byS. aureusis rare. This case serves to remind clinicians that caution must be exercised in patients with recurrent infections, especially when such infections affect organs or areas close to the intended surgery site. This warrants thorough evaluation for an occult source of infection. A psoas abscess is an unusual cause of hip pain and accurate diagnosis relies on a high index of suspicion. The antibiotic-impregnated articulating cement spacer is a useful surgical adjunct after excision arthroplasty, it not only elutes a high concentration of antibiotics in the infected field, but also facilitates second-stage arthroplasty surgery by preventing muscle and soft tissue contractures from developing.
Pain relief in a young woman with adhesive capsulitis after manual manipulation of the acromioclavicular joint for remaining symptoms after mobilisation under anaesthesia
Authors: Lilje Stina , Genberg Madeleine , Aldudjaili Hassan , Skillgate Eva
Published: November 2014

Adhesive capsulitis is a painful condition with a prevalence of 2–5%. There is a lack of evidence for its aetiology and for conventional treatment and cost effects. This study describes the treatment effects of manual manipulation of the acromioclavicular joint for adhesive capsulitis in a young woman for persisting pain after mobilisation of the glenohumeral joint under anaesthesia. Primary outcomes were pain and physical function, measured by a visual analogue scale and the SF36 health survey. Secondary outcomes were sleep pattern, medication and perceived recovery. The mobility after manipulation under anaesthesia: elevation 55° and no improvement in pain. After manual manipulation: unrestricted elevation and significant pain relief. The patient no longer suffered from sleeping disorders and ceased all medication. Considering the lack of knowledge in aetiology and treatment, specialised manual examination of the acromioclavicular joint should be considered early in patients diagnosed with adhesive capsulitis.
Reconstruction of modified f(R, T) with Λ(T) gravity in general class of Bianchi cosmological models
Authors: Pradhan Anirudh , Ahmed Nasr , Saha Bijan
Published: November 2014

A new class of cosmological models in f(R, T) modified theories of gravity (Harko et al. Phys. Rev. D, 84, 024020 (2011)) where the gravitational Lagrangian is given by an arbitrary function of Ricci scalar R and the trace of the stress–energy tensor T, have been investigated for a specific choice of f(R, T) = f1(R) + f2(T) in a general class of Bianchi universe. Our intention is to reconstruct f(R, T) models inspired by this special law for the deceleration parameter (Akarsu and Dereli. Int. J. Theor. Phys. 51, 612 (2012)), which is linear in time with negative slope in connection with the theories of modified gravity. In the present study we consider the cosmological constant Λ as a function of the trace of the stress energy–momentum tensor, and such a model is nicknamed “Λ(T) gravity”. Such models may exhibit better consistency with the recent cosmological observations. We analyze the variation of pressure, energy density, and cosmological terms with cosmic time and discuss their physical consequences. We also discuss physical and geometric properties of derived models.
DETERMINANTS OF LABOR-INTENSIVE EXPORTS BY THE DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A CROSS COUNTRY ANALYSIS
Authors: MOTTALEB KHONDOKER ABDUL , KALIRAJAN KALIAPPA P.
Published: November 2014

It is widely acknowledged that the export-oriented garment and textile industries have been playing important role on the overall economic development in developing countries. However, the performance of the developing countries in exporting garment and textiles is in fact, highly heterogeneous. While some of the developing countries such as, China, Vietnam and Bangladesh have been highly successful in exporting highly labor-intensive garment and textiles products, not all of the developing countries have been equally successful in doing so. Using cross-country panel data, an attempt has been made in this paper to ascertain the importance of infrastructure and business environment in explaining the heterogeneous performance in exporting garment and textiles by the developing countries. The paper empirically demonstrates that in addition to the availability of cheap labor, the availability of basic infrastructure, and a business friendly environment significantly affect the export of labor-intensive garment and textiles by the developing countries. The paper, thus, suggests to invest on infrastructure, and to develop a business friendly environment in developing countries to strongly link the growth potentials of labor-intensive products and economic growth.
Investigation of the spark ignition enhancement in a supersonic flow
Authors: Cai Zun , Wang Zhen-Guo , Sun Ming-Bo , Wang Hong-Bo , Liang Jian-Han
Published: November 2014

Ethylene spark ignition experiments were conducted based on an variable energy igniter at the inflow conditions of Ma = 2.1 with stagnation state T0 = 846 K , P0 = 0.7 MPa . By comparing the spark energy and spark frequency of four typical operation conditions of the igniter, it is indicated that the spark energy determines the scale of the spark and the spark existing time. The spark frequency plays a role of sustaining flame and promoting the formation and propagation of the flame kernel, and it is also the dominant factor determining the ignition time compared with the spark energy. The spark power, which is the product of the spark energy and spark frequency, is the key factor affecting the ignition process. For a fixed spark power, the igniter operation condition of high spark frequency with low spark energy always exhibits a better ignition ability. As approaching the lean fuel limit, only the igniter operation condition (87 Hz and 3.0 J) could achieve a successful ignition, where the other typical operation conditions (26 Hz and 10.5 J, 247 Hz and 0.8 J, 150 Hz and 1.4 J) failed.
Speeding up Fast Bipartite Graph Matching Through a New Cost Matrix
Authors: Serratosa Francesc
Published: November 2014

Bipartite (BP) has been seen to be a fast and accurate suboptimal algorithm to solve the Error-Tolerant Graph Matching problem. Recently, Fast Bipartite (FBP) has been presented that obtains the same distance value and node labelings but in a reduced time. Both algorithms approximate the quadratic problem in a linear problem and they do it through a specific cost matrix. FBP imposes the Edit costs to be defined such as the Edit distance is a distance function. Originally, the Hungarian method was used but it has been seen the Jonker–Volgenant linear solver obtains similar results than the Hungarian method but with an important run time reduction. Nevertheless, this second solver has some convergence problems on some specific cost matrices. The aim of this paper is to define a new cost matrix such that the Jonker–Volgenant solver converges and the matching algorithm obtains the same distance value than the BP algorithm.
Distributed Generation Placement for Power Distribution Networks
Authors: Chen Xiaodao , Hu Shiyan
Published: November 2014

Growing concerns on the energy crisis impose great challenges in development and deployment of the smart grid technologies into the existing electrical power system. A key enabling technology in smart grid is distributed generation, which refers to the technology that power generating sources are located in a highly distributed fashion and each customer is both a consumer and a producer for energy. An important optimization problem in distributed generation design is the insertion of distributed generators (DGs), which are often renewable resources exploiting e.g., photovoltaic, hydro, wind, ocean energy.

In this paper, a new power loss filtering based sensitivity guided cross entropy (CE) algorithm is proposed for the distributed generator insertion problem. This algorithm is based on the advanced CE optimization technique which exploits the idea of importance sampling in performing optimization. Our experimental results demonstrate that on large distribution networks, our algorithm can largely reduce (up to 179.3%) power loss comparing to a state-of-the-art sensitivity guided greedy algorithm with small runtime overhead. In addition, our algorithm runs about 5× faster than the classical CE algorithm due to the integration of power loss filtering and sensitivity optimization. Moreover, all existing techniques only test on very small distribution systems (usually with < 50 nodes) while our experiments are performed on the distribution networks with up to 5000 nodes, which matches the realistic setup. These demonstrate the practicality of the proposed algorithm.
On the connectedness of subcomplexes of a disk complex
Authors: Lee Jung Hoon
Published: November 2014

For a boundary-reducible 3-manifold M with ∂M a genus-g surface, we show that if M admits a genus-(g + 1) Heegaard surface S, then the disk complex of S is simply connected. Also we consider the connectedness of the complex of reducing spheres. We investigate the intersection of two reducing spheres for a genus-3 Heegaard splitting of ( torus ) × I.
Upper bound on the total number of knot n-mosaics
Authors: Hong Kyungpyo , Oh Seungsang , Lee Ho , Lee Hwa Jeong
Published: November 2014

Lomonaco and Kauffman introduced a knot mosaic system to give a definition of a quantum knot system which can be viewed as a blueprint for the construction of an actual physical quantum system. A knot n-mosaic is an n × n matrix of 11 kinds of specific mosaic tiles representing a knot or a link by adjoining properly that is called suitably connected. Dn denotes the total number of all knot n-mosaics. Already known is that D1 = 1, D2 = 2 and D3 = 22. In this paper we establish the lower and upper bounds on Dn[Formula: see text] and find the exact number of D4 = 2594.
STATISTICAL APPROACH TO OPTIMIZING A Zn–Ni BATH CONTAINING ED AND TEA
Authors: KATIRCI RAMAZAN
Published: November 2014

Zinc–nickel ( Zn – Ni ) alloys were electrodeposited in a noncyanide alkaline bath containing triethanolamine (TEA) and ethylenediamine (ED) as complexing agents for Ni 2+ ions. The microstructure, surface morphology and alloy composition of the electrodeposited zinc–nickel alloys were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. A 23 full-factorial experimental design methodology was applied to identify the main and interaction effects of the variables, and the results were statistically analyzed. The results indicated that ED increased the particle size when the Ni additive concentration was 10 mL/L. When the Ni additive concentration was increased from 10 mL/L to 20 mL/L in the presence of 45 mL/L TEA, ED decreased the particle size and increased the smoothness and compactness of the alloy.
Ramification of the Kummer extension generated from torsion points of elliptic curves
Authors: Yasuda Masaya
Published: November 2014

For a prime p, let ζp denote a fixed primitive pth root of unity. Let E be an elliptic curve over a number field k with a p-torsion point. Then the p-torsion subgroup of E gives a Kummer extension over k(ζp). In this paper, for p = 5 and 7, we study the ramification of such Kummer extensions using explicit Kummer generators directly computed by Verdure in 2006.
Two questions concerning covering systems
Authors: Harrington Joshua
Published: November 2014

Ever since Erdős introduced the concept of a covering system in 1950, many questions have arisen regarding the existence of certain types of covering systems. Two of the most famous questions regarding covering systems are the odd covering problem and the minimum modulus problem. In the current paper, we ask two questions that are related to these famous questions and provide results for each.
Extinction in a discrete Lotka–Volterra competitive system with the effect of toxic substances and feedback controls
Authors: Chen Lijuan , Chen Fengde
Published: November 2014

In this paper, we consider a discrete Lotka–Volterra competitive system with the effect of toxic substances and feedback controls. By using the method of discrete Lyapunov function and by developing a new analysis technique, we obtain the sufficient conditions which guarantee that one of the two species will be driven to extinction while the other will be permanent. We improve the corresponding results of Li and Chen [Extinction in two-dimensional discrete Lotka–Volterra competitive system with the effect of toxic substances, Dynam. Contin. Discrete Impuls. Syst. Ser. B Appl. Algorithms 15 (2008) 165–178]. Also, an example together with their numerical simulations shows the feasibility of our main results. It is shown that toxic substances and feedback control variables play an important role in the dynamics of the system.
Synthesis of spinelLiMn2O4cathode material by a modified solid state reaction
Authors: Zhang Jiawei , Lin Shudong , Li Keyan , Shua Fenfen , Chen Kunfeng , Wang Liqiu , Xue Dongfeng
Published: November 2014

Spinel LiMn2O4was synthesized by a modified solid state reaction. We pretreated the reactants using tartaric acid as complexing agent through a grinding process to obtain uniform distribution of metal ions at atomic level. The structures, morphologies and electrochemical properties of the products were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and galvanostatic charge-discharge test. The results show that adding tartaric acid during the chemical pretreatment plays an important role in the formation of regular and uniform particles, which is beneficial to the electrochemical performance of LiMn2O4. At the current density of 100 mA g-1, the discharge capacity is 118 mAh g-1after 50 cycles with the capacity retention of 97%.
Material and physical model for evaluation of deep brain activity contribution to EEG recordings
Authors: Ye Yan , Li Xiaoping , Wu Tiecheng , Li Zhe , Xie Wenwen
Published: November 2014

Deep brain activity is conventionally recorded with surgical implantation of electrodes. During the neurosurgery, brain tissue damage and the consequent side effects to patients are inevitably incurred. In order to eliminate undesired risks, we propose that deep brain activity should be measured using the noninvasive scalp electroencephalography (EEG) technique. However, the deeper the neuronal activity is located, the noisier the corresponding scalp EEG signals are. Thus, the present study aims to evaluate whether deep brain activity could be observed from EEG recordings. In the experiment, a three-layer cylindrical head model was constructed to mimic a human head. A single dipole source (sine wave, 10 Hz, altering amplitudes) was embedded inside the model to simulate neuronal activity. When the dipole source was activated, surface potential was measured via electrodes attached on the top surface of the model and raw data were recorded for signal analysis. Results show that the dipole source activity positioned at 66 mm depth in the model, equivalent to the depth of deep brain structures, is clearly observed from surface potential recordings. Therefore, it is highly possible that deep brain activity could be observed from EEG recordings and deep brain activity could be measured using the noninvasive scalp EEG technique.
CONTROL SPIN CURRENT AND DATA RECORDING ON SPIN STORAGE MEDIUM
Authors: KRUPA M. M.
Published: November 2014

The paper presents the results of experimental studies of the physical mechanisms and dynamics of magnetization reversal of the films Al 2 O 3/ Tb 25 Co 5 Fe 70/ Al 2 O 3, Al 2 O 3/ Tb 22 Co 5 Fe 73/ Al 2 O 3, Al 2 O 3/ Tb 19 Co 5 Fe 76/ Al 2 O 3, Al 2 O 3/ Co 30 Fe 70/ Al 2 O 3 with a single magnetic layer and the films Al 2 O 3/ Tb 22 Co 5 Fe 73/ Pr 6 O 11/ Tb 19 Co 5 Fe 76/ Al 2 O 3, Al 2 O 3/ Co 80 Fe 20/ Pr 6 O 11/ Co 30 Fe 70/ Al 2 O 3 with two magnetic layers radiated by picosecond (τi ≈ 80 ps ) and femtosecond (τi ≈ 130 fs ) laser pulses. The experimental samples of spin transistors and data recording devices on the spin storage medium are also described. The results of studies have shown that magnetic switching effects in the nanolayers under femtosecond laser pulses can be used for creation of systems of high-speed controlling of spin currents with the response time τ ≤ 10-11s. Conclusions from the studies are the following: thermomagnetic switching under the influence of an external magnetic field or a demagnetization field, magnetic switching of antiferromagnetic films under the influence of an effective internal field of antiferromagnetic interaction between magnetic sublattices rare-earth and transitive metals, magnetic switching under the influence of a magnetic field of the inverse Faraday effect, or under the influence of a magnetic field of a spin current. The magnetic switching of magnetic layers under action of the magnetic field of a spin current is the most important for practical use in elements of spintronics. This mechanism of magnetic reversal takes place only in multilayer nanofilms and the heterogeneous multilayer magnetic nanofilms are the base material for creation of spintronic devices. The great advantage of the magnetization reversal of magnetic nanolayers of the spin current is that the mechanism of magnetization reversal is working in the films with perpendicular anisotropy and in the films with in-plane anisotropy. The injection of polarized electrons can also be realized using short electrical pulses. That is why the mechanism of magnetization reversal of the control electrodes spin current is the most appropriate for the management of high-spin current in the elements of spintronics. On the basis of this mechanism, we have realized the high-speed recording of information on the spin carrier and the experimental model memory with three magnetic nanolayers. The data recording in this memory cell is realized using an electric nanosecond pulse.
Incidence of Keratinophilic Fungi from Selected Soils of Vidarbha Region of Maharashtra State, India
Authors: Deshmukh Sunil Kumar , Verekar Shilpa Amit
Published: November 2014

One hundred and fifty samples were collected from eleven districts of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra state and screened for the presence of keratinophilic fungi using hair baiting technique for isolation. Seventy-one isolates were recovered and identified. The cultures were identified using macro- and micromorphological features. Their identification was also confirmed by the BLAST search of sequences of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 rDNA region against the NCBI/Genbank data and compared with deposited sequences for identification purpose. Thirteen species of eight genera were isolated, namely,Auxarthron conjugatum(2.00%),Chrysosporium indicum(14.00%),Chrysosporium evolceanui(2.66%),Chrysosporium tropicum(4.66%),Chrysosporium zonatum(1.33%),Chrysosporiumstate ofCtenomyces serratus(3.33%),Gymnascella dankaliensis(1.33%),Gymnascella hyalinospora(0.66%),Gymnoascoideus petalosporus(0.66%),Microsporum gypseumcomplex (9.33%),Trichophyton mentagrophytes(2.00%),T. terrestre(3.33%), andUncinocarpus queenslandicus(2.00%). This study indicates that the soils of Vidarbha region of Maharashtra may be significant reservoirs of certain keratinophilic fungi.
Thermal Characteristics and Bacterial Diversity of Forest Soil in the Haean Basin of Korea
Authors: Kim Heejung , Lee Jin-Yong , Lee Kang-Kun
Published: November 2014

To predict biotic responses to disturbances in forest environments, it is important to examine both the thermophysical properties of forest soils and the diversity of microorganisms that these soils contain. To predict the effects of climate change on forests, in particular, it is essential to understand the interactions between the soil surface, the air, and the biological diversity in the soil. In this study, the temperature and thermal properties of forest soil at three depths at a site in the Haean basin of Korea were measured over a period of four months. Metagenomic analyses were also carried out to ascertain the diversity of microorganisms inhabiting the soil. The thermal diffusivity of the soil at the study site was 5.9 × 10−8 m2·s−1. The heat flow through the soil resulted from the cooling and heating processes acting on the surface layers of the soils. The heat productivity in the soil varied through time. The phylum Proteobacteria predominated at all three soil depths, with members of Proteobacteria forming a substantial fraction (25.64 to 39.29%). The diversity and richness of microorganisms in the soil were both highest at the deepest depth, 90 cm, where the soil temperature fluctuation was the minimum.
Effect of Gloriosa superba and Catharanthus roseus Extracts on IFN‐γ‐Induced Keratin 17 Expression in HaCaT Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Pattarachotanant Nattaporn , Rakkhitawatthana Varaporn , Tencomnao Tewin
Published: November 2014

Gloriosa superba and Catharanthus roseus are useful in traditional medicine for treatment of various skin diseases and cancer. However, their molecular effect on psoriasis has not been investigated. In this study, the effect of ethanol extracts derived from G. superba leaves and C. roseus stems on the expression of psoriatic marker, keratin 17 (K17), was investigated in human keratinocytes using biochemical and molecular experimental approaches. Both extracts could reduce the expression of K17 in a dose‐dependent manner through JAK/STAT pathway as demonstrated by an observation of reduced phosphorylation of STAT3 (p‐STAT3). The inhibitory activity of G. superba extract was more potent than that of C. roseus. The Pearson′s correlation between K17 and cell viability was shown positive. Taken together, the extracts of G. superba and C. roseus may be developed as alternative therapies for psoriasis.
Activation of the Prefrontal Cortex While Performing a Task at Preferred Slow Pace and Metronome Slow Pace: A Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study
Authors: Shimoda Kaori , Moriguchi Yoshiya , Tsuchiya Kenji , Katsuyama Shiori , Tozato Fusae
Published: November 2014

Individuals have a preferred pace at which they perform voluntary repetitive movements. Previous studies have reported that greater activation of the prefrontal cortex was observed during self-initiated movements than during externally triggered movements. The purpose of the present study is to compare the activation of the prefrontal cortex induced when the subjects performed a peg-board task at their preferred slow pace (PSP, the self-initiated condition) with that induced when they performed the same task at metronome slow pace (MSP, the externally triggered condition) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Healthy subjects performed the task while sitting in a chair. By assessing the activated channels individually, we confirmed that all of the prefrontal regions of interest were activated by both tasks. In the second-level analyses, we found that the activation detected in the frontopolar cortex (FPPFC; Brodmann area 10) was higher during the PSP task than during the MSP task. The FPPFC is known to be at the top of prefrontal hierarchy, and specifically involved in evaluating self-generated information. In addition, the FPPFC plays a role in coordinating lateral prefrontal cortex. In the present study, the subjects evaluated and managed the internally generated PSP by coordinating the activity of other lower level prefrontal regions.