bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex, Intimacy, and Desire among Men of Chinese Heritage and Women of Non-Asian Heritage in Toronto, 1910–1950
Authors: Chenier Elise
Published: July 2014

Because few women of Chinese heritage came to Canada, Chinese migrant communities before 1950 are described as “bachelor societies.” Sojourners’ own ambition to return home with more wealth, the imposition of ever-increasing head taxes on migrants from China, the 1923 Chinese Exclusion Act, and deeply entrenched racism toward people of Chinese heritage meant that the vast majority were doomed to live their lives without the emotional, material, or domestic support or companionship provided by wives and children. They were de facto bachelors, if not bachelors in fact. New research, however, shows that since the 1910s young men of Chinese heritage carved out spaces for themselves in Toronto’s urban sexual culture, and young white women a space for themselves in Toronto’s Chinatown. During the first half of the twentieth century, many men of Chinese heritage enjoyed sex, companionship, love, and family life. Perhaps as many as a third were married to or lived common-law with women of white heritage, and many more frequently engaged in sexual and intimate relationships with sex workers they sometimes sought as long-term companions. The evidence presented here challenges the current perception that “Chinese bachelors” lived sexless, loveless lives. These relationships were not without controversy, of course, but many people within the community accepted them, and women of white heritage, including sex workers, were integrated into the community in diverse ways.
The metal transporter ZIP13 supplies iron into the secretory pathway in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Xiao Guiran , Wan Zhihui , Fan Qiangwang , Tang Xiaona , Zhou Bing
Published: July 2014

The intracellular iron transfer process is not well understood, and the identity of the iron transporter responsible for iron delivery to the secretory compartments remains elusive. In this study, we show Drosophila ZIP13 (Slc39a13), a presumed zinc importer, fulfills the iron effluxing role. Interfering with dZIP13 expression causes iron-rescuable iron absorption defect, simultaneous iron increase in the cytosol and decrease in the secretory compartments, failure of ferritin iron loading, and abnormal collagen secretion. dZIP13 expression in E. coli confers upon the host iron-dependent growth and iron resistance. Importantly, time-coursed transport assays using an iron isotope indicated a potent iron exporting activity of dZIP13. The identification of dZIP13 as an iron transporter suggests that the spondylocheiro dysplastic form of Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, in which hZIP13 is defective, is likely due to a failure of iron delivery to the secretory compartments. Our results also broaden our knowledge of the scope of defects from iron dyshomeostasis.
Another Drop in Water Vapor
Authors: Urban J. , Lossow S. , Stiller G. , Read W.
Published: July 2014

In 2000 a sudden severe drop in stratospheric water vapor levels interrupted the supposed long‐term increase of this greenhouse gas, an important contributor to global warming and climate variability. Satellite sensors observed a recovery in the following years, hidden behind a large variability. More recently, during 2011 and 2012, measurements revealed another severe drop in stratospheric water vapor concentrations.
Amphiphilic Janus Gold Nanoparticles Prepared by Interface‐Directed Self‐Assembly: Synthesis and Self‐Assembly
Authors: Liu Guannan , Tian Jia , Zhang Xu , Zhao Hanying
Published: July 2014

Materials with Janus structures are attractive for wide applications in materials science. Although extensive efforts in the synthesis of Janus particles have been reported, the synthesis of sub‐10 nm Janus nanoparticles is still challenging. Herein, the synthesis of Janus gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) based on interface‐directed self‐assembly is reported. Polystyrene (PS) colloidal particles with AuNPs on the surface were prepared by interface‐directed self‐assembly, and the colloidal particles were used as templates for the synthesis of Janus AuNPs. To prepare colloidal particles, thiol‐terminated polystyrene (PS‐SH) was dissolved in toluene and citrate‐stabilized AuNPs were dispersed in aqueous solution. Upon mixing the two solutions, PS‐SH chains were grafted to the surface of AuNPs and amphiphilic AuNPs were formed at the liquid–liquid interface. PS colloidal particles decorated with AuNPs on the surfaces were prepared by adding the emulsion to excess methanol. On the surface, AuNPs were partially embedded in the colloidal particles. The outer regions of the AuNPs were exposed to the solution and were functionalized through the grafting of atom‐transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) initiator. Poly[2‐(dimethamino)ethyl methacrylate] (PDMAEMA) on AuNPs were prepared by surface‐initiated ATRP. After centrifugation and dissolving the colloidal particles in tetrahydrofuran (THF), Janus AuNPs with PS and PDMAEMA on two hemispheres were obtained. In acidic pH, Janus AuNPs are amphiphilic and are able to emulsify oil droplets in water; in basic pH, the Janus AuNPs are hydrophobic. In mixtures of THF/methanol at a volume ratio of 1:5, the Janus AuNPs self‐assemble into bilayer structures with collapsed PS in the interiors and solvated PDMAEMA at the exteriors of the structures.
Chemical Modification of a Synthetic Small Molecule Boosts Its Biological Efficacy against Pluripotency Genes in Mouse Fibroblasts
Authors: Saha Abhijit , Pandian Ganesh N. , Sato Shinsuke , Taniguchi Junichi , Kawamoto Yusuke , Hashiya Kaori , Bando Toshikazu , Sugiyama Hiroshi
Published: July 2014

A synthetic transcriptional activator encompassing both sequence‐specific pyrrole–imidazole polyamides (PIPs) and an epigenetic activator (suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid) was recently shown to induce the endogenous expression of core pluripotency genes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Microarray data analysis suggested Oct‐3/4 as the probable target pathway of the activator. However, the expression levels in MEFs treated with the activator were relatively lower than those in mouse embryonic stem cells. Herein, we report studies carried out to improve the efficacy of the activator and show that the biological activity was significantly (p<0.05) improved against the core pluripotency genes after the incorporation of an isophthalic acid (IPA) at the C terminus. The resultant IPA conjugate dramatically induced Oct‐3/4 and demonstrated a new chemical strategy for developing PIP conjugates as next‐generation genetic switches.
A Tailored Catalyst for the Sustainable Conversion of Glycerol to Acrolein: Mechanistic Aspect of Sequential Dehydration
Authors: Yun Danim , Kim Tae Yong , Park Dae Sung , Yun Yang Sik , Han Jeong Woo , Yi Jongheop
Published: July 2014

Developing a catalyst to resolve deactivation caused from coke is a primary challenge in the dehydration of glycerol to acrolein. An open‐macropore‐structured and Brønsted‐acidic catalyst (Marigold‐like silica functionalized with sulfonic acid groups, MS‐FS) was synthesized for the stable and selective production of acrolein from glycerol. A high acrolein yield of 73 % was achieved and maintained for 50 h in the presence of the MS‐FS catalyst. The hierarchical structure of the catalyst with macropores was found to have an important effect on the stability of the catalyst because coke polymerization and pore blocking caused by coke deposition were inhibited. In addition, the behavior of 3‐hydroxypropionaldehyde (3‐HPA) during the sequential dehydration was studied using density functional theory (DFT) calculations because 3‐HPA conversion is one of the main causes for coke formation. We found that the easily reproducible Brønsted acid sites in MS‐FS permit the selective and stable production of acrolein. This is because the reactive intermediate (3‐HPA) is readily adsorbed on the regenerated acid sites, which is essential for the selective production of acrolein during the sequential dehydration. The regeneration ability of the acid sites is related not only to the selective production of acrolein but also to the retardation of catalyst deactivation by suppressing the formation of coke precursors originating from 3‐HPA degradation.
Ion Distribution in Quaternary‐Ammonium‐Functionalized Aromatic Polymers: Effects on the Ionic Clustering and Conductivity of Anion‐Exchange Membranes
Authors: Weiber E. Annika , Jannasch Patric
Published: July 2014

A series of copoly(arylene ether sulfone)s that have precisely two, three, or four quaternary ammonium (QA) groups clustered directly on single phenylene rings along the backbone are studied as anion‐exchange membranes. The copolymers are synthesized by condensation polymerizations that involve either di‐, tri‐, or tetramethylhydroquinone followed by virtually complete benzylic bromination using N‐bromosuccinimide and quaternization with trimethylamine. This synthetic strategy allows excellent control and systematic variation of the local density and distribution of QA groups along the backbone. Small‐angle X‐ray scattering of these copolymers shows extensive ionic clustering, promoted by an increasing density of QA on the single phenylene rings. At an ion‐exchange capacity (IEC) of 2.1 meq g−1, the water uptake decreases with the increasing local density of QA groups. Moreover, at moderate IECs at 20 °C, the Br− conductivity of the densely functionalized copolymers is higher than a corresponding randomly functionalized polymer, despite the significantly higher water uptake of the latter. Thus, the location of multiple cations on single aromatic rings in the polymers facilitates the formation of a distinct percolating hydrophilic phase domain with a high ionic concentration to promote efficient anion transport, despite probable limitations by reduced ion dissociation. These findings imply a viable strategy to improve the performance of alkaline membrane fuel cells.
Effect of the readmission primary diagnosis and time interval in heart failure patients: analysis of English administrative data
Authors: Bottle Alex , Aylin Paul , Bell Derek
Published: July 2014

Aims

To compare the predictors of unplanned readmission by primary diagnosis and time since discharge in heart failure (HF) patients.

Methods and results

We used national hospital administrative data for England to analyse unplanned readmission by primary diagnosis (HF and non‐HF) at 7, 30, 90, 182, and 365 days after the index discharge. A total of 84 212 adult patients had their first HF admission between April 2008 and March 2010; 14 104 (16.8%) died during the index admission and were excluded. Of the remaining 70 108, half were readmitted and 28.7% died during 1 year from discharge (overall mortality rate of 40.6%). Patients had an average of three co‐morbidities. Hierarchical logistic regression showed that arrhythmias [odds ratio (OR) = 1.13] and valvular disease (OR = 1.12) had significantly higher odds only for HF readmission; dementia (OR = 1.29), stroke (OR = 1.29), and mental health conditions (OR = 1.25) had higher odds only for non‐HF. Ischaemic heart disease, renal disease, and chronic lung disease predicted both. Same‐day discharge occurred for 6% of patients and was strongly associated with higher readmission for HF at 7 days, less so thereafter, and not for non‐HF after 7 days. Other relationships changed little between 7 and 365 days. Prior outpatient non‐attendance was associated with 5–10% higher odds of any readmission per appointment missed.

Conclusion

In HF patients, some predictors of readmission for HF, especially some common co‐morbidities, differ from those for non‐HF. In contrast, the time since discharge made little difference to the results.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Land Restoration Interventions in Dry Lands by Multitemporal Remote Sensing – A Case Study in Ouled DLIM (Marrakech, Morocco)
Authors: Zucca Claudio , Wu Weicheng , Dessena Leonarda , Mulas Maurizio
Published: July 2014

Atriplex nummularia has been extensively planted in Northern Africa to combat desertification. However, few studies evaluated the effectiveness of these interventions. This study aimed at assessing the dynamic performance of a number of Atriplex plantations located in the Marrakech province in terms of multitemporal dry biomass production. Three SPOT 5 images (2004, 2008 and 2012) and field biomass measurements were integrated to quantify the dry biomass production dynamics of plantations established from 1996 to 2007. Different plant ages covered the whole plant life cycle curve. Vegetation indices were derived from the images and those of 2012 were coupled to the measured biomass of 2012 to formulate biomass models. An analysis of shrub biomass production was conducted in plantations and in adjacent rangelands, covering varying degree of plant development, and an estimate of the economic benefits generated by the plantations in terms of available fodder biomass was performed. The results show that, on average, the plantation sites produced 2·21 to 3·61 Mg ha−1 of dry biomass more than the surrounding rangelands. The best performing plantations yielded even greater differences, up to more than 7 Mg ha−1. It was observed that the most performing plantations, while contributing to mitigating land degradation, have generated economic value and could compensate the economic cost of the intervention even under drought conditions. However, in several cases the plantation performance was far from sustainability, particularly due to poor management (early and/or over grazing), revealing that management is a critical factor for the success of this restoration practice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Return Migration and the Profiling of Non‐Citizens: Highly Skilled BRIC Migrants in the Mexico–US Borderlands and Arizona's SB 1070
Authors: Sadowski‐Smith Claudia , Li Wei
Published: July 2014

Based on interviews conducted between 2011 and 2012, this paper examines how highly skilled migrants from Brazil, Russia, India, and China in Arizona have experienced acculturation to US racial norms and heightened anti‐immigration sentiment since 9/11, which in this state culminated in the passage of Senate Bill 1070. We found that negative experiences with incorporation into US racial hierarchies, immigration enforcement at the Mexico–US border, and profiling as ‘foreigners’ had little impact on their deliberations to return to countries that have become new engines for global growth at a time of US economic decline. Interviewees tended to interpret their experiences as having been mistaken for members of other targeted groups, expected exemption from SB 1070 because of their highly skilled and/or documented status, and lacked knowledge of a now defunct provision in the bill that would have affected immigrants by criminalising failure to carry proper documentation. Instead of immigration experiences or the economic downturn in the US, participants were deterred from return because of perceived deficiencies in their countries of origin, which mitigated the attractiveness of the new economic opportunities there. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Contingent Capital: The Case of COERCs
Authors: Pennacchi George , Vermaelen Theo , Wolff Christian C. P.
Published: July 2014

This paper introduces and analyzes a new form of contingent convertible: a call option enhanced reverse convertible (COERC). If an issuing bank’s market value of capital breaches a trigger, COERCs convert to many new equity shares that would heavily dilute existing shareholders, except that shareholders have the option to purchase these shares at the bond’s par value. COERCs have low risk: They are almost always fully repaid in cash. Yet, they reduce government bailouts by replenishing a bank’s capital. COERCs’ design also avoids problems with market-value triggers, such as manipulation or panic, while reducing moral hazard and debt overhang.
Basic beliefs and Christian faith
Authors: DAWES GREGORY W.
Published: July 2014

In rejecting Plantinga's ‘reformed epistemology’, Jeremy Koons has argued that no beliefs are epistemically basic, since even perceptual beliefs arise from observations that are theory-dependent. But even if all observations are theory-dependent, not all theories are alike. Beliefs that are dependent on uncontroversial bodies of theory may be ‘basic’ in the sense that they play a foundational role in the acquisition of knowledge. There is, however, another problem with reformed epistemology. It is that even if Christian beliefs were basic in this sense, they could face evidential challenge, for the epistemic status of a ‘basic’ belief depends, in part, on its probabilistic or explanatory relations to our other beliefs. It follows that Christian faith remains vulnerable to evidential arguments, such as Paul Draper's argument from evil.
Self-assembly of the chaperonin GroEL nanocage induced at submicellar detergent
Authors: Chen Jin , Yagi Hisashi , Furutani Yuji , Nakamura Takashi , Inaguma Asumi , Guo Hao , Kong Yan , Goto Yuji
Published: July 2014

Protein nanoassemblies possess unique advantage in biomedical applications such as drug delivery, biocatalysis and vaccine development. Despite recent accomplishment in atomic structure data, the underlying molecular mechanism of protein self-assembly remains elusive, where considerable heterogeneity is often involved. Here we use E. coli chaperonin GroEL, a tetradecameric protein with a molecular weight of 805 kDa, to probe its transformation from cage-like oligomers to protein nanofibers. We show that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), a widely-used protein denaturant, at submicellar concentration binds to and causes partial distortion of GroEL apical domain. Subsequently, the GroEL apical domain with altered secondary structural content converts the GroEL oligomers into modular structural units which are observed to self-assemble into cylindrical nanofibers under an agitated incubation in a physiological buffer. Interestingly, through targeted mutagenesis where two cysteine residues are introduced at the entry site of GroEL cage, we found that the formation of GroEL nanoassembly could be modulated depending on the redox condition of incubation. Without the need of chemical engineering, tunable GroEL nanofibers built by controlled-assembly are among the largest nanoscale bioassembly with broad applications.
Self n-doped [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid 2-((2-(trimethylammonium)ethyl)-(dimethyl)ammonium) ethyl ester diiodides as a cathode interlayer for inverted polymer solar cells
Authors: Jiao Weixiang , Ma Di , Lv Menglan , Chen Weiwei , Wang Haiqiao , Zhu Jin , Lei Ming , Chen Xiwen
Published: July 2014

Among alcohol soluble self n-doped fullerene ammonium derivatives, the title fullerene showed the best solvent resistance and inverted polymer solar cells retained high efficiency at 82 nm of this interlayer.
Co-sensitization of benzoxadiazole based D–A–π–A featured sensitizers: compensating light-harvesting and retarding charge recombination
Authors: Li Hui , Wu Yongzhen , Geng Zhiyuan , Liu Jingchuan , Xu Dandan , Zhu Weihong
Published: July 2014

The cocktail co-sensitization of WS62 and WS64 with S2 can compensate the peak valley of IPCE adsorbed by electrolyte near 400 nm and compact the surface of TiO2 to retard charge recombination, essentially for the optimization of photovoltaic performances.
Traffic sensor location approach for flow inference
Authors: Liu Yang , Zhu Ning , Ma Shoufeng , Jia Ning
Published: July 2014

Traffic sensors serve an important function in obtaining traffic information. In this paper, a novel traffic sensor location approach is proposed to determine the maximum number of traffic flows by considering the time‐spatial correlation. The problem is formulated as three 0–1 programming models to maximise the number of obtained flows under different cases. To solve these novel sensor location problems, an ant colony optimisation algorithm with a local search procedure is designed. Numerical experiments are conducted in both a simulated network and in the Sioux–Falls network. Results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithm, which is believed to possess potential applicability in real surveillance network design.
A unified analysis of plasma-sheath transition in the Tonks–Langmuir model with warm ion source
Authors: Tskhakaya D. D. , Kos L. , Jelić N.
Published: July 2014

The paper presents a comprehensive kinetic theory of the famous Tonks–Langmuir model of a plane symmetric discharge, taking into account the thermal motion of ion source particles. The ion kinetics is governed by the ionization of neutrals at electron impacts. The plasma consisting of Boltzmann distributed electrons and singly charged ions is in contact with the absorbing negative wall. The derivations are performed in the frame of the “asymptotic two-scale” approximation, when the ionization mean-free path Li is much larger than the electron Debye length λD. In the limit (λD/Li)→0, the plasma-wall transition (PWT) layer can be split into two sublayers: a quasineutral presheath (PS) (with the scale-length Li) and the Debye sheath (DS) (with the scale λD). Such a subdivision of the PWT layer allows to investigate these sublayers separately and simplify the analysis of the influence of the ion source thermal motion (this has been neglected in the major part of publications up to now). The uniform description of the PWT layer as a single unit is complicated by the singular presheath and sheath structure and by a coupling with the eigenvalue problem originating from the plasma balance in the bounded system. The issue is clarified both analytically and numerically by construction of a matched asymptotic expressions. The equation and the length-scale governing the transition between neighboring PS and DS sublayers are derived. The eigenvalue problem combining the wall potential, the wall location, and the ionization mean-free path is discussed.
Recombination dynamics of a localized exciton bound at basal stacking faults within the m-plane ZnO film
Authors: Yang S. , Hsu H. C. , Liu W.-R. , Lin B. H. , Kuo C. C. , Hsu C.-H. , Eriksson M. O. , Holtz P. O. , Hsieh W. F.
Published: July 2014

We investigated the carrier dynamics near basal stacking faults (BSFs) in m-plane ZnO epitaxial film. The behaviors of the type-II quantum wells related to the BSFs are verified through time-resolved and time-integrated photoluminescence. The decay time of the emission of BSFs is observed to have a higher power law value and longer decay time than the emission of the donor-bound excitons. The spectral-dependent decay times reveal a phenomenon of carriers migrating among band tail states, which are related to the spatial distribution of the type-II quantum wells formed by the BSFs. A high density of excited carriers leads to a band bending effect, which in turn causes a blue-shift of the emission peak of BSFs with a broadened distribution of band tail states.
Spin-dependent delay time in ferromagnet/insulator/ferromagnet heterostructures
Authors: Xie ZhengWei , Zheng Shi De , Lv HouXiang
Published: July 2014

We study theoretically spin-dependent group delay and dwell time in ferromagnet/insulator/ferromagnet (FM/I/FM) heterostructure. The results indicate that, when the electrons with different spin orientations tunnel through the FM/I/FM junction, the spin-up process and the spin-down process are separated on the time scales. As the self-interference delay has the spin-dependent features, the variations of spin-dependent dwell-time and spin-dependent group-delay time with the structure parameters appear different features, especially, in low incident energy range. These different features show up as that the group delay times for the spin-up electrons are always longer than those for spin-down electrons when the barrier height or incident energy increase. In contrast, the dwell times for the spin-up electrons are longer (shorter) than those for spin-down electrons when the barrier heights (the incident energy) are under a certain value. When the barrier heights (the incident energy) exceed a certain value, the dwell times for the spin-up electrons turn out to be shorter (longer) than those for spin-down electrons. In addition, the group delay time and the dwell time for spin-up and down electrons also relies on the comparative direction of magnetization in two FM layers and tends to saturation with the thickness of the barrier.
Adaptive immunity to murine skin commensals
Authors: Shen Wei , Li Wenqing , Hixon Julie A. , Bouladoux Nicolas , Belkaid Yasmine , Dzutzev Amiran , Durum Scott K.
Published: July 2014

Significance

Barrier function of the skin in blocking microbial invasion has been attributed to the structural integrity of the epithelium, augmented by innate immune mechanisms. T cells and antigen-presenting cells have long been observed in the skin, but what is their role? Here we report, for the first time, that commensal skin bacteria are recognized by major populations of T cells in skin-draining lymph nodes of mice. We report a previously unrecognized role for T cells in preventing breach of the skin epithelial barrier by certain species of commensal bacteria, especially mycobacteria, and we examine the mechanism. Patients deficient in T cells frequently show infectious cutaneous manifestations and mycobacterial susceptibility, reflecting features of our study in mice.
Genetic evidence that
Celsr3
and
Celsr2
, together with
Fzd3
, regulate forebrain wiring in a
Vangl
-independent manner
Authors: Qu Yibo , Huang Yuhua , Feng Jia , Alvarez-Bolado Gonzalo , Grove Elizabeth A. , Yang Yingzi , Tissir Fadel , Zhou Libing , Goffinet Andre M.
Published: July 2014

Significance

Connections are crucial to brain function and a variety of molecular systems direct axonal growth during development and regeneration. An important system involves Celsr2, Celsr3, and Fzd3, membrane proteins that also regulate epithelial planar cell polarity (PCP). Here, we show genetically that Celsr2 and Celsr3 guide axons redundantly, in collaboration with Fzd3 in the same cell populations. However, unlike in epithelial PCP, their action is Vangl1 and Vangl2 independent. Furthermore, expression of Celsr2-3 and Fzd3 in thalamocortical axons and cortical cells is required for the fine mapping of cortical areas. Our findings that Celsr2, Celsr3, and Fzd3 regulate axonal guidance using mechanisms different than epithelial PCP have implications for brain wiring during normal development and regeneration.
Approximation errors in truncated dimensional decompositions
Authors: Rahman Sharif
Published: July 2014

The main theme of this paper is error analysis for approximations derived from two variants of dimensional decomposition of a multivariate function: the referential dimensional decomposition (RDD) and analysis-of-variance dimensional decomposition (ADD). New formulae are presented for the lower and upper bounds of the expected errors committed by bivariately and arbitrarily truncated RDD approximations when the reference point is selected randomly, thereby facilitating a means for weighing RDD against ADD approximations. The formulae reveal that the expected error from the

S
S

-variate RDD approximation of a function of

N
N

variables, where

0
≤
S
>
N
>
∞

0\le S>N>\infty

, is at least

2

S
+
1

2^{S+1}

times greater than the error from the

S
S

-variate ADD approximation. Consequently, ADD approximations are exceedingly more precise than RDD approximations. The analysis also finds the RDD approximation to be sub-optimal for an arbitrarily selected reference point, whereas the ADD approximation always results in minimum error. Therefore, the RDD approximation should be used with caution.
Your Health, an intervention at senior vocational schools to promote adolescents’ health and health behaviors
Authors: Bannink Rienke , Broeren Suzanne , Heydelberg Jurriën , van ’t Klooster Els , van Baar Cathelijn , Raat Hein
Published: July 2014

This study evaluates the appreciation, application and effects of an intervention (Your Health), in which adolescents received a consultation with the school nurse. A cluster randomized controlled trial with an intervention and control group (care-as-usual) was conducted among first-grade senior vocational students. Adolescents (n = 418) completed a questionnaire at baseline and 6-month follow-up assessing health and health behaviors. School absenteeism was monitored via the school registration system. After the consultation, adolescents and nurses evaluated the consultation by questionnaire. Adolescents appreciated being invited for the consultation and gave the consultation a positive mean rating of 8.78 on a 10-point scale. Adolescents rated the other nine items on the appreciation of the consultation also high. In 36.8% of the adolescents, nurses suspected problems. Most often these adolescents were given tailored advice (59.3%) or they were referred to another professional (40.7%). No statistically significant effects of the intervention were found on the health and health behaviors of adolescents. This study supports the use of Your Health as a promising intervention to reach senior vocational students. Future research is needed to evaluate long-term effects and the effects and appreciation of the subsequent help that is offered.

Trial registration:  www.trialregister.nl, NTR3545.
Impact of fat and selected profiles of fatty acids contained in the colostrum and milk of sows of native breeds on piglet rearing
Authors: Skrzypczak Ewa , Waśkiewicz Agnieszka , Beszterda Monika , Goliński Piotr , Szulc Karolina , Buczyński Janusz T. , Babicz Marek
Published: July 2014

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the level of fat and selected fatty acids found in the milk of sows on the rearing of native breed piglets. Simultaneously, in order to improve the accuracy of the performed analyses, atomic absorption spectrometry was employed in the applied analytic methodology. The experimental animal material comprised 60 sows of the indigenous White Złotnicka breed. Colostrum and milk were collected on the first and 14th days of lactation. In all, 240 samples were collected. The following parameters were determined in the course of the experiment: number and weight of piglets, body weight gains as well as deaths of piglets. A total of 1270 born piglets was subjected to investigations. The performed experiments demonstrated that, with the progress of the lactation period, the content of fat and saturated fatty acids (SFA) turned out to be statistically significant and showed a growing tendency. Fat increased by about 2% and palmitic acid (C16:0) increased most, that is by 5%. Linolic (C18:2) and linolenic (C18:3) acids revealed decreasing trends. Irrespective of the day of lactation, the level of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) determined in sows' colostrum and milk was higher in comparison with that of SFA, and the UFA to SFA ratio ranged from 1.84% to 1.33%. Proportions of n‐6 to n‐3 fatty acids were determined at the level of about 1.6:1.0 in the colostrum and 1.3:10 in milk. The highest daily body weight gains were recorded in the case of piglets derived from sows with the highest fat level – 294 g, while in the case of stearic acid (C18:0), the smaller its concentration in the colostrum and milk of the experimental sows, the better body weight gains of piglets – 262 g. At the same time, stearic acid (C18:0) was found to exert a statistically significant effect on piglet mortality at the level of P ≤ 0.05. Its highest concentration caused the highest proportion of deaths among piglets ‐ 16.23%. The performed analysis of correlations that occurred between fat, fatty acids and traits associated with piglet rearing confirmed that linolic acid (C18:2; n‐6) was highly significantly correlated with piglets' body weights (r = 0.456**) and was negatively correlated with piglets' deaths (r = −0.312). On the other hand, fat revealed correlation with body weight gains of piglets (r = 0.333*_ and a negative correlation with deaths of piglets (r = −0344*). Recapitulating, the results of the performed experiments revealed that differences in the levels of fat and fatty acids found in sows' colostrum and milk influenced results of piglet rearing. Together with the increase in the content of fat and UFA in sows' colostrum and milk, piglets were characterized by the best body weight, growth rate, as well as by small mortality.
Nail bed onychomatricoma
Authors: Wang Lei , Gao Tianwen , Wang Gang
Published: July 2014

Onychomatricoma is a rare tumor originating from the nail matrix, and, in rare conditions, from the ventral aspect of the proximal nailfold. Here we report a rare case of a 51‐year‐old man presenting with melanonychia mainly involving the distal nail plate. Histopathologic examination showed typical findings of onychomatricoma mainly involving the nail bed, while the nail matrix was largely uninvolved. We also identified fungal infection in a focal area of the distal nail plate. Our findings indicate that onychomatricoma can develop in the surrounding epithelial tissue of the nail unit, including the nail bed, and suggest that fungal infection may represent a secondary phenomenon of onychomatricoma.
Kierkegaard's Phenomenology of Spirit
Authors: Carlsson Ulrika
Published: July 2014

Kierkegaard's preoccupation with a separation between the ‘inner’ and the ‘outer’ runs through his work and is widely thought to belong to his rejection of Hegel's idealist monism. Focusing on The Concept of Irony and Either/Or, I argue that although Kierkegaard believes in various metaphysical distinctions between inside and outside (the inwardness of faith and the outwardness of ethics and language; the inwardness of emotion and the outwardness of behavior), he nonetheless understands the task of the philosopher as that of making outside and inside converge in a representation. Drawing on Hegel's philosophy of art, I show that Kierkegaard's project in both of these books is the aesthetic project of revealing the inner essence of something in its outward appearance. Kierkegaard's portrait of Socrates in The Concept of Irony is a phenomenology of the spirit of irony. My interpretation adds a new dimension to our understanding of Kierkegaard's aesthetics and his relation to Hegel; it presents him as a follower of Plato, whom he is usually thought to have dismissed; and it uncovers a deep connection between Kierkegaard's first two books, which are never read in conjunction.
AN ERROR TAXONOMY SYSTEM FOR ANALYSIS OF HAEMODIALYSIS INCIDENTS
Authors: Gu Xiuzhu , Itoh Kenji , Suzuki Satoshi
Published: July 2014

Objectives

This paper describes the development of a haemodialysis error taxonomy system for analysing incidents and predicting the safety status of a dialysis organisation.

Methods

The error taxonomy system was developed by adapting an error taxonomy system which assumed no specific specialty to haemodialysis situations. Its application was conducted with 1,909 incident reports collected from two dialysis facilities in Japan.

Results

Over 70% of haemodialysis incidents were reported as problems or complications related to dialyser, circuit, medication and setting of dialysis condition. Approximately 70% of errors took place immediately before and after the four hours of haemodialysis therapy. Error types most frequently made in the dialysis unit were omission and qualitative errors. Failures or complications classified to staff human factors, communication, task and organisational factors were found in most dialysis incidents. Device/equipment/materials, medicine and clinical documents were most likely to be involved in errors. Haemodialysis nurses were involved in more incidents related to medicine and documents, whereas dialysis technologists made more errors with device/equipment/materials.

Conclusions

This error taxonomy system is able to investigate incidents and adverse events occurring in the dialysis setting but is also able to estimate safety‐related status of an organisation, such as reporting culture.
Effect of sorghum grain supplementation on glucose metabolism in cattle and sheep fed temperate pasture
Authors: Aguerre M. , Carriquiry M. , Astessiano A. L. , Cajarville C. , Repetto J. L.
Published: July 2014

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of sorghum grain supplementation on plasma glucose, insulin and glucagon concentrations, and hepatic mRNA concentrations of insulin receptor (INSR), pyruvate carboxylase (PC), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1) mRNA and their association with nutrient intake, digestion and rumen volatile fatty acids (VFA) in cattle and sheep fed a fresh temperate pasture. Twelve Hereford × Aberdeen Angus heifers and 12 Corriedale × Milchschaf wethers in positive energy balance were assigned within each species to one of two treatments (n = 6 per treatment within specie): non‐supplemented or supplemented with sorghum grain at 15 g/kg of their body weight (BW). Supplemented cattle had greater plasma glucose concentrations, decreased plasma glucagon concentrations and tended to have greater plasma insulin and insulin‐to‐glucagon ratio than non‐supplemented ones. Hepatic expression of INSR and PC mRNA did not differ between treatments but PCK1 mRNA was less in supplemented than non‐supplemented cattle. Supplemented sheep tended to have greater plasma glucagon concentrations than non‐supplemented ones. Plasma glucose, insulin, insulin‐to‐glucagon ratio, and hepatic expression of INSR and PC mRNA did not differ between treatments, but PCK1 mRNA was less in supplemented than non‐supplemented sheep. The inclusion of sorghum grain in the diet decreased PCK1 mRNA but did not affect PC mRNA in both species; these effects were associated with changes in glucose and endocrine profiles in cattle but not in sheep. Results would suggest that sorghum grain supplementation of animals in positive energy balance (cattle and sheep) fed a fresh temperate pasture would modify hepatic metabolism to prioritize the use of propionate as a gluconeogenic precursor.
Energy Optimization of Brushless DC Motor in Electric Power-Assisted Steering
Authors: A. Danapalasingam Kumeresan
Published: July 2014

In an electric power-assisted steering (EPS) an electric motor is controlled to provide assistance in vehicle steering and to enable various steering feels. To optimize energy consumed by a column-type EPS equipped with a brushless dc (BLDC) motor the author designs two controllers as needed. Firstly a controller to generate driver torque is developed based on nonlinear adaptive regulation method using the mathematical model of EPS. The second controller is a PID motor controller that is applied to produce assistance torque for desired energy saving. The trade-off between driver’s comfort and energy consumption is demonstrated using Matlab simulation results. In electric vehicles (EVs) where electrical energy is limited the control scheme introduced here is expected to fit perfectly.
Enhanced the Accuracy of Specification of Maximum Permitted Emission Levels for TV White Space Devices
Authors: Elshafie Hashim , Fisal N. , Abbas M. , Hassan W. , Mohamad H. , Ramli N.
Published: July 2014

In this paper, we present a proposed geo-location database calculations which needs to perform in order to obtain high accuracy of maximum permitted emission levels for TV white space devices (WSDs) operating in the digital terrestrial television (DTT) frequencies. The study is mainly aimed at  to analuze the impact of channel power condition in band ( ) and power out band ( ) for WSD for DTT reception in hilly environment under different altitudes. The proposed methodology for the calculation of such emission levels considers the effect of environment and hight of DTT reception. Both theoretical study and mathematical investigations are conducted in order to model and characterize such complex communication medium for WSDs. The propagated maximum permitted emission levels varies from one place to another due to time varying channel condition as a result of obstacles and distance between the transmitter and receiver. The study achieved according to the methodologies, results and recommendations addressed by the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunication administration CEPT. The comparison between proposed model and traditional one has been done by CEPT.  The result shows that the proposed model with various altitudes in the hilly terrain environment obtain more accurate maximum permitted emission levels for WSDs, Which increase by 25.609 dBm and 25.61 dBm for and respectively at 100 altitude accordingly.
Combined TOA/DOA for Location Estimation in MIMO System
Authors: Isa A. A. M. , Othman M. H. , Haron N. Z. , Isa M. S. M. , Zin M. S. I. M. , Zakaria Z. , Zaini A. A. A.
Published: July 2014

This paper proposes on the development of a combined location and positioning (L&P) system by combining range measurements and angle measurements for a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) system. The proposed combined technique called as hybrid multiple linear lines of position (HMLLOP) algorithm extends the fundamental idea of using the multiple linear lines of position (MLLOP) scheme when extra information in the form of direction of arrival (DOA) measurements at a minimum of three base stations (BSs) is available. The technique explores  the use of multiple lines of position (LOP) instead of circular LOP and determines new lower and upper bounds of DOA according to the measurements obtained from an MLLOP scheme which aims to minimize the DOA error caused by non-line of sight (NLOS) propagation. Simulation results have been provided that show that the proposed combined schemes outperform the range-only algorithm in terms of estimated location accuracy. It has been shown that time of arrival (TOA)-based location can be employed as a baseline location estimation technique, with additional DOA measurements being used to further improve accuracy.
Micro-Macro Algal Mixture as a Promising Agent for Treating POME Discharge and its Potential Use as Animal Feed Stock Enhancer
Authors: Kamyab Hesam , Md Din Mohd Fadhil , Lee Tin Chew , Ponraj Mohanadoss , Soltani Mohammad , Mohamad Shaza Eva , Roudi Anahita Maslahaiti
Published: July 2014

Algae are well known photosynthetic organisms that are able to grow at various environmental conditions. Microalgae and macrophytes are two categories of algae generally having similar biological activities with several industrial advantages. In recent years, micro and macro algae have been increasingly used as animal fodder supplements for farm animals. The main aim of this study is to propose the micro and macroalgae obtained from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) waste water discharge as a promising low-cost-treatment and high-energy method for harvesting the nutritional supplements in order to enhance the animal feedstock production. The mixed micro and macro algal sample was collected from POME and Desa Bakti river. Then it was characterized for nutritional content as appropriate animal feed stock by diluting POME to various concentrations (0, 250, 500, 100 mg/L) in order to enhance their growth and to increase its nutritional value. It was found that a maximum of 23% COD reduction rate was obtained, while the COD concentration above 500 mg/L affected the growth of biomass. The potential use of algae as cheapest aquaculture diets can be considered to be as appropriate source for overcoming the problem of food scarcity and thereby minimizing the negative environmental impacts.
The Effects of Solvents and Extraction Methods on the Antioxidant Activity of P. niruri
Authors: Mohd Hadzri Hafizah , Che Yunus Mohd Azizi , Zhari Salman , Rithwan Fahim
Published: July 2014

The effects of different types of solvents and extraction method were investigated to determine the presence of antioxidant contents and activity from the P. niruri plant. The aim of this study is to determine which extraction method will give higher natural antioxidant contents and antioxidant activity. The content of natural antioxidant and antioxidant activity were analysed by total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity assay. The results showed that extracts from a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) method without the addition of modifier showed the highest content of total phenolic (187.66 mg GAE/ g) and flavonoid (1100.93 mg QE/g) in P. niruri compared to the other methods of extraction with different type of solvents. The extract of P. niruri from different extraction methods showed antioxidant activity on DPPH radical scavenging assay. The soxhlet extraction method by methanol showed the lowest IC50 compared to the other methods of extraction. The results revealed that P. niruri extracts had different content of antioxidant and antioxidant activity. The solvent polarity and different methods of extraction play significant roles in determining the most suitable method for production of antioxidant contents and antioxidant activity from P. niruri extracts.
Intelligent Sliding Mode Controller for Active Suspension System Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Obaid Mahmood Ali Moqbel , Husain Abdul Rashid , Mohammed Al-kubati Ali Abdo
Published: July 2014

This paper considers the control of an active suspension system (ASS) for a quarter car model based on the fusion of robust control and computational intelligence techniques. The objective of designing a controller for the car suspension system is to improve the ride comfort while maintaining the constraints on to the suspension travel and tire deformation subjected to different road profile. However, due to the mismatched uncertainty in the mathematical model of the ASS, sliding mode control (SMC) cannot be applied directly to control the system. Thus, the purpose of this work is to adapt the SMC technique for the control of ASS, where particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm is utilized to design the sliding surface such that the effect of the mismatched uncertainty can be minimized. The performance of the proposed sliding mode controller based on the PSO algorithm is compared with the linear quadratic optimal control (LQR) and the existing passive suspension system. In comparison with the other control methods, the simulation results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed controller, where it significantly improved the ride comfort 67% and 25% more than the passive suspension system and the LQR controller, respectively.
Efficacy of Liposome-Encapsulated Ciprofloxacin in a Murine Model of Q Fever
Authors: Norville I. H. , Hatch G. J. , Bewley K. R. , Atkinson D. J. , Hamblin K. A. , Blanchard J. D. , Armstrong S. J. , Pitman J. K. , Rayner E. , Hall G. , Vipond J. , Atkins T. P.
Published: July 2014

Encapsulation of antibiotics may improve treatment of intracellular infections by prolonging antibiotic release and improving antibiotic uptake into cells. In this study, liposome-encapsulated ciprofloxacin for inhalation (CFI) was evaluated as a postexposure therapeutic for the treatment of
Coxiella burnetii
, the causative agent of Q fever. Intranasal treatment of male A/Jola (A/J) mice with CFI (50 mg/kg of body weight) once daily for 7 days protected mice against weight loss and clinical signs following an aerosol challenge with
C. burnetii
. In comparison, mice treated twice daily with oral ciprofloxacin or doxycycline (50 mg/kg) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) lost 15 to 20% body weight and exhibited ruffled fur, arched backs, and dehydration. Mice were culled at day 14 postchallenge. The weights and bacterial burdens of organs were determined. Mice treated with CFI exhibited reduced splenomegaly and reduced bacterial numbers in the lungs and spleen compared to mice treated with oral ciprofloxacin or doxycycline. When a single dose of CFI was administered, it provided better protection against body weight loss than 7 days of treatment with oral doxycycline, the current antibiotic of choice to treat Q fever. These data suggest that CFI has potential as a superior antibiotic to treat Q fever.