bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Developmental stages of the climbing gecko Tarentola annularis with special reference to the claws, pad lamellae, and subdigital setae
Authors: Khannoon Eraqi R.
Published: June 2015

Studying the in ovo mode of development of squamates has the advantage of allowing easy access to embryos without surgically compromising gravid females. Despite the non‐ophidian squamates being a very diverse lineage of reptiles, embryonic tables for individuals of this group are very few. Here, I present the first in ovo embryonic table for a basal multi‐scansored, pad‐bearing gecko, Tarentola annularis. In this gecko, only the III and IV digits bear claws. Eleven embryonic stages are described based on chronological development of morphological characteristics. In contrast to other previously studied geckos, this species exhibits a longer incubation period. Comparison with other squamates, embryonic development of T. annularis is an indicative of a conserved developmental strategy. Interestingly, the clawless digits of this gecko do exhibit claws during the first half of embryonic development. Thus, regression of claws in these digits could be an advantage of studying this particular taxon, as it raises the question, to be answered in future study, of which mechanisms could be responsible for such claw regression. Before hatching, the outer periderm layer sloughs revealing the functional setae. The present study provides not only a model for pentadactyl limbs and digit development, but also an example of a unique developmental phenomenon, as represented by claw regression. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 450–464, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Placental specializations in lecithotrophic viviparous squamate reptiles
Authors: Stewart James R.
Published: June 2015

Squamate reptiles have been thought to be predisposed to evolution of viviparity because embryos of most oviparous species undergo considerable development in the uterus prior to oviposition. A related hypothesis proposes that prolonged intrauterine gestation, an intermediate condition leading to viviparity, requires little or no physiological adjustment, other than reduction in thickness of the eggshell. This logical framework is often accompanied by an assumption that mode of parity (oviparity, viviparity) and pattern of embryonic nutrition (lecithotrophy, placentotrophy) are independent traits that evolve in sequence. Thus, specializations for viviparity should be absent in some lecithotrophic viviparous species. Studies of species of lizards with geographic variation in mode of parity challenge this scenario by demonstrating that placental specializations are correlated with viviparity. Uterine specializations for placental transport of calcium to viviparous embryos alter uterine physiology compared to oviparous females. In addition, comparative studies of oviparous and viviparous species, i.e., in which gene flow is disrupted, reveal that both uterine and embryonic structural modifications are commonly associated with viviparity, suggesting relatively rapid evolution of placental specializations. Studies of squamate reproductive biology support two hypotheses: 1) evolution of viviparity requires physiological adjustments of the uterine environment, and 2) evolution of viviparity promotes relatively rapid adaptations for placentation. Models for the evolution of viviparity from oviparity, or for reversals from viviparity to oviparity, should reflect current understanding of squamate reproductive biology and future studies should be designed to challenge these models. J. Exp. Zool. (Mol. Dev. Evol.) 324B: 549–561, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Fertility and Modernization: The Role of Urbanization in Developing Countries
Authors: Gries Thomas , Grundmann Rainer
Published: June 2015

We empirically investigate the theoretically predicted change in human reproductive behavior in developing countries alongside modernization. Using urbanization as a modernization indicator is appealing and provides a large sample size in both countries and years covered. However, recent research on the causes of urbanization demands a refined view of the phenomenon. We therefore base our analysis on qualified urbanization, namely interactions with slum incidence and export diversification. In panel regressions we find evidence that the impact on fertility differs significantly in lower than in higher quality urbanization processes, suggesting that the presence of skill‐intensive jobs is crucial in the interplay. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Automated drawing of network plots in network meta‐analysis
Authors: Rücker Gerta , Schwarzer Guido
Published: June 2015

In systematic reviews based on network meta‐analysis, the network structure should be visualized. Network plots often have been drawn by hand using generic graphical software. A typical way of drawing networks, also implemented in statistical software for network meta‐analysis, is a circular representation, often with many crossing lines. We use methods from graph theory in order to generate network plots in an automated way. We give a number of requirements for graph drawing and present an algorithm that fits prespecified ideal distances between the nodes representing the treatments. The method was implemented in the function netgraph of the R package netmeta and applied to a number of networks from the literature. We show that graph representations with a small number of crossing lines are often preferable to circular representations. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The lower bounds of life span of classical solutions to one‐dimensional initial‐Neumann boundary value problems for general quasilinear wave equations
Authors: Han Wei
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we will study the lower bounds of the life span (the maximal existence time) of solutions to the initial‐boundary value problems with small initial data and zero Neumann boundary data on exterior domain for one‐dimensional general quasilinear wave equations utt−uxx=b(u,Du)uxx+F(u,Du). Our lower bounds of the life span of solutions in the general case and special case are shorter than that of the initial‐Dirichlet boundary value problem for one‐dimensional general quasilinear wave equations. We clarify that although the lower bounds in this paper are same as that in the case of Robin boundary conditions obtained in the earlier paper, however, the results in this paper are not the trivial generalization of that in the case of Robin boundary conditions because the fundamental Lemmas 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, and 2.7, that is, the priori estimates of solutions to initial‐boundary value problems with Neumann boundary conditions, are established differently, and then the specific estimates in this paper are different from that in the case of Robin boundary conditions. Another motivation for the author to write this paper is to show that the well‐posedness of problem is the essential precondition of studying the lower bounds of life span of classical solutions to initial‐boundary value problems for general quasilinear wave equations. The lower bound estimates of life span of classical solutions to initial‐boundary value problems is consistent with the actual physical meaning. Finally, we obtain the sharpness on the lower bound of the life span in the general case and in the special case. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Complexity and workload considerations in product mix decisions under the theory of constraints
Authors: Golmohammadi Davood , Mansouri S. Afshin
Published: June 2015

The literature on the product mix decision (or master production scheduling) under the Theory of Constraints (TOC), which was developed in the past two decades, has addressed this problem as a static operational decision. Consequently, the developed solution techniques do not consider the system's dynamism and the associated challenges arising from the complexity of operations during the implementation of master production schedules. This paper aims to address this gap by developing a new heuristic approach for master production scheduling under the TOC philosophy that considers the main operational factors that influence actual throughput after implementation of the detailed schedule. We examine the validity of the proposed heuristic by comparison to Integer Linear Programming and two heuristics in a wide range of scenarios using simulation modelling. Statistical analyses indicate that the new algorithm leads to significantly enhanced performance during implementation for problems with setup times. The findings show that the bottleneck identification approach in current methods in the TOC literature is not effective and accurate for complex operations in real‐world job shop systems. This study contributes to the literature on master production scheduling and product mix decisions by enhancing the likelihood of achieving anticipated throughput during the implementation of the detailed schedule. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 62: 357–369, 2015
Porous chitosan/graphene oxide biocomposites for tissue engineering
Authors: Pandele Andreea Madalina , Ionita Mariana , Lungu Adriana , Vasile Eugenia , Zaharia Catalin , Iovu Horia
Published: June 2015

Porous chitosan/graphene oxide (CHT/GO) biocomposites with 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt% GO were prepared by freeze‐drying method. The biocomposites were characterized regarding structural, morphological, and thermal properties, degradation, and swelling responses. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicated good GO dispersion within the polymer host and highly porous structure for the obtained biocomposites. The GO presence has a profound effect on the structural features of the biocomposites generating decrease of swelling degree and enzymatic biodegradation rate. Conversely, the thermal stability of the biocomposites was significantly improved, and the decomposition temperature at which the mass loss is 3% (Td,3%) was increased with 64°C by adding 3 wt% GO within the CHT. The ability of the biocomposites to form apatite‐like crystals was also investigated. X‐ray diffraction and SEM analyses indicated the formation of apatite deposits on the CHT/GO biocomposites. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:363–370, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers
Insulin induced tan: a dual diagnosis
Authors: Khan Roaid , Aggelis Vassilis , Srirangalingam Umasuthan , Vijayaraghavan Shanti
Published: June 2015

We present the case of a young male patient diagnosed with type 1 diabetes whose skin noticeably darkened with insulin therapy. Minimal insulin requirements, an unexpectedly low HbA1c and ongoing symptoms of weight loss and anorexia prompted further investigations. He was found to have a suboptimal response to synthetic ACTH (Synacthen) confirming a diagnosis of Addison's disease (primary adrenal failure). We postulate that the lowering of the blood glucose with insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes unmasked the diagnosis of Addison's disease.

The case highlights several important lessons: (1) beware the dual diagnosis – hypoglycaemia in diabetic patients may have another cause and other autoimmune diseases are more likely; (2) the interaction between separate pathologies may modify the behaviour of each disease; and (3) ensure steroid replacement is appropriate and the patient is aware of steroid precautions and the need for early intervention with illness. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons.
On the Origin and Underappreciated Effects of Ion Doping in Silica
Authors: Song Xiaohui , Ding Tao , Yao Lin , Lin Ming , Siew Tan Rachel Lee , Liu Cuicui , Sokol Katarzyna , Yu Le , Lou Xiong Wen (David) , Chen Hongyu
Published: June 2015

The origin of selectivity in the hollowing of silica nanoparticles is investigated to further understand silica. It is realized that, during the synthesis, the silica precursors are essentially ion‐paired polyelectrolytes, whose nucleation depends on the concentration of the counter ions, and most importantly, the size/length of the poly(silicic acid). Thus, the “silica” that nucleates out at the different stages of synthesis has different degrees of ion doping, which explains its solubility in water, its microporosity, and the selective etching phenomena. The etching of silica in water is shown to be a matter of silica solubility, which correlates to the relative amounts of solvent and to the solvent quality (the water/isopropanol ratio). Hollowing does not occur when the silica nanoparticles are incubated in solutions presaturated with “silica,” ruling out surface reposition and Ostwald ripening as the hollowing mechanism. The embedded ions in silica are confirmed by elemental analysis (CHNS) and inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. The high ionic doping ratios (N/Si = 2.3% for NH3‐catalyzed silica; Na/Si = 11.2% for NaOH‐catalyzed silica) explain the unusual solubility of silica in neutral water. The new view of silica with the ionic impurities on the central stage allows for insights in silica properties and versatility in synthetic design.
Modelling space–time varying ENSO teleconnections to droughts in North America
Authors: Choi InKyung , Li Bo , Zhang Hao , Li Yun
Published: June 2015

Teleconnection in atmospheric science refers to a significant correlation between climate anomalies in widely separated regions (typically thousands of kilometres), and it is often considered to be responsible for extreme weather conditions occurring simultaneously over large distances. In this paper, we study the influence of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation teleconnection on meteorological droughts represented by the Palmer severity drought index across North America from 1870 to 1990. We develop a flexible statistical framework based on spatial random effects to model the covariance (teleconnection) between winter (October–March) sea surface temperature in the tropical Pacific and summer (June–August) droughts in North America. Our model allows us to analyse the dynamic pattern of teleconnection over space and time, and results indicate that the influence of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation teleconnections on droughts varies spatially and temporally across North America. We further provide the time‐varying teleconnection estimates with their uncertainties for 12 subregions in North America. Copyright ©2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Determination of total dietary fibre and available carbohydrates: A rapid integrated procedure that simulates in vivo digestion
Authors: McCleary Barry V. , Sloane Naomi , Draga Anna
Published: June 2015

The new definition of dietary fibre introduced by Codex Alimentarius in 2008 includes resistant starch and the option to include non‐digestible oligosaccharides. Implementation of this definition required new methodology. An integrated total dietary fibre method was evaluated and accepted by AOAC International and AACC International (AOAC Methods 2009.01 and 2011.25; AACC Method 32–45.01 and 32–50.01, and recently adopted by Codex Alimentarius as a Type I Method. However, in application of the method to a diverse range of food samples and particularly food ingredients, some limitations have been identified. One of the ongoing criticisms of this method was that the time of incubation with pancreatic α‐amylase/amyloglucosidase mixture was 16 h, whereas the time for food to transit through the human small intestine was likely to be approximately 4 h. In the current work, we use an incubation time of 4 h, and have evaluated incubation conditions that yield resistant starch and dietary values in line with ileostomy results within this time frame. Problems associated with production, hydrolysis and chromatography of various oligosaccharides have been addressed resulting in a more rapid procedure that is directly applicable to all foods and food ingredients currently available.
Surgical Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma with Concomitant Esophageal Varices
Authors: Harada Noboru , Shirabe Ken , Maeda Takashi , Kayashima Hiroto , Ishida Teruyoshi , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: June 2015

Background

The management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with concomitant esophageal varices (EV) remains controversial. We assessed the surgical outcome of hepatectomy and aimed to clarify the indications and management of HCC in patients with concomitant EV.

Methods

We retrospectively enrolled 502 patients with HCC (100 with and 402 without EV), who underwent curative hepatectomy. We analyzed the prognostic outcomes and risk factors for EV bleeding after hepatectomy.

Results

Overall survival (OS) was significantly lower in HCC patients with EV than in those without EV (p = 0.003), although recurrence‐free survival was similar in both groups. Multivariate analysis showed that indocyanine green retention test at 15 min (ICGR15) >17 % (p = 0.007) and α‐fetoprotein >12.5 ng/ml (p = 0.003) was independent predictors of poorer OS. Among patients with EV who underwent hepatectomy, multivariate analysis identified ICGR15 >17 % (p = 0.03) as the only independent predictor of poorer OS. There was no significant difference in OS between HCC patients with EV and ICGR15 ≤17.0 % and HCC patients without EV. Ten patients experienced EV bleeding after hepatectomy. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative endoscopic findings of blue color EV (p = 0.008) and red color sign (p = 0.0005) were independent predictors of EV bleeding in patients with HCC after hepatectomy.

Conclusions

These results suggest that HCC patients with EV and ICGR15 ≤17 % may be suitable for surgery, but patients with preoperative endoscopic blue color EV and red color sign need to be managed appropriately.
Long‐Term Outcome of IPAA in Patients Presenting with Fulminant Ulcerative Colitis: A Matched Cohort Study
Authors: Fasen Geoffrey S. , Pandian T. K. , Pavey Emily S. , Dozois Eric J. , Boostrom Sarah Y.
Published: June 2015

Background

Studies reveal that ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis (IPAA) has long‐term success. These reports, however, use well‐selected cohorts and exclude patients presenting with fulminant colitis (FC). Herein, we aimed to characterize long‐term functional outcomes in patients with fulminant ulcerative colitis (UC) undergoing IPAA.

Methods

A prospective database identified patients who underwent IPAA between 1998 and 2008. Patients with FC and chronic UC were matched by age, gender, date of surgery, and follow‐up duration. Clinical and laboratory parameters, immunomodulator use at the time of surgery, and functional outcomes were compared.

Results

Forty patients with FC and 73 patients with chronic UC were identified. Preoperative albumin, hemoglobin, leukocyte count, and steroid dose were significantly different for those with FC. Average survey follow‐up was 5.2 years for FC and 6.7 years for chronic UC patients. Functional outcomes were not significantly different. The 3‐year fistula‐free rate was 91.4 versus 98.6 % and the 3‐year stricture‐free rate was 79.3 versus 87.2 % for FC versus chronic UC patients, respectively.

Conclusion

Patients undergoing colectomy for FC secondary to UC have similar long‐term functional outcomes after IPAA despite significantly worse presentation. This study confirms that IPAA is an appropriate and durable treatment for patients with FC.
Determinants of Surgical Site Infections Following Pancreatoduodenectomy
Authors: Barreto Savio George , Singh Manish Kumar , Sharma Sunil , Chaudhary Adarsh
Published: June 2015

Background

Surgical site infections (SSI) following pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) contribute to adverse perioperative and long‐term outcomes. Hence, the need to determine the modifiable factors related to their causation.

Aim

To identify demographic, nutritional, surgical and histopathological factors significantly associated with incisional SSIs.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of consecutive patients who underwent PD for pancreatic and periampullary lesions at a tertiary care referral centre, between April 2010 and June 2014 was carried out. Patients were divided into two groups based on the SSIs (Group 1—With SSI; Group 2—No SSI). All patients were administered three, once daily doses of Ertapenem (1 g) as follows: within 1 h prior to induction, and on day 1 and day 2 following surgery. No further antibiotics were given prior to discharge unless clinically indicated.

Results

35 out of 277 patients (12.6 %) developed SSIs. No demographic (age, sex, BMI), nutritional (serum albumin), surgical (pancreatic duct size and texture, surgical duration and intraoperative blood transfusions) and histopathological factors (malignancy vs. benign) were noted between the two groups. However, SSIs were significantly higher in patients with endocrine co‐morbidities (other than diabetes mellitus), in those patients who had undergone prior ERCP and stenting, as well as an end‐to‐side pancreaticojejunostomy. Patients with diabetes mellitus had a significantly lower incidence of wound infections (P =. 014).

Conclusion

Preoperative ERCP and stenting, end‐to‐side PJ and the presence of non‐diabetic endocrine co‐morbidity may result in a significantly higher risk of SSIs. Further studies targeting these patient subpopulations are warranted to enable a better understanding of how these factors contribute to the incidence of SSIs following PD.
Comparing the Functioning of Youth and Adult Partnerships for Health Promotion
Authors: Brown Louis D. , Redelfs Alisha H. , Taylor Thomas J. , Messer Reanna L.
Published: June 2015

Youth partnerships are a promising but understudied strategy for prevention and health promotion. Specifically, little is known about how the functioning of youth partnerships differs from that of adult partnerships. Accordingly, this study compared the functioning of youth partnerships with that of adult partnerships. Several aspects of partnership functioning, including leadership, task focus, cohesion, participation costs and benefits, and community support, were examined. Standardized partnership functioning surveys were administered to participants in three smoke‐free youth coalitions (n = 44; 45 % female; 43 % non‐Hispanic white; mean age = 13) and in 53 Communities That Care adult coalitions (n = 673; 69 % female; 88 % non‐Hispanic white; mean age = 49). Multilevel regression analyses showed that most aspects of partnership functioning did not differ significantly between youth and adult partnerships. These findings are encouraging given the success of the adult partnerships in reducing community‐level rates of substance use and delinquency. Although youth partnership functioning appears to be strong enough to support effective prevention strategies, youth partnerships faced substantially more participation difficulties than adult partnerships. Strategies that youth partnerships can use to manage these challenges, such as creative scheduling and increasing opportunities for youth to help others directly, are discussed.
Generating Correlated, Non-normally Distributed Data Using a Non-linear Structural Model
Authors: Auerswald Max , Moshagen Morten
Published: June 2015

An approach to generate non-normality in multivariate data based on a structural model with normally distributed latent variables is presented. The key idea is to create non-normality in the manifest variables by applying non-linear linking functions to the latent part, the error part, or both. The algorithm corrects the covariance matrix for the applied function by approximating the deviance using an approximated normal variable. We show that the root mean square error (RMSE) for the covariance matrix converges to zero as sample size increases and closely approximates the RMSE as obtained when generating normally distributed variables. Our algorithm creates non-normality affecting every moment, is computationally undemanding, easy to apply, and particularly useful for simulation studies in structural equation modeling.
Management of Discharged Emergency Department Patients with a Primary Diagnosis of Hypertension: A Multicentre Study
Authors: Cho Dennis D. , Austin Peter C. , Atzema Clare L.
Published: June 2015

Introduction

Many patients are seen in the emergency department (ED) for hypertension, and the numbers will likely increase in the future. Given limited evidence to guide the management of such patients, the practice of one’s peers provides a de facto standard.

Methods

A survey was distributed to emergency physicians during academic rounds at three community and four tertiary EDs. The primary outcome measure was the proportion of participants who had a blood pressure (BP) threshold at which they would offer a new antihypertensive prescription to patients they were sending home from the ED. Secondary outcomes included patient- and provider-level factors associated with initiating an antihypertensive based on clinical vignettes of a 69-year-old man with two levels of hypertension (160/100 vs 200/110 mm Hg), as well as the recommended number of days after which to follow up with a primary care provider following ED discharge.

Results

All 81 surveys were completed (100%). Half (51.9%; 95% CI 40.5-63.1) of participants indicated that they had a systolic BP threshold for initiating an antihypertensive, and 55.6% (95% CI 44.1-66.6) had a diastolic threshold: mean systolic threshold was 199 mm Hg (SD 19) while diastolic was 111 mm Hg (SD 8). A higher BP (OR 12.9; 95% CI 7.5-22.2) and more patient comorbidities (OR 3.0; 95% CI 2.1-4.3) were associated with offering an antihypertensive prescription, while physician years of practice, certification type, and hospital type were not. Participants recommended follow-up care within a median 7.0 and 3.0 days for the patient with lower and higher BP levels, respectively.

Conclusions

Half of surveyed emergency physicians report having a BP threshold to start an antihypertensive; BP levels and number of patient comorbidities were associated with a modification of the decision, while physician characteristics were not. Most physicians recommended follow-up care within seven days of ED discharge.
The Absence of Fever or Leukocytosis Does Not Exclude Infection Following Cranioplasty
Authors: Girgis Fady , Walcott Brian P. , Kwon Churl-Su , Sheth Sameer A. , Asaad Wael , Nahed Brian V. , Eskandar Emad N. , Coumans Jean-Valery
Published: June 2015

Background: Cranioplasty encompasses various cranial reconstruction techniques that are used following craniectomy due to stroke or trauma. Despite classical infectious signs, symptoms, and radiologic findings, however, the diagnosis of infection following cranioplasty can be elusive, with the potential to result in definitive treatment delay. We sought to determine if fever or leukocytosis at presentation were indicative of infection, as well as to identify any factors that may limit its applicability. Methods: Following institutional review board approval, a retrospective cohort of 239 patients who underwent cranioplasty following craniectomy for stroke or trauma was established from 2001-2011 at a single center (Massachusetts General Hospital). Analysis was then focused on those who developed a surgical site infection, as defined by either frank intra-operative purulence or positive intra-operative cultures, and subsequently underwent operative management. Results: In 27 total cases of surgical site infection, only two had a fever and four had leukocytosis at presentation. This yielded a false-negative rate for fever of 92.6% and for leukocytosis of 85.2%. In regard to infectious etiology, 22 (81.5%) cases generated positive intra-operative cultures, with Propionibacterium acnes being the most common organism isolated. Median interval to infection was 99 days from initial cranioplasty to time of infectious presentation, and average follow-up was 3.4 years. Conclusions: The utilization of fever and elevated white blood cell count in the diagnosis of post-cranioplasty infection is associated with a high false-negative rate, making the absence of these features insufficient to exclude the diagnosis of infection.
Traditionalism and Modernity: Choreography and Gender Portrayal in the Brazilian Popular Dance Bumba-meu-boi
Authors: Ferro Simone , Watts Meredith W.
Published: June 2015

Dancers in the Brazilian folk celebration Bumba-meu-boi once performed in simple, repetitive, and predominantly circular movements. This structure promotes multigenerational participation, increases community interaction, and maintains a semi-intact historical legacy. Nevertheless, many groups are currently adopting choreographic steps and patterns familiar from popular entertainment culture and urban Carnival celebrations. This evolution is uneven, with many of the nearly 300 groups that perform in the federal state of Maranhão maintaining the older practices. Nevertheless, for groups embracing modern entertainment values, greater appeal to tourists and general audiences comes at the cost of the traditional form and content of the celebration described by field researchers only two or three decades ago. Gender presentations have been particularly affected, with the increased use of elaborate and skimpy costumes, younger and more athletic performers (mostly young women), and professionalized musical support. These changes are part of the modernization and urbanization of the festival, and they create an ambivalent dialectic in which women appear increasingly as leaders and major performing figures, but also as chorus line bodies with minimal narrative function. Our research includes visual documentation from several years of field research in Sao Luis (Maranhão), Brazil, available online at http://simoneferro.com. Albums of still photography are available at http://meredithwwatts.com.
Constructing “Old Spanish Days, Inc.” in Santa Barbara, California, USA: Flamenco vs. Mexican Ballet Folklórico
Authors: Hellier-Tinoco Ruth
Published: June 2015

Old Spanish Days Fiesta, an annual five-day event held in Santa Barbara, California, since 1924, “… provides an education to residents and visitors about the history, customs, and traditions of the American Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and early American settlers that comprise the rich cultural heritage of Santa Barbara” (http://www.sbfiesta.org). Dance plays a central role, with flamenco in the spotlight as the prime corporeal practice, constructing Spanishness through romanticized and revisionist historiography, and validating European colonization, migration, and diaspora. Although Mexican ballet folklórico is also featured, given the socio-political context in relation to people of Mexican heritage (recent and long-term) in Santa Barbara, I argue that deliberately privileging flamenco as the principal dance perpetuates problematic divisions, validating Europe and simultaneously undermining a Mexican presence.
Occupation
Authors: London Tanja
Published: June 2015

occupation is a screendance that explores a state of “uprootedness” in the context of the events of the Iraq War and the World Financial Crisis. The film utilizes the metaphor of a historic building and its astonishing relationship to its foundation to illustrate the second wave of erosion of American democracy after 9/11. The film features three movers: two dancers and one building. In 2009, this five million-pound building underwent an engineering feat when it was raised eleven feet off its foundation and moved in one fell swoop. Interleaved footage of the dancers and the building in motion illustrates their correlation—a mounting tension that speaks to democracy in the U.S. being shaken, uprooted, and redefined underneath people's feet. Dizzying changes silence oppositional voices occupying public spaces. Pursuing everyday occupations equals prevailing war in the name of democratic values. But do we still live in a democracy?
Cotillion Dance as an Embodiment of Class
Authors: Blacker C. Alexandra
Published: June 2015

This paper suggests that social dance, specifically cotillion, teaches students to internalize and reflect ideas relevant to constructions of class. An examination of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century cotillion dance (also referred to as private balls, public balls, assemblies, and dance halls) shows a physical manifestation of class that can still be seen in the modern day dance world. This paper examines social dance in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. I use historical references, specifically Elizabeth Aldrich's From the Ballroom to Hell: Grace and Folly in Nineteenth-Century Dance, Linda Tomko's Dancing Class, Gender, Ethnicity, and Social Divides in American Dance, and the Library of Congress Web site to foreground this idea before turning to some modern day case studies. Employing historical as well as interview-based methodologies, the paper combines interviews from present day cotillion directors with my own experiences in the cotillion and professional ballet communities. The paper concludes that social dance in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries sets up a tradition still carried forth today—one that is more about classed aspirations and courtship and less about dance technique or physical ability.
The Choreography of Community Service: A Case Study
Authors: Bower Krista
Published: June 2015

This paper discusses a graduate thesis project aimed to serve underprivileged teenage girls residing in a foster care facility through engagement in a collaborative dance-making process with students from a university dance department. While the project focused upon the choreography of trained and untrained bodies as a vehicle for service, it also considers the choreography of the foster care system (involving a continual negotiation of personal, relational, and environmental tensions) and the choreography of community engagement (including communication, planning, relationship-building, inclusion, reflection, and termination).

Additionally, the presentation examines links between embodiment and empowerment, analyzing how the trained and untrained dancers experienced a process of realization of self and others through the development of a corporeal work. The trained and untrained dancers in this project identified sources of personal disempowerment and objectification while also recognizing commonalities. Within the context of this project, participants formed connections between their unique histories and their bodies, asserting subjective agency and ownership as they revisited and shaped memories through embodied expression. The challenging transition from the choreographic to performative phase of this project is also discussed, in conjunction with a consideration of ways to ensure that the choreography of performance leads to empowerment rather than exploitation.
In Leotards Under Her Sari: An Indian Contemporary Dancer in America
Authors: Chakraborty Aishika
Published: June 2015

Traversing through disparate cultural and geographic frontiers, my paper maps the journey of a Bengali dancer, Manjusri Chaki-Sircar, who travels from India to America via Africa before putting her “roots” finally down in India, exploring the migration of body movements across the world. Spelling a new body politics, her dance inscribes the signature of her-self in moving space(s); weaving varied patterns of life experiences; telling tales of displacements, exodus, and resettlements; and fashioning a glocal perspective of movement in a “global political moment.”

Situating Manjusri within a counter-centric discourse, my paper underscores the counter-hegemonic agency of her feminist choreographies that opened up “an other” genre of bodily idiom, turning the flattering feminine performance into a site for cultural politics. From the dynamic landscape of post-partitioned Bengal, I will trace how the idiom evolved, migrated, and altered, changing, by the end of the century, the face of Indian contemporary dance.
Domesticating the avant-garde in a nationalist era: Aesthetic modernism in 1930s Turkey
Authors: Köksal Duygu
Published: June 2015

This paper investigates the rise of aesthetic modernism in Turkey’s early republican era (i.e., the late 1920s and the 1930s), with an emphasis on the influence of international cultural currents on Turkey’s intelligentsia. The paper concentrates on the modernist ideas and works of the D Group, who advocated a high modernism in the plastic arts, and the literary modernism of the socialist poet Nâzım Hikmet (Ran). Firstly, it addresses the historiographical argument that aesthetic modernism in Turkey was a derivative enterprise, a low-grade replica of European modernism. Secondly, it argues that the early republican intelligentsia found itself in a dilemma with regard to modernist currents. For them, aesthetic modernism was a sign of the modern epoch, but it also carried a radical potential for a critique of bourgeois modernity. Aesthetic modernism not only promised change, functionality, and renewal, but also manifested such disturbing symptoms of modernity as individualism, melancholy, degeneration, and restlessness. The paper reaches the conclusion that figures such as the D Group artists and Nâzım Hikmet translated the avant-garde international currents of aesthetic modernism into the early republican context, opting for positive and optimistic versions of modernism rather than adopting its more alienating, pessimistic, and despairing features. Through their works, an intellectual debate on aesthetic modernism was initiated in early republican Turkey.
An American Friend in an Israeli Court: An Empirical Perspective
Authors: Doron Israel (Issi) , Totry-Jubran Manal , Enosh Guy , Regev Tal
Published: June 2015

The legal concept of ‘amicus curiae’ (friend of the court) was unknown in Israeli law until 1999 when, in the course of a well-known legal decision (theKuzlicase), the Israeli Supreme Court adopted this common law concept as part of Israeli law. Almost fifteen years have elapsed since the legal precedent set inKuzli, during which time the criteria for participation as anamicus curiaehave been established.

The aim of this study was to empirically explore and analyse the ways in which the procedural institution ofamicus curiaehas been used and adopted under Israeli law, and the extent to which it has influenced judicial decisions. The study has used empirical methods, including the collection of quantitative data from computerised databases in Israel concerning cases in which an application to be recognised as anamicus curiaewas made.

The main findings indicate that, over the last decade, the number of applications for recognition as anamicus curiaehas grown steadily. Most of these applications were made by non-governmental organisations in attempting to support private individuals engaged in legal proceedings against the state or for-profit corporations. The findings reveal that the courts have approved most of these applications.
Implications of skeletal muscle loss for public health nutrition messages: a brief report
Authors: Levy Louis B. , Welch Ailsa A.
Published: June 2015

Age-related skeletal muscle loss, sarcopenia, cachexia and wider malnutrition (under nutrition) are complex in aetiology with interaction of clinical, social and economic factors. Weight loss and loss of skeletal muscle mass in older people are associated with increased morbidity and mortality with implications for increasing health and social care costs. There is insufficient evidence to identify the ideal treatment options. However, preventing weight loss and loss of skeletal muscle in older age will be keys to reducing morbidity and mortality. This will require all those coming into contact with older people to identify and address weight loss early, including through diet, improving physical activity and increasing social interaction. Public health messages on diet should, in the main, continue to focus on older people achieving current UK dietary recommendations for their age as visually depicted in the eatwell plate together with associated messages regarding dietary supplements where appropriate.
Δ122p53, a mouse model of Δ133p53α, enhances the tumor-suppressor activities of an attenuated p53 mutant
Authors: Slatter T L , Hung N , Bowie S , Campbell H , Rubio C , Speidel D , Wilson M , Baird M , Royds J A , Braithwaite A W
Published: June 2015

Growing evidence suggests the Δ133p53α isoform may function as an oncogene. It is overexpressed in many tumors, stimulates pathways involved in tumor progression, and inhibits some activities of wild-type p53, including transactivation and apoptosis. We hypothesized that Δ133p53α would have an even more profound effect on p53 variants with weaker tumor-suppressor capability. We tested this using a mouse model heterozygous for a Δ133p53α-like isoform (Δ122p53) and a p53 mutant with weak tumor-suppressor function (mΔpro). The Δ122p53/mΔpro mice showed a unique survival curve with a wide range of survival times (92–495 days) which was much greater than mΔpro/- mice (range 120–250 days) and mice heterozygous for the Δ122p53 and p53 null alleles (Δ122p53/-, range 78–150 days), suggesting Δ122p53 increased the tumor-suppressor activity of mΔpro. Moreover, some of the mice that survived longest only developed benign tumors. In vitro analyses to investigate why some Δ122p53/mΔpro mice were protected from aggressive tumors revealed that Δ122p53 stabilized mΔpro and prolonged the response to DNA damage. Similar effects of Δ122p53 and Δ133p53α were observed on wild-type of full-length p53, but these did not result in improved biological responses. The data suggest that Δ122p53 (and Δ133p53α) could offer some protection against tumors by enhancing the p53 response to stress.
Wearable energy-dense and power-dense supercapacitor yarns enabled by scalable graphene–metallic textile composite electrodes
Authors: Liu Libin , Yu You , Yan Casey , Li Kan , Zheng Zijian
Published: June 2015

One-dimensional flexible supercapacitor yarns are of considerable interest for future wearable electronics. The bottleneck in this field is how to develop devices of high energy and power density, by using economically viable materials and scalable fabrication technologies. Here we report a hierarchical graphene–metallic textile composite electrode concept to address this challenge. The hierarchical composite electrodes consist of low-cost graphene sheets immobilized on the surface of Ni-coated cotton yarns, which are fabricated by highly scalable electroless deposition of Ni and electrochemical deposition of graphene on commercial cotton yarns. Remarkably, the volumetric energy density and power density of the all solid-state supercapacitor yarn made of one pair of these composite electrodes are 6.1 mWh cm−3 and 1,400 mW cm−3, respectively. In addition, this SC yarn is lightweight, highly flexible, strong, durable in life cycle and bending fatigue tests, and integratable into various wearable electronic devices.
Efficient photosynthesis of carbon monoxide from CO2 using perovskite photovoltaics
Authors: Schreier Marcel , Curvat Laura , Giordano Fabrizio , Steier Ludmilla , Abate Antonio , Zakeeruddin Shaik M. , Luo Jingshan , Mayer Matthew T. , Grätzel Michael
Published: June 2015

Artificial photosynthesis, mimicking nature in its efforts to store solar energy, has received considerable attention from the research community. Most of these attempts target the production of H2 as a fuel and our group recently demonstrated solar-to-hydrogen conversion at 12.3% efficiency. Here, in an effort to take this approach closer to real photosynthesis, which is based on the conversion of CO2, we demonstrate the efficient reduction of CO2 to carbon monoxide driven solely by simulated sunlight using water as the electron source. Employing series-connected perovskite photovoltaics and high-performance catalyst electrodes, we reach a solar-to-CO efficiency exceeding 6.5%, which represents a new benchmark in sunlight-driven CO2 conversion. Considering hydrogen as a secondary product, an efficiency exceeding 7% is observed. Furthermore, this study represents one of the first demonstrations of extended, stable operation of perovskite photovoltaics, whose large open-circuit voltage is shown to be particularly suited for this process.
Coherence in the presence of absorption and heating in a molecule interferometer
Authors: Cotter J. P. , Eibenberger S. , Mairhofer L. , Cheng X. , Asenbaum P. , Arndt M. , Walter K. , Nimmrichter S. , Hornberger K.
Published: June 2015

Matter-wave interferometry can be used to probe the foundations of physics and to enable precise measurements of particle properties and fundamental constants. It relies on beam splitters that coherently divide the wave function. In atom interferometers, such elements are often realised using lasers by exploiting the dipole interaction or through photon absorption. It is intriguing to extend these ideas to complex molecules where the energy of an absorbed photon can rapidly be redistributed across many internal degrees of freedom. Here, we provide evidence that center-of-mass coherence can be maintained even when the internal energy and entropy of the interfering particle are substantially increased by absorption of photons from a standing light wave. Each photon correlates the molecular center-of-mass wave function with its internal temperature and splits it into a superposition with opposite momenta in addition to the beam-splitting action of the optical dipole potential.
Graphene-enabled electron microscopy and correlated super-resolution microscopy of wet cells
Authors: Wojcik Michal , Hauser Margaret , Li Wan , Moon Seonah , Xu Ke
Published: June 2015

The application of electron microscopy to hydrated biological samples has been limited by high-vacuum operating conditions. Traditional methods utilize harsh and laborious sample dehydration procedures, often leading to structural artefacts and creating difficulties for correlating results with high-resolution fluorescence microscopy. Here, we utilize graphene, a single-atom-thick carbon meshwork, as the thinnest possible impermeable and conductive membrane to protect animal cells from vacuum, thus enabling high-resolution electron microscopy of wet and untreated whole cells with exceptional ease. Our approach further allows for facile correlative super-resolution and electron microscopy of wet cells directly on the culturing substrate. In particular, individual cytoskeletal actin filaments are resolved in hydrated samples through electron microscopy and well correlated with super-resolution results.
General synthesis of complex nanotubes by gradient electrospinning and controlled pyrolysis
Authors: Niu Chaojiang , Meng Jiashen , Wang Xuanpeng , Han Chunhua , Yan Mengyu , Zhao Kangning , Xu Xiaoming , Ren Wenhao , Zhao Yunlong , Xu Lin , Zhang Qingjie , Zhao Dongyuan , Mai Liqiang
Published: June 2015

Nanowires and nanotubes have been the focus of considerable efforts in energy storage and solar energy conversion because of their unique properties. However, owing to the limitations of synthetic methods, most inorganic nanotubes, especially for multi-element oxides and binary-metal oxides, have been rarely fabricated. Here we design a gradient electrospinning and controlled pyrolysis method to synthesize various controllable 1D nanostructures, including mesoporous nanotubes, pea-like nanotubes and continuous nanowires. The key point of this method is the gradient distribution of low-/middle-/high-molecular-weight poly(vinyl alcohol) during the electrospinning process. This simple technique is extended to various inorganic multi-element oxides, binary-metal oxides and single-metal oxides. Among them, Li3V2(PO4)3, Na0.7Fe0.7Mn0.3O2 and Co3O4 mesoporous nanotubes exhibit ultrastable electrochemical performance when used in lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, respectively. We believe that a wide range of new materials available from our composition gradient electrospinning and pyrolysis methodology may lead to further developments in research on 1D systems.