bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Indescribable Being”: Theological Performances of Genderlessness in the Society of the Publick Universal Friend, 1776–1819
Authors: Larson Scott
Published: August 2014

In October of 1776 Jemima Wilkinson of Cumberland, Rhode Island, claimed to have died and been resurrected by the Spirit of the Lord as a genderless spirit, renamed the “Publick Universal Friend.” As a resurrected spirit, the Friend defied the line between living and dead, body and spirit, divine and human, and male and female. The Friend performed this spiritual state by mixing worldly category signifiers, dressing in a combination of male, female, and priestly clothing. Followers used genderless language for the Friend and in the 1790s founded Jerusalem, New York on lands purchased from the Iroquois Confederacy. Critics denounced the Friend’s gender ambiguity as a sign of devilry, and they linked it to fraud, licentiousness, and murder. This study draws on the methodological commitments of transgender theory to take seriously the Friend’s claim to have transcended gender, and it seeks to investigate religious challenges to gender “before” transgender. For early Americans, radical religious experience could be a site of gender crossing even as it reinforced worldly hierarchies and drove participation in settler colonialism.
The Haunting Quest for What Is Lost: Aesthetics and Ethics in William and Henry James
Authors: Francis Philip S.
Published: August 2014

Richard Rorty repudiated W. B. Yeats’s aspiration “to hold justice and reality in a single vision,” and he did so with relish. Thrilling though it may be, Rorty would say, there is no need to weave into a single, coherent narrative our commitment to the end of cruelty (justice) and our idiosyncratic aesthetic tastes (reality). Not so fast, Dick. Following William and Henry James, this essay explores several footbridges between aesthetics and ethics, using Rorty as foil. The Jamesian read, I argue, leaves a great deal of flexibility for one’s private ways of aestheticizing finitude and it appeals to no foundations (à la Rorty), but it binds together the aesthetic and the ethical such that one’s peculiar reality has very much to do with justice .
Socrates: Antitragedian
Authors: Brann Eva
Published: August 2014

In the Birth of Tragedy , Nietzsche depicts Socrates as the initiator of a new human type: the shallowly optimistic rationalist, constitutionally incapable of seeing “into the dionysian abyss of delight” of tragedy. This is a brilliant travesty. Plato’s Socrates is, indeed, an ontological optimist, who thinks that Being is both knowable and good. He is also a staunch antitragedian, who sees in tragic poetry a third-hand imitation of genuine Being and an incitement to unhealthy, even sadistic, emotionalism. The true Socrates is anti-dionysian from a passionate love of wisdom.
Jane Austen’s Challenges, or the Powers of Character and the Understanding
Authors: Wainwright Valerie
Published: August 2014

Austen sets her heroines some tricky tests. But what exactly do they reveal? Acknowledging the complexity of her thought, this approach examines the many different elements to which she is attentive, and in particular those concerning personality, the understanding, and the situation. It suggests that—like Locke—she is interested in factors that facilitate or hinder states of reasonableness and conscious control. Challenging readings of her work which focus primarily on conceptions of character to be found in theories of virtue ethics, this essay analyzes the various “powers” that her characters are able (or unable) to draw upon or resist.
Burke, Godwin, and the Politics of Honor
Authors: Kantor Jamison
Published: August 2014

Recently, Kwame Anthony Appiah claimed, “We may think we have finished with honor, but honor isn’t finished with us.” With Appiah in mind, this essay explores honor as a central ethic of modernity by situating it within William Godwin’s late eighteenth-century masterpiece Caleb Williams , a novel whose protagonist is both attracted to and repelled by chivalric honor and its role in public life. The novel, it is argued, stages a cultural battle in the 1790s between two contrasting versions of honor: an ethos rooted in sentimentalism to which even the most rational subject must acquiesce (as described by Edmund Burke) and a staid virtue of collective dignity—one that presupposes by nearly a century the concept of public solidarity.
Sacrilege and the Economics of Empire in Dryden’s Annus Mirabilis
Authors: Parry David
Published: August 2014

This article identifies a biblical allusion in John Dryden’s Annus Mirabilis not previously noted. It argues that Dryden describes the looting undertaken by Sir Robert Holmes’s sailors in their raid on the Vlie estuary in terms that associate them with Hophni and Phinehas, the sacrilegious sons of the high priest Eli, called “sons of Belial” in 1 Samuel. This allusion subverts the propagandist function of the poem by calling into question the morality of England’s economic and imperial expansion and lends credence to Dutch writers’ suggestion that the Great Fire of London represents divine retribution for Holmes’s Bonfire.
Northward expansion of the winter range of Nyctalus noctula (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Eastern Europe
Authors: Godlevska Lena V.
Published: August 2014

Before 1990, mass wintering of the noctule bat (
Environmental Monitoring of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Silica Gel, Zeolite and Activated Charcoal
Authors: McGath Molly , McCarthy Blythe , Bosworth Jenifer
Published: August 2014

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can be hazardous to human health and can negatively impact the long-term stability of art objects. This research evaluated the VOC adsorbent properties of three materials commonly used in museums as humidity regulating or air filtering agents. Silica gel, activated charcoal, and zeolite powder, materials often placed in proximity to art objects, were analyzed using Thermal Desorption GC-MS to qualitatively identify adsorbed VOC’s from model environments. This research compared the adsorbing capabilities of these materials with a solid-phase micro-extraction (SPME) carboxen/polydimethyl siloxane fiber to frame their adsorbing powers. It was found that different adsorbents have very different ranges of adsorption for the chemicals tested. Silica gel powder and zeolite powder have the greatest sensitivity for acetic acid over a 24 hour exposure period. Zeolite powder and activated charcoal were more sensitive for identification of naphthalene. Silica gel powder proved to be the most sensitive adsorbent overall. This research discovered that the methods used to condition silica gel pellets for reuse need to be re-examined in light of fact they trap VOC’s, especially as it was observed that VOC’s desorb from the silica gel pellets under ambient conditions.
Design of nano webs for hybrid sensor devices
Authors: Shanmugam Nandhinee Radha , Rana Milin Nilesh , Prasad Shalini
Published: August 2014

Hybrid organic/inorganic nanostructures are engineered to function as two terminal devices with enhanced functionality. The devices are the building blocks for designing hybrid organic/inorganic circuits in the nanoscale. In our work, we have demonstrated the sensing capabilities of polymer nanocomposite thin films for designing nanoweb devices towards detection of biomolecules. Biomolecules with surface charge such as troponin-T were detected on this device by interfacing them with the polymer/metal composites. The change in electrical properties due to modulation in charge transport at the crossbar junction was identified as the measured electrical signal for designing switch based sensors. Nanotextured surface offers strong charge carrier transport and hence enhances the strength of the detected signal. The antibodyantigen interactions at the junction effectively modulate the charge transfer kinetics and modify the junction characteristics due to the surface potential associated with the organic molecules. The net change in surface charge can be measured either as changes in the diode current in the two terminal configuration or as changes in the source- drain current in the three terminal configuration. Detection sensitivity in the order of pg/mL was targeted by measuring the voltammetric current response (in microamperes).
Motivations to adopting energy efficiency measures in the home
Authors: Pelenur Marcos J. , Cruickshank Heather J.
Published: August 2014

This paper presents a study that linked demographic variables with motivations for the adoption of domestic energy efficiency measures in UK cities. This study complements a previous paper that identified barriers, and together, the two papers aim to improve understanding of the ‘energy efficiency gap’ and improve the effectiveness of future energy efficiency initiatives. The data for this study were collected from 149 general population interviews (1ṡ5–10 min) carried out across multiple locations in Manchester and Cardiff. The demographic variables were statistically linked to the identified motivations using a modified chi-square test of association (first order Rao–Scott corrected to compensate for multiple response data), and the effect size was estimated with an odds ratio test. The results revealed that strong associations exist between demographics and motivations, specifically that saving money was associated with incomes greater than £40 000, married individuals and semi/detached homes; while the motivation of resource efficiency was associated with incomes less than £40 000, single individuals and flats/terraced homes. The results and recommendations are aimed at policy makers, local councils and members of the construction/retrofit industry who are all working to improve the energy efficiency of the domestic built environment.
Earthquake strategy for sustainable infrastructure in Turkey
Authors: Erenoglu R. Cuneyt , Erenoglu Oya
Published: August 2014

The magnitude 7ṡ4 Izmit earthquake in north-west Turkey in 1999 resulted in 17 127 deaths, 43 959 injuries and extensive property and infrastructure damage. The event highlighted a national lack of seismic design and construction codes. After recovering from the initial effects of the Izmit earthquake, work started on a national earthquake strategy and action plan by public organisations, institutions, academics and practitioners. This paper provides an overview of the efforts to date to achieve safe, earthquake-resilient and sustainable urban infrastructure in Turkey.
A case study of the D4R laptop
Authors: Hickey Stewart , Fitzpatrick Colin , Maher Paul , Ospina Jose , Schischke Karsten , Beigl Peter , Vidorreta Itziar , Yang Mona , Williams Ian D. , den Boer Emilia
Published: August 2014

The D4R (Design for recycling, repair, refurbishment and reuse) laptop was developed in conjunction with MicroPro Computers (MPC), a Dublin-based computer manufacturer. MPC formed an industrial network with end-of-life information technology (IT) asset management firms, IT refurbishers, component manufacturers and local industries to produce a new design that has created a new use for their wastes, thus turning waste into resources. This has been made possible through: D4R product design features that facilitate integration of by-product materials and components into the manufacturing process; the creation of an industrial network of suppliers and local assembly agencies permitting industrial metabolism of by-product materials and components into state-of-the-art laptop products; and the creation of a resource exchange platform that increases the visibility of by-products to be incorporated in newly manufactured systems. MPC has been able to successfully manufacture a universal shell composed of a motherboard and a six-cell lithium battery, encapsulated in a wooden housing structure. The shell is capable of accepting new laptop system components and also has the ability to integrate various diverse parts and components, and parts and components of different specifications. The proposed manufacturing model illustrates an entirely novel approach to industrial networking in computer manufacturing for the purpose of eliminating waste and creating valuable by-products.
Bayesian inference and assessment for rare‐event bycatch in marine fisheries: a drift gillnet fishery case study
Authors: Martin Summer L. , Stohs Stephen M. , Moore Jeffrey E.
Published: August 2014

Fisheries bycatch is a global threat to marine megafauna. Environmental laws require bycatch assessment for protected species, but this is difficult when bycatch is rare. Low bycatch rates, combined with low observer coverage, may lead to biased, imprecise estimates when using standard ratio estimators. Bayesian model‐based approaches incorporate uncertainty, produce less volatile estimates, and enable probabilistic evaluation of estimates relative to management thresholds. Here, we demonstrate a pragmatic decision‐making process that uses Bayesian model‐based inferences to estimate the probability of exceeding management thresholds for bycatch in fisheries with <100% observer coverage. Using the California drift gillnet fishery as a case study, we (1) model rates of rare‐event bycatch and mortality using Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo estimation methods and 20 years of observer data; (2) predict unobserved counts of bycatch and mortality; (3) infer expected annual mortality; (4) determine probabilities of mortality exceeding regulatory thresholds; and (5) classify the fishery as having low, medium, or high bycatch impact using those probabilities. We focused on leatherback sea turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae). Candidate models included Poisson or zero‐inflated Poisson likelihood, fishing effort, and a bycatch rate that varied with area, time, or regulatory regime. Regulatory regime had the strongest effect on leatherback bycatch, with the highest levels occurring prior to a regulatory change. Area had the strongest effect on humpback bycatch. Cumulative bycatch estimates for the 20‐year period were 104–242 leatherbacks (52–153 deaths) and 6–50 humpbacks (0–21 deaths). The probability of exceeding a regulatory threshold under the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act (Potential Biological Removal, PBR) of 0.113 humpback deaths was 0.58, warranting a “medium bycatch impact” classification of the fishery. No PBR thresholds exist for leatherbacks, but the probability of exceeding an anticipated level of two deaths per year, stated as part of a U.S. Endangered Species Act assessment process, was 0.0007. The approach demonstrated here would allow managers to objectively and probabilistically classify fisheries with respect to bycatch impacts on species that have population‐relevant mortality reference points, and declare with a stipulated level of certainty that bycatch did or did not exceed estimated upper bounds.
Soybean Seed Yield Response to Multiple Seed Treatment Components across Diverse Environments
Authors: Gaspar Adam P. , Marburger David A. , Mourtzinis Spyridon , Conley Shawn P.
Published: August 2014

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] seed treatment adoption has increased dramatically over the past decade in addition to the number of pesticide components within commercially available seed treatments. The study objectives were to evaluate the effects of multiple seed treatments and their individual pesticide components (fungicide, insecticide, and/or nematicide) on soybean plant stand and seed yield across diverse environments. Trials were conducted at 10 Wisconsin locations during the 2011 to 2013 growing seasons. Soybean seed treatments containing fungicide + insecticide + nematicide increased plant stands over the untreated control (UTC), fungicide only, and fungicide + insecticide seed treatments by an average of 10, 9, and 5.5%, respectively. During 2013, yield was increased by the fungicide only seed treatment pyraclostrobin + metalaxyl + fluxapyroxad; however, across all environments, no consistent yield increase was shown for fungicide only seed treatments. Fungicide + insecticide seed treatments increased yield over fungicide only seed treatments by 55 and 76 kg ha−1 during 2011–2012 and 2013, respectively, and were similar to fungicide + insecticide + nematicide seed treatments. However, fungicide + insecticide and fungicide + insecticide + nematicide seed treatments only increased yield over the UTC in 2013. These results suggest that though fungicide + insecticide and fungicide + insecticide + nematicide seed treatments consistently increased plant stand, yield increases were variable and contingent on unpredictable factors. Therefore, producers will need to weigh potential yield gains with biological (resistance management) and economic (return on investment [ROI] and risk mitigation) concerns before implementing seed treatment practices at the whole farm level.
South African University Students' Life Satisfaction and Perceptions of African Immigrants
Authors: Kayitesi Marie Louise , Mwaba Kelvin
Published: August 2014

In recent years, South Africa has experienced xenophobic violence directed against African immigrants. Our aim in this study was to investigate life satisfaction and perceptions of African immigrants among black South African university students. Undergraduate psychology students (192
women and 63 men) completed the Temporal Satisfaction With Life Scale and Southern African Migration Programme Survey Questionnaire. The results supported our expectation of the students' high levels of life satisfaction and favorable perceptions of African immigrants.
Nurses' Willingness to Report Near Misses: A Multilevel Analysis of Contributing Factors
Authors: Kim Min Young , Kang Seungwan , Kim Young Mee , You Myoungsoon
Published: August 2014

Although potential future medical errors can best be prevented through reporting near misses, on-site error reporting is not being achieved to a satisfactory level. We surveyed 489 nurses working in 34 wards at a university hospital in Korea in regard to their understanding of factors
related to error reporting. Survey items included willingness to report near misses, defensive silence, leader-member exchange, role clarity, and knowledge-sharing climate. Results indicated that defensive silence in the workplace and unclearly defined roles reduced nurses' willingness to
report errors, whereas trust-based leader-member exchange (LMX) increased the intention. Knowledge-sharing climates contributed to increasing nurses' intention to report errors, even among those of a silent disposition and in settings where the quality of LMX between the nurses and head nurse
was not high.
University Transitions and Gender: From Choice of Studies to Academic Career Development
Authors: Villar Alícia , Hernàndez Francesc Jesús
Published: August 2014

Based on the results of the authors' research using a case study of a Spanish university, the sociological component of gender is an important factor in building transitions at university. When the authors refer to university transitions they are talking about two periods. Firstly, they refer to the transition of undergraduate students from upper secondary education. The authors detect differences in the choices of studies, in the identification of professional models and in the university admission process. Secondly, they refer to the transition from research grant-holders to teaching and research staff. They explore the construction of social expectations and representations that research grant-holders make during their transitions to teaching and research staff. These two transition points are connected through the gender component, because in both, the authors have found gender differences that shape the transitions to a type of discourse and of behaviour. Therefore, university transitions are a broad field of study from a gender perspective.
Using the Construct of the Didactic Contract to Understand Student Transition into University Mathematics Education
Authors: Pepin Birgit
Published: August 2014

In this article the concept of the Didactic Contract is used to investigate student ‘transition’ from upper secondary into university mathematics education. The findings are anchored in data from the TransMaths project, more particularly the case of an ethnic minority student's journey from his school to a university mathematics course taught at a large inner-city university in England. Results show that there is a transformation (or rupture) of the Didactic Contract from school to university mathematics, and that this is likely to have serious consequences for students' success, or failure, at this crossroads of students' mathematical development, in particular if students are left to ‘bridge the gap’ from one contract to the other. Further, the author argues that in order to help to smooth the passage, a refinement of the Didactic Contract is helpful, a re-conceptualisation in terms of Normative Didactic Contract and Personal Didactic Contract, and each needs to be considered at each level of development. This is likely to raise awareness about the necessary conditions for success at both sides of the transition junction, and providing appropriate support for students at both levels is likely to provide access for more students to successfully stay in higher education mathematics.
Indigenous and Immigrant Students in Transition to Higher Education and Perceptions of Parental Influence: A Bourdieusian Perspective
Authors: Kleanthous Irene
Published: August 2014

This article aims to compare and contrast the perceptions of parental influence of indigenous middle-class students and immigrant students in Cyprus, and to investigate how their family's capital mediates students' educational choices for studies in higher education. This study draws on interview data with two students and their parents and discusses the findings from a Bourdieusian theoretical perspective. It was noted in the data that indigenous middle-class students have a ‘feel for the game’ when they come to make their choices for future studies in higher education. Indigenous middle-class students often ‘misrecognise’ parental influence on their educational choices; this is conceptualised as a form of symbolic violence after Bourdieu. On the contrary, immigrant students explicitly refer to their parents' influence on their educational choices and they usually mention the devaluation of their parents' cultural capital. Arguably, while immigrant students try to adapt their habitus to the new educational field, they become more conscious of their parents' influence on their educational choices. This finding is interpreted as a reflexive process of the ‘hysteresis effect’ (after Bourdieu) which immigrant families are experiencing. It is argued that social inequalities are still experienced by immigrant students in transition to higher education and this is interpreted drawing on Bourdieu's theory.
The Brazilian National Graduate Program, Past, Present and Future: A Short Review
Authors: De Sá Barreto Francisco César , Domingues Ivan , Borges Mário Neto
Published: August 2014

This article aims at presenting the current structure of the Brazilian National Graduate Program. It describes the development of the courses from their starting point in the Thirties focusing on the last six decades. It demonstrates that after the country set up the two national agencies to foster science and technology, CAPES and CNPq, investments in this area have increased tremendously. As a result the number of courses and the numbers of Master's and doctoral enrollments have soared. The current Brazilian National Graduate Program is presented in full. Moreover, while scientific production has also increased, technological development and innovation are still lacking pace. The role played by state agencies for research development is emphasized as an important additional way of complementing the federal agencies. Despite the advancement made, the article points out important challenges that are still to be faced to put Brazil in a better position in international scientific rankings.
Redesigning a Large Enrollment Course: The Impact on Academic Performance, Course Completion and Student Perceptions in Introductory Psychology
Authors: Hudson Danae L. , Whisenhunt Brooke L. , Shoptaugh Carol F. , Rost Ann D. , Fondren-Happel Rachel N.
Published: August 2014

Increasing college enrollments, and decreased funding have led institutions and instructors to focus on developing courses that can be taught effectively in a large class format. This article presents the effectiveness of a redesigned, blended format of Introductory Psychology taught in large sections. The goals of the project included improving academic performance and student engagement through the use of empirically supported pedagogical methods, increasing course completion rates, reducing course drift, and reducing instructional costs. Student data from traditional sections taught in fall 2011 ( n = 284) were compared to data obtained from students in redesigned sections in fall 2012 ( n = 1340). Results indicated significant increases in academic performance in the redesigned course compared to the traditional sections. Performance with online course materials predicted overall exam performance and all pedagogical enhancements were, on average, perceived by students as effective. While course completion rates initially remained unchanged, there was greater consistency across sections and a substantial reduction in instructional costs. Implications of these results are discussed and suggestions for other institutions interested in redesigning large courses are presented.
Ethics as an Undergraduate Psychology Outcome: When, Where, and How to Teach it
Authors: Ruiz Ana , Warchal Judith
Published: August 2014

The American Psychological Association (APA) recently approved a new set of Guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major, version 2.0 (APA, 2013a) which addressed ethics specifically. Yet the teaching of ethics receives little attention in publications, national and international institutes, and conferences. Few guidelines for when, where, and how the teaching of ethics is best integrated into the undergraduate curriculum are available. The typical psychology undergraduate will encounter issues related to ethics in courses such as research methods, and more generally in course syllabi under the topic of Academic Honesty. This is hardly an effective introduction to the complex personal and professional ethical decisions the psychology student will encounter after graduation. This report proposes when, where, and how to teach ethics in the undergraduate psychology program and presents a case example demonstrating the intentional integration of ethics into the psychology undergraduate curriculum to prepare students to become ethically literate citizens.
Student Mental Health Self-Disclosures in Classrooms: Perceptions and Implications
Authors: Wood Benjamin T. , Bolner Olivia , Gauthier Phillip
Published: August 2014

With a move from lecture-based to interactive teaching approaches, students are encouraged in a variety of ways to share personal experiences in classroom settings. Among those self-disclosures, students may speak about their mental health concerns or diagnoses. The purpose of the study was to gain a deeper understanding of what it is like for students to listen to mental health self-disclosures in a classroom. In order to do so, undergraduate college students ( N = 21) were interviewed and asked to describe their experiences, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with hearing self-disclosures of mental health concerns in classrooms. A phenomenological qualitative research method was used to analyze the data. By interviewing students, it was possible to identify themes regarding their experiences, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors associated with hearing mental health self-disclosures. Study findings included themes of concern, discomfort, interest, respect, indifference, and enhanced understanding. The description of student perceptions of mental health self-disclosures will be beneficial to educators who encounter mental health self-disclosures in their classrooms. Implications for teaching are discussed.
Bacteremia in the pedal circulation following regional intravenous perfusion of a 2% lidocaine solution in cattle with deep digital sepsis
Authors: Simpson Katharine M. , Streeter Robert N. , Taylor Jared D. , Gull Tamara B. , Step Douglas L.
Published: August 2014

Objective—To evaluate whether pedal bacteremia develops following regional IV perfusion (RIVP) of a 2% lidocaine hydrochloride solution in cattle with deep digital sepsis (DDS) and to determine which bacterial pathogens are most commonly isolated from the pedal circulation.

Design—Prospective observational cohort study.

Animals—9 adult cattle with DDS in 10 limbs and 10 healthy adult cattle with no evidence of lameness or digital infection.

Procedures—Blood samples were obtained aseptically from the dorsal common digital vein immediately following tourniquet application and 30 to 60 minutes after aseptic RIVP with a 2% lidocaine solution. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial cultures were performed on all samples collected. For cattle with DDS, clinical examination with or without debridement of digital lesions was performed after RIVP.

Results—Bacteria were isolated from pedal blood prior to RIVP in 1 cow with DDS and after RIVP and examination with or without debridement in that cow and 4 additional cattle with DDS. Bacteria were not isolated from any blood sample obtained from the healthy cattle. Of the 8 bacterial isolates identified, 5 were gram-positive facultative anaerobes. Cattle with DDS were significantly more likely to develop bacteremia in the pedal circulation than were healthy cattle following RIVP.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that bacteremia may be present in the pedal circulation before and following RIVP and examination with or without debridement in cattle with DDS. Thus, systemic or local antimicrobial treatment might be warranted prior to or concurrently with RIVP in cattle with DDS.
An On-Line Multiway Approach to In-Situ NDI Looking at the PZL-130TCII
Authors: Dragan Krzysztof , Dziendzikowski Michał , Kurnyta Artur , Latoszek Adam , Leski Andrzej , Kłysz Sylwester
Published: August 2014

Providing a reliable and universal Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) system allowing for remote aircraft inspections and a reduction of maintenance costs is a major challenge confronting the aerospace industry today. SHM based on guided Lamb waves is one of the approaches capable of addressing the issue while satisfying all the associated requirements. This paper presents a holistic approach to the continuous real time damage growth monitoring and early damage detection in aircraft structure. The main component of the system is a piezoelectric transducers (PZT) network. It is complemented by other SHM methods: Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVMTM) and Resistance Gauges at selected aircraft hot spots. The paper offers the description of damage detection capabilities including the analysis of data collected from the PZL-130 Orlik aircraft full-scale fatigue test.
Assessment of Sensor Technologies for Aircraft SHM Systems
Authors: Kurnyta Artur , Dragan Krzysztof , Dziendzikowski Michal
Published: August 2014

SHM is a monitoring system which uses sensors, actuators and data transmission, acquisition and analysis, permanently integrated with the inspected object. The objective of SHM is to detect, localize, identify and predict development of fatigue fractures, increasing safety and reliability. This paper presents an assessment of sensor technologies used in aircraft SHM system. Due to the fact that most of these measurement methods are relatively new and still under development the present appraisal focuses on a number of parameters with reference to each method, including a sensor’s installation issues, reliability, power consumption, sensor infrastructure, sensitivity and cost and availability. The work is predominantly focused on the assessment ofpermanently bonded sensors, such as foil strain gages, Comparative Vacuum Monitoring (CVM), Piezo sensors (PZT), Eddy-Current Transducers (ECT). Finally, all these methods are briefly discussed.
Mumps outbreak in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina with large cohorts of susceptibles and genetically diverse strains of genotype G, Bosnia and Herzegovina, December 2010 to September 2012
Authors: Hukic M , Hajdarpasic A , Ravlija J , Ler Z , Baljic R , Dedeic Ljubovic A , Moro A , Salimović-Besic I , Sausy A , Muller C P , Hübschen J M
Published: August 2014

A mumps outbreak reported from the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina involved 7,895 cases between December 2010 and September 2012. This was the largest outbreak in the country since the introduction of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine in 1980. The highest disease incidence was found among 15 to 19 year-olds. About 39% (3,050/7,895) of cases reported to be unvaccinated; the vaccination status of 31% (2,426/7,895) was unknown. A seroprevalence study among 150 asymptomatic contacts to mumps cases showed that about one third (45/150) were susceptible to mumps. Among 105 clinically suspected mumps patients hospitalised at the Clinical Centre of the University of Sarajevo, orchitis (60% of all males: 51/85) and meningitis (9%: 9/105) were the most common complications. Among 57 outbreak sequences obtained for the small hydrophobic gene, eight different variants of genotype G viruses were identified. The outbreak affected mainly age groups comprising individuals who were not vaccinated during or after the Bosnian war, as well as cantons with single dose immunisation policies until 2001. In addition to issues related to vaccination of individuals, differential responses to vaccines and vaccine strains, waning of antibodies and potentially also the genetically diverse variants of genotype G may have compounded the size and duration of the outbreak. Our report emphasizes the need for supplementary immunisation programmes in particular for adolescents and young adults.
“FULL-CORE” VVER-440 calculation benchmark
Authors: Krýsl V. , Mikoláš P. , Sprinzl D. , Švarný J. , Temesvári E. , Pós I. , Heraltová L.
Published: August 2014

Because of the difficulties with experimental validation of power distribution predicted by macro-code on the pin by pin level we decided to prepare a calculation benchmark named “FULL-CORE” VVER-440. This benchmark is a two-dimensional (2D) calculation benchmark based on the VVER-440 reactor core cold state geometry with taking into account the geometry of explicit radial reflector. The main task of this benchmark is to test the pin by pin power distribution in fuel assemblies predicted by macro-codes that are used for neutron-physics calculations especially for VVER-440 reactors. The proposal of this benchmark was presented at the 21st Symposium of AER in 2011. The reference solution has been calculated by MCNP code using Monte Carlo method and the results have been published in the AER community. The results of reference calculation were presented at the 22nd Symposium of AER in 2012. In this paper we will compare the available macro-codes results of this calculation benchmark.
Correlation between magnetic resonance imaging grading and pathological grading in meningioma
Authors: Lin Bon-Jour , Chou Kuan-Nein , Kao Hung-Wen , Lin Chin , Tsai Wen-Chiuan , Feng Shao-Wei , Lee Meei-Shyuan , Hueng Dueng-Yuan
Published: August 2014

Object

This study investigated the specific preoperative MRI features of patients with intracranial meningiomas that correlate with pathological grade and provide appropriate preoperative planning.

Methods

From 2006 to 2012, 120 patients (36 men and 84 women, age range 20–89 years) with newly diagnosed symptomatic intracranial meningiomas undergoing resection were retrospectively analyzed in terms of radiological features of preoperative MRI. There were 90 WHO Grade I and 30 WHO Grade II or III meningiomas. The relationships between MRI features and WHO histopathological grade were analyzed and scored quantitatively.

Results

According to the results of multivariate logistic regression analysis, age ≥ 75 years, indistinct tumorbrain interface, positive capsular enhancement, and heterogeneous tumor enhancement were identified factors in the prediction of advanced histopathological grade. The prediction model was quantified as a scoring scale: 2 × (age) + 5 × (tumor-brain interface) + 3 × (capsular enhancement) + 2 × (tumor enhancement). The calculated score correlated positively with the probability of high-grade meningioma.

Conclusions

This scoring approach may be useful for clinicians in determining therapeutic strategy and in surgical planning for patients with intracranial meningiomas.
Flexible endoscopy for management of intraventricular brain tumors in patients with small ventricles
Authors: Ogiwara Hideki , Morota Nobuhito
Published: August 2014

Object

Endoscopic surgery is generally withheld in patients with small ventricles due to difficulties in ventricular cannulation and intraventricular manipulation. The effectiveness of flexible endoscopy for management of intraventricular brain tumors in patients with small ventricles was evaluated.

Methods

Forty-five patients who underwent endoscopic surgery with a flexible endoscope for intraventricular brain tumors were divided into small-ventricle and ventriculomegaly groups according to the frontal and occipital horn ratio (FOR). Retrospective review of these cases was performed and achievement of surgical goals and morbidity were assessed.

Results

Among the 45 patients, there were 14 with small ventricles and 31 with ventriculomegaly. In the smallventricle group, targeted tumors were located in the suprasellar region in 12 patients and in the pineal region in 2. In the ventriculomegaly group, tumors were located in the pineal region in 15 patients, in the suprasellar region in 9, in the lateral ventricle in 4, in the midbrain in 2, and in the fourth ventricle in 1. In the small-ventricle group, ventricular cannulation was successful and the surgical goals were accomplished in all patients. In ventriculomegaly group, sampling of the tumor was not diagnostic due to intraoperative hemorrhage in 1 patient. There were no significant differences in the rate of achieving the surgical goals or the morbidity between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

Endoscopic surgery using a flexible endoscope is useful for management of intraventricular brain tumors in patients with small ventricles. A flexible endoscope allows excellent maneuverability in introducing the device into the lateral ventricle and manipulating through small ventricles.
Adverse events in emergency oncological spine surgery: a prospective analysis
Authors: Dea Nicolas , Versteeg Anne , Fisher Charles , Kelly Adrienne , Hartig Dennis , Boyd Michael , Paquette Scott , Kwon Brian K. , Dvorak Marcel , Street John
Published: August 2014

Object

Most descriptions of spine surgery morbidity and mortality in the literature are retrospective. Emerging prospective analyses of adverse events (AEs) demonstrate significantly higher rates, suggesting underreporting in retrospective and prospective studies that do not include AEs as a targeted outcome. Emergency oncological spine surgeries are generally palliative to reduce pain and improve patients' neurology and health-related quality of life. In individuals with limited life expectancy, AEs can have catastrophic implications; therefore, an accurate AE incidence must be considered in the surgical decision-making process. The purpose of this study was to determine the true incidence of AEs associated with emergency oncological spine surgery.

Methods

The authors carried out a prospective cohort study in a quaternary care referral center that included consecutive patients admitted between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2012. Inclusion criteria were all patients undergoing emergency surgery for metastatic spine disease. AE data were reported and collected on standardized AE forms (Spine AdVerse Events Severity System, version 2 [SAVES V2] forms) at weekly dedicated morbidity and mortality rounds attended by attending surgeons, residents, fellows, and nursing staff.

Results

A total of 101 patients (50 males, 51 females) met the inclusion criteria and had complete data. Seventysix patients (76.2%) had at least 1 AE, and 11 patients (10.9%) died during their admission. Intraoperative surgical AEs were observed in 32% of patients (9.9% incidental durotomy, 16.8% blood loss > 2 L). Transient neurological deterioration occurred in 6 patients (5.9%). Infectious complications in this patient population were significant (surgical site 6%, other 50.5%). Delirium complicated the postoperative period in 20.8% of cases.

Conclusions

When evaluated in a rigorous prospective manner, metastatic spine surgery is associated with a higher morbidity rate than previously reported. This AE incidence must be considered by the patient, oncologist, and surgeon to determine appropriate management and preventative strategies to reduce AEs in this fragile patient population.
The freedom to heal: nonrigid immobilization by a halo orthosis
Authors: Genin Guy M. , Rosenberg Stuart P. , Seger Laura M. , Tran Elizabeth L. , Rivet Dennis J. , Leuthardt Eric C.
Published: August 2014

Halo orthoses present a paradox. On the one hand, the nominally rigid immobilization they provide to the head aims to remove loads on the cervical spine following injury or surgery, and the devices are retightened routinely to maintain this. On the other hand, bone growth and remodeling are well known to require mechanical stressing. How are these competing needs balanced? To understand this trade-off in an effective, commercial halo orthosis, the authors quantified the response of a commercial halo orthosis to physiological loading levels, applied symmetrically about the sagittal plane. They showed for the first time that after a few cycles of loading analogous to a few steps taken by a patient, the support presented by a standard commercial halo orthosis becomes nonlinear. When analyzed through straightforward structural modeling, these data revealed that the nonlinearity permits mild head motion while severely restricting larger motion. These observations are useful because they open the possibility that halo orthosis installation could be optimized to transfer mild spinal loads that support healing while blocking pathological loads.
Areal-Averaged Spectral Surface Albedo from Ground-Based Transmission Data Alone: Toward an Operational Retrieval
Authors: Kassianov Evgueni , Barnard James , Flynn Connor , Riihimaki Laura , Michalsky Joseph , Hodges Gary
Published: August 2014

We present here a simple retrieval of the areal-averaged spectral surface albedo using only ground-based measurements of atmospheric transmission under fully overcast conditions. Our retrieval is based on a one-line equation. The feasibility of our retrieval for routine determinations of albedo is demonstrated for different landscapes with various degrees of heterogeneity using three sets of measurements: (1) spectral atmospheric transmission from the Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometer (MFRSR) at five wavelengths (415, 500, 615, 673, and 870 nm); (2) tower-based measurements of local surface albedo at the same wavelengths; and (3) areal-averaged surface albedo at four wavelengths (470, 560, 670 and 860 nm) from collocated and coincident Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations. These integrated datasets cover both temporally long (2008–2013) and short (April–May 2010) periods at the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Southern Great Plains site and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Table Mountain site, respectively. The calculated root mean square error (RMSE), defined here as the root mean squared difference between the MODIS-derived surface albedo and the retrieved areal-averaged albedo, is quite small (RMSE ≤ 0.015) and comparable with that obtained previously by other investigators for the shortwave broadband albedo. Good agreement between tower-based measurements of daily-averaged surface albedo for completely overcast and non-overcast conditions is also demonstrated.
Diurnal Variability of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Atmosphere over the Remote Southern Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Gioia Rosalinda , MacLeod Matthew , Castro-Jiménez Javier , Nizzetto Luca , Dachs Jordi , Lohmann Rainer , Jones Kevin
Published: August 2014

A diel (24-h) cycle with daytime atmospheric concentrations higher than nighttime concentrations by a factor of 1.5–3 was observed for several low molecular weight polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in remote areas of the tropical South Atlantic during a cruise in October–November 2005. In contrast, high molecular weight PCBs and PAHs did not display diurnal variability. A model which has successfully explained diel variability of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) over land could not reproduce the observed diel cycle by considering variability in temperature, atmospheric OH radical concentrations, atmospheric boundary layer height and wind speed as causal factors. We used the model to conduct two bounding scenarios to explore the possibility that phytoplankton biomass turn-over in the surface ocean drives the observed variability in air concentrations. The model could only qualitatively reproduce the field observations of diel variability for low chlorinated PCB congeners when the ocean acts as a source of pollutants to the atmosphere, and when variability in biomass drives variability in the capacity of the surface ocean.
Condensins are Required for Maintenance of Nuclear Architecture
Authors: George Carolyn , Bozler Julianna , Nguyen Huy , Bosco Giovanni
Published: August 2014

The 3-dimensional spatial organization of eukaryotic genomes is important for regulation of gene expression as well as DNA damage repair. It has been proposed that one basic biophysical property of all nuclei is that interphase chromatin must be kept in a condensed prestressed state in order to prevent entropic pressure of the DNA polymer from expanding and disrupting the nuclear envelope. Although many factors can contribute to specific organizational states to compact chromatin, the mechanisms through which such interphase chromatin compaction is maintained are not clearly understood. Condensin proteins are known to exert compaction forces on chromosomes in anticipation of mitosis, but it is not known whether condensins also function to maintain interphase prestressed chromatin states. Here we show that RNAi depletion of the N-CAP-H2, N-CAP-D3 and SMC2 subunits of human condensin II leads to dramatic disruption of nuclear architecture and nuclear size. This is consistent with the idea that condensin mediated chromatin compaction contributes significantly to the prestressed condensed state of the interphase nucleus, and when such compaction forces are disrupted nuclear size and shape change due to chromatin expansion.