bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attitudes of law enforcement towards trafficking in human beings in Hungary
Authors: Windt Szandra
Published: August 2024

Human trafficking is an umbrella term that covers sexual, labour and other forms of exploitation. The process of exploitation for different purposes involves the user, the victim and the exploiters. In this study, we focus on the actors outside this process, who are nevertheless important in tackling the phenomenon: the police officers, prosecutors and judges who deal with trafficking cases. Hungarian law enforcement officers are not used to investigating their attitudes and formulating their own opinions about particular phenomena. However, being able to provide them with even more effective and appropriate training would be extremely important for the organisation and for the phenomenon itself. We asked permission from leaders of various members of the criminal justice system (police, prosecutor office, judge) to conduct an attitude test among their staff. In this article we present the situation in Hungary of combating human trafficking and we summarise the survey results.
Impact of protein and small molecule interactions on kinase conformations
Authors: Kugler Valentina , Schwaighofer Selina , Feichtner Andreas , Enzler Florian , Fleischmann Jakob , Strich Sophie , Schwarz Sarah , Wilson Rebecca , Tschaikner Philipp , Troppmair Jakob , Sexl Veronika , Meier Pascal , Kaserer Teresa , Stefan Eduard
Published: August 2024

Protein kinases act as central molecular switches in the control of cellular functions. Alterations in the regulation and function of protein kinases may provoke diseases including cancer. In this study we investigate the conformational states of such disease-associated kinases using the high sensitivity of the kinase conformation (KinCon) reporter system. We first track BRAF kinase activity conformational changes upon melanoma drug binding. Second, we also use the KinCon reporter technology to examine the impact of regulatory protein interactions on LKB1 kinase tumor suppressor functions. Third, we explore the conformational dynamics of RIP kinases in response to TNF pathway activation and small molecule interactions. Finally, we show that CDK4/6 interactions with regulatory proteins alter conformations which remain unaffected in the presence of clinically applied inhibitors. Apart from its predictive value, the KinCon technology helps to identify cellular factors that impact drug efficacies. The understanding of the structural dynamics of full-length protein kinases when interacting with small molecule inhibitors or regulatory proteins is crucial for designing more effective therapeutic strategies.
Bidirectional fear modulation by discrete anterior insular circuits in male mice
Authors: Park Sanggeon , Huh Yeowool , Kim Jeansok J , Cho Jeiwon
Published: August 2024

The brain’s ability to appraise threats and execute appropriate defensive responses is essential for survival in a dynamic environment. Humans studies have implicated the anterior insular cortex (aIC) in subjective fear regulation and its abnormal activity in fear/anxiety disorders. However, the complex aIC connectivity patterns involved in regulating fear remain under investigated. To address this, we recorded single units in the aIC of freely moving male mice that had previously undergone auditory fear conditioning, assessed the effect of optogenetically activating specific aIC output structures in fear, and examined the organization of aIC neurons projecting to the specific structures with retrograde tracing. Single-unit recordings revealed that a balanced number of aIC pyramidal neurons’ activity either positively or negatively correlated with a conditioned tone-induced freezing (fear) response. Optogenetic manipulations of aIC pyramidal neuronal activity during conditioned tone presentation altered the expression of conditioned freezing. Neural tracing showed that non-overlapping populations of aIC neurons project to the amygdala or the medial thalamus, and the pathway bidirectionally modulated conditioned fear. Specifically, optogenetic stimulation of the aIC-amygdala pathway increased conditioned freezing, while optogenetic stimulation of the aIC-medial thalamus pathway decreased it. Our findings suggest that the balance of freezing-excited and freezing-inhibited neuronal activity in the aIC and the distinct efferent circuits interact collectively to modulate fear behavior.
Endopiriform neurons projecting to ventral CA1 are a critical node for recognition memory
Authors: Yamawaki Naoki , Login Hande , Feld-Jakobsen Solbjørg Østergaard , Molnar Bernadett Mercedesz , Kirkegaard Mads Zippor , Moltesen Maria , Okrasa Aleksandra , Radulovic Jelena , Tanimura Asami
Published: August 2024

The claustrum complex is viewed as fundamental for higher-order cognition; however, the circuit organization and function of its neuroanatomical subregions are not well understood. We demonstrated that some of the key roles of the CLA complex can be attributed to the connectivity and function of a small group of neurons in its ventral subregion, the endopiriform (EN). We identified a subpopulation of EN neurons by their projection to the ventral CA1 (ENvCA1-proj. neurons), embedded in recurrent circuits with other EN neurons and the piriform cortex. Although the ENvCA1-proj. neuron activity was biased toward novelty across stimulus categories, their chemogenetic inhibition selectively disrupted the memory-guided but not innate responses of mice to novelty. Based on our functional connectivity analysis, we suggest that ENvCA1-proj. neurons serve as an essential node for recognition memory through recurrent circuits mediating sustained attention to novelty, and through feed-forward inhibition of distal vCA1 neurons shifting memory-guided behavior from familiarity to novelty.
Kunnskapsoppsummering og klassifisering av tiltaket: Dialektisk atferdsterapi for ungdom (DBT-A) (1.utg.)
Authors: Reedtz Charlotte , Wergeland Gro Janne
Published: August 2024

Bakgrunn: Denne artikkelen er en kunnskapsoppsummering og klassifisering av behandlingsprogrammet Dialektisk atferdsterapi for ungdom (DBT-A). DBT-A er et manual- og gruppebasert tiltak på 24 ukentlige sesjoner, rettet mot ungdom i alderen 12-19 år med selvskading og tidligere selvmordsforsøk (også kalt villet egenskade). Målsetningen med DBT-A er reduksjon av denne typen atferd, samt redusert frafall fra terapi. Behandlingen består i å trene opp ferdigheter hos ungdommene i det å regulere følelser og atferd i mellommenneskelige relasjoner, og ferdigheter til å holde ut følelsesmessig smerte. Delmål i tiltaket er reduksjon i bruk av rusmidler, reduksjon av sinne og depresjon, samt generell bedring av daglig fungering.
Metode: Kunnskapsoppsummeringen bygger på et systematisk litteratursøk fra ulike databaser (Embase, Medline og Psykinfo, NORART Cochrane, Cristin, Nora, Scopus og SweMed), samt materiell fra norsk tiltakseier. Søket ble gjennomgått for å identifisere internasjonale kunnskapsoppsummeringer og nordiske effektstudier om tiltaket. Seks artikler, hvorav tre er basert på én norsk effektstudie ble inkludert og evaluert i kunnskapsoppsummeringen.
Resultater: Resultatene viser at DBT-A er et kunnskaps- og evidensbasert tiltak med solid teoretisk forankring. Effektstudien (RCT) der DBT-A er sammenlignet med ordinær behandling tyder på at programmet kan bidra til redusert selvrapportert grad av selvmordstanker og selvskading for ungdom i alderen 12-18 år. Tiltaket har godt beskrevne implementeringsstrategier, noe som sannsynliggjør at tiltaket tilbys slik det er tenkt i tjenestene. De inkluderte studiene er de første effektevalueringene nasjonalt og internasjonalt.
Konklusjon: DBT-A klassifiseres på evidensnivå 4, dvs. som et tiltak med tilfredsstillende dokumentasjon på effekt.
Kunnskapsoppsummering og klassifisering av tiltaket: Kjærlighet og grenser (2. utg.)
Authors: Bjørknes Ragnhild , Koposov Roman
Published: August 2024

Dette er ikke den nyeste artikkelen om dette tiltaket. Oppdatert artikkel: https://doi.org/10.7557/25.7122
 
Bakgrunn: Denne artikkelen er en kunnskapsoppsummering for effektene av Kjærlighet og Grenser i Norden. Artikkelen bygger på en tidligere beskrivelse av det samme tiltaket i Ungsinn (Bjørknes, 2011) men er videreutviklet i henhold til Ungsinn sine nye kriterier og med et oppdatert litteratursøk. Kjærlig-het og Grenser er ment å være et rusforebyggende program rettet mot unge i alderen 10-14 år og deres foreldre. Kompetansesenter rus – region sør (KoRus Sør) har det nasjonale ansvaret for å ut-vikle og gi opplæring i programmet. Programmet er opprinnelig utviklet i USA (Iowa Strengthening Families Program), videreutviklet i Sverige (ParentSteps, Step-by-Step) og implementert i Norge fra 2004.
Metode: Det ble gjort litteratursøk i databasene Embase, Medline og Psykinfo, NORART Cochrane, Cristin, NORA, SCOPUS og SweMed. Søket resulterte i to svenske effektstudier som ble inkludert.
Resultater: Resultatene omfatter en beskrivelse av tiltaket samt en oppsummering av effektstudier, forsknings-metodisk kvalitet og implementeringskvalitet. Kjærlighet og Grenser er godt beskrevet i flere doku-menter blant annet gjennom en detaljert manual. Tiltaket har tilfredstillende systemer for å sikre implementeringskvalitet. Det foreligger to studier fra Sverige som undersøker effekten av tiltaket. Begge studiene benytter randomiserte design med kontrollgrupper, målinger ved oppstart og se-nere oppfølging. Studiene er av god forskningsmetodisk kvalitet. Det er ikke funnet signifikante ef-fekter på relevante utfallsmål, slik som unges rus- eller atferdsproblemer.
Konklusjon: Basert på Ungsinn sine kriterier klassifiseres Kjærlighet og Grenser på evidensnivå 0 – uvirksomt tiltak. Studiene som er gjennomført i Sverige er av god forskningsmetodisk kvalitet og viser at tiltaket ikke har effekt.
Socio Economic Status of the Beneficiaries of Agricultural Technology Management Agency in Central Part of India
Authors: Gupta Rohit Kumar , Saryam Manoher , Dubey Digvijay , Singh Balveer , Verma Ashok Kumar , Verma Har Dayal
Published: August 2024

The Chhatarpur district's Agricultural Technology Management Agency is a society of important players engaged in agricultural operations for the promotion of sustainable agriculture. It is an administrative center for decentralizing the public Agricultural Technology System's daily management and integrating research and extension activities. It is a registered society responsible for technology dissemination at the district level. This study was carried out in Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh state. Ex-post-facto research design was followed in the study. The study found that the majority of the beneficiary respondent in the study area belonged to middle age groups (36 to 50 years) and having education up to middle school and residing in nuclear family system with small size of family (up to 5 members). Majority of the ATMA beneficiaries had medium level of social participation. Majority of the respondents were performing agriculture, however majority of them were also engaged in 2 to 3 occupation to support their livelihood. Further majority of the respondents were having marginal farmers (up to 1 ha.). Majority of the beneficiaries were medium level (Rs.100001 to 200000) annual income earnings.
Phase Field Modeling Applied to Reactive Air Brazing: Investigating Reaction Kinetics with Focus on Oxygen Exchange
Authors: Berger Ralf , Apel Markus , Böttger Bernd
Published: June 2014

The role of oxygen exchange for the microstructure formation and reaction kinetics in reactive air brazing (RAB) using Ag–Cu brazing fillers is investigated by means of phase‐field modeling. In addition to the microstructure evolution, the simulations allow computing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) curves from the overall enthalpy change as a good representation for the reaction kinetics. The reaction kinetics are investigated with a focus on the interplay between the phase formation and oxygen exchange between the brazing filler and the ambient atmosphere. For the oxygen exchange, a simple permeability model is introduced, which is based on the interface mobility of the gas‐melt phase boundary and which describes the oxygen flux j proportional to the equilibrium partial pressure difference Δp. It is observed that the L1 liquid phase can serve as a “buffer,” providing or absorbing oxygen for phase transformation reactions. This “buffering” changes the oxygen activity, which in turn affects reaction temperatures and thus allows controlling reaction temperatures by adjusting the oxygen partial pressure in the ambient atmosphere: Higher oxygen levels increase the temperature of CuO formation, which requires oxygen, and lower the transformation temperatures for fcc‐Ag solidification, which itself releases oxygen possibly leading to gas pore formation.
Measuring and simulating morphology gradients in injection‐molded talc‐reinforced isotactic polypropylene
Authors: Granlund Håvard , Andreassen Erik , Skjønsfjell Eirik Torbjørn Bakken , Høydalsvik Kristin , Diaz Ana , Breiby Dag Werner
Published: June 2014

Injection molded polymer parts are known to exhibit structural gradients of crystallinity, crystallite phases and crystallite orientations. The structural variations depend on the geometry, the material properties, and the processing conditions, and affect the mechanical properties of the molded part. We explore the use of raster‐scanning small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS, WAXS) for mapping the microstructure in dogbone specimens of an isotactic polypropylene (PP) homopolymer and a talc‐reinforced isotactic PP compound. The specimens were injection molded with different mold temperatures and injection speeds, and the mapping approach revealed systematic structural heterogeneities and asymmetries. Accompanying numerical simulations of the injection molding process yielded predictions of the flow pattern, including the shear rate distribution and the resulting orientation of the flake‐shaped talc particles. We found a clear correspondence between the experimentally observed data and the simulations, in particular regarding the asymmetry of the orientation distributions relative to the center of the dogbone cross section, caused by asymmetric flow through the entrance of the mold. Furthermore, the shear rate distribution correlated with the occurrence of α‐ and β‐phases. Subtle differences in the crystallized structures along the long axis of the dogbones suggest an explanation to the observation that the specimens studied always tended to break at the same position in tensile tests. The results clearly demonstrate the potential of mapping experiments which combine lateral resolution on macroscopic length scales with the molecular‐scale resolution from scattering. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys.2014,52, 1157–1167
Promise and Challenges: Interventions for the Prevention of Unintentional Injuries Among Young Children
Authors: Damashek Amy , Kuhn Jennifer
Published: June 2014

Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Children under the age of 5 are at particularly high risk for death from injury. The evidence base for prevention programs in the area of unintentional injury is limited by a lack of rigorous research, inclusion of low-risk participants, and interventions that do not include behavioral skills training. The article presented here will discuss promising injury prevention programs for children below age 5 and will highlight program strengths and weaknesses. Interventions that prevent the leading causes of death among young children will be discussed, including car seat use, safe infant sleep, home hazard reduction, and caregiver supervision.
Molecular basis for bacterial peptidoglycan recognition by LysM domains
Authors: Mesnage Stéphane , Dellarole Mariano , Baxter Nicola J. , Rouget Jean-Baptiste , Dimitrov Jordan D. , Wang Ning , Fujimoto Yukari , Hounslow Andrea M. , Lacroix-Desmazes Sébastien , Fukase Koichi , Foster Simon J. , Williamson Michael P.
Published: June 2014

Carbohydrate recognition is essential for growth, cell adhesion and signalling in all living organisms. A highly conserved carbohydrate binding module, LysM, is found in proteins from viruses, bacteria, fungi, plants and mammals. LysM modules recognize polysaccharides containing N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues including peptidoglycan, an essential component of the bacterial cell wall. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning LysM–peptidoglycan interactions remains unclear. Here we describe the molecular basis for peptidoglycan recognition by a multimodular LysM domain from AtlA, an autolysin involved in cell division in the opportunistic bacterial pathogen Enterococcus faecalis. We explore the contribution of individual modules to the binding, identify the peptidoglycan motif recognized, determine the structures of free and bound modules and reveal the residues involved in binding. Our results suggest that peptide stems modulate LysM binding to peptidoglycan. Using these results, we reveal how the LysM module recognizes the GlcNAc-X-GlcNAc motif present in polysaccharides across kingdoms.
SSNN, a method for neural network protein secondary structure fitting using circular dichroism data
Authors: Hall Vincent , Nash Anthony , Rodger Alison
Published: June 2014

SSNN is a self-organising map neural network approach for estimating protein structure from circular dichroism (CD) spectra. The method for using SSNN is described here, and SSNN is compared with CDSSTR, a well-known methodology for finding secondary structures from CD. SSNN compares well with similar methodologies.
Pan‐sharpening based on weighted red black wavelets
Authors: Liu Qingjie , Wang Yunhong , Zhang Zhaoxiang , Liu Lining
Published: June 2014

Pan‐sharpening is a technique which provides an efficient and economical solution to generate multi‐spectral (MS) images with high‐spatial resolution by fusing spectral information in MS images and spatial information in panchromatic (PAN) image. In this study, the authors propose a new pan‐sharpening method based on weighted red‐black (WRB) wavelets and adaptive principal component analysis (PCA), where the usage of WRB wavelet decomposition is to extract the spatial details in PAN image and the adaptive PCA is used to select the adequate principal component for injecting spatial details. WRB wavelets are data‐dependent second generation wavelets. Multi‐resolution analysis (MRA) based on WRB wavelet transform shows a better de‐correlation of the data compared with common linear translation‐invariant MRA, which makes it suitable for applications requiring manipulating image details. A local processing strategy is introduced to reduce the artefact effects and spectral distortions in the pan‐sharpened images. The proposed method is evaluated on the datasets acquired by QuickBird, IKONOS and Landsat‐7 ETM + satellites and compared with existing methods. Experimental results demonstrate that the authors method can provide promising fused MS images with high‐spatial resolution.
Modelling and controller design of quasi‐Z‐source cascaded multilevel inverter‐based three‐phase grid‐tie photovoltaic power system
Authors: Liu Yushan , Ge Baoming , Abu‐Rub Haitham
Published: June 2014

Quasi‐Z source cascaded multilevel inverter (qZS‐CMI) is an emerging topology applied to photovoltaic (PV) power system. It can overcome disadvantages of conventional CMI‐based PV power system, because of achieving the balanced dc‐link voltage through using its boost ability, and saving one‐third modules. At present, there was not literature to disclose the modelling and controller design for qZS‐CMI‐based three‐phase grid‐tie PV power system. In this study, a control scheme for three‐phase qZS‐CMI‐based grid‐tie PV power system is proposed, where distributed maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and constant dc‐link peak voltage are achieved for all qZS H‐bridge inverter (qZS‐HBI)‐based PV modules, with grid‐injected power in unity power factor. The detailed controller parameter design is demonstrated by using Bode plots and the built models of qZS‐HBI‐based PV module and whole system. A test bench of 7‐level three‐phase qZS‐CMI‐based PV power system is built. Simulation and experimental results validate the proposed control scheme and design method.
Detection of rotor electrical asymmetry in wind turbine doubly‐fed induction generators
Authors: Zaggout Mahmoud , Tavner Peter , Crabtree Christopher , Ran Li
Published: June 2014

This study presents a new technique for detecting rotor electrical faults in wind turbine doubly‐fed induction generators (DFIGs), controlled by a stator field‐oriented vector control scheme. This is a novel method aimed at detecting and identifying rotor electrical asymmetry faults from within the rotor‐side inverter control loop, using the error signal, to provide a future method of generator condition monitoring with enhanced detection sensitivity. Simulation and experimental measurements of the proposed signals were carried out under steady‐state operation for both healthy and faulty generator conditions. Stator current and power were also investigated for rotor electrical asymmetry detection and comparison made with rotor‐side inverter control signals. An investigation was then performed to define the sensitivity of the proposed monitoring signals to fault severity changes and a comparison made with previous current, power and vibration signal methods. The results confirm that a simple spectrum analysis of the proposed control loop signals gives effective and sensitive DFIG rotor electrical asymmetry detection.
‘Fullye Bente to Fighte Oute the Matter’: Reconsidering Cornwall’s Role in the Western Rebellion of 1549
Authors: Stoyle Mark
Published: June 2014

This article brings new evidence to bear on the Western Rebellion—the popular insurrection which convulsed Devon, Cornwall and areas of West Somerset during the summer of 1549 and which is today more commonly known as the ‘Prayer Book Rebellion’. The article argues that, while the rising is one of the most famous mass protests to have occurred during the Tudor period and has been very widely written about and discussed, the standard narrative of events—which was first laid down by Frances Rose-Troup a century ago—is in need of fundamental revision, particularly in so far as it pertains to Cornwall. More specifically, it argues that the orthodox view which holds that the insurrection began in Cornwall on 6 June, that the Cornish rebel forces quickly suppressed all resistance in their own county, and that they then marched into Devon just a few days later, is almost certainly wrong. Instead, it is suggested here that rebellion did not break out in Cornwall until some time subsequent to 26 June; that at least one loyalist garrison in the county remained stubbornly defiant thereafter; and that the Cornish rebel host did not advance across the Tamar until early to mid-July—a full month later than the standard interpretation suggests. The article concludes by casting fresh light on the government’s defeat of the insurrectionists in August, and by considering some of the wider implications of the revised chronology of events which has been put forward here.
Testing Asset Dynamics for Poverty Traps in Rural China
Authors: Zhou Li , Turvey Calum G.
Published: June 2014

This paper quantifies the link between agricultural income, caloric intake, and asset‐based poverty in rural China. The analysis employs data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey including 1,279 households in eight survey years. The balanced data models are then estimated to reveal the role that various shocks (e.g., prices and climate/weather) play in determining the asset dynamics between different income groups using four different asset indexes which cover comprehensive, fixed, productive, and consumable assets. To capture absolute asset dynamics, a fourth‐degree polynomial function was used in a three‐stage least squares system made up of an asset index, caloric intake, and farm income. The empirical results do not show evidence of a poverty trap based on multiple equilibriums.
Determining predator identity from attack marks left in model caterpillars: guidelines for best practice
Authors: Low Petah A. , Sam Katerina , McArthur Clare , Posa Mary Rose C. , Hochuli Dieter F.
Published: June 2014

The use of model caterpillars to assess relative rates of predation has risen in popularity in recent years. Among the various benefits of the technique is its capacity to provide information on the identity of attackers through the impressions left in the modelling clay from which the model prey is constructed. However, there currently exists no detailed information on how to assign attack marks to particular predators. We aimed to address this gap by collating a comprehensive reference collection of the types of marks made by different predators to serve as a guide for researchers wanting to identify the predators responsible for attacks. To determine what level of resolution in identification may be considered reliable, we also tested the consistency of predator assignments made by different individuals. We found that predator identification at a coarse taxonomic level (i.e., bird, mammal, arthropod) was reasonably consistent. In contrast, when more fine‐scale identification was attempted, the level of consistency and therefore also confidence in the accuracy of an identification was dramatically reduced, reflecting the difficulty of distinguishing between attacks made not only by different arthropod groups but also by differently sized birds and mammals. We recommend that identifications be made at a coarse taxonomic level and, where possible, by multiple individuals. We also suggest that our collection of images of representative attack marks from each of the coarse predator categories, and descriptions of their defining characteristics, can serve as a guide to assist with identifications and this will be complemented by a good knowledge of the locally occurring and abundant predators.
NMR evidence for oligosaccharide release from the dendritic‐cell specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3‐grabbing non‐integrin‐related (CLEC4M) carbohydrate recognition domain at low pH
Authors: Probert Fay , Mitchell Daniel A. , Dixon Ann M.
Published: June 2014

Dendritic cell‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3‐grabbing non‐integrin‐related (DC‐SIGNR), also known as liver/lymph node‐specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3‐grabbing non‐integrin, CLEC4M, CD209L, and CD299, is a Ca2+‐dependent lectin that has been implicated in increasing the infection rates of several viruses, including HIV, but the physiological role of DC‐SIGNR in healthy cells is currently not known with certainty. A close homologue of DC‐SIGNR, dendritic‐cell specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3‐grabbing non‐integrin, has been shown to act as a recycling endocytic receptor, which binds pathogens at the cell's surface and then releases them in the low pH environment of endosomal compartments. However, it is currently under debate in the literature as to whether DC‐SIGNR plays a similar role. In this work, we used NMR to explore whether the DC‐SIGNR carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) shows any pH dependence in its ability to bind carbohydrates and Ca2+. We found clear evidence of reduced or abolished CRD‐binding affinities for three different glycans at low pH (4.2) as compared to neutral pH (6.8). We also report the assignment of the DC‐SIGNR CRD in the apo form, and use these new results to characterize the degree of structural rearrangement upon binding (or release) of Ca2+. Finally, we report a differential effect of pH on the affinities of glycans containing mannose exclusively versus glycans containing GlcNAc moieties. Our results lead us to propose that the DC‐SIGNR CRD rapidly and reversibly releases glycan ligands and Ca2+ at reduced pH (behaviour that would be expected for an endocytic receptor), and that the binding of mannose‐containing oligosaccharides is more strongly affected by pH than the binding of GlcNAc‐containing oligosaccharides.
Investigation on Material's Fatigue Property Variation Among Different Regions of Directional Solidification Turbine Blades—Part II: Fatigue Tests on Bladelike Specimens
Authors: Yan Xiaojun , Qi Mingjing , Deng Ying , Chen Xia , Sun Ruijie , Lin Lianshan , Nie Jingxu
Published: June 2014

Part I of this investigation is mainly focused on fatigue tests of full scale turbine blades, based on the observation of the phenomena that some directional solidification (DS) blades do not fracture at their maximum stress region, and it has been revealed that there exists material's fatigue property variation among different regions of DS blades. For more in-depth and quantitative study on the fatigue property variation, Part II of this investigation designs and fabricates four types of DS bladelike specimens (including platform-, shroud-, body-, and rootlike specimens), which imitate the geometry, microstructure, and stress features of a full scale turbine blade on its four typical regions, to conduct the low cycle fatigue (LCF) tests. Test results show that the bodylike specimen has the best fatigue performance, and under the same stress state, the fatigue life of root-, shroud-, and platformlike specimens are 29.1%, 28.5%, and 13.7% of the bodylike specimen, respectively. The large material's fatigue property variation among different regions of DS blades should be considered in future blade life design.
Escherichia coli ST131, an Intriguing Clonal Group
Authors: Nicolas-Chanoine Marie-Hélène , Bertrand Xavier , Madec Jean-Yves
Published: June 2014

In 2008, a previously unknown
Escherichia coli
clonal group, sequence type 131 (ST131), was identified on three continents. Today, ST131 is the predominant
E. coli
lineage among extraintestinal pathogenic
E. coli
(ExPEC) isolates worldwide. Retrospective studies have suggested that it may originally have risen to prominence as early as 2003. Unlike other classical group B2 ExPEC isolates, ST131 isolates are commonly reported to produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases, such as CTX-M-15, and almost all are resistant to fluoroquinolones. Moreover, ST131
E. coli
isolates are considered to be truly pathogenic, due to the spectrum of infections they cause in both community and hospital settings and the large number of virulence-associated genes they contain. ST131 isolates therefore seem to contradict the widely held view that high levels of antimicrobial resistance are necessarily associated with a fitness cost leading to a decrease in pathogenesis. Six years after the first description of
E. coli
ST131, this review outlines the principal traits of ST131 clonal group isolates, based on the growing body of published data, and highlights what is currently known and what we need to find out to provide public health authorities with better information to help combat ST131.
A qualitative study of informal caregivers’ perspectives on the effects of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Belkin Amanda , Albright Karen , Swigris Jeffrey J
Published: June 2014

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a life-shortening lung disease that leads to significant morbidity in patients. The devastation IPF imposes extends beyond patients: it affects their spouses, loved ones and any other person who might take on the role of informal caregiver (IC) to the patient.

Objective

The aim of this study was to capture ICs’ perspectives on how they are affected by having a loved one with IPF. Given ICs’ vantage, data were also collected on their perceptions of how IPF impacted their patient-loved ones over the course of the disease.

Methods

Reflexive team analysis was used to analyse the transcripts from semistructured focus groups conducted with ICs of patients with IPF. Based on the analyses, a conceptual framework of the IC's journey with a patient with IPF was developed and includes suggestions for interventions that might ease the burdens ICs endure while caring for their patient-loved ones.

Results

14 ICs included in this study experienced several hardships throughout the course of their loved ones’ illness, from emotional devastation at the time of diagnosis to living with an ‘impatient,’ ‘cranky’ loved one and being forced to exist in a ‘smaller world’ because of the physical limitations IPF imposed on their partners. The threat of patients needing supplemental oxygen was central to creating angst among patients and ICs, and supplemental oxygen use by patients prohibited them and their ICs from living the ‘normal’, carefree lives they desired.

Conclusions

Being an IC to a patient with IPF is extremely challenging (as 1 IC put it: “…harder on the spouse than the patient in some ways”). As patients attempt to adapt to the ‘sick person’ role, ICs face a struggle between performing their duties as caregiver and maintaining their own identities and independence.
Childhood adversity and asthma prevalence: evidence from 10 US states (2009–2011)
Authors: Bhan Nandita , Glymour M Maria , Kawachi Ichiro , Subramanian S V
Published: June 2014

Background

Existing evidence on stress and asthma prevalence has disproportionately focused on pregnancy and postpregnancy early life stressors, largely ignoring the role of childhood adversity as a risk factor. Childhood adversity (neglect, stressful living conditions and maltreatment) may influence asthma prevalence through mechanisms on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

Methods

Data from the Center for Disease Control's (CDC's) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys were used to examine cross-sectional associations of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) with lifetime and current asthma prevalence. Information on childhood adversity was available from 84 786 adult respondents in 10 US states. Poisson regression models (with robust SE) were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PRs) relating overall ACE score and dimensions of exposure ACE to asthma prevalence, adjusting for socioeconomic status.

Results

Greater ACE was associated with a higher prevalence of asthma (adjusted PRcat 4=1.78 (95% CI 1.69 to 1.87), adjusted PRcat 1=1.21 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.27)). Reported experiences of sexual abuse (adjusted PR=1.48* (1.42 to 1.55)) and physical abuse (adjusted PR=1.38* (1.33 to 1.43)) were associated with a higher asthma prevalence. No clear socioeconomic gradient was noted, but those reporting lowest education and income levels reported high rates of asthma and adversity. Sensitivity analyses indicated that ACE exposures were interrelated.

Conclusions

Report of childhood adversity predicts asthma prevalence among US adults. Frameworks for asthma prevention need to recognise and integrate aspects related to childhood adversity. Further investigation into specific time periods of exposure would provide meaningful inferences for interventions.
19世纪上半叶马六甲青云亭亭主领导权的式微与再造尝试
Authors: 宋燕鹏
Published: June 2014

19世纪上半叶，马六甲华人社会权威经历了从华人甲必丹到青云亭亭主的变化。由于亭主为华社自发推举，在失去了殖民统治者的授权之后，如何重建其在华社中的权威就成为亭主的首要任务。在亭主变迁的背后，体现的是福建人内部不同地域族群之间的竞争，代表了19世纪马来西亚华社发展的历史动向。
Underexpression of miR-126 and miR-20b in Hereditary and Nonhereditary Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Yamaguchi Tatsuro , Iijima Takeru , Wakaume Rika , Takahashi Keiichi , Matsumoto Hiroshi , Nakano Daisuke , Nakayama Yujiro , Mori Takeo , Horiguchi Shinichiro , Miyaki Michiko
Published: June 2014

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the significance of miR-126 and miR-20b in colorectal carcinogenesis. Methods: We analyzed the expressions of miR-126 and miR-20b in 136 colorectal tumors from 39 microsatellite stable (MSS) tumors, 23 high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) tumors, 16 Lynch syndrome, and 58 familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) tumors including adenoma, intramucosal carcinoma, and invasive carcinoma. Results: All four kinds of tumors showed underexpression of both miR-126 and miR-20b. The frequency of miR-126 downregulation was 100.0% in FAP adenomas, 85.7% in FAP intramucosal carcinomas, 78.9% in invasive carcinomas, 81.3% in Lynch syndrome tumors, 68.4% in MSS tumors, and 65.4% in MSI-H tumors. The frequency of miR-20b downregulation was 64.0% in FAP adenomas, 50.0% in FAP intramucosal carcinomas, 73.3% in invasive carcinomas, 62.5% in Lynch syndrome tumors, 79.5% in MSS tumors, and 91.3% in MSI-H tumors. The current study demonstrated underexpression of miR-126 and miR-20b in various types of colorectal cancer. These findings support the hypothesis that angiogenesis results from underexpressions of miR-126 and miR-20b and occurs as an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis. Conclusions: Underexpression of miR-126 and miR-20b was observed in various types of colorectal cancer, and occurs as an early event of colorectal carcinogenesis in FAP tumors.
A general railway data model for simulations and simulators
Authors: Öztürk Veysi , Rende Ferhat Şükrü , İnce Onur , Soyer Burak Selçuk
Published: June 2014

According to new regulations, railway employees require computer-based training before they get a driver license. Training with simulators is now a must to increase the safety and efficiency of railway transportation. In this study, a train driving simulator with full cab and motion platform, called TRENSIM, was developed for Turkish State Railways. It was realized that constructing a data model of the railway was one of the most important aspects of the project. Many modules of TRENSIM make use of this data model in real time. We developed a general railway data model, called OpenRailway, expressed in Extensible Markup Language for logical description of railway networks. OpenRailway includes a railway model, which consists of signals, railway elements (catenaries, switches, etc.), road properties, surroundings near the railway road and their parameters. OpenRailway can also be modified to be used in the development of other vehicle training simulators.

Data from real trains was collected in 4 ms periods for the validation of the dynamic and visualization models (about 200 GB). It was seen that data generated by models are appropriate to the collected real data.
Social justice in India
Authors: Richardson Jayson W , Sauers Nicholas J
Published: June 2014

This study focuses on social justice from the perspective of five school leaders in Delhi, India. Four of the schools in the study are affluent. One school serves primarily students who live in extreme poverty. Through interviewing these leaders, two major themes were identified. First, these leaders tended to view human rights as a driver of a social justice paradigm. The environment where they lived and worked, however, greatly impacted their views of social justice. Second, we found that these leaders enacted social justice differently based on the context and the students whom they served. School leaders at the more affluent schools tended to focus on teaching about social justice and serving others. The leader of the less affluent school focused more on providing opportunities for students that would allow them to move out of poverty in hopes of changing their status in society. Both themes highlight the importance of context.
From recipient to contributor
Authors: Szeto Elson
Published: June 2014

This article presents a principal’s story of social justice practice in a Hong Kong primary school. The narration accounts for the notion of social justice through his practice in various ways. Studying in a ‘rooftop’ primary school located in a public housing area in Hong Kong was the principal’s salient memory of his first year of schooling in times of limited resources. Perhaps because of a change in education policy, he was subsequently transferred to a better school sponsored by a charitable organization under the subsidy scheme of the then colonial government. As a recipient, he found a great contrast between the two schools in terms of teaching and learning resources and school environments. The principal’s personal educational experiences and teachers’ educational ideology sowed the seeds of social justice in his mind. Thirty-six years later, he returned to serve his old primary school as a contributor to social justice for the students and the community in which the school is located. The story suggests how the principal made sense of social justice through his practice. It reflects the values of social justice which benefit not only students and teachers but also the community with equity and equality in education.
A bold approach to developing leaders for low-performing schools
Authors: Duke Daniel L
Published: June 2014

Prompted by the need for leaders able to turn around chronically low-performing schools, states, universities, education groups, and school districts in the US have initiated a variety of principal development programs. Some programs focus on enhancing the skills of experienced administrators, while others target talented teachers and even individuals with no prior school experience. Nowhere has the quest for turnaround specialists been undertaken with a greater investment of resources or on a larger scale than in Florida, where the state Department of Education in concert with the Southern Regional Education Board has used generous funding from the federal Race to the Top initiative to launch the Florida Turnaround Leaders Program. This article presents an overview of the Florida Turnaround Leaders Program, including its Theory of Action and the Design Principles for Leader Development upon which it is based. Some background information is offered on the circumstances that have led to new approaches to principal preparation, such as the Florida Turnaround Leaders Program. Details are provided concerning the skill sets encompassed by the training and the key assignments required of all participants. Finally, issues and obstacles encountered in the process of designing and implementing the Florida Turnaround Leaders Program are also addressed.
The burden of leadership: Exploring the principal’s role in teacher collaboration
Authors: Szczesiul Stacy , Huizenga Jessica
Published: June 2014

Based on qualitative data collected over a 6-month period, this article examines how teachers’ experiences of principal leadership practice influence their capacity to engage in meaningful collegial interactions during structured collaboration. Similar to previous studies, our findings confirm the limitations of leadership that relies primarily on structural changes to foster collaboration. Our findings contribute further to leadership research by presenting teachers’ perspectives on why particular principal leadership practices matter to teacher collaboration and by illustrating how the principal’s enactment of leadership practices influences teachers’ sense of efficacy and motivation, both of which are critical to professional learning during collaboration.
A school tries to change: How leaders and teachers understand changes to space and practices in a UK secondary school
Authors: Woolner Pamela , Clark Jill , Laing Karen , Thomas Ulrike , Tiplady Lucy
Published: June 2014

This article considers a school community initiating change in pedagogical practices to complement new-build premises in the context of demands for school improvement, but constraints on autonomy. We investigate how school leaders planned the change towards enquiry-based learning in flexible spaces, and how teaching staff prepared for the coming change. We worked with teachers to explore current experiences of teaching and learning in self-contained classrooms where teachers mainly teach alone, and anticipations for the new building, where there will be large, shared spaces, facilitating movement and different groupings of students, encouraging student autonomy and teacher teamwork. Preparation for change was centred on an ‘experimental week’ of enquiry learning that took place in an existing large space (a school hall). Here we explore the experiences of the teachers involved, particularly their ideas about the potential for changing practices, considering these in light of the plans of the school leaders and of wider understandings of school change. We met the teachers before and after the experimental week, observed the week and conducted interviews mediated by photographs of the week. The tensions and stresses of attempting to make extensive changes to teaching practices were evident, together with suggestions that the school leaders were failing to appreciate the complexity of the change they were planning or to communicate the ideas about it that they had developed. The probable consequences for the school, given the uneven distribution of autonomy in UK schools, are briefly considered.
Three-dimensional analysis of creep voids in copper by serial sectioning combined with large field EBSD
Authors: Abbasi R. , Dzieciol K. , Borbély A.
Published: June 2014

The three-dimensional granular and damage structure of two creep deformed copper specimens has been reconstructed using an improved serial sectioning method combining optical profilometry, scanning electron imaging and backscatter electron diffraction. The reconstructions permitted associating creep voids to grain boundaries and evaluating the damage probability of each grain boundary type. The results indicate that creep damage of oxygen free high conductivity copper is governed by topological factors. Quadruple/grain boundaries have the highest probability of damage followed by two- and three-grain boundaries with decreasing percentages. The damage probability of quadruple and three-grain boundaries increases with decreasing stress due to a larger contribution of grain boundary sliding to void nucleation. The relative frequency of damaged two-grain boundaries increases with stress, suggesting a significant role of creep plasticity and the associated grain boundary ledges. No correlation between void location and the crystallographic orientation of neighbour grains was found.
Long-acting bronchodilators in COPD: where are we now and where are we going?
Authors: Cazzola Mario , Page Clive
Published: June 2014

Educational aims

To discuss fundamental questions relating to the use of bronchodilators that can lead to an optimisation of their utilisation.

To describe new bronchodilators that have recently been approved in some countries or are currently undergoing clinical development

Bronchodilators are central to the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) because they alleviate bronchial obstruction and airflow limitation, reduce hyperinflation, and improve emptying of the lung and exercise performance. For this reason, all guidelines highlight that inhaled bronchodilators are the mainstay of the current management of all stages of COPD.

However, there are still fundamental questions regarding their use that require clarification to optimise utilisation of these drugs. It is crucial to address the following questions. Is it appropriate to treat all COPD patients with long-acting bronchodilators? Is it better to start treatment with a β2-agonist or with an anti-muscarinic agent in patients with stable mild/moderate COPD? Is it useful to use a bronchodilator with rapid onset of action? Is it preferable to administer a bronchodilator on a once- or twice-daily basis? Can a second bronchodilator can be introduced for patients with stable COPD (“dual” bronchodilator therapy), and if so when? Are inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) really useful in COPD patients without chronic bronchitis, since long-lasting bronchodilators may prevent exacerbations even in the absence of an ICS in frequent exacerbators? Finally, is combined therapy really useful in non-frequent exacerbators?

Due to the the central role of bronchodilators in the treatment of COPD, there is still considerable interest in finding novel classes of bronchodilator drugs. However, new classes of bronchodilators have proved difficult to develop because either new emerging targets are not really important and/or it is difficult to find substances capable of interacting with them. As a consequence, many research groups have sought to improve the existing classes of bronchodilators.