bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent trends in the climate of Namaqualand, a megadiverse arid region of South Africa
Authors: Davis Claire L. , Hoffman M. Timm , Roberts Wesley
Published: March 2016

Namaqualand is especially vulnerable to future climate change impacts. Using a high-resolution (0.5°x0.5°) gridded data set (CRU TS 3.1) and individual weather station data, we demonstrated that temperatures as well as frequency of hot extremes have increased across this region. Specifically, minimum temperatures have increased by 1.4 °C and maximum temperatures by 1.1 °C over the last century. Of the five weather stations analysed, two showed evidence of a significant increase in the duration of warm spells of up to 5 days per decade and a reduction in the number of cool days (TX10P) by up to 3 days per decade. In terms of rainfall, we found no clear evidence for a significant change in annual totals or the frequency or intensity of rainfall events. Seasonal trends in rainfall did, however, demonstrate some spatial variability across the region. Spatial trends in evapotranspiration obtained from the 8-day MOD16 ET product were characterised by a steepening inland-coastal gradient where areas along the coastline showed a significant increase in evapotranspiration of up to 30 mm per decade, most notably in spring and summer. The increase in temperature linked with the increases in evapotranspiration pose significant challenges for water availability in the region, but further research into changes in coastal fog is required in order for a more reliable assessment to be made. Overall, the results presented in this study provide evidence-based information for the management of climate change impacts as well as the development of appropriate adaptation responses at a local scale.
bibliometric analysis of research on Ebola in Science Citation Index Expanded
Authors: Pouris Anastassios , Ho Yuh-Shan
Published: March 2016

An unprecedented outbreak of the Ebola virus in 2014 claimed more than 1000 lives in West Africa and the World Health Organization declared a global public health emergency. This outbreak will undoubtedly promote additional research related to the Ebola virus and will create debate related to experimental drugs. This article identified the quantum of research in the field since 1991; the scientific disciplines that contributed to the field; the countries, organisations and authors that supported such research and the most cited articles. An increasing trend in annual production during 1991–2013 was observed. Journal of Virology, Journal of Infectious Diseases, and Virology were the three most productive journals in the field. Similarly, the field of virology dominated the 73 categories in which the Ebola research was classified. A total of 63 countries contributed to Ebola-related research, led by the USA. The most productive institutions were the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. African countries were more likely to be involved in international collaboration than independent research. The most influential article exhibited a notable citation pattern and presented global trends in emerging infectious diseases.
Leseopplæring i norskfagets begynneropplæring med fokus på fagspesifikk lesekompetanse
Authors: Håland Anne , Hoel Trude
Published: March 2016

Distinksjonen knyttet til generell og fagspesifikk lese- og skriveopplæring i fagene har fått fornyet interesse både i norsk og internasjonal sammenheng. Denne artikkelen diskuterer hva dette betyr i norskfagets begynneropplæring, og søker med dette å supplere litteraturen som finnes om lesing av skjønnlitteratur. Vi stiller spørsmålet: Hvordan posisjonerer elever på 1. trinn seg som litterære lesere? Spørsmålet utforskes gjennom klassesamtaler rundt to utvalgte bildebøker med innlagte lesestopp basert på teorier om hva det vil si å lese skjønnlitteratur, og særlig Judith Langers teorier (2005) om forestillingsverdener. Utdragene fra klassesamtalene viser at elevene er i stand til å posisjonere seg som litterære lesere og utforske tekster på en fagspesifikk måte. English abstract Reading Instruction in Beginner-Level Norwegian with a Focus on Subject-Specific Reading Competence There has been a renewed interest in the distinction between content area literacy and disciplinary literacy concerning reading and writing instruction within school subjects, both in Norway and internationally. This article discusses the implications for early instruction in the Norwegian language learning and seeks to supplement the current literature concerning fiction reading. We ask the question: How do first grade students position themselves as readers of literature? This question is explored through classroom discussions regarding two selected picture books, with planned reading stops, based on theories on what literature reading involves, in particular Judith Langer’s (2005) theories on envisionments. Our excerpts from classroom discussions display that the students are able to position themselves as literary readers and explore the texts in a discipline specific manner.
Nota sobre uso das velocidades de enunciação na descrição de fenômenos fonológicos
Authors: Perini Mário Alberto
Published: March 2016

Resumo: A distinção usual dos estilos de pronúncia (Largo, Andante etc.) e recursos semelhantes não é suficiente para exprimir adequadamente o condicionamento das regras fonológicas. É necessário estipular condições locais, válidas para pequenas sequências fônicas, e que se vinculam à carga informacional de cada constituinte.Abstract: The usual distinction between enunciation styles (Largo, Andante etc.), and other similar devices, is insufficient to adequately express the way phonological rules are conditioned. It is necessary to state local conditions, which are valid for short phonic chains, and which are bound to the informational load of each constituent.
Analise funcional da elipse de preposições em português
Authors: Saraiva Maria Elizabeth Fonseca
Published: March 2016

Resumo: Neste texto, pretendo, em primeiro lugar, descrever e analisar os contextos em que ocorre elipse de preposição no português coloquial.  A seguir, com base nos estudos realizados por Pontes (1981) e Haiman (1983), apresento uma tentativa de explicação para os fatos analisados, que leva em conta a função das preposições no discurso. Abstract: What I intend to do in this paper is, first, to describe and analyse the contexts in which there is ellipsis of prepositions in colloquial portuguese.Next, on the basic of Ponte's (1981) and Haiman's (1983) studies, an attempt is formulated in order to explain the facts already analysed. The explanation presented is based on the function of prepositions in discourse.
Que te quero
Authors: Senra Angela Maria De Freitas
Published: March 2016

Que te quero por Angela Senra
De quadrinhos e quadrados
Authors: Walty Ivete Lara Camargos , Campos Maria Helena Rabelo
Published: March 2016

Resumo: Análise de histórias em quadrinho enquanto texto que se estrutura a partir dos elementos tradicionalmente apontados como próprios à ficção narrativa. Nesta perspectiva, busca-se uma leitura das relações entre criança e adulto, criação e autor, linguagem e poder.Résumé: Analyse de bandes dessinées en tant que texte structuré à partir d'éléments traditionnellement considérés comme appartenant à la fiction narrative. De ce point de vue, nous faissons une lecture des rapports entre l'enfant et l'adulte, la création et l'auteur, le langage et le pouvoir.
Islamic Education and Multiculturalism: Engaging with the Canadian Experience
Authors: Ali Faisal , Bagley Carl
Published: March 2016

Canada has a long history of immigration by diverse ethnic minority groups arriving in the hope of establishing economically successful – yet socially and culturally distinct – communities based on particular values and beliefs not necessarily shared by the ethnic majority. In recent years however the arrival of new immigrants whose values differ from the mainstream has intensified the multicultural debate, as the aspirations and needs of ideologically-motivated minorities feel current policies and institutions marginalize their values and beliefs (not dissimilar to that historically encountered by Canada‘s indigenous people). As a result of these social divergences, the secular state and orthodox religious groups often compete for the hearts and minds of children. Consequently as Muslim communities in Canada seek to protect their children and youth from perceived negative outside influences so Islamic schools have been established. Such schools face particular challenges in negotiating the tensions between their aspiration to preserve Islamic values and wider socio-political pressures to integrate into Canada‘s multicultural society as a whole. This article engages with this tension to uncover and explore the nature of Islamic education and its potentially contested relationship with Canada‘s multicultural ideals. In concluding it reflects on possible ways in which multicultural-Islamic education tensions might be ameliorated.
Global Education from an ‘Indigenist’ Anti-colonial Perspective
Authors: Dei George
Published: March 2016

This paper troubles the dominant ways of pursuing of “global education” pointing to the possibilities of such education through an Indigenist anti-colonial lens. The intellectual objective is to ensure that global education helps destabilize existing power relations, colonial hierarchies, and re-centers key questions of equity, power and social justice in education. An important question is: How do we frame an inclusive anti-racist future and what is the nature of the work required to collectively arrive at that future? It is argued that one of the many hallmarks of the contemporary neo-liberal corporate agenda in education is the intensification of private and corporate commercial interests in schooling and education. Education is being tailored to suit the needs of the current labour market with funding being preferentially diverted to economically viable disciplines, the streaming of students to ensure a blue-collar workforce and with complete disavowal of education as a social and public good. The paper introduces an ‘Indigenist anti-colonial’ lens highlighting Indigenous democratic principles for effective educational delivery. Indigenous communities see education both as a process and as something that happens at a place or site where learners openly utilize the body, mind and spirit/soul interface in critical dialogues about themselves and their communities. There is a shared understanding in these communities that people come to know through the simultaneous, dialogical and trialectic engagement of body, mind and spirit/soul, reinforcing the power of Land and Earth teachings; a need to understand the learner and the learning space; the nexus of society, nature, and culture; bringing an embodied connection to education; the importance of ethics, consciousness and responsibility; and engaging the coloniality of power. It is concluded that for the Global South, a rethinking of schooling and education has to take us back to our roots to examine our histories and cultural traditions of knowledge production, dissemination and use. We need to look at education from this source in terms of its connections with family life, community and social relevance. This means drawing from the lessons of how knowledge is impacted through early socialization practices, child-rearing practices, teaching and learning responsibilities of community membership, and the application of knowledge to solve everyday practical problems within one’s backyard and beyond.
Editorial Introduction
Authors: Abdi Ali A.
Published: March 2016

N/A
Back to the Cave: Cold, Hungry and Cruel? An epithet for the World Bank’s neoliberal economy project
Authors: Caparas Maria Veronica G.
Published: March 2016

In this article, I show that the World Bank, along with other international financial institutions, is the primary architect of neoliberal policy of privatizing the formation of higher education and the migration of skilled labour from the Global South to the Global North. The Bank, through development gurus and theories orchestrating the pro-North development agenda, systematically manoeuvres the neoliberalization of higher education and migrant labour from the 1980s to the late 2000s with the promise of democracy, equity, justice and prosperity. Despite massive doses of The Bank-prescribed neoliberal development pills, the majority of the world’s population has yet to experience the promise. The Global South, through three selected countries that see the wisdom of wielding strong state roles in delivering social services, is able to partly parry the deadly sting of the 2008 global economic downturn. The South, immersed as it is in the North’s development agenda as shown in selected literature, has become a doppelganger of the North. In determining the South’s dynamic in service delivery, I turn to Habermas’ communicative rationality that likewise brings to bear similarly framed thoughts as the yardstick of the South’s critical voice against the North’s continuing espousal of neoliberal policy. It is this critical voice that further cultivates people’s micropolitics of beliefs, gender and language, and cries out “no” to The Bank-prescribed neoliberalized higher education and migrant labour – a prescription that leads to and simulates a “back-to-the-cave” circumstance.
Content-Based English Education in China: Students’ Experiences and Perspectives
Authors: Beckett Gulbahar , Li Fang
Published: March 2016

This study explores undergraduate students’ experiences and perceptions of the content-based EFL instruction at a northwestern Chinese university. It is one of the first empirical studies of content-based EFL in China. Through a three-part open-ended questionnaire administered with 34 undergraduate students majoring in finance, the study reveals overwhelming support for this approach to EFL. Participants believed that learning English and content knowledge simultaneously was helpful and that the spread of English in China can benefit the nation and its people. The findings also indicate that some participants were critical of the approach, stating that it is “shallow content teaching” and suggesting that subject matter content be taught in Chinese. The participants praised their original English texts and expressed their preference for student-centered learning.
Education for Street Children in Egypt: The Role of Hope Village Society
Authors: Zain Al-Dien Muhammad M.
Published: March 2016

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the role of Hope Village Society (HVS) in Egypt in the provision of education to street children in order to establish its strengths and weaknesses to serve as lessons for other providers of education to street children. Data were collected using interview schedule and document analysis. Interviews were prepared conducted with eight of the management staff of HVS. The findings of the study reveal that HVS plays a major role in providing education for street children in Egypt. Since the establishment of HVS’s education programs in1995, it has recorded fluctuating enrolment rates. The participation of government organizations (GOs), non-government organizations (NGOs) and community at HVS’ education programs is less than expected. Like any other educational enterprise, HVS’s education programs are faced with quite a number of problems. The study recommends that the Egyptian government should offer more financial contributions to organizations that provide education to street children. There is also an immediate need to engage other possible partners of HVS’s education programs. Moreover, more research should be carried out in the area of pedagogy of street children.
Challenges of Implementation of e learning in Mathematics, Science and Technology Education (MSTE) in African schools: A Critical Review
Authors: Gunga Samson
Published: March 2016

This paper discusses the general ICT challenges in education and poses questions, the attempt of whose answers establish the manner in which e-learning technology could be appropriate for understanding and communicating the structures of mathematics and science. Challenges in understanding mathematics and science arise out of the interaction between these two intertwined yet disparate disciplines. While mathematical proof is established deductively and hence conclusive and not amenable to confutation in a logically possible world, scientific truth is established inductively on probable yet utilitarian grounds in the actual world. While challenges in implementation of the understanding of mathematics and science through technology arise from social and infrastructural issues related to ICT in African environment, the difficulty posed by challenges of communicating the principles of understanding the structure of mathematics and science are not yet insurmountable. An attempt to bring into coherence the mathematical and scientific understanding through e-learning instructional paradigm in quasi-philosophic terms is the main subject of this paper.
Fairness of Standardized Assessments: Discrepancy between Provincial and Territorial Results
Authors: Fung Karen , Chu Man-Wai
Published: March 2016

This paper discussed the issue of unfairness due to the discrepancy in educational assessments among provinces and territories in Canada. An overview of all provincial and territorial assessments was illustrated and major assessment results are compared to provide an idea on how such discrepancy would be problematic. We argued that such non-uniformity of educational assessments is unfair to students, in which scores achieved by students of the same ability level may obtain different scores solely because of the province or territory they live in. It causes unfairness especially when students are competing for limited opportunities such as scholarships. The presence of such issue makes it difficult for students’ scores to be comparable within the nation. In the final section of this paper, recommendations on solutions were provided to address the unfairness issues for the benefit of students and other stakeholders who would be affected.
Learning and Cultural Experiences of Arab Muslim Graduate Students in a Canadian University
Authors: Mostafa Gamal
Published: March 2016

The purpose of the present study is to explore the experiences of Arab Muslim graduate students in the University of Alberta (U of A) regarding cultural differences and adjustment, language difficulties, supervision, differences of study system, and funding. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five Arab Muslim graduate students from Egypt, Libya, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait. The findings of the study reveal that although students experience some difficulties adjusting to Canadian society, adjustment is made easier through their interaction with local Muslim communities and organizations such as mosques. In addition, respondents indicate the multicultural nature of Canadian society is an asset that helps them o-n and off-campus. Moreover, the presence of Arab Muslim students at the U of A may help in correcting the image of Islam as a religion, distorted in the west, through interaction both academically and socially with other students. The study recommends greater cooperation between the university and Muslim cultural and religious organizations within Canadian society.
Global decentralization policies for education and Tanzanian primary school principals’ responses
Authors: Rwiza Grace
Published: March 2016

Blackmore and Sachs’ (2007) opinion that “educational reform needs to be seen within a broader context of restructuring in economic and social relations among the individual, the state and new modes of governance” (p. 1) is relevant for expressing the essence and influence of the global decentralization policies in Tanzania and elsewhere. The 1995 decentralization of the management of primary schools in Tanzania was the outcome of the World Bank’s policies and the International Monetary Fund’s conditions following the economic instabilities of the 1980s. Assuming that public systems are inefficient, autonomy in decision-making and competition are seen as means of achieving high quality and efficiency (Bonal, 2002; Carnoy, 1995; Martinez & Garcia, 1996). The need for autonomy, external accountability and competition has created new managerial roles for school principals even though their core function is to lead instruction (Lingard & Christie, 2003; Reitzug, West, & Roma, 2008; Stewart, 2006). This study explores how principals in Tanzania are harmonizing these roles and is informed by political discourse analysis and decolonizing theories (Abdi & Shultz, 2012; Blackmore & Sachs, 2007; Dimmock & Walker, 2005; Fairclough & Fairclough, 2012; Nyerere, 1968; Wagenaar, 2011). Qualitative interpretive case study is also used to analyze the principals’ experiences. The implementation of a borrowed culture in new contexts creates tensions; thus, the adoption of new roles in the context of decentralization creates conflicts and imbalances. Given that education is a public good, educational policies should be decolonized and separated from market influences.
Propuesta de un nuevo indicador para definir la ductilidad aplicada a la corrosión del acero de refuerzo en estructuras de hormigón = Proposal of a new indicator to define ductility applied to corroded steel reinforcement on concrete structures
Authors: Moreno E. , Prieto M. I. , González M. N. , Llauradó N.
Published: March 2016

ResumenLa carbonatación del hormigón o la intrusión de cloruros en suficiente cantidad para alcanzar el nivel de las barras, es desencadenante de la corrosión de la armadura. Uno de los efectos más significativos de la corrosión del acero de refuerzo en estructuras de hormigón armado es la disminución de las propiedades relacionadas con la ductilidad del acero. El reforzamiento tiene un efecto decisivo en la ductilidad global de las estructuras de hormigón armado. Se utilizan diferentes códigos para clasificar el tipo de acero en función de su ductilidad usando los valores mínimos de varios parámetros. El uso de indicadores de ductilidad asociados a diferentes propiedades puede ser ventajoso en muchas ocasiones. Se considera necesario para definir la ductilidad por medio de un solo parámetro que tiene en cuenta los valores de resistencia y deformación simultáneamente. Hay una serie de criterios para definir la ductilidad del acero mediante un único parámetro. El presente estudio experimental se ocupa de la variación en la ductilidad de las barras de acero embebido en hormigón cuando se expone a la corrosión acelerada. Este trabajo analiza la idoneidad de un nuevo indicador de la ductilidad utilizado en barras corroídas. AbstractThe carbonation of concrete or the chlorides ingress in such quantity to reach the level of bars is triggers of reinforcement corrosion. One of the most significant effects of reinforcing steel corrosion on reinforced concrete structures is the decline in the ductility-related properties of the steel. Reinforcement ductility has a decisive effect on the overall ductility of reinforced concrete structures. Different Codes classify the type of steel depending on their ductility defined by the minimum values of several parameters. Using indicators of ductility associating different properties can be advantageous on many occasions. It is considered necessary to define the ductility by means of a single parameter that considers strength values and deformation simultaneously. There are a number of criteria for defining steel ductility by a single parameter. The present experimental study addresses the variation in the ductility of concrete-embedded steel bars when exposed to accelerated corrosion. This paper analyzes the suitability of a new indicator of ductility used in corroded bars.
Enhancement of Bone-Healing by Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound
Authors: Rutten Sjoerd , van den Bekerom Michel P.J. , Sierevelt Inger N. , Nolte Petrus A.
Published: March 2016

Background:

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) is frequently used to enhance or to accelerate fracture-healing, but its clinical role and effectiveness as a treatment modality remain uncertain. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to determine the efficiency of LIPUS on bone-healing and/or fracture union, as well as on functional recovery.

Methods:

The databases of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Embase were searched for trials concerning LIPUS stimulation and bone-healing or fracture repair, in any language, published from the inception of the database to January 2, 2015. Eligible studies were randomized controlled trials that enrolled patients with any type of fracture, delayed union, or nonunion and randomly assigned them to LIPUS treatment or a control group. Two reviewers independently agreed on eligibility, assessed methodological quality, and extracted outcome data. All relevant outcomes were pooled, and a meta-analysis was performed.

Results:

Twenty-four unique randomized trials were selected for analysis after the search of all databases and the inclusion of one trial by the senior author. Time to radiographic fracture union was the most common primary outcome measure evaluated. After pooling the data concerning time to radiographic healing in the combined patient population (n = 429), LIPUS treatment resulted in a mean reduction in healing time of 39.8 days (95% confidence interval, 17.7 to 62.0 days; I2 = 94%). The most reduction in time to radiographic union by LIPUS treatment was seen in fractures with a long natural healing tendency. Three trials evaluating the time to return to work or active duty, as a surrogate for functional recovery, were unable to demonstrate a beneficial effect of LIPUS (n = 179). Evidence from two high-quality trials implied that LIPUS enhances fracture-healing through increased bone formation in cases of delayed and/or impaired bone-healing. The prevention of delayed union or nonunion by LIPUS treatment could not be demonstrated.

Conclusions:

LIPUS treatment effectively reduces the time to radiographic fracture union, but this does not directly result in a beneficial effect of accelerated functional recovery or the prevention of delayed union or nonunion. The increase in bone formation as a result of LIPUS treatment may provide a valuable tool in fracture repair, but it does not always lead to healing. Future studies should focus on reporting of a combination of subjective signs of clinical healing, functional recovery, and radiographic union to determine the effectiveness of LIPUS treatment in clinical fracture-healing.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Tenosynovitis of the Hand and Wrist
Authors: Blood Travis D. , Morrell Nathan T. , Weiss Arnold-Peter C.
Published: March 2016

➢ Trigger Finger

Trigger finger is common in patients with diabetes.

Corticosteroid injections are effective in about 60% to 92% of cases.

Proximal interphalangeal joint contracture may occur in long-standing cases.

The outcomes of open and percutaneous releases are similar; however, surgeons are split on preferences.

➢ Intersection Syndrome

The classic finding is crepitus with wrist motion at the distal one-third of the radial aspect of the forearm.

➢ Extensor Pollicis Longus (EPL) Tenosynovitis

Corticosteroid injections should be used with caution because of the potential for rupture.

EPL tenosynovitis is very rare.

➢ de Quervain Disorder

This condition is common in postpartum women.

A positive Finkelstein test is considered to be pathognomonic of de Quervain disorder, but care should be taken to differentiate this condition from thumb carpometacarpal arthritis.

Corticosteroid injections are effective in about 80% of cases.

Patients in whom corticosteroid injections fail to provide relief of symptoms frequently have a separate extensor pollicis brevis (EPB) compartment.

The abductor pollicis longus (APL) tendon has multiple slips; care should be taken not to confuse one of these slips as the EPB.

Traction on the APL pulls up the thumb metacarpal but not the thumb tip.

Traction on the EPB extends the thumb metacarpophalangeal joint.

Care should be taken to avoid injury to the sensory branch of the radial nerve.

➢ Fourth Compartment Tenosynovitis

This uncommon condition is most often seen in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

The condition involves a large diffuse area, as opposed to the compact dorsal ganglion cyst.
Hydropolitical Self-Organization theory; system dynamics to analyse hydropolitics of Helmand transboundary river
Authors: Shahbazbegian Mohammad Reza , Turton Anthony , Mousavi Shafaee Seyed Masoud
Published: March 2016

The paper is based on the hydropolitical driver concept and analyses non-technological drivers responsible for the depletion of water resources determining the hydropolitical situation over time. To tackle the complexity stemming from the heterogeneity of drivers, the paper adopts both theoretical hydropolitics (hydropolitical driver concept) and system dynamics (SD) (causal loop diagrams tool) to map a mature self-organization mechanism in the Helmand transboundary river watershed gradually stemming from five known hydropolitical drivers' activity through history. The drivers are described according to two important historical phases. In this regard the authors introduce ‘primary’, ‘third party’, ‘national’, ‘regional’ and ‘state building’ drivers into the transboundary basin in order to define a mature system mechanism, called a ‘Hydropolitical Self-Organization (HSO)’ mechanism in the paper. In parallel with explaining the drivers, the corresponding five stages of the derived HSO are to be analysed. Also, to underpin the drivers and derived system mechanism activities, the paper adopts related theories, statistical data and historical documents. However, the mature self-organization mechanism including all drivers led to derivation of three perspectives of various hydropolitical scenarios in the future both within and between the two neighbouring countries as well as suggesting four system policy options relying on the SD principles to check unintended outcomes of the self-organization mechanism.
Nervous System Involvement in Lyme Borreliosis
Authors: Ogrinc Katarina , Maraspin Vera
Published: March 2016

Lyme neuroborreliosis (involvement of the central and/or peripheral nervous system due to infection withB. burgdorferisensu lato) is the second most frequent manifestation of Lyme borreliosis in Europe, while it comprises the third most common expression of the disease in North America. Early Lyme neuroborreliosis, which is much better defined and far more common than late Lyme neuroborreliosis, is in Europe caused mainly byB. gariniiand comprises the classic triad of meningitis, radiculoneuritis and/or cranial neuropathy, while in American patients subacute meningitis with or without cranial neuropathy is the most common manifestation. Among chronic forms of European Lyme neuroborreliosis peripheral neuritis associated with acrodermatitis chronic atrophicans is most frequently observed. A reliable diagnosis of borrelial central nervous system infection requires demonstration of lymphocytic pleocytosis and the evidence of borrelial infection of the central nervous system, established by intrathecal synthesis of specific antibodies and/or isolation ofBorreliaefrom the cerebrospinal fluid. Treatment with oral doxycycline, or parenteral penicillin or third generation cephalosporins (most frequently ceftriaxone) for 2-4 weeks is efficient in the majority of patients..
A Qualitative Study to Explore Patient and Staff Perceptions of Intradialytic Exercise
Authors: Thompson Stephanie , Tonelli Marcello , Klarenbach Scott , Molzahn Anita
Published: March 2016

Background and objectives

Randomized, controlled trials show that regular exercise is beneficial for patients on hemodialysis. Intradialytic exercise may have additional benefits, such as amelioration of treatment-related symptoms. However, the factors that influence the implementation of intradialytic exercise are largely unknown.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Individual semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of patients on hemodialysis who had participated in a pilot randomized, controlled trial on intradialytic exercise and dialysis staff that worked in the unit during the trial. The trial took place from July to December of 2014 and enrolled 31 patients. Interviews were conducted from April to December of 2014. Interview coding followed an inductive and broad-based approach. Thematic analysis was used to group codes into common themes, first individually and then, across staff and patient interviews.

Results

Twenty-five patients and 11 staff were interviewed. Three themes common to both groups emerged: support, norms (expected practices) within the dialysis unit, and the role of the dialysis nurse. The support of the kinesiologist enhanced patients’ confidence and sense of capability and was a key component of implementation. However, the practice of initiating exercise at the start of the shift was a barrier to staff participation. Staff focused on the technical aspects of their role in intradialytic exercise, whereas patients viewed encouragement and assistance with intradialytic exercise as the staff’s role. An additional theme of no time (for staff to participate in intradialytic exercise) was influenced by its low priority in their workflow and the demands of the unit. The staff’s emphasis on patients setting up their own equipment and enhanced social interaction among participants were additional themes that conveyed the unintended consequences of the intervention.

Conclusions

The kinesiologist-patient interactions and staff readiness for intradialytic exercise were important factors in the implementation of intradialytic exercise. Understanding how unit workflow and the personal values of staff can influence implementation may improve the design of intradialytic exercise interventions.
In vitro evaluation of mitochondrial dysfunction and treatment with adeno-associated virus vector in fibroblasts from Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy and a pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 mutation
Authors: Sosa Ivan , Estrada Amara H. , Winter Brandy D. , Erger Kirsten E. , Conlon Thomas J.
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE To compare mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of fibroblasts from Doberman Pinschers with and without dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and mutation of the gene for pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isozyme 4 (PDK4) and to evaluate in vitro whether treatment with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector (ie, gene therapy) would alter metabolic efficiency.

ANIMALS 10 Doberman Pinschers screened for DCM and PDK4 mutation.

PROCEDURES Fibroblasts were harvested from skin biopsy specimens obtained from Doberman Pinschers, and dogs were classified as without DCM or PDK4 mutation (n = 3) or with occult DCM and heterozygous (4) or homozygous (3) for PDK4 mutation. Fibroblasts were or were not treated with tyrosine mutant AAV type 2 vector containing PDK4 at multiplicities of infection of 1,000. Mitochondrial OCR was measured to evaluate mitochondrial metabolism. The OCR was compared among dog groups and between untreated and treated fibroblasts within groups.

RESULTS Mean ± SD basal OCR of fibroblasts from heterozygous (74 ± 8 pmol of O2/min) and homozygous (58 ± 12 pmol of O2/min) dogs was significantly lower than that for dogs without PDK4 mutation (115 ± 9 pmol of O2/min). After AAV transduction, OCR did not increase significantly in any group (mutation-free group, 121 ± 26 pmol of O2/min; heterozygous group, 88 ± 6 pmol of O2/min; homozygous group, 59 ± 3 pmol of O2/min).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Mitochondrial function was altered in skin fibroblasts of Doberman Pinschers with DCM and PDK4 mutation. Change in mitochondrial function after in vitro gene therapy at the multiplicities of infection used in this study was not significant. (Am J Vet Res 2016;77:156–161)
Diagnostic accuracy of a rapid immunoassay for point of-care detection of urinary tract infection in dogs
Authors: Jacob Megan E. , Crowell M. Denise , Fauls Megan B. , Griffith Emily H. , Ferris Kelli K.
Published: March 2016

OBJECTIVE To determine the diagnostic accuracy of a rapid immunoassay (RIA) for point-of-care detection of urinary tract infection (UTI) of dogs, compared with criterion-referenced diagnosis with bacterial culture.

SAMPLE 200 urine samples obtained from dogs and submitted to a veterinary microbiology diagnostic laboratory for routine bacterial culture and antimicrobial susceptibility determination.

PROCEDURES Samples were evaluated by use of quantitative bacterial culture and the RIA. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the RIA were calculated; results of bacterial culture were the criterion-referenced outcome. A κ statistic was calculated to determine agreement between bacterial culture and RIA results.

RESULTS 56 of 200 (28%) urine samples had positive results for bacterial growth by use of culture methods; there were 38 (19%) positive results likely to be associated with bacterial UTI on the basis of sample collection method and bacterial concentration. Sensitivity and specificity of the RIA for detecting samples likely to be associated with UTI (≥ 1,000 CFUs/mL) were 97.4% and 98.8%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values of the RIA for bacterial cultures with likely UTI were 0.949 and 0.994, respectively. Agreement between bacterial culture and RIA outcome for UTI was substantial (weighted κ, 0.718).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE The RIA test evaluated in this study accurately detected UTI of dogs, compared with detection with the criterion-referenced bacterial culture method. Use of this point-of-care RIA could allow clinicians to diagnose UTI at the time of a patient visit and provide information useful for immediately initiating empirical antimicrobial treatment. (Am J Vet Res 2016;77:162–166)
Hashtagging Gaddis: #OccupyGaddis’s Residual Adoption of William Gaddis’sJ R
Authors: Miletic Philip
Published: March 2016

In 2012, Lee Konstantinou started an online reading group called #OccupyGaddis to discuss William Gaddis’s novel, J R. I argue that #OccupyGaddis rethinks Gaddis’s cynicism toward communication technologies and reimagines the novel as a cultural study of how to write and negotiate (fragmented) identities in the current global, media-dominated culture.
Influence of Trans-Boundary Air Pollution on the Urban Atmosphere in Fukuoka, Japan
Authors: Yoshino Ayako , Takami Akinori , Sato Kei , Shimizu Atsushi , Kaneyasu Naoki , Hatakeyama Shiro , Hara Keiichiro , Hayashi Masahiko
Published: March 2016

To understand the influence of trans-boundary air pollution on the air quality of Fukuoka, the mass concentration and chemical composition of fine particulate matter (PM) were observed at urban (Fukuoka) and rural (Fukue Island) sites in the northern Kyushu area in Japan. Chemical composition was measured using an aerosol mass spectrometer. Organic aerosol (OA) data were analyzed by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) method. Sulfate and low-volatile oxygenated OA (LV-OOA) were dominant for all of the PM2.5 mass variations on Fukue Island, where the trans-boundary air pollution is dominant in the winter-spring season. In Fukuoka, however, sulfate accounted for the largest fraction of total chemical species under high PM2.5 mass concentrations (>35 µg·m−3), while organics and nitrate made up a large fraction under low PM2.5 (<10 µg·m−3). Under the high PM2.5 condition, LV-OOA was also dominant. This indicates that high PM2.5 mass concentrations were attributed to the long-range transport of air pollution. Although the trans-boundary air pollution prevails in the winter-spring season, high sulfate concentrations were observed in the summer of 2012. In addition to the volcanic activities and photochemical reactions, long-range, trans-boundary air pollutions are influential factors not only in winter-spring but also in summer.
Analytical Results on the Behavior of a Liquid Junction across a Porous Diaphragm or a Charged Porous Membrane between Two Solutions According to the Nernst–Planck Equation
Authors: Marino Massimo , Brogioli Doriano
Published: March 2016

We model the behavior of an ideal liquid junction, across a porous and possibly charged medium between two ion-containing solutions, by means of the Nernst–Planck equation for the stationary state, in conditions of local electroneutrality. An analytical solution of the equation was found long ago by Planck for the uncharged junction with only ions of valences +1 and −1. Other analytical results, which have later been obtained also for more general situations, seem impractical for performing calculations. In this paper, we obtain analytical solutions for systems with up to three valence classes, which can be applied to perform numerical calculations in a straightforward way. Our method provides a much larger amount of information on the behavior of the system than the well-known Henderson’s approximation. At the same time, it is more simple and reliable, and much less demanding in terms of computational effort, than the nowadays commonly employed numerical methods, typically based on discrete integration and trial-and-error numerical inversions. We present some examples of practical applications of our results. We study in particular the uphill transport (i.e., the transport from the lower-concentration to the higher-concentration region) of a divalent cation in a liquid junction containing also other univalent anions and cations.
Identifying the Probability Distribution of Fatigue Life Using the Maximum Entropy Principle
Authors: Li Hongshuang , Wen Debing , Lu Zizi , Wang Yu , Deng Feng
Published: March 2016

It is well-known that the fatigue lives of materials and structures have a considerable amount of scatter and they are commonly suggested to be considered in engineering design. In order to reduce the introduction of subjective uncertainties and obtain rational probability distributions, a computational method based on the maximum entropy principle is proposed for identifying the probability distribution of fatigue life in this paper. The first four statistical moments of fatigue life are involved to formulate constraints in the maximum entropy principle optimization problem. An accurate algorithm is also presented to find the Lagrange multipliers in the maximum entropy distribution, which can avoid the numerical singularity when solving a system of equations. Two fit indexes are used to measure the goodness-of-fit of the proposed method. The rationality and effectiveness of the proposed method are demonstrated by two groups of fatigue data sets available in the literature. Comparisons among the proposed method, the lognormal distribution and the three-parameter Weibull distribution are also carried out for the investigated groups of fatigue data sets.
Second Law Analysis of Adiabatic and Non-Adiabatic Pipeline Flows of Unstable and Surfactant-Stabilized Emulsions
Authors: Pal Rajinder
Published: March 2016

Entropy generation, and hence exergy destruction, in adiabatic flow of unstable and surfactant-stabilized emulsions was investigated experimentally in different diameter pipes. Four types of emulsion systems are investigated covering a broad range of the dispersed-phase concentration: (a) unstable oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions without surfactant; (b) surfactant-stabilized O/W emulsions; (c) unstable water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions without surfactant; and (d) surfactant-stabilized W/O emulsions. The entropy generation rate per unit pipe length is affected by the type of the emulsion as well as its stability. Unstable emulsions without any surfactant present at the interface generate less entropy in the turbulent regime as compared with the surfactant-stabilized emulsions of the same viscosity and density. The effect of surfactant is particularly severe in the case of W/O emulsions. In the turbulent regime, the rate of entropy generation in unstable W/O emulsions is much lower in comparison with that observed in the stable W/O emulsions. A significant delay in the transition from laminar to turbulent regime is also observed in the case of unstable W/O emulsion. Finally, the analysis and simulation results are presented on non-adiabatic pipeline flow of emulsions.
The Impact of Financial Crisis on Electricity Demand: A Case Study of North China
Authors: Zhao Huiru , Zhao Haoran , Guo Sen , Li Fuqiang , Hu Yuou
Published: March 2016

The electricity consumption and economic growth are highly correlated. The financial crisis in 2008 brought a negative effect on China’s economic growth, which also influenced the electricity consumption. The electricity demand of North China region was also greatly influenced by this financial crisis, the whole social electricity consumption growth rate of which decreased by 14.31% in 2008 compared to that in 2007. In order to analyze the random impulse effect of the financial crisis on the demand of electricity in North China, the monthly data is decomposed into deterministic trend, stochastic impact effect, and periodic trend using the Beveridge-Nelson decomposition method. After comparatively analyzing the impulse effect of the financial crisis on electricity consumption of six provinces in North China, we can draw the conclusions: (1) the electricity consumption of the whole society and the secondary industry are under larger negative impacts, and the random impulse effect of the secondary industry is more intense; and (2) the impact of the financial crisis on the tertiary industry, which is mainly influenced by seasonal changes, is smaller. Finally, some policy implications are proposed.
Optimization of the Heating System Use in Aged Public Buildings via Model Predictive Control
Authors: Carrascal Edorta , Garrido Izaskun , Garrido Aitor , Sala José
Published: March 2016

This work presents the implementation of a Model Predictive Control (MPC) scheme used to study the improvement of the thermal quality in aged residential buildings without any rehabilitation. The controller manages the heating system of an experimentally characterized model of a residential dwelling in a social block built during the decade of the 1960s located in the neighborhood of Otxarkoaga (Bilbao, Spain), so as to obtain an optimal energy efficiency performance. Due to the characteristics of the construction in those days, this kind of buildings suffer problems related to the use of awkward building materials and inefficient heating systems. A comparison with traditionally used ON-OFF hysteresis control is presented in order to demonstrate the energetic improvement provided by the MPC scheme. Besides, the variation of different parameters of the MPC is also studied to determine its influence over the energy consumption and comfort conditions.