bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacterial Contamination of Toothbrushes and their Disinfection by 4% Edta, 10% Sodium Perborate and 3% Neem Juice: A Clinico -Microbiology Study
Authors: Sheikh Nilofer Sultan , Rajhans Neelima S. , Moolya Nikesh , Mhaske Nilkanth , Frenandes Gabrieala Jude , Sudeep H.M.
Published: April 2015

Aim: The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to evaluate the bacterial survival rate on toothbrushes and efficacy of their decontamination by 4% disodium ethyl diamine tetra acetic acid [EDTA], 10% sodium perborate and 3% neem juice. 
Methods: Forty subjects with chronic periodontitis enrolled to this randomized controlled clinical trial were provided with autoclaved toothbrushes which were free from microorganisms. Brushing instructions were given to each participant. Toothbrushes were collected from all study participants after one week and were placed with head down position in autoclaved test tube containing sterile peptone water. Toothbrushes collected were sent for aerobic culture in laboratory for growth of micro-organisms. Incubation was done for 24 hours at 37˚C.The toothbrushes were then divided into four groups and immersed in disinfectants like 4% disodium EDTA, 10% sodium perborate and 3% neem juice. Their efficacy was evaluated by aerobic culture analysis and chi – square test was used for statistical analysis of the data.
Results: The results obtained showed that 4% disodium EDTA and 3% neem juice showed 100% efficacy, whereas 10% Sodium perborate showed 40% effectiveness in decontaminating the toothbrushes. Distilled water as a control showed least effectiveness in cleaning toothbrushes. 
Conclusion: The present data appeared to indicate that 4% Disodium EDTA and 3 % Neem juice are equally effective but 3% Neem juice may be considered non-toxic, cost effective and quite feasible for disinfection of toothbrushes.
A Case of Non-Allergenic Intractable Dermatitis Likely Caused by Mercury in Dental Amalgams
Authors: Fujii Yoshiro
Published: April 2015

The case subject is a 46-year-old woman with a history of severe dermatitis of the head, face, neck, and torso for more than two years. Although the subject had undergone a patch test, which was negative for metal allergens (including mercury), the subject’s dermatitis dramatically improved shortly after the amalgam fillings in her mouth were removed. It seems likely that the main cause of dermatitis was mercury-related toxicity due to the amalgams.
Non Hodgkin Lymphoma and Hepatitis C Virus in Egyptian Children: One Centre Study
Authors: Mansour Ahmed K. , Zaki Maysaa El Sayed
Published: April 2015

Non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) represents a major health problem in the world. In Egypt, where both, hepatitis C virus is highly endemic and NHL has high incidence, questions arise about the association of both diseases especially in children.
The primary aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological situation of NHL in children associated with HCV in Mansoura, Egypt.
Pediatric patients provisionally diagnosed as suffering from NHL were recruited from hematology unit at Mansoura University children hospital (MUCH) from January 2013 to March 2014. Hematologists collected demographic characteristics, clinical history, and laboratory and treatment data.
Blood samples were collected from each participant in the study and subjected to complete virological profiles to detect hepatitis C specific IgG, hepatitis B Surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti hepatitis B core IgM (HBcIgM) and HIV specific immunoglobulin G. Sera samples were subjected to real time polymerase chain reaction to determine active infection.
The present study was carried out on 92 children with NHL. They were mainly males (69.9%) with mean age 6.9± 3.7 years. The lymphoma was mainly Burkitt type (54.3%). The patients were mainly in stage 3 (80.5%). HCV IgG was positive in 41.3% of the patients and HCV viremia was detected in 43.5% of the patients, while none of the control subjects had any positive HCV markers.
In comparative study between NHL associated with active HCV and those not associated with active HCV, there was statistically significant elevations of ALT (P=0.002), AST (P=0.03) and bilirubin (P=0.005). History of blood transfusions, though was common among NHL associated with HCV (75%) than those not associated with HCV (42.3%), this was statistically insignificant difference (P=0.13). HCV viremia was associated with 30% of patients with recent incidence of NHL. There was statistically significant association of HCV IgG with HCV viremia (90%-P=0.0001).
The results presented here describe a strong association of chronic HCV infection with NHL. Much remains unknown about the natural history of HCV infection and its possible contribution to carcinogenesis; however, our data suggest that NHL may be among the malignant complications of chronic HCV infection in children. It is strongly recommended to screen all children, in endemic areas for HCV, affected with NHL for HCV IgG and when positive to evaluate them by PCR.
Major cardiothoracic trauma: Eleven-year review of outcomes in the North West of England
Authors: Khorsandi M , Skouras C , Prasad S , Shah R
Published: April 2015

Introduction

Up to 15% of patients with cardiothoracic trauma require emergency surgery, and death can be prevented in a substantial proportion of this group. UK reports have emphasised the need for improvement in this field. We assessed major cardiothoracic trauma (MCT) outcomes in North West England over 11 years.

Methods

The database from the Trauma Audit and Research Network was used to retrieve data for all patients who had suffered MCT between 2000 and 2011 in North West England and the findings analysed. Trauma that led to thoracotomy/thoracoscopy or sternotomy was defined as MCT.

Results

A total of 146 patients were identified, and a considerable male predominance (88.4%) noted. A total of 54.1% had sustained penetrating cardiothoracic trauma. Also, 53.4% had been admitted to tertiary-care hospitals for trauma (TCHT) and 46.6% had been admitted to non-TCHT. Overall prevalence of mortality was 35.6%. No significant difference was found in mortality between TCHT vs non-TCHT. Prevalence of mortality was significantly higher in the subgroup of patients cared for exclusively in non-TCHT compared with patients transferred from non-TCHT to TCHT (41% vs 13.8%, p<0.05).

Conclusions

No significant difference was demonstrated in length of stay in hospital/length of stay in the intensive treatment unit and prevalence of mortality between patients originally presenting in TCHT and those presenting in non-TCHT. However, patients transferred from non-TCHT to TCHT had a lower prevalence of mortality. These findings may constitute a valuable benchmark for comparison with results arising after introduction of trauma centres in the UK.
Caustic ingestion injury of the upper aerodigestive tract in adults
Authors: Rollin M , Jaulim A , Vaz F , Sandhu G , Wood S , Birchall M , Dawas K
Published: April 2015

Adult ingestion of caustic substances is an unusual but serious surgical problem, with injuries likely to be more extensive than those in the corresponding paediatric population. After initial stabilisation and airway management, clinicians are presented with a complex multisystemic problem, frequently requiring a multidisciplinary approach involving several surgical disciplines and associated therapies. A new multidisciplinary team was convened to discuss complex ingestion injury in adults and established techniques were used to bring forward a proposed treatment algorithm. An algorithm may potentially improve clinical efficacy and risk in the management of these complex patients.
Experience of managing open fractures of the lower limb at a major trauma centre
Authors: Ali AM , McMaster JM , Noyes D , Brent AJ , Cogswell LK
Published: April 2015

Introduction

In April 2012 the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford became a major trauma centre (MTC). The British Orthopaedic Association and British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons joint standards for the management of open fractures of the lower limb (BOAST 4) require system-wide changes in referral practice that may be facilitated by the MTC and its associated major trauma network.

Methods

From 2008 to 2013 a multistep audit of compliance with BOAST 4 was conducted to assess referral patterns, timing of surgery and outcomes (surgical site infection rates), to determine changes following local intervention and the establishment of the MTC.

Results

Over the study period, 50 patients had soft tissue cover for an open lower limb fracture and there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients receiving definitive fixation in our centre (p=0.036). The median time from injury to soft tissue cover fell from 6.0 days to 3.5 days (p=0.051) and the median time from definitive fixation to soft tissue cover fell from 5.0 days to 2.0 days (p=0.003). The deep infection rate fell from 27% to 8% (p=0.247). However, in 2013 many patients still experienced a delay of >72 hours between injury and soft tissue cover, primarily owing to a lack of capacity for providing soft tissue cover.

Conclusions

Our experience may be relevant to other MTCs seeking to identify barriers to optimising the management of patients with these injuries.
Chronic myeloid leukemia with soft tissue infiltration: a case report
Authors: Goswami Gaurav , Devi Yumkhaibam S. , Singh Laishram J.
Published: April 2015

A 27 year old male patient with chronic myeloid leukemia under irregular hydroxyurea treatment presented with a left thigh swelling associated with a dull aching pain. Blood examination revealed a total leukocyte count [TLC] of 125,000/mm3 with 13% metamyelocytes, 8% myelocytes, 1% promyelocytes and 3% band cells. A fine needle aspiration biopsy of the swelling revealed mostly myeloblasts with occasional promyelocytes. He was maintained on tablet hydroxyurea 2g given in divided daily doses along with allopurinol, systemic alkaliser and plenty of oral fluids. Gradual symptomatic relief was achieved over next 2 months with no palpable lump after 3.5 months. TLC was 38,400/mm3 with 1% promyelocytes and myeloblasts and 5% band form. There was reduction in the liver size during this period but no reduction in spleen size. He is currently being maintained on hydroxyurea 2g with other supportive care and has not had any recurrence of symptoms for the last 9 months.
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease among type-2 diabetes mellitus patients in a rural area
Authors: Suwita Christopher S. , Benny Benny , Mulyono Daniel R. , Rosani Selti , Astria Yuni , Widjaja Felix F. , Syam Ari F.
Published: April 2015

Background: One of the most neglected complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) is gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) which arises from autonomic neuropathy and diabetic gastropathy related to the extent of DM. This study was done to find prevalence of GERD in DM patients with GERD-questionnaire (GERDQ), dietary factor proportion, and their association with other GERD risk factor in rural area. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted in Puskesmas Pelaihari from August to September 2013. Subjects with DM aged ≥ 18 were selected consecutively from both newly and previously diagnosed patients with exclusion criteria: pregnancy, in proton-pump inhibitor therapy, and had other metabolic disease(s). DM was diagnosed with ADA criteria, while GERD was diagnosed in patients with score of ≥ 8 of Indonesian GERDQ. Results: There were 30 subjects (29.7%) with GERD among 101 patients with DM and dietary factors found in GERD patients were spicy diet (90%), high-fat food (90%), irritative beverages (87%), and irritative diet (23%). Only female gender was associated with GERD vs non-GERD in DM patients (87% vs 68%, p = 0.048). Meanwhile, duration of DM (2 [0-13] vs 2 [0-19], p = 0.976), obesity (37% vs 38%, p = 0.897), age (53.2±10.5 vs 54.7 ± 9.3, p = 0.481), and uncontrolled diabetes (90% vs 94%, p = 0.421) were not associated with the GERD among DM patients.Conclusion: Prevalence of GERD in DM is somewhat high in this study. Female group with DM needs to be screened for GERD as early as possible.
Can a pneumothorax break your heart?
Authors: Mavridis Stylianos , Gnauk Hans-Georg , Horn Silvio , Adeberg Peter , Schumacher Martina , Wagner Roland H.
Published: April 2015

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning is a condition characterized by transitory left ventricular dysfunction, affecting commonly postmenopausal females after foregoing acute emotional or physical stress. We report a case of a 63 year old female presenting with severe dyspnea and right-sided secondary spontaneous pneumothorax, initially treated with tube thoracostomy. Despite the fact that pneumothorax resolved, shortness of breath persisted and due to ST-segment elevation and increased Troponin I levels, she was admitted to cardiac catheterization. A significant coronary stenosis was ruled out and the diagnosis of a Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was established. Electrocardiographic findings were normalized within three days and attributable to prolonged air leakage. A thoracoscopic apex resection followed by a partial parietal pleurectomy was performed. Although Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare syndrome, it should always be considered as a potential cardiac complication of a pneumothorax.
Body mass index and waist-to-height ratio cut-offs as predictors of high blood pressure in adolescents
Authors: Febriana Kurnia , Nurani Neti , Julia Madarina
Published: April 2015

Background: Obesity is associated with increased risk for high blood pressure (BP). Although a routine BP measurement is indicated for all children visiting pediatric practice, recognition of children particularly at risk may save times. The aim of this study was to assess the cut-off point for body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to predict high BP in adolescents. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 928 children aged 11 to 16 years in Yogyakarta. BP were measured using standard technique described by The Fourth Report on The Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents. BMI was adjusted for age and sex using the WHO 2007 growth reference. WHtR was ratio of waist circumference related to height in centimeters. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate the best cut-offs. Results: The best cut-off point for BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ) to predict high BP was 0.51 with sensitivity and specificity of 82% (95% CI = 78-86) and 76% (95% CI = 67-78) for systolic BP and sensitivity and specificity of 82% (95% CI = 78-86) and 72% (95% CI = 68-76) for diastolic BP. The best cut-off point for WHtR was 0.45, with sensitivity of 76% (95% CI = 67-78) and specificity of 74% (95% CI = 71-79) for systolic BP and sensitivity of 76% (95% CI = 72-80) and specificity of 70% (95% CI = 61-75) for diastolic BP.Conclusion: BMIZ of 0.51 and WHtR of 0.45 are the best cut-off point to predict high BP in adolescents.
Inconsistency as a Touchstone for Coherence Measures
Authors: Siebel Mark , Schippers Michael
Published: April 2015

The debate on probabilistic measures of coherence has focused on evaluating sets of consistent propositions. In this paper we draw attention to the largely neglected question of whether such measures concur with intuitions on test cases involving inconsistent propositions and whether they satisfy general adequacy constraints on coherence and inconsistency. While it turns out that, for the vast majority of measures in their original shape, this question must be answered in the negative, we show that it is possible to adapt many of them in order to improve their performance.
Determinants Of A Fast-Growing Firm’s Profits: Empirical Evidence For Slovenia
Authors: Močnik Dijana , Širec Karin
Published: April 2015

This paper seeks to explain the relationship between a firm’s profitability and firm size, leverage ratio and labour costs – using a sample of 782 Slovenian fast-growing firms from the years 2008 and 2009. We determined that profitability is negatively related to the firm size and leverage ratio, but positively to the labour costs. These results illustrate that, with increasing firm size, a fast-growing firm becomes less profitable. The negative coefficient for the leverage ratio indicates that the higher the extent to which debts were used as the source of financing, the lower the profits. One explanation for this is that profitable, fast-growing firms rely on their equity capital. Alternatively, higher-leveraged firms bear greater risks of bankruptcy; consequently, creditors are reluctant to approve credit for such clients. The positive association between labour costs and profitability implies that the higher the labour cost, the higher the profitability of fast-growing firms.
Generating Investment Strategies Using Multiobjective Genetic Programming And Internet Term Popularity Data
Authors: Jakubéci Martin
Published: April 2015

Searching for stock picking strategies can be modelled as a multiobjective optimization problem. The objectives are mostly the profit and risk. Because of the conflicting nature of these objectives, we have to find Pareto optimal solutions. Multiobjective genetic programming (MOGP) can be used to find tree based solutions, using evolutionary operators. The advantage is that this algorithm can combine any number of inputs and generate complex models. Recent research shows, that the popularity of different terms on the internet can be used to enhance the models. This paper deals with a SPEA2 MOGP implementation, which uses Google trends and Wikipedia popularity to find stock investment strategies.
IT Applications In Logistics And Their Influence On The Competitiveness Of Companies/Supply Chains
Authors: Miraldes Tatiana , Garrido Azevedo Susana , Charrua-Santos Fernando Bigares , Mendes Luís António F. , Oliveira Matias João Carlos
Published: April 2015

This paper aims to study the influence of Information Technologies on the competitiveness of companies/supply chains. That is, it intends to analyse if the adoption of Information Technologies contributes to improve costs, time and customer service. To attain this objective a case study and content analysis methodology is used. Results indicate that there is a positive relation between the adoption of technologies, namely RFID, A.R. and the competitiveness of companies/supply chains. By the use of these technologies it is possible to improve several processes across the supply chain, as well as the reduction of costs related to labor, improvement in inventories and management of transport channels as well as an improvement on customer service. The improvement of these indicators has as consequence a gain in competitiveness allowing the companies to respond to the market needs in a differentiated way increasing by this way the customers’ satisfaction. As the information technologies have been considered very important for businesses it is crucial to improve our understanding on the main advantages associates with them and their contribution for competitiveness improvement of companies and supply chains, so this paper represents an important contribution for academics and professionals in this field.
Does present-day symmetry underlie the cosmology of Plato’s Timaeus
Authors: Paparazzo Ernesto
Published: April 2015

In the
The role of serotonin in impulsive aggression, suicide, and homicide in adolescents and adults: a literature review
Authors: Glick Amy R.
Published: April 2015

This is a literature review discussing previous studies on the associations between impulsive aggression and the serotonergic system in adults, adolescents, and children. The review demonstrates that there is a clear association between low cerebrospinal fluid serotonin and impulsive aggression. However, studies on neurotransmitter receptor profiles, functional imaging, genetics, and epigenetics reviewed in this article suggest a more complicated picture that includes consideration of gene vs. environment in the evaluation of risk. Serotonin supplementation studies suggest that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may reduce impulsive aggression in some adults but are less effective in adults with pathological aggression and also in children and adolescents. Child and adolescent studies are less conclusive, in part due to the heterogeneous physiologic and psychosocial changes occurring over the course of development. The author thus concludes that psychiatrists can reduce risk in these special patient populations by creating safer environments in the form of changes in policy and increased support services.
Low testosterone in a young combat veteran with dual diagnosis and suicidal behavior: a case study
Authors: Kiraly Drew D. , Sher Leo
Published: April 2015

Suicide and suicidal behaviors amongst combat veterans is an important public health issue. Exposure to military combat predisposes patients to increased levels of major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance abuse, and chronic pain – all of which are important risk factors for suicide. Here, we present a case study of a young combat veteran who presented with an impulsive suicide attempt that had a high potential for lethality in the context of depression, PTSD, and substance use. On routine admission laboratory work, his serum level of testosterone was seen to be low. Given the important role that testosterone plays in the regulation of mood and behavior, we posit that it is a potentially important marker for suicide risk in an already at-risk population.
EEXCESS: Personalisierter Zugriff auf Long-Tail-Inhalte – neue Methoden zur Verbreitung wissenschaftlich-kulturellen Wissens
Authors: Seifert Christin , Granitzer Michael
Published: April 2015

Traditionell bieten wissenschaftliche und kulturelle digitale Bibliotheken Zugriff auf ihre Inhalte über eigene Portale und dedizierte Suchmechanismen an. Ein wichtiger Aspekt in der Verbreitung des darin enthaltenen Wissens ist die Bewerbung dieser Dienste und die Gewinnung neuer Nutzer und Nutzerinnen auf den Portalen. Dabei kommen vor allem Methoden aus dem Bereich der Suchmaschinenoptimierung und des Social Media-Marketings zum Einsatz. Betrachtet man jedoch die Gesamtheit der digitalen Bibliotheken, so zeigt sich, dass diese Mittel nur begrenzt zum Erfolg führen können. Wissenschaftliche und kulturelle digitale Bibliotheken, Museen und Archive stellen im WWW den so genannten „Long-Tail“ der Inhalte dar, d. h. die große Menge hoch-spezialisierter Information für eine auf die einzelnen Inhalte bezogene sehr kleine Nutzergemeinschaft. Diese Long-Tail-Inhalte konkurrieren mit Mainstream-Inhalten um die Gunst von Suchmaschinen und Social Media-Kanälen. Die Treffsicherheit der Methoden liegt daher meist unter den Erwartungen. Das EU FP 7-Projekt EEXCESS untersucht neue Möglichkeiten zur Verbreitung wissenschaftlich-kultureller Inhalte digitaler Bibliotheken. Im Zentrum stehen dabei intelligente, die Privatsphäre erhaltende, personalisierte Empfehlungstechniken für wissenschaftliche und kulturelle Long-Tail-Inhalte. Diese Inhalte sollen dabei in häufig genutzte Web-Kanäle automatisiert eingespeist und somit einfacher nutzbar und für eine breitere Anwenderbasis sichtbar gemacht werden. EEXCESS bringt die Inhalte zu den Nutzern und Nutzerinnen, anstatt Nutzer und Nutzerinnen zu den Inhalten zu führen – so das Ziel.
Open Science in Österreich: Ansätze und Status
Authors: Buschmann Katrin , Kasberger Stefan , Kraker Peter , Mayer Katja , Reckling Falk , Rieck Katharina , Vignoli Michela
Published: April 2015

Insbesondere in den letzten zwei Jahren hat Österreich im Bereich Open Science, vor allem was Open Access und Open Data betrifft, nennenswerte Fortschritte gemacht. Die Gründung des Open Access Networks Austria (OANA) und das Anfang 2014 gestartete Projekt e-Infrastructures Austria können als wichtige Grundsteine für den Ausbau einer österreichischen Open-Science-Landschaft gesehen werden. Auch das österreichische Kapitel der Open Knowledge Foundation leistet in den Bereichen Open Science Praxis- und Bewusstseinsbildung grundlegende Arbeit. Unter anderem bilden diese Initiativen die Grundlage für den Aufbau einer nationalen Open-Access-Strategie sowie einer ganz Österreich abdeckenden Infrastruktur für Open Access und Open (Research) Data. Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über diese und ähnliche nationale sowie lokale Open-Science-Projekte und -Initiativen und einen Ausblick in die mögliche Zukunft von Open Science in Österreich.
Über die Grenzen der Offenheit in der Wissenschaft – Anspruch und Wirklichkeit bei der Bereitstellung und Nachnutzung von Forschungsdaten
Authors: Fecher Benedikt , Puschmann Cornelius
Published: April 2015

Offene Forschungsdaten tragen zum wissenschaftlichen Fortschritt bei. Sie erlauben es, alte Daten für neue Fragestellungen zu nutzen und Ergebnisse zu überprüfen. Es ist kaum verwunderlich, dass politische Entscheidungsträger, Forschungsförderer, Fachzeitschriften und Forschende selbst zunehmend die Bereitstellung und Nachnutzung von Daten fordern. Allerdings wird dies von Forschenden selbst kaum praktiziert. Wir versuchen die mangelnde Bereitschaft, Forschungsdaten bereitzustellen und nachzunutzen einzuordnen und kommen zu dem Schluss, dass es für Forschende kaum Anreize gibt, Daten zu teilen. Die Nachnutzung scheitert zudem häufig an mangelhafter Datendokumentation.
Passing Standardized Assessments with Fading Prompts
Authors: Greene Amy Marie
Published: April 2015

Introduction: No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 mandates that all students perform at a level of proficient on state assessments. This includes students with learning and intellectual disabilities who are inherently performing below grade level. Given that schools are held accountable for meeting these goals and some states are not allowing students to graduate if they do not pass the assessments, this is a large concern for students, parents, teachers, and administration.

Method: Forty-five students with a disability in writing or an intellectual disability participated in this quasi-experimental, singlegroup, pretest-posttest design that evaluated the effectiveness of the Fading Prompts through Graphic Organizers method for students with learning and intellectual disabilities in written expression as measured according to the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment.

Results: Data analyses were conducted through the use of four dichotomies for percent differences, which compared teacher administered pretests and posttests, pretests and the state administered PSSA, teacher administered posttests and the PSSA, and the participants’ PSSA and the average state PSSA score. All forty-five students performed at a below basic level during baseline and a proficient level on the posttest. The learned skills generalized to the PSSA with forty-three students earning a passing score of proficient, while two students advanced to basic.

Conclusion: Based on the outcomes of this study, it is highly recommended that this program be utilized at least for students with learning and intellectual disabilities until further research can be done.
Guided Reading Programme for Prisoners: an Outcome-Oriented Approach
Authors: Bagarić Zeljka , Miksaj-Todorović Ljiljana , Butorac Ksenija
Published: April 2015

As part of a more comprehensive pilot - study this paper deals with the verification of the first Guided Reading Programme conducted within the Croatian prison system, in the period from June 1st to September 1st, 2012. The subjects were adult male prisoners serving long-term sentences in a medium security prison. The results of the Verbal and Communication Skills, Transcendental Insight and Improving Reading Habits scales of two groups of prisoners were compared, at the initial and final measurement points of the programme. The first group participated in Programme activities P group, N=8) in contrast with the second group which did not participate in the same activities of Programme (NP group, N=8), but agreed to complete the scales. All the prisoners participated voluntarily. The criteria for the selection of participants in both groups were: completion of four - year secondary school education, preserved cognitive functioning and intrinsic motivation.

The data were analysed by the following nonparametric tests: Mann-Whitney test, Chi squared test and programs COCHCOX and METDIF1.

Group P showed better results than group NP at the initial (p < 0.05 in 6 variables) and final points of measurement (p < 0.05 in 5 variables), which means that their statements were significantly more positive and healthier. Conclusively, the programme is useful for personal development of inmates and has a positive impact on their rehabilitation.
Prosodic parallelism explaining morphophonological variation in German
Authors: Wiese Richard , Speyer Augustin
Published: April 2015

Words in German show several instances of a seemingly optional schwa-zero alternation, both in relation with inflected forms as well as in the final position of stems and simplex words, as in

Large-scale corpora are used as the main source of evidence for the verification or falsification of the hypothesis. A diverse set of nouns and adverbs involving schwa-zero alternations were studied in appropriate phrasal contexts, both from present-day Standard German and from Early New High German. Based on comprehensive corpus counts, these phrases are tested for the hypothesis of prosodic parallelism. A series of chi square tests and a generalized linear model with mixed effects demonstrate statistically that the prosodic shapes of the target word and its adjacent form are not independent of each other. The focus of the paper is on empirical evidence for
Doubling up: Two upper bounds for scalars
Authors: Ariel Mira
Published: April 2015

Most theories of scalar quantifiers, of whatever persuasion, assume a lexical lower-bound-only, ‘at least’ meaning for scalar quantifiers, offering pragmatic or grammatical mechanisms for deriving the upper bound (Carston 1990; Chierchia 2004; Horn 1972 and onwards). I have challenged the lower-bound analysis in Ariel (2004), proposing instead a
Production Engineering Education in India
Authors: Khare Sushant , Bajpai Shrish , Bharati P.K.
Published: April 2015

Present paper deals with the field of Production Engineering specifically its standard of education in India. This discipline of engineering focuses on the capability of an engineer not just as a technician but also as a manager. As a result industry is also favoring the development of this field. This paper reviews the educational structure followed in India for engineering education. It aims to give a clear idea of standard of this discipline's courses being run in India at different levels of engineering, considering both centrally funded and private institutions. It also covers the necessary simulation tools used to train the students during these courses and inspects over available web-resources related to the subject. In the epilogue it discusses the future prospects for this field's development as a discipline and concludes with a brief comparison of India's status from other regions of world. In the end we have made some suggestions to decision-makers based on our findings to improve the existing model.
Setup Analysis: Combining SMED with Other Tools
Authors: Stadnicka Dorota
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this paper is to propose the methodology for the setup analysis, which can be implemented mainly in small and medium enterprises which are not convinced to implement the setups development. The methodology was developed after the research which determined the problem. Companies still have difficulties with a long setup time. Many of them do nothing to decrease this time. A long setup is not a sufficient reason for companies to undertake any actions towards the setup time reduction. To encourage companies to implement SMED it is essential to make some analyses of changeovers in order to discover problems. The methodology proposed can really encourage the management to take a decision about the SMED implementation, and that was verified in a production company. The setup analysis methodology is made up of seven steps. Four of them concern a setups analysis in a chosen area of a company, such as a work stand which is a bottleneck with many setups. The goal is to convince the management to begin actions concerning the setups improvement. The last three steps are related to a certain setup and, there, the goal is to reduce a setup time and the risk of problems which can appear during the setup. In this paper, the tools such as SMED, Pareto analysis, statistical analysis, FMEA and other were used.

Implementing the proposed methodology can change the attitude of the management. The risk analysis helps to prevent problems with a setup. This methodology can be used in production companies which make changeovers, particularly, in the companies where SMED hasn't been introduced yet.
An Assembly Line Balancing Problem Automotive Cables
Authors: Triki Hager , Hachicha Wafik , Mellouli Ahmed , Masmoudi Faouzi
Published: April 2015

In this paper, an Assembly Line Balancing Problem (ALBP) is presented in a real-world automotive cables manufacturer company. This company found it necessary to balance its line, since it needs to increase the production rate. In this ALBP, the number of stations is known and the objective is to minimize cycle time where both precedence and zoning constrains must be satisfied. This problem is formulated as a binary linear program (BLP). Since this problem is NP-hard, an innovative Genetic Algorithm (GA) is implemented. The full factorial design is used to obtain the better combination GA parameters and a simple convergence experimental study is performed on the stopping criteria to reduce computational time. Comparison of the proposed GA results with CPLEX software shows that, in a reasonable time, the GA generates consistent solutions that are very close to their optimal ones. Therefore, the proposed GA approach is very effective and competitive.
Broad focus declaratives in Veneto-Spanish bilinguals: Peak alignment and language contact
Authors: Barnes Hilary , Michnowicz Jim
Published: April 2015

This paper examines peak alignment in Veneto-Spanish bilinguals in the small community of Chipilo, Mexico. We have two goals: First, to provide a description of the peak alignment patterns present in bilingual Chipilo Spanish. As Chipilo Spanish is in contact with a northern Italian variety (Veneto), we hypothesize that changes in peak alignment from monolingual norms, specifically regarding early peak alignment, may be due to transfer from Veneto. Second, we seek to compare the present data, based on controlled speech, to the results of a previous study on semi-spontaneous speech in Chipilo Spanish, contributing to the literature that compares methodologies in intonation research. Our results show that bilinguals demonstrate early peaks in controlled speech, although to a lesser extent than in semi-spontaneous speech. We attribute this to contact with Veneto and a strong sense of ethnolinguistic identity that leads speakers to maintain features of a Chipileño variety of Spanish.
The realization of word-final, preconsonantal /s/ in the Spanish of Mexico City
Authors: Lewis Greg , Boomershine Amanda
Published: April 2015

The current study provides detailed, acoustic analyses of coda /s/realization in the Spanish of Mexico City. Linguistic variables studied include stress placement and following consonant context and the social factors that were included are gender and speaker age. Overall, the participants exhibited more variation than expected, including deletion of coda /s/, particularly before sonorants. The results of the study indicate that both linguistic and social factors affect the realization of coda /s/ in this dialect. The findings have practical implications for the L2 language and phonetics classrooms, as well as theoretical implications for phonological accounts of voicing assimilation in Spanish.
Rediscovery Of Tephritis kogardtauica (Diptera, Tephritidae)
Authors: Korneyev S. V. , Karimpour Y. , Namin S. Mohamadzade
Published: April 2015

A species, previously known from a short description based on the holotype lost in the bombing of Hamburg before description, T. kogardtauica Hering, 1944, was collected recently in great numbers in the Middle East, from Iran to Kyrgyzstan; it is redescribed, and the neotype is designated. Th e flies were found to infest flower heads of Inula stenocalathia (Rech. f.) Soldano, I. peacockiana (Aitch. & Hemsl.) Korovin, and I. grandis Schrenk ex Fisch. & C. A. Mey.
Flow and Heat Transfer of Nanofluids Over a Rotating Porous Disk with Velocity Slip and Temperature Jump
Authors: Yin Chenguang , Zheng Liancun , Zhang Chaoli , Zhang Xinxin
Published: April 2015

In this article, we discuss the flow and heat transfer of nanofluids over a rotating porous disk with velocity slip and temperature jump. Three types of nanoparticles – Cu, Al2O3, and CuO – are considered with water as the base fluid. The nonlinear governing equations are reduced into ordinary differential equations by Von Karman transformations and solved using homotopy analysis method (HAM), which is verified in good agreement with numerical ones. The effects of involved parameters such as porous parameter, velocity slip, temperature jump, as well as the types of nanofluids on velocity and temperature fields are presented graphically and analysed.
Subthalamic Nucleus Activity in the Awake Hemiparkinsonian Rat: Relationships with Motor and Cognitive Networks
Authors: Delaville Claire , McCoy Alex J. , Gerber Colin M. , Cruz Ana V. , Walters Judith R.
Published: April 2015

Oscillatory activity in both beta and gamma ranges has been recorded in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and linked to motor function, with beta activity considered antikinetic, and gamma activity, prokinetic. However, the extent to which nonmotor networks contribute to this activity is unclear. This study uses hemiparkinsonian rats performing a treadmill walking task to compare synchronized STN local field potential (LFP) activity with activity in motor cortex (MCx) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), areas involved in motor and cognitive processes, respectively. Data show increases in STN and MCx 29–36 Hz LFP spectral power and coherence after dopamine depletion, which are reduced by apomorphine and levodopa treatments. In contrast, recordings from mPFC 3 weeks after dopamine depletion failed to show peaks in 29–36 Hz LFP power. However, mPFC and STN both showed peaks in the 45–55 Hz frequency range in LFP power and coherence during walking before and 21 days after dopamine depletion. Interestingly, power in this low gamma range was transiently reduced in both mPFC and STN after dopamine depletion but recovered by day 21. In contrast to the 45–55 Hz activity, the amplitude of the exaggerated 29–36 Hz rhythm in the STN was modulated by paw movement. Furthermore, as in PD patients, after dopamine treatment a third band (high gamma) emerged in the lesioned hemisphere. The results suggest that STN integrates activity from both motor and cognitive networks in a manner that varies with frequency, behavioral state, and the integrity of the dopamine system.
Centrally Delivered BACE1 Inhibitor Activates Microglia, and Reverses Amyloid Pathology and Cognitive Deficit in Aged Tg2576 Mice
Authors: Thakker Deepak R. , Sankaranarayanan Sethu , Weatherspoon Marcy R. , Harrison Jonathan , Pierdomenico Maria , Heisel Jennifer M. , Thompson Lorin A. , Haskell Roy , Grace James E. , Taylor Sarah J. , Albright Charles F. , Shafer Lisa L.
Published: April 2015

Multiple small-molecule inhibitors of the β-secretase enzyme (BACE1) are under preclinical or clinical investigation for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Prior work has illustrated robust lowering of central amyloid β (Aβ) after acute administration of BACE1 inhibitors. However, very few studies have assessed the overall impact of chronically administered BACE1 inhibitors on brain amyloid burden, neuropathology, and behavioral function in aged preclinical models. We investigated the effects of a potent nonbrain-penetrant BACE1 inhibitor, delivered directly to the brain using intracerebroventricular infusion in an aged transgenic mouse model. Intracerebroventricular infusion of the BACE1 inhibitor (0.3–23.5 μg/d) for 8 weeks, initiated in 17-month-old Tg2576 mice, produced dose-dependent increases in brain inhibitor concentrations (0.2–13 μm). BACE1 inhibition significantly reversed the behavioral deficit in contextual fear conditioning, and reduced brain Aβ levels, plaque burden, and associated pathology (e.g., dystrophic neurites), with maximal effects attained with ∼1 μg/d dose. Strikingly, the BACE1 inhibitor also reversed amyloid pathology below baseline levels (amyloid burden at the start of treatment), without adversely affecting cerebral amyloid angiopathy, microhemorrhages, myelination, or neuromuscular function. Inhibitor-mediated decline in brain amyloid pathology was associated with an increase in microglial ramification. This is the first demonstration of chronically administered BACE1 inhibitor to activate microglia, reverse brain amyloid pathology, and elicit functional improvement in an aged transgenic mouse model. Thus, engagement of novel glial-mediated clearance mechanisms may drive disease-modifying therapeutic benefit with BACE1 inhibition in AD.
Nitric Oxide Signaling Is Recruited As a Compensatory Mechanism for Sustaining Synaptic Plasticity in Alzheimer's Disease Mice
Authors: Chakroborty Shreaya , Kim Joyce , Schneider Corinne , West Anthony R. , Stutzmann Grace E.
Published: April 2015

Synaptic plasticity deficits are increasingly recognized as causing the memory impairments which define Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD mouse models, evidence of abnormal synaptic function is present before the onset of cognitive deficits, and presents as increased synaptic depression revealed only when synaptic homeostasis is challenged, such as with suppression of ryanodine receptor (RyR)-evoked calcium signaling. Otherwise, at early disease stages, the synaptic physiology phenotype appears normal. This suggests compensatory mechanisms are recruited to maintain a functionally normal net output of the hippocampal circuit. A candidate calcium-regulated synaptic modulator is nitric oxide (NO), which acts presynaptically to boost vesicle release and glutamatergic transmission. Here we tested whether there is a feedforward cycle between the increased RyR calcium release seen in presymptomatic AD mice and aberrant NO signaling which augments synaptic plasticity. Using a combination of electrophysiological approaches, two-photon calcium imaging, and protein biochemistry in hippocampal tissue from presymptomatic 3xTg-AD and NonTg mice, we show that blocking NO synthesis results in markedly augmented synaptic depression mediated through presynaptic mechanisms in 3xTg-AD mice. Additionally, blocking NO reduces the augmented synaptically evoked dendritic calcium release mediated by enhanced RyR calcium release. This is accompanied by increased nNOS levels in the AD mice and is reversed upon normalization of RyR-evoked calcium release with chronic dantrolene treatment. Thus, recruitment of NO is serving a compensatory role to boost synaptic transmission and plasticity during early AD stages. However, NO's dual role in neuroprotection and neurodegeneration may convert to maladaptive functions as the disease progresses.
Orexin–Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Receptor Heteromers in the Ventral Tegmental Area as Targets for Cocaine
Authors: Navarro Gemma , Quiroz César , Moreno-Delgado David , Sierakowiak Adam , McDowell Kimberly , Moreno Estefanía , Rea William , Cai Ning-Sheng , Aguinaga David , Howell Lesley A. , Hausch Felix , Cortés Antonio , Mallol Josefa , Casadó Vicent , Lluís Carme , Canela Enric I. , Ferré Sergi , McCormick Peter J.
Published: April 2015

Release of the neuropeptides corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and orexin-A in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) play an important role in stress-induced cocaine-seeking behavior. We provide evidence for pharmacologically significant interactions between CRF and orexin-A that depend on oligomerization of CRF1receptor (CRF1R) and orexin OX1receptors (OX1R). CRF1R–OX1R heteromers are the conduits of a negative crosstalk between orexin-A and CRF as demonstrated in transfected cells and rat VTA, in which they significantly modulate dendritic dopamine release. The cocaine target σ1receptor (σ1R) also associates with the CRF1R–OX1R heteromer. Cocaine binding to the σ1R–CRF1R–OX1R complex promotes a long-term disruption of the orexin-A–CRF negative crosstalk. Through this mechanism, cocaine sensitizes VTA cells to the excitatory effects of both CRF and orexin-A, thus providing a mechanism by which stress induces cocaine seeking.
Reactivation of Lysosomal Ca2+Efflux Rescues Abnormal Lysosomal Storage in FIG4-Deficient Cells
Authors: Zou Jianlong , Hu Bo , Arpag Sezgi , Yan Qing , Hamilton Audra , Zeng Yuan-Shan , Vanoye Carlos G. , Li Jun
Published: April 2015

Loss of function of FIG4 leads to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Type 4J, Yunis-Varon syndrome, or an epilepsy syndrome. FIG4 is a phosphatase with its catalytic specificity toward 5′-phosphate of phosphatidylinositol-3,5-diphosphate (PI3,5P2). However, the loss of FIG4 decreases PI3,5P2levels likely due to FIG4's dominant effect in scaffolding a PI3,5P2synthetic protein complex. At the cellular level, all these diseases share similar pathology with abnormal lysosomal storage and neuronal degeneration. Mice with no FIG4 expression (Fig4−/−) recapitulate the pathology in humans with FIG4 deficiency. Using a flow cytometry technique that rapidly quantifies lysosome sizes, we detected an impaired lysosomal fission, but normal fusion, inFig4−/−cells. The fission defect was associated with a robust increase of intralysosomal Ca2+inFig4−/−cells, including FIG4-deficient neurons. This finding was consistent with a suppressed Ca2+efflux of lysosomes because the endogenous ligand of lysosomal Ca2+channel TRPML1 is PI3,5P2that is deficient inFig4−/−cells. We reactivated the TRPML1 channels by application of TRPML1 synthetic ligand, ML-SA1. This treatment reduced the intralysosomal Ca2+level and rescued abnormal lysosomal storage inFig4−/−culture cells andex vivoDRGs. Furthermore, we found that the suppressed Ca2+efflux inFig4−/−culture cells andFig4−/−mouse brains profoundly downregulated the expression/activity of dynamin-1, a GTPase known to scissor organelle membranes during fission. This downregulation made dynamin-1 unavailable for lysosomal fission. Together, our study revealed a novel mechanism explaining abnormal lysosomal storage in FIG4 deficiency. Synthetic ligands of the TRPML1 may become a potential therapy against diseases with FIG4 deficiency.