bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Aeration of Concrete on Acoustic Emission and Fracture Mechanical Parameters Obtained from Three-Point Bending Tests
Authors: Topolář Libor , Šimonová Hana , Misák Petr , Daněk Petr , Keršner Zbyněk , Pazdera Lubos
Published: September 2015

This paper examines the analysis of acoustic emission signals captured during three-point bending fracture tests of concrete specimens with similar water-cement ratio, but one set of specimens was prepared from aerated concrete. The acoustic emission method is an experimental tool well suited for monitoring fracture processes in material. The typical parameters of acoustic emission signals were identified from the acoustic emission records for two different concrete mixtures to further describe the under-the-stress behaviour and failure development. An understanding of microstructure–performance relationships is the key to true understanding of material behaviour. The crack growth was continuously monitored using four acoustic emission sensors mounted on the specimen. The acoustic emission results are accompanied by selected fracture mechanical parameters determined via evaluation of load versus displacement diagrams recorded during three-point bending fracture tests.
Influence of Chemical Admixtures on Properties of Alkali-Activated Slag-Based Mortars
Authors: Bílek Jr. Vlastimil , Kalina Lukáš , Koplík Jan , Novotný Radoslav , Hajdúchová Miroslava , Opravil Tomáš
Published: September 2015

Alkali-activated slag (AAS) based binders can have similar or even better properties in terms of mechanical performance, durability and chemical resistance than ordinary Portland cement (PC), but AAS binders also show some drawbacks, especially high shrinkage and poor rheology. Improvement of these features in the case of PC binder is well established, but a lot of conventional admixtures like superplasticizers do not work in AAS. The influence of shrinkage reducing admixture (SRA) and airentraining admixture (AEA) on mechanical properties, workability and shrinkage was investigated in this study. These admixtures were used in the different dosages in the range of 0–2.0% (by mass of slag). With increasing content of both admixtures compressive and flexural strength decreased. Similar effect was observed for workability. On the other hand, promising results in respect of shrinkage reduction were obtained particularly for SRA, where its 1.0% dose reduced drying shrinkage of the reference mortar by more than 70%. Only slight shrinkage reduction was observed for 0.50% of AEA.
Production of Self Compacting Concrete SCC with Portland and Blended Cement CEM I, CEM II with Fly Ash and Limestone Admixtures
Authors: Křížová Klára , Novosad Petr , Jarolím Tomáš
Published: September 2015

Production of SCC concrete involves using a higher amount of fine particles consisting primarily of using increased amounts of cement and one or more admixtures. Due to the economic performance of Portland cements, recently looking for ways to lower the environmental and economic burdens. The first production of SCC concrete production was recommended only cements CEM I. Now, the standards EN 206 specify such a requirement and therefore attempt to use cement CEM II and higher amount of admixtures. This paper points out the possibility of using blended cement CEM II in combination with admixtures and particular monitors rheological properties of fresh SCC concrete.
Study of Surface Treatment of Freshly Fabricated Concrete Roof Tiles
Authors: Solny Tomas , Masilko Jiri , Švec Jiří , Kolarova Iva , Kratochvil Jiri , Parizek Ladislav , Bednarek Jan
Published: September 2015

This study deals with stability and quality of surface treatment of concrete roof tiles, considering the use of special inorganic binders spraying onto freshly prefabricated surface of concrete roof tiles. Their application leads to smoothing of surface defects generated from previous processing. Method of applying the coating is discussed in this work among with stability study of styrene-acrylate cement mixtures. Impact of presence of selected styrene-acrylate copolymer onto the hydration of cement is evaluated, in order to verify, for how long could be prepared mixture used for treating freshly fabricated surface of concrete roof tiles. Pull-off tests results after freeze-thaw test are further presented in this study to verify designed coating process properties.
Fibre Reinforced Polymer Rebar
Authors: Prokeš Jan
Published: September 2015

The paper is focused on the use of advanced composite materials in the real application areas of buildings exposed to extreme environmental stress. The paper describe properties of composite rebar, especially with regards to long-term resistance to chemical and corrosion attack, minimization of heat transfer or resistance in construction with reduced concrete cover. The paper also presents behavior of composite rebar and concrete samples with composite reinforcement during loading and fire tests.
Alcohol use amongst learners in rural high school in South Africa
Authors: Chauke Thembisile M. , Van der Heever Hendry , Hoque Muhammad E.
Published: September 2015

Background: Drinking behaviour by adolescents is a significant public health challenge nationally and internationally. Alcohol use has serious challenges that continue to deprive adolescents of their normal child growth and development. Drinking is associated with dangers that include fighting, crime, unintentional accidents, unprotected sex, violence and others.Aim: The aim of the study is to investigate drinking patterns, and factors contributing to drinking, amongst secondary school learners in South Africa.Method: The sample included 177 male (46.6%) and 206 female (53.4%) respondents in the age range from 15–23 years, selected by stratified random sampling.Results: The results indicated that 35.5% of male and 29.7% of female respondents used alcohol. Both male and female respondents consumed six or more alcohol units (binge drinking) within 30 days; on one occasion the consumption was 17.5% and 15.9% respectively. It was found that alcohol consumption increases with age, 32.2% of 15–17 year-olds and 53.2% of 18–20 year-olds consumed different types of alcohol. It was deduced that 28.9% respondents reported that one of the adults at home drank alcohol regularly, and 9.3% reported that both their parents drank alcohol daily. It was found that 27.6% of the respondents agreed that friends made them conform to drinking. The tenth and eleventh grade reported 15.2% of male and 13.9% of female respondents were aware that alcohol can be addictive.Conclusion: This study found that age, gender, parental alcohol use and peer pressure were found to be the major contributing factors to alcohol use amongst learners Prevention campaigns such as introducing the harmful effects of alcohol use amongst learners are of utmost importance in reducing alcohol use amongst learners in South Africa.
How 'Afro-Americanophilia' became Polyphilia: Joachim-Ernst Berendt’s Journey from Jazz to “Weltmusik”
Authors: Hurley Andrew Wright
Published: September 2015

This article contributes to our understanding of the continuities and disconnects in the way that ‘race,’ and in particular African-American culture, were conceived of in the long postwar era in West Germany. It does so by examining some salient racial aspects in the writings and production activities of West-German ‘jazz pope,’ Joachim-Ernst Berendt, between the late 1940s and the mid-1980s. I demonstrate that the late 1960s brought about a sharpening in talk concerning the racial ‘ownership’ of jazz, and that in these circumstances, Berendt proceeded beyond his earlier, liberal elaborations about jazz, race, and African-Americans to advance an inclusive, ecumenical model of ‘Weltmusik’ (world music). Germany’s National Socialist history figured in important ways in his conception of both jazz and then Weltmusik. Whilst he initially saw jazz as an antidote to National Socialism, by the late 1960s and 1970s, he regarded certain traits of jazz discourse to be, themselves, proto-fascist.  Far from being a boon, Afro-Americanophilia—or at least one strain of it—now became something from which to distance oneself. What was important for Berendt, as for others of his generation, was distance from the past, as much as seeking out racial Others in Germany, engaging with them on their own terms, and yielding to a new racial ‘relationships of representation’ (Stuart Hall).
Survey Essay 1. Periodizing and Historicizing German Afro-Americanophilia: From Antebellum to Postwar (1850-1965)
Authors: Ege Moritz , Hurley Andrew Wright
Published: September 2015

In this first essay, we delve into significant moments in the history (and pre-history) of twentieth century Afro-Americanophilia in Germany. We establish a periodisation stretching from the nineteenth century until the mid-1960s (from which point our second essay will continue), and take in the pre-colonial, the colonial, the Weimar, the Nazi; and the post-war eras.  We draw out some of the particularly significant moments, ruptures, and continuities within that time frame. We also identify some of the salient ways scholars have interpreted ‘Afro-Americanophilia’ during the period.  Focusing on a variety of practices of appropriation, communicative media, actors and forms of agency, power differentials, and sociocultural contexts, we discuss positive images of and affirmative approaches to black people in German culture and in its imaginaries. We attend to who was active in Afro-Americanophilia, in what ways, and what the effects of that agency were. Our main focus is on white German Afro-Americanophiles, but—without attempting to write a history of African Americans, black people in Germany, or Black Germans— we also inquire into the ways that the latter reacted to, suffered under the expectations levied upon them, or were able to engage with the demand for ‘black cultural traffic.’
Environmental controls on leaf wax δD ratios in surface peats across the monsoonal region of China
Authors: Huang X. , Xue J. , Wang X. , Meyers P. A.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. Leaf wax molecular and isotopic ratios are generally considered robust isotopic paleohydrologic proxies. Here we evaluate the proxy value of the molecular distributions and hydrogen isotopic compositions of long chain n-alkanes (δDalk) in surface peats collected from peatlands across a range of annual air temperatures from 1 to 15 °C and a range of annual mean precipitation from 720 to 2070 mm in the monsoonal region of China. The alkane ratios (ACL and CPI) and δDalk values show relatively large variations in multiple samples from a single site, highlighting the complexity of these ratios at a small spatial scale. In the montane Zoigê peatland, the apparent fractionation between precipitation and δDalk is more positive than in the other six sites, which is possibly an effect of the higher conductivity of the water in this high elevation site (3500 m a.s.l.). At a larger spatial scale, the site-averaged CPI ratios and the δDalk values of n-C29 and n-C31 alkanes show significant correlation with the air temperature and precipitation. These results support the application of the CPI ratio and the δDalk ratios of n-C29 and n-C31 alkanes as sensitive paleohydrologic proxies on millennial and larger timescales.
The challenges of Web accessibility: The technical and social aspects of a truly universal Web
Authors: Brown Justin , Hollier Scott
Published: September 2015

This paper explores the concept of Web accessibility and how technologies, guidelines and policies have evolved since the turn of the twenty-first century in order to address the ideals of equitable access to online content for all people. The paper discusses the high availability of assistive technologies built into consumer devices and the associated accessibility guidelines for Web sites and content. Through examination of the literature, this paper shows that the accessible design and assessment of Web sites can be complicated, and that social media, corporate and government Web sites are yet to fully realise the goals of an accessible Web. The paper concludes with the view that disability awareness, more than technology and policy, is perhaps the primary obstacle to a more universally accessible Web.
Code in action: Closing the black box of WCAG 2.0, A Latourian reading of Web accessibility
Authors: Kreps David , Goff Mhorag
Published: September 2015

The focus of much academic work on Web accessibility has been concerned with the lack of implementation of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines. There seems, as yet, however, to have been little critical reflection on the Guidelines themselves — save perhaps some awareness of the heterogeneous nature of the Web, and the difficulties facing Web developers trying to ensure their work displays true to their intentions across a wide range of different browsers and devices, making use of continually evolving and contested code. Yet, as this paper highlights, the long drawn out process by which version 2.0 of the WCAG came into being hides many skeletons, including aspects of the process of developing standards that bear closer scrutiny, and reveal much when viewed through Latourian eyes. The findings of this paper suggest that the WCAG2.0 are almost irrelevant today — to the detriment of those for whom they were made — and that the process of creating them was at fault.
Blurred lines: Accessibility, disability, and definitional limitations
Authors: Ellcessor Elizabeth
Published: September 2015

Using the example of recent access problems caused by Apple’s iOS7 operating system for the iPhone, this paper interrogates the history and utility of the concept of “accessibility.” The term’s reliance on definitions of disability, particularly in the U.S. legal context, and the blurring nature of information technologies have made it increasingly difficult to differentiate between accessibility for people with disabilities and usability concerns for the general public. The author uses disability theory to argue that access is a complicated phenomenon, and that even given the difficulties in establishing definitions of “accessibility,” the concept is worthwhile because it carries with it reminders of the politics of difference, the difficulties of access, the history of disability rights, and the relationship of media to civil rights and public participation.
Revolution and Cien años de soledad in Naguib Mahfouz's Layālī alf laylah
Authors: Nasser Tahia Abdel
Published: September 2015

This article compares two important political novels of the second half of the twentieth century: the Colombian writer Gabriel García Márquez's Cien años de soledad (1967) (One Hundred Years of Solitude) and the Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz's Layālī alf laylah (1982) (Arabian Nights and Days). Mahfouz's Layālī alf laylah, a modern Arab adaptation of The Thousand and One Nights, offers, I argue, a reworking of the style of magical realism popularized by García Márquez in his masterwork Cien años de soledad. Examining Mahfouz's inspiration by García Márquez's Cien años de soledad reveals a connection between two world literatures that reflects the importance of other, non-Western literature to Arab writers. A reading of Mahfouz's novel through the influence of García Márquez's Cien años de soledad provides an understanding of some of the literary connections between Latin American and Arabic literatures by focusing on García Márquez's mythologizing of Latin American history and Mahfouz's allegory of Egyptian politics in the 1970s.
Expediente V4N1
Authors: AtoZ Comitê Editorial
Published: September 2015

informações sobre a elaboração do respectivo número
Hierarchical Kinematic Modelling and Optimal Design of a Novel Hexapod Robot with Integrated Limb Mechanism
Authors: Xin Guiyang , Deng Hua , Zhong Guoliang , Wang Hengsheng
Published: September 2015

This paper presents a novel hexapod robot, hereafter named PH-Robot, with three degrees of freedom (3-DOF) parallel leg mechanisms based on the concept of an integrated limb mechanism (ILM) for the integration of legged locomotion and arm manipulation. The kinematic model plays an important role in the parametric optimal design and motion planning of robots. However, models of parallel mechanisms are often difficult to obtain because of the implicit relationship between the motions of actuated joints and the motion of a moving platform. In order to derive the kinematic equations of the proposed hexapod robot, an extended hierarchical kinematic modelling method is proposed. According to the kinematic model, the geometrical parameters of the leg are optimized utilizing a comprehensive objective function that considers both dexterity and payload. PH-Robot has distinct advantages in accuracy and load ability over a robot with serial leg mechanisms through the former's comparison of performance indices. The reachable workspace of the leg verifies its ability to walk and manipulate. The results of the trajectory tracking experiment demonstrate the correctness of the kinematic model of the hexapod robot.
Characterization of Polyurethane Foam Added with Synthesized Acetic and Oleic-Modified TiO2 Nanocrystals
Authors: Lorusso Caterina , Vergaro Viviana , Monteduro Annagrazia , Saracino Antonio , Ciccarella Giuseppe , Congedo Paolo Maria , Scremin Barbara Federica
Published: September 2015

In this work, the effects due to the addition of nanoparticles in polyurethane foams on thermo-physical and mechanical properties have been evaluated. Two types of nanoparticles were used, acetic and oleic-modified titania nanocrystals TiO2. The nanoparticles were first dispersed in a polyol component via the use of sonication; then, the doped polyol was mixed with isocyanate. The different characterization techniques describe the state of the dispersion of fillers in foam. The effects of these additions in foam were evaluated according to UNI EN 826-UNI EN 12087- UNI EN 13165, in terms of thermo-physical and mechanical properties, i.e., diffusivity, conductivity, compressive strength and water uptake. The microstructure of the foam was analysed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The foam obtained with nanoadditives presented improved mechanical characteristics compared to neat foam, presumably due to the different shape of the nanoparticles. The addition of nanoparticles favoured the formation of nucleation centres; this effect was likely due to the size, shape and distribution of particles and due to their surface treatment.
Chapter 3. The place names of Franz Josef Land: framing the problem
Authors: Forsberg Magnus
Published: September 2015

A brief introduction to the geographic place names of Franz Josef Land. Franz Josef Land is located in the western Arctic though for much of the 20th Century it was closed behind the Iron Curtain. Prior to that, there were a series of Western expeditions between the ‘official’ discovery in 1873 and the departure of the American Fiala group in 1905. From these expeditions, the islands are heavily connected to the history of the search for the North Pole.
Chapter 5. Evelyn Briggs Baldwin and Operti Bay
Authors: Lockerby Amanda
Published: September 2015

During the second Wellman polar expedition, to Franz Josef Land in 1898, Wellman’s second-in-command, Evelyn Briggs Baldwin, gave the waters south of Cape Heller on the northwest of Wilczek Land the name ‘Operti Bay.’ Proof of this is found in Baldwin’s journal around the time of 16 September 1898. Current research indicates that Operti Bay was named after an Italian artist, Albert Operti. Operti’s membership in a New York City masonic fraternity named Kane Lodge, as well as correspondence between Baldwin and Rudolf Kersting, confirm that Baldwin and Operti engaged in a friendly relationship that resulted in the naming of the bay.
Acknowledgements and future directions
Authors: Capelotti P.J.
Published: September 2015

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Front matter
Authors: Capelotti P.J.
Published: September 2015

Cover page, colophon and table of contents
Eurasian winter cooling in the warming hiatus of 1998–2012
Authors: Li Chao , Stevens Bjorn , Marotzke Jochem
Published: September 2015

We investigate the relative magnitudes of the contributions of surface temperature trends from different latitude bands to the recent warming hiatus. We confirm from five different global data sets that the global‐mean surface temperature trend in the period 1998–2012 is strongly influenced by a pronounced Eurasian winter cooling trend. To understand the drivers of this winter cooling trend, we perform three 20‐member ensembles of simulations with different prescribed sea surface temperature and sea ice in the atmospheric model ECHAM6. Our experimental results suggest that the Arctic sea ice loss does not drive systematic changes in the Northern Hemisphere large‐scale circulation in the past decades. The observed Eurasian winter cooling trend over 1998–2012 arises essentially from atmospheric internal variability and constitutes an extreme climate event. However, the observed reduction in Arctic sea ice enhances the variability of Eurasian winter climate and thus increases the probability of an extreme Eurasian winter cooling trend.
Long‐term drift induced by the electronic crosstalk in Terra MODIS Band 29
Authors: Sun Junqiang , Madhavan Sriharsha , Xiong Xiaoxiong , Wang Menghua
Published: September 2015

Terra MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is one of the key sensors in the NASA's Earth Observing System, which has successfully completed 15 years of on‐orbit operation. Terra MODIS continues to collect valuable information of the Earth's energy radiation from visible to thermal infrared wavelengths. The instrument has been well characterized over its lifetime using onboard calibrators whose calibration references are traceable to the National Institute of Standards and Technology standards. In this paper, we focus on the electronic crosstalk effect of Terra MODIS band 29, a thermal emissive band (TEB) whose center wavelength is 8.55 µm. Previous works have established the mechanism to describe the effect of the electronic crosstalk in the TEB channels of Terra MODIS. This work utilizes the established methodology to apply to band 29. The electronic crosstalk is identified and characterized using the regularly scheduled lunar observations. The moon being a near‐pulse‐like source allowed easy detection of extraneous signals around the actual Moon surface. First, the crosstalk‐transmitting bands are identified along with their amplitudes. The crosstalk effect then is characterized using a moving average mechanism that allows a high fidelity of the magnitude to be corrected. The lunar‐based analysis unambiguously shows that the crosstalk contamination is becoming more severe in recent years and should be corrected in order to maintain calibration quality for the affected spectral bands. Finally, two radiometrically well‐characterized sites, Pacific Ocean and Libya 1 desert, are used to assess the impact of crosstalk effect. It is shown that the crosstalk contamination induces a long‐term upward drift of 1.5 K in band 29 brightness temperature of MODIS Collection 6 L1B, which could significantly impact the science products. The crosstalk effect also induces strong detector‐to‐detector differences, which result in severe stripping in the Earth view images. With crosstalk correction applied, both the long‐term drift and detector differences are significantly reduced.
Future vegetation patterns and primary production in the coastal wetlands of East China under sea level rise, sediment reduction, and saltwater intrusion
Authors: Ge Zhen‐Ming , Cao Hao‐Bin , Cui Li‐Fang , Zhao Bin , Zhang Li‐Quan
Published: September 2015

To explore the effects of sea level rise (SLR), sediment reduction (SR), and saltwater intrusion (SWI) on the vegetation patterns and primary production of one exotic (Spartina alterniflora) and two native dominant (Scirpus mariqueter and Phragmites australis) species in the coastal wetlands of East China, range expansion monitoring and stress experiments were conducted, followed by model prediction. After a rapid invasion period, the expansion rate of S. alterniflora slowed down due to the decreasing availability of suitable habitat under prolonged inundation. SLR was shown to decrease the colonization of S. alterniflora and the native P. australis up to 2100. In contrast, the native S. mariqueter that has a high tolerance of inundation increased in area following SLR, due to a reduction in competition from S. alterniflora in low‐lying habitats and even recolonized areas previously invaded by the exotic species. The combination of SLR and SR resulted in further degradation of S. alterniflora and P. australis, while the area of S. mariqueter was not reduced significantly. The decrease in the area of vegetation would reduce the gross primary production under SLR and SR. SWI exacerbates the impacts, especially for P. australis, because S. alterniflora and S. mariqueter have a higher tolerance of salinity. Thus, the coastal vegetation pattern was predicted to be modified due to species‐specific adaption to changed geophysical features. This study indicated that the native species better adapted to prolonged inundation and increased salinity might once again become key contributors to primary production on the muddy coasts of East China.
TPH2 gene polymorphisms and bipolar disorder: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Gao Jin , Jia Mingrui , Qiao Dongdong , Qiu Huimin , Sokolove Jeremy , Zhang Jingxuan , Pan Zhenglun
Published: September 2015

Background: Disturbance of the serotonergic system contributes to the etiology of bipolar disorder (BD). Tryptophan hydroxylase‐2 (TPH2) is an important rate‐limiting enzyme in the synthetic pathway for brain serotonin and has been suggested to play a role in BD. Materials and methods: We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of all studies to date investigating the association studies between TPH2 and BD published before Aug 2014. All studies were abstracted from PubMed, Embase, HuGNet, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI). Manuscripts and the supplementary documents of published genome‐wide association studies in the field were also included. Effect sizes of independent loci that have been studied in more than three articles were synthesized using fixed and random effects models. Results: Eight eligible studies addressed association between 63 TPH2 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with BD, after linkage disequilibrium analysis, 12 independent SNPs were identified. Finally, three SNPs (rs4760820, rs11178998, and rs7954758) were found associated with BD using fixed effects models, and rs4760820 and rs11178998 were still associated with BD even with the more conservative random effects models. Conclusions: rs4760820 and rs11178998 were identified to have strong genetic association with BD in present study though confirmation will require larger sample sizes and in additional populations. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cobalt nanoparticles supported on ionic liquid‐functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for Heck reaction
Authors: Hajipour Abdol R. , Khorsandi Zahra , Karimi Hirbod
Published: September 2015

A novel and environmentally friendly cobalt nanoparticle catalyst supported on ionic liquid‐functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes was successfully prepared and evaluated as a heterogeneous catalyst for the Mizoroki–Heck reaction. Several reaction parameters, including type and amount of solvent and base, were evaluated. This nanocatalyst could also be recovered and reused at least six times without any discernible decrease in its catalytic activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of Ball Milling and KOH Activation on Electrochemical Properties of Pitch‐based Carbon Fibers
Authors: Choi Jung‐Yun , Shim Sang Eun , Park Soo‐Jin
Published: September 2015

Ball‐milled and chemically activated pitch‐based carbon fibers (PCF) were prepared for use as electrode materials. Ball milling altered the structure of PCF from fibers to micro‐sized particles with loss of porosity. In contrast, chemical activation using KOH facilitated the development of pore structures. The supercapacitive behavior of treated PCF was assessed using cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge experiments in 6 M KOH electrolytic solution. BAPCF900, the sample subjected to combined ball milling and chemical treatment, activated at 900 °C, exhibited a specific capacitance of about 80 F/g at a current density of 0.2 A/g; this good capacitance is attributed to a specific surface area of 803 m2/g and a total pore volume of 0.352 cm3/g, and is related to the appropriate pore structure for electrode application, comprising mesopores and micropores.
‘Biologizing’ Psychopathy: Ethical, Legal, and Research Implications at the Interface of Epigenetics and Chronic Antisocial Conduct
Authors: Tamatea Armon J.
Published: September 2015

Epigenetics, a field that links genetics and environmental influences on the expression of phenotypic traits, offers to increase our understanding of the development and trajectory of disease and psychological disorders beyond that thought of traditional genetic research and behavioural measures. By extension, this new perspective has implications for risk and risk management of antisocial behaviour where there is a biological component, such as psychopathy. Psychopathy is a personality disorder associated with repeat displays of antisocial behaviour, and is associated with the disproportionate imposition of harm on communities. Despite advances in our knowledge of psychopathic individuals, the construct remains complex and is hampered by a lack of integration across a range of fundamental domains. The clinical and forensic research on psychopathy is brought into conversation with the emerging field of epigenetics to highlight critical issues of (1) clinical definition and diagnosis, (2) assessment, (3) aetiology of psychopathic phenotypes, and (4) treatment and rehabilitation approaches. Broader ethical and legal questions of the role of epigenetic mechanisms in the management of psychopathy beyond the criminal justice arena are also outlined. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Arginine as an eluent overcomes the hindrance of monoclonal antibody quantification by dextran sulfate in protein A affinity chromatography
Authors: Kim Bong Gyun , Park Hong Woo
Published: September 2015

Analytical chromatography using protein A affinity columns was employed for the fast and simple quantitative analysis of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) from suspension cultures of recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (rCHO) cells. Reliable results could not be obtained from analysis of rCHO cell culture supernatants containing dextran sulfate using elution buffers such as phosphate, glycine, or MgCl2. These problems increased as the number of analysis and the concentration of dextran sulfate in samples increased. Arginine was identified as an alternative eluent to overcome the hindrance by dextran sulfate. When the samples contain dextran sulfate up to 100 mg/L, the elution buffer containing 0.6–1.0 M arginine at pH 3.0–3.8 is useful for the effective analysis. Reproducible results in the mAb quantification could be obtained by this developed arginine elution buffer from rCHO cell culture supernatants containing dextran sulfate. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 31:1536–1541, 2015
On behalf of tradition: An analysis of medical student and physician beliefs on how anatomy should be taught
Authors: Marom Assaf , Tarrasch Ricardo
Published: September 2015

Human anatomy, one of the basic medical sciences, is a time‐honored discipline. As such, it is taught using traditional methods, cadaveric dissection chief among them. Medical imaging has recently gained popularity as a teaching method in anatomy courses. In light of a general tendency to reduce course hours, this has resulted in a decrease of dissection time and intense debates between traditional and modern approaches to anatomy teaching. In an attempt to explore trends in the attitudes of medical professionals toward the various methods of anatomy teaching, medical imaging in particular, the authors constructed a questionnaire and conducted a nationwide survey among medical students (in all stages at medical school), residents, and specialists in all fields of medicine. The survey results demonstrated indisputable appreciation of traditional methods of anatomy teaching, particularly cadaveric dissection, and showed that specialists believe significantly more strongly than clinical or preclinical students that anatomy and medical imaging should be taught separately. Strong correlations among the components of the traditional approach to anatomy instruction were also found. In light of the results, it was recommended that imaging should be incorporated into anatomy courses with caution, and, as far as possible, not at the expense of dissection time. It was advised that medical imaging has to be taught as a separate course, parallel to a traditional anatomy course. This will allow anatomical principles to be appreciated, which in turn will serve the students when they study radiology.

“And we proceed in the following order: in front walks Nikolai with the slides or atlases, I come after him, and after me, his head humbly lowered, strides the cart horse; or else, if necessary, a cadaver is carried in first, after the cadaver walks Nikolai, and so on. At my appearance, the students rise, then sit down, and the murmur of the sea suddenly grows still. Calm ensues.” —From “A Boring Story: From the Notebook of an Old Man” by Anton Chekhov. Clin. Anat. 28:980–984, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Direct Observation of Kinetic Pathways of Biomolecular Recognition
Authors: Choudhury Susobhan , Batabyal Subrata , Mondal Prasanna Kumar , Singh Priya , Lemmens Peter , Pal Samir Kumar
Published: September 2015

The pathways of molecular recognition, which is a central event in all biological processes, belong to the most important subjects of contemporary research in biomolecular science. By using fluorescence spectroscopy in a microfluidics channel, it can be determined that molecular recognition of α‐chymotrypsin in hydrous surroundings at two different pH values (3.6 and 6.3) follows two distinctly different pathways. Whereas one corroborates an induced‐fit model (pH 3.6), the other one (pH 6.3) is consistent with the selected‐fit model of biomolecular recognition. The role of massive structural perturbations of differential recognition pathways could be ruled out by earlier XRD studies, rather was consistent with the femtosecond‐resolved observation of dynamic flexibility of the protein at different pH values. At low concentrations of ligands, the selected‐fit model dominates, whereas increasing the ligand concentration leads to the induced‐fit model. From molecular modelling and experimental results, the timescale associated with the conformational flexibility of the protein plays a key role in the selection of a pathway in biomolecular recognition.
A simple heat transfer model for laminar film condensation of superheated vapours on a vertical plate
Authors: Zhao Zhixiang , Li Yanzhong , Zhu Kang , Ma Yuan
Published: September 2015

A mathematical model is developed for the study of free convection film condensation for superheated vapours on a vertical plate. The local film thickness as well as the local heat transfer coefficient (HTC) can be obtained through analytically solving the model. The analytical expression shows that local film thickness is proportional to x1/4, i.e. δx = cx1/4, where c is the only positive solution of a quartic equation, and the expression is similar to the expression of Nusselt's model. The evaluation of thermophysical properties in the film is improved, which could enhance prediction accuracy. Furthermore, the model is validated by Shang and Wang's model, which strictly solved the two‐phase boundary equations of vapour and liquid film with consideration of various factors. It is obvious that the proposed model is precise for the prediction of superheated vapour film condensation and convenient for use. In addition, the characteristics of film condensation for water vapour as well as other vapours such as R134a, methane (CH4), nitrogen (N2), and hydrogen (H2) are extendedly studied and compared. The results show that variations of heat transfer increase coefficients (HTICs) with subcooling for various vapours have similar trends, but the HTICs are different, e.g. the HTIC for H2 is 34 times greater than that for water vapour.
Spatial and ecological population genetic structures within two island‐endemic Aeonium species of different niche width
Authors: Harter David E. V. , Thiv Mike , Weig Alfons , Jentsch Anke , Beierkuhnlein Carl
Published: September 2015

The Crassulacean genus Aeonium is a well‐known example for plant species radiation on oceanic archipelagos. However, while allopatric speciation among islands is documented for this genus, the role of intra‐island speciation due to population divergence by topographical isolation or ecological heterogeneity has not yet been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate intraspecific genetic structures and to identify spatial and ecological drivers of genetic population differentiation on the island scale. We analyzed inter simple sequence repeat variation within two island‐endemic Aeonium species of La Palma: one widespread generalist that covers a large variety of different habitat types (Ae. davidbramwellii) and one narrow ecological specialist (Ae. nobile), in order to assess evolutionary potentials on this island. Gene pool differentiation and genetic diversity patterns were associated with major landscape structures in both species, with phylogeographic implications. However, overall levels of genetic differentiation were low. For the generalist species, outlier loci detection and loci–environment correlation approaches indicated moderate signatures of divergent selection pressures linked to temperature and precipitation variables, while the specialist species missed such patterns. Our data point to incipient differentiation among populations, emphasizing that ecological heterogeneity and topographical structuring within the small scales of an island can foster evolutionary processes. Very likely, such processes have contributed to the radiation of Aeonium on the Canary Islands. There is also support for different evolutionary mechanisms between generalist and specialist species.
Effects of flooding on seedling establishment in two Australian riparian trees with contrasting distributions; Acacia stenophylla A. Cunn. ex Benth. and Casuarina cunninghamiana Miq.
Authors: Maxwell Adam , Capon Samantha J. , James Cassandra S.
Published: September 2015

Riparian habitats in arid and semi‐arid landscapes are characterised by unpredictable flooding and drought with favourable opportunities for seedling establishment limited to short periods following floodwater recession. Tree species persisting under such conditions might therefore be expected to exhibit traits that facilitate seedling growth and survival in the face of unpredictable flooding and drought. We examined seedling growth in response to flooding in two common eastern Australian riparian tree species with contrasting distributions: Acacia stenophylla, common in lowland riparian habitats of the arid and semi‐arid interior where average annual rainfall is below 500 mm, and Casuarina cunninghamiana, widespread in upland and coastal catchments with average annual rainfall over 500 mm. We conducted a glasshouse experiment to investigate seedling growth and survival over 90 days under a range of watering treatments including continuous flooding, flooding followed by drying and continuously moist conditions. Seedlings of both species exhibited high levels of flood tolerance, apparently facilitated by a capacity to halt growth and delay development rather than via plastic growth responses. Both species also displayed rapid and opportunistic growth in response to moist conditions; however, this was around three‐fold greater in A. stenophylla seedlings. Our results suggest that seedling establishment traits influence the distribution of these widespread riparian species and contribute to the capacity of A. stenophylla to persist under the stressful and unpredictable conditions characteristic of arid and semi‐arid riparian habitats. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
NF‐κB‐dependent signals control BOB.1/OBF.1 and Oct2 transcriptional activity in B cells
Authors: Kilzheimer Melanie , Quandt Jasmin , Langhans Julia , Weihrich Petra , Wirth Thomas , Brunner Cornelia
Published: September 2015

The transcriptional co‐activator BOB.1/OBF.1 is crucial for Octamer‐driven transcription in B cells. BOB.1/OBF.1‐deficiency leads to tremendous defects in B‐cell development and function. Therefore, in the past research focused on the identification of BOB.1/OBF.1 target genes. However, the regulation of BOB.1/OBF.1 expression itself is poorly understood. Here we show that in B cells NF‐κB as well as to some extent NFAT proteins are involved in the activation of basal as well as inducible BOB.1/OBF.1 expression by direct binding to the BOB.1/OBF.1 promoter. Moreover, the analysis of different inducers of NF‐κB, like several TLR ligands, TNF‐α, BAFF, or LTα1β2, revealed that both the canonical and noncanonical NF‐κB pathways are involved in the induction of BOB.1/OBF.1 gene. The identification of so far unknown inducers that regulate BOB.1/OBF.1 expression in B cells provides novel insights in the potential function of BOB.1/OBF.1 during different aspects of B‐cell development and function.
Lipid carriers for delivery of celecoxib: In vitro, in vivo assessment of nanomedicine in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kishore Narra , Raja Modhugoor Devendiran , Kumar Chinnaiyan Senthil , Dhanalekshmi Unnikrishnan , Srinivasan Rajagopal
Published: September 2015

Celecoxib loaded tristearin lipid nanoparticles (CEL‐TS‐LN) formulation was prepared by micro emulsion technique. The prepared CEL‐TS‐LN formulations were characterized by photon correlation spectroscopy (PCS), Zeta potential, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), in vitro release kinetics, In vivo toxicity and pharmacokinetics; and Freund's adjuvant‐induced arthritic studies were conducted. The mean diameter of the CEL‐TS‐LN was about 188 nm; the particles had spherical morphology and an amorphous nature. In vitro drug release study of CEL‐TS‐LN revealed sustained drug release of 62% for 36 hrs; and the drug release was found to follow zero order and Fickian diffusion mechanism. The biochemical and haematology reports of in vivo toxicity studies revealed that CEL‐TS‐LN does not exhibit any toxic symptoms on vital organs and could be safe. With 88% percent inhibition of edema, serum biochemical parameters of CEL‐TS‐LN treated animal groups showed significant difference (p < 0.05) compared to arthritic control (without treatment). In conclusion, the results clearly suggested that CEL‐TS‐LN facilitated sustained release enhanced bioavailability and improved therapeutic efficiency of the encapsulated celecoxib drug.

Practical applications: In this paper we stress the importance of solid lipid nanoparticles for oral delivery. We also discuss the feasibility of large scale production of celecoxib loaded tristearin lipid nanoparticles (CEL‐TS‐LN) by micro emulsion technique for industrial application. Celecoxib (CEL) has been recommended as oral use for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Low oral bioavailability and long term oral administration of CEL produces severe gastrointestinal side effects. CEL‐TS‐LN holds promise for safe, improved bioavailability and enhanced therapeutic efficiency in the treatment of RA.

Successfully incorporated celecoxib into tristearin solid lipid Nanoparticles (CEL‐TS‐LN).The optimized CEL‐TS‐LN preparation was exhibited spherical morphology, amorphous nature, maximum entrapment efficiency and sustained release of celecoxib. CEL‐TS‐LN does not exhibit any toxic symptoms, enhanced bioavailability and therapeutic efficiency in In Vivo.
A numerical study of the effect of brine displaced from CO2 storage in a saline formation on groundwater
Authors: Hussain Furqan , Michael Karsten , Cinar Yildiray
Published: September 2015

This paper presents a numerical simulation study that examines the CO2 injection‐induced salinity changes in groundwater formations. We use a simplified numerical model to simulate the migration of formation water caused by pressure build‐up during CO2 injection. A stacked reservoir consisting of a storage formation overlain by a geological seal and groundwater aquifer is modeled. We use a commercial reservoir simulator to run various realizations with different seal permeabilities, injection rates, lateral boundary conditions, and groundwater production rates. We then track salinity changes calculated by the simulations. We find that lateral boundary conditions and seal permeabilities are the most critical parameters that govern lateral and vertical displacement of formation water. If the seal permeability is high enough or the lateral boundary is closed, the vertical fluid displacement dominates the lateral displacement. Depending on seal thickness, injection rate and reservoir salinity, this has the potential to cause significant salinity change in the overlying groundwater aquifer. If the seal permeability is low or the lateral boundary is open, then the lateral displacement becomes dominant. If the storage formation extends to an up‐dip shallow groundwater formation, the higher the lateral fluid displacement the higher the increase in salinity of the groundwater. Moreover, salinity changes occur in the deeper part of the groundwater formation because displaced water is heavier than groundwater. This study shows that tracking salinity changes in numerical simulations may provide a quantitative measure of the change in groundwater quality. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Stable 5-Hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) Acquisition Marks Gene Activation During Chondrogenic Differentiation
Authors: Taylor Sarah EB , Li Ye Henry , Smeriglio Piera , Rath Madhusikta , Wong Wing H , Bhutani Nidhi
Published: September 2015

Regulation of gene expression changes during chondrogenic differentiation by DNA methylation and demethylation is little understood. Methylated cytosines (5mC) are oxidized by the ten-eleven-translocation (TET) proteins to 5-hydroxymethylcytosines (5hmC), 5-formylcytosines (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosines (5caC), eventually leading to a replacement by unmethylated cytosines (C), ie, DNA demethylation. Additionally, 5hmC is stable and acts as an epigenetic mark by itself. Here, we report that global changes in 5hmC mark chondrogenic differentiation in vivo and in vitro. Tibia anlagen and growth plate analyses during limb development at mouse embryonic days E 11.5, 13.5, and 17.5 showed dynamic changes in 5hmC levels in the differentiating chondrocytes. A similar increase in 5hmC levels was observed in the ATDC5 chondroprogenitor cell line accompanied by increased expression of the TET proteins during in vitro differentiation. Loss of TET1 in ATDC5 decreased 5hmC levels and impaired differentiation, demonstrating a functional role for TET1-mediated 5hmC dynamics in chondrogenic differentiation. Global analyses of the 5hmC-enriched sequences during early and late chondrogenic differentiation identified 5hmC distribution to be enriched in the regulatory regions of genes preceding the transcription start site (TSS), as well as in the gene bodies. Stable gains in 5hmC were observed in specific subsets of genes, including genes associated with cartilage development and in chondrogenic lineage-specific genes. 5hmC gains in regulatory promoter and enhancer regions as well as in gene bodies were strongly associated with activated but not repressed genes, indicating a potential regulatory role for DNA hydroxymethylation in chondrogenic gene expression. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.