bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Index of Teaching Stress—Short Form (ITS—SF)
Authors: Cleliazurlo Maria , Pes Daniela , Romano Rosaria
Published: November 2015

WITHDRAWAL NOTICE for Cleliazurlo, M., Pes, D., & Romano, R. (2015). Factor Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Index of Teaching Stress— Short Form (ITS—SF). Psychological Reports, 117(3), 763–780. DOI: 10.2466/ 08.PR0.117c24z5 The article has been withdrawn at the request of the author. The author contacted the journal to inform them that PARS, the rightsholder of the Index of Teaching Stress (“ITS”), expressed concern at the author’s unauthorized creation and publication of a short form version of the ITS. Although the author had received permission to validate an Italian version of ITS, the rights holder did not permit the development and publication of the resulting short form, and requested the article be withdrawn from access. If you have any questions about this, please contact SAGE.

This study analyses factor structure and psychometric properties of the Italian short version of the Index of Teaching Stress–Short Form (ITS–SF). The original version of the ITS (90 items) was submitted to 567 teachers randomly drawn from a cross-section of school levels. Confirmatory factor analysis to check the factor structure was unsatisfactory, and Cronbach's α (.98) indicated a redundancy of items. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted for each section of the test and cross-loading items were eliminated. The resulting ITS–SF consists of 43 items, tapping eight meaningful and adequately reliable dimensions substantially corresponding to all dimensions measured by the original version of the ITS. The Italian short version of the Index of Teaching Stress constitutes a reliable measure of teacher stress in educative interactions.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Dropout Rates in Youth Soccer
Authors: Møllerløkken Nina Elise , Lorås Håvard , Pedersen Arve Vorland
Published: November 2015

Despite the many benefits of involvement in youth sports, participation in them declines throughout childhood and adolescence. The present study performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies reporting dropout rates in youth soccer, involving a total of 724,036 youths ages 10–18 years from five countries. The mixed effects meta-regression analyses took into account age and sex as statistical moderators of dropout rate. Potential articles were identified through computerized searches of the databases PubMed, MedLine, Embase, and SportDiscus up until August 2014, without any further time limit. Based on results reported in the 10 included articles, the annual weighted mean dropout rate is 23.9% across the included cohorts. Meta-regression indicated that annual dropout rates are stable from the ages of 10–19 years, with higher rates for girls (26.8%) compared to boys (21.4%). The present study suggests that youth soccer players are prone to dropout rates in which close to one-fourth of players leave the sport annually, which appears to be a consistent finding across ages 10–18 years.
Motor Imagery, Physical Practice, and Memory: The Effects on Performance and Workload
Authors: Raisbeck Louisa D. , Diekfuss Jed A. , Wyatt William , Shea John B.
Published: November 2015

The theoretical explanations used to explain changes in performance during motor imagery and physical practice conditions are inconsistent when memory retrieval is and is not required. This study measured performance time and workload during acquisition, a retention test requiring memory retrieval, and a retention test not requiring memory retrieval using a key-pressing task. The participants were assigned to physical practice with or without instructions to learn or motor imagery with or without instructions to learn. A diagram of the keys was presented during the practice trials and the first retention test, but was not presented during the second test. The results revealed no effect for the learning instructions or performance changes during the practice phases. However, during both retention tests participants in the physical practice conditions performed significantly faster than those in the motor imagery conditions. Also, higher levels of workload were reported for the motor imagery conditions when the retention test required memory retrieval compared to the other phases. A discussion of the implications of workload on performance is presented with respect to varying practice conditions.
A Study of Conceptual Development and Visual Perception in Six-Year-Old Children
Authors: Ayhan Aynur Bütün , Mutlu Burcu , Aki Esra , Aral Neriman
Published: November 2015

Visual perception comprises established responses to visual stimuli. Conceptual development accompanies the development of visual perception skills. Both visual perception and sufficient conceptual development is vital to a child's academic skills and social participation. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between conceptual development and visual perceptual skills of six-year-old children. 140 children were administered Bracken's (1998) Basic Concept Scale (BBCS–R) and the Frostig Developmental Visual Perception Test. BBCS–R scores were weakly correlated with FDVPT Discrimination of figure-ground, and had moderate and significant correlations with Constancy of the figures, Perception of position in space, Perception of spatial relation, and the Total score on visual perception. Also, a moderate correlation was found between the total scores of the FDVPT and the total score of the BBCS–R.
In Vitro Toxicological Evaluation of Cigarette Smoke Particulate Matter: Effect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) as Solvent
Authors: Misra M , Leverette RD , Hamm JT , Vulimiri SV
Published: November 2015

This study examined the potential to minimize the cytotoxic or genotoxic effects that dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), when used as solvent, has on the in vitro interleukin-8 (IL-8) release, mammalian cell cytotoxicity and micronuclei formation, and bacterial mutagenesis induced by cigarette smoke wet total particulate matter (WTPM). The use of DMSO as a solvent vehicle for test articles of limited water solubility is widely applied in in vitro assays due to its moderate toxicity to test organisms and its excellent solvent properties for both polar and non-polar compounds, such as WTPM. A significant DMSO dose-dependent depletion in the IL-8 release was observed, with or without the addition of WTPM, at concentrations spanning those typically employed in in vitro assays. DMSO at 3.6% reduced cell viability 40-50%. Overall, DMSO at final concentrations of 0.5% and 4.0% resulted in about 50% and 90% depletion of final IL-8 levels, respectively. DMSO-induced cytotoxicity was evident only at concentrations of 1.5% or more, a concentration higher than that typically employed in such testing. The WTPM-induced cytotoxicity was equivalent at low ranges of DMSO concentrations. DMSO concentrations of 3.6% or higher resulted in an increase of cytotoxicity by 20-25%. DMSO alone did not give rise to bacterial mutagenicity at doses from 0% to 3.9%; however, WTPM exposure with increasing levels of DMSO resulted in increased toxicity of the WTPM at doses of DMSO greater than 6.9%, as indicated by lower revertant counts. This effect suggests that for Ames assay analysis of WTPM collected in DMSO, the level of DMSO should be minimized to prevent lower revertant counts due to DMSO-induced toxicity. DMSO alone gave a dose-dependent increase in the background micronuclei percentage, with a statistically significant increase at 4%. In the presence of WTPM, DMSO at 3% concentration resulted in a significantly higher micro-nucleus frequency, suggesting a possible clastogenic role of DMSO or potential cell permeability differences. In conclusion, this study should provide guidance for the range of DMSO concentrations when used as a solvent for WTPM-mediated in vitro toxicological assays and therefore help in properly designing and conducting in vitro studies that utilize DMSO as the extraction solvent of choice.
Editors’ note
Authors: Heller WD , Scherer G
Published: November 2015

In this issue of Beiträge, we publish the correspondence on the topic of fibre and particle release from cigarette filters. Dr John L. Pauly (Roswell Park Cancer Institute, NY, USA), protagonist of this research area since the middle of the 1990ies, opened the discussion by sending his views on the article of Hengstberger and Stark [Beitr. Tabakforsch. Int. 23 (2009) 338 - 358] to the Editors. As is customary for scientific journals, we forwarded the letter to the authors and encouraged their public response in Beiträge. We, the Editors, would like to thank Dr Pauly and the authors of the original article for sharing their views with our readers. We also look forward to receiving further correspondence on this and may be other ‘hot topics’.
Influence of Tobacco Additives on the Chemical Composition of Mainstream Smoke
Authors: Hahn J , Schaub J
Published: November 2015

Additives used in tobacco product manufacturing are currently in the focus of public discussions with regard to potentially increased consumer health risks on account of certain additives. In addition, a few additives are suspected to enhance the addictiveness of tobacco products. In 2006, the German Federal Ministry for Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BundesministeriumfuerErnaehrung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz, BMELV) commissioned a research project intended to provide support for the evaluation of additives and their influence on the composition and properties of cigarette mainstream smoke. In this paper the results of the study are reported. Different amounts of glycerol, cocoa powder and sucrose were added to the tobacco of two kinds of filter-ventilated King size test cigarettes with ‘tar’ levels of 6 mg and 10 mg per cigarette. The tobacco of the test cigarettes consisted of a commercially available blend made of Virginia, Burley and Oriental tobaccos. Machine smoking was performed according to the applicable ISO smoking regimen. Various smoke components, which are suspected to be harmful for health, were determined in mainstream smoke. Increasing levels of sucrose were correlated with an increase of the amount of formaldehyde but not of acetaldehyde in the mainstream smoke of the test cigarettes. In cigarettes with different levels of added glycerol no substantial change in smoke composition was observed. The addition of cocoa powder to tobacco resulted in a decrease of tobaccospecific N-nitrosamines in mainstream smoke. The results obtained in this study can be used as evidence for the toxicological evaluation aimed at approving or banning specific additives for tobacco product manufacturing.
Analysis of Acrylonitrile and alpha-Methacrylonitrile in Vapor Phase of Mainstream Cigarette Smoke Using a Charcoal Trap for Collection
Authors: Moldoveanu SC
Published: November 2015

A simple procedure for the collection of vapor phase (VP) of mainstream cigarette smoke for analysis has been developed. This procedure consists of collecting the VP on a commercial charcoal trap (ORBO™-32) followed by dissolution in acetone. The acetone extract can be analyzed by a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique. A qualitative analysis of the collected VP has been performed for 3R4F Kentucky reference cigarette, allowing the identification of 138 compounds, some compounds being present in both VP and in particulate phase (PP) of cigarette smoke. A quantitative analysis method for acrylonitrile and α-methacrylonitrile (2-methyl-2-propenenitrile) was also developed, and the level of these compounds in 15 different cigarette brands was measured. Acrylonitrile quantitation was selected since this compound in smoke poses significant health related issues. α-Methacrylonitrile quantitation was selected due to the similar structure of this compound with acrylonitrile. The analyzed cigarettes were several Kentucky reference cigarettes including 1R5F, 2R4F, 3R4F, 2R1F, and 1R3F, several King Size (KS) commercial cigarettes from the US market including Basic Non Filter (NF), Basic Ultra Lights (UL), Newport, Marlboro (Red), Marlboro Menthol, Camel Filter, Camel Lights, Camel Ultra Lights, and two herbal cigarettes, Ecstasy and Dreams. The results for acrylonitrile were in very good agreement with data reported in the literature for 2R4F and 1R5F cigarettes. The levels of α-methacrylonitrile were not previously reported. The correlation between the levels of acrylonitrile and of α-methacrylonitrile with the (wet) total particulate matter (TPM) was evaluated. Although the levels of acrylonitrile and of α-methacrylonitrile in mainstream smoke depend on the TPM values, the correlation is not very strong, indicating that the nature of the cigarette blend and possible other factors in cigarette construction also influence their levels in smoke. The collection method used in this study allows the subsequent dissolution of VP in a much smaller volume of solvent compared to other methods that use impingers, allows the use of standard GC/MS autosamplers for liquid injection and simple addition of internal standards compared to the methods that use gas bags, and allows a simple and immediate collection of VP as it leaves the Cambridge filter pad. These characteristics represent significant advantages versus other methods commonly used for VP analysis.
Editors’ Note
Authors: Heller WD , Scherer G
Published: November 2015

With deep-felt sadness we have to inform our readers that Dr Dietrich K. Hoffmann passed away at his home inLarchmont, N.Y. on April 20th at the age of 86 years. We will publish an obituary honoring this notable tobacco scientistin our next issue.

In this issue we publish the presentation of Drs Thomas A. Perfetti and Alan Rodgman at the 2010 CORESTA Meeting inEdinburgh when they were awarded the 2010 CORESTA Prize. Dr Hubert Klus kindly contributes a Guest Editorial.

We are pleased to continue the publication of the laudations for the recipients of the Tobacco Science ResearchConference Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2010, the award was presented to Dr William Kerr Collins. The laudationwas delivered by Dr J. Michael Moore. We started the series in issue 21/5 (2005) with the first two recipients of thisprestigious award, Dr Alan Rodgman and Dr Dietrich Hoffmann, followed by Dr Tien C. Tso in issue 21/8 (2005) and DrRichard R. Baker in issue 22/4 (2007).

Finally, we have asked François Jacob, who was CORESTA's Secretary General for more than 20 years, to recount someof his impressions and experiences during a most fulfilling part of his career.
Editors’ Note
Authors: Heller WD , Scherer G
Published: November 2015

It is with sadness that we learned that T.C. Tso passed away in April of this year. In this issue of Beitraege, we publish an obituary written by Professor Lowell Bush on the personality and scientific career of Dr Tso.

T.C. Tso published 19 manuscripts in our journal. His first article in Beitraege was entitled “Examination of Aflatoxin B1 in Leaf Tobacco and in Cigarette Smoke Condensate” and published in 1967. His last article in Beitraege was a review entitled “Tobacco Research and Its Relevance to Science, Medicine and Industry” revealing a vision for the future of tobacco plant research. In a letter to the editor (Beitr. Tabakforsch Int. 23 (2008) 63-65), Hubert Klus appreciated this publication of Dr Tso in terms of its retrospective and prospective implications on tobacco-related science and science policy.

In this context, we would like to draw our readers’ attention to the autobiography of Dr Tso, which is mentioned in the obituary by Professor Bush. Finally, it should not go unmentioned that, for one decade - from 1988 to 1998, Dr Tso served as a member of the advisory board of our journal and helped to maintain the scientific standard of Beitraege.
Roles of Tobacco Fractions in the Formation of Polycyclic Aromatic Amines in Tobacco Pyrolysis
Authors: Yoshida S , Kobayashi K
Published: November 2015

The aim of the present study was to gain further understanding of the precursors in tobacco of four polycyclic aromatic amines (PAAs) - 1- and 2-aminonaphthalene, 3- and 4-aminobiphenyl. We carried out non-isothermal pyrolysis of the residues, which were obtained after extraction of tobacco cut filler with methylene chloride followed by extraction with water, under three different pyrolysis conditions (target temperature 800 °C / 800 °C / 400 °C and O2 concentration in carrier gas 0% / 20% / 3%, resp.). The yields of the four PAAs obtained by the pyrolysis of each sample were evaluated. Several nitrogenous components in the sample were also analyzed. The results under all these pyrolysis conditions showed that 1) the methylene chloride-soluble fraction, in which 50-60% of nicotine was extracted, did NOT contribute significantly contribution to the yields of the four PAAs; 2) the watersoluble fraction, in which most of the nitrogenous inorganic ions and amino acids were extracted, contributed at an average of about 30% to total PAA yield; and 3) the insoluble residue, in which only protein was detected during the investigation of the nitrogenous components in the present study, showed the highest contribution, 50-60% of the four PAAs formed. Consequently, it is concluded that protein-like components in tobacco contribute highly to the formation of the four PAAs by tobacco pyrolysis.
The Transfer of Knowledge in Intra-Organizational Networks: A Case Study Analysis
Authors: Sroka Włodzimierz , Cygler Joanna , Gajdzik Bożena
Published: November 2015

`Background: In today’s business environment, a company is able to maintain its competitive position if it constantly generates knowledge and disseminates this knowledge within the organization, as well as transforms it into new competences. The ability to transfer knowledge becomes one of the key factors in the improvement of a company’s competitive position. This hypothesis is applicable particularly in the case of cooperation within networks, as they are an excellent opportunity for mutual learning between partners. Objectives: The purpose of the paper is to analyse the process of knowledge transfer in intra-organizational networks. Method: Due to the specificity of the research object, the case study method has been chosen. In order to make an in-depth analysis of the case study, we selected a group of several criteria based on the theory which we believe to be fundamental to the effectiveness of knowledge management in networks, and compared them with the situation in the ArcelorMittal Group. Results: Our research show that ArcelorMittal Group has met almost all the criteria of effective knowledge management in its intra-organizational network. Some exceptions, albeit merely to an extent, are mostly the result of historical circumstances, , i.e. the process of growth through acquisitions, and the acquisition of companies at different stages of organizational development, as well as organizational culture. Conclusion: Based on theoretical assumptions, the study analysed in details the components of knowledge management applied by the corporation in question. Therefore this study might be utilised to formulate a refutable hypothesis and verify them on a larger group of companies from different sectors of the economy. The main limitations of the paper are mostly related to the inherent approach therein
Work-life Balance by Area, Actual Situation and Expectations – the Overlapping Opinions of Employers and Employees in Slovenia
Authors: Kozjek Tatjana , Tomaževič Nina , Stare Janez
Published: November 2015

Background: The question of work-life balance (WLB) is an area where increasing attention is being paid nowadays. States, organisations and employees all have responsibility and a role to play in WLB. This article presents the important areas of the WLB by key players in this field. Purpose: The purpose of the research was to compare and analyse the differences between the actual situation and the expectations of employers and employees with regard to specific areas of WLB in Slovenia. Methodology: Data was gathered using the Computer Assisted Web Interview (CAWI) method. In the first part of the research project, employers across all sectors of the economy in Slovenia were questioned and in second part focussed on employees. In order to verify the areas in which employers and employees agree and those in which there are differences in perception, multidimensional scaling (MDS) was used. Results: The results of our research show that Slovenian organisations must pay more attention to flexible working time, the employees’ ability to take time off to care for family members, time and stress management workshops and paid leave for parents on a child’s first day of school. Conclusion: A significant role in WLB is played by organisations. The incorporation of WLB strategies into the strategic and financial planning of an organisation can, in fact, have positive business, economic and social effects. Employees have to express their expectations and needs, which is the only way that employers can be made aware of their problems and help with WLB. State responsibility is to encourage all social partners to shape the living environment in which employees’ can achieve a good WLB with an emphasis on gender equality
Molecular characterization of rice genotypes for Zinc biosynthetic gene(s) using microsatellite simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers
Authors: Mia Md Mukul , Rahman Shanjida , Islam Mirza Mofazzal , Begum Shamsun Nahar , Hassan Lutful
Published: November 2015

Zinc deficiency is prevalent and affects nearly two billion people in the developing world, where mainly cereals are consumed as staple food by the people. It is essential to study the genetic characters of the rice genotypes containing genes responsible for zinc synthesis so that they can be used as breeding resource to develop nutrient rich rice varieties. In this study, 46 rice (Oryza sativa L., 2n=24) genotypes were studied for their Zinc biosynthesis ability using 3 Rice Microsatellite (RM) markers (RM23, RM217 and RM35) linked to Zn content at Biotechnology Laboratory of Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) and Genetics and Plant Breeding Laboratory of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during 5 August, 2013 to 30 April, 2014. The DNA samples were isolated by CTAB mini-prep method from 21 days older rice leaf samples followed by Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Three markers (Rm23, RM35 and RM217) showed effective polymorphism in DNA band appearance for Zn content out of ten SSR markers. The alleles were separated on Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) system. After molecular analyses of DNA bands using Power Marker software, variation was found in allele number, allele frequency, polymorphism information content (PIC) and gene diversity for each genotype. Number of alleles (23, 19 & 13), PIC-polymorphism information content (0.946, 0.911 & 0.829), gene diversity (0.948, 0.917 & 0.846), rare allele (16, 12 & 8) and null allele (0, 16 & 2) were observed for 3 rice microsatellite (RM) markers viz. RM35, RM217 and RM23, respectively for the 46 rice genotypes. A total of 55 alleles were found by using 3 SSR primers for all genotypes. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 13 to 23 with an average of 18.33 out of total 55 alleles. The UPGMA Dendrogram categorized all the varieties into 7 distinct clusters based on 50% of average genetic distance among the 46 genotypes (Figure 2 and Table 7). Since the primers showed almost similar and highest PIC values, based on this study, the larger range of similarity values using SSR markers will provide greater confidence for the assessment of genetic relationships among the varieties. The information obtained from SSR profiling helped in identifying the varieties containing genes for Zn synthesis among the selected rice genotypes. Among all the rice genotypes, Kumra Ghor, Ghigoj, Tilek Kuchi contained high Zn content found in another chemical analysis. Most of the genotypes contained candidate gene for Zn synthesis and can be used as breeding materials to develop nutrient (Zn) rich rice varieties through different selective breeding methods in future.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 187-197
Ecology and water quality parameters of Balla beel in Moulovibazar district of Bangladesh
Authors: Flura M , Alam Mohammad Ashraful , Rahman Md Anisur , Ahmed Tayfa , Roy Krishna Chandra
Published: November 2015

A study was carried out to assess the ecological aspects of Balla beel ecosystem in Moulavibazar district and the affectivity of the ongoing biodiversity restoration program from July 2011 to June 2012. Seventy-four fish species belonging to 21 families were identified during the study period. About nine types of fishing methods and one type of fish aggregating device were identified in the surveyed beel. Increasing pressure of illegal current jal (gill net), ber jal (seine net) and FAD (Fish Aggregating Device) was detected as the reduction of almost all type of species. About 24 aquatic weeds were found in the Balla beel, among them both emergent and spreading were 29%, followed by floating 21%, 13% were rooted plants with floating leaves and 8% were submerged. The dissolved oxygen content 5.22±1.60 mg/l inside and 5.70±1.38 mg/l outside of the Balla beel sanctuary were found to be congenial for aquatic life. pH of the beel water both inside and outside of the sanctuary were slightly acidic to moderately alkaline (7.0±0.68 inside and 6.88±0.43 outside the sanctuary). Lower values of alkalinity and hardness indicating beel water to be less nutrient enriched. The contribution of phytoplankton (79%) was larger than zooplankton (21%). The diversity of phytoplankton both inside and outside of the sanctuary was dominated by three group Chlorophyceae, Myxophyceae and Bacillariophyceae.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 198-208
Prevalence of obstetrical disorders in dairy cows of northern Bangladesh
Authors: Sarder Md Jalal Uddin , Uddin Jashim , Islam Md Hemayatul , Islam Md Reazul
Published: November 2015

The study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of obstetrical disorders (ODs) of 975 dairy cows in relation to genotype, age, parity, housing system, feed quality, rearing system, breeding systems and professional training of owners at Rajshahi, Bangladesh from the period 1 January, 2009 to 31 December, 2009. Extensive survey was conducted in 15 areas of Rajshahi and in each area 65 dairy cows were selected randomly. Individual farmers were interviewed to obtain information about ODs of dairy cows viz; abortion, dystocia, retained placenta, uterine and vaginal prolapse. Out of 975 cows, 117 animals were found to be affected by various ODs showing an overall prevalence of 12.00%. Among the ODs, retained placenta showed the highest prevalence (4.10%) followed by abortion (4.0%), dystocia (2.77%), uterine prolapse (0.66%) and vaginal prolapse (0.51%). The observation of genotype wise ODs in cows revealed that the maximum prevalence was in the Local × Friesian (15.97%), followed by Local (14.68%) and Local × Jersey (9.80%) while the minimum prevalence was in the Local × Sahiwal (5.55%). The age group (>48 months) showed highest prevalence (20.25%) of ODs while the lowest (6.66%) was recorded in < 24 months of age in cows. Parity-wise splitting of the data showed that the maximum prevalence of ODs was in the >5th parity (15.35%) and minimum in the 1st parity (6.15%) of cows. The traditional rearing and farming system revealed highest (17.26%) and lowest (8.51%) prevalence of ODs in cows, respectively. The quality of feed had effect on prevalence of ODs in dairy cows (P<0.05). The ODs were also increased in artificial inseminated cows (12.59%) than naturally service groups (11.90%). The training of farmers had significant effect among the non trained and trained groups for the occurrence of ODs in cows. The study revealed relatively low prevalence of reproductive disorders in cows at Rajshahi compare to other regions of Bangladesh, might be due to better management practices adopted by the farmers and efficient veterinary services as well as awareness among farmers.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 216-221
Isolation, identification and antibiogram profile of bacteria isolated from dental caries patients of Mymensingh district of Bangladesh
Authors: Borty Shuvho Chakra , Hafiz Khandakar Musabbir Bin , Ali Md Mortuza , Begum Khadiza , Ahammed Tanvir , Monir Md Shirajum , Islam Md Alimul
Published: November 2015

This study was carried out for the evaluation of causative agents of dental plaques which leads to dental caries. A total of 76 samples collected from the dental caries patients of various age and sex were processed on different bacterial isolation media like Tryptose Soya Agar, Nutrient Agar, and MacConkey Agar. Total viable count of bacteria was ranged from 0.8×105 to 2.9×105. Out of total 184 isolates bacterial species were Streptococcus mutans (28.80%), Streptococcus mitis (23.91%), Staphylococcus aureus (28.26%) and Streptococcus salivarius (19.02%). The biochemical properties of the isolates were tested according to Bergeys Manual of Systematic Bacteriology and UK Standards for Microbiology Investigation. Antibiotic Susceptibility testing of different species of bacteria were performed according to Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method on Muller Hinton Agar by using commercial antibiotic discs. Effect of the bacterial isolates on different age groups was studied where the age group of 26 to 35 years was found to have highest prevalence (32.60%) of infection while the lowest prevalence (10.86%) of infection was seen in the group of below 15 years of age. A relative study was also performed on caries patients according to their economic status and gender where Higher Middle Economic Class was in highest percentage (35.32%) of infection. Different species of bacteria showed various sensitivity patterns to several kinds of antibiotics. Regular use of tooth paste containing triclosan and fluoride may be beneficial for prevention of dental caries instead of using antibiotics presented in this study.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 244-253
Effect of modified feeding practice on milk production of cross bred dairy cows in Baghabari milk shed area, Sirajgonj
Authors: Rahman Md Zillur , Ali Md Yousuf , Sarker NR , Afroz MF , Rahman MOA , Karim MR
Published: November 2015

A research work was undertaken to find out alternative feeding practices for dairy cows in Baghabari milk shed areas. The trial was conducted in the village Alokdiar, Shajadpur, Sirajgonj. Twenty cross bred lactating dairy cows of 340 ±15.5 kg live weight were used for the trial. Animals were equally and randomly allocated dietary into four groups, T0 (Rice straw + concentrate), T1 (Napier silage + concentrate), T2 (Khesari hay + concentrate) and T3 (UMS + concentrate). There was no significant difference in total DM intake among the four groups. The DCP (kg/d) intake was significantly (P<0.01) differ among the treatment group. The highest DCP (kg/d) intake was observed in T2 (0.824) followed by T1 (0.739), T3 (0.707) and T0 (0.510). Higher CP content in Khesari hay which reflected DCP intake. The ME (MJ/d) intake was also significant (P<0.05) difference among the dietary groups. ME (MJ/d) was the highest 93.46 in T2 afterward 92.21 in T3 and lowest 77.56 in T0. The average milk yield (l/d) was the highest in T2 (10.76) followed by T3 (10.13), T1 (9.86) and T0 (7.31), respectively. Apparent digestibility were significant (P<0.05) variation among the dietary groups of animals in case of DM, OM and CP. The highest DM digestibility was observed in T2-Khasari based diet (74.00±1.54) followed by T3-UMS (73.11±1.33), T1-Napier silage (70.00±1.23) and T0-rice straw (53.00±0.97) based diet, respectively. Introduction of legume hay as modified feeding practice may be an alternative feeding system to sustain milk production during lean period.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 254-258
mRNA extraction, cDNA synthesis and tillering specific gene isolation from BLB resistant Binashail rice
Authors: Jahan Papia , Hossain Ahmed , Nasiruddin KM , Yasmin Sabina , Khatun Fahmida , Parvej Md Shafiullah
Published: November 2015

Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzaepv. oryzae (Xoo) bacteria, is a major biotic stress in the irrigated rice belts. Genetic modification is the most effective and economical control for bacterial blight disease. For high yielding, branching capacity is most important. Molecular survey was conducted to identify the presence of tillering specific gene in BLB resistant Binashail rice. Reproducible means of Binashail rice at 21 days was designed based on the timing of full expression of the leaf. PCR with primers specific for tillering specific gene was used in the study. The cDNA of Binashail rice synthesized by an improved RT-PCR technique, derived from the total mRNAs extracted from the plant leaf. Gel documentation showed that the size of the synthesized cDNA was 250bp and tillering specific gene was 201bp in length long. The identification of tillering specific gene in Binashal rice germplasm will help in accelerating the elite breeding program in future.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 265-270
Microbial analysis of raw and pasteurized milk from selected areas of Dinajpur, Bangladesh
Authors: Hasan Md Amirul , Islam Md Aminul , Mahmud Mohammad Showkat , Uddin ASM Ashab , Ahmed Shamim
Published: November 2015

Milk is highly vulnerable to microbial contamination and consequently is easily perishable. The aim of the present study was microbial analysis of raw and pasteurized milk. For this, a total of 32 milk samples (12 from raw milk and 20 from pasteurized milk) were collected from 8 sources. Among them three were raw (R1 to R3) sources and rest five were pasteurized milk (P1 to P5) sources. Each of the collected samples was investigated during the period from May to December, 2012. All milk samples were subjected to total viable count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC), Total Staphylococcus count (TSC) and Grams staining to determine the loads of microbes in raw and pasteurized milk. Total viable counts (TVC) range of 12 raw milk samples (R, R2 and R3) were 1.3 x106 to 7.4 x105 cfu/ml. The presence of Escherichia coli in the raw milk samples were from 2.3 x102 to 9.4 x102 cfu/ml, but the presence of Staphylococcus were from 5.9 x102 to 7.9 x102 cfu/ml. Whereas, the range of TVC for five brands of pasteurized milk (P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5) were from 1.8 x104 to 9.8 x104 cfu/ml, TSC were from 2.8 x10 to 8.6 x102 cfu/ml and TCC from 1.01 x102 to 9.1 x10 cfu/ml. Therefore, it can be concluded that high counts of bacteria were found in raw milk and pasteurized milk. The government therefore should conduct frequent inspection of the marketed milks to check whether they meet the minimum legal standards and should monitor the overall hygienic condition surrounding the production and handling of milk. Realistic standards for the raw milks need to be devised and appropriate training should be given to the raw milk producers in hygienic handling of milk.Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2015, 1(2): 292-296
Recent developments in copper-catalyzed radical alkylations of electron-rich π-systems
Authors: Shimkin Kirk W , Watson Donald A
Published: November 2015

Recently, a number of papers have emerged demonstrating copper-catalyzed alkylation reactions of electron-rich small molecules. The processes are generally thought to be related to long established atom-transfer radical reactions. However, unlike classical reactions, these new transformations lead to simple alkylation products. This short review will highlight recent advances in alkylations of nitronate anions, alkenes and alkynes, as well as discuss current mechanistic understanding of these novel reactions.
ON EFFICIENT NUMERICAL ALGORITHMS FOR SIMULATION OF HIGH POWER ELECTRICAL CABLES
Authors: Čiegis Raimondas , Jankevičiūtė Gerda , Tumanov Natalija
Published: November 2015

The new virtual modelling tool is constructed, which is used for optimal design of power transmission lines and cables. The construction of such lines should meet the latest power transmission network technical and economical requirements. The solver is is based on classical and modified mathematical models describing main heat conduction processes: diffusion, convection and radiation in various materials and environments. In basic heat conduction equation, we take into account a linear dependence of the resistance on temperature. Multi-physic and multi-scale models are required to simulate industrial cases of power transmission lines. The velocity of convective transport of the heat in air regions is simulated by solving a coupled thermo-convection problem including the heat conduction problem and the standard Navier-Stokes model of the heat flow in air. Another multi-physic model is used to describe changes of material heat conduction coefficients in soil due to influence of heating. This process is described by by solving a simplified mass balance equation for flows in porous media. The multi-scale and homogenization analysis is required to to formulate simple and accurate mathematical describing heat conduction process is metal region which consists of a bundle of tightly coupled metal wires. The FVM is used to solve the obtained systems of differential equations. Discretization of the domain is done by applying “aCute” mesh generator, which is a modification of the well-known Triangle mesh generator. The discrete schemes are implemented by using the OpenFOAM tool.
DUNKL-POISSON EQUATION AND RELATED EQUATIONS IN SUPERSPACE
Authors: Yuan Hong Fen , Karachik Valery V.
Published: November 2015

Abstract In this paper, we investigate the Almansi expansion for solutions of Dunkl-polyharmonic equations by the 0-normalized system for the Dunkl-Laplace operator in superspace. Moreover, applying the 0-normalized system, we construct solutions to the Dunkl-Helmholtz equation, the Dunkl-Poisson equation, and the inhomogeneous Dunkl-polyharmonic equation in superspace.
New distribution records for the rare genus Afrotremex Pasteels (Siricidae: Hymenoptera) and provision of interactive Lucid identification keys to species
Authors: van Noort Simon , Goulet Henri
Published: November 2015

Afrotremex Pasteels, 1951 is a rare genus of wasps endemic to the Afrotropical region, containing 6 species represented by 14 specimens. Specimens were previously only recorded from central Africa: Cameroon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Uganda.

Here we record two additional specimens housed in the Natural History Museum in London (BMNH), one of which is a male of A. xylophagus Goulet, 2014 collected in Ghana (previously Gold Coast). This record extends the known distribution of the genus into west Africa, and represents the second known male specimen for the genus. The other BMNH specimen is a female paratype of A. violaceus Pasteels, 1951 collected in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We provide high quality photographs of these additional two specimens. Images of all six known species are openly available online on WaspWeb. In addition we have developed interactive online Lucid Matrix and Lucid Phoenix identification keys to the species, which are openly available on WaspWeb at: http://www.waspweb.org/Siricoidea/Siricidae/Keys/index.htm
Diferencias y evolución del impacto académico en los perfiles de Google Scholar Citations: Una aplicación de árboles de decisión
Authors: Ortega José Luis
Published: November 2015

El propósito de este artículo es analizar la producción e impacto de más de 3000 perfiles tomados de Google Scholar Citations con el fin de identificar qué segmentos (por género, puestos académicos y disciplinas) son más exitosos en términos de impacto científico. Este análisis se afrontó tanto desde una perspectiva estática como longitudinal. Los árboles de decisión fueron usados para detectar las variables más importantes para agrupar perfiles con un mayor número de citas por artículo e índice h. Resultados muestran que la carrera académica es el factor más importante para conseguir citas y mejorar el índice h. Los investigadores más veteranos son así los que ocupan las primeras posiciones, mientras que los jóvenes investigadores describen curriculums en ciernes. Por el contrario, estos resultados cambian cuando el crecimiento de los perfiles es observado. Así los curriculums más jóvenes son los que experimentan un crecimiento más fuerte, mientras que los más veteranos muestran signos de estabilización y estancamiento. Se concluye que los investigadores con una carrera estable pertenecientes a las ciencias de la vida tienen mejor impacto que los jóvenes investigadores de humanidades y ciencias sociales, a pesar de que estos últimos son los que más rápido crecen en número de citas por documento.
Las revistas de Geografía en el Journal Citation Reports: lucro económico versus acceso abierto
Authors: García Martín Miguel
Published: November 2015

En el ámbito de las revistas científicas con un alto impacto conviven fórmulas editoriales muy variadas, donde tienen cabida desde las grandes multinacionales comerciales a los pequeños organismos universitarios de carácter público. Este artículo revisa las características editoriales y la política tarifaria de las revistas de Geografía indexadas en las últimas ediciones de los Journal Citation Reports, desde el análisis concreto de los costes por artículo, por suscripción y para publicar. Se observa una marcada dualidad entre las editoriales impulsadas por el interés económico —grandes firmas comerciales de origen angloamericano, que son hegemónicas— frente a las que se mueven sin ánimo de lucro, muy diversas en su naturaleza y minoritarias en el área de Geografía. En el fondo subyace el debate sobre la necesidad de difundir conocimientos científicos abiertamente y sin restricciones, tras el que asoma el movimiento Open Access.
¿Tienen razón los investigadores al quejarse de la información periodística sobre ciencias? Experiencias con alumnos de Periodismo y científicos
Authors: Meneses-Fernández María Dolores , Martín-Gutiérrez Jorge
Published: November 2015

Este artículo muestra los resultados de una investigación experimental basada en el estudio comparativo entre una serie de reportajes periodísticos sobre ciencia y tecnología, y las declaraciones de investigadores científicos y tecnólogos en las que se basaron aquellos. El objetivo es conocer el distanciamiento semántico entre lo que declaran los investigadores y lo que redactan los periodistas. Este trabajo tiene en cuenta el interés común de ambos grupos profesionales en lograr una cultura científica de calidad, siendo considerada un indicador de desarrollo social. La metodología aplicada se ha basado en analizar, en un corpus de reportajes periodísticos, los errores en los que incurren, según los científicos, los redactores; y en categorizar, aplicando las características del periodismo especializado, las correcciones realizadas en los reportajes por los investigadores entrevistados. Las temáticas abarcaron áreas de conocimiento diversas.
Producción científica sobre Comunicación y Medios en las revistas de Documentación (2000-2014)
Authors: Sánchez-Vigil Juan Miguel , Marcos-Recio Juan Carlos , Olivera-Zaldua María
Published: November 2015

Los estudios científicos sobre Comunicación y Medios se difunden generalmente en las publicaciones de Comunicación, sin embargo las revistas de Documentación, tanto las dedicadas a las Ciencias de la Información como a las Bibliotecas, Archivos y Museos, constituyen una importante fuente en esta materia. Es objeto de este artículo analizar la producción científica sobre Comunicación y Medios en las principales revistas científicas de Documentación en los últimos quince años (2000-2014), con el fin de obtener información sobre los autores, los contenidos y la aportación específica de cada una de las publicaciones. De la investigación han resultado 404 artículos de 403 autores pertenecientes a 121 instituciones, en los que se analizan los contenidos de 50 medios y organismos públicos y privados, y se tratan 340 temas sobre una veintena de materias generales relacionadas con la Comunicación.
Análisis Cienciométrico de Tesis Doctorales Españolas en Didáctica de las Ciencias Sociales (1976-2012)
Authors: Curiel-Marín Elvira , Fernández-Cano Antonio
Published: November 2015

En este estudio se presenta un análisis cienciométrico de las tesis doctorales españolas en el área de Didáctica de las Ciencias Sociales, indexadas en la Base de Datos TESEO para el periodo 1976-2012. Fueron recuperadas 151 tesis doctorales. El objetivo principal de esta investigación es la descripción cuantitativa de la situación de la disciplina a partir de su producción de tesis doctorales, elaborando la serie temporal y las etapas de producción diacrónica retrospectiva, la producción institucional, la producción en función de la lengua en que se elaboraron las tesis, los directores más activos en dirección de tesis del área y un análisis de contenido de los títulos. Los hallazgos destacan la necesidad de consolidación del área, así como de consenso epistemológico dentro de la misma y el rol como grandes productoras institucionales de las universidades barcelonesas.
Data-Based Support in the Development of Press Systems Using the Example of Sheet Metal Forming
Authors: Sinz Julian , Hesse Daniel , Öchsner Sebastian , Groche Peter
Published: November 2015

The market pressure and the products of competitors are decreasing the duration of product life cycles. Besides that, special customer requirements and rising product complexity result in an increase of the effort and the costs of the development process. In order to minimize the effort of the development process as well as to handle the uncertainties which come along with the planning and selection of manufacturing systems a data-based configuration tool was developed for the use in the field of sheet metal forming. Based on the product data of existing press systems, the tool is able to predict the fundamental configuration of a newly developed press system. The utilization and functionality of the tool is illustrated on two exemplary press systems.
Control of Uncertainty Based on Machining Strategies during Reaming
Authors: Güth Sebastian , Bretz Andreas , Bölling Christian , Baron Andreas , Abele Eberhard
Published: November 2015

The bore quality is influenced by machine’s accuracy, work piece and tool errors as well as handling errors. This uncertainty has a huge impact on the quality of the finished bore. During reaming, the majority of tool deflection arises during the unsteady process phase. The entry phase is regarded as the biggest influencing factor for the reamer’s deflection with increasing bore depth. This paper examines the influence of various entry strategies on the bore quality during the reaming process.
Representation of Human Behaviour for the Visualization in Assembly Design
Authors: Zocholl Maximilian , Heimrich Felix , Oberle Marius , Würtenberger Jan , Bruder Ralph , Anderl Reiner
Published: November 2015

This article extends the Uncertainty Mode and Effects Analysis (UMEA) to human effects and uses ontologies to connect human driven uncertainty data to the corresponding parts in an aircraft CAD-Assembly. Still, human behaviour is one of the major sources of uncertainty in the product usage phase. Hence, using uncertainty data of human behaviour for product design becomes increasingly important, especially for the control of uncertainty in load carrying systems. In this context, the exchange of semantically enriched uncertainty data between different domains and domain specific applications guarantees the consistency of the data prevents misinterpretation and enables the reuse of existing data for future design decisions.