bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Decision Making About Nonparental Child Care by Fathers: What Is Important to Fathers in a Nonparental Child Care Program
Authors: Rose Katherine K. , Johnson Amy , Muro Joel , Buckley Rhonda R.
Published: March 2016

While research exists on maternal preferences and decisions about child care, fathers are an underrepresented population in this literature. In an effort to fill this gap, this study examines the types of child care preferred, the level of involvement in the decision-making process, as well as the importance of certain characteristics of nonparental care in a sample of 130 fathers of children under the age of 6 years (6.2% of whom did not live with the child). Sixty-four percent of fathers in this sample indicated active involvement in making child care decisions with the child’s mother and 67% preferred parental care for their infants. Results for ratings, rankings, and conjoint analysis of the importance of certain characteristics of child care revealed slight variations depending on the method used to collect the data. Implications for these results are discussed.
Palliative care nursing education features more prominently in 2015 than 2005: Results from a nationwide survey and qualitative analysis of curricula
Authors: Martins Pereira Sandra , Hernández-Marrero Pablo
Published: March 2016

Background:

Making palliative care accessible to all citizens who are in need of this type of care requires effective policies and education. Moreover, healthcare professionals have an ethical and legal responsibility to ensure quality palliative care. Nevertheless, palliative care has had traditionally a limited emphasis in healthcare professionals’ undergraduate education.

Aim:

To study the current status of palliative care education in nursing undergraduate curricula and compare 2005 and 2015 findings.

Design:

An online survey was sent to all state schools providing nursing undergraduate education in Portugal ( N = 21). The survey assessed if and how palliative care was included in the curricula, and whether or not national and international recommendations for palliative care nursing education were followed. Further analysis included the content of available curricula/syllabi.

Setting/participants:

A total of 19 schools completed the survey (90% of response rate). These institutions are geographically dispersed and representative of state nursing educational institutions in Portugal.

Results:

In 2015, all participant schools integrated palliative care in their curricula; nine schools had palliative care as an independent curricular unit (an 800% increase compared to 2005). While in 2005, only 14 out of 23 (61%) schools included palliative care explicitly in their curricula; in 2015, all 19 participant schools did so. National and international recommendations were followed.

Conclusion:

The inclusion of palliative care within nursing undergraduate curricula strongly increased from 2005 to 2015. Further research is needed to understand the contribution of education in the access, care provision, quality and development of palliative care in this country.
In vivo evidence for long-term vascular remodeling resulting from chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in mice
Authors: Struys Tom , Govaerts Kristof , Oosterlinck Wouter , Casteels Cindy , Bronckaers Annelies , Koole Michel , Van Laere Koen , Herijgers Paul , Lambrichts Ivo , Himmelreich Uwe , Dresselaers Tom
Published: March 2016

We have characterized both acute and long-term vascular and metabolic effects of unilateral common carotid artery occlusion in mice by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. This common carotid artery occlusion model induces chronic cerebral hypoperfusion and is therefore relevant to both preclinical stroke studies, where it serves as a control condition for a commonly used mouse model of ischemic stroke, and neurodegeneration, as chronic hypoperfusion is causative to cognitive decline. By using perfusion magnetic resonance imaging, we demonstrate that under isoflurane anesthesia, cerebral perfusion levels recover gradually over one month. This recovery is paralleled by an increase in lumen diameter and altered tortuosity of the contralateral internal carotid artery at one year post-ligation as derived from magnetic resonance angiography data. Under urethane/α-chloralose anesthesia, no acute perfusion differences are observed, but the vascular response capacity to hypercapnia is found to be compromised. These hemispheric perfusion alterations are confirmed by water [15O]-H2O positron emission tomography. Glucose metabolism ([18F]-FDG positron emission tomography) or white matter organization (diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging) did not show any significant alterations. In conclusion, permanent unilateral common carotid artery occlusion results in acute and long-term vascular remodeling, which may have immediate consequences for animal models of stroke but also vascular dementia.
A role of the sodium pump in spreading ischemia in rats
Authors: Major Sebastian , Petzold Gabor C , Reiffurth Clemens , Windmüller Olaf , Foddis Marco , Lindauer Ute , Kang Eun-Jeung , Dreier Jens P
Published: March 2016

In rats, spreading depolarization induces vasodilation/hyperemia in naïve tissue but the inverse response when artificial cerebrospinal fluid is topically applied to the brain containing (a) a nitric oxide–lowering agent and (b) elevated K+. The inverse response is characterized by severe vasoconstriction/ischemia. The perfusion deficit runs together with the depolarization in the tissue (=spreading ischemia). Here, we found in male Wistar rats that pre-treatment with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing elevated K+ in vivo led to a selective decline in α2/α3 Na+/K+-ATPase activity, determined spectrophotometrically ex vivo. Moreover, spreading ischemia, recorded with laser-Doppler flowmetry and electrocorticography, resulted from artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing a nitric oxide–lowering agent in combination with the Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor ouabain at a concentration selectively inhibiting α2/α3 activity. Decline in α2/α3 activity results in increased Ca2+ uptake by internal stores of astrocytes, vascular myocytes, and pericytes since Ca2+ outflux via plasmalemmal Na+/Ca2+-exchanger declines. Augmented Ca2+ mobilization from internal stores during spreading depolarization might enhance vasoconstriction, thus, contributing to spreading ischemia. Accordingly, spreading ischemia was significantly shortened when intracellular Ca2+ stores were emptied by pre-treatment with thapsigargin, an inhibitor of the sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA). These findings might have relevance for clinical conditions, in which spreading ischemia occurs such as delayed cerebral ischemia after subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Applying Acculturation Theory and Power Elite Theory on a Social Problem
Authors: Kelly Don R.
Published: March 2016

Legislative underrepresentation of the Hispanic population is a serious social problem in Texas. Hispanics in the Texas legislature comprise approximately 21% of the total legislative body, yet the Hispanic population is approximately 35% of the total population in Texas. Acculturation and Power Elite theories can enhance our understanding, providing a useful framework for explaining the underrepresentation phenomenon and identifying implications for further research. Acculturation refers to the internal processes of change that immigrants experience when they come into direct contact with members of the host culture, in this case Hispanics. Power elite theory is a concept of how the balance of power is maintained within the societal structure, in this case Texas. Together, these theories can account for underrepresentation and can help to form a strategy for Hispanics to overcome the underrepresentation phenomenon in Texas.
School Desegregation and Federal Inducement: Lessons From the Emergency School Aid Act of 1972
Authors: Hodge Emily M.
Published: March 2016

This study uses the example of the Emergency School Aid Act of 1972, a federal desegregation incentive program, to discuss the benefits and challenges of equity-oriented incentives. This study applies theories of policy instruments and the social construction of target populations to congressional records, archival program materials, and other historical sources to trace the origin and evolution of the incentives and mandates built into the Emergency School Aid Act. The study ultimately concludes that the program’s combination of a financial incentive with rigorous oversight offers lessons for how to incorporate equity-oriented incentives into current education policy.
Hybrid-model-based stiffness analysis of a three-revolute-prismatic-spherical parallel kinematic machine
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zhao Yan Q , Luo Hai W
Published: March 2016

A three-revolute-prismatic-spherical parallel kinematic machine is proposed as an alternative solution for high-speed machining tool due to its high rigidity and high dynamics. Considering the parallel kinematic machine module as a typical compliant parallel mechanism, whose three limb assemblages have bending, extending and torsional deflections, this article proposes a hybrid modeling methodology to establish an analytical stiffness model for the three-revolute-prismatic-spherical device. The developed analytical model is further used to evaluate the stiffness mapping of the three-revolute-prismatic-spherical module over a given work plane which is then validated by experimental tests. The simulations and experiments indicate that the present hybrid methodology can predict the three-revolute-prismatic-spherical parallel kinematic machine’s stiffness in a quick and accurate manner. The solution for eigenvalue problem of the stiffness matrix leads to the stiffness characteristics of the parallel module including eigenstiffnesses and the corresponding eigenscrews as well as the equivalent screw spring constants. Based on the eigenscrew decomposition, the parallel kinematic machine is physically interpreted as a rigid platform suspending by six screw springs. The minimum, maximum and average of the screw spring constants are chosen as indices to assess the three-revolute-prismatic-spherical parallel kinematic machine’s stiffness performance. The distributions of the proposed indices throughout the workspace reveal a strong dependency on the mechanism’s configurations. At the final stage, the effects of some design parameters on system stiffness characteristics are investigated with the purpose of providing useful information for the conceptual design and performance improvement of the parallel kinematic machine.
Does Causality Matter More Now? Increase in the Proportion of Causal Language in English Texts
Authors: Iliev Rumen , Axelrod Robert
Published: March 2016

The vast majority of the work on culture and cognition has focused on cross-cultural comparisons, largely ignoring the dynamic aspects of culture. In this article, we provide a diachronic analysis of causal cognition over time. We hypothesized that the increased role of education, science, and technology in Western societies should be accompanied by greater attention to causal connections. To test this hypothesis, we compared word frequencies in English texts from different time periods and found an increase in the use of causal language of about 40% over the past two centuries. The observed increase was not attributable to general language effects or to changing semantics of causal words. We also found that there was a consistent difference between the 19th and the 20th centuries, and that the increase happened mainly in the 20th century.
Extrapolation of efficacy and other data to support the development of new medicines for children: A systematic review of methods
Authors: Wadsworth Ian , Hampson Lisa V , Jaki Thomas
Published: March 2016

Objective:

When developing new medicines for children, the potential to extrapolate from adult data to reduce the experimental burden in children is well recognised. However, significant assumptions about the similarity of adults and children are needed for extrapolations to be biologically plausible. We reviewed the literature to identify statistical methods that could be used to optimise extrapolations in paediatric drug development programmes.

Methods:

Web of Science was used to identify papers proposing methods relevant for using data from a ‘source population’ to support inferences for a ‘target population’. Four key areas of methods development were targeted: paediatric clinical trials, trials extrapolating efficacy across ethnic groups or geographic regions, the use of historical data in contemporary clinical trials and using short-term endpoints to support inferences about long-term outcomes.

Results:

Searches identified 626 papers of which 52 met our inclusion criteria. From these we identified 102 methods comprising 58 Bayesian and 44 frequentist approaches. Most Bayesian methods (n = 54) sought to use existing data in the source population to create an informative prior distribution for a future clinical trial. Of these, 46 allowed the source data to be down-weighted to account for potential differences between populations. Bayesian and frequentist versions of methods were found for assessing whether key parameters of source and target populations are commensurate (n = 34). Fourteen frequentist methods synthesised data from different populations using a joint model or a weighted test statistic.

Conclusions:

Several methods were identified as potentially applicable to paediatric drug development. Methods which can accommodate a heterogeneous target population and which allow data from a source population to be down-weighted are preferred. Methods assessing the commensurability of parameters may be used to determine whether it is appropriate to pool data across age groups to estimate treatment effects.
Why (not) disagree? Human values and the readiness to question experts’ views
Authors: Ahola Salla
Published: March 2016

Whether people blindly trust experts on all occasions or whether they evaluate experts’ views and question them if necessary is a vital question. This study investigates associations of human values with the readiness to question experts’ views and one’s reasons for not disagreeing with experts among randomly sampled Finns. Readiness to question experts’ views and one’s reasons for not disagreeing were inferred from self-reported written accounts. Value priorities were measured with Schwartz et al.’s Portrait Values Questionnaire and Wach and Hammer’s items concerning rational and non-rational truth. The results showed that after adjusting for the effects of age, sex and education, the values of power and rational truth were positively associated, whereas the values of security, conformity and tradition were negatively associated with readiness to question experts’ views. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that the reasons for not disagreeing with experts were related to individual factors, situational factors, social risks and views about experts.
The pros and cons of the fourth revision of thalassaemia screening programme in Iran
Authors: Moafi Alireza , Vallian Reihaneh , Vallian Sadeq , Rahgozar Soheila , Torfenajad Mohammad , Moafi Hadi
Published: March 2016

Objective

To evaluate the repercussions of recent changes to the cut-offs used in the first screening step of the pre-marital screening programme for thalassaemia prevention in Iran.

Methods

The profiles of 984 subjects referred to a genetic laboratory, and the tests of 242 parents of children with thalassaemia major were assessed for red blood cell (RBC) indices, haemoglobin (Hb) A2 levels and results of Hb electrophoresis.

Results

Of 407 suspected thalassaemia minor (STM) cases, 18 proved positive for thalassaemia minor on molecular analysis (18/407, confidence interval 2.6–6.9%). If the revised screening cut-offs had been used to determine who would undergo molecular analysis, two of these cases would not have been identified. Only 4.4% of suspected cases with lower than normal RBC indices (mean corpuscular volume <80 fl and mean corpuscular Hb <27 pg) and HbA2 (<3.5%) were diagnosed with thalassaemia minor.

Conclusion

The thalassaemia major prevention programme is performed in two separate steps. One step involves the screening of subjects and identification of β-thalassaemia minor, suspected cases for thalassaemia minor (STM), and normal subject groups. The other step concerns the identification of thalassaemia minor in the STM group. Changing the cut-offs at the first screening step does not result in significant improvement from an economic view, and is associated with significant risk at the second screening step.
Questioning Turkey’s “Miracle” Growth From a Sustainability Perspective
Authors: Acar Sevil , Gultekin-Karakas Derya
Published: March 2016

Over the last two decades, Turkey has enjoyed high rates of economic growth. This study uses “the adjusted net saving” approach to explore to what extent Turkey achieved this growth at the expense of rapid natural resource use and increased environmental pollution in violation of basic sustainability criteria. We examine the components of adjusted net savings (i.e., changes in physical, natural, and human capital) for the period 1970 to 2011 and consider the sectoral shifts resulting from capital investments and accompanying state policies that are driving industrialization in Turkey. We find that the so-called miracle growth in the 2000s has come at the expense of massive natural capital utilization. Although gross fixed capital formation has continued to grow, it has been accompanied by high depreciation, and thus, in the post-2000 period, the net accumulation of physical capital has followed a declining trend.
Techno-functional and nutritional performance of commercial breads available in Europe
Authors: Conte Paola , Fadda Costantino , Piga Antonio , Collar Concha
Published: March 2016

In recent years, the growing interest for well-being and healthy lifestyle together with an increasing awareness of the close relationship between food and health have boosted the production of an increasing number of novel goods to be placed in both gluten-containing and gluten-free products market. The objective of this study was to provide a realistic and detailed overview of the current bread-market supply in order to evaluate the overall quality of the available offer in this prioritized food industry area. Twenty commercial breads consisting of gluten (n = 10) and gluten-free (n = 10) samples currently available in the European market have been assessed by physical-chemical, technological, nutritional, and sensory determinations. The quality parameters obtained were related to each other by using Pearson correlations, while sample classification was achieved by applying factor analysis. Higher values for protein and bio-accessible polyphenols content, aroma and taste quality, and low and moderate expected glycaemic index corresponded to gluten containing breads. Although the main distinction was between gluten and gluten-free samples as it was expected, classification of breads allowed differentiating samples with different formulations in terms of presence/absence of alternative, innovative, and nutrient-dense raw materials.
Validity of the modified Reynolds equation for incompressible active lubrication
Authors: Cerda Varela Alejandro , Santos Ilmar F
Published: March 2016

The modified Reynolds equation for active lubrication has been the cornerstone around which the theoretical investigations regarding actively lubricated bearings have evolved over the years. Introduced originally in 1994, it enables to calculate in a simplified manner the bearing pressure field as a function of servovalve controlled pressurized oil injection. This article deals with a preliminary critical review of the simplificatory assumptions that are introduced into the modified Reynolds equation in order to model the phenomena taking place in the interface between the injection nozzle and the bearing clearance. The analysis is performed by means of direct comparison of the results of the modified Reynolds equation model versus benchmark CFD calculations, applied to a geometry representative of the system analyzed. The results show that the modified Reynolds equation mathematical simplicity comes at the cost of reduced accuracy regarding the description of the oil velocity field in the vicinities of the injection nozzle. On the other hand, the modified Reynolds equation results provide sufficient accuracy regarding global magnitudes, such as resulting loads and injected flows, which are essential for designing and operating bearings featuring the active lubrication system.
Retinal degeneration in primary-progressive multiple sclerosis: A role for cortical lesions?
Authors: Petracca Maria , Cordano Christian , Cellerino Maria , Button Julia , Krieger Stephen , Vancea Roxana , Ghassemi Rezwan , Farrell Colleen , Miller Aaron , Calabresi Peter A , Lublin Fred , Inglese Matilde
Published: March 2016

Background:

Retinal atrophy in multiple sclerosis (MS) is secondary to optic nerve focal inflammation and to injury of the posterior visual pathway.

Objectives:

To investigate the contribution of cortical lesions (CLs) to retinal pathology in primary-progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS).

Methods:

We performed a cross-sectional evaluation of 25 patients and 20 controls, relating magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) metrics of visual pathway integrity with parameters derived from spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell + inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, and macular volume (MV)).

Results:

Mean RNFL, GCIPL thickness, and MV were significantly reduced in patients compared to controls. MV and GCIPL thickness were significantly correlated with visual acuity. RNFL thinning was associated with thalamus and visual cortex volume (respectively, p = 0.01 and p < 0.05). In addition to thalamic volume, GCIPL thinning was associated with CLs and intracortical lesion number and volume, leucocortical lesion volume (all p ⩽ 0.05) while MV decrease was associated with CLs volume ( p = 0.05) and intracortical lesion number and volume ( p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Our results suggest that RNFL thinning and GCIPL thinning/MV decrease may be explained by alternative mechanisms including retrograde trans-synaptic degeneration and/or a common pathophysiologic process affecting both the brain with CLs and the retina with neuronal loss.
D313Y mutation in the differential diagnosis of white matter lesions: Experiences from a multiple sclerosis outpatient clinic
Authors: Becker Jana , Rolfs Arndt , Karabul Nesrin , Berlit Peter , Kraemer Markus
Published: March 2016

White matter lesions (WML) in younger patients might be due to a variety of neurological disorders. Fabry disease (FD), an x-linked inherited lysosomal storage disorder, happens to be misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS). In two middle-aged female patients, presenting bilateral WML, diagnosis of MS turned out to be doubtful. Human genetic analysis presented the Fabry mutation D313Y, in which clinical impact is still unclear. Disease manifestations outside the central nervous system were not detected. Our findings support the suspicion that Fabry mutation D313Y may be involved in neural damage resulting in WML.
The war on meaninglessness: A counter-terrorist self through an absent terrorist other
Authors: Eski Yarin
Published: March 2016

This contribution shall focus on post-9/11 port security, its policing actors and how their occupational, counter-terrorist identity is (re)established. The empirical context of this study is that of operational port police officers and security officers who construct port security in the ports of Rotterdam and Hamburg. Drawing from a multi-sited, ethnographic fieldwork study, specific attention is paid to how operational staff, employed in a highly securitized realm saturated with War on Terror governance, (re)establish their occupational identity through the terrorist other without having ever been confronted, face-to-face, with terrorism. Instead of fighting in a global War on Terror, and given the way they construe their identity through the terrorist other, they endure an everyday War on Meaninglessness.
Engaging parents in Family Court: Lessons from an observational study of child protection cases
Authors: Lens Vicki
Published: March 2016

This study explores the courtroom interactions between judges, attorneys, and parents charged with child abuse or neglect. Drawing on ethnographic observations of court cases in a Family Court located in the northeastern United States, this study seeks to understand how judges encourage or inhibit parents’ participation and the strategies and tactics used to influence parental behaviors and obtain cooperation with court orders.

Findings

On one end of the spectrum are judges who engage little, or not at all with parents, preferring to speak only to the professional court actors. On the other end of the spectrum is a more participatory approach, with judges weaving parents into court room exchanges and engaging them in informational and decision-making dialogs. A similar divergence appears when soliciting cooperation from parents, with some judges relying on shaming rituals and others using a softer approach that incorporates praise and support.

Applications

Strategic interventions are identified that will increase parents’ cooperation and satisfaction with the Family Court system. These include vigorously engaging in both informational and decision-making dialogs with parents and using rituals of praise and support, rather than shaming.
Providing exemplar-based ‘feedforward’ before an assessment: The role of teacher explanation
Authors: Hendry Graham D , White Peter , Herbert Catherine
Published: March 2016

We know from research across all levels of education that feedback and interactive teaching have the greatest positive effect on students’ achievement. However, in higher education, teachers’ constructive feedback often logistically cannot be delivered in time for all students to apply to future tasks. In this article, we report on a study of an interactive teaching approach using assignment exemplars to provide students with before-task ‘feedback’ or feedforward. We evaluated the effectiveness of the approach through a questionnaire and analysis of students’ grades. Our results show that while the teacher’s explanation of the exemplars was an important positive factor in students’ achievement, some students did not improve their performance although they understood the quality of work expected. We discuss implications for teachers in teaching discipline-writing skills as part of an exemplar-based approach to providing feedforward.
The scrapbook as an autobiographical memory tool
Authors: Phillips Barbara J.
Published: March 2016

This study explores how consumers collect, reconstruct, and protect autobiographical memories through the material possession of the scrapbook. Scrapbooking is a hobby that preserves photographs and mementos in an album decorated with narrative and ornamentation. Through 20 interviews with women who scrapbook, a framework was constructed to describe the types of memories preserved by the scrapbook, the modes of memory reconstruction cued by the scrapbook, and the memory protection strategies used by consumers. These memory protection strategies include overcollection of memory markers, overplanning of scrapbook aesthetics, increased journaling, and taboos on altering or removing scrapbook pages. Theoretical implications are provided.
Diabetes mellitus and coronary microvascular function in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and nonobstructed coronary arteries
Authors: Banovic Marko , Brkovic Voin , Nedeljkovic Ivana , Nedeljkovic Milan , Popovic Dejana , Djordjevic-Dikic Ana , Ristic Arsen , Nikolic Srdjan , Beleslin Branko
Published: March 2016

Background and aim:

Coronary flow reserve is impaired in asymptomatic patients with aortic stenosis and has a prognostic value. We investigated whether the type II diabetes mellitus additionally impairs microvascular circulation assessed by coronary flow reserve in patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis, normal left ventricular ejection fraction and nonobstructed coronary arteries.

Methods:

A total of 128 patients, mean age of 66.35 ± 10.51 (58.6% males), with severe aortic stenosis and normal left ventricular ejection fraction were enrolled in this study. Patients with diabetes mellitus, those who were treated for diabetes mellitus or had documentation confirming the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, were considered. All patients underwent coronary angiography and had no obstructive coronary disease (defined as having no stenosis >50% in diameter), standard transthoracic Doppler-echocardiographic study and adenosine stress transthoracic echocardiography for coronary flow reserve measurement.

Results:

Diabetes mellitus was present in 26 patients (20.31%). There was no significant difference in aortic stenosis severity between diabetic and non-diabetic patients [aortic valve area (0.81 ± 0.18 vs 0.85 ± 0.15 cm2) and Vmax (4.20 ± 0.57 vs 4.21 ± 0.48 m/s)]. Mean coronary flow reserve in diabetic patients was 1.98 ± 0.48, while mean coronary flow reserve in non-diabetic patients was 2.64 ± 0.54 ( p < 0.01). Diabetes mellitus was independent predictor of coronary flow reserve [B = −0.636, 95% confidence interval (−0.916 to −0.368), p < 0.001].

Conclusion:

Diabetes mellitus additionally impairs coronary microvascular function in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and nonobstructed coronary arteries.
Synergistic effect of fiber content and length on mechanical and water absorption behaviors of Phoenix sp. fiber-reinforced epoxy composites
Authors: Rajeshkumar G , Hariharan V , Sathishkumar TP , Fiore V , Scalici T
Published: March 2016

Phoenix sp. fiber-reinforced epoxy composites have been manufactured using compression molding technique. The effect of reinforcement volume content (0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) and size (300 µm particles, 10 mm, 20 mm, and 30 mm fibers) on quasi-static and dynamic mechanical properties was investigated. Moreover, the water absorption properties of composites were analyzed at different environmental conditions (10℃, 30℃, and 60℃). For each reinforcement size, composites loaded with 40% in volume show highest tensile and flexural properties. Furthermore, composites with 300 µm particles present the best impact properties and the lowest water absorption, regardless of the environmental condition. The dynamic mechanical properties of the composites loaded with 40% in volume were analyzed by varying the reinforcement size and the load frequency (i.e., 0.5 Hz, 1 Hz, 2 Hz, 5 Hz, and 10 Hz). It was found that the glass transition temperature of short fiber-reinforced composites is higher than that of the composite loaded with particles.
Deploying Guns to Expendable Communities
Authors: Monzó Lilia D. , McLaren Peter , Rodriguez Arturo
Published: March 2016

This article argues that the gun industry, as part of the broader military industrial complex, serves a specific function of both producing and securing capital interests, U.S. imperialism, and racism and that these work together to support the capital accumulation of the transnational capitalist class. The U.S.–Mexican border and the War on Drugs are discussed as a case in point in which Mexican communities are made expendable in the service of capital. A revolutionary critical pedagogy is advanced to support the mass mobilization of a people worldwide who are fed up with having our labor and our dignity extorted and who are ready to imagine and create a socialist alternative.
Examining Barriers to Sustained Implementation of School-Wide Prevention Practices
Authors: Turri Mary G. , Mercer Sterett H. , McIntosh Kent , Nese Rhonda N. T. , Strickland-Cohen M. Kathleen , Hoselton Robert
Published: March 2016

The purpose of this study was to determine if an experimental five-item measure of barriers to implementing and sustaining school-wide prevention practices, the Assessment of Barriers to Implementation and Sustainability in Schools (ABISS), would relate to objective measures of school-wide positive behavioral interventions and supports (SWPBIS) implementation fidelity. The ABISS was administered to individuals in 704 U.S. schools implementing SWPBIS across 11 states, and scores were compared with school demographic variables and SWPBIS fidelity of implementation. Results showed acceptable model fit for the ABISS, partial measurement invariance, and statistically significant relations, after controlling for school demographic variables, with SWPBIS fidelity of implementation, except for schools implementing SWPBIS for 5 or more years. These patterns indicate substantial but decreasing relations of perceived barriers to implementation fidelity as schools continue to implement SWPBIS. Implications are discussed in terms of how assessment of perceived barriers can support implementation and sustainability of school-wide prevention practices.
Introduction of Flexible Cyanoacrylates in Sutureless Gastric Closure
Authors: Julián Ibáñez Joan F. , Tarascó Palomares Jordi , Navinés López Jordi , Balibrea del Castillo José M. , Odermatt Erich K. , Pacha González Miguel A. , del Castillo Riestra Luis F. , Guardia Torner Natàlia , Turon Dols Pau , Fernández-Llamazares Rodríguez Jaime
Published: March 2016

Background. Clinical effectiveness and safety of biological and synthetic adhesives in digestive closures have been evaluated. Their use is becoming more prevalent, as rigidity and inflexibility are its more remarkable weaknesses. However, little is known about their role in gastric and anastomotic closures. Moreover, usefulness of novel flexible types of synthetic adhesives as n-butyl-cyanoacrylate has not been assessed yet. Materials and Methods. One centimeter long gastrotomy was performed in 24 male Wistar rats, which were divided depending on the type of closure method employed: manual USP 5/0 silk interrupted suture versus sutureless closure with Histoacryl Flexible ( n-butyl-cyanoacrylate with softener) or Histoacryl Double Component ( n-butyl-cyanoacrylate with softener and hardener). Microscopic evaluation of the suture viability and integrity was performed, and adhesion formation during the cicatrization process were assessed. During an 8-week follow-up clinical and histopathological aspects as well as hematologic and inflammatory biomarkers were studied. Results. No differences among groups where found in any of the clinical, analytical, or histopathological issues assessed except for a higher incidence rate of adhesions in the Histoacryl Double Component group when compared with hand-sewn suture group ( P = .04). Our results support experimental studies in large mammals (pigs) for further study of sutureless hollow viscera closure.
Neuroaesthetics
Authors: Pearce Marcus T. , Zaidel Dahlia W. , Vartanian Oshin , Skov Martin , Leder Helmut , Chatterjee Anjan , Nadal Marcos
Published: March 2016

The field of neuroaesthetics has gained in popularity in recent years but also attracted criticism from the perspectives both of the humanities and the sciences. In an effort to consolidate research in the field, we characterize neuroaesthetics as the cognitive neuroscience of aesthetic experience, drawing on long traditions of research in empirical aesthetics on the one hand and cognitive neuroscience on the other. We clarify the aims and scope of the field, identifying relations among neuroscientific investigations of aesthetics, beauty, and art. The approach we advocate takes as its object of study a wide spectrum of aesthetic experiences, resulting from interactions of individuals, sensory stimuli, and context. Drawing on its parent fields, a cognitive neuroscience of aesthetics would investigate the complex cognitive processes and functional networks of brain regions involved in those experiences without placing a value on them. Thus, the cognitive neuroscientific approach may develop in a way that is mutually complementary to approaches in the humanities.
Three-dimensional protein model similarity analysis based on salient shape index
Authors: Yao Bo , Li Zhong , Ding Meng , Chen Minhong
Published: March 2016

Background

Proteins play a special role in bioinformatics. The surface shape of a protein, which is an important characteristic of the protein, defines a geometric and biochemical domain where the protein interacts with other proteins. The similarity analysis among protein models has become an important topic of protein analysis, by which it can reveal the structure and the function of proteins.

Results

In this paper, a new protein similarity analysis method based on three-dimensional protein models is proposed. It constructs a feature matrix descriptor for each protein model combined by calculating the shape index (SI) and the related salient geometric feature (SGF), and then analyzes the protein model similarity by using this feature matrix and the extended grey relation analysis.

Conclusions

We compare our method to the Multi-resolution Reeb Graph (MRG) skeleton method, the L1-medial skeleton method and the local-diameter descriptor method. Experimental results show that our protein similarity analysis method is accurate and reliable while keeping the high computational efficiency.
Extensions of Ćirić and Wardowski type fixed point theorems in D-generalized metric spaces
Authors: Senapati Tanusri , Dey Lakshmi Kanta , Dolićanin-Ðekić Diana
Published: March 2016

In this paper, we study an interesting generalization of standard metric spaces, b-metric spaces, dislocated metric spaces, and modular spaces due to the recent work of Jleli and Samet. Here we modify the result for Ćirić quasi-contraction-type mappings and also prove the same result by taking D-admissible mappings. Moreover, we establish fixed point theorems for two well-known nonlinear contractions like rational contraction mappings and Wardowski type contraction mappings. Several important results in the literature can be derived from our results. Suitable examples are presented to substantiate our obtained results.
Neutrophil extracellular trap formation is elicited in response to cold physical plasma
Authors: Bekeschus Sander , Winterbourn Christine C , Kolata Julia , Masur Kai , Hasse Sybille , Bröker Barbara M , Parker Heather A
Published: March 2016

Cold physical plasma is an ionized gas with a multitude of components, including hydrogen peroxide and other reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Recent studies suggest that exposure of wounds to cold plasma may accelerate healing. Upon wounding, neutrophils are the first line of defense against invading microorganisms but have also been identified to play a role in delayed healing. In this study, we examined how plasma treatment affects the functions of peripheral blood neutrophils. Plasma treatment induced oxidative stress, as assessed by the oxidation of intracellular fluorescent redox probes; reduced metabolic activity; but did not induce early apoptosis. Neutrophil oxidative burst was only modestly affected after plasma treatment, and the killing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus was not significantly affected. Intriguingly, we found that plasma induced profound extracellular trap formation. This was inhibited by the presence of catalase during plasma treatment but was not replicated by adding an equivalent concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Plasma-induced neutrophil extracellular trap formation was not dependent on the activity of myeloperoxidase or NADPH oxidase 2 but seemed to involve short-lived molecules. The amount of DNA release and the time course after plasma treatment were similar to that with the common neutrophil extracellular trap inducer PMA. After neutrophil extracellular traps had formed, concentrations of IL-8 were also significantly increased in supernatants of plasma-treated neutrophils. Both neutrophil extracellular traps and IL-8 release may aid antimicrobial activity and spur inflammation at the wound site. Whether this aids or exacerbates wound healing needs to be tested.
Elastic full-waveform inversion for VTI media: Methodology and sensitivity analysis
Authors: Kamath Nishant , Tsvankin Ilya
Published: March 2016

Most existing implementations of full-waveform inversion (FWI) are limited to acoustic approximations. In this paper, we present an algorithm for time-domain elastic FWI in laterally heterogeneous VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) media. The adjoint-state method is employed to derive the gradients of the objective function with respect to the stiffness coefficients and then to a chosen set of VTI parameters. To test the algorithm, we introduce Gaussian anomalies in the Thomsen parameters of a homogeneous VTI medium and perform 2D FWI of multicomponent transmission data for two different model parameterizations. To analyze the sensitivity of the objective function to the model parameters, the Fréchet kernel of FWI is obtained by linearizing the elastic wave equation using the Born approximation and employing the asymptotic Green’s function. The amplitude of the kernel (“radiation pattern”) yields the angle-dependent energy scattered by a perturbation in a certain model parameter. Then we convert the general expressions into simple approximations for the radiation patterns of P- and SV-waves in VTI media. These analytic developments provide valuable insight into the potential of multicomponent elastic FWI and help explain the numerical results for models with Gaussian anomalies in the VTI parameters.
NRPB3, the third largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, is essential for stomatal patterning and differentiation inArabidopsis
Authors: Chen Liang , Guan Liping , Qian Pingping , Xu Fan , Wu Zhongliang , Wu Yujun , He Kai , Gou Xiaoping , Li Jia , Hou Suiwen
Published: March 2016

Stomata are highly specialized epidermal structures that control transpiration and gas exchange between plants and the environment. Signal networks underlying stomatal development have been previously uncovered, however, much less is known about how signals involved in stomatal development are transmitted to RNA polymerase II (Pol II), which plays a central role in the transcription of mRNA coding genes. Herein, we identified a partial loss-of-function mutation of the third largest subunit of nuclear DNA-dependent RNA polymerase II (NRPB3) that exhibited an increased number of stomatal lineage cells and paired stomata. Phenotypic and genetic analyses indicated that NRPB3 was not only required for correct stomatal patterning, but was also essential for stomatal differentiation. Protein-protein interaction assays showed that NRPB3 directly interacted with two basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors, FAMA and INDUCER OF CBF EXPRESSION1 (ICE1), indicating that NRPB3 serves as an acceptor for signals from transcription factors involved in stomatal development. Our findings highlight the surprisingly conserved activating mechanisms mediated by the third largest subunit of Pol II in eukaryotes.
Differential regulation of meristem size, morphology and organization by the ERECTA, CLAVATA and class III HD-ZIP pathways
Authors: Mandel Tali , Candela Héctor , Landau Udi , Asis Lior , Zilinger Einat , Carles Cristel C. , Williams Leor Eshed
Published: March 2016

The shoot apical meristem (SAM) of angiosperm plants is a highly organized minute structure that gives rise to all aboveground organs. The SAM is divided into three different functional domains. The central zone (CZ) at the SAM tip harbors the self-renewing pluripotent stem cells and the organizing center, providing daughter cells that are continuously displaced into the interior rib zone (RZ) or to the surrounding peripheral zone (PZ), from which organ primordia are initiated. Despite the constant flow of cells from the CZ into the RZ or PZ, and cell recruitment for primordium formation, a stable balance is maintained between the distinct cell populations in the SAM. Here we combined an in depth phenotypic analysis with a comparative RNA-Seq approach to characterize meristems from selected combinations of clavat3 (clv3), jabba-1D (jba1D) and erecta (er) mutants. We demonstrate that CLV3 restricts meristem expansion along the apical basal axis, while class III HD-ZIP and ER pathways restrict meristem expansion laterally, but in distinct and possibly perpendicular orientations. Our k-mean analysis reveals that clv3, jba-1D/+ and er lead to meristem enlargement by affecting different aspects of meristem function, e.g., that clv3 displays increase in stem cell population, whereas jba-1D/+ er exhibits increase in mitotic activity and in meristematic cell population. We demonstrate that the combination of genetic and mRNA-Seq comparative approach provides a precise and sensitive method to identify cell type specific transcriptomes in a small structure such as the SAM.
Wake analysis of aerodynamic components for the glide envelope of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
Authors: KleinHeerenbrink Marco , Warfvinge Kajsa , Hedenström Anders
Published: March 2016

Gliding flight is a relatively inexpensive mode of flight used by many larger bird species, where potential energy is used to cover the cost of aerodynamic drag. Birds have great flexibility in their flight configuration, allowing them to control their flight speed and glide angle. However, relatively little is known about how this flexibility affects aerodynamic drag.

We measured the wake of a jackdaw (Corvus monedula) gliding in a wind tunnel, and computed the components of aerodynamic drag from the wake. We found that induced drag was mainly affected by wingspan, but also that the use of the tail has a negative influence on span efficiency. Contrary to previous work, we found no support for the separated primaries being used in controlling the induced drag. Profile drag was of similar magnitude to that reported in other studies, and our results suggest that profile drag is affected by variation in wing shape. For a folded tail the body drag coefficient had a value of 0.2, rising to above 0.4 with the tail fully spread, which we conclude is due to tail profile drag.
Automated detection of feeding strikes by larval fish using continuous high-speed digital video: a novel method to extract quantitative data from fast, sparse kinematic events
Authors: Shamur Eyal , Zilka Miri , Hassner Tal , China Victor , Liberzon Alex , Holzman Roi
Published: March 2016

Using videography to extract quantitative data on animal movement and kinematics constitutes a major tool in biomechanics and behavioral ecology. Advanced recording technologies now enable acquisition of long video sequences encompassing sparse and unpredictable events. While such events may be ecologically important, analysis of sparse data can be extremely time-consuming and potentially biased; data quality is often strongly dependent on the training level of the observer and subject to contamination by observer dependent biases. These constraints often limit our ability to study animal performance and fitness. Using long videos of foraging fish larvae, we provide a framework for the automated detection of prey acquisition strikes, a behavior that is infrequent yet critical for larval survival. We compared the performance of four video descriptors and their combinations against manually identified feeding events. For our data, the best single descriptor provided a classification accuracy of 77-95% and detection accuracy of 88-98%, depending on fish species and size. Using a combination of descriptors improved the accuracy of classification by ∼2%, but did not improve detection accuracy. Our results indicate that the effort required by an expert to manually label videos can be greatly reduced to examining only the potential feeding detections in order to filter false detections. Thus, using automated descriptors reduce the amount of manual work needed to identify events of interest from weeks to hours, enabling the assembly of an unbiased large dataset of ecologically relevant behaviors.