bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chinese and Korean mothers in England: motherhood, gender and employment
Authors: Lim Hyun-Joo
Published: September 2015

This article explores the lived experiences of first-generation Chinese and South Korean mothers living in England. The data are analysed using six intersecting categories: motherhood and gender ideology; educational level; reasons for migration; the length of stay in England; family economic circumstances; and the locality of settlement. The findings suggest that, while there appear to be stark differences in Chinese and South Korean mothers’ understanding of motherhood and employment, their accounts concurrently indicate commonalities in terms of persistent gender inequality at home, founded on patriarchal values. Out of the six interrelated categories, their motherhood and gender ideology obtained in their country of origin seems to have had a dominant influence in shaping these women’s experiences, along with their settlement into their respective ethnic communities.
Peer review – issues, limitations, and future development
Authors: Velterop Jan
Published: September 2015

Peer review is almost universally seen as the crux of scientific journal publishing. The role of peer reviewers is (1) to help avoid unnecessary errors in the published article, and (2) to judge publication-worthiness (in the journal that arranges for the review). This happens. Sometimes. But the notion of peer review is rather vague, and since most of it is anonymous, it is very difficult – arguably impossible – for researchers to know if the articles they read have been reliably peer reviewed and which criteria have been used to come to the decision to accept for publication. On top of that, peer review is very expensive. Not the peer review itself, as it is mostly done by researchers without being paid for it, but the process as arranged by publishers. This has several underlying causes, but it is clear that the actual cost of technically publishing an article is but a fraction of the average APC (Article Processing Charge) income or per-article subscription revenues publishers routinely realize. Some (e.g. Richard Smith, ex-Editor of the British Medical Journal) advocate abolishing peer review altogether. This is certainly not without merit, but even without abolishing it, there are ways to make peer review more reliable and transparent, and much cheaper to the scientific community.
Provincializar a Europa: a proposta epistemológica de Dipesh Chakrabarty.
Authors: Elíbio Júnior Antônio Manoel , Lima Marcos Costa , Almeida Carolina Soccio Di Manno de
Published: September 2015

O artigo analisa o debate epistemológico acerca da escrita da história, proposto pelo historiador indiano Dipesh Chakrabarty. Juntamente com oito colegas, entre os quais Ranajit Guha, o intelectual indiano constituiu o coletivo editorial Subaltern Studies em 1982. Chakrabarty elabora uma crítica à história eurocêntrica e ao nacionalismo, ao orientalismo e ao imperialismo europeu. O texto caracteriza-se pela tentativa de articular e inserir a obra de Chakrabarty as discussões realizadas no âmbito dos estudos pós-colonialistas.
Virtues in Nicomachean Ethics and Ahlak-i Alai and their etymological equivalents in Terceme-i Kamusu’l-muhit
Nikomakhos'a Etik ile Ahlak-ı Alai'de erdemler ve Mütercim Asım'ın Kamus'undaki etimolojik karşılıkları
Authors: Ertuğ Nejdet
Published: September 2015

Moral examinations were enlarged not via the traditional thought but in accordance with the relatively scientific standards in the subareas like applied ethics and business ethics. Some peculiar terms of morality and of related areas were used as interchangeable or in different meanings and hence a terminology problem emerged. Therefore, we can say that in the examination of the traditional philosophy, knowing the original meaning and the historical evolution of the specific concepts will be helpful for the articulation of thought and can make a contribution for new and original insights. In this work firstly I specify the main virtues set forth in Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics and Kinali-zade Ali Efendi’s Ahlak-i Alai and compare the ideas of them. Secondly, I cite the etymological roots of the main virtues from Mutercim Asim Efendi’s Terceme-i Kamusu’l-muhit and give the meanings of each concept by taking into consideration of their historical alterations.

 

Özet

Aristoteles, Platon ve İslam felsefesinde görüldüğü gibi, geleneksel düşüncenin hayatı organize eden belirleyici unsurlar olarak erdemleri esas aldığı anlayış günümüze kadar devam etmiştir.  Ancak ahlaki sorgulamalar salt geleneksel düşünce ile değil uygulamalı etik ve meslek etikleri gibi alt alanlarda görece bilimsel ölçütlerle genişletilmiştir. Bu sebeple geleneksel düşünceyle alakalı araştırmalarda karşılaşılan kavramların kök anlamlarının ve tarihsel süreç içerisindeki evrilişinin bilinmesi düşüncenin açımlanmasını kolaylaştıracağı gibi yeni ve özgün bakış açılarına da katkıda bulunabilecektir. Bununla birlikte ahlak ve ilişkili diğer alanlarda kullanılan terimler bazen birbirinin yerine bazen farklı anlamlar yüklenerek kullanılmaya başlanmış ve bir terminoloji sorununu da ortaya çıkarmıştır. Bu çalışmada önce Aristoteles'in Nikomakhos'a Etik ve Kınalı-zade Ali Efendi'nin Ahlak-ı Alai isimli eserlerinde yer alan ana erdemler belirlenerek düşünürlerin görüşleri mukayese edilmiştir. İkinci olarak temel erdemlerin etimolojik kökenleri Mütercim Asım Efendi'nin Terceme-i Kamusu'l-muhit isimli eserinden nakledilerek her bir kavramın tarihsel süreç içerisindeki anlamları verilmiştir.
AQWA
Authors: Aly Ahmed M. , Mahmood Ahmed R. , Hassan Mohamed S. , Aref Walid G. , Ouzzani Mourad , Elmeleegy Hazem , Qadah Thamir
Published: September 2015

The unprecedented spread of location-aware devices has resulted in a plethora of location-based services in which huge amounts of spatial data need to be efficiently processed by large-scale computing clusters. Existing cluster-based systems for processing spatial data employ static data-partitioning structures that cannot adapt to data changes, and that are insensitive to the query workload. Hence, these systems are incapable of consistently providing good performance. To close this gap, we present AQWA, an adaptive and query-workload-aware mechanism for partitioning large-scale spatial data. AQWA does not assume prior knowledge of the data distribution or the query workload. Instead, as data is consumed and queries are processed, the data partitions are incrementally updated. With extensive experiments using real spatial data from Twitter, and various workloads of range and
k
-nearest-neighbor queries, we demonstrate that AQWA can achieve an order of magnitude enhancement in query performance compared to the state-of-the-art systems.
Are We Architects of Our Own Happiness? The Importance of Family Background for Well-Being
Authors: Schnitzlein Daniel D. , Wunder Christoph
Published: September 2015

This paper analyzes whether individuals have equal opportunity to achieve happiness (or well-being). We estimate sibling correlations and intergenerational correlations in self-reported life satisfaction, satisfaction with household income, job satisfaction, and satisfaction with health. We find high sibling correlations for all measures of well-being. The results suggest that family background explains, on average, between 30% and 60% of the inequality in permanent well-being. The influence is smaller when the siblings’ psychological and geographical distance from their parental home is larger. Results from intergenerational correlations suggest that parental characteristics are considerably less important than family and community factors.
Shopping Hours and Price Competition with Loyal Consumers
Authors: Flores Miguel , Wenzel Tobias
Published: September 2015

We study a retail market where firms compete in shopping hours and prices, and consumers have night-time or day-time preferences. In contrast to the existing literature, we introduce a market expansion effect of extending shopping hours by adding a segment of consumers (the loyal consumers) whose demand is increased if shopping hours are extended. We find that prices can increase due to shopping hours deregulation so that some consumers are worse off with deregulation. We also find that the extent of the price increase depends on the competitiveness of the retail industry.
Predictor-Corrector Balance Method for the Worst-Case 1D Option Pricing
Authors: Valkov Radoslav
Published: September 2015

The paper presents a numerical approach for computation of the first spatial Greek, the Delta, of the option value, governed by the Black–Scholes equation with uncertain volatility and dividend yield. This fully nonlinear degenerate parabolic problem is handled by a monotone finite volume spatial discretization and a second-order predictor-corrector time stepping. Ample numerical results illustrate the performance of the algorithm.
Accountability of Venture Support Agencies: Do They Really Help?
Authors: Jagoda Kalinga , Lin Xiaohua , Calvert Victoria , Tao Shaw
Published: September 2015

There is widespread recognition of the vital role small and medium enterprises (SME) play in the sustainability of the Canadian rural landscape. However, rural entrepreneurs face barriers and challenges throughout the start-up and growth stages of their ventures. The rapid development of e-commerce, coupled with increasing big-box competition and shifting demographics challenge the sustainability of rural SMEs. The literature recognizes gaps in SME owner capability, pertaining to business planning, the use of financial information, the implementation of Information Technologies, and funding. It should be noted that the effectiveness of Government policies regarding support for training in these areas through publically funded agencies is well documented. However, research regarding the effectiveness of these agencies in reaching and meeting the needs of rural venture owners is primarily restricted to funding requirements. This paper examines the utilization and satisfaction of venture support agencies and community organizations by rural SME owners in 14 communities through a Business Expansion and Retention (BR&E) research project conducted in Alberta, Canada. The results indicated that agency usage can be effectively predicted by firm size, degree of localization, and planning. Results indicate that while many owners identified the need for assistance in training and funding, the utilization of support agencies, underscored by the lack of user satisfaction, may hinder rather than enhance venture viability and growth. The implications for government policy are discussed in the context of enhancing the effectiveness of support agencies, thereby contributing to the viability of ventures and the sustainability of rural communities.
Juggling or Struggling? Work and Family Interface and Its Buffers among Small Business Owners
Authors: Nguyen Hieu , Sawang Sukanlaya
Published: September 2015

This study responds to calls for theory and research on work–family aspects in entrepreneurship research. This study examines the role of work–family conflict, work–family enhancement and social support on small business owners’ (SBOs) well-being. Drawing from The Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) panel data, the sample is restricted to SBOs, married with children under the age of 14 during 2010–2011 (two waves), totaling 167 SBOs. Results revealed that work–family conflict has a negative direct effect on mental health, job, family and life satisfactions. Similarly, work–family enhancement was found to have a direct positive effect on job, family and life satisfaction but not mental health. A significant interaction term also suggested that work–family enhancement moderated the relationship between work–family conflict and SBOs’ job satisfaction. Finally social support was found to have positive main effect on both subjective and psychological well-being. The interventions to well-being of SBOs should aim to balance the work and family lives of SBOs as well as making sure they have adequate social support networks. For public policy makers, support programs should extend from traditional means to balancing work–family matters for this particular occupation. Aside from broadening existing knowledge on the effects of work–family conflict, enhancement and social support, this is one of the first studies to examine well-being as a measure of success for SBOs. Additionally, the use of cross-wave data in the present study helps us to reduce this problem and provide a much stronger causal relationship between the focal variables of interest.
Frictional Pressure Drop during Two-Phase Flow of Pure Fluids and Mixtures in Small Diameter Channels
Authors: Del Col Davide , Azzolin Marco , Bisetto Alberto , Bortolin Stefano
Published: September 2015

Two-phase flow is widely encountered in minichannels heat exchangers such as air-cooled condensers and evaporators for automotive, compact devices for electronic cooling and aluminum condenser for air-conditioning applications. In the present work, frictional pressure drop during adiabatic liquid-vapor flow is experimentally investigated inside a single 0.96 mm diameter minichannel. Tests have been run with three mixtures of R32/R1234ze(E) (23/77%, 50/50% and 75/25% by mass composition) at mass flux ranging between 200 and 600 kg m−2 s−1. Since pressure drop has a strong influence on the two-phase heat transfer, it is crucial to have reliable pressure drop prediction methods for two-phase heat transfer modeling and optimization. Therefore, with the aim of extending its validity range, a model to calculate the frictional pressure gradient during two-phase flow in small diameter channels is tested against the present two-phase pressure drop database. An assessment is also done with two low-GWP refrigerants: the halogenated olefin R1234ze(E) and the hydrocarbon R290. The present model accounts for the effect of internal surface roughness as a function of the liquid-only Reynolds number.
On release of radionuclides from a near-surface radioactive waste repository to the environment
Authors: Gudelis Arūnas , Gorina Inga
Published: September 2015

A closed near-surface radioactive waste repository is the source of various radionuclides causing the human exposure. Recent investigations confirm an effectiveness of the engineering barriers installed in 2006 to prevent the penetration of radionuclides to the environment. The tritium activity concentration in groundwater decreased from tens of kBq/l to below hundreds of Bq/l. The monitoring and groundwater level data suggest the leaching of tritium from previously contaminated layers of unsaturated zone by rising groundwater while 210Pb may disperse as a decay product of 226Ra daughters.
Multibarrier system preventing migration of radionuclides from radioactive waste repository
Authors: Olszewska Wioleta , Miśkiewicz Agnieszka , Zakrzewska-Kołtuniewicz Grażyna , Lankof Leszek , Pająk Leszek
Published: September 2015

Safety of radioactive waste repositories operation is associated with a multibarrier system designed and constructed to isolate and contain the waste from the biosphere. Each of radioactive waste repositories is equipped with system of barriers, which reduces the possibility of release of radionuclides from the storage site. Safety systems may differ from each other depending on the type of repository. They consist of the natural geological barrier provided by host rocks of the repository and its surroundings, and an engineered barrier system (EBS). The EBS may itself comprise a variety of sub-systems or components, such as waste forms, canisters, buffers, backfills, seals and plugs. The EBS plays a major role in providing the required disposal system performance. It is assumed that the metal canisters and system of barriers adequately isolate waste from the biosphere. The evaluation of the multibarrier system is carried out after detailed tests to determine its parameters, and after analysis including mathematical modeling of migration of contaminants. To provide an assurance of safety of radioactive waste repository multibarrier system, detailed long term safety assessments are developed. Usually they comprise modeling of EBS stability, corrosion rate and radionuclide migration in near field in geosphere and biosphere. The principal goal of radionuclide migration modeling is assessment of the radionuclides release paths and rate from the repository, radionuclides concentration in geosphere in time and human exposure to ionizing radiation
Fabrication and performance of fl y ash granule filter for trapping gaseous cesium
Authors: Park Jang Jin , Shin Jin Myung , Yang Jae Hwan , Baek Young Hee , Park Geun Il
Published: September 2015

Although a disk-type fly ash filter has shown a good performance in trapping gaseous cesium, it has difficulty in charging filters into a filter container and discharging waste filters containing radioactive cesium from a container by remote action. To solve the difficulty of the disk-type fly ash filter, five types of granule filters, including a ball type, tube type, and sponge-structure type have been made. Among them, the best filter type was chosen through simple crucible tests. The five types of granule filters packed into containers were loaded into five alumina crucibles of 50 cc. Five grams of CsNO3 was used as a gaseous cesium source. They were then placed in a muffle furnace and heated to 900°C and maintained for 2 hours. After the experiment, the weights of the cesium trapped filters were measured. Among the five types of granule filters, the sponge-structure type granule filter was the best, which has the highest trapping capacity of cesium. Its capacity is 0.42 g-Cs/g-filter. The chosen sponge-structure type granule filters and disk-type filters have been tested using a two-zone tube furnace. Cs volatilization and Cs trapping zones were maintained at 900 and 1000°C, respectively. Sixteen grams of CsNO3 was used as a gaseous cesium source. The cesium trapping profile of the sponge-structure type granule filters was almost similar to that of the disk-type fly ash filters. For both cases, cesium was successfully trapped within the third filter.
235U isotopic characterization of natural and enriched uranium materials by using multigroup analysis (MGA) method at a defined geometry using different absorbers and collimators
Authors: Yücel Haluk , Yeltepe Emin , Yüksel Alptuğ Özer , Dikmen Hasan
Published: September 2015

Characterization of nuclear materials is an important topic within the context of nuclear safeguards, homeland security and nuclear forensics. This paper deals with the performance of multigroup gamma-ray analysis (MGA) method using the X- and γ-rays in the 80-130 keV region and enrichment meter principle (EMP) based on the analysis of 185.7 keV peak for a certain geometry using different absorbers and collimators. The results from MGA and those of EMP are compared. In particular, the effect of aluminum/lead absorbers and lead collimator on the enrichment determination of 235U in natural and low enriched samples is investigated in a given source-detector geometry. The optimum diameter/height ratio for the Pb-collimator is found to be Dc/Hc = 1.4-1.6 in the chosen geometry. In order to simulate the container walls, ten different thicknesses of Al-absorbers of 141 to 840 mg·cm-2 and six different thicknesses of Pb-absorbers of 1120-7367 mg·cm-2 are interposed between sample and detector. The calibration coefficients (% enrichment/cps) are calculated for each geometry. The comparison of the MGA and EMP methods shows that the enrichment meter principle provides more accurate and precise results for 235U abundance than those of MGA method at the chosen geometrical conditions. The present results suggest that a two-step procedure should be used in analyses of uranium enrichment. Firstly MGA method can be applied in situ and then EMP method can be used at a defined geometry in laboratory.
Organisational Communication, The Panacea For Improved Labour Relations
Authors: Dupe Adesubomi Abolade
Published: September 2015

This paper examined the importance of organisational communication to overall effective labour relations. It looked at organisational communication and its role in labour relations between the parties involved in Labour relations for better business procedures and relationships. It explained the importance of organisational communication in enhancing better labour relations within the organisation and with people outside the organisation. It enumerated the various groups that are involved in industrial relations and how they could use organisational communication for better industrial relations. It established the importance of organisational communication to the overall success of any organisation. Communication is vital to all human relations including labour relations but it seems to have been taken for granted or treated as inconsequential. When good organisational communication is not given its pride of place in organisation, it would affect labour relations negatively. This paper looked at the importance of organisational communication to labour relations, its effects on organisational performance, and negative effects of lack of good communication between stakeholders in labour relations and concluded that organisational communication should be properly used by all concerned in industrial relation matters for better performance of the organisation and improved labour relations both within and outside the organisation.
EMNCS – Lessons On The Way To An Innovationbased Development. Empirical Findings
Authors: Herciu Mihaela
Published: September 2015

The main focus of (the two parts of) this article is on the emerging countries and their development paths. Particularly, it emphasizes on the role and contribution of innovation (of all kinds, in all its forms) for multinational companies from emerging economies (EMNC); the entire research endeavor is placed under the auspices of the knowledge-based society - the one that makes knowledge the ultimate source of power, enabling entities to use and potentially multiply it at the same time at global scale. Analyzing the situation of some emerging economies (starting from their best ranked multinationals), the article draws some empirical and theoretical conclusions on the ways knowledge and innovation could become determinants of progress beyond national boundaries.
Role Of Banking-Sector To Inclusive Growth Through Inclusive Finance In Bangladesh
Authors: Sarker Sandip , Ghosh Sujan Kumar , Palit Mollika
Published: September 2015

The study attempts to identify the relationship between the banking sector’s financing in agriculture and total agricultural output at national level. To assist the study, a simple linear regression model has been developed. The results suggest that there is a strong correlation between banking sectors’ financing in agriculture and agriculture output in Bangladesh. It is also evident that banking sector’s credits are significantly facilitating financial inclusion in Bangladesh. The model can be instrumental for developing countries that are seeking ways of inclusive growth. In addition; the study recommends some policy measures to overcome the challenges of financial inclusion with regards to the banking sector’s initiatives in financing agriculture in Bangladesh.
Wholesale And Retail E-Commerce In Mauritius: Views Of Customers And Employees
Authors: Sawmy Tiruvenee , Damar-Ladkoo Adjnu
Published: September 2015

The internet triggered a significant rise in e-commerce as many businesses found that the advent of online business provides unparalleled opportunities for organisations to extend their operations overseas. In Mauritius, many retail and wholesale shops have decided to embark in the online experience and are contemplating to launch e-commerce websites, more specifically electronic ordering (e-ordering), where customers can then order for their products without having to move to the outlets. The aim of this study was to provide a thorough understanding of the several benefits and problems associated with the adoption of an e-commerce website by wholesale and retail shops. The following were done: an assessment of the readiness of customers to go online and an evaluation of employees’ motivation and opinion towards the implementation of e-commerce. The study mainly revealed that majority of the respondents had never purchased online and a significant number of customers were reluctant to order online despite the various guarantees provided. Moreover, 56% of the employees were against the implementation of an e-commerce website as they related it to an increased workload or a waste of resources. Consequently, relevant recommendations catering for all stakeholders were formulated for successful implementation of an e-commerce website.
Approximations by differences of lower semicontinuous functions
Authors: Omasta Eduard
Published: September 2015

A classical theorem of W. Sierpiński, S. Mazurkiewicz and S. Kempisty says that the class of all differences of lower semicontinuous functions is uniformly dense in the space of all Baire-one functions. We show a generalization of this result to more general situations and derive an abstract theorem in the case of a binormal topological space.
Regularized optimal control problem for a beam vibrating against an elastic foundation
Authors: Bock Igor , Kečkemétyová Mária
Published: September 2015

We deal with an optimal control problem governed by a nonlinear hyperbolic initial-boundary value problem describing the perpendicular vibrations of a clamped beam against a u elastic foundation. A variable thickness of a beam plays the role of a control variable. The original equation for the deflection is regularized in order to derive necessary optimality conditions
Extension of the example by Moore-Nehari
Authors: Gritsans Armands , Sadyrbaev Felix
Published: September 2015

R. Moore and Z. Nehari developed the variational theory for superlinear boundary value problems of the form x'' = p(t) |x|2εx, x(a) = 0 = x(b), where ε > 0 and p(t) is a positive continuous function. They constructed simple example of the equation considered in the interval [0, b] so that the problem had three positive solutions. We show that this example can be extended so that the respective BVP has infinitely many groups of solutions with a presribed number of zeros.
Applications of second order stochastic integral equations to electrical networks
Authors: Kolářová Edita
Published: September 2015

The theory of stochastic differential equations is used in various fields of science and engineering. This paper deals with vector-valued stochastic integral equations. We show some applications of the presented theory to the problem of modelling RLC electrical circuits by noisy parameters. From practical point of view, the second-order RLC circuits are of major importance, as they are the building blocks of more complex physical systems. The mathematical models of such circuits lead to the second order differential equations. We construct stochastic models of the RLC circuit by replacing a coefficient in the deterministic system with a noisy one. In this paper we present the analytic solution of these equations using the Itô calculus and compute confidence intervals for the stochastic solutions. Numerical simulations in the examples are performed using Matlab.
A generalized Goursat lemma
Authors: Bauer Kristine , Sen Debasis , Zvengrowski Peter
Published: September 2015

In this note the usual Goursat lemma, which describes subgroups of the direct product of two groups, is generalized to describing subgroups of a direct product A1 × A2 × · · · × An of a finite number of groups. Other possible generalizations are discussed and applications characterizing several types of subgroups are given. Most of these applications are straightforward, while somewhat deeper applications occur in the case of profinite groups, cyclic groups, and the Sylow p-subgroups (including infinite groups that are virtual p-groups).
Modulation of Neuronal Responses by Exogenous Attention in Macaque Primary Visual Cortex
Authors: Wang Feng , Chen Minggui , Yan Yin , Zhaoping Li , Li Wu
Published: September 2015

Visual perception is influenced by attention deployed voluntarily or triggered involuntarily by salient stimuli. Modulation of visual cortical processing by voluntary or endogenous attention has been extensively studied, but much less is known about how involuntary or exogenous attention affects responses of visual cortical neurons. Using implanted microelectrode arrays, we examined the effects of exogenous attention on neuronal responses in the primary visual cortex (V1) of awake monkeys. A bright annular cue was flashed either around the receptive fields of recorded neurons or in the opposite visual field to capture attention. A subsequent grating stimulus probed the cue-induced effects. In a fixation task, when the cue-to-probe stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) was <240 ms, the cue induced a transient increase of neuronal responses to the probe at the cued location during 40–100 ms after the onset of neuronal responses to the probe. This facilitation diminished and disappeared after repeated presentations of the same cue but recurred for a new cue of a different color. In another task to detect the probe, relative shortening of monkey's reaction times for the validly cued probe depended on the SOA in a way similar to the cue-induced V1 facilitation, and the behavioral and physiological cueing effects remained after repeated practice. Flashing two cues simultaneously in the two opposite visual fields weakened or diminished both the physiological and behavioral cueing effects. Our findings indicate that exogenous attention significantly modulates V1 responses and that the modulation strength depends on both novelty and task relevance of the stimulus.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTVisual attention can be involuntarily captured by a sudden appearance of a conspicuous object, allowing rapid reactions to unexpected events of significance. The current study discovered a correlate of this effect in monkey primary visual cortex. An abrupt, salient, flash enhanced neuronal responses, and shortened the animal's reaction time, to a subsequent visual probe stimulus at the same location. However, the enhancement of the neural responses diminished after repeated exposures to this flash if the animal was not required to react to the probe. Moreover, a second, simultaneous, flash at another location weakened the neuronal and behavioral effects of the first one. These findings revealed, beyond the observations reported so far, the effects of exogenous attention in the brain.
Sleep Regulates Incubation of Cocaine Craving
Authors: Chen Bo , Wang Yao , Liu Xiaodong , Liu Zheng , Dong Yan , Huang Yanhua H.
Published: September 2015

After withdrawal from cocaine, chronic cocaine users often experience persistent reduction in total sleep time, which is accompanied by increased sleep fragmentation resembling chronic insomnia. This and other sleep abnormalities have long been speculated to foster relapse and further drug addiction, but direct evidence is lacking. Here, we report that after prolonged withdrawal from cocaine self-administration, rats exhibited persistent reduction in nonrapid-eye-movement (NREM) and rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep, as well as increased sleep fragmentation. In an attempt to improve sleep after cocaine withdrawal, we applied chronic sleep restriction to the rats during their active (dark) phase of the day, which selectively decreased the fragmentation of REM sleep during their inactive (light) phase without changing NREM or the total amount of daily sleep. Animals with improved REM sleep exhibited decreased incubation of cocaine craving, a phenomenon depicting the progressive intensification of cocaine seeking after withdrawal. In contrast, experimentally increasing sleep fragmentation after cocaine self-administration expedited the development of incubation of cocaine craving. Incubation of cocaine craving is partially mediated by progressive accumulation of calcium-permeable AMPA receptors (CP-AMPARs) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). After withdrawal from cocaine, animals with improved REM sleep exhibited reduced accumulation of CP-AMPARs in the NAc, whereas increasing sleep fragmentation accelerated NAc CP-AMPAR accumulation. These results reveal a potential molecular substrate that can be engaged by sleep to regulate cocaine craving and relapse, and demonstrate sleep-based therapeutic opportunities for cocaine addiction.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTSleep abnormalities are common symptoms in chronic drug users long after drug withdrawal. These withdrawal-associated sleep symptoms, particularly reduction in total sleep time and deteriorating sleep quality, have been speculated to foster relapse and further drug addiction, but direct evidence is lacking. Here we show in rats that the sleep pattern was persistently changed long after withdrawal from cocaine self-administration, and demonstrate that sleep interventions can bidirectionally regulate cocaine craving and seeking after withdrawal. We further demonstrate that glutamatergic synapses in the nucleus accumbens are potential neuronal targets for sleep intervention to influence cocaine craving after withdrawal. These results provide a strong rationale supporting sleep-based therapies for cocaine addiction.
Signal Propagation in the Human Visual Pathways: An Effective Connectivity Analysis
Authors: Youssofzadeh Vahab , Prasad Girijesh , Fagan Andrew J. , Reilly Richard B. , Martens Sven , Meaney James F. , Wong-Lin KongFatt
Published: September 2015

Although the visual system has been extensively investigated, an integrated account of the spatiotemporal dynamics of long-range signal propagation along the human visual pathways is not completely known or validated. In this work, we used dynamic causal modeling approach to provide insights into the underlying neural circuit dynamics of pattern reversal visual-evoked potentials extracted from concurrent EEG-fMRI data. A recurrent forward–backward connectivity model, consisting of multiple interacting brain regions identified by EEG source localization aided by fMRI spatial priors, best accounted for the data dynamics. Sources were first identified in the thalamic area, primary visual cortex, as well as higher cortical areas along the ventral and dorsal visual processing streams. Consistent with hierarchical early visual processing, the model disclosed and quantified the neural temporal dynamics across the identified activity sources. This signal propagation is dominated by a feedforward process, but we also found weaker effective feedback connectivity. Using effective connectivity analysis, the optimal dynamic causal modeling revealed enhanced connectivity along the dorsal pathway but slightly suppressed connectivity along the ventral pathway. A bias was also found in favor of the right hemisphere consistent with functional attentional asymmetry. This study validates, for the first time, the long-range signal propagation timing in the human visual pathways. A similar modeling approach can potentially be used to understand other cognitive processes and dysfunctions in signal propagation in neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAn integrated account of long-range visual signal propagation in the human brain is currently incomplete. Using computational neural modeling on our acquired concurrent EEG-fMRI data under a visual evoked task, we found not only a substantial forward propagation toward “higher-order” brain regions but also a weaker backward propagation. Asymmetry in our model's long-range connectivity accounted for the various observed activity biases. Importantly, the model disclosed the timing of signal propagation across these connectivity pathways and validates, for the first time, long-range signal propagation in the human visual system. A similar modeling approach could be used to identify neural pathways for other cognitive processes and their dysfunctions in brain disorders.
Trace Fear Conditioning Differentially Modulates Intrinsic Excitability of Medial Prefrontal Cortex–Basolateral Complex of Amygdala Projection Neurons in Infralimbic and Prelimbic Cortices
Authors: Song Chenghui , Ehlers Vanessa L. , Moyer James R.
Published: September 2015

Neuronal activity in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is critical for the formation of trace fear memory, yet the cellular mechanisms underlying these memories remain unclear. One possibility involves the modulation of intrinsic excitability within mPFC neurons that project to the basolateral complex of amygdala (BLA). The current study used a combination of retrograde labeling andin vitrowhole-cell patch-clamp recordings to examine the effect of trace fear conditioning on the intrinsic excitability of layer 5 mPFC–BLA projection neurons in adult rats. Trace fear conditioning significantly enhanced the intrinsic excitability of regular spiking infralimbic (IL) projection neurons, as evidenced by an increase in the number of action potentials after current injection. These changes were also associated with a reduction in spike threshold and an increase inhcurrent. In contrast, trace fear conditioning reduced the excitability of regular spiking prelimbic (PL) projection neurons, through a learning-related decrease of input resistance. Interestingly, the amount of conditioned freezing was (1) positively correlated with excitability of IL-BLA projection neurons after conditioning and (2) negatively correlated with excitability of PL-BLA projection neurons after extinction. Trace fear conditioning also significantly enhanced the excitability of burst spiking PL-BLA projection neurons. In both regions, conditioning-induced plasticity was learning specific (observed in conditioned but not in pseudoconditioned rats), flexible (reversed by extinction), and transient (lasted <10 d). Together, these data suggest that intrinsic plasticity within mPFC–BLA projection neurons occurs in a subregion- and cell-type-specific manner during acquisition, consolidation, and extinction of trace fear conditioning.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTFrontal lobe-related function is vital for a variety of important behaviors, some of which decline during aging. This study involves a novel combination of electrophysiological recordings from fluorescently labeled mPFC-to-amygdala projection neurons in rats with acquisition and extinction of trace fear conditioning to determine how specific neurons change during behavior. This is the first study to demonstrate that trace fear conditioning significantly alters the intrinsic excitability of mPFC-to-amygdala projection neurons in a subregion- and cell-type-specific manner, which is also transient and reversed by extinction. These data are of broad interest to the neuroscientific community, and the results will inspire additional studies investigating the cellular mechanisms underlying circuit-specific changes within the brain as a result of associative learning and memory.
Distinct Functional Modules for Discrete and Rhythmic Forelimb Movements in the Mouse Motor Cortex
Authors: Hira Riichiro , Terada Shin-Ichiro , Kondo Masashi , Matsuzaki Masanori
Published: September 2015

Movements of animals are composed of two fundamental dynamics: discrete and rhythmic movements. Although the movements with distinct dynamics are thought to be differently processed in the CNS, it is unclear how they are represented in the cerebral cortex. Here, we investigated the cortical representation of movement dynamics by developing prolonged transcranial optogenetic stimulation (pTOS) using awake, channelrhodopsin-2 transgenic mice. We found two domains that induced discrete forelimb movements in the forward and backward directions, and these sandwiched a domain that generated rhythmic forelimb movements. The forward discrete movement had an intrinsic velocity profile and the rhythmic movement had an intrinsic oscillation frequency. Each of the forward discrete and rhythmic domains possessed intracortical synaptic connections within its own domain, independently projected to the spinal cord, and weakened the neuronal activity and movement induction of the other domain. pTOS-induced movements were also classified as ethologically relevant movements. Forepaw-to-mouth movement was mapped in a part of the forward discrete domain, while locomotion-like movement was in a part of the rhythmic domain. Interestingly, photostimulation of the rhythmic domain resulted in a nonrhythmic, continuous lever-pull movement when a lever was present. The motor cortex possesses functional modules for distinct movement dynamics, and these can adapt to environmental constraints for purposeful movements.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTAnimal behavior has discrete and rhythmic components, such as reaching and locomotion. It is unclear how these movements with distinct dynamics are represented in the cerebral cortex. We investigated the dynamics of movements induced by long-duration transcranial photostimulation on the dorsal cortex of awake channelrhodopsin-2 transgenic mice. We found two domains causing forward and backward discrete forelimb movements and a domain for rhythmic forelimb movements. A domain for forward discrete movement and a domain for rhythmic movement mutually weakened neuronal activity and movement size. The photostimulation of the rhythmic domain also induced nonrhythmic, lever-pull movement, when the lever was present. Thus, the motor cortex has functional modules with distinct dynamics, and each module retains flexibility for adaptation to different environments.
Rev Rene completes 15 years: victories and new challenges
Authors: Fraga Maria de Nazaré De Oliveira
Published: September 2015

There are times when we do not know which words to use. They throw themselves on paper, some or many of them without knowing exactly what will result, as a call for help on what they can show. So simple, so flexible, so hard, so complex they are. The request to write an editorial for the Rene Journal gave me the wheel of time. I’m retired of University teaching and research for a decade and a half. I was editor in chief and also section editor in the mental health area of this journal. So I have a lot to remember.
Construction and validation of a systematization instrument for nursing in intensive care
Authors: Araújo Daniela Silva de , França Andreza Freire de , Mendonça João Kelvin Da Silva , Bettencourt Ana Rita de Cássia , Amaral Thatiana Lameira Maciel , Prado Patricia Rezende do
Published: September 2015

Objective: construction and validation of a systematization instrument for Nursing Care, characterizing the profile of patients of an intensive care unit in the north of Brazil. Methods: it was a descriptive methodological study that followed a nursing process model in five phases. Results: it was suggested that the instrument be constructed in two formats; one for admission and another for daily assessment. Some items were removed from the instrument according to content validation content by the nurses. Of the 45 patients evaluated, 60.0% were men, 44.0% were married, 40.0% had low education levels, chronic renal failure and cancer. The main nursing diagnoses were risk for infection (100.0%) and impaired physical mobility (97.8%). The main nursing interventions were: handwashing, changing intravenous access, performing aseptic techniques and moving patients every 2 hours. Conclusion: construction and content validation were carried out successfully, promoting instruments capable of providing quality nursing care for patients in intensive care.
Satisfaction of nurses with a training course for the operationalization of protocol on pressure ulcers
Authors: Santos Mayara Vasconcelos , Cerqueira Phamela Vieira , Carvalho Elaine Cristina Moura , Silva Grazielle Roberta Freitas da , Falcão Lariza Martins
Published: September 2015

To identify the degree of satisfaction of nurses with a training course for operationalization of protocol on pressure ulcers.  Methods: a descriptive exploratory study made in a philanthropic hospital in the northeast of Brazil. An instrument on satisfaction was applied to 21 participant nurses of the course on pressure ulcer based on care protocol. Results: young adults predominated (23-33 years old), female (87.5%), with significant participation in events, courses and research activities (81.0%), and 19.0% of research publication. The overall rate of satisfaction with the course made at the workplace was 84.34%. Conclusion: when the fundaments of practice based on evidence were cleared, the rate of satisfaction of the professionals who participate in Permanent Education activities is high, which makes clinical protocol operationalization possible.
Evaluation of occupational tuberculosis prevention in a brazilian hospital
Authors: Silva Eni Hilario , Padoveze Maria Clara , Tanaka Arnaldo Toyokazu , Higa Raquel Carneiro Machado , Cavalcante Lubiana Guilherme Americo
Published: September 2015

To assess the institutional processes for preventing occupational tuberculosis. Methods: this is a quasi-experimental research in a pre and post-intervention model (3 phases), conducted in a Brazilian hospital. They used specific quality indicators for assessment structure (physical and educational resources) and process (52 direct observations of compliance to the use of N95 mask at each stage). Results: the compliance rates were 33.0% and 94.2% in the pre-intervention phase; and 44% and 100% in the post-intervention phase, respectively, for structure and process. The interventions designed from the initial results of indicators (pre-intervention phase) were structural and educational. Conclusion: there was an improvement of the indicators in the post-intervention phase from the interventions performed, which contributed to improved quality of service.
Group of experience with the elderly: psychosocial support in health promotion
Authors: Xavier Laudicéia Noronha , Sombra Isabelle Cordeiro Nojosa , Gomes Annatália Meneses de Amorim , Oliveira Gisele Lopes , Aguiar Cryslany Portela de , Sena Rômulo Mágnus de Castro
Published: September 2015

To analyze the perception of the elderly on the importance of a group of experience. Methods: iIt is an exploratory, descriptive research with qualitative approach, developed at a Basic Health Unit in a county of the Brazilian northeast, with 13 elderly people attending the Group. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysis by the thematic analysis technique. Results: three empirical categories were identified: motivation to seek the group of experience, perspective concerning this group and changes perceived through participation. Conclusion: the group of experience can represent a therapeutic moment for the elderly, serving as support and strengthening the elderly in the social context, making the improvement and development of abilities as
Sexuality of people with intestinal ostomy
Authors: Cardoso Danyelle Braga Rodrigues , Almeida Camilo Eduardo , Santana Mary Elizabeth , Carvalho Dione Seabra de , Sonobe Helena Megumi , Sawada Namie Okino
Published: September 2015

Objective: to describe the experience of sexuality and other everyday life aspects for people with intestinal ostomy. Methods: qualitative, descriptive study with ten participants of the Specialized Reference Unit who gave interviews with inductive content analysis. Results: the established themes were Physical, emotional and socio-cultural changes, Changes in the exercise of sexuality of people with intestinal ostomy and Importance of the interdisciplinary support of the new sexuality. These changes are linked to body image, the self-esteem and interpersonal relationships with the partner, family and friends, going beyond the visible with the emergence of fear, rejection, difficulty with new relationships, body shame, embarrassment by the collector equipment, fear of the sexual act causes damage to the stoma and difficult to talk about the condition. Conclusion: the ostomy condition requires adaptation process, requiring trained interdisciplinary team in physiological and psychosocial problems resulting from surgical and therapeutic adjuvant treatment, which hinder the sexuality of these individuals.