bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Qualitative use of potentiodynamic polarization and anodic hydrogen evolution in the assessment of corrosion susceptibility in AA2198‐T851 Al–Cu–Li alloy
Authors: Donatus Uyime , Berbel Larissa O. , Costa Isolda
Published: May 2018

In this study, the corrosion behavior of the AA2198‐T851 and its friction stir weldment was used to show the qualitative use of potentiodynamic polarization and the effect of anodic hydrogen evolution (AHE). The results showed that some details can be revealed in the anodic arm of the polarization curves of an Al alloy above the breakdown potential with changes in cell configuration and electrolytes. In addition, AHE interferes with the measured current density in the anodic arm, which in turn can be used to assess the extent of corrosion susceptibility and changes in anodic dissolution behavior of the alloy.
Corrosion behavior of ultrafine‐grained copper processed by equal channel angular pressing in simulated sea water
Authors: Yang Daoshuan , Dong Yuecheng , Chang Hui , Alexandrov Igor , Li Feng , Wang Jingtao , Dan Zhenhua
Published: May 2018

The corrosion behavior of copper fabricated by equal channel angular pressing and further annealing was systematically investigated in 3.5 wt% NaCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and weight loss method. Microstructure and corroded surface morphologies were observed by electron backscattered diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Results indicated that ultrafine‐grained copper had much lower corrosion current density and corrosion rate than annealed coarse‐grained counterparts. Transition from uniform to intergranular mode of corrosion happened, which can be attributed to the dominance of two times larger volume fraction of high angle grain boundaries formed during annealing process.
Effective Enzyme Coimmobilization and Synergistic Catalysis on Hierarchically Porous Inorganic/Organic Hybrid Microbeads Fabricated Via Droplet‐Based Microfluidics
Authors: Cao Xiaodong , Li Wenxiu , Fan Yimei , Dong Hua
Published: May 2018

In this paper, a novel and robust droplet‐based microfluidic method to fabricate poly(ε‐caprolactone)/silica (PCL/SiO2) hybrid microbeads with hierarchically porous architecture is described and their performance as multienzyme carriers for cascade catalysis is further investigated in detail. In addition to the precise control on size and monodispersity of PCL/SiO2 microbeads enabled by the microfluidic method, the presence of ammonia as a catalyst for the hydrolysis and condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate makes it possible to manipulate the competition between sol–gel process and solvent extraction and thus adjust the surface porosity of hybrid microbeads, which eliminates the use of porogens/templates and also the complicated post‐treatment. Isothiocyanate‐immunoglobulin G/cyanine 3‐bovine serum albumin (FITC‐IgG/Cy3‐BSA) and superoxide dismutase/chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (SOD/CAT) are coimmobilized, respectively onto hierarchically porous PCL/SiO2 hybrid microbeads via either physical adsorption or covalent binding. Fluorescence intensity of coimmobilized FITC‐IgG/Cy3‐BSA proves that the proteins/enzymes immobilization amount via covalent binding is much higher than physical adsorption. The enhanced enzymatic activity, total antioxidant capacity, and reusability assay reveal that coimmobilized SOD/CAT exhibits better performance compared with the mono‐immobilized ones, mainly due to their mutual synergistic effect. The excellent results achieved in the work indicate that hierarchically porous PCL/SiO2 hybrid microbeads are very promising carriers for multienzymatic catalysis.
Visible Light–Induced Supra‐Amphiphilic Switch Leads to Transition from Supramolecular Nanosphere to Nanovesicle Activated by Pillar[5]arene‐Based Host–Guest Interaction
Authors: Li Pengyu , Yao Qianfang , Lü Baozhong , Ma Guiping , Yin Meizhen
Published: May 2018

A photoresponsive host–guest supramolecular complex (WP5⊃G) constructed by water‐soluble pillar[5]arene (WP5) and spiropyran derivative (G) is presented. The spontaneous isomerization of G from spiropyran (SP) form to ring‐opened merocyanine (MC) form happens either alone or in WP5⊃G in aqueous media. Irradiated by visible light, G can be converted into SP form completely and the hydrophilicity will be changed. G and WP5⊃G are both verified to self‐assemble into nanospheres. Upon exposure to visible light, WP5⊃G reassemble into nanovesicles due to the change of supra‐amphiphilicity, while G alone does not have this transition. Obviously, WP5 takes the key role that activates the photoinduced morphological transition.
The distinctive nucleation of polystyrene composites with differently shaped carbon‐based nanoparticles as nucleating agent in the supercritical CO2 foaming process
Authors: Xiao Wei , Liao Xia , Li Shaojie , Xiong Jian , Yang Qi , Li Guangxian
Published: May 2018

Microcellular polystyrene (PS)/carbon‐based nanoparticle (CbN) composites were prepared by a pressure release process using supercritical CO2 as the foaming agent. Nanocomposite foams with different shapes or dimensions but with CbNs with a similar surface structure showed a quite different cell nucleation. The underlying nucleation mechanism was semi‐quantitatively analyzed by classical nucleation theory, which indicated that the energy barrier for heterogeneous nucleation was related to the shapes of the fillers. Below 80 °C and 20 MPa, the nucleation density of the composites with different fillers showed marked differences, among which the nucleation density of PS/fullerene (FE) was the highest, followed by PS/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and PS/thermally reduced graphene (TRG). However, the difference in nucleation density of PS/CbNs decreased with increase in filler content to 0.3 wt%. With increase in foaming temperature, the PS/TRG composite foams showed the highest cell density and no cellular merging and collapsing at 100 and 120 °C. The results obtained from DSC, rheology and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy measurements showed that FE nanoparticles exhibited the strongest plasticization effects on the matrix followed by CNTs and TRG nanoparticles. The distinctive plasticization suggested that the shapes of CbNs have a strong influence on the interaction between the PS matrix and the nanoparticles, which could affect the energy barrier for heterogeneous nucleation. The influence of CO2 on the rheology and thermal properties of the composites was investigated using high pressure DSC and high pressure rheology measurements. The results revealed that at high temperature high viscosity became the key factor to determining the cell morphology of nanocomposite foams by preventing bubble coalescence and collapse. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Nanosecond pulsed plasma discharge over a flowing water film: Characterization of hydrodynamics, electrical, and plasma properties and their effect on hydrogen peroxide generation
Authors: Wandell Robert J. , Wang Huihui , Tachibana Kosuke , Makled Basiel , Locke Bruce R.
Published: May 2018

A continuously flowing liquid film reactor driven by a variable nanosecond pulsed power supply, where plasma channels generated in argon propagate along the water film, was utilized to assess the effects of output voltage setting, pulse frequency, and gas/liquid flow rate on the generation of H2O2. Increasing the voltage significantly impacted the discharge current, resulting in hotter/denser plasma channels that increased the production rate of hydrogen peroxide but lowered the energy yield. Variation in pulse frequency and gas/liquid flow rates had little impact on electrical and plasma properties, however, the production of H2O2 per pulse decreased with increasing pulse frequency and was shown to be linked to insufficient chemical and/or thermal dissipation of the gas phase between pulses.
The association between local atherosclerosis of the prostatic artery and benign prostatic enlargement in humans: Putative mechanism of chronic ischemia for prostatic enlargement
Authors: Haga Nobuhiro , Akaihata Hidenori , Hata Junya , Aikawa Ken , Yanagida Tomohiko , Matsuoka Kanako , Koguchi Tomoyuki , Hoshi Seiji , Ogawa Soichiro , Kataoka Masao , Sato Yuichi , Ishibashi Kei , Suzuki Osamu , Hashimoto Yuko , Kojima Yoshiyuki
Published: May 2018

Background

To investigate the possible pathogenesis of the benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) induced by local atherosclerosis, the association between local atherosclerosis and prostatic enlargement was investigated, and molecular biological analyses were performed using human prostatectomy specimens.

Methods

A total of 69 consecutive patients who underwent robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) participated in this prospective study. To evaluate actual local atherosclerosis, prostatic arteries were removed during RARP. Microscopic assessment of local atherosclerosis was classified as one of three degrees of narrowing (minimal, moderate, and severe) according to the degree of obstruction of the inner cavity of the prostatic artery. The expressions of several mediators related to chronic ischemia and cell proliferation of the prostate were investigated by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The median age of the present cohort was 68 (range: 55‐75) years. Although there was no relationship between local atherosclerosis and lower urinary symptoms evaluated by questionnaires, local atherosclerosis was significantly more severe in patients who had a history of treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (P = 0.02). Prostate size was significantly larger in the severe local atherosclerosis group than in the minimal and moderate local atherosclerosis groups (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively). Thepositive expression rates of hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α, malondialdehyde (MDA), transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the prostate were significantly higher in patients with local atherosclerosis than in patients without local atherosclerosis (all P < 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions

In human surgical specimens, there is evidence that local atherosclerosis of the prostatic artery is significantly associated with prostate size. Given the molecular evidence provided in this study, the putative mechanism for this relationship is that chronic ischemia induced upregulation of oxidative stress pathways, leading to BPE.
Expression of cytochrome P450 mRNAs in Type II alveolar cells from subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Kamata Satoshi , Fujino Naoya , Yamada Mitsuhiro , Grime Ken , Suzuki Satoshi , Ota Chiharu , Tando Yukiko , Okada Yoshinori , Sakurada Akira , Noda Masafumi , Matsuda Yasushi , Sugiura Hisatoshi , Ichinose Masakazu
Published: May 2018

Inhaled drugs are critical for the treatment of inflammatory airway diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To develop better therapeutics for pulmonary disease it is of potential importance to understand molecular mechanisms of local biotransformation in the lung. Alveolar epithelial type II (ATII) cells have a key role in homeostasis in the lung, but little is known about expression patterns of genes encoding cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in ATII cells. In addition, alteration of CYP gene expression has not been fully defined in COPD. We previously established a method to purify ATII cells from the adult human lung using fluorescence‐activated cell sorting. By employing this technique we determined gene expression patterns of 14 CYP enzymes in ATII cells from nonsmokers (n = 4) and smokers (n = 4), both having normal pulmonary function. Although most CYP genes are highly expressed in primary hepatocytes, we found that CYP1B1 mRNA expression was 7.2‐fold higher in ATII compared to hepatocytes (P = .0275). Additionally we noted a 3.0‐fold upregulation of CYP2C19 and 50% reduction in CYP2J2 mRNA expressions in ATII cells isolated from patients with COPD (n = 3) compared to smokers without COPD (n = 4). These data, for the first time, detail a comprehensive set of genes encoding CYP enzymes in human ATII cells and highlights differentially expressed CYP mRNAs of patients with COPD. Such understanding may have important implications for the development of novel inhaled drugs.
African transnational families: Cross‐country and gendered comparisons
Authors: Caarls Kim , Haagsman Karlijn , Kraus Elisabeth K. , Mazzucato Valentina
Published: May 2018

Studies indicated differences between transnational family life for migrant mothers and fathers and that the effects on their “left‐behind” children differ according to who migrates. Yet little is known about why these differences exist. This paper aims to fill this gap by comparing transnational and nontransnational African families with parents living in Europe to understand their different family structures. We analyse three datasets with information on migrants from five African origin countries in eight European countries. Our analyses reveal important differences between transnational and nontransnational families and between transnational mothers and fathers. Transnational mothers are more often single, have children from multiple relationships, and start family life earlier than transnational fathers and nontransnational parents. This corresponds closely to what family sociologists have found make “fragile families” among nonmigrants. Our work thus indicates that policies aiming to improve migrants' lives need to consider the disadvantages that particularly migrant women experience in maintaining their family life.
Migration and parental absence:Acomparative assessment of transnational families inLatinAmerica
Authors: DeWaard Jack , Nobles Jenna , Donato Katharine M.
Published: May 2018

Despite growing research on transnational families and children's welfare in migrant‐sending countries, there is a dearth of information about the prevalence of, what we call,parental absence via migration, especially relative to other sources of parental absence, and a lack of estimates that are comparable across populations and places. This makes it difficult to determine the scale for policy interventions and to justify future research on transnational families and children's welfare. Using harmonised surveys covering eight Latin American countries and Puerto Rico, validated by nationally representative census and survey data, we provide the first estimates of the prevalence parental absence via migration that are comparable across populations in contemporary Latin America. We show that between 7% and 21% of children live in transnational families where parents are absent because of migration. We compare our estimates to similar estimates of parental absence from other sources and show that, in several populations, more children are experiencing parental absence due to migration than to union dissolution or parental mortality. Finally, we link our descriptive work to children's welfare by examining the characteristics of children's home environments when parents migrate. Children living in families with absent parents due to migration are less likely to coreside with extended family members and to fare better in terms of household assets, relative to children living in other family forms. We conclude by highlighting the limitations of the data, and underscore the value of attempts to estimate the prevalence of parental absence via migration.
A complicated cockroach‐ectomy
Authors: Vazirani Jaideep , Yu Christiaan , Stirling Robert
Published: May 2018

The exact incidence of foreign body aspiration among adults is unknown, and its clinical presentation is vastly divergent. We report the previously undescribed occurrence of cockroach aspiration in an adult, presenting with a “crawling sensation” in his chest. Flexible endobronchial examination revealed a foreign body impacted in the lingula, resembling the Australian cockroach Periplaneta australasiae. Partial extraction via biopsy forceps was performed and complicated by acute hypoxia on disimpaction, requiring a brief period of bag/mask ventilation. Following the offset of procedural sedation, the remaining foreign body was manually expectorated. A total of 24 h post‐procedure, the patient was febrile with positive blood cultures (Micrococcus luteus). We highlight the importance of definitive airway support during endobronchial interventions and raise the question regarding the significance of transient bacteraemia following bronchoscopic manipulation.
Genetic and Biochemical Characterization of a Novel Thermostable Cyclomaltodextrinase From Anoxybacillus flavithermus
Authors: Aliakbari Neda , Mirzaee Ziba , Jafarian Vahab , Khalifeh Khosrow , Salehi Mehdi
Published: May 2018

A strain of thermophilic Anoxybacillus flavithermus is characterized bacteriologically and biochemically. Then, the gene responsible for encoding cyclomaltodextrinase (CDase) in this bacterium is isolated, cloned, and overexpressed. The sequence of the CDase is recorded in GenBank with accession number KT633577.1. Biochemical and structural characterization of the enzyme shows that CDase with molecular weight of 72 kDa is active in the optimum temperature and pH of 65 °C and 7.0, respectively and it exists in oligomeric forms. It is observed that α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) has higher kcat/km value as compared to starch, glycogen, β‐ and γ‐CD and is therefore a more specific substrate for the enzyme. Also, the addition of metal ions such as K1+ and Na1+ can help to improve the catalytic activity, while Fe2+ and Cu+2 have inhibitory effects on the activity of the enzyme. It is also found that the catalytic activity of the enzyme increases in the presence of 5 mM β‐mercaptoethanol, EDTA, DTT, and PMSF. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) shows that glucose and maltose are the main products of CDase‐catalyzed reaction of α‐, β‐, and γ‐CD hydrolysis. Considering the modeling results, the CDase consists of three domains in which the central domain is the catalytic core containing active site residues. Based on its specificity for various substrates, the new homologue of CDase can be considered as a suitable candidate for industrial applications involving production of maltose and glucose from α‐, β‐, and γ‐CD or a mixture of these compounds in extreme conditions of temperature.
Intratendinous Injection of Autologous Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells for the Treatment of Rotator Cuff Disease: A First-In-Human Trial
Authors: Jo Chris H. , Chai Jee Won , Jeong Eui Cheol , Oh Sohee , Kim Paul S. , Yoon Jeong Yong , Yoon Kang Sup
Published: May 2018

Despite relatively good results of current symptomatic treatments for rotator cuff disease, there has been an unmet need for fundamental treatments to halt or reverse the progress of disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of intratendinous injection of autologous adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD MSCs) in patients with rotator cuff disease. The first part of the study consists of three dose-escalation cohorts; the low- (1.0 × 107 cells), mid- (5.0 × 107), and high-dose (1.0 × 108) groups with three patients each for the evaluation of the safety and tolerability. The second part included nine patients receiving the high-dose for the evaluation of the exploratory efficacy. The primary outcomes were the safety and the shoulder pain and disability index (SPADI). Secondary outcomes included clinical, radiological, and arthroscopic evaluations. Twenty patients were enrolled in the study, and two patients were excluded. Intratendinous injection of AD MSCs was not associated with adverse events. It significantly decreased the SPADI scores by 80% and 77% in the mid- and high-dose groups, respectively. Shoulder pain was significantly alleviated by 71% in the high-dose group. Magnetic resonance imaging examination showed that volume of the bursal-side defect significantly decreased by 90% in the high-dose group. Arthroscopic examination demonstrated that volume of the articular- and bursal-side defects decreased by 83% and 90% in the mid- and high-dose groups, respectively. Intratendinous injection of autologous AD MSCs in patient with a partial-thickness rotator cuff tear did not cause adverse events, but improved shoulder function, and relieved pain through regeneration of rotator cuff tendon.
The effect of authentic project‐based learning on attitudes and career aspirations in STEM
Authors: Beier Margaret E. , Kim Michelle H. , Saterbak Ann , Leautaud Veronica , Bishnoi Sandra , Gilberto Jaqueline M.
Published: May 2018

Can engaging college students in client‐centered projects in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) coursework increase interest in STEM professions? The current study explored the effectiveness of project‐based learning (PjBL) courses on student attitudes, major choice, and career aspirations in STEM. Framed in expectancy‐value and social cognitive career choice models, we examined the effect of engaging in at least one authentic, project‐based course during the first four semesters of college on student STEM attitudes and career aspirations in a quasi‐experimental study with a sample of (N = 492) natural science and engineering students. STEM self‐efficacy and subjective task value variables (STEM attainment, intrinsic and utility value of STEM courses, and relative cost associated with engaging in STEM courses) were examined as mediators of the relationship between classroom project‐based experiences and STEM career aspirations. Gender and underrepresented minority status were also examined. We found that engaging in at least one project‐based course during the first four semesters affected student perceptions of STEM skills, perceptions of the utility value of participating in STEM courses, and STEM career aspirations. Furthermore, we found that the effect of project‐based courses on STEM career aspirations was mediated by STEM skills and perceptions of course utility. The effect of PjBL was not moderated by race or gender. We highlight areas of future research and the promise of PjBL for engaging students in STEM professions.
Using the combination of batteries and ultra‐capacitors to improve the performance and flexibility for energy storage systems
Authors: Gao Zhigang , Lu Qi
Published: May 2018

A certain number of batteries are connected in series to raise the DC bus voltage in energy storage systems (ESSs). The ratings of the discharging and charging currents of the batteries are limited. As a result, the dynamic performance of the battery cannot meet the requirements in some ESSs, which are installed to smooth the power from wind power generators. This paper proposes a structure that is a combination of ultra‐capacitors and traditional batteries. With the help of the ultra‐capacitors, two goals are achieved: (i) the terminal voltage is enhanced, and (ii) the dynamic performance of the ESS is improved. Control of the proposed ESS is discussed, and an experimental prototype is built to validate the working schemes. The proposed solution is highly modularized, and thus the electrical energy modules can be easily removed and installed. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The Mabey and Johnson bribery scandal: A case of executive hubris
Authors: Sarpong David , Sajdakova Jana , Adams Kweku
Published: May 2018

Convicted for paying bribes to secure contracts abroad, Mabey and Johnson (M&J), a UK construction firm, made both legal and international business history. Drawing on hubris as a lens, we examine M&J's bribery scandal in Ghana and Jamaica. Through a qualitative study of court documents, witness statements, newspaper articles, and internal company emails, we unpack the bribery scheme operated by M&J executives that enabled the firm to illegitimately win major government contracts in Ghana and Jamaica. Fueled by executive hubris, M&J's practice of bribing foreign officials to secure contracts effectively insulated M&J executives from day‐to‐day realities. Over time, the firm's executives viewed themselves as infallible, exempt from established mores, invincible, and were unremorseful for their actions. Building on these findings, we develop a hubris‐bribery heuristic framework showing how individual, organizational, and institutional contexts constitutively fueled executive hubris, driving bribery at M&J. The implication for theory and practice is examined.
Vasa previa screening strategies: decision and cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Sinkey R. G. , Odibo A. O.
Published: May 2018

Objective

To perform a decision and cost‐effectiveness analysis comparing four screening strategies for the antenatal diagnosis of vasa previa in singleton pregnancies.

Methods

A decision‐analytic model was constructed comparing vasa previa screening strategies. Published probabilities and costs were applied to four transvaginal screening scenarios that were carried out at the time of mid‐trimester ultrasound: no screening, ultrasound‐indicated screening, screening only pregnancies conceived by in‐vitro fertilization (IVF) and universal screening. Ultrasound‐indicated screening was defined as performing transvaginal ultrasound at the time of the routine anatomy ultrasound scan in response to one of the following sonographic findings associated with an increased risk of vasa previa: low‐lying placenta, marginal or velamentous cord insertion or bilobed or succenturiate lobed placenta. The primary outcome was cost per quality‐adjusted life year (QALY) in US$. The analysis was performed from a healthcare system perspective with a willingness‐to‐pay threshold of $100 000 per QALY selected. One‐way and multivariate sensitivity analysis (Monte‐Carlo simulation) was performed.

Results

This decision‐analytic model demonstrated that screening pregnancies conceived by IVF was the most cost‐effective strategy, with an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $29186.50/QALY. Ultrasound‐indicated screening was the second most cost‐effective, with an ICER of $56096.77/QALY. These data were robust to all one‐way and multivariate sensitivity analyses performed.

Conclusions

Within the baseline assumptions, transvaginal ultrasound screening for vasa previa appears to be most cost‐effective when performed among IVF pregnancies. However, both IVF and ultrasound‐indicated screening strategies fall within contemporary willingness‐to‐pay thresholds, suggesting that both strategies may be appropriate to apply in clinical practice. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Serological, cultural and molecular evidence of Brucella melitensis infection in goats in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, Sultanate of Oman
Authors: ElTahir Yasmin , Al Toobi Al Ghalya , Al‐Marzooqi Waleed , Mahgoub Osman , Jay Maryne , Corde Yannick , Al Lawati Hadi , Bose Shekar , Al Hamrashdi Abeer , Al Kharousi Kaadhia , Al‐Saqri Nasseb , Al Busaidi Rudaina , Johnson Eugene H.
Published: May 2018

Brucellosis, one of the most common zoonotic diseases and has significant public health and economic importance worldwide. Few studies and reports have been performed to estimate the true prevalence of animal brucellosis in the Sultanate of Oman; however, no incidence of the disease was previously reported in Al Jabal Al Akhdar. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of brucellosis in goats in eight villages in Al Jebal Al Akhdar, Sultanate of Oman, namely: Al Aqaieb, Al Helailat, Al Ghilayil, Hail Al Hedap, Da'an Al Hamra, Shnoot, Al Qasha'e and Al Sarah, Al Jabal Al Akhdar in the Sultanate of Oman. In this study we used different diagnostic serological tests, namely, RBT, I‐ELISA and CFT to study the prevalence of Brucella infection in goats in Al Jabal Al Akhdar. Statistical analysis using Kappa statistics was used to compare the performance of the serological tests. Biochemical tests and species‐specific Multiplex PCR were used to identify the brucella species involved in the infection. A structured questionnaire and Chi‐square (x2) statistical analysis was used to identify related brucellosis risk factors. This study is the first to reveal brucellosis infection in goats in eight villages in Al Jebal Al Akhdar, Sultanate of Oman, namely: Al Aqaieb, Al Helailat, Al Ghilayil, Hail Al Hedap, Da'an Al Hamra, Shnoot, Al Qasha'e and Al Sarah, with an overall seroprevalence of 11.1%. The study also compared the performance of three different serological tests, namely, RBT, I‐ELISA and CFT. Statistical analysis using Kappa statistics showed that the degree of agreement was best seen between RBT and CFT (96%), followed by RBT, I‐ ELISA (91.4%) and CFT and I‐ ELISA (89.2%). Biochemical tests and species‐specific Multiplex PCR showed the typical profile for B. melitensis. A structured questionnaire and Chi‐square (x2) statistical analysis indicated that the presence of abortion is the major risk factor for the prevalence of brucellosis, whereas age and sex were not significant factors in the tested animals. Besides, poor knowledge about brucellosis, consumption of unpasteurized milk or milk products, free trade of animals and the introduction of new animal breeds to herds were all contributing risk factors to the prevalence of brucellosis. The prevalence of human brucellosis obtained verbally from pastoralists gave an insight that brucellosis could pose a public health hazard, especially in those high‐risk groups, mainly the pastoralists in the study area. Because of their constant and increasing interaction with their animals, pastoralists could be at a high risk of occupational infection.
Bidding strategies in Austrian and German balancing power auctions
Authors: Ocker Fabian , Ehrhart Karl‐Martin , Ott Marion
Published: May 2018

Balancing power markets involve complex procurement auction mechanisms that are challenging both to design for auctioneers and to take part in for suppliers. Recent empirical work indicates that auction results from Austria and Germany do not match game‐theoretic predictions. Instead, suppliers adjust their bids to previous auctions results and do not reveal their actual costs within their bids. Therefore, this work focuses on bidding strategies of suppliers in the Austrian and German automatically‐activated Frequency Restoration Reserve auctions. First, the operating principle of the auctions is analyzed and the cost and profit structures are illustrated. Then, a theoretic approach for the derivation of optimal bidding strategies is presented, that allows the integration of price expectations based on historical market data. We validate our approach by a numerical application of the bidder's calculus. Finally, our theoretic results are confronted with Austrian and German auction outcomes. We find evidence that the identified bidding strategies are applied by the suppliers.

This article is categorized under:

Energy Systems Analysis > Economics and Policy

Energy Infrastructure > Economics and Policy

Energy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy

Concentrating Solar Power > Economics and Policy
Topological defects in the Liouville field theories with different cosmological constants
Authors: Apresyan Elena , Sarkissian Gor
Published: May 2018

Abstract

We construct topological defects in the Liouville field theory producing jump in the value of cosmological constant. We construct them using the Cardy-Lewellen equation for the two-point function with defect. We show that there are continuous and discrete families of such kind of defects. For the continuous family of defects we also find the Lagrangian description and check its agreement with the solution of the Cardy-Lewellen equation using the heavy asymptotic semiclasscial limit.
Correction to: Vacuum‐Assisted Wound Closure with Mesh‐Mediated Fascial Traction Achieves Better Outcomes than Vacuum‐Assisted Wound Closure Alone: A Comparative Study
Authors: Salamone Giuseppe , Licari Leo , Guercio Giovanni , Comelli Albert , Mangiapane Mirko , Falco Nicolò , Tutino Roberta , Bagarella Noemi , Campanella Sofia , Porrello Calogero , Gullo Roberto , Cocorullo Gianfranco , Gulotta Gaspare
Published: May 2018

In the original article the credit line for the reuse of Fig. 1 from an article published in the open access journal, World Journal of Emergency Surgery is missing.
Low-phytate wholegrain bread instead of high-phytate wholegrain bread in a total diet context did not improve iron status of healthy Swedish females: a 12-week, randomized, parallel-design intervention study
Authors: Hoppe Michael , Ross Alastair B. , Svelander Cecilia , Sandberg Ann-Sofie , Hulthén Lena
Published: May 2018

Purpose

To investigate the effects of eating wholegrain rye bread with high or low amounts of phytate on iron status in women under free-living conditions.

Methods

In this 12-week, randomized, parallel-design intervention study, 102 females were allocated into two groups, a high-phytate-bread group or a low-phytate-bread group. These two groups were administered: 200 g of blanched wholegrain rye bread/day, or 200 g dephytinized wholegrain rye bread/day. The bread was administered in addition to their habitual daily diet. Iron status biomarkers and plasma alkylresorcinols were analyzed at baseline and post-intervention.

Results

Fifty-five females completed the study. In the high-phytate-bread group (n = 31) there was no change in any of the iron status biomarkers after 12 weeks of intervention (p > 0.05). In the low-phytate bread group (n = 24) there were significant decreases in both ferritin (mean = 12%; from 32 ± 7 to 27 ± 6 µg/L, geometric mean ± SEM, p < 0.018) and total body iron (mean = 12%; from 6.9 ± 1.4 to 5.4 ± 1.1 mg/kg, p < 0.035). Plasma alkylresorcinols indicated that most subjects complied with the intervention.

Conclusions

In Swedish females of reproductive age, 12 weeks of high-phytate wholegrain bread consumption had no effect on iron status. However, consumption of low-phytate wholegrain bread for 12 weeks resulted in a reduction of markers of iron status. Although single-meal studies clearly show an increase in iron bioavailability from dephytinization of cereals, medium-term consumption of reduced phytate bread under free-living conditions suggests that this strategy does not work to improve iron status in healthy women of reproductive age.
Do Deep Disagreements Motivate Relativism?
Authors: Lavorerio Victoria
Published: May 2018

In his 2014 article “Motivations for Relativism as a Solution to Disagreements”, Steven Hales argues that relativism is a plausible disagreement resolution strategy for epistemically irresolvable disagreements. I argue that his relativistic strategy is not adequate for disagreements of this kind, because it demands an impossible doxastic state for disputants to resolve the disagreement. Contrarily, Fogelin’s (Informal Log 7(1):1–8, 1985) theory of deep disagreement does not run into the same problems. Deep disagreements, according to Fogelin, cannot be resolved through argumentation because the conditions for argumentation are lacking in such contexts. I advance the view that deep disagreements arise due to differences in disputants’ mutually supporting interrelated beliefs. This view avoids the hurdles caused by the tiered structure of support found at the heart of Hales’s view on disagreement: the assumption that belief and perspective can be separated, and that disagreement is located (in the latter).
Thanatophoric Dysplasia and the Brain—A Perinatal Pathology Study
Authors: Shinde Roopa R. , Srinivasan Lata , Raja Vijayalakshmi , Seshadri Suresh
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this article is to analyse all cases of thanatophoric dysplasia and document the associated CNS anomalies. A retrospective study of all cases of thanatophoric dysplasia diagnosed in the department of perinatal pathology from January 2009 to December 2016. The various associated findings with due reference to the CNS manifestations were analyzed. During the study period, 7741 foetal autopsies were done, of which 24 (0.31%) were diagnosed to have thanatophoric dysplasia. The brain of one case was autolysed and hence, this had been excluded from this study. Of the 23 cases, 19 were of type 1 (83%) and 4 were of type 2 (17%). CNS anomalies were present in all. In our series, the characteristic findings seen in TD type 1 were enlarged skull, short neck, narrow thorax, protuberant abdomen, severe rhizoacromelic shortening of all four limbs with bowing of lower limbs. Whereas, type 2 manifested with large clover leaf skull with frontal bossing, short neck, short ribs, protuberant abdomen, severe rhizoacromelic shortening of all four limbs. Both the types had their characteristic fetogram findings. Central nervous system anomalies were seen in all 23 cases; which were multiple bilateral clefts seen in the inferior surface of the temporal lobe and medial surface of the occipital lobe. There were no noticeable differences in CNS abnormalities between TD type I and II. Clefting disorders consistently seen in the present series and in other reports calls for attention to be given to cortical malformations of the temporal lobe. This constellation of brain abnormalities needs recognition in fetal imaging and we propose that this should be included in the guidelines for diagnosis of thanatophoric dysplasia.
II. Beyond Dissent: Reflections on the Possibilities of a Pastoral Magisterium in Today's Church
Authors: Gaillardetz Richard
Published: May 2018

Our roundtable wishes to explore the need for the church today to move beyond what we might call the orthodoxy/dissent binary, that is, the assumption of one narrowly construed orthodox position, over against which all other construals of the Christian faith are presented as heretical or at least dissenting positions. This binary presents, for many scholars today, insuperable difficulties. To begin with, it emphasizes doctrinal unity over theological diversity. It privileges office over charism, magisterium over the sense of the faithful, authoritative pronouncement over communal discovery. The dominance of the orthodoxy/dissent binary depends in turn on an account of doctrinal teaching authority still indebted to Pope Pius XII and his claim that when the ordinary papal magisterium has pronounced on a matter, it is no longer subject to open debate. The solution, in the minds of some, lies in dispelling dangerous notions of orthodoxy, heresy, and dissent as intrinsically hegemonic terms that mask politically oriented power regimes. I am not inclined to dismiss entirely, however, claims to doctrinal normativity, even as I acknowledge the real danger of abuse.
III. Dissent and Hope: The Church in San Lucas Tolimán, Guatemala
Authors: Maldonado Michelle A. Gonzalez
Published: May 2018

Modern-day Guatemalan history is marked by the thirty-six-year-long civil war that ravaged the nation. The 1954 CIA-backed military coup of President Jacobo Arbenz led to an extended period of violence and armed conflict, the longest in Central American history. The civil war began in 1960. Military strategies included kidnappings, torture, disappearances, and death lists. More than 245,000 civilians were disappeared or killed and over 400 villages destroyed. In addition, over 1 million people were displaced from their homes. The armed conflict thus damaged the people, the environment, and the very psyche of Guatemala, creating a culture of corruption, fear, and silence. The civil war ended in late 1996 with the signing of the Peace Accords. However some scholars and activists argue that while the Accords were signed, peace has yet to be established in present-day Guatemala.
IV. Catholic Thresholds, Spatial Contests, and the “Crisis in the Church”
Authors: Willard Mara
Published: May 2018

In Washington, DC, at the top of the long hill up Wisconsin Avenue where Massachusetts Avenue crosses Thirty-Fourth Street, there has been for a long time a fixture on the landscape. An old man, life scarred and perhaps homeless, perhaps schizophrenic, holds a big homemade sign that reads “Vatican Protects Pedophiles Worldwide.”
The effect of a Holocene climatic optimum on the evolution of the Greenland ice sheet during the last 10 kyr
Authors: NIELSEN LISBETH T. , AÐALGEIRSDÓTTIR GUðFINNA , GKINIS VASILEIOS , NUTERMAN ROMAN , HVIDBERG CHRISTINE S.
Published: May 2018

The Holocene climatic optimum was a period 8–5 kyr ago when annual mean surface temperatures in Greenland were 2–3°C warmer than present-day values. However, this warming left little imprint on commonly used temperature proxies often used to derive the climate forcing for simulations of the past evolution of the Greenland ice sheet. In this study, we investigate the evolution of the Greenland ice sheet through the Holocene when forced by different proxy-derived temperature histories from ice core records, focusing on the effect of sustained higher surface temperatures during the early Holocene. We find that the ice sheet retreats to a minimum volume of ~0.15–1.2 m sea-level equivalent smaller than present in the early or mid-Holocene when forcing an ice-sheet model with temperature reconstructions that contain a climatic optimum, and that the ice sheet has continued to recover from this minimum up to present day. Reconstructions without a warm climatic optimum in the early Holocene result in smaller ice losses continuing throughout the last 10 kyr. For all the simulated ice-sheet histories, the ice sheet is approaching a steady state at the end of the 20th century.
Leadership, Inclusion, and Quality Education for All
Authors: Carter Susan , Abawi Lindy-Anne
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this research was to investigate leadership facilitating effective inclusive school practices. Data were collected from leaders at a complex multicultural school perceived by the system and local community as an inclusive school with a focus on quality education. A qualitative case study was used and data were collected over a 6-month period of immersion at the research site. Data included semistructured interviews with the head of special education and the school principal, observations of dialogical and behavioural data described within the lead researcher's reflective journal, and the documented operational structure of the school. The findings include insights into what the principal and head of special education believed inclusion to be, and how these leaders worked with staff to embed inclusive practices. The conclusion drawn from the study is that school leadership for inclusion involves making hard decisions. It is a complex and multifaceted act requiring consciously targeted effort, advocacy, and particular ways of leading. Inclusive practices need reinforcing by frequently articulated expectations, support, and acknowledgement that for all stakeholders inclusion is a constant journey toward a shared vision.
Ethanolamine enhances intestinal functions by altering gut microbiome and mucosal anti-stress capacity in weaned rats
Authors: Zhou Jian , Xiong Xia , Wang Ke-Xing , Zou Li-Jun , Ji Peng , Yin Yu-Long
Published: May 2018

Ethanolamine (Etn) contained in milk is the base constituent of phosphatidylethanolamine and is required for the proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells and bacteria, which is important for maintenance of the gut microbiome and intestinal development. The present study investigated the effect of Etn on intestinal function and microbiome using 21-d-old Sprague–Dawley rats treated with 0, 250, 500 and 1000 μmEtn in drinking water for 2 weeks immediately after weaning. Growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and mucosal immunity, as well as gut microbiota community composition, were evaluated. Metagenomic prediction and metabolic phenotype analysis based on 16S RNA sequencing were also carried out to assess changes in metabolic functions. We found that weaned rats administered 500 μmEtn enhanced mucosal antioxidant capacity, as evidenced by higher superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase levels in the jejunum (P<0·05) compared with those in the control group. Predominant microbes including Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria, Elusimicrobia and Tenericutes were altered by different levels of Etn compared with the control group. An Etn concentration of 500 µmshifted colonic microbial metabolic functions that are in favour of lipid- and sugar-related metabolism and biosynthesis. Etn also altered the metabolic phenotypes such as anaerobic microbial counts, and oxidative stress tolerance at over 250 µm. This is the first report for a role of Etn in modifying gut microbiota and intestinal functions. Our findings highlighted the important role of Etn in shaping gut microbial community and promotes intestinal functions, which may provide a better insight of breast-feeding to infant’s gut health.
A comparison of statistical and machine-learning techniques in evaluating the association between dietary patterns and 10-year cardiometabolic risk (2002–2012): the ATTICA study
Authors: Panaretos Dimitris , Koloverou Efi , Dimopoulos Alexandros C. , Kouli Georgia-Maria , Vamvakari Malvina , Tzavelas George , Pitsavos Christos , Panagiotakos Demosthenes B.
Published: May 2018

Statistical methods are usually applied in examining diet–disease associations, whereas factor analysis is commonly used for dietary pattern recognition. Recently, machine learning (ML) has been also proposed as an alternative technique in health classification. In this work, the predictive accuracy of statistical v. ML methodologies as regards the association of dietary patterns on CVD risk was tested. During 2001–2002, 3042 men and women (45 (sd 14) years) were enrolled in the ATTICA study. In 2011–2012, the 10-year CVD follow-up was performed among 2020 participants. Item Response Theory was applied to create a metric of combined 10-year cardiometabolic risk, the ‘Cardiometabolic Health Score’, that incorporated incidence of CVD, diabetes, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. Factor analysis was performed to extract dietary patterns, on the basis of either foods or nutrients consumed; linear regression analysis was used to assess their association with the cardiometabolic score. Two ML techniques (k-nearest-neighbor’s algorithm and random-forests decision tree) were applied to evaluate participants’ health based on dietary information. Factor analysis revealed five and three factors from foods and nutrients, respectively, explaining 54 and 65 % of the total variation in intake. Nutrient and food pattern regression models showed similar accuracy in correctly classifying an individual according to the cardiometabolic risk (R2=9·6 % and R2=8·3 %, respectively). ML techniques were superior compared with linear regression in correct classification of the individuals according to the Health Score (accuracy approximately 38 v. 6 %, respectively), whereas the two ML methods showed equal classification ability. Conclusively, ML methods could be a valuable tool in the field of nutritional epidemiology, leading to more accurate disease-risk evaluation.
VIRTUE AND SELF-INTEREST IN XENOPHON’S MEMORABILIA 3.9.4–5
Authors: Jones Russell E. , Sharma Ravi
Published: May 2018

Are people at bottom motivated entirely by self-interest? Or do they act only sometimes out of self-interest, and sometimes for other reasons—say, to help out a friend for her own sake, with no expectation of being benefitted in return? Scholars have often thought they could discern in the works of classical Greek thinkers a commitment to psychological egoism, the thesis that one is motivated to act only by considerations of the expected benefits and harms that will accrue to oneself. For instance, a host of influential interpreters have taken Plato to be wedded to psychological egoism throughout his corpus. Often, the commitment is thought to run so deep that Plato rarely, if ever, manages to articulate it explicitly, let alone to examine it critically and defend it. That kind of approach obviously invites challenges, and lately there has been a small but growing resistance to the egoistic interpretation of Plato. The challenges are especially welcome given the general lack of support for psychological egoism in the present intellectual climate: egoistic readings have increasingly seemed to imply a crippling weakness in the Platonic system.