bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Farm Characteristics, Allergy Symptoms, and Risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoid Neoplasms in the Agricultural Health Study
Authors: Hofmann Jonathan N. , Hoppin Jane A. , Lynch Charles F. , Poole Jill A. , Purdue Mark P. , Blair Aaron , Alavanja Michael C. , Beane Freeman Laura E.
Published: January 2015

Background: Because of unique exposures, studies among farmers may yield insights into the relationship between allergies and non-Hodgkin lymphoid (NHL) neoplasms. We evaluated farm characteristics, allergic symptoms and conditions, and risk of NHL including specific subtypes in the Agricultural Health Study, a prospective cohort of farmers and spouses from North Carolina and Iowa.

Methods: We identified 710 incident cases of NHL (including chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma) among 82,370 participants with baseline data on crop and animal exposures, including 454 cases among 52,850 participants with baseline data on recent allergy symptoms (rhinitis) and living on a farm during childhood. HR and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using multivariable-adjusted proportional hazards models.

Results: We observed reduced risks of NHL among farmers and spouses with rhinitis at baseline (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.51–0.79), related to growing soybeans (HR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67–0.96), and among farmers who handled stored grains or hay (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.52–0.82). Growing up on a farm was associated with increased NHL risk (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.15–1.98). Results did not differ significantly by NHL subtype.

Conclusions: Both the reduced risk of NHL among those with allergy symptoms and specific farm exposures in adulthood, and the increased risk among those who grew up on a farm suggest that the host immune response to agricultural allergens may influence NHL development.

Impact: This prospective study is, to our knowledge, the first to investigate the relationship between allergy symptoms and NHL risk in farmers; confirmation of these findings in other farming populations is warranted. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(3); 587–94. ©2015 AACR.
A Comparative Study of Bronchoscopic Microsample Probe versus Bronchoalveolar Lavage in Patients with Burns-Related Inhalational Injury, Acute Lung Injury and Chronic Stable Lung Disease
Authors: Singh Suveer , Grover Vimal , Christie Linsey , Charles Peter , Kelleher Peter , Shah Pallav L.
Published: January 2015

Background and Objectives: The bronchoscopic microsample (BMS) probe allows direct epithelial lining fluid (ELF) level measurement without saline lavage. We investigated whether cytokine levels in ELF from a BMS differed from those obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in stable and acute lung disease. Methods: In a single-centre, prospective observational cohort study of 45 patients, a sequential BMS probe procedure and BAL were performed on patients with stable chronic obstructive lung disease, interstitial lung disease, acute lung injury (ALI), burns-related inhalational injury or controls. ELF samples were assayed for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and G-CSF. Results: Both bronchoscopic microsampling and BAL showed significantly higher cytokine levels in the ELF from patients with ALI and burns-related inhalational injury than from those with chronic stable lung disease. The BMS method detected cytokine levels approximately 20- to 80-fold higher than the corresponding BAL (uncorrected for dilution). The ratio of BMS and BAL cytokine levels was as follows: the ratio for IL-1β [mean 55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 34-88] was higher than that for IL-6 (mean 16, 95% CI 10-23, p = 0.015) and IL-8 (mean 13, 95% CI -5 to 36, p = 0.03). The ratio for G-CSF (mean 43, 95% CI 24-75) was higher than that for IL-6 (mean 16, 95% CI 10-23, p = 0.008). Conclusions: The BMS probe safely collects ELF with higher equivalent inflammatory cytokine concentrations than via BAL from patients with both acute and chronic lung disease and can be an alternative to saline BAL. Variations in cytokine concentrations between BMS and BAL and sampling-site differences warrant further study.
Brain Amyloid-Beta Fragment Signatures in Pathological Ageing and Alzheimer's Disease by Hybrid Immunoprecipitation Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Portelius Erik , Lashley Tammaryn , Westerlund Anni , Persson Rita , Fox Nick C. , Blennow Kaj , Revesz Tamas , Zetterberg Henrik
Published: January 2015

Background: Senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are composed of amyloid-β (Aβ), especially N-truncated forms including Aβ4-42. These are thought to be neurotoxic. However, individuals may live for decades with biomarker evidence of cerebral β-amyloidosis (positive amyloid PET imaging and/or low cerebrospinal fluid levels of the 42 amino acid form of Aβ) without cognitive impairment. This condition may be termed pathological ageing (PA). Objective: To investigate whether there is a difference in the cerebral Aβ fragment pattern in brain specimens from non-demented (PA) and demented (AD) individuals expressing the full neuropathological triad of AD (senile plaques, neurofibrillary tangles and neurodegeneration). Methods: We extracted Aβ using formic acid and hybrid (6E10 and 4G8) immunoprecipitation from fresh-frozen temporal cortex tissue of 6 elderly individuals (mean age ± SD: 89 ± 3.5 years) with PA and 10 patients with AD (mean age ± SD: 72 ± 8.5 years). The full spectrum of Aβ peptides was determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Results: AD patients had generally more N-terminally truncated and pyroglutamate-modified Aβ than PA patients, whereas PA patients had on average more Aβ1-40 than AD patients. Conclusion: Senile plaques in AD may have an Aβ fragment composition distinct from PA with more N-terminally and pyroglutamate-modified Aβ peptides that may be linked to neurotoxicity.
Frontoethmoidal Cephalocele: Our Experience of Eleven Cases Managed Surgically
Authors: Zabsonre D. Sylvain , Kabre Abel , Haro Yacouba
Published: January 2015

Introduction: Frontoethmoidal or sincipital cephaloceles are congenital malformations characterized by externalization of the meninges and/or brain tissue through a congenital bone defect between the frontal and ethmoid bones. These sincipital cephaloceles are very infrequent. While in developed countries the measures taken have brought about virtually zero frequency of this pathology, in our work environment these measures are virtually nonexistent, so that frontoethmoidal cephaloceles remain one of our concerns. Aim: To describe the particularity of the management of frontoethmoidal cephaloceles in our country. Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out between January 1, 2007 and June 30, 2013. It concerned all cases of frontoethmoidal cephaloceles managed in the Neurosurgery Department of the University Hospital of Ouagadougou. Results: A total of 11 patients (6 females and 5 males) were attended to in 6.5 years. The age of the patients ranged from 1 day to 12 years, and 8 patients (72.72%) were less than 4 months old; 1 case was diagnosed at antenatal ultrasound. Clinically, all cases consisted of congenital cephalic swelling of gradual increase. A CT scan was performed in all cases and an ultrasound of the associated mass was carried out in 2 cases. Transcranial approach was done for all patients with 3 patients having had an incision of the mass to reduce redundant skin. The immediate postoperative course was favorable in 10 cases; 1 death was observed by cerebrospinal meningitis. We noted 1 case of recurrence. Conclusion: The surgical treatment of frontoethmoidal cephaloceles is complex, sometimes requiring a multidisciplinary team. However, early closing of the malformation before the appearance of important bone deformities can prevent maxillofacial surgery. The results of the surgery are satisfactory as regards the vital prognosis. However, the fear of a more or less long-term occurrence of psychomotor retardation and the complications of early surgery make the recommendation and emphasis of prevention our main concern.
Comparison of the Efficacy of Olopatadine and Fexofenadine in Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria Patients: A Crossover Study
Authors: Tanizaki Hideaki , Yamamoto Yosuke , Nakamizo Satoshi , Otsuka Atsushi , Miyachi Yoshiki , Kabashima Kenji
Published: January 2015

Olopatadine is one of the second-generation H1 antihistamines that were used for treating allergic disorders initially in Asia, and now also in Western countries. Whereas several trials compared the efficacy on chronic urticaria among second-generation H1 antihistamines, no study has directly compared the clinical efficacy between olopatadine and other H1 antihistamines in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). In this study, we address this issue for the first time and conclude that olopatadine is a good candidate for the treatment of CIU.
Acinic Cell Carcinoma of the Parotid Gland: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Sepúlveda Ilson , Frelinghuysen Michael , Platin Enrique , Spencer M. Loreto , Urra Alexis , Ortega Pablo
Published: January 2015

We report on a patient who was referred to the ENT service following an incidental finding on an MRI scan of the brain. It revealed a mass in the right parapharyngeal space, and additional imaging confirmed the presence of a solid cystic expansive mass with moderate enhancement following contrast media injection. The patient was treated with a total parotidectomy followed by radiotherapy. Currently, the patient is disease-free without any complications.
Protease inhibition by Heterodera glycines cyst content: evidence for effects on the Meloidogyne incognita proteasome
Authors: Masler Edward P.
Published: January 2015

Proteases from Heterodera glycines and Meloidogyne incognita juveniles were inhibited by heat-stable content from H. glycines cysts (hHglCE), and by a polyphenol (EGCG) similar to a compound previously identified in Globodera cysts. General protease activities detected using the nematode peptide KSAYMRFa were inhibited by EGCG (IC50 1.19 mM, H. glycines; 0.34 mM, M. incognita) but not by hHglCE. However, hHglCE and EGCG each inhibited proteasome-associated chymotrypsin-like (CT-L) activity. EGCG IC50 values were 0.47 mM (H. glycines) and 0.15 mM (M. incognita). hHglCE IC50 values were 0.16 and 0.005 mM hHglCEeq μl−1 for H. glycines and M. incognita, respectively. Across all substrate-inhibitor combinations, M. incognita proteases were inhibited more robustly than those from H. glycines, particularly by hHglCE. In addition to CT-L protease, post-glutamate peptide hydrolysing (PGPH) and trypsin-like (T-L) proteasome proteases were detected in M. incognita, and each of these was also strongly inhibited by hHglCE. hHglCE inhibited CT-L, PGPH and T-L proteases within catalytic subunits from yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and human proteasomes. Proteasome inhibitors MG-132 and aclacinomycin A each inhibited M. incognita CT-L and PGPH activities by more than 80% at 20-100 μM, and hHglCE inhibited the same proteases by 70-80% at 0.04 hHglCEeq μl−1. hHglCE completely inhibited M. incognita T-L activity, but CT-L activity in native content from H. glycines cysts was not inhibited. Evidence that H. glycines cysts contain inhibitors of all proteases associated with the proteasome establishes the cyst as an important new target to explore for potential nematode control compounds. In addition, characterisation of protease activities from a core cellular metabolic component using M. incognita is novel for plant-parasitic nematodes.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry, and Damn the Dictatorship
Authors: Zanca Russell
Published: January 2015

Studies of well-being focus on physical attributes of the subject or subjects, and many focus on physical health. This article scrutinizes well-being from the standpoint of emotional contentedness. Rather than making claims about overall contentedness, my interest is in instantiating contentedness in ordinary situations based on 20 years of fieldwork. I suggest that we sometimes miss out on contentedness because we focus too much on a trying political or economic state. Because anthropologists tend to write about postsocialism as joyless and painful—owing to the collapse of communism and its replacement by authoritarianism—we also owe it to readers to document instances of the “good life.” Using ethnographic narration, I offer portals to feasting, drinking, and field labors in villages to represent ordinary ways in which Uzbeks embody a joie de vivre. Dreary politics and economics aside, people do live their lives and take great pleasure in them.
Connexin‐Related (DFNB1) Hearing Loss
Authors: Dahl John P. , Stadler Michael E. , Huang Benjamin Y. , Miao Di , Patel Mihir R. , Adunka Oliver F. , Buchman Craig A. , Fine Jason P. , Zdanski Carlton J.
Published: January 2015

Objectives

Determine if routine computed tomography (CT) imaging is necessary in the workup for children with connexin‐related (DFNB1) sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

Study Design

Case‐control retrospective chart and imaging review.

Setting

Tertiary care otolaryngology practice.

Subjects and Methods

High‐resolution temporal bone CT scans of children (n = 21) with DFNB1 SNHL were compared to age‐matched controls with either conductive hearing loss (CHL, n = 33) or a nonsyndromic, non‐DFNB1 SNHL (n = 33). Sixteen measurements of cochleo‐vestibular structures were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using a repeated analysis of variance model that controlled for both age and gender. Area under the curve (AUC) and multidimensional AUC (MAUC) analyses were also performed.

Results

Overall, no statistically significant differences were found between the 3 experimental groups. In addition, comparisons between the DFNB1 and CHL groups, DFNB1 and non‐DFNB1 SNHL groups, and CHL and non‐DFNB1 SNHL groups failed to demonstrate any statistically significant differences. AUC and MAUC analyses also failed to detect any significant differences between the 3 groups.

Conclusions

Patients with DFNB1 SNHL do not have significant anatomic differences on temporal bone CT scans when compared to non‐DFNB1 SNHL and CHL control groups. Based on the above analysis, it is reasonable to avoid routine CT imaging of the temporal bones in children with known DFNB1 SNHL unless otherwise clinically indicated.
Impact of Carbon Monoxide/Heme Oxygenase on Hydrogen Sulfide/Cystathionine‐γ‐lyase Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Allergic Rhinitis in Guinea Pigs
Authors: Yu Shaoqing , Yan Zhiqiang , Che Na , Zhang Xiaolin , Ge Rongming
Published: January 2015

Objective

The discovery of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as pathogenic signaling molecules in airway‐related diseases has led to significant insights into the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the development of allergic rhinitis (AR). The potential crosstalk between CO and H2S signaling pathways in AR has not been adequately investigated. This study was performed to elucidate the mechanistic relationship between CO and H2S in AR.

Study Design

Experimental prospective animal study.

Setting

Animal laboratory of Tongji Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.

Subjects and Methods

A well‐established model of AR was used whereby guinea pigs (N = 24) were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups (n = 6 for each group): The first group received ovalbumin only; the second group was administered exogenous hemin, a CO‐binding metalloporphyrin; the third group received zinc protoporphyrin, an inhibitor of heme oxygenase‐1. A control group was challenged using only saline. Symptoms of AR were recorded, and quantitation of plasma CO and H2S levels was performed. Expression of heme oxygenase‐1 and H2S‐generating enzyme cystathionine‐γ‐lyase (CSE) were measured from nasal mucosa.

Results

Plasma CO and heme oxygenase‐1 expression levels of nasal mucosa were significantly increased in the AR group compared to controls, whereas H2S concentrations were significantly decreased. Exogenous administration of CO exacerbated allergic symptoms, resulting in higher levels of both CO and heme oxygenase‐1 expression, and a further reduction in H2S levels and CSE expression. Zinc protoporphyrin decreased CO concentrations and increased levels of both H2S and CSE expression.

Conclusions

Results indicated an inverse relationship between H2S levels and CO in the pathogenesis of AR.
Lõimitud aine- ja keeleõppe metoodikast vene õppekeelega koolis
Authors: Metslang Helena , Kitsnik Mare , Krall Ingrid
Published: January 2015

Aastatel 2007–2012 toimus vene õppekeelega gümnaasiumide üleminek eestikeelsele aineõppele. Tallinna Ülikooli 2012. aasta sügisel koolides korraldatud uuring „Kakskeelne õpe vene õppekeelega koolis” kinnitas, et eestikeelne aineõpe on tõepoolest käima läinud ja kiirelt arenemas. Artikkel käsitleb lähemalt mõningaid õppe tulemuslikkuse faktoreid, mida uuringu käigus eestikeelses aineõppes ja seda toetavate eesti keele kui teise keele tundide juures analüüsisime. Eri sihtrühmade anketeerimise, fookusgrupiintervjuude ning ligi 80 tunnivaatluse põhjal teeme järeldusi eestikeelse õppe olukorra ja arenguvõimaluste kohta, keskendudes metoodika aspektile. Uuringu teoreetilisteks lähtekohtadeks on LAK-õpe (lõimitud aine- ja keeleõpe) ning aktiivõppe ja kommunikatiivõppe metoodika. Enamik artiklis vaadeldud metoodilisi jooni on olulised ka läbivalt eestikeelse hariduse kontekstis – nii keeleõppes kui ka aineõppes. Hoolimata vene õppekeelega koolide õpilaste arvu vähenemisest on kasulik jätkuvalt toetada haridustöötajate pädevuste arengut nendes metoodikavaldkondades – eriti arvestades õpilaskonna kultuurilist mitmekesistumist eesti õppekeelega koolis.Abstract. Helena Metslang, Mare Kitsnik, and Ingrid Krall: Content and language integrated learning methodology at Russian-medium schools. Estonian secondary schools include both the majority of schools where the language of tuition is Estonian and a minority of schools where most pupils speak Russian as their mother tongue and the language of tuition is mainly Russian. In 2007–2012, upper secondary schools of Russian-medium education in Estonia shifted to teaching 60% of the curriculum in Estonian. This was aimed at supporting Russian-medium schools’ graduates’ better coping in society, education and labour market. The study ‘Bilingual Education in Russian-medium Schools’ that our research team at Tallinn University carried out in autumn 2012 confirmed that the schools have implemented this change – Estonian-medium teaching is indeed taking place (as legislated) and is swiftly developing. This article describes, with a focus on methodology, some questions of effectiveness that we studied in content and language integrated learning (CLIL) lessons and supporting Estonian lessons. We discuss the situation and development perspectives of Estonian-medium CLIL in Russian schools. Theoretically, the study relies on CLIL principles and the methodologies of active learning and communicative language learning. Most of the methodological features described in this article are also important for the majority (Estonian-medium) education system. Despite the decrease of the number of students in Russian-medium schools, it is still useful to support the development of education practitioners’ skills in these areas of methodology – especially considering the increasing cultural diversification of the student body at Estonian-medium schools.Keywords: Estonian, second language, national minorities’ education, language teaching methodology, content and language integrated learning
Improving communication with primary care to ensure patient safety post-hospital discharge
Authors: Shivji Faiz S , Ramoutar Darryl N , Bailey Chris , Hunter James B
Published: January 2015

Introduction:

Successful communication between hospitals and primary care is of paramount importance to enable continuity of care and maintain patient safety post-discharge. Discharge summaries are the simplest way for GPs to obtain information about a patient's hospital stay. A quality improvement study was conducted with the aim of increasing the content of discharge summaries for inpatients in the authors' department.

Methods:

A prospective review of 60 electronic discharge summaries was conducted over a 6-week period. The content of discharge summaries was reviewed in accordance with local trust guidelines. Targeted, intensive, cost and time-effective educational interventions were then conducted. A post-intervention review of 60 discharge summaries was performed. A further review of 60 discharge summaries was performed after 12 months.

Results:

Initial results pre-intervention confirmed suboptimal content of discharge summaries. Post-intervention results showed each component of discharge summaries improved in terms of content, with six of eight components having a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase. This was maintained after 12 months.

Conclusions:

This study has demonstrated how simple, intensive educational sessions can lead to an improvement in discharge summaries and communication with primary care.
From Fluid Identities to Sectarian Labels: A Historical Investigation of Indonesia’s Shi‘i Communities
Authors: Formichi Chiara
Published: January 2015

Since 2011 Indonesia has experienced a rise in intra-Muslim sectarian violence, with Shi‘a and Ahmadi communities becoming the target of radical Sunni groups. Taking as point of departure the attacks on Shi‘a Muslims and the rapid polarization of Sunni and Shi‘i identities, this article aims at deconstructing the “Shi‘a” category. Identifying examples of how since the early century of the Islamization devotion for the Prophet Muhammad and his progeny (herein referred to as ‘Alid piety) has been incorporated in the archipelago’s “Sunni” religious rituals, and contrasting them to programmatic forms of Shi’ism (adherence to Ja‘fari fiqh) which spread in the socio-political milieu of the 1970s-1990s. This article argues not only that historically there has been much devotional common ground between “Sunni” and “Shi‘a”, but also that in the last decade much polarization has occurred within the “Shi‘a” group between those who value local(ized) forms of ritual and knowledge, and those who seek models of orthopraxy and orthodoxy abroad.

[Sejak tahun 2011, kekerasan bernuansa aliran dalam internal muslim di Indonesia mengalami peningkatan, dengan komunitas Syiah dan Ahmadiyah menjadi sasaran kekerasan dari kelompok-kelompok Sunni radikal. Berangkat dari kasus penyerangan terhadap kelompok Syiah dan cepatnya polarisasi identitas Sunni-Syiah, artikel ini berusaha mendekonstruksi kriteria “Syiah” di Indonesia. Beberapa contoh praktik keagamaan menunjukkan bahwa sejak awal proses Islamisasi di nusantara, pengagungan terhadap diri Nabi dan keturunannya (dalam hal ini adalah keluarga ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib) telah menyatu dalam ritual-ritual keagamaan kelompok Sunni. Artikel ini menunjukkan bahwa tidak hanya secara historis terdapat banyak kesamaan antara “Sunni” dan “Syiah” di Indonesia, bahkan juga terjadi polarisasi pada beberapa dekade terakhir di tengah penganut Syiah antara kelompok yang memilih bentuk-bentuk ritual dan pengetahuan local dengan kelompok yang mencari rujukan ortodoksi dan ortopraksi dari luar.]
The Cohesiveness of Muslim Pangestu Members in Salatiga, Central Java
Authors: Suciati S.
Published: January 2015

The drying of spirituality and weakening of cohesiveness in the midst of materialistic hedonistic modern world become major challenge for the adherents of official religions in Indonesia. The practice of religions is considered too much focusing on ritual aspects. Therefore, those teachings cannot give the real meaningfulness of religious life. Consequently, some adherents of official religions begin to see other spiritual/mysticism sects. This study describes the social cohesiveness among muslims who become members of Pangestu, a spiritual-mysticism sect widely spreading among Javanese society in Indonesia. This research shows that the Pangestu in Salatiga, Central Java, can fulfill social, economic, and spiritual needs of its members. Among the underlying factors that make Pangestu succeed to meet its members’ needs and expectations are the capability of the members to intensely communicate with each other through meetings and bawaraos (Jv, informal gathering), the great concern between members, good-example of leadership, the defense of Pangestu’s good name, and the satisfaction in experiencing meaningfulness of religious practices.

[Kekeringan spiritual dan lemahnya kebersamaan di tengah dunia modern yang serba hedonistik menjadi tantangan utama bagi para pemeluk agama di Indonesia. Praktik-praktik keagamaan terlalu banyak terfokus pada aspek ritual, sehingga ajaran agama tidak mampu menghadirkan praktek-praktek keagamaan yang benar-benar bermakna. Hal ini mendorong sebagian pemeluk agama untuk melirik aliran kepercayaan dan kebatinan. Artikel ini mendeskripsikan keguyuban sosial di antara orang-orang Islam yang menjadi anggota Pangestu, sebuah aliran kepercayaan di Indonesia yang banyak menyebar terutama di kalangan masyarakat Jawa. Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Pangestu di Salatiga, Jawa Tegah, mampu memenuhi kebutuhan sosial, ekonomi, dan spiritual para anggotanya. Di antara faktor yang menentukan keberhasilan Pangestu dalam memenuhi harapan para anggotanya adalah adanya komunikasi intensif antar anggota melalui pertemuan dan bawaraos (Jv, kumpul-kumpul), perhatian yang besar terhadap anggota lainnya, teladan kepemimpinan yang bagus, pembelaan terhadap nama baik paguyuban Pangestu, dan kepuasan dalam menyelami kebermaknaan praktik-praktik keagamaan.]
Reservoir Model for the Alameda Central Waterflood
Authors: Randall T.E.
Published: January 2015

The methods used in developing the mathematical model have been referred to in the literature as being " probabilistic" rather than of the " deterministic" or " black box" types. The basic approach used in developing the model to characterize the Alameda Central Unit Waterflood assumes continuity of the reservoir mechanics with time. The past performance was analyzed to describe the reservoir, and future performance was assumed to follow the established patterns. To develop a mathematical picture of the Alameda Central Unit reservoir, a two-dimensional single-phase steady state model was used in conjunction with material balance calculations, real-time conversion methods and oil-water interface advance calculations.

The model was developed to optimize water injection allocation, determine the configuration of the frontal advance and evaluate the success of the waterflood. The model also provides a basis for continuing review and revision of the basic concepts of reservoir operation.

The results of the reservoir study have confirmed the apparent lack of permeability orientation in the pool and indicate that the waterflood is progressing better than originally anticipated. Based on the results, recommendation was made to the working interest owners that the assumed water saturation value be reduced to 35 per cent and the recovery factor be increased to 35 per cent with a corresponding increase in accepted ultimate recoverable oil from the Unit area.
Unsteady-State Pressure Distribution in a Finite Reservoir with Partial Well-Bore Opening
Authors: Seth M.S.
Published: January 2015

A generalized analytical expression is presented which can be used to calculate the unsteady-state pressure distribution in a reservoir of radial geometry. The mathematical model accommodates one or more partial wellbore openings, each of which can be arbitrarily located. Both infinite and finite reservoir systems can be studied with this model. It was found that, for a reservoir boundary sufficiently removed from the well bore, the influence of the boundary on the pressure transient is invariant with the size of the well-bore openings. Vertical pressure gradients are generally significant only in the vicinity of the well bore, and these gradually grow with time. Finally, the magnitude of the pressure drop near the well bore decreases as the size of the opening is increased and/or the opening is moved toward the center of the well bore.
Study on strength and fracture toughness of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Ti(-Sn) alloys
Authors: Yan A. , Chen L. , Liu H.S. , Xiao F.F. , Li X.Q.
Published: January 2015

The strength and fracture toughness of Al-Zn-Mg-Cu-Ti(-Sn) alloys were
investigated by performing tensile and plane strain fracture toughness (KIC)
tests. Detailed observations with optical, scanning electron and transmission
electron microscopy were conducted to analyze microstructure and fracture
surfaces of the alloys. The results revealed that addition of Sn refined the
solution-aging grain size of matrix and reduced coarsening rate of
precipitate during aging. Narrower precipitation free zones and more
discontinuous distribution of grain boundary precipitates were observed to be
displayed in the Sn-containing alloy. Small size second phase particles Mg2Sn
were observed to form in the Sn-containing alloy and distribute in the fine
dimples of fracture surface. These features of microstructure were believed
to impart higher strength and fracture toughness of the Sn-containing alloy
on overaging.
Diffusion kinetics of boron in the X200CrMoV12 high-alloy steel
Authors: Azouani O. , Keddam M. , Brahimi A. , Sehisseh A.
Published: January 2015

In this work, the kinetics of formation of the boride layers (FeB/Fe2B),
formed on the X200CrMoV12 steel used for the coldworking, was investigated.
The boriding treatment was carried out in the powder mixture consisting of
5%B4C, 5% NaBF4 and 90% SiC. The boriding parameters are : 900, 950 and
1000?C with treatment times of 2, 4 and 6 h. The obtained borided layers
(FeB/Fe2B) were characterized by the following experimental techniques:
optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy coupled to EDS analysis and
XRD analysis. The kinetics of boron diffusion in the X200CrMoV12 steel was
also studied. As a result, the time dependence of the borided layers
thicknesses followed a growth parabolic law. The boron activation energy was
estimated as 199.37 kJ mol-1 for the X200CrMoV12 steel. A full factorial
design with 2 factors at 3 levels was employed to estimate the total boride
layer thickness as a function of the boriding parameters (time and
temperature) and a simple equation was proposed. Finally, an iso-thickness
diagram was given as a tool to predict the total boride layers thicknesses in
relation with the practical utilization of this kind of steel.
Social functioning of elderly persons with malignant diseases
Authors: Berat Svetlana , Neskovic-Konstantinovic Zora , Nedovic Goran , Rapaic Dragan , Marinkovic Dragan
Published: January 2015

Background/Aim. Malignant disease, its treatment and consequences of
treatment can often lead to social marginalization and reduced quality of
life. The aim of this research was to determine how elderly patients with
malignant diseases function in their social environment. Methods.
Sociodemographic questionnaire and interview were used to investigate a group
of 49 elderly persons undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy treatment against
early carcinomas (P1), and a group of 51 elderly persons with advanced stages
of cancer undergoing systemic chemotherapy (P2). There were two cycles of
assessment: one just before the beginning of the first cycle of adjuvant or
systemic chemotherapy, and the other three months later. The research
paradigm was based on the relation between individual treatment and the
impact of the malignant disease on functional and social incompetence. The
obtained findings were compared with the group of 50 healthy elderly people
(K) who share the same relevant features but do not suffer from malignant
diseases. Results. It was found that most healthy older people live in share
house, whereas those who suffer from malignant diseases mostly live in
separate households. In both groups of patients and healthy group older
people are mostly taken care of by their children. Individuals in both groups
of patients have been frequently visited by their relatives during initial
stages of treatment, unlike the elderly people in the control group. However,
the difference did not reach a statistical significance. Three months after
the beginning of chemotherapy, there was a statistically relevant difference
in favor of the group undergoing adjuvant treatment. Home visits eventually
become less frequent, whereas communication by telephone becomes more
frequent. It was also found that visits by friends and neighbors are
statistically more frequent among subjects who undergo adjuvant treatment,
both before the treatment began and three months later when compared to other
groups. Conclusion. Our research shows that elderly people are subject to
social exclusion, especially those with malignant diseases. Special care
should be dedicated to monitoring of social functioning during treatment of
patients with malignant disease considering the detected trend of
deterioration and significance for further recover and cure.
Nietzsche’s “Love” for Socrates
Authors: Hyland Drew
Published: January 2015

In this essay I contest the prevailing view that Nietzsche almost exclusively criticizes Socrates, by a careful consideration of his encounter with Socrates in the Birth of Tragedy and Twilight of the Idols. By showing that in Nietzsche’s own sense he “loved” Socrates, I am able to raise a number of important issues for further consideration.
NAA-modified DNA oligonucleotides with zwitterionic backbones: stereoselective synthesis of A–T phosphoramidite building blocks
Authors: Schmidtgall Boris , Höbartner Claudia , Ducho Christian
Published: January 2015

Modifications of the nucleic acid backbone are essential for the development of oligonucleotide-derived bioactive agents. The NAA-modification represents a novel artificial internucleotide linkage which enables the site-specific introduction of positive charges into the otherwise polyanionic backbone of DNA oligonucleotides. Following initial studies with the introduction of the NAA-linkage at T–T sites, it is now envisioned to prepare NAA-modified oligonucleotides bearing the modification at X–T motifs (X = A, C, G). We have therefore developed the efficient and stereoselective synthesis of NAA-linked 'dimeric' A–T phosphoramidite building blocks for automated DNA synthesis. Both the (S)- and the (R)-configured NAA-motifs were constructed with high diastereoselectivities to furnish two different phosphoramidite reagents, which were employed for the solid phase-supported automated synthesis of two NAA-modified DNA oligonucleotides. This represents a significant step to further establish the NAA-linkage as a useful addition to the existing 'toolbox' of backbone modifications for the design of bioactive oligonucleotide analogues.
Business and Technology Trends in Social CRM
Authors: Ayanso Anteneh
Published: January 2015

Social media technologies have transformed the traditional CRM applications landscape in many ways. Apart from extending the traditional customer touch points, social media technologies play a critical role in integrating the activities involved in operational and analytical CRM. This chapter explores the business and technology trends in social CRM and examines current social CRM solutions and their capabilities in the analytical and operational (sales, service, and marketing) efforts of organizations. The chapter also discusses the technological and managerial challenges organizations may face in embracing social media technologies in their customer relationship management processes.
Brand-Led Transformation
Authors: Massa Pier M.
Published: January 2015

Brand-led transformation is about leveraging the power of a corporate brand to drive fundamental change within organisations. Focused on complex service businesses, the brand serves as the starting point for a systematic process of transformation that drives change down to the level of business operations. This ensures that the principles of the promise are experienced in every interaction that the company has with its customers. Organizations typically struggle with translating brand-led customer-centric strategies into tangible and specific change outcomes at the front line. This chapter melds a practitioner's view with current theory and offers pragmatic and proven approaches to translating these strategies into a framework and a methodology that drives direct customer and company benefits with successful enterprise-wide outcomes that impact the full business. In addition, this structured approach is complemented with insight into a deeper review of the role of agents of change and their impact on implementation across the organization.
3D Multi-User Virtual Environments in Science Education
Authors: Qian Yufeng
Published: January 2015

The purpose of this chapter is to identify the potential and challenges in science education in the use of 3D MUVE science programs. These programs offer a number of instructional benefits in motivating and engaging students and in improving their science learning and scientific inquiry. 3D MUVE is a promising media in narrowing gender and racial achievement gaps and enabling an authentic and valid assessment of science education. Like all new instructional technologies, however, the wide use and implementation of 3D MUVE technology in mainstream science classroom is still facing a number of challenges, which are mainly related to technological complexity and cost, and design difficulty in incorporating some elements critical to inquiry-based learning into the 3D MUVE environment. To overcome these identified challenges and make optimal use of the opportunities, suggestions for integrating 3D MUVE into science curriculum and classroom are made and discussed, along with future research directions.
A Research of Employing Cognitive Load Theory in Science Education via Web-Pages
Authors: Lin Yuan-Cheng , Shen Ming-Hsun , Liu Chia-Ju
Published: January 2015

This study adopted Cognitive Load Theory (CLT) to investigate the influences of multimedia presentations on achievements of science learning and the correlations between eye-movement models under distinct multimedia combinations and learner-controlled modes. Three units from the Science Education Website set by the Ministry of Education (Tainan) to assist student learning were employed: Air and Combustion”, “Heat Effects toward Substances”, and “Healthy Diet.” This multifunctional website offers teaching resources, interesting experiments, inquiry experiments, virtual animations, multi-assessments, and supplementary materials, which are highly interactive and simulative. Six classes of fifth graders (n=192) participated in this study. Our findings showed that the combination of multimedia elements apparently influenced students' performance; the “animation + narration” group performed evidently better than the “animation + subtitles” group. When the animated subject matters were in small segments under the Segmentation Principle, multimedia presentations still brought affections to learning achievement, suggesting that the modality effect on students' learning exists constantly. Regarding the eye-movement models, this study focused mainly on discussing the “active-control mode” and “multimedia combination forms”. These eye movement data supplemented the evidences gained to identify the relevant results. In conclusion, inappropriate multimedia combinations may interfere with learning. More functions and information inputs do not guarantee better learning effects.
Teaching Political Science Students to Find and Evaluate Information in the Social Media Flow
Authors: Fitzgibbons Megan
Published: January 2015

The advent of social media necessitates new pedagogical approaches in the field of political science, specifically in relation to undergraduate students' critical thinking and information evaluation skills. Instead of seeking out traditional static pools of knowledge, researchers and researchers-in-training now interact with information in an amorphous stream of production and consumption. Socially created information is now firmly integrated in the basic subject matter of political science, as manifested in primary sources in the field, scholars' communication practices, and the emergence of collective and distributed expertise. Existing models of information evaluation competencies do not address these realities of participatory authorship and decentralized distribution of information. Thus, in order to educate “information-literate” students in political science, educators must foster an understanding of how information is produced and how to critically evaluate individual information sources in the context of academic tasks.
Viewing the Implementation of the CCSS through the Lens of One Transformative District-University Partnership
Authors: Lutz P. Michael
Published: January 2015

The study described in this chapter is on a more-than-20-year collaboration between a university mathematics department and its local high school district. The joint effort has created multiple components (such as strengthening teachers' mathematics knowledge, developing teacher leadership, and increasing teachers' appreciation of the importance of engaging students in tasks with a high cognitive demand) that are facilitating the districts' current efforts to implement the California Common Core State Standards for Mathematics. It describes a partnership that has always been grounded in mutual respect.
Earth System Science in Three Dimensions
Authors: Marrero Meghan E. , Schuster Glen , Bickerstaff Amanda
Published: January 2015

NASA-Sponsored Project 3D-VIEW [Virtual Interactive Environmental Worlds] is a lower middle school curriculum aimed at using 3D stereo technologies to enhance students' understanding of science concepts. In Project 3D-VIEW, ten to twelve-year-old students use 3D stereo technologies, including stereophotographs, 3D-animations, 3D illustrations, and 3D interactive tools, to visualize concepts such as plate tectonics, the composition of the atmosphere, biological succession, and erosion. This mixed methods case study provides an overview of the project's successful use of 3D technologies, as evidenced by student test scores as well as a qualitative analysis of student focus groups and interviews with teachers and administrators. The findings indicate that using 3D technologies within a context of standards and research-based curriculum design can improve student engagement as well as performance on standardized tests.
Environmental Science Education in the 21st Century
Authors: McLaughlin Jacqueline , Baker Rose
Published: January 2015

Technology is helping biology instructors redefine their pedagogical “toolboxes” for the 21st century classroom. Indeed, online multimedia learning tools are evolving to fill the niche to assist student transition from simple inquiry-based learning (textbooks, less student responsibility, rote memorization of facts) to professional science practice (higher-end inquiry, more student responsibility, higher order thinking). Moreover, these tools are creating interactive classrooms, empowering motivated instructors to be facilitators of learning who allow students opportunities to construct their own knowledge while exciting the next generation of thinkers, doers, and global-minded citizens. This chapter reviews one example of an online multimedia learning tool—the CHANCE research module—that is being used in high school and undergraduate classrooms in the United States, China, and other international locations to transform environmental science education by exposing students to international environmental issues and problems through the analysis and evaluation of real-research data from factual ecosystems, highlighting evidentiary support for the benefits and successes of these research-based modules, and showcasing what is being learned, through assessment research, about the use of these modules in Chinese undergraduate classrooms.
Why Immersive, Interactive Simulation Belongs in the Pedagogical Toolkit of “Next Generation” Science
Authors: Tutwiler M. Shane , Grotzer Tina
Published: January 2015

Demonstration and simulation have long been integral parts of science education. These pedagogical tools are especially helpful when trying to make salient unseen or complex causal interactions, for example during a chemical titration. Understanding of complex causal mechanisms plays a critical role in science education (e.g. Grotzer & Basca, 2003; Hmelo-Silver, Marathe, & Liu, 2007; Wilensky & Resnick, 1999), but few curricula have been developed to expressly address this need (e.g. Harvard Project Zero, 2010). Innovative education technologies have allowed content designers to develop simulations that are both immersive and engaging, and which allow students to explore complex causal relationships even more deeply. In this chapter, the authors highlight various technologies that can be used to leverage complex causal understanding. Drawing upon research from both cognitive science and science education, they outline how each is designed to support student causal learning and suggest a curricular framework in which such learning technologies might optimally be used.
Influence of Carbon on the Stacking Fault Energy and Deformation Mechanics of Fe-Mn-C System Alloys
Authors: Dai Yong Juan , Li Bo , Ma Hao En , Zhang Chi
Published: January 2015

Fe-Mn-C alloys with different carbon content were investigated. It was found that carbon element effected the SFE of the Fe-Mn-C alloys seriously, SFE increases with increase of carbon concentration. Fe-Mn-C alloys' deformation mechanisms, with SFE increase from 9.04 mJ.m-2 to 39.99 mJ.m-2, turn transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) effect into twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP) effect with carbon concentration increase from 0.16% to 0.98%.
Application of Advanced Statistical Methods in the Plant Biotechnology and Phytochemistry
Authors: Skrzypczak-Pietraszek Ewa , Pietraszek Jacek
Published: January 2015

The large dimensionality and unknown distributions are often met in a plant biotechnology and phytochemistry investigations. In this paper two methods are presented: principal component analysis allowing to reduce dimensionality and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA allowing to separate factors’ influence even if the distribution is unknown. The paper contains: problem definition, presentation of the measured data and the final analysis. The paper should be potentially useful to other industrial or research approaches.
Design of 1.15MWp Distributed Photovoltaic Power Generation Scheme
Authors: Sui Jia Yin , Bi Ke , Liu Zhi Wei , Jin Peng
Published: January 2015

The design scheme for PV system connecting the grid is provided, considering the reactive power compensation, harmonic and lightning effects. Solar power generated connects into the nearby medium and low voltage distribution networks by the inverter. The capacity of solar power total is 1.15MWp. The electricity is generated for personal use; the remaining is connected to the grid system. The scheme is reasonable in design; the system is stable and reliable by the practical testing. It can be used in large range popularization and application.
Research and Analysis of Business Systems for County Grid
Authors: Dong Jing , Wan Xin , Zhou Wei Yue , Jin Peng
Published: January 2015

Situation county business system construction is in-depth analyzed in this article. The communication network constraints,lack of standards and operational system is not unified planning are pointed, cannot achieve system integration and sharing of data between departments and efficient coordination office problems. Especially the construction of "Three-Five" new system breaks the pattern of the original business case of rural power management, resulting in multi-disciplinary system efficiency is not high, the accuracy and reliability of system data are reduced and other issues. This paper proposes a stable and efficient communication network in support of the construction of county power production business operations integration platform to achieve business integration applications. The system can provide support services for marketing, production, operations.