bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk-Imaging Mismatch in Cardiac Imaging Practices for Women Receiving Systemic Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Thavendiranathan Paaladinesh , Abdel-Qadir Husam , Fischer Hadas D. , Liu Ying , Camacho Ximena , Amir Eitan , Austin Peter C. , Lee Douglas S.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

To assess prechemotherapy cardiac imaging practices in relation to patients’ heart failure (HF) risk.

Methods

We performed a population-based retrospective cohort study of women receiving chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer in Ontario between 2007 and 2012. We surveyed for baseline cardiac imaging 6 months before chemotherapy or within 30 days thereafter. The proportion of patients who underwent imaging and cumulative incidence of major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rates was determined based on chemotherapy regimen and HF risk factors. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors of pretreatment cardiac imaging.

Results

We studied 18,444 women who had been treated with chemotherapy (median age, 55 years). There was near-universal imaging of women treated with trastuzumab-containing regimens, including those without additional HF risk factors. Women who received anthracyclines without trastuzumab underwent imaging more frequently if they had additional HF risk factors (73.3% v 62.6%; P < .001). The 5-year incidence of MACE was two to six times higher in patients with HF risk factors across all treatment regimens. Patients with HF risk factors who received anthracyclines without trastuzumab had a higher 5-year incidence of MACE (4.5%) than patients without HF risk factors who received trastuzumab without anthracyclines (2.6%). However, cardiac imaging was less frequent in the former group (73.3% v 93.6%; P < .001). Logistic regression indicated that most variation in baseline imaging was related to chemotherapy, followed by physician-level factors. The odds of imaging were doubled with female physicians. Patient-specific factors, including HF risk factors, made minimal contribution to variation in imaging.

Conclusion

Baseline cardiac imaging was driven by chemotherapy regimen rather than HF risk. This risk-imaging mismatch is an impetus to reconsider current cardiac imaging practices in patients who receive chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer: ASCO Clinical Practice Guideline Update
Authors: Sohal Davendra P.S. , Kennedy Erin B. , Khorana Alok , Copur Mehmet S. , Crane Christopher H. , Garrido-Laguna Ignacio , Krishnamurthi Smitha , Moravek Cassadie , O’Reilly Eileen M. , Philip Philip A. , Ramanathan Ramesh K. , Ruggiero Joseph T. , Shah Manish A. , Urba Susan , Uronis Hope E. , Lau Michelle W. , Laheru Daniel
Published: May 2018

Purpose

In 2016, ASCO published a guideline to assist in clinical decision making in metastatic pancreatic cancer for initial assessment after diagnosis, first- and second-line treatment options, palliative and supportive care, and follow-up. The purpose of this update is to incorporate new evidence related to second-line therapy for patients who have experienced disease progression or intolerable toxicity during first-line therapy.

Methods

ASCO convened an Expert Panel to conduct a systematic review of the literature on second-line therapy published between June 2015 and January 2018. Recommendations on other topics covered in the 2016 Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Guideline were endorsed by the Expert Panel.

Results

Two new studies were found that met the inclusion criteria.

Recommendations

For second-line therapy, gemcitabine plus nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel should be offered to patients with first-line treatment with FOLFIRINOX (leucovorin, fluorouracil, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 0 to 1, and a favorable comorbidity profile; fluorouracil plus nanoliposomal irinotecan can be offered to patients with first-line treatment with gemcitabine plus NAB-paclitaxel, an ECOG PS of 0 to 1, and a favorable comorbidity profile; fluorouracil plus irinotecan or fluorouracil plus oxaliplatin may be offered when there is a lack of availability of fluorouracil plus nanoliposomal irinotecan; gemcitabine or fluorouracil should be offered to patients with either an ECOG PS of 2 or a comorbidity profile that precludes other regimens. Testing select patients for mismatch repair deficiency or microsatellite instability is recommended, and pembrolizumab is recommended for patients with mismatch repair deficiency or high microsatellite instability tumors. Endorsed recommendations from the 2016 version of this guideline for computed tomography, baseline performance status and comorbidity profile, defining goals of care, first-line therapy, and palliative care are also contained within the full guideline text. Additional information is available at www.asco.org/gastrointestinal-cancer-guidelines .
Conditional Deletion of FOXL2 and SMAD4 in Gonadotropes of Adult Mice Causes Isolated FSH Deficiency
Authors: Li Yining , Schang Gauthier , Wang Ying , Zhou Xiang , Levasseur Adrien , Boyer Alexandre , Deng Chu-Xia , Treier Mathias , Boehm Ulrich , Boerboom Derek , Bernard Daniel J
Published: May 2018

The glycoprotein FSH, a product of pituitary gonadotrope cells, regulates ovarian follicle development in females and spermatogenesis in males. FSH is a heterodimer of the common α gonadotropin subunit and the hormone-specific FSHβ subunit (a product of the Fshb gene). Using a conditional knockout approach (Cre-lox), we previously demonstrated that Fshb expression in mice depends on the transcription factors forkhead box L2 (FOXL2) and SMAD4. Deletion of Foxl2 or Smad4 alone led to FSH deficiency, female subfertility, and oligozoospermia in males. Simultaneous deletion of the two genes yielded a greater suppression of FSH and female sterility. The Cre-driver used previously was first active during embryonic development. Therefore, it is unclear whether FOXL2 and SMAD4 play important roles in the development or adult function of gonadotropes, or both. To address this question, we developed a tamoxifen-inducible Cre-driver line, which enabled Foxl2 and Smad4 gene deletions in gonadotropes of adult mice. After tamoxifen treatment, females with previously demonstrated fertility exhibited profound reductions in FSH levels, arrested ovarian follicle development, and sterility. FSH levels were comparably reduced in males 1 or 2 months after treatment; however, spermatogenesis was unaffected. These data indicate that (1) FOXL2 and SMAD4 are necessary to maintain FSH synthesis in gonadotrope cells of adult mice, (2) FSH is essential for female reproduction but appears to be unnecessary for the maintenance of spermatogenesis in adult male mice, and (3) the inducible Cre-driver line developed here provides a powerful tool to interrogate gene function in gonadotrope cells of adult mice.
The Problem of Free Will and Predestination in the Light of Satan’s Justification in Early Sufism
Authors: Basharin Pavel V.
Published: May 2018

This article examines the story of Iblīs’s disobedience in early Sufism. The motif of justifying and condemning Satan is a characteristic feature of the ideological heritage of some Sufis. The first Sufi line estimates Satan as a sufferer and a sacrifice of God’s predestination. Al-Ḥallāj’s teaching became the climax of this tradition for early Sufism. The second line of this discourse is connected with criticism of Satan’s role. The central figure in this process is Rūzbihān Baqlī. The genesis of this topic in early Sufism demonstrates certain connections with the doctrine of predestination.
Life and Death by the Book
Authors: Ceballos Manuela
Published: May 2018

The life and works of the beguine Marguerite Porete were transformed by fire. In 1310 Marguerite was burned alive in Paris as the first recorded “mystical heretic” of the French Inquisition. A few years earlier her book, The Mirror of Simple Souls, had also been burned in Valenciennes, with Marguerite as a witness. Her use of fire as a metaphor to describe union with God foreshadows her death. Furthermore, The Mirror’s emphasis on the insufficiency of language to describe the divine echoes Marguerite’s silence during her inquisitorial trial. However, these complaints against language in her book and Marguerite’s own refusal to speak should not be seen as an absolute rejection of text, body, and oral expression as vehicles of divine and human encounter. Instead, they reveal a theory of performance in which life and reading cannot be easily separated into different realms of experience.
Rod and cone interactions in the retina
Authors: Fain Gordon , Sampath Alapakkam P.
Published: May 2018

We have long known that rod and cone signals interact within the retina and can even contribute to color vision, but the extent of these influences has remained unclear. New results with more powerful methods of RNA expression profiling, specific cell labeling, and single-cell recording have provided greater clarity and are showing that rod and cone signals can mix at virtually every level of signal processing. These interactions influence the integration of retinal signals and make an important contribution to visual perception.
Automation of ReactomeFIViz via CyREST API
Authors: Loney Fred , Wu Guanming
Published: May 2018

Pathway- and network-based approaches project seemingly unrelated genes onto the context of pathways and networks, enhancing the analysis power that cannot be achieved via gene-based approaches. Pathway and network approaches are routinely applied in large-scale data analysis for cancer and other complicated diseases. ReactomeFIViz is a Cytoscape app, providing features for researchers to perform pathway- and network-based data analysis and visualization by leveraging manually curated Reactome pathways and highly reliable Reactome functional interaction network. To facilitate adoption of this app in bioinformatics software pipeline and workflow development, we develop a CyREST API for ReactomeFIViz by exposing some major features in the app. We describe a use case to demonstrate the use of this API in a Python-based notebook, and believe the new API will provide the community a convenient and powerful tool to perform pathway- and network-based data analysis and visualization using our app in an automatic way.
КОНСТРУИРОВАНИЕ СИСТЕМЫ ИНТЕЛЛЕКТУАЛЬНОГО ПОИСКА ОТВЕТОВ НА ВОПРОСЫ ОБУЧАЮЩИХСЯ НА ОНЛАЙН-КУРСЕ НА ОСНОВЕ WORD2VEC
Authors: Rozhkin Pavel Aleksandrovich , Nekhaev Igor Nikolaevich , Markin Kirill Anatol’evich
Published: May 2018

Целью данной работы является разработка системы интеллектуального поиска ответов на вопросы слушателей онлайн-курса среди ранее опубликованных на учебном форуме вопросов-ответов. В настоящее время уже имеются успешные эксперименты по применению систем искусственного интеллекта (IBM WATSON) в онлайн-обучении. В данной работе исследуется возможность построения такой системы с использованием технологии word2vec. Конструируется двухэтапный метод поиска ответа на вопрос с использованием технологии word2vec для векторного представления вопросов и ответов. На первом этапе определяется тематика вопроса и, если она соответствует теме форума, то среди тематических статей форума проводится поиск статей, наиболее релевантных заданному вопросу. Моделировалась реальная ситуация с 16 тематиками и 80 ответами на возможные вопросы в рамках раздела онлайн-курса “Линейная алгебра и геометрия”. На основе построенной векторной модели предметной области сконструирована вопросно-ответная система и проведена оценка качества её работы. Подобраны параметры для достижения наилучшего результата классификации вопросов и поиска релевантных ответов. В 83% случаях релевантный ответ на сформулированный вопрос содержался среди топ-3 ответов, которые система предлагала. Рассматриваются вопросы дальнейшего развития применяемых подходов и повышения полезности конструируемой вопросно-ответной системы.Цель: разработка системы интеллектуального поиска ответов на вопросы слушателей онлайн-курса среди ранее опубликованных на учебном форуме.Методология: векторизация вопросов и ответов, нейросетевая классификация тематики вопроса, построение рейтинга ответов.Результаты: достижение приемлемой точности в поиске релевантного ответа на вопрос среди имеющихся ответов.Практическое применение: полученные результаты исследования могут быть положены в основу конструирования интеллектуальных помощников учителя на онлайн-курсах.
MACHINE LEARNING METHODS IN DIGITAL AGRICULTURE: ALGORITHMS AND CASES
Authors: Koshkarov Aleksandr Vasilyevich
Published: May 2018

Обеспечение продовольственной безопасности является важной задачей многих стран. В условиях роста населения Земли вопросы повышения эффективности сельского хозяйства становятся наиболее актуальными. Фермеры ищут новые способы повышения урожайности, а правительства разных стран разрабатывают новые программы поддержки сельского хозяйства. Это способствует более активному внедрению цифровых технологий в сельское хозяйство, помогая фермерам более эффективно принимать решения, увеличивать урожайность и заботиться об экологии. Центральное место здесь занимает сбор и анализ данных. В области земледелия данные могут собираться из разных источников и содержат в себе полезные закономерности, выявляющие потенциальные проблемы или возможности. Чтобы извлечь пользу из данных, они должны быть проанализированы с помощью алгоритмов машинного обучения. Такие методы точного земледелия позволяют следить за отдельными частями поля, оптимизировать расход воды и химикатов, а также оперативно выявлять проблемы.Цель: обзор алгоритмов машинного обучения, применяемых для анализа данных в сельском хозяйстве.Методология проведения работы: обзор релевантной литературы, опрос фермеров.Результаты: выявлены релевантные алгоритмы машинного обучения для анализа данных в сельском хозяйстве на различных уровнях: анализ почвы (оценка состояния почвы, классификация почвы, прогнозироваие плодородности почвы), прогноз погоды (имитация смены климата, прогноз температуры и осадков) и анализ состояния растительности (идентификация сорняков, классификация растительности, выявление болезни растений, прогнозирование урожайности).Область применения результатов: сельское хозяйство, растениеводство.
НАУЧНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕДЛОЖЕНИЯ ПО РЕАЛИЗАЦИИ СОВМЕСТНОГО УПРАВЛЕНИЯ ТРАФИКОМ И ПРОПУСКНОЙ СПОСОБНОСТЬЮ МУЛЬТИСЕРВИСНЫХ СЕТЕЙ
Authors: Khoborova Vera Petrovna
Published: May 2018

Для предотвращения перегрузок на отдельных участках мультисервисных сетей реализуется управление потоками данных, которое приводит к более равномерному распределению ресурсов и повышению эффективности функционирования сети. При этом задачу выбора маршрутов для отдельных потоков данных (класса трафика) с учетом соблюдения требований к качеству обслуживания (QoS) решают методы инжиниринга трафика. С помощью этих методов стремятся максимально и сбалансировано загрузить все ресурсы сети, чтобы сеть при заданном уровне качества обслуживания обладала как можно боле высокой суммарной производительностью. Однако в настоящее время отсутствуют строгие обоснованные решения задачи распределения потоков данных между выбранными маршрутами с учетом возможности дополнительного управления их пропускной способностью. В статье предлагается методика оптимизации распределения потоков данных и пропускной способности используемых каналов (маршрутов) в каждом отдельном информационном направлении при различной согласованности управляющих воздействий на смежных уровнях сетевой архитектуры. Рассматриваются научно-технические предложения по реализации разработанной методики в составе механизмов, реализующих инжиниринг трафика в современных мультисервисных сетях.Цель – повышение эффективности функционирования мультисервисной сети посредством оптимизации инжиниринга трафика.Метод или методология проведения работы: в статье использовались аналитические методы решения оптимизационных задач с нелинейной целевой функцией и линейными ограничениями.Результаты: получены аналитические выражения для оптимального распределения потоков данных и пропускной способности используемых каналов, обеспечивающего минимальные значения показателей задержки, и предложено использование данных выражений в расчетах, выполняемых в механизмах инжиниринга трафика.Область применения результатов: полученные результаты целесообразно применять в современных мультисервисных сетях, реализующих управление потоками данных посредством инжиниринга трафика с целью повышения эффективности функционирования данных сетей.
Dynamic Distribution of Patients to Medical Facilities in the Aftermath of a Disaster
Authors: Mills Alex F. , Argon Nilay Tanık , Ziya Serhan
Published: May 2018

In the aftermath of a disaster, emergency responders must transport a large number of patients to medical facilities, using limited transportation resources (such as ambulances). Decisions about where to send the patients are typically made in an ad hoc manner by responders on the scene. Using a Markov decision process formulation, we develop two heuristic policies that use limited information such as mean travel times and congestion levels to determine (a) how to allocate ambulances to patient locations and (b) which medical facility should be the destination for those ambulances. In a simulation study, we incorporate patient survival rates and service times for different types of traumatic injuries, and show that the proposed heuristics can provide substantial improvement in the expected number of survivors compared to the common practice of transporting to the nearest facility, even when the decision maker has only limited up-to-date information about the system state. In particular, a myopic approach that considers only what is best for the next patient to be transported increases the expected number of survivors in almost all scenarios considered. Using a more sophisticated one-step policy improvement approach provides further improvement when the event involves patients who do not deteriorate rapidly, especially when the transportation is not the bottleneck and the casualties are spread over many locations. We demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed heuristics on a case study of a hypothetical earthquake, where casualty data is generated using computer software developed by the U.S. government.

The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2017.1695 .
PLATAFORMA DIGITAL DE EDUCAÇÃO: A percepção dos professores
Authors: Vianna José Antonio , Ferreira Telma Antunes Dantas
Published: May 2018

Este estudo avaliativo da implantação de novas tecnologias na escola teve por objetivo analisar a percepção docente sobre o efeito da plataforma digital no contexto escolar. Responderam ao questionário 73 professoras e 22 professores. Os participantes (70,6%) consideram que são necessários conhecimentos e habilidades em informática para a utilização da plataforma. Na percepção da maioria dos investigados a plataforma pode melhorar o ensino (88,5%), apesar de considerar que a maior parte dos professores da rede estar indiferentes, pouco motivados ou desmotivados para a incorporação da inovação tecnológica no cotidiano escolar. Menos da metade (46,3%) observam na plataforma um instrumento para diminuição da desigualdade de oportunidades escolares e facilitação da aprendizagem. A infraestrutura deficiente é o principal entrave para utilização do kit nas aulas.
A INVISIBILIDADE DO ALUNO DE CLASSE BAIXA EM SALA DE AULA: OUTRO OLHAR SOBRE O FRACASSO ESCOLAR
Authors: Bastos Nathália Masson , Silva Gabrielle Luz Brasil
Published: May 2018

Este artigo parte de uma reflexão antropológico-visual sobre o “poder do olhar”. Entende-se que a questão do olhar reflete relações de poder e as consolidam. Aqui delimitou-se analisar a questão do “olhar” nas relações de poder no espaço escolar, especificamente perante o aluno de condições desprivilegiadas por se entender que este é objeto de um olhar que o constitui em sua alteridade. Objetiva-se investigar o como, como a invisibilidade do aluno de classe baixa em sala de aula pode potencializar o fracasso escolar deste. Os procedimentos metodológicos são explicitados pelo levantamento bibliográfico das produções do grupo de pesquisa NetEDU, chegando a aproximadamente 50 textos pertinentes à temática aqui lançada. A relevância deste estudo está na imersão nessa relação complexa do visível, do invisível, suas relações, opacidades e entrelaçamentos. Essa imersão extrapola a percepção para além do punctum caecum do binarismo visível ou invisível; as invisibilidades ou a invisibilidade.
NARRATIVAS FEMININAS GUAJAJARA E AKRÃTIKATÊJÊ NO ENSINO SUPERIOR
Authors: Paim Elison Antonio , Santana Tatiana De Oliveira
Published: May 2018

Homens e mulheres pertencentes a povos originários ocupam universidades brasileiras pelas recentes políticas de cotas. Com isso, vão provocando estranhamentos, reflexões, desafios e mobilizações a esses espaços que devem promover além da entrada, condições de permanência nos cursos de graduação e em suas bases epistemológicas universais. Nosso texto se localiza deste modo, numa tentativa de abordar este tema buscando compreender pelas narrativas de experiências e memórias, de quatro mulheres pertencentes a povos originários distintos, discentes de cursos de graduação da Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do Pará (UNIFESSPA). Nas aproximações teóricas convidamos a essa tessitura junto às narrativas femininas uma opção teórico-metodológica benjaminiana baseada em mônadas e o pensamento de alguns autores e autoras, que pensam experiência e memória (BENJAMIN, 2012) e representação e interculturalidade (WALSH, 2009).
AS DIFICULDADES NA PRÁTICA PEDAGÓGICA DE PROFESSORES DE EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA NA EDUCAÇÃO BÁSICA NA PERCEPÇÃO DA GESTÃO ESCOLAR
Authors: Krug Hugo Norberto , Krug Marilia De Rosso , Krug Rodrigo De Rosso , Telles Cassiano
Published: May 2018

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as dificuldades na prática pedagógica de professores de Educação Física na Educação Básica na percepção da Gestão Escolar de escolas das redes de ensino pública de uma cidade do interior do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (Brasil). Caracterizamos a pesquisa como qualitativa do tipo estudo de caso. O instrumento de coleta de informações foi uma entrevista, tendo as respostas interpretadas pela análise de conteúdo. Participaram dezoito gestores escolares da referida rede de ensino e cidade. Identificamos oito dificuldades, sendo a maioria classificada na dimensão sociopolítica/cultural e a minoria dividida entre a dimensão institucional/organizacional e a dimensão instrucional/pedagógica.
NARRATIVAS EM DIÁLOGO: ESCOLA E DIVERSIDADES
Authors: Fernandes Andrea Da Paixão , Arcuri Christiane De Faria Pereira
Published: May 2018

A diversidade que compõe esta décima quarta edição de e-Mosaicos nos faz refletir sobre a escola e a educação em suas complexidades. Quando falamos de escola, não nos restringimos aos espaços educativos formais, mas a todos os espaços em que a prática educativa e os processos de escolarização podem se materializar.
An insight into living with diabetes
Authors: Lennard Laura
Published: May 2018

Laura Lennard, Children's Diabetes Nurse, West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, reflects on the challenges of encouraging behaviour change and the importance of understanding patients' real-life experiences
Flexible working in the NHS
Authors: Foster Sam
Published: May 2018

Sam Foster, Chief Nurse, Oxford University Hospitals, questions whether NHS policies around flexible working are fit for purpose
The big picture: equine hoof science and lameness
Authors: Jurga Fran
Published: May 2018

Fran Jurga of HoofSearch adds some perspective by analysing the peer-reviewed articles on the horse's foot and discussing why they matter
Recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (‘roaring’) in the horse – what's new?
Authors: Barakzai Safia
Published: May 2018

Dr Safia Barakzai BVSc MSc DESTS Dipl. ECVS FRCVS. RCVS and European Specialist in Equine Surgery, Equine Surgical Referrals discusses the most up to date approaches
The fight against equine sleeping sickness
Authors: Raftery Alexandra G.
Published: May 2018

Alexandra G. Raftery MVM MA VetMB DipECEIM MRCVS European and RCVS Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine, University of Glasgow explains the challenges
Every school day, 183 pupils are referred to CAMHS
Authors: Henshaw Pete
Published: May 2018

– One-third of pupils referred to CAMHS are being turned away

– Overall referrals continue to soar, with at least 35,000 last year
The mark of success: Part 3
Authors: Bromley Matt
Published: May 2018

In part three of his seven-part series on effective feedback techniques and practices, Matt Bromley explores the evidence of what works
Preparation of Physical and Chemical and Thermodynamic Properties of Aluminum Alloys-Cerium
Authors: Razazi M. , Amini R. N. , Eshov B. B. , Badalov A. B.
Published: May 2018

Chemical compositions, microstructure and hardness of alloys and Al - Ce intermetallic compounds have been studied. The method of calorimetry solution determined the enthalpy of dissolution. Enthalpy of formation of intermetallic compounds In thermo chemical cycle has been calculated. It was revealed the regularity of their changes depending on the composition. Melting temperature of intermetallic compounds of the system has been specified by Semi empirical method. It has defined the specified set pattern in the changes on melting temperature and enthalpy of formation of IM on the concentration of Maximal stability in the composition of Al2Se.
Surface Modification of Acetate Fabric with Water Glass and Silane Compounds for Hydrophobicity
Authors: Mirjalili Mohammad
Published: May 2018

Acetate fabric surface was treated with combinations of water glass and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS) to obtain hydrophobicity. Performance analysis was done by measuring the contact angle of water on the treated fabric surface. The chemical structure, morphology and surface roughness of treated fabrics were characterized by FTIR, SEM and AFM, respectively. Acetate fabrics with good hydrophobicity were obtained when treated with water glass and HDTMS. Such surfaces were obtained first by dip-coating the silica hydrosols prepared via hydrolysis and condensation of water glass onto acetate substrates, and then by modifying the surface of the silica coating with a non-fluor compound (HDTMS). This study demonstrated that the surface treatment using water glass and HDTMS is an inexpensive method for achieving hydrophobic acetate fabrics.
Thermodynamic Absorption Parameters of Disazo Dyes derived from P-aminophenol and 4-Aminobenzoic Acid on Polyester Fibre and Nylon 6 Fibre
Authors: OTUTU J. O.
Published: May 2018

The thermodynamic absorption parameters of a series of disazo dyes derived from paminophenol and 4-aminobenzoic acid on polyester and nylon 6 substrates are described. It was found that the dyes generally have higher affinities for the polyester fibre than for the nylon 6 fibre. The values of Δm0, ΔH0, and ΔS0 in the two dye-fibre systems suggest that the hydrogen bonding mechanism is operative in the dye-fibre binding forces. The very high values of correlation coefficients showed that the rate curves fit the experimental data perfectly. The results of the study also showed that certain intrinsic properties such as planarity and molecular volume could be more useful in interpreting activation energy of diffusion data.
Peak Shape Method in Thermoluminescence : An Overview
Authors: Mazumdar P. S. , Azharuddin Sk.
Published: May 2018

In this paper different varieties of peak shape method for the determination of activation energy (E) in Thermoluminescence have been reviewed.
Solid-State Polymer/ZnO Hybrid Dye Sensitized Solar Cell: A Review
Authors: Ramzan Parra Mohammad , Pandey Padmini , Singh Neha , Siddiqui Hafsa , Haque Fozia Z.
Published: May 2018

A highly efficient device concept for solid-state hybrid dye-sensitized solar cells has been recently realized. It has been attracted extensive attention as a promising approach to achieve cost effective solar energy. The key property which makes solid-state hybrid dye-sensitized photovoltaic systems so attractive is the potential of simple fabrication and assembling technology. In this article, firstly, we review the recent developments including device operational mechanism of solid-state hybrid dye-sensitized solar cells incorporating inorganic nanoparticles as electron transporting material, an organic hole transport materials with photoexcited dye molecules as electron injector into the n-type material and the hole-accepting and transporting properties of polymer. In addition, the enhancement of photoresponse through interaction of near-IR dyes and the polymer hole-transport material have also discussed.
X-ray Diffraction Studies of Cu(II), Zn (II), Mo(II), Fe(II)complexes with Glibenclamide (5-chloro-N-(4-[N- (Cyclohexyl Carbnonyl) Sulfamonyl]phenethyl)-2- Methoxylbenzamide
Authors: Tawkir Mohammad , Balkrishan Balkrishan. , Zaafarany Ishaq , Iqbal S. A.
Published: May 2018

Glibenclamide (5-chloro-N-(4-[N-(cyclohexyle carbnonyl) sulfamonyl]phenethyl)-2- matyhoxylbenzamide was used to synthesize Cu(II), Zn (II), Mo(II), Fe(II)complexes. Metal Complex were characterized by elemental analysis. IR, TGA, The Crystal structure of complexes were further determined by X-ray diffraction method. The XRD data was used to index the compound for tetragonal and octahedral system.
Effect of Different Modifiers on Melting Points and pH under Leaching in Nuclear Waste Glasses in Borosilicate and Phosphate Systems
Authors: Malik Patit P. , Mitra Partha , Das3* Tanmay
Published: May 2018

Glasses were melted in three systems viz., borosilicate, phosphate and pure silicate system. In the present work we could melt the glass at much lower temperature (800-950oC) with a soaking period of 30 min-1 hr which were earlier reported to be melted not below 1000o C. The effect of different modifier ions like Pb2+, Ba2+, Na+, Fe3+, Al3+, Y3+, Ca2+, Ce4+ and Sr2+ on melting temperature and time of melting in each system has been found to be evident. The pH determination in the range 6.43 to 8.18 of the leachate solution at ambient temperature under varying time intervals shows interesting and regular variations. The findings have been corroborated in terms of ionic size, ionic radii and hence ionic potential of the modifier ions.
Mechanism of Ball Burnishing Process for Radius of Curvature for Elastic and Plastic Deformation between Ball and Hole
Authors: Upadhyay Pankaj K. , Agarwal Pankaj , Ansari A. R. , Mohan Ravindra
Published: May 2018

Ball burnishing (ballizing) chip less process which produces a smooth surface and surface hardness. The pressure generated by the ball exceeds a plastic deformation stage and create a new surfaces. The plastic deformation created by ball burnishing is a cold flows under pressure into the valleys surface is smooth, Ballizing is a technique for sizing and finishing holes in metal components. It is a rapid and relatively low cost process. A suitably oversized precision ball is pressed through an unfinished undersized hole, A simple tooling such as a hardened ball and a push rod is required for this process. However an intensive analysis is essential for analysing the mechanics of the process. The ball burnishing is very useful process to improve upon surface roughness and can be employed. It will help to impart compressive stress and fatigue life can be improved. The Al alloy is a difficult to machine material and burnishing is difficult process for this grade material. A low surface roughness and hardness was obtained in increasing the operating parameters. It may develop flaw and micro cracks on the surface.
AC Impedance Spectroscopic of Nano Size Al2O3 Filler in PEO:AgI Polymer Electrolyte
Authors: Verma Mohan L , Singh Nirbhay K.
Published: May 2018

Electrical and electrochemical properties of PEO based hot pressed nanocomposite polymer electrolyte (1-x)[70PEO:30AgI]:xAl2O3 where 0d≤x 10 wt% , have been studied. The conventional Solid Polymer Electrolyte composition (70PEO:30AgI) identified as highest conducting film at room temperature, has been used as 1st phase host matrix and nano-size particle of Al2O3 as 2nd phase dispersion. As a consequence of dispersal of Al2O3 in host, a conductivity enhancement of was achieved in film 93[70PEO:30AgI]:7Al2O3. These composition has been referred to as optimum composing composition. The ion transport behavior in polymer membrane have been discussed on the basis of ionic conductivity(σ), relaxation time (τ), and ionic transferred number(tion). The Impedance Spectroscopic study analysis at different temperature have been carried out to characterize the ion transport mechanism. The temperature dependence conductivity study has also been done to compute the activation energy(Ea) form logσ – 1/T plot.
Into the wild: Pioneers in designing new business models for co-creation
Authors: Degnegaard Stine
Published: May 2018

This study examines a group of business executives’ endeavours of designing new business models in very different public, as well as private, sectors. The common thread between them is that they all have gone ‘into the wild’: leaving the comfort zones of their organizations in order to explore business potential on the outside. They have all taken on challenges that reach far beyond their own organizations’ horizons, crossing sectors and co-creating new business models with external stakeholders in order to address them. When taking on these co-creation challenges, the organizations have fallen short of ready-made methods, processes and steering mechanisms. The questions thus remain: What happens in the wild? And what can we learn from those who went there? The study shows two main findings. First of all, when designing new co-creation business models, organizations encounter similar struggles and possibilities even when dealing with very diverse challenges in different sectors. Thus, insights translate across sectors and challenges. Secondly, a synthesis of lessons learned can be summed up as three main focus areas: the executives are rethinking their business as a whole; they lack tools for organizing for co-creation; and trust-building is a key parameter for success.
Smart-innovative cities and the innovation economy: A qualitative analysis of local approaches to delivering smart urbanism in Australia
Authors: Maalsen Sophia , Burgoyne Sandy , Tomitsch Martin
Published: May 2018

The adoption of smart city initiatives is a key lever to attract and retain new business and talent in local government areas to support the development of the innovation economy in Australia. To identify the ‘state of play’ in the adoption of smart city initiatives within local government areas, we survey state and federal policy associated with ‘smart’ and present a qualitative analysis of four case studies of cities. We then synthesize our findings from this analysis into recommendations for smart city initiatives. The article is structured into three parts. First, we present an overview of the rationale behind the adoption of smart city initiatives in supporting the innovation economy, focusing on challenges and opportunities that have been documented in previous literature. Second, we describe the case studies analysed and the themes that emerged. Third, we discuss the design recommendations arising from this analysis to illustrate how Australian cities and businesses might accelerate the adoption of smart city initiatives in local government areas and the implications more broadly for smart city adoption globally.
Designing interactive fashion shows: Innovating through multisensory simulations
Authors: Lau Kung Wong , Lee Vincie Pui Yuen
Published: May 2018

The tremendous development of stereoscopic 3D visualization and multisensory simulations has been fundamentally changing brand communication, consumer learning, product knowledge and the decision-making process. This research aims to study consumer learning in a designed interactive fashion show platform in order to deepen our understanding of the undiscovered framework. A designed, self-directed interactive platform for consumers to organize their own fashion show is established in this research. The result of this study suggests three major domains for fashion retailing businesses to explore in order to cope with the challenges of the digital age.
STABILIZATION OF EXPANSIVE SOIL USING POTASSIUM CHLORIDE
Authors: Shukla Rajesh Prasad , Parihar Niraj Singh , Gupta Ashok Kumar
Published: May 2018

Expansive soils cover more than twenty-two percent of geographical area of India. These soils shrink and swell, respectively, with the decrease and the increase in water content of soil. In this study, experimental tests were conducted on an expansive soil to study the effect of mixing of potassium chloride on various soil properties. Liquid limit, swelling potential and plasticity index were found to be reduced significantly with mixing of potassium chloride. Initially, for potassium chloride of 6-8%, plastic limit has also been reduced but latter, it increased with the increase in quantity of potassium chloride. Mixing of potassium chloride increases and decreases, the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content, respectively. The mixing of potassium chloride increases the unconfined compressive strength and shrinkage limit of soil. Optimum amount of potassium chloride is found to be approximately 8-9% of dry soil weight. Potassium chloride altered the properties of expansive soil significantly, and most of the modifications are found to be favourable from civil engineers’ point of view. Results of the present study are compared with previous study results too.
POST-TENSIONING THE CONNECTION REGION OF PRECAST POST-TENSIONED BRIDGE GIRDERS FOR CONTINUITY
Authors: Taha Mutaz M. M. , Jia Yanmin
Published: May 2018

In the study, a precast post-tension concrete girder was tested to examine the behavior of the structure before and after continuity and to evaluate the effectiveness of post-tensioning for continuity to resist positive and negative moments in the connection region. The initial stresses were measured in a concrete bridge constructed using simple support precast post-tension girders that achieved continuity by strengthening the girders through post-tensioning the top of the girders at the connection region. The initial stresses were calculated before and after continuity to examine the effects of continuity on prestress levels. The stresses were calculated at the continuity diaphragm to investigate the effect of post-tensioning on continuity moments. A 3D finite-element model was developed via ANSYS to simulate the performance of the precast post-tension concrete girders. In order to achieve continuity, five forms were compared, and the results indicate that post-tensioning for continuity leads to an increase in the compression stress on the sections. The mid-span stress–strain curve results also show that an increase in the load-carrying capacity for models achieves continuity through post-tensioning. The method used to achieve continuity as described throughout the study presented a stiffer response when compared to that of the other forms of continuity.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE STABILITY OF SURROUNDING ROCK IN TUNNEL BLASTING CONSTRUCTION
Authors: Fu Hongxian , Kong Hong , Wu Jinke
Published: May 2018

In this study,criteria and blast ing technologies are introduced in order to control the stability ofsurrounding rock of tunnel built using drill and blast safety . The paper is composed of three parts,namely, a blast vibration propagation law in roof surrounding rock in close proximity to tunnel face,two formulae to calculate particle critical vibration velocity of shotcrete and key structural element atthe roof of tunnel, and innovative technologies of tunnel blasting . The blast vibration propagationlaw is the base to control the sta bility of surrounding rock during tunnel blast ing Based onMorhr Coulomb criterion and the dynamic analys is, two formulae to calculate the critical particlevibration velocity are proposed Based on a series of trial blasts using electronic detonators, tw oinnovative blasting technologies are derived. One is the blast holes detonated one by one by usingelectronic detonator , and another is the blast holes detonated by combining initiation system ofelectronic detonators and nonel detonators T he use of ele ctronic detonators in tunnel blasting notonly leads to a smaller blast vibration but also to a smaller extent of the EDZ (excavation damagedzone)
Identification of MC4R gene and its association with body weight and body size in Kebumen Ongole Grade cattle
Authors: Maharani D. , Fathoni A. , Sumadi S. , Hartatik T. , Khusnudin M.
Published: May 2018

MC4R gene is known as an important candidate gene for the growth trait. The purpose of this research was to identify the MC4R gene in Kebumen Ongole grade cattle and examine its association with growth traits. Data of birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), birth body length (BBL), birth chest circumference (BCC), birth shoulder height (BSH), weaning body length (WBL), weaning chest circumference(WCC), weaning shoulder height (WSH) and average daily gain (ADG) were collected and used for analysis of MC4R gene. Sixty blood samples were collected for DNA isolation and PCR amplification. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) g.1133 C>G was used for genotyping by using PCR-RFLP methods. The frequenciy of G allele (0.59) was greater than C allele (0.41). The highest genotype frequencies have been detected in CG heterozygote animals (0.52) followed by GG (0.33) and CC (0.15) in homozygote animals. The results of Pearson ‘s Chi-square test indicated that the population was not deviate (P>0.05) from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The SNP g. 1133 C>G of MC4R gene indicated affecting high birth body length with GG genotype (P<0.05). In conclusion, the SNP g. 1133 C>G may can be a marker for birth body length of calf selection.
Bayesian Inference of Causal Effects for an Ordinal Outcome in Randomized Trials
Authors: Chiba Yasutaka
Published: May 2018

In randomized trials in which two treatment arms are compared with a binary outcome, the causal effect can be identified by assuming that the two treatment arms are exchangeable. In trials with an ordinal outcome, which is categorized as more than two, the causal effect can be identified by assuming that the potential outcomes are independent and that the two treatment arms are exchangeable. In this article, we propose a Bayesian approach to causal inference that does not rely on these two assumptions. To achieve this purpose, we use a randomization-based approach and response type. Then, the likelihood function is derived by physical randomization in which subjects who belong to a response type are randomly assigned to the treatment or control, with no modeling assumption on the outcome. Our approach can derive not only the posterior distribution of the causal effect but also that of the number of subjects in each response type. The proposed approach is illustrated with two examples from randomized clinical trials.
Protective effects of persian honey, Apis Mellifera Meda Skorikov on side effects of chemotherapy and ischemia/reperfusion induced testicular injury
Authors: Gholami Mohammadreza , Abbaszadeh Abolfazl , Baharvand Parastoo , Hasanvand Afshin , Hasanvand Amin , Gharravi Anneh mohammad
Published: May 2018

Introduction

The aim of the present study was to survey the protective effect of pretreatment with Persian honey on amelioration of side effects of chemotherapy and ischemia/reperfusion induced testicular injury.

Materials and methods

Forty adult’s male wistar rats were divided into four groups of ischemia-reperfusion (IR), honey + ischemia-reperfusion (HIR), Busulfan (B) and Busulfan intraperitoneally+ honey (BH). The seminiferous tubules were rated for their modified spermatogenesis index (SI) by Johnsons score. Detection of single- and double-stranded DNA breaks at the early stages of apoptosis was performed using the in-situ cell death detection kit. Total serum concentration of Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) , Luteinizing hormone (LH) and testosterone was measured using ELISA. All data were expressed as mean ± SD and significance was set at p≤0.05.

Results

Honey improved SI in the HIR and BH groups and serum levels of FSH and LH in the BH and HIR groups (p<0.001). Also, serum levels of testosterone were significantly higher in BH and HIR groups. But, apoptotic cells in IR and B groups significantly increased (p<0.001), while in HIR and BH groups, the number of apoptotic cells decreased and the positive cells of TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP-X nick end labelling) staining were detected in spermatocytes and spermatid.

Discussion

Pretreatment with honey protect testis against chemotherapy and testicular IR injury, increase FSH and LH and testosterone and decrease the cellular damage and apoptosis. Honey can decrease the side effects of chemotherapy on reproductive system and prevent sterility.
African crocus (Curculigo pilosa) and wonderful kola (Buchholzia coriacea) seeds modulate critical enzymes relevant to erectile dysfunction and oxidative stress
Authors: Adefegha Stephen A. , Oyeleye Sunday I. , Oboh Ganiyu
Published: May 2018

Background

The seeds of African crocus (AC) (Curculigo pilosa) and wonderful kola (WK) (Buchholzia coriacea) are commonly used in folklore medicine in managing erectile dysfunction (ED) without the full understanding of the possible mechanism of actions. This study investigated and compared the effects of aqueous extracts from the seeds of AC and WK on arginase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities and some pro-oxidant [FeSO4 and sodium nitroprusside (SNP)]-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate in vitro.

Method

Aqueous extracts of AC and WK were prepared, and their effects on arginase and AChE activities as well as FeSO4- and SNP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate were assessed. Furthermore, phenolic constituents of the extract were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD).

Results

Both extracts exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition on arginase (AC, IC50=0.05 mg/mL; WK, IC50=0.22 mg/mL) and AChE (AC, IC50=0.68 mg/mL; WK, IC50=0.28 mg/mL) activities. The extracts also inhibited FeSO4- and SNP-induced lipid peroxidation in rat penile homogenate. HPLC-DAD analysis revealed the presence of phenolic acids (gallic, caffeic, ellagic and coumaric acids) and flavonoids (catechin, quercetin and apigenin) in AC and WK. AC had higher arginase inhibitory and antioxidative activities but lower AChE inhibitory properties when compared with WK.

Conclusions

These effects could explain the possible mechanistic actions of the seeds in the management/treatment of ED and could be as a result of individual and/or synergistic effect of the constituent phenolic compounds of the seeds.
Has it Reinvented Iron Law? South Africa’s Social Industrialisation, not Iron Industrialisation
Authors: Pooe T. K.
Published: May 2018

This paper examines whether the current South African legal framework and subsequent policies post-1994 encourage and have emphatically fostered industrialisation in South Africa primarily and Southern Africa more generally. The primary contention of this paper is that the South African State, unlike fellow Southern African States, has a long history with industrialisation and should have laid the foundations for Southern Africa’s large scale industrialisation trajectory. However, the post-1994 government vision for South Africa has never had a Law and Development philosophy that prioritises and fosters industrialisation. Industrial Promotion in Africa, is understood as being concerned with drafting, strategically implementing and investing in industrially minded action plans. Through the prism of Local Economic Development policy and legislation in the Sedibeng region, this paper contends that industrialisation is still a farfetched endeavour despite industrially minded policies like the New Growth Path and the Industrial Policy Action Plans in South Africa. Moreover, South Africa’s industrialisation agenda is compromised by the Law and Development philosophy of the African National Congress led government. At the core of this philosophy is an overestimation of social justice activity like Human Rights promotion at the expense of Asian Developmental States’ non-human rights approach to economic development activity, like industrialisation in rural and township regions of South Africa.