bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APLIKASI SISTEM PEMBAYARAN ADMINISTRASI KESISWAAN DI SMA Ya BAKII KESUGIHAN
Authors: Atikah Novi Ika , Wahyuningrum Tenia , Januarita Dwi
Published: February 2016

Sekolah sebagai salah satu bentuk organisasi memerlukan pengolahan administrasi yang efektif dan efisien, yaitu berorientasi pada tujuan penggunaan semua sumber daya serta mekanisme pengelolaan sekolah. Salah satu fungsi administrasi sekolah adalah pengelolaan data pembayaran administrasi kesiswaan. Yang terjadi di SMA Ya BAKII Kesugihan yang masih menggunakan sistem manual dalam pengelolaan data pembayaran. Dengan memanfaatkan software komputer kita dapat mengelola data-data pembayaran administrasi kesiswaan dengan lebih mudah.

Dalam kegiatan ini mencakup bagaimana perancangan program basis data tentang pengelolaan data pembayaran sekolah di SMA Ya BAKII Kesugihan dengan menggunakan software Visual Basic 6.0 dan MySQL Server 5.1. Hasil dari perancangan dan pembuatan Aplikasi Sistem Pembayaran Administrasi Kesiswaan di SMA Ya BAKII Kesugihan adalah untuk mengoptimalisasikan pengolahan data pembayaran administrasi kesiswaan. Aplikasi ini dapat menghasilkan laporan-laporan yang dapat digunakan oleh bagian Tata Usaha lain yang berkaitan dengan administrasi kesiswaan. Berdasarkan hasil kegiatan di atas, pihak Sekolah disarankan dapat meningkatkan kualitas dan pengelolaan sekolah terutama bagian pembayaran administrasi kesiswaan di SMA Ya BAKII Kesugihan.

Kata kunci : Visual Basic 6.0, MySQL Server, Aplikasi Sistem Pembayaran Administrasi Kesiswaan, Database.
Urgensi Prinsip Proporsionalitas pada Perjanjian Mudarabah di Perbankan Syariah Indonesia
Authors: Sjaiful Muhammad
Published: February 2016

Kehadiran lembaga perbankan syariah di Indonesia, adalah kebutuhan bagi bagi umat Islam di Indonesia, untuk menjamin transaksi keuangan mereka yang berbasis syariah. Salah satu praktik perjanjian syariah yang berlangsung di perbankan syariah di Indonesia, yaitu perjanjian transaksi keuangan yang menggunakan skema mudarabah. Tulisan ini bertujuan melakukan telaah penerapan prinsip proporsionalitas terhadap praktek perjanjian mudarabah di perbankan syariah di Indonesia. Penelitian ini dapat memberikan kontribusi sebagai rujukan ilmiah guna melakukan rekonstruksi perjanjian mudarabah agar tetap mengedepankan prinsip proporsionalitas menurut prinsip-prinsip syariah. Untuk mencapai tujuan penelitian yang dimaksud, metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode penelitian hukum normatif, dengan sumber bahan hukum primer yaitu beberapa perjanjian mudarabah tertulis yang terdapat pada perbankan syariah di Indonesia. Juga bahan hukum sekunder berupa literatur dan karya ilmiah lainnya yang berisi doktrin dan pendapat hukum ahli tentang perjanjian syariah, terutama tentang perjanjian mudarabah. Berdasarkan hasil analisa menunjukkan bahwa penerapan prinsip proporsioalitas dalam perjanjian mudarabah di perbankan syariah Indonesia belumlah berjalan sesuai standar yang ditetapkan menurut prinsip syariah sebab pada faktanya beberapa klausula yang tercantum dalam akad mudarabah terkesan memberi peluang begi pihak shahibul maal (pihak bank syariah) untuk berlepas diri dari kerugian finansial yang terjadi dikemudian hari, yang seolah-olah kerugian finansial itu hanya ditanggung oleh mudharib (pelaku usaha), sehingga ini menyimpang dari spirit prinsip proporsionalitas yang semestinya menjadi dasar tegaknya nomenklatur perjanjian mudarabah tersebut.
Perkembangan Politik Hukum dan Kebutuhan Hukum Keimigrasian Indonesia: Menjawab Sebagian, Melupakan Selebihnya
Authors: Dewansyah Bilal
Published: February 2016

Penggantian undang-undang keimigrasian dari Undang-Undang No. 9 Tahun 1992 ke Undang-Undang No. 6 Tahun 2011 mencerminkan adanya perkembangan politik hukum keimigrasian. Sebagai cabang hukum administrasi yang berkarakter dinamis, pembaruan politik hukum keimigrasian semestinya menjawab kebutuhan hukum keimigrasian dalam praktik. Tulisan ini membahas perkembangan politik hukum keimigrasian Indonesia dan sejauh mana perkembangan tersebut menjawab kebutuhan hukum kimigrasian Indonesia. Berdasarkan pembahasan penulis, dapat disimpulkan, pertama, terdapat perkembangan arah politik hukum keimigrasian yang ditekankan untuk lebih dapat menghadapi dampak globalisasi baik dampak positif maupun dampak negatif, dan perkembangan lainnya di masa depan. Dari segi substansi, politik hukum keimigrasian saat ini mengubah berbagai prinsip-prinsip hukum keimigrasian sebelumnya, seperti prinsip kebijakan selektif yang diimbangi dengan prinsip penghormatan HAM, walaupun dalam pengaturan tertentu tidak sejalan dengan HAM (seperti dalam hal jangka waktu keputusan pencegahan yang dapat diperpanjang terus menerus). Dari segi bentuk dan jangkauan, politik hukum keimigrasian Indonesia saat ini, lebih banyak mengatur kaidah-kaidah hukum keimigrasian dengan rinci dibandingkan sebelumnya. Kedua, perkembangan politik hukum keimigrasian, terutama berdasarkan UU No. 6 Tahun 2011 menjawab sebagian kebutuhan hukum keimigrasian Indonesia, seperti untuk kasus penyelundupan manusia, namun melupakan kebutuhan hukum keimigrasian yang selebihnya, dalam hal penanganan imigran illegal, pencari suaka dan pengungsi.
Marker Development for Rice Blast Resistance Gene Pi66(t) and Application in the USDA Rice Mini‐Core Collection
Authors: Liu Yan , Jia Yulin , Gealy David , Goad David M. , Caicedo Ana L. , Olsen Kenneth M.
Published: February 2016

Molecular markers are useful for the identification of critical genes controlling agricultural traits of interest in crop germplasm and for the use of these genes in crop improvement using marker‐assisted selection (MAS). The improvement of blast disease resistance of rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties is one of the major goals for rice breeders. The blast resistance (R) gene Pi66(t) was previously mapped to a 129‐kb genomic region on chromosome 11, where six candidate R genes were predicted. To help rice breeders in rice blast resistance MAS breeding, we developed three polymerase‐chain‐reaction (PCR)‐based molecular markers, WRKY41, NBS‐LRR‐970‐1, and NBS‐LRR‐970‐2, for the Pi66(t) locus. The validation of two markers, WRKY41 and NBS‐LRR‐970‐1, suggested they cosegregated with the Pi66(t) gene in two recombinant inbred line (RIL) populations. The application of two markers in a USDA–ARS rice mini‐core collection indicated that NBS‐LRR‐970‐1 was a Pi66(t)‐linked specific marker. The developed marker not only can be used to identify resistant lines with the Pi66(t) gene in mapping populations but also can be used in screening rice germplasm with a broad genetic background. Taken together, these newly developed markers and newly identified rice germplasm lines carrying the Pi66(t) gene will provide essential tools and materials for rice breeders in MAS breeding.
Variations of Forage Yield and Nutritive Value in Winter Rye Germplasm
Authors: Kim Ki‐Seung , Anderson Joshua D. , Newell Mark A. , Butler Twain J.
Published: February 2016

There has been an increasing use of rye (Secale cereale L.) for winter forage production in the United States because of its good forage yield, nutritive value, and winter hardiness. However, limited information on forage rye is available. To identify variations and germplasm with superior forage yield and/or nutritive value, winter rye germplasm, including elite cultivars and advanced breeding lines, were evaluated during two growing seasons. Effects of germplasm, clipping date, and germplasm by clipping date interactions were significant for dry matter yield (DMY). Clipping date and germplasm by clipping date interactions were significant for crude protein (CP), minerals, and nutritive value, but germplasm effect was not significant. Across the environments, seasonal DMY ranged from 789 kg ha−1 for ThunderGreen at the first clipping to 3733 kg ha−1 for NF97352 at the first clipping. Crude protein concentration varied from 17.7 to 27.9% for ThunderGreen at the third and first clipping, respectively. Cumulative DMY ranged from 5301 kg ha−1 for ThunderGreen to 8114 kg ha−1 for NF95319B. The results of this study identified significant variations in DMY and nutritive value among the rye germplasm, which may provide useful information for rye breeding programs for winter forage production and livestock producers.
Evaluation of White Maize Populations for Quality and Agronomic Performance
Authors: Samayoa Luis Fernando , Malvar Rosa Ana , Moreno‐González Jesús , Ordás Amando , Revilla Pedro
Published: February 2016

Maize (Zea mays L.) used for food is mostly white, but studies involving white maize varieties are scarce. Furthermore, limited efforts have been devoted to improve white maize. We evaluated a wide collection of open‐pollinated white maize populations to identify the most suitable populations as base germplasm for a breeding program for bakery aptitude. There was large variability for growth cycle and other agronomic traits but not for grain moisture. Differences for quality traits were not significant except for grain hardness. Genotype × environment interaction was significant for days to anthesis and silking, and for other agronomic performance‐related traits, but not for grain moisture, interactions were due to magnitude rather than to rank changes. Flowering time and grain moisture were clearly associated to population origin, whereby populations from northern Spain were earlier than those from the south. Yield was moderate for these populations, and there were four northwestern Spanish and one American population with the best agronomic performances, medium growth cycle, and intermediate grain hardness. The maize population Rebordanes had the most promising value for yield and had high grain hardness. These white maize populations are potential valuable sources of base germplasm for breeding for traditional products.
Semi-continuous mesophilic anaerobic co-digestion of thermally pretreated scum
Authors: Young Bradley , Kennedy Kevin , Delatolla Robert , Sherif Ranya
Published: February 2016

The objective of this study is to investigate the mesophilic, anaerobic, co-digestion of scum with thickened waste activated sludge (TWAS) and primary sludge (PS). Observations of the reactor waste show that higher pretreatment temperatures assist in scum integration and appear to limit coagulation and separation effects associated with digesting fats, oils and greases. The 0.40 kg VS/m3 · d scum loaded reactor with scum pretreated at 70 °C achieved the greatest improvement in biogas production over PS and TWAS co-digestion without scum addition. Based on cell viability analysis of the reactor waste, scum-containing reactors were shown to produce 48 and 39% more biogas per m3 of live cells; signifying that scum addition increased the activity of the microbial population embedded in the waste or caused a microbial shift in the waste towards more active communities.
Adsorption efficiency of natural materials for low-concentration cesium in solution
Authors: Miura A. , Kubota T. , Hamada K. , Hitomi T.
Published: February 2016

In this study, several natural materials were investigated in order to clarify their potential use as cesium (Cs) adsorbents in situ. Four materials – carbonized rice hull, beech sawdust, oak sawdust, and charcoal (Japanese cedar) – which were previously shown to have Cs adsorption capabilities, were examined. Cs adsorption experiments were conducted using different initial Cs and adsorbent concentrations. The physical properties, adsorption isotherms, and adsorption processes were then examined, so as to exploit the Cs adsorption characteristics in the field. Based on these findings, carbonized rice hull and beech sawdust were selected as effective Cs adsorbents. It was found that these materials show continuous and stable Cs adsorption rates for different initial Cs concentrations. The adsorption efficiency of these two adsorption materials in combination was considered, and it was shown that the adsorption isotherms for carbonized rice hull and beech sawdust follow the Freundlich model. Furthermore, the beech sawdust adsorption process exhibited better agreement with the calculated values obtained via the adsorption rate model and the adsorption kinetics model than did the carbonized rice hull adsorption.
Analysis and numerical simulation of natural and human-caused low dissolved oxygen in the Minjiang River Estuary
Authors: Zhang Peng , Pang Yong , Shi Chengchun , Wang Yishu , Xu Lei , Pan Hongche , Xie Rongrong
Published: February 2016

The Minjiang River, a typical tidal channel in Southeast China, plays an important role in the supply of drinking water, flood control and drought relief, farming and navigation, as well as shipping and other functions. Dissolved oxygen (DO), as a basic living condition for aquatic biota, has been deteriorating in the Minjiang River in recent years. In order to understand how the spatial distribution of DO responds to river discharge, nutrient loading and water temperature, a three-dimensional Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code model was used to simulate water age and the distribution of DO in the Minjiang River. The model presented in this paper was used for water resource and water quality simulations under various physical, chemical, and biological scenarios. Sensitivity simulation results indicated that the three factors had a significant impact on the spatial distribution variation of DO in the Minjiang River. Increased river discharge or split ratio of the North Channel resulted in decreased water age and increased DO. Increased nutrient loading and water temperature caused lower DO. In order to protect coastal environments in the Minjiang River, river discharge should be increased and pollutants of local cities should be reduced during the high temperature and drought period.
Nitrogen Removal from Water Resource Recovery Facility Secondary Effluent Using a Bioreactor
Authors: Cao Wenping
Published: February 2016

Solid‐phase denitrification technology can potentially be used to remove nitrogen compounds, such as total nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen (‐N), from wastewater. In this study, the authors made use of an internal‐circulation baffled biofilm reactor in which filamentous bamboo acted as a biocarrier for the removal of nitrogen (N) from water resource recovery facility (WRRF) secondary effluent. A laboratory‐scale experiment was conducted to assess the efficacy and mechanisms of N removal from the WRRF secondary effluent operated in continuous‐flow mode. Results indicated that total nitrogen and ‐N removal rates reached 66.58 to 75.23% and 75.6 to 85.6%, respectively. Infrared spectrum analysis indicated biodegradation in the filamentous bamboo. A comparison of this method with the use of filamentous plastics as biocarriers indicated that higher ‐N removal (as volumetric loading) and lower nitrite nitrogen accumulation rates were obtained when filamentous bamboo was used as a biocarrier. A ‐N removal volumetric loading of 2.09 mg/L·h was reached when using bamboo as a single solid carbon source. These results confirm that filamentous bamboo can be used as an alternative to inert biocarriers in WRRF secondary effluent treatment systems.
Effect of Minocycline on the Durability of Dentin Bonding Produced with Etch-and-Rinse Adhesives
Authors: Loguercio AD , Stanislawczuk R , Malaquias P , Gutierrez MF , Bauer J , Reis A
Published: February 2016

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of minocycline and chlorhexidine pretreatment of acid-etched dentin on the longevity of resin-dentin bond strength (μTBS) and nanoleakage of two-step etch-and-rinse adhesives.

Methods: Before application of Prime & Bond NT and Adper Single Bond 2 in occlusal dentin, the dentin surfaces were treated with 37% phosphoric acid, rinsed, air-dried, and rewetted with water (control group), 2% minocycline, or 2% chlorexidine digluconate. Composite buildups were constructed incrementally, and specimens were longitudinally sectioned to obtain bonded sticks (0.8 mm2) to be tested in tension (0.5 mm/min) immediately or after 24 months of water storage. For nanoleakage, two specimens of each tooth/period were immersed in the silver nitrate solution, photo-developed, and polished with SiC paper for analysis under energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy/scanning electron microscopy.

Results: Reductions of the μTBS and increases in the nanoleakage were observed for both adhesives when the rewetting procedure was performed with water. Stable bonds were observed for the 2% minocycline and 2% chlorexidine digluconate groups after 24 months.

Conclusions: The use of 2% minocycline as pretreatment of acid-etched dentin is one alternative to retard the degradation of resin-dentin interfaces over a 24-month period as well as 2% chlorexidine digluconate.
Plasma diagnostics using optical emission spectroscopy in laser drilling process
Authors: Shin Joonghan , Mazumder J.
Published: February 2016

An aero space material, Inconel 718, was laser drilled with a diode-pumped solid-state Nd:YAG laser. During the laser drilling process, the emission spectra of the Inconel 718 plasma have been recorded and analyzed using an optical emission spectroscopic method. Temporal histories of the plasma parameters including emission line intensity, electron temperature, and number density were examined in relation to drilling depths. The line intensity had an inverse proportional relationship with the drilling depth. The line intensity varied greatly at an earlier stage because a focused beam initially removed a large amount of material (a rate of the drilling depth increase was very high at the early stage). At a later stage, however, it varied as a function of drilling depth only to a minor degree because of the beam defocusing and further beam energy loss by the plasma. The electron temperature measured was in the range of 7700–9200 K, and it tended to decrease with drilling depth due to the downward movement of plasma core. The electron number density measured varied from ∼5 × 1015 to ∼8 × 1015 cm−3. The electron number density also tended to decrease with increasing drilling depth mostly due to the reduction of material removal.
Physiologic and biochemical effects of electroacupuncture combined with intramuscular administration of dexmedetomidine to provide analgesia in goats
Authors: Shah Zahir , Hu Man L. , Qiu Zheng Y. , Zhou Fei Y. , Zeng Jie , Wan Juan , Wang Shao W. , Zhang Wei , Ding Ming X.
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE To investigate physiologic and biochemical effects of electroacupuncture and dexmedetomidine administration to goats.

ANIMALS 30 healthy adult goats.

PROCEDURES Goats were allotted to 5 groups (6 goats/group) and received electroacupuncture, dexmedetomidine (5 or 20 μg/kg, IM), electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 μg/kg, IM), or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (IM [control treatment]). Pain threshold, cardiorespiratory effects, rectal temperature, and hematologic and biochemical variables were assessed.

RESULTS Dexmedetomidine (20 μg/kg) increased pain threshold and decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, and rectal temperature. Pain threshold of goats receiving electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 μg/kg) was higher than that of goats receiving electroacupuncture or of goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 5 μg/kg at 30 minutes, but did not differ from that of goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 20 μg/kg. Compared with goats administered dexmedetomidine at 20 μg/kg, goats receiving electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine at 5 μg/kg had a higher heart rate from 30 to 60 minutes and a higher respiratory rate from 5 to 60 minutes. Electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 μg/kg) did not affect rectal temperature. Serum glucose concentrations of goats receiving electroacupuncture plus dexmedetomidine (5 μg/kg) were higher than for goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 5 μg/kg at 30 minutes but not for goats receiving dexmedetomidine at 20 μg/kg. Creatinine and BUN concentrations, alanine or aspartate aminotransferase activities, and hematologic variables of treated goats did not change.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Electroacupuncture in combination with a low dose of dexmedetomidine (5 μg/kg, IM) administered to goats provided antinociception.
Circadian and postprandial variation in plasma citrulline concentration in healthy dogs
Authors: Dahan Julien M. , Giron Celine , Concordet Didier , Dossin Olivier
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE To evaluate circadian and postprandial variations in plasma citrulline concentration in healthy dogs.

ANIMALS 8 healthy Beagles.

PROCEDURES Blood samples were collected from dogs after 12 hours of food withholding (0 hours; 8:00 am) and then every 2 hours for 12 hours (until 8:00 pm) and again at 24 hours (8:00 am the next day). The same protocol was repeated, with the only difference being that a meal was given immediately after the 0-hour sample collection point. Plasma citrulline concentration was measured by ion exchange chromatography.

RESULTS No significant difference in plasma citrulline concentration was identified among measurement points when food was withheld. Mean ± SD plasma citrulline concentration at 4 hours (72.2 ± 12.7 μmol/L) and 24 hours (56.1 ± 12.5 μmol/L) after dogs were fed was significantly different from that at 0 hours (64.4 ± 12.7 μmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Plasma citrulline concentration had no circadian variation in unfed dogs but increased significantly in fed dogs 4 hours after a meal. Therefore, food should be withheld from dogs for 8 to 12 hours before blood sample collection for measurement of citrulline concentration.
Fabrication of microstructured polymers by a simple biotemplate embossing method and their characterization
Authors: Parmak Ebru Devrim Sam
Published: February 2016

In this work, microstructures were developed on a polymer surface using an embossing process by utilizing the transverse section of a wood as a biotemplate/mold. Microstructured polymers obtained by the proposed practical method were characterized by optical microscope for rough imaging, by scanning electron microscope for morphological properties and by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for surface chemistry. Utilization of a fluoropolymer eliminates the anti-stick surface pre-treatment and facilitates intact demolding of polymer structures from micro-voids of the wood. The height of the polymer microstructures was measured as 4 to 6 μm. Dimensions of the wood micro-voids can be tuned via acid/base treatment process. A drastic increase in heights of polymer microstructures (26 μm) was observed for the sample stamped by the acid/base treated biotemplate. The proposed method, which delivers well-organized microstructure patterns on fluoropolymer surfaces, can be utilized in the production of specialty surfaces, such as antibacterial, stick/anti-stick and water repellent.
Extension of diffuse low-grade gliomas beyond radiological borders as shown by the coregistration of histopathological and magnetic resonance imaging data
Authors: Zetterling Maria , Roodakker Kenney R , Berntsson Shala Ghaderi , Edqvist Per-Henrik , Latini Francesco , Landtblom Anne-Marie , Pontén Fredrik , Alafuzoff Irina , Larsson Elna-Marie , Smits Anja
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE

Magnetic resonance imaging tends to underestimate the extent of diffuse low-grade gliomas (DLGGs). With the aim of studying the presence of tumor cells outside the radiological border, the authors developed a method of correlating MRI findings with histological data in patients with suspected DLGGs in whom en bloc resections were performed.

METHODS

Five patients with suspected DLGG suitable for en bloc resection were recruited from an ongoing prospective study. Sections of the entire tumor were immunostained with antibodies against mutated IDH1 protein (IDH1-R132H). Magnetic resonance images were coregistered with corresponding IDH1 images. The growth pattern of tumor cells in white and gray matter was assessed in comparison with signal changes on corresponding MRI slices.

RESULTS

Neuropathological assessment revealed DLGG in 4 patients and progression to WHO Grade III glioma in 1 patient. The tumor core consisted of a high density of IDH1-R132H–positive tumor cells and was located in both gray and white matter. Tumor cells infiltrated along the peripheral fibers of the white matter tracts. In all cases, tumor cells were found outside the radiological tumor border delineated on T2-FLAIR MRI sequences.

CONCLUSIONS

The authors present a new method for the coregistration of histological and radiological characteristics of en bloc–removed infiltrative brain tumors that discloses tumor invasion at the radiological tumor borders. This technique can be applied to evaluate the sensitivity of alternative imaging methods to detect scattered tumor cells at tumor borders. Accurate methods for detection of infiltrative tumor cells will improve the possibility of performing radical tumor resection. In future studies, the method could also be used for in vivo studies of tumor invasion.
Safety of epidural triamcinolone acetonide use during lumbar decompression surgery in pediatric patients: an association with delayed pseudomeningocele formation
Authors: Sellin Jonathan N. , Vedantam Aditya , Luerssen Thomas G. , Jea Andrew
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE

The complication profile of epidural triamcinolone acetonide use during lumbar decompression surgery is not known. However, isolated reports of increased risk of delayed CSF leakage with the use of triamcinolone acetonide in adult spinal surgery patients have been published. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of epidural triamcinolone acetonide use in conjunction with lumbar decompression surgery in pediatric patients.

METHODS

The medical records of all patients who underwent lumbar decompression surgery with or without discectomy between July 1, 2007, and July 31, 2015, were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

During the study period, 58 patients underwent 59 spine procedures at Texas Children's Hospital. There were 33 female and 25 male patients. The mean age at surgery was 16.5 years (range 12–24 years). Patients were followed for an average of 38.2 months (range 4–97 months). Triamcinolone acetonide was used in 28 (of 35 total) cases of discectomy; there were no cases of delayed symptomatic CSF leaks (0%) in the minimally invasive and open discectomies. On the other hand, triamcinolone acetonide was used in 14 (of 24 total) cases of multilevel laminectomy, among which there were 10 delayed CSF leaks (71.4%) requiring treatment. The use of triamcinolone acetonide in patients who underwent multilevel laminectomy was significantly associated with an increased risk of delayed CSF leaks or pseudomeningoceles (Fisher's exact test, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

There was an unacceptable incidence of delayed postoperative CSF leaks when epidural triamcinolone acetonide was used in patients who underwent multilevel laminectomy.
Effects of Nest Characteristics on Reproductive Performance in Blue Tits Cyanistes Caeruleus and Great Tits Parus major
Authors: Glądalski Michałt , Bańbura Mirosłtawa , Kaliński Adam , Markowski Marcin , Skwarska Joanna , Wawrzyniak Jarosłtaw , Zieliński Piotr , Cyżewska Iwona , Bańbura Jerzy
Published: February 2016

A major function of birds’ nests is to protect eggs and offspring against temperature fluctuations. Reproductive performance was found to be closely related to nest characteristics in some species. We present results concerning nest attributes and their impact on breeding characteristics in Blue Tits ( Cyanistes caeruleus) and Great Tits ( Parus major) in central Poland over a three year period, 2012-2014, in an urban parkland and a deciduous forest. In Blue Tits, hatching success was positively affected by the nest lining mass. Clutch size was associated with the lining mass and nest mass, and the number of hatchlings was associated with both the nest mass and lining mass. In Great Tits, hatching success was positively affected by the lining mass and fledging success was positively affected by the nest depth and nest mass. Also, clutch size tended to be related to the nest depth and the number of hatchlings was associated with the lining mass. We found that Blue Tit nests were deeper and heavier than Great Tit nests. There were no differences in nest depth and nest mass between two habitats for both tit species. We conclude that there is a relationship between better quality nests and better breeding performance in both Great Tits and Blue Tits.
The Function of Stones in Nest Building: The Case of Black Wheatear (Oenanthe Leucura) revisited
Authors: Aznar Francisco Javier , Ibáñez-Agulleiro Marta
Published: February 2016

Black Wheatears ( Oenanthe leucura) transport to breeding territories, including the nest, a large number of stones. Currently, there is negative evidence that stones serve for nest support, thermoregulation, weather protection or anti-predation, but in males, this behaviour appears to represent a form of post-mating display. This ‘sexual selection’ hypothesis, however, does not explain why females also carry stones, and why many stones are associated with the nest. We examined stone distribution and morphology in 277 abandoned nests of Black Wheatears from an arid area of southeastern Spain. Nests were built on the ground (14.4%), or in cracks (7.2%), cavities (54.6%) and ledges (23.8%) above the ground. Over 93% of nests had stones supporting and/or surrounding them, and > 90% of nests with additional space also had stones in contact with the nest forming a ‘rampart’. In 55.6% of elevated nests, stone piles were also found on the ground. Nest stones were significantly smaller than ground and rampart stones; size also differed between the latter two types. The extensive occurrence of nest and rampart stones, with a different morphology, suggests intentional transport and selection of stones to nest sites. Behavioural observations from other wheatear species suggest that female Black Wheatears may play a significant role in these tasks. We also show several lines of evidence that nest and rampart stones play a role supporting the nest. As an example, in 40 nests found on ledges in human buildings, the degree of nest support significantly increased on narrower ledges. Stone-carrying behaviour of Black Wheatears is probably multifunctional, having co-opted several exaptive effects, some of which are yet to be discovered.
Nest Insulating Capacity during Incubation and after Fledging are Related
Authors: Cruz Ángel , Álvarez Elena , Barba Emilio
Published: February 2016

Most birds build nests to hold eggs and nestlings. An important property of nests is their ability to keep eggs and nestlings at an optimum temperature. This is usually measured as the insulating capacity (IC); nests with a higher IC will keep their content warm for longer. The usual protocol to estimate IC involves collecting nests after fledging of the young. However, nest properties change throughout the nesting period, potentially affecting IC. Therefore, a relevant question is whether the nest IC, measured after fledging, actually reflects its IC during incubation and early nestling development, when it is most crucial. In April 2015, we collected 18 Great Tit ( Parus major) nests 3-4 days after incubation had started, measured their fresh mass and IC, and returned them to the nestboxes. We collected these same nests again after fledging, and measured their IC and fresh and dry masses. IC tended to be lower after fledging than during incubation, but both measures were correlated. Fresh nest mass was higher after fledging than during incubation, and dry nest mass was correlated to both fresh masses. Nest mass gained between incubation and fledging was positively related to clutch size. As expected, nest mass increased throughout the nesting period, but the deterioration of nest structure as the nestlings grew up tended to negatively affect its IC. However, the correlation between IC in the two nesting stages allows the use of post-fledging nests for comparative studies of nest insulating capacity.
Geographical Effects on the Mass and Dimensions of Finch (Fringillidae, Passeriformes) and Thrush (Turdidae, Passeriformes) Nests
Authors: Biddle Lucia E. , Goodman Adrian M. , Deeming D. Charles
Published: February 2016

Birds’ nests exhibit a considerable amount of plasticity in their size and construction. Indeed, several studies have shown that geographical location can affect this plasticity because local climatic conditions appear to affect nest-construction behaviours. This study examined nests collected in the UK and housed either at the University of Lincoln or at the British National Nest Reference Collection at the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow. Our aim was to increase the species diversity and the sample sizes for each species, over and above published studies. Mass and linear dimensions were recorded from nests of five finch species and two thrush species together with longitude and latitude for the nest site locations. An effect of species was shown for all finch nest dimensions measured but only for particular thrush dimensions. Latitude (range from 50.4 to 57.8°N) had no effect on nest measurements taken for thrush or finch species. However, while longitude (range from 6.8°W to 1.1°E) had no effect on thrush nests, it had a significant effect on the nest mass of finches, with nests constructed in the west being lighter in mass than those from the east. Previous studies examining the effects of latitude have used nests collected from different locations and built in a single year, which suggests that climatic conditions will be broadly comparable between locations. We found that museum collections have nests from a range of years and this rather limits their value in studies trying to ascertain the effects of location. Across different years there may be many unknown factors contributing to the patterns observed. We suggest that any future studies of the effects of climate on nest construction will have to rely on materials especially collected rather than using museum collections.
From ‘God Builders’ to ‘Devil Workers’: The Somatechnics of Embalming and the Geocorpographies of Central and Eastern Europe's Holocaust Tourism in Jáchym Topol's The Devil's Workshop
Authors: Sriratana Verita
Published: February 2016

Jáchym Topol's The Devil's Workshop [Chladnou zemí] is a dystopian novel depicting the legacies of Nazi and Communist oppression on Czech and Belarusian histories amidst the boom of Holocaust tourism industry. I propose in this paper that the embalmed bodies exhibited at the fictional Devil's Workshop Museum can be regarded as extreme and horrendous manifestation of the somatechnics of embalmment, which nevertheless deconstructs the fundamental principles of embalming. Embalming is an ambivalent act which vacillates between life and death. It renders the body a ‘twilight zone’ of power negotiation and semantic contestation. When Lenin was alive, for instance, embalming was part of the Bolshevik's ‘god-building’ campaign meant to expose the incorruptibility of Orthodox saints as fraud. Since the Bolsheviks wished to secularise the new socialist utopian state, embalming was instrumental to their mission to glorify the ordinary man. Ironically, however, the outcome was that the communist leaders became sanctified through the very religious and ritualistic paradigm the Bolsheviks attempted to challenge and uproot. This deconstructive doubleness can also be seen in the mannequin-like bodies transformed by Topol's fiction into what I term ‘hypercorposurreality’, the body which transcends the body, the sign of which signified transcends its authentic signification and evokes in readers what Merleau-Ponty calls ‘hyper-reflection’, the kind of reflection which criticises the kind of reflection which overlooks the limitations of idealisation. Since the body is situated in a particular political sphere as well as geographical location and since the body's inscribed and allocated geopolitical significance is put to the fore by violence, one's understanding of the body has to be formulated and articulated through an analysis of geocorpographies—the ways in which geography and the corporeal experience are imbricated and intertwined.
Piezoelectric Motors, an Overview
Authors: Spanner Karl , Koc Burhanettin
Published: February 2016

Piezoelectric motors are used in many industrial and commercial applications. Various piezoelectric motors are available in the market. All of the piezoelectric motors use the inverse piezoelectric effect, where microscopically small oscillatory motions are converted into continuous or stepping rotary or linear motions. Methods of obtaining long moving distance have various drive and functional principles that make these motors categorized into three groups: resonance-drive (piezoelectric ultrasonic motors), inertia-drive, and piezo-walk-drive. In this review, a comprehensive summary of piezoelectric motors, with their classification from initial idea to recent progress, is presented. This review also includes some of the industrial and commercial applications of piezoelectric motors that are presently available in the market as actuators.
Perception and Description of Premium Beers by Panels with Different Degrees of Product Expertise
Authors: Giacalone Davide , Ribeiro Letícia , Frøst Michael
Published: February 2016

The present study compares subjects with varying degrees of product expertise with regards to their ability to provide a sensory profile of beverages. Eight premium beers were evaluated by three different panels using a Napping® test, followed by a descriptive task. Two panels were constituted of consumers, classified according to their self-assessed product expertise into “Novices” (N = 14) and “Enthusiasts” (N = 26). The sensory panel at a large brewery, and a group of master brewers constituted the third panel (“Experts”, N = 15). The Napping® data from the three panels were digitalized using a coordinate system, whereas attributes were entered separately and treated as frequency table crossing products and attributes. The position data were analyzed by Hierarchical Multiple Factor Analysis (HMFA). Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) was used to test differences between the three panels with regards to the use of attributes. The HMFA results showed a separation of the samples into two distinct groups on the first dimension, whereas the second dimension highlighted the specificity of two of the samples. RV coefficients between partial configurations obtained from the three panels were all above 0.90, indicating high configurational similarity. In contrast, PLS-DA showed significant differences in the use of attributes, particularly between Experts and Novices, suggesting that product expertise is more associated with descriptive, rather than perceptual, ability.
Targeted Therapy in Locally Advanced and Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LA-R/M HNSCC)
Authors: Echarri María , Lopez-Martin Ana , Hitt Ricardo
Published: February 2016

Surgery and radiotherapy are the standard treatment options for patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Chemoradiotherapy is an alternative for patients with locally advanced disease. In recurrent/metastatic disease and after progression to platin-based regimens, no standard treatments other than best supportive care are currently available. Most SCCHN tumours overexpress the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This receptor is a tyrosine-kinase membrane receptor that has been implicated in angiogenesis, tumour progression and resistance to different cancer treatments. In this review, we analysed the different drugs and pathways under development to treat SCCHN, especially recurrent/metastatic disease. Until now, the EGFR signalling pathway has been considered the most important target with respect to new drugs; however, new drugs, such as immunotherapies, are currently under study. As new treatments for SCCHN are developed, the influence of therapies with respect to overall survival, progression free survival and quality of life in patients with this disease is changing.
Uric Acid for Cardiovascular Risk: Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hide?
Authors: Vassalle Cristina , Mazzone Annamaria , Sabatino Laura , Carpeggiani Clara
Published: February 2016

Uric acid (UA) is a potent endogenous antioxidant. However, high concentrations of this molecule have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal dysfunction, involving mechanisms that include oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and endothelial injury. Experimental and in vitro results suggest that this biomarker behaves like other antioxidants, which can shift from the physiological antioxidant action to a pro-oxidizing effect according to their level and to microenvironment conditions. However, data on patients (general population or CAD cohorts) are controversial, so the debate on the role of hyperuricemia as a causative factor for CVD is still ongoing. Increasing evidence indicates UA as more meaningful to assess CVD in women, even though this aspect needs deeper investigation. It will be important to identify thresholds responsible for UA “biological shift” from protective to harmful effects in different pathological conditions, and according to possible gender-related differences. In any case, UA is a low-tech and inexpensive biomarker, generally performed at patient’s hospitalization and, therefore, easily accessible information for clinicians. For these reasons, UA might represent a useful additive tool as much as a CV risk marker. Thus, in view of available evidence, progressive UA elevation with levels higher than 6 mg/dL could be considered an “alarm” for increased CV risk.
Correction: DellaSala, D.A., et al. Building on Two Decades of Ecosystem Management and Biodiversity Conservation under the Northwest Forest Plan, USA. Forests, 2015, 6, 3326
Authors: DellaSala Dominick , Baker Rowan , Heiken Doug , Frissell Chris , Karr James , Nelson S. , Noon Barry , Olson David , Strittholt James
Published: February 2016

We discovered two typos and a change in a sentence needed in our published manuscript.[...]
Co-Formulants in Glyphosate-Based Herbicides Disrupt Aromatase Activity in Human Cells below Toxic Levels
Authors: Defarge Nicolas , Takács Eszter , Lozano Verónica , Mesnage Robin , Spiroux de Vendômois Joël , Séralini Gilles-Eric , Székács András
Published: February 2016

Pesticide formulations contain declared active ingredients and co-formulants presented as inert and confidential compounds. We tested the endocrine disruption of co-formulants in six glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH), the most used pesticides worldwide. All co-formulants and formulations were comparably cytotoxic well below the agricultural dilution of 1% (18–2000 times for co-formulants, 8–141 times for formulations), and not the declared active ingredient glyphosate (G) alone. The endocrine-disrupting effects of all these compounds were measured on aromatase activity, a key enzyme in the balance of sex hormones, below the toxicity threshold. Aromatase activity was decreased both by the co-formulants alone (polyethoxylated tallow amine—POEA and alkyl polyglucoside—APG) and by the formulations, from concentrations 800 times lower than the agricultural dilutions; while G exerted an effect only at 1/3 of the agricultural dilution. It was demonstrated for the first time that endocrine disruption by GBH could not only be due to the declared active ingredient but also to co-formulants. These results could explain numerous in vivo results with GBHs not seen with G alone; moreover, they challenge the relevance of the acceptable daily intake (ADI) value for GBHs exposures, currently calculated from toxicity tests of the declared active ingredient alone.
Modeling the Relationship between the Gross Domestic Product and Built-Up Area Using Remote Sensing and GIS Data: A Case Study of Seven Major Cities in Canada
Authors: Faisal Kamil , Shaker Ahmed , Habbani Suhaib
Published: February 2016

City/regional authorities are responsible for designing and structuring the urban morphology based on the desired land use activities. One of the key concerns regarding urban planning is to establish certain development goals, such as the real gross domestic product (GDP). In Canada, the gross national income (GNI) mainly relies on the mining and manufacturing industries. In order to estimate the impact of city development, this study aims to utilize remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques to assess the relationship between the built-up area and the reported real GDP of seven major cities in Canada. The objectives of the study are: (1) to investigate the use of regression analysis between the built-up area derived from Landsat images and the industrial area extracted from Geographic Information System (GIS) data; and (2) to study the relationship between the built-up area and the socio-economic data (i.e., real GDP, total population and total employment). The experimental data include 42 multi-temporal Landsat TM images and 42 land use GIS vector datasets obtained from year 2005 to 2010 during the summer season (June, July and August) for seven major cities in Canada. The socio-economic data, including the real GDP, the total population and the total employment, are obtained from the Metropolitan Housing Outlook during the same period. Both the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were used to determine the built-up areas. Those high built-up values within the industrial areas were acquired for further analysis. Finally, regression analysis was conducted between the real GDP, the total population, and the total employment with respect to the built-up area. Preliminary findings showed a strong linear relationship (R2= 0.82) between the percentage of built-up area and industrial area within the corresponding city. In addition, a strong linear relationship (R2= 0.8) was found between the built-up area and socio-economic data. Therefore, the study justifies the use of remote sensing and GIS data to model the socio-economic data (i.e., real GDP, total population and total employment). The research findings can contribute to the federal/municipal authorities and act as a generic indicator for targeting a specific real GDP with respect to industrial areas.
Genome Editing in C. elegans and Other Nematode Species
Authors: Sugi Takuma
Published: February 2016

Caenorhabditis elegans, a 1 mm long free-living nematode, is a popular model animal that has been widely utilized for genetic investigations of various biological processes. Characteristic features that make C. elegans a powerful model of choice for eukaryotic genetic studies include its rapid life cycle (development from egg to adult in 3.5 days at 20 °C), well-annotated genome, simple morphology (comprising only 959 somatic cells in the hermaphrodite), and transparency (which facilitates non-invasive fluorescence observations). However, early approaches to introducing mutations in the C. elegans genome, such as chemical mutagenesis and imprecise excision of transposons, have required large-scale mutagenesis screens. To avoid this laborious and time-consuming procedure, genome editing technologies have been increasingly used in nematodes including C. briggsae and Pristionchus pacificus, thereby facilitating their genetic analyses. Here, I review the recent progress in genome editing technologies using zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcriptional activator-like nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 in nematodes and offer perspectives on their use in the future.