bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Small-scale field evaluation of push-pull system against early- and outdoor-biting malaria mosquitoes in an area of high pyrethroid resistance in Tanzania
Authors: Mmbando Arnold S. , Ngowo Halfan S. , Kilalangongono Masoud , Abbas Said , Matowo Nancy S. , Moore Sarah J. , Okumu Fredros O.
Published: November 2017

Background: Despite high coverage of indoor interventions like insecticide-treated nets, mosquito-borne infections persist, partly because of outdoor-biting, early-biting and insecticide-resistant vectors. Push-pull systems, where mosquitoes are repelled from humans and attracted to nearby lethal targets, may constitute effective complementary interventions.

Methods: A partially randomized cross-over design was used to test efficacy of push-pull in four experimental huts and four local houses, in an area with high pyrethroid resistance in Tanzania. The push-pull system consisted of 1.1% or 2.2% w/v transfluthrin repellent dispensers and an outdoor lure-and-kill device (odour-baited mosquito landing box). Matching controls were set up without push-pull. Adult male volunteers collected mosquitoes attempting to bite them outdoors, but collections were also done indoors using exit traps in experimental huts and by volunteers in the local houses. The collections were done hourly (1830hrs-0730hrs) and mosquito catches compared between push-pull and controls. An. gambiae s.l. and An. funestus s.l. were assessed by PCR to identify sibling species, and ELISA to detect Plasmodium falciparum and blood meal sources.

Results: Push-pull in experimental huts reduced outdoor-biting for An. arabiensis and Mansonia species by 30% and 41.5% respectively. However, the reductions were marginal and insignificant for An. funestus (12.2%; p>0.05) and Culex (5%; p>0.05). Highest protection against all species occurred before 2200hrs. There was no significant difference in number of mosquitoes inside exit traps in huts with or without push-pull. In local households, push-pull significantly reduced indoor and outdoor-biting of An. arabiensis by 48% and 25% respectively, but had no effect on other species.

Conclusion: This push-pull system offered modest protection against outdoor-biting An. arabiensis, without increasing indoor mosquito densities. Additional experimentation is required to assess how transfluthrin-based products affect mosquito blood-feeding and mortality in push-pull contexts. This approach, if optimised, could potentially complement existing malaria interventions even in areas with high pyrethroid resistance.
Ormianie w świetle zapowiedzi przedmałżeńskich rodzimej parafii w Kutach. Edycja źródła
Authors: Wasyl Franciszek
Published: November 2017

Armenians in Light of the Premarital Announcements of the Native Parish in Kuty. Edit Source. Part. 1: The Years 1860-1914

In the archives of the Foundation of Culture and Heritage of Polish Armenians (Warszawa) has been preserved a book of premarital parish announcements in Kuty from 1893-1953. In addition, a book of premarital announcements from the years 1860-1892 was published on the website of that institution. This article is an edition of this source material, which, chronologically, belongs to Galician times (1860-1914). The purpose of this article is to describe the „matrimonial market” of Galician Armenians, especially its ethnic background. For interested readers it is also a useful material for genealogical, demographic and social research.
Major Re-selection Advising and Academic Performance
Authors: McKenzie Deborah , Tan Tony Xing , Fletcher Edward C. , Jackson-Williams Andrea
Published: November 2017

We sought to determine whether receiving major re-selection (MRS) advising benefits undergraduate students' grade-point averages (GPAs). We used a quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design to compare a treatment group (n = 219) of undergraduates who changed their majors after receiving MRS advising with a control group (n = 206) who changed majors without advising during the same semester as the treatment group. Findings showed that, on average, students who received MRS experienced no change in their program GPA but an increase in their semester GPA; however, the control group experienced a decrease in program and semester GPAs. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that MRS advising had a positive effect on posttest semester GPAs (β = .33, p < .001) and program GPAs (β = .28, p < .001). Implications for student advising are discussed.
Who Are Athletic Advisors? State of the Profession
Authors: Rubin Lisa M.
Published: November 2017

The field of athletic advising has existed since the 1970s. In the early 1990s, the National Collegiate Athletic Association mandated that higher education institutions provide academic support for student-athletes. Few researchers have identified those serving as athletic advisors, so the literature features little data on advisor demographics, training, education, and work responsibilities. Therefore, the background and experiences of 277 members of the National Association of Academic Advisors for Athletics, who responded to a survey, were explored. Specifically, athletic advisor educational and training background, burnout levels, meaning of the profession as participants describe it, advice for prospective advisors, and the knowledge they wish they had gained before entering the field are addressed. Dramaturgy was utilized as a framework for analyzing this research.
Frequency of First-Year Student Interactions With Advisors
Authors: Fosnacht Kevin , McCormick Alexander C. , Nailos Jennifer N. , Ribera Amy K.
Published: November 2017

Although acknowledged that academic advising helps students adjust to and deal with the challenges of college, little is known about students' frequency of interactions with advisors. Using data from 52,546 full-time, first-year students at 209 diverse institutions, we examined the frequency with which students met with academic advisors and the way these interactions vary by student and institutional characteristics. We found that the typical first-year student met with an advisor 1 to 3 times during his or her first college year; however, the number of meetings varied across student subpopulations and institutional types.
Market, Regulation and Sustainability
Authors: Naheed Zia Khan
Published: November 2017

The argument of this study is philosophically rooted in the paradoxical Grand Design. The destiny of humankind, at all levels of existence and organization, is to optimally resolve omnipotent paradoxes in the universe of tangible as well as intangible phenomena. However, the instinctive behavior of the majority of humankind inherently favors shortsighted suboptimal resolutions. This is specifically so in situations where collective wellbeing and sustainability warrant proactive behavior of free and independent individuals and groups. The study traces back the genealogy of contemporary technology and sociology, the two broad realms of human society, and identifies the market as the central force in technological development and sociological evolution since the Industrial Revolution. Market hegemony, as one of the greatest factors, is apprehended to have overwhelmed the collective wisdom and undermined the individual and group ability to take action in the face of multi-prong threat to sustainable development, which is a great peril to civilization and society. Moreover, there is also that wizardly wheel warranting to be incessantly greased with fast depleting natural resources, many of which, including atmosphere, cannot be replenished. The study maintains that the species of the Homo Sapiens Sapiens must appreciate the difference between forward looking progressive moves and the rat race. It is recommended that unbridled market power should be saddled with pragmatic regulations, specifically aiming at curbing the magical power of electronic media in promoting, glamorizing and even sanctifying consumerism which is heedless as well as headless.
Indian Secularism and Religious Minorities: The Case of Muslims
Authors: Khalid Rahman
Published: November 2017

A secular state is supposed to remain indifferent to individual beliefs and to ensure that every individual enjoys the religious freedom in personal life. But practically, the nature and character of secularism changes in different contexts. India being a predominantly Hindu and fundamentally religious society has its own flavor of secularism. The Constitution of India on one hand assures personal freedoms and declares the state as secular but on the other hand carries contradictory indications of anti-religious objectives and prominence of Hinduism. This confusion creates the room for using the cloak of secularism to promote Hindutva. As populism and exclusive nationalism seem to dominate the political front domestically in India and several other countries around the world, it seems improbable, if not impossible, for secularism to take over religion as the primary paradigm of life in India. And with the history of communal violence in India, this scenario is threatening not only for minorities as well as the vulnerable and moderate elements among Hindus but also has far-reaching effects for the region and the world at large. With this context in view, this paper has surveyed the treatment of Muslims in India who are the largest minority in the country and the third largest population of Muslims in a country.

The article was initially prepared for a presentation in a seminar held at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) on July 12, 2017 on the same topic. The author thankfully acknowledges the assistance provided by Nadeem Farhat and Asifa Tanvir in writing the paper.
Rising China and its South Asian Neighbors: Evolving Dynamics and the Outlook
Authors: Talat Shabbir
Published: November 2017

While Beijing has remained engaged with South Asian neighbors since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the recent decade or so period has witnessed an intensification of economic and commercial cooperation. This two way cooperation between China and its southern neighbors is cementing further and the outlook is quite positive in the wake of unfolding of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). India, has dominated the affairs of the region for around 7 decades. China's relationship with Pakistan has always remained cordial, other smaller South Asian nations are coming increasingly closer to China and see Beijing as an option as compared to single-handed dependence on New Delhi.
La meta–evaluación en la agenda de la educación superior
Authors: Marcipar Katz Susana , Luciani María de las Mercedes
Published: November 2017

En base a la influencia que ejerce la evaluación de los aprendizajes sobre los procesos educativos es que se torna relevante la idea de evaluar a las evaluaciones de los aprendizajes para rescatar a la evaluación como herramienta de cambio en la educación (Ravela, 2009). El artículo pretende difundir el diseño metodológico para aplicar una meta–evaluación a dos asignaturas, Inglés Técnico y Matemática Básica, correspondientes a la carrera de Contador Público Nacional de la Universidad Nacional del Litoral. El objetivo investigativo es evaluar a las evaluaciones de los aprendizajes, meta–evaluación, en las asignaturas mencionadasa fin de lograr dos cuestiones. Por una parte, identificar los refuerzos o cambios necesarios que mejoren la calidad de los procesos de evaluación de manera tal que se constituyan en evaluación como aprendizaje, evaluación para el aprendizaje y evaluación de los aprendizajes. Por otra parte, determinar las condiciones epistemológicas, didácticas, culturales y tecnológicas adecuadas para promover el mejoramiento de la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en dichas asignaturas. Todo el diseño metodológico responde a las características de una evaluación iluminativa (Parlett y Hamilton, 1972), que se asume como una investigación orientada al descubrimiento y orientada a la aplicación (Arnal et ál., 1992). El diseño presentado de meta–evaluación puede convertirse en una estrategia institucional para la toma de decisiones académicas con miras a la construcción permanente de una cultura de auto–reflexión de la calidad de los aprendizajes.
The family characteristics of juvenile delinquency in Turkey
Türkiye' de suça sürüklenen çocukların aile özellikleri
Authors: Kayma Güneş Derya , Gökler Rıza
Published: November 2017

In this study, it is aimed to examine the family characteristics of juvenile driven into crime in Turkey. For this purpose, literature information focusing on juvenile delinquency has been examined and the importance of family in juvenile delinquency has been assessed. In the study, the research results about the subject were compared. Familial factors influencing the juvenile delinquency are discussed with crowded family, deterioration of integrity, socioeconomic and cultural level, family crime and child neglect/abuse, family relations.Extended English abstract is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file. ÖzetBu çalışmada Türkiye’de suça sürüklenen çocukların aile özelliklerinin incelenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaç doğrultusunda çocuk suçluluğunu odak alan literatür bilgisi  incelenmiş ve çocukların suça sürüklenmesinde ailenin önemi değerlendirilmiştir. Çalışmada, konu ile ilgili yapılmış olan araştırma sonuçları karşılaştırılmıştır. Çocukların suça sürüklenmesinde etkili olan ailesel faktörler ailenin kalabalık olması, bütünlüğünün bozulması, sosyoekonomik ve kültürel düzeyi, ailede suç olgusu ve çocuk ihmal/istismarı, aile içi ilişkiler başlıkları ile ele alınmıştır.
Politización y desacralización del culto al apóstol Santiago en España (1936-1943).
Authors: Baisotti Pablo Alberto
Published: November 2017

En el presente artículo de investigación, se analiza, mediante una metodología de tipo cualitativo y una perspectiva de tipo histórico-politológico, la celebración a Santiago, con el objetivo de destacar que su restauración fue utilizada por el bando sublevado para legitimar la guerra y a su líder: Francisco Franco. Además, esta voluntad tiene otra importante consecuencia, es decir, provocar una competencia entre la Falange y la Iglesia por el monopolio de la misma, que condujo a la desacralización de la fiesta para colocar en pie de igualdad al santo con el «caudillo», quien fue adquiriendo ribetes místicos y hasta de santidad.
Analysis of the Dependence between Energy Demand Indicators in Buildings Based on Variants for Improving Energy Efficiency in a School Building
Authors: Skiba Marta , Rzeszowska Natalia
Published: November 2017

One of the five far-reaching goals of the European Union is climate change and sustainable energy use. The first step in the implementation of this task is to reduce energy demand in buildings to a minimum by 2021, and in the case of public buildings by 2019. This article analyses the possibility of improving energy efficiency in public buildings, the relationship between particular indicators of the demand for usable energy (UE), final energy (FE) and primary energy (PE) in buildings and the impact of these indicators on the assessment of energy efficiency in public buildings, based on 5 variants of extensive thermal renovation of a school building. The analysis of the abovementioned variants confirms that the thermal renovation of merely the outer envelope of the building is insufficient and requires the use of additional energy sources, for example RES. Moreover, each indicator of energy demand in the building plays a key role in assessing the energy efficiency of the building. For this reason it is important to analyze each of them individually, as well as the dependencies between them.
Vehicle-Routing Optimization for Municipal Solid Waste Collection Using Genetic Algorithm: The Case of Southern Nablus City
Authors: Assaf Ramiz , Saleh Yahya
Published: November 2017

Municipalities are responsible for solid waste collectiont for environmental, social and economic purposes. Practices of municipalities should be effective and efficient, with the objectives of reducing the total incurred costs in the solid waste collection network concurrently achieving the highest service level. This study aims at finding the best routes of solid waste collection network in Nablus city-Palestine. More specifically, the study seeks the optimal route that minimizes the total travelled distance by the trucks and hence the resulted costs. The current situation is evaluated and the problem is modelled as a Vehicle Routing Problem (VRP). The VRP is then optimized via a genetic algorithm. Specifically, compared to the current situation, the trucks total travelled distance was reduced by 66%, whereas the collection time was reduced from 7 hours per truck-trip to 2.3 hours. The findings of this study is useful for all municipality policy makers that are responsible for solid waste collection.
Aided Phytostabilization of Copper Contaminated Soils with L. Perenne and Mineral Sorbents as Soil Amendments
Authors: Radziemska Maja
Published: November 2017

The present study was designed to assess phytostabilization strategies for the treatment of soil co-contaminated by increasing levels of copper with the application mineral amendments (chalcedonite, zeolite, dolomite). From the results it will be possible to further elucidate the benefits or potential risks derived from the application of different types of mineral amendments in the remediation of a copper contaminated soil. A glasshouse pot experiment was designed to evaluate the potential use of different amendments as immobilizing agents in the aided phytostabilization of Cu-contaminated soil using ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). The content of trace elements in plants and total in soil, were determined using the method of spectrophotometry. All of the investigated element contents in the tested parts of L. perenne were significantly different in the case of applying mineral amendments to the soil, as well as increasing concentrations of copper. The greatest average above-ground biomass was observed for soil amended with chalcedonite. In this experiment, all analyzed metals accumulated predominantly in the roots of the tested plant. In general, applying mineral amendments to soil contributed to decreased levels of copper concentrations.
Analysis of Stress in Steel and Concrete in Cfst Push-Out Test Samples
Authors: Grzeszykowski Bartosz , Szadkowska Magdalena , Szmigiera Elżbieta
Published: November 2017

The paper presents the analysis of stress in steel and concrete in CFST composite elements subjected to push-out tests. Two analytical models of stress distribution are presented. The bond at the interface between steel and concrete in the initial phase of the push-out test is provided by the adhesion. Until the force reach a certain value, the slip between both materials does not occur or it is negligibly small, what ensures full composite action of the specimen. In the first analytical model the full bond between both materials was assumed. This model allows to estimate value of the force for which the local loss of adhesion in given cross section begins. In the second model it was assumed that the bond stress distribution is constant along the shear transfer length of the specimen. Based on that the formulas for triangle distribution of stress in steel and concrete for the maximum push-out force were derived and compared with the experimental results. Both models can be used to better understand the mechanisms of interaction between steel and concrete in composite steel-concrete columns.
Evaluation of Dynamic Characteristics of the Footbridge with Integral Abutments
Authors: Pańtak Marek , Jarek Bogusław
Published: November 2017

The paper presents the results of dynamic field tests and numerical analysis of the footbridge designed as a three-span composite structure with integral abutments. The adopted design solution which has allowed to achieve a high resistance of the structure to dynamic loads and to meet the requirements of the criteria of comfort of use with a large reserve has been characterized. For comparative purposes, numerical analyzes of three construction variants of the footbridge were presented: F-1 - construction with integral abutments (realized variant), F-2 - construction with girders anchored in the abutments by means of tension rocker bearings, F-3 - construction with concrete side spans.
Effects of Sparger and Internals Designs on the Local Hydrodynamics in Slurry Bubble Column Reactors Operating under Typical Fischer-Tropsch Process Conditions - I
Authors: Basha Omar M , Morsi Badie I
Published: November 2017

Our rigorously validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model (Basha Omar, M., L. Weng, Z. Men, and I. Morsi Badie. 2016. “CFD Modeling with Experimental Validation of the Internal Hydrodynamics in a Pilot-Scale Slurry Bubble Column Reactor.” International Journal of Chemical Reactor Engineering 14(2):599–619), was used to predict the effects of spargers design and internals configuration on the local hydrodynamics and flow structure in a pilot-scale (0.3-m ID) and a large-scale (10-m ID) Slurry Bubble Column Reactors (SBCRs), operating under Fisher-Tropsch (F-T) process conditions. In the pilot-scale SBCR without internals, the 6-arms spider created small/fast liquid recirculations in the vicinity of the sparger and slow/large liquid recirculations at about 1.2 times reactor diameter, whereas, the 3-concentric-rings and perforated plate spargers created slow/large recirculations throughout the reactor. In the pilot-scale SBCR with internals, spargers with downward-pointing orifices created larger Sauter mean bubble diameters (ds), leading to more effective solids suspension when compared with those with upward-pointing orifices. Also, 3-concentric-rings spargers resulted in larger Sauter mean bubble diameter values when compared with those of 6-arms spiders. In the large-scale SBCR provided with a large 3-concentric-rings sparger, the effects of vertical parallel and bundled internals on the local hydrodynamics and flow structures were predicted. Bundled internals led to slower and smaller liquid recirculations, smoother radial gas holdup profiles, larger average gas bubbles size, and smaller local gas holdups, when compared those predicted when using parallel internals.
Experimental and Numerical Study of the Hydrodynamics of a Thin Film Reactor (TFR) for the Decarboxylation of Anacardic Acid
Authors: Shrutee L. , Van Geel Tim , Rene Eldon R. , Raj Mohan B. , Dutta Abhishek
Published: November 2017

A newly designed laboratory scale thin film reactor (TFR) was tested for the decarboxylation of anacardic acid in Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL) and to investigate the fluid flow behaviour under the influence of temperature since the fluid properties like viscosity and density have strong dependence on temperature. The CNSL containing 60–65 % anacardic acid was decarboxylated to produce cardanol and CO2 at wall temperatures ranging between 393 K and 433 K, respectively. The characteristics of the CNSL, essentially a non-Newtonian fluid, was analysed at different temperatures and its rheological behaviour was studied using the well-known power law model. It was observed that CNSL follows a pseudoplastic behaviour and its viscosity, along with the liquid residence time, was found to decrease till 413 K, while a further increase in temperature resulted in product degradation due to charring, accompanied by an increase in viscosity and residence time. Using measured values for the viscosity, the film thickness was calculated for each wall temperature within the 393–433 K temperature range, showing an increase of the film thickness with temperature and viscosity. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) studies were carried out for the first time for this reactor configuration, using the volume of fluid (VOF) model for the reactive flow. The results obtained from these simulations were in concurrence with the experimental outcomes: velocity profiles along the length of the reactor show its highest values at a wall temperature of 413 K, while lower velocity values were observed when the temperatures were lower or greater than 413 K.
Possibilities for Exploring the La Tène Swords and Choosing the Appropriate Method of Conservation Intervention
Authors: Fořt Martin , Sankot Pavel
Published: November 2017

The study deals with the possibility of exploring the La Tène swords and choosing the appropriate method of conservation intervention. The published results are based on an internal grant from the National Museum running between 2015 and 2016, which was closely focused on "The Exploration of Celtic Iron Arms from the Archaeological Collection of the National Museum" and which involved 67 items. The purpose of the internal grant was to find and to map hidden decorations or other structural elements on the La Tène swords that had been preserved in the past. Preferred were the preserved swords with unremoved layers of anti-corrosion products, whereby there is a greater presumption of the occurrence of the above-mentioned elements than when the cleaning of swords was specifically of a chemical nature.
Spirulina Platensis Affects Factors Involved in Spermatogenesis and Increases Ghrelin Receptors in Testis Tissue of Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Esener O.B.B. , Gurel-Gurevin E. , Isbilen-Basok B. , Yigit F. , Bilal T. , Altiner A. , Yilmazer N. , Armutak E.I.
Published: November 2017

Ghrelin is a peptide hormone which plays important role in maintaining growth hormone release and energy homeostasis in vertebrates. Spirulina platensis (SP) has antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects due to its ingredients. In this study we aimed to investigate the effects of SP on the testicular structure and relation between ghrelin and testosterone in the testis of rats fed a high fat diet (HFD). Sixty four young adult male rats were used and divided to 8 equal groups. Experimental groups received addition of 10% cholesterol (CHL), 43% hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) and 3% SP alone or in combination to basal diet while the control group received only basal diet. Serum ghrelin and testosterone levels were measured with ELISA. Receptors for ghrelin and androgen were detected with immunohistochemistry. For histomorphometric investigation, tubulus seminiferus, intertubular area, tubulus seminiferus lumen, Leydig cell nucleus, Sertoli cell nucleus, germ cell nucleus, spermatocyte nucleus and elongated spermatid volume densities were determined stereologically. Serum ghrelin level was increased especially in HVO and CHL combination group compared to the control while serum ghrelin levels were close to control levels in SP-received groups. Ghrelin receptor level was increased in tubulus seminiferus with HVO+CHL administration but this effect was, however, limited in HVO+CHL and SP challenged groups. HVO+CHL administration caused a significant decrease in Leydig cell nucleus volume density, as well as in all SP-received groups, compared to the control. Significantly increased spermatocyte nucleus volume density in cholesterol-receiving groups was decreased to control level with SP alone and its combinations.
Effects of melatonin implantation on the fertility potentials of Kivircik and Charollais ewes and rams during the non-breeding season
Authors: Cevik M. , Yilmazer C. , Kocyigit A.
Published: November 2017

This study examined the effect of melatonin implantation during the non-breeding season on the reproductive performance of ewes and the testicular dimensions of rams. In seasonally anestrus Kivircik and Charollais ewes and rams were subjected to melatonin. Estrus response was significantly higher in treated than control ewes of both breeds (p<0.001). The pregnancy rate was significantly lower (p<0.001) in the control than in the treated animals. The twinning rate was significantly lower in melatonin implanted Kivircik than Charollais ewes (p<0.05). The testicular dimensions after 42 days of melatonin treatment increased in both breeds. Scrotal length (SL) increased in Kivircik and Charollais rams (p<0.01). The increase in scrotal circumference (SC) was more marked in the Charollais (P<0.01) than in the Kivircik rams. There was a large increase in testicular volume (TV) in both Kivircik (p<0.01) and Charollais (p<0.001) rams. This study shows that melatonin implants can be applied to induce estrus in ewes approximately four months earlier than breeding season. Melatonin implantation in the non-breeding season significantly increased testicular dimensions in Kivircik and Charollais rams thus increasing their reproductive potential.
Beta-hydroxybutyrate in milk as screening test for subclinical ketosis in dairy cows
Authors: Ježek J. , Cincović M.R. , Nemec M. , Belić B. , Djoković R. , Klinkon M. , Starič J.
Published: November 2017

Ketosis is a very frequent metabolic disease in dairy cows, resulting in lower milk production, impaired fertility and increased frequency of other diseases. The course of the disease is often subclinical, so early detection is very important. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between the concentration of beta-hydroxybutyrate in blood and milk and to determine the cut-off value in milk for detection of subclinical ketosis. The study included 94 cows, which were in the first third of lactation. Beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations were measured in blood and milk serum using a biochemical analyser. The average concentration of BHB in the blood serum samples was 1.14 mmol/L while in the milk it was about ten times lower at 0.117 mmol/L. A statistically significant positive correlation between the concentration of BHB in blood and milk (r=0.705, p<0.001) was found. In cows with BHB in blood below 2.0 mmol/L a stronger correlation between blood and milk BHB was established (r=0.658, p<0.001) than in cows with blood BHB above 2.0 mmol/L (r=-0.292, p=0.206). Therefore, BHB in milk is a very suitable indicator in the diagnosis of subclinical ketosis as there is a good correlation between BHB in the blood and milk of cows with subclinical ketosis. The cut-off concentration of BHB in milk set at ≥0.080 mmol/L (AUC=0.91±0.03; p<0.001) is a significant indicator for subclinical ketosis in dairy cows. The sensitivity of the test was 94% and specificity 74%. Beta-hydroxybutyrate in milk is a good indicator of subclinical ketosis in dairy cows and can be measured accurately with a biochemical analyser.
Interactions between plant-derived oestrogenic substances and the mycoestrogen zearalenone in a bioassay with MCF-7 cells
Authors: Hessenberger Sabine , Botzi K. , Degrassi C. , Kovalsky P. , Schwab C. , Schatzmayr D. , Schatzmayr G. , Fink-Gremmels J.
Published: November 2017

Human and animal diets may contain several non-steroidal oestrogenic compounds which originate either from plants (phytoestrogens) or from fungi that infect plants (mycoestrogens such as zearalenone (ZEN)). Phytoestrogens may compete with ZEN in binding to the oestrogen receptor β and thereby may counteract the oestrogenic activity of ZEN. Using a modified version of the E-screen assay, plant-derived oestrogenic substances were tested for their proliferative or anti-proliferative effect on oestrogen-dependent MCF-7 cells. The samples were additionally tested for their ability to influence the oestrogenic activity of ZEN (1 μM). Among the individual substances tested, 8-prenylnaringenin had the strongest effect, as cell proliferation was increased by 78% at the lowest concentration (0.23 μM), and by 167% at the highest concentration (29.4 μM). Coumestrol (5.83 μM) increased cell proliferation by 39%, and genistein (370 μM) by 61%, respectively. Xanthohumol and enterolactone did not stimulate cell proliferation significantly. In the co-incubation experiments with ZEN, none of the single substances was able to decrease the oestrogenic activity of ZEN. Only for 8-prenylnaringenin (14.7 and 29.4 μM) was a trend towards an increase in the ZEN-induced cell proliferation up to 72% observed. In conclusion, with the exception of 8-prenylnaringenin, no substantial interaction between phytoestrogens and the mycotoxin ZEN could be detected using a bioassays with MCF-7 cells.
Selection of reference genes for quantitative real-time RT-PCR on gene expression in Golden Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)
Authors: Chen X.J. , Zhang X.Q. , Huang S. , Cao Z.J. , Qin Q.W. , Hu W.T. , Sun Y. , Zhou Y.C.
Published: November 2017

Golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) is an important economically fish species. In this study, with an aim to identify reliable reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in golden pompano, we evaluated the expression stability of eight housekeeping genes in the presence and absence of poly I:C stimulation in eight tissues. The PCR data was analyzed by geNorm and NormFinder algorithms. The results showed that the expression of all the examined genes exhibited tissue-dependent variations. When under normal physiological condition, geNorm and NormFinder identified B2M and 18S as suitable genes. When studying gene expression under conditions of poly I:C stimulation, the selection of the internal controls should be selected on a tissue basis. At 12 h stimulation, geNorm ranked Actin/UBCE, Actin/B2M, UBCE/B2M, Actin/UBCE, RPL13/B2M, UBCE/GAPDH, B2M/RPL13, and UBCE/B2M, respectively, as the most stably expressed genes in liver, spleen, kidney, gill, intestine, heart, muscle, and brain. Comparable ranking orders were produced by NormFinder. Similar results were obtained at 48 h stimulation. Taken together, these results indicate that B2M and 18S are the most stable gene across tissue types under normal physiological conditions. However, during poly I:C stimulation, no single gene or single pair of genes in the examined set of housekeeping genes can serve as a universal reference across all tissue types. If one gene is preferred, B2M, B2M, UBCE, Actin, B2M/RPL13, B2M, B2M, and RPL13 may be used in spleen, kidney, liver, gill, intestine, brain, muscle, and heart of golden pompano, respectively.
Differentiation of infectious bronchitis virus vaccine strains Ma5 and 4/91 by TaqMan real-time PCR
Authors: Stenzel T. , Dziewulska D. , Śmiałek M. , Tykałowski B. , Kowalczyk J. , Koncicki A.
Published: November 2017

The aim of this study was to develop rapid molecular assays for differentiating vaccine strains Ma5 and 4/91 of the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Specific primers and probes for S1 and N genes were designed based on the nucleotide sequences of both vaccine strains. Cross-reactivity was not observed. Assay sensitivity was 2.373 × 103 copies of the Ma5 strain, and 3.852 x 103 copies of the 4/91 strain. Samples belonging to a known genotype demonstrated that the designed assays supported rapid and sensitive detection of Ma5 and 4/91 vaccine strains of IBV.
A statistical method for analysing cospeciation in tritrophic ecology using electrical circuit theory
Authors: Nooney Colleen , Barber Stuart , Gusnanto Arief , Gilks Walter R.
Published: November 2017

We introduce a new method to test efficiently for cospeciation in tritrophic systems. Our method utilises an analogy with electrical circuit theory to reduce higher order systems into bitrophic data sets that retain the information of the original system. We use a sophisticated permutation scheme that weights interactions between two trophic layers based on their connection to the third layer in the system. Our method has several advantages compared to the method of Mramba et al. [Mramba, L. K., S. Barber, K. Hommola, L. A. Dyer, J. S. Wilson, M. L. Forister and W. R. Gilks (2013): “Permutation tests for analyzing cospeciation in multiple phylogenies: applications in tri-trophic ecology,” Stat. Appl. Genet. Mol. Biol., 12, 679–701.]. We do not require triangular interactions to connect the three phylogenetic trees and an easily interpreted
Crosswalk: Performing the City as a Learning Experience
Authors: Rufo Raffaele
Published: November 2017

Crosswalk is a site-responsive performance conducted in the middle of a pedestrian crossing in the inner streets of Melbourne and exposed in the homonymous video attached to this article. The performance – an experiment with the duet dance form of Argentine tango – emerged out of a practice-based process of inquiry. My failed attempt to find my tango in the city while finding my place in the city through the tango becomes a drive to explore the nexus between learning and the experience of publicness and defuse the rationalist reliance on the isolated cognitive individual as the key pedagogical agent and target. I argue that, in Crosswalk tango worked (or could have worked) as a reverse public pedagogy through somatic connection not only between dance partners but also with the broader environment. Becoming vulnerable to the otherness of the outside world is one way of promoting diversity and fostering plurality.
Where the Wild Things are: Learning from Tunnerminnerwait and Maulboyheener
Authors: Cooper Jayson
Published: November 2017

Places are pedagogical; and they teach through a range of ways. In recent public pedagogy discourse Biesta (2014) puts forth three forms of public pedagogy. These three forms of publicness are; pedagogy for the public; pedagogy of the public; and pedagogy in the interests of publicness. What Biesta offers with these views of pedagogy in the public sphere, is an understand of the ways we teach and learn in public places, and how that pedagogy is performed. In particular a pedagogy in the interest of publicness sees grassroots community led pedagogy that acts in the interest of publicness. This provides a lens to examine how pedagogy and knowledge is held in public spaces. alter
Alpha Oscillations Reduce Temporal Long-Range Dependence in Spontaneous Human Brain Activity
Authors: Becker Robert , Van de Ville Dimitri , Kleinschmidt Andreas
Published: November 2017

Ongoing neural dynamics comprise both frequency-specific oscillations and broadband-features, such as long-range dependence (LRD). Despite both being behaviorally relevant, little is known about their potential interactions. In humans, 8–12 Hz α oscillations constitute the strongest deviation from 1/f power-law scaling, the signature of LRD. We postulated that α oscillations, believed to exert active inhibitory gating, downmodulate the temporal width of LRD in slower ongoing brain activity. In two independent “resting-state” datasets (electroencephalography surface recordings and magnetoencephalography source reconstructions), both across space and dynamically over time, power of α activity covaried with the power slope <5 Hz (i.e., greater α activity shortened LRD). Causality of α activity dynamics was implied by its temporal precedence over changes of slope. A model where power-law fluctuations of the α envelope inhibit baseline activity closely replicated our results. Thus, α oscillations may provide an active control mechanism to adaptively regulate LRD of brain activity at slow temporal scales, thereby shaping internal states and cognitive processes.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTThe two prominent features of ongoing brain activity are oscillations and temporal long-range dependence. Both shape behavioral performance, but little is known about their interaction. Here, we demonstrate such an interaction in EEG and MEG recordings of task-free human brain activity. Specifically, we show that spontaneous dynamics in alpha activity explain ensuing variations of dependence in the low and ultra-low-frequency range. In modeling, two features of alpha oscillations are critical to account for the observed effects on long-range dependence, scale-free properties of alpha oscillations themselves, and a modulation of baseline levels, presumably inhibitory. Both these properties have been observed empirically, and our study hence establishes alpha oscillations as a regulatory mechanism governing long-range dependence or “memory” in slow ongoing brain activity.
Dissociable Decoding of Spatial Attention and Working Memory from EEG Oscillations and Sustained Potentials
Authors: Bae Gi-Yeul , Luck Steven J.
Published: November 2017

In human scalp EEG recordings, both sustained potentials and alpha-band oscillations are present during the delay period of working memory tasks and may therefore reflect the representation of information in working memory. However, these signals may instead reflect support mechanisms rather than the actual contents of memory. In particular, alpha-band oscillations have been tightly tied to spatial attention and may not reflect location-independent memory representations per se. To determine how sustained and oscillating EEG signals are related to attention and working memory, we attempted to decode which of 16 orientations was being held in working memory by human observers (both women and men). We found that sustained EEG activity could be used to decode the remembered orientation of a stimulus, even when the orientation of the stimulus varied independently of its location. Alpha-band oscillations also carried clear information about the location of the stimulus, but they provided little or no information about orientation independently of location. Thus, sustained potentials contain information about the object properties being maintained in working memory, consistent with previous evidence of a tight link between these potentials and working memory capacity. In contrast, alpha-band oscillations primarily carry location information, consistent with their link to spatial attention.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENTWorking memory plays a key role in cognition, and working memory is impaired in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. Previous research has suggested that human scalp EEG recordings contain signals that reflect the neural representation of information in working memory. However, to conclude that a neural signal actually represents the object being remembered, it is necessary to show that the signal contains fine-grained information about that object. Here, we show that sustained voltages in human EEG recordings contain fine-grained information about the orientation of an object being held in memory, consistent with a memory storage signal.
Self-enhancement: Conceptualization and Assessment
Authors: Krueger Joachim I. , Heck Patrick R. , Asendorpf Jens B.
Published: November 2017

Self-enhancement bias is conventionally construed as an unwarranted social comparison in social psychology and a misperception of social reality in personality psychology. Researchers in both fields rely heavily on discrepancy scores to represent self-enhancement and fail to distinguish between a general tendency or bias to self-enhance and a self-enhancement error, or false perception of own excellence. We critically review prominent discrepancy measures and then propose a decision-theoretic alternative that [a] mitigates confounds between self-positivity and self-superiority, [b] separates error from bias, and [c] discourages reliance on measures that reify self-enhancement as a stable personality trait. To evaluate our hypotheses, we re-analyze data collected in our laboratory and perform a series of simulation studies. We share these materials with interested researchers.
A unifying biology of sex steroid-induced apoptosis in prostate and breast cancers
Authors: Maximov Philipp Y , Abderrahman Balkees , Curpan Ramona F , Hawsawi Yousef M , Fan Ping , Jordan V Craig
Published: November 2017

Prostate and breast cancer are the two cancers with the highest incidence in men and women, respectively. Here, we focus on the known biology of acquired resistance to antihormone therapy of prostate and breast cancer and compare laboratory and clinical similarities in the evolution of the disease. Laboratory studies and clinical observations in prostate and breast cancer demonstrate that cell selection pathways occur during acquired resistance to antihormonal therapy. Following sex steroid deprivation, both prostate and breast cancer models show an initial increased acquired sensitivity to the growth potential of sex steroids. Subsequently, prostate and breast cancer cells either become dependent upon the antihormone treatment or grow spontaneously in the absence of hormones. Paradoxically, the physiologic sex steroids now kill a proportion of selected, but vulnerable, resistant tumor cells. The sex steroid receptor complex triggers apoptosis. We draw parallels between acquired resistance in prostate and breast cancer to sex steroid deprivation. Clinical observations and patient trials confirm the veracity of the laboratory studies. We consider therapeutic strategies to increase response rates in clinical trials of metastatic disease that can subsequently be applied as a preemptive salvage adjuvant therapy. The goal of future advances is to enhance response rates and deploy a safe strategy earlier in the treatment plan to save lives. The introduction of a simple evidence-based enhanced adjuvant therapy as a global healthcare strategy has the potential to control recurrence, reduce hospitalization, reduce healthcare costs and maintain a healthier population that contributes to society.
4-Valent Human Papillomavirus (4vHPV) Vaccine in Preadolescents and Adolescents After 10 Years
Authors: Ferris Daron G. , Samakoses Rudiwilai , Block Stanley L. , Lazcano-Ponce Eduardo , Restrepo Jaime Alberto , Mehlsen Jesper , Chatterjee Archana , Iversen Ole-Erik , Joshi Amita , Chu Jian-Li , Krick Andrea Likos , Saah Alfred , Das Rituparna
Published: November 2017

OBJECTIVES:

We describe the final 10-year data for the long-term follow-up study of the 4-valent human papillomavirus (4vHPV) vaccine in preadolescents and adolescents.

METHODS:

In the base study (V501-018), 1661 sexually inactive boys and girls received the 4vHPV vaccine (early vaccination group [EVG], managed for 9.9 years) or a placebo at day 1, month 2, and month 6. Thereafter, at month 30, the placebo group (catch-up vaccination group [CVG], managed for 7.4 years) received the 4vHPV vaccine by using the same dosing schedule. Long-term anti-HPV type 6, 11, 16, and 18 immune responses were assessed. Effectiveness was estimated by calculating the incidence rate of the primary endpoints (HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18–related disease or persistent infection).

RESULTS:

For HPV types 6, 11, and 16, 89% to 96% of subjects remained seropositive through 10-years postvaccination. The preadolescents had 38% to 65% higher geometric mean titers at month 7, which remained 16% to 42% higher at 10 years compared with adolescents. No cases of HPV type 6, 11, 16, and 18–related diseases were observed. Ten subjects had a persistent infection of ≥6 months duration with vaccine-type HPV and 2 subjects had persistent infection for ≥12 months. No new serious adverse events were reported through 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS:

A 3-dose regimen of the 4vHPV vaccine was immunogenic, clinically effective, and generally well tolerated in preadolescents and adolescents during 10 years of follow-up. These long-term findings support efforts to vaccinate this population against HPV before exposure.