bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aging alters the dampening of pulsatile blood flow in cerebral arteries
Authors: Zarrinkoob Laleh , Ambarki Khalid , Wåhlin Anders , Birgander Richard , Carlberg Bo , Eklund Anders , Malm Jan
Published: January 2016

Excessive pulsatile flow caused by aortic stiffness is thought to be a contributing factor for several cerebrovascular diseases. The main purpose of this study was to describe the dampening of the pulsatile flow from the proximal to the distal cerebral arteries, the effect of aging and sex, and its correlation to aortic stiffness. Forty-five healthy elderly (mean age 71 years) and 49 healthy young (mean age 25 years) were included. Phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging was used for measuring blood flow pulsatility index and dampening factor (proximal artery pulsatility index/distal artery pulsatility index) in 21 cerebral and extra-cerebral arteries. Aortic stiffness was measured as aortic pulse wave velocity. Cerebral arterial pulsatility index increased due to aging and this was more pronounced in distal segments of cerebral arteries. There was no difference in pulsatility index between women and men. Dampening of pulsatility index was observed in all cerebral arteries in both age groups but was significantly higher in young subjects than in elderly. Pulse wave velocity was not correlated with cerebral arterial pulsatility index. The increased pulsatile flow in elderly together with reduced dampening supports the pulse wave encephalopathy theory, since it implies that a higher pulsatile flow is reaching distal arterial segments in older subjects.
Reliable confirmation of an object identity by a mobile robot: A mixed appearance/localization-driven motion approach
Authors: Becerra Israel , Valentín-Coronado Luis M , Murrieta-Cid Rafael , Latombe Jean-Claude
Published: January 2016

This paper investigates the problem of confirming the identity of a candidate object (expected to be a target based on some crude visual clues) with a mobile robot equipped with visual sensing capabilities. We present a method whose main novelty is to mix localization of the robot relative to the candidate object and to confirm that it is the sought target. This twofold approach drastically reduces false positives. Identity confirmation with this twofold goal is modeled as a Partially-Observable Markov Decision Process, where the states are the cells of the space decomposition. It is solved using Stochastic Dynamic Programming with imperfect state information. A robotic system using this method has been implemented and tests have been carried out both in simulation and with a real robot. The experiments empirically validate the use of various metrics, and demonstrate their ability to perform well in different settings.
Prevalence of Cam-Type Morphology in Elite Ice Hockey Players
Authors: Lerebours Frantz , Robertson William , Neri Brian , Schulz Brian , Youm Thomas , Limpisvasti Orr
Published: January 2016

Background:

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) has been increasingly recognized as a cause of hip pain in athletes at all levels of competition, specifically ice hockey players.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to define the prevalence of cam and pincer radiographic deformity in elite ice hockey players. The hypothesis was that elite hockey players will have a higher prevalence of radiographic hip abnormalities compared with the general population.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Anteroposterior and frog-leg lateral radiographs on 137 elite ice hockey players were prospectively obtained during the 2014-2015 preseason entrance examinations. Study participants included National Hockey League roster players as well as the respective farm team members. Demographic data were collected, including age, position, shooting side, and any history of hip pain or hip surgery. Patients with a history of hip surgery were excluded from the analysis. A single sports medicine fellowship–trained orthopaedic surgeon used standard radiographic measurements to assess for the radiographic presence of cam or pincer deformity. Radiographs with an alpha angle ≥55° on a frog-leg lateral view were defined as cam-positive. Each participant underwent a preseason physical examination with an assessment of hip range of motion and impingement testing.

Results:

A total of 130 elite ice hockey players were included in the analysis; 180 (69.4%) hips met radiographic criteria for cam-type deformity. The prevalence in right and left hips was 89 (69.5%) and 91 (70.0%), respectively; 70 (60.8%) players demonstrated bilateral involvement. Hips with cam deformity had a mean alpha angle of 67.7° ± 8.3° on the right and 68.9° ± 9.0° on the left. Of the patients with alpha angles ≥55°, 5.6% (5/89) had a positive anterior impingement test of the right hip, while 11% (10/91) had positive anterior impingement test of the left. Players with radiologic cam deformity had a statistically significant deficit in external rotation of the right hip, as well as in both internal and external rotation of the left hip, compared with those with normal alpha angles. When assessing for crossover sign, 64 of 107 (59.8%) had a positive radiographic finding. Forty-one players (38.3%) had evidence of a crossover sign of the right hip and 42 (39.3%) of the left. When comparing position players, goalies had the highest prevalence of cam-type deformity (93.8%) and the least acetabular coverage.

Conclusion:

The study data suggest that elite ice hockey players have a significantly higher prevalence of radiographic cam deformity in comparison to what has been reported for the general population.
The Effect of the Interactive Functions of Whiteboards on Elementary Students’ Learning
Authors: Luo Yi-Fang , Yang Shu Ching
Published: January 2016

In recent years, the interactive whiteboard (IWB) has been regarded as the most prominent information and communication technology auxiliary instruction device. It is touted as elevating the traditional teaching environment to a digital teaching environment because of its highly interactive features. The purpose of this study is to investigate elementary students’ perceptions of their teachers’ use of the different IWBs’ interactive functions in class and the effect of different IWB’s interactive uses on students’ learning attitudes. The findings showed that teachers’ use of the IWBs’ basic interactive function helps students develop positive learning attitudes, including enjoyment of learning, usefulness of IWB, and willingness to learn. However, such effects from the use of the IWB’s advanced interactive functions were not as clear, particularly the effects on usefulness of IWB and willingness to learn. Moreover, the students’ personal experience operating the IWB had an effect on their enjoyment of learning and willingness to learn. The article concludes by offering some recommendations concerning integrating the IWB into instruction.
Grasping the scientific evidence: The contractualist peace supersedes the democratic peace
Authors: Mousseau Michael
Published: January 2016

This article draws on new data and analyses to investigate whether the contractualist peace supersedes the democratic peace. A series of studies have shown that contractualist economy accounts for the democratic peace, but defenders of the democratic peace claim that these studies contain measurement errors, that democracy correlates with peace at least in interaction with contractualist economy, and that the causation is reversed from democracy to contractualist economy and peace. Results are consistent across all tests: there is no support for democracy as a cause of peace. The democratic peace is a statistical artifact explained by contractualist economy.
Religion, Judaism, and the challenge of maintaining an adequately immunized population
Authors: Greenberger Chaya
Published: January 2016

A slow but steady trend to decline routine immunization has evolved over the past few decades, despite its pivotal role in staving off life-threatening communicable diseases. Religious beliefs are among the reasons given for exemptions. In the context of an overview of various religious approaches to this issue, this article addresses the Jewish religious obligation to immunize. The latter is nested in the more general obligation to take responsibility for one’s health as it is essential to living a morally productive life. Furthermore, the individual’s responsibility extends to supporting communal health by contributing to herd immunity. Judaism embraces evidence-based information regarding immunization safety and efficacy and holds the resulting professional guidelines to be religiously binding. From a Jewish perspective, government bodies need to weigh respect for individual autonomy to refrain from immunization against preserving public safety, such that waiving autonomy should be reserved for immediately life-threatening situations. Nurses’ knowledge and understanding of the Jewish legal approach as explicated in this article and those of other religions in which similar principles apply (such as Islam and Christianity) can enrich their awareness of how revering God can go hand in hand with an obligation to prevent illness for the self and the community by immunizing.
Nursing students’ perceptions of faculty members’ ethical/unethical attitudes
Authors: Arslan Sevda , Dinç Leyla
Published: January 2016

Background:

Through education, individuals acquire knowledge, skill and attitudes that facilitate professional socialization; it involves intellectual, emotional and psychomotor skill development. Teachers are role models for behaviour modification and value development.

Objective:

To examine students’ perceptions of faculty members’ ethical and unethical attitudes during interactions in undergraduate nursing.

Research design:

This descriptive study consisted of two phases. In Phase I, we developed an instrument, which was administered to nursing students to assess validity and reliability. Exploratory factor analysis yielded 32 items. Cronbach’s α was 0.83, and test–retest reliability was good. In Phase II, a 32-item version of the instrument was administered to nursing students from another university.

Participants and research context:

Participants included 219 nursing students from one university in Phase I and 196 from another university in Phase II. The study was conducted at the universities attended by the participants.

Ethical considerations:

Ethical approval was granted by the institutions involved, and all participants provided informed consent.

Findings:

In Phase I, the instrument demonstrated good psychometric properties for measuring nursing students’ perceptions of faculty members’ ethical and unethical behaviours. In Phase II, students considered certain professional and personal qualities, including respecting confidentiality and students’ private lives and assuming an impartial stance during interactions in the classroom, examinations, or clinical practice, ethical. They considered using obscene examples or unprofessional speech during teaching, selling textbooks in class, using university facilities for personal interests, engaging in romantic relationships with students, and humiliating students in front of patients or staff in clinical settings unethical.

Conclusion:

Results of this study suggest that nurse educators should be aware of their critical role in the teaching–learning process, and they must scrutinize their attitudes towards students from an ethical point of view.
Community Development and Social Development
Authors: Green John J.
Published: January 2016

As a pluralistic field of scholarship and practice, community development offers insights useful to social development, especially the realm of social work. Among these contributions, of particular interest are the ways in which place matters. Assessing conceptualizations of community and community development, this essay addresses the value of community development scholarship and offers recommendations for future research. The latter include paying more attention to demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and trends in relation to the population-level impacts from development initiatives.
A Novel Feed-Forward Modeling System Leads to Sustained Improvements in Attention and Academic Performance
Authors: McDermott Ashley F. , Rose Maya , Norris Troy , Gordon Eric
Published: January 2016

Objective: This study tested a novel feed-forward modeling (FFM) system as a nonpharmacological intervention for the treatment of ADHD children and the training of cognitive skills that improve academic performance. Method: This study implemented a randomized, controlled, parallel design comparing this FFM with a nonpharmacological community care intervention. Improvements were measured on parent- and clinician-rated scales of ADHD symptomatology and on academic performance tests completed by the participant. Participants were followed for 3 months after training. Results: Participants in the FFM training group showed significant improvements in ADHD symptomatology and academic performance, while the control group did not. Improvements from FFM were sustained 3 months later. Conclusion: The FFM appeared to be an effective intervention for the treatment of ADHD and improving academic performance. This FFM training intervention shows promise as a first-line treatment for ADHD while improving academic performance.
Roadblocks to Recognition and Revolution
Authors: Scriven Michael
Published: January 2016

It is argued here that the general view, especially in the social sciences, of the specific status of evaluation is still deeply impregnated with completely absurd misrepresentations. A number of the worst are documented and refuted here, along with some suggestions as to their roots. It is stressed that the consequences of this tangled net of methodological and logical fallacies is not mere scientific confusion but flawed evaluation designs and consequent actions on a global scale. And those costs will continue to accumulate, perhaps even accelerate, if evaluators are not both thoroughly trained in the basic lessons and active in promulgating them.
Emotional landscapes of reading: fan fiction in the context of contemporary reading practices
Authors: Samutina Natalia
Published: January 2016

This article focuses on fan fiction as a literary experience and especially on fan fiction readers’ receptive strategies. Methodologically, its approach is at the intersection of literary theory, theory of popular culture, and qualitative research into practices of communication within online communities. It characterizes fan fiction as a type of contemporary reading and writing. Taking as an example the Russian Harry Potter fan fiction community, the article poses a set of questions about the meanings and contexts of immersive reading and affective reading. The emotional reading of fan fiction communities is put into historical and theoretical context, with reference to researchers who analysed and criticized the dichotomy of rational and affective reading, or ‘enchantment’, in literary culture as one of the symptoms of modernity. The metaphor of ‘emotional landscapes of reading’ is used to theorize the reading strategies of fan fiction readers, and discussed through parallels with phenomenological theories of landscape. Among the ‘assemblage points of reading’ of fan fiction, specific elements are described, such as ‘selective reading’, ‘kink reading’, ‘first encounter with fan fiction texts’ and ‘unpredictability’.
The press crisis and its impact on Swedish arts journalism: Autonomy loss, a shifting paradigm and a ‘journalistification’ of the profession
Authors: Sarrimo Cristine
Published: January 2016

Research indicates a crisis in the journalistic field due to economic, technological, institutional and cultural shifts. This seems to have led to a paradigm shift in arts journalism, from a cultural to a journalistic focus, and a loss of autonomy for culture departments in the Swedish press. This article investigates how arts journalists’ professional values are affected by this presumed autonomy loss, the paradigm shift and insecure working conditions due to managerial control and economic pressure. The research material consists of interviews and articles by editors and critics debating their profession. The results show that the ideal-typical values traditionally associated with journalism in Western democratic society are under pressure. This prompts a redefinition of the profession and debate about the future of arts journalism and its threatened role of promoting cultural heritage and participation in an autonomous cultural public sphere.
The natural history of the news: An epigenetic study
Authors: Hamilton John Maxwell , Tworek Heidi J. S.
Published: January 2016

Scholars, editors, and reporters have tended to treat news and journalism as synonymous. This conception has privileged a particular kind of journalism often called the Anglo-American model. This study argues journalism has been a type of news reporting for a relatively brief period. Using the concept of epigenetics, the authors argue that journalism is usefully seen as a coating on the DNA of news, which has existed for centuries. Journalism emerged as a result of special factors. As powerful as the Anglo-American model was, it was never fully realized, nor could it become the regnant model throughout the world. Journalism will carry on, but along with many other types of news, all of which carry coatings from the past.
Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials of Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Angioplasty in the Femoropopliteal Arteries
Authors: Katsanos Konstantinos , Spiliopoulos Stavros , Paraskevopoulos Ioannis , Diamantopoulos Athanasios , Karnabatidis Dimitris
Published: January 2016

Purpose: To provide a qualitative analysis and quantitative synthesis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating paclitaxel-coated balloons (PCBs) in the femoropopliteal artery. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, AMED, Scopus, CENTRAL, online content, and abstracts from international meetings were last screened in April 2015 for eligible RCTs using the PRISMA selection process. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool, and quality of evidence was evaluated with the GRADE system. Outcome measures included late lumen loss (LLL) at 6 months and event rates of major limb amputations, binary lesion restenosis, and target lesion revascularization (TLR). Pooled treatment effects were analyzed in a random effects model to account for clinical heterogeneity; the outcomes are presented as the rate ratios (RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Extensive meta-regression was performed to analyze potential confounders. The review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42015023938; www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO ). Results: Eleven RCTs with 1609 subjects (1403 claudicants and 206 patients with critical limb ischemia) with medium-length femoropopliteal lesions (mean range 5.1–11.9 cm) were included. There was consistently high-quality evidence supporting the clear superiority of PCBs in terms of reduced LLL (mean difference −0.89 mm, 95% CI −1.14 to −0.64, p<0.001), less binary restenosis (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.61, p<0.001), and fewer TLR events (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.22 to 0.49, p<0.001). Major amputations were rare in both active and control arms (pooled event rate: 0.7%, 95% CI 0.3% to 1.2%). Results were stable across all potential risk modifiers and in the presence of stents as well. There was high-quality evidence that the dose of paclitaxel was related to the magnitude of the treatment effect; standard dose (3.0-μg and 3.5-μg) PCBs were significantly more effective compared with low-dose 2-μg PCB in reducing both restenosis (RR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.4, p<0.001) and TLR (RR 2.5, 95% CI 1.9 to 3.8, p<0.001). Conclusion: PCBs reduce by more than half the rates of restenosis and TLR in the femoropopliteal artery regardless of stent placement. Biologic effect size may vary according to paclitaxel bioavailability.
Evaluating the Influence of Nutrition Determinants on Construction Workers’ Food Choices
Authors: Okoro Chioma Sylvia , Musonda Innocent , Agumba Justus
Published: January 2016

Nutritional knowledge as well as economic, social, biological, and cultural factors have been known to determine an individual’s food choices. Despite the existence of research on the factors which influence nutrition globally, there is little known about the extent to which these factors influence the food choices of construction workers, which in turn influence their health and safety during construction activities. The present article investigates the extent to which construction workers’ nutrition is influenced by nutritional knowledge, as well as economic, environmental, social, psychological, and physiological factors. A field questionnaire survey was conducted on site construction workers in the Gauteng Province of South Africa. Principal components analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that consumption of foods termed alternative foods including dairy products, eggs, nuts, fish, and cereals, was influenced by nutritional knowledge and resources. Foods termed traditional core foods were influenced by cultural background; foods termed secondary core foods comprising fruits and vegetables were influenced by economic factors, resources, and cultural background; while foods termed core foods were mostly influenced by nutritional knowledge. By providing evidence of the factors which most influence selection and consumption of certain foods by construction workers, relevant nutrition interventions will be designed and implemented, taking cognizance of these factors.
The influence of various types of artificial turfs on football fields and their effects on the thermal profile of surfaces
Authors: Villacañas Víctor , Sánchez-Sánchez Javier , García-Unanue Jorge , López Jorge , Gallardo Leonor
Published: January 2016

Surfaces of artificial turf have been continuously improved to resemble the characteristics and properties of natural grass. Nevertheless, these improvements are still unable to prevent the turf from reaching higher temperatures than natural grass. This situation results in customer dissatisfaction, decreased performance and the possibility of causing heat-related injuries. The aim of this study was to check how various structural components such as the type of fibre, the type of infill, the age of the turf and the hours of use influence the temperature (°C) of artificial turf football fields. In situ tests were performed using an infrared thermographic camera according to the standard ISO 18434-1:2005 and the normative standard of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association for the certification of artificial turf football fields. The results show higher temperatures in artificial turf fields built with styrene–butadiene rubber and fibrillated fibres. This shows that the type of infill and fibre affects the temperature of third-generation artificial turf fields, the thermoplastic rubber and the monofilament fibres being the components that contribute significantly to the reduction of the temperature.
The response of glass window systems to blast loadings: An overview
Authors: Zhang Xihong , Hao Hong
Published: January 2016

The failure of glass windows in terrorist bombing attacks and accidental explosion incidents has been cited as one of the major causes to the vast casualties. Many studies have been carried out to investigate the response and vulnerability of glass windows against blast loadings. These include laboratory and field tests that have been carried out to experimentally study glass window performance under explosion scenarios and development of analytical and numerical models to analyze and predict glass window responses. This article reviews literatures on the studies of the response of glass window systems to blast loadings. Over 100 papers and documents that are available in the open literature are reviewed. The background and history of the studies on the topic are also briefed. Understandings about the dynamic material properties of glass and available material models are summarized. Popularly used analysis methods and design standards for monolithic and laminated glass windows are outlined, and their accuracies are discussed. Recent studies including analytical solution, numerical simulation, and experimental investigations on glass window systems are summarized. Mitigation measures for blast-resistant windows are also briefly discussed.
Roll coating analysis of a third grade fluid
Authors: Zahid M , Haroon T , Rana MA , Siddiqui AM
Published: January 2016

This paper studies the roll-coating process of an incompressible viscoelastic fluid, where the roll and the web have equal velocities. The lubrication approximation theory is used to simplify the equations of motion. Solutions for velocity profile, pressure gradient, flow rate per unit width, and shear stress at the roll surface are obtained by using a regular perturbation method. Integrated quantities of engineering interest are also calculated. These include the maximum pressure, separation point, roll/sheet separating force, power transmitted to the fluid by the roll, and coating thickness. It is found that these quantities increase substantially and monotonically as the fluid’s material constant increases.
Intravoxel incoherent motion MRI as a biomarker of sorafenib treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a pilot study
Authors: Shirota Natsuhiko , Saito Kazuhiro , Sugimoto Katsutoshi , Takara Kenichi , Moriyasu Fuminori , Tokuuye Koichi
Published: January 2016

Background

To evaluate the association between the therapeutic outcomes of sorafenib for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the parameters of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM).

Methods

Nine patients were evaluated prospectively. All patients were Child-Pugh score A. The mean dimension of the lesion was 32 mm (range: 15–74 mm). MR images were obtained using a 1.5-Tesla superconductive MRI system. Diffusion-weighted imaging was performed under breath-holding using b-values of 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 400, and 800 s/mm2. The following IVIM parameters were calculated: apparent diffusion coefficient, true diffusion coefficient (DC), pseudo-diffusion coefficient, and perfusion fraction. MRI was performed before treatment and at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after beginning treatment. Tumor response at 4 weeks was assessed by CT or MRI using modified RECIST. IVIM parameters of the treatment responders and non-responders were compared.

Results

The DC of responders at baseline was significantly higher than that of the non-responders. The sensitivity and specificity, when a DC of 0.8 (10−3 mm2/s) or higher was considered to be a responder, were 100 % and 67 %, respectively. No significant differences were found in the other parameters between the responders and the non-responders. All IVIM parameters of the responders and non-responders did not change significantly after treatment.

Conclusion

The DC before treatment may be a useful parameter for predicting the therapeutic outcome of sorafenib for advanced HCC.
Depletion of regulatory T cells leads to an exacerbation of delayed-type hypersensitivity arthritis in C57BL/6 mice that can be counteracted by IL-17 blockade
Authors: Atkinson Sara Marie , Hoffmann Ute , Hamann Alf , Bach Emil , Danneskiold-Samsøe Niels Banhos , Kristiansen Karsten , Serikawa Kyle , Fox Brian , Kruse Kim , Haase Claus , Skov Søren , Nansen Anneline
Published: January 2016

Rodent models of arthritis have been extensively used in elucidation of rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis and they are instrumental in development of therapeutic strategies. Here we utilise delayed-type hypersensitivity arthritis (DTHA), a model in C57BL/6 mice affecting one paw with synchronised onset, 100% penetrance and low variation. We investigate the role of Tregs in DTHA through selective depletion of Tregs and the role of IL-17 in connection with Treg depletion. Given the relevance of Tregs in RA, and the possibility of developing Treg directed therapies, this approach could be relevant for advancing the understanding of Tregs in inflammatory arthritis. Selective depletion of Tregs was achieved using a FoxP3-DTR-eGFP mouse that expresses the diphtheria toxin receptor and eGFP under control of the foxp3 gene. Anti-IL-17 mAb was used for IL-17 blockade. Numbers and activation of Tregs increased in the paw and its draining lymph node in DTHA and depletion of Tregs resulted in exacerbation of disease shown by increased paw swelling, increased infiltration of inflammatory cells, increased bone remodelling and increased production of inflammatory mediators as well as increased production of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. Anti-IL-17 mAb treatment demonstrated that IL-17 is important for disease severity in both presence and absence of Tregs and that IL-17 blockade is able to rescue mice from the exacerbated disease caused by Treg depletion and caused reduction in RANKL, IL-6 and neutrophil numbers. We show that Tregs are important for the containment of inflammation and bone remodelling in DTHA and that IL-17 is an important driver of disease both in presence and absence of Tregs. To our knowledge this is the first study using the FoxP3-DTR-eGFP mouse on a C57BL/6 background for Treg depletion in an arthritis model, and we here demonstrate the usefulness of the approach to study the role of Tregs and IL-17 in arthritis.
Translational control mediated by hnRNP K links NMHC IIA to erythroid enucleation
Authors: Naarmann-de Vries Isabel S. , Brendle Annika , Bähr-Ivacevic Tomi , Benes Vladimir , Ostareck Dirk H. , Ostareck-Lederer Antje
Published: January 2016

Post-transcriptional regulation is crucial for structural and functional alterations in erythropoiesis. Enucleation of erythroid progenitors precedes reticulocyte release into circulation. In enucleated cells, reticulocyte 15-lipoxygenase (r15-LOX, also known as ALOX15) initiates mitochondria degradation. Regulation of r15-LOX mRNA translation by hnRNP K determines timely r15-LOX synthesis in terminal maturation. K562 cells induced for erythroid maturation recapitulate enucleation and mitochondria degradation. HnRNP K depletion from maturing K562 cells results in enhanced enucleation, which even occurs independently of maturation. We performed RIP-Chip analysis to identify hnRNP K-interacting RNAs comprehensively. Non-muscle myosin heavy chain (NMHC) IIA (also known as MYH9) mRNA co-purified with hnRNP K from non-induced K562 cells, but not from mature cells. NMHC IIA protein increase in erythroid maturation at constant NMHC IIA mRNA levels indicates post-transcriptional regulation. We demonstrate that binding of hnRNP K KH domain 3 to a specific sequence element in the NMHC IIA mRNA 3′UTR mediates translation regulation in vitro. Importantly, elevated NMHC IIA expression results in erythroid-maturation-independent enucleation as shown for hnRNP K depletion. Our data provide evidence that hnRNP-K-mediated regulation of NMHC IIA mRNA translation contributes to the control of enucleation in erythropoiesis.
Role of cytonemes in Wnt transport
Authors: Stanganello Eliana , Scholpp Steffen
Published: January 2016

Wnt signaling regulates a broad variety of processes during embryonic development and disease. A hallmark of the Wnt signaling pathway is the formation of concentration gradients by Wnt proteins across responsive tissues, which determines cell fate in invertebrates and vertebrates. To fulfill its paracrine function, trafficking of the Wnt morphogen from an origin cell to a recipient cell must be tightly regulated. A variety of models have been proposed to explain the extracellular transport of these lipid-modified signaling proteins in the aqueous extracellular space; however, there is still considerable debate with regard to which mechanisms allow the precise distribution of ligand in order to generate a morphogenetic gradient within growing tissue. Recent evidence suggests that Wnt proteins are distributed along signaling filopodia during vertebrate and invertebrate embryogenesis. Cytoneme-mediated transport has profound impact on our understanding of how Wnt signaling propagates through tissues and allows the formation of a precise ligand distribution in the recipient tissue during embryonic growth. In this Commentary, we review extracellular trafficking mechanisms for Wnt proteins and discuss the growing evidence of cytoneme-based Wnt distribution in development and stem cell biology. We will also discuss their implication for Wnt signaling in the formation of the Wnt morphogenetic gradient during tissue patterning.
A flavanoid component of chocolate quickly reverses an imposed memory deficit
Authors: Knezevic Bogdan , Komatsuzaki Yoshimasa , de Freitas Emily , Lukowiak Ken
Published: January 2016

The ability to remember is influenced by environmental and lifestyle factors, such as stress and diet. A flavanol contained in chocolate, epicatechin (Epi), has been shown to enhance long-term memory (LTM) formation in Lymnaea. Combining two stressors (low calcium pond water and crowding) block learning and all forms of memory. That is, this combination of environmentally relevant stressors creates a memory-unfriendly state. We tested the hypothesis that Epi will immediately reverse the memory-unfriendly state. Thus, snails in the memory-deficit state when trained in Epi will immediately become competent to learn and form memory. We found that Epi not only reverses the memory-deficit state but further enhance LTM formation. Thus, a naturally occurring bioactive plant compound can overcome a memory unfriendly state. This supports the idea that bioactive substances may mitigate memory-making deficits that, for example, occur with ageing.
Salt preferences of honey bee water foragers
Authors: Lau Pierre W. , Nieh James C.
Published: January 2016

The importance of dietary salt may explain why bees are often observed collecting brackish water, a habit that may expose them to harmful xenobiotics. However, the individual salt preferences of water-collecting bees were not known. We measured the proboscis extension reflex (PER) response of Apis mellifera water foragers to 0-10% w/w solutions of Na, Mg, and K, which provide essential nutrients,. We also tested phosphate, which can deter foraging. Bees exhibited strong preferences: the most PER responses for 1.5-3% Na and 1.5% Mg. However, K and phosphate were largely aversive and elicited PER responses only for the lowest concentrations, suggesting a way to deter bees from visiting contaminated water. We then analyzed the salt content of water sources that bees collected in urban and semi-urban environments. Bees collected water with a wide range of salt concentrations, but most collected water sources had relatively low salt concentrations, with the exception of seawater and swimming pools, which had >0.6% Na. The high levels of PER responsiveness elicited by 1.5-3% Na may explain why bees are willing to collect such salty water. Interestingly, bees exhibited significant high individual variation in salt preferences: individual identity accounted for 32% of PER responses. Salt specialization may therefore occur in water foragers.
Biomechanical control of vocal plasticity in an echolocating bat
Authors: Luo Jinhong , Wiegrebe Lutz
Published: January 2016

Many animal species adjust the spectral composition of their acoustic signals to variable environments. However, the physiological foundation of such spectral plasticity is often unclear. The source-filter theory of sound production, initially established for human speech, applies to vocalizations in birds and mammals. According to this theory, adjusting the spectral structure of vocalizations could be achieved by modifying either the laryngeal/syringeal source signal or the vocal tract which filters the source signal. Here we show that in Pale spear-nosed bats, spectral plasticity induced by moderate level background noise is dominated by the vocal tract rather than the laryngeal source signal. Specifically, we found that with increasing background noise levels, bats consistently decreased the spectral centroid of their echolocation calls up to 3.2 kHz, together with other spectral parameters. In contrast, noise-induced changes in fundamental frequency were small (maximally 0.1 kHz) and were inconsistent across individuals. Changes in spectral centroid did not correlate with changes in fundamental frequency, whereas correlated negatively with changes in call amplitude. Furthermore, while the bats consistently increased the call amplitude with increasing noise levels (the Lombard effect), increases in call amplitude typically did not lead to increases in fundamental frequency. In summary, our results suggest that at least to a certain degree echolocating bats are capable of adjusting call amplitude, fundament frequency, and spectral parameters independently.
The implications of reduced metabolic rate in a resource-limited coral
Authors: Jacobson Lianne M. , Edmunds Peter J. , Muller Erik B. , Nisbet Roger M.
Published: January 2016

Many organisms exhibit depressed metabolism when resources are limited, a change that makes it possible to balance an energy budget. For symbiotic reef corals, daily cycles of light and periods of intense cloud cover can be chronic causes of food limitation through reduced photosynthesis. Furthermore, coral bleaching is common in present day reefs, creating a context in which metabolic depression could have beneficial value to corals. In the present study, corals (massive Porites) were exposed to an extreme case of resource limitation by starving them of food and light for 20 d. When resources were limited, the corals depressed area-normalized respiration to 37% of initial rates, coral biomass declined to 64% of initial amounts, yet the corals continued to produce skeletal mass. However, the declines in biomass cannot account for the declines in area-normalized respiration, as mass-specific respiration declined to 30% of initial rates. Thus, these corals appear to be capable of metabolic depression. It is possible that some coral species are better able to depress metabolic rates, such variation could explain differential survival during conditions that limit resources (e.g., shading). Furthermore, we found that maintenance of existing biomass, in part, supports the production of skeletal mass. This association could be explained if maintenance supplies needed energy (e.g., ATP) or inorganic carbon (i.e., CO2) that otherwise limits the production of skeletal mass. Finally, the observed metabolic depression can be explained as change in pool sizes, and does not require a change in metabolic rules.
Learning to Apply Algebra in the Community for Adults With Intellectual Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Rodriguez Anthony M.
Published: January 2016

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are routinely excluded from algebra and other high-level mathematics courses. High school students with IDD take courses in arithmetic and life skills rather than having an opportunity to learn algebra. Yet algebra skills can support the learning of money and budgeting skills. This study explores the feasibility of algebra instruction for adults with IDD through an experimental curriculum. Ten individuals with IDD participated in a 6-week course framing mathematics concepts within the context of everyday challenges in handling money. The article explores classroom techniques, discusses student strategies, and proposes possible avenues for future research analyzing mathematics instructional design strategies for individuals with IDD.
DAS TECNOLOGIAS ÀS TECNOLOGIAS DIGITAIS E SEU USO NA EDUCAÇÃO MATEMÁTICA
Authors: Almeida Helber Rangel Formiga Leite de
Published: January 2016

As tecnologias e seu uso nas aulas de Matemática tem sido tema de muitas pesquisas entre os que fazem Educação Matemática. Entretanto, se pensarmos que as tecnologias, desde os tempos remotos, vêm ditando o comportamento do homem e da sociedade em que vive, sua influência dentro do cenário educacional não está ocorrendo há pouco tempo. Pensando assim, este artigo nasce com a intenção de trazer uma história das tecnologias e do seu uso na Educação Matemática. Para isso, o texto apresenta inicialmente minha compreensão acerca de tecnologia e da sua importância na evolução da sociedade em que vivemos. Em seguida, guiado pelas ideias de Tecnologias da Inteligência, apresento algumas tecnologias, sua importância e uso, no processo de ensino e aprendizagem da Matemática. Em minhas considerações finais trago o meu entendimento de como as tecnologias e a educação moldaram, cada uma, a história da outra.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v26i2.2831
CONCEPÇÕES DOS PROFESSORES DA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL A RESPEITO DO PROCESSO AVALIATIVO
Authors: Trevisani Josiane De Almeida , Souza Filho Moacir Pereira de
Published: January 2016

O artigo apresenta como tema o processo avaliativo. Partindo do pressuposto de que há uma dicotomia entre teoria e prática, este artigo tem por objetivo investigar as práticas de professores das creches e pré-escolas do município de Presidente Prudente. Sua finalidade é verificar se a “avaliação mediadora” tem sido preterida em função do cumprimento das exigências burocráticas. O instrumento de investigação se baseou num um questionário aberto e o método de investigação esteve fundamentado na “Análise de Conteúdo”. Os resultados evidenciaram, que a maioria dos professores acompanha o desenvolvimento dos alunos, principalmente, por meio de portifólios. Eles conhecem as diretrizes curriculares, embora desconhecam os referenciais teóricos. Eles se mostraram favoráveis a alfabetização precoce e apontaram como principal carência a necessidade da orientação de outros profissionais.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v26i2.3036
PSICANÁLISE, ÉTICA E INCLUSÃO ESCOLAR
Authors: Lerner Ana Beatriz Coutinho , Voltolini Rinaldo
Published: January 2016

Este artigo tem como objetivo central investigar as formas que o discurso sobre a Educação Inclusiva assume na contemporaneidade e alguns efeitos desse discurso para a subjetividade das crianças, pais e profissionais da escola. Para isso, realizamos inicialmente um levantamento bibliográfico acerca da inclusão escolar apresentando as origens desse movimento, os principais marcos legais que organizam o campo e as perspectivas teórico-críticas atuais. Em seguida, apresentamos elementos do discursivo sobre a inclusão analisados à luz da noção de ética apresentada por Lacan no Seminário, livro 7: A Ética da Psicanálise e algumas contribuições que esta noção psicanalítica pode aportar para a Educação Inclusiva.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v26i2.3185
A ESCOLA INCLUSIVA: CONCEITOS, PRÁTICAS, PROFESSORES E TECNOLOGIAS
Authors: Albalat Jordi Quintana , Bo Barnadas Imma
Published: January 2016

Neste artigo apresentamos um breve panorama de conceitos, políticas e práticas que vêm ocorrendo em nossa sociedade que vão da exclusão das pessoas com deficiência ou necessidades educativas especiais até a sua inclusão. Refletimos sobre adaptação, adequação e implicações das várias estruturas organizacionais e de participação. Também revisamos praticas, estratégias e metodologias atuais usadas para abordar a diversidade dos alunos; refletimos sobre a formação de professores e o compromisso do professor; e analisamos a aplicação das Tecnologias de Informação e Comunicação na escola inclusiva, tanto na sua utilização como Tecnologias Assistivas, como Tecnologias para Aprendizagem e Conhecimento, ou como ferramentas cognitivas, e finalmente apresentamos algumas propostas de ação.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v26i2.3398
AS ADEQUAÇÕES CURRICULARES E A IMPORTÂNCIA DO APOIO AO PROFESSOR
Authors: Bezerra Ana Maria De Oliveira , Fonseca-Janes Cristiane Regina Xavier
Published: January 2016

A matrícula dos alunos público-alvo da Educação Especial nas escolas públicas não garante a efetivação da educação inclusiva, eles necessitam de acesso a um currículo adaptado para o desenvolvimento de suas potencialidades. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar se as adequações curriculares são realizadas em salas regulares com alunos com deficiência intelectual; observar as ações estratégicas e analisar se os professores do ensino regular contam com o auxílio do professor da Sala de Apoio e Atendimento a Inclusão (SAAI). Os dados foram coletados em duas salas de aula em uma escola da prefeitura de São Paulo. O procedimento ocorreu por meio de um protocolo de observação e entrevistas com os professores. Os resultados demonstraram que existe uma discrepância nas ações dos professores em relação às adequações curriculares e nas interações com o aluno com deficiência intelectual. Os entrevistados concordam que não há um horário específico para os encontros de orientação com o professor da SAAI.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v26i2.3461
(RE)-ENGAJAMENTO COM TEORIAS FEMINISTAS DO CONHECIMENTO ATRAVÉS E ENTRE (DES)LOCAMENTOS SOCIAIS
Authors: Baker Alison Mary
Published: January 2016

Este artigo explora as tensões e deslocamentos ligados a minha pesquisa de campo de doutorado em El Salvador. Reflito sobre minhas experiências como uma psicóloga comunitária em processo de formação (ou - emergente), engajada com teorias feministas para subsidiar minha praxis e apontar novas direções para a pesquisa na área da justiça social, fundada na ética , através da observação de práticas de conhecimento inclusivas.http://dx.doi.org/10.14572/nuances.v26i2.4038
Decentralized Job Scheduling in the Cloud Based on a Spatially Generalized Prisoner’s Dilemma Game
Authors: Gąsior Jakub , Seredyński Franciszek
Published: January 2016

We present in this paper a novel distributed solution to a security-aware job scheduling problem in cloud computing infrastructures. We assume that the assignment of the available resources is governed exclusively by the specialized brokers assigned to individual users submitting their jobs to the system. The goal of this scheme is allocating a limited quantity of resources to a specific number of jobs minimizing their execution failure probability and total completion time. Our approach is based on the Pareto dominance relationship and implemented at an individual user level. To select the best scheduling strategies from the resulting Pareto frontiers and construct a global scheduling solution, we developed a decision-making mechanism based on the game-theoretic model of Spatial Prisoner’s Dilemma, realized by selfish agents operating in the two-dimensional cellular automata space. Their behavior is conditioned by the objectives of the various entities involved in the scheduling process and driven towards a Nash equilibrium solution by the employed social welfare criteria. The performance of the scheduler applied is verified by a number of numerical experiments. The related results show the effectiveness and scalability of the scheme in the presence of a large number of jobs and resources involved in the scheduling process.
Observability and Controllability Analysis for Sandwich Systems with Backlash
Authors: Luo Na , Tan Yonghong , Dong Ruili
Published: January 2016

In this paper, an approach to analyze the observability and controllability of sandwich systems with backlash is proposed. In this method, a non-smooth state-space function is used to describe the sandwich systems with backlash which are also non-smooth non-linear systems. Then, a linearization method based on non-smooth optimization is proposed to derive a linearized state-space function to approximate the non-smooth sandwich systems within a bounded region around the equilibrium point that we are interested in. Afterwards, both observability and controllability matrices are constructed and the methods to analyze the observability as well as controllability of sandwich system with backlash are derived. Finally, numerical examples are presented to validate the proposed method.