bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The color removal and fate of organic pollutants in a pilot-scale MBR-NF combined process treating textile wastewater with high water recovery
Authors: Li Kun , Jiang Chao , Wang Jianxing , Wei Yuansong
Published: December 2015

A combination of membrane bioreactor (MBR) and nanofiltration (NF) was tested at pilot-scale treating textile wastewater from the wastewater treatment station of a textile mill in Wuqing District of Tianjin (China). The MBR-NF process showed a much better treatment efficiency on the removal of the chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon, color and turbidity in comparison with the conventional processes. The water recovery rate was enhanced to over 90% through the recycling of NF concentrate to the MBR, while the MBR-NF showed a stable permeate water quality that met with standards and could be directly discharged or further reused. The recycled NF concentrate caused an accumulation of refractory compounds in the MBR, which significantly influenced the treatment efficiency of the MBR. However, the sludge characteristics showed that the activated sludge activity was not obviously inhibited. The results of fluorescence spectra and molecular weight distribution indicated that those recalcitrant pollutants were mostly protein-like substances and a small amount of humic acid-like substances (650–6,000 Da), which contributed to membrane fouling of NF. Although the penetrated protein-like substances caused the residual color in NF permeate, the MBR-NF process was suitable for the advanced treatment and reclamation of textile wastewater under high water yield.
Possibilities for teacher’s preventive actions in regard bullying behavior of students
Authors: Markovic Marija
Published: December 2015

Prevention of school bullying is an important task of modern educational
process, given the seriousness of its consequences for students who behave
violently and for those who are exposed to bullying, as well as for other
classmates. A teacher, who in comparison with other school staff is in daily
contact with students, has an extremely important role in prevention of
bullying and in creating encouraging school climate. Through systematized and
critical reflection on the views of numerous authors, this article aims at
pointing out importance of certain aspects of teachers? role in prevention of
bullying, and importance of creating a positive school climate as an
important prerequisite for preventive activity of teachers, as well as at
emphasizing possible obstacles to adequate preventive actions of teachers. In
the last section, changes made in recent years in Serbia in regard to
prevention of bullying behavior of students in the education system are
considered.
Graphene oxide-loaded shortening as an environmentally friendly heat transfer fluid with high thermal conductivity
Authors: Vongsetskul Thammasit , Prakulpawong Peeranut , Sirisomboon Panmanas , Tantirungrotechai Jonggol , Surasit Chanasuk , Tangboriboonrat Pramuan
Published: December 2015

Graphene oxide-loaded shortening (GOS), an environmentally friendly heat transfer fluid with high thermal conductivity, was successfully prepared by mixing graphene oxide (GO) with a shortening. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that GO particles, prepared by the modified Hummer?s method, dispersed well in the shortening. In addition, the latent heat of GOS decreased while their viscosity and thermal conductivity increased with increasing the amount of loaded GO. The thermal conductivity of the GOS with 4% GO was higher than that of pure shortening of ca. three times, from 0.1751 to 0.6022 W/mK, and increased with increasing temperature. The GOS started to be degraded at ca. 360?C. After being heated and cooled at 100?C for 100 cycles, its viscosity slightly decreased and no chemical degradation was observed. Therefore, the prepared GOS is potentially used as environmentally friendly heat transfer fluid at high temperature.
Process modelling and techno-economic analysis of natural gas combined cycle integrated with calcium looping
Authors: Erans María , Hanak Dawid , Mir Jordi , Anthony Edward , Manovic Vasilije
Published: December 2015

Calcium looping (CaL) is promising for large-scale CO2 capture in the power
generation and industrial sectors due to the cheap sorbent used and the
relatively low energy penalties achieved with this process. Because of the
high operating temperatures the heat utilisation is a major advantage of the
process, since a significant amount of power can be generated from it.
However, this increases its complexity and capital costs. Therefore, not only
the energy efficiency performance is important for these cycles, but also the
capital costs must be taken into account, i.e. techno-economic analyses are
required in order to determine which parameters and configurations are
optimal to enhance technology viability in different integration scenarios.
In this study the integration scenarios of CaL cycles and natural gas
combined cycles (NGCC) are explored. The process models of the NGCC and CaL
capture plant are developed to explore the most promising scenarios for
NGCC-CaL integration with regards to efficiency penalties. Two scenarios are
analysed in detail, and show that the system with heat recovery steam
generator (HRSG) before and after the capture plant exhibited better
performance of 49.1% efficiency compared with that of 45.7% when only one
HRSG is located after the capture plant. However, the techno-economic
analyses showed that the more energy efficient case, with two HRSGs, implies
relatively higher cost of electricity (COE), 44.1?/MWh, when compared to that
of the reference plant system (33.1?/MWh). The predicted cost of CO2 avoided
for the case with two HRSGS is 29.3 ?/ton CO2.
Using “The Wave” to Facilitate Participants' Understanding of the Implicit Pressures Associated With the Auditing Profession
Authors: Stefaniak Chad M.
Published: December 2015

This case presents a collaborative and experiential learning technique that can be used to engage new auditing students in a classroom, or junior auditors in a training session, to facilitate their understanding of the social complexities and pressures associated with auditing. The case utilizes “the wave” (the collaborative activity performed at most stadium-based events) to represent the flow of information through an accounting system, and demonstrate how auditors are often put in a position in which they must decide how to handle the implicit pressures resultant from identifying a problem in an accounting system. The case creates real-world social and psychological pressures, and requires a participant to navigate the social awkwardness of identifying poorly performing participants and to choose between the well-being of a handful of participants compared with the well-being of the entire class. The case, which requires only three participant volunteers, no student pre-work, and about 25 minutes of class time, can stimulate dialogue about audit-related pressures, the audit risk model, fraud risk, professional responsibilities (and results of auditors not fulfilling their professional responsibilities), as well as the importance of internal controls.
Emission Characteristics and Effect of Battery Drain in “Budget” Curing Lights
Authors: AlShaafi MM , Harlow JE , Price HL , Rueggeberg FA , Labrie D , AlQahtani MQ , Price RB
Published: December 2015

Recently, “budget” dental light-emitting diode (LED)–based light-curing units (LCUs) have become available over the Internet. These LCUs claim equal features and performance compared to LCUs from major manufacturers, but at a lower cost. This study examined radiant power, spectral emission, beam irradiance profiles, effective emission ratios, and the ability of LCUs to provide sustained output values during the lifetime of a single, fully charged battery. Three examples of each budget LCU were purchased over the Internet (KY-L029A and KY-L036A, Foshan Keyuan Medical Equipment Co, and the Woodpecker LED.B, Guilin Woodpecker Medical Instrument Co). Major dental manufacturers provided three models: Elipar S10 and Paradigm (3M ESPE) and the Bluephase G2 (Ivoclar Vivadent). Radiant power emissions were measured using a laboratory-grade thermopile system, and the spectral emission was captured using a spectroradiometer system. Irradiance profiles at the tip end were measured using a modified laser beam profiler, and the proportion of optical tip area that delivered in excess of 400 mW/cm2 (termed the effective emission ratio) was displayed using calibrated beam profile images. Emitted power was monitored over sequential exposures from each LCU starting at a fully charged battery state. The results indicated that there was less than a 100-mW/cm2 difference between manufacturer-stated average tip end irradiance and the measured output. All the budget lights had smaller optical tip areas, and two demonstrated lower effective emission ratios than did the units from the major manufacturers. The budget lights showed discontinuous values of irradiance over their tip ends. One unit delivered extremely high output levels near the center of the light tip. Two of the budget lights were unable to maintain sustained and stable light output as the battery charge decreased with use, whereas those lights from the major manufacturers all provided a sustained light output for at least 100 exposures as well as visual and audible indications that the units required recharging.
Effects of Surface Treatments on the Bond Strength Between Resin Cement and a New Zirconia-reinforced Lithium Silicate Ceramic
Authors: Sato TP , Anami LC , Melo RM , Valandro LF , Bottino MA
Published: December 2015

This study evaluated the effects of surface treatments on the bond strength between the new zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate ceramic (ZLS) and resin cement. VITA Suprinity blocks were crystallized according to the manufacturer's instructions and randomly assigned to six groups (N=36; n=6), according to the surface treatment to be performed and aging conditions: HF20, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 20 seconds, baseline (control); HF20tc, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 20 seconds, aging; HF40, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 40 seconds, baseline; HF40tc, 10% hydrofluoric acid for 40 seconds, aging; CJ, CoJet sandblasting (25 seconds, 2.5 bar, 15-mm distance), baseline; and CJtc, CoJet sandblasting (25 seconds, 2.5 bar, 15-mm distance), aging. All specimens were silanized (Monobond S) and cemented with Panavia F to newly polymerized Z250 resin blocks. After specimens were immersed for 24 hours in distilled water at 37° C, 1-mm2 cross-section microbars were obtained by means of a cutting machine under constant cooling. Baseline groups were immediately tested, whereas “tc” groups were used to analyze the effect of aging on bond strength (10,000 thermal cycles, 5/55°C, 30-second bath). The microtensile bond strength test was performed with a universal testing machine (0.5 mm/min), and bond strength (MPa) was calculated when the load-to-failure (N) was divided by the adhesive area (mm2). We also evaluated the surface roughness (Sa, average roughness; Str, texture aspect ratio; Sdr, developed interfacial area ratio) and the contact angle resulting from the treatments. Data were statistically analyzed by one- or two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's test (all α=5%). The failure mode of each specimen was evaluated by stereomicroscopy, and representative specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. The microtensile bond strength was affected by the surface conditioning (p<0.0001), storage condition (p<0.0001), and the interaction between them (p=0.0012). The adhesion for HF etching was stable, whereas for CJ, aging significantly damaged the adhesion. Most failures were predominantly adhesive between ceramic and cement (52.6%). The roughness of the treated samples was higher compared with that of polished specimens for the three evaluated parameters (Sa, Str, and Sdr; all p<0.0001). Contact angle was also influenced by treatments (p<0.0001), with the CJ group showing values similar to those of control specimens. It can be concluded that the three surface treatment techniques present favorable immediate results, but silica coating was not effective in maintaining the bond strength over the long term.
Restoration of Severely Compromised Teeth With Modern Operative Techniques
Authors: Lenhard M
Published: December 2015

This case report illustrates how to restore severely compromised teeth with direct composite restorations. The size of the restorations presented is often considered by dentists as being a contraindication for direct composites. Hence, the technique is explained step by step, addressing the crucial points.
Engaging Chinese international undergraduate students in the American university
Authors: Ross Heidi , Chen Yajing
Published: December 2015

Vincent Tinto's theory of academic and social integration provides a framework for investigating perceived problems associated with Chinese international students' engagement at a public research-intensive university in the U.S. Midwest ('Midwest' University). These 'problems' – classroom silence, segregation and instrumentalism – are often understood in cultural terms, and we describe sociocultural values that might influence such behaviour. We also contend that culture, on its own, cannot wholly explain the complexity of student behaviours on college campuses. In a case study of Midwest University's Business School, we show how institutional policies do much to shape Chinese students' engagement. We conclude that popular perceptions of Chinese student engagement are simplistic. Chinese students are not indifferent engagers; rather, their interaction with campus life needs to be understood as embedded within complex cultural and institutional contexts.
(Self)Confidence or compliance: Students' experience of academic quality in study-abroad contexts
Authors: Jæger Kirsten , Gram Malene
Published: December 2015

This article investigates the views of quality in higher education held by two groups of international students: Chinese students at a Danish university and Danish students at Chinese universities. Given that there are no agreed international 'quality standards' in higher education, we analysed the students' understanding of the 'quality values' of their host institution and their own preferences and priorities. Representatives of the two groups participated in an interview study addressing the experience of academic quality at their study-abroad university. An intriguing trend was identified in the data. Danish students felt confident that they themselves were able to judge the academic quality of programmes, classes and lecturers both at home and abroad. The participating Chinese students tended to express themselves in slightly depreciatory terms regarding the academic quality values of their home universities. Regarding research methods and theoretical knowledge, they adopted the quality values of the Danish host university and referred to these values when evaluating their home universities.
From free to fee: Neoliberalising preferential policy measures for minority education in China
Authors: Yamada Naomi C.F.
Published: December 2015

In both China and in the United States, policies of 'positive discrimination' were originally intended to lessen educational and economic inequalities, and to provide equal opportunities. As with affirmative action in the American context, China's 'preferential policies' are broad-reaching, but are best known for taking ethnic background into consideration for university admissions. The rhetoric of China's preferential policy discourse has remained surprisingly constant but shifts to a market-economy and incorporation of neoliberal elements have resulted in fee-based reforms that discourage inclusion of poorer students. In addition, as ethnic minority students principally from Western China compete to enter 'self-funded' college preparatory programmes, public funding is being directed towards the achievement of 'world-class' universities overwhelmingly concentrated in Eastern China. In contrast, in the United States, the difficulty of defending affirmative action in the face of a neoliberal climate has resulted in a shift in policy. If in China the policy remains even as the 'rule' has changed (Arno 2009), in contrast, in American institutions the rhetoric has shifted away from affirmative action in favour of diversity but efforts to hold on to the rules that promote equal opportunities remain.
Early-career anthropologists: Vocation and occupation
Authors: Follis Karolina S. , Rogler Christian R.
Published: December 2015

In 2004, Susan Brin Hyatt reported from a roundtable session organised by the American Anthropological Association ‘a dispiriting picture of academic life in the early years of the 21st century’, due to, amongst other things, ‘the casualization of the academic workforce’ (Hyatt 2004: 25–26). Less than a decade later, Joëlle Fanghanel notes that the ‘increased casualization of academic staff [has] significantly affected the evolution of academic work and working patterns’ (2012: 5). Casualisation takes different forms in different academic contexts, from the ‘adjunctification’ of teaching in the U.S.A. to precarious grant-funded postdoc positions common in Europe and the U.K. and the efforts to introduce other forms of temporary academic employment in New Zealand (Shore and Davidson 2014) and Australia (Barcan 2014). Seeking to contribute to these and other current discussions on the future of research and higher education in the era of privatisation and funding cuts, Hana Cervinkova and Karolina Follis convened the panel Anthropology as a Vocation and Occupation, held on 3 August 2014 at the 13th Biennial Conference of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) in Tallinn, Estonia.
Economic value of treating lumbar disc herniation in Brazil
Authors: Falavigna Asdrubal , Scheverin Nicolas , Righesso Orlando , Teles Alisson R. , Gullo Maria Carolina , Cheng Joseph S. , Riew K. Daniel
Published: December 2015

OBJECT

Lumbar discectomy is one of the most common surgical spine procedures. In order to understand the value of this surgical care, it is important to understand the costs to the health care system and patient for good results. The objective of this study was to evaluate for the first time the cost-effectiveness of spine surgery in Latin America for lumbar discectomy in terms of cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained for patients in Brazil.

METHODS

The authors performed a prospective cohort study involving 143 consecutive patients who underwent open discectomy for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Patient-reported outcomes were assessed utilizing the SF-6D, which is derived from a 12-month variation of the SF-36. Direct medical costs included medical reimbursement, costs of hospital care, and overall resource consumption. Disability losses were considered indirect costs. A 4-year horizon with 3% discounting was applied to health-utilities estimates. Sensitivity analysis was performed by varying utility gain by 20%. The costs were expressed in Reais (R$) and US dollars ($), applying an exchange rate of 2.4:1 (the rate at the time of manuscript preparation).

RESULTS

The direct and indirect costs of open lumbar discectomy were estimated at an average of R$3426.72 ($1427.80) and R$2027.67 ($844.86), respectively. The mean total cost of treatment was estimated at R$5454.40 ($2272.66) (SD R$2709.17 [$1128.82]). The SF-6D utility gain was 0.044 (95% CI 0.03197–0.05923, p = 0.017) at 12 months. The 4-year discounted QALY gain was 0.176928. The estimated cost-utility ratio was R$30,828.35 ($12,845.14) per QALY gained. The sensitivity analysis showed a range of R$25,690.29 ($10,714.28) to R$38,535.44 ($16,056.43) per QALY gained.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of open lumbar discectomy to treat LDH is associated with a significant improvement in patient outcomes as measured by the SF-6D. Open lumbar discectomy performed in the Brazilian supplementary health care system provides a cost-utility ratio of R$30,828.35 ($12,845.14) per QALY. The value of acceptable cost-effectiveness will vary by country and region.
Cancer screening, prevention, and treatment in people with mental illness
Authors: Weinstein Lara C. , Stefancic Ana , Cunningham Amy T. , Hurley Katelyn E. , Cabassa Leopodo J. , Wender Richard C.
Published: December 2015

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE

People with mental illness die decades earlier in the United States compared with the general population. Most of this disparity is related to preventable and treatable chronic conditions, with many studies finding cancer as the second leading cause of death. Individual lifestyle factors, such as smoking or limited adherence to treatment, are often cited as highly significant issues in shaping risk among persons with mental illness. However, many contextual or systems‐level factors exacerbate these individual factors and may fundamentally drive health disparities among people with mental illness. The authors conducted an integrative review to summarize the empirical literature on cancer prevention, screening, and treatment for people with mental illness. Although multiple interventions are being developed and tested to address tobacco dependence and obesity in these populations, the evidence for effectiveness is quite limited, and essentially all prevention interventions focus at the individual level. This review identified only one published article describing evidence‐based interventions to promote cancer screening and improve cancer treatment in people with mental illness. On the basis of a literature review and the experience and expertise of the authors, each section in this article concludes with suggestions at the individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy levels that may improve cancer prevention, screening, and treatment in people with mental illness.CA Cancer J Clin 2016;66:133–151. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
In silico and antithrombotic studies of 1,3,4-oxadiazoles derived from benzimidazole
Authors: Vishwanathan B. , Gurupadayya B. M. , Sairam K. Venkata
Published: December 2015

In the present study, a series of 1,3,4-oxadiazole derivatives (4a-4k) derived from benzimidazole were docked onto factor Xa (PDB: 1NFY) protein using SYBYLX 2.1. and also evaluated for in vitro clot lysis for thrombolytic activity. The synthesized molecules were also screened for in silico ADME studies. The molecular docking studies highlighted that the molecules showed high affinity towards 1NFY with higher docking score and the in silico ADME results were promising and indicated that the molecules holds great potential as a drug candidate. The thrombolytic evaluation was performed for decrease in solid clot weight by the clot lysis study at a concentration of 6.25, 12.5 and 25 µM strengths, respectively. The results of in vitro clot lysis for thrombolytic evaluation revealed that the tested compounds 4a-4k exhibited significant clot lysis with respect to negative control phosphate buffered saline and in comparison to the reference drug streptokinase (30,000 IU). Among all the tested compounds, compound 4j, 4d and 4g exhibited potent thrombolytic activity with EC50 value of 16.2, 18.1 and 23.7 µM, respectively. The thrombolytic efficacy investigation highlights that the synthesized compound 4j could be considered for further clinical studies to ascertain its possible hit as thrombolytic agents.

 
Pathological Brain Detection by a Novel Image Feature—Fractional Fourier Entropy
Authors: Wang Shuihua , Zhang Yudong , Yang Xiaojun , Sun Ping , Dong Zhengchao , Liu Aijun , Yuan Ti-Fei
Published: December 2015

Aim: To detect pathological brain conditions early is a core procedure for patients so as to have enough time for treatment. Traditional manual detection is either cumbersome, or expensive, or time-consuming. We aim to offer a system that can automatically identify pathological brain images in this paper. Method: We propose a novel image feature, viz., Fractional Fourier Entropy (FRFE), which is based on the combination of Fractional Fourier Transform (FRFT) and Shannon entropy. Afterwards, the Welch’s t-test (WTT) and Mahalanobis distance (MD) were harnessed to select distinguishing features. Finally, we introduced an advanced classifier: twin support vector machine (TSVM). Results: A 10 × K-fold stratified cross validation test showed that this proposed “FRFE + WTT + TSVM” yielded an accuracy of 100.00%, 100.00%, and 99.57% on datasets that contained 66, 160, and 255 brain images, respectively. Conclusions: The proposed “FRFE + WTT + TSVM” method is superior to 20 state-of-the-art methods.
Preparation and Compatibility Evaluation of Polypropylene/High Density Polyethylene Polyblends
Authors: Lin Jia-Horng , Pan Yi-Jun , Liu Chi-Fan , Huang Chien-Lin , Hsieh Chien-Teng , Chen Chih-Kuang , Lin Zheng-Ian , Lou Ching-Wen
Published: December 2015

This study proposes melt-blending polypropylene (PP) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) that have a similar melt flow index (MFI) to form PP/HDPE polyblends. The influence of the content of HDPE on the properties and compatibility of polyblends is examined by using a tensile test, flexural test, Izod impact test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarized light microscopy (PLM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The SEM results show that PP and HDPE are incompatible polymers with PP being a continuous phase and HDPE being a dispersed phase. The FTIR results show that the combination of HDPE does not influence the chemical structure of PP, indicating that the polyblends are made of a physical blending. The DSC and XRD results show that PP and HDPE are not compatible, and the combination of HDPE is not correlated with the crystalline structure and stability of PP. The PLM results show that the combination of HDPE causes stacking and incompatibility between HDPE and PP spherulites, and PP thus has incomplete spherulite morphology and a smaller spherulite size. However, according to mechanical property test results, the combination of HDPE improves the impact strength of PP.
Formation of High-Purity Indium Oxide Nanoparticles and Their Application to Sensitive Detection of Ammonia
Authors: Bhardwaj Sanjeev , Bhardwaj Neha , Kukkar Manil , Sharma Amit , Kim Ki-Hyun , Deep Akash
Published: December 2015

High-purity In2O3 nanoparticles were recovered from scrap indium tin oxide substrates in a stepwise process involving acidic leaching, liquid-liquid extraction with a phosphine oxide extractant, and combustion of the organic phase. The morphological and structural parameters of the recovered nanoparticles were investigated to support the formation of the desired products. These In2O3 nanoparticles were used for sensitive sensing of ammonia gas using a four-probe electrode device. The proposed sensor offered very quick response time (around 10 s) and highly sensitive detection of ammonia (at a detection limit of 1 ppm).
Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a Spray Deposition Sensing System for Improving Pesticide Application
Authors: Kesterson Melissa , Luck Joe , Sama Michael
Published: December 2015

An electronic, resistance-based sensor array and data acquisition system was developed to measure spray deposition from hydraulic nozzles. The sensor surface consisted of several parallel tin plated copper traces of varying widths with varying gap widths. The system contained an embedded microprocessor to monitor output voltage corresponding to spray deposition every second. In addition, a wireless module was used to transmit the voltage values to a remote laptop. Tests were conducted in two stages to evaluate the performance of the sensor array in an attempt to quantify the spray deposition. Initial tests utilized manual droplet placement on the sensor surface to determine the effects of temperature and droplet size on voltage output. Secondary testing utilized a spray chamber to pass nozzles at different speeds above the sensor surface to determine if output varied based on different application rates or spray droplet classification. Results from this preliminary analysis indicated that manual droplets of 5 and 10 μL resulted in significantly different values from the sensors while temperature did not consistently affect output. Spray chamber test results indicated that different application rates and droplet sizes could be determined using the sensor array.
Microvesicle phenotypes are associated with transfusion requirements and mortality in subjects with severe injuries
Authors: Matijevic Nena , Wang Yao‐Wei W. , Holcomb John B. , Kozar Rosemary , Cardenas Jessica C. , Wade Charles E.
Published: December 2015

Background

Severe injury often results in substantial bleeding and mortality. Injury provokes cellular activation and release of extracellular vesicles. Circulating microvesicles (MVs) are predominantly platelet‐derived and highly procoagulant. They support hemostasis and vascular function. The roles of MVs in survival after severe injury are largely unknown. We hypothesized that altered MV phenotypes would be associated with transfusion requirements and poor outcomes.

Methods

This single‐centre study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. The study cohort consisted of patients with major trauma requiring blood product transfusion and 26 healthy controls. Plasma samples for MVs were collected upon admission to the emergency department (n=169) and post‐resuscitation (n=42), and analysed by flow cytometry for MV counts and cellular origin: platelet (PMV), erythrocyte (RMV), leukocyte (LMV), endothelial (EMV), tissue factor (TFMV), and annexin V (AVMV). Twenty‐four hour mortality is the outcome measurement used to classify survivors versus non‐survivors. Data were compared over time and analysed with demographic and clinical data.

Results

The median age was 34 (IQR 23, 51), 72% were male, Injury Severity Score was 29 (IQR 19, 36), and 24 h mortality was 13%. MV levels and phenotypes differed between patients and controls. Elevated admission EMVs were found both in survivors (409/µL) and non‐survivors (393/µL) compared to controls (23/µL, p<0.001) and persisted over time. Admission levels of PMV, AVMV, RMV, and TFMV were significantly lower in patients who died compared to survivors, but were not independently associated with the 24 h mortality rate. Patients with low MV levels at admission received the most blood products within the first 24 h. AVMV and PMV levels either increased over time or stabilized in survivors but decreased in non‐survivors, resulting in significantly lower levels at intensive care unit admission in non‐survivors (1,048 vs. 1,880 AVMV/µL, p<0.00004 and 1,245 PMP/µL vs. 1,866 PMP/µL, p=0.003).

Conclusion

Severe injury results in endothelial activation and altered MV phenotypes. Significant differences in specific MV phenotypes or changes over time were associated with blood product requirements and the 24 h mortality rate.
Ethical Responsibilities of Physicians: Capital Punishment in the 21st Century
Authors: Rosenbaum Karen B. , Darby William Connor , Weinstock Robert
Published: December 2015

The United States is in the company of only 22 other countries with the death penalty. The American Medical Association is among many medical professional organizations that prohibit the participation of physicians in the physical act of execution. Despite these clear guidelines, debate remains regarding physician involvement in various aspects of death penalty cases. This article outlines different positions that physicians and specifically forensic psychiatrists have taken on this issue. Our position is that given the overwhelming secondary duty related to their physician role—specifically to do no harm—forensic psychiatrists should not use their expertise if they believe their involvement will be used for the primary purpose of obtaining a death penalty. Of necessity, forensic evaluations can do harm. But when something as extreme as death is concerned, the secondary medical duties preclude directly facilitating a person's death.

[
Psychiatr Ann
. 2015;45(12):615–621.]
Reflections on Death Penalty Evaluations: “How Can You Sleep At Night?”
Authors: Reynolds James B.
Published: December 2015

Death penalty cases challenge the forensic expert professionally, emotionally, and ethically. The threat of the ultimate punishment our society can inflict calls for the ultimate in professional care from the examiner. Evaluations of “competence to be executed” further heighten these challenges given the proximity of the evaluation, and the evaluee, to the execution of sentence. In this article, the author, a board-certified forensic psychiatrist (American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc.) employed by the State of Missouri, provides reflections upon his work on one recent case that garnered world-wide media attention due to the nature of the medical issues involved.

[
Psychiatry Ann
. 2015;45(12):626–629.]
Expert Opinion in a Post-Panetti Era
Authors: Stevens KyleeAnn
Published: December 2015

Although the United States Supreme Court expanded the criteria for competency to be executed to include a rational understanding of the reasons for the punishment in the 2007 case of
Panetti v Quarterman
, the court failed to provide specific guidelines for making that determination. Instead, it directed lower courts to rely upon psychiatric experts to make a determination of what qualifies a defendant to possess a rational understanding. In the 8 years since the ruling, the new criteria have been interpreted by experts and courts in different ways, only highlighting the need for further clarification of what it means to be competent for execution. This article highlights the Panetti decision and other high-profile cases that came after. It also examines the role of the forensic psychiatrist in capital cases and explores the ethical implications of participation given the guidance issued by professional organizations.

[
Psychiatr Ann.
2015;45(12):610–614.]
The Fractalkine-Receptor Axis Improves Human Colorectal Cancer Prognosis by Limiting Tumor Metastatic Dissemination
Authors: Erreni Marco , Siddiqui Imran , Marelli Giulia , Grizzi Fabio , Bianchi Paolo , Morone Diego , Marchesi Federica , Celesti Giuseppe , Pesce Samantha , Doni Andrea , Rumio Cristiano , Roncalli Massimo G. , Laghi Luigi , Mantovani Alberto , Allavena Paola
Published: December 2015

Human colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequent neoplasia in Western countries, and its metastatic progression is a major cause of cancer-related death. In search of specific molecules upregulated in CRC, with possible clinical relevance, we performed a differential gene-profiling analysis in surgery-derived CRC samples and adjacent uninvolved intestinal mucosa. The chemokine CX3CL1 and its specific receptor CX3CR1 were significantly upregulated in tumors. Higher expression of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 was confirmed by immunohistochemistry in 100 CRC tumor samples (stages I–III). Unexpectedly, high immune scores of CX3CL1 did not correlate with the density of tumor-infiltrating CD3+ T cells or CD68+ macrophages. Coexpression of ligand and receptor by tumor cells (axis-positive tumors) significantly associated with longer disease-free (p = 0.01) and disease-specific survival (p = 0.001). Conversely, axis-negative tumors (with low expression of both ligand and receptor) had increased risk of tumor relapse (p = 0.02), and increased likelihood of metachronous metastasis (p = 0.001), including after stage adjustment (p = 0.006). Transduction of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 in CRC tumor cell lines induced cell aggregation that strongly inhibited in vitro migration in chemotaxis assays. In a mouse model of spleen–liver metastases, cancer dissemination to liver was dramatically reduced in CX3CL1-CX3CR1–expressing tumors, and ligand–receptor interaction was confirmed in cancer cells in vivo by fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis. In conclusion, tumoral expression of the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 chemokine axis functions as a retention factor, increasing homotypic cell adhesion and limiting tumor spreading to metastatic sites. Lack or low levels of expression of CX3CL1-CX3CR1 by tumor cells identifies a group of CRC patients at increased risk of metastatic progression.
MASP-1 and MASP-2 Do Not Activate Pro–Factor D in Resting Human Blood, whereas MASP-3 Is a Potential Activator: Kinetic Analysis Involving Specific MASP-1 and MASP-2 Inhibitors
Authors: Oroszlán Gábor , Kortvely Elod , Szakács Dávid , Kocsis Andrea , Dammeier Sascha , Zeck Anne , Ueffing Marius , Závodszky Péter , Pál Gábor , Gál Péter , Dobó József
Published: December 2015

It had been thought that complement factor D (FD) is activated at the site of synthesis, and only FD lacking a propeptide is present in blood. The serum of mannose-binding lectin–associated serine protease (MASP)-1/3(−/−) mice contains pro-FD and has markedly reduced alternative pathway activity. It was suggested that MASP-1 and MASP-3 directly activate pro-FD; however, other experiments contradicted this view. We decided to clarify the involvement of MASPs in pro-FD activation in normal, as opposed to deficient, human plasma and serum. Human pro-FD containing an APPRGR propeptide was produced in insect cells. We measured its activation kinetics using purified active MASP-1, MASP-2, MASP-3, as well as thrombin. We found all these enzymes to be efficient activators, whereas MASP proenzymes lacked such activity. Pro-FD cleavage in serum or plasma was quantified by a novel assay using fluorescently labeled pro-FD. Labeled pro-FD was processed with t1/2s of ∼3 and 5 h in serum and plasma, respectively, showing that proteolytic activity capable of activating pro-FD exists in blood even in the absence of active coagulation enzymes. Our previously developed selective MASP-1 and MASP-2 inhibitors did not reduce pro-FD activation at reasonable concentration. In contrast, at very high concentration, the MASP-2 inhibitor, which is also a poor MASP-3 inhibitor, slowed down the activation. When recombinant MASPs were added to plasma, only MASP-3 could reduce the half-life of pro-FD. Combining our quantitative data, MASP-1 and MASP-2 can be ruled out as direct pro-FD activators in resting blood; however, active MASP-3 is a very likely physiological activator.
miRNAs as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Its Precursor Lesions: A Review
Authors: Alemar Bárbara , Gregório Cleandra , Ashton-Prolla Patricia
Published: December 2015

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a rare but lethal tumor, is difficult to diagnose without performing an invasive procedure. miRNAs are known to be deregulated in PDAC patients, and recent studies have shown that they can be used as diagnostic and prognostic of the disease. The detection of miRNAs in samples acquired through minimally or noninvasive procedures, such as serum, plasma, and saliva, can have a positive impact on the clinical management of these patients. This article is a comprehensive review of the major studies that have evaluated the expression of miRNAs as biomarkers in pancreatic cancer and its premalignant lesions.
IODP expedition 347: Baltic Sea basin paleoenvironment and biosphere
Authors: Andrén T. , Barker Jørgensen B. , Cotterill C. , Green S. ,   the IODP expedition 347 scientific party
Published: December 2015

Abstract. The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) expedition 347 cored sediments from different settings of the Baltic Sea covering the last glacial–interglacial cycle. The main aim was to study the geological development of the Baltic Sea in relation to the extreme climate variability of the region with changing ice cover and major shifts in temperature, salinity, and biological communities. Using the Greatship Manisha as a European Consortium for Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) mission-specific platform, we recovered 1.6 km of core from nine sites of which four were additionally cored for microbiology. The sites covered the gateway to the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean, several sub-basins in the southern Baltic Sea, a deep basin in the central Baltic Sea, and a river estuary in the north. The waxing and waning of the Scandinavian ice sheet has profoundly affected the Baltic Sea sediments. During the Weichselian, progressing glaciers reshaped the submarine landscape and displaced sedimentary deposits from earlier Quaternary time. As the glaciers retreated they left a complex pattern of till, sand, and lacustrine clay, which in the basins has since been covered by a thick deposit of Holocene, organic-rich clay. Due to the stratified water column of the brackish Baltic Sea and the recurrent and widespread anoxia, the deeper basins harbor laminated sediments that provide a unique opportunity for high-resolution chronological studies. The Baltic Sea is a eutrophic intra-continental sea that is strongly impacted by terrestrial runoff and nutrient fluxes. The Holocene deposits are recorded today to be up to 50 m deep and geochemically affected by diagenetic alterations driven by organic matter degradation. Many of the cored sequences were highly supersaturated with respect to methane, which caused strong degassing upon core recovery. The depth distributions of conservative sea water ions still reflected the transition at the end of the last glaciation from fresh-water clays to Holocene brackish mud. High-resolution sampling and analyses of interstitial water chemistry revealed the intensive mineralization and zonation of the predominant biogeochemical processes. Quantification of microbial cells in the sediments yielded some of the highest cell densities yet recorded by scientific drilling.
Trans-Amazon Drilling Project (TADP): origins and evolution of the forests, climate, and hydrology of the South American tropics
Authors: Baker P. A. , Fritz S. C. , Silva C. G. , Rigsby C. A. , Absy M. L. , Almeida R. P. , Caputo M. , Chiessi C. M. , Cruz F. W. , Dick C. W. , Feakins S. J. , Figueiredo J. , Freeman K. H. , Hoorn C. , Jaramillo C. , Kern A. K. , Latrubesse E. M. , Ledru M. P. , Marzoli A. , Myrbo A. , Noren A. , Piller W. E. , Ramos M. I. F. , Ribas C. C. , Trnadade R. , West A. J. , Wahnfried I. , Willard D. A.
Published: December 2015

Abstract. This article presents the scientific rationale for an ambitious ICDP drilling project to continuously sample Late Cretaceous to modern sediment in four different sedimentary basins that transect the equatorial Amazon of Brazil, from the Andean foreland to the Atlantic Ocean. The goals of this project are to document the evolution of plant biodiversity in the Amazon forests and to relate biotic diversification to changes in the physical environment, including climate, tectonism, and the surface landscape. These goals require long sedimentary records from each of the major sedimentary basins across the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, which can only be obtained by drilling because of the scarcity of Cenozoic outcrops. The proposed drilling will provide the first long, nearly continuous regional records of the Cenozoic history of the forests, their plant diversity, and the associated changes in climate and environment. It also will address fundamental questions about landscape evolution, including the history of Andean uplift and erosion as recorded in Andean foreland basins and the development of west-to-east hydrologic continuity between the Andes, the Amazon lowlands, and the equatorial Atlantic. Because many modern rivers of the Amazon basin flow along the major axes of the old sedimentary basins, we plan to locate drill sites on the margin of large rivers and to access the targeted drill sites by navigation along these rivers.
Total polyphenols content in fruits of selected cultivars of strawberries in relation to concentrations of cadmium and lead in soil
Authors: Trebichalský Pavol , Molnárová Juliana , Bajčan Daniel , Timoracká Mária , Musilová Janette , Harangozo Ľuboš
Published: December 2015

The key aim of our study was to define the correlation of total polyphenols contents in seven cultivars of strawberries (Clery, Sonata, Alba, Korona, Ázia juh, Anthea, Joly) grown in the parcels with exceeded levels of pseudo-total Cd and mobile Pb in soil. Strawberries were grown in rows long 200 m, the distance of the plants was 0.35 m and inter-row distance was 1 m. Following fertilizing was applied - at the beginning of vegetation period the doses of elements (in kg.ha-1) were: N48.2 +P78.3 +K66.3 +Mg7.2, afterwards 23 days of elements were applied in liquid irrigation in amount: N46.5 +P34.8 +K118.7. Heavy metals in contamination soil were analysed by the method of atomic absorption spectroscopy and total contents of polyphenols spectrophotometrically. The highest content of all monitored parameters (pseudo-total and mobile Cd and Pb, as well as the amount of total polyphenols) was found in Ázia juh cultivar. There was statistically significant positive relation of total polyphenols contents in Anthea cultivar to levels of all monitored forms of metals in soil and contrary, in Clery cultivar there was found non-correlation of total polyphenols contents on levels of monitored heavy metals in soil (mainly of mobile contents of Cd and Pb contents). Contents of mobile forms of individual heavy metals positively correlated with total polyphenols (except of Clery and Ázia juh cultivars). Varietal relation on levels of total polyphenols was confirmed in experiment prior to relation of these organic compounds to the presence of monitored heavy metals in soil.
A Message Transfer Framework for Enhanced Reliability in Delay-Tolerant Networks
Authors: Yasmeen Farzana , Nguyen Uyen Trang , Huda Nurul , Yamada Shigeki , Borcea Cristian
Published: December 2015

Delay-tolerant networks (DTNs) can tolerate disruption on end-to-end paths by taking advantage of temporal links emerging between nodes as nodes move in the network. Intermediate nodes store messages before forwarding opportunities become available. A series of encounters (i.e., coming within mutual transmission range) among different nodes will eventually deliver the message to the desired destination. The message delivery performance in a DTN (such as delivery ratio and end-to-end delay) highly depends on the time elapsed between encounters and the time two nodes remain in each others communication range once a contact is established. As messages are forwarded opportunistically among nodes, it is important to have sufficient contact opportunities in the network for faster, more reliable delivery of messages. We propose a simple yet efficient method for improving the performance of a DTN by increasing the contact duration of encountered nodes (i.e., mobile devices). Our proposed sticky transfer framework and protocol enable nodes in DTNs to collect neighbors’ information, evaluate their movement patterns and amounts of data to transfer in order to make decisions of whether to “stick” with a neighbor to complete the necessary data transfers. The sticky transfer framework can be combined with any DTN routing protocol to improve its performance. We evaluate ourframework through simulations and measure several network performance metrics. Simulation results show that the proposed framework can improve the message delivery ratio, end-to-end delay, overhead ratio, buffer occupancy, number of disrupted message transmissions and so on. It can be well adopted for challenged scenarios where larger messages sizes need to be delivered with application deadline constraints. Furthermore, performance of the DTN improved (upto 43%) at higher node densities and (up to 49%) under increased mobility conditions.