bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Disciplined Mind. Howard Gardner. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Inc., 1999.
Authors: McKelgan Ted
Published: July 2017

What is true, beautiful, and good? Using the theory of evolution, the musical genius of Mozart, and the horrors of the Holocaust, Howard Gardner, in The Disciplined Mind successfully assists students' and teachers' cultural understanding of their educational process as it relates to truth, beauty, and goodness. He does this by emphasizing that we should teach less but in more depth. By probing important issues in depth, we will be teaching much more. In pursuit of truth, Gardner links Darwin's development of systematic classification of living organisms to the understanding of topics that effect human beings today. In doing so, he manages to fmd common ground between the scientific and religious communities, despite the controversies surrounding the theory of evolution. He uses the power of music to depict the human condition in Mozart's work, "The Marriage of Figaro," in search of beauty as it appears in music and human relations. And, in pursuit of the good (and the ugly), Gardner uses the Holocaust and the atrocities associated with it, as a way to understand, not only the Holocaust, but also the human motivation behind such a horrific and elaborate endeavour
You Should Publish That! A Primer On Educational Publishing
Authors: Scott Ruth McQuirter
Published: July 2017

Have you ever used a textbook with your class and thought, "I could write something more interesting than this?" Perhaps you have developed a set of activities to support a strand of the curriculum and your colleagues say, "You should get that published!" Or you may have written a practical guide as part of an additional qualification or graduate course and realized it would be useful to other teachers.
Managing Diabetes
Authors: Diabetes Association American
Published: July 2017

Effective diabetes manage ment at school has numerous positive outcomes. It can:

• Promote a healthy, productive learning environment for students with diabetes

• Reduce absences of students with diabetes

• Reduce classroom disruption

• Help assure effective response in case of diabetes-related emergency

• Promote full participation in all areas of school curriculum and extra-curricular activities
Stress in Teaching: A Summary of a Report by Optum Research
Authors: Unknown Unknown
Published: July 2017

According to research published by Optum Research teachers reported that job related stress impacts their on task performance. A survey developed by Optum research revealed that o f the Mid Western teachers who were surveyed four out of ten teachers experience at least a high level of job stress. The survey found that 6 percent of teachers experience very high related job stress, 38 percent experience high stress, 44 percent medium stress and 12 percent very low stress. Researchers found that stress was highest among teachers who reported
A Critical Commentary
Authors: Makropoulos Josée
Published: July 2017

Early French Immersion (EFI) programs were introduced in Canada in 1965 for students from Anglophone families where neither one of their parents spoke or understood much French. Unlike other bilingual programs, the immersion approach introduces French for the instruction of academic subjects and promotes the use of French as the language medium for classroom interactions. The EFI option is usually offered from the onset of elementary school, in Kindergarten or Grade One, and provides equal instruction time in English and French after primarily exposing students to the target language of instruction. Middle French Immersion (MFI) and Late French Immersion (LFI) are geared for older children who did not begin EFI programs, and respectively begin in Middle School (Grades 4 or 5) and at the Intermediate Level (Grades 7 and 8). By the 1980s, optional French immersion programs were available across Canada to families wishing to provide their children access to bilingual instruction passing through English first and French as the second official language.
Every Picture Tells a Story: The Roundhouse Process in the Digital Age
Authors: McCartney Robin Ward , Figg Candace
Published: July 2017

Roundhouse is a theory-driven, cognitive-based, visual story map designed to enhance long-term memory (Trowbridge & Wandersee, 1998). This type of graphic organizer requires learners to construct knowledge using “mindful” visual connections to replace often “mindless” practices involving recitation/memorization of abstract content. Students thereby create an observable schema of related concepts and icons in a sequential fashion. Roundhouse builds upon a student’s mental representation of what is already known, using a specified diagramming process called PDR (Plan – Diagram – Reflect). Studies have indicated that one of the benefits of using this technique is that students visualize their Roundhouse diagrams during assessment, promoting enhanced recall. Creativity, self-efficacy, and motivation for student understanding have been demonstrated in Roundhouse diagramming that incorporates digital technologies.
Editorial: Teaching & Learning Special Issue on Equity, and Engagement
Authors: Armstrong Denise , Ratkovic Snezana , Hands Catherine
Published: July 2017

The six articles in Volume 7, Issue 2 of this special edition, encourage us to take a closer look at issues of inclusion and equity of access and outcome, as they relate to students’, educators’, and parents’ ability to access not only the physical buildings, but also to successfully navigate and transform hidden structural elements, regardless of race, social position, financial means, and physical and cognitive abilities.
Transcending Boundaries: An Aboriginal Woman’s Perspective on the Development of Meaningful Educational Opportunities and Online Learning
Authors: Brant Jennifer Rose
Published: July 2017

This paper serves as a personal reflection documenting my own perspectives on meaningful educational experiences for Aboriginal learners, by drawing on my educational journey as a graduate student. It begins by sharing a reflection of my first experience within an online graduate course that included a substantial amount of content exploring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal relations in Canada. This reflection documents how the online course has shaped my own development as an Aboriginal scholar, and positions the online learning environment as a culturally safe space for engaging in controversial topics. This discussion involves looking at education within a historical context, reflecting on the present struggles involved in securing culturally safe spaces for Aboriginal students, and looking towards a vision for the future that promotes cross-cultural dialogue for the benefit of all learners. By drawing on my online course, this paper opens some conversation on meaningful educational experiences for Aboriginal learners.
Evaluation of a widely used culture-based method for detection of livestock-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Denmark and Norway, 2014 to 2016
Authors: Larsen Jesper , Sunde Marianne , Islam Md Zohorul , Urdahl Anne Margrete , Barstad Aina Steihaug , Larsen Anders Rhod , Grøntvedt Carl Andreas , Angen Øystein
Published: July 2017

We evaluated a widely used culture-based method for detection of livestock-associated meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) in samples collected from pigs and the environment inside pig stables in Denmark and Norway. Selective enrichment in tryptic soy broth containing cefoxitin and aztreonam led to a high ratio of false-negative results (26%; 57/221). On this basis, we recommend reconsidering the use of selective enrichment for detection of LA-MRSA in animal and environmental samples.
Ongoing hepatitis A among men who have sex with men (MSM) linked to outbreaks in Europe in Tel Aviv area, Israel, December 2016 – June 2017
Authors: Gozlan Yael , Bar-Or Itay , Rakovsky Aviya , Savion Michal , Amitai Ziva , Sheffer Rivka , Ceder Noa , Anis Emilia , Grotto Itamar , Mendelson Ella , Mor Orna
Published: July 2017

Between December 2016 and June 2017, 19 Hepatitis A virus (HAV)-positive cases, 17 of which were among men who have sex with men (MSM) were identified in the Tel Aviv area. Seven of the 15 sewage samples collected between January and June 2017 were also HAV-positive. All sequences clustered with two of the three strains identified in the current European HAV outbreak. We demonstrate that despite an efficient vaccination programme, HAV can still be transmitted to an unvaccinated high-risk population.
Ungulate population monitoring in an open tundra landscape: distance sampling versus total counts
Authors: Le Moullec Mathilde , Pedersen Åshild Ønvik , Yoccoz Nigel Gilles , Aanes Ronny , Tufto Jarle , Hansen Brage Bremset
Published: July 2017

Researchers and wildlife managers strive for low bias and high precision (i.e. high accuracy) when estimating animal population sizes. Distance sampling is currently one of the most widely used monitoring methods. However, it relies on strict sampling designs and modeling assumptions that can be difficult to meet in the field. Here, we use data from two sub‐populations of non‐migratory wild Svalbard reindeerRangifer tarandus platyrhynchusinhabiting flat, open and isolated coastal tundra plains, to demonstrate some challenges related to the distance sampling methodology. To achieve this, we compared distance sampling line transect estimates with repeated total population counts and combined available software tools (R packagesunmarked, Distanceanddsm) to fulfill the analytical requirements of small study sites in which large areas are surveyed relative to the study area size. Based on low variation among repeated total counts (CV = 0.02 ‐ 0.06) and the virtual absence of false negatives and positives of marked animals, the total counts could be used as reference population sizes. Distance sampling estimates were not statistically different from the total count estimates. Our relatively large sample size of 143 observations enabled precise distance sampling abundance estimates (CV = 0.16 ‐ 0.26) compared with other studies in the wild. However, capturing the processes shaping population dynamics would likely require even higher sampling effort or other, more resource demanding monitoring tools, such as total counts or mark‐recapture. In this type of ecosystem, distance sampling nevertheless represents a cost‐effective tool suitable for ‘population state’ assessment and studies of large‐scale spatial distribution patterns. Our study stresses the importance of choosing the appropriate analytical tools and estimating the accuracy of the monitoring methods that are used to achieve specific scientific, management or conservation goals.
Evaluation of the Impacts of Service Quality Dimensions on Patient/Customer Satisfaction: A Study of Private Hospitals in Nepal
Authors: Neupane Ramesh , Devkota Manju
Published: July 2017

The main purpose of this research is to examine the impacts of service quality dimensions on patient satisfaction as a study of private hospitals in Nepal. This research has also evaluated the perceptions of the patients about service quality offered by private hospitals and level of their satisfaction.The research was conducted through influence of positivism philosophy and deductive approach. The two hypotheses were generated with the help of existing knowledge and literature related to service quality and customer/patient satisfaction. The formulated hypotheses were tested through primary data collection from the customers/patients of private hospitals in Nepal. The questionnaires survey was used to collect data in this study. Different five factors of SERVQUAL dimension and four factors of patient satisfaction: price, image, perceived quality and convenience were used to analyse service quality and patient satisfaction respectively. Samples of 490 patients from different 10 private hospitals which all are based on Kathmandu were considered in the study.The results indicated that each dimension of service quality is positively correlated with patient satisfaction, and overall service quality and patient satisfaction has correlation coefficient of 0.719 which is significant at the 0.01 level. This implies that service quality and patient satisfaction are positively correlated with each other. The results demonstrated that service quality has strong positive impacts on patient satisfaction as regression analysis demonstrates that service quality has significant impacts on patient satisfaction as β = 0.719 and P = 0.000 which is less than 0.05. Similarly, the results also indicated that private hospitals in Nepal are providing high level of service quality in the view of patients/customers; and there is high level of patient satisfaction at the private hospitals in Nepal.   Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 4, Issue-3: 165-176
To Assess the Knowledge of Nurses Regarding Prevention of Osteoporosis among Nurses of Jinnah Hospital and General Hospital Lahore Pakistan
Authors: Riaz Muhammad Shahid , Kanwal Nabila , Rasool Rehana Ghulam
Published: July 2017

Knowledge about disease its risk factor, sign/symptoms and different aspect of prevention and treatment with accurate information help the professional to make informed decision about the health practice. Average rate of the knowledge regarding prevention and treatment of Osteoporosis has been found among the different health professional over the world, including female Nurses. Aim of this study was to assess the knowledge of Nurses regarding prevention of osteoporosis. Cross-sectional design was used in research. Two Government hospitals Jinnah Hospital and Lahore General Hospital choosed for setting. Simple random sampling technique was used. Data was collect through written Questionnaire consist of 24 close ended question. Data analyzed by SPSS version 21.  It was concluded that Nurses have moderate knowledge about risk factor and prevention of osteoporosis. The staff nurses who were young and clinical experience 5-10 years have positive about their role and skill about prevention and management of osteoporosis. Nurses believed that they have an important role in educating the public on osteoporosis prevention and management. One in four women over the age of 60 will develop osteoporosis 84.2% were agreed about that statement. Heredity plays role in development of osteoporosis; in response of this question 60% nurses were disagreed.  Yet, their knowledge on different issues (e.g. signs of the disease, medication, and lifestyle problems) was moderate. Measures should be taken in order to expand nurses’ knowledge, such as education programs and postgraduate courses.Int. J. Soc. Sc. Manage. Vol. 4, Issue-3: 202-209
The Homeland in the Literature and Music of Syrian-Lebanese Immigrants and their Descendants in Brazil
Authors: Moser Robert H. , Racy A.J.
Published: July 2017

In this study, we examine the notion of homeland among Syrian-Lebanese immigrants and their descendants in Brazil, a community that for almost one hundred years has established a prominent presence in the host country and has undergone significant social, political, and economic transformation. As we investigate the representations of the homeland in the realms of literature and music across several generations, we seek a better understanding of how this community has perceived and interpreted the concepts of roots, or place of origin. While exploring Syrian-Lebanese cultural production in light of the broader discourses on immigration/diaspora, our research addresses the position of the homeland in the immigrants’ experience, as well as their own history and life in the new world.
Inheritance of Spear-Shaped Leaf in Peanut
Authors: Branch William D.
Published: July 2017

Recently, a single Spear-shaped Leaf mutant plant was discovered in the ‘Georgia-06G' peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. ssp. hypogaea var. hypogaea) cultivar. The mutant had narrow leaflets with each leaflet tapering to a point which gives the appearance of a spearhead shape. Three cross combinations were used to determine the inheritance of this new mutant. F1, F2, and F3 segregation data strongly supported a single incompletely dominant gene, designated SpL, controlling the inheritance of the Spear-shaped Leaf trait. The F2:3 homozygous spear-shaped individual plants had taller mainstem heights, narrower leaflet width, reduced pod weight, and lower SMK percentages compared to the F2:3 homozygous normal leaf plants resulting from the same closely related cross combination (Georgia-06G x Spear-shaped Leaf mutant).
The SNP, Scottish Labour and Glasgow 2014 – Contrasting Political Narratives of the 2014 Commonwealth Games
Authors: Whigham Stuart
Published: July 2017

This article critically examines the predominant narratives which emanate from political discourse in relation to two significant events in Scotland in 2014 – the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and the independence referendum. This article uses an analysis of the political discourse from the two largest parties in the Scottish Parliament at the time of the Games, the pro-independence Scottish National Party (SNP) and the pro-union Scottish Labour Party, to highlight the contrasting discursive strategies of each party within their manifestos, policy documents, press releases and parliamentary speeches. This analysis demonstrates that each party portrayed nuanced positions on the Games, with the SNP illustrating the constraining nature of the constitutional status quo in relation to the potential economic and social benefits of the Games, and Labour using the event to illustrate the effectiveness of their stewardship of the Glasgow City Council despite the council funding cuts imposed by the SNP-led Scottish Government. Despite acknowledging the marginal status of the Games on the eventual outcome of the referendum, both parties suggested that the success of the event could lead to a ‘feel-good factor’ which could boost the ‘Yes’ vote. Such questionable claims are evaluated in light of past academic studies which question the validity of legacy outcomes from sporting events such as the Games (e.g. Giulianotti, 2016 ; Horne, 2007 ; Horne and Manzenreiter, 2006 ; Martin and Barth, 2013 ; Stewart and Rayner, 2016 ; Zimbalist, 2015 ).
A Tuning Method for Diatom Segmentation Techniques
Authors: Rojas Camacho Oswaldo , Forero Manuel , Menéndez José
Published: July 2017

Phytoplankton such as diatoms or desmids are useful for monitoring water quality. Manual image analysis is impractical due to the huge diversity of this group of microalgae and its great morphological plasticity, hence the importance of automating the analysis procedure. High-resolution images of phytoplankton cells can now be acquired by digital microscopes, which facilitate automating the analysis and identification process of specimens. Therefore, new systems of image analysis are potentially advantageous compared to manual methods of counting for solution identification. Segmentation is an important step in the analysis of phytoplankton images. Many standard techniques like thresholding and edge detection are employed in the segmentation of diatoms and other phytoplankton, which are crucial organisms in microscopy images. However, in general, they require several parameters to be fixed beforehand by the user in order to get the best results. This process is usually done by comparing results and looking for the best parameters. To automatize this process, we propose an automatic tuning method to find the optimal parameters in an iterative procedure, called Parametric Segmentation Tuning (PST). This technique compares successive segmentation results, choosing the ones that gets the maximal similarity. In this paper, tuning is formulated as an optimization problem using a similarity function within the solution space. This space consists of the set of binary images that are generated by the segmentation technique to be tuned, where these binary images are seen as a function of the original images and the segmentation parameters. The PST technique was tested with two of the most popular techniques employed to segment phytoplankton images: the Canny edge detection and a binarisation method. The results of the thresholding technique were validated by comparing them to those of the Otsu method and the Canny method with a ground truth. They show that PST is effective to find the best parameters.
An Analysis of the Influence of Property Tax on Housing Prices in the Apulia Region (Italy)
Authors: Tajani Francesco , Morano Pierluigi , Torre Carmelo , Di Liddo Felicia
Published: July 2017

In this research, the socio-economic determinants of housing market values have been examined, highlighting their respective contributions to the formation of the property prices and, in particular, verifying the property tax liability. The property tax is a factor that could determine, through modest fluctuations, the revival of the property demand, generating positive effects also on the construction sector, which has been currently affected by the negative real estate contingency. The functional correlations of housing prices with the main socio-economic variables considered (i.e., housing rents, household incomes, household consumptions, property taxes, population and mean population age) have been explained through an econometric analysis implemented with an innovative methodology that uses multi-objective genetic algorithms. The analysis is contextualized to the Apulia region in the South of Italy, and the population of the sample studied consists of 258 individuals, corresponding to the municipalities of the region. In particular, the data collected for each variable considered refer to two different moments, that is, the year 2011 and the year 2015, in order to take into account the fiscal tightening that has occurred in Italy in this period of time. The elaborations carried out have allowed us to enucleate interesting functional relationships between property prices and the explanatory variables considered.
DSM-5 Changes in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Implications for Comorbid Sleep Issues
Authors: Ramtekkar Ujjwal
Published: July 2017

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite significant comorbidity, the previous diagnostic criteria prohibited the simultaneous diagnosis of both disorders. Sleep problems are highly prevalent in both disorders; however, these have been studied independently for ADHD and ASD. In the context of revised criteria in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (DSM-5) that allows combined diagnosis of ADHD and ASD, this short review presents an overview of relationship between sleep problems, ADHD and ASD, as well as conceptualizing the shared pathophysiology. The practical considerations for clinical management of sleep problems in combination with ADHD and ASD are also discussed.
Noise Robustness Analysis of Performance for EEG-Based Driver Fatigue Detection Using Different Entropy Feature Sets
Authors: Hu Jianfeng , Wang Ping
Published: July 2017

Driver fatigue is an important factor in traffic accidents, and the development of a detection system for driver fatigue is of great significance. To estimate and prevent driver fatigue, various classifiers based on electroencephalogram (EEG) signals have been developed; however, as EEG signals have inherent non-stationary characteristics, their detection performance is often deteriorated by background noise. To investigate the effects of noise on detection performance, simulated Gaussian noise, spike noise, and electromyogram (EMG) noise were added into a raw EEG signal. Four types of entropies, including sample entropy (SE), fuzzy entropy (FE), approximate entropy (AE), and spectral entropy (PE), were deployed for feature sets. Three base classifiers (K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Decision Tree (DT)) and two ensemble methods (Bootstrap Aggregating (Bagging) and Boosting) were employed and compared. Results showed that: (1) the simulated Gaussian noise and EMG noise had an impact on accuracy, while simulated spike noise did not, which is of great significance for the future application of driver fatigue detection; (2) the influence on noise performance was different based on each classifier, for example, the robust effect of classifier DT was the best and classifier SVM was the weakest; (3) the influence on noise performance was also different with each feature set where the robustness of feature set FE and the combined feature set were the best; and (4) while the Bagging method could not significantly improve performance against noise addition, the Boosting method may significantly improve performance against superimposed Gaussian and EMG noise. The entropy feature extraction method could not only identify driver fatigue, but also effectively resist noise, which is of great significance in future applications of an EEG-based driver fatigue detection system.
Spurious Memory in Non-Equilibrium Stochastic Models of Imitative Behavior
Authors: Gontis Vygintas , Kononovicius Aleksejus
Published: July 2017

The origin of the long-range memory in non-equilibrium systems is still an open problem as the phenomenon can be reproduced using models based on Markov processes. In these cases, the notion of spurious memory is introduced. A good example of Markov processes with spurious memory is a stochastic process driven by a non-linear stochastic differential equation (SDE). This example is at odds with models built using fractional Brownian motion (fBm). We analyze the differences between these two cases seeking to establish possible empirical tests of the origin of the observed long-range memory. We investigate probability density functions (PDFs) of burst and inter-burst duration in numerically-obtained time series and compare with the results of fBm. Our analysis confirms that the characteristic feature of the processes described by a one-dimensional SDE is the power-law exponent 3 / 2 of the burst or inter-burst duration PDF. This property of stochastic processes might be used to detect spurious memory in various non-equilibrium systems, where observed macroscopic behavior can be derived from the imitative interactions of agents.
A Large Scale Grid Data Analysis Platform for DSOs
Authors: Kadam Serdar , Bletterie Benoît , Gawlik Wolfgang
Published: July 2017

The number of fluctuating distributed energy resources (DER) in electricity grids is continuously rising. Due to the lack of operational information on low-voltage (LV) networks, conservative assumptions are necessary to assess the connection of generators to the grid. This paper introduces the hosting capability (HC) as a measure to assess the amount of DER that can be integrated in LV-feeders. The HC of a feeder is the minimum amount of DER that can be hosted in a feeder without reinforcement needs for a given DER-scenario and for a given admissible voltage rise. The hosting capability assessment was performed on the entire LV-grid data of two Austrian Distribution System Operators (DSOs) with more than 36,000 LV-feeders. In total, 40 HC-scenarios were calculated with varying admissible voltage rise levels, DER-scenarios and reactive power control strategies. It turned out that only few feeder parameters such as the resistance at the end node and the lowest ampacity value of feeders show a high correlation with the calculated HC. Further, the impact of the DER-scenario on the share of voltage and loading constrained feeders is rather limited. The gathered results are suitable to validate equivalent LV-feeders models to perform integrated power flow studies on the transmission and distribution grids. Besides the results obtained for the network data of the two DSOs, a performant, modular and parallelizable tool has been developed to automatically analyze large LV network sets.
A Photometric Study of Giant Ellipticals and Their Stellar Halos With VST
Authors: Spavone Marilena , Capaccioli Massimo , Napolitano Nicola , Iodice Enrichetta , Grado Aniello , Limatola Luca , Cooper Andrew , Cantiello Michele , Forbes Duncan , Paolillo Maurizio , Schipani Pietro
Published: July 2017

Observations of diffuse starlight in the outskirts of galaxies are thought to be a fundamental source of constraints on the cosmological context of galaxy assembly in the Λ CDM model. Such observations are not trivial because of the extreme faintness of such regions. In this work, we investigated the photometric properties of six massive early-type galaxies (ETGs) in the VST Elliptical GAlaxies Survey (VEGAS) sample (NGC 1399, NGC 3923, NGC 4365, NGC 4472, NGC 5044, and NGC 5846) out to extremely low surface brightness levels with the goal of characterizing the global structure of their light profiles for comparison to state-of-the-art galaxy formation models. We carried out deep and detailed photometric mapping of our ETG sample taking advantage of deep imaging with VST/OmegaCAM in the g and i bands. By fitting the light profiles, and comparing the results to simulations of elliptical galaxy assembly, we have identified signatures of a transition between relaxed and unrelaxed accreted components and can constrain the balance between in situ and accreted stars. The very good agreement of our results with predictions from theoretical simulations demonstrates that the full VEGAS sample of ∼ 100 ETGs will allow us to use the distribution of diffuse light as a robust statistical probe of the hierarchical assembly of massive galaxies.
Awareness of the Risk of Exposure to Infectious Material and the Behaviors of Polish Paramedics with Respect to the Hazards from Blood-Borne Pathogens—A Nationwide Study
Authors: Garus-Pakowska Anna , Górajski Mariusz , Szatko Franciszek
Published: July 2017

(1) Background: To determine paramedics’ frequency of contact with blood and other body fluids, as well as the analysis of knowledge of paramedics about blood-borne infections, their attitudes to patients infected with blood-borne viruses, and the post-exposure procedures implemented by paramedics; (2) Methods: An anonymous questionnaire among 190 paramedics working in various health care facilities in Poland (adjusted response rate, 76.3%); (3) Results: 78% of paramedics had contact with potentially infectious material at least several times a week. Paramedics’ knowledge on transferring infection was insufficient. Paramedics with longer employment time and better professional experience suffered fewer injuries with used needles/medical tools (p = 0.079). Most frequently reported factors that prevented the use of personal protective equipment were emergency situations (19.5%), skin irritations and contact allergies (19%) and, in the case of protective gloves, reduced manual dexterity (16%). In total, 82% of paramedics were concerned about the risk of being infected with HIV, HBV or HCV as a result of performing their job. In total, 97% of paramedics behaved more carefully while caring for infected patients. In total, 90% of the paramedics never refrained from performing the specific procedures necessary to help the patient whom they knew to be infected; (4) Conclusions: Despite the paramedics’ insufficient theoretical knowledge about the risk of blood-borne infections, the emphasis in the training of future paramedics should be on classes perfecting practical skills, because growing experience significantly reduces the risk of injury.
Combined Effects of High-Speed Railway Noise and Ground Vibrations on Annoyance
Authors: Yokoshima Shigenori , Morihara Takashi , Sato Tetsumi , Yano Takashi
Published: July 2017

The Shinkansen super-express railway system in Japan has greatly increased its capacity and has expanded nationwide. However, many inhabitants in areas along the railways have been disturbed by noise and ground vibration from the trains. Additionally, the Shinkansen railway emits a higher level of ground vibration than conventional railways at the same noise level. These findings imply that building vibrations affect living environments as significantly as the associated noise. Therefore, it is imperative to quantify the effects of noise and vibration exposures on each annoyance under simultaneous exposure. We performed a secondary analysis using individual datasets of exposure and community response associated with Shinkansen railway noise and vibration. The data consisted of six socio-acoustic surveys, which were conducted separately over the last 20 years in Japan. Applying a logistic regression analysis to the datasets, we confirmed the combined effects of vibration/noise exposure on noise/vibration annoyance. Moreover, we proposed a representative relationship between noise and vibration exposures, and the prevalence of each annoyance associated with the Shinkansen railway.
What do New Yorkers Think about Impacts and Adaptation to Heat Waves? An Evaluation Tool to Incorporate Perception of Low-Income Groups into Heat Wave Adaptation Scenarios in New York City
Authors: Matmir Sadra , Reckien Diana , Flacke Johannes
Published: July 2017

Low-income residents are among the most vulnerable groups to climate change in urban areas, particularly regarding heat stress. However, their perceptions about heat and the impacts they face go often undocumented, and are seldom considered in decision-making processes delivering adaptation. This paper presents a robust tool to allow the integration of perception, concerns and impacts of different income groups in urban adaptation planning and governance, using the City of New York as a case study. Employing online interviews—a solid method to reach poorer households—and Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping, we compare impacts and adaptation perception to heat and simulate adaptation scenarios. Results reveal that lower income groups are more concerned about impacts of heat waves than middle- and high-income populations. All income groups see citizens more in charge of adaptation, although more people from the lower income groups regard it necessary to do much more to protect themselves, proportionately more people from the higher income groups think they are doing the right amount. The scenario analysis shows that, compared to investments in the water/electricity and health system, improvements in the transit system would yield the largest decrease in negative impacts during heat, benefitting all income groups jointly.
Analysis and Applications of GlobeLand30: A Review
Authors: Chen Jun , Cao Xin , Peng Shu , Ren Huiru
Published: July 2017

Abstract: GlobeLand30, donated to the United Nations by China in September 2014, is the first wall-to-wall 30 m global land cover (GLC) data product. GlobeLand30 is widely used by scientists and users around the world. This paper provides a review of the analysis and applications of GlobeLand30 based on its data-downloading statistics and published studies. An average accuracy of 80% for full classes or one single class is achieved by third-party researchers from more than 10 countries through sample-based validation or comparison with existing data. GlobeLand30 has users from more than 120 countries on five continents, and from all five Social Benefit Areas. The significance of GlobeLand30 is demonstrated by a number of published papers dealing with land-cover status and change analysis, cause-and-consequence analysis, and the environmental parameterization of Earth system models. Accordingly, scientific data sharing in the field of geosciences and Earth observation is promoted, and fine-resolution GLC mapping and applications worldwide are stimulated. The future development of GlobeLand30, including comprehensive validation, continuous updating, and monitoring of sustainable development goals, is also discussed.
Host Response Comparison of H1N1- and H5N1-Infected Mice Identifies Two Potential Death Mechanisms
Authors: Leymarie Olivier , Meyer Léa , Hervé Pierre-Louis , Da Costa Bruno , Delmas Bernard , Chevalier Christophe , Le Goffic Ronan
Published: July 2017

Highly pathogenic influenza A viruses (IAV) infections represent a serious threat to humans due to their considerable morbidity and mortality capacities. A good understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the acute lung injury observed during this kind of infection is essential to design adapted therapies. In the current study, using an unbiased transcriptomic approach, we compared the host-responses of mice infected with two different subtypes of IAV: H1N1 vs. H5N1. The host-response comparison demonstrated a clear difference between the transcriptomic profiles of H1N1- and H5N1-infected mice despite identical survival kinetics and similar viral replications. The ontological analysis of the two transcriptomes showed two probable causes of death: induction of an immunopathological state of the lung for the H1N1 strain vs. development of respiratory dysfunction in the case of the H5N1 IAV. Finally, a clear signature responsible for lung edema was specifically associated with the H5N1 infection. We propose a potential mechanism of edema development based on predictive bioinformatics tools.
Clinical Role of ASCT2 (SLC1A5) in KRAS-Mutated Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Toda Kosuke , Nishikawa Gen , Iwamoto Masayoshi , Itatani Yoshiro , Takahashi Ryo , Sakai Yoshiharu , Kawada Kenji
Published: July 2017

Mutation in the KRAS gene induces prominent metabolic changes. We have recently reported that KRAS mutations in colorectal cancer (CRC) cause alterations in amino acid metabolism. However, it remains to be investigated which amino acid transporter can be regulated by mutated KRAS in CRC. Here, we performed a screening of amino acid transporters using quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and then identified that ASCT2 (SLC1A5) was up-regulated through KRAS signaling. Next, immunohistochemical analysis of 93 primary CRC specimens revealed that there was a significant correlation between KRAS mutational status and ASCT2 expression. In addition, the expression level of ASCT2 was significantly associated with tumor depth and vascular invasion in KRAS-mutant CRC. Notably, significant growth suppression and elevated apoptosis were observed in KRAS-mutant CRC cells upon SLC1A5-knockdown. ASCT2 is generally known to be a glutamine transporter. Interestingly, SLC1A5-knockdown exhibited a more suppressive effect on cell growth than glutamine depletion. Furthermore, SLC1A5-knockdown also resulted in the suppression of cell migration. These results indicated that ASCT2 (SLC1A5) could be a novel therapeutic target against KRAS-mutant CRC.
Allelic Complexity in Long QT Syndrome: A Family-Case Study
Authors: Zullo Alberto , Frisso Giulia , Detta Nicola , Sarubbi Berardo , Romeo Emanuele , Cordella Angela , Vanoye Carlos , Calabrò Raffaele , George Alfred , Salvatore Francesco
Published: July 2017

Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is associated with high genetic and allelic heterogeneity. In some cases, more than one genetic variant is identified in the same (compound heterozygosity) or different (digenic heterozygosity) genes, and subjects with multiple pathogenic mutations may have a more severe disease. Standard-of-care clinical genetic testing for this and other arrhythmia susceptibility syndromes improves the identification of complex genotypes. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between pathogenic mutations and benign rare variants. We identified four genetic variants (KCNQ1-p.R583H, KCNH2-p.C108Y, KCNH2-p.K897T, and KCNE1-p.G38S) in an LQTS family. On the basis of in silico analysis, clinical data from our family, and the evidence from previous studies, we analyzed two mutated channels, KCNQ1-p.R583H and KCNH2-p.C108Y, using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. We found that KCNQ1-p.R583H was not associated with a severe functional impairment, whereas KCNH2-p.C108Y, a novel variant, encoded a non-functional channel that exerts dominant-negative effects on the wild-type. Notably, the common variants KCNH2-p.K897T and KCNE1-p.G38S were previously reported to produce more severe phenotypes when combined with disease-causing alleles. Our results indicate that the novel KCNH2-C108Y variant can be a pathogenic LQTS mutation, whereas KCNQ1-p.R583H, KCNH2-p.K897T, and KCNE1-p.G38S could be LQTS modifiers.
Cannabinoid Receptor 1 and Fatty Acid Amide Hydrolase Contribute to Operant Sensation Seeking in Mice
Authors: Helfand Alexander , Olsen Christopher , Hillard Cecilia
Published: July 2017

A large body of evidence in humans and preclinical models supports a role for the endocannabinoid system in the proper execution of motivated or goal-directed behaviors. Operant sensation seeking (OSS) is a task that uses varied sensory stimuli as a reinforcer to maintain operant responding in mice. The purpose of the studies in this report was to begin to explore the role of endocannabinoid signaling in OSS utilizing cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) knock out mice. Compared to wild type littermate controls, CB1R knock out mice exhibited significantly fewer active responses and earned significantly fewer reinforcers in fixed ratio and progressive ratio schedules. On the other hand, FAAH knock out mice exhibited increased active responses and earned more reinforcers than wild type littermates in fixed ratio but not progressive ratio schedules. These findings support the role of endocannabinoid signaling in motivated behaviors and also expand our understanding of the signaling processes involved in OSS.
A Novel Perspective on the ApoM-S1P Axis, Highlighting the Metabolism of ApoM and Its Role in Liver Fibrosis and Neuroinflammation
Authors: Hajny Stefan , Christoffersen Christina
Published: July 2017

Hepatocytes, renal proximal tubule cells as well as the highly specialized endothelium of the blood brain barrier (BBB) express and secrete apolipoprotein M (apoM). ApoM is a typical lipocalin containing a hydrophobic binding pocket predominantly carrying Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P). The small signaling molecule S1P is associated with several physiological as well as pathological pathways whereas the role of apoM is less explored. Hepatic apoM acts as a chaperone to transport S1P through the circulation and kidney derived apoM seems to play a role in S1P recovery to prevent urinal loss. Finally, polarized endothelial cells constituting the lining of the BBB express apoM and secrete the protein to the brain as well as to the blood compartment. The review will provide novel insights on apoM and S1P, and its role in hepatic fibrosis, neuroinflammation and BBB integrity.
Effects of Melatonin on Early Pregnancy in Mouse: Involving the Regulation of StAR, Cyp11a1, and Ihh Expression
Authors: Guan Shengyu , Xie Lu , Ma Teng , Lv Dongying , Jing Wang , Tian Xiuzhi , Song Yukun , Liu Zhiping , Xiao Xianghong , Liu Guoshi
Published: July 2017

To test whether melatonin plays an important role in the process of early pregnancy, melatonin was given in drinking water to pregnant mice at different gestation stages. These included mice who were given melatonin 14 days prior to their successful mating (confirmed by vaginal plug) (Group A), after successful mating (Group B), and 14 days prior to and until after successful mating (Group C). Melatonin administration significantly enhanced serum as well as ovarian melatonin levels in the mice. It was observed that melatonin did not affect the natural estrous of mice. On day 0.5 of gestation (D0.5), melatonin not only elevated progesterone (P) secretion, but also upregulated expressions of StAR and Cyp11a1, the two marker genes of corpus luteum in ovaries (p < 0.05). Group A had a significantly lower estradiol (E2) secretion and a higher number of implantation sites as well as litter size than controls (p < 0.05) and also had an increased Ihh expression in endometrium of D7.5 gestation. Melatonin treatment after successful mating improved the progesterone (P) secretion at D7.5 of gestation (p < 0.05) and significantly induced leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) expression (p < 0.05). Our study indicates that melatonin treatment up-regulated the genes involved in pregnenolone synthesis in ovary and Ihh expression in uterine endometrium. The mechanisms of melatonin to improve embryo implantation related to their actions on promoting the development of corpus luteum before gestation and helping to specify uterine receptivity in early pregnant mice.
Er-Doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 Cathode Material with Enhanced Cycling Stability for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Liu Shanshan , Zhao Hongyuan , Tan Ming , Hu Youzuo , Shu Xiaohui , Zhang Meiling , Chen Bing , Liu Xingquan
Published: July 2017

The Er-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LiNi0.495Mn1.495Er0.01O4) sample was successfully prepared by citric acid-assisted sol-gel method with erbium oxide as an erbium source for the first time. Compared with the undoped sample, the Er-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 sample maintained the basic spinel structure, suggesting that the substitution of Er3+ ions for partial nickel and manganese ions did not change the intrinsic structure of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4. Moreover, the Er-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 sample showed better size distribution and regular octahedral morphology. Electrochemical measurements indicated that the Er-doping could have a positive impact on the electrochemical properties. When cycled at 0.5 C, the Er-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 sample exhibited an initial discharge capacity of 120.6 mAh·g−1, and the capacity retention of this sample reached up to 92.9% after 100 cycles. As the charge/discharge rate restored from 2.0 C to 0.2 C, the discharge capacity of this sample still exhibited 123.7 mAh·g−1 with excellent recovery rate. Since the bonding energy of Er-O (615 kJ·mol−1) was higher than that of Mn-O (402 kJ·mol −1) and Ni-O (392 kJ·mol−1), these outstanding performance could be attributed to the increased structure stability as well as the reduced aggregation behavior and small charge transfer resistance of the Er-doped LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4.
Ion Beam Modification of Carbon Nanotube Yarn in Air and Vacuum
Authors: Gigax Jonathan , Bradford Philip , Shao Lin
Published: July 2017

We studied the effects ion beam irradiation on carbon nanotube (CNT) yarns. CNT yarn was fabricated by drawing and spinning CNT sheets from a vertically aligned CNT forest. The yarn was irradiated by 2.5 MeV protons in either vacuum or air. Irradiation in air was achieved by directing the proton beam through a 0.025 mm thick Ti window. Irradiation in vacuum occurred at a pressure of <10−6 torr at room temperature and at an elevated temperature of 600 °C. Tensile testing revealed that CNT yarn irradiated in air increased in tensile strength with increasing proton fluence. For yarn irradiated in vacuum, however, the strength decreased with increasing fluence. We believe that irradiation-induced excitation and trapping/bonding of gas atoms between tubes may play a role for the mechanical property changes.
A Review on Disorder-Driven Metal–Insulator Transition in Crystalline Vacancy-Rich GeSbTe Phase-Change Materials
Authors: Wang Jiang-Jing , Xu Ya-Zhi , Mazzarello Riccardo , Wuttig Matthias , Zhang Wei
Published: July 2017

Metal–insulator transition (MIT) is one of the most essential topics in condensed matter physics and materials science. The accompanied drastic change in electrical resistance can be exploited in electronic devices, such as data storage and memory technology. It is generally accepted that the underlying mechanism of most MITs is an interplay of electron correlation effects (Mott type) and disorder effects (Anderson type), and to disentangle the two effects is difficult. Recent progress on the crystalline Ge1Sb2Te4 (GST) compound provides compelling evidence for a disorder-driven MIT. In this work, we discuss the presence of strong disorder in GST, and elucidate its effects on electron localization and transport properties. We also show how the degree of disorder in GST can be reduced via thermal annealing, triggering a disorder-driven metal–insulator transition. The resistance switching by disorder tuning in crystalline GST may enable novel multilevel data storage devices.