bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Hegemonic Masculinity and Hollywood in the New Korea
Authors: Howson Richard , Yecies Brian
Published: February 2016

We argue that during the 1940s Hollywood films had an important role to play in the creation of a postwar South Korean society based on the new global U.S. hegemony. The connections between political and economic change in South Korea and socio-cultural factors have hitherto scarcely been explored and, in this context, we argue that one of the key socio-cultural mechanisms that supported and even drove social change in the immediate post-war period was the Korean film industry and its re-presentation of masculinity. The groundbreaking work of Antonio Gramsci on hegemony is drawn on - in particular, his understanding of the relationship between “commonsense” and “good sense” - as well as Raewyn Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity. The character of Rick in the 1941 Hollywood classic Casablanca is used to illustrate the kind of hegemonic masculinity favoured by the U.S. Occupation authorities in moulding cultural and political attitudes in the new Korea.
Las masculinidades y los programas de intervención para maltratadores en casos de violencia de género en España
Authors: Ferrer-Pérez Victoria A. , Bosch-Fiol Esperanza
Published: February 2016

La violencia contra las mujeres en la pareja (denominada violencia de género en el marco jurídico español) es un fenómeno complejo y poliédrico que hasido explicado desde diferentes puntos de vista teóricos. En este trabajo, se toma como punto de partida para analizar esta violencia un modelo multicausal, denominado modelo piramidal, que entiende la masculinidad tradicional y sus condicionantes como una clave explicativa importante para la violencia contra las mujeres. En este contexto, se aportan datos sobre la escasa presencia de la noción de masculinidad en los programas de intervención para la rehabilitación de los maltratadores que se han venido aplicando en España y se reflexiona sobre la necesidad de incrementar el protagonismo de este elemento.
Dialogic Leadership and New Alternative Masculinities: Emerging Synergies for Social Transformation
Authors: Redondo Gisela
Published: February 2016

Leadership plays a relevant role in the improvement of organisations and its study has influenced the analysis of dynamics of social change in current societies. There is a trend to analyse leadership considering issues such as its distribution or transformative dimension. According to recent developments in this field, dialogic leadership implies the whole community in the process of creation, development and consolidation of leadership practices. However, less is known about the role of dialogic leadership in relation to men´s movements and masculinities, particularly in the field of the New Alternative Masculinities (NAM). This article presents the results of a qualitative case study developed in an adult school being part of the Learning Communities project. It illustrates existing synergies between dialogic leadership and the NAM movement. It is explored in which ways the school influence transformative processes beyond its organisation and contributes to make more visible the NAM movement. The paper shows evidence on how dialogic leadership contributes to create an environment in which emerging leadership practices of the community in relation to the NAM movement have flourished.
Pharmacometrics and systems pharmacology of immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab in cancer translational medicine
Authors: Nair Sujit
Published: February 2016

Nivolumab, a fully human immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitory receptor expressed on lymphocytes and dendritic cells, has been approved for metastatic melanoma, advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and metastatic renal cell carcinoma. In this review, pharmacology and pharmacometrics systems of this immunopharmaceutical are discussed. Mechanistic actions of T-cell biology with respect to both “priming phase” (anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (anti-CTLA-4) mAb; ipilimumab) and “effector phase” (anti-PD-1 mAb; nivolumab) was discussed, respectively. Key pharmacometric variables in anticancer efficacy of nivolumab such as target engagement, metabolism, pharmacology systems and clearance are elucidated with an emphasis on current knowledge from pre-clinical as well as phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials information, including the data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2015 and European Cancer Congress 2015. Nivolumab biomarkers, safety, and synergistic combination immunotherapies are delineated. Nivolumab, administered via intravenous infusion, has an acceptable safety profile and good efficacy. Indeed, the way forward to leverage maximum benefits for the cancer patient may be to synergize anti-PD-1 blockade with complementary targets in immune checkpoint pathways or other oncogenic signal transduction pathways. The encouraging results with nivolumab lend credence to the promise of immune checkpoint blockade as a therapeutic strategy that has been come-of-age in clinical oncology. Of necessity, the burden of “financial toxicity” on cancer patients and families must be factored in considering nivolumab therapy. The problem of ligand PD-L1 being a weak biomarker in clinical practice was discussed. Appropriate patient selection methods including immunopharmacogenomics may be used to identify those patients who are most likely to benefit from anti-PD-1 therapy. Taken together, the potential success of nivolumab strengthens the case for accelerated development of immunopharmaceuticals and basic drug discovery in oncology, and potentially non-oncology indications, by stakeholders such as clinical oncologists, pharmacists and scientists in academia and the pharmaceutical industry in a concerted fashion.
In the Labirinth. State, Governments, and the Growth of the Public Debt in Italy in the Middle of 1980s
Authors: Tedoldi Prof. Leonida
Published: February 2016

The ambition of this work is to rethink and present a possible path of historical-institutional investigation in relation to and with a critical comparison of now solid economic, political and sociological research into the political causes of the public debt and its instrumentalization by governments for the purposes of consensus, in a blocked political-institutional system. The reason for the decision to concentrate the analysis on a reduced portion of that decade – and therefore chronologically not going past 1988, the year of a passage to a different phase for many aspects – responds to the intention of further concentrating the analysis and delving into the sources. 
VARIAÇÃO DA MEDIDA TORÁCICA OBTIDA COM A FITA MÉTRICA TRADICIONAL COM FATOR DE CORREÇÃO E COM A FITA DE PESAGEM PARA BOVINOS
Authors: ABREU Bruno Almeida , MAGALHÃES Chrissia Jardim , DUAYER Enrico , MACHADO Sérgio Henrique Mattos , Silva Denise Aparecida
Published: February 2016

Introdução: A estimativa do peso de bovinos pode ser realizada através do uso da fita torácica de pesagem ou com a fita métrica comum, devendo tal valor ser multiplicado por 2,8.  O objetivo da pesquisa foi comparar os pesos obtidos com a fita métrica comum e o valor obtido através do uso da fita de pesagem desenvolvida especificamente para este fim em bovinos (fita torácica de pesagem). Material e métodos: A pesquisa foi realizada em São José do Calçado/ES em janeiro de 2015. No total foram estimados os pesos corporais de 20 fêmeas da raça Girolando com idade média de cinco meses com o uso da fita métrica comum e da fita torácica de pesagem para bovinos. Resultados: Os pesos corporais estimados através da fita métrica tradicional (X 2,8) variaram de 414,4 a 490 Kg com média equivalente a 454,4 ± 19,5 Kg. Com o uso da fita torácica de pesagem os pesos corporais apresentaram valores que variaram de 271 a 424 Kg com média igual a 346,7 ± 39,6 Kg. Os resultados apresentaram diferença significativa através da análise da variância com grau de confiança de 95%, propondo-se um novo fator de correção equivalente a 2,12.  Conclusão: o fator de correção 2,8 não corresponde ao índice ideal a ser utilizado em novilhas em se tratando do peso corporal estimado através do uso de fita métrica comum, sendo mais significativo em comparação à fita torácica de pesagem o índice equivalente a 2,12; tal índice apresenta melhor aplicação em animais mais jovens.
TOXOPLASMOSE: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA DOS FATORES DE RISCO RELATIVOS A INFECÇÃO TOXOPLÁSMICA EM CRIANÇAS NO BRASIL
Authors: Mangiavacchi Bianca Magnelli
Published: February 2016

A toxoplasmose é uma doença altamente prevalente em diversas regiões do mundo. Os fatores de risco relacionados com a aquisição da doença são bastante diversos, no entanto, ainda se sabe pouco sobre a soroprevalência da toxoplasmose em alguns grupos etários, entre estes as crianças. Este artigo propôs-se a realizar um revisão sistemática da literatura sobre os fatores de risco relacionados com infecção toxoplásmica em crianças. Observa-se que as maiores prevalências são encontradas em países de clima mais quente que se localizam entre os trópicos, fato que somado aos fatores de risco principais relacionados com a toxoplasmose, como a ingestão de oocistos e cistos teciduais, fazem com que a soroprevalência seja alta principalmente em áreas onde essas crianças vivam em precárias condições sanitárias. No entanto, ainda existem poucos trabalhos que  relatam a identificação de fatores de risco relacionados com a infecção em crianças. Essa informação se faz necessária do ponto de vista de saúde pública e oferece subsídios para programas de prevenção da toxoplasmose  inclusive para o controle da infecção congênita em adolescentes.
A Cross-cultural study of emotional Responses on Colours
Authors: Hanafy Ihab Mahmoud , Sanad Reham Abdelbaset
Published: February 2016

This article investigates human’s emotional responses on coloursin Eastern Arabian Gulf culturebased on a questionnaire. Totally 10 colour options were evaluated (i.e. violet, orange, green, red, blue, yellow, black, gray, white and no color) by 80 subjects based on 12 basic descriptive variables including clean, fresh, liked, new, heavy, hard, warm, modern, active, tense, relaxing, concentration.White colour was associated with emotion: clean, new, relaxing and concentration. Yellow is associated with freshness; however, red is the most liked color. Black was linked with heavy, hard and tense emotions. Tense mood is associated with red. Insignificant differences between colourswith regard to warm mood were found. The link between colour preferences found for two topics living room and clothing and emotions elicited were discussed.Keywords: colour, preference, emotion, mood, marketing, personality, design.
Motor coordination and reactivity influenced by mental training in alpine skiing
Authors: Teodor Grosu Vlad , Teodor Grosu Vlad , Elena Moraru Cristina , Dan Monea
Published: February 2016

The samples of subjects tested are aged 12±5 and 19±1. Athletes are components of alpine ski groups within School sports clubs. The experimental group comprises athletes from Gheorgheni, Baia-Sprie, and FEFS and the control group consists of athletes from Topliţa, Sibiu, Predeal, Sinaia. Through this study, we analyzed the influence of mental training on the increase in focused attention and manual response in skiers. It is known that motor coordination and reactivity are very important in alpine skiing, (Chiș & Havatzelet, 2008). If the two components are not developed until they are fully mastered, it is impossible to achieve great results in alpine skiing. We recorded and tested the coordination between segments and the hand coordination within this study. In the experimental group, mental training techniques were applied, but not in the control group. The difference between the results is due to our intervention consisting in applying mental imagery in the most important technical elements within alpine skiing, (Akyürek, Schubö & Hommel, 2013).Keywords: coordination, skiing, mental imagery, manual response.
Bussiness ethichs course and a proposal for artist oath in fine arts faculties
Authors: Ozer Ayhan
Published: February 2016

Although format, purpose and method of art which is in the same age with the history of humanity showed significant changes from past to present and still is continuing to show changes, the main three elements which generated it have never changed. These ones are; artist, artwork and receiver. It is necessary to mention that these three constituent elements show significant changes just like art itself. Artist is the most effective one between them.As it would be wrong to say that artist is a tradesman by looking only business functions and value of the works; it will not resolve the subject to say not tradesman by just looking through the philosophy of art, either. Artistry is a high concept including being tradesman. It is not expected from a carpenter to react to social events or it cannot be criticized butcher's not to react to social events.  An airplane pilot in the face of social events is not condemned for his opinions about the event and a jockey will not face with a reaction for not referring social events, either.         Keywords: art, ethics, fine arts.
An educational experience of urban renewal: A case study of mass housing in Kagithane, Istanbul
Authors: Bilgi Elif Mihcioglu , Esin Suzan Sanli
Published: February 2016

In Istanbul, rural and urban migrations and unplanned urbanization have resulted in severe housing problems, especially for the lower and middle-income groups. Within the context of Architectural Design Studio VII for the IKU Department of Architecture, senior architecture students were encouraged to go beyond developing projects for mere educational purposes and instead discuss alternatives for residential design. A problematic residential area of 40.000 square meters in Kagithane, which has officially been designated a renewal area in Istanbul-Turkey, was selected as the case study area. Students were asked to analyse the site in terms of physical and social attributes. Each student detected and defined different sets of problems and was expected to propose an experimental, creative, new housing alternative and system. The main theme of the studio was to understand, evaluate, and improve urban life in and around the defined site. The approach of the design process followed was a contextual methodology. The aim of this paper is to evaluate and put forward different contextual approaches within the framework of this project for use in pursuing new solutions to similar global housing problems.Keywords: Architectural education, urban renewal, housing, Kagithane in Istanbul, contextual approach
Our living handcraft meerschaum craftsmanship for the future
Authors: Ertürk Nilay , Varol Esra
Published: February 2016

Meerschaum, which is an organic stone, has the appearance of soil or clay. It is white or similar to white in color. Meerschaum, which is a gemstone has absorbing characteristics, its color changes when exposed to open air, it is soft and easy to work magnesium silicate stone. New Works with high use and aesthetic values are produced from meerschaum, which is a completely unique material with its soft and sensitive structure as well as smoking material. Some of them are jewellery and accessories. The aim of this research is to introduce different meerschaum products in terms of aesthetic and use such as jewellery and accessories and to contribute to the development and introduction of this art. One of the places most suitable to mining and is determined as Eskisehir. Therefore, research sample is comprised of Eskisehir, meerschaum masters continuing to work in Eskisehir and their Works.  Research is qualitative in terms of problem, data collection and analysis methods. Method of interview is used in collecting research data and Works are analyzed by being photographed.Keywords: Meerschaum, handcraft, accessories, jewellery
Investigation of social responsibility projects: A case study “every child matters”
Authors: Ermiş Yeşim
Published: February 2016

Social responsibility projects are works done in order to raise awareness to masses, draw attention to problems in the community and find necessary measures and solutions.As well as printed materials such as posters, billboards and brochures, social responsibility projects can be delivered to masses via virtual environments and mass media. Visual design products are visual communication tools that can be perceived easily, are able to influence people from all parts of society, can be applied in all spaces and areas, are able to easily connect with a large audience simultaneously in a virtual environment.UNICEF, the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund, is an organization specialized in supporting children's rights, add sustainability to children's rights as permanent ethical principles and provide international standards for children’s rights.  The purpose of this study is to investigate the social responsibility project prepared by UNICEF for providing 2.2 Billion children around the world with every right using the slogan “Every child matters” in terms of elements of design discipline and pedagogical aspects such as clear and understandable design, reaching the target audience, use of correct images, psychological effects of colors used. Conclusion and recommendations were presented as a result of evaluations made regarding the findings of the study, which was conducted using qualitative research methods.Keywords: social responsibility project, unicef, design principles, graphic design, visual communication
Teaching technical specifications in fashion design education
Authors: Coruh Esen
Published: February 2016

Technical specifications of the fashion designs should be made into written form to produce a clothing collection. Thus, the designer visualizes his/her idea using technical drawings. To fully realize his/her idea, it is important that the designer should provide the details regarding the technical specifications correctly. Because while a clothing collection is produced, it goes through many processes by different people. That the designer introduces technical specifications in detail provides accurate production of the collection.In this study, the fashion design process is gathered under fifteen headings as identification of target market, research of fashion trends, determination of concept, identification of colors, selection of fabrics, determination of auxiliary materials, description of line, preparation of concept board, illustration of clothing designs, drawing of technical designs, formation of measurement charts, description of sewing instructions, indication of measurements, preparation of patterns and computing costs. In addition to these headings, the technical specifications covering the process are also considered. Lastly, the suggestions on teaching of the technical specifications in fashion design education are presented. The aim of this study is the technical specifications in the fashion design process to be learned. Therefore, the suggestion for integration of the information that is learned during fashion design education which requires a long lasting infrastructure is presented.   In fashion design education, it is important to provide education in design and production process. In this study the aim is to develop a model about teaching technical specifications in fashion design education. The aim of this study is to develop a model for teaching technical specifications in fashion design education. Therefore it is considered that the study is important in terms of integration of design and production information with related technical specifications.Keywords: Fashion design, fashion design education, technical specifications
Imaginations of creative design on the basis of sustainable design
Authors: Şatır Seçil
Published: February 2016

Sustainability has emerged as the most current and striking concepts of the 2000’s. Every field, every subject, and every thought generated its sustainable counter  part, and sustainability has come to symbolize the future. In fact, when sustainability researchers study design, they usually consider the sustainability of design.On the other hand, since it is of the essence of design, as in the essence of creativity, to conceive an original idea, to make new syntheses and to express them as an out of the ordinary image with seeable, tangible, olfactible, audible, and tasteable indicators, it is essential that the basic features of design should include knowledge about the future projections of design in the context of sustainability of design. Accordingly, it becomes a requisite to bring together all the information that is necessary to protect and sustain environments, habitats and nature that support life and evaluate it in shaping the future of product design and teach it as accumulated knowledge. Keywords: sustainable design, creativity, practices in education.
Permanence of an artwork in public areas and a design project: Draw and Erase (Yaz-Boz)
Authors: Çevik Arzu
Published: February 2016

There are three elements that come to the forefront while questioning the permanence of an artwork: The artist who plays a role, although indirectly, in individuals' establishing a direct relationship with the artwork; the political authorities and city administrators who have effective power on the permanence of artworks, and the watchers/users who realize conscious or unconscious vandalistic behaviors to artworks in public areas. While, at times, emerging as a consequence of a systematic destruction of the cultural structure of societies and a dogmatic thinking, the vandalism can also emerge in the form of destructive actions of individuals provoked by psychological and sociological causes. Users who are  consciously or unconsciously injurious behavior to the artwork in the public areas is starting point of the project. At the same time, this interactive project  was born of necessity  as a result of human – behavior – environment  interaction. This project aims the protection of  the artwork in public spaces and bring together people with interactive art. Keywords: public art, sculpture, vandalism, design, interactive Art
Arts and design education for sustainable development
Authors: Özsoy Vedat
Published: February 2016

The UN General Assembly realized in 1983 that there was a heavy deterioration of the human environment and natural resources, and established the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED). WCED's mission was to unite countries to pursue sustainable development together. This commission prepared a report called as “Our Common Future” in October 1987. The focus in the report was that the perspectives of society and nature are equal to that of economy.Countries’ economic and social development being sustainable, preventing global climate changes and natural disasters are directly proportionate to education strategies’ involving sustainability.  Sustainability education is a model that aims to support the learners to become responsible citizens who struggle for a more sustainable world with their knowledge, skills, values and mental abilities. UNESCO indicates that “Education for Sustainable Development” allows every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future.Art and design education has a multi-directional content for sustainable development ideals. For example, aesthetic sensitivity and critical thinking which are in the nature of art and design subjects, help students grow as individuals who are environment and ecosystem-sensitive. Sustainability of art and design education could be seen in two-directions. The first side is to keep students away from any kind of violence by providing them with sensitivity and empathy as well as help them develop respect for society and environment. In this way, students gain susceptibility and eagerness to protect ecosystem and live in the limits of nature. The second side is the sustainability projects carried out by students and instructors in art and design lessons. These are applications especially to clarify that a sustainable environment, nature and ecosystem is important for a sustainable life.  This study includes some practical examples about the second side.Keywords: Sustainability, art and design education.
Harmonic analysis of the ensemble and singing pieces from Erdal Tugcular as an educational music composer
Authors: Bozkurt Hasan , Köse H. Seval
Published: February 2016

Considered as one of Turkish new generation composers, Erdal Tugcular is today’s one of the strongest representatives of the folklorism in our Polyphonic Contemporary Turkish Music based on the Turkish Five. Musical pieces of Tugcular which are frequently heard in various national and international concert programs are of value and significance with their educational function at various levels of music education.This study harmonically analyses the pieces composed for Ensembles and Singing by Erdal Tugcular who has produced compositions in various styles and forms. For this purpose, “Osmanım” folk song composed for Singing with piano accompaniment and the polyphonic “Road tunes” piece composed for Ensemble were selected as samples among the compositions of Tugcular for Ensemble and Singing. The musical works selected are studied in terms of harmonic patterns and rules used in polyphonic singing.It is believed that the results of the study will contribute in the vocalization-rendition quality of the pieces analyzed and the realization of their educational functions. Keywords: Erdal Tugcular, ensemble pieces, singing pieces, harmonic analysis.
Beyond the technological blindfold: a fundamental design research approach to sustainability
Authors: Thomas Lisa , Walker Stuart , Blair Lynne
Published: February 2016

Design for sustainability is contextualised within the modern worldview, which undermines notions of human meaning that accord with sustainability. A fundamental design research approach is presented, which responds to calls for more radical approaches to sustainability that account for deeper notions of human meaning – notions that are lacking within dominant technological approaches. Two artefacts have been designed in response to philosophical perspectives that relate to the technological erosion of human meaning. It is argued that this form of fundamental design research could inform a higher education agenda that substantively contributes towards the development of more effective, rather than merely more efficient approaches to design for sustainability.Keywords: Design, sustainability, technology, meaning
Need for aesthetics in visual and audio environments
Authors: Keten Hatice , Köse H. Seval
Published: February 2016

Since the early ages, mankind has always been in search of a comfortable, convenient, safe and pleasant environment to live. Mankind’s quite different endeavors and intellectual progresses throughout the historical process have been related to the reason and continuity of his existence. Man’s endeavor to leave various traces in the environments he has been and his creativity have been effective in the formation of cultures and civilizations. This also denotes art.All environments that harbor men stand for their environment. The house, neighborhood, district, village, city, country, office, outdoor or indoor spaces where he dwells are considered the basic constituents of the environment that encircle mankind. All of these constituents have always been interwoven and in contact with cultural textures, aesthetics and art.The fact that the origin of cultures are cities also makes one think about the fact that mankind lives in this environment formed together by such cultural accumulation and the nature. This is because cultures spring from cities, live in cities and spread their influence from one city to another.In this study, the environment where mankind lives is analyzed in terms of meeting aesthetical expectations. With this study conducted on the basis of literature, it is intended to call attention to the subject of designing environments suited to the aesthetical needs and expectations of mankind.Keywords: Visual environment, audio environment, aesthetics.
The recent fundamental growth scenarios of the Asian E-Commerce- An Analysis
Authors: Gupta Deepak
Published: February 2016

In 2015, Central Asia made some vital enhancements in nature for cross-fringe e-business: Kazakhstan's promotion to the World Trade Organization (WTO) will help business straightforwardness, while the Kyrgyz Republic's enrollment in the Eurasian Customs Union grows its buyer base. Why e-business? Two reasons to begin with, e-trade diminishes the expense of separation. Focal Asia is the most elevated exchange cost locale on the planet: unlimited separations from real markets make discovering purchasers testing, shipping merchandise moderate, and fare costs high. Second, e-business can pull in populaces that are customarily under-spoke to in fare markets, for example, ladies, little organizations and rustic business visionaries.
ELT- Autobiographic memory: a source for communicative competence
Authors: Jayaannapurna A.V.S.
Published: February 2016

Language with all its paraphernalia, opens its wings of expression and communication in to new horizons of aesthetic experience. In addition, there is the inherent nature of language itself, which ultimately represents, symbolises, expresses, and can even shape our experience, but it is not the experience itself .With in communication, there is a lot of translation that must take place to go from the essence of our personal experience to the communication of words. In order to understand autobiographic memories, we use language to bridge the gap between dimensions ― between the dimension of subjective experience and the dimension of objective manifestation.
An Analysis of Corporate Social Responsibility Expenditure in Selected Indian Companies
Authors: Sharma Dr. Asha
Published: February 2016

Corporate social responsibility has become an inevitable priority for business leaders across the globe in recent times. More and more Indian business organizations embrace the practice of CSR under different names such as corporate sustainability, social responsibility, and corporate citizenship. CSR is concerned with treating the internal and external stakeholders of the firm ethically or in a socially responsible manner and the wider aim of corporate social responsibility is to create higher and higher standards of living, while preserving the profitability of the corporation, for its stakeholders. Under the new Companies Act, 2013, passed by Parliament in August 2013, Companies with net worth over 500 crores or turnover of over 1000 crores or net profit of 5 crores, two per cent of average profit of previous three years needs to be spent for social cause. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has gained considerable interest among academicians and business organizations in the past decade.The aim of this paper is to describe the existing practices of corporate social responsibility in Public Sector Enterprises in India. It is tried to find out whether the selected companies fulfilling their CSR spending requirement of 2% of average profit or not.
Identifying the impact of Energy Base Water Project on groundwater using high-frequency monitoring data in the Subei Lake basin, Ordos, Northwestern China
Authors: Liu Fei , Song Xianfang , Yang Lihu , Han Dongmei , Zhang Yinghua , Ma Ying , Bu Hongmei
Published: February 2016

Groundwater is increasingly exploited for energy production in arid regions, which necessitates a deeper insight into the impact of the enhanced human pressure on the groundwater. This study applied an integrated method (statistical analysis, water table fluctuation method, hydrograph analysis and remote sensing) to identify the impact of Energy Base Water Project on the groundwater in the Subei Lake basin. Groundwater levels in eight observation wells at 30 min intervals during the 2013–2014 period were monitored using automatic groundwater monitoring data loggers. Results showed that precipitation infiltration, irrigation return flow, groundwater pumping and evapotranspiration controlled the hydrodynamics of unconfined groundwater. The average evapotranspiration rates in the Quaternary phreatic aquifer and the Cretaceous phreatic aquifer were 6.15 and 12.48 mm/d. The unusual hourly hydrographs fall into three patterns (mutational, irregular and gradual hydrographs). Different recovery times after being influenced by pumping may be related to the presence of the mudstone lenses. The extent of the groundwater depression cone was qualitatively identified by gradual hydrographs, which may spread from the center area to the western boundary. Only some individual wells from Haolebaoji waterworks had conducted the intermittent pumping activities at random times and caused the decline of the lakes.
Allocation of water consumption in multipurpose reservoirs
Authors: Bakken Tor Haakon , Modahl Ingunn Saur , Raadal Hanne Lerche , Bustos Ana Adeva , Arnøy Silje
Published: February 2016

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources represented a benchmark in the assessment of water consumption from electricity production. The numbers for hydropower ranged from very low to much larger than the other renewable technologies, partly explained by methodological problems. One of the methodological shortcomings identified was the lack of guidance on how to allocate the water consumption rates in multipurpose reservoirs. This paper is, according to the authors’ knowledge, the first attempt to evaluate, test and propose a methodology for the allocation of water consumption from such reservoirs. We tested four different allocation methods in four different cases, all serving three to five functions, including drinking water supply, irrigation, flood control, industrial water, ecological flow and power generation. Based on our case studies we consider volume allocation to be the most robust approach for allocating water consumption between functions in multipurpose reservoirs. The spatial boundaries of the analysis should follow the boundaries of the hydraulic system. We recommend that data should preferably be gathered from one source for all functions, to ensure a consistent calculation approach. We believe the findings are relevant for similar allocation problems, such as allocation of energy investments and green-house gas emissions from multipurpose reservoirs.
MitoNEET-Parkin Effects in Pancreatic α- and β-Cells, Cellular Survival, and Intrainsular Cross Talk
Authors: Kusminski Christine M. , Chen Shiuhwei , Ye Risheng , Sun Kai , Wang Qiong A. , Spurgin Stephen B. , Sanders Phillip E. , Brozinick Joseph T. , Geldenhuys Werner J. , Li Wen-hong , Unger Roger H. , Scherer Philipp E.
Published: February 2016

Mitochondrial metabolism plays an integral role in glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) in β-cells. In addition, the diabetogenic role of glucagon released from α-cells plays a major role in the etiology of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes because unopposed hyperglucagonemia is a pertinent contributor to diabetic hyperglycemia. Titrating expression levels of the mitochondrial protein mitoNEET is a powerful approach to fine-tune mitochondrial capacity of cells. Mechanistically, β-cell–specific mitoNEET induction causes hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance due to activation of a Parkin-dependent mitophagic pathway, leading to the formation of vacuoles and uniquely structured mitophagosomes. Induction of mitoNEET in α-cells leads to fasting-induced hypoglycemia and hypersecretion of insulin during GSIS. MitoNEET-challenged α-cells exert potent antiapoptotic effects on β-cells and prevent cellular dysfunction associated with mitoNEET overexpression in β-cells. These observations identify that reduced mitochondrial function in α-cells exerts potently protective effects on β-cells, preserving β-cell viability and mass.
Association Between Plasma Uric Acid Levels and Cardiorenal Function in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Lytvyn Yuliya , Mahmud Farid H. , Daneman Denis , Deda Livia , Dunger David B. , Deanfield John , Dalton R. Neil , Elia Yesmino , Har Ronnie , Bradley Timothy J. , Slorach Cameron , Hui Wei , Moineddin Rahim , Reich Heather N. , Scholey James W. , Mertens Luc , Sochett Etienne , Cherney David Z.I.
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE

The relationship between plasma uric acid (PUA) and renal and cardiovascular parameters in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) is not well understood. Our aims in this exploratory analysis were to study the association between PUA and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR), blood pressure, endothelial function, and arterial stiffness in T1D adolescents. These associations were also studied in healthy control (HC) subjects.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We studied 188 T1D subjects recruited to the Adolescent Type 1 Diabetes Cardio-Renal Intervention Trial (AdDIT) and 65 HC subjects. Baseline PUA, eGFRcystatin C, ACR, blood pressure, flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured.

RESULTS

PUA was lower in T1D vs. HC subjects (242 ± 55 vs. 306 ± 74 μmol/L, respectively; P < 0.0001). Higher PUA was inversely associated with eGFR in T1D subjects (r = −0.48, P < 0.0001) even after correction for baseline clinical demographic characteristics. PUA was not associated with ACR in T1D after adjustment for potential confounders such as eGFR. For cardiovascular parameters, PUA levels did not associate with systolic blood pressure, FMD, or PWV in T1D or HC subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Even within the physiological range, PUA levels were significantly lower in T1D adolescent patients compared with HC subjects. There was an inverse relationship between PUA and eGFR in T1D, likely reflecting an increase in clearance. There were no associations observed with ACR, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, or endothelial function. Thus, in contrast with adults, PUA may not yet be associated with cardiorenal abnormalities in adolescents with T1D.
Effects of motherwort alkaloids on rat ear acne
Authors: Mingsan Miao , Yan Li , Tan Wang , Ting Wang , Ming Bai , Jinxin Miao , Bao Gong
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of motherwort alkaloids on rat ear acne. The rats that were administered high, medium, and low doses of motherwort alkaloids, tanshinone capsules, a model and a control group. Each group of rats was subjected to gavage once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the first day of testing, the control and model groups were administered an intradermal auricle injection of sterilized saline solution and the remaining groups were administered an intradermal auricle injection of Staphylococcus epidermidis in addition to the gavage. The thicknesses of the rats’ auricles were measured for five consecutive days following the injections. Anticoagulated blood was used for erythrocyte rheology index measurement. In addition, the entire ear of each rat was removed for morphological examination. Compared to the model group, the group administered motherwort alkaloids exhibited significantly reduced swelling, improved localized auricle proliferation, and reduced blood viscosity. This result suggests motherwort alkaloids are effective in rat ear acne.

 
Effects of motherwort alkaloids on rat ear acne
Authors: Mingsan Miao , Yan Li , Tan Wang , Ting Wang , Ming Bai , Jinxin Miao , Bao Gong
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of motherwort alkaloids on rat ear acne. The rats that were administered high, medium, and low doses of motherwort alkaloids, tanshinone capsules, a model and a control group. Each group of rats was subjected to gavage once daily for 14 consecutive days. On the first day of testing, the control and model groups were administered an intradermal auricle injection of sterilized saline solution and the remaining groups were administered an intradermal auricle injection of Staphylococcus epidermidis in addition to the gavage. The thicknesses of the rats auricles were measured for five consecutive days following the injections. Anticoagulated blood was used for erythrocyte rheology index measurement. In addition, the entire ear of each rat was removed for morphological examination. Compared to the model group, the group administered motherwort alkaloids exhibited significantly reduced swelling, improved localized auricle proliferation, and reduced blood viscosity. This result suggests motherwort alkaloids are effective in rat ear acne.
Preparation and release characteristics study on the novel minocycline hydrochloride sustained-release capsule
Authors: Zhao Songfeng , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Xiaojian , Shi Xiuqin , Li Jun , Kan Quancheng , Yang Shuoye
Published: February 2016

In present study, a novel minocycline hydrochloride sustained-release capsule was prepared with the new extrusion-spheronization method. The in vitro release studies were performed using marketed sample as a reference and data were analyzed in terms of cumulative release amounts as a function of time. Results demonstrated that the developed analysis method was reliable and convenient for the quantification and dissolution study of minocycline hydrochloride. The release characteristics of different batches of preparations were quite similar with each other, similarity factors f2  of 12 batches were all within 50-100, and our developed sample was similar to reference preparation in release characteristics in vitro. The developed sustained-release preparation may be a promising alternative dosage form for treatment of related diseases.
Reflecting the Changing Face of American Society: How 1970’s Sitcoms and Spin-Offs Helped Redefine American Identity
Authors: Tredy Dennis
Published: February 2016

When looking back at the popular American situation comedies of the 1970’s, one notices a vast network of programs aimed at framing social discourse and at helping America come to term with its own, changing image. This was done through a restaging of the political and social ills of the generation as comedic teleplays, thereby using laughter as a vehicle towards social awareness and unwitting change or personal growth, and by recycling popular (and unpopular) clichés and stereotypes (the bigot, the racist, the bleeding-heart liberal, the closed-minded conservative, the touchy feminist, etc.) so as to undermine them while appearing to reinforce them. As this paper will demonstrate, situations used in these situation comedies were often adaptations of lesser known British television programs (as is the case with Norman Lear’s long-running series All in the Family and Sanford and Son), or of landmark films and plays pointing to new social norms (as with Robert Gutchell’s Alice or James Komack’s The Courtship of Eddie’s Father). One also notes that these recycled and reworked premises were in turn recycled and reworked into numerous spin-offs, and even spin-offs of spin-offs, thereby weaving a thick network of popular television programming that attempted to depict every facet and variation of the changing face of American society and to help Americans accept that new face while unabashedly laughing at it. Thus, these television comedies reflected, framed and fed social discourse in the 1970’s. Racism, ‘reverse racism’, religious bigotry, anti-Semitism, draft-dodging, anti-government protest, women’s rights, divorce, and even rape — no topic was too controversial to be treated in the most direct and often vehement of manners in this hard-hitting new breed of sitcom. One could argue that American sitcoms have never been as politically incorrect or socially aware as they were some forty years ago, yet it is also undeniable that current programming owes a great deal to these ground-breaking sitcoms of the 1970’s. Thus, as a closing point, it is important to note how these programs have served as a palimpsest and a common set of references for today’s TV series, and to show how much contemporary ‘breakthrough television’ owes to the Archie Bunkers, Fred Sanfords and Mary Tyler Moores of the 1970’s.
Rich Dykes from L.A. are called Lesbians
Authors: Crémieux Anne
Published: February 2016

“Have you ever thought about suing The L Word crew for stealing so many of your ideas?” writes DeLandDeLakes on the blog of Alison Bechdel, the creator of Dykes to Watch Out For. Another blogger described DTWOF as “The L Word, in comic strip form, before The L Word ever existed.” I would like to present how The L Word does indeed share quite a few traits with DTWOF. Indeed, both series portray a group of lesbian friends who live the lesbian life, speak about and experience such community events as gay pride or lesbian cruises, have babies through artificial insemination, and famously set up charts to keep track of reported sexual encounters. In both cases, the serial form allows for strong identification with diverse characters, who present conflicting takes on gender and sexuality, personal and political ethics. One major element, however, is the difference in medium and audience range. As a comic strip published exclusively in underground, queer magazines, Bechdel’s series never reached the mainstream audience The L Word had to seduce to survive its first season on Showtime. The two series offer different approaches to American late 20th c. / early 21st c. lesbian culture, showing how targeting a much broader TV audience might have resulted in a slightly different depiction of how women navigate their gender and sexuality to self-identify as lesbians, rather than dykes.
Vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D3] Differentially Regulates Human Innate Cytokine Responses to Bacterial versus Viral Pattern Recognition Receptor Stimuli
Authors: Fitch Natascha , Becker Allan B. , HayGlass Kent T.
Published: February 2016

Vitamin D plays multiple roles in regulation of protective and maladaptive immunity. Although epidemiologic studies link poor in vivo 25(OH)D status to increased viral respiratory infections, we poorly understand how vitamin D affects viral pattern recognition receptor (PRR)-driven cytokine production. In this study, we hypothesized that the biologically active metabolite of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2D3, inhibits human proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory innate cytokine responses stimulated by representative bacterial or viral PRR ligands. Fresh PBMCs or CD14+ monocytes were stimulated with TLR4, TLR7/8-selective ligands, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) ± 1,25(OH)2D3. Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses resulting from TLR4 stimulation were inhibited ∼50% in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3. Conversely, its usage at physiologic through pharmacologic concentrations inhibited neither proinflammatory nor anti-inflammatory responses evoked by viral PRR ligands or infectious RSV. This differential responsiveness was attributed to the finding that TLR7/8, but not TLR4, stimulation markedly inhibited vitamin D receptor mRNA and protein expression, selectively reducing the sensitivity of viral PRR responses to modulation. 1,25(OH)2D3 also enhanced expression of IkBa, a potent negative regulator of NF-κB and cytokine production, in TLR4-stimulated monocytes while not doing so upon TLR7/8 stimulation. Thus, 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits both proinflammatory and a broad panel of anti-inflammatory responses elicited by TLR4 stimulation, arguing that the common view of it as an anti-inflammatory immune response modifier is an oversimplification. In viral responses, it consistently fails to modify TLR7/8- or RSV-stimulated innate cytokine production, even at supraphysiologic concentrations. Collectively, the data call into question the rationale for increasingly widespread self-medication with vitamin D supplements.