bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal influenza beginning in Europe: report from EISS
Authors: Paget W  J , Meijer A , Meerhoff T J , Ansaldi F , Buchholz U , Fleming D M , Nicoll A , Van Der Velden J , Arkema J MS
Published: October 2017

Increased influenza activity was reported in six countries in the second week of 2007: Greece, the Netherlands, United Kingdom (Northern Ireland), Scotland, Spain and Switzerland. Based on trends of previous years, influenza activity is expected to increase in many more European countries in the weeks ahead. The influenza activity reported so far has mainly been associated with influenza A viruses.
Outbreak of listeriosis in the Czech Republic, late 2006 – preliminary report
Authors: Vít M , Olejník R , Dlhý J , Karpíšková R , Cástková J , Príkazský V , Príkazská M , Beneš C , Petráš Petr
Published: October 2017

For more than 30 years up to 2006, the incidence of human listeriosis in the Czech Republic has been low, ranging between 0.1 and 0.2 cases per 100 000 population per year. In 2006, however, the incidence of human listeriosis was about 0.7.
No indication of Swedish Chlamydia trachomatis variant among STI clinic visitors in Amsterdam
Authors: de Vries H JC , Catsburg A , van der Helm J J , Beukelaar E C , Morré S A , Fennema J SA , Thiesbrummel H
Published: October 2017

A Chlamydia trachomatis variant has recently been reported from Sweden, characterised by a 377 base pair deletion in open reading frame 1 in the Chlamydia trachomatis plasmid (located outside the chromosome).
A case of childhood tetanus in Cyprus in 2003: a rarely seen disease
Authors: Koliou M , Ioannou Y , Stylianidou G
Published: October 2017

We describe a case of childhood tetanus in a child who had received no vaccination for the disease, and who developed tetanus following a leg injury.
Two outbreaks of H5N1 avian influenza in farm geese, Hungary, January 2007
Authors: Editorial team Collective
Published: October 2017

On 21 January 2007, an increase in deaths among geese at a farm near Lapistó village (Csongrád county in southern Hungary) was reported to the Hungarian veterinary authorities.
Increase in rabies cases in animals in Belarus
Authors: Editorial team Collective
Published: October 2017

There has been an increase in the number of rabies cases in animals in Belarus, starting from 1996 with 27 cases, with peaks in 2003 (1077 cases) and 2006 (1628 cases) [1,2]. In comparison, a decade earlier (1988-1995) only sporadic cases of rabies in animals were registered.
Eurosurveillance changes hands!
Authors: Editorial team Collective
Published: October 2017

As of March 2007, Eurosurveillance is the independent scientific in-house journal of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in Stockholm, Sweden. After over 10 years’ successful collaboration between the Institut de Veille Sanitaire in Paris, France and the Health Protection Agency in London, United Kingdom under the auspices of the European Commission, the ECDC now takes over the funding and publishing of the journal.
HIV-positive organs used for transplant in Italy due to human error
Authors: Villa E , Nanni Costa A
Published: October 2017

In February 2007, three patients received HIV-positive organs as a result of an error made in the documentation by an employee at the hospital in northern Italy where the organs had been taken for transplant.
Current measles outbreak in Serbia: a preliminary report
Authors: Seguliev Z , Đurić P , Petrovic V , Stefanovic S , Ćosić G , Hrnjakovic I C , Milošević V , Karagiannis I , Boxall N , Jankovic D
Published: October 2017

An outbreak of measles is ongoing in northern Serbia. The first cases were in January 2007 in the area of Novi Sad in the autonomous province of Vojvodina. As of 12 March 2007, 121 suspected cases had been reported to the regional Institute of Public Health.
Mumps outbreak in Bulgaria, 2007: a preliminary report
Authors: Kojouharova M , Kurchatova A , Marinova L , Georgieva T
Published: October 2017

There is an ongoing mumps outbreak in Bulgaria, with a total of 997 cases notified between 1 January and 18 March 2007. This number includes laboratory-confirmed and probable epidemiologically-linked clinical cases in line with the EU case definition and case classification that have been adopted for mumps surveillance purposes in Bulgaria since 2005.
Laboratory-confirmed case of toxigenic Corynebacterium ulcerans in the United Kingdom
Authors: Elden S , Coole L , Efstratiou A , Doshi N
Published: October 2017

On 15 February 2007, the United Kingdom’s Respiratory and Systemic Infection Laboratory confirmed isolation of a toxigenic (toxin-producing) Corynebacterium ulcerans from a pharyngeal sample taken from a man in his mid-fifties in North Yorkshire, England. The man’s symptoms included a five-week history of pharyngitis, laryngitis, fever and abdominal pain.
The current status of HPV and rotavirus vaccines in national immunisation schedules in the EU – preliminary results of a VENICE survey
Authors: Kudjawu Y , Lévy-Bruhl D , Pastore Celentano L , O’Flanagan D , Salmaso S , Lopalco P L , Mullins N , Bacci S
Published: October 2017

In the second half of 2006, two vaccines against rotavirus infections and one against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection were granted licensing authorisations by the European Medicines Agency (EMEA).
Clinical trial search portal launched
Authors: Editorial team Collective
Published: October 2017

On 4 May 2007, the Clinical Trial Search Portal (http://www.who.int/trialsearch) was launched. An international initiative led by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the portal aims to ease the rapid search for information about clinical trials worldwide. It is open to the public, but its target audience is health practitioners and researchers.
Influenza vaccine coverage and the attack rate of influenza-like illness among the elderly in Portugal: is there a correlation?
Authors: Nunes B , Falcao I , Machado A , Rodrigues E , Marinho Falcao J
Published: October 2017

Vaccination of the elderly (>=65 years of age) against influenza is recommended in all European countries
Large outbreak of acute gastroenteritis in Samokov Region, Bulgaria, February 2007
Authors: Kamenov G , Borissova M , Kovachka K , Korsun N , Mladenova Z , Tiholova M
Published: October 2017

In the beginning of February 2007, a marked increase in the number of cases of acute gastroenteritis in Samokov, a region in western Bulgaria, south of the capital Sofia, was noted by the Regional Inspectorate for Public Health Protection and Control.
World Health Assembly adopts resolution on influenza virus sharing
Authors: Editorial team Collective
Published: October 2017

The World Health Assembly, the supreme decision-making body of the World Health Organization (WHO), concluded its annual session in Geneva this week with a last-minute resolution concerning the sharing of influenza viruses and access to vaccines in relation to pandemic preparedness.
Salmonella Kottbus outbreak in infants in Gran Canaria (Spain), caused by bottled water, August – November 2006
Authors: Palmera-Suárez R , Garcia P , Garcia A , Barrasa A , Herrera D , on behalf of the investigation team
Published: October 2017

Since October 2006, the Spanish National Reference Laboratory has reported a series of isolations of Salmonella Kottbus on the island of Gran Canaria.
Outbreak of Q fever among a group of high school students in Slovenia, March-April 2007
Authors: Grilc E , Socan M , Koren N , Ucakar V , Avsic T , Pogacnik M , Kraigher A
Published: October 2017

A group of 33 veterinary students and two teachers contracted a laboratory-confirmed Q fever infection during a training course on a sheep farm in Slovenia in March 2007.
Trichinellosis outbreak in Bavaria caused by cured sausage from Romania, January 2007
Authors: Nöckler K , Wichmann-Schauer H , Hiller P , Müller A , Bogner K
Published: October 2017

In mid-January 2007, three family members from Bavaria came down with typical symptoms for trichinellosis after visiting relatives in Romania (Arad district) during the Christmas holidays.
Outbreak of shigellosis in Denmark associated with imported baby corn, August 2007
Authors: Lewis H , Ethelberg S , Lisby M , Madsen S. B. , Olsen K EP , Rasmussen P , Kjelsø C , Vestergaard L. S. , Qureshi K , Howitz M , Mølbak K
Published: October 2017

On 16 August 2007, the Danish regional food authority (Fødevareregion Øst) and the Statens Serum Institut (SSI) became aware of an outbreak of Shigella sonnei infections.
Outbreaks of shigellosis in Denmark and Australia associated with imported baby corn, August 2007 – final summary
Authors: Lewis H. C. , Kirk M , Ethelberg S , Stafford R , Olsen K EP , Nielsen E M , Lisby M , Madsen S B , Mølbak K
Published: October 2017

The recently reported concurrent outbreaks of Shigella sonnei infections in Denmark and Australia have been found to be linked to a common baby corn packing house in Thailand via trace-back of the distribution chain.
EU Health Programme for 2008-2013 approved
Authors:   Eurosurveillance editorial team
Published: October 2017

On 9 October 2007, the Council of the European Union approved the Second Programme of Community Action in the Field of Health for the period 2008-2013.
World Health Organization to meet again on influenza virus-sharing
Authors: Editorial team Collective
Published: October 2017

An intergovernmental meeting sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), to which all 193 WHO member states are invited, will take place in Geneva from November 20 to 23 to discuss the issues around the sharing of influenza virus samples.
Occurrence of the USA300 community-acquired Staphylococcus aureus clone in Austria
Authors: Ruppitsch W , Stöger A , Schmid D , Fretz R , Indra A , Allerberger F , Witte W
Published: October 2017

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates are emerging as significant pathogens in the community.
STEC O157 outbreak in Iceland, September-October 2007
Authors: Sigmundsdottir G , Atladottir A , Hardardottir H , Gudmundsdottir E , Geirsdottir M , Briem H
Published: October 2017

From 28 September to 22 October, nine domestically acquired cases of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 were diagnosed in Iceland, one of which is probably a secondary case.
A case of Clostridium difficile-associated disease due to the highly virulent clone of Clostridium difficile PCR ribotype 027, March 2007 in Germany
Authors: Zaiss N H , Weile J , Ackermann G , Kuijper E  J , Witte W , Nuebel U
Published: October 2017

Here, we report the isolation of C. difficile PCR ribotype 027 from a patient suffering from pseudomembranous colitis in Germany in March 2007. The strain was identified during a retrospective PCR ribotyping survey of stored isolates.
MODIFIKASI GENSET BERBAHAN BAKAR HYBRID DI PILOT PLANT DME BERBAH
Authors: Khudhori Muhrom
Published: October 2017

Genset modified with biogas, when biogas empty genset can’t used gasoline. Beside that, when genset operated with biogas are corrosion at fuel system, because in the biogas are water steam. So to solution this problems must to research modifications genset with hybrid fuel (biogas-gasoline). A research with modified on carburetor to assembly venturi mixer. Step a research are engineering design, manufacturing design, and performances test  genset modified. Performance parameters are power (watt), voltage (volt), frequency (Hz) and current (ampere).  The conclusion of the research are the genset can operate with carburetor modified, and optimum performances at throttle open 25%. On load 0 the result are voltage 212 Volt, frequency 50,9 Hz, current 0,01 A, power 0 watt, with 800 result voltage 196 Volt, frequency 31,5 Hz, current 2,89 A, power 594 watt. Optimum 700 watt with result voltage 217 volt, frequency 44,3 Hz, current 3,09 A, power 694 watt.
PENGARUH FAKTOR DEMOGRAFI DAN PERSONALITY TERHADAP KEAHLIAN DALAM END USER COMPUTING (Studi Kasus Guru dan Karyawan Administrasi pada Sekolah Menengah Atas Negeri di Kotamadya Yogyakarta)
Authors: Wisnubroto Petrus
Published: October 2017

This study aims to analyze the influence of demographic factors ( age , gender , education , experience ) and personality factors ( computer anxiety , computer attitude , math anxiety ) to the end user computing expertise of personnel either partially or simultaneously . Models the influence of the demographic variables and personality skills in end user computing research model replicated from Harrison and Rainer (1992 ) and the research model and Gudono Rifa (1998). The study was conducted on teacher and administrative employees of State High School I to XI in Yogyakarta Municipality considering charging adminsitrasinya teacher certification performed with computerized online program for you State , appropriate curriculum in 2013 all teachers in the learning process to educate students using computerized , so too the acceptance of new students each academic year always use the on-line computerized . Thus both teachers and administrative staff are required to have expertise in End user Computing . So the research conducted to analyze the influence of demographic factors and personality to expertise in End User Computing. The results showed that demographic factors (age - gender - experience) has a direct influence on the expertise in end user computing 0 , 001 ; 0 , 027 ; 0,007 . Personality factors of computer anxiety (fear - Anticipation 0.057) ; computer attitude (Intimidation 0.05) has a direct influence on the expertise in end user computing . The results were quite surprising is the demographic factors (educational 0.117) , personality factors of computer attitude (0.760 pessimism - optimism 0.150) ; math anxiety (0.334) is not significant enough to expertise in end user computing . To improve performance in the Public High Schools in Yogyakarta municipality with regard to the introduction of new technology on- line computerized system above , need to be considered in decisions about withdrawal of the human resources , training and implementation of computer education for personnel and equipment. Provision of adequate facilities is expected to increase its expertise in end user computing , which in turn improves the performance of State High School and individual performance
IDENTIFIKASI TANAMAN KACANG-KACANGAN BERDASAR ZAT HARA LAHAN MENGGUNAKAN METODE ELECTRE (STUDI KASUS:DI KABUPATEN GUNUNGKIDUL)
Authors: Indrianingsih Yuliani
Published: October 2017

This study aims to improve the economic  value of farmers' land, so the land can be planted with legumes right by the soil nutrient. Many farming communities are still using the self-taught learning and experience from generation to generation in the determination of the types of legumes were planted them, causing yields are not optimal. And so we need a system that can help farmers to determine the type of legumes matching based nutrient soil to be processed. The study was conducted in the five District in Gunungkidul for data collection in the field. The results of data collection in the field can be a benchmark for decision makers farmers to determine the type of legume crops to be planted based on the criteria of soil nutrients . Criteria are a barometer of determining the type of legumes is the KTK, base saturation, O, Ca, C / N, Magnesium, Carbon. Determining the level of importance of each criterion and to calculate the value of suitability types of legumes based on each of these criteria were analyzed using ELECTRE. With this system the maximum expected agricultural output, thus increasing the economic value of Gunungkidul regency. Keywords : Identification, legumes, Electre
A History of Radiology
Authors: Joshi Birendra Raj
Published: October 2017

Not available. Nepalese Journal of Radiology, VOL 4 No. 2 ISSUE 7 July-December, 2014: 15-16
Ritual Kinship among Hindu Pilgrimage Priests of Allahabad
Authors: Boisvert Mathieu
Published: October 2017

The primary objective of this article is to clarify the elements that contribute to the formation of the identity of the pilgrimage priests of Prayāga (Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh, India). This identity is constructed by the self-perception of the priests, the perception of this group by others, the various functions and directives at the core of the group's professional activities, and the types of relationships the priests share with other social groups. I will discuss endogamy, the exclusivity of the profession, and commensalism and rites of passage, as well as certain elements specific to the prayāgavāla that unite them with the pilgrims. This article concludes that these pilgrimage priests form a relatively homogeneous and distinct social group whose identity is still deeply rooted in a traditional Hindu structure.
A Place at the End of a Road: A Yin-Yang Geography
Authors: Farquhar Judith , Lai Lili , Kramer Marshall
Published: October 2017

If one task of modern nation-states is to produce a commons or a known universe, a one-world world that is visible to all, what spaces are left for the uncommons? Drawing on a 2014 visit to a village, once a county town, just barely within the borders of China, we follow James Scott in asking not only how a state sees but what a state might be able to see, as well. To understand the uncanny (in)visibility of this place, we invoke Chinese yin-yang theory to reflect on the ways that human space transforms through time, partly hidden by yin shade and partly revealed in yang glare. The uncommons is not, in other words, an exterior to the one-world world; rather, it is a possible world that can make itself partly known in a mottled and ever-changing light and shade.
Things in (Un)Common: Two Reflections
Authors: Wiener Margaret J.
Published: October 2017

This article reflects on the way two things associated with Bali – heirloom daggers (kris) and the island's territory – are enlisted to assemble multiple but linked worlds. The kris in question traverse pre-colonial polities, colonial policies and institutions, national heritage, and efforts to recompose local politics. Bali's terrain, made by geological and cosmological forces and ritual practices, has been drawn into Cold War killings that produced mass graves, and development focused on mass tourism. I examine how these projects affect one another and how their actual or potential collision brings multiplicity into view.
Canadian Studies at the Crossroads, Again!
Authors: Palmer Bryan D.
Published: October 2017

Canadian Studies and the project of knowing ourselves have a long history. The initiative took a leap forward in the 1970s with the release of the Symons Report and the development of Canadian Studies programs and departments in a number of Canadian and international universities. By the 1990s, however, interest in Canadian Studies was flagging. The situation has not improved of late. This essay touches on the many reasons behind the current waning of interest in and support for Canadian Studies: economic, political, socio-cultural, and intellectual. It addresses interdisciplinarity, a foundation of the Canadian Studies project, showing how this refusal to contain knowledge within traditional academic disciplines was at first embraced by area studies but is now generalized throughout scholarly research. This has made the appeal of Canadian Studies less novel than it once was. Yet there are also corresponding developments, such as Indigenization, that reveal the extent to which new knowledge of Canadian experience can be gained through interdisciplinary research. For this research to flourish, and for the potential of Canadian Studies to be realized, scholars and others must defend old achievements in order to keep alive the possibilities of new advances in learning and of knowing ourselves more thoroughly.
Early versus late Gamma Knife radiosurgery following transsphenoidal surgery for nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas: a multicenter matched-cohort study
Authors: Pomeraniec I. Jonathan , Kano Hideyuki , Xu Zhiyuan , Nguyen Brandon , Siddiqui Zaid A. , Silva Danilo , Sharma Mayur , Radwan Hesham , Cohen Jonathan A. , Dallapiazza Robert F. , Iorio-Morin Christian , Wolf Amparo , Jane John A. , Grills Inga S. , Mathieu David , Kondziolka Douglas , Lee Cheng-Chia , Wu Chih-Chun , Cifarelli Christopher P. , Chytka Tomas , Barnett Gene H. , Lunsford L. Dade , Sheehan Jason P.
Published: October 2017

OBJECTIVE

Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) is frequently used to treat residual or recurrent nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas. There is no consensus as to whether GKRS should be used early after surgery or if radiosurgery should be withheld until there is evidence of imaging-defined progression of tumor. Given the high incidence of adenoma progression after subtotal resection over time, the present study intended to evaluate the effect of timing of radiosurgery on outcome.

METHODS

This is a multicenter retrospective review of patients with nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas who underwent transsphenoidal surgery followed by GKRS from 1987 to 2015 at 9 institutions affiliated with the International Gamma Knife Research Foundation. Patients were matched by adenoma and radiosurgical parameters and stratified based on the interval between last resection and radiosurgery. Operative results, imaging data, and clinical outcomes were compared across groups following early (≤ 6 months after resection) or late (> 6 months after resection) radiosurgery.

RESULTS

After matching, 222 patients met the authors’ study criteria (from an initial collection of 496 patients) and were grouped based on early (n = 111) or late (n = 111) GKRS following transsphenoidal surgery. There was a greater risk of tumor progression after GKRS (p = 0.013) and residual tumor (p = 0.038) in the late radiosurgical group over a median imaging follow-up period of 68.5 months. No significant difference in the occurrence of post-GKRS endocrinopathy was observed (p = 0.68). Thirty percent of patients without endocrinopathy in the early cohort developed new endocrinopathies during the follow-up period versus 27% in the late cohort (p = 0.84). Fourteen percent of the patients in the early group and 25% of the patients in the late group experienced the resolution of endocrine dysfunction after original presentation (p = 0.32).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, early GKRS was associated with a lower risk of radiological progression of subtotally resected nonfunctioning pituitary macroadenomas compared with expectant management followed by late radiosurgery. Delaying radiosurgery may increase patient risk for long-term adenoma progression. The timing of radiosurgery does not appear to significantly affect the rate of delayed endocrinopathy.
Registration of ‘Buck’ Naked Barley
Authors: Meints Brigid , Corey Ann , Evans Chris , Filichkin Tanya , Fisk Scott , Helgerson Laura , Ross Andrew S. , Hayes Patrick M.
Published: October 2017

‘Buck’ (Reg. No. CV‐363, PI 682744) is a naked (hull‐less), six‐row barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar with winter growth habit. The cultivar was released by the Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station in 2015. The name Buck was chosen because the cultivar is naked. Prior to being named, Buck was tested under the experimental designation 09OR‐86. In high‐rainfall environments, it had a yield advantage over the naked check and had an excellent test weight. When grain yield was adjusted for the weight of hulls, Buck was competitive with all checks. Buck is resistant to barley stripe rust and moderately resistant to leaf rust. Buck was developed as a whole‐grain human food barley. However, multi‐use (e.g., food, malting, and feed) is an option. Feeding data are not available. Malting quality data indicate that Buck has higher malt extract than current covered (hulled) malting cultivars. Buck is the first naked winter cultivar to be released with adaptation to the US Pacific Northwest.
Growth performance of yearling F1 progeny of different crossbred beef cattle
Authors: Mostari MP , Khan MYA , Roy BK , Hossain SMJ , Huque KS
Published: October 2017

Bangladesh has a great demand of beef but it has been facing demand and supply mismatches due to insufficient production and supply of beef, low carcass yield of native cattle and recent no-cattle export policy of a long bordered neighboring country. Thus, the present work was undertaken with an objective to develop market beef cattle of average >150 Kg carcass weight by 24 months with an average FCR of <6.50 under on farm feeding and management condition. Aiming at developing breeding bulls the native dams of BCB-1 (BLRI Cattle Breed 1) were inseminated with the imported frozen semen of Brahman, Simmental, Charolais and Limousin. The crossbred progeny of different assorted F1 genotypes were being selected and their production and breeding performance were evaluated and compared with BCB-1.  All pregnant (> 6 months of gestation period) cows were in pre-natal care, and all calves were raised in a single plane of nutrition and management. All crossbred progeny performed better than BCB-1 in terms of live weights and average daily gains. Among the crossbreds, Charolais×BCB-1 had the highest (p<0.001) birth weight (27.5±1.52 kg) followed by Brahman×BCB-1 (24.1±1.23), Simmental×BCB-1 (21.9±1.78), Limousin×BCB-1 (19.8±1.39) and BCB-1×BCB-1 (18.4±1.09), and the genotypes differences were highly significant (p<0.001).  In average growth curve, Simmental cross grew faster followed by Charolais, Limousin, Brahman crosses and purebred BCB-1. The genotype×environment interaction was only observed in birth weight. Purebred BCB-1 had the lowest daily DM intake and showed the lowest FCR in all ages compare to other crosses. Calf scour and alopecia occurred in all genotypes. In this breeding program, calf mortality was found as 5.26%. Simmental×BCB-1 is performing as the best among the five genotypes in terms of growth up to 12 month of age.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2017. 46 (2): 82-87
Preparation of cottage cheese from buffalo milk with different levels of papaya latex
Authors: Rana MS , Hoque MR , Deb GK , Nahar TN , Habib R , Siddiki MSR
Published: October 2017

The study was conducted to standardize the desire level of papaya (Carica papaya) latex on quality of cottage cheese prepared from buffalo milk. Cheese sample was prepared using whole milk collected from Lal Teer Livestock Development (BD) Ltd. Dairy farm. This experiment was conducted on five treatments named as sample BC2: buffalo control; A2: 5 drops (0.16g); B2: 6 drops (0.18g); C2: 7 drops (0.21g); and D2:8 drop (0.24g). Overall score of cheese samples, B2 was highest (91.67±0.58) and A2 was lowest (77.67±9.29). Chemical analysis showed that, highest protein value 24.00±1.00 was found in B2 and lowest value 21.00±1.00 was in C2. On the other hand C2 content the maximum fat percent18.00±1.00 and A2 content the minimum fat percent 12.00±1.00. Results indicate that carbohydrate, ash and acidity have significant differences (p<0.01) but non-significant difference was found in total solids and moisture. Cheese from buffalo milk on coagulation time significantly different (p<0.01) but non-significant differences was found in yield.Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2017. 46 (2): 128-133
A Bilingual ‘Morisco Qur'an’ with Thirteen Lines to the Page
Authors: Martínez de Castilla Nuria
Published: October 2017

Three copies of the ‘Morisco Qur'an’, RESC/101D.2, RESC/39E, and RESC/58B.1, provide an exceptional testimony for the study of textual transmission within Morisco communities. They lead us to think that the copyists working for these communities knew and used a systematic methodology for transcribing texts which we could call ‘commented’ (or ‘translated’) Qur'ans, with 13 lines to the page. In all three cases, the text was written at the beginning of the sixteenth century, if not in direct parallel at least within a short time span, by the same hand, with an identical layout, on a paper of the same type and size, and with the same portions of text on the same page. They are clearly exceptional, since no similar examples have been found in the entire manuscript production of the Western Islamic world known to date. We are dealing here with a careful process of standardisation similar to that found later in the wider Islamic world––more precisely in the Ottoman Empire––from 1620 onwards, which will become widespread in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Qur'anic Studies in al-Andalus: An Overview of the State of Research on qirāʾāt and tafsīr
Authors: Hernández López Adday
Published: October 2017

In this paper I aim to offer a state-of-the-art assessment of extant studies on qiraʾāt and tafsīr, and an overview of the development of research in Qur'anic exegesis, in al-Andalus. Over the last decade, humanities research has embraced the use of new methodologies, and different types of bio-bibliographical resources have recently become available within the field of Andalusī studies. As a result, we have at our disposal new tools that allow us to manage a larger amount of data, such as the HATA online catalogue, which will be employed to study the transmission of Andalusian exegetical knowledge in the Islamic world. Pilgrimages and studies trips (riḥlāt fī ṭalab al-ʿilm) have always been the main connection between al-Andalus and the Islamic East and, as it will be shown, certain Andalusī works are known nowadays in the contemporary Islamic world because of this medieval link. Therefore, this contribution will not only discuss the most famous tafsīr titles and authors within the Andalusian literary tradition, but also the diffusion of these Andalusian works to the Islamic East, as well as the reciprocal spread of major Arabic works into Andalusia.
No Ivory Tower: Hamish Henderson and Academic Life
Authors: Bechhofer Frank
Published: October 2017

This article is the text of the annual Hamish Henderson lecture delivered on 12th November 2016. The lecture is given as part of The Carrying Stream, a celebration of the life of Hamish Henderson.
Measurement of Thermal Properties of Growing Media for Green Roofs: Assessment of a Laboratory Procedure and Experimental Results
Authors: Barozzi Benedetta , Bellazzi Alice , Maffè Claudio , Pollastro Maria
Published: October 2017

While the Italian standard UNI 11235:2015 establishes minimum performance criteria, the thermal resistance of the growing medium of green roofs is not included in national regulations. Instead, thermal transmittance limits for roofs are obtained by referring to other stratigraphic layers. In the absence of specific national and international standards for laboratory calculations of the thermal performance of growing media for green roofs, a multi-year laboratory testing campaign was carried out on 8 samples which aimed to define the thermal resistance reference values of growing media as a function of density and water content. Thermal conductivity varies between 0.046–0.179 W/mK for dry samples as a function of density and between 0.046–0.47 W/mK as a function of moisture content. Defining a reference method, laboratory tests and restitution of the output in performance curves, was based on 108 tests carried out according to and deviating from the standard based on both guarded hot plate and heat flow meter methods. The significance of the results has prompted researchers and industrial partners to engage in further investment and ongoing tests in this area, targeting the definition of a standard laboratory method to be presented worldwide.
Clinical and Functional Assays of Radiosensitivity and Radiation-Induced Second Cancer
Authors: Habash Mohammad , Bohorquez Luis , Kyriakou Elizabeth , Kron Tomas , Martin Olga , Blyth Benjamin
Published: October 2017

Whilst the near instantaneous physical interaction of radiation energy with living cells leaves little opportunity for inter-individual variation in the initial yield of DNA damage, all the downstream processes in how damage is recognized, repaired or resolved and therefore the ultimate fate of cells can vary across the population. In the clinic, this variability is observed most readily as rare extreme sensitivity to radiotherapy with acute and late tissue toxic reactions. Though some radiosensitivity can be anticipated in individuals with known genetic predispositions manifest through recognizable phenotypes and clinical presentations, others exhibit unexpected radiosensitivity which nevertheless has an underlying genetic cause. Currently, functional assays for cellular radiosensitivity represent a strategy to identify patients with potential radiosensitivity before radiotherapy begins, without needing to discover or evaluate the impact of the precise genetic determinants. Yet, some of the genes responsible for extreme radiosensitivity would also be expected to confer susceptibility to radiation-induced cancer, which can be considered another late adverse event associated with radiotherapy. Here, the utility of functional assays of radiosensitivity for identifying individuals susceptible to radiotherapy-induced second cancer is discussed, considering both the common mechanisms and important differences between stochastic radiation carcinogenesis and the range of deterministic acute and late toxic effects of radiotherapy.
Microwave-Assisted Silver-Catalyzed Protodecarboxylation and Decarboxylative Iodination of Aromatic Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Zhan Kun , Li Yi
Published: October 2017

Carboxylic acids and their derivatives are readily available from both natural and synthetic sources. Apart from being used as direct substrates in the functional transformation, aryl carboxylic acids have found more applications in aromatic functionalization, especially in decarboxylation coupling reactions. Microwave-assisted protodecarboxylation and decarboxylative iodination of aromatic carboxylic acids were achieved with excellent yields in the presence of Ag2CO3 catalyst and K2S2O8. These reactions will be helpful for better understanding of decarboxylation-related coupling reactions and also have the potential of being used as a practical labeling method to synthesize regioselective deuterium and iodine-labelled compounds for chemical, biological, and medicinal research.
On the Origin of Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Copper-Modified Titania in the Oxidative Reaction Systems
Authors: Janczarek Marcin , Kowalska Ewa
Published: October 2017

Modification of titania with copper is a promising way to enhance the photocatalytic performance of TiO2. The enhancement means the significant retardation of charge carriers’ recombination ratio and the introduction of visible light activity. This review focuses on two main ways of performance enhancement by copper species—i.e., originated from plasmonic properties of zero-valent copper (plasmonic photocatalysis) and heterojunctions between semiconductors (titania and copper oxides). The photocatalytic performance of copper-modified titania is discussed for oxidative reaction systems due to their importance for prospective applications in environmental purification. The review consists of the correlation between copper species and corresponding variants of photocatalytic mechanisms including novel systems of cascade heterojunctions. The problem of stability of copper species on titania, and the methods of its improvement are also discussed as important factors for future applications. As a new trend in the preparation of copper-modified titania photocatalyst, the role of particle morphology (faceted particles, core-shell structures) is also described. Finally, in the conclusion section, perspectives, challenges and recommendations for future research on copper-modified titania are formulated.
Core Loss Analysis of Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machines under SVPWM Excitation with Considering Saturation
Authors: Feng Yanli , Zhang Chengning
Published: October 2017

Core loss is one of the significant factors affecting the high power density of permanent magnet machines; thus, it is necessary to consider core loss in machine design. This paper presents a novel method for calculating the core loss of permanent magnet synchronous machines under space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) excitation, taking magnetic saturation and cross coupling into account. In order to accurately obtain the direct and quadrature (d-q) axis, current in the given load condition, the permanent magnet motor model under SVPWM excitation has been modified, so as to consider the influence of magnetic saturation and cross coupling effects on the d-q axis flux-linkage. Based on the magnetic field distribution caused by permanent magnet and armature reactions, the stator core loss can be calculated with the core loss analytical model, corresponding to the rotational magnetic field. In this study, the method has been applied to analyze core loss in an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine, and has been validated by the experimental results. The influence of pole/slot number combinations on core loss in the same on-load condition is also investigated. This study provides a potential method to guide motor design optimization.
The Pattern of microRNA Binding Site Distribution
Authors: Zhang Fangyuan , Wang Degeng
Published: October 2017

Micro-RNA (miRNA or miR) regulates at least 60% of the genes in the human genome through their target sites at mRNA 3’-untranslated regions (UTR), and defects in miRNA expression regulation and target sites are frequently observed in cancers. We report here a systematic analysis of the distribution of miRNA target sites. Using the evolutionarily conserved miRNA binding sites in the TargetScan database (release 7.1), we constructed a miRNA co-regulation network by connecting genes sharing common miRNA target sites. The network possesses characteristics of the ubiquitous small-world network. Non-hub genes in the network—those sharing miRNA target sites with small numbers of genes—tend to form small cliques with their neighboring genes, while hub genes exhibit high levels of promiscuousness in their neighboring genes. Additionally, miRNA target site distribution is extremely uneven. Among the miRNAs, the distribution concentrates on a small number of miRNAs, in that their target sites occur in an extraordinarily large number of genes, that is, they have large numbers of target genes. The distribution across the genes follows a similar pattern; the mRNAs of a small proportion of the genes contain extraordinarily large numbers of miRNA binding sites. Quantitatively, the patterns fit into the P(K) ∝ K−α relationship (P(K): the number of miRNAs with K target genes or genes with K miRNA sites; α: a positive constant), the mathematical description of connection distribution among the nodes and a defining characteristic of the so-called scale-free networks—a subset of small-world networks. Notably, well-known tumor-suppressive miRNAs (Let-7, miR-15/16, 26, 29, 31, 34, 145, 200, 203–205, 223, and 375) collectively have more than expected target genes, and well-known cancer genes contain more than expected miRNA binding sites. In summary, miRNA target site distribution exhibits characteristics of the small-world network. The potential to use this pattern to better understand miRNA function and their oncological roles is discussed.
Past-Forwarding Ancient Calamities. Pathways for Making Archaeology Relevant in Disaster Risk Reduction Research
Authors: Riede Felix
Published: October 2017

Despite the alleged mastery of humans over nature, contemporary societies are acutely vulnerable to natural hazards. In interaction with vulnerable communities, these transform into catastrophes. In a deep historical perspective, human communities of many different kinds have been affected by numerous kinds of natural disasters that may provide useful data for scenario-based risk reduction measures vis-à-vis future calamities. The low frequency of high magnitude hazards necessitates a deep time perspective for understanding both the natural and human dimensions of such events in an evidence-based manner. This paper focusses on the eruption of the Laacher See volcano in western Germany about 13,000 years ago as an example of such a rare, but potentially highly devastating event. It merges Lee Clarke’s sociological argument for also thinking about such very rare events in disaster planning and David Staley’s notion of thinking historically about the future in order to ‘past-forward’ such information on past constellations of vulnerability and resilience. ‘Past-forwarding’ is here intended to signal the use of such deep historical information in concerns for contemporary and future resilience. This paper outlines two pathways for making archaeological information on past extreme environmental events relevant in disaster risk reduction: First, the combination of information from the geosciences and the humanities holds the potential to transform ancient hazards from matters of fact to matters of concern and, hence, to more effectively raise awareness of the issues concerned. Second, in addition to information on past calamities feeding into preparatory scenarios, I argue that the well-established outreach channels available to the humanities (museums, in particular) provide powerful platforms for communication to multiple publics.
Vaccines as Epidemic Insurance
Authors: Pauly Mark
Published: October 2017

This paper explores the relationship between the research for and development of vaccines against global pandemics and insurance. It shows that development in advance of pandemics of a portfolio of effective and government-approved vaccines does have some insurance properties: it requires incurring costs that are certain (the costs of discovering, developing, and testing vaccines) in return for protection against large losses (if a pandemic treatable with one of the vaccines occurs) but also with the possibility of no benefit (from a vaccine against a disease that never reaches the pandemic stage). It then argues that insurance against the latter event might usefully be offered to organizations developing vaccines, and explores the benefits of insurance payments to or on behalf of countries who suffer from unpredictable pandemics. These ideas are then related to recent government, industry, and philanthropic efforts to develop better policies to make vaccines against pandemics available on a timely basis.
Globally Consistent Indoor Mapping via a Decoupling Rotation and Translation Algorithm Applied to RGB-D Camera Output
Authors: Liu Yuan , Wang Jun , Song Jingwei , Song Zihui
Published: October 2017

This paper presents a novel RGB-D 3D reconstruction algorithm for the indoor environment. The method can produce globally-consistent 3D maps for potential GIS applications. As the consumer RGB-D camera provides a noisy depth image, the proposed algorithm decouples the rotation and translation for a more robust camera pose estimation, which makes full use of the information, but also prevents inaccuracies caused by noisy depth measurements. The uncertainty in the image depth is not only related to the camera device, but also the environment; hence, a novel uncertainty model for depth measurements was developed using Gaussian mixture applied to multi-windows. The plane features in the indoor environment contain valuable information about the global structure, which can guide the convergence of camera pose solutions, and plane and feature point constraints are incorporated in the proposed optimization framework. The proposed method was validated using publicly-available RGB-D benchmarks and obtained good quality trajectory and 3D models, which are difficult for traditional 3D reconstruction algorithms.
The Role of Toll-Like Receptors and Vitamin D in Cardiovascular Diseases—A Review
Authors: Adamczak Daria
Published: October 2017

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Therefore, a better understanding of their pathomechanisms and the subsequent implementation of optimal prophylactic and therapeutic strategies are of utmost importance. A growing body of evidence states that low-grade inflammation is a common feature for most of the cardiovascular diseases in which the contributing factors are the activation of toll-like receptors (TLRs) and vitamin D deficiency. In this article, available data concerning the association of cardiovascular diseases with TLRs and vitamin D status are reviewed, followed by a discussion of new possible approaches to cardiovascular disease management.
The Role of Gap Junction-Mediated Endothelial Cell–Cell Interaction in the Crosstalk between Inflammation and Blood Coagulation
Authors: Okamoto Takayuki , Suzuki Koji
Published: October 2017

Endothelial cells (ECs) play a pivotal role in the crosstalk between blood coagulation and inflammation. Endothelial cellular dysfunction underlies the development of vascular inflammatory diseases. Recent studies have revealed that aberrant gap junctions (GJs) and connexin (Cx) hemichannels participate in the progression of cardiovascular diseases such as cardiac infarction, hypertension and atherosclerosis. ECs can communicate with adjacent ECs, vascular smooth muscle cells, leukocytes and platelets via GJs and Cx channels. ECs dynamically regulate the expression of numerous Cxs, as well as GJ functionality, in the context of inflammation. Alterations to either result in various side effects across a wide range of vascular functions. Here, we review the roles of endothelial GJs and Cx channels in vascular inflammation, blood coagulation and leukocyte adhesion. In addition, we discuss the relevant molecular mechanisms that endothelial GJs and Cx channels regulate, both the endothelial functions and mechanical properties of ECs. A better understanding of these processes promises the possibility of pharmacological treatments for vascular pathogenesis.
The Peptidylarginine Deiminase Inhibitor Cl-Amidine Suppresses Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Dendritic Cells
Authors: Jang Byungki , Ishigami Akihito , Kim Yong-Sun , Choi Eun-Kyoung
Published: October 2017

The conversion of peptidylarginine into peptidylcitrulline by calcium-dependent peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of a number of diseases, identifying PADs as therapeutic targets for various diseases. The PAD inhibitor Cl-amidine ameliorates the disease course, severity, and clinical manifestation in multiple disease models, and it also modulates dendritic cell (DC) functions such as cytokine production, antigen presentation, and T cell proliferation. The beneficial effects of Cl-amidine make it an attractive compound for PAD-targeting therapeutic strategies in inflammatory diseases. Here, we found that Cl-amidine inhibited nitric oxide (NO) generation in a time- and dose-dependent manner in maturing DCs activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This suppression of NO generation was independent of changes in NO synthase (NOS) enzyme activity levels but was instead dependent on changes in inducible NO synthase (iNOS) transcription and expression levels. Several upstream signaling pathways for iNOS expression, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κB p65), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1 pathways, were not affected by Cl-amidine. By contrast, the LPS-induced signal transducer and the activator of transcription (STAT) phosphorylation and activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional activities (c-Fos, JunD, and phosphorylated c-Jun) were decreased in Cl-amidine-treated DCs. Inhibition of Janus kinase/STAT signaling dramatically suppressed iNOS expression and NO production, whereas AP-1 inhibition had no effect. These results indicate that Cl-amidine-inhibited STAT activation may suppress iNOS expression. Additionally, we found mildly reduced cyclooxygenase-2 expression and prostaglandin E2 production in Cl-amidine-treated DCs. Our findings indicate that Cl-amidine acts as a novel suppressor of iNOS expression, suggesting that Cl-amidine has the potential to ameliorate the effects of excessive iNOS/NO-linked immune responses.