bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A presença do judeu em Contos Amazônicos, de Inglês de Sousa
Authors: Barbosa Deuziane de Vasconcelos
Published: June 2015

Este artigo analisará a relação entre o personagem judeu e a lenda do boto, presente no conto “O baile do judeu”, inserido em Contos amazônicos, de Inglês de Sousa. A princípio, são trazidas informações sobre a vida e obra do autor, além de uma pesquisa da recepção especializada acerca de sua carreira literária. Em seguida, as atenções são voltadas para os elementos principais da análise, o judeu, que consiste na apresentação da história do povo semita desde sua origem, passando pelo período de migração para a Amazônia, até os dias de hoje, abordando o antissemitismo, costumes e o imaginário construído sobre esses imigrantes. Seguindo com uma breve abordagem sobre o imaginário amazônico voltado para a lenda do boto. Como última etapa deste trabalho, traz-se a análise do conto “O baile do judeu”, atentando para o imaginário amazônico, imaginário a cerca dos judeus e o antissemitismo presente na narrativa.
Raízes judaicas do humanismo de Lévinas
Authors: Pfeffer Renato Somberg
Published: June 2015

A obra de Lévinas é associada a conceitos fronteiriços entre filosofia e religião como as noções de ética, humanismo, alteridade, rosto. Para se entender o verdadeiro teor do pensamento de Lévinas é necessário ter em mente que sua filosofia e sua religiosidade são indissociáveis. Uma das fontes mais importantes de suas obras filosóficas é a sua vivência religiosa judaica. O filósofo lituano defenderá sempre a validez e universalidade da verdade transmitida pelo judaísmo. Ao dedicar-se à filosofia, Lévinas toma de sua religião as verdades que considera universais e compartilháveis e as estuda sob o ponto de vista da razão. É nesse ponto que se produz o contato entre duas tradições que aparentemente são tão diferentes: o judaísmo como fonte de verdade e a fenomenologia como modo de reflexão e compreensão da realidade.
Biblioteca Warburg: uma “coleção de problemas” e memórias
Authors: Souza Alice Costa
Published: June 2015

Aby Warburg é um nome que evoca mais que um homem, evoca uma biblioteca: a Kulturwissenschaftliche Bibliothek Warburg (KBW) em Hamburgo. O artigo discorre sobre a “ciência sem nome” criada por Warburg para ordenação de sua coleção pessoal que se tornou pública, refletindo seu entusiasmo pela memória coletiva. A biblioteca abriga também o Atlas Mnemosyne (1924-1929), formado por lâminas que contam uma versão alternativa da História da Arte, uma coleção de imagens organizada, bem como a biblioteca, por critérios de “boa vizinhança”. A KBW – que sobrevivera a duas guerras, mudança para Londres, aos colapsos mentais de seu criador – eternizou-se por meio de sua abertura ao público em 1926 e reverbera ainda pelos inúmeros trabalhos de arte contemporânea.
As aljamias hebraicas, sistemas de escrita híbridos
Authors: Duchowny Aléxia Teles , Cohen Maria Antonieta A. de M.
Published: June 2015

As aljamias hebraicas são o resultado da mistura do sistema de escrita latino e do sistema de escrita hebraico, juntamente à criação de regras intrínsecas a essa nova escrita. Objetiva-se compreendê-las com maior clareza, tomando-se como ponto de referência o manuscrito judaico do século 15 De magia (Ms. Laud Or. 282, Bodleian Library). Para tal, o sistema de chegada – a aljamia hebraica – será comparada com os sistemas de partida – o hebraico e o português. Verifica-se que o sistema latino é o mais redundante, o mais completo, porém o menos econômico dos sistemas de escrita. Já o hebraico é o menos redundante, o menos completo e o mais econômico dentre eles, ficando a aljamia em um ponto intermediário entre os dois extremos. Sistema híbrido, porém eficaz meio de comunicação, permitindo a legibilidade satisfatória do texto aljamiado.
Recurrent pyogenic granuloma: an update
Authors: Al-shiaty Rami A. , Ottoman Bacem A. E.
Published: June 2015

Background: Given the fierce controversy about the nature of pyogenic granulomas, starting with its unfitting name and ending up with its ideal treatment modality, this paper tries to numerically identify some predisposing factors of recurrence.

Methods: The literature was initially reviewed and a total of twenty recurrent cases of pyogenic granuloma were contrasted, on one hand, to their initial appearance. On the other hand, all are contrasted to a similar number of normal mucosa using three histochemical stains: Alcian blue, periodic acid-Schiff and Masson’s trichrome.

Results: For all recurrent lesions, all specimens showed myxoid structure histologically even if their initial appearance had possessed a sparse myxoid structure. The age of recurrence has been correlated to the histochemical findings. For the Alcian Blue stain (AB), the value of t-test was 3.808840. The pertaining value of P was 0.000593. The result was significant at P ≤0.05. For the PAS stain, the value of t-test was 3.640327. The value of P was 0.000871. The result was significant at P ≤0.05. In Masson’s trichrome staining, the value of t-test was 3.100816. The value of P was 0.002942. The result was significant at P ≤0.05. Accordingly, all stains showed significant difference in fibrous content in the initial and recurrent lesions. Conversely, the count of both endothelial vessels and inflammatory infiltrates in the recurrent lesions were significantly lower than the primary precursors.

Conclusions: Given that collagen fibers are continually degraded and resynthesized while proteolytic degradation occur outside the cells through the activity of enzymes called  matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), it is suggested that MMPs -positively expressed by PAS reactions- account for the spacing of the fibrous stroma, allowing for reshaping the three dimensional structure of the connective tissue. Myxoid structures are certainly promoting recurrence either via excessive secretion of hyaluronic acids or unknown mechanisms. The undisputed fact is the presence of myxoid structures in all our reported recurrent cases. Both inflammatory cascade and endothelial proliferation have no vital role in the recurrence according to our morphometric results. Finally, PAS stain should give more details in examining PGs than the other recruited counterparts.

Keywords: Recurrent pyogenic granuloma, PAS stain, Myxoid structures, Etiopathogensis

 
Toxicity profile of anticancer drugs in acute lymphoblastic leukemia and protective role of vitamin E on these toxicities in albino rats
Authors: Roy Regina , CG Hema , N Geetha
Published: June 2015

Background: Objectives: (1) To study the spectrum of toxicity due to chemotherapy as per MCP841 protocol during the acute phase of treatment of patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). (2) To study the same toxicities in albino rats and the protective role of vitamin E on these toxicities.

Methods: This was a prospective clinical study for one year, in the department of medical oncology and paediatric oncology which was augmented by experimental animal study for 5 months using albino rats. For clinical study, patients diagnosed as ALL taking treatment as per MCP841 protocol were taken. Patients were followed up every day to detect the development of any type of adverse reactions or toxicity symptoms. Laboratory tests done during the course of chemotherapy were reviewed for any abnormality. Animal study involved 18 albino rats; rats were divided into 3 Groups; Group 1 - control (n=6), Group 2 - antileukaemic treated rats (n=6), Group 3 - antileukaemic drugs and vitamin-E treated rats (n=6). 

Results: In the clinical study major toxicities observed were haematological, metabolic, gastrointestinal, general infection, neurotoxicity, pancreatitis, pneumonitis and jaundice. Neurosensory toxicity presented as numbness in the extremities and hyperalgesia and myalgia. Histopathological examination of the internal organs of albino rats studied showed protection of vitamin E for the gastric toxicity, pancreatitis, cardiac toxicity, neuro toxicity and hepatic toxicity whereas there was no reduction in splenic and renal toxicities. In the case of haematological toxicity, protection was only minimal.

Conclusions: The animal study revealed the protective role of vitamin E on cytostatic drug induced toxicities. 
Keywords: Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), Antileukaemic drugs, Vitamin E (Vit. E), MCP841 protocol
Confusing brand names - algorithms to assess the confusability to dispensers and risk to patients
Authors: Rataboli Padmanabh , Khandeparkar Akshay , Khandolkar Suvidha , Chawla Lokesh
Published: June 2015

Background: Brand name prescribing has been as integral part of medical practice. Confusing brand names have become a nightmare of medical profession and many are strikingly identical, similar looking (orthographic), or similar sounding (phonological). Such similarities have led to medical errors due to wrong drug being prescribed or dispensed. We have made an attempt to form algorithms to assess the confusability to dispensers or doctors and, to determine the risk to the patients by considering various parameters in the brand names.  

Methods: Two separate algorithms are prepared with positive and negative markings to assess the confusability and the risk. The scoring system appropriately suggests the confusability of the brand names, as well as the risk posed to the patients if dispensed wrongly. Considering the confusion and the potential risk to the consumers, it is essential that the concerned authorities adopt this algorithm to determine the confusability vis-a-vis safety before they accept a new brand name. Similar brand names should be analysed and the score determined to approve or refuse the new name for the brands.

Results: Analysing numerous examples of confusing brand names, it is proposed that an overall combined score of more than 22 (confusability plus risk together) suggests that the two names are highly confusing and pose a high risk to the patients if wrongly prescribed or dispensed. An overall score of 8 or less suggests that the drug names together are neither confusing nor risky. A combined score in between suggests that the drugs analysed are confusing but may or may not pose any risk to the patient.

Conclusions: In conclusion, look-alike and sound-alike brand names of various drugs are here to stay. As consumer, one should find out what drug you are taking and what it’s for, and whether the right brand has been dispensed. As a doctor you should write clearly and be thoroughly familiar with the similar brands before you prescribe to prevent any “written” error. As pharmacist, one should not hesitate to phone the physician to verify the brand and its contents if the name is “confusing” with another brand. 

Keywords: Confusing brand names, Algorithms, Confusability, Risk
Personality characteristics and organizational commitment in Iranian employees
Authors: Khoeini Fatemeh , Attar Bahare Nazarizade
Published: June 2015

Background: Individual differences in personality can be a source of creativity and the root of many problems in organization. This study aimed to determine the relationship between organizational commitment and personality among staff in South Naft Company.

Methods: This research is descriptive and analytical study. The population study selected from nurses’ of Labbafi hospital according to the Morgan table. Finally 103 persons selected. In the present study data was collected by questionnaires. According the two variables used two standard questionnaires in this study. Questionnaire to measure personality traits “neo” which measures features of the character including mental ill, outward orientation, openness, consensus and commitment to taking knows. Organizational commitment questionnaire “Alain and Pierre” measure the three dimensions of emotional, rational and normative for analyzed using the software-SPSS version 19 software.

Results: There was a relationship between agreement personality and commitment to rational. Also, between externally personality with affective and normative commitment are positively related. Relationship does not exist between openness and commitment to the rational, emotional and normative. There is not relationship between neuroticism personality and affective normative and rational commitment.

Conclusion: There was a relationship between personality characteristics with the three dimensions of organizational commitment. 

Keywords: Organizational commitment, Personality characteristics, Staffs
Giant tonsillolith: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Verma Hitesh , Dass Arjun , Singhal Surinder K. , Gupta Nitin
Published: June 2015

We had a sixty years old male patient, who had one year history of foreign body sensation in throat and the history of odynophagia for the last ten days. The NCCT neck showed 3.08×2.28 cm homogenous calcified mass in left tonsillar fossa. The stone was removed and tonsillectomy was performed. Giant tonsillolith is a rare clinical entity. As per available literature, 54 cases of giant tonsilloliths have been reported and to the best of our knowledge, this is one of the largest tonsillolith in the world till date. 
Keywords: Tonsillolith, Oral cavity
Роль отечественного бизнеса в экономической безопасности страны
Authors: Бородин Денис Владимирович
Published: June 2015

Рассмотрен российский бизнес в контексте вопроса экономической безопасности. Доказано, что кризис последнего времени, пришедший на смену первым признакам стабилизации отечественной экономики, потребность в немедленном решении социальных проблем, делают необходимыми институциональные изменения и создают предпосылки для эффективного сотрудничества государства и бизнес-структур. По мнению автора, существенной проблемой для отечественной экономики остается повышение результативности произведенных финансовых затрат. Необходима ликвидация неэффективных федеральных целевых программ. Автор утверждает, что улучшение процесса управления инновационной деятельностью, активное участие государства в формировании инновационного спроса, оказание ощутимой господдержки предприятиям, использующим инновации, и контроль, каким образом используются предоставленные ресурсы, будут способствовать увеличению темпов отечественного экономического роста, обеспечат необходимый уровень экономической безопасности и повысят уровень благосостояния граждан.
New Insights into Endocrine Therapy for Young Women with Breast Cancer
Authors: Di Lascio Simona , Pagani Olivia
Published: June 2015

Managing estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in young women (<40 years) requires a multidisciplinary/personalized approach, covering both clinical and psychosocial aspects. Five years of tamoxifen has been the standard adjuvant endocrine therapy for many years. Recent data from the adjuvant randomized trials TEXT–SOFT show that the aromatase inhibitor exemestane plus ovarian suppression significantly reduces recurrences as compared with tamoxifen plus ovarian suppression. The ATLAS and aTToM trials represent the first evidence of a beneficial effect of extended endocrine therapy with tamoxifen in premenopausal women. Outside of a clinical trial, no data support neoadjuvant endocrine therapy in young women. In the metastatic setting, tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, both with ovarian suppression/ablation, should be the preferred choice, unless rapid tumor shrinkage is needed. No data are available with fulvestrant in young patients.
Pox on Both Your Houses: The Battle of the Romeos
Authors: Ritchie Leslie
Published: June 2015

This article examines the 1750 “Battle of the Romeos,” a twelve-night run of Romeo and Juliet at both of London’s patent theatres, during which audiences sought to compare the performances of David Garrick at the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane to those of Spranger Barry at the theatre in Covent Garden. With reference to Garrick’s 1748 and 1750 print editions of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, media representations of the battle, and insights from the Cross-Hopkins theatre diaries concerning the profitability of competition and the importance of paratexts such as prologues and epilogues, I argue that examination of non-parodic imitation and repetition in print and performance, and not only differentiation in performance, is crucial to understanding the effects of dramatized competition upon celebrity.
The Catholic Question, Print Media, and John O’Keeffe’s The Poor Soldier (1783)
Authors: Burke Helen M.
Published: June 2015

John O’Keeffe’s play The Poor Soldier (1783) should be read against the backdrop of Irish Catholic loyalist productions in the second half of the eighteenth century, a period when Irish Catholic leaders began organizing to press for greater political, religious, and economic rights. To recover this political subtext, this article reconstructs a media landscape that encompasses Irish, as well as English print productions, street performances, and military displays. I focus attention, in particular, on the debate in the press and print media during the period of the American Revolutionary War when the British army began accepting Irish Catholic recruits. O’Keeffe intervened in this debate through his dramatic representation of Patrick, the poor soldier; this Irish Catholic war veteran’s story is this playwright’s attempt to answer the character question behind the broader Catholic question.
The Scottish Play: Nationalism, Masculinity, and the Georgian Afterlife of The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret
Authors: Anderson Misty G.
Published: June 2015

This essay argues that Susanna Centlivre’s play The Wonder: A Woman Keeps a Secret (1714) uses parody to help audiences imagine British identity in broad imperial terms, beginning with the identity of George i and Prince George on the eve of the Hanoverian succession. Religious identity was fundamental to the Hanoverian settlement, which cut off the Stuart line in the name of a reliably Protestant Great Britain. Centlivre uses parody’s modernizing temporal rhetoric to mediate anxieties about Scots, Roman Catholics, and patriarchalism and to stage the cultural triumph of a modern Great Britain that coincides conceptually with Protestant values.
Optimization of Farm-to-Market Road Investment and Maintenance Activities in Selected Developing Countries
Authors: Greenstein Jacob
Published: June 2015

The objective of the administration of farm-to-market roads in countries such as the Central African Republic, Liberia, and South Sudan is to optimize maintenance activities in relation to improving road safety and minimizing life-cycle costs, including road investment, maintenance, and road user costs. The decision on the selection of the most feasible and affordable road dimensions and characteristics, such as all-weather or weather-dependent accessibility, is based on engineering and economic analysis of costs and benefits related to the level of accessibility and the economic life expectancy of the road network. In selected rural areas of African countries such as the Central African Republic, Liberia, and South Sudan, road improvement is a component of an area development program. Traffic volumes are less than 50 vehicles per day (vpd) on these roads, and the development program includes both (a) an engineering and socioeconomic methodology that examines the relationship between road accessibility and agricultural production and (b) social services to evaluate the costs and benefits of the investments of the whole program. Rural investment is most efficient when the most economic type of roadway and the complementary agricultural investments are jointly optimized. The principal benefits achieved are reduced road user costs and reduction of agricultural spoilage. The paper concludes that, when the annual average daily traffic (AADT) is less than 50 vpd, the engineering-improved road surface is the most feasible solution. When the AADT is more than 50 and less than 300 vpd, the most feasible road surface is gravel, and when the AADT is more than 300, blacktop resurfacing is justified.
Updating Side Friction Factors for Design of Unpaved Roads
Authors: Shoop Sally A. , Kestler Maureen A.
Published: June 2015

Traction coefficients are used in the calculations required for safe geometric road design, including stopping sight distance and horizontal curve alignment. Friction factors are based on traction coefficients for low-volume roads provided in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service (FS) Road Preconstruction Handbook and are also referenced by the AASHTO Guidelines for Geometric Design of Very Low-Volume Local Roads (ADT ≤ 400). These traction values are based on measurements from the 1950s to the 1970s. However, tire design, construction, and even test methods have changed considerably since then. To evaluate the validity of the design coefficients, and to determine replacement values or ranges, a literature search, data mining, and a limited test program were conducted by the U.S. Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory and FS. This paper presents existing FS handbook values and design guidelines, updated values collected from the literature, and new measurements taken on gravel and snow-covered roads. For longitudinal friction–traction, updated values are similar to the FS handbook values, except for asphalt and gravel, which has presented friction values up to 30% and 100% higher, respectively. Lateral traction shows even higher values for gravel and snow, being 2 to 2.5 times as high as the handbook's median values. Fortunately, these differences err on the side of safety. Future evaluations should consider the impact of the higher values on road design, operations, and economics to see whether a change is warranted. Testing of additional surfaces is recommended, as are measurements that use a wider range of tires and vehicles.
Strategic Safety Management Plan for Wind River Indian Reservation
Authors: Shinstine Debbie S. , Ksaibati Khaled , Gross Frank
Published: June 2015

For years fatal and injury crashes have been documented as being higher for Native Americans than for any other groups across the United States. Studies have been performed to determine the trends and to identify ways to assist tribes in improving their traffic safety. Tribal transportation stakeholders recognize the many factors that contribute to this problem, including lack of resources, lack of crash data, and crash data accuracy. Tribal sovereignty presents a challenge in working across jurisdictional lines with state and local agencies. Strategic highway safety plans are required for states and also provide an opportunity for tribes to accomplish their goals in reducing fatal and serious-injury crashes. Communication and collaboration across jurisdictional lines are vital to the success of a strategic highway safety plan for a tribal government. The Wind River Indian Reservation (WRIR) was selected for one of three pilot tribal transportation safety management plans, a program instituted by FHWA to assist tribes in developing their own strategic plan. The WRIR has had great success in establishing cooperation among stakeholders and, with the support of committed tribal leadership, is working toward the goal of reducing fatal and serious-injury crashes. Key to the success of the safety management plan is collaboration among safety stakeholders, namely, the state departments of transportation, tribal leadership, local technical assistance program, Tribal Technical Assistance Program, Bureau of Indian Affairs, local and tribal law enforcement, Indian Health Services, and others.
Identifying Low-Volume Road Segments with High Frequencies of Severe Crashes
Authors: Avelar Raul , Dixon Karen K. , Schertz Greg
Published: June 2015

Low-volume two-lane highways can be characterized by a wide range of physical features. Often the available crash data for these facilities are limited to fatal and injury crash information. It can be a challenge, therefore, to determine whether the select number of severe crashes observed along a corridor merits detailed safety evaluations and the associated investment of limited funds. The technique identified in this paper uses predictive method concepts developed with procedures consistent with those included in the AASHTO Highway Safety Manual but targeted only to low-volume roads and the number of observed fatal and injury crashes. For the purposes of this analysis, safety models are based on detailed crash and site data for low-volume highways in the state of Washington. A simplified procedure is then demonstrated to determine whether the number of severe crashes (fatal and injury) is significant enough to justify a detailed safety assessment and potential special safety enhancements on roadway construction projects or stand-alone safety enhancement projects for low-volume (≤1,000 vehicles per day) rural two-lane highways.
Inexpensive Retroreflectivity Field Inspection Kit
Authors: Orr David P. , Scott Geoffrey R.
Published: June 2015

The Cornell Local Roads Program worked with three counties and several municipalities within those counties to study how a retroreflectometer might be shared by the 74 local jurisdictions to help them meet the new standards for sign retroreflectivity in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). The new standards for retroreflectivity include eight techniques, most of which require at least access to a retroreflectometer on a regular basis. Cornell worked with the three counties to review their sign inventory, inspection, and management programs. Through a strong collaboration between the municipalities, Cornell engineers, and a student intern hired as part of the study, an inexpensive retroreflectivity field inspection kit was developed. Agencies using the kit were able to reduce the time of inspection and the number of signs that needed to be removed from service.
‘This untranslatability which is not one’
Authors: Lezra Jacques
Published: June 2015

Translatability in natural languages today supports, and can only be understood in the context of, economic globalization, and the universalization of market logic. ‘Untranslatability’, as it is most often construed, does not provide a critical alternative to this logic: it bolsters it. A different account of untranslatability (and, by extension, of what it means for expressions in natural languages to be ‘translatable’) is required: this essay seeks to provide such. It finds in passages in Marx and in Derrida's Monolinguisme de l'autre, and in different translations of those texts, an untranslatability which is not one, irreducible to mathematical identity.
Phosphorus and Nitrogen Dual Doped and Simultaneously Reduced Graphene Oxide with High Surface Area as Efficient Metal-Free Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction
Authors: Qiao Xiaochang , Liao Shijun , You Chenghang , Chen Rong
Published: June 2015

A P, N dual doped reduced graphene oxide (PN-rGO) catalyst with high surface area (376.20 m2·g−1), relatively high P-doping level (1.02 at. %) and a trace amount of N (0.35 at. %) was successfully prepared using a one-step method by directly pyrolyzing a homogenous mixture of graphite oxide (GO) and diammonium hydrogen phosphate ((NH4)2HPO4) in an argon atmosphere, during which the thermal expansion, deoxidization of GO and P, N co-doping were realized simultaneously. The catalyst exhibited enhanced catalytic performances for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) via a dominated four-electron reduction pathway, as well as superior long-term stability, better tolerance to methanol crossover than that of commercial Pt/C catalyst in an alkaline solution.
Sacrificial Template-Based Synthesis of Unified Hollow Porous Palladium Nanospheres for Formic Acid Electro-Oxidation
Authors: Qiu Xiaoyu , Zhang Hanyue , Dai Yuxuan , Zhang Fengqi , Wu Peishan , Wu Pin , Tang Yawen
Published: June 2015

Large scale syntheses of uniform metal nanoparticles with hollow porous structure have attracted much attention owning to their high surface area, abundant active sites and relatively efficient catalytic activity. Herein, we report a general method to synthesize hollow porous Pd nanospheres (Pd HPNSs) by templating sacrificial SiO2 nanoparticles with the assistance of polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) through layer-by-layer self-assembly. The chemically inert PAH is acting as an efficient stabilizer and complex agent to control the synthesis of Pd HPNSs, probably accounting for its long aliphatic alkyl chains, excellent coordination capability and good hydrophilic property. The physicochemical properties of Pd HPNSs are thoroughly characterized by various techniques, such as transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The growth mechanism of Pd HPNSs is studied based on the analysis of diverse experimental observations. The as-prepared Pd HPNSs exhibit clearly enhanced electrocatalytic activity and durability for the formic oxidation reaction (FAOR) in acid medium compared with commercial Pd black.
Analysis of the Keller–Segel Model with a Fractional Derivative without Singular Kernel
Authors: Atangana Abdon , Alkahtani Badr
Published: June 2015

Using some investigations based on information theory, the model proposed by Keller and Segel was extended to the concept of fractional derivative using the derivative with fractional order without singular kernel recently proposed by Caputo and Fabrizio. We present in detail the existence of the coupled-solutions using the fixed-point theorem. A detailed analysis of the uniqueness of the coupled-solutions is also presented. Using an iterative approach, we derive special coupled-solutions of the modified system and we present some numerical simulations to see the effect of the fractional order.
How Spatial Relationships Influence Economic Preferences for Wind Power—A Review
Authors: Knapp Lauren , Ladenburg Jacob
Published: June 2015

An increasing number of studies in the environmental and resource economic literature suggest that preferences for changes or improvements in environmental amenities, from water quality to recreation, are spatially heterogeneous. One of these effects in particular, distance decay, suggests that respondents exhibit a higher willingness to pay (WTP) the closer they live to a proposed environmental improvement and vice versa. The importance of spatial effects cannot be underestimated. Several of these studies find significant biases in aggregate WTP values, and therefore social welfare, from models that disregard spatial factors. This relationship between spatial aspects and preferences, however, remains largely ignored in the non-market valuation literature applied to valuing preferences for renewable energy, generally, and wind power, specifically. To our knowledge, fourteen peer-reviewed studies have been conducted to estimate stated preferences (SP) for onshore and/or offshore wind development, yet less than half of those utilize any measure to account for the relationship between spatial effects and preferences. Fewer still undertake more robust measures that account for these spatially dependent relationships, such as via GIS, outside incorporating a single ‘distance’ attribute within the choice experiment (CE) referenda. This paper first reviews the methodologies of the SP wind valuation studies that have integrated measure(s) to account for spatial effects. We then categorize these effects into three dimensions—distance to a proposed wind project, distance to existing wind project(s), and cumulative effects—supporting each with a discussion of significant findings, including those found in the wind hedonic and acceptance literature. Policy implications that can be leveraged to maximize social welfare when siting future wind projects as well as recommendations for additional research to control for preference spatial heterogeneity in wind CEs are also posited.
Nonhumidified Fuel Cells Using N-Ethyl-N-methyl-pyrrolidinium Fluorohydrogenate Ionic Liquid-poly(Vinylidene Fluoride-Hexafluoropropylene) Composite Membranes
Authors: Kiatkittikul Pisit , Nohira Toshiyuki , Hagiwara Rika
Published: June 2015

Composite membranes consisting of N-ethyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium fluoro-hydrogenate (EMPyr(FH)1.7F) ionic liquid and poly(vinylidene fluoride hexafluoro-propylene) (PVdF-HFP) copolymer were successfully prepared in weight ratios of 5:5, 6:4, and 7:3 using a casting method. The prepared membranes possessed rough surfaces, which potentially enlarged the three-phase boundary area. The EMPyr(FH)1.7F/PVdF-HFP (7:3 weight ratio) composite membrane had an ionic conductivity of 41 mS·cm-1 at 120 °C. For a single cell using this membrane, a maximum power density of 103 mW·cm-2 was observed at 50 °C under non-humidified conditions; this is the highest power output that has ever been reported for fluorohydrogenate fuel cells. However, the cell performance decreased at 80 °C, which was explained by penetration of the softened composite membrane into gas diffusion electrodes to partially plug gas channels in the gas diffusion layers; this was verified by in situ a.c. impedance analysis and cross-sectional SEM images of the membrane electrode assembly.
Alternative Okazaki Fragment Ligation Pathway by DNA Ligase III
Authors: Arakawa Hiroshi , Iliakis George
Published: June 2015

Higher eukaryotes have three types of DNA ligases: DNA ligase 1 (Lig1), DNA ligase 3 (Lig3) and DNA ligase 4 (Lig4). While Lig1 and Lig4 are present in all eukaryotes from yeast to human, Lig3 appears sporadically in evolution and is uniformly present only in vertebrates. In the classical, textbook view, Lig1 catalyzes Okazaki-fragment ligation at the DNA replication fork and the ligation steps of long-patch base-excision repair (BER), homologous recombination repair (HRR) and nucleotide excision repair (NER). Lig4 is responsible for DNA ligation at DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) by the classical, DNA-PKcs-dependent pathway of non-homologous end joining (C-NHEJ). Lig3 is implicated in a short-patch base excision repair (BER) pathway, in single strand break repair in the nucleus, and in all ligation requirements of the DNA metabolism in mitochondria. In this scenario, Lig1 and Lig4 feature as the major DNA ligases serving the most essential ligation needs of the cell, while Lig3 serves in the cell nucleus only minor repair roles. Notably, recent systematic studies in the chicken B cell line, DT40, involving constitutive and conditional knockouts of all three DNA ligases individually, as well as of combinations thereof, demonstrate that the current view must be revised. Results demonstrate that Lig1 deficient cells proliferate efficiently. Even Lig1/Lig4 double knockout cells show long-term viability and proliferate actively, demonstrating that, at least in DT40, Lig3 can perform all ligation reactions of the cellular DNA metabolism as sole DNA ligase. Indeed, in the absence of Lig1, Lig3 can efficiently support semi-conservative DNA replication via an alternative Okazaki-fragment ligation pathway. In addition, Lig3 can back up NHEJ in the absence of Lig4, and can support NER and HRR in the absence of Lig1. Supporting observations are available in less elaborate genetic models in mouse cells. Collectively, these observations raise Lig3 from a niche-ligase to a universal DNA ligase, which can potentially substitute or backup the repair and replication functions of all other DNA ligases in the cell nucleus. Thus, the old model of functionally dedicated DNA ligases is now replaced by one in which only Lig4 remains dedicated to C-NHEJ, with Lig1 and Lig3 showing an astounding functional flexibility and interchangeability for practically all nuclear ligation functions. The underlying mechanisms of Lig3 versus Lig1 utilization in DNA repair and replication are expected to be partly different and remain to be elucidated.
MicroRNA-224 is Readily Detectable in Urine of Individuals with Diabetes Mellitus and is a Potential Indicator of Beta-Cell Demise
Authors: Bacon Siobhán , Engelbrecht Britta , Schmid Jasmin , Pfeiffer Shona , Gallagher Ross , McCarthy Ailbhe , Burke Marie , Concannon Caoimhín , Prehn Jochen , Byrne Maria
Published: June 2015

MicroRNA (miRNA) are a class of non-coding, 19–25 nucleotide RNA critical for network-level regulation of gene expression. miRNA serve as paracrine signaling molecules. Using an unbiased array approach, we previously identified elevated levels of miR-224 and miR-103 to be associated with a monogenic form of diabetes; HNF1A-MODY. miR-224 is a novel miRNA in the field of diabetes. We sought to explore the role of miR-224 as a potential biomarker in diabetes, and whether such diabetes-associated-miRNA can also be detected in the urine of patients. Absolute levels of miR-224 and miR-103 were determined in the urine of n = 144 individuals including carriers of a HNF1A mutation, participants with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and normal controls. Expression levels were correlated with clinical and biochemical parameters. miR-224 was significantly elevated in the urine of carriers of a HNF1A mutation and participants with T1DM. miR-103 was highly expressed in urine across all diabetes cohorts when compared to controls. For both miR-224 and-103, we found a significant correlation between serum and urine levels (p < 0.01). We demonstrate that miRNA can be readily detected in the urine independent of clinical indices of renal dysfunction. We surmise that the differential expression levels of miR-224 in both HNF1A-MODY mutation carriers and T1DM may be an attempt to compensate for beta-cell demise.
Application Study of Comprehensive Forecasting Model Based on Entropy Weighting Method on Trend of PM2.5 Concentration in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Liu Dong-jun , Li Li
Published: June 2015

For the issue of haze-fog, PM2.5 is the main influence factor of haze-fog pollution in China. The trend of PM2.5 concentration was analyzed from a qualitative point of view based on mathematical models and simulation in this study. The comprehensive forecasting model (CFM) was developed based on the combination forecasting ideas. Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average Model (ARIMA), Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) model and Exponential Smoothing Method (ESM) were used to predict the time series data of PM2.5 concentration. The results of the comprehensive forecasting model were obtained by combining the results of three methods based on the weights from the Entropy Weighting Method. The trend of PM2.5 concentration in Guangzhou China was quantitatively forecasted based on the comprehensive forecasting model. The results were compared with those of three single models, and PM2.5 concentration values in the next ten days were predicted. The comprehensive forecasting model balanced the deviation of each single prediction method, and had better applicability. It broadens a new prediction method for the air quality forecasting field.
A Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells-Type I Interferon Axis Is Critically Implicated in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Kim Ji-Min , Park Sung-Hwan , Kim Ho-Youn , Kwok Seung-Ki
Published: June 2015

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease that is characterized by the generation of immune responses to various nuclear components. Impaired clearance of apoptotic cells and loss of tolerance to self-antigens are involved both in the initiation and in the propagation of the disease. Dendritic cells (DCs) are key factors in the balance between autoimmunity and tolerance and play a role linking innate and adaptive immunity. DCs, particularly plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), are the main source of type I interferon (IFN) cytokines, which contribute to the immunopathogenesis of SLE. There is accumulating evidence that pDCs and type I IFN cytokines take the leading part in the development of SLE. In this review, we discuss recent data regarding the role of pDCs and type I IFN cytokines in the pathogenesis of SLE and the potential for employing therapies targeting against aberrant regulation of the pDC-type I IFN axis for treating SLE.
Transcriptional Factors Mediating Retinoic Acid Signals in the Control of Energy Metabolism
Authors: Zhang Rui , Wang Yueqiao , Li Rui , Chen Guoxun
Published: June 2015

Retinoic acid (RA), an active metabolite of vitamin A (VA), is important for many physiological processes including energy metabolism. This is mainly achieved through RA-regulated gene expression in metabolically active cells. RA regulates gene expression mainly through the activation of two subfamilies in the nuclear receptor superfamily, retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs). RAR/RXR heterodimers or RXR/RXR homodimers bind to RA response element in the promoters of RA target genes and regulate their expressions upon ligand binding. The development of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes is often associated with profound changes in the expressions of genes involved in glucose and lipid metabolism in metabolically active cells. RA regulates some of these gene expressions. Recently, in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that status and metabolism of VA regulate macronutrient metabolism. Some studies have shown that, in addition to RARs and RXRs, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor II, and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor β/δ may function as transcriptional factors mediating RA response. Herein, we summarize current progresses regarding the VA metabolism and the role of nuclear receptors in mediating RA signals, with an emphasis on their implication in energy metabolism.
Biomarkers for Refractory Lupus Nephritis: A Microarray Study of Kidney Tissue
Authors: Benjachat Thitima , Tongyoo Pumipat , Tantivitayakul Pornpen , Somparn Poorichaya , Hirankarn Nattiya , Prom-On Santitham , Pisitkun Prapaporn , Leelahavanichkul Asada , Avihingsanon Yingyos , Townamchai Natavudh
Published: June 2015

The prognosis of severe lupus nephritis (LN) is very different among individual patients. None of the current biomarkers can be used to predict the development of refractory LN. Because kidney histology is the gold standard for diagnosing LN, the authors hypothesize that molecular signatures detected in kidney biopsy tissue may have predictive value in determining the therapeutic response. Sixty-seven patients with biopsy-proven severely active LN by International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classification III/IV were recruited. Twenty-three kidney tissue samples were used for RNA microarray analysis, while the remaining 44 samples were used for validation by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gene expression analysis. From hundreds of differential gene expressions in refractory LN, 12 candidates were selected for validation based on gene expression levels as well as relevant functions. The candidate biomarkers were members of the innate immune response molecules, adhesion molecules, calcium-binding receptors, and paracellular tight junction proteins. S100A8, ANXA13, CLDN19 and FAM46B were identified as the best kidney biomarkers for refractory LN, and COL8A1 was identified as the best marker for early loss of kidney function. These new molecular markers can be used to predict refractory LN and may eventually lead to novel molecular targets for therapy.
Methane Oxidation and Molecular Characterization of Methanotrophs from a Former Mercury Mine Impoundment
Authors: Baesman Shaun , Miller Laurence , Wei Jeremy , Cho Yirang , Matys Emily , Summons Roger , Welander Paula , Oremland Ronald
Published: June 2015

The Herman Pit, once a mercury mine, is an impoundment located in an active geothermal area. Its acidic waters are permeated by hundreds of gas seeps. One seep was sampled and found to be composed of mostly CO2 with some CH4 present. The δ13CH4 value suggested a complex origin for the methane: i.e., a thermogenic component plus a biological methanogenic portion. The relatively 12C-enriched CO2 suggested a reworking of the ebullitive methane by methanotrophic bacteria. Therefore, we tested bottom sediments for their ability to consume methane by conducting aerobic incubations of slurried materials. Methane was removed from the headspace of live slurries, and subsequent additions of methane resulted in faster removal rates. This activity could be transferred to an artificial, acidic medium, indicating the presence of acidophilic or acid-tolerant methanotrophs, the latter reinforced by the observation of maximum activity at pH = 4.5 with incubated slurries. A successful extraction of sterol and hopanoid lipids characteristic of methanotrophs was achieved, and their abundances greatly increased with increased sediment methane consumption. DNA extracted from methane-oxidizing enrichment cultures was amplified and sequenced for pmoA genes that aligned with methanotrophic members of the Gammaproteobacteria. An enrichment culture was established that grew in an acidic (pH 4.5) medium via methane oxidation.
Biosensing with Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Coupling between Fluorophores and Nanocarbon Allotropes
Authors: Ding Shaowei , Cargill Allison , Das Suprem , Medintz Igor , Claussen Jonathan
Published: June 2015

Nanocarbon allotropes (NCAs), including zero-dimensional carbon dots (CDs), one-dimensional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and two-dimensional graphene, exhibit exceptional material properties, such as unique electrical/thermal conductivity, biocompatibility and high quenching efficiency, that make them well suited for both electrical/electrochemical and optical sensors/biosensors alike. In particular, these material properties have been exploited to significantly enhance the transduction of biorecognition events in fluorescence-based biosensing involving Förster resonant energy transfer (FRET). This review analyzes current advances in sensors and biosensors that utilize graphene, CNTs or CDs as the platform in optical sensors and biosensors. Widely utilized synthesis/fabrication techniques, intrinsic material properties and current research examples of such nanocarbon, FRET-based sensors/biosensors are illustrated. The future outlook and challenges for the research field are also detailed.
A Low Complexity System Based on Multiple Weighted Decision Trees for Indoor Localization
Authors: Sánchez-Rodríguez David , Hernández-Morera Pablo , Quinteiro José , Alonso-González Itziar
Published: June 2015

Indoor position estimation has become an attractive research topic due to growing interest in location-aware services. Nevertheless, satisfying solutions have not been found with the considerations of both accuracy and system complexity. From the perspective of lightweight mobile devices, they are extremely important characteristics, because both the processor power and energy availability are limited. Hence, an indoor localization system with high computational complexity can cause complete battery drain within a few hours. In our research, we use a data mining technique named boosting to develop a localization system based on multiple weighted decision trees to predict the device location, since it has high accuracy and low computational complexity. The localization system is built using a dataset from sensor fusion, which combines the strength of radio signals from different wireless local area network access points and device orientation information from a digital compass built-in mobile device, so that extra sensors are unnecessary. Experimental results indicate that the proposed system leads to substantial improvements on computational complexity over the widely-used traditional fingerprinting methods, and it has a better accuracy than they have.